Forsyth Herald, May 6, 2015

By KATHLEEN [email protected]

CUMMING, Ga. — Doug Sor-rells was named an interim councilman for the city of Cumming May 1. Sorrels will serve until July 21 to give the county the opportunity to hold a special election to fill retiring Councilman Rupert Sexton’s unexpired term. The special election will be held on June 16.

Sorrells was Forsyth County Clerk of Courts for 12 years and also served on the Forsyth County Board of Voter Registrations and Elections from 2010 to February 2015.

Crystal Ledford, public information assistant for the city, said because the special election will take place the same night as a council meet-ing and the polls will still be

open, they won’t be able to swear in the elected person until the next meeting, on July 21. The elected person will be in office for Post 1 until Dec. 31, 2017, which would have been the end of Sexton’s term.

Ledford said interested parties should contact Jeff Honea, city clerk, for qualify-ing information. The qualifying period is May 12-14 and the fee is $180.

Mayor H. Ford Gravitt said because Sorrells has a history working in the government, he felt he was a good choice.

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I felt [Sorrells], being the person he was, would be the right one to be appointed for the interim, which is only for a few meetings.”H. FORD GRAVITTCumming mayor

Piney Grove MS hosts Great Day of GivingBy KATHLEEN [email protected]

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Students from Piney Grove Middle School (PGMS) took a day away from their usual lessons to give back to their community. Over 1,400 students participated in 70 different projects including sorting cans for a food pantry, cleaning up roadways and setting up Relay for Life.

Kathleen Kraynick, a par-ent volunteer with PGMS, said the event started eight years ago after Principal Terri North

came up with the idea.“She gathered together a

group of parent volunteers to kick it off,” Kraynick said. “The idea was to take every student and staff member with a couple hundred parent volunteers to go out into the community for a day of ser-vice each school year.”

The projects are through-out the county and even extend into North Fulton and Canton, Kraynick said.

During the first day of giv-ing, a group went to Cumming Fairgrounds to help set up for Relay for Life, Kraynick said.

“The coordinators were astounded at how much was covered that day,” Kraynick said. “They actually ended up cancelling their volunteers they had signed up because PGMS took care of it all. Every year they now come to PGMS and ask when the day of giv-ing is to do Relay for Life in conjunction with it to use the students to do the set up.”

Kraynick said the growth of the project has been phe-nomenal and is something many different groups of


Students filled goody bags to donate to those in need.

See GIVING, Page 26

Big Creek ES has big heartSchool holds art show to benefit homeless

► PAGE 11

mailto:[email protected]

forsythherald.com


2 | May 6, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com PUBLIC SAFETY

Call about parents being shot just a hoaxFORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Officers responded to a call April 21 after a caller told dispatch he had just shot his dad in the stomach and was go-ing to shoot his mother and any first responders.

Units made contact with a man in the yard playing baseball, later identified as the possible shooter. He reportedly seemed confused as to why the officers were there.

The team then cleared the resi-dence and quickly determined it was a hoax call.

An investigator arrived on the scene and it was turned over to him.

High-schooler comes to school drunkFORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — An 18-year-old allegedly showed up drunk to Forsyth Central High School April 23. Teachers told officers the student smelled like alcohol and had a half-full Gatorade bottle of a light yellow liquid in his backpack.

When the officer asked the student what was in the bottle, he reportedly said it was wine.

The student confirmed to officers he had been drinking and had con-sumed half of the bottle before coming

to school. He told officers he got the wine from his father’s refrigerator.

He said he had plans to drink more at school because he was stressed, but he didn’t think he would get caught. A preliminary breath test came back positive, and the student was arrested for underage possession of alcohol.

Fake employee steals information CUMMING, Ga. — A man called the Cumming Police Department April 21 in reference to computer trespass.

The man told officers his wife spoke with someone posing as a Mi-crosoft employee. The fake employee called the wife and said her computer may have been hacked and a virus installed.

The wife said she gave the caller the Microsoft ID, a phone number and a password to allow remote access to the computer.

While the caller was logged in, the man’s wife said she could see him ac-cessing confidential files and told him to stop.

He said he needed a few more minutes to get all the information he needed.

She unplugged the computer from the wall, cutting the connection.

She called Microsoft to see if the man worked with them. Microsoft said he does not and she was a victim of a scam going around. The wife tried to log into her computer but access was denied.

A report was written and officers told her to watch out for fraudulent charges on their bank accounts.

POLICE BLOTTERAll crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

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DUI arrests ► Christine Sarah Mendoza, 29,

of Fernwood Court, Alpharetta, was arrested April 24 on Keith Bridge Road in Cumming for DUI.

► Christopher Lee Burrows, 40, of Jefferson, Georgia, was arrested April 24 on Buford Highway in Cumming for DUI and failure to maintain lane.

► Laurie Ibsen Hardee, 52, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was arrested April 20 on Matt Highway in Cumming for DUI.

► Christina Melanie Cawley, 25, of Hopewell Manor Drive, Cumming, was arrested April 20 on Browns Bridge Road in Cumming for DUI and posses-sion of heroin.

► Russell Brian Sullivan, 38, of Fowler Hill Road, Alpharetta, was arrested April 21 on McFarland Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI and driving on the wrong side of an undi-vided street.

► Jillian Ashley Boyd, 32, of Ridgefair Drive, Cumming, was arrested April 18 on Highway 9 in Cumming for DUI, open container and headlight violation.

► Christopher Trenton Callender, 36, of Downing Drive, Cumming, was arrested April 18 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI, failure to maintain lane and open container.

► Royce Maurice Simonton, 28, of Oxford, Georgia, was arrested April 19 on Ga. 400 in Cumming for DUI and driving in the gore.

► Robert E. Law, 52, of Silver Lake Court, Cumming, was arrested April 18 on Davis Love Drive in Cumming for DUI.

► William Torrey Quinn, 56, of Suwanee was arrested April 18 on Ga. 400 in Cumming for DUI and speeding.

Drug arrests ► Samantha Jo Swaim, 36, of Fowler

Hill Road, Cumming, was arrested April 18 on Holtzclaw Road in Cumming for possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamines, possession of a schedule II controlled substance, pos-session of a schedule IV controlled sub-stance, possession of drug-related items and drugs not kept in original container.

DUIS & DRUGSAll crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A man called the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office April 23 after he realized his neighbor was stealing electricity from him.

The man has a rental property off of Wilkinson Drive and said that was the first time he had been there in about two weeks.

He told officers he noticed a yellow extension cord running from the pow-er outlet on his back deck attached to an orange extension cord that ran to

the back of the neighbor’s house. He reportedly tried to make contact with the neighbor, but no one answered.

The officer contacted the neighbor, who said he had lived there for two months. He reportedly told officers he was stealing the power because his was cut off.

The man said he didn’t want to prosecute.

He just wanted the theft docu-mented, so he could turn it over to the property manager.

Neighbor steals electricity

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4 | May 6, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com NEWS


CUMMING, Ga. — The Georgia Mountains Regional Commis-sion (GMRC) held its monthly meeting in Cumming April 30.

“GMRC is a sub-state dis-trict created by local govern-ments in 1962 under provi-sions of Georgia Enabling Law. The purpose of the GMRC is to locally promote and guide proper development of hu-man, natural, physical, social and economic resources in the

Georgia Mountains Region. The area covers 3,500 square miles, and includes Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lump-kin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White Counties,” according to its website.

Chairman Sam Norton conducted the meeting, gave an update and described how the GMRC helps local govern-ments.

“GMRC is a service-oriented agency that works and assists local government with plan-

ning, comp plans, historical preservation, grant writing and facilitates work force invest-ment,” Norton said. “So we help local governments do programs.”

The group’s meetings rotate throughout its jurisdictions and April’s happened to fall on the city of Cumming. Forsyth County is the southern-most county within the 13 counties in the group.

“This is the business of our

state,” Norton said. “Of our 13 counties, we are a board made of chairmen, county commis-sioners and mayors of towns and a few private sector ap-pointees by the governor, lieu-tenant governor and speaker of the house. In this northeast region, GMRC is made up of the top elected officials of the state in our region. This is where we come to do business regionally as opposed to just in our county or town.”

GARAGE SALESSee more garage sales in the classifieds • Page 29

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Forsyth County Animal Shelter to install dog runsBy KATHLEEN [email protected]

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — While the For-syth County Animal Shelter just opened in August 2014, it is already preparing for its first round of renovations. The Forsyth Board of Commissioners approved April 28 the county donating 25 percent of funds needed to build and install new dog runs at the shelter.

Dr. John McGruder is with the Friends of the Forsyth County Animal Shelter, the group that would fund the other 75 per-cent of the project.

“This proposal would create up to eight outside dog runs that will be covered with an artificial turf especially designed for dog tracks,” McGruder said. “This would

allow the dogs in our shelter to get more exercise, be more socialized and hopefully reduce euthanasia rates.”

Based on estimates, McGruder said the project will cost about $125,000. They plan to install it in stages.

Deputy County Manager Tim Merritt said each run would have a fence and there would be a 4- to 5-foot gap between each.

“We think that will minimize two dogs being side by side and chasing each other,” Merritt said.

McGruder said the gap is important to keep dogs at bay.

“If you put two dogs next to each other with only a chain link fence to divide them, they’ll bite,” McGruder said. “The more they run up that fence, the more

they want to bite. So we want to separate them.”

The shelter is looking to use an artifi-cial turf brand called Synlawn, which is 100 percent nylon and won’t radiate heat, causing it to break down.

These runs are crucial in getting dogs adopted, said Jeanie Curphey, the new shelter manager.

“The shelter is awesome, but there’s no place for the dogs to get out and stretch their legs and run,” Curphey said. “Dogs that stay longer in the caged areas tend to get more aggressive. It makes it more difficult for them to get adopted and could influence our euthanasia rate. This kind of run for the dogs could make a huge dif-ference in their adoptability for them to get out and exercise for a bit.”

Ga. Mountains Regional Commission meeting held in Cumming

KATHLEEN STURGEON

Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt, left, and Georgia Mountains Regional Commission Executive Director W. Danny Lewis.

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forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | May 6, 2015 | 5Submit your news & photos to [email protected] NEWS

ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Transportation opened the sealed bids April 24 for the State Route 400 Widening Project in Forsyth County. The team of C.W. Mat-thews Contracting Co., Inc./Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering is the apparent successful proposer.

The Department used a variable scope procurement approach, incentivizing com-petition to provide the most lane miles of widening for the least cost. The team’s proposal for the design-build project includes the maximum scope at a bid of $47,470,406.25.

Funding for the project is made possible through a trans-portation bond referendum

approved by Forsyth county voters November 2014.

“GDOT saw an opportunity to align the goals of the For-syth County voters - who clear-ly expressed their desire to widen SR 400 as far northward as possible - with an innova-tive procurement approach,” said Georgia DOT Commis-sioner Russell McMurry. “Us-ing a variable scope ‘best value’ design build methodology and the perfect project context, we refined our approach for the best possible outcome. SR 369 is the maximum distance that could be selected, and the competitive bid represents a great value for Georgia. We are very grateful for the apparent outstanding results.”

Georgia DOT will confirm that the successful proposer provided a complete, properly executed proposal bond and will review the administrative and technical proposals on a pass/fail basis to determine if they meet conformance requirements. A tightened up design phase requires the contractor to break ground by November 2, just one year after the Forsyth vote.

The referendum passed by Forsyth County voters included the SR 400 Widening Project, which will widen SR 400 by one lane in the existing inside median both northbound and

southbound from McFarland Parkway to at least Bald Ridge Marina in Forsyth County.

Innovative contracting set up for the first time by the Depart-ment allowed for Design-Build Teams to bid on ten additional segments northbound and southbound from Bald Ridge Marina up to possibly as far as SR 369. The final bids include all possible segments so that the scope now includes widening work up to SR 369 – or approxi-mately 14 miles from McFarland Parkway. The design-build contract includes design and construction, permitting, utility

coordination and/or utility relo-cation, and any other necessary services. It also includes the widening of four bridges – north-bound and southbound over the Big Creek Greenway, as well as northbound and southbound over Lake Lanier.

It is anticipated the project will relieve congestion, shorten commute times and encourage more commercial development.

For information about the SR 400 Widening Proj-ect visit http://www.dot.ga.gov/BuildSmart/Projects/Pages/TransPi.aspx?ProjectID=0013367.

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6 | May 6, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com Submit your news & photos to [email protected]

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ATLANTA, Ga. — Forsyth County District 4 Commis-sioner and Vice Chairman Cindy Jones Mills was recently named as the 2015-2016 Chairman of the General County Government Policy Committee for the Associa-tion County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG), Georgia’s county association.

The appointment was made by ACCG President and Gwinnett County Chairman Charlotte Nash during the 2015 ACCG Annual Confer-ence held at the Savannah International Trade & Con-vention Center.

Legislative advocacy and public policy development are two of the primary services that ACCG provides to Georgia counties.

The association uses a consensus-based policy com-mittee process to bring togeth-er county commissioners and county staff to discuss issues of concern to county govern-ment that require changes to state and federal laws and agency policies.

Policy committees develop positions on key issues, which become part of the county platform.

The county plat-form is voted on by the membership at the ACCG Legislative Leadership Conference held annually in October.

ACCG policy staff use the county platform to guide advocacy efforts on behalf of counties during the legisla-tive session.

“Policy committee leaders serve an essential function by leading their peers in the discussion of critical issues facing Georgia counties,” said ACCG Executive Director Ross King. “These committees pro-vide a forum for learning more about key policy issues, and our chairs and vice chairs are responsible for helping to lead the discussion and develop consensus.”

The General County Gov-ernment Committee handles issues involving the structure of county government and intergovernmental relations be-tween counties, constitutional officers, the courts and federal, state and city governments.

Other issue areas include elections, ethics, home rule, service delivery, planning and zoning.

“Having served as the Vice Chairman of this commit-tee for the past two years, I am honored to now have the opportunity to step up and serve as Chairman of this committee and to work on legislative issues that have a direct impact on our community,” said Mills. “This committee plays a vital role as a guardian for county government. As legislative bills come forward, the policy council becomes an advocate for county government, in try-ing to make sure that implied costs are considered before an actual vote occurs. We also work to try to get corrective measures made when a bill might have intended or un-intended consequences that have a negative impact on the county, as we saw recently in the juvenile justice reform bill.”

Mills will lead the Gen-eral County Government Policy Committee with Dawson County Commissioner James Swafford, who was named Vice Chairman.

Cindy Jones Mills to lead ACCG General County Government Policy Committee

MILLS

CUMMING, Ga. — Julie Tresser announced May 1 her candidacy for the Post 1 City Council seat in the upcoming June 16th election.

“Cumming needs strong leaders who care about serv-ing and not politics, Tressler said. “I consider this a continuation of my public service. I have been involved since the first day my kids started at Cumming Elemen-tary and I have never stopped trying to make this a better community.”

Tressler outlined some of her goals if elected to the position.

“Maintaining the fiscal responsibility of the City of Cumming is paramount, as is the efficient manner in which government business is conducted in the city,” she said. “Economic development, bringing revenue and jobs to the citizens of Cumming is equally as important. I will work tirelessly to promote the great qualities of the City of Cumming, a city in which I am proud to call home.”

Tressler is a residential

realtor and small busi-ness owner with two children. She attends Bethelview United Meth-odist Church and has lived in Cumming

for 15 years.Her son, Harrison, is a

graduate of Forsyth Central HS (FCHS) and is a student at UGA while her daughter, Marlie, will be graduating from FCHS this year and has been accepted into Georgia Southern University starting this fall.

“My kids are my greatest accomplishment and I am so proud of the young adults they’ve become,” Tressler said. “With them moving into the next phase of their lives, I will have the time to devote to the citizens of Cumming and put my unique blend of experiences and dedica-tion to work for the citizens and businesses of the City of Cumming.”

Tressler announces candidacy for City Council

TRESSLER

Running for vacated Post 1 seat

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CUMMING, Ga. — Forsyth County Schools (FCS) and Forsyth County Family YMCA has recently solidified their partnership in order to further impact students, families and the community.

“This partnership will enable our district to support many students and families in Forsyth County,” said Deb-bie Smith, FCS student support services director. “FCS and the YMCA plan to grow this partnership to support students, our drug prevention programs, our after school programs and grow our mentoring program.”

Through this partnership, a variety of opportunities are being provided to directly and positively impact students and their families throughout the district, including implementing the Youth Fit 4 Life program in elementary after school programs, offering scholarships for sum-mer camp and other YMCA programs for students and families in need, volunteer and job training opportunities for stu-dents and hosting events for all Forsyth County schools.

“It’s our pleasure to become Partners in Education with the Forsyth County School System,” said Kerry Carithers, For-syth County Family YMCA senior branch operations director. “The Y looks forward to extending our reach together with this partnership to serve more children and families through our impactful mission centered initiatives of healthy living, youth development and social responsibility.”

—Kathleen Sturgeon

Forsyth County Family YMCA partners with Forsyth County Schools

Pictured from left, Debbie Smith (FCS Director of Student Support Services), Hannah Orr (FCS Communications and Partnerships Facilitator), Lindsey Simpson (FCS I Have A Choice Grant Administrator), Kerry Carithers (Forsyth County Family YMCA Senior Branch Operations Director) and Jamie Rife (FCS Homeless Education Liasion).

forsythherald.com

8 | May 6, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com Submit your opinions to [email protected]

Take even a cursory glance at newspapers, social media or radio and television reports and you would be hard-pressed to miss the disturbing events going on in Baltimore this week.

The controversial death of a young black man in police custody, followed by pub-lic grieving, anger, charges of racism and injustice and ultimately rioting and looting have left a community in tat-ters and a nation wondering how and when will this end?

People throughout the country are asking if race relations are getting worse, or are we just paying more attention? Is the problem institutional or isolated? Why are protests of injustice turning into riots and lawless-ness? Where else could this happen?

In situations like these, technology and social media can act as both curse and blessing. Used one way, the pervasive nature of camera phones can help clear or

convict. They can also create chaos.

Images and other informa-tion shared through social media posts spread so quickly that they can make it difficult to assess what really hap-pened, how it happened or who is responsible.

The images and posts flying around from the first minute can make justice seem unattainable to many.

So while prosecutors on Friday ruled that this case is a homicide and moved quickly to charge six police officers, their incredibly swift investigation did not – and perhaps never could have – come quickly enough to ease the tensions and

avoid the violence that shut down the streets of Balti-more.

Worse, the frenzy on all sides makes it nearly impos-sible to come together and search for solutions to prevent similar tragedies in the fu-ture...maybe in a neighbor-hood near you.

KEITH STILL

Newsroom Editorkeith@appenmedia

group.com

Something has gone very wrong in America.

Riots erupted in Baltimore last week after the April 19 death of Freddie Gray. He died a week after he was arrested and suffered a severe spinal injury while in police custody. The cause of this injury is cur-rently unknown.

In the past six months, protests and rioting have erupted in a half-dozen cities across the country. They all have similar circumstances – an unarmed black man is killed by a white officer, which has spurred protests both peaceful (during the day) and violent (at night). I don’t know if these killings surprisingly close together are a new phe-nomenon or if we are simply paying more attention now. But it doesn’t really matter.

It’s time we acknowledge this is more than simply one incident in one upset town outside of St. Louis. There is something going on far larger than that, a national and cul-tural problem.

Beyond the aspects of police violence – which, to be clear, is the exception rather than the norm – there is the deeper issue, one of why black communities seem to be targeted more than white or even other minorities. Why

are we not seeing or hearing about similar cases of officers killing Hispanics or Asians? Why just African-Americans? Is it simply because the black community is more vocal

about crimes against them? I do not know if this is

truly a race issue or more of a poverty issue. Perhaps it is a mixture of both.

At the very least, all this unrest speaks to the intense distrust of police by the black community.

There are simple solutions that could help the situation – requiring police body cameras is one possible step. Better police training or leadership could be another. Some de-partments around the country just need fixing.

But fixing police issues is not fixing the problem; it’s treating the symptoms.

The American Dream is one of working hard and getting ahead in life. It’s one of making things better not just for yourself, but for your family, leaving your children a better lot than before.

Somewhere along the line, a large portion of the black community was denied this dream. Or perhaps they sim-ply gave up pursuing it.

An impoverished, dis-enfranchised and, frankly, violent, community doesn’t get that way overnight. There are calls to help the black communities in these cities rise up from poverty. Better investment in these com-

munities both in education and economy is needed, to be sure, but no business is going to invest in an area with high drug use and crime. No school is going to get better teachers with violent or truant students.

There are good people of every race working every day to make a difference, to break cycles of violence or poverty. We need more of these people and they need more help. That is probably the single best option to help these im-poverished communities.

It is sad that this year –

2015 – is 50 years from many of the accomplishments of the Civil Rights movement, includ-ing the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act the year before. That was itself a turbulent time, but it ended all right for the black com-munity and indeed the coun-try. I used to think we had progressed significantly since then.

Apparently I was wrong. We may have political parity across races, but social and civil parity is still lacking.

This road is a long one and there is still a long way to go.

The American Dream is elusive for someJONATHANCOPSEYRevue & News Editorjonathan@ appenmediagroup.com

VICTORIA MACCHI/VOA NEWS

Riot police form a line to push back protesters and media, Balti-more, April 28, 2015.

WHAT’S APPENING?

How are race relations in your city?Join the conversation•Are race relations in

the country better, worse or unchanged today?

•Do you think your community’s race relations mirror the country’s overall?

•How do you think Atlanta -- or North Fulton or Forsyth -- would respond?

Email your thoughts to [email protected].

The American Dream is one of working hard and getting ahead in life. It’s one of making things better not just for yourself, but for your family, leaving your children a better lot than before.

Change comes to Cumming

The city of Cumming has an opportunity that hasn’t pre-sented itself since 1992 — an open councilmember spot.

The newest councilman only joined because his suc-cessor passed away while in office.

The other councilmen have been in office since at least 1979, 36 years ago. Collec-tively, they have 239 years of public service.

That’s an incredible feat that should not be downplayed or written off. I commend Mayor H. Ford Gravitt, Quincy Holton, Lewis Ledbetter, Ralph Perry, John D. Pugh and Ru-pert Sexton for their time in office because running a city is not a job for the faint of heart.

But now that Sexton has retired and is moving on, it’s time for the city to get some new blood.

This incredible opportunity comes once in a lifetime — or life hood of a city in this case — given the longevity of the City Council.

The voters of Cumming need to think long and hard

before the June 16 election about electing someone who will represent the city of Cum-ming of the 21st century, not the 20th.

Sexton himself said he believed there has never been another councilmember who has retired while in office.

The council voted to fill Sexton’s post until they can hold a special election in June, but they had one requirement the interim person needed to abide by — they wouldn’t run for a full term.

Gravitt said he wanted anyone who was interested in running to have a fair chance and therefore they couldn’t fill the interim and then have a leg

KATHLEEN STURGEONForsyth Herald Reporterkathleen@appen mediagroup.com

See CHANGE, Page 29

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forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | May 6, 2015 | 9Submit your opinions to [email protected] OPINIONWEEKLY POLLWould you ever refuse (opt out) standardized testing, such as the Georgia Milestones, for your child?

YOUR FACEBOOK COMMENTSAshlea O'Neil: Yes, and I refused for both of my children. We need to let our teachers do their job. 50% of the teachers evaluations should not be based on one test. Our children and our teachers deserve better!

Peggy Fernandez Franco: No! It was easy according to my 3rd grader. She didn’t turn into an evil dragon or grow horns or anything scary! LOL! Kids will face tests all their lives. Opting out is coddling and sheltering them and leaves them at a disadvantage. It does nothing to prove Common Core is wrong!

Rachael Cornatzer: We've refused. It's nice to see folks becoming more aware of the topic and issues.

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Join the conversation! Check out our Facebook page for weekly polls, contests and expanded stories that you don’t see in the paper!VISIT: HTTP://TINYURL.COM/OZ8RS7U

Roswell High School’s great 65th Anniversary Issue depends on YOU

Roswell High School Principal Jerome Huff and the students at Roswell High School have been celebrating the 65th anniversary of the school for the entire 2014-15 term. Why should they have all the fun?

The Alpharetta-Roswell Revue & News is planning a big celebratory issue for all Roswell High School grads at the end of the school year, but just how great will depend on all of you Green Hornets out there who are willing to share your memories and photos of your “happy daze” at Roswell High.

We are asking Roswell alums to send in their best memories of school and email us their photos.

Since most of the photos are true photographs, we at Appen Media will digitize them and give you digital copies as well.

RHS has been one of the

important institutions in North Fulton, taking gangly, awkward ninth-graders and somehow transforming them into the smart, self-assured and above all really cool se-niors four years later.

Who was the coolest guy in your class (and you don’t have to be modest if it’s you) or who was the one girl you wished you had asked on a date, but never did?

Where did your crowd like to hang out? What were the best songs?

Nobody knows better than you what made RHS great. And they never will, if you

don’t help us.Each decade will be fea-

tured, so you may have to help us with your parents’ and even grandparents’ pic-tures. (See box for details.)

What was the funniest or wildest time you had at school?

Do you remember who or what was really “neato?” How

about the cool cat? The most righteous dude? The foxiest fox? Who had the baddest ride?

You can also recall the best teacher you had. We would like to hear the stories of who influenced you in a positive way.

Do you remember how the songs of the day would ask a question: “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” by Frankie Lyman. “Do You Wanna Dance?” by the Beach Boys. “Does Any-body Know What Time It Is?” by Chicago. “Is There Anybody Out There?” by Pink Floyd. And of course the ever popular “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” by Dionne Warwick.

What song makes you think of those good old days?

So help us celebrate Ro-swell High School and its 65 years of service to the commu-nity and providing us with the memories of a lifetime. See the box for details.

Join in the celebrationWe are looking for RHS alumni from all years and all decades. Email your remembrances, thoughts and best stories about those days: Email: [email protected] up with other RHS grads at the Facebook group: http://tinyurl.com/pvt8r7f

HATCHER HURDExecutive Editorhatcher@ appenmediagroup.com

Hatcher Hurd’s April 16 APS cheating scandal editorial [“APS cheating scandal has no winners, only victims”] asks “the big question – why did this happen?” Hatcher never answers. I’ll try.

APS public servants “alter(ed) test scores ... on an enormous scale,” covered up their corruption, lied to investigating state employees and children’s parents with special needs and corrupted the in-stitution they were getting paid to run.

Hatcher incorrectly seems to blame standardized tests and parents who want their children to excel on those tests.

Also, Hatcher’s first reaction was that “these people did wrong, but they are not gangsters. How much of a threat to the community are they now?” Again, Hatcher misses the point.

An example needs to be set. We need to promise and threaten accountability to all those future liars, cheats and crooks (public servants?) who haven’t yet acted or been caught.

Education breeds hope, self-respect and is the doorway to success. APS em-ployees “robbed a generation of children of their education” and their futures. Parents suffered. The broader society was damaged.

Why did this happen? The answer is – faith in bureaucratic solutions made (and make) this threat, and future ones, possible.

We first need more individual respon-sibility and private sector solutions. Only then, try any government-based solu-tions. Even communist countries have

rejected top down Marxist and Leninist approaches in favor of market-driven ones. Many contemporaries still haven’t gotten that message.

Government should only set goals, hire private contractors and then review and/or audit private sector performance. Otherwise, using total, instead of just “second guessing,” government solutions, we will continue to breed self-serving politicians, failing services, waste the privilege of power, bureaucratic arro-gance with less freedom and the systemic failures of unionized government-based solutions.

Let’s change our attitudes and ap-proaches and institutions. Learn from past mistakes or be doomed to repeat them.

–JIM HARGREAVES, Roswell

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Arrogance and bureaucracy led to APS scandal

forsythherald.com


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CUMMING, Ga. — West Forsyth High School Wolverines’ senior pitcher Connor Hawkins has signed a letter of intent to play at Reinhardt University.

“I think Coach Howard and Coach Brady are great coaches who have already have shown what kind of program they are building at Reinhardt,”

Hawkins said. “I feel very blessed and excited to be a part of such a good baseball program.”

Hawkins’ ended his senior season with a compiled one win, six saves and helped lead the Wolverines to the school’s first ever region championship.

—Joe Parker

West Forsyth HS’ Hawkins signs with Reinhardt

Connor Hawkins (center left) signs a letter of intent to play at Reinhardt University with his mother, Joy, father, Jeff and his brother Carson in attendance.

forsythherald.com

forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | May 6, 2015 | 11SCHOOLS

Visit www.AlpharettaChamber.com and sign up today!

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Big Creek ES ‘blooms’ for charity

By SHANNON [email protected]

CUMMING, Ga. — Big Creek Elementary School held a school-wide art show Thurs-day, April 30 to benefit Family Promise of Forsyth County, an up-and-coming organization to serve the county’s homeless population.

Bloom Up Art Night was or-ganized by art teacher Amanda Shultzaberger through all of her classes, with 930 pieces of floral-themed art submit-ted from students. Parents could purchase their children’s framed artwork for $22.95, and were invited to “bloom up” to a larger donation for Family Promise.

“I had the idea to connect to the community,” Shultza-berger said. “My vision is that every year we choose a differ-ent charity.”

The charity was chosen based on a fourth- and fifth-grade essay contest. The win-ner, Anna Lavoie, found out about Family Promise Forsyth through her church.

“I’ve seen homeless around and I’ve always been wanting to help,” Lavoie said. “There are over 400 students that can’t get the same education as us. We should improve everybody’s chance of getting a good job someday.”

The event sold 175 frames, raising over $700 for Family Promise, and the school will continue to sell frames through May 8.

Family Promise Forsyth partners with churches to sponsor a family a week at a time, four times a year. Home-

less families are housed at rotating churches throughout the year. Lu Leeds of Fam-ily Promise said they need $50,000 and 13 church part-ners just to get started. So far, there are four host churches.

“There is no place that shelters an entire family in Forsyth,” Leeds said. “Right now, we need to kick off our program. This is going to help us start funding Family Promise.”

Art show benefits Family Promise Forsyth

SHANNON WEAVER/STAFF

Amanda Shultzaberger with student Tanvi Gaddameedi. Shultzaberger, Big Creek ES’s art teacher, got all of her classes to participate in the event.

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THE DIRECTOR BEHIND STUDIO WEST:

WFHS wins third overall win at Shuler AwardsBy KATHLEEN [email protected]

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — After the curtain closed at the 2015 Georgia High School Musical Theater Shuler Hens-ley Awards, West Forsyth High School’s Studio West was left with eight trophies in hand, including one for Overall Pro-duction.

The group was nominated for Overall Production, Direc-tion, Musical Direction, Scenic Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Sound, Tech-nical Execution, Ensemble, Featured Performer, Support-ing Actor, Supporting Actress, Lead Actor and Lead Actress.

Eric Gray, the director of West’s performance “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” said it took them about three months to put it all together. He said this was the third year Studio West has won overall at the Shuler Awards, which is a feat because it’s only the sixth year West Forsyth has been eligible to participate.

“There was a group in my office at the time they aired the nominations live,” Gray said. “We felt like we were watch-ing the national championship and there was 30 seconds left

in the game and you’re on the goal line, and if you score, you win.

“The list of nominations is alphabetical, so we’re on the second page,” he said. “We saw the first page of listings and then when we flipped to our page we saw it. The whole office went ballistic, everybody at one moment. It’s a rare, wonderful feeling.”

But when the group actu-ally won eight of their 14 nominations, the most of any school nominated, Gray said they were overjoyed.

“It’s one thing to be nomi-nated, but to win feels great,” Gray said. “I do honestly be-lieve when you get nominated, you’ve won already. Because of how many schools and the competition being statewide, it’s a big deal to be in the top six. By winning, it’s an affirma-tion we really were the top of our field.”

Something Gray thinks sets Studio West apart from its competitors is their sense of family.

“We really do strive to keep the egos at bay and it’s all about the guy next to us,” Gray said. “I tell them if they’ll believe in the process and trust and work hard, it will pay off. You never know when, but it will. You have to believe. As long as you’re helping the guy

next to you be the best they can be, you’ve already got suc-cess.”

Trying to stay humble after winning is something Gray tries to stress to his students.

“Anybody can be a diva, but you have to be humble and grateful for what you have and to enjoy that moment,” Gray said. “In theater, that moment is usually fleeting. We are blessed and humbled, but we don’t take anything for granted.”

WFHS wasn’t the only

Forsyth County school to get nominated. All five high schools were either nominated or an honorable mention.

“I’m very proud of the other Forsyth County schools that were nominated or had honor-able mentions or were involved in the Shuler ensemble,” Gray said. “They even made a point on the broadcast to say all Forsyth County were actually involved. It says a lot about our school system, theater de-partments and other directors in this town.”

West Forsyth’s awards• Overall Production: West

Forsyth High School, “Nice Work If You Can Get It”

• Ensemble: West Forsyth High School, “Nice Work If You Can Get It”

• Best Performance by a Leading Actor: Nick Eibler as Jimmy Winter, West Forsyth High School, “Nice Work If You Can Get It”

• Best Performance by a Supporting Actor: Cody Marshall as Cookie McGee, West Forsyth High School, “Nice Work If You Can Get It”

• Sound: Alex Skelton, West Forsyth High School, “Nice Work If You Can Get It”

• Costume Design: Eric Gray, West Forsyth High School, “Nice Work If You Can Get It”

• Technical Execution: Eric Gray, West Forsyth High School, “Nice Work If You Can Get It”

• Music Direction: Eric Gray, West Forsyth High School, “Nice Work If You Can Get It”



forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | May 6, 2015 | 13Submit your news & photos to [email protected] SCHOOLS

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The South Forsyth High War Eagle Band performed in the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade which took place along Constitution

Avenue in Washington, D.C. April 11.The band also visited The Smithsonian Institute,

the Air and Space Museum, Arlington Memorial Cem-

etery and attended a concert of the Army Pershing Band and Army Singers.

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South Forsyth HS band performs in Washington, D.C.

CUMMING, Ga.- The Coal Mountain Elementary School VEX IQ Robotics team placed 11th out of 88 teams at the VEX IQ World Championships in Louisville, Kentucky.

Pictured front row from left: Emileigh

Elwood, Jackson Nicholson, Harley Dan-iel Thomas, Owen Beckstrom and Tristan Graham. Back row from left: Tomis Hamilton, Aidan Kudlas, Braxton Aylor and Gracie Hendrixson.

CMES robotics team places 11th in world competition

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14 | May 6, 2015 | Forsyth Herald Submit your news & photos to [email protected]


CUMMING, Ga. — Bikers, motorcycle riders from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and bike enthusiasts alike came together April 26 for the sheriff’s department’s motor-cycle safety day.

May is Motorcycle Safety Month, so the sheriff’s depart-ment decided to start a yearly event to help promote safe motorcycle riding.

“Our goal is to broaden people’s horizons, including those people who are riders, and teach them they can al-ways go and learn more,” said Cpl. Matt Scott, who helped organize the event.

The event, which was held at the parking lot across from the Cumming Fairgrounds in order to have more space, brought out hundreds of people.

“The Department of Driver Services is onsite to conduct testing to get riders their Class M license (both written and riding portions),” said Scott. “There are three dealerships attending, each with their own mechanic, that are providing free motorcycle inspections for interested owners. We also have a couple law enforcement cone courses set up and will be allowing citizens to ‘Challenge a Cop.’

“In addition, we have two restaurants in attendance, a merchandising company (that makes T-shirts, key chains and cozies), a patch sewer, a repre-sentative from Steel Horse Law, an insurance agent specializing in motorcycle insurance, a lo-cal cigar shop, a custom powder coating company, apparel, several rider schools, a raffle and 50/50,” he said.

The inspec-tions are some-thing Scott said was really impor-tant to do for a motorcycle.

“It’s our way of encouraging people not to treat their motorcycle like a lawn mower,” Scott said. “At the end of the winter, you want to pull it out to cut the grass and just go. You don’t bother checking the gas, tire pressure or if a critter is living in your exhaust. When you only have two pieces of rubber touching the ground that you have to keep you up, if there’s some-thing wrong with them, then

you have an issue.”An event like this is neces-

sary, Scott said.“It’s important to reach out

and remind them, yes you got your license and you may have received it 30 years ago or last week, but you can always learn

more,” Scott said. “There’s not a day I get on a bike for the FCSO and I don’t pick up on something new or there’s not some-thing that hap-pens that I have to avoid on the roadway that the training prepares you for.”

In the past, similar events were held at a local dealer, Scott said, and about 10-20 people would show up.

“When I came back to the motor unit last fall, we started talking about revamping it,” Scott said. “I wanted to make it something that

would attract bikers. If you have them come out to a deal-ership, where they get a free visor hanger reminding them to wear their helmet and you have a police officer doing a mechanic’s job of inspecting a motorcycle, that’s not a draw.

“Having actual licensed mechanics out here doing inspections on motorcycles, great food, bike gear, ven-dors, other charity rides and

come here and challenge us on our challenge a cop course – these things don’t happen; and they’re never offered all at the same time,” he said. “We thought why not and put everything together and made it happen.”

Barbara and Roger Swof-ford of Alpharetta attended the event for the first time this year and had a booth for their company, Southern Cruisers.

“It brought us out here be-cause it encourages people to ride safely,” Barbara Swofford said. “Safety is a big thing. In a group, you tend to be safer rather than all by yourself.”

Motorcycle safety day promotes safe riding

PHOTOS BY KATHLEEN STURGEON/STAFF

There was a special course set up where riders could challenge a cop.

Our goal is to broaden people’s horizons, including those people who are riders, and teach them they can always go and learn more.”CPL. MATT SCOTTForsyth County Sheriff’s Office

Roger and Barbara Swofford attended the event for the first time this year.

Some of the Christian Motorcyclists Association members in attendance were, from left, Mike Hammons, Cliff Finney, Jim Barner and Dan Montgomery.




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16 | May 6, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com Submit your news & photos to [email protected] | Recycled paper

For the second consecu-tive year, Forsyth County has been named the healthiest county in Geor-gia by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wiscon-sin Population Health In-stitute. While this is great news, it is also an oppor-tunity to dig a little deeper in the data to identify the areas of opportunity. Out of the 35 different fac-tors measured, Forsyth

County outperformed the other “Top US Perform-ers” in only 14 factors. The County is outperforming other Georgia counties but still has some work to do to be among the healthiest communities in the na-tion. Citizens should pay particular attention to the following factors: Alcohol Impaired Driv-ing Deaths, Ex-cessive Drink-ing, Mental

Health provider Rations and Physician Rations. These are areas where the county signifi cantly underperformed national rankings AND the aver-age for Georgia counties. To dig deeper with the data, visit www.county-healthrankings.org.

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Light & Amos to Speak at Annual State of the County Address

The month of May pres-ents the business com-munity with an important opportunity— the annual State of the County Ad-dress on May 7, 2015 at 11:30 a.m., located in the Forsyth Conference Center. This event is a great networking oppor-tunity with the business and civic leadership of Forsyth County. The Cumming-Forsyth Coun-ty Chamber of Commerce and the Council for Qual-ity Growth jointly host the luncheon, sponsored

by Northside Hospital-Forsyth and other sup-porting sponsors.

Featured speakers in-clude Forsyth County School Board Chair, Darla Light and Forsyth County Board of Com-missioners Chairman R.J. (Pete) Amos. Given both the challenges and opportunities facing For-syth County, this event is important for everyone in the community.

“Forsyth County is a re-markable community and I am honored to serve as the District 1 Commis-sioner and as chairman of the Board of Com-missioners,” R.J. (Pete) Amos said. “I am looking forward to the State of the County event and to

having the opportunity to provide an update on all of the great progress tak-ing place throughout our county.” “2014-15 has been an ex-ceptional school year for Forsyth County Schools! We are excited to share our accomplishments and future plans at the State of the County luncheon,” stated Light.

Guests must register to attend. Tickets are $45 for Chamber and Coun-cil for Quality Growth Members and $65 for Non-Members. Please visit www.cummingfor-sythchamber.org early to reserve your seat for this historically sold out event!

The Technology Associa-tion of Georgia recently ranked Forsyth County’s “Innovation Economy”

highest out of every county in the state. The formula that led to these rankings is known as the “Innovation Index”. The index compares perfor-mance in various compo-nents of business, such as human capital, economic dynamics and produc-tivity. Forsyth County’s Innovation Index equaled 111.9, while the state average was just 92.3. Though the Innovation In-dex may be a new term to some, it provides insight into the future of Forsyth County. Forsyth County’s Innovation Index reveals a window into the future by showing potential for

massive economic growth in the future. This can be seen by delving into the components of the Innova-tion Index and fi nding a few specifi c measures that have a positive correlation to economic growth. The components most di-rectly related to economic growth are a growing number of small establish-ments, a growing popula-tion of ages 25-44 and a growing percentage of the population with college degrees. These numbers come together to foster a perfect community for en-trepreneurs, the backbone of this county’s economy.

“Some people use the word innovation, but the heart of that is people who are entrepreneurs,” commented James Mc-Coy, President/CEO of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce. “Innovation & entrepre-neurship are driving forces behind economic growth, and Forsyth County has a surplus of both.”

Forsyth County’s Innovation Index Reveals Window to the County’s Future

Darla Light R.J. (Pete) Amos

“Some people use the word innovation, but the heart of that is people who are entrepreneurs”

forsythherald.com


For the second consecu-tive year, Forsyth County has been named the healthiest county in Geor-gia by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wiscon-sin Population Health In-stitute. While this is great news, it is also an oppor-tunity to dig a little deeper in the data to identify the areas of opportunity. Out of the 35 different fac-tors measured, Forsyth

County outperformed the other “Top US Perform-ers” in only 14 factors. The County is outperforming other Georgia counties but still has some work to do to be among the healthiest communities in the na-tion. Citizens should pay particular attention to the following factors: Alcohol Impaired Driv-ing Deaths, Ex-cessive Drink-ing, Mental

Health provider Rations and Physician Rations. These are areas where the county signifi cantly underperformed national rankings AND the aver-age for Georgia counties. To dig deeper with the data, visit www.county-healthrankings.org.

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Light & Amos to Speak at Annual State of the County Address

The month of May pres-ents the business com-munity with an important opportunity— the annual State of the County Ad-dress on May 7, 2015 at 11:30 a.m., located in the Forsyth Conference Center. This event is a great networking oppor-tunity with the business and civic leadership of Forsyth County. The Cumming-Forsyth Coun-ty Chamber of Commerce and the Council for Qual-ity Growth jointly host the luncheon, sponsored

by Northside Hospital-Forsyth and other sup-porting sponsors.

Featured speakers in-clude Forsyth County School Board Chair, Darla Light and Forsyth County Board of Com-missioners Chairman R.J. (Pete) Amos. Given both the challenges and opportunities facing For-syth County, this event is important for everyone in the community.

“Forsyth County is a re-markable community and I am honored to serve as the District 1 Commis-sioner and as chairman of the Board of Com-missioners,” R.J. (Pete) Amos said. “I am looking forward to the State of the County event and to

having the opportunity to provide an update on all of the great progress tak-ing place throughout our county.” “2014-15 has been an ex-ceptional school year for Forsyth County Schools! We are excited to share our accomplishments and future plans at the State of the County luncheon,” stated Light.

Guests must register to attend. Tickets are $45 for Chamber and Coun-cil for Quality Growth Members and $65 for Non-Members. Please visit www.cummingfor-sythchamber.org early to reserve your seat for this historically sold out event!

The Technology Associa-tion of Georgia recently ranked Forsyth County’s “Innovation Economy”

highest out of every county in the state. The formula that led to these rankings is known as the “Innovation Index”. The index compares perfor-mance in various compo-nents of business, such as human capital, economic dynamics and produc-tivity. Forsyth County’s Innovation Index equaled 111.9, while the state average was just 92.3. Though the Innovation In-dex may be a new term to some, it provides insight into the future of Forsyth County. Forsyth County’s Innovation Index reveals a window into the future by showing potential for

massive economic growth in the future. This can be seen by delving into the components of the Innova-tion Index and fi nding a few specifi c measures that have a positive correlation to economic growth. The components most di-rectly related to economic growth are a growing number of small establish-ments, a growing popula-tion of ages 25-44 and a growing percentage of the population with college degrees. These numbers come together to foster a perfect community for en-trepreneurs, the backbone of this county’s economy.

“Some people use the word innovation, but the heart of that is people who are entrepreneurs,” commented James Mc-Coy, President/CEO of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce. “Innovation & entrepre-neurship are driving forces behind economic growth, and Forsyth County has a surplus of both.”

Forsyth County’s Innovation Index Reveals Window to the County’s Future

Darla Light R.J. (Pete) Amos

“Some people use the word innovation, but the heart of that is people who are entrepreneurs”


forsythherald.com



By SHANNON [email protected]

SUWANEE, Ga. — A class of 36 second-grade students at Sharon Elementary can call themselves application devel-opers with the launch of Batol-ogy, the result of a project they started in August.

Batology is an educational app about the importance of bats in the ecosystem, compil-ing students’ research papers with images and other re-sources.

“We wanted to tell the truth about bats,” said Aishu Meyy-appan, a student in the class. “Most people think bats are evil and they turn into Count Dracula. They’re not creepy; they’re actually really benefi-cial.”

The project started with Chris Douglass, a Sharon El-ementary parent and founder of App Touch Technologies, who offered to teach coding in the classroom. Wendy Wing, who works in the school’s gifted program, incorporated

Douglass’s computer lessons with her class’s writing assign-ment – studying their chosen bat species.

“I try to give my children whatever experiences I can give them,” Wing said. “I said ‘I’ll do it, but I know nothing. I can facilitate, I can learn.’ But the kids actually learned it better, so they can code better than I can.”

Wing said she also wanted to encourage girls in STEM (science, technology, engineer-ing and mathematics).

“I thought it would be great to get them introduced, espe-cially my girls, before they get to that age where they think they’re not good at science, they’re not good at math.” she said. “If they get a love of it, they’ll stick with it. My big push was trying to make sure the girls recognized they can do this.”

The app is based on coding the students learned in class using TouchDevelop from Microsoft.

“The excitement these

kids have around the idea of producing an app is really what hooked them in,” Doug-lass said. “Their enthusiasm is really what convinced me we should make it theirs as much as possible.”

The project included les-sons from multiple disciplines, including math, science and art. Batology will be free in the App Store and features the papers, original artwork from students and a game.

“When I knew we were go-ing to make an app, I was real-ly excited,” said student Tessa Goldstein. “Ms. Wing and Mr. Douglass are the best.”

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Second-graders launch bat app‘Batology’ teaches bat conservation

PHOTOS BY SHANNON WEAVER/STAFF

From left are Charis Beverly, Lexi Newman, Josie Fuller, Maddie Jesionowski, Addison Ensman and Tessa Goldstein.

Chris Douglass shows off the Batology application, including original artwork from the students.



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19 | May 6, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com Sponsored by

By PATRICK [email protected]

NORTH FULTON, Ga. – As the world grows more technol-ogy dependent, the scramble for college degrees promising high-paying jobs grows more intense.

With Georgia, and particu-larly north metro Atlanta, as a technology hub, corporate interest in skilled training has given rise to an explosion in the private tutoring industry. Competition for classroom seats at the best universities has spurred parents and their children to seek paths out-side the traditional education system to provide higher SAT scores and extra Advanced Placement classes.

“I don’t think the schools are failing, per se; it’s a matter of resources and demand,” said David Kim, chief executive officer of C2 Education, which operates some 150 tutoring fa-cilities in the United States, 15 in metro Atlanta. “You know, the main goal of a high school is to make sure the student graduates. It’s not necessar-ily to get them into the best college.”

A GSV Education report estimates the U.S. private tu-toring market at about $13 bil-lion, up 6 percent in the past three years. Forbes Magazine estimates the industry is in

excess of $102 billion globally.Kim began his company

operating out of a dorm room at Harvard in 1997 and incor-porated the business two years later.

From the first, Kim said he saw signs of the pending explo-sion in the tutoring market. He saw a growing number of at-home tutors that were provid-ing subject tutoring, test prep providers for the SAT and inde-pendent college counselors.

“But what was really miss-ing was an organization to

put all those things together,” Kim said. “So, the thing that parents are coming to us about is how to get their child into a certain university and where do they find guidance, coach-ing and counseling.”

C2 opened its first four schools in Georgia in 2006, all in north metro Atlanta. Its most recent schools opened in Johns Creek, Buckhead, Ro-swell and Sandy Springs, and plans are under way to open a new facility in Dunwoody later this year.

Kim said he targets the centers for areas where he sees strong housing growth and highly rated schools. It’s in those areas, he said, that parents show the strongest interest in their children’s education.

There are limited college counseling resources at public and private schools, he said. A study by the National Asso-ciation of College Admissions Counselors found that the ratio of counselors to students at most public schools is 1,000 to 1.

“There’s no way, in realis-tic terms, you’re going to help prepare and navigate a student through all the college choic-es,” Kim said. “The ratios are so ridiculous.”

C2 provides free college counseling services to stu-dents, helping them determine the best career track for their interests and the academic preparation needed to enter into some of the best colleges, Kim said. The company also provides them with a best-

guess estimate on the costs of college, including opportunities for financial aid and scholar-ships at specific schools, he said.

Following the consultation, students are under no obliga-tion to enroll in classes at C2, Kim said.

Tutoring at C2 runs any-where from $35-$75 an hour, depending on the level of study.

An advanced session on calculus, for example, will cost more than an entry-level col-lege algebra class, he said.

“What we really do a great job of is helping parents and students pick and choose what the best college might be for them based on what their interests are and based on af-fordability,” he said.

C2 Education’s Roswell office is one of three new sites the tutoring company has opened in metro Atlanta. C2 has opened 15 facilities in the metro area since 2006.

From dorm roomto board room, student found niche in tutoring

Growth industrySince 2006, C2 Educa-tion has opened 15 loca-tions in metro Atlanta, evidence of the growing market for educational tutoring.•Buckhead•Cumming•Roswell•Sandy Springs•Alpharetta•Dacula•Suwanee (two loca-

tions) •Duluth•Johns Creek•Peachtree City•Snellville•Duluth•Lilburn•East Cobb•Marietta

DAVID KIM, chief executive officer of C2 Education

There’s no way, in realistic terms, you’re going to help prepare and navigate a student through all the college choices.

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forsythherald.com


20 | May 6, 2015 | Forsyth Herald Submit your business news & photos to [email protected]

Are you spending most of your marketing budget on “high tech” channels like social media, email marketing and having a website?

What about traditional channels like print media, radio, television or even bill-boards?

While the growth of digital marketing has grown enor-mously over the past 15 years, using good old-fashioned marketing channels may also be a great option for your small business.

Direct mail, for example, if done correctly can produce great results in promoting your product or service to a select

distribution list. On average, the response

rate from direct mail is around 5 percent, but this cheap method of reaching out to potential customers may be a good choice for your small business.

With all the focus on search engine optimization (SEO), it’s

easy to forget that there are cheaper options to drive traffic to your website.

For example, hosting a contest for your customers and providing them with an incen-tive to share their submis-sion with friends, may help to attract new customers to your business.

Putting ads in the local pa-per, like the one you’re reading now, is very effective for small businesses whose customers are close to where the paper is distributed.

An advertisement with discount coupons can and will drive a lot of traffic to your place of business.

While there are hundreds of marketing options available these days, sometimes using good old-fashioned market-ing channels may be a better option than getting wrapped

up with all the digital channels out there today.

Give it a try, and see for yourself that old school mar-keting is still very effective.

Using good old-fashioned marketing channels

DICKJONESFounder & PresidentJones Simply Sales

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of excerpts from Frank Norton Jr.’s “Nor-ton Native Intelligence Report for 2015.”

Here are some more micro trends in the housing market and general econo-my we’ve spotted on our radar.

Design Power – Buyers are de-manding more design in their housing. Builders and sellers who provide the “wow!” will do very well. If in doubt, provide more, not less. Here are some of the design “turn-ons” and “turn-offs.”

Turn-ons include: Houses backing to open space, views, water; outdoor rooms and outdoor fireplaces; colors (anything but white); hardwood or tile floors on most of the main level (except bedrooms and possibly dining rooms): main floor master bedrooms; 9- to 10-foot ceilings (even in basements); natural materials (stone, wood); “killer-kitchens” – custom cabinets (42 inches or better), islands, granite full-tile back-splash; stainless-steel appliances.

Turn-offs include: Dated, over-priced homes; clutter; un-staged homes; white walls; oak; brass; vinyl; choppy floor plans that don’t flow; dated designs and colors; 8-foot ceil-ings; inch tiles; half of anything – half brick up the front, half-wide porches you can’t use, half the lighting you need, single-tile backsplash versus full backsplash.

Buyers today are facing the reality of a new market.

They are not quite as obsessed with finding “the deal of the century” but want to stretch their purchase dollar wherever possible.

They are showing less willing-ness to wait and buying something to flip or renovate to better suit their needs.

Foreclosure buys at the courthouses of Georgia are now selling at a 12 to 20 percent discount off market value versus 47 percent discount at the peak of distress.

A new survey from the American Affluence Research Center found that the number of affluent Americans planning to make large purchases this year – including major home renova-tions – has finally returned to pre-

recession levels. The survey polled more than 300

households with a minimum net worth of $800,000.

Prior to 2008, respondents who had no plans to make large purchases held steady at around 45 percent.

Since then, even the wealthiest Americans have tightened their belts, and that number rose to between 50 percent and 60 percent.

Now, penny-pinchers are back to a 45 percent minority, meaning more than half of all of the affluent respon-dents – who represent the wealthiest 10 percent of American households – do plan to either remodel, upgrade to a new home, purchase a second (or third) home, buy a new car, go on a cruise or make another large purchase.

Successful sellers know how to dress up a home

FRANK NORTON JR.

CEO and Chairman The Norton Agency

With all the focus on search engine optimization (SEO), it’s easy to forget that there are cheaper options to drive traffic to your website.

Buyers today are facing the reality of a new market. They are not quite as obsessed with finding “the deal of the century” but want to stretch their purchase dollar wherever possible.


Forsyth Herald | May 6, 2015 | 21Submit your business news & photos to [email protected] BusinessBriefs REAL ESTATE »

Lorrie Collie (left) and Bette Glass have joined Lennar Atlanta as new home consultants.

Two home consultantsjoin Lennar AtlantaROSWELL, Ga. – Realtors Bette Glass and Lor-rie Collie have joined Lennar Atlanta as new home consultants. Glass, a Texas native, has extensive experience selling real estate in Atlanta. Collie, is an active member of both the Atlanta Association of Realtors and the Cobb Association of Realtors and belongs to the Million Dollar Club in recognition of her success in real estate.

Since Lennar Atlanta started building in the metro area in 2010, the company has completed more than 1,200 homes in more than 30 residential communities, primarily across Atlanta’s northern arc, and additional neighborhoods are slated to open this year.

Braves partner with Omnito develop hotel near parkATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves have announced the club is partnering with Omni Hotels and Resorts to develop a 260-room high-rise hotel in the mixed-use area near the new Sun Trust Park in Cobb County.

The property will have 16 floors and meeting space, an elevated pool deck and bar overlooking the plaza and ballpark.

Plans call for the facility to be integrated with the development’s all-fiber network, which will be the highest-capacity network serving any ballpark and mixed-use community in the nation, capable

of delivering multi-gigabit speeds throughout the entire development. “Our unique brand of hospitality is a big part of the experience of attending an Atlanta Braves game, and we’re thrilled to have a partner that embodies that same feeling with their guests,” said Terry McGuirk, Atlanta Braves chairman and CEO. “Omni Hotels and Resorts only builds and operates iconic properties in premier destinations. Their presence in this community further enhances our belief that this will be a destination unlike anything in professional sports.”

BUSINESS »

Lexus Southern honorslocal sales associateROSWELL, Ga. – Sal Damico has been recognized as one of the top 25 sales associates for the Lexus Southern area. Damico is the top sales associate from Nalley Lexus in Roswell.

In 2014, Nalley ranked among the top 25 South-ern area dealerships, and the top sales associates from each of these dealerships accounted for the sale of more than 6,200 Lexus vehicles.

Damico was honored at the second annual Lexus Southern Area Sales Excellence Awards Ban-quet in Atlanta in March and at the Asbury/Nalley Awards Banquet in Orlando in April.

Allen joins ConveyServices board

ROSWELL, Ga. — Convey Services has named Curt Allen, president of X4 Solutions, to the company’s board of directors. Allen has more than 20 years of telecommunications and technology experience. As president of X4 Solutions, one of the premier master agents in the telecommunications and cloud channel, he manages day-to-day business operations and develops the strategic direction for the company. “X4 Solutions was one of the original customers for Convey in the channel,” Allen said. “Together with Convey, we’ve worked to bring more value to our sales partners at X4 by increasing their ability to access vendor and carrier information in a single, online location, versus having to waste time hunting for product information and training.”

Dental practice offersfree services to needyALPHARETTA, Ga. – Advanced Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, the office of Dr. Brett S. Silverman, will hold its second annual day of free dentistry along with the Dentistry from the Heart organization from

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 30. The practice will be offering free cleanings, fill-

ings and extractions for those in need. The Ameri-can Red Cross will be participating this year collect-ing blood donations.

Patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit www.acfdga.com or call 678-389-9000 to volunteer or for more information.

Tech groups sign pactfor collaborative effortATLANTA — The Innovation Crescent Regional Part-nership and Georgia Bio have signed a memoran-dum of understanding, formally agreeing to collabo-rate in the promotion and support of the life science industry in Georgia. The agreement was signed at the Atlanta Center for Medical Research.

“Georgia’s Innovation Crescent is rapidly build-ing its reputation as one of the leading life science clusters in the nation, thanks in part to the many collaborative efforts of public, private, academic and government institutions in the region,” said David Hartnett, vice chairman of the ICRP.

Under terms of the agreement, the ICRP will serve as one of Georgia Bio’s economic development partners, and Georgia Bio will support the ICRP in marketing the region to recruit, retain and expand life science companies in Georgia.

The Innovation Crescent is both a geographic area and a coalition of more than 15 counties and economic development entities focused on life sci-ences and technology in Georgia.

Rountree Groupwelcomes Trey NewstedtALPHARETTA, Ga. — Rountree Group Integrated Communications has hired Trey Newstedt as an as-sistant account executive.

A graduate of Elon University, Newstedt received a bachelor’s degree in strategic communications with a minor in business adminis-tration.

“Trey’s positive attitude, willing-ness to learn and extensive media relations experience make him a strong addition to our team,” said President Don Rountree. For more information, visit www.rountreegroup.com.

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By JONATHAN [email protected]

MILTON, Ga. — Milton is one of the wealthiest communities in the state – even the na-tion. But not everyone in the equestrian-centric city lives well-off. Nor do many in sur-rounding communities. The congregation of Boiling Springs Primitive Baptist Church, on Birmingham Road, is finding this out in a practical way – they opened a food pantry.

“A lot of the people who come in are from the Milton area,” said Elder Robert O’Hara of Boiling Springs.

Largely seniors on a fixed income or the down-on-their-luck, O’Hara said his food pantry has experienced brisk business after just a month of operation, seeing daily traffic. The visitors come after hearing through word of mouth or simply seeing signs as they drive past the Birmingham Road church.

The needy so far come primar-ily from Milton, but some have stopped by from nearby Woodstock or Cumming.

“Most are people on some form of public as-sistance,” he said. “They are just not making enough to get by.”

Some visi-tors simply need something to see them through a weekend or the end of the month – just a little to get them by. One woman had significant surgery that put her out of work. She needed help

until she found more work.The church already has

outreach programs, such as through Forsyth-based Family Haven, which takes in clothing and donations for the victims of domestic violence.

It also helps with Backpacks for Children, where needy schoolchildren are sent home for the weekend with food to eat.

“Otherwise, they would go hungry over the weekend,” O’Hara said.

The food bank is another aspect of that giving nature.

The parishio-ners and mem-bers of the nearby community stock the food pantry with non-per-ishable items as well as bread and toiletries.

There are other food pantries in the area, one of the largest being at North Fulton Community

Charities in Roswell. O’Hara said some people simply can-not get to Roswell.

“Driving long distances is something some seniors simply cannot do anymore,” he said.

“We thank God for how he is blessing our church. This is what every church should be doing. The people that would be helped would be phenom-enal, the impact would be huge.”

The food pantry is open pri-marily every second and fourth Saturday from 10 a.m. – noon (or until out of goods).

For more information, visit the church’s website at http://boilingspringspbc.org/. They can be found at 1200 Birming-ham Road, Milton or called at 404-790-9793.

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Boiling Springs creates food pantryServes needy in Milton community

Get involvedOn June 13, Boiling Springs Primitive Baptist Church will hold a com-munity cookout on their church grounds. It will be an all-day event with lunch and dinner pro-vided. The community is invited and asked to bring a side dish. The church is located at 1200 Birmingham Road, Milton.http://boilingspringspbc.org/

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN COPSEY/STAFF

Elder Robert O’Hara shows off the new food pantry of Boiling Springs Primitive Baptist Church, 1200 Birmingham Road, Milton.Most are

people on some form of public assistance. They are just not making enough to get by.”ELDER ROBERT O’HARABoiling Springs



http://boilingspringspbc.org




Forsyth Herald | May 6, 2015 | 23CALENDARSubmit your event online at forsythherald.com

EDIT

OR’S

PIC

KS

TASTE OF ALPHARETTASample appetizers, entrees and desserts from the best restaurants in town with rock/folk/R&B bands performing. Historic Downtown Alpharetta. Thursday, May 7. Samples $1 – 3. Visit awesomealpharetta.com for more info.

ROSWELL HERITAGE DAYS EXHIBITRoswell Photo Society’s Heritage Days artists’ reception and awards. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street in Roswell. Friday, May 8, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more info call 770-594-6232 or visit roswellphotosociety.org.

ROCKIN’ AT THE RIVER GALALive and silent auctions, gourmet dinner, dance music performed by Stephen Lee Band and more benefit the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. Saturday, May 9, 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Visit chattnaturecenter.org for more info.

COLORS FESTIVAL OF ARTSSpring festival featuring a wide array of original arts and crafts the entire family will enjoy. Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit www.visitroswellga.com for more info.

Submit your event to northfulton.com or email with photo to [email protected]. For a more complete list of local events including support groups, volunteer opportunities and business meetings visit the calendar on northfulton.com.

SHANNON WEAVERCalendar [email protected]

Send me your event...

DIRTY BOURBON RIVER SHOWWho: Dirty Bourbon River Show has brought their blend of “New Orleans Gypsy Brass Circus Rock” all over the United States.When: Saturday, May 9 at 8 p.m.Where: Roswell Cultural Arts CenterCost: $20-$40

JOHNS CREEK SYMPHONYWhat: JCSO presents “Around the World in 80 Minutes!” Where: Johns Creek High School, 5575 State Bridge Road in Johns

Creek.When: Saturday, May 9 at 8 p.m.Cost: $30 adults, $25 seniors, $15 studentsWeb: johnscreeksymphony.org

MILTON HIGH SCHOOL CHORUSWhat: Join MHS for the chorus spring concert.Where: Milton High School Auditorium, 13025 Birmingham Highway in MiltonWhen: Tuesday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m.

MILTON HIGH ORCHESTRAWhat: Milton High School Orchestra spring concertWhere: Milton High School Auditorium, 13025 Birmingham Highway in MiltonWhen: Wednesday, May 13 at 7 p.m.

CIRQUE AVONTUURWhat: Milton’s annual cirque performance is in its last weekend.Where: Milton High School, 13025 Birmingham Highway in MiltonWhen: May 7 through 9 at 7:30 p.m.Web: miltontheatrecompany.com

By HATCHER [email protected]

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Veter-ans and all who support them are invited to sign up for the Johns Creek Veterans Associa-tion Golf Tournament Monday, June 1, to help the group with its ongoing improvements and maintenance of the JCVA’s Veterans Memorial Walk in Newtown Park.

The 4-acre meditative me-morial is a meandering tribute to all veterans of American wars since 1900. Ten plazas memorialize each war as well as special memorials such as Women in Service and POWs and Missing in Action.

The organizers have really gone overboard in amassing prizes this year.

More than $10,000 in gifts will be awarded. Players also receive a boxed lunch, Standard Club polo shirt and refreshments. Of course, golf fees are included.

The tournament is a sham-ble format with teams playing from best drive and scored on best net ball.

The $300,000 Veterans

Memorial Walk opened last year and was 100 percent sub-scribed by private donations. The vets are determined that the costs of maintenance and improvements will also come from donations.

Already scheduled this year: • The planting of 38 trees,

450 shrubs• Staining/sealing gazebo

and adding a fan• Adding five new benches

• Installing an led lighting system

• The installation of the U.S. Navy bell and monument tower

• A brick paver locator sys-tem

• Initiating veteran-led tours/self-tour audio

• Installing a water feature

“We have been really sur-

prised with the enthusiasm and the support of our local merchants. We will be stuff-ing player gift bags with some really nice gifts,” said JCVA member and tournament committeeman Jim William-son.

The golf tournament is a popular event and a great way to help the JCVA keep the Veterans Memorial Walk, said

JCVA President Wayne Kidd.“We want to keep improv-

ing the memorial as a trib-ute to our veterans. The golf tournament is a way to help us do that and have a lot of fun and comradery too,” Kidd said. “This memorial is in the top 2 percent of non-cemetery memorials and we want it to be No. 1 when it comes to beauty and reverence.”

JC VETERANS GOLF TOURNAMENT SET JUNE 1$10,000 in prizes for players

If you goWhat: Johns Creek Vet-erans Association Golf Tourney, shamble formatWhen: 10 a.m. Monday, June 1Where: The Standard Club, 6230 Abbotts Br. Road, Johns Creek Registration: 770-497-1290; [email protected]: 770-880-1711 or [email protected]: $175 per player of $700 per four-some

HATCHER HURD/STAFF

Veterans are ready to tee off for the Johns Creek Veterans Association annual golf tournament to raise money for the maintenance of the Veterans Memorial Walk at Newtown Park. From left are veter-ans Victor Ackerman, Warren Tobin, Jim Williamson and Standard Club head pro Jared Sobelson.

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In the Atlanta division, on accepted purchase agreements on homes that are signed between January 1, 2015 and January 31, 2015 are eligible to receive $15,000 in Flex Cash; can be used towards MyStyle® Design Center Options and/or closing costs when using RMC Mortgage® and/or lot premiums, finished basement, etc. Incentive offer does not apply to contracts written prior to January 1, 2015. The following communities are excluded from the $15,000 incentive, Bethany Crossing, Bridleton, ManorView and Marketplace Commons. Individual promotions may vary by community. Certain included features may not be available on all plans. Value of package, and products, may vary by community and plan. Homes already under contract prior to this offer are not eligible. Plus for New to-be built homes, buyer eligible to receive up to $5,000 toward closing costs. Individual incentives may vary by community. Closing cost assistance available from Ryland Homes to those financing through RMC Mortgage® Corporation and closing with a closing attorney selected by Ryland. Amount of closing cost assistance may vary by product and community, and is subject to applicable contribution limitations. For all financing promotions, see a RMC Mortgage® Corporation Loan Officer for details. RMC Mortgage® Corporation is located at 1000 Mansell Exchange West, Suite 200, Alpharetta, GA 30022 and is a Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee, license number 24225 and NMLS number 203897. Buyers also eligible to receive Waived 1% Origination Fee through RMC Mortgage®; average value of $4,000 which is based on a $400,000 loan amount. The waived origination fee through RMC Mortgage® Corporation is subject to cancellation or change without notice. Buyers must make a loan application by January 31, 2014 with RMC Mortgage® Corporation (NMLS# 203897) a Georgia Residential Mortgage Lender Licensee #24225. *Buyers must also close with RMC Mortgage® Corporation. Please contact your RMC Mortgage® Corporation Representative for exact quotes. Prices, plans and specifications are subject to change without notice. Ryland reserves the right to modify or cancel these offers at any time. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only. Offer may not be combined with any other promotion or incentives. Information shown believed to be accurate but not warranted. See a Sales Counselor for details on available promotions, restrictions and offer limitations. © 2015 The Ryland Group, Inc.

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One smart update can upgrade your entire homeBrought to you by Harry Norman Realtors®, Forsyth/Lake Lanier Office

If your home is 10 years old or older, your garage door is probably a plain-Jane raised-panel steel door that adds little or nothing to the overall design of your house.

So why not make an improvement? In the last decade, the garage door industry has generated stunning new designs that can transform the curb appeal of your home from boring to exciting.

Large area = big impact“When something consumes such

a large part of the front of the house, it should not be generic; it should be special,” says Michael Walsh, a syndi-cated home-improvement columnist. “It should improve the looks of the house, not detract from it.”

A better-looking garage door can actually parlay into a more-valuable home. One nationwide study of real estate professionals by StrataMark revealed that an attractive new garage door can add as much as 4 percent to the home’s selling price. That adds $10,000 to the value of a $250,000

home, which means that a new garage door can easily pay for itself.

Two new designs that dazzleChris Long, long-time editor of Door

& Operator Industry, a garage door trade magazine, identifies two new garage door designs that are hot right now: woodgrain prints and carriage house styles.

A woodgrain print is a steel garage door that looks so much like wood, you need to thump on it to realize it’s actu-ally durable steel. This technological breakthrough by steel coating compa-nies brings big benefits for garage door buyers.

“The rich wood-look of these doors is gorgeous,” says Long. “Plus, since they’re made of steel, they’re incredibly durable and require almost no mainte-nance.”

The other popular new design is the carriage house style. These attractive doors open just like your old door, but they look like the side-hinged, swing-out doors of the charming carriage houses of yesteryear.

Quick design tipsSince both of these new designs

come in dozens of attractive styles, here are a few tips to select the one that integrates best with the personality of your home. Design experts advise you to select a door that matches with three exterior features of your home: colors, lines, and shapes.

“The color of your garage door should complement the overall house color as well as the window trim col-ors,” says Gale Steves, former editor-in-chief of Home magazine.

Then look at the lines on your home exterior. Are they horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or curved? Today’s garage door styles can provide excellent matches for any of these architectural features.

Finally, consider the shapes of ele-ments on your home, particularly the window panes. Are they arched, square, or small rectangles? Matching the panes on the house with the garage is not that difficult, given the wide variety of garage door window designs now available.

Cool choosing toolsThanks to new technology, you

don’t need to guess at the right door design. Most garage door manufactur-

ers now offer door designer tools on their websites. Many door dealers also have similar software on a computer tablet they bring to your home. You just upload a photo of your own home and drop in any of hundreds of door designs to see exactly how it would look on your home.

A good starting place is Garage-WowNow.com, a non-commercial website that features dozens of garage door photos from many manufacturers. It also includes a find-a-dealer function that helps you find qualified dealers in your area.

Your new garage door is not only a perfect spring home improvement proj-ect, it’s a smart investment. Celebrity designer Chayse Dacoda says, “You are investing in the single largest moving part on your home, which is going to affect its appearance for at least the next 20 years.”

Harry Norman Realtors®, Forsyth/Lake Lanier Office1664 Market Place Blvd.,

Cumming, GA 30041770-497-2000

Used with permission, © Brandpoint, 2015.

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Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section May 6, 2015 25

By: Mary Jane EganAtlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International

When your home is on the market you give prospective buyers the chance to see your home as their home. Staging a home is a way to highlight its best features as well as downplay its weaknesses to appeal to the greatest possible audience. This will minimize the amount of time the home spends on the market and maximize the sale price.

Elevate your property into a stunning showpiece that buy-

ers are eager to purchase with these easy and affordable home-staging tips.

De-Clutter: The most im-portant thing

you can do to prepare your home for sale is to get rid of the clutter. One of the major contributors to a cluttered look is having too much furniture. Take a hard look at what you have and ask yourself what you can live with-

out. The house will look much bigger with less furniture.

Clean: A clean home tells your potential buyers your home has been well main-tained. Buyers want to feel sanitary and fresh when view-ing their potential new home, so take the time to make sure countertops sparkle, the car-pets and rugs are vacuumed and the trash is taken out before each showing.

Paint: Painting rooms a fresh neutral color can help tone down any dated finishes. These days the definition of neutral

extends way beyond beige, from warm tans to soft blue-greens. A variety of colors in an earth-toned palette will give your home memorable warmth and charm. Paint is a quick and relatively inexpensive way to make your home seem spacious and give it a clean feel.

Kitchen: As the saying goes, kitchens sell houses. The light-ing in the kitchen plays a big role in distinguishing the overall feel, so if you have florescent lighting, updating to a mounted fixture is a must. If you need to update the dated cabinets, try a

fresh coat of paint or stain for a like-new look. Keep the counter-tops clear by storing away extra appliances like coffeemakers and toasters before showings.

Bathroom: After the kitch-en, the bathroom is the biggest selling point of your house. Ensure your bathroom has a spa-like appeal by placing a stack of rolled-up towels by the tub and basket of soaps and lotions by the sink. Consider hanging a new framed mirror over the sink or swapping out

By Bill RawlingsVice President/Managing Broker, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s Inter-national Realty

I want to personally invite you to be a part of something truly life-changing.

I am proud to be nomi-nated as a candidate for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s 2015 Man & Woman of the Year, and I need your help.

Blood cancer research can be the gateway to curing other cancers. Since its inception in 1949, The Leukemia and Lym-phoma Society has invested more than a billion dollars in research to find the cause and cure for blood cancers. This research has led to ground-breaking treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation and stem cell transplanta-tion, which are vital to treating blood cancers and many other forms of cancer.

It is heartbreaking to see the ravages cancer has taken on many of our loved ones.

Do you know that leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer in children under the age of 20? It is because of this that I was inspired to ac-cept this nomination, in honor of some dear friends who have been touched by cancer.

On April 2, I began work-ing towards the goal of raising $100,000. That number seems overwhelming, but it would not be possible to even target with-out the support of generous, community-minded donors like you.

So, I invite you to consider joining me in this cause so that you, too, can make a difference in someone else’s life.

With your support of a tax-deductible contribution, LLS can continue funding critical research in the fight against blood cancers as well as provide outstanding patient services. To make a secure on-line contribution, please visit rawlings.somedayistodaylls.com.

With my most sincere ap-preciation,

Making a difference

RAWLINGS

EGAN

Put your home’s best foot forward

See HOME, Page 29

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people can get involved in.“The toothbrushes for this

group was donated by a local orthodontist. Socks and soap and deodorant were collected and donated from Shiloh Point ES and they’re being bagged up and given to South Forsyth HS to distribute,” Kraynick said. “It’s a community-wide effort.”

One student helping create goody bags for those less for-tunate was eighth-grader Lily Loughlin.

“It’s nice to look back and realize I’ve helped so many

people,” Loughlin said. “I like helping people and I think everyone should like helping people. It’s a nice thing to do.”

A lot of the students haven’t had an opportunity to be part of something like this before, Kraynick said.

“For a lot of them, this might be their first experi-ence with community ser-vice,” Kraynick said. “It takes them outside of the bubble they live in and get outside of themselves and realize the huge impact they can make by small actions in the com-munity around them. It’s very eye-opening for a lot of them to realize what difference their efforts can make in just a few hours.”

Continued from Page 1

Giving:


Ryan Kraynick and Nikhil Pai filled boxes of canned goods for a local church.

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth Coun-ty Fire Department will join more than 100 fire departments across Georgia to help “Give Burns the Boot” during their upcoming annual boot drive benefiting the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation. Weather permitting, motor-ists can expect to see firefighters at intersec-tions throughout the county on two upcoming Saturdays, May 9 and 16.

Donations collected during the boot drive will be presented to the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation.

The collected funds will be utilized for fire safety and prevention education, the sup-port of medical facilities and the assistance of burn survivors in their recovery. Money raised will also go to Camp Oo-U-La, Geor-

gia’s only camp held exclusively for burn-injured children.

A portion of the total funds raised will be returned to the Forsyth County Fire Depart-ment to support local fire prevention and education efforts.

In addition to filling firefighters’ boots at in-tersections, donations can also be made online via the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation virtual boot drive. Visit www.giveburnsthe-boot.organd look for the Forsyth County Fire Department page.

“We are most appreciative of the support the annual boot drive receives,” Fire Chief Danny Bowman said. “The Forsyth County Fire Department is privileged to serve in such a generous, caring community.”

Forsyth County Fire Dept. to hold annual boot drive

Time capsule interred at new Forsyth County Courthouse FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — In a ceremony held Friday, May 1, officials interred and sealed the time capsule in the new Forsyth County Courthouse in downtown Cumming. The sealed time capsule was ceremoniously placed behind the courthouse’s cornerstone, located on the front of the building.

The Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit solicited the help of the public in gathering items for placement in the time capsule. Some of the items included in the time capsule are citizen accounts of past courthouses, printed photo-graphs of present-day For-syth County and more. The Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit, along with the Forsyth County Bar Association, sponsored an essay contest for Forsyth County middle school and high school students. The contest winners, Jacob Ruiz of Cornerstone schools and Erin Tozier of Forsyth Central

High School, had their essays placed in the time capsule.

The ceremony also includ-ed recognition of the county’s five Rotary Clubs for their do-nation of six granite benches outside the entrance to the new courthouse. The Ro-tary Club of Forsyth County, Lanier-Forsyth Rotary Club, North Forsyth 400 Rotary Club, South Forsyth Ro-tary Club and Rotary Club of Johns Creek all came together to donate the benches.

“We extend our sincere thanks to all of the Rotary Clubs for coming together to provide the community with such a lasting gift,” said County Commission Chair-man R.J. (Pete) Amos.

The new Forsyth County Courthouse opened March 16. Construction of the new courthouse and of a new jail was funded by the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) VII program approved by Forsyth County

voters in November 2011. The new jail is slated to open later this year.

The new Forsyth County Courthouse is approximately 158,000 total square feet. The building includes five floors plus a basement and will house Superior Court, State Court, Solicitor-General, Dis-trict Attorney, Clerk of Courts, Court Administration, Grand Jury, Jury Assembly, Pre-Trial Services, Accountability Courts and Indigent Defense. The courthouse features en-hanced security systems and overall improved efficiency.

Renovations to the exist-ing courthouse are currently underway. It will be called the Forsyth County Courthouse Annex and, once renovated, will house the Sheriff’s Office headquarters and Probate Court, eliminating the need for rental properties currently in use. Renovations are ex-pected to be completed in the third quarter of 2015.


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You Are Cordially Invitedto attend the

Thursday, May 14th 5-8pmTo benefi t CURE Childhood Cancer

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Alpharetta

Come Mix, Mingle and Connect with the Top Leaders of the North Atlanta business community while raising funds to support CURE Childhood Cancer.

Live Music Featuring the FlyCatsHeavy Hors d’oeuvres and Spirits

Win Fundraising Gift Baskets – valued $500 - $4000Sponsorship packages starting at $500

Tickets $150

Contact Wendy Goddard for more information at 770-442-3278 x113or [email protected]

We INFORM: Each month North Atlanta Business Post fl oods the market with all the latest information, 20,000 copies are direct mailed to Business Owners and C-Suite

Executives in the N. Atlanta market, stocked at Chamber offi ces for members, as well as delivered to the highest demographic homes in the market

(where the decision makers live).

Now it’s time to CONNECT!!

Leadership Summit

CURE’s mission is to conquer childhood cancer through fundraising targeted research and through supporting patients and their families.

EXECUTIVE SPONSOR

TITLE SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSOR

Mike Stevens

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BUFORD, Ga. — While the launch of any new season at Lanier Islands’ popular lakeside attraction – Lanier-World – can be exciting, there are several reasons this year’s opening on May 9 will be par-ticularly thrilling.

Lanier Islands is pleased to bring its guests not just one but two new major attrac-tions that are designed to take the south by storm. 2015 is the year that Lanier Islands unleashes its CAT 4 Slide and Thunderbolt Zipline Experience on the shores of Lake Lanier.

“Each year and season we try to up the ante on our

guest experience throughout the Islands,” said Islands Chairman of the Board, Virgil Williams. “Earlier this year, we opened our first fine din-ing farm-to-table restaurant with Sidney’s at Legacy Lodge – which is being met with rave reviews from guests. We have a great deal of plans and projects in the works designed to secure our stand-ing as a beloved year-round destination for Georgians and visitors from all around the globe.”

For the 2015 season, Lani-erWorld guests can also expect extended hours and the return

of fan-favorite attractions like Wild Waves, Raging River, Blackout, Intimidator, Triple Threat and five more fast downhill waterslides, as well as a number of great restaurants including Sunset Cove Beach Café & Club, Gianni’s Italian Bistro, Tads and the popu-lar eateries of the boardwalk. There is already a jam-packed calendar of events planned for spring and summer at Lani-erWorld including a rotating roster of Full Moon Parties, holiday celebrations and live open-air concerts.

To view events, daily admis-sion prices, season passes and more, LanierWorld fans are encouraged to visit www.lanierislands.com.

—Kathleen Sturgeon

Gilbert Belisle, 55, of Cumming, passed away April 8, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

William Eugene Brake, 84, of Cumming, passed away April 25, 2015. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.

Fred Center, 44, of Alpharetta, passed away April 10, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Mary Frances Chadwick, 64, of Gainesville, passed away April 22, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.

Joseph Colmore Creason, 90, of Cumming, passed away April 26, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.

Annie Crenshaw, 85, of Alpharetta, passed away April 15, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

James Crisp, III, 43, of Alpharetta, passed away April 18, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Joyce Etheridge, 85, of Alpharetta, passed away April 10, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Joseph Goddard, 77, of Alpharetta, passed away April 15, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Jerry Dean Hood, 71, of Forsyth County, passed away April 27, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.

Judith Juers, 83, of Roswell, passed away April 23, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Robert J. Malone, 89, of Alpharetta, passed away April 22, 2015. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.

Huie Moore, 79, of Alpharetta, passed away April 17, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

William Edward Moore, Jr., 70, of Gainesville, passed away April 25, 2015. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.

Doris Passons, 83, of Alpharetta, passed away April 13, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Lori Rolleri, 59, of Roswell, passed away April 9, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Donnie L. Shadburn, 76, of Cumming, passed away April 22, 2015. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.

Bonnie Sicher, 75, of Johns Creek, passed away April 10, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Glenn Singleton, 95, of Roswell, passed away April 20, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Helen Smith, 94, of Roswell, passed away April 19, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Virginia Stearns, 93, of Roswell, passed away April 18, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Theresa Talbot, 62, of Roswell, passed away April 10, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

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LanierWorld debuts two attractions

Zipline over Lake Lanier at Lanier Islands in Georgia.

About the new rides:CAT 4: While a Category 4 hurricane boasts wind speeds of up to 155 mph, riders will only feel as though they are traveling at a similar rate of speed as they race down one of four lanes of this dry slide on a hard-bottomed tube. The adventure begins high on a hill, as CAT 4 sends guests flying out over the heads of unsuspecting passerby on the boardwalk below, bounding out across the beach, and splashing down directly into the cool waters of the lake. Thunderbolt: Inspired by the wild popularity of Lake Lanier Islands Canopy Tours mixed with a little bit of that daredevil spirit from the imaginative LanierWorld team, Thunderbolt is an electrifying new zipline experience that boasts not just one or two, but three parallel racing ziplines. Riders are strapped into specially crafted safety harnesses before they begin their rapid descent through the forest, over the boardwalk, across the beach and – for what is undoubtedly the most delightful (and daring) parts of this ride – high above the sparkling waters of Sunset Cove before touching down on the opposite shore.


www.lanierislands.com

www.lanierislands.com


“After I talked to many people, friends included, that was my recommendation to the board,” Gravitt said. “I felt him being the person he was would be the right one to be appoint-ed for the interim, which is only for a few meetings.”

One of the criteria for the person appointed, Gravitt said, is they would not run for the unexpired term.

“That way the appointee would not have a leg up on the other people who want to enter in the race,” Gravitt said. “Ev-eryone would be on an equal playing field and will have the same opportunity.”

May 1 was also the last day of Sexton’s term as city

councilman. He was present in the meeting to fill his spot, and afterward gathered his last few possessions from his office.

“It’s been a burden lifted off of me,” Sexton said. “The pressure is going away. I’m back to being ‘John Q. Public’. I’ve worked for my employer, the citizens of Cumming, for 44 years. I want to thank each and every one of them who support-ed me over the past 44 years.”


Sexton:KATHLEEN STURGEON/STAFF

Cumming councilmen sit at their stand for the first time without former Councilman Rupert Sexton.

up immediately. I completely agree.

It’s time Cumming has a new face, and this is their chance.

Not even two hours after the interim-filling meeting, a candidate sent out a press release saying she was going to run for the open post. The last time a new candidate ran for council or mayor was in 2003, when Gravitt faced op-position for mayor. He won by a vote of 289-15.

Just to reiterate, the last time someone even ran was 12 years ago, and the last

time a new person joined of-fice was 23 years ago.

That’s quite a long while for someone to be in office, and that’s just the “youngest” term.

These long public service duties makes me think Cum-ming may be in need of term limits. Just as the president of the United States is only allowed eight years maximum, the city of Cumming should limit their terms as well.

Change is rarely easy, but it’s good and neces-sary. Fresh perspective can help solve problems others thought unsolvable. At the end of the day, change can help make the city of Cum-ming an even better place to live, work and play.


Change:

faucets and light fixtures for a like-new look.

Closets: By cleaning out your closets, you are showing off your storage space, which is a high priority for most buy-ers. Organize and display a minimal amount of clothing to showcase the closet’s space.

Overall, when staging your home remember to stage each room for one purpose. You might use your dining room as a home office or

playroom, but buyers will respond better to the space if you stage it with a dining table and chairs. Even nooks and crannies are valuable square footage, so play them up. Put your home’s best foot forward by using these staging tips to showcase your property and convince buyers this is the home for them.

At Atlanta Fine Homes So-theby’s International Realty, we are dedicated to providing you with an exceptional expe-rience throughout the buying and selling process. If I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.


Home:

forsythherald.com


Hiring college students...

...to paint this summer. Training provided by Sherwin Williams. Work will be in Forsyth County. Call or email Sean Brown for details. [email protected]

Hiring college students...

...to paint this summer. Training provided by Sherwin Williams. Work will be in Forsyth County. Call or email Sean Brown for details. [email protected]

Enroll your child in debate, public speaking writing, math & coding

camps. Grades 2-8. www.tylacademy.org

678-691-7030

Milton Executive 2-story 4+BR/5.5BA on 1.4 Acres

Fin Terrace level, in-law suite, professional landscaping, private fenced backyard, pool, More! Quality and Pride in Ownership shine throughout! $629,900. G. Cauble,

678-386-7015 or D Pals, 678-467-1211. Maximum One Realty. FMLS # 5516640.

http://.14760ChampionsViewPkwy.realbird.com

JobEnabler is recruiting associate entrepreneurs. Set your own hourly rate and work hours. No selling. No billings. No collections. And the work comes to you – locally. This is a legitimate, real and wonderful opportunity offered by a new Suwanee-based company – JobEnabler, which is a first to market E-Services pioneer, similar to Uber®. Get in on the ground floor! Go to our website for complete information and click on “How to Become an Associate”

JOBENABLER.COMWe help you create your own business.

START YOUR OWNBUSINESS NOW.

Recruiting Independent Associates.

rate gs. to

al by

Air Conditioning Air Plus Co Inc.

24/7 ServiceService / Installation

Aff ordable RatesResidential / Commercial

Will Beat all written estimates

30 yrs. exp.Licensed and Insured

Call Steve678-270-8108 (cell)

Advantage Painting

Interior/ExteriorDecks Sealed &

Stained Carpentry Repairs

770-255-8575

Proudly use Benjamin Moore

& Sherwin Williams paintsPrompt Professional Service

Free Estimate, Insured

No Up Front Money

$100 OFFPARKING LOT SEAL COATING

StripingSeal Coating

Resurface Work at Discount Price!$100 OFF - mention this ad

678-506-0008

WANTED OLD JAPANESEMOTORCYCLES

KAWASAKI-- Z1-900(1972-75), KZ900, KZ1000(1976-1982), Z1R, KZ1000MK2(1979,80), W1-650,

H1-500(1969-72), H2-750(1972-1975), S1-250, S2-350, S3-400, KH250, KH400, SUZUKI--GS400, GT380,

HONDA--CB750K(1969-1976), CBX1000(1979,80)

$$ CASH $$1-800-772-11421-310-721-0726

[email protected]

HANDYMANREMODELING

ALL REPAIRS & REMODELS678-455-2434

www.HandyHero.net30 yrs. exp./FREE ESTIMATES1 YR WARRANTY/Lic. & Ins.


forsythherald.com


Forsyth Herald, May 6, 2015

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Transcript of Forsyth Herald, May 6, 2015