ARTS & COMMUNITY
D
Progress 2017
Building the Future
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Inside: Business & Industry • Government & Education • Health & Recreation
2D | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Playhouse center for the arts Located in the old Cumming Schoolhouse, venue draws crowds By Crystal Ledford
Each year, the playhouse provides a wide range of entertainment to thousands of patrons. In 2016 alone, the venue featured a total of more than 100 individual performances and served more than 15,000 patrons. Everything from concerts and traveling shows to full-scale, main stage plays and musicals grace the historic stage each year. So far in 2017, the venue has presented tribute shows to literary icon Mark Twain and classic rock stars Simon and Garfunkel, and the Everly Brothers. The playhouse also saw a St. Patrick’s Day performance by Chloe Agnew, one of the foundering members of Celtic Woman, and by the band Back in the Saddle, which presented classic Western music. In addition, Dacula-based band, The Skillet Lickers, presented “Real Time Radio Show,” which focused on the history of radio. There is still plenty more to come in
For the Forsyth County News
The Cumming Playhouse, located inside the 1923 Cumming schoolhouse at 101 School St., is the heart of performing arts and history in Forsyth County. The facility was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 through the efforts of the Historical Society of Forsyth County. The school was the first high school in Forsyth County, issuing the first diplomas to graduates. The facility, which is owned by the city of Cumming, was restored through local 1-cent sales tax revenue in 2004. As a center of history, the facility also houses the Historical Society of Cumming and Forsyth County. As a performing arts venue, the playhouse opened its doors in 2004, providing quality entertainment throughout the season, offering plays, musicals and concerts.
See PLAYHOUSE | 3D
Upcoming Shows A Patriotic Salute to American and our Armed Forces Through April 2, 2017 Friday | 8 PM Saturday | 3 PM & 8 PM Sunday | 3 PM
Farr & Friends with special guest the Local Legends May 5 & 6, 2017 Friday & Saturday | 8 PM
Chuck Wagon Gang
May 7, 2017
Sunday | 3 PM & 7 PM
The Mood Swingers May 19-21, 2017
Friday & Saturday | 8 PM Sunday | 3 PM
Red, Hot and Cole the Musical “A Tribute to the music of Cole Porter”
June 1-18, 2017
Thursday, Friday & Saturday | 8 PM Sunday | 3 PM 101 School Street | Cumming, GA 30041
770.781.9178
www.playhousecumming.com
Leader of the Pack, above. Smoke on the Mountain, top photo.
Did you know?
182 - Seats 1923 - Year the old Cumming Public School, which today houses the playhouse, was built 11 - Years of education required to receive a high school diploma in 1923 1955 - Year of last graduating class from Cumming Public School 2000 - Year the city of Cumming acquired the building from the Forsyth County Board of Education
Sawnee Association of the Arts Presents
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Through April 1 11am - 6pm
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Daily Lunch & Learn Series
For daily event information please visit www.sawneeart.org or call 678.936.6422
The Brannon-Heard House 111 Pilgrim Mill Road | Cumming, GA Gallery & Gift Shop
forsythnews.com | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | 3D
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
FROM 2D
Playhouse 2017 at the Cumming Playhouse. “A Patriotic Salute to America and Our Armed Forces” runs March 24-April 2, followed by a number of concerts from groups such as Farr and Friends, the Chuck Wagon Gang, and The Mood Swingers. “ R e d , H o t an d Co l e t h e Musical: A Tribute to the Music of Cole Porter” runs June 1-18, followed by voice impressionist and comedian Johnny Counterfeit on June 24. The popular Broadway musical “Sister Act” hits the stage July 13-Aug. 6, followed by Banks and Shane on Aug. 12, and “Mayberry Moments” — an
“Andy Griffith Show” tribute — on Aug. 19. “Classic Nashville Roadshow” with Jason Petty and Katie Deal (daughter of Gov. Nathan Deal) runs Sept. 9, and “Forever Ray,” a tribute to Ray Charles, is Sept. 23. The classic musical “Fiddler on the Roof” takes center stage Oct. 13-Nov. 5, followed by “Sanders Family Christmas” — sequel to the beloved “Smoke on the Mountain” — Nov. 24-Dec. 10. The year comes to a close with several local musical and performing arts groups presenting Christmas shows throughout December. For more information about upcoming shows and to purchase tickets, go to www.playhousecumming.com.
At a glance Upcoming shows at the Cumming Playhouse
• “A Patriotic Salute to America and Our Armed Forces” – March 24-April 2 • “Farr and Friends with Special Guest the Local Legends” – May 5 & 6 • “Chuck Wagon Gang 2017” – May 7 • “The Mood Swingers 2017” – May 19-21 • “Red, Hot and Cole the Musical: A Tribute to the Music of Cole Porter” – June 1-18 • “Johnny Counterfit: Voice Impressionist and Comedian” – June 24 • “Sister Act the Musical” – July 13-Aug. 6 • “Banks and Shane 2017” – Aug. 12 • “Mayberry Moments 2017” – Aug. 19 • “Classic Nashville Roadshow featuring Katie Deal and Jason Petty” – Sept. 9 • “Forever Ray: Ray Charles Tribute Band” – Sept. 23 • “Fiddler on the Roof” – Oct. 13-Nov. 5 • “Sanders Family Christmas” – Nov. 24-Dec. 10 • “Forsyth Philharmonic 2017” – Dec. 13 • “Christmas Classics 2017” – Dec. 15 • “North Georgia Barbershop Singers: Christmas 2017” – Dec. 16 & 17 • “Cumming Playhouse Singers: Christmas 2017” – Dec. 19 • “Sounds of Sawnee Band: Christmas 2017” – Dec. 22
My Fair Lady at the Cumming Playhouse.
For more information or to order tickets, go to www.playhousecumming. com.
4D | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Georgia’s healthiest county for a reason
Passive parks provide in-town get away
File photos
In March, officials broke ground on Lanierland Park, above, on Jot Em Down Road, which is named after the former country music venue that once sat on the land. Below, a renovation project begins at Chattahoochee Pointe Park to add a new restroom facility and additional trails that can be used for 5k races. The park opened in February 2017.
By Kelly Whitmire
kwhitmire@forsythnews.com
Forsyth County’s parks are one of the most popular amenities in the county and ball fields, recreation centers and specialties like Fowler Park’s skate park are in use constantly. But some of the most popular park uses are a little more passive. The county breaks its park offerings into two categories: active uses, or using fields, courts and recreation centers; and passive uses, such as canoeing, hiking and biking trails and anything else using the county’s natural amenities. “A passive park is an area where there is more time for leisure time and walking areas, playgrounds, places for people just to relax and enjoy the environment,” said Laura Pate, marketing and communications manager for the Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department. Pate said the passive parks help Forsyth maintain it’s ranking as healthiest county in the state, which it has See PARKS | 5D
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forsythnews.com | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | 5D
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Forsyth County’s passive parks made some major strides in 2016. Below are a few of the highlights. JANUARY
FALL A renovation project begins at Chattahoochee Pointe Park to add a new restroom facility and additional trails that can be used for 5k races. The park opened in February 2017.
The third phase of the Sawnee Mountain Preserve is opened, bringing Forsyth County’s largest park to 963 acres and adding six miles of hiking trails, two picnic pavilions, a playground with rubberized surfaces and additional restrooms and parking.
AUGUST The Big Creek Greenway opens a 2.8 mile new phase and brings the entire length of the trail to 9.6 miles.
FROM 4D
Parks been named four years in a row. “I think we want to create these spaces because they create an outlet for people to go and spend time with their family, their friends, with themselves in nature,” she said. The two biggest, or at least tallest and longest, of the passive amenities are the Sawnee Mountain Preserve and the Big Green Greenway. “Those see the most amounts of people each year, thousands of people each,” Pate said. The preserve provides 963 acres on Sawnee Mountain and features more than 11 miles of
NOVEMBER Ground is broken on Eagles Beak Park, a 230 acre passive park in northeast Forsyth. The park is set to open this year and will feature a canoe launch to the Etowah River, nature trails and a restroom building.
hiking. One of the mountain’s most well-known locations is the Indians Seats, a natural rock formation. The preserve’s visitor center also includes interactive exhibits on the history of the mountain and a resource library. “There is also a rock climbing face where you can get a permit to climb or rappel on natural rock,” Pate said. The Big Creek Greenway is a 9.6-mile walking and biking trail beginning near McFarland Parkway in south Forsyth and ending at Johnson Road in west Forsyth. Once completed, the trail will be about 15 miles and reach Sawnee Mountain. “It features boardwalk as well as concrete areas for people to walk,” Pate said.
Pate said the greenway sees use from all ages and athletic types, from causal walkers to those training for marathons. Passive parks in the county include Poole’s Mill Park, Chattahoochee Pointe Park, Caney Creek Preserve and others. Ground was broken on Eagles Beak Park in northwest Forsyth in 2016, and the park is expected to open this year. Pate said the amenities are already heavily used and are growing in popularity, even bringing people to town. “They certainly have grown, but it’s kind of like with the population, as more people move in the facilities become more used,” she said. “We’ve definitely seen over the time period of the Sawnee Mountain
Jim Dean Forsyth County News
Lanierland Park will cover 109 acres and include four rectangular synthetic turf fields, concessions, picnic pavilions and a playground.
Preserve the visitation has increased tremendously to where it’s not only a community offering, but a tourist attraction. “People are coming from all over to visit the Sawnee Mountain Preserve, then the Big Creek Greenway continues to increase as far as uses.” In 2016, the parks department also took a big step toward a new park in north Forsyth. In March, officials broke ground on Lanierland Park on Jot Em Down Road, which is named after the former country music venue that once sat on the land. In its heyday, Lanierland hosted iconic country musicians such as the Oak Ridge
Boys, Hank Williams Jr. and Johnny Cash before closing in 2006. The county bought the land in 2009. The park will cover 109 acres and include four rectangular synthetic turf fields, concessions, picnic pavilions and a playground. Some sports currently held at Bennett Park, particularly those needing a square field, will move their home base to Lanierland. The project is being funded through impact fees and 2008 voter-approved parks, recreation and green space bond. Reeves Young handled construction for the park. Lanierland is expected to open this spring.
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6D | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
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8D | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Humane Society looks out for furry residents
By Mark Schullstrom Jr.
For the Forsyth County News
The Humane Society of Forsyth County (HSFC) is dedicated to finding loving homes for cats and dogs, educating pet owners and reducing pet overpopulation. HSFC is one of the few true no-kill shelters in the area. We give back by educating and enriching the community, in regards to our “no-kill” mission. It is our dream to create a “no-kill community.” Our 2016 adoptions exceeded our expectations finding forever homes for 1,850 animals. The 2016 Bark & Boogie Ball, our premier fundraising event was the most successful in its history raising close to $100,000 — all for the furs. We also launched our Corporate Sponsorship Program in 2016 providing an avenue for businesses to join our mission of saving animals in Forsyth County. In addition to our animal rescue program, we also offer several other important services to the community. • Spay and neuter assistance program is available to low-income pet owners. We offer vouchers redeemable at participating local veterinarians. • Humane Hearts Therapy Dogs, where our 44-dog/owner teams make visits to schools, libraries, elder care
facilities and special events. Their loving and gentle presence enriches everyone they meet within the community. HSFC was able to positively affect and impact many lives in 2016. However, it could not exist without financial support and the tireless efforts provided by an army of volunteers and small paid staff. We are a private, independent 501(c) (3) non-profit animal shelter; which means we receive no funding from state or local governments, including Forsyth County. We exist exclusively through the generosity of residents and partnerships with local businesses. The HSFC Thrift Store, which supplies donated items at reasonable prices to the community in order to assist in the caring of animals, also is a source of support. For more information about the society, its programs and how to get involved, please contact info@forsythpets.org or call (770) 887-6480. The Humane Society of Forsyth County is located at 4440 Keith Bridge Road in north Forsyth.
Mark Schullstrom Jr. is the executive director and president of the Humane Society of Forsyth County’s Board of Directors.
2016 Statistics at a glance Animals Adopted Dogs Cats Spay and Neuter Assistance Program Humane Hearts Therapy Dogs
The Place of Forsyth County aids residents Description Quantity Assistance Total Gift cards given to clients/families 173 $3,808 Senior gift cards 33 $745 Surplus clients 12,810 $269,622.73 Food pantry bags/boxes 4,520 $244,190.72 Wednesday noon day meal served 3,983 $47,804.50 Holiday food boxes 494 $38,142 Thrift store vouchers basic need items 187 $4,779.75 Winter, coats, gloves, hats, scarves, quilts 549 $5,490.0$ Agency sharing - food 91 $177,082.32 Healthy snack packs for schools 10 $1,634.60 Backpacks and school supplies 1,220 $94,710.60 Summer camp sponsorships 140 $10,250 Easter baskets 100 $500 Holiday House gifts and gift cards 2,078 $199,443 Workforce development vouchers 15 $1,070 Focus on Forsyth vouchers 114 $8,115.60 Total in kind assistance 26,517 $1,107,388.82 Direct financial assistance 629 $225,377.60 Purchased cards given to clients/familes 34 $1,225 Summer camp sponsorships 124 $9,228.94 Direct financial assistance 787 $235,831.54 2016 total assistance in community 27,304 $1,343,220.36 Workforce development job placements 82 $636,000
1,850 1,108 742 125 1,100 visits
Forsyth County arts center aired
By Kelly Whitmire
kwhitmire@forsythnews.com
Forsyth County government officials agreed to look into a potential new facility for meetings and performing arts. Commissioners directed County Manager Doug Derrer to check with companies that perform studies on art centers for information on such a facility in the county. Once Derrer has that information, commissioners will discuss it at a future work session. “In our [comprehensive] plan, it came up that we needed to look at arts centers or cultural arts buildings,” District 4 Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills said. “I thought that it would be good for us to look at a study.” Derrer said one possible company is Jacobs Engineering, one of the firms working on the update to Forsyth County’s 20-year future development plan called Foster Forsyth. During the discussion, a possible facility that could house graduations for the county high schools was discussed, but it did not move forward. Local high schools – except Forsyth Central High – host their graduation ceremonies at the Infinite Energy Arena in neighboring Gwinnett County. Mills said the study needs to be done “to know what size building would a community like ours support.” The need for a community arts center or civic center has also been raised at meetings for the comprehensive plans of the city of Cumming and the county parks department.
Senior Services supports community’s older adults For the Forsyth County News
Forsyth County Senior Services works to enhance life for older adults, providing gathering places for services and activities, and striving to facilitate well-being, support independence, and encourage involvement in the community. The department operates three community centers that facilitate socialization, provide nutritional health and/or wellness education, promote recreation and lifelong learning, and enable access to resources meaningful to older adults, their caregivers and families. Charles Place is a traditional senior center focused on nutritional health and providing a half day activity program, Hearthstone Lodge is a fitness facility geared to those 50 and better, and Sexton Hall is a multi-purpose, life enrichment center geared to active adults. Sexton Hall will reopen in May after going through a renovation project that has enlarged the facility, allowing more programs and services to be offered. For more information, please contact Ruthie Brew, Senior Services Director, at (770) 781-2178 or rbbrew@forsythco.com.
By the numbers Active adult centers – Hearthstone Lodge and Sexton Hall 290 Hike program participants 333 Day trip participants 403 Continuing education class participants 2,186 Aquatic class participants 2,946 Open/lap swim participants 1,563 Fitness class participants 4,986 Leisure activity participants 2,225 Fitness center usage participants 1,174 Special events participants (concerts, dances, etc.) 1,500 attendees at 14th Annual Forsyth Senior Expo Older adult nutrition program - Charles Place Senior Center 10,205 Congregate meals served 38,631 Home-bound meals delivered 4,066 Hours of memory support respite care provided 9200 Hours given by volunteers 6712 Hours of activities provided Almost 10,000 Hours of wellness programming provided 685 Gifts donated through the 2016 Holiday Gift Angel program 4,588 Meals donated through Holiday Gift Certificate program
Study: Cumming second best place in country for retirees By Kelly Whitmire
kwhitmire@forsythnews.com
A new study has named Cumming as one of the best cities for retirees. T h e s t u d y, d o n e b y SmartAsset, looked at tax burden, medical care and recreation and social centers for retirees and found Cumming to be the second best place to retire in the country. Only Naples, Florida, w a s r a n k e d h i g h e r, a n d Cumming finished just ahead of
Beverly Hills. “This county in particular is very supportive of seniors,” said Ruthie Brew, director of senior services for Forsyth County. “The benefits that are afforded them are really extraordinary. Other factors taken into account were the number of doctors’ offices, recreation centers ant retirement centers per 1,000 people and percent of the population who were seniors. Cumming was ranked first for medical care, with 32.4 doctor’s
offices per 1,000 people, and fifth for recreation, with almost nine recreation centers and 1.6 retirement centers per 1,000 people. Brew said the county’s three senior centers- Charles’ Place, Sexton Hall and Hearthstone Lodge- were “wonderful places to gather in community” for seniors. She said Hearthstone, which she called “best kept secret in the county,” was particularly import for the health of seniors
and included a pool with warmer water and less harsh chemicals for seniors, a fitness room and a “great room” for fitness classes and other activities. Brew said there was also a group of about 50 “avid hikers” and go on two hiking trips a month. The area did not rank in the top 10 for tax burden, all ten were from the tax-friendly states of Alaska and Delaware, but Brews said taxes, in particular an exemption for school taxes,
made it a popular spot. “Even though your home may be paid for, if you have to come up with $10,000 or $15,000 or $20,000 for real estate taxes, that will be a hardship on you eventually,” Brew said. “This area is unique in that they recognize seniors do need breaks and they no longer have students in the schools.” She said affordability of housing and weather, particularly warm winters, were also big factors for seniors.
forsythnews.com | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | 9D
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Forsyth County Public Library marks 20-year milestone By Isabel Hughes
ihughes@forsythnews.com
The usual quiet that circulates through libraries was replaced by a buzz of voices and energetic excitement. More than 70 patrons attended the Forsyth County Public Library’s 20th anniversary celebration, which was held at the Cumming Library Aug. 25. The event included a tour of the branch, a small ceremony with celebratory remarks and cake cutting and a bilingual story time with Llama Llama, a well-loved children’s book character. Library Board Chairwoman Mary Helen McGruder opened the ceremony thanking the county’s elected officials for their support of the library system. Board of Commissioners Chairman Pete Amos was in attendance, as well as District 4 Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills. Library Director Anna Lyle led most of the ceremony, beginning with the library’s history and detailing what, exactly, was being celebrated. While the first official public library in Forsyth County was opened in 1938, it wasn’t until July 1996 that the FCPL became an independent library
system. “We were part of regional systems — some combination of three different versions of Forsyth, Gwinnett and Dawson Counties,” Lyle said. In the fall of 1995, the Gwinnett board decided to withdraw from the regional system, which essentially forced Forsyth County to do the same. The county had a choice to make: join another regional system, or attempt to go it alone and create its own library system. “Things were already starting to change in Forsyth,” Lyle said. “So, the commission stepped up and provided the funding, and the library board at that time and the newly hired director Jon McDaniel, they stepped up and they started creating the infrastructure that led to the library system we have today.” And they never looked back.
A flourishing system Since ’96, the library system has flourished. The FCPL now has four locations: Cumming, Hampton Park, Post Road and Sharon Forks, all of which made the 2016 top 50 list of busiest libraries in Georgia. Sharon Forks Library was named the busiest in the state,
with patrons checking out 984,291 physical materials in the 2015 fiscal year — 300,000 more books magazines, CDs and DVDs than the library with the next-highest circulation, according to data from the Georgia Public Library Service. And more than 2.5 million items were circulated throughout all four branches last year alone, McGruder said. But the FCPL’s greatest achievement, she said, is its successful transition from print
books to the digital age. Lyle agreed that the library has successfully kept up with the demands of modernization, but she said she still finds that patrons consistently want physical books, newspapers and magazines. “We are prepared for the decline of print and lots of libraries, academic and otherwise, have really focused on those collaborative learning spaces, and we’ve done that with our newer locations,” she
said, “but we’re still finding this veracious appetite for print materials. “A lot of the library literature talks about how to stay relevant, but here, people really want the traditional services, so I really don’t know what it would take to [change] that.” Lyle did tout the FCPL’s technological advancements, however. “We got a grant through the Library Services and Technology Act [that] allowed us to buy $15,000 worth of STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts and math — technologies,” Lyle said. The hope is, with these technologies at their fingertips, Georgia’s children will excel in school where STEAM is being implemented.
A growing community center But the library is about more than just learning, Lyle said. It’s a community experience. “You don’t have to be coming here to have a big cerebral experience,” she said. “You can just come here because you like to read or you want to hang out and have a nice space. Libraries are much more community focused than they used to be.”
County commissioners, state representatives and Forsyth County Public Library officials and guests gathered for the Sharon Forks Library expansion and renovation groundbreaking ceremony in November. The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2017 or beginning of 2018, was funded by $2 million from the state’s $21.8 billion fiscal year 2016 budget, local SPLOST funds and county impact fees. Based on data collected statewide by the Georgia Public Library Service, the Sharon Forks Library lends out more materials than any other library in the state.
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10D | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Cumming Country Fair & Festival breaks record for 2016 event From staff reports
The Cumming Fairgrounds helps keep local traditions alive. From its signature event, the Cumming Country Fair & Festival, to the early-1900s heritage village maintained y e a r r o u n d , Fa i rg r o u n d s Administrator Dave Horton says the venue offers familyoriented fun. The annual fair, which takes place in October, was the first event at the fairgrounds, starting in 1995 as a six-day event. T h e f e s t iva l h a s s i n c e expanded to 11 days, featuring well-known musical acts, a variety of performance groups and the 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 22nd annual fair in 2016 saw record-breaking numbers. Horton said the event, which drew more than 222,007 people, “smashed” the previous attendance record, set in 2015. That number was about 167,827. The 2016 fair had one day of weather concern, but still posted 222,007 for attendance. The 2017 fair is slated for Oct. 5-15. Besides the Cumming Country Fair & Festival, the fairgrounds also provide a wide range of other activities and events throughout the year. The schedule each year stays about the same, from the fireworks display and steam engine parade in July to the Christmas celebration in
December. The fairgrounds, also puts on an IPRA Championship Rodeo over Labor Day weekend. The City of Cumming also presents the Taste of Forsyth, which is held on Easter weekend at the fairgrounds. The event offers patrons the chance to sample a wide range of food at a low cost. The popular event invites restaurants from across the county to share samples of their dishes. Outside groups also use the fairgrounds venue for charity events, such as Relay for Life, Ride for Kids Motorcycle Ride or other community gatherings, such as church-sponsored car shows. Each November, the fairgrounds is the site of what is fast becoming one of the largest professional barbecue competitions in the nation. The Que ‘N’ Cumming was first presented in 2011. In 2012 to 2014, the event grew in size and popularity, with more than 100 professional and 50 amateur teams from across the country competing and about 15,000 spectators attending each year to sample worldclass ’cue. The Que ‘N’ Cumming is always held the weekend before Thanksgiving in November. The North Georgia Quarter Midget Association plays host to sixteen to seventeen races for competitors ages 5 to 16, when the fairgrounds isn’t otherwise being used, Horton said. In July of 2013, the site hosted the association’s QMA Eastern Grands championship, drawing thousands of people.
In 2015 the NGQMA hosted a National USAC race. The Bill Thomas Raceway at the fairgrounds has held national tournaments in the past, with some former competitors growing up to become NASCAR drivers. The races, like most of the events at the fairgrounds, Horton said, bring in revenue to the local economy. Fairgrounds staff members work year round to keep the area well maintained and continue to plan for big events. The annual fair involves a full year of preparation to bring in a variety of acts and entertainment for the families visiting the fair. Check out the full schedule of Cumming fairground events at: www.cummingfair.net.
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 the traditional rides and games galore.
forsythnews.com | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | 11D
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Great things happen when we live united United Way expands work on supporting needs of community
For the Forsyth County News
The year 2016 brought together nearly 6,000 donors and hundreds of volunteers to support more than 60 nonprofit organizations and programs that provided direct services to residents throughout Forsyth county. Their investment of $1.39 million supported the impact areas of education, financial stability, health and basic needs, and touched the lives of more than 58,000 members of our community. These impact areas play a key role in building a good, quality life. In fact, the belief is that a quality education will lead to a stable job, the ability to afford the basic needs and to be self-sufficient, all leading to good health for the individual and community. Throughout 2016, United Way continued its work with community partners — nonprofits, the school system, local government, churches and community volunteers — to identify the root causes of problems that face our community. It then began collaborating on ways to create long-term, sustainable solutions.
Basic needs In the basic needs impact area, a need had been identified for “resource sharing” between nonprofit partners within the community. Through an online program called Charity Tracker, the school system, nonprofits, churches, etc. can share information about any resources available to help individuals or families they serve. Last year, United Way hosted informational and training meetings with organizations interested in joining the Forsyth County collaborative on Charity Tracker. Currently there are 16 member agencies and 25 agents in the Collaborative. Food, one of the most basic needs, continued to be
addressed. During the 15th Annual Day of Caring, more than 790 community volunteers from local corporations, small businesses, civic clubs, schools and churches, packaged 130,000 dried, ready-to-eat meals for distribution to nine local food pantries. Additionally, a leadership group from Mashburn Elementary School joined in and packaged over 180 jars of five bean soup for the local food pantries. Another 73 volunteers participated in projects at local nonprofits throughout Forsyth County. In May 2016, United Way also joined with the Cumming Post Office for the 24th Annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive, which collected 19,000 pounds of food over a 2-day period. Boys from Bald Ridge Lodge assisted Georgia Mountain Food Bank with picking up the collected food from the Post office and delivering it to United Way. The food was distributed to 14 local food pantries and programs.
Financial stability Initiatives within the financial stability impact area saw an increase in activity. In partnership with the AARP Foundation Tax Aide volunteers, free income tax assistance was provided to low- to moderateincome families (those earning $54,000 or less) and those individuals 60 years and older. Last year, 260 tax returns were prepared, more than double the prior year. AARP volunteers logged over 625 volunteer hours during 17 tax preparation sessions, deterring the preparation costs that can take a bite out of the income needed for participants to support themselves and their families. United Way’s Workforce Housing Committee has also moved forward with its work, advocating for affordable housing options for teachers, fire-
The following is a breakdown of 2016 United Way of Forsyth County funding by impact area: • Financial stability: $24,135 • Basic needs: $215,499 • Health: $393,655 • Education: $729,673 • Donor designations made outside Forsyth: $26,038 • Total investment: $1,389,011 Source: United Way of Forsyth County
On the Net To find out more about United Way of Forsyth County, go online at www.UnitedWayForsyth.com. You can also find us on Facebook at UnitedWayForsythCountyGA, Twitter @ UnitedWayFCGA and Instagram @UnitedWayForsythCounty
fighters, police officers and other employees in the community.
Education Under the education impact area, a Mentoring & Tutoring Committee was formed to identify areas where it could work to increase the number of mentors and tutors for academically atrisk students. After previous discussions and research, the committee decided that for many high school students, tutoring outside of school hours was not an option due to transportation barriers. Knowing that extra instructional time provides students the opportunity to catchup or stay on track to graduate on-time, the “NFHS Raider Ride” program was born. By providing this “late bus” transportation alternative, students were able to get extra instructional time, attend club meetings, participate in sporting
activities, ROTC, etc. In its first year, 66 students took advantage of the Raider R i d e o n Tu e s d a y s a n d Thursdays during the 2015-2016 school year. Due to the success of the program, the “Bulldog Ride” at Forsyth Central High School was added for the 20162017 school year. In 2016, with the help of Publix Super Markets, local businesses, churches, community organizations and individuals, United Way’s Stuff the Bus event collected more than 49,000 school supply items during the 2016 Stuff the Bus Program. These items benefit children and youth in Forsyth County Schools.
Health United Way of Forsyth County is continuing this work into 2017 and is also moving forward with identifying needs within the health impact area. In 2015, United Way became the fiscal agent for a federal grant the Forsyth County Drug Awareness
Council received. This program is committed to educating, advocating and empowering the community to prevent substance abuse across the life-span in Forsyth County. Creative Enterprises-Forsyth, a non-profit assisting individuals with disabilities who have barriers to employment, opened their doors on September 7, 2016 with four clients. At the end of the year, 14 clients were being served with an expectation of serving 25-30 clients by the end of 2017. Additionally, ownership of the United Way van was transferred to Creative Enterprises- Forsyth to transport clients for community outings. Through the 8th Annual Give Kids A Smile Day in Forsyth County, more than 70 children received free dental services from five dental practices volunteering to help the children and youth who were in need of services. United Way’s mission is to improve lives in the community by mobilizing the caring power and spirit of residents. The organization does this by bringing together donors, volunteers, community leaders, large and small businesses and many others to find ways to meet the most crucial needs. Thank you to everyone who continues to give back to this great community we call Cumming and Forsyth County through United Way. Your time, financial resources and sheer dedication make it the best place in Georgia where all people have the opportunity to engage, thrive and achieve a better quality of life.
12D | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
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2E | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Live. Work. Play. Halcyon is set to bring Forsyth County into the mixed-use development spotlight. Here’s a look at how it took shape. August 2015 RocaPoint Partners and The Georgetown Company close on the land to be the future site of Halcyon.
November 2016 Officials announces CMX Theaters, a subsidiary of Mexico-based cinema chain Cinemex has signed a leaseto open a 10-screen, 38,000-square-foot upscale dine-in movie theater.
February 2016 A groundbreaking ceremony is held at the site of Halcyon to kick off new work.
February 2017 RocaPoint Partners announces Atlanta chef Mac Taft has signed leases for three new restaurants at Halcyon.
November 2016 Work begins on a .75-mile extension of the Big Creek Greenway that will weave into the development.
Halcyon expected to have big impact on Forsyth By Kelly Whitmire
kwhitmire@forsythnews.com
Fo r s y t h C o u n t y i s home to many great neighborhoods, fine dining and entertainment, but one upcoming development will be the first of its kind. Halcyon, a mixed-use development just of Exit 12 on McFarland Parkway, is set to open in 2018 and will bring something totally new to Forsyth, a live-work-play development. Patrick Leonard, of RocaPoint Partners, master developer of the project, said he believes once opened, the development will become a major part of south Forsyth.
“We’re excited about this location for a lot of reasons. Forsyth has made a very, very large investment in this area,” Leonard said. “We’re very excited about the long-term prospect of this location. We think it is a great location today … as this area grows and expands it is only going to help our product. “If we can do a real good, high-quality project that’s successful, I just think it helps the south part of the county and just the county in general.” H a l c y o n will cost around $370 million to develop and will offer more than 500,000 square feet of commercial space,
690 residential units and some 50 acres of greenspace throughout the development. Ground was broken on the project at a ceremony in early 2016. Vickery Village is the only resemblance of mixed-use right now, but Halcyon will elevate Forsyth to Avalon-type levels. Once completed, the development will also include 300 apartments and 160 age-restricted units for rent from Greystar, two hotels, forsale residential units and will add .75 miles of trail for the Big Creek Greenway, including a trailhead, new restrooms and a new paved and lit parking lot.
Leonard said the development has also gained the interest of many businesses including boutique fashion and running and biking stores catering to the greenway extension. “We’ve gotten a really good response from the project,” he said. “We’re not quite ready to announce all of them, but we’re very excited about some of the users we’re having here; we’re having a couple of great local chefs, restaurants kind of unique to the area.” In February, it was announced that Chef Marc Taft — who currently owns and operates Chicken
and the Egg in Marietta, which opened in August 2011 — signed leases to open three restaurants; CO-OP Community Table and Bar, FEED Fried Chicken + Such — a fried chicken and other Southern food joint — and a market hall burger concept. The development will also be home to the county’s first dine-in movie theater in the form of CMX Cinemas, which will have 10 screens in a 38,000-square-foot theater. “They’re going to roll them out across the U.S. and this will be one of the first ones,” Leonard
said. “It will be a highend dine-in movie theater. We’re very excited about them; it’s going to be a really good, unique experience. They have a big bar, comfortable seats and a hang-end entertainment experience.” Leonard said walkability and other factors made the developments popular. “It’s clearly important for a lot of reasons,” he said. “I think universally, across Atlanta things are getting more expensive construction-wise, and the only way you kind of get the premium … is sort of the mixture of uses.”
Lanier Crossing
“On behalf of the entire team here at Chick-fil-A Lanier Crossing, I would like to sincerely thank the residents of Forsyth for making us the #1 fast service food restaurant in the county for three years in a row! We have strived to forge a strong partnership with the local community for many years, whether it be school fundraisers, military appreciation, or just free Ice Dream for the kids. We are truly honored to serve you, and I look forward to seeing you on your next visit to Chick-fil-A Lanier Crossing.” -Mike Ridzon, Owner Chick-fil-A Lanier Crossing
About the cover Scott’s Auto Center is a locally owned and operated auto repair source in Cumming. Scott’s was named “Best of Forsyth” for aftermarket auto repair in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Photo by Micah Green Forsyth County News
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4E | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Commissioners break down zonings in Forsyth County from 2016-17
By Kelly Whitmire
kwhitmire@forsythnews.com
Construction and rezonings may seem like a constant in Forsyth County, but recently commissioners reviewed a breakdown of the most popular districts to apply for zonings, the most-applied for categories and by what density. At a work session, Forsyth County commissioners discussed zoning information compiled by District 4 planning board member Bettina Hammond. The information looked at zoning in 2016 and 2017 and already filed zonings commissioners will consider in the future. “She had just compiled all of this information and sent it to me and I just asked our board [to look at it],” District 4 Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills said. “I thought it was really good data for us to look at because we’ve all talked about how important data is to dispense to the public and for us to know to go back and review.” The information broke down the number of zonings by district, zoning category and other factors. “She broke it down by each district, how many acres was in it, what the density was by district,” Mills said. “She even went through all the zonings that were denied or if they withdrew.” From Jan. 1, 2016 to Feb. 21, 2017, 18 residential zonings were approved on 655 acres for 1,175 lots. Of the 18 residential zonings, 12 were in Districts 1 and 3 — each had six — along with 523 of the approved lots, 187 for District 1 and 336 for District 3. Districts 2, 4 and 5 each had two zonings. The most popular zoning category was single family residential Res-3, which received 10 rezonings. Single family
residential Res-2, which is less dense, was the second most popular with three total zonings, and single family community residential CR2, multifamily residential Res-6, master planned district, urban village and lake residential districts each received one zoning. Seven residential and commercial zonings and 499 lots were withdrawn in the timeframe. For commercial zonings, 24 were approved, with District 4 receiving 10, for a total of 262 acres. The data also looked at pending zoning activity coming to the county. “I thought it was especially interesting to look at that we actually had 18 [residential] zonings total last year,” Mills said. “It was sort of a breakdown of all the zonings, but if you look, we’ve got 42 [total] pending zonings right now.” Of those zonings, totaling 1,423 acres, 11 are in District 1, nine in District 2, 10 in District 3, nine in District 4 and 3 in District 5. Mills said she hopes the update to the county’s comprehensive plan, a process called Foster Forsyth, will be adopted soon to provide better zoning options and standards for the county. The most popular upcoming zoning types are Res-3 — 14 are pending — and MPD — nine are pending. Those figures include items approved already in 2017. “It really shows how important getting that comp plan finished is with 42 in the pipe,” she said. “I wish we could get it done to get some new residential categories adopted, too, because I think it could change the makeup and the way the county looks in the future.”
GROWING IN NUMBER • 18: residential zonings approved • 655: residential acres zoned • 1,175: residential lots approved • 10: single family residential Res-3 districts approved, the most of any residential district • 24: approved commercial zonings
• 262: acres approved for commercial zoning • 7: zonings withdrawn • 499: lots withdrawn • 42: zoning actions already planned for 2017 • 1,423: acres in those 42 proposals
(Approved zonings were between Jan. 1, 2016 and Feb. 21, 2017)
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8E | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
Forsyth forecast figures $404,000: Average single-family home price in south Forsyth $283,000: Average single-family home price in north Forsyth $343,000: Average home price in the county in 2016 $250,000: Average home price in the county in 2011, the lowest value in the economic downturn 6.3 percent: poverty level, the lowest and only single-digit figure of the northeast Georgia counties $110,065: Average household income in Forsyth, the highest of the counties and only one over $100,000 4 percent: Forsyth unemployment rate 2,750: housing permits in 2016 (Source: Norton Agency’s Native Intelligence 2017)
Economic expert has praise, concerns for area Warns against moratoriums at Chamber of Commerce event
By Kelly Whitmire
kwhitmire@forsythnews.com
To hear Frank Norton Jr. tell it, there is both plenty to be proud of and plenty to be concerned about for Forsyth County’s economy. The CEO and chairman of the Gainesville-based Norton Agency was the keynote speaker at the CummingForsyth County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Economic Outlook Breakfast. “I believe my role is to inform; there is praise and there are challenges,” he said. Norton, who said he has delivered such addresses for about 15 years, first spoke to the positives by disputing a p r ev i o u s l y d i s c u s s e d s t u d y b y SmartAsset.com ranking Forsyth as ninth in the nation for incoming economic investment. “I think you are No. 1; you have to understand you are No. 1 in the state of Georgia,” he said. “If you look at what’s happened since the recession and the movements this county has made, I’m not really sure we should be compared with California … or other parts of the country.” He said the county has “all the ingredients” to maintain that place, which is dependent on the community. “It’s you that drives this county,” he said. “It’s the investment that you make each and every day in this county, where it is your time, talent or resources, you are bringing great wealth to the longterm future of your children and grandchildren in Forsyth County.” Norton also raised concerns on county zoning moratoriums, which are temporary stoppages on applying for development permits, which he said are popular for neighboring counties. “Moratoriums … are not a good, effective way of controlling growth,” he said. “Your moratorium may be causing ripples here, but there are cheerleaders for your moratorium and the guys in Dawson County are cheering for your moratorium.” Norton said a previous sewer moratorium “stimulated the housing boom that took place in the 2000s in Dawson County and that developers had rediscovered the area. The county should also expect whitecollar employment, Norton said, but should recognize the Ga. 400 and I-85 corridors have different characteristics
and will get different results. “The patterns have been set and it will continue to grow through this county,” Norton said. “You’ve got to struggle with maintaining your own identity, but that movement is headed this way. As scary as that may sound and you may say, ‘moratorium, moratorium, moratorium,’ that community is headed north because the momentum is headed your way.” Norton spoke on several regional issues and trends including the closing of rural hospitals in north Georgia, the area’s increasing support for conservative candidates, development costs and the negative impact of national building companies on small builders. Another issue Norton addressed was housing for millennials and future generations, one of the issues he said keeps him up at night. Norton said Atlanta had become a major hub, but that means leaving home communities. “Atlanta is becoming a true magnet. It’s always been an African-American magnet — the best and brightest move to Atlanta because of the great opportunity. Now it’s becoming a millennial magnet,” Norton said. “Millennials in Macon don’t want to live in Macon; they want to live in Atlanta. The millennials that y’all are graduating from your great high schools are going to Atlanta.” Norton said since the average home price in Forsyth County is about $398,000, rent prices are steadily climbing. Forsyth and surrounding counties moving away from apartments compounds the issue. Housing is also an issue for creating new jobs, Norton said. “The industries we’re going to attract here have to be coupled with a housing initiative with multiple price points,” he said. “If we want the industry, if we want the office buildings, if we want the medical, we’ve got to figure out a housing solution.”
Forsyth County census 212,438 – Population 10,443 – Veterans, 2011-15 74,095 – Housing units 62,295 – Households, 2011-15 $267,300 – Median value of owner-occupied housing units 92.0 percent – People with a high school degree or higher for those age 25 or older 30.9 – Mean travel time to work in minutes for workers ages 16 or older $88,816 – Median household income
Cumming census 5,718 – Population 371 – Veterans, 2011-15 2,037 – Housing units 1,889 – Households, 2011-15 $174,100 – Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2011-15 81.1 percent – People with a high school degree or higher for those age 25 or older 20.8 – Mean travel time to work in minutes for workers age 16 or older $43,491 – Median household income Note: Numbers are for 2015, the most recent year for which figures were available.
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Study: Georgia top state for business By Kayla Robins
krobins@forsythnews.com
Georgia has been named the top state in the nation to do business in for the third year in a row, and local companies and economic development officials understand why. Gov. Nathan Deal announced the 2016 Top States for Doing Business ranking published by Area Development, a corporate site selection and relocation magazine, which detailed factors that have resulted in a “thriving economic environment.” “In the last year, global manufacturers, innovative technology companies, film companies, growing small businesses, international firms and industries of all kinds decided to open operations in Georgia, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs for families and investing millions in our communities,” Deal said. “With our economic and workforce development initiatives, Georgia leads the way in providing a business-friendly environment and a highly qualified workforce to support growing business.” The rankings reflect the results of a survey that asked site consultants to give their top states in 10 categories that impact companies’ location and facility plans. Responses were weighted by giving three points to their No. 1 choice in each category, two points to their second choice and one point to their third choice. Of the 10 categories, Georgia ranked in the top six spots for each category and earned the top nod for: overall rank; cooperative and responsive state government; and workforce development programs. The state ranked second in: competitive labor environment; regulatory environment; and speed of permitting. “An integrated and statewide approach to economic development puts everything from workforce to global commerce to innovation promotion to film industry support under one umbrella — and virtually every county is regularly touched by state economic development support in one way or another,” Area Development said.
These accolades have not gone unnoticed by local business development officials. “We’re having the best year we have had in a very long time in terms of seeing new commercial investment in the community at a really nice scale,” said James McCoy, president and CEO of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has announced 14 new firms moving to Forsyth County this year so far, creating “601 new jobs and $97.1 million in new capital investment from business,” he said. He noted Georgia’s business friendly tax structure and regulatory structure and “relatively speaking, good investments in infrastructure,” including having an established and busy port and airport, as ways the state has opened the door for growing business. Locally, McCoy said Forsyth County has an enticing environment to promote economic development. “I think the quality of our schools, our very focused strategy around advanced manufacturing, technology and health care — we see tremendous movement in those areas,” he said. If workforce development programs are a high point for Georgia, Forsyth County is following in those footsteps. “It’s a much bigger issue than I think people realize. It’s also a tremendous challenge. The competition for talent, particularly in those three areas is tremendous,” McCoy said. “As a result of that, we have to be really competitive.” Workforce development programs in high schools — including the new Alliance Academy for Innovation of Cumming-Forsyth County, a high school college and career academy set to open in fall 2018 — and through local campuses of the University of North Georgia and Lanier Technical College aid that competition, he said. The top five states for doing business rounded out with South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and Louisiana. For the full study, visit areadevelopment.com.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Drought continues BY THE NUMBERS
2.79 inches of rain that fell in Forsyth County on Tuesday and Wednesday, the only days of rain in November .16 inches of rain that fell in October 43 days without rain 5.42 inches below normal rainfall since Sept. 1 .04 feet Lake Lanier rose in 24 hours 95 percent the Rough Ridge fire is contained
Tracie Pike Forsyth County News
Rain drenches north Georgia fires, Lake Lanier Brings much-needed relief, but drought not over By Kayla Robins
krobins@forsythnews.com
More than two inches of rain was dumped on Forsyth County in November, marking the first precipitation of the month and since Oct. 16. T h e N a t i o n a l We a t h e r Service recorded 2.05 inches at its Peachtree City climate station on Tuesday, Nov. 29 and .74 on Wednesday, Nov. 30. The month October saw only .16 inches over a total of two days. “The rain definitely helped. We got four decent swaths of rainfall,” State Climatologist Bill Murphey said. Some areas in the extreme northwest corners of Forsyth, where the drought and wildfire threat was the highest, received 3 or 4 inches. A total of 5.7 inches had fall-
en in Forsyth since Sept. 1 as of the beginning of Decemebr, less than the normal rate of 11.12 inches in that timeframe and the 17.93 inches recorded last year. What had been incessantly dropping Lake Lanier water levels were quelled by the rain, too, with the most recent data from the National Weather S er v ice s h ow i n g p o o l a t 1,060.87 feet, marking a .04-change over a 24-hour span that saw 1 inch of precipitation. Winter full pool is 1,070 feet. The low level is still a ways off from the historic low of 1,050.79 during the December 2007 drought. Storms did bring much-needed respite to the ongoing drought and to firefighters combatting wildfires throughout north Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina.
About 95 percent of the 27,890-acre Rough Ridge fire in north Georgia was contained as of Thursday morning, according to the U.S. Forest Service. “There is still some potential for smoldering and creeping fire in dry material under the leaf layer,” a news release said. “Firefighters expect post-fire and weather-related hazards, primarily in the form of downed trees on roadways and trails.” Rain helped quench raging w i l d fi r e s i n G a t l i n bu rg , Tennessee, which killed at least seven people and destroyed 700 buildings. The line of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms also brought heavy winds and lightning to its path, killing at least five people in Alabama and Tennessee and injuring at least a dozen more
‘Remember this [drought] started a long time ago [in March]. It takes a long time to go into a drought and also takes a long time to go out of one.’
Haralson-Paulding county line and a third around the CobbFulton county line. Tornado warnings were issued on more than 50 counties, including Forsyth and much of metro Atlanta. Forsyth County Schools briefly delayed dismissal amid the blaring warning sirens, sheltering students and faculty in hallways and safe areas and bringing anyone waiting in the car pickup line inside. While the storms may have helped contain fires and stall dropping lake levels, the drought is far from over. “Any little bit helps, and this will add on, but there’s still a long way to go,” Murphey said. “Remember this [drought] started a long time ago [in March]. It takes a long time to go into a drought and also takes a long time to go out of one.”
Bill Murphey
State climatologist National Weather Service throughout the Southeast. Tornadoes within the storm crossed multiple states, with at least tree touching in or near Atlanta. One was radar-confirmed near the Forsyth-Fulton county line, one near the Carroll-
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More than two inches of rain was dumped on Forsyth County in November, helping wildfires in north Georgia.
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Sawnee EMC powering Forsyth for decades Dedicated, dependable, and world class service … these are just a few of the words used to describe the local electric cooperative, Sawnee EMC. With the stroke of his pen, and a unique vision for our country’s recovery from the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order in 1935 that established the Rural Electrification Administration. As an integral part of his “New Deal,” the administration provided low-interest loans to groups of rural Americans who wanted to form local memberowned electric companies called “cooperatives.” These cooperatives had one purpose — to get much-needed electricity into the unserved rural farming areas where, at the time, “for profit” utilities had refused to extend electric service. Three years later, on July 16, 1938, a few local visionaries successfully incorporated the Forsyth County Electric Membership Corporation in Cumming. It was one of the first EMCs in the state. Then on June 22, 1939, the first switch was thrown to energize 168 miles of power line that served about 750 homes in Forsyth and portions of three other neighboring counties. They all received electric power for the first time. By December 1940, the service area had grown to more than 1,500 members. In August 1950, the members unanimously voted to change the name of the Cooperative to Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation. The name “Sawnee” was chosen because of the proximity to beautiful Sawnee Mountain, near downtown Cumming. For more than 78 years, Sawnee’s mission to provide reliable electric service at affordable rates has never wavered. Sawnee exists “to serve the changing needs of
members by enhancing the quality of life through active support of community developments and identifying and serving the member’s energy needs.” The Sawnee EMC board of directors and staff will continue to remember their heritage and perform under the best sense of cooperative values and beliefs.
My how things have changed … Sawnee EMC, a not-for-profit electric cooperative, now provides electricity to more than 172,000 accounts within its seven-county service territory. As outlined in the Georgia Territorial Electric Service Act, which was passed by the Georgia Legislature in 1973, Sawnee EMC serves parts of seven counties including Forsyth, Cherokee, Dawson, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall and Lumpkin. Sawnee is the 11th largest cooperative in the United States and maintains more than 10,934 miles of distribution line. Each day, Sawnee EMC staff members field about 1,200 phone calls and Sawnee’s control center is staffed and in operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Sawnee operates an Advanced Metering Infrastructure system. This modern, two-way meterreading system, uses a series of towers and collectors to monitor and read its electric meters. These meters give Sawnee members the ability to view their detailed energy data to better assist them in managing and evaluating their daily electric use. (www.sawnee.com/usage) This innovative system also provides many other cost-saving benefits to the members. Members can view, and take advantage of, many Sawnee EMC services at its corporate Web site located at www. sawnee.com. Tasks such as paying a bill online, starting and stopping service, free energy evaluations can be done on the website.
WE ALL USE ENERGY DIFFERENTLY
Members can also learn about free services and rebates offered by Sawnee, as well as education programs for youth, Operation Round Up, Green Power EMC, and Solar. For members on-the-go, there is also a free mobile app for their mobile devices. Finally, as a value-added service, Sawnee EMC also offers low natural gas rates through their relationship with True Natural Gas. Please note: When establishing new service with Sawnee EMC, there is a one-time $40 connection fee and a $5 membership fee. A deposit may be required based on an applicant’s credit history and the type of service needed.
Offerings Sawnee EMC offers many products and services to help members save electricity and money: • Natural gas • In-home energy audits (free to members) • Sawnee EMC Mobile App • Energy efficiency tips published in a monthly newsletter • Energy saver books free upon request • Free, do-it-yourself energy conservation videos and DVDs • Clean, environmentally friendly, green power • Energy-saving load management switches • Rebates and incentives to make homes and businesses energy efficient • Sawnee Foundation Youth Scholarship Program • Washington DC Youth Tour • Facebook and Twitter
Directions
Source: Sawnee EMC Sawnee EMC’s corporate campus is located at 543 Contact: Sawnee EMC at (770) 887-2363 from 7 a.m.Atlanta Highway in Cumming. 9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. The Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. e-mail address for general inquiries is customerserMonday through Friday. From vice@sawnee.com and the corporate website is www. Ga. 400, take Exit 14 (Hwy. sawnee.com.The mailing address is P.O. Box 266, 20). Go west 1/2 mile to Hwy. Cumming, GAinformation 30028. We rely on Sawnee EMC for about safety, efficiency and 9 and turn right. The office is In our community, power is more than electricity. on the left at 543 Atlantarenewables. Hwy.
Visit www.sawnee.com to discover the power of your co-op.
Economic opportunity for allYOUR SOURCE OF POWER AND INFORMATION. is top priority for chamber By Doug Jenkins
For the Forsyth County News
Economies are built upon relationship and leadership. The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce plays an integral part in facilitating those relationships and fostering strong leaders. We are the sole economic development entity in the community. The chamber acts as an avenue to channel the incredible collective resources of great business people to create economic opportunity for all. That opportunity is what makes this community remarkable and sets it apart from so many places around the world. I am honored to serve as chairman of the chamber’s board of directors during such an exciting time. In 2016, the organization gained more than 200 new members and 17 new Chairman’s Cabinet members, our highest level of investors. Forsyth County’s unemployment rate has decreased to 4 percent, in comparison to the national unemployment rate of 5.4 percent. Twenty-eight companies announced the creation of more than 800 new jobs and nearly $150 million dollars in new capital investment in 2016. This type of success is critical to helping balance the property tax base in Forsyth between residential and commercial. Having a more balanced property tax base will help support continued improvements in our infrastructure and educational facilities. The chamber holds events weekly, monthly and annually to promote networking. Those include Member Power Networking Lunches, Business After Hours and Chamber Connect events. With the hiring of our new Vice President of Community Development, the chamber is focused on further enhancing and promoting the Cumming and Forsyth County brand and hosting more ongoing community building events that serve the needs of
everyone in our community. The chamber’s director of tourism attended three key tradeshows last year to promote local venues to organizations that bring amateur sports tournaments and festivals to our community. From these tradeshows, nearly 30 new leads were secured in the sports market alone. With these events come hotel room reservations. In 2016, the chamber secured more than 5,500 hotel room nights through these events. In 2016, we saw a meaningful increase in the number of economic development clients that we are working with on an ongoing basis. Without the available office and flex space, we know that we are being bypassed by clients every day. The chamber will continue to have an important and strategic focus on working with the commercial development community and our elected officials to get more office and advanced manufacturing space out of the ground. From the public input gathered at the county and city’s comprehensive plan meetings, we saw that there is a great appetite and expectation that the chamber take a lead role in the activities that further enhance a greater sense of place. In addition, we hope to complete the certification of the vote to approve the South Forsyth Community Improvement District. There are some in our community who do not share our belief that new jobs and business growth are good for our community. The reality is that Forsyth and neighboring counties will continue to grow. The challenge is to manage this inevitable growth in such a way that it creates opportunities for all. This is an exciting and pivotal time in our history. Together we can ensure that Forsyth County continues to be the premier community in the country to live, work and play.
WE ALL USE ENERGY DIFFERENTLY
Doug Jenkins, Region Manager for Georgia Power Company, is chairman of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce 8,458 — Businesses in the county 4 percent — Unemployment rate 224,514 — Population $87,605 — Median household income 92.7 percent — Graduation rate 50.83 — Percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree
We rely on Sawnee EMC for information about safety, efficiency and renewables. In our community, power is more than electricity. Visit www.sawnee.com to discover the power of your co-op.
YOUR SOURCE OF POWER AND INFORMATION.
12E | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
GOVERNMENT & EDUCATION
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Progress 2017
Building the Future
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS
2F | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
A LOOK AT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THROUGH THE YEARS 1955: Forsyth County High opens with 429 students as the only high school in the county
2006: West Forsyth High opens
A site plan of the Junior Achievement Discovery Center that will be located on the Alliance Academy campus.
Renderings for The Alliance Academy, which is under construction on 400 Lanier Parkway as the county’s sixth high school campus.
A new way to learn
May 2016: Denmark High breaks ground in southwest Forsyth November 2016: Alliance Academy breaks ground in Cumming
The Alliance Academy is changing the face of public education, from its curriculum to its classroom design By Kayla Robins
krobins@forsythnews.com
One of — if not the — most important parts of living anywhere is the quality of its public educ a t i o n , a n d Fo r s y t h County is not only no exception — it may be in the brightest spotlight. With the continuous growth of the county, it may be easy to let the high scores, top notch graduation rate and success of K-12 education slide, but teachers and administrators have adjusted to incoming waves of students by adjusting to larger numbers without skimping on care and quality. If anything, there is more to offer now than ever before. In 2016, Forsyth County Schools opened a new elementary and middle school and broke ground on two new high schools: Denmark High in southwest Forsyth and The Alliance Academy for Innovation of Cumming-Forsyth County, a college and
career development public academy that has put alternative and specialized learning on the forefront of the county’s progress. “[Alliance] will not be a traditional high school campus like others, but a true learning collaborative that the vision asked us to establish by 2030,” said Valery Lowe, director college and career d evelo p men t f o r t h e school system. The school is an example of the education, business and industry sectors working together and with the community’s connections to provide a unique educational experience in high school that is setting teenagers up to either enter college with classroom credit or enter the workforce with industry certifications. “We wanted to lead the nation in terms of graduation rates. It’s still at the top of almost everyone, but we thought how can students be able to pursue other areas of interest or passion? How do we allow our students more
opportunities for their passions and interests to be determined?” Lowe said. Students who participate in a career pathway at their high school – there are unduplicated pathways at each of the county’s five high school campuses — have a 98 percent graduation rate, she said. “That speaks volumes. T h e y ’r e c o n n e c t e d . They’ve found something they’re interested in in high school, so they’re going to graduate. And they’re going to graduate with an industry certification, and we feel like they’re really prepared for a two-year or four-year degree or whatever they decide to do next,” she said. The Alliance Academy is essentially an entire high school of career pathways. It will focus on high-demand, highgrowth, high-wages jobs in pathways that do not already exist in high schools. August 2018 will see the opening of both high
schools. A career pathway-centered high school is not the only new educational facility to become a reality. On the Alliance Academy campus will be a Junior Achievement Discovery Center, an immersive, interactive experience where middle and high school students can see how an actual job specific to this area would look and feel like. “It helps students connect the dots of education…,” said Jack Harris,
president and CEO of Georgia Junior Achievement — there are already two centers in Atlanta and Gwinnett. “They see themselves as entrepreneurs. We see these centers as a pivotal and pinnacle element of what we can bring into communities.” Mike Cottrell and his wife, Lynn, donated $3.5 million to build the north Georgia regional center, which plans on accepting middle school students from Hall and Dawson counties.
1989: Forsyth County High renamed to Forsyth Central High with the opening of South and North Forsyth high schools 2009: Lambert High opens August 2016: Brandywine opens as the district’s 21st elementary school; DeSana opens as the district’s 10th middle school August 2018: Denmark and Alliance Academy scheduled to open
Pathways offered at the new school were chosen because they are the jobs needed in the area, and a necessary component of creating the curriculum and the Discovery Center was developing partners in education to mirror the business community in the classroom. “We couldn’t have done this in any other community,” the district’s Lowe said. “Everybody just gets into and digs deep into what’s going on in our education system. So it just works.”
Forsyth County Schools building for the future By Jeff Bearden
Forsyth Conuty Schools Superintendent
We know that an exceptional public school district is a large factor in the high quality of life that we enjoy in Cumming-Forsyth County. 2016-17 has been an outstanding year for FCS; highlights include: • Highest ACT score in Georgia • Highest CCRPI score among large districts and in Metro-Atlanta • Highest SAT score among large districts and in metro-Atlanta • Highest Financial Efficiency Star Rating among large districts and in metro-Atlanta • Highest graduation rate in metroAtlanta county districts • AP District Honor Roll (1 of 433 in U.S.) • Awards for 20 schools from the G o v e r n o r ’s O f f i c e o f S t u d e n t Achievement These accomplishments are the result of FCS having phenomenal teachers and support staff, hardworking students, involved parents and supportive community business partners. This school year the district opened the first phase of capital improvement projects funded by the 2014 million bond referendum. Major construction projects included Brandywine ES and DeSana MS, and large additions at Forsyth Central HS, Lambert HS, North Forsyth HS, South Forsyth MS, South Forsyth HS, and Riverwatch MS. Additions are currently being made at West Forsyth HS, and we are construct-
ing the sixth traditional high school, Denmark, named after one of the first female physicians in Georgia, Dr. Leila Denmark, and a new college and career high school, the Alliance Bearden Academy for Innovation. Denmark will have the capacity for 2,500 students, while Alliance will be built for 1,200 students and will focus on high career and high demand jobs. Both schools are projected to open the fall of 2018, and the attendance lines for Denmark will not be determined until the fall of 2017. With the opening of the new schools and additional classrooms at existing schools, and also to accommodate the projected student growth for next year, FCS’ operational budget for 2016-17 is close to $370 million. The budget income is 47.73 percent from local funds and 52.27 percent from state and federal funds, with 73 percent of the district’s expenses tied to instruction. As the largest employer in Forsyth County with over 4,700 staff members, FCS added 225 new positions this year to support the new schools and growth. This budget was built maintaining the current millage rate, which is the lowest in metro-Atlanta. Yes, in FCS we are building the future! We are excited for the opportunities that are before us, and look forward to working collaboratively to serve all in Forsyth County.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Lanier tech focus on workforce development For the Forsyth County News
Lanier Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), serves as the leading workforce development resource for Forsyth, Dawson, Hall, Lumpkin, Banks, Barrow and Jackson counties by providing higher education and careertechnical education programs leading to associate of applied science degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. The college also provides customized business and industry training, economic development services, continuing education for technical and professional development and adult education services. The college’s mission can be summed up in two words — “workforce development.” With a placement rate of 100 percent, the college’s motto, “Great Careers Begin Here,” comes true every day. Lanier Tech’s five campuses are conveniently located throughout northeast Georgia and offer 159 programs, including 31 degrees, 39 diplomas and 89 technical certificates of credit. Programs are available in allied health, business and computer technology, industrial and technical studies, public safety and professional services, and general studies. Programs of study are offered through traditional, online and hybrid classes. The college is currently accepting applications for the summer 2017 semester, which begins May 16. Open registration will be April 25, but applicants are welcome at any time. Lanier Tech is a leader among Georgia’s technical colleges having been named statewide winner of the Technical College of the Year in 2014. Faculty members from
Lanier Tech were named as the statewide Rick Perkins Instructors of the Year in 2014 and 2015. Lanier Tech is also home to the 2016 Exceptional Adult Georgian in Adult Literacy, or EAGLE, statewide Adult Education Student of the Year. In September 2016, construction began on a state-of-the-art campus to replace the current campus in Oakwood, with an expected completion date of August 2018. Lanier Technical College’s Forsyth campus, a 120,000-square-foot facility on 49 acres, located off Exit 13 on Ga. 400, with more than 1,000 enrolled students, is an educational provider of high-demand programs of study in health care, computer technology, business technology, public safety and professional services. In June 2016, Lanier Technical College’s accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) was reaffirmed through 2026. The college’s SACSCOC accreditation opens the door for area students to complete core courses required by the University System of Georgia’s (USG) four-year colleges at Lanier Tech. An articulation agreement between TCSG and USG, 27 General Education courses — such as English, Math, Psychology, History and Public Speaking — may be completed at Lanier Tech and then accepted at any of the USG colleges and universities. Many students taking advantage of the articulation agreement are currently enrolled high school students participating in the Move on When Ready (MOWR) program. In fall 2016, the Forsyth Campus
enrolled 112 “Move on When Ready” students. The program provides for students who are dual-credit enrolled at a participating eligible public or private high school, or home study program in Georgia, and a participating eligible postsecondary institution in Georgia. These students take postsecondary coursework for credit towards high school graduation or home study completion and postsecondary requirements. Students that participate in MOWR will receive high school credit and college credit simultaneously while attending college classes on the college campus. Tuition and college textbooks are provided and MOWR classes do not count against the number of college credit hours for which the Georgia HOPE Grant/ Scholarship will pay. The economics of attending Lanier Tech are also outstanding for students enrolled in programs covered by the Governor’s Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant: tuition is free for students receiving HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship funds and enrolled in Forsyth Campus programs in Computer Science, Early Childhood Care and Education, Health Science, and Practical Nursing. One of Lanier Tech’s programs on the Forsyth Campus with the highest return on investment is the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program, which began in 2013. Students who complete this two-year program can expect to enter the workforce earning approximately $55k per year. The program has a 100% placement rate. Applications for the PTA program are currently being accepted; deadline for applications is August 11, 2018. Further information is
available on the program’s web page: http://www.laniertech. edu/AcademicPrograms . The College’s Adult Education division offers GED training and testing, English language training for ESL residents, as well as preparation for the U.S. Citizenship test. The college’s Forsyth Conference Center continues to expand services. In 2015, this 14,000-square-foot facility played host to approximately 85,000 patrons during 453 events. The facility was named Best Event Center in the 2015, 2016 and 2017 editions of Best of Forsyth. The center can be configured to hold a single large meeting, many small gatherings or a combination of both. It offers a wide range of services, including audiovisual, wireless Internet, video conferencing, laptop rental, and other services for area businesses and other guests. For weddings and social events, the center offers flexible options to meet community needs in an elegant, affordable setting. In recent months, the Conference Center has focused on expanding services for corporate clients up to the enterprise level. Recent clients include General Motors, Colonial Pipeline, Equifax, Travelers Insurance, AT&T and Northside Hospital. The Center also welcomes local and nonprofit organizations. The college and the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a “Food Trucks ‘N Forsyth” from 5:30 pm to 8:30 p.m. every third Monday from April to July in the upper parking lot. The dates are April 17, May 15, June 19 and July 17. Come enjoy family fun musical entertainment and kids activities with different food trucks each month.
On the Cover Lanier Technical College’s mission is workforce development. The college’s — which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges — focus is to provide high quality technical certificate of credit, technical diploma, and associate degree programs to meet the needs of area students, employers, and economic developers. Programs of study are offered through traditional, online and hybrid classes.
On April 10, 13, 17 and 20, the college’s horticulture program will hold a plant sale, offering a wide variety of beautiful and healthy plants. The 2017 plant sale features an exceptional selection of perennials, vegetables, herbs, and scented geraniums. The Horticulture program is also partnering with the Forsyth County Extension Office for “Forsyth Digs Earth Day” and will be holding an Open Greenhouse event on April 27. Contact Gary Love, Program Director, at (678) 341-6624. Also, the LTC Interiors Program will be hosting an Open House and Student Portfolio Show Monday, April 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Forsyth Conference Center. Contact the Interiors Program Director, Amy O’Dell, at (678) 341-6630 for further information about the Interiors program. For information about any programs offered by Lanier Tech’s Forsyth Campus, call the main number at (770) 3416600.
Pinecrest Academy named ‘Best Private School’ For the Forsyth County News
Pinecrest Academy is a private PreK3-12, college preparatory Catholic school. Founded in 1993, Pinecrest Academy opened its doors at a former elementary school in Crabapple, GA, with a student body of 29. At that time, Pinecrest was the first independent, private Catholic elementary school established to serve Atlanta’s expanding Catholic population. The school moved in 1997 to its permanent campus on Peachtree Parkway in South Forsyth County. Initially just a Lower School, the beautiful 68-acre campus grew to also include a middle school and high school, a beautiful free-standing chapel, two gymnasiums and three athletic fields. The enrollment at Pinecrest is 828 students. The school has been recognized as a Cardinal Newman Society School of Excellence since 2007 and is a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School. Pinecrest is also a threeyear winner of the Forsyth County News “Best Private School” honor, also winning the 2017 “Best School Te a c h e r ” a n d “ B e s t Booster Club” awards. The school’s mission is to develop Christian leaders who will transform society. Pinecrest provides an atmosphere of academic rigor and critical thinking, while offering personalized attention in a Christ-centered environment of faith and reason. The mission is accomplished in a gender-specific environment on a co-educational cam-
pus. Students are challenged to use their gifts in service to others. Recognizing the parent as the primary educator of the child, Pinecrest’s mission embraces the entire family. The school provides a safe, moral and spiritual environment, which leads to positive peer groups and joyful, caring, confident students. In addition to a rigorous academic curriculum, Pinecrest offers an excellent fine arts program, including visual and performing arts, band and chorus. The High School’s Symphonic Band played, by invitation, at Carnegie Hall in 2012, and five students were selected, by audition, in 2017 for the Georgia Music Educators Association District 9 Honor Band. A r t s t u d e n t s h av e received numerous awards, including the prestigious Silver Key Aw a r d i n t h e 2 0 1 4 National Scholastic Art Competition, and most recently, recognition in the 2017 All-State Art Symposium Competition. The class of 2016 (67 students) was offered a record $4,214,334 in scholarship awards and acceptances from 75 colleges and universities. The class boasted 36 Zell Miller scholars, and two students were named National Merit Scholarship Finalists for 2016. In addition, Pinecrest’s average ACT scores have been consistently higher than those in the state and in the nation since 2009, with an average composite score of 26.2 in 2016. The school’s SAT scores
in 2016 topped all high schools in the County with an average composite score of 1746. Additionally, the class of 2016 logged more than 1,260 service hours during senior year. The class of 2017 will be the 11th graduating class from Pinecrest’s high school. Pinecrest offers a complete complement of varsity and recreational sports, debuting a varsity wrestling program last winter. The Athletics Department introduced a Paladin Nation app in 2017, one of just eight high schools in the State of Georgia to offer this application to sports fans. Additionally, the inaugural class of the Athletic Hall of Fame will be inducted in September 2017. The Varsity Football team finished the 2016 season 8-4 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Last season marked the Paladins’ third consecutive appearance in the State Playoffs. The team finished ninth in the final Georgia Public Broadcasting Poll. T h e Va r s i t y G i r l s Basketball team became an Elite 8 contender in the 2017 State Playoffs for the first time, and one of the players was named Forsyth County Player of the Year. The dedicated, highly qualified and credentialed teaching staff meets State and SACS requirements, and more than half of the members hold advanced degrees. The faculty includes a reading specialist and counselors who serve students in Lower, Middle and High
Schools. Pinecrest is fully accredited by the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools, and holds membership in
the College Board and the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
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Contacts For more information or to schedule a tour of Pinecrest Academy, call (770) 888-4477 or visit www.pinecrestacademy.org.
Administrators • Ed Lindekugel, headmaster and high school principal, elindekugel@pinecrestacademy.org • Denise Cress, middle school principal, dcress@ pinecrestacademy.org • Madeliene Flanagan, lower school principal, mflanagan@pinecrestacademy.org
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City of Cumming
City of Cumming…Heart of Forsyth County Many amenities that make life in this community great lie within the City of Lanier 400 Ribbon Cutting
Cumming, the heart of Forsyth County. From the fall fun of the Cumming Country Fair & Festival… To summer afternoons splashing at the Cumming Aquatic Center… To evenings of top-notch music and theatre at the Cumming Playhouse…
orks
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There is a long-standing tradition of enriching the lives of the residents of Cumming and Forsyth County through city government, and that tradition continues in 2017. Cumming A quatic Cent er
The Brannon-Heard House
Cumm
Old Building Gets New Purpose With the opening of the new Recreation Building at City Park, the Cumming City Council recently approved a lease with Creative Enterprises, LLC for the old Parks & Recreation office. The Lawrenceville-based nonprofit works with adults with mental and physical disabilities to provide them with opportunities to work, learn new skills, and socialize with one another. Creative Enterprises leases the old Recreation & Parks facility, located across Pilgrim Mill Road from City Park, for $1 a year to provide a satellite program for disabled adults in Cumming and Forsyth County.
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New Recreation Facility A new 27,000-square-foot, multi-purpose recreation building at Cumming City Park, 410 Pilgrim Mill Road, was opened for classes in late February 2016. The new facility features two large dance studios, a spacious art room, and an exercise studio with elevated platform. There’s also plenty of storage and office space for staff. In October 2016, the second phase opened. This is a 4,900-square-foot, dividable conference center available for rental. City Park now also offers a modern playground and covered picnic pavilion.
Cen t
er
Cumming Recreation Center
Lanier 400 Parkway Extension City leaders dedicated Lanier 400 Parkway with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 1, 2016. The new roadway extends the old Lanier 400 Parkway, which previously only covered a few hundred feet from Bald Ridge Marina Road to the entrance of the Forsyth County Juvenile Court. Thanks to the extension project, the road now continues all the way through to Pilgrim Mill Road. The road, which lies on the west side of Ga. Hwy. 400, is easily accessible from Exits 15 and 16. Leaders believe it will be a great location for new businesses, as well as the Board of Education’s new Alliance Academy. The City sold the Board of Education some 23 acres of property on Lanier 400 Parkway for this project, which is slated to open in 2018. City leaders joined in a ground breaking ceremony for the Academy in November.
Learn more about the City of Cumming, the heart of Forsyth County, at www.cityofcumming.net Congratulations to the Cumming Fairgrounds, Cumming Playhouse, and Cumming Recreation and Parks Department for earning various “Best of Forsyth” recognitions by Forsyth County News readers! If you haven’t checked out all that the City of Cumming has to offer, you should soon!
BEST OF FORSYTH
City of Cumming H. Ford Gravitt Mayor
Lewis Ledbetter Councilman
Quincy Holton Councilman
Charles Welch Councilman
Christopher Light Councilman
Linda Ledbetter Councilwoman
6F | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
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EEOC
As set forth in its student catalog, Lanier Techni the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethn age, political affiliation or belief, genetic inform status (except in those special circumstances p
forsythnews.com | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | 7F
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
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8F | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
UNG remains a presence in Forsyth For the Forsyth County News
Located in Forsyth County, a hub for global commerce and international trade, University of North G e o rg i a ’s Cumming campus produces leaders able to compete in a global economy. Students have easy access to the wide range of amenities that living close to a big city provides, while studying in a smaller campus environment. This campus is particularly convenient for students interested in dualenrollment, as well as for adult-learners looking to begin a new degree program. The dual enrollment program for high school s t u d e n t s a t U N G ’s Cumming campus, known as Move on When Ready, has tripled in size since the campus opened in 2012. It reached nearly 200 students this fall. “Our Cumming campus is a tremendous example of collaboration between the University System of Georgia, government officials and community leaders to expand opportunities for higher education
in this region,” said UNG President Bonita C. Jacobs. “The campus represents the culmination of many years of effort with the city of Cumming and various Forsyth County civic leaders to bring a university presence to the area. The combination of price, functionality, attractiveness and partner collaboration has established a new template for how to provide higher education in areas that are underserved.” The state’s Move on When Ready (MOWR) program allows high school students to earn both high school and college credit by taking college courses. A high school student who begins taking courses in his or her junior year could enter college as a sophomore, saving a year of time and college tuition. In fact, after participating in the MOWR program, seven students will cross the stage as graduates of UNG, six of them before they receive their high school diplomas. Jason Pruitt, executive director of the Cumming campus, has watched the
By the numbers 964 Students Fall 2016 enrollment at UNG Cumming Campus
Online For more information on the University of North Georgia, go online at ung.edu.
program grow from 44 students in 2012 to nearly 200 students in 2016. In addition to dual enrollment, two UNG graduate programs are also based on the Cumming campus: the Cottrell MBA program and the master of arts in teaching. Due to program and enrollment growth of the
MBA program and continuing education and professional development courses, UNG leases 10,000 square feet of space in Cumming City Hall. “The Cottrell MBA program is designed for working professionals seeking to enhance their career opportunities,” said Donna Mayo, dean of the
Mike Cottrell College of Business. “By moving the MBA program to the Cumming City Hall location, it allows us to be in a very professional setting with closer access to businesses in the surrounding area.” To m a i n t a i n a n d strengthen community engagement UNG Cumming has also formed a campus community leadership council that works closely with university leaders to focus on a number of initiatives centered around the themes of workforce readiness, access to education, and partnerships and collaborations. The UNG Cumming Campus Community Leadership Council includes leaders from the Forsyth County commission, Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, Northside Hospital-Forsyth, Georgia
Power, Forsyth County Schools, Siemens, several state representatives and the mayor of Cumming. With more than 18,000 students across its five campuses — Blue Ridge, Cumming, Dahlonega, Gainesville and Oconee County — UNG is one of the largest public universities in the state. It offers more than 100 programs of study including certificates, associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as professional doctoral programs. UNG was ranked 16th among public regional universities in the South in U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 edition of Best Colleges. UNG is one of six senior military colleges in the United States and is designated as a University System of Georgia leadership institution and as The M i l i t a r y C o l l eg e o f Georgia.
BOE marks groundbreaking for Denmark High School
By Kayla Robins
krobins@forsythnews.com
In a field surrounded by trees and farmhouses, Forsyth County Schools staff and board members broke ground in May on what will become the county’s next high school. Denmark High School, located on 100-plus acres at 645 Mullinax Road between Mullinax and Fowler roads, is scheduled to open fall 2018, with construction set to begin in the next week or two. “It’s an absolutely beautiful
parcel of land,” Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden said. Barton Malow Company was awarded the contract to build the district’s sixth traditional high school for $72.1 million. In line with the mascot chosen earlier this year, the Denmark Danes should be able to complete a career technical pathway in animal sciences. “You can tell by visiting the property it kind of lends itself to that,” Bearden said. “So we’re excited we’re going to be able to add another career tech
pathway for our students.” A massive covered, open-sided equestrian competition arena is thought to become the home of the school’s marching band, and stables, a hay shed and other buildings will be kept on the property for the career pathway. The building will look simil a r t o We s t Fo rs y t h a n d Lambert high schools, the district’s two newest campuses. “There will be some subtle differences, but it will be very similar,” Bearden said. Denmark — named after the
late Leila Denmark, one of the first female pediatricians in Georgia and who lived adjacent to the site — is expected to open with a 2,100-student capacity. However, if the project comes in under budget, it will be built for 2,500, according to Jennifer Caracciolo, spokeswoman for the school system. Dr. Denmark’s former practice may be moved next to the school campus, and a 10-acre property next to the site may be used to build a new library branch or sheriff’s office pre-
cinct. The Forsyth County commission agreed in March to purchase a synthetic turf field to be installed at the school that will be shared with the parks and recreation department, similar to an agreement the county has with Lambert. Brandywine Elementary and DeSana Middle are also being constructed near Denmark, between McFarland Parkway, Union Hill Road and Hwy. 9. Redistricting for Denmark will commence in the fall of 2017.
City of Cumming makes strides in 2016 By Crystal Ledford
The renovated City Park also features a large outdoor picnic pavilion and modern playground area with plenty of equipment for kids of all ages.
For the Forsyth County News
The City of Cumming saw the completion of several, long-time projects in 2016 and is looking forward to continued growth in 2017. “We finished up several major projects that had been ongoing for a couple years in 2016, so we are looking forward to seeing the results of those projects in 2017,” said Mayor H. Ford Gravitt. Probably the most visible project completed in 2016 was a total overhaul of Cumming City Park. The makeover began in 2014 when the park was closed to the public for complete demolition, which included removal of all park buildings, athletic fields, and the city’s old public swimming that closed in 2011 after the opening of the Cumming Aquatic Center. In 2015, construction of the park’s new 27,000-square-foot recreation building began. Due to several weather setbacks, construction lasted longer than originally planned, but was finished in 2016. The first phase of the building — which included new office spaces and classrooms for recreation programs such as fitness, dance and art — opened to the public in February. The building’s second phase — a multi-purpose space for events — opened in October. This space features a 4,900-square-foot conference center area that can be divided in half or quarters to accommodate various events such as parties, meetings, showers and receptions. Many businesses, civic groups, and individuals have already taken advantage of the rental space since its opening. The renovated City Park also features a large outdoor picnic pavilion and modern playground area with plenty of equipment for kids of all ages. Thanks to a donation of more
Photos for the Forsyth County News
than $12,000 from the Cumming Civitan Club, the playground also offers several handicapped-accessible pieces of equipment for children with special needs. 2016 also saw the completion of the city’s Lanier 400
Parkway, an extension of the roadway that links Pilgrim Mill Road and Bald Ridge Marina Road. City leaders held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new road on March 1, 2016. “We believe Lanier 400
Parkway will become a great asset to City of Cumming due to its close proximity to both Exits 15 and 16 off Georgia 400, as well as to the Cumming Aquatic Center, Georgia Drivers Services Center, and the University of
N o r t h G e o rg i a C u m m i n g Campus, which are all located on Aquatic Circle just off Pilgrim Mill Road,” Gravitt said. The first major facility to be located on Lanier 400 Parkway is Forsyth County Schools’ future Alliance Academy for Innovation. City leaders, who sold the property to the school system and installed water and sewer infrastructure for the project, joined with school system leaders for a groundbreaking event for school on Nov. 17, 2016. The new, nontraditional high school, which will focus on college and career preparation, is slated to open in 2018. Throughout 2017 the Cumming Utilities Department will also continue to prepare for future population growth throughout Cumming and Forsyth County. Numerous utilities expansion projects are planned for the year, with Cumming Utilities having budgeted more than $9.8 million for capital improvement projects in 2017. The projects are needed to be able to provide sufficient water and sewer services to residents within the City of Cumming Water and Sewer Service Area, which includes about one-third of Forsyth County and serves some 20,000 customers.
forsythnews.com | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | 9F
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
PUBLIC SERVICE NOTICE TO THE FORSYTH COUNTY VOTERS S.R. 400
CITY OF CHESTATEE
S.R. 20
CITY OF MATT
CITY OF BETHELVIEW
Propose Forsyth County be divided into: 20 . S.R 0 40
S.R
.
CITY OF SHARON SPRINGS
City of Cumming (Existing Boundries) City of Sharon Springs (East of Hwy 400, South of Hwy 20) City of Bethelview (West of Hwy 400, South of Hwy 20) City of Matt (West of Hwy 400, North of Hwy 20) City of Chestatee (East of Hwy 400, North of Hwy 20)
Proposed Duties of each new City (not all inclusive): - Create a new Comprehensive Plan for land use, housing, economic development, transportation, and quality of life standards. - Create a new Unified Development Code (UDC) replacement ordinance which implements and regulates the new Comprehensive Plan. - Code Enforcement of ordinances, building inspections, and soil erosion & pollutants. - Govern all zoning actions using the Comprehensive Plan to eliminate Spot Zoning. - Issue all [ordinance] permits and [business] licenses (excluding those issued by the F.C.S.O., Health Dept., Fire Dept., water & sewer, etc.). - Obtain Georgia EPD Local Issuing Authority (LIA) certification to issue Land Disturbance Permits (LDP). - Govern all sanitation, landfills, power plants, and waste transfer stations. - Collect all zoning, use, permit, and license fees. - Forsyth County Voter approved SPLOST shall be used to construct each new city hall complex. - Redistribution of Forsyth County Maintenance and Operation (M & O) Real Estate tax (2016 was 7.534 mills) at the rate of 0.250 mills to each new city to cover fixed costs. No Real Estate tax increase for property owners to create four new cities. - City elections outsourced to Forsyth County Voter Registrar. Cut Out & Mail In
Forsyth County Services not replicated (not all inclusive): - Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office (F.C.S.O.) - Forsyth County Board of Education - Forsyth County Parks & Recreation - Forsyth County / Cumming Water & Sewer - Forsyth County Administration - Forsyth County Roads, Bridges, and Storm Water - Forsyth County Final Plat/As-Built Recording - Forsyth County Recycling Centers - Forsyth County Public Library - Forsyth County Health Department - Forsyth County Fire Department - Forsyth County EMS - Forsyth County Animal Shelter / Animal Control - Forsyth County Magistrate, State, and Superior Courts - Forsyth County Voter Registrar - Forsyth County Tax Assessor - Forsyth County Tax Commissioner - Forsyth County Park Rangers
“…We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.-That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness…” The Declaration of Independence
Paid for by Hank Hanson, Forsyth County Voter
10F | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Freeman sworn in as sheriff, introduces staff By Isabel Hughes
ihughes@forsythnews.com
Though newly sworn-in Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman and his incoming command staff have numerous goals for the agency, one in particular underscores them all: serving the residents of Forsyth County. Freeman presented his new command staff after he took his oath, highlighting Deputy Chief Grady Sanford Jr., Maj. Tom Patton, who will head the Support Services Division, Maj. Joe Perkins, who will run the S h e r i ff ’s S e r v i c e s Division, and Capt. W.C. Barrett, who will oversee the Major Crimes Unit. First Lt. Ben Finely will serve as executive officer in the Law Enforcement Division, 1st Lt. Eric Silveus will run the school resource officer, or SRO, program, and Andy Kalin, who currently works as an investigator for the D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y ’s Office, will serve as the day-to-day supervisor of the Major Crimes Unit. The majority of the men live in the county, and many have had past experience working for the sheriff’s office. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to s e r ve t h e p e o p l e o f Forsyth County,” Deputy Chief Sanford said. “It takes all of us working together to reach our goals and be successful, not just one person, and w e ’r e h e r e w i t h t h e vision the sheriff has given all of us to make the people’s lives of Forsyth County better.” With nearly 33 years of law enforcement experience, Sanford most recently hails from the Georgia State Patrol,
where he served as captain. He is also president of the Georgia chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates. “This is a great opportunity for me to take what I’ve learned over the years and come to a full-service sheriff ’s department,” he said. Patton, Freeman said, “brings unique business acumen, having worked in the corporate world, all the way to vice president of Wachovia Bank.” “Clearly, [the sheriff’s office] is not an island,” Patton said. “We will work with the rest of the county and I have a perspective that will help build bridges there.” SROs build bridges daily, too, with both community leaders and county residents, and Perkins and Silveus said they intend to continue doing so. “These guys in this room mean what they say and I really think the citizens of Forsyth County are going to benefit from the wisdom that is here,” Perkins said. “It’s not going to be about egos. It’s not going to be about us making us look good. It’s going to be about protecting the county and serving the citizens of this county and serving the deputies who work to the sheriff’s office.” Though Perkins and Silveus have yet to meet with the Forsyth County Bo ar d o f Ed u catio n , Freeman previously said he plans to add additiona l S RO s t o c o u n t y schools, specifically in the elementary and middle schools. Silveus previously ran the SRO program for the school district. “Our main objective is to improve school safe-
Photos by Jim Dean Forsyth County News
Ron Freeman is sworn-in as Forsyth County Sheriff.
Who is the new sheriff’s command staff? • 204: Years of combined law enforcement experience • 6: Live in Forsyth County • 5: Have graduate degrees • 2: Have undergraduate degrees
Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman spent New Year’s Eve and most of the long weekend swearing-in deputies.
ty, but one of our primary focuses is to bridge the gap between adolescents and law enforcement,” he said. “It’s not just for the law enforcement side or the chil-
Semanson wins District 5 Commissioner runoff By Kayla Robins
krobins@forsythnews.com
Residents of east Forsyth surrounding Lake Lanier appear to have decided who their next representative will be on the county commission. Laura Semanson secured enough votes to win the Republican primary runoff for the District 5 post on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners. A total of 2,722 people voted for their next commissioner, which is 11.97 percent of the 22,749 active registered voters in District 5, according to Barbara Luth, supervisor of voter registration and elections for Forsyth County. “That’s a pretty good number for a runoff. Average, but pretty good,” Luth said. “It picked up [after week one of advance voting]. I like to see the voters come out and make their decisions.” The runoff was open to those residents in the district who did not vote on a Democratic ballot for the May 24 general primary election. Advanced voting brought in 617 ballots, with the number of votes increasing each of the three weeks. Out of the 145 absentee ballots mailed, 88 were returned. Semanson, who previously worked in the technology industry, brought in 57.68 percent of the votes, or 1,570 votes. “Of course, we’re very happy with the outcome,” she said. “A lot of volunteers worked very, very hard on the campaign.” She said her path to running was a “grassroots effort” and that she and her supporters have “never been politically involved before.” “It was trying at times because it was my first entry at running for office. The process ended up working out for the average taxpayer,” Semanson said. “There are a lot of things going on in our country and county now where people are becoming more aware of what’s happening and feeling like they want to have a voice in things, and particularly here in Forsyth County I think we’ve had some growing pains, and people are wanting to have a hand in how things go forward.” She said the county’s update of its comprehensive plan, which is expected to be voted on by the Board of Commissioners at the end of the year, will be a focus of hers once she gets into office. “I want to really investigate how we’re going to get some good economic develop-
ment in the county,” she said. “Everyone’s saying how we need more business here, but we also need a serious conversation on how we go about growing that. Semanson “And that ties back to the [unified development code] and where we’re going to have those corridors for that business and how we go out into the world and bring business here and how we promote all the great things we have to offer here in Forsyth County from our location and our people.” As no Democrat or Independent qualified for this race, she ran uncontested in the Nov. 8 general election as the presumptive winner. Semanson, who has lived in Forsyth County for 15 years, replaced Commissioner Jim Boff in January, who did not seek re-election for the seat he was first elected to in 2008. Semanson and Justin Hawkins secured their names on the runoff ballot after being the top two vote-getters in May, with Semanson receiving the primary’s most votes. Hawkins, a pharmaceutical sales representative, finished with 42.32 percent of the vote Tuesday, or 1,152 votes. They both beat out the race’s third candidate, Chandon Adams, in May. In May, Semanson was the top vote-getter with 1,654 votes, or about 43 percent. Hawkins secured enough to force a runoff with 1,241 votes, or about 33 percent. Adams earned 914 votes, or about 24 percent. The District 5 race was one of three commission seats up for re-election this year. Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills defeated challenger Kelli Warren for the District 4 post she has retained since 2013. Rick Swope won the seat for District 2 commissioner after he was the only candidate to qualify for the seat held by Commissioner Brian Tam since 2005. Tam did not seek re-election.
dren’s side, but to be an advocate for the issues these children are going through and assist the parents and the school administrators and teachers to provide the
best atmosphere they can on a school campus.” Barrett said he, too, wants to work with the SROs. “I want to work with
SROs to teach the kids — education about narcotics is what I’m talking about.” he said. “My goal is to get [Forsyth County] from being No. 3 on the list for heroin overdoses in the state to way down on that list. “I want the deputies to realize they serve the citizens of this county, and we need the citizen’s help to root out the people bringing in the heroin and methamphetamines.” Freeman said he is proud of his command staff. “I have full confidence in who these people are and am blessed they have the confidence in me to be able to come here and work with our county and try to keep our county safe,” he said. “That is our running mantra: the best way for the citizens of the county and the men and women who work h e r e i s t h e Fo r s y t h County way.”
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FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS
2G | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
A growing
FORCE
Two stations opening in the county
FORSYTH COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Forsyth County residents rely on law enforcement and firefighters to keep them safe, so it’s no surprise that with the growing population, so too are the county’s government agencies. At the county’s two new fire stations, the smell of fresh paint hangs in the air, the soft sunlight of a spring day pouring in through the stations’ arching red doors. The doors centerpiece Station 6 and Station 8, which are located in south and north Forsyth, respectively. These are the first two stations to use the doors, Division Chief Barry Head said, and it took some convincing. “When we were first told the cost, I was like, ‘We’ll
13,873 - Emergencies answered 16,125 - Apparatus dispatched to those emergencies 6 minutes, 35 seconds - Average response time 196 - Authorized personnel 156 - Firefighters in the fire stations among three shifts 32 - Support, administrative and fire marshal personnel 1,275 - Plans reviewed for new construction by the fire marshal’s office 7,608 - Building inspections by the fire marshal’s office 459 - Child safety seats inspected 1,092 - Smoke alarms installed or batteries changed 3,055 - Citizens taught fire extinguisher training 22,389 - Adults and children reached with a structured public education presentation 30 - Front-line fire apparatus and special operations vehicles 17,900 - Gallons of water carried by fire apparatus 1,649 - Length in feet of all ladders carried by apparatus 9.25 - Length in miles of hose carried by apparatus 14,628 - Fire-based training hours conducted and received by department personnel 4,288 - Medical emergency-based training hours conducted, received by department personnel 18,916 - Training hours conducted and received by department personnel 2,073 - Children served by the annual Aerial’s House Christmas toy drive 12,455 - Square footage of Fire Stations 6 and 8
See FIRE | 3G
Note: Numbers are from 2016
By Isabel Hughes
ihughes@forsythnews.com
forsythnews.com | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | 3G
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
History of the Forsyth County Fire Department 1972:
Forsyth County Fire Protection Committee is created. The first training session for volunteer firefighters is called.
1990:
1983:
Forsyth County is named the largest volunteer department.
1973: The volunteer department if incorporated and led by Fire Chief John C. Moore.
1989:
Station 9 is built by volunteers.
Norris Bennett becomes the county’s second fire chief.
1998:
2006:
Forsyth County hires its first fulltime firefighters, making a switch from a volunteer department. 30 men are hired.
1994:
Station 14 is built.
The fire department moves into its current headquarters, which is located at Forsyth County’s Public Safety Complex. Station 12 opens.
2003:
Current Fire Chief Danny Bowman is made chief.
2012:
Forsyth County fire is now 40 years old.
March 2017:
Station 6 opens.
2013:
2007:
Stations 1 and 2 open.
Station 13 opens.
April 2017:
Station 8 is scheduled to open.
Station 8 boasts brand new rooms for the firefighters to rest while on shift. Photos by Micah Green Forsyth County News
The arching red doors centerpiece Station 6 and Station 8, which are located in south and north Forsyth, respectively.
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Fire
never do that,’” he said. “But we spend so much money on damaged doors and maintenance of them that over the life of the building, these will more than pay for themselves.” Fire Chief Danny Bowman said it was less about the money and more about the aesthetic that took him some getting used to, but now that the doors are active, he couldn’t be happier. With the county rapidly expanding, Head said the two new locales bring a muchneeded increase in fire staff and equipment and for the last year, men have been training for their new positions throughout the county, preparing to serve the county’s citizens. From 2014 to 2015, Forsyth County’s population increased by about 4 percent, and in 2015, the department responded to 13,283 incidents. Of those, 54.95 percent were medical calls, making Station 6, which serves as an Advanced Life Support, or ALS, location, necessary. “It has a full-time paramedic and basically all the equipment you’d find on an
ambulance, minus the stretcher,” Head said. “They missed six calls already [the day they opened]; it’s going to be a busy fire station.” Station 6 opened Thursday, March 16, and Station 8 is expected to open in early April. Currently, the firefighters at the old Station 8 — which was razed in March 2016 to allow for construction of the new station on adjacent property — are being housed in Dawson County Fire Station 2. “We’ll get those guys back home, and their station is identical to [Station 6]” Head said. “With the exception of a little bit of an increase in response time, it’s worked really well; Dawson County has been more than accommodating for us. But we’re anxious to get them back home.” With the additions of Stations 6 and 8, the county now has a total of 13 fire stations, and more are planned. “It’s in its very infancy now, but we’re looking at building a station, which we already own the land for, off Pittman Road,” Head said. “It may actually be a five-bay station. “We’re hoping to work out something with the sheriff’s office to put a sheriff’s precinct there, for like their SWAT trucks and all of that.”
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4G | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Northside Hospital-Forsyth reaches new heights For the Forsyth County News
Northside Hospital is one of the most respected health care organizations in the Southeast and has a decades-long commitment to balancing clinical excellence with compassionate care. That commitment holds true today. The hospital leads the U.S. in newborn deliveries and diagnoses, treats the most cancer cases in Georgia and is among the state’s top providers of surgical services. Northside is experiencing tremendous growth. Expansion and construction projects are underway or in design phase at multiple campuses. The goal? To provide greater patient access to quality medical care. Nowhere is that growth more evident than at Northside Hospital-Forsyth. Today, the 1-million-squarefoot Northside Hospital-Forsyth medical campus has more than 3,000 employees and 2,500 physicians. It includes the 247-bed hospital, a Women’s Center, an advanced surgery tower and four medical office buildings. The hospital saw more than 475,000 patient visits last year across a full range of medical services. In 2016, Northside Hospital Forsyth added three additional floors to accommodate surgical and oncology patient needs, bringing the hospital to eight floors and making it the tallest building in Forsyth County. It also opened a new surgical care center, offering two dedicated, women-only GYN and breast care operating rooms for patient privacy and comfort. The hospital’s growth continues in 2017. Northside recently filed a request with the state to convert 37 existing 23-hour observation beds at Northside Hospital-Forsyth to medical/surgical beds, increasing the hospital’s total inpatient bed count to 284 when the project is complete. This is in response to the state’s indication that these beds are needed for the hospital to meet patient demand in 2021. Additional plans include the expansion and renovation of the hospital’s cafeteria and dining room and the construction of a fifth medical office building on the hos-
Micah Green Forsyth County News
In 2016, Northside Hospital Forsyth added three additional floors to accommodate surgical and oncology patient needs, bringing the hospital to eight floors and making it the tallest building in Forsyth County.
The numbers of caring 247 Beds 3,000 Employees 2,500 Physicians 212,455 Outpatient Visits in 2016 3,152 Births in 2016 58,815 Emergency Department visits in 2016 13,087 Surgeries in 2016 pital campus, expected to open in early 2018. The hospital also has expanded its clinical services, offering new tools that enable it to provide the best possible patient care and keep up with the growing health care needs of the community. Northside Hospital-Forsyth is Georgia’s leader in same-day joint replacements, performing more surgeries than any other Georgia hospital, and has earned The Joint Commission’s (TJC) Disease Specific Certification for hip and knee joint replacement. As part of the Northside Hospital health care system, the hospital also offers patients expertise that ranks in the
top 1 percent of all robotic surgery programs in the U.S. Total-joint specialists at Northside Hospital-Forsyth are combining the strengths of these two programs to help patients, especially those with post-sports related injuries and osteoarthritis, return to a better quality of life much faster. In 2016, they performed Georgia’s first robotic-assisted total knee replacement surgery. “This is a great example of how technological advances, coupled with a surgeon’s expertise, afforded the completion of a total knee replacement surgery using a robotic arm,” said
Micah Green Forsyth County News
On the Cover Holly Ramey and her son, Bradford Ramey, in the Special Care Nursey, or NICU, at Northside Hospital-Forsyth. Bradford weighed only 1 pound and 14 ounces when he was born after 25 weeks and three days. More than 3,150 babies were born at the Women’s Center in Forsyth in 2016, a hospital that delivers more babies than any other in the country. When babies are born early or unexpectedly, they may require care. The photo shows one of the 21 Level III private rooms in the NICU, a unique feature to the hospital. The staff includes teams of perinatalogists, neonatologists and several pediatric specialists in cardiology, gastroenterology and ophthalmology. Bradford was born at the end of January. He now weighs 4 pounds and 2 ounces.
Kenneth Kress, the orthopaedic surgeon who performed the first procedure. At Northside Hospital’s Cancer Institute, where more cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed and treated than anywhere else in Georgia, radiologists are using a new imaging agent that aims to detect recurrent prostate cancer earlier. AxuminTM (fluciclovine F 18) is designed specifically to target prostate cancer cells. When used in conjunction with PET (positron emission tomography) imaging, the drug enables physicians to better see if disease is present, the location and extent
of disease and how rapidly it is spreading. Northside Hospital is the first hospital in the country to use the drug commercially. “To date, we have had few imaging tools available for the evaluation of men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer,” said William C. Lavely, a nuclear medicine specialist for Northside Radiology Associates. “The approval of F-18 fluciclovine (Axumin) allows us to have an effective molecular imaging tool to evaluate these patients and assist clinicians in directing further management.” Northside Hospital-Forsyth also continues to lead the way in heart and vascular care. In 2016, it earned Disease Specific Certification for Acute Myocardial Infarction care (heart attack) from TJC. The hospital’s cardiology team and emergency department staff work collaboratively with Forsyth County and Central EMS to ensure that patients receive access to care, with some of the fastest transfer times of the 19 hospitals in the Atlanta region, and ahead of the region’s average of 76 minutes. According to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Northside Hospital-Forsyth also has the lowest 30-day readmission rates from heart attack of any hospital in Georgia (134 hospitals reporting) and ranks No. 31 in the United States. “Northside Hospital-Forsyth is committed to improving the standards of care and patient outcomes of our heart attack patients,” said Amy Browning, manager of cardiology at Northside Hospital-Forsyth. Follow @NorthsideHosp on social media, and for more information visit northside.com.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Forsyth For the Forsyth County News
Picture it: It’s late in the afternoon, and your child falls off his bike. You fear his arm may be broken. And his pediatrician’s office is closed. What are your options? You need a place that’s open evenings, weekends and holidays. No appointment necessary. And a place where labs and X-rays can be done during the same visit to quickly diagnose your child and that information can be sent to his doctor. It’s called urgent care, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has convenient locations throughout metro Atlanta for quick access to pediatricians who specialize in caring just for kids. Common reasons for a visit include: minor cuts that need stiches, broken bone*, fever for children older than two months and flu. Unlike retail clinics, Children’s Urgent Care Centers always have doctors and nurses who are specially trained to treat children, from babies to teens. To help patients and families spend less time in the waiting room, we let families select an arrival time online before coming to Children’s at Forsyth Urgent Care Center. This
allows families to save their spot in line before they leave the house. We accept walk-in patients during business hours at all of our Urgent Care Centers. Visit choa.org/urgentcare for more information. Choosing the right place to take a sick or injured child can be confusing. Use the key below to help choose when to visit a primary care provider, urgent care or the emergency department.
Primary care • Best place for regular care • When you have questions about your child’s health • Visit during weekdays and by appointment for: ––Well-child checkups –– Physicals — Flu shots and other vaccines — Common illnesses and minor injuries
Urgent care center • When your pediatrician isn’t available • For minor injuries and illnesses • Open when your primary care doctor’s office may be closed, includ-
ing evenings, weekends and holidays • No appointment needed
Emergency department • For serious injuries or illnesses • Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week • No appointment needed If you think your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911. From mending broken bones to treating colds, the pediatric team at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is dedicated to making kids better today and healthier tomorrow. While other health care facilities might offer pediatric care, pediatrics has been the sole focus of Children’s for more than 100 years. Founded in 1915 with two rented cottages, Children’s has grown to three hospitals and 27 neighborhood locations throughout metro Atlanta, including Marcus Autism Center. Children’s serves kids from all 159 counties in Georgia and has more than 1,008,800 patient visits each year. It is recognized as one of the top pediatric health care institutes in the country by U.S.News & World Report.
Children’s at Forsyth In The Collection at Forsyth 410 Peachtree Parkway Suite 300 Cumming, GA 30041
Services at Children’s at Forsyth include: • Diabetes and endocrinology • General surgery (outpatient clinic) • Neurology • Neurophysiology (EEG) • Orthotics and Prosthetics • Radiology (Lab and X-ray) • Rehabilitation services • Specialty care • Sports medicine • Urgent care *If bone is coming through the skin, child should go to the emergency department. In case of an urgent concern or emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away. This is general information and not specific medical advice. Always consult with a doctor or healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns about the health of a child.
Forsyth retains rank as state’s healthiest county By Kayla Robins
krobins@forsythnews.com
For the fourth year in a row, Forsyth has been ranked the healthiest county in Georgia. The County Health Rankings, a study conducted annually by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, placed Forsyth at the top of the list that examined factors including quality and length of life. Those two factors determine a county’s health outcomes ranking, while a health factors ranking includes statistics on health behaviors — smoking, obesity, drinking, etc. — access to clinical care, social and economic factors and physical environment. The last category includes air pollution, long commutes and driving alone to work. “It shows where our priorities are, in quality of life,” said Brian Tam, Forsyth County commissioner for District 2 in south Forsyth. “The county has tried to do its job with regard to amenities and recreational entities, the greenway, fields, the trail systems we have … They are amenities that will last for generations.” Forsyth’s top ranking also was due to factors such as low rates of premature death and the amount of people reporting their physical and mental health as poor. The higher-ranked counties mostly fell in the metro-tonortheast Georgia region, with Oconee, Fayette, Harris and Gwinnett counties filling out the top five. Among Forsyth’s neighbors, Gwinnett was the closest, followed by Cherokee at sixth, Dawson 13th, Hall 14th and Fulton 25th. Forsyth recorded 4,200 premature deaths in 2015, com-
pared to the statewide average of 7,300. While the state average of people saying they were in poor or fair health was at 17 percent, just 12 percent did so in Forsyth. Along those same lines, 7 percent of Forsyth’s babies were born with a low birthweight, while the Georgia average was 9 percent. “[The ranking] speaks to the quality of our health care system even more so,” Tam said. “Northside is just second to none, as well as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. [Northside has] continued to expand as our population has expanded.” From the outside looking in, from the top administration levels of the hospital, and even from Ga. 400, the growth of the
local hospital is evident. “Northside Hospital-Forsyth has undergone near-continuous construction since Northside purchased the hospital in 2002,” said Lynn Jackson, administrator of the Forsyth location. “Now we’re adding three additional floors, which will increase our inpatient and observational beds.” Jackson said those additional floors should be operational by October. However, she noted there is always room to improve. Forsyth County came in third in health factors behind Oconee and Fayette counties. “Thirteen percent of Forsyth County residents smoke, one in five admits to being physically inactive and more than a quarter are obese,” Jackson said. “Those are never good num-
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bers, no matter where we place on the list.” Cherokee County came in sixth in this category, while Dawson came in 15th, Hall in 25th, Gwinnett in 11th and Fulton in seventh. Forsyth still remained above the state average in most of these categories. While 21 percent of Georgia residents reported being uninsured, 14 percent of Forsyth residents did. And the county generally has a higher high school graduation rate, fewer children in poverty and less violent crime than most of the state. However, Forsyth did come in 146th out of 159 in physical environment, with all of metro Atlanta ranking in the 100s and worse. Most — 80 percent — of
Forsyth residents drive to work alone, just more than the state average of 79 percent, and 48 percent have a long commute, compared to 39 percent statewide. “As health care providers, we are constantly challenged with how to reach patients and encourage them to make changes that support healthy living,” Jackson said. “We offer smoking cessation classes and screenings for cancer, heart disease and stroke at the hospital throughout the year. Our mobile mammography van, corporate health fairs and other community partnerships increase the convenience of health care, allowing us to take our services to the community.”
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SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Big Creek Greenway opens new phase By Isabel Hughes
ihughes@forsythnews.com
Training for that half-marathon has just been made a bit easier with the opening of Phase 4 of Forsyth County’s Big Creek Greenway. After nearly a year’s delay, the new stretch of trail is ready for public use, adding about 2.8 miles to the existing Greenway. The path now runs close to 10 miles, beginning near McFarland Parkway and ending at Johnson Road, according to a Forsyth County news release. “The Big Creek Greenway in Forsyth County is a very popular amenity, and we are excited to open up this new phase for use,” said Jim Pryor, director of parks and recreation for the county. “We are sincerely
appreciative of the voters’ support in 2008 of the Parks, Recreation and Green Space Bond that made this new section of the trail possible.” The Greenway is a 12-foot wide, multi-use trail ideal for walking, jogging, biking and inline skating. It is made of both concrete and boardwalk, with 4-foot shoulders on either side of the path. Voters approved the project in 2008, and Phases 1, 2 and 3 of the trail opened in 2009. Since then, developers have been expanding the Greenway, with the completed trail planned to reach Sawnee Mountain Preserve — an estimated 16-17 miles in total length. Construction of Phase 4 began in 2014 and was origi-
nally scheduled to open in 2015. However, the project was delayed after some areas spilled onto private land, requiring the county to settle with property owners. County commissioners voted 4-0 last month to resolve disputes with the landowners, allowing for expansion to continue. In March, the county also settled with the project’s contractor, CRS Building Corp. “In some areas of the new phase, due to the lay of the land on which we needed to build, there is a bit of a slope or i n c l i n e ,” D i s t r i c t 3 Commissioner Todd Levent said. “I have heard from some constituents that this will be welcomed from the perspective
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of providing a greater workout challenge. “I have also heard from some constituents who had some concerns about the incline. To that end, we are considering the possibility of adding a spur in this area in the future that could potentially provide an alternative for those looking for a more family friendly route.” The trail narrows slightly in some spots due to bridge-widening construction. The narrowing is temporary, however, and the trail is expected to return to its normal width once the bridge project is finished in about two years. Two sections of the path are also temporarily closed but are expected to reopen by Aug. 31. The segment between McFarland Parkway and Union
Hill Road trailheads, from mile maker 1.3 to mile marker 1.4, is closed due to construction on Ga. 400. Phase 1 is also being renovated, resulting in the temporary closure from the Union Hill Road trailhead extending north about a half-mile to mile maker 0.4. All four of the trailheads will remain open throughout these closures, however. Construction of Phase 5 — t h e fi n a l s t r e t c h o f t h e Greenway — has already begun, but no end date has been set. Phase 5 is expected to add another 5-6 miles to the trail. The trail will be open daily March through October from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and November through February from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
forsythnews.com | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | 9G
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
County high school sports excel
By Brian Paglia bpaglia@forsythnews.com
H
anging over all things in Forsyth County is growth. Sports is no exception. It has already manifested in one notable way: the number of state championships won at the high school level. Consider that in 52 years, from 1957 to 2009, county high school athletes and teams won 49 state titles. In the past seven years, from 2010 to now, county high school athletes and teams have won 44 state titles. “Our community has taken athletics serious,” Forsyth County Athletic and Activities Coordinator Nathan Turner said, “and we want to compete at a high level, and we want to be successful.” It’s all related to the county’s growth. Where there was once
just over 17,000 residents (in 1970), there are now over 200,000. Where there was once just one high school athletic program, there are now seven. The county’s growth means sports will continue to be impacted in the coming years, from the opening of new middle and high schools; to increased demands on field space for youth sports; and to the emergence of entirely new sports altogether.
Welcoming a new program The last time a high school opened in the county coincided with the current boom in state championships. Lambert High School opened for the 2009-10 school year, splitting off from South Forsyth High School, and has since won See SPORTS | 10G
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SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Local sports championships over the years 1958:
1994:
2008:
2017:
Forsyth County High School’s boys track mile relay team wins the county’s first ever individual state championship.
South Forsyth High School wins its first state championship, in slowpitch softball.
West Forsyth wrestler Dane Magnussen wins a state championship, the first ever for the school.
The county has its 100th individual or team state championship when North Forsyth’s Jack DalMolin wins three individual state titles at the state swim meet
1959:
1996:
2010:
Forsyth County High School’s girls basketball team defeats Cartersville, 52-32, to win the GHSA Class A state championship, the first ever team state title for the county
North Forsyth wins its first state championship, in slow-pitch softball.
Lambert’s Allie Schaich wins a state championship in track, the first ever for the school.
North Forsyth senior Jack DalMolin (left) ha won multiple individual state titles. DalMolin was a part of three state titles this past season.
FROM 10G
Forsyth County has some of the top athletes in the state, like Forsyth Central High School junior pitcher Ethan Hankins (above), who is verbally committed to play for college powerhouse Vanderbilt University.
Sports 19 team state titles. In addition, the Longhorns have won the Georgia Athletic Directors Association’s Directors Cup, a year-long, allsports competition, two straight years against programs in the Georgia H i g h S c h o o l Association’s highest classification. It’s hard to expect the same for the next new high school, Denmark, when it opens for the 2018-19 school year, but what’s certain is that Denmark’s opening will have cascading effects on other high school athletic programs in the county. T h o s e e ff e c t s w i l l hinge on how Denmark’s district looks. That will impact the district lines of the other high schools, particularly South and West Forsyth, but also Lambert to a degree. The new districts should be approved before late fall, according to Forsyth County Schools spokeswoman Jennifer Caracciolo. Denmark will start with no seniors, and their siblings who might suddenly be districted for a different school can choose to stay at their current school. Those decisions are almost impossible to predict, but they can impact the competitiveness of teams in the coming years. It’s not hard to predict that despite the impact of Denmark — and another potential high school in east Forsyth s o m e d a y — Fo r s y t h County will continue to boast some of the strongest high school athletics in the state. “I think people are definitely looking and
File photo
seeing that Forsyth is growing and our sports programs are budding and good things are h a p p e n i n g ,” Tu r n e r said. “… We’re definitely on peoples’ radars.”
Predicting the unpredictable Lacrosse was not on the radar for Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Director of A t h l e t i c s Wa y n e Maddox nine years ago. But what began as a curiosity in metro Atlanta took hold and became a wave of participation that soon reached Forsyth County and hasn’t stopped. Last season, lacrosse had the third-most number of high school participants, ahead of traditionally popular sports like baseball and soccer. So Maddox is trying to plan for the next sport to come out of nowhere. With the steady growth of the county, it’s inevitable, Maddox said.
“The more people that move into the county the more likely you are to get those requests for what I would term nontraditional sports,” he said. Maybe it’s Australian rules football. Maybe it’s rugby, which already has an informal presence as a club sport at some county high schools. More likely it will be cricket. Steps have already been taken in the county to accommodate the future of the world’s second-most popular sport, behind soccer. This past November, construction began on seven cricket fields off Keith Bridge Road in north Forsyth. Cricket organizers hope to eventually work with the U.S. Cricket Association to create a southeastern league. As a sign of the sport’s potential in the U.S. market, Global Sports Venture, a sports development company, announced this past January plans to invest $2.4 billion to build the
infrastructure necessary to create a professional cricket league with teams in eight states, including
Georgia. Forsyth County’s newest popular sport: cricket. “That’s where I’m
expecting participation numbers to grow in the next two to five years,” Maddox said.
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