It may not feel much like autumn here in our corner of the world, but make yourself a pumpkin-spiced coffee and start marking your calendar for a season full of fall fun at Forsyth County Public Library.

Here’s a peek at what’s in store for those who love creating fall crafts, listening to spooky music, and curling up with a spine-tinglingly good book:

From the Sublime to the Spooky
Tuesday, October 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Sharon Forks Library

Part of the Music to Your Ears music appreciation series with Dr. Esther Morgan-Ellis of the University of North Georgia, this program shares sublime pieces by Antonio Vivaldi and Joseph Haydn, as well as music that will give you goosebumps!

Frankenstein: Mary Shelley’s ‘Dare to Scare’ and the Questions It Continues to Raise
Thursday, October 4 at 6:30 p.m.
Hampton Park Library

Lyn Froehlich of the University of North Georgia presents the first of two discussions about this creepy classic in our series on The Great American Read.

Science Fiction: Aliens, Animals, and Artificial Intelligence
Saturday, October 6 at 3:30 p.m.
Post Road Library

Dr. Austin Riede of the University of North Georgia will lead a discussion of the allegorical representations of animal, alien, and artificial life in our favorite science fiction books in our series on The Great American Read.

Adult Crafting: Felt Owls
Sunday, October 7 at 2:00 p.m.
Sharon Forks Library

Create a felt owl to decorate your home for fall! No crafting or sewing experience necessary.

Community Arts and Music: Spooky Spectacular
Sunday, October 14 at 2:00 p.m.
Sharon Forks Library

Get in the mood for Halloween with spooky songs and music in this family-friendly concert presented by the South Forsyth Middle School Chorus and other student musicians.

Día de los Muertos with Coco
Wednesday, October 17 at 1:30 p.m.
Post Road Library

Make Día-inspired crafts, play games and watch the Disney Pixar movie Coco (Rated PG).

Frankenstein Rocks!
Friday, October 19 at 2:00 p.m.
Cumming Library

Literature students from the University of North Georgia will join tweens and teens in grades 4 and up for a celebration of literary monsters. Create your very own painted rock monster masterpiece!

Murder at Skull Manor Costume Ball
Friday, October 19 at 5:15 p.m.
Sharon Forks Library

Teens in grades 6 – 12 are invited to wear their favorite costumes and help us solve the mystery of the Murder at Skull Manor.

Random Fandom: Haunted Library Maze
Friday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Post Road Library

Teens in grades 6 – 12 can share their favorite chilling fandoms, tell scary stories in a deserted library, and explore our “haunted” library. Feel free to come in cosplay for your favorite fandom!

Ghost Hunting 101
Saturday, October 20 at 5:30 p.m.
Hampton Park Library

Learn about the methods and devices used during paranormal investigations from Southeastern Institute of Paranormal Research, then go on a ghost hunt in the library! Adults 18+ only, advance registration required.

Adult MakerDay: Clothespin Wreaths
Sunday, October 21 at 2:00 p.m.
Post Road Library

Create a reversible clothespin wreath using holiday-themed scrapbook paper and decorate your space for both fall and winter!

Outdoor Survival Skills with Mark Warren
Tuesday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Sharon Forks Library

Mark Warren is author of Secrets of the Forest and director of Medicine Bow, a primitive school of earthlore. Our discussion will cover plant identification and medicinal uses, fire creation techniques, tracking animals, and other survival topics.

Trick-or-Treat Storytimes
All FCPL branches

Between October 25 and October 31, each branch will host Trick-or-Treat storytimes for young readers to wear their costumes and join a costume parade. Check the Event Calendar at www.forsythpl.org for specific dates and times.

TechLab: FrankenToys
Thursday, October 25 at 4:30 p.m.
Hampton Park Library

Explore circuits, robotics, programming, and animation as children ages 7 to 14 embrace their inner mad scientists and transform old toys into something new!

Library Haunted House
Friday, October 26, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 27, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sharon Forks Library

Dress in your Halloween costume and prepare for a screaming good time as you wander through spooky rooms packed with literary scares! The whole family is welcome to attend this program, but be warned, you will be spooked. Younger children may want to wait outside.

Harry Potter and the Party at the Post Road Library
Sunday, October 28 at 1:30 p.m.
Post Road Library

Wizards and Muggles of all ages are invited to catch the Hogwarts Express and join us for a celebration of all things Harry Potter! Dress in your house colors (or Death Eater best) or any costume from the Potter-verse for our costume parade.

Frankenstein: Monster and Myth
Tuesday, October 30 at 6:30 p.m.
Post Road Library

Dr. Melissa Schindler of the University of North Georgia presents the last of our discussions about this creepy classic in our series on The Great American Read.

After all that, if you’re still in search of fall fun, please visit the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Story Walk on the Scarecrow Trail at Warbington Farms, 5555 Crow Rd, Cumming. Our staff adapted the classic tale of The Three Little Pigs and built scarecrows representing the pigs and the big, bad wolf. If you like what you see, you can vote for the library in the Warbington Farms Scarecrow Trail contest while you’re there.

If you have questions about any of these programs, please visit the Ask Us desk at any Forsyth County Public Library branch or visit www.forsythpl.org.

Cumming Tailgate And Watch Party UGA vs FLA

North Fulton’s hottest ticket for October will be the Cumming Tailgate Party, sponsored by Troncalli Subaru of Cumming. We will be hosting a tailgate and game watching event for the University of Georgia Bulldogs vs the Florida Gators football game on October 27, 2018. The event will be held in the courtyard area at the Lakewood 400 Antique Mall in Cumming.

This will be an outdoor event complete with large screen outdoor LED TV, cornhole contests, DawgTalk broadcast on-site, music, game gear booths, and fun and games for all ages.

Gates open at 10:00am for folks who want to arrive early and set up their tailgate (Tailgate Spots are limited) and bring your own supplies just as you would on game day. Plenty of pre-game action and fun-filled tailgating with friends in an open air environment.

More Information and Tickets are Now Available Now

www.cummingtailgateparty.com or www.EventBrite.com (Search Cumming Tailgate Party) and Must Be Purchased in Advance. Tickets are just $10 per person or $50 for a Tailgate package (4 Tickets plus 10×10 tailgate spot).

TICKETS ARE LIMITED, SO REGISTER EARLY

About Taco Entertainment:
Taco Entertainment plans and hosts sporting events, on-site broadcasts and live stream video production services in North Metro Atlanta area.
Contact: Joel “JT” Thompson: tacoentertainmentllc@gmail.com
Follow us on Twitter (@CummingTailgateParty), Instagram (@CummingParty), and Like Us on Facebook.

About Georgia Bulldogs vs Florida Gators
The Florida–Georgia football rivalry annual rivalry game between the Florida Gators and the Georgia Bulldogs. The game was first played in 1915, and has been played every season since 1926, except for a war-time interruption in 1943. This match-up between SEC opponents is one of the most prominent rivalry games in college football, and has been held in Jacksonville, FL since 1933, with only two exceptions, making it one of the few remaining neutral-site rivalries in college football. The game attracts huge and has earned it the nickname of the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”, although that name is no longer used officially.

Northside Hospital Announces New Sports Medicine Network, Welcomes Dr. Vonda Wright

Northside Hospital is pleased to announce the creation a new network of experts and facilities to provide comprehensive medical, surgical and concussion care.

From injury prevention, athletic training, physical therapy and sports performance services, to orthopedic surgery, orthobiologic treatments and diagnostic imaging, the new Northside Hospital Sports Medicine Network offers circumferential care and personalized services based entirely around the needs of athletes and active people of all ages and skill levels, from little league to weekend warriors to professional athletes.

The Network represents the consolidation and expansion of three physician practices – Northside Cherokee Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Northside East Cobb Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine and The Orthopedic Sports Medicine Center of Atlanta.

Vonda J Wright, MD, MS, FAOA, has been named chief of Northside Hospital Sports Medicine and was selected to build and lead the new Network.

“At Northside Hospital Sports Medicine Network, we put the athlete and their family in the center of a comprehensive program of health as we harness the power of mobility to optimize performance from the ball field to the board room and empower a lifetime of health,” said Dr. Wright.

Dr. Wright is board certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine and is an internationally recognized authority on active aging and mobility. She joins Northside from the renowned University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Sports Medicine Program, where she served as the inaugural medical director of the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex and maintained a practice focusing on minimally invasive arthroscopic and reconstructive surgical techniques of the shoulder, hip and knee.

An innovator and researcher, Dr. Wright also was the founding director of the Performance and Research Initiative for Masters Athletes (PRIMA) and her pioneering research in mobility, musculoskeletal aging and hip arthroscopy is changing the way we view and treat sports injury and the aging process. She has written five books, is the author and contributor to multiple peer reviewed journal articles and is frequently consulted by the media as a sports medicine authority.

As a team physician, Dr. Wright served as the head team physician for the University of Pittsburgh Football team and Olympic Sport teams, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Youth Hockey system. She is a team doctors for the World Rugby 7’s and medical director of the Pittsburgh Triathlon and PGA Players Doc.

“The launch of the Sports Medicine Network builds on Northside’s strong clinical legacy of excellence and innovative care,” said Dr. Wright. “There are exciting opportunities ahead as we build a truly special environment for our patients, staff and physicians and I am honored to be a part of it.”

The Northside Hospital Sports Medicine Network includes a team of clinical experts – orthopedic sports surgeons, non-operative sports medicine doctors and physician assistants – who provide high-tech, high-touch evidence-based musculoskeletal care and offer a full complement of surgical and medical consultants, a comprehensive sports concussion program, sports nutrition, physical therapy and a sports performance and innovative research initiative.

Locations include Atlanta, Alpharetta, Buckhead, Buford, Cumming, East Cobb, Holly Springs, Midtown, Roswell and Woodstock.

For more information about the Northside Hospital Sports Medicine Network, call 1-855-NH-SPORT (647-7678).

A beautifully and uniquely painted piano will be unveiled at the Sharon Forks Library on Saturday, September 1 as part of the Pianos for Peace Festival, an annual community arts program based in Atlanta.

The piano was provided to the library by Pianos for Peace, a non-profit organization founded by composer and pianist Malek Jandali to build peace through music, arts, and education.

Student volunteers from the National Art Honor Society at Lambert High School created and executed the painting and decoration of the piano for the Sharon Forks Library. The design theme is Flowering Voices. The beauty of music is universal, appreciated by both nature and humankind.

“We’re excited to be involved in one of Atlanta’s largest public art projects and to be able to share this experience of art and music with our patrons,” says Sharon Forks Library branch manager Mendy Gunter.

The library is one of three Pianos for Peace locations in Forsyth County and its piano will be on display and available for visitors to play in Meeting Room A of the Sharon Forks Library through the end of the Festival on September 22. The other two pianos are on display and may be played at The Collection at Forsyth and Lambert High School.

Following its public display, Gunter says the piano will be donated to a school in Forsyth County.

“Part of the Pianos for Peace mission is to make art and music accessible to the community as a whole. All of the pianos in the Festival will be donated to local schools, nursing homes, healthcare facilities, and community centers. We’re so pleased that our piano will find a home in the music program at Little Mill Middle School,” Gunter explains.

This year, the Pianos for Peace Festival will include 50 pianos that will be seen and heard by about half a million residents and visitors to venues such as Piedmont Park, Georgia Tech, Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport, and the Center for Civil and Human Rights. Several performances, guest lectures, and special presentations are scheduled in venues all around Atlanta through the duration of the Pianos for Peace Festival. Two such programs will be held at the Sharon Forks Library.

The Chamber Orchestra from Lambert High School will appear in concert at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 11. The founder of Pianos for Peace will also speak and perform during this free concert. The event is open to the public and is appropriate for all ages.

On Wednesday, September 19 at 7:00 p.m., Dr. Andrea Pérez Mukdsi, Assistant Professor of Spanish at the University of North Georgia, will give a special presentation on the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, a youth orchestra based in Seville, Spain consisting of musicians of from all across the Middle East with the goal of promoting a peaceful co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians. The presentation is intended for adults and teens and admission is free.

Further information about other pianos in the Festival is available at PianosForPeace.org and on the free Pianos for Peace app available for both iPhone and Android devices. For more information on the library’s piano, stop by the Sharon Forks Library.

4th Annual Hunger Awareness Fundraiser

The Place of Forsyth County presents the Homegrown Social 4th Annual Hunger Awareness Fundraiser on Thursday, October 18th at The Reid Barn, located at 6844 Majors Rd, Cumming, GA 30040.   A social and mingling hour starts at 5:30, followed by dinner by Tam’s Tupelo at 6:30.  This event benefits The Place Food Programs which include “Client Choice” Market, Mobile Pantry, and Garden.

The Homegrown Social also features live music, a silent auction, raffle, and cash bar.

The Homegrown Social tickets are $50 per person and includes dinner and one raffle ticket.  Tickets can be purchased on The Place of Forsyth County website, www.theplaceofforsyth.org, on our Facebook page (under events) or through Eventbrite, http://bit.ly/homegrownsocial.  Sponsorship opportunities are available.

“The event committee is very excited to host the Homegrown Social.  The Place has many wonderful programs, but the food program is by far our largest program,” stated Melina Holt, Outreach Coordinator for The Place of Forsyth County.  “Unfortunately, needs are increasing in the county.  Our food needs have grown, making it harder to keep the shelves fully stocked.  The Homegrown Social will help us continue stocking the shelves for the clients and to grow our garden which allows The Place to provide fresh vegetables in the food market and mobile pantry.”

Recently, the Leadership Forsyth Class of 2018 donated a mobile pantry to serve people in the community that do not have the means to travel to The Place for food.

For more information about the event, contact Melina Holt at  770-887-1098 or melina@theplaceofforsyth.org.

The Place of Forsyth County is a 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 1975, assisting more than 38,014 individuals and families in 2017.  On average the Food Market serves 200 clients a week and 100 clients a month through the Mobile Pantry.  The Place is committed to its mission of assisting people of Forsyth county with essential needs and to be self-sustaining.

If you are interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ashley Carroll at 770-887-1098 or ashley@theplaceofforsyth.org.  If interested in donating to the silent auction or raffle contact Melina Holt at 770-887-1098 or melina@theplaceofforsyth.org.

Your Pie Expands in Georgia With Opening The First Forsyth County Location

Build-Your-Own Pizzeria Brings Customizable Experience to Brookwood Marketplace

Your Pie, the original fast casual pizza concept, opens in Cumming on Sept. 7 at 2609 Peachtree Parkway in the Brookwood Marketplace. The brick-oven pizzeria offers a customizable, down-the-line experience at its more than 50 stores nationwide.

Your Pie Cumming | Brookwood is owned and operated by Tilak Patel, who was inspired to bring Your Pie to Cumming after an exceptional experience as a Your Pie customer.

“The first time I dined at Your Pie, I know there was something special about this concept,” Patel said. “I could tell right away that Your Pie values its staff, its guests and the community beyond its walls, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of this organization. At Your Pie Cumming | Brookwood, we value community involvement just as much as great food and excellent service. My hope for this store is that anyone who walks in our doors feels like part of the Your Pie Family.”

Prior to its official grand opening, Your Pie Cumming | Brookwood will host ‘Dine and Donate’ events on Sept. 3, 4 and 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. During each shift, the restaurant will serve free pizzas for up to 200 registered guests and collect monetary donations on behalf of The Place of Forsyth County. Find the most up to date information about ‘Dine and Donate’ and grand opening events at facebook.com/yourpiecumming.

Inspired by his Italian honeymoon, Your Pie was founded in 2008 by culinary entrepreneur Drew French, who aimed to create an innovative restaurant concept offering high quality, brick-oven pizza at incredible speed. Your Pie began franchising in 2010 and now shares its mission with more than 50 stores across the United States, with about 50 locations in development.

While family recipes and Italian culture helped lay the foundation for its processes and exceptional quality, Your Pie has continued to build upon this foundation with new ingredients, innovative recipes and endless choices to create a one-of-a-kind experience with traditional roots, but a flair all its own.

Your Pie uses hand-tossed dough, only fresh ingredients, homemade pizza sauces and salad dressings, and offers vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free pizzas, as well as traditional pizzas, chopped salads and paninis. All menu items, including its rotating seasonal menu, are inspired by family recipes from the Italian island of Ischia. The store also offers craft beer, wine and Italian-style gelato pairings designed to perfectly compliment guests’ custom pizza creations.

“At Your Pie, we believe that food can be fresh, fast, delicious and experiential,” said Founder and President Drew French. “We want to be the go-to fast casual restaurant where families, friends, colleagues and groups can gather, dine and share memories without having to share pizzas. We’re excited for the opportunity to bring the original fast casual, individualized pizza concept to Cumming and the surrounding communities.”

Your Pie Cumming | Brookwood is located at 2609 Peachtree Parkway, Suite B Suwanee, GA 30024 and can be reached at: 470-533-2121.

For more information, visit www.yourpie.com.

More About Your Pie

Your Pie is the world’s originator of the fast casual, brick-oven, customized personal pizza category. The brand was founded by Drew French in 2008 and is inspired by family recipes from the Italian island of Ischia. Your Pie uses hand-tossed dough, fresh ingredients, homemade pizza sauces and salad dressings, and offers vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free pizzas, as well as traditional pizzas. The brand also offers local craft beer, wine and Italian-style gelato pairings. Your Pie has more than 50 locations open across 19 U.S. states and an additional 50 locations in development. For more information about Your Pie or franchising opportunities, please visit www.yourpie.com.

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.