Forsyth Herald - September 14, 2023

County reports sewer line leak in subdivision

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County officials reported a 1,200-gallon sewage spill in the Pinnacle Glen subdivision near 3072 Cross Creek Drive Aug. 31.

Officials said a buildup of grease and rags in the gravity sewer line caused the sewage to spill into Bagley Creek. The ground in the area that was affected by the spill has been cleaned and treated with lime.

Officials said the county is complying with Environmental Protection Division guidelines and taking all necessary precautions, including stream monitoring for one year.

The County Department of Water and Sewer can be contacted for more information at 770-781-2160.

— Shelby Israel

Forsyth County styling salon provides sense of belonging

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Office reports fatal crash on Ga. 369 and Waldrip Road

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office reported a fatal crash between a car and a motorcycle around 8:45 p.m. Sept. 7 on Waldrip Road and Ga. 369.

Sheriff’s Office officials said the driver of the car, a 35-year-old from Gainesville, was waiting to turn left onto Ga. 369 from Waldrip Road. The driver reportedly failed to yield for motorcyclist Timothy Cantrell,

Alpharetta woman cited for simple battery, stalking

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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 64-year-old Alpharetta woman Sept. 1 on stalking and battery charges after she allegedly violated bail conditions following her release from jail.

Deputies reported responding around 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31 to a home on Stone Hill Road. The victim reported he had been sitting in his front yard in a chair when the suspect, his ex-wife, pulled into his driveway.

He said the suspect entered his home, and he followed her to find out what she was doing. The victim said the suspect started to yell in his face, and he thought she was angry because she had been arrested for a domestic dispute earlier in the year and may be facing jail time.

The suspect allegedly told her exhusband to sit on the couch and said he was not going anywhere for 45 minutes, the report states. The victim reported she was also pulling on his shirt and pushing him away from the front door with both of her hands on his chest.

He said he tried to leave multiple times, but the suspect would not allow it, the report states. She also pushed her body against the door to block him from leaving.

The man later ran downstairs, exiting through the basement door and asked a neighbor to call 911. The suspect reportedly shouted for him to end the call, but she then fled.

678-208-0774

3034 Old Atlanta Road Cumming, GA 30041 info@montessoricumming.com www.montessoricumming.com

53, of Cleveland, who was traveling west on the highway approaching Waldrip Road. The driver turned left and struck Cantrell’s motorcycle, according to the agency. Cantrell was transported to a local hospital and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The driver of the car received minor injuries.

Deputies reported determining the driver of the car to be impaired by multiple

The ex-husband reported he had filed a temporary protective order against the alleged intruder, but it had been dismissed. However, she signed a criminal bail protection order when she was released from the Forsyth County Jail in July that required her to have no contact with her ex-husband or visit his address.

She was charged with felony aggravated stalking and misdemeanor family violence simple battery.

Deputies arrest suspect in 2022 retail burglary

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 39-year-old Florida man Aug. 30, one of two suspects in a 2022 burglary.

Deputies reported responding to a burglar alarm at a jewelry business on Peachtree Parkway around 1 a.m. Dec. 31, 2022.

Deputies observed the front door lock damaged, and the business’s front lights were hanging down. There were also fresh markings on a ladder leading to the roof, the report states.

The business’s keyholder told deputies the front lights were out of place, and deputies cleared the building, the report states.

Exterior camera footage showed two suspects in black clothing at the store between 11:50 p.m. and 12:58 a.m. The suspects climbed the ladder to the roof from the rear of the building.

The keyholder reported no items missing. A county fire unit responded, and deputies reported the suspects cut a hole in the roof to enter the building.

One of the suspects was later arrested and charged with felony forced smash-and-grab burglary and criminal damage to property in the second degree.

Deputies charge woman for allegedly throwing vape

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 28-year-old Cumming woman Aug. 24 on battery charges after she allegedly threw her vape at her grandmother.

substances at the time of the crash. He was arrested following his release from the hospital and charged with felony homicide by vehicle in the first degree, as well as misdemeanor DUI multiple substances and failure to yield turning left.

He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail with no posted bond amount.

— Shelby Israel

POLICE BLOTTER

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

Deputies reported responding around 5 p.m. to a home on Burruss Road. The suspect told deputies her grandmother is “always trying to be in her business,” and she does not want to tell her grandmother everything.

The suspect said her grandmother grew angry when she refused to answer her questions, and her grandmother told her she needed to find another place to live. The woman said she then became angry, and that was when her vape “flew” out of her hand and hit her grandmother.

The suspect said she threw her vape because she is “connected spiritually” to her sister who lives in West Virginia, and she knew her grandmother was hurting her sister, though she did not know how, the report states.

The elder woman told deputies she attempted to talk to her granddaughter about finding a job in the next month to start supporting herself. She said the suspect had been living with her for roughly a month and had not been contributing.

The suspect was charged with felony battery. She is being held at the Forsyth County Jail on a $11,130 bond.

Cumming man charged with felony shoplifting

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 61-year-old Cumming man Aug. 31 who allegedly stole more than $500 of merchandise at Walmart.

Loss prevention employees at Walmart on Browns Bridge Road reported the incident around 4 p.m. Aug. 29. An employee told deputies a man and a woman had been “skip-scanning” items during multiple visits to the store between July 2 and Aug. 21, the report states.

The employee reported the suspects failed to pay for a total of $560.04 in merchandise.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with felony theft by shoplifting.

Forsyth County officials approve funding for Whole Health Building

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Following weeks of discussion and disagreement, Forsyth County commissioners approved additional funding Sept. 7 for the Whole Health Building on the future Administration Campus.

The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $20,325 change order for additional costs toward the building at the meeting. The funding includes $8,425 for the building’s master plan and $11,900 for a sexual assault nurse exam, or SANE, unit.

At previous meetings, commissioners debated whether SANE services, which would supplement the County Sheriff’s Office and district attorney investigations, should be provided at the health building.

The Whole Health facility is one of three buildings on the county’s new Administration Campus, slated to open in 2025. The $140 million campus will also include an Employee Center and a new County Administration Building on Freedom Parkway near Ga. 400.

The 65,000-square-foot facility will house the County Health Department, which is currently located on Canton Highway in a building that was built in the 1960s.

It will also house a mental health center that will provide inpatient, outpatient and crisis services, operated by Avita Community Partners.

The funding request was first proposed Aug. 8 at a work session but was postponed. County staff presented the item at a second work session Aug. 22, where it ultimately failed in a 2-2 vote.

At the Aug. 22 meeting, County Commission Chairman Alfred John and commissioners Kerry Hill and Laura Semanson argued the scope of the building has expanded since its conception, resulting in a higher bill for the government facility.

John shared his concerns about the ris-

ing costs at the new campus.

“It’s been blended all in together, and the county has taken on added responsibility at the expense of our taxpayers,” he said at the Aug. 22 meeting. “There’s a broader discussion than just this one item.”

At the previous meetings, Semanson said she thinks SANE services would be better suited at a formal hospital, which would provide more professionalism, consistency and privacy for patients than a county building.

Commissioner Todd Levent said the SANE services are needed in Forsyth County but agreed with Hill the county should have more information before committing

the funds. Hill and Levent voted in favor of the change order at the Aug. 22 meeting, and John and Semanson cast the dissenting votes. Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills was absent.

Despite the previous contention, the County Commission approved the funding with no discussion at the Sept. 7 meeting.

County Communications Director Russell Brown said in an email the county has prepared and budgeted for such changes in the cost of the project.

“With any project of this magnitude, change orders are anticipated to be submitted to alter plans and to add or change services offered over the duration of the design,” Brown said.

Commissioners previously approved $247,038 in change orders for the other two facilities on the new Administration Campus.

Also at the Sept. 7 meeting, the Board of Commissioners proclaimed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month in Forsyth County. John said 14 percent of Forsyth County Schools’ students are of Hispanic heritage.

FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED

This rendering depicts the future Whole Health Building as part of the future Forsyth County administration campus on Freedom Parkway. County commissioners approved $20,325 in additional costs to add a sexual assault nurse exam unit in the building Sept. 7.

Hi, I’m Shelby Israel and I report on all things in and around Forsyth County. If you have any story tips or ideas please contact me at shelby@appenmedia.com

Area hockey team headed to Canada

By ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Ben Parsons, a 12-yearold seventh grader at Northwestern Middle School, joined his Atlanta Fire Hockey Club teammates in an electronic recycling fundraiser at The Cooler Sept. 9 to raise funds for their upcoming tournament in Quebec, Canada. While the event was free, optional donations were appreciated to support the team with their travels in February. The team hoped to use this opportunity to help preserve the environment and make a positive impact on the community by safely recycling electronics that would otherwise end up in landfills.

“The boys are trying to incorporate a few different fundraisers to raise money to help with the costs associated with the Quebec tournament,” said Michelle Parsons, Ben’s mother. “But they were really excited when one of the players' parents suggested the electronics recycling fundraiser. It is an opportunity to help the community and help the environment.”

Parsons plays forward for the Atlanta Fire Pee Wee Quebec team which serves as part of the Southeastern Showcase League. Founded in 1960, the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament remains the oldest and most prestigious

youth minor league tournament in the world. Attended annually by more than 120 teams representing 40 different countries, more than 1,100 former participants have gone on to play in the NHL including Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Marcel Dionne.

“All of the kids are really excited about having the opportunity to play hockey in another country and experience another culture,” Michelle said. “The program allows the players to stay with a Frenchspeaking family for most of the 10-day tournament. The boys know that some of

the most famous NHL players have played in this tournament.”

According to the Atlanta Fire Hockey Club website, the special tournament provides players with a “once-in-a-lifetime, multicultural experience.” Joining Parsons on the team are a few of his Northwestern classmates. In the hopes of continuously raising funds, the boys previously held an Atlanta Fire season kick-off party to sell raffle tickets along with offering sponsorship opportunities to local businesses.

Kicking off next year with their biggest tournament, the team “prepare, train, and play hard all season” in the hopes of competing well against teams from all over the world.

“What we found is that the hockey community is really family. His teammates and their entire families are a special group of friends. The boys are really excited about getting to know each other, learning, and growing as a team,” Michelle said. “The positive impact that hockey provides are its many life lessons including discipline, respect, teamwork, communication skills, and humility.”

To learn more about the Atlanta Fire Hockey Club, visit www.cooler.com/ atlanta-fire. For more information about the fundraiser, visit www.givebutter.com/ atlfirerecycles.

SPECIAL TO APPEN MEDIA

Ben Parsons, middle, and his teammates are excited to raise funds for their Quebec tournament early next year.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Photographer showcases beauty of Ukraine city now lost to war

By LUKE GARDNER newsroom@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta City Hall turned a conference room into a photography exhibition this summer, featuring the work of local photographer Anna Rumiantseva.

“Mariupol: The City that Doesn’t Exist,” featured a collection of 18 photographs of various buildings throughout the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which is currently occupied by Russia. The exhibition ran from June 10 to Sept. 11.

“These pictures I took a couple of years before the war started,” Rumiantseva said. “We traveled with my son every summer. It was a beautiful city and I love it. … Everything I show here is gone.”

Russia annexed Mariupol in May 2022 after attacks that started in late February, claiming thousands of civilian lives and destroying most of the city.

Numbers vary on how many people were killed as a result of the Russian invasion. While the Ukrainian government said 21 thousand people died, Ukrainian citizens say the death toll is between 100 thousand and 120 thousand, according to The Guardian.

Out of the city’s initial population of 430 thousand, 350 thousand people fled, and around 90 percent of the city’s buildings have been destroyed, according to the BBC. Russia is now rebuilding the city in its image and encouraging Russians to move there.

The exhibition features several historic Mariupol buildings and cultural sites now damaged or lost to acts of violence, including the Church of Mary Magdalene, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Extreme Park and the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theatre.

In April 2022, the Theatre was bombed in an Airstrike that claimed the lives of around 600 people, including several children, according to the Associated Press. Activist group Amnesty International called the attack a “clear war crime,” citing that Russian forces knew hundreds of civilians were sheltering in the building before they chose to bomb it.

At the exhibition, each photograph was framed and featured a QR code at the bottom for viewers to scan in order to learn more about the building and view pictures of its current state.

“This is a big deal for the Ukrainian community,” Rumiantseva said. “Every family got hurt by the war. When we had the exhibition’s opening night there were a lot of people, including people from Ukraine and Russia… There were a lot of tears at the opening event. One man was standing in the doorway and crying. I went up to him; he hugged me and said he understood my pain because he was from Syria.”

For her family, the exhibit brought back a lot of memories. Growing up as a happy child in Mariupol, Rumiantseva remembers walking 15 minutes to the sea and also spending time at the Theatre.

“Two years ago when the war started all my family was there,” Rumiantseva said. “My Mom, my grandma, my sister, my nephew and my niece.” … I was worried about my family. When you’re under stress you start looking at moments in life differently.”

Rumiantseva’s family took shelter in the Czech Republic before eventually moving close to her in the United States.

Having lived in the U.S. for over a decade, Rumiantseva used that time to explore various types of photography, including wedding shoots, graduation shoots, and real estate photography.

“I started my photo career with landscaping and was known in Europe and here as a landscape photographer. Now, I also challenge myself with kid [photoshoots] and taking beauty pictures of models. I also do a lot of product photography.”

One day Rumiantseva hopes to see Mariupol return to Ukrainian rule. If that day comes, she plans to revisit her hometown with her family.

“I never imagined it would be gone one day,” Rumiantseva said. “Unfortunately, life is unpredictable. Humans are powerful; we can build something and in one second destroy it. With this exhibition, I wanted to show how beautiful Mariupol is, not the ruins.”

ANNA RUMIANTSEVA/SPECIAL TO APPEN MEDIA Photographer Anna Rumiantseva stands in front of her photographs at the opening night of the exhibition.

FALL FLOOR SAMPLE SALE

Level Spa Salon offer clients cozy, welcoming experience

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Level Spa Salon owners George-Anna “Georgie” Wood and Andrea Craighead have two decades of experience as stylists, but at their salon, business is secondary to creating a home away from home.

“The atmosphere we want to create when you come in is warm, cozy, homey, inviting,” Wood said. “And that’s probably the biggest one. We want our salon to be just an inviting space.”

Wood and Craighead execute their vision through an open floor plan, without the partitions separating chairs that are often found at salons. Stylists can share ideas and have conversations while working, and clients can interact with other stylists if one is busy.

“Our clients, we want them to feel comfortable if they need to see other people because we are … kind of that family environment,” she said.

Wood and Craighead opened Level Spa Salon on Peachtree Parkway in 2007 during the Great Recession. Despite the economic climate, the pair found immediate success in their first and only location.

“I think that we were just the right amount of young and dumb and driven,” Wood said. “Because I mean, we worked, for sure, six days a week for the first two years, [first] year for sure … And even at those times, I don’t remember it being really that much of a chore … We were excited. Failing wasn’t an option.”

Craighead said in the early days, the two worked 10- to 12-hour days, driven to not have debt from their business venture. Their dedication, and their commitment to crafting an intimate envi-

ronment, paid off, and Level Spa Salon cemented a loyal following.

“I would say 80 percent of our clientele, if not more, we’ve probably serviced for a minimum of 15, if not 20-plus, years,” Craighead said. “You know, it’s a family. They just were so excited to just want to see us grow.”

Mutual beginnings

Craighead, who hails from a rural Florida town, said she never seriously considered styling as a career until moving to Georgia in 1997. She said she came from a creative background and loved dolling up her three sisters, but her small hometown did not afford much opportunity.

“I used to lock myself in the bathroom knowing that I was going to get grounded,” Craighead said. “I was always very into my hair and extreme styles from the get-go. So, I was grounded a lot.”

She began working at a salon in Alpharetta in 2000, where she met Wood, who shared a similar background of loving to dress up and wear makeup. Wood said she knew in high school she wanted to go to cosmetology school, but first, she tried her hand at a business degree.

“I got about two years into the college route, which I loved,” Wood said. “I loved that experience, but I wouldn’t say I’m the best academic student. And I just was like, ‘… This is going to take me another three years, then hair school. Let me just get that middle portion out of the way.’ So yeah, went to hair school and surprisingly, I was a way better student.”

See SALON, Page 9

LEADERSHIP NORTH FULTON ANNOUNCES NEW CLASS of 2024

Shayaa Baksh, Atlanta Gas Light

Harry Bentley III, City of Alpharetta

Steven Braun, BROS RŌMAN BRÄUN

Mike Breit, Edward Jones

Katie Bowling, LGE Community Credit Union

Sean Byers, ATLAS

The Greater North Fulton Chamber is pleased to announce the members of the Leadership North Fulton Class of 2024 led by Chairs Mary Beth Byerly, University of North Georgia, and Ben Huard, GO Agency.

Claire Cates, North Fulton Community Charities

Grayson Clark, Parrish Construction Group

Michelle Coleman, Crabapple LandscapExperts

Stephen Davis, Atlanta Apartment Association

Audrey Degen, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce

Carolynn DeSandre, University of North Georgia

Clint Elliott, YMCA of Metro Atlanta

Mary Fazio, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

Kimberly Foodman, Financial Consultants Group

Cari Fundora, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant

Lauren Garren, W&A Engineering

Rebecca Hampson, Children’s Development Academy

Molly Holway, Three Sisters Catering, LLC

Tasha Johnson-Parker, The Cottage School

Andy Kalajian, Fort Leadership and Sales Consulting, LLC

Shiv Kotagal, Radin Marketing, LLC

Jami Lakshminarayanan, Wellstar North Fulton Hospital

Andrew Long, Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

Shawn McCabe, iThink Financial

Lauren Middlebrooks, Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC

Alexis Mitchell, Frazier and Deeter, LLC

Kaylee Murtagh, Kimley-Horn & Associates

Linda Olejniczak, Blazej & Associates

Sergio Pacheco, Nothing Bundt Cakes Alpharetta & Sandy Springs

David Pascarella, ServisFirst Bank

Tukker Penrod, Saprea

Danielle Purdie, Visit Roswell

Michael Stainback, Brasfield & Gorrie

Maria Walden Sullivan, Community Foundation for NE Georgia

Brit Young, Bridgeford, LLC

www.gnfcc.com

From left, owner Andrea Craighead, customer service representative Melissa “M.J.” Janes and owner George-Anna “Georgie” Wood welcome guests to Level Spa Salon Sept. 1. Craighead and Wood have owned the salon on Peachtree Parkway since 2007.

PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA Level Spa Salon, located in Suite 160 at 405 Peachtree Parkway, offers customized hair services Sept. 1. Owners George-Anna “Georgie” Wood and Andrea Craighead opened the salon in 2007 after meeting as coworkers in Alpharetta.

… And even at those times, I don’t remember it being really that much of a chore … We were excited. Failing wasn’t an option.

GEORGE-ANNA “GEORGIE” WOOD, co-owner, Level Spa

Salon

plan with no partitions separating chairs. Co-owner George-Anna “Georgie” Wood said the design focuses on creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Salon:

Continued from Page 8

Reflecting on 23 years of working together, Craighead said she and Wood have been “married” longer than they have to their husbands, and they have spent more of their lives together than apart.

While Wood and Craighead had a heavy workload during its early years, Level Spa Salon now employs 13, including the owners, who still style and work with clients.

“It’s just real life, and then you get to be creative,” Craighead said. “Nobody ever comes in feeling worse when they leave. Even if it’s a bad day, you’re always making it better.”

A complete experience

Much like their commitment to customer service, Wood and Craighead strive to make working at the salon the best possible experience for their stylists. They said they offer their employees holidays and holiday weekends off, as well as a 401(k).

“We mentor these people to buy houses and cars and build credit and create not just a career for themselves, but a life for themselves,” Craighead said.

One of their employees, Melissa “M.J.” Janes, has worked at Level Spa Salon for 11 years and handles customer service. She said the salon is like a second home to her, and it is her safe space.

Level Spa Salon also provides mentorship for Forsyth Central and West Forsyth high school students, who can gain credits working at the salon to earn

Each week Appen Media asks a staff reporter to profile a business, nonprofit or commerce group they find interesting.

Do you have an idea for a future profile? Send tips and story leads to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

a license through the schools’ cosmetology programs.

Although the salon offered other services in the past, Craighead said Level Spa Salon now focuses on hair, its standout service.

“We’re always open for something new,” she said. “In the past years, we’ve had massage, we’ve had nails, we’ve had eyebrow waxing, facials, but we have realized that we’re hairdressers, and that’s what we’re best at.”

Craighead emphasized the salon’s commitment to testing and enjoying the products it sells. Wood said Level Spa Salon currently sells nutritional supplements for skin and hair health.

Wood said the salon offers customized hair coloring, cutting, detailing and styling. Even if five customers request the same thing, she said Level Spa Salon aims for a personalized experience.

“Everybody is different, and each head of hair is different and will be customized to what fits and suits them,” Wood said. “I feel like we definitely strive to give that more personal, detailed approach, versus a one-haircut-shop kind of style.”

Level Spa Salon is in Suite 160 at 405 Peachtree Parkway. More information on pricing, hours and appointments can be found at levelspasalon.com.

7506 Wilderness

This is Miss Bea!

Facts About Me Breed: Hound mix

Color: Light Tan/ Brown

Age: 1 year 8 months

Size: (When Grown) Large 65 Lbs

Weight: (Current) 50 Lbs.

Sex: Female

My Info

Good with dogs & children

Shots up to date

Great Disposition

Spayed & Chipped

706-268-1346

My Story

Can you tell I’m a happy dog?

I love to play, go on hikes, give sloppy kisses and hang out with my buddies. I dream of a family who wants a sweet gentle girl to call their own and grow up with. I like belly rubs and lying in the sun. Come meet me, bring treats!

This is Stella!

Facts About Me Breed: Lab mix

Color: Blonde/Tan

Age: 5 months

Size: (When Grown) Medium 60 Lbs

Weight: (Current) 28 Lbs.

Sex: Female

My Info

Good with dogs and kids

Shots current Healthy

Chipped & spayed

My Story

I’m searching for you, are you coming to adopt me?

Stella was found wandering around a busy road and rescued by a wonderful lady and brought to BCAR. She is full of personality, affection and loves to play. Stella has only been with us two weeks and has won the hearts of many of the volunteers. She is the happiest when around people and treats!

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

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Level Spa Salon features an open floor

Merkel Cell A farewell to Jimmy Buffett

Tragically, Jimmy Buffett, the famous singer-songwriter, recently passed away of a skin cancer. It has been reported that he died of Merkel cell carcinoma, a very rare skin cancer, and many patients have been asking me about this cancer since his passing.

The good news is that Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is rare. Only about 3,000 cases are diagnosed each year in the United States, which is in contrast to about 100,000 cases of melanoma diagnosed each year.

Merkel cell carcinoma is named after the “Merkel cell” – a type of cell at the end of nerve endings in our skin and involved in our sense of touch.

Merkel cell carcinoma is likely so rare because Merkel cells themselves are rare, and it’s an odds or numbers game that drives skin cancer in most cases. Most of your skin is made up of keratinocytes – a cell type that stacks on itself, overlaps like bricks and makes up most of your skin. When keratinocytes become cancer, they make basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. In contrast, Merkel cells are scattered near nerve endings in our skin and make up a very small proportion of the cells in the epidermis.

Imagine that sunshine in the form of ultraviolet rays is hitting your skin. Each ray has a chance of causing a mutation in the wrong gene in the cell that the ray of light happens to strike. You have a LOT more keratinocytes than you do Merkel cells, so the chance of a ray of UV light causing cancer in a keratinocyte is much higher than of a ray of light causing a bad mutation in a Merkel cell.

Some people are afraid of Merkel cell carcinoma because the tumor of a Merkel cell carcinoma is often a pink bump on the skin, and people have been trained to notice the brown or black growth of a melanoma but ignore a new pink bump. However, some melanomas are pink instead of brown or black. These pink melanomas are called “amelanotic melanomas”. In the past year, I have seen four cases of amelanotic melanoma

and one Merkel cell carcinoma. We shouldn’t ignore any new or changing bumps regardless of whether they are brown, black, pink, red, or any other color under the Sun. If you’re not sure what the new growth on your body is, have it evaluated by a medical professional. When in doubt, check it out.

From a scientific perspective, perhaps the most interesting feature of Merkel cell carcinoma is the role that a virus plays in its development. Up to 80% of cases are caused at least in part by infection with the Polyomavirus. This virus infects at least fifty percent of children by age ten and almost everyone by age twenty and usually appears to be a benign infection. At the moment, it appears unavoidable to become infected with this virus, and infection usually appears to have no negative consequences. We don’t get “sick” from it, and there’s no reason the average person would ever be tested for it. However, ultraviolet light, a failing immune system and infection with the polyomavirus account for the majority of Merkel cell carcinoma cases. The primary medicines used to treat Merkel cell carcinoma work by stimulating the immune system and making one’s own white blood cells better able to fight both infections and cancers. These “immunotherapy” medicines are a smart strategy given that Merkel cell carcinoma is usually both an infection and a cancer.

Like most cancers, Merkel cell carcinoma often has an excellent prognosis when caught early. The cure rate for Merkel cell carcinoma is higher than 75% when caught at its earliest stage. For the average person, Jimmy Buffett’s passing from Merkel cell carcinoma serves to reinforce the importance of already common behavior: If you have a history of sun exposure and risk factors, receive a regular skin exam; perform self-checks, and have a professional evaluate new or changing growths regardless of what color they are. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If we are conscientious and treat our problems early, we can all enjoy a few more cheeseburgers in this paradise before moving on to the next one.

Brought to You by - Brent Taylor, MD, Premiere Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

Pain relieving Laser Therapy

Brought to you by - Johns Creek Physical Therapy

Having treated hundreds of patients over the past 6 years with Pain Relieving Laser Therapy, it’s not hard for me to appreciate how well it works. But if you’ve never tried it, trust me when I tell you…. you’re missing out!

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How does it work? Pain Relieving Laser Therapy uses light energy to promote healing and reduce pain. Laser Therapy is FDA cleared to treat pain, inflammation, arthritis, and muscle spasms and is a great alternative to medications and injections.

The most common thing we hear after someone tries it for the first time is “WOW!” I’m sure if you are just reading this article, you are probably thinking, “yeah, RIGHT??!! Nothing works that fast!” But don’t take my word for it, call our office today and schedule your FREE TRIAL. The only thing you have to lose is your pain!

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4060 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite H Suwanee, GA 30024

770-622-5344

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• Do you have low back pain when you sit for long periods of time?

• Do you experience Pain, Numbness, or Tingling into your hip or down your leg?

• Do you feel like you’ve “tried everything” but your back is still hurting?

If you answered YES to any of these questions (or you know someone in denial) then you won’t want to miss the FREE BACK PAIN AND SCIATICA WORKSHOP on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 at 12:30 pm

Back pain and sciatica can completely ruin your life. I see it every day. Low Back Pain is the number one cause of disability in the world and affects millions of people every year. Back pain can keep you from enjoying your favorite activities, keep you from spending time with your family, and keep

you out of work. Sciatica is the term given to pain that travels down the back of the leg along the path of the sciatic nerve. It can be brought on from a variety of things like sitting, walking, standing, or doing simple everyday activities.

If you are having this type of pain you won’t want to miss the FREE BACK PAIN AND SCIATICA WORKSHOP on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 at 12:30 pm hosted by Johns Creek Physical Therapy. At the workshop you will learn the TOP THREE common causes of Lower Back Pain and Sciatica and how each of these things can bring about back pain and sciatica. You will also learn how you can deal with each condition using natural

treatment methods without medications or injections. This very simple treatment can help you get rid of your symptoms once and for all.

Perhaps you have already had an x-ray or an MRI and you’ve been told that those findings explain why you are having back pain? We will show you that those tests may have nothing to do with why your back is actually hurting.

Don’t let back pain ruin your life! If you have back pain or sciatica don’t miss this FREE BACK PAIN AND SCIATICA WORKSHOP

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 at 12:30 pm. Register by calling 770-622-5344.

Johns Creek Physical Therapy

4060 Johns Creek Pkwy, Suite H

Suwanee, GA 30024 770-622-5344

FOR ALL YOUR OTHER NEEDS

Marc C. Stewart, PT

At the workshop you will learn the TOP THREE common causes of Lower Back Pain and Sciatica

WE ACCEPT MEDICARE

Find solutions to back pain with Wellstar North Fulton Spine & Pain Center

Brought to you by - Dr. Emily Kurokawa, medical director of the Wellstar North Fulton Spine & Pain Center

Back pain is one of the most common reasons patients seek physician care. Back pain can be emotionally upsetting, and it can lead to sleep deprivation and disability. If you are experiencing back pain, the expert team at Wellstar North Fulton Spine & Pain Center will provide personalized care. There are many causes of back pain, including degenerative disc disease, disc herniations, nerve root compression or trauma. More rare causes include inflammatory disorders, infection, malignancy or pregnancy.

Look out for “red flag” symptoms that may indicate serious causes for back pain. These symptoms may present as limb weakness, bowel or bladder incontinence, or pain that awakens you from sleep. Most cases of back pain will resolve with time, rest and non-surgical treatments.

Non-surgical treatments may include muscle relaxants, topical creams, prescription medications or over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen. You may also benefit from applying heat or ice, resting and seeing a physical therapist or chiropractor.

If back pain lasts longer than six weeks despite non-surgical therapies,

then further imaging and/or injections may be needed. Injections may help reduce pain. Our board-certified pain physicians offer a range of injections using corticosteroids in various joints or the spine.

A pain physician may recommend an epidural steroid injection if you have disc disease, spinal stenosis or disc herniations that lead to nerve compression. If you have back pain that does not travel to other parts of the body, you may be offered corticosteroid injections into the facet joints or sacroiliac joints, and if indicated, radiofrequency ablation may be offered for a longer therapeutic relief. Those who have had back surgeries and

still have persistent back pain may be recommended for spinal cord stimulators, which are implanted devices that send electrical impulses to the spine.

Our patients at Wellstar North Fulton Spine & Pain Center have success because they have a whole team of experts working for them. If you are a candidate for spine surgery, we refer you to our expert neurosurgeons at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, who are standing by to develop a surgical treatment plan that's right for you.

Learn more about our services at wellstar.org/nfspineandpain, or call (770) 751-2719 to make an appointment.

EXPERTSPINE & PAIN CARE

If back and neck pain are stopping you from doing what you love, you can rely on Wellstar to help you get back in action.

Wellstar North Fulton Spine & Pain Center offers many types of treatments and procedures for managing pain. If surgery is needed, Wellstar neurosurgeons are standing by to develop a treatment plan that’s right for you. At Wellstar, you’ll get personalized treatment tailored to your needs. wellstar.org/nfspineandpain

Wellstar North Fulton Spine & Pain Center 1360 Upper Hembree Road, Suite 200 | ROSWELL (770) 751-2719

Suicide Prevention Month: Take ACTion this September

Brought to you by - Summit Counseling Center

September is Suicide Prevention Month, a pivotal time for us at Summit Counseling Center to raise awareness about a pressing issue that affects countless lives. According to the World Health Organization, suicide claims nearly 800,000 lives globally each year. In the United States, it ranks as the 11th leading cause of death, resulting in over 45,000 deaths annually.

Remarkably, 94% of adults surveyed in the U.S. believe that suicide can be prevented. One crucial step in prevention is engaging in open and empathetic conversations about suicide, particularly with loved ones. To guide these conversations, MindWise Innovations has developed the acronym ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) as a simple way to remember how to respond when someone opens up about suicidal thoughts.

• Acknowledge: Begin by acknowledging and validating their feelings and thoughts rather than dismissing them. Remember, it can be incredibly difficult for someone to bring

up thoughts of suicide, and if you don't take them seriously, they may withdraw and not seek help again.

• Care: Show you care by actively listening without judgment. It might be challenging to hear, but understanding their experiences is essential. You can also ask them how you can help, as they may not know what they need either. Offering assistance and expressing your care can be a significant first step.

• Tell: Encourage your friend, family member, or coworker to seek professional help. It's essential to tell a trusted adult or mental health professional about their struggles. Your support in seeking treatment can make a significant difference in their journey toward healing.

To further empower our community, The Summit offers MindWise's Signs of Suicide (SOS) Trusted Adult trainings throughout September. These sessions equip individuals with the knowledge to recognize signs, offer assistance, and promote mental health awareness. For more information on our SOS training sessions or to seek therapy for yourself or a loved one, visit our website at summitcounseling.org.

HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION WITH LA CANDELA FLAMENCO

What: Explore the cultural exchange between Spain and Latin America through the language of flamenco with La Candela Flamenco.

When: Friday, Sept. 15, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell

Cost: $24.50 with available discounts for seniors, students, military and groups

More info: roswell365.com

MILTON FARMERS MARKET

What: Every Saturday morning through October, more than a dozen vendors set up shop around Milton City Hall with fresh produce, fresh meat, sweets, coffee and tea, flowers, soaps, jewelry and more.

When: Saturday, Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.12:30 p.m.

Where: Milton City Hall plaza, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton More info: facebook.com/ miltongafarmersmarket

BIRD & WILDLIFE DRAWING CLASS

What: Sharon Weiss, award-winning artist and longtime Spruill Arts instructor, will be leading a bird and wildlife drawing class at the Dunwoody Nature Center. Learn about composition, light, color and pattern as you have fun depicting some of your favorite animals.

When: Saturday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Where: Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody

Cost: $40-50

More info: dunwoodynature.org

CUMMING ART FEST

What: The festival will offer some 100 different artisan exhibitors and a creative Kidz Zone for families to explore.

When: Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 16-17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming

More info: cummingcitycenter.com

PUP-A-PALOOZA

What: Bring your dogs and family to this event featuring live music, an animal balloon twister, a pup mascot, pet-related vendors and more. There are contests for Best Dressed Dog and Best Dog

CUMMING

ART FEST

What: The festival will offer some 100 different artisan exhibitors and a creative Kidz Zone for families to explore.

When: Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 16-17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming More info: cummingcitycenter. com

Trick. For people, food will be for sale from food trucks, while pets splurge on doggie treats. Pet care vendors will be on hand to demonstrate new products and educate dog owners about pet care.

When: Saturday, Sept. 16, 1-3 p.m.

Where: Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater in Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek

More info: johnscreekga.gov

A NIGHT WITH DAD’S 2: THE DADDENING

What: Stage Door Theatre will host comics from Dad’s Garage.

When: Saturday, Sept. 16, 7:30-9 p.m.

Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $28 for adults; $20 for students; $15 for children

More info: stagedoortheatrega.org

BACK TO YOUR ROOTS FARM FAIR

What: Meet live farm animals, bring a picnic, and get down in the dirt to celebrate one of the best harvesting

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT!

It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people, whether online, through our newsletters or in the Crier and Herald newspapers.

seasons of the year. Continue enjoying the fall season with partners, games, crafts and the opening of Naturally Artistic which explores connecting art and nature.

When: Sunday, Sept. 17, 12-4 p.m.

Where: Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell

Cost: Included in general admission; free for CNC members More info: chattnaturecenter.org

CONCERTS BY THE SPRINGS: GUARDIANS OF THE JUKEBOX

What: Described as “a visual and sonic highlight reel of one of the most influential decades in music history,” Guardians of the Jukebox is an ’80s-nostalgia juggernaut. Lawn seating is free. Blankets, lawn chairs and umbrellas are allowed, but no pets.

When: Sunday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m.

Where: Heritage Amphitheater Lawn, 6110 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs More info: sandyspringsga.gov

follow

PICNIC ON THE GREEN

What: Grab some food and beverages from one of the Crabapple Market restaurants and bring a blanket or chair to enjoy live music from David Payton. No outside alcohol allowed.

When: Wednesday, Sept. 20, 6-8 p.m.

Where: The Green at Crabapple Market, 12650 Crabapple Road, Milton More info: crabapplemarketga.com

12

ANGRY JURORS

What: In Sherman L. Sergel’s play adaptation of the teleplay, a 19-year-old man who has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. “He doesn’t stand a chance,” mutters the guard as the 12 jurors are taken into the bleak jury room. It looks like an open-and-shut case— until one of the jurors begins opening the other’s eyes to the facts.

When: Until Sept. 24, times vary Where: Act1 Theater, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta Cost: $20-25

More info: act1theater.org

There’s an empty barstool in Margaritaville

On August 16th of 1977, having just earned a journalism degree from Fresno State University, I coerced a friend to drive his battered Chevy pickup to San Diego, loaded down with the cheap furniture that went hand-in-hand with being a cashstrapped recent college graduate.

nia” to breathlessly announce that Elvis Presley had died in Memphis.

I was kinda sorta positive that Memphis was in Tennessee and Elvis lived there. I was never a fan and didn’t get why he was so popular. After dumping the meager furniture in the rathole that would be my home for nine miserable months, we headed back to Bakersfield.

TASOS

I was about to become much poorer. For some reason, in a momentary example of not knowing my limitations, I was a week away from becoming a first-year student at the University of San Diego School of Law. Step aside F. Lee Bailey, the kid from Bakersfield was about to dazzle the legal profession and set fire to nasty professors probably didn’t know a courtroom from a tennis court.

Somewhere between LA and San Diego, conversation and taking in the Pacific Coast grandeur, the rock station DJ broke in on the Eagles “Hotel Califor -

This “Elvis dying” story dominated the airwaves the entire four-hour drive. My mom and stepdad had seen him several times in Las Vegas, always raving at his penchant for keeping an audience of high-rollers and fans enthralled for two shows a night. They must have had primo seats since The King, as was his custom, bent down during the show and put a sweaty scarf around my Mama’s neck and gave her a little smooch.

Arriving home, the scarf was on the table and Mom was crying. That’s when it hit me how much she loved Elvis and his death was a defining moment in her life. His passing left a void and the realization that there would be no more concert

experiences and that made her as sad as I had ever seen her.

In a twisted way, Jimmy Buffett’s recent death made me feel closer to Mom. I should be shot for writing Jimmy was my Elvis. I never attended a concert in Vegas, but there were plenty others. I put together a recent scorecard and I went to Margaritaville 15 times. Jimmy never reached down and put a scarf (or a Hawaiian lei) around my neck. No smooch or even a fist bump either.

But one time in Houston, he did hand me a guitar pick. I bought a guitar and learned a few chords. I could play a few songs. Mostly I just listened, whether live or on a recording. I read his books and even have an autographed copy of “Where Is Joe Merchant” he signed for me.

I marveled at his “Midas Touch.” Whether it was restaurants (Margaritaville), mail order catalogues (Coconut Telegraph) or making great music for all those years, Jimmy’s music brought me such joy and happiness. I was a fan since 1975 and took Vicki to see him and his Coral Reefers on our first date

in 1979.

I have been receiving condolences ever since the world learned about the cancer that killed him. It was reported he loved life right up until he couldn’t.

The last Jimmy Buffett concert I experienced was this past February and it was a little calmer than usual. Was he just phoning it in?

Then came the reports of cancellations and hospital stays. His new song “My Gummy Just Kicked In” was a window to what he was experiencing. Jimmy was sick and then he just up and died.

To borrow from the late Lewis Grizzard, Jimmy is dead and I don’t feel so good myself.

So wherever you are Bubba, have a lovely cruise. Fins up! I miss you so badly. And thanks for providing a soundtrack for my life

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.

Outdoor Fun on National Hunting and Fishing Day

Question: What’s special about Sept. 23?

Answer: It’s National Hunting and Fishing Day, and that means that on that day there will be a lot of outdoor excitement waiting for you and your family to enjoy!

National Hunting and Fishing Day was established in 1972 by Congress and President Nixon to recognize the contributions that hunters and anglers have made to wildlife conservation efforts. It happens each year on the fourth Saturday of September, and it is marked by special programs and outdoor-themed events held far and wide.

Here in Georgia, you’ll find National Hunting and Fishing Day events all across the state.

“National Hunting and Fishing Day offers a variety of events that are a great way to introduce youth and newcomers to outdoor activities,” notes Ted Will, director of the Wildlife Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. You’ll find a wide range of activities to enjoy,

including family/kid fishing events as well as Outdoor Adventure Days featuring activities such as fishing, archery, shooting and more.

“These events are family-oriented and fun and remind us of what great outdoor natural resources we have right here in Georgia,” Will says.

Two events close to home are particularly noteworthy:

• Outdoor Adventure Day at James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park between Rome and Summerville from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. Kids 15 and under can try their hand at catching tagged catfish to win prizes (bring your own fishing rods and bait). There will also be archery, a birds of prey show and a reptile show. The event is free, but there is a $5 per vehicle parking fee at the park.

• Kids Fishing Event at Lower Pool Park (below Buford Dam at 3600 Buford Dam Road in Cumming). From 9 a.m. till 1 p.m., kids can fish, try their hand at fly tying, and enjoy fishing demonstrations. Volunteers will be on hand to help with baiting hooks and unhooking fish. A limited number of loaner rods and reels will be available, but it never hurts to bring your own. Bait is provided – and to make

sure that there are plenty of trout, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ trout stocking staff will stock fish before the event.

There are several other events going on around the state that day, too:

• Family Fishing Event at Marben Public Fishing Area’s Boar Pond at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center near Mansfield, Ga. (8 a.m. till noon). Bring your own gear and bait.

• Kids Fishing Event at the Hugh M. Gillis Public Fishing Area in Laurens County (8 a.m. till noon). Ponds have been stocked with channel catfish for kids under the age of 16. Bring your own gear and bait.

• Kids Fishing Event at Big Lazer Public Fishing Area, near Talbotton, Ga. (8 a.m. till 11 a.m.), for kids 15 and under. Bring your own gear and bait, and enjoy the drawing for some fun prizes too.

• Family Fishing Event at Flat Creek Public Fishing Area in Houston County (8 a.m. - noon). Bring. your own gear and bait.

• Kids Fishing Event at McDuffie Public Fishing Area in McDuffie County (8 a.m. till noon). Bring your own gear and bait.

• Kids Fishing Event at Evans County Public Fishing Area (8 a.m. till

noon). Bring your own gear and bait.

• Outdoor Adventure Day / JAKES Day at Paradise Public Fishing Area (near Tifton). Fishing activities from 7:30 a.m. till noon. A variety of fishing-related activities, plus JAKES Day events (beginning at 9 a.m.) including archery and shooting. A free lunch is provided by the National Wild Turkey Federation, and there will be a prize drawing after lunch.

• Outdoor Adventure Day at Richmond Hill Hatchery near Richmond Hill, Ga. (8 a.m. till noon). Activities include fishing, archery and kayaking. For more info on the programs, including contact numbers for more information, visit www.georgiawildlife. com/get-involved/nhfday.

That’s a big line-up, and there’s sure to be something there that you’ll enjoy!

But wait! There’s more!

Sept. 23 is further celebrated as a “Free Fishing Day” for Georgia residents. On this day, Georgia residents do not need a fishing license or trout license to fish on any public waters in the state, including lakes, streams, ponds and public fishing areas.

There’s no doubt about it. Sept. 23 is sure to be a great day to be outdoors.

MIKE

Columnist

STEVE HUDSON

Columnist

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GARDEN

Gardeners grasp importance of climate zones

Okay – stay with me now!

Of all of these

I bet you’re most familiar with zones. I’m talking about the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. The USDA Plant Hardiness

Zone Map is what gardeners have been using for years to figure out what plants have the most optimum chance of growing in a particular location. Most recently revised by the PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University and released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2012, the map uses winter temperature data collected over a 30-year period to divide the United States (including Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico) into planting zones. The zones identified in this most recent version of the Map are based on data gathered during 1976 to 2005, the first time that a period of 30 years has been analyzed. And there are now two new zones – Zones 12 and 13 which cover Hawaii and Puerto Rico and only appear on the maps for those locations. This is the first time that the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map was specifically designed for use on the Internet. You can now input your zip code and your specific Plant Hardiness Zone will appear.

While the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map has certainly been around for a while and provides very useful information for gardeners, it’s not the only resource gardeners can rely on to plan a garden. And sometimes Plant Hardiness Zones can be confusing. For example, the Atlanta area falls within Zones 7 and 8 (which are then divided into Zones 7a and 7b, and Zones 8a and 8b). Now what?

Enter the Growing Seasons. Using your garden location, you can figure out which of the four growing seasons you’re in.

Here in the Atlanta area, only three of the growing seasons occurbut at various times. Looking at the calendar year, the cool season runs from January through March, the warm season runs from April through June, and the hot season is July and August. Then there’s a second warm season in September and October, and a second cool season in November and December.

Now here’s the cool thing. Every plant belongs to a Plant Family. And

each plant family prefers a particular growing season (or two). Once you know your growing seasons and the plant family within which a specific plant belongs, you can figure out when to plant without worrying too much about your plant hardiness zone.

Here’s an example. Let’s say you want to plant a small garden that includes tomatoes, peppers, kale, arugula, spinach, cucumbers, squash, beans, basil, oregano and parsley. First figure out your growing season based on the average high temperatures in your location. Next, divide what you want to plant into plant families: tomatoes and peppers belong to the Solanaceae family; kale and arugula belong to the Brassicaceae family; spinach belongs to the Amaranthaceae family; cucumbers and squash belong to the Cucurbitaceae family; beans belong to the Fabiaceae family; basil and oregano belong to the Lamiaceae family; and parsley belongs to the Apiaceae family. Now, assign each of these plant families to a growing season and identify the months that correspond with each growing season. Guess what? You’ve just planned your garden.

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 about NFMG at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https:// appenmedia.com/opinion/columnists/ garden_buzz/.

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Cathleen Smith, a Sandy Springs resident and master gardener since 2020. Trained through Gardenary, Floret Flower Farm, The Culinary Institute of America and the Culinary Nutrition Academy, Cathleen is certified in culinary nutrition and gardening – teaching others how to create and live a healthier life – one veggie at a time! Cathleen has lived in the Atlanta area since 1987, is married to a musician and has 3 boys ages 25, 23 and almost 21. Cathleen is a certified landscape designer and currently serves on the Executive Committee and Board of the Dunwoody Nature Center. Her favorite hobbies include photography, scrapbooking, cooking, gardening, reading and drinking fine wine. You can follow Cathleen through her blog “Not Just a Garden Blog” (https://cathleenrsmith.com) where she shares inside info, resources, and creative ideas for keeping it real in your garden and your kitchen.

Learn More

• Vegetable Garden Calendar https://extension.uga.edu/publications/ detail.html?number=C943&title=vegetable-garden-calendar

• USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov

• PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University https://prism.oregonstate.edu/projects/plant_hardiness_zones.php

CATHLEEN SMITH Guest Columnist

CATHLEEN SMITH/PROVIDED A Garden Example Chart

USDA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE/PROVIDED USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

PRESERVING THE PAST

The effect of World War II on one Roswell woman

BOB MEYERS

Gloria Nash Holder was a typical teenager in the early 1940s. She loved music and loved to dance. She was popular with the young men of Mountain View and there was no shortage of dance partners in high school.

Gloria’s love of music was shared by her entire family. She took piano lessons and sang in church and school choirs. She could play the piano by ear. Her mother played the piano and both parents loved opera. “The house was always full of music,” she says. “There was a song in her heart every day,” says her son John.

As a cheerleader, Gloria traveled by bus with the baseball and football teams. She graduated from Hapeville High School in 1943.

Now a sprite 97, Gloria has near total recall about her life’s key moments and remembers unincorporated Mountain View as “a wonderful place to live and very safe.”

In September 1939 the Germans invaded Poland and the world changed. The war lasted until September 1945.

Many of the boys Gloria had grown up with went off to war after high school. They joined the Army, the U.S. Air Corps and the Navy. The country went on war footing. Life was transformed for everyone, even those back home. Young girls of marrying age were particularly affected.

Now Gloria lives in Roswell. She talks about the ways young women contributed during the war years. “Letters were the social media of those days,” she says. “They became a lifeline for so many young people. I corresponded with soldiers and I know it meant a lot to them.” She has preserved a large collection of the letters and says that after the war some soldiers wrote to thank her for having kept them in touch with home.

Like many young women at the time, Gloria wanted to contribute and to save money for college. This was the time of Rosie the Riveter, a communications program launched by the U.S. Government to encourage young women to take jobs to support the war effort. “We can do it!” was the declaration on the program’s iconic poster of a female factory worker flexing her muscle.

After graduating from high school Gloria worked at the Credit Service Exchange in Atlanta’s Five Points. Her role was to provide credit managers with information to help them decide whether to approve a customer’s request to open an account.

A year later she worked for the U.S. Army Signal Corps at Fort Gillem Army

Supply Depot in Forest Park, a now closed satellite base of Fort McPherson Army base. While Gloria provided stenography and bookkeeping support at Fort Gillem, her father also worked there after the Ford plant where he worked closed during the war. Her mother worked in Fort McPherson’s finance department and remained there for 15 years. The former site of Fort McPherson is today home to the 330-acre Tyler Perry Studio Complex.

Gloria’s joy on her off days was shopping at Rich’s Department Store in Atlanta and enjoying their tearoom while

watching a fashion show.

In 1946, while at Georgia State University, she met her future husband John Martin Holder (1923-2009) -“Martin” to those who knew him -- in a psychology class. The couple married in 1947 and had two sons, John and Mark.

Martin’s father John Henry Holder [1900-1981] owned a farm near Perry, Georgia. A cable foreman with Southern Bell, John Henry and his wife Jessie Lucile Martin Holder [1899-2005] started a general store that remained in the family for three generations.

Martin helped with the family store located in Hapeville in a two-story building with the family residence upstairs near to where Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is today.

He entered Georgia Tech in 1940 and joined the U.S. Air Corps in 1942 where he served as a bombsite mechanic and aerial gunner on the B17 and B24. After the war Martin took over the family grocery store and changed the business to Holder Tire and Auto Service. He went back to school and obtained a business degree from Georgia State University in 1949 and a Law Degree from Woodrow Wilson Law School in 1952. Martin was active in community affairs throughout his adult life.

Gloria has also focused on serving others throughout her life including delivering Meals on Wheels well into her eighties. She was awarded Women of the Yer by the Exchange Club of Hapeville.

World War ll impacted almost everyone, male and female, whether they fought overseas or stayed at home. Perhaps the least chronicled was how the war affected the young women who shifted their gaze from seeking the company of young men who were potential husbands to providing a lifeline of support -- from stepping out to stepping up. Gloria was more fortunate than many. She put it well, “I enjoyed the friendship of my soldier correspondents –until I met the real thing.”

Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@ bellsouth.net.

PHOTOS BY HOLDER FAMILY/PROVIDED Portrait of Gloria Nash circa 1945

Martin and Gloria Holder together on Easter Sunday 1956

Columnist

Florence Crittenton Home aided young women in need

The first Florence Crittenton Home was established in 1883 by businessman and evangelist Charles N. Crittenton in New York City. He named it after his daughter who died from scarlet fever at age four.

By the late 1800s there were over 50 Florence Crittenton Homes across the U.S.

Growing up in Atlanta, I heard the name occasionally, usually mentioned

as a cautionary tale in the 1960s and 1970s. The home was a place where young women could go if they were pregnant and unmarried.

The scenario usually began with parents wanting to keep everything secret, so going to a facility like the Florence Crittenton home helped facilitate secrecy and adoption after the child was born. Friends and family would be told that the girl was away for some fabricated reason to conceal the truth. After her child was born, she was expected to go on with life as though it never happened.

The first Florence Crittenton Home in Atlanta was established in 1893, first outside city limits and a few years later within the city.

The Florence Crittenton Home in Chamblee began on property purchased in 1950. The original home was a red brick colonial structure on eight landscaped acres. A modern 18 room dormitory was added in 1958. The home was located along North Peachtree Road, just west of Peachtree Boulevard.

In 1962, a dedication was held for a new annex at the Florence Crittenton Home in Chamblee. The annex added much needed square footage, including school rooms and recreation space.

The girls who lived there, awaiting the birth of their babies, could receive a high school diploma. “Now our girls

don’t have to go back home and explain the gap in their school progress or lack of a diploma,” director Helen Oppenheimer commented. (Atlanta Constitution, March 16, 1962, “Board members at Florence Crittenton quietly celebrate another milestone”)

Arts and craft classes and typing classes were offered. The girls received counseling and their families were included as much as possible. Each young woman was expected to do chores.

When the 1962 dedication was held, the current residents of the home were taken out for an activity away from the home, “to avoid embarrassment.”

Carol Nichols Henwood shared her memories of the home in a 2014 Atlanta Journal-Constitution article and in her book, “Our Erring Sisters,” She remembers being driven by her parents in 1967 to the Florence Crittenton Home, a large brick home hidden behind hedges between North Peachtree Road and then Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. There was no sign to indicate what place was hidden behind the large plants. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Aug. 29, 2014, “Secret Keeper”)

She only held her baby boy once, two days after he was born. Henwood went on to marry and have two children. She was able to reconnect with her son in 2004. When her book was published in 2013, he attended her first book signing at the Capital City Club in Brookhaven.

The Florence Crittenton Home in Chamblee closed in 1981 as times changed and there was less need for these facilities. From 1950 until 1981, there were usually about 180 women who spent part of the year living at the home. The home had the capacity to house over 60 women and often had a waiting list.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

Roswell festival directs its focus on mental health among area youth

ROSWELL, Ga. — To kick off the 2023 fall season right, with arts, music, games and more, officials say the 14th annual Roswell Day of Hope will be held downtown once again later this month.

Hosted each year by Hope Roswell, a partnership of churches and other organizations in the Roswell area, this year’s youth festival will focus on combatting suicide and hopelessness in young people by spreading awareness and fun with the community.

Officials said that in between food trucks, raffles and free games, festival attendees will learn to recognize the leading causes of depression, anxiety and suicide, how to recognize when someone is suffering in silence and what steps to take to get them help.

“We found that so many people were unaware of these problems ‘in our town,’” Event Volunteer Lisa Loughridge said. “We were able to share signs to watch for as a parent and teen as well as offer tip lines to contact for help.”

Additionally, the festival will provide free services, like medical exams and dental checkups for children 12 and under. A limited amount of grocery donations and shoes will be available, officials said.

Art purchases made at the festival will benefit Hope Roswell’s community outreach group, which meets throughout the year to address needs in the community.

This free event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 23 at Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street. For more information on the Day of Hope, visit www. hoperoswell.org.

— Alexander Popp

DEATH NOTICES

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

Joyce Bellinger, 88, of Roswell, passed away on August 31, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Tomas Castillo, 54, of Roswell, passed away on August 2, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Brian English, 56, of Roswell, passed away on August 2, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Sigmund Majewski, 84, of Roswell, passed away on August 4, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

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