Johns Creek Herald - November 24, 2022

Familiar Flavor

Georgia House Speaker Ralston dies following extended illness

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

ATLANTA — Georgia House Speaker David Ralston died Nov. 16 at the age of 68, just two days after the House Republican Caucus nominated a new speaker to succeed him in January.

Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, had been suffering from an extended illness. His wife, Sheree, his children, and other members of his family were with him when he passed away, his office an nounced.

Speaker Ralston”s body was to lie in state in the Rotunda of the State Capitol Nov. 22 and 23. Funeral servic es were scheduled for 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 27, at Fannin County High School Performing Arts Center in Blue Ridge.

Ralston announced early this month that he would not seek election by his House colleagues to another term as speaker, citing his health. Voters in the 7th House District in Northwest Georgia reelected him Nov. 8 without opposition.

At the time of his death, Ralston was the longest currently serving state house speaker in the nation.

Svitlana Bogorodska, owner of Cafe Landmark, holds a cup of Raf coffee Nov. 16. Raf is a Russian coffee, popular in nearby countries like Ukraine, made from espresso, cream and vanilla sugar. Bogorodska, a native of Kharkiv, Ukraine, opened the cafe on Jones Bridge Road last year. Read story, Page 8.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

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UGA graduate Delaney Tarr joins Appen Media as reporter

ROSWELL, Ga. —

Appen Media Group announced Nov. 15 that Delaney Tarr will join its staff as a reporter. Tarr will cover Roswell government and local news. She will report to Carl Appen, director of content and development, and be based in Alpharetta.

“It’s a great day when we can add someone like Delaney to our team,” Appen said. “She has multi-media chops and a fair, inquisitive approach to reporting. I’m excited to see the impact she’ll have, and drive, in our community.”

Originally from South Florida, Tarr recently graduated from the University of Georgia’s journalism program. In her time at UGA, Tarr worked for local newspaper the Red & Black, as well as student-run news station Grady Newsource. Tarr covered politics, culture and food across outlets and platforms.

“I’m excited to do the boots-on-theground coverage I’ve always dreamed of,” Tarr said. “To me, journalism has always been about the stories of people and community. Local news is vital to that, and I’m thrilled to finally play a part in it.”

To contact Tarr with news tips or story ideas, email delaney@ appenmedia.com.

Ralston:

Continued from Page 1

speaker for the remainder of the current term, which ends in January.

On Nov. 14, House Republicans nominated Majority Leader Jon Burns, R-Newington, to succeed Ralston as speaker. The full House will vote on the nomination on the first day of the 2023 General Assembly session Jan. 9.

Political leaders who served with Ralston remembered him as an effective leader who played a key role in the major legislation the General Assembly adopted during his tenure.

“Speaker Ralston was a pioneer in the growth of Georgia’s Republican leader ship and leaves an indelible mark on this state,” Gov. Brian Kemp said. “His last session as speaker will long be remem bered for his landmark mental health re form bill, helping Georgians fight through inflation, and passing a historic income tax cut that puts more money in the pockets of taxpayers for years to come.

“We are also especially proud of our previous bipartisan efforts on reforming the citizens’ arrest law and adding an an ti-hate crime statute to the Georgia code, which would not have happened without the speaker’s steadfast leadership. These historic accomplishments were only a

handful of the numerous hallmarks of David Ralston’s decades-long service to Georgia.”

Other lawmakers expressed similar tributes.

“Speaker Ralston was a steady, reli able guiding force under the Gold Dome in good times and tough times,” added state Sen. Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega, who was elected majority leader by Senate Republicans last week. “He cherished the idea of his beloved House being a body that truly represented all of Georgia’s peo ple, and he respected each of the elected members that comprised it, regardless of partisan differences. It takes a genuinely good heart and decent person to lead that way.”

Democrats, too, reflected on Ralston’s passing.

“Georgia Democrats join the en tire state in mourning Speaker David Ralston,” said U.S. Rep. Nikema Wil liams, D-Atlanta, chairman of the Georgia Democratic Party. “Speaker Ralston was a statesman who led with fairness and honesty, looked for common ground, and always put his commitment to Georgia first. … Speaker Ralston will be missed dearly – by those who agreed with him, and by those who often didn’t.”

This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Ser vice, a project of the Georgia Press Educa tional Foundation.

TARR

Cane Creek Farm owners wary of new development

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — If you want to learn organic growing techniques or how to start your own farming business, there’s really only one place in Forsyth County that can help you out — Cane Creek Farms.

For nearly two decades, farm owners Lynn and Chuck Pugh have striven to teach and nurture aspiring farmers and growers, hosting classes, field trips and Leadership Forsyth groups on their 17-acre property. The couple also launched an “incubator farm” for new farmers about 7 years ago.

But the Pughs say the farm’s mission now faces a grave threat, due to a possible condemnation that would allow nearly 3,000 feet of sewer line to run through the property’s fields, orchards and irrigation lines for a neighborhood development under construction by national homebuilder Toll Brothers, off Howard Road.

Chuck and Lynn Pugh began working with Toll Brothers about 15 months ago, discussing ways that the project might be completed with the least amount of disruption to the farm.

“None of which looked particularly good,” Pugh said. “They ended up deciding to submit their zoning application with an alternate path, which was along Howard Road with a lift station to tie into sewer serving subdivisions to the southwest of us.”

However, Pugh said the county vetoed that agreement and said the alternate path down Howard Road could only be used if the county specifically decided not to condemn the farm property for the sewer line.

“What we learned later … is that it really isn’t about sewer to the subdivision,” he said. “What it’s really an issue about is they want to

be able to extend that sewer line, put in a larger capacity pipe and extend it northward to Highway 20 and north of Highway 20 for commercial development.”

County officials would not respond to requests from Appen Media to respond to Pugh’s claims about the potential condemnation. In a statement, county officials said, “at this time, no condemnation has been filed.”

Negotiations between the developers and landowner are ongoing. However, Ethan Underwood, the attorney representing Toll Brothers, said they are determined to reach an agreement with Cane Creek Farm owners, but ultimately Forsyth County will determine where they will “allow the line to run.”

Lynn and Chuck Pugh said that if the sewer pipe is routed through the property, potential flooding and sewage leaks could cause major issues for the farm and what it’s able to offer the community.

If there is sewage contamination caused by flooding, Lynn Pugh said the farm would lose its organic status for three years and all their incubator farmers, many trying to produce organic products, would have to look

elsewhere.

“This is essential, because what most of them don’t have is the resources to get land,” she said.

Chuck Pugh said their fears aren’t unfounded, because that exact situation happened to another incubator farm they partnered with in the past.

“They had a major flood [that] contaminated their fields,” he said. “They had to abandon everything in the field, and eventually they had to move to Conyers from Stone Mountain because they couldn’t do what they were doing there. We’ve seen it happen.”

Forsyth County commissioners are scheduled to hold a public hearing at their Dec. 1 meeting for a proposal that could give the two parties more time to negotiate. The hearing was postponed at the Nov. 3 meeting.

But, regardless of how the hearing plays out, the Pughs say they aren’t going to give up on their farm without a fight.

“The county says that they want to preserve green space, and this seems so counter to what they’re saying ... But this is just a special place,” Chuck Pugh said. “There’s not anywhere else like this.”

CADILLAC JACK MY SECOND ACT

New Show, Same Ride.

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Cane Creek Farm owners Chuck and Lynn Pugh say plans to run nearly 3,000 feet of sewer line through their property could ruin their operation.

Northern Ridge announces October Eagle Scouts

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District is proud to announce its newest Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review on October 27, 2022, at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.

Top from left;

Shravan Kothapeta, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Chris tian Church, whose project was the design and construction of 4 benches for the AG Rhodes Nursing Home.

Kaivalya Somayajula, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Pres byterian Church, whose project was the renovation of 4 educational bulle tin boards, pressure washing the dirty school walls and relandscaping and lining with pavers, the area around the storage trailer at Medlock Bridge Elementary School.

Simon Pellegri, of Troop 431, sponsored by Roswell United Meth odist Church, whose project was the design and construction of 3 benches for the Georgia Ensemble Theater.

Nick Vojnovic, of Troop 1134, sponsored by St. Peter Chanel Catho lic Church, whose project was the Restoration of the Rosary Walk at Queen of Angels Catholic School.

Nick had to replace the pea gravel. Landscape timbers, and broken paver stones. He also installed a new sign explaining the walk as well as planting 10 bushes.

Lance Ridley, of Troop 206, sponsored by Zion Missionary Baptist Church, whose project was the reno vation of the outdoor classroom for Refuge Church. This entailed rebuild ing 6 benches and one podium, killing weeks and placing landscape plastic down and then mulching the area.

Matthew Robert Young, of Troop 51, sponsored by American Legion Post 201, whose project was the de sign and construction and stocking of 2 outdoor libraries for adults and landscaping the Edenwilde subdivi sion playground.

Middle row, from left:

Travis Clark Adcock, of Troop 431, sponsored by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a 12 foot tall entry way sign and covered kiosk/bulletin board for the Giving Garden located at Roswell United Methodist Church

Eric Joseph, of Troop 27, spon sored by the Johns Creek Christian

Church, whose project was the collec tion of over 4000 food items to create over 100 break bags for the families of North Georgia. A Break bag is a bag of food given to a family for the chil dren to have meals during the school breaks, sponsored by Meals by Grace.

Pranav Potluri, of Troop 3143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction and painting of 2 picnic tables and 3 fire pit benches for Brick House (Youth & kids Learning Center) of WayPoint Baptist Church.

Evan Fistel, of Troop 1134, spon sored by St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of 18 shelves into 2 shelving units for the rectory garage at St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church .

Merrick Edmondson, of Troop 143, sponsored by John’s Creek Unit ed Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of 6 portable golf holes with obstacles for Camp Kerusso located at Grace Point Church.

Scouts:

a natural area and the installation of landscaping materials and the con struction of a perimeter fence for Fur Kids animal shelter.

John Song, of Troop 629, spon sored by Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, whose project was the remov al of rotten benches and then design ing and constructing of 2 new picnic tables and then clearing the area by the running track of overgrown vines and weeds at Barnwell Elementary School

Bottom, from left Samuel Jake Bradley, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Chris tian Church, whose project was The design and construction of a sensory trail with 3 benches for Statebridge Rd Park for the city of Johns Creek

David Semmes Paulus, of Troop 3000, sponsored by Birmingham United Methodist Church whose proj ect was the cleanup and renovation of

Ethan Brady Mattace, of Troop 51, sponsored by American Legion Post 201, whose project was the Res toration and cleanup of a cemetery located in the Wexford Neighborhood. This included replacing a damaged fence, including a new gate and clean ing up the cemetery and placing fresh mulch.

Ian Calvert, of Troop 629, spon sored by Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a cabinet, a picnic table and mulching a trail located at the Chattahoochee Nature Preserve.

Logan Ridley, of Troop 206, sponsored by Zion Missionary Baptist Church, collected many items needed for homeless children, such as baby wipes, diapers, baby bottles, car seats, strollers, children’s masks etc. for the Atlanta Children’s Shelter.

Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra schedules two Christmas concerts

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra will return to the stage to perform two Christmasthemed concerts, “A Kids’ Christmas” and “Christmas Pops.”

Both concerts will be held on Dec. 17 at Johns Creek United Methodist Church.

“A Kids’ Christmas” will begin at 2:30 p.m., with tickets starting from $16, kids ages 2 and under free. “Christmas Pops” will begin at 7:30 p.m. with tickets starting at $20.

To purchase individual concert tickets, please visit johnscreeksymphony.org or call (678) 748-5802.

“A Kids’ Christmas”

“A Kids’ Christmas” is designed to appeal to everyone. This sensoryfriendly performance welcomes the non-traditional concertgoer to enjoy classical music in a way that is engaging, fun and pays tribute to the holiday season with singalongs, Santa and more.

The performance was created to be free from “traditional theater rules,” suitable for children with autism as well as individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia or other special needs.

The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra has designed the concert to be adaptable for the audience member and invites families to bring headphones and other sensory items

that may make the experience more enjoyable for sensitive individuals.

“Christmas Pops”

“Christmas Pops” is perhaps one of the most treasured holiday traditions in the city, perfect for anyone who wants to delight in the traditional tunes of the holiday season. The concert is sure to bring the true spirit of Christmas to all music lovers.

This classic Christmas concert will feature the local folk group, Banks & Shane, as well as the Johns Creek Chorale.

Banks Burgess and Paul Shane have been an Atlanta music tradition for five decades since they started out as a duo in the original Underground Atlanta in 1972. They have performed as ambassadors of musical good will for the City of Atlanta and the state in venues from London to Frankfurt, from Amsterdam to Munich. The duo evokes memories of the folk groups of the ‘60s like The Kingston Trio to the contemporary country sounds of North Georgia-native Zac Brown.

The Johns Creek Chorale has been guided by the vision of its creator, Nathan Frank, and performed its inaugural concert in 2015. A dream of many in the Johns Creek community, this choral ensemble of around 70 men and women from diverse backgrounds satisfies the growing need for highlevel choral musicianship.

Cafe Landmark connects guests to native culture

By AMBER PERRY alex@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Svitlana Bogorodska opened Cafe Landmark in Johns Creek last year because she missed the “spirits” in her small, yet crowded, Ukrainian city and wanted to create something that had the same ambience.

Born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, a city bordering Russia, she moved to the United States six years ago with her husband. Before opening her business, Bogorodska struggled to find a sense of community, in part, because of the language barrier. She prefers her native language to express emotion.

But Cafe Landmark, tucked into a shopping center on Jones Bridge Road with an unassuming facade, provides comfort to Bogorodska — not only for her, through its Ukrainian cuisine and atmosphere, but also for patrons who long for what they’ve had to leave behind.

A bright, blue and yellow sign that reads “Stand with Ukraine” in all caps, driven into the ground, greets visitors when they walk inside.

Bogorodska’s perspectives echoed the cafe’s mission, available on her website, which is to provide guests “a feeling of their native culture and atmosphere, where they are welcomed and accepted, where they are warm and comfortable.”

She said she saw there was an “empty room” for something like Cafe Landmark, noting she isn’t the only one who misses the culture — like others from Ukraine but also people from Russia, who still share a lot of common ground, despite the war.

“I know that it’s not popular right

now to think that … but in Russia, there are good people,” Bogorodska said. “They are also victims, they also lost something.”

A meeting ground

She hurried through the front door into the back to set down her belongings and returned with a sweet smile and easygoing presence.

“Would you like coffee?” Bogorodska asked, after extending her hand for a soft

handshake. “It’s so cold outside.”

Preparing a cup of Raf, one of her favorite drinks made with espresso, cream and vanilla sugar, Bogorodska described its origin. Raf, native to Russia but also popular in nearby countries like Ukraine, is short for Rafael — the man who invented the drink in the mid-’90s.

Bogorodska said she also likes cappuccino with hazelnut, and added pine nuts to her cup of Raf for a special blend. The nutty flavor makes for a

“great combination,” she said.

Middle-aged with comely features, Bogorodska styled her hair in a French braid and wore a silk scarf around her neck. She sat across the table, occasionally sipping her drink in the well-decorated space that had soft light and house music playing in the background, and spoke on a host of things — like Ukrainian coffee shops, which are social places.

“In my place, people come to meet each other,” Bogorodska said. “A cup of coffee is just a good reason to meet each other.”

In Kharkiv, people don’t spend much time in the car, she said, because they walk from place to place, all the time connecting. But that isn’t possible around here, she said, where everything is so spread out.

Cafe Landmark is also for people who are connoisseurs of taste, Bogorodska said, rather than for those who go for “black liquid” to be guzzled down for quick energy.

Food, a ‘symbol of home’

Outside of coffee and other beverages like bubble tea, the menu at Cafe Landmark boasts a diverse range of food items.

The cafe, once owned by someone from Hong Kong, at one point only offered Asian plates. In case old customers return, expecting the old menu, Bogorodska kept the Asian flare. But still, she centers her personal twist of traditional Ukrainian, Slavic foods, like borsch and cheese pancakes.

Borsch, also spelled as “borscht,” is

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Svitlana Bogorodska works behind the Cafe Landmark counter Nov. 16. Bogorod ska opened the cafe last year.

A cup of coffee is just a good reason to meet each other.

SVITLANA

BOGORODSKA, owner, Cafe Landmark

a vibrant, fuchsia-colored savory soup made with beef and pork, vegetables like tomato, carrot and potato, and beetroot.” It’s usually served with toasted bread and a dollop of sour cream on the side, both provided in her kind gesture of laying out a sample spread on a green, leaf-shaped placemat.

Bogorodska said borsch has historical roots — centuries ago, families came together to eat borsch portioned from a big pot. She also talked about her love for her mother’s style of cooking borsch, which used canned fish and comes from an era when food was sparse.

“Borsch is something you don’t like when you’re a little kid because it’s not sweet,” she said, laughing. “But you adore it as an adult … It’s like a symbol of home because that’s something that your mom will cook when she knows you will visit her.”

She reenacted a familiar scene and said, “When you came …” and theatrically smelled the air — “I feel like borsch was not done so long ago.”

Cheese pancakes, a sweet dish made from farmers cheese, was served with berries and a shot of condensed milk — a joy among Ukrainians, she said.

And there was another side of sour

MEDIA

Pictured is borsch, a Ukrainian-styled soup made from beef and pork, veg etables and beetroot. Borsch is usually served with a side of bread and sour cream.

cream.

Bogorodska later recalled an episode of “Friends,” which she uses to learn English, where Ross asks Monica about a Ukrainian kid she used to hang out with in junior high. In the episode, Monica said one of the reasons is because his mom would put sour cream on everything.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Cheese pancakes, a Slavic dessert, are made from farmers cheese. Svitlana Bogorodska, owner of Cafe Landmark, served the sample with berries, a shot of condensed milk and sour cream.

Stepping

from a ‘seashell’

Bogorodska spent a good while talking about her gratitude for all the people she’s met at Cafe Landmark, who had gone there to show support and help her following the Russian invasion of Ukraine early last year, knowing she’s Ukrainian.

“I just thought everyone lived inside of their own seashell,” she said.

The pain seen in Bogorodska’s eyes and heard in her voice when talking about the devastation of the war was palpable, but also the hope that people gave her, brightening her outlook.

Describing herself as someone who was once more emotionally closed off, she said the outpouring of support changed her mind.

“It was a kind of miracle that you could see with your eyes,” she said. “Because I have never seen it before — that compassion.”

Because of her customers’ sincerity, Bogorodska said she would come home and share her experience with her husband. She also shared her uplifting experience with friends still in Ukraine, who frequently send her updates.

One update Bogorodska received was about a coffee shop, the chosen meeting point with her friends. The cafe recently printed new cups.

“I want just to breathe that smell that’s inside,” she said.

Bogorodska received other messages that illustrate the bravery and resilience of Ukranians, who try to continue life as normal and focus on the future, undeterred by their war-torn surroundings.

“I admire the people who are so brave when everything around them is broken,” she said. “But they don’t agree with it.”

Frank

Tara Tucker

A part of our mission is to help businesses in Johns Creek connect, grow, and thrive. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is by helping business professionals grow their networks. All are welcome to the following networking opportunities for little to no cost, so please join us!

The schedule is subject to change so to stay up to date with all the information visit the Calendar on our website or give us a call.

T: 770.495.0545 • F: 770.495.4646

11695 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite 100 Johns Creek, Georgia 30097

www.JohnsCreekChamber.com #MyBizMatters

Wednesday 9:30 – 11:00AM

11695 Johns Creek Parkway 1st Floor Meeting Area

Come prepared with business cards and your 45-second pitch about your business! From these meetings, you will form relationships, create business opportunities, and share infor mation with Johns Creek Business professionals.

The Chamber of Commerce is hosting a FREE reception for all New Businesses in Johns Creek and the surrounding areas.

This event will be a casual Meet & Greet with the Chamber Staff. We’ll give you a tour of our space, let you know about all the Membership Benefits, and answer any questions you may have! If you or someone you know has started their business in the Johns Creek area in the past two years, please share this event with them.

**Registration Required. If you’re interested, please go to the Calendar on our website, find the event, and register!

at Creation Social House

11500 Webb Bridge Way, suite a7 Alpharetta, GA 30005

DUNWOODY, Ga. —

Camp Barney Medintz, a leading Jewish summer overnight camp owned and operated by The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA), has named Danny Herz as the camp’s new executive director following a nationwide search.

Herz will officially assume his position Jan. 3. He will be responsible for leading and overseeing strategic planning, day-to-day operations, facilities management, programming and staff development as well as partnering with MJCCA leadership to set the vision for the future of Camp Barney Medintz. Herz is currently the executive

director of Union for Reform Judaism’s 6 Points Sports Academy, 6 Points Creative Arts Academy and 6 Points SciTech Academy. He has been an integral part of that organization for more than 13 years.

“We went through an intensive national search to find the right person to take on this monumental responsibility,” said MJCCA CEO Jared Powers. “As we got to know Danny and learned about his commitment to helping campers, staff, students and athletes fulfill their goals, build Jewish identity and develop personally, it became clear his vision and ideology were the right fit for Camp Barney Medintz.”

Established in 1963, Camp Barney Medintz is in the North Georgia mountains on more than 500 acres

complete with two lakes. The camp offers a Jewish camping experience rich in fun, friendship, adventure and Jewish culture. One of the largest Jewish camps nationwide, campers come from all over the country to build a sense of independence and self-confidence, form lifelong friendships and solidify their connection with their Jewish identity.

Jewish traditions and culture are an integral part of the everyday magic of Camp Barney Medintz, and activities range from zip lining, archery, horseback, swimming and high ropes to arts and crafts, drama, kayaking, playing sports and more.

“Camp Barney Medintz has established itself as a premiere Jewish summer camp for families nationwide, and I’m extremely excited to take on this role,” said Herz. “I look forward to

Sawnee Foundation approves $31,000 school lunch program Support

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation an nounced Nov. 16 that more than $31,000 in funding has been approved to assist 30 local school lunch programs in North Georgia.

The Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation School Lunch Program, started in 2019, will assist one school in Cherokee County, two schools in Fulton County and 27 schools in Forsyth County, funding hot school lunches for children without the means to purchase one.

“We are always excited to be able to help children in our area,” Blake House, vice president of Member Services said.

“The school lunch program has proven to be successful and continues to build strong community relationships. With Giv ing Tuesday coming up on November 29, participation in Operation Round Up is a great way for our members to give back locally.”

Sawnee EMC officials said through Operation Round UP, members contribute an average of $6 per year, but donations have allowed the foundation to donate $3.8 million back to the community since 2003.

For more information about the Saw nee Electric Membership Foundation, visit sawnee.com/oru.

bringing my experiences in overnight camping, education and athletics to the Camp Barney Medintz community and to meeting our campers, staff and alumni.”

In addition to his experience as a camp director, Herz also has a 15-plus year career in education, having served on the senior administrative team at Jewish schools in Southern California and South Florida. He’s held the roles of teacher, coach, dean of students and athletic director.

Herz earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his master’s degree from Ohio University. He is a certified camp director by the American Camp Association and is a certified athletic administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

HERZ

Doc, can treating this wait?

“Cancer is inconvenient,” a patient of mine recently remarked. I had never thought of it quite like that before, but you know what? She was right!

Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, a vacation or a wedding, many commitments justifiably raise the question of whether receiving medical treatment can be safely delayed. It’s one of the most com mon questions that I get asked.

In the field of dermatology, we most commonly deal with three skin cancers – basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and mela noma.

BCC’s are generally slow growing, lo cally destructive and have a low chance of metastasis (spreading to other parts of the body). Most of the time, treating a BCC can be safely delayed a few months provided that the tumor is small, has not been growing quickly, and is not located in a “critical area.” Important or critical areas include areas such as the tip of the nose, the ears, lips and eyelids. If a BCC on the eyelid grows even a tenth of an inch larger, the result can be a dramatically harder

wound to close after surgery. Preserving eyelid tissue and function means removing cancers when they are as small as possi ble. In contrast, a small BCC on someone’s back can be removed several months after the date of the biopsy with little risk that the cancer’s growth during that time will impact the final result after surgery.

SCC’s are more dangerous than BCC’s. SCC’s result in approximately as many deaths each year as melanomas do. SCC’s are divided into those that are only in the top layer of the skin (squamous cell carci noma in situ) and those that have begun to grow into deeper tissues (invasive squa mous cell carcinoma). The in situ SCC’s can often be treated similarly to how a BCC is treated. A short delay is acceptable in most patients provided the location on the body is not “critical,” the cancer is small and slow growing, and the patient has a normal, healthy functioning immune sys tem (for example, the patient has not had an organ transplant). Invasive squamous cell carcinoma should be treated more ag gressively. Treatment should generally not be delayed

Melanomas are the most dangerous of the three most common skin cancers. Even

Brought to you by – Brent Taylor, MD, Premiere Dermatology and Mohs Sur gery of Atlanta

ISTOCK

Jim Moye - Monuments of Faith

Village Park resident Jim Moye is an astounding business leader and philanthropist who used his resources to spread support, wisdom, and faith across the nation. He was raised in the midst of World War II. He lost his uncle to the war, before his father joined the forces. The fear of losing his father weighed heavily on Jim’s mind.

Jim’s close friend, Barry Sut live cites that the fear and trauma changed Jim and molded his lifestyle saying, “He lived those years of his life, those formative years, really shut ting himself down emotionally. He was just hardening himself, being tough.”

The walls Jim built for himself car ried into his adolescence. He avoided vulnerability while striving for a life of success. He was captain of his high school football team, was voted most intelligent, became class president, at tended Georgia Tech, and he went on to marry the homecoming queen. Jim grew a prosperous insurance busi ness, marking the start of his suc cessful career. In spite of this, he felt empty.

Jim always pushed himself to

achieve more. Instead of embrac ing his vulnerability, he adopted a crippling drive for perfection which created tension with his family. Re gardless of their success, his children grew distant. Jim became lonely, and eventually found himself in talks for a divorce.

It was in 1976, Jim was chal lenged by a man to attend a Christian conference and accept a path that he wholeheartedly believed would turn

OLEH KARATAIEV/PROVIDED

Jim’s life around. Reluctantly, Jim attended and pledged himself to his newfound faith. He believed he had been called to reorient his life for the betterment of his wife, his family, and those around him.

Jim spent the following years with a different attitude. His interest in business wasn’t monetary; instead, he wanted to help as many people as he could. At this time, he began buy

ing land along the Appalachian trail. When the government claimed emi nent domain on the property, Jim sold the land to the U.S. Forest Service. However, he stipulated that the land should offer a purpose to its visitors. After negotiations with the govern ment, an arrangement was made to have a monument placed on the trail for all to see. The monument, aptly named Moye Rest, serves as a bea con of Jim’s faith. He elaborates how travelers on the Appalachian Trail are hiking the trail to find something. For many, it’s purpose. For others, it’s clarity. For some, it’s faith. Jim hopes that the monument will be there to inspire people in the same way he was inspired, for decades and decades to come.

Jim Moye continues to serve his community by inspiring those around him, and even hiked the trail over the Summer. His encouraging spirit creates joy for everybody who sur rounds him. To hear more about his legacy and stories of other Village Park community members, visit our blog at www.villageparkseniorliving.com or give us a call at (770) 416-0502. We look forward to hearing from you.

Brought to you by – Village Park

How to Take Care of Yourself while Caring for an Aging Loved One

For most, being able to care for an aging loved one is a privilege. Knowing that you are giving back to someone who has given so much to you can be rewarding. However, if you have limited time and resources, it can also be overwhelming. The pressure of being a caregiver can cause mental, emotional, and physical fatigue over time. A state of exhaustion called caregiver burnout can affect all areas of your life if not recognized and addressed.

What are the symptoms of caregiver

burnout?

• Increased anxiety – Always worrying about the well-being of your loved one or if you are doing enough.

• Being easily frustrated, irritated, or angered over small things – You might notice that you are increasingly getting upset over things that hadn’t bothered you before. Other family members may notice this as well.

• Lack of energy – Being a caregiver takes a lot of energy, and you may find you don’t have any left over for your own life.

• Sudden weight gain or loss – You may be soothing yourself with food or not eating regularly.

• Sleep problems – You might be wanting to sleep more than usual as an escape, or you might have trouble sleeping due to constant worry.

• Lost interest in activities you previously enjoyed – This can easily happen when you dedicate most of your time to caring for your aging loved one and neglect your own needs.

• Feelings of hopelessness – Constant caregiving can lead to depression or a feeling that the work never ends, especially as your loved one deteriorates.

• Increased illness – Constant stress can make you more susceptible to illness.

Caring for yourself is critical when experiencing caregiver burnout. Just like the saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” it can be difficult to care for an aging loved one when you are feeling depleted. Below are some suggestions for how you can practice self-care.

• Get respite – Your care plan should include days when your elderly loved one receives respite care so that you can take a break. You need time to de-stress and take care of your own needs.

• Find help – Share caregiving with other family members or reach out to your local Area Agency on Aging. Alert your church community and ask them for resources they are aware of. The Department of Senior Services also connects Fulton County Seniors to the right resources - find out more at tinyurl.com/fultonseniors.

• Establish boundaries – Sometimes your elderly loved one may have demands that seem unreasonable. Turn them down so that you can have the energy for the caregiving that is necessary.

• Get organized – Managing your own life (and maybe your children’s) and your loved ones needs is a lot to manage! Make lists, prioritize your work, and get into a daily routine.

Understanding the probate process

Probate is the process by which a court takes over the assets of a deceased loved one and distributes it as the court sees fit. This is a process that can be burdensome, especially if your loved one has recently passed away – not to mention the court procedures take at least a year. The worst part of probate is that the estate of the decedent becomes public. This means any creditor can place a claim on an estate, leading to loved ones losing control over the decedent’s assets.

There are a few ways to avoid

probate. Surprisingly, having a will does not exempt your assets from probate. However, by making a trust and doing careful estate planning, you can rest assured that your family will not have to worry about the court process when you pass on.

At Estate Law Center, we understand the pain of losing a loved one, and we understand the last thing you want is for your family to have to deal with the court while grieving for you. Let us help by helping your family walk through the probate process – or by teaching you how to avoid probate entirely at one of our free workshops.

Brought to you by – Estate Law Center

GEERDES

Brought to you by - Janet Fluker, Licensed Professional Counselor at Summit Counseling Center

Care:

Continued from Page 16

• Ask members of your household to pitch in more than usual during this stressful time.

• Acknowledge your limitations –Remember that you cannot control everything, so focus on the things that you can control.

• Keep in touch with friends and family – Remember that you need your support system now more than ever!

• Stay active and don’t neglect your own health – Remember that you can’t take care of others if you aren’t taking care of yourself.

• Consider taking a break from your work – It may be impossible to work and be a caregiver at the same time, so consider using Family Medical Leave to make things easier to manage.

Whether you are caring for an aging parent or another loved one, being a care giver can bring with it a lot of emotions and stress. If caregivers aren’t careful, they can jeopardize their own health.

Summit Counseling Center is here to help you identify these stressors and provide the resources needed to improve your own wellbeing.

Wait:

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though SCC’s result in about the same number of deaths each year as melanoma, SCC’s are far more common and so are less dangerous on a per case basis. Melanomas are very dangerous, can easily spread to other parts of the body, and should be treated as the life-threatening cancers that they are.

Like SCC, melanomas are divided into those that are in the top layer of the skin – “melanoma in situ” –and melanomas that have begun to grow into deeper tissue “invasive melanomas.” An invasive melanoma is about as close to an emergency as most dermatologists regularly

encounter. Invasive melanomas trump travel plans, upcoming parties and work functions. Melanoma in situ should also be treated urgently, because biopsies often only sample a lesion, and a possibility of invasive melanoma exists even when the original biopsy report only reads “melanoma in situ.”

The above are all rules of thumb. Decisions about an individual cancer ideally take the whole person and his or her circumstances into account. A good doctor patient relationship can allow some cancer treatment to be delayed… a little while… sometimes. But in short, yes, cancer is all too often unavoidably inconvenient.

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Milton panel updates tally for running its own election

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Members of a panel study ing the feasibility of whether Milton can conduct its own municipal elections are moving closer to a final cost tally.

The Milton Municipal Election Feasibil ity Committee gathered Nov. 11 to discuss the remaining costs associated with the city running its own election.

Formalized in April 2022, the commit tee has been asked to ascertain whether it makes sense for Milton to conduct its own municipal elections, rather than pay increasing costs to Fulton County for the service.

Milton paid the county $84,671 to run its 2021 municipal general election and another $70,368 to conduct a runoff election in late November, according to the contract agreement.

The committee has become a vanguard for other cities that have expressed interest in wresting control of municipal elections from the county. That scenario became more likely after Fulton County, itself, recommended cities conduct their own election in 2023 due to a hike in costs. The recommendation was made at the Oct. 13 Fulton County Registration and Elections Board meeting.

Discussing cost

Following the Milton committee’s Nov. 2 meeting, the only items left in question were cleaning costs for polling locations, cost of advertising for poll worker recruit ment and costs associated with wages of a potential election superintendent assistant.

Cleaning costs have yet to be con firmed, but committee members expect it to be around $200 a day. For advertising, the committee used Appen Media prices to assume cost, which was estimated at $600 for four weekly advertisements.

questions from the City Council Nov. 7 regarding a text amendment that would increase lot width from 100 feet to 150 feet in agriculturally zoned districts.

According to calculations by Milton Deputy City Manager Stacey Inglis, the cost associated with part-time wages for an elections assistant would be around $21,181.46 over 455 hours in a calendar year. The calculations were based on the average salary of North Fulton city clerks and percentages of time spent on election prep given by Peachtree Corners City Clerk Kym Chereck.

But committee member Lisa Cau ley said she would need a breakdown of election-related tasks before approving the wage estimate.

The committee determined most other election costs at its Nov. 2 meeting, namely printing and absentee ballot boxes.

So far, the running total is around $48,500. But this does not include wages See PANEL, Page 20

CITY OF MILTON/PROVIDED

From left, Milton Planner II Michael Cardamon and Community Develop ment Director Bob Buscemi answer

for either poll workers or an election super intendent assistant — both expected to be high-ticket items.

Members have one meeting left sched uled for Dec. 1 before they must present a final report to the Milton City Council.

The presentation could take place at the Dec. 5 City Council regular meeting or at the Dec. 12 work session, Inglis said. But she said she plans to follow up with Milton City Attorney Ken Jarrard to con firm whether a resolution, to be voted on, is permitted at a work session.

County admits cost increase

Inglis said committee members previ ously discussed a Fulton County Registra tion and Elections Board meeting, in which Elections Preparation Manager Nadine Wil liams recommended that they encourage municipalities to run their own elections in 2023.

Williams also provided a cost compari

son between 2019 and 2023 for voting ma chines, which showed a $126,000 increase, and compiled high-priced excerpts from the 2023 election budget.

According to Williams’ presentation, a 2019 resolution between Fulton County and its municipalities is being reviewed to propose a cost increase per voter. Because government offices were closed for Veterans Day, the cost could not be confirmed.

But Inglis said the cost per vote would be more than doubled. The city was charged $2.96 per voter for the last elec tion, Inglis said. The new cost will be more than $6 per voter.

“Can I just say the increase in the price of elections — that chart — was mind bog gling?” Board Chair Cathy Woolard asked at the Oct. 13 board meeting.

Woolard said she gets comments all the time from people who do not like the county’s voting machines but clarified that the county is at the will of the state.

“The increase in cost to Fulton County taxpayers on some of these decisions is very, very high, and it doesn’t have any thing to do with what we’re doing,” she said. “It is what we are mandated to do.”

Panel: Read Now at AppenMedia.com

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For a full job description and to submit a resume, please reach out to:

Samit Patel, spatel@rhgroup.org Resource Housing Group, Inc.

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SiteOne Landscape Supply, LLC seeks a Computer Systems Analyst in Roswell, GA to design, implement, and test Unity Enterprise (UE) solutions to improve the technical quality of SiteOne’s vendor management, inventory control, and customer-interface application systems. Teleworking is acceptable. Send resume to Susann Arrington at SArrington@siteone.com and reference job title and location

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Building/Facilities Assistant Manager

Seeking part-time Building/Facilities Assistant Manager for Alpharetta

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Onsite at his place of employment. Perfect for retired nurse. Helping with meal prep, drive to doctors appointments, some shopping. Salary negotiable. English speaking nonsmoker. Charlotte 678-208-0774

General Clerk 1L (Building and Grounds/ Custodial/ Maintenance) Sawnee EMC is seeking a General Clerk 1L (Building and Grounds/Custodial/ Maintenance) (part-time position) to perform facility maintenance and grounds keeping duties. Requires some heavy lifting, high school diploma or equivalency and a valid GA driver’s license. Related experience with outdoor maintenance equipment and a valid CDL are preferred. Hours: Availability for alternate shift assignments and irregular work hours.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, December 2, 2022. Apply online: www.sawnee.com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

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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Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the above classifieds. Determining the

value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients es-tablish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it is illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. Toll free numbers may or may not reach Canada.

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TIP YOUR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY PERSON

This holiday season, consider giving your newspaper delivery person a tip for their weekly delivery of the free community newspaper to your driveway. These folks work hard to make sure you are informed of all the local happenings, rain or shine, week in and week out.

Importantly, at Appen Media, we have always been intentional about our desire to keep delivery of our newspapers free. That said, it would mean the world to us if you would consider tipping your newspaper delivery person so that they will have a little extra money for the holiday season.

If you can help us help these amazing people, we promise to keep delivering high quality news to your driveway, for free, every week. Free home delivery of 105,000 homes is hard work –and we couldn’t do it without our amazing delivery folks.

How you can give your delivery person a tip:

We have created an online portal at www.appenmedia.com/deliverytip.

100% of every dollar you contribute will be spread out evenly between the 24 newspaper delivery people that Appen Media employs. Whether you give $5 or $50, they will greatly appreciate it.

If you prefer, you can also mail a check made out to “Appen Media Group C/O Newspaper Delivery Tip” to 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.