Life in Forsyth 2022

LIFE IN FORSYTH

FACES of Forsyth

Your Annual Guide To Forsyth County 2022 FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS

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Who we are More than just a newspaper, the Forsyth County News reaches Forsyth’s largest media audience through digital and mobile platforms, as well as through video, magazines, social media and more.

The official news source of Forsyth County since 1908, the Forsyth County News serves Georgia’s fast-growing, most-affluent and healthiest county.

With Forsyth County’s only paid circulation local newspaper, the most-visited local media website and a host of niche magazines and publications, the FCN remains committed to informing and entertaining users across north Atlanta as Forsyth County’s premier media outlet.

The Forsyth County News has a print Midweek Edition and Weekend Edition along with a Friday Epaper, and its website, ForsythNews.com, is updated with the latest local news and information throughout each day.

The Forsyth County News is owned

by Metro Market Media, along with

FACES

of Forsyth This year, the Forsyth County News is highlighting people from the community that make a difference.

Faces of Forsyth aims to tell the story of our community through the terrific people that live, work and volunteer here.

We are beginning the series in this publication, but will continue to highlight community members for Faces of Forsyth. To see them all, visit ForsythNews.com.

the Gainesville Times and the Dawson County News.

Where we’ve been Founded by Joe Patterson in downtown Cumming in 1908, the FCN has grown with the county it represents.

In 1927, Roy P. Otwell purchased the Forsyth County News and the North Georgian, combining them as The Forsyth County News. Otwell remained chief editor and owner of the newspaper for 27 years.

Charles Smithgall Sr. of Gainesville purchased the paper in 1954, and soon relocated the newspaper office to Dahlonega Street.

It subsequently was operated from two different Dahlonega Street locations. In December of 1998, the FCN was relocated to the site of the former Cumming Hardware at 302 Veterans Memorial Boulevard.

The News Company, headquartered in Gwinnett County, owned the Forsyth County News from the early 1970s until 1987, when The New

York Times purchased the Forsyth County News, The Winder News and the Gwinnett Daily News from The News Company. Swartz-Morris Media purchased the Forsyth County News in 1994.

In 2018, the Forsyth County News was purchased by Metro Market Media, along with the Gainesville Times and the Dawson County News.

For most of its history, the FCN was a weekly newspaper, but in the early 1980s it became twice-weekly publication, adding a Sunday edition to the Wednesday publication. A Friday edition was later added, and a complete website came online in 2009.

In 2018, the Forsyth County News added a digital replica edition of the print newspaper to the online component.

In November 2021, Forsyth County News moved to 327 Dahlonega St., Suite 903A, Cumming, GA 30040.

INSIDE Meet some of the Faces of Forsyth Crystal Ledford

Page 6

Cheryl McFadden Page 8 Brenda Howell Page 10 Ricky Bryan Page 12 Cliff Whitney

Page 12

Things to do in Forsyth County

Page 4

Visit your local library

Page 7

Public safety, elected officials

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CONNECT WITH US FORSYTHNEWS.COM Call 770-887-3126

@forsythcountynews @forsythsports

@forsythnews @ForsythSports

@forsythnews @400Life @focoflavors Life in Forsyth 2022 | 3

THINGS TO DO Lake Lanier One of the biggest attractions in Forsyth County and the north Georgia area, Lake Lanier is a must see for anyone new to the county. Whether it be swimming at the beach at one of the parks, circling the lake in a boat or enjoying a day of fishing practically anywhere, there is no end of things to do at the lake. Find out more about where and how you can visit the lake by visiting the US Army Corps of Engineers at www.sam.usace.army.mil.

Hike Sawnee Mountain No matter where you go in Forsyth County, it’s hard to miss Sawnee Mountain rising majestically out of the horizon. Just a short drive from downtown Cumming lies 11 miles of hiking trails, picnic areas and visitor center at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve — A perfect day trip for hikers and nature lovers of any age or skill level. Dogs are not allowed at Sawnee Preserve. Find out more about the trails and programs at parks.forsythco.com.

Visit a farm Sure, farms are fewer and farther between than they used to be in Forsyth County, but several of the ones left are more familyfriendly than ever.

Looking to pick fruit in the spring or pumpkin in the fall? Go to Warbington Farms, where there’s also a corn maze, petting zoo and a family fun park. Never cut down your own Christmas tree?

Then head to Bottoms Tree Farm or Kinsey Family Farm where you can chop down the tree of your choosing, as well go on a hay ride or see a variety of farm animals. Each offers plenty for families to do year-round.

Warbington Farms: 5555 Crow Road, Cumming, GA, 770-889-1515, www.warbingtonfarms.com.

Bottoms Christmas Tree Farm: 5880 John Burruss Road, Cumming, GA, 770-887-2728, Bottomstreefarm.com.

Kinsey Family Farm: 7170 Jot Em Down Road, Gainesville, GA, 770-887-6028, www.kinseyfamilyfarm.com.

Check out the rodeo The IPRA Rodeo is an annual Labor Day weekend event. The show features bull riding, bare back riding, barrel racing, cowgirl breakaway roping, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping and saddle bronc riding.

The Rodeo will be at the Cumming Fairgrounds Covered Arena on at 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2 and Saturday, Sept. 3; and at 7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 4. The Cumming Fairgrounds is at 235 Castleberry Road in Cumming. Visit cummingfair.squarespace.com for more information.

Thomas-Mashburn Steam Engine Parade The annual Thomas-Mashburn Steam Engine Parade will be at 10 a.m., Monday, July 4.

The parade starts at the Forsyth Central High School for floats and Webb Street for steam engines and continuing down Tribble Gap/Castleberry Road to the Cumming Fairgrounds (235 Castleberry Road).

4

Life in Forsyth 2022

The Cumming Fairgrounds will host a fun-filled evening from 4-10 p.m., with a fireworks display to begin at 9:30 p.m. The celebration includes music, alcohol, food and vendors. Visit www. cityofcumming.net or cummingfair.squarespace.com for more information or follow the City of Cumming on Facebook.

The Taste at Cumming Fairgrounds The Taste is an event in the spring showing off over 25 local restaurants in Cumming and Forsyth County. The event also features an Easter egg hunt, free entertainment, and more. Cumming Fairgrounds is at 235 Castleberry Road, Cumming. Visit cummingfair.squarespace.com for more information.

Cumming Country Fair & Festival The Cumming Country Fair & Festival is back for 2022 at the Cumming Fairgrounds. It will run from Oct. 6 and continue through Oct. 16. The Cumming Fairground is at 235 Castleberry Road.

Pets, coolers, alcohol and outside food or drinks are not allowed in the Fairgrounds. Fair patrons are welcome to bring strollers, wheelchairs, and chairs for concerts.

For more information, call 770-781-3491, visit Cummingfair. net or follow the City of Cumming on Facebook.

Christmas parade The City of Cumming will hold its fourth annual Cumming Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3. The parade features musical performances, floats and vehicles ranging from Jeeps to firetrucks to SWAT vehicles used by Forsyth County’s Sheriff’s Office leading to the festival at the Cumming Fairgrounds.

For more information, call 770-781-3491, visit Cummingfair. net or follow the City of Cumming on Facebook.

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Crystal Ledford Finding joy through mentoring of Forsyth ‘Being able to see the joy of a child is just incredible’ Story by Sudie Crouch | Photo by Kelly Whitmire

“Joy” is one of the words that comes to mind after speaking with Crystal Ledford for just a few minutes.

It’s easy to see how her effervescent and positive personality can definitely be a benefit in her role as the Public Information Assistant at the City of Cumming.

She handles most of the daily communication for the city and keeps the public informed of all of what’s happening, among other tasks that she handles there.

She’s worked closely with the Cumming City Center property manager to help create their website and social media pages to help keep the community in the know and was instrumental in helping create and launch surveys for the planning and zoning director as the department worked on the Comprehensive Plan Update. Needless to say — she’s busy.

She relishes her job because it helps her stay involved and in touch with the community she loves but also felt like a natural transgression because of the connections she made when she was a reporter for the Forsyth County News.

Even though her position at the City of Cumming keeps her busy, Crystal said having a regular schedule has allowed her the opportunity to get back to doing things she loves — like participating in theater and something she’s always had a heart for — mentoring.

Her first experience with mentoring was years earlier in Haralson County, and she had enjoyed it so much that she was looking for a way to be able to get involved again. When Coming up on her fourth year volunteering with MentorMe’s after school program, Crystal has found it to be not only rewarding but something fun she looks forward to each week.

For the last two years, she’s been able to work with the same student, helping to build and strengthen that bond. While the mentoring focuses on homework help, she says it’s an enriching partnership that makes life better for both the mentee and mentor.

“Being able to see the joy of a child is just incredible,” she said, reflecting on how those connections can also be filled with fun moments too.

Reading with her student is one of her favorite activities, as she uses her love of theater and drama to bring the stories to life as more of a performance, than just words on the page. Being able to have that sense of play helps build that connection with the student, and can help the student feel connected as well.

Building those relationships can be crucial for adults, but can be even more so for children, as it helps them find confidence, learn new skills, and to be able to have someone they trust to talk about things with.

“It’s so important for kids to have that extra relationship outside of those that feel more authoritative,” Crystal said, adding, “It helps them to have those bonds with an adult to be their cheerleader, support, and buddy. It can make such a huge difference for them.”

Crystal says you can never do too much for children, and interestingly enough, her love for working with children had a special boost. In addition to her past mentoring experience and working 6

Life in Forsyth 2022

briefly in the school system, Crystal is a real-life Mrs. Claus.

Her husband, Walter Smith, is a professional Santa Claus, and even though she hasn’t officially donned the red suit, she did get to help with some of the Christmas events. Seeing the joy they were able to spread and experiencing it themselves helped spark that reminder of how she enjoyed mentoring and led her to sign up shortly afterwards.

In addition, she and her husband have also fostered approximately 20 dogs for the Forsyth Humane Society over the years, enjoying the opportunity to free up space at the shelter for another pet, while opening their home to a pup until they find their forever home.

Being able to help make a difference every day is just important to Crystal, and mentoring is allowing her to do just that. “I get so much out of it,” she says. “I hope they get as much out of it as I do.”

FORSYTH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY Cumming library 585 Dahlonega Street, Cumming, GA 30040 770-781-9840

Hampton Park Library 5345 Settingdown Road, Cumming, GA 30041 770-781-9840

Post Road Library 5010 Post Road, Cumming, GA 30040 770-781-9840

2820 Old Atlanta Road, Cumming, GA 30041 770-781-9840 Visit www.forsythpl.org for more information

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Life in Forsyth 2022 | 7

FACES

of Forsyth It’s about ‘rolling up our sleeves and helping the community’

Cheryl McFadden Culture of giving

Story by Sudie Crouch | Photo by Ashlyn Yule

After a career working for many big name media organizations — her accolades are plenty — Cheryl McFadden says she’s been “blessed” with the opportunity to work in what she calls, the most satisfying job of her career.

When asked what makes it so special, she’s quick to respond it’s the culture.

A culture that it’s faith-based not just in words but actions, and it’s at the heart of everything there at the dealership and stems from a company mantra of doing the right thing when no one is looking.

As the Director of Marketing & Community Engagement at Beaver Toyota, Cheryl says she is able to help organize and plant the seeds to help put the initiatives in action but says it’s definitely not just her doing it. Rather, she says it takes a village to do the work, with so many of the employees being involved in different ways of serving and helping.

That culture of giving comes from the top down, and spreads throughout the company as a whole. “This is their [Mike and Linda Beavers] vehicle in the community — their heart and culture, and Patrick [the General Manager] provides the leadership that is the reason for our success,” Cheryl said.

For Cheryl, community engagement includes being able to create those partnerships to help make the impact spread a bit further. From supporting the local American Legion 307, the Forsyth County Animal Shelter or First Responders, she has helped create events that provide support while growing the community’s awareness.

Even though most of their regular fundraisers were put on hold, that only allowed the opportunity to find more creative efforts to support the community. During the height of COVID, one of the proactive measures the dealership took was offering a gift card to everyone who purchased a vehicle; the gift card was always from a local small business.

This was just one way of not only giving back to the customers but to also help other businesses in the community, while keeping the money local.

“It’s not about writing a check, but really rolling up our sleeves and helping the community,” Cheryl said.

But, what she calls her “heart-cord’’ is helping the underprivileged children throughout the community through partnering with nonprofits such as CASA, Habitat for Humanity, and MentorMe, which will begin in September.

Being able to help support the local schools and students is not so much about being able to have their name attached to their efforts, but rather to do something that will have an impact inside the classroom for the students and educators.

Working for a company with such a culture driven by random acts of kindness has created an atmosphere for what Cheryl describes as miracles and “a lot of wows,” it can be hard to nar8

Life in Forsyth 2022

row it down to one favorite event she’s witnessed. But, she said one that stands out was when they were able to help a family who after trying to get pregnant discovered they were expecting not one, but four babies. “We were able to get a vehicle for them, car seats, fill the back of the vehicle with diapers, and pay their rent for six months,” she said.

“That was so much fun to be able to do something like that… you just felt like you were blessed.”

Cheryl’s coming up on her five-year anniversary with Beaver Toyota and says she feels like she has found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow with what she does in working with the people she does and serving her community.

“Fate is what brought me here,” she says. “It doesn’t feel like work at all. I am just so blessed to come in here each morning.”

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Brenda Howell Passion for helping others spans decades

‘I believe in supporting our community’ Story and photo by Kelly Whitmire

Whether for buying a car or helping others, Brenda Howell is no stranger in the community.

Howell serves as business development/e-commerce director for Billy Howell Ford Lincoln, though she is known well outside just the business community for her, and the dealership’s, involvement with several local non-profit organizations.

Among the projects she helps with in the community are B.A.D.G.E. of Forsyth County, CASA of Forsyth County, Inc. and an annual luncheon for first responders each Sept. 11.

“I believe in supporting our community,” Howell said. “All the charities that we work with are based here in Forsyth County, and I think it’s important to do that.”

Howell said her parents instilled a passion to help those in the community, then when she had children of her own, she passed that down, and the family began working with senior centers, Special Olympics and Girl Scouts.

“I also volunteered in the school system, so I kind of learned more about what was available and became much more passionate for helping children,” she said. “So that’s how I got involved in some of the charities.”

Formed in 2015, B.A.D.G.E. – Benevolent Association Dedicated to Employees of Forsyth County Service Organization – is a local program to collect and distribute funds and other needs for first responders.

On the heels of the 2014 shooting at the Forsyth County Courthouse, when Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Dep. Daniel Rush was shot, several fundraisers popped up, creating confusion.

Howell, who is president of the organization, said she was first contacted by wives of deputies wanting to set up a program before FCSO officials asked her to get involved “because they felt like it would be better if it was people who weren’t so closely related to people in the department.”

“People can make a donation to a nonprofit that benefits them, and then we can take the funds and do a vetted process when someone asks for assistance,” Howell said. “We go through to make sure that they’re in good standing. We talk to their supervisors to make sure there is actually a need, then we discuss it with the individual.”

Initially serving only deputies, Howell said B.A.D.G.E. began serving the county’s fire department and E911 center and the Cumming Police Department in 2018 and has given out more than $275,000 and assisted more than 125 individuals over the last seven years.

Howell said all funds raised go directly to the beneficiary, with the organization paying house payments, medical bills or other expenses, rather than individual checks, to first responders who have been injured or face other hardships.

“I typically know something’s happened because I start getting donations from the account,” she said. “What we’ll find is, we’ll start getting donations because the sheriff’s office has 10

Life in Forsyth 2022

told them if they want to donate, this is where it needs to go.”

Also benefitting first responders, for more than a decade, each Sept. 11, the dealership hosts a meal for all first responders in remembrance of those who responded to the terrorists attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Starting as a luncheon, the meal has grown and attracted help from others over the years.

“It started getting so big, because now we have around 500 people, we serve from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.,” Howell said. “If they cannot come, we’ll take food to the jail and courthouse because they can’t leave.”

The event has now grown to include culinary programs from a number of high schools in Forsyth County.

“We’ll make a menu, then the students get to cook,” Howell said. “On top of that, they get to learn about serving and they get to be with first responders and see that they’re great people sitting and having a meal together and enjoying each other’s company.”

In addition to her work with first responders, Howell is also a member of Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, of Forsyth County, an organization that advocates for children of abuse or neglect, often due to mental health or substance abuse issues.

Howell said in the last year, CASA volunteers have been involved in 176 cases in Forsyth County.

“CASA’s goal is to change the child’s story and give them a new narrative and help them in the judicial system,” she said.

“The CASAs will go to the child’s school, they’ll meet with their families and they will make a recommendation to the court on what they think would be best. The ultimate goal is always to have the family to stay together, but, sometimes, that’s not the right answer. Maybe that answer will change later, but the only way to know is to have someone that is consistent in that child’s life.”

Along with the programs she works with, Howell noted that there are non-profit organizations of all types in the county — including organizations for pregnant women, those overcoming drug addiction and helping animals — and recommend that those who want to give back find what they are passionate about and volunteer with those groups.

For more information on the groups, call 770-580-0429 or go to Badgeoffcso.org for B.A.D.G.E. or ForsythCountyCASA. org for CASA.

The Forsyth County Democrats are concerned about the issues that matter to all of us:

• School and public safety • Fair elections • Public schools that build community • Affordable costs of living • Quality affordable healthcare access Democrats work to protect everyone’s civil liberties and personal freedom.

Right now is a great time to get involved with your local county political committee!

Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.forsythdems.org

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FACES

of Forsyth

Ricky Bryan Beyond the hoops

Teaching kids importance of teamwork, relationships Story by Sudie Crouch

Ricky Bryan learned early on how having someone mentor you could not only help open doors, but provide you with some key life lessons as well.

Starting when he was young and working for Tom Forkner, Sr., one of the founders of Waffle House, Ricky learned how important it was to have a mentor.

“I was doing yard work, but what I was really learning was life skills,” Ricky said, adding that Forkner helped influence him into going into real estate, pointing him towards Forsyth County as the place to be. Beyond guiding Ricky towards a career, he also showed him how to treat everyone the same and that was with respect, and how being involved in someone’s life can have such a positive impact.

When he moved to Forsyth, Emory Lipscomb provided that positive influence for Ricky helped continue to show how powerful having someone to be a mentor can be as he started his own real estate company, and found a father figure in Lipscomb.

With his passion for real estate off to a solid start, Ricky started looking for ways to give back to the community and his love for sports presented him with the opportunity to coach.

For Ricky, coaching was a natural way to give back to the community that welcomed him with open arms. “One of the things that draws people to Forysth County is the school system, and sports is a great part of that; kids can learn a lot through sports,” he said.

His coaching expertise spans over 20 years, with him starting off coaching local travel teams and high school basketball, long before he became a father himself.

Once Ricky and his wife, Meredith Tallant’s two daughters — Claire, 8, Leigh, 12 — came along, he found himself being involved with their teams as well. Being involved with their teams inspired Ricky to find ways to help instill the values and confidence that comes from sports not just to his daughters but to other female athletes as well.

That’s what prompted him to reach out to Brian Burns, owner of the Redline Athletics Forsyth, to see about renting space for a couple of hours on Sunday evenings.

From 6-8 p.m., girls from all over Forsyth County come in and work on their basketball skills — all for free. Despite the program not having a formal name, it has spread via word of mouth through the other sports teams his children were involved in.

“It’s important for building relationships, for strength, for confidence, and teamwork. It helps teach kids how to handle failure — and success,” he said. “The girls that come out may be friends at school, or they may go to different schools, but their common denominator is basketball.”

Bryan continued, Page 15

Cliff Whitney Soaring to succeed

Aviation, teaching others Whitney’s greatest passion Story by Sudie Crouch

Cliff Whitney wasn’t able to go to college.

But that didn’t stop him from discovering there can be different paths to learning as well as success.

His scrappy entrepreneurial spirit started at a young age when he got his first paper route in his early teens that had him on the streets of his neighborhood at 3 a.m. before going to school. Cliff went on to hold down two jobs while in high school, including being a bus driver, until he applied for a job with Wolf Camera as a salesman and eventually worked his way up to Senior Vice President of new technology.

Similar to when he was a teen, he still had more than one job, operating a version of his hobby shop, Atlanta Hobby, in the meanwhile until he was able to go full time with his passion in 2000.

Even though Cliff was able to do quite well for himself without a formal baccalaureate education, it’s something he still cele12

Life in Forsyth 2022

brates and encourages when he can. Especially when that education is presenting unique opportunities for students to learn, such as with the Alliance Academy for Innovation, one of the specialized high schools within Forsyth County.

At Alliance, “students complete Georgia high school graduation requirements as well as participate in real world experiences in simulated work environments, complete internships, and

Whitney continued, Page 15

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PUBLIC SAFETY Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters 100 East Courthouse Square, Cumming GA 30040, 770-781-2222 North Precinct 2310 Keith Bridge Road, Cumming GA 30040 770-886-2800.

South Precinct 2985 Ronald Reagan Boulevard, Cumming GA 30041, 770-781-3047.

Visit www.forsythsheriff.org for more information.

COURTS Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Court Security Deputies are responsible for providing a safe atmosphere within the Forsyth County Court, including but not limited to, Superior and State Courts, Grand Jury, Juvenile Court, Probate, and Magistrate Court. ​LOCATIONS: Forsyth County Courthouse 101 East Courthouse Square,

Cumming, GA 30040, 678-455-8485. ​Forsyth County State Court 770-781-2130

Forsyth County Fire Department headquarters/ Administration 3520 Settingdown Road Cumming, GA 30028, (770) 781-2180

Ron Freeman, Forsyth County Sheriff

Online: forsythco.com/DepartmentsOffices/Fire-Department

Forsyth County Magistrate Court 1090 Triple Gap Rd., Cumming, GA 30040, 770-781-2211

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F​ orsyth County Superior Court 770-205-4660 F​ orsyth County Probate Court 100 West Courthouse Square, Cumming, GA 30040, 770-781-2140 F​ orsyth County Juvenile Court 875 Lanier 400 Parkway Cumming, GA 30040, 770-781-3099 Visit forsythcourts.com for more information.

Cumming Police Department

Barry Head, Fire Chief

Cynthia Iacopella, Animal Shelter Director

Forsyth County Animal Shelter is at 4065 County Way, Cumming. Contact the shelter at (678) 965-7185 or visit www.forsythco.com/Departments-Offices/ Animal-Shelter

Animal control Administrative office phone number: 770-781-2138 ; Office Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

After Hours Animal Service officers may be contacted via E-911 non-emergency at 770-781-3087.

Visit www.forsythsheriff.org for more information.

NECK AND BACK PAIN RELIEF NO LONGTERM CARE

301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Cumming, GA 30040, 770-781-2000.

For court information, visit www.cummingmun­icipalcourt.com.

David Marsh, Cumming Police Chief

ELECTED OFFICIALS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Molly Cooper, District 1, mbcooper@forsythco.com Chairman Alfred John, District 2, ajohn@forsythco.com Todd Levent, District 3, tlevent@forsythco.com Cindy Jones Mills, District 4, cjmills@forsythco.com Laura Semanson, District 5, losemanson@forsythco.com Online: forsythco.com

Parks and Recreation The county has a number of different parks and park amenities in the county.

Find out more information on the parks near you by visiting them online at parks.forsythco.com.

14

Life in Forsyth 2022

CITY COUNCIL Mayor Troy Brumbalow, Council members Christopher Light Jason Evans Joey Cochran Linda Ledbetter Chad Crane 100 Main St., Cumming, GA 30040; (770) 781-2010, Online: cityofcumming.net

Jim Pryor, Parks and Recreation Director

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During a time where many young girls may struggle with issues like body image, bullying and insecurity, among other issues, Ricky hopes that the program helps empower the girls to find their inherent strengths, noting how the skills they’re learning can be helpful on and off the court.

Beyond the hoops, Ricky says improving their game also can help the girls place on school teams, which can also lead to college scholarships. Helping empower young girls through sports has taken on a life of its own in a way, and Ricky is the first to give credit to some of the former Forsyth County area players who have come back to volunteer and help train the girls. Haelim Adle (North Forsyth), Jillian Bretz (Forsyth Central), Riley Bryan (Lanier High School), Caroline Martin (North Forsyth), Ally Jones (North Forsyth ) have all come back to help with the program, creating a cycle of mentorship and empowerment.

Helping young girls find that strength and empowerment through sports is at the heart of why Ricky feels like this program is so important, but it goes beyond that.

“Giving those girls that strength and confidence,” he said. “That just transcends basketball.”

receive industry certification.”

When the Alliance Academy was being built, one of Forsyth’s County commissioners invited Cliff to meet Valery Lowe, director of college and career development for Forsyth County Schools.

“I was so impressed with what was being built and the vision for the school, it really affected me,” Cliff explained. “I never had the opportunity to go to college and this new experiment of a career track school brought back memories of when I was in a program called Junior Achievement in high school. That program taught me about business and being an entrepreneur.”

So far, Cliff and his business, Atlanta Hobby, have been able to supply drones (UAVs) for the start-up aviation program, has served on the school’s advisory board, and he has been a sounding board for the school as the aviation program has expanded.

Cliff’s team will be teaching a summer camp for kids with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) this summer, along with hosting other high schools in their drone training programs. “I really love to teach and show all that aviation

can do for kids.”

He was thrilled to also know personally two teens who would be attending Alliance.

“Both of these young adults have been greatly impacted with aviation and will have careers in this field due to the programs and positive influences at Alliance.

I wish programs like this could be spread to many other schools,” he said.

Aviation has long been Cliff’s passion and one that his store has expanded and brought a lot of excitement and adventure to others. And sometimes, just finding something you love and enjoy can open up opportunities, not just for yourself but for others as well.

“The aviation industry and the now rapidly growing UAV/drone industry are such emotional spaces; they touch lives and can change the world at all stages,” Cliff said.

“I feel very rewarded to know that my company has been building and producing enabling technology that can actually move these students and in fact, society forward in a positive way using science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. I am blessed and excited to be a part of this new frontier but the real heroes are the instructors in these programs.”

SMALL TOWN HEART BIG CITY SPIRIT UPCOMING EVENTS Fourth of July Celebration July 4: Parade, 10 a.m.; Fairgrounds Festival, 4-10 p.m.; Fireworks, 9:30 p.m.

IPRA World Championship Rodeo in the Fairgrounds covered Arena Sept 2 & 3 at 8 p.m.; Sept. 4 at 7 p.m.

Cumming Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds Wednesdays & Saturdays thru Sept.

28, 6 a.m. to Noon (or Vendors sell out)

Dog Days at the Aquatic Center Sept. 10 & 11

Cumming Music Fest at the Fairgrounds July 23 & 24 (Presented by 37 Main) Mt. Pisgah Auto Crusade Car Show & Autocross at the Fairgrounds Aug. 26 & 27

Cumming Country Fair & Festival at the Fairgrounds Oct . 6-16 Cumming Steam, Antique Tractor & Gas Engine Expo at the Fairground Nov. 11 & 12 City of Cumming Christmas Parade & Festival Dec. 3: Parade, 5 p.m.

Fairgrounds Festival, 6 p.m.

FO R CO M P LETE EV ENT L I ST I N G A ND U PDAT ES , BE SURE TO FOLLOW US:

Life in Forsyth 2022 | 15

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