🌱 Sugar Hill Concert Event + All-Inclusive Drag Show Event Canceled

Hey, neighbors. It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Cumming Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in our community. In today's issue, you'll find news about...

• An upcoming all-age drag show was canceled over a controversy in the community
• A Cumming man was rescued after eight days of being stranded
• A new Forsyth County facility hopes to attract an NHL franchise in the future

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 83 Low: 52.

📢 I'm looking for business owners and marketers in Cumming who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

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. The Sugar Hill Choir will be performing its 19th annual spring community concert, "Jesus Christ — What a Beautiful Name," in nearby Suwanee this coming weekend on Apr. 22 and 23. This family-friendly event will be completely free to the public and will take place at 7:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located next to North Gwinnett High School. The church's president, Russell M. Nelson, was recognized on Apr. 13 in Atlanta with the first-ever Ghandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize and will also be recognized and celebrated during the concert. (Digital Journal)
2. Kirk Wintersteen of Cumming is recovering in a hospital in nearby Gainseville after breaking his leg in a motorcycle accident and being stranded in the north Georgia mountains for eight days. On Mar. 25, Kirk was riding his bike home from Suches when he lost control on a dirt road and his bike came from under him onto his back leg. He was eventually able to free his leg had had no phone service or food, which required him to crawl to a nearby creek to find water while waiting to be rescued. On day eight, he heard motorcycles nearby, and the two riders spotted his wrecked bike and were able to get him to help. (WSB Atlanta)
3. After receiving criticism from members of the Cumming community, an upcoming all-ages drag event has been canceled and all those who purchased a ticket will be receiving a refund. The event organizer, who goes by the performance name of Mrs. Ivana, wrote in a Facebook message on Monday that the voices of the community have been acknowledged and that it was never the intention of the event organizers to do anything other than host an inviting event. Georgia Rep. Rich McCormick planned an alternative family day in Suwanee to "counter" the event for those who did not want to be associated with the latter; his event is still scheduled to take place. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
4. Property owner Vernon Krause is working with a development team to build a large indoor arena/entertainment center that hopes to bring an NHL franchise back to the Atlanta area. The center is aiming to be built in the south of Forsyth County where Union Hill Road meets Ronald Reagen Boulevard, which is about 29 miles from where the former hockey franchise played. Although an NHL franchise is not guaranteed, this projected 750,000-square-foot arena could potentially be a must-see for any individuals traveling to the Atlanta area. "The Gathering at South Forsyth" is projected to be around a three-year project once discussions conclude. (Urbanize Atlanta)
5. This past weekend, the Bass Fishing League held a tournament at Lake Oconee in Greene County, and boater Weston Parker of Mansfield won the event by catching a five-bass limit that weighed 18 pounds and one ounce. There were a few Forsyth County competitors in the competition that placed as well; in the top 10 co-angular events, Adam Johnson of Duluth placed sixth and Cumming's very own Zachary Archer finished seventh. The tournament turned out to be a major success, and nearly every winner came from Georgia. (BassResource.com)

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Today in Cumming:

• Trivia Night — Freedom Brew & Shine (7:00 PM)
• Native Plants And Water Conservation — Hampton Park Library (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Forsyth County would like to give a special shout-out to the 10 new firefighters who were honored this past Saturday in their graduation ceremony. Thank you again for choosing to serve Forsyth, and best of luck in your new careers! (Forsyth County Georgia Government via Facebook)
• The Forsyth County Schools facilities department has a couple of positions open, including Carpenters, HVAC Tech, Electrician, Plumber, and more. Visit the link here to apply for your next career move. (Forsyth County Schools via Facebook)
• Now is the time for Forsyth Central High School students to go online and pre-order their yearbooks! Supplies are limited, and they have an upcoming deadline of May 1. Go online and use school code 2673 for Forsyth Central! (Forsyth Central High School via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• 2023 Annual Atlanta Koi Club Auction (April 22)
• 3hr Bachata Boot camp Atlanta @ HDC Dance & Fitness Sat April 22, 2023 (April 22)
• Casa Nuova Community Block Party (April 30)

That's it for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new 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.