County water OK Discoloration from minerals ►►PAGE 10
New rec building moves forward City discusses plans ►►PAGE 9
Redistricting begins BOE releases first draft ►►PAGE 4
What goes around…
Pay-it-forward group helps one of their own ►►PAGE 36
September 23, 2015 | forsythherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 38
Author of ‘The Help’ visits Forsyth Kathryn Stockett talks second book, rejection letters and being vilified By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Kathryn Stockett was so glad she started a conversation about race in America that, when she received over 60 rejection letters for “The Help,” it didn’t bother her. “You have to hang in there if you’re a writer and you have to get used to rejection,” Stockett said. “The criticism never really bothered me. I was just happy people were having a conversation about a topic they might not have wanted to talk about. It’s hard to start a conversation about race. But when you put a book on a table and talk about the book in relation to race, it makes it a little bit easier.” The 46-year-old Mississippi native visited Forsyth County
Sept. 15 to talk about her bestselling novel and her future plans as part of the Forsyth Reads Together program. Hundreds of fans packed a Lanier Tech conference room to hear Stockett talk with her colorful language about her debut novel that went on to sell over five million copies and spend more than 100 weeks on the New York Times’ best-seller list. “The Help” revolves around an aspiring author writing a book from the point of view of black maids during the civil rights movement of the 1960s in Mississippi. Often readers and fans of “The Help” will tell Stockett their maids were “part of the family.” “Start that conversation with a person of color,” Stockett
See AUTHOR, Page 34
PHOTO BY FORSYTH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Kathryn Stockett speaks to a full house about her novel, “The Help.”
Spa/massage supporters disagree with proposed ordinance Will update county’s adult-entertainment ordinance By KATHLEEN STURGEON Kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A group of about 10 people spoke against the proposed modification to Forsyth County’s adultentertainment ordinance, which may include a provision creating a permitting and enforcement system in relation to massage establishments and spas.
The public hearing on the ordinance was held Sept. 17 at the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners public hearing. A second public hearing will be held Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. at the Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 East Main Street, suite 220. Ken Jarrard, county attorney, said this ordinance would put in place a system of
regulations. “The concern is there may be establishments that are advertising they are massage and spa establishments but in fact are a front for other sort of illicit activity,” Jarrard said. “This is not a stand-alone resolution; it’s another tool to be part of the solution.” However, the group in opposition, which included
local massage therapists and owners of local spas, disagreed with multiple facets of the ordinance. Cindy Farrar, president of the Georgia chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association, said their practice is considered health care, similar to chiropractors and physical therapists, and should be treated as such, not as adult entertainment. The Georgia Massage Therapy
Act states ‘a duly licensed Massage therapist is performing a healthcare act,’ therefore placing massage therapy under adult entertainment does call into question a violation for the state statute, she said. Farrar, along with James Specker, the director of government and industry relations for the AMTA, wrote a letter addressing their issues to the board.
See ORDINANCE, Page 3