Two students charged with threats made against schools
Members of the Forsyth County Board of Election postponed a resolution Sept. 3 that would have requested the Georgia State Elections Board halt rule changes until after the upcoming presidential election.
By JAKE DRUKMAN newsroom@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Voter Registrations & Elections Board voted 3-2 on Sept. 3 to postpone voting on a resolution requesting that the Georgia State Election Board halt rule changes that could affect the upcoming general election.
The resolution, proposed by Democratic county board appointee Anita Tucker, seeks a 90-day “quiet period” to allow the county to implement new rules the State Election Board enacted in August without facing further changes ahead of Election Day. The resolution is not binding, and the State Election Board will still be free to
make rule changes even if it passes.
“We need 90 days of quiet so that we can pull together all of the pieces it takes to run an election,” Tucker said. “We need 90 days so that we are not disrupted and that we don’t have issues with our poll workers, and our staff and voters.”
The proposed resolution comes amid widespread controversy over the state board’s new rules. One requires certifying election officials to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” before certifying the state’s election results. The rule does not specify what constitutes a reasonable inquiry.
The second new rule requires county officials to “fully investigate” any discrepancies in the number of voters in a precinct and the number of ballots cast.
Criticism of the state board’s new rules has come from Republicans and Democrats, who argue that they could delay certification and sow undue doubt in the state’s election integrity.
Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has been one of the state board’s most prominent detractors, calling the panel “a mess” in an August press conference.
“Misguided attempts by the State Election Board will delay election results and undermine chain of custody safeguards,” Raffensperger said in an Aug. 15 statement regarding the rule changes. “Georgia voters reject this
See ELECTIONS, Page 22
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County could raise its tax rate for hotel stays to the state-allowed maximum of 8 percent.
The County Commission considered increasing the tax at a Sept. 5 meeting, holding the first of at least two public hearings on the proposal.
Forsyth County already collects a 5 percent tax from hotel bookings. State law allows counties and cities to collect a maximum of 8 percent.
The commission is considering the decision after unanimous approval by the county’s state delegation during the 2024 legislative session. An increase to 8 percent would require a county ordinance.
See HOTEL, Page 22
Forsyth County Chamber
of
ism Stacey Gross and Chamber Vice President of Economic Development
Alex Warner listen to discussion at a Sept. 5 County Commission meeting.
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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A Dawsonville woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Ga. 400 at Jot ’Em Down Road Sept. 8.
Deputies and fire department officials were dispatched to the scene about 9:30 p.m., according to a statement from the
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 28-yearold Cumming man was arrested Aug. 30 after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend.
Deputies arrested the man on battery and aggravated assault by strangulation charges, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report.
The woman told deputies her boyfriend became angry after an argument at a Cumming home after she declined to work for a coworker. The boyfriend grabbed her, pinned her against furniture, slammed her to the floor, dragged her through rooms and took her car keys after she decided to leave, she said.
During an interview with deputies, the man told them his girlfriend had punched him. He said he had not assaulted her.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies investigated a damaged transformer at a Cumming middle school after a power outage Aug. 31.
A Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation employee said he was notified about 1 a.m. of the outage, which affected the area around the school, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. Employees discovered a transformer had been shifted and a wire was snapped.
The employees could not determine what caused the transformer to shift.
Deputies investigated the area but found no tire tracks or vehicle parts.
Sheriff’s Office.
Julie Waters Lamb, 72, of Dawsonville, died after her 2014 Toyota RAV4 was struck by a 2019 Ford F-150 driven by Logan Moye, 30, of Dahlonega, authorities said.
An investigation determined Moye
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.
They did find a small black mark at the base of the transformer around the location of the snapped wire.
Deputies did not identify any suspects.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies investigated a false report after they were called to a Cumming home on Aug. 31.
Deputies were dispatched to the home after receiving a call of a suspicious person there, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report. The caller told authorities he was calling from a laptop.
Deputies arrived to find a football game watch party at the home. The homeowner said it was possible someone was trying to “swat” her daughter. The term “swat” describes the practice of summoning law enforcement to a location under false pretenses. SWAT is an acronym for special weapons and tactics.
The daughter told deputies she suspected a man, whom she had never met in person, of making the call. She said she had met the man through an online messaging service.
The daughter had sent nude photographs of herself to him but had stopped
was northbound on Ga. 400 at a speed that made it impossible to stop when the signal turned red, according to the report. Lamb was driving west on Jot ‘Em Down Road when her vehicle was struck. Lamb was pronounced dead at the scene.
communicating with him after he began sharing the images online.
She also said she had received messages and phone calls from random numbers referring to her by name.
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 33-year-old Cumming woman was arrested Aug. 10 after police cited her for driving while intoxicated with a child in her vehicle.
Police were dispatched about 4:30 p.m. to the parking lot of Alpharetta Elementary School after a caller reported a vehicle striking a curb twice, according to an Alpharetta police report.
Police found the woman in the driver’s seat and reported she had bloodshot, watery eyes, and she smelled of alcohol. An officer also saw vomit in the vehicle’s driver’s side. When police asked the woman to exit the vehicle, she was swaying.
A 4-year-old child was sitting in the back seat.
The woman told police she “was obviously too intoxicated to drive” and “drank too much at a birthday party,” according to the report.
A breath test indicated she had a breath alcohol concentration of 0.14 grams.
Police arrested the woman on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence concentration and endangering a child by driving under the influence of alcohol.
STAFF REPORTS
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Law enforcement authorities arrested two teens on felony charges after investigating alleged threats to Forsyth County schools.
The threats were made after a Sept. 4 school shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County killed four people and injured nine. Colt Gray, 14, faces four counts of felony murder after he allegedly brought an AR-15 into Apalachee High School and killed two 14-year-olds and two teachers.
School shootings that receive intense media attention often generate copycat threats elsewhere, according to an FBI report.
Locally, a 15-year-old student was arrested on a terroristic threat charge after authorities investigated a Sept. 4 threat to Pinecrest Academy, a private Catholic school on Peachtree Parkway, according to a statement issued by the sheriff’s office. The student admitted to posting the threat as a joke, saying he thought it was funny.
Pinecrest employs a school resource officer at its campus, and police officers are present during carpool, Communications Director Vivian Heard said.
“Pinecrest remains steadfastly committed to the safety and well-being of our students, staff and families and is grateful for the close partnership it shares with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Heard said.
A 14-year-old student from DeSana Middle School was arrested on charges of terroristic threat and disruption of school after detectives investigated 12 reports of threats to several schools in the county on Sept. 5, authorities said.
The investigation determined there was no real threat to schools, and the students involved did not have access to weapons.
Both students were taken to the Regional Youth Detention Center in Gainesville.
Juvenile court judges decided to keep both students in custody until their court appearances.
In a statement, Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman thanked community members for alerting law enforcement. His office has allocated dozens of extra deputies to local schools in addition to the officials who are regularly stationed there.
Freeman also asked parents to speak with their children.
“It is maddening that threats like these, hoax or not, follow a horrific event like the one in Barrow County earlier
this week,” Freeman said. “Parents, please talk with your kids and explain that mentioning shooting up a school is no joke, and I will put them in jail if they do it.”
Following the Barrow County shooting, all of the district’s school resource officers in addition to other law enforcement officers were called to patrol or be stationed at campuses, Forsyth County Schools Director of Communication Michele Dugan said.
The district also sent letters supporting Barrow County schools and informing local families about safety information.
“This heartbreaking incident is a solemn reminder of the challenges faced by all schools in ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff,” district officials said in their letter to Barrow County.
Nationwide, Americans are grappling with the largest school shooting since the March 2023 massacre at Covenant School in Nashville, which left six people dead.
Nine other people injured in the attack are reported to be recovering in area hospitals.
Forsyth County Schools officials have made other preparations throughout the year, routinely performing lockdown drills and training staff members about school safety, Dugan said.
Fulton and DeKalb counties
School officials in Fulton County and DeKalb County school districts said their priority is to ensure students are safe back in class moving forward.
Metro Atlanta school districts increased police patrols and presence on campuses in the wake of the shooting.
Fulton County Schools’ Chief Communications Officer Brian Noyes said the district is collaborating with local police jurisdictions to have increased patrols on campuses for the next few days to support the FCS Police Department and increase visibility.
Like many school districts in Metro Atlanta, Noyes said FCS has made significant investments in safety resources and tools over the past several years.
In a letter to parents and guardians, Fulton County Schools first put the focus on supporting the entire Barrow County School District during such challenging times.
SEPTEMBER 21 & 22
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Inside a conference room at Johns Creek City Hall, Terrence Byrd and others in the city’s Community Development Department sat with a resident for more than an hour, advising her on a small home project.
The process for Catherine Curtiss to make her backyard in St. Ives Country Club more accessible, by adding a few stepping stones, was more than she bargained for.
Byrd, the city’s environmental compliance manager, a role within the department’s Land Development division, explained that her home is in the River Corridor and with that, comes some restrictions. The River Corridor is defined by its distance to the Chattahoochee River, a 2,000-foot buffer. It’s under the purview of the Atlanta Regional Commission, as part of the Metropolitan River Protection Act, adopted in the mid-’70s to protect a 48-mile stretch of the river between Buford Dam and Peachtree Creek.
“When you have a property in a river corridor, you have impervious
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Johns Creek Environmental Compliance Manager, Terrence Byrd, points to construction work in the new Knollwood subdivision off Parsons Road. Working out of the Community Development Department, Byrd oversees the land development process from start to finish.
calculations,” Byrd told Curtiss. He later pulled Appen Media along to the new Knollwood subdivision off Parsons Road, turning the designs shown in its land disturbance permit into reality.
Each home in the River Corridor is given only so many impervious “cred -
CIVIC DUTIES: In a new series from Appen Media, Civic Duties will take readers behind the scenes of local government. Senior Reporter Amber Perry and her colleagues will shadow employees across different city departments and turn those experiences into original reporting, so residents get a closer look at what exactly local governments provide the community.
its,” or square footage that can be purchased by homeowners or transferred to them from a next-door neighbor, based on the final plat — the permanent record of a development plan that rests with the county.
Byrd projected the final plat for St. Ives to show Curtiss the number of credits she was working with, just above the amount of clearing allowed. She was in the negative and would also have to pay $300 for a minor land disturbance permit, an application pertaining to work on less than an acre.
“We always do everything by the rules, so whatever we need to do, we’ll do,” Curtiss said.
She said her homeowners association requires that an application be
submitted before making any landscaping changes. A committee advised her to go to City Hall to see if she needed a permit — and she did need one. The panel also wanted proof of her landscaper’s insurance.
“I’m just kind of jumping through the hoops to make my HOA happy and Johns Creek happy,” Curtiss said.
Byrd said that there’s a lot of meetings he conducts like the one with Curtiss.
“The reason why we have people coming in to meet with us before [is] so we can share with you all the rules and regulations or whatever you need to do to get your permit or to get a permit to be in compliance,” Byrd told Curtiss.
Land Development Manager Gilbert Quinones, sitting beside a city planner, said impervious calculations are determined by the Atlanta Regional Commission.
A professional civil engineer, Quinones helped design St. Ives before joining the city and that experience
See CIVIC, Page 10
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Halcyon welcomed a new pizzeria with a grand opening Sept. 6.
Char Pizzeria is taking over a space occupied by Holmes Slice, bringing a new menu and remodel, according to a news release.
Halcyon is a $500-million, 135-acre mixed-use community connected to the Big Creek Greenway with options for shopping and dining.
Char boasts artisanal-style 10and 14-inch pizzas cooked in a brick oven. The restaurant also will offer sandwiches and traditional menu items. Their pizzas feature a thin, Neapolitan-style crust and “new and improved” sauce.
The pizzeria will serve frozen alcoholic drinks with options ranging from a frosé, a blackberry Aperol, a blue raspberry slush with vodka and the Bushwacker. The pizzeria will also offer sandwich options.
Izzy Ramos, who co-owns the new restaurant with Charity Ramos, said they plan to give patrons an “elevated pizza experience” that also caters to children and families.
“Before opening Char Pizzeria, we spent time honing our craft of simple, artisanal pizza-making that will appeal to people of all ages and flavor palettes by learning from Italian cuisine experts,” Ramos said.
PROVIDED
Char caters to artisanal pizza lovers as well as families and children with a new menu. The restaurant is replacing Holmes Slice at Halcyon.
The Ramoses also own Halcyon’s The Original Hot Dog Factory.
Phil Mays, principal of RocaPoint Partners, which owns and developed Halcyon, said he was pleased the new restaurant would keep pizza on the menu at the mixed-use shopping location.
“Char Pizzeria will bring highquality, made-to-order pies to the Market Hall, and it will be an excellent complement to our diverse lineup of restaurants and food offerings,” Mays said.
ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell Arts Festival, set to feature artists working in a variety of mediums, has been scheduled for Sept. 21-22 at Roswell City Hall.
Founded in 1966 by the Roswell Recreation Association, the festival is the first of its kind north of the Chattahoochee River. It was started as a way to promote the arts in Roswell and raise funds for the city’s recreation and parks, according to the festival’s website.
The annual event, held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the weekend, is the association’s only fundraising initiative. It has supported more than $1.5 million in projects throughout the city, the
website says.
Among its early projects was the construction of Roswell’s first tennis courts and a little league field. The association also paid part of the salary for the city’s first Recreation and Parks director.
But, the association lists dozens of projects that have been funded through the effort, such as the serenity garden and outdoor fitness equipment at Roswell Area Park.
In addition to artists, the festival will feature food trucks and free children’s activities, like painting and spin art, and for a small fee, sand art, face painting and balloon animals.
For more information, visit https://www.roswellartsfestival.com.
ROSWELL, Ga. — The sixth annual Atlanta India Festival invites visitors to indulge in the sights, sounds and flavors of Indian culture.
The festival, free and open to the public, is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 21 at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, 1950 Old Alabama Road.
The festival is geared as a celebration of Indian culture and local Atlanta communities, event spokesman Cherian Chacko said.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Chacko said.
Last year’s festival drew almost 1,500 visitors.
“We would like to reach the community and share the cultural aspects of India — and be part of the community,” he said. A variety of vendors and marketplace will offer traditional and fusion Indian cuisine as well as merchandise.
Chacko said some of his favorite dishes are chicken tikka masala and samosas. Spicy food is always a big draw, he said.
Live music from modern beats to traditional classical rhythms as well as Bollywood-style dancing will be performed.
The event also will feature a volleyball tournament.
The Atlanta Indian Festival is a way for community members to gather and celebrate Indian culture. This year, about 1,500 visitors are expected.
“We are thrilled to host the Atlanta India Festival for the sixth consecutive year,” said the Rev. Mathew Koshy, vicar at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church. “This event is a testament to our community’s unity, celebration of diversity and shared joy. We extend a warm invitation to all to join us for a day filled with culture, connection, and celebration.”
For more information, visit atlantaindiafestival.com or email support@atlantaindiafestival.com.
— Jon Wilcox
A variety of food from traditional Indian cuisine to non-Indian
last year’s event. This year’s festival will offer similar fare to visitors.
are offered
8 | Forsyth Herald | September 12, 2024
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Lynn Stallings, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Atlanta Workshop Players, said her work involves teaching people to love.
The performing arts organization provides weekly classes in improv, acting essentials and on-camera acting, allowing clients to perform recorded scenes in a living room, kitchen or school. It also boasts a movie musical company, so students can sing, dance and act to original music for the big screen and earn IMDB credits.
“When you can have an effect, a positive effect, on other people — I think that’s what our purpose as humans is in life, is to take care of each other,” Lynn said. “If you can teach people to hate, you can certainly teach people to love, and that’s what we do.”
Sitting across from her husband Don Stallings and daughter Ashlyn Stallings in the studio’s Blackbox Theatre off Holcomb Bridge Road, Lynn provided the origin story of the Atlanta Workshop Players. The theater, an intimate setting, hosts improv comedy nights on Saturdays.
It was 1981, and while teaching acting classes, Lynn saw a void in venues where her students could perform. With a motto of “Kids Changing the World One Audience at a Time,” she founded the performing arts company and began touring schools. The young actors would share “something of importance to say,” or PSAs on social issues they brainstormed themselves, through original musicals.
“We were the first company that I know of that paid their kids, the performing kids, for their tour shows,” Lynn said.
The group toured for decades, producing one of Lynn’s favorite projects called “Masquerade” which is being developed into a movie. It’s about bullying.
Lynn, Don and Ashlyn spent a week in Florida to write the screenplay, with Don doing a lot of pacing. A former student of the nonprofit is slated as the film’s composer.
“It’s very entertaining and very funny and also very powerful, and it just grabs your heart,” Lynn said.
Like her own daughter, Lynn entered the industry at a young age, touring across the country with her mother, a dancer who had a performing arts company. Lynn’s first role, at age 9, was in “Alice in
Wonderland.”
But, she began to fall in love with behind-the-scenes work, eventually becoming a talent manager, a 24/7 job that ended once Ashlyn was born. Lynn said she has retained all the connections she found through her work, like casting directors and agents.
“We’re still connecting people to them and opening doors for our actors,” she said.
Lynn said hundreds of the nonprofit’s students have become professionals.
The walls of Studio 13 are covered in posters of movies and shows former students had performed in. A comprehensive set of projects are detailed in a poster by the door, including “Where the Crawdads Sing.” Don played a kindly father in that one, a relief for him.
“I’m usually squirrely bad guys,” said Don, also a standup comedian. “It was nice to actually be — I was like, ‘Oh, a loving
ROSWELL, Ga. — Cushman & Wakefield announced it has arranged a long-term 55,869-square-foot lease renewal with SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. within Mansell Overlook, a four-building Class A office park in Roswell.
Annie Lewis Gomez and Jon Mayeske of Cushman & Wakefield, a commercial real estate services firm, represented SiteOne Landscape Supply in the negotiations for their lease renewal. Mansell Overlook is owned by Sun Belt Office I, LLC.
“SiteOne Landscape Supply has committed to renew[ing] in the Alpharetta submarket long-term,” said Gomez, Director at Cushman & Wakefield. “We were able to secure immediate savings instead of waiting till their natural lease expiration in 2026.”
Mansell Overlook, located off Colonial Center Parkway, spans 67 acres with the campus offering tenants outdoor seating, walking paths, a new state-of-the-art fitness center and a conference center equipped with audio visual capabilities and Wi-Fi. The office park is also easily accessible to a number of nearby restaurants, retail, hotel and entertainment options within a heavily developed corridor.
Continued from Page 8
father who likes opera and poetry. Wow.’”
Don, who has been with the nonprofit almost the whole time, 42 out of the 43 years, met Lynn while auditioning for a show she was directing. They fell in love over “Ms. Pac-Man” during their breaks at a pizza restaurant.
During a tour of the 3,200-squarefoot studio, the trio lifted the curtain on a sound booth where clients can record “self-tapes,” or audition videos for movies, TV shows or commercials. That’s most auditions nowadays, though call-backs are either in person or on Zoom.
Lynn, who walked around barefoot donning a long, flowy shawl, said the nonprofit also redesigns resumes. Don takes the headshots, and he spent time that day helping a student with hers on his Canon.
“We help package people so that they can follow their dreams,” Lynn said.
The studio’s floors are whimsical, sort of like the family whose lives are spent pulling at others’ creativity, covered in splattered paint.
The on-camera room, set up this day for a screening, features a
For more information on Atlanta Workshop Players, visit https:// www.atlantaworkshopplayers.com.
couch and other props like lockers, which also act as a soundproofing device. That night, they were showing “English Teacher,” a newly released TV show featuring Scarlette Amber Hernandez, a student at the Atlanta Workshop Players.
The nonprofit will have another screening soon for a show called “Teacup,” set to premiere on Peacock in October. Lynn and Don worked as on-set acting coaches.
Excited to get up and go to work every day, Lynn said it’s a privilege to spend time with supportive, creative people.
“It is an environment that is safe and exciting and creative all at the same time, and people lift each other up,” she said.
Ashlyn, a professional actress who also leads classes, recently introduced “Voice and Movement,” intended to help clients tell stories through physicality. Another class was recently created for a 13-year-old with a knack for screenwriting, set to join the nonprofit’s professional courses. Lynn called her a “prodigy.”
“I think AWP is the space with that kind of safety because of who you are, too,” Ashlyn told her mother.
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was obvious in the knowledge he was able to impart to Curtiss during their conversation.
Now, Quinones’ role is to review all land disturbance permits. He also oversees stormwater management, the system that dictates how much impervious surface a land lot can have.
Quinones explained the agency’s application for developments within the River Corridor, broken up into five “vulnerability categories”: A, B, C, D, E and F. Each was based on a ratio of the percentage of land disturbed to the percentage of impervious surface that could be allowed.
“It’s too complex a formula for me,” he said.
Quinones described the importance of permits in terms of placing a home on the market.
“What’s the first question he’ll ask you — ‘Is there anything out there that’s not permitted?’” Quinones said of a popular area real estate agent, posing a theoretical situation to Curtiss. “If there’s anything out there that’s not permitted, he won’t buy your house.”
Taking the reins from the city’s land development inspector, who couldn’t be there that day, Byrd pointed out common issues to look for in an in-progress development, like Knollwood. Things like fallen silt fences and the status of gravel driveways to each of the homes.
The inspector, Byrd said, focuses on erosion and sediment control.
As the city’s environmental compliance manager, Byrd oversees the
land development process from beginning to end. He also manages tree removal permits.
Carrying a number of certifications, Byrd said he entered local government after a few years of pouring concrete.
For the Thursday site visit, he brought along a large, thick scroll of site plans, which he said is standard practice. Several houses, out of a total of 20 planned for the new community, had already been constructed. A crew worked on the roof of one nearby.
Construction begins only after approval of the land disturbance permit and the final plat.
Byrd said a number of departments and divisions are involved in the process — an arborist and staff from the Community Development Department’s Planning and Zoning and Land Development divisions. The Fire Department must also check for ADA compliance and fire truck accessibility. Staff in the Public Works Department review transportation needs, like sidewalk connectivity.
On the Land Development side, inspectors conduct a pre-construction, on-site meeting to review rules and regulations, speaking to a three-phase erosion control plan required by the state.
One of the most interesting aspects to his job, Byrd said, is the diverse group of people he gets to meet on a regular basis, “the melting pot of America.”
It’s also the education piece.
“The fun part is really educating and helping people to get a greater understanding … the reward of seeing people say, ‘Thank you so much,’ for the things that they didn’t know, that you helped them with,” Byrd said. “That has a lot to do with it.”
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Royal International Miss Pageant winner Lyric Fluellen loves to help out in her community.
“It was really fun,” Lyric said. As part of her platform for the pageant, Lyric, a 9-year-old Johns Creek girl and Montessori student, performed all kinds of community service from providing hundreds of holiday gifts to regularly making care kits for older residents.
Lyric won the Role Model Sweetheart title for 8-10-year-old girls division at this year’s pageant. She traveled to Orlando in July to attend the week-long pageant, which included interviews and fashion activities. She competed with more than 200 other girls from across the globe.
She donned various outfits, including a dress that was Chik-fil-A themed and emblazoned with the slogan “We didn’t invent the chicken, just the chicken sandwich.”
Meeting and competing alongside all those girls, Lyric said, was her favorite part.
Lyric prepared for eight months, working with coaches and her parents on interview, fashion and other skills.
Lyric’s father Andre Fluellen, a former defensive tackle who played for Florida State and the Detroit Lions, said she sometimes attended as many as five practices a day, bringing an intensity that would have been at home on the football field.
“When she really wants something and she has her mind put on it, it's going to happen,” he said. “She put all the work in. She put in all the practices.”
After all that work, Lyric felt at ease standing before judges and speaking publicly.
Lyric’s father admitted he initially had some reservations about his daughter competing in pageants. But he changed his mind after seeing how hard she worked and the many ways she’s given back to people in need.
“It's so much about public speaking, like she has her own platform, that she helps seniors around the community,” he said. “She sent out her senior care kits worldwide.”
Lyric has given out thousands of items and care kits to seniors around the country. On weekends, she and friends meet on what they’ve dubbed “Senior Saturday” to assemble care packages. She sometimes delivers the packages from door to door.
She regularly visits senior centers in Milton, Alpharetta and elsewhere in her community.
On a trip with her family to Malta, she found a senior center where she handed out kits to residents.
“It just shows you the power of what pageantry is really all about,” Andre said. “It's been great for her self-esteem, for her confidence, so I am a huge fan of pageantry, and I want her to continue.”
Lyric said she also finds personal satisfaction in the work.
“I love working with seniors, because first of all, I love making them smile,” she said.
Brought to you by – Emory Reproductive Center
In recent years, there has been growing interest in understanding how diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and fertility are connected. Recently, medications with the generic names of semaglutide, tirzepatide and dulaglutide, which help lower blood pressure, improve glucose control and promote weight loss, are being explored to understand their risks and benefits for women's reproductive health. Dr. Heather Hipp, an Associate Professor in the Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics and a physician with the Emory Reproductive Center, shares her thoughts on this topic and how it might affect those beginning their fertility journey.
Recent studies1 have shown that weight loss, often achieved through these medications, can have a positive impact on fertility in women with diabetes or PCOS. Obesity can cause women not to ovulate, which results in irregular menstrual cycles, and can also affect egg health. Losing weight can improve overall health, reduce risks of insulin resistance and pre-diabetes, and help women with PCOS regain regular ovulation cycles and increased fertility. Dr. Hipp notes, "Improvement in regular ovulation can often result in a successful pregnancy outcome for women with PCOS."
However, these benefits are not universal. Research2 has shown that women within a healthy weight range have a higher success rate with in vitro fertilization—commonly called IVF— compared to obese women, highlighting the importance of weight management for better fertility outcomes.
While there are benefits to these medications, there are important considerations before becoming pregnant. There's limited data on their use during
pregnancy, and some researchers are concerned about the possible effects on a fetus’s weight and bone formation. Some studies suggest weight loss drugs may increase the chance of a miscarriage. One recent study did not find a higher risk of major birth defects in women who took these medications in early pregnancy compared to a group of women with diabetes who did not take the medications. However, it is recommended to stop taking them at least two months before pregnancy.
Dr. Hipp’s Recommendations:
Dr. Hipp advises women with diabetes or PCOS planning for pregnancy and considering these medications to:
• Consult with your primary care provider, OBGYN or a weight loss specialist to evaluate if weight loss could benefit their treatment plan and explore treatment options.
• Consider how these medications fit into broader pregnancy planning.
• Stop taking these medications two months before trying to conceive to reduce any potential risks during pregnancy.
We Welcome You
At the Emory Reproductive Center, comprehensive support is offered to women managing diabetes or PCOS and fertility concerns. Our team provides personalized treatment plans for a wide
range of issues that affect reproductive health.
For more information or to make an appointment, call 404-778-3401 to meet with a fertility specialist at the Emory Reproductive Center at Emory Johns Creek Hospital. We understand that every situation is unique, and we tailor your care to your specific needs and goals.
1 - Health https://www.health.com/ ozempic-mounjaro-pcos-7510971
2 - American Society for Reproductive Medicine https://www.asrm.org/ practice-guidance/practice-committeedocuments/obesity-and-reproduction-acommittee-opinion-2021/
This “good to know” moment made possible by Emory Women’s Center.
The difference? Emory Women’s Center at Johns Creek uses research and innovation in health to provide exceptional care, close to home. From routine gynecology and menopause management, to pregnancy and specialty care, our team is here for your journey no matter where it takes you.
The di erence? Emory Women’s Center at Johns Creek uses research and innovation in health to provide exceptional care, close to home. From routine gynecology and menopause management, to high-risk pregnancies and specialty care, our team is here for your journey no matter where it takes you.
Visit emoryhealthcare.org/women to schedule an appointment.
Visit emoryhealthcare.org/women to schedule an appointment.
Brought to you by - Dr. Basheer Shakir and Dr. Benjamin Zussman, neurosurgeons at Wellstar
At Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, we’re redefining spine surgery with cuttingedge technology and unparalleled expertise. Our neurosurgeons, Dr. Basheer Shakir, Dr. Benjamin Zussman and Dr. Arthur Grigorian, are leading the charge in providing minimally invasive procedures that prioritize patient comfort, reduce recovery times and deliver exceptional outcomes.
Advanced minimally invasive techniques
One of the groundbreaking procedures offered at Wellstar North Fulton is the minimally invasive lateral
lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF). Unlike traditional spinal fusion surgeries, LLIF allows access to the spine from the side of the body, bypassing major muscles and tissues. This approach minimizes postoperative pain and significantly shortens recovery times. LLIF is particularly effective for conditions like degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis and scoliosis.
Another innovative technique available at our medical center is the minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). This advanced version of the traditional TLIF procedure involves smaller incisions and less muscle disruption, leading to reduced pain and a quicker return to normal activities. MIS-TLIF is an ideal solution for patients suffering from spinal instability and degenerative disc disease.
Revolutionary artificial disc replacement
For younger, more active patients seeking relief from spinal pain without sacrificing mobility, our artificial disc replacement offers a promising alternative to traditional fusion surgery.
This procedure preserves spinal flexibility and reduces the need for future operations, allowing patients to maintain their active lifestyles with minimal disruption.
Not every spinal condition requires implants. For patients with stenosis or a pinched nerve, our minimally invasive decompression surgery offers a highly effective solution. Through a tiny incision, our surgeons can remove bone or tissue compressing spinal nerves, resulting in minimal scarring, reduced pain and a swift recovery. This procedure is particularly beneficial for those looking to preserve flexibility and range of motion.
Our commitment to excellence is further demonstrated through our use of image-guided navigation systems. These advanced systems provide real-time, 3D visualization of a patient’s anatomy during surgery, enhancing surgical
precision and significantly improving patient outcomes.
Spinal cord stimulation
For patients who continue to have pain after conventional spinal surgery procedures or without a surgical solution, spinal cord stimulation can provide life-changing control and improvement of pain. We offer spinal cord stimulator trials, as well as spinal cord stimulator implantation, to relieve chronic pain.
Take the next step toward relief
At Wellstar North Fulton, we are dedicated to providing the highest level of care to our community. If you’re struggling with chronic back pain or a complex spinal condition, our expert neurosurgeons are here to help. With a patient-centered approach and personalized care plans, we ensure that each patient receives the treatment best suited to their individual needs.
Don’t let spinal issues hold you back. Schedule an appointment today by calling (770) 664-9600 or visit wellstar.org/ neurocare to learn more about our state-ofthe-art spine surgery services.
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
Atlanta
DNA is more knotted than you’d think. DNA can literally develop knots like a rope develops knots. DNA can also form knots like a string forms knots when you over-twist it. But those are not the type of knot we are focusing on in this article. Instead, a newly mapped type of “knot” called an i-motif turns out to be extremely common in the human genome. And i-motifs might prove to be the key to the development of new anti-cancer drugs.
When most of us picture DNA, we envision a beautiful spiraling structure consisting of two endlessly twisting strands. This structure is called a “double helix” and was first famously described as the structure of DNA by Watson and Crick in 1953. However, ten years later, Dr. Karst Hoogsteen described a DNA structure that did not exhibit the classic DNA shape.
Dr. Hoogsteen observed that DNA base pairs could bind together in a manner that would not cause DNA to assume its more linear, double helical shape. Instead, Hoogsteen base pairing causes DNA strands to assume strange shapes including three and four stranded structures called triplexes and quadruplexes that can fold back upon themselves. These structures were predicted in the 1960s but their biological relevance is only now being identified and explored.
One of the structures that exhibits Hoogsteen base pairing is called an “i-motif. I-motifs look like knots, and they can behave like knots too. Like a knot in a shoelace, i-motifs can trip up our cell’s machinery and keep genes from being turned “on.” I-motifs are concentrated in parts of our genes that control growth. As you might predict, genes that control growth are also extremely important in the development of cancer.
I-Motifs’ importance in cancer may be tremendous. They turn out to be concentrated in certain cancercausing genes that have so far been very difficult to treat. One example is the cancer gene c-myc . Melanomas that metastasize are more likely to have extra copies of the c-myc gene. Approximately 70% of uveal melanomas (melanoma of the pigmented inner layer of the eyeball) have extra copies of this gene.
To target a bad gene, we usually target the protein that the gene makes because the protein is like the physical object one makes from an instruction manual whereas the DNA is the manual itself. It’s easier to spot an apple pie than it is a page of text containing the recipe for an apple pie.
Unfortunately, the c-myc protein is so hard to target with drugs that an article in The Lancet Discovery Science even called the gene “undruggable.” In contrast, an “easy” drug target is a cancercausing protein that is relatively ordered, stable and has a predictably consistent shape such that a medication or antibody can be relied upon to nearly always bind to the cancer-causing protein and inactivate it.
An example of an “easy” target is the kinase class of proteins which often have a predictable pocket called the “active site” responsible for the protein’s activity. Medicines that fit this pocket like a key to a lock have helped us treat many cancers in which kinases are culprits. In contrast, c-myc is believed to be “disordered” or “transiently ordered” with regions that only briefly take on the shape needed for the protein to perform its activity. C-myc’s unstable shape and disorder make it difficult to design a drug that can always recognize and bind it.
The c-myc protein may be hard to target, but the i-motifs at the beginning of c-myc’s DNA sequence could be a sitting duck. Small molecules that target i-motifs have already been developed. If these molecules are found to be specific enough to target cancer cells, then i-motifs may be a way of zeroing in on c-myc DNA at a time when we cannot target the c-myc protein itself. In essence, discovering knots in DNA is like discovering that cookbooks have thick stickers before critical passages of text. We can quicky spot a sticker. We can also easily eliminate books that are so thick with stickers that they can’t even be closed. It might be a way to close the book on cancer.
I still like to imagine DNA as a beautiful spiral staircase of two endlessly winding coils of DNA, but biology is always messier than we imagine. And so often, it’s in the mess that we find new opportunities. DNA is knotty, and from those knots we may unravel a cure.
We all know the future holds changes in our lives as we age. This September is Healthy Aging month, a time to take stock of where we are and make lifestyle improvements to follow our passions in life and maintain as much independence as possible.
The key to healthy aging is healthy living. By 2030, 1 in every 6 Americans will be over 65. This is leading to a new ways to think about the aging process. Assessing changes and taking steps now to improve your physical and mental fitness lets you take charge of your well-being. Here are some actions to consider.
Be proactive about regular checkups and tests. Preventive tests can catch changes early and help keep issues in check. This includes your vision and dental appointments. Research shows the increasing impact vision deterioration and dental problems can have on your entire body. Whether it’s a vision issue that increases your fall risk or periodontal disease that can have dietary and systemic impacts, consistent care leads to a better long term result. Keep moving! Exercise is great as we age, while inactivity accelerates the aging process. Make sure your doctor is on board with any new exercise or dietary program. It’s so important to understand the role exercise and nutrition plays in staying strong.
Boost your mental health and learn something new. New skills can improve cognitive abilities, expand your social connections and open avenues for social activities and interactions. Exercise, diet, proactive health care, social activi-
ties and learning can all contribute to a better sleep cycle and help you get a good night’s sleep. It may get harder to fall and stay asleep as you get older but we all still need seven to nine hours each night.
Healthy aging means it’s also important to understand the signals that some assistance is necessary. ADLs, or activities of daily living, are those activities that you don't think much about until you or your older loved one has trouble with them. These are activities like walking safely around the house, eating nutritious meals, being able to perform basic grooming, bathing, dressing, toileting and move safely from one space to another.
Other signals are more subtle and may not occur daily. Can your older loved one do the laundry, handle basic house cleaning, meal preparation and grocery shopping, pay their bills, drive or take public transportation? Do they know when to take their pills or what to do in an emergency?
A Home Helpers caregiver can assist with all personal care, help around the house, accompany you on doctor’s visits and provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc. With a heart centered approach and positive spirit, they can also help pursue a hobby, enjoy outings and community activities, and build relationships that make for a longer and better life in the comfort of home.
We have a team with depth and skill that can provide the care you need from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 care. For a free consultation, please call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs at (770) 681-0323.
Brought to you by –
Nehemiah McClendon, M.Ed, at Summit Counseling Center
Nothing is better than those moments you have by yourself cuddled up in your favorite blanket watching Love Island or legs stretched out having a drink watching your favorite team go for glory. This alone time is craved, desired, and sometimes needed, but what happens when the clock on alone time strikes lonely? Loneliness is often followed up with the thought starting with everyone: EVERYONE is getting married, EVERYONE is having a baby, EVERYONE has a bunch of friends and most often EVERYONE is doing better than me. As a therapist, I often witness the profound impact loneliness has on individuals’ lives. It’s not merely the absence of company but a deep-seated emotional experience that can permeate every aspect of one’s existence.
The nature of loneliness
Loneliness isn’t just restricted to physical isolation; it can be an emotional state where we feel disconnected and unfulfilled in our relationships, even when surrounded by others. It looks different in different forms:
• Social isolation: When one lacks meaningful connections or spends excessive time alone.
• Emotional loneliness: Feeling misunderstood or unsupported, even when people are around.
• Existential loneliness: A deeper sense of being disconnected from life’s purpose or meaning.
Lonely-19
Oddly enough in a world where everyone is hyper-connected, it might seem paradoxical that loneliness is on the rise. The digital age has redefined how we interact, often replacing genuine connections with superficial online exchanges. This shift can exacerbate feelings of loneliness, as individuals compare their real lives to curated online personas. Instead of investing in authentic
experiences and connections, we find ourselves trapped in a cycle of seeking temporary relief from loneliness through superficial online interactions, which only perpetuates our sense of isolation and disconnection from real-life fulfillment.
Lonely on the body and brain
Loneliness isn’t just a passing emotion; it can have serious implications for mental health:
• Depression and anxiety: Prolonged loneliness can contribute to depressive symptoms and exacerbate anxiety disorders.
• Physical health: Research shows loneliness is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, weakened immune response, and other physical ailments.
• Self-esteem: Feeling disconnected can erode self-worth, leading to a cycle of negative thoughts and behaviors. Steps to connection Self-reflection: Asking yourself questions like: What situations or environments trigger feelings of loneliness for me?
How do my thoughts and beliefs about myself contribute to my sense of loneliness?
Self-awareness: Understanding personal triggers and patterns that contribute to feelings of loneliness.
• Building connections: Foster genuine relationships through shared interests, volunteering, or joining communities.
• Seeking support: Therapy offers a safe space to explore feelings of loneliness and develop strategies for coping. The path forward
Overcoming loneliness is a journey that requires patience and self-compassion. It’s about nurturing meaningful connections, both with others and ourselves. If you’re experiencing loneliness, remember that you’re not alone in feeling this way. Reach out, seek support, and take small steps toward reconnecting with yourself and others. Together, we can navigate the complexities of loneliness, cultivating a life filled with genuine connection and fulfillment.
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Family fights are the best fights, providing there’s no bloodshed.
It’s been my experience that in most cases there is a catalyst who enjoys stirring things up just enough where there is bad blood among relatives. These are the type of people who should have their phone privileges permanently revoked.
Such is the case for my family where one member might have left the world of the sane. She is a nasty soul and makes Cinderella’s tormentors look like Mother Teresa by comparison.
So, before you say to someone: “He’s right. Give me the phone. That cretin is due a good cussing. We’ll put an end to all this right now!”
The problem is these things have a
tendency to go all “Hatfield-McCoy” really quick. It’s usually a heavy toll for all involved. Empty seats at holiday dinners. Bad feelings that fester over the years that transform cherished thoughts of good days into fading recollections that grow fainter every year.
That was the situation with me, where a family member has done her part to wield a huge wedge between siblings who grew up in a fun household.
But thank heavens for a phone call that came straight out of left field. It was my brother Allan on the other end of the line, and he wanted to share great news.
The childhood pictures, all those great memories, had been located after being stored in a barrel on an Oklahoma porch. Allan must’ve spent the better part of the week pouring through all those photos, newspaper clippings, documents and other childhood memories that I longed to share with my sons.
Thanks to Allan and my sister-in-law
Jennifer, a box arrived that was bursting with photos that took me back. Right there, in glorious miniscule, grainy Polaroid or Kodak snapshots were infant, grammar school, high school and college memories that, but for Allan and Jennifer taking on the project, would have been lost forever.
I had a stupendously joyous time ferreting through mounds of those memories, keeping most, passing some to my brother Matt and to Marty’s widow, Lori. The consensus was smiles from everyone at being able to hold on to something that we thought was lost.
There was even a handwritten copy of my high-school graduation speech. Numerous cards and letters from me were included, driving home the point that Mom, bless her soul, kept and cherished them.
Uncle Jim with a burlap haircut (that’s a flat-top with a little length on the sides) now is accessible whenever I need a chuckle. Birthday party photos with a carnival ride in the backyard might offer
insight how a godmother truly spoiled me. Neighborhood gatherings with pals whose name escape me.
Everything is there. Well almost everything, and we think this particular family member might have sold it. Mom had an honest-to-goodness, sweat stained scarf that Elvis bent down and gave to her along with a smooch. This happened mid-concert in Las Vegas.
Allan really wants that scarf, and if I could, it would be in the mail tomorrow. You never know, lost treasures, like a massive trove of photos have a way of resurfacing.
Better yet, there might just be a chance for a little re-igniting of family harmony that disappeared like that scarf.
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.
Here’s a question for you: How far does one have to travel to have actually travelled?
Here’s another question. What is a fried cheese curd?
First question first: How far? Well, when she and I decide to “get outside, Georgia” ourselves, we may go no farther than the little creek a few miles down the road. That’s perfect when it’s close to suppertime. Other times, if we have a whole day, we might go north to the mountains or east to Athens or west to Tallapoosa, especially if I accidentally lose my legendary sense of direction.
But now and then, when we have a hankering for a bigger trip (or for grandkids), we’ll go farther.
Last week we had both hankering and time, so we journeyed up to Wisconsin, storied land of cows and (for the last year or so) home to some grandkids too.
As it turned out, it’s also the land of what they call “cheese curds.”
Cheese curds? I’d never heard of them, but it seemed that everyone else in the world knew of them and thought them celestially good.
What, exactly, is a cheese curd? According to the interweb, cheese curds are “moist pieces of curdled milk that are a natural part of the cheese-making process.” I further learned that they’re known for their squeaky texture (somehow tied to
what one writer has described as “long strands of protein [that rub] against the enamel of teeth.” I further learn that they can be eaten “fresh” (uncooked, in other words) or fried.
Which way is best? Well, I’m from Georgia. Do you even need to ask? Whatever they are, cheese curds (like oysters and chicken livers) must surely be elevated by a panful of hot fat.
But before we could explore this brave new world of cheesy goodness, we had to get to the airport. And before we could get to the airport, the oil in the car had to be changed.
You know how it is at oil-change places. You chat. You talk.
“Got any road trips coming up?” the fellow behind the counter asked.
“Matter of fact, we do,” I replied. “We’re going up to Wisconsin!”
His eyes lit up.
“Wisconsin?” I’m from Wisconsin! You’ll love it. What’s taking you there?”
Had I been in a certain frame of mind I might have said “an airplane.” But instead I simply said, “Grandkids!”
“Oh, yeah!” he said. “Grandkids for sure. You’ll have a good time. It’s pretty country. Do some hiking. And eat some fried cheese curds.”
At that very moment, as if he was receiving a vision from on high, an illumined look came over his countenance. He smiled a celestial smile. And then he began to tell me how grand cheese curds were, how they were delightful in every way, how their texture was perfect (and squeaky)
and how they pleased the palate, with nuances of flavor never to be forgotten and probably a favorite of God himself.
“Get ‘em fried,” he said again. “Did I tell you that? And dip ‘em in ranch dressing or marinara sauce. Nothing like ‘em. You’ll love ‘em. Guaranteed.”
Well, okay.
On the way home, the little car purred with that certain smoothness that only brand new oil can give. I savored it as I drove. But my attention was divided, for part of my mind was considering notions of cheese curdy goodness. What are they really like? Are they really as good as everyone said?
Long about Hickory Flat, I decided I had to take action. So I pulled over and called my son in Wisconsin. He answered on the second ring, and I got right to the point.
“We have to get cheese curds,” I said without preamble. “Everybody says we have to try them. Fried. With dipping sauce.”
“Yeah!” he said. “They’re a thing here. You’ll love ‘em. Guaranteed.”
Where had I heard that before?
And so, a day or two later, off we went to Wisconsin. We visited and laughed and told stories and played with grandkids. My wife taught the granddaughter to crochet. I allowed the grandson to beat me five-outof-six in chess. Then we all “got outside, Wisconsin!” We went on walks. We explored parks. We walked along rivers. We saw wildlife. We visited new places to eat.
And, yes, we tried cheese curds, fried and with dipping sauces. They came in the form of little cubes about an inch on a side;
the sauces came in two of those ubiquitous little plastic cups. For the record, I preferred the marinara.
My wife took a bite.
“Mmmm,” she said. “Kind of like fried cheese sticks?” Uh huh.
Would I have them again? Sure.
And that reminded me:
Half the fun of travel, or of any journey really, is the “new” that it brings into your life. You’ve just got to be open to it, wherever or whenever or in whatever form it comes along.
Sometimes, it’s a road you never drove before. Sometimes it’s a previously unvisited waterfall or an unexplored trail –or maybe it’s a little one-inch cube of fried cheese.
You never know exactly what it will be. But it’s often new, usuallly fresh, always fun.
That’s the promise of travel, isn’t it? That’s the promise of exploring, the promise of taking a chance on something or someplace new. There’s always a payback. And if you’re lucky, maybe once or twice in a lifetime, it’s so profound that it flat-out blows you away.
Those are ones you hope for. Those are the ones you hold on to for such a long, long time.
Steve Hudson writes about the southern outdoors from his home in Canton, Ga. His latest book, “Chattahoochee Trout” (Second Edition), is available from many outdoor shops or direct from the author at flybooks. net
As a child, I can remember the thrill of seeing fireflies light up the evening sky. They were so plentiful that we could collect them in a jar, observe them and enjoy the excitement of watching them, turning their lights on and off. Now, I rarely see one or two fireflies at night.
What makes fireflies unique? Both the males and females have the ability to convert some of the energy they obtain from their food to create a flashing light to attract and signal the opposite sex. This biochemical phenomenon is called bioluminescence. If you have been to the beach or a lake at night, you might have noticed water shimmering with light. There are some creatures that live in freshwater as well as saltwater that possess the same bioluminescent ability.
Why are sightings of fireflies becoming more and more of a rarity?
A combination of habitat loss and destruction and pesticides have created an inability for fireflies and many other insects to reproduce and thrive. During the last few years, several companies are specializing in residential mosquito spray services. Could the chemicals used by these companies kill more than mosquitoes? No one wants to enjoy their patio, deck or pool or outdoor dining space and find that they are sharing the space with mosquitoes! No one wants to find they are covered with itchy, red splotches after enjoying time outside! Using a mosquito spray company seems to be a solution, but there might be unforeseen consequences!
What is in mosquito sprays? Pyrethrins are the most used insecticide found in residential mosquito sprays. In the perfect world, these sprays would kill mosquitoes and all the fireflies, pollinators and beneficial insects would be spared. Unfortunately,
this is not the case! Pyrethrins are broad-based spectrum insecticides derived from chrysanthemum flowers. Chrysanthemums have evolved the ability to produce these chemicals to protect themselves from hungry insects. The high concentration of Pyrethrins in mosquito sprays indiscriminately kill most insects!
It is my hope that homeowners understand the consequences of using these products and the effect of reducing the insect population on a wide variety of other native insects, birds, amphibians, and reptiles that depend on insects for survival. If we want to live in a mosquito free environment, there are consequences. You will see fewer fireflies, bees, birds and of course, all the other creatures in our environment that need insects for survival. Let me share some statistics with you. Every night a single bat can eat 4,500 insects and barn swallows can consume an average of 850 insects each day! In the past 50 years, the North American bird population has declined by 30 percent through loss of habitat and diminished sources of food. Additionally, the resident toad that appears each night near my garage door needs to consume numerous insects every day to survive. Please be good stewards of your
environment by reducing or eliminating the use of pesticides, planting natives and providing opportunities for insects to lay eggs in leaf litter. Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water and their larva must live in water to develop into adult mosquitoes. To eliminate mosquitoes, identify any sources of standing water in your environment and remove them or add mosquito dunks to fountains and other standing water features. By changing a few ways, you maintain your gardens and landscape, you can help insects thrive, and in turn, you can make a difference that will maintain our food web and enable the survival of our native plants and animals.
Happy gardening!
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columists/garden buzz/.
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a Milton resident and master gardener since 2014. Carole describes herself as a born biologist. Since childhood, she loved to explore the out-of-doors and garden with her mother. When she entered college, she selected biology as her major and made teaching high school biology her career for 35 years. Shortly after moving, she became involved with the philanthropic mission of the Assistance League of Atlanta (ALA), completed the Master Gardener program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners (NFMG) and the Milton Garden Club. Carole uses her teaching skills to create a variety of presentations on gardening topics for the NFMG Lecture Series and Speakers Bureau. She also volunteers weekly at the ALA thrift store and acts as chair of their Links to Education scholarship program. Her favorite hobbies are gardening, hiking, biking, and reading.
PAT FOX Managing Editor pat@appenmedia.com
Before television exploded into a galaxy of networks, viewers had some hope of sorting the wheat from the chaff in programming.
Finding those rare needles in today’s ever-expanding haystack requires more time than us boomers can afford.
In deference to my generational compatriots, I’ve compiled a list of seven of the best television shows spanning my prime-time lifetime, from 1960 to present. One show for each day of the week. Maybe younger viewers will discover a long-lost gem.
My list does not include public television programs. By what formula do you calculate the value of Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos” next to “Game of Thrones?”
The roster also devalues “I just want to be entertained” as a major criterion. If all you want is entertainment, go bowling.
There are no comedies, because everyone’s sense of humor differs widely, and so, why argue about what makes you laugh?
I’ve ignored anything written by Aaron Sorkin whose dialog is too perfect, too contrived to be taken with any sense of realism. Great dialog is believable. Manicured dialog is pure pretense.
This leaves three slots to complete a top 10. Maybe readers can help with that.
7. The Prisoner (1967)
A British spy resigns in a rage. He is subsequently drugged and awakens in The Village, a coastal community operated like an HOA on mushrooms. The Village is charming, populated by devout conformists under the thumb of a mysterious, allseeing apparatus. But, it’s no place for a rebel like Patrick McGoohan, the show’s creator and protagonist.
Why did he resign? That’s what the mysterious agency wants to know, and McGoohan’s not talking.
He has no name, but they call him No. 6.
The true enjoyment lies not in McGoohan’s inventive escape attempts but in the psychological subversion he inflicts on his inquisitors.
“I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered,” he declares. “My life is my own.”
The show’s cerebral gymnastics prompted one local PBS station to bring in a psychiatrist to offer commentary following each episode when it re-aired in syndication.
6. Siskel & Ebert (1975-1999)
What the Tennessee Valley Authority did for rural electrification Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert did for film. The rival Chicago newspaper critics did more than review new theater releases, they taught you how to appreciate movies. Each identified elements that make a movie worth seeing, from storyline, to direction, to the depth of its characters. They likewise signaled traits that detract from a
movie.
What a novel idea to place two rivals in the ring to argue, insult (not just movies, but often each other), praise and ultimately elevate film from simple entertainment to an art form. Over its 24 years, it also elevated the hand’s first digit to a prominence it hadn’t seen since ancient Rome.
5. Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
Westerns, family sitcoms, buddy cops and scotch-swilling private detectives have always owned primetime TV.
Then, along comes a high school chemistry teacher who blunders into becoming a world-class meth chef. Creator Vince Gilligan provided a frenetic storyline as addictive as the chemist’s product, with twists, dark humor and grisly reminders of what a dirty business the drug trade can be.
I appreciate cleverness, and the show introduced schemes so imaginative, they’ll likely never be matched. It takes work and talent to produce that kind of quality.
4. Star Trek (1966-1969)
Before Captain Kirk, there was Buck Rogers. No contest.
While the scion “Next Generation” was lightyears ahead of the original “Star Trek,” someone had to set the table, establish the canon and introduce the “science” that made it all work. Someone had to lasso a fan base that could force resuscitation of a long-dead series and grow it into a franchise that prospers to this day.
Gene Roddenberry avoided the trappings of many science fiction writers by creating a universe governed by rules: a starship’s speed limit, matter-antimatter power, for example. An 8-year-old could grasp it.
Amid the turbulent ’60s, it was courageous to paint a future where respect for life and culture were paramount and where exploration superseded conquest.
No less important, the dynamic between the impetuous Kirk and his emotionless first officer Spock formed a command team of opposing intellects that melded beautifully. The show is timeless.
3. The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)
It is no accident this anthology series has been embedded into the American lexicon. If you find something strange, it’s “like the Twilight Zone.”
One of the greatest writers in the business, Rod Serling had already made a mark with teleplays like “Patterns” in 1955 and “Requiem for a Heavyweight” a year later.
When CBS gave him the studio keys in 1959, Serling delivered stories probing the depths of humanity that built to a masterful climax of
irony, surprise or greater social consciousness.
A combat veteran, Serling battled censors to cover topics like war, bigotry and injustice within his stories.
In a rebuke to the censors who made his life a misery, Serling’s widow Carol quoted him as saying: “The ultimate obscenity is not caring, not doing something about what you feel, not feeling!”
Nearly every episode reflects this.
2. The Americans (2013-2018)
Hailed for its writing, the series centers on a suburban Washington D.C., couple in the early 1980s, the height of the Cold War. The couple, portrayed by Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, are Soviet moles who entered the country years earlier, have two children and blend into suburbia.
The first 10 minutes of the first episode beats any series opening ever aired on the small screen. It hooks you with deception, intrigue, action and precision editing.
Most commendably, the writers honor the premise of the story. There is irony, but no gags. When you’re living a high-stakes lie, few things are humorous. Life is marbled with holding jobs, raising the kids and performing deadly espionage to gather U.S. intelligence.
Over its six seasons, Emmys poured in, but ratings and chatter never exceeded a simmer. Too bad. This series is strikingly good.
1. The Rockford Files (1974-1980)
Each episode opens with a phone ringing next to a half-finished game of solitaire on the private detective’s desk. The answering machine kicks in. It’s the dry cleaners. They’ve lost his brown jacket.
The phone message changes in every opening, but it’s always the same: a caller offering anything but employment for this struggling gumshoe.
Few actors can upend a genre. James Garner did it — twice!
His starring role in “Maverick” inverted the TV western in 1959 when he played a roguish gambler slightly more cunning than he was cowardly.
He hit his stride in 1974, playing hapless PI Jim Rockford, who, when he wasn’t being stiffed by clients, was getting the hell beaten out of him. This was not your twofisted Phillip Marlowe prowling grimy back alleys. Rockford lived and worked out of a paint-chipped trailer sitting like an empty beer can on a pristine Malibu beach.
Only a charmer like Garner could’ve pulled this off. When he was forced to fight, Rockford usually fought dirty, like emptying a soap dispenser on the floor seconds before he’s confronted in the men’s room by a martial arts henchman.
His heart was as soft as his fists, so he was an easy touch. He had to make a living, but he had to live with himself. So, he cut corners with a scalpel.
Storylines were so innovative and complex they are as fresh today as when they first aired. They hold up because of great writing, and because nobody can outRockford James Garner.
Continued from Page 1
“The general assembly has done their job,” County Attorney Ken Jarrard said. “Now it comes down to us.”
With the increase, the county anticipates total hotel tax collections of about $2.3 million, said Communications Director Russel Brown.
In 2024 and 2023, the county collected a little more than $1 million, up from about
Heather Albro, 52, of Milton, passed away on September 1, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Lisa Clock, 62, of Roswell, passed away on August 30, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Elizabeth Cusick, 88, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 1, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
$847,000 in 2022.
With an 8 percent rate, 37.5 percent of hotel tax revenue would be added to the general fund. The remaining funds would pay for tourism promotion with a percentage contributed to the Chamber of Commerce’s efforts.
At least 11 hotels conduct business in Forsyth County, said Alex Warner, vice president of Economic Development for the chamber. The county expects an additional two hotels to contribute taxes next year.
Warner said he supports increasing the tax for a few reasons.
The tax would collect money from visitors to the county rather than from residents, funding projects and promoting the area without burdening locals, he said.
Continued from Page 1
11th hour chaos, and so should the unelected members of the State Election Board.”
The State Election Board’s website lists 11 more proposed rule changes that will be heard on Sept. 20 — 46 days before Election Day.
The Democratic Party of Georgia, along with Tucker and several other county-level elections officials from around the state, filed a lawsuit against the State Election Board Aug. 26 accusing it of attempting
Continued from Page 3
“Whenever something as shocking and tragic as this happens, it impacts us all … we understand that incidents like these are deeply unsettling,” the letter said. “Please be assured that the safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority.”
Lisa Emberger, 53, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 2, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Gerald Fisher, 61, of Atlanta, passed away on August 29, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Mary Jane Hadley, 85, of Alpharetta, passed away on August 29, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
It also would not dissuade visitors from using local hotels, he said, because many surrounding cities and counties are at the 8 percent cap.
As of January, Alpharetta, Cobb County, Dawson County, Decatur, Gainesville, Gwinnett County, Lawrenceville, Marietta and Roswell have hotel taxes set at 8 percent, according to Georgia Department of Community Affairs records.
Chamber Director of Tourism Stacey Gross said Forsyth County’s blended geography means the area features a variety of attractions that include outdoor recreation and other amenities.
“From metro to mountains, we really have everything,” Gross said, Visitors can hike and explore the area’s
to “upend” the certification process and requesting that some new rules be declared invalid.
Carla Radzikinas and Joel Natt, the two Republican appointees to the Forsyth County Voter Registrations & Elections Board, expressed hesitation to support Tucker’s resolution, given her involvement in the lawsuit against the state board.
“This has become a little bit political in nature,” Radzikinas said. “That’s clearly supported by one party, and that somewhat connects us to that concept, since that’s what that lawsuit is about.”
Natt said he had not yet read the resolution, though Tucker said she had sent
The letter stresses that there will be increased awareness of existing safety protocols in schools. It also encourages parents and guardians to speak with their children about their thoughts and feelings.
The DeKalb County School District issued a similar response Sept. 5, first extending condolences to Apalachee High School families and the entire Barrow County community.
Tracey Whaley, the school district’s executive director of Public Safety, ordered
Penelope Holder, 88, of Roswell, passed away on August 28, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Lucy McAlpine, 98, of Roswell, passed away on August 25, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Carrie Moss, 72, of Roswell, passed away on August 26, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
forests at Sawnee Mountain and the Big Creek Greenway, she said, and they can spend time at Lake Lanier.
Dining, live music shopping can be found at mixed-use developments like Halcyon, Cumming City Center and The Collection. The county also is hoping to attract an NHL team at The Gathering, a development that would offer 1.6 million square feet of commercial space, a 750,000-square-foot arena, community center and 450 hotel rooms.
Forsyth County also has retained its rural charm, offering a variety of wedding venues in unique spaces like barns, she said.
“You could certainly fill up a weekend full of really great things,” she said.
it to the County Elections Board and staff ahead of time. He joined two other board members voting to postpone action on the resolution until the board’s October meeting. Tucker and Radzikinas voted against the motion to postpone.
It’s been a busy summer for the county Elections Board. In June, the panel voted to dismiss 742 voter challenges. Then, in July, the board upheld 270 challenges out of more than 1,000 it was presented at that meeting.
The board also set a meeting date of Sept. 13 to conduct hearings on more than 500 voter registration challenges that were filed on Aug. 30. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m.
his command staff and officers Sept. 4 to be in a heightened state of alert, saying the precautionary measure is not related to any known threats in the area but out of an abundance of caution.
DeKalb County School District also provided resources through the National Association of School Psychologists about talking to children about school shootings and violence.
To access the association’s website, visit www.nasponline.org/.
David Shadeed, 67, of Alpharetta, passed away on August 27, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Mary Thornton, 80, of Roswell, passed away on September 2, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Bradley Wedge, 37, of Roswell, passed away on August 26, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
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