Forsyth Herald, March 11, 2015

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March 11, 2015 | forsythherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 11

Forsyth practices for hazmat situation By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com

KATHLEEN STURGEON/STAFF

Crews from AT&T, Forsyth County Fire Department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency went into the AT&T building to practice a hazmat drill. The crew practiced rescuing a worker who came into contact with a contaminant.

CUMMING, Ga. — While chilly temperatures and rain may not seem like perfect weather to most, the damp and cold on March 5 made for a perfect day to hold a hazardous materials incident drill in Forsyth County. More than 50 people from AT&T, the Forsyth County Fire Department, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Forsyth Geographic Information Services, Cumming Police Department, Forsyth County EMS and the Emergency Management Agency joined together to practice responding to potential hazardous situations that could happen in real life. Fire Division Chief Jason Shivers said although it may not seem like good weather conditions, it was actually

See HAZMAT, Page 35

Feasibility study says city of Sharon Springs viable By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Sharon Springs may be one step closer to becoming the second city in Forsyth County after a feasibility study showed the proposed city could work financially. The Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia completed a feasibility study for the proposed

Now that it’s viable, we can start the discussion on whether we want to become a city.” STEVE BENEFIELD Treasurer and one of the founding members of the Sharon Springs Alliance city of Sharon Springs, and the research released March 2 confirmed a new limited

services city (“city light”) is financially viable. The study was completely funded through

resident contributions. Steve Benefield, treasurer and one of the founding members of the Sharon Springs Alliance, said it is good news the study confirms the city is financially viable. “Now that it’s viable, we can start the discussion on whether we want to become a city,” Benefield said. “Our goal is to have a little more local control and create the efficient low-cost government

we think south Forsyth County deserves.” The city’s proposed boundaries include all of Forsyth County’s District 2, with small portions of Districts 3 and 5, Benefield said. The study concluded the proposed city could be funded without any large tax burdens to citizens and without the need to increase property taxes

See VIABLE, Page 37

PUBLIC SAFETY

2 | March 11, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

15 arrested in prostitution sting Johns Creek clamps down on pimps, prostitutes JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – In a weekend sting, Johns Creek Police reported arresting 15 people in connection with prostitution and pimping. JC Police, with help from Alpharetta and Roswell Police and the Georgia Bureau of BOZEMAN Investigation, arranged fake meetings on websites popular with prostitution. These meetings were designed to lure either prospective “clients” or prostitutes to be arrested. The police arranged to meet the suspects at a Medlock Bridge Road hotel in Johns Creek. The sting took place over the weekend of Feb. 19 – 21. Fifteen people were arrested from the sting. Four were charged with prostitution, seven with pimping, three with misdemeanor pandering and one with felony pandering someone under 17. “The first night we targeted the prostitutes and pimps,” said Capt. Chris Byers of Johns Creek Police. “The second night, we were providing the prostitutes and people came in to make deals.” The sting was in response to a complaint the police received about a mother and step-daughter – Tarah Daracott and her step-daughter are accused of pimping and prostitution, respectively. The step-daughter is 19 years old. “We were able to arrest those two in the operation as well,” Byers said. “These are people that have put up ads on Craigslist or Backpage.com advertising they do sex for money in Johns

See STING, Page 3

POLICE BLOTTER All 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.

Ride home ends in altercation FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — While a Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputy was investigating suspicious activity Feb. 21, a man approached him to report he was assaulted recently at another location. The man said he, his girlfriend and another friend had been out drinking at Wild Wing Café, 5530 Windward Parkway, in Alpharetta when they called a cab-like service to take them home to Westchester Place. Once inside the SUV, the man said the driver of the vehicle allegedly began “ranting and raving about Muslim topics” and then reportedly began attack-

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ing him in the backseat while he was driving. The man said he did nothing to provoke the attack, nor did he make any religious insults. He reportedly said the driver punched him in the face at least six times before he stopped the vehicle on Ga. 400 northbound and made the man and his girlfriend exit the car. The man said they called a friend to pick them up. The girlfriend and other friend reportedly confirmed the man’s statement. The girlfriend said she was making out with her boyfriend when the alleged incident occurred. The other passenger reported she was not asked to exit the vehicle with the other two, and that the driver delivered her to a location she requested near Westchester Place. The officer said all parties he spoke to were intoxicated and noted the man had a bruised knot on his forehead and a bloody nose. The officer followed up with the company the man said he called, but

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Man directs traffic around imaginary accident FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched Feb. 21 to the area of Matt Highway and Whitmire Road in reference to suspicious activity. The complainant said a male subject was sitting on the side of the road directing traffic because there was a 30-car vehicle accident down the road, but there was no accident. The man reportedly had his truck pulled across the roadway, and said that he had been told to block the roadway by a Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputy. The officer ran the man’s license and found it was suspended. The man said he didn’t know his license

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PUBLIC SAFETY

Driver flees accident scene FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 27-year-old was charged with driving while license is suspended or revoked, DUI and failure to maintain lane Feb. 24 after leaving the scene of a crash. When officers arrived at the intersection of Campground Road and Dickerson Road, they noticed a gray truck off the roadway behind a downed utility pole. The driver had left the scene. A witness reportedly saw the driver of the truck leave the roadway on Campground Road at a high rate of speed striking a road sign prior to Dickerson Road. The witness reportedly saw the truck continue off the roadway and strike a utility pole just north of Dickerson Road. The driver then exited the vehicle, gathered some items and fled north on Campground Road. The man was described as in his 20s and wearing pajamas. The driver was later located off Longstreet Church Road. He allegedly admitted he was the driver but left because he was scared. The officers noticed a strong smell of alcohol and placed the man under arrest. Damage to the utility pole required several hours of repair time as well as caused power loss to families within the area, officers reported.

Sting: Continued from Page 2 Creek,” he said. “That doesn’t mean they live here, but they service this area.” Byers said the operation was a success. “Any time you get 15 arrests for a two-day operation is a success,” Byers said. Editor’s note: It is editorial policy not to name anyone arrested under the age of 21. Those arrested: • 19-year-old woman arrested for prostitution • Tarah Daracott, 35, of Flowery Branch arrested for pimping, prostitution • Chandre Noel, 23, of Arbor Creek, Roswell, arrested for prostitution. • Terrence Robinson, 27, of Old Dogwood Road, Roswell arrested for pimping. • Stanley Ragin, 31, of Atlanta arrested for pimping.

• Crystal Bozeman, 28, of Misty Lane, Roswell arrested for pimping. • Nicole Leigh Cairns, 31, of Florida arrested for prostitution. • Cindia Denis, 34, of Knoll Ridge Court, Alpharetta arrested for pimping. • Randolph Morris, 52, of Red Stone Way, Cumming, was arrested for pimping. • Candace Owen, 21, of Pickens, South Carolina, was arrested for prostitution. • Jeffrey B. Foster, 55, of Atlanta was arrested for pimping. • 19-year-old man, of Lawrenceville was arrested for pandering someone under 17. • Hai Ngoc Nguyen, 41, of Norcross was arrested for pandering. • Dewey Thurman Pitts, 46, of Marietta was arrested for pandering. • Bilen Sevgi, 34, of Anniston, Alabama, was arrested for pandering.

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DUIS & DRUGS All 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.

DUI arrests ►► George Edward Berbessi,

27, of Jefferson, Georgia, was arrested Feb. 22 on Ga. 400 in Cumming for DUI. ►► Douglas J. Gibson, 53, of Sewell Farm Road, Cumming, was arrested Feb. 22 on Peachtree Parkway in Cumming for DUI, suspended license, missing license plate, failure to maintain lane and

Forsyth Herald | March 11, 2015 | 3

expired tag.

►► Taylor Allen Strickland, 21,

of Milford Lane, Alpharetta, was arrested Feb. 20 on McFarland Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI, failure to maintain lane and no insurance. ►► Maria Goretti Sexton, 53, of Nature View Place, Cumming, was arrested Feb. 21 on Atlanta Highway in Cumming for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Austin Wayne Potts, 21, of Suwanee was arrested Feb. 22 on Old Atlanta Road in Suwanee for DUI.

Drug arrests ►► Michael Joe Jerkins, 40, of

Archer Avenue, Cumming, was

arrested Feb. 23 on Keith Bridge Road in Cumming for possession of methamphetamines and too fast for conditions. ►► Chasity Nicole Fields, 31, of Spruce Street, Cumming, was arrested Feb. 20 on Bethelview Road in Cumming for possession of a schedule IV controlled substance. ►► Thomas Lawrence Boemker, 29, of Dunwoody was arrested Feb. 3 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for possession of marijuana and failure to signal when turning. ►► Alec Elijah Bethune, 21, of Atlanta was arrested Feb. 4 on East Crossville Road in Roswell for possession of a schedule IV controlled substance, expired license and expired

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NEWS

4 | March 11, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

Commissioners approve Man arrested after pointing modifications to UDC shotgun at By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com

deputies

The commissioners approved

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Commission approved March 5 to modify two sections of the unified development code (UDC), the official overlay district map of Forsyth County and the limit of model homes in major subdivisions. A portion of the overlay district map was initially intended to be in the Big Creek Watershed, which is a small watershed, said senior planner Vanessa Bernstein-Goldman. “Inadvertently a number of years ago, there was a mapping error,” Bernstein-Goldman said. “These buffers were put on that area of the map. It is incorrect. Those buffers are related to a different water district that is a larger water supply watershed.” Jack Gleason spoke at the meeting by explaining the environmental sensitivity of the land and by talking about Roswell, which uses the water. “It’s a large watershed because a local municipality, Roswell, is using its water to serve its people,” Gleason said. “We should do the best we can as stewards of the land. The people downstream would appreciate the consideration.” Bernstein-Goldman said this issue came to their attention after a developer’s engineer contacted the county in regards to the intake. “We are beyond the seven-mile radius of the Roswell intake and when this mapping error happened, they thought they had to map any buffer in any area within a seven-mile radius,” Bernstein-Goldman said. “But what they didn’t realize is it’s not any intake. It’s only intake if it’s in a small supply watershed area. The buffer area is from a different watershed and therefore the rules don’t apply, which is why we’re removing them from the map. The new map removes the 100 feet buffer and 150 feet setback.” Gleason also asked if there was another municipality using the water. Chairman R.J. “Pete” Amos said only Roswell used it. The modification was approved unanimously. Commissioners also approved a change

• The limit of brightness on electronic message boards for night time maximum 350 nits, and daytime 6,500 nits. They also approved frequency of copy change to no more than once every 20 minutes for all other electronic message boards. (Jim Boff was opposed.) • Alcohol licenses to Osaka Steak and Sushi, 1735 Buford Highway; Quick Stop No. 1, 2383 Canton Highway; Pacific Spice Restaurant, 5485 Bethelview Road • A warning letter to be place in the file of Sam’s Mart No. 502, 1520 Peachtree Parkway, after violating the alcohol ordinance by selling to minors.

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. —At approximately 1:30 p.m. March 5, Forsyth County deputies responded to a residence in the 8300 block of Swiss Air Road off Bethel Road in northeast Forsyth in regards to a hostile person armed with a firearm. Once deputies were on scene, they immediately encountered Kenneth Mercer, 50, brandishing a shotgun from a distance. Mercer was outside of his residence and pointed his weapon at deputies as they arrived. Mercer ignored many commands from deputies to put his weapon down. Deputies secured a perimeter around the house and evacuated nearby residences. A number of deputies responded while SWAT and the crisis negotiation team moved into place. Negotiators quickly began communication while SWAT members moved into position utilizing the armored personnel carrier to safely approach Mercer. Mercer was then taken into custody by SWAT members without serious incident. Mercer was transported to an area hospital and then to the Forsyth County Detention Center. Evidence obtained on scene confirmed although Mercer had fired a weapon, he did not shoot at deputies. Mercer is charged with four counts of aggravated assault against a peace officer. Additional charges are pending. —Kathleen Sturgeon

We should do the best we can as stewards of the land. The people downstream would appreciate the consideration.” JACK GLEASON Forsyth County resident

to the UDC’s policy on limiting the number of model homes to five maximum in any one subdivision. They changed the policy so that no more than one model home per 40 lots in a subdivision will be issued, but with no maximum. The commissioners discussed if this would encourage builders to make every home a model home, but eventually decided to delete the portion about the maximum.

Car falls off Ga. 400 into Lake Lanier By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. —

Around noon March 6, a car driving northbound on Ga. 400 fell off a bridge into Lake Lanier.

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The driver was confirmed as Samantha Silverman, 33, of Cumming. She has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs, suspended license, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane. Silverman also had a warrant for possession of methamphetamine.

The single-vehicle accident happened between exit 15 and 16, Bald Ridge and Pilgrim Mill roads, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. The car landed in the water but did not submerge or sink. Silverman was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

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Ceremony to commence new Forsyth courthouse CUMMING, Ga. — A ribboncutting ceremony will be held to commemorate the opening of the new Forsyth County courthouse March 12 at 10 a.m. The new courthouse is located at 101 E. Courthouse Square in downtown Cumming. Following the ceremony, attendees will have the opportunity to tour the courthouse. The new 158,000-squarefoot courthouse features five floors and a basement that will house the superior court, state court, solicitor-general, grand jury, clerk of courts and court administration. Approximately 30,000-square-feet have been left for any future expansion. Funding for the courthouse came from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) VII which was

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Forsyth’s new courthouse will officially open March 16.

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approved by Forsyth voters in Nov. 2011. “Without the voters’ approval of SPLOST VII, we would not have been able to construct the new courthouse and jail, which are absolutely

critical components of Forsyth County’s judicial and public safety infrastructure,” Commission Chairman R.J. (Pete) Amos said. The new courthouse will officially open March 16.

The old courthouse will be renovated and will house the Forsyth Sheriff’s Office headquarters and the probate court. Renovations are set to be completed later this year. -Joe Parker

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Forsyth crews to clear storm debris FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County crews have a plan in place to address the debris that fell within the county right of way during the recent winter weather events. The county’s roads and bridges division has two crews devoted to this effort who have already begun working to remove and chip debris that fell onto the county right of way. Weather permitting, it is expected to take several months for the cleanup to be completed. “This is certainly a large task, due to the amount of debris that fell, but we will work diligently until this cleanup effort is complete,” Director of Engineering John Cunard said. It is important to note that Forsyth County crews will only be removing debris that fell within county right of way during the recent winter weather events. Debris should not be moved from private property onto county right of way, as it will not be removed by county crews. The county does not pick up storm debris from private property and county employees are prohibited from working on private property. Crews will be utilizing records, photos and other documentation of roadways that were cleared during the recent winter weather events to assist them in determining where right of way cleanup will be performed.

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8 | March 11, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

OPINION

Submit your opinions to news@appenmediagroup.com

Pigskin: The southern fried favorite

‘The Grapes of Wrath’ and other cliché wine-related titles The state of Georgia is as synonymous with making good wines as Detroit is with budget surpluses. That is why I was apprehensive when my fianceé, Melanie, wanted to partake in a wine tasting on our day trip to Georgia’s Appalachian foothills. My only previous consumption of Georgia-made wine had occurred about two years ago when I tasted a sip of white wine from a vineyard in Dahlonega. Not only was it not good, it was decidedly awful. It tasted like someone added a little grape juice to rubbing alcohol. And mind you, I had already consumed a bit of wine (read: I had consumed lots and lots of wine) and therefore had a palate that was about as discerning as a dog digging through a garbage bin. Needless to say, I was not expecting to taste the nectar of the gods with Melanie, but if nothing else it was still booze, I thought. Melanie and I ventured to Sautee-Nacoochee Vineyards, which had the distinctions of being the closest vineyard to our hotel as well as perhaps the best vineyard name I’ve ever heard. (I did have to look up the name though as I had remembered it as “sautécoochie-something.”) As we arrived, I was thinking that not only am I going to have to drink sub-par wine, but I will also be forced to listen to the vineyard employee speaking of the wine in such high praise that low-life scum like me does not even deserve to be in the same hemisphere as these grapes. But I was pleasantly surprised.

JOE PARKER

Appen Intern news@appenmedia group.com The part I was dreading the most, having partaken in many wine-tastings, was hearing the employee’s obnoxiously opulent rave of their wine. But what I was told instead was the information I wanted to know – and nothing more. I wasn’t made to feel as if I wasn’t worthy of drinking the wine. There was no talk of the angle of the vines, how many days of sunshine the grapes receive in the year or the average rainfall of the valley. For the first time in my experiences of tasting wines, someone had allowed me to drink a glass and form my own opinion on it. And my opinion was that it was surprisingly good. The vineyard was also serving peach frozen sangria made with one of their white wines that was so incredibly delicious I would gladly have consumed it until my liver popped out of my throat waving a white flag. After spending a very quiet hour enjoying the view of the rows of grapes and mountainside, longingly sipping our wine, Melanie and I departed, each with multiple bottles in hand and a new sense of civicpride. We also left with the realization that perhaps Georgia wine isn’t so bad, after all. Except for that Dahlonega battery acid that was labeled “wine,” that is.

It is a widely known fact that fall Saturdays in the south belong to college football. I have friends who live and die by Georgia, Auburn and other southern football powerhouses and will become enemies with their family members during rivalry games. According to a Harris Poll, reported by ESPN in 2014, “more southerners call college football their favorite sport.” This is a surprise to no one who pays attention to southern culture. I’ve always appreciated this dedication, even fanaticism, to their favorite college football teams, but come basketball season, I can’t help but notice that enthusiasm disappears. As a huge college basketball fan, I sometimes feel like an outsider in football country, even though my team is in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). (Go Kentucky! Go

KATHLEEN STURGEON Forsyth Herald Reporter kathleen@appen mediagroup.com

... With your support, maybe, just maybe, you’ll look forward to March Madness for more than just the office pool. big blue nation!) It’s embarrassing to go to games against other SEC teams and barely see any fans representing the opposing teams. As a fan, it would be great to have intense, sustaining SEC basketball rivalries.

Basketball is so out of place in the south, at the last University of Georgia verses University of Kentucky matchup, the Georgia fans created a pamphlet on how to cheer at basketball games. People on social media poked fun at Georgia by saying, “the orange orb is the basketball. The circular metal thing with a net is the rim. We are ‘Georgia,’ the home team.” I may be a bit biased because my team is pretty good at basketball, but I also don’t ignore my school during football season when they’re lucky if they win one SEC game. It’s completely fine to love college football, but at the very least, save a little of that school spirit even when they’re down 30 points in basketball in a round ball game. And with your support, maybe, just maybe, you’ll look forward to March Madness for more than just the office pool.

Return to countywide voting for commissioners would result in lawsuit By SEN. MICHAEL WILLIAMS (R-Cumming) Forsyth County is rich in history and culture. During the past 50 years, we have transitioned from one of the poorest counties in the state to the fastest growing and most affluent. With that transition comes diversity and change. In 1964, Forsyth County’s population was just over 12,000, all of which were Caucasian. In that same year, the Board of Commissioners was established. We utilized an at-large, or countywide, voting system that allowed candidates running for commissioner to be elected by every citizen without having to live in a designated district. The county adopted a hybrid at-large/district voting scheme in 1972, meaning commissioners were still elected countywide, but had to live in the districts they represented. With this adoption, the Board grew from three to five commissioners and the county was divided into five districts. Over the next three decades, the county doubled in population every 10 years. On July 15, 2008, the Republican and Democratic primary election ballots had the following question, “Should the county charter be revised to provide that county commissioners and school board members be elected by the voters in the respective districts?” There was an overwhelming majority of “Yes” votes. In 2009, H.B. 378 changed our Board of Commissioners so they would be elected only by voters in their respective districts. Today, our population is approximately 83 percent Caucasian and hovers around 200,000. In the fall of 2014, several members of our county’s state delegation hosted town hall meetings where county governance was discussed. Several individuals voiced their concern and disdain for the current model. Since 1980, 29 counties have unsuccess-

fully attempted to go from district voting to countywide voting as a result of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which focuses on “Vote Dilution.” Under the law, a violation occurs when the plaintiffs prove that the electoral structure operates to minimize or cancel out minorWILLIAMS ity voters’ ability to elect their preferred candidates. Even if I was successful in changing the model to countywide voting through legislation, our county is 83 percent Caucasian and the vast majority of the remaining 17 percent live in the southern part of the county – making a violation of Section 2 easy to prove. Having a countywide voting system made sense for Forsyth County when there was no diversity in the population. Had H.B. 378 never been passed, we may still have a countywide voting model. However, any attempt to return Forsyth County to countywide voting would result in a lawsuit. For this reason, I cannot, in good conscious, put forth legislation that will inevitably cost the taxpayers millions of dollars. Nevertheless, of the almost 500 people who attended the fall town hall meetings, nearly everyone expressed how unhappy they are with the current model for electing our Board of Commissioners. Our county delegation has met several times to discuss this issue and are striving to arrive at a solution that would address most of the underlying issues. I look forward to having something to share with you soon. Sen. Michael Williams represents the 27th Senate District, which includes portions of Forsyth County. He may be reached by phone at 404-656-7127 or by email at michael.williams@senate.ga.gov.

COMMUNITY

forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | March 11, 2015 | 9

“HONKY-TONK HEROES”:

Cumming Playhouse to feature Americana music CUMMING, Ga. — The Cumming Playhouse will host four concerts featuring the sounds of Americana. The Quebe Sisters, comprised of sisters Grace, Sophia and Hulda, will make their debut at the Cumming Playhouse with shows at 3:00 and 8:00 p.m. March 14. The Quebe Sisters blend the sounds of swing, classic country, bluegrass, jazz and Texas-style fiddling. They have performed with Ricky Scaggs and Kentucky Thunder,

Merle Haggard and Riders in the Sky. The trio has also performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Musician Jason Petty will perform a tribute to Hank Williams entitled, “Hank and My Honky-Tonk Heroes,” where Petty will perform songs such as “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Hey Good Lookin’” and other Hank Williams classics. Petty has received acclaim for his portrayal of the late Williams through performances in New York’s hit

off Broadway musical, “Lost Highway.” He received an Obie award, presented to off Broadway shows, and multiple other nominations for his performance. Additionally, he portrayed Williams in “Lost Highway” at the Grand Ole Opry. Tickets are $25 and $20 for students or seniors over the age of 60. Tickets can be purchased at www.playhousecumming.com or by calling (770) 781-9178. -Joe Parker

Studio West Productions presents “Nice Work if You Can Get It” CUMMING, Ga. — Featuring a Live orchestra, West Forsyth High School’s award winning Studio West Productions will be preforming the Georgia premier of the Tony award winning hit Broadway musical, “Nice Work if You Can Get It.” This 1920s-era feel-good musical is complete with extravagant dance numbers, glittering costumes and an unlikely love story between a wealthy playboy and a rough and tumble lady bootlegger. It is set against the backdrop of classic Gershwin hits like “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “Fascinating Rhythm.” It also features a cast of largerthan-life ensemble characters. This tale combines laughter, romance and high-stepping Broadway magic for an evening bursting with girls, glamour and the glorious songs of Gershwin. “‘Nice Work if You Can Get It’ is a great show with everything you look for in a musical,” said Eric Gray, Studio West’s director. “I really love listening to the score/music of the show. It brightens my day and gives me energy, and to think it is all Gershwin music. I know the crowd at West will love this show and I am excited about the live orchestra. It is our first time to

If you go What: “Nice Work if You Can Get It” performed by Studio West Productions When: March 13-22 Where: West Forsyth High School Auditorium, 4155 Drew Road Cost: $12 for adults, $10 for students More info: www.wfhsswp.com/ have a full orchestra in the pit for our students. I know it will give us that little something extra we have been looking for with our spring show.” The show will run March 13- 22. Tickets can be purchased at www.showtix4u.com or at the door. Adult tickets are $12 and students are $10. All performances will be held at the West Forsyth High School Auditorium, 4155 Drew Road. For more information about West Forsyth High School’s Studio West Productions, or to learn how you can contribute, go to http:// www.wfhsswp.com/ or visit or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WFHSStudioWestProductions.

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Liberty MS holds Day of Innovation By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — With her school’s already excellent test scores to boost, Liberty Middle School Principal Connie Stovall was momentarily taken aback when the county school superintendent asked her what else she could do. Stovall knew her students were succeeding academically, but then-Superintendent Buster Evans’ question caused her to think beyond test scores. “This was something I had never really thought about, but he was right,” Stovall said. “What else could I do to ensure my students were not only academically prepared for their future, but also ready for the world outside school?” After some planning, Stovall said her school made the strategic decision to implement inquiry-based, interdisciplinary instruction. On March 3, her students, teachers and staff were able to show it off during Liberty’s Day of Innovation exploration. “The Day of Innovation was designed for us to showcase

some of the different kinds of things we’re doing that not every traditional school is doing,” Stovall said. “We have spent the past three years working toward trying to become a more inquiry-based, interdisciplinary school with more hands-on activities for our students.” The daylong conference hosted over 54 educators from in and around Forsyth County, Stovall said. “This was our way to showcase what we’ve been doing, not just to other schools in our district, but we also have people from Houston County, Dawson County and University of North Georgia students,” Stovall said. “It’s a day to introduce the community to some of the things we’re doing.” Two of the visiting educators were Karen Pogue-Blackshear and Jennifer Dykes from Feagin Mill Middle School in Houston County. “We came to get some ideas for our middle school,” PogueBlackshear said. “We heard a lot about the different programs they have here, and we wanted to come and see what we could adapt for our school.”

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KATHLEEN STURGEON

From top left, Tina Nguyen, Mason Keenum and Reagan Mason attempt to make geometric shapes out of Play-Doh. Dykes said they brought someone from all three grade levels, as well as a counselor. “We’re very encouraged by the student population and how they’re so eager and comfortable talking in front of adults and other kids,” Dykes said. One eighth-grade class studying “To Kill a Mockingbird” was interacting with their teacher, Sarah Loftus, as if she were a character come to life.

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“The innovation academy goes more in depth about what we’ve been learning from the last couple months,” said student Matthew Lindelli. “It’s cool to actually see it happening.” Some of the skills the students were showcasing are things elementary school pupils could be preparing for, said Michelle Gardner, a teacher from Silver City Elementary School in Cumming. Gardner

said she was impressed by the students and teachers during Innovation Day and said they’re doing great work. “We want to have more innovation on an elementary level,” Gardner said. “This is what you see in middle school, but they need to have a foundation. We’re trying to see what we can do to build that foundation, even at the primary grades.”

COMMUNITY

Fire destroys local woman’s home By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The worst nightmare for most homeowners came true for Ellarae Johnson Feb. 28 when her house burned down. Johnson, 71, was at home off of Freeman Road entertaining guests when one of them said her house was smoking. “She went up the stairs and opened the door, and when she did, the house engulfed in flames,” said Tammy Sosebee, Johnson’s niece. “No one was injured, and the cats made it out alive.” Sosebee said her aunt has no insurance and has lived in this house for over 35 years. She lived there with her 33-year-old daughter, Tammy Jones. “They are both out of a home and have nowhere to call their own,” Sosebee said. Investigators have confirmed the

fire was accidental in nature with nothing suspicious about it, said Division Chief Jason Shivers. No injuries occurred as a result of the fire, Shivers said, and the fire was brought under control within the first few minutes of arrival of Forsyth County units. Since the fire, the pair have moved in with Johnson’s eldest daughter, Carolyn, and her twin daughters, Hayley and Heather. But Carolyn is struggling to support the family and trying to help as much as she can, Sosebee said. “My aunt has a heart of gold,” Sosebee said. “She would be the first one to help you if you are in need. It would mean the world to us for people to help her as she has helped so many, and she deserves a place to live and deserves to be helped.” For more information or to donate, visit http://www.gofundme.com/HelpEllaraeRebuild.

forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | March 11, 2015 | 11

COMMUNITY

12 | March 11, 2015 | Forsyth Herald

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Sandra Deal visits Big Creek ES By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com CUMMING, Ga. — As part of Read Across Georgia Month, Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal visited Big Creek Elementary School March 6 to read to the kindergartners. Principal Sherri Black said they’ve had

different guest readers visit them throughout the past few weeks, including state Rep. Mike Dudgeon and Forsyth Superintendent Jeff Bearden. “We like to think in elementary school we’re always promoting reading, but there’s always a time to bring it to the next level,” Black said.

Planning took about six months and each guest was encouraged to bring a book to read or have the school pick one out. Deal brought “T.J.’s Discovery” by the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy at the Atlanta Speech School. Deal read the book to the students and interacted by

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Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal reads to kindergartners at Big Creek Elementary School March 5. having them answer questions and make sound effects. But a surprise guest at the end of the program really excited the students, Black said. Lieren Forbes, interpretive ranger for Panola Mountain Park, brought a snake for the students to see. “She did an excellent job,” Black said. “The sound effects she shared definitely grabbed their attention. The snake was definitely a huge surprise to them — they loved it.”

Black said the reading was a special moment for the students, and Deal is known for her passion for literacy. “That’s something, as a school administrator and educator, we revere greatly,” Black said. “She’s such a natural reader. It’s obvious she enjoys that opportunity to come and read.” All six kindergarten homerooms were in attendance, Black said, adding up to about 150 students.

COMMUNITY

Forsyth Herald | March 11, 2015 | 13 Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com

Cumming library launches book club for leadership CUMMING, Ga. — Readers and leaders in the Cumming area are invited to participate in the Forsyth County Public Library’s (FCPL) first Read to Lead book club event. FCPL Director Jon McDaniel will speak on the book “God and Gold: Britain, America, and the Making of the Modern World” by Walter Russell Mead at noon March 12 at the Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega Road. Each meeting of the Read to Lead book club will include a local leader facilitating a discussion related to a book that has significantly influenced their life and approach to leadership. Participants will have an opportunity to read the selected book and engage in open discussion about leadership topics and situations. “To create the future, one must understand how the past got us here,” said McDaniel about why he chose a work of non-fiction that reads more like a history book than a leadership guide. Read to Lead is a book club for those who love to read, have a passion for helping others and a strong motivation to

create a better world, so they explore both big and small, global and local leadership situations. “Our goal is to provide an open platform for the community to come together, get to know and become inspired by our leaders and to learn from one another,” said Jennifer Kovac, information services supervisor at the Cumming Library and Read to Lead organizer. “Everyone has a story that, if shared, could make a difference in another’s life.” Wendy Blond, president of the Georgia Dental Hygienists Association, will lead a discussion April 9 on “The Wizard and the Warrior: Leading with Passion and Power” by Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal. “Many leadership books provide guidance on dealing with an organization’s structure and its people,” said Blond. “This book addresses the political trials and underlying symbolism that change the stakes of nearly all real world situations leaders face in their

journey.” Sylvia Cardona, executive director of Mentor Me, a local non-profit that matches at-risk children with an adult volunteer mentor, will speak on “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho May 14. “The Alchemist” is a work of fiction that teaches the value of listening to your own heart through the experiences of one young boy. “The idea that finding your calling and following your passions isn’t just a personal journey, but part of a shared experience – that was eyeopening to me. We are all connected,” said Cardona. Read to Lead will meet the second Thursday of each month from noon to 1:30 p.m. No advance registration is required and participants are welcome to bring their lunch to the meeting. Read to Lead is sponsored by the FCPL Friends and Advocates. For more information, or to suggest a speaker for a future Read to Lead book club meeting, please contact Jennifer Kovac at kovacj@forsythpl.org.

1 S H 5,00 OW 0 s R O q ft OM

Forsyth Central students compete in robotics competition CUMMING, Ga. — Forsyth Central’s Team 1746 attended the Georgia Southern Classic Regional competition, advancing to the semi-finals and winning the Engineering Inspiration Award. The award is given to programs that advance respect and appreciation for engineering within a team’s school and community.

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We offer a small business resource program, and part of that is providing meeting space for these small businesses DEBORAH LANHAM, chamber vice president for business development

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GNFCC free meeting space popular feature Members’ perk provides space to pitch customers, train staff By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – You say you would love to invite select prospective clients to tell them how your business can uniquely help them be successful? You want a truly business-like setting and the Waffle House is definitely not it? Well if you are a Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce member, problem solved. Chamber members can use meeting space at the GNFCC offices. It is one of the benefits of membership, said Deborah Lanham, chamber vice president for business development. “We offer a small business resource program, and part of that is providing meeting space for these small businesses,” Lanham said. “We help with business consulting through the Small Business Development Center and the Small Business Administration. But we also allow our small businesses to come in and use conference rooms at the chamber, whether it is a small one or large, based on their needs.” There, they can have their own workshop seminars and invite target consumers or businesses to come in and listen to a presentation of the

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Deborah Lanham, vice president/business development at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, at dlanham@gnfcc.com.

services they provide. “They usually combine those presentations with some education about their field. So they teach prospects about what’s out there, say databreach information. Then they show how their company can help,” she said. Lanham has had Microsoft come in to present in partnership with chamber member Land Systems and provided personal laptops to see how certain programs would help their businesses. “It kind of flies under the radar. But it is something I talk about each month when I host Chamber 101,” she said. “I share with the members how we can provide space to host their seminars, their workshops and even their own events like a like a network lunch.” It’s all about helping cham-

HATCHER HURD/STAFF

From left, Carmichael Consulting Solutions’ Neil May, Leah Fairman of Fairman the Connector and Mike Bartoli with Schooley Mitchell co-host a successful seminar at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce’s offices.

ber members accomplish their goals and reaching their target market or consumer/potential partner. These services are part of what the chamber offers small businesses – 50 employees or less. Even the larger companies can reserve space for interviewing new employees. These are fully equipped with flat screens and the technology to integrate their presentations. Lanham said the chamber can accommodate small groups or an audience of up to 100 people. Members can bring in their own catered food and

speakers. Sometimes two or three companies with similar, but not identical services will pitch to the same group that the companies have recruited. “The room is free to them as a value and a benefit of their chamber membership. You must be a member. There are many ways to take advantage of the space. We’ve had nonprofits use space for their board meetings. We have had training where the small businesses are the experts,” Lanham said. “Companies will bring in their sales force to find out

how to effectively use social media for sales. The bottom line is we want to make our members successful,” she said. If the hosts need a caterer or some other service provider, the chamber provides choices from their member list. Companies of all sizes can use the perk, even when they could do it in-house, as a way to change the environment and think outside the box. Recently three companies combined for a luncheon where each company explained how their business could help other businesses. Leah Fairman is an entre

BusinessPosts

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Forsyth Herald | March 11, 2015 | 15

New generation of leaders must step forward Editor’s note: This is the seventh in a series of excerpts from Frank Norton Jr.’s “Norton Native Intelligence Report for 2015.” The report, which reflects and synthesizes the views from more than 500 individuals surveyed and economic vital signs recorded, has been used to chart the North Georgia economy and real estate for more than 25 years. Bold ideas need strong leaders to execute them. It’s time to recognize and fill the impending voids created when the current generation of leaders moves on. The tales of the poultry industry leadership have been told over and over around the campfires of North Georgia. Names like Jewell, Cromartie, Arrendale, Hatfield, Otwell, Wilson and Bagwell are legend-

It was the best of times, it FRANK was the worst NORTON JR. CEO and Chairman of times, it The Norton Agency was the age of wisdom, it ary leaders, pioneering leadership in an emerging time was the age of pulling us out of hard scrabble Appalachia into a 20th century foolishness. economy. The Stewart family of Habersham County, recognizing the emerging need for telephone service, blueprinted and built Standard Telephone into a major network serving tens of thousands. John Jacob heard of an emerging broadcast system called cable and ran lines everywhere years

before there was adequate content to go through those lines. Stalwart Ray McRae took the foundation of a small crossroads bank, First National, and morphed it into First Bancorp with 20 affiliate banks and $13 billion in collective assets.

Managing risks in your small business Are you managing risks in your small business? Have you done a thorough assessment of the potential risks your small business has? Do you have a risk management process in place to help you mitigate your risks? Small business owners typically do not understand or protect their business from the potential risks they have, and subsequently, suffer the consequences. The first step in risk management is to identify the risks that you have. In small businesses, some risks are common; while at the same time, there are unique risks for a specific business. Assessing risks, such as business interruption, operations, personnel and liability losses, will help a small business owner understand their risks. Evaluating the probability that a specific risk will materialize will help you prioritize your time and focus to put together a mitigation plan for all of your top risks. Having contingency

W o m e n

Bold leadership takes bold risks…financial, personal and political capital to ensure that something will be successful. In these times as the recessionary water has calmed, leadership is needed more than ever. We are overdue for rekindling those new ideas that were set aside in time of strife. We are overdue for collective visioning. From Jasper to Pendergrass, we have licked our wounds and missed numerous opportunities in the interim, but it’s time... no, it is past time... to move forward. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.” It’s time to pick ourselves up, dust off our britches and make something happen. Lead…for the next generation.

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plans in place in case a risk emerges will help you to better manage the situation. Having insurance to mitigate certain risks, like theft, fires or accidents, is always a prudent step to managing risks. Adopting an enterprise-wide risk management program will also help ensure that you have plans in place for the top risks in your small business. Continuously monitoring risks and the impact they may have to your small business will help you better manage risks in your small business.

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16 | March 11, 2015 | Forsyth Herald

AWARDS »

BusinessBriefs Berkshire Hathaway awards top performers

GAMING INTELLIGENCE AWARDS

Scientific Games’ Chief Executive of Lottery Jim Kennedy, (center) receives the “2015 Lottery Supplier of the Year Award” from Gaming Intelligence Awards hosts Steve Hoare (left) and Bobby Mamudi (right) during ICE Totally Gaming in London February 3-4.

Scientific Games receives 2 international awards LAS VEGAS — Scientific Games of Alpharetta recently received two awards at ICE Totally Gaming 2015, the world’s largest business-to-business gaming event. The company received the 2015 Lottery Operator of the Year Award at the eighth International Gaming Awards and the 2015 Lottery Supplier of the Year Award at the Gaming Intelligence Awards. The company’s lottery center, which employs approximately 1,200 professionals, is located in Alpharetta. The company develops technology-based products and services and associated content for worldwide gaming and lottery markets.

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ATLANTA — Berkshire Hathaway’s Top 50 agents celebrated with an awards luncheon at the St. Regis Hotel in Buckhead. The “20 Year Legend” award was presented to John Willnow of the Alpharetta-North Fulton office. The No. 1 Top Team honors were given to Jill and Dan Petersen, leaders of Petersen Properties of the Smyrna-Vinings office, and the No. 1 Top Individual Agent award was presented to Susan Fitzgerald of the Peachtree City office. Recognized as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Legends were the Butler Swayne Team, led by Melissa Swayne, Stephanie Butler and Laura Falk; Stephen Walker of the Peachtree City office; Susan Fitzgerald of the Peachtree City office; and Brent Hoffman of the Gainesville office.

EVENTS »

SEMCO makes preparations for annual home show ROSWELL, Ga. – Roswell-based SEMCO Productions will again present the Spring Atlanta Home Show, Georgia’s largest home show, at the Cobb Galleria Centre March 20 – 22. The annual event will bring together more than 350 experts in the home remodeling and landscaping industries to showcase the latest products and services designed to remodel, repair and refresh homes of all sizes and styles. The event includes three days of expert speakers on a variety of home remodeling subjects including gardening, home repair, decorating and aesthetic enhancements. New this year will be a presentation by Danna Cain of Home & Garden Design on how to create a dog-friendly landscape. See www.AtlantaHomeShow.com for days and times of each presentation.

FINANCE »

Tellermate expands in North America ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Cash accounted for 72 per-

Submit your business news & photos to businessnews@appenmediagroup.com cent of the transaction value for general merchandise retailers in the United States, according to a late 2014 report from Richmond Federal Reserve Bank. That has meant good business for Tellermate. Following a record of 132 percent year-over-year growth in North America, Tellermate is expanding both its sales and service organizations at its Alpharetta headquarters. “The report is consistent with other studies that we have seen,” said Jim Stone, Tellermate vice president of marketing for North America. “Tellermate invented weight-based cash counting over 34 years ago and we understand the importance of providing retailers with technology that enables fast and accurate cash counts.”

HEALTH »

Pharmaceutical company begins clinical trial ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Clearside Biomedical, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing drug therapies to treat blinding eye diseases, has announced the first patient’s enrollment in a Phase 2 clinical trial for treating macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion. Approximately 40 patients will be enrolled at 10 sites in the United States. Retinal vein occlusion is a sight-threatening disorder that affects approximately 2.2 million people in the United States.

Biota Pharmaceuticals acquires Anaconda Pharma ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Biota Pharmaceuticals has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Anaconda Pharma, a privately held biotechnology company based in Paris, France. Anaconda Pharma has completed a Phase 2a clinical trial of a patented antiviral for the treatment of anogenital warts, as well as the orphan disease recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Both are caused by human papillomavirus. Under the terms of the agreement, at closing, all of Anaconda Pharma’s outstanding shares will be acquired for 3.5 million shares of Biota common stock and $8 million in cash. Biota will fund the cash portion of the purchase price with cash on-hand.

NewBusinessSpotlight

Pollo Tropical opens in Johns Creek JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – For those who want to get something with a kick to warm their hearts while the snow falls outside, Johns Creek residents are in luck. The newest Pollo Tropical location has opened near the intersection of Medlock Bridge Road and State Bridge Road. The grand opening was Friday, Feb. 27, featuring a ribbon cutting and day-long activities for the family. During the festivities, 100 people won free family meal coupons and a grand prize winner got free chicken for a year. Johns Creek’s Pollo Tropical is located at 5815 State Bridge Road, Johns Creek. For more on the company and its menu, visit www.pollotropical.com.

JONATHAN COPSEY/STAFF

The newest Georgia location of Pollo Tropical, a Caribbean-themed fastcasual restaurant, opened on State Bridge Road in Johns Creek.

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PHOTO BY RAFTERMEN PHOTOGRAPHY

Spring at Avalon is beautiful, fresh and fun Spring is on it’s way and with it brings fresh excitement to the streets of Avalon. Weather it’s strolling the sidewalks taking in all the new Spring fashion, playing cornhole on the lawn or enjoying dinner on one of the beautiful outdoor patios, there is something for everyone this season at Avalon. Inside is your sneak peak! Plus, Lindsay Marie winner of Avalon’s Perfect Year, gives us an update of what she’s been up to.

18 | March 11, 2015

AVALON

#AvalonPerfectYear:

Avalon resident living ‘perfect year’ By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Lindsay Marie is living the good life. She has an apartment in Avalon and spends her days shopping in all the stores and eating in all the restaurants. Lindsay is Avalon’s Perfect Year winner. She was picked from hundreds of hopefuls to live rent-free for a year at one of Avalon’s luxury apartments, and spend her days living life to the fullest, all while blogging, vlogging, Tweeting and shooting pictures of one of North Atlanta’s hottest properties. “I try to show what my life at Avalon is like,” Lindsay said. “I make sure I show it off and showcase all the great things here.” She first heard about Avalon on the radio in her hometown of Clarkesville, Georgia, a small town in North Georgia. “I didn’t know anything about Alpharetta,” she said. “But I knew I had to do this.” She made a video showing Avalon and community voters why she should win the contest. As a 21-year-old millennial, she is well-versed in social media and has her own YouTube channel for fashion videos. She said this probably helped her chances. It also helps that she is an aspiring photographer, currently taking classes to work (hopefully) in the fashion industry. In December 2014, she was in the top three contestants. Then they named the winner. “They said my name and I hit the floor,” she said. Her days are spent living in the lap of luxury. She lives in a one-bedroom apartment overlooking downtown Avalon. When she wakes up, she hits one of the exercise spots – Exhale or Flywheel, which in itself shows just how much the experience is already changing her lifestyle. “I didn’t do much with fitness until I came here,” she said. When a gym is just down the stairs, it’s hard to pass it up, she said. After exercising, she gets breakfast She said she often goes to Goldberg’s café for hot chocolate, which she says is the best she has ever had. For the rest of the day, her schedule is fairly open – she can get a facial at the Cosmetic Market or get her hair done at DryBar. She can visit the Regal Cinemas movie theater before getting lunch at Bantu or Marlow’s Tavern. Shopping at the many retailers can take up the afternoon until dinner. She can eat out at Kona Grill or Oak Steakhouse or eat in after visiting Whole Foods. During all this, Lindsay is keeping an eye on what would make good blog material – pictures, video and people. The biggest amenity of living at Avalon is how close everything is. “Pinkberry is right out my window,” she said. “Everything is at my fingertips. I can experience everything and never have to leave.” She walks everywhere, and all locations are just a few steps away from her front door. In the evenings, she spends her time relaxing with the residents of Avalon. There are often events or simple meet-ups with her neighbors, all of whom share the same experience of living in Avalon. “Anybody of any age will enjoy living here,” she said. “It has everything for everyone.” To follow her adventures in Avalon, as well as to learn more about the venue itself, visit www.experienceavalon.com.

Lindsay Marie is living the perfect year – she lives in Avalon and blogs about her experiences in the new “live, work, play” development in Alpharetta.

AVALON ORVIS:

March 11, 2015 | 19

Get outdoors this Spring with Orvis We’re looking forward to seeing you at Orvis Alpharetta, our newest retail location! Now’s the time to prepare for the warmer weather ahead with our latest spring styles. It’s also the perfect time to sign up for our FREE Fly Fishing 101 and 201 classes. You’ll learn the basics in 101 and then get out on local waters for a chance to catch your first fish in our 201 class. And of course, at Orvis Alpharetta, you’ll find the finest in outdoor-inspired apparel for men and women along with the world’s finest fly-fishing rods, reels, and gear. Orvis, Avalon As America’s oldest mail-order outfitter and continually-operating fly fishing business, Orvis offers a wide assortment of men’s and women’s sportswear, fine gifts, home furnishing, travel accessories, and pet items. Services include fishing and shooting schools, international sporting and eco-travel agency, and the Orvis-endorsed network of lodges, outfitters, and guides. Orvis commits 5% of pre-tax profit to protecting and sustaining the natural world. 678-367-4767 www.orvis.com

OFF YOUR PURCHASE OF $50 OR MORE

AVAL

Spring Fashion Another Day in Paradiso Tommy Bahama went to Italy to enjoy some il dolce far niente – “the sweetness of doing nothing.” They came back with their spring collection to help you relax in style. The collection moves from the business to boardwalk with understated men’s polos to women’s fantastic floral bikinis, dresses, and an array of luxurious linens, bold colors and stripes. Each piece turns classic style into something fresh and fun and everything created is designed to be a favorite. Tommy Bahama, Avalon Inspired by the relaxed sophistication of coastal living, Tommy Bahama is dedicated to the good life. Stylish, upscale offerings include apparel for men and women, footwear, jewelry, accessories and home décor, all designed to help you relax in style. 678-248-5161 www.tommybahama.com

Florals and TieDye; This Spring it’s all about COLOR There are so many new trends to fall in love with every season, right now fab’rik is currently obsessing over modern florals and new age TieDye. We love a floral in vibrant colors cut into a unique dress, top, shorts or even vests (as shown). It’s also hard not to fall in love with the effortless yet somewhat reckless feelings of TieDye. With everything under $100 and new inventory arriving daily, why not try more than one spring must have!

Refresh Your Look

20 | March 11, 2015

Van Michael Salon Founded in Buckhead in 1984 by brothers Van and Michael Council, Van Michael Salons are fullservice, Aveda-concept salons featuring top stylists from around the world and offering the latest in haircuts, color and styling. With existing locations in Buckhead, VirginiaHighlands, Midtown, Sandy Springs, Norcross and East Cobb, Van Michael Salon at Avalon is the seventh Atlanta location and the first in Alpharetta. Van Michael Salons’ complete dedication to client satisfaction has earned frequent “Best Of” honors from notable publ The Atlantan, and Jezebel and a loyal client base of locations use and sell Aveda products and offer tiere be made by calling 678-987-3678.

Fab’rik, Avalon Fab’rik is an Atlanta native women’s boutique and a shop-o-holic’s dream, delivering high style fashion (clothing, shoes, accessories, etc.) without attitude or sticker shock. Fab’rik hosts Rockstar Parties where you can invite a group of girlfriends to come to the store after-hours for a private shopping party complete with refreshments and everything in the store 20 percent off, including sale items. 678.248.5562 fabrikstyle.com

Kinnucan’s caters to a little bit of everyone; 4 trends to suit every taste this Spring Bare Necessities We’re seeing more and more basic tees and denim on people of all ages. Basic pieces like V-neck Tees and Flowy tanks in flattering shapes and various colors, pair perfectly with denim- destroyed is back in for spring, as are boyfriend jeans. Gypsy Soul to Blame Gypsy Soul to Blame is all about embracing the ultra-bohemian look with fringe, crochet, and feathers. This look was widely popularized by celebrities and festival-goers at places like Coachella. Dazed and Confused Dazed and Confused is a trend all about being Groovy, Baby. This look is best completed with oversized floppy hats, round “Lennon” sunglasses, and vintage-looking jewelry. Life is a Picnic This Spring/Summer, the biggest trend is the gingham print a classic pattern that can be worn a variety of ways. Utilize the brighter color spectrum of gingham, and style with classic

pieces- think: pearls, chino shorts, fitted shape, pastel tones. Or focus more on the neutral/ darker ginghams, and style with pieces like denim cutoff shorts, Converse sneakers, layered necklaces, for a loose fitted shape. Kinnucan’s Specialty Outfitter Kinnucan’s has been serving the Southeast for over 25 years andcaters to the idea of a premier

lifestyle, carrying trend-setting, innovative styles while maintaining tradition with trusted core brands. As the go-to store for the best and most sought after products, Kinnucan’s fulfills guests’ needs for top brands in specialty apparel, everyday casualwear and outdoorinspired retail. 678-389-4240 www.kinnucans.com

The Vintage Wine and Tapas Bar at Whole Foods Market Avalon The Vintage, upstairs at Whole Foods Market Avalon, puts a unique spin on dining in awesome Alpharetta. Treat your taste buds to a bottle of wine and seasonal tapas with friends. Sample an array of fine wines available for purchase in-store from our Enomatic machine. Discover the new concept of wine-on-tap, or delight in our homemade sangria. We welcome you to “wine down” with us every Wednesday from 4-6PM with live music and follow us on social media for other upcoming events. The Vintage is also available for private parties. For booking information please contact our concierge. Whole Foods Market Avalon, 2800 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30009; 770-664-6300 www. wholefoodsmarket.com/Avalon

LON

March 11, 2015 | 21

lications including ELLE, Allure, Atlanta Magazine, more than 100,000 Atlantans. All Van Michael Salon ed pricing based on service level. Appointments can

Marlow’s is located next the Regal Cinema Hours of Operation Sun-Thu: 11:30am to 11pm Fri-Sat: 11:30am to 1am (678) 248-5230

CRÚ Avalon brings Napa-style winery feel to Atlanta Craving a wine trip? CRÚ is an urban restaurant and wine bar in Atlanta’s new Avalon shopping center. CRÚ is known for their cheese and wine flights which change daily. Sexy Reds, Backpacking Through Europe, and Wine Spectator Top 100 are just a few of their popular flights, which perfectly complement their eclectic Napa-style cuisine and wood burning pizzas. Their unique wines are offered three different ways: by the bottle; the glass; or the flight. “Flights, are CRÚ’s most popular offering because it allows guest a variety of wines in a laid back manner.” says Patrick Colombo, owner. CRÚ’s flights are presented to each guest in a unique stainless steel carrier serving three - 2 ounces wine pours. Fights are paired by region, varietal, or style, and presented with carefully researched “Tasting Note Cards” allowing patrons insight into each wine in their flight. CRU, Avalon 678-248-5181 www.cruawinebar.com

Ted’s Montana Grill Inspired by the pioneer spirit of the American West, Ted’s Montana Grill is committed to delivering honest food served with genuine hospitality. Our food is a reflection of the great American ideal: bold and unapologetic. Where the burgers are hand-packed, the lemonade fresh-squeezed and our signature halfsour pickles are always on the house. A modern interpretation of classic comfort food, Ted’s offers a variety of timeless dishes, from steak to chicken, seafood to salads. We are proud to serve the largest selection of bison dishes you’ll find anywhere, hand-cut in house every day in our on-premise butcher shop. And true to our roots as a fresh food restaurant, every item is sourced locally when possible and prepared from scratch using the finest ingredients. No compromises, no short-cuts, no matter what. 6100 Avalon Boulevard, Alpharetta, GA 30009. 13 locations across Atlanta including Cumming and Norcross. www.tedsmontanagrill.com

Delightful Delicacies

Meet me at Marlow’s! Marlow’s Tavern features the “Best of the Best” in American tavern fare served in a modern atmosphere. The menu offers a diverse combination of classic dishes that are updated and elevated to gourmet level. Marlow’s has a warm neighborhood yet contemporary feel that is the perfect complement to John Metz’s moderntavern menu. “We wanted to create an approachable neighborhood spot with Marlow’s Tavern and allow our guests to enjoy great tasting food in a casual and warm environment” say Metz.

AVALON

Breath New Life Into Your Routine

22 | March 11, 2015 Road Runner Sports Your Alpharetta Road Runner Sports is hands-down the destination for people who run, walk, train, and enjoy fitness at any level. At the heart of the World’s Largest Running and Walking Store is Shoe Dog, a fun, fast, and totally free fitting analysis. You’ll watch your feet in action and learn what type of shoe and support will amaze your feet! You’ll also shop 100% confident with your unbeatable 90 Day Test Run Promise. Test your shoes for up to 90 days – if you don’t like them for any reason, bring ‘em back for full store credit. Never settle for shoes you don’t LOVE! Friendly Fit Experts provide top brands and expertise; Adidas, Asics, Brooks, Mizuno, New Balance, Nike, Saucony and way more! Get into gear with awesome apparel, electronics, nutrition, and fun in-store events! Run in to your hometown store today and feel like family! Roadrunner Sports, Avalon 678-248-5205 www.roadrunnersports.com

Columbia PFG: Spring Apparel Launch Visit Columbia Sportswear’s first Performance Fishing Gear [PFG] store at Avalon, dedicated to all things fishing. The store features the most technical and comfortable fishing gear for anglers around the world. Each aspect of a PFG product is thoughtfully designed with the perfect fabrics, construction and industry leading technologies to enhance every fishing experience. In addition to apparel and footwear, the store offers a full line of innovative accessories with an attention to detail that is appreciated by all types of anglers. Columbia, Avalon 678-713-7977 www.columbia.com

AVALON

March 11, 2015 | 23

Timeless Art of Living Well Multi-family Residences Come home to a community unlike any other—a Haven of one-and two-bedroom apartment homes in a selection of three rich interior finishes. Take advantage of every amenity you can imagine along with Concierge service that delivers the best of the Avalon lifestyle— timesaving, lifeenhancing, resort-level luxuries— right to your doorstep. Finally, open the door to walkability; simply stroll down the boulevard for the best of shopping, dining and fun at the center of it all. Currently leasing a variety of distinctive one- and two-bedroom apartment options, all with access to the best Avalon has to offer, Haven is more than modern luxury living. It’s a place to call home. 855-912-8154 leasinginfo@havenatavalon.com

Pediatric • A Adult • Orthodontics

www.johnscreekdentaltown.com www.johnsc

Welcome to Your Dental Home Michael Hansen, D.D.S. Pediatrics

Ryan Schwendiman, D.M.D. Adult Dentistry

Troy Davidson, D.D.S. Pediatrics

Michael Crosby, D.D.S. Orthodontics

THE COLLECTION AT FORSYTH 770.887.8807 410 Peachtree Pkwy. Bldg. 400, Ste 4250 Cumming, GA 30041

ALPHARETTA DENTAL TOWN 770.622.1515 5260 Avalon Blvd. Alpharetta, GA 30009

JOHNS CREEK DENTAL TOWN 770.662.1515 4330 Johns Creek Pkwy., Ste 100 Suwanee, GA 30024

24 | March 11, 2015

AVALON

Luck of Avalon

Easter Bunny

Little Acorns

MARCH 17TH

MAR. 21ST - APR. 4TH

APR. 7TH – SEPT. 29TH

3PM – 10PM

Mon–Sat 11AM–7PM

Every Tuesday

Sun. 12PM–7PM April 3rd & 4th 10AM – 7PM

10AM – NOON

Hop on down for a visit and photos with the Easter Bunny in the Living Room.

Hop-a-long MARCH 28TH Scavenger hunt, pub crawl, Irish Dancers, family activities, and MORE!

AvalOM APR. 9TH – OCT. 1ST Every Thursday 6PM –7PM

Focus on your health and well-being with free wellness classes in The Plaza, including yoga, barre, adventure runs and cycling.

10AM (promptly) Celebrate the coming of spring with our first Easter egg hunt. Register with concierge.

Tot playtime in the Plaza every Tuesday with our ExperienceMakers!

Spring Fling Festival

Kentucky Derby Party

APRIL 18TH

MAY 2ND

NOON – 7PM

NOON – 7PM

Live music, family fun , seasonal shopping and dining offerings!

Derby in the Plaza with mint juleps & fancy hats, spring fashion, music & more!

ExperienceAvalon.com #AvalonInsider

CALENDAR

EDITOR’S PICKS

Submit your event online at forsythherald.com

Forsyth Herald | March 11, 2015 | 25

Send

me your event...

SHANNON WEAVER

Calendar Editor THE DROWSY CHAPERONE calendar@ appenmediagroup.com Alpharetta High School Chorus

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

MUSIC:

and Alpha Theatre present “The Drowsy Chaperone” - A musical within a comedy at AHS Auditorium, 3595 Webb Bridge Road in Alpharetta. Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. Contact Director David Gay, gayd@fultonschools.org for more info.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS CONCERT

Who: Alpharetta City Band Where: St. David’s Episcopal Church, 1015 Old Roswell Road in Roswell When: Sunday, March 15 at 3 p.m. Cost: Free and open to the public Contact: Don Nahser, 770-475-9684 or donnahser@aol.com

THEATER:

QUEBE SISTERS

Grace, Sophia and Hulda Quebe perform swing, vintage country, bluegrass, jazz & swing standards, and Texas style fiddling at the Cumming Playhouse, 101 School Street in Cumming. Saturday March 14, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $25. Visit playhousecumming.com for more info.

What: Fellowship Christian School presents “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Where: Fellowship Christian School, 10965 Woodstock Road in Roswell When: Thursday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. Cost: $10 Contact: 770-993-1650 Web: fcspaladins.org/news_resources

BLOOD DRIVE AT PINECREST

What: These two Grammy winning artists team up for a special evening of jazz excellence. Where: The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta When: Friday, March 13 Times: 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Cost: $39 Web: thevelvetnote.com

THE WINTER’S TALE

What: In this mellowest and least cynical of the mature Shakespearean masterpieces, love, Arcadian innocence and magic are triumphant in the end. Where: The New American Shakespeare Tavern, 499 Peachtree St NE in Atlanta When: Satuday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. Cost: $25 to $39 Web: shakespearetavern.com

Lads and lassies, come celebrate Luck of Avalon by enjoying Irish music, dancing and—of course— green beer at Avalon, 2200 Avalon Boulevard in Alpharetta. Tuesday, March 17, 2 p.m. 10 p.m. Visit experienceavalon.com for more info.

AMAZING TECHICOLOR DREAMCOAT

EVENTS:

SAUNDERS SERMONS AND NICHOLAS PAYTON

LUCK OF AVALON

Where: Pinecrest Academy Lower School gym, 955 Peachtree Parkway in Cumming When: Thursday, March 12 Hours: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact: cettmueller@ pinecrestacademy.org Web: redcrossblood.org Info: Donors are asked to eat iron rich foods, drink plenty of non-caffeinated fluids and get a good night’s rest before donating blood. Photo ID required.

GLITTER: BACK TO THE FUTURE

Guests will enjoy dinner by Talk of the Town, entertainment by 80’s cover band Mighty McFly, as well as live and silent auctions at The Cottage School, 700 Grimes Bridge Road in Roswell. Saturday, March 14, 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Visit cottageschool. org for more info. Hours: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: $10 Web: autreymill.org Info: Registration required. Ages 6 to 11.

SUSTAINABLE VEGETABLE GARDENING

What: Master Gardeners explain how to utilize environmentally sound sustainable practices in your vegetable garden. Where: Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza in Alpharetta When: Thursday, Mar 19 in Alpharetta Hours: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Web: nfmg.net Info: Registration info on website

SHAMROCK AND PEACH

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT AT

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

What: West Forsyth High School Productions present the Georgia premiere of “Nice Work if You Can Get It.” Where: WFHS Auditorium, 4155 Drew Road in Cumming When: Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. Cost: $10 students, $12 adults Info: tickets at www.showtix4u.com

What: St. Patrick’s Day authentic cooking demonstration class featuring delicious Irish food with Chef Judith McLoughlin. Where: Publix Alpharetta Commons, 4305 State Bridge Road in Alpharetta When: Tuesday, March 17 at 7 p.m. Cost: $45 Contact: 770-751-8560

DOLL TEA PARTY

What: Doll tea parties in the Summerour House will include a variety of activities like making doll accessories, dress-up and games. Where: Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, 9770 Autrey Mill Road in Johns Creek When: Sunday, March 15

TEE OFF FORE KIDS

What: This Tournament Style Golf event allows teams to compete against other golfers for a chance to win prizes while supporting Supporting Adoption and Foster Families Together. Where: Top Golf, 10900 Westside Parkway in Alpharetta When: Wednesday, March 18 at 1 p.m. Cost: $100 individual tickets Web: safft.org

26 | March 11, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

Sponsored Section

Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com | Recycled paper

Forsyth Herald | March 11, 2015

ORAL HEALTH – GOOD FOR LIFE:

Between your family and our office, we have you covered There are more bacteria in your child’s mouth (and yours) right this minute than there are people on Earth – bacteria that can be passed between you with a simple kiss. Poor oral health is connect-

ed to diabetes, heart disease and stroke, respiratory illness, and high-risk pregnancy. There’s no doubt about it – daily brushing and flossing and regular dental appointments will keep you and your family

healthier. There are other impacts of poor oral hygiene... • Pain, missing teeth, & infections • Ability to speak & smile confidently

Without Good Periodontal Health, You Can’t Have Good General Health. Let Dr. Woods take care of your health where it Starts! Periodontal disease (gum disease) can affect your general health... and it can be affected by your general health. Here are a few examples:

STROKE

• Those with adult periodontitis may have increased risk of stroke

RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS

• Inhaling bacteria from the mouth and throat can lead to pneumonia • Dental plaque buildup creates a dangerous source of bacteria that can be inhaled into the lungs

SEVERE OSTEOPENIA

• Reduction in bone mass (osteopenia) is associated with gum disease and related tooth loss • Severity has been connected to tooth loss in postmenopausal women

PRETERM OR LOW BIRTHWEIGHT BABIES • Women with advanced gum disease may be more likely to give birth to an underweight or preterm baby • Oral microbes can cross the placental barrier, exposing the fetus to infection

Cosmetic and Implant Consultations Always Welcome at No Cost.

HEART DISEASE

• Those with adult periodontitis may have increased risk of fatal heart attack . . . • And are more likely to be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease • Bacteria from the mouth may cause clotting problems in the cardiovascular system

UNCONTROLLED DIABETES

• Chronic periodontal disease can disrupt diabetic control • Diabetes can alter the pocket environment, contributing to bacterial overgrowth • Smokers with diabetes increase their risk of tooth loss by 20 times • Peaople with type II diabetes are 3 times as likely to develop periodontal disease than are nondiabetics Poor oral health is connected to diabetes, heart disease and stroke, respiratory illness, and high-risk pregnancy. There’s no doubt about it-daily brushing and flossing and regular dental appointments will keep you and your family healthier.

Robert D. Woods, DDS 4190 Old Milton Pkwy., Suite 2G • Alpharetta, GA 30005 • www.smilescapes.net • 770.551.0808

• Ability to chew & enjoy a wide variety of food. A neglected smile also impacts social life, so don’t mistreat that grin. Dingy or cracked teeth and puffy gums can lower self-confidence and negatively impact performance at school, work, and in our personal lives. There’s no need to be embarrassed by your smile, covering up your laugh or standing in the wings. We can help… • Ensure your home care is effective • Whiten & make improvements to help you smile

more. Regular dental visits are an important part of a healthy routine. Together we can ensure you’re WOODS on a path for lifelong good health! Call our practice for your appointment. 678 293 9965 Robert D. Woods, DDS SmileScapes Dentistry 4190 Old Milton Parkway, Suite 2G Alpharetta, GA 30005

Hearing with your brain? By Steve Woodward Johns Creek Audiology Hearing affects EVERYTHING between your ears. If you’re like most people, you’re used to thinking of hearing as something that happens in your ears. What people often don’t think about is what happens between their ears, in the hearing part of their brain. That’s where sound becomes information that has meaning. Your brain has to work hard to make this happen. When the sound signals from your ears are compromised, your brain has to work even harder to fill in the gaps. This extra effort can take its toll. In fact, studies have shown that, over time, hearing loss can lead to isolation and depression. That’s why it makes sense to take care of your hearing health the same way you care about the rest of your health: There’s a lot more riding on it than just your hearing. What happens when you have a hearing challenge? The natural relationship between your ears and brain is disrupted. This is why it takes so much more effort to follow what is being said and why you may feel so much more tired at the end of a busy day. It’s your brain that hears - Not your ears. Your ears and your brain work together as a system, with your brain doing most of the heavy lifting. Your brain is what uses the information

from your two ears to orient you by figuring out which direction sound is coming from. It’s in the brain that sound waves become sounds that you recognize. And your brain is what helps you focus in on a conversation and separate out unwanted noise. Right now, all four of these tasks are happening simultaneously and continuously inside your brain. Give your brain exactly what it needs to hear. Your hearing is as unique as your fingerprint. And because no two are quite the same, no one else’s hearing profile is quite like yours. The right devices professionally selected and fit to your individual needs can: Be virtually invisible

See BRAIN, Page 28

Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

March 11, 2015 27

28 March 11, 2015

Sponsored Section • HEALTH & WELLNESS

forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald

Snoozing in the dental chair New treatment offers hope for the dental phobic By Dr. Ushma Patel From Center For Advanced Dentistry Millions of Americans avoid the dentist. Some had traumatic experiences as children. Others suffered pain as adults. Still more were swayed by stereotypes in movies or parental horror stories. No matter the reason, far too many of these individuals simply stopped seeking routine dental care

because they were frightened. Even when they were faced with such warning signs as pain in their mouths or gums these individuals still failed to visit the dentist. Now they’re jeopardizing not only their dental state but their overall health status. If this sounds like you, we want to help. Whether you’ve been postponing a simple dental checkup, construction and repair or a brand-new smile, now’s the

time to take better care of yourself. Now’s the time to move forward into a healthier future. Modern dentistry offers many new tools and options that make necessary treatments not only tolerable but even comfortable. Are you afraid of the dentist or have been putting it off ? For some people going to the dentist can be a terrifying experience. The drills, the smells and oh, that awful needle!

But now there’s a new way for the dentally challenged to get their needed treatment without having to go through all the fear and anxiety. And, what’s more, they likely won’t even remember going to the dentist. It’s called “Sedation Dentistry” and is available right now at Dr Ushma Patel’s dental office. Not all dentists are qualified or licensed to use this option. Approximately 1 in 8 dentists in Georgia is licensed to do Sedation. “The way it works is quite simple,” says Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Suwanee dentist Dr. Ushma Patel. “One hour before the appointment the patient simply takes a pill that we have dispensed to them. By the time they arrive for their appointment they are very relaxed.” The patient is then escorted to the dental chair. They gradually progress to a deeper level of sedation but are still able to respond to their environment and to questions from the doctor. Dr. Ushma Patel explains, “The patient will feel no pain and in fact will have little or no memory of the experience after it’s all over.” The patient’s vital signs are constantly monitored throughout the treatment. “When they awaken a friend drives them home and in an hour or so they are pretty much back to normal,” says Dr. Ushma Patel. “The best part is that they have no bad memories, and they don’t experience any pain or anxiety.” The patient isn’t “knocked out” or in total sedation like they would be for a surgery. The level of sedation isn’t that deep, but just deep enough so that they feel nothing but are still conscious Dr. Ushma Patel says, “We find that while some patients have a deep fear of dental treatment, there are many who also have a deeper

Brain: Continued from Page 26 Allow you to hear in “3D” so you can follow conversations that come from different directions in a room. Automatically select the best directional mode giving you clearer more natural sound - even in difficult hearing situations. Wirelessly connect to your Cell phone, tablet, TV, and car Along with award-winning service, the Johns Creek Audiology and Hearing Aid Center offers revolutionary pricing with initial costs often 30% to 40% less than other places

Dr. Ushma Patel fear of being “put under.” Their actual fear centers around losing control or not being able to perceive what’s going on around them. Sedation Dentistry is a happy medium. They are still under control and understand what’s happening – they just don’t feel anything or have any anxiety about it.” Is Sedation Dentistry only for dental chickens? Dr. Ushma Patel says no. “Some people, while they are not at all afraid of dental treatment, are highly resistant to anesthetic. They just can’t get numb. Other people simply don’t have the time to make repeated visits to the dentist and would rather have all their work done in one longer visit. Sedation Dentistry takes care of both problems.” Since dental phobics tend to put off their dental care, sometimes for many years, they usually need quite a bit of treatment - sort of a Catch 22 situation. But with Sedation Dentistry, literally years of treatment can be accomplished in just a single visit. For more information on Sedation Dentistry call Dr. Ushma Patel at 678-894-7926 or visit them on the web at www.JohnsCreekSedationDentist.com. If this sounds like you or a loved one or someone you know then please let them know that they have an option now. because patients can choose to pay only for hearing aids and not the 3-5 years of services “bundled” into the price. “We let our patients ‘unbundle’ services. “This method allows you the ability to afford a more premium product than traditionally offered.” says Steve Woodward, Director and CEO. Complete diagnostic testing is provided along with tinnitus (ringing in the ears), vertigo, and ear wax management. All major insurance plans are accepted, and no-interest finance plans are available. Contact Johns Creek Audiology at 770-814-1260 to schedule your life changing appointment. www.YourHearingLink.com

Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

Alpha Family Medicine Inc. Are you having a hard time finding a primary care doctor? According to a recent report by the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce, the state ranked 39th in the ratio of doctors per 100,000 population. The doctor shortage continues to limit patients’ access to care and is most critical in primary care. Some doctors have stopped taking new patients altogether. If you do find a doctor that will accept you as a new patient, you may still have to wait if you want to schedule a routine visit. If you are on Medicare or Medicaid you might not be able to find a doctor and may have to visit the emergency room. In which case, you will have to wait and may not see the same doctor again. There is a solution – the best time to find a new primary care doctor is when a new practice opens. You need to sign up early on, even if it’s for a routine physical. Most insurances pay for a physical once a year without requiring any co-pay. If you sign up early on, the doctor will be familiar with your medical history and it will be easier to get an appointment later on when you have a medical condition. You need to sign up before the doctor stops accepting new patients! Fortunately, for residents of North Atlanta, signing up with an experienced primary care doctor just got easier with the opening of a new clinic in Alpharetta. Alpha Family Medicine is a primary

March 11, 2015 29

It’s a new year... No insurance? No Problem

Walk-ins Welcome Same Day Appointments

care clinic that specializes in Family and Geriatric Medicine for all ages – children, adults and elders. The clinic is centrally located on North Main Street (Highway 9), close to City Hall. Currently, the clinic is accepting new patients. You can walk-in or schedule a same day appointment with the Doctor. Or if you cannot make it during office hours, you can schedule an appointment for early mornings late evenings, or weekends. The clinic is operated by Shyla Reddy, MD and her medical staff. Dr. Reddy has more than 15 years of primary care experience in Family & Geriatric Medicine. She is board certified in Family and Geriatric Medicine. She taught/supervised medical students and resident doctors in an university setting. She also obtained a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology from Emory University. To sign up as a new patient or to schedule an appointment, contact 678-619-1974 or visit www.alphafammed.com

Services include:

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Restore your Thyroid and increase your energy naturally. Call today to schedule your FREE Personal Consultation.

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30 March 11, 2015

Sponsored Section • HEALTH & WELLNESS

forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald

What is the relationship between your thyroid and gluten? Brought to you by Dr. Sean Savedoff

OMG! Hunching over smart devices stresses neck Poor posture causing ‘text neck’ By John J. Moss, M.D. Medical director, Northside Hospital Spine Center Here’s a “text” to save you a lot of neck pain. When using your smartphone or tablet, avoid tilting your head for prolonged periods of time. As people around the world use their smartphone and tablet more and more, spine experts are seeing an increase in neck pain complaints. But how bad is it? Well, in the upright or neutral position, the human head weighs about a dozen pounds. As the neck bends forward and down, the weight on the cervical spine begins to increase. At a 15-degree angle, this weight is about 27 pounds, or the equivalent of two bowling balls. At 30 degrees, it’s 40

pounds, at 45 degrees, it’s 49 pounds and at 60 degrees it’s 60 pounds, or the weight of four bowling balls or a sevenyear-old child, according to data published by Dr. Kenneth Hansraj in the National Library of Medicine. The average smartphone and tablet users spends twoto-four hours per day hunched over, reading e-mails, surfing the internet, playing games, sending texts or checking social media sites. That’s 700-to-1,400 hours per year putting stress on the spine. It›s no secret that correct posture is better for your back. But this poor habit, sometimes called “text neck,” can lead to early wear-and-tear on the spine, degeneration and may even lead to surgery. Your spine is your body’s natural shock absorber. When you scrunch it up (or over, as the case may be), you force the muscles and ligaments in your

Doctors Trust Dr. Ushma Patel Discover Your Perfect

SMILE Today it’s easier and more

neck, back, shoulders and legs to compensate. Making them work out of their natural position makes you more prone to injury. Be a smarter user of your smart device by pulling your device up more and look down with your eyes instead of tilting your head. Also pay attention to your posture Dr. John J. Moss is the medical director at the Northside Spine and Pain Treatment Center in Cherokee County. Dr. Moss has experience treating chronic neck pain, chronic back pain, neuropathic pain and a variety of other conditions. Northside Hospital Spine and Pain Treatment Center is located at 120 Oakside Court, Suite A, in Canton. For more information about conditions of the spine and available treatment options, visit www. northside.com/spinecenter or call 404-459-1809 to schedule an appointment.

In the majority of cases, hypothyroidism actually turns out to be an autoimmune disease, whereby the body attacks its own thyroid gland. This is what is known as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Causes of Hashimoto’s include: Genetics: Hashimoto’s tends to run in families. Other family members may also have Hashimoto’s, or they may have some other kind of autoimmune disease (examples could include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and so forth). Estrogen exposure: This means more women develop Hashimoto’s. More women also develop thyroid problems after giving birth, with it developing into Hashimoto’s later on. Exposure to Radiation : This can occur due to exposure in the environment, or due to exposure from damaging cancer treatments. So you might be asking yourself, what does Hashi-

Trouble Hearing?

affordable than ever.

• Sedation Dentistry – relax through your entire visit • Dental Implants – permanent replacements for missing teeth • Straight Teeth in Six Months or less • Teeth Whitening, dazzling results – ZOOM! Call Today For Your • Non-Surgical Periodontal Gum Treatment Complimentary • Metal-Free, tooth colored white fillings Sedation, Implant • Porcelain veneers for crooked or stained teeth Or Cosmetic • Digital X-Rays - 90% less radiation Consultation • FDA approved NON-DRUG migraine prevention Dr. Ushma Patel is a member of the American Dental Association, Georgia Dental Association, Hinman Dental Society, Academy of General Dentistry and the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation.

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770-814-1260

Dr. Ushma Patel, D.M.D

6916 McGinnis Ferry Road, Suite 500 • Suwanee, GA

4045 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite B • Johns Creek, GA 30024 www.YourHearingLink.com

moto’s (hypothyroidism caused by the thyroid being attacked by its own body) have to do with gluten? SAVEDOFF Many studies have linked gluten intolerance (including Celiac Disease) and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This link is so common that when someone is diagnosed with gluten intolerance, they should be referred for testing of thyroid antibodies, and vice versa. Why is there this connection? The protein portion of gluten resembles your thyroid tissue! If you have gluten intolerance, your body’s immune system attacks the gluten by producing antibodies. These same antibodies also attack your thyroid, because of its resemblance in structure to gluten! So, if you have gluten intolerance, and you eat gluten, your body will attack the gluten and your thyroid. Knowing which foods to avoid can make a huge difference in how you are feeling, and can help stop this destructive process. What kinds of foods contain gluten? Foods that contain barley, wheat, rye, and triticale (which is a combination of rye and wheat) should be avoided. Examples of some wheat ingredients include: Durum flour, Spelt, Farina, Semolina and Bulgur Some actual foods to avoid, unless they say they are gluten free, include: Bread, Beer, Cereal, Pastas and Certain sauces and salad dressings This is obviously not an exhaustive list, but is one place to start. The key is that there is a high correlation between thyroiditis and gluten intolerance. There are some natural ways to support your thyroid, and ensure it functions optimally. You may want to find a doctor that practices functional medicine. A functional medical doctor can assist you with natural ways of treating the root cause of illness, rather than just treating the symptoms with medication. If you or someone you know may have a thyroid condition, call 770-731-9410 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Sean Savedoff.

Recycled paper | Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com

forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | March 11, 2015 | 31

Sponsored Section

Forsyth Herald | March 11, 2015

“American Road Trip” The Best Summer Camp in Town is at Kids ‘R’ Kids #52, on Old Atlanta Road. Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy is a SACS Accredited, privately owned and family operated learning facility. From the well trained staff to the state-of-the-art innovative school, your child is given the opportunity to explore the summer of a lifetime. We have put together everything you are looking for in a perfect camp setting. We offer both junior and senior camps. Parents are able to select any weeks or days of their choice. This year’s summer camp theme is “American Road Trip” We will embark on an action packed road trip stopping to see sites along the way. Grab your map and plot your course for a fun filled summer across the United States. Our summer camp themes include: Getting from here to there, Heading down South, Water, Water Everywhere, Rodeos Barbeque and Boots and Lights Camera Action! One of the most popular attractions at our Summer Camp is the onsite Water Park! Some of the exciting field trip opportunities include: Medieval Times, Tellus Science Museum, Tree Top Quest, Sky Zone and Chattahoochee Nature Center! Of course, no summer would be complete without a trip to The Georgia Aquarium and an overnight camping adventure. Stop by for a complimentary tour, meet the teachers, see the summer camp grounds and see what Kids ‘R’ Kids can offer you and your child this summer. Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime! Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy, 3036 Old Atlanta Road, GA 30041, 678-648-3175, www. kidsrkidscumming.com info@krk52.com

32 March 11, 2015

Sponsored Section • SUMMER CAMPS

forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald

A fun-filled summer of wonder and adventure! Whether your child attends Catalina Sea Camp or AstroCamp depends on your child’s specific interest. If your child is interested in the wonders of the ocean world or just wants to spend summer with friends on an island, Catalina Sea Camp is the best choice with scuba certifications, sailing courses, marine biology classes, Island exploring, sea food cookery and lots of traditional fun social activities like Talent/No Talent, carnival night, dances and color Olympics. Our Island Campus has a unique charm with it’s

Spanish California architecture and private cove. Some activities are age specific and there are many more activities than are listed here so check out the sea camp website at catalinaseacamp.org If your child loves science activities, space exploration, Astronomy, rock climbing, LARP, dungeons and dragons, and good old fashioned summer camp fun, AstroCamp is a great choice. There are many more activities so check our website at astrocampsummer. org. Whichever camp you

choose, you can rest assured that your child will get the highest quality program, comfortable accommodations, great food and memories that will last a lifetime. All of our staff are hand picked for there fun loving personalities and ability to work with young people. Astrocamp and Catalina Sea Camp are owned and operated by the non-profit corporation Guided Discoveries. Guided Discoveries hosts over 50,000 students, parents and teachers from over 1,000 schools annually in it’s outdoor

education program. Guided Discoveries has been running summer camps

Camp listings Day Camps Dance Have a budding ballerina wanting to dance her way through summer? Metropolitan Ballet Theatre’s Summer Trainee Camp definitely fits the bill! Known for serious training of pre-professional dancers, MBT has an exciting and informative summer camp tailored just for younger dancers – boys and girls – ages 4 to 8. Experienced instructors cover foundational technique while encouraging campers to have fun and build friendships, and a variety of enrichment subjects introduce campers to the wider world of Dance. June 15-19 & June 22 -26 A day at Trainee Camp includes: Ballet Jazz Dance-related crafts Tales from dance history Professional performance review Learning and rehearsing ballet variation Get the details! Metropolitan Ballet.org! A summer of exciting theatre awaits your child at Off Broadway Performing Arts Center. Located in the heart of Crabapple, Camp Off Broadway offers 1 week and 2 week

for over 35 years. For more information, go to our website at gdicamps.org. camps for kids ages 4-17 in a professional yet family oriented environment. Immerse your child in the worlds of “Legally Blonde Jr.”, “Junglebook Kids” and “Honk” as they learn life skills, make new friends and memories to last a lifetime. At Off Broadway, we give every child a chance to shine. To register, visit us online at offbroadwaydance.com or call us at 770-664-2410

Horse Willow South Riding School, Celebrating 15 years of excellence in riding! NEW Johns Creek location with INDOOR ARENA. United States Pony Club Riding Center. We offer all levels of instruction. Ages 5-12. 9a.m.-1p.m. Learn to ride in a fun, safe program with skilled instructors and experienced horses. For the true horse enthusiast! www.willowsouth.com $375 includes camp shirt and horse show! Send email to willowsouth@gmail.com. Sign up early to reserve your spot! June 1-5, June 8-12, June 15-19, June 22-26, July 6-10, July 13-17, July 20-24, July 27-31.

Music Atlanta Celtic Camp:. Irish Music and Language Camp for kids and teens ages 6 to 17 years. Fiddle, flute, song and more! June 8-12 (9am to 1pm) in Roswell; sponsored by The Atlanta Irish Music School. Register online at: www. atlantairishmusicschool.com. 770-712-9334 The 8th Annual Vivace!

See CAMPS, Page 33

Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

SUMMER CAMPS • Sponsored Section

March 11, 2015 33

Safe, magical, adventurous, educational summer fun for your youngster Voted the No. 1 Summer Camp in Nashville for the past six years, the YMCA Camp Widjiwagan is an action-packed summer adventure where confidence is built through skill development, and new friends are made as a result of teamwork. Offering one-week sessions in Resident, Day and Equestrian camps for ages 5-17. Camp Widjiwagan serves both boys and girls. Water activities include swimming, Wet Willie Water slide, Widji ski school, surf school and an advanced sailing program. Land activities include ranch camp, soccer, basketball, alpine tower, double zip line, archery, arts and crafts, climbing and pamper pole. Camp Widjiwagan provides children with a community of caring adult role models, who nurture self-respect and appreciation for others. Camp Widjiwagan’s philosophy is to provide a safe, fun, magical and educational experience for all guests and children

Camps: Continued from Page 32 Summer Middle School Band Camp is for band students in the North Metro Atlanta area. Students experience full band, master classes, jazz band/ improvisation, marching band techniques, music composition taught by certified teachers. Eligibility: For current 5th-8th grade band students who have been in their public or private school band program OR have taken private lessons at least 1 school year. Also, we have recreation time, end of camp icecream party & concert. $205 by May 1st, $225 thereafter. Sibling, District, & All State discounts are available. REGISTER AT www.vivacecamps. com. Location: June 15-19 at Mt. Pisgah Christian School in Johns Creek. Jay Hutcherson, director@vivacecamps.com. 678-278-9210

Rowing Learn the Olympic Sport of Rowing with Atlanta Junior Rowing Association! Ages 1218 co-ed, no experience necessary. Five 2-week sessions with USRowing certified coaches: choose from 2 morning or 1 evening sessions, $175/session. Also for 2015, back by popular demand, 3 1-week

through the demonstration of the four YMCA core values – Honesty, Respect, Caring and Responsibility. This year Camp Widjiwagan is introducing Specialty Day Camps whicj introduce campers to skills in particular area of interest such as Aquatics, Outdoor Living Skills, Climbing, Sailing or Marksmanship. Resident Camp welcomes two new fully-themed programs – Minecraft and Survivor. Each activity is led by a counselor and provides opportunities for your camper to meet and participate with a wide variety of new friends. At Camp Widjiwagan campers will strengthen friendships and sharpen character through programs and activities that build independence and social skills. Call the camp office for scholarship information. The 2015 Registration is open online at www.campwidji. org. For more information call camp office at 615-360-2267 or visit our website. sessions are available for High School campers only, $125/ session. Held at the Chattahoochee River, 245 Azalea Drive, Roswell. Learn the fundamentals of sweep rowing and begin a basic workout program with the largest and most successful youth rowing program in Georgia! All campers are grouped each session by age, size, and skill level. To register, or for more info: www.ajracrew. com, or Sarah Low ajra.information@gmail.com.

Science Science Camp conducted by High Touch-High Tech, Inc. since 1994. Degreed professionals instruct fun science from CSI discoveries, Robotics, Bugs & Rockets, to Fossils, Flowers, Space,& VolcanoesYour older child can experience science coming to life in the fields of Chemistry, Physics, Light, Sound, and Electrical energy. Does your younger child like dinosaurs, gemstones, or animal studies? Then our age appropriate camps are for them. AlsoSTEM camps- Science, Technology, Engineering & Math camps too! Snacks and recess games will be provided. ‘Pizza Fridays’ available at an additional charge. Completed K-5, 9am-3pm. 770-667-9443. Lo-

See MORE, Page 34

ANOTHER LEGENDARY SUMMER YMCA CAMP WIDJIWAGAN RESIDENT CAMP PROGRAMS FOR AGES 7-15 NEW FACILITIES SURVIVOR AND MINECRAFT CAMPS FULLY THEMED CAMPS EQUESTRIAN CAMPS LEADERSHIP TEEN PROGRAMS SURF SCHOOL WE NOW OFFER AIRPORT PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF TO ALL OF OUR OUT-OF STATE-CAMPERS

615-360-2267 l WWW. CAMPWIDJI.ORG l Nashville, TN Our Mission: A worldwide charitable fellowship united by a common loyalty to Jesus Christ for the purpose of helping people grow in spirit, mind and body.

34 March 11, 2015

Sponsored Section • SUMMER CAMPS

Have your camper join us at More: McGinnis Woods this summer

Continued from Page 33

Have your camper join us at McGinnis Woods this summer for our Sunsational Summer Camp 2015! An amazing summer filled with fun themes, caring counselors, engaging activities, art, music, interesting weekly field trips and guest speakers, water play and lots of smiles has been designed for campers ages 4-12. Camp begins May 26 and runs weekly themed sessions ending August 7. Campers may attend individual weeks or the entire summer. Camp hours are from 9am-5pm daily at a cost of $225.00 weekly. Before and/or after camp care is available at an additional fee. We will visit Zoo Atlanta, the Mayfield Dairy, the Art Barn and other local destinations and enjoy daily activities including water slides, nature walks, and group games in our beautiful new air conditioned gym. Our Specialty and Academic Camps offer a variety of educational classes to sharpen your camper’s skills and mind. Campers wanting to learn to cook, swim, do gymnastics, or act can do just that at McGinnis Woods! Have your camper join in on the fun and plan to attend our Sunsational Summer Camp. For additional information or to register, please contact us at www.mcginniswoods. org or call 770-664-7764. We look forward to seeing you this summer!

Sunsational Summer

cations: Roswell, Cumming, Marietta, Lawrenceville,Vinings, and Dunwoody. www.sciencemadefunatl.org

Soccer Soccer Camps at Emory University Boys Camps Eagle Full Day Camps June 8-12 / June 15-19 for boys ages 7-14, extended care available Eagle Elite Residential/ Commuter Camp July 10-12 for boys ages 15-18 Info available at www.eagleboys soccercamps​or contact: Sonny Travis Emory Men’s Head Soccer Coach 404-727-0597 sonny.travis@emory.edu Girls Camps Full Day Camps June 1-5 / July 6-10 for girls ages 7-14, extended care available Info available at www.emory sportscamps.com and scroll to girls soccer ​or contact: Sue Patberg Emory Women’s Head Soccer Coach 404-727-2839 spatber@emory.edu Camps traditionally fill up so sign up early, Day Camp cost for each week $320 includes lunch.

Overnight Camps Adventure & Travel Catalina Sea Camp and AstroCamp are two amazing adventure summer camps. Located on beautiful Catalina Island in Southern California, Catalina Sea Camp offers ocean adventure activities for boy and girls ages 8-17. We have 1-week sessions for ages 8-13 and 3-week camps for ages 12-17. Located in beautiful Idyllwild California, Astrocamp is a mountain adventure science summer camp for boy and girls ages 8-17. These two great summer camps were developed by the nonprofit corporation Guided Discoveries in order to provide boys and girls with summer opportunities that enrich and inspire their lives. Check out our websites at www.californiasummercamps. org for a list of activities.

Mississippi

Have your camper join the fun and be part of something special: an amazing summer filled with great learning opportunities and fun! Campers’ imaginations will be sparked by the caring counselors, weekly themes, field trips, water activities and surprises!

Camp Iti Kana and Camp Wahi Summer Camps for girls ages 6-17. Located in Wiggins and Brandon, Mississippi. Owned and operated by Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi. Non-Girl Scouts welcome. Three and four day overnight sessions. Traditional summer camp activities – swimming, archery, nature, crafts, science, trip units, games, leadership, hiking, cook-outs, campfires and sing-alongs. Contact: summercamp@gsgms.org or 601.660.2847. www.gsgms.org

Special Needs Camp Lee Mar: For children and teenagers with mild to moderate learning and developmental challenges.

forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald Since 1953, A Special Camp in beautiful Pennsylvania Poconos, co-ed, ages 7-21, with mild-moderate developmental challenges. Our 63rd anniversary, 6/25 25-8/11. Fun, traditional camp activities. academics. speech & language therapy. daily living skills. weekly social dancing & end-of-summer “prom” for older campers. Therapeutic horseback riding and optional day and overnight trips during summer. Exceptional facilities featuring air conditioned bunks & buildings, Junior Olympic heated pool, caring, nurturing staff. In 2015 we are excited about the launch of the Lee Mar L.I.F.E. program (Living Independently Functional Education). Visit us on the web at www.leemar.com. 215-658-1708. ari@ leemar.com

Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont offers nature, backpacking, science adventure and family camps inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Imagine splashing around in an icy-cold mountain stream, climbing ridges to an unbelievable view, or choosing from a variety of activities to discover nature through hands-on explorations, day hikes and crafts. Options for beginning campers as well as outdoor enthusiasts - ages 5 to 95. Tremont Institute creates space for discovery, personal development and opportunities to unplug and explore. Call (865) 448-6709 or visit www. gsmit.org/GA.html. Located on the Tennessee side of the national park. Find us on Facebook @GSMITremont to see pictures and videos of the adventure that awaits! Deer Run Camps & Retreats: 3845 Perkins Road. Thompson’s Station, TN 37179. 888-794-2918. Camps.DeerRunRetreat.org. Contact@DeerRunRetreat.org. Nondenominational, Christcentered camp on 100 scenic wooded acres. Campers experience “Deeper Faith and Greater Adventures.” Agegraded sessions, grades 3 through12 plus 3-night Family Camps for ages 5 and up.. Exceptional staff lead a wellorganized experience creating positive lifetime memories and building character, confidence and relationships. Allinclusive activities: lake fun (zip-line, water slide, kayaks, swimming, aqua park), horseback wooded trail rides, climbing tower, paintball, low and high ropes, cardboard boat regatta, archery, BB guns, wiffle ball, games, skits, fun songs. Daily small group Bible study plus nightly large group worship with an engaging speaker Voted the No. 1 Summer Camp in Nashville for the past six years, the YMCA Camp Widjiwagan is an actionpacked summer adventure where confidence is built through skill development, and new friends are made as a result of teamwork. Camp Widjiwagan offers progressive Day, Resident and Equestrian one-week programs for children ages 5-17. We offer a wide variety of water activates such as swimming, ski and surf school, the Blob, and an advanced sailing program. Land activities include field sports, climbing, double zip line and archery. Arts, crafts and theme production are also offered at camp. Go to www.campwidji.org to learn more or call us at 615-360-2267.

COMMUNITY

Forsyth Herald | March 11, 2015 | 35 Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com

Hazmat: AT&T, Forsyth County, prepare for worst case

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perfect. “These events never happen on a sunny 75 degree day,” Shivers said. “This weather is perfect because we want all our teams to be challenged with the elements. This is a great scenario to have to work with cold hands and slippery conditions. While we want them to stay safe, the elements are perfect to challenge them and add that extra layer of difficulty.” Shivers said drills like this one at the AT&T building, 201 Dahlonega St., help the fire department because they’re usually the first on the scene of an accident. “Our job is to mitigate that incident to a safe level and prevent it from eroding even further,” Shivers said. “We want to prevent its release into the community as much as possible. At the same time, if there’s a rescue that needs to occur, our guys go in to rescue. Each of these scenarios help us to be familiar with the building, with AT&T’s team and the U.S. EPA’s team to know how to work together, how each other’s equipment works and what our capabilities are.” AT&T initiated this drill and AT&T Operations Manager Kevan Parker said they hold similar drills all over the country. This was the first time AT&T has held one in Forsyth. “We’ll have about 10 or fewer exercises this year,” Parker said. “For us to be able to work with Forsyth County like we are now is a big plus, because if we ever have to come in this area and work together on an actual incident, it’s much easier.” Planning for this drill took about 90 days, Parker said. This particular drill was based on a contaminant passing through the area. “Our initial entry is recon,” Parker said. “Our first entry always includes one of our environmental health safety guys suited up with proper monitoring equipment so they can go with us and help identify the chemical or contaminant, but also what the level is, because that drives what level of protection that must be used going forward.” Parker said they often get questioned why a communications company is involved with hazmat situations. “Our exercise is built around doing a recover for a central office,” Parker said. “All our customers are important to us, but most of the time, this will be focused on recovering service for a local hospital or local public safety responders to make sure they’re able to communicate when they’re dealing with same type of inci-

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PHOTOS BY KATHLEEN STURGEON/STAFF

Crews included the Forsyth Fire Department, AT&T and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. From left are Chris Wigley, Paul Sepaniak, Tim Knezevich, Kim Kuckleburg, Jeff Watson, Sonya Swanson and Kevan Parker.

During the drill, the team had to help bring the man to an ambulance. dent we are.” Another advantage to participating in these drills, Parker said, is to prevent AT&T from being a burden to public safety responders during reallife situations. “This team is completely self-sufficient,” Parker said. “If we had to run this exercise ourselves because local public safety was tied up, we can do that on our own. We can run our own incident command and safety team, and we have

trained first responders and a registered nurse with us at every exercise we go to. We can do our own decontamination. We try to have as little impact to public safety as we can when we do things like this.” In order to stay current and get recertified, Shivers said the fire department trains regularly throughout the year, but rarely at this level. “AT&T has been extremely gracious with their resources and are extending a lot of effort

and resources to help this,” Shivers said. “We’re guests in their drill basically and us having the opportunity is very much appreciated.” Forsyth County Geographic Information Services played a crucial part in the drill, Shivers said, because they are trained for situations like this. “When we have these kinds of large-scale events, we include them because in real world scenarios we use them in the field by using

their tools and abilities to help us with tracking our movements,” Shivers said. “We use anything that can help us mitigate an incident. Hazmat’s a great example of how we use their services, but we also use them often on the lake with searches and dive recoveries [and] large-scale wild land fire. Any number of things you can think of that are fairly big events, we will use them in the field to help us with data management.”

COMMUNITY

36 | March 11, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

DEATH NOTICES Linda Evelyn Akins, 63, of Cumming, passed away March 3, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Nancy Bell, 69, of Alpharetta, passed away February 28, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Betty Ann Boling, 82, of Cumming, passed away March 1, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.

Louann Kendall, 56, of Alpharetta, passed away February 22, 2015. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

Ruth Lancaster, 98, of Alpharetta, passed away February 21, 2015. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

Ronal Elliott Carithers, Sr., 67, of Cumming, passed away March 1, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Debbie Cary, 64, of Alpharetta, passed away February 25, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Marjorie Lovett, 88, of Roswell, passed away February 24, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Geoffrey Richard Crabbe, 80, of Cumming, passed away February 28, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.

George Maier, 88, of Alpharetta, passed away February 23, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Brenda Daughtry, 62, of Alpharetta, passed away March 2, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Kathleen Edwards, 71, of Cumming, passed away March 1, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Bertie Bhree Elzey, 91, of Cumming, passed away March 1, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Teresa Lynn Goddard, 39, of Cumming, passed away March 1, 2015. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. Leslie Holloway, 76, of Cumming, passed away February 12, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Thomas Johnson, 68, of Roswell, passed away February 26, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Frank Markham III, 50, of Alpharetta, passed away February 20, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Carolyn McBrayer, 69, of Cumming, passed away February 24, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Arnold Menze, 89, of Johns Creek, passed away February 13, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

John Ben Murphy, 70, of Cumming, passed away February 26, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Dora Rena Nichols, 47, of Cumming, passed away February 26, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Joseph Raymond Payne, 95, of Cumming passed away February 24, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.

Irene Barbara Petryk, 77, of Cumming, passed away February 25, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Leonard Purcell, 72, of Alpharetta, passed away February 13, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Mary Ray, 86, of Cumming, passed away February 13, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Frederick Raymond Jr., 71, of Alpharetta, passed away February 25, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

James Reynolds, 61, of Roswell, passed away February 13, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

Cat of the week: Shady FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Potential pet parents who want a kitty that will give lots of love and affection should come to the Humane Society of Forsyth County and meet Shady. She is a young tabby female that is one of the most loving cats at the shelter. Shady began her life in a foster home with other kitties, and kids and other cats are just more for her to love.

But Shady has been dreaming of her forever home. She is one of the cats in the name your own price program, but the Humane Society thinks she’s priceless. Meet her at the adoption center at 4440 Keith Bridge Road. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday noon to 5:00 p.m. Fill out an application for Shady or any of the pets at www.forsythpets.org.

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Dottie Riviere, 60, of Alpharetta, passed away February 18, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

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Robert Wood, 86, of Roswell, passed away February 17, 2015. Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society.

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Shelby Schiller, 22, of Cumming, passed away February 25, 2015. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.

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Viable: Continued from Page 1 or use local option sales tax funds. District 3 Commissioner Todd Levent said he has read supporters’ blogs in the past where they said the new city wouldn’t cost any money; but Levent said the report clearly states differently. “I don’t know if it properly raises the concerns about how will they have law enforcement. Who will do their roads? Will this become a big tax burden on the taxpayers eventually, and what about water and sewer?” Levent said. The study is saying there are a lot of things the city of Sharon Springs is not going to get into, said Levent. “I don’t know if people understand how most governments morph into much larger than they originally planned to be,” he said. Advocates of Sharon Springs say the city will provide more local control and create an efficient, low-cost government without raising taxes. The Carl Vinson Institute said to determine available revenues, the study looked at the amounts of revenue being paid to the county government currently providing services to the area and any revenue streams available to municipalities such as franchise fees and insurance premium tax distributions. “I am happy the study confirms that the southern part of Forsyth County is an economically successful area,” said state Rep. Michael Dudgeon (R-Johns Creek). “It can easily support a possible city without any large tax burdens. I plan to continue to consult with community leaders, county commissioners and research the city proposal.” A city of Sharon Springs would have a population of approximately

Blotter: Continued from Page 2 was suspended. The officer placed the man under arrest and inventoried the truck, where he found a substance believed to be methamphetamines along with a glass smoking pipe. A test of the substance was positive for methamphetamines.

Unknown suspects vandalize Midway Park FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to Midway Park Feb. 23 in reference to damage to the lower football field bathroom. The officer met with a worker there who reportedly said sometime between noon Feb. 20 and 8:40 a.m. Feb. 23, the men’s restroom, located at the lower football field, had been defaced. Once inside the restroom, the officer reportedly observed multiple drawings and words referring to Hispanic gangs. The worker said this has hap-

forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | March 11, 2015 | 37

... A lot of the planning needs to be done prior to the actual day of incorporation..” CHRIS LAGERBLOOM Milton City Manager 50,000 people, and a projected operating budget of $3.8 million. By comparison, Forsyth County’s budget is approximately $219.5 million and the city of Cumming, with 5,500 people, has an annual budget of just over $28 million. To identify projected expenditures for the proposed services, the Carl Vinson Institute modeled like cost structures from the newly incorporated cities of Peachtree Corners and Milton for planning and zoning and code enforcement. It determined that solid waste can be provided entirely through the operations of the service with no expected increase to service charges for residents. Milton City Manager Chris Lagerbloom had advice for Sharon Springs. “They need to plan ahead,” Lagerbloom said. “They also need to put a good team together to steer it to really get a lot of boots on the ground. A lot of the planning needs to be done prior to the actual day of incorporation, because after that day, you have to be ready to do it all.” The next step would be getting a bill dropped in this legislative session, Benefield said. The next legislative session begins in January 2016. For more information, visit www. sharonspringsga.org. The area highlighted in yellow is the proposed city of Sharon Springs.

pened in the past and seems to only happen on the weekends. No suspects are known at this time.

handcuffs on him. The man resisted, and refused to get in the back of the patrol car.

The officer reported he had to physically place the man in the patrol vehicle. He was

Intoxicated man gets rowdy in supermarket CUMMING, Ga. — A man was arrested at the Publix, 580 Atlanta Road, shopping center Feb. 19 after he was determined to be intoxicated. Publix had called Cumming Police about the man, who reportedly said he was sitting at the table, waiting for a waiter to serve him and that the wine was not cold and his food was taking a long time. An officer found the man sitting at a display table Publix had in the lobby for advertisement. The officer asked the man if he had been drinking, to which he said he had a couple of beers, but that he was not drunk. The manager of Publix said she asked the man to leave and wanted him arrested for criminal trespass. Officers placed the man under arrest for public drunkenness and attempted to place

transported to the Cumming Police Department for booking and processing.

In Memoriam

Lizabeth Foster Martin Liz

Lizabeth Foster Martin, 49, of Cumming, GA died on March 5, 2015 at Embracing Hospice House after a long cancer battle. Born in DePage, IL she was the daughter of the late Bonnie Mason Foster and Larry Foster of Demorest, GA. Liz graduated from Milton High School in 1983 and married Russell (Rusty) in 1985. She most recently worked at the Cumming First United Methodist Church Preschool – where she loved her students as she loved her own children. In addition to her father, Liz is survived by her husband, Russell Martin of Cumming, GA; children, Alyssa and Reed Martin of Cumming, GA; mother and fatherin-law, Linda Mansell Martin and Alan Martin of Elijay, GA; brothers-in-law, Tony

(Page) Martin of Marietta, GA and Ryan (Stephanie) Martin of Canton, GA; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 7, 2015 in the chapel of McDonald and Son Funeral Home. The Rev. Jeffrey Farster will officiate. The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 7 from 10:00 am until service time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Cumming First United Methodist Church Preschool, P.O. Box 606, Cumming, GA 30028. Condolences may be expressed at www.mcdonaldandson.com. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 886.9899

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