North Point Mall plan calls for green, mixed-use future
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — In its years-long campaign to revitalize the North Point corridor, Alpharetta officials reviewed the latest plans March 3 that propose a green, walkable, mixed-use district with connections to the Big Creek Greenway.
Over the past eight months, consultant team Starr Whitehouse worked with city staff and stakeholders in the North Point area to build on the North Point Livable Centers Initiative and North Point Creative Placemaking Plan.
“It incentivizes human-scale development and sets new standards for converting vehicular landscapes to finegrained urban realms,” according to the framework.
The North Point Development Framework plan encourages private investment and provides a road map for improvements. The City Council approved a $200,000 design contract with Starr Whitehouse last May.
The firm maintains an Atlanta office and has worked on local projects including Roswell’s Riverside Park.
Opened in 1993, North Point Mall was once a premier shopping and dining destination but has suffered economic setbacks over the past decade with the openings of mega mixed-use developments like Avalon and Alpharetta City Center.
See PROPOSAL, Page 23
CITY OF ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED
The North Point Development Framework plan calls for direct connections with the Big Creek Greenway, mixed-use-style blocks and numerous parks in the North Side district.
Roswell City Council defers bond approval aimed to help Wellstar
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. —Plans to allow issuance of Roswell Development Authority Revenue Bonds to refinance obligations of Wellstar Health System have been placed on hold for now.
The Roswell City Council voted unanimously March 10 to defer action on the matter.
No explanation for the deferral was provided, but Councilwoman Sarah Beeson said the measure should be back within 30 days.
A deferral will typically occur if the applicant needs to gather more information or address some concerns with a further review.
The resolution, which would allow the Development Authority to serve as a “pass through” for up to $100 million to refinance Wellstar debt, was originally recommended Feb. 25 at a Committees of Council meeting. The committee includes the city manager, the City Council and mayor.
If allowed, the measure would have no impact on the city’s bond capacity or Roswell taxpayers and will allow Wellstar to refinance its debt obligation with a savings around $1 million annually through a lower interest rate.
Wellstar has taken this route before. In 2017 the Cobb County
See BONDS, Page 27
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Valuables, personal items stolen in residential burglary
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 40-year-old Alpharetta man reported Feb. 25 that his home on Old Milton Parkway had been burglarized.
The man reported the theft of his car keys, Social Security card, several computers and birth certificate. The items were last seen in his bedroom.
The man reported several other signs of a burglary.
He noticed his door handle was loose, and several items not belonging to him were inside his home.
The battery to the man’s car was unplugged, and his vehicle’s doors were opened.
The incident was classified as a first-degree burglary.
— Jon Wilcox Roswell family takes cover after bullet enters bedroom
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police responded to a shots fired call off Worthington Hills Drive March 9 after a bullet struck into the bedroom of a family’s home after midnight.
Dispatch notified police that there was no identified suspect,t and a bullet had gone through a window.
Officers said no one reported any injuries.
The victims, a family including a 54-year-old man, a 59-year-old woman and their three adult children, said they heard two loud bangs, either fireworks or gunshots, hit the residence just after midnight. They said they dropped to the floor to take cover and later noticed a bullet hole
through a window, lodged in the drywall of one of the bedrooms.
The 54-year-old man said he called 911 immediately and the family stayed away from windows and rooms that were hit.
During their investigation, officers said they found fresh damage to a wooden fence at the residence, which aligns with the bullet’s entrance into the home.
After passing through a fence, a window and a wall to the bedroom, the bullet came to a final resting place in drywall on the other side of the entry point, officers said.
The estimated damage to the home totals $1,080.
Officers found two shell casings near a white Toyota Sequoia along Park Ridge Circle within the Roswell Creek Apartment Homes.
Officers notified the Criminal Investigations Division and submitted the bullet, shell casings and photos of the incident into evidence.
While the report did not name a suspect, officers identified the Sequoia and its owner as potentially related to the incident.
— Hayden Sumlin
Owner reports car stolen while parked in driveway
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 46-year-old Alpharetta man reported a car was stolen from his home Feb. 26.
The theft was reported at a Ruth’s Farm Way home, according to an Alpharetta police report.
The man said he left his Honda Accord in the driveway unlocked with the keys inside.
About 2 a.m., two suspects dressed in black were seen on the man’s property, pulling the door handles of vehicles in the driveway.
The suspects left the driveway and returned about 15 minutes later. They then entered the Accord and drove away.
Police checked Flock Safety
cameras but failed to locate the car.
Officers spoke with the man’s neighbors, who reported no missing property but said the suspects had attempted to open other vehicles.
The man’s home security camera showed one of the suspects carrying a white purse.
The incident was classified as a felony motor vehicle theft.
— Jon Wilcox
Resident reports scam call from fake police detective
ROSWELL, Ga. — Police spoke with 44-year-old Roswell woman March 4 about a caller impersonating a police officer, claiming her identity was stolen and requiring her to make payments.
The woman said she received a call from someone claiming her identity had been stolen and used in Texas to rent a car and open bank accounts.
After being transferred several times, she said she spoke with someone claiming to be a Roswell Police detective who directed her to a website to verify the call was not a scam.
Eventually, she said the caller offered to have Police Chief James Conroy call her to make her feel more at ease. She said someone identifying himself as the chief called within seconds.
Later, the woman said she received more phone calls stating she would be charged with cocaine possession and bank fraud if she did not pay.
The victim said she believed the call to be a scam when the man claiming to be a detective asked her to purchase gift cards to clear the charges.
The officer who met with the woman told her that no police officer would request payment on a pending charge. He said scammers use fake phone numbers to impersonate local law enforcement.
THE PICTURE FRAMER
— Hayden Sumlin
County approves water distribution master plan
Study may include new rate schedule
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — County commissioners approved the North Fulton Water Distribution Master Plan March 5, detailing around $278 million in capital improvements over the next 25 years.
Fulton County Public Works Director David Clark said the master plan and a separate rate study will help determine which projects and funds are necessary to maintain the system.
The county approved a 5 percent per year increase in water and sewer rates running from 2020-25 to generate revenue for upgrades and expansions. A new rate increase package is in the works.
“An ongoing rate study … will be brought back to the commissioners probably in a month or two about our water and sewer rates,” Clark said. With anticipated growth in
said the average demand on the North Fulton water system last year was around 27 million gallons a day with a peak around 47. She also said the county stores more than its anticipated annual usage at the treatment plan and throughout the distribution system.
“Everything starts with population projections and looking at estimated development demands in coordination with the cities,” Skipper said. “We then develop level of service requirements … then we do a series of evaluations of capacity, our ability to maintain pressure, water loss, storage and interconnections.”
population and development, Fulton County is taking steps to adjust its water and sewer capacity to meet the need.
While the county owns all sewer collections north of Atlanta, its water distribution pipes only service Johns Creek, Mountain Park, Alpharetta, Milton and most of Roswell.
Sandy Springs purchases water from the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, which it has done since before it incorporated in 2005.
Gasthaus Tirol
Atlanta delivers services to Sandy Springs from its Hemphill Water Treatment Plan off 17th Street. The rest of North Fulton draws its water from the Tom Lowe Atlanta-Fulton County Water Treatment Plant in Johns Creek.
The North Fulton water distribution system serves around 285,000 with more than 1,200 miles of pipe.
Anna Skipper, a staff engineer in the county’s Public Works Department,
Most of the projected population growth is centered around major highways, including Holcomb Bridge Road (Ga. 140), Medlock Bridge Road (Ga. 141) and Ga. 400.
By 2050, the county is projecting peak demand could grow 34 percent to around 63 million gallons a day.
Skipper said her team uses the maximum water demand for a specific area of the system to determine when a capital project needs to be completed.
See WATER, Page 21
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Anna Skipper, a staff engineer in the Fulton County Public Works Department, presents the North Fulton Water Distribution Master Plan March 5 to the Board of Commissioners.
Rony Ghelerter
Atlanta Lacrosse Invitational draws elite athletes to Georgia
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — The second annual Atlanta Lacrosse Invitational at Bobby Dodd Stadium March 1 drew more than 10,000 fans.
In the three-game invitational, sponsored by 285 Lacrosse, the Milton Eagles took the field first to face off against Lambert High. The Longhorns held stiff on defense, allowing two goals, coming from sophomore Jordan Carrasquillo and senior Steele Smithson.
Sandwiched between the high school matchup and the hometown team, Mercer University, going up against Drexel, was the biggest game of the day. No. 1 Notre Dame had a rematch of their national championship win over No. 2 Maryland.
The Terrapins made massive improvements to their defense after a 15-5 loss to the Irish in the title game last year. Their long poles kept
the Terps’ record unblemished and maintained their streak of holding opponents to 10 goals or fewer.
Notre Dame midfielder Fisher Finley returned to his home state to play in the biggest game of the college lacrosse season.
The Milton alum labeled his team matchup as just another game, and said the Irish were going through their same processes and focusing on fundamentals.
Finley discussed how meaningful it has been to see his former club team, Thunder Lacrosse, expand and be joined by other new travel teams in the area. He said he hopes to see even more growth in Metro Atlanta.
“The amount of people that came out today was really special, to see everyone here is something I’ll remember for a long time,” he said. “Just seeing the Georgia community all come together, high school to high school, rival to rival, it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, we’re all just lacrosse fans.”
PHOTOS BY: ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
The Milton Eagles face off against Lambert at Bobby Dodd Stadium Mar. 1 to kick off the Atlanta Lacrosse Invitational sponsored by 285 Lacrosse. The Longhorns defeated the Eagles 14-2.
Notre Dame midfielder Fisher Finley looks for a pass at Bobby Dodd Stadium during the Atlanta Lacrosse Invitational Mar. 1. The Maryland Terrapins took down the No. 1 team in the country, 11-10.
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival wraps 25th anniversary season
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The 25th annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival wrapped another successful year March 5 with its Closing Night celebration, featuring the heartfelt Brazilian dramedy “Cheers to Life!”
The annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is one of the largest cultural events of its kind in the world, celebrating the power of film to foster understanding and strengthen connections between Jewish and diverse global communities.
After the 88 in-theatre screenings across six venues in two weeks, some 1,000 patrons packed the Byers Theatre at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center.
Before spending most of the film giggling, reading subtitles and releasing some tears, the audience was treated to a quarter-century celebration of international film in the Jewish center of the South.
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, welcoming the audience and film festival organizers, promoted the city’s Performing Arts Center as a hub for exploring different cultures.
In a major announcement, festival organizers revealed an upcoming one-night-only concert Oct. 20 in partnership with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Turner Classic Movies. The concert is at Atlanta Symphony Hall in the Woodruff Arts Center with TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz hosting.
"I've been coming to the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival for years, and I couldn’t be more excited for this extraordinary celebration of film and music,” Mankiewicz said. “Iconic scores from classic Jewish cinema performed live? That’s a night you don’t want to miss.”
A panel of filmmakers, journalists, students and industry experts determine the Jury Awards, honoring outstanding achievements in Jewish cinema across six categories.
The 2025 winners are: “Pink Lady” for Narrative Feature, “Riefenstahl” for Documentary Feature, “The Sacred Society” for Short Film, “Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round” for the Building Bridges Award, “Sapir” for the Human Rights Award and Tom Nesher as Emerging Filmmaker for “Come Closer.”
James Alexander, a marketing executive and the next president of AJFF, announced Coca-Cola’s $250,000 investment in the festival’s Kenny Blank Vision Initiative, a $2.5 million capital campaign designed to
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Moderator Holly Firfer, at left, conducts a post-film discussion at Closing Night in Sandy Springs’ Byers Theatre March 5 with the cast and crew of the comedy drama “Cheers to Life!”
expand the festival’s impact beyond its annual programming.
Kenny Blank, AJFF’s executive and artistic director, said the 25th anniversary is a defining moment for the nonprofit.
“We are grateful to our audiences, supporters and partners for making this milestone so special,” Blank said. “We look forward to building on this momentum as AJFF continues to evolve, expand and elevate its impact in the years ahead,”
During the North American premier of the 2024 Brazilian film “Cheers to Life,” the Portuguese language was no hurdle to understanding and enjoying the film’s characters, familial themes and life-affirming message.
The 103-minute narrative feature blends a young woman’s exploration of her identity and familial history with comedic missteps and chance revelations during an adventure to Israel.
Audiences meet the main character of the film, Jessica, a disillusioned antique shop employee who finds a
locket that leads her to seek out her grandparents living in Tel Aviv.
The film is drama, thriller and comedy all set in the backdrop of Israel. The country is almost a character in the story as Jessica and her companions search from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for her grandmother.
The Closing Night celebration was in the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center’s Byers Theatre, featuring a post-film Q&A panel with the Brazilian cast and crew, including director Chris D’Amato, producer Júlio Uchoa and three main actors from the film.
Rodrigo Simas, who plays Jessica’s sidekick as she tracks down her grandparents, said his character Gabriel receives the help and companionship he needed as his character assists Jessica track down her family.
“It’s a pleasure to be here in Atlanta, this is the first time out of Brazil with the movie and it’s a great honor to make a Brazilian movie in Israel,” Simas said. “Watching and
learning … with our elder characters, not just in the movie but life too, makes us look forward to life and appreciate it.”
Thati Lopez, speaking Portuguese to the audience, said she grew into her character and said Jessica’s transformation throughout the film attracted her to the role.
The atmosphere of the Byers Theatre did not change after the credits rolled. The audience, actors and crew laughed through the difficulties of translating in real-time.
Guests leaving the theater overwhelmingly said they loved the film with men and women in the audience split with affection for the leading couple.
An all-access streaming pass is available March 7-16 to Georgians who want to follow along from home with 21 feature films and 14 short films from the festival. Some are only available for exclusive in-theater presentation.
To learn more and stream, visit https://ajff.org.
MELANIE
MONICA
STACI
| Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | March 13, 2025
Cigar ‘chateau’ builds community amid sanctuary for connoisseurs
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The joy of a good cigar is about more than savoring the rich flavor of aged tobacco.
At The Chateau Cigar Lounge, it’s about camaraderie, connection and company.
“I first thought I was selling cigars, beer and wine, but we sell community,” owner Jeff Curry said. “You can come in here as a stranger, but you won’t leave as one.”
When Curry purchased The Chateau in 2018, the business was struggling, he said. The location at 9700 Medlock Bridge Road had little more than a dozen cigars, beer coolers, televisions and furniture. The meager cigar inventory and lessthan welcoming environment had stolen customers’ trust, he said.
So, when Curry announced the change in ownership, few were impressed.
“We were getting snarky replies. ‘Oh, really, you actually have cigars?’” he recalled hearing.
There was plenty of work to be done, and Curry, who had spent the previous 15 years in software sales, first recruited Staci Gibbs, an employee of the former owner. Gibbs now serves as general manager.
Together, they worked to make The Chateau a welcoming place where patrons could gather, relax and explore the world of fine tobacco.
Today, the business boasts close to a thousand cigars in its humidor. It’s also cultivated a cult customer base, who
routinely visit to play poker, participate in raffles, watch sports and socialize.
“I have a customer who came here 340 times last year,” Curry said.
Tucked into the first floor of a small row of shops, The Chateau offers a refuge from the congested traffic of nearby Medlock Bridge and State Bridge roads.
A sweet smell of smoke lingers in the spacious interior, which features stainedwood flooring and high ceilings.
The space is perfect for hanging out, Curry said. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the room with natural light. A fully stocked bar serves beer, wine, top-shelf liquors and craft cocktails. Some days, food trucks populate the ample parking lot. Plush leather armchairs invite visitors to unwind alone or in groups. A state-ofthe-art ventilation system facilitates indoor smoking, but many opt for the patio when the weather is nice.
“It’s a beautiful thing to watch when … new faces come in here,” Gibbs said. “Maybe five minutes will pass before somebody walks up and strikes up a conversation. Then, they move their seats together.”
One popular informal event, a weekly “cigar bible study,” allows connoisseurs to analyze and evaluate flavors. Customers are welcome to enter their thoughts about a smoking experience into a handsomely bound leather tome and mark the flavors, whether they be of coffee, fruit, spice, nuts, earth or vanilla.
and
burial. Contact us for further information on the Chapel of Reflections and our many other offerings.
GIBBS, general manager, The Chateau Cigar Lounge
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
General Manager Staci Gibbs and owner Jeff Curry stand in the humidor of The Chateau Cigar Lounge at 9799 Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek. See CIGAR, Page 11
BUSINESSPOSTS
Cigar:
Continued from Page 10
“What our people do is they sit around, and they smoke cigars, and they go, ‘OK, here’s the name of the cigar I had. This is what it’s like,’” Curry said.
There are plenty of opportunities to explore all manner of cigars from triedand-true favorites to limited editions in The Chateau’s humidor.
The narrow, wood-paneled room is climate controlled and dehumidified to extend the tobacco’s shelf life almost indefinitely.
Curry said the inventory caters to new and experienced customers.
For those who are just getting into tobacco, he recommends the Perdomo brand, which are like the “Johnson & Johnson” of cigars, he said.
“Whether you’re an experienced cigar smoker or novice, no one’s going to smoke that cigar and say they don’t like it,” he said.
Figuring out personal tastes is a big part of the fun for beginners, he said.
“It’s just seeking out where are you in your journey. Where are you in your experience?” he said. “And then, let us give you variations within that same flavor profile.”
For those who know what they
like, The Chateau offers some exciting options from premium cigars that can range into the hundreds of dollars to rarer batches.
Curry maintains personal relationships with suppliers to ensure
The Chateau Cigar Lounge is located at 9700 Medlock Bridge Road No. 114 in Johns Creek. For more information, visit thechateaucigarbar.com or call 678-822-0912
On one shelf, Gibbs keeps a special stash, which she sometimes allows patrons to smoke from if they’re lucky.
“Some of the best cigars on the planet are sitting right down there in those boxes,” Curry said.
For Curry, now retired from sales, owning The Chateau has been a dream. He frequents the shop almost seven days a week, chatting up regulars and meeting new faces.
Curry admits he may not make as much money as he used to, but there’s something special about running a business that provides real satisfaction to customers.
“We took something that was dead, and we managed to regrow the business,” he said.
he gets the latest and greatest. The shop boasts cigars from all over the world, including brands such as La Flor Dominicana, Sin Compromiso, Oliva, Mi Querida, Plasencia and many more.
Curry said he certainly enjoys indulging in a good cigar, but the real joy is being a part of the community the shop has fostered.
“I quit my day job at the end of 2020,” he said. “I haven’t set an alarm clock in years, and it’s been like, we got real a business here.”
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Owner Jeff Curry holds a premium cigar in the humidor of The Chateau Cigar Lounge at 9799 Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek.
Honored to be Voted: Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist
Insist on the
BEST
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.
Is Lidocaine a secret weapon against cancer?
We always worry about the negative side-effects that a medicine might have. At the end of a pharmaceutical company’s commercials, an auctioneer very quickly states the twenty terrible things that might happen if you take the advertised medicine. Side effects range from your ear falling off when you sneeze to the belief that you are Elvis. Side-effects make almost any medicine sound scary. But occasionally, a positive side effect emerges. Sometimes, we discover something wonderful about a medicine that is wholly unexpected. Examples of positive side-effects are not hard to find. The medicine finasteride was first being used to help decrease the size of the prostate in men who were having difficulty urinating. An unexpected positive side-effect was discovered when it was noticed that many of the men were re-growing their scalp hair. With finasteride, male pattern baldness was often partially reversed or stopped in its tracks.
One of the most recent medications discovered to have a possible positive side effect is lidocaine, which has been around since 1943. Lidocaine is an injectable anesthetic. We use lidocaine for skin biopsies, excisions, Mohs surgeries and countless other procedures every day in the dermatology office. Amazingly, lidocaine may be more than an anesthetic. It may also have anticancer effects.
A team of surgeons in India operating on breast cancer divided patients into two groups. One group had standard breast cancer surgery. The other group received a lidocaine injection around the tumor 7-10 minutes prior to surgery. During the 5 years after surgery, the group that received the lidocaine injection had an 8.5% rate of the cancer recurring (popping up again) at a distant site versus an 11.6% rate of distant recurrence in the surgeryonly (no lidocaine) group. The study has some limitations including not being a double-blind trial and
being a single-center study, but it is intriguing enough to warrant further investigation. The authors reported that injecting lidocaine around breast cancer before removing it increased survival in their study.
What made the surgeons perform this study in the first place? Why lidocaine? Over the last few years, researchers have discovered that electrical gradients maintained across the membranes of cancer cells are important to their ability to metastasize or spread. Our cells have pumps in them called “ion channels.” They allow certain ions to pass across the cell membrane. The resulting ion concentration gradient creates an electrical charge across a cell. This gradient affects the way other proteins in the cell function. Importantly, some of the proteins affected by the charge across a cell membrane are important for healthy cells’ growth and development as well as for cancers’ ability to grow and spread.
Lidocaine works by blocking sodium channels in cell membranes. Disrupting the electric charge across a cancer cell membrane was suspected to have the potential to weaken the cancer itself. Pre-clinical studies supported this hypothesis, and the breast cancer surgeons took the next step of performing a trial with breast cancer patients and peritumoral lidocaine injections.
I don’t know if breast cancer surgeons in the United States consider these results valid, are awaiting confirmatory studies or are already injecting lidocaine. However, in dermatology, these results are exciting because, for now, we do not need to change anything that we are already doing. Every day that I perform Mohs surgery, we inject the area around a tumor with lidocaine prior to surgically removing the cancer. If lidocaine is more than an anesthetic, then our patients are likely already benefiting from any anti-cancer properties that lidocaine has.
Mohs surgery is the gold standard for treating most skin cancers and has a cure rate that is usually at or above 99%. Perhaps lidocaine is one of the secrets to this success.
Dr. Brent Taylor
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
Brought to you by – Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta
Time for spring cleaning?
Bradley Hepler, Atlanta Center for Dental Health
I don’t know about you, but I am ready for Spring. I can’t wait for the weather to warm up. I want to walk and run and spend more time outside. I can’t wait to see everything start blooming and everything get greener. Spring is coming! It’s time to get ready. It’s time to get in shape! It’s time for Spring Cleaning! Do you need a Spring dental cleaning or maybe a Smile Tune-up?
This year, let’s eat healthy, exercise, and address our health proactively and preventively. This includes a visit to the dentist to address those problems that you know are getting worse and to prevent future problems.
• Restoring Your Smile – Repairing your teeth allows you to keep your teeth for a lifetime and look and feel your best.
• Cosmetic Dentistry – It’s more than just Whiter Teeth. Uneven and chipped teeth can be reshaped painlessly. You can make your smile
healthy and vibrant again and create the smile of your dreams.
• Dental Implants – Replacing missing teeth allows you to eat your favorite healthy foods again, smile without fear, and provides support to
your face to avoid looking older.
• Invisalign – The metal-free way to straighten your teeth, improve your bite, and have an attractive smile that everyone notices.
• Preventive Tooth Cleaning –
Routine cleanings prevent problems and keep your teeth healthy, white, and attractive.
• Don’t Forget that these things can be accomplished comfortably while you rest… with Sedation Dentistry!
“Preventive Dentistry can add 10 years to human life.”
-Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic
A healthy mouth is part of a healthy body. Our wish for you is that you look and feel your best!
Dr. Bradley Hepler and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide the most modern advances in complete dentistry. Experience immediate results with procedures to greatly enhance your smile and your health. If you would like a complimentary consultation to discover which of these options is best for you, please call us at 770-992-2236. Dr. Hepler is highly trained to provide you with the latest and best techniques to allow you to achieve your cosmetic and restorative goals.
ADOBE STOCK
Can stress cause cancer?
Did you know that negative emotions such as stress increase cancer risk substantially? A study published several years ago found that women who experienced a significant, negative life event had an increased risk of developing breast cancer. The breast cancer risk was even greater in women who experienced a severely striking life event. Other studies have shown similar findings regarding stress and cancer risk.
We know that stress sets off a cascade of events inside the body involving various hormones and neurotransmitters which affect the health of the body’s cells. Our current understanding is that significant stress, especially over the long term, causes
significant damage and dysfunction in the body which can result in cancer. It turns out that the mind isn’t a separate entity from the body, but rather, in close communication with the body at all times, with tremendous power over how the body functions! The good news is that there are many strategies we can adopt in order to reduce our stress and anxiety. I highly recommend a regular daily practice of prayer and meditation. Exercise, being outside in nature, breathing techniques, and engaging in healthy relationships with others are also proven stresslowering strategies.
STEGALL
ISTOCK
The connection between oral plaque, heart disease, and brain health
How oral health affects brain function
Most people think of plaque as a problem that affects only their teeth. Dentists warn us about plaque buildup leading to cavities and gum disease, but what many don’t realize is that the same plaque lurking in your mouth could also be harming your heart and brain. Mounting research shows a striking connection between oral health and systemic diseases, particularly heart disease and cognitive decline.
The link between oral plaque and heart disease
Plaque in your mouth is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth when food particles and saliva mix. If not removed through brushing and flossing, this plaque hardens into tartar, leading to gum disease (periodontitis). The bacteria from gum disease don’t just stay in the mouth— they can enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation throughout the body.
Chronic inflammation is a key factor in heart disease. When oral bacteria reach the arteries, they can contribute to the formation of arterial plaque—the fatty deposits that clog blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Studies have shown that people with gum disease have a significantly higher risk of developing cardiovascular conditions, including high blood pressure and atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries).
One of the most well-documented bacterial culprits is Porphyromonas gingivalis, a pathogen found in gum disease patients. Researchers have discovered this bacterium in the arterial plaque of heart disease patients, suggesting a direct link between gum infections and cardiovascular complications.
The impact of oral plaque doesn’t stop at the heart—it also affects the brain. Recent studies indicate that poor oral hygiene may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Like its role in heart disease, oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain, triggering inflammation and potentially contributing to the formation of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists have found P. gingivalis in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, further strengthening the connection between oral bacteria and cognitive decline. Inflammation caused by gum disease may accelerate brain cell damage, leading to memory loss and other cognitive impairments. Additionally, poor oral health has been linked to an increased risk of strokes, which can further contribute to dementia and other neurological issues.
Protecting your mouth, heart, and brain
By taking care of your teeth and gums, you’re also protecting your heart and brain. Your oral health is a vital part of your overall well-being— don’t overlook it! Dr. Hood and her team at Roswell Dental Care help you understand your health status and risks and customize your treatment. 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!
Destinee Hood
Brought to You by - Dr. Destinee Hood, Roswell Dental Care
Make colon health your habit
Brought to you by - Wellstar
For many people, talking about colon health can be a little uncomfortable, but potential medical issues don’t just go away if you ignore them.
Being proactive about your wellbeing with preventative care can help catch colorectal cancer or another serious condition early—often before it becomes a bigger problem.
Wellstar is committed to keeping your colon healthy with preventative screenings and expert care, so you can continue to live well.
Catch colon cancer early
Early detection is the best prevention, especially when it comes to colon cancer. People at average risk should start colonoscopies at age 45. Those with a higher risk or a family history of colorectal cancer may need
to start screening sooner. Partner with your care team to create a personalized screening plan—and stick with it to stay ahead of the disease.
The death rate for colon cancer in older adults has been decreasing for the past several decades due to screenings, according to the American Cancer Society. Screenings can identify polyps before they become cancerous and can catch cancer earlier when it is more easily treatable. However, in people under 55, death rates from colon cancer have been increasing by about 1% per year since the mid2000s.
Why colonoscopies work
During a colonoscopy, a Wellstar gastroenterologist will view the inside of your colon and look for polyps or any other abnormal tissue that could be cancerous. This preventative testing is key to catching colorectal issues at
the start. Polyps take about five to 15 years to evolve into an invasive cancer, so regular colonoscopies can catch polyps before they become cancerous. The procedure itself is not painful.
Signs of colorectal cancer
Colon cancer is typically discovered when a patient has a colonoscopy, but it’s important to watch for these warning signs:
• A change in your bowel habits, such as persistent diarrhea or constipation
• Bloody stools or rectal bleeding
• Abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas and pain
• Feeling like you are unable to empty your bowels completely
• Weakness or fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your care team right away.
Colorectal cancer care at Wellstar
If you have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, count on Wellstar for comprehensive, personalized care. Our specialists will work together with you to form a tailored treatment plan and offer support every step of the way.
Wellstar offers medical expertise close to home, clinical trials and state-of-the-art surgical procedures to treat colorectal cancer. We also have a multidisciplinary gastrointestinal (GI) tumor board that diagnoses and creates treatment plans collaboratively.
Along with cancer surgeons, medical oncologists and other experts, our care team also includes nurse navigators, dietitians, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and counselors to provide complete care and support.
Visit wellstar.org/gastro to learn more about gastroenterology care.
At Wellstar, you’ll find a multidisciplinary team of cancer care experts built around your needs and dedicated to comprehensive, personalized treatment.
We are a leader in cancer care, embracing innovation to improve patient outcomes. Our surgeons perform a variety of minimally invasive procedures—providing patients with smoother recoveries and less pain. We also support patients during their cancer journeys with STAT Clinics, which bring cancer care clinicians together and put people at the center of their treatment. With this multidisciplinary approach, patients start care sooner, optimizing treatment and outcomes. wellstar.org/northfultoncancercare
Your youthful smile
In order to understand a youthful smile, one needs to know the look of aging teeth. An aging smile can occur as a person gets older, however, they can be influenced by various factors such as oral habits, lifestyle choices, and dental hygiene care…at any age!
Some of the most common features of an aging smile are:
1. Teeth yellowing: Over time, and many coffee/tea, chocolate, wine and tobacco indulgences later, teeth can lose their natural brightness and present more yellow.
2. Tooth wear and tear: Years of grinding, taking out one’s stress on one’s teeth, and misaligned teeth can contribute to excessive and uneven tooth wear and flatter and shorter surfaces.
3. Gum recession: gum recession exposes the darker root surfaces and makes teeth look longer and less esthetic.
4. Tooth loss: missing teeth can impact the appearance of one’s smile and contribute to decreased lip and cheek support and fullness causing facial changes.
5. Teeth crowding: As we age our teeth have a tendency to shift in a forward direction, causing the front teeth to become more crowded.
To maintain a youthful smile here are a few tips:
1. Avoid staining: Avoid tobacco and limit stain causing and enamel eroding acidic foods and drinks.
2. Whitening: professional dental whitening can remove most stains and bring back the luster and brightness to one’s teeth.
3. Resin bonding: Tooth colored fillings do a beautiful job of masking exposed root surfaces and restoring the beautiful shape of the teeth, and thus enhance one’s smile.
4. Tooth replacement: In today’s world, replacing a tooth with implant therapy is the gold standard of dentistry and has long lasting benefits in maintaining the longevity of one’s dentition.
5. Orthodontics: Crooked and misaligned teeth can be corrected using braces or aligners and immediately restore the “wellness” of the smile. It is amazing what a straight smile does to restore youthfulness and confidence! 6. Occlusal guard: A bite guard can shield the teeth from the harmful effects of clenching and grinding.
Maintaining a youthful smile is a lifelong commitment to YOURSELF! Regularly consulting with a good dentist who is committed to your optimal dental health and smile will help ensure personalized advice and appropriate care and methods keep your smile healthy and youthful.
Call us for a free consultation (upon mention of this article) on how we can help you rejuvenate your smile!
Brought to you by – North Fulton Smiles
Let’s talk about social media & screen time
Brought to you byAlyssa Kiss, M.A., Summit Counseling Center
Parents raising a teen in today’s world of technology can often experience confusion, stress, and judgement from others for their decisions surrounding social media use and screen time. There are mixed messages, a lack of sufficient research, and little support out there to help parents navigate these tough decisions. As a therapist who primarily works with adolescents, teens, and young adults, I am surrounded by the issue of social media and phone addiction. Often, I work with parents who say the same thing – “I don’t want them to be on their phones so much, but I also don’t want them to be isolated from their friends.”
There is no doubt that screen time and social media are impacting us all, especially kids and adolescents. This age group is inundated with screen time which is causing issues with attention and the brain’s reward system. The research we currently have clearly shows that excessive screen time can impact social-emotional development, language development, and executive functioning. These can deeply impact adolescents who are already struggling with increased academic pressure and developing peer relationships.
So, what can we do about it? I have often found myself after a day of sessions with adolescents just wishing that I could wake up and social media would have vanished. I see the impact it has on these students while also knowing it is unrealistic to believe that it can be completely cut out of anyone’s life. Here are a few tips about navigating this difficult topic.
1. Have an open discussion. Help educate your child on the impact of social media and screen time. Oftentimes kids don’t understand or fully realize why their parents are limiting their screen time. Take some time to openly talk to your child about the ways that social media and screen time impact them without using judgements.
2. Educate yourself on the issue. This is a very complex issue with lots of different things to consider. Take some time to read up on the research and tips from leaders in the field. Here are a few recommendations: a. Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and survive) in Their Digital World by
Dr. Devorah Heitner
b. The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World by Adam Gazzaley and Larry D. Rosen
3. Model the relationship with your phone that you want your child to have.
Kids are constantly watching their parents to learn about the world around them. This is no different when it comes to screen time and social media use. By modeling the relationship with technology that you would like your child to have, it can help your kids learn how to navigate their use of technology.
4. Implement screen time limits that
your child is actively involved in. Use collaboration with your child to set screen time limits that they can understand and feel a part of. Giving a teen or adolescent a level of autonomy in their own screen time typically helps them adhere to the rules set. This varies given the child’s age and is best suited for middle and high school students.
5. Give yourself grace and be flexible. We are in unprecedented times as we all learn to navigate the way technology has so prevalently impacted our lives. Remember to be kind to yourself and maintain a flexible mindset. As we learn new things in this area, give yourself space to adjust your stance or approach.
PEXELS
KISS
Connect-It
Each line in the puzzle below has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 6 and 4 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
BY ANY OTHER NAME
1. It’s a sheep. Down in the dumps. Gumbo vegetable.
2. Kitten’s plaything. It’s an Asian deer. Precious gem.
3. Gambler’s wish. It’s a venomous snake. Kick out.
4. Verdant. It’s a horse, of course. Tidings.
5. Kind of nerve. Sidekick in Juarez. It’s an alpaca or llama offspring
6. Like a maple leaf. It’s a fly or gnat. Small whirlpool.
7. Garden structure. Vow. It’s a marine food related to cod
By Any Other Name
1 It’s a sheep. Down in the dumps. Gumbo vegetable.
2. Kitten’s plaything. It’s an Asian deer. Precious gem
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Gambler’s wish. It’s a venomous snake. Kick out.
4. Verdant. It’s a horse, of course. Tidings
5. Kind of nerve. Sidekick in Juarez. It’s an alpaca or llama offspring.
6. Like a maple leaf. It’s a fly or gnat. Small whirlpool.
7. Garden structure. Vow. It’s a marine food fish related to cod.
AMERICAN LEGION POST 201 EVENTS
BINGO - 2 p.m.
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt - 11 a.m. Saturday, Mar. 29
For children 12-years-old and under.
Six “egg hunting areas” separated by age level. Two Golden Egg prizes in each egg hunt area.
Dances & Dance Instruction
For all the details visit: www.club201dance.com
Support Roswell Rotary “Honor Air” Trip to D.C., Wednesday, April 9, 2025
For World War II, Korea, Vietnam Vets Visit www.legion201.org for more information
to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box
Roswell group seeks logo ideas for Painted Rock festival
ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell Arts Fund is inviting residents to submit logo design ideas for the Festival of the Painted Rock.
No matter design experience, Roswell residents are encouraged to use their creativity to create a logo that reflects the festival’s mission to intertwine the arts and nature, through all art mediums. Applicants are also asked to capture the spirit of the community and celebration,
include the text “Festival of the Painted Rock” and use the original logo as inspiration, while designing.
The Festival of the Painted Rock is an arts celebration from the late ’80s and early ’90s, making its return Aug. 30 at Chattahoochee Nature Center. The event’s comeback will feature live music, food and art installations and activities, all while celebrating the area’s natural beauty.
Inspired by the Chattahoochee River, which in Creek language means “rocks-marked” or “painted,” the festival also serves as a joint fundraiser for the Roswell Arts Fund celebrating its 10th anniversary and Chattahoochee Nature Center celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The Roswell Arts Fund is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the arts while contributing to the
cultural landscape of the city.
Residents can submit their design until April 7. The winner will be announced April 14, with a prize of $250, two event tickets and their logo featured on festival marketing materials and merchandise.
To learn more and submit a design entry visit roswellartsfund. org.
— Sarah Coyne
Roswell Cultural Arts Center schedules musical, ‘Violet’
ROSWELL, Ga. — Professional theatre returns to Roswell Cultural Arts Center March 21 through March 23 with “Violet,” a musical by Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley.
The musical features Violet, a young woman on a journey of hope, love and self-discovery in the 1960s, after she boards a bus across the
Water:
Continued from Page 4
“If we look at how we’re doing today … we’re meeting minimum or better level of service requirements for the vast majority of our system,” she said. “We do have pockets of red here and there, where we’re not meeting it … on the whole, we’re doing pretty well today.”
There are a few areas where the county fails to meet its standard, typically during summer months and droughts. The county indicated that White Columns County Club and the surrounding neighborhood in Milton has its highest concentration of low water pressure in the North Fulton system.
Skipper said if the county opts not to do any capital improvements, its tanks will not be able to accommodate demand requirements and would drain to zero with maximum conditions.
Projects in the Capital Improvement Program are spread out over five phases, including 46 projects to complete the transmission main, smaller distribution pipes and storage capacity.
There are also major goals. One is to complete the transmission main, which serves as the treatment facility’s main artery for water transport, to more efficiently serve the northwest portion of the system. That area includes most of Milton and the western parts of Roswell and Alpharetta.
The transmission line zig-zags northwest from the Johns Creek
Deep South, seeking a miracle from a televangelist.
Directed by Heidi McKerley and musically directed by Holt McCarley, guests can enjoy bluegrass, gospel and the blues, as Violet finds unexpected love and learns what true beauty is.
Atlanta-based actor and director Jennifer Alice Aker plays Violet,
treatment facility off Old Alabama Road across Ga. 400 to downtown Alpharetta and Ga. 9.
“We’ve installed previous sections of this transmission piecemeal,” Skipper said. “We’ve tried to be in coordination with transportation projects, but new projects, we’re going to do them standalone without coordination with transportation as necessary.”
She said it’s the best way county engineers could ensure they meet the phased deadlines. For example, if a project is in the 2030 phase, it needs to be completed before Jan. 1, 2031.
Another goal, which county staff considers “low hanging fruit,” is to connect distribution lines where a larger pipe crosses or abuts a smaller one. Staff said the first phase of the projects was completed last year with more scheduled for the second phase, wrapping up in 2030.
The final major goal is to get storage and capacity levels to where they need to be by 2050 with six projects planned over the next 25 years.
Additional tanks are needed to supply the Johns Creek Town Center with plans for a $560 million mixed-use development, Medley, to surround City Hall and Creekside Park.
Skipper said storage will also be increased at other existing sites.
The county also identified projects related to pump stations, which can move water and ensure consistent flow. It recommends a booster pump for Alpharetta’s storage tank, in-line stations to address low pressure areas and a connection to Gwinnett County’s system for emergencies.
alongside her costars Hayden Row as Monty and Daisean Garrett as Flick in the Tony-nominated musical and winner of the Drama Critics’ Circle Award and Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical in 1997.
Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. March 21; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. March 22; and 2 p.m. March 23. The musical
Skipper said Gwinnett can already receive water from Fulton in an emergency, but the county can’t send it back without the connection.
The Board of Commissioners
will run approximately two hours at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street.
Tickets are $32.50 with a discounted price for seniors, students and military at $29.25 on roswell365. com.
— Sarah Coyne
approved the plan without amendments. North Fulton commissioners Bob Ellis, Bridget Thorne and Dana Barrett made no comments on the measure.
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North Fulton Chamber accepting applications for leadership programs
North
Lynn Thomas Kim Truett Roger Wise Jr.
Evan McElroy
Vickie McElroy
Patricia Miller
Anne Peer
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Whittall
NORTH FULTON, Ga. — The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce invites the next batch of future leaders to apply for the Leadership North Fulton and Emerging Leaders Program.
Sergey Savin
Helen Scherrer
Kate Seng
Kimberly Verska
Carol Williams
Both programs are created by the chamber to foster leadership development in the community. The chamber aims to grow business, develop talent and lead regional prosperity across North Fulton.
Leadership North Fulton has led the region with its signature leadership development program for more than 30 years by allowing members of the community to build relationships with businesses and nonprofit partners.
Rachel McCord
Austin McCully
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Lynn McIntyre
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To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size! Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
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The program contains a mix of executives, small business owners and young professionals, with a class size of around 35 members. The program will consist of eight, eight-hour class days, in addition to the evening opening reception, overnight retreat and graduation luncheon. Classes are held on the third Thursday of the month and range from arts and culture to public safety.
Participants can learn from a diverse curriculum, while promoting community awareness, instilling civic responsibility and building relationships. Graduates can join the ranks of more than 500 alumni. The all-inclusive program costs $2,500 for Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce members and $3,000 for non-members. Payment plans and two half-scholarships are available on a situational basis.
Applications for the Leadership North Fulton Program close March 25.
Juniors and seniors from North Fulton high schools who are looking to join in on the leadership development can apply for the Emerging Leaders Program. High schoolers can learn leadership skills, identify and address community issues and interact with local leaders, while becoming good citizens.
Students will attend six class days, in addition to orientation, retreat and graduation. Outside of class days, students are expected to complete five activities that correspond with class day themes to develop life lessons. Curriculum such as financial literacy and mock interviews are among the topics students will learn.
Applications for the Emerging Leaders Program close March 20 and include a $300 program fee upon acceptance. Those interested can apply on the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce website.
— Sarah Coyne
Proposal:
Continued from Page 1
The North Point Development Framework envisions a district reoriented toward the highly popular Big Creek Greenway, which runs along its southern edge. Proposed trails would connect a series of parks and open spaces, which would break up the area with congregation and recreation sites.
“The result is a network of open spaces accessible within a fiveminute walk from any point in the district,” according to the framework.
The plan also imagines parks centered around retention ponds, rain gardens and streams to manage stormwater while providing green spaces for visitors. Plazas, lawns and open areas could host concerts and other events.
“Calm, neighborhood-oriented streets” would run through the area and feature one lane for vehicle traffic with on-street parking on one side.
Walking would be promoted through tree canopies, pedestrian lighting and sidewalks. Cyclists could travel along shared-use paths.
The plan proposes residential, office and retail spaces. Multi-level blocks would promote mixed-use development with retail on the ground level.
Garages embedded within blocks would provide additional parking.
Proposed residential developments include townhomes and walkups.
Alpharetta Community Development Director Kathi Cook said the city could see plans this year for redeveloping North Point Mall.
Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment Group has submitted a petition to attract an NHL franchise at the mall. New York Life Co., the insurer that owns the property, said it has plans to create a mixed-use project around the team.
“If you have that vision, you’re going to get more development interest because developers want to invest in cities that have a plan,” Cook said.
CITY OF ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED Consultant team Starr Whitehouse imagines 60-feet, one-way streets with street parking, sidewalks and trees in their North Point Development Framework plan.
GEORGIA FARMERS NEED YOUR SUPPORT
(AND YOUR VOTE)
For generations, the farmers you represent have worked, studied, retooled, innovated, and done their best for the land—and the communities you serve benefit from their expertise.
Georgia farmers trust the science and know glyphosate can be used safely. The litigation industry, on the other hand, relies on junk science in the courtroom to threaten the go-to crop protection tools farmers depend on every day. Experts estimate that without glyphosate to ensure our food supply, inflation at the checkout line will double.
More than 90 organizations in the Modern Ag Alliance are standing up for farmers to sustain the work of feeding America. Will you help us keep glyphosate available to them?
Louie E Jones, undertaker with a rebel streak
Most folks of a certain age in the Alpharetta area are familiar with the name Louie Jones due to the Louie E. Jones Funeral Home. Fewer people may be aware of his service as a state senator and fewer still know about his personality. Today, we will try to portray the various aspects of this unique man and his accomplished wife Gertrude.
Louie Eugene Jones (1897-1987) was born and raised in Alpharetta in a house adjacent to the Milton County Courthouse on today’s Main Street. He lived with his parents and three siblings. Alpharetta was buzzing economically. It was said that there was a cotton gin on almost every corner. Farming was the chief occupation, but merchants, hotels, stables, blacksmiths and carpenters helped keep the town alive. From the early days of the century through the Great Depression, Alpharetta was the county seat of Milton County, but the roads were dirt and the county overall was very poor. Things improved when the county merged with Fulton County in 1932.
Louie’s father, Maj. Harrison Jones (1872-1918) was an undertaker who established a funeral business in Alpharetta in the early 1890s. Louie’s mother, Frances Naomi DeVore Jones (1878-1960), was a teacher. We know that as a child Louie had a pet goat thanks to a photo in the book “Alpharetta, Milton County – The Early Years” by celebrated local historian Connie Mashburn. Jones’s goat pulled a cart with large metal wheels.
Upon the death of his father, Louie, age 21, took over the funeral business.
Jones developed a love for politics. He served as Milton County Coroner for eight years. When Milton County and Fulton County considered a merger, Jones was serving a two-year term as state senator representing Milton, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties. He maneuvered a bill in the legislature that led to the merger and was largely responsible for the bill’s success in the Senate. He said there wasn’t much opposition to the merger because the county was so poor.
In a March 1979 interview in the Neighbor newspaper he said, “We didn’t have one inch of paved road and only one road scraper.” He believed the road situation forced the merger. Most of the time, the people were knee-deep in mud, he said.
According to a 1931 article in the Atlanta Constitution, Jones was one of the most popular members of the Senate and
a member of some of the most important Senate committees.
After the merger, Jones left the political arena and returned full-time to the funeral home, which moved several times over the years. In a January 1987 article in the Alpharetta Review, Jones was quoted saying that before he became a licensed embalmer in 1925, his biggest business was selling caskets. He had to make two trips a day with a horse-drawn wagon to the train depot across the river in Roswell to pick up his caskets. He owned the business for more than 50 years before selling it.
Jones was not afraid of a little controversy. He had a partial interest in
a drugstore on South Main Street near today’s Milton Avenue. In the 1920s, businesses could not open on Sundays. One Sunday in 1923 he opened his store to sell refreshments during the city’s annual June Singing. According to Connie Mashburn, the police came and locked door. Louie went back to the store and removed the door and continued to sell refreshments. The public was outraged about his behavior. About 135 citizens, representing 75 percent of the population, signed a petition. Mashburn says, “Louie was known as a rebel. He had his own way of doing things.”
Lifelong local resident Elsie Knight has childhood memories of Jones.
“He was a true southern gentleman,” she says. “He was very kind and everybody liked him. He used to joke that he had more money underground than he had on top.”
Apparently, not everyone’s funeral expenses were paid in a timely fashion.
Elsie recalls that Louis’s wife, Gertrude Callaway Jones (1900-1984), was a fourth grade teacher at Alpharetta School on Broad Street, which is today’s Milton Avenue.
In her book “Echoes of the Past: A Glimpse of Life in a Small Town,” published in 1990, Eulalia Maddox Wilson said of her teacher, “Mrs. Gertrude Jones (called in those days simply Miss Gertrude) helped students develop good penmanship and encouraged their interest in literature.”
In those days, boys delayed going to school because they had to help bring in the crops. Miss Gertrude and other teachers worked with them to get them caught up with the girls.
Gertrude was born and raised in McDonnough and attended business school at the University of Georgia and Emory University and received her degree from Oglethorpe University. She taught school for 39 years at Alpharetta School. At a banquet for retiring teachers, she was celebrated as an inspiration to students and fellow teachers alike.
Special thanks to Pat Miller, president of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society for her help with this column.
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
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY: ALPHARETTA AND OLD MILTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
As a child, Louie Jones had a goat. In this 1905 photo Louie is in the public area near his home behind the courthouse. This was the area where the annual county fair, tent revivals and other popular events were held.
Louie Jones stands beside his 1938 Meteor hearse in this advertisement. The Meteor Motor Car Company began making cars in 1915 in Indiana. They pioneered direct sales of funeral vehicles to funeral homes.
This portrait of Louie Jones appeared in a March 1979 interview in the Neighbor newspaper.
OPINION
Friends of Dunwoody Library gears up for book sale
The Friends of Dunwoody Library offers several sales a year. The most recent featured books for children and young adults, but now it’s time for the adults.
I enjoy popping in on the sale weekends and saying hello to the volunteers, though there’s also an ongoing sale in the lobby of the Dunwoody Library during regular library hours. Since I live in Fulton County and belong to E. Roswell Library, I rarely pop into the Dunwoody Library except to donate books. Donations are always welcome except right before and during the sales.
When you purchase books at the sale, your dollars support a myriad of programs at the Dunwoody Library for children and adults. Children’s programs include Make & Take craft kits, Kids Yoga, Teen Hangouts and Lego Club. Crafts and educational presentations are available for adults.
It takes a village to bring all this to the Dunwoody community. The FODL book committee sorts donated books into topics to make it easy for shoppers to find their favorites. Just before the sale, they alphabetize the books by author. I greatly appreciate this arrangement and have discovered to my dismay that not all library sales do this. The FODL group has spoiled me.
I asked the FODL to suggest a volunteer to spotlight in this column, and they put me in touch with Sarah Mycek, who manages the children’s books. As you can imagine, she’s busiest when one of those sales is upcoming, but her work with children’s books is never ending.
Two days a week, she sorts the incoming children’s book donations. For the two carts of children’s books that are part of the ongoing lobby sale, she created a colored dot system so she can easily rotate the books and keep the selection fresh.
Coming up with several Special Monthly Topics is another task that falls to Sarah. She tries to connect them
to a popular pre-K theme or a subject studied in elementary school. Two of her favorites were Community Workers and Dinowoody — books about dinosaurs, of course.
My take is that Sarah is never at a loss for ideas. Implementing newer labels for the children’s sale is one she especially enjoyed. The labels include words and an image so younger children can find books independently.
Sarah has volunteered with the Dunwoody Friends for three years, and I was fascinated to learn that she began her volunteer career in 2010 at her hometown library in Needham, Mass. There, she helped her mother to sort children’s books and set up and work the sales. Would you believe that she plans her trips back to Massachusetts based on the timing of the Needham Library book sales so that she can
• March 17— Bag day Bargain! $7 per bag 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
work those, too? Currently, she is on the board for both the Dunwoody and Needham Friends organizations.
“I love seeing kids get excited when they have a good book in their hand,
especially one that I enjoyed as a kid,” she says. “And I love helping to get books into the hands of teachers for their classroom libraries.”
Her enthusiasm almost makes me want to donate my remaining childhood books to the FODL, but I’m not quite ready. My Dr. Seuss books and all the others will have to stay on my bookshelves for a bit longer. And come March 13, I’m sure to be adding more books to my adult collection.
Happy reading!
Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her Dickens & Christie cozy mysteries on Amazon or locally at The Enchanted Forest. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail. com and visit her website www.facebook. com/KathyManosPennAuthor/.
| Roswell | Milton | Johns Creek
Forsyth | Dunwoody | Sandy Springs Local community newspapers – Heralds & Criers – that
KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist
KATHY MANOS PENN/PROVIDED
Sarah Mycek volunteers to help assemble children’s books for the Friends of the Dunwoody Library.
‘Growing up on the edges,’ excerpts from a memoir
Joe Greear calls his memoir “Growing Up on the Edges” because his home was on “the edge of Brookhaven, the edge of Peachtree Creek and the edge of Tullie Smith’s property.”
When the family moved away, the home which had been surrounded by woods and farms was surrounded by high-rise buildings. (“Growing Up on the Edges,” dekalbhistory.org)
Greear’s parents met on the island of Guam in 1948. His father was a draftsman from Georgia and his mom an architect from Washington state. They were both working civilian jobs constructing a new military base.
The couple married in Guam. When they returned to the U.S., they lived in a cottage on Joe’s grandfather’s farm in Helen, Georgia. Then, they moved to Atlanta where their first home was at Oglethorpe Apartments, located on land where Blackburn Park is today.
Joe and his brother, Sol Jr., were born while the family lived at Oglethorpe Apartments. Their parents searched for a house close to their work in downtown Atlanta, with room for a vegetable garden and not too close to neighbors.
They found a two-bedroom, one-bath home on two acres in DeKalb County off North Druid Hills Road. The location was between Buford Highway and I-85, on the south side of North Druid Hills, except I-85 was yet to be built. Greear recalls North Druid Hills Road
as a rural two-lane that ran from Peachtree Street to Lawrenceville Highway.
There was a single lane dirt road which led to their house. A gravel turn-around was in front of their home, no lawn or front yard. They shared the driveway with two other houses. The lowest part of the driveway along the bank of Peachtree Creek sometimes flooded.
Greear’s father planted a garden with corn, tomatoes, collard greens and more. The vegetables were canned or frozen by his mom. She made homemade
tomato sauce, vegetable soups and pickles.
Their neighbors were Margaret Young and the Browns, whose house “…looked like a cottage out of a fairy tale.” The Browns used a coal-burning pot-bellied stove. Joe Greear recalls going to their home to watch Lloyd Bridges in the scuba diving television show “Sea Hunt.” Greear’s parents did not own a TV because they thought it was a bad influence.
The neighbors also shared a party line telephone.
“Each household’s phone had a distinctive ring, such as two short and one long, that told you if the call was for your house.” If they wanted to make an outgoing call and someone else was on the line, they had to hang up and wait until that person finished their call.
Joe and Sol loved exploring the woods around their home and beyond. Their parents hung up an empty camp stove canister which they would strike with a metal rod to call the boys back to the house.
Cora Lee Bates from Helen, Georgia, took care of the boys while their parents worked. She took Joe and Sol on walks up North Druid Hills across Buford Highway, turning left on Roxboro Road to visit a duck pond at the Standard Club’s golf course. Cora Lee’s small home was along the way, behind the large home of a woman named Guest. Later, this land was sold and developed into a Red Roof Inn and a private school.
When Joe got older, he walked to Brookhaven, crossing the railroad tracks near where North Druid Hills Road met Peachtree Road. “Just past the railroad tracks was the Brookhaven Building Supply.
See MEMOIR, Page 27
A life-changer from a Sunday phone call
MIKE TASOS Columnist
“I could live my whole life, without a phone call, the likes of what I got today.”
The late Texas troubadour, Jerry Jeff Walker, spoke to me on that late January morning when my world crumbled like a week-old muffin. The above lyric from “I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight” smacked me in an unexpected way that put me into a month-long funk that I’m pretty sure I’ve crawled out of.
Thanks to Vicki, the boys and lots of friends, some sense of normalcy has returned. I’m back, but not all the way back. Melancholy, profound sadness and a big dose of “why” bewilderment, sneaks in without warning, leaving me to deal with an adjustment I never wanted to, or thought I would have to deal with.
After attending 9 a.m. mass on that cold January morning, I was nestled in the Man Cave, all set to watch the Eagles and Commanders try to get to the Super
Bowl in New Orleans. An easy, relaxing day.
The phone rang and my sister-inlaw Suzanne was calling. Cheerily, I was chipper and gave her a “Hey, what are you up to?” That’s when the whole Sunday and many days since slammed me with a “Life is really short” message.
Suzanne was crying hysterically. Not good. She told me my 64-year-old brother Matt had died in his sleep in Idaho. Totally unexpected. Matt and I had spoken Friday afternoon. In retrospect, maybe Matt knew something wasn’t right.
He insisted on staying on the phone for nearly an hour and wanted to talk about everything. We talked about family, friends, politics, business. In a quintessential “if I knew then what I know now moment,” the hour-plus call should have gone past dinner. In retrospect, his wanting to talk so long has fortified my belief that he knew something wasn’t right.
Matt’s family was shattered and I spent Sunday fielding their calls. Then there were calls from friends in Bakersfield who wanted to know what had happened.
In simple terms, Matt took a snooze on the couch and never got up. Kenny Rogers sang “The best you can hope for is to die in your sleep” and that’s what Matt did. No suffering. No fuss. No muss.
Apparently, Matt’s heart was lessthan-robust. One artery was 100 percent blocked, another more than 80 percent blocked. I keep reasoning that he had to feel bad.
My little brother was a pillar of the Bakersfield community. Social media erupted with tributes and gratitude. There were more than 1,000 messages detailing all the good he had done while operating a successful livestock/pet supply store.
As the tributes appeared on various message boards, I was profoundly proud at all the philanthropic deeds he had done. And in typical Matt fashion, the deeds were done without anything close to needing to take a bow.
He just did the right thing by a lot of people. Never wanted credit for the good he had done. That was just Matt.
My two younger brothers are no longer with us. I miss the laughs. It’s lousy being “brother-less.” Never in
a million years did I think I’d be the “last man standing.”
Friends and family have diligently been checking in, making sure I’m okay. The first few weeks were awful, filled with tearful recollections of regular phone calls. Good friend Klint Schahrer reached out and warmed my heart, saying “I’ve always considered myself your brother.” That one resulted in few more tears.
So, that’s where I’ve been for the past few weeks, not having the ability to sit down at the MacBook and write. Like the old bull rider, I needed to jump back on, and even though I’ve been thrown, I needed to ride until I got thrown again.
Through all this, even though Matt up and died without a proper goodbye, I had to be thankful for the last thing I said to him on that chilly Friday.
My last words to him: “I love you, Brother.” I meant it then and mean it now.
Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
GREEAR FAMILY COLLECTION
The Greear home that once sat off North Druid Hills Road in a wooded area between today’s Buford Highway and I-85.
FAMILY COLLECTION
Sol Greear Sr. and the set-up he built for the family stereo.
Memoir:
Continued from Page 26
I recall it as one long loading dock with an order counter and a warehouse behind.
“When shopping at Brookhaven Building Supply, my dad would order his lumber and supplies at the front counter and the employees would load the order into our 1940s Willy Overland.”
Greear recalls an A&P grocery at the corner of Dresden Drive and Peachtree, where his family shopped. His mom would call A&P with her order from work and pick it up on her way home.
There were other shops and the Brookhaven Theater on the other side of Peachtree Street. Greear saw his first scary movie at The Brookhaven Theater. More on that movie, the construction of I-85 and the family’s neighbor Tullie Smith in the next Past Tense.
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.
Bonds:
Continued from Page 1
Commission approved for the issuance of $275 million in Revenue in Revenue Anticipation Certificates through the Cobb County Kennestone Hospital Authority.
“It will be back,” Beeson said.
In other matters at the March 10 meeting, The regular agenda for Monday night’s meeting comprised of a public hearing from the Community Development Department by Liaison Councilmember William Morthland.
A site plan amendment for 936 Old Chadwick Lane Grand Reserve at Litchfield was requested by the applicant to change to a previously approved site plan. Motions were discussed to comply with GDOT safety requirements and adjust a secondary emergency access entrance on Arnold Mill Road.
“I don’t think it’s safe for any more cars to be taking a left onto 140 from any neighborhood,” Toll Brothers VP of Land Development J.R Crowe said.
The amendment will move the emergency access lane approximately three units to the right.
MEDIA
From left, Amour Carthy, Jason Fraizer and Mary Nichols were sworn into office by Mayor Kurt Wilson during the Roswell City Council meeting March 10.
The 136-unit subdivision is expected to exceed the 750 average daily trips, therefore requiring two access connection, based on the Roswell Unified Development Code.
Neighborhood residents raised concerns over construction traffic.
“It’s just a safety hazard,” resident Seidel Anke said.
Based on the concern, Beeson brought forward a fifth condition to gain approval from the rest of City Council. Her motion will require all construction
In Memoriam
Debra Lynn McPherson
June 23, 1958 – February 19, 2025
Debra Lynn McPherson passed away on February 19, 2025, in Woodstock, GA. Born on June 23, 1958, Debra’s presence will be profoundly missed by those who knew her.
Parents: Donald and Dodie McPherson
Siblings: Donald, Douglas, and David McPherson
Son: Eric Grefrath Services: Saturday May 17, 2025, 3pm Inner Quest Church 12830 New Providence Road, Alpharetta, GA 30004. Memorial Contributions: Children’s Restoration Network 11285 Elkins Rd, Roswell, GA 30076 770-649-7117 www.childrn.org
traffic to utilize Old Chadwick Road and Arnold Mill Road as primary egress pending GDOT approval.
A partial language change was given to condition three.
“The access along Arnold Mill Road will be a full access entrance that will align with Chadwick Farm Boulevard in the commercial development across the street in Milton,” Morthland said.
A full amendment was made to add the fifth condition.
City Council unanimously approved the site plan amendment.
In other business, Construction Board of Appeals member Joaquin Chaidez, Historic Preservation Commission member Mary Nichols and Planning Commission member Jason Fraizer, were appointed to another three-year term. Recreation Commission member Amour Cathy was approved for a second five-year term. Pooja Gardner will join the Planning Commission for the first time for a full three-year term.
Nichols, Fraizer and Amour who were in attendance, were sworn into office by Mayor Kurt Wilson.
GREEAR
SARAH COYNE/ APPEN
CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The following item 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. North Point Development Framework Plan Adoption
Consideration of a resolution to adopt the North Point Development Framework Plan.
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.
PUBLIC NOTICE REGARDING DISPOSAL OF CITY PROPERTY BY EXCHANGE
Notice is hereby published, in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 36-376(c), that, having met all applicable state law requirements, the City of Alpharetta, Georgia, acting by and through its governing authority, the Mayor and City Council, intend to dispose of approximately 0.0626 acre (2,726 square feet) of real property located in Land Lot 1243 of the 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia (being a portion of Tax Parcel ID# 22 418012430508), by conveying such area to abutting property owner, JONNA L. BEILETTI, in exchange for approximately 0.0626 acre (2,726 square feet) of real property located in Land Lot 1243 of the 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia (being a portion of Tax Parcel ID# 22 418012430086). O.C.G.A. § 36-376(c) authorizes the City to dispose of real property by exchange without the requirement of a sealed bid or auction when the real property so acquired is of equal or greater value than the property previously belonging to the City. By agreement of the parties, this transaction shall close on April 8, 2025.
CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The following items will be heard at a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on Thursday, April 3, 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, April 28, 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, ‘ForSale’, 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 building setbacks; 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. MP-25-03/CLUP-25-01/Z-25-02/CU-25-03/V-25-02 Portman Holdings/Brookside MP Pod A
Consideration of a master plan amendment, comprehensive land use plan amendment, rezoning, conditional use, and variance to allow for the redevelopment of two (2) office buildings with a mixed-use development consisting of 332 ‘ForRent’ units, 69 ‘For-Sale’ townhomes, 130,000 square feet of office, and 56,000 square feet of commercial on 19.68 acres in the Brookside. A master plan amendment is requested to the Brookside Master Plan Pod A to allow the proposed mixeduse development scheme. A comprehensive land use plan amendment is requested from ‘Corporate Office’ to ‘Mixed Use’ and a rezoning is requested from O-I (Office-Institutional) to MU (Mixed Use). A conditional use is requested to allow ‘Dwelling, ‘For-Rent’ and ‘For-Sale’ and variances are requested to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.2.20(D) to reduce the minimum area of the mixed-use development, UDC Subsection 2.5.2 to increase the maximum 25% shared parking reduction, UDC Subsection 3.2.8(D)(1) to reduce the landscape strip along Old Milton Parkway from 20’ to 10’, and UDC Section 3.5.2(G) to reduce the minimum separation between driveway curb cuts on arterial and collector streets. The property is located at 3625 & 3655 Brookside Parkway and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 02, 03, & 44, 1st District, 1st Section, Fulton County, Georgia.
c. 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, April 17, 2025 commencing at 5:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.
a. V-25-05 Kennedy/1600 Briers Chute Pool Setback Variance
Consideration of a variance from Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.3.3 (B) and UDC Subsection 2.3.3 (C) to reduce a swimming pool setback from 20’ to 10’. The property is located at 1600 Briers Chute and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1201, 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.
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