Sue Bova, center, Forsyth County resident and animal advocate, pets Rose, a dog she said was rescued with 40 others from hoarding, on Aug. 15. The Forsyth County Commission approved animal code changes that define hoarding and require owners to apply for permits if they repeatedly violate the law.
By JON WILCOX
jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. —
Changes to a county ordinance aim to give animal control officers the teeth they need to stop pet hoarding and neglect.
The Forsyth County Commission unanimously approved animal code amendments, which add a legal definition of hoarding and dog permit requirements, at their Aug. 15 meeting.
“Often times there are hindrances to them being able to properly build their case to get
the situation resolved the way it needs to,” Commissioner Laura Semanson said.
The new definition for hoarding describes the act as collecting multiple animals and failing to provide them with adequate and humane standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter or veterinary care; collecting and failing to dispose of dead animals; or housing animals in “filthy, unsanitary” conditions. The ordinance also now makes hoarding illegal and allows county Animal Services staff to
See BOLSTER, Page 4
and
commissioners
15.
Officials approve 2 early fall hunts aimed at thinning deer population
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — County residents are invited to participate in two hunts during the fall to help control local deer populations.
The Forsyth County Commission approved the hunts during their Aug. 6 work session to minimize damage caused by deer to landscaping as well as the natural habitat, improve herd health and reduce an increase in vehicle collisions.
“Having received a number of complaints from residents in the south Forsyth area about deer destroying their landscaping and deer-related vehicle accidents, we reached out the Department of Natural Resources to discuss options that have been successful not only in Georgia but also across the United States,” said Assistant County Manager Tony Tarnacki.
The hunts are the result of a cooperative endeavor between Forsyth County and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Urban Deer Management Program. The assistant county manager worked with county staff and the state department to develop the deer management program.
Two free hunts are scheduled between dawn and dusk Sept. 2122 and Oct. 26-27 on 287 acres
See HUNT, Page 15
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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 55-year-old Lithonia man was arrested Aug. 2 on an indecency charge after he was found allegedly bathing nude in a stream.
A woman contracted to move sand from around the stream near Fowler Park told deputies she had seen the man, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report. The man yelled at her, asking her if she wanted to take a bath with him, she said.
When deputies located a man matching the woman’s description, he denied being nude.
Deputies noticed his feet were muddy and his backpack contained a bottle of shampoo and wet washcloth, according to the report. The man’s skin was damp.
After the man was detained in handcuffs, the woman identified him as the man she had seen naked.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A Gainesville man was arrested on a stalking charge Aug. 6.
Deputies received a call reporting a suspicious vehicle about 11 p.m. Aug. 5 at Terracewood Lane, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report. The caller reported a man running from the vehicle into woods.
After responding to the call, deputies determined the vehicle was registered to a man with a home address listed on an adjacent
roadway.
When a deputy knocked on the door of the address, a woman answered. She told deputies the man was her husband, whom she was in the process of divorcing.
She said she felt he had been stalking her for a few weeks and that he had admitted hiring a private investigator to follow her. The private investigator, she said, had followed her to a restaurant while she was with another man.
Her husband, she said, had followed her home from the restaurant, grabbing and ripping the other man’s shirt.
After talking to deputies, the woman called her husband, who said he was playing poker at a Cumming bar.
Deputies located the man during a traffic stop near the home.
He was arrested and told that his behavior was concerning and seemed to be a part of a pattern.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — An Alpharetta man reported on Aug. 2 a person had attempted to extort him for an explicit picture he had taken.
The man told deputies he had taken the picture to send to his wife, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report. The man saved the image on his phone to send to her later.
The man received a text message accusing him of sending the photo to a minor they know. The texter also threatened him by saying they had pictures of his wife and children and they would be in danger if he blocked the texts.
The person sending the texts told the man he would be sorry unless he sent money.
The man ultimately decided to block the messages and contact the sheriff’s office. He did not send money.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested a 43-year-old Johns Creek man Aug. 10 after he left a bar, then led police in a high-speed chase on Jones Bridge Road.
When police spoke with the suspect at the bar, they noticed signs that he was too intoxicated to drive and offered him a courtesy ride home, according to the incident report. The man declined the offer and said he would walk home, the report says.
But, the suspect walked toward his car, got in, and left the parking lot at a high speed, according to the report.
Police then attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the suspect continued to accelerate at more than 100 mph on Jones Bridge Road, the report says.
After making several turns, the suspect veered into oncoming traffic near Egmont Drive and collided with an assisting officer. He then exited the vehicle and ran on foot and attempted to climb a fence.
Police were able to pull the suspect down and handcuff him, but he continued to fight officers.
Police said he attempted to bite an officer and used his knees to strike the officer in the head. While being placed in a hobble restraint, the suspect attempted to mule kick another officer, police said.
Ambulance services arrived and sedated the suspect.
Police charged the man with failure to obey signs or control devices; a violation of signal required performing a lane change; speeding; two counts of improper/erratic lane change; improper left turn; two counts of driving on wrong side of the road; failure to obey stop sign; reckless driving; driving under the influence; fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer; interference with government property; unsafe vehicle; and two counts of willful obstruction of law enforcement officers.
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County School Board is considering a pitch from county officials to help finance a mega-development that may lure professional hockey to the area.
At an Aug. 13 board meeting, Forsyth County Manager David McKee presented two options for financing bonds to support The Gathering at South Forsyth.
School Board members made no commitments but agreed to make a decision at a later date.
The Gathering is a proposed $2 billion mega-mixed-use development project off Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Union Hill Road. Plans call for creating an entertainment district, including an arena to house an NHL franchise.
Forsyth County would issue a $390 million revenue-backed bond to finance the project.
McKee said the county is looking at two possibilities to finance The Gathering’s $225-million debt service — a tax allocation district or payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, project.
School districts, cities and counties may decide independently whether to participate in a tax allocation district (TAD) or PILOT, according to Georgia Main Street
SCREENSHOT
Krause Sports and Entertainment CEO Vernon Krause, left, and his attorney, Ed Dovin, speak to School Board members Aug. 13 about benefits The Gathering would bring to the county.
Program. Forsyth County schools are funded significantly by local property taxes.
A tax allocation district, or TAD, would finance the bonds through tax revenue generated from the increase in property values in a 100-acre area around The Gathering.
Voters will consider formation of the tax district in a November referendum.
A PILOT project would offer a tax incentive to the developer by reducing their property tax obligation and replacing them with payments that would fund the bonds.
If The Gathering is able to secure an
NHL franchise, county officials would return to the School Board with an agreement for one of the two options.
“The last piece of this puzzle is school board authorization,” McKee said. “And essentially what this resolution that’s before you today is agreeing to agree.”
Both options would be viable for paying for the bonds, but McKee said the tax allocation district would be simpler.
“It’s a different flavor of the same concept,” he said.
Ed Dovin, an attorney for The Gathering development team member Vernon
Krause, told the School Board the project represents the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for his client.
“He said, ‘It’s always been my dream to have a sports franchise.’ Vernon is not (just) a developer. He is a lover of sports,” Dovin said.
Since its inception, developers have planned for The Gathering to pay for itself through property tax revenue, Dovin said.
The Gathering would include 1.6 million square feet of commercial space, a 750,000-square-foot arena, community center and 450 hotel rooms.
“This is really the ultimate opportunity not just for him but for this county,” Dovin said. “It will change the state of Georgia, but it will change this area forever.”
Forsyth County schools would be allowed to host graduation ceremonies at The Gathering.
Dovin also emphasized the importance of moving quickly on the project considering it has a competitor, New York Life Insurance Co., which took ownership of Alpharetta’s North Point Mall in 2021.
“We’ve got a competitor right down the road that’s trying to transform North Point Mall, … and they want to turn that into a hockey venue or some other project of that kind,” Dovin said. “We’re ahead of them now … but we want to move as expeditiously as we can.”
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Commission unanimously approved a property tax rate at 7.896 mills at its Aug. 15 meeting.
That millage rate has remained the same since 2021.
One mill generates $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, which by state law, is 40 percent of
a property’s real – or fair market –value. A home that is worth $100,000 on the market would have a taxable value of $40,000, and a levy of 1 mill would cost the homeowner $40 in taxes.
Maintaining the rate, Board Chairman Alfred John said, instills residents with confidence that the county government is in balance.
While the county’s overall property tax rate is the same, its components have changed.
certify they have read the ordinance’s requirements for properly caring for dogs.
The fire millage rate will increase to 2.505 mills, compared to last year’s levy of 2.175. The maintenance and operations rate will stay at 4.791. The bond millage rate will drop to 0.6 mills, which marks a decrease from the previous year’s 0.930 mills.
Countywide, the value of property grew 7.1 percent this year, meaning total collections are predicted to increase. Reassessments of existing properties account for most of the increase. Just under half comes from
and disease from poorly maintained properties.
new construction.
Increases in property values meant the maintenance and operations property taxes levied by the county this year will increase by a net 3.95 percent.
John said the county’s education and public safety have attracted residents to the county, driving the rise in property values.
“People are then willing to pay a premium that then causes property values to rise,” John said. Continued from Page 1
seize animals held in those conditions.
Requirements for permits were also added for dog owners convicted three or more times within a two-year period for violating the code’s sections on dogs running at large, tethering, failing to vaccinate or quarantine, and disturbing the peace. Residents convicted of cruelty or neglect to animals also are required to apply for permits.
Residents who apply for permits must consent to home inspections and
“We get a lot of repeat offenders to where they are on their third, fourth or fifth citations,” said Lauren Kirk, Animal Services senior officer. “They can shut the door on our face and say, ‘You can’t be here.’ But with this, they can’t do that.”
In the new ordinance, commissioners said their intent was not to restrict dog ownership for residents who responsibly care for their animals. The ordinance’s purpose, according to county documents, is to help residents who are affected by noise, loose animals
The changes come months after the arrest of six people and seizure of six dogs and two lizards in a Forsyth County animal cruelty case.
Animal Services staff said three puppies from a home were euthanized because they were sick with parvovirus, despite repeated warnings to the residents of the disease. In January, the department’s staff found a sick dog inside the home and dead dog on the front porch.
Officials said the home was “in extreme filth and disarray, with trash, feces and urine throughout.”
About 250,000 animals are victims of hoarding each year, and there is almost a 100 percent recidivism rate for hoarders, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
At the Aug. 15 meeting, animal welfare advocates urged county commissioners to add the permit requirement and legal definition.
Sue Bova, Forsyth County resident and animal advocate, said the amendments would help authorities in animal cruelty cases like the one that
resulted in arrests in January. She also thanked the board for meeting with and listening to animal rights advocates.
“Passing the new ordinance is not only necessary,” Bova said, “but a humane and responsible thing to do for all who have no voice.”
Samantha Shelton, CEO and founder of the Forsyth County-based Furkids animal rescue, appeared before the commission with Rose, a dog rescued from hoarding.
“I want to thank you,” Shelton said, “for exercising your rights to amend the animal control policies that allow our animal control officers power to save lives like Rose.”
Rose was among 40 other dogs saved from a home in February where deceased and skeletal remains of dogs were found. After being rescued, Rose faced a long road to recovery, undergoing three surgeries.
The changes to the ordinance, Shelton said, could prevent the suffering of pets.
“Rose was a lucky one,” she said, adding, “What you are doing and voting on tonight is important and matters. Their lives matter.”
By JAKE DRUKMAN newsroom@appenmedia.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — While computergenerated actors and self-driving cars aren’t common in Georgia yet, a state Senate committee is at work to evaluate the benefits and risks such technologies may pose.
The Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence, headed by Roswell Sen. John Albers, met at Trilith film studios in Fayetteville on Aug. 14. Committee members discussed the possible applications of AI with stakeholders in Georgia’s film industry and public infrastructure.
Trilith Studios CEO Frank Patterson was the first speaker to address the committee. The studio has produced some of the highest-grossing films of all time, such as “Avengers: Endgame” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”
Patterson discussed ways that artificial intelligence could potentially revolutionize the way films are created, replacing human involvement to a large degree. He noted that current technology is still far from being able to create viable movies without human input.
“We are nowhere close to being able to create characters that have any kind
of humanity,” Patterson said. “I can’t do it, and believe me, I’ve tried… When you’re talking about fictional stories that resonate across humanity, we haven’t figured out how to create a human interaction.”
He said studios will be able to use AI in smaller ways in the near term, such as translating films into other languages for distribution to foreign markets. This is done by having voice actors manually record translated lines and replacing a film’s native dialogue with the translated version. Patterson suggested, however, that AI could both perform the translations and make them sound like the original actor’s voice.
Some acting organizations have railed against such uses of AI in the past, arguing that using technology to replace human labor threatens people’s livelihoods in the film industry.
Patterson and Julie Feagin, CEO of Atlanta-based FilmBook Media, cautioned that AI technology could threaten actors’ — and the public’s — rights to their own names, images and likenesses. Many AI programs can generate realistic images and videos of people without their knowledge or consent.
“AI-generated content is not real,
but it has very real consequences,” Feagin said. “It can cause emotional and financial harm.”
Feagin noted AI has been used to create artificial sexual imagery of real people, known as “deepfakes,” which can damage a person’s reputation and cause major emotional distress. Deepfakes have been the subject of numerous legal disputes in the U.S. over the past several years.
Feagin and Patterson suggested the state take action to protect people’s rights to their images regarding AI recreations.
Alan Davis, a traffic engineer with the Georgia Department of Transportation, was another speaker at Wednesday’s meeting. He suggested AI may one day play a larger role in aiding the state’s transit planning and traffic management. Currently, it plays “little to none” due to such technologies being cost-prohibitive and unreliable.
“Current [AI] models, at least ones that I think would benefit transportation, are not good at outliers,” Davis said. “And if there’s anything that’s full of outliers, it’s transportation and traffic.”
Davis said the state uses several technologies to perform functions such as detecting crashes on traffic cameras and deploying emergency assistance. Still, as of now, these functions are powered by algorithms rather than machine intelligence.
He said fully autonomous vehicles may soon be coming to Georgia. Waymo, a ride-hailing company that offers driverless taxi rides, is “mapping out operations” in Atlanta. Currently, Waymo offers rides in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix.
The state’s Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence is scheduled to hold five more meetings through December. Albers said the committee will draft a final report and recommendations for the General Assembly.
Citizens who wish to share comments with the committee can request to speak at a committee meeting or submit testimony online through the committee’s website.
AZIZ HASHIM, founder and managing partner, NRD Holdings
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs has a new restaurant open, and it’s the first of its kind.
Experiential Brands’ new restaurant concept, SocialBites Food Hub, opened its first location within the Sandy Springs Village shopping center at 6650 Roswell Road in late July.
In the first two weeks of business, Experiential Brands CEO Aziz Hashim said the food hub has hosted families with children, corporate team building exercises and an assortment of Sandy Springs residents and neighbors.
As a food hall, SocialBites Food Hub aims to be a one-stop shop for a night out with friends or family.
While food halls make a profit in high-density commercial and residential areas, the food hub concept looks to combine different service models into something that can last.
In the first two weeks of operations, Hashim said SocialBites has seen just about every customer imaginable, something important to any profitable restaurant business.
The floor plan of the restaurant fits with anyone’s night out preferences. The upstairs features BarSocial, an upscale lounge that looks over the main space below.
Three patios wrap around most
of the building’s exterior, allowing couples and smaller groups to enjoy a more secluded meal.
Hashim, founder and managing partner of National Restaurant Development Capital, brings decades of restaurant experience as both a franchisor and franchisee to SocialBites Food Hub. He is also the person who came up with the concept of a food hub.
“Considering today’s rapidly changing economic environment, demographics and customer preferences, it’s very difficult to imagine that you could pick a winner today and it remain a winner for the next 20 years,” Hashim said. “With the prevalence of delivery options, the reasons to physically come inside a restaurant have diminished.”
SocialBites Food Hub replaces Huey Luey’s Mexican restaurant in the 1970s shopping center at southwest corner of Abernathy and Roswell roads in Sandy Springs.
The old red lettering on the two-story building is gone and less than $200,000 in renovations later, Experiential Brand’s newest venture — SocialBite Food Hub — is welcoming customers.
a profit with a new restaurant concept. After opening in late July, founder Aziz Hashim is optimistic he has a sustainable model.
The 6,500-square-foot space is designed for weekly social gatherings, or “Happenings,” like Monday night trivia, Wednesday Aziz
See HUB, Page 7
Continued from Page 6
evening poker games and live music on the weekends.
Hashim said he thinks there are a lot of outdated restaurant spaces in Metro Atlanta, and he hopes to find a model that works for them.
Experiential Brands is a portfolio of fast casual restaurant brands under the umbrella of private investment firm NDC Capital.
“The idea here was to reimagine the restaurant model,” Hashim said. “Today, especially the fast casual model, is a one-to-one relationship, that means there’s a sign outside and that’s what you sell inside.”
The new colors — cyan, yellow and red — on SocialBite’s storefront match the energy inside and its owner’s spirit of invention.
The typical fast-food chain model limits the abilities of franchisors and franchisees to change with the times, Hashim said.
In his experience, if any fastfood business is struggling to make a profit, the franchisor-franchisee dynamic often ends poorly for an operator.
Unlike fast food chain customers, restaurant patrons flock to food halls for community, variety and affordability.
“Event and meeting space in the food environment is very limited, restaurants are just not designed for that,” Hashim said. “Only the largest ones have party rooms and stuff like that, but that’s expensive.”
For smaller groups of 15 or less, food hubs offer a variety of cuisine, whether groups are craving chicken, tacos or a burger, the food hub has it all.
SOCIALBITES/PROVIDED
A full spread of menu items from The Original Hot Chicken sits on a table at SocialBites Food Hub. The new food hub concept features four additional menu brands, including Inked Tacos, Flametown Burgers, Pinsa Roman Pizza and BarSocial.
But unlike food halls found across Metro Atlanta, SocialBites centralizes all ordering under one kitchen and wait staff.
Conglomerated Host, Ltd is looking for an Accountant to join its team.
Job Description: Corporate office located in Milton, GA has an opening in the Accounting Department. Entry level position with opportunity to advance. Starting pay is $20.00 per hour/approximately 30 hours per week. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel is a plus. How To Apply: Email response to conglomeratedhost@gmail.com or fax to 770-521-0809.
The ability to adapt can make food halls and hubs more successful than older restaurant models.
“If you want to be able to be flexible, then you have to have the ability to change up the menus,” Hashim said. “If the name outside reflects what’s sold inside, then you’ve completely lost that ability.”
When ordering at SocialBites
Food Hub, customers select from one of four brands — The Original Hot Chicken, Inked Tacos, Flametown Burgers and Pinsa Roman Pizza — displayed above the counter like at any Chick-fil-A in Metro Atlanta.
When asked for his favorite brand or menu at the food hub, Hashim smiled and said he’s a burger guy.
After graduating from the University of California, Irvine with an engineering degree, Hashim said he went to his parents for support as he pursued his passion. Not too long after, he found himself in Atlanta.
Just before the 1996 Summer Olympics, Hashim opened his first KFC franchise downtown. Some two decades later, Nation’s Restaurant News named Hashim as one of the 10 most influential leaders in the industry.
Hashim is a proponent of unitlevel economics, something that allows him to take his private capital business into other industries, like technology. The operating model allows business owners to forecast the profitability of products and customers, something important with tight margins.
“Overtime, we can change the menu,” Hashim said. “The only promise on the outside is you’re going to get great food on the inside.”
a fruit tree
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.
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
As a responsible parent, I try not to talk to my children about celery right before bedtime. I wouldn’t want to give them nightmares!
After all, celery is one of several plants that contain “psoralens,” a group of chemicals that can cause terrible sun burns and rashes when eaten or dropped on one’s skin.
The classic example of a rash from psoralens is the vacationer who makes himself a margarita and accidentally drips lime juice on his skin. All is well until he lies in the sun. Then, blisters develop everywhere the lime juice touched: most often in the pattern of a line down the forearm following where the lime juice dripped and ran.
But limes and celery aren’t the only culprits. Most citrus fruits, figs, fennel, carrots, and even parsnips contain psoralens. Yes, EVEN parsnips. And all this time you thought parsnips were innocent. Hah.
Most psoralens stay in one’s system for about three hours after ingestion, so someone who consumes large quantities of psoralens should avoid the sun for half a day or so.
An infamous report in a 1990 volume of Archives of Dermatology details the case of a German woman who fell victim to celery. She was a vegetarian who enjoyed tanning beds, and she did not realize that celery and tanning beds are a dangerous combination. One fateful day, she cooked a one-pound celery root and proceeded to eat the entire root and all the broth in which it had stewed. One hour later, she went to the tanning bed and received her usual 30-minute treatment. Nothing seemed amiss during the tanning bed session, but over the following 48 hours, she developed fever and then diffuse swelling and large blisters. She was hospitalized, treated with steroids, and the reaction took weeks to subside.
Investigators studied a comparable celery root and determined that there was approximately 1mg of psoralens in every 10g of celery root, meaning that she had ingested approximately 45mg of psoralens. This dose of psoralens would be expected to cause the observed blistering reaction in the presence of the amount of tanning bed light she received.
For the reader interested in toxicology,
the LD50 (Median Lethal Dose: the amount of something that would be lethal in half of the people who took it) of psoralens in the absence of light is approximately 1700mg/kg in mice. This means that if a mouse receives a dose of 1700mg of psoralens for each kg of body weight, then the mouse has a fifty percent chance of surviving. If we assume the same LD50 in humans and assume a 70kg weight for the average person, then this would mean that a human would have to eat 2,600 pounds of celery in one sitting to have a 50% chance of dying from the psoralens. Of course, this is impossible. No one can eat this much celery in one sitting (do not take this as a challenge)! But, in the presence of ultraviolet light on one’s skin, just one pound of celery was enough to nearly lead to the German woman’s death. It’s a remarkable example of a toxicity that is environment-dependent to the extreme. Celery is approximately 2600 times more lethal in the presence of ultraviolet light than in its absence.
Psoralens hurt us in the presence of light because psoralens can fit inside our DNA and cause chemical reactions that depend on light to be initiated. Mutations and even breaks in DNA can occur. Even if the cell survives, the mutations can ultimately lead to cancer. Still, the small doses of psoralens the average person ingests from a normal diet allow us to usually disregard our diet when going in the sun. Large quantities of psoralenscontaining fruits and vegetables are the exception.
Interestingly, we do have a clue as to why plants make psoralens to begin with. The fact that they can be toxic to animals that ingest them means that they may exist to discourage animals from eating these plants. However, a more intriguing finding is that celery stalks will increase their production of psoralens by up to ten times the normal amount when infected with certain molds. Psoralens may be a defense against mold, and we humans may be the innocent bystanders. Eating celery that was infected with this mold prior to harvesting could theoretically increase the psoralen concentration by ten times the amount, and this would mean that the German patient might have only had to eat a couple ounces of infected celery to suffer the same consequences in the tanning bed. So, remember: Be careful with lime juice at the beach. Be cautious about celery ingestion prior to light exposure. And never, ever trust a parsnip!
Brought to you by – Summit Counseling Center
With summer coming to an end, this can be an emotional time for parents of college bound children. Instead of worrying about what life will be like without children at home, I encourage couples to view this time to rekindle their marriage. Though it’s normal to feel bittersweet, here are some benefits of being an empty nester.
1. Date Nights. No more kidfriendly environment needed. You and your spouse can go to any restaurant, venue, or event and not have to worry about if it’s appropriate for the kids, will they like the food, or will they have fun. You and your spouse only need to worry about each other.
2. Travel. Now you and your spouse can take the vacation you have been waiting for without working around the kid’s school schedule. The possibilities are endless.
3. Volunteer “Now, what am I going to do with all my spare time?” Find an organization, community or corporation
you’re passionate about and give back. Spend a day at church or at a homeless shelter. Help stock the local food pantry. Giving back is rewarding for both you, your spouse, and the community you are helping.
4. Reconnect with Spouse. No more excuses. Take this time to focus on your spouse and rekindle your relationship. Start flirting again, making time for one another and planning things together. Go on a spontaneous walk through your neighborhood. Go out to dinner or see a movie.
5. Establish New Hobbies. No more having to drive the kids around, attend sport events, and revolve your schedule around theirs. It is all about you and your spouse again. Take a cooking class or a yoga class together. Establish what things you both like to do together and on your own.
6. Regain Independence. No more excuses about not having time for yourself or your spouse. Start taking care of yourself, doing things for yourself and focusing on what you want in life.
Michelle, I have not felt this relieved in years. Wilson Legal really is where planning meets peace of mind. Many people have no idea how their health, finances, family support (or lack thereof), insurances and state or federal benefits will fit together to effectively and efficiently provide for their care as they age until they are IN it. When older folks have a fall and face rehab after surgery, children are scrambling to figure out what the best next move will be for them and how they will afford care and how long finances will last. Parents (especially the mothers) spend years worrying about what will happen and often are too afraid to hear the answer or talk to their spouse about it – not wanting to suggest that they hire a lawyer. For people between the ages of 55 and 70, this report can help reduce fear and anxiety and restore peace of mind.
What if an investment of time and a bit of savings could save a person years of worry? A person could smile
more, spend more time making great memories with those they love and feel an inner calm understanding that they don’t have to fear what will happen because they invested in a long-term care report from an eldercare attorney. The attorney showed them how their family could support them, the state or federal programs available to them, the costs to expect and how they could pay for those services and the experts they would need on their team to help navigate the process. While some of the facts may be difficult to hear, it’s nice to know what to expect. It’s nice because a person feels empowered to choose what they will do. Imagine living – knowing that you have a plan and a team in place and you’ll land on your feet even if life pulls the rug out from under you. What a wonderful place to be. I’d love to invite you to join a growing group of people who have made the same choice for themselves. Call Wilson Legal at 770-205-7861 and schedule a discovery call to see if you are a candidate for our Long-Term Care Report.
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Senior Source Medicare
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period for your 2025 Medicare insurance is quickly approaching: October 15th, 2024 - December 7th, 2024.
Are you open to exploring new Medicare insurance plan options?
If you have Medicare insurance, I would like to encourage you to ask yourself what you like about your current coverage and what you would change to make it better.
Medicare Advantage Plans, often referred to as Medicare Plans, have many different features. Ask yourself if any of these features would make your plan experience better for next year:
• Lower copays on major services, like hospital and outpatient surgery
• Flexible dental benefits
• Part B Reduction (Getting money back through your SS Check)
• Flex” cards for over-the-counter drug and grocery allowance
• More assistance for chronic conditions
Because of Medicare compliance, I cannot go into any plan details until October 1st, but call us to schedule your no cost appointment for October.
Appointments book up early, so call today!
Since our last article in July, we’ve received a number of great questions! Here are just a couple:
Q: Do I have to do anything if I
am happy with my current Medicare insurance?
A: The only time you must plan change to your Medicare Advantage plan or Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plan is if they are stopping the plan at the end of the year, but it may be advantageous for you to plan change.
Please read all of your communications coming from your insurance company. You may have opted for email as your preferred method of communication from the insurance company, so check that email too!
Q: Why did my name brand prescription drug just go up in price?!
A: At this point in the year, if you take multiple brand name prescriptions, chances are you are in the Coverage Gap (“Donut Hole”). For this year, it means that your total drug cost between you and your insurance company has reached $5,030 on covered drugs. One solution to help ease the pain of the high cost is to try using a lower cost generic. If that is not an option for you, call us for other possible solutions to lower your drug costs.
Beginning in 2025, out-of-pocket prescription cost will be capped at $2,000 for those with Medicare prescription coverage.
For help making changes to your Medicare insurance for next year, give us a call today at (770) 315-8145 to schedule an appointment during the Annual Enrollment Period between October 15th, 2024 - December 7th, 2024.
It was a feeling that could best be described as “foreign,” especially with all this “suckthe-life-right-out-ofyou” humidity that has turned sitting outside on the deck with friends into a real life Sweatin’ to the Oldies.
This was a feeling that caused me to rub my hands together. It seemed like years ago since I’d had any sliver of a shiver.
I was on an early evening Harley ride and I was chilly. In an instant of self-realization, I soon discovered that a T-shirt and vest was a woeful riding wardrobe choice.
Cruising past the Dairy Queen in Dahlonega, the promo for a Blizzard gave me a welcomed chill.
Could it be? Were we moving to the pleasant autumn that means nice weather. In reality, the temperature that doesn’t induce buckets of perspiration is a spot-on indication that college football is once again upon us.
Ahhhhhh! What a great feeling!
Back to the riding. It’s been a regular 7 p.m. occurrence with good friend Jerry Nix and whoever else we can entice to a trek that will take us on a variety of routes that both relax and give us a gorgeous glimpse of a breathtaking pinkhued sunset.
These early evening rides seem to be a perfect ending to a summer day.
*
Despite all the controversy about the opening ceremonies, the Paris Olympics provided some compelling moments. The closing ceremonies with Tom Cruise jumping off a cliff and out of an airplane set the table for what will be a Hollywood-
themed Olympiad in four years.
While I found the sacrilegious, offensive portion of the opening presentation something that gave Paris a black eye to start the Games, the rest of the 16 days seemed to pretty go without a major hitch.
The athletic performance was a testimony to teams and individuals striving for and (in many cases) achieving excellence in their respective events.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to develop a greater appreciation for anyone who is able to call themselves an Olympian. And despite what others wrote, I still believe Atlanta did a darned fine job in 1996, despite a lunatic’s bomb spoiling what was a celebration of Atlanta and its people.
I found the nightly dose of athletics (track and field), swimming, gymnastics and basketball entertainment that is sorely missed. My prevalent reaction to what I viewed was “How did they do that?”
With that said, I believe having events like surfing in Tahiti, skateboarding, breaking (as in “break dancing,”) or rock wall climbing served to taint what I believe is a sport.
I know, I know there are many who will disagree.
I guess I’m just getting older and crankier.
However, a recent column about starting the school in early August struck a nerve with readers who agreed. And it’s apparent that some teachers aren’t all that thrilled with everyone having to go to summer school whether they like it or not.
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.
From the bubble. Late morning.
The Alpharetta mom walks out onto the tennis courts with her pickleball machine. She puts her stuff down on the bench, then grabs something out of her bag – a tape measure – and walks over to the net and spends the next 10 minutes measuring and adjusting its height. She sets up her pickleball machine and watches a couple of balls go over the net, then adjusts the angle twice more. Then she walks next to the adjoining court and asks the Indian couple (who were out there way before she showed up) to move off their court to another court so her pickleballs won’t get mixed up with their pickleballs. She could have just pointed her machine a different angle instead. Of course, these two Indians – so respectful and polite – move to another court and the Alpharetta mom starts practicing her pickleball with her machine.
The Indian couple – like a grandpa and his adult daughter, both in long pants – kind of just stare at her and her pickleball machine for a few moments and then return to their game.
I had a few more snarky observations of the incident that were in the original column that I sent to my son Hans for a sign-off so it could get into the papers. When he reviewed the column, he emailed this to me:
“Be curious, not judgmental.”
For context, that idea, “be curious, not judgmental,” is borrowed from a Ted Lasso episode that I have watched maybe a thousand times. I just love the scene. I have sent a link to it to all my kids and everyone I know, including Hans. I loved the scene because if was so well scripted, so well-acted, and is simply some of the finest story telling I have ever encountered. Plus, the good guy wins! But, it took Hans to make me realize that I totally missed the point. What was so extraordinay about the scene was not the acting or the story; it was the actual message: “be curious, not judgmental.”
Hans’ reply made me stop and
think. It made me think about my attitude – an attitude that seems to get worse as I age. It also made me realize that that idea could be applied to so much more than a situation on a tennis court – like to this whole polarization thing we all find ourselves today. Instead of being curious, we judge. Instead of maybe learning something, we learn nothing.
Instead of taking advantage of an opportunity to interact in a positive way with someone who is different from us or thinks differently than we do, we judge, and in so doing, build walls and barriers that make life smaller, less meaningful, and, in the case of the Ted Lasso episode, cause folks to lose bets on dart games!
Everything important in life that I know, I have learned from my children – or my wife – everything.
Switching from judging people to being curious instead is not easy; it requires breaking a habit and replacing it with a different one. It requires will, and it requires a desire to change.
Be curious Ray, not judgmental. You’ll be a better person, learn more, and probably be happier too.
Can you guess how much does it cost us to deliver all those papers?
If you are reading this column, please realize that the only reason we are able to write, compose and deliver this paper to you every week – for free – is from the revenue we get from advertising and from those of you who have joined our Appen Press Club and send us one time or monthly membership/support checks (in any amount). Just paying for the delivery of our over 100,000 newspapers every week costs us right at $30,000 a month. So, your support is so critical.
On AppenMedia.com just click on the red
“Join the Club” button at the top right of the home page to make a contribution in any amount. Or you can simply mail a check to Appen Media, 319 N. Main St., Alpharetta, GA 30009.
In case you want to view the scene for yourself, the link is below. If the link does not work, just Google “ Ted lasso darts” and the YouTube of the scene should pull up. https://youtu. be/CDRXv80F3Us?feature=shared (https://youtubeCDRXv80F3Us?feat ure=shared)
There’s so much to enjoy about the outside world. Every bit of it offers adventure – fishing, hiking, exploring – and it’s all good.
But good or not, along about 11:30 in the morning, it may dawn on you that it’s been a while since breakfast. The ol’ tummy may start reminding you that lunchtime draweth nigh.
I was taught at a young age that one highlight of any outdoor adventure is lunchtime. After all, an outdoorsman’s gotta eat.
Sometimes that means stopping at a favorite restaurant. I have several, and I’ll share some of them with you in the months to come. Maybe you have a favorite, too. If you do, let me know.
But I digress.
Besides being taught about the importance of lunch, I was also taught one of the Great Truths of Life. I’d like to share that with you now. Ready? Here it comes:
The ultimate expression of “lunch” is a tube of crackers and a tin of sardines.
Yes, just that.
Sure, grilled hotdogs or burgers are good. So is a tub of fried chicken or even sliced ham and cheese and bread. Any of those will keep the wolf from the door, as they say, and will give you sustenance and
Barbara Baylor, age 73, of Marietta, GA passed away on August 10, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Robert Becker, age 86, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 6, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Robert Blackinton, age 96, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on August 11, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
nourishment to get you through the rest of the day’s adventures.
But such offerings fall short of the gold standard. Besides, it’s hard to tote a bucket of fried chicken in your daypack all day, and grilling means you’ve got to have a grill.
Much easier – much, much easier – is (you guessed it) a simple tube of crackers and a tin of sardines. That’s truly all you need. It really is.
Of course, you’ve got to do it right. You’ve got to adhere to certain standards. For example,
Roger Conrad, age 91, of Marietta, GA passed away on August 9, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Cecilia Ginter, age 94, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on August 10, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
David Scott Harris, age 70, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 1, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
the sardines need to come packed in olive oil, not in mustard or firecracker sauce or any of those other pretenders to the sardinepackaging throne.
Well, maybe that’s a little harsh. Maybe one of those other options is really not so bad, and I certainly don’t want to rouse the wrath of the shadowy but immensely powerful global mustard-packed sardine cabal. You just don’t mess with those folks. So forget I said anything about that, and let’s just share these packed-in-oil delicacies quietly and among ourselves. Okay?
The sardines themselves are only half the equation, of course. The other half is the crackers. And what about those crackers? Traditionally, they need to be Ritz, original recipe, though ordinary saltines will do in a pinch. And whatever your crackers of choice, make sure they’re fresh. Fresh crackers are crispy crackers, and that crispy crackery crunch is part of the charm. Don’t forget that, Grasshopper, lest you miss nuances subtle but profound.
Once you have your sardines and crackers, what then?
First, carefully open the sardine tin. Pull slowly on the metal tap lest you up-end everything and cause culinary disaster.
Then open up the crackers.
Then serve.
Ideally, the sardines are served one at a time on the blade of your pocket knife, each lifted reverently and intact from the little oblong can from whence it is born. So procured,
Jeanette Konicki, age 54, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 2, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Jacob McQuillen, age 21, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on August 6, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Carmela Montoto, age 96, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 11, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
the sardine is then placed precisely across the very middle of a single cracker.
You do have a pocket knife, don’t you? I hope so, for that’s just how it’s done. You could use a fork, I suppose. But where’s the fun in that?
Then comes the moment you’ve been waiting for all morning. The sardine is set; the cracker is poised. You move it toward your mouth…
Then you eat. It’s a moment of culinarily ecstasy. The first bite awakens you with a symphony of flavor that lasers through your tastebuds and goes straight to your soul. The universe sings. It is exquisite. It is satisfying in a way that few experiences are or have been or ever could be. Bliss is a wonderful thing.
You finish the first one. Then you get out another cracker. You wipe the blade of the pocket knife on the leg of your jeans, just to be sure it’s clean, and then you fish another fish from the little metal can and do it all over again.
Maybe a drop of holy oil falls from the sardine and rolls slowly down the front of your shirt, but you don’t mind. Not a bit. For no fourstar eatery in New York or Chicago ever created anything as fine.
Of course, for this to work, you’ve got to like sardines. If you don’t, then none of this means anything and I will pray for you.
But if you do like sardines, then you will know. Then you will understand.
Mary Nitschke, age 48, of Marietta, GA passed away on August 3, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Julia Quarles, age 87, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 12, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
good credit required. Inquire at larryjmorris@aol.com.
Sawnee EMC is seeking a General Clerk III – Customer Service to assist in a high-volume call center. Requires high school diploma or equivalency, computer, communication, and general office skills. Requires one (1) year experience in a customer service call center or service-type organization, utility, finance, banking, or equivalent industry. Bilingual is preferred, fluent in English and Spanish (written and verbal).
Position is full-time; must be flexible to work irregular hours, to include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, August 23, 2024. Apply online: www.sawnee.coop/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363, extension 7568.
Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer of Females, Minorities, Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.
Sawnee EMC is seeking an Electrical Distribution System Engineer. Requires a bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, civil engineering or similar engineering discipline. Preferred experience in design, modeling and maintenance of distribution power systems. Must have strong computer, mathematical and communication skills.
Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, August 30, 2024. Apply online: www.sawnee.coop/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.
Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer of Females, Minorities, Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.
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Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc.
Software Implementation Manager
Remote position
Responsibilities: Responsible for functional implementation & delivery of Landis+Gyr Gridstream Meter Data Management System (MDMS) solution. Evaluate client contractual requirements & propose MDMS based solutions. Primary accountability for complete configuration & validation of MDMS to achieve client acceptance & satisfaction. Primary functional resource collaborating with clients throughout MDMS software implementation projects. Domestic travel to unanticipated client sites up to 20%.
Salary: $99,000 - $137,000
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Comp Sci, Electrical Engg or related field & 3 yrs exp in job offered or 3 yrs system implementations exp. Exp must include 3 yrs each of following: MDMS/utility operations; process definition & delivery; troubleshooting root cause & proposing resolutions; technical business process consulting related to AMI/MDMS/ utilities; UNIX/Linux, crontab, shell scripting, software system process monitoring, Oracle database, & SQL querying. Experience may be gained concurrently. Send resume & cover letter to: Landis+Gyr c/o Lisa Hudson, Talent Acquisition, 30000 Mill Creek Ave, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30022 or via email to: lisa.hudson@landisgyr.comWorkplace.
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FP&A Manager (Roswell) to ensure Business Area’s financials are accurate, timely & reflect operating performance. Reqs: Bach degree (or foreign equivalent) in Accounting or Finance rel. fld, + 2 yrs. exp. in job offered or as Auditor. Exp. in industrial Controlling & performing financial & operational audits, reviewing internal controls, & defining & documenting policies & procedures req. Previous exp. working in a public company & mining accounting exp. under IFRS also req. 15% International & Domestic travel req. May work remotely 40% of the time. Email resume to: Imerys USA at tasha.cofer@imerys.com
Forsyth County hunters are invited to participate in two hunts this fall to control local deer populations. The first hunt is open to youth with adults invited to the second.
Continued from Page 1
at the Shakerag Water Reclamation facility, 545 Kemp Road.
The September hunt is open to 16 county residents between the ages of 10 and 17. Youth participants must be accompanied by an adult.
County residents aged 18 and older may participate in the second
hunt in October.
Hunters must have a proper license, tree stand or blind and modern archery equipment. They also will be required to attend a prehunt safety meeting.
Hunters are required to hunt at assigned locations and will be transported to the location by county staff. They will use Department of Natural Resources urban deer management tags and may only harvest two deer per hunt, one of which must be antlerless.
How to register for a hunt
To register for the youth hunt, visit tinyurl.com/35xsfena.
To register for the adult hunt, visit tinyurl.com/2j94w47j.
A free CivicRec account is required to register and can be set up by visiting https://tinyurl.com/2z2v8n6t.
For a complete list of regulations, please review the release and application at tinyurl.com/244dsd4x.
