My Forsyth Magazine

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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 

“DON’T MISS 

A THING” 

WE’RE MOBILE... 

myforsythmag.com 

33 

COVER STORY 

33 

LEARNING THROUGH 

DISCOVERY 

THE MONTESSORI WAY 

Features 

22 

LIFE’S A JOURNEY 

48 

WHAT’S YOUR RISK 

APPETITE 

51 

GET TO KNOW PINECREST 

ACADEMY 

Health & Wellness 

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 

Faith 

55 THE ULTIMATE ENCOURAGER 

A Bit More 

58 RETIRED TEACHERS 

ASSOCIATION 

60 UM AUTOMOBILE 

INSURANCE COVERAGE 

In Every Issue 

10 FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS 

11 NEWS AROUND FORSYTH 

44 BOOK REVIEW: 

52 UNCOMMON DATES 

52 BURGESS BLOG 

57 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 


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 


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 

finally, things just started to look ugly. 

To my rescue came my neighbors who had planted their own 

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 

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 

a bounty to share with others, perhaps reminding us that we 

can always take time to know each other a little better - even 

if one bag of veggies at a time. 

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. 

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 

10 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3

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. 

Skin by Design is located at 

907 Buford Highway | 470-407-7546 

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. 

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 


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. 



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. 


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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. 

What is the countertop 

made of? 

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. 

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. 

If a color is desired, how dark 

should it be? 

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 



“ 

...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 

An interview by Amy Lyle 

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. 

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. 

Follow Dave to get free book marketing tips! 

kindlepreneur.com/blog/ 

www.youtube.com/channel/ 

UC-s3Pb8uIBm0QN8MVaulJKA 

www.facebook.com/KindlePreneur 



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. 

. 


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 


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. 


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. 


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. 





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. 

AB: 

‘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?’ 

SC: ‘The simplicity. I love how many pop flavors 

are so simple. It is about quality ingredients.’ 

AB: 

'What was it like starting your own 

business? Did you have any specific fears or 

were you pretty confident in your plan?’ 

SC: ‘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.’ 

AB: 

‘Did you find your transition from the 

corporate world to that of small business 

easy or more challenging?’ 

SC: ‘It was easy. Felt more natural than “faking it 

'til you make it” in corporate world.’ 

AB: 

‘Since becoming an entrepreneur, have 

you found yourself taking more risks in your 

everyday life? If so, in what ways?’ 

SC: ‘I think about the same.’ 

AB: 

‘How would you personally define 

customer service?’ 

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.’ 

AB: 

‘How would you consider King of Pops to 

be a positive food influencer?’ 

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.’ 

AB: 

‘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?’ 

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.’ 

AB: 

‘In the last week, what has been the 

most memorable, unexpected moment of 

happiness that you’ve experienced?’ 

SC: ‘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.’ 

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! 



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 

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 


Blessing 

or Lesson 

By Ava Clavijo 

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. 

Often it is hard to tell why a “lesson person” is in our lives 

until they are no longer 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. 

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 


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. 

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 


FIT IN 

Child is viewed in terms of competence, 

placing emphasis on homework, grades and 

learn by memorizing core curriculum. 

Child is a passive participant. Teacher has a 

dominant role enforcing discipline and pace 

of learning. 

Errors are viewed as mistakes. Teachers 

correct them and it usually comes with a 

penality of grades. 

Curriculum is organized and structured for 

the child based on federal educational board 

standards. 

Value is placed on completion of 

assignments and test grades. Time is tightly 

scheduled. 

No flexibility in grade level. Children will be 

grouped by age regardless of individual 

capacity and skill sets. 

Goal is to master curriculum objectives. 

STAND OUT 

Child is viewed holistically, placing emphasis on 

cognitive, emtional, physical and social 

development and learn by asking questions. 

Child is an active participant and sets the pace of 

learning. Teacher takes the role of a facilitator 

and guide. 

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. 

Child has opportunity to choose work from 

interest and ability. Concepts are taught 

within that context. 

Value is placed on concentration and 

depth of experience. There is uninterrupted 

time for focused work cycles. 

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 foster a love for learning. 

F 

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ASSION 

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ARMTH 

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 



Is anyone following guidelines… 

and should they be? 

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 

38 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3 

By Narendra Singh, MD 

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. 

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. 


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. Some ingredients in food can go by several 

different names (just to keep you guessing) 

2. How to read ingredient labels (I am a 

self-proclaimed expert!) 

3. How to do an elimination diet and what 

you CAN eat 

4. Food sensitivities can show up in a 

multitude of symptoms 

5. Different people may present with different 

symptoms 

6. 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 

1. Maintain the elimination diet for 1 

month. 

2. After 1 month, reintroduce one 

food. 

3. Watch for a reaction over the next 

24-48 hours. 

4. No reaction? Serve it a second 

time and wait again for 48 hours. 

5. Continue this for 1 week. If 

there is still no reaction, feel free to 

reintroduce that to your child’s 

regular diet. 

6. Reintroduce the next item and 

follow the same steps. 

7. 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 



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. 

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 



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. 

46 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME IX | ISSUE 3 

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

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 


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 



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 

Chattahoochee Elementary 

2800 Holtzclaw Road 

770.781.2240 

Principal: Barbara Vella 

bvella@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Chestatee Elementary 

6945 Keith Bridge Road 

770.887.2341 

Principal: Polly Tennies 

ptennies@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Coal Mountain Elementary 

3455 Coal Mountain Drive 

770.887.7705 

Principal: Kimberly Davis 

kdavis@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Cumming Elementary 

540 Dahlonega Street 

770.887.7749 

Principal: Jordan Livermore 

jlivermore@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 

Midway Elementary 

4805 Atlanta Highway 

770.475.6670 

Principal: Jan Munroe 

jmunroe@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Poole’s Mill Elementary 

(Opening 2020-2021) 

Principal: Paige Andrews 

pandews@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Sawnee Elementary 

1616 Canton Highway 

770.887.6161 

Principal: Derrick Hershey 

dhershey@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Settles Bridge Elementary 

600 James Burgess Road 

770.887.1883 

Principal: Saran VonEsh 

svonesh@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Sharon Elementary 


770.888.7511 

Principal: Amy Bartlett 

abartlett@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Shiloh Point Elementary 

8145 Majors Road 

678.341.6481 

Principal: Ben Jones 

Bjones@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Sliver City Elementary 

6200 Dahlonega Highway 

678.965.5020 

Principal: Mike Sloop 

msloop@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Vickery Creek Elementary 

6280 Post Road 

770.346.0040 

Principal: Kristan Riedinger 

kriedinger@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Whitlow Elementary 

3655 Castleberry Road 

678.965.5090 

Principal: Dr. Lynne Castleberry 

lcastleberry@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

MIDDLE SCHOOLS 

DeSana Middle School 

625 James Road, Alpharetta 

Principal: Terri North 

tnorth@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Lakeside Middle 

2565 Echols Road 

678.965.5080 

Principal: Kim Head 

khead@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Liberty Middle 

7465 Wallace Tatum Road 

770.781.4889 

Principal: Cheryl Riddle 

criddlel@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Little Mill Middle 

6800 Little Mill Road 

678.965.5000 

Principal: Connie McCrary 

cmccrary@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

North Forsyth Middle 


770.889.0743 

Principal: Todd McClelland 

tmcclelland@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Otwell Middle 

605 Tribble Gap Road 

770.887.5248 

Principal: Steve Miller 

stmiller@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Piney Grove Middle 

8135 Majors Road 

678.965.5010 

Principal: Pamela Pajerski 

ppajerski@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Riverwatch Middle 


678.455.7311 

Principal: Pam Bibik 

pbibik@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

South Forsyth Middle 

4670 Windermere Parkway 

Cumming, GA 30041 

Principal: Sandy Tinsley 

stinsley@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Vickery Creek Middle 


770.667.2580 

Principal: Scott Feldcamp 

sfeldcamp@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

HIGH SCHOOLS 

Alliance Academy for Innovations 

1100 Lanier 400 Parkway 

470-695-7823 

Principal: Brandi Cannizzaro 

bcannizzro@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Denmark High 

645 Mullinax Road, Alpharetta 

470-533-2521 

Principal: Heather Gordy 

hgordy@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Forsyth Central High 

520 Tribble Gap Road 

770.887.8151 

Principal: Mitch Young 

myoung@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

Lambert High School 

805 Nichols Road 

678.965.5050 

Principal: Dr. Gary Davison 

gdavison@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

North Forsyth High 


770.781.6637 

jcheney@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

South Forsyth High 


770.781.2264 

Principal: Laura Wilson 

lwilson@forsyth.k12.ga.us 

West Forsyth High 

4155 Drew Road 

770.888.3470 

Principal: Karl Mercer 

kmercer@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 


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 


770.777.9131 

www.montessorivickery.com 

Montessori Kids Academy 


678.208.0774 

School Admin., Maureen Danbury 

www.montessoricumming.com 

Pinecrest Academy 


770.888.4477 

Headmaster: Dr. Edward J. Lindekugel 

www. pinecrestacademy.com 

SCHOOL INFORMATION 

www.forsyth.K12.GA.US 

50 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM MYFORSYTH.COM VOLUME VOLUME VI | ISSUE IX | ISSUE 10 3

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. 


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 

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 


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 

www.firstredeemer.org 

Greater Heights Baptist Church 

3790 Post Road | 770.887.4802 


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 


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 


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 

LUTHERAN 

Living Faith Lutheran Church, LCMS 

1171 Atlanta Highway | 770.887.0184 

Sunday School: 9:00am (all ages) 

Sun. Worship: 10:15am, 12:30pm (Korean) 

Wednesday Evening Fellowship 

Meal: 6:00pm | Bible Study: 7:00pm (all ages) 

Bible Study: 7:00pm (all ages) 

Pastor Tim Droegemueller 

www.livingfaithlutheran.com 

facebook/livingfaithlutheranchurch 

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 


770-887-5542 

Pastor Stan Percival 

www.canvaschristian.org 

Crossroads Church of the 

Nazarene 

6160 Southard Trace | 678.807.9392 


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 


Sunday Small Groups: 9:00am 

Sunday Service: 10:30am 

Childcare available 

Pastor: Chris Stovall 

www.lifepoint.org 

NewSong Community Church 

433 Canton Road, Suite 306 

770.888.5212 

(Located across from Ingles, behind 

the National Guard in Building 300) 


Pastor Case Koolhaas 

www.newsongweb.org 

Rameshori Buddhist Center 

130 Allen Road, Unit B 

404.255.1585 

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 


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 

54 MYFORSYTH.COM MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME VOLUME VI | ISSUE IX | ISSUE 10 3

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! 


MY FORSYTH | HOUSES OF WORSHIP // CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS 

UNITED METHODIST 

Bethelview United Methodist 

Church 

4525 Bethelview Rd. | 770.887.4888 

Sunday School: 9:15am 


(child care available) 

Check website for Bible study classes 

Pastor: Rev. Mark LaRocca-Pitts 

www.bethelview.net 

Creekside United Methodist Church 


770.888.8449 

Sunday Worship: 

8:30am (Traditions-in Chapel) 

9:30 & 11am (Contemporary - 

in Worship Center) 

Kidz Church: 9:30 & 11am 

Bible Studies: 9:30 & 11am 

www.creekside.nett 

Cumming First United Methodist 

Church 

770 Canton Highway | 770.887.2900 

Sunday Services: 8:45 & 11am 

(Traditional) 

Worship Services: 

9:51am (Contemporary) 

1:30pm ( Hispanic/Latino en Español) 

9am (Lake Service (May-August) 

Lanier United Methodist Church 

1979 Buford Highway | 770.887.0615 

Sunday Traditional Service: 8:45am 


Sunday Contemporary Praise 

Service: 11am 

(Nursery available for both services) 

Ted Miller, Pastor 

www.lanierumc.org 

Midway United Methodist Church 

5025 Atlanta Hwy. | 770.475.5230 

Sunday: 8:30am – Historic Chapel 

(Traditional) 

Sunday: 9:45am – Sanctuary worship 

Sunday: 9:45am – “BLAST” 

Kids’ worship 

Sunday: 11:00am – Sanctuary worship 

www.midwayumc.org 

Piedmont United Methodist Church 

1170 Dahlonega Highway 

770.887.0770 

Bible Study: 10am & 5pm 

Traditional Service: 11am 

www.PiedmontUMC@bellsouth.net 

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 

Forsyth Network for Business 

Professionals 

Meeting: Thur: 11:30am – 12:30pm 

Location: 

Jim’N Nick’s at The Collection 

3180 Ronald Reagan Blvd 

Contact: David Fountain 

770-627-2121 

www.fn4bp.org 

The Inspiration Network of 

Cumming 

Meeting: 3rd Wed: 7 – 8:30pm 

Location: The Nurturing Nook, 


Contact: Leanne Temple 

678.965.5969 

Kiwanis Club of Cumming 

Meeting: Wednesdays 12pm – 1pm 

Location: Golden Coral 

2025 Marketplace BLVD 

Cumming GA 30041 

www.cummingkiwanis.org 

Member Power Networking Lunch 

Meeting: Every Tues. at 12 Noon 

Location: Various chamber member 

restaurants 

Contact: 770.887.6461 

www.cummingforsythchamber.org 

Info: $15 for members & 

$30 for non-members 

South Forsyth Leads Group 

Meeting: 2nd & 4th Wed: 11:30am 

(No fees) 

Location: Starbucks-141 & Ronald 

Reagan 

John’s Creek, 435 Peachtree Pkwy. 

Cumming, GA 30041 

Contact: Robin Grier | 770.887.2772 

rgrier@harborfs.com 

Women Who Mean Business 

Meeting: 1st Tues. Registration: 

7:30am 

Location: Cumming-Forsyth County 

Chamber of Commerce 

Event’s Facility, 513 W. Maple Street 

Contact: 770.887.6461 

Info: Free for members, $30 for nonmembers 

Register online at 

cummingforsythchamber.org. 

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS 

Health Center (CHC) 

Serving the medical needs of North 

Georgia since 1979. 

Horse Rescue, Relief & Retirement 

Fund, Inc. 

Contact: 770.886.5419 

www.savethehorses.org 

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 

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 

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” 

By Rev. David Hill 

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 


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. 



this type of coverage. This unfortunately is the 

wrong mentality to have. 

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 

It Gets More Complicated–Get The Right 

Type of UM Insurance 

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. 



A 

DVERTISER DIRECTORY 

AUTOMOTIVE/CAR REPAIR 

SERVICES 

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 

CYBER SECURITY/ 

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS 

Critical Path Security – pg. 49 

770-224-6482 | www.criticalpathsscurity.com 

DANCE ACADEMY/ 

INSTRUCTION 

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 

HOBBY/ROBOTICS 

Atlanta Hobby – pg. 15 

678-513-4450 | www.atlantahoby.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 

MASSAGE/YOGA/ 

WELLNESS 

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 

PAINT & FLOORING 

Gregory’s Paint & Flooring – pg. 17 

770-887-1363 Cumming | 770-476-9651 Johns Creek 

www.gregoryspaintandfloowing.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 

Obstetrics & Gynecology of Atlanta – pg. 45 

404-252-1137 | www.obgynofatlanta.com 

The Southern Skin & Beauty Bar – pg. 43 

770-284-8763 | www.southernskinandbeauty.com 

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 

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 

TRANSPORTATION/ 

NON-EMERGENCY 

ABW MedTrans Solutions – pg. 63 

678-567-6644 

WASTE DISPOSAL/RECYCLING 

Advanced Disposal – Inside Front Cover 

www.advanceddisposal.com

My Forsyth Magazine

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