Johns Creek Herald - January 25, 2024 by Appen Media Group

Chattahoochee High lacrosse gets jump on the competition ► PAGE 9

J a n u a r y 2 5 , 2 0 2 4 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 8 , N o . 4

Johns Creek hosts talk from Civil Rights leader JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek held its first Unity Breakfast in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 15, welcoming resident and Civil Rights activist John Suttles to share his story. Suttles became a Civil Rights activist on March 7, 1965, as one of the youths involved in attempting a voting rights march from Selma, Alabama, to Montogomery. Despite the marchers being beaten and gassed on Bloody Sunday, he was not deterred and continued to work throughout his life to encourage change. Mayor John Bradberry offered welcoming remarks at the Unity Breakfast, which saw the help of volunteers from North View High School’s Black History Club.

The event, held at Taylor Lodge at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, also featured performances from vocalists Brianna Yancey and Mikaela Ayira, juniors at Chattahoochee High School. “When MLK said that our nation should live up to the true nature of its creed, ‘that all men are created equal’ and that we ‘should be judged not by the color of our skin but by the context of our character,’ he was seeking to fulfill the promise of our nation’s founding,” Bradberry said in a statement to Appen Media. “He was a great American who helped bring us closer to building ‘a more perfect union.’”

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

United restoration

Remodeling crew installs top tier work

Middle, Scott Hessing, owner of United Home Restoration, gathers with crew members Vicente Perez Hernandez, left, and Trister Castro Hernandez, right, in front of El Trompo Mexican Taqueria, a go-to lunch spot. Hessing’s Johns Creek business does remodeling work for residential and commercial properties in Metro Atlanta, including installation of decks and fences, custom trim work and interior and exterior painting. See story Page 10

ASK APPEN

What do you want to know about the community?

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK/PROVIDED

— Amber Perry

In an interview with Johns Creek resident Kaaryn Walker, Civil Rights activist John Suttles speaks before the crowd at the city’s first Unity Breakfast in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 15 at Taylor Lodge at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church on Parsons Road.

Submit questions at appenmedia.com/ask or scan QR code.

2 | January 25, 2024 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

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.

770-442-3278 AppenMedia.com 319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009

Police arrest woman in domestic incident

HANS APPEN Publisher RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus CONTACT NEWS TIPS Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com. LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance. ADVERTISING For information about advertising in the Johns Creek Herald or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278. CIRCULATION To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Judged a newspaper of General Excellence 2023

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested a 20-year-old Johns Creek woman Jan. 3 for allegedly assaulting her exboyfriend at their home. When police arrived at the scene, the victim told police the woman struck him in the back of the head with an aluminum nitrous oxide canister as he was retreating to his room. The victim said an argument had started over him recording the suspect, the incident report says. He showed police footage of the suspect’s aggression toward him. Police arrested the suspect for family violence battery and transported her to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.

Vehicle break-ins strike neighborhoods JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Multiple vehicle break-ins were reported throughout Johns Creek neighborhoods Jan. 5. Two vehicles were broken into at different homes on Hepplewhite Drive, according to separate incident reports. While nothing was missing from the vehicles, the driver’s side windows were broken, and the middle consoles were rummaged through. Police also responded to Foxworth Drive that morning, where two vehicles had been burglarized and credit cards were stolen, another report states. One vehicle owner told police video surveillance showed three male suspects exit a vehicle at the bottom of his driveway, approach one of his vehicles, then flee the location.

PUBLIC SAFETY Another vehicle on Foxworth Drive had been burglarized. The owner reported to police three black cash boxes, valued at $100 each, had been taken. Two more vehicle break-ins were reported Jan. 5, according to separate incident reports, on Aubusson Trace and Glen Ferry Drive.

HOA board threatened by homeowner with gun JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The president of a Johns Creek homeowners association neighborhood reported to police Jan. 12 that a resident had sent the board a threatening email. The board president told police she believed the suspect had been served with a notice of legal action for not paying dues. The board received an email from the suspect that demanded they stay off his land, the incident report says, which has “no trespassing” signs. The suspect wrote that “trespassers may be mistaken for unwelcome visitors wishing to enhance their monetary status and may be fired upon,” according to the incident report. “My woman is Russian. She knows how to use an AK-47 … she was inside pointing it at you because she believed you were trying to break in …,” the email reads. Police advised the board president of the restraining order process and how to request additional patrols for her residence and neighborhood.

Safe with $80,000 in cash stolen in home burglary JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police were dispatched to a home on Sage Run Trail Jan. 13, where a safe containing $80,000 in cash, $8,000 in Korean Won, jewelry and other items, was stolen. When police made entry, they found a cellphone that didn’t belong

to the homeowner and scratch marks from where the safe had been dragged out of the home. Surveillance footage showed three suspects stealing the homeowner’s safe, the incident report says. Detectives took over the scene.

Burglaries reported at café, restaurant ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police are searching for four men suspected of burglarizing a café and a restaurant on North Main Street Jan. 10. The café owner told officers he found his glass front door shattered when he arrived to open the business. He reported reviewing his security footage and seeing two male suspects enter the café around 4:30 a.m., take $1,000 in cash and leave a minute later. He also reported a cash drawer was stolen. The suspects reportedly caused between $400 and $500 in damage, and they shattered the front door with a spring-loaded punch. Security footage at the restaurant next door showed one of the suspects breaking the front door with a springloaded punch before handing it off to another suspect to break into the café, the report states. The footage showed two suspects entering the restaurant and stealing two cash drawers that held some $300. One of the suspects also swiped the restaurant’s Samsung Galaxy, the report states. The suspects reportedly fled in a black sedan. The total value stolen from the two businesses was reported at $1,800. The café owner told officers three men came to the café to ask for a job Jan. 9, which was confirmed by the neighboring restaurant’s security footage. Officers reported it appeared that one of the men was wearing the same clothes as a suspect in the burglary. No suspects have been identified.

ASK APPEN

What do you want to know about the community? Submit questions at appenmedia.com/ask or scan QR code.

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | January 25, 2024 | 3

Continuum of Care to expand reach to aid Fulton homeless population By ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — The Fulton County Continuum of Care (CoC) Board of Directors held their first 2024 meeting Jan. 18 over Zoom to discuss plans and activities for the new year. Board members spoke on items they would like to see in the coming months. One of the current developments underway is the addition of different communities concentrating on specific areas of the organization’s mission to resolve homelessness throughout the community. “A big part of this meeting is to look at and plan activities for this year,” said Director Stan Wilson. “We’re really excited about establishing a broader group of committees; an executive and governance committee… in the past, we’ve had board members lead everything and we’re stretched thin.” Wilson discussed the updated governance charter and what it entails

before opening the floor to input from other board members. To broaden the board’s representation, changes to the charter include the future establishment of three officers, annual performance reviews and an annual agreement between the Fulton County and the CoC to outline roles and responsibilities. The committee plans to include both board and CoC member representation with a recommended quarterly CoC membership meeting structure to accommodate the recent increase in committee activity. “Part of the reason for [quarterly meetings] is that we are going to be having some of our members on these committees…the bigger intent [of the charter] is to broaden the scope of the board and make it a little different than it has been in the past,” Wilson said. “It gives them an opportunity to volunteer and then participate in these meetings without putting too much of a burden on folks.” CoC Board members will vote on the updated charter in March before

final approval. The Board is also preparing for the CoC’s Point-in-Time (PIT) Count to establish the number of people experiencing homelessness in Fulton County. Currently, 134 community volunteers have signed up to canvass North Fulton on Jan. 23 and South Fulton on Jan. 24. “We are excited for the 2024 Point-in-Time Count…this year, the work and the organization for the canvassing has been led by subcommittees that are staffed by community volunteers who have done an exceptional job,” said Dawn Butler, division manager for Homeless Services with the Fulton County Department of Community Development. For more information on Fulton’s Continuum of Care and how to become involved, visit www. fultoncountyga.gov/inside-fultoncounty/fulton-county-departments/ community-development/homelessservices/continuum-of-care or call 404-612-4000.

FEBRUARY

February 8 Arts, Culture, & Entertainment Committee City Hall - 6:30 p.m.

Women’s Charity League kicks off yearly campaign to increase membership JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Northeast Atlanta chapter of National Charity League, Inc., the nation’s premier mother-daughter volunteer organization, has launched its Annual Membership Drive. The organization has begun accepting applications from women with daughters currently in the sixth through eighth grade. The Northeast Atlanta chapter has more than 200 members who reside in the Atlanta areas surrounding the Ga. 141 corridor, including Johns Creek, North Norcross, Peachtree Corners, North Fulton County, South Forsyth County, and Gwinnett County. The chapter’s mother-daughter teams volunteered over 8,700 hours in the 2022-23 year for more than 20 philanthropic organizations in the community, including CURE Childhood Cancer, Sunrise Senior Living, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Atlanta, Blessings in a Backpack, The Sandwich Project, and the Chattahoochee Nature Center.

See LEAGUE, Page 7

City Calendar & Events! 2024

February 19 Presidents’ Day City Offices Closed

February 10 February 21 Lunar New Year Celebration Recreation & Parks Advisory Committee Heisman Field City Hall - 6:30 p.m. (Across from Atlanta Athletic Club) - Noon to 4 p.m. February 12 City Council Work Session City Hall - 5 p.m. City Council Meeting City Hall - 7 p.m. Johns Creek City Hall | 11360 Lakefield Drive | Johns Creek, GA 30097 | JohnsCreekGA.gov

Scan the QR Code to learn more or to contact the City of Johns Creek!

4 | January 25, 2024 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

NEWS

County commissioner Police investigate break-ins Fulton plans human trafficking forum at north metro businesses By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

METRO ATLANTA — Police are investigating a series of smash-and-grab break-ins this month at businesses in Roswell and neighboring cities linked to the same group of suspects. At around 4 a.m. Jan. 15, Roswell police responded to a burglary alarm in Ellard Village on Holcomb Bridge Road where suspects broke into four businesses and where there was an attempt at a fifth location. Police observed the front door to Arte D’Oro Diamonds had been smashed open, the incident report says. The owners told police they were last at the store at 2 p.m. the day before and could not identify what had been taken. While conducting a search on the premises, police also found that Ground and Pound Coffee, Bruster’s, and Dyar Persian Grill and Bar had been burglarized, in addition to an attempt at The Spot sushi bar which had broken glass but no visible entry. Surveillance footage showed four male

suspects entering Arte D’Oro Diamonds, wearing masks and gloves. Police also identified a blue Hyundai Sonata entering the parking lot at around 3:45 a.m. that morning, from which two suspects exited, running toward the jewelry store. According to a second incident report, police also responded to 4 Seasons Wings and Taco Takeout on Holcomb Bridge Road Jan. 15 at around 4 a.m. Cash registers had been taken at each location. Roswell Public Information Officer Timothy Lupo said similar smash-andgrabs had occurred at 880 Holcomb Bridge Jan. 10, linked to the same group of suspects. In an email, Lupo said investigators are currently evaluating connections between the burglaries and those in Alpharetta, Sandy Springs and in Gwinnett County, that occurred around the same time frame. “Our officers are continuing and increasing our proactive business checks in the area and have been able to utilize the resources of our Roswell Crime Center to establish some excellent suspect information to follow up on,” Lupo said.

ATLANTA — A Fulton County commissioner will co-host the 2024 Human Trafficking Forum from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 31 at the YMCA of Metro Atlanta on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. District 6 Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman invites community members to attend the forum to learn about how to identify and prevent trafficking crimes. Human trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar industry which targets the most vulnerable citizens, including low-income individuals, runaway youths and children in foster care. In recognition of National Human Trafficking Month in January, Commissioner Abdur-Rahman will be joined by Wellspring Living, a Christian-based organization that provides care to sex trafficking victims. During the two-hour forum, guests will hear how officials are advocating for survivors and working to stop human trafficking throughout Fulton County and Georgia. “Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal activity in our country,” Abdur-Rahman said. “It is a criminal industry that strips individuals of their human dignity and rights, with human traffickers preying upon our most vulnerable citizens.” In 2022, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners appropriated $500,000 to Wellspring Living to help victims of domestic sex trafficking and people at risk with specialized recovery services. “Last year's hybrid event shared valuable tools and insights to the community,” Wellspring Living CEO Christian Murphy said. “This year, our goal is to bring more awareness and solicit a charge to the community and leaders to support survivors and help end sexual exploitation.” Residents can report possible cases in Georgia’s 24-hour Human Trafficking Hotline at 866-363-4842.

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | January 25, 2024 | 5

This “still head over heels” moment made possible by Emory Heart & Vascular Center. PERSONALIZED HEART CARE

The difference? Emory Healthcare performs more heart procedures annually than anyone else in Georgia, which means better outcomes for our patients. And we offer advanced and personalized treatments, developed by our top specialists, that others don’t. Go to Emory fi rst. Because where you start your heart care matters. Next day appointments available at emoryhealthcare.org/heart_moments

6 | January 25, 2024 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

NEWS

Questions surround Sandy Springs ‘do not respond list’ By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A dispute involving police and a manager at the Atlanta North Metro Coca-Cola Bottling Company on Dunwoody Place has sparked questions about the existence of a “do not respond” list at the 911 Center in Sandy Springs. While Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone explicitly references the list in a Nov. 2023 email to the president of the Atlanta Police Foundation, interviews and records obtained by Appen Media indicate the city has no such thing. Late last year, Sandy Springs Police officers were instructed to patrol companies that support the Atlanta Police

Foundation after a Nov. 13 clash between law enforcement and several hundred opponents of Atlanta’s proposed public safety training center in DeKalb County. That assignment went sour Nov. 14 when a Sandy Springs patrolman reported in an email that while conducting a business check at the Coca-Cola facility at 8250 Dunwoody Place, he was asked to leave the premises. Through an open records request, Appen Media received emails detailing the incident through the department’s chain of command. The officer said in an email to a lieutenant that while he was sitting in his patrol vehicle, he was approached by a warehouse manager who told him police were not allowed on the premises “due to it

being private property.” He told the manager he was sent to check the location due to threats against companies that support the Atlanta Police Foundation. The manager then “insisted” the officer leave the property, according to the email. Documents obtained through the open records request show the officer’s account of the incident was sent to Lt. Matthew McGinnis, Capt. Andrew Spears and Deputy Police Chief Craig Chandler. In the emails, Sandy Springs Police personnel voiced frustration about how the officer was treated at the Coca-Cola facility. Records show Deputy Chief Chandler forwarded the email thread to Police Chief DeSimone, suggesting “someone at APF might want to reach out to Coke executives” about the incident. A Nov. 16 email from the chief to Dave Wilkinson, president and CEO of the Atlanta Police Foundation, shares the suggestion and references the “do not respond” list. “Do you have any contacts at Coca Cola?” Chief DeSimone asked in the email. “I’m getting ready to put them on the ‘do not respond’ list at the 911 center.” Whether or not that list exists is unclear. The City of Sandy Springs denied an Open Records Act request for the list, stating it had no responsive documents. Sandy Springs Interim Communications Director Dan Coffer says the city previously used a “no response” list to reduce the number of false alarm calls. That practice changed five years ago with a revision to the city’s alarm ordinance, he said. Police departments throughout the country cite false alarms as a major problem, saying they strain vital resources and manpower. Like surrounding municipalities, Sandy Springs has adopted various alarm policies to combat the issue. The current ordinance requires alarm companies to register their customers, pay fines for false alarms and take certain steps before

About Chatcomm The 911 Center referenced in Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone’s email is the Chattahoochee River 911 Authority, or ChatComm. The cities of Sandy Springs and Johns Creek created ChatComm in 2009, which operates through a contract with IXP Corporation. Dunwoody joined ChatComm in 2011, then Brookhaven in 2014. New Jersey-based IXP calls ChatComm “the largest known 911 public-private partnership in the country.” IXP states on its website that ChatComm, based in Sandy Springs, is poised to add other cities to its services. Sandy Springs Police Maj. Dan Nable is the operation’s executive director. In addition to officials in Sandy Springs, city staff in Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Johns Creek said ChatComm representatives told them the agency did not have a ‘do not respond’ list.

calling 911. When a burglar alarm is triggered, companies must “verify” the emergency using audio, video or in-person signals before dialing authorities for help. The city added the verification requirement in 2018. The last time the ordinance changed was 2019, when the City Council voted to allow alarm companies 24 hours to supply the verification evidence. When asked about the chief’s “‘do not respond’ list at the 911 Center” remark, Coffer said the city had such a document before implementing the verification requirement, but it is no longer in use. “The ‘no response’ list was used

See LIST, Page 7

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | January 25, 2024 | 7

League: Continued from Page 3 “There is no better way to contribute to your community than by joining National Charity League,” said Trisha Vollandt, president of the NCL Northeast Atlanta chapter. “By volunteering together, mothers and daughters work together, develop leadership, and grow through service to local philanthropies.” Applications for membership will be accepted until March 1 during the drive. To be eligible, a prospective member shall reside within the Northeast Atlanta area and have a daughter currently in the sixth through eighth grade. Interested mothers are encouraged to attend one of these prospective member meetings: 1. Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024 4-5 p.m. Chartwell Clubhouse, 9885 Rod Road, Johns Creek, Georgia 30022 2.Thursday, February 15, 2024 7-8 p.m. Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 856 9396 3493 Passcode: 566944 Log in: https://bit.ly/3StOwGJ For more information, prospective members may visit the Northeast Atlanta chapter’s website, nationalcharityleague.org/chapter/northeastatlanta or send an email to membershipnortheastatlanta@nclonline.org.

List: Continued from Page 6 when we responded to all alarms without verification,” he said. “We no longer have a ‘no response’ list for alarms or alarm sites.” Appen Media contacted Coca-Cola United, the local bottler that operates the plant on Dunwoody Place, for comment. “We have the utmost respect for the Sandy Springs Police Department and their duty to serve and protect the communities in which we operate,” spokeswoman Cassandra Mickens said in a statement. “We have addressed this matter directly with the police department and our associates and have no further comment.” City officials could offer no additional details as of press time, and it is unclear why the chief referred to a “do not respond” list that the city says no longer exists. “Chief is out of town, and I haven’t had a chance to talk to him about this,” Coffer said Jan. 17. “We no longer have our ‘do not respond’ list.”

ON SALE NOW JANUARY 30 -FEBRUARY 25 BroadwayInAtlanta.com

8 | January 25, 2024 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

NEWS

Alpharetta police score new K9 with Business Association funds By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — K9 Maverick has joined the ranks of the Alpharetta Police Department with the help of the Alpharetta Business Association. After less than a year in the field, Maverick has assisted Alpharetta police in locating drugs during a traffic stop and in the arrest of an armed robbery suspect. In fall 2022, the Alpharetta Business Association donated $17,000 to the Alpharetta Public Safety Foundation to acquire and train Maverick, a German shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix who will turn 2 this March. The Alpharetta Business Association is an organization of city businesses and owners known for its events such as the Brew Moon Fest, Downtown Farmers Market and Business Expo. Incoming ABA President Tracy Morton said the organization aims to use the funds raised from these signature events to reinvest in Alpharetta. “When we look at these projects and how we can give back to the city, we try to look for things that are, or think about things that have the most reach and the benefit for the larger community as a whole,” Morton said. “And this just seemed

PAT CHECK/PROVIDED

Alpharetta K9 Maverick sits by a police vehicle in November. Maverick is German shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix turning 2 in March. to fit in there with a need.” Maverick was chosen out of 13 dogs in February and paired with Officer Brad Jahnke, who then attended a 12-week K9 training school with Maverick in Florida. After the course wrapped up in May, Jahnke and Maverick spent the first half of 2023 bonding and continuing their

training. Now, the pair are inseparable. Maverick lives with Jahnke, and the two enjoy daily walks together. Morton emphasized the commitment it takes to handle a police dog. “It's really a serious undertaking to find a public safety officer who's willing to make this lifelong bond with a dog,” Morton said. “It's not a short-term proposition, and

the dog and the handler have to have so much trust between the two of them. And it’s really an amazing thing to see all that happen.” As a K9, Maverick is wired a little differently and has an abundance of energy, but Jahnke said he is still a normal dog. He said Maverick is still learning how to turn off “work mode.” Jahnke said he had assisted in K9 training before, but his assignment with Maverick marks his first time as a handler. Maverick’s main duty is assisting in “apprehension, no-bites.” When officers responded to an armed robbery call at Zaxby’s on Old Milton Parkway in September, the sound of Maverick helped drive the suspect out of the woods. Jahnke said Maverick’s likely longest track was near Ronald Reagan Boulevard after a suspect vehicle fled from Forsyth County. During a stolen vehicle stop in Alpharetta, Jahnke said Maverick located suspected narcotics. The K9 also assisted in the apprehension of a suspect who fled from a parole violation arrest. Jahnke said Maverick is doing very well for a dog his age, and he would not change anything about their partnership. “It’s been a challenge, but it’s been very fun,” he said.

We’re new to the neighborhood. But not to better banking. We’re VyStar Credit Union. Get to know us and you’ll see we do good for our members and our communities. That’s why we offer more banking options, including better rates and no hidden fees. We also give back to the places we call home. Better financial lives. A stronger Suwanee.

3838 Johns Creek Parkway

vystarcu.org/join

New branches opening soon in Smyrna, Marietta and Peachtree Corners

SPORTS

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | January 25, 2024 | 9

Chattahoochee High lacrosse gets early jump on the competition JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — In a new tradition, the Chattahoochee High School boys lacrosse team stepped onto the practice field at midnight Jan. 15, the official start of the Georgia High School Association’s lacrosse season. Head coach Nate Kellis began the tone-setting tradition last year, in his first season with the team, allowing players to be the first in the state to get a head start. The players arrive at the stadium at midnight and begin bonding as a team, while running practice drills. — Amber Perry

PHOTOS BY CHRISTIE CAVIN/PROVIDED

Coaches and players for the Chattahoochee High School lacrosse team assemble for their first practice at midnight, Jan. 15, the first official day practice is permitted under the Georgia Athletic Association.

7506 Wilderness Parkway Big Canoe, GA 30143

bigcanoeanimalrescue.org 706-268-1346

Puppies!

Bandit

Bently

Facts About Me Breed: Lab/Box Mix Color: Tri Color – either Tan & Brown or Black/White Age: 6 weeks Weight: (Current) 6 Lbs. Approximately Sex: Male

Bingo

My Info Currently undergoing puppy shots Good health Will require potty training

My Story Meet Bandit, Bently and Bingo. All are currently in a wonderful foster home in Big Canoe and will be available for adoption at 8 weeks old starting February 12th All BCAR dogs are placed as indoor family pets. No electric fences, please. Visit pets every Saturday 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (706-268-1346) or visit our website for adoption information at www.bigcanoeanimalrescue.org.

They like that we’re really quick. They like that I’m on-site as the owner — you know, quality assurance. SCOTT HESSING, Owner of United Home Restoration 10 | Johns Creek Herald | January 25, 2024

‘They love us’

Remodeling company, community partner provides clients with quality, peace of mind By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Scott Hessing, owner of United Home Restoration, was in El Trompo Mexican Taqueria in Johns Creek for Taco Tuesday with some of his crew sharing the response from clients whose homes had received a makeover. “They love us,” Hessing said, sipping on the free horchata, courtesy of Taco Tuesday. “They like that we’re really quick. They like that I’m on-site as the owner — you know, quality assurance.” From his experience, Hessing said other contractors tend to go on-site once to take some measurements, make sure the materials are there, then sign on. But, he’s there with his crew throughout the entirety of the job, starting at 8 a.m. sharp. United Home Restoration, a remodeling company based in Johns Creek, installs decks and fences, performs custom trim work as well as interior and exterior painting. The business covers residential and commercial property in Metro Atlanta, but Hessing said he’d charter his crew out of state. Hessing, who his crew calls “Frijoles,” meaning “beans” in Spanish, said his company values three things — safety, quality and efficiency. “The catchphrase is ‘Big Deck Energy,’” Hessing said. Once doing handiwork on his own, he loves the business he built be-

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

On right, Scott Hessing, owner of United Home Restoration, stands with his crew and a client in front of a fence they had installed at a home in Duluth.

cause he gets to see the astonishment from clients who witness “four dudes” quickly putting something together for a fair price. But, he also gets to bounce around, so it’s never monotonous. “It’s a rewarding job, whether you make a bunch of money or not,” Hessing said. “You get to see it come to life and learn something new every day.”

See DECK, Page 11

SCOTT HESSING/PROVIDED

On right, Scott Hessing, owner of United Home Restoration, stands with his crew on a newly built deck at a home in the Seven Oaks neighborhood in Johns Creek.

Engage and connect with the community to achieve your business goals.

5755 NORTH POINT PKWY. SUITE 4 ALPHARETTA, GA 30022

Join now to start receiving member benefits.

WWW.ALPHARETTACHAMBER.COM

Contact Director of Member Services: memberservices@alpharettachamber.com 404-670-9921

Engage…Connect…Achieve

BUSINESSPOSTS

Deck: Continued from Page 10 He also values the camaraderie with his crew. Trister “Vato Cholo” Castro Hernandez and Vicente “Hefe” Perez Hernandez were at the table, too. Hessing, who would occasionally speak to them in Spanish, has three crews for a total of a dozen employees. His mother is from Cuba, and he improves his Spanish working with the guys, who he calls his brothers — they bond over artists like Colombian singer Karol G. and Mexican singer Peso Pluma. As the small restaurant became packed, Hessing said that meant people were securing jobs. Over the holiday season, as Hessing went to El Trompo during the work day, it was much slower. “God definitely blessed me with that,” Hessing said, who grew up in Johns Creek. Hessing incorporated about a year ago with the help of his mentor and owner of StormROOF Systems, Clint Crowe. He provided Hessing with advice on getting United Home Restoration insured. Knowing the area well has helped Hessing grow a client base. One time, while on-site for a job, Hessing was referred to the client’s neighbor who happened to be his sixth grade teacher at Taylor Road Middle School.

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | January 25, 2024 | 11

“I don’t think she would have ever thought that I would have started my own business,” Hessing said. A community advocate, Hessing sponsored North View High School’s football team, though he attended its rival school, Chattahoochee High School. He also takes breakfast to Lifeline’s animal shelter, along with toys, blankets and newspaper. That day, he had a stack of newspaper in his car ready for transport. “At a very young age, my mother taught me the importance of giving back to the community or giving to the less fortunate,” Hessing said. “As I have gotten older, I have grown to appreciate and value these lessons more and more. I am thankful to be in a position in my life to be involved in nonprofits and community sponsorships.”

Business pages Each week Appen Media asks a staff reporter to profile a business, nonprofit or commerce group they find interesting. The selection can be from anywhere in the Metro Atlanta area. The decision is up to the reporter and is made entirely independent of the Sales department. Do you have an idea for a future profile? Send tips and story leads to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 · 1PM

BEST WESTERN PLUS ROSWELL 907 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell

SCOTT HESSING/PROVIDED

Scott Hessing, owner of United Home Restoration, brings breakfast to employees at Lifeline animal shelter.

12 | January 25, 2024 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 7506 Wilderness Parkway Big Canoe, GA 30143

New Business Spotlight: IMAGE Studios Name: IMAGE Studios Johns Creek Owner: Teresa Wade Description: IMAGE Studios® Johns Creek provides modern, high-end salon suites to professionals in the beauty and wellness industries. The collective is home to like-minded professionals to connect with, and the guidance of mentors invested in the success of these entrepreneurs. Opened: September 2023 Phone: 404-436-0776 Address: 5945 State Bridge Road, #100, Johns Creek, GA 30097 Website: https://imagestudios360.com/johns-creek-ga/

bigcanoeanimalrescue.org 706-268-1346

Puppies!

Bella

Bailee

Brie

A COMMUNITY OF CARE A COMMUNITY OF CARE IN CRABAPPLE IN CRABAPPLE ND 2023

2023

NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL WELCOMES A 2 NORTHSIDE LOCATION TOWELCOMES YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD HOSPITAL A 2ND LOCATION TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

CRABAPPLE

Bubbie

Buttons

Facts About Me Breed: Lab/Box Mix Color: Tri Color – either Tan & Brown or Black/White Age: 6 Weeks Weight: (Current) 6 Lbs. Approximately Sex: Female My Info Currently undergoing puppy shots Good health Will require potty training

Family Practice

WE OFFER A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES INCLUDING: Health and Wellness Care

• Anxiety • Chronic Fatigue • Depression • Diabetes

Internal Medicine

Internal• Osteoporosis • Weight Gain Medicine Associates • Thyroid Disease

• Gynecology • Heart Disease • High Cholesterol • Hypertension

• Insomnia • Insulin Resistance • Metabolic Syndrome

of Crabapple

A Northside Network Provider

875 Mayfield Road Hannah Cummings, FNP-C Milton, GA Johns Creek: Tues.,30004 Thurs.

Dr. Samantha Benson Samantha B. Benson, MD Johns Creek: Tues., Thurs. Milton: Mon., Fri.

Kaavya Chivukula, MD Johns Creek Only

Cheryl A. McGowan, MD Milton Only

Milton: Mon., Fri.

P: 678-474-9633

Dr. Cheryl McGowan Yianna Manolakis, FNP-C Milton Only

Heather Menees, FNP-C Johns Creek Only

Michelle Hall, DNP, FNP-C Johns Creek Only

Samantha Lewis, FNP-C Johns Creek: Tues., Thurs., Fri. Milton: Wed.

My Story Meet Bailee, Bella, Brie, Bubbie and Buttons. All are currently in a wonderful foster home in Big Canoe and will be available for adoption at 8 weeks old starting February 12th

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

CALL TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT! Internal Medicine Associates of Crabapple 875 Mayfield Road, Building A Milton, GA 30004 678.474.9633

Internal Medicine Associates of Johns Creek 3380 Paddocks Parkway Suwanee, GA 30024 Scan to be directed to the website 678.474.9633

www.imacrabapple.com

www.imajohnscreek.com

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | January 25, 2024 | 13

T: 770.495.0545 • F: 770.495.4646 11695 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite 100 Johns Creek, Georgia 30097

www.JohnsCreekChamber.com

A part of our mission is to help businesses in Johns Creek connect, grow, and thrive. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is by helping business professionals grow their networks. All are welcome to the following networking opportunities for little to no cost, so please join us! The schedule is subject to change so to stay up to date with all the information visit the Calendar on our website or give us a call. Come prepared with business cards and your 45-second pitch about your business! From these meetings, you will form relationships, create Wednesday business opportunities, 9:30 – 11:00AM and share information with Johns Creek 11695 Johns Creek Pkwy Business professionals. 1st Floor Meeting Area

This event allows male professionals in the Johns Creek area to expand their referral network. So come on join your Men’s Happy Hour fellow gentlemen friends – and make new ones- at this monthly Networking Chamber membership is event! 4th Thursday of not required and there is the month. Check no admission for this event, calendar on website just pay your own tab. for all details.

Our Women’s Networking Connection is a great platform for women in business to come together to build strong connections with other businesswomen. Women’s Networking Whether you own, run, or Connection have a women targeted business you’ll enjoy great 4th Thursday of the month. Check calendar networking, great referrals, on website for all details. and great conversations!

14 | January 25, 2024 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

Appen Press Club presents

Listening Tour 2024

Reporter-Led Event Series Seeking Story Feedback and Ideas

Roswell – Wed. Feb. 14, 4–5pm

Open to the public and FREE to attend! OTHER UPCOMING LISTENING TOUR 2024 DATES & LOCATIONS: March 21st

Sugo (Johns Creek)

FROM THE EARTH BREWING COMPANY

1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd., Roswell, GA 30076 ftebrewing.com | (770) 910-9799

TO RSVP

RSVP is not required but appreciated. Visit appenmedia.com/join to let us know you are coming.

April 18th

Cherry Street Brewing Home of Rick Tanner’s (Vickery Village – Forsyth)

May 16th

Six Bridges Brewing (Milton)

June 20th

July Moon & Café

July 18th

Pontoon Brewing Company (Sandy Springs)

TO JOIN

To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level. Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

EMPTY NEST • Sponsored Section Sponsored Section

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | January 25, 2024 | 15

Jannuary 25, 2024 | Johns Creek Herald | 15

Skin Cancer & Mohs Surgery • Medical Dermatology Vein Care • Cosmetic Services

Honored to be Voted: Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist

Insist on the BEST

Graffiti microbes strike again Brought to you by – Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta Microbes like bacteria and fungus are increasingly brazen in announcing their presence. Gone are the days when you could count on bacteria to behave and exist silently in nooks and caves like one’s nose or colon. Instead, bacteria and fungi are increasingly loud, proud, and making their presence known. Take pseudomonas, for example. This bacteria is a frequent colonizer of the toes. When pseudomonas gets in the toenails, it produces a pigment called pyocyanin that can stain one’s toenails green. Pyocyanin acts as a form of chemical warfare. It can kill other bacteria and help ensure that pseudomonas is the top dog at the tips of your toes. Zwitterions are molecules that have positive and negatively charged regions. Such bipolar molecules can often cross cell membranes easily and wreak havoc on the competing bacteria or cells that they enter. Green and mean, pyocyanin is the Incredible Hulk of our list. Next in our lineup of graffiti artists is Hortaea werneckii. Nobody knows how to pronounce this. If they claim that they do, they are both lying and showing off. H. werneckii is famous in the dermatology world because it can mimic melanoma. This fungus is a black or brown mold that infects the surface of the skin. It likes sweaty cool places and usually infects the palms or soles. It begins as a small black or brown spot that gradually enlarges forming an increasingly large

brown or black patch. When a dark spot keeps getting bigger, one’s first instinct is to worry about melanoma, but this fungus can often be painlessly scraped away easily with the edge of a scalpel blade without ever cutting the skin. In contrast, the pigment of melanoma cannot simply be scraped away. Other bacteria are staining the world pink. Serratia is a common bacteria that can cause a pink ring around a bathtub or shower drain but can, in rare instances, colonize one’s armpits or groin. Towels and clothing can become stained pink when they contact affected skin. According to a case report in a reputable medical journal, a man infected with Serratia sought treatment at a dermatology clinic because his wife disliked the effect that he was having on their towels. He only chose to seek treatment after his wife locked him out of their bathroom. Amazingly, these examples are just the tip of the iceberg. Bacillus cereus can cause your sweat to be blue. Yet corynebacterium might be the wildest of the bunch. This bacteria can infect people’s skin as patches that are otherwise nearly invisible but that fluoresce coral-red under a type of black light called a Wood’s lamp: a sort of UV patchwork quilt. If you have a new or changing (perhaps colorful) spot, consider Premier Dermatology and Mohs and Surgery of Atlanta. Dr. Brent Taylor, Kathryn Filipek, PA-C and our wonderful team are honored to take care of you and your family.

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 18 years experience as a Dermatology PA. We are excited to welcome her, as she brings with her experience in general dermatology 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. WINNER

WINNER

Dr. Brent Taylor

Kathryn Filipek, PA-C

WINNER

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Presented By

Best Of Best Of Best Of Best Of Best Of Best Of Best Of North North North North North North North Atlanta Atlanta Atlanta Atlanta Atlanta Atlanta Atlanta

Accepting new patients. We accept Medicare. Schedule your appointment with Premier Dermatology today. 3180 North Point Parkway, Suite 420 • Alpharetta, GA 30005 PremierDermatologyAtlanta.com • 678-345-1899

16 | January 25, 2024 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

EMPTY NEST • Sponsored Section

FREE Fall Risk screening now available! Brought to you by - Johns Creek Physical Therapy Did you know? • Every year in the United States 1 out of 4 older adults has a fall? • Death rates from falls have increased by 31% in the last decade? • Falling once doubles your chances of falling again? • Falls can cause fractures, head injuries and other medical injuries? For a limited time, Johns Creek Physical Therapy is offering a FREE Fall Risk Screening featuring Biodex Balance Technology. A preliminary baseline assessment compares your individual balance score against age related normative data. A printed report can be generated for your own personal records and to take to your physician. If you would like to see just how good your balance is, now through the end of February, we are offering this Comprehensive Balance Test at NO CHARGE! (normally $99). Don’t be a statistic! For more information or to schedule your 30-minute Balance Assessment appointment call 770-622-5344. Free Balance testing will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays ONLY Johns Creek Physical Therapy, 4060 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite H, Suwanee, GA 30024 PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Are You Having Neck or Shoulder Pain? Free Workshop Presented by JOHNS CREEK PHYSICAL THERAPY

• Does your neck or shoulder hurt when you turn you head? • Do you have pain in your shoulder when you reach out to the side or behind your back? • Are you avoiding your favorite activity because your neck or shoulder is hurting? • Feel like you have you “tried everything” but the pain still won’t go away? If you answered YES to any of these questions (or you know someone who has these symptoms), then you won’t want to miss the Free Neck and Shoulder Pain Workshop on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 12:30 pm. Whether it is playing sports, a home renovation project, or even doing your normal activities, this is the time of year

At the workshop you will learn the TOP THREE common causes of neck and shoulder pain. shoulder injuries are prevalent. The most common shoulder injuries involve the rotator cuff. Normally you will have pain in your shoulder while reaching out to the side, over your head or behind your back. But sometimes the shoulder pain can actually be coming from your neck. It’s important to discover where the pain is actually coming from so you can address the root source of the pain. If you don’t find the actual source of the problem, you can find yourself constantly chasing your symptoms and end up taking unnecessary medication or spend money on expensive tests. If you are having neck or shoulder pain then don’t miss the next Free Neck and Shoulder Pain Workshop on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 12:30 pm.

During the workshop, you will learn the TOP THREE common causes of neck and shoulder pain. You will also learn how the pain in your shoulder can come from a problem in your neck. We will also teach you the #1 single biggest mistake people with neck and shoulder pain make that keeps them from healing. Finally, you will learn how you can treat yourself without medications, injections, or surgery and resolve your shoulder pain once and for all. REGISTRATION IS FREE! All you have to do is register online at: johnscreekpt.com/shoulderws or call 770-622-5344 to hold your spot. Marc C. Stewart, PT

Johns Creek Physical Therapy 4060 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite H, Suwanee, GA 30024 770-622-5344 2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

OPINION

Dunwoody Crier 1/25/24 Crossword

Following up on Christmas cards My column in December about Christmas cards generated more response than almost any other one I have written recently, I think. Go figure. I wrote the column about the deRAY APPEN crease in cards we Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com received this year, and I speculated about what was going on. My wife guessed social media was the culprit. I guessed “timestarved” and in a hurry society. My wife, at least according to the responses received, was right – as usual. I got back maybe a dozen responses. All but one agreed that they received fewer cards this year than in previous years. Most blamed social media. That was the #1 cited reason from readers. Interestingly enough, the increase in cost of postage and cards also was cited in more than half of the responses. Readers responding tended to be older. Many reflected on a tradition of sending and receiving cards. A number commented on the value and satisfaction they got from actually hand-writing notes, addressing envelopes and putting on the stamps. They tended to comment on the nature of doing that – that it was an act of personal connection in a world of flashy objects. I so agreed with that sentiment. A few commented on how much their address list had shrunk. I know mine is down by at least half. I never delete the names on my list though, even if the person has died – and death is about the only reason that

someone stops receiving my Christmas letter and photos. I think I leave the names on my list to remind me of them; I don’t want to forget a single one. I also keep all the names on the list to remind me of time passing – to remind me of mortality. I will say too, that when your Christmas list is down by half, it is hard to ignore mortality. Over and over, I read or I hear about the importance of personal connections – of people spending time with other people – face to face. I hear about how this personal connection – especially at the end of life – is what people need the most. Those who end up alone, with no friends or people to interreact with, surely don’t last as long as those who have them. The connection, the personal connection, I sort of see as blood – as a necessity of life – something that not only sustains life but also gives a reason to live. Today, the trend of our lives seems to be toward less and less real personal connection – remote work, Facebook friends, texting and relating to the world around you in front of a screen via TicTok or Instagram. We have entire generations now that have no other frame of reference than what they get from a screen. And that is about as sad of a statement as I can imagine. Screens are not people. Saying Merry Christmas via text or on Facebook is soulless. There is no beating heart in screens. The screen will not be at your bedside in the hospital or deliver dinner to you at home when you are convalescing. But we all have the freedom to choose. Our collective march toward a digital wasteland is a choice. It doesn’t have to happen. Ball is in our court!

WANT MORE? FOLLOW US!

• Breaking News • Exclusive Content • Message the Editor • Photos / Videos

facebook.com/JohnsCreekHerald

PuzzleJunc

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | January 25, 2024 | 17

Across 1 Hyphen 5 Dutch cheese 9 Failure 13 S shaped molding 14 Cloak 15 Riyadh native 16 Theatrical role 18 Inert gas 19 Solitary 20 Speak haltingly 22 Insect egg 23 Small drink 24 Gangways 27 Camel relatives 32 European sea eagle 33 Burst 36 Run off 37 Tear 39 Regions 41 Comedian Johnson 42 Express contempt 44 Alters paperwork 46 Antiquated 47 Garnered 49 Prayer 51 Double-decker 53 Devotee 54 Crush 58 Search 61 Culpability 62 Accord 65 SA mountain range 66 Debt

13 16

20 22

27 34

41 45

48 51

46 50

53 57

60 64

67 Waterless 68 Football play 69 Cobras 70 Allows Down 1 MD 2 Turk. title 3 Secure 4 Wading birds 5 And so forth 6 Period 7 Develops 8 Retail stores 9 Grange 10 Toboggan

11 Smell 12 Peg 15 Try out 17 See 46 Across 21 Suffer 24 Playing ﬁeld 25 Central 26 Certain 28 ___ mode 29 Imbecile 30 Competently 31 Lawn starter 32 Gaelic 34 Foot (Preﬁx) 35 Caudal appendage 38 Lair

See solution Page 20

Solution on next page

40 Tightens up 43 Contradicts 45 Gaze 48 Bug for payment 50 Brute 52 Opera’s La ___ 54 Blueﬁn 55 Frees 56 Bullﬁght cheers 57 Selves 59 Withered 60 Stitch 61 Breach 63 Knock 64 Football scores (Abbr.)

18 | January 25, 2024 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

GARDEN BUZZ

OPINION

The story of a once mighty tree, the American chestnut As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the word “pandemic” became a household word. But did you know, over the last one hundred years, the Appalachian CAROLE MACMULLAN Mountain Forest Guest Columnist has experienced several pandemics or transformative events that have reshaped the eastern United States forests. If we could step back in time, back to the early 1900s, the Appalachian Mountain Forest would look different from the forest in 2023. The dominant hardwood forest trees in Georgia today are the oaks, and their acorns sustain directly or indirectly a significant population of forest organisms, making them a keystone plant. One hundred years ago, the dominant keystone tree was the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) tree. You might ask, have I ever seen an American chestnut tree and where are they now? During the late 1800s, wealthy Americans began to import exotic plants to create eye appealing gardens along with their stately homes to highlight their wealth and social status. Bringing in foreign grown plants had its peril! In 1904, newly identified cankers appeared on some of the American chestnut growing in the Bronx Zoo. Botanists identified the blight as a fungal disease (Cryphonectria parasitica) originating from imported Japanese chestnut trees. Japanese chestnut trees have a natural immunity to this fungal disease, but the American chestnut does not! Within a 30-year period, the lethal fungal disease spread throughout the entire Appalachian Mountain chain from Maine to North Georgia. As the American chestnuts died out, the entire ecosystem changed. If you look at pictures of American chestnut trees, you will be mesmerized by their size. Many of the forest animals were dependent on the nutritious chestnuts that covered the forest floor. The timber was highly prized for its durability and resistance to rot. Not only did the chestnuts serve as a food supply for the forest animals but also for human consumption. Chestnut Ridge, near my former, western Pennsylvania home, was named for this ecologically, culturally and economically valuable tree that until the mid-1930s covered the mountain

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a master gardener and a Milton resident. She taught biology for 35 years in the Pittsburgh area. In 2012 after moving to Milton, Carole completed the Master Gardener training program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners (NFMG) and the Milton Garden Club. Carole uses her teaching skills to create a variety of presentations on gardening topics for the NFMG Lecture Series and Speakers Bureau. She also volunteers weekly at the Assistance League of Atlanta (ALA) thrift store and acts as chair of their Links to Education scholarship program. Her favorite hobbies are gardening, hiking, biking, and reading. PENN STATE EXTENSION

Left photo: Map of Eastern US showing where American Chestnut trees once grew. Top right photos: American Chestnut Seed with seed coat opened to show the chestnut.

AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION

Bottom right photo- This picture, taken in the mid- to late 19th century, gives an idea of just how large and profuse the American chestnut tree was in Eastern U.S. forests. There are now only 100 or so that remain.

Want to learn more? Visit our website at appenmediacom/opinion/ columnists/garden_buzz/. ridge. The rapid spread of this fungal disease was possible since fungi reproduce by airborne spores. When the wind carries spores to the American chestnut host tree, the spores germinate and begin to divide. The fungus cells, in turn, form rootlike hyphae. These hyphae branch out and penetrate the bark of the tree. Over time, cankers grow and interrupt the internal flow of water and nutrients to the tree’s branches, leaves and roots resulting in the death of the tree. Two factors contributed to their extinction. As American chestnut trees began to die in astoundingly large numbers, lumber companies stepped in and quickly cut down any remaining chestnut trees. The result was the complete loss of vast swaths of forest, creating erosion and in some cases, flooding and changing the Appalachian Mountain Forest

ecosystem forever! With the loss of a tree that could stand 100 feet tall and produce over 6,000 chestnuts at maturity, there has been a desire to see these trees returned to our eastern forests. How can the goal to create a genetically, blight resistant tree be accomplished? The solution is complicated. The American Chestnut Foundation was organized in 1989 to achieve this goal. Fortunately, Chinese chestnut trees have a genetic resistance to the chestnut blight. As a result, the two chestnut species have been crossbred, but the resulting first-generation hybrids have only 50% of the desired genetic characteristics of the American chestnut. Over the last four decades, the most blight-resistant hybrids have been crossbred with the American chestnut in an attempt create a chestnut tree that is as genetically close to the American chestnut as possible. Currently, a hybrid has been created that contains 94% of the genes of the American chestnut. Another group has used modern genetic engineering techniques to create a hybrid with 99% of the American chestnut genes plus genes to provide immunity from the fungus blight. With the cooperation of federal,

state and local forest services, as well as research scientists and private citizens, hybrid trees are being grown throughout the American chestnuts’ former Appalachian Mountain habitat to find the most resistant hybrid. Pilot research projects have been established in several locations in the Atlanta area. There are 18 hybrid chestnuts growing in the Atlanta History Center orchard, and 13 of them have prospered and five are too weak to grow to maturity. In 2019, Big Trees Forest Preserve in Sandy Springs next to the UGA Extension office, planted several dozen young, hybrid chestnuts. Both locations hope their young, hybrid trees will mature and produce chestnut seeds to help the American Chestnut Society reach their goal of re-introducing healthy, blight resistant, American chestnut trees into the Appalachian Mountain Forests. Wishing success to the combined efforts of everyone working on the American chestnut restoration project! Happy Gardening! North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/.

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | January 25, 2024 | 19

A Community of Advocates For Local Journalism Join today for $16/month

In 2022, Appen Media Group created the Appen Press Club, its mission driven news division dedicated to creating a sustainable infrastructure for local journalism in the north metro Atlanta area. Residents of that community, like you, join the Press Club by committing to small monthly or annual dues, 100% of which is dedicated to producing reliable, professional journalism on local issues that affect your lives.

Join your neighbors in support of local journalism CHARTER MEMBER Big Sky Franchise Team David & Michelle Bertany Amour & Duane Carthy

Adam Corder Robert Flint

Robin Fricton Roderick Liptrot

Tom McMurrain Bob Meyers

Ross & Lori Ramsey Kim Truett

Roger Wise Jr.

Charlcie Forehand Marie Gualtiere Vickie McElroy

Anne Peer Robert Popp Mark Rundle

Carol Williams Marilyn Colarossi-Woods

Fred Moeller Carol Morgan Kathy Morgan Stu Moring Donna Murphy Jack Murphy Tricia Novarro Bob O’Brien Lynn Pennington Kurt & Leslie Phillips Joy Pooler Debra Powell Righteous PR Chuck Pugh Ashwin Ramaswami Cheryl Rand Jean Rearick Neil Robertson Matt Rohs Jan Satterfield Stephanie Schuette Susan Searles Tina Shelton Lisa Shippel Joanne Simmons

Cindy Simpson Faye Sklar Judith Slaughter Andy Smith Wesley Stewart Cathryn Stovall Celeste Strohl Andy Sumlin Mike Tasos Candice Teichert Lisa Tilt Michael Townes Matthew Tyser Ollie Wagner Lewis Walker Jonathan Washburn Sally White Thom White Michael Weiss Susan Wilson Jamie Wimberly Nancy & Dave Wistrand Carla York

Colt Whittall

MEMBER+ Kerry Arias Scott Baynton Joseph Bell

James Bennett Amy Bergin Rita Brown

Mark Casas David Conti Theodore Davis III

MEMBER Alpharetta Lions Club Omar Altalib Dave Altman Ron Altman American Legion Post 201 Barbara Anderson Gaye Armstrong Mary Asbury Beth Barnes Barbara Bauschka Kathy Beck Bill Bentley Leslie Berry Tom Billings Tochie Blan Ron Boddicker Jodi Bogen Debra Bowen Joe Bowen Ryan Brainard Dorothy Brouhard Erendira Brumley Bernhard Burgener Mike & Theresa Buscher Mary Busman

Gary Butterfield Clea Calloway Kirk Canaday James Carr Bridgette Carter William Cartwright Pat Check Virginia Christman Christopher Cleary Ann Coaloa Evelyn Collazo Michael Mackenzie Communications Joan Compton Terri Coons David Davis Rebecca Donlan Tom Driscoll Michael Dudgeon Jeanette Dummer DutchCrafters Amish Furniture Mim Eisenberg Danny Elkins Su Ellis Martha Fasse

Lee Fleck Cathy Flynn Nanci Foster Amy Frederick Kelly Frommer Carol Fry Tracey Ganesh John Gilberto Leslie Gilliam Michelle Glotzbach Harvey Goldberg Christopher Goodrich Phyllis Goodrich Marilee Hamilton Susan Hanna Joe Hirsch Penn Hodge Dianne & Steffan Holmquist Joan Hostetter Austin Hughes Lynn Johnson Tyler Jones Arthur Kebanli Mark Kelly Allison Kloster

Dyna Kohler Larry Krueger Jess & Chris Kysar Malinda Lackey Ken Leffingwell Carol Lehan Bonnie Lind Francia Lindon Harlan Little Ross Long Brenda Lundy Rita Loventhal Momma Nature Madan Karen Magill Kyile Marshall Valerie Matthews William Maxwell Rachel McCord Austin McCully Lynn McIntyre Mike McLoughlin Jennifer Mendoza Al Merrill Chris Miller Christine Miller

To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size! Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Scan QR code to join Appen Press Club

20 | January 25, 2024 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

With a little patience, you can see a lot watching a river

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

You know what? It’s been cold these last few days. How cold? Real cold. Reeeeeal cold. One of my kids lives up in Wisconsin now, up there in the frozen north country. He called me yesterday and said they had 8 inches of snow

the previous night. “But I rode my bike to work today,” he added. Rode his bike. To work. In the snow. “Yeah,” he continued. “I only slipped and fell once, but that was just as I was getting home.” He’s an academic, a purveyor of pedagogy, and he’s not yet 40 years old. Sub-40 academics can be interesting people. Me? I’m over 40, so I invoke what’s known as the Over-40 Rule: “I’m over 40, so I don’t have to do that anymore.” But what do I like to do when it gets cold? Well, believe it or not, I like to go fishing. For years, in one of my favorite wintertime activities was to watch for the coming of a gray, cold, and prefer-

ably snowy day. Then I’d round up a rod and set out to spend the afternoon wading around in liquid nitrogen, hoping to fool fish who, being smarter than me, were probably hunkered down under a rock somewhere drinking the trouty equivalent of hot chocolate. It became tradition, and somewhere deep down I enjoyed it. Now and then I’d even catch a fish. But mostly I just stood in the water, numb, shivering. Yesterday (it was that really, really cold one, remember?) I briefly entertained keeping that tradition alive. But then I remembered the Rule. Still, I wanted to go to a river, most any river, just to sit near the water and see things. Just because. If I dressed right and didn’t fall in, I’d be fine. I got in the car and drove north a ways, up to what they call the Steele Bridge over Amicalola Creek. There’s a nice little place there where you can park your car and sit on the hood, if your car is old, and watch the river flow

by. I figured it would be as good a place as any to scratch that particular itch on that particular day. Sometimes you’ll see a lot if you just sit by a river and just watch. Pretty soon I arrived. I pulled off the road onto a gravel turnout not far from the bridge. Then I climbed out and leaned up against the hood, the lingering warmth of the now-stilled motor keeping the cold at bay. I’d stay just a little while, I told myself. I’d stay till I got cold and it was time to leave. For a while I had it all to myself. But then, from down the road, here comes Mavis. I know her name was Mavis because that’s what Lem called her when they pulled up behind me a moment later, and I know his name was Lem because that’s what Mavis called him. We journalist types are highly trained when it comes to the art of observation, you know. We don’t miss a thing. Mavis opened her car door and got

Locally Owned and Operated

• Pre-planning • Grief Support • Funeral Services • Veteran Services • Cremation Services

770-645-1414

info@northsidechapel.com www.northsidechapel.com During these turbulent times, we would like to highlight the continued courage and commitment of everyone who works in the health care, law enforcement, childcare, food service and utility sectors. We are extremely grateful.

12050 Crabapple Road • Roswell, GA 30075

out and walked the3 yards to the edge of the gravel. The river was right below her. “Hey Lem!” she hollered. “Lem, you gotta come see this. It’s just bee-yooteful!” Lem climbed out of the car then, bringing with him an unopened silver can of beer. He walked up beside Mavis and popped the top and took a long, slow drink. “Bee-yooteful sure enough. Mavis, where’s that durned camera?” Mavis turned back to the car, rummaged in the back seat, and emerged with a small camera, an old one, the kind that uses film. “Hey mister,” she said to me. “You mind taking our picture?” She fiddled with the camera for a second and then handed it to me as Lem took another pull on his beer. Then she grabbed Lem by the hand and pulled him to his feet and said, “Come on. Smile!” The camera went click. Lem took a last long swallow from the can. Then he crumpled the can and folded it in two. And then, winding up like a major league pitcher, he threw the empty far out over the river. It soared through the crystalline winter air in an oddly graceful arc, spinning so it caught and reflected the setting sun, and then it hit the river with a shallow little splash. It bobbed for a few seconds, carried by the current, then sank out of sight in an eddy behind a rock near the head of little pool. “Be-yooteful!” Mavis said again, turning now to walk back the way she came. “I’m sure glad we took that picture. You’re glad, too, aren’t you, Lem?” Followed by Mavis, Lem climbed back into the car then. He turned over the motor and kicked the beast into gear. Gravel flew from the tires as they drove back onto pavement. Yeah, you’ll see a lot if you sit and watch a river. Solution D A S H E D A M F L O P O G E E T O G A S A U D I A R G O N C H A R A C T E R A L O N E S T A M M E R N I T S I P A I S L E S L L A M A S E R N E R U P T E L O P E A R E A S A R T E R E N D E D I T S S N E E R O L D L I T A N Y E A R N E D B U S F A N T R O U N C E F R I S K G U I L T A G R E E M E N T L O A N A R I D A N D E S P A S S A S P S L E T S

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | January 25, 2024 | 21

THE INK PENN

At times, team-building is a murderous exercise Two of my recent reads involved death — or at least the possibility of It — during teambuilding trips. For a portion of my corporate career, I worked in personnel and faKATHY MANOS PENN cilitated leadership Columnist programs. And, yes, I facilitated teambuilding events, too. Thank goodness no one ever died. Why did I read two books like this? The answer is that I’ve been desperately trying to finish writing the latest book in my cozy mystery series and it’s set during a conference that includes outdoor team building activities. Because my books usually include a book club meeting where the book that’s read that month loosely ties to the plot, these two selections appeared to fit the bill. For example, book five in my series is set in Tintagel, where King Arthus was allegedly conceived, so the book club selection was “The Once and Future King.” For my Christmas book, I chose “Mr. Dickens and his Christmas” as the choice. In search of something to fit the bill for my current book, I stumbled across two that might work. “Force of Nature” by Jane Harper As this book opens in the bushland of Australia, five women on a corporate retreat in the wilderness are late to their rendezvous point. They’ve been camping for several nights. Are they experienced campers? No, but they have maps and food and equipment, and this experience has been set up by an outdoor event company. It’s not the norm for a group to be late, nor is it the norm for only four of the five to make it back. What is the norm, based on my experience, is for tensions to rise. My groups never did overnight trips, but they did spend half to a whole day outdoors working through puzzles and problems. One program even had them build a bridge across a small ravine. All of that creates an environment ripe for competition and disagreements over the best solution, even raised voices and arguments. Is the missing woman dead or injured? You’ll have to read the book to find out. The author slowly reveals the backstory of the office relationships and how they spill over into the wilder-

ness, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat until the very end. I realized as I read this one that I’d also read the first book in the series, but I couldn’t remember much about it other than that I enjoyed it. That means “Force of Nature” can easily be read as a standalone. “Death by Team Building” by Cheri Baker Given the title, there’s no doubt that someone will die in this book. It’s just a question of who it will be. Again, the setting is a team building retreat, except this one happens at a remote resort in the Pacific Northwest. The participants are the executive team of a hospital, there to bond and work on goals for the next year. There’s also an external consultant and Kat Voyzey, who’s there representing the Director of Personnel, who can’t make it. I laughed when I read the tag line, "Group work always bites you in the a__. That was true in ninth grade history class, and just as true in a murder investigation." The dialogue is snappy, and the mystery kept me guessing. As one review says, “The amateur sleuth is smart and funny, which makes this cozy mystery very enjoyable. The setting is very Agatha Christie meets the Pacific Northwest.” Like an Agatha Christie mystery, there may not be that many characters, but everyone has a possible motive for doing away with the victim. The addition of a snowstorm that means the group can’t leave and the police can’t get to them heightens the suspense. Will a second person die? You never know. This is book three in a four-book series, but I had no problem enjoying it, even though, in this case, I had not read any of the earlier books. Though both books involve team building, the tones are very different. The second one is a cozy mystery and a bit lighter than the first. The first has federal agents and police working to solve the case. The second is solved by an amateur sleuth. I predict you’ll enjoy both. Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries on Amazon or locally at The Enchanted Forest, Bookmiser, Tall Tales, and Johns Creek Books. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/KathyManosPennAuthor/.

Office Space for Lease Close to Downtown Alpharetta Small private office space (unfurnished) available in Appen Media Office close to Downtown Alpharetta (319 North Main Street, Alpharetta). All utilities included, Internet included (within reason), 24/7 access. Space is upstairs in area of Appen Newsroom. Private, quiet, and open. Approximately 200 sq. ft. (14’ x 14’). $/600 per month, first/ last/security deposit required as well as solid reliable references. Space would be perfect for a bookkeeper or a self-employed person. Contact via text or email: Ray Appen at 770-527-4042 or RayAppen@Gmail.com

·CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PUBLIC NOTICE PURPOSE An Alcoholic Beverage License Application was submitted to City on January 8, 2024 for Consumption on Premises of Malt Beverage, Wine and Distilled Spirits. BUSINESS NAME Oly’s Tavern LLC Oly’s Tavern 9945 Jones Bridge Rd Suite 301 Johns Creek, GA 30022

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PUBLIC NOTICE PURPOSE An Alcoholic Beverage License Application was submitted to City on December 2, 2023 for Consumption on Premises of Malt Beverage, Wine and Distilled Spirits. BUSINESS NAME SVS Bliss LLC Dba Kismet Lounge 10305 Medlock Bridge Rd Suite A6 Johns Creek, GA 30097 OWNER/OFFICERS SVS Bliss LLC Dba Kismet Lounge 10305 Medlock Bridge Rd Suite A6 Johns Creek, GA 30097 Owner Ram Kumar Mamindla ·CITY OF CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PUBLIC NOTICE PURPOSE An Alcoholic Beverage License Application was submitted to City on December 27, 2023 for Package of Malt Beverage and Wine BUSINESS NAME Thevicekitchen.com LLC Dba The Vice Kitchen 6000 Medlock Bridge Pkwy SuiteE-800 Johns Creek, GA 30097

OWNER/OFFICERS Oly’s Tavern LLC Oly’s Tavern 9945 Jones Bridge Rd Suite 301 Johns Creek, GA 30022

OWNER/OFFICERS Thevicekitchen.com LLC Dba The Vice Kitchen 6000 Medlock Bridge Pkwy SuiteE-800 Johns Creek, GA 30097

Owner, Dale Messman

Owner, Jian Geng

22 | January 25, 2024 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

ONLINE INCLUDED C a l l t o d a y t o p l a c e y o u r a d 4 7 0 . 2 2 2 . 8 4 6 9 o r e m a i l c l a s s i f i e d s @ a p p e n m e d i a g r o u p . c o m • FA X : 7 7 0 - 4 7 5 - 1 2 1 6

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Full-time

At North Fulton Community Charities, our mission is to help ease hardship and foster financial stability in our community. Our employees and volunteers get great enjoyment of being able to give back to our clients and those in need. NFCC is seeking a Director of Finance and Administration that would have at least 7+ years of experience in Finance or Accounting, 3-5 years in Project Management and 5- 10 years of senior management experience. This position will be responsible for all Finance/ Accounting and oversight of the Human Resources administration and Information Technology departments at NFCC. This position reports to the Executive Director of NFCC and works closely with the other Department Directors and the Board of Directors to achieve NFCC’s mission. The role requires strong leadership, project management and presentation skills. The position will be creating and implementing all policies and procedures related to financial recording and reporting, and creating and maintaining business process documents that support all Finance, Accounting, and oversee Human Resources and Information Technology processes. For the complete job description, please visit our website at https:// nfcchelp.org/work-at-nfcc/ Please send your resume and salary requirements to sbrown@nfcchelp.org. EEO Statement: NFCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, NFCC does not discriminate based on race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disabilities, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis protected by the law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. Business System Consultant (Alpharetta, GA): Form & dsgn automated sys scope & objctvs based on user needs & understanding of applicable biz sys & ind reqs. Consults & coords w/ programmers to dsgn & dvlp reqs & analyze the feasibility of new sys & enhancements to existing sys; ensures the sys dsgn fits the needs of the users. Prepares input for sys dsgn, incl final rprt & screen definition, logical sys flow & implem plans. Resumes to: Total System Services LLC, Brian Simons, Associate Director, HR Risk & Compliance, One TSYS Way, Columbus GA 31901. #AM854643

General Clerk III - Customer Service Sawnee EMC is seeking a General Clerk III – Customer Service to assist in a high-volume call center. Requires high school diploma or equivalency, computer, communication and general office skills. Two years of related experience preferred. Position is full-time; must be flexible to work irregular hours, to include evenings, weekends and holidays. Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, February 2, 2024. Apply online: www.sawnee.com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

Tree Services

PINESTRAW, MULCH Delivery/installation available. Firewood available. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612

Gutters AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS

24 hour emergency service. Licensed, insured. Workers Comp, insurance claims. 25+ years experience. Family business. Free estimates. We Love Challenges!

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer of Females, Minorities, Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.

Part-time TEACHERS Fun Kidz @ Midway United Methodist Church is looking for teachers for our before/after school care program. If you are an early riser and love kids, we may be a perfect fit. Hours: 6:45am – 9:15am. Contact Beth by email: beth@midwayumc.org or phone: 770-752-0440

Pinestraw

Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts 770-512-8733 • www.yellowribbontree.com COMPLETE TREE SERVICES Appen-Rated 98 Text or Call us for a FREE quote appointment.

Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 678-508-2432

Pet Sitting / House Sitting H.E.L.P. PET SITTING & HOUSE SITTING. AVAILABLE FOR WALKS AND OVERNIGHTS.

470-402-1184.

Tree removal, Pruning, Stump grinding, Free mulch. Fully insured. Emergency 24/7. 770-450-8188

Deadline to place a classified ad is Thursdays by 4pm

Is Your Company Hiring?

Driveway

Roofing

$250 OFF NEW DRIVEWAY!

ROOF LEAKING?

Submit your opening at appenmedia.com/hire

Advertise your JOB OPENING in the newspaper and you too can say...

Mention this ad. Concrete driveway specialists. Driveways, Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways, Slabs. A+ BBB rating. FREE ESTIMATE. Call Rachael at 678-250-4546 to schedule a FREE Estimate. 30 years of experience. ARBOR HILLS CONSTRUCTION INC. Please note we do have a minimum charge on accepted jobs of $4,500.

Flooring il .8469 or ema Call 470.22a2ppenmedia.com classifieds@

PHILLIPS FLOORING Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes. Regrouting is also available. Call 678-887-1868 for free estimate.

Call us for roof repair or roof replacement. FREE quotes. $200 OFF Leak Repairs or 10% off New Roof. Affordable, quality roofing. Based in Roswell. Serving North Atlanta since 1983. Call to schedule FREE Quote: 770-284-3123. Christian Brothers Roofing

Cemetery GREENLAWN ROSWELL: 2 plots on picturesque lakeview hillside. Market price, $9000 each. Bargain priced at $5000 each! 770475-7307

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | January 25, 2024 | 23

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

Dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400+ procedures. Real dental insurance - not just a discount plan. Get your free Information Kit with details! 1-855-526-1060 www.dental50plus.com/ads #6258

Miscellaneous

Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to re-ceive a FREE 7-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-855-948-6176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a Attention oxygen therapy users! power move. Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call LeafFilter, the most advanced 877-929-9587 debris-blocking gutter protec-tion. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936

Home Services

Aging Roof? New Homeowner? Got Storm Damage? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-888-878-9091

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725 Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Fi-nancing available. 1-855-417-1306

MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free HughesNet - Finally, super-fast brochure! 1-888-489-3936 internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Free high speed internet if Unlimited Data is Here. Stream qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free of select pgms incl. Medicaid, Installation. Call 866-499-0141 SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Become a published author. Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB We want to read your book! internet. Android tablet free Dorrance Publishing trusted w/one-time $20 copay. Free since 1920. Consultation, shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom! production, promotion & 1-833-758-3892 distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit Wesley Financial Group, dorranceinfo.com/ads LLC Timeshare Cancellation ExpertsOver $50,000,000 DISH TV $64.99 For 190 in timeshare debt & fees Channels + $14.95 High Speed cancelled in 2019. Get free Internet. Free Installation, Smart info package & learn how HD DVR Included, Free Voice to get rid of your timeshare! Remote. Some restrictions Free consultations. Over 450 apply. Promo Expires 12/31/24. positive reviews. 833-308-1971 1-866-479-1516

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405

Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, we’re cutting installation costs in half and offering a FREE safety upgrade! Addi-tional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer. Offer ends 3/31/24 Call 1-844-501-3208

Diagnosed with lung cancer & 65+? You may qualify for a substantial cash award. No obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help! Call 24/7 1-877-707-5707 Replace your roof w/the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install (military, health & 1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234

Since 1990 we have believed local news should be free to read and accessible by all. If you agree, consider making a pledge today.

Receive a free 7-year warranty with qualifying purchase* – valued at $735.

Call 866-643-0438 to schedule your free quote!

*Terms and Conditions apply.

SPE

CIAL

OFF

Call today and receive a

FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF 1-855-417-1306 With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445

RESS P N

UB CL

Free to read, not to produce.

It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.™

APPE

Water damage cleanup & restoration: A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. Our trusted professionals do VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! complete repairs to protect your 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL fami-ly and your home’s value! $99.00. 100% guaranteed. Call 24/7: 1-888-872-2809 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Español

Health & Fitness

Go to appenmedia.com/join or mail a check to 319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009

24 | January 25, 2024 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

WE BUY ALL JEWELRY! Your estate jewelry & diamond specialists for 60 years. Schedule a private appointment.

Paying Premiums for Vintage Rolex and Omega Watches

770-751-7222 Call or Text www.iroff.com

3960 Old Milton Pkwy #300 (1.5 miles East of 400)

Restyle or Custom Make Something New! We Take Trade-Ins.

Gold is at a 8 year high!

You get the best price in town, and immediate payment! Over 75% of Our Business Comes from Satisfied Customer Referrals! Jewelry

Gold

Silver

Diamonds

Gemstones

Coins

Watches

Estate jewelry Fine Jewelry Platinum Jewelry Diamond Jewelry Gemstone Jewelry Designer Jewelry David Yurman Tiffany & Co. Cartier

Gold Jewelry Broken Jewelry Gold Watches Dental Gold Gold Coins Gold Bars Gold Nuggets

Sterling Silver Silverware Flatware Bowls Silver Jewelry Silver Bars

All Sizes All Shapes All Cuts All Qualities Loose or Set Chipped/Broken

Sapphires Rubies Emeralds All Precious Semi-Precious Loose or Set Jade

All Gold Coins All Silver Coins All Platinum Coins Silver Dollars Collectable Coins Paper Money

Rolex Cartier Omega Patek Audemars Piguet Tagheuer and other brands Paying up to $150,000

2008-2023 GA 4 00

FREE CASH EVALUATION

Must Present Coupon.

Webb Br id g e

Tuesday – Friday: 10AM – 5PM Saturday: 10AM – 2PM • Sunday & Monday: Closed *Appointments may be available outside of traditional store hours.

400

Nor

oin th P

k t P

Kim

Old M

ilton

ball

Pkw

Rd Bridge

WINNER

Best Of North Atlanta Presented By

y Brian Iroff GIA Graduate Gemologist