400 Life August 2022

400 LIFE

AUGUST 2022

CRUMBL COOKIES

A sweet treat for everyone Local business expands with fourth location

ALSO INSIDE Faces of Forsyth features theater director, youth baseball coach

PLUS: 7 surprising ways your library can save you money | How the pandemic has affected case backlog in courts Mental health expert helps you to navigate caregiver fatigue

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contents from the editor

If you’ve had a Crumbl Cookie, you know how hard they are to resist. If you haven’t, well .... go get one.

Either way, check out the story on how the company is doing since it opened in Cumming almost two years ago. They now have four locations, including Alpharetta and the newest in Dawsonville.

This month, we’re featuring two people in the community who have made a huge difference. We call them our Faces of Forsyth.

Dawn Phipps, the director of the Forsyth County Arts and Living Center, has done amazing things on the new stage with students and the community.

For FoCAL’s first performance, she partnered with the Penguin Project to bring “Annie Jr.” to the stage.

The Penguin Project is a program that casts actors and artists with special needs, and pairs them with peers and mentors to help them grow their confidence. The show was a huge success.

Another Face of Forsyth some might recognize is Kevin Scott. He’s a local youth baseball coach who began sharing his passion for the sport at Central Park with young players in 2001.

He not only teaches them the game, he teaches them about self-sacrifice.

And with gas and grocery prices as expensive as they are today, I know you guys are looking for ways to save money. Leslie Marinelli, communications manager at the Forsyth County Public Library shares seven ways you can save money at your local library.

It’s definitey worth a read.

— Tracie Pike

Crumbl Cookies opens fourth location Lance Jeffreys and his long-time friend and business partner, James Griffin, the guys who brought Crumbl Cookies to Cumming, Alpharetta, and Athens, opened up another location in Dawsonville this spring. See how they are thriving today.

12 Faces of Forsyth Dawn Phipps and Kevin Scott are making a huge impact on the community. One on the stage of a new theater in town, the other on the baseball field.

contributors Sales Manager Tim Anderson

Publisher Stephanie Woody

Managing Editor Tracie Pike

Advertising Stacy Clark David Smithson

Special contributors Jennifer Colosimo Sudie Crouch Sabrina Kerns Leslie Marinelli David Roberts

4

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20 400 READS:

Seven surprising ways the library can save you money.

18 KNOW YOUR

RIGHTS: How the pandemic has affected case backlog.

16 MENTAL HEALTH:

Understanding caregiver fatigue

How This Cookie Crumbl(es)

4 | 400 LIFE | August 2022

Crumbl Cookies is known for its unique specialty cookie flavors and ever-rotating cookie menu.

Crumbl Cookies thriving with fourth location Story by Jennifer Colosimo

S

oft, pillowy buttercream frosting, crunchy toffee bits, chewy gooey brownie bites, frosted strawberry pop tarts, sprinkles even. Each on giant, made-fresh cookies, all in one box.

Well — that’s not entirely true. There are more than 100 hundred flavors circulating through Crumbl Cookie’s weekly menu, and the aforementioned were just a handful of the features on the menu when I spoke to co-owner Lance Jeffreys.

It’s a surprise which tasty treats will make it to the new menu each Sunday, but one thing is absolutely certain — they’re never a disappointment.

There’s even better news. Jeffreys and his long-time friend and business partner, James Griffin, the guys who brought Crumbl Cookies to Cumming, Alpharetta, and Athens, opened up Continued, Page 6 August 2022 | 400 LIFE | 5

So many people have so much stress and anxiety and there are so many hard decisions in life, so I love the fact that when they come through our door, they can forget about what’s going on in the world.

- Lance Jeffreys, co-owner of Crumbl Cookies

Crumbl Cookies opened its Dawsonville location in March.

another location in Dawsonville this spring.

It’s everything you already love — or maybe everything you will, if you haven’t tried them yet — but in a new, modern storefront with two dressing stations and a rarely seen cozy Crumbl patio.

With friendly faces, a phenomenal aroma, and something sugary for everyone to love (just ask my kiddos), it’s well worth a visit … or maybe a new weekly routine.

“We absolutely love this market,” said Jeffreys, on choosing Dawsonville as the location for the new store.

“James and I are both from small towns, and the people are here like that, so friendly and welcoming. It’s funny, James calls Dawsonville, ‘Awesomeville,’ because everyone’s so nice and friendly here. The community really is awesome, and they’ve been willing to embrace us.

6 | 400 LIFE | August 2022

“We knew it was a place that was growing and thriving. We are excited to be part of that.”

Jeffreys is a self-proclaimed lover of sugar, so getting into the cookie business seems like a pleasant twist of fate. As soon as he and Griffin stepped into a Crumbl Cookies (in Arizona), they were awed.

They knew they wanted to bring that to Georgia. Now, with four locations under their belt, they doesn’t miss a flavor — it’s part of the job to taste test the product, of course — and Jeffreys is entertained by the seemingly celebrity status that owning a Crumble carries.

“My daughter wears Crumbl merchandise to school all the time,” he said. “It’s a big deal. She even works at the Cumming Continued, Page 6

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405 Peachtree 120, Cumming, GA 30041 405 Peachtree Parkway,Parkway, Suite 120 Suite 12 Dawson Market Way • Suite 200 Cumming, GA 30041 Dawsonville, Only valid at Crumbl Cumming, GA GA 30534

4190 Old Milton Parkway, Suite 2L Alpharetta, GA 30005

store. Our family loves it.”

Aside from its fresh face, the Dawsonville store also introduces the new 6-pack purchasing option, which (finally) lets you take home one of every flavor, if you want. And believe me, you want.

Previously, life’s hardest decision was possibly choosing which flavors to limit to the 4-pack boxes, or which single cookie (gasp!) to select.

Luckily, that stress is no longer. You have the flexibility and freedom to fill a signature bright pink box with whatever six cookies you choose, or still opt for the original single, four-pack or party pack, as well.

Of course, no matter what size box you want, you can always choose to include the chocolate chip cookie, the only cookie available week-toweek. Otherwise, the menu changes every week to reveal five new flavors.

In the weeks I spent “reporting” for this story, I indulged in the Chocolate Mallow Cupcake cookie, a Fruit Pizza sugar cookie served chilled, the Chocolate Crumb Cake cookie dusted in Oreos, and something that resembled a cinnamon roll on steroids. “[The menu] works to our advantage,” Jeffreys admitted. “Customers who love a cookie know it’s only there until Saturday, and then it’s gone.

8 | 400 LIFE | August 2022

“You don’t know when it’s going to return, so they might come back again that week just to have it. But then, when the next menu rolls out, customers get excited all over again to come back and try a new one.”

Something else to get excited about is the introduction of the new mystery cookie flavor. Every store gets to choose a mystery flavor each month.

“I love how excited people are to try the cookies, and I love that sometimes, when they’re leaving, people will stop and eat them in our lobby, because they just can’t wait,” said Jeffreys. “I love that, because that’s me.

“So many people have so much stress and anxiety and there are so many hard decisions in life, so I love the fact that when they come through our door, they can forget about what’s going on in the world, all the anger, the madness, the stress, and they can just think about something that’s going to bring them joy. And knowing that the joy is that experience of choosing and eating a cookie, I just love that. We get to be a part of what brings people joy.”

Continued, Page 10

Exhibitions • Quilt Shows Art Gift Shop • Concerts • Festivals Classes for Adults & Children

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Tues-Fri 10am-4pm • Sat 12-4pm 334 Highway 9 North, Dawsonville, GA 30534

706.216.ARTS (2787) To receive Bowen event eblast, email director@bowenarts.org

August 2022 | 400 LIFE | 9

Find your Crumbl today!

Alpharetta Where: 4190 Old Milton Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30005 Contact: (470) 281-9209 Online: crumblcookies.com/alpharetta Facebook: Crumbl Cookies (Alpharetta)

Cumming Where: 405 Peachtree Pkwy, Cumming, GA 30041 Contact: (470) 239-1986 Online: crumblcookies.com/cumming Facebook: Crumbl Cookies (Cumming)

Dawsonville Where: 12 Marketplace Wy, Dawsonville, GA 30534 Contact: (706) 350-5553 Facebook: Crumbl Cookies (Dawsonville, GA)

Athens Where: 196 Alps Rd, Athens, GA 30606 Contact: (706) 389-5894 Facebook: Crumbl Cookies (Athens, GA) Visit crumblcookies.com for more information

#CrumblCookies

10 | 400 LIFE | August 2022

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

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SANDWICH

That joy is reciprocated. Dawsonville’s store opening was the biggest the duo had ever had, and the community has been so friendly, that Jeffreys jokes he might just want to move out there.

Another reason to love Crumbl (read: drop what you’re doing and go get some, now) is because of how these cookies are served — warm, toppings not put on until you order it.

“It’s really important that the cookies are as fresh as they can possibly be,” said Jeffreys.

“We never keep a cookie longer than two hours, which, actually, really isn’t a problem. You go to any other cookie store, their dough is made somewhere else, and it’s frozen and shipped in. Here, we make everything in the store; we even melt the chocolate that we drizzle on top of the cookies.

“Freshness is a key ingredient, and when you walk into the store, you can smell it.”

The dreamy aroma of those size-of-your-high-five cookies accompanies the mini catering cookies that you can order in sets of 50 for parties and special occasions. Catering orders get to select their flavors from the weekly menu and the set menu,

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which includes the elusive frosted sugar cookie that many still claim as a favorite.

The Dawsonville store also offers convenient mobile ordering, curbside service and the aforementioned patio seating, because, as Jeffreys mentioned, sometimes it’s just too hard to wait.

When cookies aren’t enough (is that a thing?), they also serve ice cream by the pint, available in different flavors like Brownie Fudge, Raspberry Cheesecake and Peanut Butter Brittle, to name a few, that rotate in and out quarterly.

“My favorite thing to see is watching a customer try the cookies for the first time,” said Jeffreys. “They just light up and get so excited. I do, too, though. For me, it’s like the first time, every time.”

When it comes to these cookies, let’s just plan on it being lots of times.

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Faces of Forsyth

Dawn Phipps, director of the Forsyth County Arts and Living Center, teamed up with the Penguin Project, an organization that casts productions with actors and artists with special needs, to bring “Annie Jr.” to the stage. The production is just one she has brought to the stage at FoCAL.

Dawn Phipps builds inclusive fine arts community with FoCAL Center Story and photos by Sabrina Kerns

W

hen the Forsyth County Arts and Living Center opened in December, Director Dawn Phipps wanted to make one thing clear to the community — fine arts is for everyone.

“I want the FoCAL Center to be a place where all folks feel welcome and appreciated and accepted,” Phipps said. “And I want to provide programming that speaks to that.”

That’s why the first show performed on the FoCAL Center stage was by the Penguin Project, an organization that casts productions with actors and artists with special needs.

While the production of “Annie Jr.” was small, it meant the world to each of the students and their families.

Not only did they have the opportunity to star as a fun character and show off their talents to the community, but they found a

12 | 400 LIFE | August 2022

safe space to make new friends, build skills and gain a new confidence.

“When we saw the community come and watch it, the response from them was overwhelmingly positive,” Phipps said.

“That was back in March; [it’s summer] now, and I still can’t go a week without someone mentioning it and talking about what it meant to them and how it was such an uplifting message of love and support.”

Now, Phipps said Penguin Project productions will be an annual event, serving as a cornerstone for the FoCAL Center as it reminds the community that the performing arts center isn’t just about providing entertainment or serving as an event venue.

One of the things Phipps said she loves most about the per-

We want to have fun and be entertaining, but ultimately, it’s an opportunity for people to learn and grow,” Phipps said. “I want to provide an environment for that to happen.

- Dawn Phipps, director of the Forsyth County Arts and Living Center

forming arts is the community it creates, bringing together a variety of different people.

“It’s just such a wonderful mish-mash of people from all different backgrounds,” Phipps said. “So there have been a lot of things I’ve done in the community and in fine arts where I’m working with not only teachers, but also engineers, or business people, or entrepreneurs, or chefs, or young people in the community …. so it’s a really interesting mix of people.”

Phipps has a background in theater herself, beginning her career as a performing arts teacher in Indiana where she and her husband, Brett, are from originally.

She moved to Forsyth County in 2001, away from performing arts to take a job as an English teacher. After a few years, she moved into school leadership, making a difference as an educator and then as Forsyth County School’s director of secondary education.

It wasn’t until 2017 that she decided it was time to get back into the world of performing arts.

Nearly 14 years after she stepped away from her passion, she jumped right back in, finding work in local shows throughout Forsyth County and metro Atlanta.

She has starred in shows at the School Street Playhouse in downtown Cumming while also producing and directing shows in other venues.

Phipps said this shows her that a passion for performing arts

and a want for the community that comes with it never truly disappears — another reason why it’s important to her to have a place where people can engage in fine arts.

“A lot of folks played an instrument or they sang or they did theater when they were in high school, but once they got out of high school, they transitioned into other things,” Phipps said.

“But there may still be a part of them that wants to explore that or get back into that field just on an amateur level, and we have that opportunity here for them as well.”

And going forward, Phipps said community members will have plenty of chances to get involved in FoCAL — whether they want to volunteer with the center, perform in a show, provide for the theater financially or simply visit as a patron.

Going into the 2022-23 school year, Phipps said the center will have a full season of productions and events planned for the community to take part in along with a host of events and concerts put on by local organizations, groups and schools.

But, first and foremost, Phipps said she will continue to make education a priority at the center.

To do that, she plans to provide experiences and programming where kids and adults alike can learn through performing arts.

“Of course, we want to have fun and be entertaining, but ultimately, it’s an opportunity for people to learn and grow,” Phipps said.

“I want to provide an environment for that to happen.”

Angela Clark, playing Orphan Annie, sits in between two mentors during a rehearsal in March for Annie Jr., the first Penguin Project production at the Forsyth County Arts and Living Center.

August 2022 | 400 LIFE | 13

Faces of Forsyth

Kevin Scott has been a youth baseball coach in Forsyth County for more than 20 years.

Kevin Scott called to coach youth baseball Story and photos by David Roberts

K

evin Scott has given his all to youth baseball – most recently his rotator cuff.

Scott, a youth baseball coach in Forsyth County, estimates this past season required him to throw about 3,500 pitches of batting practice per week for 10 ½ months. Multiply that by the 22 seasons he’s been coaching youth baseball and that puts him on the doorstep of 1 million pitches.

It’s taken a toll on his shoulder, and in September he’ll have surgery to repair the damage done.

Still, it’s a small price to pay for Scott to continue doing what he loves.

“I’m a huge sports fan,” said Scott. “Any sport, any type of competition – even if it’s individual. I like to play golf for the individual aspect, but my first love is team sports. I love the aspect of somebody having your back when you’ve got an off

14 | 400 LIFE | August 2022

day and vice versa.”

Scott played “all the sports” when he was younger but was ultimately drawn to baseball.

So much so that he introduced the game to each of his children, including his daughters Savannah and Adrianna.

“I made them at 7 and 8 years old and they hated it, so I was like, ‘OK, that’s it. You’re done. You’ve fulfilled your part of the obligation to me,’” Scott said with a laugh.

Scott also coached his sons, Dakota and Phoenix, and if you factor in all of the backyard games of catch throughout the years, Scott is likely well over than 1 million figure.

“I would stand there and throw balls to him easy at 4 years old,” Scott said. “We just counted – 15 feet apart – how many in a row and just make it as fun as I possibly can. It started at one, where he would throw me one and I would catch it. Then

over the period of six or eight months – and we even talked about it last night, because I was going to do something to the mailbox where it said 54 – by the time he was 5 we were at 54 tosses.”

Scott coaches with Service Baseball, a travel program based in Forsyth County, and began coaching in the Central Park league when it opened in 2001.

He attended Forsyth Central High School, where he played for legendary baseball coach Byron Orr. That’s where Scott traces back his love for the game.

“I played for Byron Orr in high school, and I did not like playing for him but I have a love that’s so deep for the game that – I mean, my dad loved it and my grandfather loved it and played at Berry [College] – I would have to go back and say it’s Byron Orr and playing for him,” Scott said.

“Just hard-nosed and understanding the game, and the 1,500 games that are inside of a game. I love the 1-0 pitching duels. I like making the right move, or screwing up every now and then is OK because you learn.”

Scott is an old-school coach himself. He has a sign for just about everything: safety squeezes, sacrifice bunts, bunt for a hit, first-and-third situations and types of leads to take on the basepaths.

If you play for Scott, you better know how to bunt.

“I told my son last night, ‘You might as well put Lasorda on my back,’ because I believe in bunting guys over instead of spin rates,” he said. “Just hit a hard line drive or hit a hard ground ball.”

Rather than the outcome of a sacrifice bunt, which is to advance the runner from one base to the next, it’s the selflessness of the act that Scott loves seeing.

“Absolutely, 100 percent the greatest thing is to see the growth and the ability to self-sacrifice,” Scott said.

“I mean, we talk about what a sacrifice bunt is, and that’s giving myself up. That ought to be the motto of our team. We’re willing to do anything it takes for the guy beside us.”

That sort of attitude is infectious, too, and when Scott sees his players adopt that sort of mentality, he considers how lucky he is to coach youth baseball.

“I bring in a new kid, possibly, just as an arm to take down there because of the pitching rules are limited. I told this kid, ‘All I care about is your effort,’ and this kid goes out and balls out. I’d never met him before and he just plays hard, and he’s filthy, and he’s eating dirt, and he’s skinned up and bleeding,” Smith said.

“Then I watch my kids respond and do the same thing. So, at the end of practice at 7:15 at Sawnee Mountain yesterday, I’m just surrounded by sweaty, dirty kids and it’s just unbelievable.”

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August 2022 | 400 LIFE | 15

400 health

Understanding caregiver fatigue

“There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.”

– Rosalynn Carter Dominik Lange, Unsplash

Tips for keeping yourself healthy, so you can help your loved one

By Sudie Crouch | Health & wellness columnist

M

y grandmother had often talked about how she wished she had went to school to be a nurse, saying that she felt like being a caregiver was a part of her nature.

When my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she insisted on trying to keep her in the home as much as possible, as she felt like it was not only part of her vows to be with him in sickness and health, but that she was well able to take care of him.

While her heart was in a place of love and compas-

16 | 400 LIFE | August 2022

sion, she didn’t realize the physical and emotional toll that comes with being a caregiver.

At one point or another, many of us will find ourselves in the role of caregiver.

Whether it’s for a brief stint, or long-term, it can be challenging. Caregivers often are so busy putting others first that it can cause them to feel increased stress and burnout.

Some of the reasons for caregiver fatigue are not always the most obvious either.

It can be hard to ask for help Oftentimes, the caregiver may be worried someone else won’t be able to do the things needed for the person they are taking care of.

Changes in routine can be hard sometimes, and there may be complicated steps involved, especially in regards to medication, wound care, etc. It’s also very difficult to ask for help if you’re used to being the one everyone else counts on.

There may not be someone to ask, too. Family may not live in close proximity and people may worry it will be a burden to ask a friend to help.

Feeling overwhelmed Caregivers typically feel the pressure of having to do their regular routine in addition to being a caregiver. And, when asking for help is difficult, this can make being overwhelmed quite easy.

This can manifest in many different ways — being irritable, lack of attention span, unable to make decisions, and even depressed — and even though the caregiver may know they have too much on their plate, it may be hard to express this is what they’re feeling.

Changes in sleep Even though they are exhausted, it can be hard for caregivers to rest. They may worry they will be needed, or they feel like there is so much to get done, that they will decrease their sleep time to accommodate it.

If you’ve ever been a new mother, those feelings of sleep deprivation are very similar in these situations. Since sleep is so important, this can further exacerbate the feelings of overwhelm and lead to other issues.

Georg Arthur Pflueger, Unsplash

On the flip side of this situation, you may be a friend or family member who wants to help, but you aren’t sure what to do. Sometimes, just asking if you can run an errand can be so helpful and take a task off the caregiver’s plate.

Better still, ask if you can sit with the person they are taking care of so the caregiver can get out of the house for a break — caregivers often neglect their own self-care so being able to schedule a hair appointment or even get a massage can feel like an amazing reprieve.

Often caregivers are so busy they may not have time to do household chores like dusting, laundry, etc. so offering to come by to do one of those can be a tremendous help.

You may feel guilty for taking time to do things for yourself, but it is absolutely necessary. Just like we’re told to put our oxygen mask on first before helping those around us on an airplane, the same can be said for caregiving.

It is not selfish to take time for yourself; if anything, it can help you feel energized and restored.

It can be hard to know where to get support.

Always reach out to your physician as well, to see if they know of any support groups or any other agencies that may have resources specific to your needs.

Please know that while there may be some community resources available to help, they often have certain requirements for eligibility and many have a waiting list for services.

If you foresee that you may be in need of these services in the future, it may be helpful to do some pre-planning ahead of time.

Online resources

Legacy Link: legacylink.org

Harli, Marten, Unsplash

Senior Services: visit forsythco.com, click Departments, then scroll down and click Senior Services Forsyth County senior resource guide: bit.ly/3uPaDLk

Sudie Crouch is a health & wellness coach, helping clients create healthy, attainable changes using positive psychology and cognitive behavior approaches.

August 2022 | 400 LIFE | 17

400legal

Where is my case?

The pandemic has caused many problems, but nowhere is it more evident than in the justice system, culminating in delays and backlogs.

I recently came back from an FBI conference and found that in many rural counties, murder trials are often delayed for years while suspects awaiting trial continue to accumulate in the jails.

As a trial lawyer, I deal with many difficult situations. But one of the most difficult is dealing with client frustration brought on by the slowness of the legal system and explaining why their case is taking so long. The legal system, unlike medicine, is designed to be slow. People are generally very upset causing them to file a lawsuit.

Whether this frustration is a result of an insurance company failing to pay what a client believes they deserve or a more frustrating experience in family law, all have common denominator – time. When people file lawsuits, they expect a quick and efficient resolution. However, that is not the situation in most cases.

The law is designed to be a deliberative process. After filing a lawsuit there is a process called discovery which governs the exchange of information between

the parties.

This exchange of information is slow and arduous; documents, testimony and other forms of information must be exchanged between the parties before a trial can even be set.

Often times discovSteven Leibel ery takes up to one year for the parties to exchange information and obtain the testimony of witnesses and experts necessary to prosecute the case. On the defense side, information must be related to the plaintiffs’ claims and is vital to a good defense.

With the pandemic the courts became clogged, as new cases were filed and older ones could not be tried.

Unfortunately, with new variants and sickness, the court systems are further burdened. Under the law the criminal calendar must be held first before any civil matter can be heard by a court.

Further, as precautions for health must be taken, the civil trial calendar has been delayed in favor of the criminal calendar

to ensure constitutional safeguards for those charged with crimes.

In Georgia courts, unlike in the federal courts, we are required to try cases before a jury of 12 people. In the federal courts it is a jury of at least 6 but no more than 12.

During the pandemic the legislature failed to change the rules concerning the jury selection process to reduce the number of jurors necessary in various types of cases.

It is my hope that during this next session the legislature will adopt a lower jury selection standard, making juries six person rather than 12, or at the very least, reducing the number of jurors from 12 to six in matters of $50,000 or less.

I am hopeful, as we battle away this awful pandemic-related problem, that we will be able to get back to pre-pandemic levels of trial and often times, resolutions.

Steven Leibel is a well-respected personal injury lawyer in Cumming and Dahlonega. He has consistently been recognized as a GA SuperLawyer in Personal Injury; rated 10 by AVVO, and he is considered “preeminent by his peers, as an Martindale AV rated attorney.”

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The listings below are from winners of Best of Forsyth 2022.

For a complete list of winners, go to bestofforsythcounty.com.

PLACE TO WORK, NEW CAR DEALERSHIP, OFF ROAD DEALERSHIP

HOTEL

LUXURY CAR DEALERSHIP

“Our success can be summed up in two words – our people. Once you walk through our doors you

770-887-2311 • www.howellford.com • Family Owned & Operated since 1977

470-655-2969

866-499-2352

770-887-2311

PEDIATRICS

OUTPATIENT/AMBULATORY SURGERY, GASTROENTEROLOGY

MEXICAN FOOD, CATERING

770-888-8888

404-446-0600

678-456-8892

MEDIATION OR ARBITRATION SERVICE

CHILD CARE CENTER, AFTER SCHOOL EDUCATION/EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, PRESCHOOL

SHOPPING CENTER

PRIMROSE NORTH CUMMING

770-889-0846

770-203-2773

Are you a Best of Forsyth 2022 Winner and would like to be included in this directory?

Email your local sales representative or email Marketing@forsythnews.com

collectionforsyth.com DIVORCE ATTORNEY, ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY

www.allfamilylaw.com

400 reads

7 surprising ways the Library can SAVE YOU MONEY

By Leslie Marinelli | Forsyth County Public Library

Between the ridiculously high gas prices and rising interest rates, everyone is feeling the squeeze these days. Your library is one of the best places to help you cut corners.

Here are some of my favorite ways my family and I save money with our library cards:

1. Free Books, eBooks, and eAudiobooks

3. Free Magazines and Newspapers

Everyone knows you can borrow free books (up to 75 at a time) at the public library, but did you know you can also use your library card to access thousands of free eBooks and eAudiobooks too?

If you have a smart phone and a library card, you can start enjoying eBooks and eAudiobooks immediately through free apps like Libby or SimplyE.

We also have a huge assortment of magazines and newspapers in both digital and print form.

From popular titles like US Weekly and The New York Times to more obscure titles about hobbies you didn’t even know existed, if you have an interest in something, we probably have a magazine or newspaper about it.

2. Free Access to Consumer Reports Magazine

4. Free Museum and Park Passes

One of my favorite free library resources for saving money is Consumer Reports Magazine. With product ratings and unbiased reviews on anything from appliances to vehicles, Consumer Reports has the information you need to get the most bang for your buck.

Save the $59 a year it would cost for a personal subscription and use your library card for free access instead. Just visit the eResources tab on our website to get started.

FCPL partners with a variety of organizations across the state to provide free access to popular destinations like GA State Parks, Center for Puppetry Arts, Chattahoochee Nature Center, Zoo Atlanta, and others.

If you checked out each of our partner passes in one year you would save over $350. Visit forsythpl.org/passes for more information.

20 | 400 LIFE | August 2022

FEATURED AUGUST LIBRARY PROGRAMS FOR KIDS Chess for Kids Sharon Forks Library, 7-8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 11 Join us at the library for a chess meetup for kids. Learn to play chess, practice your skills, or learn some new moves with a certified chess coach from Championship Chess. This program is suggested for grades 2-8. Space in this program is limited. Tickets will be handed out beginning 15 minutes prior to the program.

Great Pollinator Census

5. Free Classes Is there something you’d like to learn more about from the comfort of your own home? Use your library card to create a free account with ArtistWorks, Learning Express Library, Mango Languages, or Universal Class and choose from over 500 free classes on everything from aromatherapy to web development. Visit the eResources tab on our website to get started.

6. Free Tutoring Need a study partner on demand in English or Spanish? Connect with a professional subject matter expert for free, live, online tutoring, test prep, and career support through our partnership with Tutor.com. Start here: tutor.com/forsythga

7. Free Activities and Entertainment Taking the whole family to the theater or to a live performance these days can cost a small fortune. Instead, check out upcoming free events and activities on the library’s online events calendar: forsythpl.org/events?r=thismonth This is just a small sample of the countless free resources available at FCPL. Visit our website at forsythpl.org for more information about any of these hidden gems or to get your free Forsyth County Public Library card today.

Hampton Park Library’s Butterfly Garden All day for all ages, Friday-Saturday, Aug. 19-20 Drop by our garden to record a tally of insect visits on our pollinator plants for UGA’s annual pollinator count!

A Show of Hands, An ASL Storytime Post Road Library, 3-4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 20 A storytime for deaf, hard of hearing children, hearing children interested in sign language, CODAs and their families.

Book Explorers: A book club for kids in Grades K-3 Cumming Library, 4-5 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 23 Join us as we read The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. We will discuss the book, then do a STEAM activity related to the story.

Quilting for Kids For grades 2 through 5 Hampton Park Library, 4-6 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 25 Join us for a 5-week series on the basics of quilting presented by the Piecemakers Quilt Guild. This series is for children in grades 2 through 5.

Let’s Have a Matsuri!: Celebrating Japan’s Summer Festivals Sharon Forks Library, 11 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Aug. 27 Learn about traditional Japanese summer festivals, or matsuri, and enjoy themed crafts and activities. This program is for families with children in Kindergarten and up.

For more information about FORSYTH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY or any of our resources or upcoming events, please visit WWW.FORSYTHPL.ORG or connect with FCPL on social media @forsythpl.

August 2022 | 400 LIFE | 21

400 reads FEATURED AUGUST LIBRARY PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS The Buzz About Bees and Beekeeping National Honey Bee Day

Sharon Forks Library 11 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Aug. 20 Ever wonder what honey bees do and why they are so important to us? Come and learn all about bees and their keepers with Kelley Campbell of the Forsyth Beekeepers Club.

Bookish Trailblazers

An Outdoor Book Club for Adults Fowler Park (Pavilion 4, between the soccer fields and tennis courts) 9:30-10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 9 If you love walking in nature and reading, join us for FCPL’s outdoor book club as we walk around Fowler Park and discuss the curious relationship between humans and animals. This month they will discuss Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach.

Southern Fishing Series Hampton Park Library 3-4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 21 Learn about the basics of kayak fishing with experienced kayak fisher, Erica Delana.

Scam Awareness

Presented by an FBI Special Agent

Songwriting Workshop Sharon Forks Library 7-8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 9 and Aug. 23 Interested in writing a song? Local songwriter Bob Lusher will share techniques for composing original music and crafting lyrics and will assist participants with creating their own songs.

Post Road Library 7-8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 24 Are you fed up with scams? An FBI special agent will provide information about how to protect yourself from scams, fraudsters, and predators!

It Started with Words

Presented by the Museum of History and Holocaust Education Post Road Library 6:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 18 Tyler Crafton-Karnes from the Museum of History and Holocaust Education will discuss the Nazi propaganda used to turn public opinion against “undesirable people.”

Six Saturdays Hampton Park Library 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., beginning Saturday, Aug. 20 Join us and experts from the Piecemakers Quilt Guild over six weeks to learn how to sew your own quilt from start to finish.

Japanese Festivals and Fans An Afternoon of Culture and Craft

Sharon Forks Library 1-2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 27 Learn about Japanese summer festivals and paint your own uchiwa, a traditional Japanese fan. This program is for ages 16 and up only.

Leslie Marinelli is the Communications Manager at Forsyth County Public Library.

She may be reached at leslie.marinelli@forsythpl.org or via social media @forsythpl.

22 | 400 LIFE | August 2022

SQUIRREL

TREE SERVICES, INC.

MORE THAN 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE SERVING THE METRO ATLANTA AREA

(404) 397-5820

Licensed & Insured WE ALSO DO COMMERCIAL WORK!

$100 OFF

$75 OFF

$1000 OR MORE

$500 OR MORE

Must present coupon at time of estimate.

Must present coupon at time of estimate.

Not valid with any other discounts.

Not valid with any other discounts.

Tree Removal Tree Pruning & Trimming Stump Grinding Clear Out Emergency Services & Insurance Work Retention Pond Vegetation Maintenance

SQUIRRELTREESERVICES.COM | INFO@SQUIRRELTREESERVICES.COM Indoor Air The Whole Family Can Breathe

USING THE MOST POWERFUL DUCT CLEANING SYSTEM IN THE WORLD

(678)778-1328

Removes dust, pet dander, allergens, bacteria & more from your home

WWW.KENNONHVAC.COM

August 2022 | 400 LIFE | 23

FAST SERVICES QUALITY MEALS

LOS RIOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT DO YOU NEED A DEPENDABLE CATERING SERVICE? Stop by and get the best catering service in all North Ga, choose a delicious meal from our selection of menus items. You know you're hungry, but it's hard to decide what to order so instead, let us do all the work for you with dozens of different options on hand! So whether you need an appetizer or dessert-we'll make sure that your event is one hot affair.

678-456-8892

12 TRI COUNTY PLAZA CUMMING, GA 30040 WWW.LOSRIOSCUMMINGGA.COM