ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta City Council redirected funds to a project that aims to promote pedestrian access while stimulating economic development in the North Point area.
At their Feb. 10 meeting, council members approved a mid-year budget amendment that rescinds $9,296,559 meant for a lane reduction on North Point Parkway. The amendment instead provides about $10 million for the design of Alpha Link, a 12foot, lighted multi-use pathway along 1.2 miles from Haynes Bridge Road to Encore Parkway. Alpha Link will serve as a vital connection between the Big Creek Greenway and Alpha Loop pathways. Public Works Director Pete Sewczwicz said the city made plans before the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce North Point Parkway’s lanes
See PROJECT, Page 5
Roswell community is mourning the loss of Officer Jeremy Labonte, 24, after he was fatally shot while on duty Feb. 7. The suspect is in custody facing charges of murder, assaulting a police officer and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime. For the story and to see how you can help, See pages 6-7
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Man reports locker theft at Windward gym
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 72-year-old Johns Creek man reported a theft after items were allegedly stolen from his gym locker Feb. 4.
The man said his lock and belongings were missing after he returned from playing racquetball at a Windward Parkway gym, according to an Alpharetta police report. He returned to find the lock missing from the locker.
His bag was opened and appeared to have been rummaged through. A wallet containing numerous credit and identification cards and cash was missing.
A gym employee said they would review camera footage of the locker room’s entrance.
The stolen items included a Social Security card, driver’s license, five credit cards, $700, an insurance card and a lock.
The incident was classified as a misdemeanor theft by taking, less than $1,500.
— Jon Wilcox
Officers arrest fugitive from Illinois
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested a 43-year-old Mexican man wanted for the accused aggravated sexual abuse of a minor Jan. 31 after spotting his vehicle with license plate cameras.
A Roswell officer said he located a Toyota Tacoma on Delmont Trace while helping the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office look for a fugitive in their jurisdiction.
Because crime databases listed the man as armed and dangerous, officers said they conducted surveillance on the vehicle and waited until they could identify him.
Officers said the man had a full extradition warrant out of the McHenry County Sheriff`s Office in Illinois for alleged domestic battery, criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim less than 18 years old.
Roswell officers did not specify any warrants out of Cherokee County.
When the man got in his truck, officers said they had blocked off the roadway and executed a high-risk traffic stop at the Rocky Creek Drive intersection.
Officers said the man complied with commands and surrendered.
Officers then transported him to Fulton County Jail.
Hayden Sumlin
Phone charged to card in alleged identity theft case
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 73-year-old Alpharetta man reported an identity fraud Feb. 4 after his debit card was allegedly fraudulently charged.
The man told police his American Express card had been charged by a website for an iPhone and vacation, according to an Alpharetta police report.
He contacted his bank, which advised him to file a police report.
The phone was shipped to an address in Stone Mountain. The website is registered in Florida.
The man suspected someone had gained access to his card through his email account.
The incident was classified as a felony identity fraud of a person.
— Jon Wilcox
Couple tried cashing fraudulent check
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police investigated a report of attempted fraud at Synovus Bank after a couple attempted to cash a more than $110,000 check Jan. 30 and were denied.
An officer said he spoke with an employee of Alpharetta Highway bank the following day.
The employee said a couple identifying themselves as being from Florida attempted to open a new bank account with a Georgia Power bill, their IDs and U.S. Treasury check totaling $112,999.81.
The employee said the account was opened, but the check would not clear with a fraud alert.
After searching the driver’s license numbers in a police database, the officer said there are many discrepancies with the suspects’ licenses, including the photographs, personal information and addresses.
The bank employee also said the phone number provided by the suspects returns to a LaGrange man.
The officer said he reviewed security footage, attached photos of the suspects to the report and could last see them fleeing on foot.
The suspect and their vehicle remain unidentified. The investigation is ongoing.
— Hayden Sumlin
Candles stolen from display at North Point Mall store
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A shoplifting of dozens of candles was reported at a North Point Mall store Feb. 4.
A store manager told officers she noticed the candles were missing after checking inventory while closing the store, according to an Alpharetta police report.
At least 38 three-wick candles were missing from a display.
The manager said she had no idea when the theft might have occurred or who the suspects might be.
The candles were on a display facing the mall.
The manager said she would contact loss prevention staff to review camera footage.
The candles were valued at a total of $26.95.
— Jon Wilcox
THE PICTURE FRAMER
SUNDAY, FEB. 23
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Alpharetta mayor calls for strategic growth in State of City address
BY AMRITHA JOSEPH newsroom@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — City leaders will need to plan strategically if Alpharetta is to thrive, Mayor Jim Gilvin said. For years, officials have been working operationally to complete one task after another to support the city’s growth, but they will need to shift long-term towards a strategic vision if they are to allocate resources to opportunity areas, he said.
Delivering his State of the City address at the Hotel at Avalon on Feb. 6, Gilvin said philanthropic residents, business leaders willing to invest, employees committed to service and a sound financial standing have been the backbone for the community’s success.
“We created an environment that attracted highly educated, successful people who understand that serving their community is a blessing, and they want to participate in making a community even stronger and better,” Gilvin said.
Roughly 71% of Alpharetta residents who are 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to 2023 Census estimates. The median annual household income in the city is $141,402, per 2022 figures.
These residents and the city’s employees are among the greatest assets Alpharetta has to invest in its economic development and keep its community safe.
For instance, it is because of business leaders that the Avalon and downtown Alpharetta areas are flourishing, he said. Downtown Alpharetta draws 22 million people every year, according to Janet Rodgers, president and chief executive officer of the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“Everything that has been successfully growing our economy over the last 30 or 40 years was typically done by the private sector,” Gilvin said, speaking to an audience primarily comprised of government officials, Chamber of Commerce members and members of the Atlanta Business Association, which co-hosted the ticketed event.
The strength of its public sector, too, contributes to Alpharetta’s growth, with
Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin explains at the State of the City address Feb. 6 at the Hotel at Avalon that one
major challenges is underutilized office space. As a result, city officials are reviewing plans by Portman Holdings to build homes and commercial space at Brookside Parkway, which is prioritized for redevelopment because of vacancies.
450 city employees serving a community of 68,000 residents. These employees have helped ensure the city is fiscally responsible and operating within its means, said Gilvin, commending Finance Director Tom Harris in helping maintain the city’s AAA-bond rating. This is the highest possible credit rating, indicating Alpharetta is at low risk of defaulting on loans.
While the city may be attractive to investors and developers, it is constrained by space limitations.
Alpharetta is one of the smallest of Atlanta’s suburbs, covering roughly 27 square miles. The availability of undeveloped land doesn’t meet the demands of builders and the influx of people coming to the city to benefit from its highly rated schools and high-quality recreational spaces.
Gilvin said the city has been intentional in its approach to upgrading parks, trails and facilities to connect residents and neighborhoods to businesses, but there are physical limitations to its growth.
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau Janet Rodgers attends the State of the
on Feb. 6. Rodgers said 22 million people visit downtown
Underutilized retail and office spaces are a challenge the city is trying to address.
After the COVID years, Gilvin said it has been harder to fill buildings that were once flourishing. As a result,
city officials are considering allowing Portman Holdings to build homes and commercial space at an office park along Brookside Parkway, which is struggling with vacancies. The plan will go before the City Council on Feb. 24.
PHOTOS BY: AMRITHA JOSEPH/APPEN MEDIA
of Alpharetta’s
City address at the Hotel at Avalon
Alpharetta every year.
The Alpharetta City Council discusses the creation of a multi use pathway to link the Big Creek Greenway and Alpha Loop at a Feb. 10 meeting. The Council decided to pursue a plan that keeps North Point Parkway’s lanes to allow access to future development in the area.
Project:
Continued from Page 1
to promote pedestrian access. That decision came after a Livable Centers Initiative study recommended better accommodations for pedestrians.
Since the pandemic, interest in property redevelopment has increased in the area, and the City Council has moved toward a plan that would allow drivers easy access to future developments.
By keeping North Point Parkway’s lanes and creating Alpha Link, the city hopes to promote both vehicle and pedestrian access in the area.
Opened in 1993, North Point Mall was once a premier shopping destination in Atlanta, but decades later city officials hope to see the area
revitalized through redevelopment. With access to Marta’s Bus Rapid Transit, the North Point area is a location primed for redevelopment.
Community Development Director Kathi Cook said the mall, which she described as the area’s biggest development project, could see a plan this year.
“That’s going to be where we focus the highest density redevelopment in the area,” she said. “So, it just works. We need to wait and see.”
Keeping the parkway’s lanes also allows flexibility for the area as the city waits to see what types of projects emerge there.
Previously, Alpharetta officials anticipated residential development, which a lane reduction would support.
“We’re really not seeing as much a request for residential at this time,” Cook said.
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson announces funeral arrangements for Officer Jeremy Labonte
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
On the steps of City Hall Feb. 10, Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson announced the funeral arrangements for Officer Jeremy Labonte.
“This is our worst nightmare, but the way you respond sometimes to tragic events really tells you about the character of a people,” Wilson said. “I think Roswell is responding the way I would expect Roswell to respond, with a deep sense of love and gratefulness and compassion and people can’t do enough.”
In partnership with the Roswell Police Department, the arrangements for Ofc. Labonte’s memorial services have been finalized.
A visitation is to be offered to the public from 3-6 p.m. on Feb. 11 at Roswell United Methodist Church. The public is also invited to view a processional which begins at 1:45 p.m. on Feb. 12.
Both events are set to take place after the Herald goes to press. The newspaper will have coverage of the services online at appenmedia.com and in next week’s edition.
“I don’t know if you can ever honor somebody properly enough, but the city is going to do its best,” Wilson said.
LABONTE
SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson addresses the crowd at the Feb. 10 press briefing regarding the funeral arrangements for Officer Jeremy Labonte. “This is a really outstanding man, and we’re going to miss him dearly,” Wilson said.
Suspect in killing of Roswell officer had history of charges
By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — The man who allegedly shot and killed a Roswell Police Officer Feb. 7 had a history of arrests in the city, some of which involved firearms, according to records obtained by Appen Media.
Edward Espinoza, a 23-year-old Roswell man, is facing charges of murder, assaulting a police officer and possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime after he allegedly shot and killed Roswell Police Officer Jeremy Labonte.
Labonte, 24, was responding to a suspicious person report off Holcomb Bridge Road when Espinoza allegedly fired on him. Labonte later succumbed to his injuries.
According to court records Espinoza lived at an apartment complex up the street from the shopping center where Friday night’s fatal incident took place.
Roswell police had arrested Espinoza in that area at least two previous times.
Roswell police booked Espinoza in September 2021 for shooting a rifle out the window of his Raintree Drive apartment.
While investigating the scene, the then-19-year-old reportedly told officers he shot into the nearby woods because he, “was bored.”
Espinoza was convicted of the crime in 2023 in Fulton County State Court and sentenced to 12 months probation, mental health and substance abuse treatment and community service. He was also required to surrender his firearm.
According to court records, he had fulfilled the weapon forfeiture stipulation before he allegedly killed Labonte.
While that case was being adjudicated, Roswell police arrested Espinoza June 2022 at the same Raintree Drive complex for criminal trespass.
While details of that incident are not immediately available, when Espinoza was eventually found guilty of the crime he was sentenced to another year of probation and ordered to attend 24 sessions of anger management.
Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputies charged Espinoza with hit and run related to a July 2022 crash on Atlanta
How can you help
Those who are interested in donating to the family of Ofc. Labonte are asked to use the link www. friendsofroswellpolice.org.
Highway. He later pled guilty to a reduced offense, receiving 12 months probation and a fine.
In April 2024 Roswell police responded to a complex about a mile away from Raintree Drive, on the other side of Holcomb Bridge Road, after reports of someone knocking on apartments.
While investigating the scene officers learned that a man had attempted to enter one home, successfully gone into a second and was now being physically detained by the resident of a third.
Police responded to that apartment and charged Espinoza with criminal trespass, simple battery and public drunkenness.
Noting that he had incoherent speech and a cut on his arm, officers took Espinoza to the hospital and placed him in the facility’s custody.
Police arrested Espinoza at the Raintree Drive property in July to answer for those charges.
He spent the night in jail before being released on a $2,000 bond.
It was about six months later, at a shopping center adjacent to Raintree Drive, that Espinoza would allegedly take the life of Roswell Police Officer Jeremy Labonte.
Department officials say Labonte was responding to reports of a suspicious person in the vicinity of 1425 Market Blvd when Espinoza pulled out a handgun and fatally shot the officer.
Roswell police arrested Espinoza, who is a United States citizen born in Atlanta according to court documents, at the scene. The case is being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, as is typical for officer-involved shootings.
Labonte joined the Roswell Police Department in 2021. He is survived by his wife.
“He was universally beloved by all who were blessed to know him,” Roswell officials wrote.
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Appen Media Group, Decaturish.com to launch Decaturish Ink
DECATUR, Ga. — Decaturish.com, a trusted source for hyperlocal news in Decatur and surrounding communities, will launch a new publication, Decaturish Ink. The newspaper will provide readers with high-quality, in-depth journalism in a professionally designed print and digital format.
With the same commitment to transparency and thoughtful reporting, Decaturish Ink will elevate community storytelling by featuring long-form articles, profiles of local leaders, arts and culture highlights and engaging opinion pieces.
“Our readers have expressed a desire for deeper, more narrative-driven content that captures the spirit and unique voices of Decatur and surrounding areas like Tucker, Chamblee and Stone Mountain,” said Hans Appen, publisher at Appen Media Group. “We’re excited to bring Decaturish Ink to life and give the community a new platform for thought-provoking journalism.”
Appen Media purchased Decaturish.com in 2024 from editor Dan Whisenhunt, who founded the news website in 2013. Increasing the influence and reach of Decaturish.com by adding a print product to the market was a motivating factor for both parties to reach a deal last year.
“Decaturish Ink is the culmination of more than a decade of providing in-depth, reliable coverage of Dectur and its surrounding neighborhoods,” Whisenhunt said. “It provides an important new way for us to engage with our readers, allowing them to hear all the untold stories of our community. While we are proud of our digital publication, Ink will provide access to many of those stories in a convenient format and exclusive first-run print articles before they appear on Decaturish.com.”
Decaturish Ink will be published monthly from March to May, bi-weekly starting in June, and will transition to a weekly publication beginning in September. The print publication will complement Decaturish.com’s daily online news coverage. The first issue, set to publish March 20, will include new exclusive features and content not previously found on Decaturish.com, and will be delivered to 7,500 single family homes, apartment buildings and businesses in the area.
“Decatur is filled with incredible stories waiting to be told,” Appen said. “With Decaturish Ink, we hope to capture these narratives and create a publication that becomes a source of pride and inspiration for our readers.”
Common questions & answers
Q: What is Decaturish Ink?
A: Decaturish Ink is a community newspaper serving the City of Decatur and nearby areas. It is a print extension of Decaturish.com, the leading local news source since 2013. Known for its timely and reliable reporting, Decaturish covers government, education, events, and human-interest stories.
Q: How is it different from Decaturish.com?
A: Decaturish Ink will incorporate many of the features that readers appreciate on Decaturish. com, expand on them, and add new ones that are harder to do online – like long form investigations. Also, while digital platforms are popular, not everyone in the community prefers or has easy access to online news. It also gives local businesses an alternative marketing vehicle in which to tell the community about their services and products.
Q: Who will receive it?
A: 7,500 single family homes, apartment complexes and businesses will receive free distribution every week. It will also be available at various rack distribution points. Residents or businesses who wish to be added to our distribution can request that by emailing circulation@appenmedia.com.
Q: Who is involved in publishing it?
Whisenhunt and Assistant Editor Zoe Seiler continue to lead the charge for Decaturish news. They are joined by a team of reporters and contributors at Appen Media that collectively represent the largest newsroom in north metro Atlanta.
Q: How can the community contribute letters, events and announcements?
Decaturish Ink would love to publish submissions from the community, and most of them are free. There is a small fee associated with submitting obituaries, wedding announcements and some calendar listings. Letters to the Editor or New Business Spotlights are all free to submit. Submissions can be emailed to newsroom@ appenmedia.com.
Chapel of Reflections
Historic organization honors area students
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — The Martha Stewart Bulloch chapter of The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution honored three Roswell girls with the DAR Youth Good Citizens award and Good Citizens award for students and adults.
The ceremony took place Monday, Feb. 10, at Roswell Area Park, where school chair, Beth St. Jean presented the awards to the three girls.
The selection process began back in Oct., when St. Jean sent invitations to 17 schools to nominate a student. Out of the 17, three accepted the invitation and created committees to select the award recipient.
Each girl was nominated by a faculty member at their school to receive the award. The recipient is considered based off qualities such as “wisdom, justice, moderation and courage.”
Lisa O’Hanlon Cowles, Parent Liaison at Elkins Pointe Middle School, nominated eighth-grade student, Ruby Davis.
“When we were asked who to nominate at Elkins Pointe, the decision was unanimous,” Cowles said.
Davis, a Titan Morning News crew member and honor roll student, also happens to have ties to the Daughters of the American Revolution. Davis was honored with the DAR Youth Good Citizens award.
Kate Camarillo-Hernandez, a senior at Centennial High School, was nominated by counseling department chair, Dr. Helen Perth and accompanied by her “proud mom,” Sonia Hernandez.
Camarillo-Hernandez, a current Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps battalion officer and a West Point Academy leadership participant, was awarded the DAR Good Citizens medal based on her community participation. Hernandez was accepted into The Citadel and is currently awaiting a decision from the United States Naval Academy.
“It feels unreal,” CamarilloHernandez said. “I have gotten so many awards and it’s just another opportunity, that I’m so thankful.”
The youngest to be nominated for the DAR Youth Good Citizens award, Finley Stanfill, is a fifth grader at Roswell North Elementary School. Stanfill was nominated by TAG teacher Nicole Maples.
The nomination criteria for the DAR Youth Good Citizens award differs from the DAR Good Citizens award, based off good character.
“The elementary and middle school base it more off of character, are the students helpful, are they honest,” St. Jean said.
The DAR Good Citizens award, given to Camarillo-Hernandez, is “harder” to achieve, based off characteristics such as “character, involvement and community service.”
The Martha Stewart Bulloch chapter of The National Society Daughters has been a part of the community for since 1986 and gives the awards once a year. The society aims to serve the community while promoting patriotism with their nearly 270 members.
“We felt like we got really deserving people,” St. Jean said.
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SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
From left, Kate Camarillo-Hernandez, Ruby Davis, Finley Stanfill and Beth St. Jean stand at the Martha Stewart Bulloch chapter of The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution award ceremony. “We felt like we got really deserving people,” St. Jean said.
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Brought to you by - Dr. Destinee Hood at Roswell Dental Care
When it comes to choosing a dental provider, one of the most important decisions you’ll face is whether to go with a fee-for-service (FFS) dental office or an insurance-based dental office. Each type of practice has its own set of advantages, and understanding these differences can help you make an informed decision about the care you receive. For many patients, opting for a fee-for-service model can offer a more personalized, flexible, and high-quality dental experience.
Personalized Care
One of the standout benefits of our FFS dental office is the level of personalized care we provide. Because we aren’t limited by insurance guidelines or restrictions, we have more freedom to customize treatment plans specifically for you. This allows us to focus on your unique dental needs. In contrast, insurance-based dental offices may be more likely to follow treatment protocols dictated by what the insurance plan will approve, limiting treatment options or focusing on cost-saving approaches.
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Our dental office also gives you greater flexibility when it comes to treatment options. Since we are not bound by insurance limitations, you have access to a wider range of procedures, including elective and advanced treatments that may not be covered under an insurance plan. For example, while dental insurance might cover basic cleanings and fillings, it may not cover more extensive treatments such as veneers or periodontal therapy. In our office, you’re able to choose from a broader spectrum of services without worrying about what your insurance will or won’t cover.
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One of the most appealing aspects of our dental office is the clarity in pricing . You typically know exactly what you’re paying for upfront. This transparency makes it easier for patients to budget for dental care and allows them to make more informed decisions about their treatments. In contrast, insurance-based offices often involve a complex billing process, with patients sometimes facing unexpected costs after insurance covers only a portion of the treatment.
If you value personalized care , more treatment options , and the ability to make informed choices about costs , Roswell Dental Care may be the right fit for you. Our practice offers a high level of care, transparency, and freedom from insurance restrictions, ensuring that you get the best possible dental experience.
We are a fee-for-service practice but file and make the most out of your out-of-network insurance benefits. This allows us to set our own fees and make the time in our schedule to properly care for our patients. We also offer a Wellness Plan subscription for our practice, which gives you better benefits and less limitations than insurance. Dr. Hood and her team at Roswell Dental Care understand and customize treatment for each person. We assure you will feel confident in the solution you choose before beginning any treatment. For enhanced comfort, we offer FREE nitrous oxide. You can rest assured that your experience will be positive, relaxing, and rewarding on many levels. Give our office a call at 770.998.6736, or visit us at www. roswelldentalcare.com, to begin your journey to happy and pain-free oral healthcare!
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A second opinion can change everything
Brought to you by – Emory Heart & Vascular
Learning that you have a heart or vascular condition can create more questions than answers. What treatment is available? Is there more than one option? What will happen if I forgo treatment?
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The difference? Emory Women’s Center at Johns Creek uses research and innovation in health to provide exceptional care, close to home.
Our expert heart & vascular team pioneers the most innovative techniques and treatments. Giving you more options and better outcomes than anywhere else. To make more “tickle monster!” moments like this possible.
From routine gynecology and menopause management, to high-risk pregnancies and specialty care, our team is here for your journey no matter where it takes you.
Visit emoryhealthcare.org/history to schedule an appointment.
Visit emoryhealthcare.org/women to schedule an appointment.
How to prevent cancer
Brought to you by: Jonathan Stegall, MD
February is National Cancer Prevention Month, so now is a great time to talk about how to prevent cancer. To be honest, we aren’t doing a very good job of this in our society. The lifetime risk of developing cancer has been steadily rising, to the point that roughly 40% of the population will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Why are we seeing so much cancer today?
You might wonder if cancer is simply due to genetic causes, but that is actually a very small cause of cancer today (about 5-10% based on most estimates). Rather, cancer is mostly due to poor lifestyle choices.
If you want to significantly reduce
your odds of developing cancer, be sure to eat a plant-focused diet full of fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains. Organic is best. Avoid processed, sugary food. Drink plenty of clean, filtered water. Exercise regularly. Don’t smoke. Enjoy alcohol in moderation. Get plenty of sleep. Seek to minimize stress. Embrace a strong support system of family and friends. Oh, and be sure to see your doctor for regular check-ups, including the recommended cancer screening tests. Hopefully you won’t get cancer, but if you do, early detection is key.
STEGALL
PROVIDED
Have you ever been to the dentist and the dentist needs to make an impression of your mouth? If you have done this before, you may have just taken a deep breath and started to get nervous. Traditional impressions have always involved a large tray loaded with impression material (goop!?!) that must be inserted into your mouth to make a mold of your teeth. Isn’t there a better way? Yes! The latest technology now allows your dentist to take a digital impression instead.
Digital impressions (also called 3-D intraoral scanning) construct a threedimensional digital model of your teeth and your entire mouth. Digital impressions are less messy and more pleasant than traditional impressions. Patients with a gag reflex or sensitive teeth have a better, more comfortable experience. A small (radiationfree) laser wand takes a series of images of your teeth and your gums and stitches them together into a 3-D virtual model of your mouth. You can immediately touch the screen and rotate and adjust the image to see your teeth from all angles. You very likely have never seen your teeth and your
Digital Dentistry
mouth like this. It’s amazing!
The Atlanta Center for Dental Health has the iTero Element intraoral scanner imaging system. The 3-D model of your mouth is immediately on the iPad-like screen right in front of you. It can immediately be adjusted and looked at from all angles. This image can be uploaded to the dental laboratory for the construction of a crown or clear aligners or other dental prosthetics and appliances. This allows
for the rapid fabrication of amazingly accurate, perfectly fitting, artistically created natural looking dental restorations that improve your smile and your appearance and wow your friends. One of the most amazing uses of this technology is the ability to immediately see a Smile Simulation. In about a minute, your dentist can show you what your smile would look like if you straightened your teeth or improved your bite
Preventive Dentistry can add 10 years to human life.”
DR. CHARLES MAYO Mayo Clinic
with clear aligners, like Invisalign™. We would love to show you this new technology. You are welcome to call or stop by for a quick no cost Smile Simulation of your very own.
Dr. Bradley Hepler and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide the most modern advances in cosmetic dentistry. Experience immediate results with procedures to greatly enhance your smile and your health. If you would like a complimentary consultation to discover your options, please call us at 770-992-2236. Dr. Hepler is highly trained and certified to provide you with the latest and best techniques to allow you to achieve your cosmetic and restorative goals.
Understanding Cardiac Electrophysiology
Taking care of your heart’s electrical system
Brought to you by - Wellstar Cardiac Electrophysiologist Dr. Mohammad Kooshkabadi
Your heart has an electrical system that helps it beat in a regular rhythm. Sometimes, this system can have problems, causing irregular or abnormal heartbeats called arrhythmias. Cardiac electrophysiology focuses on diagnosing and treating these issues to keep your heart beating normally and improve your overall health.
Many arrhythmias can be treated using a procedure called ablation. During an ablation, an electrophysiologist applies electrical impulses, radiofrequency energy (heat) or cryoablation (cold) directly to the source of the arrhythmia to restore a regular heartbeat.
Here are some services Wellstar car -
diac electrophysiologists offer in North Fulton:
1. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) care: AFib is a common condition where the heart beats irregularly or too fast. Electrophysiologists provide treatments to help control or reset your heart rhythm, reducing symptoms like fatigue, palpitations and stroke risk. For some patients, electrophysiologists use ablation to target and treat the areas in the heart causing AFib, helping restore a steady rhythm and improving your quality of life.
2. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) ablation: If your heart beats very fast due to SVT, ablation can safely and
effectively stop the abnormal electrical signals causing the issue.
3. Premature ventricular contraction ablation: When extra heartbeats disrupt your rhythm, electrophysiologists use ablation to reduce or eliminate these irregular beats, relieving symptoms like palpitations or fatigue.
4. Ventricular tachycardia ablation: For life-threatening fast rhythms from the lower heart chambers, ablation can stabilize your heartbeat and reduce the risk of dangerous episodes.
5. Bradyarrhythmias: If your heart beats too slowly, electrophysiologists can offer treatments like pacemakers to restore a healthy rhythm.
6. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs): These small devices monitor your heart and deliver a lifesaving shock if a dangerous rhythm occurs, keeping you safe and protected.
7. Biventricular ICDs: For patients
with heart failure, this special type of ICD improves heart coordination, helping it pump more effectively.
8. Leadless pacemakers: A newer, smaller pacemaker option without leads (wires) offers advanced rhythm support with less risk of complications.
9. Conduction system pacing: This advanced pacing technique works with your heart’s natural electrical pathways to provide better rhythm control and preserve heart function.
Our goal at Wellstar is to help you live your best life by keeping your heart in rhythm and your symptoms under control. With advanced treatments and personalized care, we’re here to support your heart health every step of the way.
Your Wellstar cardiologist can refer you to an electrophysiologist if you need a procedure to correct your heart rhythm. Find a cardiologist at wellstar. org/heartcare.
KOOSHKABADI
A team of advanced heart care specialists means more expertise for you.
At Wellstar, you’ll find more than 100 cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons across our cardiovascular services team who are ready to care for you. Whether you need preventive screenings or treatment for complex heart conditions, your heart is in good hands with our skilled team— highly rated by patients like you.
We are leading the way in Georgia and beyond with innovative technology and experienced clinicians to ensure you have the expertise you need close by. Learn how Wellstar can help keep your heart going strong at wellstar.org/northfultonheart.
Do you know someone who’s hiding in plain sight?
We often prioritize our physical health, while our mental health is treated as a private matter, sometimes even stigmatized. However, a significant portion of the American population experiences mental illness, and it’s crucial to talk openly about it and seek help.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), over 20% of American adults (more than 50 million people) experience some form of mental illness each year and 1 in 6 children aged 6 to 17 have a mental health disorder. Alarmingly, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among U.S. children aged 10 to 14. These statistics are staggering, yet only 45% of those experiencing mental illness receive the help they need.
Join Summit Counseling Center on February 23rd and March 2nd at Dunwoody UMC, 1548 Mt. Vernon Rd., Dunwoody, for a private screening of Ken Burn’s documentary, Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness.
This documentary features first-person accounts from more than 20 young people, ranging in age from 11 to 27, who live with mental health conditions, as well as parents, teachers, friends, healthcare providers in their lives, and independent mental health experts. The film presents an unvarnished window into daily life with mental health challenges, from seemingly insurmountable obstacles to stories of hope and resilience. Through the experiences of these young people, the film confronts the issues of stigma, discrimination, awareness, and silence, and, in doing so, help advance a shift in the public perception of mental health issues today.
Episode 1: The Storm
Sunday | February 23rd | 2:00
The Storm focuses on more than twenty young people who provide an in-
PROVIDED
timate look at what it’s like to experience the symptoms of mental illness, from depression to addiction to suicide ideation. The film includes insights from families, providers, and advocates and explores the impact of childhood trauma, stigma, and social media.
Episode 2: Resilience
Sunday | March 2nd | 2:00
Young people and their family and friends talk about how they came to acknowledge and accept the reality of their mental illnesses and, most importantly, start talking about them. They describe their work with providers to determine a diagnosis and the treatments they received, and the added stigma of racial or gender discrimination. Throughout, the young people inspire with their resilience and hope.
To learn more and/or register for the event, visit our website at summitcounseling.org/events/.
Insist
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.
He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 22 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
Brought to you by - Summit Counseling Center
As seen on TV – What is GentleCure™
Brought
to you by –
Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta
In the last few months, I have received a lot of questions about GentleCure™ — a skin cancer radiation treatment that has been heavily advertised on television. In the past, most discussions about radiation treatments for skin cancer were initiated by me, the physician. GentleCure™’s marketing campaign has been so effective that even patients who do not have skin cancer are asking me about the treatment that they have seen on TV.
I wanted to like GentleCure™. I enjoy the part of my job that is presenting different treatment options for my patients. When radiation is preferable over surgery, I get excited to bring it up. Some skin cancers such as superficial basal cell carcinoma are better treated with Mohs surgery in some instances, radiation therapy in others, cautery and scraping treatments at times and even creams such as Aldara™ or other treatments depending on numerous factors. The exact location, local anatomy, immune system status, details on the pathology report, and individual patient goals all factor into recommendations about what treatments to consider. Multiple excellent treatments are available, and one of the joys of my job is assisting patients in selecting the treatments that are right for them. As a Mohs surgeon, I take pride in discussing alternatives to Mohs surgery. I recognize the potential for conflicts of interest, and I cherish the times when patients and I have decided together on a non-surgical treatment. The motto of my Mohs surgery fellowship was, “Put the patient first” and doing so is what makes me feel whole.
Unfortunately, I find myself very disappointed in GentleCure™. This superficial radiation therapy (SRT) treatment likely takes the technology a step farther than previous types of SRT by adding ultrasound imaging to help define the size and depth of the cancer and adjust treatment energies and settings. Technologically, GentleCure™ is likely a step forward compared with some prior radiation treatment devices. However, the way that the company has chosen to represent their technology is mercenary and misleading.
The name GentleCure™ introduces bias and attempts to sway patients towards this treatment in a way that the names “Mohs micro -
graphic surgery,” “excision,” Aldara™ cream, Levulan® Keratick® and other treatments do not.
GentleCure™ has engaged in direct to consumer (DTC) marketing. The United States is one of the only countries in the world to allow DTC marketing of pharmaceuticals, and many physicians and I believe this is a mistake, often to the detriment of society and the patient. DTC is ethically questionable, foremost because of the potential to misrepresent a product and create a false first impression.
In my professional opinion, the GentleCure™ website misrepresents their technology, misleadingly contrasts it with Mohs surgery, and inadequately compares GentleCure™ with other alternative treatments. A few examples:
1. The website gentlecure.com states that “low amounts of x-ray energy” are used, but a typical dose is 50 gray. In contrast, a typical chest x-ray delivers less than a thousandth (<1/1000) of a gray of radiation. Fifty (50) gray is no small amount. It typically permanently kills adnexal structures (hair fol -
states “There is no scarring.” This is not completely true. Yes, by definition, there is no surgical scar, but radiated skin is never the same. Post-radiation changes can include permanently lightening the treated area, causing noticeable redness or dilated blood vessels to develop, causing an abnormal texture as all hair follicles and sweat glands are eliminated, and sometimes leading to chronically irritated areas and even sometimes post-radiation ulcers that never heal. The website contrasts the unusual case of Mohs surgery with the best case scenario after radiation.
I could go on, as I disagree with much of how this company has decided to represent its product. I love doing research myself, and it saddens me when I learn that the patient trying his or her best to do their own research online is set up to fail by misleading websites and faulty information.
What is the verdict, and what is one to do?
licles and sweat glands), permanently changes the area’s ability to heal and carries the risk of actually causing cancer.
2. The website further states that surgery leaves wounds that result in “not doing normal activities” whereas with radiation “you do not need to skip normal daily activities.” However, GentleCure™ treatments are, according to their own website, delivered in separate sessions of typically 18 to 25 visits on 18 to 25 different days. Twenty separate doctor’s appointments for the treatment of a single cancer has the potential to interfere with normal daily activities, I would think.
3. I believe that most people’s primary interest in radiation is the potential to avoid a surgical scar. Again, the website is misleading. Instead of a statement in line with my clinical experience that the scarring after Mohs surgery is typically minimal and inconspicuous, the website focuses on the outliers stating, “scarring may need to be fixed with reconstructive surgery.” And for GentleCure™, the website
Most patients prefer Mohs surgery over radiation treatments for most skin cancers because of the confidence of clear surgical margins, the avoidance of numerous appointments for radiation, and the generally excellent cosmetic results achievable with Mohs surgery. However, individual factors such as cancer subtype, body location, tumor size, and personal goals may tip the scales toward one treatment or another. Moreover, Mohs surgery and radiation are just two of multiple options to be considered on a case by case basis. And, yes, despite my disagreement with how the technology is being marketed, I will absolutely continue to recommend it when it is the optimal treatment for my patients.
The key to making the best decision is to receive recommendations from a doctor who you trust, and to seek second opinions when needed. You should sense that your doctor is faithfully helping you navigate your current skin cancer, is happy to discuss alternatives and is also proactively discussing preventative options to decrease the incidence of future cancers. At Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta, I pride myself on providing patients with alternative treatment options even if provided by different physicians or specialties and will always answer a patient’s questions with honesty and integrity.
New Year, new insurance
– North Fulton Smiles
Dental insurance is a type of health insurance that pays a percentage of the dental care costs that a patient receives. Dental insurance is typically part of a benefit package negotiated by and provided by one’s employer, or a private group. Monthly payments to the insurance companies result in the ability to seek dental care at either a dentist of your choice, a dentist in a network, or a dentist assigned to you. Dental benefits can cover preventative services, treatments, orthodontics, and many more services depending on the plan offered by one’s employer or group and chosen by you. Dental insurance may also have premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance, which are the amounts that you pay to have. Dental insurance may be offered as an indemnity, PPO, or DHMO plan, which have different rules of varying restrictions, for choosing providers and paying claims.
Whether dental insurance is beneficial or not depends on your individual needs and circumstances. Dental insurance can be beneficial for gaining access to dental care and assisting in the financial responsibility of it. However, dental insurance is NOT the panacea to your dental care! Having insurance does not guarantee that the care YOU need is part of your benefit package. There is a common misconception that dental insurance should cover all procedures and expenses and frustration builds when patients realize that their dental benefits are not as beneficial as they assumed. Let’s be frank: Dental insurance companies are a third party, for-profit organization that profits by earning in-
terest by withholding the monies that are supposed to be disbursed to patients and dentists for care provided. Not all plans are created equal, and the patient makes that choice depending on desired monthly premiums, employment offers and the employer-insurance company negotiations. Your healthcare provider is not involved in the choice of your plan but is subject to the restrictions that each plan imposes. More often, a patient believes their insurance company and insists on receiving treatment “only what my insurance covers”, disregarding the diagnosis and treatment offered by the doctor! Because an insurance plan promises more than it delivers, the frustrations and blame of these restrictions and nuances are projected onto the dentist or healthcare provider. The insurance company does not
always follow the dental association guidelines for care and create rules that benefit their financial gain, not your care! Lastly, dental insurance companies impose grossly lower fees that are outdated by decades and do not fairly follow industry and cost of living trends such that dentists can continue to serve patients with the highest quality of care. Dental insurance may not be worth the expense if you only require routine periodic dental care or if the premiums, deductibles, and copayments are too high. Here is my challenge to you: why continually pay an insurance company which profits grossly and restricts your choices to dental care? Instead, why not eliminate the third party, develop a relationship with your dentist, utilize the office’s inhouse dental plan and receive the care and treatment you deserve? Considering the dental insurance challenges, several offices, including North Fulton Smiles, offer an in-house plan. In such relationships, the level of trust and confidence in the doctor patient relationship is high, and both parties enjoy the art of caring and receiving treatment.
While having dental insurance can certainly be a financial benefit, it is important to understand that the limitations and restrictions are not the healthcare provider’s rules. You should also consider the type of dental insurance plan you choose, as different plans have different rules for choosing providers and paying claims. For example, an indemnity plan allows you to choose any dentist, while a PPO plan has a network of dentists that you can choose from. A DHMO plan requires you to choose a primary care dentist who will refer you to specialists if necessary.
A life changing gift for the one you love
February and Valentine’s Day bring thoughts of the perfect gift for a loved one. It’s a great time to consider a gift that can be life changing for an older loved one. That’s recognizing the preventive benefits of in-home care.
All too often in-home care is seen as the service you only seek after serious cognitive decline, surgery or recovery from a stroke and other health issues that require supportive care for the activities of daily living. Viewing in-home care as an earlier preventive step opens the door to prolonging a more vibrant and enjoyable life in the comfort of home.
We know that the key to healthy aging is healthy living. By 2030, 1 in every 6 Americans will be over 65. Over 28% of older adults live alone. While preventive tests and regular checkups catch physical changes early, there are activities that in-home care can bolster that are key to maintaining the best possible health and prevent the loss of independence as we age.
The impact of loneliness and social isolation on the spirit and body can be devastating, and keeping in good shape often needs a nudge and companionship. A skilled caregiver for a few days a week can help keep your older loved one moving and stave off the inactivity that
accelerates the aging process. Social activities and learning new things and skills can boost mental health. Studies continue to show the importance of maintaining a good diet and the impact that nutrition has on maintaining our cognitive abilities. Exercise, diet, social activities and learning can also contribute to a better sleep cycle and a good night’s sleep.
With a heart centered approach and positive spirit, a carefully matched Home Helpers caregiver can help pursue a hobby, enjoy community activities and outings and build relationships that enrich the life of your older loved one.
Perhaps your loved one is a family caregiver. Providing respite care for several days a week or overnight assistance can provide a break and some private time for them to combat burnout, get some rest and relieve some stress. It helps them and the entire family of the loved one they support.
A Home Helpers caregiver can assist with all personal care, help around the house, accompany you on doctor’s visits and provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc. We have a team with depth and skill that can provide the care you need from six hours a day, several days a week, to 24/7 care. For a free consultation, please call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs at (770) 681-0323.
our
every day is matching the right
with each of our clients. We guarantee a good match. 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.
Brought to You by – Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs
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Zip Codes: 30005, 30009, 30022, 30075, 30076. Alpharetta & Roswell’s primary news source. Alpharetta and Roswell’s paper of record. Est. 1983
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Zip Codes: 30022, 30097. Johns Creek’s primary news source. Est. 1997. Johns Creek’s paper of record.
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Alpharetta Farmers Market to take SNAP benefits
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Federal food assistance recipients will be able to purchase food at the Alpharetta Farmers Market starting in April.
Through a partnership between the City of Alpharetta and Alpharetta Business Association, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will be able to use their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EPT) cards to buy eligible items, according to the city.
The Alpharetta Business Association coordinates the farmers market.
The initiative is part of Alpharetta’s commitment to ensuring residents have access to fresh, nutritious and locally sourced foods while supporting local farmers and vendors.
“By incorporating the SNAP/EBT program into our farmers market, we’re not only addressing food insecurity but also supporting our local food system,” Mayor Jim Gilvin said. “This initiative reflects our city’s dedication to offering the highest quality environment for our residents and businesses, while fostering a strong sense of community.”
SNAP recipients will be able to trade funds for $1 and $5 wooden tokens, which can be traded for foods from participating vendors. The vendors submit the tokens to the farmers market for reimbursement.
SNAP is a federally funded U.S. Department of Agriculture program that provides food to low-income seniors and families. Benefits are loaded onto an EBT card, which functions like a debit card.
In April 2023, 41.9 million people in 22.2 million households, or about 12.5% of the nation, received
SNAP recipients will be able to use funds to purchase fresh foods and vegetables from the Alpharetta Farmers Market in April. The initiative is the result of a partnership between the City of Alpharetta and Alpharetta Business Association, which coordinates the market.
SNAP benefits, according to the Pew Research Center. Eligible items include fresh produce, meats, dairy, grains, condiments, honey, oils, spices, seeds, bread, cakes, coffee and more. Ineligible items include hot foods or those meant for immediate consumption, alcohol, pet food, supplements, single-serving drinks and baked goods and nonfood items.
Author talks, winter sales fill February book calendar
By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com
February abounds with local authors making their rounds. And one of the must-see speakers is Michael L. Thurmond, who has served as Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County, in the Georgia Assembly and as Director
of Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services, Georgia Labor Commissioner and Superintendent of Dekalb County Schools.
Thurmond will discuss his latest title, "James Oglethorpe, Father of Georgia," Feb. 20 at a free Roswell Roots program hosted by Atlanta Authors and Bookmiser.
Details about Thurmond’s event and seven others are here:
Saturday, Feb. 15, Kelly Silverman details “Hot Boiled Peanuts: A Georgia Food Tour.” 2 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore. com
Tuesday, Feb. 18, Marie Benedict, with her new mystery, “The Queens of Crime.” Johns Creek Books is offering two ticket options: Free and $27, which includes a book. 1 p.m. Duluth Library, 3180 Main St., Duluth. eventbrite.com/e/marie-benedictthe-queens-of-crime-at-duluth-library-withjohnscreekbooks-tickets-1112910247509
Tuesday, Feb. 18, Grace Helena Walz, “Southern by Design.” Free. 5 p.m. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Thursday, Feb. 20, Michael L. Thurmond. Thurmond will recap his latest work, "James Oglethorpe, Father of Georgia," at a free event presented by Roswell Roots, Roswell Cultural Arts, the City of Roswell, Atlanta Authors and Bookmiser. 6 p.m. Free. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., 770594-6232. atlantaauthorsga.com Saturday, Feb. 22, Angie Williams, “The Raindrop Adventures of Crystal and Sparkle.” 2 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@gmail.com by the 15th.
More information
For a comprehensive list of eligible items with examples, visit www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-fooditems.
Vendors can sign up with the Market Manager, Valerie Rye at Manager@AlpharettaFarmersMarket.com.
Training will be provided to ensure they understand program guidelines.
No tax is charged on SNAP-purchased products, and no change is given.
Unused tokens can be taken home and spent at future markets.
In 2021, community meetings identified the inclusion of SNAP at the farmers market as a top priority. Since the adoption of the City Agriculture Plan in December 2022, the Alpharetta Business Association has worked with city staff and community organizations to make the market SNAPapproved.
“We are very happy to offer this service to the community and to expand the customer base for our market vendors,” said Beth Johnson, Alpharetta Business Association board member. “We know from talking with other farmers markets that introducing this program truly benefits everyone.”
Jon Wilcox
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Fulton County kicks off month honoring Black history with art
Roger Wise Jr. Colt Whittall
Sergey Savin
Helen Scherrer
Kate Seng
Kimberly Verska
Carol Williams
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The 2025 Black History Film Festival presented by District 5 Fulton County Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington, Jr. will kick off with guest emcee, actor, Lamman Rucker at the Opening Reception on Friday, Feb. 21 6-9:30 p.m. at the Emma Darnell Aviation and Conference Center.
The opening reception will feature an award ceremony for the Black History Film Festival Student Competitions winners. High school filmmakers have 14 days, starting Feb. 1, to create an essay or video to submit.
Austin McCully
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Those registered attending the Opening Reception can view five films:
• “A Time to Yell”
• “How to Sue The Klan”
• “How Albany Became Georgia’s Blackest Major City”
• “Speak Loud”
• “Echoes Unheard”
The free event will continue Saturday, Feb. 22, with films screened at the South Annex and select films at local Fulton County Libraries.
The following films will be screened from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at the South Annex located at 5600 Stonewall Tell Road:
• “Driving the Green Book” at 10 a.m.
• "The Paris 3" - Episode 1 of "The Difference You Can Make" Docuseries at 10 a.m.
• “Dying to Vote” at 10:45 a.m.
• “Paul Laurence Dunbar A Documentary” at 11:20 a.m.
• “The Architect: A Montford Point Marine” at 1:40 p.m.
• “The Remarkable Story of James Apostle Fields” at 1:55 p.m.
• “Welcome to School” - A Documentary Celebrating 25 Years of Maya Angelou Schools at 2 p.m.
• “The 29th Connecticut”
The select films that will be screened from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Fulton County Libraries:
• “Black Boys” and “Quest” at the Alpharetta Branch Library 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, GA 30009
• “Selma” and “The Woman King” at the Adamsville-Collier Heights Branch Library 3424 Martin Luther King Jr., Drive, SW Atlanta GA 30331
• “The Color Purple” and “Selma” at
See FESTIVAL, Page 29
SPORTS
Centennial outlasts Cambridge at home
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — The Centennial boys pulled out a close 70-66 home win over Cambridge High Feb. 4 in their last match of the regular season before the region tournament.
Knights guard Kam Stone celebrated by writing his name in the Centennial record books.
His 79th 3-pointer of the season broke the school mark. He tacked on another two before the final buzzer.
In similar fashion to the Jan. 17 game at Cambridge, which the Knights won 80-70, the Bears led at halftime 41-37.
Cambridge guard Avery White was the Bears’ leading scorer in all four quarters.
White’s game-high 28 points, with 18 in the first half, wasn’t enough to overcome Centennial’s second half scoring rampage.
At left,
The Bears’ defense in the first half was no match for White’s dominance in tough, contested shots over some of the Knights’ tallest players and best defenders.
The Knights were able to clamp down defensively and outscored the Bears by
BEARS 62, KNIGHTS 34
8 points in the third quarter. That put enough separation between the teams to outlast White’s steal and lay-up with less
than a minute remaining in the game.
Centennial guard Jacob Turner said the Knights came in knowing the Bears had a must-win attitude.
“We were hungry for the win tonight,” he said. “Everybody that was playing today was out there for the team, not necessarily worried about points or playing selfish.”
Turner checked out of the game with a double-double, posting 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Centennial head coach Matt Barksdale praised the team’s second-half defense, especially Turner’s dive for a loose ball with less than a minute left in the game.
“That was a winning play,” he said. “We’re at our best when we have multiple guys in double figures, the ball is moving and we’re playing unselfish.”
Indeed, five Knights scored in double figures, including Turner and Stone tied at 16 apiece.
Centennial takes the second seed in its 4A region looking to the postseason. Cambridge has one regular season game against Kell remaining, in a tough region with four competitive teams fighting for a run in the tournament.
Cambridge girls dominate Centennial in strong second half
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga — The visiting Cambridge High School girls poured it on in the second half to defeat Centennial, 62-34, Feb. 4.
Guard Gabi Johnson led the Bears with 16 points, five assists, nine steals and a block.
Cambridge found their stride offensively in the second half, pulling to a 30-point lead.
It followed the same scenario of the Jan. 17 game which Cambridge won 54-14.
This time, Centennial had two key players back from injury, junior Tori Ambroselli and sophomore Avery Holt.
The pair changed the game for the Knights, but it wasn’t enough.
Point guard Ambroselli led Centennial with 13 points, six rebounds and four steals.
Holt brought a strong presence to the Knights’ frontcourt with 6 points, three rebounds and a block.
Centennial’s defense peaked in the second quarter, allowing them to grab
the lead, 20-18, at the break by holding the Bears to just 5 points in the period.
Cambridge forward Parker Pruett was one of four Bears in double figures, stuffing the stats sheet with 10 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two blocks.
“I feel like we started waking up in the second half,” she said. “We adjusted and got it together once we brought our energy up.”
The Bears began the third quarter with a 12-0 run, and the fourth quarter only furthered the damage.
Centennial had 33 turnovers to Cambridge’s 17, along with a foul discrepancy of 17-8 dug the Knights into a hole they weren’t able to climb out of.
Cambridge head coach Shanteona Keys said they were able to figure out how to quiet Ambroselli offensively and got ahold of more loose balls in the second half.
Keys reflected on ending a losing streak and the team gelling in the second half.
“Our urgency picked up,” she said. “It came down to being strong with the ball, not turning it over, and hustling.”
at Centennial High School Feb.
and four steals.
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
Cambridge’s Logan Harris waits to inbound the ball at Centennial High School Feb. 4. The Bears’ lead slipped away in the third quarter due to the Knights’ strong defense on their home court.
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
Centennial junior Tori Ambroselli leads a fast break against the Cambridge Bears
4. Ambroselli led the Knights with 13 points, six rebounds
The 100 most influential people and things, Nos. 71-72
RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
This is a continuing list of people and things – some serious, some not so much – that have had the greatest impact on the world.
No. 71. Wheat/Norman Borlaug
Norman Borlaug was an American agronomist and Nobel Peace Prize winner for his work in combating worldwide hunger. He is known as the father of modern wheat and the founder of the “Green Revolution.”
In the mid-20th century, he developed dwarf, high-yield, disease resistant varieties of wheat which is estimated to have saved over a billion people from starvation. In many areas of the world, wheat production tripled as a result of his work. Wheat production in Mexico increased from 750 kg per hectare in 1944 to over 3,000 kg per hectare in 1960. (1 hectare equals a little more than 2.5 acres). Today, his work is still seen as a positive and critical achievement, although, because his methods were highly dependent upon massive increases in the use of fertilizers, significant increase water use and the general degradation of the soil, the sustainability of his accomplishments are increasingly called into question.
Wheat provides 20 percent of the world’s caloric requirements and 20 percent of its protein requirements. It is grown on more land than any other crop, except for corn and rice. So, 20 percent of the world’s population – about 1.6 billion people – rely on wheat to not starve.
The top 10 importers of wheat today are, in order: China, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, European Union, Philippines, Nigeria and Bangladesh. Of note, many of these countries are also in the top 10 countries importing fertilizer – including China, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. The U.S., Brazil, India, China and France are also included in the top 10 importers of core fertilizers. Most of the exporters of fertilizers – particularly phosphates – are in the Middle East. Russia, China, Canada and the U.S. are on the list, as well.
Wheat, compared to other key food stocks, is typically grown in the least fertile soil which requires intensive use of fertilizer and water. Worldwide, we have a diminishing water supply and projected draconian increases in transportation costs; fertilizer is transportation-centric as it is a low value/high volume commodity. So, countries that must import wheat, and import fertilizer, and which have insufficient water, are in trouble soon, especially China, which imports 40-50 percent of its overall fertilizer needs required to feed its people, including having to import 70-80
percent of its potash requirements. Potash, along with nitrogen, and phosphates are three key elements of fertilizer.
The top five exporters of potash, in order, are: Canada, Germany, the U.S., the EU and Spain – all, coincidentally, NATO countries. If you are China or India or any country in Africa, you worry about how to feed your people, especially when “the other side” controls the means of production (potash) and is also inclined to start trade wars with tariffs.
As the US increasingly withdraws from its role in maintaining global order, security of world-wide shipping lanes will plunge. This is especially true in the Gulf of Hormuz, through which 25 percent of the world’s supply of oil and 33 percent of the world’s gas must pass. It is also true of the Red Sea. This will drive shipping costs higher through insurance costs and other factors. Currently transportation costs ap-
assets and commodities increases, leading to higher prices and poverty.
· Malthusian catastrophe: If population growth outpaces agricultural production, a Malthusian catastrophe occurs, resulting in famine or war.
· Population decline: Increased poverty decreases birth rates, eventually causing depopulation.
· Social unrest: If asset prices continue to rise, social unrest may lead to revolution, war, or famine, potentially resulting in societal collapse. (see China very soon)
· Preventative checks: Nature may alter population changes through moral restraint, like postponing marriage or birth control. (as education levels increase, birth rates decrease).
· Positive checks: Natural disasters and diseases are natural limits on population growth. (see Covid and heart disease).
proach zero because of the size of vessels, the containerization of cargo, and because the U.S. has paid the bill to maintain and secure world shipping lanes since the end of World War II. No more. Buckle up.
No. 72. Thomas Robert Malthus (17661834)
Malthus was a British economist who posited that population growth outpaces food supply, leading to population decline through famine, war or disease. He believed that human society couldn’t be free of coercion due to the constant threat of population growth. He proposed the following:
· Population growth: He proposed that population increases exponentially while food supply grows linearly.
· Resource depletion: As population outpaces resources, competition for dwindling
Malthus’ theory has been rightly criticized in a number of areas. For example, it does not take technological advancement into account, and it was based on societal structure in the late 18th century. However, if we look at our world today, it is hard to not see many of the key projections of Malthus’ theory ringing true in so many concrete ways.
Food is not discretionary; we need it to live. Food production is dependent upon resources, which is finite. A large percentage of the world is food-challenged today, and that is only going to get worse. The fallout of this situation, as Malthus has posited, will be war, famine and chaos to various degrees in different areas of the world. North America / the Western Hemisphere, however, is not one of those areas. So, we, primarily by the luck of the draw, get a pass, at least for now. Count your blessings.
Thomas Robert Malthus
Norman Borlaug
OPINION
The beautiful history of ugly face pottery
Georgia occupies a dominant position in the history of folk pottery. In this column I will refer to the important pottery center of Mossy Creek, its most famous potter Quillian Lanier Meaders (1917-1998) and his distinctive “ugly” face pottery.
I owe special thanks to John Burrison, Georgia State professor of folk culture whose classes include a course on global ceramic traditions from the stone age to the present. He is the leading authority on Southern folk pottery and was a close friend of Lanier Meaders for 30 years until Meaders’ death in 1998. Burrison notes parenthetically that Buckhead was once a pottery center from the late Civil War to the late 1930s.
Many ancient cultures made pottery for utilitarian, artistic or religious reasons. Local clay was shaped by hand into crude objects.
The earliest pottery vessels found by archaeologists were discovered in China and date back to circa 18,000 BC. Figurines older than that have been found in the Czech Republic. In South America, pottery pieces date back to circa 7,000 BC.
Native Americans were making pottery long before the Europeans arrived. Indian potters sometimes employed intricate designs. Southern slaves in the mid-1800s made utilitarian clay vessels.
Ugly or frightening faces on pottery were thought to keep evil spirits away.
Early folk potters in Georgia settled along the upper Piedmont at the foot of the Appalachians because of the quality of the clay found there. Many potters migrated from the Carolinas in the early 1800s. One family, the Meaders, settled along Mossy Creek.
Today, Mossy Creek is an unincorporated community with a charming name near Cleveland Ga., with approximately 8,000 inhabitants. It is also where generations of the Meaders family lived and made pottery. Lanier Meaders, by far the most celebrated of Mossy Creek’s potters, was quoted as saying that people used to make pottery, and now they make art. He never quite understood his elevation to fame. He just wanted to make pots.
Meaders was quoted in the Atlanta Constitution calling his famous face jugs “probably the ugliest thing a person could make,” although that did not stop him from making an estimated 10,000 of them. Examples of his face jugs are in the
NEW
Professor John Burrison is shown in his office at Georgia State University holding two examples of Georgia face pottery. Burrison is the acknowledged authority on Southern folk pottery and was a close friend of Lanier Meaders, famous for his whimsical ugly face pottery. Burrison has written several important books on folk pottery and culture.
Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the High Museum in Atlanta. He was honored by the Library of Congress with Meaders Pottery Day in 1978.
Meaders did not begin to do serious pottery until the1960s when he was in his 50s, although he played in his father’s pottery and did odd chores as a youngster. Like many rural potters, he started out making items needed on local farms such as churns for butter and buttermilk, pitchers and jars for preserving water, whiskey or syrup and for preserving vegetables. He began making his signature face jugs in the 1970s which he sold for a few dollars each. Today, those same jugs sell for thousands of dollars. At an auction last month in Ashville, S.C., one of his face jugs sold for $22,000.
Although he was clearly of rural stock, he joined the Army at age 18 and served as a paratrooper in World War II. He saw combat in Germany, an experience that caused nightmares for the rest of his life, according to the Atlanta Constitution. After the war, he returned to Mossy Creek where he had a variety of jobs. After the death of his father, Cheever Meaders in 1967, he took over Meaders Pottery which his grandfather John Milton Meaders started in 1892. He used local materials, a foot-powered wheel and a wood-fired kiln to make his pieces.
Although Meaders and his wife Betty Jean had no children, Meaders had three brothers and many more distant kin, some who became successful potters. Although some also made face
pottery, none reached Lanier’s level of success.
Georgia is known for its variety of clay types, some particularly well suited for pottery. Meaders kept a Southern tradition alive by using alkaline-glazed stoneware clay in his work. His success inspired other potters in the area to follow his lead. He made alkaline glaze by adding wood ash from his wood burning kiln which imparted special characteristics to his work.
I spoke recently with Irv Smith of Austin, Texas, Lanier Meaders distant cousin. Smith visited several Meaders family potters at their studios in the early 1990s, including Lanier in his home. According to Smith, Lanier “was friendly, gracious and just a good country person.” Irv bought a face mug made by Lanier’s brother Reggie in one of the many pottery shops in the area.
Professor Burrison who wrote two books about Georgia pottery, “Brothers in Clay: The Story of Georgia Folk Pottery,” 2008, and “From Mud to Jug: The Folk Potters and Pottery of Northeast Georgia,” 2010, best summed up Lanier Meaders’ curious life of achievement when he told me that “Lanier was his own person, a very independent guy. He had a dry wit. He had the character of a mountain man, although he wasn’t from the mountains.”
Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
BOB MEYERS
Columnist
GEORGIA ENCYCLOPEDIA, PHOTO BY CAROLINE RICHARDSON
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS Celebrated potter Lanier Meaders at work in his pottery in 1983.
Movie theater made splash at Perimeter Mall in 1973
If you lived anywhere near Perimeter Mall before 2000, you may recall that there was a movie theater in the parking lot of the mall. It was a separate building adjacent to Ashford Dunwoody Road.
I-285 was completed in 1969, Perimeter Mall opened Aug. 11, 1971, and the Perimeter Mall General Cinema triplex opened in December 1973. The theater held 1,700 people. (Atlanta Constitution, Dec. 23, 1973, “Perimeter Mall Gets 3 Theaters”)
The first movies shown were “The Way We Were” with Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford, “The Laughing Policeman” starring Walter Matthau and “The Seven-Ups” with Roy Scheider. Ned Hastings, who grew up in Sandy Springs, shared his memories of the Perimeter Mall theater. Hastings went to North Springs High School and remembers Perimeter Mall theater showed first-run movies. It was the place to go for high school kids,
PROVIDED
1977. ‘“Star Wars’ didn’t make its way to the Atlanta market until late June or July of 1977.” The film was intended to show only in theaters that could accommodate Dolby sound. “Star Wars” played at the Weis Doraville Theater on Buford Highway and three other Atlanta theaters in July 1977, although “None of the four theaters showing ‘Star Wars’ is equipped with Dolby paraphernalia.” (Atlanta Journal and Constitution, July 24, 1977, “Star Wars doing heavenly”) Ned remembers Perimeter Mall Theater started out with three screens and was later converted to four screens. According to cinematreasures.org, the middle of the three theaters was divided into two by General Cinema, resulting in four small theaters.
especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
“On Friday and Saturday nights, that theater would be packed, and we’d always bump into packs of kids from school,” Hastings recalled. “If you were there on a date, the whole school would know about it by Monday morning. The lobby was all glass, so you could drive by and see if it was crowded or not.”
He also remembers during this time going to theaters in Roswell and in Sandy Springs at North Springs Shopping Center and at Cinema 285 at Roswell Road and Hammond Drive. North Springs was a dollar
AIKENOMICS
theater. Cinema 285 opened in 1971 in the Grant City Shopping Center. The shopping center later became Hammond Square, and the theater was Hammond Square Cinema before closing in 1977.
Hastings graduated from North Springs in 1984 but continued to go the Perimeter Mall Theater during college. He also worked at the mall between 1985 and 1988.
He remembers seeing “The Right Stuff” two times at Perimeter Mall Theater and the film “Platoon.”
Hastings does not think “Star Wars” played at Perimeter Mall Theater in
Perimeter Mall Theater also had midnight movies showing in the 1980s. In May 1984, “Rocky Horror Picture Show” was on the bill for midnight along with “Ziggy Stardust,” “Risky Business” and “Kentucky Fried Movie.” (Atlanta Constitution, May 11, 1984)
General Cinema filed for bankruptcy in 2000, and Perimeter Mall Theater closed that same year. The opening of United Artists Perimeter Pointe 10 in 1995 likely contributed to the downfall of Perimeter Mall Theater. Eight, 10, 12 and 14 multiplex theaters were opening all around Atlanta.
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
A game of poker with the world economy at stake
This week’s inspiration for my article comes from Kenny Rogers 1978 hit, “The Gambler.” President Trump has wasted no time in trying to fulfill many of his campaign promises. We have seen massive proposed “cuts” in the government payrolls. The deportations have begun. The Gulf of Mexico is now the Gulf of America, and his “gamble” (“the Art of The Deal”) in regard to tariffs, may also be working.
President Trump’s threat of tariffs
truly “spooked” our Wall Street Warriors who pushed rates higher immediately after he took office. I have discussed before that “tariffs” are a tax on goods and services which, in most cases, are passed on to the consumer in the way of higher prices. Higher prices mean rising inflation, which the interest rate market hates. The thought of higher inflation in the future is why we have seen mortgage rates rise over the past three months. However, it appears that the president may have had a different “card” up his sleeve, and he used the threat of these tariffs to accomplish other things…specifically with Mexico and Canada. Tariffs on these two countries were to go into effect on Feb. 1, and I think that for a few hours they were put in place. But as of today,
it appears that both countries are negotiating with the president for more of their help protecting our boarders in exchange for no tariffs.
This could turn out well for all three countries, as both Mexico and Canada had threatened to place tariffs on U.S. goods if we were to put them in place. If this were to have happened, prices in all three countries would have risen and could have been the start of global inflation.That would have not been good for anyone. At least for now, our Modelo, and Molson beers will not rise in price in the U.S., and Budweiser prices in Mexico and Canada will not rise either, which is a good thing for all of us.
D.C. AIKEN
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
This advertisement for Perimeter Mall Cinema I, II and III ran in the Dec. 19, 1973 Atlanta Journal.
Stake:
Continued from Page 28
Tariffs, in most cases, tend to raise prices and that would not be a good thing for the U.S. consumer. I’m not saying that using the excess revenue from these tariffs would not be good for reducing the current U.S. deficit. It would have, but at the expense of the U.S. consumer and at least, in my opinion, the overall health of the U.S. economy.
So far, from my chair, he has played the economy card well.
D.C. Aiken is vice president, producing production manager for BankSouth Mortgage, NMLS # 658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.
The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of BankSouth Mortgage or its affiliates.
Festival:
Continued from Page 24
the College Park Branch Library 3647 Main St., College Park, GA 30337
• “Quest” and “Soul Food Junkies” at East Point Branch Library 2757 Main St., East Point, GA 30344
• “Just Mercy” and “Till” at Hapeville Branch Library 525 King Arnold St., Hapeville, GA 30354
• Till” and “Soul Food Junkies” at Kirkwood Branch Library 11 Kirkwood Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30317
• “Soul Food Junkies” and “Selma” at Mechanicsville Branch Library 400 Formwalt St. SW, Atlanta, GA 30312
• “Black Boys” and “Quest” at Northwest Library at Scotts Crossing 2489 Perry Blvd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
• “The Woman King” and “Harriet” at Ocee Library 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30005
• “Devotion” and “The Color Purple” at Joan P. Garner Library at Ponce De Leon 980 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
• “Harriet” and “Just Mercy” at Roswell Branch Library 115 Norcross St., Roswell, GA 30075
• “Black Boys” and “The Woman King” at Wolf Creek Branch Library 3100 Enon Road, Atlanta, GA 30331
Those interested in visiting the opening reception can RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/FCFFS2025.
Those interested in visiting the film festival can RSVP at https://tinyurl.
AAPPEN PRESSCLU B
CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The following items will be heard at a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on Thursday, March 6, 2025 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.
Items forwarded by the Planning Commission will be considered by the City Council on Monday, March 24, 2025 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.
a. MP-25-04/CLUP-25-02/Z-25-03/V-25-03 Empire Communities/Lifehope MP
Consideration of a master plan amendment, comprehensive land use plan amendment, rezoning, and variance to allow for 211 ‘For-Sale’ townhomes on 26.57 acres. A master plan amendment is requested to the Lifehope/Siemens Master Plan to allow the proposed residential development. A comprehensive land use plan amendment is requested from ‘Corporate Office’ to ‘High Density Residential’ and a rezoning is requested from O-I (Office-Institutional) to R-8A (Dwelling, ‘For-Sale’, Attached Residential). Variances are requested to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.2.9(D) to reduce minimum lot width, reduce minimum floor area, and increase building height; UDC Subsection 2.3.1(D) to allow retaining walls in buildingsetbacks; UDC Subsection 2.5.4(B) to reduce minimum driveway width and allow required parking to be uncovered or unenclosed; UDC Subsection 3.2.8(B)(1) to reduce undisturbed buffers; UDC Subsection 3.2.8(D) to eliminate the landscape strip in certain areas along new local streets; UDC Subsection 3.5.2 to allow modifications to the City design standard for new local streets; and UDC Subsection 3.5.5(A) to allow sidewalks on only 1 side of the street. The property is located at 0 Old Milton Parkway and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 908, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.
b. PH-25-03 Unified Development Code Text Amendments – Zoning Districts and Permitted Use Districts and Regulations
Consideration of text amendments to Section 2.1 Zoning Districts and Section 2.2 Permitted Use Districts and Regulations of Article II of the Unified Development Code to clean up zoning district titles and descriptions and to clarify that certain zoning districts are in accordance with a specific master plan.
The following item will be considered by the Board of Zoning Appeals on Thursday, March 20, 2025 commencing at 5:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.
a. E-25-04 Foley/1340 Squirrel Run Setback Reduction
Consideration of an exception from Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.2.5(D) to reduce a side setback from 8’ to 6’. The property is located at 1340 Squirrel Run and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1246, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.
Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.
CITY OF ALPHARETTA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The following items will be considered by the Design Review Board on Friday, March 21, 2025 with a workshop commencing at 8:30 a.m. and regular meeting commencing at 9:00 a.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.
1. DRB250001 Hudson Park 193 Canton St
Consideration of exterior elevations and materials. The property is located at 193 Canton St and is legally described as being in Land Lot 1197 and 1252, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia
2. DRB240045 244 North Main St
Consideration of new residential construction. The property is located at 236 - 244 North Main St and is legally described as being in Land Lot 1197, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia
3. DRB250009 Stonewood Village outparcel 670 North Main St
Consideration of new construction. The property is located at 670 North Main St and is legally described as being in Land Lot 1110 and 1123, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia
4. DRB250008 Stonewood Village 670 North Main St
Consideration of new elevations. The property is located at 670 North Main St and is legally described as being in Land Lot 1110 and 1123, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia
5. DRB250010 Maple Street Biscuit Co
Consideration of signage for the business. The property is located at 50 Canton Street and is legally described as being in Land Lot 1269, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia
6. DRB250011 Providence Partners Group 204 Marietta St
Consideration of new construction. The property is located at 204 Marietta St and is legally described as being in Land Lot 0694 and 1270, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia
7. DRB240048 296 & 304 Thompson St - Kingsley
Consideration of new residential construction. The property is located at 296 & 304 Thompson St and is legally described as being in Land Lot 0802, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.
8. DRB250012 363 South Main St
Consideration of signage for the business. The property is located at 363 South Main Street and is legally described as being in Land Lot 648, 693, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia
Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.
Newspaper Delivery Route Openings with Appen Media Group
We are looking for one person or couple interested in delivering weekly newspapers in South Forsyth, Alpharetta and the Johns Creek areas.
Requirements: Must have a perfect driving record and background check, reliable transportation, honest, hard-working and positive attitude.
For more information or to apply, email heidi@appenmedia.com and include a paragraph or two about who you are and any relevant background/experience. In the subject line of the email please put “Delivery Route Application.”
Notice is hereby given that I, Binu Moncy, residing at 6500 Halcyon Way, Apt 440, Alpharetta, GA 30005, USA have petitioned the District Court, 461st Judicial District, Brazoria County, Texas to change my name to Ann Joseph. The case number is 125939-F. Any person having any objection to this name change must file a written objection with the court by February 22, 2025.
Client Services Manager – Food Pantry
NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the fulltime Client Services Manager – Food Pantry position. The Client Services Manager is responsible for creating, managing and implementing client centered intake policies and procedures. This includes maintaining the reception area of the Food Pantry; the end-to-end application processes; follow up on applications and resolving complex client matters.
Additionally, the Manager trains and manages the Client Services Team members and volunteers while maintaining positive employee relations and talent development of the intake staff. A history of exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills and a knowledge of MS Office are required. Working some evening and weekend work hours is also required.
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
Communications and Marketing Manager
NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the fulltime Communications and Marketing Manager position. The Communications and Marketing Manager is responsible for helping raise awareness of North Fulton Community Charities and its programs and services. One of the primary responsibilities of this role is to create internal and external communications and marketing materials to promote NFCC’s overall mission.
The Manager will manage and update multiple channels including social media, email, websites, newsletters, presentations, and video. Proficiency in WordPress, Microsoft Office, and Canva are required and experience with Salesforce or other CRM and Pardot/Account Engagement a plus.
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
Client Services Specialist – Pantry
The Client Services Specialist (Part-time) serves as the first point of contact at NFCC, welcoming clients and managing the intake process. This role connects clients with NFCC’s programs and services while maintaining accurate records through data entry and application updates. The Specialist also keeps clients informed about program enhancements and available services.
The Specialist must be proficient in Spanish and have the ability to work with a team in a professional manner within a fast paced environment. Microsoft office skills are required and Salesforce experience is a plus. Must have the ability to work evenings & weekends.
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
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