October 2015

OCTOBER 2015

MEET TOM BURGESS

OWNER, CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AUTOMOVITVE PAGE 17

HAS REALITY TELEVISION CHANGED REALITY? PAGE 26

KEEPING IT FRESH

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bar & grill PAGE 16

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CONTENTS MY FORSYTH

IssueOctober II Summer, 20152015

FEATURES

IN THIS ISSUE

17 | Meet Tim Burgess Owner, Christian Brothers Automotive 18 | Scoop OTP: A look Outside The Perimeter 22 | Become a Connection Monster!

36 | Creating Something Out of Nothing

LIFESTYLE

16 | Fall Planting Season 25 | HOME: More than a four letter word 41 | Purple Purpose Luncheon

FORSYTH YOUTH FOODIE 20 | Review: Pizzeria Azzurri

HEALTH & WELLNESS

30 | Family History and Genetic Testing: Worth the Worry?

32 | Reduce Your Risk for Breast Cancer 34 | Has Reality Television Changed Reality?

EDUCATION The Fresh ‘n’ Fit Lifestyle Page 9

37 | Academic Warning Signs to Note Early in the School Year

FAITH

40 | From the Inside Out

IN EVERY ISSUE 12 | 13 | 16 | 43 |

Forsyth County Government News New Around Forsyth Movie Review: Fever Pitch The Country Preacher

PURPLE PASSION LUNCHEON

Palapas Bar & Grill Great Food under “the Hut” or On the Go Page 26

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October 2015

Making memories that last a lifetime!

Our mission is to help children reach their potential through mentoring relationships with responsible adults.

Join us!

CONTRIBUTORS

PUBLISHER Market Complete LLC julie@marketcomplete.com 678.614.8583

CONTENTS

www.mentormenorthga.org 678-341-8028

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LouAnn Brownlee louann.myforsyth@gmail.com 404.242.6033 STAFF WRITER Katielee Kaner katielee.myforsyth@gmail.com Tanna Krewson MyForsyth Website 678.630.1203 Tanna.krewson@gmail.com PRODUCTION INTERN Wendy Corona info@myforsyth.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Laurie Hunter Channing Parham lhunter50@gmail.com doingitdivine.com PHOTOGRAPHY Adam Pendelton 678.208.077 adampendelton.com Kim Bates 770.617.7595 kimbatesphotoart.com PRINTING Rick Smith 678.910.0347 rsmith@newpointmediagroup.com

Help make a difference in a child’s life No Special skills or experience needed...

Donate or Volunteer!

MAILING SERVICES Chris Cawthon 404.379.6878 chris@mediamakergroup.com

The mission of My Forsyth magazine, a publication of Market Complete LLC, is to provide readers with a monthly publication with stories and information about their communities and its people. Each month, 22,000 copies of your community magazine are distributed via direct mail and throughout local businesses as part of our rack distribution.

We welcome your comments, stories and advertisements.

Subscriptions are available for $25 per year. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists, and submissions are not necessarily those of the MarketComplete LLC. The Publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. My Forsyth is not responsible for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without written permission from the Publisher. All rights reserved. ©Copyright 2015 My Forsyth • www.myforsyth.com 5485 Bethelview Road, Suite 360-135 Cumming GA 30040 (p) 678.614.8583 | (f) 770.888.1511

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October 2015

Publisher’s Letter where we had the chance to drink crisp, glacial water, to looking out over the great blue ocean in search of families of whales, the experience served as a reminder of how vast and beautiful the world is—and how small we, in turn, are in comparison.

SURPRISE...

Earlier this fall, my sister, Leslie, surprised me with a beautiful gift—a cruise to Alaska. Actually, it’s probably best described as two surprises since I’ve never been on a cruise (I’m more of a sailboat gal) or, for that matter, been to Alaska. To say that I adored every bit of the trip doesn’t even begin to define the joy and peacefulness I experienced. The spectacular views, remarkable locations, and outstanding service were just three of the trip’s highlights.

Back on board, as our trip wound down, I placed Leslie’s and my name in a bucket where selected individuals would be randomly paired with a professional dancer as part of the “Dancing like a Norwegian” competition. When I heard my name being called, I couldn’t help but think, “Why not?” So, I listened to my assigned partner and danced—or rather, moved to the rocking of the ship—and while I may not have been the most polished performer, the best part about the evening was that we actually won!

It was on that night that I realized, life presents opportunities to each of us for the taking, but choosing wisely and making the decision to seize the moment is truly up to us. I am often reminded of a quote by anthropologist Ashley Montagu who stated, “The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.”

What will you seize today? Whatever it is, like my cruise, I hope that it takes you by blissful surprise.

Leslie, an avid cruiser, once remarked that I was taking advantage of every opportunity that presented itself— from rock climbing to signing up to have dinner with the captain of the Norwegian Pearl (our home for the week).

While clearly full of fun adventures, I guess you could say that this trip served as a reminder that life is full of opportunities and despite the trials we often face, it’s still within our power to choose how we handle the things that come our way.

From the moment we stepped on board, we saw smiling faces and people eager to make our experience the most memorable time of our lives. Everything was taken care of and if I needed something, like my daily dose of carrot sticks, it was handled. In fact, the customer service was so unparalleled that I began to wonder what made the ship’s employees so willing to take care of each passenger as if they were the only individual on board. In my mind, it all seemed to boil down to passion and taking pride in one’s work.

In years past, I remember watching The Love Boat (1977-1987) on TV. Dinner with the captain had always appealed to me, so I decided to put Leslie and I on the list for a chance to have dinner with our captain. Amazingly, we were chosen and dinner was lovely because our captain was a most charming host. Two days later, we were also treated to a private tour of the bridge and the captain’s quarters. It was fascinating.

While shopping tends to be a pretty common activity during most cruise ship stops, every port of call had something additional to offer—people and places, food and fun; a host of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities just there for the taking. From a helicopter ride to a glacier, 8 www.myforsyth.com

Julie Brennan

Publisher | julie@marketcomplete.com

Lifestyle

THE FRESH ‘n’ FIT We have all suffered from the consequence of health issues, whether they affect us directly or impair the lives of our loved ones. We’re tired of scrounging for the next magic pill or storming every pharmacy in search of the miracle drug.

What if I told you that you could extend your life by changing one simple habit? The secret is this: healthy eating habits. With today’s endless selection of fast food restaurants and constant schedules, eating healthy seems almost impossible. We don’t have time for games… so what really works?

Fresh ‘n Fit Cuisine™ has been creating healthy, chef-prepared gourmet meals for customers across the Southeast since 2003. Their menus are developed by an executive chef and professional culinary team. Every meal is nutritionally balanced by their registered dietitian in a USDA-inspected kitchen located in Cumming, Georgia. Their goal?

To provide a fresh, local and convenient option for customers without the hassle of planning cooked meals. What’s great about these guys is that they purchase their food from local vendors, ensuring freshness for their customers while boosting the local economy. What’s not to love?

I recently spoke with the CEO, Elston Collins, in pursuit of answers. What’s the value in this product? What sets Fresh ‘n Fit Cuisine apart from other weight loss and health starter plans? His answer was simple: “Choose local, choose fresh; choose Fresh ‘n Fit Cuisine. It’s going to be better

Fresh ‘n Fit Cuisine™ has been creating healthy, chef-prepared gourmet meals for customers across the Southeast since 2003.

www.myforsyth.com 9

and healthier. Not frozen, not dehydrated.

You heat it up for a minute in the microwave and it’s ready to go. The meals are extremely affordable. Price breakdown begins at $7.50 per meal, which is equivalent to the price of any fast food meal. And every meal is balanced by a licensed dietician.”

It seems that Fresh ‘n Fit is a winner in terms of health, convenience and price, but don’t just take our word for it.

Meet Tena, a customer who is six weeks into the program. When asked what attracted her to Fresh ‘n Fit program, this was her excited response: “I was online trying to pull up 1200 calorie meals and the name Fresh ‘n Fit came up. I had never heard of them, and then I saw what they were about and how the meals were. I sent them a message saying I wish I could afford you all. They responded back to me almost immediately, which was cool. They worked with me by establishing a payment plan and no contract. You can leave the program and come back to it, if you need to. I like the fact that the food is fresh since I pick up meals twice a week. I love the fact that it gives me lunch and dinner every day.

The absolute best thing to me is, no matter what, the customer service is off the hook. I sent them a message on Facebook with any questions I had and got an immediate response. I work with one person, Phyllis. She has an awesome spirit and she is always trying to help me and figure out the product. She knows me by name. She didn’t try to sell me and she was actually trying to help me. You can tell they have my best interest at heart, and if it doesn’t work for me then it doesn’t work for me, and they’re okay with that.

They work with my budget and what I can afford. I’ve lost like 11 lbs in six weeks. The weight is coming off slow like it’s supposed to. They’re teaching me a lot about the food I eat and the portions I need. I’m on week seven of a six month plan (trial run) to give myself an idea of proper portions and to get used to them. I want to learn: how am I supposed to feel after a meal? My goal is to lose 100lbs in one year.

The biggest thing is when they work with me, they help me with my budget. That was just, wow.

I had never heard of any other program doing that. They told me, “You can customize the given plans... We can do this for you for this amount”. It was really helpful. It’s the customer service part that is most important to me. Even if my budget gets tight and I have to let go, they would welcome me back. They’re going to do well and I hope they continue to do well. They understood that I had a food addiction and they were there to assist me. The best thing is knowing that if I need them I will get a response.”

There are many other stories from customers who have found Fresh ‘n Fit Cuisine™ and are enjoying the benefits it offers.

For more information about Fresh ‘n Fit Cuisine™ programs and menus contact 678-208-0341 visit freshnfitcuisine.com, or follow them on Facebook.

Allie Costley is an active marketing student and aspiring business professional at the University of North Georgia. She is a lover of coffee, traveling and sweet potato soufflé. Visit her blog sincereserenity.com for a dose of encouragement and feel free to contact her via allieecostley@gmail.com.

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110 E. MAIN STREET, SUITE 210 TV FORSYTH – COMCAST CHANNEL 23 | FORSYTHCO.COM

Government News

Forsyth County Park Spotlight: Sawnee Mountain Preserve Forsyth County has hundreds of acres of parks for you to explore. For example, Sawnee Mountain Preserve is a perfect place to get outdoors and enjoy the natural setting Forsyth County has to offer.

Not only does Sawnee Mountain Preserve offer several miles of hiking trails, but unique recreational and educational opportunities are available as well.

From rock climbing and rappelling to birding and botany, Sawnee Mountain Preserve offers a variety of fun ways to get active.

Sawnee Mountain Preserve trails and parking areas are open 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. March through October, and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. November through February.

Keep Forsyth County Beautiful Launches Litter Control Hotline

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) has announced thaKeep Forsyth County Beautiful (KFCB) invites citizens to utilize the new Forsyth County Hotline by dialing 1-866-5-LITTER to report any litter concerns within the community.

The Forsyth County Litter Control Hotline provides citizens a centralized number to call to report to KFCB littering in progress or to report any areas for which they have litter concerns. During KFCB’s business hours, the hotline will be answered by a live person whenever possible. Otherwise, callers can leave a message on the line, detailing their litter concerns. Those interested

12 www.myforsyth.com

in receiving a response should be sure to include their telephone number in their message.

For more information on the Forsyth County Litter Control Hotline and other programs offered

by Keep Forsyth County Beautiful, visit www.

KeepForsythCountyBeautiful.org.

Trunk or Treat Safety Event is October 24 Bring the whole family and have fun while learning how to stay safe this Halloween during the sixth annual Trunk or Treat Safety Event. The family-friendly event will be held at the Cumming Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 24, from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission is one familysized bag of candy per family.

Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to Trunk or Treat, which will feature bean bag toss, face painting and other fun activities and games. There will also be information on costume safety, pedestrian safety, stranger danger, stop-droproll demonstrations, and more.

Previously held in the northern portion of the county, the event will be held this year at the Cumming Fairgrounds in downtown Cumming.

“The Cumming Fairgrounds provides a more centralized location for this event,” said Division Chief Jason Shivers. “The space available at the Fairgrounds also enables us to continue to grow the event year after year.”

The Cumming Fairgrounds is located at 235 Castleberry Road in Cumming. For more information about Trunk or Treat, contact Fire Prevention Officer Rebecah Green at 770-205-4688.

News Around Forsyth Girl Scout Cadet Earns Silver Award Lauren Webb, of Troop 14254, earned the highest award for a Cadet Girl Scout. While on 8th grade at South Forsyth Middle School, Lauren researched ways to help local foster children have equipment for sports activities. Lauren, an avid soccer and basketball athlete, saw the need for these children to have proper equipment to practice and participate in sports as well as stay in shape. Working with the Foster Care Support Foundation in Roswell, Lauren identified the children’s needs and then began to educate her fellow Girl Scouts, church youth group and fellow teammates, raising awareness and setting up collection times and dates for several sports equipment drives for donations with each group. She met with younger Girl Scouts and assisted them in working towards fitness badges while they, in turn, brought equipment donations for her project.

Overall, Lauren collected 176 items, delivering them to the Foster Care Support Foundation last July and working with their volunteers to organize and shelve the items.

Donations for new and gently used sports equipment and play toys can be delivered to the Foster Care Support Foundation located at 115 Mansell Place in Roswell.

pantry, The Market, we realize the importance of adding fresh foods when possible and just how many families struggle to find extra food,” added Carroll.

This Thanksgiving those families will receive a traditional Thanksgiving box but also The Place is requesting the communities support to ensure that fresh vegetables and either a ham or turkey is part of the Thanksgiving meal. If you are willing to donate food, host a food drive or purchase a ham or turkey or would like to make a donation towards the fresh food items, please contact The Place of Forsyth, 770-887-1098 or email ashley@theplaceofforsyth.org.

Registration continues through November 13th.

Families need to present proof of Forsyth County residency and their income.

Optimists Support Foster Families The Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club contributed $1,500 to the Forsyth County Community Connection to support the organization’s Foster Family Initiative. The goal of the initiative is to increase the number of foster homes and helps ensure the placement of children in Forsyth County and to provide continuing support for foster families.

“Three years ago when the Forsyth County Community Connection started this initiative, we had only three foster homes in the county,” explained Marcie Kreager, board chair of the Community Connection.

“Through the efforts of the Community Connection and many others supporting this vital need, we now have 37 foster homes. But we still have almost 40 children who need families, so our goal is 80 foster homes. We are grateful for the donation from the Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club and we appreciate their support in helping us reach our goal,” she said.

Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club president Randy O’Dell commented, “The motto of the Optimist Club is Bringing Out the Best in Kids. The Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club is proud to contribute to the Foster Family Initiative of the Forsyth County Community Connection.

We have a mutual regard for the well being of children, and we are proud to support an organization that is so important to our community.”

For information about Optimists, contact Randy O’Dell at 404-791-2189, or randy@lendnow.com.

The Place of Forsyth Sign-up for Thanksgiving Meals Each year needy families do not have the traditional Thanksgiving meal that most of America enjoys. For years, The Place of Forsyth County has been trying to remedy that situation. This year is no exception. In 2014, The Place distributed Thanksgiving food boxes to 125 families in Forsyth County.

“This Thanksgiving we know it will be closer to 200 families, “stated Food Program Coordinator, Ashley Carroll. “With the creation of our client choice food www.myforsyth.com 13

K NO W Y OU R SHERIFF’S

OFFI C E

Duane K. Piper, Sheriff

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office utilizes many different programs and forms of enforcement to reduce the use of alcohol among Forsyth County’s youth.

Preventing alcohol use among teens is a priority for Sheriff Duane K. Piper and all of the deputies at the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

After being elected, Sheriff Piper more than doubled the amount of School Resource Officers that are provided to Forsyth County Schools. These deputies not only provide security for the schools, but teach classes to the students. These include alcohol prevention classes. In the past few years, this unit has gone from a handful of deputies to a deputy in every single high school and middle school in Forsyth County with three roaming supervisors.

Sheriff Piper also went to great efforts to bring the C.H.A.M.P.S. program to Forsyth County Schools.

Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety (C.H.A.M.P.S.) is a Sheriff’s Office program for 5th graders that lasts 12 weeks. The C.H.A.M.P.S. instructors are deputies that teach different topics to their students each week including alcohol awareness, internet safety, bullying, hunting and firearm safety, peer pressure, drug use prevention and more. Another new program, the Teen Interception Program (TIP) works with teens who are beginning to make poor decisions.

These teens may be at risk for alcohol or drug abuse.

The TIP program meets weekly for 7 weeks to educate and provide resources to these teens and their families.

The goal of the program is to redirect the teens towards better lifestyle choices and decisions.

The Sheriff’s Office has also partnered with Forsyth County Schools in other ways. Working with school board staff, the Sheriff’s Office produced ads to be shown in a local movie theater encouraging teens to avoid underage drinking. Billboards encouraging parents and their teenage children to have discussions about underage alcohol use have been displayed throughout Forsyth County.

Among education, the Sheriff’s Office has also been ensuring that Forsyth County alcohol servers and sellers are complying with underage alcohol sale laws. Deputies have conducted frequent undercover operations in restaurants, bars, gas stations, and grocery stores.

After three years of making these compliance checks a priority, deputies are starting to see a decrease in the amount of underage sale violations.

The Sheriff’s Office is striving to not only enforce laws in relation to underage alcohol use, but educate Forsyth County’s youth and their parents.

Stay informed! Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ForsythCountySO 14 www.myforsyth.com

Expires 11/30/15

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Attention Toyota & Lexus Owners Expires 11/30/15

5960 Bethelview Road | Cumming GA 30040 | https://locations.cbac.com/cumming/

Taking It Up a Notch for

“The coaches help me on the field and in the game of life.”

- Mitchell Ojeda, Pinecrest Senior

700 Volunteers 100,000 Meals

Join us for Open House, Sunday, November 8, 1-3 PM 955 Peachtree Pkwy. | Cumming, GA 770) 888 4477 | pinecrestacademy.org

www.myforsyth.com 15

PREMIUM AUTO CARE

Meet Tom Burgess Owner, Christian Brothers Automotive

Put our Service to the Test “We have diagnosed your car – it will be $155 to put it back together as it was, or $350 to make the repair,” said the service manager. “But I never authorized you to take it apart!” I said with astonishment.

H

ave you ever felt taken advantage of when you’ve had work done on your car? I know I have. I moved nine times during my 23 years in the United States Air Force, and with each move I had to find a trustworthy shop to perform the work I couldn’t do on my own. I know a fair bit about cars, so it really bothered me when a shop overcharged or surprised me with the final bill.

So over and over again I would be forced to find that honest shop that would treat my money as if it were their own. Once I found it I was a loyal customer, because I knew I could trust them. I retired from the Military due to the frequent deployments, as it was just so hard to be away from my family. I then went to work for a large Defense contractor, and found myself going to Saudi Arabia and other locations as frequently as when I was still on Active Duty!

So I started searching for a business that would keep me home at night and allow my children to grow up in the same house until they leave for college.

Christian Brothers Automotive appeared to be the perfect answer.

It would keep me working around cars which is my passion, and they are a faith-based organization that prides itself on honesty and integrity. They strive to provide a customer experience that keeps consumers coming back for life, not selling them all they can during one visit. I loved what they stood for, but until I actually spent a week working at a Christian Brothers shop I was wondering if they actually practice what they preach. During that week I was thrilled to find an atmosphere that celebrates when a service manager finds a part for less, or is able to purchase one subcomponent vs. an entire assembly. Saving the customer money and surprising them with a final bill that is less than the quoted amount was everyone’s goal.

I am now proud to own and operate here in Cumming GA the very type of shop I had to find each time I moved during my time in the military. We won’t ever advise you to replace a part or

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AT A GLANCE Christian Brothers Automotive was founded in 1982 because there was a clear void in the auto repair industry. Customer service and honest, genuine auto repair service was tough to find. We’re proving that when the need arises, you can have both. We haven’t changed our focus in over thirty years. We still have some of the original employees on board, and we believe that it’s possible to provide the best auto repair service with an unparalleled customer service experience.

Our mission is simple – Love your neighbor as yourself.

We care about every customer and every car that comes to our shops. From the complimentary Courtesy Inspections to the Courtesy Shuttle, we’re in it to make your auto repair easy for you. You’ll see that Christian Brothers stands behind every service, every time. It’s these “Nice differences” that bring our customers back time and time again.

FREE SHUTTLE

“We Love Classics” perform a service that we wouldn’t recommend to our own family. My service manager does not work on commissions, so he does not have the incentive to find ways to increase the bill to make more money.

That’s very unusual in the auto repair industry, and makes a big difference in how the customer is treated. If a part on your car is beginning to fail but is still functional, we will take you out into the bays and show you the issue, let you knows the pro’s and con’s of replacing it now or waiting until later, make a recommendation, and let you make the decision. You are always advised of the cost of any repair before we begin work, and you will never be surprised when you check out – unless we have found a way to save you money! We compare many different suppliers to find the absolute best price on a part, and we guarantee our work for two years or 24 thousand miles! That means if you drive 24 thousand miles in the first year we extend the warrantee to two years regardless of the miles. We compare many different suppliers to find the absolute best price on a part, and we guarantee all our parts and labor for two years or 24 thousand miles, whichever benefits you the most! That means if you drive 24 thousand miles in the first year we extend the warrantee to two years regardless of the miles. Or if you seldom drive the vehicle we will extend the warrantee to 24 thousand miles regardless of how many years it takes to get there!

There is a reason Christian Brothers Automotive has the highest customer satisfaction rating in the automobile service industry. The CEO founded the company 33 years ago with one simple idea in mind: provide customers with honest and trustworthy auto repair services. From one location in 1982 to 146 in 2015, Christian Brothers Automotive is gearing up to reach the 200-store milestone by 2017. When you visit my shop, you will find a clean and comfortable waiting area, Free Wi-Fi, a spotless bathroom, clean repair bays, and we also have a shuttle car to take you home or anywhere in the local area. I have ASE Master Certified technicians, a Service Manager with 25 years in the automotive industry, the latest factory diagnostic equipment, and we work on all makes and models of cars. We can handle any issue, from an oil change to an engine change. Even if your car is under warrantee, we can perform most all routine maintenance for less than the dealerships.

470.253.7376 https://locations.cbac.com/cumming

Expert & Certified Technicians

State-of-the-Art Service Bays

Beautiful & Comfortable Waiting Area

Come see us, and let us show you what we mean by our motto “Nice Difference” www.myforsyth.com 17

by Suzanne Taylor & Michelle Knapp

Corn Maze OTP

Getting lost in a corn maze is great Forced Family Fun and a perfectly safe night out for kids to have some wholesome fun.

U

ncle Shuck’s Corn Maze

One maze you can visit is Uncle Shuck’s corn maze and pumpkin patch in Dawsonville, just north of Forsyth County. On October weekends at dusk, you can challenge the Haunted Maze if you dare (all kids under 12 must be accompanied by their parent).

They also offer a relaxing nighttime hayride through the farm where you can enjoy the beauty of the country night sky. The hayride ends at a cozy bonfire where you can roast marshmallows and sink into the calming crackle of true farm-style relaxation. The Maze is open until November 22 and is located at 4520 Highway 53E. | www.uncleshucks. com.

B

uck’s Corn Maze

Dawsonvile is also home to Bucks Corn Maze, a 12-acre maze planted in a 20- acre field next to Cochran Creek with a beautiful view of the Appalachian Mountains. They are open weekends in October and November and the maze is located at 1923 New Hope Road | www. buckscornmaze.com.

B

uford Corn Maze

For the sixth straight year, families can enjoy time together walking around their five-acre corn maze. This special agri-tourism spot is perfect fun for all ages! Buford Corn Maze isn’t quite complete unless you take a hayride! Circle the maze and through the woods and experience the ride filled with hay and fun.

Have you heard of a corn box?

Children will have a blast sitting in fresh, clean, shelled corn, running their arms and legs through it, like a sand box, but without the mess! Various acts perform on Friday and Saturday nights, plus Karaoke night takes place each Friday night from 6pm until 8pm. So grab a pumpkin, snap a picture, and a make a great memory. They are open in October and only weekends in November. The last day is November 15th and is located at 4470 Bennett Road.

C

agle’s Family Farm

This 10-acre corn maze tradition in Cherokee County has been around for 15 years. The most direct route through the MAZE can be walked in about 45 minutes, but most wandering MAZEgoers will require about an hour to poke along the more than 3 miles of paths.

Enjoy a farm tour, the MAZE, play on the jumpee pillow, enjoy some finger-lickin’ good farm food and gather ’round a bonfire with friends! Their corn maze at 355 Stringer Road benefits the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, so it’s a maze with a purpose! | www.caglesfamilyfarm.com

Enjoy the beautiful autumn weather and the thrill of getting lost in these crazy corn mazes!

Visit ScoopOTP.com for more ideas.

18 www.myforsyth.com

Fever Pitch

by Lacey Verrill

A classic love triangle story… a man making a decision between the two people he loves. One is a beautiful woman, and the other, The Boston Red Sox. The movie “Fever Pitch” was released in 2007 and stars Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore. This movie is one of my favorites for many reasons. The first one is this movie is so hilarious and sweet I could not stop smiling.

Another reason is the chemistry between Jimmy Fallon’s character and Drew Barrymore’s. By the performance in this movie, you can tell they are good friends off screen.

“Fever Pitch” is such a good movie and such a home-run!

RATING: 10 out of 10

Lacey Verrill is a student at Forsyth Central High School. The 16 year old sophomore loves movies and sharing her reviews with family, friends and our readers.

Fall Planting Season Autumn provides gardeners with various options to choose from when looking for ways to maintain a colorful garden. Violas are some of my favorite flowers for fall.

They have lots of blooms and provide long-lasting color.

They bloom at cooler temperatures than pansies.

Violas are typically six to eight inches tall and can have as many as twenty blooms at a time. Most pansies will have three to seven. You can choose from blue, purple, pink, red, white, or orange violas. When planting fall containers, mixing pansies and violas will provide you with a beautiful array of color and size-a stunning combination of height and hues.

Kales and cabbages are also popular during the fall.

My favorite is red bore kale; a fountain-shaped kale that is purple in color. It withstands the cold temperatures throughout the winter, affording gardeners color all season long. It is also a temperature sensitive plant, and in a good way. The colder it gets the more color the kale will

have. Rebor kale typically grows 16 to 24 inches tall. It is great for pots and containers because the shape allows for planting underneath it. And as an added feature, this vigorous and cold hardy edible landscape plant is both beautiful and tasty. Mild and crisp, this finely curled kale adds a flash of color to salads.

Fertilization is also important. I recommend 18-6-8 Florikan. It is a time-released fertilizer that lasts all season. Don’t let the cooler temperatures and falling leaves keep you from gardening. Choose from a wide range of colors and let welcome winter with a bit of color in your garden. n

Happy Autumn!

Casey Norris may be reached at Ladyslipper Rare Plant Nursery at 770.345.2998

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Youth Foodie

P izzeria A zzurri

by Ava Cavijo

Who’s tired of just “okay” pizza? Pizzeria Azzurri is locally-owned, and they make everything from scratch. The menu has pizza, wings and other Italian food, and you can taste the difference. If you’re looking for a great family friendly pizza joint, this is a great place for you. Located in North Forsyth, it’s a gathering place before and after football games and other sports. The restaurant has plenty of seats and, if you bring a big crowd, they have you covered. They have long tables and they’ll move things around to seat you. Their staff is nice, helpful, and knowledgeable about the menu items.

First off, they have really good appetizers. My family’s favorite is the Meatball Trio. It has fresh, stringy mozzarella with meatballs and marinara sauce and garlic bread for dipping. Another item that might not be Italian but is really good is their wings. My mom likes the lemon pepper wings, and I like those too, but my favorite

The Best Hand Tossed

is the medium spice. They can come with celery sticks and blue cheese dressing.

Now, here’s what they’re most famous for - pizza. Their pizza has thin crust, melted cheese, and a bunch of savory toppings. At lunchtime you can get a single slice but, at dinner, you have to order a whole pie. I like one or two toppings like sausage and pepperoni, but you can get pretty much everything you can imagine.

The last time I was there, I asked to meet the owner because I was curious about the name Pizzeria Azzurri. He wasn’t there, so I got the chance to have a conversation with the general manger Cary Lee. He’s considered a “pizzaialo”, which is an expert who has been making and perfecting the ways to make pizza.

He even competes in a national competition for pizza makers. I asked him why the name “Azzurri” and found

Brick Oven Pizza

continued on page 46

Ava, age 11, is a student at Otwel Middle School. She enjoys trying new foods and restaurants. She may be reached at ava@myforsyth.com

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Become a Connection MONSTER In an age of unprecedented connectivity, many in business feel that the very technology that connects us can also separate us. People crave human connection more than ever at work and in their personal lives. So, in this competitive marketplace if you want to stand out, you must build your business on relationships – become a Connection Monster.

Have you ever met a new client and the interaction was awkward and uncomfortable? It wasn’t the pitch or product, it was the conversation between you and the client that felt stiff and disconnected. In contrast, have you ever met a new customer and the interaction was easy and open, like you’ve known them forever?

That spark we’re all working for is called RAPPORT and it’s the cornerstone of connection and the beginning of relationship. Why is rapport so important in business? It’s the building block of trust, which is critical in ANY relationship.

Here are just three specific skills you can practice to build rapport with those you meet:

l Notice things you have in common. Be genuinely curious and ask questions. Keep asking to find something in common like where you grew up, went to school, kids ages, etc. l Make small talk and chat. Have a few light topics you can focus on like: family, the weather, sports, etc. Let them talk more about them, then you talk about you. l Notice enough to match and mirror. Observe the body language, tone of voice, etc. and try to match it. For example, if someone is sitting up straight in their chair, then sit up. If they are sitting back, then match that. If someone talks more rapidly than you, pick up the pace. You do most of this already at the unconscious level, but focusing on what you notice and matching them makes a huge difference in whether the person feels comfortable with you.

While these practices take intentional effort and energy, I guarantee the reward will be worth it from both a relational and a business perspective. n

Jackie is the Chief Motivational Office of A Matter of Motivation LLC. She’s a 20 year training/speaking veteran, an Instructor for UNG Professional and Continuing Ed, and a John Maxwell certified trainer. Jackie may be reached at 678-457-4778 orjackie@ amatterofmotivation.com

22 www.myforsyth.com

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Life on the Road: Three Days in Chicago Clockwise from left: Navy Pier Ferris Wheel, Millennium Park “bean” sculpture, Museum of Science and Industry, Lion at Lincoln Park Zoo.

P

eople often tell me I’m brave for taking family big road trips with my children.

I understand this, and sometimes question my own sanity. I do have my limits. Big cities can be intimidating. Although I’m a city girl at heart, the idea of exploring a busy and unfamiliar city with four young children used to overwhelm me. I’ve taken my children to Washington D.C., Boston, and Toronto, but always with another adult. The first time we went to Chicago, however, I was on my own. We survived – and it also gave me a confidence boost! We’ve now visited Chi-town twice and still haven’t experienced all that the city has to offer. There is an abundance of history, art, sports, architecture, amusement, restaurants, and, of course, shopping.

We stayed in the suburbs, because the downtown hotels are very expensive (and parking at some is as much as $50!). Day one was busy. We stopped at the Robie House, which is a Frank Lloyd Wright designed home and a revered example of modern architecture. It’s considered a masterpiece of the Prairie style. Sadly, I did not venture in, only toured the grounds. Although children are permitted, those who are eight and under are not encouraged.

My fear got the best of me and I opted not to go inside, which I regret.

From the Robie House we drove to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, which everyone loved.

I was impressed by their “Science 24 www.myforsyth.com

of a Storm” exhibit (with a simulated funnel cloud), whereas the highlight for the children was a rock climbing wall.

We stopped at Soldier Field to get some pictures of the stadium and then headed to Millennium Park to see the “bean” sculpture.

The park was crowded, and we ate lunch at one of the many outdoor restaurants. Millennium Park is also home to the Art Institute of Chicago. The museum is free for children fourteen and under, which is remarkable considering the extraordinary collection they have.

I saw many Monets up close and personal. The colors are amazing.

Day two was again spent downtown. We went to the SkyDeck at the top of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower). They have a glass enclosed “bump-out” on the 103rd floor, where you can look down and see not the floor, but the street. It’s scary and not for the faint of heart!

But the view – it can’t be beaten.

From the SkyDeck, we took a water taxi up the Chicago River to Navy Pier. The day we were there was sunny and bright, but very windy, especially on the pier. We rode the Ferris wheel, getting our second stunning view of the day. Fun for

most of us, but one of my children did not care for the motion or being up that high in the open air.

After exploring the pier, we hopped into a cab bound for Michigan Avenue. I had to take my daughter to the American Girl Store, even though we have one here in Alpharetta. She loved it. We strolled Michigan Avenue, while I window shopped to a chorus of complaints about how tired my crew was from walking around so much. Never mind that I have three decades on them - I was feeling an energy I only get when I’m in a big city!

For our last day in Chicago, I took the kids to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Believe it or not, the zoo is free of charge for everyone. I’ve shelled out a lot of money over the years, visiting different zoos. The Lincoln Park Zoo is clean and has a nice variety of animals. The only downside was that I circled the parking lot for thirty minutes looking for a space. I recommend taking a cab or the train to the zoo.

We love Chicago. It’s definitely a family-friendly city. My one regret is that we didn’t manage to catch a Cubs game. Attending a game in Wrigley Field is on my bucket list, so I guess this means we need to go back.n Allie Smith is an avid reader, traveler and the mother of four children. You can follow her on Goodreads or her blog www.thelatchkeymom.com. She can be reached at asreadsforsyth@gmail.com.

Home

More than a four letter word

by Monica Miller

Home, a four letter word that should invoke other four letter words like cozy and love. Sadly, the thought of home brings out fear in some. I’ve seen it firsthand.

Home is the one place where you should be able to leave your mask at the door and be your true self.

True is another four letter word, meaning in accordance with fact or reality. For some people that truth is too harsh of a reality. So, keeping a mask on to hide one’s true self is merely a way to prolong lies that may provide a person a more comfortable fake reality.

People in a home are a team who give for the greater good. It’s not about self. See where I’m going here? Can we be real with each other? If our views of what home should be and feel like are on the opposite ends of the spectrum, let’s stop wasting each other’s time.

It’s said, home is where the heart is. Let’s reexamine the feelings home stirs up in us. It may be the start of knowing whether you should go home or simply go away.n

I WILL SELL YO U R H O U S E FO R A L L I T S

Worth!

MARIE DINSMORE

Certified Luxury Real Estate Agent C:770.712.7789 | Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com 566 Peachtree Parkway | Suite 120 | Cumming GA 30041

www.myforsyth.com 25

y u “M ” ! o n e u B

F

GREAT FOOD UNDER THE HUT OR ON THE GO. . . ”

F

Mexican food has gained popularity over the years. As of 2011, there are more Mexican restaurants than Italian bistros, Chinese kitchens, chicken rotisseries, or seafood shacks in the US. That means that no less than 38,000 Mexican restaurants are dispersed all across the American landscape.* *Data was obtained from the 2011 US Economic Census of the US Census Bureau.

26 www.myforsyth.com

F Traditional Mexican ocated in Cumming, Palapas Bar & Grill is fast becoming one of Forsyth County’s most popular Mexican restaurants.

Besides great food, the restaurant offers exceptional service and a fun atmosphere.

“Life is good under the hut,” explained Oziel “Ozie” Rodriguez, owner of Palapas Bar & Grill. “Palapas means hut, and our goal is to serve the best quality food to our guests.”

Palapas features a vast menu, featuring traditional Mexican dishes and the addition of unique combinations that are likely to please even the most discerning taste.

Ozie is no stranger to the Forsyth County community, as he is the owner of Carniceria Hernandez, a staple in the community since for 12 years. “The carniceria opened in October 2003.” He has also provided interpretation services to Forsyth County courts and businesses.

Palapas’ fun environment and colorful décor makes it a great place for adults looking for a place to watch sports or enjoy an adult beverage as well as families looking for a family-friendly environment where their kids can enjoy the food and their time.

“Our goal is to provide a quality product to our patrons. We are proud of our service, our food and our offerings,” Ozie affirmed.

L

F

A private room is available for parties, special events and meetings. Palapas also offers catering.

The last Friday and Saturday of every month, 5% of all sales are donated to Family Haven, a Forsyth County non-profit organization serving families facing domestic abuse and violence.

Weekly Specials Mondays Tuesdays

Wednesdays Fridays Sundays

Fajitas $9.99 15% Senior Citizen discount (ages 50 and over) Kids eat free –12 and under Live music ½ off Appetizers during Falcons’ games

Sports & Fun all Weekends!

Embracing Technology Along with a web site and Facebook page, Palapas also provides an online ordering system like no other, according to Ozie.

“To better serve our customers with extremely busy schedules and those who would wish to enjoy our food in the comfort of their home, we offer an online ordering system, Ozie explained. “Our system uses technology to better serve our customers. The options are varied and navigating through the system is easy.”

Palapas Bar & Grill 2950 Buford Highway Cumming, Ga 30051 770-889-1002 www.palapasbargrill.com Monday-Thursday 11 am – 10 pm Friday – 11 am – 1 pm Saturday – 11:30 am to 11 pm Sunday – 11:30 am to 10 pm

https://palapasbarandgrill.alohaorderonline.com/

www.myforsyth.com 27

Health & Wellness News

Northside Hospital-Forsyth Auxiliary Announces New Officers

The Northside Hospital-Forsyth Auxiliary, a group of volunteers who interact with patients and families, work in the gift shop, transport patients within the hospital and much more, recently announced their 2015-16 officers.

The officers are: Sharon Durant, president; Ralph Bulger, president-elect; Eddie Gaitan, vice president – fund raising; Dianne Baker, vice president – membership; Alyce Kopanoff, vice president – placement; Andrea Ciupak, secretary and Diane Tully, treasurer. Not pictured: Bruce Wagar, vice president – orientation.

There are more than 300 Auxiliary volunteers, ages ranging between 18 and 94, and the number keeps growing.

They have performed more than 442,000 hours of service at over 30 hospital departments.

The Auxiliary volunteer opportunities at Northside facilities are varied, including, customer service, patient and family support and community outreach. Volunteers support staff in the caring of babies, taking photos of newborns, working in the gift shop, delivering flowers and movies, transporting and escorting patients, visiting and cheering patients and even performing puppet shows at elementary schools. For more information, call 770-844-3431 or visit Northside.com/Volunteers.

Northside Hospital-Forsyth Recognized for Quality Heart Care

Northside Hospital-Forsyth has been recognized for providing high quality cardiovascular care through the American Heart Association (AHA) Mission: Lifeline and Get With The Guidelines® programs. “Northside Hospital-Forsyth is committed to improving the quality of life and providing prompt and efficient care to our patients,” said Lynn Jackson, administrator, Northside Hospital-Forsyth. “We are very proud of our heart and vascular team here at Forsyth for everything they’ve done to ensure top quality patient care.” Northside Hospital-Forsyth received AHA’s Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Center Gold Level Recognition Award, recognizing the hospital’s commitment and success in implementing exceptional standards of care for heart attack patients. According to AHA, each year more than 500,000 Americans have a STEMI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction), out-of-hospital cardiac arrest or both. The majority of these patients fail to receive appropriate treatment within recommended timeframes. “As a ’STEMI-Receiving Hospital,’ Northside Hospital-Forsyth has the expertise, equipment, facilities and other resources to perform PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention), within the STEMI system of care and help patients get the right care they need as quickly as possible,” said Jackson. Northside HospitalForsyth also was recognized with AHA Get With The Guidelines® Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for heart failure and Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award for stroke; as well as the ACTION Registry- Get With The Guidelines Gold Performance Achievement Award for quality care in the treatment of acute myocardial infraction patients. “I am very proud of our physicians 28 www.myforsyth.com

and staff for their hard work in achieving these awards,” said Patricia Tyson, administrative director, Northside Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute. “These quality improvement programs help our hospital teams provide the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing hospital readmissions.” Northside Hospital-Forsyth offers a wide range of diagnostic, treatment and support services – encompassing the entire continuum of care for the heart and vascular patient. A team of board-certified cardiologists, vascular surgeons, cardiac-trained nurses and technologists at Northside has the highest level of expertise in diagnosing and treating disorders like coronary artery blockages, congenital heart defects, heart failure and stroke. In addition to Mission: Lifeline and Get With The Guidelines, the hospital is an Accredited Chest Pain Center with PCI and an Advanced Primary Stroke Center. For more information, visit northside. com/heartandvascular.

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www.myforsyth.com 29

TO YOUR HEART!

Family History and Genetic Testing: Worth the Worry?

By Narendra Singh MD

In 2000 President Clinton and Prime Minister Tony Blair jointly announced to the world that we had sequenced the human genome. Fifteen years later the promise of that accomplishment is not fully realized but we have made some important advances. Our body has 23 pairs of chromosomes. Each chromosome has multiple genes that contain DNA code that allows our body to produce enzymes and proteins that are vital to our existence.

When it comes to clogged arteries, the Interheart study showed that over 90% of your risk for this type of heart disease can be attributed to nine risk factors. Six factors increase risk - abnormal lipids, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, abdominal obesity, and psychosocial factors. Three factors decrease risk-regular physical activity, moderate alcohol intake, and regular consumption of fruits and vegetables.

A family history of a heart attack can increase the severity of presentation or age of onset for some of these risk factors but generally does not involve identifying new risk factors. Genetic tests are available that can help predict your predisposition for high cholesterol or diabetes but they usually do not alter management advice. A notable exception is a positive genetic test will help with insurance coverage for expensive meds such as the cholesterol lowering PCSK9 inhibitors or new blood thinners.

Genetic testing is very useful if there is a family history of sudden death or ventricular arrhythmias.

Conditions with unusual names such as Brugada, Marfans, Long QT syndrome, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia can be inherited. Early detection and the implantation of a defibrillator can be life saving!

If you were born with a congenital heart defect then genetic counseling and testing is often useful since the risk for the fetus to also have a heart defect is around 15 to 20%. Results of genetic testing are now protected against discrimination from employers or insurers.

Response to commonly used drugs such as warfarin, clopidogrel and statins can also be predicted by genetic testing however the test results presently do not routinely change our treatment decisions.

Even if you have a detrimental gene, the environment you live in can affect if that gene will actually express itself. This is called epigenetics. Also, until we know what every gene does we can not provide a true estimate of individual risk. You may have 4 known genes that increase your risk for heart disease but 8 unknown genes that protect you from heart disease. If we test you for the known genes then we will have unnecessarily worried you‌when in fact you were not at risk!

Earlier this year President Obama announced the Precision Medicine Initiative. The goal is to fund research that will in the future take into account an individual’s genetic makeup, environment and lifestyle to determine the best course of disease prevention and treatment. This approach is already yielding much success in cancer therapy such as the Angelina Jolie BRACA gene decision to have a bilateral mastectomy. It is hoped that in the future this personalized guidance for risk will be the norm for all medical conditions.n

Narendra Singh MD FRCPC FACC FAHA, is a Clinical Assistant Professor, Georgia Regents University in Augusta, and the Director-Clinical Research, Atlanta Heart Specialists, LLC. Dr. Singh studied at the Dalhouse Medical School in Halifax, Nova Scotia and went on to complete a residency and cardiology fellowship at the University of Toronto. He may be reached at 678.679.6800, www.heartdrsingh.com.

30 www.myforsyth.com

www.myforsyth.com 31

Reduce Your Risk for Brest Cancer

By Kathleen Lambert, MD, Georgia Cancer Specialists

Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in females in the United States and the second most common cause of cancer death in women. One in eight women will develop the disease at some point in her lifetime. Although there are several risk factors you can’t control such as age, family history and race, there are many steps you can take to reduce your risk.

Maintain a Healthy Weight. Being overweight or obese, especially after menopause, has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Exercising is one way that can help you maintain a healthy weight, and growing evidence suggests that regular physical activity may keep cancer at bay. For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity weekly, plus strength training at least twice a week.

Limit alcohol. Habitual alcohol consumption has long been linked to a greater risk of developing breast cancer, particularly for younger women who have yet to have their first child. New research from the Harvard Medical School shows that the more alcohol a female drinks between her first menstrual cycle and her first full-term pregnancy, the higher her risk of developing the disease. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit yourself to no more than one drink a day.

Don’t smoke. Developing breast cancer is just one of the many negative health effects of smoking.

Accumulating evidence suggests that there is an even higher risk for premenopausal women. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, use every resource you can find to help you quit.

Secondhand smoke also may pose a threat to non-smokers. Reduce your exposure as much as possible; choose smoke-free restaurants and avoid indoor public places that allow smoking. If you work in a smoke-filled work environment, ask your employer permission to increase ventilation where smoking takes place by opening windows or using exhaust fans.

Limit the use of hormone therapy. Taking combination hormone therapy for more than three years may increase your risk of developing breast cancer. Women taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms should ask their doctor if it’s possible to manage symptoms without the use of hormones. If hormone therapy is necessary, patients should use the lowest dose possible.

Breastfeed. Among the many benefits that breastfeeding pose for you and your baby, studies that show breastfeeding may reduce your chances of getting breast cancer. The longer you breastfeed, the greater the protective benefits have been shown.

Get Screened. Lastly, perhaps the greatest preventative measure you can take against breast cancer is committing yourself to regular mammograms and screenings. If you don’t already, perform monthly breast self-exams. Although they should not replace screening mammograms, breast self-exams allow you to become familiar with the normal feel and appearance of your breasts so that you are able to notice changes easier. Beginning at age 40, schedule annual mammograms.

It is important, however, to discuss your individual risk factors with your doctor, including any family history of breast cancer, as this may influence the exact timing and type of breast cancer screening that you may need. Breast cancer is often found on a mammogram years before a lump is felt. Early detection is key in successful survival outcomes. When caught in its earliest stages, breast cancer has a 98 percent likelihood of being cured.n Dr. Kathleen Lambert is a board-certified hematologist and oncologist with Georgia Cancer Specialists, affiliated with Northside Hospital Cancer Institute, in Conyers and Decatur. For more information, visit gacancer.com or northside.com.

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Has Reality Television Changed

Reality?

Take 3

With the abundance of plastic surgery reality shows and enhanced magazine covers, we ought to examine what reality really means. If reality is all that is in existence rather than as they may appear (as the dictionary defines), then the current zeitgeist of body enhancement has not changed reality but rather is a part of it. However, if we instead define reality as what we experience daily, based on our senses, then the media crush on cosmetic surgery certainly is changing our sense of what is real. So which is it? As a plastic surgeon, I face this every day.

To this point, I personally conducted a nationwide study examining what women (and men) want in breast augmentation. Over five hundred women and men ranging in age from 21 to 65 were surveyed across the country about their thoughts on breast enhancement. When asked to describe the ideal augmentation, respondents overwhelmingly used the words natural and conservative; however, when these same respondents viewed simulated augmentations on models, they universally chose implants that were 33% larger then the average breast

augmentation. In this instance, the perceived reality is that large implants are natural. Of interest, there is no difference in preference between men and women nor is there a difference based on age or ethnicity. My personal experience of performing hundreds of breast augmentations often concurs with this – real now means augmented.

In truth, normal and reality are personal ideals that are heavily influenced by society. However, just as you perceive a reality that is different than anyone else, your choice to undergo or not undergo plastic surgery is a personal decision. You are unique, and your plans should be personalized to you. My take: see your board-certified plastic surgeon because you want to, and not because a Hollywood star recently did! ** As an aside, the best answer we received to describe the ideal breast augmentation was, “Not my ex daughterin-law’s!”n

Hunter Moyer, MD is board certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery. He is also an active member of the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, the Plastic Surgery Research Council and Georgia Society of Plastic Surgeons, and a Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Moyer may be reached at 404.250.3393.

34 www.myforsyth.com

Capturing Life...

every hundreth of a second

www.KimBatesPhotoArt.com 770.617.7595

www.myforsyth.com 35

Creating Something Out of Nothing I am absolutely fascinated by the entire creation process. I have trained myself to look for it, find it, watch it, and co-create with it throughout the day. Nature is in a never-ending cycle of creation: birth, life, death, rebirth, and then the cycle repeats—forever. However, Einstein proved that everything is made of energy, and energy cannot be created or destroyed; it just changes forms. So the creation process is really just bringing forth something into a different energetic form, creating something out of seemingly nothing. And I am hooked on the process.

The process begins with a unique thought, one of about 40,000 you will have in a given day. Creation is about focus. If you stay on a thought long enough, it gives birth to an idea. Hold your focus on ideas long enough, especially with imagination involved, and a vision comes to life. Vision brings emotion into it, and emotion evokes action. If it is a noble purpose, and an idea “whose time has come,” then the vision becomes a dream—and everything you need to bring it to manifestation begins to be drawn to you. If you simply pay attention and begin searching for what you need in order to bring your dream to life, then you will begin to understand that you find what you look for. I call this twelve-step process Attitude Science: How to Bring Something out of Nothing.

We speak about what is important to us. Whether it be good news or bad news, fortune or failure, births or deaths, we talk about the things that are holding our attention at the moment. What we talk about, we begin to create. Thoughts become things, and words create our world. So the creation process is really quite simple: grab a unique thought and fix your attention on it. Begin to wrap your imagination around it and feel it deeply, as if it has already happened. Then begin to speak about it frequently—the bigger your audience, the better. Audible words put your dreams on steroids. That is the process with which you are already creating, whether you are aware of it or not.

So my game-changing idea showed up on December 5th, 2010. This was an idea whose time had definitely come. The universe was giving birth to it, and I just happened to be paying attention. I would begin a peace movement inside of Georgia’s most violent and dangerous maximum security prison in the midst of a gang war. I reasoned that if the principles that I had been working on could work there, then they could work anywhere. Twelve convicts signed the peace pledge on January 18th, 2011, in honor of Dr. King’s birthday, and we were off and running. These men were young; black, white, and brown; Christian, Muslim, and Jewish; most of them were gang affiliated. I did not know that my life had changed that day, but that is how creation works: it brings something out of seemingly nothing, and oftentimes you are unaware of the transformation going on right in front of your eyes. I began to focus on the outcome that I desired, and I continuously held it in my vision. I began to talk about it everywhere I went, 36 www.myforsyth.com

Kit Cummings is an author, teacher, and peace activist. He is the founder and president of Power of Peace Project, Inc. and has spoken to tens of thousands of people all over the world.

Peace Behind the Wire is now available on Amazon.com, Apple iBooks, BarnesandNoble.com, Kobo, Shop.BookLogix.com, and www.PowerofPeaceProject.com.

eventually getting large crowds to imagine it together and even shout about it with enthusiasm: “Hope is the New Dope!” Soon I was getting invited all over the country and even overseas to talk about the prison peace initiative and what was being called the Power of Peace Project—the great work of my life. The more I talked about it, the more results began to emerge. What you focus on expands, and I was bringing it more and more into focus with more and more audiences.

In 2010, I wrote my first book, Unshackled: Diary of a Prodigal Son, and I told the story of a drunken, fallen preacher who found his way home through a bunch of hardened convicts, homeless addicts, and young gangbangers. This was my true story and also an example of the creation process at work. I had co-created all of that drama in my life and all the consequences that came along with it. You see, the universe will use whatever you give it, and it does not judge or discriminate. Whatever you put out into this world is what you will get back—in one form or another. Call it karma, you reap what you sow, or cause and effect, but this is a universal law that you cannot get around. That book was the beginning of this journey of peace that has taken me around the world. And I am more determined than ever. I recently released my third book, Peace Behind the Wire: A Nonviolent Resolution, which tells the story of the Power of Peace Movement in fascinating detail. The release of this true story is continuing the creation process, as more and more readers begin to imagine what peace looks like in the most dark and desperate places.

The wonderful unintended consequences are the programs which have spun off of the original idea. It was an idea which led to an experiment, which turned into a program, which evolved into a movement. Life will do that, and the creation process is how it does it. Keep following the dream, and it will keep giving birth. Now the Power of Peace Project has become an anti-bullying campaign in schools and prisons around the country (imagine that, an anti-bullying campaign in a prison!). Following the example of those twelve original participants, there are now literally thousands of students and inmates across the country taking a stand for peace in their institutions, doing their part to fulfill Dr. King’s dream of restoring “Our Beloved Community.” I could have never dreamed of what became of that one original thought on December 5th, 2010. I’m just glad I was paying attention.n

Academic

Warning Signs to Note

Early in the School Year

If you’ve been teaching for any length of time, you probably have ample experience recognizing a wide range of academic problems in their primary stages. Here are a few “red flags” to look for early in the school year that may call for you to step in and help your students get the support they need: DAYDREAMING Students who do not pay attention in class may be wrestling with a number of problems. Certainly, they might be uninterested in some of the topics you teach, but it is also possible that they are struggling to grasp the material or, on the other hand, feel unchallenged. There might be other issues at play, too, such as lack of sufficient sleep or other health issues.

CONSISTENTLY TAKING A LONG TIME TO COMPLETE WORK Certainly, every student

works at his or her own pace, but the student who takes so long to complete work in class that he or she cannot keep up with lessons and therefore struggles to complete homework independently may need help sooner than later. It is possible that you need to make certain accommodations for the student or that one-on-one help is needed.

ACTING OUT OR DISTRACTING OTHERS Some students seek attention and go about getting it through bad behavior. Such acting out may be an indicator of many things: problems in their personal lives, an attempt to distract you (and others) from their deep-rooted fear of failure, embarrassment about school problems or something else. Work on building trust with students like this. They may crave a certain kind of attention, and the best way for you to understand is to get to know them better.

DAWDLING Do you have a student who takes five minutes to sharpen a pencil or spends 10

minutes retreating to the bathroom five times a day? Or do you have a student who avoids doing class work (or homework) by making up various excuses? Students who attempt to get out of school work could very well have procrastination tendencies, but they also may avoid work because they have difficulty with the material and want to avoid disappointing you, their parents and themselves.

SLOPPY OR INCOMPLETE WORK Students who do not take ownership of their class work and

hand unfinished, sloppy or unreadable work need to be approached about the issue right away. The problem might stem from laziness or lack of pride, but it also could be due to a student’s desire to get tasks over with quickly so that they can move on to other activities. Such students might need more specific guidance on what type of work is acceptable in your classroom.

SIGNIFICANT REGRESSION If you notice a student struggling more than you would expect

with the work you assign in the beginning of the year, it might prove helpful to review his or her academic record for any notes about problems in the previous year. Regression over the summer is not uncommon, but significant sill loss should be addressed as early in the school year as possible.

Generally, it is better to intervene when school problems arise than to let them sit, thereby building upon themselves. The sooner in the year you can investigate and tackle issues, the better off your students will be – and the smoother start for your school year.

Marc Turk, Executive Director Cumming, Huntington Learning Center 5485 Bethelview Rd, Ste 340, Cumming, GA 30040

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CUMMING 5485 Bethelview Road (770) 292-8994

SCHOOLS

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Big Creek Elementary 1994 Peachtree Parkway 770.887.4584 Principal: Sherri Black sblack@forsyth.k12.ga.us Brookwood Elementary 2980 Vaughan Drive | 678.965.5060 Principal: Kathie Braswell kbraswell@forsyth.k12,ga.us Chattahoochee Elementary 2800 Holtzclaw Road, 770.781.2240 Principal: Barbara Vella bvella@forsyth.k12.ga.us Chestatee Elementary 6945 Keith Bridge Road, Gainesville, 770.887.2341 Principal: Polly Tennies ptennies@forsyth.k12.ga.us Coal Mountain Elementary 3455 Coal Mountain Drive, 770.887.7705 Principal: Kimberly Davis kdavis@forsyth.k12.ga.us Cumming Elementary 540 Dahlonega Street, 770.887.7749 Principal: Pam Pajerski ppajerski@forsyth.k12.ga.us Daves Creek Elementary 3740 Melody Mizer Lane, 770.888.1223 Principal: Eric Ashton eashton@forsyth.k12.ga.us Haw Creek Elementary 2555 Echols Road, 678.965.5070 Principal: Dr. Amy Coker arcoker@forsyth.k12.ga.us Johns Creek Elementary 6205 Old Atlanta Road, Suwanee, 678.965.5041 Principal: Alyssa Degliumberto adegliumberto@forsyth.k12.ga.us Kelly Mill Elementary 1180 Chamblee Gap Road 678.965.4953 Principal: Ron McAlliste rmcallister@forsyth.k12.ga.us Mashburn Elementary 3777 Samples Road, 770.889.1630 Principal: Tracey Smith tbsmith@forysth.k12.ga.us Matt Elementary 7455 Wallace Tatum Road, 678.455.4500 Principal: Charlley Stalder cstalder@forsyth.k12.ga.us Midway Elementary 4805 Atlanta Highway, Alpharetta, 770.475.6670 Principal: Todd Smith tsmith@forsyth.k12.ga.us Sawnee Elementary 1616 Canton Highway, 770.887.6161 Principal: Eileen Nix ecnix@forsyth.k12.ga.us Settles Bridge Elementary 600 James Burgess Road, Suwanee, 770.887.1883 Principal: Lee Anne Rice lrice@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Sharon Elementary 3595 Old Atlanta Road, Suwanee, 770.888.7511 Principal: Amy Bartlett abartlett@forsyth.k12.ga.us Shiloh Point Elementary 8145 Majors Road, 678.341.6481 Principal: Derrick Hershey dhershey@forsyth.k12.ga.us Sliver City Elementary 6200 Dahlonega Highway, 678.965.5020 Principal: Paige Andrews pandrews@forsyth.k12.ga.us Vickery Creek Elementary 6280 Post Road, 770.346.0040 Principal: Kristan Riedinger kriedinger@forsyth.k12.ga.us Whitlow Elementary 3655 Castleberry Road, 678.965.5090 Principal: Dr. Lynne Castleberry lcastleberry@forsyth.k12.ga.us MIDDLE SCHOOLS Lakeside Middle 2565 Echols Road, 678.965.5080 Principal: Debbie Sarver dsarver@forsyth.k12.ga.us Liberty Middle 7465 Wallace Tatum Road 770.781.4889 Principal: Cheryl Riddle criddlel@forsyth.k12.ga.us Little Mill Middle 6800 Little Mill Road, 678.965.5000 Principal: Connie McCrary cmccrary@forsyth.k12.ga.us North Forsyth Middle 3645 Coal Mountain Drive 770.889.0743 Principal: Jeff Hunt jhunt@forsyth.k12.ga.us Otwell Middle 605 Tribble Gap Road 770.887.5248 Principal: Steve Miller stmiller@forsyth.k12.ga.us Piney Grove Middle 8135 Majors Road, 678.965.5010 Principal: Terri North tnorth@forsyth.k12.ga.us Riverwatch Middle 610 James Burgess Road, Suwanee 678.455.7311 Principal: Kathy Carpenter kcarpenter@forsyth.k12.ga.us South Forsyth Middle 2865 Old Atlanta Road 770.888.3170 Principal: Sandy Tinsley stinsley@forsyth.k12.ga.us Vickery Creek Middle 6240 Post Road, 770.667.2580 Principal: Kathy Rohacek krohacek@forsyth.k12.ga.us HIGH SCHOOLS Forsyth Central High 520 Tribble Gap Road 770.887.8151 Principal: Mitch Young myoung@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Lambert High School 805 Nichols Road 678.965.5050 Principal: Dr. Gary Davison gdavison@forsyth.k12.ga.us North Forsyth High 3635 Coal Mountain Drive 770.781.6637 Principal: Jeff Cheney jcheney@forsyth.k12.ga.us South Forsyth High 585 Peachtree Parkway, 770.781.2264 Principal: Laura Wilson lwilson@forsyth.k12.ga.us West Forsyth High 4155 Drew Road 770.888.3470 Principal: Heather Gordy hgordy@forsyth.k12.ga.us Forsyth Academy Forsyth Academy at Night 770.781.3141 Gateway Academy 770.781.2299 iAchieve Virtual Academy 678.965.4970 PRIVATE SCHOOLS Covenant Christian Academy 6905 Post Road, 770.674.2990 Headmaster: Johnathan Arnold www.covenantrams.com Fideles Christian School 1390 Weber Industrial Drive 770.888.6705 Directors: Jonny and Ellen Whisenant www.fideles.net Friendship Christian School 3160 Old Atlanta Road, 678.845.0418 Head of School: Dr. Rick Johnson Elementary Principal: Dianne Gormley www.friendshipchristianschool.us Horizon Christian Academy (K-6) 2160 Freedom Parkway (7-12) 433 Canton Road 678.947.3583, 678.947.0711 Headmaster: Heather Marshall www.horizonchristian.org Ivy League Montessori School 1791 Kelly Mill Road, 770.781.5586 School Director: Becky Carty www.ilmsnet.com Montessori Academy at Sharon Springs 2830 Old Atlanta Road, 770.205.6277 www.montessoriacademygeorgia.com Montessori at Vickery 6285 Post Road, 770.777.9131 www.montessorivickery.com Montessori Kids Academy 3034 Old Atlanta Road, 678.208.0774 School Admin., Maureen Danbury www.montessoricumming.com Pinecrest Academy 955 Peachtree Parkway, 770.888.4477 President: Father Robert Presutti Head of School: Paul Parker www. pinecrestacademy.com SCHOOL INFORMATION www.forsyth.K12.GA.US

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From the

Inside Out

already imagining how it would taste once I slathered it with peanut butter. But when I took the celery out of the package, and tore off the first stalk, I noticed the inner stalks were discolored.

Although everything looked fine on the outside, something had caused the celery to begin rotting on the inside. Who would have thought I could learn a valuable spiritual lesson from a vegetable?

A Comparison We can be just like that celery – appearing fine on the outside, when there is something (sin) on the inside that is making us spiritually sick. Jesus put it this way when talking to the scribes and Pharisees: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess,” (Matthew 23:25; KJV).

Although following rules might trick us into thinking we’re spiritually healthy, only a right relationship with the Savior can provide the cure we need. When we realize we can’t measure up to the standards of a Holy God, we’re in a position to receive some very good news – He already provided a way to bridge the gap between us.

From the

Bridging the Gap He sent His perfect Son, Jesus, to fulfill the law and make the payment for our sins: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,” (Romans 6:23).

a

ne of my favorite snacks is a generous scoop of O peanut butter on a fresh stalk of celery. When I grabbed the celery out of the refrigerator recently, I was

PRAYER

a

Heavenly Father, Thank You for using things in ordinary life to illustrate Your profound truths. Show me where I’ve been deceived.

Help me embrace Your truth. Thank You for paying my sin debt and making

Inside Out

What an incredible God who loves us enough to point out our sin, while showing us He has already paid for it.

His death, burial, and resurrection allow us to be healthy from the inside, out!

Your Turn Are you healthy on the inside? You can be!

(Romans 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-10,13)

me spiritually healthy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Coming to Amazon: November 2015, Outrageously Fruitful (a 10-week Bible study for women on the fruit of the Spirit)

Maria I. Morgan is passionate about sharing the truths of God’s Word with today’s generation. Originally an inspirational author and speaker for adults, Maria has widened her circle to include kids. She lives in the South with her husband, two retrievers, and two Maine coon kitties – the perfect mix to fuel her creativity for years to come! (You can purchase a copy of her children’s book, “Louie’s BIG day!” on Amazon. You can also find her devotionals and download a free copy of her eBook, God Speaking, at www.mariaimorgan.com).

40 www.myforsyth.com

Family Haven’s 2nd Annual Purple FamilyPassion Haven Pics Luncheon Pizzeria Azzurri

Thanks to all who participated in the Who’s Purple tired of just “okay” pizza?

Pizzeria Azzurri is 2nd Annual Purpose Luncheon locally-owned, and County’s they make everything to benefit Forsyth Familyfrom scratch.

The menu has pizza, wings and other Italian food, and Haven. The non-profit organization is you can taste the difference. If you’re looking for a celebrating its 26th year of dedication great family friendly pizza joint, this is a great place for to domestic violence survivors. WSByou. Located in North Forsyth, it’s a gathering place TV’s Katie Walls served the and event’s before and after footballas games other sports. The MC, with Aurea McGarry as the key restaurant has plenty of seats and, if you bring a big note speaker.

The 2015 Advocacy crowd, they have you covered. They have long tables Award and was to to Forsyth they’llpresented move things around seat you. Their staff Countyisresident Elena Sanchez-Curtis, nice, helpful, and knowledgeable about the menu Esq., aitems. domestic violence survivor and a federal civil rights investigator with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. For more information about their services visit ForsythCountyFamilyHaven.info.

i

2015 Day of Caring Volunteers

by Neida Streit

www.myforsyth.com 41

HOUSES of WORSHIP NON-DENOMINATIONAL

Eastgate Church 2820 Brookwood Road | O: 770.888.8852 Sunday Morning Worship Times: 9:00 & 11:00am Wednesday Night Services 7:00pm Pastors: David & Robin Houtsma www.eastgatechurch.org

BAPTIST

Antioch Baptist Church 2465 Antioch Road | O: 770.887.6900 Sunday School: 10am Sunday Service: 11am and 6pm AWANA: Sunday at 6pm Wednesday Bible Study: 7pm Pastor: Travis Bridgeman www.welcometoantioch.org Berean Baptist Church 7110 Majors Road | 770-889-1302 Sunday Worship Service: 11:00am Classes for all ages: 10:00am Evening Service: 6:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00pm Children’s Clubs: 7:00pm Bob Baines, Pastor www.bbc-cares.org Cumming Baptist Church 115 Church Street | 770.205.6699 Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship service: 10:50am Pastor: Dr. Barry Crocker www.cummingbaptist.net First Baptist Cumming 1597 Sawnee Drive | 770.887.2428 Sunday Services: 9:30am Contemporary Worship Service & Bible Fellowship Groups 11am Traditional Worship Service & Bible Fellowship Groups Wednesday: 6:15pm AWANA Pastor: Dr. Bob Jolly www.firstbaptistcumming.org First Redeemer Church 2100 Peachtree Parkway | 678.513.9400 Sunday Services: 9:15am – Contemporary Service (Auditorium) 10:45am – Blended Service (Auditorium) 9:00am & 10:45am; 6:30pm Bible Fellowship Jeff Jackson, Senior Pastor www.firstredeemer.org

EPISCOPAL

St. Columba’s Church 939 James Burgess Road | 770.888.4464 Wednesday Services: 6:30 pm Saturdays Service: 5:30 pm Sunday Service: 7:45, 9 & 11:15am Rector: Father Tripp Norris Curate: Father Daron Vroon www.saintcolumba.net The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit 724 Pilgrim Mill Road | 770.887.8190 Services: Thursdays 12 noon Sundays: 8:30 and 10:45am Rector: Keith Oglesby www.ecohs.net

GREEK ORTHODOX

Saint Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene Greek Orthodox Church 3074 Bethelview Rd., 770.781.5250 Divine Liturgy every Sunday at 10 AM Pastor: Fr. Barnabas Powell www.stsrni.org

LUTHERAN

Living Faith Lutheran Church, LCMS 1171 Atlanta Highway | 770.887.0184 Sunday School: 9:00am (all ages) Sunday Worship: 10:15am, 12:30pm (Korean) Wednesday Evening Fellowship Meal: 6:00pm Bible Study: 7:00pm (all ages) Pastor Tim Droegemueller livingfaithoffice@bellsouth.net www.livingfaithlutheran.com facebook/livingfaithlutheranchurch Christ The King Lutheran Church (Evangelical Lutheran Church In America) 1125 Bettis-Tribble Gap Rd., Cumming, Ga. 30040 O: 770.889.5328 | www.ctklutheran.com Sunday Worship Service: 8 & 11am (Traditional) 9am (Blended) Discipleship Hour: 10am (Sun. School)

OTHER

Baha’is of Forsyth County 1-800-22-UNITE | www.forsythbahais.org www.ghbcc.org Crossroads Church of the Nazarene 6160 Southard Trace | 678.807.9392 Sunday School: 10am Worship Service: 11am www.mycrossroadschurch.net

Greater Heights Baptist Church 3790 Post Road | 770.887.4802 Sunday School: 10am | Sunday Worship: 11am Sunday Evening: 5pm Wednesday Evening & AWANA: 7pm Pastor: Chris Grinstea www.ghbcc.org

Castle Christian Church 3149 Old Atlanta Road | 678.648.5248 Sunday Worship: 10am Wednesday Bible Study: 7pm Senior Minister: Jason Rodenbeck jason@castlechristian.com www.castlechristianchurch.com

Longstreet Baptist Church 6868 Campground Road | 770.889.1959 Sunday School: 10am Worship Service: 11am Wednesday night adult and youth activities www.longstreetchurch.com

Family By Faith Worship Center 4805 Atlanta Highway | 678.230.4800Midway Elementary School, Nursery available) Small Groups: 9:30am | Worship: 10:30am Pastor: Randy Grimes www.familybyfaith.com

North Lanier Baptist Church 829 Atlanta Highway | 770.781.5433 Bible Studies: 9:00am and 10:30am Celebration Worship Service: 11am(main auditorium) Hispanic Service: 10:30am (Activities Center)

First Christian Church 1270 Sawnee Drive | 770.887.5542 Pastor Stan Percival www.fccga.org

Refuge Baptist Church 3525 Pilgrim Mill Road | 678.807.7746 Sunday Bible Study: 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Services: 10:45 a.m., 6 p.m.

Wednesday Prayer Service: 7 p.m. www.refugebaptistchurch.org 42 www.myforsyth.com

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 510 Brannon Road | 678.455.5290 (Hall Phone) Worship Service: 9am, 11:30am & 2pm Visitors Welcome - Nursery available

LifePoint Christian Church 3140 Old Atlanta Road Sunday Small Groups: 9:00am Sunday Service: 10:30am Childcare available Pastor: Chris Stovall www.lifepoint.org NewSong Community Church 433 Canton Road, Suite 306 | 770.888.5212 (Located across from Ingles, behind the National Guard in Building 300) Sunday Worship Service: 10:30am Pastor Case Koolhaas www.newsongweb.org Rameshori Buddhist Center 130 Allen Road, Unit B | 404.255.1585

PRESBYTERIAN

Deer Creek Shores Presbyterian Church 7620 Lanier Drive | 770.887.6801 Sunday School: 9:45am (all ages) Sunday Worship Service: 11am (Traditional) Childcare available Pastor: John S. Martin www.deercreekshores.org email: dcspres@comcast.net Chalcedon Presbyterian Church 302 Pilgrim Mill Road | 770.205.9390 www.chalcedon.org | www.rpcus.com Sunday Worship: 11:00am Dr. Joseph C. Morecraft, III, Pastor Parkway Presbyterian Church 5830 Bethelview Road | 678.889.8694 Sunday: 9:00am (Traditional Worship) Contemporary Worship:Sunday: 11:00am.

Brazilian Ministry Sunday Services: 7:00pm (The Service is in Portuguese) Rev. Bill Ford, Senior Pastor Rev. Cido Araujo, Assoc. Pastor of Brazilian Ministries Parkway Church 5830 Bethelview Road | 770.889.8694 (½ mile west of GA 400 exit 13) Sunday Traditional Service: 9am Sunday Contemporary Service: 11am (Childcare available for both services) Bill Ford, Senior Pastor www.parkway-church.org email: info@parkway-church.org The Vine Community Church 4655 Bethelview Road | 678.990.9395 Sunday Services: 9 & 10:45am Wednesday: Middle and High School youth meet at 7:15 – 8:30pm Jon Adams, Pastor www.thevinecommunitychurch.com

ROMAN CATHOLIC

Church of Good Shepherd 3740 Holtzclaw Road | 770.887.9861 Mass: Saturday Vigil: 5pm, Sundays:,7:30, 9 & 10:30am & 12 noon; 5:30pm, Spanish Mass: 1:30pm, Weekdays: 9am Father Frank, Pastor www.goodshepherdcumming.com St. Brendan Catholic Church 4633 Shiloh Road | 770.205.7969 Mass: Saturday Vigil: 5pm Sunday: 7:30, 9 & 11am & 5pm, Spanish Mass: 1pm, Weekdays: 8:30am Fr. Matthew Van Smoorenburg, LC, Pastor Parochial Vicars: Fr. Joseph Ramos, LC and Fr. Juan Guerra, LC

he TCOUNTRY

PREACHER

Earlier this year an evil person entered a Charleston, SC church to kill worshipers during their prayer meeting. The relatives and friends of the murdered offered forgiveness and prayer for the young killer.

They gave renewed understanding to Jesus’ words “Blessed are the merciful . . . Blessed are the pure in heart . . . Blessed are the peacemakers . . . Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake . . . Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my namesake.” Matthew 5.

In the late 60’s government regulation began changing automobiles to reduce drinking and driving deaths. Almost 50% of auto deaths resulted from drunk driving and 70% because of impaired driving.

Those percentages haven’t drastically changed. It wasn’t the car. A picture of the S.C. killer caused some to ask shouldn’t it be harder to buy guns? Policemen, security personnel and soldiers use guns to protect us. It wasn’t the gun. Recently, a woman “accidently” killed her boyfriend by stabbing him 20+ times. Knives butter our bread and cut our meat. It wasn’t the knife.

The southern Bible Belt was criticized because of its flag, St. Andrews Cross, a symbol of Andrew dying for his faith on an “X” cross and Scotland’s flag. Two thirds of the south was Scottish/Irish. St. Andrews Cross was on the corner of the American Grand Union Flag in 1775, the British Union Jack and was flown by Poland and Quebec when they sought freedom. Dr. Ben Carson, presidential candidate, said it was not the flag.

Thomas Sowell’s March 16, 2015 editorial praised how the races came together after the Charleston murders. He questioned divisive efforts which would “fulfill the killer’s dream”. The day of Sowell’s editorial conservative black writer Walter Williams wrote in the Macon Telegraph on “Historical Ignorance”, defending the Constitutional right of succession and questioned

the “panic over the Confederate flag”. America supported Poland’s succession from the USSR, Kuwaiti from Iraq, Texas from Mexico, etc. We can’t ignore or re-write our history if we wish to learn from it.

After 150 years, is it possible to agree on the cause of the War Between the States? Northern writer, Horace Greeley, implied in his writings that emancipation was a war tactic issued to incite slaves to kill their owners. Another northern writer, Charles Dickens, believed the war was “solely a fiscal quarrel”. In 1858 southern states paid $193,404,961 in taxes while northern states paid only $45,308,541.

Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson disagreed with succession. Despite his financial difficulties and family debt, Lee freed the slaves he inherited rather than sell them while Grant’s family kept a house slave throughout the war. Only one in six southern families owned slaves. The more knowledgeable we become on the Constitutional arguments the more it’s evident that this was not a one issue war. To remove southern heroes from Stone Mountain, re-name Washington or destroy the Jefferson Memorial produces divisive reactions and animosity. Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis were both American heroes in the War with Mexico and Confederate leaders. Jefferson Davis had been the United States Secretary of War. Theo-political groups seeking to conquer and kill Americans should not be protected as a religion but calling for removing Christian crosses from the graves in National cemeteries is an attack on religious freedom protected by the Constitution. Charleston’s lesson is an evil person, not a gun, not a section of our country or a flag attacked the worshipers. Their Christian reaction taught us Jesus’ words (Matthew 5:46) “For if you love them which love you, what reward have ye?”n

Rev. David Hill is a Cumming Resident and frequent guest preacher at Antioch Baptist Church. *Biblical quotes are from the King James Version of the Bible.

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HOUSES of WORSHIP & Clubs and Organizations HOUSES OF WORSHIP – CONTINUED

UNITED METHODIST

Bethelview United Methodist Church 4525 Bethelview Road | 770.887.4888 Sunday Worship Service: 10:30am (child care available) Pastor: Rev. Deborah Griffith www.bethelview.net Cumming First United Methodist Church 770 Canton Highway | 770.887.2900 Sunday Services: 8:45 & 11am (Traditional) Worship Services: 9:51am (Contemporary) 1:30pm ( Hispanic/Latino en Español) 9am (Lake Service (May-August) Dr. Jeff Ross, Senior Minister Lanier United Methodist Church 1979 Buford Highway | 770.887.0615 Sunday Traditional Service: 8:45am Sunday School: 10am Sunday Contemporary Praise Service: 11am (Nursery available for both services) Ted Miller, Pastor www.lanierumc.org Midway United Methodist Church 5025 Atlanta Highway | 770.475.5230 Sunday Traditional Worship: 8:30am Sunday Children’s Church: 9:30am Sunday School all ages: 9:30am Sunday Contemporary Worship: 10:45am www.midwayumc.org Piedmont United Methodist Church 1170 Dahlonega Highway | 770.887.0770 Bible Study: 10am & 5pm Traditional Service: 11am www.PiedmontUMC@bellsouth.net

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS BUSINESS NETWORKING

Central Forsyth Leads Group Meeting: 2nd & 4th Tues: 11am—1pm Location: The Columns at Pilgrim, Mill Apartments Contact: Nancy Wright | 770.886.0500 or nancyw@ecigroups.com Info: No fees. Open to all Forsyth County Women’s Club Meeting: 3rd Thur of each month

at 11:00am– $22 lunch Location: Windermere Golf Club Contact: Johanna Morgan | 678.525.9309 jlmorgan1960@gmail.com Info: Membership open to all women of

Forsyth and surrounding counties

Program includes group activities,

information and more.

Website: www.forsythcountywomensclub.net Forsyth Network for Business Professionals Meeting: Thur: 11:30am – 12:30pm Location: Bello Italian Restaurant

101 Meadow Drive Contact: Tiffany Allen | 770.887.1962 tiffany@servpro8378.com

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Info:

$50 membership fee & $10 monthly.

Visit twice for free. No occupation overlap. Call first.

The Inspiration Network of Cumming Meeting: 3rd Wed: 7 – 8:30pm Location: The Nurturing Nook,

205 Pilgrim Mill Road Contact: Leanne Temple | 678.965.5969 Member Power Networking Lunch Meeting: Every Tues. at 12 Noon Location: Various chamber member restaurants Contact: 770.887.6461 www.cummingforsythchamber.org Info: $15 for members &

$30 for non-members South Forsyth Leads Group Meeting: 2nd & 4th Wed: 11:30am (No fees) Location: Starbucks-141 & Ronald Reagan

John’s Creek, 435 Peachtree Parkway

Cumming, GA 30041 Contact: Robin Grier | 770.887.2772 rgrier@harborfs.com Women Who Mean Business Meeting: 1st Tues. Registration: 7:30am Location: Cumming-Forsyth County

Chamber of Commerce

Event’s Facility, 513 W. Maple Street Contact: 770.887.6461 Info: Free for members, $30 for non-members

Register online at cummingforsythchamber.org.

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS

Health Center (CHC) Serving the medical needs of North Georgia since 1979.

Horse Rescue, Relief & Retirement Fund, Inc. Contact: 770.886.5419 | www.savethehorses.org Humane Society of Forsyth County No-Kill Shelter Location: 4440 Keith Bridge Road Contact: 770.887.6480 Info: Non-profit, no-kill shelter for cats/dogs.

Website: www. forsythpets.org There’s Hope for the Hungry Contact: 678.513.9400 Info: Non-profit organization partnering with

churches across North Georgia to feed

those in need.

Website: www.thereshope.org Whispering Hope Resource & Pregnancy Center Location: 133 Samaritan Drive, Suite 306 Info: Non-profit organization dedicated to

informing, educating, and providing

an outstretched hand to women who

face an untimely pregnancy Contact: 770.889.8302, whisperinghope4u@bellsouth.net Website: www.WhisperingHope.org

Piecemakers Quilt Guild Meeting: 2nd Tues, 4th Tues is “sewcialbee”

(community quilts, classes or just

getting together) Location: Christ the King, Lutheran Church

1125 Bettis-Tribble Gap

Road, Cumming Website: www.piecemakersga.netw

SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS

AA Cumming Meeting: Meets four times daily Location: Ingles Shopping Center

at 432 Canton Highway

(Hwy 20) Second suite

on far left.

24/7 Line: 770.886.0696 Info: Group of Alcoholics Anonymous located

in Forsyth County Website: www.aacummingga.org Holistic Moms Network – Forsyth County Monthly meetings with informational speakers, yoga group, play groups Meeting: 2nd Tues: 6:30pm Location: Land of a Thousand

Hills Coffee House 5095

Post Road, Cumming Contact: Ann Linke | parkway-chruch.org holisticmomforsyth@yahoo.com Website: www.holisticmoms.org Labrador Friends of the South, Inc. Location: PO Box 933, Cumming Contact: labfriendinfo@gmail.com Website: www.labradorfriends.com Moms Club of Cumming – North Monthly meetings with informational speakers, park play days, holiday parties, fieldtrips, playgroups and a monthly MOMS Night Out. Contact: momscummingnorth@yahoo.com Website:www. momsclub.org Moms Club of Cumming – Southwest Meeting: Last Tues. of each month Contact: www.momsclub.org NAMI Forsyth Dawson Lumpkin (excluding major holidays) Meeting: 2nd & 4th Thurs: 7PM-8:30PM 2nd Thur: 2 support meetings (for consumers and

family members.

4th Thur: Educational meeting Location: Forsyth County Senior Center, 595

Dahlonega Highway

Cumming, Ga. 30040 Info: Two support groups (family & peer)

meetevery Thurs. except the last when

there is a speaker.

Contact: Flo Giltman | lgiltma1@gmail.com Website: www.namifdlga.org

CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

Single Mom Meeting Connect with other single moms, learn about paths to higher education and get links to community resources. Light dinner provided and free on-site childcare/ homework help provided.

Meeting: 2nd Thurs: 6:30pm Location: 210 Dahlonega St., Suite 203, Cumming Contact: Valerie Daniel Faith’s House, Inc. 770.205.6311 Website: www.faithshouseinc.org

Rotary Club of South Forsyth Meeting: Wed: 12:15pm Location: 6300 Polo Club Drive Website: www.southforsythrotaryclub.org

SMART Recovery Meeting: Every Tues: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Professional Recovery Counseling, LLC.

107 W. Court house Sq., Suite 274 Website: www.smartrecovery.org

Ducktown Chapter #460 – Order of the Eastern Star Meeting: 2nd & 4th Fri: 7:30pm Location: 4655 Canton Hwy Contact: 770.887.8147

Craftsmanship with a story

678.456.5395 • theboutique@nolongerbound.com • nlbboutique.com • 1790 peachtree parkway, cumming, ga 30041 45 www.myforsyth.com

Youth Foodie: Pizzeria Azzurri cont. from page 20 it’s named after “Azzurro” in Italian. It represents the traditional Savoy Blue color of the really successful Italian soccer teams and players. The owner’s kids are really great soccer players too. Cary asked me if I wanted to see how pizza was made and then he ran into the kitchen and came back with two aprons and two balls of dough. He put an apron on me and threw some flour on it to make me look like I’ve been making pizza.

He then put some flour on the table and showed me how to form the pizza dough into a crust. I worked together with him showing me how to spread the dough, lift it and spread it around. He spun his into a large circle ready for toppings. He then went about two yards away and threw the soft dough to me. My dad and mom said “Catch it!” but I missed, and it flopped on the floor. John then asked, “Who wants this pizza?”!

Cary, the “pizzaialo”, also came up with a dessert called the Pizooki – shaped like a small pizza, but is a fresh baked cookie! It is heaven – warm, half-baked cookie dough, vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup.

It’s so much better than just a cookie – it has that soft warm ooey cookie dough feel and smell, and the ice cream melts right in and mixes with the whole thing. I LOVE them - they are absolutely amazing. Words to the wise - don’t eat a whole one by yourself. It’s very filling!

To sum up, Pizzeria Azzurri is the perfect family pizza joint. They have helpful staff and amazing pizza, wings, and desserts. Next time you’re in the mood for pizza, stop by there – you won’t regret it!

www.pizzaazzurri.com 3560 Browns Bridge Road Cumming, GA 30028 770.887.8833

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Spread the Word About Your Business...

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ADVERTISERS ALCOHOL/DRUG ABUSE REGENERATION PROGRAM The Boutique by No Longer Bound – pg.45 770-886-7873 www.nolongerbound.com AUTOMOTIVE/CAR REPAIRS Christian Brothers Automotive – pg.15 470-253-7376 https://locations.cbac.com/cumming/ CARPET/UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Carpet Cleaning Plus – pg.46 678-807-8537 www.carpetcleaning-plus.com DANCE ACADEMY/INSTRUCTION Cumming Dance Academy – pg.22 770-781-4922 www.CummingDanceAcademy.com DENTIST/DENTAL CARE Jordan Dentistry – pg.35 770-888-6262 www.JordanDentistry.com North Georgia Smiles – Inside Back Cover 678-648-7311 www.northgeorgiasmiles.com EDUCATION/PRIVATE ACADEMY Huntington Learning Center – pg.38 770-292-8994 www.huntingtonhelps.com Pinecrest Academy – pg.15 770-888-4477 www.pinecrestacademy.org EYE CARE/CONTACT LENSES For Your Eyes Only – pg.33 Mira Sivan, DO | 678-648-5185 www.fyeo-eyecare.com

FITNESS Anytime Fitness – pg.22 770-844-9552 www.anytimefitness.com/gyms/369

North Georgia Vein Institute– Inside Front Cover 678-513-1600 www.northgeorgiavein.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN Laurie Hunter Graphic Design – pg.49 lhunter50@gmail.com

Northside Hospital Forsyth – pg.3 770-844-3200 www.northside.com

HEARING TESTING/HEARING AIDS Ambit 3D – pg.7 770-205-5776

Obstetrics & Gynecology of Atlanta – Inside Back Cover 404-252-1137 www.obgynofatlanta.com

HEATING/ VENTILATION/ AIR CONDITIONING Shelnutt HVAC – pg. 46 706-265-5854 www.shelnutthvac.com

PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS Georgia Promotional Products – pg.49 678-845-0397 www.gapromotional.com

JEWELRY STORE Lance’s Jewelry – Back Cover 770-781-5500 www.lancesjewelry.com

REAL ESTATE The Dinsmore Team – pg.25 770-712-7789 www.dinsmoreteam.com

PHOTOGRAPHY Adam Pendleton – pg.11 678-208-7077 www.AdamPendleton.com

RESTAURANTS, FOOD SERVICES & CATERING Casa Nuova – pg.21 770-475-9100 www.casanuovarestaurant.com

PHYSICIANS/MEDICAL SERVICES Advanced Gastroenterology Associates– pg. 29 Hudes Endoscopy Center 678-475-1606 www.advgastro.com Narendra Singh, MD – pg.31 Atlanta Heart Specialists 678-679-6800; 770-622-1622 www.heartdrsingh.com North Atlanta Dermatology – pg.11 770-814-8222 www.naderm.com

Mint Indian Bistro - pg.20 470-253-8722 | 404-406-9700 www.mint-indianbistro.coom Lenny’s Subs – pg.47 678-947-0336 Fax orders: 678-947-5343 Norman’s Landing – pg.21 770-886-0100 www.normanslanding.com WAREHOUSE/HOME/PATIO/DECOR Midway Warehouse – pg.5 678-762-0444 www.midwaywarehouse.net

Better Tasting All American Food

WE CATER 1040 Market Place Blvd., GA (near Home Depot & Walmart) | 678.947.0336 | F: 678.947.5343

CATERING | ORDER ONLINE & FAX

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ELECTED APPOINTED OFFICIALS

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT President Barack H. Obama (D) 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20500 O: 202.456.1414 | E: president@whitehouse.gov www.whitehouse.gov Senator Johnny Isakson, (R) 131 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 O: 202.224.3643 | www.isakson.senate.gov Senator David Perdue, (R) 383 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 O: 202.224.3521 | www.perdue.senate.gov Congressman Doug Collins, (R), District 9 1504 Longworth H. O. B. Washington DC 20515 O: 202.225.9893 | Georgia office: 770.297.3388 Congressman Rob Woodall, (R), District 7 1724 Longworth HOB Washington DC 20515 O: 202.225.4272 | Georgia office: 770.232.3005 STATE GOVERNMENT Governor Nathan Deal (R) O: 404.652.7003 | F: 404.652.7123 Website: gov.state.ga.us Lt. Governor Casey Cagle (R) O: 404.656.5030 Website: gov.state.ga.us

Senator Michael Williams (R), District 51 O: 404.656.7127 e-mail: michael.williams@senate.ga.gov Sen. Steve Gooch (R), District 51 O: 678.341.6203 | F: 770.844.5821 e-mail: steve.gooch@statesenate.ga.gov District 23 Vacant, Pending Election Rep. Mike Dudgeon (R), District 24 O: 770.887.0400 | E: mike.dudgeon@house. ga.gov Rep. Kevin Tanner (R), District 9 O: 404.656.0152 | E: kevin.tanner@house.ga.gov FORSYTH COUNTY GOVERNMENT Website: forsythco.com Forsyth County Board of Commissioners 110 East Main Street, Suite 210 Cumming, GA 30040 O: 770.781.2101 | F: 770.781.2199 Website: forsythco.com County Manager Doug Derrer O:770.781.2101 | F: 770.781.2199 COMMISSIONERS R.J. (Pete) Amos, District 1 (R) O: 678.513.5881 | E: rjamos@forsythco.com Brian R. Tam, District 2 (R) O: 678.513.5882 | E: brtam@forsythco.com Todd Levent, District 3 (R) O: 770.781.2101 | E: tlevent@forsythco.com Cindy Mills, District 4 (R) O: 678.513.5884 | E: cjmills@forsythco.com Jim Boff, District 5 (R) O: 678.513.5885 | E: jjboff@forsythco.com Forsyth County Tax Commissioner Matthew C. Ledbetter O: 770.781.2110

FORSYTH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Sheriff Duane K. Piper 475 Tribble Gap Road, Suite 200 Cumming GA 30040 O: 770.781.3045 | Dispatch: 770.781.3087 FORSYTH COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM Dr. Jeff Bearden, Superintendent 1120 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming O: 770.887.2461 | www.forsyth.k12.ga.us BOARD OF EDUCATION Ann Crow, District 1 (R) O: 770.490.6316 | E: ACrow@forsyth.k12.ga.us Kristin Morrissey, District 2 (R) O: 678-250-4047 | E: kmorrissey@forsyth.k12.ga.us Tom Cleveland, District 3 (R) O: 770.657.0810 E: TCleveland@forsyth.k12.ga.us Darla Light, District 4 770.887.0678 | E: DLight@forsyth.k12.ga.us Nancy Roche, Chairperson, District 5 (R) 770.889.0229 | E: NRoche@forsyth.k12.ga.us CITY OF CUMMING Mayor Henry Ford Gravitt Cumming City Hall 100 Main Street, Cumming, GA 3040 O: 770.781.2010 Cumming City Council Members Quincy Holton, Lewis Ledbetter, Ralph Perry, John Pugh and Rupert Sexton City Administrator Gerald Blackburn | O:770.781.2010 City Clerk Jeff Honea | E: jhonea@cityofcumming.net

COMMUNITY NUMBERS EMERGENCY — 911 HOTLINES — 24 HOUR HELP LINES Battered Women Hotline | 770.479.1703 Poison Control Center (Atlanta) | 404.616.9000 Outside Metro Atlanta | 800.222.1222 Rite-Call (Child Medical Problems) 404.250.KIDS Sexual Assault & Family Violence Center 770.428.2666 MEDICAL Georgia Highlands Medical Services 770.887.1668 | 260 Elm Street | www.ghms-inc.org Northside Hospital — Forsyth 1200 Northside Forsyth Drive 770.844.3200 | www.northside.com Neighborhood Healthcare Center 2825 Keith Bridge Road 770.844.7494 | 770.886.7135 Health Department 428 Canton Highway | 770.781.6906 FIRE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT City of Cumming Police Department 301 Veterans Memorial Boulevard 770.781.2000 | www.cummingpd.net Forsyth County Fire Department 3520 Settingdown Road 770.781.2180 | forsythco.com Georgia State Patrol | 770.205.5400 48 www.myforsyth.com

LIBRARIES 770.781.9840 | www.forsythpl.org Cumming Public Library | 585 Dahlonega Road Hampton Park Library | 5345 Settingdown Road Post Road Library | 5010 Post Road Sharon Forks Branch | 2810 Old Atlanta Road PARKS AND RECREATION City of Cumming Main Number 410 Pilgrim Mill Road | 770.781.2030 Central Park Office | 770.781.2215 Central Park Recreation Center 2300 Keith Bridge Road | 678.455.8540 Cumming Fairgrounds 235 Castleberry Road | 770.781.3491 Windermere Park 3355 Windermere Parkway | 770. 781.2215 GOLF CLUBS Chestatee Golf Club 777 Dogwood Way, Dawsonville | 706.216.7336 Country Land Golf Course 6560 Mayfield Drive | 770.887.0006 Polo Golf & Country Club 6300 Polo Club Drive | 770.887.7656 Windermere Golf Club 5000 Davis Love Drive | 678.513.1000 FORSYTH COUNTY MARINAS Bald Ridge Marina 1850 Bald Ridge Marina Road | 770.887.5309 Habersham Marina 2200 Habersham Marina Road | 770.887.5432

Port Royale Marina 9200 LanMar Road, Gainesville | 770.887.5715 YMCA 6050 Y Street | O: 770.888.2788 POST OFFICE 525 Tribble Gap Road | O: 770.886.2388 UTILITIES City of Cumming O: 770.781.2020 Forsyth County Water & Sewer Department 110 East Main Street O: 770.781.2160 | www.forsythco.com AT&T Res: 888.757.6500 | Bus: 866.213.6300 www.att.com Georgia Power (Electric) | O: 888.660.5890 Sawnee Electric Membership | O: 770.887.2363 SOLID WASTE Advanced Disposal/Eagle Point Landfill 8880 Old Federal Road, Ball Ground O: 770.887.6063 | www.advanceddisposal.com Olde Atlanta Recycling LLC 2535 Ivy Street East | O: 770.205.6912 Waste Management, Inc. 774 McFarland Road, Alpharetta 770.751.1304 | www.wm.com RECYCLING Keep Forsyth County Beautiful | O: 770.205.4573

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1705 Market Place Blvd. | Cumming, GA 30041 | 770.781.5500 Monday-Friday 10am-6pm | Saturday 10am-5pm | Closed Sunday 52 www.myforsyth.com