Teacher of the Year
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Three Forsyth teachers selected as finalists ►►page 7
By the power of Zeus Mom, twin sons write book on mythology ►►page 9
Big top fun
Circus makes stop at Verizon ►►page 12
January 15, 2014 | forsythherald.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 17, No. 3
Fowler’s tennis program serves more than just fees After complaints, more free time added to courts By ALDO NAHED aldo@forsythherald.com
ALDO NAHED/Staff
Michael Greene, director of tennis at Fowler Park’s tennis center, plays a match with Carl Davis.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Michael Greene, director of tennis at the Fowler Park Tennis Center, knows what it takes to be a great tennis player. “Having some natural ability is part of the formula, but having that internal drive, that desire is important,” Greene said. “I like to teach, without even saying it to people, the love of the game first.” Greene, who has about 25 years of experience teaching tennis, said depending on where players are on the spec-
trum of skill — physical and mental — he’d like to coach them and meet the players’ goals. Fowler Park’s tennis center is the county’s latest private lesson program, launched in the fall last year. The tennis program, although in its infancy, has come under a lot of criticism, according to Forsyth County commissioners. Commissioners Todd Levent and Cindy Jones Mills have said emails complaining that charging to use the tennis courts at the county park are “double taxation.” “It was a shock for people,” Levent said. But Greene said he’s offering much more to county resi-
See TENNIS, Page 6
Forsyth County lands national fastpitch tourney Up to 120 teams in area By ALDO NAHED aldo@forsythherald.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A national fastpitch tournament and east coast championship will take place in Forsyth County this summer. The Triple Crown/USA Nationals will play ball in parks located in Cumming, Alpharetta and Gainesville July 14 through July 17 The Gold Level National
event, which is televised by CBS Sports, is entering its third year. The plan is to continue making this a strong national event with top teams from each region represented, said Krista Judge, a spokeswoman for the event. Anna Taylor Barlow, director of tourism for the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, said organizers were thrilled with the parks in the area on a recent visit. “I have been pursuing them to come to a site visit for quite a while and they finally came and loved it,” Barlow said.
Organizers of the Triple Crown/USA Nationals were also happy with the area’s proximity to Atlanta as people from all over the country will be traveling here for the tournament. Other locations the tournament has taken place at include Lake Tahoe/Reno, Nev. and New York. This year, the teams will be playing at 32 fields in Forsyth County, eight fields in Alpharetta and eight fields around Lake Lanier. The top 100 18U teams
See SOFTBALL, Page 21
A player is congratulated at a previous tournament. 32 fields in Forsyth will be used in the upcoming tournament.