Johns Creek Environmental Compliance Manager, Terrence Byrd, points to construction work in the new Knollwood subdivision off Parsons Road. Working out of the Community Development Department, Byrd oversees the land development process from start to finish.
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Inside a conference room at Johns Creek City Hall, Terrence Byrd and others in the city’s Community Development Department sat with a resident for more than an hour, advising her on a small home project.
The process for Catherine Curtiss to
make her backyard in St. Ives Country Club more accessible, by adding a few stepping stones, was more than she bargained for.
Byrd, the city’s environmental compliance manager, a role within the department’s Land Development division, explained that her home is in the River Corridor and with that, comes some restrictions.
The River Corridor is defined by its distance to the Chattahoochee River, a 2,000-foot buffer. It’s under the purview of the Atlanta Regional Commission, as part of the Metropolitan River Protection Act, adopted in the mid-’70s to protect a 48-mile stretch of the river between Buford Dam and Peachtree Creek.
See CIVIC, Page 22
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Centennial and Johns Creek high school football teams matched up Aug. 30, continuing a tradition that began in 2017 to honor veterans.
The Veterans Memorial Cup, a nonconference game, was held at Centennial’s home stadium, “The Fortress.” It ended in a 17-13 win for the Knights.
Before kick-off, players from both teams shook hands with members of the Johns Creek Veterans Association on the 50-yard line, and the announcer provided the crowd with a brief history of the event.
In its first year, the Veterans Memorial Cup was held at the Gladiator’s stadium where the Knights pulled off a “come-from-behind-victory” in the fourth quarter. Because a significant portion of Centennial’s students are from Johns Creek, the announcer said there’s a natural rivalry.
“While the competition on the field would be fierce, the community and spirit of honoring our local veterans will always be at the forefront,” the announcer said.
FOOTBALL, Page 21
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JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested a 21-year-old Johns Creek man Aug. 26 after a woman complained he had followed her around the neighborhood and to her home.
As police approached the woman’s house, they passed the suspect walking away from her home, according to the incident report. The woman yelled to police that he was the man following her, and the suspect took off running, but he was soon stopped and detained by police, the report says.
The woman told police she had been walking through the neighborhood when she noticed the suspect standing in front of her friend’s house. She said the man saw her as she passed and began following her, maintaining a distance, while en route to her house.
The woman said she saw the suspect sitting on top of the electrical unit outside her house, staring in her home, the report says. She also said she saw the suspect’s hands in his pants at one point but didn’t know what he was doing.
A neighbor provided video evidence of the man walking through her yard into the victim’s yard and running away when police arrived.
The man told police he had been walking and lived nearby and had not been following anyone.
Police charged the suspect with loitering and prowling and transported him to the North Fulton County Jail.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested a 65-year-old Tucker woman Aug. 31 for committing fraud over the course of several months at TJ Maxx by returning items that hadn’t been initially purchased.
In May, police said she purchased a purse for $1,700 using an Amex card, and about a week later, she stopped at the location off Medlock Bridge Road to return a different purse, receiving a $1,700 refund to another card.
The suspect made several more fraudulent returns over the next few months, according to multiple incident reports dated July 22.
Police had obtained a warrant on the suspect for felony theft by deception and two counts of misdemeanor theft by deception charges.
The suspect was booked Aug. 31 and released Sept. 3, according to jail records. One of the conditions of her $2,000 bond was to stay away from TJ Maxx, according to court records.
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating a second-degree burglary at a construction site after the crew reported more than $5,000 in stolen property Aug. 26.
Internet rumors say construction crews are working on preparing the site of the former Boston Market at 1555 Holcomb Bridge Road for new use.
The manager said someone entered the construction site over the weekend of Aug. 23-26 and stole $5,000 in equipment and around $400 in copper. He also said most of the equipment belongs to one of his workers.
Officers said they were shown the toolbox with broken hinges where the tools had been stored. The construction worker provided an itemized list of his stolen belongings, which include multiple highvoltage batteries, saws, blowers, harnesses, hammers and framing nail guns.
Officers did not identify a suspect.
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 60-year-old Sandy Springs man was arrested Aug. 10 after he allegedly ran out of a Walgreens with a shopping cart loaded with almost $1,000 of items.
Police were dispatched to a Walgreens about 7 p.m. after a shoplifting was reported, according to the incident report.
An employee gave police a description of a man they said had triggered a theft alarm at the exit.
Officers searched the area and found Walgreens and Publix shopping carts filled with stolen items from both stores, according to the report. They also found the man, who was identified as the suspect by a Walgreens employee.
The stolen items included over-thecounter pain relief medicine, nutrition shakes, women’s socks, mouthwash, vitamin gummies, condoms, an ice chest, barbecue sauces, laundry detergent, beer, an air fryer, pens and an electric toothbrush. Police arrested the suspect on theft by shoplifting over $500, removal or abandonment of shopping carts and obstruction of or resisting an officer or arrest charges.
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 33-year-old Cumming woman was arrested Aug. 10 after police cited her for driving while intoxicated with a child in her vehicle.
Police were dispatched about 4:30 p.m. to the parking lot of Alpharetta Elementary School after a caller reported a vehicle striking a curb twice, according to an Alpharetta police report.
Police found the woman in the driver’s seat and reported she had bloodshot, watery eyes, and she smelled of alcohol. An officer also saw vomit in the vehicle’s driver’s side. When police asked the woman to exit the vehicle, she was swaying.
A 4-year-old child was sitting in the back seat.
The woman told police she “was obviously too intoxicated to drive” and “drank too much at a birthday party,” according to the report.
A breath test indicated she had a breath alcohol concentration of 0.14 grams.
Police arrested the woman on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence concentration and endangering a child by driving under the influence of alcohol.
Lyric Fluellen reacts after she is named Role Model Sweetheart at this year’s Royal International Miss Pageant in Orlando in July. Lyric said she had so much fun at the competition that she wants to attend future pageants.
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Royal International Miss Pageant winner Lyric Fluellen loves to help out in her community.
“It was really fun,” Lyric said.
As part of her platform for the pageant, Lyric, a 9-year-old Johns Creek girl and Montessori student, performed all kinds of community service from providing hundreds of holiday gifts to regularly making care kits for older residents.
Lyric won the Role Model Sweetheart title for 8-10-year-old girls division at this year’s pageant. She traveled to Orlando in July to attend the week-long pageant, which included interviews and fashion activities. She competed with more than 200 other girls from across the globe.
She donned various outfits, including a dress that was Chik-fil-A themed and emblazoned with the slogan “We didn’t invent the chicken, just the chicken sandwich.”
Meeting and competing alongside all those girls, Lyric said, was her favorite part.
Lyric prepared for eight months, working with coaches and her parents on interview, fashion and other skills.
Lyric’s father Andre Fluellen, a former defensive tackle who played for Florida State and the Detroit Lions, said she sometimes attended as many as five practices a day, bringing an intensity that would have been at home on the football field.
“When she really wants something and she has her mind put on it, it's going to
happen,” he said. “She put all the work in. She put in all the practices.”
After all that work, Lyric felt at ease standing before judges and speaking publicly.
Lyric’s father admitted he initially had some reservations about his daughter competing in pageants. But he changed his mind after seeing how hard she worked and the many ways she’s given back to people in need.
“It's so much about public speaking, like she has her own platform, that she helps seniors around the community,” he said. “She sent out her senior care kits worldwide.”
Lyric has given out thousands of items and care kits to seniors around the country. On weekends, she and friends meet on what they’ve dubbed “Senior Saturday” to assemble care packages. She sometimes delivers the packages from door to door.
She regularly visits senior centers in Milton, Alpharetta and elsewhere in her community.
On a trip with her family to Malta, she found a senior center where she handed out kits to residents.
“It just shows you the power of what pageantry is really all about,” Andre said. “It's been great for her self-esteem, for her confidence, so I am a huge fan of pageantry, and I want her to continue.”
Lyric said she also finds personal satisfaction in the work.
“I love working with seniors, because first of all, I love making them smile,” she said.
SEPTEMBER 21 & 22
METRO ATLANTA
Metro Atlanta school districts have increased police patrols and presence on campuses in the wake of the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County Sept. 4 that killed four people.
School officials in Fulton County and DeKalb County school districts said their priority is to ensure students are safe back in class moving forward.
Nationwide, Americans are grappling with the largest school shooting since the March 2023 massacre at Covenant School in Nashville, which left six people dead.
A 14-year-old student, Colt Gray, faces four counts of felony murder after he allegedly brought an AR-15 into Apalachee High School and killed two 14-year-olds and two teachers.
Nine other people injured in the attack are reported to be recovering in area hospitals.
Fulton County Schools’ Chief Communications Officer Brian Noyes said the district is collaborating with local police jurisdictions to have increased patrols on campuses for the next few days to support the FCS Police Department and increase visibility.
Like many school districts in Metro Atlanta, Noyes said FCS has made significant investments in safety resources and tools over the past several years.
In a letter to parents and guardians, Fulton County Schools first put the focus on supporting the entire Barrow County School District during such challenging times.
“Whenever something as shocking and tragic as this happens, it impacts us all … we understand that incidents like these are deeply unsettling,” the letter said. “Please be assured that the safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority.”
The letter stresses that there will be increased awareness of existing safety protocols in schools. It also encourages parents and guardians to speak with their children about their thoughts and feelings.
DeKalb County
The DeKalb County School District issued a similar response Sept. 5, first extending condolences to Apalachee High School families and the entire Barrow County community.
“In times like these, it is crucial that we come together in solidarity to support one another and provide the necessary resources and care to navigate the challenging road ahead,” the letter said. “Our school counselors, social workers and psychologists are available to assist students, staff and parents/guardians in need of support.”
Tracey Whaley, the school district’s executive director of Public Safety, ordered his command staff and officers Sept. 4 to be in a heightened state of alert, saying the precautionary measure is not related to any known threats in the area but out of an abundance of caution.
DeKalb County School District also provided resources through the National Association of School Psychologists about talking to children about school shootings and violence.
To access the association’s website, visit www.nasponline.org/.
Forsyth County Schools coordinated with the Sheriff’s Office to increase a law enforcement presence on campuses, Director of Communication Michele Dugan said. Authorities, including school resource officers, may be parked at schools, walking the grounds or driving through campuses. The district also sent letters supporting Barrow County schools and informing local families about safety information.
“This heartbreaking incident is a solemn reminder of the challenges faced by all schools in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students and staff,” district officials said in their letter to Barrow County.
To view the letter, visit tinyurl. com/4myaa4eu.
Forsyth County school officials have made other preparations throughout the year, routinely performing lockdown drills and training staff members about school safety, Dugan said.
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — East Lake Foundation President and CEO Ilham Askia ensures that the historic golf club lives up to its motto, “Golf with a Purpose.”
With the PGA Tour’s 30 best golfers competing for the 2024 FedEx Cup and its $100 million purse, Askia said the club’s new fan experiences and amenities brought a lot of people to east Atlanta for the tournament.
She also said her team worked for weeks in the lead up to the Tour Championship, Aug. 29-Sept. 1.
Renovations of the historic East Lake Golf Club, permanent home of the PGA Tour Championship since 2004, began the day after last year’s tournament ended.
Around 11 months and $30 million later, designer Andrew Green completed the course restoration, which is based off the discovery of aerial photos from 1949.
In short, the renovation of East Lake means the topography of the course matches its look like it did a century ago.
Improvements include a new irrigation system, more than 100 acres of new grass, faster green surfaces and redesigned hazards.
“They incorporated some stuff from the 1940s and brought some modern stuff in from today,” Askia said. “They wanted to up the complexity for the pros but have it still playable for the members.”
A few alumni of the 2019 state cham-
pion Charles R. Drew Charter School recognized Askia from her work in the community and gave their thoughts on the final nine holes of the 72-hole tournament.
The local Drew Charter boys golf team vaulted into the national spotlight in 2019 when it won its first state title at Southern Landings in Warner Robins. The team became the first from Atlanta Public Schools and comprised entirely of Black players to win a state golf championship.
Chris McCrary, member of the state championship team and Georgia Tech alumni, said he and his friends had been watching Sahith Theegala.
“He had a great tee shot on No. 8,” McCrary said. “He can really bang that driver.”
McCrary and the Drew Charter alumni were looking to catch a glimpse of Scottie Scheffler’s final holes after back-to-back bogies on No. 7 and 8 dropped his lead to just a few strokes.
Scheffler is the winner of the 2024 Masters Tournament, The Players Championship and the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup.
On top of that, he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational March 10, RBC Heritage April 22, Memorial Tournament June 9, Travelers Championship June 23 and set an Olympic record of 19-under, 265, across 72 holes on his way to a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.
MILTON, Ga. — On her way to earning the highest honor in Girl Scouts, King’s Ridge Christian School junior Nora Michaelis created a mentoring program for teens with Down syndrome — bEquals.
Less than 4 percent of eligible candidates in Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta earn the Gold Award annually, according to data from a local Johns Creek-based chapter.
Michaelis is a member of Troop 14494 within Johns Creek’s Two Bridges Service Unit, where her mother serves as troop leader. Recently, the family moved to Milton.
Michaelis earned her Gold Award at the end of August. Her project involved a series of opportunities throughout the school year for teens with Down syndrome to partner with neurotypical teens to improve social skills and communication.
During her mentoring program at GiGi’s Playhouse Atlanta off Ga. 9 in Roswell, Michaelis looked to dissolve the stigma sometimes associated with working with special needs children.
She also fundraised for and designed a new coffee bar and the teen lounge at GiGi’s Playhouse’s newly renovated facility.
Michaelis said starting the bEquals mentoring program is one of the best decisions she has ever made.
“My only regret is not starting it sooner,” she said. “There’s such a need for neurotypical outreach programs, and I’m just happy to have really made a change in my community.”
The playhouse provides programming for individuals with Down syndrome free of charge.
For more information, visit gigisplayhouse.org/atlanta/.
King’s Ridge Christian School junior Nora Michaelis stands beside the coffee bar and teen lounge at GiGi’s Playhouse that she funded and built as a part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project. Michaelis earned the prestigious award in August after creating a mentoring program for teens with Down syndrome.
8 | Johns Creek Herald | September 12, 2024
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Lynn Stallings, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Atlanta Workshop Players, said her work involves teaching people to love.
The performing arts organization provides weekly classes in improv, acting essentials and on-camera acting, allowing clients to perform recorded scenes in a living room, kitchen or school. It also boasts a movie musical company, so students can sing, dance and act to original music for the big screen and earn IMDB credits.
“When you can have an effect, a positive effect, on other people — I think that’s what our purpose as humans is in life, is to take care of each other,” Lynn said. “If you can teach people to hate, you can certainly teach people to love, and that’s what we do.”
Sitting across from her husband Don Stallings and daughter Ashlyn Stallings in the studio’s Blackbox Theatre off Holcomb Bridge Road, Lynn provided the origin story of the Atlanta Workshop Players. The theater, an intimate setting, hosts improv comedy nights on Saturdays.
It was 1981, and while teaching acting classes, Lynn saw a void in venues where her students could perform. With a motto of “Kids Changing the World One Audience at a Time,” she founded the performing arts company and began touring schools. The young actors would share “something of importance to say,” or PSAs on social issues they brainstormed themselves, through original musicals.
“We were the first company that I know of that paid their kids, the performing kids, for their tour shows,” Lynn said.
The group toured for decades, producing one of Lynn’s favorite projects called “Masquerade” which is being developed into a movie. It’s about bullying.
Lynn, Don and Ashlyn spent a week in Florida to write the screenplay, with Don doing a lot of pacing. A former student of the nonprofit is slated as the film’s composer.
“It’s very entertaining and very funny and also very powerful, and it just grabs your heart,” Lynn said.
Like her own daughter, Lynn entered the industry at a young age, touring across the country with her mother, a dancer who had a performing arts company. Lynn’s first role, at age 9, was in “Alice in
Wonderland.”
But, she began to fall in love with behind-the-scenes work, eventually becoming a talent manager, a 24/7 job that ended once Ashlyn was born. Lynn said she has retained all the connections she found through her work, like casting directors and agents.
“We’re still connecting people to them and opening doors for our actors,” she said.
Lynn said hundreds of the nonprofit’s students have become professionals.
The walls of Studio 13 are covered in posters of movies and shows former students had performed in. A comprehensive set of projects are detailed in a poster by the door, including “Where the Crawdads Sing.” Don played a kindly father in that one, a relief for him.
“I’m usually squirrely bad guys,” said Don, also a standup comedian. “It was nice to actually be — I was like, ‘Oh, a loving father who likes opera and poetry. Wow.’”
Continued from Page 8
Don, who has been with the nonprofit almost the whole time, 42 out of the 43 years, met Lynn while auditioning for a show she was directing. They fell in love over “Ms. Pac-Man” during their breaks at a pizza restaurant.
During a tour of the 3,200-squarefoot studio, the trio lifted the curtain on a sound booth where clients can record “self-tapes,” or audition videos for movies, TV shows or commercials. That’s most auditions nowadays, though call-backs are either in person or on Zoom.
Lynn, who walked around barefoot donning a long, flowy shawl, said the nonprofit also redesigns resumes. Don takes the headshots, and he spent time that day helping a student with hers on his Canon.
“We help package people so that they can follow their dreams,” Lynn said.
The studio’s floors are whimsical, sort of like the family whose lives are spent pulling at others’ creativity, covered in splattered paint.
The on-camera room, set up this day for a screening, features a couch and other props like lockers, which also act as a soundproofing device. That night, they were showing “English Teacher,” a newly released TV show featuring Scarlette Amber Hernandez, a student at the Atlanta Workshop Players.
The nonprofit will have another screening soon for a show called “Teacup,” set to premiere on Peacock in October. Lynn and Don worked as on-set acting coaches.
The Atlanta Workshop Players’ 3,200-square-foot studio space called Studio 13 is located off Holcomb Bridge Road.
For more information on Atlanta Workshop Players, visit https:// www.atlantaworkshopplayers.com.
Excited to get up and go to work every day, Lynn said it’s a privilege to spend time with supportive, creative people.
“It is an environment that is safe and exciting and creative all at the same time, and people lift each other up,” she said.
Ashlyn, a professional actress who also leads classes, recently introduced “Voice and Movement,” intended to help clients tell stories through physicality. Another class was recently created for a 13-year-old with a knack for screenwriting, set to join the nonprofit’s professional courses. Lynn called her a “prodigy.”
“I think AWP is the space with that kind of safety because of who you are, too,” Ashlyn told her mother.
Jimmy Song (NMLS#1218336) 770-454-1871 (Duluth Branch)
Sandy Na (NMLS#983548) 770-454-1861 (Norcross Branch)
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Continued from Page 6
It’s been an exceptional season for Scheffler, and he did not let down his fans Sept. 1.
When his last putt dropped in front of the historic two-story clubhouse, Scheffler raised his putter in the air with one arm. The gesture seemed to recognize the significance of his accomplishments in 2024: lowest scoring average in PGA Tour history, most victories and season earnings since Tiger Woods in 2006-07 and the first win at East Lake on the redesigned course.
But Scheffler’s year also includes some other notable milestones.
The Louisville Metro Police Department charged him with felony assault of an officer the morning of May 17 at the 2024 PGA Championship, only to drop it a few days later.
Scheffler, in conversation with NBC’s Mike Tirico, went over his shank out of a green-side bunker on No. 8 and how the PGA Tour Champion rebounded.
“It’s a challenging week starting with the lead,” Scheffler said. “[There were] a lot of talented guys behind me that were really pushing me and trying to catch me, but fortunately, I had a nice week and was able to take this trophy home.”
Jones, the only golfer to ever capture all of golf’s major championships in one calendar year, did so winning the British Amateur and Open, as well as the U.S. Open and Amateur.
Ironically, the only person to ever achieve the Grand Slam did not play professional golf.
Like so many things today, golf has changed significantly since Jones donned hickory clubs and a neck tie as he strolled up and down fairways at East Lake Golf Club.
The great grandchildren of those who watched Jones play golf nearly a century ago made their way to the permanent home of The Tour Championship Sept. 1 to see if Scottie Scheffler could maintain his five-shot lead heading into the final round.
Some of the patrons walking around East Lake and enjoying the PGA Tour’s top talent would not have been able to do so a hundred years ago. In fact, many residents in the community, like the Drew Charter boys golf team, would have been removed.
Ninety-six years have passed since Jones lifted the U.S. Open trophy, and a lot has changed for the better in the East Lake community.
Foundation goes beyond golf
In Deepak Chopra’s “Golf for Enlightenment,” the global leader in mindfulness and alternative medicine gives a host of thought-provoking quotes about how to approach the game of golf.
When Tirico compared Scheffler’s season to some of Tiger Woods’ early 2000s greatness, cheers rang out again throughout the crowd.
“It’s hard to put into words what this year has been like for me,” Scheffler said, cracking a smile. “It’s been pretty emotional, there’s been a lot of stuff that’s gone on outside of golf.”
Scheffler and his wife Meredith celebrated the birth of their son just nine days before.
When Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced Scheffler’s Olympic gold medal, USA chants rang out across the gallery and clubhouse.
“Freedom comes when you see the built-in contradiction of trying to manipulate something that is going right to begin with,” Chopra wrote. “Stop trying to steer the river.”
There is a lot going right around East Lake Golf Club, Foundation President and CEO Ilham Askia said.
“Next month will be my two-year anniversary with the foundation, although I’ve been a part of this community for more than 20 years,” Askia said. “If people who are coming home, returning citizens, had an opportunity to be a part of a community like this, it would reduce recidivism.”
The Foundation began construction of the Trust at East Lake, a 40-home affordable housing project that looks to address the crisis in east Atlanta.
“Now you’re standing up here as FedEx Cup Champions, a tournament it takes 34 weeks to win and a trophy I know you fought so hard to win,” Monahan said. “Most importantly, when I look at this year, you were a tremendous ambassador for the game of golf.”
History matters at East Lake
Scottie Scheffler, like each generation’s most successful players, is tied to golf’s history.
Atlanta resident Bobby Jones, one of the most successful golfers in history, won his first tournament at East Lake at age 6 in 1908, the same year the final hole was completed.
Today, professional golf’s Grand Slam requires victories at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and the British Open.
The neighborhood’s great asset, East Lake Golf Club and its Foundation, helps subsidize the housing development and make it a reality.
“‘Golf with a Purpose,’ is what the club says, and it’s truly golf with a purpose,” Askia said. “A portion of the proceeds are donated to the East Lake Foundation and four other nonprofits.”
The funds go directly into the surrounding community, including early learning centers and Drew Charter High School.
“This is our 29th year as a foundation, we just had a huge initiative … to address housing inequities,” Askia said. “I just encourage everyone, see what we’re doing next year for our 30th.”
Dental Implants are popular and effective for individuals who have lost one or more teeth. They offer several advantages and can significantly improve a person’s oral health, appearance, and quality of life. Here are the reasons that so many people are choosing to have dental implants:
1. Replacement of missing teeth: Dental Implants are used to replace missing teeth, whether it’s a single tooth or multiple teeth. This is important for restoring proper chewing function and maintaining the alignment of surrounding teeth.
2. Improved aesthetics: Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth. They can enhance your smile, boost your self-confidence, and provide a more natural appearance compared to other tooth replacement options like dentures or bridges.
3. Enhanced eating ability: Dental implants provide strong biting and chewing capabilities, allowing you to enjoy a full range of foods, including hard and crunchy items without restrictions.
4. Comfort: Dental implants are comfortable and stable. Unlike removable dentures, they do not slip or move when eating or speaking, providing a natural and comfortable experience.
5. Convenience: Dental implants eliminate the need for messy adhesives or removal at night, as required with dentures. They function just like natural teeth, making daily oral hygiene routines simple and hassle-free. Dental implants are brushed and flossed like all your other teeth.
6. Durability: Implants are a longlasting solution. With proper care and maintenance, they can last a lifetime, whereas other options like dentures will require periodic adjustments or replacement.
7. Preservation of jawbone: When a tooth is lost, the underlying jawbone can start to deteriorate over time. Dental implants act as artificial tooth roots and stimulate the bone, preventing bone loss and maintaining the integrity of the jawbone.
8. Improved speech: Missing teeth, especially front teeth can affect speech clarity. Dental implants can restore normal speech patterns by replacing missing teeth.
9. No impact on adjacent teeth: Unlike dental bridges, which require the reduction of adjacent healthy teeth, dental implants do not affect nearby teeth. This helps preserve the long-term health of your natural teeth.
10. Whole body health: Dental implants can contribute to better oral and overall health by filling the gaps left by missing teeth, preventing the shifting of neighboring teeth, and reducing the risk of gum disease and further tooth loss.
It is essential to consult with a dental professional to determine if dental implants are the right solution for your specific oral health needs. Factors like bone density, overall health, and personal preferences will influence the suitability of dental implants as a treatment option.
“Preventive Dentistry can add 10 years to human life.” -Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic
Dr. Bradley Hepler and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health are dedicated to your health and longevity. We provide all the modern advances that contemporary aesthetic dentistry offers. If you would like a complementary consultation to discover your smile restoring options, please call the Atlanta Center for Dental Health at 770-992-2236. It is our pleasure to serve this community and help as many people as possible live their best life.
Brought to you by - Dr. Basheer Shakir and Dr. Benjamin Zussman, neurosurgeons at Wellstar
At Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, we’re redefining spine surgery with cuttingedge technology and unparalleled expertise. Our neurosurgeons, Dr. Basheer Shakir, Dr. Benjamin Zussman and Dr. Arthur Grigorian, are leading the charge in providing minimally invasive procedures that prioritize patient comfort, reduce recovery times and deliver exceptional outcomes.
Advanced minimally invasive techniques
One of the groundbreaking procedures offered at Wellstar North Fulton is the minimally invasive lateral
lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF). Unlike traditional spinal fusion surgeries, LLIF allows access to the spine from the side of the body, bypassing major muscles and tissues. This approach minimizes postoperative pain and significantly shortens recovery times. LLIF is particularly effective for conditions like degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis and scoliosis.
Another innovative technique available at our medical center is the minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). This advanced version of the traditional TLIF procedure involves smaller incisions and less muscle disruption, leading to reduced pain and a quicker return to normal activities. MIS-TLIF is an ideal solution for patients suffering from spinal instability and degenerative disc disease.
Revolutionary artificial disc replacement
For younger, more active patients seeking relief from spinal pain without sacrificing mobility, our artificial disc replacement offers a promising alternative to traditional fusion surgery.
This procedure preserves spinal flexibility and reduces the need for future operations, allowing patients to maintain their active lifestyles with minimal disruption.
Not every spinal condition requires implants. For patients with stenosis or a pinched nerve, our minimally invasive decompression surgery offers a highly effective solution. Through a tiny incision, our surgeons can remove bone or tissue compressing spinal nerves, resulting in minimal scarring, reduced pain and a swift recovery. This procedure is particularly beneficial for those looking to preserve flexibility and range of motion.
Our commitment to excellence is further demonstrated through our use of image-guided navigation systems. These advanced systems provide real-time, 3D visualization of a patient’s anatomy during surgery, enhancing surgical
precision and significantly improving patient outcomes.
Spinal cord stimulation
For patients who continue to have pain after conventional spinal surgery procedures or without a surgical solution, spinal cord stimulation can provide life-changing control and improvement of pain. We offer spinal cord stimulator trials, as well as spinal cord stimulator implantation, to relieve chronic pain.
Take the next step toward relief
At Wellstar North Fulton, we are dedicated to providing the highest level of care to our community. If you’re struggling with chronic back pain or a complex spinal condition, our expert neurosurgeons are here to help. With a patient-centered approach and personalized care plans, we ensure that each patient receives the treatment best suited to their individual needs.
Don’t let spinal issues hold you back. Schedule an appointment today by calling (770) 664-9600 or visit wellstar.org/ neurocare to learn more about our state-ofthe-art spine surgery services.
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.
Kathryn Filipek,
Surgery of Atlanta
DNA is more knotted than you’d think. DNA can literally develop knots like a rope develops knots. DNA can also form knots like a string forms knots when you over-twist it. But those are not the type of knot we are focusing on in this article. Instead, a newly mapped type of “knot” called an i-motif turns out to be extremely common in the human genome. And i-motifs might prove to be the key to the development of new anti-cancer drugs.
When most of us picture DNA, we envision a beautiful spiraling structure consisting of two endlessly twisting strands. This structure is called a “double helix” and was first famously described as the structure of DNA by Watson and Crick in 1953. However, ten years later, Dr. Karst Hoogsteen described a DNA structure that did not exhibit the classic DNA shape.
Dr. Hoogsteen observed that DNA base pairs could bind together in a manner that would not cause DNA to assume its more linear, double helical shape. Instead, Hoogsteen base pairing causes DNA strands to assume strange shapes including three and four stranded structures called triplexes and quadruplexes that can fold back upon themselves. These structures were predicted in the 1960s but their biological relevance is only now being identified and explored.
One of the structures that exhibits Hoogsteen base pairing is called an “i-motif. I-motifs look like knots, and they can behave like knots too. Like a knot in a shoelace, i-motifs can trip up our cell’s machinery and keep genes from being turned “on.” I-motifs are concentrated in parts of our genes that control growth. As you might predict, genes that control growth are also extremely important in the development of cancer.
I-Motifs’ importance in cancer may be tremendous. They turn out to be concentrated in certain cancercausing genes that have so far been very difficult to treat. One example is the cancer gene c-myc . Melanomas that metastasize are more likely to have extra copies of the c-myc gene. Approximately 70% of uveal melanomas (melanoma of the pigmented inner layer of the eyeball) have extra copies of this gene.
To target a bad gene, we usually target the protein that the gene makes because the protein is like the physical object one makes from an instruction manual whereas the DNA is the manual itself. It’s easier to spot an apple pie than it is a page of text containing the recipe for an apple pie.
Unfortunately, the c-myc protein is so hard to target with drugs that an article in The Lancet Discovery Science even called the gene “undruggable.” In contrast, an “easy” drug target is a cancercausing protein that is relatively ordered, stable and has a predictably consistent shape such that a medication or antibody can be relied upon to nearly always bind to the cancer-causing protein and inactivate it.
An example of an “easy” target is the kinase class of proteins which often have a predictable pocket called the “active site” responsible for the protein’s activity. Medicines that fit this pocket like a key to a lock have helped us treat many cancers in which kinases are culprits. In contrast, c-myc is believed to be “disordered” or “transiently ordered” with regions that only briefly take on the shape needed for the protein to perform its activity. C-myc’s unstable shape and disorder make it difficult to design a drug that can always recognize and bind it.
The c-myc protein may be hard to target, but the i-motifs at the beginning of c-myc’s DNA sequence could be a sitting duck. Small molecules that target i-motifs have already been developed. If these molecules are found to be specific enough to target cancer cells, then i-motifs may be a way of zeroing in on c-myc DNA at a time when we cannot target the c-myc protein itself. In essence, discovering knots in DNA is like discovering that cookbooks have thick stickers before critical passages of text. We can quicky spot a sticker. We can also easily eliminate books that are so thick with stickers that they can’t even be closed. It might be a way to close the book on cancer.
I still like to imagine DNA as a beautiful spiral staircase of two endlessly winding coils of DNA, but biology is always messier than we imagine. And so often, it’s in the mess that we find new opportunities. DNA is knotty, and from those knots we may unravel a cure.
Brought to
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Roswell Dental Care, Dr. Destinee Hood
So, you may be asking why having genetic information is so important for your dentist. With this information, the clinician will be able to create a more personalized risk assessment for cavities and periodontal disease. For example, how is the patient’s genetics contributing to the severity of disease? How will the patient respond to treatment? And how susceptible is the patient to relapse? As healthcare is going towards “precision medicine,” which looks at the genetics, environment, and lifestyle of a person to select treatment that could work best for them, we can now provide even further personalized dental health care.
Saliva is a vital fluid produced by the salivary glands, playing a key role in digestion, oral hygiene, and overall health. It contains a complex mixture of proteins, enzymes, electrolytes, and microorganisms. This composition makes saliva a valuable diagnostic tool. Saliva testing involves analyzing these components to gain insights into a patient’s health status. In our office, we utilize OralDNA® Labs. These saliva tests can identify the specific type and concentration of 11 disease-causing bacteria as well as identify your interleukin-6 (IL6) genotype, which is a crucial factor in promoting the inflammation pathway in the body. Information from these tests detect risk for disease, guide strategies for maintaining health, offer more accurate diagnosis, and guide treatment choices for a wide variety of conditions.”
These bacteria, especially at high levels, and in combination with an individual’s genetic inflammatory response, result in bad breath, painful bleeding gums, loss of bone, and eventually tooth loss. The consequences of these same bacteria, present for years and decades, add significantly to the risk of a wide range of life-threatening diseases beyond the mouth. Below are some
of those diseases and the measurable risk of those diseases becoming serious if these oral pathogens are not treated.
Cardiovascular disease
Periodontal bacteria contribute to the initiation, progression, and prognosis of cardiovascular disease. There is also over a 2-fold increase in the risk of stroke and peripheral vascular disease. The plaque in your mouth is the same as plaque in your heart!
Elevated levels of periodontal bacteria can directly cause hyperglycemia. Early detection of periodontal infection and proactive management to reduce bacterial loads can improve blood sugar control and lessen complications of diabetes and the consequence of periodontitis.
The oral microbiota changes when women become pregnant, and levels of periodontal pathogens increase. During pregnancy, there is a marked risk of infection of the maternal blood and the placenta, which leads to an increase in preterm labor, lower birth weight and even the chance of fetal loss due specifically to the bacteria
Advanced periodontal disease is associated with a 2.5-fold increase in smoking-related cancers. People with elevated levels of certain periodontal pathogens have a greater chance of breast cancer recurrence or failed response to treatment. Several recent studies show that these pathogens can be identified within the primary cancer cells from colonic tumors and are carried to metastatic sites involving regional lymph nodes. This is a newly observed phenomenon that will affect how cancer treatment protocols will be developed in the future.
Other health risks may be involved as well. Please contact Roswell Dental Care for more information on genetic testing.
Dr. Destinee Hood is excited to provide this service to her patients. Our entire team at Roswell Dental Care creates a caring, judgementfree environment to help educate and empower you to become your best self! We take the time to listen to you, hear you, and guide you! Knowledge is power! Call and make your appointment today at 770-998-6736 or visit www.Roswelldentalcare.com.
• Crowns and Bridges in a few days
• Porcelain Veneers
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• Teeth Whitening- no sensitivity
• Oral Cancer Screenings on all patients
• Teeth Cleanings, Digital X-Rays and Comprehensive Oral Exams on all new patients
• Cosmetic Smile Makeovers and Full Mouth Reconstruction (Complimentary Consultation)
• Occlusal Guards and Bite Adjustments
• Snore Guards and Sleep Apnea Analysis
• Digital X-Rays (90% less radiation) and Intra-Oral Photos
• Digitally Scanned Dental ImpressionsNo more gooey impressions!
• Electronic Records
• Accept and File all Major Insurances
• Implants
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and Dermal Fillers
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– Nehemiah McClendon, M.Ed, at Summit Counseling Center
Nothing is better than those moments you have by yourself cuddled up in your favorite blanket watching Love Island or legs stretched out having a drink watching your favorite team go for glory. This alone time is craved, desired, and sometimes needed, but what happens when the clock on alone time strikes lonely? Loneliness is often followed up with the thought starting with everyone: EVERYONE is getting married, EVERYONE is having a baby, EVERYONE has a bunch of friends and most often EVERYONE is doing better than me. As a therapist, I often witness the profound impact loneliness has on individuals’ lives. It’s not merely the absence of company but a deep-seated emotional experience that can permeate every aspect of one’s existence.
The nature of loneliness
Loneliness isn’t just restricted to physical isolation; it can be an emotional state where we feel disconnected and unfulfilled in our relationships, even when surrounded by others. It looks different in different forms:
• Social isolation: When one lacks meaningful connections or spends excessive time alone.
• Emotional loneliness: Feeling misunderstood or unsupported, even when people are around.
• Existential loneliness: A deeper sense of being disconnected from life’s purpose or meaning.
Lonely-19
Oddly enough in a world where everyone is hyper-connected, it might seem paradoxical that loneliness is on the rise. The digital age has redefined how we interact, often replacing genuine connections with superficial online exchanges. This shift can exacerbate feelings of loneliness, as individuals compare their real lives to curated online personas. Instead of investing in authentic
experiences and connections, we find ourselves trapped in a cycle of seeking temporary relief from loneliness through superficial online interactions, which only perpetuates our sense of isolation and disconnection from real-life fulfillment.
Lonely on the body and brain
Loneliness isn’t just a passing emotion; it can have serious implications for mental health:
• Depression and anxiety: Prolonged loneliness can contribute to depressive symptoms and exacerbate anxiety disorders.
• Physical health: Research shows loneliness is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, weakened immune response, and other physical ailments.
• Self-esteem: Feeling disconnected can erode self-worth, leading to a cycle of negative thoughts and behaviors. Steps to connection
Self-reflection: Asking yourself questions like: What situations or environments trigger feelings of loneliness for me?
How do my thoughts and beliefs about myself contribute to my sense of loneliness?
Self-awareness: Understanding personal triggers and patterns that contribute to feelings of loneliness.
• Building connections: Foster genuine relationships through shared interests, volunteering, or joining communities.
• Seeking support: Therapy offers a safe space to explore feelings of loneliness and develop strategies for coping. The path forward
Overcoming loneliness is a journey that requires patience and self-compassion. It’s about nurturing meaningful connections, both with others and ourselves. If you’re experiencing loneliness, remember that you’re not alone in feeling this way. Reach out, seek support, and take small steps toward reconnecting with yourself and others. Together, we can navigate the complexities of loneliness, cultivating a life filled with genuine connection and fulfillment.
Imagine a situation where you are as strong and robust as you were when you were thirty, but at seventy-five. Starting Strength can help!
So, you want to get in better shape; what does this mean exactly? It is quite likely you want to get stronger than you are today. You have no desire to become the World's Strongest Human, nor do you want to oil up and show your muscles under bright lights in a scantily clad undergarment. But you would like to stay strong and well as the years continue to pass. You would like to pick up your grandchildren, carry a case of water, or retrieve something heavy from your garage.
As of late, there are many experts talking about longevity and the importance of retaining muscle mass as the decades pass. Dr. Peter Attia presents this in a beautiful graph of two paralleling lines: healthspan and lifespan. Allow me to pose a question, what does lifespan look like once healthspan runs out? It is quite likely you see an image that represents a poor quality of life. In an ideal situation, when we run out of "healthspan," we also run out of lifespan.
Recent studies suggest average life expectancies reach the mid-seventies for men and late seventies for women. Imagine
a situation where you are as strong and robust as you were when you were thirty, but at seventy-five. Now, imagine retaining this level of physical strength right up until the end of your lifespan. I hope you are envisioning a high quality of life!
Now, let's discuss how a barbell and a coach can help you with muscular strength and bone density. Your Starting Strength Gym understands the importance of stress, recovery, and adaptation as it relates to making you stronger than you are today. We do this by having you complete normal human movement patterns with a bit more stress (weight) than you did last time. As we repeat this process over and over, you become far stronger in just a few months!
Often, we describe exercise as medicine. Like medicine, exercise should be given in the least effective dose, not the greatest tolerated. Remember, physical strength is the most important thing in life; this is true whether you want it to be or not.
Starting Strength Atlanta Contact Info: 9775 Medlock Bridge Rd Suite K Johns Creek, GA 30097 (470) 944-7715
Website: atlanta.startingstrengthgyms.com
We all know the future holds changes in our lives as we age. This September is Healthy Aging month, a time to take stock of where we are and make lifestyle improvements to follow our passions in life and maintain as much independence as possible.
The key to healthy aging is healthy living. By 2030, 1 in every 6 Americans will be over 65. This is leading to a new ways to think about the aging process. Assessing changes and taking steps now to improve your physical and mental fitness lets you take charge of your well-being. Here are some actions to consider.
ties and learning can all contribute to a better sleep cycle and help you get a good night’s sleep. It may get harder to fall and stay asleep as you get older but we all still need seven to nine hours each night.
Healthy aging means it’s also important to understand the signals that some assistance is necessary. ADLs, or activities of daily living, are those activities that you don't think much about until you or your older loved one has trouble with them. These are activities like walking safely around the house, eating nutritious meals, being able to perform basic grooming, bathing, dressing, toileting and move safely from one space to another.
Be proactive about regular checkups and tests. Preventive tests can catch changes early and help keep issues in check. This includes your vision and dental appointments. Research shows the increasing impact vision deterioration and dental problems can have on your entire body. Whether it’s a vision issue that increases your fall risk or periodontal disease that can have dietary and systemic impacts, consistent care leads to a better long term result.
Keep moving! Exercise is great as we age, while inactivity accelerates the aging process. Make sure your doctor is on board with any new exercise or dietary program. It’s so important to understand the role exercise and nutrition plays in staying strong.
Boost your mental health and learn something new. New skills can improve cognitive abilities, expand your social connections and open avenues for social activities and interactions. Exercise, diet, proactive health care, social activi-
Other signals are more subtle and may not occur daily. Can your older loved one do the laundry, handle basic house cleaning, meal preparation and grocery shopping, pay their bills, drive or take public transportation? Do they know when to take their pills or what to do in an emergency?
A Home Helpers caregiver can assist with all personal care, help around the house, accompany you on doctor’s visits and provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc. With a heart centered approach and positive spirit, they can also help pursue a hobby, enjoy outings and community activities, and build relationships that make for a longer and better life in the comfort of home.
We have a team with depth and skill that can provide the care you need from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 care. For a free consultation, please call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs at (770) 681-0323.
Those of us that enjoy our lawns are thrilled to have the warmer weather here in north Georgia! We are once again seeing our warm season grass at its peak beauty! Below are a few pieces of advice I would like to suggest to help maximize and maintain the appearance of your lawn now and throughout the year.
Test your soil.
While the best time to test your lawn soil is actually the fall, it is never too late and never a bad time to test. This low cost, potentially high impact activity can provide dividends to improve your lawn’s appearance. The actual results could save you money by providing a road map for exactly what fertilizers, or lack thereof, is needed to improve the overall health of your lawn. For more information on this, contact your county Extension office at http://extension.uga.edu/ about/county or call 1-800-ask-uga1.
Manage tree coverage.
The common thinking on lawns over the years has been that you cannot have a nice warm season lawn and trees at the same time. Further, as the thinking goes, it is nearly impossible for the two to coexist. I am here to tell you that it IS possible, BUT it may take some work. The first thing to evaluate is the location of tree limbs and lawn coverage. For most deciduous trees, you will want to limb up as high as possible. It is usually recommended that you leave the top two thirds of the tree canopy to maintain a healthy tree. This will not only allow for sunlight to reach your warm season grass, but it will also vastly improve air circulation on your lawn. We all know that to have a healthy lawn, good sunlight is necessary. Equally, without good air circulation, we are setting our lawns up for the ideal site for fungus growth. The damage to warm season grasses due to fungus growth is potentially catastrophic. I would suggest that one of the best things we can do for our lawns is limb up and thin out tree branches. It may be necessary to contact a local arborist for extensive tree work.
Manage site drainage.
Most people do not understand
that too much water and/or poor drainage is a surefire way to damage our turf lawns. If your lawn has low spots where water tends to pool after a good rain, now is the time to fill those spots and allow your turf time to adjust. Managing water runoff is equally important. Your lawn may be challenged by water from gutter downspouts and or other runoff points. If so, the necessary nutrients normally provided by topsoil that your lawn needs will not be there to support
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Ed O’Connor, a 2024 Master Gardener intern and member of the North Fulton County Master Gardeners. Ed is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in business administration. Ed is an avid gardener, hiker, camper, backpacker and all things outdoors.
lawn to need more water resources and will actually increase your mowing frequency. Under normal circumstances, clippings should be left on the lawn. Returning the clippings will provide additional nutrients to the soil and eliminate yard waste. Summer is such an exciting time of year for your warm season grass! There are lots of little things we can do to ensure we maximize their beauty!
Happy gardening!
growth. Managing that excess runoff through underground drainage pipes may be necessary. This simple activity can pay dividends on improving the appearance of your lawn.
When your warm season grass needs to be trimmed, never cut more than one-third of the leaf canopy in a single mowing. Cutting more than that amount can cause your lawn to stress, require your
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/columists/ garden buzz/.
Conglomerated Host, Ltd is looking for an Accountant to join its team.
Job Description: Corporate office located in Milton, GA has an opening in the Accounting Department. Entry level position with opportunity to advance. Starting pay is $20.00 per hour/approximately 30 hours per week. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel is a plus. How To Apply: Email response to conglomeratedhost@gmail.com or fax to 770-521-0809.
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Continued from Page 1
The evening featured a presentation of the colors by members of the Johns Creek Veterans Association and two riflemen from Centennial’s Junior ROTC as well as a speech from Roger Wise, member of the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame.
“We must never forget that when you see a veteran, you walk up to them and shake their hand, and look them eyeball to eyeball and thank them for their service to our country,” Wise told the sea of students sporting camo print for the special event. “... Remembering freedom and service is not free. Someone has to pay for it.”
The display ended with the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem, performed by Centennial’s band.
In an interview, Wise said the group will continue the tradition for years to come.
“It does a lot for the high school kids, and it also does a lot for the veterans,” he said.
Trey Henson, athletic director at Cen-
tennial High School, helped coordinate the event. He told Appen Media the purpose is for students to understand that they can contribute to something bigger than themselves, like veterans who have served the country, but on a smaller scale.
Henson said it’s also an opportunity for students to show gratitude.
“...Also thanking those guys for allowing them to live the life that they live and play the sport that they love to play,” he said.
While the Veterans Memorial Cup has been on a hiatus since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Henson said there had also been little flexibility to allow for the match considering the way the regions had been aligned.
But, because of new classifications and a smaller region size, Henson said Centennial’s schedule has opened to allow the team to play its rivals, like Riverwood International Charter School and Chattahoochee High School.
“The big thing was to get those back for A: for the kids, B: for the community and C: they’re just good atmospheres,” Henson said. “It's a good situation for our feeder programs and everything like that.”
Heather Albro, 52, of Milton, passed away on September 1, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Lisa Clock, 62, of Roswell, passed away on August 30, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Elizabeth Cusick, 88, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 1, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Lisa Emberger, 53, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 2, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Gerald Fisher, 61, of Atlanta, passed away on August 29, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Mary Jane Hadley, 85, of Alpharetta, passed away on August 29, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Penelope Holder, 88, of Roswell, passed away on August 28, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Lucy McAlpine, 98, of Roswell, passed away on August 25, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Carrie Moss, 72, of Roswell, passed away on August 26, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
David Shadeed, 67, of Alpharetta, passed away on August 27, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Mary Thornton, 80, of Roswell, passed away on September 2, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Bradley Wedge, 37, of Roswell, passed away on August 26, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Continued from Page 1
“When you have a property in a river corridor, you have impervious calculations,” Byrd told Curtiss.
He later pulled Appen Media along to the new Knollwood subdivision off Parsons Road, turning the designs shown in its land disturbance permit into reality.
the environment
Each home in the River Corridor is given only so many impervious “credits,” or square footage that can be purchased by homeowners or transferred to them from a next-door neighbor, based on the final plat — the permanent record of a development plan that rests with the county.
Byrd projected the final plat for St. Ives to show Curtiss the number of credits she was working with, just above the amount of clearing allowed. She was in the negative and would also have to pay $300 for a minor land disturbance permit, an application pertaining to work on less than an acre.
“We always do everything by the rules, so whatever we need to do, we’ll do,” Curtiss said.
She said her homeowners association requires that an application be submitted before making any landscaping changes. A committee advised her to go to City Hall to
see if she needed a permit — and she did need one. The panel also wanted proof of her landscaper’s insurance.
“I’m just kind of jumping through the hoops to make my HOA happy and Johns Creek happy,” Curtiss said.
Educating the public
Byrd said that there’s a lot of meetings he conducts like the one with Curtiss.
“The reason why we have people coming in to meet with us before [is] so we can share with you all the rules and regulations or whatever you need to do to get your permit or to get a permit to be in compliance,” Byrd told Curtiss.
Land Development Manager Gilbert Quinones, sitting beside a city planner, said impervious calculations are determined by the Atlanta Regional Commission.
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC HEARING: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2024 AT 7:00 P.M.
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEARING: MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2024 AT 7:00 P.M.
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
11360 LAKEFIELD DRIVE, JOHNS CREEK, GEORGIA 30097
Johns Creek Environmental Compliance Manager Terrence Byrd advises St. Ives Country Club resident Catherine Curtiss on a project she wants to complete in her backyard to improve accessibility in a meeting at City Hall.
A professional civil engineer, Quinones helped design St. Ives before joining the city and that experience was obvious in the knowledge he was able to impart to Curtiss during their conversation.
Now, Quinones’ role is to review all land disturbance permits. He also oversees stormwater management, the system that dictates how much impervious surface a land lot can have.
Quinones explained the agency’s application for developments within the River Corridor, broken up into five “vulnerability categories”: A, B, C, D, E and F. Each was based on a ratio of the percentage of land disturbed to the percentage of impervious surface that could be allowed.
“It’s too complex a formula for me,” he said.
Quinones described the importance of
CIVIC DUTIES: In a new series from Appen Media, Civic Duties will take readers behind the scenes of local government. Senior Reporter Amber Perry and her colleagues will shadow employees across different city departments and turn those experiences into original reporting, so residents get a closer look at what exactly local governments provide the community.
permits in terms of placing a home on the market.
“What’s the first question he’ll ask you — ‘Is there anything out there that’s not permitted?’” Quinones said of a popular area real estate agent, posing a theoretical situation to Curtiss. “If there’s anything out there that’s not permitted, he won’t buy your house.”
Taking the reins from the city’s land development inspector, who couldn’t be there that day, Byrd pointed out common issues to look for in an in-progress development, like Knollwood. Things like fallen silt fences and the status of gravel driveways to each of the homes.
The inspector, Byrd said, focuses on erosion and sediment control.
As the city’s environmental compliance manager, Byrd oversees the land development process from beginning to end. He also manages tree removal permits.
Carrying a number of certifications, Byrd said he entered local government after a few years of pouring concrete.
For the Thursday site visit, he brought along a large, thick scroll of site plans, which he said is standard practice. Several houses, out of a total of 20 planned for the new community, had already been constructed. A crew worked on the roof of one nearby.
The following Land Use Petitions, Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment and Comprehensive Plan Amendment are scheduled for public hearings:
LAND USE PETITION: RZ-24-0006 & VC-24-0004
PETITIONER: 5150 ABR LLC
LOCATION: 5150 Abbotts Bridge Road
CURRENT ZONING: AG-1 (Agricultural District)
PROPOSED ZONING: R-4 (Single-Family Dwelling District)
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:
Two lot single-family detached residential subdivision at a density of 2.29 units per acre with one concurrent variance to eliminate the 10% common open space requirement.
LAND USE PETITION: RZ-24-0007 and SUP-24-0002
PETITIONER: Toro Development, LLC
LOCATION: 11350 Johns Creek Parkway
CURRENT ZONING: TC-X (Town Center Mixed Use District) Conditional
PROPOSED ZONING: TC-X (Town Center Mixed Use District)
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:
Change in conditions to allow for a 175-room, 6-story, 75-foot-tall hotel building with a Special Use Permit to exceed the maximum height limit in TC-X zoning district.
A-24-002 – Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment
A proposal to amend the City of Johns Creek Zoning Ordinance to modify definition for Outdoor Storage, language for ‘Miscellaneous Provisions’ in Article 12.E., and to allow Limited Outdoor Storage in C-1 and C-2 zoning districts pursuant to Article 19 of the Zoning Ordinance.
Comprehensive Plan 2024 Amendment
A Proposal to amend the City of Johns Creek Comprehensive Plan to integrate the adopted Revitalization Plan: Medlock Bridge Road and State Bridge Road into the Comprehensive Plan.
Construction begins only after approval of the land disturbance permit and the final plat.
Byrd said a number of departments and divisions are involved in the process — an arborist and staff from the Community Development Department’s Planning and Zoning and Land Development divisions. The Fire Department must also check for ADA compliance and fire truck accessibility. Staff in the Public Works Department review transportation needs, like sidewalk connectivity.
On the Land Development side, inspectors conduct a pre-construction, on-site meeting to review rules and regulations, speaking to a three-phase erosion control plan required by the state.
One of the most interesting aspects to his job, Byrd said, is the diverse group of people he gets to meet on a regular basis, “the melting pot of America.”
It’s also the education piece.
“The fun part is really educating and helping people to get a greater understanding … the reward of seeing people say, ‘Thank you so much,’ for the things that they didn’t know, that you helped them with,” Byrd said. “That has a lot to do with it.”
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$12,000! Greenlawn, Roswell. Regularly $7995 each. Selling for $12,000, seller will negotiate. Side-by-side Fountain B. 26-c.
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Sawnee EMC is seeking a Mechanic with diesel engine experience to perform mechanical work and related maintenance on company trucks, equipment and vehicles. Requires high school diploma or equivalency. Must have valid CDL Georgia Driver’s License or the ability to acquire a CDL. Requires previous work-related experience. Some Heavy Lifting. Rotating day and night shift schedule. Must be available to work alternate shift assignments and irregular work hours.
Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, September 13, 2024. Apply online: www.sawnee.coop/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.
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.
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