Kevin Horgan, who served in the U.S. Marines, introduces himself as the guest speaker Nov. 9 during the Johns Creek Veterans Day ceremony at Newtown Park’s Veterans Memorial Walk.
Veterans Day speaker calls on young Retired captain seeks to inspire greater service
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Kevin Horgan told a crowd of more than 60 people at the Johns Creek Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 9 that serving as an officer in the U.S. Marines is the “great privilege” of his life.
Horgan, a Roswell resident and the ceremony’s guest speaker, attained the rank of captain in his military
career, which spanned 1979 to 1984. He now serves on the board of the veteran networking club VETLANTA; has authored several books, donating half his royalties to veteran support groups; and co-founded VETS-TALK, a podcast that shares veterans’ stories.
“I did deploy, but I was never shot at. I was never down range. I thought I was real hot stuff, but I was nothing special,” Horgan said.
Held at the Veterans Memorial Walk at Newtown Park, the ceremony also featured remarks from Johns Creek Veterans Associations President Mike Mizell, Georgia Military Hall of Fame honoree Roger Wise and Mayor John Bradberry. Daughters of the American Revolution members sung the national anthem, and the JCVA Color Guard presented the colors.
See VETERANS, Page 6
Commissioner takes elections chief to task
► PAGE 5
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Art Center is bursting with ideas and students, leading staff to seek beyond its tiresome brick row inside the Abbotts Bridge Commons business complex.
Formerly known as the Johns Creek Arts Center, the nonprofit was recently rebranded to be more inviting to people outside the city. It also builds on a vision that includes partnerships across borders and other workspaces, maybe even a new home with a big enough roof.
Lately, conversations have centered on accommodating a growing waitlist for classes and camps, which creates a need to rent the adjacent annex and classrooms at the nearby Johns Creek Presbyterian Church.
The Johns Creek City Council has gotten the ball rolling on a performance hall that could house The Art Center, but Executive Director Stephanie Donaldson said the nonprofit is keeping its options open.
Around 180 kids are on the waiting list for the youth summer art camps and classes, like last year. Many students come from Forsyth and Gwinnett counties.
“There's been a misnomer that we're under Parks and Rec with the city, and you have to live here, or we're under that umbrella,” Donaldson said.
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POLICE BLOTTER
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Man points his pistol at teen driver, friend
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A teenager reported to police Oct. 28 that a man pointed a gun at him and his friend while driving on Jones Bridge Road.
The teen told police he had pulled up next to the suspect to inform him that the trunk of his silver Honda Accord was open. In response, the teen said the suspect pointed a silver pistol at him. His passenger yelled at them to pull over, according to the incident report.
The teen followed the suspect, described as an Indian male with a light beard, wearing a gray pullover hoodie, snapped a photo of the suspect’s license plate, then drove off, the report says.
The teen told police he didn’t want to press charges.
Police conducted a follow-up at the Johns Creek address associated with the tag number, and a man matching the description of the suspect answered the door, the report says.
The suspect admitted to police he pointed a gun at “some kids” because he believed they were being racist and was protecting his 80-year-old mother who had been in the car, according to the report.
The suspect apologized for the incident, and police did not obtain warrants on him.
— Amber Perry
Man taken for $115,000 in cryptocurrency scam
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek man reported to police Oct. 31 that he had been swindled out $115,000 in a cryptocurrency scam.
The man said he had been contacted in September about an opportunity to make money, according to the incident report. A recruiter told the man he
would need to invest $1,000 by converting the money into cryptocurrency and to complete a series of tasks that would provide him commission, the report says.
When the man attempted to withdraw money, he was unable to do so without investing more and completing more tasks, leaving him with a balance of more than $120,000 that includes an alleged $8,200 commission.
The man realized he was being scammed after speaking with family and friends, the report says.
— Amber Perry
Officers arrest driver after physical struggle
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested a 25-year-old Johns Creek man after they pulled him over for speeding 20 mph over the posted limit near Taylor Road and Mortons Crossing.
Police immediately smelled alcohol when the suspect rolled the window down of his black Honda CR-V and saw that his eyes were bloodshot, according to the incident report.
The driver, slurring his words, told police he’d had nothing to drink, the report says. He also told police his wallet was stolen and could not produce identification.
Police said the suspect refused to get out of the vehicle, when asked, and rolled up his window.
When back-up officers arrived and reached inside the vehicle to unlock the door, the suspect grabbed their hands to prevent them from getting him out of the vehicle, the report says.
An officer was eventually able to yank the man out of the vehicle. After police placed him in handcuffs, the suspect refused a blood test and verbally threatened police, according to the report.
The driver told the reporting officer that he remembered him and what gym he regularly attends; the officer confirmed he had seen the suspect many times before.
Police transported the suspect to the
North Fulton County Jail and charged him with obstruction, terroristic threats, failure to have license on person, driving under the influence and speeding.
— Amber Perry
Wanted man charged with drug possession
ROSWELL, Ga. — Police arrested a 44-year-old Marietta man Oct. 25 after a traffic stop off Ga. 120 turned up crack cocaine in his vehicle.
An officer said he saw a black Chevrolet Silverado with defective diverside brake and tail lights and ran its license plate through regional crime databases.
The officer said the driver of the vehicle had an active warrant out of the Cobb County Police Department for possession of schedule I and II controlled substances.
After pulling over the Silverado, the officer said he placed the driver in handcuffs because of his active warrant, which dispatch confirmed with Cobb County.
When the officer asked the suspect if he could retrieve his phone from the truck, the man told him no.
The officer said he then asked the suspect if there was anything illegal in the vehicle.
Because the suspect said he had a marijuana pipe on the center consol, the officer said he had probable cause to search the vehicle with a K9 unit.
A search of the vehicle yielded six baggies with a crystallized substance, two iPhones, a glass pipe, $120 in cash and a small metal rod commonly used for crack smoking.
The white, rock-like substance tested positive for cocaine and weighed 7.2 grams.
Officers charged the suspect with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanors for his failed brake and tail lights.
The suspect was transported and lodged at Fulton County Jail.
ASK APPEN
Hayden Sumlin
Center:
Continued from Page 1
“It was time … Rebranding is not a bad thing.”
The center has remained financially independent from the city, though its arts and crafts table can often be seen at Johns Creek events.
The recent facelift involved a new logo, fashioned in the sign welcoming visitors to its some 5,000-square-foot space, as well as a new website and color palette. It was a collaborative effort, with staff member Amanda Carman taking the lead.
Before joining the small but mighty five-member staff, Carman had been with the Art Center for more than eight years as an instructor. She’s excited for the future, equipped with “fresh energy.”
“I feel like our focus is a little clearer now, making a community space, a community art center, and bringing arts to the community,” Carman said.
Donaldson joined the Art Center in 2013, moving up from a volunteer to the deputy director to her current role in 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. She shares her office with another seasoned Art Center veteran Curator/Program Director Althea Foster.
Humble beginnings
The Art Center, founded in 1996, was first housed within the walls of the former Warsaw Elementary School on Medlock Bridge Road. At the time, it was called the Warsaw-Ocee Arts Center.
Newspaper articles from 1997 editions of the Johns Creek Herald detail the center’s dedication and the efforts of Mark Burkhalter, the former state representative and Johns Creek native responsible for renovating the 10,000-square-foot former school.
The school had been under the threat of destruction for development. Burkhalter, a Warsaw Elementary graduate, said there were plans to build a metal storage warehouse there.
It had sat vacant for five to six years, and Burkhalter said it was getting vandalized. He met with the owners and told them about his emotional attachment to the site.
“I told them part of the history that they didn't even know about,” Burkhalter said.
Burkhalter said that Warsaw was one of five schoolhouses leftover from a deal with Fulton County in the 1930s. He said his passion won over the owners, who had already been frustrated with developers slated to demolish the building.
Burkhalter converted the classrooms into office space, where he works to this day, and the 3,100-square-foot cafetorium into the Art Center, an idea he and his business partner at Watkins
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Art Center Executive Director Stephanie Donaldson and Curator/Program Director Althea Foster stand under the nonprofit’s newly rebranded sign. Formerly known as the Johns Creek Arts Center, The Art Center is in the Abbotts Bridge Commons business complex.
For more information about The Art Center, visit www.itstheartcenter.org.
Association Developers, Neal Freeman, set in motion.
“I don't think we had a library on this side of [Ga.] 400. We certainly didn't have an art center, and we were just kind of a no-man's land, partially because Fulton County just didn't spend a lot of money out here,” said Burkhalter, known for pushing for Johns Creek’s incorporation.
Under the auspices of a fresh LLC, Warsaw School Preservation Co., Burkhalter said he purchased the site for about $1 million and spent close to half a million on renovations. Another $40,000 went toward saving the oldest tree in North Fulton County, also on the site.
“I went out of my way to save the tree, and not just the school,” Burkhalter said.
Partnership with Fulton
Joan Compton, president of the Johns Creek Historical Society and early board member of the nonprofit, said the center began looking for other sites that could house a kiln in 2003, relocating two years later.
Her son and daughter had been students at the Warsaw-Ocee Arts Center, which opened as a partnership between the nonprofit and Fulton County. The nonprofit broke off to introduce a wider variety of classes and welcome nonresidents at the same price, Compton said.
The center continues to glean most of its support from Fulton County, as one of its five legacy arts organizations, receiving around $200,000 a year, in addition to grants through organizations like the Georgia Council for the Arts and
The center offers classes to all ages, some as young as 3.
It also does community outreach with local nonprofits like The Drake House and the STAR House foundation and takes classes to seniors at Park Place, an adult center in Newtown Park.
The center also hosts an annual popup holiday market.
A new offering at the Art Center is the Creator’s Circle, a free open studio held every Friday.
About half a dozen have shown up, bringing their own supplies. Foster created the new program with Carman, who shared its importance within the context of “post-pandemic loneliness,” which created the need to connect with one another in real, physical spaces.
The center’s growth is reflected in numbers, offerings and diversity.
Foster recalled being the only Black person around the center.
“Now, in my clay class, which I take on Friday, all of the people in that particular class are people of color,” Foster said, adding that youth classes are just as diverse.
This year, the Art Center introduced its first Korean art exhibition, opened after its Black History-centered show.
“Just to be seen…” Foster said.
the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta.
Fulton County Arts and Culture Director David Manuel said the county sees the Art Center’s new programs and new ideas, lauding how vocal Art Center Board President Nil Chanda is as a member of the Fulton County Arts Council.
The 15-member council, appointed by the Board of Commissioners, advises the elected officials on arts and cultural related policy.
“We get proposals from them, saying, ‘Hey, in 2025 I would like to introduce this. What do you think?’” Manuel said. “It’s that give-and-take communication that I think is strengthening the foundation of the Art Center.”
The goal of Fulton County, he said, is to support good programming, good ideas intended to support the community.
Diversifying offerings, artists
Foster, the Art Center’s curator and program director, has been around the center in one capacity or another for around 15 years. She recalled the struggling participation level when she first joined.
“Our student/member show used to be, when I started, it was really sad,” Foster said. “There were, like, 12 pieces. You would have to beg people to come in.”
In the lobby, though, the fall student and member showcase “Artistic Encounters” boasted more than 70 works in all mediums, pulled from several of the center’s classes.
She said there was an older man, a Korean migrant, who was struck by a sculpture of a traditional house made of hanji, a traditional medium of plant fiber. He began explaining how each of the rooms work.
“It was extremely moving because a lot of them hadn't seen things like that since they got here, and there had never been an exhibition of just their work,” she said.
Looking to the future
More is in store for the Art Center, in its search to expand.
Since becoming president of the Art Center Board, Chanda said he has been looking to grow the nonprofit’s presence. He was attracted to the organization because of its service to the community, “bringing wellness into the picture through art and culture.”
“I want to see it grow into a regional arts center, where we are not restricting ourselves to the neighboring cities and counties, but we are able to service the growing need of the whole region,” Chanda said.
He attributes the organization’s growth to the amount of synergy it has with the community, subscribed to its mission and goal.
“All of Johns Creek came together and we built it together,” Chanda said. “It's not only the staff, it's not only the board, but what has changed is that we have new momentum.”
That push involves looking at the old and the new, he said, bringing lessons from the past and moving with them into the future.
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
LIVING THAT’S
us at an upcoming event! Visit AltoJohnsCreek.com or call 706.252.3411.
North Metro Atlanta voters hit polls on Election Day
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com and ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
NORTH METRO ATLANTA — There was a steady trickle of voters at polling locations across North Metro Atlanta on Election Day morning, Nov. 5. Most described the process “easy” and “smooth.”
At four polling locations across DeKalb, Forsyth and Fulton counties, no voters complained about the ballotcasting process. In fact, almost all gave it positive reviews.
Early voting in Georgia made for a more relaxed Election Day atmosphere with 4 million votes on the books before polls opened.
In Fulton County, 443,245 people voted before Nov. 5, more than 58 percent of active voters.
DeKalb County had the same early voting percentage, with 292,855 residents. Forsyth County beat its neighbors to the south with 69 percent of registered voters, or 116,431 people, casting an early ballot.
According to the Secretary of State’s Office, more than 700,000 ballots had been cast across the state as of about 2:37 p.m. Georgia smashed voting records during the three weeks of early voting.
The polls were open until 7 p.m. for in-person voting. Voters on Election Day had to go to the precinct listed on their voter registration.
Across DeKalb, Forsyth and Fulton counties, voters parked their cars,
headed inside polling locations and left with their “I secured my vote!” stickers.
Election Day voters were treated with no lines and minimal wait times for check-in. Voters complimented poll workers at each location for their professionalism and assistance in the voting process. None reported any lines or issues inside polling places in North Fulton, DeKalb and Forsyth counties through noon on Election Day.
After threats to two precincts in South Fulton County, officials evacuated and requested a court order for an extension of voting hours.
Appen Media reporters went to four polling locations before noon on Election Day to hear from voters about their experience, what brought them out to vote and keep tabs on election day facts and figures.
Sandy Springs and Alpharetta
Appen Media’s team began its Election Day coverage around 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the North Fulton Government Center off Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.
A few demonstrators, two supporting Vice President Kamala Harris and one supporting former President Donald Trump, waved campaign signs at motorists on Roswell Road.
A trio of journalists from Paris, France, interviewed and spoke with voters leaving the polls.
One French journalist said the
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
A woman and her two young children head into the Cumming Parks and Recreation Event Center to vote on Election Day Nov. 5.
Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne, left, admonishes Elections Director Nadine Williams Nov. 6 over a decision to open election offices over the weekend before Election Day to accept hand-returned absentee ballots.
Fulton Commissioner Thorne lays into county elections chief
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Friday before Election Day, Fulton County issued a press release saying four election offices would be open over the weekend to accommodate voters seeking to hand-return their absentee ballots.
Local media reported that the accommodation, also made by other Georgia counties, sparked multiple GOP lawsuits seeking to prevent the lawful practice.
Media also reported that Republicans kept up the pressure with attacks on social media after a Fulton County Superior Court judge rejected the first lawsuit that Saturday.
One was District 1 Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne, who represents Johns Creek and portions of Roswell, Alpharetta and Sandy Springs.
During the Nov. 6 County Commission meeting, Thorne told Elections Director Nadine Williams the decision created “unnecessary chaos” and “poor optics.”
The four offices opened that weekend included the new county Election Hub and Operations Center in Union City, the Fulton County Government Center in Atlanta, the North Fulton Service Center in Sandy Springs and the South Fulton Service Center.
Thorne emphasized that three of the four offices were in southern Fulton County, implying the decision better accommodated Democrats.
“I’m a Republican, and I feel like our election process is totally blocked to Republicans,” she said.
Williams said she made the decision to open the sites after hearing from voters who never received their absentee ballots in the mail. She said that the “chaos” occurred after Thorne posted the email addresses of all the county’s election staff on her Facebook page.
“All of our departments received a group of people that decided, out of
transparency, they would, to me, do voter intimidation and harass our staff,” Williams said.
Thorne’s social media post signaled that members of the Registration and Elections Board were not copied.
She created several other posts around that time, though, throwing election integrity into question as well as the taxpayer cost to open the locations. Thorne said she had been told by poll workers that they would be paid overtime for their weekend shifts.
During the commission meeting, county leaders confirmed it cost taxpayers nothing.
Thorne also questioned why poll watchers were not allowed to observe the processing of absentees.
Commission Chairman Robb Pitts, who used his gavel to maintain decorum during Thorne’s rebuke of Williams, said the decision was a collective one that involved himself, Williams, County Manager Dick Anderson, the Elections Board chair and the Fulton County Police chief.
Pitts said people could stay in the lobby and observe but could not follow the employees back to their desk and “hover over them while they were doing their work.”
Before Thorne laid into Williams, Anderson lauded Williams’ leadership on Election Day, adding a prescient comment.
“Sometimes I do feel like when Nadine is taking some of the incoming fire that we should step to the fore as well, to say, ‘Hey, this is a holistic government here. It’s not just Nadine, nor her department only,’” he said.
Fulton County commissioners took turns defending Williams, including Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman, a Democrat board member
“Commissioner Thorne, Trump won yesterday. Several other Republicans won yesterday,” Abdur-Rahman said. “With all due respect, please do not disparage this woman who runs a department.”
Veterans:
Continued from Page 1
Horgan said there is a commonality among everyone, despite political differences.
“Whether you're blue or red, we all share a love for this nation, our flag, and we should always keep that unity in mind, and we know that our duty as citizens does not begin or end in the voting booth,” he said.
Horgan’s speech spun into words about the current crisis in military recruitment, which he attributed to the lack of “kitchen table” talks about “God, family, country and Corps,” and how schools “teach guilt instead of pride, ideology instead of ideals.”
“The veterans here today know that ideologies don't control the urge, the drive to serve our nation, to take the risk,” Horgan said.
Mizell, who introduced Horgan, shared that he is stepping down as president of the Johns Creek Veterans Association. A
veteran of the Army Military Police Corp, Mizell served as the nonprofit’s president for seven of its 12 years.
He said he’s moving on to assist veterans all across the state. Of the more than 640,000 veterans in Georgia, Mizell said more than 95,000 are homeless. He also said more than 150,000 veterans and veteran families are eating less than one meal a day.
“I'm not going away,” Mizell said. “I just feel that there's a greater calling. There's a tremendous need in the state of Georgia.”
Mayor Bradberry lauded Mizell for his work with the nonprofit, asking for a round of applause.
Bradberry, who served the Marines for eight years in the reserves, emphasized the importance of thinking “reverently and judiciously” on whether to deploy the military.
“...Of all the things that any government or any society is involved with, the deployment of men and women into harm's way is probably, I think, the most important, and obviously their sacrifice is often the ultimate sacrifice,”
Daughters of the American Revolution members sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the Johns Creek Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 9.
PHOTOS BY: AMBER PERRY/AMBER PERRY
The Johns Creek Veterans Association Color Guard presents the colors for the Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 9.
Morgan Stanley office expands Alpharetta’s resident workforce
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Morgan Stanley, now Alpharetta’s largest resident employer, celebrated the opening of a new office in October.
With about 2,500 in-town employees, the company now employs the most Alpharettans, according to city officials. AT&T employs about 2,200 Alpharetta workers, making it second, and ADP is third with about 2,100.
When you also include employees based at Halcyon, Morgan Stanley boasts more than 3,000 staff members in the greater Alpharetta area.
City Council members and other officials attended a ribbon-cutting marking the opening of a new office space at The Edison office complex Oct. 16. The more than 200,000-square-foot space houses staff from a variety of departments, from tech services to wealth management.
The company moved into a second building at the complex in September after an initial lease was started there by E-Trade, which Morgan Stanley acquired in 2020. About 2,400 staff work at the complex.
The new office offers many improvements, said a Morgan Stanley spokesman.
“The new space in 1 Edison provides an upgraded employee experience, featuring modernized workspaces, more conference rooms and collaboration spaces and upgraded amenities, which include fitness center, café and food program, new event spaces and artwork curated by the Morgan Stanley Art Collection,” he said.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mayor Jim Gilvin thanked the company for choosing Alpharetta and highlighted Morgan Stanley’s commitment to the city. He also praised the Alpharetta’s businesscentered culture and diversity.
John McGrory, head of North America Global Centers for Morgan Stanley, said he is proud for his company to play a part in the city’s ongoing business growth.
“Alpharetta is our fastest-growing global center thanks to the city’s large, diverse talent pool, proximity to globally recognized universities and variety of career opportunities for professionals in all areas,” McGrory said. “As an Alpharetta resident myself, I believe the area offers an ideal environment to live and work, so it’s no surprise how quickly it is growing. Morgan Stanley and our thousands of staff that call Alpharetta home are proud to play a part in the city’s continued growth.”
MORGAN STANLEY/PROVIDED
Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin cuts a ribbon at Morgan Stanley’s new office at The Edison office complex.
AMSH ASHRITH, manager, StopEatRepeat
Young entrepreneurs serve up authentic Indian cuisine, hospitality
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — At 32, Prudhvi Allam is the eldest of some six family members who own and operate two Indian restaurants and a food truck in Metro Atlanta.
Over a small table in Andhrawala Café in Dunwoody’s North Shallowford Plaza, he and his 25-year-old brother Amsh Ashrith described the authenticity found in not just the food, but the hospitality. Together, those ingredients produce regulars at the cafe which opened just six months ago.
Allam, Andhrawala Cafe’s manager, said a common problem among many Indian restaurants is the service.
“Most of our guests … they would come back to us and say, ‘Yeah, food, we can get it anywhere. The service with the food, this is the only place,” Allam said.
The word “Namaste,” a tradition rooted in “humble love and attention, has proliferated throughout the community, Allam said.
Andhrawala Cafe boasts an eclectic menu of traditional Indian breakfast favorites, like vada, or doughnut-like fritters made from a lentil batter; dosa, or a buttery crisp South Indian crepe; and idly, or soft, steamed rice cake made from a batter of rice and lentils.
It’s advised that these items are dipped, maybe even drenched, in the accompanying tomato- and peanutbased sauces, or with vada, the chutney.
Allam said the cafe quickly became popular because it features cuisines
found all over India.
“I think everybody says that for the restaurant business, you need at least six months to one year for the break even,” Allam said. “We never faced these kinds of issues from the last two, three years.”
food at Andhrawala Cafe.
“Every item, after coming here, they'll fusionize because that way they can attract more customers, like more people,” Allam said.
“If you bring the authentic food, everybody likes it,” he said.
The family’s food truck StopEatRepeat was launched in 2022, a test of the waters before focusing on scalability.
Allam also said they intentionally moved away from Americanizing the
Allam, who has been in the states for about a decade, said some customers who had been unfamiliar with the more traditional, smaller Dosa have continued to return because they say it’s the best they’ve ever had. In some restaurants, the crepe can almost cover the entire table.
The cafe’s walls are splashed with an inviting yellow as well as handillustrated murals, painted by one of Allam and Ashrith’s sisters. On one side, you can see a host of the cafe’s team members, each with a name tag, and on the other side, a painting of farmers using bulls to do their work, layered over a mandala.
See CUISINE, Page 9
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Manager Prudhvi Allam and Head Chef Harish Kumar, center, are primarily responsible for operations at Andhrawala Cafe, an Indian restaurant in North Shallowford Plaza owned by Allam’s family. Allam’s brother Amsh Ashrith, left, manages a food truck called StopEatRepeat, and Pavan Sai helps the family by serving food to customers at the cafe.
BUSINESSPOSTS
At left is vada, or doughnut-like fritters made from a lentil batter, and onion masala karam benne dosa, or a buttery crisp South Indian crepe made with ghee, red chili paste, potato masala and chili powder. At right is ghee karam idly, or soft, steamed rice cake made from a batter of rice and lentils, topped with special chili powder.
Cuisine:
Continued from Page 8
An awning made of dried grass hangs over the front counter, which Ashrith said hearkens to the clay homes found in South Indian villages.
Tradition is threaded throughout the establishment, including the technique of cooking rice in clay pots. Harish Kumar is the head chef at Andhrawala Cafe.
“There is a history behind the clay pot,” Allam said. “You know, back in the ancient days, most of the culture says that if you cook anything in a pot, that gives a lot of benefits.”
A wall by the door features an outline of a heart filled overflowing with handwritten compliments, from “GOOD FOOD GOOD SERVICE” to “Food is really damn tasty :).”
The family’s second restaurant, a fine dining spot in Suwanee, will soon be rebranded to Dosti Tap and Grill, “dosti” meaning friendship.
The food truck StopEatRepeat was their first entry into the restaurant industry, though, at least in the United States. They had also owned a series of restaurants in Goa, a coastal state in India.
“We are Atlanta's first Indian food truck, and we can proudly flaunt that every time,” said Ashrith, StopEatRepeat’s manager. “That’s our baby.”
All the food operations exist under the home brand TOT, or “Trails of Taste.”
With a full-time career in IT, the restaurant business is Allam’s side gig. He and Ashrith, a college student who has helped Allam create food-related phone apps, volunteer their time.
Ashrith said money is less important.
“Every day we do something, we try to make sure that it makes a difference, not more money,” Ashrith said. “To make money, you can do anything, but to make a difference, there are only certain things that you can do.”
PHOTOS BY: AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Andhrawala Cafe, in North Shallowford Plaza, boasts an eclectic menu of traditional Indian breakfast favorites.
LEGION POST 201 EVENTS
Avalon marks 10th anniversary noting local economic impact
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The premier mixed-use development Avalon celebrated its 10th anniversary in October, and its developer marked the milestone by listing a number of economic impacts.
A report, published by Avalon developer North American Properties, says the 86-acre development drew in more than 65 million visitors and $3 billion in sales over the past decade. It also created 4,000 jobs.
Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management firm, purchased the Atlanta subsidiary of North American Properties, which was co-founded and led by Mark Toro. The acquisition was finalized Oct. 30.
Toro Development, is now working on Medley, a key 42-acre mixed-use development in Johns Creek, slated for the Johns Creek Town Center.
The report states that an “Avalon Effect” was at least partially responsible for the general market growth in
Alpharetta over the past decade, including an increase in housing units and households as well as a 49-percent increase in gross assessed property values.
Avalon also accomplished several firsts for Alpharetta, the state and the region.
The report says Avalon brought Alpharetta its first outdoor ice-skating rink, pop-up bar experience and boutique hotel.
It also says Avalon is the state’s first high-speed internet community and open-container mixed-use development, the report says. Avalon also brought the first autonomous food delivery robot to Georgia, through Chick-fil-A.
The report also cites Avalon as the South’s first “urbanburb,” or walkable, urban experience in a suburban setting and that it was the first suburban mixed-use development to feature a chef-driven restaurant lineup.
Toro is looking to do the same for Medley.
—
Amber Perry
Look your best for the holidays
advances in materials and technology.
The holiday season is a great time to take steps to look and feel your best. One way to accomplish this is to improve your dental health and your beautiful smile. Surveys show that your smile and your teeth are one of the first things that people notice about you. A smile with balanced proportions makes you look young and healthy and feel confident meeting new people and talking and laughing with friends and family. As dentists, we can offer many options to improve your smile which are conservative, non-invasive, and affordable in one simple and comfortable visit.
Modern dentistry gives you so many options to improve your smile with the
Tooth Whitening – Years of stain and discoloration can be reversed with our in-office and take-home prescription whitening procedures.
Cosmetic Recontouring - A simple process of re-shaping the teeth to eliminate chips and broken teeth can make them look healthier and much straighter.
Teeth Straightening - Creating straighter teeth and a healthier bite is a minimally invasive choice. With the latest advances in clear aligner therapy, Invisalign gives you an attractive smile in a very short amount of time, without having unsightly metal braces and wires on your teeth. The latest materials allow the teeth to be gently and comfortably repositioned in just a matter of months.
Cosmetic Bonding - With the use of tooth-colored materials, we can repair chips and cracks and make your teeth appear normal, natural and vibrant again.
Porcelain Veneers - A minimally invasive procedure which allows us to use thin shells of porcelain. These act like new enamel for your teeth. Porcelain veneers allow you to change the color, size, shape, and position of your teeth. They are your teeth, only better. Porcelain veneers are bonded to the front of your teeth to change your smile and give you the smile of your dreams.
Botox and Juvéderm - These are safe and proven materials for therapeutic and cosmetic improvements to your lips and face. They can rejuvenate your smile in a matter of days.
Dr. Bradley Hepler and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide all the modern advances that contemporary aesthetic dentistry offers. You will realize immediate results with non-invasive and often inexpensive procedures to enhance your smile. If you would like a complementary consultation to discover your smile enhancing options, please call the Atlanta Center for Dental Health at 770-992-2236. Dr. Bradley Hepler has spent many hours dedicated to perfecting and updating the latest and best techniques in dentistry. It is with this breadth of knowledge that they provide each patient with the perfect solution to their situation, their life, and their goals. It is our great pleasure to serve this community and help as many people as possible live their best life.
Brought to you by – Dr. Bradley Hepler, Atlanta Center for Dental Health
The gold standard in heart care How Magnet® Designation makes a difference
Brought to you by - Emory Heart & Vascular
If you have a cardiac condition, you already know how important it is to find a specialist you can trust to care for you at every stage of your heart-health journey.
But your nursing team is also a vital part of your care, too. Whether you are visiting for a heart check-up, undergoing cardiac rehabilitation or having bypass surgery, nurses play a critical role in ensuring you receive high-quality care.
But how do you find excellent nurses? You can’t connect with them by searching the internet for “great nurses near me.” But you can look for a heart program that makes nursing excellence a high priority. An academic health system like Emory Healthcare is dedicated to achieving the gold standard for nursing excellence: Magnet designation.
What is Magnet Designation?
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) established the Magnet Recognition Program almost 30 years ago. Magnet designation is the ultimate nursing credential. It recognizes quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice.
The application process is thorough and time-consuming. Many organizations strive for Magnet designation but never achieve it.
Earning Magnet designation is proof of a rock-solid commitment to excellent health care. Emory Healthcare is the only health system in Georgia with four Magnet-designated hospitals and the state’s first and only Magnet-designated ambulatory practice, Emory Clinic.
Our four Magnet-designated hospitals include:
• Emory Johns Creek Hospital
• Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital
• Emory University Hospital
• Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital
Magnet designation is a significant professional accomplishment for all our nurses. But more importantly, it reflects our nursing team’s sincere concern and compassion for every patient who entrusts their care to Emory Healthcare.
Magnet makes a difference in your heart care
Magnet designation tells you that Emory Healthcare creates an environment where nurses in every specialty can thrive. That’s certainly true in cardiac medicine. Throughout the health system, our heart nurses care for patients with expert knowledge and sensitivity, whether helping them manage a chronic condition like heart failure or coordinating their care before or after surgery. Our heart nurses:
• Work with physicians and other health professionals to provide highquality patient care.
• Educate patients about their condition and treatment.
• Help design new care models.
• Lead quality improvement teams.
• Participate in cardiac research.
• Use the latest technology and patient care practices to help you heal.
Ready to transform your heart health?
If you need heart care, turn to experts at the top of their field. Emory Heart & Vascular brings together more than 150 physicians and 18 specialized programs in cardiology, cardiac surgery and vascular surgery.
Next-day new patient cardiology appointments are available at one of our 23 locations.
Visit emoryhealthcare.org/transform to learn more and schedule an appointment.
Family history of heart disease?
Emory Heart & Vascular can help rewrite it.
MORE TREATMENT OPTIONS
The difference? Emory Women’s Center at Johns Creek uses research and innovation in health to provide exceptional care, close to home.
Our expert heart & vascular team pioneers the most innovative techniques and treatments. Giving you more options and better outcomes than anywhere else. To make more “tickle monster!” moments like this possible.
From routine gynecology and menopause management, to high-risk pregnancies and specialty care, our team is here for your journey no matter where it takes you.
Visit emoryhealthcare.org/history to schedule an appointment.
Visit emoryhealthcare.org/women to schedule an appointment.
Need help before the holidays?
Dear Reader,
Are any of you cringing when you begin to think about the holidays and the difficult or perhaps challenging family conversations you have to look forward to? Maybe it’s time to talk to your parents about whether they are protected. Do they have an advanced healthcare directive that appoints other people to make medical decisions for them? Do they have a Durable Power of Attorney that appoints other people to make financial decisions for them? Do the “other people” include you? If so, you may need to know where to find
these documents in case your parents need to use them. Have they told you where they are?
Maybe you are the parent who needs these documents and you don’t have them or it’s been five years since you signed them and they need to be updated. When the family is in town for the holidays, maybe you want to make planning a priority. We’re open Monday to Wednesday before Thanksgiving and we’re happy to meet on a Saturday or outside of regular business hours if it would help to have someone other than family help manage those conversations. Let us know if we can help.
Make colon health your habit
Brought to you by - Dr. Ashish Zalawadia, gastroenterologist at Wellstar
Being proactive with your preventative care can help catch colon cancer early—before it becomes a bigger problem. Your Wellstar care team can help you evaluate your colon cancer risk and create a screenings plan.
Here’s an overview of what you can expect when you get a colonoscopy at Wellstar.
What is a colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a medical procedure that allows a gastroenterologist to visually examine the inside of the colon (large intestine) using a flexible tube with a camera and light on the end called a colonoscope.
Why is a colonoscopy performed?
Colonoscopies are a screening for colon cancer and polyps. They are considered the gold standard for colon cancer screening because they are the most effective way to identify and diagnose colon cancer. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that patients start getting screened for colon cancer at age 45.
The procedure can also be used to investigate symptoms such as abdominal pain, blood in stool or a change in bowel habits and to monitor inflammatory bowel disease.
How frequently do I need a colonoscopy?
You need a colonoscopy every 10 years starting at age 45. You may need colonoscopies sooner and/or more often depending upon your medical history, family history or results from previous testing.
How do I prepare for a colonoscopy?
Preparing for a colonoscopy involves several steps to ensure a safe and effective procedure.
Tell your gastroenterologist about your medical history, including your previous colonoscopy results, allergies and medications, including over-thecounter medications. You will be asked to stop blood thinning medications before your colonoscopy.
Avoid nuts, seeds and popcorn and stay on a low-fiber diet one week before the procedure.
You will be asked to stay on a clear liquid diet (such as water, clear broth and electrolyte-rich beverages) the entire day before your colonoscopy. Avoid red,
orange or purple liquids, which may interfere with visibility.
What is colonoscopy prep, or bowel prep?
You will be given a strong laxative (bowel prep) to clean your colon. A clean colon allows your gastroenterologist to better view the inside of your colon. Your gastroenterologist can then more easily find polyps or early signs of cancer. You will start taking laxatives the day before your procedure. After taking the laxative, you will have diarrhea. Over time, your stool will get more and more watery and turn a yellow or clear color as the medicine cleans out your colon.
What should I expect on the day of my colonoscopy?
The test is often done in the hospital or surgical center on an outpatient basis. Please arrive one hour before the scheduled time. Remove all jewelry, makeup and contact lenses. Wear comfortable clothing and bring someone to drive you home.
What should I expect during the colonoscopy?
During the procedure, you will lie on your left side. You will be sedated with IV medication. The colonoscope is inserted through the rectum. Air is inserted to expand the colon for better visibility. The procedure typically takes 30 minutes. Biopsy, polyp removal or other treatments may be done during the test.
What should I expect after a colonoscopy?
After the procedure, you may experience bloating, gas or mild discomfort. You can go back to normal eating and activities after the test. Drink plenty of water but stay away from alcohol. You may be tired from sedation and need to rest for the day. Don’t work or drive after the procedure. Ask your gastroenterologist when you can resume taking your regular medication, especially blood thinning medication. Your gastroenterologist may talk with you about the results right away or you may need to schedule a follow-up visit to talk about the results.
What are the complications of a colonoscopy?
Colonoscopies are a very safe procedure. Rare complications include bleeding, perforation (hole or tear) or sedation medication (anesthesia) reaction.
To schedule an appointment with Wellstar Gastroenterology in Roswell, call (470) 267-1520.
ISTOCK
ZALAWADIA
Honored to be Voted: Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist
Insist on the
BEST
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.
He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 22 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.
Transplant Medicine and Dermatology
Our immune systems are our defense against the outside world’s infections – viruses, bacteria and all manner of pathogens ready to run amok.
And our immune systems are also our defense against the rebels within our own bodies – cells that have mutated and have turned into cancer.
One only needs to observe the effects of suppressing the immune system to know just how important the immune system is. Transplant doctors are in the unfortunate position of having to intentionally suppress a patient’s immune system. When a patient receives a new kidney, heart, lung or other organ, the patient is placed on medicine that suppresses the immune system. Without those medicines, the immune system would attack the transplanted organ, treat it as foreign, and “reject” it – attacking it until it perished.
Suppressing the immune system comes at a great cost. Organ transplant recipients have an approximately 200-fold increase in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), which is the most common type of skin cancer in this group of individuals. A 200-fold increase means a 20,000% increase. When a SCC occurs in such a patient, the mortality is nearly ten times higher than that of someone with a normal immune system.
For these reasons, regular skin exams are critical in the transplant population. Oddly, the importance of skin exams has sometimes seemed to be a bit of a blind spot. Many patients with organ transplants have told me that they were counseled about many of the problems that they could face after receiving a transplant but that the risk of skin cancer was either not mentioned or not particularly emphasized.
For organ transplant patients, immunosuppression is only part of the story. Unfortunately, some of the transplant medications are not only immunosuppressive but also mutagenic. There is evidence that some immunosuppressants (such as tacrolimus and mycophenolate) can cause mutations. These immunosuppressants may increase the rate that cancers occur independent of their immunosuppressive effects. To avoid this double whammy, dermatologists managing skin cancers in transplant patients often discuss whether alternatives can be employed.
Compounding the problem, some organ transplant recipients, particularly lung transplant patients, sometimes contract fungal infections that must be treated with voriconazole or its cousins. Voriconazole can directly and indirectly increase skin cancer risk in a population that is already vulnerable.
Science marches forward, and hope abounds as new strategies and treatments continue to be developed for skin cancer in the setting of organ transplantation. Increasingly effective “blue light therapy” regimens, topical chemotherapeutics and prompt skin cancer surgery keep almost all skin cancers in check. Trials are exploring injecting new immunotherapy medicines directly into skin cancers to reverse immunosuppression at the site of the cancer without reversing the immunosuppression at the transplanted organ.
Organ transplants are a miracle of modern science. However, like all gifts in medicine, organ transplants require maintenance, time and attention and come with risks. Dermatologists are instrumental in helping to manage these risks, and timely Mohs surgery is critical to prevent progression of skin cancers from operable lesions into much harder to manage tumors. What is the lesson for the reader who doesn’t have a transplanted organ? Transplantation shows us the extremes of immunosuppression, but any amount of immunosuppression can be dangerous. If a patient has CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia), rheumatoid arthritis or any disease that results in a weakened immune system, then be on the lookout for skin cancer, and consider seeing a dermatologist regularly.
As we get into our 60s and older, “immunosenescence” kicks in, which is to say our immune systems get weaker as we get older, so it becomes increasingly important to treat skin cancers quickly the older we are.
Cherish a healthy immune system and protect it. Even topical steroids prescribed for conditions like eczema can be dangerous if used too long and in the wrong setting. Topical steroids like hydrocortisone and triamcinolone suppress the immune system where they are applied and should usually be avoided in heavily sun-damaged areas.
Make sure to do your part in keeping your immune system healthy. There’s no great secret – it’s exactly what you’ve heard before: Get plenty of rest. Laugh often. Avoid stress. Take wonderful vacations and do lots of what makes you happy. It’s just what the doctor ordered.
Dr. Brent Taylor
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
Brought to you by – Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta
Taking a moment when confronted with change
The holiday season is almost upon us and, as we gather with older loved ones, warm memories of the past can be tempered by the realities of the present. When we get to spend more time together, changes in our lives as we age are more apparent.
Whether it’s the unexpected condition of their home, personal grooming or signs of slowing down physically and mentally, it can be a shock to the system to realize that help is needed. It’s natural to try and attribute changes to “holiday stress” or move quickly and “fix” things. This is when it’s also important to take a moment and try to understand the full scope of the issues your loved one is facing.
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, being able to perform basic grooming, bathing, dressing, toileting and move safely from one space to another.
Perhaps you’re seeing signs that may indicate concerns about more serious emerging health issues. It’s important to work with your loved one and consult their health care professionals to determine what the issues are and what the prognosis is for the short and long term.
care can give you the time to take a breath, giving you a moment to stop and assess the true degree of assistance needed. Reacting to a potential medical prognosis or the aging process too quickly can add to the stress level of you and your older loved one. We know staying in the safety and comfort of home is the preference of most seniors. A skilled caregiver can help balance their needs with respect for their dignity and honor their desire to maintain as much independence as possible.
There are times when extra help is needed recuperating from an accident or surgery. Should fall risks emerge, your caregiver can add security and peace of mind. A dedicated Home Helpers caregiver can make life and nights easier if your loved one is starting to wander. For couples, this also makes sure a good night’s rest happens for their partner.
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.
PEXELS
Mouth breathing
What it is and why it’s important to identify the signs early?
Brought to you by - Dr. Destinee Hood at Roswell Dental Care
Mouth breathing is a condition in which a person breathes through their mouth instead of their nose. It can be caused by several factors, including nasal congestion, allergies, and enlarged adenoids. Mouth breathing can have a number of negative consequences for your health, including:
• Crowns and Bridges in a few days
• Porcelain Veneers
• Tooth Colored Composite Fillings
• 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
• Implants
• Root Canals
• Extractions
• Spa-like Relaxing Atmosphere
• Custom Baked Cookies Daily
• FREE Nitrous Oxide and Oral Conscious Sedation
• Facial Aesthetic Enhancements including BOTOX and Dermal Fillers
• Dry mouth: Breathing through your mouth dries out your mouth, which can lead to cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.
• Poor sleep quality: Mouth breathing can disrupt sleep by causing snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
• Increased risk of infection: Breathing through your mouth can increase your risk of respiratory infections, such as the common cold and the flu.
• Changes in facial structure: Mouth breathing can lead to changes in facial structure, such as a long, narrow face and an overbite. This is especially important during midface development, between ages 5-9.
If you think you or your child may be a mouth breather, it’s important to see a doctor to get diagnosed and treated. There are a few things that can be done to help mouth breathers, such as:
• Treating the underlying cause: If the mouth breathing is caused by a medical condition, such as allergies or enlarged adenoids, treating that condition can help to improve mouth breathing.
• Using nasal sprays or drops: Nasal sprays and drops can help to clear nasal congestion and make it easier to breathe through the nose.
• Using a chin strap or mouth tape: A chin strap or mouth tape can help to keep the mouth closed at night. You can order these on Amazon!
If you are a mouth breather, there several things you can do to help manage your condition, such as:
• Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated can help to keep your
mouth from getting too dry.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol: Caffeine and alcohol can dehydrate you and make dry mouth worse.
• Use a humidifier: A humidifier can add moisture to the air and help to keep your mouth from getting dry.
• Brush and floss your teeth regularly: Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly can help to prevent cavities and gum disease.
It’s important to see your dentist regularly for oral health screenings. This may be the first step in identifying your risk factors or signs you may be breathing through your mouth. As your neighborhood dentists, Drs. Hood and Remaley give your comfort and trust top priority. We assure you feel confident in any dental solution before beginning treatment after a thorough and comprehensive examination. For enhanced comfort, we offer FREE conscious sedation, including nitrous oxide. Rest assured that your experience will be positive, relaxing, and rewarding. Take the first step in feeling great about your oral health. Schedule your oral health screening and give us a call at 770.998.6736 or visit www.RoswellDentalCare.com.
Dr. David Remaley
Dr. Destinee Hood
The steps to completing the Stress Cycle
Brought to you by - Summit Counseling Center
There is no denying we live in a stressful world. Stressors include external things like work, family, finances, friends, discrimination, and societal expectations, as well as internal factors such as selfcriticism, identity, memories, the future. Stress is a normal human response to these difficult situations. Stress is neurological and physiological sift that happens in our bodies when we experience stressors. Stress in not wholly a negative experience. Low to moderate levels of stress motivate us to take actions and perform tasks. However higher levels of stress or difficulty coping with stress can overwhelm us leaving us paralyzed, unable to act. Stress leads to the activation of the bodies stress response prompting the release of neurotransmitters and hormones that creates a kind of energy in our bodies prompting us to act I order to dispel this energy. Stress is cyclical, and so it is important to learn how to complete the Stress Cycle to move this energy through our
bodies to return to a state of rest and relaxation in preparation for the next stressor.
Sisters Drs. Emily and Amelia Nagoski discuss ways to complete the Stress Cycle in their book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. They say, one of the most effective ways to complete the Stress Cycle is to move our bodies for about 20-60 minutes a day. Movement can include running, swimming, or dancing. Because we experience stressors every day it is
important to intentionally move our bodies daily. Here are other ways to complete the Stress Cycle:
• Deep Breathing. Taking slow deep breaths relaxes the body allowing the release of stress. Deep breathing is most effective with low to moderate levels of stress. It is characterized by inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth where the exhale is longer than the inhale.
• Positive Social Interactions. Casual social interactions with friends and acquaintances help us to see the world as safe. Innocuous chit chat with strangers like telling the grocery store clerk to have a nice day or giving someone a compliment helps us to know that there are sane people in the world.
• Laughter. Laughter releases a flood of feel-good chemicals in our brains. Deep belly laughs with others increases our social bonds. When we laugh like this, we realize there is good in this life.
• Affection. When casual social interaction is not enough, we need
deep connection from a loving person help us to feel safe and validated. Affection does not have to be physical although a 20 second hug or a six second kiss can do wonders to release stress. A deep connective empathic conversation also helps us to feel seen and heard thus reducing our stress. Affection can also be spiritual by connecting with our higher power through prayer or meditation we feel close to a being bigger than ourselves.
• Crying. Crying helps to release pent up emotions leaving us with a sense of relief from the weight of the stressor. Whether you’re on the verge of tears and need to find a quiet place to let them out or you artificially create a situation that will lead to crying like watching your favorite tearjerker movie or pet adoption commercials, crying helps us to complete the Stress Cycle.
• Creative Expression. Creative outlets encourage big expressions of emotions. From love songs, to dance, to paint and poetry, creative expression is a socially acceptable way to express ourselves without having to adhere to such strict social norms like being “nice” or not creating waves. Creative expression allows us to process emotions we may not have words for.
In our world today we are constantly being bombarded with stressors. If we do not complete the Stress Cycle, we can experience higher rates of mental and physical health problems that lead to burnout. But it doesn’t have to be that way. By listening to our bodies and giving ourselves permission to intentionally use these skills we can move through the Stress Cycle more quickly to experience the joys of life.
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We are stronger, better together
I have circles of friends and family that run deeply down both sides of the aisle, who work in the media world and far from it.
I shared a message of optimism with all of them early on Election Day. I told them I was in a Slack channel – basically, a digital workspace similar to a group text – with about 100 election experts and 425 journalists around the country. Participants were sharing resources, lining up sources for interviews, answering questions and generally lending a hand.
Experts ranged from professors and researchers, to attorneys, policy advisers, cybersecurity engineers and former elections officials. Reporters represented organizations big and small, from Hearst and the Associated Press to Pennsylvania’s Bucks County Beacon.
The group also offered media-specific safety resources for physical, legal or psychosocial concerns.
A brainchild of the folks at Votebeat and Knight Election Hub, the project was a collaborative approach to combat disinformation. As I excitedly told those around me, its goal was to make sure solid information was being spread as reliably, quickly and loudly as it could.
One national reporter found resources to fact-check an untrue claim about voter fraud that was spreading rapidly across social media. There were offers from research universities to help parse and analyze data. A weekly newspaper in the mountains asked if someone could call them a few hours later with turnout numbers from their precinct. Not only was that request fulfilled, but another person took it upon themselves to turn the information into a data visualization the paper could publish with the story.
Large and small, helping hands went around.
Down in the Atlanta suburbs, we had a different kind of optimistic teamwork.
In August, the small-but-mighty Appen Media bought the smaller-but-mighty Decaturish, joining together two newsrooms of reporters and editors. We’ve been melding systems, beats and styles since then, but the election was the first chance to really operate as a unified force. Decaturish founder and editor Dan Whisenhunt led that charge.
Managing Editor Pat Fox, Senior Staff Reporter Amber Perry and I stepped back, focusing on our weekly print products as Dan orchestrated the election coverage. Dan, Jon, Hayden, Annabelle, Zoe and Dean, along with help from Jacob and Dionna, dove into the work, swarming across metro Atlanta to make sure our readers got the reliable information they needed. It was also a helpful respite for us all.
It can be isolating when you’re on a small team, even more so when tasked with a large job. Elections coverage is simply easier, more fun and stronger when you get to do it with others.
Late Tuesday night, I dialed into a media briefing from CISA, Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Non-credible bomb threats had been made at several polling places throughout the country, leading to some evacuations and voting hour extensions. DeKalb and Fulton counties were both targeted, which we had covered earlier in the day.
Throughout the call, CISA officials referred questions to the FBI and local law enforcement from reporters about the threats. CISA was trying to be helpful, but they were also limited in what they could offer. Part of the conflict is that while the FBI has pointed to foreign actors for the scare attempts, the only support they or CISA could give was that the emailed threats came from a .ru domain.
At one point a national reporter said something about how “none of us have actually seen these messages.”
Well, a few of us have, I thought.
Much earlier in the day, Dan sent an alert to the newsroom. He had just gotten an email, sent to him, a generic Fox News mailbox, a county official and several polling places, warning that certain locations were under attack and should be evacuated immediately. The sender had a .ru
domain address.
At the time, we contacted law enforcement, covered the story when some polls were evacuated and then later when they received the “all-clear.” Articles about the threats, and similar others around the country, made headlines for hours.
It was not until the CISA call that I realized, “we might be the only newsroom with this document in-hand.”
What did we do? Well, alert the Slack channel of course.
I thought it would be a useful primary document. The scares were a story, but more important in my eyes would be following the thread of whether these messages were coordinated. Now, reporters across the country will have one more clue to unravel that knot.
I take two main lessons away from Election Day.
Everyone has faced challenges these past few years. The key in my mind is how you respond to them. I felt like the media world learned from the past and had at least one new system in place to help facilitate the spread of good information. Seeing it makes me proud and optimistic for the future.
Collaboration is important. By that I mean helping each other and spending time together. Whether it’s a crossnational Slack channel or reporters having pizza. Two minds are better than one, and everything is harder when you’re doing it alone.
Hold on; It will take time for mortgage rates to fall
Based on the election results last night, the majority of American’s who voted, elected Donald Trump. There were many issues on the table, and the “big one” was the economy. The economy has been on everyone’s mind for the past several years with inflation spiking over 9 percent at one point, and unemployment has risen to its highest point in four years. Americans sent a message that they had more confidence in Trump fixing the economic woes that we seem to be facing at this time.
Our “Wall Street Warriors” were also betting on Trump winning as they have pushed the U.S. 10-year treasuries from almost 3.60 percent in mid-September to
its current level of over 4.40 percent, and this included a FED cut of .50% during the same time frame. This spike in the 10-year treasuries has pushed 30-year mortgage rates back over the 7 percent mark after testing the 6 percent mark earlier this year.
So, you might now be asking yourself... what is happening?
We voted for the guy who we think will improve the economy and what did we get? Wall Street pushing rates notably higher in less than two months. Needless to say, this rapid rise in mortgage rates has brought home sales to a screeching halt, and home sales are a big part of our economy.
However, if you think about the thought process of our “warriors,” the answer is quite simple…well sort of. The thought is that the Trump administration will turn things around on the economy by creating jobs, reducing taxes and putting more money in our pockets. If this were
true and happened instantaneously on Jan. 20 when he takes office, the move to higher rates makes sense?
The thought is, more jobs means more people making money, and if more people are making more money either by having a job or paying less in taxes, then they spend more money. All are good things, right?
Well, maybe…the problem with this is that it would also create the possibility of inflation as more demand tends to push up prices, and interest rates hate inflation. Inflation up…rates up…simple Econ 101.
But the flaw in our “warriors” thought process is that these changes by the Trump administration will not just happen on Jan. 20, 2025. The potential policy changes…the “drill baby drill” activity, tax cuts and other stimulus packages will take time to get passed even if the “Red Sweep” in the House and Senate happens. There are many things on the Trump agenda to put in place, and
it will not all happen on Jan. 20. It will simply take some time. In the meantime, we will continue to see the economy slow, especially at current interest rates which need to go lower.
Bottomline, our “warriors” will come back to looking at actual economic data which will ultimately show we are still in a slowdown that will take months to come out of, which should bring rates back down over the next six months. The key is for overall current inflation to continue its move to lower levels, which I believe will happen and this should bring mortgage rates back down over time.
D.C. Aiken is vice president, producing production manager for BankSouth Mortgage, NMLS # 658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.
The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of BankSouth Mortgage or its affiliates.
CARL APPEN Director of Content and Development
carl@appenmedia.com
OPINION
100 most influential people
People and things that have impacted our world, #11-20
RAY APPEN
Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
No. 11 Tylenol Poisonings. In 1982 someone laced Tylenol with potassium cyanide and a number of people died. After the poisonings, tamperproof packaging for over-thecounter drugs and many other consumables became standard world-wide. Small acts by individuals can have world-wide impact.
No. 12.
The girdle and its evolution. The evolution of the girdle is a great example of “change” and the cyclical nature of life! Girdles and corsets have been around since ancient times and were used for body management, fashion, health and protection (The Romans used leather girdles during war as body armor). Over time, the function – and form of the “girdle” – evolved from the historical “analog” form (canvas, cloth, draw strings, etc.) to more modern “digital” forms, including gastric bypass surgery, high-tech diet foods, synthesized diet drugs, and most recently, diet injections (Ozempic, Wegoby, and others). And while all this “digital” evolution was going on, the girdle was reinvented as “analog” yet again – by a woman named Sara Blakely who became a billionaire with her analog invention of a several thousand-year-old product. She called it Spanx. And the cycle keeps turning. Whatever happened to fruits, vegetables and exercise?
No. 13. Keith Richards. Now that Rolling Stone Keith has turned 80 in spite of his lifelong (since he was a toddler?) consumption of scotch, heroine, Marlboros, and who knows what else, and noting that he has also outlived fitness guru Richard Simmons, we can all forget everything that our doctors have told us!! Kidding.
No. 14. The Whistleblowers. As society grows, becomes larger, more complex, more networked,
and less transparent, who or what has had greater impact than the whistleblowers? From people like Mark Felt who helped bring down a president (Watergate’s “deep throat”), to Frank Serpico (corruption in New York City Police Department) to Ron Ridenhour (Mai Lai Viet Nam massacre) to Karen Silkwood (toxic conditions and contamination at a Kerr-McGee nuclear plant), to Ralph Nader (who took on car safety and GM) to Rachael Carson (whose book “Silent Spring” helped end the use of DDT) the whistleblowers too often function as the only remaining check to organizational malfeasance and societal suicide.
No. 15. Harry Potter. What can you say –- more than 600 million copies sold worldwide, movies, theme parks, plays and more. The Harry Potter franchise, including merchandising, is estimated to have taken in over $35 billion to date. So, is Harry Potter important though? Money is not always “the” measure of value. Perhaps Harry Potter is important and impactful because it shines a spotlight on what most of us collectively value, need and long for – membership, justice, loyalty, love and joy. The scale of the dollars taken in by the Harry Potter franchise perhaps reflects the degree of our need and desire for these things.
No. 16. The internet. It “is” information and approaches “all” information. However, we humans have a very finite capacity to use/ process information. Yes, the internet has changed everything for everyone, but what it has not changed is our needs, something that it cannot provide (See No.15). What it cannot provide is a constant that will never change. That is the danger of the internet as we collectively incorporate it deeper and broader into our lives.
No. 17. Art. Art is also a “whistleblower” –humanity’s whistleblower. Kurt Vonnegut, Gunter Grass, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Pablo Picasso, TS Elliot, WH Auden, Bob Dylan and so many more. Art impacts our lives in so many ways. It shines a spotlight on the past; it preserves history; it warns about the future; it is part of our “check and balance” for the human race.
Honorable Mention: Woodstock. Three days of peace, love and music Aug. 15-18 in 1969 on Max Yasgur’s 700-acre farm. Changed the world! Nope. Didn’t change anything. I had a friend who was there. He always carried his ticket to Woodstock in his wallet and for the next 40 years (or more) would bring it out and show anyone and everyone who would listen to him (usually drunk). That about sums up Woodstock. Other than a hell of a party with a ton of great – and later iconic music – it didn’t move our needle, not even a little.
No. 18. Social media. I hate including this. But it is low-hanging fruit. It reminds me of a fruit that has almost no nutritional value, like maybe watermelon. It reminds me of opium and alcohol, too, things used as weapons – the former, against the Chinese (1839 and 1856 Opium Wars) by the British and the French who forced the Chinese to legalize opium and the opium trade (into China), and the latter by “society” in general against the native Indian populations in the frontier West/Inuits in Alaska. Social media seems fundamentally to be corrosive, toxic and with minimal relative redeeming value of any kind to any society.
No. 19. Mr. Musk. Well, he is for sure hard to ignore, and it would be hard to deny his impact on us or the world, at least in relative terms during this miniscule infinitesimally tiny span of time that we call “our life.” Perhaps, however, his new product, the self-driving rideshare Teslas, may be representative of a bigger, greater than a drop-in-the-bucket impact on “us.” AI-driven, I think we are seeing in live time what AI is really going to be like. When a self-driven rideshare Tesla gets into an accident, who does the cop give the ticket to? Who goes to jail? Whose license is suspended? Extrapolate these issues to the AI-driven robots and systems that are and will be running just about everything – now and soon. Buckle up.
No. 20 The billionaires. We are now dealing with companies owned/controlled by billionaires that are functioning, for all practical purposes, like nation states, above and basically outside the jurisdiction / reach of country-specific laws and norms. This is a situation that will fundamentally drive macro change soon. Government and corporations controlled by billionaires functioning as nation-states are incompatible. One or the other will have to go away or at least submit. Buckle up.
Polls: AAPPEN PRESSCLU
group landed overnight and made the trip to monitor elections in Fulton County.
While most voters in Sandy Springs did not disclose whom they voted for, a majority told reporters that the voting process was “smooth” and “easy.”
Most of the voters at the North Fulton Government Services Center in north Sandy Springs were under 65. Reporters mostly spoke to college students in their 20s and middle-aged parents as they exited the polls.
Sandy Springs resident Gretchen Webb said she was making her third stop of the morning to submit her son’s absentee ballot after going to the wrong locations. After speaking with poll workers and getting confirmation, Webb left to finally drop off the ballot.
An economics student at Georgia State University, who declined to give his name, said his top concerns in this year’s elections are housing, education and healthcare.
“Make America Great,” but did not complete former President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan.
An Alpharetta couple said that while they have voted for Republicans in the past, they’d like to see a female president in the White House.
The Alpharetta man said politics is so polarized now, and it’s simpler to just vote down ballot.
An Alpharetta resident who moved from Brooklyn, New York, four years ago said he voted for Trump weeks ago and he hopes for a landslide.
Dunwoody
At the Dunwoody Cultural Arts Center and Library around 10 a.m. an area manager told reporters there had been no issues with voting machines. He also said Election Day in the county was going “well” with no lines and voters getting in and out quickly.
Dunwoody resident Steve Ike told reporters that it’s been a privilege to vote for the past 53 years. When asked what got him out to the polls, Ike said it was the statewide floating homestead exemption.
out to the polls to put some campaign signs down for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Weisshaar’s passion for politics led her to join a group of around 150 volunteers, which formed during the 2008 election of former President Barack Obama.
Bill Fischer, who leads the group with Michael Dalmat, said they’d distributed 6,000 door hangers with voter registration QR codes, 2,000 bags with campaign information and stood around the city holding signs.
In the lower parking lot, drone operators with Fox News were getting footage of Metro Atlanta polls on Election Day.
Forsyth County
road from the park’s facility.
Victoria Jackson, one of the poll workers, said 449 voters had cast ballots as of 11 a.m. on Election Day. Like precincts in North Fulton and DeKalb counties, voters did not have to wait in line. Jackson said there were 155 voters between 7-8 a.m. and things slowed down a bit after that.
Voter Stephanie Hughes said much about the process had changed since she last voted more than 20 years ago. Despite the learning curve with voting machines, Hughes said everything went well and she hoped Trump wins the presidential race.
Another woman said it was her second time voting in Cumming. She described the process as “easy” and said it “didn’t take too long.”
Joel Natt, a Republican appointee to the Forsyth County Voter Registrations & Elections Board, said the city’s polling location moved from City Hall to the parks facility after the 2020 election.
A New Jersey woman, who didn’t give her name, told reporters that she came to the wrong polling place but was off to her correct precinct to
The ballot question would essentially cap property assessments at the inflation rate.
Assistant Editor Zoe Seiler and reporter Jon Wilcox contributed to this story. Continued from Page 4
Deb Weisshaar, a volunteer with a local Democratic Party group, said she voted early weeks ago but came
The Cumming Parks and Recreation Event Center served as the lone Election Day polling place within the city limits.
Poll workers told reporters that the city passed an ordinance to not allow political signs on government property. A few signs for the presidential candidates sat across the
PUBLIC NOTICE
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK
November 18, 2024 Work Session and Council Meeting
The Johns Creek Mayor and City Council have changed the meeting start time for their Monday, November 18, 2024 Work Session and Council Meeting. The Work Session will now begin at 4:00 pm followed by the Council Meeting at 8:00 pm.
Both meetings will be held at Johns Creek City Hall which is located at 11360 Lakefield Drive, Johns Creek, Georgia 30097. Please contact the city clerk office at 678-512-3212 should you have any questions or need assistance.
Allison Tarpley City Clerk
From the 29 polling locations across Forsyth County, Natt reported no major issues outside of some voters not checking their assigned precinct for Election Day.
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This notice is to inform the public and Courts that Budget Vehicle Recovery - 6215 Bells Ferry rd Acworth GA 30102, on or about 11/3-4/2024. Unlawfully took 2022 Toyota Camry without a court order or proof of collateral agreement. The registered owner WAYNE BARRETT has noticed BVR that his FEE is $1,500 usd. initial invoice, and $1,000 usd. for each day unreturned. This is a tacit agreement!
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