Johns Creek Herald - January 12, 2023

Springs Cinema & Taphouse takes root in Sandy Springs

BOB MEYERS/PROVIDED

Windward volunteer group presents Founders Award

Alpharetta allots $2.2 million for Greenway boardwalk replacement

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Failing sections of the Big Creek Greenway in Alpharetta will get a muchneeded upgrade, thanks to a $2.2 million construction project recently approved by city officials.

The Alpharetta City Council approved the project at a Jan. 3 special called meeting, after hearing from Alpharetta Public Works Director Pete Sewczwicz that the plan will replace approximately 1,200 feet of rotting wood boardwalk off Mansell Road with a trail made of concrete and steel.

“This is the trail that takes you from the Beaver Creek Road area, underneath Mansell Road and ties into our boardwalk greenway at the other side,” Sewczwicz said.

According to Sewczwicz, this section of greenway boardwalk, which was built in 2008, has been particularly problematic because it is below flood elevation and is regularly under water. The new trail will still be four feet below flood elevation, he said, but the concrete and steel will be much more resistant to damage from flood water.

“When it floods, it’s going to get wet,” he said. “We cannot go higher, because then we run into lack of headspace underneath the Mansell Road bridge.

Sewczwicz said the project will take about 12 months due to the

Leland Carawan, second from right, receives the annual Windward Association of Retired Men Founders Award at the St. Ives Country Club recently for his tireless efforts in the community. Pictured, from left, are: former award recipients Paul Barrow and Jim Rausch, Carawan and Wayne Smith Read story, Page 3.

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POLICE BLOTTER

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

Man shot with BB gun while jogging with dog

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — While out running with his dog on Alvin Road, a man told Johns Creek Police he was shot with a pistol-style BB gun.

The man looked around and noticed a man in a silver Mercedes driving slowly behind him while continuously shooting the gun Dec. 27, the police report said. The suspect then turned on Berkshire Manor Drive.

When the man got to the intersection of Alvin Road and Berkshire Manor Drive, he observed the car approaching Haynes Bridge Road to leave the neighborhood but did not get the tag number.

The man described the car as a fourdoor mid-2000s silver Mercedes with a tail light or brake light out. The suspect is an older teenager or in his early 20s, White or Hispanic and wearing an orange hat.

U.S. postal worker seen taking package

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A man received a notification for his FedEx package on Mount Oglethorpe Trail Dec. 28 and said when a U.S. Postal Service mailman arrived and left, the package was gone.

He checked his security surveillance, the police report said, and saw the USPS mailman take the package, which was an $80 sweater.

The man showed the footage to Johns Creek Police, who saw the man take the package out of the mailbox at around 12:30 p.m. and place it on the mail truck’s dashboard. The mailman placed the other mail in the mailbox but drove off with the

PUBLIC SAFETY

package.

Man fails in attempt to defraud

account

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — An employee of American Commerce Bank on Medlock Bridge Road told Johns Creek Police that a man with a cane walked in trying to cash a check from another person’s bank account Dec. 27.

When the bank teller said he would need to call the person to verify the check, the suspect said he would deposit the check into his bank. He then took the check and left, heading in an undetermined direction.

The victim said she did not incur financial loss as a result of the incident and said she was not familiar with the suspect, who was shown on the bank’s security camera.

According to the police report, the victim said she had been contacted by investigators from South Fulton in reference to suspicious activity at a property she owns at Dutchview Drive in Atlanta. She does not live there, she said, but it could be possible that whoever was at that location obtained one of her checks.

Door Dash driver clocked at 100 mph on roadway

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — When conducting a traffic stop Dec. 30 on McGinnis Ferry Road, Johns Creek Police clocked a car traveling westbound going 100 mph at around 8:30 p.m.

Police then activated emergency lights, sirens and made a U-turn to catch the driver, who was in a gray 2020 Kia Optima with a cracked brake light on the passenger side. The driver continued at high speeds then pulled into a parking lot. Police followed the car back to McGinnis Ferry.

When the driver eventually stopped, police approached the vehicle with a sidearm and ordered the driver out of the car several times. When the driver

complied and exited the vehicle, police pointed the sidearm at him, instructing him to go to the front of the police car.

The driver told police he was doing Door Dash and said he wasn’t running from police.

When police asked the driver why he turned into the parking lot, he said that’s where his GPS told him to go. And when police asked the driver why he was doing Door Dash at 100 mph, the driver said, “Because I have to get back to my girlfriend, sir.”

The driver was transported to Fulton County Jail.

HANS APPEN Publisher

Windward volunteer group presents Founders Award

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Windward Association of Retired Men presented its annual Founders Award to Leland Carawan “for his participation and dedication to WARM and the local community.”

The ceremony took place during the organization’s annual Holiday Dinner Celebration jointly with the Women of Windward at the St. Ives Country Club.

The award was presented to Carawan by 2019 Founders Award winner Wayne Smith.

“Each week Leland has served as our bellringer, or master of ceremonies, at our breakfast meetings, sharing the responsibility with Eric Hempleman,” Smith said. “Leland’s presentations week-in and week-out are always entertaining, interesting and very well prepared. His enthusiasm and sense of humor are a great part of the success of our meetings. He is always ready to pitch in to help others.”

WARM is a voluntary association

of current or past residents of Windward and friends of Windward who are retired, or nearing retirement. The group organizes a wide range of activities for interested members throughout the year. There are no dues and no officers, but the organization accomplishes a great deal for its members and the community.

Carawan has long been active in numerous WARM community programs. He has spearheaded WARM’s volunteer effort for the Windward July 4 Celebration and is an active organizer of the annual Windward Veterans Celebration event. He has been a long-time volunteer for WARM’s daily collection of food from local supermarkets for North Fulton Community Charities’ pantry and is involved with numerous other WARM programs.

For further information on WARM, please contact Eric Hempelman 470514-7877 or Leland Carawan 813545-0501.

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Northern Ridge lists December Eagle Scouts

The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (Cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, John’s Creek, Milton) is proud to announce its newest Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review on December 29, 2022, at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church. Northern Ridge District ended the year with 139 new Eagle Scouts.

Top row, from left:

Austin Barrett, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of 26 cello cradles for the Alpharetta High School Orchestra.

Taarunkumar Loganathan, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church, whose project was the design and construction of four benches for the Sai Shirdi Temple of Atlanta

Liam Reid, of Troop 143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of two rabbit hutches for the Denmark High School Veterinary Science Program.

Michael Alston, of Troop 629, sponsored by Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, whose project was the creation of an outdoor gathering place for Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church. This project included the design and building of a picnic table and two benches, restoration of

existing benches and weeding and clearing the fence area.

Victor Joseph, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of a Rainwater Harvesting System for Innovation Academy.

Akhil Karthi of Troop 3143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of three large Cubbyhole shelving units, for Waypoint Baptist Church.

Bottom row, from left:

Evan DeHart, of Troop 143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a kiosk for the Mountain Bike Organization at Big Creek Park.

Vikhyat Arun, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and creation of a free-standing shelving unit and a storage box for the Art Department at Chattahoochee High School.

Thejase Suhanthan, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and construction of an early Intervention Center at the Teaching Hospital Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Thejase went to Sri Lanka and recruited Scouts from Sri Lanka to help him

in the construction.

Saketh Nallagatla, of Troop 3143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of three cubbyhole shelving units, for Waypoint Baptist Church Nursery School.

Reis Weimer–Johnson, of Troop 431, sponsored by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the removal of all existing shelving and the design and construction of new shelving for the food storage area for PAWS Atlanta.

Christopher Kammerer, of Troop

7153, sponsored by St. Brigid Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction, of a programming guidebook complete with video guide and class instruction, for the Cristo Rey School (an Atlanta School that provides a strong education for lower income families) Robotics team.

Anthony Schutz, of Troop 7153, sponsored by St. Brigid Catholic Church, whose project was removing trash along a 5 mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River from Garrard’s Landing to Island Ford, using canoes and kayaks.

Boardwalk:

lead time needed to procure steel. Construction will be performed by Excellere Construction for $2,240,000.

The project proposal was unanimously approved with Councilman Brian Will and Councilman Donald Mitchell absent.

“We do appreciate you and Director [Morgan] Rodgers efforts in getting that resolved,” Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said. “We were left in a bind when the decision was made many years ago to use wooden 2-by-4s for that stretch, that was going to be underwater so frequently.”

Alpharetta Jail IGA approved

Councilmembers also approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Milton, which will allow individuals arrested in Milton to be housed at the newly reopened Alpharetta Jail.

Public Safety Director John Robison told councilmembers Tuesday night reopening the Alpharetta Jail off Old Milton Parkway has been a “huge success” thanks to their relationship with the Fulton County Sheriff’s

Department.

“In doing that, we anticipated that our neighbors will be joining us at some point afterwards and Milton is the first to do that,” Robison said.

Under the new IGA between Alpharetta, Milton and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, both cities will be able to book and detain “pretrial detainees and inmates” while sharing the costs associated with running the jail.

“When we can do these sorts of collaborative ventures with surrounding areas … just makes it better,” Councilman Dan Merkel said. “The jail just for Alpharetta would be a heavy lift for the city ... So, I think it’s a testament to the leadership and the surrounding cities.”

The Alpharetta Jail reopened in November 2022 with room for 70 inmates after nearly three years of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reopening came after a $517,000 investment by Fulton County to refurbish the facility.

Under terms of the agreement, Milton will pay an inmate holding fee of $60 per day. The overall cost for the City of Milton is estimated to be around $45,000 a year for booking, lodging and medical costs for up to 12 inmates held concurrently.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Column about roundabouts chronicled early controversy

I would like to comment on Pat Fox’s article of December 8, 2022 regarding roundabouts.

As the Transportation Director for the City of Roswell during that time I have intimate knowledge of all the details of the Grimes Bridge at Norcross roundabout project.

First, like many others, I am amazed that a decade has passed since we constructed this milestone project. Second, I am grateful to Mr. Fox for highlighting the significance of this project not only for Roswell, but for the surrounding communities as well.

Mr. Fox did not contact me in advance of publishing this article. But

he didn’t need to. As usual, Mr. Fox did his homework. I can verify his article is accurate in every detail, except for one small one. The intersection of Grimes Bridge at Norcross was in fact a signalized intersection, not stop controlled. Regardless, it was consistently one of the highest accident locations in Roswell at the time. The need for improvement at this five-legged intersection was obvious. But the idea of improving it at the time using a roundabout was controversial to say the least. Mr. Fox is correct in the fact that the accident rate declined dramatically after the construction of the roundabout.

Group to host theater event

ATLANTA — The 2023 Junior Theater Festival will host 125 groups from 28 states as well as groups from Washington, D.C., Canada and Australia in Atlanta Jan. 13-15 for fellowship, singing, dancing, acting and learning.

Called a “rousing celebration of theater” by The New York Times, for the past 20 years thousands of musical theater students and their teachers have made the pilgrimage to this annual, event for young people and educators creating musical theater worldwide.

The announcement was made by Timothy Allen McDonald, founder and CEO of iTheatrics and the Junior Theater Group, which produces the international Junior Theater Festivals.

“These students and teachers are not just the future of musical theater — they are musical theater,” McDonald said. Their positive impact is huge. They chart cast albums; they sell out shows. They introduce so many to musical theater through their own productions, and they

continually evolve this art form through their storytelling. After 20 years of this festival, we’ve seen what prioritizing the arts can do for individuals, communities and musical theater itself, and we understand the importance of giving theater kids the opportunity to be in the company of thousands of other people who care just as much about this art form as they do.”

At the festival, each group will perform 15 minutes of a Broadway Junior musical for adjudicators.

In addition to mainstage performances featuring powerhouse Broadway and West End guests, the groups will enjoy a keynote address by Thomas Schumacher, president and producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, a “Mean Girls” panel featuring conversations with and performances by the original Broadway cast and a “New Works Showcase” of performance selections from upcoming Broadway Junior musicals.

Letter:

rest is history. I remain grateful to the Mayor, the City Council, the City staff, and all the residents and stakeholders who supported this groundbreaking project.

This article brought back memories for me that are still vivid today. Ms. Smith, Mr. Burroughs, the large trees, contentious public meetings, the struggle to combat fear and emotion with facts and sound engineering. I also remember how we spent a great deal of time and energy educating the public on how roundabouts worked since this was the first one many drivers had ever experienced. In the end, the citizens put their trust in us and the

Finally, given the recent controversies surrounding the media, including misinformation and disinformation, I am encouraged that there are still professionals like Mr. Fox who take the time to “journal” significant events in our lives in a balanced, accurate and thought provoking manner.

Steve Acenbrak, Former Director, Roswell Department of Transportation

Springs Cinema & Taphouse curates a ‘gathering place’

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Brandt Gully never planned to own an independent movie theater.

But when his daughter fell seriously ill six years ago, Gully bought the Lefont Sandy Springs to plant his roots deeper into the community.

Gully’s Springs Cinema & Taphouse is a neighborhood movie theater at Parkside Shopping Center with a full kitchen and bar that shows new, old and independent movies.

Gully’s background is in finance, where he worked with movie theaters and entertainment companies on the financial side. He had been around the industry for years, but when his eldest daughter was diagnosed with cancer, Gully’s perspective changed.

“I had the question: What is the point of what I do?” Gully said.

Gully spent most of his time in the hospital, around nurses and doctors he watched serve the community. His daughter is fine now, and so is Gully, but the experience made him realize he wanted to get more “plugged in” to the community.

It was then that George Lefont told Gully he wanted to sell his business— a local movie theater.

“That’s when it just clicked that maybe this is my way to get plugged into the community, through my profession,” Gully said.

The theater had been untouched since the 1980s. Gully said it had a beloved arthouse following, but it needed a revamp to bring in bigger crowds. It was a task Gully was ready to take on.

“I had no idea how hard it was going to be, and if it was, I probably wouldn’t have done it,” Gully said. “I’m very pleased that I was naïve, as I’ve loved every minute of it.”

The revamp Gully had in mind was a top-to-tail renovation. Gully had no renovating experience, but he had a vision. He wanted recliner seats and big screens, a full kitchen and bar. He also wanted the theater to have a distinctly local feel.

“I had been to a thousand movie theaters, but I had never really walked through them thinking this is the way

I want it,” Gully said.

He brought in multiple movie theater architects, but none of their designs matched his vision. They felt like theaters, but they were lacking any distinct community feel.

Gully wanted a different approach. Because the bar would take up about 75 percent of the theater lobby, Gully brought in a bar architect. His vision came to life, and the Spring Cinema & Taphouse was born.

The bar sprawls across the lobby, taking up the space where concessions would typically dominate. The lights on

the ceiling look like film reels, a motif that carries through to the design of the walls. The space is decorated with movie posters and art prints. The bar boasts 18 beers on draft, a variety of wines and different craft cocktails. The cocktails range from espresso martinis to themed drinks, like the blue beer and frozen margarita to promote the newest Avatar movie.

The Springs also has a full kitchen, with offerings from hummus to hot dogs. Gully wanted a little bit of everything for his Sandy Springs clientele.

The food and drinks were one thing. The content was another challenge. When Gully took over the theater, the previously named LeFont showed mostly art house films.

“I knew art house and indie would be a piece of what we did,” Gully said.

The Springs theater does play some arthouse films, but it also plays major studio films, which draw bigger audiences and more money.

The issue with those major films, Gully said, is that movie theaters typically function at the whim of Hollywood. Whatever films trickle into theaters get shown, but at the peak of COVID-19 Hollywood had no content to send to movie theaters.

That left Gully with a staffed theater and no content to screen. The theater, renovated in February 2019, was only a year into its new start before the pandemic shut everything down.

Gully wanted to keep his team busy and find a way to stay afloat, but he had nothing to show onscreen and knew audiences were unlikely to risk going into theaters.

DELANEY TARR/ APPEN MEDIA

Brandt Gully stands behind the bar of The Springs Cinema & Taphouse in Sandy Springs on Dec. 5.

I’ll do whatever continues to make this a relevant gathering place.

BRANDT GULLY, Owner of Springs Cinema & Taphouse

“We’re like, why don’t we show drive-in movies in our parking lot? And our first one was ‘Back to the Future,’” Gully said.

After that, he showed “Indiana Jones,” then “Jurassic Park” and “Jaws.” Each showing was a smash success. The drive-in was one of the few things open at the time, so audiences came in droves to sit inside and outside their cars to watch the old films.

“It helped us do things we didn’t know we were capable of and helped us find aspects of our business we didn’t know existed,” Gully said.

The retro films became a permanent fixture, even as people began to venture back inside the theater. Now, the theater hosts film series like Fright Nights or Movie Party, classic scary movies and retro film showings.

The theater also hosts private events, from birthday parties to memorial services and private corporate events.

Gully finds that screening old and new films, and hosting special events, have built the theater into a real com -

munity destination.

“I’m around every day, and most of our regular customers see me here at some point, so that’s important,” Gully said.

Now, he finds the theater has reached a level where the customers trust his taste.

“We give people what we want, but we also curate what they want and

help them understand their tastes and broaden their horizons,” Gully said.

To Gully, the greatest sign of success is that customers show up to the theater without even knowing what they plan to see.

“It’s more about the complete experience than just the movie,” Gully said. They may not have the largest screens in the industry, but Gully

hopes the community feeling, culinary offerings and local feel will keep people coming back.

Most of all, he hopes to show people “really good movies, really good movies people haven’t even heard of.”

As for the future of the theater, Gully guarantees he’ll “always be tinkering.” He said the movie theater industry is always doing just enough to stay relevant, and he plans on doing the same.

“I’ll do whatever continues to make this a relevant gathering place,” Gully said.

Frank Paras

Tara Tucker

and draft beer, alongside typical movie concessions.

Start the new year prepared for your in-home care needs

With the beginning of a New Year, it’s a great time to assess your care needswhether it’s the need for live-in care or using the benefits of your Long-Term Care policy.

Live-in care alternatives allow you to age in place in the comfort and safety of your own home. A skilled and well-matched caregiver lives in your loved ones home, providing daytime support care ideal for challenges like decreased mobility, fall dangers and conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. They’re also available for occasional nighttime assistance or emergencies. But a caregiver needs five hours of uninterrupted sleep and eight total hours of sleep, so if care is needed throughout the night this option was unavailable, making a team of caregivers and more expensive fees the norm. Home Helpers takes a different approach, providing a nighttime caregiver for supplemental assistance. This allows your primary caregiver to get the rest they need, is more economical than an hourly team and creates a safe, calming environment with no shift changes during the day.

If you have a Long-Term Care Policy (LTC) this is the time to review your annual records and policy. As care needs begin to surface, many people aren’t using the benefits they’ve faithfully paid for or understand when it makes sense to utilize LTC. While LTC can be applied towards assisted living, it can also apply towards inhome care if provided by a licensed agency.

There are typically two circumstances when you can consider starting LTC. The first is when you need help with at least two Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s), those everyday basic activities of bathing, dressing, toileting or incontinence, transferring and eating. The second is when there is cognitive impairment due to conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, where help is needed with reminders and cues to just get through each day. Your LTC plan will have forms that you can provide to

your doctor who will write an order confirming the need for assistance. Using your LTC policy does not affect Medicare.

Your policy has daily benefit amounts, maximums and terms you need to know. There is typically an elimination period of 30, 60 or 90 days depending on your policy. This may be waived for in-home care and reimbursement could start immediately. It’s important to stay current with your premiums but remember, when you start using your policy for care you won’t pay premiums. Call your provider if you have questions about these details.

At Home Helpers, we can help you navigate the use of your LTC Plan, handle all the ongoing paperwork and filings that are needed and even join you in a call to your LTC provider to help determine what your policy provides.

Our heart centered Caregivers can assist with all personal care, help around the house, safely speed up recovery from surgery, or provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s, etc.

We’re here to help - from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 and live-in care. For a free consultation contact Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs today at (770) 681- 0323.

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New study finds redheads have a higher pain tolerance

People with red hair have always been known to possess similar, unique traits, such as fair skin and freckles, but did you know that they also feel pain differently than people with other hair color types? It’s true! Research shows that the same gene responsible for giving pigment to hair, skin, and eyes (MCR1), exhibits a mutation in red-haired people that causes them to have a higher tolerance for pain, but also to be more difficult to sedate.

Studies have revealed these findings about redheads:

• They need about 20 percent more anesthesia to be sedated.

• They also need more local topical anesthetics, such as lidocaine, which is why many redheads have a fear of dentists, according to the American Dental Association.

• They need lower doses of painkilling analgesics, such as opioids.

• They easily detect changes in hot and cold temperatures.

Be proactive about your care

Unfortunately, these findings that redheads require more anesthesia, but may be more tolerant to pain medications due to their higher pain threshold is still not widely known. It is recommended that redheads be proactive when undergoing a procedure that requires medication for pain.

Tell your surgeon, anesthesiologist, and dentist that you will most likely need more anesthetic or local anesthesia, and that you may be more sensitive to opioids. Avoid taking extra doses of these types of pain medications without talking to your doctor.

Drs. Hood and Remaley at Roswell Dental Care understand and customize treatment for each person. We assure you will feel confident in the solution you choose before beginning any treatment. For enhanced comfort, we offer FREE nitrous oxide. You can rest assured that your experience will be positive, relaxing, and rewarding on many levels. Give our office a call at (470) 288-1152 or visit us at www. roswelldentalcare.com, to begin your journey to happy and pain-free oral healthcare!

Brought to you by – Roswell Dental Care

PROVIDED

Barnacles on the ship of life

Over the next few months, we’ll take a closer look at a few of the most common spots that pop up on our skin. Today’s article is about the most common new growth that develops after the age of 40 – the “seborrheic keratosis” or SK for short.

SK’s are benign, which means that they are not cancerous. Still, they are probably THE growth that patients ask me about most frequently. It is understandable that SK’s generate worry because they exhibit many of the features that we teach people to fear. SK’s grow and sometimes itch. If scratched or traumatized, they can hurt or bleed. They can be brown or black. Such spots often cause alarm.

Changing brown or black growths should be examined by a dermatologist to rule out melanoma. The most common differences between SK’s and melanomas are fairly easy to list but can be hard to apply without practice. And because the stakes for misdiagnosing one’s self are so high (death), having a dermatologist look at spots with you is completely justified. Some patients feel silly coming in for something that turns out to be “nothing” but getting checked is smart. Self-diagnosis is not advised, especially not initially. But, with time, patients can often identify most SK’s confidently using these rules:

SK’s have a few reasonably consistent features: they are usually rough or waxy in texture. They are almost always “stuck-on” in appearance similar to a barnacle on a ship. SK’s often feel as if you can get a fingernail underneath the edge and just pop them off (and some patients can and do!). Waxy SK’s are not particularly rough whereas the rough SK’s are often “warty” in appearance.

Other features of SK’s are less consistent. SK’s are often tan or brown, but they can be black, pink, multicolored or even white. On the feet and ankles, white SK’s are called “stucco keratoses and look as if the ankles and feet were spackled with stucco. Seborrheic keratoses range in size from pinpoint to as big as an oyster shell. Given these variations, color and size are not helpful diagnostic features. They often get thicker and bigger with time, so growth isn’t a helpful differentiator either.

What do you do once you’ve confirmed that a growth is “only” an SK? Seborrheic keratoses are easily treatable and can often be frozen away with liquid nitrogen or curetted away with ease. Insurance unfortunately only considers it medically necessary to treat SK’s that are bleeding, irritated, painful, getting rubbed on by clothing or otherwise symptomatic. “Cosmetic” SK removal is available at most dermatology clinics for a cosmetic fee.

Small SK’s can usually be removed with minimal residual blemish, but larger SK’s may leave a lighter-colored area or subtle scar after removal. In one U.S. study, the average American over the age of 40 developed one new SK per year with the average 65-yearold exhibiting 33 SK’s upon a thorough counting. Given how pleasingly SK’s can be removed when they are still small, a “debarnacling” every year or two is a reasonable choice for most individuals.

Given that skin cancer is more than ten times more common than any other cancer, it pays to familiarize yourself with the appearances of skin cancer and its mimics (Google Images is a great tool for this purpose). For patients with concerning spots, a family history of skin cancer or risk factors such as a history of sun damage or tanning bed use, a visit with a dermatologist is highly recommended.

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

The most advanced form of pain relief available- pain relieving Laser Therapy!

Class IV Pain Relieving Laser Therapy is the most advanced pain relief technology available to the public and it’s now available right here in Johns Creek. Laser therapy uses light energy to enhance your body’s ability to heal itself. Laser Therapy works by flooding the tissues with photons, energizing the damaged cells and increasing circulation to the

painful area. Treatments are fast, painless and don’t require any down time, but the therapeutic effect continues to soothe and heal long after you leave the office.

Laser Therapy is FDA cleared to treat pain, inflammation, arthritis, and muscle spasms and are a great alternative to medications and injections. Laser Therapy can treat a host of conditions including rotator cuff injuries, post operative pain and soreness from

surgery, frozen shoulder, Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, neck pain, muscle strains, low back pain, migraines, and can even be used to relieve pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.

Johns Creek Physical Therapy, voted as the Best Physical Therapy Practice in North Atlanta 5 years in a row, is the only medical practice in the area to offer Pain Relieving Laser Therapy technology. “I am constantly

amazed at what it does for our patients,” says Marc Stewart, PT, owner at Johns Creek Physical Therapy.

If you are experiencing any type of pain, call 770-622-5344 to schedule your Free Consultation and Trial.

Johns Creek Physical Therapy 4060 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite H Suwanee, GA 30024 770-622-5344

Brought to you by - Johns Creek Physical Therapy

The state of mental health

changing the conversation in 2023

Even before COVID-19 the state of our mental health was on the decline. Since 2019 we have heard reports that “our children are not OK”, “90% of adults say mental health is a crisis”, “suicide rates are on the rise”, and “over 107K people died of a drug overdose in the past 12-month period”.

In October of 2022, Mental Health America (MHA) released their annual report for “The State of Mental Health in America 2023”. MHA uses 15 measurements to create a national snapshot and state-by-state rankings for this report. It is also worth noting that the most recent data is from 2020, so it will be several years before we realize the full impact of COVID-19 on our mental wellbeing. Key findings show that during the reporting period:

• 21% of adults experienced a mental illness.

• 15% of adults had a substance use disorder.

• 55% of adults with a mental illness received no treatment.

• 16% of youth reported suffering from at least one major depressive episode.

• 60% of youth with major depression did not receive mental health treatment.

The report also shows that the State of Georgia finished at or near the bottom in the following categories (1 being the highest ranking and 51 being the lowest ranking):

• Access to mental health care (49th).

• Adults with a mental illness did not

receive treatment (43rd).

• Adults with a mental illness who were not insured (47th).

• Adults reporting 14+ mentally unhealthy days a month who could not see a doctor due to costs (51st).

• Youth with major depression did

not receive any mental health treatment (44th).

• Youth with severe depression did not receive consistent treatment (42nd).

• Youth with private insurance that did not cover mental or emotional problems (44th).

• Mental health workforce availability (47th).

While these key findings are disappointing and continue to move in the wrong direction, it is also worth noting some major mental health improvements being made at the local, state and national levels. Join The Summit for 2 community events during the month of January to learn more about new laws and legislation, state and local support, and services available in our community.

The Summit Open House, 2750 Old Alabama Rd., Wednesday, January 18th, 9:00-11:00am. Join our clinical team for presentations on our services, programs and community partners and

learn more about our mission and vision of meeting the behavioral health needs of our community by removing common barriers to care through awareness, accessibility, and affordability.

Changing the Conversation

Surrounding Mental Health: Georgia Update, Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, 69 N. Main, Thursday, January 26th, 10:0011:30am. Join this community discussion about 9-8-8, Georgia HB1013, CHOA’s Behavioral and Mental Health program, and other mental health topics impacting our community. Panelists will include representatives from Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability (DBHDD), Fulton County DBHDD, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and other mental health stakeholders from our community.

For more information visit our website at SummitCounseling.org or email cmurphy@summitcounseling.org.

Brought to you by - Cathy Murphy, Director of Community Outreach at Summit Counseling Center

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January: How NOT to die and what you do if someone does

Brought to you by – Michelle Wilson, Wilson Legal, PC

More people die in the US in January than in any other month. (You, sarcastically) “Gee, thanks Michelle! I feel so much better now! Why should I care?” I’m so glad you asked, dear reader. I’d like to help by telling you what 3 things TO DO FIRST if someone dies (and 3 things NOT TO DO FIRST).

3 things TO DO FIRST: (1) Find out what your loved one owned. You need to know what the person who died actually owned before you can do anything about it. (2) Change the locks. There may not be a “Rule of Grab” in the Georgia code, but I’ve had families where items were swiped. (3) Find out who the “heirs” are and get current addresses and phone numbers. The “heirs” are the people who would inherit if the person died without a will. For example, if someone dies leaving a spouse and children behind, then the spouse and children are the heirs. If someone dies leaving no spouse and no children, then we look at parents, then siblings, then nieces and nephews, then first cousins. Google “sanguinity chart”

to see a table of relationships by blood. It’s like playing the old game “6 degrees from Kevin Bacon only instead of hopping from the nearest friendship to the next connected person until you get to Kevin Bacon (usually 6 hops), you’ll be hopping from the nearest blood relation to the next nearest.

3 things NOT TO DO FIRST: (1) Call your attorney. Your wonderful, amazing attorney won’t be able to do much to help you until the death certificate arrives. Spend time with your family right now. Make time for yourself to feel the feelings you need to feel. (2) Give or sell anything to anyone. Without all the facts, you might be liable for repaying the estate. (3) Close their checking account or tell the bank they died. Why? Tune into my new podcast called Proactive Planner this month to find out. Our first episode will be available January 8th, 2023 here: https://www. buzzsprout.com/2109389/11988170

Remember, if you need help with probate, use Wilson Legal where you’ll find easy-to-talk-to attorneys who are happy to untangle the long list of “TO DO”s when someone dies.

WILSON

Tree stump stone markers spark grave interest

cutting trees was a noble occupation, and he was aware that his last name could be associated with the order’s name and might imply an organization growing from its roots, much like a tree in the forest. He wanted to “clear away problems of financial security for its members.”

BOB MEYERS Columnist bobmey@bellsouth.net

If you have ever visited a cemetery and noticed a stone marker shaped like a tree stump, you experienced a fascinating bit of history. The “tree stone” markers were provided free of charge by an insurance company to its policy holders many years ago. Several of the markers are found in North Fulton cemeteries, others throughout the state. Here is the story behind them.

Joseph Cullen Root (1844-1913) was a philanthropist and businessman who as a young man in Iowa was member of many fraternal organizations. He operated several businesses, including a grain elevator, two flour mills and a store. He sold insurance and real estate, taught bookkeeping and practiced law.

In 1890 he founded Woodmen of the World in Omaha, Nebraska, a membershiponly insurance company. He wanted to create a fraternal membership organization that would look after the financial and social wellbeing of its members and would welcome Jews, Gentiles, Catholics, Protestants, agnostics, and atheists. He believed that working as a woodman

In 1913, he visited “camps” or “lodges” in the South, including Georgia. He became ill during a Southern tour and died in December 1913 at age 69.

In 1922, Woodmen of the World began its own radio station in Omaha. By 1935 it was one of the most powerful radio stations in the country with 5,000 watts of power. In 1949 the organization launched a TV channel with local resident Johnny Carson hosting his show “The Squirrel’s Nest.”

From 1890 to 1900, the organization’s life insurance policies had a provision that provided grave markers free of charge to members. From 1900 to the 1920s, members paid as little as $100 for the markers. The cost was added to a member’s life insurance policy with the actual cost determined by how elaborate the member wanted the marker to be. Due to the increasing cost of the stones, the organization discontinued the benefit by the mid-1920s.

A single 4 to 5-foot-high stone was designed for adults and three stacked logs for children. The organization sent

the pattern to a local stone carver in the deceased woodman’s hometown. The pattern could be altered locally as desired. Woodworking tools are sometimes depicted on the stones such as axes or mauls. Doves and lilies were also popular additions. The company moto “Dum Tacet Clamet” (Though silent he speaks) on a round medallion is often carved on the stump.

Ed Malowney, local historian and president of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society, has been intrigued by tree stones and has identified the locations of several in North Fulton cemeteries including Clear Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church in Johns Creek and Warsaw Cemetery in Johns Creek.

Todd Wiley, regional director of Woodmen of the World in North Georgia, notes that some markers are 12 to 14 feet tall and very elaborate.

“It all depended on what the policy owner wanted,” he says.

In the North Georgia mountains, there are several tree stones in almost every cemetery, according to Wiley. The cemetery at the Level Grove Baptist church in Cornelia has at least five

In 1890, Joseph Cullen Root founded Woodmen of the World, a fraternal benefit organization, to make life insurance affordable to everyone. During its first 10 years, the company provided free tombstones in the shape of tree trunks with their policies. From 1900 to 1920, members bought a $100 rider on their policies. The tombstones were discontinued in the 1920s. Several tombstones have been found in north Fulton County cemeteries. This tombstone marks the grave of Dr. J.A. Parsons in the Warsaw Cemetery in Johns Creek. See MEYERS, Page 20

ED MALOWNEY/PROVIDED

OPINION

Webb family dairy in Sandy Springs was well equipped

Clifford and Clara Sanders Webb, along with their 12 children, moved from Mayson Avenue in Atlanta to the intersection of Glenridge Road and Johnson Ferry Road in 1924. Mayson Avenue was where the Lindbergh Marta Station is today. The family traveled down Lindbergh Drive across Peachtree Road to Peachtree Battle Road, then north on

Northside Drive toward Sandy Springs. The cattle the family owned followed behind. (Interview with Montez Webb Shackleford, 2008)

Their new home was on 24 acres. They called the farm C.S. Webb Dairy Farm, named for Clara Sanders Webb. They enlarged the small house that already sat on the property. Local Sandy Springs builder Arthur Mabry constructed the dairy buildings. There was a dairy barn, milk house, sleeping barn, engine room, smokehouse and boiler room. Fifteen stalls were built on either side of the dairy barn, and the barn doors were wide enough to

allow milk trucks to park inside at night. (More of Sandy Springs Past Tense, 1982, Lois Coogle)

The C.S. Webb Dairy kept Aberdeen Angus and Holstein cows. As soon as each child reached the age of 10, they were expected to help with the milking. Each child had their own stool and bucket. The buckets were carried to the milk house where the milk was strained into large, sterilized cans, bottled in glass bottles with a stopper and stored in a large ice box. Ice was brought in from the Buckhead Icehouse in 100-pound blocks.

Milk and other products such as buttermilk and chocolate milk were delivered by truck seven days a week to Atlanta. The people of Sandy Springs and other neighboring communities did not need milk delivery because most families had their own cow. The Webb family wrote bills and collected at the end of each month.

The children attended Hammond Grammar School, which was located where Mount Vernon Towers is today at Mount Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road meet. Daughter Montez Webb Shackleford recalled going to high school at North Fulton High School on

Delmont Drive, which isnow The Atlanta International School. She rode a bus from Sandy Springs.

The family attended Sandy Springs Methodist Church. In the summer, they went to the Sandy Springs Methodist Camp Meeting, a week of outdoor church services held at the time when crops were laid by. This was when farmers waited to harvest their crops.

The Webb family only bought flour and sugar at stores. In addition to the dairy and vegetable garden, they had a fruit orchard. They raised chickens, turkeys, ducks and guineas and always had canned goods and meat stored in the smokehouse. They bought their necessities at Burdette’s Grocery in Sandy Springs, often bartering with eggs from their farm.

Glenairy Drive and Aberdeen Forest got their names from the Webb Dairy and cattle that once were on the land. When Clifford Webb’s health declined in 1938, the family sold the farm and moved to a home on Sandy Springs Circle. The old home that was part of the dairy farm burned in 1940.

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

Meyers:

Woodman markers, for example. Since the Woodmen of the World was a membership organization, the social aspect of affiliation was important, especially in small, isolated mountain communities.

“It provided people with something to do and be involved in,” according to Wiley. There was a summer camp for children of members in Gainesville, he added.

Woodmen of the World continues to be active in communities in numerous ways. Since 1998, the organization has partnered with the American Red Cross to provide disaster relief nationwide. Under the program, local Woodmen lodges

encourage members to volunteer with their local Red Cross chapters and provide support for Red Cross relief efforts. The company’s national cause is feed the hungry, which it supports by partnering with local soup kitchens and food pantries throughout the United States.

Tree stone monuments can be found in the West, Midwest and South. Today, Woodmen of the World is also known as Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society. According to the company, at the end of 2021 the socially conscious organization Root founded had $11.5 billion in assets and more than $39 billion of life insurance in force.

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.

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