🛶 Resilient

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Forsyth County.

I was walking through downtown Cumming yesterday, watching folks pop into the newly reopened Goodson Drug Co. to welcome back a piece of our community's history after recovering from a devastating fire. Seeing those doors open again reminded me how resilient we are.

That theme of everyday heroism runs through this week's stories. You'll read about Deputy Anderson John, who didn't hesitate to break through a door to save two young girls during a crisis. There's 8-year-old Satyam Jain, who picked up a jump rope less than a year ago and somehow ended up setting a world record. And you'll find Sheriff Ron Freeman being honored as Sheriff of the Year by his peers, recognition that reflects well on the entire department and our county.

This weekend offers plenty of ways to shake off the holiday hibernation. Saturday brings the Relay For Life kickoff, the Dirty Spokes trail run at Sawnee Mountain, and of course the Farmers Market at City Center. Whether you're looking for fresh produce, a good cause, or just an excuse to get outside, Forsyth County has options for you.

- Chad

Cards Over Clicks helps children disconnect from their devices and reconnect with the real world. Founded by local Navy veteran Dennis Loewer, this 501(c)(3) non-profit uses the excitement of card collecting to develop critical social and learning skills.

From Pokémon and Sports to Disney and Star Wars, every free card packet comes with a grade-specific educational worksheet tailored to Georgia standards. Whether for Pre-K or High School, these packs encourage students to achieve classroom goals and engage with their peers face-to-face.

They help educators and parents turn "social media timeouts" into fun, educational wins. Their mission is simple: inspire kids to put the phone down and learn through family-friendly collecting.

Ready to inspire your students or support the community? They are actively seeking teachers to challenge their classes, educators to help design worksheets, and local business sponsors to keep the packs free.

Take the next step now: Learn more at www.CardsOverClicks.org.

Forsyth County Deputy Anderson John received the Employee of the Fourth Quarter award from the Sheriff's Office for his heroic actions during a November 28 domestic shooting in Suwanee. John was first on scene and broke through a locked door to rescue two girls, ages 8 and 13. Despite injuring his hand during the rescue, John secured both children before additional deputies arrived. "I'm not the main character in this story," John said. "Those girls are the main character." The Forsyth County native is recovering and plans to return to patrol soon.

of Forsyth County has achieved what most athletes only dream of: a world record. The 8-year-old recently set the kids world record in jump rope, a remarkable feat made even more impressive by the fact that he had less than one year of experience with the sport. His achievement highlights the exceptional young talent emerging from Forsyth County's youth athletics programs. The Jain family has not yet announced whether Satyam plans to compete in additional jump rope competitions, but his accomplishment has already inspired local youth sports coaches and young athletes across the county.

Downtown Cumming welcomed back a piece of its history this week as Goodson Drug Co. held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday to mark its reopening after a devastating fire in November 2024. The local pharmacy, a longtime fixture in the community, spent more than a year rebuilding and restoring operations. Community members gathered for the celebration, which was organized in partnership with the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce. The reopening represents both a business recovery and a symbol of downtown Cumming's resilience. Goodson Drug Co. is located on the historic downtown square and offers pharmacy services and local products.

Fifteen Forsyth County schools are currently operating over capacity, prompting district officials to develop plans to address the overcrowding. Despite a recent slowdown in population growth, the school system continues to feel pressure from years of rapid expansion. Forsyth County Schools is exploring options including redistricting, portable classrooms, and potential new construction to accommodate student populations. The affected schools span elementary through high school levels across the county. Parents and community members can expect more details in the coming months as the district finalizes its capacity management strategy. Updates will be shared through the district website at forsyth.k12.ga.us.

Explorer Tots

Forsyth Creates: Collage Calendars

Sam Bybee Live at Cherry Street Taproom

Dirty Spokes Mayhem on the Mountain Trail Run

Cumming Farmers Market

Relay For Life First Lap Kickoff

Storytime at Barnes & Noble

Inside the Criminal Mind Lecture

Shut Up & Write! Meetup

66 🌡️ 57 | 🌧️ | 75% | 💨 S 8 mph (7 knots)

68 🌡️ 45 | ⛈️ | 90% | 💨 SW 12 mph (10 knots)

49 🌡️ 29 | ☀️ | 5% | 💨 NW 14 mph (12 knots)

💧🌡️ Water temperature = 47ºF
Temperature readings taken from Lake Sidney Lanier the night before publication

Thanks for reading the Forsyth Flyer! As we all settle back into our routines of school drop-offs at FoCo’s great schools and the daily work grind along 400, I hope this flyer helps you find a little fun in between the busy moments.

Speaking of work, now that many of you are back at your desks, keep in mind that we have advertising opportunities available for upcoming flyers if your company is looking to reach more of our incredible community. If you know of any cool events coming up that you don't want your neighbors missing out on, or if you just want to say hi and tell me how your first full week of the year went, please let me know! You can reply directly to this email at any time.

Let’s look out for each other and stay connected. Have a safe, wonderful weekend!