to listen to the
Democrats rally for Harris, down-ballot candidates
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks to the crowd in support of Kamala Harris as the Forsyth County Democrats open a coordinated campaign office July 28.
By JAKE DRUKMAN newsroom@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Democrats hosted a rally drawing some 150 attendees July 28 to celebrate the opening of a coordinated campaign office for the party.
The office on Redi Road will serve to support Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, as well as the numerous Democrats running for local, state and federal offices in the area.
The most prominent speaker at Sunday’s rally was Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat who is reportedly on the shortlist
to become Harris’ running mate. Beshear has found popularity in his deep-red home state, expanding his share of the vote between his initial 2019 election and his 2023 reelection despite Republicans continuously dominating Kentucky’s federal races.
“I know how to win tough elections, and so do you,” Beshear said to the crowd. “When Georgia came in four years ago, we knew that President Biden and Vice President Harris had won. So between now and Election Day, we need you to do what you do best: the hard work.”
See RALLY, Page 15
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County commissioners locked in an agreement on July 23 to share special purpose sales tax funds with Cumming after a round of last-minute wrangling over the split.
The Forsyth County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) is a 1 percent sales and use tax that began in 1987 to fund transportation, parks and recreation, fire, law enforcement, water and other projects. It runs for a set term and has been renewed by voters seven times since it was first approved in 1987. If renewed by voters this November, the tax is expected to bring in more than $350 million over its six-year term.
The county and city share agreement was reached as time was running out, County Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills said, and it needed to be approved before the end of the week to allow the county’s Board of Elections time to call an election for Nov. 5.
COUNTY/PROVIDED Forsyth County commissioners discuss a SPLOST agreement that splits funds between the county and city for improvement projects at a July 23 work session. Commissioners reached the agreement in time to ask the Board of Elections to call a vote for Nov. 5.
PHOTOS BY JAKE DRUKMAN/APPEN MEDIA
People gather
speakers at a Forsyth County Democrats coordinated campaign office opening July 28.
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Police say Roswell man murdered girlfriend
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested 32-year-old Juan Inga Bruno, a Roswell man, July 26 for the death of his girlfriend.
Shortly before 8:30 a.m. that day, Roswell E911 received a call from an individual reporting the discovery of a deceased person inside an apartment on Belmont Drive in the Champions Green Apartments.
Responding officers reported that a woman, later identified as 27-year-old Andreily Acacio Rodriguez, was deceased inside the residence with visible injuries consistent with a homicide.
Investigators identified Acacio Rodri-
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.
Deputies find fentanyl, cocaine says report
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A deputy discovered a gun and several illegal drugs inside a woman’s SUV during a July 22 traffic stop, according to police reports.
The woman, 23, of Jefferson, was arrested on a driving under the influence charge, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office document.
Deputies conducted an impaired driver investigation after stopping the woman’s white Hyundai Kona on Browns Bridge Road at Six Mile Cove Road.
During a search, deputies say they found a piece of drug paraphernalia in the woman’s pocket.
They found a gun and drugs in the Hyundai, which the woman allegedly identified as cocaine and fentanyl.
Woman reports extortion through fake ransom call
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A woman reported she was extorted out of $300 on
Editor’s Note
If you want to talk to someone about the violence in your life or in the life of someone you know, please call Georgia’s 24Hour Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-33-HAVEN (1-800-334-2836).
guez’s boyfriend, Inga Bruno, as a suspect. Less than two hours later, officers located Bruno and took him into custody during a traffic stop.
Roswell Police said they believe the
July 22 by a ransom caller threatening her daughter’s life.
About 6 a.m., the woman told deputies she had received a phone call from her daughter’s phone number, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report.
When she answered, a man demanded she send money via the mobile paying service Cash App or her daughter would be killed. During the call, the woman could hear someone she thought was her daughter saying “mommy.”
The woman asked to speak with her daughter, but the man on the phone instead threatened her, according to the report.
Police performed a welfare check on the daughter after the woman called, confirming she was safe and the call was a scam.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing.
Man arrested on felony marijuana charges
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A man was arrested during a July 23 traffic stop and charged with felony and misdemeanor drug charges after a deputy
incident was a domestic-related crime and that there are no additional outstanding suspects.
Inga Bruno was charged with malice murder and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony and transported to the Fulton County Jail.
The investigation is active. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Roswell Police Department at 770640-4100. Anonymous information can be provided through Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www. StopCrimeATL.org.
allegedly found THC concentrates in his vehicle.
The man was charged with felony possession of a Schedule I drug as well as misdemeanor possession of drug related objects and driving under the influence of drugs, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report.
A little after 8 a.m., a deputy saw the man driving a Honda Accord without a seat belt and pulled him over on McFarland Parkway at Bluegrass Lakes Parkway.
The deputy conducted a DUI investigation after reportedly noticing signs of impairment. The deputy also could smell a faint odor of burned marijuana emanating from the Honda. On the driver-side floorboard, the deputy noticed a box for a device used to consume concentrated forms of THC, according to the report.
After completing the DUI investigation, the deputy arrested the man and searched the Honda.
The deputy reportedly found jars containing THC wax, a concentrated form of marijuana. A glass pipe and device for consuming the concentrates were also allegedly found in the car.
Roswell native finds adventure, strength on Appalachian Trail
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Hudson Brock felt relief and joy finishing up the last few feet of his almost 2,200-mile hike.
“I got a little emotional,” Brock said.
His parents were waiting on July 20 at a base camp at the foot of Mount Katahdin, Maine, which marks the end of the Appalachian Trail. They welcomed him home with a fried chicken sandwich, an extravagant meal after five months of mostly bland trail food.
Since setting out in early March in Georgia, the 24-year-old Roswell native had hiked through 14 states, enduring wet and cold weather, aching feet, countless blisters, sometimes 20-plus-mile days and, sometimes, doubts about his endurance.
About one in four hikers who set out on the trail actually finish, The Appalachian Trail Conservancy estimates.
“I remember on Day 3 thinking, ‘How am I ever going to do this?”’ Brock said. But by the end, he knew he could.
Brock was introduced to backpacking in his youth when his father would take him on treks in North Georgia. As he grew older, the trips got longer, sometimes stretching several days, and on those walks, father and son would sometimes run into Appalachian Trail hikers, who
Hudson Brock, 24, reaches the top of Mount Katahdin, Maine, on July 20 near the end the Appalachian Trail. Brock set out on the journey in early March after graduating from Kennesaw State.
related tales of adventure.
While attending Kennesaw State for a computer engineering degree, Brock began to see the Appalachian Trail as a pinnacle,
one-in-a-lifetime achievement and something he might want to do himself.
“I realized that this is seriously something I want to do,” he said.
After graduating, Brock eased himself into the routine of walking with a heavy pack, building up to longer and longer walks. Although those practice runs were invaluable, he said, the reality of taking on the trail was something else entirely.
Slightly overweight, it was difficult getting used to a 45-pound pack that contained mostly food but also cold weather gear, a spare set of “town clothes,” satellite messenger to text his parents, sleeping bag, water filter, phone, charger and much more.
Burning about 4,000 calories a day, Brock got leaner and stronger. He learned invaluable lessons, like what he needed to carry and what he could do without. And he found an inner strength.
“I was able to push my mental boundaries,” he said, adding, “The thing you got to tell yourself is, ‘As I’m hiking, it gets easier.’ You get used to it.”
He also experienced those adventures he had once dreamed about. The journey has given him a new perspective on not only what he is capable of but also people and the importance of kindness.
“I have a new outlook on how kind people are,” he said. “You meet so many
great people.”
Brock said he cherishes many fond memories, like the companionship he experienced huddling around a tiny fire on a below-freezing night in North Carolina, watching a distant storm roll in from a mountain meadow vista point, a 28-mile walk for a milkshake in New York, or the time some “trail angels” appeared with burgers, Bratwurst and a TV for a movie night of the 1991 thriller “Point Break.”
“I would say I definitely got my fill of adventures,” he said.
Despite those magical experiences, Brock said he is relieved to be at home, out of the cold and damp and able to enjoy meals other than the prepackaged variety he’d grown weary of.
He admitted he misses some things, like talking shop with fellow hikers and being able to eat anything without worrying about gaining weight.
In January, he plans to pursue a master’s in computer engineering before kicking off his professional career.
Although the Appalachian Trail may be behind him, Brock said he is just getting started. The voyage, he said, has ignited a passion for hiking, and he suspects taking on the Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails are in his future.
“I think I’m going to have a love for the trail for the rest of my life,” he said.
PROVIDED
Local mentalist aims to leave audiences in ‘stunned silence’
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — When Rick Silver clocks out from his day job in IT, he steps in front of audiences to showcase his ability to perform awe-inducing routines.
“I call it ‘stunned silence,’” said Silver, who uses a pseudonym.
The Johns Creek resident is a mentalist. No, not a magician, a trickster with big colorful props. He’s not contacting spirits in an unseen world as a medium either.
The “routines” or “effects” he performs are simple. Everything he needs can fit in a briefcase, containing things like a stainless-steel blindfold, a jumbo deck of cards, a chalkboard (used to make predictions) and books to conduct a multiphase test.
The book test starts with handing out a book, asking someone to turn to any page and pick a word that Silver later reveals. Then, several books are handed out, a random page number is chosen, and he describes what is written on the pages his audience members are looking at.
“My unique selling point is [it’s] unique entertainment,” Silver said.
Using intellect
Donning a vest, as he does when he’s in performer mode or when he attends Chamber of Commerce events, Silver had appeared at two this particular morning. During one the week before, he managed
RICK SILVER/PROVIDED
Rick Silver, a Johns Creek-based mentalist, performs with a stainless-steel blindfold around his face for a gig in St. Louis in May. For the routine, Silver identifies several personal items when they are held near his fingertips, later revealing a photograph someone has on their phone.
to perform a routine during his 25-second elevator pitch.
While his shows are family friendly, Silver’s acts are for people ages 16 and up. He said children wouldn’t understand the “intellect,” the “impossibility.”
“A mentalist is more intellectual,” Silver said. “It’s still fun and entertaining … but it's more about the mind. It’s more audience participation, less props.”
He also said mentalism is more relatable than magic.
“If I were to make someone disappear or change something into a different color, it’s amazing, it’s fun, but you really can’t relate to it,” Silver said. “It’s not something you do every day, right? But, if I were to read a thought that you had, or if you were to look at a deck of cards, you know, like maybe five cards, and I could tell you what those cards were, right? You can relate to that.”
During a demonstration to Appen Media, Silver performed the same card
routine, correctly naming all but one in a small hand by number and suit, concentrating between each with eyebrows furrowed, now and then lifting his hands up to his temples.
He was only one number off for the last card. Correct suit, though.
Young magician
Silver took an interest in magic at around 7 or 8 years old, like other young boys, and performed for his sister’s birthday parties for a few years. It later turned into a 20-year career.
“I stopped performing as a young teen, and then when I was 26, somebody showed me a trick with just three little pennies that moved from hand to hand, and that spark came back,” Silver said. “So, I joined the magic club, started getting into it, met a guy who would book some performers out for $40 a show.”
That guy got a larger cut. Nowadays, though, Silver takes home $500 for a 45-minute mentalism set for audiences of up to 200 people.
The furthest he’s traveled for a gig is St. Louis. Part of the appeal in mentalism is that he can take a briefcase anywhere, saving his wrist from carpal tunnel, and his back, from carrying the heavy props magicians require to do their tricks.
With a year of training under his belt, Silver started up his rebrand last year. He continues to study ways to mystify audiences, with books and DVDs, adapting material from well-known mentalists like Richard Osterlind, who has a 50year career in the industry.
“I’m always trying to learn something new,” Silver said.
A new routine Silver wants to try is metal bending, so he might add spoons into his briefcase soon.
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Rick Silver, a Johns Creek-based mentalist, holds a deck of cards he used for a live demonstration for Appen Media.
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Off Leash brings dog oasis to Alpharetta’s Main Street
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An explosion in pet ownership following the COVID pandemic has spurred new dog parks to pop up around the country.
One of the newest – and one of the most unique – is Off Leash Alpharetta at 142 South Main St.
The first-of-its-kind luxury dog park combines different concepts with outdoor and indoor spaces, a canine-friendly dining patio and a human-only indoor restaurant and bar.
Off Leash Alpharetta sports a 22,000-square-foot turfed field outside and a 3,000-square-foot indoor park.
The brainchild of co-founders Wendy Newman and Lonnie Cooper welcomed its 142 founding members for the opening July 14.
With more than 100 canines in the park at its member-only event, Newman said there were no incidents between dogs, thanks to her well-trained staff.
Dog bars in Metro Atlanta like Fetch Park offer a social hub for dog owners and lovers. The concept from Newman and Cooper follows a similar thread with their own unique spin on the dog park business.
While some competition exists in Metro Atlanta, Off Leash Alpharetta goes beyond the typical municipal dog park.
Anyone is welcome to dine with or without their dog at Off Leash, but guests must have an active membership or day pass to enjoy the off-leash portion of the outdoor and indoor parks.
With an additional brick-and-mortar location planned to open in Decatur next year, Off Leash provides a relaxed, inviting atmosphere with professionally trained “dogtenders” on hand to ensure a safe and happy experience for patrons.
OFF LEASH ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED
businesses were still trucking along, he and I decided that we wanted to start a ventures company,” she said. “This idea was born out of that.”
Newman said the goal is to continue to build the Off Leash brand.
“This is our flagship, we won’t have any other location that will be quite as big as this,” she said. “The goal is to take this type of business into other locations and scale it based on the community.”
Newman said the next Off Leash location in Decatur at 240 East Trinity Place will be smaller but with the same concept.
“The one in Decatur will have an outdoor space and a big, covered area with heaters and fans,” she said.
Construction has yet to begin, but doors are expected to open in 2025.
Park welcomes members
Off Leash Alpharetta is open from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
All dogs are required to be spayed or neutered and current on vaccines.
Newman, a Dunwoody native, assessed the first few days of operation.
“It’s been really good, I think there’s a lot of things we’re figuring out in this first week,” she said. “Because this is ours, we have the ability to pivot and make adjustments.”
Newman said the next hurdle is letting Alpharetta residents know that Off Leash is now open and welcoming patrons.
Pandemic sparks new venture
The agency now lists clients like Ernie Johnson Jr., John Smoltz and Nate McMillan.
Newman said she started at the agency in the early 2000s, working alongside Cooper with his marketing and talent agencies.
“I came in as the assistant controller for his business,” Newman said. “I am now the CEO over those business.”
With Newman as CEO since 2017, Cooper Holdings now owns the marketing agency You Are Here; the digital firm IfThen; talent agency CSE; and its newest business Lonnie Cooper Ventures.
For more information about membership and FAQs, visit www. oldogpark.com/.
Off Leash co-founder Cooper started an industry-leading sports and media talent agency in 1986, Career Sports & Entertainment.
Membership benefits include unlimited year-round or month-to-month access, discounts on food and nonalcoholic beverages and invitations to exclusive members-only gatherings.
Newman said there are special events planned like doggy yoga, pet adoptions, mobile grooming and training workshops, open to the public.
She said Off Leash Alpharetta will have a set up for college football games on Saturdays in the fall, and its craft
Off Leash Alpharetta co-founders Wendy Newman and Lonnie Cooper, center, cut the ribbon on their newest venture July 17 with members of the Alpharetta City Council, Mayor Jim Gilvin and K-9 units from the Police Department. Newman said her golden retriever Shiloh, pictured front center, is almost always hanging out at the dog park. See LEASH, Page 12
“When COVID happened and our other
5 absolute must-haves in the bathroom
Throughout America major changes are happening in the bathroom, especially in the shower. North Atlanta expanded rapidly from 1980 to 2005, and this is the era of jetted tubs dominating the bathroom, claustrophobic gold framed showers, poor lighting and the use of materials that promoted mold and mildew (grout).
“We see this every day”, says John Hogan, owner of Bath and Kitchen Galleria in Alpharetta, “Homeowners are tired of recurring grout issues, and they want their bathrooms to be a soothing pleasant experience.” Bath and Kitchen Galleria just completed their 1000th project and bathrooms are their primary type of project. “We have a formula that works for homeowners that balances bathroom aesthetics, function and price.”
In the bathroom, America has realigned its preferences, and the bathroom has taken a new shape in terms of products and appearance. At the center of “America’s New Bathroom” is a larger, open shower. We take more showers than baths, so the emphasis has shifted to the shower. Larger showers are more inviting and in most cases the shower does not have a ceiling. The openness of
the shower is the mold solution. In concert with the openness is the abundant use of shower glass. Not just any glass but specially coated glass that makes cleaning far less frequent. “We remodel just about every shower to be a maximum of 2 tiled walls: the remaining walls are always glass,” Mr. Hogan continued, “abundant glass and strategically located lighting, promotes that spa feeling.” Bathrooms are now engineered to be cleaner, both in design and materials; grout no longer promotes mold, nonporous tile remains clean, and humidity sensing fans automatically exhaust unwanted humidity.
Americans are taking shorter showers, but an abundance of water is also desired, so multiple shower heads especially incorporating a handheld wand is preferred. Especially when a bench is included, the water needs to be accessible from a seated position.
The 5 Absolute Must-Haves in a Bathroom: Bigger Showers, Brighter Bathrooms, Designs that Promote Cleanliness, Abundant Water experiences and Soothing Colors. For more information visit Bath and Kitchen Galleria’s showroom at 10591 Old Alabama Rd Connector in Alpharetta (no appointment needed) or call them at 678-4592292.
Brought to you by - Bath and Kitchen Galleria
Top tips for creating a design budget
Brought to you by – Bill Rawlings and Sherri Conrad, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty
Creating a design budget for your home renovation or new build is a vital step that can make or break the success of your project. It’s also one of the most vexing parts of the process, even if you’ve been through a design project or a remodel before.
The best creative environments thrive on financial boundaries—they keep everyone accountable and help clarify and define your vision. As any contractor, designer or architect will attest, the only thing more challenging than sticking to a budget is not having one to guide the project at all. Here are our top tips for creating an effective design budget, ensuring your dream home comes to life with the least amount of wear and tear on your credit card:
1. Think in terms of ‘investment,’ not ‘cost.’
It helps to view your interior design budget as a percentage of your property’s value, not a separate expense. A good rule of thumb is to start at 10 percent of your property’s cost. This approach not only helps maintain a cohesive, high-quality aesthetic but also ensures that your
design budget aligns with the property’s value, ultimately boosting its market appeal and long-term return on investment. The best plans also build in room for the unexpected—budget creep, delays, price increases and more—at least 25 percent of the overall budget.
2. Plan projects in phases.
This smart strategy allows you to spread expenditures over time. The master plan keeps your project on track in a logical manner while pacing the work according to what you can afford on a quarterly or monthly basis. On a large scale, a comprehensive home renovation might organize its phases by room, while a smaller-scale single-room update might begin with foundational repairs, progress to major furnishings, move on to lighting and accessories and end with personal touches.
3. Consult a professional.
Interior designers are valuable resources for managing a design budget effectively. They can advise intelligently on where to spend vs. where to save, and they often have relationships with suppliers, contractors and vendors. Use them to avoid costly mistakes.
Creating a stunning and functional living environment within your financial means is possible! If you need assistance renovating your home or have any other real estate needs, please contact Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty at 770.442.7300. We would be happy to assist you!
Compiled
and edited by
Angela Valente, Marketing Copywriter/ Copyeditor
Bill Rawlings and Sherri Conrad
PEXELS
LAKE LANIER
Patrick Malloy Communities now building in Trilith
Brought to you by – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division
Award-winning Patrick Malloy Communities (PMC) has announced its latest project: the construction of 20 additional Palmyra terrace homes in the renowned Trilith community in Fayetteville. These new homes are set to elevate the living experience within Trilith, a vibrant, innovative neighborhood known for its strong ties to the nearby Trilith Studios, which produces blockbuster movies and hit TV series.
The Palmyra terrace homes offer a blend of luxury and sustainability, featuring 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a 2-car garage, with the added benefit of geothermal energy. Priced between $749,900 and $868,900, these homes are available for presale now, with an estimated closing date in the Spring. Early buyers will have the unique opportunity to personalize their homes by selecting finishes at the PMC award-winning design center, to ensure their individual style and preferences.
Each home will feature a host of desirable amenities designed to enhance comfort and luxury. These include 11 ft ceilings that create a sense of spaciousness, expansive front patios with custom brick walls that provide an inviting outdoor living space, and a finished drop zone for convenient organization. Inside, residents will enjoy the warmth and ambiance of a gas fireplace, and additional flex space on the second level offers versatility for various needs. The homes also include zero entry showers for ease of access, custom closets for ample storage, and optional elevator capability for added convenience. These thoughtful features underscore PMC’s commitment to quality and attention to detail, ensuring that each home meets the highest standards of modern living.
Patrick Malloy Communities has a history of excellence in homebuilding. Founded in 1994 by Patrick Malloy, the company has developed over 11,000 homesites and built 7,000 homes across Metro Atlanta and Savannah, amassing more than $4 billion in sales. In 2021 and 2022, PMC was the recipient of the Guildmaster Awards from GuildQuality for demonstrating exceptional customer service within the residential construction industry. The company’s dedication to quality has earned it a place on the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 20 Homebuilder list multiple times, as well as numerous professionalism awards, including several Community of the Year honors.
Trilith redefines suburban living. Located just 30 minutes south of downtown Atlanta, it boasts a pedestrian-
friendly layout with a meticulously curated Town Centre with a variety of unique dining and retail establishments. Known for its diverse architectural influences and team of award-winning homebuilders, homes at Trilith range from enchanting Provencal cottages to grand Mediterranean estates with Cottages from $675,000, Terrace Homes from $749,900, and Village Homes from $1,275,000. There are also homesites available to design and build your custom home.
What truly sets Trilith apart is its commitment to sustainability and quality of life. With 51% green space, the community offers an array of amenities that cater to all ages and interests. Fifteen miles of walking trails weave through lush surroundings, providing breathtaking views and fostering a strong sense of community. The inclusion of a dog park and outdoor art collection enhances the outdoor experience, making it a haven for pet owners and art enthusiasts alike.
Trilith is nothing short of a paradise for people who love sports. The community features tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball courts, and well-equipped playgrounds, ensuring there’s always something to do. Numerous fire pits scattered throughout the area create the perfect ambiance for gatherings, fostering a tight-knit community spirit. Additionally, the Piedmont Wellness Center offers stateof-the-art health and fitness services, underscoring Trilith’s commitment to a holistic lifestyle.
Homeowners at Trilith have the chance to become part of a dynamic, innovative community that is setting new standards for suburban living. With luxurious homes, unparalleled amenities, and a commitment to sustainability, Trilith is not just a place to live—it’s a place to thrive.
For more information about the new homes at Trilith or to visit the decorated model homes, call 678.519.1008 or visit TrilithRealEstate.com. Sales at Trilith are managed by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties New Homes Division. An equal housing opportunity.
All about cyber security
Brought to you by – Estates Law Center USA
In today’s digital age, safeguarding our estate planning client’s personal information is crucial. While our law firm ensures the highest cyber security, many businesses and individuals fail to do the minimum to protect their personal information. Cybersecurity threats target individuals everywhere, making it essential to protect yourself with these key tips
Password Management: Create strong, unique passwords for every account to defend against cyber threats. Stop using the same login credentials everywhere!
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enhance security with two-factor authentication. Enable 2FA for your accounts whenever possible. A second verification process, such as a code sent to your phone or an authentication app, reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
Device Security: Regularly update your operating system, software, and applications to protect against vulnerabilities. Install reputable antivirus software and ensure your device’s firewall is enabled to block unauthorized access.
Network Security: Secure your Wi-Fi network with a strong password and change the default login credentials of
your router. Avoid accessing sensitive information on public Wi-Fi. Email and Phishing: Be wary of unsolicited emails, especially those requesting personal information or containing suspicious links. Verify the sender’s email address and look for signs of phishing, such as misspellings or unusual requests. Many seniors get scammed from suspicious links.
Data Protection: Regularly back up important data to an external drive or cloud storage. Use encryption to protect sensitive data on your devices and during transmission.
Browsing Habits: Only enter personal information on websites that use HTTPS. Using ad blockers can help reduce the risk of encountering malicious ads. Social media and Mobile Security: Adjust privacy settings on social media platforms to control who can view your information. Be cautious about sharing personal details online. On mobile devices, review app permissions and only download apps from trusted sources.
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HOLLY GEERDES Estate Law Center USA Top 5% Super Lawyer in Georgia
PROVIDED
OPINION
Clock strikes midnight for pesky backyard pests
I participated in a murder for hire escapade recently. I don’t foresee any incarceration, although I will most certainly have my face plastered upon a “Wanted for Murder” poster throughout the Southeast.
It’s a sure bet I am being vilified and retaliation is being planned.
Yep, those yellow jackets will probably want a heaping helping of revenge. I don’t care about those ornery bastids. My yard, formerly a waystation for those buzzing miscreants, have been vanquished. But I needed some help.
After a Sunday cookout that was a feast for those flying menaces, with family members being the main course for the buzzers’ buffet, I swore that I would unleash seven kinds of hell and reclaim my yard.
My first action was to enlist the help of native Georgian Burford “Slats” McElroy. I figured he was the right man for this monumental task.
“What you need to do is give them sonsabitches a Cosmic Fireball,” Slats knowingly slurred.
Figuring Slats had confused pest control methods with a trip to his private distillery, I knew I was in for a colorful description of the methodology of using a Cosmic Fireball to eradicate those stinging nuisances.
“You take a five-gallon can of gas. Now it can be regular or premium. Put on five layers of clothes so the stings don’t hurt too bad. Take that gas, dump it down the hole where the nest is. Light a match, and buddy, run like hell. Them yellerjackets be burned to a crisp.
“But watch out for the survivors. Them sonsabitches will be ornery and maybe eat your TV.”
Slats was giving me a headache and I told him he shouldn’t use so many cusswords.
“I asked my preacher about my cussin’ while he was handling three or four copperheads, and he said ‘sonsabitches’ is okay. ‘Sons’ not a nasty word. Ditto for ‘a.’ And ‘bitches’ is what we call half of those 88 dogs out back.”
Thank heavens for the experts at Forsyth Exterminating, our regular pest control service. Cindy, the owner, shared that yellowjackets were particularly contrary this year. She also said that a Cosmic Fireball would likely necessitate the fire department being called due to an out-of-control inferno.
Cindy dispatched David and he arrived with yellowjacket killing gear. When he arrived, you could almost sense a little less buzzing and some yellowjacket prayers being said. I was all in and ready for a massive yellowjacket funeral.
David donned a beekeeper’s suit and headed for the nests, which were massive. All we needed was Michael Buffer intoning: “Let’s get ready to rumble!” The yellowjackets had turned into squatters whose summer festivities were about to come to a smoking, choking end. It wasn’t even a close fight.
David got on his hands and knees, rooting out the nests while the angry menaces tried their best to discourage him by way of their stingers. Thankfully, the pests were over-matched, and the nests were destroyed. All that was left of them was a powdery residue that was like Kryptonite to any flying stragglers that might have thoughts of returning home.
David’s encyclopedic knowledge was a blessing. His talents were needed at four other sites where yellowjackets had taken up residence. He was enthusiastic when he showed me the destroyed nests and he was excited to make those four more stops that day, relishing the chance to playing Luca Brasi to the yellowjacket population.
Before he departed, there was a gleam in his eye, not about shedding the beekeeper duds. Someone was being bugged by a hornet’s nest as big as a pumpkin.
Sadly, for the flying nuisances, the clock was about to strike midnight.
Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail. com.
MIKE TASOS Columnist
Leash:
Continued from Page 5
Rainy weather isn’t a problem. Off Leash’s indoor, covered space welcomes pups during inclement weather for day play.
Founders pick Alpharetta
The former Rite Aid building at South Main Street and Old Milton Parkway served as great bones for the buildout of the state-of-the-art dog park.
Newman said the location struck her instantly.
“We have a great commercial real estate broker we’ve been using for years, and we put him on a mission,” she said.
After looking at more than 50 locations, Newman said she could see the completed facility when she drove up to the property two years ago.
Patrons may notice the old pharmacy drive through, now a transition zone
Correction
between the indoor and outdoor areas.
“We wanted a big outdoor patio and the ability to have indoor dog space,” Newman said. “The lot behind this Rite Aid was perfect for outdoor space.”
A story published July 25 stated that services from SomeTheme Weddings and Events start at $35,000. That price is for a full wedding package, while planning services start at $1,500. kitchen offers a full menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The most significant work involved the drainage system with an underground detention pond for the turf field.
When patrons enter the front doors of Off Leash Alpharetta, the indoor restaurant’s high ceilings and new garage doors make the former Rite Aid building hard to recognize.
Newman said the only place off limits to dogs is the indoor restaurant. It also happens to be one of the only violated rules during its first week of operations.
She said it takes a visit or two to get used to the layout of the dog park. Some patrons are so excited when they arrive that they head straight into the indoor dining room with their pet.
“We definitely are reminding people that being in the park with your dog is important, it’s not a doggie day care,” she said. “We did this so you can be with your dog.”
Tax:
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Just after approving the agreement, commissioners unanimously approved a measure ordering the county’s Board of Elections to call a vote for SPLOST IX.
Cumming originally bargained for a 7.91 percent share, but commissioners rejected that proposal at their July 18 meeting.
Commissioners directed County Manager David McKee to counter with an offer of 6.22 percent after they learned McKee had already reached a tentative agreement on the 7.91 percent pitch.
The Board of Commissioners shot down that proposal in a 3-2 vote with commissioners Mills and Todd Levent voting for the measure.
“I don’t think we have a choice,” Levent said. “We are down to the wire now.”
Commissioners said they were displeased with their level of involvement in the initial negotiations and late stage at which they occurred.
Commissioner Laura Semanson said she was disappointed with the
We may have still landed at a close, similar number, but I’m really disappointed that there wasn’t more interaction with our board on this.”
LAURA SEMANSON District 5 Commissioner
lack of involvement by the board in the negotiations that had occurred between McKee and Cumming officials.
“There’s been a complete lack of transparency in how this was negotiated, and that really to me is a political role that was not being handled by the decision makers,” Semanson said. “We may have still landed at a close, similar number, but I’m really disappointed that there wasn’t more interaction with our board on this.”
Mills was equally frustrated.
“We should not be waiting until right now to be a part of it,” Mills said, “because that’s how things become unraveled.”
OFF LEASH ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED
A look inside the Off Leash Alpharetta restaurant shows the finished product after remodeling the former Rite Aid building at South Main Street and Old Milton Parkway.
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workforce and our unions.”
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ED ME TE SE NN A GR AM IL L BEA D EM MA
JA MA IC A PI AN IS T
UT EN SI L PE R NE T GE R AI L YU M EL S
A number of down-ballot Democrats, running for offices ranging from the U.S. House of Representatives to the county’s Board of Education, also attended and delivered speeches during the rally. The event’s speakers praised Harris’ political history, focusing on her and President Joe Biden’s investments into Georgia’s economy and support for labor unions.
“The Biden-Harris administration has created over 480,000 jobs in Georgia,” said Ashwin Ramaswami, who is running for Georgia State Senate District 48. “When we elect her president, Kamala Harris, along with Democrats, will continue fighting to strengthen our
Speakers also decried former President Donald Trump’s conservative agenda, honing in on the issue of abortion restrictions. State Sen. Josh McLaurin, who is also the former roommate of Trump’s running mate JD Vance, said that America is “not going back to Trump’s extreme vision.”
“[Republicans] have a dangerous plan at their fingertips to use every arm of the federal government to enact this agenda and attack reproductive freedom,” McLaurin said. “They want to prosecute doctors for sending medication abortion in the mail, and Vance has demanded that the Department of Justice do that.”
Harris’ campaign began just over 100 days ahead of Election Day, utilizing the infrastructure of Biden’s intended reelection campaign. Forsyth County’s
coordinated campaign office was initially intended to support the Biden campaign, but quickly switched gears after the president announced July 21 that he was dropping his 2024 bid and endorsing Harris to succeed him.
Attendees of Sunday’s rally felt that the switch, while sudden, had energized some Democrats who were less enthusiastic about Biden and would bolster the party’s turnout in November. Bonnie Avera, a resident of Johns Creek, said she was happy to have Harris at the top of the Democratic ticket, as she would be more responsive to women’s rights issues.
“We’ve been ‘othered’ for a long time,” Avera said. “I think it’s a woman’s time to be the leader of America. There are leaders all over the world that are women, and it’s time for us to join that crowd.”
JAKE DRUKMAN/APPEN MEDIA
Ashwin Ramaswami, a candidate for Georgia State Senate District 48, speaks at a Democratic campaign office opening July 28.
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