Johns Creek Herald - December 28, 2017

D e c e m b e r 2 8 , 2 0 1 7 | N o r t h F u l t o n . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 1 , N o . 5 2

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Tax payments ease budget concerns ►►PAGE 4

Bob Farley remembered 4

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Foundation gives back to local sports

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A look back at 2017 It’s that time of year again. The Herald hits the rewind button and looks back at most talked about and impactful stories of 2017 with our annual “Year in Review.” Read more, Pages 6 – 9, 18.

1. A member of the Knights of Columbus gazes at The Wall That Heals March 30 during it’s four day encampment at Newtown Park.

2. In January residents begin speaking out on road widening projects.

3. Chattahoochee captured the Class AAAAAA soccer state championship May 13 with a 2-0 win over Gainesville.

4.

4. Karen Handel won the June 20 6th Congressional District

runoff, becoming the first Georgia Republican woman elected to Congress.

South Carolina draws Alpharetta standout ►►PAGE 17

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2 | December 28, 2017 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

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Prohibited archery kills deer ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell police responded to a gunshot call Dec. 12, only to find that a man had shot and killed a deer using a bow and arrow. There is a city ordinance against discharging a firearm within city limits.

The man told police that he shot the deer in his backyard with a bow and arrow. The deer then ran through the woods

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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.

Woman loses wallet while shopping JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A woman reported Dec. 12 that her wallet was stolen during a shopping trip and her credit cards used shortly after.

The woman first noticed that her wallet was missing around 5 p.m. when she attempted to pay after shopping at the Kroger on Holcomb Bridge Road.

Once she left the Kroger, the woman checked her credit cards and noticed that someone had attempted to charge $500 on almost all of them. Each credit card company was alerted about the fraud.

After contacting police, she said she was suspicious of an interaction she had with another woman, who had approached her while shopping asking for help to read a food label.

Security footage showed the female suspect, along with a man, following the woman through the store. At one point, when the woman left her cart and purse, the female suspect immediately went through the woman’s purse to take out her wallet and hand it to the man.

After doing so, the suspect began talking to the woman “to prevent suspicion.”

The identity of the suspects is currently unknown.

and died in a neighbor’s yard.

After the deer died, the man dragged it away on a tarp.

One neighbor said that they did not want the man to come back and clean the blood from their yard.

Police issued the man a warning about the city ordinance and safety concerns from neighbors.

Woman thwarts scam seeking bond money JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A woman reported Dec. 13 that someone had impersonated her granddaughter and a New York police officer in a phone call to obtain money.

The woman said she received a call from an unknown number from a man who said he was a police officer in New York. He claimed that the woman’s granddaughter had been arrested for her involvement in a car accident.

An unknown woman then came on the phone, pretending to be the woman’s granddaughter.

The woman told the callers that her granddaughter is under 10 years old.

She said this “confused” the callers, but they insisted that her granddaughter’s attorney would call to arrange bond. No exact dollar amount was requested.

When the woman called her son to check on her granddaughter, he confirmed that the granddaughter was safe at home. The woman did not receive any additional calls.

Home ransacked during gym visit ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A woman reported Dec. 13 that her apartment had been burglarized during her hour-long trip to the gym. The woman had left her apartment on Masters Way around noon, and when she returned, she saw that the back patio door had been forced open.

Close to $7,000 worth of items were missing from the apartment. Some of the missing items included $3,000

worth of assorted jewelry, a laptop, a television, a Nikon DSLR camera and a spare key to the woman’s car.

Employee gives away merchandise for free ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A woman was arrested Dec. 13 for giving away $1,700 worth of store merchandise to a friend while working at the Victoria’s Secret in North Point Mall.

A loss prevention representative contacted police when he became suspicious of the employee. After investigating, he later found video surveillance footage of the employee providing multiple items of clothing to a friend free of charge.

The employee told police that she would ring up discounts for the friend that would make the clothing free. She did so on three separate occasions through November and December.

She was arrested for theft by taking greater than $1,500.

Two cars burglarized at Caney Creek Preserve FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Two cars were burglarized Dec. 10 while parked at Caney Creek Preserve.

One woman said a purse that had been on the front seat of her Mercedes was stolen. She said she went running in the parking lot around 2:15 p.m.

When she returned, her driver side rear window was smashed out. Nothing else appeared stolen.

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Milan Eye Center Opens Alpharetta Location Milan Eye Center, a premier ophthalmology practice with five locations in the North Atlanta suburbs, will open a new clinic and ambulatory surgery center in Alpharetta on January 8, 2018.

With six ophthalmologists and five optometrists on staff, Milan Eye Center offers a full scope of diagnostic testing and treatment. At their new, state-of-the-art facility, they will offer their full range of surgical services, including cataract surgery, LASIK, lens replacement surgery, corneal transplants, and oculoplastics. They will also provide their full range of comprehensive eye care services, including the management of glaucoma and diabetic eye.

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“Our goal in opening this new facility is to better serve our patients,” said Milan Eye Center Operations Manager, Janak Pandya. “By having clinics in a variety of locations, patients can choose to have their appointment in the location that is most convenient for them.”

Milan Eye Center’s other clinics are in Johns Creek, Cumming, Canton, Buford, and Marietta. Additionally, the practice is affiliated with Atlanta’s finest hospitals, including Emory Johns Creek Hospital and Northside Hospital. While the new facility will be similar to the practice’s other locations, the Alpharetta clinic and surgery center will house a few additional state-of-the art features.

“We think patients will be very pleased with the new facility,” said Dr. Milan Patel, the practice’s founder. “It was designed with the patient experience as a top priority.”

In addition to the top-notch facility, Milan Eye Center also prides itself on their new clinic’s prime location, just minutes from Avalon. This location makes it easy for patients to run errands before or after their appointments.

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4 | December 28, 2017 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

NEWS

Homeowners step up to the plate and pay taxes early Early payments allow Fulton Schools to make December payday

By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - It will be a merrier Christmas for employees of the Fulton County School System who will get paid a week ahead of schedule, thanks to early tax payments by Fulton County homeowners.

Although property tax bills for Fulton County are not due until mid-January – three months later than usual – a higher than expected number of tax payments have already flowed in to the Tax Commissioner’s office well before the deadline.

“Tax receipts from the Fulton County Tax Commissioner’s Office... amounted to more than $84 million through December 15, giving the school district enough funds to issue employee paychecks on December 22, a week earlier than previously announced,” said a spokesperson for Fulton Schools.

Payroll for the school system, in-

cluding benefits, is approximately $70 million a month for the district’s 14,000 employees.

Fulton Schools expects the remaining receipts to continue to come in through the January 15 deadline, putting the system in good financial shape for the remaining months of the school year.

The delay in tax bills started with a decision by the Fulton County Commission in June to freeze 2017 home values at the 2016 level in response to homeowner complaints of inflated home values. But the Georgia Department of Revenue rejected the tax digest, citing a number of legal problems, primarily focused on commercial property owners not receiving the same benefit.

It took a court order to allow Fulton County to send out tax bills while the issue is sorted out; leading to the delay in payments.

The early surge in payments was attributed in part to Fulton County officials who embarked on a public service campaign aimed at property owners and mortgage companies to pay the tax bills before the due date. They stressed the early payments would allow governments to continue providing services as normal and pay employees.

We are enormously grateful to our school board for their years of fiscal responsibility, which gave us $295 million in healthy cash reserves that sustained us through the property tax crisis.”

DR. JEFF ROSE Fulton Superintendent

Fulton Schools tied their belts tight in October, halting new hires and most spending and placing a moratorium on out-of-system travel and student field trips. Healthy reserves held by the school system allowed it to avoid furloughing employees – which City of Atlanta Schools faced.

Even with the spending freeze, Fulton School officials were uncertain if the Dec. 22 payday could be met.

But the response to the early payment request, along with the fiscal health of the school system, pulled the system through.

“We are enormously grateful to our

school board for their years of fiscal responsibility, which gave us $295 million in healthy cash reserves that sustained us through the property tax crisis,” said Fulton Superintendent Dr. Jeff Rose.

The county may have also benefited from the recently passed tax reform legislation which limits local property tax deductions to $10,000 annually.

For homeowners who wait until after the first of the year, they will likely pay two tax bills in 2018 — both the 2017 and the 2018 bills – potentially pushing them over the threshold of available deductions.

ACT1 Theater signs partnership with City of Alpharetta Volunteer troupe to expand presence with classes, shows

By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — ACT1 Theater, an outreach of Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, has signed an agreement with the City of Alpharetta to provide performances and classes through the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

The year-to-year agreement allows the theater troupe access to some of the city’s extra storage space in exchange for its work with the city.

Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard said the partnership is in line with the city’s efforts to tap into the private sector to elevate the arts in the community, much in the same way the city partners with organizations to promote youth sports activities.

ACT1 Theater is an all-volunteer community theater that has operated in the city for more than 20 years.

Its production casts and crews are open to everyone who wants to volunteer.

The company has staged both small and large-scale productions, from plays to musi-

cals, including “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Alpharetta Parks and Recreation Director Morgan Rodgers said the partnership will benefit both sides.

“I sat down with them and said we want to do more activities outside, what do you want to do?” Rodgers said. “They said they need storage facilities.”

The agreement allows the theater company to use space at the Crabapple Government Center on Broadwell Road for storage.

“In exchange for that, they’re going to do some classes for us as well as doing some performances back here (in the green space behind City Hall) during the spring, summer and fall,” Rodgers said. “They get the things they need, and we get something for our citizens.”

The troupe will continue its current operation with the Presbyterian Church but will expand its reach in the city.

Rodgers said future plans may include the city using some of the company’s resources for classes in the black box theater for small-scale performances at the Alpharetta Arts Center which is set to open in the next year on Mayfield Road.

“I think it was a good agreement, and the Recreation Commission thought so, too,” Rodgers said.

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ACT1THEATER

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017 | 5

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6 | December 28, 2017 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

YEAR IN REVIEW

Story of the year: Tax revolt throws governments for a loop

By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com.

NORTH FULTON, Ga. – Thousands of Fulton County residents turned out for public meetings in May to wage war against revised property assessments that increased home values by as much as 50 percent for a quarter of the homeowners.

In a series of public forums, which included county, city and state leaders, residents complained not only of spikes in their property values but inaccu-

rate descriptions of the homes they owned.

In response to the public outcry, Fulton County Commissioners voted June 21 to rescind the 2017 property tax appraisals established by the Board of Appraisers and place home values back to their 2016 levels.

“Today’s vote was not just a monetary or fiscal matter, it was a moral issue,” Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves said. “What we did today was vote to keep seniors from losing their homes; people from having to choose between paying for medicine or tax bills.”

The squabble over assessments delayed the county from establishing a final property digest until late summer. That left cities and the Fulton County School District unable to calculate property taxes on homes until fall. As a result, property tax bills were delayed, leaving some local governments with cash flow problems.

Some cities, like Roswell and Alpharetta that had approved their 2018 budgets before July, had to recalculate their anticipated revenues from property taxes and adjust their spending plans accordingly.

Major road projects dominate news On Jan. 10, more than 200 people from Johns Creek, Alpharetta and the surrounding area turned out at Lanier Technical College in Forsyth County to study and comment on plans for a $42 million project to widen 4.6 miles of McGinnis Ferry Road.

The project is designed to improve east-west traffic flow along one of north Metro Atlanta’s most widely used routes. Some Johns Creek residents oppose the plan, fearing the widening will decrease nearby home values and open the city up to serve as a greater commuter crossroads.

Residents were also out in force in April to discuss plans to widen Jones Bridge Road to four lanes along a 1.5 mile stretch from McGinnis Ferry Road to Sargent Road. Attendants from the Oxford Mill subdivision peppered City Manager Warren Hutmacher with questions about why the $7.5 million project was necessary in the first place. Some also said they worried about how much land the city would need to acquire for right of way.

Both the Jones Bridge Road and McGinnis Ferry Road widening projects were part of a regional plan approved for funding by county-wide voters in the 2016 Transportation Sales Tax referendum.

Local discontent about the projects and their effect on property owners and quality of life was raised as an issue in the 2017 municipal campaign in Johns Creek.

City Hall moves into new home In September, the City of Johns Creek moved to a temporary City Hall at 10700 Abbotts Bridge Road while awaiting renovations. City services will remain uninterrupted.

City Hall will remain open for normal business hours at the new location. All city phone numbers and email addresses will remain the same.

The city bought 7 acres and the

‘The Wall That Heals’ visits Johns Creek

SPECIAL

Citadel President Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa presents Cadet Woods with college’s Medal of Valor.

75,000-square-foot building in Technology Park back in February, but it won’t be available until renovations are completed. Meanwhile the city continues to lease space in two buildings – the two floors in an office building on Findley Road and the police/municipal court building on Johns Creek Parkway.

The current leases in the new building expire in 2019, so the city must wait before taking up residence. Meanwhile, the city’s lease at its current location expired in September.

Renovations of the new City Hall facility are expected to take 12-18 months.

Beginning Oct. 3, the City Council and most public meetings were held at the current Police Department and Municipal Court facility at 11445 Johns Creek Parkway.

Student saves 2 people from burning van Christopher Woods, a cadet at the Citadel in Charleston, S.C., pulled two people after a burning van when he was driving home March 2 to Johns Creek.

The rising senior had not gotten as

far as Columbia, S.C., on I-26 when he came upon a serious accident that involved a van and the overturned Airstream trailer it was pulling in the highway.

Woods, 21 and an Eagle Scout, pulled over in time to save an elderly couple before the flames completely engulfed the vehicle.

Fire units arrived shortly after to extinguish the fire, but it was clear that the couple in the van would not have made it without Wood’s prompt action.

At the Citadel’s Awards Convocation May 4, more than 50 awards were presented to cadets in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments. It was at this time that Citadel President Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa presented Cadet Woods with college’s Medal of Valor, awarded when a cadet distinguishes oneself by acts of heroism.

This was not the first time that Woods had saved someone.

When he was a student at Johns Creek High School, Woods was one of four teenagers hailed for “quick action” after a varsity football game in Forsyth, where they witnessed a crash and assisted both injured drivers.

The 250-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, dubbed “The Wall That Heals,” took a trip to Johns Creek from March 29 to April 2.

The hope of the visit was to pay tribute to the American servicemen and women who served during the Vietnam War Era. At the display it had a revolving list of the names inscribed who were from Georgia. Many had photos of the soldiers as well.

Part of the display included the mobile Education Center, which accompanied the Wall.

The Education Center contained digital displays of photos of service members whose names are on The Wall; letters and memorabilia left at The Wall by visitors; a map of Vietnam; and a chronological overview of the Vietnam War. The exhibits tell the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall, and the era surrounding the conflict, and are designed to place American experiences in Vietnam in an historical and cultural context.

During its short stay, it was estimated that 8,700 visitors experienced the exhibit.

Coughlin named new councilman Chris Coughlin won the Johns Creek City Council Post 4 race April 18 with 63 percent of the vote.

Coughlin won a council seat before, but only served one day because it was to fill another unexCOUGHLIN pired term. This time, Coughlin’s victory will give him nearly a complete term, replacing Bob Gray who ran for Congress in the same election.

Now with more than two years in front of him this time, Coughlin, a research scientist, said in April he

YEAR IN REVIEW

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017 | 7

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK/SPECIAL

Sixty acres of precious wooded countryside and with a lake comprise the purchase by the city of new parkland adjacent to Cauley Creek Park on Bell Road. had some definite ideas about what he would like to see the city do.

“The No. 1 thing on my list is to ensure that the quality of life for residents will be protected,” Coughlin said shortly before his first council meeting. “I want to be part of the Comprehensive Plan update because that will be a guide for how we plan to develop and redevelop over the next 10 years.”

He also wants what he calls his traffic congestion task force “within the purview of the city.”

Coughlin had been working on a traffic congestion task force independent of the city. He said the group had worked with Johns Creek Community Association, Georgia Commute Options and some of the businesses in the city.

“I’d like to bring that to the city and start looking at traffic solutions besides the typical widening [of roads],” he said.

“We’re already hitting the ground running and talking about some light-timing issues. That would include auditing and adapting the fully functional adaptive signals.”

City expands Cauley Creek Park In June, the Johns Creek City Council announced the purchase of 60 acres adjacent to Cauley Creek Park on Bell Road.

The parcel known as Quail Hollow connects Cauley Creek to the Rogers

Bridge slated for restoration as a pedestrian bridge across the Chattahoochee River where more active and passive use parkland will be accessible.

The $9,050,000 asking price was reduced with the partnership of the Trust for Public Land’s participation to bring the city’s cost to 8.2 million.

That resulted in a net price to the city of $141,379 per acre. Funds came from city’s parks and recreation bond money.

But in October, the city revisited the park to begin new rounds on public comment on what to do with it since it went from 140 acres to 200.

The intent is to “strike a balance” between the adopted master plan while shielding the surrounding affected neighborhoods from the effects of the park.

There is no time frame associated with the plan. The city will bring the park master plan before all neighborhoods in the city, ensuring those most affected will be heard and that mitigating strategies on the parks’ effect are employed.

Karen Handel wins historic 6th District race On June 20, Republican Karen Handel secured her place as the next U.S. representative of the 6th District after an intense battle with Democrat Jon Ossoff. The race became widely known

as the most expensive Congressional campaign in U.S. history.

Ossoff, a 30-year-old Decatur Democrat in his first political race, drew national attention in his bid to turn the 6th District, a perennially Republican district the last 37 years. He received unprecedented funding from the Democratic Congressional Leadership Fund and other sources, amassing a staggering $8.3 million before the runoff.

Over $50 million total was spent between both candidates before the runoff ended.

Handel eked out her win over Ossoff with 135,000 votes, or 51.9 percent of the nearly 260,000 votes cast.

In total, 58 percent of registered voters in the district participated in the election.

Handel said she is proud to be the first Republican woman elected to this seat by Georgians.

Ossoff released a statement on the results saying “for months, this community in Georgia has been a beacon of hope for people across the country.”

He said it’s “extraordinary” what the community achieved, by mounting an “unprecedented grassroots effort powered by more than 12,000 volunteers.

Incumbents prevail in city elections Incumbent City Council members Stephanie Endres, Lennie Zaprowski and Mayor Mike Bodker were returned to office in the Nov. 7 city elections. Only one seat, Post 3, went to a runoff.

An anemic 6,395 votes were cast (13.8 percent) out of 46,277 registered voters in Johns Creek during the general elections.

The Post 3 runoff featured the top two vote-getters, John Bradberry and Vicki Horton. Ultimately, Bradberry defeated Horton with 58 percent of the vote to take the final council seat.

Bodker got a free ride after his opponent dropped out of the race weeks before the election.

Incumbent Endres had little trouble topping her opponent Chris Jackson.

Zaprowski had a little more trouble fending off newcomer Issure C. Yang.

But Zaprowski will return for a second term and what he has said is his last after securing 53 percent of the vote.

The recurring low voter turnout in city elections is worrisome Bodker said, because fewer voters means it is less likely the true feelings of the majority are accurately represented.

8 | December 28, 2017 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

YEAR IN REVIEW

SPECIAL

Chattahoochee captured the Class AAAAAA soccer state championship May 13 with a 2-0 win over Gainesville.

Sports story of the year: Chattahoochee soccer captures state title Hooch boys soccer earned their second state championship trophy in May, the culmination of a dominant season from the Cougars. Chattahoochee

compiled a 21-2-1 record, went undefeated to capture the Region 7-AAAAAA championship and outscored opponents 24-2 in the playoffs. The Cougars defeated

Northview, Hooch set program records

Johns Creek girls soccer reaches state finals

The girls basketball teams of Northview and Chattahoochee had their best seasons in program history during their 2016-17 campaigns, both making deep runs in the playoffs.

Northview went undefeated in region play (16-0) during the regular season before dominating in the region tournament to capture their first region championship.

In the state playoffs, the Titans made their deepest run in program history, reaching the final four and compiling a 28-4 overall record on the season.

Chattahoochee also set a program mark for wins, going 22-7 on the season. A No. 3 seed entering the state tournament, Hooch reached the elite eight.

Under first-year head coach Mary Byrne, Johns Creek girls soccer reached the state championship game for the first time.

The Gladiators went 7-1 in region play, capturing the 7-AAAAAA title.

Johns Creek then dominated in the first four rounds of the playoffs, outscoring opponents 17-0 to earn their first-ever state championship berth.

Though their stout defense had another incredible performance, the Gladiators fell to perennial powerhouse Harrison in a penalty shootout after regulation play and two overtime periods ended in a scoreless tie.

Northview dedicates baseball park

A controversial call on the field appeared to have ended Johns Creek’s baseball season, but an unprecedented ruling by the Georgia High School Association allowed the Gladiators a second chance to settle things on the field.

During the second game of the Gladiators’ state semifinal series against Lee County, Johns Creek appeared to win the game on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh inning. However, that call was overruled when umpires called a baserunner out for not touching third. Lee County then won in extra innings.

Johns Creek appealed the ruling, stating an umpire used technology to determine a call on the field — which is prohibited under the GHSA — by using a cell phone during deliberations with

Northview baseball dedicated its baseball park to the memory of a former player, and the Will to Live foundation created in his honor, in March.

Will Trautwein, a Northview student and baseball player, took his own life in 2010. The foundation bearing his name aims to help teens be open about depression and mental illness.

On the night the park was dedicated, Northview earned an emotional, marathon win over Chattahoochee.

Will’s brother, Michael, scored the tying run to force extra innings and the game went 13 frames, 13 being the number Will wore in baseball.

Johns Creek wins appeal to GHSA

Gainesville 2-0 in the state title game behind strong offensive pressure and another stout performance from the “brick wall” of Hooch’s defense.

other officials.

Ultimately, the GHSA overturned the decision, ruling Johns Creek had won the game. That allowed the series to go to a decisive Game 3. The Gladiators ultimately fell in the do-or-die contest, 8-0.

Johns Creek sweeps golf state titles The Gladiators’ boys and girls golf team swept the 6A state championships in May. The boys captured their second straight state title, and the girls won their first.

The girls team outlasted crosstown and region rivals Northview, winning the title by five strokes. Amy Ng placed as state runner up in individual play after a five-hole playoff.

The boys team, led

by Andy Mao and Nic Cassidy, bested Creekview by three strokes for the championship.

Local grads go pro

Three local graduates entered the professional ranks this season in the NBA and NFL. Mount Pisgah graduate Kyle Sloter was picked up in the NFL free agency along with Chattahoochee’s Marcus Sayles.

Sloter, a quarterback, had an impressive preseason performance with the Denver Broncos, but was ultimately waived. He was then signed by the Min-

nesota Vikings and is currently on the active roster.

Sayles was signed by the Buffalo Bills before joining the Los Angeles Rams practice squad.

Another Hooch graduate, Jaron Blossomgame, was selected 59th overall in the NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs. He is currently playing for the Spurs’ G League affiliate.

Mixed results for area football teams The 2017 football season saw a mixed bag for Johns Creek area teams, as well as two new head coaches’ debut seasons.

Johns Creek and Northview were under new leadership this season, with Matt Helmerich leading the Gladiators and James Thomson taking over at Northview.

Both coaches saw frustrating first seasons with Johns Creek compiling a 3-7 record and Northview going 2-8.

While the Gladiators and Titans struggled, Mount Pisgah and Chattahoochee compiled winning seasons. Mount Pisgah went 8-3, securing their first home playoff game in four years.

After compiling a 9-21 record the past three seasons, Hooch returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. The Cougars compiled a 7-4 overall record, matching their best performance over the past five seasons.

YEAR IN REVIEW

NorthFulton.com/BlackBox | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017 | 9

BLACK BOX YEAR IN REVIEW:

Black Box makes mark in probing local issues We launched the investigative journalism arm of our company, Black Box, at the start of this year.

Investigative journalism does not play a traditional role in small comHANS APPEN munity newspaper General Manager hans@appenmediagroup.com newsrooms. This type of work is usually reserved for large daily newspapers and cable broadcasts.

However, many such organizations miss out on a lot of the stories that, while important to a local community, just don’t affect the larger target audience they serve.

Our goal is to fill that void, and dive deeper into the stories we have been telling for decades. We want to uncover the truth and give our readers the story behind the story.

We divide our work into projects because some cannot be told in one article, and many require enormous amounts of research and time to get all the facts needed to paint the whole picture for our readers.

Below is a short summary of some of our 2017 projects.

Journalism Under Attack: Georgia This has been by far our most extensive project with over 20,000 words written over 11 different parts.

Unfortunately, we have seen an onslaught of troubling attacks on the media this year. A component of this project is to remind people why journalism, and the First Amendment, is so critical to our democracy.

In 2017, we told the stories of the Pentagon Papers and Watergate, and how they have changed the news industry forever.

We told the life stories of citizen journalists and the ever-changing way in which people consume the news.

We explained what rights the public has to government information and how to obtain it.

We told the stories of two separate arrests in Georgia and the resulting consequences.

We detailed the ways in which our local governments are and are not transparent to their constituents, and much more.

ment, LexisNexis admitted no liability and denied all claims.

We covered this and continue to monitor all cases of businesses practicing unfair and illegal discrimination among their work forces.

Citizen journalist Nydia Tisdale was featured twice in the Black Box series ‘Journalism Under Attack’. She strives to increase government transparency by attending as many meetings as she can and recording them. This month she was acquitted of a felony obstruction of justice charge.

I want to thank the many journalists who helped with this project, including Jim Zachary, Nydia Tisdale, Vince Johnson, Jessica Szilagyi, Abdulhamit Bilici, Jim Walls, Brian Pritchard, Bill Simon, Georgia Press general counsel David Hudson, and our staff reporters Hatcher Hurd, Pat Fox, Joe Parker, Kathleen Sturgeon and Julia Grochowski Quite simply, without our coverage, some of the below projects would not have been covered – by anyone – which means our readers would still be in the dark.

Invisible in the ‘burbs Kathleen Sturgeon spearheaded this project, and I think it is really important work.

There is a large and unfortunately growing homeless population in our community that largely goes under the radar. Our goal is to tell their stories and give our readers not only a better understanding of why an area as affluent as ours is not immune to homelessness, but give them the tools to do what they can to help.

Organizations like The Drake House and North Fulton Community Charities have been champions of this cause and have also been instrumental in helping us with this project.

Fulton County School District lost out on potential $1.5M tax windfall After a disagreement over taxes owed between the city of Alpharetta and North American Properties, then owners of the mega-development Avalon,

the City of Alpharetta was able to keep an additional $370,000 in tax revenue it would not have received had they chosen not to fight for it.

Our reporting discovered that the Fulton County School System and Fulton County made little to no effort to collect its owed taxes, even after nudges from Alpharetta to join them in the fight. As such, they missed out on about $1.5 million in additional tax dollars.

Surprisingly, despite a dramatic increase in readership, we were underwhelmed with a lack of response from the community to our reporting. In hindsight, I suspect it is in part because, while we stated clearly the facts of the case, we didn’t provide our readers with actionable steps to encourage their elected officials to take action.

I read an interesting piece recently about how journalism can no longer just point out the problem, but are now expected to offer solutions as well.

Fair, reasonable, or otherwise – that is a commitment I plan to make to our readers as we enter 2018.

LexisNexis to pay $1.2M after pay discrimination investigation LexisNexis is large Alpharetta based company with millions of dollars in contracts with government agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, Justice, Transportation and Labor.

It had been accused of systematic pay discrimination against women, which it settled to the tune of $1.2 million distributed among 211 employees.

As part of the conciliation agree-

Group questions motives behind Milton redistricting Some stories are impactful not because of the initial facts, but because of processes or public reaction.

This story centered around Milton Councilwoman Karen Thurman, and an allegation that she had her district redrawn to encompass a piece of property her family had purchased, and did so without properly giving the public notice.

Public reaction to this story was loud and divided among those who felt the act was done intentionally to avoid public discussion, and those who did not.

A key principle of our team’s mission is to bring to light stories that are in the dark, and our team decided it was important to give the public the information and let them decide its relevancy.

After our story broke, Councilwoman Thurman declined to run for re-election at the end of her term.

What’s next for Black Box? We plan to take a big step forward in the quality and frequency of our projects next year. Like many other news organizations that saw readership soar in 2017, our readership both online and in print is up nearly 30 percent.

As such, we will be budgeting for additional resources to meet demand and have applied for various grants available for projects like this across the country. We have also participated in additional training from organizations like the George Press Association and the Georgia First Amendment Foundation.

Starting in 2018 Black Box will be available as a podcast, which will help us tell some of these stories through an even more in depth and personal outlet.

We will also be creating more video content to supplement our articles, and are in discussions to create a documentary on one or more of our projects.

It has been a fantastic first year for Black Box and we are looking forward to year two. Thank you for the support and keep sending us tips!

10 | December 28, 2017 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

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NORTH FULTON, Ga. — The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District, which includes the cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Milton, recently announced its newest Eagle Scouts. These Scouts all passed their Board of Review on Nov. 30 at the Alpharetta Presbyterian Church: • Hunter Stansberry, from Troop 69, was sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church. For his project, Stansberry designed and created an outdoor covered skeet shooting platform for Camp Highland, a nonprofit Christian Camp for Atlanta youth located in Ellijay.

• William Knapp, of Troop 3000, was sponsored by Birmingham United Methodist Church. His project was to design and construct two horse stalls for Specials Equestrian Rising Hope Barn, which provides riding therapy for people with disabilities.

• Louis Deavers, of Troop 629, was sponsored by Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church. His project was the restoration of the butterfly garden pathway as well as constructing an irrigation system for the butterfly garden at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center.

• Maximilian Proels, of Troop 2143, was sponsored by Johns Creek United Methodist Church. Proels designed and constructed a conductor’s podium and renovated storage shelves for the Riverwatch Middle

School Band.

• Nicholas Varney, from Troop 40, was sponsored by the Roswell Ward of Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. Varney’s project was the drawing and color painting of a large outdoor map of the U.S. with capitals for Hembree Springs Elementary School.

• Joshua Gargan, from Troop 69, was sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church. He both designed and constructed eight mileage markers for the Cambridge High School Cross Country Course.

• Aditya Choudhari, of Troop 841, was sponsored by St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Choudhari designed and constructed a tire obstacle as well as installed four picnic tables for the fire ring located at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

• Daren Wyatt Lillard, of Troop 3000, was sponsored by Birmingham United Methodist Church. For his project, Lillard designed and constructed a large exit arch for the prayer trail at Birmingham United Methodist Church. He also cleaned up a spur trail as well.

• Stephen Horn, of Troop 2143, was sponsored by Johns Creek United Methodist Church. Horn designed and constructed a teepee sandbox at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center. Horn also landscaped around this teepee.

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017 | 11

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Winship Cancer Institute patient gives gifts, spreads holiday cheer ATLANTA – A patient at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University at Emory Johns Creek Hospital is using her creativity to cheer up other patients and take their minds off chemotherapy.

Naomi Ziva, 44, has stage IV metastatic colorectal cancer. She recently dressed up as the Grinch and her friend, Jennifer, as Cindy Lou-who from Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” They passed out gifts to patients and staff before Ziva’s chemotherapy treatment.

“As bad as many of us feel during chemo sessions, when I dress up in costume, I feel it’s like taking a break from having cancer,” Ziva said. “If I can bring a smile to someone’s face by doing this, it makes all the difference.”

Ziva was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in June 2016. After two chemotherapy infusion treatments, she and her friend decided to dress up as superheroes. Since then, Ziva has shown up for almost every chemotherapy treatment as a different character and passed out flowers. She has dressed up as the lamp shade from “A Christmas Story,” Slash from Guns N’ Roses, a WWE wrestler, Wonder Woman, and Madonna.

“Patients really look forward to seeing Naomi and what she’s going to come up with next,” said Ashley Kennedy, Winship at EJCH nurse manager.

Ziva said she hopes other patients who are fighting similar battles will ask for help if they need it and try to remain positive on their uphill journey.

“There are days when I say, ‘I can’t do this’ but, you must do your best to

Naomi Ziva, right, and her friend Jennifer dress up to spread holiday cheer and give gifts to cancer patients. find your smile,” Ziva said. “There’s a million things about cancer that will push you to be defeated, but it’s up to you to be happy.”

For information about cancer treatment at Winship, call 888-946-7447 or visit winshipcancer.emory.edu.

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14 | December 28, 2017 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

Community celebrates life of local theater legend Georgia Ensemble Theatre co-founder Bob Farley passes

By JULIA GROCHOWSKI julia@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Few people can say that they inspired and touched as many people as Robert “Bob” J. Farley, co-founder of the Georgia Ensemble Theatre. And on Dec. 18, hundreds packed the Roswell Cultural Arts Center to celebrate Farley’s life and to remember just how influential he continues to be.

Farley, 69, unexpectedly passed away Nov. 30, less than a month after he and his wife Anita had accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 Suzie Bass Awards.

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“We all love you – miss you forever, love you forever,” said Paul Brown, who knew the Farley for over 40 years. “The sadness we feel is overpowered by the gratitude that we all feel for having met this extraordinary man.”

Farley had a lifelong career in a theater, starting with the Pasadena Playhouse before moving on to the Alliance Theatre and Alaska Repertory Theatre. Once he settled in the Atlanta area, Farley helped co-found the Georgia Ensemble Theatre in 1992 and led it for 25 years.

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portantly, a much-beloved husband, father, and grandfather,” the Georgia Ensemble Theatre said in a statement.

“His leadership and influence were truly something special.”

Close friends and family of Farley spoke at the celebration, sharing stories of how they met him and sharing memories of working and living with him. A medley of some of the theater’s greatest hits and some of Farley’s songs were performed live between speakers. The entire celebration of Farley’s life was livestreamed on the Georgia Ensemble Theatre’s Facebook page, facebook. com/GeorgiaEnsembleTheatre/.

“When a bit worked, when we pulled it off, and made a show work, no one was happier for you than Bob,” Maclare “MC” Park said. “And it wasn’t that you made his show work, it was that you improved your skills, that you were better.”

For many of the speakers, Farley’s memory was closely tied with the Georgia Ensemble Theatre and introducing people to the world of theater.

“Bob Farley changed lives,” Bob Hagan said. “Bob Farley made a difference in many people’s lives. Bob Farley not only made a difference in the community here in Roswell, he made a difference in the whole theater community. The Roswell community has been so fortunate to have the influence of Bob Farley in creating such a fabulous venue for the performing arts… Your legacy will continue.”

“For a nonprofit theater to last for as long as it has in this environment, this world, after 25 years, I would say

it’s a miracle, but it’s not,” said Rob Cleveland, who did fundraisers and standup for Farley. “It’s because of Bob, and Anita, and the people. The ensemble…Which means all of us.”

In lieu of flowers, the Georgia Ensemble Theatre is asking for donations to the Robert J. Farley Memorial Fund at get.org.

“It’s the end of an era, and I know for a lot of us, it’s the end of a chapter in the book of all our lives,” said James Donadio. “But I can just feel Farley standing next to me, leaning over and whispering in my ear, ‘Jimmy, just turn the page. Let’s see what’s next.’”

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Widened section of Ga. 400 southbound open CUMMING, Ga. — The long awaited widening of Ga. 400 southbound opened Dec. 22 just in time for holiday traveling.

The newly widened portion will open between Ga. 141 and McFarland Parkway.

The four miles of widening began in May 2017. Construction will continue widening Ga. 400 from Ga. 369/ Browns Bridge Road to Ga. 141/ Peachtree Parkway, weather permitting that section will open to traffic in late spring 2018.

The widening and reconstruction of Ga. 400 was awarded to C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc. in April 2015. The project completion is scheduled for fall of 2018 and is currently on schedule.

The project adds an additional lane in each direction on Ga. 400 from McFarland Road to Ga. 369. Bridges over Big Creek and the Sawnee Creek portion of Lake Lanier will be widened.

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017 | 15

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The Planning Commission meets on the first Tuesday of the month.

The Public Art Board reviews proposals for public art work and provides recommendations to the City Council as outlined in the Public Art Ordinance and Public Art Master Plan. The Public Art Board may develop standards for Public Art on City property.

The Public Art Board meets as proposals are received.

The Board of Zoning Appeals decides on cases requesting variances and/or code interpretations on the regulatory ordinances of the City, including but not limited to zoning and land development regulations.

Further, the board shall hear cases requesting an appeal to a staff interpretation and/or decision on the above referenced ordinances.

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16 | December 28, 2017 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

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Foundation honors memory of Centennial lacrosse player

Live for Jamie donates lacrosse practice wall

By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Founded after the tragic death of a Haynes Bridge Middle School student and lacrosse player Jamie McHenry, a local organization is giving back to the sports community.

Earlier this month, the Live for Jamie foundation donated a lacrosse “bounceback” wall for the school’s lacrosse programs in its continued efforts to honor the sports-crazed athlete.

“We though what better way to honor him than to give back to the local sports community that he loved so much,” Jim McHenry, Jamie’s father said. “It meant a great deal to him.”

McHenry called his son “a dad’s dream.”

“He was well liked, fun loving and always had a twinkle in his eye like he was up to something. A lot of times he was,” he said. “And he loved sports, everything about them. He couldn’t stay up to watch a lot of the late games like Monday Night Football, so he would record them and watch them the next day before school.”

He wanted to go the University of Florida and major in sports management.”

Before he had the chance, Jamie’s life was cut short while on vacation with a friend’s family in 2013. He was struck by a car while crossing the street.

McHenry and his wife, Christine, said following Jamie’s passing they looked for a way to make sense of the situation.

“We aimed to somehow try and turn a horrible tragedy into something good,” McHenry said.

The foundation was created the fall following Jamie’s death, and a year later the RocketShot 5K was created to raise funds. The run takes its name from Jamie’s lacrosse moniker — rocket shot — for his quick and powerful lacrosse shooting ability.

The event drew over 500 runners the first year and has funded the organization’s efforts the past four years.

Those endeavors include multiple improvement projects to local lacrosse facilities, the creation of a team in Jamie’s honor and scholarships for

LIVEFORJAMIE

The Live for Jamie foundation honors the life of Jamie McHenry with projects benefitting the local sports community. student-athletes.

At the end of each school year, students at Hillside Elementary and Haynes Bridge Middle are awarded scholarship by the foundation. The recipients are chosen by their peers and teachers based on the student’s character.

Live for Jamie also backed the new $20,000 entrance gate at Centennial’s stadium which was dedicated on Jamie’s birthday in 2016.

On Dec. 7, the organization held a dedication for a lacrosse practice wall at Centennial. The brick structure replaces the wooden wall that was in disrepair. A mural will soon be painted on the wall that includes the new Centennial lacrosse logo and goals.

The foundation’s Team 8, also recently won the Reindeer Games lacrosse tournament, beating out Lassiter, the 2016 state champions, for the tournament title.

Team 8, named after Jamie’s lacrosse number, is led by Jamie’s former coach, Frank Cecere. The team was formed with the motto, “We play for something more,” with players picked

by Cecere for their character in addition to abilities on the field. Every player’s jersey number contains the number eight, with Jamie’s on the sideline during each game.

Over four years after his passing, the McHenry family is still dealing with Jamie’s passing, but hopes their foundation will shine a light from his tragic passing.

“Some of it is just a distraction,” McHenry said. “But it makes us feel like we are still taking care of him.”

For more information about Live for Jamie, visit www.liveforjamie.com.

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NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017 | 17

Alpharetta All-American commits to South Carolina Cornerback Jaycee Horn originally committed to Tennessee

By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta standout cornerback Jaycee Horn announced last week he will continue his collegiate career at the University of South Carolina after de-committing from Tennessee.

“I feel most comfortable at this university and I feel like this is the best place for me,” Horn said on Twitter.

Ranked 142nd nationally in ESPN’s top-300 for the class of 2018, Horn was named an Under Armour All-American in September.

During his 2017 senior campaign, Horn compiled 44 total tackles (38 solo, 6 assists) with five interceptions and 12 passes defended, splitting his playing time between corner and safety. He also added 147 all-purpose yards and a touchdown reception. The Raiders reached the quarterfinals of the state playoffs for the first time in program

history this year, compiling an 11-2 overall record.

Horn committed to Tennessee in August, but de-committed in November.

He thanked then Volunteers’ head coach Butch Jones, the UT coaching staff and fans, in a statement on Twitter.

“This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve made, but ultimately I have to make the best decision for me,” the statement said.

Horn chose Tennessee over the Gamecocks and Alabama in August, but made an official visit to South Carolina earlier this month.

He announced his commitment Dec. 18.

“I want to start by thanking my family, coaches, close friend and everyone who supported me in this decision,” he said on Twitter. “I want to thank my family for believing me when no one else believed. I want to thank my coaches for taking me into Alpharetta and developing me. I want to thank my teammates for helping me get better every day and molding me into the player I am today.”

“This has been a long process and

This has been a long process and I gained great relationships with a lot of coaches. With that said, on Dec. 20 I will be signing with the University of South Carolina.”

JAYCEE HORN Alpharetta Raiders cornerback

I gained great relationships with a lot of coaches. With that said, on Dec. 20 I will be signing with the University of South Carolina,” the statement said.

Horn will compete at the Under Armour All-America game Jan. 4 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

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18 | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017

Business story of the year: City Center Phase 2 begins construction ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Work began in late March on the second phase of Alpharetta’s $85 million City Center project, a mixed-use complex that will include close to a dozen new restaurants, between 20-30 boutique shops and close to 200 apartment residences and homes and an office building.

At the March 23 groundbreaking ceremony, Ed Brown, president of DataScan, a technology finance service company, announced his firm will be the sole tenant at the new four-story office building on the property.

The company has 150 local employees and will move its offices from Forsyth County to occupy the new building.

– Patrick Fox

PATRICK FOX/HERALD

The Alpharetta City Center will include close to a dozen restaurants, between 20-30 boutique shops and close to 200 apartment residences and homes and an office building.

Future development plan approved for Crabapple

Fuqua mixed-use project approved by Roswell

Details emerge on makeup of Halcyon development

MILTON, Ga. – In May, Milton approved a guiding document for the future of one of its most valuable assets, the Downtown Crabapple area, with the approval of its Placemaking Plan.

The plan outlines potential uses for residential, mixed-use, commercial and park spaces in the area. It also outlines potential traffic mitigation initiatives, such as a roundabout at Birmingham Highway and Crabapple Road and the Charlotte Drive extension.

Parking issues were also addressed in the blueprint, with planners TSW outlining three possible solutions.

The plan was drawn up to focus on connectivity and walkability, as well as providing greenspace.

Mayor Joe Lockwood said the Placemaking Plan is not a finalized plan for the future of the Downtown Crabapple.

However, it will be used as a guide for future development of the area.

– Joe Parker

ROSWELL, Ga. – The Roswell City Council voted May 8 to allow Fuqua Development conditional use for apartments as part of its plans to redevelop Roswell Exchange Shopping Center.

The proposed mixed-use project will sit on 18 acres at Alpharetta Highway and Sun Valley Drive and will redevelop what Jeff Fuqua calls the “old and stressed” Roswell Exchange Shopping Center, just north of Andretti Indoor Karting & Games. Plans call for a 115,000-square-foot, mixed-use development with new grocery stores, retail and 300 apartments. The area is the “heaviest commercial corridor” in Roswell, according to Bradford Townsend, director of planning and zoning.

The designs shown at the council meeting for the development are still conceptual, and Fuqua said that the recently granted conditional use was a determining factor in the plans.

– Julia Grochowski

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Forsyth County’s very own mixed-use development, Halcyon, is well on its way to opening in 2018.

At 70 percent leased, the $370 million project off Exit 12 on Ga. 400 has already announced big name businesses set to open shops. They include Cherry Street Brewing which will open a second location.

In May, details emerged about Elan Halcyon, a 300-unit luxury apartment community adjacent to the restaurant village. The development will also include 11,000 square feet of groundfloor retail. Amenities include a stateof-the-art fitness studio, resort-style pool, aqua lounge and internet cafe.

Halcyon Active Adult is a 55+ active adult rental community and will include 160 residences. The community will feature 12,000 square feet of resort-inspired amenities.

In total, Halcyon will include more

than 500,000 square feet of office and retail space, a high-end movie theater, two hotels and 690 residential units.

– Kathleen Sturgeon

Alcon announces plans for $97 million expansion JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Gov. Nathan Deal was on hand to cut the ribbon Nov. 9 for a $97 million expansion of Alcon, Johns Creek’s leading eye care manufacturing company and a division of Novartis.

This is the third phase of a multiyear project to expand Alcon’s production capacity.

This expansion will increase the production capacity for the ultra-thin daily contacts line and is in response to the growing global demand for the lenses.

The company has created 550 jobs in the city since 2013. With the expansion of the facility, Alcon will phase in between 50 and 100 new high-tech manufacturing jobs.

– Patrick Fox

This is your invitation to the biggest celebration of the year!

THE GREATER NORTH FULTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

BUSINESSPOSTS

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017 | 19

Year of low inventory housing market It’s hard to believe, but after four years of complaining about the low inventory of houses on the market, I am going to declare this year as the year of low inventory.

It was about GEOFF SMITH three or four years Assurance Financial, gsmith@lendtheway.com ago when I heard Frank Norton, CEO and chairman of the Norton Agency, give a speech titled “What will You Do When Inventory Hits 0?”

The gist of the speech was that inventory of houses was going to keep dropping, not improving. And that if you are in the industry, you’d better prepare for a low-inventory market.

Well, here we are today and inventory levels are still headed toward 0.

Housing inventory is measured by the months it would take for all of the housing currently on the market to get bought up. Economists have declared a healthy number as six months. Any less than that and competition for housing increases which drives up home values too fast. Any more than that and there isn’t enough competition to justify current values, so values start to drop.

Inventory levels for some markets in Atlanta are near two months. That is an all-time low.

The issue right now is that we’ve had more than 90,000 people a year move to Atlanta over the last four years and have averaged around 20,000 new building

permits a year. Homebuilders are having trouble finding land and labor.

Unemployment is low for almost all sectors of the market, especially in the construction industry. That industry lost a lot of labor after the downturn with workers who either moved back to their home countries or changed industries. So builders need more labor to build more houses, but almost everyone that wants to is already working. So they have to depend on workers moving over from other industries to increase their capacity to build more, faster.

It’s also hard for builders to find that large expanse of land where they can build a 500+-home community anywhere close to Atlanta. The land that they are finding is much more expensive than what it was before the downturn. To make a profit, builders are having to build nicer homes or go to the cities and counties and request higher densities. Because of that, many of the newer communities are more expensive with homes starting at $400,000 and going up.

Most of the metro Atlanta area’s houses are priced below $400,000 so you can see why inventory in that market is at historic lows. But if you go over that price-point in most markets, the inventories are actually getting too high. Where buyers are fighting with each other for houses under $400,000 in most markets, they have the pick of the litter in housing priced higher than $500,000 in most markets.

It’s hard to tell what will happen next year. Everyone tries to be optimistic this

time of year. I heard a theory that when salaries increase by 4 percent or more, people start buying houses. And, if that happened in Atlanta, people would start a buying spree because those in under-$400,000 homes would start moving up into $500,000+ homes. I like to think that makes sense. But we’ve been waiting for salaries to jump for a while now.

It’s one of the Federal Reserve’s biggest concerns.

While our economy has been pumping in all sectors, we have not seen a great deal of wage and price growth.

Everyone is guessing as to why, but the most consistent reason I’ve heard is that corporations have to keep prices and wages down to compete with their global competitors. You can’t charge more for your product if Chinese and South Korean companies are charging less. And you can’t pay the workers who build that product more if you can’t charge more for it.

That said, the global economy has been improving at a steady clip. There could be some relief there if foreign companies start improving their wages. Who knows? One thing is for sure: We’ll see.

Have a Happy New Year and let’s have a fantastic 2018!!

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

Belso Home Studio opens in downtown Alpharetta ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Belso Home Studio, a new interior design and home furnishings retail boutique in historic downtown Alpharetta, will open its door for business this month.

Belso Home Studio offers furniture and wares for the home.

With an exclusive custom upholstery line out of North Carolina, fabrics from around the world, case goods, win-

dow treatments, as well as full scale design services, owner Kelly Klafter, together with business partner, Julia Garrahan, bring everything for the home under one roof.

“Belso means interiors,” Klafter said. “The inside – and that is exactly what we focus on, anything clients need for the inside of the home. ” To learn about Belso Home Studio, visit belso-home.com.

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Creativity is great, plagiarism is quicker Are you coming to work each day and trying to use your creativity to come up with new ideas to grow your small business? Do you challenge your employees to do DICK JONES the same? Is it Founder & President Jones Simply Sales taking you longer than you thought to develop new strategies or tactics to better run your business? While creativity in small businesses is great, plagiarism may be a quicker option.

Now let me say first and foremost that I am not advocating being unethical or stealing ideas to gain a competitive advantage. What I am saying is that there are plenty of ideas out there that may work well for you, and that learning about them and utilizing them in your small business may be a much faster option.

In small businesses today, speed is of essence in being competitive, opening new markets, attracting more customers, and improving your operations. However, you don’t have to reinvent a wheel that’s already been invented.

If you’re having a problem or encountering a challenge, just Google it. You’ll be surprised that, yes, other small businesses have had this situation. The difference, however, is that someone else has figured out how to address it. Learning from this information can help you more quickly formulate a plan of action.

Some information even provides a step-by-step process.

While there is nothing better than stimulating creativity in your small business, sometimes plagiarism is much, much quicker in getting things done.

Rex T. Grizzle, Owner Locally Owned and Operated 12050 Crabapple Rd. Roswell, GA 30075

FUNERAL DIRECTORS 770-645-1414 info@northsidechapel.com www.northsidechapel.com and CREMATORY

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20 | December 28, 2017 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

CALENDAR

NEW YEAR’S EVE MENTEE BENEFIT GALA

The Mentee Benefit Gala is a fundraiser for 100 Black Men of North Metro Inc., a nonprofit committed to helping youth strive for intellectual excellence, economic responsibility and selfsufficient contributions to society. The benefit will generate revenue for Mentee Scholarships and to support their mentoring and education initiatives. It will be held Sunday, Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. at Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta, 5750 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta. Individual tickets are $135. For more information and to register, visit northmetro100.org.

By Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman

Jan. 11-28, 2018 This triumphant musical offers a fresh and poignant picture of the woman whose unparalleled talent made her a Hollywood legend. One golden hit after another is woven through Clooney’s compelling life story: “Come on-a My House,” “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” “Count Your Blessings,” “Hey There,” “Mambo Italiano,” and so many more!

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

HOLIDAY EVENTS: What: Visit Santa’s Village and explore eight displays with lights, trains and animated characters. Donations go to Toys for Tots.

When: Through Dec. 31, 6-9 p.m.

Where: 405 Waverly Hall Drive, Roswell More info: northfulton.com

What: Set off the new year with a healthy start. This is a free class for Tai Chi, a gentle exercise originating from ancient Chinese martial art.

When: Thursday, Jan. 4, 10:45-11:45 a.m.

Where: Forsyth County Parks & Rec, 810 Nichols Road, Suwanee More info: www.parks.forsythco.com

AVALON ON ICE

MUSIC, ARTS & THEATER:

SANTA’S VILLAGE IN ROSWELL

What: Ice skate at Avalon on their Rockefeller Center-sized ice skating rink in the plaza.

When: Nov. 19-Jan. 21, times vary Where: Avalon, 2200 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta Cost: General admission starts at $18 More info: experienceavalon.com

SANTA AT AVALON

What: Join jolly Old Saint Nick in his cozy cottage at Avalon and take photos.

When: Nov. 19-Dec. 24, times vary Where: Avalon, 2200 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta More info: experienceavalon.com

EVENTS: BOCCE

At the Roswell Cultural Arts Center 950 Forrest St. Roswell

FOR TICKETS: 770.641.1260 GET.ORG

TAI CHI CLASS

What: Join to play bocce, played on an outdoor court where players “bowl” balls to get closest to the smaller target ball.

When: Friday, Dec. 29, 8 a.m.

Where: Park Place at Newtown School, 3125 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov or 678512-3430

PARK PLACE NEW YEAR’S PARTY

What: Everyone is invited to bring an appetizer. There will be games, friendship and watching the ball drop together.

When: Sunday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.

Where: Park Place at Newtown School, 3125 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov or 678512-3430

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY ORCHESTRA 2017

What: A modern Big Band instrumental group with hundreds of arrangements in styles including jazz, swing, Broadway and waltzes.

When: Sunday, Dec. 31, 3 and 8 p.m.

Where: The Cumming Playhouse, 101 School St., Cumming Cost: Tickets are $25 More info and tickets: playhousecumming.com

SPOTLIGHT ARTIST: TAMARA BOGGS What: Tamara Y. Boggs is a freelance visual artist residing in metro Atlanta whose mediums are acrylic and oil paint, graphite and charcoal.

When: Through Feb. 12, all day Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forest St., Roswell More info: roswellgov.com

JOYS OF THE SEASON

What: Local artists will display their works in seasonal themes. Some art will be on sale.

When: Through Jan. 16, times vary Where: Roswell Arts Center East, 9100 Fouts Road, Roswell More info: northfulton.com

LIBRARY EVENTS: SLOW FLOW AND STRETCH YOGA

What: Offered by Lift Studio, the class is a combination of standing and seated poses. No registration necessary. Bring a yoga mat or towel and comfortable clothes.

When: Tuesday, Jan. 2, 10:30-11:30 p.m.

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

FAMILY SPANISH STORY TIME

What: Join us for a bilingual story time in English and Spanish.

When: Tuesday, Jan. 2, 4:30-5 p.m.

Where: Ocee Library, 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road, Alpharetta More info: afpls.org

EVENING ESL CLASS

SPOTLIGHT ARTIST: BUTTERPUP & FRIENDS

What: Join for conversational classes.

All levels are welcome.

When: Tuesday, Jan. 2, 6-7:30 p.m.

Where: Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell More info: afpls.org or 770-640-3075

FINE ART FOR A CAUSE

MILTON LIBRARY BOOK SALE

What: Miles Davis is an artist, illustrator, and creator raised in the United States Air Force.

When: Through Dec. 29, all day Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell More info: roswellgov.com What: Give twice by supporting local artists while donating to relief efforts in Puerto Rico. A portion of each sale will go to United Way. When: Through Dec. 31, times vary Where: Abbotts Bar and Grill, 10900 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek More info: northfulton.com

What: Buy new and used books to help fund programs and support the Milton Library.

When: Wednesday, Jan. 3, 3:30-7:30 p.m.

Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Alpharetta More info: afpls.org or 404-613-4402

CALENDAR

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017 | 21

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA:

The money factory (got your attention!)

SAHAJA MEDITATION

What: Learn and practice meditation in a supportive group setting. Meditation, or mindfulness, is one of the emerging health trends of the last few years.

When: Thursday, Jan. 4, 6-7 p.m.

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

NEEDLECRAFTS GROUP

What: Join Roswell’s group of talented needlecraft experts once a week to practice your skills, learn or teach some, or for just come for the community.

When: Thursday, Jan. 4, 1-3 p.m.

Where: Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell More info: afpls.org or 770-640-3075

PET ADOPTIONS:

FORSYTH COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER 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 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

OF INTEREST ELSEWHERE: OUTDOOR CLUB – DECEMBER HIKES What: The Heritage Sandy Springs Outdoors Club will host weekly hikes through Sandy Springs. This week’s is through Heritage Sandy Springs.

When: Friday, Dec. 29, 8:30 p.m.

Where: Heritage Sandy Springs, 6110 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs More info: heritagesandysprings.org

STEVE HUDSON Get Outside Georgia, aa4bw@comcast.net

So here we are, and Christmas has come and gone.

The gifts have all been unwrapped, and everyone on your list is now enjoying new toys.

Now come the bills. And yes, they’re coming – and they require payment in good

old U.S. currency.

That brings us, in a roundabout sort of way, to this week’s outdoor adventure: a hike at Sope Creek.

At this point in the season, it’s a pretty safe bet that you need to do some hiking. All those parties…all that food… and the lure of the sofa is strong. But you know you’ll feel better if you can get yourself moving. Besides, a good hike is just the thing to take your mind off (dare I say it again) all those post-gift-giving bills.

Especially if it’s a hike to a money factory.

A money factory? Yep, I thought that might get your attention!

This particular might-be-a-money factory, or what’s left of it, awaits you in the Sope Creek Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Specifically, I’m thinking about the ruins of Marietta Paper Mills, an extensive paper factory that was alive and well during the second half of the 19th century (that is, the 1800s), churning out, among other things, newsprint for many Georgia newspapers and legend says the paper used to print Confederate currency. So it really might have been a “money factory” after all.

Sure, the money was Confederate, and that won’t help you with your bills today. The old factory is in ruins anyway. But it’s the thought that counts, and the week after Christmas any thought that gets you outside and active again (all that pecan pie…) is indeed a thought worth thinking.

In the interest of full disclosure I must tell you that there’s some debate about whether the paper produced there ever made its way into Confederate cash. But such details are best left to the historians. What you want to do is to get out there and hike the trails and get a sense of those ruins yourself.

There really is a neat sense of timelessness to them. What stories might they tell? You do want to know, don’t you?

So flee the sofa! Get up and go!

The easiest way to reach these ruins is to start at the CRNRA parking area off

STEVE HUDSON/HERALD

Legend says that the paper printed by the Marietta Paper Mills was used for Confederate currency.

Paper Mill Road. From there, you’ll have access to the Sope Creek Unit’s complex network of interconnected trails, among them a mixed-use hike/bike trail that makes for some interesting riding on that new mountain bike you found under your tree. By the way, your mother called and told me to remind you to wear your helmet when you ride.

But you won’t have to worry about that if you’re bound for the ruins. The trails leading to them are designated for foot travel only.

You’ll enter the trail system at the far end of the parking area behind a group of signs. Actually, two trails begin there – a road-like gravel trail that starts behind a gate (the mixed-use trail for hikers and bikers) and also a dirt trail (foot travel only) to the left of the signs. To visit the ruins, follow the dirt trail to the left toward intersection SC3 (these are National Park Service intersection identifiers, and they are very helpful). Then, at SC3, turn left along a gently descending trail toward intersection SC4.

At SC4, go left and follow the trail as it descends more or less parallel to Paper Mill Road. Watch for rough sections as you go. Soon, you’ll reach a trail juncture (SC26) where the trail swings down toward the road and yet another intersection (SC27) – and just beyond that point, there they are: the ruins of the old Marietta Paper Mills (2).

Paper was an important strategic material during the Civil War, possibly because of its use in printing Confederate currency but also because it was essential for printing newspapers (there might be a lesson there for our time too). For that reason, the site was on the radar of Union forces – and on July 5, 1864, they burned it. After the war the mill was rebuilt, only to burn again in 1870. Rebuilt yet again, it operated until 1902. Historic markers near the parking area tell the story in detail.

Finding the trailhead From Interstate 285, take the Riverside Drive exit (exit 24). Go north on Riverside Drive for 2.3 miles to Johnson Ferry Road. Turn left on Johnson Ferry Road, and go 2.7 miles to Paper Mill Road. Turn left onto Paper Mill Road and go 2.2 miles. The entrance to the Sope Creek Unit will be on the left after you cross Sope Creek.

Several trails meander among the ruins, allowing you to explore them thoroughly. There are more ruins on the other side of the Sope Creek, too, and another trail goes down its far side.

But whichever trail you take, remember not to climb on the ruins themselves.

Keep your feet on the ground. Take lots of pictures. Morning and evening are especially good photo times if you can catch the sun just right. But don’t climb on the old stone ruins.

After exploring the ruins, you might want to take time to check out some of the Sope Creek Unit’s other trails too. The loop around Sibley Pond is a favorite of many, and it’s close by too.

So there you have it – a hike at the old money factory, or so I like to tell myself. Anachronistic or not, there’s something oddly soothing about a thought like that at this time of year.

All I need to do, I add in my notes to myself, is to find such a factory where the currency is current, the production line is in full swing, and free samples are to be had for the asking.

I can dream – Learn more about the hiking trails of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Steve Hudson’s book Hiking the Hooch. It’s available from local outfitters, from the park headquarters at Island Ford, and on Amazon.

Signed copies are available direct from the author at chattahoocheemedia.com.

22 | December 28, 2017 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

22 | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017

Sponsored Section

Soleil Laurel Canyon Tucked away in the North Georgia foothills of Canton and just a short drive from exciting Atlanta, Soleil Laurel Canyon is more than a beautiful community of maintenance-free, ranchstyle homes and breathtaking views.

It’s the lifestyle you’ve worked your whole life to enjoy.

If you are 55+, we invite you to come experience Soleil’s incomparable array of recreation, culture, and entertainment for yourself. You’ll have no doubt why it was named among the Best 50 Master-Planned Communities in the U.S. by Where to Retire Magazine in 2015.

“Clubhouses, fitness centers, social clubs and education classes mean residents get much more than a house at a planned community,” said Karen Northridge, publisher of “Where to Retire.”

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EMPTY NEST • Sponsored Section

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017 | 23

Dermatology tips and tricks Brought to you by: Dr. Brent Taylor Premier Dermatology and MOHS Surgery of Atlanta Around the holidays, it is nice to have a few strategies for looking and continuing to look your best. Listed below are a few facts that we hope that you will find fun or useful.

1. Green cancels red. Whether you have rosacea, acne or just a complexion that is a bit more ruddy than you would like, it is helpful to know this little beauty secret. Green makeup, concealer or moisturizer is often the best strategy to cover up red blemishes, especially in a pinch. Apply a thin coat to the area that is too red, blend it in with the normal skin at the edges, and you have found the best way to elegantly hide a red mark or complexion. Knowing this tip can allow you to “conceal without caking.” A thin coat of green-tinted concealer often works better than a thick (and too obvious) coat of skin-toned cover-up.

Need something stronger? Consider seeing a board-certified dermatologist to discuss modern anti-redness options like Rhofade, Mirvaso, or Oracea.

2. UPF is the new SPF. Looking for a great gift idea for a family member who spends time outdoors?

Modern beach, athletic, and outdoor wear is increasingly being sold with a “UPF” rating. UPF stands for ultraviolet protection factor. It works the same way that SPF (sun protection factor) ratings do on sunscreen. A shirt with a UPF rating of 50 lets 1/50 of the sun’s rays through. It used to be that rash guards and protective clothing were not fashionable or aesthetically appealing. Thankfully, our increasingly health-conscious population has spurred the growth of a whole industry catering to those who love the outdoors but who also want to keep their skin healthy. Amazingly, the average thin white cotton t-shirt only has the same protection as a sunscreen with SPF 4!

Just because your loved one is wearing a shirt while outdoors, they will not be truly protected unless they are wearing UPF-rated clothing.

3. Botox and Beyond. Many people are aware of how botox can nearly painlessly fade away wrinkles and improve one’s appearance in areas like the forehead and crow’s feet, but Botox and its cousin neuromodulators Xeomin and Dysport have applications that one might not guess. A skilled botox injector such as a board-certified dermatologist is likely to know a few creative ways to use Botox. Here are two examples: The gummy smile: When we smile, our upper lip lifts over our teeth.

Sometimes, the upper lip lifts more than we would like, showing not only the teeth but a large amount of the gums as well. For many people, an amazing transformation can be achieved by injecting botox at a few strategic DR. TAYLOR points on the upper lip near the nose. This can weaken the muscle that lifts the lip and restore the lip to a lower position when smiling.

The perma-frown: A muscle called the depressor anguli oris pulls the corners of the mouth down. In many people, the muscle is a little too active, and when the person’s face is at rest, the corners are slightly pulled down giving an appearance of dissatisfaction.

A few units of Botox at a strategic point above the jawline can often release this muscle allowing the corners of the mouth to pull back up. Now, people can see one’s true happiness and contentment rather than the façade of a frown that was not felt.

4. Vein care. Winter is one of the best times to think about vein care, partially because most insurance companies require patients to wear compression stockings for 90 days before the company approves medically necessary vein treatments. Winter is the most comfortable time to wear those compression stockings because they will keep you warm in the winter but can really be a pest in July or August.

Vein disease doesn’t simply mean varicose veins. Over a third of patients with vein disease may have no visible varicose veins at all. Some of the less visible veins can have valves that malfunction. This can lead to swelling, itching, leg pain, restless legs, leg pain at night, heaviness after sitting or being on your feet all day and many other complaints that might not seem to obviously arise from malfunctioning veins.

A painless and safe ultrasound study can identify whether your symptoms are due to vein disease, and modern treatments are minimally invasive carry a vastly improved risk / benefit ratio over treatments of old.

At Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta, it is our privilege to take care of you this holiday season and our pleasure to help you look and feel your best and healthiest. Whether you have a suspicious mole and want to discuss UPF clothing or whether you have a gummy smile or lower leg complaints that might be venous in origin, we are delighted to serve you. If you have skin health, vein or beauty questions, we hope that you will consider spending a part of your holiday season with us.

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24 | December 28, 2017 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

EMPTY NEST • Sponsored Section

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NOW RECRUITING FOR OUR CONTACT LENS RESEARCH PROGRAM

Home Helpers of Alpharetta would like to say thank you to everyone who voted for us as the 2017 Best of Senior Home Care in North Atlanta!

Five years ago Hilary and Greg Eldridge had a vision of in-home care with a difference. They built their business as a tribute to Hilary’s father, with an unwavering commitment to providing exceptional home care that would enrich the lives of their clients with spirit as well as skill. Hilary’s father was 60 when she was born, and as he aged this loving, feisty man would always say “Don’t be fooled by my aging body, because inside I still feel like I’m 35!” This youthful-spirit perspective inspires us every day to bring a customized level of service that helps us engage our clients and share in the richness of their lives, present and past.

“It is an incredible honor to be recognized as the 2017 Best of Senior Home Care in North Atlanta” says Hilary Eldridge. “We are profoundly grateful to our clients, caregivers, supervisory team and referral partners for making this happen. What we love about our business is that we are actually helping people in our community live independently in the comfort and security of their own home. Thank you to all of our partners and families for entrusting us to care for those they care for.”

Making the right match of caregiver and client is one of the keys to a great relationship. Our hiring process, screening and training guidelines are extensive. When you meet our talented

WE }

Do you wear contact lenses? Can you imagine a world without them?

Over the past few decades improvements in contact lens optics and material enhancements have dramatically improved the wearing experience of users globally.

Looking forward, there is much to anticipate in the future of contact lenses beyond vision correction.

Contact lenses may act as biosensors, drug delivery devices or in virtual/ augmented reality. As futuristic as these ideas may sound, researchers are on the brink of bringing these technologies to life.

Advancements in engineering and chemistry certainly drive new contact lens innovations, but clinical data is crucial to bring new products and product enhancements to the market.

That’s where we at the Johns Creek Research Clinic come in and that’s how you may help….

Our staff thrives on vision care research. As we are not a primary care clinic, we are dedicated to clinical research that enhances product development. In our program, qualified participants gain the

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connect

caregivers you can see that they bring their hearts to work every day and make a beautiful difference in our clients’ lives. Their positive spirits are a joy to be around and work with, and are at the core of what drives HILARY ELDRIDGE Home Helpers as we honor our vision and commitment to provide the best quality of life for our clients and their loved ones.

As everyday life becomes more challenging, we are there when and where you need us, from a few hours GREG ELDRIDGE several days a week to 24/7 care. We have a wide range of services, from day to day assistance to help with the full range of personal care needs. Recovering from surgery or just getting home from a rehabilitation center can be the perfect time to call Home Helpers, with a scalable level of service that can change as you recuperate. Our free in home consultation can help you discover the services that are right for you.

We service communities north of Atlanta, and would be happy to discuss the personalized plan that remembers your youthful spirit! Contact us by phone at 770-681-0323, by email at Alpharretta@HomeHelpersHomeCare.com or online at: www.HomeHelpersHomeCare.com/Alpharetta .

like:

facebook.com/ appenmediagroup

follow:

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visit:

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&

Contact us to learn how to participate in our program and to register

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APPEN MEDIA GROUP

EMPTY NEST • Sponsored Section

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017 | 25

Thank you for voting Home Helpers Best Home Care for Seniors!

Personalized Home Care that nurtures a youthful spirit

Greg and Hilary Eldridge,

Owners – Home Helpers of Alpharetta Certified Senior Advisors(CSA)®

Serving Communities North of Atlanta

www.HomeHelpersHomeCare.com/Alpharetta

WINNER 2017

Best Of North Atlanta Presented By

Finding the right caregiver is much more than just seeking a professional with great skills. It’s about finding a caregiver with the heart and spirit to make a difference in someone’s life.

For a free consultation, please call 770-681-0323

At Home Helpers, our focus every day is matching the right caregiver with each of our clients. This thoughtful selection helps establish a bond between a caregiver and client that bolsters the young at heart spirit waiting to come out in each client.

Each office is independently owned and operated.

26 | December 28, 2017 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

EMPTY NEST • Sponsored Section

Home for the holidays

By Amy Hentschel Senior Care Advisor

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.

The 101-apartment community is situated in one of the most desirable areas in Johns Creek, the community is close to healthcare, cultural venues,

fine shopping and dining. Arbor Terrace is a one-of-a-kind community offering a luxurious lifestyle with concierge services, chef-prepared meals, housekeeping and more, without a large investment or long-term commitment.

“We have changed the way people live,” says Beth Richardson, Executive Director at Arbor Terrace. “With a more convenient lifestyle, our residents find they have the time and energy to actually enjoy life while receiving as little or as much support as they need.”

Try us on for size, stay for 3 weeks and get a 4th week free to experience all we have to offer! Spaces are limited so call today!

For more information on Arbor Terrace of Johns Creek, please call (770)-999-9577 and visit our website at www.at-johnscreek.com.

The changing color on the trees, the crisp air on our cheeks and the gathering together of family are the hallmarks of the season.

It is also one of the busiest times for senior care advisors.

As we gather HENTSCHEL together to celebrate and see our family during this time of year, it is an ideal opportunity to take a moment to assess any changes in our loved ones that have gone overlooked.

We live very busy lives and it is difficult to pay attention to subtle changes in a senior’s condition day to day or detect growing needs over the phone.

I advise families to take a moment around the kitchen table and check in with your parents on any challenges that they may be facing.

It is important to be sensitive and show respect, and in a loving manner, express your desire to help with any problems.

Here are some things to look for:

• Changes in eating habits or weight loss?

• Neglected personal hygiene, dirty clothes, and unkempt hair?

• Home is not as clean as usual or spoiled food in the refrigerator?

• Exhibiting forgetfulness, unopened mail, medication not taken, or bills unpaid?

• More quiet than usual, easily overwhelmed or tired by company?

If you observe any of these changes, let your loved one know that you care about them and ask them how you can help? Many times, our clients are faced with resistance and a desire to avoid these topics.

Be patient and start with a small goal and enlist the advice and help from trusted friends and family.

The holidays are a great time to reconnect and enjoy being a family, and in the same spirit don’t forget to check on the seniors around you that may also be in need.

Our advisors are always available to answer questions and guide you to true solutions. Senior Provisions wishes everyone a joyful and blessed holiday season!

More information at www.SeniorProvisions.com

TM

Helping Families Find True Solutions

THEY MADE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR SPECIAL FOR YOU. NOW, YOU CAN MAKE IT FOR THEM. Special e

2017

Best Of North Atlanta Presented By

We are honored to be voted 1st runner up for best senior living community. Thanks for your votes!

770-741-1881 www.at-johnscreek.com 3180 Karen White Drive, Suwanee, GA

Your Guide in Navigating Senior Living & Care Experience Built on Trust Assisted Living Independent Living Personal Care Homes

Memory Care Home Care Skilled Nursing

Speak to our Client Care Coordinator Today

1-888-979-8783 www.seniorprovisions.com

EMPTY NEST • Sponsored Section

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017 | 27

You can get on track for retirement (NAPSI)—There’s good news for anyone worried about saving for retirement— you already have what it takes to be a smart saver!

A recent survey by AARP and the Ad Council revealed that Americans are getting the most out of every dollar in many areas in their lives, with 92 percent using money-saving hacks like comparison shopping, using coupons, and signing up for customer reward programs.

Yet, fewer Americans have applied this savviness to their retirement savings. Two in five households headed

by Americans age 55 to 64 have no assets saved for retirement, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security.

Furthermore, while many companies will match their employees’ retirement plan contributions up to a certain amount, only three out of 10 Americans are contributing enough to maximize the company match—which means they’re essentially leaving free money on the table.

To address this savings shortfall, AARP and the Ad Council have launched a new campaign to help people save for retirement with a new free interactive online resource, AceYourRe-

tirement.org, to empower people to take control of their financial futures.

“Retirement planning can sometimes leave people anxious, confused or even paralyzed,” said Debra Whitman, executive vice president and chief public policy officer, AARP. “This campaign breaks down retirement savings into easy, actionable steps for all Americans.”

What You’ll Find at AceYourRetirement.org AceYourRetirement.org features a friendly digital retirement coach named AvoSM, who guides you through a series of questions about your life, savings goals and retirement plans. In just a few minutes, Avo provides a personalized action plan that highlights your top three action items—the simple, practical things you can do right now to save for retirement. The tips cover a wide range of topics, including how to turn a hobby into a source of income during retirement and how to have a conversation with family members about getting on the same page financially.

Tips To Help You Get On Track With Your Retirement Savings: • Try to increase your contributions to your retirement savings plan every

year, even if by only 1 percent.

• If your employer offers matching funds for your retirement savings plan, contribute at least enough to get the full employer match. Don’t turn down free money!

• Brainstorm ideas for earning money in retirement, such as turning a hobby into a source of income, or taking on seasonal part-time work.

• Wait as long as you can—up to age 70 if possible—to begin collecting Social Security. This increases your annual

benefit.

• Evaluate your budget to see if you can reduce some of your expenses. This can help you put away more money now, and also have a lower cost of living in retirement.

Get Your Plan Though saving for retirement can be intimidating, it’s never too late to get on track for a more financially secure future. For your personalized retirement savings action plan, visit www.AceYourRetirement.org.

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12300 Morris Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-740-3499 VillageParkSeniorLiving.com

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5701 Spalding Dr. Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 770-416-0502 VillageParkSpalding.com

COMMUNITY

28 | December 28, 2017 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

ADVERTISEMENT FOR PROPOSALS CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA FOR CONCEALABLE BODY ARMOR FOR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT RFP 18-105 The City of Alpharetta is requesting proposal responses from Offerors to provide concealable body armor for our Public Safety Department. The proposed body armor must provide Level IIA and Level IIIA threat protection.

The Request for Proposal document will be available online Thursday, December 14, 2017, at our bid posting website, https://www.ebidexchange.com/alpharetta. Interested parties are required to log in to review the RFP documents and submit any specific bid related questions.

SPECIAL

From left, Travis Carithers, Pat Thomas and American Commerce Bank branch manager Veronica Petriati present a check to Scott Doll, executive director of the Isakson Family YMCA.

Proposals will be due on Thursday, January 11, 2018, at 10:00 AM at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009.

2018 Y IT MATTERS campaign kicks off

For information, please contact Debora Westbrook with the City of Alpharetta Procurement Team at purchasing@alpharetta.ga.us or 678-297-6052.

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — American Commerce Bank’s Johns Creek staff are promoting the 2018 Y IT MATTERS campaign with a $3,000 contribution to promote the success of this annual effort. The effort is to ensure that no one is turned away from the Y due to inability to pay.

City of Johns Creek TSPLOST 2017 On November 8, 2016 voters in Fulton County approved a 5-year Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Transportation Purposes (TSPLOST). This referendum was made possible through SB 369, which was adopted during the 2016 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly. SB 369 requires that no later than December 31st of each year the City provide a nontechnical report of the expenditures of the projects. The list below represents all the Tier 1 projects for the City and the expenditures from the start of the program on April 1, 2017 until December 15, 2017.

Tier 1 Projects

Original

Current

Amount

Amount

Estimated

Estimated

Expended in

Expended in

Cost

Cost

Prior Years

Current Year

Medlock Bridge Rd Capacity Project (Chattahoochee Riv to McGinnis)

$

9,500,000 $

9,500,000 $

- $

-

State Bridge Rd Widening (Medlock Br to Chattahoochee River)

$

3,800,000 $

3,800,000 $

- $

-

Medlock Bridge Rd at State Bridge Rd

$

7,600,000 $

7,600,000 $

- $

-

Jones Bridge Rd Widening (McGinnis Ferry to Sargent)

$

6,650,000 $

6,650,000 $

- $

-

Jones Bridge Rd Widening (Ph1: Waters to Buice, Ph2: Buice to St Bridge)

$ 10,450,000 $ 10,450,000 $

- $

-

McGinnis Ferry Rd Widening

$

5,225,000 $

5,225,000 $

- $

-

Haynes Bridge Rd Widening (Old Alabama Rd to Mansell Rd)

$

4,750,000 $

4,750,000 $

- $

-

Bell Rd/Boles Rd (Corridor Op & Safety Improvements)

$

6,650,000 $

6,650,000 $

- $

-

Barnwell rd at Holcomb Bridge Rd (Intersection Imp)

$

2,375,000 $

2,375,000 $

- $

-

New location road in Tech Park

$

2,375,000 $

2,375,000 $

- $

-

Project Management

$

3,125,000 $

3,125,000 $

- $

83,333

Totals $ 62,500,000 $ 62,500,000 $

- $

83,333

COMMUNITY

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017 | 29

Blotter: Emory among first in Georgia to use new spinal cord stimulator

Christmas decorations stolen from couple’s yard

Continued from Page 2

ATLANTA — Emory Healthcare is the first hospital system in North Georgia to offer patients access to a new spinal cord stimulator to help relieve chronic pain. The FDA-approved device, known as the Intellis System, is the world’s smallest implantable spinal cord neurostimulator.

The first Emory device was successfully implanted at Emory Johns Creek Hospital in October and is also currently being used by Emory University Hospital, Emory University Hospital Midtown and Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center.

“This technology can play a major role in getting patients off opiates and other pain medications which is a big focus in the medical community and in society today,” said Gerald Rodts, MD, chief of the Division of Spine Surgery in the Department of Neurosurgery at Emory School of Medicine.

The tiny, high-tech device is used to alleviate chronic pain of the low back and legs caused by degenerative spine problems, spinal injuries, complications or side-effects of previous spine surgeries, scoliosis and other spine deformities, nerve or spinal cord injuries.

To contact Emory for more information or for an appointment, call 404-778-7777 or 800-753-6679 to speak with a HealthConnectionsm registered nurses or representatives.

For more information about the device visit, Medtronic, Inc.

A second car suffered the same fate about the same time. The owner of a Chrysler Town and Country said a purse was stolen from his car as his wife and his mother had left it in the lot. The front passenger side door glass was shattered. Nothing else appeared to be missing. A second purse in the back was untouched.

The two cars were parked near each other. Police could not lift fingerprints from the vehicles.

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A couple encountered a Grinch this holiday season after two of their decorations were stolen from their yard.

The wife said she had two projectors, one that displayed a snow globe onto the house that cost $20 and a second that displayed a reindeer with the message “Merry Christmas” valued at $8, that were stolen. She had seen the decorations that morning but noticed they were missing when her husband went outside to plug them in.

SPECIAL

The first Emory device was successfully implanted at Emory Johns Creek Hospital in October.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA PUBLIC NOTICE PH-17-AB-32 PLACE City Hall Two Park Plaza Council Chambers December 28, 2017 3:00 P.M. PURPOSE Consumption on Premises Beer & Wine, Liquor– Sunday Sales APPLICANT Outback Steakhouse of Florida d/b/a Outback Steakhouse 6400 North Point Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30022 Owner Outback Steakhouse of Florida, LLC Registered Agent Michael Sard

City of Johns Creek Board of Zoning Appeals, Public Hearing: Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at 7:00 P.M. City of Johns Creek Municipal Court 11445 Johns Creek Pkwy Johns Creek, Georgia 30097 The following Variance proposals located within the City of Johns Creek are scheduled for Public Hearing at the location stated above: Case Number: Petitioner: Present Zoning: Property Location: Variance Request:

V-17-014 & V-17-015 (Deferred from November) Brian Connors R-4A (Single-Family Dwelling) 310 Morgan Hill Court (Medlock Bridge Subdivision) Stream buffer encroachment for the construction of a new single-family home and concurrent variance to encroach into the front yard setback

Case Number: Petitioner: Present Zoning: Property Location: Variance Request:

V-18-001 Mahmoud Ghonim & Peggy Ghonim Guillory CUP (Community Unit Plan) 1425 Spyglass Hill Drive (St. Ives Country Club) Stream buffer variance for new home construction.

Case Number: Petitioner: Present Zoning: Property Location: Variance Request:

V-18-002 Richard M. Maxian, AIA C-1 (Community Business District) 5805 State Bridge Road, Suite 600 Variance to exterior building façade material requirements for non-residential buildings.

30 | December 28, 2017 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

Case Worker: Full Time.

North Fulton Community Charities is seeking candidates for a Case Worker position to provide emergency assistance and prevention services for residents. The successful candidate will have excellent oral/written communication skills and experience working with a low income population.

BA &/or 5 yrs. experience required. 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

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 28, 2017 | 31

MAIN SERVICE DIRECTORY CLASSIFIEDS continued from page 30

Transportation Cars WE BUY YOUR CAR WE PAY CASH! Any condition.

Call 404-604-7834 for cash offer! www. thecrewautosale.com

Trucks S U N S E E K E R RV/2900, 2008: 34,600 miles. $18,000.

425-299-8785

Real Estate

Cleaning Services

Driveway

Handyman

ESTATE HOME CLEAN UP Divorcing? Loved one going into senior care?

Specialized detailed cleaning, packing boxes with list of items. Debris cleanup, charity donation, interior/exterior window cleaning, pressure washing.

Loving Hands by JW and Company Inc. 678463-4577. jennifer@ jwcompanyinc.com

REPAIR or REPLACEMENT Driveways, patios, sidewalks, walls. $150 off any job over $1500.

Residential or Commercial.

Competitive pricing.

Many local references.

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

RAM’S HOME SERVICES Kitchen hardware replaced. Appliances and ceiling fans installed. Sink/toilet/ leak repair. www. ramshs.com for list of services. Experienced.

770-769-5498

THE MAGIC BROOM CLEANING SERVICE EXPERT INSURED CLEANING YOU CAN TRUST! Schedule today! $20 off first service.

770-3788290. F@cleanbroom (Facebook)

House for Rent

Concrete/Asphalt

CUMMING: Brand new, never lived in 4BR/2.5BA. All appliances. Half-mile from 400. $1875/ month.

Realtor (Kiran) 470-505-9811. realtorkiran@yahoo. com

RETAINING WALLS & CONCRETE WORK We build retaining walls. Local, reliable, honest, experienced.

Call Ralph at 678-898-7237

Instruction Classes ADULT COMPUTER CLASSES . $15$45/class. Windows, Excel, e-bay, photo editing, Microsoft Word, internet, e-mail etc. Roswell Adult Recreation Center 770-641-3950. http:// www.roswellalc.org/ rscalendar.htm

Personal Services Eldercare YOUR HOME: Nights or days. 8-12 hours. $ 1 4 / h o u r. Ve r i f i a b l e references.

20+ years experience.

Transportation.

Nonsmoker/Englishspeaking. No pets.

470-779-4723/ 470-545-1910

WE FIX UGLY DRIVEWAYS AND PATIOS.

$150 OFF any job over $1500 New or Repair: Driveways, patios, sidewalks, walls.

Residential or Commercial.

Call for FREE estimate.

The Best Concrete C o m p a n y .

Professional, competitive, many local references. Ask for Dave McKemey.

678-648-2010.

Driveway DRIVEWAY REPLACEMENT: Patios and walkways.

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

BOLD TYPE

will really make your ad stand out. 770-442-3278

Drywall NEED A BEDROOM OR BASEMENT FINISHED? Drywall services.

Drywall so clean you won’t see lines!

678-909-9773 Call for consultation.

Flooring I n s t a l l / Repairs: Carpet, Laminate, Tile, Vinyl Wood floors, Backsplashes, and Shower surrounds.

Carpet wrinkles removed! Call today for estimate!

706-429-4453 PHILLIPS FLOORING Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen backsplashes. Re-grouting is also available. Call 678-887-1868 for free estimate.

Gutters AARON’S ALLTYPE GUTTERS Repaired and Installed.

Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount!

770-934-2766

RELIABLE HOME REPAIRS: 22 years experience.

References.

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

Free e s t i m a t e s !

770-605-0340

Kitchen & Bath:

Plumbing, Electrical Drywall and Other Repairs and Installations.

Home Maintenance. 20 years experience. Call Mike.

678-986-4833 ALL CARPENTRY & REPAIRS: Roof Leaks, Wood Rot Repair, Siding, Deck Repairs and Refinishing, Painting, Doors/Windows.

Excellent References.

404-895-0260

Haulers Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling etc. Many local references.

Call Ralph Rucker at 678-898-7237

Home Improvement PATIOS-DECKS DRIVEWAYS SIDEWALKS & WALLS $150 OFF any job over $1500. Many local references. Call Dave McKemey at 678-648-2010

ADVERTISE HERE! Call 770-442-3278 or email us at classifieds@appenmediagroup.com

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.

R e m o d e l i n g , handyman.

31 years experience.

Basements finished, decks, screen porches, doors, drywall, painting, flooring, custom kitchens, bathrooms.

All insurance. Paul Finegan 404-353-5611

Landscaping RAS Landscape Design Installation A full service landscape company capable of doing your job. 25+ years experience.

Ralph 678-898-7237

Lawn Care 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

FRAME YOUR AD Enhance your ad with a BORDER. 770-442-3278

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

Painters

Auto Donations

Miscellaneous

J&J PAINTING OF GEORGIA Trusted-Family Owned.

20+ Years Experience.

Fully Licensed and Insured.

FREE ESTIMATES! A+ BBB Rating. 770-715-5322.

JANDJPAINTINGOF GA.COM

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

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.

Pinestraw PINESTRAW, mulch delivery/installation available. Firewood $110/$200, plus delivery.

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

Tree Services 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 RAS Cutting Services Complete tree removal.

Ralph 678-898-7237 JJ Tree Cutting Services. Complete Tree Removal-Call us for a Free Quote, 678-467-1325 or 770-630-6672.

Licensed and insured. jjtreecutting@gmail. com Yellow Ribbon Tree.

Near perfect reviews and award-winning service. Hands on owner. Free estimates and insured. 770Tree. com 770-744-2200 and ask for Gary.

A small list of really good tree services.

Screened and vetted local services From

Every time you use 770Tree.com to request an estimate, Appen-Rated makes a donation to North Fulton Community Charities or The Drake House.

Do good & get great tree work too!

Autos Wanted 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.

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

STEVENS TRANSPORT COVERS ALL COSTS! 1 - 8 7 7 - 2 0 9 - 1 3 0 9 drive4stevens.com AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING Get FAA certification to work for airlines.

Financial Aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Housing assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-686-1704

Financial Over $10K in debt? Be debt free in 24-48 months. Pay nothing to enroll. Call National Debt Relief at 866-243-0510.

Health & Medical FREE VIAGRA PILLS 48 PILLS + 4 FREE! VIAGRA 100MG/ CIALIS 20mg Free Pills! No hassle, Discreet Shipping. Save Now. Call Today 1-888-410-0514 VIAGRA & CIALIS! 60 pills for $99. 100 pills for $150 FREE shipping. NO prescriptions needed.

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Anywhere. No tanks to refill.

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Try it FREE. Call NOW: Call 1-877-737-9447 18+ Lung Cancer? And 60+ Years Old? If So, You And Your Family May Be Entitled To A Significant Cash Award. Call 855-547-8865 To Learn More.

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CASH PAID for unexpired, sealed DIABETIC TEST STRIPS! 1 DAY PAYMENT & PREPAID shipping. HIGHEST PRICES! Call 1-888-776-7771. www.Cash4DiabeticSupplies. com The nation’s largest senior living referral service. A PLACE FOR MOM. Contact our trusted, local experts today!

Our service is FREE. No obligation. CALL 855-741-7459 DISH Network-Satellite Television Services. Now Over 190 channels for ONLY $49.99/ mo! 2-year price guarantee.

FREE Installation. FREE Streaming. More reliable than Cable. Add Internet for $14.95 a month. 800-718-1593.

FINAL EXPENSE INSURANCE. No medical exams!

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Affordable monthly payments. Call for a free quote! 877-587-4169 NEW AUTHORS WANTED! Page Publishing will help you self-publish your own book.

FREE author submission kit!

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32 | December 28, 2017 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

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How to identify a sick tree It’s easy to miss when a tree is growing sick. Most tree health problems grow slowly, with little visible difference from one day to the next, until leaves change colors or the canopy begins to thin. The longer it takes to spot problems, the more likely the tree’s illness will become serious enough that it needs to be removed. However, if you can catch the signs early and call for an arborist, it may be possible to

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treat the sickness or damage and save the tree. Keep an eye out for these common signs of trouble: • Look for wilting or oddly-colored leaves, either along one or two limbs or all over the tree.

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• Look for insect damage, such as chewed leaves, holes made by burrowing bugs, silk webs and nests, and dripping sap or honeydew.

Bob Delbridge, President 404-CUT-TREE and finestmulch.com

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Let Us Connect You Alpharetta-Roswell Herald Delivers to 28,000 households every Thursday Zip Codes: 30005, 30009, 30022, 30075, 30076. Alpharetta & Roswell’s primary news source. Est. 1983.

Alpharetta’s paper of record.

Johns Creek Herald Delivers to 20,000 households every Thursday Zip Codes: 30022, 30097. Johns Creek’s primary news source. Est. 1997. Johns Creek’s paper of record.

Northside Woman 18,000 copies distributed monthly to subdivisions and business in North Fulton and South Forsyth with home delivery to 40+ of the most exclusive gated and estate communities in North Atlanta.

Forsyth Herald Delivers to 17,000 households every Thursday Zip Codes: 30040, 30041.

Forsyth County’s largest circulation newspaper. Est. 1998

Milton Herald Delivers to 10,000 households every Thursday Zip Code: 30004. Community news for and about the City of Milton. Est. 2006.

Milton’s paper of record.

Answer Books 40,000 copies distributed quarterly to local real estate agents, doctors, chambers of commerce, visitor’s bureaus as well as personal homes. Each quarter has a different focus including education, relocation, medical and seniors

p: 770-442-3278 | f: 770-475-1216 | e: advertising@appenmediagroup.com | 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009