400 Life February 2023

The Good Life Awaits at Gatherings® at Herrington

Story by Sudie Crouch

For those who list “location, location, location” as the top factor in choosing where to buy a new home, Cumming, GA fits the bill. The access to dining, recreational amenities and transportation puts the Forsyth County city on the map and sustains its continual growth.

It’s the same reason Atlanta-based national homebuilder Beazer Homes chose the locale for its Gatherings at Herrington community. Savvy homebuyers also seek high-quality, energy-efficient construction to ensure their home has lasting value and comfort. They’ll find all that and more with Gatherings at Herrington.

The community is developed exclusively for buyers aged 55 and up, drawing buyers seeking a lifestyle with neighbors in similar life stages. When looking for a great location to build new Gatherings homes, the Atlanta-based company looked no further than Cumming to find that perfect balance.

“Especially when launching a community for homeowners aged 55 and older, we want to provide all the must-haves of convenience, amenities, and low-maintenance – without sacrificing lifestyle,” says Sarah Banks, Vice President of Sales. “We’ve found that our buyers love Cumming for its proximity to shopping, dining, GA-400, top-notch medical care, and to keep their children and grandchildren nearby.”

Since Gatherings at Herrington began construction in the Spring of 2021 it has quickly become one of the most sought-after developments in Forsyth County, and it’s easy to see why.

Commitment to Choice

Gatherings at Herrington offers more than 100 condominiums with four different floor plans, so buyers can find the perfect layout to fit their needs. Each single-story plan ranges from 1,529 to 2,031 square feet, includes two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a private balcony and a garage.

“We often hear that the best thing about Gatherings is the availability of great floor plans. Each plan is open, functional, comfortable and built with little maintenance required to enjoy it,” says Banks. “Things are so much simpler in the condo life. It’s really a lock and leave situation.” Current Gatherings homeowners have found there is a lot to do within the community, as well. “A huge part of the lifestyle at Gatherings is the onsite amenities and ability to enjoy your new home and neighbors without ever leaving the community,” Banks says.

An onsite fitness center, swimming pool, outdoor kitchen with grilling area, a game room, common spaces for residents, and dog park are among the onsite amenities.

Commitment to Customers

Prospective buyers can expect an exceptional customer experience, starting with one-on-one time with a New Home Counselor to determine which Gatherings home is the right fit. They also have access to the

Gatherings is built on three key concepts:

Simplify, Dwell & Thrive

• SIMPLIFY - Experience life on easier-to-maintain street. High-performance homes are designed with your lifestyle in mind so you can spend less time on upkeep and more time doing what you love.

• DWELL - Enjoy the bustle minus the hustle. Living at Gatherings puts you close to the sights and sounds of the city, family, and friends. Here, you’re never far from life’s celebrations, a great meal, and everyday conveniences.

• THRIVE - Take it easy (or not). Enjoy each day your way. From a morning walk with friends and tranquil afternoon on the patio, to a night out on the town at your new favorite restaurant, savor the feeling of living life at your own pace.

“Our buyers at Gatherings love the intimate community feel,” Banks said. “We hear all the time that this special community is a place where friendships are forged, creating a sense of taking care of one another, truly showing how Gatherings has lived up to its name.”

Beazer-exclusive benefit of Mortgage Choice* to ensure they get the best possible financing scenario.

These new, lower-maintenance homes remove the responsibility of exterior upkeep so buyers can enjoy more time doing what they love.

Commitment to Energy Efficiency

At Gatherings, attractive lifestyle amenities don’t translate to higher energy costs. As the first Energy Star certified condos built in metro-Atlanta exclusively for buyers 55 and older, luxury lives alongside reduced bills and a smaller energy footprint. Beazer Homes has been building 100 percent ENERGY STAR®*** certified homes for more than a decade, and has been named an Energy Star partner of the year seven years in a row.

“We are proud of our Energy Star commitment and our highcaliber building practices,” Banks says. These practices are backed by rigorous third-party inspections ensuring that every home meet Beazer’s high standards.

In 2022, Beazer Homes was named #1 in the construction industry on Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Trusted Companies. This prestigious award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.

Come See Why the Good Life Awaits at Gatherings at Herrington

Visit Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday & Sunday: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Construction of the first 27-condo building is complete, and the first residents have already moved in. The homes for sale range from the $400,000s to the $500,000s.

Visit gatherings.com or call 678-203-1500 for more information.

*Beazer Homes is not acting as a mortgage broker or lender. Buyers should consult with a mortgage broker or lender of their choice regarding mortgage loans and mortgage loan qualification. There is no affiliation or association between Beazer Homes and a Choice Lender. Each entity is independent and responsible for its own products, services, and incentives. Home loans are subject to underwriting guidelines which are subject to change without notice and which limit third-party contributions and may not be available on all loan products. Program and loan amount limitations apply. Not all buyers may qualify. Any lender may be used, but failure to satisfy the Choice Contribution requirements and use a Choice Lender may forfeit certain offers.

**Controlled-access doors are not designed or intended to serve as a security system. Beazer Homes makes no representation, express or implied, concerning the operation, use, hours, method of operation, maintenance or any other decisions concerning controlled-access doors or the safety and security of a home and a community in which it is located. Any controlled-access door may be left open for extended periods of time for the convenience of Beazer Homes and its subcontractors during construction of the home and other residences in a community. Crime exists in every neighborhood and Beazer Homes is not a provider of security and makes no representations regarding crime or security. If you are concerned about crime or security, please consult a security expert.

*** ENERGY STAR and the ENERGY STAR mark are registered trademarks owned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Pricing, features, and availability subject to change without notice. See New Home Counselor for details. ©2023 Beazer Homes.

Located at 3211 Orwell Way, off Peachtree Parkway and Ronald Reagan Boulevard, the sales center at Gatherings is open daily.

6 strategies to get more organized

When the new year arrives, many people focus on changes that can be implemented in the months of come. This time of year is a popular one to make resolutions to clean and organize homes and offices. There are plenty of things that can use a little organizational attention. There’s no ideal way to get organized. Whatever works is a good approach, but the following are six strategies to help individuals clear the clutter.

1. UTILIZE TO-DO LISTS

People tend to be less productive when they’re storing all of their tasks in their brains. The first step to getting organized is to remove those plans from the head and put them down on paper or in some other tracking tool. A digital to-do list manager, for example, enables you to see all of your tasks, deadlines and due dates in one place so you can get things done more efficiently. Carry around a notepad or use the digital notes app on a phone to jot down thoughts and needs as they come up.

2. CORRAL YOUR ‘SMALLS’

Smalls are keys, phones, chargers, wallets, headphones, and other accessories. When these items are grouped together, they’re easier to find so you can stay on track. Invest in an attractive organizer and install it by the front door or another hightraffic area. You’ll cut down on trying to find those smaller items when running errands.

3.

CONQUER CLUTTER REGULARLY

It’s easy to be put off by cleaning and organizing when clutter has gotten out of control. Instead, by cleaning up items on a daily or weekly basis, it’s much easier to keep ahead of clutter. Treat it like a daily job, including sorting mail and tossing unnecessary items; emptying waste pails; dusting the desk; deleting emails; and putting items back where they belong.

4. CATEGORIZE EMAILS

Utilize the folder creation option from popular email providers to sort your messages. Drop messages that need attention into categories of your choosing, such as school, health and receipts. Then you’ll know which folder to go into when searching for what you need, eliminating the time-consuming task of scrolling through a full inbox.

5.

GIVE ONE; TOSS ONE

When bringing new items into the home, follow the procedure of giving away or throwing out one item for each new item that is received or purchased. This can help to tame clutter.

6. MISE EN PLACE YOUR LIFE

“Mise en place” is French for “put in place.” It is used in the kitchen to refer to preparing and setting out all ingredients needed in a recipe. The same concept can be used elsewhere. Lay out clothing on the dresser for the next day at work or school. Prep the foyer of a home with items you need, like an umbrella, shoes and paperwork. Organize backpacks so they’re ready for the school day. Establish a to-go bag at work for items that need to be brought home.

Getting organized can be as simple as taking small steps that have lasting impact.

Follow these six strategies to help individuals clear the clutter.

400 reads

Can’t make it to the library? Can’t make it to the library?

the library come to you!

Let

Don’t let inclement weather or transportation challenges keep you from getting the library materials and resources you need this winter. Forsyth County Public Library has a number of ways to serve you from wherever you are!

Bookmobile

The Forsyth County Public Library Bookmobile is on the Road!

Visitors can come aboard and check out books and DVDs, access Wi-Fi, check out a Chromebook, and print documents.

Visit www.forsythpl.org/ bookmobile to find an upcoming bookmobile stop in a neighborhood near you.

eLibrary

Need something to read but don’t want to brave icy roads? Explore the FCPL eLibrary! eLibrary is the term we use to describe all the books, audiobooks, magazines, videos, tutorials, research databases, and learning tools that library cardholders can access on the library’s website at www.forsythpl.org.

These services are available even when the library is closed. You’ll find several options for downloading or streaming eBooks, eAudiobooks, and videos in the eLibrary. Some resources in the eLibrary allow multiple users to access them simultaneously with no holds and no waiting.RomanceBookCloud for adults and BookFlix for kids are two examples.

The Libby app is another popular option for enjoying eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines. Just download this free app from your app store, enter your library card number and PIN one time, and then enjoy digital materials on your device at your convenience. Best of all, everything borrowed through Libby returns automatically, so you’ll never have any overdue fines on electronic resources.

The eResources section of the eLibrary also includes links to popular digital publications like The New York Times Online and Consumer Reports, as well as genealogy resources, health and medicine databases, literature resources, and job and career resources. This is also where you’ll find academic resources for students and teachers, as well as a link to free online tutoring from Tutor.com.

For more information about FORSYTH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY or any resources or upcoming events, visit WWW.FORSYTHPL.ORG or connect with FCPL on social media @forsythpl

For homebound library patrons who prefer physical materials over electronic ones, the library can mail books and other materials through the Mailbox Books program.

FORSYTH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY OFFERS FREE HOME

DELIVERY TO LIBRARY PATRONS IN FORSYTH COUNTY WHO:

t Have a permanent or temporary disability or medical condition that prevents a person from visiting the library.

t Reside in a nursing care or assisted living facility, whether on a temporary or permanent basis.

t Have other health conditions that make a person unable to visit the library.

Library patrons who qualify for the Mailbox Books program have access to all materials currently available from the library, including standard and large print books, paperbacks, print materials in a variety of World Languages, Interlibrary Loans, DVDs, books on CD, music CDs, and magazines. The Mailbox Books program is free to participants. Mailbox Books patrons can pick out their books, or our librarians can make selections based on patron preferences.

To learn more about Mailbox Books or to apply for this service, visit the Outreach Services page of our website: www.forsythpl.org/outreach-services or call the FCPL Outreach Department at 678-5139354. Forsyth County Public Library is open seven days a week. Stop by your nearest library or visit our website for more information or to apply for a library card.

Leslie Marinelli has lived in Forsyth County for 20 years with her husband and three children and is the Communications Manager at Forsyth County Public Library.

Stay active during the winter months Stay active during the winter months

By Sudie Crouch, Health & Wellness columnist

If you’re like most folks, you made a New Year’s Resolution to be more active this year.

You may have signed up for a gym membership and bought some new shoes and workout clothes to help you stay motivated. Then the cruel reality of the season hit: it’s too cold and dark to want to get out there and move it.

This is completely understandable and one of the biggest obstacles to getting in some movement during this time of the year.

Stay warm and safe

If you prefer to get outside to get in your exercise, make sure you’re properly dressed.

While we typically don’t have those super-cold temps that other areas experience, we have seen some weather that we are not used to.

Keeping your head, hands, feet, and ears covered can help you keep your body temperature regulated, and making sure your clothing is layered is important, too.

If you’re walking or running when it’s still dark outside, make sure you have on reflective gear so you are visible.

Being able to recognize the signs of hypothermia is important too.

Hypothermia is something that can occur quickly once the temps drop, especially if you’re wet from either perspiration or rain, and you may not realize it until it’s hit.

Since hypothermia can happen indoors if it’s cold enough, making sure you’re staying properly protected when outside is even more important.

You may feel like you’re fine because of the physical exertion, but the outer temperature can quickly cause some problems.

Getting movement in – INSIDE!

While the gym is always a favorite especially during the winter months, it’s not for everyone for a number of reasons. Some people may even feel self-conscious about going to the gym. However, there are some great in-home

workouts that you can do to help you get in some movement!

You don’t have to have a full in-home gym, but can start with just a few handheld weights or even resistance bands can help get in some light strength training.

YouTube has some great videos that can range from yoga and Pilates to even indoor walking to help you get your steps in. There are also some great apps that can help you stay engaged and motivated as well as some personal trainers online who provide Zoom or virtual training sessions, all in the comfort of your living room.

Another easy – and my personal favorite – way to get in some movement is to just walk in place while watching your favorite streaming program.

It doesn’t even have to be for the entirety of the program but can be for just short intervals; some people like to walk in place in their living room during the commercials.

On average, walking for 20 minutes is approximately a mile, so you can easily get in a mile without leaving the comfort of your house!

And something else to keep in mind: if weight loss was your overall goal, exercise is not a requirement.

It does help burn calories but it’s not necessary.

However, the added benefits of exercise are great reasons to stay active, especially in the winter months.

Sudie Crouch is a health & wellness coach, helping clients create healthy, attainable changes using positive psychology and cognitive behavior approaches.

Ideal hobbies for busy people

Carving out some time for personal pursuits can provide a sense of achievement and a break from the daily grind. Hobbies also can improve physical and mental health in a variety of ways.

People with tight schedules may think that they’re too busy to engage in hobbies. In such instances, individuals should look for activities that don’t require too great of a time commitment.

t PHOTOGRAPHY: Photos can be snapped just about anywhere and at any time, making photography ideal for busy people. Thanks to advancements in mobile phone cameras, individuals do not even need a high-tech or expensive camera to snap great shots.

t COOKING: Everyone needs to eat, making cooking a very useful hobby. Many people who cook for pleasure also note how relaxing it can be to prepare a delicious meal.

t CURATING MUSIC PLAYLISTS: People with a love of music can take advantage of the many music streaming services to curate their own archives. Discover new music or find old favorites and then make digital playlists for the activities of everyday life, such as backyard barbecues or commutes into work. Various streaming sites allow users to make playlists public so they can be shared with others who enjoy the same musical genres.

t READING: The benefits of reading are numerous. Reading bolsters readers’ vocabulary, can teach them about current events, provides an escape, and also serves as exercise for the brain, potentially delaying age-related cognitive decline. Reading can be a solitary venture done in short or long periods of spare time. It also can be shared with others through book clubs and other reading groups.

t SCRAPBOOKING: Photographs are now routinely relegated to the cloud, where they linger in a sort of digital limbo. Scrapbooking inspires people to not only print their photos, but to get creative putting them together with designs, sayings and other mementos.

Busy individuals do not have to pass up on hobbies because they feel they’re short on time. Plenty of activities don’t require much time but still provide a host of benefits.

Start the year off right by reviewing policies

As we enter the New Year, we should look at the highs and lows of last year to determine what we can learn from our past experiences.

Family members should likewise reflect and celebrate their successes and challenges and take stock of those situations and events that could serve as life lessons.

The beginning of a new year is an opportunity to review and collaborate to make 2023 a banner year. As families, we should also look at the legal issues that confront us and the ones we love.

Steven Leibel

I recommend a review of all insurance policies to be assured of proper protections including proper uninsured motorist protection and med pay, and a discussion of health insurance and disability policies to consider whether they need revising.

Meeting with an independent insurance broker to address emerging risks issues should considered.

Do an internal ‘Self Audit’

A self-audit can ensure a candid look at oneself so as to plan solutions for any frustration in one’s relationships and business. For example, a good look at one’s family relationships may

lead to better communication and financial planning.

Meeting with a trusted lawyer can help define what legal protections should be had to help define these legal concerns. Such a trusted advisor can also help navigate legal minefields in planning.

Business

Although it is a good “problem” to have, a growing business creates growing needs.

Businesses often struggle with knowing when to ask for help, before becoming so thin that the risk of errors can increase. This can be a good time of year to review whether it would be appropriate to bring on more personnel. A good review with a lawyer or accountant can bring about good planning.

As we enter a new year we must review the past and forge a new future. The year 2023 is a time to plan ahead and prepare for the challenges.

Steven Leibel is a well-respected personal injury lawyer in Cumming and Dahlonega. He has consistently been recognized as a GA SuperLawyer in Personal Injury; rated 10 by AVVO, and he is considered “preeminent by his peers, as an Martindale AV rated attorney.”

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Weather-related flight delays or cancellations are often the cause of much frustration. However, one timely storm nearly 80 years might just have paved the way for a beloved beverage.

In 1943, Joe Sheridan was working as a chef at the Shannon Airport in Ireland. According to the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum, on one fateful night, a flight bound for Newfoundland was forced to return to the airport in Foynes due to inclement weather.

Sheridan was called back to work that night and asked to create a warm beverage for the suddenly stranded passengers. Quick on his feet, Sheridan brewed some coffee but decided to add a little whiskey. Asked if the beverage was Brazilian coffee, Sheridan shook his head before indicating his newly minted creation was “Irish coffee.” And thus a legendary beverage was born.

This recipe, courtesy of the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum, can be great for anyone who wants warm up with their own batch of Irish coffee at home.

Irish COFFEE Irish COFFEE

How to make this timely drink at home

How to make this timely drink at home

Step One

Preheat your Irish coffee glass by filling it with boiling water for 5 seconds, then pour the water out.

Step Two

Add

Step Three

Fill

Step Four

This recipe can be great for anyone who wants warm up with their own batch of Irish coffee at home.

1 teaspoon of brown sugar and a good measure of Irish whiskey into the warmed glass.

the glass to within 1 centimeter of the brim with hot, strong black coffee. Stir well to dissolve all the brown sugar.

Carefully pour lightly whipped cream over the back of a spoon so that it floats on top of the coffee.