MYFOR SpringSummer2022

CONTENTS 

VOLUME XII • ISSUE 1 

24 

18 

36 

COVER STORY 

33 WHEN ROUTINE BECOMES 

LIFE SAVING 

20 YOUR LIBRARY CAN HELP 

YOU AND YOUR CHILD 

THRIVE THIS SUMMER 

48 COMMUNICATING WITH A 

TEENAGER 

FEATURES 

18 BOOK CLUBS – LOVE ‘EM, 

HATE ‘EM 

43 GEORGIA HOMEWORK HELP 

HOTLINE 

53 THE WELL 

HOME AND LIFE 

12 The Seller Mindset 

14 New Regulations Open 6 Estate 

Plan “Wormholes” 

16 Meet Pop Culture Expert Chris Crews 

22 Is Getting Divorced Contagious? 

40 Choice by Design 

FORSYTH FOODIE 

24 Fountain’s Food Adventures: 

Never Enough Thyme 

HEALTH & WELLNESS 

30 Your Pap Smear is Abnormal: 

Now What? 

36 Will this Supplement Help my Skin? 

38 One Heart, Two Kidneys, 

Three Pearls 

42 Six Strategies to Start Your Day 

44 The Gift of Gratitude 

46 Active Listening and Intentional 

Speaking 

BURGESS MUSINGS 

50 So, You Have an Oxygen Sensor 

Code 

FAITH 

54 The Ultimate Encourager 

55 What is Your Impossible? 

IN EVERY ISSUE 

10 Forsyth County Government 

11 News Around Forsyth 

56 The Country Preacher 

33 

“DON’T MISS 

A THING” 

WE’RE MOBILE... 

myforsythmag.com

CONTRIBUTORS 

VOLUME XII • ISSUE 1 

MY FORSYTH 

PUBLISHER 

Market Complete LLC 

Samantha Angeli is the 

graphic designer for My 

Forsyth She may be reached 

at samantha.angeli74 

@gmail.com 

Kurt Arseneau is the 

co-founder, Investment 

Adviser Representative, 

RFC® . He may be reached 

at 470-839-9001 or info@ 

arseneauadvisory.com 

Larry Brown is a retired 

journalist. Larry is a member 

of the Sawnee-Cumming 

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. 

julie@marketcomplete.com 

678.614.8583 

GRAPHIC DESIGN 

Samantha Angeli 

samantha.angeli74@gmail.com 

770.310.4486 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Adam Pendleton 

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. 

Pam Evans is an 

Associate Broker with 

Century 21 Results. She 

may be reached at 

678-778-6551. 

David Fountain is a 

local food enthusiast and 

our community’s Best of 

Forsyth Financial Planner 

and Investment Advisor. You 

can reach him at foodie@ 

fountainsfoodadventures.com 

678.208.7077 • www.adampendleton.com 

SPECIAL REPORTS/VIDEO 

Michelle Hall 

904.386.0417 

WEB CONTENT STRATEGIST 

Matt Coutu 

matt@marketcomplete.com 

STAFF WRITER 

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, a long-time 

Cumming resident, may 

be reached at davidkhill@ 

comcast.net. A retired 

preacher, Hill lives in North 

Carolina where he is enjoying 

spending time with his 

beloved grandchildren. 

Bernadette Leonard 

is a beauty salon owner 

and coach. She may 

be reached at 

berni@berniinc.com. 

Katielee Kaner 

katielee.myforsyth@gmail.com 

PRINTING AND MAILING SERVICES 

Power Marketing & Printing 

678.990.3618 • smccaffrey@powermp 

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. 

Leslie Marinelli is the 

Communications Manager 

at Forsyth County Public 

Library. She may be r 

eached at 

leslie.marinelli@forsythpl.org. 

Tracy Ann Moore-Grant 

has been practicing family 

law since 2002. She's a 

partner at Patterson Moore 

Butler. She may be reached 

at 770-889-0846. 

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. 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 2022 

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. 

Katie Newman, LCSW, is a 

licensed clinical social worker 

with a Master’s of Social 

Work from the University of 

Georgia and Bachelor’s degree 

in Psychology from Hendrix 

College. She may be reached at 

Katienewmanlcsw@gmail.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 

info@heartdrsingh.com or 

www.heartdrsingh.com. 

My Forsyth | www.myforsythmag.com 

5485 Bethelview Road, Suite 360-135 

Cumming GA 30040 

(p) 678.614.8583 | (f) 770.888.1511

My Shift 

Ever have one of those moments where you ponder 

how you may have communicated something in a 

manner that the listener may have construed as wrong? 

I know I have, many times. 

Communication in today’s world seems a bit 

complicated. Everyone is busy. We are overloaded 

with messages – on our mobile phones, on displays, 

and in every aspect of our lives. Having time to actually 

see, feel and hear the messages may at times be 

complicated. 

Perhaps the beauty of listening – attentively and 

without judgement – may be something that is slowly 

becoming a thing of the past. Or is it? 

I think not. 

I am shifting my ability to listen by doing so without 

interruptions and preconceived notions – as best I can. 

I have learned that what I say may not be heard as 

intended, which may lead to errors, ill actions, and at 

times the loss of friendships. 

Spending time with kids is enriching. They deal with 

communication in a simple, honest way. There’s yes 

and no. There’s eye contact and sharing of words 

without expectations. With what some may consider a 

limited vocabulary based on age, children can simplify 

our world by being present – in conversations and 

actions. 

Perhaps it’s time to shift and relearn simple 

communication skills. I recently came across the 

following concept: The art of communication is like the 

brushstrokes the painter uses to create a masterpiece. 

It’s time for me to grab a new canvas, get some new 

paintbrushes and start painting again. 

Communication masterpiece – one brush stroke at a 

time. 

JULIE BRENNAN 

Publisher 

julie@marketcomplete.com

VOLUME XII | ISSUE 1 | MYFORSYTHMAG.COM 9

FORSYTH COUNTY GOVERNMENT 

WHAT'S NEW 

FORSYTH COUNTY TO BEGIN MULTI-YEAR 

WATER METER REPLACEMENT INITIATIVE 

Forsyth County Department of Water & Sewer (FCDWS) will be installing new 

water meters at customers’ homes and businesses across the County over 

the next two years. 

“Forsyth County is committed to providing innovative solutions that 

support our community’s high quality of life,” said Water & Sewer Director 

Barry Lucas. “With many of our existing automated meters reaching the 

end of their useful life, we have the opportunity to replace our system over 

a two plus year period with an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) 

system that will help us better serve our more than 66,000 customers.” 

When installed, the AMI meters will provide customers with near real-time 

access to information about their water usage to help better manage 

water use and costs. AMI systems use remote reading technology that 

gathers consumption information accurately, more frequently and more 

efficiently. A secure online portal will also be made available for customers 

to easily track water use over any period of time and be alerted to leaks 

or unusual water usage. 

The new water meters are in line with Forsyth County’s commitment to 

serving customers in the most cost effective and operationally efficient 

manner possible. Prior to initiating this program, the County completed 

a comprehensive analysis that found the cost of implementing an AMI 

system will be offset by operational efficiencies and paid out of enterprise 

(non-tax) funds. 

The rollout of the new meters will occur in phases with the first phase 

beginning summer 2022. Customers will be notified with a letter roughly 

four weeks before their meter is installed, followed by a postcard roughly 

two weeks prior to installation. Both will include instructions to help 

customers prepare for the installation. Customers do not need to be home 

when the new water meter is installed. 

This project will impact the majority of FCDWS customers. However, 

customers who have had their water meter replaced in 2019 or later have 

already received an AMI meter and will not receive a new one. 

For more information concerning the project, visit 

forsythco.com/meterupgrades. 

STATUE RECOGNIZES SERVICE CANINES 

A statue monument with an engraved plaque was unveiled at 

the Coal Mountain Dog Park (4060 County Way) recognizing 

canines that have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and with 

First Responders. 

District 4 Commissioner Cindy Mills and President of the 

Forsyth County Patriots Alliance David Hopkins provided 

remarks during the event that was attended by community 

members as well as local veterans. 

“The County is always proud to honor our veterans and we 

hope this monument will be enjoyed by all that visit the dog 

park,” said Mills. “The American Humane Society estimates 

that each working service dog in the armed forces saves 

between 150 and 200 lives throughout their service, so to be 

able to recognize these dogs specifically at a dog park here 

across from the Animal Shelter is very special.” 

Funding for the monument was allocated out of a portion 

of funds for the Veteran’s Memorial located in downtown 

Cumming which came from SPLOST VIII funds. The Forsyth 

County Board of Commissioners approved the installation of 

the monument during their Dec. 21, 2021 work session. 

The statue design and location were determined in 

partnership with the Forsyth County Patriots Alliance. The 

artist of the monument is Susan Norris. 

The Coal Mountain Dog Park features synthetic dog turf, 

dog water fountains, climbing boulder, wooded areas, dog 

walk ramp, tunnel, sunshades, shaded benches and two 

family-style restrooms. The four-acre dog park is funded 

by donations, the Parks & Recreation Capital Funds and by 

SPLOST VIII. The park opened in Nov. 2020. 

www.forsythco.co 

Find us on Facebook at 

Facebook.com/ForsythCountyGovernment. 

Find us on Twitter by following @ForsythCoGov 

10 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME XII | ISSUE 1

Optimists Recognize 

Forsyth Student 

Orators 

by Larry Brown 

Four young orators won the recent 2022 Forsyth County Optimist 

International Oratorical Contest. More than 3,600 students from 

throughout the county competed. The local event is sponsored 

by the Sawnee-Cumming and Forsyth-Cumming Optimist Clubs. 

2022 Forsyth County Optimist oratorical winners (from left): Alex Jones, Otwell Middle School; Sanjana Diddige, Lakeside Middle School; 

Gargi Surange, Alliance Academy; and Samiksha Gaherwar, Lambert High School. 

Winning the county competition were Alex Jones, sixth 

grade, Otwell Middle School, representing the Forsyth- 

Cumming Club; Sanjana Diddige, eighth grade, Lakeside 

Middle School, representing the Sawnee-Cumming club; 

Gargi Surange, ninth grade, Alliance Academy, representing 

Sawnee-Cumming; and Samiksha Gaherwar, a senior at 

Lambert High School, representing Forsyth-Cumming. They 

each won $500 awards and represented Forsyth County 

at the zone competition. Sanjana Diddige and Samiksha 

Gaherwar won at the zone level and progressed to the 

area contest. Samiksha won there and will compete in the 

district contest. 

The competition is open to sixth through 12th-grade 

students from all Forsyth middle and high schools. A separate 

competition in Forsyth County allows fifth-grade students to 

gain experience. Speeches cover a variety of subjects. This year 

the topic was, “Staying Optimistic in Challenging Times.” 

The Oratorical contest is the longest running Optimist 

program, established in 1928, according to Carolynn Martin, 

president of the Sawnee-Cumming club. "The Forsyth County 

competition is the largest in the world,” she said. “We have so 

many bright and talented students here in Forsyth County. We’re 

grateful to the school coordinators, principals, club members 

and parents for their support of these remarkable students.” 

The Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club meets the first and third Thursday evenings of each month. For 

information about Optimists, contact club president Janna Shacklett, janna9810@gmail.com. 


THE SELLER MINDSET 

In an Extreme Seller’s Market 

By Pam Evans 

The question I am asked a lot right now by Sellers is, does it make financial sense for me to do 

anything to my house before putting it on the market. Inventory is super low, and most homes are 

receiving multiple Offers. So, why bother? 

Great question, and of course the answer is, it depends. 

Generally speaking, homes that are truly “market ready” meaning, they 

are fresh, clean, updated, and the most appealing sell for more money. 

So, the question is, do you want to leave money on the table by not 

maximizing the sales potential of your home? 

Think about when you are looking for a home. First look are the 

photos. Do they look amazing and make the home look amazing? Does 

the home convey, through photos, that it is attractive, well-maintained, 

and updated to appeal to today’s Buyer? If so, you will most likely want to 

see the home in person. If not, it may be a bit of a deterrent, and you may 

opt to put that home at the bottom of your list. 

When you then visit the home in person and see for yourself that it 

is truly a great home, with a nice lot, in a nice neighborhood, you are 

ready to make an Offer. And you probably notice that there are many 

business cards on the counter and perhaps a traffic jam on the street. 

Lots of competition because the home presented well. Generally, the 

more attractive the home, the greater the competition, and ultimately, the 

higher the sales price. 

Here’s my recommendation if you are a Seller debating how 

to proceed: 

• Talk to a reputable Realtor who will visit your home and give you 

an honest assessment with objective eyes. My goal when speaking 

with Sellers is to understand their objectives, any financial challenges, 

and ensure that recommendations I make will generate a return on 

investment. ROI. If you can spend $5,000 in getting your home ready, 

and sell it for perhaps $15,000 more because of your added effort, is 

that worth it? 

• Often fresh paint is ample and can be completely transformative. 

Colors go out of style regularly, and beige paint, with lots of nail 

holes and fingerprints will diminish the attractiveness of your home. 

• Some simple general maintenance is often helpful. If your front door 

threshold has lots of wood rot, think about the impression that 

makes on Buyers as they walk through the door. They are wondering 

what else has not been well-maintained and they will be more 

nervous about their Home Inspection. 

• De-clutter and clean. Always. 

The Bottom Line 

So, the bottom line is yes, of course, in this extreme Seller’s market, 

Sellers do not need to go to such effort as they would in a more 

balanced market. Sellers can cut corners for sure, and get away with 

an outdated Master Bath, torn, stained carpet, outdated colors, wood 

rot, and messy landscaping. You’ll still sell, and probably receive 

multiple Offers. However, how much more would you receive with 

some added effort? 

Seek some objective, qualified guidance and decide what makes most 

sense for you. 

Pam Evans is an Associate Broker with Century 21 

Results in Cumming and can be reached at 

678-778-6551. 



New Regulations Open 

6 Estate Plan “Wormholes” 

& Why You Should Revisit 

Your Plan Right Away 

By Kurt Arseneau, 

Investment Advisor Representative, Registered Financial Consultant 

If 2021 taught us anything, life is unpredictable. 

I learned that living in the moment, not reflecting 

on the past, but learning from the past is very 

important. As Covid 19 was wreaking havoc 

on the world, many of us needed to focus on 

family and friends. It put in perspective how 

important and precious life really is. 

Your legacy plan may have changed without you even knowing, because 

who really had time to pay attention to estate planning changes. Law 

changes have created incredible estate planning opportunities for savvy 

Americans. However, massive changes may have made many estate 

planning strategies outdated. If you haven’t created or reviewed your 

estate plans in light of these new rules, you’re at risk of: 

• Accidentally disinheriting your spouse (because of an outdated trust 

or estate strategy) 

• Failing to take advantage of a temporary tax window (just through 

2025) 

• Shortchanging your loved ones by leaving Uncle Sam too much of 

your hard-earned money 

• Forcing your loved ones to liquidate their inheritance to pay taxes 

(because IRA rules changed) 

all because your will, trust, or estate plan hasn’t been updated to reflect 

the new laws. Right now, you have a limited window (just until Dec. 31, 

2025, or maybe sooner if lawmakers take these opportunities away) to 

take advantage of the possibilities introduced by recent laws. 

Below you will find the top new opportunities and the shocking changes 

that may put estate strategies at risk. 

1. DON' T ACCIDENTALLY DISINHERIT YOUR SPOUSE! 

Plans created prior to 2017 often included formulas based on old 

federal estate-tax exemption amounts (as low as $675,000 in 2001). 

A consequence of an outdated strategy could accidentally pass your 

entire estate to children or heirs, leaving your spouse with nothing. (1) 


2. YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE CAN 

GIVE DOUBLE TAX-FREE 

Current laws doubled the federal estate 

and gift exemption through Dec. 31, 

2025 (it’s $12.06 million per person or 

$24.13 per couple in 2022 but is 

scheduled to return to 2017 levels soon). 

Savvy Americans are taking advantage 

of the higher limits to revisit old estate 

strategies and make gifts before deadline 

expires. (2) 

3. LEVERAGE ADVANCED TRUST 

STRATEGIES 

Recent law changes opened the door 

to advanced trust strategies that could 

potentially help you immediately cut 

your income tax bill, protect yourself 

from lawsuits, and create 

multi-generational tax shelters while 

giving you control over your assets now 

and in the future. (3) 

4. REVISIT YOUR POWER OF 

ATTORNEY 

When the estate tax exemption was 

lower, it made sense to give a trusted 

agent the power to make financial gifts 

(to avoid estate tax). Today’s much 

higher estate tax exemption means 

you might need to reconsider giving 

someone else too much control 

over your money. 

5. RETHINK YOUR “STRETCH” IRA STRATEGY 

If you planned to leave your IRA or 401(k) to children or 

grandchildren who would “stretch” the distributions across their 

lifetimes to create multi-generational legacy, you will need to think 

again. The 2019 SECURE Act killed the stretch IRA by forcing most 

non-spouse beneficiaries to withdraw (and pay taxes on) the full 

value of an inherited IRA or 401(k) within 10 years of inheritance. 

(4) 

If you have one, you MUST take action now to update your 

strategy. 

6. A TRUST MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT BENEFICIARY OF 

YOUR IRA 

“Pass-though” or “conduit” trusts were common ways to protect 

assets while allowing heirs the benefits of an inherited IRA Recent 

laws removed many benefits to making trusts beneficiaries of IRA. If 

you have one, you MUST take action now to update your strategy. 

If you are taking care of your loved ones, consider discussing 

the following with your attorney. 

• Are you currently making gifts to your loved ones? 

• Do you have a will? Has it been reviewed within the last 2-3 years? 

• Have you named beneficiaries for each of your accounts? Do any 

need to be added or removed? 

• Have you recently married or divorced? 

• Is there a charity that you would like to include in your strategies? 

Important! There are a number of charitable giving strategies 

that can help you give tax-free gifts to the causes you care 

about – and potentially reduce the taxes you pay now. 

• Do you need to protect any beneficiaries from life issues, such as 

divorce, addiction, or creditors? 

• Do you have any children with special needs or disabilities to 

provide for? 

• Do you have wishes for how you want your gifts to be used by your 

loved ones? 

• If you have minor children, have you named guardians or personal 

representatives? Are they up to date? 

• Is keeping your affairs private important to you? 

• Are you concerned about family dynamics around inheritance? 

You don’t have to create your Roadmap alone. If you’ve ever dealt with the 

estate of a loved one, you know that it’s a complex and often trying process. 

Getting it wrong means leaving your loved one with a complicated mess 

and potentially owing Uncle Sam a lot more than you intended. 

If you have an existing legacy plan, I highly recommend you revisit it right 

away. The window is closing by Dec. 31, 2025, or sooner, so time is of the 

essence. 

Until next time, stay healthy and safe. 

Sources: 

1. 

https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/sites/default/files/briefingbook/how_many_people_ 

pay_the_estate_tax.pdf 

2. 

https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/601639/estate-tax-exemption-2022 

3. 

https://www.kiplinger.com/article/retirement/T021-C000-S004-update-estateplans-in-light-of-new-tax-law.html 

4. 

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/inheriting-a-parents-ira-or-401k-heres-howthe-secure-act-could-create-a-disaster-2019-12-26 

Investment advisory services offered by Solomon API, LP. Solomon API and Arseneau Advisory Group 

are not affiliated companies. Solomon API, LP is a federally registered investment adviser with the 

SEC. Neither the firm nor its agents or representatives may give tax or legal advice. Individuals should 

consult with a qualified professional for guidance before making any purchasing decisions. 


INTERVIEW 

"I am looking for a dare 

to be great situation." 

-Llyod Dobler, “Say Anything” 

LESSONS FROM 80S 

POP CULTURE IN 

TODAY’S WORKPLACE 

An interview by Amy Lyle 

Pop culture expert Chris Clews expounded on why “Coming to 

Americas'” Prince Akeem and more 80s pop culture icons hold 

the keys to business and life success. 

A: The success of your book, "What 80s Pop Culture Teaches Us 

About Today's Workplace," has launched you into a dream career. 

How did that happen? 

C: I was 47 and in a job that wasn't working out for me. I was reflecting on 

my career when I heard (on the television) Judd Nelson’s character, John 

Bender, from “The Breakfast Club” say, "Screws fall out all of the time. The 

world's an imperfect place." My screws had fallen out. I decided to get a 

new set of screws which opened a new career journey. 

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop to look 

around once in a while you could miss it." -Ferris Bueller 

A: What is it about 80s pop culture that you are drawn to? 

C: When I look back at 80s pop culture, I describe it as a glitter bomb 

of creativity that when exploded unleashed all of these wonderful and 

vibrant colors that became the movies, music, toys, collectibles, television 

and literature that we love today. There was something for everyone. Look 

at the Top 40 music for any year/month/week in the 80s and you'll find a 

mix of musicians such as LL Cool J, Kenny Rogers, Depeche Mode, Motley 

Crue, Debbie Gibson, Culture Club and Chaka Khan. 

A: Give us an example of a lesson from an 80s movie that might be 

unexpected. 

C: Take Prince Akeem from 

“Coming to America,” for example. 

Born a prince and the heir to 

the throne in his country of 

Zamunda, he’s given a leadership 

position without earning it and 

is surrounded by “Yes” people. 

Whatever he asked they did, and he didn’t like that. He wanted people 

to like him for who he is as a human being not for simply being royalty. 

He decided to go to Queens, NY where no one knows him and strip away 

anything that would signal he was royalty. He took a job sweeping the floors and 

handling the garbage at a fast-food restaurant (McDowells) and at one point 

said, "When you think of garbage think of Akeem." Ultimately people do find 

out he is a prince; by then he had earned their respect and credibility. With 

his humble actions, he teaches us that "Unearned leadership creates pleasers. 

Earned leadership creates believers." 

A: When I think of my favorite movies from the 80s, they were from 

John Hughes who gave us so many classics, including “Sixteen 

Candles,” “Ferries Bueller’s Day Off,” “The Breakfast Club” and 

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” just to name a few. Who 

is your favorite John Hughes character? 

C: Del Griffith (played by John Candy) in “Planes,Trains and Automobiles.” 

Del was funny and lovable but also overbearing because he was so broken 

from the loss of his wife—his one true love. He just wanted to be liked and 

"We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at 

hiding it, that's all." Andrew, “The Breakfast Club” 

loved and he needed the warmth of personal relationships. He was all of us 

rolled into one complex and totally awesome character. 

A: What's the most underrated movie of the 80s? 

C: There are so many for so many different reasons. I'll throw out two – 

“Lucas” and “Three O'clock High.” 

A: Congratulations on your speaking tour. Where will you be the next 

few months? 

C: Thank you! The next few months I have keynote speaking engagements 

in Lexington, KY, Chicago, Orlando, and Atlanta with several others not 

quite finalized as of yet but very close to being able to share publicly. 

People are really excited to gather again which is totally awesome! I'm also 

launching a third book in my series in August of 2022 and beginning to 

plan book signing events. 

A: Where can people find you? 

C: My website is chrisclews.com. On social media you can find me on 

the following: 

Twitter - @80spopculture | Instagram - chrisclews80s 

LinkedIn - Chris Clews | Facebook - @chrisclews80s 

YouTube - Chris Clews, Author and Speaker 



Book Clubs 

Love 'em, Hate 'em 

by Jacqueline Thompson Graves 

I have many friends who are Readers. Readers tend 

to find each other. “Whatcha readin’?” begets many a 

friendship. Sometimes these Readers clump together creating 

Clubs. The only problem with clubs is- most clubs of any kind 

come with rules. Some Readers like rules. They were the good 

kids in school, the teacher’s pets who sat on the front row, raised 

their hands, wore pretty hair bows and wrote essays about 

whatever the teacher suggested. But I got sent to the principal’s 

office on the first day of kindergarten, so I never was too keen 

on rules. If I am going to voluntarily join a club, it’s not going to 

be one with six pages of rules. 

Here’s how the rules go for most book clubs. We meet a certain 

day. If you miss twice, we kick you out. We all read the same book. 

We discuss it at the book club. You are forbidden to call each other 

and chat about it while you are reading it, while you are excited 

about the book, while you are in its throes. You must wait until the 

book club leader allows you to (after raising your hand, of course) 

offer discussion in response to her questions. Your answers cannot 

be too “out there” or she will (just like that teacher) pull you aside 

and have a friendly little talk. 

Sound familiar? I went to that book club exactly once. 

Then there was another one where almost no one ever read 

the book, yet they wanted to be a part of the discussion. “How 

can you have an opinion when you haven’t read the book?” I 

finally blurted out in frustration. I got another little talk. 

At last, my girlfriends and I hit upon what we felt was the 

perfect not-exactly-a-book club. We created a book report 

club. Our main focus was eating a meal together potluck style 

and drinking wine. (See there, some of you like it already.) At 

some point during the evening, we each took a turn sharing 

what we had recently read. It could be anything: fiction or non, 

recommendation or stay away from, even cookbooks, magazines 

and movies were fair game, especially if one of us had not had 

time to read lately. Our goal, our focus was our friendship. 

We met for years, laughing, eating, drinking, passing around 

good books, watching movies after reading the latest bestseller 

(Hunger Games, for example). One of those friends introduced 

me to Martha Grimes and her British style murder mysteries. 

I’ve read every one of Inspector Richard Jury’s investigations 

and even helped him solve a couple of them. 

Maybe you, like me, don’t mesh with a traditional book club. 

Maybe you stay in your red chair by the fire reading, chuckling, 

underlining, enjoying – alone. Maybe you’re perfectly happy. 

Maybe what you don’t know is you could be perfectly happier if 

you shared it all with a group of other Readers. Book clubs don’t 

have to have six pages of rules. Book clubs can be Friends with 

Books clubs. Where do you find one? 

You start one. You simply ask another Reader, 

“Whatcha readin’?” and you go from there. 

Jacqueline writes a book review blog at www.thebookbuffet.wordpress.com. She is currently 

not in a book club as all her Reader friends moved away (not all at the same time). She is sitting 

in her red chair by her fire reading, underlining, chuckling and missing the potlucks and wine. 


Your 

LIBRARY 

Can Help You and 

Your Child Thrive 

This Summer 

BY LESLIE MARINELLI 

Everyone needs a little “R & R” over the summer. Forsyth 

County Public Library (FCPL) can help ensure that 

second “R” stands for RELAXATION instead of academic 

REGRESSION. Here’s how: 

SO LONG, SUMMER SLIDE! 

Studies have shown that without regular reading and learning 

activities, students can lose roughly one month of school-year 

achievement over the summer. This is known as learning loss 

or summer slide. 

Good news: summer slide is avoidable through enriching activities 

and daily reading. Better news: FCPL offers a sea of free materials, 

programs, and resources to help your kids say “So long!” to summer slide 

and become lifelong learners. 

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE 

FCPL also provides a fantastic array of free summer events for all ages! 

From magic shows, professional storytellers, and “explosive” STEM 

programs for school-aged kids, to teen workshops in cooking, writing, and 

improv, to bass fishing secrets from one of the South's most experienced 

and skilled anglers, there is something for everyone at FCPL this summer. 

Best of all, every program is free and open to the public. 

Sign up for our Weekly Program Planner and we’ll deliver a list of 

our highlighted programs for the weekend and week ahead to your inbox 

every Thursday: www.bit.ly/fcpl-wpp 

For more information about Forsyth County Public Library or any of our 

resources or upcoming events, please visit www.forsythpl.org or connect 

with FCPL on social media @forsythpl. 

OCEANS OF POSSIBILITIES 

Keep your kids reading this summer with our reading incentive program! 

This year’s theme, Oceans of Possibilities, will keep them engaged through 

fun, free activities, and the chance to earn incremental prizes all summer. 

Sadly, fewer kids than ever are reading for pleasure today according 

to a Pew Research study. Reading incentive programs “gamify” reading, 

making it more fun and less of a chore. Plus, rewards and recognition 

of reading achievements help motivate students to keep reading. For 

reluctant readers, the activities element of summer reading programs can 

draw them in and serve as a gateway to reading. 

So sign up! Track reading and activities to earn points, badges, 

incremental prizes, and grand prize entries from May 25 through July 31, 

2022. Visit forsythpl.beanstack.org to register. 

Leslie Marinelli is the Communications Manager 

at Forsyth County Public Library where she was 

a children's librarian for four years. Prior to her 

work at the library she was a writer and editor 

who has been featured in The Huffington Post, 

CNN's Headline News, Parenting Magazine, and 

Northside Woman. Originally from Pittsburgh, 

Pennsylvania, Leslie has lived in Forsyth County 

for 19 years, is a mother of three, and can often 

be found shouting "DROP IT" while chasing her 

rescue pup, Birdie. 



Is Getting a Divorce 

Contagious? 

By Tracy Ann Moore-Grant 

I have noticed a trend over my 20 years 

of doing family law. I will get a new client, 

and a few months later, another one who 

is a friend, neighbor, or family member 

of the first client. Then perhaps it snowballs 

from there and includes a few more friends, 

cousins, or coworkers. And yes, I am appreciative 

of the referrals but when the people from the same 

close circle start getting divorced, I can’t help but 

wonder if getting a divorce is contagious? 

In getting to the heart of this issue, I wasn’t 

surprised to find that studies have shown that 

divorce is in fact contagious. A 2013 study 

found that study participants were 75% more 

likely to become divorced if a friend is divorced 

and 33% more likely to end their marriage if a 

friend of a friend is divorced (1) . In the same way 

that having babies can become popular within a 

person’s social network, so can divorce. Ideas as 

to why this happens vary. Some speculate that 

members of the group getting a divorce bring 

the idea into the group making the topic more 

normalized and less taboo. Others think that 

when your close social framework has a role in 

supporting healthy marriages you tend to also 

take care of your own marriage better. In essence 

positivity creates a support system for healthy 

marriages and divorce and negativity can break 

relationships down. People may also be attracted 

to the “fun and free” lifestyle they perceive their 

friends and family to be having post-divorce and 

want to join in. 

Although I am a divorce attorney, I am 

supportive of marriage. One thing a divorce 

attorney never wants to do, is divorce people 

who could have repaired their marriage. A 

Pew Research Study from 2014 shows that 

6% of divorced couples remarry each other. 

So when presented with a new divorce case, I 

always want to make sure that the marriage is 

in fact over. Especially when a party appears 

to be within the “social distance” of another 

divorce, I recommend that the individual 

takes a step back and reflects on their reasons 

for a divorce. Did these reasons exist prior to 

learning of a divorce of a close contact? Is their 

spouse on the same page or are they surprised 

by the decision? Has the couple tried marriage 

counseling or similar to try to get back on 

track? What do they think their life will look 

like a year from now and is that a better view 

than today? 

The decision to get a divorce should not 

be taken lightly as it affects children, finances, 

futures and can take an emotional toll on all 

involved. If you have someone in your close 

circle who has chosen to divorce, my advice is to 

take a moment to pause and take stock of your 

personal situation before you get swept up into 

the process. And if that fails-wear a mask, wash 

your hands and don’t catch a divorce. 

1 

McDermott, Rose and Fowler, James H. and Fowler, James 

H. and Christakis, Nicholas A., Breaking Up is Hard to Do, 

Unless Everyone Else is Doing it Too: Social Network Effects 

on Divorce in a Longitudinal Sample (October 18, 2009). 

Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1490708 or 

http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1490708 

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 



FORSYTH FOODIE 

FOUNTAIN’S FOOD ADVENTURES 

Never Enough Thyme 

FANTASTIC FOOD. INCREDIBLE PEOPLE. 

By David Fountain 

Never Enough Thyme is a family owned-and-operated gourmet restaurant featuring fresh, 

homemade American cuisine with locations in Halcyon and downtown Alpharetta. The menu 

offers a wide variety of options for every palette. Co-owner Michele Doyle says, “If you’re in 

the mood for healthy or not healthy I have it”. Some healthier options include a crisp fresh 

salad, lemon roasted cod, or a sauteed vegetable quinoa bowl. You can also indulge in some 

belly warming meals such as spaghetti and marinara with homemade meatballs, meatloaf with 

mushroom merlot gravy, or one of David’s favorite a classic juicy cheeseburger with bacon. 

Michele’s favorite dish on her menu is the Chicken Picatta, a lightly breaded tender chicken 

filet sautéed in house made lemon caper sauce served with basmati rice pilaf. Michele loves 

to use the rice to soak up the extra sauce from the chicken.

The Doyle family has been cooking since 2001. 

Originally from New Jersey, the Doyle family was 

looking for a lower cost of living and opening a 

small business. From the inspiration of Michele 

Doyle’s mother, Marie, and creating that homey 

neighborhood feel, Never Enough Thyme let a 

dream become a reality. The Doyle family then 

packed their belongings and moved to Alpharetta 

opening their restaurant together. 

Michele was able to watch as the community 

grew around her, and over time Michele grew 

such a deep connection with her community; she 

was able to maintain a loyal following for the last 

20 years. From customers to staff, she has had the 

pleasure to meet incredible people. Some of her 

staff have been with her for 12-14 years. Her local 

“friendly neighborhood feel” has set her apart 

from those around her. 

Like so many others, the pandemic has 

affected the restaurant. “It was incredibly hard 

for small businesses." She had to quickly adjust 

to the new normal; masks, gloves, and plexiglass 

became the everyday. Even the dining room 

had to close. “Many small businesses did not do 

well.” Thankfully, Never Enough Thyme survived 

through catering and takeout. The payroll 

protection plan offered to small businesses during 

Covid also helped. The Alpharetta location offers 

a takeout window, and the staff was taking the 

food out to cars. In the heat of the pandemic, 

jigsaw puzzles were even being offered, anything 

to get traction going again for the restaurant. At 

the end of it all, her most popular dish, Chicken 

Casserole, is what saved them. The Chicken 

Casserole dish is a creamy blend of chicken and 

noodles covered with a buttery cracker mix. 

Looking to the future, Michele is excited for 

a new concept, Nauti Dog. It will showcase hot 

dogs, cheesesteaks, bratwurst, Italian sausage, 

anything in a bun. Looking to open in March 

in downtown Alpharetta. Michele will bring 

the family feel and cost friendly options to her 

new location. Make thyme to visit one of the 

two locations and keep a lookout for the new 

restaurant, Nauti Dog. 

NEVER ENOUGH THYME 

neverenoughthyme.net 

ALPHARETTA CITY CENTER 

8 S Main St | Alpharetta, GA 30009 

470-395-3977 

HALCYON 

6655 Town Square | Suite 1250 

Alpharetta, GA 30005 

678-297-1124 

David Fountain is a local food enthusiast and our community’s Best of Forsyth Financial Planner 

and Investment Advisor. You can reach him at foodie@fountainsfoodadventures.com 






Your Pap Smear is Abnormal... 

Now What ? 

By Dr. Annie Kim, MD, FACOG 

Cervical cancer is the easiest gynecologic cancer to 

prevent, with regular screening tests and followup. There 

are currently two screening tests that can help prevent 

cervical cancer or detect it early. The Pap smear looks for 

precancerous changes on the cervix that might become 

cervical cancer if not treated appropriately. The HPV test 

detects the human papillomavirus that can cause these 

cellular changes. The Pap smear is recommended for all 

women between the ages of 21 and 65 years old, and this 

test can be done in your doctor's office. 

If your Pap smear is normal, then routine followup is 

recommended as recommended by your doctor. An abnormal Pap 

smear is one in which the laboratory interprets the cellular changes to 

be different from those normally seen on a healthy cervix. Although 

an abnormal test result can be worrisome, it does not necessarily 

mean you have cervical cancer. Of the 3 million women who receive 

an abnormal result from a Pap smear each year, only about 10,000 are 

actually cases of cervical cancer. 

There are a few conditions that might cause an abnormal Pap 

smear result, including HPV, which is the most common cause. 

HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection, and most sexually 

active individuals have been exposed to at last one of the more than 

100 known strains of HPV. Other sexually transmitted infections, 

including gonorrhea and chlamydia, as well as vaginal inflammation 

from bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection can also cause changes 

on your Pap smear. 

If you have an abnormal Pap smear, your doctor will probably ask 

you to come back for a follow-up appointment for a procedure called 

a colposcopy. Colposcopy is an outpatient procedure where your 

doctor takes a closer look at the cervix using a special instrument 

called a colposcope, which combines a bright light and magnifying 

lens. If abnormal cells are seen, then a biopsy is performed and 

sent to the lab to determine whether these cells are cancerous or 

precancerous. The type of cells that are found on biopsy will dictate 

the treatment. Moderate to severe precancerous cells need to be 

removed by procedures such as conization or loop excision, but if 

the biopsy is completely normal, then more frequent Pap smears 

would be recommended. The most important thing to know about 

an abnormal Pap smear is that as long as you follow up with all of the 

recommended testing, you are not likely to develop cervical cancer. 

Therefore, it is crucial to be proactive about your health and schedule 

well-woman visits with your gynecologist every year. 

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. Annie Kim, MD, FACOG is board certified. She is a Diplomate of The American Board of Obstetrics and 

Gynecology, a member of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and a member of the 

American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. Dr. Annie Kim is a native of Johns Creek. She sees patients in 

our Cumming and Johns Creek offices. 


KEIANNA HALEY, CNM


WHEN ROUTINE BECOMES 

LIFE SAVING 


When Doris Smith came to Northside Hospital Forsyth 

for a routine outpatient Gastrointestinal (GI) procedure, 

little did she know this visit would save her life. 

“I arrived a little early on 

Monday morning for my 

test,” Smith recalled. “I was 

placed in a pre-procedure 

room, where they started 

to monitor my heart before 

the procedure.” 

The healthcare team noticed something was 

not right and performed an EKG. 

What happened next saved Smith’s life. 

Dr. Leach took Smith to the Cath Lab after 

reviewing the results of the echocardiogram to 

make sure there were not blockages. 

“A Cardiac Cath is a procedure, in which a 

thin, flexible tube (catheter) is guided through 

a blood vessel from the wrist into the heart to 

diagnose and treat certain heart conditions, 

such as clogged arteries and certain valve 

Dr. Steven Wang 

problems,” Leach added. Thankfully, Smith’s 

heart did not have any blockages. 

By this time Smith realized that she needed a 

lot more care than she originally expected when 

walking in to have a GI procedure. The next day, 

Dr. Steven Wang, a non-invasive cardiologist 

with NCVI, took Smith to the operating room 

to perform a procedure called a Cardioversion. 

“The folks taking care of me realized that I 

was in atrial fibrillation, AFib for short. They 

told me the GI procedure would have to wait 

and that I needed care of another issue; my 

heart was not pumping in rhythm, and I was at 

risk of a stroke,” Smith explained. “The quick 

actions of the cardiology team saved my life.” 

Smith was quickly admitted into the hospital 

and an echocardiogram (EKG) was performed 

to see how the heart’s chambers and valves 

were pumping blood through her heart. 

“An echocardiogram uses ultrasound 

technology to see how well the heart is working 

and how blood moves through your heart. 

During the echocardiogram it was discovered 

that her heart was pumping less than 40% of 

its capacity,” stated Dr. Christopher Leach, an 

interventional cardiologist with Northside 

Cardiovascular Institute (NCVI). “We needed 

to find out what was causing her problems.” 


Dr. Christopher Leach Dr. Kashyap “Tiku” Patel Dr. Steven Wang Dr. Heather Westmoreland 

“A cardioversion is a medical procedure by which an abnormal 

cardiac arrhythmia is converted to a normal rhythm using 

electricity,” Dr. Wang explained. 

The procedure was a success; electricity was used to shock Smith’s 

heart back into normal rhythm. 

Smith spent the next few days taking her medicines to keep 

her heart rhythm in check and improve her heart function and 

learn about changes she needed to make at home to prevent 

future issues. 

“I had the best care I could have asked for,” Smith stated. The 

grandmother of four vivacious children realized how lucky she 

was to have stepped into the hospital for a routine test. 

“The doctors that cared for me were kind and knowledgeable,” 

Smith added. “I am very grateful to Dr. Leach, Dr. Wang and Dr. 

[Kashyap] Patel for their care. The staff was amazing too!” 

“The advances in cardiac care are remarkable. Our cardiologists 

work together; we share insights about the patients we are treating 

so that they’re well-informed about treatment options, no matter 

what their heart condition may be,” explained Dr. Patel. “Our 

patients have the entire team caring for them – whether they 

come into the Emergency Department or a scheduled visit to one 

of our offices.” 

Smith is back home enjoying time with her beloved grandchildren. 

She is grateful to the team at NCVI and Northside Hospital 

Forsyth for saving her life. 

ABOUT NORTHSIDE 

CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE (NCVI) 

Northside Hospital Cardiovascular Institute 

provides heart care that is personal, professional, 

compassionate and comprehensive. Northside 

Hospital Cardiovascular Institute’s team of top 

board-certified cardiologists is recognized for 

ground-breaking research, compassionate patient 

visits and standard-setting leadership that is followed 

by heart specialists throughout the nation. 

NCVI serves patients in 13 locations 

throughout Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. 

Northside Cardiovascular Institute 

2000 Howard Farm Drive 

Suite 450, Cumming, GA 30041 

404-962-6000 

Northsidecvi.com

By Weston Waxweiler, MD, FAAD 

WILL THIS SUPPLEMENT 

HELP MY SKIN? 

I am asked that question quite often by my patients. The focus of this article 

is on oral supplements and how they affect our skin. 

Let us start alphabetically and discuss Vitamin 

A. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient that 

helps to maintain both the dermis and 

epidermis of your skin. Vitamin A also helps 

to prevent UV damage by protecting against 

collagen breakdown and absorbing free 

radicals which thus reduces inflammation. 

This vitamin also plays an important role in 

wound healing. Too little Vitamin A can leave 

your skin bumpy and itchy. 

Biotin (Vitamin B7) is an important 

component in keratin production. Keratin is 

a protein found in hair, skin, and nails. Biotin 

also helps to regulate the amount of oil that 

your skin makes, which is important for both 

healthy hair and skin. Low amounts of Biotin 

in your body can lead to brittle nails and 

weaker hair. 

Vitamin C is another strong antioxidant 

that helps protect against inflammation and 

sun damage. Vitamin C is also an important 

cofactor in the production of Collagen. 

Fun fact: soldiers in the British Navy used 

to be nicknamed “limeys” as the British 

Navy mandated that ships on long voyages 

incorporate limes, an excellent source of 

Vitamin C, into their diet. Too little Vitamin 

C can lead to easy bruising and bleeding gums, 

a condition known as scurvy (often present 

in other naval soldiers before the days of 

refrigeration and modern medicine). 

Collagen is one of the most prevalent 

proteins in your body and makes up 75% of 

the non-water weight of your skin. Collagen 

supplements can help to improve wrinkle 

depth and increase skin hydration while 

decreasing the roughness of your skin. 

Vitamin D helps to create and maintain what 

is known as the “skin barrier” which is your 

skin’s ability to protect itself from moisture loss 

and attacks from bacteria and other pathogens. 

Too little Vitamin D can thus lead to less 

moisture in the skin. 

Zinc is present in some of its highest 

concentrations in our body in the very 

top layers of skin. Zinc is an important 

component of wound healing after a cut or 

other damage to your skin. It helps cells to 

strengthen their walls and specialize their 

functions as they develop. Low levels of Zinc 

can cause your skin to have an eczema-like 

rash that doesn’t heal with typical creams 

and moisturizers. 

Talk to your doctor before you consider 

taking any supplements. While it is beyond 

the scope of this article, it is actually possible 

to “overdose” and take too many of some of 

supplements, which can lead to other problems 

that can be dangerous to your health. 

Dr. Weston T. Waxweiler M.D., FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist. Dr. Waxweiler is originally from Duluth GA and graduated from 

Duluth High School. He completed his undergraduate degree with honors at Davidson College on a full-scholarship. While an undergraduate, 

Dr. Waxweiler developed a desire to practice medicine while working on a medical study-abroad trip in Kikuyu, Kenya. He then went on 

to medical school at the Medical College of Georgia where he graduated with honors as well. Dr. Waxweiler completed his dermatologic 

residency at the University of California Irvine where he gained extensive experience with skin cancer, pediatric dermatology, and cosmetics. 



2. MONITOR REGULARLY 

Kidney health is measured in two simple ways. 

The first is a blood test that tells you about kidney 

function - your estimated GFR (glomerular 

filtration rate). An eGFR of greater than 90 is 

normal, under 60 represents stage 3 kidney disease, 

under 30 is stage 4 while under 15 is stage 5 and 

usually means a need for dialysis. The second test 

is a urinalysis that tells you about kidney damage 

by measuring the amount of protein being spilled 

in the urine UACR (urine albumin to creatinine 

ratio). Less than 30 is acceptable while greater than 

300 is indicative of significant kidney damage. 

Based on these results your health care providers 

can offer additional testing such as ultrasounds, 

CT, MRI or even biopsies and cystoscopy. 

One Heart, 

Two Kidneys, 

Three Pearls 

By Narendra Singh, MD 

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 1 in 7 US adults. Many of 

the risk factors that cause heart disease also affect the kidneys 

such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Infections, kidney 

stones, autoimmune disorders and inflammation all contribute to 

kidney damage. The net effect of chronic injury to the kidneys 

is end stage renal disease (ESRD) that results in the need for 

dialysis or a renal transplant. Both events are life changing. CKD 

is also a major risk factor for heart disease which in turn is the 

leading cause of death in this patient population. Sadly 9 out of 

10 people with CKD are unaware of their disease. Not surprisingly 

prevalence increases with age. Fortunately, there are things you 

can do to protect your kidneys. 

1. STAY HEALTHY 

Regular exercise especially aerobic activities 

improve kidney function. Controlling your sugar 

intake to prevent diabetes or prediabetes is very 

important. Monitoring your blood pressure, 

eating a low salt diet and drinking plenty of fluids 

will protect kidney function. Water helps clear 

sodium and toxins from the body and reduces 

the risk of painful kidney stones. Avoid smoking 

and be careful of using too many over the counter 

medications such as NSAIDs (ibuprofen and 

naproxen) which can damage the kidneys. 

3. CHOOSE DRUGS WISELY 

The first step is to avoid drugs or supplements 

that can damage the kidneys. Always talk with 

your pharmacist or doctor when starting a new 

medication. Diuretics are used to relieve the fluid 

retention seen in kidney disease but should be 

used sparingly as they can damage the kidneys. 

In diabetic patients, two classes of medications 

have been shown to protect the kidney. The 

first are ACE inhibitors (such as lisinopril 

and ramipril) or an ARB (such as losartan or 

valsartan). After that a new first in class drug 

finerenone (Kerendia) can protect both the 

heart and kidneys. For many patients with CKDincluding 

those without diabetes, the use of an 

SGLT2 inhibitor can not only protect the kidneys 

but improve overall survival! These drugs include 

dapagliflozin (Farxiga), empagliflozin (Jardiance) 

and canagliflozin (Invokana). All these therapies 

require close monitoring and guidance 

Heart and kidney disease can both have 

devastating consequences. I’m hoping these 

three pearls will help you save two kidneys, one 

precious heart and a wonderful you. 

NARENDRA SINGH, MD, 

FRCP(C), FACC, FAHA 

Preceptor- Mercer University, Atlanta, GA 

Director, Clinical Research, NSC Research, Atlanta, GA 

Director, Canadian Collaborative Research Network 

Affiliated with Piedmont, Northside and Emory Health 

Systems 

1100 Northside Forsyth Dr, Suite 345, 

Cumming, GA, USA, 30041, 

Phone 678- 845-8960 

5400 Laurel Springs Parkway, Suite 1401, 

Johns Creek, GA, 30024 

Phone 678- 208-0165 

Email-DrSingh@nscresearch.org or 

DrSingh@nsccardiology.com 

www.heartdrsingh.com 


Choice by Design 

By Bernadette Leonard 

“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. 

Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make, makes you. Choose wisely.” 

- Roy T. Bennett 

HOW WE THINK, ACT, AND PLAN SHAPE OUR 

FUTURE DESTINY. We can’t always dictate life situations, but we 

can decide how we will choose to react to them. Think about it - we all 

go through similar circumstances: disappointments, death, chronic illness, 

successes, financial strains, failures, love, divorce, and so much more. The 

major difference between you and others isn’t the circumstance itself, it is 

how you choose to handle and react to current circumstances in order to 

move forward. 

You can choose to: 

• Ignore or Listen 

• Give up or Persist 

• Follow or Lead 

• Fear or Have Faith 

• Blame or Forgive 

• Stay Stagnant or Grow 

• Be Negative or Have Positivity 

• Deny or Accept 

• Gossip or Seek Wisdom 

Daily deposits of positive reactions and choices can eventually lead to a 

more carefree lifestyle and earn the respect and trust of others. Would you 

live your life differently knowing that the impact of a reaction and decision 

can be stronger than the action itself? Our life can take off in any direction 

depending on the choices and decisions we make today. 

Life is funny in the way that when we make unwise choices, it causes us 

to pause and reflect; thus, changing our perspective for our next decision 

or reaction. Living a fulfilled life takes a positive and disciplined mindset. 

We must set a plan and design our decisions for success. 

TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED, SO START TODAY. 

Here’s a simple strategy implementation that can allow you to take a plan 

and turn it into actions that will set you up for disciplined and designed 

choices. Executing these daily and being consistent will help you be effective: 

• Be organized. 

• Start with simple goals. 

• Evaluate your progress and failures. 

• Be accountable. 

• Believe in your plan. 

Life can be stressful and overwhelming, and we can often feel anxious at the 

end of the day. This could be caused by stress at work, financial situations, 

health, loss of a loved one, or relationships, making it hard to implement 

consistent choices in our daily routine for our well-being and future self. 

If you don’t put yourself first, no one else will. Be mindful and make sure 

you’re getting enough sleep, eating wisely, exercising, practicing self-care, 

and doing something you enjoy daily. It’s the small acts that will add up to 

get you refocused for intentional choices. 

Life is one great design, and each choice can lead to great change. 

Bernadette Leonard is a beauty salon owner and coach. 

She is passionate about adding value to the lives around 

her, continuous growth and personal relationships. 



6 Easy Strategies to Start Your Day 

By Christine M. Roberts 

I bet you’ve heard that before. It sounds like a 

good idea. But actually, implementing a morning 

routine? 

It boils down to creating positive habits that 

feed into one another and ultimately roll up to 

a better you. 

Having a morning routine will allow you 

to feel healthier both mentally and physically, 

improve your relationships...when you feel good, 

you are more enjoyable to be around. You are 

more productive, have a healthier mindset, and 

the list goes on. 

I am going to share 6 strategies that will 

drive you to start your day on fire and create 

momentum: 

IT BEGINS THE NIGHT BEFORE. 

To start your morning on fire, take five minutes 

the night before to determine what time you will 

get up (be sure to get enough sleep). Write down 

and map out the schedule for your morning. 

When you are intentional the night before, you 

are mentally priming your brain to be prepared 

for executing your plan. The following steps will 

guide you in creating your plan. 

GET UP WHEN THE ALARM GOES OFF. 

Be true to yourself. If you are committed to getting 

up at 6:00 a.m., keep the promise. Be realistic, 

figure out what your morning plan is and ensure 

that it is something you can and will commit to. 

MAKE YOUR BED. 

If you make your bed every morning first 

thing, you will feel a sense of accomplishment 

and satisfaction. This will set you up for success 

and create momentum for your day. If you are 

balking at this because you think it takes too 

long, I challenge you to time yourself, you will 

be surprised how quickly this can be done and 

how good you’ll feel. 

TAKE 15 MINUTES OF QUIET TIME 

EACH MORNING. 

Use this time to pray or think and set the 

intention for your day. This practice is necessary 

in order to imagine how your day will go, 

envision the meetings, calls, situations that 

you anticipate, and how you want them to go. 

Identify three things that you are truly grateful 

for and write them down. 

HAVE A MINDSET OF MOVING YOUR 

BODY. 

This does not mean you have to run three miles 

every morning or do a 5:00 a.m. boot camp, 

although, if that’s your jam, then go for it!! Just 

move...getting outside for a power walk, do a 

free workout from YouTube, park further away 

at the grocery store, take the extra trip up the 

stairs at home, whatever it is to move, it all adds 

up. You can do it! 

SHOW UP FOR YOURSELF. 

Put on an outfit that makes you feel good. Do 

your hair, put on some makeup, and spray on 

your favorite fragrance. You will have a whole 

new attitude. Do whatever it is that makes you 

feel together. When you get yourself together, 

you’ll exude confidence and take on the “can 

do” attitude. 

No matter what your personality type is, 

each of these strategies are achievable and 

will add value to your life. They will give 

you a sense of purpose, allowing you to 

cope with situations that used to push you 

over the edge. We can’t control everything 

around us, but we can set ourselves up for 

success. 

You Deserve to Be Your Best Self!! 

If you're having trouble getting on track, check 

out our Mindset Reset Coaching Program to 

get results and create your best life. 

p.s. would love to connect on social. 

Christine is a speaker, success coach and author. She speaks to organizations on 

leadership, company culture, time-management and more. Also, consider working 

with her for group or 1:1 coaching to increase productivity, gain more time, and 

maximize the results in your life. 


EMERGING VISIONARIES 

Arnav Tripathi 

For initiatives that range from promoting 

financial inclusion to advocating for economic 

equality, five young people were named 

Grand Prize winners by Prudential Financial’s 

Emerging Visionaries program at a four-day 

summit held earlier this Spring at Prudential’s 

Newark headquarters. 

GEORGIA HOMEWORK 

HELP HOTLINE 

Arnav Tripathi, 17, of Cumming, Georgia, 

founded the "Georgia Homework Help Hotline," 

an organization that supports individuals in 

obtaining their GEDs through its free website, 

where they can live chat with a tutor, submit a 

problem for help or sign up for weekly tutoring. 

Tripathi is a student at South Forsyth High 

School. He worked with Lynn Sennett, former 

Workforce Development Coordinator at The 

Place of Forsyth County. 

Arnav was inspired to start the hotline 

after realizing how important a GED is for 

accessing employment and a well-paying 

salary, leading to an approximate 25% increase 

in salary opportunities for GED graduates 

on average. Homework Help Hotline aims to 

tackle the educational and economic barriers 

that prevent people from getting their GED. 

Arnav is partnering with local nonprofit 

organizations to spread awareness of the 

initiative and is looking to expand nationally 

in the near future. 

Arnav was one of the 25 winners, named in 

February, who earned a $5,000 prize. 


The Gift of 

GRATITUDE 

By Ashley Baer 

Gratitude means having the quality of 

being thankful. Research has shown that 

gratitude increases wellbeing, resilience 

and overall happiness while reducing stress 

and depression. It literally rewires our brain 

for positivity. A Harvard study on gratitude 

showed that people who wrote about their 

gratitude were more optimistic. 

Gratitude is a practice but also a way of life. Daily gratitude has psychological benefits like enhancing mood, increasing 

positive thoughts, self-satisfaction, and awareness. The physical benefits such as boosting immunity, improving sleep, 

and lessening aches and pains are striking. 

HERE ARE EFFORTLESS WAYS TO BEGIN A DAILY PRACTICE: 

• KEEP A GRATITUDE JOURNAL: Every day write three things you are grateful for. If not a writer, say them 

out loud as you feel the gratitude. 

• PRACTICE A GRATITUDE MEDITATION: Try to sit and feel gratitude for the simplest blessings in your life. 

As you sit, breathe in gratitude for the first thing that pops into your mind. Think of someone that you are grateful 

for in your life and reflect on why. Think of a moment of pain that helped you grow. It is our most difficult moments 

that transform us. As you breathe, be grateful for this breath, and this life. 

• WRITE A THANK YOU LETTER: Write a monthly letter to someone who impacted your life. 

• PAY IT FORWARD: Treat someone anonymously such as buying a coffee for the car behind you in the 

drive through. 

Gratitude is a practice of mindfulness, but it has many of the same benefits when practiced on its own. The brain cannot 

be both negative and grateful at the same time, so whenever I notice my thoughts turn negative, I quickly shift them to 

gratitude. Where your attention goes, your energy flows, so focus your attention on all the things we have to be grateful 

for in this life. 

I know I am. 

“Gratitude is an antidote to negative emotions, a neutralizer of 

envy, hostility, worry, and irritation. It is savoring; it is not taking 

things for granted; it is present-oriented.” - Sonja Lyubomirsky 

ASHLEY BAER is a meditation teacher on the app Insight Timer. To learn more, visit her page: 

http://insig.ht/ashleybaer 



Mindful 

MINUTE 

BY KATIE NEWMAN, LCSW 

Active Listening & Intentional Speaking 

THE PATTERNS OF OUR INTERNAL DIALOGUE, “SELF TALK,” CAN BE PATTERNS WE USE TO 

VIEW AND COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS. THIS IN TERM CAN SABOTAGE OUR INTENTIONS 

LEAVING US FEELING DEFEATED, DEFLATED, MISUNDERSTOOD AND NO CLOSER TO OUR 

GOALS. TRY USING THESE WAYS TO CHANGE THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS 

IN OUR LIVES TO HELP YOU WITH THOSE TRICKY LANDMINES IN COMMUNICATION. 

Often times these questions give us enough time to think through 

our thoughts and sift out the opinions, judgement, sarcasm and 

folly giving us more wisdom and intention in our words. 

Learning (or relearning for those of us who are out 

of practice) how to be an active listener can help in 

maintaining a strong relationship or completing tasks. 

It not only shows a person that you hear them but also 

that you are engaged in the conversation. Active listening 

additionally aids in memory retention of topics discussed. 

HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO BE AN ACTIVE LISTENER: 

• Pay attention: Focus on the speaker & avoid any 

distractions. 

• Show that you are listening: Nodding and keeping an 

open posture. 

• Provide feedback: Reflect on what has been said and 

ask questions if appropriate. 

• Avoid judgment: Allow the speaker to finish and avoid 

interrupting with counter arguments. 

• Respond appropriately: Be honest and respectful with 

your response. 

Intentional speaking can be hard for those of us who are 

used to just speaking our minds without reservation. I usually 

tell my clients the three Question Rule when we are deciding 

if we should say something to a family member, friend or 

coworker. 

1. “Is it true?” 

2. “Is it Kind?” 

3. “Is it necessary?” 

Intentional Speaking can be particularly tough to express 

yourself clearly with topics of high emotion. Why not use the 

new year to try these nonviolent communication methods 

from the work of Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D. to master 

difficult conversations? This process helps you stay in the “here 

and now” 

• Open with a positive intention - establish safety by stating 

a win-win intention that is attractive to you both. 

• State your observation - these are the facts (what you 

hear, see, smell, touch, do) free of evaluations, judgements, 

diagnosis of motives, or strategies. 

• Express how it makes you feel - communicate with this 

person the emotional experience (free of thoughts or 

interpretation) that represent your needs. 

• Express your need - this could represent your values, wants, 

and desires (without preferences or strategies for how the 

needs are met). 

• Make your request with a clear invitation to take specific 

action to contribute to the needs expressed (without 

blame or punishment). 

“Together we will create brave space 

Because there is no such thing as a "safe space" 

We exist in the real world 

We all carry scars, and we have all caused wounds. 

In this space 

We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world, 

We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere, 

We call each other to more truth and love 

We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow. 

We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know. 

We will not be perfect. 

This space will not be perfect. 

It will not always be what we wish it to be. 

But it will be our brave space together, 

And we will work on it, side by side.” 

- Invitation to a Brave Space by Micky Scott Bey Jones


Communicating with a 

TEENAGER 

Is it simple? 

By Jeff Mogan 

Corner Farms 

The answer is not a clear yes or no. 

But it is a goal within everyone’s’ reach. 

I often look at what a teen may need in his/her life in order to be able to communicate 

with us about what they are doing and be able to so effectively. We talked about 

us as parent’s being a safe place for our teen to go to. What that means is us not 

automatically condemning or persecuting our teens for things they want to talk 

about. That means, anything they want to say should be open for discussion. 

As parents we have options. We can be open, or we can shut the door before they 

try. Keeping in mind that when we shut the door, our teen WILL find someone to 

talk about whatever is on their mind with someone else. That is not something we 

want to see or hear about, as it may not be the best person for them to talk to. 

With that said, if we want to be a safe place for our teen to talk about things that are 

on their mind, they must be also brave enough to be able to come to us. 

How do we get our teens to be brave enough? That is a huge problem in itself. Let’s 

look at some ways to do that. If the goal is to get our teens to be brave enough, we 

must first create trust in us and trust in them. Here are some simple exercises to 

try with your teen to create a safe place for them and have them be brave enough 

to enter that space. 


1) Have simple conversations about simple 

subjects. Don’t tell your teens they are 

wrong for simple thoughts. Tell them you 

want to talk about anything they want to 

open up about and just listen to their story. 

2) Make it a point to talk about the things 

or items that interest them. For example, 

they listen to rap music, but you don’t like 

rap music. Don’t tell them you don’t like 

rap music. Instead listen to the songs they 

like to show them they matter to you. You 

may hate it, but they will love it. 

3) I regularly share with parents that in 

order to connect with their teen, they must 

be present. Put your phone down, even 

if your teen doesn’t, and just sit. When 

parents come to a conversation, they are 

always trying to solve a problem. Teens 

are never trying to solve a problem. By 

just being present, you leave the space and 

time open to anything your teen wants to 

talk about. It may take some time; it may 

take an hour or two. However long it takes, 

we should never be in a hurry. Leave the 

space open to conversation; be available 

and present. 

4) Be positive. It's important for us to go to 

our teens and have positive conversations. 

As parents it's hard for us to have 

conversations where we are not trying 

to solve a problem. Let’s try connecting 

with our teens without trying to change 

or fix them. Whenever we tell our teens 

they should change or fix something, we 

are basically telling them they are broken. 

Engage in a conversation about the things 

they do well. Success breeds more success. 

In order to connect and communicate effective 

ly with our teens, we must pay attention to who 

we are communicating with. We have to be 

intentional on when we communicate and what 

we are communicating about. As we look to 

connect, always try and connect on a positive 

level in order to be able to connect with your 

teen when there is a struggle. 

We hope these ideas help in your 

journey to connect and communicate 

with your teens. Email us at 

jeff@cornerfarmsforsyth.com 

and share your thoughts on how to 

communicate with your teens.

SO, YOU HAVE AN OXYGEN 

SENSOR CODE… 

By Tom Burgess, Owner, Christian Brothers Automotive, Cumming GA 

Identifying the cause (or causes) of an oxygen sensor trouble code is 

not as easy as you might think. The first step is to determine which 

O2 sensor is sending out-of-parameter data, as vehicles can have up 

to six sensors. Thankfully, diagnostic codes often contain location 

information of the sensor reporting bad data to make that part easier. 

What can cause an O2 sensor code if not a failed sensor? One reason 

can be fuel trim levels. The system works like this: the O2 sensor 

before the catalytic converter tells the computer how much unburned 

oxygen is in the exhaust. Based on this information, the computer 

will add more or less fuel. This feedback fine-tuning loop of fuel trim 

happens continuously. If there are fuel injectors sticking open or 

clogged, the motor will run rich or lean and the O2 sensor will report 

the problem – and obviously changing the sensor will not shut off 

the CEL light because the sensor is fine, it’s the car that has the issue. 

One of the most common reasons a Check 

Engine Light (CEL) will illuminate in your car 

or truck is for an Oxygen (O2) Sensor code. 

Many folks think that simply means the 

sensor has failed and replacing it will solve 

the problem. That may indeed be the case, 

but you might be surprised to know there 

are actually hundreds of reasons a working 

oxygen sensor may be giving readings 

outside of normal parameters. And that’s all 

it means when the CEL illuminates for an O2 

sensor, it just means the data received by 

the vehicles computer from the sensor is not 

within the programmed normal range. If the 

sensor fails it will provide out-of-parameters 

data, but the sensor may be working perfectly 

and the vehicle has an issue, and the sensor is 

alerting you to the problem. 

Another common problem is faulty ignition in a cylinder caused by 

a fouled plug, or a failed coil pack or plug wire – any of these will 

cause the engine to run poorly and could result in an O2 sensor code. 

Ignoring the CEL for these conditions can cause damage to the engine 

or catalytic converter, poor idling, and hurt your gas mileage. If an 

O2 sensor downstream of the catalytic converter is throwing a code, 

it could indicate a problem with the catalytic converter. A leaking 

exhaust system can also cause inaccurate O2 readings, tripping a light 

and causing the wrong amount of fuel to be injected. If the O2 sensor 

has failed, merely replacing an O2 sensor might fix the problem in 

the short term, but for many of the reasons listed above, failing to 

determine what caused the O2 sensor to fail may lead to the new one 

being ruined soon after being installed. 

And finally, many vehicles heat the sensor prior to taking a reading. As 

carbon and ignition by-products begin to coat the sensor, the vehicle 

will heat the sensor longer and longer to get an accurate reading. If 

you change out the sensor and don’t tell the vehicle that you have 

done so, it will preheat the new clean sensor for too long and can burn 

it up the first time you start the car! 

The bottom line is this: an O2 code does not simply mean it’s time 

to replace the sensor. More often the code is caused by an actual 

problem, and properly diagnosing the functionality of the sensor and/ 

or what is actually happening in the engine is very important for the 

health of your wallet and your car or truck. 



The Well. 

Be Real. Be Loved. Belong. 

A ministry focused on the desire 

to provide a safe and loving space 

for people to gather together to find 

hope and healing through community 

and a relationship with Jesus Christ 

is the purpose of The Well. 

Founded by Tonya Cohen, the start 

of what is now known as The Well 

started during a Bible Study in her 

home. “I learned that doing life in 

community was life changing and 

life giving, and I wanted to find 

a way to help others have what 

I had found,” Cohen explained. 


Photos by Abbie Franklin. 

“As I was volunteering at a safe house in Atlanta for women who are 

rescued from human trafficking, I met a young girl who grew up in 

my town, attended church as a child, recently graduated from the local 

high school and just stumbled onto the wrong path through a drug 

addiction that started with a little partying during her high school 

years. This girl's story made me realize that this is happening in my 

own backyard, and I wondered how to help girls like her before they 

find themselves on the wrong path. With all of these thoughts in mind, 

I asked the Lord, "Why, What can I do to help and "How: He showed 

me a vision of Jesus meeting with the Woman at the Well (from Chapter 

4 of the Gospel of John),” Cohen added. 

The Well is, Cohen explained, a place for everyone. “It is a place for all 

of us to be come together to fill our souls with the living water and spill 

out the water of life onto others. It is a place that fosters total wellness 

of the mind, body, soul and spirit through sessions, events, community 

partners, prayer and connection. We foster creativity and beautiful, 

organic experiences with God and people.” 

The Well is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 am - 2:30 

pm for coffee, prayer, connection, friendship, devotions and more. 

Creekstone Village Shopping Center 

1790 Peachtree Parkway, 

Suite 201 

Cumming, GA 

www.thewellconnection.org 

thewell.belong@gmail.com 

678-730-0424 


The Ultimate Encourager 

By Maria I. Morgan 

Have you ever been discouraged? I have. 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 our uncertainty, let’s turn to God. He is an 

encourager like no other. Let Him encourage you today! 

Can I pray for you? 

Heavenly Father. Forgive us for the many times we let our 

circumstances discourage us. Help us look to You for strength and 

encouragement. Thank You for inviting us to “come boldly unto the 

throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help 

in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16; KVJ) We love You, Lord. In Jesus’ 

name, Amen. 


What is your 

“Impossible”? 

One of the advertisers for the Olympics 

is using the phrase or slogan: "Start your 

Impossible." For these outstanding athletes 

from many different and diverse nations, 

where they are today, at this moment in time, 

probably looked "impossible" 6-8-10 years ago. 

But someone in their life's circle, a parent, a 

friend, a teacher, a mentor, a pastor or "The 

spirit of the Lord," motivated, encouraged and 

challenged them to take their very special talent 

and skill and develop it to its absolute fullest 

potential and maximum athletic performance. 

They committed themselves to "pay whatever 

price it would take" in personal discipline, 

commitment and sacrifice to develop their 

individual skill and achieve "their impossible." 

What is your "Impossible"? It may not be 

competing in the Olympics, or could it be? 

Whatever it is, if you’re willing to commit 

yourself and pay the price to develop and 

achieve it, you can then look back on your life 

without regret and wondering "What might 

have been?" So, what's "your impossible"? 

Philippians 4:13 

“I can do all this through 

Christ who strengthens me”. 

JOHN A. FISCHER, 

Chaplain-N.A.C.M., 

Life Tribute Officiant, 

770-866-5875 


The Country Preacher 

By Rev. David Hill 

Will we ever go back to the “good old days”? 

Remember when riding your bike on a 

grocery errand wasn’t so dangerous that you 

needed to be accompanied by an adult? Many 

of my teenage friends owned a Beagle rabbit 

dog so they could go hunting after school. 

Although we lived near a big city, we never 

heard of anyone shooting at anything with less 

than four legs or feathers. Usually if they were 

successful, it become a part of their meal. 

My first job was selling personalized 

greeting cards house to house and farm to 

farm. Most of today’s parents would not feel 

that it is safe enough for a preteen. What has 

happened to our society? Removing the Ten 

Commandments from the schoolhouse and 

courthouse did not give us a better sense of 

right and wrong. Profanity, whether partly 

spelled or spoken, has become so common 

that we hardly notice even when it is used as 

part of the TV news. 

Adam and Eve had heard the voice of 

God in the garden. They no doubt wondered 

what they had lost when disobedience hid 

them from fellowship with God. The Ten 

Commandments are the words showing 

the character and righteousness of God. 

They were written with “His finger in 

tablets of stone” (Deuteronomy 9:10). The 

commandments were sometimes referred to 

as the Oracles of God or the Law. We have 

replaced His commandments with our version 

of theft, murder, disrespect for authority, and 

disobedience to parents (Romans 13:1-12; 

1Timothy 2:1-6). “Let every soul be subject 

unto the higher powers. For there is no power 

but of God: the powers that be are ordained of 

God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, 

resisteth the ordinance of God (Romans 13:1- 

2). The Ten Commandments were in unison 

in their message. To break a Commandment 

is to make a person guilty of sin (James 2:10). 

Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned and 

come short of the glory of God”. 

It is prophesied that Satan will use a world 

leader to unite the nations against the Lord 

and His Christ (Psalm 2:1-3). This world 

leader is referred to as the “man of sin . . . the 

son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth 

himself above all that is called God, or that 

is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in 

the temple of God, shewing himself that he 

is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:2-3). The Day of 

Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:3) is at hand. 





ADVERTISER DIRECTORY 

APPLIANCES 

ChefPro Appliances – pg. 19 

770-415-2119 | www.chefproappliances.com 

AUTOMOTIVE/CAR REPAIR 

SERVICES 

Christian Brothers Automotive – pg. 51 

470-253-7376 | www.cbac.com/cumming 

CRISIS INTERVENTION 

Corner Farms– pg. 47 

770-355-2755 | www.cornerfarmsforsyth.com 

CYBER SECURITY/ 

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS 

Critical Path Security – pg. 62 

770-224-6482 | www.criticalpathsscurity.com 

DANCE ACADEMY/ 

INSTRUCTION 

Cumming Dance Academy – pg. 9 

770-781-4922 | www.CummingDanceAcademy.com 

EMBROIDERY 

Amigo Embroidery – pg.59 

404-216-5740 | www.amigoembroidery.com 

FINANCIAL PLANNING 

Arseneau Advisory Group – pg. 157 

470-839-9001 | www.arseneauadvisory.com 

Financial Consultants Group, Inc. – Inside Back Cover 

770-627-2121 | www.ForYourFuture.net 

GIFTS 

Edible Arrangements – pg. 25 

470-575-2363 

HEATING/VENTILATION/ 

AIR CONDITIONING 

Shelnutt HVAC – pg. 57 

706-265-5854 | www.shelnutthvac.com 

HOBBIES 

Atlanta Hobby – pg. 3 

678-513-4450 | www.atlantahobby.com 

JEWELER/JEWELRY STORE 

Gems In Art – Inside Front Cover 

770-844-8005 | www.gemsinart.com 

Lance’s Jewelry –Back Cover 

770-781-5500 | www.lancesjewelry.com 

MUSIC 

Matilda’s Under the Pines– pg. 5 

www.matildasmusicvenue.com 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Adam Pendleton Photography – pg. 45 

678-208-7077 | www.adampendleton.com 

PHYSICIANS/MEDICAL 

SERVICES 

Cleaver Medical Group – pg. 32 

770-800-3455 | www.cleavermedicalgroup.com 

Georgia Highlands Medical Services – pg. 41 

770-887-1668 | www.ghms-inc.org 

Modern OBGYN – pg. 31 

404-446-2496 | www.reyesobgyn.com 

Narendra Singh, MD – pg. 39 

678-679-6800; 770-622-1622 | www.heartdrsingh.com 

The Southern Skin and Beauty Bar – pg. 37 

770-284-8763 | www.southernskinandbeauty.com 

REAL ESTATE 

Hello Pam Evans Real Estate – pg. 13 

678-778-6551 | www.hellopamevans.com 

The Dinsmore Team – pg. 51 

770-712-7789 | www.dinsmoreteam.com 

RESTAURANTS /FOOD 

SERVICES/CATERING 

Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant – pg. 23 

770-475-9100 | www.casanuovarestaurant.com 

Cherry Street Brewing Home of Rick Tanner’s – pg. 27 

770-205-5512 | www.cherrystreetvickery.com 

CIPS – pg. 28 

770-288-5533 | www.cipscoffeeroasters.com 

Lenny’s Subs – pg. 28 

678-947-0336 | Fax orders: 678-947-5343 

Palapa’s Bar and Grill – pg. 29 

770-889-1002 | www.palapasbargrill.com 

Tam’s Backstage – pg. 26 

678-455-8310 | www.tamsbackstage.com 

Tam’s Tupelo– pg. 26 

470-839-2024 | www.tamstupelo.com 

SHOPPING | RESTAURANTS | 

SERVICES 

Vickery Village Forsyth – pg. 7 

www.vickeryvillageshops.com 

TOY BOUTIQUE 

Wheezy’s Toy Boutique – pg. 21 

713-516-3985 

TRANSPORTATION/ 

NON-EMERGENCY 

ABW MedTrans Solutions – pg. 57 

678-567-6644 

WINERY 

Cork & Glass – pg. 23 

678-694-8812 | www.corkandglass.com

MYFOR SpringSummer2022

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