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PAGE 4A FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Sunday, March 28,2004 First Lady Perdue “mysteriously” appears at Big Creek By Nancy Smallwood Associate Editor First-grade students at Big Creek Elementary thought it was unusual that Georgia First Lady Mary Perdue did not arrive at their school Friday morning in a big black limou sine. After all, she was the famous Mystery Reader for whom they had been waiting all week. Perdue visited the school to read her favorite book, “Mrs. Tieggley’s Tree” by Dorthea Warren Fox. to Mrs. Amber Lamb’s class. The reading program is just one of Perdue's campaigns for chil dren. Her main campaign is to build community partnerships for abused and neglected chil dren. However, since the elec tion of her husband. Perdue has visited more than 56 schools statewide to read the same book to students. “1 read this book to my children and now read it to my twin granddaughters and 8- Drive-in movie theater considered for south Forsyth site By Todd Truelove Staff Writer There may be a new drive-in theater in south Forsyth County by the end of summer. Audio/video distributor Gary Thompson, 47, of Alpharetta said Thursday he is looking at several pieces of property in south Forsyth after the Alpharetta City Council on March 22 turned down his proposal to build a facility off Westside Park way. Thompson said he was given every indication coun cil members would approve his proposal, and that he was ready to break ground on the site the next morning. However, his idea was shot down after attorneys representing a nearby office complex spoke against the events seminars Unless otherwise noted, all seminars are free J EVENT women’s health | Maybe Baby Shelly Dunson-Allen, MD and Alise Jones-Bailey, MD address issues for expectant parents or those thinking of becoming expectant parents. When: Thursday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m Where: Nonh Fulton Regional Hospital, Second Floor, Classroom B Call: (770) 751-2660 for registration and information ONGOING SEMINARS arthritis | Hip and Knee Pain Kim Yourick, PT, MBA discusses hip and knee pain, joint pain, arthritis treatment options, surgery, rehabilitation and nutrition. When: April 29, May 27, June 24 Where: NFRH Medical Office Building, 2500 Hospital Boulevard, Suite 400 Call: (770) 751-2660 for registration and information weightloss | Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss Program Coordinator Belencia White, RN discusses surgical weight loss options for those 100 pounds or more overweight. When: Seminars are offered each month. Where: 11685 Alpharetta Highway, Suite 165, Medical Arts Center Building Call: (770)751-2660 for registration, dates, time and information diabetes | Diabetes Self Management North Fulton Regional Hospital, in conjunction with the Diabetes Association of Atlanta, host ongoing diabetes self-management programs. Call: (404)527-7150 for dates, time, location and fees (Medicare and some insurances accepted) North Fulton Regional Hospital - _ senej, www.n9rthhiltonrafloMl.cem GCOTgid month-old grandson,” said Perdue. The story is about a strange woman who lives in a tree and is rejected by the town but later is cheered as a hero when a hurricane arrives. Lamb attended high school with Perdue’s son and is a close friend of the governor’s daughter-in-law. “I was surprised and happy when she told me that my class was placed on the First Lady’s reading schedule,” said Lamb. Lamb’s students recently completed a learning unit on government symbols and were full of unique questions for the first lady once she com pleted her book. “Why do we have govern ment?" asked one student. Trying to put government at a first grade level was easy for the governor’s wife. “It keeps society helpful instead of harmful and keeps it in order,” said Perdue. project and convinced city council members to put the item back before the plan ning commission, said Thompson. “At this city council meet ing, at the last minute a bunch of lawyers stood up. and the city council started quaking in their boots,” he said. Alpharetta Mayor Arthur Letchas said Friday there were some questions about the site and the viewability of the theater from city roads. He said the site had changed from a previous location off Mansell Road and that the new site raised questions. “The site was changed," Letchas said. “It moved to a site which is one of the high est points in the city.” "The answers were incomplete as far as what you “What does the governor look like?” asked another stu dent. “Well.. I like to think he looks a little like Santa Claus,” said Perdue. "He has a round face and rosy cheeks.” “That must be why they call him Sonny," said the stu dent. Other questions ranged from what the first lady does during the day to why she doesn't get paid. Several chil dren wondered if the gover nor’s mansion had an indoor swimming pool and were excited when told the mansion did have an outdoor pool. "But it is too cold to go swimming just yet," said Perdue. Every Friday the class fea tures a Mystery Reader for the children. Parents, grandpar ents and even a policeman has visited the children to read. Mrs. Perdue asked the stu dents to interact with the story by chanting the word “tree” would be able to see from Westside Parkway," he said. Though the council con sidered a motion to deny the drive-in proposal, Letchas said instead the council passed a substitute motion 4- 2 to give Thompson the opportunity to address ques tions before the city’s Planning Com mission. “It could have been turn ed down," the mayor said, "but it wasn't turned down." “A lot of people were looking forward The area will bene fit from [the drive-in] whether it is in south Forsyth or north Fulton. to having a drive-in,” he said. Thompson said that even though council members did not outright reject his pro posal, their action “was just a ■KI” ™ r . Photo/Audra Perry Big Creek first graders listen to First Lady Mary Perdue, right. when signaled. Perdue and her staff were led on a tour of the school by Big Creek Principal Thomas Davis following the reading. cordial way of saying, ‘Thank you.'” “I’m not going to fight deep pockets," Thompson said? "The area will benefit from [the drive-in] whether it is in south Forsyth or north Fulton.” Though he is considering several sites, because of his recent ex perience which resulted in six wasted months spent working toward the Alpharetta project. Thompson declined being any more spe cific than south Forsyth. And though he has not met with county government officials, he remains opti- BRIAN TAM - CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT? HHf 1 > Having Hued in Forsyth County for " 10 years, I know what a wonder- jw €*** community this is. With your B 1 and support, lam committed f to making sure we maintain our / exceptional quality of life in a community we are all proud to b° me ' INVOLVEMENT: & 7 V,: • Co-chairman SPLOST 5 campaign Rvml ' Lcadersh ‘P Forsyth Class of 2004 B • Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Member of the Year* award for 2003 • Forsyth County “Apple Award" winner as a Partner in eduction • Local School Council Business Partner for Settles Bridge Elem. • Former Chairman Forsyth Restaurant Group • Partner in education participant with many of the county's schools • Recreation committee member and Youth choir sponsor at John's Creek United Methodist Church • Sponsor of many community events, including Relay for Life and Sawnee Cultural Arts Center “Outback 5K Corporate Challenge’ • Board Member Cummlng/Forsyth Chamber of Commerce • Managing Partner of Outback Steakhouse - Recipient of Regional Community Involvement Award 2002 & 2003 COMMUNITY PLATFORM: AS A COUHTV COMMISSIONER.! Will: • Be professional • Be fiscally responsible • Be a team player • Be accessible and responsive IQfNHANCE QUR-QUAUTYQF UFA, I WILL* • Diligently work on the completion of SPLOST projects and to upgrade our infrastructure • Work to find solutions to transportation gridlock • Pursue alternative revenue sources to reduce our tax burden, including recruiting high quality, community committed businesses to generate jobs and balance our tax digest. Bring together community resources in a “Team For A Better Tomorrow,” which will include but not be limited to representation from the county commission, city government, board of education, home owners associations, legislative delegation and state transportation officials. This broad based coalition of diverse groups will generate ideas to help us more effectively manage our growth. Paid tor by the Candidate. Brian Tam, 1715 Marketplace Blvd., Cumming, Ga. Davis described some of the parent and teacher programs at the school. “Forsyth County has a wonderful school system,” mistic it will be approved by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners once he determines the location. “I've always had plans of going up there,” Thompson said. “1 just wanted Alpharetta to be the first location.” He said he thought of the idea after taking his daugh ters, Brielle and Savannah, to a movie. "I took them to see a movie last fall —a matinee. I had three S2O bills when I went in. and I had $8 when 1 came out," he said. "Three or four days later. I'm driving down a road and see a triangular piece of land for sale, and a light went off." Whether the venture will prove profitable is another matter. said Perdue. “The schools have plenty to be proud of and are doing the right thing with parent and staff involvement.” Thompson said he plans to begin with a single 50- foot-tall, 100-foot-wide screen that will be one of the largest in the nation and expand from there depending upon business. “It’s a business that was hurt a lot in the 1960 s by color television and suburban sprawl," he said, adding drive-ins are making a come back especially in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas where theaters are being erected so fast it's dif ficult to find the equipment. Thompson said he has already purchased the equip ment including an FM broadcast system that enables customers to tune in to movies via radio. He said he also hopes to build drive-ins in Kennesaw and Gwinnett County.