Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - March 14, 2024

Larry Weissman

wear T-shirts that speak to Larry’s kidney transplant experience. Around 20 years after he was diagnosed with kidney disease, Larry received a kidney from Dave.

Kidney recipient plans nonprofit to assist others through crisis

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Larry Weissman did not know the severity of his kidney disease until it was almost too late.

In 2001, Weissman was diagnosed during a quarterly check-up for his type 2 diabetes. It came as a surprise. As an ex-jock who tried to keep in shape, he said he felt fine.

“I’m a guy. I don’t ask for directions. I feel good, right? I was feeling good,” Weissman said. “I made the very almost fatal mistake of not really paying attention.”

He experienced no symptoms — not uncommon for those with the disease, and for the next two decades, he continued to feel healthy.

But, in 2022, a nephrologist called him. The kidney specialist told Weissman his kidney function was down to around

Roswell downtown parking deck lands on Green Street

Officials buy SharpShooters USA facility for public safety operations

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — After decades of discussion about adding a public parking deck downtown, the Roswell City Council approved a plan March 11 to make it happen on a triangular stretch of land bordered by Green Street and Ga. 9.

The council’s meeting Monday evening was the first time details about the location of the parking deck as well as the “Green Street Activation Plan” had been brought to the public for review, though the council purchased two properties in the area at its previous regular meeting as part of an “economic development strategy.”

The plan includes converting Green Street to one-way traffic southbound from Woodstock Street, closing Plum Tree Street for a 10-foot, shared-use path to

Canton Street, creating a new connecting street north of the parking deck and Ga. 9 as well as a 10-foot, shared-use path on the eastern side of Green Street to wrap around the project site. There will also be pedestrian plaza areas.

The location for the parking deck, the Green Street Activation Plan and the authorization to acquire property for the project were approved unanimously in

3 percent and that he would have to come in for tests right away because his other organs may start to fail.

Weissman soon started to lose vision in his left eye, had problems with taste and had low energy.

“I was scared to death,” Weissman said. “I’m a pretty tough guy from the eastside of Cleveland, and I’m crying like a little kid. ‘This is it. You work all your life, then you die.’”

For the better part of 2022, Weissman didn’t leave the house to avoid the risk of infection — the COVID-19 pandemic was still in full swing. While at home, undergoing dialysis, he struggled to do basic things, dealt with cramps and “nuclear-powered” headaches. Weissman relied on his wife Bonnie to take care of him as he waited for a donor.

Close to three dozen people

LARRY WEISSMAN/PROVIDED

, his wife Bonnie Weissman and their son Dave Weissman

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POLICE BLOTTER

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

Suspect evades police on Haynes Bridge Road

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police are searching for a suspect who allegedly fled from arrest for traffic violations on Haynes Bridge Road March 2.

Officers reported clocking a gray Chrysler 300 driving 61 mph in a 40-mph speed zone on Mansell Road around 10 p.m. The vehicle reportedly had a license plate cover that obscured its tag number.

Officers tried to stop the vehicle at Mansell and Haynes Bridge roads, but the suspect turned right at a red light without yielding and began speeding away, the report states.

The suspect reportedly continued southbound on Haynes Bridge Road and passed other vehicles while driving on the wrong side.

Officers reported ending the chase as the suspect continued into Johns Creek and notifying surrounding agencies.

No suspects have been identified.

Suspect flattens tires on police patrol car

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are looking for a person suspected of puncturing the back tires of an officer’s patrol car March 5.

The incident involved $700 in damage to a 2020 Ford Explorer on Belcourt Parkway.

The victim, a detective with the Police Department, said he noticed the rear of his patrol car lower to the ground than normal. He said both rear tires were completely flat and contacted a lieutenant

immediately.

The victim said he did not notice any other damaged vehicles in the parking lot. He also said there was a hand impression on the rear right side of his vehicle.

American Towing transported the vehicle to the Public Works Department on Hembree Road.

City mechanics inspected the tires and told the detective it appeared as though his tires were punctured.

The detective said he updated the Police Department and turned the case over to the Criminal Investigations Division to examine possible fingerprints.

Package containing phones stolen from man’s porch

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An Alpharetta man reported March 2 someone stole a package containing $3,898 in smartphones from his front porch on Birchington Close Drive.

The victim reported receiving a notification that the package was delivered around 12:30 p.m. March 1.

Because it was raining heavily, he said he went to rerieve the package immediately around 12:35 p.m., but the box was not there, the report states.

The victim reportedly contacted FedEx, but the delivery photograph only showed the front porch with no package visible. He told officers he canceled the phones through AT&T so they could not be activated.

The box contained two iPhone 15s, an iPhone 15 Pro and a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, the report states.

The victim’s wife and daughter reportedly saw a package at Cape York Trace and Grey Abbey Drive while driving home, and they jokingly thought it could be the missing phones.

When they checked the label, it was the missing package. The packing slip was still inside, but the

box was destroyed, the report states. No suspects have been identified.

Man resists arrest after DUI

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested a 39-year-old Alpharetta man March 7 after he resisted arrest during a traffic stop for suspected driving under the influence, according to reports.

An officer said he first saw the vehicle failing to signal and maintain a single lane of travel at Ga. 140 and Old Alabama Road.

The officer said the suspect initially complied with his verbal commands and exited his vehicle.

The suspect appeared visibly drunk, with slurred speech and the odor of alcohol emanating from his breath, the officer said.

The suspect first said he had “not much” to drink and later stated he had nothing to drink.

When the officer asked the suspect to move to the front of his patrol vehicle, a fight ensued.

Officers said the suspect continued to resist arrest by pulling away, kicking and arguing.

After the arrival of two additional officers, the suspect was detained with his hands behind his back.

All four officers in the brawl reported injuries.

During the fight, an officer said he broke his Axon Taser 7, valued at $1,600.

The suspect was transported to the Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center.

Officers said he continued to be uncooperative and disorderly at the hospital. They transported the suspect to Fulton County Jail after he refused a blood test and medical care.

He was charged with four counts of felony obstruction, felony destruction of government property, driving while under the influence, failure to signal, failure to maintain lane, driving on the wrong side of roadway and failure to obey traffic control devices.

Irish-based nonprofit gears up for St. Patrick’s Day festival

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Northside Irish Culture & Arts, is gearing up for its 2nd annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 23 in Sandy Springs.

A shortfall in funds this year has scrapped plans for the parade, but the focus will be on the festival, celebrating Irish music, dance and culture.

The city is wrapping up installation of synthetic turf at the City Green, a 4-acre park on Galambos Way, just in time.

The celebration honors St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland. It also gives Metro Atlantans an opportunity to wear green on the City Green and soak in all things Irish.

Mike Moors, president of Northside ICA and former local president of The Ancient Order of Hibernians, said he and a few members of the north metro Irish community created the nonprofit during the pandemic to bring a St. Patrick’s Day celebration to the area. He also emphasized the annual event is distinct from The Ancient Order of Hibernians, a fraternal organization founded in New York City in 1836.

“[Sandy Springs] Mayor [Rusty] Paul has been a big supporter, and we have worked with the folks at the city,” Moors said. “There was an Irish band that played in early 2022 at the Performing Arts Center, and then we decided to go for it.”

With more than 1,500 patrons at the inaugural event last March, Northside ICA organizers are looking for more sponsors and community outreach.

Festival organizers said they hope the weather improves from the cold and rainy event last year.

The festival will feature city and state officials; local and national Irish organizations; Irish arts, music and dance groups; neighborhood and

BUTCH ELMGREN/PROVIDED

civic organizations; churches, schools and families; Irish artisans and other attractions.

Moors said Ireland-native Kate Curran, a youth ministry director at Christ the King Cathedral in Atlanta, will sign the “Irish National Anthem” in her native tongue.

“The AOH is a part the overall Irish community here in Atlanta, there’s several groups doing different things,” Moors said. “People don’t really like going downtown anymore, and we have a critical mass here on the northside.”

He said The AOH will participate in the 136th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 16 in midtown Atlanta.

Butch Elmgren, Savannah-native and owner of Thos. O’Reilly’s Public House, said the idea is to prevent competition with larger events the weekend of March 17 in Atlanta and Savannah.

Thos. O’Reilly’s Public House, 227

Sandy Springs Place, is a sponsor of and event organizer with the Northside ICA.

While the festival contracted with Guiness in 2023, organizers are teaming up with Sandy Springs-based Mutation Brewing this year.

He also said the Northside ICA festival bills itself as a more familyfriendly event, rather than an afternoon of excessive partying.

“There’s a lot of things that are kind of stereotypes, green beards, leprechauns and things like that,” Elmgren said. “There’s a whole lot more to it, Ireland is rich in culture, history and arts.”

Irish American history

More than 9 percent of Americans or 32 million people reported having Irish ancestry, according to 2020 U.S. Census results.

Some famous Irish Americans

include former presidents John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama, Tom Cruise and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In 1991, President George H.W. Bush issued the first proclamation declaring March as Irish American Heritage Month. In subsequent years, Congress passed legislation designating the month as a celebration of Irish Americans. Since 1997, presidents have issued annual proclamations for the observance of Irish American Heritage Month.

On Jan. 17, representatives from The AOH along with Caoimhe Ní Chonchúir, consul general of Ireland in Atlanta, presented Gov. Brian Kemp with a crystal bowl from Dingle, Ireland, full of shamrocks from a Peachtree Corners farm.

Sandy Springs Mayor Paul signed the local proclamation Feb. 27.

While Ireland was a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain from 1801 to 1922, a period known as “an Gorta Mór” or the Great Hunger, from 1845 to 1852 saw the systematic starvation of 1 million Irish people and the exodus of another 1 million.

Contemporary analysis of the British government’s role in the humanitarian crisis attributes the mass starvation in Ireland to an inadequate response.

The potato blight throughout Europe during the period did not result in mass starvation in other nations, except in British-controlled Ireland.

The Irish population recovered to its pre-1845 level in 2022.

While funding the festival remains a priority for Northside ICA organizers, Moors also discussed the nonprofit’s charitable partners.

“If we can raise enough money and we have overage, then we will contribute,” Moors said. “The charities that we support would be the Hibernian Hunger Project and Solidarity Sandy Springs.”

Both organizations aid food-insecure families.

Make plans to attend the Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival!

This FREE, general admission event takes place from 10AM to 6PM at Blackburn Park in Brookhaven, GA. FREE parking and shuttles are available at the Brookhaven/Oglethorpe MARTA station

100+ Vendor Artist Market | Kidz Zone | Food Trucks

Saturday Morning Classic Car Show | Sunday Dare Devil Dog Performances

This year ’ s headliners are +LIVE+ and Barenaked Ladies!

5K benefiting Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is on Saturday, March 16th

Barenaked Saturday,

Pictured center, Caoimhe Ní Chonchúir, consul general of Ireland in Atlanta, and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp hold a signed proclamation Jan. 17 declaring March as Irish American Heritage Month. Representatives from The Ancient Order of Hibernians joined the Kemp family and Irish Consulate representatives for the honor at the state capitol.

Bringing Thai Street Food

Area Park March 6. The $1.4 million project was funded by the city’s bond program, approved by voters in 2022.

Roswell officials unveil new turf fields at park

ROSWELL, Ga. — The City of Roswell hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the unveiling of two new turf fields at Roswell Area Park on March 6.

The $1.4 million project, funded by the city’s bond program, involved replacing two artificial turf fields which were originally converted from grass in 2013. The new turf has 100-percent, slitfilm fibers and a three-layer infill system consisting of sand and crumb rubber. Both fields, Multi-Sport Field No.

2 and Multi-Sport Field No. 3, also received new fencing and netting with bigger poles and stronger mesh as well as brand new goal posts. In addition, the No. 2 field was outfitted with a new lines package, allowing the Recreation and Parks Department to expand its capacity for games and practices at Roswell Area Park.

The city also plans to complete a turf upgrade for Multi-Sport Field No. 1 by the end of the year.

Group schedules fundraiser for Chattahoochee River park

ATLANTA — The Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy will host its annual fundraiser “Party for the Park” on March 26 to benefit its mission to preserve the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. at SweetWater Brewing Company in Atlanta, featuring live music, food, drinks and an auction. There will also be a virtual silent auction and a 50/50 raffle, allowing participation for those unable to attend in person.

Established in 2012, the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy (CNPC) serves as the official friends group for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, which spans a 48-mile stretch from the Buford Dam at Lake Lanier to Peachtree Creek and encompasses 7,000 acres of parkland.

With over 3.1 million visits in 2023, it ranks as the 29th most visited national park in the United States out of 429.

Contributions to the conservancy are often used to help fill critical gaps in federal funding for trail maintenance, educational programs and volunteer management.

The group will honor Sally Bethea with the prestigious CNPC Hightower Award for her extensive dedication to restoring the Chattahoochee River. As former board president of CNPC, retired founding director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, and author of her recent memoir “Keeping the Chattahoochee,” Bethea’s efforts have had a profound and lasting impact on the recreation area and its community.

Tickets are required for “Party for the Park.” For more information and to purchase a seat, visit chattahoocheeparks. org/CNPC2024.

CITY OF ROSWELL/PROVIDED Roswell City Councilwoman Lee Hills and Roswell Recreation Commission Chair David Smith, center right, prepare to cut a ribbon on two new turf fields at Roswell

Slave Dwelling Project schedules Roswell visit

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Slave Dwelling Project will land in Roswell for a threepart series to hold a conversation, share stories of people who lived on the city’s land, built it, maintained its sites, and what this means to American history and life experiences today.

The Slave Dwelling Project is a nonprofit that works to address the legacies of slavery through education and preservation. The series will offer information on the untold narratives lingering behind historic structures in Roswell.

The first event, slated for March 15 at 6 p.m. at Mimosa Hall, will be a lecture and author discussion with Joseph McGill and Herb Frazier, authors of “Sleeping with the Ancestors: How I Followed the Footprints of Slavery.”

The book is a personal account of one man’s groundbreaking project to sleep overnight in the countless,

oft-overlooked, former slave dwellings that still stand across the country, the history behind those sites, and how he has used the experiences to shed light on larger issues of race in America.

On March 16 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at Bulloch Hall, The Slave Dwelling Project will present the lives and histories of enslaved people at Bulloch Hall through its “Inalienable Rights: Living History Through the Eyes of the Enslaved” program. There will be storytelling, artisan demonstrations, hearth and open-fire cooking and dynamic presentations.

Later that evening, the nonprofit will present a Campfire Conversation at 6 p.m. at Bulloch Hall to dive further into the history, the remaining legacy of slavery and racial reconciliation.

The series is open and free to the public, though registration is required for the book discussion and Campfire Conversation. For more information, visit www.Roswell365.com.

CITY OF ROSWELL/PROVIDED

Pictured are the furnished living quarters inside the Slave Cabin at Bulloch Hall.

Appen Media staff to visit Johns Creek

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Staff reporters with Appen Media will be all ears at its open forum at Sugo in Johns Creek March 21.

The forum provides visitors the chance to offer suggestions and feedback on coverage.

Beginning at 4 p.m., staff will be onhand for around an hour. There will also be a short Q&A session.

This is the third stop on the newsroom’s “Listening Tour,” a seven-month series touching base in each of Appen Media’s coverage areas. In January, the group set up shop in Dunwoody, and in February, they heard from residents in Roswell.

Listening Tour schedule

March 21 – Sugo, Johns Creek

April 18 – Cherry Street Brewing, Vickery Village in Forsyth County

May 16 – Six Bridges Brewing, Milton

June 20 – July Moon Bakery and Café, Alpharetta

July 18 – Pontoon Brewing Company, Sandy Springs

All stops are open to the public and free to attend.

An RSVP is not required but appreciated. Visit appenmedia.com/join to let us know you are coming.

Pittman hired to head Alpharetta Chamber

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce has announced Sophia Pittman as its new executive director.

As director of operations for the Atlanta City Council, Pittman contributed to major projects including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta Streetcar, the BeltLine, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Georgia Aquarium.

Pittman also served as executive director of institutional advancement at Gwinnett Technical College and as director of operations for the United Methodist Church

southeast region.

“I am honored to be chosen to lead the Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce, an organization with such an active membership and a bright future,” she said. “I am eager to collaborate with our members, partners and stakeholders to leverage Alpharetta’s unique strengths and create an even more vibrant and thriving business environment.”

Pittman lives in Alpharetta with her son.

— Shelby Israel

Chick-fil-A announces spring move to Halcyon

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Chick-fil-A will be joining the roster of businesses at Halcyon in south Forsyth County this spring.

RocaPoint Partners, the developer of Halcyon, announced March 4 a 5,300-square-foot Chick-fil-A, a 3,500-square-foot Chase Bank and a 2,400-square-foot Five Guys will be opening as part of the development’s phase three construction.

The third phase of construction is on the right side of Halcyon near the intersection of Oak Farm Drive and McFarland Parkway.

Officials said a new high-end grocery store will also be announced by the end of the year.

“Everything we do at Halcyon is for the local community,” RocaPoint Partners

principal Phil Mays said. “These wellknown additions offer convenience and the comfort of familiarity to our Forsyth County neighbors. Phase three at Halcyon is moving full steam ahead, and we look forward to more announcements to come.”

In July, the Forsyth County Commission approved a series of changes to the county Unified Development Code to allow an additional 265 apartments at Halcyon, a measure developers said was necessary to accommodate the new grocery tenant.

The master planned district for Halcyon was originally zoned in 2015 to allow for 690 residential units and up to 550,000 square feet of commercial space.

Shelby Israel

The harp is not just for classical musicians on a concert stage. Once we know what your goals are, we can find the harp that is right for you.”

KATHERINE COOK, manager, Atlanta

Harp Center

8 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | March 14, 2024

Atlanta Harp Center strings together festival lineup

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Atlanta Harp Center, located in a quiet office park off South Main Street in Alpharetta, sports the largest selection of harps in the South.

Its showroom at 11775 Northfall Lane features pedal and lever harps from Lyon & Healy and Venus in Chicago; Salvi in Piasco, Italy; Camac in Mouzeil, France; and Dusty Strings in Seattle.

Visitors to the showroom are greeted with a mix of nature and technology.

More than 50 harps are on display from around the world. Three little fish, each of one the primary colors, circle a tank in the lobby as harpists peruse the extensive inventory.

From the hand-carved pillar of the Minerva Natural from Salvi to the 34-string, electric-lever Camac Ulysses, there is a harp designed for each patron’s taste.

The Atlanta Harp Center requires appointments to visit its showroom, which employees said allows clients to hear and experience the unique sound of each stringed instrument.

For harpist across the South, Alpharetta’s Atlanta Harp Center is a mecca.

The rent-to-own program for lever harps gives customers the choice to either return the instrument after a four-month period or continue to rent it on a month-to-month basis.

The team, consisting of industry experts and professional harpists, applies most rental payments toward the purchase of the instrument and allows

a trade-up policy for the purchase of a pedal harp.

The initial payment for rental varies between $260-$600, with monthly payments less than $200.

While credit approval and a contract are required for the rental program, Atlanta Harp Center works with customers to find the right size, sound, look and price.

The price range for harps extends from $2,500 to $40,000.

After co-owners David and Mary Jane D’Arville married, the couple opened the Midlothian-based Virginia Harp Center in 1997. They decided to keep the name when opening a second showroom in Haddonfield, New Jersey after the success of their first location.

The Atlanta Harp Center opened its doors to the public in 2007, becoming the go-to place for world-renowned harps for interested players across the Southeast.

The D’Arvilles bill their locations as offering the largest selection of harps on the East Coast with international and domestic customers.

The Atlanta Harp Center Festival, sponsored by Camac Harps, Lyon & Healy and the Virginia Harp Center, will be March 15-17 at the Courtyard by Marriot in downtown Decatur at 130 Clairmont Ave.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

From left, Katherine Cook, manager of the Atlanta Harp Center, and David Paul Raaen, assistant manager and harpist, stand in the showroom at 11775 Northfall Lane off South Main Street in Alpharetta. Cook said employees and customers are excited for the world-class lineup at the Atlanta Harp Center Festival March 15-17 in Decatur.

Harp:

Continued from Page 8

The second regional Harp Center festival after the COVID-19 pandemic features Canadian harpist Valérie Milot; multi-award winner Juan Riveros; Celtic harpist Kim Robertson; and jazz specialist Amanda Whiting from Wales.

The festival also showcases guest performances and ensembles from Urban Youth, Middle Georgia and Feiner Musicke.

Tickets are available online and at the door.

For more information, visit atlantaharpcenterfestival.com/.

The manager, Kathrine Cook, said clients primarily come from the Lower 48 states, but the team has fulfilled orders from South Korea and Canada.

“We don’t do all international shipping, because harp factories have dealers in other countries,” Cook said. “There’s just not that many dedicated harp locations.”

Cook graduated from Kennesaw State University where she studied clarinet performance. She said she applied for an assistant manager position at the retail store without ever playing the harp.

“After college, I was working as a theater manager and was away from the music world a bit more than I liked,” she said. “I thought, ‘there’s no way they would want me, I don’t play harp,’ but it was too interesting to not apply!”

Cook said she promoted David Paul Raaen, assistant manager and harpist, to a full-time position when she took over the manager position last year.

“The harp is not just for classical musicians on a concert stage,” Cook said. “Once we know what your goals are, we can find the harp that is right for you.”

Raaen, who began playing the harp

at 13, performs in weddings, church services and ensembles. He said Rhett Barnwell, composer-in-residence, and Julie Koenig, harpist-in-residence, are in the showroom a couple days a week.

Pedal harps are primarily used for classical repertoires in orchestras, while lever harps are best suited for the quick notes in folk styles, such as Celtic. Pedal harps are typically more expensive and larger than lever harps, making transportation more difficult.

“The similarity between the harp and the piano is you use both hands,” Raaen said. “You have the treble clef and the base clef.”

Raaen said Seattle-based Dusty Strings is the world’s most well-known manufacturer of lever harps for folk music.

“On the lever harp, if you start changing, you lose your base clef because you have to change it with your left hand,” Raaen said. “Whereas on [the pedal harp] you are shifting it with your feet.”

The tradeoffs between the styles do not limit the possibilities of the harp, but interested customers should note the differences, he said.

French instrument maker, Sébastien Érard, first patented the double-action pedal system in 1801.

Raaen said the system, with a few mechanical upgrades, is still in use today.

Harp-like instruments emerged around 3,500 B.C. in Mesopotamia.

Cultures throughout Africa, Asia and Europe developed harps in different forms throughout the centuries.

After its introduction into classical orchestra in the 1800s, pop culture icons in the 20th century, like the Marx Brothers and the Beatles, used harps in their performances.

“A silver lining during the pandemic was the resurgence in popularity of harps,” Raaen said.

7506 Wilderness Parkway

Big Canoe, GA 30143

Facts About Me

bigcanoeanimalrescue.org

706-268-1346

This is Miss Maye!

Breed: Mixed Breed (German Shepherd / American Pit

Color: Tan & White Chest (Short Haired)

Age: 1-year-old

Size: Fully Grown – 55 Lbs.

Weight: (Current) 45 Lbs.

Sex: Female

My Info

Good with children and most dogs

Shots current, chipped and spayed

Fenced yard preferred

Attending basic training class

My Story

My name is Miss Maye!

I was surrendered after my family had another newborn and it became too much for them to handle. I’m hoping to find a loyal family that can give me my forever home that I’m missing. I have a lot of love to give. Everyone deserves a second chance, right?

All BCAR dogs are placed as indoor family pets. No electric fences, please. Visit pets every Saturday 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (706-268-1346) or visit our website for adoption information at www.bigcanoeanimalrescue.org.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

David Paul Raaen, sales associate at the Atlanta Harp Center and music instructor, plays a classical tune March 6 on the Minerva Natural from Salvi Harps. Raaen said preferences for harps vary, based on an individual’s ear and preferred style.

TOP

THE HESTER GROUP East Cobb

ERIN YABROUDY & ASSOCIATES Buckhead

ROBIN BLASS GROUP Atlanta Perimeter

TODD BANISTER TEAM Buckhead

THE STOCKS TEAM The Collection at Forsyth

TEAM AUGELLO North Fulton

EPIC REAL ESTATE GROUP East Cobb

TEAM ISABELLE GIBSON East Cobb

JUDY FUNK TEAM East Cobb

THE BAROCAS & FELDMAN TEAM Atlanta Perimeter

LOVE REAL ESTATE GROUP Peachtree City

KIM PARMENTER TEAM Atlanta North

THE KING + HAMILTON GROUP Intown

THOMPSON TEAM ATLANTA Intown

BUTCH WHITFIELD GROUP Intown

THE JAN & ROCKY TEAM Atlanta Perimeter

FABER DOVALE TEAM North Fulton

MEG FITZPATRICK Atlanta Perimeter

HEIDI WENTZ TEAM East Cobb

PATTY WEBB Buckhead

MICHELE COLLINS North Fulton

JOEL PERKINS Intown

KARYN WOODY Blairsville

DAWN HOBBY-STILL The Collection at Forsyth

LAURA GREEN Buckhead

LINDSAY LANIER North Fulton

CHRISTINA TRAN Atlanta Perimeter

TRACY MORTON North Fulton

SANDRA DANIELS East Cobb

CAROLYN CALLOWAY Buckhead

HASAN PASHA Buckhead

CAROLYN HASSEL North Fulton

ANDY PHILHOWER Intown

MADELEINE KOTORA Buckhead

ANTHONY ACOSTA Buckhead

CATHY COBB The Collection at Forsyth

MARGIE SMITH Atlanta North

BOB FREEMAN Atlanta Perimeter

ANITA KAUKA Buckhead

SHERI HARDY East Cobb

JULIE ALTENBACH East Cobb

SARA OHMER Buckhead

What do you want to know about the community?

Now we’re cookin’!

Brought to you by – Flour Power Studios

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What exactly are allergies?

Brought to you by – Comprehensive Internal Medicine

What are allergies?

Allergies are your body’s reaction to a foreign particle, usually a protein. These proteins can come from pet dander, molds, pollens, or from trees and grasses. If you develop an allergy to a particular protein, your body’s defense system (immune system) reacts to it and the allergic reaction creates allergy symptoms.

What is an allergic reaction?

An allergic reaction is the way your body responds to an allergen, usually a protein.

You may feel itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose, sinus or ear fullness, a hoarse voice, a scratchy throat, or

trouble breathing. You may even develop a skin rash.

These symptoms can be treated with over the counter or prescription allergy medication or immunotherapy (allergy shots) can be tailored specifically for you.

What is allergy testing?

To perform allergy testing, small pinpricks or scratches are made in the skin and a very small amount of allergen is placed to test your body’s response. If you react to the allergen, we have identified a trigger that is causing your allergy symptoms.

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a treatment used to desensitize your body to the allergy trigger.

Comprehensive Internal Medicine has been serving the Alpharetta community for 20 years, celebrating this milestone anniversary in 2023.

The medical practice offers a very comfortable environment and serves a medical home where patients are seen for their wellness examinations (checkups) and for the management of multiple medical problems. Same-day appointments are always available.

We welcome new patients, take most insurance plans and discounts for self-pay patients.

Jeffrey Obiora, M.D.

Dr. Obiora has a special interest in managing medical issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He also specializes in diabetes prevention and weight loss.

In addition, he brings expertise in allergy treatment and managing allergic rhinitis, sinusitis and asthma, and can schedule allergy testing to determine the best way to treat allergy symptoms.

In this treatment, the results of your allergy testing are used to create a very personalized formula of medicine that is used to slowly treat your immune system in a way that stops reacting to your allergy trigger. Immunotherapy medicine is given by injection (allergy shots) and is administered twice weekly. The first injection is given in the doctor’s office.

Comprehensive Internal Medicine uses an advanced formulation and instruction that allows you to then give the injections at home. This saves the twice-weekly visits to the doctor’s office. You return to Comprehensive Internal Medicine every 6 weeks to progress the therapy and at the end of one year, allergy testing is repeated. Often, a second year of treatment is advised, following which, most allergies are cured.

•

• Acute Illnesses such as: sore throat, flu, cough, common cold, etc.

Jacqueline T. Pearson, M.D., M.S.

Anju Bhushan, M.D. Arezou Fatemi, M.D.

Ryan Bozof, M.D.

Shima Mansouri, P.A.-C Laurae Carpenetti, M.D.

Carol Hector, M.D.

Sumera Pervaiz, M.D. Sudeshna Nandi, M.D.

Petula Gunn, APRN

Raphael Lopez, M.D.

Alexis Buelow , MSN,APRN,FNP-C.

ISTOCK

Can stress cause cancer?

Best

Best

Brought

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 stress-lowering strategies.

STEGALL

Why are my teeth so sensitive?

Brought to you by – Dr. Bradley Hepler, Atlanta Center for Dental Health

Why are my teeth sensitive? What can I do about it? To understand why your teeth are sensitive, it’s important to delve into the underlying causes and factors contributing to this discomfort. Tooth sensitivity, medically known as dentin hypersensitivity, is a common dental problem affecting millions of people worldwide. It manifests as a sharp, sudden pain or discomfort experienced when teeth are exposed to certain stimuli such as cold, hot, sweet, or acidic foods and beverages, as well as during brushing or flossing. The sensation can range from mild to severe and can significantly impact one’s quality of life, if left untreated.

There are several potential reasons why your teeth may be sensitive:

1. Exposed Dentin: Dentin is the layer of your tooth beneath the enamel, containing tiny tubules that lead to the nerve center (dental pulp) of the tooth. When the protective enamel layer wears down due to factors such as aggressive brushing, acidic foods, or tooth erosion from conditions such as acid reflux or bulimia, the dentin becomes exposed.

This exposes the nerve endings, leading to sensitivity.

2. Gum Recession: Receding gums, often caused by aggressive brushing, gum disease, or aging, can expose the sensitive roots of the teeth. Unlike enamel, the roots do not have a protective layer making them susceptible to sensitivity.

3. Tooth Decay or Damage: Cavities, cracked teeth, or dental restorations like fillings, crowns, or bridges that are improperly fitted or have deteriorated can leave the inner layers of the tooth vulnerable to sensitivity.

4. Bruxism (Teeth Grinding): Clenching and Grinding your teeth can be an unconscious habit that you’re not even aware you are doing. Habitual clenching or grinding can wear down your enamel, leading to tooth sensitivity. Additionally, it can cause fractures in the teeth, structurally compromising the tooth or exposing the dentin causing discomfort.

5. Dental procedures: Certain dental procedures such as teeth whitening treatments, professional cleanings, or root planing can temporarily increase tooth sensitivity. However, this sensitivity usually subsides after a short

period.

6. Acidic Foods and Beverages: Consumption of highly acidic foods and beverages can erode tooth enamel over time, leading to sensitivity. Examples include citrus fruits, soda, wine, energy drinks, and certain types of vinegar.

7. Medical Conditions: Conditions such as acid reflux, bulimia, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can expose teeth to stomach acid, leading to enamel erosion and sensitivity.

8. Poor Oral Hygiene: Neglecting proper oral hygiene practices such as regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups can lead to plaque buildup, gum disease, and ultimately tooth sensitivity.

To alleviate tooth sensitivity and prevent further discomfort, it’s essential to address the underlying cause. This may involve using desensitizing toothpaste, practicing proper oral hygiene, avoiding acidic foods, wearing a mouthguard to prevent bruxism, and seeking dental treatment for conditions such as gum disease or tooth decay. Regular dental check-ups are crucial for early detection and management of any dental issues contributing to sensitivity.

By identifying and addressing the root cause of your tooth sensitivity, you can restore comfort and maintain optimal oral health.

“Preventive Dentistry can add 10 years to human life.” -Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic

Dr. Bradley Hepler and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide all the modern advances for healthy and attractive smiles. You will realize immediate results with non-invasive and often inexpensive procedures to enhance your smile and your health. If you would like a complementary consultation to discover your smile restoring options, please call the Atlanta Center for Dental Health at 770-9922236. Dr. Bradley Hepler has spent many hours dedicated to perfecting and updating the latest and best techniques in dentistry. It is with this breadth of knowledge that we provide each patient with the perfect solution to their situation, their life, and their goals. It is our pleasure to serve this community and help as many people as possible live their best life.

Interdisciplinary Clinic treats brain and spine tumors at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center

Brought to you byWellstar Neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Zussman

A diagnosis of a brain or spine tumor affects each person differently. While for some people, the tumor’s location in the central nervous system can cause disorientation, an altered mental state, dizziness and seizures, for others the symptoms will look different. At Wellstar, every person is unique and deserves a personalized care team and plan that’s right for them.

The compassionate team at the Brain and Spine Tumor STAT Clinic at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center is made up of expert

neurosurgeons, radiation and medical oncologists, neuroradiologists and neuropathologists who come together to offer the timeliest, patient-centric diagnosis and treatment for benign and malignant tumors of the brain and spine.

In our STAT Clinic, we put people at the center of their care by bringing multiple cancer experts together to collaborate about care and meet with patients the same day. As a result, patients and their families are able to ask questions, make decisions and start treatment sooner. At the heart of the clinic’s philosophy is the recognition that oncology requires a multifaceted approach, considering not only the physical aspects of the disease, but also the emotional wellbeing of the patients. In addition to the Brain and Spine Tumor STAT Clinic, Wellstar North Fulton offers

STAT Clinics for head and neck, breast and lung cancers.

The cancer care team at Wellstar North Fulton uses the latest diagnostic technologies, allowing for precise imaging and monitoring of brain tumors. Patients are seen by a variety of specialists on the day of their STAT Clinic appointment and benefit from a streamlined and coordinated approach to care. The multidisciplinary team collaborates seamlessly, facilitating quick decisionmaking and ensuring that patients receive the most effective and personalized interventions.

The interdisciplinary nature of the clinic promotes a continuous flow of information and expertise among providers, so patients benefit from the collective knowledge of specialists across various disciplines. Regular case conferences and tumor boards

create a forum for collaborative decision-making, ensuring that the most up-to-date and evidencebased approaches are employed for each patient. In addition to medical interventions, the clinic places a strong emphasis on caring for the whole patient. Our dedicated nurse navigators and nutritionists collaborate with the medical team to address the emotional, social and nutritional aspects of the patient’s journey.

This unique Wellstar clinic represents supportive, comprehensive care for those navigating the challenging terrain of brain and central nervous system tumors.

To learn more about cancer care at Wellstar North Fulton, visit wellstar. org/northfultoncancercare or call (770) 410-4530.

ZUSSMAN

PEXELS

Ulysses Price

WELLSTAR SPINE PATIENT

Why do I get so many Cavities?!

4. Your flossing habits:

At Roswell Dental Care, we take pride in our ability to educate our patients about their oral health. One question we frequently hear from our patients, “Why do I get so many cavities? I brush my teeth every day!” We understand the frustration that comes from putting the work in to maintain your teeth and still ending up with cavities, we are here to help break those reasons down for you.

1. How deep your grooves are:

How your teeth are shaped, including the grooves of your teeth, are inherited. These grooves are too small for your toothbrush bristles to get in and clean properly. Some teeth have deeper grooves, which increases the risk of biting surface cavities. We can prevent these types by placing sealants (plastic) over the grooves of the teeth.

2. Your oral bacteria:

Did you know, you inherit the genetic layout of your oral bacteria from your mom? The types of oral bacteria can impact your oral health, including your likelihood of cavities and developing periodontal disease. Staying on a cleaning schedule with your dental hygienist will help reduce the number of bacteria you have in your mouth.

3. Your frequency of sugar intake:

Your habits also play a significant role in your oral health. Your frequency of sugar intake has a direct tie into the frequency of the occurrence of cavities. The more times you consume sugar, the more opportunities for cavities to take hold.

Flossing removes plaque and bacteria from the sides of your teeth, so not flossing on a consistent basis increases your risk of developing cavities between your teeth.

5. Your medications:

When you eat or drink anything other than water, the pH of your mouth becomes acidic. Saliva’s job is to neutralize the acidic environment. Some medications cause xerostomia (or dry mouth). If your saliva is reduced or becomes thicker, your teeth have an increased risk of developing decay, especially along the gumline. Products containing xylitol are “mouth wetters,” and xylitol prevents bacteria from adhering to tooth structure, helping to prevent the effects of a dry mouth.

The above reasons are just a few of the many complex factors that go into why cavities develop. As dental professionals, we strive to keep our patients educated in their oral hygiene. Good or bad oral hygiene plays a role in overall health, and we are here to get your oral health in excellent condition so that your overall health can be too. Drs. Hood and Remaley 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!

On Occam’s Razor, Hickam’s Dictum and Crabtree’s Bludgeon

Brought to you by – Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

Arriving at a correct diagnosis is not a simple matter. With the exception of the occasional conspiracy theorist (Is Elvis alive?), most people gravitate to the least elaborate explanation to a question – the explanation that makes the fewest assumptions to fit available data.

Indeed, this approach is known as “Occam’s razor” and is the most famous rule of diagnosis taught in medical school. Within medicine, this rule is sometimes abbreviated to mean that a doctor should seek one single unifying diagnosis that explains all of a patient’s complaints instead of trying to explain five complaints with five diseases. For example, if a patient has a tick bite, rash, fever, headache and confusion, perhaps a single tick-borne illness explains all the symptoms and the patient can be treated accordingly rather than delaying treatment and introducing risk to perform spinal taps, MRIs or other investigations to search for second, third or fourth diseases.

Occam’s razor might sound like obvious and sage advice. Unfortunately, it proves wrong often enough that a Dr. John Hickam, former departmental head of medicine at Indiana University, felt the need to remind students that Occam’s Razor is sometimes wrong. He coined Hickam’s Dictum, which states “patients can have as many diseases as they [darn] well please.” (Dr. Hickam used the other D word, but we may have children in the audience.)

How often is Occam’s razor wrong?

In my physical diagnosis class in medical school, a professor taught us that there was a study of inpatients admitted at a university hospital in which the researchers looked at how often at least two diagnoses were necessary to account for the patient’s chief complaint. The result? One third of the time at least two diseases were to blame. Hickam’s dictum counterbalances Occam’s razor and reminds us of not becoming nearsighted or prematurely triumphant upon reaching a plausible single diagnosis. Sometimes two or more diseases are to blame. Sometimes, the patient in respiratory distress has the flu and covid.

A third rule, Crabtree’s Bludgeon might be my favorite. Who doesn’t love a good bludgeon? (You can tell I am a father of boys). Crabtree’s bludgeon says that a motivated individual will figure out an intelligible method of explaining away a set of contradictions, no matter how contradictory they are and how wrong they might be. This rule hints at the extent to which we humans often doggedly stick to a certain conviction or belief despite all the evidence to the contrary. New evidence says we might be wrong? No problem. We simply reason out elaborate new rules and exceptions that

fit our previous beliefs and account for the new evidence. Never underestimate the ability of people who are wrong to invent reasons not to admit it and to figure out how the new evidence actually further proves that they are right. (Think Flat Earthers)

Sometimes, a doctor can cling to an erroneous diagnosis far too long when what the patient needs is a complete reassessment. This is one of the most compelling arguments for patients receiving second opinions.

One of the most interesting cases that I have encountered in my medical career occurred when I spent a month studying at Stanford University. A patient presented to Stanford’s dermatology clinic with a tumor near her optic nerve and with certain birthmarks of her skin. She was sent by the ophthalmology department to the dermatology department for an opinion on whether the eye tumor was related to the birthmarks.

The stakes were high. If the eye tumor was deemed connected to the skin findings, then the ophthalmologists planned on watchful waiting and observation of the tumor. If not, then they planned surgery which could result in blindness in that eye. I spent hours researching the embryology of her findings and discovered reasons to believe that the patient’s tumor was very likely an atypical presentation of a disease called segmental neurofibromatosis. I concluded that the tumor and the birthmarks were very likely part of a single syndrome.

When I presented the case at Stanford’s dermatology grand rounds, Occam, Hickam, and Crabtree all showed up. Great debate ensued. The first professor to speak argued for the optic nerve tumor being unrelated to the birthmarks. Other professors found my evidence for a syndrome convincing. When the first professor found herself outnumbered, she doubled down and bludgeoned her way into arguing that the data was not only weak but actually backed her argument.

How did things turn out? The patient chose observation instead of surgery. My visit to Stanford ended, but I corresponded with a professor there, and the last update that I received was that the patient was doing well with no further growth of the tumor on subsequent MRIs.

I hope that you enjoyed this peek into diagnosis within medicine. For readers with children or grandchildren, I suggest that the lessons to be learned from Occam, Hickam and Crabtree are worth sharing and have relevance far beyond the field of medicine.

If you or a loved one has a possible skin cancer or any medical or cosmetic skincare need, please consider Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta. Dr. Brent Taylor, Kathryn Filipek, PA-C and our wonderful staff are honored to take care of you and your family.

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 18 years experience as a Dermatology PA. We are excited to welcome her, as she brings with her experience in general dermatology 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.

Living with guilt vs. Living with gusto!

Brought to you by - Alice D, Hoag, EdD, LPC, Summit Counseling Center

A few years ago, I intercepted one of my sons as he was descending the staircase and heading outside. He explained, with a guilty expression on his face, that he was going to go outside to smoke a cigarette. Ever since I was my grandmother’s companion during her final months of life as she went through chemo and radiation treatments for lung cancer after her 50 years of smoking cigarettes, I’ve not been a fan of cigarette smoking. And he knew this. I stopped him and challenged, “Either do it with gusto or don’t do it at all.” I went on to encourage him, “Fully enjoy inhaling and blowing smoke rings or whatever you do. Get the most out of whatever it is that you do. Choose wisely, then do it with no guilt. If you cannot enjoy it fully, then don’t do it at all.”

In the decade since that first statement just slipped out of my mouth on its own, I’ve reflected on that sentiment. I believe it is a way of living life to its fullest. “Either do it with gusto or don’t do it at all.”

Guilt and anxiety. Neither is a good option to live with as a way of life, yet I interact with so many people who do live in a constant state of guilt and/ or anxiety! It’s their default mode; it just happens without even thinking. Every action and thought carries with it

either a sense of guilt or anxiety.

“Being my best self” is a way of life that I attempt to live by every moment of every day. While I may not hit the “best self” goal all the time, I can certainly choose the “better self” more often than not. It’s an element of being a good steward of what I’ve been given. And we’re all called to good stewardship of everything we’ve been given: time, talent, energy, body, mind, actions, motives, finances, relationships, and on and on.

It is not an easy task to choose our better self (or best self). It requires that we surrender the easy path, the selfish or self-protective default mode in each of us. However, as we do, we become more intentional. When we choose our actions intentionally to be consistent with our best self, we end up being less guilt-driven. And when we act intentionally, there is less anxiety. There’s actually less emotional involvement at all. Acting intentionally requires that we observe the options from several angles, then choose the best version of ourselves to move forward in a direction. This results in freedom, contentment, and joy. That’s living with Gusto!

If you’d like guidance and encouragement on choosing joy and living with gusto as your better self, The Summit would love to come alongside and walk with you on your journey.

ALPHARETTA-ROSWELL HERALD | FORSYTH HERALD | JOHNS CREEK HERALD MILTON HERALD | DUNWOODY CRIER | SANDY SPRINGS CRIER

Delivering Readers Award-Winning Newspapers

2023 Georgia Press Association

1st Place – News Photograph

1st Place – Feature Writing

1st Place – Business Writing

1st Place – Serious Column

1st Place – Food Ad

1st Place – Newspaper Promotion Ad

1st Place – Classifieds Section/page

2nd Place – Page One

2nd Place – Lifestyle Coverage

2nd Place – News Photograph

2nd Place – Local News Coverage

2nd Place – Business Writing

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2nd Place – General Excellence

3rd Place – Page One

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2023 Association of Community Publishers

1st Place – Feature Article Layout

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2nd Place – Educational Column

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2nd Place – Self Promotion Own Publication

SINATRA and FRIENDS Visit Post 201 Friday, Mar. 15

Show Starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 Per Person

Doors Open at 6:30 p.m. Free Dance Lessons Before Show Hamburgers, Hot Dogs & Potato Chips for Sale Standing Room Only – Buy Tickets at the Door

King’s Ridge Baseball at

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Kidney:

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volunteered to donate a kidney to Weissman, most from Roswell, who he calls “heroes.” Turns out, one hero, and the perfect match, was his son Dave.

“It was one of the best days of my life,” Dave said. “... I’ll never forget calling my dad to tell him that the surgery was scheduled.”

While Dave had a family of his own to consider, a wife and two young kids, he said there was no hesitation. Through research, he found that complications for donors were rare.

“It was an easy decision,” Dave said. “I mean, having the opportunity to save your dad’s life is a special thing.”

The day before, Weissman said his kidney function was tested at 90 percent, better than what is considered normal for a 67-year-old.

“I’m doing better. I’m walking 5 miles a day. I’m trying to get back in shape. I’m even lifting light weights,” he said. “I’ve got my life back.”

Weissman’s experience led to a new lease on life, becoming a mentor to others all over the country touched by kidney disease through the National Kidney Foundation’s mentorship program.

“The reason I do it is because the doctors are not really good about telling

you what’s really going on,” Weissman said. “They’re very much in their lane. Unless you facilitate that conversation, be your own advocate … you are not going to get the attention that you should probably get.”

Weissman has also facilitated meetings between local donors and recipients, in awe at the benevolence of people at home who have placed themselves in the donor pool, ready to live with one kidney for the benefit of the stranger.

Adding their perspectives, Bonnie and Dave mentor as well.

“We try to surround them holistically,” Weissman said.

He is closing in on incorporating a nonprofit, what he plans to call “Kidney Warriors Inc.,” to help kidney recipients, donors and caretakers financially and through mentorship.

The first big fundraiser will take place next fall, he said, a hike at the Grand Canyon — $100,000 is the goal, which will be parsed out to people he and his family have connected with personally, who are in desperate need.

“I just envision a situation where a caregiver calls me and says, ‘we can’t make rent,’” Weissman said. “‘Okay, what does it take?’ Here’s 5,000 bucks.”

LARRY WEISSMAN/PROVIDED

Two hours before his kidney transplant in March 2023, Larry Weissman hugs his son Dave Weissman, the donor.

Hi, I’m Amber Perry and I report on all things in and around Johns Creek and Roswell. If you have any story tips or ideas please contact me at amber@appenmedia.com

Deck:

bulk Monday night.

In a prepared statement, Mayor Kurt Wilson said the Green Street plan was not made available to the public in advance because of its connection to the parking deck project, funded by bonds approved in November 2022 which included $20 million for a downtown parking deck.

He said the changes to Green Street and Plum Tree Street were necessary to accommodate the parking deck project as well as the resulting pedestrian and vehicle traffic. He also said the city chose this area for its access to Alpharetta Street and economic development benefits.

“While other sites assessed are located closer to the ‘center of the downtown area,’ this location actually yields proximity to more commercial businesses within a quarter-mile walk, while still ensuring access to restaurants on the northern end of Canton Street,” Wilson said.

The next steps for the project, expected to take 30 months to complete, will be to solicit and select design and build firms, he said, and details regarding the number of parking spaces in the deck, whether there will be a public-private partnership and parking charges will be determined later in the process.

Green Street plan

Several speakers weighed in, including Ryan Pernice, owner of Canton Street’s Table and Main and Osteria Mattone.

“The business community has been clamoring for a solution to what I see as the parking problem in downtown Roswell…” Pernice said. “I do think that we are falling behind some of our surrounding cities that have invested in their downtown areas with these sort of catalytic opportunities, and what I saw in the presentation today, I think is just the thing to help push us back in the foray of being competitive with the folks around us.”

Former Roswell City Councilman Mike Palermo, who spoke as a resident at the meeting, also lauded the council for the

project. He expressed his appreciation for the project being consultant-driven — representatives with Jacobs and VHB had presented the selection process and transportation updates to the area.

But, Palermo suggested that the parking deck go underground to avoid height and incongruity with the surrounding historic district, which he said had been part of the original discussions.

Still, others were more skeptical about the site location and the undue pressure it might place on the area with people attempting to avoid the red light on Woodstock Street, making Green Street a shortcut.

“...whether you improve it or not, [Green Street is] still a little nothing street,” resident Janet Russell said.

She again cautioned the council about the site because of the nearby nursing home, which she says receives frequent visits from ambulance services. At the last meeting, she correctly inferred the parking deck’s location because of word that had been circulating.

“All I can say is you need to think about the entire population, not just the restaurants and the bars and the people that go there,” Russell said.

Public safety operations center

Also at the meeting, the City Council agreed to spend $5.9 million on the 6.3acre SharpShooters USA property on Ga. 9 which will house the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the 911 Call Center.

Mayor Wilson said the city anticipates spending an additional $3 million in renovations for the project but described cost savings by comparing the project to Sandy Springs’ oncoming near-$40 million public safety complex.

Sandy Springs also intends to fundraise in order spend an additional $25 million to add a shooting range to their site.

Roswell’s new EOC/911 Call Center will be funded by bonds passed in November 2022 which included $52 million in public safety capital projects. Councilwoman Lee Hills also said Rep. Lucy McBath secured $1 million in grant money for the site.

The 18,300-square-foot building was in part chosen because it meets some of the hardened facility and security criteria needed for the EOC/911 Call Center, and renovation rather than new construction will save six to seven months in time with a move-in ready date of fall 2025.

The facility also has an existing firing

range, which Roswell Police Chief James Conroy said was a longstanding budget item for the city. The range was also said to also be a potential revenue source if the city rents it out to other agencies.

In the last two years the City of Alpharetta spent more than $46,000 to use the SharpShooters USA facility, according to documents reviewed by Appen Media.

The original ask was to look for a site that would also house the city’s police and fire headquarters.

Conroy, standing alongside Fire Chief Joe Pennino and 911 Communications Director James Potrzebowski, explained at the meeting the benefit of spreading emergency services throughout different parts of the city rather than having a one-stop complex.

“If we are in one facility, and a natural disaster or a man-made disaster comes and takes out that one facility, we are done,” Conroy said. “There is nowhere else for us to operate.”

Officials tell Appen Media the city is in the due diligence phase of securing a site for the Public Safety Center, which will house both the police department and fire department headquarters.

CARL APPEN AND DIONNA WILLIAMS/APPEN MEDIA, SCREENSHOT

On left is a map of the area along Green Street slated for the public parking deck and other improvements included in the “Green Street Activation Plan.” On right is a rendering of the parking deck, between a new connective street and Green Street, with a wraparound 10-foot, multi-use path.

CANTON

AI wave – When reality can no longer

RAY APPEN

Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

I hate it when what I have been working so hard at avoiding or not seeing becomes so compelling and so intrusive that I must deal with it. Sometimes that “thing” is something personal and relatively trivial – like a toothache at the point a dentist can no longer be avoided, or like a mole that is starting to change shape and color and not going to see the dermatologist is no longer an option.

Sometimes the “thing” is not so individually personal but more “macro” in nature – like say an epidemic – like COVID 19. We collectively ignored it; dealt with it by isolating and getting vaccinated; denied it; recognized it; and so on – but at one point, no one could continue to not see it or deny its existence - even though we were told not to worry because it would just “magically disappear someday” – the height of scientific reasoning, knowledge and prudence.

Now we are in one of those “macro”

situations, and the reality of the “idea” or the “concept” is getting real, fast. I am not talking about the war in Ukraine. It is still going to be a while before we collectively must face the realities of that war – including the direct consequences to us when and if Russia succeeds, which will probably happen if U.S. aid does not resume. Talk about penny-wise and poundfoolish to the most absurd extreme.

No, the unavoidable 900-pound gorilla that can no longer be ignored or swept under the rug is artificial intelligence – AI. To me, it is no longer this vague existential threat that “we” must “do something about.” It is here, now, and the impact is already hitting us in the pocketbook.

Here is a case in point: Atlantabased Hollywood movie and film producer Tyler Perry just announced that he’s putting his Atlanta studio’s $800 million expansion on hold indefinitely because of his concern that much of the utility of the physical production facilities could be done instead with software – AI software.

Tyler’s expansion – four years in the planning – was to include construction of 12 new sound stages on his 330-acre production campus. Tyler was quoted as

musing that “why would I go to the time, money and labor to build production sets when I can sit in my office in front of a computer and accomplish the same thing with AI?”

The short term and long-term economic impact of Perry’s $800 million expansion could have been substantial. The number of jobs that could have been created in building the facility and post-construction use – from construction workers and engineers, to actors, grips, electricians, sound technicians, writers and editors – was massive. That is not to mention the tax base that would have been generated for the City of Atlanta; the power that would have been consumed; the number of hotel-stays and restaurants that would have benefited; the business generated for the real estate companies; and all the peripheral businesses that would have been created to support and supply the demands of the expanded studio. We are talking about a ton of lost jobs, lost revenue, and lost opportunity – all because so much of the core work now – and in the future – can be done with artificial intelligence software and computers.

Yes, not all those jobs are lost, and yes, one would assume more computer-

related jobs will be created, but, as AI is increasingly used in the film process, a huge percentage of jobs formerly required will simply go away. Why spend more money than necessary in producing entertainment content?

Even Gary Trudeau who writes the Doonesbury comic strip picked up –almost immediately – on Tyler Perry’s announcement.

In his Feb. 25 script, Trudeau shows a talent agent pitching a new writer sensation to a producer. The producer incredulously replies to the talent agent the following: “Ted, anyone who doubts that AI can write a soap opera script has never watched a soap opera. Two years from now, AI output will be network quality! In three years, it’ll be cranking out peak TV and film scripts.”

The example of AI’s impact on the film industry is only representative of its impact on the entire current economic system. It will impact most jobs in most industries and services. More will be done with less – less employment. Yes, there will be an upside – somewhere –and yes, on some scale, new jobs will be created – somewhere, somehow. I wish I could see in that crystal ball, but I can’t.

So, fasten your seatbelt. It is going to get bumpy.

DEERFIELD

Four Killer or Foe Killer – what’s in a name?

If you are like many people who have moved recently to North Fulton you probably have wondered about the odd name of one of our creeks, Foe Killer Creek. Or, if you have lived here a while, you may be convinced that the original name was Four Killer Creek, and that a Cherokee Indian by that name lived by the creek and may have killed four enemies. Here is the story behind the name.

Cherokee warriors were sometimes

awarded ranks reflecting the number of enemies they killed in battle. These were honors awarded to outstanding warriors. One such warrior was Four Killer, or commonly Fourkiller, who lived with his family at the headwaters of the stream that lies between Alpharetta off Hopewell Road and Roswell where it joins today’s Big Creek. His Cherokee name was Nvgidlihi or Nunggihtehe or Nanketeehee. Nunggih means “four” and tehe signifies “killer.” Somehow over time the word Foe became a misnomer for Four (possibly slurred by White settlers). Modern road signs identifying the creek call it Foe Killer Creek.

Historian John Goff included an essay written in 1956 on the subject in his

2007 book “Placenames of Georgia.” He explained that a warrior’s name or rank would change as he vanquished more enemies: One Killer, Two Killer, Three Killer, Four Killer, Five Killer, Six Killer and possibly more elevated ranks were used. Anyone with “teehee or tehe” at the end his name, regardless of number slain, was a prominent individual. Further detailed information on Cherokee place names can be found at chenocetah.wordpress.com.

Sometimes “killer” was used with other than cardinal numbers. Path Killer was a warrior, statesman and Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1811–1827 and was a signer of the Treaty of Tellico in 1805. Tellico was the site where several treaties were negotiated whereby the Cherokees ceded large portions of land in Tennessee and Georgia. Chickasaw Killer also signed the treaty. He must have been a very special warrior because the Chickasaw were known to be very fierce, unconquerable warriors.

Four Killer’s land was confiscated during the Gold Lottery of 1832. He died on the infamous Trail of Tears march to the Oklahoma Territory in 1838, also known as The Cherokee Removal from Georgia.

Chekilli was an important Creek chief who in 1733 negotiated peace with the British upon their founding of Savannah. According to John Goff, Chekilli’s name in the Creek language has a suffix equivalent to the Cherokee “teehee,” signifying “killer.”

From Georgia to Oklahoma

In modern times, the Fourkiller surname is most common in Oklahoma where many Cherokees were settled following the Trail of Tears. According to “Name Census,” Fourkiller appeared 195 times in the 2010 U.S. census, primarily in Oklahoma. Eighty percent of the individuals with the Fourkiller last name were classified as American Indian, 10 percent were white and 7 percent mixed

The Fourkiller Cemetery in Piney, Oklahoma, has 110 memorials according to “Find a Grave,” more than 50 of which are marked Fourkiller with the earliest burial in 1848 and the most recent in

Sam Sixkiller (1842–1886) was a prominent Cherokee leader during and after the Civil War. He was the son of Red Bird Sixkiller. According to legend, the Sixkiller name came from a fight between the Creeks and the Cherokees where one of Sam’s ancestors killed six enemies before being killed himself. The name has been passed down since then.

The Tenkiller Ferry Dam and lake were built across the Illinois River between 1947 and 1952 and were named after a prominent Cherokee family, the Tenkillers.

This overpass on Hembree Road identifies the location of Foe Killer Creek, a stream that winds its way for 6.8 miles from near Hopewell Road in Alpharetta to where it joins Big Creek in Roswell.

They operated a ferry service near the dam. After the Trail of Tears, the warrior husband was given his name by soldiers because of the 10 notches in his bow.

Controversy

There has been some good natured (?) discussion over the years as to what the correct name of the stream should be. In a National Public Radio “All Things Considered” program in 2018 the announcer stated “We discovered that Foe Killer is actually a misnomer. The stream between Roswell and Alpharetta was actually called Four Killer Creek.”

Celebrated columnist Aubrey Morris in his May, 1998 “North Fulton Footprints” column titled “Foes of Foe Killer Creek dispute name clouded in Indian lore,” he quoted several knowledgeable people, some of whom favored one version while others favored the other. Both sides spoke with conviction.

The Atlanta Constitution in March 1957 ran an article by Marjory Rutherford with a cartoon of Four Killer in which she referred to “a little stream with the intriguing name of Four Killer Creek.”

“Roswell A Pictorial History,” edited by Darlene Walsh and published in 1985, plays it safe with a photo of the creek and the following caption “Four (Foe) Killer Creek is a small stream that winds its way from the site of the old Camp Mill near Rock Bridge Crossing. The stream derives its name from a prominent Cherokee called Four Killer who once farmed the land at the head of the stream.”

Whether you call it Four Killer or Foe Killer, the 6.8 mile long stream is one of many Georgia small waterways with odd names, many derived from our rich Cherokee heritage.

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.

Taking a winter walk in the woods

CAROLE MACMULLAN

Walking in the woods is always a refreshing and invigorating experience and good for the soul. Now that it is winter, a great remedy for cabin fever is to bundle up and take a winter walk. As you walk, note the forest trees as well as the ground below. Most if not all of the trees have lost their leaves. As a result, a whole new visual landscape opens to our eyes, and the leaf litter below us can offer clues about the trees that inhabit the woodland terrain.

If you are curious about the types and names of trees, you can also quickly identity one of the dominant northern Georgia forest trees, the beeches. They have a unique characteristic because their paper-thin, light beige leaves stay firmly attached to their branches during the entire winter. Continue your walk by picking up some of the leaves on the forest floor. Note there are many tree species, but I venture to guess, most of them are oaks. You will also see a variety of acorns, most of which have been partially or totally devoured. All oaks belong to the genus Quercus. Based on their leaf structure, the genus Quercus is divided into two major types, the white oaks and red oaks.

How can they be differentiated?

White oaks have leaves with round leaf lobes and red oaks have leaves with pointed leaf lobes. Please look at the pictures, and I am sure you can quickly distinguish between these two types of oaks. Oaks are the most valuable landscape and forest trees in the eastern United States. For this reason, oaks are considered a Keystone Tree. They have earned this designation because their acorns produce life-sustaining nourishment for a variety of living things. If oaks were eliminated from the eastern U.S., the entire ecosystem would suffer.

As I write this article when the outside temperatures are hovering around freezing, I have begun to reflect on how the animals find food and shelter during the winter. In my front yard, I have three mature pin oaks that have reached 30 feet and are now producing acorns. Amazingly, most oak trees need to reach the age of 10 and pin oaks the age of 20 before they are sexually mature and produce acorns, and the number of acorns a tree produces will vary from year to year. In the spring, oaks produce inconspicuous flowers. Like all flowers, they need to be pollinated to produce

About the Author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a Master Gardener and a Milton resident. She taught biology for 35 years in the Pittsburgh area. In 2012 after moving to Milton, Carole completed the Master Gardener training program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners (NFMG) and the Milton Garden Club. Her hobbies are hiking, biking, gardening and reading.

seeds. Oak trees are pollinated by wind because the flowers do not contain nectar. After pollination, the flower is gradually transformed over the late spring and summer months into an acorn. Each acorn contains a seed that has the potential, if the conditions are right, to germinate and produce another oak tree. To ensure a future generation, the oak trees create an excessive number of acorns. This bonus crop of acorns provides a forest feast!

Squirrels devour them and instinctively they bury some of them for future consumption. This squirrel activity is a win-win situation! The oak trees win since some of the buried acorns germinate. Many other woodland organisms, such as deer, opossums, racoons, rodents, insects and fungi also enjoy this abundance of life-sustaining nourishment, which keeps them alive in the fall and winter. Acorns are consumed by a total of 96 species of birds and mammals in the U.S. In addition, oaks provide food for more than 897 species of butterfly or moth caterpillars in the United States.

What do kangaroos and Georgia oaks have in common? Both of them are endemic, meaning they originated, thrived and found an environmental niche in one specific location on the planet and exist nowhere else. What a surprise to find that the Georgia oak, Quercus georgiana, is a type of red oak and is endemic. The common and scientific names for Georgia oaks were selected because this species of oak lives primarily in Georgia and a few isolated sites in Alabama and South Carolina! This oak species is a small species of oak and often takes on the form of a shrub. Over time, it has adapted to the dry granite and sandstone outcroppings and thin layer of soil found on two, lowaltitude mountainous regions of Georgia,

Learn more

• Georgia Oak https://plants.ces. ncsu.edu/plants/quercus-georgiana/

• Oak Tree & Acorn Identification for Deer Hunters https://www.youtube.co mwatch?app=desktop&v=FIKGm4VSK DQ-this

• Quercus georgiana https:// footstepsintheforest.com/georgia-oaktree-quercus-georgiana/

• G Norman Bishop, Native Trees of Georgia, Georgia Forestry Commission, 2013. https://gatrees. org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ Native-Trees-of-GA-2013-Web-Version. pdf (Page 36-American Beech, pages 48-56 Oaks)

Stone Mountain and Pine Mountain. I was fortunate to have seen one of these rare and endangered oaks on a recent hike at FDR State Park near Warm Springs, Georgia.

There are 70 species of oak trees in the U.S., and 28 oaks are native to Georgia. Today I will focus on two common oak species that you will encounter on most walks in local parks, forested areas dominated by hardwoods, as well as in your yard or the yards of your neighbors, friends, and family.

From my observations, the most commonly planted medium-size trees found in residential Atlanta landscapes are pin oaks, Quercus palustris. Pin oak leaves have four to six lateral lobes and one terminal lobe with pointed ends. As a result, they are classified as red oaks. White oak leaves, on the other hand, have lobes with rounded ends and acorns that germinate within two weeks of reaching the ground. White oak acorns also have less of the bitter tasting chemical, tannin, making them a more desirable food source for deer and other wildlife.

Another oak native and easily identifiable is the chestnut oak, Quercus montana. My first encounter with this oak was not with the tree or a leaf but with its large, brown acorn. Next to the acorns were a collection of scalloped edge leaves. The leaves were quickly identified as a white oak because they have rounded lobes. The small, scalloped edged leaves, unlike those of other Georgia white oaks, helped me to narrow my selection to chestnut oak.

On your next forest walk, pick up some leaves and try to identify the surrounding trees.

Happy gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/.

Save the Date! Garden Faire 2024 will be held on April 20, 2024, at The Grove at Wills Park. https://www.nfmg. net/garden-faire.html

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

March 14, 2024

City of Roswell

Grants Division

38 Hill Street

Suite 130 Roswell, GA 30075 (770) 641-3847

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by The City of Roswell.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about Thursday, March 14, 2024 , the City of Roswell will submit a request to the Department of Housing and Development (HUD) for the release of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds authorized by Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-383, as amended), to undertake a project known as:

Project Name: Roswell Housing Authority Redevelopment Phase I

Location: 199 Grove Way, Roswell, GA 30075

CDBG Funding: $434,019.65 [Program Year 2023 - $353,657; Program Year 2022 - $80,362.65]

Project Description: The City of Roswell provide CDBG funding to the Roswell Housing Authority for asbestos abatement and demolition of the 40 multi-family RAD/PBRA housing units and redevelop 102 affordable housing units in Phase I.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The City of Roswell has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Assessment (EA) on file at 38 Hill Street, Suite 130, Roswell, GA 30075. The file will be made available electronically, upon request, by contacting the City of Roswell Grants Division at (770) 641-3847.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the EA to the City of Roswell located at 38 Hill Street, Suite 130, Roswell, GA 30075 or via email at CDBG@roswellgov.com. All comments must be received by 12:00 p.m. Monday, April 1, 2024 and will be considered by the City of Roswell prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The City of Roswell certifies to HUD/Georgia that its Certifying Officer consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD Georgia’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City of Roswell to use Program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of fund and the City of Roswell’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Roswell; (b) the City of Roswell has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to HUD/State of Georgia Office of Community Planning and Development at 40 Marietta St, Atlanta, GA 30303. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Kurt Wilson Mayor, City of Roswell

38 Hill Street

Suite 115

Roswell, GA 30075

CITY OF ALPHARETTA PUBLIC NOTICE

PH-24-AB-03

Please note that this meeting will be a virtual meeting, conducted online using Zoom meetings.

PLACE

To Attend the Virtual Meeting: Using Your Computer, Tablet or Smartphone

Go to: https://zoom.us

Meeting ID: 823 9184 7660

Dial In: +1 646 558 8656 US

March 18, 2024 at 2:00 P.M.

PURPOSE

Eating Establishment

Consumption on Premises

Distilled Spirits, Beer, Wine & Sunday Sales

APPLICANT

The Tipsy Spoon, LLC

64 North Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009

Owner: The Tipsy Spoon, LLC

Registered Agent: Jodi Chieco

CITY OF ALPHARETTA

PUBLIC NOTICE

PH-24-AB-04

Please note that this meeting will be a virtual meeting, conducted online using Zoom meetings.

PLACE

To Attend the Virtual Meeting: Using Your Computer, Tablet or Smartphone

Go to: https://zoom.us

Meeting ID: 823 9184 7660

Dial In: +1 646 558 8656 US

March 18, 2024 at 2:00 P.M.

PURPOSE

Eating Establishment

Consumption on Premises

Distilled Spirits, Beer, Wine & Sunday Sales

APPLICANT

LOKHO, LLC

d/b/a Hen Mother Cookhouse

50 South Main Street, Suite 3A Alpharetta, GA 30009

Owner: LOKHO, LLC

Registered Agent: Soraya Khoury

Randy Knighton City of Roswell Kurt Wilson City Administrator Notice of Neighborhood Meeting Mayor

The following item will be discussed at a Neighborhood Meeting on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at 7:00 PM at Roswell City Hall, Room 220, 38 Hill Street, Roswell, Georgia.

a. RZ 20240598 - 710 Grimes Bridge Road

The applicant, Cottage School, is requesting to rezone from RS-18 (SingleFamily Suburban) to CIV (Civic and Institutional); land lot 498.

The complete file is available for public view at the Roswell Planning and Zoning Office, 38 Hill Street, Suite G-30, Roswell, Georgia, (770) 817-6720, or planningandzoning@roswellgov.com. Refer to www.roswellgov.com.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following items will be considered by the Design Review Board on Friday, April 19, 2024 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. DRB240016 South Main Kitchen

Consideration of a new sidewalk furniture. The property is located at 9 South Main St and is legally described as being in Land Lot 1269, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

2. DRB240017 CCD The Garren

Consideration of new construction on an existing site. The property is located at 154 Kimball Bridge Rd and is legally described as being in Land Lot 0801, 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.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following item will be considered by the Board of Zoning Appeals on Thursday, April 18, 2024 commencing at 5:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. V-23-25 Busch/212 Brook Drive

Consideration of a variance to reduce a front setback from 35’ to 20’ and side setback from 10’ to 8’ to allow for a garage addition. The property is located at 212 Brook Drive and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1251, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

b. V-24-09 265 Dania Drive

Consideration of a variance to allow for a tear down and rebuild of a single-family detached home on 1.02 acres. A variance is requested to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.2.1(D) AG agriculture, District Regulations to reduce the side setback on the south side of the property from 25’ to 12.5’. The property is located at 265 Dania Drive and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1177, 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.

Locally Owned and Operated

• Pre-planning

• Funeral Services

• Grief Support

• Veteran Services

• Cremation Services

770-645-1414

info@northsidechapel.com

www.northsidechapel.com

During these turbulent times, we would like to highlight the continued courage and commitment of everyone who works in the health care, law enforcement, childcare, food service and utility sectors. We are extremely grateful.

12050 Crabapple Road • Roswell, GA 30075

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following item will be heard at a public hearing held by the Historic Preservation Commission on Thursday, April 11, 2024, commencing at 3:00 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

Items forwarded by the Historic Preservation Commission will be considered by the City Council on Monday, April 29, 2024, commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. PH-24-09 Dr. Morris House/116 North Main Street – Historic Designation

Consideration of a request to designate the Dr. Morris House as historic. The property is located at 116 North Main Street and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1252, 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.

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations for the City of Alpharetta, Fulton County, Georgia, Case No. 23-04-5816P.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) solicits technical information or comments on proposed flood hazard determinations for the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), and where applicable, the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report for your community. These flood hazard determinations may include the addition or modification of Base Flood Elevations, base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory floodway. The FIRM and, if applicable, the FIS report have been revised to reflect these flood hazard determinations through issuance of a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), in accordance with Title 44, Part 65 of the Code of Federal Regulations. These determinations are the basis for the floodplain management measures that your community is required to adopt or show evidence of having in effect to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. For more information on the proposed flood hazard determinations and information on the statutory 90day period provided for appeals, please visit FEMA’s website at https://www. floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/BFE_Status/bfe_main.asp, or call the FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) toll free at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627).

SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS – MULTIPLE OPENINGS - ALPHARETTA,

GA

Intuites LLC needs professionals:

Work using MFED, COBOL, CICS, Java, Jira, GIT, JCL, DB2, SASand PL/SQL.

Req. –bachelor’s with +2yrs exp. Comp. sal. Relocate to unanticipated sites. Please mail resume to Ref: Director, 1740 Grassland Parkway, Ste 405, Alpharetta, Georgia, 30004.

Pastry Baker/Closer Position

Job brief:

We are looking for an experienced Pastry Chef to prepare a variety of desserts, pastries or other sweet goods. Your skill in baking high quality treats should be matched by your creativity to develop new amazing tastes and recipes.

The ideal candidate will be well-versed in culinary arts with a passion for sweet and delicious creations. They must adhere to health and safety standards to provide clients with the best possible serving.

Create pictures and shapes on cakes, and use a variety of tools and ingredients to decorate cakes.

The goal is to enhance customer satisfaction so that we can maintain and expand our clientele.

Proven experience as Pastry Baker or Cake decorator, or relevant role with a minimum of 3 years’ experience. 35-40 hours/week. $18/20 per hour.

GF@2bwhole.net

TEACHERS

Fun Kidz @ Midway United Methodist Church is looking for teachers for our before/after school care program. If you are an early riser and love kids, we may be a perfect fit. Hours: 6:45am – 9:15am.

Contact Beth by email: beth@midwayumc.org or phone: 770-752-0440

REAL ESTATE ASSISTING

Healthy, hard-working, very tech-savvy lady, good organizing skills. 1-5 or 6pm. 2-3 days/week. My Johns Creek home. Also willing to help with home organization. Salary approx. $15+/hour based on performance & work accomplished. Have own reliable transportation. 678-524-3881 & send resume: realestatetreasure@msn.com

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Home Improvement

Bargains / Medical Equipment

MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR

Merits Vision Sport. Less than a year old. Purchased 3/2023. $2800/obo. Alpharetta; must pick up. 352-391-4276

Landscaping

Carreno Landscaping

Monthly lawn maintenance, irrigation, sod installation, plants, mulch-fertilization, tree removal, pinestraw installation. 404-333-5107 or text address for work.

Pinestraw

PINESTRAW, MULCH

Delivery/installation available. Firewood available. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612

Pet Sitting

H.E.L.P. PET SITTING & HOUSE SITTING. AVAILABLE FOR WALKS AND OVERNIGHTS. 470-402-1184

Deadline to place a classified ad is Thursdays by 4pm

Flooring

PHILLIPS FLOORING

Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes. Regrouting is also available. Call 678-887-1868 for free estimate.

Roofing

quality roofing. Based in Roswell. Serving North Atlanta since 1983. Call to schedule FREE Quote: 770-284-3123.

Christian Brothers Roofing

Cemetery

GREENLAWN ROSWELL:

2 plots on picturesque lakeview hillside. Market price, $9000 each. Bargain priced at $5000 each! 770475-7307

Office Space for Lease

Close to Downtown Alpharetta

Small private office space (unfurnished) available in Appen Media Office close to Downtown Alpharetta (319 North Main Street, Alpharetta). All utilities included, Internet included (within reason), 24/7 access. Space is upstairs in area of Appen Newsroom. Private, quiet, and open. Approximately 200 sq. ft. (14’ x 14’). $/600 per month, first/last/security deposit required as well as solid reliable references.

Space would be perfect for a bookkeeper or a self-employed person.

Contact via text or email: Ray Appen at 770-527-4042 or RayAppen@Gmail.com

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