🌱 FoCo Special Olympics Fundraiser + Departing County CIO Recognized

Hello all. It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Cumming Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in town these days. Including news about...

• Special Olympics Forsyth County's annual Texas Hold'em fundraiser.
• Forsyth County's CIO and assistant county manager recognized as he steps down from his role.
• FoCo Chamber's first Women Connect Education Series of 2023.

But first, today's weather:

A morning thunderstorm; cloudy. High: 63 Low: 38.

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Here are the top stories in Cumming today:

1. The annual Texas Hold'em Fundraiser to benefit Special Olympics Forsyth County will be held tomorrow, Mar. 11, at Stars and Strike (133 Merchants Square) in Cumming. Anyone can participate by making a suggested donation of $50 or more, and all donations are tax-deductible. The tournament features a $2,000 prize pool, and players can rebuy through the second break of the night. You can contact Valleri and Dave DuVal at duvalfcso@gmail.com if you have any questions. (Special Olympics Forsyth County)
2. Brandon Kenney, the chief information officer and assistant county manager for Forsyth County, was recognized by the Board of Commissioners for his service during their Mar. 2 meeting. As CIO, Kenney managed the county's information technology initiatives and was a finalist for the Georgia CIO of the Year Award in the Nonprofit/Public Sector category. In his role as assistant county manager, Kenney oversaw several departments, including Planning & Community Development and Animal Services. (Cumming Patch)
3. The Georgia Senate recently voted in favor of Senate Bill 233, which would allow parents to use $6,000 of state money to create education savings accounts for their children. The money could be used for private school tuition, tutoring, or special services. The program would depend on whether the legislature fully funds K-12 schools through a formula called QBE and would not affect the money the local school district spends on the child. (WABE 90.1 FM)
4. The Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce is hosting its first Women Connect Education Series of 2023 on Mar. 22 to celebrate National Women's Month. The event will feature a panel discussion and take place at Cumming Recreation & Parks, with tickets costing $10 for members and $20 for non-members. (Forsyth County Chamber)
5. Looking to fill up your social calendar this weekend? Lots of fun events are happening in and around Cumming, including the ongoing virtual Tour de Forsyth, the
   16th Annual Color/Holi Festival 2023, and live music at Cue Barbecue. Visit the link to view the full roster of upcoming events. (Forsyth News)

Today in Cumming:

• Ready, Set, Preschool! At Cumming Library (11:00 AM)
• Vino & Vinyasa At Lunar Yoga (5:30 PM)
• Karaoke Wing And Sing Night At Good 'Ol Days Bar And Grill (9:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• In honor of International Women’s Day on Mar. 8, Forsyth County shared some inspiring stories of incredible women who work to keep the county running smoothly. Visit the county’s website to read about Capt. Amanda Gardner of the Forsyth County Fire Department, Lisa Luly, Director of Information Systems & Technology Department, and more. (Forsyth County Georgia)
• In case you missed it, the latest edition of the Your Forsyth digital newsletter was published this week. Read about the upcoming State of the County Address, the county’s new EMA director, and other upcoming happenings across FoCo at the link. ( Forsyth County Georgia)
• Have you taken your little ones to follow the Leprechaun’s Trail at the Cumming Library yet? Throughout the month of March, kids can follow the clues to find the leprechaun hiding somewhere in the library! Those who find him win a prize. ( Forsyth County Public Library)

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Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (March 14)
• Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra - On Broadway! (March 25)
• Add your event

That's it for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with your next 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.