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MY FORSYTH
TABLE of CONTENTS VOLUME IX • ISSUE 3
36
Home & Life
2o
12 STANDBY GENERATOR INSTALLATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 14 THE SELLER MINDSET 16 CHOOSING A KITCHEN ISLAND COLOR 18 DAVE CHESSON: SELF PUBLISHING GURU 20 YONAH MOUNTAIN 21 THERE’S A BETTER WAY TO DIVORCE 23 HAIR ACCESSORY TRENDS 24 HOW HGVC REMINDED ME TO PROTECT MY DOWNSIDE 30 FORSYTH COUNTY’S FIRST CID BECOMES A REALITY 31 DOWNSIZING FOR QUALITY OF LIFE 32 BLESSING OR LESSON
Forsyth Foodie 28 KING OF POPS
Health & Wellness
33
COVER STORY
33 LEARNING THROUGH DISCOVERY
Faith 55 THE ULTIMATE ENCOURAGER
THE MONTESSORI WAY
A Bit More
Features
58 RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION 60 UM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COVERAGE
22
LIFE’S A JOURNEY
48
WHAT’S YOUR RISK APPETITE
51 “DON’T MISS A THING” WE’RE MOBILE... myforsythmag.com
38 IS ANYONE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES? 40 BENEFITS OF MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY 42 DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE FOOD SENSITIVITIES? 46 WHAT IS AN ESSENTIAL OIL AND WHY DO YOU NEED THEM? 47 THE GREAT OUTDOORS
GET TO KNOW PINECREST ACADEMY
In Every Issue 10 11 44 52 57
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS NEWS AROUND FORSYTH BOOK REVIEW: 52 UNCOMMON DATES BURGESS BLOG THE COUNTRY PREACHER
CONTRIBUTORS
VOLUME IX • ISSUE 3
MY FORSYTH PUBLISHER Market Complete LLC
Abigail Blum is an avid photographer and storyteller. She may be reached at photosxabigail@gmail. com. @abigailblum #photosxabigail
Larry Brown is a retired journalist. Larry is a member of the Cumming-Forsyth Optimist Club and a mentor with Mentor Me North Georgia. A community volunteer and sought-out writer, he may be reached at browntrust@bellsouth.net.
Tom Burgess is the owner and operator of Christian Brothers Automotive in Cumming. Tom retired from the United States Air Force in 2009, after serving his country for over 22 years. He may be reached at Tom.Burgess@cbauto.net.
julie@marketcomplete.com 678.614.8583 SPECIAL REPORTS/VIDEO Michelle Hall 904.386.0417 WEB CONTENT STRATEGIST Matt Coutu matt@marketcomplete.com
Ava Clavijo is a student at Forsyth Central. She may be reached at AvaClavijo@gmail.com.
Rebecca Dumas is the owner and color consultant at Gregory’s Paint & Flooring. She may be reached at rebecca@ gregoryspaintandflooring.com.
Pam Evans is an Associate Broker with Century 21 Results. She may be reached at 678-778-6551.
STAFF WRITER Katielee Kaner katielee.myforsyth@gmail.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Samantha Angeli samantha.angeli74@gmail.com 770.310.4486
Jacqueline Thompson Graves is a freelance media developer, writer, and the author of the book review blog The Book Buffet. She may be reached at thegraves@yahoo.com.
Rev. David Hill is a Cumming resident and frequent guest preacher at Antioch Baptist Church. He may be reached at davidkhillhpm@ comcast.net.
Amy Lyle lives in Forsyth with her husband, four teenagers and a large dog. Her first book, The Amy Binegar-Kimmes-Lyle Book of Failures is a top eBook on Amazon.com.
PHOTOGRAPHY Adam Pendleton 678.208.7077 • www.adampendleton.com PRINTING AND MAILING SERVICES Power Marketing & Printing 678.990.3618 • smccaffrey@powermp
Maria I. Morgan is an inspirational writer and speaker. She is the awardwinning author of Louie’s BIG day! She may be reached at maria@mariaimorgan.com.
Abby McCall Smith is a college student and avid writer. She may be reached at abbymccallsmith@ outlook.com.
Narendra Singh, MD, FRCP(C), FACC, FAHA is the Director of Clinical Research, Atlanta Heart Specialists LLC, Atlanta, GA. He may be reached at DrSingh@ahsmed.com or www.heartdrsingh.com.
Rachael Walkup is the owner of CummingLocal.com, wife, mom and blogger. She may be reached at info@cumminglocal.com.
Mira Sivan is a family practice optometrist with an emphasis on ocular disease, contact lenses fitting and pediatrics. She may be reached at 678-648-5185.
The mission of My Forsyth magazine, a publication of Market Complete LLC, is to provide readers with stories and information about their communities and its people. 22,000 copies of your community magazine are distributed via direct mail and throughout local businesses as part of our rack distribution. We welcome your comments, stories and advertisements. Subscriptions are available for $25 per year. The viewpoints of the advertisers, columnists, and submissions are not necessarily those of the MarketComplete LLC. The Publisher makes no claims as to the validity of any charitable organizations mentioned. My Forsyth is not responsible for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without written permission from the Publisher. All rights reserved. ©Copyright 2019 My Forsyth • www.myforsythmag.com 5485 Bethelview Road, Suite 360-135 Cumming GA 30040 (p) 678.614.8583 | (f) 770.888.1511
A Note From the
PUBLISHER My Garden You simply can't beat the taste of fresh produce, peaches, tomatoes, cucumbers, berries, potatoes, watermelons, and Vidalia onions this time of year. Years ago I gave gardening my best shot — from getting the right tools to picking the very best seedlings to get my garden started. It worked. The cherry tomatoes were tasty, the peppers were crisp, and the cucumbers were refreshing. The bugs, however, were annoying. Slugs had to be carefully picked off each plant as they gently crawled their way into the freshness of my tomato plant. Some white stuff started adding itself to each leaf of my beautiful garden. The plants started to turn a shade of brown that didn't look pleasant. And
from the neighbors who would share their harvest with me. I mentioned to one of my neighbors how I missed walking outside and eating cherry tomatoes directly from the vine. Their comment to me was fabulous. "So why don't you walk down and grab them from our garden?" So I did. And still do. I am certain this happens to many other folks out there, for which we are blessed. The nicest thing about this is that we all get to share a little bit of ourselves. The simple gesture of picking produce to put in a bag to carry to your neighbor to enjoy - as if gently handing a little piece of your wealth. Mother Nature gives us
finally, things just started to look ugly.
a bounty to share with others, perhaps reminding us that we
To my rescue came my neighbors who had planted their own
if one bag of veggies at a time.
can always take time to know each other a little better - even
beautiful gardens. Besides the stuff that I had tried to grow, they had squash, zucchini, spaghetti squash and a variety of things that I didn't have. I'd come home from work to find grocery bags hanging from my door filled with fresh produce - vegetables and fruits to satisfy my palette. One neighbor even grew kale. And it was good. So I came to the realization that there was truly no need for me to grow a garden. I could simply enjoy the gardens
Julie Brennan JULIE BRENNAN Publisher julie@marketcomplete.com
VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3 | MYFORSYTHMAG.COM 9
F
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS
GET UPDATES ON ZONINGS, PERMITS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Curious about what that yellow sign posted along the roadside means? Information and status updates on zoning applications, permits, variances and other actions being considered by the county, can now be viewed online using Insight2Forsyth, an interactive map-based application on the county’s website. Insight2Forsyth allows visitors to find properties with proposed action easily on an interactive map and review the item’s status, documentation associated with the plan/permit and any action that is taken.
To learn more, view the Insight2Forsyth interactive map at forsythco.com/insights.
Recycling and Trash Convenience Centers Did you know Forsyth County operates three recycling and trash convenience centers for residential use? The county’s convenience centers accept a variety of recyclables, plus bagged household trash. There is no minimum bag size, and the maximum bag size for household trash is 32 gallons. Recycling is free with a few exceptions, and the quantity is unlimited. The cost for trash is 50 cents per bag for recycling customers, and one dollar per bag for non-recycling customers. The daily trash limit is five bags. For information on this convenient in-county service, visit the ‘Recycling & Solid Waste’ page at forsythco.com or call (770) 205-4573. All three centers are open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Tolbert Street Old Atlanta Coal Mountain 351 Tolbert Street 3678 Old Atlanta Road 3560 Settingdown Road (770) 781-2176 (770) 205-3010 (770) 781-2071
Free Pet Adoptions Through Sept. 3!
All pet adoptions are FREE during the Summer of Love at the Forsyth County Animal Shelter! All pets adopted through Sept. 3, 2019 will have adoption fees waived. All pet adoptions at the shelter include microchipping, spaying/neutering and age appropriate vaccinations. The shelter is located at 4065 County Way and is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Come find your perfect match! In addition to seeking homes for all animals in their care, the shelter is always looking for volunteers. For more information on adopting or volunteering, visit the shelter’s web page, Facebook page or call 678-965-7189. 10 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3
BECOME A VENDOR FOR THE 17TH ANNUAL PLAY AT THE PARK FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL
Registration is now open for vendors that want to participate in the annual Play at the Park Family Fun Festival at Fowler Park. Vendor space is limited so register to secure your space today by visiting parks.forsythco.com. Play at the Park is a free community festival that features kids’ activities, family entertainment, vendors and food trucks. Save the date: Saturday, Sept. 28 Fowler Park 4110 Carolene Way, Cumming
N EWS AROUND FORSYTH
SKIN BY DESIGN
Skin by Design Med-Spa is now open in Cumming. The med-spa offers the latest in noninvasive laser and cosmetic procedures, given in a warm and decadent spa environment. Injectables, facials, skin care, eye lash extensions, microneedling, permanent make-up, and waxing are some of the services offered.
Juls Candles Scents for Cause Taking their love for candles and their passion for communities, Juls Candles now uses their products to create unique candles to help local organizations. Each Juls scent has been assigned an organization making a difference in the world. As organizations reach their funding goal, the scents will cycle to another one.
The Light of Hope scent was created for CASA for Children of Forsyth County. Juls created a scent to reflect the love, compassion, creativity, and hope; a light scent to remind everyone to stay lighthearted, kind, and positive in the face of difficult times.
Skin by Design is located at 907 Buford Highway | 470-407-7546
Geaux Bikes Love to ride a bike but don’t have one of your own? Geaux Bikes can take care of that for you. The process is as easy as 1-2-3. Check a bike out at Fowler Park, ride, and when done, return to your original station to complete your trip. Founded by Kristle and DeMario Pressley, Geaux Bikes operates under the guiding principle that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the scenic beauty that Forsyth County has to offer in a safe, eco-friendly, and healthy way - all the while having fun.
More bike locations are opening soon
Julscandles.com | 678-947-5272
770-913-6887 Geauxbikeshare.com VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3 | MYFORSYTHMAG.COM 11
Will Home Standby Generator Installation Disrupt My Current Electrical System? A home standby generator installation is an excellent investment for two main reasons. First, a generator will improve your home’s value. Second, it will give you peace of mind during the stormy season. When your house experiences a power loss, a whole home generator will kick on automatically. Many people report that the transition to generator power is virtually seamless. You may not even realize the grid is down until your neighbors start knocking on your door! There are still some misconceptions out there about home standby generators. You might be wondering how long it takes to install these devices. Perhaps you’re curious what it will take to integrate the generator into your home’s existing electrical system. How loud are they? How often do you have to put more gas in them?
Here’s what you need to know about a home standby generator installation: A Professional Home Standby Generator Installation Is Quick Installers can install an air-cooled home generator in as little as four hours. Liquidcooled models are more complicated and can take up to 14 hours to install. It’s important to note that your home’s electricity will only have to be turned off for a brief period while a technician hooks up the wiring to the existing system. The inconvenience of having the electricity off is extremely brief.
Generator Maintenance Is Minimal Home standby generators run weekly selftests to make sure all systems are normal. If the system detects a problem, a warning light will indicate that it’s time to call in your trusted technician. And just like other motorized devices, home generators require periodic filter cleaning and oil changes. Purchasing an affordable maintenance agreement for your generator means year-round peace of mind for you and your family. Home Generators Don’t Require Refueling Unlike portable generators, you will never have to refill your home standby generator. That’s because it will be connected directly to your home’s natural gas supply. When the generator detects a power loss, it will immediately tap into the gas line and begin sending power to your home.
Your Home Generator Will Be Quiet Many people worry about the noise created by home generators. During the weekly self-test, your generator will be no louder than an idling car. And because regulations require that generators be installed several feet away from the house, you probably won’t even hear your generator running. Arc Angel: Atlanta’s Home Standby Generator Installation Experts We know there are few things worse than losing your air conditioning on a muggy summer day. You won’t have to worry about that anymore with a home standby generator. It’s one of the smartest investments in your home’s value and your family’s comfort. For more advice about your upcoming home standby generator installation, contact our friendly team of experts at Arc Angel today!
Since 2000, Arc Angel Electric has worked hard to ensure 100% customer satisfaction for every project. Our technicians offer a full line of electrical services, from new builds to upgrades. We continually strive to improve our customer service and expand our line of electrical services. You never know when an emergency will strike. Be sure you know who to call in the event of a power-related catastrophe. If you are tired of shopping around for professional electrical service providers who offer 24 hour emergency service, call Arc Angel at 770.889.9243. 12 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3
VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3 | MYFORSYTHMAG.COM 13
The Seller Mindset Getting Your Home Market-Ready By Pam Evans
Most people are familiar with the phrase: Getting your home Market-Ready. But what does that really mean and when is it most important? In a strong Seller’s market when inventory is low and Buyer-demand is high, Sellers can get away with cutting some corners.
However, this is a changing market and depending on the price point, the market is more balanced, and there are more homes to choose from. Therefore, Buyers can afford to be more particular – and Sellers who want to obtain the highest sales price the market will support and keep the most amount of equity, really need to up their game. The right Realtor will help you get the most bang for your buck out of your home. We’ll make recommendations about what you can do to create the biggest impact with Buyers while spending the least amount of money. Our job is to be frugal with a Seller’s money while creating impact. If you spend $1,000 fixing things up, we want your return to be $1,000 plus! That’s good ROI.
The Mindset That Avoids Mistakes If I had $1 for every Seller who said “Yeah, I know, we really should paint the cranberry colored Dining room (or take down the wallpaper, or replace the worn carpet), but my Buyer probably won’t like what I choose and will just repaint anyway – so we’ll just give an allowance.” In theory that makes perfect sense, but in reality, Buyers are not visualizers and do not want to inherit a Seller’s deferred maintenance or renovation project. Buyers will then overestimate the cost of the project, AND will want an awesome deal on the home, which all eats into a Seller’s equity. Homes not in market-ready condition tend to take longer to sell.
So, my recommended Mindset suggestion is: Plan ahead. Talk with a trusted Realtor well in advance. If you know you want to sell in May 2020 when your last kid graduates, start planning now. A good Realtor will go through your home with you, assess and make suggestions about what you should do and what you don’t really need to do. Planning ahead in getting your home market-ready makes it more financially manageable and less stressful. I have worked with people as much as 2 years in advance, and I always suggest choosing paint colors last. Color trends change as you know, and color is one of the biggest and often simplest transformers of a home’s presentation. Trust your Realtor. We do this every day and participate in more Closings in one year than most consumers do in their lifetime.
Pam Evans is an Associate Broker with Century 21 Results, and can be reached at HelloPamEvans@gmail.com and at 678-778-6551. 14 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3
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VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3 | MYFORSYTHMAG.COM 15
5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Kitchen Island Color By Rebecca Dumas The ever-important debate and often for our clients a huge dilemma is what color to paint a kitchen island. The kitchen island has historically been that piece of cabinetry where an accent color could make sense. There was a time that black distressed was very popular and it made the kitchen pop, but do we really want pop anymore?
Here are my criteria for how to choose color: What size is the island?
This is the first thing that will help determine if a different color from the main cabinets is a good idea is the size of the island. Is it large or small, can your family have a meal there (8’x 5’) or is it just large enough for serving desserts/drinks (4’x 2’)? If it’s on the smaller side, keep with the main cabinet color; you do not want to chop up the space and may not want to draw attention if the island is not as big as you would like.
Where is the island positioned?
Is it attached to the main cabinets? An L-shape, or stand-alone? Sometimes a bar can be treated as an island, and an accent color can be put there to
add some interest. It can be challenging to make a transition when it is connected to the rest of the cabinets. A stand-alone island provides the best opportunity to add another color.
In my opinion, doing the island the same as the cabinets is always going to work, and sometimes when clients are really struggling that is what we opt to do.
What is the countertop made of?
If a color is desired, how dark should it be?
Is it Granite? Quartz/Quartzite? More and more clients are going with a marble look Carrera or New Venetian Gold. For me, this is a huge driver of what (if any) accent color I choose for the island.
What color are the main cabinets?
White, off-white, gray, or deeper? This is definitely a factor if you add color on the island or just continue with the main existing cabinet color. 16 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3
I rarely use black anymore, it’s usually a charcoal, grey, or navy when I am going dark. If you want a bit of color, but still a contrast to the white/ off-white cabinets you can do a grey, or grey-blue, or grey-green. Something neutral that can stand the test of time. Rebecca Dumas: Owner/Color Consultant
Gregory’s Paint & Flooring Johns Creek & Cumming rebecca@gregoryspaintandflooring.com
VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3 | MYFORSYTHMAG.COM 17
“
...the truth is, even if your book is the most well-written book in the world, if no one finds it or hears about it, it will never be read. How many books have you selfpublished? Nine, with each under different pen names.
Dave Chesson Self- Publishing Guru and the Nicest Guy in America
What advice would you give to writers about marketing? When it comes to marketing books, there are hundreds of tactics and strategies out there. Don’t try to do them all. Instead, choose a couple and invest your time into those particular few more stringently. You’ll see better results focusing hard in some, than trying to dabble in all.
An interview by Amy Lyle What are the greatest myths about self-publishing? That writing alone is the key differentiator between success and failure. But the truth is, even if your book is the most well-written book in the world, if no one finds it or hears about it, it will never be read. Real self-publishing is part writing and part marketing. As a self-published author, you need to do both with equal fervor and not believe in the Field of Dreams myth that if you write it, they will come.
it took off. After talking with my fans, it became apparent that showing authors what I do through video and allowing them to learn on-the-go with a Podcast were the next best ways to serve. KDP Rocket, now called Publisher Rocket, was the culmination of everything I learned about book marketing, made into a software to help authors do marketing more effectively and efficiently. But with each step, it was all about helping other authors learn and grow and how to best serve them in that.
When did you decide to make writing your career? When I was in the military I was sent to Korea without my family. It was at that point I decided I wanted to make a career of writing so that I could be home with my kids and never have to leave them for assignments again. For me, it started with the blog Kindlepreneur. com. There, I wrote everything that I learned, and
Are you allowed to name drop the people you have helped? I’ve worked with famous authors like Orson Scott Card, Ted Dekker, as well as many well-known online writers like Pat Flynn, Dr. Axe and more. I even worked with a Beach Boy once (steel drummer from Cocomo), and a guy who played a Puddy in the Power Ranger TV show series. Such a fun and intriguing world we live in.
18 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3
Follow Dave to get free book marketing tips!
kindlepreneur.com/blog/ www.youtube.com/channel/ UC-s3Pb8uIBm0QN8MVaulJKA www.facebook.com/KindlePreneur
VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3 | MYFORSYTHMAG.COM 19
One quick glimpse of the view makes the two-mile-hike up to the top unquestionably worth it. The picturesque landscape of mountains and trees in the distance is instantly appreciated.
Yonah Mountain By Abby McCall Smith
I would like to say that I get outside often, but I would be lying. As much as I strive to be the admirable early morning outdoors-woman, my brain does not fully operate until 10 a.m. after two full cups of coffee. My overwhelming urge to feel productive in a natural setting grew as the warm weather progressed. Yonah Mountain near Helen is one of the most popular trails in the North Georgia area, and I have overheard people rave about it for years. Rated 4.9/5 stars on atlantatrails.com, the hike is the perfect activity to elevate anyone’s spirits this season. The trail is considered to be moderately difficult, exhibited by its winding path and steep stairs of stone, but there are plenty of families who take part. Accompanied by a wide variety of vegetation, the experience is truly impressive to say the least. One quick glimpse of the view makes the two-mile-hike up to the top unquestionably worth it. The picturesque landscape of mountains and trees in the distance is instantly appreciated. The protruding platforms of rock are ideal for sitting and observing the scenery with a sandwich in hand. Often times, you can even catch a glimpse of people climbing up the side of the mountain. To those who are craving quality time this season, whether it be alone or with company, Yonah Mountain trail is highly recommended. Grab a pair of comfortable shoes, pack a large amount of water, and take a hike! Yonah Mountain’s base camp also offers camping services that are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Summer months are fairly popular for visitors, so be sure to get there early enough to reserve a definite spot for you, your family and friends. 20 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3
.
There’s a Better Way…
to Divorce
By Tracy Ann Moore-Grant
Over my years of practice, I have noticed a trend in the attitude couples are taking towards their divorce. There has been a shift away from your stereotypical animosity-filled court battle divorce towards uncontested and amicable divorce. Most Americans first heard of this concept when Gwyneth Paltrow famously announced she was “consciously uncoupling” from husband Chris Martin in 2014. Although many found her choice of words to be humorous, the movement towards “amicable divorce” is on the rise while the divorce rate in the United States has remained around 50%. An amicable divorce is different from a “traditional divorce” in several respects. Most notably, in an amicable divorce the parties are taking control of their case and working with attorneys, mental health providers and financial professionals to determine what is best for their family as a whole instead of slinging mud at their former partner to then allow a Judge to determine who is right and who is wrong. Parties in an amicable divorce can have complicated finances, children and all the same issues found in any divorce case. However, the amicable approach is to keep matters civil, family-focused and out of the court’s hands until the matter is resolved. In short-it’s about attitude not assets. The shift towards amicable divorce has presented some problems. One of the biggest issues that I have seen are parties turning to online forms and not attorneys to resolve their issues. The problems with online forms are that they are often not compliant with Georgia law and do not have many of the needed protectionary language for the parties to prevent future litigation. I frequently see this issue when
one party needs to enforce their agreement against the other or change it in the future. Often the forms are so poorly done it would be impossible to enforce them when one party doesn’t comply. Lastly, forms do not provide the details and protections needed when it comes to child support, alimony, real estate, taxes and investment accounts. Often, once the documents are finalized in the court system, there is no way to correct or readdress these important issues. Another hurdle to a successful amicable divorce is the professionals enlisted to help. An unfortunate reality of the legal system is that attorneys make more money the more time they spend on a case and even more if the case has to go to court, so it actually isn’t in their financial best interests to advise the quickest and cheapest route to a divorce. I have often had one party to a case represent that both parties want the case resolved efficiently and peacefully, however, I had no way to convey to the other party which attorneys I knew to be reasonable to work with who would not do unnecessary work or drag out the case.
To address these problems, I founded the Amicable Divorce Network. The Amicable Divorce Network brings together amicableminded family law attorneys, mediators, mental health professionals, financial professionals, parent coordinators, real estate professionals and more to assist parties through the divorce process. Everyone in the network makes a commitment to put the needs of the client first and respect their request to keep their case amicable. Individuals desiring an amicable divorce can visit our website (www.amicabledivorcenetwork. com) to view professionals who are in our group and select the people with whom they want to work. They can receive legal advice for their case specific to them and avoid the many problems that come with online forms and shortcuts. Most of the professionals list their fees on the website so that costs are transparent. Parties often think they must resolve all of their issues themselves in order to have an amicable divorce and that just isn’t the case. It would be difficult for a layperson to maneuver the Child Support Worksheet or negotiate directly with their spouse on difficult and complex topics. In an Amicable Divorce, parties can still attend a mediation to resolve differences and negotiate in their best interest. What they are agreeing to do is to make every effort to resolve their matter prior to seeking judicial intervention which can be stressful, time consuming and expensive. The Amicable Divorce process isn’t for everyone and some situations do need the courts to step in and make decisions. Consultation with an attorney can help to guide you on which route is best for you. However, for those parties seeking an amicable end to their marriage, the Amicable Divorce Network is here to show you “There is a Better Way” to divorce.
TRACY ANN MOORE-GRANT has been practicing family law in North Georgia since 2002. She is a partner at Patterson Moore Butler in Cumming, Georgia and is also a mediator, arbitrator and guardian ad litem. You can get more information on her firm’s website at www.PattersonMooreButler.com or directly at the Amicable Divorce Network website at www.AmicableDivorceNetwork.com
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Life’s a Journey MINDFUL LIVING FOR WORK & LIFE By Bernie Leonard
Your life is a journey. With every passing day, you travel further down the road. While traveling down this road we call life, we’ve discovered new necessities and have reached new heights. Technology is fulfilling our dreams more each day. We can now travel anywhere on earth and beyond and talk to anyone in the world often through tiny wireless devices. We can transmit information that rivals light travel. We are truly living in one of the most exciting times in history. Even with all of the excitement of this modern age, red lights are flashing. Because everything is more accessible, speed has increased pressure on business and home life. Therefore, we are becoming more committed to around the clock performance. As the world tries to come to terms with advances in technology, high tech communications and economic international competition, we must be more mindful, now more than ever, of our purpose. The secret? Adapting wisdom of the past to today’s exciting technological era. As I have studied business leaders, entrepreneurs, relationships in families and owned my own business, Berni Inc, for over 30 years, there has always been one common denominator of success in life and work: continuous personal growth. Ask yourself what influences your business and personal growth and take into consideration who you spend most of your time with. It’s important to have habits, and accountable people, in place to get you back on track when life has you by the ropes. Continuing to grow personally is a task that requires consistent work and dedication. Make a commitment to do these three things for 90 minutes a week: Pause, Reflect, and Be a Life Learner.
Pause:
We all need self-care to be our best. Write down three action items for the day: things you want to accomplish, things you’re proud of, areas you’re lacking in, etc.
Reflect:
On successes and failures for the day. Ask yourself--what are you grateful for? What wisdom did you gain?
Life Learner:
The beauty of learning is sharing. Continue to educate yourself through readings--become wiser through words and learn how you can add value to not only someone’s day, but to their life.
We get 168 hours in a week. If you don’t take the time to have a plan, life will dictate one for you. All it takes is 15 minutes a day six days a week. Shift your focus from your phone to your feelings and purpose. We all want to make a difference. I’ve always maintained the mission to help just one person daily. Be more intentional about your daily personal growth and watch how not only your life will change, but how the lives of those around you will be impacted. It all sparks from being mindful. Bernie Leonard is passionate about adding value to the lives around me, continuous growth and personal relationships.
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Hair Accessory Trends
By Bernie Leonard and Jacque Leonard It’s always fun to see the trends of the past influencing the looks of today. The 80s and 90s are back and better than ever in 2019! Some of the biggest styles in Manhattan to hit the streets after fashion week were padded headbands, barrettes and decorated bobby pins. These pieces add a touch of beauty to any wardrobe for any season--no wonder they’re making a comeback. Barrettes and headbands can be worn with an elegant evening gown or paired with your everyday casual look. The jewels and prints add just enough femininity with a modern twist. These small, but big statement, accessories are a great and inexpensive way to add a fashion piece to your wardrobe, making every woman shine more beautiful than she already is. This is why I now carry them in my own business, Berni Inc. Whether you have a short bob, long beach waves, or anything in between, these accessories are limitless and are suited for all hair types! Jacque Leonard is an educator, motivational speaker and hairdresser. She is the co-owner of bernie, inc. along with her mother, Bernie Leonard.
To learn more, visit: berniinc.com.
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How Hilton Grand Vacation Club (HGVC) Reminded Me To Protect My Downside By Kurt Arseneau, Investment Advisor Representative, Registered Financial Consultant It never fails, every day I get at least five to six calls soliciting me for something. If you haven’t noticed, they have gotten really good by using the same area code of your phone number. One day I actually answered, I thought it was someone I knew, but it was Hilton Grand Vacation Club (HGVC). The woman on the phone said I could bring my family to Disney World for four days and three nights to one of three properties for free. If you know me, I have a standing moto, “If it is FREE, it is for me!” There was one catch, listen to their two-hour vacation club pitch. I loaded up the family and we headed to Disney World the week of Fourth of July and on the way my wife and I prepped each other. We practiced many ways to say “No” nicely, “I am sorry, but we aren’t interested, I am sorry that is just outside our budget currently, I am sorry we don’t vacation that much, I am sorry we have cats that we wash weekly, etc.” We went to hear the pitch, all we both could think about was the pool, and as I listened to the pitch, I kept rehearsing what we had practiced in the car. The presentation was almost over and it happened, they went to the emotional strings, “You can take your family anywhere in the world and you can pass this to your children and grandchildren.” Done, over, my wife and I are now hook, line, and sinker into this HGVC program. However, there was one thing I needed to know: what is my downside protection for protecting my purchasing power of my points. The points in the future are worth the same as they are today, and we have changed the values in 1000 years (or however long they have been doing the club).
It reminded me of our financial practice and how we protect our client’s downside with our proprietary technology called Asset Lock. Asset Lock is a portfolio monitoring tool that monitors 401k, 403b, 457, TSP, IRAs, Roth IRAs, Brokerage accounts, etc. from potentially significant losses. With this software you actually get to pick what you want as your downside;. Yes, I know we all want zero but is that really realistic? In most cases, clients don’t mind taking risk as long as they know what the potential downside could be. Imagine if you would have had a tool like this in 2008 when the bottom dropped out of the market and some you lost 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, even 60% of your 401k values. Imagine if you would have received a text message reading “you are 75% of your Asset Lock number of -10% what do you want to do?” It is important to know what your downside is, and for a limited time you can. I want to give you all Asset Lock Personal for free. I want you to add it to your accounts and I want you to protect your downside. If you think their may be potentially another 2008, you can’t afford not to download Asset Lock. See our ad on the next page for instructions on how to download the award-winning Asset Lock technology. You have nothing to lose but potentially everything to gain! Till next time, Stay well!
*Disclaimer Arseneau Advisory Group is not a CPA but has a CPA on staff to prepare the tax planning and tax preparation. This article in no way constitutes tax planning and should not be considered as such. Advisory Services offered by Wealth Watch Advisor, LLC. All other services offered though Arseneau Advisory Group. Wealth Watch Advisors, LLC and Arseneau Advisory Group are not affiliated.
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F
ORSYTH FOODIE
King of Pops By Abigail Blum
"If you could...and why?" is the always interesting icebreaker question that I asked King of Pops owner, Steven Carse.
His response? Italy! He's never been there and feels like it would be a pleasant place, and also thinks he could learn a thing or two from their Gelaterias! If you’ve ever taken a stroll down the Beltline, attended a music festival in the city, or simply taken a walk on a hot day downtown, you’ve probably seen the rainbow umbrella that represents each popsicle stand. And if you’ve ever tried one (or five) then you know what I mean when I say they’re like no other pop out there! Delicious is an absolute understatement when it comes to this sweet treat. This incredibly creative and innovative company whips up new and exciting flavors yearround, and is always finding ways to support its community while also leaving a small footprint in the world. After talking with Steven and doing a little research of my own, I found that this business’s impact needed to be shared. He kindly agreed to an interview and answered so many of my questions that I am proud to be able to share! Here’s all you need to know about King of Pops and how they’re much more than a simple stand. ‘After reading about your trip to Central America and the inspiration you received from paletas (a Mexican popsicle), I’m curious to know what it was about popsicles that sparked your interest?’ AB:
‘The simplicity. I love how many pop flavors are so simple. It is about quality ingredients.’ SC:
AB: 'What was it like starting your own business? Did you have any specific fears or were you pretty confident in your plan?’
‘I didn’t have expectations. When you don’t have expectations, you are just happy with whatever success comes along. I knew that I didn’t know what I was doing, but I was lucky enough to have the support that if I failed I would be able to land on my feet.’ SC:
‘Did you find your transition from the corporate world to that of small business easy or more challenging?’ AB:
SC: ‘It was easy. Felt more natural than “faking it 'til you make it” in corporate world.’
‘Since becoming an entrepreneur, have you found yourself taking more risks in your everyday life? If so, in what ways?’ AB:
SC:
‘I think about the same.’
‘How would you personally define customer service?’ AB:
SC: ‘Caring about them. Understanding [that] your job is to help make their day better.’
AB:
‘Why the name ‘King of Pops’?’
SC:
‘Just a brainstorm gone right.’
‘How would you consider King of Pops to be a positive food influencer?’ AB:
SC: ‘We are involved in the local food scene, have our own farm, where we grow some of our own ingredients, and also are partners in a large composting operation.’
‘Your appreciation for the environment is apparent in the way you run your business. Has this always been a core value of yours or did it more so begin the deeper you got into the industry?’ AB:
SC: ‘I think it is a must. That guilt you feel when you don’t recycle or use plastic bags should be multiplied exponentially when you operate a business because your impact is larger.’
AB: ‘In what ways does the company support its community?’ SC: ‘We try to be a part of the community by hosting events that people can get out and enjoy – weekly yoga, running club, food truck and artist markets to name a few.’
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AB: ‘In the last week, what has been the most memorable, unexpected moment of happiness that you’ve experienced?’
‘As a customer – this guy named Pierce blew two balloons for my niece and nephew as he was checking us out at the grocery store. As an employee – on our birthday last week we gave out 12,000 pops (thanks to our partner MailChimp) … that was amazing, but personally being able to promote four non-profits and talk about the great things they are doing was very, very special to me.’ SC:
AB: ‘Is ‘Lemon Basil’ still your all-time favorite KoP flavor? If not, what is your favorite King of Pop flavor?’ SC: ‘Banana Puddin’ is my favorite at the moment. Kinda always is changing. Mango Chile Lime we made last week was pretty amazing.’
AB: ‘For those out there struggling with the idea of pursuing a passion or dream, similar to that of your own, what advice or helpful tips would you give them?’ SC: ‘Just start. Don’t wait for it to be perfect, just start. Nothing will ever line up, and if it did you’d realize once you start that you had so many things wrong anyway. That doesn’t mean you have to do anything drastic, but figure out a way to get started.’
You can find King of Pops in most of Georgia, Tenessee, the Carolinas, and Virginia. Locally you can find a Pop Box at Earthfare in The Collections at Forsyth and Avalon! After mentioning his new favorite flavor, Banana Puddin’, I had to hunt a stand down and try one for myself. From the nice banana flavor to the actual vanilla wafers in the pop, I can see why they’re his favorite. I highly recommend! So, keep your eyes peeled for a rainbow umbrella or KoP sign, because when you do, grabbing a pop from this amazing company will absolutely make your day, even down to the inspirational phrase on the stick!
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Forsyth County’s First CID Becomes a Reality The long-awaited South Forsyth Community Improvement District (CID) is now a reality! After securing new local legislation and the few remaining votes needed from commercial property owners, the CID was certified in early June with a Board of Directors elected on June 20th. This is the first CID in Forsyth County and is centered at the interchange of GA400 and McFarland Road (Exit 12). CIDs have emerged as significant centers of influence in the Metro Atlanta region. By utilizing self-imposed tax revenues from commercial businesses within their districts they are dramatically changing their communities in many ways. From bold new infrastructure improvements to traffic mitigation, private security and the transformation of commercial streets into pedestrian friendly corridors to the creation of new parks, trails and greenspace, CIDs are enhancing the urban and suburban landscape. Among other things, CIDs leverage private dollars to create public ventures. They return control to stakeholders, improve the quality of life in their districts and dramatically strengthen their tax base. Major corporations have taken notice of the impact of CIDs and have specifically chosen to locate or expand in areas supported by CIDs. We can expect to see some substantial improvements to the aesthetic appeal at Exit 12 as a result of the new South Forsyth CID.
Business Incubator Opens in Forsyth County Digital Ignition, a co-working launching pad for innovative companies in North Georgia, announced its designation as a blockchain, AI, IoT and business innovation partner of Forward Forsyth at its ribbon-cutting on June 27th. Georgia’s Lt. Governor, Geoff Duncan, along with key members of the technology and business community, were on hand to recognize this outstanding accomplishment at Digital Ignition which is located at 190 Bluegrass Valley Parkway in Alpharetta. Digital Ignition has become home to experienced professionals that are launching innovative companies. In fact, approximately 50 percent 30 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3
of Digital Ignition members are former Fortune 500 executives who are creating new companies with real-world business acumen and key industry connections. “Expanding Digital Ignition’s services to foster this powerful level of entrepreneurship is something our leadership understands,” stated Joanne Sanders, President of EWISE Communications and General Manager of Digital Ignition. “We are committed to building the right partnerships and initiatives to provide best-in-class business growth.” In collaboration with Forward Forsyth, Digital Ignition has increased its occupancy and continues to build a network of innovative businesses. “Today, a large part of success is driven by an organization’s ability to work together and adapt to technological advancements,” stated Scott Evans, Senior Technology Project Manager at the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce. “With its expanded services, Digital Ignition is a tremendous resource for startups and existing companies that are focused on innovation and growth.” Digital Ignition’s business model also aligned with the objectives of other key entities such as the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) at Georgia Tech and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). As a result: • ATDC offers on-site product development and commercialization support to members across a variety of industries. • GDOT enlisted Digital Ignition to spearhead and host their first Smart Vehicle Tech Challenge in the Fall of 2019. This program, the first of its kind, will leverage Digital Ignition’s talent pool to unlock data opportunities that can be incorporated in smart cities and connected vehicles. “The quality of the companies at Digital Ignition is really inspiring,” said Benjamin Andrews, Statewide Program Manager at ATDC. “Creating a strategic partnership made sense the first day we visited,” he added. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) mirrored that thought. “Without a doubt, Digital Ignition’s leadership team understands the power of community collaboration, the details behind technology and data, as well as the importance of purpose-driven innovation,” stated John Hibbard, Operations Division Director at GDOT. “We are excited to be working with them on our first Smart Vehicle Tech Challenge this fall.” To learn more about Digital Ignition and schedule a tour, please visit digitalignition.com.
•
How will you spend most of your time? If not having children at home means less family gatherings around a big dinner table and more hosting small group or poker club members, then maybe you want to redecorate to free up some space and create a drawing room or larger living area. Think closely about the activities you will mostly enjoy now that you’re an empty nester. Maybe one of the kid’s bedrooms can be transposed into a fully equipped exercise room?
•
What will your family’s living needs be moving forward? If the children are moving on to their own home, it’s a good idea to see if they want to take any unwanted furniture or décor items with them to their new space. To save money, furniture can be painted for a fresh new look or sold in a yard sale for extra cash to buy new pieces.
Downsizing for Quality of Life By Lanada Chanel Duncan Downsizing and recreating a peaceful home after the kids are gone comes with its own challenges. It can be difficult to part ways with things that have been with you and your family for a long time, even if there’s no longer a use for them. Holding on to ‘stuff ’ or having too much space to fill with unnecessary things can lead to clutter, which can lead to an unhealthy living environment, depression and stress.
If you downsize with the end result in mind, you can avoid becoming overwhelmed with feelings of anxiety or unhappiness. Ask yourself these three questions. • What quality of life do you want to have when your children move on? Will a smaller home suit you better? Scaling down might save you money, giving you means to travel or to buy that new luxury vehicle you’ve always wanted. Staying in your current home might give you extra space to finally get that home office, man or she-cave. Think about your essentials needed to live a quality, happy life in your home.
To keep a sense of family in your home, it’s best to hang on to some treasures. Use photos, childhood awards, souvenirs, and favorites like blankets and throw pillows to decorate gathering spaces, guest quarters and bathrooms. More than anything, you want your kids to know that although they have left home to start a life on their own, they are gone but never forgotten. And you can live peacefully knowing you don’t really have to say goodbye to them because your home completely meets your needs as a loving parent and empty nester.
Lanada Chanel Duncan, b.e. decors 678.951.9210 info@bedecors.com www.bedecors.com VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3 | MYFORSYTHMAG.COM 31
Blessing or Lesson
Everyone you meet is either a blessing or a lesson. This idea helps us come to terms with the fact that everyone in our lives is there for a reason. Either they are there as a blessing, adding good to our lives, or they are there to teach us a lesson. Every single person that walks into our lives has something to teach us.
By Ava Clavijo
Often it is hard to tell why a “lesson person” is in our lives
Our relationships with “lesson people” are not necessarily good or bad. We sometimes wonder why we are having a certain experience in life and what it has to do with us. We need to reflect on the bigger picture to see the meaning in the relationship. Once we come to realize their purpose, we can understand something new about ourselves. This lesson can bring more meaning to our lives giving us new direction for the future. The phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover” can be related to a “lesson person.” When we judge people we meet, we do not get to know them. What we think we already know blocks us from seeing the truth. We cannot judge the book of someone’s life by the page we were on, and when we realize this, the lesson comes into play. This realization can change our view of people we meet in the future. Once we can meet everyone with an open mind, we can truly learn the lessons or blessings others offer us. until they are no longer in our lives.
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What is truly amazing is when we realize that someone is a blessing in our life. I have had the privilege of realizing that my best friend is a blessing in my life. She improves my mindset and helps me to not stress, which is something I have a problem not doing. She reminds me that everything will work out. Blessings can range in size; they could simply make you smile or change your mindset. Either way they are important, so make sure you let life give you everything it is meant to give you. If we close ourselves off through negativity, we shut out the good and miss the blessings that life is trying to offer. These special people in our lives are the best, whether this person is your spouse, friend, or small group leader. Blessings can come in many different forms and we have to be ready and open to fully receive them. Everyone we meet has something to teach us. They can change your life or your outlook on life. If you do not like how your life looks, change your perspective and be open to what people have to bring you, the good and the bad.
C
OVER STORY
by Julie Brennan
The arrival of Milton Montessori School in Cumming offers an excellent choice, especially for families who are interested in high quality early childhood education and a strong foundation in cognitive, emotional, physical and social development as children begin to interact with the world around them. Some of the famous alumni educated at a Montessori based school include Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com, Sergey Brin & Larry Page, founders of Google.com, Jacqueline Kennedy (former first lady), Prince William and Price Harry. Continued on next page
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C
OVER STORY
Milton Montessori is an award winning Montessori school enrolling infants, toddlers, kindergarten and elementary grades (ages 6 weeks - 12 years). The school was originally established in 2008 in the city of Milton / Alpharetta and grew organically over the past decade, primarily through word of mouth of its high quality childhood education and support from hundreds of loyal parents. Ivy League Montessori School located at Kelly Mill Road is now a part of the Milton Montessori Group and will operate as its second location. The school is led by Ms. Suheir Ibrahim, a Montessori veteran with more than a decade of teaching experience. She is supported by Ms. Leigh Gregory, Director of Education with more than 20 years of Montessori teaching experience and long time resident of Cumming along with Ms. Donna Cochran, a founding team member of Ivy League Montessori for the past 24 years. Most of the staff members from Ivy League Montessori remain part of Milton Montessori at Kelly Mill. By opening a second location, owner Mr. Biju Eappen hopes to take the most successful programs from his first school in Milton and bring it to the community of Cumming.
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Montessori schools are named after Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator who developed a series of educational methods that were designed based on her observations of the way children learn naturally. The first Montessori schools formed in the early 1900s and gradually spread across Europe and the United States. In modern Montessori schools, there is an emphasis on the development of the whole child, including cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development. Teachers use both individual and small group instruction in order to provide personalized instruction to meet each student’s needs. Moreover, classrooms typically have a mix of students of different ages, enabling younger kids to learn by watching older ones and helping older kids gain confidence by teaching those who are younger. Ms. Suheir believes a school is only as good as its community and strives to maintain a close knit relation between parents, teachers and the children. She says “Our vision is to provide an environment where children feel safe to learn, and make mistakes. A place where the emphasis is placed on the whole child, with ample opportunity for academic growth. We strive
to create a community of inclusiveness where every child feels welcomed, accepted and loved. We believe that children learn best when they know they won’t be judged and that they can trust their caregiver; be it a parent, a family friend or a teacher.” “In a Montessori classroom, things often work a little differently than they do in other educational settings”, explained Ms. Leigh who is responsible for developing the school curriculum. “Students are given more freedom, but also more responsibility. Each child is guided through the lessons in a way
passionate.” Leonard stated. “In a Montessori class,” Leonard explained, “the teachers aim to teach to every sense of the child. The goal is to challenge, not frustrate.” “The goal of a Montessori teacher is to act, not just react. Teachers create individualized academic and personal goals for each child, helping them to become self-sufficient and motivated according to what is appropriate for their age,” Ibrahim explained. “We trust the child to do what they are able to do.” Learning in a Montessori classroom is designed to be
that is designed to enhance their desire to learn. Students are encouraged to cooperate with each other, and kids who struggle often receive help from other kids. The goal is to create an educational environment in which children build confidence: My own kids see challenges and they take them on fearlessly”. Ms. Melissa Leonard, the school’s administration coordinator, agrees that a Montessori education has had a positive impact on her own children. “I see the difference the Montessori education has in my own kids. They are eager to learn, helpful and
interactive, with older kids helping younger ones and guided lessons that vary depending on each child’s interests and needs. Children explore and manipulate the provided materials at their own pace, helping them to discover the lesson’s goal in a purposeful way. “We want kids to enjoy learning while being kids – go outside, be active, learn, and enjoy just being a kid,” said Ms. Nora Arrieta, head of school at the Milton location. “Every kid becomes a part of the school – the lessons, the teaching, everything. When a kid says, ‘I did it!’ that’s a gift to us all.” Continued on next page
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FIT IN
STAND OUT
Child is viewed in terms of competence, placing emphasis on homework, grades and learn by memorizing core curriculum.
Child is viewed holistically, placing emphasis on cognitive, emtional, physical and social development and learn by asking questions.
Child is a passive participant. Teacher has a dominant role enforcing discipline and pace of learning.
Child is an active participant and sets the pace of learning. Teacher takes the role of a facilitator and guide.
Errors are viewed as mistakes. Teachers correct them and it usually comes with a penality of grades.
Errors are viewed as part of the learning process and are self-corrected by the child with feedback from materials and teacher thereby building self-esteem.
Curriculum is organized and structured for the child based on federal educational board standards.
Child has opportunity to choose work from interest and ability. Concepts are taught within that context.
Value is placed on completion of assignments and test grades. Time is tightly scheduled.
Value is placed on concentration and depth of experience. There is uninterrupted time for focused work cycles.
No flexibility in grade level. Children will be grouped by age regardless of individual capacity and skill sets.
Mixed Age groups. A younger child looks up to older children, while the older ones take on role of a mentor, thereby building leadership qualities.
Goal is to master curriculum objectives.
Goal is to foster a love for learning.
F O C U S
R E S P E C T
C R E A T I V I T Y
P A S S I O N
W A R M T H
The greatest gift you can give your child is the gift of education. Milton Montessori at Kelly Mill invites you to visit their school and observe how they can guide your child to develop a strong foundation as they begin to understand the world around them. To schedule a tour, please call them at 770-664-2869 (Milton) or 770-781-5586 (Cumming). For a wealth of information about this school and what it can offer to your child, please visit their website at www.themiltonmontessorischool.com MILTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL AT KELLY MILL 770-781-5586 | 1791 Kelly Mill Rd | Cumming, GA 30040
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Is anyone following guidelines… and should they be? By Narendra Singh, MD Every week a new set of guidelines is published in medicine. They are designed to help the clinician and the patient understand what the standard of care is for a given medical condition. They are developed by leading experts around the country, reviewed, rewritten, updated and disseminated at great cost in terms of time, resources and dollars. In spite of these efforts, guidelines are often not being read or followed. Why is this the case? The answer is not a simple one but is worth understanding. In the past, guidelines were generated by individuals who often had significant conflicts of interest that were not disclosed and led to bias. Now all the leading societies that develop guidelines try and minimize the inclusion of authors with significant conflicts and require all authors to disclose potential conflicts. A second concern with guidelines was that the recommendations were based on expert consensus rather than randomized clinical trials. Many of these “expert opinions” were later proven wrong. Now leading societies like the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association label recommendations based on the strength and grade of data. A Class 1 recommendation has the highest strength and is based on findings of multiple well conducted
trials. These are actions that should be done. A Class 2A recommendation are actions where the weight of evidence largely supports the action. A Class 2B recommendation are actions where the weight of evidence is mixed and should be considered with caution. A Class 3 recommendation are actions where the weight of evidence suggests that the action can cause harm and should not be done. Other guideline concerns include delayed incorporation of new data, but the updating process has been improving rapidly in the digital age. Unfortunately, this has also led to multiple societies now writing guidelines on the same topics with sometimes conflicting recommendations. Add to that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) interpretation of data, the insurance plans coverage interpretation, the health care system internal assessment and the ubiquitous public commentary on internet sites, and you have a guideline system in chaos! Both the clinician and patient are overloaded with data. Add to this a “physician fatigue factor” of being overworked, blocked by payors through the use of prior authorization hoops, penalized by health care systems for overspending and reprimanded by patients for prescribing unaffordable drugs… and the net effect is many patients are no longer getting life-saving drugs that have a Class 1 indication.
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As someone who practices in both the Canadian and US healthcare systems, I see much room for improvement. Patients should have affordable access to all drugs and devices that are a Class 1 recommendation. We need to demand that of our insurers and our legislators. However until then, it is equally important that as health care providers we make sure that we keep up with the best guidelines and offer our patients those class 1 recommendations. I have seen many wealthy individuals turn down the best therapies while other individuals with less financial resources willing to pay at all costs for the best treatment. Our role should always be to offer best proven therapy and let the patient decide if they want to proceed. We need to continue to champion for the best interest of our patients in a world of conflicting guidelines and challenging impediments to quality health care delivery.
NARENDRA SINGH, MD, FRCP(C), FACC, FAHA
Clinical Assistant Professor, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Director,Clinical Research-Atlanta Heart Specialists, 1400 Northside Forsyth Drive, Suite 200 Cumming,GA, 30041 678-679-6800 Cell 404-384-7227 www.heartdrsingh.com
Benefits
of Minimally Invasive Surgery By Dr. Natu Mmbaga
Medical advancements in women’s health have provided significant improvements in the management of a myriad of conditions. With minimally invasive procedures readily available, women now have several treatment options for a variety of gynecologic issues, including abnormal bleeding or periods, ovarian cysts, pelvic pain, and uterine fibroids, amongst other conditions. These minimally invasive procedures offer countless benefits over traditional surgery. As a gynecologist, women frequently present to our office complaining of heavy or prolonged periods. In the past, management was limited to birth control pills and IUDs or surgical interventions as drastic as a hysterectomy. Current options are far less risky and allow for very little down time. One such option is an Endometrial ablation, a common procedure utilized to decrease the volume and length of a woman’s menses. Performed in our state-of-theart office with no incisions, a woman can drastically improve the quality of her life with minimal risks via ablation. All of which is done in approximately
five minutes with minimal pain and downtime. With its utilization, women can avoid the sometimes undesired prolonged hormone exposure of birth control pills and the surgical risks involved with a hysterectomy. In the event findings or symptoms require something more significant be done, robotic surgery has revolutionized gynecologic surgery. With a decreased risk of bleeding, infection, hospital stay, and post-operative pain, robotic surgery can be utilized to complete a hysterectomy, ovarian cyst removal, treatment of endometriosis and removal of uterine fibroids. Patients are ambulating and resuming normal activities soon after procedures that would have otherwise required extensive recovery. At Modern OB/GYN of North Atlanta, our physicians are advanced robotic surgeons capable of treating complex gynecologic conditions with skill and compassion. These minimally invasive techniques enable us to take excellent care of our patients with the most current technologies in the safest way possible.
Modern OBGYN has three convenient office locations. Visit our newest office at Avalon in Alpharetta located at 2710 Old Milton Parkway Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30009. For more information on our practice and providers, visit www.reyesobgyn.com. Dr. Natu Mmbaga is dedicated to women’s care and is excited to build relationships with patients to help guide them to their best health throughout their lives. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Natu Mmbaga at Modern Obstetrics & Gynecology of North Atlanta, PC call 404.446.2496 or visit www.reyesobgyn.com. 40 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3
Does Your Child Have Food Sensitivities? By Deanna Hoke, Nutrition Health Coach
When I started having kids, I envisioned a life full of morning snuggles, play dates, trips to the park or the zoo, birthday parties with pastel colors and balloons…. Those wonderful days came, and they happened often! I loved being a mom and was thrilled to be blessed enough to stay home with them when they were little. What I didn’t see coming was the seemingly endless sleepless nights (although I did hear something about those), the projectile vomiting infant, the toddler with chronic eczema, the elementary school and middle school age child with chronic stomach aches all the way through to the college student who was vomiting daily and lost 25lbs her freshman year. they can have added sugar and a whole slew of other additives. Make sure you read every label – verifying that the items you are trying to stay away from are not listed. THE ELIMINATION DIET Things to avoid include milk/diary/ eggs, wheat/gluten, corn, soy, citrus, peanuts, hydrogenated oils, caffeine, fish/shellfish, added/refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, packaged/ processed/fast foods.
The culprit? Food! Both of my children have
severe food sensitivities. Both have to avoid gluten, dairy, added sugar, bananas, artificial colors as well as some other items.
Things I have learned raising two children with severe food sensitivities.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Some ingredients in food can go by several different names (just to keep you guessing) How to read ingredient labels (I am a self-proclaimed expert!) How to do an elimination diet and what you CAN eat Food sensitivities can show up in a multitude of symptoms Different people may present with different symptoms New food sensitivities can appear in adults
If you think you or your child may have a food sensitivity or allergy, an elimination diet may help in determining what foods to steer clear from. In
an elimination diet, you exclude the common triggers for a short time, then reintroduce each food one at a time to determine which ones are or are not well-tolerated. A sensitivity can start a reaction such as a rash, swelling, trouble breathing or digestive issues. If left unaddressed, the sensitivities can progress to: constipation/diarrhea, concentration issues/inability to focus, seasonal allergies, asthma, mood swings/disorders (depression and anxiety), skin issues (eczema, hives, acne), learning disabilities (ADHD), unexplained weight gain/loss, headaches/migraines, canker sores, chronic colds or ear infections, etc. The point is that there are so many issues that can be traced back to food sensitivities that I believe that everyone should do an elimination diet at least once. An elimination diet isn’t as complicated as it sounds. You just may need to get a little creative with food. Stick with unprocessed home cooked meals. Stay away from pre-packaged foods as
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Maintain the elimination diet for 1 month. After 1 month, reintroduce one food. Watch for a reaction over the next 24-48 hours. No reaction? Serve it a second time and wait again for 48 hours. Continue this for 1 week. If there is still no reaction, feel free to reintroduce that to your child’s regular diet. Reintroduce the next item and follow the same steps. If the symptoms return, eliminate that food again. If after eliminating the second time and the symptoms clear up once again, you should mark that food as a trigger.
This is a lesson in trial and error and most of all patience. In the end, however, you should have a clear picture of what foods you or your child should avoid.
Deanna Hoke 770.880.0181 deanna@inspiredtobewell.com
inspiredtobewell.com
VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3 | MYFORSYTHMAG.COM 43
B
ook Review
“
Southern offers ideas, some free or nearly so, some that cost a few bucks, some out of the house, some in, to get the two of you up off the couch and away from your TV. You can date your mate. (That’s better than dating someone else’s mate.) And it doesn’t always have to be the guy who plans the date. Take turns. Put it on the schedule. “Every other week I plan something and every other week is your turn.” “But, Jacqueline, we will quickly run out of ideas,” you say. Not a problem. Randy Southern wrote a book just for you: 52 Uncommon Dates, A Couple’s Adventures Guide For Praying, Playing and Staying Together.
52 Uncommon Dates By Randy Southern
Review by Jacqueline Thompson Graves
How long have you been married? A couple of years? A couple of decades? A couple of centuries? Without dates in marriage, a couple of years soon starts to feel like a couple of centuries. Day in and day out, just the same old, same old: laundry, house cleaning, off to work, making dinner, doing dishes, mowing the lawn, dealing with the kiddos, paying bills. Your life starts to feel like a safari. You can handle the lions, the tigers and the bears, but the gnats are killing you! Remember dating, before you married? Think hard. It was fun! You dressed up (or down). You went places and did stuff. Sometimes you spent money. Often you did cheap things or even free things. But you and your lover were together, laughing, sharing, cracking stupid jokes no one else understood, stealing kisses at odd moments. 44 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3
Southern offers ideas, some free or nearly so, some that cost a few bucks, some out of the house, some in, to get the two of you up off the couch and away from your TV. How about the Skyscraper Date or the Second First Date or the Get Lost Date? Each idea includes a plan, some thoughts for discussion if the two of you desire to turn the date into a deeper experience, even Bible verses if you want to get on a spiritual level together. Put your date night on the family calendar. In ink. Got kids? Got no sitter? Call another couple and suggest you alternate weeks, keeping each other’s kids so you can both spend your dating budget on the date, not the sitter. Make a list of possible dates and get started. The house and the yard can wait another day. You married an awesome person. Date your mate! Would you like a chance to win 52 Uncommon Dates? Send an email with the subject line “52 Dates” to JacquelineinAtlanta@gmail.com. All you need to put in the email is your name. Winner will be selected by September 30th and the book sent by US media mail. I invite you to email me to discuss books, coffee, chocolate or especially, Jesus, at JacquelineinAtlanta@gmail.com. You can read my book blog at www.thebookbuffet.wordpress.com
VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3 | MYFORSYTHMAG.COM 45
The Great Outdoors By Jenessa Sabella
We all instinctively know that time outdoors is good for our health and happiness. If you are an avid walker, biker or runner, you know that you feel better when you get outside. Are you a beach person, a mountain person, or a bit of both? Either way, you can feel a sense of release and peace that comes from spending time in your happy place. Connecting with nature has been shown to improve health, mood and overall vitality. There is a growing body of research that is showing scientific proof that time in nature reduces symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, depression, hypertension and a large variety of stress related conditions. Research also points out that time in nature helps us feel connected to others and to the world around us. Our technologically-based social behaviors can leave us feeling disconnected and isolated. Getting outside and setting electronic devices down for just 30 minutes a day can significantly improve happiness and feelings of belonging.
Getting out into nature is easy here in Forsyth County. Here are a few places to explore.
Sawnee Mountain Preserve. With 11 miles of hiking trails and stunning views, this is a true gem of outdoor adventure close to home. 2 Access points: 4075 Spot Road • 2500 Bettis-Tribble Gap Road
Big Creek Greenway. Skip the boring walk around the neighborhood and venture down a beautiful trail along well- maintained boardwalks with large sections covered in a lush tree canopy. 4 Access Points: 5120 Bethelview Road • 4110 Carolene Way • 1622 McFarland Parkway • 5259 Union Hill Road
From gorgeous lake views to inspiring walking trails, there are lots of lesser known parks to discover. Visit Parks.Forsythco.com to see all of the wonderful parks in our county. Atlantatrails.com offers places in and around the greater metro area to get out for a hike. ExploreGeorgia.org will guide you to a huge variety of journeys and places to explore right here in our home state.
Planned adventures create new outdoor routines and awaken your senses to the relaxing benefits of nature. Jennessa Sabella, Outdoor adventurer Owner of Bliss Mama Wellness
www.BlissMamaWellness.com (770) 722-2711 46 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3
What is an Essential Oil and Why Do YOU Need Them in Your Life? By Marylou Harris
Essential oils may seem like the latest “trend” or a current “fad,” but nothing could be farther from the truth. Essential oils have been around for thousands of years, in fact, they were our first form of medicine. Essential oils and their chemical compounds are the basis for most modern-day medications. For example, wintergreen oil’s naturally occurring chemical compound is where the formula for aspirin originated, and wintergreen essential oil is a topical pain reliever. How cool is that? Because these chemical compounds occur in an organic plant, they tend to be accepted by the human body better than a synthetic medication. Anytime you can inspire your body to do its job better, you will see a better result than if you simply take a short cut and ask a pill to do that function for you. Q: Are all essential oils basically the same? A: Absolutely not! Because of the recent popularity of this natural remedy, we are seeing all kinds of companies jump on the “me too” bandwagon… but all essential oils are not created equal. A recent study from the independent testing lab, APRC, found that 95% of essential oils companies in existence sell adulterated oils. This means they are not pure essential oils by any stretch and could actually do harm to you, your family and your pets. Q: How do I know how to use them? A: Lots of people tell me they are interested in learning about essential oils, but simply don’t have
the time. I get it… that was me! Bringing essential oils into your home as a healthy swap for many things can come with a high learning curve, which is why I recommend buying your oils from someone who is willing to work with you and answer all the questions you have. This is generally someone who does this full-time and has the education to guide you accurately and patiently until you are an expert in your home. I pride myself on offering a concierge level of service to my clients. There are great reference books and even apps you can have on hand but get recommendations on the best ones from someone who really knows. It helps to have someone who knows the ropes and has found the reliable resources. Q: What are some of the basics on using an essential oil?
A: There are three ways to use essential oils; aromatically, topically and internally. Aromatically is why we know the word
“aromatherapy.” The volatile compounds in the essential oil travel quickly into the brain through the nose and support you emotionally. Essential oils can calm you, improve your mood and help you manage your stress within seconds! Topically, an essential oil can be applied to the body (with a carrier oil or alone, depending upon the specific oil) so the tiny molecules penetrate the skin and get into the blood stream quickly and easily. Pain and inflammation can be addressed, and your hard-working organs can be supported with topical application. Internal use really should only be considered with the help of your essential oils coach and your health practitioner to be sure that there aren’t any existing health conditions or current medications that may make that use a bit riskier. Q: Is this an expensive lifestyle change? A: No. In fact, most people find they are spending less money on expensive home fragrance items, cleaning supplies, OTC meds, doctor visit copays and even prescription medications. Essential oils are all about supporting the body so it stays healthy and you only use a drop or two at time. Additionally, essential oils are the ONLY way to fragrance your home (and your body) in a non-toxic way and their powerful cleaning uses are endless! Most dōTERRA oils cost $20 or less for approximately 250 drops so you are literally looking at pennies per drop at times. You can start off as slow or as comprehensively as you like! I would be happy to make some recommendations for “must-haves” since the key to using oils is using them preventatively or at first symptom.
MARYLOU HARRIS is a certified essential oils coach. Text or call her at 404-328-6435, email her at awesomenaturalhealing.com or schedule a FREE 30-minute phone consultation at her scheduling link: https://calendly.com/awesomenaturalhealing/ initial-30min-phoneconsultation
VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3 | MYFORSYTHMAG.COM 47
What’s your Risk Appetite? By Ender Greer, Director of Professional Services at Critical Path Security
Businesses have a lot going on. There are budgets to plan and balance, operations to maintain, customers to satisfy, and employees to take care of just to name a few things that keep us busy day in and day out. That leaves very little time and energy for current process analysis and improvement. This unfortunately means many organizations find themselves caught off guard and underprepared when the unexpected happens and disaster strikes. As security and IT professionals we understand the challenges organizations of all sizes face when it comes to protecting your most valuable assets: your people, your processes, and your data.
We have the tools and knowledge to rapidly provide you insight into your environment and the current risk profile of your organization’s technological backbone that your business relies on in order to operate. To that end, Critical Path Security is excited to announce our FREE Risk Assessments performed in conjunction with Milner Technology Services. OUR RISK ASSESSMENT INCLUDES: • Asset Discovery: The most important thing to maintaining great security is to have strong management support. The second most important thing is knowing what you need to protect. Our Asset Discovery scan
will identify all devices, accounts, installed software, and more to highlight critical areas where you can focus defensive efforts to get the most value when implementing security policies, procedures, or technology. • Policy Preparedness review: Security is often treated as an operational level concern strictly falling under the IT department’s duties. That is wrong. Security is a strategic effort that must be driven and controlled from management. • Dark Web scan: Attackers have their own communication channels. We track over 800 and are adding new ones as they change their tactics and watering holes. We will search through all of them for any mention of your domain name and then pull all associated data with the page. • Leaked Credential discovery: With the millions upon millions of records
breached in the last 5 years (Target, LinkedIn, Equifax, Exactis, Yahoo, and many more) chances are several of your business’ credentials are posted to the public internet for all to see. We will provide you a complete list of accounts associated with your business have been stolen and exposed. • Security Posture Analysis: The internet is a wonderful tool that has changed the way the world operates. It was also designed with trust in mind, and unfortunately you cannot trust everyone else connected to the internet. We will scan your internet facing assets from the public internet and provide a report of the vulnerabilities that exist. • Results Review: A 1-hour review of the results of your assessment with a security specialist from Critical Path Security and an IT management specialist from Milner Technology.
Call or e-mail us today to get your Risk Assessment scheduled as soon as possible. We are ready and willing to assist you in managing the risk to your business.
Critical Path Security | Tel: 770-224-6482 | Email: contact@criticalpathsecurity.com 48 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3
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MY FORSYTH | SCHOOL DIRECTORY
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Big Creek Elementary 1994 Peachtree Parkway 770.887.4584 Principal: Laura Webb lwebb@forsyth.k12.ga.us Brandywine Elementary 15 Martin Dr. Alpharetta Principal: Todd Smith tsmith@forsyth.k12.ga.us Brookwood Elementary 2980 Vaughan Drive 678.965.5060 Principal: Tracey Smith tsmith@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Midway Elementary 4805 Atlanta Highway 770.475.6670 Principal: Jan Munroe jmunroe@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Little Mill Middle 6800 Little Mill Road 678.965.5000 Principal: Connie McCrary cmccrary@forsyth.k12.ga.us
South Forsyth High 585 Peachtree Parkway 770.781.2264 Principal: Laura Wilson lwilson@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Poole’s Mill Elementary (Opening 2020-2021) Principal: Paige Andrews pandews@forsyth.k12.ga.us
North Forsyth Middle 3645 Coal Mountain Drive 770.889.0743 Principal: Todd McClelland tmcclelland@forsyth.k12.ga.us
West Forsyth High 4155 Drew Road 770.888.3470 Principal: Karl Mercer kmercer@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Sawnee Elementary 1616 Canton Highway 770.887.6161 Principal: Derrick Hershey dhershey@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Otwell Middle 605 Tribble Gap Road 770.887.5248 Principal: Steve Miller stmiller@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Settles Bridge Elementary 600 James Burgess Road 770.887.1883 Principal: Saran VonEsh svonesh@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Piney Grove Middle 8135 Majors Road 678.965.5010 Principal: Pamela Pajerski ppajerski@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Chestatee Elementary 6945 Keith Bridge Road 770.887.2341 Principal: Polly Tennies ptennies@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Sharon Elementary 3595 Old Atlanta Road 770.888.7511 Principal: Amy Bartlett abartlett@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Riverwatch Middle 610 James Burgess Road 678.455.7311 Principal: Pam Bibik pbibik@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Coal Mountain Elementary 3455 Coal Mountain Drive 770.887.7705 Principal: Kimberly Davis kdavis@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Shiloh Point Elementary 8145 Majors Road 678.341.6481 Principal: Ben Jones Bjones@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Cumming Elementary 540 Dahlonega Street 770.887.7749 Principal: Jordan Livermore jlivermore@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Sliver City Elementary 6200 Dahlonega Highway 678.965.5020 Principal: Mike Sloop msloop@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Chattahoochee Elementary 2800 Holtzclaw Road 770.781.2240 Principal: Barbara Vella bvella@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Daves Creek Elementary 3740 Melody Mizer Lane 770.888.1223 Principal: Eric Ashton eashton@forsyth.k12.ga.us Haw Creek Elementary 2555 Echols Road 678.965.5070 Principal: June Tribble jtribble@forsyth.k12.ga.us Johns Creek Elementary 6205 Old Atlanta Road 678.965.5041 Principal: Alyssa Degliumberto adegliumberto@forsyth.k12.ga.us Kelly Mill Elementary 1180 Chamblee Gap Road 678.965.4953 Principal: Ron McAlliste rmcallister@forsyth.k12.ga.us Mashburn Elementary 3777 Samples Road 770.889.1630 Principal: Carla Gravitt cgravitt@forsyth.k12.ga.us Matt Elementary 7455 Wallace Tatum Road 678.455.4500 Principal: Charlley Stalder cstalder@forsyth.k12.ga.us
South Forsyth Middle 4670 Windermere Parkway Cumming, GA 30041 Principal: Sandy Tinsley stinsley@forsyth.k12.ga.us Vickery Creek Middle 6240 Post Road 770.667.2580 Principal: Scott Feldcamp sfeldcamp@forsyth.k12.ga.us
HIGH SCHOOLS
Vickery Creek Elementary 6280 Post Road 770.346.0040 Principal: Kristan Riedinger kriedinger@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Alliance Academy for Innovations 1100 Lanier 400 Parkway 470-695-7823 Principal: Brandi Cannizzaro bcannizzro@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Whitlow Elementary 3655 Castleberry Road 678.965.5090 Principal: Dr. Lynne Castleberry lcastleberry@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Denmark High 645 Mullinax Road, Alpharetta 470-533-2521 Principal: Heather Gordy hgordy@forsyth.k12.ga.us
MIDDLE SCHOOLS DeSana Middle School 625 James Road, Alpharetta Principal: Terri North tnorth@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Forsyth Central High 520 Tribble Gap Road 770.887.8151 Principal: Mitch Young myoung@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Lakeside Middle 2565 Echols Road 678.965.5080 Principal: Kim Head khead@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Lambert High School 805 Nichols Road 678.965.5050 Principal: Dr. Gary Davison gdavison@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Liberty Middle 7465 Wallace Tatum Road 770.781.4889 Principal: Cheryl Riddle criddlel@forsyth.k12.ga.us
North Forsyth High 3635 Coal Mountain Drive 770.781.6637
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jcheney@forsyth.k12.ga.us
PRIVATE SCHOOLS Cornerstone Schools 4888 Browns Bridge Road 770.205.8202 Head of School: Angela Martin www.cornerstonesch.com Covenant Christian Academy 6905 Post Road 770.674.2990 Headmaster: Jonathan Arnold www.covenantrams.com Fideles Christian School 1390 Weber Industrial Drive 770.888.6705 Director: Carla Rutherford www.fideleschristianschool.com Ivy League Montessori School 1791 Kelly Mill Road 770.781.5586 School Director: Becky Carty www.ilmsnet.com Montessori at Vickery 6285 Post Road 770.777.9131 www.montessorivickery.com Montessori Kids Academy 3034 Old Atlanta Road 678.208.0774 School Admin., Maureen Danbury www.montessoricumming.com Pinecrest Academy 955 Peachtree Parkway 770.888.4477 Headmaster: Dr. Edward J. Lindekugel www. pinecrestacademy.com
SCHOOL INFORMATION
www.forsyth.K12.GA.US
Get to Know Pinecrest Academy After working as a school leader in Fulton County, Forsyth County, and Gwinnett County, I have had an amazing experience in my first year at Head of School at Pinecrest. At Pinecrest, I was able to successfully bring my knowledge and skills in the areas of teaching and learning and apply them to our Christ-centered learning environment at Pinecrest. I have truly thrived in serving the teachers, students, and families at Pinecrest by educating the “whole” child. I wanted to share some of the highlights we have achieved over the past year and share my reflection how our success has positively impacted Forsyth County. Our mission is to form Christian leaders who will transform society. Semper Altius (“always higher”) is our motto, something we take very seriously. By Dr. Edward J. Spurka, Head of School
Pinecrest Named Best Private School Pinecrest Academy was named the Best Private School in Forsyth County for the fifth consecutive year. More than 41,000 people participated in the “Best of ” contest, casting 378,833 total votes in a number of categories. Class of 2019 Sets Scholarship Record All 72 members of the Class of 2019 graduated from Pinecrest on May 18. Every member of the class was accepted to a college or university, and collectively was awarded $7.7 million in scholarships, a school record. The graduation rate for our senior class was 100%. Celebration of Founders, 25th Year, Ground Blessing/Breaking of Lower School Building In September, the entire community gathered for an All School Mass to recognize our beloved founders and recall our 25 years. This celebration was followed by a Ground Blessing
and Groundbreaking of the new Lower School building. The celebration continued the following week with a Consecration of Pinecrest to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, providing a fitting finale to our 25 years as a Catholic school. These important events allowed us to honor our founding families, our history, and our future. Turf Athletic Field Becomes a Reality Thanks to the Pinecrest Athletic Club (PAC), many of our parents, and those who so generously contributed to “Fund the Cause” at the Gala, we will unveil a new turf athletic field this fall, in time for our first home football game. This new field will be a game changer for our athletics program. Work is currently underway! Athletics Teams Set Records and Win Championships Several Varsity sports programs competed in state competition (Boys’ Cross Country, Swimming, Boys’ Basketball, Boys’ and Girls’
Fencing and Track) with our Girls’ Soccer program finishing State Runner-up and having one state champion in Wrestling, Mark Metz. Many of our middle school sports were champions in Boys’ Tennis, Boys’ Swimming, Girls’ Soccer. As you can see, we had a year filled with celebrations of many kinds, all pointing back to the importance of an education that focuses on Integral Formation and always keeps our mission in mind. We are blessed by what we were able to accomplish and look forward to many celebrations to come in the 2019-2020 school year. We would welcome the opportunity to introduce ourselves to you and your family. For more information, feel free to visit our website at www.Pinecrestacademy.org. God bless you.
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B URGESS BLOG
The Benefits of Using Original Equipment Quality Parts By Tom Burgess, Owner, Christian Brothers Automotive, Cumming GA
All aftermarket auto parts are not created equal. With the costs of new vehicles continuing to rise, folks are preferring to keep their cars and trucks longer. The good news is that the quality of all vehicles has continued to improve over the years as manufacturing techniques and materials have improved, so well-maintained vehicles routinely last much longer than those manufactured 20 or 30 years ago. However, parts do wear out over time, and it’s important to select quality aftermarket parts when making repairs or performing preventative maintenance. Replacement parts need to be engineered and manufactured to the highest standards to perform as the vehicle manufacturer intended. But what you may not know is that there are companies producing economy parts that look exactly like the original equipment (OE) parts at much lower prices, and lower quality. The old adage ‘you get what you pay for’ certainly applies here. So how do you know if a part is a quality piece at a bargain price, or a liability? One way is to look at the warrantee provided, ensure it covers parts and labor if it fails, another is to talk to an experienced auto technician or counterperson as they know which brands to steer clear of. But let’s go back and look at the factors that can contribute to differences in the quality and reliability of a premium, OE-quality part when compared to an economy part. One factor often not considered is the quality of the raw materials used in manufacturing as it can vary greatly. Let’s focus on the materials used to manufacture what seems to be a simple part – an automotive bearing, and why only OE-quality units should be considered. First and foremost, the quality and cleanliness of the steel used has a substantial impact on the reliability of the end product. In the case of a wheel hub assembly, this also includes the strength of the wheel studs. Bearings manufactured with lower-quality steel will not stand up to the same amount of use and abuse as bearings made with high-quality, clean steel. Economy bearing manufacturers also may opt to cut corners on the seal material, using lower quality rubber instead of nitrile, to lower costs. Lower quality seal materials can lead to failure of the seal, contaminating the bearing and leading to premature failure. The use of lower quality materials also extends
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to lubrication. Economy bearings often use a lower-grade of lubrication. This leads to increased operating temperatures, which reduces the longevity of other bearing components, impacting the reliability of the bearing. With many modern bearings being permanently sealed and non-serviceable, you want to ensure the lubrication is going to last the life of the bearing. In addition to the components mentioned above, many new wheel hub assemblies include wheel speed sensors. Wheel speed sensors are critical components for braking, traction and stability control systems, and are increasingly used for advanced driver-assistance systems. Economy wheel hub assemblies often use lower quality sensors and cable materials and connectors. Low-grade connectors can allow water and debris to enter the connector housing, and the connector ends are not always soldered, instead relying solely on less reliable, crimped connectors. So clearly, bargain bearings and other low-cost parts may not be such a deal in the long term if they fail and require replacement outside of their warrantee. Does this mean that all aftermarket parts that are not purchased from the dealer are poor quality? Not at all! Many companies produce parts that exceed OE specifications and cost less, and often weaknesses have been reverse engineered out of the component. Other OEM factories produce parts that are put in boxes destined for the dealership and in other boxes for aftermarket sales – the same parts, but one has a cheaper price. The secret is knowing which parts will last, and which are knock-offs designed to sell on price alone. When having a repair performed, don’t be afraid to ask your shop if they are using premium, OE-quality parts and find out what the warrantee is on those parts. If you plan to keep your vehicle for some time, and if that part has a 12-months or 12 thousand miles (whichever comes first) warrantee, you may want to see if a better part with a better warrantee is available. All of our repairs come with a 2-year, 24 thousand-mile (whichever comes last) warrantee, so we will only use the highest quality parts – but if we can save you money by using a quality aftermarket part we certainly will!
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MY FORSYTH | HOUSES OF WORSHIP
NON-DENOMINATIONAL Eastgate Church 2820 Brookwood Road O: 770.888.8852 Sunday Morning Worship Times: 9:15 & 11:15am Pastors: Ron & Charla Nelson http://eastgatechurch.org Browns Bridge Church 3860 Browns Bridge Road 678.965.8000 Pastor - Andy Stanley Services- 9am, 11am, 4:30pm http://brownsbridge.org/
BAPTIST Antioch Baptist Church 2465 Antioch Road O: 770.887.6900 Sunday School: 10am Sunday Service: 11am and 6pm AWANA: Sunday at 6pm Wednesday Bible Study: 7pm Pastor: Travis Bridgeman www.welcometoantioch.org Berean Baptist Church 7110 Majors Road | 770-889-1302 Sunday Worship Service: 11:00am Classes for all ages: 10:00am Evening Service: 6:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00pm Children’s Clubs: 7:00pm Bob Baines, Pastor www.bbc-cares.org Cumming Baptist Church 115 Church Street | 770.205.6699 Worship times: Sunday School - 9:30am Meet & Greet: 10:45am Worship Service: 11:00 am Sr. Pastor - Jamie Archer www.cummingbaptist.net First Baptist Cumming 1597 Sawnee Drive | 770.887.2428 Sunday Services: 9:30am Contemporary Worship Service & Bible Fellowship Groups 11am Traditional Worship Service & Bible Fellowship Groups Wednesday: 6:15pm AWANA Pastor: Dr. Bob Jolly www.firstbaptistcumming.org First Redeemer Church 2100 Peachtree Pkwy. | 678.513.9400 Sunday Services: 9:15am – Contemporary Service (Auditorium) 10:45am – Blended Service (Auditorium) 9:00am & 10:45am; 6:30pm Bible Fellowship
Greater Heights Baptist Church 3790 Post Road | 770.887.4802 Sunday School: 10am Sunday Worship: 11am Sunday Evening: 5pm Wednesday Evening & AWANA: 7pm Pastor: Chris Grinstea www.ghbcc.org Longstreet Baptist Church 6868 Campground Road 770.889.1959 Sunday School: 10am Worship Service: 11am Wednesday night adult and youth activities www.longstreetchurch.com North Lanier Baptist Church 829 Atlanta Highway | 770.781.5433 Bible Studies: 9:00am and 10:30am Celebration Worship Service: 11am (main auditorium) Hispanic Service: 10:30am Activities Center Refuge Baptist Church 3525 Pilgrim Mill Road 678.807.7746 Sunday Bible Study: 9:30 a.m. Sunday Services: 10:45 a.m., 6 p.m. Wednesday Prayer Service: 7 p.m. www.refugebaptistchurch.org
EPISCOPAL St. Columba’s Church 939 James Burgess Road 770.888.4464 Wednesday Services: 6:30 pm Saturday Service 5:30 pm Sunday Service: 7:45, 9 & 11:15am Rector: Father Tripp Norris Curate: Father Daron Vroon www.saintcolumba.net The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit
724 Pilgrim Mill Road | 770.887.8190 Services: Thursday 12 noon Sunday: 8:30 and 10:45 am Rector: Keith Oglesby www.ecohs.net
GREEK ORTHODOX Saint Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene Greek Orthodox Church 3074 Bethelview Rd., 770.781.5250 Divine Liturgy every Sunday at 10 AM Pastor: Fr. Barnabas Powell www.stsrni.org
JEWISH The Chabad of Forsyth 795 Brannon Rd Cumming Ga 30041 404-594-2092 Rabbi Levi Mentz www.jewishforsyth.com
www.firstredeemer.org
LUTHERAN
NewSong Community Church 433 Canton Road, Suite 306 770.888.5212 (Located across from Ingles, behind Sun. Worship: 10:15am, 12:30pm (Korean) the National Guard in Building 300) Sunday Worship Service: 10:30am Wednesday Evening Fellowship Meal: 6:00pm | Bible Study: 7:00pm (all ages) Pastor Case Koolhaas www.newsongweb.org Bible Study: 7:00pm (all ages) Pastor Tim Droegemueller Rameshori Buddhist Center 130 Allen Road, Unit B www.livingfaithlutheran.com 404.255.1585 facebook/livingfaithlutheranchurch Living Faith Lutheran Church, LCMS 1171 Atlanta Highway | 770.887.0184 Sunday School: 9:00am (all ages)
Christ The King Lutheran Church (Evangelical Lutheran Church In America) 1125 Bettis-Tribble Gap Road O: 770.889.5328 | www.ctklutheran.com Sunday Worship Services: 8:30 am (Blended) 11:00 am (Traditional) Discipleship Hour: 9:45 am (Sunday School)
OTHER Baha’is of Forsyth County 1-800-22-UNITE www.forsythbahais.org www.ghbcc.org Canvas Christian Church 3560 Browns Bridge Road 770-887-5542 Pastor Stan Percival www.canvaschristian.org Crossroads Church of the Nazarene 6160 Southard Trace | 678.807.9392 Sunday School: 10am Worship Service: 11am www.mycrossroadschurch.net Castle Christian Church 3149 Old Atlanta Rd. | 678.648.5248 Sunday Worship: 10am Wednesday Bible Study: 7pm Senior Minister: Jason Rodenbeck jason@castlechristian.com www.castlechristianchurch.com Family By Faith Worship Center 4805 Atlanta Highway 678.230.4800 Midway Elementary School, Nursery available) Small Groups: 9:30am | Worship: 10:30am Pastor: Randy Grimes www.familybyfaith.com The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 510 Brannon Road | 678.455.5290 (Hall Phone) Worship Service: 9am, 11:30am & 2pm LifePoint Christian Church 3140 Old Atlanta Road Sunday Small Groups: 9:00am Sunday Service: 10:30am Childcare available Pastor: Chris Stovall www.lifepoint.org
PRESBYTERIAN
Deer Creek Shores Presbyterian Church 7620 Lanier Drive | 770.887.6801 Sunday School: 9:45am (all ages) Sunday Worship Service: 11am (Traditional) Childcare available Pastor: John S. Martin www.deercreekshores.org email: dcspres@comcast.net Chalcedon Presbyterian Church 302 Pilgrim Mill Road 770.205.9390 www.chalcedon.org | www.rpcus.com Sunday Worship: 11:00am Pastor Tim Price Parkway Presbyterian Church 5830 Bethelview Road 678.889.8694 Sunday: 8:45 am Traditional Worship 11:00 am Contemporary Worship Pastor Mike Austin www.parkwaychurch.org The Vine Community Church 4655 Bethelview Road 678.990.9395 Sunday Services: 9 & 10:45am Wednesday: Middle and High School youth meet at 7:15 – 8:30pm Jon Adams, Pastor www.thevinecommunitychurch.com
ROMAN CATHOLIC Church of Good Shepherd 3740 Holtzclaw Road | 770.887.9861 Mass: Saturday Vigil: 5pm, Sundays:,7:30, 9 & 10:30am & 12 noon; 5:30pm, Spanish Mass: 1:30pm, Weekdays: 9am Father Frank, Pastor www.goodshepherdcumming.com St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church 4633 Shiloh Road | 770.205.7969 Daily Mass: Mon. – Sat.: 8:30 am Tuesday, Thurs. & Fri.: 6:00 pm Wednesday: 7:00 pm (en Español) Saturday Vigil Masses: 5:00 pm & 7:00 pm (en Español)
Sunday Masses: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 10:40 am, 12:20 pm, 2:00 pm (en Español), 5:00 pm Fr. Matthew VanSmoorenburg, L.C., Pastor
Parochial Vicars: Fr. Patrick Langan, L.C.,
Fr. Paul Alger, L.C., and Fr. Nikola Derpich, L.C.
www.StBrendansATL.com
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The Ultimate Encourager By Maria I. Morgan
Have you ever been discouraged? I have. To be honest, I haven't felt like writing much the last 7 months. Is it burnout? Laziness? Or a combination of the two? I'm not sure. The question that keeps winding its way through my thoughts - "Is my writing really making a difference?" Discouragement can color everything around you. Put you on a path you're not meant to travel. Cause you to compare yourself to others. And just downright mess with you. But God... Don't you love those two words? God delights in turning things around. He can rearrange things so masterfully that discouragement is overthrown by encouragement. Pause for just a minute. Did you notice the root word in both 'discourage' and 'encourage' is the same? Courage. Courage is defined as "bravery; intrepidity; that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor;
boldness; resolution" (KJV Dictionary). It appears 20 times in the King James Bible. Here are a few of the verses: Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6; KJV Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Joshua 1:6; KJV Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24; KJV
Beautiful. Verses full of encouragement. They motivate and spur us on to trust in and have faith in God. On the other hand, discouragement deprives us of confidence and extinguishes our courage. We give in to doubt and fear. In the middle of my uncertainty, I experienced God's profound grace as He sent encouragement through His people. Someone complimented my writing and asked to receive my newsletter. A group of ladies that went through my Bible study wrote notes of encouragement about how the Lord had used the study in each of their lives. I was overwhelmed. The Savior made it clear - keep writing and make much of Him. He will take care of the rest. He is an encourager like no other. Let Him encourage you today!
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MY FORSYTH | HOUSES OF WORSHIP // CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
Forsyth Network for Business UNITED METHODIST Professionals Bethelview United Methodist Meeting: Thur: 11:30am – 12:30pm Church Location: 4525 Bethelview Rd. | 770.887.4888 Jim’N Nick’s at The Collection Sunday School: 9:15am 3180 Ronald Reagan Blvd Sunday Worship Service: 10:30am Contact: David Fountain (child care available) 770-627-2121 Check website for Bible study classes www.fn4bp.org Pastor: Rev. Mark LaRocca-Pitts www.bethelview.net The Inspiration Network of Creekside United Methodist Church Cumming Meeting: 3rd Wed: 7 – 8:30pm 673 Peachtree Parkway Location: The Nurturing Nook, 770.888.8449 205 Pilgrim Mill Road Sunday Worship: Contact: Leanne Temple 8:30am (Traditions-in Chapel) 678.965.5969 9:30 & 11am (Contemporary in Worship Center) Kiwanis Club of Cumming Kidz Church: 9:30 & 11am Meeting: Wednesdays 12pm – 1pm Bible Studies: 9:30 & 11am Location: Golden Coral www.creekside.nett 2025 Marketplace BLVD Cumming First United Methodist Cumming GA 30041 Church www.cummingkiwanis.org 770 Canton Highway | 770.887.2900 Sunday Services: 8:45 & 11am Member Power Networking Lunch (Traditional) Meeting: Every Tues. at 12 Noon Worship Services: Location: Various chamber member 9:51am (Contemporary) restaurants 1:30pm ( Hispanic/Latino en Español) Contact: 770.887.6461 9am (Lake Service (May-August) www.cummingforsythchamber.org Info: $15 for members & $30 for non-members Lanier United Methodist Church 1979 Buford Highway | 770.887.0615 South Forsyth Leads Group Sunday Traditional Service: 8:45am Meeting: 2nd & 4th Wed: 11:30am Sunday School: 10am (No fees) Sunday Contemporary Praise Location: Starbucks-141 & Ronald Service: 11am Reagan (Nursery available for both services) John’s Creek, 435 Peachtree Pkwy. Ted Miller, Pastor Cumming, GA 30041 www.lanierumc.org Contact: Robin Grier | 770.887.2772 rgrier@harborfs.com Midway United Methodist Church 5025 Atlanta Hwy. | 770.475.5230 Women Who Mean Business Sunday: 8:30am – Historic Chapel Meeting: 1st Tues. Registration: (Traditional) 7:30am Sunday: 9:45am – Sanctuary worship Location: Cumming-Forsyth County Sunday: 9:45am – “BLAST” Chamber of Commerce Kids’ worship Event’s Facility, 513 W. Maple Street Sunday: 11:00am – Sanctuary worship Contact: 770.887.6461 www.midwayumc.org Info: Free for members, $30 for nonmembers Register online at Piedmont United Methodist Church cummingforsythchamber.org. 1170 Dahlonega Highway 770.887.0770 CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS Bible Study: 10am & 5pm Health Center (CHC) Traditional Service: 11am Serving the medical needs of North www.PiedmontUMC@bellsouth.net Georgia since 1979. Horse Rescue, Relief & Retirement Fund, Inc. Contact: 770.886.5419 www.savethehorses.org
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
BUSINESS NETWORKING
Central Forsyth Leads Group Meeting: 2nd & 4th Tues: 11am—1pm Location: The Columns at Pilgrim, Mill Apartments Contact: Nancy Wright 770.886.0500 or nancyw@ecigroups.com Info: No fees. Open to all
Humane Society of Forsyth County No-Kill Shelter Location: 4440 Keith Bridge Road Contact: 770.887.6480 Info: Non-profit, no-kill shelter for cats/dogs. www. forsythpets.org
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There’s Hope for the Hungry Contact: 678.513.9400 Info: Non-profit organization partnering with churches across North Georgia to feed those in need. www.thereshope.org Rotary Club of South Forsyth Meeting: Wed: 12:15pm Location: Forsyth Conference Center 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd www.southforsythrotaryclub.org Piecemakers Quilt Guild Meeting: 2nd Tues, 4th Tues is “sewcialbee” (community quilts, classes or just getting together) Location: Christ the King, Lutheran Church 1125 Bettis-Tribble Gap Road, Cumming www.piecemakersga.netw The Place of Forsyth County Location: 2550 The Place Circle Contact: 770-887-1098 Info: Non-profit, serving the Forsyth community with financial emergency assistance, clothing, food and many additional support services.
SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS AA Cumming Meeting: Meets four times daily Location: Ingles Shopping Center at 432 Canton Highway (Hwy 20) Second suite on far left. 24/7 Line: 770.886.0696 Info: Group of Alcoholics Anonymous located in Forsyth County www.aacummingga.org Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) Caregiver Support Group First Wednesday of each month 7:00pm Northside Forsyth Hospital 1200 Northside Forsyth Dr 1400 Building, Bennett Classroom B Contact: Sharonhall419@yahoo.com Holistic Moms Network – Forsyth County Monthly meetings with informational speakers, yoga group, play groups Meeting: 2nd Tues: 6:30pm Location: Land of a Thousand Post Road, Cumming Contact: Ann Linke parkway-chruch.org holisticmomforsyth@yahoo.com www.holisticmoms.org Labrador Friends of the South, Inc. Location: PO Box 933, Cumming Contact: labfriendinfo@gmail.com www.labradorfriends.com
Moms Club of Cumming – North Monthly meetings with informational speakers, park play days, holiday parties, fieldtrips, playgroups and a monthly MOMS Night Out. Contact: momscummingnorth@yahoo.com www. momsclub.org Moms Club of Cumming – Southwest Meeting: Last Tues. of each month Contact: www.momsclub.org NAMI Forsyth Dawson Lumpkin Meeting: 2nd & 4th Thursday 6:45 pm - 8:15 pm (support meetings for consumers and family members) Location: Forsyth County Senior Center, 595 Dahlonega Hwy, Cumming, Ga. 30040 Educational meeting: 3rd Tuesday 7 pm Location: United Way of Forsyth County, 240 Elm Str., Cumming, Ga. 30040 Contact: namifdlga@gmail.com Website: www.namifdl.org Single Mom Meeting Connect with other single moms, learn about paths to higher education and get links to community resources. Light dinner provided and free on-site childcare/ homework help provided. Meeting: 2nd Thurs: 6:30pm ocation: 210 Dahlonega St., Suite 203, Cumming Contact: Valerie Daniel Faith’s House, Inc. 770.205.6311 www.faithshouseinc.org SMART Recovery Meeting: Every Tues: 6:30 p.m. Location: Professional Recovery Counseling, LLC. 107 W. Courthouse Sq., Suite 274 www.smartrecovery.org
The Country Preacher By Rev. David Hill
Have you ever noticed how many old things have new names? I traveled through a small town the other day. A used furniture store had changed its name to an antique shop, and nearby graveyards had turned into memorial gardens. Drugs that were illegal in my youth have been given legitimacy. The old argument that they furnish tax money has returned to camouflage their evil. A lot of things that are unchanged have received new names to change the ignominy that they once bore. Satan is good at giving new names to old sins although the wrong remains. Two daughters, a son-in-law, and a sister are school teachers. They’ve watched as the potential of their students goes up in smoke. Young minds are being eroded by the damage that takes advantage of their desire to avoid coping with the realities that teenagers must face. As preachers have said, it is not a disease, it is a sin. Whoever heard of the government taxing measles or chicken pox? Should we package and sell a disease, of course not. The Bible’s Old Testament word “sorcery” is our English word “pharmakia”
or pharmacy meaning to place someone under the influence of drugs or spells to control them. These are old sins with new labels. It is difficult to understand how our country, which rightly opposed the harms of tobacco, has endorsed the so called benefits of smoking marijuana. Who could call this rational thinking? Teachers who instruct about loving God, family, and country need to be supported rather than face students who are distracted by drugs. The Word of God stands alone, and needs neither affirmation nor Amen. Albert Einstein, a very smart man, recognized that we are the problem. “Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is not like faith, or love that exist just as does light and heat. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.”
Our society has come up with a high sounding vocabulary. Immorality is just a time to “find one’s self ”. Profanity is “expressing one’s inner self ” while lawlessness and rebellion is just “doing your own thing”. Perhaps the names have been changed to protect the guilty. God loves sinners. Jesus died for them and all going to heaven will be sinners He has saved. It makes God angry when sin is called righteous. God wants us to honestly admit that evil is sin. Isaiah 5:20, 21 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes . . .” There is no new sin. All generations have the same desire to do wrong. “There is none righteous” Romans 3:10 “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us.” Ecclesiastes 1:9, 10
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FORSYTH COUNTY
Retired Educators Association
FELLOWSHIP, SERVICE AND SUPPORT The Forsyth County Retired Educators Association (FCREA), an organization of retired educators seeking to promote fellowship and service to its members and to the community at large, with over 215 members, are actively engaged in a variety of community activities including: working at the Cumming Schoolhouse at the annual fair; providing food donations for the pantry at The Place of Forsyth; acting as Santa’s Helpers; providing supplies for Feed Forsyth Children; volunteering at the Senior Expo; and supplying refreshments for the reception for retiring educators.
Last year members logged over 6500 hours of individual community service activities. FCREA is committed to continue to serve the community by Sharing the Light with others. The organization is also a Partner in Education with Forsyth County Schools. Guest speaker for the February meeting of the FCREA was Teresa Banker from Feed Forsyth Children. She spoke about this organization providing snacks for those Guest speaker for the February meeting of the FCREA was Teresa Banker from Feed Forsyth Children. She spoke about this organization providing snacks for those who didn't have the means to purchase their own at Chestatee and Cumming Elementary schools. The members of FCREA donated snack foods for the purpose of helping hungry children.
The group meets the first Friday of October, November, December, February, March and May. Social time begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by the business section at 11 a.m. For details visit their Facebook page. 58 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3
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this type of coverage. This unfortunately is the wrong mentality to have. It Gets More Complicated–Get The Right Type of UM Insurance
The Best Way To Protect You & Your Family In Case of A Car Accident— UM AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COVERAGE By Theodore A. Spaulding
I am going to sound like an insurance agent here but I assure you I am actually a personal injury trial lawyer. What I will talk about in this article is the number one way to protect you and your family in the unfortunate event of injuries after a car accident that was not your fault. My hope is that this article will inspire you to look at your current coverage and increase the coverage you have for this all important protection. In the past decade since the financial crisis, I have seen a tragic trend emerging.
With families being stretched more and more financially, one of the first places many are looking to reduce their monthly expenses is their car insurance premiums. The quickest way to do this is to lower the amount of coverage afforded by the policy. Why This is a Problem
This trend has caused a perfect storm of problems when a serious car accident occurs: 1. There are more drivers on the road with little to no liability coverage to pay you or a loved one in the unfortunate event someone is seriously injured. Compounding this problem is the fact that you do not control how much coverage, or any at all, the driver that hits you will have. 2. There are more drivers on the road with inadequate coverage to protect themselves and their family if they are injured by someone who has little to no coverage. See, when you or a family member are seriously injured in a car wreck, the purpose of a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver is to provide a means to recover what has been lost. That includes all medical expenses necessary to get better and any lost income due to missing work. Despite what you see on television, these claims and the cases tried to a jury are all about insurance. It is rarely about going after the at-fault driver’s assets. Therefore, if there is plenty of insurance to cover all of your losses, you will be made whole. If there is not enough insurance coverage, you may be left with losses you cannot recover.
Ensuring there is enough insurance available becomes critical. In Georgia, the minimum amount of liability coverage that a driver can legally be on the road with is only $25,000.00. That is $25,000.00 to cover all of your medical bills, any lost income and pain and suffering. With the cost of healthcare raising each year, this amount of coverage does not go very far if you or a loved one has sustained any kind of serious injury. We have recently had several cases involving catastrophic injuries and even deaths where the driver who caused the accident had minimum coverage or absolutely no coverage at all, and the client had only the minimum amount of UM coverage. In at least two recent, catastrophic injury cases, our clients had literally reduced their UM coverage weeks before the horrific accident, leaving them with little coverage to pay for their medical bills much less their loss of income. The Solution—Plenty of UM Insurance
What is UM coverage and why is it so important? UM stands for Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage. Unlike liability coverage, which pays someone else for injuries you caused in a car accident, UM coverage protects you and your family by providing you with coverage in the event that the person who hits you is either completely uninsured or does not have enough insurance to cover your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering damages. Your UM coverage limits are shown separately on your auto insurance card, typically after the letters UM or UIM. Georgia drivers are not required by law to have UM coverage and therefore many do not feel the need to focus on
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So now you know you need UM insurance and why. Now the question is what type of mmmUm coverage should you get because there are two types: Reduced Coverage UM and Add-On UM Coverage. Reduced coverage UM will protect you by providing you with the difference between what liability coverage the person who hit you (the “atfault party”) has and the amount of coverage you purchase. For example, if the at-fault party has $25,000.00 in coverage and you have $50,000.00 of UM coverage, the at-fault party's insurance will pay you its full limits of $25,000.00 and then your insurance company will pay you $25,000.00, for a total of $50,000.00 all together for your claim. However, if your UM coverage limits are the same as the at-fault driver’s liability coverage, your UM coverage will not apply since there is no difference between what the at-fault party has and your UM limit. On the other hand, Add-On Coverage does just what its says; it provides additional coverage to you up to the limits of your coverage above what coverage has been provided by the atfault party. Using the same number from above: if the at-fault driver had minimum coverage of only $25,000.00 and you had $50,000.00 of add-on uninsured motorist coverage, you could receive the $25,000.00 from the at-fault insurance company and $50,000.00 from your own insurance company for a total of $75,000.00. If both of you have $25,000.00 of coverage, no longer will your UM coverage not apply. You could receive $50,000.00 total in this scenario with add-on UM. This makes Add-On Coverage much more advantageous to the traditional Reduced Coverage UM. It is important to note that in order to get Add-On coverage, you must specifically purchase it from your insurance agent. The premium will be higher but as you can see it is worth it. The Take Away
If you have UM coverage already, review the type and amount of your current coverage and if at all possible, increase it and change it to Add-On coverage. If you do not have UM coverage or have recently cancelled that portion of your policy all together, get covered and get as much as you can afford. You cannot trust that the person who causes the accident will have enough to cover you and your family in the event of an injury. It is just too important.
Theodore A. Spaulding is a personal injury attorney. He may be reached at 470-695-9950.
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A
DVERTISER DIRECTORY
AUTOMOTIVE/CAR REPAIR HOBBY/ROBOTICS Atlanta Hobby – pg. 15 SERVICES 678-513-4450 | www.atlantahoby.com Christian Brothers Automotive -pg. 53 470-253-7376 | www.cbac.com/cumming
BREW PUB/TAPROOM Cherry Street Brewing Co-op – pg. 5 770-205-5512 | www.cherrystreetvickery.com
Cumming Dance Academy – pg. 37 770-781-4922 | www.CummingDanceAcademy.com
DENTIST
North Georgia Smiles – Inside Back Cover 678-648-7311 | www.northgeorgiasmiles.com
ELECTRICIAN/ELECTRIC SERVICES Arc Angel Electric – pg. 13 770-889-9243 | www.arcangelelectric.com
EMBROIDERY
Amigo Embroidery – pg. 59 404-216-5740 | www.amioembroidery.com
FINANCIAL PLANNING Arseneau Advisory Group – pg. 25 470-839-9001 | www.arseneauadvisory.com
HEATING/VENTILATION/AIR CONDITIONING Shelnutt HVAC – pg. 59 706-265-5854 | www.shelnutthvac.com
404-252-1137 | www.obgynofatlanta.com The Southern Skin & Beauty Bar – pg. 43 770-284-8763 | www.southernskinandbeauty.com
JEWELER/JEWELRY STORE Gems In Art – pg.7 770-844-8005 | www.gemsinart.com Lance’s Jewelry –Back Cover 770-781-5500 | www.lancesjewelry.com
CYBER SECURITY/ TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS MASSAGE/YOGA/ Critical Path Security – pg. 49 WELLNESS 770-224-6482 | www.criticalpathsscurity.com DANCE ACADEMY/ INSTRUCTION
Obstetrics & Gynecology of Atlanta – pg. 45
Bliss Mamma Wellness – pg. 45 770-722-2711 | www.blissmammawellness.com
NAIL SALON/SPA
Universal Nail Salon & Spa – pg. 23 678-456-8554 www.facebook.com/UniversalNailsSpaATL
REAL ESTATE
Christy Scally, Agent Scally & Associates – pg. 19 678-341-7400 | www.agentscally.com Hello Pam Evans Real Estate – pg. 15 678-778-6551 | www.hellopamevans.com The Dinsmore Team – pg. 65 770-712-7789 | www.dinsmoreteam.com
RESTAURANTS /FOOD SERVICES/CATERING Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant – pg. 31 770-475-9100 | www.casanuovarestaurant.com CSB Home of Rick Tanner’s – pg. 26 770-205-5512 | www.cherrystreetvickery.com Lenny’s Subs – pg. 63 678-947-0336 | Fax orders: 678-947-5343 Palapa’s Bar and Grill – pg. 19, 27
PAINT & FLOORING
Gregory’s Paint & Flooring – pg. 17 770-887-1363 Cumming | 770-476-9651 Johns Creek www.gregoryspaintandfloowing.com
770-889-1002 | www.palapasbargrill.com Tam’s Backstage – pg. 29 678-455-8310 | www.tamsbackstage.com Tam’s Tupelo– pg. 29 470-839-2024 | www.tamstupelo.com
PHOTOGRAPHY
Adam Pendleton Photography – pg. 64 678-208-7077 | www.adampendleton.com
PHYSICIANS/MEDICAL SERVICES Children’s at Forsyth – pg. 3 404-785-3100 | www.choa.com/urgentcare Modern OBGYN – pg. 41 404-446-2496 | www.reyesobgyn.com Narendra Singh, MD – pg. 39 Atlanta Heart Specialists 678-679-6800; 770-622-1622 | www.heartdrsingh.com Northside Forsyth Internal Medicine & Geriatrics – pg. 9 770-844-0877 | www.nfimg.com
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TRANSPORTATION/ NON-EMERGENCY ABW MedTrans Solutions – pg. 63 678-567-6644
WASTE DISPOSAL/RECYCLING Advanced Disposal – Inside Front Cover www.advanceddisposal.com
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