December 2017
‘Making music to the glory of God’ Renowned local music director leads Saint Cecilia Singers at Christmas show
Inside: More than a decade of lights shining bright • A high-five for one boy’s gift of a lifetime
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THE LIFE | December 2017
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Welcome to December! I’ve always heard it said that “time flies when you’re having fun,” and I believe it to be true. This year has been a blur at times and filled with lots of changes. However, I consider myself both lucky and blessed to start this December in my hometown and at this newspaper with all of my friends and family, both old and new alike. Inside this edition of 400-The Life you will find an inspiring story of a little boy and his new 3D arm. What a refreshing reminder this time of year of the innocence of a child who is excited to simply “high-five and fist bump.” Our cover story this issue is about an extremely talented musician, Nancy Smith, and her angelic group, the Saint Cecilia Singers. Need some help getting
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in the holiday spirit? There is information in that story about where you can go and hear them before Christmas. Also, you’ll find something for all ages with the Ashebrooke subdivision light show. Not only will the kids be in awe of the spectacular show, but the event aims to raise funds for a very worthy cause. Once again this month, Isabel Hughes took some time to come up with some easy-to-do crafts, which turned out beautifully. So, look inside, and see a small part of what this great place we call home has to offer. Our hope here at the Forsyth County News is that all of you have a very safe and happy holiday season.
Stephanie Woody Publisher, Forsyth County News
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IN THIS ISSUE COVER STORY: Meet musician Nancy Smith
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Ashebrooke’s Night of Lights
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Recipes to get in spirit of the season
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Entertainment guide
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Events
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Boy receives gift of a lifetime
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THE LIFE | December 2017
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Growing together and depending on each other. BRADLEY WISEMAN
ISABEL HUGHES
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THE LIFE | December 2017
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Nancy Smith studied at the College of William & Mary, Juilliard, St. Thomas Church, Bowling Green University and the University of South Alabama
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Photos by Bradley Wiseman
Smith, a longtime musician whose love of music goes back to age 5, started the Saint Cecilia Singers Women’s Choir back in 2013. The group will perform Dec. 15 at the Cumming Playhouse.
Story by Frank Reddy
N
ancy Smith believes in gifts from God. She feels these talents we have — the things which come to us so easy and natural — are each and every one manifestations of a divine offering. “Music was mine,” Smith says with a smile. On a recent morning she sits at a piano bench at Good Shepherd Catholic Church — arm draped affectionately over the 88-key instrument — as she talks about an upcoming Christmas show at the Cumming Playhouse where her group, the Saint Cecilia Singers Women’s Choir, will soon perform. In addition to being director of music and liturgy at the local Catholic church, Smith leads the 25-voice women’s choir, which sings masses many times
throughout the year. They will perform Dec. 15 during the second half of the Christmas Classics 2017 program. Named for Saint Cecilia, the patroness of musicians, the group of women is made of singers ages 20 to 85. They include women hailing from Cumming, Big Canoe, Gainesville, Dawsonville and Dahlonega. The Saint Cecilia Singers Women’s Choir is among many local musical projects undertaken by Smith, who started the group in 2013. “Anybody is welcome to join us,” Smith said of her vocalists. “We do a lot of molding and shaping with the music.” Smith started playing piano at the age of 5. Her academic history is one of prestige that includes studies at the
What is not to love about the opportunity of getting everyone, from small children to senior citizens, to engage in the art of singing and learning about all genres of music?
Continued on 12
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Smith says she’s grateful for the opportunity to share the Saint Cecilia Singers Women’s Choir with the community during an upcoming Christmas concert.
College of William & Mary, Juilliard, St. Thomas Church, Bowling Green U nive r s i ty and the University of South Alabama. She also studied liturgics and choral music at Union Seminary and has “enjoyed full-time church positions” for more than 30 years. She loves it. “What is not to love about the opportunity of getting everyone, from small children to senior citizens, to engage in the art of singing and learning about all genres of music?” Smith said, rhetorically. When asked about her group’s upcoming Christmas show and the appeal of holiday music, Smith said it’s “memories of childhood Christmas” that keep folks coming back for those reliable Yuletide tunes. “Christmas music especially has the power to stir up remem-
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bered precious times at holidays,” Smith said. During the Dec. 15 show, her singers will perform traditional carols, as well as newer music. “When they begin, they’ll sound like angels,” Smith said. “Then, all of a sudden, halfway through the program they’re going to rip those halos off and sing some fun, secular Christmas stuff.” This includes songs like “Twelve Days of Regifted Christmas,”
“Hot Chocolate” and “Shop Til you Drop.” Though the Saint Cecilia Singers Women’s Choir perform often at the church and around the community, this will be the first time they’ve appeared at the Cumming Playhouse. “I’m really excited that our St. Cecelia singers get to be at the [Cumming] Playhouse,” Smith said. “We’re getting a chance to
sing some of our favorite sacred carols, some new carols and then the really fun, secular stuff you hear when you go in the stores.” Her favorite contemporary carol? “The Hands that First Held Mary’s Child.” It’s included in the Dec. 15 lineup. Tickets are $20 for the show, which begins at 8 p.m. On the Cumming Playhouse website, the Christmas Classics show is billed as “truly a building block in the foundation” of the local venue. This year’s is the 14th annual presentation. “Each year’s show is new and different, spotlighting accomplished local talent,” according to the website. The Saint Cecilia singers are a “pivotal part of this season’s presentation.” Smith is thankful “to share our wonderful singers with the community.” She hopes to continue her work with the group as well as all other musical endeavors of the job. “I can’t imagine doing anything else,” she said. “When you get to come to work every day and you get to make music to the glory of God, what is more fun than that?”
Members of the Saint Cecilia Singers Women’s Choir rehearse during a recent morning at Good Shepherd Catholic Church.
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Behind the scenes of
Ashebrooke’s ‘Night of Lights’ F
or the last 12 years, the residents of Ashebrooke, a west Forsyth County subdivision, have decorated their homes with holiday lights, which are known as some of the best displays in the county. While visitors can drive through the subdivision at any time during the holiday season, one night – the Night of Lights – stands out in particular. On that night, the residents put on a “show” for the community, which includes various interactive stations and donation opportunities. We met with one of the organizers, who was preparing for this year’s Dec. 17 evening. Photos courtesy of Ashebrooke residents
Story by Isabel Hughes
S
usan Cox walks up the stairs from her basement, order forms and luminary bags balanced between her McDonald’s cup and open laptop. Various rows on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet are highlighted in yellow, the papers clipped to her clipboard. Cox, whose family has lived in west Forsyth County’s Ashebrooke subdivision for nearly 14 years, is preparing for the community’s Night of Lights event, an annual fundraiser put on by the subdivision to raise money for a person or people in need. This holiday season will be Ashebrooke’s 12th year holding the event, which Cox has organized for the last several years. The evening, which boasts a live nativity scene, several hot chocolate, apple cider, candy cane and North Pole stations, as well as at least one Santa, welcomes cars filled with children and blankets and pillows, all eager to gaze at the houses’ Christmas lights and fill their bellies with the warm beverages. Cox estimates the subdivision saw about 2,000 cars come through over a four- or five-hour period last year and hopes for more this year. “This year, [the money] is going to a woman in the Continued on 18
The annual Night of Lights at Ashebrooke subdivision boasts a live nativity scene, hot chocolate, apple cider, candy cane and North Pole stations as well as at least one Santa.
It is estimated that more than 2,000 cars came through the subdivision last year to see the lights.
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In addition to donation buckets residents carry with them during the event, money is also raised from luminaries sold to homes in and near the subdivision. Money raised goes to a good cause.
neighborhood who I think is one of the during that housing market [crash], and original [homeowners,]” she said. one of the neighbors said we need to do “She [organized] the Night of Lights a something.” few years back and she was part of our That something turned into more Ashebrooke Architect Committee, so than a decade of lights, which are still she’s done a lot for our neighborhood. shining bright. She has Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma “We were surprised at how much and she went into remission but it money we made, so we just continued,” came back really aggressively earlier Cox said. this year. She just had an autologous Aside from donation buckets that stem cell transplant and she spent 35 residents carry with them during the The Night of Lights tradition started back days in the hospital. She put it as, ‘I Night of Lights, the money comes from in 2006 and has since grown every year. had every possible complication luminaries that are sold to homes both except death.’” within and outside the subdivision. Once again laughing, Cox continues, Each set, which costs $10, contains eight bags, eight candles “I said, ‘well if you’re going to skip one [complication,] that’s probably a good one to skip.’ Her daughter Elise is in high and eight cups of sand. The residents are asked to set out the school and her husband is very supportive but she hasn’t been candles on the designated night and are encouraged to particiable to work in over a year, so there are finances that could be pate, though there is no requirement to, Cox said. helped with. But it’s also kind of nice because we’re giving “Everybody’s pretty good about it and we have a very good back to someone who has helped out in the [subdivision].” neighborhood,” she said. “We have a very supportive, very The light tradition, which has proved a huge success over active neighborhood in the community and within the neighthe years, started in 2006 for a little girl named Jade, who was borhood, even though sometimes we do grumble, when we born with a rare form of eye cancer. need to [get things done], we do. I think part of that is because “If you do an eye test at birth and you find it, you usually we’ve always come together at one point in the year and can deal with it,” Cox said. “But the eye test was not that common at the time that she was born, and she was born with it [done] something. At the very least, all you have to do [during and had lost her one eye and the only place it gets treated — the Night of Lights] is not be on the road for four hours and there are only 300 or 400 people who have it — is in maybe spend $10.” Cox added it’s more than just the money, though. Philadelphia. She went for her checkup in November and “It’s not much,” she said, “but it’s more than it seems found out that her other eye had signs of cancer. [Her mother] Audrey came home to tell her husband Mark and Mark came because we all stop and talk to each other that Saturday mornhome to tell her that he’d been laid off, because that was right ing and it builds community, so we like it.”
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Do It Yourself
Kids’ Christmas crafts We know parents are busy this time of year, so here are some fun crafts to keep the little ones entertained this holiday season, while helping them contribute to the festive decorations.
Time: 30 minutes • Cost: Under $10 Materials: 1 bag googly eyes, Pipe cleaners in desired colors
Wreath 1. Twist green pipe cleaners around your finger to make a spiral. I would recommend attaching the pipe cleaners together prior to twisting. Attach ends together. 2. Weave a red pipe cleaner through the green to make it look festive. Twist red and white (or any color) pipe cleaners together and form into a bow. Have a little extra room on the bow pieces so you can twist it onto the wreath.
Reindeer 1. Twist a black pipe cleaner into a circle, leaving some extra wire at the top to bend into antlers. 2. Attach a tiny bit of red pipe cleaner onto the end of a white one. Bend it into a flat spiral and pull the inside part of the spiral towards you gently. 3. Attach googly eyes.
Christmas tree 1. Bend a green pipe cleaner into a flat spiral. 2. Pull the inside part of the spiral towards you gently.
Compiled by Isabel Hughes
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Do It Yourself
Modern twist on a holiday classic Hanging from doors and windows across the nation, wreaths are a holiday classic. While many choose the traditional pine wreath, here’s a modern twist on the holiday tradition that will add some sparkle to any residence. Time: 1 hour, 30 min Cost: Under $30 Materials: 1 container of 100 shatter-proof, various-sized tree ornaments 1 package of aluminum wire 1 bouquet of holiday flowers, such as poinsettias Glue gun and extra glue
1. Gather materials together, and unwind the wire to make as large or small a circle as you’d like your wreath to be. Cut at the top.
Compiled by Isabel Hughes 20
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2. Start stringing the ornaments. It’s good to have some sort of idea how you’d like them to look. If you string all large, white ornaments together and then switch to another color, the wreath might look blocky and less abstract. 3. Once all your ornaments are on, secure the two ends of the wire together and start weaving in the flower stems. Glue as needed to make them stay as you please and arrange in any order.
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Holiday drinks and appetizers Most holidays are centered on food and drink, part of what makes them so merry. We’ve found some holiday appetizer and drink classics to try this holiday season.
Classic eggnog Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 8 minutes Ready in: 6 hours 28 minutes Ingredients 4 cups milk 5 whole cloves 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 12 egg yolks 1 ½ cups sugar 2 ½ cups light rum 4 cups light cream 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg Directions 1. Combine milk, cloves, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and cinnamon in a saucepan. Heat over lowest setting for five minutes. Slowly bring milk mixture to a boil. 2. In a large bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Whisk together until fluffy. Whisk hot milk mixture slowly into the eggs. Pour mixture into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for three minutes, or until thick. Do not allow mixture to boil. Strain to remove cloves, and let cool for about an hour. 3. Stir in rum, cream, 2 teaspoons vanilla and nutmeg. Refrigerate overnight before serving.
Grandma’s apple pie ‘a la mode’ moonshine Prep: 5 minutes Cook: 20 minutes Total time: 1 hour 25 minutes Ingredients 1/2 gallon apple cider 1/2 gallon apple juice 4 cinnamon sticks 1 whole clove 1 cup white sugar 1 cup brown sugar 3 cups 190 proof grain alcohol (such as Everclear®) 2 cups vanilla vodka Directions 1. Bring the apple cider, apple juice, cinnamon sticks, whole clove, white sugar and brown sugar to a boil in a large pot; reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely. 2. Stir the grain alcohol and vanilla vodka into the cooled mixture. Pour into bottles and refrigerate. Source: Allrecipes.com
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Slow-cooker candied nuts Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 2 hours Ready in: 2 hours 10 minutes Ingredients 1/2 cup butter, melted 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 1 ½ cups pecan halves 1 ½ cups walnut halves 1 cup unbleached almonds Directions 1. In a greased three-quart slow cooker, mix butter, confectioners’ sugar and spices. Add nuts; toss to coat. Cook, covered, on low two to three hours or until nuts are crisp, stirring once. 2. Transfer nuts to waxed paper to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Source: Tasteofhome.com
Appetizer wreath Prep: 20 minutes Bake: 15 minutes plus cooling Total time: prep 20 minutes, bake 15 minutes Ingredients 2 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent rolls 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon dill weed 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 1 ½ cups chopped fresh broccoli florets 1 cup finely chopped celery 1/2 cup finely chopped sweet red pepper Celery leaves Directions 1. Remove crescent dough from packaging (do not unroll). Cut each tube into eight slices. Arrange in an 11-inch circle on an ungreased 14-inch pizza pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for five minutes before carefully removing to a serving platter; cool completely. 2. In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, dill and garlic powder until smooth. Spread over wreath; top with broccoli, celery and red pepper. Form a bow garnish with celery leaves.
Source: Tasteofhome.com December 2017 |
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Movies // Boo watch
Our guide to the month's notable releases Star Wars: The Last Jedi Friday, Dec. 15 The latest installment of the beloved franchise will pick up after the events of 2014’s “The Force Awakens” for Luke Skywalker, Rey and Kylo Ren.
Jumanji Wednesday, Dec. 20 Taking place 20 years after Jumanji, the sequel will feature four teenagers entering a board game and waking up in the bodies of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan.
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oks // Music Irish rockers U2’s 14th studio album will center around a collection of letters from vocalist Bono about people and places near his heart.
Luke Bryan: What Makes You Country Friday, Dec. 8
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U2: Songs of Experience Friday, Dec. 1
Chris Stapleton: From A Room: Vol. 2 Friday, Dec. 1
After releasing From A Room: Volume 1 in May, Chris Stapleton is back with a nine-song follow-up featuring original and cover songs.
Brave Jennifer Armentrout
The third book in the Wicked Saga follows Ivy Morgan after she is captured by a psychotic prince focused on world domination.
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PUBLIC SERVICE NOTICE TO THE FORSYTH COUNTY VOTERS S.R. 400
Forsyth County Services not replicated (not all inclusive): CITY OF CHESTATEE
S.R. 20
CITY OF MATT
CITY OF BETHELVIEW
Propose Forsyth County be divided into: 20 . S.R
S.R
CITY OF SHARON SPRINGS 0
40
.
City of Cumming (County Seat) (Existing Boundries) City of Sharon Springs (East of Hwy 400, South of Hwy 20) City of Bethelview (West of Hwy 400, South of Hwy 20) City of Matt (West of Hwy 400, North of Hwy 20)
- Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office (F.C.S.O.) - Forsyth County Board of Education - Forsyth County Parks & Recreation - Forsyth County Water & Sewer - City of Cumming Water & Sewer - Forsyth County Administration - Forsyth County Recycling Centers - Forsyth County Public Library - Forsyth County Health Department - Forsyth County Fire Department - Forsyth County EMS - Forsyth County Animal Shelter / Animal Control - Forsyth County Magistrate, Probate, State, & Superior Courts - Forsyth County Voter Registrar - Forsyth County Tax Assessor - Forsyth County Tax Commissioner - Forsyth County Tag Office - Forsyth County Park Rangers - Forsyth County Senior Services
City of Chestatee (East of Hwy 400, North of Hwy 20)
Cut Out & Mail In PLEASE TELL OUR FORSYTH COUNTY STATE LEGISLATORS TO ADD TO THE NOVEMBER 6, 2018 BALLOT A VOTE BY FUTURE CITY RESIDENTS FOR:
“…We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.-That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness…” The Declaration of Independence
1. Creation Of The New City Of Bethelview 2. Creation Of The New City Of Chestatee 3. Creation Of The New City Of Matt 4. Creation Of The New City Of Sharon Springs
Name: Address: Mail To: 4 New Cities, P.O. Box 422, Cumming GA 30028-0422
Proposed Duties of each new City (not all inclusive): - Create a new Comprehensive Plan for land use, housing, economic development, transportation, and quality of life standards. - Create a new Unified Development Code (UDC) replacement ordinance which implements and regulates the new Comprehensive Plan. - Code Enforcement of ordinances, building inspections, and soil erosion & pollutants. - Govern all zoning actions using the Comprehensive Plan to eliminate Spot Zoning. - Issue all [ordinance] permits and [business] licenses (excluding those issued by the F.C.S.O., Health Dept., Fire Dept., water & sewer, etc.). - Obtain Georgia EPD Local Issuing Authority (LIA) certification to issue Land Disturbance Permits (LDP). - Govern all sanitation, landfills, power plants, waste transfer stations, MARTA, roads, bridges, storm water, etc. - Collect all zoning, use, permit, and license fees. - FoCo Voter approved SPLOST shall be used to construct each new city hall complex. - Redistribution of FoCo Maintenance and Operation (M & O) Real Estate tax and SPLOST to each new city. No Real Estate tax increase for property owners to create four new cities, but possibly a decrease by trimming government fat. - City elections outsourced to FoCo Voter Registrar.
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A helping
HAND
Connecticut man builds prosthetic for local 12-year-boy
Story and photos by Kelly Whitmire
T
he first things you notice about Will Miller are his outgoing personality and sense of humor, but he has some other unique features, too. Will, 12, received a new 3D printed prosthetic arm Oct. 10 through Enabling the Future (also known as e-NABLE), a network of those seeking prosthetics and the volunteers who print them. He is still getting used to it. “It’s been a bit hard trying to learn how to use it because I’ve never had an arm for 12 years,” he said. “It’s pretty weird having it, but I mean, hey, it’s pretty convenient … you can shake hands, you can fist bump people.” Will’s mom, Debbie Miller, said getting the arm took more than two years. Before getting the arm from e-NABLE, the family worked with an organization out of the University of Central Florida to link Will with a prosthetic arm maker, but that fell through when the volunteer lost his full-time job and could not devote as much time to making prosthetic arms, which also dropped Will to the bottom of the request list. Before that, Will got a prosthetic hand through e-NABLE, which wasn’t exactly what the family needed. Then in July, Will’s mom, Debbie Miller, put out another listing for an arm. Within a week, two volunteers had responded they could make the arm. The family chose John Landreneau from Connecticut, who
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THE LIFE | December 2017
Will Miller, 12, adjusts his new 3D prosthetic arm he received through Enabling the Future. Top photo, Miller grasps an apple with his the arm, which he opens and closes by using his elbow.
originally bought a 3D printer for personal projects but felt there was a better use. “It kind of hit me that it really isn’t worth buying the printer if it isn’t running most of the time, so I started looking for some charitable means and stumbled upon the e-NABLE community,” he said. After making a few arms for people in Ghana, Landreneau picked Will’s as his first American request. “He said that he wanted that particular model, which looks like the [comic book] character Deadpool’s,” Landreneau said. “Deb Miller gave me his dimensions then I kind of tweaked the parameters in the model and printed them out. My end is fairly easy; the printer does the majority of the time involved.” Landreneau said his smallest arm, for a child in Ghana, took about 60 hours to complete, while adult arms could take 120-160 hours. Each arm is made up of about 20 pieces that Landreneau then has to assemble, including some parts that must be baked in an oven. “Baking a hand,” Will said. “That’s weird. Will’s arm ends just a few inches below his elbow and moving his elbow inward moves strings that close the hand. “It can pick up small lightweight things,” Landreneau said. “I think the goal is to produce an arm that can pick up … a water bottle.” Miller said it was unlikely Will would have gotten an arm if not for Landreneau and the organization. “Insurance companies tend to not want to spend a lot of money for prosthetics for kids because they’re constantly growing and that makes it obsolete quickly,” she said. “The 3D printing technology makes it so much less expensive.” She said Will has learned to do tasks without the arm, so learning to use it has been an adjustment, but a bigger
Top photo, before getting his arm, Will Miller received a 3D printed hand. Left, Connecticut-based arm-maker John Landreneau sent Will extra fingers along with his arm. Below, the hand has limited motion, but Miller is happy to use it for fist bumps.
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It’s pretty weird having it, but I mean, hey, it’s pretty convenient … you can shake hands, you can fist bump people.
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THE LIFE |
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change may be in how others perceive his arm. “Instead of kids thinking, ‘oh no, something bad happened to him, he’s lost part of his arm, oh my gosh.’ Because kids always think there was an accident,” she said. “Now when you have this arm, it’s something that’s cool. Kids aren’t as concerned with, ‘oh my gosh, what happened to you?’ It’s like, ‘oh wow, look at that arm. It’s so cool.’” Will is also serving as a test subject of sorts for Landreneau, who is constantly tweaking the design of the arms and adding new features. “The request I have from [a woman] in Turkey, she wants to be able to use some utensils, so I’ll be able to send to Will the prototype and he can give me the feedback quickly on whether it works or not or what I need to change, so I can get a solid product out to the international folks,” Landreneau said. Another addition would let Will type with the hand. His mother is grateful for that. “This is the beginning of our journey because John wants to make attachments, he wants to see what he can do to make it better for Will,” Debbie Miller said. “Then what he learns through Will, he’ll share with other people he makes arms for.”
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THE LIFE | December 2017
Will shows off his new arm with his mom, Debbie Miller, outside their west Forsyth home.
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