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Forsyth County approves $232.8 million budget
Commercial growth outpaces residential
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Commission approved a $232.8 million budget for 2026 amid an unprecedented uptick in business growth.
Commissioners unanimously approved the budget at an Aug. 21 meeting.
This year, business growth outpaced residential properties, reversing a trend county leaders have long highlighted as a priority.
The county’s commercial tax base grew 13 percent compared to 3.5 percent the previous year, County CFO Brian Clark said. The residential tax digest grew 8 percent compared to 9.3 percent in 2024.
“That is definitely something we are interested in seeing,” Clark said previously.
Public safety will receive the largest share in the 2026 budget, followed by general government expenses and cultural and recreational costs.
The 2026 budget marks an increase of about $17.5 million in spending – up 8 percent from the current year.
Alex Warner, president & CEO of the county’s Chamber of Commerce, said he credits Forward Forsyth, a public-private partnership to grow local business, for the commercial surge.
See BUDGET, Page 12
Commissioners Kerry Hill , left, and Laura Semanson discuss the 2026 budget during an Aug. 21 meeting that saw its unanimous approval.
Cumming councilman receives challenger
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Cumming voters will see one contested city race on their ballots in November.
All council seats are at-large positions, and voters will cast votes for all three posts.
Post 2 Councilman Jason Evans is challenged by George Robert Notel II.
Mayor Troy Brumbalow and Post 1
Councilman Chad Crane are unopposed.
Residents can register to vote up until
Oct. 6. Advanced voting will occur Oct. 14 to 31.
Check your voter registration status and find more information at vote.gov.
Appen Media will be working to edu-
cate voters about their candidates. Send questions and what is on your mind as you head to the ballot box to newsroom@ appenmedia.com.
— Jon Wilcox
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
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Milton police lieutenant fired after deadly hit-and-run arrest
By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — The Milton Police Department has fired a lieutenant after he was arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that took place in Marietta.
Marietta Police officials say Christopher Bradshaw, a 14-year-veteran of the Milton department, hit and killed 36-year-old Terrell Lowdermilk around 2:30 a.m. Aug. 13 while travelling down I-75. Bradshaw was off duty at the time.
Officials say two tractor-trailers sideswiped each other on the interstate and pulled over to exchange information. Lowdermilk, one of the drivers, was standing in the entrance ramp
Trader reports fraud in online stock scam
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 40-yearold Suwanee man reported a computer scam defrauded him of $30,000.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said the man, who works as an investment trader, reported the crime Aug. 13.
The man said a woman contacted him through the WhatsApp messaging service and claimed her company had yielded 20 percent returns. The man used the Robinhood stocks app to convert his funds into cryptocurrency, which he then invested through an app called AEXSST.
AEXSST is listed in the Apple App Store with no reviews.
The man said he decided to make several large investments after he received returns.
The man began to question the company’s legitimacy after he lost all of his money and the company encouraged him to invest further.
The incident was classified as a felony use of a computer to commit theft.
— Jon Wilcox
A
when he was struck by a black Chevy Silverado. The Chevy then left the scene.
Marietta Police put out a notice that they were seeking information about the deadly incident. Later that day, officers said they identified 48-year-old Bradshaw as the Chevy’s driver through evidence collected at the scene, camera networks and public tips.
Bradshaw later turned himself in.
He is in custody facing felony counts of hit-and-run resulting in serious injury or death and homicide by vehicle – leaving the scene.
When the Milton Police Department found out about the investigation they placed Bradshaw on administrative leave. They have since terminated his
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.
Deputies investigate claim of alleged threat on victim
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies investigated a reported felony influencing of a witness Aug. 16.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said a 75-year-old Gainesville man reported that a 44-year-old Flowery Branch man demanded a 50-year-old Cumm ing woman sign an affidavit dropping a simple assault charge lodged against him.
The Gainesville man is a witness in the case, which is out of Hall County.
The Flowery Branch man allegedly threatened to kill the woman if she failed to comply.
— Jon Wilcox
MUGSHOTS: Appen Media does have the arrestee's mugshot. As a matter of policy the newsroom does not run mugshots unless their use is helpful for the public to identify the suspect, such as if they were missing.
employment.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the victim during this difficult time,” department officials said.
Declining to provide further information due to the pending investigation of the Marietta Police Department, they added, “we remain committed to transparency, accountability and maintaining the trust of our community.”
Man cited for obstruction during police drug arrest
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 28-year-old Alpharetta man was arrested on drug and obstruction charges after an alleged scuffle with officers Aug. 8.
Alpharetta police said officers attempted to apprehend the man, who had two outstanding warrants for aggravated assault, at a Haynes Bridge Road gas station.
The man flexed his arms and pulled away from police as they arrested him, police said.
A glass pipe allegedly fell out of his pants pocket as officers wrestled him to the ground.
The pipe had a dark brown residue, police said.
The man allegedly kicked officers before he was moved to a patrol vehicle.
The man was charged with misdemeanor possession of drug related objects and two felony counts of obstruction of officers.
— Jon Wilcox
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Georgia Senate explores need-based scholarships
By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat
ATLANTA — The state’s lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship program has been highly successful, covering most or all of college tuition for more than 2.2 million Georgians since its inception in 1993.
But Georgia lawmakers are considering expanding state aid to public college and university students beyond the merit-based HOPE program to a need-based scholarship initiative. The newly formed state Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Affordability will hold its first meeting on Monday at the state Capitol.
“In my conversations on both sides of the aisle, there’s been a recognition that getting more students into college is a must,” said Sen. Nan Orrock, D-Atlanta, who will chair the committee. “[But] we have not turned our attention to needbased support.”
“I’m very concerned about the level of debt students come out of college with,” added Sen. Max Burns, R-Sylvania, chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee and a member of the new study panel. “The study committee is designed to explore as many avenues as we can to expand our graduation rates.”
The University System of Georgia’s six-year graduation rate has increased significantly during the last decade, surpassing 80% for the system as a whole and surging beyond 90% at the system’s research universities including the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech.
The university system has taken various steps to boost graduation rates. The system has participated in the Complete
College America program since 2011.
In 2022, the system launched the website Georgia Degrees Pay to show the value of a degree. The following year saw the start of GEORGIA MATCH, a direct admission program that involves sending letters to high school seniors listing the public universities, colleges and technical colleges they are academically eligible to attend and explaining how to claim a spot being held for them at the institution of their choice.
But Orrock said there remains room for improvement.
“Our workforce shortages are well documented,” she said. “More college graduates are a way for our state to attract businesses looking for the skill sets of college graduates.”
Georgia and New Hampshire are currently the only states that don’t offer a need-based scholarship program in their four-year public colleges and universities. But bringing need-based scholarships to Georgia will have to overcome an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality.
University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue noted that the system’s Board of Regents has held the line on tuition for seven of the last 10 years.
Decisions by the General Assembly eliminating the special institutional fees the system began charging students during the Great Recession and restoring the funding cuts to HOPE made during the same economic downturn have helped keep tuition in check, he said.
“We welcome the discussion,” Perdue said of the upcoming study committee. “We’ve got a great story to tell.”
See SENATE, Page 13
Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm
There are a lot of bagel shops, but there’s only a few of us who are still doing it the way it should be done .
Beloved bagel shop returns months after fire
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A beloved Forsyth County bagel shop rose like a phoenix from the ashes, months after fire destroyed its previous location.
At an Aug. 23 grand reopening, hundreds celebrated the end of the BB’s Bagels drought, visiting its new location, 6835 Shiloh Road East.
Dozens of customers lined up outside the bagel shop’s front doors sandwiched between tool and cabinet businesses at a sleepy office park in southern Forsyth County. Inside, staff were scrambling, taking orders and ringing up customers beneath an enormous, illuminated Bronx Bagels sign.
Despite the chaos, it felt great to be back in the bagel business, said owner Anna Siino.
“It feels amazing,” she said.
On Feb. 2, fire gutted the former location on McFarland Parkway after 18 years of business and memories there. Siino said she is not sure what caused the fire but suspects it was related to the vent hoods, which were cleaned that day.
“We watched many, many families grow from kids coming in from elementary to high school, coming in with their girlfriends through college, getting engaged,” she said. “So, that was tough, but having to find a spot was even harder.”
The fire hit Siino’s family hard, but the business’ die-hard customer base stepped up. Online, customers lamented the loss but also rallied, raising more than $76,000 on a GoFundMe page.
At the reopening, Siino recognized the faces of at least 50 regulars returning.
She also found strong support among her staff, many of whom returned to work after the months-long hiatus.
“We had 30 people employed at the time, and a lot of them were with us from the very beginning, so it was really a rough transition,” Siino said.
Siino, who was born and raised in the Bronx, said she grew up loving bagels.
When she moved to Atlanta, her family found the city’s bagel scene lacking and decided to take matters into their
own hands.
“There are a lot of bagel shops, but there's only a few of us who are still doing it the way it should be done,” Siino said. Doing it right means hand-rolling
dough, boiling it in kettles and finishing the bagels in an oven. The result is a light and airy bagel that is crunchy on the outside and chewy inside.
Owner Anna Siino, left, looks over orders at the counter of BBs Bagels during a grand reopening Aug. 23 at the revived store at 6835 Shiloh Road East in south Forsyth County.
ANNA SIINO, owner of BBs Bagels
BUSINESSPOSTS
Customers line up outside BBs Bagels, 6835 Shiloh Road East, Aug. 23, the day of the business’ reopening after a fire destroyed a previous location.
Bagels:
Continued from Page 6
Popular offerings include breakfast, French toast and veggie bagels.
Despite Atlanta’s limited bagel heritage, local customers have taken notice.
Peachtree Corners resident Rebecca Phillips was relieved to learn BBs was reopening and made sure to show up Aug. 23.
For the past six years, BBs has become an essential part of her routine, visiting regularly to buy their bagels and storing them in her freezer. After the fire, she rationed her supply, making them last as long as she could.
Prior to her visit, she finally allowed herself to eat the last of her reserves.
“When you toast them, they're crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside,” she said. “They're delicious.”
Kennesaw resident Shelley Cole -
Just opened?
burn said she and her family have been visiting BBs for most of her life. She was heartbroken to learn of the fire but ecstatic about the restaurant’s return.
She said she loves “everything” about their doughy creations but particularly loves their texture.
“They’re warm, and they are gooey,” she said. “You never get skimped on cream cheese.”
Kendall Bridger agreed. Bridger, who has visited New York several times, even prefers the bagels at BBs to those in the Big Apple.
“They are fresher and taste better,” she said.
Siino admits she misses the previous location, but she also looks forward to a new era for BBs. She loves the Shiloh Road location’s spaciousness and looks forward to many more years of business.
“Before the fire happened, we were like, ‘Oh, we're going to have a fiveyear retirement plan,’” Siino said. “But after seven months at home. We're like, ‘We're not retiring ever. It's not happening.’”
Appen Media publishes New Business Spotlights to highlight local businesses as they get started. Submit yours for free at appenmedia.com/newbusiness
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Honored to be Voted: Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist
Insist on the
BEST
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.
He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 22 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.
How being a bad golfer can be hazardous to your health
Brought to you by – Premier Dermatology
I recently had a conversation with a patient about tick-borne illnesses, and our discussion reminded me of an interesting study that I Iearned about in medical school – a tale that ended with the warning “don’t go into the rough.” If you haven’t heard of it, ehrlichiosisis is one of numerous diseases that ticks carry and that humans can catch when ticks bite them, but this disease was not always so well known.
The year is 1993, and four men who lived in a golf-oriented retirement community in Tennessee were hospitalized with fever, headache, vomiting and abdominal pain. Blood tests revealed abnormally low white blood cell counts, low platelets, as well as inflammation of the liver. Two of these men ended up in the intensive care unit. An astute physician ordered a test for ehrlichiosis, and all four men tested positive for this illness.
diseases that they carried.
As the results came in, a picture began to emerge. Most of the patients were golfers. There was a trend towards higher rates of infection in people who golfed more often. But, compellingly, it was only the bad golfers – those who averaged high scores – who seemed to be getting infected.
What could be causing the bad golfers to be infected while the good golfers remained healthy? Were their immune systems, like their golf swings, simply superior to those of the bad golfers? Is charisma a factor?
Accepting new patients.
This outbreak prompted the physician to assign several residents and medical students (aka “underlings”) to tramp through the woods and go door to door in this golf community gathering information about other people who might be infected. People were asked for blood samples and patients admitted to the local hospital with fever of unknown origin also had their blood tested. An “environmental survey” was conducted of local animals to identify ticks and the
No, it turned out that the single factor that was most strongly associated with ehrlichiosis infection was retrieving a golf ball that was hit off the golf course instead of using a new ball. And bad golfers hit the golf ball in the rough or in the woods more often than the good golfers. In fact, golfers who retrieved their balls from the woods were 270% more likely to be infected than those who simply used a new ball. The case was cracked, and the lesson was clear – don’t go into the rough. Or, if you do, use a lot of insect repellant.
This tick season, remember to protect yourself. If you know a golfer, warn him or her about ehrlichiosis. And if you or a loved one has a spot worrisome for skin cancer or any other dermatologic complaint, please consider Dr. Brent Taylor and Kathryn Filipek, PA-C of Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta for your skin care needs.
Dr. Brent Taylor
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
Medicare Annual Enrollment
Brought to you by – SeniorSource Medicare Solutions
Lately, many of my clients have been receiving phone calls and mailers that make it sound like the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is already underway. It’s not. In reality, AEP doesn’t begin for another month and a half.
What’s happening?
Right now, Medicare Advantage and Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plan providers are just starting to receive final approval for their 2026 plans. Once that’s done, plan materials still need to be printed and mailed to members. So yes — we’ve still got some time!
Here’s what that means for you: Don’t let call centers or early marketing tactics pressure you — it’s not time to make changes yet. Instead, now is the perfect time to evaluate your current coverage and consider your needs going into 2026.
Ask yourself:
• Is my current monthly premium still manageable?
• Are my copays affordable?
• Am I happy with my dental, vision, or hearing coverage?
• Have I heard about other plans I want to explore during AEP?
isn’t here yet – but it’s coming! Are you ready?
In other words: it’s time to start your Medicare Game Plan.
Take this time to jot down what’s working and what’s not — and the benefits you’d like to have next year.
Plan.
Plan smart now, enroll wisely later. Let’s make this season a win for your healthcare.
About The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period:
Medicare Advantage and Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plans’ Annual Notice of Changes to clients should be in mailboxes by late-September. The time to make changes for 2026 coverage is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period from October 15, 2025 - December 7th, 2025. Your selections made during the AEP will become effective January 1st, 2026.
The Medicare AEP is for Medicare Advantage Plans and Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plans only. Medicare Supplements are not affected by the AEP and may be changed throughout the calendar year, barring any health underwriting requirements.
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When AEP does arrive, you’ll be ready to work with your insurance agent to find the best plan for your needs — whether that’s a Medicare Advantage plan, a Supplement, or a Stand-Alone Drug
If you’d like to sit down with a Medicare Insurance Agent from SeniorSource this fall and find the best plan for your needs, give us a call today at (770) 315 8145 or contact us through our website at www.SeniorSourceMedicare.com/ contact-seniorsource.
Paige Gorman Agent
through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
YE, GODS!
1. Norse thunder god. Pismire. Union demand.
2. Lampblack. Poker hand. Egyptian solar god with the head of a falcon.
3. Pillow covering. Cluttered. Roman god of passages.
4. Greek god of darkness. Moppet. Decree.
5. Ten-armed mollusk. Supreme god of Ancient Greece. Spanish port city.
6. Half-moon tide. Cougar. Roman god of fire.
7. Have a drink. Norse god of discord. Bad to the bone.
1 Norse thunder god. Pismire. Union demand
2. Lampblack. Poker hand. Egytpian solar god with the head of a falcon.
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Pillow covering. Cluttered. Roman god of passages
4. Greek god of darkness. Moppet. Decree.
5. Ten-armed mollusk. Supreme god of ancient Greece. Spanish port city
6. Half-moon tide. Cougar. Roman god of fire
7. Have a drink. Norse god of discord. Bad to the bone.
OPINION
LCS Productions brings quality to Cumming performing arts
As I traipse through life, I am finding my bucket list is diminishing, just like the quantity of hair on my noggin. The reason for the shrinkage can be attributed to items I have accomplished, items that are simply unattainable a (cross-country) motorcycle ride, or a few definite maybes.
One such maybe is another ride to Murphy and an afternoon of gambling. Just waiting on some cooler weather. As far as crossing items off the list involved a foray into running for the local school board. I did it on a lark, in no way fathoming I could win. And it was a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I ran against a seven-term incumbent and another guy. We two outsiders got boat raced by the incumbent, a sweet elderly lady who cried after I asked her a question during a televised debate.
My low-budget, low effort campaign went to hell in a hand basket as soon as those tears flowed. Amazingly, I got 511 votes.
Another bucket list item was my hope of acting in a play. Amazingly, I was cast as a dastardly villain twice in “Deadwood Dick/Dan.” It was a Western comedy/musical/melodrama. I grew a scruffy beard and got to wear a cool black duster and fire a gun.
I had a blast playing the Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz.” Then there was a role as Junior, a philandering idiot who blew all his money on a machine that cleaned parking lots. The play was “Dearly Departed”, and it was a romp.
I grew a new-found appreciation of just how grueling the task of being an actor actually is, and I wasn’t a very good actor. That observation was made by one of the boys while we were watching a Broadway production of “Mary Poppins” during a New York vacation.
“Hey Dad, these guys are a lot better than you are,” was the critique of one
of my dear, sweet crumb crunchers. Everyone’s a critic, I thought, even the little guy I tucked in at night.
I shudder to think how bad my acting chops would have been, if not for the kindness and patience of Lisa Sherouse.
I got to play opposite Lisa in “Dearly Departed.” It wasn’t a stretch for me to play her idiot husband. Our opening scene of us driving to a funeral is a prized DVD possession. I just watched in and still snicker at the audacious Junior being calmed by even-keeled Lisa.
I loved hearing her British-born lilting voice trying to capture the nuances of talking like a true Southern redneck. She pulled it off perfectly.
That’s why it’s no surprise that Lisa and her company, LCS Productions, have established itself as an entity synonymous with entertaining, high quality local theater at the School Street Playhouse in Cumming.
The next production is “Something Rotten,” a comedic romp with a topnotch cast of nine lead actors as well as a 21-member ensemble that is a vital part of the show. Performances begin September 19th and run through October 12th.
The adage “Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance” certainly applies to Lisa and her productions. June auditions got her the cast and rehearsals occur four times a week.
Lisa, who has played in a colossal number of productions in a variety of venues, has a vision of what she wants as a director and has a knack for taking non-experienced folks and transforming them into actors.
And no, I’ll be nowhere near the stage, thereby eliminating the “rotten” element.
But I sure as heck plan on buying a ticket. Seeing the show is another item on my bucket list.
Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail. com.
MIKE TASOS Columnist
Budget: 2026 BUDGET EXPENDITURES
Formed in 2019, Forward Forsyth gained serious traction in 2025, Warner said. The organization serves as a marketing arm for the county, acting as an intermediary on behalf of the county, school district and Development Authority.
“When you're saying, ‘I'm from the government, I'm here to help,’ it does not work,” Warner said. “So, us being a private entity, … we can have a lot of discretion working with businesses to get into the finish line.”
This year, the organization boasted numerous successes, including 1.3
million square feet of new commercial development, he said. That development includes at least 500,000 square feet of medical offices and 100,000 square feet of high-end retail space.
New and expanding businesses in the county include Whole Foods, Northside Hospital, Trader Joe’s, Italian steel fabricator FICEP Corporation, Zimmer Biomet and others.
The new businesses should provide
real benefits for local residents, offsetting residential taxes and strengthening the local economy.
Commissioners have repeatedly noted the importance of shifting the county’s tax digest from the residential to the commercial sector.
More businesses paying taxes means additional money for the county without the strain on services, such as schools, roads and parks,
that residents bring.
The shift also has an indirect effect on the workforce. As more employers come to Forsyth County, residents have more opportunities to shorten drives to workplaces and shopping destinations.
“We're working hard,” Warner said. ‘Ever since the public-private partnership was formed, it's been a clear path with everyone on the same page.”
Authors signing session to benefit Jesse’s House
By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com
CUMMING, Ga — On Sept. 11, New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin will help kick off Harvesting Hope, a three-day affair benefiting Jesse’s House, a Cumming nonprofit providing a safe haven for at-risk girls.
Giffin, whose dozen novels have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, will headline a free sip and sign event during the fundraiser’s Books and Bourbon evening. She will be joined by a host of other Atlanta-area writers, including Kimberly Brock, Emily Carpenter, Jessica Handler and Michael L. Thurmond.
Details about Harvesting Hope and other September author events are at right.
Senate:
Continued from Page 4
“We have some of the highest quality education at the lowest cost in the nation,” Burns added. “That’s a positive for Georgia.”
A key issue shaping the upcoming debate over higher education affordability will be whether the state should focus more on helping deserving high school students who can’t afford college gain access to postsecondary education or on students who are nearing a degree but struggling to pay for the final credits they need to graduate.
Orrock said high school counselors have told lawmakers that some highachieving high school students are not enrolling in college because their families can’t afford it. While the GEORGIA MATCH program has helped, she said many students receiving letters informing them of university system institutions they are qualified to attend don’t end up enrolling.
Orrock said the late Hank Huckaby,
DEATH NOTICES
George Dear, 78, of Roswell, passed away on August 9, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Mark Herak, 78, passed away on August 7, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Monday, Sept. 8 and Monday, Sept. 29, Ann Hite with her new release, “I Am a Georgia Girl: The Life of Lucille Selig Frank, 18881957.” On Sept. 8, Carolyn Curry will moderate and Bookmiser will partner with the Cobb Library Foundation for the book’s release. Free. 6 p.m. Switzer Library, 266 Roswell St. NE, Marietta. On Sept. 29, Friends of the Sandy Springs Library and Bookmiser will host Hite at 6 p.m. Free. Sandy Springs Library, 395 Mount Vernon Highway Northeast. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/events.html
Thursday, Sept. 11, Books and Bourbon Fundraiser for Jesse’s House featuring Emily Giffin and other area authors. 5 p.m. Free. Optional bourbon tasting with snacks, $55. Hosted by Poe and Company Bookstore at Stoney J. Winery, 1506 Stoney Point Road, Cumming. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Thursday, Sept. 11, Create Cheesy Comics with Shanda McCloskey. The local author-illustrator will help children create their own fourpanel “cheesy” comic. All supplies provided.
who as a senior staff member helped thenGov. Zell Miller launch HOPE and later served as university system chancellor, was a proponent of need-based scholarships.
“He said, ‘If you want the biggest game changer to make your workforce, economy, and families thrive, it’s need-based,’ ” she said.
But state Rep. Chuck Martin, RAlpharetta, chairman of the House Higher Education Committee, said giving a financial boost to college students nearing a degree is more important. Martin was the lead sponsor of legislation the General Assembly passed in 2022 offering students who have earned at least 80% of the credits required for their college degree grants of up to $2,500 to help pay their tuition.
“If you want to start a need-based scholarship, you start at the end,” he said. “At that point, students have proven they can do the work.”
Another factor lawmakers will have to consider is the cost to Georgia taxpayers of launching a need-based scholarship program.
The HOPE program is currently run-
Ida Muller, 82, of Roswell, passed away on August 5, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Gloria Shenk, 73, of Alpharetta, passed away on August 6, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
5:30 p.m. $35. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770232-9331. read-it-again.com
Tuesday, Sept. 16, Michael Ludden, Anne Echols and Todd Sullivan. A Novel Idea presents the trio discussing their novels, “The Street King,” “Roland’s Labyrinth,” and “Blood Stew,” respectively. 7 p.m. Free. Roswell Junction, 340 S. Atlanta St., Roswell. anovelidea.us. Thursday, Sept. 18, Murder Mystery Dinner Theater with author Laura Elizabeth. 6 p.m. $60. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Saturday, Sept. 20, Novel 101 with Sally Kilpatrick. The USA Today bestselling author will share secrets to writing a novel, answer questions about the writing process, and explore her latest release, “Nobody’s Perfect,” purchase of which is required. 3 p.m. $16.99. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com Friday, Saturday and Monday, Sept. 26, 27 and
ning a surplus of $1.6 billion, according to the resolution that created the study committee. But Martin said the legislature shouldn’t put those funds toward need-based scholarships without careful consideration.
“Just because there’s money doesn’t mean you spend it,” he said. “We shouldn’t put any new program in because we happen to have a surplus in the lottery or otherwise.”
While Martin and other conservative Republicans are wary of the potential fiscal impact of offering need-based scholarships, Orrock said there’s been GOP buy-in to at least giving the idea serious consideration.
Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who presides over the state Senate, got behind Orrock’s resolution to form the study committee and appointed the Democrat to chair the effort, a rare opportunity in the legislature for a member of the minority party.
“There’s interest in it by leadership,” Orrock said. “If we can put together a goodfaith grant program, it will be win-win for Georgia and a win-win for bipartisanship.”
29, Friends of the Roswell Library Book Sale. See website for hours and details. Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell. 404612-9700. forl.net
Sunday, Sept. 28, McCracken Poston Jr. examining “Zenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom.” Poston, a former Georgia state legislator and criminal defense attorney, will probe his nonfiction work about a murder trial in a small Georgia town. 2 p.m. Free. Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega St, Cumming. 770-781-9840. forsythpl.org/ event/14162881
Tuesday, Sept. 30, Madeline Martin joins a book club discussion of her new title, “The Secret Book Society.” 1 p.m. Free. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road. 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com.
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@gmail.com by the 15th.
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
George Walters, 94, of Milton, passed away on August 9, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Andrew YaSenka, 83, of Roswell, passed away on August 10, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
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