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PROGRESS
2022
FORSYTH COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Sabrina Kerns Forsyth County News
From left, Rupal Vaishnav, Andrew Shannon, Julie Brennan and Phil Bauer speak about their work on OneForsyth and what it means for Forsyth County and its businesses during a launch event Tuesday, June 22.
Chamber helps business community thrive Despite the challenges the last two years have presented us, the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce saw a great deal of progress last year. I am proud that through all of the uncertainty your Chamber team remained true to the mission of advancing positive business growth and community partnerships to promote a superior quality of life for all in Forsyth County. Your Chamber was once again named a finalist for the national Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. They lived out the brand adoption words set in 2019 as the staff intentionally monitored our business community’s needs, innovatively transitioned events, collaborated with regional leadership to launch the One Forsyth initiative and provided a resource for the community to give back to our local healthcare superheroes with the FoCo4Frontliners initiative. Your Chamber’s economic development arm, Forward Forsyth, experienced an incredible year. The Forward Forsyth team focuses on Forsyth County’s product development to attract businesses into the community as well as infrastructure development, guided by elements of Forsyth County’s strategic economic development plan. As a result of strong local leadership and the relentless work of Chamber staff, 2021 was a remarkable year for economic development in our community. Thirty-five companies announced a collective $253 million in new capital investments and 1,823 new jobs. This is the largest amount of capital investment and new job announcements in a single year since the inception of the Chamber’s Economic Development Department in 2005. Last year, your Chamber worked with community leaders to develop the One Forsyth initiative. One Forsyth aims to promote diversity and inclusion within the community and its businesses. At the June launch event, Civil rights icon Andrew Young commended the Forsyth County Chamber on the creation of One Forsyth thanking those in attendance for the work they have done and plans to further unite the community. The launch of One Forsyth is only the beginning in driving the conversation to promote diversity and inclusion in our community and wouldn’t have been a success without the innovative and driven volunteers who met regularly to cultivate this initiative. As we all navigated through the twists and turns of the pandemic, your Chamber worked tirelessly with healthcare officials to consistently provide the most up to date information to the community. Covid Conversations, presented by the Healthcare Association, was a collaboration with local health experts in emergency care, women’s health, and children’s care to provide insights on COVID-19 in our community and answered participants’ questions in engaging sessions. The year 2021 also saw the opportunity to give back to our local healthcare superheroes. Your Chamber team, in partnership with Mary Helen McGruder of the Sawnee Mountain Foundation, launched FoCo4Frontliners. Created to applaud workers’ efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, FoCo4Frontliners is collaboration with community leaders, many local businesses, residents and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. As your chamber team met with local business owners, the desire to learn more about transitioning and
Civil rights icon and Ambassador Andrew Young speaks at the OneForsyth launch event hosted by the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerse Tuesday, June 22.
Staff from Northside Hospital Forsyth were presented T-shirts as an offer of gratitude for their heroic efforts displayed during the pandemic. Forsyth Chamber President/CEO James McCoy and Mary Helen McGruder of the Sawnee Mountain Foundation were on site for the presentation.
telling their stories virtually became a high-demand request. Chamber staff created the Digital Marketing Academy to provide resources and tools from marketing experts to lead the conversation in providing insight to local business owners on how to revolutionize their online presence and help guide businesses and individuals through the constantly evolving world of Digital Marketing. And while the desire to travel has slowed down over the course of the last two years, the Chamber’s tourism development arm saw a significant increase in visitors in 2021. DiscoverFoCo is focused on recruiting additional sporting tournaments and showcasing Forsyth County’s amazing facilities, and venues via virtual site tours. The Chamber welcomed a new Director of Tourism in 2021, recruiting Joni Buford to lead the department and market the brand including an Insta-worthy web-
site and visitors guide. As the entertainment industry bounced back, Film Forsyth experienced a booming year, hosting twelve film projects including the Netflix series “Ozark” and ABC’s “Queens” to name a few. In short, 2021 was an incredible year for your Chamber, but there remains much work ahead. I am honored to serve as the Chairman of the Board for this organization and excited for the collaborative opportunities we have ahead. If you would like get involved, our team would be eager to connect with you. Please feel free to contact President/CEO James McCoy at jmccoy@focochamber.org. Sincerely, Derek Brooks 2022 Board Chairman Forsyth County Chamber From left, James McCoy from the Forsyth County Chamber, Dr. Zachary Taylor, Dr. Doug Olson, Dr. Jennifer Maddux, Dr. Natu Mmbaga, Dr. Christina Rostad led an interactive panel discussion on the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic.
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‘The future of our region’
Atlanta Regional Commission Chairman Kerry Armstrong speaks at the 2021 State of the Region ceremony.
Forsyth County, city of Cumming welcomed into Atlanta Regional Commission By Kelly Whitmire
kwhitmire@forsythnews.com
Forsyth County and the city of Cumming leaders received a warm welcome to its new regional commission late last year. On Tuesday, Nov. 16, the Atlanta Regional Commission hosted the annual State of the Region meeting, where in addition to discussing economic, environmental and growth issues in the metro Atlanta region, members also welcomed leaders from Forsyth, the most recent county to join the group. “Speaking of joining us, I’m glad to say that our ARC family has grown,” said ARC Chairman Kerry Armstrong. “This year, Forsyth County became our 11th member county. The last time ARC expanded was more than 25 years ago, when we welcomed Cherokee County to the family, and that was before the Braves’ first World Series Championship [in 1995]. “In many ways, Forsyth County represents the future of our region. We are thrilled to have them join us at the regionally planning table.” Those attending the meeting online and in-person were also shown a video showing off the natural resources, local businesses and diverse population of Forsyth County. Near the beginning of the meeting, Forsyth County Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills, Cumming Mayor Troy Brumbalow and local officials were honored by members of the group. Using data from the most recent census, ARC executive director Doug Hooker, who is retiring early next year, pointed out that only Houston and Dallas grew more than Atlanta in the 2010s and said the region’s
population is more than 6.1 million, which he said was the ninth-largest metro region in the country. “We’ve also grown more diverse. The Atlanta region is now more than 60% minority. In particular, and you heard this earlier, our Asian American population is booming, especially in areas like Forsyth County, the newest ARC member, where nearly one in five residents identifies as Asian or Asian American,” Hooker said. “And I will take a moment to echo what Kerry Armstrong had to say that I am thrilled, I am thrilled Chairwoman Mills, to welcome Forsyth to the ARC family,” he said. “I know that the rest of the region will benefit greatly from Forsyth’s strong leadership and innovative ideas as we work together to plan for a better, brighter future.” During the meeting, ARC officials also released the results of Metro Atlanta Speaks, a public opinion survey on quality-of-life issues in the region. The survey showed that crime is the top-perceived issue facing the region, nearly 33% of responders said they are working from home all or most of the time, with another 21% saying they do so occasionally, that four-in-five responders said they had received food assistance from a food pantry or church in the last year and 17% of those who responded said they were “not confident” or “slightly confident” about their ability to make their next rent or mortgage payment. Cumming and Forsyth County officially became part of the ARC on July 1 after previously being a member of the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission. Georgia has 12 regional commissions, public agencies set up to “assist local governments on a regional basis and to develop, promote and assist in establish-
ing coordinated and comprehensive planning in the state.” A move to the ARC from the GMRC has been discussed since at least 2019 by local leaders, including presentations from officials for both commissions describing what they offer. Forsyth County Commissioners previously said they favored moving to the ARC due to issues such as growth, economic development, transportation and others that are more similar to metro Atlanta counties than those in the northeast corner of the state. At a previous meeting, Hooker said the ARC offers services including aging and independent services, arts and creative placemaking, community development, leadership building, transportation, economic development and the homeland security coordinator for Gwinnett, DeKalb, Cobb, Fulton and Clayton counties, a federal designation. The notice stated that the realignment will not affect Forsyth County’s designation as a member of the federal Appalachian Regional Commission. ARC represents Henry, Cobb, Rockdale, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Douglas, Cherokee, Fulton and Fayette counties, municipalities in those counties and the city of Atlanta. GMRC is made up of Forsyth, Dawson, Lumpkin, Union, Towns, White, Hall, Banks, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens, Franklin and Hart counties and its cities. During the meeting, speakers also presented Hooker with the 2021 Harry West Visionary Leadership Award, attendees heard an update on water resources in the region and projects from several cities were presented regional excellence awards.
Group aimed at rejuvenating land in Forsyth has first meeting By Kelly Whitmire
kwhitmire@frorsythnews.com
A new group aimed at helping the community get better uses out of certain pieces of land recently held its first meeting. On June 25, 2021, members of the Forsyth County Land Bank Authority held its first meeting at the Forsyth County Administration Building. The group is made up of members nominated by Forsyth County Commissioners and the Cumming City Council and is aimed at rejuvenating land that is delinquent in taxes, in disrepair, abandoned or foreclosed on. “Essentially, land banks have been created after states and local governments across the United States have identified a problem,” said Molly Esswein with Forsyth County Attorney Ken Jarrard’s office, “and that there are these properties that end up blighted or not maintained well that are delinquent on their taxes and have liens and similar problems and due to various regulations and requirements, it’s a little bit difficult to have them marketed publicly and have those issues resolved.” Members of the group include Forsyth County M anager Kev in Tan n er, Cumming City Councilmen Joey Cochran and Christopher Light, local attorney Phill Bettis and Forsyth County resident Lamar Wakefield, who is principal at Nelson Worldwide. The authority does not have the ability to use eminent domain to obtain property, and members said land they are in
control of would come from tax sales or be designated by the city or county governments. “The idea is for them to acquire, manage and maintain and basically facilitate the development or redevelopment of these properties,” Esswein said. For properties that are taken over by the authority then later sold, the group may receive up to 75% of county property taxes for five years, which will be used to fund other projects. One property that was discussed by members of the authority was the abandoned Greenleaf subdivision off Anderson Lake Road in northeast Forsyth. “One of the impetuses behind this is … off Anderson Lake Road there is some property some of you may remember it’s a defunct community, the developer went to federal prison,” Tanner said. “Houses were built, [with] no sewer on lots too small for septic tanks.” The planned subdivision stopped construction in 2006, and two men tied to the 40-acre development were sentenced to federal prison for a mortgage fraud scheme and ordered to pay millions in restitution. The structures in the 40-acre property had been described as “shells” of houses and were in poor condition, had been vandalized and stripped and were built without proper infrastructure, which meant they could not be completed. Of the 60 proposed lots, 18 were in disrepair when construction ended. In 2015, the county authorized Jarrard’s office to move forward with a
File photo
Members of the Forsyth County Land Bank Authority held its first meeting in June 2021 at the Forsyth County Administration Building.
nuisance abatement process to begin the process of removing the properties, which was completed in 2016. Tax liens were placed on the property for the demolition. Though the structures have come down, tax and title issues on the land remain.
Land Bank Authority moves ahead with obtaining 25 parcels in Greenleaf subdivision On Monday, Feb. 28, the joint Forsyth County/City of Cumming Land Bank Authority approved moving ahead with the purchase of 20 acres from previous buyers of the land, accepting five parcels of the subdivisions from Forsyth County and amending a previous agreement with the county. Tanner, a member of the authority, said that if all goes as planned, the authority could be in control of 65 homes of the 69
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lots in the planned subdivision. “I think there’s only maybe two or three other lots that are not owned by us at that point and some common area,” Tanner said. Once the authority controls 90% of the properties, members will have the ability to amend covenants previously placed on the lots. Tanner said reconfiguring the lots may be necessary to sell the land to a buyer since the current lot sizes are not eligible for septic tanks. Earlier this year, Forsyth County Commissioners approved deeding over the five parcels the county owns to the authority and allowing the county to front the money for the Land Bank Authority to purchase the lots in the neighborhood owned by private investors not to exceed the amount of $200,000. During the meeting on Feb. 28, Tanner said the money will be repaid to the county after the sale of the property. Cover Photo by Jeremy Coleman, @jcreative_media
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PROGRESS
2022
Midweek Edition-March 30-31, 2022
GOVERNMENT
John takes lead for board of commissioners Ashlyn Yule
ayule@forsythnews.com
Alfred John has been a member of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners for over a year and was elected chairman for 2022. John represents District 2 in south Forsyth. Looking back on the past year and forward at the days to come, John talked to the Forsyth County News about upcoming projects and other issues in the county. Here are some highlights. How has you’re your first year as District 2 Commissioner been, and how has that time prepared you for the role of chairman? “If you look at [all] of my experience, from the last 10 or 12 years, I’ve been fairly active with the community, so a lot of folks know me, and I’ve been paying attention to what commissioners have been doing in the past. “Along with that, the three years prior, I was on the [Forsyth County] Zoning Board of Appeals and [in] 2020, I served as the chairman of the ZBA. “So [those] were a good runway into this role. They were good learning experiences, and I can tell you, 2021 was a great experience for me. “I enjoyed my role [as District 2 Commissioner] because I could … bring about change that people were asking for. There were certain challenges that had to be overcome, but I’m glad that I was able to help, especially with infrastructure changes in District 2.” How are your projects progressing? “One of the things that I observed over the last year was a lack of event spaces in
Forsyth County. If you broadly look at Forsyth County, the only place to go for a form of recreation is the lake. “People end up going to Roswell or Alpharetta for entertainment, so John I’ve been working with a few people … and talking to the [Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce] as well to bring an event facility … to Forsyth County. “The area around The Collection has been a focus for me, and recently, I’ve met with two different commercial developers and we’re very close to getting a project there off the ground. That’ll be coming before the board in the next two to three months, I would hope. “Imagine the transformative effect that that commercial project will have on that area.” John also talked about the recent Davidson-Forsyth project that was sent out for a DRI review last year. Davidson-Forsyth will feature a “mix of classic, modern and mercantile styles of architecture that would give the development a variety of looks” along with “several residential styles, including townhomes and single-family detached and attached units.” “If you look at people in the [Davidson-Forsyth] area, residents in the area are truly excited about that project coming off the ground. When you have different types of residential products, the commercial that’ll come in, the retail and office space, people are very excited. It’ll have a tremendous impact on that whole area. “We’re waiting for the DRI review to come back, but we will take [this project]
to the community, we’ll have public meetings, preferably a town hall or two, and we’ll gather a lot of community input as that project moves forward.” What do you hope to accomplish for the county as a whole and what are you most looking forward to? “As a chairman, I feel like the most important role is to be a facilitator for all the commissioners as well as county management and staff, so I really want to be an encourager and help county staff move projects along. “As for things I’m looking forward to, this year, we’re starting construction on our own water intake facility on Lake Lanier. We’ve been dependent on the city of Cumming and now, we’ll have our own [facility] and we’ll be taking control of our own future with water intake — having our own agency over Lake Lanier. “There are also lots of projects that each commissioner is passionate about so … I hope to work with them to bring them to fruition. “I also want to spotlight the [Hwy.] 369 Interchange on Ga. 400. You can see that’s well on its way. The widening of Hwy. 20 is going to spur a lot of growth down that corridor as well, and I recently heard that we might get some funding for the widening of Post Road. That’s huge because that’s been on the backburner for so long. “Almost all of our corridors and major thoroughfares are going to see major improvements in the coming years and provide relief to our residents. And you can see that that touches every district, every commissioner. I’m looking forward to working on that.” What unique perspectives can you
offer the board that will set your chairmanship apart? “I think my background lends itself to a little bit of professionalism and trying to bring a little bit of calm to the board. I hope to bring those things to each meeting and in the way we interact with each other and the way we interact with the public. “But I think I can always borrow a little bit from every past chair. There’s a lot that we need to accomplish and trying to facilitate what the other commissioners are trying to accomplish as well as empowering staff … that’s the bridge that I hope to build between the board and staff. “The board is meant to be an oversight group. We’re supposed to allow the county management to run the day-to-day operations, but we provide some oversight. That’s what I hope to encourage our current board to do.” “One of the things I’ve learned over the past year is, and I’ve spent time with most every department of the county government, but I’ve learned that our county staff is truly among the most dedicated and hard-working people. “We focus on the elected officials a lot of the time, but day-in-day-out, there are a lot of people out there — rain or snow or shine — clearing roads and bridges, going out in the middle of the night and taking care of water and sewer issues, firefighters that are serving 24-hour-long shifts. I mean, can you imagine being on a shift for 24 hours at a time? “These are the people that do the work to make Forsyth County great. I know it sounds a little cliché when I say that, but I mean it very sincerely.”
Forsyth County grows infrastructure, population The year 2021 was a year of milestones and firsts for Forsyth County that showcased why this is the best place in Georgia to live, work and raise a family. We are a community on the rise that is quickly becoming known as a leader, both statewide and nationally. Water is essential to prosperity, and last year Forsyth County made great strides in boosting water reliability and resilience for our residents. After a positive court ruling in the decades-long “Water Wars,” we immediately began design of Forsyth County’s first-ever water intake facility, which will allow us to directly withdraw water from Lake Lanier to meet the water needs of our residents. This transformative project will make us water independent for the first time in the county’s history, and we will no longer be forced to rely on a single intake structure owned by the city of Cumming for our water supply. The new water intake will improve water quality, save millions of dollars and provide a back-up, emergency water source to serve the city of Cumming and Forsyth County water systems should one fail. The project will realize a return on investment in just 25 years and busi-
nesses looking to invest in Forsyth County can be assured we will have reliable and secure water supply for the future. Now that we have been given the ability to Tanner withdraw our own water from Lake Lanier, we have an obligation to be good stewards and return an equal amount of treated water to the lake. Gov. Brian Kemp recently awarded Forsyth County $32.6 million for the construction of a pipeline and diffuser that will send treated water back to Lake Lanier from the county’s Fowler Water Reclamation Facility. The funds received by the county are part of $422 million awarded by the state to various communities to ensure high-need areas have reliable and safe drinking water and wastewater systems. Forsyth County’s award was the largest of any local government in the state. Another first in the area of water and sewer infrastructure was a decision by the Board of Commissioners to use money made available through ARPA to fund the construction of commercial sewer lines to spur economic develop-
ment and investment. This is part of a continuing effort by the Board to decrease the burden on residential property owners and balance the county’s tax base. The county also plans to use ARPA dollars to fund a new Mental Health Outpatient, Crisis Center and Health Department focused on whole health. The center will be the first of its kind in Georgia and will be part of a 42-acre campus on which a new county Administration Building and Employee Wellness Center, both of which are fully funded, will be located. Forsyth County continues to prioritize relieving traffic congestion, which ranks as the biggest concern for our residents. Work is well underway on the 369/400 interchange and the Old Atlanta Road expansion will begin soon. Many other improvements are either in progress or in the planning stages. Residents will have the opportunity to vote on a T-SLPOST measure in the fall, which would create a dedicated funding source for expensive road projects. The 2020 Census revealed that Forsyth County’s population surpassed 250,000 for the first time ever and continues to grow, meaning we must contin-
ue to invest in our infrastructure. One of the biggest draws to Forsyth County is our award-winning parks and trails. 2021 saw the extension of the Big Creek Greenway and new amenities at Sawnee Mountain Park. Improvements are being made at Lanierland and Eagles Beak and a recreation center is being added to Matt Community Park. None of these accomplishments would be possible without the support of our residents and solid financial footing. Forsyth County again received the highest bond ratings possible from all three major credit rating agencies, which is a testament to our strong local economy, diverse tax base and responsible financial management. There is no better place in Georgia — and even the nation — to call home than Forsyth County. And the best is still yet to come. We invite residents to stay updated on the latest news and information from your county through our website, multiple social media channels and our newly launched podcast, “FoCo 15.” To sign up to receive news from Forsyth County, visit forsythco.com. Kevin Tanner Forsyth County manager
An update on local road projects By Ashlyn Yule
each direction with a raised medium, shoulders, cub and gutter and five-foot sidewalks from Ga. 400 to McGinnis Ferry Road. Status: This project is listed as a future project. Cost: This project will be paid for with SPLOST V, VI and VII. More info: Near the project, a planned five-foot sidewalk on McFarland from Ronald Reagan Boulevard to Shiloh Road will provide pedestrian access to the Big Creek Greenway.
ayule@forsythnews.com
Ever wondered when those orange barrels and traffic shifts will go away? In a fast-growing community like Forsyth County, it’s hard to keep track of all the infrastructure projects. Here’s a look at some of the existing and future projects planned around the county, according to online information from the Forsyth County government.
Ga. 400-Hwy. 369 interchange, 369 widening What is it: A new interchange to upgrade the intersection between Ga. 400 and Hwy. 369 with a grade-separated, partial cloverleaf interchange. This project also includes the 2-mile-long widening of Hwy. 369 (Browns Bridge Road) to add two lanes in each direction from just west of Hwy. 9 to slightly east of Hwy. 306. Status: Construction underway. Officials broke ground on the project in November 2021. Cost: $45 million for the two projects to be paid for with the 2015 Transportation Bond.
Coal Mountain Connector
What is it: A new median-divided roadway from Hwy. 369 at Bridgetown to Hwy. 9 at Smith Lane, connecting the North Forsyth cluster of schools and going through land used for Coal Mountain Park. Status: Right-of-way acquisition underway. Cost: $9 million to be paid for with impact fees. More info: This project will require the county’s Miracle League field to be moved to Lanierland Park.
Old Atlanta Road What is it: Two planned phases for a road-widening project with two lanes in each direction. Phase IV includes one mile from St. Marlo Country Club Parkway to Olde Atlanta Parkway. Phase V includes 1.1 miles from Olde Atlanta Parkway to James Burgess Road. Status: Right-of-way acquisition underway for both phases. Cost: Phase IV is $15.6 million, and Phase V is $15.9 million. Both projects are funded by SPLOST and bond funding.
Post Road
What is it: Six miles of widening to add two lanes in each direction with a raised median, curb and gutter and five-foot sidewalks between Atlanta and Canton highways (Hwy. 9 and Hwy. 20). Status: Design underway. Cost: $61 million to be paid for with bond and state funds.
McFarland Parkway What is it: One mile of widening to add two lanes in
McGinnis Ferry Road What is it: 4.6 miles of widening to add two lanes in each direction with a raised medium, 16-foot-wide urban shoulder along the north with a 10-foot-wide multi-use path and a 12-foot-wide urban shoulder along the south with a 6-foot-wide sidewalk from Sargent Road to Union Hill Road. Status: Right-of-way acquisition underway. Cost: $27 million to be paid for with SLPOST VI, VII and transportation bond funds. More information: This project is expected to start in winter 2022.
Ronald Reagan Boulevard Extension What is it: A 3.3-mile-long extension that would connect two existing but separate pieces of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and include two lanes in each direction with a raised median, shoulders, curb and gutter and 5-foot sidewalks. Status: Construction underway. Cost: $27 million to be paid for with transportation bond funds.
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Midweek Edition-March 30-31, 2022
PROGRESS
GOVERNMENT
2022
CITY OF CUMMING
Cumming City Center getting ready for its debut After two long and arduous years in dealing with a global pandemic, it is wonderful to finally be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel as we experience more of a return to normalcy. In 2021, that return was felt strongly in the City of Cumming as we welcomed back our community’s most popular event — the Cumming Country Fair & Festival. In October, crowds turned out in record numbers to enjoy all the great entertainment, rides, games and food at the beloved event. It was wonderful to see our community coming back together to just have fun. Speaking of gathering together and having fun, we have made huge strides at the Cumming City Center, which is currently under construction on Hwy. 20 West. The project has progressed nicely over the past year, despite experiencing some delays due to the pandemic, supply chain issues, and weather. While our anticipated completion date had to be moved back a few months, we are still very pleased with the progress made at the site. Anyone driving by on Hwy. 20 can now see the uniqueness of the development and the beauty of the architecture. Crews continue to work hard every day to bring my vision of a true community gathering place to fruition. We are all hopeful for a ribbon-cutting event in mid-May, with tenant build-outs and individual business openings continuing at different rates throughout the summer. Last fall, we launched a social media campaign, #familyfeature, on the City Center’s Facebook and Instagram page (@cummingcitycenter) where we officially welcome new tenants to our City Center family. So far, we have welcomed 14 tenants, with many more to be announced over the next few months. We are at approximately 93 percent capacity at the City Center, between tenants who have signed their finalized leases and those whose lease negotiations are still in process. Keep watching our social media platforms for more #familyfeature announcements as finalized leases are signed! In December, we also launched the City Center’s own website, www.cummingcitycenter.com, which is a onestop-shop for everything the public will need to know about the Center after it opens. The beautiful website was designed through a collaboration of City of Cumming staff members and contractor Vehicle Media. The website offers everything from information about the Center’s parks, walking trails and amphitheater, to policies on everything from pets to parking, as well as tenant and event listings (these will be continuously updated as tenants and events are announced). Recently, we announced a partnership with Lou Sobh
Automotive Group. Through this partnership, Lou Sobh will sponsor the City Center Amphitheater, providing substantial funding for the next three years in exchange for exclusive naming rights to the amphitheater, sponsorship and promotional rights, and rights to display vehicles during amphitheater events. Brumbalow Lou Sobh Automotive Group will provide signage for the amphitheater, including a metal sign across the top of the band shell featuring the Lou Sobh name flanked by Honda and Kia logos. Funding will be used to support events such as live concerts and music festivals, movie nights, and livestreamed sporting events and tailgating parties. I want to thank Lou Sobh, his son Mike Sobh, and the entire Lou Sobh Automotive team for this incredible gift to our community! We were also thrilled to recently announce a partnership with Splash Festivals to bring the first ever Cumming Art Fest, a two-day art-lovers’ extravaganza, to the Cumming City Center on Sept. 17-18. Splash Festivals, which specializes in producing outdoor arts and crafts festivals with a focus on unique, fun and whimsical artwork, will feature some 100 creative artists’ displays and a creative “Kidz Zone” for youngsters and their families to explore. With cities like Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Dunwoody and Brookhaven already working with Splash Festivals, the City of Cumming is honored to join Chattanooga, Tenn., as one of two new additions to their lineup in 2022. I believe I speak for our entire City of Cumming team when I say that we’re thrilled to be so close to finally welcoming our community to what we hope will become everyone’s favorite gathering place — the Cumming City Center! On a personal note, I would like to thank the residents of the City of Cumming for entrusting me with a second four-year term as mayor during the city’s general election in November. I was truly honored and humbled to receive 77 percent of the votes cast, and I believe there are only great things ahead for the City of Cumming in 2022 and beyond. Troy Brumbalow is the Mayor of the City of Cumming. He was elected to his first four-year term in November of 2017, taking office in January of 2018. He was reelected to his second term in November of 2021.
City center welcomes tenants • Pieces & Peaches (Sept. 15, 2021) • Muse Cabin (Sept. 29, 2021) • Wright’s Fish & Chips (Oct. 6, 2021) • Los Rios Cantina (Oct. 8, 2021) • Roxy Moxy and Kings Kids (Oct. 12, 2021) • Social Exposure (Oct. 15, 2021) • Ten Point Boutique (Oct. 22, 2021) • Unique Cuts Atlanta (Oct. 27, 2021) • Lily Rose Co. (Nov. 19, 2021) • Fidelity Sciences, Inc. (Nov. 22, 2021) • Mary Lucille’s Bakery, Restaurant and Tea Room (Dec. 21, 2021) • Vampire Penguin (Jan. 5, 2022) • Pop.In (Feb. 4, 2022) • Avenue of the Oaks (March 4, 2022)
Sponsor, partnerships • Lou Sobh Automotive Group Sponsor Amphitheater (Feb. 14, 2022) • Center Partners with Splash Festivals for Cumming Art Fest (Feb. 25, 2022) For more information on the Cumming City Center, visit www.cummingcitycenter.com
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PROGRESS
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EDUCATION
SECTION D
State budget includes funds for UNG Cumming, Dahlonega campus projects From staff reports
Two construction projects at the University of North Georgia (UNG), a new business building in Dahlonega and a building expansion in Cumming, have received more than $4 million in funding in Georgia’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed the $23.7 billion state budget on May 10. “Our region continues to experience tremendous growth, and expansion of our facilities is key so that we can meet the increased demand for higher education in the area,” President Bonita Jacobs said. “We are very grateful for the support of Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, state legislators, the Board of Regents, and the University System of Georgia staff for recognizing this need and for their support of these important projects.” The state budget includes $3.2 million in funding for equipment for the new Cottrell Center for Business,
Technology & Innovation on UNG’s Dahlonega Campus. Scheduled to open for classes in fall 2022, the new 86,483-square-foot home for the Mike Cottrell College of Business (MCCB) will serve as the hub for business and computer science programs with specialized labs, student engagement spaces, and high technology classrooms, all designed to enhance student learning. A $10 million gift from Mike Cottrell, the college’s namesake benefactor, and wife Lynn Cottrell, along with $21.8 million in state funds for design and construction, paved the way for the new building. “This new home for the MCCB will signal to students that we are providing them with an innovative learning experience that prepares them for success in the workplace,” Dr. Mary Gowan, the college’s dean said. “The Cottrell Center design is competitive with the design of the best business school facilities in the state. The Cottrells’ generosity enables us to move forward much more quickly than we
otherwise would have been able to do.” The latest allocation represents the third and final phase of state funding for the project. Large-scale capital projects typically are funded over a period of three years. The first year is for planning and design, the second year is for construction, and the third year is for equipment. Expansion of the current academic building at UNG’s Cumming Campus took an initial step toward becoming a reality with the allocation of $1 million in planning and design funds in the FY22 state budget. Enrollment at the campus has doubled since the campus opened in August 2012; it now serves nearly 1,400 students. As a result of that growth, including a 6.4% increase from fall 2019 to fall 2020, UNG has capped dual enrollment of high school students at the campus and has moved two graduate programs, the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Science in counseling, to operate offcampus in the Cumming City Hall.
Growth at the Cumming Campus has been driven by population growth in Forsyth County, which continues to be one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation. It was the 11th-fastest-growing county in the nation over the past decade, with a growth rate of 39.2%, according to 2019 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Georgia Sen. Steve Gooch supported funding for both projects. “I’m excited to help facilitate the growth of the Mike Cottrell College of Business and its programs that will support economic development and produce the business leaders of tomorrow,” Gooch said. “And I’m equally excited to see the fast-growing Forsyth County area, especially high school students interested in dual-enrollment, benefit from the expansion of UNG’s Cumming Campus.” Staff writer Sabrina Kerns contributed to this report.
FCS celebrates grand opening of Academies for Creative Education By Sabrina Kerns
skerns@forsythnews.com
Forsyth County Schools opened its Academies for Creative Education for parents and students before the start of the 2021-22 school year. The new facilities, located at 1130 Dahlonega Highway near downtown Cumming, houses the school system’s three alternative learning programs — Forsyth Academy, Gateway Academy and Forsyth Virtual Academy. It also now houses Mountain Education Charter High School’s Forsyth County site. The programs used to be housed separately in three different district buildings, but this new facility now allows the programs to come together to share more resources and open them up to more space, with 71 classrooms and a capacity for more than 5,600 students. Community members and families gathered in the main lobby of the threestory building for the grand opening ceremony this past July where Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden kicked off the event. He thanked Board of Education members Kristin Morrissey, Tom Cleveland, Darla Light and Lindsey Adams for their attendance and help through the process of opening the new school for Forsyth County’s kids and community. Bearden also thanked leaders of the district’s facilities department, including Chief Facilities Office Matt Wark, Director of Construction Tom Wening, Director of Planning Greg Pruitt and Facilities Planning Manager Jan Selz. The department has worked tirelessly over the past few years to bring several new schools and facilities to the school district. Last summer, the district opened East Forsyth High School and Hendricks Middle School alongside ACE. These projects were made possible through a $295 million bond approved by voters in 2018. Principal Drew Hayes also played a huge role in the opening of ACE, and Bearden said he and his leadership team
Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden, left, speaks to the crowd at the Academies for Creative Education grand opening on Saturday, July 24, 2021. Sabrina Kerns Forsyth County News
“do a great job every year providing quality programs and services for our students who are engaged in alternative forms of education.” Morrissey said students choose to attend ACE for a variety of reasons. Whether they want a fresh start, to thrive better in a smaller classroom environment, different school hours, or to enjoy the independence that the virtual academy allows them, ACE is a great option for students outside of a traditional school. “Whatever the reasons, at Forsyth County Schools, we know that education is not a one size fits all situation,” Morrissey said. “With the opening of this new facility, centrally located within our county, success stories and access to our students have just risen to a new level. And ACE will no longer be the best-kept secret in the Forsyth County School system.” Hayes was excited to see the opening of
this new facility, which now offers even more students in the county alternative paths to education. “I believe we’re here for three reasons, and this needs to be the legacy for a long, long time,” Hayes said. “We need to be willing to give people another chance, we need to find another way and we need to be a home team for kids and families.” The principal said he believes that each and every student in Forsyth County should have as many opportunities as they need to receive their education and find success both in school and in life. He pointed out that he has two children of his own, and they each need to be parented differently because they have individual needs. And he believes the same is true for all kids and students, especially when it comes to education. For Hayes, ACE is an opportunity for kids to find what is right for them and
find a team of educators and leaders who will be there to support and stand behind them. “A building does not provide a sense of home,” Hayes said. “It takes people to come in to give it the warmth, to give it the love, to give it the guidance, to give it the patience to make that happen. We’re committed to doing that here.” Following the grand opening ceremony, guests headed outside to see members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9143 raise the flag at ACE for the first time. District and county leaders then gathered for the ribbon cutting ceremony where Hayes officially opened the school to the community. Some notable spots in the building include the school’s gymnasium, media center and gaming lab, all of which showcase just some of what ACE has to offer students.
2D | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | ForsythNews.com
Midweek Edition-March 30-31, 2022
FORSYTH COUNTY SCHOOLS
School district continues to expand, succeed For the 2021-22 school year, Forsyth County Schools (FCS) serves 53,000 students and is the largest employer in the county. To put this number into perspective, our student population is larger than Truist Park, home of the 2021 World Series Champions, the Atlanta Braves. In the past decade, our student enrollment has grown 43%. We have built 8 new schools in this period and all existing schools prior to 2000 received additions/ modifications within the past two decades. Over the next five years, all Forsyth County schools will receive capital improvements funded by the recently approved SPLOST VI, or Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. We were thrilled that it was approved by 69% of voters, which was a higher approval percentage than the 2016 SPLOST, and 2014 and 2018 Bond elections. This school year we are home to 41 schools – 22 elementary, 11 middle, 7 high, and 1 college and career-high school. In 2022, we will open one new school, New Hope Elementary. In the next five years, we will also be opening a larger, replacement school for Midway Elementary, which is our second oldest school building. This school year, the district opened a new three-story facility to house the Academies of Creative Education, which features our 8-12 alternative program, 8-12 virtual school, and 9-12 hybrid program, and added our fourth Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program. This school year, 2021-22, is also FCS’ seventh year using an online learning management system to learn virtually during school closures. The district provides devices and/or home connectivity for students in need. With COVID-19, FCS opened the school year as planned in August 2020
and has not closed learning district-wide since that time, providing K-12 students the option to learn virtually or face-toface. FCS is the 6th largest out of 180 school districts Bearden in Georgia. Financially, we operate on a $520 million budget, with 72% of our expenses tied to instruction. The budget income is 52% from local funds and 48% from state and federal funds. The FY21 budget was built maintaining the same millage rate for the last seven years, which is the lowest in Metro Atlanta. FCS’ per-pupil expenditure is $9,607, which is the second-lowest among the 12 largest districts in the state. 13% of the student population is free and/or reduced. We are the only school district in the state to have a 5/5 Star Financial Efficiency Rating for six consecutive years. Also, as an original IE2 school district, now called a Strategic Waivers School System, the district operates with increased flexibility to maximize student achievement. One of the many things that make FCS special is that even with our growth, we still maintain a small-town feel and form connections that go beyond the walls of our schools. As the nation’s 6th fastest growing county from 2010-20, Forsyth County’s growth and increasing diversity have had a positive impact on our schools. Highly motivated students come to our classrooms locally and from all over the world, representing 124 countries and 52 languages. Parental and community support in FCS is unmatched. All schools have active PTA/Os, Local School Councils (LSC), volunteer/mentor programs, and
CURRENT DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Georgia • Internationally Accredited STEM Schools • 9 National Blue-Ribbon Schools • 17 Governor’s Office of Student Achievement award winning schools • Advanced Placement Honor Roll District • Highest credit rating from Moody’s and S&P (1 of 17 in U.S.)
Metro-Atlanta and Large Districts • Highest SAT score • Highest ACT score • Highest CCRPI • Highest County Graduation Rate (96.4%) • Highest Financial Efficiency Rating (5/5 Stars)
Partners in Education and booster programs. The Forsyth County Education Foundation was created in 2015 to support innovative teaching and increased student achievement. They have awarded $355,000 in grants and impacted 75,976 students. As part of the 2018 Bond, voters approved the construction of The FoCAL Center, which opened December 2021. The two-story, 81,006 square-foot facility is designed to support the fine arts programming of the district’s schools, with secondary service to the local community through access to quality arts and cultural entertainment, and space for rehearsals/ performances, trainings, meetings, and other gatherings. We know that an exceptional public school district is a large factor in the high quality of life that we enjoy in CummingForsyth County, and the main reason why the county has grown since the late 1990s. Guiding this work is our strategic compass, the Learner Profile. Considered “the work” of our school district, it is displayed in every classroom in the district.
The Learner Profile lists the attributes we expect all students to possess by the time they graduate from one of our high schools. The district has a long history of strategic planning and is currently working on the 2022-27 plan in alignment with district accreditation. As superintendent, I often share with our school and district leaders: “We’re either getting better or getting worse. There is no such thing as status quo.” In FCS, we choose to get better. How do we get better? By working together. This year’s Progress letter shares our story of success and accomplishments as the result of our school district having phenomenal people-dedicated teachers and support staff, hardworking students, involved parents/guardians, and supportive community business partners. We are excited for the future in Forsyth County Schools! – Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden, Forsyth County Schools
FoCAL Center holds grand opening, performances By Sabrina Kerns
skerns@forsythnews.com
Forsyth County Schools welcomed community members, leaders and families into the new Forsyth County Arts and Learning Center for the first time in December 2021 for its grand opening. The two-day celebration started with a ticketed event as hundreds came out to FoCAL dressed in their best to take part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and see the first-ever performance on the center’s main stage. Before the ceremony, Emcee Tom Sullivan took the stage to welcome guests and tell them a little bit about the new building. With the main theater able to seat 1,813 guests and open black box theater being 2,408 square feet, Sullivan said the FoCAL Center is the largest facility of its kind in any school system in the state of Georgia, “and it’s right here in Forsyth.” The main theater includes 622 seats on the balcony level, a rising orchestra pit and two private viewing rooms located in the back of the main level. With a perfect view of the stage from any area in the theater, Sullivan called the building an “architectural feat.” “What a gift to the community,” Sullivan said. “Let’s just take this in.” After the welcoming, Sullivan introduced Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden to the stage. He took a moment to thank all the community members, FCS staff and leadership and local businesses who helped to make the FoCAL Center a reality. He introduced the FoCAL Center’s first two community sponsors who committed to top-level donor options for the next three years: The Mooney Group and Andean Chevrolet. As a “Bravo” level sponsor, the Mooney Group will have their name on one of the VIP rooms located at the back of the main theatre. Andean Chevrolet is the first “Crescendo Club” top donor for the FoCAL Center, and Bearden officially announced during the event that the main theater will be named the James and Dorothy Otwell Theatre presented by Andean Chevrolet.
Community members, leaders and families came in to see the Forsyth County Arts and Learning Center for the first time Friday, Dec. 3, and Saturday, Dec. 4, for its grand opening. Photos by Sabrina Kerns FCN
The Otwell family, owners of Andean, said the naming is in honor of their late grandparents who opened the business in Forsyth County in 1948. “The FoCAL Center is much more than just a building,” said Joseph Otwell, Andean’s executive manager. “This facility is designed to support the fine arts programming of the district’s schools and the local community through access to quality arts and cultural entertainment and space for rehearsals, performances, trainings, meetings and other gatherings.” “Our family is proud to be a part of this community and the FoCAL Center,” he continued. Brian Daniel, President and CEO of Carroll Daniel Construction Company, thanked his own team and the facilities team with FCS. As the general contractor for the building, he said the FoCAL Center has been a special project for them and the community. “At the risk of sounding like I’m bragging on my own children, it’s pretty spectacular, isn’t it?” he said. “We build facilities every day, but not like this one.” Bearden also thanked the FCS facilities team, FoCAL Advisory Council and Visioning Team who all had a huge
hand in bringing the FoCAL Center to life. He gave a special thanks to FoCAL Director Dawn Phipps who has worked to bring programming and events to the center for the school system and community to enjoy. Phipps thanked each of the Forsyth County Board of Education members for their help, presenting them with a framed print of the new building. Then, they officially kicked off the beginning of the FoCAL Center’s programming with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with community and school district leaders. Phipps cut the ribbon directly on the main stage, and the center immediately held its first performance. The musical performance by Georgia Stitt and friends Kate Baldwin and Terry Burrell had the audience on their feet, garnering a roaring applause. Stitt, who grew up in Atlanta, is a composer, lyricist, music producer and pianist, starting her career in New York City before composing several original musicals, including “Snow Child,” “Big Red Sun,” and “The Danger Year.” She also worked as a music director on several productions, including the upcoming film “13: The Musical” for Netflix. Kate Baldwin and Terry Burrell, both
singers and actresses, have taken to the Broadway stage in New York, starring in several roles. Baldwin is known for her role in “Hello Dolly!” and “Finian’s Rainbow,” for which she was nominated for a Tony award. Burrell is known for her roles in “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Three Penny Opera,” and “Into the Woods.” Coming back from the first performance, the entire community was invited out to the FoCAL Center for a free open house the next morning to continue the celebration. Hundreds of community members came out to explore the new FoCAL Center and watch as fine arts students from throughout the district performed or displayed their art in the brand-new facility. Through self-guided tours, families explored the main theater, black box theater, the featured lobby at the front of the building, the scene shop, catering kitchen, dressing rooms, green room, banquet and rehearsal halls and the balcony areas. Performances from school bands, choirs, orchestras and others were held throughout the day outside of the building and in each of the performing spaces — with FCS students serving as some of the first performers in the new space. “This is incredible,” said Jon Travis, a local parent. “It’s awesome to have something like this in the community, especially knowing my kids will be able to take part in it like this.” While many students in these programs had a chance to perform, others in visual arts programs throughout the county were able to display paintings, drawings and sculptures in a gallery located in the lobby. Several district leaders thanked the students and teachers in these programs and CTAE programs for helping the event come to life. Phipps said she is dedicated to putting students and the school district as a top priority for the new performing arts center while still involving the entire Forsyth County community. The FoCAL Center is located at 1150 Dahlonega Highway in Cumming directly behind the Forsyth County Board of Education building.
ForsythNews.com | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | 3D
Midweek Edition-March 30-31, 2022
Forsyth Central High opens Film Academy to out-of-district students
By Sabrina Kerns
skerns@forsythnews.com
Nicky Melendez didn’t know many students when she started her freshman year at Forsyth Central High School, which was one reason she joined the Central Film Academy. Through the program, she began to learn the basics of filming and editing, but also she met a group of students she now calls family. “That first year, we really got to bond and make a connection,” Melendez said. Now a sophomore, she and her peers have moved on to creating short films, shooting scenes on and off campus for their joint classes. Although the work can be stressful at times, Melendez said “it’s a good kind of stress making these movies with my friends.” Principal Dr. Josh Lowe said these types of invaluable connections are exactly why school leadership wanted to kickstart the program. He believes it is important that students at Central have somewhere on campus where they feel they belong. “We want to make sure our kids are connected and plugged into something at school that they’re passionate about,” Lowe said. Seeing the success of the program since it’s debut more than three years ago, school leadership decided to open the academy to out-of-district students in August, which allowed rising freshman to apply for the academy. The program was designed similarly to the school’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM, Academy and the Humanities Academy, both of which are also open to out-of-district students. Lowe and his team described each of these academies as a “school within a school.” In each, students work as a cohort through all four years of school in cross-curricular courses that focus on their passions and interests while still meeting English, math, science and other require-
Through the four-year Film Academy, students learn a variety of skills both in front of and behind the camera. - photo Sabrina Kerns FCN
ments. He and his team said these programs have a way of “making a large school feel small.” “It might be cliche …. but it’s really the truth of the point,” said Assistant Principal Jonathan Schreier. “The fact that they’re learning something is awesome to begin with. They’re learning this real-life skill, but at the same time, making sure that they’re connected to other students and they’re learning to collaborate with those students. That’s the real underlying point behind these academies.” Lowe said school leadership specifically created the Film Academy to help students form these connections while also preparing them for a career that is increasingly growing in demand in Georgia’s booming film industry. Program Coordinator Dan Grass said students learn all the skills, both in front of and behind the camera, that will help them prepare for a career in film. Even as secondyear students, they begin to use those skills and that bond they have with each other to create quality work. “They understand each other. They know each other. They’re friends with each other, so they work more effectively on productions and projects,” said Jason Hanline, who teaches A/V Tech and Film. Hanline and other Film Academy instructors, are trained by the Georgia Film Academy to ensure students are learning the skills needed going into the industry. The students in the program completed their first feature film last year, which they submitted to the Atlanta Film Festival. The 30-minute film was a collaborative effort between the Advanced Film and Advanced Acting classes, with students working two subjects to create one product.
The film was written, produced, shot, acted and edited entirely by students at Forsyth Central. “I just can’t tell you how proud I am,” Hanline said. Next, Hanline plans to ask students to create a 1.5- to 2-hour film over the course of a school year. While that is an ambitious assignment, Hanline wants the academy to create content “like a bonafide professional studio.” Grass and Hanline said the goal is to build a reputation for the program so Georgia universities choose Central students for film programs and for studios to reach out to the school when looking to hire. Many of the current students shared they have already started receiving opportunities from the experience. One of the unique aspects of the program that Grass and Hanline have noticed is that students in different grades interact and help each other on projects. For example, upperclassmen often invite freshmen or sophomore students to act in productions they are working on for class. “The CFA program is such a close-knit family,” Melendez said. “I’m always hanging out with juniors and the freshman class.” Hanline said with these relationships, a mentorship and leadership aspect of the program has formed, with upperclassmen teaching younger students what they have learned. As they continue to learn more and more, the program continues to grow each year. “Suddenly, my freshman class this year is starting to outpace what they’ve done the previous year and before that because they are getting the benefit of all this knowledge from the upperclassmen who are helping them out as well,” Hanline said. These relationships continue after high school, too. A junior in the program now, Ian Aponte said alumni of the school often reach out with opportunities for him to act in or help produce projects they are working on outside of school. He currently works as a film intern. “We get to learn [all of this] at such a young age, and it’s really cool,” Aponte said. Grass said the academy held its first film expo last year, and more than 200 people came to see the students’ work. He hopes to make the expos a community event where local families can come enjoy student-made films. “When the student films come out, I think people will be really impressed with what they are producing,” Grass said.
Lanier Tech program provides way to give students head start on college, career By Sabrina Kerns
skerns@forsythnews.com
Jackson Clayton plans to jumpstart his career before his 21st birthday, finishing half of the course credits needed for his two-year degree before graduating from high school. Most importantly, he said he’ll be able to do it without any student loan debt. Clayton said this is all thanks to the Dual Enrollment program at Lanier Technical College, which gives high school students the opportunity to take college courses for free while still in high school. “I’m very lucky to have gotten into the Dual Enrollment program,” Clayton said. Veronica Bowermaster, Lanier Tech’s
Dual Enrollment coordinator, said students can earn up to 30 college credits in general education classes through the program, 28 courses of which are guaranteed to transfer to an in-state university. This means students can get a head-start on college, no matter what route they choose to take. For Clayton, he took part in the program knowing he did not want to attend a fouryear college after high school. Instead, he continued taking classes at Lanier Tech following graduation to finish the workforce development pathway in welding he started working toward in high school. Bowermaster said Lanier Tech offers more than 40 workforce development pathways, including allied health, cosmetology and horticulture.
“[A four-year school] is not the only option,” Clayton said. “There are different paths to go on that are not as conventional, but they can be very viable.” While Clayton has his career path already planned out, Rebecca MaldonadoZuniga is still unsure of her future. But no matter what college she attends, she said she is grateful that the Dual Enrollment program at Lanier Tech has given her a head start. The senior at Denmark High School started the program last year, taking general education courses. She said she couldn’t believe that through the program, the cost of students’ first 30 credit hours was covered through the Georgia Student Finance Commission, even textbooks. “Not a lot of people know about this
program, which is crazy because it’s really helpful,” Maldonado-Zuniga said. Not only is she saving money through the program, but Maldonado-Zuniga said she also has much more free time to take part in extracurriculars and get involved in the community, which she hopes will help give her some ideas for potential careers. She joined the Explorers program this year with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. Through this program, she can receive training and learn more about the duties, responsibilities and techniques of deputies. Those interested in the program can find out more on Lanier Tech’s website, www. laniertech.edu, and keep an eye out for upcoming informational events to ask about the program in person.
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4D | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | ForsythNews.com
PROGRESS
2022
Midweek Edition-March 30-31, 2022
ARTS& COMMUNITY
Sawnee Artists Association awards local art students during inaugural exhibition By Sabrina Kerns
skerns@forsythnews.com
The Sawnee Association of the Arts held a celebration and awards ceremony at the Cumming Arts Center on Sunday, Jan. 30, for students taking part in its inaugural high school art exhibition. The local art association, SSA, worked with three high schools in the county — Denmark, West Forsyth and Forsyth Central — to put together the show, bringing in student artists from each school along with high school-age students enrolled in classes at the Cumming Arts Center. Through this partnership, the center was able to display a variety of student works throughout January which showcase the skills and techniques they are currently learning in their art classes. “Even in the midst of Covid, they’ve been working really hard, so it’s really nice for the students to be able to connect with the community and have a venue to show their work,” said Kimmy Wood, a participating art teacher at Denmark. “As we’re going along, even though it’s the middle of the [school] year, it’s nice to see it up.” The exhibition featured a variety of different works, including oil paintings, digital art, mixed media pieces and more. Closer to the ceremony Sunday, Jan. 30, members of the SSA judged the exhibition, pinning ribbons to the top three works in the collection. Isabella Spagnuolo, one of Wood’s students at Denmark, won first place for her drawing of a pair of hands grasping at fine jewelry. “It has a lot of different meanings …. The way they are grasping the jewelry is in a kind of delicate way,” Spagnuolo said. “It’s about being in a rich neighborhood or going to a school where
there are a lot of rich kids and not being able to really grasp the wealth or not being able to have what other kids have. It’s trying to grasp it, but not quite being able to.” Spagnuolo said she couldn’t believe she won first place for the exhibition, excited to take home the prize before finishing up high school and heading to the Savannah College of Art and Design where she plans to follow her passion. “I’m excited,” Spagnuolo said. “That’s where I really hoped to go.” West Forsyth student Camden Heidt won second place for her small, detailed drawing of a lion, and Cumming Arts Center student Clara Miller won third place for her mixed media piece of a chameleon. Miller and her sister are homeschooled and take classes with Kris Straukas at the Cumming Arts Center to learn more about art and how to work with different media and techniques. She said she decided just a few weeks before the exhibition to participate, and her family was skeptical at the time that she would be able to finish her idea for a detailed, colorful chameleon in time for the show. But after two weeks and more than 100 hours spent drawing and coloring in, Miller said she finished just in time with a piece she was proud of. “My wrist was very tired,” she said, laughing. The exhibit also featured posters designed by high school students for the Cumming Scare Fair. The designs were judged by staff of the city of Cumming and House of Four Scythes Haunted Attraction. Toward the end of the celebration Sunday, the SAA handed out certificates for the winners and participating students to congratulate and thank them for their hard work.
Photos by Sabrina Kerns Forsyth County News
Denmark High School senior Isabella Spagnuolo won first place at the high school exhibition for her drawing of a pair of hands gently grasping at fine jewelry.
Students participating in the Cumming Arts Center exhibit were awarded certificates during the ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 30.
Moving forward, Straukas said she hopes to expand the high school exhibition each year and give more students in the county the chance to participate and display their work in the community. This way, students can have more experience with showing pieces in a gallery, and they can learn more about opportunities to take art classes even outside of school. “The art teachers, especially Kimmy,
she is incredible, but they have so much that they have to cram into [a semester],” Straukas said. “So I had a lot of requests from high school-aged students wanting more in-depth study to really work on portfolio work to build up for [college] admissions.” For more information about SAA or classes available at the Cumming Arts Center, visit www.sawneeart.org.
Photos by Jeremy Coleman Forsyth County News
Sawnee Association of the Arts member Kay Money shows one of her pieces at Legends Distillery on Saturday, March 19.
Legends Distillery teams up with artists to showcase work
Art pieces from members of the Sawnee Association of the Arts can be seen at Legends Distillery in downtown Cumming. Each month, artists will be at the distillery for an “artists showcase,” where they can meet the community and talk about their work. Legends Distillery is at 210 Industrial Park Drive. To learn more about the distellery, visit www.spiritsusa.com. The Cumming Arts Center-Sawnee Association of the Arts is located at the Brannon-Heard House, 111 Pilgrim Mill Road, in downtown Cumming. Visit sawneeart.org for more information. — Tracie Pike
12 TRI COUNTY PLAZA CUMMING, GA 30040 TEL 678-456-8892 DO YOU FOLLOW US YET? @LOSRIOSMEXICAN Local artists showcase their pieces at Legends Distillery on Saturday, March 19.
ForsythNews.com | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | 5D
Midweek Edition-March 30-31, 2022
Holi Hai festival largest in the state
The 15th annual color festival Holi Hai, a Hindu spring festival that celebrates the coming of spring, was held Saturday, March 19, at the Cumming Fairgrounds. The event was canceled last year due to the pandemic. The family-friendly event is known for participants throwing rainbow-colored powder during live musical performances. This year’s event featured music by DJ Shaan, desi food, and dance and masti. Organizers estimate that more than 10,000 people attended the event, which is the second largest in the United States. More than 100 volunteers filled Horton Hall to make Indian food for patrons. — Tracie Pike
Photos by Jeremy Coleman Forsyth County News
County officials cut ribbon for Sawnee Mountain Park renovations From staff reports
said District 1 Commissioner Molly Cooper. Most amenities at the park closed for renovations on May 10 and are now open to the public. The project budget was $3.25 million and was made available from SPLOST VIII funds. The consultant for the project was Robertson Loia Roof, PC and the general contractor is Build Line, LLC. “Our parks are the hearts of our communities bringing people of different backgrounds, races, religions and cultures together,” said Chairman and District 2 Commissioner Alfred John. “Parks, such as Sawnee Mountain, are wonderful resources for us all to enjoy, but their impact on our communities clearly goes much deeper than that.”
Forsyth County officials hosted a ribboncutting ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 19, to dedicate facility improvements at Sawnee Mountain Park at 3995 Watson Rd. Improvements to the park include baseball/softball complex improvements, a new inclusive playground, refurbished tennis courts as well as updates to the concession stand and restrooms. The parking lot was also seal coated and restriped. A new pavilion, also a part of the renovation project, is expected to be installed at a later date. “This is a growing area here in west Forsyth, so providing an update to this already great park made perfect sense to give even more recreation opportunities,”
Photo courtesy Forsyth County government
Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 19, to dedicate facility improvements at Sawnee Mountain Park at 3995 Watson Rd.
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PROGRESS
2022
Midweek Edition-March 30-31, 2022
H E A LT H &SAFETY
Safety a priority at Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is third largest full-service Sheriff’s Office in Georgia. While Forsyth now has the eighth largest population of Georgia’s 159 counties, we also have one of the lowest crime rates in the State and the lowest overall in the metro Atlanta region. Unlike other similar sized counties, FCSO covers all of Forsyth’s nearly 260,000 residents with the city of Cumming having only around 6,000 residents. FCSO’s employees serve daily throughout the county. From Patrol, Court Services, Traffic Enforcement, Jail management, School Resource Deputies, our Training, Motor, Marine Patrol, Drone units, Disaster Response, S.W.A.T., Crisis Incident Response (mental health crisis team), Negotiations, Community Policing to business administration, FCSO does it all. I am often asked about increasing crime with the growth of our county. National news has highlighted major crime increases in America’s largest cities, but not here in Forsyth. Our crime rates are lower in 2021 than they were five or even 10 years ago when Forsyth was much smaller than today. While much of the credit goes to FCSO, we could not even begin to be as effective as we are without the coopera-
tion and trust of our community. Together Forsyth has epitomized a statement I often use, “Crime will rise to the level a community will tolerate it” Fortunately, Forsyth has Freeman a very low tolerance for Crime. Our judicial system works well together and holds serious offenders found guilty accountable for their actions. Recent statistics show that nearly 50% of Forsyth’s serious crime was committed by offenders from the broader metro-Atlanta region. Often, it is FCSO and the Forsyth Judicial System left to deal with repeat offender and career criminals on their sixth, seventh or eighth chance. That must change, and we are working with our legislators to address repeat offenders in other jurisdictions. Our Jail Dog Pups with Purpose program hit warp speed this year as inmates under the direction of deputies began training therapy dogs to work across the state. Our pups are in District Attorneys’ Offices working with child victims, local schools, senior centers, hospitals and even 911 and FCSO. This program is changing lives across the board and is
my favorite program at FCSO. Our School Resource Officer program is now at 45 deputies strong and growing as our school system grows. These deputies are changing lives and keeping schools safe including intervening in two significant school threats of mass violence last year. Our school partners and FCSO responded immediately to these threats to ensure our kids remain safe. Our Crisis Response Team (mental health crisis) has paved the way statewide for the building of co-responder teams across Georgia. We recently presented to the Georgia Legislature who were considering a new law about co-responder teams, FCSO was asked to educate the lawmakers on best practices. With a recent grant award, FCSO will be expanding to three Crisis Response Teams. Couple this with our Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program in the Jail which gives non-violent inmates with serious substance abuse problems a first real chance to break the chains of addiction and we are saving lives right here in Forsyth. I would be remiss if I did not take the opportunity to thank Forsyth County for allowing me to serve as your Sheriff. It is an honor I will never take lightly. The men and women of the FCSO work selflessly every day to keep Forsyth
County safe and the response from our citizens shows the we are successful in building our partnerships and trust. We are not perfect, deputies are human and make mistakes like anyone else, but we must work everyday to meet the motto we internally hold as the “Forsyth County Way,” Service before Self. That motto mean to us that: -Integrity Counts; -Service Matters; -Excellence is our goal; -We are here to serve our community; -We approach crime proactively; -We treat people, consistently, fairly; -We are innovative in our service. We remain relentless in our pursuit of criminals who endanger Forsyth yet are keenly aware of the importance of being strong community partners and addressing minor quality of life issues to keep Forsyth County the place to live, work, and raise a family. Please call on me if I can ever be of assistance. Find out more about the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office at www.forsythsheriff.org. -Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman
Cumming Police Department continues to advance In 2021 the City of Cumming Police Department focused a lot of resources on updating equipment to help increase patrol functions. For example, we added in vehicle camera systems for almost every single patrol vehicle as well as added enough body cameras for every officer. We also added a used, but very good condition, police motorcycle to our fleet to help with traffic and pedestrian safety in, and around, the city square. The police department will focus a lot
of attention on training and adding personnel in 2022. In 2021 our patrol officers answered over seven thousand 911 calls for service and added another twelve Marsh thousand self-initiated calls which include traffic stops, suspicious vehicles, neighborhood and business checks. The city has approved several major
housing developments which will add to our increasing number of residents and visitors and our goal will be to continue to provide well rounded, capable, and competent police officers to respond to the ever increasing number of calls for service. Our criminal investigation division will also receive more staff to keep up with the criminal complaints that require further investigation outside the normal realm of responsibility for patrol officers.
I am excited about the growth of the city and for the addition of the city center which will become a destination point for visitors in the north metro Atlanta area. Our focus on training and staff this year will help us provide the best service to our community no matter how serious or minor the issue may seem. -David Marsh, Cumming Police Department police chief
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Fire department members and their families gathered for the annual awards and promotions ceremony late last year. Various life-saved and unit citation awards were earned and 34 personnel were promoted battalion chief, captain, lieutenant, or fire apparatus operator. Also, a career firefighter and two volunteer firefighter retirements were recognized. This year, the Forysth County Fire Department celebrates 50 years.
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Midweek Edition-March 30-31, 2022
H E A LT H &SAFETY
PROGRESS
2022
Northside Hospital Forsyth adds two more floors, more beds Beginning Jan. 10, Northside Hospital Forsyth has opened two new floors atop the hospital’s main patient tower. The new floors (floors 9 and 10) add 43 more beds to support the hospital’s medical/surgical and women’s services. Northside also has filed a Certificate of Need application with the state that proposes adding 26 more medical/surgical beds through the conversion of existing observation beds. If approved, the combined projects would bring the hospital’s inpatient beds to 389. According to ForwardForsyth.org, Forsyth County has been among the top 10 fastest growing communities in the nation since 2010. Skip Putnam, CEO of Northside Hospital Forsyth, said that the hospital’s growth is a direct response to what the county is seeing and to the state’s indication that additional beds are needed to help Northside Forsyth meet patient demand by 2026. Northside Forsyth’s growth is nothing new. In the 20 years since Northside Hospital purchased the then 41-bed Cumming hospital, the hospital and its campus have experienced near-continuous construction. “Our patients will always come first in everything we do,” said Putnam. “Growth of our facilities allows us to offer more quality medical care to the region and improve outcomes and efficiencies.” In addition to expanding facilities, Northside has opened more outpatient services and physician practices in Cumming, Johns Creek, Dawsonville, Alpharetta, Gainesville and surrounding communities to better serve patients closer to home. With the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual visits are available with many of Northside’s providers. But while growth of facilities and services provides greater patient access to quality medical care and improves patient outcomes, it is Northside’s people and their passion for health care that are at the root of Northside’s success. Northside Hospital Forsyth is the largest private sector employer in Forsyth County, with more than 3,500 employ-
Northside Hospital Forsyth opened two new floors atop the hospital’s main patient tower in January. The new floors add 43 more beds to support the hospital’s medical/surgical and women’s services.
ees. “Throughout the pandemic, our employees and physicians have fought through unforeseen challenges — and have stayed committed to putting
patients first,” said Putnam. “It has been nothing short of astonishing.” The hospital’s reputation of providing clinical excellence has been recognized by others in the health care industry.
In 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recognized Northside Hospital Forsyth with five stars in its annual Hospital Quality Star Ratings — one of just six in Georgia to receive the recognition. The hospital was recognized by Healthgrades in 2022 with the Surgical Care Excellence Award and as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals™ for joint replacement. In addition, Northside Forsyth has received quality achievement awards for heart failure and stroke care from the American Heart Association, and have earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval in multiple specialties, including joint replacement and heart failure. Northside’s commitment to wellness also extends to this area’s stellar servant leaders. Northside continues to build strong community partnerships with many nonprofit organizations, including The Place of Forsyth County, Elachee Nature Science Center, Literacy Forsyth, United Way of Forsyth County, Forsyth County Schools and many others. The Northside Hospital health care system is one of Georgia’s leading health care providers with five acutecare hospitals in Atlanta, Canton, Cumming, Duluth and Lawrenceville and more than 250 outpatient locations across the state. Northside Hospital leads the U.S. in newborn deliveries and is among the state’s top providers of cancer care, sports medicine, cardiovascular and surgical services.
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