400 Life January 2024

FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS

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CONTRIBUTORS

Publisher

Stephanie Woody

Group Editor

Nate McCullough

Managing Editor

Michelle Hall

Advertising Sales Manager

Jessica Shirley

Advertising

Stacy Clark

Meghan Hernandez

Adam Schurlknight

This magazine

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Special contributors

Daniel Dotson

Leslie Marinelli

Audrey Hamm

Photography

Adam Schurlknight, Daniel Dotson, Shannon Casas, Matthew Tesvich, Charlie Williams, Andy Brophy

Creative Services

Claudette Keeley

April Seymour

Chelsea Sunshine

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ON THE COVER: Forsyth County News keeps the community informed and connected

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400 reads: Book some time to reflect on 2023

400 faces: South Forsyth alum scores big pitching new business

400 health: Exercise guidelines for adults

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400 drinks: NoFo Brew Co wins 11 awards

How Forsyth County News wants to help you stay informed and connected

By Daniel Dotson danieldotson@forsythnews.com

Since 1908, Forsyth County News has been a staple in the community, dedicated to providing accurate, timely and compelling news stories to a growing readership throughout the county. Over the course of those 115 years, news trends have shifted to favor digital platforms over traditional print

Forsyth County News stories can be accessed digitally at forsythnews.com, through an app and via several email newsletters. The traditional print editions are also still available twice weekly along with an ePaper, which presents the traditional print editions digitally.

media, but FCN is committed to maintaining its local character in a technological age.

The newspaper is still released in two print editions each week, on Wednesday and Saturday, but much of the focus at FCN has shifted to the website and mobile app, establishing an immediate link between the community and the news that affects it.

Photo by Daniel Dotson.

“We still are the newspaper,” said FCN Digital Director Jim Dean, who has been with the company for nearly 18 years. “But it doesn’t land on your driveway anymore, unless you ask for it. It comes in your inbox. That is how we had to shift our thinking.”

According to Dean, the growing focus on digital platforms enhances the paper’s deep roots in the Forsyth County community. Breaking stories can reach readers in an instant, and communication has never been easier than it is now through social media.

As a result, FCN has seen notable growth in its subscriber base over the course of the last year.

“Anything that we can do to tie into our community is what we have to do,” said Dean. “To me, the core job of the newspaper is to chronicle the community.

“I think what’s killing some of the larger papers is that they don’t have a community,” Dean continued. “They have to cover a metropolitan area. Yeah, there are a lot of stories in there. But how do they affect each individual?”

In addition to the immediacy of digital news content, a heightened focus on beneficial technology is expected to create a variety of new ways for FCN to present the news. The company is looking forward to exploring opportunities to expand its video and audio capabilities as well as traditional written news stories.

The use of technology is not the only way FCN is committed to keeping the community informed, however.

The FCN news crew has been focused on interacting directly with Forsyth County residents through their News and Brews events. By hosting gatherings at local coffee shops and restaurants, FCN has given readers an opportunity to meet the paper’s reporters and editor in a fun and casual environment.

“Engaging with the public is important to us because we want to cover topics that our readers are concerned or excited

ABOVE: (From left to right) News Reporter Kelly Whitmire, Sports Editor Nicholas Sullivan, Sports Reporter Derrick Richemond, Managing Editor Michelle Hall, News Reporter Daniel Dotson and News Reporter Sabrina Kerns. Photo by Adam Schurlknight.

BELOW: Forsyth County News Digital Director Jim Dean. Photo by Daniel Dotson.

about,” said FCN Managing Editor Michelle Hall. “These casual meetand-greets give us that opportunity to talk directly with them. It’s fantastic that they also put Forsyth County businesses in the spotlight.”

As trends continue to shift in the news media broadly, FCN is dedicated to keeping in step with the modern age. But no amount of technology will turn Forsyth County News away from its primary purpose.

At the end of the day, FCN wants to help its readers accomplish two important things within their community: stay informed and stay connected.

How to get more from FCN

Sign up for free email newsletters: forsythnews.com/ newsletters

Download the app: forsythnews.com/apps

Read the ePaper, available to Premium subscribers: forsythnews.com/epaper

Subscribe, with plans starting as low as $7 a month: forsythnews.com/subscribe

Photos by Shannon Casas

ABOVE: Group Editor Nate McCullough speaks at a Forsyth Talks event about the issue of extreme speeding in Forsyth County.

BELOW: Reporter Daniel Dotson does local trivia with visitors to the Cumming City Center’s spring market while working the Forsyth County News’ booth at the event.

Book Some Time TO REFLECT BACK ON 2023

by Leslie Marinelli

‘Tis the season for reflection. The end of the calendar year is a natural time to acknowledge and honor what we’ve been through, take stock of what we’ve learned, and set the stage for personal and professional growth in the coming year.

Reflecting on the year can be as simple as having a conversation with someone about their highs and lows this year, flipping through your calendar, scrolling backward through your social media timeline, or rereading old journal entries.

If you want to take it to the next level in 2024, there are also countless ways to record specific things to track over the course of the year. Some people collect mementos all year in a simple time capsule to review as part of their annual holiday festivities. Others use journal templates or apps to track everything from new habits to daily moods.

One of my coworkers is finishing up a 2023 “temperature blanket” she has been crocheting all year. It’s a colorful striped blanket with 365 rows. The color of each row corresponds to that day’s temperature. She’s making this as a gift for someone in her family and it is absolutely stunning.

As someone who loves to read, I always enjoy tracking what I’ve read each year. It’s like a literary time capsule! Each book on my reading log is connected in

Leslie Marinelli has lived in Forsyth County for 20 years with her husband and three children and is the Communications Manager at Forsyth County Public Library.

Most Popular Books at Forsyth County Public Library in 2023

Adult Fiction:

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

Adult Nonfiction:

Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Harari

Atomics Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results by James Clear

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

my mind to what was going on that week or month. Just as certain scents can transport you to special moments in time, thinking about books I’ve read always reminds me of where I was or what was happening in my life while I was reading them.

story!)

There are as many ways to track your reading as there are readers. It can be as simple as a paper notebook, or as high-tech as a digital spreadsheet or app. Some people like to use a social platform like Goodreads to not only log their reading, but write reviews, follow favorite authors, and get reading recommendations from friends.

The Beanstack Tracker app is what the Library uses for all our seasonal reading incentive programs, but you can use it to track your reading all year long. I also like Reading List, another free reading log app. Both apps have the ability to log a book by scanning its barcode or entering the ISBN or title. They both can also import each book’s cover for a quick visual cue. I love that feature.

My 2023 reading log speaks volumes about my year. I started strong with Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day by Jay Shetty. It clearly didn’t stick because my next book was How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis. By March I had obviously abandoned by quest for peace and order because my next 7 books were all thrillers. A dear loved one’s illness inspired a health book bender over the summer followed by a brief obsession with all things octopus after reading and loving Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. I just finished Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate in anticipation of her visit next March as the featured author for Forsyth Reads Together 2024. (So compelling and based on a true

With four branches and a Bookmobile, you’re likely just a short drive to the nearest Forsyth County Public Library. We’re open seven days a week and you don’t need a library card to enjoy our facilities or pro -

If you are a Forsyth County Public Library (FCPL) cardholder, another option for tracking your reading is to create custom book lists in your FCPL account online. Keep track of books you want to read, your favorite books of all time, favorite books you read this year, or any list of your choosing. There’s even a function that allows you to email your custom book lists which includes the book covers and links to each item in the FCPL catalog. This is a great feature for book club members! Just log in to your account at ForsythPL.org, then go to the “My Lists” section in the sidebar to create or access a custom list. Our friendly librarians will be happy to help you if you need assistance. We also love making reading recommendations based on books you’ve loved. Keeping a reading log is a great way to help us help you find your next favorite book!

There is a saying that “energy flows where attention goes,” so if you take the time to track what you’ve read over the course of a year, you’re more likely to achieve your reading goals.

If you’re not already tracking your reading, I encourage you to start so you can reflect back on your list next year, celebrate your accomplishments, and share your recommendations with other book lovers.

grams, but a library card is required to borrow materials, reserve meeting spaces, and use many of our online resources.

Forsyth County Public Library cards are available at no charge to all Forsyth

County residents, property or business owners, government employees, and students and school employees. Anyone not eligible for a free library card may obtain an out-of-county library card for $60 per year.

OX SOX

South Forsyth alum finds success in SEC Student Pitch Competition win and more with OX SOX

By Audrey Hamm

For the Forsyth County News

OX SOX, a company formed by South Forsyth graduate Matthew Tesvich that sells odorless socks, has grown into a nationally recognized company in just over a year of operation.

On Oct. 23, OX SOX won the SEC Student Pitch Competition for student entrepreneurs, defeating 12 other businesses for a different kind of SEC championship win. While he was going up against strong competitors, Tesvich, 22, felt he had a “home field advantage.”

“I’ve gotten a lot of pitch experience,” said Tesvich. “I was definitely very confident going into the competition.”

A pair of OX SOX being worn by a customer in Antarctica. Photo courtesy of Matthew Tesvich

Tesvich explains there is a science behind the product that allows the sock to neutralize the odor causing the bacteria, thereby eliminating it.

“It doesn’t matter how long you’re wearing the socks, if it’s cold, hot, wet, dry, your feet won’t stink,” Tesvich said.

As previously reported by the FCN, the idea for the product came after researching what he assumed couldn’t be the case: a friend’s hand towel that automatically cleans hands without having to wash them.

The path of entrepreneurship wasn’t the original goal for Tesvich, though. As a varsity baseball player at South Forsyth,

400 faces

Tesvich said the sport made up a lot of his high school identity.

He faced an unexpected weight loss during his junior season due to a gluten allergy, which affected his abilities as a pitcher, and didn’t play during his senior year. When he started college at KSU, he picked up the sport again.

“I started having some big schools reaching out to me, Duke, UNC, NC State, so I was getting excited… and then COVID hits,” Tesvich said.

Tesvich said his new plan would be to go to Georgia and walk-on the team. Unfortunately, he injured his shoulder severely while in the bullpen.

That’s when Tesvich discovered the bacteria-killing towel and pivoted his focus. After 18 months of testing and contacting over 100 manufacturers, Tesvich said they had a pair of socks that worked and gave samples to people at different schools.

“They said they wore them a week straight, class, practice, walking around campus, everything, and they’re like, ‘I cannot get these things to stink… where can I buy them?’,” Tesvich said.

Tesvich said he then got involved in the entrepreneurship program at UGA and started competing in pitch contests, calling the success “a huge blessing” as OX SOX products have been sold to customers in all 50 states and seven continents, even Anatartica.

When asked about his biggest successes and strengths thus far, Tesvich mentioned the importance of having a strong product and fine tuning it, always striving to improve.

“We’ve got some really strong customers who have put in five, six sets of orders,” Tesvich said. “And upwards of that… this is socks, you know, you don’t need socks that often, and we’ve only been around for a year now.”

Tesvich said he’s had many former teachers, coaches, and teammates reach out after hearing and reading about the company’s success. In a past identity rooted in baseball, Tesvich said it’s been rewarding to change his goals toward a product that’s helping thousands of people.

“I think turning this negative into a positive… that’s been the biggest thing and I really feel like that was, like God-led,” Tesvich said. “I love seeing it and I really feel like you know, I was put on the Earth to do that.”

ABOVE: Matthew Tesvich poses with Hairy Dawg, University of Georgia mascot. Tesvich won the SEC Student Pitch Competition, which was hosted at UGA on Oct. 23. Photo courtesy of Matthew Tesvich. BELOW: Matthew Tesvich on the pitcher’s mound during his high school baseball career. Photo courtesy of Matthew Tesvich

Exercise Guidelines FOR ADULTS

A physically active lifestyle has been linked to a host of health benefits, including a reduced risk for various chronic diseases and a longer, healthier life. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that moving more and sitting less benefits people regardless of their age, sex, race, ethnicity, or even current fitness levels.

Whether they’re adapting to a more physically active lifestyle, already physically active or somewhere in between,

individuals can benefit from recognizing the latest physical activity guidelines from the DHHS.

ADULTS

The DHHS notes that substantial health benefits can be gained when adults do between 150 and 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week or between 75 and 150 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week. The DHHS notes that aerobic activity, which can include walking, running, cycling, and hiking, among other activities, should be spread out over the course of the week. In addition to aerobic activity, the DHHS urges adults to do musclestrengthening activities of moderate or greater intensity on two or more days per week.

OLDER ADULTS

The DHHS recommends older adults adhere to the same guidelines as younger adults but take some additional steps as well. Older adults are urged to incorporate multicomponent physical activity that includes balance training into their fitness regimens. The DHHS also advises older adults to determine their level of effort for physical activity relative

to their fitness level. It’s also recommended that older adults with chronic conditions discuss their ability to engage safely in regular physical activity with their physicians. Vigorousand even moderate-intensity exercise may not be possible for some older adults with existing conditions.

Routine physical activity can help adults and older adults live longer, healthier lives. Adults of all ages are urged to speak with their physicians about safe ways to become more physically active.

NoFo Brew Co awarded 11 honors at the South’s Best Spirits Awards

By Daniel Dotson danieldotson@forsythnews.com

Local brewery and distillery, NoFo Brew Co, earned several medals and awards for their entries in the South’s Best Spirits Awards craft spirits competition.

In total, NoFo earned 11 awards for their small-batch craft spirits, including three “Best in Category” honors, three “Best in State” honors, two Gold Medals and one Double Gold Medal.

“Words cannot describe the happiness I feel for our team for winning the awards,” said NoFo Head Distiller Hyde Buchanan in a press release. “We strive to show our love of the craft in every bottle we send out, and I think that passion shows in our product.”

The full list of awards won by NoFo in the South’s Best Spirits competition includes:

• Peach Pie Spirit: “Best in Category,” “Best in State,” and Double Gold Medal

• Barrel Rested Gin: “Best in Category,” “Best in State,” and Gold Medal

• Agave Spirit: “Best in Category,” “Best in State,” and Gold Medal

• Honeyshine: Silver Medal

• Apple Brandy: Bronze Medal

Many of these award-winning spirits, such as the Peach Pie Brandy and Barrel Rested Gin, are now available by the bottle for the first time at both the Cumming and Gainesville locations of NoFo Brew Co.

ABOVE: NoFo Head Distiller Hyde Buchanan (left) and Assistant Distiller Justin Kendrick. Photo by Andy Brophy. BELOW: NoFo Brew Co’s award-winning Barrel Rested Gin. Photo by Charlie Williams.

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