PRESS RELEASE

CUMMING, Ga. Despite the pandemic, we were still able to hold our 3rd Annual City of Cumming Christmas Parade on Dec. 5. Since the event was completely outdoors and spectators had plenty of room to spread out (and were encouraged to wear masks), we proceeded with the event in order to bring our community some much-needed holiday cheer.
While we didn’t have quite as many parade entries as in 2019, the parade was still a big success and everyone seemed to have a great time!
Congratulations to our 2020 Christmas Parade award winners:
Best Float – Forsyth Central High School Flash of Crimson Spinning Drummer;
Most Spirited Band – Flash of Crimson;
Best Scout Troop – Cub Scout Pack 211;
Best Jeep – Angie Kellett, Jacque Stewart, Jon Wolfe & Linda Stewart;
Jeep Honorable Mention – Taylor, Dodd & Jordan Vickers;
Best Modern Vehicle Non-Jeep – Coal Mtn Stake of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints;
Best Classic/Antique Vehicle – Eric Johnson & Brian Hassel;
Best Animal Entry – Chalcedon Presbyterian Church;
Best On-Foot Group – Stayin’ Alive Crew;
Most Creative – FOCO Sheriff’s Office;
Most Holiday Spirit – St. Brendan’s Catholic Church;
Holiday Spirit Honorable Mention – Good Shepherd Catholic Church Preschool.

In December, the City of Cumming Youth Council, comprised of students from Forsyth Central High School and Alliance Academy for Innovation, gathered together again to elect officers for the 2020-21 term, which began on Jan. 5. Due to the pandemic, the 2019-20 term was cut short so all of last year’s members (with the exception of three who graduated) were invited to return. They all agreed, and in December we welcomed three new members. The nine students selected for 2020-2021 Youth Council are Jake Dutton, Mayor (FCHS); Caleb McWhorter, Mayor Protem (Alliance); Emma Humphries, City Administrator (FCHS); Riley Brumbalow, Clerk (FCHS); Zach Furbush (FCHS); Mary Beth Lowe (FCHS); Yugeshwar Muralidhar (FCHS); Alana Murray (Alliance); and Allison Oldani (FCHS).

Youth Council meets every first Tuesday of the month at 5 p.m. at City Hall. Progress continues to be made at the site of the Cumming City Center. City Council recently approved a number of bids for various aspects of construction of the Center’s buildings, including concrete work, steel fabrication & erection, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and fire suppression systems. Vertical construction began at the site in mid-December, with the City Center slated to open in late fall of 2021.

In November, City Council awarded a bid for construction of an extension of Buford Dam Road from Veterans Memorial Blvd to Castleberry Road. Construction of this important road extension, which will serve as a bypass of downtown Cumming during peak traffic hours and large-scale events at the Cumming Fairgrounds, has begun and, barring any weather delays, is slated to be completed by late summer of 2021.