Chamber president plans to step down at end of February
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County’s chamber President and CEO James McCoy will be stepping down from his position at the end of February.
The Chamber of Commerce announced on Nov. 22 the resignation and his replacement by Vice President of Economic Development Alex Warner.
“This has been an amazing journey and a dream job in one of the greatest communities in the country,” McCoy said. “I hope my time serving as the president and CEO helped build the organization and community in a way that will support Alex Warner in hitting all new heights in the future.”
McCoy, who served for about 20 years, will leave the position on Feb. 28. Warner will take his place on March 3.
McCoy will be joining The Chason Group, a Georgia-based consulting firm that primarily serves chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, convention and visitors bureaus and
See CHAMBER, Page 12
Principals blast paid online courses
School leaders: Added work spurs unhealthy competition
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
Self-paid courses, offered by thirdparty educators, have gained popularity in recent years.
The district has no limit on the number of self-paid courses high school students may take on top of their normal course loads, said Aaron Archambeau, principal of West Forsyth High School.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Two Forsyth County principals told school board members Nov. 19 the district’s policy for paid coursework is toxically competitive and provides little advantage for college admissions.
The policy has pushed students to work themselves to exhaustion, increased academic dishonesty and undermined mental health, said Amanda Thrower, principal of Lambert High School. The principals recommended limiting paid courses to one per semester.
See COURSES, Page 14
WARNER
MCCOY
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
High school principals Amanda Thrower and Aaron Archambeau argue against paid courses students take outside regular curriculum, saying they add pressure with little benefit. Speaking at the Nov. 19 Forsyth County School Board meeting, the two administrators recommended limiting paid courses to one per semester.
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Woman reports harassment by father of her children
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies investigated a report of harassment Nov. 17.
A 32-year-old Cumming woman told deputies the father of her children had messaged and phoned her despite a court order restricting him from contacting her, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report.
The woman said her doorbell camera recorded a man matching his description after she went on a date. She also showed deputies text messages and phone calls from the man sent about the time of the recording.
After blocking his number, she continued to receive phone calls and texts from numbers she did not recognize. The messages asked why she had hired a babysitter “when I am able to?”
The woman said she suspected he was watching her home because of the timing of the messages.
Deputies did not seek warrants for the man because the prosecutor’s office was likely to handle the case.
— Jon Wilcox
Deputies seek two women for alleged price-swapping
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies investigated a report of shoplifting at a Peachtree Parkway store Oct. 31.
An employee showed deputies video footage of two women price swapping at the self-checkout, according to a
Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report. Price swapping involves scanning a cheaper item instead of more expensive one to steal a product.
The women stole numerous items, according to the report.
The women were confronted and ran out of the store, leaving in a gray car.
Loss prevention staff could not complete a list of the all the stolen items because they had worked too many hours during the week.
The incident was classified as a misdemeanor theft by shoplifting.
— Jon Wilcox
Woman reports fraud in transaction with teens
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Police investigated the report of a theft by deception Nov. 9.
A Dawsonville woman said she and a family member were approached at North Point Mall by two teens selling an Apple Watch, according to an Alpharetta police report. She said the teens said they needed money for food and would sell the watch for cheap.
The woman said the interaction took place in front of the Forever 21 store, and the teens offered to give her two pairs of Apple AirPods for free with the purchase.
The woman purchased two watches for a total of $360.
When the woman took the watches to the Apple store, employees informed her the watches were not authentic.
Jon Wilcox
Restaurant reports theft from outdoor refrigerator
ROSWELL, Ga. — Police are investigating the second burglary this year at Vin25, a downtown Roswell restaurant, after the owner reported
a $2,000 theft from an exterior fridge Nov. 16.
The restaurant’s general manager said she closed shop around 11:15 p.m. Nov. 15.
When an employee came to open shop around 8 a.m. the next morning, she said the exterior walk-in fridge had been forced open.
The stolen merchandise, totaling more than $2,000, included champagne and wine, hanger steaks, ribs, chicken and other miscellaneous foods.
The general manager said the same fridge was burglarized earlier this year.
Officers said they were working to gather security footage from the restaurant and surrounding businesses.
Woman found with drugs during jail processing
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 25-year-old Midway, Georgia, woman was arrested on drug charges Nov. 9.
Police stopped a southbound Chevrolet Cruze about 11:30 p.m. on Ga. 400 at Old Milton Parkway, according to an Alpharetta police report. Officers checked the tag and found it had a wanted notification from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.
Officers detained the driver because she had a warrant for violating probation in a possession of a dangerous drug case.
While admitting the woman into the jail, officers discovered a glass smoking device with residue, various pills. Officers determined the pills contained a narcotic painkiller and ecstasy.
The woman was charged with going inside a guardline with a drug, possession and use of a drug-related object and possession of a Schedule I controlled substance.
Hayden Sumlin
Jon Wilcox
Georgia cities ask Supreme Court to reverse $35 million judgement
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Georgia municipalities are throwing their weight behind Milton after the state Court of Appeals affirmed a September wrongful death verdict against the city.
The court verdict saddles the City of Milton with $35 million in damages.
Sister cities Sandy Springs and Alpharetta petitioned the Georgia Supreme Court to reverse the decision in the lawsuit the week of Nov. 18. The Dunwoody City Council was set to approve a request Nov. 25 for the Georgia Supreme Court to take up and overturn the appellate ruling. More cities across the state are expected to submit amicus briefs, or letters of support, in the coming weeks.
The Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed the Sept. 16 Fulton County jury verdict citing Milton’s role in the death of a 21-year-old college student in November 2016.
Joshua Chang, a senior with a full-ride scholarship to Yale University, died after hitting a concrete planter along Batesville Road on his way home during Thanksgiving break.
Milton is ordered to pay the victim’s family $35 million with $10,000 in post-
judgement interest accruing each day.
Following the appellate judgement, Milton officials said they were seeking reconsideration of the ruling or review from the Georgia Supreme Court.
According to court documents, the victim’s family made seven offers to settle the case, ranging from $1.75 million to $10 million just before the trial. Insurance attorneys rejected the offers.
Meanwhile, residents expressed their frustration at the city and its legal representation in September for failing to protect them from the outstanding liability.
City questions insurance fund
Milton officials say the Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency was solely responsible for the decision whether to settle the claims.
The Georgia Municipal Association created the agency as a property and liability insurance fund for Georgia cities. The agency has 370 municipal members.
“Neither the city nor its legal team were given a role in settlement negotiations,” the city said in a statement. “What happened to Mr. Chang was certainly a tragedy, but we firmly believe the City of Milton should not be held liable … we will continue to pursue a reasonable outcome to protect the city
and taxpayers from this unjust financial burden.”
Invoices obtained by Appen Media through the Open Records Act show Mayor Peyton Jamison, City Manager Krokoff and City Attorney Ken Jarrard discussed the case several times.
Speaking to Appen Media Nov. 19, Jamison said many Georgia cities have expressed solidarity with Milton, and he reiterated that the city was not consulted on whether to approve or deny settlement offers.
Based on the feedback received thus far, Jamison said he expects several cities to file amicus briefs to the Supreme Court, requesting reversal of the decision.
Adam Hollingworth, president of Milton Families First, raised questions about the Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency’s role as the city’s insurer at the Nov. 18 City Council meeting.
He questioned the efficacy of the insurance fund’s policy agreement with the city, saying “by no measure did GIRMA exercise its duty in ways that best protected Milton taxpayers.”
happening in other Georgia cities, Gray said the court’s decision treats residents of municipalities differently than those in unincorporated areas.
She said when the courts decide to change course on immunity, municipal taxpayers have a significantly larger risk under the state’s tort law structure.
“These added burdens on municipalities absolutely can harm business and growth in municipalities across the state,” Gray said. “This is another example of why tort reform is needed in Georgia in order for the state to maintain its standing as the best place to do business.”
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has pledged to make tort reform a top priority during the 2025 legislative session.
While calls for tort reform typically come from business groups and conservative lawmakers, the issue is now expanding to include each city in the state.
Sister city steps up
The Sandy Springs resolution, asking the Georgia Supreme Court to hear and reverse the Court of Appeals’ September ruling, calls the decision “inconsistent with existing legal precedent.”
“The decisions made — from selecting underqualified legal counsel to rejecting reasonable settlement offers — have left the City of Milton and its citizens bearing an unconscionable financial burden,” Hollingworth wrote. “This case not only raises serious doubts about GIRMA’s ability to serve its members effectively but also highlights systemic issues that jeopardize public trust.”
GMA comments on case
The Georgia Municipal Association refused to comment specifically on Milton’s claim that it was not consulted during settlement discussions.
Latisha Gray, communications director at the GMA, said it would not be appropriate to provide details of case strategy publicly as the litigation is ongoing.
“It should be noted that the judgment in this current litigation is unprecedented in Georgia’s history for similar situations,” Gray wrote.
Gray pointed to a 2021 Court of Appeals judgement which affirmed that the City of Roswell had immunity in a case in which a car left the road and struck mailboxes within the right-of-way resulting in the deaths of two people in the vehicle.
“[The Milton] decision went the opposite way, and if upheld, sets a new precedent for cities across the state, and the potential consequences for other municipalities is real and is significant,” she said. “Legal precedent has been an accepted standard for many years, and it is common for litigation counsel to take into consideration and even rely upon recent decisions of a very similar nature in analyzing potential settlement offers and litigation strategy.”
In terms of what’s stopping this from
City Attorney Dan Lee, speaking during a Nov. 19 City Council meeting, said the appellate decision expands the definition of what a roadway is to include an area that would allow a driver to safely exit the paved road onto the right-of-way and return.
“Up until approximately four months ago, the law in Georgia was clear that a person leaving the paved part of the roadway striking an object was at fault,” Lee said. “Period, end of story.”
Mayor Rusty Paul asked Lee to explain how the decision can come into play for Sandy Springs residents or any Georgians living in incorporated areas.
Lee said Milton did not place the planter there. It was constructed in 1992, when the land was a part of unincorporated Fulton County.
“The decision, if allowed to stand, would be very troublesome to the taxpayers of Sandy Springs and many cities around Georgia,” Lee said. “Sandy Springs’ interest are in the overturning of this case and bringing the law back into order for good operation of municipal government.”
For Sandy Springs, which has issued 589 permits in the past two years to place items in the rights-of-way across the city, the decision could spell trouble.
“This law, as it stands now from the Court of Appeals, if the city has knowledge of the placement of the object … the city could be held liable for it,” Lee said. “The city had no authority to deny the permits.”
Lee turned his focus to the Milton case.
“In Milton, the city did not know of any nuisance value to this object, Lee said. “That and the expansion of the roadway is the part that scares us.”
Completion of the Ga. 369 overpass over Ga. 400 is delayed by at least nine months after a flaw was discovered in a support beam.
Ga. 369 widening project hits snag after flaw discovered in overpass
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A project to widen Ga. 269 suffered an unexpected delay recently after engineers discovered an overpass was structurally flawed.
At its Nov. 21 meeting, Forsyth County commissioners approved up to $180,000 in additional funds for the project and a contract extension with construction engineering and inspection firm Atlas Technical Consultants.
In a letter to the county, Bryant Poole, Atlas project manager, said cracks discovered on the Ga. 369 overpass at Ga. 400 will require removing portions of the bridge to install a new support beam.
The work to replace the beam should take about nine months, with another three months to complete the project.
Baldwin Paving Company’s surveying team initially misaligned the layout of the bridge by a few inches, leading to excessive stress on the support beam, said Russell Brown, director of the county’s Department of Communications.
Baldwin will pay for and manage the replacement, according to the county. Two lanes will allow traffic to continue in both directions on the overpass. Intermittent overnight lane closures are expected on Ga. 400 to allow crews to work.
County Manager David McKee said the bridge is safe for drivers.
“I want to assure all commuters that the bridge was and remains safe, and that this additional work is needed primarily to ensure the bridge’s long-term functionality,” McKee said.
County officials broke ground in 2020 on the project to expand Ga. 369 from two lanes to four from just west of Ga. 9 to slightly east of Ga. 306, about 2 miles.
The project was identified by the Forsyth County Major Transportation Plan of 2006 and funded by a county transportation bond. The project was initially estimated to cost $12.2 million.
Forsyth County Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills said the widening aims to provide much needed relief for the area as it experiences rapid growth.
Ga. 369 runs through the unincorporated community of Coal Mountain, where a 140-acre multi-use development is planned, Coal Mountain City Center. The development will feature 780 homes and 35,000 square feet of commercial space.
The area also has experienced a spike in new homes, Mills said. The delays on Ga. 369, she said, are “extremely disappointing.”
She also said she experienced traffic delays near the overpass.
“Any time you are making that big of a change with the structure, it causes great anxiety with commuters who use it every day,” Mills said. “The unknown causes great anxiety and concern.”
FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED
Christmas Open House hosts Alpharetta author
Fans were treated to a book signing by Appen Media columnist Bob Meyers at Scottsdale Farms on Nov. 7.
Meyers, an Alpharetta author and photographer, signed copies of three of his books, “Barns of Old Milton County,” “Irish Pubs in America” and “Celebrating Backyard Birds.” He appeared at the family owner garden center’s annual Christmas Open House event, a local tradition with more than 10 years of history.
Meyers’ books showcase the long-time resident’s appreciation for overlooked charm in the world around us.
“Celebrating Backyard Birds” features photographs of and thoughts on various birds captured from his backyard.
“Barns of Old Milton County” captures derelict buildings around Alpharetta and Milton with carefully researched histories.
In “Irish Pubs in America,” Meyers explores the unique character of saloons and bars and the Irish heritage they embody.
Each of the hardcover, glossy-paged coffee table books contain a bounty of Meyers’ evocative photography and fascinating thoughts.
Meyers, a soft spoken but thoughtful man, contributes a weekly column on local history for six newspapers published by Appen Media.
— Jon Wilcox
Tell the Herald
Send your photos, announcements and letters to newsroom@appenmedia.com.
BOB MEYERS/PROVIDED
Alpharetta author Bob Meyers signs a copy of his book “Barns of Milton County” on Nov. 7 at Scottsdale Farms.
Gwinnett Tech administrator to head governmental affairs
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett
Technical College has appointed Melvin Everson vice president of Community and Government Affairs.
Everson had previously served as vice president of Economic Development. The college will conduct a nationwide search to replace him.
“We are excited about Melvin's transition to this critical role,” President Glen Cannon said. “His expertise and dedication will be invaluable as we continue to build strong, mutually beneficial relationships with our community and government partners.”
In a statement, the college said Everson is uniquely qualified and brings a wealth of experience and proven track record in economic development.
“His leadership will be instrumental in advancing our goals and positively impacting the communities we serve,” the statement said.
Everson will be responsible for a number of duties, including community engagement, government relations and public affairs.
He will lead outreach programs, community development projects and partnerships with local organizations to foster relationships with communities.
He will manage interactions with government officials and organizations to advocate for policies that support the college’s mission.
Before joining the college, Emerson served as executive director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development and the Georgia Commission
of Equal Opportunity. He also served as a state representative for Georgia’s House District 106, on the Snellville City Council, and in the U.S. Army. He holds a Bachelor of Science in criminology from Albany State University.
— Jon Wilcox
Christmas at Midway
December 8th
Lessons & Carols 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
Come worship with us as we retell the story of Jesus’ birth through scripture readings and carols.
December 24th
Christmas Eve
3:00 p.m. Children’s Pop-up Christmas Pageant
This family-friendly service invites children to help tell the story of the very first Christmas! Wear a costume or borrow one from the church.
5:00 p.m. Modern – Sanctuary
7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m. Traditional – Chapel
Join us for one of these candlelight and communion services as we celebrate the birth of Christ.
GWINNETT TECHNICAL COLLEGE/PROVIDED Before his appointment, Melvin Emerson served as vice president of Economic Development at Gwinnett Tech. He will be responsible for community engagement, government relations and public affairs.
Big John’s Christmas Trees celebrates 75 years
Family-run business spans 3 generations
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
METRO ATLANTA — With December on the horizon, Metro Atlanta is buzzing as shoppers hit malls and Christmas tree lots to prepare for the holidays.
When Sir Elton John wanted a tree delivered to his Midtown Atlanta apartment, he called Big John’s Christmas Trees and the Livaditis family.
Christmas trees start arriving at Big John’s lots throughout Metro Atlanta Nov. 18 as the family-owned business celebrates 75 years of providing best-inclass products.
The five-time Grammy Award winner was not the first and won’t be the last international celebrity with a Big John’s Christmas tree in their living room.
Big John’s Christmas Trees sports the largest selection of the highest quality evergreens in the region with lots in Ansley Park, Buckhead, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Roswell and Vinings.
To guarantee the quality that keeps customers coming back for generations, Big John’s growers harvest trees as late in the season as possible, and the family ensures each is handled and maintained to preserve freshness and structure.
Each year, the Livaditis family visits its growing partners across North America to hand-pick and inspect Christmas trees.
They have more than just the classic Fraser Fir. Other varieties include Douglas, Balsam, Concolor, Blue
Clockwise from top left, John II, Anastasia, Lucas, Jimbo and Leigh Ann Livaditis take their 2018 Christmas card photo at Big John’s Christmas Trees Buckhead lot. Big John Livaditis’ family is celebrating 75 years of creating memorable experiences for Metro Atlantans looking for the perfect tree.
with an opportunity to sell Christmas trees on his property.
In 1949, Zesto was just an ice cream shop. Big John had yet to expand the business across Metro Atlanta to include a drive-through and menu with hotdogs, burgers and fries.
Both businesses took off.
By the mid-1990s, Big John’s Christmas Trees was standard-bearer of Christmas trees in Metro Atlanta with 22 lots across the region.
Big John’s two sons, Jimbo and Lee, ran the business together for years.
After Lee passed away in 2016, Jimbo Livaditis kept things running with wife Leigh Ann and their three children John II, Lucas and Anastasia.
Spruce, White Pine, Scotch Pine, Korean, Nordmann and Noble Firs.
Big John Livaditis (1918-1995) was an Iowa native and the son of Greek immigrants. The entrepreneur eventually made his way to Atlanta after serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, spending time as a Golden Glove boxer
and driver for Gen. Mark Clark. John Livaditis got the nickname “Big” for his hulking frame and larger-than life personality.
Planting the seed for success
A little more than 75 years ago, a grower approached Big John at his first Zesto’s restaurant off Peachtree Road
Leigh Ann Livaditis, Jimbo’s wife and vice president of Big John’s Christmas Trees and Zestos, said she wants customers to know how rare it’s becoming to have career growers as partners.
See TREE, Page 9
Big John Livaditis (1918-1995) takes a stroll through a Canadian Christmas tree farm in 1982.
PHOTOS BY: BIG JOHN’S CHRISTMAS TREES/PROVIDED
BUSINESSPOSTS
Tree:
Continued from Page 8
“Every year, we are blown away by how lucky we are to access the fields our grower friends allow us to enter,” Leigh Ann said. “Some of these farmers are the grandkids of the grower that Big John initially did business with.”
Tagging
the best
The Livaditis family took two trips leading up to this year’s season, one through North Carolina and Michigan and the other to Prince Edwards Island, Canada.
The 2,400-mile tagging excursion to Michigan in mid-October came with just under a month until the first truckload arrives at Big John’s main lot off West Paces Ferry Road across from the Atlanta History Center.
Jimbo brings along his children, now in their 20s, for the same trips he took with his brother and father decades ago.
Big John’s sells more than its staggering collection of Christmas trees. Other products and services include wreaths, garland and roping, commercial grade stands, lights and “Just in the Time of Nick” delivery and installation.
Jimbo’s eldest John II, who works for Dunwoody-based DASH Hospitality, has pitched in since he was 6.
A crew at Big John’s Christmas Trees is all smiles after unloading hundreds of evergreens at its Buckhead lot in 2017. The family-owned and -operated business is celebrating 75 years of selling Metro Atlanta’s finest Christmas trees.
Today, he manages and handles the building of each lot, designs custom equipment and knows all of the specialorder customers and exactly what they want.
“John has been attuned to all the evolutionary changes of the lots and their set up,” Leigh Ann said. “Jimbo and now all of the kids will travel together and tag trees in the growers’ fields and mountains, sometimes with a customer’s name.”
Back in Buckhead, the youngest Livaditis, Anastasia, sets up the retail front, orders merchandise, handles
inventory and ordering. As an assistant manager at the main lot, she runs a tight ship cashiering, helping customers and scheduling employees and deliveries.
Grandson talks business
Jimbo’s second oldest Lucas Livaditis, works full-time as a mergers and acquisition analyst at SENTA Partners. Still, the holiday season means one thing for his family.
“Lucas is very involved in the business behind the scenes and also with tree pricing, sales, delivery and
wherever he can fit some time in with his full-time job,” Leigh Ann said. “He is an invaluable financial adviser.”
Lucas said the fourth quarter of each year in the Livaditis family is dedicated to running his grandfather’s business. Quality over quantity. People before profit. Most importantly, good old manual labor.
It’s a lot of work and long nights.
“We definitely feel we have a responsibility to the city and the people we’ve been serving for so long who knew my grandfather,” he said. “It’s definitely a relationship thing.”
When customers who bought trees from his grandfather bring their families to the lot and shower compliments, it makes it all worth it for the family.
Big John’s Christmas Trees is a community institution because of the relationships the Livaditis family has maintained for three generations. They invite prospective customers looking to join the tradition.
“We are grateful for all of the people that come out each year ... whether it’s a regular bringing their grandkids or a new customer who has never had a real tree,” Leigh Ann said. “When they post a photo and tag us, we are thrilled to see where the trees found a home.”
For information about locations, hours of operations and all things tree care, visit www.bigjohnstrees.com or call 678-672-0398.
BIG JOHN’S CHRISTMAS TREES/PROVIDED
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.
Transplant Medicine and Dermatology
Our immune systems are our defense against the outside world’s infections – viruses, bacteria and all manner of pathogens ready to run amok.
And our immune systems are also our defense against the rebels within our own bodies – cells that have mutated and have turned into cancer.
One only needs to observe the effects of suppressing the immune system to know just how important the immune system is. Transplant doctors are in the unfortunate position of having to intentionally suppress a patient’s immune system. When a patient receives a new kidney, heart, lung or other organ, the patient is placed on medicine that suppresses the immune system. Without those medicines, the immune system would attack the transplanted organ, treat it as foreign, and “reject” it – attacking it until it perished.
Suppressing the immune system comes at a great cost. Organ transplant recipients have an approximately 200-fold increase in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), which is the most common type of skin cancer in this group of individuals. A 200-fold increase means a 20,000% increase. When a SCC occurs in such a patient, the mortality is nearly ten times higher than that of someone with a normal immune system.
For these reasons, regular skin exams are critical in the transplant population. Oddly, the importance of skin exams has sometimes seemed to be a bit of a blind spot. Many patients with organ transplants have told me that they were counseled about many of the problems that they could face after receiving a transplant but that the risk of skin cancer was either not mentioned or not particularly emphasized.
transplant recipients, particularly lung transplant patients, sometimes contract fungal infections that must be treated with voriconazole or its cousins. Voriconazole can directly and indirectly increase skin cancer risk in a population that is already vulnerable.
Science marches forward, and hope abounds as new strategies and treatments continue to be developed for skin cancer in the setting of organ transplantation. Increasingly effective “blue light therapy” regimens, topical chemotherapeutics and prompt skin cancer surgery keep almost all skin cancers in check. Trials are exploring injecting new immunotherapy medicines directly into skin cancers to reverse immunosuppression at the site of the cancer without reversing the immunosuppression at the transplanted organ.
Organ transplants are a miracle of modern science. However, like all gifts in medicine, organ transplants require maintenance, time and attention and come with risks. Dermatologists are instrumental in helping to manage these risks, and timely Mohs surgery is critical to prevent progression of skin cancers from operable lesions into much harder to manage tumors.
Accepting new patients. We accept
For organ transplant patients, immunosuppression is only part of the story. Unfortunately, some of the transplant medications are not only immunosuppressive but also mutagenic. There is evidence that some immunosuppressants (such as tacrolimus and mycophenolate) can cause mutations. These immunosuppressants may increase the rate that cancers occur independent of their immunosuppressive effects. To avoid this double whammy, dermatologists managing skin cancers in transplant patients often discuss whether alternatives can be employed.
Compounding the problem, some organ
What is the lesson for the reader who doesn’t have a transplanted organ? Transplantation shows us the extremes of immunosuppression, but any amount of immunosuppression can be dangerous. If a patient has CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia), rheumatoid arthritis or any disease that results in a weakened immune system, then be on the lookout for skin cancer, and consider seeing a dermatologist regularly. As we get into our 60s and older, “immunosenescence” kicks in, which is to say our immune systems get weaker as we get older, so it becomes increasingly important to treat skin cancers quickly the older we are.
Cherish a healthy immune system and protect it. Even topical steroids prescribed for conditions like eczema can be dangerous if used too long and in the wrong setting. Topical steroids like hydrocortisone and triamcinolone suppress the immune system where they are applied and should usually be avoided in heavily sun-damaged areas. Make sure to do your part in keeping your immune system healthy. There’s no great secret – it’s exactly what you’ve heard before: Get plenty of rest. Laugh often. Avoid stress. Take wonderful vacations and do lots of what makes you happy. It’s just what the doctor ordered.
Dr. Brent Taylor
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
Brought to you by – Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta
Pre-op dental visit
to you by - Dr. Sarah Miles
DMD
and Dr.
Michael Hogan M.D.
It is very important to prevent surgical infections from occurring, particularly immediately following joint replacements or in fact any orthopedic surgery. The oral cavity is a large biological reservoir for bacteria, some of which is found in the synovial fluid taken from infected joints. The bacteria enters the joint via the bloodstream. Having dental procedures or untreated periodontal disease are examples of when bacteria is released into the bloodstream. A simple and very effective way to ensure your mouth is healthy is to have a thorough dental examination that is completed about
six weeks prior to any surgical procedure. Six weeks allows for the dental problems to be resolved ahead of the surgical procedure. An infection following orthopedic surgery can result in failure of the procedure, especially if an implant (knee or hip replacement) was placed. Serious problems can occur requiring extensive and possible multiple surgeries to eliminate the invading bacteria from the joint. Orthopedic surgeons will almost universally give intravenous antibiotics during surgery to prevent local contamination. It is strongly recommended that you see your dentist first to avoid the possibility of secondary infections, or the need for emergency dental care immediately following surgery.
Smaller company, bigger benefits
Brought to you by - Senior Source Medicare
Medicare beneficiaries usually just let their current Medicare plan autorenew, and there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, the well-known, larger Medicare insurance carriers prefer that!
But, if you looked at some of the smaller Medicare insurance carriers for 2025, you would notice richer benefits versus what the “big guys” will be offering.
What do richer benefits look like for 2025?
Generous amounts of allowances for:
• Food
• Utilites/Gas
• Dental
• Hearing Aid
• Vision Correction
• Mobility
And lower medical copays to boot!
These levels of “extras” could really make a difference in your monthly budget and lifestyle. Do note
that some of these benefits would require you to have a Chronic Condition like Heart, Diabetes, Lung, Kidney, Cancer, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc. But a number of these benefits are included in the plan regardless of a chronic condition.
I know many of you are thinking, “well I probably have to have a low income to qualify, right?”. No, these extras and low copays are built right into the plans.
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Continued from Page 1
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McCoy said his new role will allow him to continue his service to Forsyth County in new ways. The change will allow him to work with his long-time friend and mentor Tim Chason and a team that includes Randy Cardoza, former commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and Mark Lytle, former vice chancellor for economic development for the Board of Regents.
Sergey Savin Helen Scherrer Kate Seng Carol Williams
“It is a rare opportunity to work with and learn from these legends in economic development,” McCoy said.
Chamber board Chair Steve Cooper said the board has been working closely with McCoy to ease the transition. He also said McCoy’s work has made the Chamber of Commerce“among the best in the nation.”
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“This long runway gave us the flexibility and time to make a solid choice for a new CEO,” Cooper said. “We couldn’t be happier that Alex Warner will be taking on that role in March.”
The Chamber of Commerce said McCoy has led numerous accomplishments with the organization. He was a finalist in 2020 and 2021 for the Chamber of the Year award and was recognized for support of local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
McCoy led referendum campaigns to secure voter approval for $1.9 billion in funding for transportation, parks and public schools. He assisted with the creation of the South Forsyth Community Improvement District, changes to the county’s hotelmotel tax and Envision2030 plan.
McCoy also led the creation of the first county-wide comprehensive economic development plan in 2018. The plan created the Forward Forsyth partnership, which has generated about $1.3 billion in new taxes.
Warner said he is honored to continue that success.
“The chamber was founded as an economic development entity in the best sense of that term,” Warner said. “We will work hard with business leaders to create new economic opportunities by ensuring we have exceptional infrastructure, talent, schools and new product to attract the world class employers we need to help keep our taxes low.”
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OPINION
Netflix and my dear dad bound by ills of pay TV
MIKE TASOS
I’m old enough to know better. At 69, I should have learned a lesson.
I just can’t stay up until the wee hours, way past closing time. Make no mistake, I was stone cold sober on the two November occasions when I went to bed when it was darned near time to get up.
The first was election night. As if the after-effects of being sleep deprived until Veteran’s Day wasn’t bad enough, I, once again, stayed up way past my bedtime to watch a fiasco.
Worse yet, I enticed youngest son Gregory to stay up with me to watch Mike Tyson fiddle around with social media star-turned (supposedly) boxer Jake Paul.
It was supposed to be a fight, but Iron Mike threw very few punches. Ditto Paul. Tyson is 58 and it showed. His legs were shot and there are now those saying the fight was rigged because of the scarcity of Tyson responding to opportunities to hit Paul. I guess we were hoping for Tyson to vanquish Paul but there’s a reason that Father Time is still undefeated.
The whole evening was part spectacle, part stinker for Netflix, which had a capacity crowd at AT&T Stadium in Dallas and some 60 million viewers who would have gladly thrown cups of beer at the fledgling network’s first foray into sports broadcasting.
In boxing parlance, Netflix stunk out the joint. Having viewers incensed, enraged and irate is no way to be selfbaptized into live sports broadcasting. There were numerous problems with buffering. Poor picture quality added to the frustration.
The entire evening doesn’t bode well for Netflix, which is set to broadcast two NFL games on Christmas Day. And if that’s not bad enough, Netflix is taking over live broadcasts of WWE’s Monday Night Raw commencing in January. Those NFL fans, a normally surly bunch, are choirboys compared to rasslin’ fans, a group not adverse to riotous, foreign objecting-flinging displays.
It appears that Netflix, once a mail-in video rental service might have let its alligator mouth overload its hummingbird backside.
Having grown up in the 1960s after being born in 1955, it was a monstrous controversy when the concept of paying for television was first floated. There were drawings of TV sets with a coin slot
near the rabbit ears.
Our house was 180 degrees on the opposite end of the Nelson’s (Ozzie and Harriett) or the Cleaver’s (Leave It to Beaver). The dads on those shows seemed understanding and helpful. Ward Cleaver always wore a suit, even when he was doling out bedtime advice to Wally and The Beaver.
I never recall my dad in a suit. Instead of “Honey, I’m home,” there was a skid, screech and crash of broken glass. While Ozzie had a glass of milk while talking to Ricky and Dave, my dad opted for something a lot stronger.
“Pay for TV?” he bellowed, managing to slur most of the words as he continued: “I’ll kick the TV down the stairs.”
I was more confused than he was, and I was way too young to be fortified with the rotgut Vodka he had ingested. Even more confusing was the fact that we didn’t have any stairs in the house.
Nevertheless, he attempted to give our RCA the boot, wound up and took a mighty kick. He missed, flew up in the air (maybe Mom had waxed the floor?), and landed flat on his back, where he proceeded to remain until the next morning.
“Hey Mom, I think Dad’s dead,” I surmised.
Mom knew the story: “No, he’s not dead. He’s just sleepy and it’s time for bed.”
And that’s where I headed, safe and sound in my refuge of a bed.
After a night of peaceful slumber, the TV was still where it had been the night before and so was my dad. I turned on Captain Kangaroo and dutifully hollered “Grandfather!!!” when asked by the Captain to wake up the clock.
I’m pretty sure my yelling did nothing to quell Dad’s hangover.
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.
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Courses:
“We know that students can't achieve, grow or authentically engage in learning if they are overextended, piling on classes and maxing out their schedules with no healthy boundaries,” Thrower said. “We have many students who are taking full loads … face to face during the school day, then going home to upwards of five additional online (courses).”
Students are limited to taking seven district-provided courses each day, but they may opt to take as many more if their families pay for them through third-party educators.
Paid courses can also count toward a student’s academic record.
Students choose which paid courses to count toward their GPAs, which determine class rank.
Some students are paying thousands of dollars to take the extra online courses, and administrators have no way of validating the curricula of many of the classes, the principals said.
In Cobb County, credits from outside the district are mainly limited to electives and require a thorough approval process. In Fulton and Cherokee counties, credits earned outside school hours are limited to one per semester.
provement committee began researching the district’s approach to course credits, class sequences and quality points. Thrower met with students and parents to research how paid course work is affecting education. She also spoke with officials at Georgia Tech and UGA to determine how the courses were considered in the college admission processes there.
Thrower said the universities told her that self-paid credits have little significance when applications are considered. Admissions officers are looking less at grade point averages and class ranks and more at students’ soft skills and contributions to their schools and communities, she said.
Thrower said she wanted to get the universities to weigh in because she wanted to ensure her recommendations created no disadvantage for collegebound Forsyth County students.
“They immediately know that they're from Forsyth, and they mentioned that a lot of the coursework and the abundance of these credits do not contribute to the overall application,” Thrower said.
One of the meetings prompted David Graves, director of Undergraduate Admissions for UGA, to write a blog post, “When is Enough Enough.”
spiral of overwhelming themselves in a chase for class rank, taking … courses with the only goal being to add to their advanced placement course numbers or extending themselves to the point of exhaustion.”
In conversations with district officials, the principals said students and parents expressed a desire to change the paid course policy.
In focus groups at some Forsyth County schools, participants said the race for GPAs and class ranks is creating a “toxic” and “suffocating” learning environment, Thrower said.
Pressure is a constant, she said. Last year, Forsyth County students were cited for 412 academic dishonesty infractions, she said.
One high school reported 11 longterm hospitalizations for depression last year.
Thrower said she is not saying the mental health statistics are necessarily the result of the self-paid course policy. But she said there is a correlation between the pressure to compete and depression and anxiety.
School Board members said they were alarmed by the principals’ presentation, and their highlighting the harm on students’ mental health and lack of equity the policy may have created.
equally capable student cannot afford the cost.
“It’s not really giving them an advantage,” Valdes said. “It’s just making them pay thousands of dollars.”
Superintendent Mitch Young said restrictions on paid courses would allow students to compete, but in a healthier way. By limiting the number of classes, students would be encouraged to channel their energy better.
“I think this actually frees up rigor to be even more competitive and more rigorous at the school level because it's going to be done authentically,” Young said. “It's going to be real learning, as opposed to checking the box so that I can get my 14 classes after school.”
School Board members also urged Thrower and Archambeau to map out strategies to implement solutions as quickly as possible. The principals said they had considered implementing changes after four years to allow college admission offices to adapt, but School Board members said that might be too long.
Board member Darla Light said she wants district officials to immediately work with universities to allow the changes.
“In football, they implemented the protocol for concussions, and they didn't say, ‘Well, we're going to wait till somebody dies from it,’” Light said. “I have a junior. I would love for the game to change for her right now.” Continued from Page 1
As early as 2017, a high school im-
“We want to make sure (students) are taking care of themselves personally,” Graves said in his blog. “What we don’t want students to do is get into a
Board member Mike Valdes questioned the fairness of allowing a student to boost their grade point by paying thousands of dollars when another,
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THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TIP YOUR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY PERSON
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