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November 13, 2013 | forsythherald.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 13, No. 46
‘White Christmas’ hits the stage Irving Berlin’s musical at the Cumming Playhouse Nov. 21- Dec. 15 By CAITLYN WALTERS walters@northfulton.com
CAITLYN WALTERS/Staff
Ben Bryant as “Bob Wallace” and J.D. Touchton as “Phil Davis” prepare for the first act.
CUMMING, Ga. – The Cumming Playhouse sets the stage for Irving Berlin’s musical, “White Christmas,” from Nov. 21 to Dec. 15. Director Kathy Larsen said the 25-member cast has been preparing for this “true American Christmas classic” since the beginning of September. She said even though this is the first time most of them have worked together, they make for a strong cast. “It’s a fantastic cast, and I couldn’t be happier,” Larsen said. “They are talented, have wonderful dispositions and
they are just lovely to each other.” An impressive and versatile cast is essential to perfect this heartwarming musical, which is an adaption featuring 17 Irving Berlin songs and a book by David Ives and Paul Blake. In the musical, veterans Bob Wallace, played by Ben Bryant, and Phil Davis, played by J.D. Touchton, have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to
See CHRISTMAS, Page 12
Community teams up to tackle drugs
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Piper asked. “In two years, we lost 19 young adults and I haven’t seen one story on those in the media.” Piper said the response for parents is to speak candidly with children about drugs. “Get involved with your kids, get to know your kids,” Piper said. “Get in their business. Their business, by definition, is your business.” If a young person is too hard to control, Piper said to reach out to law enforcement for guidance. “We’ll show you resources of where to go for help,” he said.
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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The numbers of drug-related overdoses in young people is alarming, said Forsyth County Sheriff Duane Piper. In the last two years, there have been 19 drug overdoses in the county — seven so far this year. Of those, 13 were opiate overdoses. The statistics were released at the inaugural Forsyth County Drug Awareness Summit held Nov. 5 at the Forsyth Conference Center.
A standing-room only audience of parents, children and community members came out to hear from a panel of experts who have firsthand experience as it relates to drugs and young people. Since 2006, there have been 14 traffic fatalities in Forsyth County of people 21 and under. Three of these involved alcohol and one involved drugs, Piper said. “We are doing a good job telling our children not to drink and drive, but in sending that message, are we telling them that drugs might be OK?”
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By ALDO NAHED aldo@forsythherald.com
be talking about.” Forsyth County CommisMills said a drug coalition sioner Cindy Jones Mills, who is in the works to continue the helped put together the “Stop conversation and be proacYour Kids Before Drugs Stop tive in providing parThem” event, said this ents with tools such is the first of its kind as drug testing and in the county. video o a h offering resources Mills said the for parents to county has a get help for their great community child. that takes pride The event was in its achieveyth brought about ments, but that . d heral because of social there are underlyservices committee ing issues, such as and juvenile justice drug addiction, that discussions on drugs in the need to be addressed. community, Mills said. In ad“We are thriving and growdition, parents kept approaching and sometimes we get lost in all of that,” Mills said. “There are issues we need to See SUMMIT, Page 4
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Parents encouraged to keep close eye on their children