Cumming Arts Festival showcases city’s heart
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
CUMMING, Ga. — The Cumming Arts Festival brought thousands to enjoy the “Main Street Americana” feel at City Center Sept. 21-22 for the last weekend of 90-degree temperatures in north Georgia.
Organizers did not bother counting the crowd, estimating anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000
people made their way through the city center.
The third annual Arts Festival in the new heart of the county seat attracted sunnier skies than last year. Hundreds of dogs, strollers and couples meandered through Cumming City Center, popping inside local businesses, checking out artisan tents or spending some time in the natural greenspace abutting the development.
See ARTS, Page 14
HAYDEN
Two Forsyth County residents check out some colored pencil drawings at a booth along Vision Drive Sept. 21 at Cumming City Center. The twoday Cumming Arts Festival brought thousands to peruse the offerings of local musicians, painters, leatherworkers and artistic entrepreneurs.
County officials join fight against childhood cancer
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Getting the word out about childhood cancer is about protecting a community’s most valuable resource, its children.
“Your children are the message we send into the future,” said Bill Blalock, Forsyth County resident and two-time cancer survivor. “Let’s make it a good one, and let's try to make sure we preserve their health, so that they'll be here.”
Blalock, a volunteer with the American Cancer Society, and other representatives of the organization appeared at a Sept. 19 Forsyth County Commission meeting to hear the reading of a proclamation declaring Sept. 23-27 as Childhood Cancer Week. September is internationally recognized as Childhood Cancer Month,
See COUNTY, Page 12
Registered to vote?
Check your status, update your address or find your polling location on the Secretary of State’s “My Voter Page” at https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s
The webpage also provides the option to register.
For the Nov. 5 general election, the deadline to register is Oct. 7
SUMLIN/ APPEN MEDIA
NEWS TIPS
770-442-3278
AppenMedia.com
319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009
HANS APPEN
Publisher RAY APPEN
Publisher Emeritus
CONTACT
Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.
LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.
ADVERTISING
For information about advertising in the Forsyth Herald or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
CIRCULATION
To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
SUV hits pedestrians, killing Utah woman
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A pedestrian was killed and another injured after being struck by a teen’s SUV Sept. 20.
The crash was reported about 10 a.m. on Majors Road at Ronald Reagan Boulevard, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.
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.
Man
charged
with stealing sunglasses from retailer
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 37-year-old Alpharetta man was arrested on a shoplifting charge Aug. 31.
Police were dispatched to a department store at North Point Mall after a shoplifting was reported, according to an Alpharetta police report.
After arriving at the store’s security office, police viewed camera footage of the alleged theft.
In the video, a man placed a pair of sunglasses on his collar and walked toward the door, according to the report. Loss prevention staff stopped the man.
The man allegedly attempted to steal two pairs of B-POP brand sunglasses, which were found by employees. They were valued at a total of $314.
Police charged the man with misdemeanor theft by shoplifting under $500.
Officers arrest suspect after reported shoplifting
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested a 44-year-old Alpharetta man Sept. 8 after a CVS employee texted officers about
The pedestrians, Steve Olsen and Leslie Schwendiman, both of Utah, were engaged and visiting Georgia to attend a wedding.
According to the sheriff’s office, a 17-year-old driver was northbound in a 2012 Acura MDX when he struck the couple on the sidewalk after taking a
a shoplifting in progress.
The employe said he saw the man exit the store on Holcomb Bridge Road with three large tote bags full of merchandise.
During the text exchange with officers, the employee said the man returned to the store.
An officer said he contacted the suspect while additional personnel were en route.
The officer said the suspect admitted to stealing the merchandise, stating “I have the stuff and will show you.”
After seeing the merchandise in the suspect’s black Hyundai SUV, officers placed him under arrest.
The CVS scanned all the merchandise in the three bags, totaling $2,494.
Officers said the employee showed security footage of the suspect leaving the store with the bags and then returning.
Officers said they secured a warrant for felony theft by shoplifting and transported the suspect to the North Fulton County Jail.
Store reports 3 men stole $1,000 in clothing
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A shoplifting by three men was reported at a North Point Parkway store Aug. 22.
An employee told police three men stole items by hiding them in clothes hampers sold at the store, according to an Alpharetta police report.
The men placed the hampers in shopping carts, walked around the store selecting clothing items and left without paying, according to the report.
left turn on Majors Road. The vehicle likely entered the sidewalk because of its speed, striking them from behind, the report stated.
The teen was on his way to school. Schwendiman later died of her injuries. Olsen was taken to a local hospital and is expected to recover.
Two hampers, 18 women’s apparel items, one sweater, three jackets and 13 shirts and pants were reported stolen. The clothing was valued at a total of $1,009.69.
The employee said one of the men worked at a nearby restaurant. She recognized the other two from previous unreported thefts.
No one was arrested or charged, according to the report.
Teen arrested for threats aimed at middle school
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested a 13-year-old student Sept. 10 who allegedly made threats to a student from another local middle school.
Police said the teen, a student at Autrey Mill Middle, threatened another student who attends Haynes Bridge Middle on Snapchat. The suspect had also threatened to shoot up her school if she did not keep quiet, according to the incident report.
Administrators told police that sometime at night on Sept. 6 the suspect threatened the student and that the suspect was pulled from class once they discovered the news. They suspended him Sept. 10, according to the report.
The Haynes Bridge student had taken the threat and reposted it to her Snapchat story, warning her friends, which resulted in many students staying home Sept. 9 out of fear, the report says.
The suspect was charged with felony terroristic threats and disrupting operation of public school, according to the arrest report.
Chamber presents its own numbers for proposed commercial impact fees
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Spurred by objections from area business leaders, the Forsyth County Commission is considering lowering newly proposed transportation impact fees on non-residential construction.
Impact fees are assessed against properties to help governments pay for the impact their home or business will have on public services or infrastructure. A new store, for example, may generate more wear and tear on surrounding streets.
The county’s proposal, presented in a July report, recommended introducing a fee schedule for varying commercial properties, including a charge of $16,425 per 1,000 square feet for new retail and commercial construction. The report was prepared by consulting firm TischlerBise.
Currently, non-residential construction is assessed no special impact fee for transportation purposes.
Commissioners did approve a 300 percent hike in transportation impact fees for new residential construction last month, but they tabled a decision on nonresidential construction until the business community could weigh in.
At a Sept. 18 special meeting, Chamber of Commerce officials proposed a revised schedule that lowered the original recommendation by more than half on some commercial construction and by close to 85 percent on others.
Under the business’ proposal, for example, a grocery store would pay a transportation impact fee of $2.45 per square foot instead of the county study’s original proposal of $16.43 per square foot.
Developers, financial professionals and other stakeholders voiced vehement criticism for the original proposed fees, saying they would hinder local economic development. Many worried requiring fees that were far greater than those collected by
Forsyth County commissioners review an impact fee schedule proposed by the county’s Chamber of Commerce at a Sept. 18 special meeting. The new rates were much lower than numbers initially offered by a consulting firm.
nearby counties and cities would discourage investment and growth.
The fee schedule proposed by the firm comes after voters rejected in 2022 a transportation sales tax that would have generated more than $250 million over five years.
Alex Warner, vice president of Economic Development for the Chamber, said he is pleased with the new fee numbers and discussions with county officials and stakeholders.
“There’s a lot less tension in the room with this new negotiated rate,” Warner said.
The chamber held several private meetings with stakeholders to hear their thoughts before meeting with county officials. Those meetings resulted in a decision to review impact fees from nearby counties and propose a fee representing 90 percent of the average.
Stakeholders involved in the discussions include developers and other professionals who conduct financial, retail and industrial business locally. They also included representatives from institutions like private schools and daycares.
See FORSYTH, Page 14
See more garage sales in the classifieds
LEGACY ESTATE SALE - EVERYTHING GOES!
Antique furniture, tools, designer women’s clothing, kitchenware, much more. 215 Stepping Stone Drive, Alpharetta, 8-6 September 27 & 8-4 on September 28. Cash, Venmo, PayPal only.
ROSWELL - Willow Springs Neighborhood Sale - 2500 Old Alabama Road. Sept 27 & 28 8AM-2PM. Large 700+ home community. For more info: 404-502-7006
DEADLINE
To place garage sale ads: Thursday by 4 p.m. Call 770-442-3278 or email classifieds@appenmediagroup.com
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Johns Creek proffers stricter contract on struggling Chamber of Commerce
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Under a proposed binding contract, the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce would have to work harder to maintain its partnership with the city — the equivalent of a $20,000 check each year.
The nonprofit, acting as a hub for small businesses, needs the money now more than ever because of revenue declines since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Johns Creek Economic Development Director Kim Allonce introduced the new contract at the Sept. 9 City Council work session. It includes more stringent conditions than what had been in place the past three years.
The new contract would require the nonprofit to explain how it met about a dozen performance standards each quarter, standards that were characterized as a “high level.”
One new standard would require its Small Business Resource Center to provide technical assistance, host training and workshops, and disseminate information to a minimum of 10 businesses each quarter.
Another requires data collection on the center, such as the number of business walk-ins, businesses assisted and business programs offered.
Johns Creek Economic Development
Director Kim Allonce introduces a new “binding” contract with the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce at the Sept. 9 City Council work session. If approved, it would require the nonprofit to meet about a dozen performance standards, or face termination and lose out on its $20,000 annual check from the city.
While the previous agreement, which expired in June, required quarterly reports and annual performance metric goals, they were more loosely defined.
Noting the organization’s loss of revenue and membership, City Councilman Bob Erramilli raised concerns about the Chamber’s three-member staff having the bandwidth to generate the necessary reports on top of meeting the standards themselves.
Gasthaus Tirol
Even so, the matter advanced for a vote to a future City Council meeting.
Mayor John Bradberry said chambers across the nations are facing pressure.
“We want to hopefully help make this a better environment for our business community, for the Chamber, for all concerned,” Bradberry said.
City Manager Kimberly Greer told Appen Media the documentation required in the contract is “not intended to be onerous.” She said as Allonce learned more about the Chamber and how it works with the city to support Johns Creek businesses, they agreed the contract would be an opportunity to “set the next chapter of the relationship.”
“We believe it is important to measure the efforts so we can all be clear about the progress that is being made,” Greer said.
Unique relationship
The contract underscores an exception among city and chamber relationships in north Metro Atlanta, which offer financial support without the same level of accountability.
The City of Alpharetta, for example, maintains memberships with the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce and the Alpharetta Business Association.
Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard said Alpharetta opts for direct financial support, like a $10,000 check to the Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce for its Alpharetta Business Summit.
What the city receives in return is negotiated, Drinkard said, but the benefits typically include a certain number of seats, a vendor table and advertising.
The sister North Fulton city also partners with the Alpharetta Business Association for its Downtown Farmers Market, providing trash collection and traffic control.
Drinkard said terms for sponsorships and partnerships are decided on an annual basis.
While the Johns Creek Chamber website lists the city as a platinum member in its Chairman’s Circle, the new contract doesn’t stipulate the city’s membership. An earlier draft of the new contract did, though, according to open records obtained by Appen Media.
The agreement in place the last three years outlined the city’s membership as well, with $10,000 serving as annual membership fees and the other $10,000 going toward the Small Business Resource Center.
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Former U.S. spy relates her story during Cold War
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Author Martha “Marti” Peterson said she had to push for a “real” assignment in the CIA, one on par with her male counterparts.
Speaking to a crowd of more than two dozen at Johns Creek Books Sept. 17, Peterson recalled it was the early ’70s, and she had just lost her husband John while they were on a tour in Laos. She wanted to do what he intended to do before his death — assess and recruit foreign spies who would give the U.S. government secrets from their country.
“I was a piss poor secretary,” Peterson said.
The 79-year-old Wilmington, North Carolina, resident was at the store promoting her autobiography “Widow Spy,” published in 2012. Peterson assured visitors that she ran the book script by the CIA, but that the story had already been out “in a vague way.”
The CIA’s training had been intense. Peterson said it was nine months of learning all the necessary skills, including “sneaky photography” and how to detect whether you were being followed.
After pushing back on a couple of offers, Peterson was given a job in
In November 1975, she landed, and reality hit her, when she noticed the plowed snow by the runway.
“I went from Fort Lauderdale to Moscow, and I tied my belt around my camel hair with a pile lining coat, and thought, ‘Oh, Martha, this is the beginning. What have you done?’” Peterson recalled. “In a moment there, I realized this was a big thing to take on.”
In Moscow, she became the handler to Trigon, a Soviet recruit out of Bogotá, Colombia, whose real name is Aleksandr Ogorodnik. Peterson said he had been aggressive at bringing documents out of the Soviet embassy for the CIA, adding that he would take pictures of them, tuck them in his pants and place them back where they were found.
Trigon’s aptitude for the work landed him in Moscow, what Peterson said was referred to as the “Lion’s Den.” His condition, that he be given the means to commit suicide, had been met.
She was responsible for keeping in contact with Trigon via dead drops. She showed the small crowd the sorts of packages she would leave for him — a limb, a slab of concrete. These would be hollowed out.
During one of the timed exchanges, Peterson was caught by the KGB and taken to Lubyanka, “Stalin’s very favorite prison in the center of Moscow.”
“People say, ‘Were you afraid?’ No, I was angry,” she said. “Something had happened to Trigon, and I knew it.”
Trigon had already been compromised, using his poison pen to kill himself while being forced to write a confession, though Peterson didn’t find that out until years later.
Russian officers grabbed her by the arms and restrained her.
“I don’t know how you would react, but I got angry, and I started kicking people,” Peterson said. “One guy showed me the bruise on his shin, and there is word — it’s a legend that I kicked a man, and he was hospitalized and had no sex for a few days.”
Moscow, becoming one of the first women operations officers assigned there. She went through 44 weeks of Russian.
“I was a young officer. I was 30 years old. I didn’t have a lot of experience, and this horrified me,” Peterson said. “I also realized that it’s like sending someone to war without bullets.”
Because of diplomatic immunity, Peterson was released.
She retired from the CIA in 2003.
When a visitor asked about the rest of her career, she said, “No, that remains.”
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Martha “Marti” Peterson begins detailing her autobiography “Widow Spy” to more than two dozen visitors at Johns Creek Books Sept. 17.
Award-winning writer Ron Rash to headline Roswell Reads events
By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com
October is the month for treats, and Roswell Reads is doubling up on delights. Ron Rash, the acclaimed 2024 Roswell Reads Author Selection, will headline two events Oct. 18 and 19.
Called “one of the best living American writers” by Janet Maslin of The New York Times, Rash has penned 20 books of poetry and fiction, including his most recent novel, “The Caretaker.”
On Oct. 18, the two-time PEN/Faulkner finalist, three-time O. Henry Short Story Prize winner, and Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award winner will lead a Writer to Writer talk with Atlanta Writers Club Executive Director George Weinstein.
Then, on Oct. 19, Rash will discuss “The Caretaker” in conversation with award-winning author Robert Gwaltney.
Details about the Roswell Reads events and other October book happenings are below.
Thursday, Oct. 3, Boozy Book Fair at Pontoon Brewing. Shop a selection of books curated by Read It Again Bookstore while enjoying a locally brewed beverage. Free. 6 p.m. Pontoon Brewing, 8601 Dunwoody Place, Sandy Springs. 770-674-1075 pontoonbrewing.com/
Saturday, Oct. 5, Kelly Elizabeth Huston signing her romance, "See Sadie Jane Run.” Free. Noon. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com
Monday, Oct. 7, Tracey Enerson Wood launching “Katherine, the Wright Sister,” alongside author Karen Spears Zacharias and hosted by Poe & Company Bookstore. 5 p.m. Free. Alpharetta Library, 10 Park Plaza. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Tuesday, Oct. 15, Pamela Terry, Pat Terry, Matt Jolley and McPatti Langston. A Novel Idea and Bookmiser present Langston’s book launch and a mashup of the husband-wife, author-musician Terrys, in conversation with Georgia Radio’s Jolley. 7 p.m. Free. Brimstone Restaurant & Tavern, 10595 Old Alabama Road Connector. 770-509-5611. https:// www.bookmiser.net/events.html
Wednesday, Oct. 16, Kimberly Brock examines “The Fabled Earth” with author Emily Carpenter. Presented by Poe & Company Bookstore, with drinks and appetizers. 5 p.m. Brookfield Country Club, 100 Willow Run Road, Roswell. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Friday, Oct. 18, Ron Rash Writer to
Ron Rash
Writer event presented by Roswell Reads, in partnership with the city of Roswell and Bookmiser. Refreshments will be served. $15. 6.p.m. Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Road. RoswellReads. com
Friday, Oct. 18, Poetry Open Mic Night. To sign up, call 770-232-9331. Free. 7 p.m. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. read-it-again.com
Saturday, Oct. 19, Ron Rash, 2024 Roswell Reads Author Selection. A special book club offer and VIP seating are available. Presented by Roswell Reads, in partnership with the city of Roswell and Bookmiser, with refreshments. Ticket prices vary. 10:30 a.m. Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Road. RoswellReads.com
Saturday, Oct. 26, Deann Benedict, signing her new children’s book, “Escape from the Mutt Motel.” A local animal rescue will be on-site with adoptable pets, collecting donations of pet food and supplies. 11 a.m. Free. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road. 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com
Wednesday, Oct. 30, Mary McMyne signing “A Rose by Any Other Name.” Free. 5 p.m. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@ gmail.com by the 15th.
7506 Wilderness Parkway Big Canoe, GA 30143
Facts About Me
Breed: Chihuahua Mix
Color: Tan/White
Age: 9 years old
Weight: (Current) – 10 lbs. Fully Grown: Small – (10-20lbs.)
Sex: Male
My Info
Shots current Good w/ cats & dogs
Special Needs
Affectionate Chill
My Story
Don’t let my age fool you! I can still be a spunky pup or your best velcro dog ever, even sleep in bed with you. I’m pretty sweet but I need the human touch of a family who can handle a dog with a hearing issue. I love to go for car rides or out shopping with you! I have a lot of life left to live. Are you ready for some snuggly companionship?
bigcanoeanimalrescue.org
706-268-1346
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
MARYAN HARRINGTON/PROVIDED
Just opened?
Alpharetta wine shop pushes natural vinting
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Adam Danielson, owner of Fermented, thinks the wine industry may have lost its way, but he wants to help customers get back to its roots.
At Fermented, Danielson has stocked his shelves with wines sourced from vineyards that embrace the natural growing process, rather than fighting against it.
“They follow the cycles of the moon for their pruning, for their planting,” Danielson said. “It’s a holistic vineyard approach, where they don’t bring in anything from the outside world.”
Danielson created Fermented with the idea that Alpharetta and north Metro Atlanta residents care how their wines are made. His philosophy is about purchasing a sustainably made product that simply tastes better.
Fermented prides itself in offering customers an opportunity to purchase superior wine without having to make a lengthy drive into central Atlanta.
“We’ve realized how incredible the community is,” he said.
On top of selling holistically made wines, the shop offers tastings and classes to teach their unique stories.
Danielson, 45, began his love affair with wine waiting tables as an 18-year-old and then managing a restaurant when he was 20. Eventually, he began working as a cellar manager and living in Santa Barbara, California, a region known as the “American Riviera.”
There, he realized all of his favorite wines had something in common. They were made naturally.
“What I began to discover was the wines that I was drawn to were less alcohol, less oak, and less manipulations,” he said.
After meeting with vintners, he learned some dirty little secrets about the trade, he said. Mass production vineyards were growing with an eye on profit margins and little regard for flavor. They were mixing in additives, artificially inflating flavor profiles and somehow getting overrated scores from critics, he said.
“A lot of these just tasted like spiked grape juice,” he said. “It was so much fruit, so much alcohol. It wasn’t what I initially learned wine was in my early career.”
All wines at Fermented are either biodynamic or organic. Farms that are biodynamic grow grapes in an environment that replicates the natural environment as closely as possible. They are sustainable and “heal the land” as they farm.
Grapes, like people, do best when they experience adversity, Danielson said.
“There’s a lot of similarities that I’ve found between people and wine,” he said.
Vines planted in poor soil and struggle for water produce more complex flavors. The plants, which are capable of incredible things, can dig as deep as 80 feet in search of moisture.
When wine is made naturally, it also produces less of a hangover, said Danielson, who bragged he hasn’t had one in years.
Fermented also includes a room Danielson dubs the “Flight Club.” There, he and his staff teach patrons about the winemaking process and individual stories each bottle has to tell.
“You’re going to learn a lot,” Danielson said.
Every wine has a story to tell, he said.
The Avino Cava reserve brew was made by a family who has been making wine since 1597. The champagnelike drink is fermented from grapes indigenous to northern Italy. It combines delicate bubbles and a beautiful froth with notes of bright citrus and apple.
Danielson said he is especially proud to sell Foradori wines, which are made by a groundbreaking woman. After taking over her family’s estate, she converted their operation into a biodynamic farming model and became a leader in the industry.
“Her wines are uber limited, uber delicious,” he said.
Danielson said he is blessed to be based in Alpharetta for several reasons.
See WINE, Page 9
Some of Fermented’s naturally made wines sit on a table inside the Alpharetta shop. The business only carries wines that are produced naturally.
PHOTOS BY: JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Adam Danielson, owner of Fermented, explains the grape-growing process while holding a naturally made wine at his shop Sept. 19.
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Fermented hosts tastings and classes in its “Flight Club” room. Customers can take part in a variety of events there to learn about the wine making process and their unique stories.
Wine:
Continued from Page 8
“They love to support good people and good products,” he said.
Fermented’s customers said they keep coming back to partake in Danielson’s selection and knowledge.
Matt Keeter, of Woodstock, stopped by to find a California red his wife could enjoy without getting a headache.
“His memory is unbelievable,” Keeter said. “I guarantee he will
More Information: To learn more about Feremented’s philopshy, visit fermentedatl.com or call 470-361-2091. The shop is located in downtown Alpharetta at 50 Canton St., #106.
remember what I like personally.”
Jay and Courtney Waggoner, of Roswell, said they also appreciate Danielson’s knowledge. But they keep coming back because the natural wines don’t give them much of a hangover.
“It’s good, clean wine,” Jay Waggoner said.
Now Hiring
Conglomerated Host, Ltd is looking for an Accountant to join its team.
Job Description: Corporate office located in Milton, GA has an opening in the Accounting Department. Entry level position with opportunity to advance. Starting pay is $20.00 per hour/approximately 30 hours per week. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel is a plus. How To Apply: Email response to conglomeratedhost@gmail.com or fax to 770-521-0809.
Forsyth County libraries to host short film festival
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Public Library will be one of only two places in Georgia to host this year’s Manhattan Short Film Festival.
Running from Sept. 26 to Oct. 6, the event will host more 100,000 film lovers in over 500 cities across six continents. Audiences will simultaneously view and cast best film and actor award ballots for 10 short film finalists.
Forsyth County’s library will host the free festival at four branches for the second year in a row. Columbus is the only other site in Georgia pegged for showings.
“By virtue of their selection by Manhattan Short, each short film is automatically Oscar-qualified,” said Sarah Brubaker, festival programming manager.
The film finalists hail from nine
Schedule
The Manhattan Short Film Festival at the Forsyth County Public Library is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the library’s website at ForsythPL.org.
countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Italy, France, Croatia, Australia, the United States and Ireland. Finalists were selected from 872 films sent from 74 countries.
This year’s finalists are “The Talent,” “I’m Not a Robot,” “Mother,” “Dovecote,” “Pathological,” “Alarms,” “Favourites,” “The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent,” “Room Taken,” and “Jane Austen’s Period Drama.”
— Jon Wilcox
• Thursday, Sept. 26, 6 p.m. at Hampton Park Library
• Saturday, Sept. 28, 1 p.m. at Hampton Park Library
• Sunday, Sept. 29, 2 p.m. at Sharon Forks Library
• Wednesday, Oct. 2, 6 p.m. at Sharon Forks Library
• Thursday, Oct. 3, 6 p.m. at Post Road Library
• Saturday, Oct. 5, 2 p.m. at Cumming Library
• Sunday, Oct. 6, 2 p.m. at Post Road Library
Honored to be Voted: Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist
Insist on the BEST
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 22 years experience as a Dermatology PA 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.
Knotted DNA
of this gene.
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 overtwist 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.
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 cancer-causing 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.
Accepting
I-Motifs’ importance in cancer may be tremendous. They turn out to be concentrated in certain cancer-causing 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
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.
Dr. Brent Taylor
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
Brought to you by – Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta
What’s important to you this Medicare Annual Enrollment Period?
Brought to you by – Senior Source
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period will begin Tuesday, October 15th, 2024 and end on Saturday, December 7th, 2024 as it traditionally has.
What’s different about this year’s Medicare AEP?
This AEP will be different with some of the larger Medicare Advantage plans exiting many of the counties in the Atlanta area. If you are on one of the more popular Medicare Advantage plans, you might get a notification of your plan’s termination in the mail. And likely this week!
You will not be left high and dry. The big Medicare Advantage companies will have a plan comparable to this year’s plan, but the change will not happen automatically. If you receive a notification from your insurance company about your plan ending, then a new enrollment will need to be completed in order to continue with a Medicare Advantage plan.
This might be a good year to compare other companies!
“I don’t like change” is a common
line I’m used to hearing when I mention changing Medicare Advantage companies to a client. In most cases you will not HAVE TO change carriers, because there will be a comparable plan with each of the carriers, but you may want to after reviewing other plan options. You should at least know what’s out there. Will the plan you choose have great coverage?
Local Broker for Medicare Insurance Needs
Support Local News Join Appen Press Club
CHARTER MEMBER
DC Aiken
Big Sky Franchise Team
David & Michelle Bertany
Amour & Duane Carthy
Adam Corder
Barbara Anderson
Kerry Arias
Scott Baynton
Joseph Bell
James Bennett
Rita Brown
Carl Abernathy
Salpi Adrouny
Alpharetta Lions Club
Omar Altalib
Dave Altman
Ron Altman
Joel Alvis
American Legion Post 201
Alice & Dr. Richard Appen
Gaye Armstrong
Mary Asbury
Bangkok Boxing LLC
Shannon Banna
Beth Barnes
Janet Bass
Barbara Bauschka
Kathy Beck
Leslie Berry
Tom Billings
Tochie Blan
Ron Boddicker
Jodi Bogen
Sherri Bolles-Rogers
Helen Borland
Debra Bowen
Joe Bowen
Ryan Brainard
Mark Brandus
Mel Brannen
Dorothy Brouhard
Erendira Brumley
Bernhard Burgener
Alvin Burrell
Mike & Theresa Buscher
Mary Busman
Clea Calloway
Kirk Canaday
James Carr
Bridgette Carter
William Cartwright
Frank Catroppa
Pat Check
Virginia Christman
Christopher Cleary
Ann Coaloa
Kim Coggins
Evelyn Collazo
Michael Mackenzie
Communications
MEMBER+
MEMBER
Joan Compton
Terri Coons
Rhonda Cude
Christopher Cupit
David Davis
Duane DeBruler
Marilyn DeCusati
Rebecca Donlan
Tom Driscoll
Michael Dudgeon
Jeanette Dummer
DutchCrafters Amish Furniture
Mim Eisenberg
Danny Elkins
Su Ellis
Martha Fasse
Nell & Doug Fernandez
Lee Fleck
Cathy Flynn
Mary Ford
Nanci Foster
Amy Frederick
Kelly Frommer
Carol Fry
Tracey Ganesh
Daniel Gay
John Gibbs
John Gilberto
Leslie Gilliam
Bailey & Ryan Gladysz
Michelle Glotzbach
Harvey Goldberg
Christopher Goodrich
Phyllis Goodrich
Ralph Griffin
Marilee Hamilton
Susan Hanna
Roxanne Hazen
Joe Hirsch
Penn Hodge
Dianne & Steffan Holmquist
Joan Hostetter
Austin Hughes
Lynn Johnson
Tyler Jones
Arthur Kebanli
Laura Keck
Mark Kelly
Randall Kent
Carol Kerr
Allison Kloster
Dyna Kohler
Larry Krueger
Jess & Chris Kysar
Malinda Lackey
Ken Leffingwell
Carol Lehan
Bonnie Lind
Francia Lindon
Harlan Little
Ross Long
Brenda Lundy
Rita Loventhal
Karen Magill
Kyile Marshall
Julie Martin
Valerie Matthews
William Maxwell
Rachel McCord
Austin McCully
Diane McDonald
Lynn McIntyre
Mike McLoughlin
Jennifer Mendoza Al Merrill
Chris Miller
Christine Miller
Fred Moeller
Sarah Moen Carol Morgan Kathy Morgan
Stu Moring Leslie Mullis Donna Murphy
Jack Murphy
Tricia Novarro Bob O’Brien
Anne Pappas
Lynn Pennington
Jonathan Peters
Kurt & Leslie
today for $16/month
County:
Continued from Page 1
according to the American Cancer Society.
County residents and cancer survivors plan to raise additional awareness at the Forsyth-North Fulton Relay For Life on May 2 at Fowler Park. To get involved, contact Pavica Brajinovic at Pavica.Brajinovic@cancer.org or 678528-1998.
The proclamation dovetails with the organization’s education, awareness and fundraising efforts, said Brajinovic, senior development manager for the organization.
“We're trying to spread awareness in our schools, within our community,” she said.
After the meeting, Brajinovic recognized Finnley Klaismann, a 10-year-old Forsyth County resident who recently completed cancer treatment.
“We choose these kids to support them throughout the season, raising awareness specifically for pediatric cancer,”
Chamber:
Continued from Page 5
The City of Johns Creek’s membership status might look good for the Chamber, but President and CEO Robin Buckley said it benefits both.
“It’s hard for people to support their business community if the city is not technically a member per the new agreement as presented at the work session,” she said.
Tickets without membership
Yet, the nonprofit will be required to provide Johns Creek with at least two complimentary tickets each quarter, and they aren’t cheap. Buckley said out-of-pocket costs for event tickets, like for its annual Golf Classic, can be up to $150.
Not long after the City Council’s discussion of the proposed contract, council members took issue with a separate, but related, item under review — the city’s expenditure policy.
One concern that had been raised was the city manager’s ability to reimburse professional memberships. Bradberry, with a puzzled look, was the first to address the expense, asking Greer whether the city is paying for any of the council members to join the Chamber.
The city is not, she said, however it has paid for entry into Rotary Clubs.
City Councilman Chris Coughlin also wanted to amend the loophole that would allow council members reimbursements for non-travel meals with constituents. The policy had no monetary cap and stipulated that meals could be reimbursed so long as it was on city business.
“You get paid $15k, pay for your own damn lunch,” he said, advocating that all expenses be taken off the table, with an exception for office supplies.
“I kind of view this philosophically, that you are in a volunteer role to a degree, and we should not necessarily be collecting fringe benefits,” Coughlin added.
From left, Commission Chairman Alfred John, commissioners Kerry Hill and Todd Levent, Relay For Life Chair
Bill Blalock, Relay For Life Co-Chair Lynn Blalock, American Cancer Society Senior Development Manager Pavica Brajinovic and commissioners Cindy Jones Mills and Laura Semanson gather after the reading of a childhood cancer proclamation at a Sept. 19 meeting.
Brajinovic said.
Blalock said his No. 1 message to the community is the importance of early detection.
Timely diagnosis and treatment are key to improving
While the contract doesn’t ensure the city’s membership to the Chamber, the Greater North Fulton Chamber continues to receive membership fees from all six North Fulton cities, including Johns Creek.
But, President and CEO Kali Boatwright said it doesn’t receive “funding” through a contract.
Some of the cities, like Milton, sponsor programs or events if they are in line with their marketing strategy, she said.
Milton Economic Development Manager Anita Jupin said that strategy includes collaborative publications, events, and other regional efforts. Milton is also the only city with a Business Council housed under the Great North Fulton Chamber. Milton has no traditional chamber of commerce.
Like Alpharetta and Milton, the City of Dunwoody also doesn’t have any contracts in place with its area chamber. Instead, Communications Director Jennifer Boettcher said it pays $2,500 a year to be a member of the Perimeter Chamber’s Chairman’s Circle. Skeleton crew
Buckley echoed the concerns Erramilli raised at the Sept. 9 work session.
“With the specific items that they’re asking for, that’s going to take a lot of documentation,” Buckley said. “Being very specific of what activities we will hold during a year is another issue.” She called attention to the impact of an unforeseen pandemic.
“The documentation and all of that is very concerning, not that we’re not doing it — not that,” Buckley said. “It’s the time it will take. We only have three staff. We had to let one person go because we couldn’t afford them.”
The Johns Creek Chamber’s marketing person, who served a necessary role, was let go in late June.
Buckley, who has been with the Chamber for 12 years, said a four-member staff is a comfortable place, and at its height, the Chamber had five employees.
She added that it has lost about 100 memberships since the pandemic hit. Now, it has close to 350.
chances of survival for children with cancer, according to the Pan American Health Organization.
Adults should listen carefully to children and watch for changes in behavior. Lacking appetite, always feeling tired, having persistent headaches or vomiting or suffering from bone pain are signs of cancer. Teachers also may report changes in behavior, like lethargy.
Guardians should actively check for unexplained weight loss, and lumps or swelling, especially in the neck, armpits, abdomen or groin.
About 9,620 kids younger than 15 in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer by the end of 2024, according to the American Cancer Society.
Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills said she understands the importance of raising awareness for the disease. The Commission decided to read the proclamation in part because a county employee’s child had recently battled and beaten cancer.
“The child is just one of many,” Mills said. “I'm sure there's many in our camp, and it's a number that's going up.”
The Chamber’s signature events also aren’t raking in as much money as before because there are more individual donations than there are company sponsorships. For example, the Golf Classic in April brought in $5,900. At its peak, Buckley said the fundraiser netted about $22,000.
“It’s really hard right now to get sponsorships, and that’s industry wide,” Buckley said. “People just aren’t putting out that extra money.”
She mentioned Emory Johns Creek recently reevaluated their policy, shifting gears to focus within the healthcare field.
Government funding can make or break an organization like the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce. If the city pulled the plug on funding, Buckley said it would be “pretty painful.”
But, a new threat of termination looms.
The former agreement didn’t include a termination clause. Neither did a previous iteration of the new contract, according to open records obtained by Appen Media. The contract presented at the Sept. 9 work session does.
While the original draft includes a section on cutting ties, the newest iteration includes more heavy-handed language allowing the city to terminate the agreement “immediately” upon the city determining that the nonprofit is not actively working toward achieving the standards.
A previous draft only stated “any party” could terminate the contract if its terms weren’t upheld.
Creating leverage
The Johns Creek contract calls into question how much power a city can have over an independent nonprofit, like a chamber of commerce.
But, Forsyth County Chamber President and CEO James McCoy said in his 20 years with the organization, the Board of Commissioners has never leveraged its funding.
Because Forsyth County doesn’t have an economic development department, the Forsyth Chamber of Commerce fills that role.
Forsyth County Communications Director Russell Brown said an internal economic development team existed before a restructuring earlier this year, when former Economic Development Director Vivian Vakili resigned.
In their fiscal year 2025 budget, commissioners allocated $480,000 to the Forsyth Chamber of Commerce, which has 11 members with two open sales seats.
“The Chamber has been the entity in the community that has been the champion of getting SPLOST passed and reviewed because of all the economic benefits, as well as just quality of life benefits,” McCoy said.
He said the County Commission has never pulled funding because of that advocacy, despite any lack of enthusiasm from commissioners about special purpose local option sales tax, or more broadly, growth.
Most recently, McCoy argued against higher impact fees for commercial development to fund transportation improvements that the county has proposed. McCoy said the Chamber prefers a lower fee schedule. Impact fees are assessed on new construction to compensate local governments for the wear and tear on its services, like more traffic and larger public safety coverage.
“Those impact fees would have a very serious negative impact on our ability to get more commercial growth,” McCoy said.
He told Appen Media that county commissioners thanked him for speaking up and for sharing data. McCoy emphasized that a lot of the Chamber’s work is sharing facts and data with commissioners.
He said there’s a positive benefit to a formalized relationship between a chamber, specifically outcome-driven ones like his, and a public entity.
“By some, the perception was that [metrics were] sort of like a strong arm,” he said. “But, what we found was, as we shared it, it helps tell the story of some really incredible things that were going on that, to be candid, weren’t being paid much attention to previously.”
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
OPINION
There’s plenty to do, but no need to hurry
I read a curmudgeon bemoaning his plight that retirement wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
I had to laugh. I laughed at harried drivers blatantly running red lights to get onto 400, lest that daredevil, scofflaw behavior be the difference between a gold star and a butt-chewing from the boss.
I laughed at the guy having steam pour forth from his ears because the school kids were taking an extra minute or two, waving to friends. I really get a chuckle when someone goes all Dale Earnhardt because a mom takes a little too long in talking to a bus driver.
I giggle when I see someone at Publix, distractedly talking on their phone and nearly decimating a potato chip display.
Maybe it’s my age. No, wait a second, it is my age that has inspired me to steal from Mad Magazine Alfred E. Neuman’s “What Me Worry?” stance. Instead, I’m fully invested in “What Me Hurry?”
So far, so good for this retirement gig. I’m able to read, ride my Harley, immerse myself in college football and have an appreciation for exploring new roads with motorcycle friends. It seems like the unexplored thoroughfares are twisty and beckoning for an old guy to give them a try.
And the best part is not really worrying (or caring) as to what day it is. Realizing that professing confusion about what day of the week it is will get one admitted to the loony bin, my “what-day-of-the-week” ignorance stems from not really caring. Unless of course Notre Dame is playing. Then I can be pretty sure it’s Saturday.
Here are a few items on the retirement agenda:
• My good friend Shaun Callahan has offered to have me visit his family’s mountain retreat. We almost partnered on the purchase of the beautiful home many years ago. Memories of Saturday golf games at the extinct Lanier Golf Club, a trunkful of hijinks and downright silliness makes impossible to not wear an hour of smiles. That was back in the cigar-smoking days. Since we’ve both abandoned that habit, Shaun said we could sit on the deck and talk about smoking cigars and enjoy the view. See what I mean
about this retirement vibe.
• Maggie Valley is a place I’ve heard so many good things about. Motorcycle buddy Jerry Nix and I just have to make that trip one of these days. There’s a Thunder Road ride that looks gorgeous with its curves snuggling the Nantahala River. Time to make sure the camera has film in it. Wait. Who am I kidding? There’s no more film to be loaded.
• I want to ride somewhere and see some bears. Not too close, but I’d like to see them in the wild. And while I’m at it, I’d like to take in the Georgia Conservation Safari Park near Madison. Honestly, I’d rather go to Africa, but if the pictures do the place justice, it’s about as close as I’m going to get to a rhino and giraffe without having to take out a second mortgage.
• As much as I like to read about a good journey, I really want to put that book together and finally publish it.
• There’s a smorgasbord of Saturday college football, a smattering of NFL games I might watch, with the MLB playoffs (more anticipated if the Braves make it, but compelling entertainment if they don’t) interspersed with all that football. That’s sufficient opportunity to have a cramp or two in my thumb from manipulating the remote.
• Then there’s my date with immunotherapy every three weeks, followed by feeling like I got run over by a truck for a few days. I’m counting on those drugs doing their job.
There are so many things I want to do.
Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@ gmail.com.
MIKE TASOS Columnist
Arts:
Continued from Page 1
Despite Georgia’s mild August and September weather, the last day of summer and first day of fall kept patrons’ hands busy carrying water cups.
Patrons spent the two-day arts festival perusing more than 90 displays from creative arts, local craftsman, talented musicians and forming community connections.
DEATH NOTICES
Joann Cassella, 93, of Roswell, passed away on September 10, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Clifford Johnson, 90, of Milton, passed away on September 5, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
John Kohler, 93, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 7, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
One vendor, The Hat Bar of Georgia, had a steady stream of patrons asking about its leather patches and easy-tomake caps.
Leatherworker Phil Heath said his company started out as a pandemic-era passion project.
After making hats for friends and coworkers, Heath and his wife Brandy decided to take their labor of love on the road, traveling from their home in Canton across Metro Atlanta to local festivals.
“We do customized leather patch hats on-site,” Heath said. “After folks pick out a patch and hat, we can make it in about two minutes.”
Some crowd-favorite patches include “Have No Fear, Grandpa is Here,” professional sports team logos, pop culture references and some barbeque puns.
Each week, the couple adds more patches, which sell for around $10, and hats, which go for $30.
Other artists at Cumming’s third annual arts festival included local blues guitarists, jazz players, several painters using different mediums and a host of local artisans selling everything from fish bowls to hand-crafted plates and jewelry.
Splash Festivals produces eight art showcases across Metro Atlanta, in-
Forsyth:
Continued from Page 4
“It’s always good when all voices get to be heard,” Warner said.
Staying competitive with neighboring counties and cities is important because it keeps business in Forsyth County, which generates additional funds for public use, he said. Already, more than 80,000 people leave the county daily to do business in other communities.
“It’s SPLOST dollars leaving the
Nes Kuweza, 73, of Roswell, passed away on September 12, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Joseph Lazzari, 82, of Roswell, passed away on September 12, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Justin Mourning, 46, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 11, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
cluding the Cumming Arts Festival and ones in Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Johns Creek.
The Splash Festivals team of Cindy Flynn and Frances Schube have been putting on the showcases for the past 15 years.
Schube said she started out organizing an arts festival in Norcross by herself. After teaming up with Flynn, she said the festival business exploded.
Schube, a Dunwoody resident, said the first year of the Cumming Arts Festival in fall 2022 was a lot different before completion of the City Center.
Vision Drive, which weaves through the mid-rise buildings full of coffee shops, clothing stores and event venues, had not been paved in advance of the inaugural arts festival.
What’s more, the colorful and vibrant storefront along the main street were still being built out, Schube said.
Today, the roadway gives Cumming City Center its “Main Street Americana” feel and there’s more growth on the way at the city’s largest project in its history.
Cumming City Center, just east of Forsyth Central High School off Canton Road (Ga. 20), includes an amphitheater in the middle of a sprawling greenspace with streams, walking trails and recreational activities.
county every day,” Warner said.
Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills questioned the logic and process that resulted in the fees initially proposed. She also questioned the optics of a proposal that had drawn so much criticism from the community.
“Why in the world did we come in with fees that were this much higher than all our surrounding counties?” she said, adding, “To me it would have been much more sensible to have come in in a range that is very comparable … You set the board up to look like they are weaker or bad decision
Donald Nelson, 83, of Roswell, passed away on September 15, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Elizabeth Varner, 99, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 12, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Roy Waggoner, Jr., 92, of Milton, passed away on September 7, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
City officials and developers have billed the mixed-use development as combining modern amenities with a uniquely small-town feel.
The mid-rise storefronts abutting Vision Drive, the City Center’s main street, bolster local businesses and the city’s tax base while giving residents the option of a shorter drive for weekend entertainment, goods or services.
Shady spots along Vision Drive were popular for a respite from the heat.
At the end of last year, Mayor Troy Brumbalow announced that the project had truly blossomed in 2023 with the completion of storefronts and tenants moving in.
So far this year, occupants at City Center have opened more doors to the public, bringing pubs, restaurants, barber shops, chiropractors and even a direct mortgage company to the new heart of the city.
And, there are even more plans for a new Cumming Police Headquarters and Municipal Court on-site.
“We hope to break ground on the facility sometime during the first quarter of 2024 and complete construction by the end of 2024,” Brumbalow wrote. “This new modern, two-story building is much needed as the current building is almost 50 years old.”
makers.”
County Manager David McKee said the consulting firm was directed to determine the maximum allowable fees based on existing plans. He also said impact fees in some neighboring cities and counties were determined many years ago.
“I will challenge my neighbors that have fees from 2015, 2016 and 2017, if they do the exact same methodology with the exact same plan, that fee is going to be drastically higher,” he said.
Commissioners made no decision on the new fee proposal. McKee said first the new numbers will be presented at a public hearing where members of the community will be invited to give their opinions.
SERVICE DIRECTORY
AC/Heating
ATLANTA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING, INC. 678 605-91592 TON $5500 INSTALLED 3 TON $6000 INSTALLED COMPLETE SYSTEM INCLUDES CONDENSER 410A, FURNACE 80% AFUE, HIGH EFFICIENCY EVAPORATOR, WIFI THERMOSTAT, PAD, OVERFLOW PAN, FILTER RACK. CALL 678 605-9159
Garage Sales
Legacy Estate Sale – Everything goes! Antique furniture, tools, designer women’s clothing, kitchenware, much more. 215 Stepping Stone Drive, Alpharetta, 8-6 September 27 & 8-4 on September 28. Cash, Venmo, PayPal only.
Willow Springs Neighborhood Sale 2500 Old Alabama Road. Sept 27 & 28 8AM2PM. Large 700+ home community. For more info: 404- 502-7006
A/C Repair
light fixtures. 678-910-1094
Johnson Controls Inc. seeks Complex Projects PE (Roswell, Georgia) to be part of an execution team for cmplx equipment prjcts & ensure that assgnd prjcts are exctd prftbly, accrtly, on-time, within the scope of the cntrct & in algnmnt w/ cstmr expectation REQS: Master’s, or frgn equiv, in Mech Eng or rltd +3 yrs exp as HVAC Eng, Mech Eng or other job invlvng building construction. Telecomm permitted. Apply by emailing resume to jonathan.parry@jci.com, search [Complex Projects PE / Reference # CPP-NEW]
Systems Engineers (mltple opngs) (Job Code SYSE24) - Master’s deg in C.Sci, Info Systms/Technolgy, Engg/IT Mgmt, Sci, any Engg or reltd flds reqd. Travl &/or relocn to unantcptd locs in US reqd. Programmer Analysts (mltple opngs) (Job Code PA24) - Master’s deg in C.Sci, Info Systms/Technlogy, Sci, Engg/IT Mngmt, any Engg or reltd flds reqd. Travl &/or relocn to unantcptd locs in US reqd. Systems Analysts (mltple opngs) (Job Code SA-24)Master’s deg in Sci, Engg, Analytics, Data Sci or any field reqd. Travl &/or relocn to unantcptd locs in US reqd.
For all 3 jobs- Work loc: Cumming, GA & unantcptd locs in US. Apply/mail resume: Attn. HR (Enter Job Code), Kube IT Inc. 763 Peachtree Pkwy, #4, Cumming, GA 30041. EOE
Become a Part of Our Amazing Staff!
PERKS OF WORKING AT HELIUM
Fun & Fast Paced Work Environment | Good Hours Limited Sidework | Great Money | Job Security MUST HAVE Weekend & evening availability | Experience with high volume sales
We have multiple positions available in our showrooms & in the kitchen! Apply online at: atlanta.heliumcomedy.com
Honest, healthy, happy, dependable, lady to live in home to help with cleaning, cooking organizing, etc. 5 days/week, $350 per week. 678-524-3881 or realestatetreasure@msn.com
NATIONAL ADVERTISING
Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protec-tion. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936
Bath & shower updates in as little as 1 day! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts available. 1-877-543-9189
DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405
zip code!
Professional lawn service: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Call now for a free quote. Ask about our first application special! 1-833-606-6777
Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads
Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to re-ceive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-855-948-6176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.
Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971
Replace your roof w/the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install (military, health & 1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234
Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, waving all installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer.) 1-844-501-3208
Don’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-833-399-3595
