Health & Wellness Sponsored section ►►page 22
Seeking public comment The Collection expansion on hold ►►Page 4
Drumroll please...
FCHS drumline No. 1 in Georgia ►►page 10
War Eagles’ historic season
SFHS sets record for wins, make deep playoff run ►►pages 14 – 15
December 9, 2015 | forsythherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 49
BOC approves District 2 subarea planning commission By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com
KATHLEEN STURGEON/Staff
From left in the back row, Melanie Hutchins, David Lovich, Karen Davare, Christy Cullinan and Melissa Baumbeck, from left on the front row, Allison Feldman, Dainty Lovich, Jennifer Farmer and Courtney Johnson.
Local nonprofit gives back to community By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com CUMMING, Ga. — Acoustic neuroma is something many people don’t know much about. It is a rare benign tumor of the balance and hearing nerves, and its national association is headquartered in Cumming. On Dec. 1, the association decided they wanted to give back. As part of the national Giving Tuesday movement, in which people are encour-
aged to donate to nonprofits after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the Acoustic Neuroma Association decided they wanted to be part of the conversation by hosting a toy drive for The Place of Forsyth. “We’re a national organization that serves all 50 states through our support groups and programs,” said Allison Feldman, CEO of the ANA. “However, we don’t really do a whole lot necessarily in Forsyth County other than what we do for everyone else
all around the country. We wanted to be more part of the community here.” Patrons had many ways to help ANA and The Place by donating toys, money or e-cards. E-cards “give people the opportunity to say thank you to somebody or put something in memory of someone at this time of the year,” Feldman said. “We thought it’d be a nice add-on rather than
See COMMUNITY, Page 36
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — To help alleviate problems around transparency, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners Tam approved 4-1, with Commissioner Todd Levent opposed, Dec. 3 the creation of a subarea planning commission for District 2. The new commission, which will be in effect through December 2016, will be comprised of four members plus the District 2 commissioner, who is currently Brian Tam, as chair, and members would be nominated from the district by the chair. Members will have to be approved by the BOC. Tam would only vote in the case of a tie. This proposal would move the District 2 zoning items to the top of the regular planning commission meeting agendas. After their items are completed, members of the subarea group will leave to hold a separate meeting to discuss those items. However no official action will be taken. Tam said he has heard from a number of his constituents regarding the county not being transparent enough. He said this will allow for more participation. He also read a letter from Rep. Mike Dudgeon in support
1.5cttw Anniversary Band $5500
This is not something that’s trying to be a bad reflection on the planning commission. This is something we’ve kicked around for many months.” Brian Tam District 2 commissioner of the subarea plan. “I am supportive of the efforts of the commission to set up a subarea planning commission in District 2,” Dudgeon wrote. “I think, with our growing county, having people in the process that are closer to zonings and more involved in that local community will help. I recognize this is a new process that may need to be tweaked and may end up working for other districts in time.” However, some members of the planning commission have said this undermines their authority and might create a duplication of duties. The subarea was not ap-
See BOC, Page 35
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