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Business
Forsyth County News — Thursday, August 21,2008 □
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Seasonal tradition continues
despite slowing economy
By Jennifer Sami
Staff Writer
Blue skies, cooler temperatures,
falling leaves.
They can mean only one thing
— golf season.
The economy may be slowing
and contributions may not be on
par with the past, but that’s not
enough to halt golf tournaments
that have become a seasonal tradi¬
tion in Forsyth. *
The Keller-Williams Realty
Golf Classic, in just its second
year, is one of several area tourna¬
ments set for September and
October.
But since last year’s tourna¬
ment, organizer Steve Shultz said,
We’re seeing fewer people com¬
ing out.
We’re very short on golfers
and hole sponsors, corporate spon¬
sors and sponsors in general,” he
said.
“A lot of people are committed
to one already and we understand
that. We’re going to knock on a lot
more doors and beg people basical
iy.
The Keller-Williams tourna¬
ment benefits Court-Appointed
Special Advocates and Grayson’s
Gift Inc., a resource for parents of
children with disabilities.
Shultz said the real estate
agency tries to do something every
month for local charities and has a
committee assigned to select which
ones to assist.
It hasn’t always been easy for
Funeral home takes lead in
‘green’ cemetery concept
Forsyth director, Milton man look to eco-friendly burials
By Frank Reddy
Staff Writer
A local funeral director has
joined with'a Milton man who
wants to set aside 17 acres of his
land to be used as a “green »»
cemetery.
What’s a “green” cemetery?
M It’s a return to the way we
used to do things,” said Jim Bell,
the landowner. “It’s Biblical. It’s
ashes to ashes and dust to dust.
It’s ultimate recycling.” •
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File photos
Sheriff Ted Paxton watches his shot on the 10th hole at
Windermere during last year’s Ted Paxton Golf Tournament in
September. „ The sixth annual tournament will be ~ Sept. 8 at Olde
Atlanta Golf Club. Top, golfers play in the Abba House tournament
at Chestatee Golf Club in October,
local philanthropist Bill Norman,
owner of Norman’s Landing
restaurant.
Norman, who sponsors various
Bell’s idea for a "green
cemetery would offer less con
ventional burial methods than
today’s standards. The body goes
in a biodegradable casket or is
wrapped in a shroud. No
embalming fluid is used and
cemetery staff mark grave plots
with flat stones.
Bell and Marty Byars of
Byars Funeral Home in Cumming
are awaiting final approval from
the Milton City Council and
mayor for the “green” cemetery.
charity events throughout the year,
including ping-pong tournaments
See TOURNEYS, Page 2B
it The mayor seems to like the
idea,” Bell said. “We haven’t had
any negative feedback on this at
all.
Added Byars: “This is a very
natural, dignified type of burial,
We’re going to make it a unique
experience. We don’t just drop
someone in the ground. H
Bell said the cemetery “will
look just like a pasture.”
It will be run just like a reg
See GREEN, Page 2B
Upcoming tournaments
The Sixth Annual Ted Paxton Golf
Tournament
... benefiting the Georgia Sheriff’s’ Youth
Homes, will be held Sept. 8 at Olde Atlanta
Golf Club. For more information, contact Capt.
Frank Huggins at (770) 781-3045 or e-mail
fahuggins @ forsythco.com.
The Keller-Williams Realty 2nd Annual
Golf Classic
... benefiting CASA and Grayson’s Gift will
be held Sept. 8 at the Chestatee Golf Club. For
more information, contact (770) 401-6235,
sshultz@kw.com or
www.magnoliagolfgroup.com/keller.
The 21st Annual Chamber Membership
Golf &Tennis Challenge
... will be held Sept. 17 at the Windermere
Golf Club. Proceeds will go toward the
Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of
Commerce. For more information, contact (770)
781-6461 or
www.cummingforsythchamber.org.
The No Longer Bound Fall Golf Classic
... will be held Sept. 25 at Reunion Golf Club
in Hoschton. For more information, contact
(770) 886-7873, golf@nolongerbound.com, or
www.nlbgolf.com.
The Putting for Pets Golf Tournament
... will be held Sept. 29 at Polo Golf &
Country Club. The event benefits the Humane
Society of Forsyth County. For more informa¬
tion, contact (770) 664-5582, sinkevjo@bell
south.net or www.forsythpets.com.
The Fifth Annual Agile on the Green Golf
Tournament
wKk.. will be held :t. 6, benefiting the Susan
■fifiliate, Cl Komen for the !ure Greater i^anta
iSfcast whicttSi ves as a locaLnesource for
cancer are tent information and sup^
ion.
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Photo/Frank Reddy
Marty Byars of Byars Funeral Home in Cumming stands
Tuesday at Sawnee View Memorial Gardens. Byars is joining
Jim Bell of Milton to start a “green” cemetery on 17 acres of
Bell’s land in Milton. Green cemeteries involve burial with
biodegradable caskets and shrouds.