Life in Forsyth 2012 by Forsyth County News

Life in Forsyth

Your guide to the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top county for

natives and newcomers July 29, 2012

Guide explores ‘Life in Forsyth’ Welcome to our 2012 issue of Life in Forsyth, where you will find the most current information about Forsyth County’s many features. We live in a wonderful county that continues to add amenities that enhance our residents’ quality of life. Forsyth boasts a positive business climate, supported by our Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce. Many agree that such business growth is desirable, while managed in a way to maintain and enhance our quality of lifestyle. Life in Forsyth is a “must read” and “must use” publication for all residents, whether new to our community or not. Our commitment is to bring you a guide that is useful, providing answers and serving as an information source for living here. If you’re new to the county, this section will help guide you as you set up utilities and put you in contact with local schools, services and churches. You’ll also find information on local recreation and sports, as well as law enforcement agencies and medical care. The governments of Cumming and Forsyth

County are both active entities. Life in Forsyth helps you get to know your local representatives on the county commission, city council, school board and state legislature. The Forsyth County News is your local news source. We Hall invest resources in reporters who bring you the news and stories of the community. Our commitment is to keep you informed and to help make sense of the issues. We also hope to entertain you with coverage of local high school sports, arts and activities in our ever-changing area. If you don’t currently subscribe to Forsyth County News, I would like to extend an offer to receive our newspaper free of charge for 60 days. No one covers this county, which we’ve called home since 1908, like we do. We are your local news source in print and online at forsythnews.com. Give us a call at (770) 205-8951 and ask for your free 60-day trial subscription. John Hall Publisher

Inside this section Library

Water and sewer

School system

Electricity

County govt.

Fairgrounds

Commission

Senior center

City council

Parks

Elections

Life in Forsyth

Public safety

Hospitals

Courts

Driver services

As part of our special Life in Forsyth section, the Forsyth County News’ reporting staff explores some fun facts and trivia about the area. The “Did you know?”pieces can be found throughout these pages. Whether a newcomer or an oldtimer, you’ll find useful tidbits about Forsyth to remember and share. And study hard, ’cause you never know when there might a pop quiz.

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Check out our Facebook Page @ Facebook ID: North Cumming 1715 Friendship Circle | Suite 100 | Cumming, GA 30028 Phone: (470) 253-7349 | Fax: (470) 253-7352 PAGE 2 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 3

Forsyth continues to grow Drops in rankings, but 33rd in the nation By Jennifer Sami

jsami@forsythnews.com

Things have slowed down since Forsyth was named the nation’s fifth fastest-growing county in 2006, but it’s still growing. The U.S. Census Bureau released its 2011 population numbers last week, revealing Forsyth County was the 33rd-fastest-growing county in the nation. “Since late 2007, beginning of 2008, there was a real decline in residential growth of the community and that was a result of national trends,” said James McCoy, president and CEO of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce. “If you look around the country, people aren’t moving like they have

been in the decade prior. “All of that kind of goes back to if you can’t sell your house, you’re not going to move. And if you don’t have a job, you’re not going to move.” But McCoy also said the county has been able to avoid being impacted as significantly as others in the nation, largely because of its commercial growth and quality education, he said. C e n s u s d a t a s h ow Forsyth growing from an estimated 175,511 people in April 2010 to about 181,840 people in July 2011. L a s t y e a r, o n e o f Georgia’s least populous counties, Charlton, was considered to be the country’s fastest growing. The south Georgia county added an estimated 1,251 people, a 10.3 percent

increase, between 2010 and 2011. In contrast, Census officials estimate Forsyth added about five times the people, which amounted to just a 3.6 percent increase in the larger county’s population. The estimates are the first glimpse at the population since the decennial census in April 2010. Census officials say the data shows new patterns in population growth nationwide, but continues to show that metro areas in the Southern and Western regions of the United States are among the fastest growing. Hall County has long been the population center of northeast Georgia, but the 2011 estimates show Forsyth County’s growth could make it

more populous than Hall by the end of this year. Forsyth had some 1,200 fewer people than Hall in 2011, according to the numbers. Adam Hazell, planning director for the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission, said it’s because of the different patterns of growth. The commission helps 13 northeast Georgia counties plan for future population growth. In the last decade, both Forsyth and Hall became attractive landing pads for residential and retail developers, offering land that was cheaper than metro Atlanta. “Metro Atlanta was where the jobs are,” and Forsyth and Hall, “on the fringes of it — that’s where the houses were going to go,” said Hazell. But the two developed differently. Forsyth’s proximity to densely pop-

Realtor Gloria Buice shows a house to a couple looking to move to Forsyth. According to recent Census data, the county is the 33rd-fastestgrowing in the nation. Autumn Vetter Forsyth County News

ulated Atlanta fostered additional high-density growth, Hazell said. Forsyth, Hazell said, is more likely to have highdensity townhome developments than Hall County. McCoy said for now, the housing market, once oversaturated in Forsyth, will come back, but at a much more conservative rate. “We are all learning from that lesson,” he said. But the county will still

continue to grow, McCoy said, because “we have rock solid schools, we have low taxes, we have great parks and recreation facilities and there’s just great economic opportunities to be had here.” “It’s just a great place to live.” FCN regional staff reporter Ashley Fielding contributed to this article.

Report: County rates second-healthiest in Georgia By Jennifer Sami

jsami@forsythnews.com

Forsyth County got a little bit healthier this year. According to a recent study, the county is the second-healthiest in Georgia, a step up from last year’s third-place ranking. The study, created by the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program, measures longevity and health attitudes to determine a county’s ranking. “We have so much to be proud of,” said Lynn Jackson, Northside Hospital-Forsyth administrator. “Your health is invaluable, so having a healthy place to live just adds on to the benefits of

living in this community. We have a great school system, a great community overall and a great hospital. I just think it’s another attraction for us.” Forsyth’s ranking was second only to Fayette County, south of Fulton. The study reviewed areas like social and economic factors, clinical care, physical environment and access to healthy foods and fast food restaurants. Health behaviors also were looked at, including adult smoking, drinking, motor vehicle crashes and teenage birth rates. Forsyth exceeds the state average for negative factors

PAGE 4 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

only in excessive drinking — 18 percent compared to the state’s 14 percent. Statistics show about 23 percent of the county’s adults are obese, 13 percent are uninsured, and about 8 percent in poor or fair health. The University of Wisconsin compiled the rankings using data from 2006-08. The study was done for each county in all 50 states with the goal to connect local communities with leaders to improve health nationwide. Access to recreational facilities was also an indicator used in the study, one that Jackson said is often overlooked but cru-

cial to health. “If you’re trying to live a healthy lifestyle, having the ability for walking trails and good outdoor parks is what attracts people to us, I believe,” she said. Mary Helen McGruder, who helped launch the Forsyth County Parks Foundation, said the county’s parks system is strong because it’s what the community has asked for. “Our residents, through their support of the parks and recreation bond, and SPLOST have shown that they know the importance of exercise and outdoor activities,” she said. “With the new recreation centers, the

greenway and hiking at Sawnee Mountain, local residents have unparalleled opportunities not only to enjoy recreation but to stay healthy.” Jackson said the hospital has made it a goal to continue improving the county’s health, beginning with its efforts to attract more primary care physicians. According to the study, the need is one of a few weak points for Forsyth. Forsyth’s current ratio is 2,303 residents per every physician, as compared to 1,024 for the state and 619 for Fayette. Attracting physicians, however, shouldn’t be hard, Jackson said.

Study finds health, economic vitality are high here By Jennifer Sami

jsami@forsythnews.com

When combining health and wealth, Forsyth is among the top counties in the state. According to a recent study, Forsyth ranks third in the state when combining county health outcomes with economic rankings. Forsyth followed Oconee and Fayette counties, which tied for the top spot. James McCoy, president and chief executive officer of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce said the county’s ranking is a “result of a lot of very positive factors.” “There has been strong leadership for a long time and those folks have been working for … years to help put the things in place that have helped make this community so great,”

Thursday, October 4th : Friday, October 5th : Saturday, October 6th:

McCoy said. “There have been really good decisions made along the way as we have grown and continue to make wise investments in the infrastructure that supports our very high quality of life.” The Partner Up! for Public Health Campaign’s Health & Economic Power Ratings were funded by the Healthcare Georgia Foundation and used health rankings from the University of Wisconsin and economic rankings from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The project is being managed by Hayslett Group. The rankings are part of a larger campaign called “Connecting the Dots: Community Health & Economic Vitality,” which is aimed at educating the public

and leaders about the relationship between the health of local populations and economies. “You’d think this would be i n t u i t i v e ,” s a i d C h a r l e s Hayslett, CEO of Hayslett Group. “We all know that we’re more productive when we’re healthy than when we’re down with a cold or the flu or something worse. The same is true at a community level. “As we’ve pursued this campaign over the past couple of years, it’s become more and more apparent that this linkage simply is not well appreciated by a lot of people, including some in leadership positions.” To that end, he continued, they decided they needed to “try to reintroduce the concept into the public dialogue about health status and the role of the public health system in secur-

ing and improving the health of all Georgians.” Macon County in southwest Georgia finished last in the study. Cherokee, Gwinnett and Cobb counties were included in the top 10, with neighboring Hall County ranking 13th. The study looked at earlier research from the university, which ranked the state’s counties by how healthy people feel and how long they live and other various health standards like obesity statistics, access to clinical care and violent crime rates. In that study, Forsyth ranked second, following Fayette County, which is south of Atlanta. “There are several takeaways from this,” Hayslett said. “The most basic is that if a county does well in either health status or economic vitality, it’s likely

to do well in the other and vice versa. “If they do poorly in one, they tend to do poorly in the other. The clustering appears to be strongest at the top and bottom of the list.” McCoy said since the construction of Ga. 400, the community has been welcoming those who take their health and financial stability seriously. “People who are financially stable and successful — and I would add, too, well-educated — are very focused on their health,” he said. “And on the other side of that is the organizations like Northside Hospital-Forsyth that have made really, really wise investments that have helped us to stay healthy.”

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Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 5

Three library branches serve Forsyth County From staff reports

The Forsyth County Public Library has three branches, one in Cumming at 585 Dahlonega Road, the Sharon Forks Branch at 2820 Old Atlanta Road and the H a m p t o n Park Branch at 5345 Settingdown Road. Library cards are free to county residents. Besides thousands of books, each branch includes computers and fax machines for use, books on CD and DVDs for checkout. Last year, the library restored some of the hours that had been cut in 2010 to meet budget restraints and allow for the opening of the Hampton Park branch. All the locations are now open longer on Saturdays, two branches have restored regular opening times on Tuesday and at least one branch stays open until 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. All three branches open at 10 a.m. every weekday and Saturday, with the exception of Hampton Park on Tuesday, which has a delayed 1 p.m. opening to accommodate its later closing. Each branch closes at 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, with a rotating schedule for those closing at 8:30 p.m.

The names of many local roads and landmarks reflect Forsyth County’s rich history. Names such as Jot Em Down and Settendown are enough to make many newcomers pause. Roads are typically named after or by people who live or who formerly lived along that particular stretch. Frank Clark of the Bell Center compiled information written by Don Shadburn that reads, “Many of the names familiar to current Forsyth Countians are a legacy of the first known residents of north Georgia: the Cherokee, Creek and

PAGE 6 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

The Cumming branch stays open later on Tuesday and Thursday, Hampton Park on Tuesday and Sharon Forks on Monday and Tuesday. All locations are open 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays. The library launched its eLibrary last year, which provides materials formatted for electronic readers. Other online resources include a foreign language learning program, an investment research tool and online audio books for children. Plans are also under way for a fourth library on Post Road and a fifth on Wallace Tatum Road. The construction of the Post Road Library started this month with a target opening date of July 1, 2013. The library also offers several programs for adults, such as book clubs, and for children, including popular storytimes. The library also holds Family Cinema programs, showing free films at its Hampton Park Branch. For more information about the library, call (770) 781-9840 or log on to www. forsythpl.org.

Muskogean tribes. Rivers and waterways especially, bear the descriptive and lyrical names given to them by these early inhabitants.” For example, “Settendown Creek was named for Chief Settendown, whose tribe was located on its banks. This road is especially rich in history,” according to Shadburn. Added Bell: “Evidence of thousands of years of Native American history can be found across the topographical ace of Forsyth County.” — McKenzie Stanford

The land that makes up Forsyth County was once part of the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee arrived in the area about 1755, after being pushed by white settlers and treaties, said Myra Reidy, vice president of the Historical Society of Forsyth County. Members of the Muscogee also settled in Forsyth, said Reidy, who is also a member of the GeorgiaTrail ofTears Association. Those tribes were removed in the late 1820s and early ’30s, but the removal of the Cherokee down the infamousTrail ofTears began in May 1838. In Georgia, 14 or 15 forts were established as part of the process, Reidy said. Fort Campbell was located in Forsyth’s northwestern corner. The exact location has not been determined, but historical society research indicates it was on the

Etowah River near Old Federal Road. According to the 1835 U.S. Census, Forsyth County had the largest population of mixed Cherokee ethnicity. One of the most recognized names in Forsyth is that of Chief Sawnee. Believed to be of mixed Cherokee and Shawnee lineage, he lived west of the mountain that bears his name, according to “Unhallowed Intrusion” by local historian Don Shadburn. Legend has it that the older Sawnee opted to be buried in the mountain with his riches, said Reidy, who quickly added that’s not true. According to Shadburn, it’s believed that Sawnee stayed a few years before following his relatives to Oklahoma. — Alyssa LaRenzie

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Students, staff aim for ‘superior performance’ By Buster Evans

Forsyth County Schools Superintendent

Excellence in education has been the standard for Forsyth County Schools since the district was established in 1860 as one of the first successful free public school systems in Georgia. FCS’ vision is “quality learning and superior performance for all,” not just for students, but for the staff and community. Forsyth County Schools is led by the Forsyth County Board of Education, which consists of five members who are elected by district to staggered, four-year terms. The primary role of the board is the legislation of the school system policies, which are executed under the direction of the school superintendent. For a list of board members, as well as their contact information, visit www.forsyth.k12. ga.us/boe. Forsyth County Schools

serves close to 38,000 students and is the largest employer in the county with over 4,200 full-time employees and 1,500 substiEvans tutes. Out of 180 school districts, FCS is the ninth largest school system in Georgia. FCS is home to 36 schools: • 20 elementary • Nine middle • Five high schools • One non-traditional charter school with night academy • One 6-12 online school Despite the economic downturn, FCS has continued to add new students over the past five years. Last year alone, 1,400 new students and their families joined the Forsyth County School District. This growth is comparable to adding a

new school similar to the size of Sawnee Elementary each year. To assist with the growth, FCS is opening Kelly Mill Elementary School this fall. However, at this time there are no available funds to construct additional schools. After completing three successful Strategic Plans and receiving District Accreditation in the spring, FCS will dedicate six months of the 2012-13 school year to constructing a new plan to guide the system from 2013-16. The new plan will: • Excite FCS and enable it to thrive in challenging times. • Build on the success of and improve upon the three previous Strategic Plans. • Align and focus the entire school system with measurable outcomes. • Reassess the district’s vision, mission and beliefs. • Involve internal and external

stakeholder using various communications tools. • Support school improvement plans and annual department goals. We encourage all stakeholders to visit www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/ SP1316 to provide input for constructing the new Strategic Plan. If you have the opportunity to visit one of our schools you will find some of the best teachers in the nation and a rigorous curriculum created specifically for every child. We know that more is constantly being demanded of our students academically. With the everchanging landscape of the world and workforce, not only must today’s graduates be proficient in core academic subjects, they need to be critical thinkers, problem solvers and effective communicators. They need global awareness, economic, financial, and civic literacy. No matter what the future

holds for each student, these 21st century skills will be demanded of them. We are integrating 21st century learning skills with rigorous and relevant academic instruction which are in line with district’s Strategic Plan. One of our top priorities is to continue to raise the bar so students gain the skills they will need to compete in an economy that runs on information and demands vision and innovation. Keeping pace with the technology is a focus for our staff. Although the district is again faced with reduced local and state funding that has led to unprecedented budget challenges, through shared commitment, thoughtful planning and a strong accountability system, we will continue to offer the extraordinary education programs that this community has come to know.

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Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 7

Board of education The Forsyth County school system grew from one high school to five in about 20 years. In 1988, the school district had about 8,000 students. The small, still largely rural community had no idea how quickly it would grow, said Dan Jones, the system’s finance director. “People had told us that Forsyth was going to be the place to go, was going to grow, but we never had any idea that it would be that fast,” Jones said. “I think in about 1995-96, we realized the growth was here and we had to start preparing for it in building schools.” By that time, the lone high school, Forsyth County High, had some relief. South Forsyth

opened in 1989, at which time Forsyth County High became known as Forsyth Central. From there, North Forsyth opened in 1994, followed by West Forsyth in 2007 and Lambert in 2009. The system has grown by an annual average of 1,500 students, with as many as 3,000 students one year, Jones said. In 2012, there were more students in the local high schools than the district’s entire student population from the late 1980s. And when school starts in August, some 9,500 of the system’s more than 38,000 students will attend high school. — Jennifer Sami

At a glance

School registration is available at the Hill Educational Center, located at 136 Elm St. in Cumming. The Registration and Records Office can be reached at (678) 947-0863, Ext. 0, to schedule an a p p o i n t m e n t t o r e g i s t e r. T h e Registration Center hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Register early, walk-ins are taken between or after appointments. Entering kindergarten and first grade: According to Georgia law, children must be 5 years old by Sept. 1 in order to enroll in kindergarten and 6 years old by Sept. 1 to enroll in first grade. The only exceptions are students who were legal residents in another state for a period of two years immediately prior to moving to Georgia, or are 5 by Dec. 31 and who attended an accredited kindergarten in another state may enroll in public kindergarten. Students who are 6 by Dec. 31 and who attended an accredited school in another state may enroll in first grade. The biological, foster or adoptive parent should enroll the student. If the stu-

For a list of schools, attendance zones and items needed to register, visit www.forsyth.k12.ga.us

PAGE 8 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

dent is not living with the biological, foster or adoptive parent, a temporary guardianship form must be obtained from the Probate Court located at 112 West Maple St. in Cumming. The court can be reached at (770) 781-2140. The guardian must have a court order to allow the student to register. A photo ID will be required for parents and guardians. To enroll in Forsyth County Schools, the student’s parents or legal guardian and the student must be a full-time resident of Forsyth County. Forsyth County Schools must have all required information upon registration for students to be enrolled and to receive a schedule for the upcoming year. After the school year begins, provisional enrollment for 30 days may be extended in areas of proof of residence or proof of age. If those proofs are not received within 30 days, the student will be withdrawn.

District 1 — Ann Crow Ann Crow, an Atlanta native and graduate of Auburn University, began her third term on the board in January 2011. She, husband Roger and their three daughters became Forsyth County residents in 1984. Crow is executive vice president of Crow Crow Financial Services Inc., a business services firm. She has served the Forsyth County community as a director, officer and campaign chairwoman of the United Way; member and past president of Sawnee Woman’s Club; and officer and director of the Cumming/Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce where she led establishment of the chamber’s education committee. In addition, Crow was the cochairwoman of the 1996 school system Strategic Plan Initiative, which is the system’s operating guide today; member of the Board of Education’s Blue Ribbon Task Force, Standard Bearer Evaluation Committee and 2001 SPLOST Referendum Committee.

District 2 — Kristin Morrissey Kristin Morrissey has a computer science degree from the State University of New York and Monroe Community College. She also studied microelectronic engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology. Morrissey retired after 16 years as an automation specialist for the Monroe County Library Morrissey System. Morrissey and husband Joe have two children, Mackenzie and Sydney. She also graduated from the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and Leadership Forsyth. She’s a member of the

Forsyth County Library Board of Trustees, Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce Quality of Life Council and is secretary for the Forsyth County Community Connection. Morrissey was elected to the school board in November 2010 to replace Mike Dudgeon, now District 24 state representative.

District 3 — Tom Cleveland, chairman Raised in DeKalb County, Tom Cleveland moved his family to Forsyth County in 1995, where his two sons attended Forsyth County schools. He began his second term on the board in January 2009. Cleveland is employed by Sage Software as the leader of HR operations and has spent Cleveland his career implementing information technology solutions, with the past 10 years specializing in the human resources area. Cleveland served as the cochair of the Vision 2010 steering committee, member of the teacher of the year selection committee, sex education committee and other various roles in the school system. He currently serves as a worship team member at First Baptist Cumming, a disaster assistance team member with the American Red Cross and a member of the Amateur Radio Emergency Services group within the county.

District 4 — Darla Light, vice chair Raised in Forsyth County, Darla Light graduated from Forsyth County High School and attended the University of Georgia, where she majored in special education.

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FROM 8

BOE She began her term in January 2009. She and husband, David, a former educator, live in Forsyth County with their three children — Christopher and Payton, both of whom are graduates of Forsyth County Schools and are enrolled in college, and Carlin, a student at North Forsyth Light High School. Light has served as a PTSO officer at elementary and middle schools and coached middle school basketball. She is a member of FCSÕ 2400 Challenge Committee, is active in the North Forsyth 400 Rotary Club and is a small business owner.

District 5 — Nancy Roche Nancy Roche, who began her third term on the board in January 2009, has a B.S. in computer science and mathematics. She has previously worked as a

private schools Cornerstone Schools 4888 Browns Bridge Road Cumming, GA 30041 www.cornerstonesch.com Pre School: Cheri Davis, director, (770) 205-6860 Elementary and Jr. High: Angela Martin, head mistress (770) 205-8202 Enrollment: 200 Students Head Mistress: Angela Martin Covenant Christian Academy 6905 Post Road Cumming (770) 674-2990 www.covenantrams.org Grades: K4-12 Enrollment: 230 Headmaster: Johnathan Arnold Friendship Christian School 3160 Old Atlanta Road Suwanee, GA 30024 (678) 845-0418 www.fcsga.org Grades: K-12, Enrollment: 121 Principal: Vasily Lantukh PAGE 10 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

systems analyst for IBM. A member of the Forsyth County Board of Education since 2001, Roche served as chairwoman in 2003 and from 2005-2008. She was appointed to the Georgia School Board Associations Board of Directors in June 2007. She has served GSBA on the strategic planning committee, governmental operations committee, nominating committee and serves as a presenter and mentor for new board members. Roche Roche is a member of the Deer Creek Shores Presbyterian Church where she sings in the choir, teaches Sunday school and serves on the Christian Education Committee, the Preschool Board of Directors and the Presbyterian Women. She is also member of the Forsyth County Republican Party and the Republican Women. Roche’s husband, Chris, is retired from IBM. They have three children: Christopher, Andrea and Terry. Horizon Christian Academy 2160 Freedom Parkway Cumming (678) 947-3583 www.horizonchristian.org Grades: K-12 Enrollment: 197 Headmaster: Gary Bennett McGinnis Woods Country Day School 5368 McGinnis Ferry Road Alpharetta (770) 664-7764 www.mcginniswoods.org Grades: Infants-eighth grade Enrollment: 450 Principal: Mary Johnson Pinecrest Academy 955 Peachtree Parkway Cumming (770) 888-4477 www.pinecrestacademy.org Grades: PreK3-12 Enrollment: 850 Head of School: Robert Presutti

Several Forsyth County schools have deep roots in their communities. Take Chestatee Elementary, for example. In 1929, the Chestatee community in northeastern Forsyth worked to build a school that would allow children to get an education beyond sixth grade. Most of the communities had a one- or two-room school house, and students had to travel to Cumming or another county for a higher education, according to a presentation prepared by Melanie Roper, a Chestatee Elementary teacher. Residents worked together to build a high school, buying 5 acres on Jot Em Down Road for $275, according to Roper, whose ancestors helped with the project. In 1931, Chestatee School opened on the site that now hous-

area colleges Brenau University 500 Washington St., S.E. Gainesville, GA 30501 (800) 252-5119 www.brenau.edu Devry Institute of Technology 2555 Northwinds Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30009 (770) 619-3600 www.devry.edu Dogwood Institute Inc. 11675 Rainwater Drive Suite 248 Alpharetta, GA 30009 (770) 751-9571 www.dogwoodinstitute.com Gainesville State College 3820 Mundy Mill Road Oakwood, GA 30566 (678) 717-3639 www.gc.peachnet.edu Georgia Perimeter College Alpharetta Campus

es the elementary school of the same name. It later became Chestatee High School. But that’s not to be confused with the present day Chestatee High, which opened a decade ago a few miles away in Hall County. Though none of the original Chestatee School buildings still exist, “the memories are still there,” said principal Polly Tennies. Several of the current employees attended the elementary school as children or had older generations of their families who worked at or went there,Tennies said. “It has a very strong place in the heart of people in that area,” she said. “There’s a strong connection that way.” When interviewing prospective employees, Tennies noted she’s always sure to share the school’s history because of its significance. — Alyssa LaRenzie

3705 Brookside Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30022 (404) 413-7878 www.gpc.edu Georgia State University Alpharetta Campus 3775 Brookside Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30022 (404) 413-2200 www.gsu.edu Lanier Technical College Main Campus: 2990 Landrum Education Drive Oakwood, GA 30566 (770) 531-6300 Cumming Campus: 7745 Majors Road Cumming, GA 30041 (770) 781-6800 www.laniertech.edu North Georgia College & State University 82 College Circle Dahlonega, GA 30597 (706) 864-1400 www.ngcsu.edu

Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 11

colleges

Lanier Tech makes strides For the Forsyth County News

Lanier Technical College has had an exciting year so far in 2012. The college was awarded accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges on its first credentialing presentation. The SACS COC accreditation opens more opportunities for current and future Lanier Tech students to continue on their higher education and broadens their career opportunities. The SACS COC accreditation means that credits earned by Lanier Tech students will be easier to transfer to other institutions of higher learning, making the students’ higher education pursuits easier to attain. The Commission of the Council on Occupational Education also accredits Lanier Tech. The college’s summer term 2012 has a total enrollment of nearly 2,300 students, with more than 500 students enrolled at the Forsyth campus. The local campus is an educational provider hub of in-demand programs of study in the areas of business and computer, technical and industrial, personal and public services and health care. The programs of study offered at the Forsyth campus have proven to support the local community with welltrained graduates with needed skills for many industries. Lanier Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, serves as the foremost work force development resource for Banks, Barrow, Dawson, Forsyth, Hall, Jackson and Lumpkin counties by providing technical education, customized industry training, adult education. Located on the Forsyth campus, the Forsyth Conference Center is designed for conferences, seminars, corporate meetings, receptions, trade shows, weddings, proms and many other public and school events. The main facility has 14,000 square feet that can be divided into eight rooms for smaller meetings, an executive boardroom and training classroom, which is available for additional meeting space. The conference center assisted the college in bringing more than 46,000 people to the Forsyth campus. For weddings and social events, the center offers flexible options to meet community needs in an elegant, affordable setting. The center offers a range of services, including audiovisual, wireless Internet, video conferencing and laptop rentals, among others. PAGE 12 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

NGCSU a boost to region By Crystal Ledford

cledford@forsythnews.com

An area college made a big impact last year not only on students but the economy. According to a recent report from the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega contributed nearly $172 million and accounted for more than 1,900 jobs in fiscal year 2011 throughout a six-county area that includes Forsyth. The other counties are Lumpkin, Hall, Dawson, White and Union. The report measured the economic impact of the University System of Georgia and its 35 member institutions. In total, the report showed that Georgia universities had a $13.2 billion economic impact on the state’s economy. “Comparisons of the FY 2011 estimates to those for recent years show that our public college and universities really proved their economic worth during tough economic times,” said study author Jeffrey M. Humphreys in a statement. “Without exception, each college or university is an economic lynchpin of its host community.” As a member of North Georgia’s region and host to the college’s master of business administration degree program, which has been housed on the fourth floor of Cumming City Hall for several years, Forsyth has benefited from the Dahlonega-based institution. However, those benefits likely will multiply as a new permanent satellite campus of the school and Gainesville State University soon will open. Sherman Day, director of the new campus, which has been dubbed University Center | GA 400, said the $7 million, 38,000-square-foot facility on Pilgrim Mill Road is “on track” to open to students in midAugust. The location is near the Cumming Aquatic Center and Driver Services Center, as well as what will eventu-

ally be a National Guard Armory. “The builders are telling us they would like to turn the building over to us on the sixth or the eighth of August,” Day said. The Georgia Board of Regents earlier this year approved the consolidation of North Georgia and Gainesville State College into one institution that will be called University of North Georgia. The two schools officially will become University of North Georgia in January. In the meantime, Day said classes would be held under the two universities. “We’re on two different schedules for this semester,” he said. “Gainesville classes will all start on the 13th [of August] and the North Georgia classes will all start on the 20th. “We will actually start moving things into the building around the first of August.” While Day said an economic impact study hasn’t been conducted for the new campus, he predicted the site will only help the local economy. “The reason we haven’t [done an economic impact study] is because we haven’t looked at what the full potential of this is going to be yet, but it’s becoming clear to us that the potential is very great,” he said. “We’re already starting to talk about what are we going to do when this building gets full.” Day said he anticipates opening the semester with anywhere between 250 and 300 students. “We’ll be starting with over 100 [credit] classes and we’ll have several full programs like the MBA program that will be run completely here. “We’ll have a two-year nursing program from start to finish here. We’ll have all the core curriculum that anyone needs to pursue majors, so we’ve got a wide range of offerings here and it’s going to do nothing but grow.” Bobby Thomas, chairman of the Forsyth County Development Authority, said the new campus should help draw new businesses

and industry. “It’s hard to put a number on the economic impact,” he said. “But I just know that as we try to recruit different business or industry to come into the county, higher education is always an important factor on [prospective businesses’] checklists.” While the county has as strong track record of landing new businesses, with an average of four new leads each month according to information from the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, Thomas said the college site could help generate more. “While we’re able to attract a lot of companies even without [a permanent college campus] in Forsyth County, having that available here in the county would really be a big help of maybe getting some of those [companies] that we’re missing now and just don’t know it,” he said. “Any industry looks at the educational facilities for their workers, how educated are our workers going to be, what are the availability of resources for education. So it’s an important factor certainly with business coming in as well as existing business and quality of life.” In addition to the some 100 credit courses at the new site, Day said the campus will also provide close to 40 non-credit, continuing education classes to the community. He said many of those have been developed based on needs of the Forsyth business community. “For example, we saw in the newspaper recently about the number of companies with a German origin,” he said. “So [staff members] are working right now with several of those companies to talk about beginning languages [classes] to help infiltrate those people into the community.” Overall, Day said the new campuses will provide a range of educational opportunities to many different types of students. “We’re going to offer a great opportunity for people at any level to start, to transfer, to come back — all kinds of opportunities for all those folks at a reasonable price,” he said.

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Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 13

Forsyth County government The Forsyth County government employs about 1,327 people who help ensure day-to-day operations run smoothly. The following information is a general list of county departments and contacts new residents should be familiar with, along with a brief description and contact information. Unless otherwise noted, normal operating hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. The county government Internet address is www.forsythco.com.

Administration County Manager Doug Derrer Deputy County Manager Tim Merritt Phone: (770) 7812101 The Forsyth County manager’s office manages the day-to-day operations of the county on behalf of the chairman and the Derrer Board of Commissioners. Duties include ensuring tax dollars are spent and accounted for in a responsible manner and responding to the needs and concerns of county citizens.

Clerk of Court Greg Allen Chief Deputy Clerk James Parks Phone: (770) 781-2120 The Clerk of Court office manages court proceedings for Superior and State courts. This includes civil, criminal, misdemeanor and traffic. The clerk also Allen maintains the jury management program, which includes summons and preparations for jury trials. In addition to court, the following

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A phone call to Atlanta from Cumming was long distance as recently as about 20 years ago. And 25 year ago, Forsyth still had more than 100 miles of countymaintained dirt road. Such statistics are a stark reminder of just how quickly the county has become a part of the metro Atlanta area. Landline phone service in the county began in 1906 with 31 lines and had expanded to nearly 700 by 1950, said Ann Elsas, spokeswoman for AT&T in Georgia. Toll-free dialing expanded to include the county in the “larger Atlanta footprint” in the early 1990s, Elsas said. Longtime county resident Neida Streit said she remembers her father being cheered by the news of free calls “all the way to Atlanta.”

Before that, Streit said parts of Forsyth were even a long distance call from each other. In 1987, Forsyth had 108 miles of unpaved county roads and even more state or private roads with gravel, said John Cunard, director of engineering. A county policy enacted in the early ’90s allowed residents to request that their roads be paved and taken under the county’s stead, Cunard said. Today, about 31 miles of county road, most of them near Lake Lanier, remain unpaved, he said. In most of those cases, the county hasn’t been able to purchase the needed right of way to pave the road. “Some people like the character of the gravel road,” Cunard said. — Alyssa LaRenzie

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PAGE 14 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

Discover

FORSYTH COUNTY’S Parks

A world of fun, adventure and fitness awaits… right in your backyard!

Forsyth County’s parks are a great place for families, fun and fitness. Whether playing basketball or working out at one of the county’s three recreation centers, hiking a trail at Sawnee Mountain Preserve, enjoying the outdoors at one of the new passive use parks, or participating in one of the many classes and programs offered, you are sure to find something for every member of the family at Forsyth County’s parks. Discover Forsyth County’s parks today!

Fowler Park Recreation Center 4110 Carolene Way 770.886.4088

Central Park Recreation Center 2300 Keith Bridge Road 678.455.8540

The recreation centers feature basketball gyms, walking tracks, fitness rooms, classrooms, facility rental spaces, on-site registration and more!

Old Atlanta Park Recreation Center 810 Nichols Road 770.205.4646

Forsyth County Parks

1. Bennett Park 2. Big Creek Greenway 3. Caney Creek Preserve 4. Central Park 5. Charleston Park 6. Chattahoochee Pointe 7. Chestatee Community Building 8. Coal Mountain Park 9. Ducktown Community Park 10. Fowler Park 11. Haw Creek Park 12. Joint Venture Park at Daves Creek 13. Midway Park 14. Old Atlanta Park 15. Poole’s Mill Park 16. Sawnee Mountain Park 17. Sawnee Mountain Preserve and Visitor Center 18. Shady Grove Campground 19. Sharon Springs Park 20. South Forsyth Soccer Complex 21. Windermere Park 22. Young Deer Creek Park

FORSYTHCOUNTY Parks and Recreation offers • • • •

Sports leagues, instructional programs, camps and fitness memberships Wide variety of amenities Recreation programs for ages 1 ½ and older Facility rentals for meetings, parties and other group events

Learn more: visit www.forsythco.com/parks or call 770.781.2215 Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 15

Forsyth County government FROM 14

County are filed and kept in this office: all real estate records (deeds, liens, plats), UCCs (finance statements), notary public commissions, trade names, military discharge records and practicing attorney certificates. Contacts and extensions: • Lola Cook, Real Estate Recording - 2686 • Fran Gravitt, UCCs - 2690 • Shelia Heard, State & Superior Court Criminal - 2664 • Pam Burns, Traffic - 2666 • Barbara Phillips, Superior Court Civil - 2680 • Ernestine Barrett, State Court Civil – 2665 Code Enforcement Department Phone: (678) 513-5893 The mission of the Forsyth County Code Enforcement Department is to develop partnerships with our citizens and those who conduct business in Forsyth County, and to preserve and improve quality of life issues by providing Forsyth County with a safe, healthy and quality environment. Six code enforcement officers patrol geographically assigned zones assisting citizens with code enforcement related issues. The department’s goal is compliance before citation, by encouraging our citizens to participate in keeping our community a safe and clean place to live, work and play by obeying codes and reporting possible violations.

Communications Director of Communications Jodi Gardner Phone: (770) 781-2101 The Forsyth County Department of Communications serves as a county information resource for the community, elected officials, employees and the media by providing professional assistance with a commitment to accuracy and integrity. The department operates TV Forsyth, the county PAGE 16 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

government’s cable channel on Comcast channel 23, creates and distributes publications, including “The Current” monthly electronic newsletter, and works with the media to provide information to citizens.

Emergency Management Agency EMA Director Danny Bowman EMA Coordinator Lorraine Morris Phone: (770) 205-5674 Forsyth County Emergency Management Agency is the local lead agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities for Forsyth County and the city of Bowman Cumming. FCEMA’s mission is to provide a comprehensive and aggressive mitigation and emergency preparedness, response and recovery program for the citizens of Forsyth County in order to save lives, protect property and reduce the effects of disasters.

Engineering Director John Cunard Assistant Director Tim Allen Phone: (770) 781-2165 The Department of Engineering represents a functional grouping of divisions meeting a common goal - to provide for the county’s infrastructure needs through proper placeCunard ment and maintenance of roadways, drainage structures, pedestrian walks and traffic control devices. Our mission is to put citizens first as we promote the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Forsyth County.

See COUNTY | 18

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Forsyth County government FROM 16

County Extension Service Forsyth County agents Michele S. Melton and Stephen Garton Phone: (770) 8872418 The Forsyth County Extension Service is part of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the College of Melton Family and Consumer Sciences. It is also an educational division Garton of the Forsyth County Board of Commission and the Forsyth County Board of Education. Its purpose is to bring current research and information to the people of Forsyth County in the areas of agriculture/environment, family and consumer sciences and 4-H/youth development. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people

without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or handicap status. Information can be accessed by way of phone calls, e-mail, classes, newsletters, Web site and by an extensive pamphlet library located at the Extension Office.

data and make recommendations to assist County management in making financial decisions. Several responsibilities fall under the administration of the Finance Department: Accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, budget, financial reporting, treasury.

Finance Department

Fire Department

Finance Director/ CFO David Gruen Phone: (770) 781-3088 Located in the Forsyth County Administration Building, the Forsyth County Finance Department’s mission is to be the centralized focal point for overseeing financial programs/ activities, providing financial leadership and Gruen expertise to county managers, and interpreting county goals/policies. The Finance Department administers the county budget, treasury, accounting and internal audit, assuring compliance with all federal, state and local laws. The department provides financial support to all county departments in the implementation of goals/objectives established by the Board of Commissioners; advises County officials on debt matters, accounting issues and other financial matters; analyze financial

Chief Danny Bowman Phone: (770) 781-2180 The Forsyth County Fire Department protects life, property and the environment from the ravages of fire and all other emergencies, both natural and man-made, and provides citizens and visitors with emergency medical pre-hospital care in a highly effective manner with the best trained personnel possible. The department is comprised of a combination of both paid and volunteer firefighters. At present it employs 126 career firefighters and 13-plus volunteers. Also there are 16 employees working in administration.These firefighters spread throughout the county.Twelve of the 13 stations are staffed by paid firefighters. Our goals are as follows: • Prevent incidents from occurring through code enforcement, public education and fire prevention activities. •To mitigate hazards by handling all requests for service in a professional manner. • Provide the highest

PAGE 18 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

quality of service in a caring and professional manner. • Encourage and support employee development, enhancing proficiency and professionalism. • Promote the health and safety of our employees.

Parks, Recreation Department Director Jerry Kinsey Assistant Director Tommy Bruce Phone: (770) 781-2215 The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the residents of Forsyth County by pro-

viding quality programs, facilities and opportunities. Kinsey The spring/ summer schedule of events is available online.

community in an effort to provide valuable planning and development services that promote quality development and help create communities that will be enjoyed for generations to come. The divisions include: planning, business license, building permits and inspections.

Planning and Community Development

Senior Services

Director Tom Brown Phone: (770) 781-2115 The Planning and Community Development Department’s mission is to develop partnerships with all members of the

Interim Director Valerie Rhoads Phone: (770) 781-2178 Forsyth County Senior Services’ mission is to be the focal point where older adults gather for services and activities that respond

See COUNTY | 19

Forsyth County government

WE CAN HELP YOU!

FROM 18

County to their diverse needs and interests, enhance their dignity, support their independence and encourage their involvement in their community.

Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Ted Paxton Phone: (770) 7813056 The Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to serving and protecting the community through dedication, profesPaxton sionalism, active cooperation with the community and respect for human dignity.

Tax Assessor’s Office Chief Appraiser Mary Kirkpatrick Phone: (770) 781-2106 The Board of Tax Assessors is responsible for determining what real and personal property is subject to taxation in Forsyth County and estimating the market value. Staff compile the tax digest and administer the various types of homestead and property tax exemptions.

Tax Commissioner’s Office Tax Commissioner Matthew C. Ledbetter Phone: (770) 7812110 The mission of the Tax Commissioner’s Office is to collect and disburse all taxes and fees due the state, county and schools in a timely manner, and Ledbetter to provide residents quality customer service by applying Georgia laws with integrity and fairness.

Voter Registrar’s Office Chairman Board of Registrations and Elections Donald Glover Phone: (770) 781-2118 The office is committed to the enhancement of democracy through the promotion of voter education and the maintenance of a legitimate, impartial and valid electoral process.

Water and Sewer Department Director Tim Perkins Phone: (770) 781-2160 The mission of the Water & Sewer Department is to provide Forsyth County with the highest quality of water and sewer service through progressive leadership Perkins and environmental stewardship.

County Coroner’s Office Coroner Lauren McDonald III Phone: (770) 205-3011 The coroner is required to investigate the circumstances and determine the cause and manner of death for various reasons including deaths that are sudden, not McDonald under a doctorÕs care, suspicious, unusual or unexplained. The coroner is also called to investigate deaths that are the result of violence or unlawful due to criminal neglect.

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Forsyth County Commission The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners conducts the vested interests of county government including approving zoning requests and ordinance changes. It is made up of five members, each living in and elected by a district to serve staggered four-year terms. The five members annually elect one of their own to serve as chairman, vice chairman and secretary for the year. The board meets in regular session twice a month, on the first and third

District 1 Commissioner — Pete Amos Phone — (678) 513-5881 Commissioner R.J. “Pete” Amos was elected in 2010 to serve as the District 1 representative. Amos replaced Charles Laughinghouse, who decided not to seek a third term. Amos won the seat in the county’s first districtonly voting election for Amos the district, which covers the city of Cumming and west Forsyth. He is a former member of the Forsyth County Planning Commission and served as the chairman for six years. The Forsyth County native is also a small business owner whose family has lived in north Georgia for generations. Amos is a state licensed master plumber, state licensed building contractor, state licensed class IV water operator

Thursday. The meetings begin at 5 p.m. in the commissioners’ meeting room on the second floor of the County Administration Building in downtown Cumming. Public hearings before the commissioners are conducted once each month on the first Thursday beginning at 5 p.m. at the same location. Public hearings on rezoning requests are before the planning commission monthly on the fourth Tuesday and begin at 6:30 p.m. All meetings are open to the public.

and state licensed GSWCC Level 1A. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in business administration. Amos has served on the Cumming United Methodist Finance Board, has been a member of the Forsyth Rotary Club for over 20 years and has served as treasurer and sergeant at arms for the Forsyth Rotary Club. His community involvement also includes serving for two years as president of Forsyth Central High School Football and Basketball Booster Club and coaching youth football, baseball and basketball. Amos and his wife, Catherine, have one grown son, Slate.

District 2 Commissioner — Brian R.Tam Phone — (678) 513-5882 Commissioner Brian Tam was elected in 2004 to serve on the board as the representative from south Forsyth. He ran successfully for re-election in 2008. Tam has been a resi-

PAGE 20 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

dent of Forsyth County for more than 17 years and is a local restaurateur with more than 25 years’ experience in the service industry. Tam currently manages the restaurantTam’s Backstage in the lower level of the Cumming Playhouse and Blue Tam Grass Lakes Café off McFarland Parkway. Serving as the district commissioner in south Forsyth,Tam has worked in negotiating various proposed projects between developers and adjacent property owners. Before taking office, he was involved with the county school system in different arenas including school business councils, the Leadership Forsyth program and also as a partner in education. In 2008, he was one of nine statewide recipients of the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals’ Patron award. Tam also served on the board of the Forsyth

Forsyth County had a sole commissioner form of government until the 1970s, when a five-member panel was first elected. Leroy Hubbard served as a commissioner from 1976-88 and earned $125 per month, plus $10 or $15 for extra meetings, said son Tim Hubbard, who is a 2012 candidate for District 4 commissioner. Commissioners now earn about $34,900 annually and the chairman, who the commissioners appoint among themselves, receives about $36,700. The elections have also become a bigger event. “Folks knew you and that’s what it was,” he said. “Back in that day, you’d been here all your life, so folks know how you work.” Up until the 2010 election, the commissioners were elected by Restaurant Group, the board of directors for the local chamber of commerce and as co-chairman of the 2003 1-cent sales tax campaign. He graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in management. Tam and his wife, Kelly, have three children and attend Browns Bridge Community Church.

District 3 Commissioner — Todd Levent Phone — (678) 513-5883 CommissionerTodd Levent was elected in 2010 to serve as the District 3 representative. The district covers the southwestern corner of Forsyth County. He was elected by his peers to serve as secre-

county-wide voting, but were required to live in the district they represented. A 2009 change in the local law switched the setup to district-only voting. Donald Glover, chairman of the board of elections, said the district lines have changed a lot from when he was on the commission from 1981-84. Forsyth’s larger population has also changed the scope of the commission’s authority to a focus on budgets, Glover said. “Because of a small budget, we had to have very small ambitions back then,” he said. “People got really excited if we were going to be able to buy one park in a year or a new bulldozer.” — Alyssa LaRenzie

tary in January. Levent said he chose to run for county commissioner to do his part to help make Forsyth County the best place in Georgia to raise a family. Levent He serves as the commission representative on the Forsyth County Animal Control & Shelter Advisory Committee and is a member of the Forsyth County Mental Health Criminal JusticeTask Force. Levent was voted by the commission to serve on the SPLOST VII Jail/Courthouse Project Team. A native of North Georgia, Levent is a custom home builder and

remodeler. From 1989 to 1994, he served as a deputy marshal in Fulton County and was also a member of the S.W.A.T. team before starting his business. Levent is active in youth athletics and is a member of the First Redeemer Church. He and his wife, Dana, are the parents of Jared and Alexandria.

District 4 Commissioner — Patrick B. Bell Phone — (678) 513-5884 District 4 Commissioner Patrick Bell, serving his first term in office, represents northern Forsyth County. In January, he was appointed by his peers as the board’s vice

See BOC | 21

Forsyth County Commission FROM 20

BOC

chairman for the second consecutive year. Bell is a graduate of the Georgia Academy of Economic Development and is committed to diversifying the tax digest in order to ease the burden placed on taxpayers. A focus on bringing jobs and business to Forsyth County is a priority for Bell, who sees the need to maintain quality growth in the approBell priate sectors. Bell considers himself to be a staunch supporter of property rights and continually works to eliminate bureaucracy, government intrusion and protect the rights of our citizens. Earned in his first year in office, Bell is the eighth Forsyth County commissioner to receive the Certified County Commissioner designation through the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). He is currently working on completion of the Certified County Commissioners Advanced Program (CCAP) with scheduled completion being in the spring of 2012. In 2011, Bell was tapped to serve as a member of the Training Review Committee for ACCG where he participates in the review of training methods and materials utilized by ACCG in training all of the state’s county commissioners. Bell, a Forsyth County resident since 1999, is a small business owner in the apparel industry and a Georgia Certified Mediator and offers consulting services to other Georgia counties. He is active with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and has been an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 254, serves as a Unit Commissioner and is on the Etowah District Committee.

Bell was a 2008 recipient of the BSA’s District Award of Merit, the highest award presented to a district volunteer. In 2010 Bell became a Scouting Ministry Specialist through the General Commission on United Methodist Men. Bell is a member of the Board of Trustees of Bethelview United Methodist Church, where he and his family are active members.

District 5 Commissioner — Jim Boff Phone — (678) 513-5885 Jim Boff is serving his fourth year on the Forsyth County Commission, after being elected in 2008. He represents District 5, which includes much of eastern Forsyth. At the start of this year, he was elected chairman of the Boff board by his peers. Boff is retired from a career in technical sales support of voice, data and optical fiber switches. Prior to taking office, he served as the chairman of Forsyth County’s SPLOST VI Citizens Transportation Projects Selection Committee, which helped prioritize road projects completed with the use of one-cent sales tax funds. Boff said he believes that the county government is overall doing better than it ever has before, but that there is still much work to be done to continue enhancing quality of life in Forsyth County. Boff and wife Cindy have two daughters, Emily and Lillian. They have lived in Forsyth County for 18 years and attend Cumming First United Methodist Church. He and his family are active in the community, and Boff volunteers at The Place of Forsyth occasionally as driver of the bread and produce truck. He enjoys tennis and stereo equipment and is a member of the Cumming Kiwanis Club.

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State legislators Senate State Sen. Jack Murphy — R District 27 Sen. Jack Murphy was elected to the state Senate in 2006. He previously served two terms in the state Murphy House of Representatives. He serves Senate District 27, which covers parts of Cherokee and Forsyth counties. Murphy serves on the Senate Appropriations, Insurance and Labor, Ethics and Public Safety committees. He is chairman of the Banking and Financial Institutions Committee and ex-officio of the Transportation Committee. Murphy has six adult children. He and his wife, Linda, live in Cumming. Murphy’s Capitol address is Coverdell Legislative Office Building, Room 304, 18 Capitol Square, Atlanta, GA 30334. He can be reached by calling his office at the Capitol (404) 6567127 or home number (770) 781-9319. State Sen. Steve Gooch — R District 51 Steve Gooch was elected to serve District 51 in November 2010. He and wife Shannon live in Dahlonega with

their three sons. Gooch serves on the Senate Economic Development, Government Oversight, State and Local Governmental Oper– ations and State Institu– tions and Property committees and Gooch is secretary of the Senate Transportation Committee. Gooch earned his master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from North Georgia College & State University. He is in commercial real estate. Gooch’s capitol address is 321-B Coverdell Legislative Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334. His Capitol phone number is (404) 6569221. State Rep. Amos Amerson — R District 9 Rep. Amos Amerson represents the 9th House district, which includes a portion of northern Forsyth. Amerson, a native of Washington County, is a retired Army lieutenant colonel and earned a degree in nuclear engineering with a specialty in radiation

PAGE 22 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

safety, a master’s degree in quantitative methods and a doctorate in economics and statistics. Amerson serves as chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee. His wife, Anne, is a writer who has kept a record of the Amerson history of Dahlonega through four novels. His Capitol address is Room 401-G State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334. His Capitol telephone number is (404) 657-8443 and district number is (706) 864-6589. State Rep. Mark Hamilton — R District 23 Mark Hamilton, who serves District 23, was sworn into office in January 2007. Hamilton is the founder, president and CEO of H&H Staffing Services Hamilton Inc., a staffing firm, and Applied-Wisdom LLC, an executive coaching and consulting firm. He is chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee and also serves on the Industrial Relations,

See LEGISLATORS | 23

The Northern Arc may have died in a Forsyth County home. The proposed traffic corridor, which would have eased eastwest connectivity between Interstates 75 and 85, quickly caught the attention — and ire — of several area residents. Gerry Conway said the revolution began one night in the 1990s at Cathy Linderman’s home. “Nobody left that house until we formed a committee,” she said. “We named it the Northern Arc Task Force. And if I was starting a business, I’d have all those people come work for me.” The task force, including then state Sen. Rusty Paul, led the charge to stop the arc, which would have roughly paralleled Hwy. 20 across Forsyth.

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“It was a road that was going through pristine neighborhoods. People had just bought homes,” Conway said. Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt said the arc would have helped alleviate congestion, but it “could have had more study to it.” Then Gov. Sonny Perdue eventually killed the plan in 2003. But Conway wants to be clear — the task force wasn’t against connecting the two interstates, just this particular design. “They should have gone further out and built another perimeter,” she said. “… I’ve always said if they would fivelane Hwy. 20, there wouldn’t be a problem.” — Jennifer Sami

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Legislators Appropriations, Transportation and Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications committees. A graduate of Texas A&I University, Hamilton and wife Sandy have three daughters and two grandchildren. Hamilton’s Capitol address is 218 State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334. He can be reached at the Capitol at (404) 656-5132. His district number is (770) 844-6768. State Rep. Mike Dudgeon — R District 24 Mike Dudgeon, who serves District 24, was elected in November 2010. Prior to being sworn in Jan. 10, Dudgeon served a term on the Forsyth County Board of Education. As a legislator, Dudgeon serves on the House Education,

Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications and Science and Technology committees. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech, holds four U.S. patents and has been in the technology business Dudgeon his entire career. Dudgeon and his wife, Lori, have three boys. His Capitol address is 608 Coverdell Legislative Office Building, Atlanta, GA 30334. He can be reached at the Capitol at (404) 656-0298. His district number is (770) 490-7983.

Ga. 400, built from the mid1960s until 1981, helped make Forsyth County a bedroom community for Atlanta. For nearly three decades, Doug Sorrells drove from his Forsyth home to Marietta for a job at Lockheed Martin. When he first started with the company, the commute took him down Hwy. 9 through Alpharetta. “It was a two-lane road, so if you got behind a slow car, there was no way to pass,” he said. “It was nerve-wracking and dangerous.” Once Ga. 400 was built, “it probably took off a third of my travel time,” Sorrels recalled. Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt remembered how traffic on Hwy. 9 thickened as Forsyth’s

population grew. “It would take you about four hours to drive to Atlanta and back.” Gravitt said. “Ga. 400 was built … to try to alleviate some of that congestion.” The new highway did much more than that for commuters. It provided direct access and exposure to Forsyth. “Businesses and industries have moved here because of Ga. 400,” Gravitt said. Today, Forsyth commuters find themselves in a similar position to Sorrells decades ago. “It has just got to where the traffic is so bad,” he said. — Jennifer Sami

Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 23

Cumming City Council Mayor

Council members

H. Ford Gravitt First elected mayor in 1970 H. Ford Gravitt is a native of Cumming and Forsyth County. He has served more than Gravitt four decades as mayor of Cumming. Before being elected mayor, Gravitt served as a city councilman.

Quincy Holton First elected in 1969 Native of Cumming and Forsyth County, Holton has served more than 40 continuous years as a city councilman. Holton is retired from Sawnee Holton Electric Membership Corp. with 40 years of service to the company. Holton and his wife, Shirley, have two children, Gary and Nina.

The Cumming City Council meets every third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. inside the City Hall Council Chambers.

Lewis Ledbetter First elected in 1970 A native of Cumming, Ledbetter has more than 40 years of continuous service as a city councilman. Ledbetter Ledbetter is self-

employed in the printing business and is the owner of Cumming Printing. Ledbetter and his wife, Barbara, have two children, Lori and Matthew, and four grandsons. Ralph Perry First elected in 1979 Perry is a native of Cumming and Forsyth County. He is retired from Sawnee Electric Membership Corp. He has served the city of Cumming as councilman Perry for more than three decades. Perry and his wife, Joyce, have two children,Tim and Cindy. John D. Pugh First elected in 1993 A native of Cumming and Forsyth County, Pugh is a local businessman. He

worked for 14 years with Wilson and Co. and currently is a partner in Pugh Brothers Garage. Pugh has been a city councilman for 17 years. Pugh has one daughter, Marsha, and two grandPugh children. Rupert Sexton First elected 1970 A fifth generation native of Cumming and Forsyth County, Sexton is a U.S. Army veteran, 1961-63. Sexton is an agent with Cotton States Insurance. Prior to his insurance sales career, Sexton he was in auto sales in the North Georgia area. Sexton has four children, Pam, Angie, Kim and Jason, and five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

FORSYTH COUNTY NEWCOMERS AND WOMEN’S CLUB “One of the best ways to make new friends in Forsyth County, and where new acquaintances become lifelong friends.”

The Forsyth County Newcomers and Women’s Club offers numerous social activities and events to help you get involved and make new friends. There are daytime and evening activities, community service activities, and activities that include spouses/significant others. The Forsyth County Newcomers and Women’s Club is open to women who are new to the area as well as those who have lived here forever and finally have the time to enjoy social activities. We are a wonderful mix of ladies from various backgrounds ready to meet, greet, and welcome you.

ViSiT US FOR A PREViEW LUNCHEON As a prospective new member we encourage you to join us at a luncheon for a no-obligation preview visit. Our luncheons are held on the third Thursday of each month.

For more information visit our website at www.newcomersclubofforsyth.org Or contact us at P.O. Box 545, Cumming, GA 30041 Member of the Cumming - Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce PAGE 24 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt has been involved in city politics for nearly half a century. Gravitt has served as mayor of Cumming since 1970, and spent the four years prior as a city councilman. “I didn’t anticipate it to be a lifetime job,” he said. Gravitt credits his relationship with James Otwell, who founded Andean Chevrolet, where he worked after school. “He was a mentor to me … I got interested in politics because he was a state representative and I worked on his election,” Gravitt said. “He felt like I was material to serve in public office.” As for his length of service, Gravitt said one project just led to another, from luring industry to improving infrastructure.

“We just wanted to make Cumming a place that when you got out of school you could hopefully find a job.” He said some of the projects of which he’s been most proud include the first public park in Forsyth County on Pilgrim Mill Road, as well as the Cumming Aquatic Center, which opened in June 2011. Perhaps most pleasing is the satellite campus of North Georgia College & State University that will open to students in August. The campus, University Center | GA 400, is across from the aquatic center. “That’s going to pay our community great, great dividends,” he said.

THE CUMMING PLAYHOUSE PROUDLY PRESENTS... Smoke on the Mountain September 6 – 30 Thursday, Friday, Saturday 8 pm Sunday 3 pm Matinee

Playright Productions once again returns to the Cumming Playhouse with the all time favorite and most attended show of the Cumming Playhouse – Smoke on the Mountain. Yes, this is the original group and when you see them you will feel as if they are returning home. They seem as happy about coming back as we are to have them come! Some things just can’t be improved upon and Playright Productions presentation of Smoke on the Mountain is a fine example.

— Crystal Ledford

DEATHTRAP

Elections, voting information Elections Supervisor Barbara Luth and her team of employees are responsible for conducting elections in Forsyth County and registering voters in the area. They also ensure that candidates are properly registered and meet correct legal requirements for elected office.

Registration

Voters must be registered with the county’s elections office 30 days prior to an election date in order to participate. Forsyth County residents have many outlets for registering to vote that include registering when they get their driver’s license or picking up an application in a county library. Residents who renew their licenses are asked at the time of renewal if they want to register to vote. But if applicants don’t receive a voter registration card, applicants should cont a c t t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f Vo t e r Registration and Elections. The application must be filled out completely and include the applicant’s full name, a resi-

dential address (not a post office box), date of birth and Social Security number. Residents also can apply by printing off an application from the Forsyth County Web site, www.forsythco.com. Applicants must click on the link for departments at the top of the county’s home page. On the department page, applicants must select the Department of Voter Registration and Elections and the page will automatically redirect you to the voter registration page. On the left side of the page there will be a link for “voter registration application.” This form must be printed, completed and mailed to the registrar’s office. The quickest application process is to apply at the elections office in the county administration building. Polling hours for all county and municipal elections are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 See ELECTIONS | 26

Oct 11 - Nov 4 Thursday, Friday, Saturday 8 pm Sun. 3 pm Matinee PG-13 suggested Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a “dry” spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college—a thriller which Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway hit. Sidney’s plan, which he devises with his wife’s help, is to offer collaboration to the student, an idea which the younger man quickly accepts. Thereafter suspense mounts steadily as the plot begins to twist and turn with devilish cleverness, and with such an abundance of thrills and laughter, that audiences will be held enthralled until the final, startling moments of the play. The Cumming Playhouse, 101 School St. Cumming, GA 30040 www.playhousecumming.com 770.781.9178 Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 25

Chamber builds on momentum By James McCoy

President and CEO CummingForsyth County Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber of Commerce has been a partner for many years in a joint initiative with Forsyth County government, the Forsyth County Development Authority and the City of Cumming to maximize the economic development opportunities for our community. This is a strong partnership that yields significant results. In 2011, the chamber participated in 16 economic development projects that are projected to generate more than 1,000 new jobs within our community, and about $43.7 million in new capital investment. This year alone we have worked on eight economic development projects that are projected

to bring 314 new jobs to our community and $15.7 million in new capiMcCoy tal investment. The chamber has also fostered the development of the Healthcare Association of Forsyth County. This business unit of the chamber held four workshops this year for practice administrators and invited Donald Palmisano Jr., the executive director and CEO of the Medical Association of Georgia, to speak to physician HCA members. The HCA spearheaded the third annual Boulder Dash 5K, which involved 1,300 participants and raised $15,000 in support of the Forsyth County Parks Foundation.

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Elections p.m. during early voting and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday during advanced voting.

Voter qualifications

To register to vote in the state of Georgia, you must be: • A citizen of the United States • A legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you wish to vote • At least 18 years of age by election day Also, you may not register to vote if you are currently: • Serving any sentence imposed by the conviction of a felony.

PAGE 26 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

The organization recently played host to its annual Jazz in June event. More than 140 health care professionals enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and jazz while networking within their field. The year 2012 still holds quite a bit in store for the HCA. The organization’s health care summit is scheduled for October, focusing on the “State of Health in Forsyth County” and the effects of obesity in our community. Finally, HCA plans to end the year offering several more physicians’ workshops and the much anticipated Mingle Jingle event in December. The Small Business Services Center of the chamber works with hundreds of business owners to assist them in the areas of start-up, expansion, retention and recruitment.

• Judicially determined to be mentally incompetent. Note: You do not have to register by political party to vote in the state’s regular primaries or general elections. All registered voters must present a valid photo identification in order to vote.

Advance voting

Georgia municipalities conduct advance voting procedures in an effort to shorten lines at the polls on election dates. The week prior to an election, registered voters in Forsyth County can visit five specific locations to vote ahead of time on candidates and other issues that are on the ballot. Voters should bring a verifiable form of photo identification with them.

So far this year, the SBSC has worked on 14 projects within these areas of attention. The SBSC holds ongoing small business roundtables with SCORE designed to be a monthly, facilitated, discussion group for small business owners to work through the day-to-day challenges of owning a business. Since the beginning of 2012, the SBSC has served more than 173 clients. This year’s Small B u s i n e s s Aw a r d s Luncheon was held in February and garnered more than 90 nominations. The chamber’s annual Small Business Expo is set for Aug. 16 at the Forsyth Conference Center and is anticipated

to surpass previous years with new and exciting elements. With a new focus on tourism development, the chamber has made great strides in this area in 2012. The chamber’s visitors guide has been distributed to all 11 state welcome centers and can be found online at www. Georgia.org. The chamber was represented at three national tradeshows, marketing the community’s facilities, hotels, parks and recreation centers. Emphasizing the importance of “staying where you play,” the chamber continues to excel in the sports market, moving teams into local hotels and increasing the eco-

It wasn’t long ago that Market Place Boulevard, widely considered the retail hub of Cumming, was little more than a strip of land. “It stayed undeveloped for the longest time [after a developer acquired it in the 1980s],” said Former County Commissioner Julian Bowen of the now vibrant corridor. In 1997, Home Depot opened. It was soon joined by Walmart. At that point, the developers, JDN Corporation, successfully requested the property be annexed from the county into the city. As new stores such as Lowe’s opened, that land was also annexed into the city. Market Place Boulevard originally ended at the Walmart parking lot, Bowen said.

nomic impact of these guests to our community. The chamber continues to be a liaison between county businesses and sports entities to identify future partnership opportunities. The chamber’s success in bidding for national events and tournaments is due in large part to the great venues available in Forsyth County. The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce is focused on the core initiatives that create wealth and promote better community life. That has been our focus since our inception in 1954. Come build your business and our community with us.

With the success of the first few big box stores, the developer, state and county worked together to fund a road extension from the parking lot to Buford Dam Road. Before you knew it, you had BJ’s and all that was developed,” Bowen said. The road has since been extended to Bald Ridge Road, luring even more retailers. “It means we’re growing,” said James McCoy, president and CEO of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce. “The amenities that are provided there are top-notch, they’re great retailers and it’s a great environment.” — Jennifer Sami

Active, vigilant agency ensures quality of life For the Forsyth County News

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is charged with the responsibility of serving and protecting the county’s citizens and visitors. Led by Sheriff Ted Paxton, the 388 employees — 295 of them sworn peace officers — of the sheriff’s office strive to set a standard of excellence for others to follow. Every member of the sheriff’s office is committed to professionalism, integrity and honor. In keeping with these worthy objectives, the employees operate according to the sheriff’s office mission statement, which reflects the fundamental principles of the organization: “To serve and protect through dedication, professionalism, active cooperation with the community, and respect for human dignity.”

The office is made up of a variety of divisions and units, focusing on different areas of public safety. Uniform Patrol actively patrols neighborhoods and businesses, responding quickly to calls for service and proactively preventing crime. Special Operations supplements uniform patrol with the HEAT/DUI unit, mounted patrol, school resource officers, marine patrol, bike patrol and motors unit. The Criminal Investigations Division has investigators trained in property crimes, special victims, narcotics, white collar crimes, identity theft and computer crimes, a victim advocate specialist unit and an award-winning crime scene specialist unit. The county’s animal control is also handled by the sheriff’s office.

Forsyth County’s jail has been downtown for more than a century. The location of the detention center has been a frequent talking point in recent years, as officials wrestled with where and how to build a new facility. The county’s first and second jails, built in 1866 and 1883, both burned down on separate sites in Cumming, according to “Forsyth County: History Stories” by Annette Bramblett. Each was near the then courthouse. Known as “the old jail” to many longtime residents, the third building was erected in 1893 on West Maple Street in the parking lot next to the present day Tyson’s plant. The condition of that facility became a concern of grand juries as early as the 1940s, but the exist-

ing jail wasn’t built until the 1970s. The old jail was dilapidated and had little heat, said Wesley Walraven, who was county sheriff starting in 1976. Walraven said the current facility opened in January 1977 with 50 beds and later expanded to 64. The site was probably selected because the county owned it. “There was an old county barn there that they used for the road department,” he said. “I believe [the jail] was built with sales tax revenue.” The jail was expanded to its current size with a capacity for nearly 200 inmates in the early 1990s. And it’s about to get larger. Voters approved an expansion of the facility in the November 1-cent sales tax referendum. — Alyssa LaRenzie

See AGENCY | 30

Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 27

A Family Tradition for

64 YeArs

Pictured from left to right: Jacob, John, James, Janet, Jim, and Joseph Otwell

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James Otwell Jr. opened Andean Chevrolet 64 years ago, naming the business after daughters Patricia Anne and Sara Dean – coining the well known Andean name. Today it is still owned and operated by the founder’s son, daughter, daughter-inlaw and four grandsons. Thank you Forsyth for making Andean your favorite Chevy Dealership.

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Safety priority for fire department From staff reports

The Forsyth County Public Safety Complex houses the county’s fire department headquarters, 911 center and emergency management agency. The facility, completed in July 2006, also allows the county to hold regional training programs for fire and law enforcement personnel. It is located at 3520 Settingdown Road in northern Forsyth County. The complex includes two structures, one for Fire Station 12 and another for fire administration offices, emergency operations, emergency communications and law enforcement training. The facility also houses training grounds for fire and law enforcement and a motor maintenance area.

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Agency The Headquarters Bureau has deputies and other employees who facilitate the safety of the detention center, transport inmates, serve civil papers and provide a safe, secure environment for those visiting and working in the county courthouse and other judicial facilities. In November, voters approved SPLOST VII, an extension of the special local option sales tax that will fund construction of a new courthouse and expanded detention center. Plans are under way, with completion of the facilities set for in or near 2015. All of the office’s units and divisions and their employees understand the importance of community policing. Partnering with the community has proven to reduce crime and improve quality of life in Forsyth. The sheriff’s office does this via several programs: Neighborhood Watch; B u s i n e s s Wa t c h ; C i t i z e n s ’ L aw Enforcement Academy; Seniors and PAGE 30 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

Fire Station 12 includes four 80-foot bays, sleeping quarters and other amenities with a total area encompassing 12,455 square feet. The administration portion of the complex has an upper and lower level totaling 36,680 square feet. The upper level of that facility, at 20,720 square feet, houses the fire department headquarters and offices for law enforcement training, while the lower level, at 15,960 square feet, includes emergency communications. In addition to Station 12, the fire department includes 12 other stations throughout the county. A total of 12 of the stations are manned. The department works to maintain a

The local fire department in Forsyth County was a volunteer force up until the late 1990s. Given the size of the county, that often comes as a surprise to many newcomers. According to department records, the force started in 1972 after a local mobile home fire prompted a county resident to action. He realized Forsyth needed more protection and so organized residents to start volunteering to help keep the county safe. The county’s first fire engine was reportedly donated by a commissioner who made a pre-election promise to provide one for the department. They called it old “Beeler

Munda.” In 2005, the volunteer program was officially halted, though about 10 members were allowed to stay and help. Fire Capt. Jason Shivers, who has been on the force since 1998, recalled how the department “started in a barn and has grown to what it is.” Today the fire department is a full-time career for the fireman. They are on duty to protect residents. “Volunteers laid the foundation for the professional fire services that our citizens enjoy today,” said Fire Chief Danny D. Bowman. — McKenzie Stanford

See FIRE | 31

Contact For more information about the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office or to learn more about community programs offered: contact (770) 781-2222; go online at www.forsythsheriff.org; “like” them on Facebook (https://www. facebook.com/ForsythCountySO); or follow them on Twitter (@ ForsythCountySO). If you need to report suspicious activity or a criminal incident, call 911 or non-emergency dispatch at (770) 781-3087. To anonymously report crime, call CrimeStoppers at (770) 8887308.

Lawmen Together; Safe Kids Forsyth; P.R.I.D.E., or Parents Reducing Injuries and Driver Error, courses; Explorers’ Program; and more. Deputies also teach crime prevention topics at various community meetings, civic groups, children’s organizations and church groups.

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Fire

professional relationship with all residents of the county. It participates in several partnerships to better the lives of residents and help prevent fires or injuries. These include: • Vial of Life program in partnership with Forsyth County Kroger grocery stores. In this program, geared primarily to senior citizens but available for anyone, a large medicine bottle with an information sheet and sticker inside can be picked up at any Forsyth Kroger store or staffed fire station. Participants fill out the sheet, place it in back in the bottle, stick the sticker on their door and place the vial inside their refrigerator. If firefighters or other emergency workers are dispatched to their home in an emergency, they go to the refrigerator and look at the information sheet if the patient is unconscious or unable to communicate.

Emergency: 911 Non-emergency: (770) 781-2180

• Flag drop off box in partnership with the American Legion. An American flag drop off box is located outside of Fire Station 1 in downtown Cumming, near the Cumming Fairgrounds. Old, worn out flags can be dropped off in the box at any time. American Legion members then pick up the flags and retire them properly. • Smoke detector inspections are available free of charge for any home or business. Smoke detectors are available for senior citizens and those in financial need. • C.A.R.S, or Children Are Riding Safely, program offers free child safety seat checks to parents. Those wanting an inspection need to call and schedule an appointment at (770) 781-2180, Ext. 0. Expectant parents should call as early as possible. • Free blood pressure checks are available at all fire stations.

Police department patrols Cumming From staff reports

Cumming Police Chief Casey Tatum manages a sworn force of 14 officers responsible for law enforcement within the city limits of Cumming, as well as dispatch/jail personnel and administrative staff. Tatum was sworn in as chief in February after serving the department for 15 years as patrol officer, sergeant and assistant chief. Tatum said that although the city of Cumming has a small nighttime population, there’s a large daytime population who work, shop and dine here, as well as those just passing through. The city has 1,200 to 1,500 businesses and the department responds to all manner of property and retail crimes, such as credit card fraud, shoplifting and theft. Tatum said the police force also handles a large number of traffic accidents, especially

Cumming Police Department Emergency: 911 Non-emergency: (770) 781-2000

around the retail shopping areas. In addition to law enforcement, the department licenses and regulates more than 40 establishments that sell and serve alcohol, as well as taxi companies, including inspection of the vehicles to ensure passenger safety. Since taking helm of the department, Tatum has endeavored to make changes to help keep pace with growth. Those include renovations to the dispatch center, major software changes to department computers, and equipment upgrades that allow officers to issue citations and enter reports from laptop computers in their vehicles.

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Facilities, services continue to expand

Northside is meeting needs For the Forsyth County News

Northside Hospital-Forsyth c o n t i n u e s t o ex p a n d a n d enhance its services to meet the health care needs of the community. The hospital has grown to 201 inpatient beds and currently has more than 2,200 physicians and 1,800 staff members, who served more than 155,400 outpatient visits in 2011. As in previous years, 2011 proved to be busy for Northside Hospital-Forsyth in terms of campus expansion and service enhancements.

Medical/surgical expansion

The hospital completed an inpatient bed expansion in 2011, which included a 20-room expansion of the inpatient cardiology unit and expansion of the remote cardiology monitoring capability necessary to accommodate expanding needs for facility wide telemetry capture. In August, the hospital opened a larger, more patient-focused Intensive Care Unit. The expanded ICU allows for the addition of four patient rooms, increasing the total from 20 to 24 beds, which are more spacious than those of the previous unit. The new unit also features advanced technology in the rooms to better accommodate the needs of patients and staff,

areas for family members, larger staff work and documentation stations and more, allowing for better care for its more seriously ill patients.

Women’s Center expansion

The Northside HospitalForsyth Women’s Center continues to surpass all projections for growth, with more than 2,200 babies delivered in 2011. The center expanded last year to include additional in-patient and observation/extended recovery beds, dedicated to gynecologic and women’s surgical services. T h e L eve l I I N e o n a t a l Intermediate Care Unit added four new Level II bassinets, which brings the total for the Special Care Nursery to 12.

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(Located 2 miles north of downtown Cumming) PAGE 32 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

Autumn Vetter Forsyth County News

Nurses, from left, Sara Wallace, Debbie Neal and Jackie Joiner chat while working at the new Northside HospitalForsyth Outpatient Surgery Center.

Fourth office building Northside will soon begin construction on a new Medical Office Building on its Cumming

campus. The new three-story, 75,000-square-foot building will connect to the south side See SERVICES | 33

FROM 32

Services of the existing Women’s Center and will house a variety of physician specialties and practices to support the hospital’s growing Women’s Services volume. Northside plans to break ground on the new building in the fall, with construction estimated to be completed in July, 2013.

Excellence in patient care

In 2011, Northside Hospital-Forsyth received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers after a rigorous evaluation for its ability to assess, diagnose and treat patients, who may be experiencing a heart attack. The hospital also was surveyed and received disease-specific certification by the Joint Commission in the specialty areas of pneumonia and hip and knee joint surgery, and was recognized as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center. In addition, the hospital was awarded the HealthGrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for outstanding performance in compliance with national patient safety initiatives.

State-of-the-art cancer treatment

The Northside Hospital Cancer Institute is recognized nationally as a leader in cancer diagnosis, treatment and research. In fact, Northside is the only Atlanta hospital chosen to be a Community Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Northside Hospital-Forsyth has been able to build upon that expertise and bring services closer to home. In 2011, the hospital expanded the Cancer Center, which offers radiation therapy, chemotherapy and CT services to patients, regardless of their cancer diagnosis. In addition, Northside brought its Hereditary Cancer Program to Forsyth, giving patients who may be at risk for genetically influenced cancers the opportunity for genetic testing and counseling. Additional adjunct imaging services, surgical services (including a surgical robot) and a dedicated in-patient care unit also are available on campus.

On the Net For more information, visit www.northside.com.

digital X-ray services for patients of all ages. The new 16-slice CT scanner brings more state-of-theart imaging for patients, across a number of specialties, closer to home. Northside also introduced its newest advanced imaging location – Northside/Sugar Hill Imaging, located at 4700 Nelson Brogdon Blvd., Suite 100, in Buford. The state-of-the-art center offers digital X-ray, digital screening mammography with computer-aided detection (CAD), bone densitometry and CT services — all performed by a team of technologists, clerical staff and an on-site, board-certified radiologist, who provide the highest level of customer service. Women who undergo routine mammograms at the Breast Care Center at Northside HospitalForsyth now have the latest diagnostic technology available to them, digital breast tomosynthesis, also known as 3D mammography. During the same compression, patients receive their traditional screening mammogram in combination with breast tomosynthesis, which takes a series of low-dose images from multiple angles around the breast. A computer reconstructs the images to create a 3D model of the breast. Studies have shown that the combination of 2D and 3D mammograms provides the best evaluation of the breast.

The latest in robotic surgery

A recognized leader in robotic surgery, Northside is pleased to offer the very latest da Vinci Surgical Systems at Northside HospitalForsyth. More robotic procedures are performed at Northside than at any other Georgia hospital. The new the Si technology is designed to provide additional clinical benefits to patients and operational efficiencies within the operating room. Many of the surgeons on staff at Northside are pioneers in laparoscopic surgery and are nationally recognized for their expertise in this and other minimally invasive techniques.

New Ambulatory Surgery Center recently opened

In June, Northside opened a new four-suite surgical center. The Northside - Forsyth Outpatient Surgery Center is conveniently located off of Ga. 20 at Advanced Imaging in Cumming, Haw Creek Drive. Dawsonville and Sugar Hill The center provides physicians and patients In 2011, Northside added CT (computed easy access to procedures in the specialties of tomography) services at its Dawsonville location. GI, general surgery, ophthalmology, minor Since 2008, Northside/Dawsonville Imaging has orthopedic including hand surgery, podiatric offered high-quality digital mammography and surgery and plastic and cosmetic surgery.

Emory Johns Creek marks five years

Hospital receives honors For the Forsyth County News

In February, Emory Johns Creek Hospital celebrated its fifth anniversary of serving the patients of Johns Creek and surrounding communities. The creation of an entirely new hospital is a rarity in the United States. And the creation of an entirely new town is just as rare, if not more so. Both Emory Johns Creek Hospital and the communities and people it serves have worked and grown together over the last five years. In turn, our services have also grown to meet the growing needs of our fellow citizens. We are also proud to have received many accolades, which have helped validate our commitment to quality, patient and family-centered care services. Emory Johns Creek Hospital is a 110-bed acute care facility staffed by 239 Emory faculty, 50 Emory specialty associate physicians and 406 community physicians. The hospital offers a full range of services, including emergency services staffed with board-certified emergency physicians, surgery, cardiology, oncology, advanced imaging capabilities and intensive care. Other services include digital imaging, a birth center with Level III neonatal intensive care, adult intensive care, bariatric center, advanced cardiac care, women’s services, outpatient rehab, sleep medicine and a pain center. There have been many highlights so far in 2012, including the following:

CEO celebrates first year

Craig McCoy was named Emory Johns Creek Hospital’s new chief executive officer a year ago in May 2011. McCoy came to the hospital from Vanguard Health Systems, where he had most recently served as chief executive officer of Paradise Valley Hospital in Phoenix. He also worked with Vanguard Health Systems in a variety See EMORY | 36 Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 33

Children’s celebrates first anniversary Community has embraced location By Crystal Ledford

cledford@forsythnews.com

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Forsyth celebrated its first anniversary in early June. The 20,000-square-foot outpatient facility is located at T h e Av e n u e F o r s y t h o n Peachtree Parkway. Linda Cole, Children’s vice president of ambulatory and emergency services, said it’s hard to believe the children’s medical center has been open more than a year. “We feel very grateful to the community that has embraced us and [for] the partnership we have with the community and with the other nonprofits in the community,” Cole said. Cole said the facility has received many financial donations since its opening, with many going toward the purchase of a pediatric ambulance, which will be stationed at the facility to serve Forsyth and other northeast Georgia counties. The highly specialized vehicle costs about $750,000, and leaders want to raise $1 million to also cover the operating and maintenance costs associated with it. After a fundraiser in July, the $750,000 was reached and the ambulance is now stationed full time at the Forsyth facility to serve the transport needs of children in Forsyth and other northeast Georgia counties. Cole said donations for the ambulance and other Children’s programs have been “phenomenal.” “It ranges from … Tommy Bagwell with American Proteins who donated

$360,000 for the ambulance to … little girls having lemonade stands and bringing us $17 in a little plastic baggy,” Cole said. “We’ve had the gamut of community support.” Beth Buursema, Children’s community outreach liaison, said the site has also received heavy support from area businesses. She said a number of restaurants, including Norman’s Landing, Tam’s Backstage, M o e ’s , C h i c k - f i l - A a n d Mellow Mushroom, have held “family nights” or other fundraisers for the facility. And every donation helps, Buursema said. “People feel when you make a donation that it has to be something big, but we see on many levels the difference that 50 cents or $5 can make,” she said. “All that adds up to make a huge difference in the life of a child.” The lives of many children have been touched by the opening of the local site. Cole said the facility, which offers a wide range of services, has had more than 50,000 visits since it debuted. That’s about double what leaders projected. “Even in the sub-specialty areas, most of those physicians anticipated being here one to two days a month and they’ve increased to three or four days a month because there has been such a great outpouring of people using our facility,” she said. In the facility’s immediate care and sports medicine areas, Cole said staffing has doubled. “In sports medicine we started with one therapist, we’ve doubled it to two and we’re looking at hiring a third,” she said. “We’re going to have to do a little physical rearrangement to make room for a third. “That’s pretty phenomenal

PAGE 34 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

Autumn Vetter Forsyth County News

Nurse Kathy Vinson, right, talks with Cassie Mills about son Ashton’s symptoms as daughter Kendall plays at left in an exam room at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Forsyth location. The hospital celebrated its first anniversary in early June.

for your first birthday that you’re already having to see if you can take out some offices to create more space for patients.” Deirdre Stewart, the facility’s lead physician, agreed the site has experienced some “growing pains,” but said most of those have been resolved. “We’ve grown and added people and accommodated that,” she said, noting that despite the challenges parents have been appreciative. “It’s right here in this community, it’s close and people love it,” she said. “We’re brand new and we still have people that are completely wowed by how great it looks.” Cassie Mills, mother of Kendall, 2, and Ashton, 9 months, said she’s glad the facility is available to her fam-

ily. “Obviously living up in Cumming it’s been very convenient to have something right here because before we had to drive down to Mansell [Road in Alpharetta],” Mills said. “We love having it here.” Most of the facility’s staff seems to enjoy it as well. Nurse Elzbieta Kowalczyk, a native of Poland who’s lived in the U.S. for 23 years, said she enjoys helping both the young patients and their families. “I’ve been a pediatric nurse for over 20 years and that’s what I’ve always wanted to do, to help little munchkins come and get better,” she said. “The parents are wonderful too. “Like yesterday, we helped a lady with her little boy who was very, very sick and she was just so thankful … she

was like, ‘You must be a great mommy because you take care of him just like I would take care of him.’” Stewart echoed those sentiments. “For me, I like [working here] because you’re taking care of the child,” she said. “But there’s also a stressed-out mom or a stressed-out dad or grandparent, so you’re getting to help multiple people and reach out to them and change their family and … help them through tough times.”

At a glance Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Forsyth is at 410 Peachtree Pkwy. For more information, call (404) 7853100 or visit www.choa.org.

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(770) 888-8007 Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 35

Court services Forsyth County’s court system handles tens of thousands of court cases annually, ranging from serious felonies to the filing of real estate instruments. Judicial circuits in Georgia are based on population and Forsyth County’s is such that it has its own – the Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit. All of Forsyth County’s courts are located within this circuit. Superior and State Courts are inside the county’s main courthouse building on the square in downtown Cumming. However, due to space limitations, many of their offices are in a building across the street from the courthouse and adjacent to Goodson’s Drugs on Maple Street. Due to the county’s rapid growth, the main courthouse can no longer hold all of the local courts, nor can it hold residents

FROM 33

Emory of other capacities, as well as served as vice president of professional services at Oconee Medical Center in South Carolina.

Stroke care certification

After undergoing an onsite evaluation and demonstrating compliance with nationally developed standards for stroke care, the hospital earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for certification as a Primary Stroke Center. Each year, about 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke, which is the nation’s third leading cause of death. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes. Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States,

Superior Court who are reporting for jury duty. There are four different locations where court is held in the county seat of Cumming and the hundreds of jurors called in to serve jury duty every month must initially report to the Board of Commissioner’s meeting room, which is in the Forsyth County Administration Building. The county asked for bond funding approval at least twice in order to fund a new courthouse that could hold all of the jurors, court offices, and Superior and State courts. In November, voters approved funding construction of a new courthouse and jail under the county’s 1-cent sales tax extension. The facilities will be constructed in downtown Cumming and are anticipated to be completed by sometime in 2015.

with about 4.7 million stroke survivors alive today.

Breast Imaging Center of Excellence

The hospital was designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology. By awarding facilities the status of a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, the ACR recognizes breast imaging centers that have earned accreditation in all of its voluntary, breastimaging accreditation programs and modules, in addition to the mandatory M a m m o g r a p h y Accreditation Program. The breast imaging services at this center are fully accredited in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy.

American College of Radiology certification

The hospital was awarded a three-year term of

PAGE 36 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

accreditation in stereotactic breast biopsy after an indepth review by the American College of Radiology. A breast biopsy is performed to remove cells — either surgically or through a less invasive procedure involving a hollow needle — from an area in the breast suspected to be cancerous. These cells are examined under a microscope to determine a diagnosis. In stereotactic breast biopsy, a special mammography machine helps guide the radiologist’s instruments to the site of an abnormal growth. The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety.

Honor for infection reduction practices

The hospital has been recognized for the past three years by the Georgia Hospital Association for its success in preventing bloodstream infections in

Superior Court oversees felony cases, divorce, equity, and cases regarding title to lands. Chief Superior Court Judge Jeffrey S. Bagley ran unopposed Bagley for the seat in 2010 and is currently serving his fourth four-year term. The chief judge’s office can be reached by calling (770) 205-4660. Superior Court Judge David L. Dickinson ran unopposed for the seat in 2008 and again this year. He is

intensive care unit patients that required a central, direct intraveneous line to the heart. The recognition came as the result of the “Stop Bloodstream Infections Collaborative for the ICU” project conducted by the Georgia Hospital Association and Johns Hopkins University. A total of 66 Georgia hospitals participated in the project. Emory Johns Creek began participating in 2009 and will share its tools for success with the other participating hospitals.

Carotid stenting and PCI program success

The hospital is now offering carotid stenting, a procedure to treat severe blockages of the carotid artery. The carotid artery is one of the main arteries supplying blood to the brain. Carotid stenting provides an effective alternative for opening the artery without an invasive surgical proce-

currently serving his third four-year term. He previously served as the chief judge of State Court. His office can be reached by calling (770) 781-2133.

State Court Chief State Court Judge Philip C. Smith and Judge T. Russell McClelland III have jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal violations and civil Smith actions.

See COURT | 38

dure. The Percutaneous Coronary Intervention program at the hospital continues to offer life-saving success to cardiac patients, boasting an average door– to-balloon time of about 60 minutes, which is well below the national average of 63 minutes.

Emergency department receives top marks

In terms of patient satisfaction, the hospital’s emergency department ranks right at the top, both in the state of Georgia and the nation. The ranking was revealed in the results of a survey conducted by health care research and consulting firm Press Ganey. Patients evaluated the hospital on a number of factors such as wait time, courtesy of staff, employees’ responsiveness and attention to details, cleanliness of facility, provision of privacy and more. Individuals who complet-

ed the questionnaire gave the hospital high marks in virtually every area on the survey.

First robotic single-site surgery performed

Emory Johns Creek Hospital incorporated the use of the da Vinci Surgical System into gynecological and general surgeries in fall 2011. Our specially trained robotic surgeons collectively performed more than 100 procedures in the first six months, and we are getting great patient feedback. The hospital is also one of the only ones in Georgia to use the da Vinci Surgical System to perform bariatric surgery, for gastric bypasses, completely robotically, as well as single-site robotic surgery.

Online More information on Emory Johns Creek Hospital can be found online at emoryjohnscreek.com.

West Forsyth HigH ScHool

“We Excel & Succeed Together” Established in 2007

Ranking/Awards Recognitions: • #260 ranked nationally in Washington Post’s “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” • #10 ranked Georgia High School in Washington Post “America’s Most Challenging High School” • #18 ranked Georgia High School (School Digger) • Gold Award High School for Georgia Single Statewide Accountability System Advanced Placement Recognition: • Advanced Placement Diploma School • Advanced Placement Merit School in each of the past four years • Selected as an Advanced Placement STEM Achievement School • A total of 206 Advanced Placement Scholars • A total of 26 Advanced Placement International Diploma recipients • A total of 74% scores a 3, 4, 5 on Advanced Placement Exams (2011-12) • A total of 1,314 Advanced Placement Exams taken • A total of 656 students participated in Advanced Placement testing (47% scoring a 4 or 5) • Average AP score (3.29) Class of 2012 Data • A total of 85% of graduates accepted into post secondary education • A total of $4.5 million in non-HOPE Scholarships awarded • A total of 188 Honor Graduates • Class of 2012 accepted into 98 different colleges/universities/technical institutions Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 37

Court services FROM 36

Court Civil actions in State Court can consist of cases such as personal injury, wrongful death, and contract disputes. State Court judges also have the authority to issue search and arrest warrants. Smith’s office may be reached by calling (770) 205-4654 and McClelland’s office may be reached by calling (770) 781-2130.

Magistrate Court The Magistrate Court is housed in the former Sawnee Cultural Arts Center at the corner of Tribble Gap Road Bramblett and Sawnee Drive. It is presided over by Chief Magistrate Walker Bramblett.

Magistrate Court has jurisdiction over civil claims of $15,000 or less, bad checks, arrest and search warrants, county ordinance violations and certain misdemeanors. Magistrate Court can be reached by calling (770) 781-2211.

Probate Court Forsyth County Probate Court, located on the south side of the square in downtown Cumming across from the courtJordan house and adjacent to Goodson’s Drug store on Maple Street, is presided over by Probate Court Judge Lynwood Jordan. The court keeps various files such as birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates of county residents. Estates of the

deceased, pistol permits, guardianship hearings and issuing passports also are handled by the probate court. The Probate Court can be reached by calling (770) 781-2140.

District Attorney Felony offenses such as murders, rapes and felony drug charges are prosecuted in Superior Court by the disPenny Penn trict attorney’s office, which is located in the courthouse. District Attorney Penny Penn was elected in 2004 to serve her first full four-year term. She was re-elected in 2008 and ran unopposed in 2012. Penn is the county’s first female district attorney. The district attorney’s office can be reached at (770) 781-2125.

Driver services New residents should obtain a Georgia driver’s license within 30 days of establishing residence. A driver’s license must be obtained before getting a vehicle tag. A new law took effect in July requiring licenses to be Secure ID compliant. The new licenses involve more documentation and prevent online license renewals for those who don’t currently hold a Secure ID. All individuals seeking a license must have one certified document proving primary identity, one proving Social Security and two proving residential address. Primary identification can include a passPAGE 38 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

port, birth certificate, consular report of birth abroad, certificate of naturalization, certificate of citizenship, or SSA numident record or original military discharge papers for applicants born before 1940. In addition to these requirements, residents from another country will need record of valid immigration. The Cumming Customer Service Center is located on Pilgrim Mill Road, off Ga. 400 at Exit 16 in Cumming. The center is open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 8 a.m.noon Saturday. For more information, call (770) 2055402 or visit www.dds.ga.gov.

Solicitor General County Solicitor General Leslie Abernathy and the solicitor’s office prosecute misdemeanor criminal cases in the county’s state court such as DUI, simple drug Abernathy possession and domestic violence. The solicitor’s office can be reached at (770) 781-2145.

Juvenile Court The Forsyth County Juvenile Court is in the former Lanier Lodge

building off Bald Ridge Marina Road. Juvenile Court Judge Rusty Jackson presides over cases involving children 16 or younger, which can include deprivation and family Jackson law. Juvenile Court operations can be reached at (770) 781-3099.

Pre-trial services Pre-trial services is the court services department of the Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit.The primary functions of the department are to coor-

dinate the indigent defense program and the pretrial release program for the circuit. Under the indigent defense program, pretrial services provides attorneys for qualified indigent defendants. Under the pretrial release program, pre-trial services provides supervision for defendants who are placed on pretrial release by the courts. Robert J.Tavenier is the pre-trial services director. Connie Brooker is administrator of indigent defense. The pre-trial office can be reached at (770) 7812158. Indigent defense can be reached at (678) 5135959.

County water and sewer From staff reports

The Forsyth County Water and Sewer Department provides Forsyth County with the highest quality of water and sewer service through progressive leadership and environmental stewardship. The department serves 47, 915 water customers. The residential water base rate is $12 for the first 1,000 gallons. The senior citizen water base rate, available for customers age 62 and older, is $9 for the first 1,000 gallons. In addition to the base rate, the county has a five-tier water billing structure, charging more to those who use more water. Water customers using 1,001-6,000 gallons of water pay $3.40 per 1,000 gallons; 6,001-12,000 gallons pay $4.53 per 1,000 gallons; 12,001-24,000 gallons pay $5.66 per 1,000 gallons; 24,001-36,000 gallons pay $7.93 per 1,000 gallons; and over 36,001 pay $10 per 1,000 gallons. Irrigation only meters are billed on a higher tiered rate, 1,001-6,000 gallons pay $4.53 per 1,000 gallons; 6,001-12,000 gal-

lons pay $5.66 per 1,000; 12,001-24,000 pay $7.93 per 1,000 gallons; and over 24,001 gallons pay $10 per 1,000 gallons. The base rate for commercial water customers depends on the meter size and includes the first 1,000 gallons used. The water rate is $3.72 per 1,000 gallons. To activate water service, contact the Water and Sewer Department at (770) 781-2160. Proof of ownership and ID will be required along with a security deposit. The deposit for a property owner is $75 and a renter is required to pay a $125 deposit. There is a residential sewer base rate of $10 and a commercial sewer base rate of $20. The sewer charge is $4.84 per 1,000 gallons based on water usage. The rate for reuse water is $2.25 per 1,000 gallons. Reuse water is wastewater that has been highly treated and disinfected before being used, primarily for irrigation. Bills can be paid online via the county Web site, www.forsythco.com. From the Quick Links drop-down menu on the home page, select “pay water bill online.”

city water and sewer From staff reports

Water and sewer services are available to all eligible residents of the city of Cumming. Rates vary depending on the location of the home and whether a residence is connected to water and sewer lines or must tap on for service. Residents and businesses served by the city are charged a $125 to establish service, regardless of whether they own or rent property. A “three-tiered” water rate system is in effect across the state. City water rates under the system are: •All residential use customers who reside within the city limits are charged a base rate of $8.22. Under the first tier, customers using up to 6,000 gallons of water a month are charged $1.97 per each 1,000 gallons. • Under the second tier, customers using between 6,001 and 16,600 gallons are charged an additional $2.97 per each 1,000 gallons. • Customers using more than 16,600 gallons of water each month will pay $4.72 per each 1,000 gallons above the

16,600 mark. • Customers living outside the city limits will pay a base rate of $10.72 plus $2.32 per each 1,000 gallons up to 6,000; $3.47 per 1,000 gallons from 6,001 to 16,600; and $5.22 per 1,000 gallons over 16,600. Sewer rates of the city of Cumming are: • Residential base charge for residents both inside and outside the city limits (0 to 3,000 gallons of usage): $8.22 • Residential sewer rate for residents both inside and outside city limits (above 3,000 gallons of usage): $2.84 per every 1,000 gallons Residents must fill out an application form to secure to water and sewer services. Between an advanced water reclamation facility, a raw water intake facility, increasing capacity of the water production facility and dozens of water and sewer line expansion projects, the city has spent tens of millions of dollars from its reserves on water projects. More information about the city’s utilities is available online at www.cummingutilities.com or by calling (770) 7812020.

Post office stays busy The Cumming Post Office on Tribble Gap Road is the main office serving the entire Forsyth County area. The hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The post office is open six days a week, with 24-hour access to post office boxes and an automated postal center in the lobby, where customers can purchase stamps and mail packages. Post office box rentals are available at the Cumming location and vary in size and price. During the April 15 tax return deadline day the post office offers patrons extra help and services to make the process as painless as possible for those who have waited until the last hour or minute to mail their return. The Cumming location offers the full line of U.S. Postal Service products and services, including purchase of new com-

memorative stamps. The location also offers passport services. The post office currently has two locations in the county: at 525 Tribble Gap Road, near Forsyth Central High School just north of the downtown area, and at 2530 Ivy St. East. The main office delivers mail to patrons in the 30040 and 30028 zip code areas, while the location on Ivy Street is a delivery-only office that serves those in the 30041 zip code. Undeliverable mail is sometimes held at the Ivy Street office for those in that zip code. The customer service number for the Ivy Street office is (770) 888-5325. Postal carriers can provide residents with stamps if the resident notifies the post office in advance. Call the post office at (800) 275-8777, locally at (770) 886-2388 or fax (770) 887-1828 for more information.

passport

with a raised or embossed seal. Driver’s license for identification. The cost of a passport book is $135. For those younger than 16, the cost is $105.Passport card fees are $55, or $40 for those 16 and younger. The Cumming Post Office’s passport center is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday by appointment only. For more information, contact the Cumming Post Office at (770) 886-2388.

Passports can be obtained through the Cumming Post Office at 525 Tribble Gap Road or at the Forsyth County Probate Court, 112 West Maple St., Suite 101. Those requesting a passport should bring the following with them when applying: Two recent identical photographs. Photos can be purchased at any photo lab that processes passport photos. The post office also takes photos on-site. Certified copy of birth certificate

marriage license The Forsyth County Probate Court issues marriage licenses. Located at 112 West Maple St., Suite 101, in downtown Cumming, the office is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To obtain a license, both bride and groom must appear in person by 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. If either the bride or the groom is a Georgia resident, the license may be bought in any county. If neither is a state resident, the marriage license must be obtained in the county in which the marriage

ceremony will be performed. There are many requirements. • Both applicants must have one form of valid identification, which includes a driver’s license, state identification card, birth certificate, passport, military ID or resident alien ID card. Georgia state law no longer requires a blood test to apply for a marriage license. For further information on marriage licenses and the requirements, contact the court at (770) 781-2140. To complete a name change with the Social Security Administration, call (800) 772-1213. Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 39

Sawnee EMC lights way in Forsyth region For the Forsyth County News

Sawnee EMC, a not-for-profit electric cooperative, provides electricity to more than 151,000 accounts through its sevencounty service territory. Sawnee is the ninth-largest cooperative in the nation and maintains more than 9,900 miles of distribution line. Each day, Sawnee EMC staff members field about 1,500 phone calls and Sawnee’s control center is staffed and in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sawnee EMC has now fully deployed its new Advanced Metering Infrastructure, or AMI, system. This modern, two-way meter-reading system, uses a series of towers and collectors to monitor and read Sawnee’s electric meters. The 150,000 AMI meters give Sawnee members the ability to view their detailed energy usage to better assist them in managing and evaluating their monthly electric use. This innovative system also provides many other cost-saving benefits to the members. As outlined by the Georgia Legislature in 1973 by the Georgia Territorial Electric Service Act, Sawnee EMC serves parts of seven counties including Forsyth, Cherokee, Dawson, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall and Lumpkin.

PAGE 40 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

Contact Contact Sawnee EMC at (770) 8872363 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The e-mail address for general inquiries is customerservice@sawnee.com and the corporate Web site is www.sawnee.com. The mailing address is P.O. Box 266, Cumming, GA 30028.

Directions Sawnee EMC’s corporate campus is at 543 Atlanta Highway in Cumming. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. From Ga. 400, take Exit 14 (Hwy. 20). Go west 1/2 mile to Hwy. 9 and turn right. The office is on the left at 543 Atlanta Hwy.

Members can take advantage of many Sawnee EMC services at its corporate Web site, www.sawnee.com. Tasks such as paying bills online, starting and stopping service, free energy evaluations, and much more, can be done on the Web site. Sawnee EMC also offers natural gas.

There was no electricity in Forsyth County until 1929. That year, city of Cumming residents received the utility from Georgia Power, which ran lines along Hwy. 9. However, it was several years later before the more rural areas of the county got that luxury. Blake House, vice president of member services for Sawnee EMC, said Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” paved the way for electric cooperatives in 1935. “Forsyth County EMC was officially incorporated on July 16, 1938, and on June 22, 1939, the switch was thrown and we ran current through 168 miles

of line to about 750 homes,” House said. Lamar Sexton, 76 and a lifelong county resident, was a little boy when electricity came to his family’s home. “[Before electricity], my mom would take the milk and let it down in the well and that’s how we kept it cold,” he recalled. “And then later on, they would be an ice man that would come around once a week. “I remember when dad had a lamp, just a plain kerosene lamp … and then power came into our house and we had one light bulb right in the middle of the house.” — Crystal Ledford

Georgia Power serves thousands in county For the Forsyth County News

Georgia Power Co. provided electricity to at least 8,000 Forsyth County homes and businesses last year. Customer service representatives said commercial or industrial rates vary depending on the business. There are also a few options for residential customers. A bill payment office at 114 N. M a i n S t . , n e a r t h e d ow n t ow n Cumming square, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is closed from 12:30 to 1:45. for lunch. General customer service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling (888) 6605890.

For emergency information, outages can be reported at (888) 8910938. Utility locating services can be found at (800) 282-7411 and more information about the Energy Star Program can be found at www.energystar.gov, or by calling (888) 7827937. Georgia Power offers a green energy program, in which customers can save money if they utilize energy efficient items. Called Earth Cents, more information about the program can be found at www.georgiapower. com/earthcents. For more information about bill payment options, Energy Star, how the most residential energy is consumed and ways to conserve energy, visit www.georgiapower.com.

Television Comcast is the nation’s largest video provider and offers interactive services that feature XFINITY digital cable, video on demand and high-definition television. Comcast cable provides more than 200 channels of commercial-free music, sports and entertainment, high-definition television and more. With On Demand, customers can choose from more than 9,000 programs each month, start their selections at whatever time is convenient, and pause, rewind or fast-forward the programs using their digital cable set-top boxes and remote controls. For more information or to subscribe, call (404) 266-2278 or visit www.comcast. com.

Internet Comcast offers high-speed cable modems through XFINITY. High-speed Internet customers will now receive PowerBoost, a service that allows for download speeds up to 15 Mbps. Constant Guard to protect your computer is also included, as well as SmartZone Communications Center with seven e-mail accounts, each with 10 GB of storage. For more information or to subscribe, call (404) 266-2278 or visit www.comcast.com. AT&T also offers high-speed Internet through its U-verse system. Television services are also available through AT&T’s U-verse in some areas of Forsyth. For information, call (888) 321-2375 or go online at www.att.com.

Telephone AT&T is the phone service utility for Forsyth County and the metro Atlanta area. To be connected to phone service, call (888) 757-6500. Residents can receive the numerous features the company has to offer, including call-waiting, call-tracing and more. For more information about AT&T’s service plans and calling features, call (888) 757-6500. Also available is Comcast’s IP-enabled Digital Voice service, a digital telephone service, offering consumers interactive features. Customers receive unlimited local and long-distance calling, voice mail, 12 calling features and the Comcast Digital Voice Center that allows customers to manage their voice mail online from anywhere.

What is now south Forsyth used to be part of the former Milton County. The county, which was dissolved during the Great Depression, also included parts of other counties. Alpharetta was the former Milton County seat. In fact, that’s how Forsyth County’s Midway community got its name. It was midway between Alpharetta and Cumming. Phil Bettis, a Forsyth real estate attorney, said the demise of Milton was “absolutely budget, there’s no question.” “It was very common in the early Depression that you saw smaller counties that had difficulty surviving,” he said. Bettis noted that the Milton industry relied heavily on farming. When cotton prices fell, land prices

followed, and Milton wasn’t able to survive on such a steep drop in revenue. Milton was largely absorbed by Fulton County, which meant former Milton residents found themselves traveling a great distance to conduct government business. “People in north Fulton suddenly had to go to the city of Atlanta to file deeds, or to attend court,” Bettis said. “Sometimes that was a two-day trip.” Fast forward some 80 years and an effort is afoot to resurrect Milton County. Under one proposal, the county would include the present day city of Milton, as well as the nearby cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Roswell and Sandy Springs. — Jennifer Sami

register a vehicle Cars, trucks, trailers, motorcycles and mobile homes must be registered with the Forsyth County Tax Commissioner’s Office within 30 days of moving to Georgia. To register a new vehicle at the Forsyth County Tag Office, a vehicle owner must present the following information in person: • A valid Georgia driver’s license or Georgia identification card. • MV-1 tag and title application. • Valid out-of-state title, manufacturer’s statement of origin or registration from a non-title state. • Proof of emission inspection for vehicles 19882009. The state requires insurance companies to submit policy information on each vehicle to the Georgia Department of Revenue. An insurance card is no longer valid as proof of insurance. For a new purchase, a binder will be accepted for up to 30 days from the effective date of the insurance coverage in Georgia. Current residents renew tags on the birthday of the owner whose name is shown on the registration. The tag office will mail residents a bill 60 days prior to the owner’s birthday. College, government, military and special interest plates are available for an additional cost. The regular tag fee is $20 for a car, $20 for a motorcycle and $12 for a trailer. The fee for titles is $18. The office opened two drive-through service windows in October at the Tribble Gap Road location for tag renewals or transfers, as well as property tax pay-

Locations: Forsyth County Tax Commissioners Office 1092 Tribble Gap Road Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 781-2112 Sharon Springs Park Branch 1950 Sharon Road Cumming, GA 30041 Georgia Motor Vehicle Department 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday Payment options: Cash, check, money order, credit cards for online tag renewals only. You may be eligible to renew your tag online. For more information, go to: http://motor. etax.dor.ga.gov.

ments and issuing parking placards for disabled persons. Boats and watercraft are registered with the Department of Natural Resources Division. For more information, call the Boating Registration Office at (800) 366-2661. Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 41

Fairgrounds host to number of events From staff reports

The Cumming Fairgrounds helps keep local traditions alive. From its signature event, the Cumming Country Fair & Festival, to the early1900s mock village maintained year round, Fairgrounds Administrator Dave Horton says the venue offers family-oriented fun. The annual fair, which takes place in October, was the first event at the fairgrounds, starting in 1995 as a six-day event. The festival has since expanded to 11 days, featuring well-known musical acts, a variety of performance groups and traditional rides and games galore. “It’s just a great gathering place for the community,” Horton said. “It’s like a homecoming. You see people you haven’t seen in a year or several years, and you meet a lot of new folks.” The 17th annual fair didn’t post record numbers, but still drew more than 111,000 people. The 18th annual fair is scheduled for Oct. 4-14, 2012. The fairgrounds schedule each year stays about the same, from the fireworks display and steam engine parade in July to the Christmas celebration in December. The city also puts on a rodeo over Labor Day weekend. Previously a fundraiser for Family Haven domestic violence shelter, the city of Cumming has adopted Taste of

Forsyth, which is held annually in the spring at the fairgrounds. The popular event, renamed Taste of Forsyth Along the Hospitality Highway, invites restaurants from across the county to share samples of their dishes. The fare is sold to attendees for a low price. Outside groups also use the venue for charity events, such as Relay for Life, or other community gatherings, such as church-sponsored car shows. In November 2011, the fairgrounds was the site of what is expected to become another popular annual event, the National BBQ Cup: Que’n in Cumming. The barbecue competition drew a crowd of thousands, as well as more than 90 professional and 30 amateur cooks from near and far. The North Georgia Quarter Midget Association plays host to several races for competitors ages 5 to 16 on many weekends when the fairgrounds isn’t otherwise being used, Horton said. The Bill Thomas Raceway at the fairgrounds has held a national tournament in the past, with some former competitors growing up to become NASCAR drivers. The races, like most of the events, Horton said, bring in local revenue. Fairgrounds staff members work year round to keep the area well maintained and continue to planning for big events. The annual fair involves a full year of preparation to bring in a variety of acts. Crowds enjoy the 2011 Cumming County Fair & Festival, one of many happenings each year at the Cumming Fairgrounds.

Autumn Vetter Forsyth County News

PAGE 42 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

The giant steam engines of Cumming’s annual ThomasMashburn Steam Engine Parade have captured the imaginations of children and adults for more than half a century. The parade is held downtown every Fourth of July. The lumbering and loud machines harken back to a time when, like themselves, most things in life moved slowly. The owners of the machines, which in their heyday were used primarily at saw mills and cotton gins in north Georgia, lovingly care for them, every year working to ensure each one functions properly and safely. The owners even have their own special club known as the Forsyth County Steam Engine Association. Besides the parade, the mem-

bers also show off the early 20th century engines during the annual Steam and Gas Expo at the Cumming Fairgrounds each fall. The steam engines have been passed down from generation to generation, with grandfathers and fathers teaching younger family members the mechanics. Each generation takes on the task of caring for and operating the machines willingly, and plan to pass on the tradition to their own children. John Paul Webb, whose greatgreat-grandfather Glen Thomas began the Fourth of July parade in 1958, said he loves the steam engines. “It never gets old,” he said. “I could do this for the rest of my life and it would still put a smile on my face.” — Crystal Ledford

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Animal foster parents Jamie Graser, left, and wife Alicia bring dogs Copper, left, and Lula to a Humane Society adoption day. Autumn Vetter Forsyth County News

Many opportunities at local Humane Society For the Forsyth County News

The Humane Society of Forsyth County No-Kill Shelter is dedicated to preventing cruelty to, relieving the suffering of, and providing humane treatment for animals. It is a no-kill, nonprofit, volunteer organization that rescues abandoned dogs, puppies, cats and kittens, and places them in permanent homes through adoption. The humane society receives no funds from Forsyth County, the state of Georgia, the Humane Society of the U.S., or any other organization. It is funded entirely through fundraising events, donations, sponsorships and a thrift store. Despite the economy, the humane society more than doubled the number of dogs and cats placed in permanent homes last year. In addition, it helped low-income families keep their pets by providing food through the Pet Food Pantry and offering free or low-cost spay/neuter programs. Through the Paws Across Forsyth program, the society helped reduce the county’s animal euthanasia rate by including dogs and cats from the County Shelter in its off-site adoption events. Here’s how you can help: • Fundraisers: The biggest fundraising event of the year is coming up soon. Don’t miss the eighth annual Bark & Boogie Ball at Lanier Technical College Forsyth Conference Center on Oct. 20. For details, visit www.BarkandBoogie. com or e-mail ddbooth@att.net.

• Thrift Store: The thrift store provides an ongoing source of income for shelter operations. Check out the great bargains available for purchase, and think of it when you have clothing or household items to donate. The store is at 168 TriCounty Plaza. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays. Contact: (770) 886-5806. • Adopt a pet: Shelter hours are noon to 6 p.m. daily. Off-site adoptions are held at a number of locations, including Petco in Cumming and Milton, and at PetSmart, Rucker Pet & Wild Bird, and Pooch N Paws in Cumming. Check the Web site for dates, times and locations. • Foster a pet: Space is limited at the shelter, so without individuals and families who care for animals in their homes, the society would have to turn away many dogs, puppies, cats and kittens in need of a “forever” home. • Volunteer: Volunteers are needed for all aspects of shelter operations: adoptions, socialization, transport, program administration, fundraising events and more. Volunteer orientation is held the fourthThursday of the month at the thrift store. • Donations: Cash donations and bequests are greatly appreciated, as are donations of supplies and equipment. The Humane Society of Forsyth County is at 4440 Keith Bridge Road (Hwy. 306). Send donations to: P.O. Box 337, Cumming, GA 30028-0337. For more information, visit the society’s Web site at www.forsythpets.org or call (770) 887-6480.

Organization helps to keep area beautiful From staff reports

Keep Forsyth County Beautiful was started in 1993 by a group of concerned citizens who wanted to make the environment and natural history of Forsyth County a top priority. The residents felt that with the anticipated growth of the county, resources such as parks, wildlife and waterways should be preserved and cherished. One year later, on June 21, 1994, the group was certified as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful Inc. Today the local affiliate is made up of two countymaintained positions. A volunteer group of 15 board members administers the organization as a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with support from several corporate sponsors and members. The mission of Keep Forsyth County Beautiful is to cooperate with government, businesses, schools, civic organizations and citizens in a joint effort to improve beautification, litter reduction and recycling. The group has several opportunities for volunteering in the community, either on a long-term, committed basis or as a one-time service. The adopt-a-road and adopt-a-stream are two long-term volunteer programs in which the group offers training and support. These programs enable individuals, nonprofit organizations,

clubs, businesses, scout groups, schools, homeowner associations and fa m i l i e s t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h e i r community pride by taking part in litter removal from county roadways or monitoring water quality in a local stream. For residents who just want to help out occasionally, the organization has many special events and programs throughout the year. Volunteers help to recycle Christmas trees, place storm drain stickers, plant trees and with school recycling programs. The organization also has opportunities for residents to use their leadership skills, individual talents and expertise as a board member or by serving on one of many community committees. Some of the issues KFCB is currently working on are beautification, recycling, water conservation and water quality. The group continues to work toward providing information and education. Staff is available to answer questions and provide helpful information on a variety of topics and issues. Contact KFCB to have a staff member make a presentation or teach a class to your group. To learn more about Keep Forsyth County Beautiful and find ways you can be involved, visit www.forsythco. com, e-mail kfcb@forsythco.com or call (770) 205-4573.

Andrew Black, left, and Dustin Kemptner talk at a Keep Forsyth County Beautiful information session.

Autumn Vetter Forsyth County News

Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 43

Playhouse continues to thrive For the Forsyth County News

Contact

Established in 2004, the Cumming Playhouse is housed within the Cumming 1923 Historic School at 101 School St. The playhouse is a department of the City of Cumming, operates budget-wise like the other departments and is staffed similarly. The responsibilities of the playhouse staff are many. They include contract negotiations with various theater companies and performing groups, advertising, promotion, grant writing, sponsorship solicitation and ticket sales. The playhouse is fortunate to have attracted a fine group of experienced theatrical professionals. Bob and Kathy Russell, best known for their organization, Georgia Senior Follies LLC, are among them. Under BK Productions they produced a most successful “42nd Street” in fall 2011, and will be bringing “Annie” to town Nov. 15-Dec 9. The Russells moved to Cumming nine years ago from San Jose, Calif. Both Bob and Kathy are established performers, directors and educators in the performing arts arena. The Gypsy Theatre Company, with principals Danielle and Mercury Gustaveson, is a locally owned theater company that has produced 14 successful shows at the playhouse, attracting full houses and providing much enjoyment. Having finished a successful run of “The Dixie Swim Club” in February and “The Wizard of Oz” in June, Gypsy will present “Death Trap” Oct. 11-Nov 4. Gypsy’s presentation of “The Miracle Worker” in fall 2011 earned itself a place in the hearts of theater-goers and will remain for some time as one of the playhouse’s most excellent productions in performance and direction, Heard said. “Forever Plaid” runs through

• For more details on opportunities for Cumming Playhouse contributions and associated benefits, contact Linda Heard, executive director, at (770) 781-2010. • Visit www.playhousecumming.com for performance overviews, upcoming audition information and tickets. •Tickets can also be purchased by contacting Danny Faulkner, house manager, at (770) 781-9178 or dfaulkner@ playhousecuming.com; or David Corn, night manager, at (770) 781-9178 or davidcorn@ playhousecumming.com.

Photos by Autumn Vetter Forsyth County News

Dick Wagoner plays guitar during Georgia Senior Follies. Below, Mercury Gustaveson, left, directs his cast in a scene for “The Wizard of Oz.”

Aug. 5, produced by PlayRight Productions. “The Odd Couple” will be presented Aug. 9-Sept. 2, introducing The Company to playhouse audiences. This is a new theater organization to the Cumming stage with

PAGE 44 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

veteran performer Gabe Russo at the helm. Russo presented “Summerwind, an Evening with Frank Sinatra” in March. “Smoke on the Mountain,” an all-time playhouse favorite, will return Sept. 6-30, produced by the

original company PlayRight Productions, which peformed to sell-out audiences five years ago. The Cumming Playhouse Singers, a 60-member chorale under the direction of Van McCollum, was established in 2006 and performs two to three concerts each year at the playhouse, as well as some off-site concerts. The Singers’ holiday presentation is scheduled for Dec. 14. The Sounds of Sawnee Concert Band, a regular on the playhouse stage, presented “Music of the British Isles” in March and a patriotic concert in July. The North Georgia Barber Shop Singers sang to a full house in March and will return during the Christmas season with its one-of-a kind holiday presentation Dec. 11. Christmas Classics, under the direction of Jeanie Lipscomb, Marianna Carroll and Gloria Szokoly, will return in December, again featuring the North Georgia

Chamber Symphony. For a special treat, “Sanders Family Christmas” will perform a short run for one week Dec. 17-22. “Branson on the Road” will be back for New Year’s with its new country music variety show. The playhouse is fortunate to be a department of the city, enjoying the privilege of budgeted monies for the advancement of performing arts. While these funds go far in securing activities, additional funding from sponsors, patrons and benefactors is always needed and much appreciated for special unfunded projects, such as broader advertising, stage, lighting and sound enhancements. Cumming, as a duly chartered municipality in Georgia, is considered a public charity. Its respective departments enjoy the same designation in receiving tax deductible donations. All checks may be made payable to the City of Cumming for the Cumming Playhouse. Contribution letters are mailed in December of each year for tax filing purposes. A grant was received in 2011 from the Forsyth County Arts Alliance. It funded the installation of new stage flooring and an elevated bandstand.

Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 45

UW partner agencies American Red Cross, Northeast Georgia Chapter, (678) 947-9900 — Helps people prepare for, prevent and respond to emergency situations along with supplying Health & Safety education courses to the public and Aid to Military Families. Collection and distribution of Blood and Blood Products to local Hospitals. Bald Ridge Boys Lodge, (770) 887-1220 — Provides a safe haven for at-risk male youth ages 12-17, meeting their physical, mental, and emotional needs. CASA of Forsyth County Inc., (770) 886-2800 — Provides highly trained and supervised volunteers who advocate on behalf of the best interest of abused and neglected children involved in court deprivation proceedings. Challenged Child, and Friends Inc., (770) 5358372 — Serves children with disabilities and their typical peers through state-of-the-art educational, therapeutic, nursing and family counseling services in an integrated environment. Children’s Center for Hope & Healing, (770) 532-6530 — Provides family treatment for children victims of sexual abuse, as well as prevention education. Forsyth County 4-H Council, (770) 887-2418 — Provides diverse education, recreation, and leadership programs for youth ages 9-19. Forsyth County Child Advocacy Center, (678) 208-1908 — Provides crisis counseling and forensic interview to law enforcement agencies. Forsyth County Family Haven, (770) 887-1121 — Serves victims of domestic violence by providing temporary shelter and support services to abused women and

children. Also provides support groups, counseling, a 24-hour hotline, and prevention education. Georgia Highlands Medical Services, (770) 887-1668 — Provides comprehensive family medical services to persons in need of healthcare regardless of their ability to pay. Includes obstetrics and delivery program, cancer screening, and pharmacy program.

United Way celebrates campaign Nearly $1.9 million in support pledged By Crystal Ledford

cledford@forsythnews.com

celebrated.” Haymond said in total, United Way received pledges of nearly $1.9 million during the campaign. The top 10 contributing business campaigns were recognized. Haymond said they included: SunTrust Bank; Control Southern; Macy’s Inc.; AT&T; Northside HospitalForsyth; Kroger; and Forsyth County Schools. The three largest campaigns were: PCL Industrial Construction Co., which raised more than $199,500; Public Supermarkets, at more than $377,000; and United Parcel Service, or UPS, which brought in nearly $417,000. In addition, Smithfield Foods was recognized as the top new campaign. The company’s 15 employees gave more than $1,300. Andean Motors was honored as the top small business campaign of the year, with its 26 employees

contributing more than $2,600. Awards were also presented to retiring board members: Linda Cole; Bert Durand; Lauren McDonald; Skip Putnam; George Arguelles; Lisa Bennett; and Tammy Slaughter Heather Moseley, a UPS employee and member of United Way’s board, said she was pleased with Thursday’s turnout. “It’s wonderful. I didn’t know what to expect since this is my first time on the board and attending this event,” she said. “I’m just very proud to be a part of UPS and United Way.” Ruth Goode, executive director, said she always looks forward to the celebration. “It’s nice that at least once a year we can see everyone together in one room,” she said. “We have so many great supporters, and now’s our time to celebrate everyone who has played a part in our success.”

Jesse’s House, (678) 9476217 — Provides emergency shelter for at-risk female youth ages 7-17, meeting their physical, mental, and emotional needs.

United Way of Forsyth County celebrated its successes during an event in early May. Held at the Lanier Technical College Forsyth Conference Center, the gathering drew more than 100 people. Luke Haymond, 2012 president of the organization, said the evening was a chance to honor everyone who made the 2012 fundraising campaign a success. “Each year, we honor our major campaigns, but it’s equally important to recognize all the small businesses, staff and agencies,” he said. “If not for each of those, we would not have success. “Everyone here today is to be

Literacy Forsyth, (770) 781-6759 — Provides adult and continuing education opportunities to the residents of Forsyth County.

Extension service teaches community

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, (770) 702-9200 — A value-centered organization that recognizes the distinct worth of each individual and teaches family values, responsibility, and social skills through educational and experiential programs.

Mentor Me-North Georgia, (678) 341-8028 — Helps children in need reach their potential through professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships with volunteers Northeast Georgia Council, Boy Scouts of America, (706) 693-2446 — Volunteer-based program which instills values in youth that will enable them to make ethical choices over their lifetimes. Also teaches citizenship, fitness, and leadership. The Place of Forsyth County, (770) 887-1098 — A local social service agency that provides emergency assistance, operates a thrift store, provides programs for senior adults & youth, provides Hispanic outreach, legal assistance, and referrals.

PAGE 46 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

From staff reports

Where do you go to get soil or water tested? Who do you call to get advice on a vegetable garden? How can school-age children learn about managing money? These and other questions on virtually any topic that relates to healthy families, 4-H, wise use of natural resources and solving plant problems can be answered by contacting the Forsyth County Cooperative Extension Office. Extension is part of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, as well as an educational division of the Forsyth County commission and the Forsyth County school board.

As the largest youth organization in the world, 4-H is open to anyone ages 9-19. Meetings are typically held monthly during school hours. Topics addressed include educational programs on leadership, citizenship, public speaking and life skills, with events and activities offered throughout the year. The agriculture and natural resources staff offer programs on, among other topics, waterwise landscaping, ornamental plant problems, growing vegetables and integrated pest management. Residents can have pest insects, plant problems and snakes identified by e-mailing photos or bringing samples to the office. Many informational bulletins are available online and in the

office. Local gardeners with an interest in volunteering can complete the 12-week Master Gardeners training course to become involved with demonstration gardens and leading garden talks at local libraries and civic group meetings. The family and consumer sciences program addresses a variety of issues including nutrition, financial literacy, human relations, food safety and radon education, with the aim of helping people live healthier and happier lives. The Extension Office is at 875 Lanier 400 Parkway, Suite 158. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For information, call (770) 887-2418 or go online at www. ugaextension.com/forsyth/.

Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 47

The Place helps many From staff reports

Because Forsyth County is a beautiful and affluent place, there seems to be nobody lacking for anything. Sadly, there are people in our midst who are behind in their rent, living without three meals a day, suffering from illnesses they cannot afford to treat or coping with a feeling of hopelessness. Thankfully, Forsyth County has a place where those who are less fortunate, or who have just fallen on hard times, can go to get help. And that place, is most appropriately called The Place of Forsyth County. Started by Catholic nuns in 1975, The Place became an independent agency in 1999 and continues to help Forsyth County residents with its numerous programs. “We are not here strictly for low-income people,” stressed Sandy Beaver, e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r. “Sometimes catastrophic events happen. A single mother might find herself sick and unable to work for a time. Whatever the situation, we try to help our residents with basic survival needs.” Beaver said the mission statement really says it all — “To listen compassionately to those deprived of basic needs and, together with them, find creative ways to alleviate their suffering.” Beaver emphasized that The Place exists through the generosity of its supporters and the United Way of Forsyth County. Whether it is through donations of food, money, clothing, household items,

There are no railroad tracks in Forsyth County.

Autumn Vetter Forsyth County News

Ruth Boumann helps organize the food pantry at The Place of Forsyth County.

or by volunteering, Beaver said all of the community’s help is needed and is making a difference. The Place offers so many programs that assist those in need, there is always a need for volunteers. • There is a food pantry that is open to ensure that no one in the community goes without food. Publix donates surplus food to go to the pantry. Some 2,500 families a year receive food from The Place. • There is a medical fund that provides clients with vouchers to purchase necessary prescription medicines. • There is an elderly assistance program that strives to show low-income senior citizens that they, too, are valued members of the community. This program works to make sure these low-income seniors are having their basic needs met and they have the resources they need. • Holiday food box programs provide Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to families in need. • The Wednesday Noon Day Meal is a popular program that is a collaborative effort by area groups to

PAGE 48 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

meet the needs of residents in our community and Beaver sees this as a further testimony to the generosity of Forsyth County residents. • Besides these programs, The Place also owns and operates a thrift store. Open to the public, the store offers quality merchandise, clothing and furniture for reasonable prices and assistance through a voucher program. Because Forsyth County continues to grow rapidly, Beaver said residents should continue to be vigilant when it comes to meeting the needs of those less fortunate. Helping those in an emergency crisis situation is something The Place is all too familiar with. The Place also works to prevent families from losing their homes to foreclosure. “It usually costs much less to help a family to stay in their current residence than it would take for them to start over both in terms of money and distress,” Beaver said. To find out more about The Place, call (770) 8871098.

The county has many busy roads, public utilities and world-class schools.There are also numerous parks, businesses, stores and restaurants. But not a single foot of railroad. How is that possible, since rail corridors run through so many north Georgia counties? According to Martha McConnell, co-president of the Forsyth County Historical Society, the answer is fairly simple. She said a railroad system was contemplated for the county a cou-

ple of times, once in the mid-1800s and people just didn’t want it, she said. “Then in the 1890s, some people tried again, but they decided it would be too difficult due to [Sawnee Mountain],” she said. “They decided to bring it in to Buford, where the ground was more flat.” So if you want to see a choo choo, you’ll have to go to Chattanooga, Tenn., or just east along Hwy. 20 to Buford. And no, Cumming’s popular steam engines, whose sound can be confused with trains, don’t count. — Crystal Ledford

Many offerings for seniors From staff reports

Many people don’t realize that Georgia has the ninth-fastest growing population of people age 60 and older. Forsyth County’s senior citizens have access to three well-equipped centers, exclusively for them. Located next to the main branch of the Forsyth County Library on Dahlonega Street, the Center at Charles Place, which serves ages 60 and up, is fully equipped with everything from exercise equipment to games. Additionally, the Hearthstone Lodge focuses on fitness and activities for active adults that are 50 and older. The site has a three-lane indoor pool and a fitness area filled with equipment. The newest center, Sexton Hall, opened in September at its location on Chloe Road, and serves ages 50 and up. Offerings include exercise classes for physically active adults, various art forms and computer lessons. Senior services provides a wide range of services, programs and opportunities for Forsyth County’s ever-growing population of active senior citizens. Senior services takes great pride in its wellness program, which offers a wide variety of classes on nutrition and physical fitness - all geared to the specific needs of seniors. The Center at Charles Place also provides a congregate lunch at 11:30 a.m.

Monday through Friday, serving an average of 45 hot meals daily. Besides the wellness program and lunch, other activities are offered daily, Monday through Friday. Activities also take place outside the county for seniors who like to travel. Senior services offers various trips including day trips twice per month. For people who are caring for aging parents or relatives, the center offers an Alzheimer’s Respite Group. The center offer transportation for the client, provides activities to entertain them for four hours and offers this service five days a week. The client enjoys a change of atmosphere and perhaps most importantly, the caregiver receives a well-deserved break. Senior services also offers a support group and counseling. Perhaps most well-known for its Meals on Wheels Program, the senior center delivers about 140 meals a day to homebound seniors. To deliver so many meals requires many hours and workers. Delivering the meals typically takes one to two hours and volunteers can sign up to work as little as once a month. For more information about the senior services or volunteering, contact Valerie Rhoads at (770) 781-2178. Activities and information are updated on Forsyth County’s Web site at www.forsythco. com.

All donations to either of our thrift stores benefit the women and children of Abba House

Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 49

Abba House expands reach From staff reports

How to help

A local nonprofit program that helps women in need has just expanded. Abba House offers assistance not only to women trying to overcome addictions, eating disorders or depression but also to those who are victims of physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Abba House is one of just a few ministries in Georgia that will allow a woman getting help to have her children live with her. Jim Sharp and his wife, Chris, moved their ministry in 1999 from Florida and founded the organization near the Silver City community on the Dawson-Forsyth county line. Sharp said he recently received the finalized plans for a new center, which when fully complete is expected to house 67 women and their children. The center is being built with $1.55 million in a federal rural development loan, but Sharp said they need warehouse space for supplies. “We have an organization that will give us all the sheetrock for the building, but we have to find a place to store it,” Sharp said. He said the center could be finished in a year. “In February we opened our new Abba

Abba House is having a scholarship drive to fund children so they can come be with their mothers. A gift of $200 provides a month’s care for a child. Those that would like to help can call (678) 208-2000 or donate online at www.abbahouse.com.

House Perry center with a 38-bed capacity for women and children. Perry is about 35 miles south of Macon in central Georgia,” Sharp said. “With the combined capacity for our Cumming and Perry centers, we can currently help 62 women and children, so we’ve grown quite a bit.” Abba House provides a variety of services to the community, including a food bank that feeds about 100 families per month. Through its Families-in-Need program, Abba House provides social workers in local schools with free clothing for children. The organization also features two thrift stores that provide much of the resources needed to help the women and children.

Department facilitates health From staff reports

Health department

As back-to-school season nears, parents and children will be visiting the Forsyth County Health Department for vaccinations. Certain immunizations are required before enrolling children in public schools or day care centers. In addition, health department staff will be visiting schools early this fall for annual scoliosis screenings. Throughout the year, they are on hand to investigate any infectious disease outbreak, such as influenza or tuberculosis. On a daily basis, the health department offers screenings for a number of diseases. The health department offers care for Forsyth County residents beginning in infancy. The prenatal case management program is open to women without a case management organization and ensures that lowincome women have healthy pregnancies through monthly meetings with our public health nurses. The health department also administers the WIC program, which provides nutrition-

Address: 428 Canton Road Cumming, GA 30040 Contact: (770) 781-6900

PAGE 50 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

al resources for women, infants and children. The family planning program is available to women. Children with Medicaid and PeachCare insurance are eligible to receive certain dental services. Uninsured children can be seen on a fee-for-services basis. Each winter, the health department provides flu shots. The Environmental Health Section of the Forsyth County Health Department regulates on-site sewage disposal; subdivision plan analysis and development; and reviews plans for and inspects all food service establishments in Forsyth County. The department conducts foster/adoptive care environmental inspections; administers a portable toilet management program and conducts investigations concerning various types of environmental complaints for the programs it regulates.

Family Haven aids victims From staff reports

Forsyth County Family Haven is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing safe temporary shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children. Family Haven is a United Way agency and is the only domestic violence shelter in Forsyth County. It promotes self-help and the empowerment of the individual. All services are provided free of charge. Shelter residents receive comprehensive case management, which includes legal advocacy, life-skills classes, counseling, food, transportation, employment guidance and other services. Family Haven extends its services to anyone in need and provides a 24-hour crisis line, legal advocacy, and promotes public awareness throughout the community as well as in the schools through its educational programs. Call (770) 887-1121 for the 24-hour hotline to receive crisis counseling or if

CITY PARKS Keeping up with the growth of Cumming and Forsyth County is a challenge for the Cumming Recreation and Parks Department, which has seen its program participation skyrocket as the demand for leisure activities has increased. The department offers a variety of programming from which to choose, including youth basketball leagues and clinics, gymnastics, dance and ballet, self-defense, aerobics, art, horseback riding and guitar lessons. In the summer months, programming expands to include day camps, special needs camps, gymnastics camps, dance camps, as well as athletic camps for basketball, soccer, volleyball, softball and baseball. Demand for the department’s programs is tremendous, as most of the year-round gymnastics and dance classes maintain waiting lists for children to enroll, and the summertime camps quickly fill to capacity. In 2011, the department received a huge boost as it opened the Cumming Aquatic Center on Pilgrim Mill Road.

you are in need of shelter. In addition, Family Haven provides a weekly support group to victims of domestic violence and their children. The group is free to anyone in need of services. If you are in need of a temporary protective order, call (770) 889-6384, Ext. 100. Family Haven owns and operates a thrift store and proceeds from the store go directly back into Family Haven to assist victims of domestic violence. The thrift store is moving from Canton Hwy. to City Shops, 598 Veterans Memorial Blvd. The new location will open July 30. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Family Haven will pick up any large item donations on Wednesdays and Thursdays. To schedule a pick-up of items, call (770) 844-0842. To join the Family Haven volunteer team or for additional information, call (770) 889-6384. For more information, visit www.forsythcountyfamilyhaven.info. The center, which features two indoor pools and an outdoor leisure pool, opened much to the delight of families and competitive swimmers. The indoor facilities, which include a competitive pool for meets and lap swimming and an instructional pool for classes and medical purposes such as physical therapy, are open yearround.The outdoor leisure pool is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. In addition to the department’s main location of Cumming City Park at 410 Pilgrim Mill Road and the Cumming Aquatic Center at 201 Aquatic Circle, the city has baseball/softball fields at Dobbs Creek Park, 875 Dahlonega Hwy. Cumming City Park also has baseball/softball fields, as well as a pavilion/ picnic area and walking paths. Baseball and softball teams use the fields at Dobbs Creek and Cumming City Park for practices and games. The Dobbs Creek Recreation Center, at 1115 Dahlonega Hwy., houses six basketball courts and a 14,000-squarefoot gymnastics area. For more information, please call (770) 781-2030 or visit www.cityofcumming.net.

When looking for a doctor to help treat your vein condition, experience matters. You need a physician who understands that vein disease can be very complex and each patient is unique. Offering state of the art treatment techniques, our clinical team is headed by a local physician, Dr. Peter Wrobel. He is extensively trained in phlebology

(vein medicine) and has performed thousands of procedures. He is assisted by a registered ultrasound tech with vascular expertise. A licensed nurse practitioner is also part of our vein services team. In addition, licensed certified nurses and

medical assistants lend support and complete our team.

Life in Forsyth â&#x20AC;&#x201D; JULY 2012 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; PAGE 51

Churches serving the community Assembly of God Christ Community Church 5455 Campground Road (770) 442-8600 Baptist Abundant Life Baptist Church 2660 Dahlonega Hwy. Pastor: Ray Berry Alpha Reformed Baptist Church 101 Meadows Drive (lower level) Pastor: Charles “Bo” Thompson (770) 887-6732 Antioch Baptist Church Antioch Road (770) 887-6900 Beaver Ruin Baptist Pilgrim Mill Road (770) 887-9448 Berean Baptist Church 7721 Majors Road (770) 889-1302 Bethel Baptist Church Bethel Road (678) 455-0412 Bethlehem Baptist Church 5538 Post Road (770) 889-9435 Canaan Baptist Church 635 McFarland Road Pastor: Dave Holbrook (770) 539-0523 Brookwood Baptist Church 2775 Brookwood Road (770) 889-0239 Calvary Baptist Church Hwy. 20 and Hwy. 369 Pastor: Jeff Hill (770) 887-6982 or (770) 887-6442 Castleberry Road Baptist Church 7225 Castleberry Road (770) 889-2422 Christian Hope Baptist Church 2150 Antioch Road Pastor: David McGee (678) 464-0958

Pastor: Rev. Michael Cantrell (770) 889-3226 Faith Baptist Church 831 James Burgess Road Fellowship Baptist Church 3155 Bethelview Road (770) 886-1177 Pastor: Keith Lee First Baptist Church of Cumming 1597 Sawnee Drive (770) 887-2428 Pastor: Dr. Bob Jolly www.firstbaptistcumming.org

Mayfield Baptist Church Old Keith Bridge Road (770) 889-9572 Lower Shady Grove Baptist 1029 Boyd Road Pastor: Rev. Richard Brown (770) 887-7613 Midway Community Church 3365 Francis Road (770) 754-1555 Mount Calvary Baptist Church Hwy. 141 in Big Creek community (770) 889-0361

First Baptist Church of Lake Lanier (Chestatee Elementary) (678) 513-4195

Mount Pisgah Baptist Church 4775 Sewell Road

First Redeemer Church 2100 Peachtree Pkwy. (678) 513-9400

Mount Tabor Baptist Church 7900 Mount Tabor Road (770) 887-1558 www.MtTaborChurch.org

Forsyth Primitive Baptist Church 6010 Shiloh Road Pastor: Bobby Loudermilk

Siloam Baptist Church Mt. Tabor Road Silver City Baptist Church 6170 Jewell Bennett Road (770) 889-9123 Silver Shoals Baptist Church Browns Bridge Road

Grace Chapel Church of Christ 6755 Majors Road (678) 455-6845 www.gracechapelchurch.com

Spirit Baptist Church 6910 Nix Road Pastor: Barry Payne (770) 633-8684

Mountain View Church of Christ 615 Canton Hwy. (770) 889-7186 www.justchristians.net

True Way Baptist Church 5504 Old Atlanta Road (770) 623-0886

Church of God River of Life Church of God 610 Canton Hwy. (770) 889-9287

Union Hill Baptist Church Union Hill at McGinnis Ferry (770) 475-5077 Victory Baptist Church 2150 Antioch Road Pastor: Dr. Mike Bagwell

Freedom Baptist Church 1495 Buford Hwy. (770) 889-5790

New Harmony Baptist Church 4952 Heardsville Road (770) 889-4616 New Light Baptist Church 6946 Wills Road Pastor: Ricky Waters (770) 772-0862

Friendship Baptist Church Friendship Circle (770) 887-8844

North Lanier Baptist Church 829 Atlanta Hwy. (770) 887-5581

Vision Baptist Church 1125 Alpha Drive (770) 456-5881

God’s House Baptist Church 2035 Grassland Parkway Pastor: Jeremy Waters (678) 449-5546

Oak Grove Baptist Church 5640 Oak Grove Circle (770) 887-7559

Zion Hill Baptist Church 5825 Matt Road (770) 889-9429

Pine Crest Baptist Church 126 14th St. (770) 887-1540

Baha’i Faith Baha’is of Forsyth County www.forsythbahais.org

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church 9730 Waldrip Road (770) 887-9361

Bible Church Community Bible Church 2390 Buford Hwy. (770) 889-9854 Congregational Holiness Tolbert Street (770) 889-6058

Grace Baptist Church 3775 Spot Road (770) 844-8896 Grace Fellowship Church 1390 Weber Industrial Drive (770) 888-6461 www.forgodsfame.org Greater Heights Baptist Church 3790 Post Road Pastor: Chris Grinstead (770) 887-4802

Coal Mountain Baptist Church Hwy. 9 North (770) 887-4196

Harmony Baptist Church Harmony Church Road Pastor: Joey Gilbert (770) 887-9716

Concord Baptist Church 6905 Concord Road (770) 887-9482

Harmony Grove Baptist Church 5470 Keith Bridge Road (770) 887-8282

Corinth Baptist Church Mary Alice Park Road (770) 844-5731

Haw Creek Baptist Church 1098 Hawcreek Circle (770) 889-0323

Cross Plains Baptist Church 6500 McGinnis Ferry Road (770) 475-1210

Johns Creek Baptist Church 7500 McGinnis Ferry Road (770) 623-8203

Cumming Baptist Church 115 Church St. (770) 205-6699

Lakeland Baptist Church 2110 Sharon Road (770) 844-5993

Cumming Second Baptist Church 215 Veterans Memorial Blvd. (770) 781-5967

Light House Baptist Church 260 Grant Road (770) 205-5214

Daves Creek Baptist Church 1597 Old Atlanta Road

Longstreet Baptist Church 6868 Campground Road

PAGE 52 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

Pleasant View Baptist Church 817 Peachtree Pkwy. (770) 781-2989

Whispering Hope Baptist 4131 Castleberry Road (770) 887-1799 Pastor: George (Bill) Easter

Refuge Baptist Church 3525 Pilgrim Mill Road (678) 807-7746 www.refugebaptistchurch.org

God’s House of Prayer 4625 Canton Hwy. Pastor: Rev. G. Allen Boyd

Ridgeview Baptist Church 9030 Bethel Road (770) 889-1281

Catholic Good Shepherd Catholic Church 3740 Holtzclaw Road (770) 887-9861

River’s Edge Baptist Church 211 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Pastor: Stephen Wood (770) 887-3721 www.riversedgebaptist.org Roanoke Baptist Church Buford Dam Road (770) 887-5904 Salem Baptist Church Keith Bridge Road (770) 887-9011 Settendown Baptist Church Settendown Road (770) 844-9040 Shady Grove Baptist Church Shady Grove Road (770) 887-3141

Etowah River Church of Christ 494 Etowah River Road (770) 893-4315 wwwetowahriverchurchofchrist.org

St. Brendan’s Catholic Church 4633 Shiloh Road (770) 205-7969 Christian Castle Christian Church 417 Pilgrim Mill Road castlechristian.com First Christian Church 1270 Sawnee Drive (770) 887-0957 Lifepoint Christian Church 5000 McGinnis Ferry Road (678) 366-2797 Church of Christ Cumming Church of Christ 1985 Pilgrim Road (770) 887-7353

Trinity Worship Center 315 Kelly Mill Road (770) 889-7851 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 510 Brannon Road (678) 455-5290 Church of The Nazarene Crossroads Church of the Nazarene 6160 Southard Trace (678) 977-0328 www.mycrossroadschurch.net Episcopal Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit 724 Pilgrim Mill Road (770) 887-8190 www.ecohs.net St. Columba’s Episcopal Church 939 James Burgess Road Rector: Tripp Norris (770) 888-4464 www.saintcolumba.net Full Gospel Cumming New Life Church 1645 Dahlonega Hwy. (770) 889-6919 www.cnlc.org Greek Orthodox Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church Priest: Rev. Barnabas Powell 3074 Bethelview Road (770) 781-5250 www.stsrni.org Independent Fundamental Baptist Lake Pointe Baptist Church (678) 965-9626 www.lakepointbaptistchurch.org Jehovah’s Witness Jehovah’s Witnesses Cumming 1505 Dr. Bramblett Road (770) 889-0401 Jewish Congregation Gesher L’Torah 4320 Kimball Bridge Road (770) 777-4009 www.gltorah.org

See CHURCHES | 54

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Gold City Corral is located within walking distance to most accommodations on the resort and is also open to the public. Horse adventures include 1 or 3 hour rides, half-day trips and chuck wagon dinners!

706-867-9395 Just 25 minutes from the North Georgia Premium Outlets www.ForrestHillsResort.com ~ 706-864-6456 or 770-534-3244 135 Forrest Hills Road, Dahlonega

Affordable, All-Inclusive Ceremony & Reception Packages available for 25-200 guests plus elopements! Two wedding gardens, chapel and three reception halls to choose from. Details & prices online.

COUNTY PARKS The Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department continues to strive to meet the demanding needs of a growing county. This summer, the county opened four green space parks in the southern half of the county including: Chattahoochee Pointe, Caney Creek Preserve, Old Atlanta Park and Haw Creek Park. The sites have features such as natural playgrounds, walking trails, picnic areas and more. Old Atlanta also has the county’s only spray pad, which is expected to stay open this year through Sept. 3. Two recreation centers, at Old Atlanta and Fowler parks, opened in February and joined the existing building at Central Park. Each new facility includes

two gymnasiums for basketball and other sports, an indoor walking track, fitness studio and cardio and weight room. The centers also feature a multipurpose room, dance classroom and community room with a kitchen. Fowler Park, which opened last year, is 85 acres and features several sports fields and tennis courts, a playground, walking track, dog park, pavilions and an administration building. The park is also home to the county’s skate park, which sits adjacent to an entrance onto the Big Creek Greenway. The greenway provides nearly 7 miles of trails for people to walk, bike or roller blade in south Forsyth. The county plans to extend the trail to Sawnee Mountain

Preserve. The youth baseball and softball season begins in March and runs through late July with games and tournaments. Soccer programs that use the county facilities have more than 3,000 participants, while the lacrosse program, which started in spring 2005, has more than 500 participants. The adult softball program has more than 100 teams that are playing in various leagues at Central Park. Central Park, which is one of the busiest facilities, holds more than 20 tournaments. These tournaments will include various youth baseball, fast-pitch softball and adult softball tournaments. The athletic staff is planning for the fall season, which includes baseball, soft-

ball, football, cheerleading, soccer and lacrosse.

Recreation/Program Section This division of the department consists of various programs, including recreation day camps, tennis programs, fitness classes, gymnastics, martial arts, dance classes, art classes, special interest classes and special events. These classes and events are held at different locations throughout the park system, as well as some school locations.

Shady Grove Campground Forsyth County assumed operations of this park following its closure by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Churches serving the community Lutheran Christ the King Lutheran Church 1125 Bettis-Tribble Gap Road (770) 889-5328 www.ctklutheran.com Lord of Life Lutheran Church 5390 McGinnis Ferry Road (770) 740-1279 www.lord-life.org Living Faith Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 103 Buford Dam Road Pastor: Rev. Tim Droegemueller (770) 887-0184 www.livingfaithlutheran.com Methodist Bethelview United Methodist Church 4525 Bethelview Road (770) 887-4888 Creekside United Methodist Church 673 Peachtree Pkwy. (770) 888-8449 Cumming First United Methodist Church 770 Canton Hwy. (770) 889-4580 Ebenezer United Methodist 4860 Browns Bridge Road Hopewell United Methodist 5405 Hopewell Road

Lanier United Methodist Church 1979 Buford Hwy. (770) 887-0615

Shiloh United Methodist Church 4946 Shiloh Road (770) 887-8075

Macedonia United Methodist 2415 Holbrook Campground Road (770) 887-7887

Non-Denominational Abundant Life Church 1205 Samples Industrial Drive (770) 844-5762 www.alccumming.org

Midway United Methodist Church 5025 Hwy. 9 North (770) 475-5230 www.midwayumc.org New Hope Methodist Church 7850 Old Keith Bridge Road (770) 889-7440 North Forsyth United Methodist Church 6150 Highway 400, Suite H, Cumming Pastor: David Coombs (770)880-1946 www.northforsythumc.org Piedmont United Methodist Church 1170 Dahlonega Hwy. (770) 887-0770 Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church 3150 Pleasant Grove Road Pastor: Rev. Ted Miller (770) 844-7095 www.pgchurch.org

PAGE 54 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012

Freedom Tabernacle 2160 Freedom Pkwy. Pastor: Robbie Mathis (770) 887-4679 NewSong Community Church 433 Canton Road, Suite 306 (770) 888-5212 www.newsongweb.org The Church of the Apostles 32 Grant Road West Pastor: Rev. J.P. Morris (706) 216-4912 www.cotachurch.com Spanish Non-Denominational La Roca 1495 Buford Hwy. Pastor: Joe Martinez (770) 205-1559 Presbyterian Alpharetta Presbyterian Church 180 Academy St. (770) 751-0033 www.alpharettapres.com

due to budgetary restraints. The county signed a 25-year lease with the corps, with the county operating and maintaining the campground for the duration of the lease. There are more than 110 campsites at the park, which is at 7800 Shadburn Ferry Road. The campground features a beach and swim area, boat ramp with courtesy dock, group campsites with picnic shelters, tent camping areas and campsites with water and 30 and 50 amp power hookups. Campsites may be reserved up to 30 days in advance with full payment made in person at the campground. This campground remains open until Nov. 4.

FROM PAGE 52

Chalcedon Presbyterian Church 302 Pilgrim Mill Road (770) 205-9390 www.chalcedon.org

Grace Pointe Community Church Meets at North Forsyth High (770) 530-2714 www.gracepointeforsyth.org

Deer Creek Shores Presbyterian Church 7620 Lanier Drive (770) 887-6801 www.deercreekshores.org

Russian Orthodox Church Abroad Our Lady of the Joy of All Who Sorrow 6728 Campground Road (770) 613-2270 www.orthodoxinfo.biz

Johns Creek Presbyterian Church 10950 Bell Road (770) 813-9009

Seventh-Day Adventist Church Alpharetta Seventh-Day Adventist Church Meets at the Community of Christ Church Pastor: Rusty Williams 3315 Francis Road (678) 778-1778 www.alpharettasda.com

Northminster Reformed Presbyterian Church Meets at 3160 Old Atlanta Road (770) 241-3946 www.northminster-church.com Parkway Presbyterian Church 5830 Bethelview Road (770) 889-8694 www.parkway-church.org Trinity Presbyterian Church 1136 Trinity Church Road (678) 493-6955 Presbyterian PCA The Vine Community Church 4655 Bethelview Road (678) 990-9395 www.thevinecommunitychurch.com

Chestatee Seventh-Day Adventist Church 1635 Black’s Mill Road Pastor: JT Pinilla (912) 289-4656 pastor@chestatee.org Ukrainian Orthodox Church St. Andrews Ukrainian Orthodox Church 4818 Smith Drive Priest: Rev. Ivan Lymar (770) 888-3373

City of Cumming Protect your vision. Prevail over adversity. Persevere in the midst of turmoil. Purposely walk into the day. -Author unknown

The City of Cumming, led by a group of seasoned elected officials and a long term Mayor is actively establishing a legacy which posterity will recall as visionary. Ever seeking programs and projects that will better the community and searching out frugal means of funding, it is quite possible that records have been set here with regard to innovative leadership. Most especially in the midst of the country’s adverse economical situation, it is remarkable that the City of Cumming continues to purposefully march forward and bring good things to the people of Cumming, Forsyth and surrounding communities, while maintaining a balanced budget.

Cumming, Georgia is a wonderful place to live, work, play, and succeed and while it is true that our town is referred to as “The Gateway to Leisure Living”, that privilege has come about as a result of extensive planning by dedicated people and concerted effort on the part of elected officials and the citizens of the town. Presently, this community should take great pride in the Aquatic Center, The Drivers Services Center, the soon to open University Center – 400 as these new offerings and others to come will serve the community well for many years into the future.

“A community is not complete without higher education . . . ”

GA 400 University Center

-H. Ford Gravitt Mayor

The City of Cumming has been working with North Georgia College and State University and Gainesville State College for a number of years to build an instructional site in Forsyth County. The new facility, scheduled to open Fall 2012 will eventually offer a range of two- and four-year undergraduate programs, graduate programs and professional development opportunities. North Georgia's MBA program, currently located in the Cumming City Hall building, will move to the new location.

Georgia Department of Drivers Services at Cumming The new Georgia Department of Driver Services operations opened in July 2012 and offers the same services offered at the former County Way location in North Forsyth, but, according to Richard Turpin, Center Manager, it will “be offering more in the near future.” Located at 400 Aquatic Circle, off Pilgrim Mill Road (exit 16 of GA 400), the 9,000 square foot facility broke ground in early Spring 2012 and was funded by the City of Cumming.

City of Cumming H. Ford Gravitt Mayor

Lewis Ledbetter Councilman

Quincy Holton Councilman

Ralph Perry Councilman

John D. Pugh Councilman

Rupert Sexton Councilman

Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012 — PAGE 55

PAGE 56 — Life in Forsyth — JULY 2012