🌱 Cumming Veteran Group Awards 6 Scholarships + New FoCo Careers Page

Hello, neighbors! It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now, including:

• Scholarships awarded to six local students by the Cumming Vietnam Veterans of America.
• A new careers landing page on the Forsyth County website.
• An upcoming open house and bus roundup at Cumming Elementary School.

But first, today's weather:

A t-storm around in the p.m. High: 88 Low: 72.

Here are the top five stories today in Cumming:

1. Last month, the Cumming chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America presented scholarships to six recent Forsyth County graduates during a ceremony at the Cumming National Guard Armory. Each $2,500 scholarship honored a fallen Georgia soldier from the Vietnam War. Recipients included Samantha Schoenfeld, Grace Humphries, Ava Miller, Gabe St. George, Lane Cassidy, and Olivia Edge. Chapter President Gary Goyette praised the recipients for their academic achievements, community involvement, and profound understanding of the sacrifices made for freedom. (Appen Media)
2. Forsyth County has introduced a new Careers page on its website, aiming to attract applicants for various full-time and part-time positions by showcasing the county as an excellent place to live, work, and play. The page features informative videos from current employees, alongside facts about the county and its amenities. It also emphasizes the range of employee benefits and rewards offered, such as retirement plans, educational assistance, fitness memberships, and various discounts from partnering businesses. (Forsyth County, Georgia)
3. Cumming Elementary School will host an open house on Tuesday, Aug. 1, to kick off the 2023-2024 school year. All kindergarten students are welcome to attend from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.. A Kindergarten Roundup bus will be available for those in need of transportation, and current bus riders should hear from their drivers by Monday, Jul. 31. All students in specialized instruction classes can attend from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m, with first graders invited from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., second/fourth graders from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., and third/fifth graders from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. (Cumming Elementary School via Facebook)
4. Forsyth County is actively recruiting those aged 16 and up to serve as poll workers for future elections in 2023, 2024, and beyond. To provide those interested with a deeper understanding of the role, the Voter Registrations & Elections department will host a series of Poll Worker Preview Sessions. Starting from Jul. 26, these sessions will be held at different times at the Forsyth County Voter Registrations & Elections Office on Sawnee Drive. A full schedule can be found at the link. (Forsyth County, Georgia)
5. Forsyth County commissioners granted approval to increase the density of Halcyon on Jul. 6, aiming to attract a high-end grocery store to the location. The changes made to the county's development code were specifically designed to apply solely to Halcyon, permitting an additional 265 apartments at the mixed-use site. However, the apartments cannot be occupied until the grocery store becomes operational; additionally, the developer must fulfill certain requirements, including hosting public events, establishing a commercial off-leash dog park, and offering discounted apartments to county first responders. (Appen Media)

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Today in Cumming:

• Food Truck: Made With Love Soul Food At NoFo Brew Co. (4:00 PM)
• Family PJ Storytime At Cumming Library (6:30 PM)
• Music Bingo Soundcheck At Freedom Brew & Shine (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for a new place to call home? Here are five new properties — four in Cumming and one in nearby Alpharetta — that just hit the local real estate market. (Cumming Patch)
• Fall League Registration for Central Park Adult Softball is now open! There is a Men's Open Equalizer League and a Coed Equalizer League. Learn more and sign up here. (Forsyth County Parks and Recreation via Facebook)
• Forsyth County Schools is now hiring paraprofessionals! Interested candidates can get the job details and learn how to apply here. (Forsyth County Schools via Facebook)

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• 3hr Salsa Boot Camp Atlanta - Beginner / Beyond Basic Sat July 15, 2023 (July 15)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday! See you all tomorrow for another update.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.