Cumming Farmers' Market Opens for Season on June 3
A vendor sells tomatoes during last year's Farmers' Market. 
June marks the beginning of an annual tradition at the Cumming Fairgrounds - the opening of the Farmers' Market in Parking Lot #3. This year, the market kicks off on Saturday, June 3. The market will be open every Wednesday and Saturday through Sept. 30. 

Each year, dozens of local farmers, cooks and artisans bring their wares to the market every Saturday and Wednesday morning from 6:30 a.m. to noon (or until they sell out). 

The market offers everything from homegrown vegetables - including tomatoes, green beans, potatoes, okra, squash, cucumbers, and numerous other varieties - to freshly baked breads, organic meats, artisan cheeses, and home canned preserves, jams, jellies and local honey. But the market is not just limited to food items. Local artisans also sell hand-crafted items such as paintings, drawings, and wood crafts. 
Examples of some art pieces available at last year's market.

While the number of vendors varies from week to week, typically there are at least a dozen vendors selling their goods. But that number can go as high as 30 or more on peak days. All vendors are local to the Cumming-Forsyth County area. Being local, they are able to keep their prices low and provide the absolute freshest products. 

In addition to the low cost of the goods, there is no admission or parking fee at the market. So, shopping there is a great low-cost way for patrons to provide healthy meals and snacks to their families! 

For more information about the Cumming Farmers' Market, click here. 
Did you know? All products sold at the Cumming Farmers' Market are required to be homegrown or produced by hand in Forsyth or surrounding counties. Vendors are not allowed to bring in products from any outside sources. 
Cumming Named One of Georgia's Top Cities for Staying in Shape
Patrons of the Cumming Recreation & Parks Department take part in a recent Zumba class.
The City of Cumming has been named one of the best cities in Georgia for staying in shape through a study conducted by LendEdu, a nationally recognized financial advice website that focuses primarily on topics such as student loans and credit help. 

The LendEdu report analyzed 5,000 cities across the country based on four parameters: Population; Healthy Purchases; Healthy Services; and Healthy Places. The report highlights the top 500. The City of Cumming ranked as the tenth best city in Georgia for staying in shape and No. 246 in the nation. 

A total of 25 Georgia cities placed in the rankings. Above Cumming in the report, from highest to lowest ranking, were: Blue Ridge, Atlanta, Marietta, Alpharetta, Augusta, Savannah, Kennesaw, Columbus and Roswell. Fifteen Georgia cities ranked below Cumming in the report; among them: Suwanee, Decatur, Woodstock, Peachtree City, Athens, Lawrenceville, Duluth and Brunswick. 

The report named Solana Beach, Calif. and Great Neck, NY as the two best cities for staying in shape in the nation.  Click here to view the LendEdu report in its entirety.   
Council Approves New Traffic Light at Busy Intersection 
After hearing comments from about 10 residents of Parkside at Pilgrim Mill Subdivision during their May meeting, the Cumming City Council voted unanimously to approve installation of a new traffic light at the only entrance to their community. The new light will be located at the intersection of Pilgrim Mill Road, Parkside Walk, and Lanier 400 Parkway, which opened last year. 

Parkside residents reported that drivers not only exceed speed limits when passing by the subdivision entrance, but also pass other motorists at excessive speeds in the center lane to avoid slowing down or stopping. This situation creates dangers for cars and school buses entering or exiting the neighborhood. Some residents also noted that many drivers attempt to use their neighborhood as a "cut-through" from Pilgrim Mill Road and Lanier 400 Parkway even through there are "No Outlet" signs posted at the lone entrance. One resident noted that if a traffic light is added, drivers will be forced to slow down enough to actually read those signs and perhaps reduce the numbers of cars turning into their neighborhood.  

Several Council members also noted that traffic in that area will increase after the new Alliance Academy for Innovation opens on Lanier 400 Parkway in 2018. After voting to install the light, Council members stated they hope to have it in place by the opening of the 2017-18 school year. 

In other business during the March City Council meeting, Council:
  • Postponed a vote regarding a proposed Master Right of Way License Agreement, which concerns locating new equipment associated with cell phone data technology on City right-of-ways. After hearing a brief presentation from Ryan Fender of Georgia Municipal Association and Brady Crawford of Mobilite, Council voted to postpone their vote on the agreement to their June meeting.
  • Voted to accept a bid of $168,246 from Jasper Grading and Pipeline to a complete widening project on Brooks Farm Drive. 
  • Approved a partnership with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office to offer a program called "Street Survivor Driver Training." Brian Garrett, a retired FBI officer who works with the program, explained that it provides teen drivers an opportunity to practice driving techniques in hazardous conditions. Through the partnership, the Cumming Fairgrounds' parking lot will be used one to two times per year to offer the program. 
  • Approved an easement settlement agreement with Atlanta Gas Light (AGL), which calls for AGL to pay the City $750,000 for the easement plus soil stabilization and landscaping work associated with installation of a new gas line. 
  • Accepted a five-year update to the Cumming Utilities' Master Water and Sewer Plan, which is a planning tool required by the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District. 
  • Approved the following purchases for the Utilities Department: A mini excavator and two heavy equipment trailers for the Water Distribution Division. 
  • Approved the purchase of 11 new portable radios for the Cumming Police Department. 
 
Click here for meeting videos.  
Memorial Day Ceremonies: Thank you! 
The City of Cumming honored fallen service men and women during Memorial Day Ceremonies on May 26 at the Veterans War Memorial. Several hundred people attended, including many veterans, active duty military, and their families. The City was honored to add nine new flags, honoring 14 deceased veterans to its Avenue of Flags display. This display, which began in 1995, now boasts 236 flags representing 287 veterans. The City also extends gratitude to all the program participants: Lt. Col. Reed L. Berry and Chaplain Jon Pirtle of the Georgia Army National Guard, Cumming Regional Readiness Center; Commander David Hopkins of Cumming VFW Post 9143; Forsyth County Fire Division Chief Jason Shivers and members of Forsyth County Fire and Sheriff's Department Honor Guards; Georgia Safety Pipe and Drums; North Georgia Barbershop Singers; and Nancy Kay Duncan of Georgia Doves. We are also grateful for attendance of many members of the Cumming VFW, American Legion, and Vietnam Veterans of America, as well as everyone else in our community who attended. 
Cumming Utilities Presents 2017 Water Quality Report
The 2017 Cumming Utilities' Water Quality Report is now available online. The report provides valuable information about the the drinking water in Cumming and Forsyth County, such as levels of sodium, fluoride, lead, and copper, as well as tips and tricks for water conservation and protection. 
Adopt-A-Stream Workshops Set for City Hall
Cumming City Hall (100 Main Street) will be the site of two Adopt-A-Stream workshops, presented by Keep Forsyth County Beautiful, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 17 and 24. The same information will be presented at both workshops. The Adopt-A-Stream Program utilizes volunteers to monitor the water health of local streams and creeks through activities such as collecting water samples, testing for chemicals in the waterways, and monitoring animals that live around waterways such as frogs. For more information and to register for the Adopt-A-Stream Workshops, contact Keep Forsyth County Beautiful at (770) 205-4573 or kfcb@forsythco.com. 

Click here for more information about the program.
Cumming Utilities Employees Take Part in Community Cleanup Effort 
A major goal of the Cumming Utilities Department is to protect local water resources, and one way of doing this is to take care of the environment as a whole. As part of these ongoing efforts, a group of Cumming Utilities employees took part in the Great FoCo Cleanup, held in honor of Earth Day on April 22. The City of Cumming and Forsyth County partnered together on the event, which utilized teams of volunteers who began at the Cumming Fairgrounds for registration and then fanned out through the county to pick up litter. Thank you to all the volunteers who took part in the Great FoCo Cleanup! 
Coming Soon
 
To the Cumming Playhouse
  • "Red, Hot and Cole: The Musical" - June 1-18; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. 
  • "Johnny Counterfit: Voice Impressionist and Comedian" - 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. June 24.
 

To the Cumming Fairgrounds

 

  • Opening of Farmers' Market - June 3; Market will be open Saturdays and Wednesdays from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. (or until vendors sell out) through Sept. 30 in Parking Lot #3. 
  • Georgia Ride for Kids: Benefiting the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation - June 4, opens 8 .m., ride at 10 a.m. 

 

Click here for calendar.


Meetings
  • Planning & Zoning Board - 5 p.m. June 20.
  • City Council - 6 p.m. June 20.

All meetings are open to the public and held in the third-floor Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 Main Street. For all meetings after 5 p.m., please enter through the rear parking lot entrance. Click here for previous meeting videos. 

 

Thank you again to everyone who participated in the City of Cumming's Annual Memorial Day Ceremonies on May 26! Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend! 

 

Sincerely,   
City of Cumming
Division of Public Information