🌱 Rep. Rick McCormick Opens Office In Cumming + FoCo Film Commission

Welcome back, Cumming! I'm here in your inbox per usual to get you caught up on everything you need to know about what's going on in town. Today you'll read about...

• U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick's newly-opened office in Cumming.
• The establishment of the first official film commission by the Discover FoCo Film Initiative.
• How Forsyth County celebrated Valentine's Day with free weddings and a senior dance.

Today's newsletter is sponsored by Heart & Hammer Realty

Can you guess what real estate market the National Association of Realtors named as its hottest for 2023? (Hint: You’re living in it.)

A lot of ink has been spilled over the slowing of the national real estate market: Interest rates are up, prices are down. Buyers are on the sidelines....

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Now, today's weather:

Cloudy, a shower in the p.m.. High: 69 Low: 50.

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I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top five stories in Cumming today:

1. U.S. Representative Rich McCormick has opened a new Congressional district office in downtown Cumming to provide constituent services for Georgia's 6th Congressional District. The office, located at 115 W. Courthouse Square, aims to be a "one-stop shop service" for residents in the district and will offer mobile visits to other parts of the district. The location was chosen since it is the geographical center of the district, providing access to both rural and populated areas. (Forsyth County News)
2. The Discover FoCo Film Initiative has established its first official Film Commission, Film Forsyth, which will assist with sourcing leads and location scouting for film projects in Forsyth County. The nine-member commission is composed of individuals from different backgrounds, including the county's director of building and economic development, a makeup artist, a marketing and communications president, and owners of local businesses. Film Forsyth currently has 12 location listings, including Lake Lanier, local businesses, and the Forsyth County Jail. (Appen Media)
3. Forsyth County helped local residents celebrate Valentine's Day this week with two very special community events. On Tuesday, Feb. 14, Forsyth County Probate Court offered free wedding ceremonies for couples who held a valid marriage license. Meanwhile, Forsyth County Senior Services hosted a Valentine’s Day dance for its patrons at the Sexton Hall Enrichment Center. Family members, friends, and couples danced the afternoon away and enjoyed food, drinks, and laughter. (Forsyth County Georgia)
4. Cindy Jones Mills, the District 4 Commissioner, has been elected to serve an unexpired term on the 2022-23 Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Board of Managers, serving as one of four National Association of Counties (NaCo) Board Representatives. Mills has previously served in various leadership roles and has been a part of the ACCG Policy Council. As a NaCo Representative, she will help advocate for Georgia counties on federal policy issues and legislation, working with other board members to lead the association and guide policies. (Forsyth County Georgia)
5. Mark your calendars! The Homestead Restaurant is hosting the first Cumming Wine Festival at the Cumming City Center in the Lou Sobh Amphitheater on Mar. 4, 2023. The festival will feature over 50 vendors representing wineries and wine distributors from across the country, with live music from Liquid Southern. The event will be held outdoors and offers a full bar and food for purchase. Tickets also include an afternoon of wine sampling for guests over the age of 21. Visit this link for tickets. (City of Cumming)

Today in Cumming:

• overBOOKed - A Book Club For Adults At Cumming Library (10:00 AM)
• "Love Is In The Air" Art Exhibit At Cumming Arts Center (11:00 AM)
• North Atlanta Business Networking Lunch At Black Diamond Grill (11:30 AM)
• Forsyth County Public Library Teen Advisory Board Meeting At Sharon Forks Library (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Calling all local house hunters! Check out these gorgeous newly-listed properties for sale in Cumming, like 3840 Adams Road and 5755 Riley Road, both of which have open houses scheduled for this weekend. Get the property specs and list prices in our latest real estate roundup. (Cumming Patch)
• Keep the Valentine's Day spirit going by checking out “Love Is in the Air,” a new art exhibit at the Cumming Arts Center! There is also a newly-curated artisan gift shop to browse. The exhibit is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Patch)
• If you're a Billy Joel fan, you won't want to miss "The Stranger: A Tribute to Billy Joel," happening tomorrow, Feb. 17, and Saturday, Feb. 18 at Rosati's Pizza Sports Pub. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $149 for VIP tickets. (AllEvents.in)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Rae and the Ragdolls (February 18)
• Pretty in Pink Noche Caliente Latin Night Atlanta @ Tonys Johns Creek Sat Feb 18, 2023 (February 18)
• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (February 21)
• BJ's Wholesale Club Pre-opening Limited-time Offer (February 23)
• Add your event

Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you all tomorrow morning 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.