Health & Wellness
Info on H2O
Sponsored Section ►►PAGE 20
Take an inside look at county’s water ►►PAGE 11
Just say no to littering
SFHS DECA finds solutions to problem ►►PAGE 19
Earth Day celebration
Master Naturalists educate and inspire ►►PAGE 14
May 13, 2015 | forsythherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 20
Amos: State of Forsyth strong and progressing By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com
The Brooks’ son, Branson, enjoys playing with the giant rabbit at the opening.
KATHLEEN STURGEON/STAFF
TherapyLand offers new take on autism therapy By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — With nearly one in 68 children identified with an autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s hard to imagine there are limited resources for parents of autistic children. But that’s exactly what Cheri and Thane Brooks encountered when they were trying to find a therapy center for their 7-year-
old daughter, Jaslyn. So the Brooks took matters into their own hands. On May 2, they held a grand opening carnival for their new autism therapy center, TherapyLand in Alpharetta. “For the past five years, we tried to find places we could put her that would help her progress and grow,” Cheri Brooks said. “It’s very limited in Georgia, and Texas and California are so progressive when it comes to autism. We
just thought of a dream of an amazing facility where the kids would want to come and learn through play. Then we came up with TherapyLand.” TherapyLand, 6505 Shiloh Road, Suite 100, is privately funded and a kid’s dream with carnival signs, games and interactive rooms offering different types of therapy. The types of therapy include occupational, physical, speech language
See TherapyLand, Page 10
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County is strong and moving forward, said two county leaders last week at the State of Forsyth County address. “Forsyth County is a community of exceptional natural resources and unparalleled opportunities where personal growth, prosperity and dreams are realized every day,” Commission Chairman R.J. “Pete” Amos told the audience May 7 at the Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College. Amos, along with Board of Education Chair Darla Light, gave an update on the county as a whole and the Forsyth County School System. “Our unemployment rate for March of 4.5 percent was the second lowest in the entire state of Georgia,” Amos said. “Our millage rates continue to be among the
lowest in metro Atlanta. The county’s growth is one thing that has enabled us to keep our tax rates so low. “That leads into some of the things at which Forsyth County is ranked among the top,” he said. “We continue to be one of the fastest growing counties not only in Georgia but also nationwide. Our growth rate is the secondfastest in the state and the seventh-fastest in the nation, and the latest census figures estimate our population at more than 204,000.” Amos said the county’s medium household income is higher than both Georgia and the national average, as noted that the county was named the healthiest county for the third year in a row. “It’s absolutely no surprise that people want to be a part of this community we call Forsyth County,” Amos said. Regarding public safety,
See AMOS, Page 4
KATHLEEN STURGEON/STAFF
Commission Chairman R.J. “Pete” Amos and Board of Education Chair Darla Light answered questions from the audience.
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