Who is Hanna & Ozella Boutique? We are a local company run by two friends, Courtney Carter and Marianna Abramson, who recognized the need for affordable clothing for the Miss and Mrs.

Our Miss Collection clothes girls as young as 2T through the tween and teen years, so your daughter will enjoy fun clothing that is sure to keep her comfortable and trendy as she grows!

Our Mrs. Collection spans from current trends to classic items to staple pieces that will carry you through all of the seasons. Each item in our store is hand chosen to meet the values of the boutique: confidence-inspiring, comfortable, and affordable.

We are proud to offer a service in which all our customers feel valued, so if we can make your shopping experience better, don’t be shy, drop us a line using the Contact Us link on our website www.HannaOzellaBoutique.com! Be sure to follow our Facebook page, Hanna & Ozella Boutique, to send us a message or to check out our deals and promos!

This store is dedicated in loving memory to our fashionable grandmothers. Hanna, who was always seen in a stylish dress or a skirt, and Ozella, who never left the house without lipstick!

Religions of the World, a new educational series for adults, begins Thursday, August 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hampton Park Library. Dr. Pam Sezgin, Professor of Anthropology and History at the University of North Georgia, will speak on the history of Judaism from antiquity to the present day.

Admission to Religions of the World programs is free and each guest lecturer will share information about how a certain religion developed, how it changed throughout history, and common observances and practices in modern times. The lectures are expected to last 60-90 minutes, including a brief question-and-answer session moderated by the presenter and library staff.

“Many of our patrons are interested in learning about other cultures and religions, so this series was developed to provide information on different faiths from academic and historical perspectives,” says Programming Manager Tracy Walker.

The first five lectures offer a fascinating view on the history and basic principles of Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Sikhism.

Dr. Sezgin is expected to explain how Judaism, the world’s oldest monotheistic religion, traces its origins to Father Abraham, circa 1950 B.C.E.

She will explain how this religion provided an abrupt break with polytheism, the worship of many gods, in the ancient world and developed the idea of one deity who was absolute and all powerful. Dr. Sezgin will also share information on how changes in more recent history resulted in the eventual division into the Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist branches of Judaism.

Dr. Jonas Kauffeldt, Associate Professor of History at the University of North Georgia, will give the next presentation, Islam Around the World, at the Sharon Forks Library at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 26.

Islam is the fastest-growing major religion in the world, with over 1.8 billion followers. Dr. Kauffeldt’s presentation is expected to focus on the life and ministry of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as the principles of Muslim beliefs and practices.

Levi Mentz, Rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel and Co-Director at Chabad Forsyth, will explain the significance of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, at the Sharon Forks Library at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 30.

Rabbi Mentz is expected to share information about the Hebrew calendar, as well as common practices and traditions for observing the holiday.

Heather Murray, Senior Lecturer of History at the University of North Georgia, will speak on the history and practices of Buddhism, its early link to Vedic traditions in India, and its transformation in China, Korea, and Japan on Wednesday, September 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cumming Library.

Dr. Barry Whittemore, Lecturer of History at the University of North Georgia, will discuss how Sikhism was a progressive religion well ahead of its time when it was founded over 500 years ago on the principles of monotheism, divine unity and equality of all humankind, and selfless service at the Post Road Library at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 16.

“We’re already hearing from our patrons about additional topics they’d like to learn about in the Religions of the World program. We’re looking forward to continuing the series in late fall when we’ll be inviting guest lecturers to present on the history of more world religions and holidays,” explains Walker.

For more information the Religions of the World program or other library events, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Cadets and other representatives from Civil Air Patrol Squadron GA160 in Gainesville will lead a 3-hour workshop on aerospace and the science of flight on Saturday, August 4 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega Street. The Aerospace Workshop is intended for students in kindergarten through ninth grade and admission is free.

“We first began working with the squadron when McKevor Tatum, a teen patron and volunteer, shared his experiences with the Civil Air Patrol,” explains Julie Boyd, Youth Services Supervisor at the Cumming Library.

Boyd and Tatum worked together to plan the first Aerospace Workshop at the Cumming Library earlier this year.

“Our patrons are very interested in science and technology programming, so we knew McKevor’s idea to host a workshop with the Civil Air Patrol would be well received. More than 70 students and their parents and caregivers participated in January’s workshop and we all had a great time learning about flight and then building and testing our own air-powered rockets,” explains Boyd.

Next weekend’s workshop will focus on flying kites, balloons, and gliders. Participants will learn about the scientific principles and the mechanics of flight, including hands-on experiments to demonstrate Newton’s Laws of Motion and Bernoulli’s Principle. Then, participants can build their own flying machines and test them on the lawn behind the library at the end of the workshop.

Representatives from Squadron GA160 will also explain the purpose of their organization and answer questions from parents and students about ways to get involved. The squadron is part the Georgia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary and operates Cadet and Honor Guard programs, participates in FEMA and Search and Rescue training, and leads local aerospace education efforts.

“We are excited to learn more about aerospace and the opportunities that are open to students who have a passion for science and flight. It will be a pleasure to welcome the cadets and other squadron leaders back to the library and we know our patrons will learn so much from this workshop,” adds Boyd.

For more information about Civil Air Patrol Squadron GA160, please visit www.ga160.org. For more information about the Aerospace Workshop on August 4 or other library programs, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Music Authority Honored for Making a Difference

Music Authority in Cumming, Georgia was recently honored for making a difference in the lives of their students. Named as one of the Top 100 Music Stores worldwide, they were also given the spotlight in the area of “Music Making a Difference” at the June 29 award banquet.

The National Associated of Music Merchants (NAMM) praised Music Authority’s culture of community and inclusiveness, a music school where musicians of all ages and ability levels can work together and thrive. Specifically noting their dedication to students with special needs, Music Authority’s policy is to work with any student to find avenues to success.

Music Authority’s performance programs, opportunities for all students to grow their self-esteem, gain confidence in front of a crowd, and to push themselves beyond their comfort zone, also embraces all students.

“We rarely say no when a parent wants to sign a child up to perform,” says owner, Melisa Loggins. “We’d rather be creative and find a way to give all students the opportunity to experience the stage.”

This program frequently showcases the outstanding “veterans” alongside the first-time performers, utilizing a team and community environment to create a support system of other students for the child who’s new and nervous. Older, more experienced students remember that first time performance fear and pull together to help the newer performers.

Not all student choose to perform. Ms. Loggins continues to say, “Our goal is to challenge each student where they are. If performance isn’t in their interest right now, we’ll encourage them to think about it for a future show, and then find a better way to challenge them in their private lesson.”

Music Authority has been a Top 100 Dealer for the past four years. They have been serving students from Forsyth County and beyond since 2002. In addition to their educational programs, which see close to 600 students per week during the school year, Music Authority is a full line music retail shop and houses a busy guitar repair shop.

To learn more about Music Authority, you can find them online at www.musicauthorityinc.com, on Facebook, or by calling 770-886-9066. Music Authority is located at 123 Merchants Square, Cumming, GA, 30040.

Entertainer Ken Scott will amaze and astound audiences of all ages with a series of seven magic shows celebrating the end of a record-breaking summer at the Forsyth County Public Library.

Scott was voted Greater Atlanta Entertainer of the Year and has performed all over the country – even the White House. He will perform Summer Reading Finale shows at the Post Road Library, Monday, July 23 at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. and later that evening at the Sharon Forks Library at 7:00 p.m. Then he’ll visit the Cumming Library on Tuesday, July 24 at 11:00 a.m. and the Sharon Forks Library at 2:00 p.m. before wrapping up his performances on Thursday, July 26 at Hampton Park Library at 11:00 a.m. and Cumming Library at 7:00 p.m.

All Summer Reading Finale performances are free and all ages are welcome.

“This summer, they came, they saw, they READ!” exclaims Programming Manager Tracy Walker.

“It was such a successful summer with thousands of patrons registering for our Summer Reading Fun program and tracking all their books and activities online.”

Walker cautions that July 28 is the last day to register for Summer Reading Fun. Patrons must finish tracking their books and activities, as well as claim any prizes earned by August 5. Grand prize winners will be drawn on August 6.

“This year’s grand prizes include wonderful things like mountain and cruising bikes donated by Zaxby’s, a half-day fly fishing lesson on the water donated by Bowman Fly Fishing, and e-readers donated by the FCPL Friends & Advocates,” explains Walker.

“The library is grateful to all our generous community sponsors for supporting literacy and helping to make this year’s Summer Reading Fun possible for readers of all ages.”

To register for Summer Reading Fun or learn more about free library programs, visit any library branch or visit www.forsythpl.org.

Influencers Church Cumming Announces Grand Opening Of New Building

INFLUENCERS CHURCH, a Hillsong Family location, announces the grand opening date for their first purchased building in the USA! On July 22, 2018 the doors of 5095 Post Rd, Cumming GA will be opened, revealing a newly renovated cafe, children’s wing, and auditorium. Global Senior Pastor Ashley Evans will facilitate a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11am where locals, congregants, and city officials will inaugurate the property; dedicating the building to the glory of God.

Conveniently located in Midway Park, Influencers Church Cumming (one of 10 Influencers Church Global Campuses) is excited to partner with surrounding businesses, schools, libraries, neighborhoods & families; offering programs for people of all ages, a sanctuary for the community, and a house of peace.

Influencers Church Cumming extends a warm invitation to the community to come and participate in the grand opening celebration on July 22, 2018 at 11am; with services taking place at 9:30 & 11:30 am that Sunday morning, and in the weeks and years to follow.

Was your dog a happy and welcome participant in your Independence Day festivities? Or were you constantly worried about how your dog would greet visitors and behave in the crowd?

Lauren Van Duzer of Happy Hounds and Beyond will reveal the secrets of canine communication and help pet owners better understand dog behavior at a free, humans-only workshop at the Sharon Forks Library at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 17.

“We love our furry companions and it’s natural to want our friends and neighbors to love them, too, but sometimes bad manners get in the way,” says Tracy Walker, Programming Manager.

“Happy Hounds and Beyond guides pet owners in understanding signals and body language from their dogs so they can anticipate and redirect undesired behaviors. This workshop is intended for adults and will focus on ways to ensure the safety of both dogs and humans by preventing dog bites,” explains Walker.

Van Duzer is an Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and specializes in helping fearful and reactive dogs and their owners.

During the free Dog Bite Prevention workshop, Van Duzer is expected to explain what motivates certain canine behaviors, what it means when dogs yawn or shake their bodies, and why not all tail wags are a good sign. Van Duzer will also teach participants how to greet unfamiliar dogs appropriately, as well as how to train their own dogs to greet new people politely.

For more information, please visit www.forsythpl.org.15

(CANTON)- The Friends of the Mustang Horse and our American Heroes are proud to announce its inaugural fundraiser, Save a Mustang Save a Vet, a family-friendly event centered around connecting two of America’s heroes.
This event’s goal is to raise money and awareness for mustang rescue programs and highlight programs where military veterans and mustangs work and heal together.
The festival, held at Alpharetta’s Chukkar Farm Polo Club, will be a day of fun activities for the entire family, including a Veteran’s Day parade, various trainer-led mustang demonstrations, a mustang meet’n’greet, a petting zoo, inflatables, games, food trucks, a silent auction, and more. Additionally, this event will help educate and raise awareness of the importance of preserving our beloved mustang horse and how they can be utilized in therapeutic programs that connect them with our American Veterans.
Two mustang rescue programs are the beneficiaries of this inaugural event. The first being the Mustang and Wild Horse Rescue, based in Canton, which aims to “providing a safe haven for previously owned mustangs and wild horses that are no longer wanted by their adopters or those who have been abandoned, abused or neglected by their owners.” The second program is a Veterans Program at Texas-based Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF), which allows veterans and mustangs to work and heal together.
“Being a mustang owner and so passionate about these awesome horses has me wanting to do more to preserve them. We need more adopters and programs that use these mustangs because over 30,000 of them are sitting in federal corrals due to the result of the Bureau of Land Management’s efforts to control federal land overpopulation. More awareness and education about these horses and their ability to be excellent equine partners are needed,” said Kim Kota, the founder of the Friends of the Mustang Horse and our American Heroes. “During my early research on programs connecting veterans with mustang horses, I was overcome with emotion after I saw a video of a veteran and his experience with mustangs during a MHF program. Hearing the veteran say that there is ‘no better psychological medicine’ than being around these mustang horses solidified my need to get involved to help more veterans. MHF’s Veterans Program connects the veteran with a mustang horse and is extremely healing for both sides. With no local programs like this one at the MHF, I am hopeful this event will help pave the way for bringing this program to our community.”
In addition to this event, Friends of the Mustang Horse and our American Heroes is also looking for sponsors and donations for the event. No amount is too small, and all proceeds go to one of the two featured rescues. If interested in becoming a sponsor or making a donation, please contact Kim Kota at 678- 446-5229.
Please visit “Save a Mustang Save a Vet” on Facebook for official event details, information about our beneficiaries, and updates to this event. Any questions can be sent to kimberlykota@gmail.com.

Corduroy: Beloved Bear Rocks Early Literacy Program For Families

Corduroy, the lovable bear from a series of popular children’s books, will visit the Cumming Library at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 2 for Leap into Literacy: Corduroy ROCKS!, a program designed to help parents and caregivers prepare their preschoolers for success in kindergarten.

Admission to the event is free and will include a light breakfast, Corduroy-themed stories and songs in English and Spanish, a puppet show designed just for preschoolers, and crafts that children of all ages can make.

“Throughout the event, we’ll demonstrate five simple techniques to help young children develop early literacy and language skills. We hope parents and caregivers will see how simple it is to incorporate these ideas into their everyday routines at home,” explains Programming Manager Tracy Walker.

Children and families who stay to meet Corduroy at the end of the event will also get a tour of the children’s section, including bilingual and language learning books and CD read-alongs, as well as computers and tablets with early literacy apps and games.

“Our goal with Leap into Literacy is to help families understand the importance of encouraging early literacy skills starting in infancy. It’s never too early to start reading to and talking with your child and these simple things do so much to support their growing language skills,” explains Programming Manager Tracy Walker.

Leap into Literacy is presented by Forsyth County Public Library, Forsyth County Schools, Georgia Highlands Medical Services, and Literacy Forsyth. Corduroy ROCKS! is the third event to be held in the county since the program began in December 2017 at Georgia Highlands Medical Plaza.

For more information about Leap into Literacy or other similar programs, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Music Authority in Cumming, Georgia Named One of the Top 100 Music Stores in the World

Music Authority in Cumming has been named a Top 100 Dealer by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the global association of music products and music retailers. The award honors retail music dealers who demonstrate exceptional commitment to their stores, neighborhoods and customers, and share in a vision to create a more musical world through their local communities. The award will be presented at the industry’s annual mid-year gathering, Summer NAMM, on Friday, June 29 in Nashville, Tennessee.

This is our fourth year being named to the Top 100, says Music Authority owner Melissa Loggins. It’s an honor to be a part of such an outstanding group of music stores. This award is a testament to consistent performance, drive to continue to provide better service to our community, and a reflection on the hundreds of families who are part of The Music Authority Family.

Dubbed the ‘retail Oscars’ by Music Inc. magazine, NAMM’s Top 100 Dealer Awards spotlight the industry’s very best music product retailers. To determine the list, an independent panel of judges reviewed hundreds of submissions that are rated across categories that include customer service, music advocacy, store design, and promotions and are scored in accordance to determine the Top 100 list.

In addition to its honor as a Top 100 Dealer, Music Authority will be in consideration to receive a “Best Of” award in one of seven categories: Customer Service, Emerging Dealer/Rookie of the Year, Store Design, Marketing and Sales Promotion, Online Engagement, Store Turnaround, and one recipient will be honored with the Music Makes a Difference award. The coveted Dealer of the Year award will go to one of the recipients in the aforementioned categories.

To learn more about Music Authority, please visit: www.musicauthorityinc.com, check out Music Authority on social media, or visit Music Authority at 123 Merchants Square, Cumming, Georgia.

To learn more about NAMM and the Top 100 Dealer Awards, please visit: https://www.namm.org/summer/2017/top-dealer-awards

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About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the $17 billion music products industry and promote the pleasures and benefits of making music. NAMM’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of approximately10,300 Member companies located in more than 104 countries. For more information about NAMM or the proven benefits of making music, interested parties can visit www.namm.org, call 800-767-NAMM (6266) or follow the organization on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.