Forsyth Herald - July 27, 2107

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City extends Habersham Sewer fee After residents scramble to pay more than $6,000 on a sudden one-time sewer connection fee to the city of Cumming, the City Council approved an extension until Sept. 29 and new payment plan. Read more, Page 9.

Interim county manager highest paid employee ►►PAGE 7

Road construction trucks on in Forsyth ►►PAGE 14

Forsyth woman starts decor store ►►PAGE 16

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2 | July 27, 2017 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

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Roswell woman indicted for selling synthetic opioids 770-442-3278 | ForsythHerald.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 PUBLISHER Ray Appen EDITORIAL QUESTIONS: Alpharetta-Roswell: ex. 122 Forsyth Herald: ex. 143 Johns Creek Herald: ex. 121 Milton Herald: ex. 139 Northside Woman: ex. 102 Calendar: 122 TO SUBMIT EDITORIAL: News/Press Releases: NewsLink.NorthFulton.com Calendar/Events: NorthFulton.com/Calendar ADVERTISING QUESTIONS: General Advertising: ex. 101 advertising@appenmediagroup.com Classified Advertising: ex. 119 classifieds@appenmediagroup.com Circulation/Subscriptions/Delivery: ex. 100 circulation@appenmediagroup.com Our Weekly Publications

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ROSWELL, Ga. — A Roswell woman was arraigned July 18 on federal charges for possession with the intent to distribute approximately 100 pills of fentanyl and two synthetic opioids.

According to a search warrant affidavit, 38-year-old Cathine Lavina Sellers was selling counterfeit oxycodone pills out of her Roswell home.

Sellers allegedly sold the pills for $1,400 cash. A field test of the pills was positive for furanyl-fentanyl, which is similar to morphine but more potent.

When DEA agents searched Sellers’ home July 13, they found more pills hidden in a dietary supplement bottle. They also found a loaded Glock handgun and two magazines. She

was arrested that night.

Sellers said several customers had returned the counterfeit pills because they were “too strong,” but later came back to retrieve them, police said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Atlanta DEA issued a public warning regarding these counterfeit pills in conjunction with the indictment.

“These pills are especially dangerous because they may be more than 50 times more potent than normal oxycodone,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn. “Anyone who consumes these pills faces a substantially higher risk of overdose.”

– Julia Grochowski

DUIS & DRUGS

POLICE BLOTTER

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

DUI arrests ►► Christopher Jervis Edwards, 47,

of Pinetree Circle, Gainesville, was arrested July 9 on Lan Mar Road for DUI and speeding. ►► Kenneth Randal Scott, 53, of Essex Drive, Cumming, was arrested July 8 on Pilgrim Mill Road for DUI, transportation of alcohol container in vehicle and following too closely. ►► Austin Michael Schultz, 23, of Valley Drive, Cumming, was arrested July 9 on Keith Bridge Road for DUI. ►► Clinton Jay Knudson II, 29, of Ansley Lane, Cumming, was arrested July 9 on McFarland Parkway for DUI and expired license. ►► Taylor Matthew Moore, 24, of Bridle Creek Drive, Suwanee, was arrested July 9 on McGinnis Ferry Road for DUI, possession of open alcohol container by driver and failure to maintain lane. ►► Bradley Todd Stephens, 34, of Hartford Mill Place, Duluth, was arrested July 10 on Peachtree Parkway for DUI, failure to maintain lane and possession of open alcohol container by driver.

Drug arrests ►► Kimberly Justine Crowe, 31, of

Clinchem Falls Drives, Flowery Branch, was arrested July 8 on Lakeland Plaza for possession of methamphetamine and theft by shoplifting. ►► Christian Marcelius Siler, 25, of Beaver Creek Road, Alpharetta, was arrested July 9 on Buford Highway for possession of marijuana and wanted person located. ►► Brian Parker Lee, 24, of Somerset Court, Suwanee, was arrested July 9 on Trammel Road for possession of marijuana and location/illumination of taillights. ►► Amber Marie Prater, 33, of Cary Circle, Cumming, was arrested July 12 on Chamblee Gap Road for possession of methamphetamine.

Man attempts to steal box of knives FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 34-yearold man was arrested June 25 after he reportedly attempted to steal a box of knives from the Walmart on Peachtree Parkway.

The loss prevention officer at the store called deputies when he saw the man in possession of a Walmart sealed security box containing knives.

The box was found later pried open with five knives missing.

The officer confronted the man outside the store, but the man denied stealing anything. The officer told the man if he returned the knives then the police would not be involved. The man then pulled the knives out of his pocket and accompanied him to the office.

However, the man then fled the property. A deputy in the area found the man and brought him back to the store.

The man was issued a citation for theft by shoplifting and transported to the Forsyth County Jail.

Forsyth woman accused of spitting on officer FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — After reportedly getting caught littering, a woman apparently began spitting on the deputy transporting her to jail.

The 31-year-old woman was walking around her neighborhood July 11 when a neighbor saw and recorded her on camera littering dirty diapers and food trash on a driveway.

The neighbor told deputies he set up a camera to capture the incident because it was happening daily.

The woman was pushing a stroller with a 5-month-old in it while walking

with her husband. The deputy asked her about the littering, and she said she didn’t know how the diapers got there. The deputy showed her a still image from the video, and she continued to deny it was her.

The deputy placed her under arrest for the incident and put her in his car for transport to jail. While driving, the deputy said the woman began spitting in the back seat, so he told her to stop, and if she didn’t, she would be charged.

When arriving at the jail, another deputy opened the door and she spit on him, too.

A spit mask was placed on the woman and she was charged with simple battery on a law enforcement officer and littering.

Expensive coolers stolen from Lake Lanier marina FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Multiple expensive Yeti coolers were taken July 8 from Port Royal Marina on dock 10.

The first report showed a $250 cooler was taken around 3:30 p.m.

The owner said the cooler was underneath the bench on his dock.

The second report was from a man who said around the same time, an unknown person entered his house boat and stole his $400 Yeti cooler.

The suspect also reportedly stole a smaller Yeti cooler bag also costing $400.

Video was provided of a skinny, white male, shirtless and wearing dark pants with his face covered in a black cloth.

A latent print was collected from the scene, but no one could identify the man.

Deputies serve man with 12th noise citation FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 57-yearold man received his 12th noise violation July 8 from the Forsyth County

See BLOTTER, Page 14

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017 | 3

Having Blurred Vision After Your Cataract Surgery?

We Have A Solution.

See Clearly Again.

Part 1 of 2

By Priyal Gadani, O.D. “I could see so well right after my cataract surgery, but I feel like my vision has gotten worse since then.”

Patients reporting this type of symptom often have developed posterior capsular opacification, or PCO, behind the intraocular lens (IOL) implant. PCO is a relatively common occurrence after Priyal Gadani, O.D. cataract surgery, but it can often leave patients worried or frustrated, especially if they have opted for premium lens implants. Fortunately for the patient, this side effect of cataract surgery is very simply and quickly treated. The procedure to remove PCO is called Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy (YAG capsulotomy). Patients are relieved to hear that the procedure is painless, takes only a few minutes to perform, and it can instantly improve one’s vision.

What is PCO? When cataract surgery is performed, the capsule in front of the lens is opened, but the capsule behind the lens is left intact. Residual lens epithelial cells migrate to the posterior capsule, which then proliferate causing PCO. When enough of these cells build up on the posterior capsule, they can cause cloudiness and scattering of light, which interferes with the patient’s quality of vision.

PCO is the most common side effect of cataract surgery. Oftentimes, PCO is noticeable to the examining doctor within days of the surgery, but it also could be delayed months or years. It more frequently affects younger patients. The incidence of posterior capsular opacification varies in different studies, and is cited as occurring in 30% to 50% of patients. Due to the length of time that passes before PCO develops, patients may forget that the possibility of its development was discussed prior to their cataract surgery.

Symptoms of PCO include blurry, cloudy, or hazy vision, decreased best-corrected visual acuity, glare or haloes around lights, decreased contrast sensitivity, and ghosting or shadowing of vision.

Not every patient with PCO needs to have a YAG capsulotomy if the amount of their haze is mild and if they are asymptomatic. However, if the patient reports symptoms which interfere with their daily activities, then a YAG capsulotomy is indicated. Sometimes if the haze has become so dense that it impairs the ability to see the retina and to monitor the patient’s retinal health, the laser may also be indicated.

To learn more about YAG Capsulotomy, see part 2 of our article next week.

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By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A sole finalist has been named for the position of Forsyth County Manager.

Eric Johnson was announced July 18 as the only person the Board of Commissioners is looking at for the JOHNSON spot. He has 30 years of experience in county government, including 24 years in senior management roles.

For 20 years, Johnson served as a national instructor to state and local government professionals from hundreds of jurisdictions on public finance with a heavy focus on budgeting, performance measurement and service level evaluation.

He evaluated more than 250 local government budgets against best prac-

tices and taught graduate level public administration courses.

Ratification of Johnson’s employment contract with Forsyth County is anticipated at the Board of Commissioners’ August 3 meeting.

Currently, Johnson is the assistant county administrator for Hillsborough County, Florida. He’s been in that job since 2015.

He has also served Hillsborough County as director of strategic planning, management services administrator, director of management and budget and budget manager.

Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Florida and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of South Florida.

The county manager position has been open since the retirement of Doug Derrer in April. Derrer served in the position since 2009.

Since that time, Deputy County

Responsibilities of the county manager • Provides leadership for Forsyth County government by working with the Board of Commissioners and other management to establish longrange goals, strategies, plans and policies • Supervises the county’s administrative offices and senior management • Oversees county programs and activities • Interprets county goals and policies • Ensures county administration and senior management are making decisions consistent with the Board of Commissioners’ planning and policy initiatives Manager Tim Merritt has been serving as interim county manager.

Commissioners approve unchanged millage rate Property value increase should mean more revenue

By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County’s property tax rate will remain the same as last year after commissioners approved a levy of 8.036 mills at their July 20 meeting.

Because values are up from 2016, the county expects to collect more property tax revenue – 3.85 percent more – than last year, even with the same millage rate. Overall, property

values increased by 7.66 from last year.

About half that increase comes from new construction, and the other half is the result of appreciation of existing property.

Property taxes under the mill levy are split between three funds: maintenance and operations, 4.642 mills; fire, 1.975 mills; and bond, 1.419 mills.

Excluding the bond fund, Forsyth County’s mill levy of 6.617 mills is still among the lowest in the region. It

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is lower than Hall at 8.366, Cherokee at 9.054, Paulding at 9.288, Henry at 12.733, Gwinnett at 10.026 and Fulton at 10.450.

The millage rates will fund a major portion of the county’s 2018 general fund budget, fire district and bonds.

A mill generates $1 per $1,000 of taxable value on property. A home worth $100,000, has a taxable value of $40,000 because state law provides property be taxed at 40 percent of its fair market value. Any exemption, such as homestead or senior citizen, could further reduce a property’s taxable value.

For example, a 4-mill tax rate levied against a home with a $100,000 taxable value would generate $400 in taxes.

For Forsyth County in 2017, one mill should generate about $10,881,639. However, because of appeals, the county lowers that number slightly.

The biggest portion of property taxes pay for county maintenance and operations.

Those services include: the judicial system, tax commissioner and assessor, sheriff’s office, code enforcement, planning and community development, coroner and medical examiner, health and welfare, parks and recreation and libraries.

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017 | 5

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6 | July 27, 2017 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

Forsyth named one of richest counties in nation

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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Coming in at No. 20, Forsyth County was recently named one of the most affluent counties in the United States, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The list was based on the median household income, using data from 2015. With a median household income of $97,886, Forsyth County was the only Georgia county to make the list.

Virginia had the most counties on the list with six, including the wealthiest in the top spot — Loudoun County with a median income of nearly $126,000.

The United States’ median household income is $55,755.

According to the Census Bureau, the average time for Forsyth County workers to commute to their job is roughly 31 minutes. There are nearly 6,000 employer establishments inside the county, according to the data, with more than 70,000 people in the work force.

However, the data shows about 6 percent of the population live in poverty.

Statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau earlier this year show the county’s population rose 4.03 percent last year and now stands at 221,009 in 2016.

That’s nearly a 26 percent increase from 2010 when the Forsyth population was estimated at 175,511.

According to Zillow, which lists homes for sale and rent, the median home values estimate in Forsyth

Top 20 richest counties in the country 1. Loudoun County, Virginia $125,900 2. Falls Church City, Virginia $122,092 3. Fairfax County, Virginia $112,844 4. Howard County, Maryland $110,224 5. Douglas County, Colorado $109, 926 6. Los Alamos County, New Mexico $107,126 7. Williamson County, Tennessee $104,367 8. Arlington County, Virginia $104,354 9. Hunterdon County, New Jersey $102,797 10. Santa Clara County, California $102,191 11. Nassau County, New York $101,568 12. Morris County, New Jersey $101,754 13. San Mateo County, California $101,133 14. Marin County, California $99,868 15. Fairfax City, Virginia $99,671 16. Prince William County, Virginia $99,206 17. Somerset County, New Jersey $99,059 18. Calvert County, Maryland $98,937 19. Montgomery County, Maryland $98,314 20. Forsyth County, Georgia $97,886 County is $284,700 with about 3,000 homes for sale currently.

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ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017 | 7

Forsyth employees paid average among neighboring counties County manager holds top spot

Kukarola, 23 years: $112,043 • Director of Planning and Community Development Tom Brown, 18 years: $111,879 • Chief Deputy Sheriff Grady Sanford Jr., five months: $111,500

By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com METRO ATLANTA — County managers rank consistently at the top of the pay scale of government employees in Metro Atlanta.

With a population of 221,009, Forsyth County Interim County Manager Tim Merritt ranks as the county’s top paid employee with an annual salary of $146,000. He’s been in his job for nine years.

The other top 10 paid employees in Forsyth County include: • Juvenile Court Judge John R. Jackson, 18 years: $141,538 • Chief Financial Officer David Gruen, 6 years: $125,714 • Director of Engineering John Cunard, 23 years: $120,250 • Director of Water and Sewer Tim Perkins, 29 years: $120,250 • Chief Information Officer, Ronnie Kenney, eight months: $115875 • Director of Personnel Services Pat Carson, 15 years: $113,171 • Director of Procurement Donna

These salaries average around the same amount for similar positions in neighboring counties.

In Cherokee County, population of 241,689, the county manager has been in his job for 15 years and receives $200,000 annually.

Other top earners in Cherokee include the clerk of courts, three state court judges, two juvenile court judges, solicitor, fire chief and the tax commissioner who rounds out the list at $122,769.

Much smaller in terms of population, Dawson County has 23,604 residents. Its county manager makes $102,000 and has been in the position since 2005.

The other top Dawson County positions include county attorney, emergency services director, human resource director/county clerk, sheriff, facilities director, parks and recreation director, public works director, senior center director and clerk of court in the

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With a population of 221,009, Forsyth County Interim County Manager Tim Merritt ranks as the county’s top paid employee with an annual salary of $146,000. He’s been in his job for nine years.

No. 10 spot with an annual salary of $67,213.

With a population of 1,023,336, Fulton County government salaries reflect the large amount of work employees perform daily with such a large population.

Once again, the county manager is the highest paid employee with a salary of $255,000.

After that comes the county attorney, chief operations officer, chief financial officer, chief medical examiner, director of finance, deputy chief medical examiner, chief strategic officer, associate medical examiner and chief appraiser/tax assessor comes in at No. 10 with a salary of $170,000.

Hall County’s county administrator tops out its top paid list with an annual salary of $158,626 to oversee a county with a population of 196,637.

Other top paid Hall County employees include public works director, assistant county administrator, fire chief, director of finance, human resources director, county engineer, chief deputy, planning director and deputy fire chief rounding out the list with a salary of $99,999.

Share your opinions

ForsythHerald.com

8 | July 27, 2017 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

Differences don’t have to be divisive Opinions — we all have them.

They can be great tools for fueling passions, finding your personal morals and connecting over shared interests with friends.

In fact, more KATHLEEN STURGEON often than not, every Editor kathleen@appenmediagroup.com person has an opinion on everything they know about. Those pesky thoughts are always lingering in the back of our minds when we talk, read and hear others’ opinions.

But more often than not, especially recently, we’ve been using our personal views for the wrong reasons.

We have let them divide us rather than encourage thoughtful discussion that may serve to unite us.

Rather than seeking out our commonalities, we are using our opinions to completely divide our nation.

Whatever our political leanings, food tastes and even TV show preferences, our country is incredibly divided, possibly the most it’s ever been.

It’s unfortunate, really.

One of the best feelings in the world is being wildly passionate about a show/book/song/political figure/ food dish/pet so that when you find someone else with equal interest, you immediately bond over it.

For instance, I love the Harry Potter book and movie series. When I first met one of my best friends a few years ago for the first time, I asked her what she was interested in. When she started talking about her love of all things related to Harry Potter, I’m sure my face lit up and I became unable to slow my speech as I was excited to chat about this with a fellow series-lover.

When I was in middle school, another best friends and I immediately united over our shared love of music, and we’ve been friends ever since.

It is simple things like music and books that make it easy to find common ground with someone and build a relationship from it that’s usually positive.

So why do we tend to head the other way and try to find our differences first?

Politics can be a messy subject, I know. But why do we stop listening and become argumentative after finding out the other person we’re engaging with aligns with an opposing political party?

I wish someone could tell me why they do this. It seems unnecessary, rude and a waste of time. If I share my beliefs with another person and the first thing

OPINION

... Why do we stop listening and become argumentative after finding out the other person we’re engaging with aligns with an opposing political party? they do is call me names, yell at me or dismiss me, I promise I will not decide to “see the light” and join them.

At Appen Media, we often receive emails, social media posts and phone calls about columns carried in our papers. We wonder if the reader overlooked the simple heading at the top of the page that says “opinion” when they question our biases, agendas and facts.

See, as a newspaper, we know our job is to report just the facts and let our readers decide what their opinion is on the topic.

Sometimes we get heated about an issue and want to share our own opinions, as I’m doing in this opinions column now.

The problem arises when the person absorbing our opinions doesn’t respect our own rights to also have an opinion.

We don’t try to play the columns off as “news.” Instead, we title the page “opinions,” use first person and try to not cross any lines between reporting and opinion.

Still, the messages get lost repeatedly.

One of our interns bravely shared her opinion on a recent story that was making national headlines. The backlash she received was astounding. Not a single response had constructive criticism, and most resorted to calling her young and therefore dumb.

That’s fine if that’s your opinion.

You have every right to think how you want. But why not try to encompass those feelings into something that can be useful for everyone?

We all have our own opinions, so why don’t we express them in a constructive way. Just because we have a strong opinion, doesn’t mean it’s the end-all, be-all or that’s it’s even a fact.

Those opinions that are so cruel don’t actually reflect on the person it’s about, but instead about the person who said it.

But hey, that’s just my opinion.

Aspiring journalists find road rocky in pursuit of truth For years now, Appen Media has taken great pride in the responsibility of hosting college journalism interns for the summer. We did so again this summer, taking on three inHANS APPEN terns from the UniGeneral Manager hans@appenmediagroup.com versity of Georgia, and one from New York University – a Cambridge High School graduate.

We give aspiring young journalists a chance to work in a real newsroom, hone their skills and build their resumes. They learn from industry veterans like Hatcher Hurd and Pat Fox, and from journalists a few years ahead of them making a name for themselves and covering their beats.

From Appen Media’s standpoint, we love the program. We consider it part of our responsibility to the industry to do our part to help groom future professionals.

All media needs to ensure we continue to have experienced professionals writing our news and keeping our communities informed.

In fact, the director of our internship program is a “graduate” herself, Kathleen Sturgeon, having spent the summer of 2013 with us from the University of West Georgia.

Upon graduation she joined our staff full time and is now the editor of the Forsyth Herald and all of our community guidebooks. She was recently bestowed the honor of the 2017 Emerging Journalist award by the Georgia Press Association.

To be sure, these young writers teach us a thing or two as well. We learn from them new and exciting trends in the industry, what makes

them tick, and why after countless voices saying their field of work is dead they keep at it.

I admire them for their tenacity.

This summer has presented us with a new set of challenges, as we ourselves are still adjusting to unexpected changes.

Every day the airwaves are filled with vile nonsense about how the media is fake news and lacks professionalism.

It is hard to teach these young people about a news world that is constantly evolving and under assault and at the same time ensuring them that their work is important and appreciated.

How do we explain to these young minds that facts matter when their elected officials say otherwise? How do we explain to them that the truth is all that counts, when in fact, today the truth depends on the eye of the beholder?

One of our interns recently wrote an opinion piece about politicians both literally and metaphorically assaulting journalists, and I was shocked at the feedback from readers defending the politicians. It was disgusting, really.

She, a 19 year old, is learning the practice of the Fourth Estate, the pillar of democracy that keeps all others standing, and because she has the audacity to want to bring light to darkness, she has an alternative agenda?

She is the one who needs to tone down the rhetoric and get in line?

Shame on you.

I for one stand with the naive, the young, and the impressionable.

Because if we can’t teach them the ways of the world without opening our own eyes to what we don’t understand then we’ve already lost.

NEWS

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017 | 9

City extends deadline for Habersham Sewer connection fees Residents charged $6,250 to connect to city sewer

By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com CUMMING, Ga. — Cumming residents like Lon Carter are getting some financial relief after they received a sewer bill for more than $6,000 due in one month. Residents will now have until late September to pay the city for joining the municipal sewer system after their operation collapsed earlier this year.

Carter spoke to the City Council July 18 to explain his situation in dealing with the $6,250 per unit charge he and nearly 400 other homeowners received earlier this spring.

The Habersham Wastewater Treatment Facility, a facility owned by a private corporation named Habersham Action Committee, was built more than 30 years ago.

In April, a fire at the facility caused the system to fail.

Cumming Director of Utilities Jon Heard sent a letter to effected residents on May 17 telling them that because they will now be connected to the city system, they will be required to pay a one-time connection fee of $6,250 per unit.

“This connection fee will be applied to the costs associated with upgrades that are vitally important in order to provide modern, secure wastewater treatment services to your neighborhood,” Heard wrote.

Heard went on to say the city un-

derstands the fee may create financial hardship for citizens, but the money needs to be paid in full by July 31 to prevent further fees and receive a discount of $1,250. Payment plans were also offered, but those who did not pay in full on time would be charged on their August water bill.

Carter, who has lived on Habersham for nearly 20 years, said many were unable to come up with the cash in that amount of time.

“I would like to pay the $5,000 upfront,” Carter said. “But unfortunately I don’t have that kind of money right now. It’s a substantial amount of money.”

After listening to Carter’s story, the council voted to extend the payment deadline to Sept. 29. The extension allows residents to pay in full to receive a $1,250 discount, which would reduce the connection fee to $5,000.

Additionally, the interest rate will decrease from 4 percent to 1 percent for customers who opt for a payment schedule for the full $6,250. Any customer who already signed up for a payment plan will be grandfathered into the reduced 1 percent interest rate.

Roughly two-thirds of customers have paid up-front already, Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt said.

Gravitt also said the private group illegally allowed a contractor to use the city’s sewer system, which he said will “probably be handled in court.”

The city was paying the action committee nearly $2 million in customer fees, Gravitt said.

“I don’t know where that money went,” Gravitt said. “It didn’t go to maintaining that plant.”

Attorney George Butler is represent-

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ing the action committee and disagreed with the city’s methods of taking over the sewer.

The facility was a privately owned wastewater treatment plant run by a group of homeowners called the Habersham Action Committee. That is until April when the Cumming City Council unanimously voted to condemn the plant and rebuild a new facility after the fire.

Currently, the sewer on Buford Dam Road services about 400 homes including Habersham on Lanier, Habersham at Lanier, Townhouses at Lanier/La-

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According to both county and city officials, the sewer plant had a life expectancy of 20 years, was in “bad condition,” and emptied into Lake Lanier.

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The new facility would cycle about 111,000 gallons a day and is proposed to be completed in about a year to 18 months.

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COMMUNITY

10 | July 27, 2017 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

HIRE HEROES USA:

Local vet helps service men, women readjust, find careers Brian Stann leads nonprofit to match vets with good jobs

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. – Milton resident Brian Stann has had several careers in his short 37 years, but his abiding interest is heading up Hire Heroes USA, a nonprofit that prepares exiting veterans for life – and work – back in the civilian world.

Stann was tapped by Alpharetta businessman John Bardis to lead his nonprofit organization because of his unique qualifications and communication skills.

Stann knows how to engage veterans as they transition because he had to do it himself. And Stann knows how to connect with employers and show them the advantages of hiring veterans.

Stann’s own resume shows he is an Annapolis grad, having played football for the Naval Academy. As a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps he also attended the Marine Corps Martial Arts Center for Excellence in Quantico, Virginia, before commanding an infantry platoon serving in Afghanistan in 2005. There he earned a Silver Star for action against insurgents.

Insurgents surrounded his platoon during Operation Matador in mountainous territory. Ambushed, his unit came under heavy attack for six days and held their position until relieved.

Stann left the Marine Corps in 2008

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But his true calling came when Alpharetta Businessman John Bardis tapped him to be the president and CEO of the nonprofit organization Bardis founded, Hire Heroes USA. The goal is helping veterans re-entering the civilian job market to transition smoothly using the skills they learned in service.

“As I was making my decision to leave the service, I met John and he brought me down to work for his company, MedAssets. Being a kid from Scranton [Pennsylvania], I had never seen a place that looked so new,” Stann

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Hire Heroes USA founder John Bardis, left, and Brian Stann want to find every returning veteran a good job. said.

“I had been working there several months when John came to me and asked if I would help with this organization he was starting called Hire Heroes USA. It was just an idea then.”

Bardis wanted to help veterans transition into good jobs upon leaving the military. He recognized how hard it is for men and women to leave the highly structured military life and jump into the relative chaos of the civilian world.

So pm Jan. 1, 2009, Stann took the reins of the organization.

“I began by talking to employment experts, talking to veterans and to employers to find out why these people aren’t getting hired,” Stann said.

He found perhaps the biggest obstacle was service men and women’s inability to verbalize their value to a prospective employer.

Coupled with that was the realization that many personnel exiting the military really didn’t know what they wanted to do.

“When you are leaving the military, you don’t have a lot of time to figure out a transition strategy,” he said. “You go from a very structured and ordered environment to one which seems to have no structure at all – or at least a structure they can understand. “Wherever they go, the culture they enter will be very different from the one they have left.”

Hire Heroes sits down with vets to find out from them what they would like to do, find out what skills they have to make them successful and even find the best geographic area to find those kinds of jobs.

Hire Heroes begins with the basics, i.e., writing a “phenomenal” resume that spells out their skills and abilities in a way company recruiters will understand.

“This is the largest return of combat veterans to society since World War II,” Stann said. “And most of these people coming out of the military have never interviewed for a job – ever.”

“Coupled with the downsizing of America’s military, the need for assistance in finding the best civilian careers for our veterans and spouses is huge,” he said. “These men and women are professionals with the skills and character to be an asset on any team.”

What makes Hire Heroes so successful is its use of one-on-one job coaches.

From the time they walked into a recruiter’s office, service men and women were the client. They were sold on what careers the military could provide and what it would pay.

The role is reversed in civilian life.

Now they have to show their worth to the organization.

“It is a personalized service to each individual who signs up with us,” Stann said.

Their numbers have been phenomenal. Their success rate is over 50 percent employment with an average annual salary of $50,000.

“And that’s not just cherry-picking officers,” Stann added. “Eighty percent are enlisted personnel.”

Last year Hire Heroes helped 15,000 ex-military and their spouses. But Stann says there are another 300,000 unemployed veterans who need help.

COMMUNITY

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017 | 11

First responders to be part of new Cumming memorial CUMMING, Ga. — Forsyth County sheriff, fire chief and the Cumming deputy police chief recently heard plans about including an element honoring first responders at the new Cumming Veterans War Memorial.

The plans were relayed at a recent meeting of the Forsyth County Patriots Alliance, a new organization planning to rebuild the Cumming Veterans War Memorial.

The alliance was founded earlier this year by members of the community’s four veterans’ organizations: Chapter 1030 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Post 307 of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9143 and About Face-USA. The organization is taking on the redesign and reconstruction of the 25 year old Veterans War Memorial for several reasons including its deteriorating condition and the lack of elements honoring veterans of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, the war on terror and the community’s first responders.

Additionally, the new memorial will contain more appropriate staging design for annual veterans’ ceremonies, will be more handicapped accessible and will provide more appropriate seating space for musicians and attending veterans.

The community’s law enforcement and fire service executives were invited to learn about the inclusion of first responders in the new memorial design and were asked to assign personnel to work with the alliance to get their input regarding design of that element of the memorial.

The Forsyth County Veterans Alliance is in the early design stages of the project estimated to cost $11.5 million and will begin a major fund-raising effort

Listening to plans to include first responders in an updated memorial are, from left, Forsyth County Fire Chief Danny Bowman, Cumming Deputy Police Chief Aletha Barrett and Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman. in the near future seeking funds from corporate, local business and the community.

Alliance President Gary Ely said domestically the fight against terrorism falls squarely on the first responder community and recognizing their efforts is not only appropriate, but overdue. Ely said the orga-

nization is hopeful to complete the project in time for Veteran’s Day 2019.

Donations may be directed to the Forsyth County Veterans Alliance at 4920 Atlanta Highway, Suite 403, Alpharetta. The alliance is a 501c3 organization and all donations at tax deductible.

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12 12 | July 27,27, 2017 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

| July 2017 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com/blackbox

BLACK BOX SPECIAL REPORT: JOURNALISM UNDER ATTACK GEORGIA, PART IX

Citizen journalists shine

Jim Walls strives to keep the public informed

By NATASHA ROY natasha@appenmediagroup.com Jim Walls became a journalist by chance.

In 1972, at age 18, the high school graduate answered a newspaper advertisement for a lab technician without college experience in Virginia. At the interview, Walls was WALLS told they were looking for college-educated candidates.

When asked what he would like to do instead, Walls said he wanted to try newspaper writing. He grew up reading the Washington Post and was inspired by the Watergate scandal.

Fast forward 36 years, Walls went from being one of two reporters for Virginia’s weekly Globe Newspapers to working at the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Walls said working for Globe newspapers was a great way to break into journalism and learn what to do by reporting and writing week after week. He covered a fatal construction accident for a year and a half, looking at the causes and issues with the county inspectors.

Through that experience, Walls learned how to use public records to figure out how to find the next story.

“I learned on the job,” he said.

Walls eventually moved to Atlanta and took a job at the AJC, eventually becoming JIM WALLS its investigative editor.

Citizen journalist After 28 years at the AJC, Walls took a buyout and used the money to launch Atlanta Unfiltered, a website consisting of investigative news.

Walls initially had the idea while

still working for the AJC, though he decided to do it on his own after receiving the buyout.

“I thought, well, maybe I could see if I could get that going on my own,” Walls said. “I didn’t have anything to lose because I was still on a buyout from the paper.”

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK

He took six months to gather information and enlist help in writing the code for his website before finally launching Atlanta Unfiltered in March 2009. He said he writes about 99 percent of the articles, though he sometimes takes in people who want to learn from him.

On Atlanta Unfiltered, Walls mostly covers state government affairs.

To demonstrate impartiality, he posts the documents he reports from along with his articles for the public to glean from.

“I felt like that was something that was sorely needed, where people would have to back up what they were saying,” Walls said.

Walls started Atlanta Unfiltered because he saw a need for unbiased news content. He saw content on blogs that he said was clearly commentary, and he said there needed to be some reporting online that was demonstratively unbiased.

Though he has not published in recent months due to a lack of financial support for the site, Walls said when he started Atlanta Unfiltered, he thought he was combating the fake news mentality by preserving documents and allowing the public to read direct sources.

“Fake news has become, to a large segment of the population, sort of a rallying call,” Walls said. “In a sense it’s not just an attack on journalism — it’s an attack on the intelligence of the American people, to think you can just say it’s fake

Fake news has become, to a large segment of the population, sort of a rallying call. In a sense it’s not just an attack on journalism — it’s an attack on the intelligence of the American people, to think you can just say it’s fake news and have people believe it.”

news and have people believe it.”

Walls believes some traditional news media miss opportunities for stories.

Many traditional news outlets will publish stories that are a mile wide and an inch deep — a reporter will write about a topic, but won’t go deep enough to get at an underlying problem.

“In some cases, they don’t go deep enough,” Walls said. “I’ve gone ahead and gone a little deeper to show what was there — where they could have gone.”

He also said some traditional newspapers are reluctant to cut off sources they may need for the future, so they won’t publish alienating pieces or go deeper.

He has also seen that newspapers in smaller communities he visits don’t have the will to write anything negative about their local governments.

Some serve as the legal organ of the community, giving both the paper and the reporters a steadier source of income.

Because he worked in the profession, he is not sure the title “citizen journalist” should apply to him. He said he thinks citizen journalists are motivated by stories that need to be told and don’t have any hangups getting in the way.

“I think citizen journalists, in that sense, are keeping professional journalists honest,” Walls said.

Brian Pritchard acts as ‘conduit’ to readers JULIA SANDERS julia@appenmediagroup.com Brian Pritchard is a citizen journalist who started Fetch Your News in November of 2010. The online news platform has been up for seven years.

“We have reporters assigned to each county,” Pritchard PRITCHARD said. “We do community news. We do sports. We run the obituaries. We have an opinion section.”

Fetch Your News covers nine counties in northern Georgia, including Dawson, Lumpkin and White, and one county in North Carolina.

Pritchard started Fetch Your News to write more community-centered news.

“We wanted to have more of a community focus, and write stories that were not being covered in counties by the local print news business at that time,” he said. “I just felt like information was not being provided to the citizens like it should be, so that’s why we started Fetch Your News.”

Pritchard explained that he and his writers try to be as unbiased as possible to be fair to their readers.

“We always tell people if you are trying to figure out what side we’re on, it’s very simple. We are on the citizens’ side all the time,” Pritchard said. “We are a direct conduit source of information to citizens, and that’s why we started it and that’s our focus that we maintain.

We do not write for electoral officials.

We only write for the citizens.”

In today’s climate where barbs against journalists are common, Pritchard said he has no apprehension when trying to cover a story.

“I don’t think that journalism is under attack in general,” Pritchard said. “I don’t see that; I don’t have that.”

FACING OBSTRUCTIONS

However, Pritchard has seen other journalists be held back when trying to obtain information for a story.

In one case, one of his colleagues, Nydia Tisdale, was thrown out of Burt’s Pumpkin Farm while trying to cover a story. Tisdale had been videotaping speeches, but she was thrown out and arrested for doing so. Pritchard wrote a story on the event.

“I wrote that story,” Pritchard said.

“So I have seen people obstructed from doing stories, but really these are far and few between. Journalism itself, I don’t see under attack.”

Pritchard said some journalists may feel under attack because people have more access to information now than they did before the internet.

He also says that news businesses today have made mistakes that have caused the public to raise questions.

“Media outlets have made some pretty big mistakes, very big mistakes in my eyes, when they report some of their news,” Pritchard said. “Our news is non-biased. We are a clear conduit for the citizens for information. That’s why I feel like we are not under attack.”

Pritchard said it is important for citizens to be informed about their local news so they do not miss out on valuable information such as taxes, fees and events happening in the community.

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | July 2017 forsythherald.com/blackbox | Forsyth Herald | July 27,27, 2017 | 13| 13

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“A lot of times, citizens do not become aware that they are paying a higher rate on something or paying more…because they may not be keeping up with things,” Pritchard said.

“That’s the other side of why we got involved, to make sure citizens were aware of things going on.”

Pritchard is a big proponent of the First Amendment of the Constitution, but he thinks that with rights comes responsibilities.

There should be consequences for one’s actions. He says journalists should still be held to the same standards as regular citizens.

“Is the freedom of the press a green light to lie, mislead, embellish?” he asked. “What are the consequences if any, or is it just freedom to do whatever you want and no consequences?”

The right to a free press must be respected by all sides, he said, especially journalists.

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to be careful with that,” Pritchard said.

“I am a strong supporter of the First Amendment, but I am not so sure that everyone should not have consequences for our actions if we mislead people.”

Bill Simon combines wit, info in political blog

By JORDAN MEAKER jordan@appenmediagroup.com Since the beginning of the internet, political blogs have informed readers about government and politics in a more freeform format than traditional news sources.

Such blogs can highlight local, state or SIMON national news, touching on a wide range of topics.

Blogger Bill Simon has been transmitting information in this format since 2000, when his idea for starting an email newsletter was born. Simon sent out emails to about 300 addresses.

“It was just kind of a funny hobby to start off with,” Simon said. “I was observing how a lot of the mainstream newspapers had a propensity to print rumors and innuendo as absolute fact.

I turned that around and started printing facts as rumors, and I titled the publication Rumors Have It.” Eventually, Simon transitioned to a blog format, writing on his blog the Political Vine and sending out the occasional email as well to a list of 5,000 email addresses.

“I thought it was my duty to communicate to Republicans located beyond the city of Atlanta about stuff that was going on with the Republican Party at the time,” Simon said.

NEW TO THE FIELD

Writing is not Simon’s main enterprise. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1983 with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, and from Georgia State University in 1994 with a master’s of science in finance. Now, Simon runs his own company, ID Builders, an advertising and marketing consulting firm.

“My background is not political science, or history or any of the liberal arts-related sciences a lot of people take to make it into politics. I got into politics the back way,” Simon said.

Simon’s interest in local politics was sparked through his involvement in Young Republicans, where at first, he was just “following along, participating and observing.”

Eventually, he shifted to writing blog posts.

According to the Political Vine’s About Page, the site’s material is presented in a satirical, humorous environment. Simon’s entries are often sharp and sarcastic, many times starting off with a joke or metaphor, and then laying down facts, opinion and speculation on the topic at hand.

“I have an ability to take boring, mundane subject matter, like law and government, or proposed legislation that’s come about in a session, and turn it into something interesting to communicate,” Simon said.

Simon reports on proposed legislation, actions of local politicians and perceived government corruption. He highlights events around Cobb County,

where he lives, decorother North Georgia counties such as Fulton, DeKalb and Henry.

“Most of the time, I just try to communicate to people why legislation may be bad, why you shouldn’t just trust the fact that it’s sponsored and written by the Republicans,” Simon said.

I try to inform the public and inform the readership of what the unintended consequences are of legislation and laws.”

Simon doesn’t consider himself a journalist. He defines his role as inserting a conscience into the political process.

“I try to deliver the right and wrong of any legal government act about to happen, or that has happened,” Simon said.

Simon is the primary writer for the Political Vine, although he’s invited guest bloggers in the past, including a group of citizen lobbyists in 2010.

Simon said he’s faced roadblocks trying to gain access to government information.

“I have encountered roadblocks in both local government and state government, when I would file open records requests, asking for stuff in accordance with the law,” Simon said.

ROADBLOCKS TO INFORMATION

Simon described one incident in which his request for records from the secretary of state’s office went ignored.

The report he eventually received, he said, was unlawful due to its PDF format, which made the data difficult to analyze.

Simon also said he’s faced financial roadblocks. After filing an open records request in Sandy Springs, Simon said he was asked to pay money for legal counsel to review the documents.

“You mean, I’m going to pay you to make sure that you can redact and cover up wrongdoing?” Simon said, it was as though government officials were saying “you can have your information, but we’re going to charge you for it.”

Now, Simon mostly sticks to blogging. He also runs a Twitter account, tweeting out links to his blog entries to 529 followers.

“I’ve reached a point where I don’t engage that much anymore in doing open records, it’s just a challenge sometimes,” Simon said.

Simon’s blog can be found at http://politicalvine.com and Simon is on Twitter at @PoliticalVine2.

NEWS

14 | July 27, 2017 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

Forsyth keeps on trucking with road construction Old Atlanta Road, McGinnis Ferry, Ga. 369 all being improved

By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — With all the growth Forsyth County has been experiencing lately, it’s no wonder some of its roads have been under construction for what seems like an eternity.

With schools, shopping centers and neighborhoods being added yearly, the county is trying to cruise through road construction to keep up with the demand. Take a road trip with us as we update the status of a few of the major county roads under renovation.

Construction underway Old Atlanta Road Completion: Oct. 29 Cost: $5.7 million from SPLOST funding This widening project will take place between Sharon Road and Nichols Road, just barely under a mile. The project will include two lanes in each direction with a raised median, shoulders, curb and gutter and five foot sidewalks. Construction is underway currently through Forsyth County Engineering.

Intersection improvements • Ga. 369 at Pooles Mill Road: This project includes right and left turn lanes on Ga. 369 and a right turn lane from Pooles Mill Road onto Ga. 369. Construction on the $819,883

To find a full map of construction projects, visit forsythco.com/ transportation. project, funded by the transportation bond, is underway by Forsyth County Engineering and should be completed by late November.

• Ga. 369 at Old Federal Road: This includes a left and right turn lane on Ga. 369. Construction by Forsyth County Engineering is currently underway on the project which is expected to be finished by late October. Funding is through the bond combined with Ga. 369 at Mount Tabor Road.

• Ga. 369 at Mount Tabor Road: This includes a left and right turn lane on Ga. 369. The $1.3 million project is underway by Forsyth County Engineering and should be completed by late October. Funding is through the bond combined with Ga. 369 at Old Federal Road • Wallace Tatum Road at Burnt Bridge Road: This project will include a left and right turn lane on Holbrook Road. The $377,179 project was funded by SPLOST through Forsyth County Engineering and should be completed mid-August.

• Ga. 400 at Jot-em-down Road: This projects includes left turn lanes on Jot-em-down Road with a signal upgrade. Forsyth County Engineering is heading the project that costs $415,972 and should be completed by late August.

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Forsyth County has multiple road construction projects underway with some slated to be completed by the end of this summe project by Forsyth County Engineering includes left and right turn lanes on Ga. 306. It cost $820,000 from the transportation bond and should be completed by late August.

• Ga. 53 at Dogwood Path: This project includes right by-pass lane and is being constructed by Forsyth County Engineering. The $874,101 project from the transportation bond should be completed by late August.

Design underway McGinnis Ferry Road at Ga. 400 interchange Start date: 2019 Cost: $30 million through transportation bond and state funding This project runs less than half a mile from Bethany Bend to Union Hill Road. It consists of constructing a full diamond interchange on Ga. 400 at McGinnis Ferry Road.

The project would add northbound and southbound auxiliary lanes on Ga. 400 south to Windward Parkway ramps and north to McFarland Parkway ramps of the existing McGinnis Ferry Road bridge, which would be replaced.

McGinnis Ferry Road would be widened to four lanes on the Fulton County side of Ga. 400 and to six lanes on the Forsyth side of Ga. 400 including a curb and gutter with 5-foot sidewalks and/or a multi-use path. Right and left turn lanes would be added and a proposed bridge would be designed to span the future managed lanes on Ga.

Blotter: Continued from Page 2 Sheriff’s Office.

His neighbor on Hawks Cove Road called the sheriff’s office when he heard music from a party nearby. Deputies met with the homeowner and said the

400.

Design is underway by Forsyth County Engineering and the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Ga. 369 truck passing lanes Start date: 2020 Cost: $5.5 million through SPLOST/ state/federal funding This five-mile project will include two lanes with a 12-foot passing lane and 10-foot rural shoulders, with 6.5 feet paved. It will run from the Cherokee County Line to Hightower Circle.

The design is underway by Forsyth County Engineering and Georgia Department of Transportation.

James Road Sidewalk Start date: 2017 Cost: $48,860 through SPLOST The project will install a 5-foot sidewalk with a curb and gutter along James Road. It will connect the existing sidewalk east of Wakefield Trace to the existing sidewalk at the DeSana Middle School property. The project also includes a crosswalk on James Road at Chadbourn Trail and Wakefield Trace.

Design is underway by Forsyth County Engineering and work should begin sometime this year.

Ga. 369 at Little Mill Road Start date: 2017 Cost: N/A but provided by the transportation bond Design is underway for this project

by Forsyth County Engineering. It will include a sidewalk project from Lawson Circle to Valley Forest Drive. complaint was for the use of radios in a disturbing manner between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Deputies also told him they’ve received a noise violation call for that home 12 times this year and 29 times total since April 30, 2016.

A court date was set for later this year and both men were told to stay off each other’s properties.

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017 | 15

I think I’ve always had an itch to do something on my own, because I grew up in an entrepreneurial-spirited family.

ASHLEY TURLEY, Whimsy Timber owner 16 | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017

Forsyth Central graduate celebrates successful businesses Ashley Turley runs Whimsy Timber, a local decor store

By JORDAN MEAKER jordan@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — For entrepreneur Ashley Turley, managing businesses is a skill that runs in the family.

Turley caught the entrepreneur bug around age 8, when she accompanied her grandfather to help with his various businesses.

Later, in middle school and early high school, Turley helped out on the weekends at a scrapbook store in Norcross called Best of Times, run by her mother and her mother’s eight sisters.

“I think I’ve always had an itch to do something on my own, because I grew up in an entrepreneurial-spirited family,” Turley said.

Turley grew up in Suwanee, first attending South Forsyth High School, where she dated her future husband, Chris, for a month before switching to Forsyth Central High School. The pair didn’t cross paths for another six or seven years after high school, but eventually got married and had three kids.

While in college at Southern Utah University and later Utah Valley University, Turley embarked on her first solo business venture, designing a line of kids’ swimwear. Later in her college years, Turley created a shaved ice business which she operated in Georgia and Florida.

Turley runs her current business, Whimsy Timber, with Chris. Launched in 2015, Whimsy Timber features cus-

Ashley and Chris Turley run Whimsy Timber, a home wooden decor company, from a warehouse in Buford. tomizable wooden home decor, crafted in a warehouse in Buford.

Turley had worked in decor for other companies, but desired to create something big box stores didn’t offer.

“We wanted to take it another step forward with personalization and customization options,” Turley said.

The Turley’s started offering flash sales for their most popular products, which helped to jump-start their decor company.

In May, the Turley’s launched Whimsy Wedding Box, a spin-off prod-

uct line of Whimsy Timber offering personalized wedding decorations.

“We created a hashtag and a custom date, and it flew off the shelves,” Turley said. “We really thought there was a place for more of these types of items, where the bride, the bridesmaids, everyone can get involved and create their own pieces and make them their exact color and shape.”

The Turleys then came up with the idea to reward loyal customers while also giving back to the community.

Each month, the Whimsy Wedding

Box crew will browse social media for pictures featuring the website’s products and choose a bride to feature as a “princess.” Next May, customers can vote for their favorite photo, and a May Queen will be crowned. The winner will receive a weekend bed and breakfast getaway, and Whimsy Wedding Box will choose a charity to donate to through the Whimsy Wishes Charity.

For the future of Whimsy Timber, Turley said she hopes to strengthen several product lines.

“I do want to get more refined in kid decor and weddings. We want to make each of the areas that we’re in stronger.”

“We’re both part of the environments where our families loved (running businesses),” Chris said. “We see this as a way to grow and keep our options open as far as any other businesses or opportunities that might present themselves along the way. I think our goal would be to grow this and have a bigger team.”

Turley said she could see one of her kids becoming an entrepreneur as well.

“Our oldest daughter is 6 years old, and she’ll come down to the office and help out for an hour here or there,” Turley said.

Turley appreciates the flexibility of owning her own business. She listed a few other aspects as her favorite parts of being an entrepreneur, such as being her own boss and using her creative ideas.

“I really didn’t ever see another way for myself, mostly because of how I grew up,” Turley said.

For more information on how to enter the May Queen photo contest, go to https://whimsyweddingbox.com/ pages/page.

The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce brings in over 100 new members during our 2017 Membership Event!

Special thank you to our members and sponsors, BB&T and Dave & Buster’s Alpharetta!

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BUSINESSPOSTS

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017 | 17

Halcyon comes more into focus Attracting Halcyon, perhaps Forsyth County’s most important development in the past 15 years, has announced several new eateries, helping to clear up the picture of what GEOFF SMITH this game-changer Assurance Financial, will be. gsmith@lendtheway.com The project broke ground last year and residents, Realtors and others considering a move to Forsyth have kept this on their radars.

While the stats of the development were announced early, many have been wondering what exactly would be its style. The developer’s announcement last week of under contract tenants show a development that will be unique and will borrow themes from several of intown Atlanta’s successful projects.

The $370-million, 135-acre project will be a mixed-use development similar to Avalon. It’s located just off the Big Creek Greenway and will feature 690 residential units, including single-family homes, townhomes and apartments.

There will be 50 acres of greenspace, two hotels and Atlanta’s first CMX cinema.

CMX is a high-end, 10-screen movie theater that will have full-service dining, cocktails and plush recliners. Halcyon will also include more than 500,000 square feet of office and retail space.

The recent announcement focused on new restaurants and restaurant-concepts that will be in Halcyon.

Many of the eateries are known around the metro area as top food concepts, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. And many of those will be in a food market, similar to that of the successful and much talked-about Krog Street Market in intown Atlanta.

Announced tenants include:

millennials using social media

Gu’s Dumplings – This was originally founded on Buford Highway and offers authentic Szechuan cuisine, including dumplings, cold noodles and stir-fried dishes.

TOCAYO – This will be a taco stand operated by Louis Soon, who founded Alpharetta’s South Main Kitchen and Butcher & Brew.

Butcher and Brew – Calling itself “A Craft American Shop,” this restaurant offers craft beers from all over the U.S. and is styled as an “urban retro street shop from the fifties and sixties era.” The menu features unique sandwiches, wings and pigs in blankets.

This restaurant is also at Avalon.

Never Enough Thyme – A breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant featuring pastries, sandwiches and quiche. Another location operates off McGinnis Ferry in Alpharetta.

FEED Fried Chicken + Such – A fried chicken and southern food restaurant.

Other commitments include Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Company, a standalone restaurant called CO-OP Community Table and Bar, and a yetto-be-named burger concept.

Halcyon sits near the southeastern corner of Ga. 400 and McFarland Road. The project is just west of

several large office developments, a couple exits north on Ga. 400 from the heart of Alpharetta’s tech campuses, and just south of Lake Lanier.

It could easily serve as a town center for residents in Forsyth County. While Cumming’s downtown has plenty of infrastructure, there is very little in the way of nightlife or weekend entertainment or shopping.

Homes in Halcyon will start at $600,000, while townhomes will be in the $400,000s.

The project was designed by Avalon and Battery Park designer Wakefield Beasley and Associates and is being developed by RocaPoint Partners and The Georgetown Company. The project is slated to open sometime in 2018.

Geoff Smith is a mortgage banker with Assurance Financial focusing on residential home loans for refinances and home purchases.

Geoff Smith gsmith@lendtheway.com 770-674-1433 Personal: NMLS#104587 Business: NMLS#70876 *The views and opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of Assurance Financial Group

Are you trying to attract the younger generation to your place of business?

Do your marketing efforts produce the results you want?

Attracting younger customers in today’s digital environment DICK JONES may require you to Founder & President Jones Simply Sales rethink how you are trying to communicate with them. If it’s through traditional methods, like sending flyers or print media, you may be wasting your time and money.

The younger generation, also known as Gen Y or millennials, requires a different approach than what may have worked for you in years past. Before the birth of the web and internet, marketers based their strategies on tried and true methods that worked well with baby boomers. Not any more.

The internet and mobile devices have changed the way younger customers get information. Close to 90 million millennials across the U.S., with close to $2.5 trillion of spending power, are gravitating to social media to get information and make buying decisions.

To market to this segment you need to have a presence on social media, such as Facebook or Twitter, utilize blogs, have an on-line web site where purchases can easily be made, and give your younger customers the experience they are quickly getting used to and demanding.

This customer segment is not going to read flyers in their mailbox and rarely pick up print media. Establishing a social media presence will help you attract the younger generation, which is growing every day. And if you’re successful, as the segment grows, so will your business!

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18 | July 27, 2017 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

BUSINESSPOSTS

Alpharetta companies have potential to use artificial intelligence Businesses must adopt technology to stay ahead

By NATASHA ROY natasha@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta companies may soon employ artificial intelligence as part of their business plans.

In fact, it’s already begun.

Local business leaders attended a panel discussion June 27 featuring four companies that already use AI in their work. Representatives at the Startup Connect event at the Alpharetta Innovation Center told attendees how the systems can help a business and some of the challenges they’ve encountered.

Arul Murugan, CEO of Alpharetta-based Eleven Eleven Investments, hosted the panel discussion.

Murugan said he sees a huge growth in the business application of systems that emulate aspects of human cognition. And while his company is in the early stages of adopting AI, he wanted to introduce the topic by bringing in representatives from other firms with more experience in the field.

Murugan said the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which blends digital and physical worlds, is beginning. Using AI

Arul Murugan of Eleven Eleven Investments hosts a panel on artificial intelligence for Alpharetta-based companies June 27 at Alpharetta Innovation Center. will allow Alpharetta companies to stay ahead of competition, he said.

“Being in the forefront of technology adoption in the last decade and having the infrastructure and talent, Alpharetta companies are well positioned to use machine learning, Robotic Process Automation, Chatbots and advanced analytics,” he said.

The panel included J.P. James of Atlanta-based Leap Credit, who told the crowd that artificial intelligence

NEWBUSINESSSPOTLIGHT

Cre[8] Loft opens in Roswell Business name: Cre[8] Loft Owner: Gisele Holloway About: Cre[8] Loft is a workspace and studio that freelancers, artists, entrepreneurs, small business owners and startups can call office. It’s a shared creative workspace where members can do drop-ins for the day, part-time

or full-time membership. Cre[8] Loft provides the Coffee Shop atmosphere, creative décor and high speed internet.

Opened: March 6, 2017 Address: 990 Canton St., Ste. B, Roswell, Ga. 30075 Phone: 404-954-0079 Website: www.cre8loft.com

systems are like infants with the brain maturity of adults. They use neural networks similar to the human neocortex, he said.

AI systems need an objective, and they must receive feedback on performance as well as sensory input and output, James said.

“If you don’t have a goal for AI, it’s very hard to design an AI system,” James said.

Efficiency is another consideration when employing AI, he said.

“You don’t want to give feedback on how to give a handstand if you’re trying to achieve walking,” James said.

“A lot of systems are inefficient because they’re being given so much data to process that aren’t statistically relevant.”

James said AI can be made useful in all-size companies. Most powerful AI systems are now being ported over to the cloud, remote servers that can be accessed online.

An issue that companies may run into is the cost of data transfer, James said. While larger companies may allow smaller startups to use AI to get up and running, James said costs for managing systems can be expensive from an infrastructure standpoint.

This can be tricky for startups, because once they are stuck in one system, it can be hard to get out, James

Being in the forefront of technology adoption in the last decade and having the infrastructure and talent, Alpharetta companies are well positioned to use machine learning, Robotic Process Automation, Chatbots and advanced analytics.”

ARUL MURUGAN CEO Eleven Eleven Investments said. However, he added, small companies can piggyback on big companies who have infrastructure in place or can more afford it.

Other panelists included: Rajen Palaniswamy of Softwear Automation, George Murphy of Adcuratio and Dustin Ward of Splitty.

BUSINESSBRIEFS

Petrea announced as chamber chairman-elect

Ajax wins awards for jobsite safety

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Brandon Beach, President and CEO of The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce recently announced the appointment of Jeff Petrea, Metro North Area Manager, Georgia Power Company, as PETREA chairman-elect.

Petrea is to succeed Roger Lusby of Frazier & Deeter, LLC, as Chairman of the Board of Directors effective Jan. 1, 2018.

In addition to serving on the GNFCC’s Board of Directors, Jeff is a member of Roswell Rotary, the board of directors for the Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau, the board of directors for The Cottage School, and the board of directors for the Peachtree Gateway Partnership.

In the community, Jeff has done work with Junior Achievement, The Woodruff Arts Center, and the Boy Scouts of America.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Ajax Building Corporation, with offices in Alpharetta, recently received two awards for its contributions to safety performance from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia.

The Georgia Safety Award of Excellence and Diamond-level Safety Training and Evaluation Process Award are part of a national program designed to objectively evaluate safety programs, policies, procedures and training.

ABC’s Safety Training and Evaluation Process awards recognize member companies who employ effective safety practices on their jobsites, based on 20 key elements of contractor safety programs.

Winners of the Georgia Safety Awards of Excellence are determined by calculating a company’s days away, restricted or transferred and lost time rates.

To achieve the award, companies must have had no employee fatalities, with rates at least half the national average for their trade.

BUSINESSPOSTS

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017 | 19

DAVID BROWN/COMPOSITE PHOTO OF PROPERTY

The 48-acre property on North Point Parkway at Windward Parkway is getting cleared and readied for construction which should begin in early 2018.

$300M Windward Park: It’s Avalon all over again Mixed-use project will sit on 48 acres

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – There are not many projects one can say in the same breath as Avalon, but Worthington Hyde Partners’ $300 million mixed-use development is certainly one of them.

The 48-acre project at the southeast corner of Windward Parkway and Northpoint Parkway is an assemblage that has waited a long time to come to fruition. Now it is zoned for two 10-story office buildings, each with 250,000-square-feet of space. The complex also includes more than 300 residential condos and townhouses.

Investment Manager/Partner Rob Kincheloe said the success of Avalon Phase I and II showed everyone just how far the market has moved. Avalon is the wildly successful live-work-play development in Alpharetta that has melded the elements of million-dollar homes, glitzy apartments, Class A office and upscale retail and restaurants at Old Milton Parkway and Ga. 400.

HATCHER HURD/HERALD

Heavy equipment is busy moving tons of dirt on the Windward Park construction site.

Windward Park at a glance • 2 mega-office buildings @ 250,000 square feet each • 250-room hotel/3,500 square feet of meeting space • 31.400 square feet of retail • 200 residential condos • 191 townhouses • 24 live-work townhouses • 1,000-space free-standing parking deck Windward Park was originally assembled by Prudential to be a national corporate campus for the insurance giant, but internal squabbles in the company finally squelched that plan.

The property became available in 2007.

And Worthington Hyde Partners bought the site in 2007.

Worthington Hyde is a real estate capital provider that works with niche developers. It provides the “local project insight and expertise” to manage a diversified real estate portfolio.

In 2005, the company (then called Schaedle Worthington Hyde Properties aka SWH Properties) determined the high-end real estate market was becoming “too aggressive” according to the company biography.

“The property was rezoned in 2008.

Then the world [economy] changed,” Kincheloe said.

The economic development doldrums set in and Worthington Hyde “put the property on ice” during the downturn awaiting the return of the Class A office market.

“When the world started to heal again, the phone just started ringing off the hook about this property,” Kincheloe said. ”We had it from all sorts of users – retail interests, residential interests and office,” Kincheloe said.

“It was the level of interest that we are now seeing that convinced us the timing was right.”

That level of interest in the property from all sectors, retail, office and residential, told Worthington Hyde the timing was good and in 2015 began developing a plan for the site.

“With Avalon’s obvious success

A rendering of the completed Windward Park mixed-use development. proving out certain high-water marks in tects on the project. the market, that begat a lot of interTo accommodate employees, Kinchest [in the Windward Park property],” elo said a parking structure capable of Kincheloe said. holding 1,000 cars Add to that the is planned. It will Windward corridor be sufficient for one has always held of the office buildvalue where other ings. He said the markets have not, other office buildand that helped ing’s office deck will convince Worthingtake advantage of ton Hyde the timing the lower topogwas right to bring raphy and allow Windward Park parking to “wrap forward. around.”

“Residential Kincheloe said was the earliest to they had been start knocking on in talks with the the door, but it has Mercedes before definitely picked up it chose to go to across the board,” Sandy Springs Kincheloe said. instead.

With the overall “We’re marketstability of deing this more as a velopment in the corporate campus.

Windward corridor, We would preROB KINCHELOE Kincheloe said fer one corporate Investment Manager/Partner the company has relocation entity a high degree of come in and take confidence going it all. In addition to forward with the project.

Mercedes there have been some large “We think Windward as a submarket corporate healthcare interest,” he said. in Alpharetta has its own story. It’s the Lennar has taken on the marketing combination of corporate offices located of the condominium and townhouse there along with the income levels and portion of the project. The town houses the quality of life you find there,” he will be the first to open with presales said. beginning in the fall in the $400,000s.

Worthington Hyde is partnering with Commercial property should start HGOR Planners & Landscape Archicoming out of the ground in 2018.

With Avalon’s obvious success proving out certain highwater marks in the market, that begat a lot of interest [in the Windward Park property].”

20 | July 27, 2017 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

EVENTS: MILTON SUMMER NIGHTS COMMUNITY PARTY

What: Milton Touchdown Club presents a community party where people can enjoy live music and dancing with the band Canton Street. Food will be available.

When: Friday, July 28, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.

Where: Little River Farms, 14505 Batesville Road, Milton Cost: $75 More info: miltoneaglesfootball.com

SPECIAL NEEDS BINGO NIGHT

What: Parents are encouraged to drop off young adults to enjoy an evening of bingo, pizza, drinks, prizes and fun.

When: Friday, July 28, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Where: Park Place at Newtown School, 3125 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek Cost: $10 at the door More info: johnscreekga.gov/ RecreationandParks/AdaptiveRecreation/Bingo-Night

GARDEN TOUR MONDAYS

CALENDAR LAMBERT FARMERS MARKET

COMMUNITY DAY IN THE PARK

Join for children’s games, health screenings, fish fry, giveaways and raffle prizes to benefit the community. There will also be a 3-on-3 basketball tournament and car show. Donations are welcome to help provide children with backpacks and school supplies. Join the fun Saturday, July 29, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 89 Groveway St., Roswell. For more information, call 678-643-8008.

Looking to get the word out about your event? Submit it to our online calendar at NorthFulton.com/Calendar.

FARMERS MARKETS, FOOD TRUCKS: ALPHARETTA FOOD TRUCK ALLEY

What: Alpharetta’s weekly gathering returns on Old Roswell Street with rotating food trucks and music each week. Six to eight food trucks from the Atlanta area will come out to help kick off the weekend early.

When: Thursdays, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; will be closed Aug. 5 for Old Soldiers Day Where: Old Roswell Street in Alpharetta’s historic district More info: awesomealpharetta.com

ALPHARETTA FARMERS MARKET

What: The Alpharetta Farmers Market features fruits, vegetables, natural meats, fresh flowers and herbs, and a variety of home goods.

When: Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., through Oct. 29 Where: Old Canton Street in downtown Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us

What: Enjoy a free 30-minute tour of the gardens and historic plants on the grounds of Barrington Hall. Learn how the gardens have been restored and receive gardening tips. No reservations necessary.

When: Monday, July 31, 9:30 a.m.

Where: Barrington Hall, 535 Barrington Drive, Roswell More info: roswellgov.com

CUMMING FARMERS MARKET

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT 2017

JOHNS CREEK FARMERS MARKET

What: The Roswell Police Department, along with Roswell Target stores, hosts a family-friendly event with a kids train, rock climbing wall, face painting, games, local vendors and prizes. The community can also explore police, fire and other agency vehicles.

When: Tuesday, Aug. 1, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Where: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street, Roswell More info: roswellgov.com

What: Come by for a chance to enjoy locally produced vegetables, meat, baked goods, honey, soaps, flowers, art, woodworking and more.

When: Wednesday and Saturdays, 6:30-10:30 a.m., through Sept. 30 Where: Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Road More info: cummingfarmersmarket.com

What: Held at the Newtown Park Amphitheater, each market features more than 25 local farmers and vendors with organic and/or sustainable foods and produce.

When: Saturdays through Aug. 26 Where: 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov

What: Every Saturday of the summer, Lambert High School will serve as the grounds for a farmers market showcasing local vendors. Products include fresh baked cookies, locally made honey, homemade pasta sauce, and more.

When: Saturday, July 1, 4-7 p.m.

Where: 805 Nichols Road, Suwanee More info: Lambertfarmersmarket.com

ROSWELL FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET

What: The Roswell Farmers & Artisans Market offers fresh, local farm, ranch and artisan foods direct from producers, and much more.

When: Saturdays, 8 a.m.–noon., through October Where: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill St. More info: roswellfam.com

MUSIC, ARTS & THEATER: STYX AND REO SPEEDWAGON WITH DON FELDER

What: Midwest rockers Speedwagon and Styx are hitting the road together with “The Midwest Rock ‘n’ Roll Express” Tour.

When: Sunday, July 28, 7 p.m.-11 p.m.

Where: Verizon Amphitheater, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta Cost: $27.50-$99.50 More info: vzwamp.com

SPOTLIGHT ARTIST: HEATHER LUND

What: Heather Lund will exhibit her art at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center through July. Her light-hearted works are characterized with a mix of watercolor, pen and ink, acrylic and screen printing.

When: June 1-July 31, all day Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell More info: heatherlund.format.com or roswellgov.com

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

GAME NIGHT FOR TEENS

What: Put your game face on and get ready for Spades, Uno, Dominos, Connect four, Taboo, Monopoly and more, Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Reservations required. For teenagers only.

When: Friday, July 28, 3-5 p.m.

Where: East Roswell Library, 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell More info and registration: afpls.org

END OF SUMMER FEST

What: Join for a weekend of fun activities for teens 12 and up to say goodbye to summer. Activities include a Wii tournament, cookie decorating and more.

When: July 28-29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Alpharetta More info: afpls.org

THE ZOO LIBRARY

What: The Zoo Library presents a free interactive experience where animals are brought to the library. Participation is limited to 25 people. Registration is required.

When: Monday, July 31, 3-4 p.m.

Where: Alpharetta Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info and registration: afpls.org

TUTORING FOR TEENS

What: Experienced tutor Christina Perry will provide free personalized instruction on all areas of SAT, ACT, or CRCT and middle and high school math and language arts.

When: Tuesday, Aug. 1, 5-7 p.m.

Where: Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Alpharetta More info and registration: 404-9530284

PET ADOPTIONS:

What: Find out how different artists interpret a “walk on the wild side” at this gallery featuring works in several mediums, including oil, acrylics, watercolors, pastels and collages. Some art is for sale.

When: Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.1 p.m., through Sept. 18 Where: The Gallery, 9100 Fouts Road, Roswell More info: rfaa.org

FORSYTH COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER

LIBRARY EVENTS:

What: Pet adoptions When: Every Saturday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

Where: PetSmart, 6370 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta Additional adoptions: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Fulton County Animal Services, 860 Marietta Blvd.

NW, Atlanta More info: 404-613-4958

“ALICE IN WONDERLAND”

What: End your summer with Bright Star Traveling Theater as they bring to life the classic story of Alice in Wonderland. The show is free.

When: Monday, July 31, 11 a.m.-noon Where: Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell More info: afpls.org

What: Pet adoptions When: Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: The Forsyth County Animal Shelter, 4065 County Way, Forsyth County More info: 678-965-7185

FULTON COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES

CALENDAR

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017 | 21

The Enchanted Bamboo Forest of Planet River I admit it. I like to eavesdrop when I’m hiking.

It’s especially interesting to be hiking near a group that includes kids, especially young kids. There’s something about hiking STEVE HUDSON that fires a child’s Get Outside Georgia, aa4bw@comcast.net imagination, and it can be hugely entertaining to listen to the things they come up with as they hike along a trail.

Last week, you’ll recall, it was the Hobbit Tunnel at Simpsonwood.

This time it’s the Enchanted Bamboo Forest of Planet River.

Although I’ve hiked to this bamboo forest many times, I never knew it was enchanted until I overheard two little girls telling their mom all about it one afternoon a couple of years ago.

They were already at the Bamboo Forest when I arrived, and from the sound of things, they were having a grand time too.

“Mommy, it’s enchanted for sure,” one of them said. “I just know it is enchanted.”

“Yes, it is,” said the other. “I think I even saw a magical elf!”

“That’s right, Mommy!” affirmed the first. “Elves are everywhere in the Enchanted Forest of…of…in the Enchanted Bamboo Forest of Planet River!”

Hey, that’s pretty original! How she came up with it I can’t imagine. But it is certainly appropriate. The tall bamboo stalks, some of them many inches in diameter, rise silently skyward, filling

Hikers explore the Enchanted Bamboo Forest.

The Enchanted Bamboo Forest of Planet River. the place with that certain soothing shade of green that only bamboo can create. Pathways meander through it all, and every step gives you a new perspective. Enchanted? Maybe. Enchanting? Without a doubt.

Enchanted bamboo forests are, of course, hard to come by. This particular one is located at the far upriver end of the Whitewater/Palisades East trail system. The bamboo is an introduced nonnative invasive species, but invader or not, it is definitely fascinating.

Most hikers access the trail to the Bamboo Forest from the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area parking lot off Whitewater Creek Road, reached via Mount Paran Road via Harris Trail.

There may also be access from the end of Indian Trail (parking when the gate is open) or via the gated trail/ road intersection on Riverview Road (no parking there). But your best bet is to park at Whitewater.

From the parking area, following the route to the Bamboo Forest is fairly easy these days thanks to a series of trailside map posts. Additionally, the Forest Service has identified key trail intersections with unique numbers, and that makes cross-country hiking very easy.

To make this hike from the parking area, cross Long Island Creek on a footbridge. At the far end of the bridge is trail intersection EP-1 (the “EP” is or East Palisades).

Turn left at EP-1. The trail approaches the river and then swings

upstream. Follow it to EP-2 and turn right. You’ll soon come to intersection EP-3; stay right again and continue to intersection EP-7.

At EP-7, turn right again and continue through EP-8 to point EP-10.

At EP-10, you’ll probably want to make the short side hike to the left and down to an observation platform overlooking the river. That little connector trail descends for a bit more than 100 yards to a set of timber steps; the steps, in turn, carry you down a steep section and bring you at last to the overlook.

The view across the river is spectacular, especially in the fall when the leaves are beginning to change.

From the platform, make your way to EP-14. Continue on the main trail through EP-23 toward EP-17. The trail switchbacks down a hill (sometimes steeply) and then crosses a creek on a small footbridge before coming to point EP-17. There, turn left and continue back toward the river, crossing a small creek on another small footbridge. The trail continues along that creek to the river and point EP-16, where you’ll see the ruins of a stone foundation of an old cabin on your left.

Turn right (upstream) toward EP26. You’ll cross an old stone bridge and begin to notice increasingly dramatic rock outcrops off to your right. There’s another footbridge to cross. This portion of the trail is close to the river, and if the water level in the river is high, it’s possible that parts of the trail might be submerged.

And then you’ll spot the first stalks of bamboo. At first it’s just a few of them, but soon they’re everywhere – tens of thousands of ‘em in a veritable forest that stretches to the river and extends for perhaps 200 yards along the trail.

Take your time exploring the bamboo forest, keeping your eye out for elves. Eventually, you’ll have to pull yourself away to hike back to your car and head for home. But you might not want to leave, for that little girl was right. The place really does feel kind of enchanted.

As you hike back, you may find yourself thinking about the bamboo forest. I must admit that I’ve never personally seen any magical elves among the towering bamboo stalks growing there near the river. But maybe I just haven’t been looking hard enough. After all, if I was a magical elf, a bamboo forest might be just the kind of place I’d like to hang out.

Discover detailed guides to other trails in East Palisades, as well as much more great hiking along the Chattahoochee, in Steve Hudson’s book HIKING THE HOOCH, available from local outfitters and on Amazon. Signed copies are available direct from the author at www.chattahoocheemedia.com.

22 | July 27, 2017 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

22 | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017

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ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017 | 23

Skin cancer prevention: beyond sunscreen Brought to you by: Dr. Brent Taylor Premier Dermatology and MOHS Surgery of Atlanta When enjoying time outdoors, there is still no substitute for sunscreen, clothing, umbrellas and shade for preventing future skin cancers. However, a number of medicines and one vaccine have attracted attention TAYLOR because of the possibility that they decrease the number of skin cancers that someone can expect to develop. From vitamin B3 to a fern extract called P. leucotomos, the future is looking brighter.

Nicotinamide, also known as niacinamide, has strong evidence for being able to decrease the number of actinic keratoses (precancers) and squamous cell carcinomas in high risk patients.

In a 2015 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 386 patients who had at least two skin cancers in the previous five years took either nicotinamide 500mg two times per day or placebo for 12 months. The group taking nicotinamide developed 23% fewer non-melanoma skin cancers than the placebo group.

More recently, a 2017 study in the International Journal of Cancer analyzed data about nicotinamide intake and skin cancer from the Nurses Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, two large databases following cohorts of individuals in an attempt to gather useful health information.

This study agreed that nicotinamide intake was associated with a lower risk of squamous cell carcinoma, but the study did raise the question of whether we fully know the effects of nicotinamide on basal cell carcinoma or melanoma.

Larger, longer-term studies would be helpful, but the current evidence is robust enough to suggest that someone with a strong history of precancers called actinic keratoses or of squamous cell carcinomas might consider taking nicotinamide 500mg two times per day.

Importantly, nicotinamide must not be confused with niacin, a close cousin that causes flushing and other side-effects. Nicotinamide is also known as

niacinamide. Niacin is also known as nicotinic acid. Word soup!

Is there help for basal cell carcinoma? A “metaanalysis,” which is a study that pools and analyzes all the results of lots of smaller studies was published in 2016 looking at aspirin and other NSAIDS (for example, ibuprofen) and found that use of one of these medicines was associated with about a 10% lower risk of basal cell carcinoma.

Even more intriguing, vaccination against the human papilloma virus (HPV) may decrease the number of cancers that one develops. The Gardasil vaccine is indicated for prevention of genital warts and cervical cancer and is typically administered to young females, but the HPV virus comes in many variations and types, and theoretically it would not be surprising if vaccination against a few of these viruses protected against the effects of other HPV strains. Use of this vaccine in an adult to prevent skin cancer would be off-label and experimental.

However, two patients reported on in a recent publication in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) were developing an average of 10 skin cancers per year that dropped to an average of 3 to 4 skin cancers per year after vaccination.

There is not time to discuss every possibility, but a fern called Polypodium leucotomos appears to decrease the risk of UV damage and sunburn when taken by mouth in the form of the supplement Heliocare. Some dermatologists advocate its use in addition to sun screen when someone will find themselves suddenly thrust into a very sunny or tropical environment such as during a sunny vacation.

As always, talk with your dermatologist before starting any new medicine or supplement. And, when thinking about new and exciting studies, one important caveat to keep in mind is the possibility of “publication bias.” This is the general rule that exciting studies with intriguing results tend to get published and negative studies without exciting findings tend to get rejected.

Publication bias matters because its effect is to allow publication of studies whose results are not real but rather happened by chance. Careful consideration to evidence quality must always be given before embarking on a new therapy.

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24 | July 27, 2017 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

EMPTY NEST • Sponsored Section

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(NAPSI)—Aging can change many things in a person’s life, including the ability to manage one’s own money.

That sobering reality is behind the creation of a new resource, “Planning for Diminished Capacity and Illness,” issued by the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

These organizations offer this key tip for how to prepare for your financial future: Hope for the best but plan for the worst.

The Problem “Diminished financial capacity” generally refers to a decline in a person’s ability to manage assets to serve his or her best interests. When people of any age lose the capability to manage their finances, they may also become more vulnerable to investment fraud and other forms of financial abuse.

What You Can Do These five steps can help you prepare.

Step 1: Organize your important financial documents. Store them in a safe, easily accessible location. Give copies to trusted loved ones or let them know where to find them. When it comes to bank and brokerage statements and account information, make a list of your accounts with account numbers. Keep a separate list of online bank and brokerage passwords and PINs, and keep both lists in a safe place.

List the locations of your safe-deposit boxes and their keys. Keep your mortgage and credit information, insurance policies, retirement benefits and Social Security information easily accessible.

Step 2: If you work with a financial professional, give that person emergency contact information in case he or she can’t reach you or suspects something is wrong.

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EMPTY NEST • Sponsored Section

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017 | 25

‘Living well with Alzheimer’s and dementia care’ The Memory Center Atlanta is setting the new standard Did you ever imagine that someone struggling with the daily difficulties of reduced memory due to dementia could live so well? Do you need support and help coping with someone you love who is suffering from Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia?

At The Memory Center that’s all we do! We believe the challenging conditions of an aging brain should be met with a caring, interactive community designed around the individual. The

Memory Center offers every incentive to celebrate life and find purpose each day with its unique interactive Town Center and Memory and Motions program to help enhance physical functioning.

We don’t exclude our residents: we include them to enjoy life with activities daily. They can stroll the streets of the town center, enjoy entertainment in the movie theater, quench their thirst at the Chattahoochee Tavern and enjoy a Coca-Cola, shop at the Peachtree general store or visit the Bull Dog café for ice cream. Need a place to feel special?

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The Memory Center Atlanta is a state of the art premier memory care community coming in the summer to Johns Creek. We are conveniently located next to Emory Johns Creek Hospital at 12050 Findley Rd. For further information, please call (678) 456-4304 or visit our website at Thememorycenter.com. Now accepting applications for new residents. Ask about our Founder’s Member Program to Save Money & Reap Rewards.

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26 | July 27, 2017 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

EMPTY NEST • Sponsored Section

Resort style living at The Villas At Bethelview in Forsyth County O’Dwyer Homes knows the importance of offering amenities and a premium location that serves their residents’ lifestyle needs. That’s why at The Villas At Bethelview, their newest Active Adult Community, you’ll find resort style living is easy in their lowmaintenance luxury detached Ranch Villa homes starting in the $300’s.

With 1.25 miles of onsite paths and located just over a mile from Big Creek Greenway, Forsyth County’s 9.6 mile trail system, The Villas offer plenty of opportunities to exercise. A dog park, bocce ball court and clubhouse with warming kitchen, pool, card and exercise room help keep the

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Arbor Terrace of Johns Creek is the new signature in senior living For people who have reservations about moving to a senior community, seeing the beautiful and convenient lifestyle at Arbor Terrace of Johns Creek is eye opening and a refreshing alternative to what most people envision a senior community to look and feel like.

Arbor Terrace is the new signature in senior living and offers a vibrant, active lifestyle with luxury services for seniors.

Residents at Arbor Terrace are neighbors, volunteers, explorers and learners who have chef-prepared meals every day and access to lifestyle and wellness amenities that provide convenience and enrich their day to day life.

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ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017 | 27

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28 | July 27, 2017 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

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COMMUNITY

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | July 27, 2017 | 29

Local cyclists celebrate completing cross-country journey Duo raises $20K for athletes with disabilities

By JULIA GROCHOWSKI julia@appenmediagroup.com

“We would journey into Death Valley with scorching temperatures,” Bergman said. “Literally the next day, we were in NORTH FULTON, Ga. — After years of Yosemite at the highest point, and there planning, two local men recently comwas snow and iced-over lakes.” pleted the cyclist’s dream by journeying But the most exhilarating part of across America from coast to coast – all the ride was in the Flint Hills of Kanfor a good cause. sas, where a stampede of wild horses Dr. David Bergman, a Johns Creek joined them in their travels for a few pediatrician and founder of Pediatric miles.

Place, and Michael Hig“There were hungins, Centennial High dreds of horses, and School English teacher they just started runWe saw the and head track coach, ning with us for probbeauty of our biked over 3,000 miles ably five or 10 miles,” in 38 days. Their trip Higgins said. “The lead nation not only took them from Tybee horse saw us and took Island, Ga., up through in landscape but off and then hundreds Merriman, Neb., and them started gallopin people as well. of back down to San Franing at full speed alongcisco, Calif., from May side us.”

The kindness 27 to July 3.

“It’s not just the and generosity “It was incredible,” sight of it, you hear the Higgins said. “We saw hooves,” Berman added. of people the beauty of our nation “It was exhilarating. We throughout the not only in landscape were breathless and not but in people as well. just from the ride.” whole trip just The kindness and The horses weren’t generosity of people the only ones that travastounded us throughout the whole eled with them. Several as much as the trip just astounded us birds and cows joined as much as the natural at times, and natural beauty of them beauty of the landthe two met up with the landscapes.” different cycling groups scapes.”

But their trip was throughout the country MICHAEL HIGGINS not just for guts and to ride together. Near Cross-country cyclist glory. Higgins and the end of the journey, Bergman used their ride their close friend and to raise over $20,000 for BlazeSports Johns Creek resident Vik Nat joined America, a local nonprofit benefiting them for a section. children, adults and veterans with The stretch with several BlazeSports disabilities.

America athletes at the beginningt of During the journey, the two braved their journey, however, was one of the points as high as 14,000 feet and as most inspirational moments, the two low as 282 feet below sea level. Temsaid. peratures reached above 120 degrees in “As soon as we got to the start of some portions, and then plunged into the trail, it started pouring down rain,” the 30s within 24 hours.

Higgins said. “We had all of these veter-

DEATH NOTICES Robert Day, 75, of Milton, passed away July 14, 2017. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

David Terry Densmore, 60, of Alpharetta, passed away July 12, 2017. Arrangements

by Ingram Funeral Home.

Michael Higgins, left, and Dr. David Bergman biked over 3,000 miles across the United States. ans and disabled kids with their hand cycles sitting out in the pouring rain. I asked them what they wanted to do, if they wanted to go home, and they said, ‘Let’s ride.’”

Such determination in the face of adversity became a source of strength for Bergman and Higgins to keep covering hundreds of miles a day through

harsh weather and conditions.

“You take what the road gives you,” they said.

The two have chronicled their journey day-by-day with photos, maps, stats and commentary at blazeacrossamerica.blogspot.com.

To learn about BlazeSports America and to donate, visit blazesports.org.

Gopal Desai, 82, of Alpharetta, passed away July 12, 2017.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

Carol Mueller, 77, of Roswell, passed away July 13, 2017. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

Marshall Shirley, 81, of Roswell, passed away July 15, 2017. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

James Doyle, 79, of Roswell, passed away July 14, 2017. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

Martha Wallace Perkins, 69, of Freehome, passed away July 15, 2017.

Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.

Michael Glade Smith, 60, of Milton, passed away July 8, 2017. Arrangements

by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.

Joan Van Rossem, 84, of Roswell, passed away July 10, 2017.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

Marie Barnes Welch, 70, of Cumming, passed away July 17, 2017. Arrangements

by Ingram Funeral Home.

Margaret Moorman, 82, of Milton, passed away July 13, 2017. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

30 | July 27, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

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Help Wanted Full-time

Social Worker: Fulltime Case Worker: Fulltime

North Fulton Community Charities is seeking candidates for two open positions. The Social Worker will work primarily with homeless residents to assess needs, make placement and referrals for services. The Case Worker provides emergency assistance and prevention services for residents.

The successful candidates will have excellent oral/ written communication skills and experience working with a low income population. BA &/or 5 yrs. experience required. Social Work certification required for Social Work position, desirable for Case Worker position. Bilingual in Spanish a plus. NFCC requires background check, drug screen and e-Verify. Submit resume with salary requirements or pick up application & job descriptions at NFCC, 11270 Elkins Rd, Roswell 30076 or batherton@nfcchelp.org Full-time

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TELLER Roswell area. Part time also available.

Previous cashhandling experience, detail oriented, strong communication skills and self motivation.

Previous financial institution experience a plus. Resume to: dsexton@ffcuga.org

Ordusion Technologies, Inc. (Duluth, GA) seeks multiple Programmer Analysts to analyze user requirements, test and deploy various client-servers and webbased applications.

Requirements: MS or foreign equivalent in Comp.

Sc./IT/Engg./ Math /Science/MBA with computer science as major or minor / or related +1 yr of relevant IT experience using Java, Microsoft SQL Server DBA , .Net, Salesforce (or BS or foreign equivalent in Comp.

Sci./IT/Engg/Math/Science/ BBA with computer science as major or minor or related with 5 yrs of relevant IT experience using same IT skills listed above).

Positions involve travel to client locations all over the USA. Send resumes to HR Manager-Ordusion Technologies, Inc, 3057 Peachtree Ind Blvd Suite 210, Duluth GA 30097 or Email: hr@ordusion.com

Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC seeks a Research Scientist (Polymer Characterization) in Alpharetta, GA to develop new thermal and rheological characterization methods to help understand structure property relationships in polymers and materials. Applicants should mail resume referencing Job Code 513051 to: Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC, Attn: HR, 4500 McGinnis Ferry Rd., Alpharetta, GA 30005.

EOE.

MANUAL MACHINIST needed in manufacturing plant in South Forsyth. 3 yrs min experience required with mechanical background. M-F 7-5, matched 401K, major medical included. Great team in place and company is growing.

770-664-6742 ext 203, Russell Harris

CRAFTSMEN Handymen/remodelers needed.

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Start August. markferrara@ comcast.net

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MARKETING Atlanta’s Premier roofing and restoration company looking to hire for all marketing positions.

Young, energetic people and/ or senior citizen needed to pass out door knockers to homes in the area. Also looking for canvassers who can knock on the door and hand out some literature about free roofing inspections.

Professional sales people, managers welcome. We offer great pay, negotiable work hours, could be mornings, afternoons, evenings. If have what it takes, its a wonderful, flexible and well paid job.

Starting date- immediately.

Serious inquiries only, call today 404-434-2436

OFFICE SPECIALIST: S.Forsyth nonprofit.

Computer skills necessary.

Salary/benefits. Resume: director@anausa.org.

Foster Care Support Foundation is hiring for multiple full & part time positions in the distribution center’s warehouse.

Tasks include part or all of the following: managing donations and volunteers, sorting, restocking, and serving foster children and their parents.

Background check required.

Please send resume to info@fostercares.org

Public Works Department is hiring an Equipment Operator I FT Position at $15.33/hr. with full benefits. Details on www.suwanee.com.

Mail application/ resume to City of Suwanee HR, 330 Town Center Ave, Suwanee, GA 30024 or Fax 678- 546-2120.

E/O/E; DFW PRESCHOOL TEACHER-FT/PT INFANT TEACHER. CLEANING PERSON Positions open immediately! Benefits available. Excellent pay.

Friendly environment.

Call 678-648-3175 or info@krk52.com

Job Seekers Now Hiring Mammoth Detail Salon is offering part time an dfull time work positions for responsible, hard working young men and women who are looking for a great work place experience.

770-521-0599 Call to speak with a manager. Note: $50 on call shifts for part time workers.

Part-time FRONT DESK Doctors office. Computer experience. Pleasant team player. Positive attitude.

Alpharetta/Roswell.

Resume: medoffice123@ gmail.com PET SITTER/DOG WALKER FT/PT. Must have flexible schedule. http:// happytailscare.com/jobapplication/

Sales Garage Sale JOHNS CREEK Carriage Park Subdivision multi family; Sargent and McGinnis Ferry Roads 30097. Saturday 7/29, 8am-2pm.

ALPHARETTA-30005 Multi-family.

Windward; 5140 Harbour Ridge Drive.

Saturday 7/29, 8am-2pm.

Furnishings, toys, kids/ adult clothes, books, office accessories

Yard Sale A L P H A R E T TA Hartsmill Pointe Subdivision (off Douglas Road 30005) – multi-family Saturday, 7/29, 8:00am–noon.

*Some Restrictions

Bargains

Furniture

Furniture

Building Supplies

WHITE BUFFET on legs: 2 large mirrored doors $100.

678-620-1818

CHILDRENS’ TABLE, cherry Delta $90.

404-889-3233

RECLINERS: Two leather La-Z-Boy, $500/both.

770-495-1304

MAPLE DINING ROOM HUTCH, $400.

770-753-4367

BEIGE LAZY-BOY RECLINER, new. $700, originally $1099.

770-605-0399

DINING ROOM TABLE, glass top, cherry inlay, 6 covered roll-back chairs $800. 404-889-3233

OAK DINING ROOM SET: 8 chairs, China cabinet. $700. 770-769-6135

OPEN HUTCH, sold cherry/brass. $900.

770-753-4367

BROWN LEATHER O T TO M A N $60, 678-620-1818

Garden/Lawn

VELUX SKYLIGHTS, used. (Eight, 21”x44”, two miscellaneous sizes). $295/all.

770-992-6848 leave message

Cemetery GREENLAWN ROSWELL Beautiful, sought-after location next to lake with fountain. Adjacent to marble/stone bench.

Shady, wooded hill above lake. Natural space for quiet meditation.

For one casket or multiple urns. Please visit “Virtual Tour” feature, Greenlawn Cemetery website; choose “THE LAKE Location”.

Lot 2-B, Space 4. $8500.

828-891-2446; gilld@ earthlink.net Arlington/Sandy Springs Pine Hill Section-Lot 176D; Spaces 3 & 4.

Nice view of lake. $5000/ OBO. Retail $10,000.

678-860-5981 Greenlawn/Roswell Chapel of Peace, prime location inside. 2 sideby-side crypts on 3rd (eye) level. $12,000 both, priced for quick sale.

706-825-2842

Collectibles MENS’ RING: 18 carat yellow gold. Size 12.

Featuring 1.79 carats round blue sapphire surrounded by 1 carat channel set baguette diamonds. $5000/ obo.

Appraised $8446.

678-551-3782

Furniture DINING TABLE: Solid cherry 48” round. leaf, pad, 4 upholstered chairs $750.

770-380-6646 E N T E RTA I N M E N T CONSOLE: $150.

770-769-6135 CHEST OF DRAWERS, gray, with hutch $65.

678-620-1818 BLACK CABINET: 2 doors, 2 drawers $40.

678-620-1818 PARSONS CHAIRS: Black, cushioned, no armrests.

New! 2 at $40/each..

678-663-5953

LOVESEAT: Blue leather. $250. 770-769-6135 BAR STOOLS, swivel seats & backs. Two 24”, one 29”, all wood construction; great condition! $20 each.

770-888-2790 BOMBAY CHEST $275; antique wicker rocker, chair & small table $300; wood, metal & glass shelving unit $275; exercise bike $50.

478-320-7905 SMALL DRESSER: White wicker, 3 drawers $55. 678620-1818 LOVESEAT 770-495-1304

$150.

MAPLE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, $300.

770-753-4367 CORNER DESK, offwhite, one drawer $25.

678-620-1818 BARSTOOLS 30” cherry 404-889-3233

(3) $300.

HENREDON CUSTOM SOFA: Extremely comfortable.

Beautiful fabric. Asking $1800.

404-245-7798 RECLINER CHAIR: Blue leather. $250.

770-769-6135 CHERRY HUNT TABLE with mirror, $700.

404-889-3233 COFFEE TABLE: Doubletiered, glass-top. $500.

404-245-7798 BEDROOM : 6 piece Mediterranean style. King headboard, triple dresser, 2 mirrors, 2 night tables. $250. 404-797-3422 BLACK BUFFET: Large, rustic, all wood $300.

678-620-1818 END TABLE: Gray, 1 small drawer, bottom shelf $30.

678-620-1818

LAWN TRACTOR, Craftsman 42”. 19.5 HP variation speed.

Slightly used. $849.50.

770-410-9331

Household FRIGIDAIRE FREEZER $125. 404-889-3233

HOVEROUND MOBILE CHAIR MPV-5, Joystick control, 300 pound capacity, leather seats and cup-holder, used 6 months $1600. 770-653-3271

Miscellaneous AIR COMPRESSOR: Coleman Powermate, 5HP, electric, with all attachments, like new! $199. 770-881-7325 $40.

JOHN DEERE KIDS’ GROUNDLOADER $150.

404-889-3233 DUNE RACER (kids) $150. 404-889-3233 LITTLE TYKES COUPE and Fire Engine, both for kids $70. 404-889-3233 POLARIS Kids’ 4-Wheeler $150. 404-889-3233 YA M A H A 4-WHEELER 404-889-3233

PIANO: Henry F. Miller Upright, matching bench $500/firm. 770-552-4034

Recreation SKIS, BOOTS, POLES, womens’ and mens’ 7/1/2 and 9-1/2. $400.

404-889-3233

Wanted to Buy LOOKING TO BUY OLD DOLLS including vintage & antique bisque, composition, vinyl, plastic, wooden, doll parts, clothing, accessories, and more! Please, no new porcelain dolls. All will be considered. Call 214-8838216 (local number)

Real Estate Wanted to Rent

Medical Equipment

STROLLERS 404-889-3233

Musical Instruments

kids’ $150.

Musical Instruments PIANO, Baby Grand: Elegant case, matching bench; warm, rich tone.

Sacrifice $1650 obo.

678-445-3654

WANTED-EXTRA HOME BEDROOM For nice clean quiet responsible older nonsmoking gentleman.

Access to shower, closet, toilet.

Cumming area.

678-294-2384

Entertainment & Event Services Weddings Tianna’s Place Creating impeccable memories, one event at a time.

Full-service, special event-planning.

Focusing on corporate and celebratory events. www.tiannasplace. com.

678-879-5253/ 404-903-2441

Personal Services Eldercare YOUR HOME Nights or days. 8-12 hours. $14/hour.Verifiable references. 20+ years experience. Transportation.

Nonsmoker/Englishspeaking.

No pets.

4 7 0 - 7 7 9 - 4 7 2 3 / 470-545-1910

SERVICE DIRECTORY AC/Heating

Handyman

Air Conditioning

RELIABLE HOME REPAIRS: 22 years experience.

References. Electrical, plumbing, carpentry, wood rot repair, siding, painting, pressure washing.

Free estimates! 770-6050340

• 24/7 Service • Service / Installationn • Affordable Rates • Residential and Commercial

Will beat all written estimates 30 yrs. exp. Licensed and Insured

Call Steve, 678-270-8108 (cell) AC/Heating

Driveway

Heating, Air, Plumbing servicing and install.

Insured - Certification #859293363150.

6 7 8 - 7 4 0 - 3 4 7 8 manthonyhvac@gmail.com

DRIVEWAY REPLACEMENT: Patios and walkways.

Stonework.

17 years experience. Hundreds of reviews online; see our online photo gallery: Sudlowconcrete.com 404-450-3753

Carpet Cleaners/ Installation GreenFreaks Carpet Cleaning: “The Cleaner That’s Greener!”

Powerful, non-toxic, truckmounted system; the cleanest, healthiest carpet and upholstery ever! greenfreaks.net.

770-549-9613

Cleaning Services HOUSECLEANING Home or office. Good references! Over 10 years cleaning experience.

404-903-2913

Concrete/Asphalt RETAINING WALLS & CONCRETE WORK We build retaining walls.

Local, reliable, honest, experienced. Call Ralph at 678-898-7237

Driveway REPAIR or REPLACEMENT Driveways, patios, sidewalks, walls. $150 off any jobover $1500 Residential or Commercial.

For a FREE estimate call Dave of McKemey Concrete and Hardscapes 678-914-2576. Competitive pricing.

Many local references.

Call the Experts in the

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Drywall NEED A BEDROOM OR BASEMENT FINISHED? Drywall services. Drywall so clean you won’t see lines! 678-909-9773 Call for consultation.

Home Improvement

ALL CARPENTRY & REPAIRS: Roof Leaks, Wood Rot Repair, Siding, Deck Repairs and Refinishing, Painting, Doors/Windows.

Excellent References.

404-895-0260 RAM’S HOME SERVICES Kitchen hardware replaced.

Appliances and ceiling fans installed. Sink/toilet/ leak repair. www.ramshs. com for list of services.

Experienced.

770-7695498

®

HANDYMAN REMODELING

678-455-2434

Flooring Install/Repairs: Carpet, Laminate, Tile (wall/ floor), Vinyl, Wood. Free Estimates!

I can remove carpet wrinkles.

Restretches start $35/ room. 706-429-4453 PHILLIPS FLOORING Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes. Re-grouting is also available. Call 678-887-1868 for free estimate.

Gutters AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Repaired and Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 770-934-2766

Handyman Kitchen & Bath:

Plumbing, Electrical Drywall and Other Repairs and Installations. Home Maintenance. Small Jobs Preferred.

Call Mike.

404-647-1406

www.HandyHero.net Haulers Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling etc.

Many local references.

Call Ralph Rucker at 678-898-7237

Home Improvement Phillips Home Improvement We offer drywall, painting, carpentry, plumbing and electrical.

Basements finished, kitchen and bath rehabs. All types flooring.

Also total home rehab for those who have a rental house or one to sell. Call 678-887-1868 for a free estimate Finegan Home Improvements LLC: License #RBQA004932.

Remodeling, handyman.

31 years experience.

Basements finished, decks, screen porches, doors, drywall, painting, flooring, custom kitchens, bathrooms. All insurance. Credit cards accepted. Paul Finegan 404-353-5611

PATIOS-DECKS DRIVEWAYS SIDEWALKS & WALLS: $100 OFF any job over $1000.

Many local references. Call Dave McKemey at 678-648-2010

Landscaping RAS Landscape Design Installation A full service landscape company capable of doing your job.

25+ years experience. Ralph 678-898-7237

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | July 27, 2017 | 31

NATIONAL ADVERTISING Auto Donations

Medical

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398

DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures.

888-623-3036 or http:// www.dental50plus.com/58 Ad# 6118

Autos Wanted Thinking of buying a new or used car? Call to get current promotional pricing and local dealer incentives for free. No hassle. No obligation. Call: 855-390-3747 CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!!

All Make/Models 2000-2015!

Any Condition. Running or Not. Competitive Offer! Free Towing! We’re Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-416-2330.

Lawn Care

Educational

LEAVE THE MOWING TO US”A”!

Weekly/ Bi-weekly Lawn mowing/ landscape.

Mulch & Pine-straw Installation.

Licensed/Insured/free est.

Call or text: 678-727-6850 www.gagreenworks.com

25 DRIVER TRAINEES NEEDED NOW! Earn $1000 per week! Paid CDL Training!

STEVENS TRANSPORT COVERS ALL COSTS! 1-877209-1309 drive4stevens.com

Masonry MASONRY REPAIRS Stone, brick, block.

Fireplace, walkway, retaining walls etc.

Guaranteed work. Terry Conley 706-435-7596 (N. Fulton/S. Forsyth)

Pinestraw PINESTRAW, mulch delivery/installation available.

Firewood $110/$200, plus delivery.

Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612.

Tree Services JJ Tree Cutting Services.

Complete Tree RemovalCall us for a Free Quote, 678-467-1325 or 770-630-6672. Licensed and insured. jjtreecutting@ gmail.com RAS Cutting Services Complete tree removal.

Ralph 678-898-7237 Yellow Ribbon Tree. Near perfect reviews and awardwinning service. Hands on owner. Free estimates and insured. 770Tree.com 770-744-2200 and ask for Gary.

404Cuttree. One of the most experienced and reliable tree companies in North Atlanta. Perfect reviews and reliable, professional, and honest service. Free quotes. Fully insured.

770Tree.com 678-506-0006

AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING Get FAA certification. Approved for military benefits. Financial Aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888686-1704

Employment PAID IN ADVANCE! Make $1000 Weekly Mailing Brochures From Home!

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Start Immediately! www.

MailingPros.Net

Health & Medical VIAGRA 100MG and CIALIS 20mg! 50 Pills + 10 FREE. SPECIAL $99.00 100% guaranteed. FREE Shipping!

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Medical OXYGEN Anytime.

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No deliveries. The All-New Inogen One G4 is only 2.8 pounds! FAA approved! FREE info kit: 844-558-7482 SAVE THOUSANDS ON SURPRISE COSTLY HOME REPAIRS!! With Nations Home Warranty we pay 100% of covered Home repairs!

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1-877-743-5419

Miscellaneous Social Security Disability? Up to $2,671/mo. (Based on paidin amount.) FREE evaluation!

Call Bill Gordon & Associates.

1- 855-376-6502. Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL., member TX/ NM Bar. CASH FOR CARS: We Buy Any Condition Vehicle, 2000 and Newer.

Nation’s Top Car Buyer! Free Towing From Anywhere! Call Now: 1-800-864-5960.

SENIOR LIVING referral service, A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest FREE, no obligation senior living referral service. Contact our trusted local experts today! 1-800217-3942 SUPPORT our service members, veterans and their families in their time of need.

For more information visit the Fisher House website at www. fisherhouse.org CASH PAID for unexpired, sealed DIABETIC TEST STRIPS! 1 DAY PAYMENT & PREPAID shipping. HIGHEST PRICES! Call 1-888-776-7771. www.Cash4DiabeticSupplies. com Dish Network-Satellite Television Services. Now Over 190 channels for ONLY $49.99/mo! HBO-FREE for one year, FREE Installation, FREE Streaming, FREE HD. Add Internet for $14.95 a month. 1-800-718-1593 Make a Connection.

Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. Try it FREE. Call NOW: Call 1-877-737-9447 18+

Motorcycles Wanted to Buy WANTED OLD JAPANESE MOTORCYCLES KAWASAKI Z1-900 (1972-75), KZ900, KZ1000 (1976-1982), Z1R, KZ 1000MK2 (1979,80), W1-650, H1-500 (1969-72), H2-750 (1972-1975), S1-250, S2-350, S3-400, KH250, KH400, SUZUKI-GS400, GT380, HONDA-CB750K (1969-1976), CBX1000 (1979,80) CASH!!

1-800-772-1142 1-310-7210726 usa@classicrunners.com

Wanted to Buy Cash for unexpired DIABETIC TEST STRIPS! Free Shipping, Best Prices & 24 hr payment!

Call 1-855-440-4001 www.

TestStripSearch.com. Habla Espanol.

CADNET ADS

Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the following classifieds.

Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home.

Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license identification or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it’s illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in U.S. dollars.

800 numbers may or may not reach Canada.

Autos Wanted

Miscellaneous

A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR FOR BREAST CANCER! Help United Breast Foundation education, prevention, & support programs.

FAST FREE PICKUP - 24 HR RESPONSE - TAX DEDUCTION 855-403-0213

Lung Cancer? And Age 60+?

You And Your Family May Be Entitled To Significant Cash Award.

Call 866-428-1639 for Information. No Risk. No Money Out Of Pocket.

Got an older car, boat or RV? Do the humane thing. Donate it to the Humane Society. Call 1- 855-558-3509 CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!!

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AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING - Get FAA Technician certification.

Approved for military benefits.

Financial Aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-453-6204

Social Security Disability? Up to $2,671/mo. (Based on paid-in amount.) FREE evaluation! Call Bill Gordon & Associates. 1-855498-6323. Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL., member TX/NM Bar.

Employment Opportunities Make $1,000 Weekly!Paid in Advance! Mailing Brochures at Home.

Easy Pleasant work. Begin Immediately. Age Unimportant. www.HomeBucks.

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Processing Mail! Send SASE: LISTS/CAD, Springhouse, PA 19477-0396###### FREE GOVERNMENT MONEY! www.

BillionDollarFund.net

Medical Got Knee Pain? Back Pain?

Shoulder Pain? Get a painrelieving brace at little or NO cost to you. Medicare Patients Call Health Hotline Now! 1- 844-502-1809

Miscellaneous Comcast Hi-Speed Internet -$39.99/mo (for 12 mos.) No term agreement. Fast Downloads!

PLUS Ask About Our Triple Play (TV-Voice-Internet) for $89.99/ mo (lock in 2 years!) CALL 1-844-714-4451

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Real Estate

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Wanted to Buy

CASH PAID- up to $25/Box for unexpired, sealed DIABETIC TEST STRIPS. 1-DAYPAYMENT. 1-800-371-1136

Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests.

Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201

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32 | July 27, 2017 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

Summer Fling Watermelon Blonde NOW Tapped!

Cherry SStreet treett named Grand National Champion 3 Gold Medals

678-456-8189 cherrystreettaproom.com

O.A.S.I.S Imperial Stout, Ta Ta Pilsner, and Damebier Maple Strong Ale

5810 Bond Street • Cumming (at corner of Post Rd. and Majors Rd. in Vickery Village)

1 Silver Medal 2 Bronze Medals

Cherry Street Taproom Expansion NOW Open!

Try our beer flights!

Book the Tap Room for your private event

Weekly Events Tuesday 8pm Adult Trivia Wednesday Mug Club Night & Beer Infusion Night Thursday 15% OFF Select Growlers

Saturday 1pm-4pm Brewery Tours 7pm-11pm Live Music

25 Cherry Street beers on tap

Come Try Our Barrel Aged Beers Nitro Beers Beer Cocktails Craft Cocktails and Full Bar!

Double the Seating Capacity Double the Space Double Our Brewing Production!

Book Your Next Party in the Barrel Room Receptions, Showers, Birthdays, Holidays, Company Outings Full Service Food & Drinks Up to 85 Guests

Serving Breakfast

Mon-Fri 7am-11am • Sat 8am-11am Sun 8am-10am • Sun Brunch 10am-2pm

Biscuits, Omelettes, French Toast, Egg Platters & Bowls, Steak & Eggs, Kids’ breakfast Menu

Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner To-Go • Catering

Rotisserie Chicken • Chicken Fingers • Wings • Chicken Lips • BBQ Ribs • Pulled Pork • Veggies & More.

Haiti Reach Fundraiser!

Come Enjoy Tap Tap Mango IPA Proceeds from sales donated.

August 10th at 5pm

5810 Bond Street • Cumming (at corner of Post Rd. and Majors Rd. in Vickery Village) 770.205.5512 • ricktannerschicken.com