► PAGE 4
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
Alpharetta and South Forsyth line up Oct. 4 for kickoff. Raiders eventually beat the War Eagles 37-20.
Raiders notch homecoming win against South Forsyth
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta left their homecoming game with a win Oct. 4, besting South Forsyth 37-20.
The Raiders started both halves hot. Quarterback Parker Mcraney notched a rushing touchdown on the first drive
of the game while wide receiver Kevin Lipscomb caught a touchdown in the first play of the second half.
Commissioners spar in sewer line debate
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Commissioners approved a map for the construction of a new sewer line at their Oct. 3 meeting after several intense discussions and dissenting votes.
The Commission approved the payment of almost $4.4 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the construction of a gravity sewer near Smith Drive and Leland Road at their Sept. 19 meeting. Commissioners had considered a decision to extend the line but ultimately decided to terminate it near Settingdown Road.
The Commission approved their Oct. 3 decision 4-1 with Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills dissenting. On Sept. 19, they voted 3-2 with Mills and Commissioner Todd Levent dissenting.
Mills criticized the Commission’s decision-making process, saying it had changed its minds too many times about where to terminate the line.
“We did not have to give our staff direction that we were standing behind commercial and … then say we’ve changed our mind,” she said. “It’s just not a good way of doing business.”
South Forsyth tied it up in the first half 7-7, then followed with a long receiving touchdown. War Eagle cornerback/ wide receiver Harrison Spencer made plays on both ends of the field with an interception that changed the momentum
of the game, allowing South to lead over Alpharetta. Offensive lineman Troy Barber had back-to-back sacks that helped South maintain their lead until Alpharetta defensive end Duke Condie came up with a huge interception, bringing energy that lit up their sideline as he came off the field.
See FOOTBALL, Page 15
At the Sept. 19 meeting, she described the process as “schizophrenic.”
But Johns disagreed with that assessment, saying cutting off the sewer line near Settingdown Road would save the county about $1 million. He said developers would add the construction of
See SEWER, Page 13
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.
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.
Two arrested on drug charges after traffic stop on Ga. 400
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies arrested two people on drug charges after an Oct. 1 traffic stop.
A deputy initiated a stop on a black Dodge Charger on the northbound lanes of Ga. 400 near Martin Road after observing a defective tail light, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report.
The vehicle continued until at 5445 Jot Em Down Road. Deputies attempted to box in the vehicle before it stopped.
A 51-year-old Dawsonville man who was driving ran from the Charger and was arrested. A 45-year-old Dawsonville woman, who was a passenger, was detained in the vehicle.
The man was arrested on tail light requirement, obstruction, driving on a suspended license, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of a drug related object charges.
The woman was arrested on possession of a drug related object and possession of Schedule I and II charges. According to the report, she was accused of having fentanyl and psilocybin, the active mind-altering compound found in hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Man arrested on drug charge after falling asleep in car
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 27-yearold Atlanta man was arrested on a drug trafficking charge after deputies found him asleep in a car Oct. 2.
A deputy found the man asleep in a
red car stopped in the parking lot of a Buford Highway hotel, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report.
After waking the man, the deputy noticed the smell of burned marijuana and asked him to exit. The deputy also report seeing a handgun in the vehicle.
The man told the deputy he was staying at the hotel and had fallen asleep. He said the gun was for his protection.
During a search of the car, the deputy found a THC vaporizer device, marijuana, about 100 empty “dime” bags, a small pink spoon and a substance thought to be cocaine.
The man was arrested on a felony charge of trafficking in cocaine, illegal drugs, marijuana or methamphetamine.
Boutique owner reports theft of designer socks
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police viewed surveillance footage at a boutique off State Bridge Road, showing a suspect stealing an item and a cash register.
Police had responded to an alarm at around 4:30 a.m.
The 24-year-old owner identified the stolen item as a $50 pair black Supreme socks, according to the incident report. He told police the register contained less than $300 in cash.
The suspect was seen wearing dark clothing, entering and exiting the area on foot.
Resident alleges cash taken from car console
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Two individuals reported to police Sept. 28 that items had been stolen from their cars, parked in front of a residence off Laithbank Lane.
A Johns Creek man told police he noticed the door of his car slightly open, finding $80 in cash missing out of the center console, according to the first incident report. The told police
his vehicle was unlocked.
At the same residence, another individual reported to police that his back passenger side window had been broken. He said a $40 backpack and a $300 tackle box were missing, according to the second incident report.
Police listed the reporting party as a juvenile and the car’s owner as an Alpharetta woman.
Police arrest three people over course of traffic stop
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Three people were arrested on drug charges after police allegedly found marijuana in their vehicle Sept. 10.
Police stopped a vehicle on Old Milton Parkway at Morris Road driven by a 20-year-old Gainesville man after running his license plate and determining it was not registered.
An officer smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle while speaking with the driver and searched the vehicle. Officers later determined the driver did not have a valid driver’s license.
During the search, officers found 58 grams of marijuana and 45 grams of a brown powdery substance that tested positive for THC, according to the police report.
They also found a large handgun magazine containing 30 9mm bullets.
Police determined the man intended to sell the marijuana because some of the drug had been divided into baggies. They also found a scale and cash.
Police arrested the man and two other passengers, a 19-year-old woman and 29-year-old man, both from Durham, North Carolina. All three were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a Schedule 1 substance.
The driver also was charged with driving while unlicensed and altering a license plate for the purpose of concealing a vehicle.
ASK APPEN
7506 Wilderness Parkway Big Canoe, GA 30143
This is Oscar!
bigcanoeanimalrescue.org
706-268-1346
Wire & Wood festival coming this weekend to Downtown Alpharetta
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — This year’s Wire & Wood Songwriters Festival will treat an estimated 20,000 music fans with dozens of artists over two days.
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?
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
Scheduled for Oct. 11 and 12, the event will feature more than 40 performances across seven free-admission stages, according to Awesome Alpharetta. The festival also will offer a ticketed Listening Room area and Music Makers Market and debut a Live Art Lounge.
This year’s event will expand its Saturday hours for the first time by starting at 11 a.m.
The festival’s lineup includes an eclectic collection of national, regional and local artists.
On Friday night, Sixpence None the Richer, an award-winning band renowned for a melodic sound and ethereal vocals by lead singer Leigh Nash. Their hit single “Kiss Me” achieved the No. 2 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 list and was one of the top-selling singles of 1999.
On Saturday night, Neal Francis will perform a mix of groundbreaking soul, R&B and piano music, which draws inspiration from New Orleans funk, gospel and classic rock.
The Listening Room will give attendees a more intimate experience with a private performance by David Ryan Harris, Davin McCoy and Jess Nolan at 3 p.m. Oct. 12. The limited-capacity event will give fans a rare glimpse into the storytelling and songwriting process showcasing the creativity and personal narratives behind the artists' music.
If you go:
The 2024 festival will also present a stellar lineup of additional performers, including:
FRIDAY: Sixpence None the Richer, John Paul White, Jason Ringenberg, Sam Burchfield & the Scoundrels, Canon Tyler, Drew Ashworth, Jon Harris, Julia Gribble, Julie Williams, Keena Graham, Kris Youmans, Marcella Simien, Rusted Soul, Scoot Teasley, Steve Baskin and the Fourteens.
SATURDAY: Neal Francis, David Ryan Harris, and Friends (Roaring Social listening room ticketed event), Joselyn & the Sweet Compression, Colby T. Helms & the Virginia Creepers, Mikaela Davis, BB Palmer, Blue Velvet Atlanta, Bradley Cole Smith, Catfish and the Bottom, Christiana Alaire, Erin Gibney, FRUTE, Geoffrey Wood, Hunter Callahan, Kate & Corey from Run Katie Run, Kilough, Little Country Giants, Little Hopes, The Lubben Brothers, Madelaine, Rob Jordan, Sarah Clanton, Shakerag, Shelby Mason, Suzy Jones.
Festivalgoers can get a preview of this year’s performers on the official Wire & Wood Spotify and YouTube Music Video playlists:
While Wire & Wood is a free event, the Listening Room lineup is a separate, paid series.
Tickets are $30 and available on the Wire & Wood website. All net proceeds from this event will benefit the City of Alpharetta’s Music Match program, which supports year-round, live local music performances.
The new Live Art Lounge will bring a unique fusion of art and music to the festival.
Located on Commerce Street, this interactive space will feature live art performances by Atlanta-based Rising Tide Studio, which will paint in real-time, capturing the festival’s vibrant energy at the new City Hall Stage.
Attendees can also purchase limitededition festival merchandise.
The Canton Curbside Stage + Music Makers Market, presented by Xfinity, offers a dynamic new space for festivalgoers to explore. This vibrant market will feature vendors offering a variety of music-themed, music-inspired, and unique “wire” or “wood” related items. Participants include vendors such as Urban Lumberjack, Moon Child Studios, and Cindy's Wire Wrapped Trees.
The Wire & Wood Songwriters Festival is produced by the City of Alpharetta in partnership with the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau. The 2024 event sponsors include Xfinity, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Chloe Wine/The Wine Group, Sweetwater Brewery and Roaring Social.
— Jon Wilcox
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ playlist/6OgI4fIGLh7RCuZmX0xYth YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Wire WoodFestival
Getting to the Wire & Wood Music Festival is easy, with numerous transportation options and free parking available throughout downtown, including City Hall, 92 Milton Avenue, and 45 Roswell Street. Ride-share services can drop off and pick up at 37 Old Roswell Street. Limited seating is available at outdoor stages on a first-come, first-served basis, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own portable chairs.
For additional details on Wire & Wood Songwriters Festival 2024, including the full performance schedule, please visit wireandwoodalpharetta.com or follow the event on Facebook and Instagram @ wireandwoodfest. Make sure you don’t miss a moment of the action by planning a weekend stay at one of 30 exceptional hotels by booking at awesomealpharetta. com/stay.
Teacher Rand Herbik joins the racing fun Oct. 4 with the kids while Education Director Nadja Lima captures pictures for parents.
Trike-A-Thon in Johns Creek raises funds for St. Jude’s
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Ivy Kids of Johns Creek held their first annual Trike-A-Thon in partnership with St. Jude’s children’s hospital Oct. 4.
School owner Karim Badani had the idea for the event after learning that September is childhood cancer awareness month. He told Appen Media the hope was to unite parents for a cause “close to heart that really connects with all of our families.”
Hurricane Helene’s conditions meant Badani had to reschedule the event to this month.
Even before opening Ivy Kids Johns Creek’s doors in August, Badani was in contact with St. Jude’s to partner for the fundraiser. In the end the event raised more than $2,600.
Assistant teacher Jada Ums provides student support while the rest of the kids enjoy pedaling around.
Infants also got to participate in the Oct. 4 Trike-A-Thon, which raised over $2,600 for St. Jude’s children hospital.
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.
Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm
Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm, re-imagining how bath & kitchen remodels are done.
PHOTOS BY ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
Just opened?
Appen Media publishes New Business Spotlights to highlight local businesses as they get started. Submit yours for free at appenmedia.com/newbusiness
6 | Forsyth Herald | October 10, 2024
Planners sign off on hotel for City Center’s Medley
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A boutique hotel may be the centerpiece of Medley, the anticipated 42-acre mixed-use development that is one facet of the Johns Creek Town Center project.
The new proposal discards original plans for a two-story entertainment space and adds a hotel featuring up to 175 rooms, 8,000 square feet of meeting space and a restaurant.
The rest of the Toro Development project is filling out. Restaurants like 26 Thai Kitchen, Ford Fry’s Little Rey and Fadó Irish Pub are part of a slate leasing agreements for Medley.
“We’ve signed probably almost 25 retail leases, one of which is with a boutique grocer who shall remain unnamed, but I’ll allow anybody to speculate,” Developer Mark Toro told the Johns Creek Planning Commission Oct. 1. “It’s interesting, the NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) that we sign with retailers…”
The Planning Commission unanimously approved Toro Development’s hotel pitch, which will now go before the City Council for a vote at a future meeting.
Approval includes a special use permit that would allow the hotel to stand six stories, or 75 feet, on the sides and in the rear. The facade, facing Medley’s central plaza, would meet the zoning district’s four-story, or 60-foot, height requirement.
Toro offered the success of the Hotel at Avalon with the Planning Commission as a rationale for the move.
“The hotel, specifically, has been a resounding success, and has injected new heads in beds every night and brought new energy to the property,” said Toro, who led the development of the Alpharetta crown jewel less than 10 miles away under North Atlanta Properties. He co-founded and led the Atlanta office.
New hotels cropped up in Alpharetta after Avalon’s opened.
In July, though, investment firm
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Mark Toro, the developer who spearheaded Avalon, pitches an update in plans for the 42-acre mixed-use development Medley at the Oct. 1 Johns Creek Planning Commission meeting. His proposal, unanimously approved that night, replaces an originally planned two-story entertainment space with a boutique hotel featuring up to 175 rooms, 8,000 square feet of meeting space and a restaurant.
Peachtree Group bought the 119-unit Hamilton Hotel in downtown Alpharetta after foreclosure for a price of $41.9 million. The hotel opened in 2021.
Toro also spoke of the private-public partnership between the City of Alpharetta and Avalon owner North American Properties. He said the city wanted the Alpharetta Conference Center because of a lack of options in the area.
“In fact, at the time, the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce had to go to Buckhead for their gala because there was no other place to be,” Toro said.
In 2016, the City of Alpharetta approved an agreement with the Alpharetta Development Authority to issue $26 million in revenue bonds to fund construction of the 44,000-square-foot conference center, connected to the Hotel at Avalon.
Alpharetta Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard said the city gets two free uses of the conference center annually, excluding catering or A/V costs.
Drinkard also said the city’s bond debt for the project is cushioned by the 1 percent increase in hotel/motel tax, approved at the time. A portion of that tax also goes to the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau, which funds a $500,000 annual marketing expense related to the conference center.
Toro said the company is in the process of interviewing nine operators, adept at managing hotels of the proposed size.
But, he told Appen Media the hotel’s brand is unknown at this point. He is encouraging people to help with the selection process. Pending approval by the City Council, Toro said the company will create an Instagram post and ask people to chime in.
Some members of the Planning Commission questioned how the update might
Targeted local marketing in the most trusted local media
Alpharetta | Roswell | Milton | Johns Creek
Forsyth | Dunwoody | Sandy Springs
Local community newspapers – Heralds & Criers – that matter.
impact the Fire Department. Commissioner Vicki Horton emphasized the major shift from an entertainment space to an asset where people stay overnight.
“I’m not just talking the equipment, I’m talking the ability to effectively protect and serve that asset and the people in it,” Horton said, riding a question about whether the Fire Department had the appropriate apparatus to handle the proposed building size.
Planning and Zoning Manager Ruchi Agarwal said every rezoning and special use permit goes to the Fire Department. She added that the fire marshal reviewed the plan, and that the accessibility of the property hasn’t changed, a typical focus.
Many Planning Commission members voiced their excitement about the hotel, including Chris Jackson.
“...Avalon was one of these things where it became, ‘If we build it, they will come,’” Jackson said. “I think the same thing is going to happen here.”
Partner with Appen Local Media:
Local: Print | Websites | Email Newsletters | Podcasts
Use the power of trusted local to grow your business.
APPEN Marketing: 770-442-3278
Advertising@AppenMedia.com
TORO DEVELOPMENT/PROVIDED
A rendering of the proposed Hotel at Medley shows a four-story facade facing a central plaza. A special use permit, approved alongside a rezoning, would allow the sides and rear of the building to stand at six stories.
U of Wisconsin grad joins Appen newsroom
ALPHARETTA, Ga – Appen Media Group announced Sept. 30 that Annabelle Reiter will join its staff as a reporter. Annabelle will cover sports, local government and business in the North Fulton area. She will report to Carl Appen, director of content and development, and she will be based in Alpharetta.
in May with a degree in communications from the University of Wisconsin. During her time at UW, she took courses in political rhetoric, mass communications, and sports media, and worked as a policy intern in Gov. Tony Evers’ office.
“I’m extremely excited to be joining the team at Appen Media,” Reiter said. “I’m passionate about the human experience, I love culture and connecting people through storytelling, I’m very fortunate to be able to have a place to do so in the newsroom at Appen Media.”
Support Local News Join Appen Press Club
CHARTER MEMBER
DC Aiken
Big Sky Franchise Team
David & Michelle Bertany
Amour & Duane Carthy
Adam Corder
MEMBER+
Reiter grew up in Waunakee, Wisconsin, a suburb of Madison, and graduated
To contact Reiter with news tips or story ideas, email annabelle@appenmedia.com
Coverage leads to record month for Decaturish
DECATUR, Ga. — Decaturish reached a new milestone in September, recording 419,000 page views, the most of any month in 2024.
Breaking news about Hurricane Helene and a chemical plant fire in Rockdale County drove the increase in page views. Decaturish also saw the most unique visitors of the year, bringing in 245,000 readers.
Editor and founder Dan Whisenhunt attributed the increase to the recent purchase of Decaturish by Appen Media Group. The acquisition included turning over many time-consuming operational
tasks to Appen, allowing Decaturish to focus its efforts on telling the untold stories of our community.
“Having more time on my hands means more time I can spend editing and writing stories for Decaturish, creating more value for our audience,” he said.
“We are thrilled to see this amount of growth so soon after bringing on the Decaturish team,” said Publisher Hans Appen. “It is a testament to how much the Decatur area relies on Dan and his team to keep them informed on issues most important to them, like their safety.”
Jimmy Song (NMLS#1218336) 770-454-1871 (Duluth Branch)
Sandy Na (NMLS#983548) 770-454-1861 (Norcross Branch)
Trinh Pham (NMLS#1369150) 678-672-3926 (Norcross Branch)
Barbara Anderson
Kerry Arias
Scott Baynton
Joseph Bell
James Bennett
Rita Brown
Carl Abernathy
Bruce Ackley
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
Carol Bright
Linda Brill
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
MEMBER
Evelyn Collazo
Michael Mackenzie
Communications
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
To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size! Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
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
McIntyre
McLoughlin
Mendoza
Miller
Moeller
Moen
Moring
Mullis
Murphy
Murphy
Novarro
O’Brien
Pappas
Pennington
Personalized breast care close to home at Wellstar North Fulton
Brought to you byDr. Laura Pearson, breast surgeon at
Wellstar
I have never met a woman who enjoyed getting mammograms, including myself. They can be uncomfortable, awkward and anxietyprovoking—especially if you have had scares in the past or are at high risk for getting breast cancer.
There are so many additional resources for risk reduction and surveillance available that go hand-inhand with mammograms. At Wellstar, reducing your risk and screening for cancer starts with a physical from your primary care doctor.
If you are at average risk of developing breast cancer, you should begin annual screening mammograms at age 40. If you have a family history or other risk factors, your doctor may recommend earlier or more frequent screening. If something is detected on a mammogram, the Wellstar Comprehensive Breast Health Program has nurse navigators who will help arrange diagnostic imaging, biopsy procedures and referrals to breast specialists. If you are diagnosed with cancer, the compassionate and oncology-trained nurse navigators with Wellstar Cancer Care walk patients through diagnosis, evaluation, treatment and beyond.
If you’re diagnosed with breast cancer, your treatment and care will transition from our Comprehensive Breast Health Program to the Wellstar Cancer Care team. In Wellstar STAT Clinics, which stands for Specialty Teams and Treatment, we put you at the center of your care plan. In our STAT Clinic for Breast Cancer, the care team, including breast oncology nurse navigators, surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, nutritionists and genetic counselors,
will meet with you and your support system on the same day to formulate a treatment plan personalized to your specific cancer, as well as your personal and cultural needs. Patients can ask questions, make decisions and start treatment sooner, improving outcomes.
Many times, surgical intervention can be done as an outpatient procedure. We can also offer some people intraoperative radiation therapy, or IORT—the option of doing their radiation treatment in the operating room at the same time as their lumpectomy, meaning they are able to avoid four to six weeks of radiation treatments. Any other interventions, such as chemotherapy or radiation, including our CyberKnife for treatments like targeted partial breast radiation therapy, are found in
the cancer center on Wellstar North Fulton’s medical campus. We have physical therapists, social workers and palliative care specialists who are there for you if the need arises.
Your Wellstar care team can also help you reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. Being overweight or obese or being a smoker can increase your risk. Patients at Wellstar have access to our Center for Best Health to assist in weight management. We also have smoking cessation programs and dietitians waiting to help you make healthier choices that can positively impact your health.
Wellstar provides more than healthcare, PeopleCare—working relentlessly to exceed national standards and our patients’ expectations while remembering the
humanity of every patient. We are here for all the situations and stages of our patients’ lives by offering the tools and resources to be healthy and thrive. Wellstar clinicians live in the communities we serve. We must get physicals, mammograms and biopsies. We need help being our healthiest selves. We get sick and have family members who need compassionate care. PeopleCare means offering our patients world-class healthcare in the communities where they live and work.
Your care team can put your mammogram order in Wellstar MyChart to book online, or you can schedule by calling (678) 581-5900. Visit wellstar. org/northfultoncancercare to learn more about cancer care at Wellstar North Fulton.
PEARSON
At Wellstar, you’ll find a multidisciplinary team of cancer care experts built around your needs and dedicated to comprehensive, personalized treatment.
We are a leader in cancer care, embracing innovation to improve patient outcomes. Our surgeons perform a variety of minimally invasive procedures—providing patients with smoother recoveries and less pain. We also support patients during their cancer journeys with STAT Clinics, which bring cancer care clinicians together and put people at the center of their treatment. With this multidisciplinary approach, patients start care sooner, optimizing treatment and outcomes. wellstar.org/northfultoncancercare
Premier Dermatology
Providing
Brought to you by – Premier Dermatology
Congratulations to Premier Dermatology and Mohs surgery of Atlanta for its seventh year in a row of being voted Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist of North Fulton! Since opening in 2017, Premier Dermatology has quickly become the go-to dermatology practice for Mohs surgery and comprehensive dermatologic care. As in years past, I decided to sit down with Dr. Brent Taylor to get his take on his success and to learn a bit more about him.
Alyssa : Hey you two! Thanks for meeting with me again. Winning the Best Dermatologist and Best Vein specialist for seven years in a row means you must be doing something right! To what do you contribute your continued success?
Dr. Taylor : Thank you! Well, I believe that my patients understand our sincerity and our dedication to their healthcare. Kathryn and I and our amazing team all honestly care about our patients and their well-being. I hope that that sincerity comes through during our
interactions. We always strive to give our patients our complete attention and to learn more about an individual as a person as well as a patient. There are plenty of times when a patient brings something to our attention or when a case compels us to do additional research. Kathryn and I are constantly collaborating and advocating on our patients’ behalf. I believe that comes through.
Premier:
Kathryn : I agree with everything that Dr. Taylor said, our team really is wonderful. And we have received a lot of compliments that the practice has a personal and “boutique” feel, even as we deliver care that is scientific and academic.
Alyssa : Do you have a patient care moment or a diagnosis of which you are exceptionally proud?
Dr. Taylor : Well it is always our goal to deliver outstanding dermatologic care. Regarding diagnoses that I’m proud of, the first instances that come to mind involve catching a disease that is technically outside my specialty. For example, a patient looked a bit yellow, and I ordered a liver function test and caught acute liver failure. I helped another patient discover that one of his ureters had been accidentally cut during a surgery at the hospital.
Within my own specialty I’m often most proud of how simply being thorough can be critical to a patient’s care. By being thorough, I have caught melanomas on the scalp and bottom of the feet of patients who were sometimes surprised I asked them to take out a hair tie or take their socks off. Likewise, photography helps us monitor moles for change, and just last month we caught a melanoma early because a slight change from a previous photo prompted an early biopsy.
Alyssa : Has a patient or teacher or coworker ever asked you out on a date?
Dr. Taylor : (Laughs) Yes they have. Sadly, the number of patients in their 90s who have asked me on a date is higher than the number of nonpatients who ever asked me on a date before I was married.
Alyssa : Is there a funny medical fact that you have learned?
Dr. Taylor : Actually I have a good one! An ENT professor in medical school told us that as men age they lose the ability to hear higher pitch sounds, and, as women age, their voices increase in pitch. Thus, men naturally lose the ability to hear women with time. So the next time your wife accuses you of ignoring her: blame biology, not the football game!
Alyssa : If you could tell your 16 year old self something, what would it be?
Dr. Taylor : To not put too much stock in timelines. I was raised very traditionally, and I thought that I was going to meet my wife in college, get married right after we graduated then start a family a few years later,
and it made me worried when I hadn’t met the right person by the time that I expected. My advice to the teenage me would be to just pour yourself into positive and worthwhile activities and that the result would be becoming who you are supposed to and meeting who you are supposed to all in its own time.
Kathryn : Stop stressing. You’ll make it happen. I was so focused on my future, worrying about not achieving my goals, and how I was going to put myself through school that I didn’t stop to enjoy being 16. In hindsight, I realize that having a bit more faith would have gotten me to the same endpoint without all of the pressure I put on myself.
Alyssa : Do you have a pet peeve of which patients or staff are guilty?
Dr. Taylor : I really don’t get frustrated easily. I understand that everyone has a life and everyone’s lives have struggles about which we often know little. If someone is being rude, I usually chalk it up to unseen struggles. That being said, I do wish that certain patients would realize what a marvel Mohs surgery really is. My primary pet peeve is patients mistreating my coworkers. Sometimes, patients get frustrated waiting on their tissue to process during a day of Mohs surgery. And they sometimes take it out on my medical assistants, who are wonderful and caring and are in healthcare for the right reasons.
There is a comedian who has a bit on youtube called “everything’s amazing and nobody’s happy.” He talks about how upset people get on airplanes when just a few hundred years ago a trip across the country was like the videogame Oregon Trail – the journey took months, and half of the wagon party died of cholera on the way. Like air travel, skin cancer treatment nowadays is miraculous. Prior to Mohs surgery, far more skin cancers routinely caused disfigurement and even death. Now, Mohs surgery offers a cure rate of 99% for most skin cancers, and the aesthetic results are often outstanding. Modern skin cancer care truly is fantastic. Unfortunately, the same day shipping world in which we live has made people expect immediate results, and they sometimes take out their frustrations on my coworkers. The world can always use a little more kindness, patience and grace.
Thank you to Dr. Brent Taylor and Kathryn Filipek PA-C for sharing a little more about themselves and congratulations again for winning both Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist in North Fulton for 2024!
Insist
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.
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
Deadly Helene provides Georgians the opportunity to shine
Helene was horrible. She was devastating. She was a deadly killer hurricane that didn’t fight fair. Here in north Georgia, we’re not accustomed to such ferociousness in a storm. It rained and rained and rained in our area. Twelve inches in a Wednesday through Friday stretch.
We never lost power, and there was minimal wind damage. While we were spared much of the storm’s wrath, there were others who lost their homes, their businesses and their lives.
It was an example of others being hopeless, having been dealt a hand so tragic. We’ve all seen the video footage of towns, whole towns, completely washed away.
The natural reaction to this is to feel sorry for those who have been affected. When we see a natural disaster halfway across the world, it is easy to empathize but much tougher to take action to help. Maybe a mention about it on Sunday from the pulpit, a plea for help, a second collection perhaps and the whole matter is shelved from our minds.
Maybe it’s a Southern thing, or perhaps it’s a North Georgia thing, but when the chips are down and there’s a call for help, by golly, a sense of community emerges that is so gratifying that, well, you just have to write about it.
Neighbors Josh and Alethea Jacobs posted a Facebook message that they were heading to Baxley, Georgia, to help. The Jacobs couple were probably envisioning a pickup truck load of what was needed. The community was looking at two to three weeks without power.
What happened was such an outpouring of generosity that the subsequent message was: “We have had such
an amazing response from our Forsyth community! We have had several people donate much needed items, and we have been able to purchase so many items thru $ donations that now we are in need of a trailer for the day!”
The lines to get any type of assistance and sustenance were massive. Think of trying to get in for a concert and prepared to be treated to music. Then think about standing in such a line to get food for your family, drinking water and any other essentials.
These were folks who never would have thought about asking for a handout until the deluge.
Then think about how proud the Jacobs made you feel as they pulled that trailer to Baxley.
Ditto for the Knights of Columbus from Christ the Redeemer parish in Dawsonville. Grand Knight Larry Suarez fielded a call from a Knights group in Vidalia. No water. No means of getting water. Suarez was the organizer and commissioned two Knights, Ike Pankhurst and Tony Roberti, to drive a truck ladened with nearly 6,000 bottles of water to Vidalia.
There’s enough going on that would warrant a tumultuous case of the blues. War in the Middle East, a dock workers strike (talk about a Titanic-sized case of bad timing), chemical clouds befouling our air are crises we can do nothing about.
Thank heavens for all the folks doing more than merely wishing they could help.
It makes worrying about whether the Braves would survive the trip to San Diego rather inconsequential and unimportant.
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
Theodore Roosevelt’s ‘proud kinship’ with the South
The visit of President Theodore Roosevelt to Roswell in 1905 was part of a tour through the South aimed at helping to heal the lingering wounds of the Civil War. The presidential party visited several states, but the visit to Roswell had a special meaning because it was to the house where his mother was raised.
Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt (18581919) became the 26th President of the United States in September 1901 upon the assassination of William McKinley. One of Roosevelt’s many noteworthy achievements was setting aside some 230 million acres throughout the U.S. for national forests, parks and wildlife refuges.
His parents, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. (1831-1878) and Martha “Mittie” Bulloch Roosevelt (1835-1884) were a wealthy family in New York City.
After graduating from Harvard College, the future president married Alice Hathaway Lee (1861– 1884) In 1880. He was deeply in love. Alice was a charming, talented young woman, tall and athletic, skilled in tennis and archery, and she played piano. Both Alice and his mother Mittie died on Valentines Day in 1884. Mittie died at age 48 from typhoid fever, and Alice died at age 22 of kidney failure.
Theodore and Alice’s daughter Alice Lee Roosevelt was born on February 12, 1884, two days before her mother’s death. Theodore was so distraught at his lovely young wife’s demise that he hardly ever spoke of her again, not even with his daughter. Two years later, in 1886, Teddy married his teen years sweetheart Edith Kermit Carow (1861-1948) who served as First Lady from 1901 to 1909.
Sewer:
Continued from Page 1
BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA
Bulloch Hall, built in 1839 in Roswell in the Greek Revival style, is the home where President Theodore Roosevelt’s mother was raised. The president visited the home for the first time in 1905. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Theodore was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1897. He resigned from that position to help establish and lead the Rough Riders, a military unit that fought the Spanish army in Cuba. The unit was widely covered by the press, and Roosevelt returned to the U.S. a war hero. He was elected governor of New York in 1898. Two years later, he ran as William McKinley’s vice president.
Martha “Mittie” Bulloch Roosevelt
Mittie was Theodore’s mother. Her parents, Georgia resident Maj. James Stephens Bulloch (1793–1849) and Martha “Patsy” Steward Bulloch (1799–1864), lived in Savannah. When Mittie was
the sewer line’s continuation into their cost projection, saving the county money.
“We make changes based on information that comes up later on, and I see this as no different,” he said. “The more we learned about the sewer … That is a huge savings of taxpayer dollars.”
He also said the decision to build the sewer line past Ga. 400 would stimulate commercial growth in the area.
“We don’t need to subsidize commercial development,” he said.
On Sept. 19, Levent said he worried the decision would hinder developers in the area. He also criticized the change in course over where to extend the sewer. He said the Commission’s decision “stabbed (developers) in the back.”
“We have three board members who always seem to flip-
3, Major Bulloch moved his family to the village that was to become Roswell to be a partner in a new cotton mill with Roswell’s founder Roswell King. Bulloch built a beautiful mansion, completed in 1839, and called it Bulloch Hall. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is today a favorite place for history lovers to visit. Mittie was raised in the house. She married Theodore Roosevelt Sr. on Dec. 22,1853 in the formal dining room of the home. It was a gala affair.
The City of Roswell owns Bulloch Hall, thanks to a successful bond referendum and a grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The city established a citizens committee, The Roswell Historic Preservation Commission, in 1978 to oversee the local historic district and to approve projects proposed in the district.
The non-profit Friends of Bulloch Hall was established 40 years ago for the preservation and restoration of Bulloch Hall. Its president, Bob Hagan, says that the annual Magnolia Ball, raises funds to pay for projects. Last year’s projects included restoration of the original front and back doors, bringing Mittie’s garden back to life and trimming historic trees on the grounds, including some rare osage trees which early settlers planted as a dense hedge.
A highlight of the house is Mittie’s bedroom. According to Elaine DeNiro, archivist for the Roswell Historical Society and the City of Roswell, the Historical Society furnished Mittie’s bedroom with period pieces and is its caregiver.
President visits Roswell home
President Roosevelt visited Bulloch Hall on Oct. 20, 1905, while on a post-Civil War good will tour of the
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Commissioners discuss sewer line plans at an Oct. 3 meeting. The Commission at times disagreed on their plans to build a sewer line with some members saying plans to terminate it would hinder developers.
flop and go backward about where they stand, and this is a tremendous waste of money,” Levent said. “It makes no sense, and there’s people who have already bought land and made their plan to do things and knew that sewer was coming.”
South. In his remarks, the president emphasized his Southern links. He said “…my blood is half Southern and half Northern…the brothers and sisters of my mother who were born and brought up in that house on the hill there, my two uncles afterward entered the Confederate service and served with the Confederate Navy….I have the ancestral right to claim a proud kinship with those who showed their devotion to duty as they saw the duty, whether they wore the grey or whether they wore the blue.”
After visiting Roswell, the president went to Atlanta where he was told, according to the Christian Herald, a weekly New York publication, “We consider you a Georgian by birth, Mr. President. You are one of us and we love you because of your honesty and your courage to do what you think is right.”
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. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
BOB MEYERS Columnist
410A, FURNACE 80% AFUE, HIGH EFFICIENCY EVAPORATOR, WIFI THERMOSTAT, PAD, OVERFLOW PAN, FILTER RACK. CALL 678 605-9159
Home Improvement
Interior/Exterior Painting, Pressure Washing, Rotten Wood Repair, Deck Repair, Window Installation. Licensed/ Insured. Call Thurman 770-899-1354. Free Estimates
SAVE $12,000! Greenlawn, Roswell. Regularly $7995 each. Selling for $12,000, seller will negotiate. Side-by-side Fountain B. 26-c. 1.2,3. 770-490-6425.
Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc.
Engineer II - System Integration Testing
Alpharetta GA
Remote position
Responsibilities: Remote position. Conduct testing activities on software dvlpmnt projects within Firmware Engg department. Complex integration testing of the 3 major release areas – software, firmware & utility hardware (meters, line sensors, Gas/Water modules). Create unique & non-repeatable Test Plans based on product specifications. Salary: $118,000/yr
Reqs: Bachelor’s in comp sci, engg, or related field & 5 yrs of exp in job offered or 5 yrs of exp software test dvlpmnt. Exp must include 5 yrs each of following: utilize standard computer apps related to software/firmware dvlpmnt & testing incl. Linux Shells, Wireshark, Terminal Emulators; Networking Testing incl. protocol analysis & load testing; Linux/Unix set up & configuration; source control & automated build systems; full software dvlpmnt life cycle; design code\testing methodologies; & test tool, test automation, & production-level programming with Python, ANSI C/C++, or C#. Exp must include 3 yrs each of following: AMI & Smart Grid Systems & Solutions; Shell Scripting, Hardware Design & Troubleshooting; & testing HTML5 based user interfaces. Exp may be gained concurrently. Send resume & cover letter to: Landis+Gyr c/o Lisa Hudson, Talent Acquisition, 30000 Mill Creek Ave, Ste 100, Alpharetta, GA 30022 or via email: lisa.hudson@landisgyr.com
Pilot Travel Centers LLC (Roswell, GA) seeks Engineer II, Machine Learning to impl. mach. learning models to prod. by utilizing state-ofthe-art tools, algorithms & meth. w/ DevOps & test-driven dvlpmnt processes. Partial remote work permitted. For more details/to apply online, see: https://smrtr.io/nkLgd.
Associate Dentist Imagix Dental of Alpharetta, LLC. Alpharetta, GA. Diagnose, prevent & treat teeth & tissue problems. DMD or DDS. Apply: https://www. dentalcarealliance.net/dental-jobs-search/
Director of Solid Waste Engineering (Master’s w/ 10 yrs exp or Bach w/ 12 yrs exp; Major: Civil Engg or equiv.) – Alpharetta, GA. Must hold a P.E. license in civil engg. Job entails working with & reqs exp incl: civil, geotechnical & geoenvironmental engg services; geosynthetics related engg research; geosynthetics engg (design, construction, evaluation); landfill engg for stability, settlement, bearing capacity, seepage, leachate collection & closure; landfill gas collection & control system design, landfill gas emissions evaluations; cell construction, access roads, stormwater mgmt design; hydrology & hydraulics; waste containment & dredged material containment facilities design, construction, & mgmt; field engg incl: CQA, construction oversight, surveying, & subsurface investigations using SPTs, CPTs, DPTs; business dev. & revenue generation; & technical marketing through publications in geotechnical & geoenvironmental industry journals, proceedings of conferences, trade shows, associations, or other technical media. Send resumes to Watershed Geosynthetics, LLC, Attn: HR, 1125 Sanctuary Pkwy, Suite 180, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
To place a classified ad, email classifieds@appenmedia.com Deadline is Thursdays by 4pm
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
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
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
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. Offer ends 12/29/24.) Call 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
Autos Wanted
Become a
Part of Our Amazing Staff!
PERKS OF WORKING AT HELIUM
& 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 Solution
A
PRESSCLU
Alpharetta cheerleaders and student section are bustling for the Homecoming game.
Football:
Continued from Page 1
Condie continued making plays in the second half, recovering a fumble for a long drive. Alpharetta Head Coach Jason Kervin praised Condie’s play after the game, “he knows where he and
everybody is supposed to be… he is an unbelievable kid, [making those plays] means so much to him.”
Condie credits coaching for his ability to continually be in the right place at the right time, telling Appen Media he's just “do[ing his] job.”
Alpharetta cornerback Ryan Steele sealed the game with an interception in the end zone. Despite only return
ing two offensive starters, Alpharetta was able to find their groove in attacking South Forsyth’s defense and ended with their highest-scoring game of the season.
The Raiders will take this energy into the next game as they travel to Lambert High School Oct. 11. The War Eagles will be taking on West Forsyth at home.
