Milton Herald - April 25, 2024

Officials discuss capital improvements

City workshops plan for Windward, Ga. 9

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Milton officials met April 15 for a work session to review capital project needs and a strategic master plan for the Ga. 9 and Windward Parkway corridors.

While councilmembers take no action during work sessions, it’s an opportunity for city staff and elected officials to stay connected on new developments in the city.

In a follow-up to a March 11 briefing on the city’s impact fee program, the City Council heard an overview of an amendment to the capital improvements element, which informs the disbursement of funds to specific projects.

Because the city adopted the last impact fee ordinance and capital improvements element in 2015, it contracted with Ross+Associates in 2023 for a major update to the program.

Paige Hatley, a certified planner with the consulting team, discussed the relationship between impact fees and the capital improvement element.

“Together those two pieces allow the city to begin collecting impact fees from new developments to help fund capital projects and expand public services needed to serve a growing population,” Hatley said.

The city receives impact fees when a new development is built in the city. If a resident decides to tear down their old ranch and build a two-story mansion, an impact fee would not be charged.

CITY OF MILTON/PROVIDED

This map shows the Windward Parkway and Ga. 9 corridors targeted for improvements in the Windward Livable Centers Initiative study. Milton Community Development Director Bob Buscemi said he will present the strategic master plan for the area at the April 22 City Council meeting.

personnel and road widening.

Tractor Supply seeks Atlanta market with new location

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — National retail chain Tractor Supply Company is seeking to tap into the Metro Atlanta market with a proposed location across from Alpharetta’s North Point Mall.

If approved by the City Council, the new store would take over the 34,313-square-foot vacant Ethan Allen at 6800 North Point Parkway.

The Alpharetta store would become the company’s first in Metro Atlanta along Ga. 400. Its nearest locations are in Kennesaw, Buford and two in Canton.

Developers are seeking an amendment to the North Point Business Center master plan, a conditional use permit and a variance to open the location.

The idea is to have developers of commercial or residential properties pay to fund specific public facilities and infrastructure improvements, including parks and buildings.

While the use of impact fees is restricted to long-term assets, some examples of eligible projects include specialized vehicles for public safety

The state requires every municipality that collects impact fees to submit an annual update explaining the money that’s been collected and spent, as well as a 5-year schedule for future uses of impact fees.

City officials and consultants estimate the new capital improvements element, after review from the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Community Development, will be adopted before August.

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Page 16

The property sits in the heart of Alpharetta’s North Point corridor, which the city has prioritized for redevelopment since the decline of the North Point Mall.

The mall once served as the retail heart of the city until the rise of mixed-use projects such as City Center and Avalon in the 2010s.

Approved developments in the area include Brixmor at Mansell Crossing, which will include restaurant

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Page 17

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Man arrested for battery, holding girlfriend captive

MILTON, Ga. — Police arrested a 30-year-old Alpharetta man April 13 after he allegedly beat his girlfriend and held her captive for days in her apartment.

When police arrived at the scene, they found the victim, a 30-year-old Alpharetta woman, standing by mailboxes near her apartment, holding her toddler and crying with visible injuries, the incident report says.

The victim told police her boyfriend had taken her phone from her so she could not dial 911 and that he would block the door to prevent her from leaving the apartment, while he continued to beat her and accused her of cheating.

Police took the suspect into custody, who was still in the victim’s apartment with his 6-year-old son.

The victim said the suspect punched and kicked her about the face, arms, and legs multiple times, bit her arms, forcibly held her down by her arms, and threw her cell phone across the room striking her in the nose, according to the report.

The suspect’s son also told an officer the pair fight all the time, the report says.

Police charged the suspect with false imprisonment, two counts of battery, cruelty to children in the third degree and obstruction of 911 communication. The suspect was transported to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.

Editor’s Note

If you want to talk to someone about the violence in your life or in the life of someone you know, please call Georgia’s 24-Hour Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-33-HAVEN (1800-334-2836).

Woman’s purse swiped from Webb Bridge Park

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A Johns Creek woman reported April 6 someone smashed her window and stole her purse from her vehicle while she was walking at Webb Bridge Park.

The victim reported parking around 3:30 p.m. and locking her vehicle. When she returned around 4:30 p.m., she said her rear passenger window was broken, and her purse was missing.

The $100 purse reportedly contained her credit and debit cards, as well as identity documents.

Officers reported seeing smudged fingerprints on the vehicle and shattered glass inside, but there were no cameras in the area.

The victim also reported receiving a declined transaction notification from her bank shortly before returning to her vehicle. The transaction was reportedly attempted on Cash App in San Francisco.

No suspects have been identified.

Mother and son report car break-ins

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating two car break-ins at Willeo Park April 7 after a Roswell woman and her son reported stolen cash and credit cards.

The victims, a 51-year-old Roswell woman and her 29-year-old son, said they parked their cars along Willeo Road around 4 p.m. for a walk in the park.

When the victims returned to their parked vehicles around 8 p.m., they discovered an unidentified suspect had broken into the man’s Ford F-150.

The male victim said he is sure he locked his truck before heading into the park.

An officer said the method of entry appears to be a pry tool used between the passenger side windows. He also said two footprints were found inside the truck on the center consol.

The victim said multiple credit cards and more than $300 in cash were taken

from his truck.

The victim told officers he had already canceled his BestBuy credit card, which the suspect attempted to use at a Target and Walmart in Marietta. He said both transactions, each more than $1,000, were declined.

A transaction using the victim’s Regions Bank card for around $1,000 went through at a Walmart. The victim did not report fraudulent transactions on his Home Depot card or Bank of America debit and credit cards.

Officers then spoke with the second victim, the man’s mother, who said she parked behind her son on Willeo Road.

The female victim said some lose change and a medical kit was taken from her vehicle.

Both victims told officers they want an investigation and to press charges if an offender is found.

Man reports theft at PGA superstore

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating a car break-in at the PGA Tour Superstore on Holcomb Woods Parkway April 8 after a customer reported a $2,150 theft.

The victim, a 71-year-old man from Mineral Bluff, said he cashed two checks at the Bank of America on Ga. 9 and had $2,150 in cash when he walked out.

Before entering the golf shop, the victim said he put the cash in the center consol of his vehicle, a tan Toyota Tacoma parked near the front entrance.

After five minutes inside the store, the victim said he heard tires squealing in the parking lot and walked out to check his vehicle.

An officer said the victim’s passengerside window was shattered and the cash had been stolen.

A witness of the break-in, a 69-year-old Roswell man, said he saw a silver SUV with tinted windows exit the space next to the victim’s car.

The suspect’s vehicle almost struck the witness as it was leaving the parking lot, he said.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Spring Real Estate Market is here and the good news is the increased mortgage rates have not impacted the Milton market! We are seeing multiple offer situations due to the continuous low inventory and research suggests this could be the norm for quite some time. Buyers are continuing their search for a home and the phrase “marry the house and date the rate” remains strong in 2024!

I am confident I can assist you with all your real estate needs but first we must come up with a plan. If a move is in your near future, I am available to meet with you to discuss the current real estate market conditions and provide guidance to help you succeed.

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YOU’RE INVITED TO A

VOCAL & FINE ARTSShowcase

of Special Olympics Georgia’s Winter Games.

Johns Creek coach honored by Special Olympics Georgia

DATE: FRIDAY, MAY 3RD • TIME: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

RSVP BY: APRIL 29TH

Join us for an evening of fun and entertainment at our Vocal and Fine Arts Showcase, including a Silent Auction benefitting he Milton High School Chorus.

The evening will boast an array of performances and displays by Milton High School students: Choral, Vocal, & Instrumental performances

Visual Art display.

Enjoy chef prepared heavy hor d'oeuvres, desserts, champagne, wine, & beer.

Come and enjoy an elegant evening at The Mansions at Alpharetta

RSVP by April 29th to Diane or Jonda at (470) 288-1792. Parking assistance available.

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Leah Douglass said becoming a coach to athletes with special needs was a life changer.

Douglass heads flag football, soccer and basketball for Special K’s, a Johns Creek-based nonprofit and one of some 200 local agencies of Special Olympics Georgia.

Special K’s gives athletes aged 8 and older a space to train and compete in a variety of Olympic-type sports. With around 100 athletes, the organization serves North Fulton but also neighboring counties like Forsyth, helping to fill a void.

“It is so rewarding,” Douglass said, whose 18-year-old son Jake is an athlete with Special K’s. “The athletes are just amazing … They inspire me. They are inspirational.”

The work earned Douglass Special Olympics Georgia Coach of the Year in January, the third time a coach with

Special K’s has had the honor.

“I was so humbled and honored because there’s so many great people out there — the [unified] partners and coaches and athletes and parents,” Douglass said. “To be recognized amongst that group is even that much more special.”

Unified partners participate in the sport alongside athletes with special needs, providing an inclusive experience. Douglass’ flag football team is unified, and she is a unified partner herself, keeping pace with an athlete at the Peachtree Road Race every year.

“It makes it that much more meaningful,” Douglass said. She has competed in the Atlanta 10K since 1984.

Douglass joined Special K’s in 2019 at the request of her lifelong best friend and flag football co-coach Helen Villar, whose family had just begun volunteering with the nonprofit earlier

See COACH, Page 20

GARAGE SALES

See more garage sales in the classifieds

JOHNS CREEK, DoubleGate Subdivision Community Sale (enter into Twingate Dr. from State Bridge). Saturday 4/27 8am-2pm. See signs & balloons. Online info: doublegate.net

THE FALLS OF AUTRY MILL- Saturday April 27 from 8:00am to 2:00pm.

www.MansionsSeniorLiving.com

HUGE NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALES. More than 40 homes: Furniture, collectibles, tools, sporting goods, appliances, clothing, toys and more. Streets marked with signs and homes marked with balloons. Rain or shine.

ROSWELL Multi family. Crabapple Creek and Crabapple Walk Subdivisions. 130 Birchwood Court 30076. Saturday 4/27, 8AM-1PM. Furniture, toys, clothing and more!

DEADLINE

To place garage sale ads: Noon Friday. Call 770-442-3278 or email

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CHRIS BRAY/PROVIDED Leah Douglass, head coach of the Johns Creek-based nonprofit Special K’s, accepts the Special Olympics Georgia Coach of the Year award in January at the Cobb County Civic Center during the opening ceremony

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Alpharetta council floats plan to adjust Union Hill play area

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta officials are considering constructing additional parking spaces instead of a playground at Union Hill Park in a bid to support events at the facility’s covered venue.

But, any changes to the park’s redesign are pending future council discussion and review by city legal staff, who say they must determine if the plans align with what voters approved in the 2021 parks bond referendum.

At an April 15 meeting, the City Council discussed pursuing a new design for Union Hill Park. As a work session item, no action was taken, but staff fielded councilmembers’ input to return with a formal proposal at a future meeting.

If later approved, the city would construct 49 additional parking spaces rather than the currently planned 11. To accommodate the new spaces, a proposed shade structure, a possible art installation, slides and a swing set would be scrapped.

The park currently has 107 parking spaces. The City Council previously approved a free agreement with neighboring business ZKTeco that allows the city to use its 72 parking spots on weekends.

Also contributing to the April 15 suggestion is that the city does not have the funds to redevelop the park as proposed in the current conceptual site plan, according to Parks and Recreation Director Morgan Rodgers.

In January the city reported $2.5 million remaining in Union Hill Park bond account, while engineer estimates for the current conceptual plan stand at $3.4 million.

Rodgers said the city could value engineer the facility to fit within budget, but the Parks and Recreation Department anticipates the newer parking-centric plans would fall under budget if approved by the City Council.

The proposal also comes after the rising popularity of using the recently renovated Union Hill Park pavilion for music events.

Along with Brooke Street Park downtown, Union Hill hosts the Home by Dark concert series, and this year it was chosen to feature community and charity gatherings, including Shamrockin’ for a Cure and the upcoming Atlanta Magazine Grill Fest.

Rodgers said the city did not account for the success of the covered venue when the conceptual plans were drafted.

“So, we had the space, we were thinking it was going to be a gathering space, a place for folks to just kind of play around, and we didn’t realize that the pavilion was going to be so successful and need more parking,” he said.

Union Hill Park, situated between McGinnis Ferry Road and Windward Parkway

at the northern border of the city, opened in 1995. Rodgers said the park fell into disuse after the decline of roller hockey, which Union Hill was built for, in the early 2000s.

The referendum approved by Alpharetta voters in 2021 allocated $3.25 million of the $29.5 million bond to redevelop the park. The bond list approved by councilmembers called for public input to create “a design plan and redevelopment of the land for use as a park space that better meets the needs of Alpharetta residents.”

The city presented preliminary designs of the park at virtual and in-person public meetings in March 2022. In a 2023 survey, residents requested play areas for older and younger children and maintaining the skate park.

The Union Hill skate park is the only designated area for skating in the city, which keeps it in demand because skating is not allowed in downtown Alpharetta. The skate park would not be affected by the redesign.

The City Council formally approved a conceptual site plan for the park at a Sept. 18 meeting.

Councilmen John Hipes and Doug DeRito expressed support of the plans.

But, DeRito questioned whether altering the plans for the park would conflict with the 2021 bond referendum.

City Attorney Molly Esswein said she would have to review the language that was advertised to determine if the plans would pose an issue.

Earlier this year, some councilmembers expressed interest in prioritizing parks bond projects to finish work at facilities that are closer to completion. The discussion was tabled by the end of February.

The City Council will formally consider plans for the redesign of Union Hill Park if presented by staff at a future meeting.

Also at the meeting, councilmembers unanimously approved a $423,732 contract with Sol Construction for the sewer connection at Webb Bridge Park.

Another parks bond project, the turf at the park’s upper soccer field has been earmarked for replacement, which had been delayed until the field’s failed septic system was addressed.

Councilmembers also approved an agreement with North Point Mall to launch the city’s Spotlight Community Stage in the former Foot Locker.

Rodgers said the project will gauge interest in a community theater. The city will not pay to use the space, but Alpharetta is responsible for utilities and trash removal.

Also at the meeting, the City Council recognized the Fulton County Schools Innovation Academy fencing team and its head coach Bill Donges.

The womens team placed first, and the mens team placed third in the Georgia High School Fencing League.

We are thrilled

to announce the upcoming launch of Heatherton in Milton!

Be at the forefront of something extraordinary. Join our VIP list for exclusive updates on this new construction neighborhood, including sneak peeks, priority access to floor plans, pricing and much more.

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juliemartin.atlantafinehomes.com

Julie Martin

I like to say, it’s not your mama’s microfiber.

KAREN LEVINE, founder of PeachSkinSheets

Milton resident aims to offer luxury to Metro Atlanta sleepers

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Milton resident Karen Levine aims to provide a luxurious night’s sleep while giving back to local schools through her business PeachSkinSheets.

Now headquartered in Forsyth County, Levine started PeachSkinSheets in her previous Johns Creek home in 2013 after leaving behind a corporate career.

Before cementing its online presence, the business frequented festivals in Cobb County, Crabapple, Johns Creek and Dunwoody.

With a background in ecommerce and marketing, Levine dedicated the venture to offering a luxury sleeping experience without a lofty price tag.

“Price point was very important because I needed something that would be affordable to people,” Levine said. “I didn’t want people to have to choose between a car payment and a sheet set.”

After settling on a sheet business, Levine said she investigated fabrics from across the world. She narrowed down her options to a performance grade smart fabric, but Levine emphasized her products differ from the cheap, scratchy microfiber that comes to mind.

“I like to say, it’s not your mama’s microfiber,” she said.

She said the sheets are made with a fabric reminiscent of athletic wear, which is known for being moisture-wicking and comfortable.

“And it’s the same concept with sleep,” Levine said. “You spend so many hours

sleeping a day that you want to be on the right fabric.”

Levine said she designed PeachSkinSheets based on what she would want in a bedspread. Her fitted sheets feature a wide elastic band; top and bottom placement labels; and an expansion panel to accommodate larger luxury mattresses.

Because of the moisture wicking fabric, the sheets also dry quickly, and they resist stains.

“I come from that old school where I like my bed to not have any wrinkles,” Levine said. “Nowadays, a lot of the younger generation, they like a more relaxed bed, and maybe wrinkles aren’t so important to them. They want that wrinkly look. But I know for me, I wanted a smooth, wrinklefree look, and so that’s why we have the wrinkle release out of the dryer.”

PeachSkinSheets come in an expanding variety of colors. When Levine founded the business in 2013, she said most sheet companies only offered neutrals.

PeachSkin started with 12 colors, soon doubling to 24 and now expanding its collection to 32 with eight new Caribbean varieties, including tiki turquoise, hot coral, Bahama blue and zesty lemon.

“Colors are really important to us, making sure that there’s something to match almost every decor out there,” Levine said.

PeachSkin also offers oversized comforters, duvet covers and individual pieces like pillowcases and single sheets.

Levine said the business features colors of the month, where four signature sets and duvet covers are discounted. Its April

See SHEETS, Page 9

Karen Levine is the founder and CEO of Forsyth County-based PeachSkinSheets. Levine started the business in 2013 to provide affordable high-quality sheets and a solution for hot sleepers.

Sheets:

Continued from Page 8

colors of the month are buttercream, cotton candy pink, lavender mist and brushed silver.

PeachSkinSheets is also launching a Mother’s Day promotion from April 19 to May 13 where customers can buy a robe, sheet, duvet or comforter set and receive a mix and match gift.

But, the business offers more than just comfortable bedding. PeachSkinSheets partners with local school systems to support educational initiatives and teacher appreciation.

Its Partners in Education initiative started with a pilot partnership at Kelly Mill Elementary School in Forsyth County in December 2022, and it has since rolled out nationwide.

PeachSkin offers a $45 discount to partner school families, and the school receives $20 for each set sold.

With the $1,300 raised in the first partnership, Kelly Mill purchased new podcast equipment for its students.

“Those monies help offset some of the classroom expenses,” Levine said. “The teachers, they always have to put so much of their personal income into classroom supplies and extras, and so a lot of times, these donations will help offset some of that.”

Through the Partners in Education ini-

Business pages

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tiative, PeachSkinSheets has partnered with parent-teacher associations in East Cobb and Cherokee County, as well as Cherokee County Schools.

The business donated more than $5,000 to Forsyth County Schools from a holiday initiative in December.

PeachSkinSheets Director of Corporate Partnerships David Bartow said Partners in Education will focus on teacher appreciation in May.

He said partner schools have used the money raised for library books, appreciation dinners and lunches, and equipment.

“Everybody needs sheets,” Bartow said. “And everybody will eventually need sheets, and why not have them buy the best sheets at an affordable price?”

To browse PeachSkinSheets or order a free color swatch, visit peachskinsheets.com.

KELZ MEDIA/PROVIDED Kelly Mill Elementary School staff accept a check from PeachSkinSheets in January. The bedding business partners with school districts nationwide to help fund educational initiatives and supplies.

It’s allergy season in Atlanta!

Brought to you by – Comprehensive Internal Medicine

What are allergies?

Allergies are your body’s reaction to a foreign particle, usually a protein. These proteins can come from pet dander, molds, pollens, or from trees and grasses. If you develop an allergy to a particular protein, your body’s defense system (immune system) reacts to it and the allergic reaction creates allergy symptoms.

What is an allergic reaction?

An allergic reaction is the way your body responds to an allergen, usually a protein.

You may feel itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose, sinus or ear fullness, a hoarse voice, a scratchy throat, or

trouble breathing. You may even develop a skin rash.

These symptoms can be treated with over the counter or prescription allergy medication or immunotherapy (allergy shots) can be tailored specifically for you.

What is allergy testing?

To perform allergy testing, small pinpricks or scratches are made in the skin and a very small amount of allergen is placed to test your body’s response. If you react to the allergen, we have identified a trigger that is causing your allergy symptoms.

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a treatment used to desensitize your body to the allergy trigger.

In this treatment, the results of your allergy testing are used to create a very personalized formula of medicine that is used to slowly treat your immune system in a way that stops reacting to your allergy trigger. Immunotherapy medicine is given by injection (allergy shots) and is administered twice weekly. The first injection is given in the doctor’s office.

Comprehensive Internal Medicine uses an advanced formulation and instruction that allows you to then give the injections at home. This saves the twice-weekly visits to the doctor’s office. You return to Comprehensive Internal Medicine every 6 weeks to progress the therapy and at the end of one year, allergy testing is repeated. Often, a second year of treatment is advised, following which, most allergies are cured.

Providing Medical Care Including the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases

Comprehensive Internal Medicine has been serving the Alpharetta community for 20 years, celebrating this milestone anniversary in 2023.

The medical practice offers a very comfortable environment and serves a medical home where patients are seen for their wellness examinations (checkups) and for the management of multiple medical problems. Same-day appointments are always available.

We welcome new patients, take most insurance plans and discounts for self-pay patients.

Jeffrey Obiora, M.D.

Dr. Obiora has a special interest in managing medical issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He also specializes in diabetes prevention and weight loss.

In addition, he brings expertise in allergy treatment and managing allergic rhinitis, sinusitis and asthma, and can schedule allergy testing to determine the best way to treat allergy symptoms.

• High Blood Pressure

• Diabetes

• Women’s Health

• Thyroid Disease

• Obesity/Weight Loss

• Arthritis

• High Cholesterol

• Seasonal Allergies

• Asthma

• Heart Disease

• Acute Illnesses such as: sore throat, flu, cough, common cold, etc.

Jacqueline T. Pearson, M.D., M.S. Anju Bhushan, M.D. Arezou Fatemi, M.D. Ryan Bozof, M.D. Shima Mansouri, P.A.-C Laurae Carpenetti, M.D.

Why do some tumors track along nerves?

At a recent conference, an outstanding lecture by Dr. Scott Lester of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, provided insight into the question of why tumors exhibit “perineural invasion” – the behavior of tumors wrapping around and travelling along nerves. The answer is another example of how nature and biology never cease to surprise.

In medical school, one of my favorite professors loved to say, “50% of what you are going to learn during these four years will ultimately be proved wrong.” As I sat in my hard wooden chair taking notes on apparently error-ridden knowledge, I hoped that the 50% that was misinformation was at least not the half that mattered.

As it turns out, one of the pieces of misinformation apparently concerned perineural invasion. In medical school, I was taught that some tumors track along nerves because nerves are convenient highways to other parts of the body. This was the “path of least resistance idea.” Professors also posited that some of the vessels and lymphatics running along with the nerve are an additional reason for tumor growth along nerves – essentially the idea that tumors spreading along nerves is really just tumors spreading along the surrounding lymphatics and blood vessels – “business as usual.”

Several recent studies presented by Dr. Lester have provided data that sheds new light on this subject:

In one experiment, scientists placed a nerve next to but well apart from a tumor growing in a petri dish. The tumor extended a strand of cells in the direction of the nerve and grew toward the nerve. This challenges the idea that perineural tumor growth in patients is simply cancer extension along nerves already touching a tumor. Then, the scientists tested proteins found in the nerve and found that the entire nerve did not have to be present in the dish to attract tumor growth. When scientists put a small amount of a nerve protein called GDNF (glial derived neurotrophic factor) in the dish, the tumor grew towards the GDNF. Apparently, proteins in the nerve attract tumor growth. So nerves are not just highways: some tumors seek out nerves by growing towards proteins that nerves produce.

In another experiment, scientists placed pancreatic cancer cells next to the sciatic nerve inside of a live rat. Predictably, the cancer grew and invaded the sciatic nerve. The muscles relying on the sciatic nerve were unable to function which caused partial paralysis. However, when the scientists delivered radiation to the rat’s sciatic nerve

BEFORE implanting the pancreatic cancer, the tumor grew but paralysis did not occur upon tumor implantation against the nerve. Nerves that had received radiation produced less GDNF.

We have long thought of radiation as primarily working by killing cancerous cells because radiation is known to cause breaks in cancer cell DNA resulting in cell death. But these studies led Dr. Lester, a radiation oncologist, to ask if radiation therapy’s effect on healthy tissue is just as important to its success as its effect on cancer cells themselves. Perhaps in some cases, radiation’s effect on growth factors in healthy nerve tissue is critical to preventing cancer recurrence.

As many questions as answers are raised by these studies. Will we one day have medicines that treat perineural tumors by inhibiting neurotrophic factors? For tumors that do not track along nerves but that invade muscle, bone or other tissue, will medicines increasingly target growth factors in these tissues to prevent spread? Already, medicine that targets “vascular endothelial growth factor” is being used to treat certain cancers. Perhaps one day a local injection of a medicine that blocks neurotrophic factors will be used to help treat perineural tumors.

As a Mohs surgeon, I took interest in these studies because many skin cancers track along nerves and because identifying perineural invasion under the microscope is an important part of my job. When I find significant perineural invasion, radiation therapy after surgery is an option I discuss. I hope that I might one day be able to offer a targeted pill or injection as an alternative to radiation.

However, I thought that these studies are of broad general interest because they are an intriguing example of how the obvious or intuitive answer so often is not the correct answer when biology is involved. Tumor growing along nerves is not just a case of taking the path of least resistance. So much of what we assume or are taught does not turn out to be the whole story. Nature is always more complex than we imagine, and new discoveries provide opportunities for medical advancement.

If you or a loved one struggles with skin cancer or any dermatologic complaint, consider Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta. Dr. Brent Taylor and Kathryn Filipek, PA-C are delighted to help you achieve your skin health goals. Dr. Taylor is a Harvard-graduate, a board certified dermatologist and vein care expert, and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon. Kathryn Filipek has greater than 15 years of dermatology experience with expertise in medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology including fillers, Botox®, and sclerotherapy.

He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.

Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 18 years experience as a Dermatology PA. We are excited to welcome her, as she brings with her experience in general dermatology and cosmetic dermatology.

Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care. Kathryn Filipek, PA-C

Brought to you by – Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

Sally White

Throughout her time at Milton High School, Sally has been an active member of various clubs and sports teams, including the Debate Club, Science Olympiad, and Drama Society. Her leadership skills shone brightly as the captain of the soccer team, leading them to victory on numerous occasions. Sally’s commitment to excellence extended beyond athletics; she also excelled academically, earning recognition for her outstanding achievements in advanced mathematics and literature.

As she prepares to embark on the next chapter of her life, we are filled with pride and excitement for Sally’s future endeavors. Congratulations, Sally, on this remarkable achievement! We can’t wait to see the incredible things you’ll accomplish next.

Class of 2024

APPEN

KEN ORTLOFF/PROVIDED Maestro J. Wayne Baughman leads the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra last May at the nonprofit’s side-by-side concert with Northview High School at Johns Creek United Methodist Church. The orchestra will hold “Celebrating the Maestro” May 4, a concert in memory of Baughman who died last November after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Johns Creek orchestra to bid farewell to late founder, maestro with concert

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra will perform “Celebrating the Maestro” May 4, a concert in memory of late founder and maestro J. Wayne Baughman.

The program was hand-picked by Baughman before his death in November after a battle with pancreatic cancer. It will feature some of his favorites over the past 18 years, since the nonprofit’s founding, and solos from his two daughters — violinist and JCSO concertmaster Adelaide Federici and Singing Sergeants soprano Katie Edelman.

Ken Double, organist for the Fox Theatre, will act as emcee of the concert, and Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry will share remarks about the impact Baughman had on the community.

“This is our chance to say goodbye to the maestro and thank him for founding the orchestra and being such a great advocate for the arts in our community,” Executive Director Linda Brill said. “We know he’ll be watching.”

The orchestra will perform selections from “West Side Story” and “Camelot” as well as “Méditation” from the opera “Thaïs” by Jules Massenet, featuring a solo from Federici.

If you go

Location: Johns Creek United Methodist Church

Time: May 4, 7:30 p.m.

Purchase tickets: johnscreeksymphony.org.

The group will also perform “Summertime” from George Gershwin’s opera “Porgy and Bess” in memory of Steve Dorough, a longtime friend of Baughman who had helped fundraise for the Legacy Center — an envisioned performance hall in Johns Creek.

Before his death last year, Dorough had won the chance to guest conduct the song at the nonprofit’s annual gala.

The program will also feature “Pomp and Circumstance,” the go-to song for graduation ceremonies all over. Brill said the likely intention of Baughman to include the piece was a commentary on his graduation onto the next phase in life.

That Saturday evening, Brill said the audience will be the first to hear about the future of the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra and exciting plans in the works.

The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m., followed by a reception, at Johns Creek United Methodist Church. Tickets can be purchased online at johnscreeksymphony. org.

Edelman will sing “The Light in the Piazza” by Adam Guettel, orchestrated by Tim Aucoin, a JCSO board member, sought-after jazz musician and former orchestra director at Northview High School.

Johns Creek, state officials break ground on $34.6 million Abbotts Bridge project

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — City, county and state elected officials gathered alongside Johns Creek staff April 18 to break ground on a $34.6 million construction project along Abbotts Bridge Road.

Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry was joined by Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne and Sen. Shawn Still to mark the beginning of a project that will add turn lanes, medians, sidewalks and bike lanes between Parsons and Medlock Bridge roads to match the section from Jones Bridge to Parsons roads.

Improvements will directly serve more than a dozen neighborhoods, Abbotts Hill Elementary School and the Standard Club golf course. Construction is slated for completion in summer 2027 and is funded by TSPLOST, or transportation special local option sales tax, II.

The added turn lanes benefit both those needing safe ingress and egress from neighborhoods as well as the traffic flow for commuters.

In addition to turning lanes, the project also addresses existing substandard horizontal and vertical roadway curves, like the major road curve by Reynold’s Farm and the Abbotts Run neighborhood.

The project will also replace two large box culverts carrying the namesake Johns Creek under the road to minimize flooding issues and reduce environmental impacts.

Improvements will also include pedestrian and bicycle facilities to provide options for residents to bike or walk from their homes to the local shopping centers on either end of Abbotts Bridge Road as well as Abbotts Hill Elementary.

Projects:

Continued from Page 1

“Today, we’re getting a sneak preview of the process we have to follow for amending the capital improvements element and ultimately, adopt a new project list of impact fee eligible projects,” Hatley said.

Community Development Director Bob Buscemi said the capital improvements element serves as a “master road map” for his department.

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK/PROVIDED

Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry, Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne and Sen. Shawn Still, center, hold shovels alongside city staff April 18 in a groundbreaking ceremony for $34.6 million improvements along Abbotts Bridge Road between Parsons and Medlock Bridge roads.

While city officials can fund whichever planned project they want, Buscemi said the use of impact fees is restricted to the list.

Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill said the city collected around $830,000 in impact fees last year, which was $150,000 less than the prior year.

The public hearing for the amendment to the capital improvements element is scheduled for the City Council meeting April 22, after which the document will go to the state for review.

At the May 13 work session, officials will hear a second presentation related

to the new impact fee ordinance and its schedule, followed by two public hearings.

Later during the work session, city officials discussed an initiative with a self-taxing commercial district and a neighboring North Fulton city.

The cities of Milton and Alpharetta, in partnership with True North 400, created the Windward Parkway and Ga. 9 Area Strategic Master Plan.

True North 400, formerly the North Fulton Community Improvement District, spans from Mansell Road north to McGinnis Ferry Road at the Forsyth County border.

The 4.6-square-mile study area covers both sides of Ga. 400, including Milton’s Deerfield District and its border with Alpharetta.

The livable centers initiative, or LCI, is an Atlanta Regional Commission grant program that encourages mobility, healthy living and access to commercial areas.

Alpharetta and Milton adopted a livable centers initiative in 2012 for their shared Windward Parkway and Ga. 9 corridor, which acts as a border between the two cities.

Since the 2012 adoption, staff from both cities have said transportation, economic and consumer trends have shifted, leading to a 2022 agreement between Milton, Alpharetta and the CID to update the LCI.

The CID offered to shoulder a third of the $180,000 cost to update the plan if each city also contributed $60,000, and the

trio formalized the funding agreement in October 2022.

The idea is that the two North Fulton cities and CID will be able to leverage federal funds through the ARC after the study is approved.

Luis Calvo, an urban planner and senior associate at MKSK, presented a blueprint for infrastructure improvements, touted community involvement in the planning process and suggested next steps.

After meeting with surrounding residents and employees, the study revealed most respondents wanted to see improvements to traffic congestion, walkability, land use strategy and public amenities.

Calvo said his biggest takeaway, after conversations with nearby stakeholders, was the area needs improved mobility for a higher quality of life.

In the Deerfield District specifically, Calvo said people felt the area lacks authentic and local experiences.

The strategic plan outlines street and trail connections, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, placemaking and the creation of distinct niches for different land uses.

The full report from the MKSK consultants outlines more than 20 projects, ranging from short to long term, for Alpharetta, Milton and True North 400 to consider in the next decades.

Community Development Director Buscemi said his department has been working on the second phase of the master plan, which he will present at the April 22 regular meeting.

Local historian explores art around Cauley Creek Park

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Joan Compton, co-president of the Cultural Arts Alliance at Johns Creek, covered 200 years of history with a small group gathered on a bright, hot Sunday afternoon near the new Rogers Bridge at Cauley Creek Park.

The outdoor program April 14 centered on the intersection of art and history, with Compton providing points of connection between the area’s key historical figures and nearby steel sculptures at the park and across the river in Duluth.

Compton, who founded the Johns Creek Historical Society, first defined Cauley Creek Park as Cherokee Nation farmland and explained the significance of Rogers Bridge.

The bridge was named after John Rogers, who was a prominent area landowner in the early 1800s and a friend of former President Andrew Jackson.

After the Rogers family lost their land once the Treaty of New Echota was passed in 1835, Compton said the area became a favorite site of gold panners. One gold mine shaft remains at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve.

Beverly Thompson, a direct descendant of the Rogers, the Bells and the Taylors (her maiden name), chimed in periodically to add color to Compton’s presentation.

Thompson, who grew up on the

Taylor farm, recalled rural life and the devastation of high water before the Buford Dam was built in the 1950s.

“People would call and tell their neighbors, ‘The river’s out, the river’s out,’ so that everybody could get their cows out of the way and whatever else they needed to do,” Compton said.

Following the lesson, the group walked over to the arched sculpture made of Rogers Bridge steel named “The Bridge,” which stands at about 18 feet tall.

Compton said the old Rogers Bridge had been dismantled despite recommendations from a national commission on historic bridges. She said the group noted that Rogers Bridge was ranked eight out of 10 for historical importance, meaning it was rare and should be saved.

“They said, even if you’re going to build another one, leave this one up,” Compton said.

Around 10 tons of steel had been salvaged from the old bridge, half of which was given to Johns Creek for repurposing.

Compton pointed out the symbolism of the sculpture — abstract people on either side of the arch, representing the connection of modern day to the past or the United States and the Cherokee Nation.

CRABAPPLE

“They’re all working together for one goal,” Compton said. “The one thing that I thought was neat was this arch is actually supported by these people.”

Tractor:

Continued from Page 1

and retail components, a Big Creek Greenway connection and a renovation of Barnes and Noble on North Point Parkway; retail plaza Encore Commons; and Pickle and Social off Haynes Bridge and Rock Mill roads.

Ecco Park, a townhome development, and Maru Japanese Restaurant are under construction on North Point Drive.

Plans for the redevelopment of the North Point Mall are still pending. In January, Economic and Community Development Director Kathi Cook said the city anticipates a new proposal for the mall around this summer.

The regional mall is one location in north Metro Atlanta developers are eyeing for a National Hockey League franchise.

In a March press release, Alpharetta Sports and Entertainment Group announced it is working with North Point Mall owners New York Life to redevelop the property with an arena for hockey and concerts designed by architect Frank Gehry; facilities for esports and performing arts; a professional-level outdoor stadium; hotels; and retail, dining and residential components.

Alpharetta Sports and Entertainment Group is an ownership group backed by NHL veteran Anson Carter, Neil Leibman, Peter Simon and Aaron Zeigler. It is not affiliated with the city.

Alpharetta hosted a community zoning information meeting April 10 to field public feedback and concerns about the proposed Tractor Supply store.

The Planning Commission is scheduled to give its recommendation on the use May 2 before the application faces the City Council for final approval May 20.

Joan Compton, co-president of the Cultural Arts Alliance at Johns Creek, describes the significance of the steel sculpture at Cauley Creek Park April 14. Compton, also the founder and president of the Johns Creek Historical Society, led a presentation on the intersection of art and history.

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

Eclipses and the science of fishing

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

All BCAR dogs are placed as indoor family pets. No electric fences, please. Visit pets every Saturday 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (706-268-1346) or visit our website for adoption information at www.bigcanoeanimalrescue.org. Back in like the seventh grade (just a few years ago) the tiny little elementary school I attended ¬made a big deal of things when graduation day rolled around. The whole last week of seventh grade, in fact, turned into one big celebration of intellectual enlightenment, complete with pomp and ceremony and all the other trappings of a bunch of adolescents who, in that enlightened and less serious time, would really have rather been out playing in the creek and chasing frogs. But even if it was just a distraction for

we of the younger set, it was a big deal for our moms and dads.

Yeah. And mine were ecstatic when I was named to receive the “Outstanding Science Student” award.

Science, huh? Well, I’ve always kind of liked it. I play with ham radio and electronics, and once in chemistry class I decided to do an experiment and see what happens if you drop a piece of potassium metal into a beaker of water. Spoiler alert: What happens is not good and will pretty much guarantee you a private discussion with the teacher.

For a while I thought I’d like to be a famous scientist. I took a bunch of scienc-y classes and did pretty good, I suppose, but eventually the siren song of the writing

world grew so loud that I took that fork in the road instead.

But the interest in science lingered, at least at some level, and that brings me to the recent eclipse.

I’m sure you heard about the eclipse. Several of the folks I know really got into it, one going so far as to make tracks to the Midwest, his entire family enthusiastically in tow, to enjoy some of the very best seeing. “Seeing” – that’s science talk for wearing funny glasses and looking at strange things going on in the sky. The seeing was pretty good, too, and my buddy gushed eloquently for days about the unabashed coolness of seeing a little arc of solar flare stuff in the middle of the day from the middle of a field out in the middle of the Midwest somewhere. He said it was cool beyond words, and I believe him.

plexed, and so like any good scientific type I set about searching for explanations.

“Perhaps,” I said, “I was using the wrong fly.”

“Maybe,” she said. “Or maybe you just didn’t catch ‘em.”

“Perhaps,” I said again, “but maybe the fish all swam off to someplace else.”

“Maybe,” she said. “Or maybe this just wasn’t your day.”

“Oh, no!” I said. “That can’t be! For an outdoor writer of my stature always catches fish. But since I did not catch any fish, they were clearly not there. Or maybe the eclipse confused and distracted them. That must be it!”

7506 Wilderness Parkway

Big Canoe, GA 30143

bigcanoeanimalrescue.org

706-268-1346

This is Miss Delta!

Facts About Me

Breed: Terrier/Shepherd/Malinois Mix

Color: White w/ black markings (Short haired)

Age: 6 months old

Weight: (Current) 27 lbs

Fully Grown: Medium Size (45lbs)

Sex: Female

My Info

Good with children & dogs

May need potty training

Healthy

Shots current

Chipped & spayed

My Story

What is it that makes me so special?

Well, first of all I’m a puppy, but besides that have you noticed the little beauty marks above my eyes? No other puppy is as unique as me. My brother Porter and I are enjoying our other canine friends here, but I really would rather be at home with you playing, enjoying belly rubs and treats. Want to go for a walk? Come meet me. I have puppy kisses waiting for you!

Had I been able to get away, I’d probably have been right there with ‘em, goofy glasses and all.

But as it turned out, I had to stay here. And yet the call of science was strong.

“What shall we do?” I asked at breakfast a day or two before the sun went away.

“How about some fishing?” she replied.

Fishing. Of course.

It just so happened that white bass were at that very moment making their annual spawning run up Little River in Cherokee County. The fish, I’m guessing, didn’t care two hoots about what was going on with the sun, having other things on their little fishy minds.

But I cared. I did. In fact, I decided on the spot that I would put my highly tuned scientific abilities to work and investigate the effect of a solar eclipse on the behavior of white bass! I would do it for you, my faithful readers, for I was certain that you too were staying awake at night wondering what temporary darkness in the middle of the day would do to the behavior of white bass. Right?

Who could say? Maybe I would prove so brilliantly adept at it all that I would have to give up on this writing thing and become a Man of Science!

So on the appointed day, we went fishing. We got to the river (at Olde Rope Mill Park) a few minutes before show time, put on waders and rigged up the fly rods, and were in the water casting as the moon did its thing and the sun faded to a fingernail and then came back again in all its gleamy glory. We fished right through it all.

What did we learn?

Well, we learned that it is possible to not catch a single fish (nary even a bite) in a river that you know holds fish galore. That’s right. We did not get a bite. Not one.

Us outdoor writer types are not used to not even getting a bite. I was per -

I considered this for a moment (scientific types are always considering things for a moment, you know) and then I made a pronouncement.

“That’s it!” I proclaimed. “There were no fish, and the ones that were there were confused.” That’s what I said, internal consistency be damned.

“So we can tell everyone that we have reached a conclusion!” I pronounced. “A scientific conclusion. Based on science!”

“And…?” she asked.

“It’s thusly,” I said, really getting into this sound-like-a-scientist thing. “The eclipse may or may not have impacted white bass behavior in Little River, but the real story is that there were no fish there to be caught. That’s why I didn’t catch any. There were simply no fish in the river, for if there had been I would have caught ‘em, eclipse or not. And that’s science!”

At that moment – at that very moment – the faint sound of wings reached our ears. It was coming from the sky (sounds of wings often do that) and so we looked up to see from whence it came.

What we saw was an osprey. The osprey was flying low over the river, perhaps because it was carrying an enormous white bass in its talons.

The osprey flew upstream a ways, turned 180 degrees, and then flew back downriver and passed right over our heads, still showing off that giant fish.

Then it turned back upstream and did the same thing again. And I’ll swear that the bird paused an instant as it passed over us, turning so the fish it carried glinted in the sun, maybe gloating a little bit and surely saying in Bird Speak, “Ha! Silly angler! No fish, eh? Maybe you just didn’t CATCH ‘em!”

Scientists types like me don’t really know what to do with things like that, so I decided then and there to give up on the famous scientist aspirations once and for all and just go back to writing. And fishing.

Which we did – and to the surprise of no one at all, she outfished me.

Again!

OPINION

1117 Potomac Way in Potomac Hills was the home of Bill and Laura Long and their son David in the 1960s and 1970s.

PAST TENSE

Perimeter neighborhoods lost to construction in mid-1980s

VALERIE

Potomac Hills subdivision along Mount Vernon Highway was first developed in the early 1960s and is now the location of Perimeter Pointe. The neighborhood straddled the line between Fulton a nd DeKalb Counties. Residential developer Sam Jones divided the 38.2 acres into one acre lots.

Prices for the homes, planned to vary in size and architecture, were between $30,000 and $50,000. The neighborhood was advertised as convenient to Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Buckhead, I-285 and Lenox Square shopping Center. Perimeter Mall and other development along Ashford Dunwoody Road did not exist yet.

David Long, owner of David Long Interiors and President of the Dunwoody Preservation Trust Board of Directors, grew up on Potomac Way in the Potomac Hills subdivision. His family home sat where the Marta parking deck is at Perimeter Pointe today.

He recalls that there was also an entrance to Potomac Hills from Meadow Lane. Sam Jones Realty had Meadow Lane widened for easier access to Potomac Hills.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the area was still undeveloped and there were many horse farms, even after Perimeter Mall opened. Long remembers there were horse farms where Target and Perimeter Square Shopping Center are located, and horses all along Meadow Lane Road.

By the mid-1980s, many changes had taken place in this area, developers would buy out an entire

AIKENOMICS

Living in a Material World...

D.C. AIKEN Guest Columnist dcaiken.com

Madonna’s January 1985 pop hit “Material Girl” may be more accurate now than in 1985.

Our Federal Reserve sees our economy as healthy due to continued spending despite their unprecedented rate hikes, which are taking rates to 20-year highs. However, consumer spending does not seem to have been slowed very much by higher prices and higher rates, and this is why the

Federal Reserve is reluctant to cut rates even though we are starting to see signs of unemployment moving to higher levels.

Savings rates for the average American are at their lowest levels in several years, posting up at 3.6 percent, while consumer debt (nonmortgage and/or vehicle) continues to rise each month. I am not denying that consumer spending has risen unchecked for several years, but it is not because the economy is doing well. It is because the average American sees something, wants it, and then buys it, not with cash, but on credit. They are

neighborhood to make way for new commercial construction. In January of 1985, the Fulton County Planning Commission approved rezoning of the former Potomac Hills neighborhood from residential to commercial. Robert Holder bought Potomac Hills for $393,000 per acre. Nine additional homes, adjacent to Potomac Hills, were bought by International Property Development for between $124,000 and $229,000 an acre.

The initial development plan was for three 20 story office towers and a 15-story hotel on the site. The developers were negotiating to extend the site with additional acreage beyond Potomac Hills. To receive approval for higher density, the developers were asked to donate enough land for a MARTA rail station and parking for 400 cars.

On the other side of Mount Vernon, plans were under way for Northpark 100 and Northpark 400, two office towers totaling over a million square feet, a two-level garden area, and rooftop restaurant. Portman-Barry Investment Inc. and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee formed a partnership for the development, which represented the first in the metro Atlanta suburbs for John Portman.

Hammond Hills, located where Hammond Drive and Peachtree Dunwoody Road meet, was another example of home assemblage for commercial development. Homeowners in the Aruba Circle neighborhood, located along Hammond Drive between Glenridge Drive and Georgia 400, sold their homes in 1983. Aruba Circle was surrounded by commercial development at that point. Other assemblages nearby included Lake Hearn Place, Glen Meadow, Oak Forest, Crestline, and Swaybranch.

7506 Wilderness Parkway

Big Canoe, GA 30143

Facts About Me

Breed: Terrier/Shepherd/Malinois Mix

Color: Black and white (Short haired)

Age: 6 months old

Weight: (Current) 25 lbs

Fully Grown: Medium Size (50lbs)

Sex: Male

My Info

Healthy, All Shots current

Good with dogs & children

Chipped, Neutered

Good leash walking & car rides

Crate trained

Meet Porter

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

bigcanoeanimalrescue.org

706-268-1346

This handsome boy would bring any family joy and happiness! Porter has a gentle way about him with a sweet calm disposition. He would be great for a family with children of any age. He gets along with other dogs and never met a human he didn’t like. He is leaning his commands and is very smart. Don’t miss out on him! Bring treats.

With retirement looming before I come back from this “short-term disability” stint, I don’t seem to be in a hurry to get where I’m going. I still believe in having a list of “must do/should do/can do” every day. Even if it’s just to piddle around, I have found that aside from a doctor appointment, there are no deadlines.

“I’ll get there when I get there,” has become a mantra I’ve grown fond of. After years and seven million worth of airline miles traveled, my posture is if I never go to the airport again, that’ll be jake with me. If I’m going to travel, the Black Beauty or the Acura will take me as far as I want to go. Listening to an ELS system in the car and getting plenty of “wind therapy” on the Harley does me just fine.

Besides, with planes having pieces

fall off like Boeing is now resurrecting Yugo, I’m avoiding airplanes.

Better yet, if I don’t feel like driving, I’ve got my own personal livery service in the form of youngest son Greg, who will take me anywhere I want him to. The other day it was a jaunt to Ferguson’s for Traeger pellets and the best salsa around, then on to Costco for shrimp and fresh flowers for Vicki.

Greg drove and I sat to his right, talking baseball and father/son subjects. I thought we’d be back by noon, but we weren’t. It mattered little to me as long as the shrimp didn’t thaw and the flowers didn’t wilt.

Back in the day, I would have been sitting in an airport lounge reading a sales report, writing a coaching report and praying for decent weather so I got home at a decent hour. I’m sleeping in my own bed. Thank you, Mr. Marriott, you’ve devalued your Bonvoy points drastically, I’ll pay my own bill from now on.

Make no mistake, I now prefer

rustic to luxury.

With all this time on my hands, perhaps I can become a lobbyist or since I’ll be unemployed, a consultant. I’ll be offering my services to the automobile industry. Not certain they need my expertise, of which I have none. Since I’ve been receiving a seemingly endless supply of surveys, I reckon I, along with countless millions, are getting inundated with emails wanting to know what I think.

The whiz kids who design cars are on the right track. They do some good things. I’ll go to my grave believing that cigarettes killed my mom, Detroit has smartened up and had ash strays do a Houdini in cars being produced.

During one of my non-hurried trips to Costco, I was taking a little too long getting out of my parking spot. At least that must’ve been what the (even older than me) old codger must’ve been thinking. He was giving his horn a real workout, which naturally made me take just a little bit longer before backing out.

It made me wonder: “Why do we even need horns?” They’re not very nice. In my neighborhood, there’s nary a horn that breaks the silence. Plenty of waves to each other, which serves the same purpose of a horn.

However at Costco, Captain Horatio Hornblower was taking his time locking his car as I prepared to drive off. I feigned an apologetic “Sorry it took me so long to get going. I know you’re in a hurry, despite your onepiece leisure suit saying different.”

Free of his horn, he looked like he wanted to blow his nose at me. And I couldn’t resist leaving him with a zinger.

“Why in the world would you bother locking that pile of junk. Say, I haven’t seen a Rambler in 50 years.”

Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.

Coach: Making the most of what is now “my” time

Continued from Page 4

that year after meeting with Special K’s coordinator Chris Bray.

“The positivity and energy [Douglass] brings is infectious,” said Bray, who was recognized for his work with Special K’s at the Johns Creek City Council meeting March 4. He has been involved for more than 20 years. “It’s something that really does rub off on the athletes.”

Villar, who wrote Douglass’ nomination letter, said she has a knack for making the athletes feel good, heard and respected.

“They seek her out, just to get the fist pump or the high-five,” Villar said.

Inseparable since elementary school, Villar said she has supported Douglass while navigating life with a son who has special needs.

“When Special K’s came along … Jake was 12 or 13, and I think that it’s just really helped his social activity and his ability to interact with people and feel celebrated,” Villar said.

Jeff Smith has watched his own daughter Lilah grow through Special K’s, learning sportsmanship and collaboration. But, as a co-coach with Douglass, Smith said he has witnessed the evolution in skills of all the flag football team members.

Smith said Douglass ensures the experience is enjoyable for the athletes, giving them what they need to succeed.

“From my perspective, as a parent-

turned-co-coach with [Douglass], she just always goes above and beyond,” Smith said.

Smith’s son Tyler is a unified partner on the flag football team, meaning he wakes up early on Saturday mornings to play alongside the athletes at Newtown Park, where Special K’s flag football practice is held. The organization also practices in Alpharetta and Roswell.

Tyler, a junior at Denmark High School, said the role of head coach requires a lot of patience, which Douglass has been able to master on the field.

“I, myself, sometimes don’t have the level of patience that I should, but I have never seen her in a moment as a coach, where she has never had the patience for her athletes or for her partners, even in a stressful situation out there,” Tyler said.

He also noted her open-mindedness to suggestions and the level of commitment to not only Special K’s but to her son Jake, who also attends Denmark High.

In his sophomore year, Tyler formed the first and only unified league at a Forsyth County school, though he hopes the idea will spread. Douglass had been a resource for him starting up the flag football team there.

“I wouldn’t have a unified program at my school without Special K’s,” Tyler said. “I wouldn’t be as excited about it. I wouldn't be as involved in the Special Olympics in general, and the truth is that all comes back to Leah being the coach in the first place.”

MIKE TASOS Columnist

CHRIS BRAY/PROVIDED

As head coach of Special K’s flag football, Leah Douglass guides an athlete during practice at Newtown Park.

OPINION

Aiken:

Continued from Page 19

truly living in a “material world.” The “buy now, pay later” mentality is more the norm than the exception, keeping our economy at what appears to be “healthy.”

The Dow Jones is within 1000 points of hitting 40,000. I am not saying we will see another Black Monday like in 1987, where the Dow fell 22 percent in one day, but many of the same factors existed then as they do today. We are currently bouncing on a Dow Jones all-time high while real estate sales are in their second-plus year of a slowdown, and real estate sales make up a large portion of our economy. Consumer spending and debt are at all-time highs. None of this seems to be a good recipe for a thriving economy. The Fed says we need to see inflation go below 2 percent so that rates can move lower. However, as I stated in an earlier post, that math does not work if we are averaging the inflation rate over the last 12 months. We will need to see monthly inflation numbers go below zero percent for several months, which will most likely not happen anytime soon.

We are now hearing from several Fed officials stating that cuts may come sooner if they start to see unemployment rise. Interesting. I am glad they are at least talking about it, as I believe we will see unemployment rise faster than the Fed could force them into making cuts. Unfortunately, this will not solve the bigger problem of rising consumer debt as long as the credit card companies keep handing out credit cards or raising limits. This

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that a quorum of the City Council of Milton, Georgia, will be present on May 3, 2024, beginning at 9 a.m. attending a Mayor/Council One-Day Retreat which will be held at the Greater North Fulton Chamber office at 10000 Avalon Blvd., Suite 100, in Alpharetta, GA 30009.

This Public Notice is in accordance with O.C.G.A. §50-14-1. No final action or other official business will be transacted.

This the 16th day of April 2024.

problem will probably come to an ugly end sooner rather than later. It is simply not sustainable. Lowering rates, which will lower credit card payments, may slow the overall issue, but the problem will remain. Solving this issue will be the topic of a future Weekend Update.

So, while rates continue to hover close to 7 percent on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, it does appear that they will soon begin their move to lower levels by the end of the year.

As Madonna said in 1985…”The Boy With Cold Hard Cash Is Always Mister Right.”

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.

CITY OF MILTON

PUBLIC NOTICE

PH-24-AB-05

PLACE: CITY HALL

2006 HERITAGE WALK

MILTON, GA 30004

DATE & TIME: 5/6/24 6:00 PM

PURPOSE: Chapter 4

Consumption on Premises Malt Beverages

APPLICANT:

Taco Pizza, LLC

d/b/a Taco Nest 12890 Hwy 9, Suite 100 Milton, Georgia 30004

Martin Acevedo, Contact 678-627-3763

DEATH NOTICES

CITY OF MILTON

PUBLIC NOTICE

PH-24-AB-07

PLACE: CITY HALL

2006 HERITAGE WALK MILTON, GA 30004

DATE & TIME: 5/6/24 6:00 PM

PURPOSE: Chapter 4 Retail Package

Wine, Malt Beverages, Distilled Spirits, and Sunday Sales

APPLICANT: Chandra Group LLC

d/b/a Milton Spirits & Wine

15840 Birmingham Hwy, Suite B Milton, Georgia 30004

Ketankumar Gandhi, Contact 256-390-2701

CITY OF MILTON

PUBLIC NOTICE

PH-24-AB-06

PLACE

CITY HALL

2006 HERITAGE WALK

MILTON, GA 30004

DATE & TIME: 5/6/24 6:00 PM

PURPOSE: Chapter 4

Consumption On-Premises

Wine, Malt Beverages, Distilled Spirits, Resident Caterer and Sunday Sales

APPLICANT: Stone House Tap Crabapple LLC

d/b/a Stone House Tap 12595 Crabapple Road Milton, Georgia 30004

Amish Patel, Contact 404-786-4173

Albert Askea, 69, of Milton, passed away on April 3, 2024.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

James Coylee, 84, of Roswell, passed away on April 5, 2024.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Norma Hawkins, of Roswell, passed away on April 7, 2024.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Elaine House, 66, of Roswell, passed away on April 3, 2024.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Tammy L. Lowit, City Clerk

Patricia Price, 93, of Roswell, passed away on April 7, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Carreno Landscaping

Sawnee EMC is seeking an Electrical Distribution System Engineer. Requires a bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, civil engineering or similar engineering discipline. Preferred experience in design, modeling and maintenance of distribution power systems. Must have strong computer, mathematical and communication skills. Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, April 26, 2024. Apply online: www.sawnee.com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568. 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.

Landis + Gyr Technology, Inc.

Product Manager

Alpharetta, GA

Responsibilities: Manage life cycle of company’s assigned products. Manage complex engineering tools for power, electrical & utility industry & lead product lifecycle activities, including gathering customer engineering requirements, authoring Product Requirement Documents (PRDs), prioritization of sustainment activities, managing Investment Plan (IPL) & New Product Introduction (NPI) processes for assigned products.

Salary range: $100,980 - $123,420/year

Requirements: Bachelor’s in Electrical Engg, Comp Sci or related field & 2 yrs exp in job offered or 2 yrs exp with Oracle/SQL Server databases. Exp must include 2 yrs of exp with wireless technologies. Exp must include 2 yrs utility domain exp. Exp must include 1 yr product management. Experience may be gained concurrently. Send resume & cover letter to: Landis+Gyr c/o Lisa Hudson, Talent Acquisition, 30000 Mill Creek Ave, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30022 or via email to: lisa. hudson@landisgyr.com

Lead DevOps Engineer (Alpharetta, GA): Assists in many of the day-to-day tasks critical to the success of the Application & D/b Ops team. Respsbl for provisioning & maint of the infrastructure on cloud pltfrms such as Google Cloud Platform (GCP) & Microsoft Azure using terraform as Infrastructure as a Code (IaaC). Helps creating, installing & maintaining var security certificates from certificate signing authorities (CA) such as on entrust & digicert on mltpl live apps that are currently being used by end users. Resumes to: Global Payments Holding Company, Brian Simons, Assoc Director, HR Risk & Compliance, 3550 Lenox Road, Suite 3000, Atlanta, GA 30326. #AV080054

Deadline to place a classified ad is Thursdays by 4pm

Sawnee EMC is seeking a Dispatcher with electric utility experience to dispatch workers for customer service, normal maintenance, or emergency repairs to electric-power transmission and distribution lines. Requires high school diploma or equivalency, minimum of one (1) year working knowledge of radio operation, or equivalent experience, map reading and line design knowledge, problem solving and communication skills by radio, telephone and in person. Must be available for alternate shift assignments and irregular work hours, including evenings and weekends.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, May 3, 2024. Apply online: www.sawnee. com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

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.

SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS ENGINEER:

Analyze/gather bus. reqts and tech design docs, develop software apps, web-services, enterprise APIS. Jobs based in Alpharetta, GA but requires travel/relocation to various unanticipated client locations throughout the U.S. Email resume to hr@deloscomputersinc.com or mail to Delos Computer Corp. 4080 McGinnis Ferry Road, Suite 1407, Alpharetta, GA, 30005

Sawnee EMC is seeking a General Clerk 1L (Building and Grounds/Custodial/ Maintenance) (parttime 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, May 3, 2024. Apply online: www.sawnee. com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

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

PART-TIME SERVERS AND BARTENDERS

• Flexible hours

• Need own transportation

• Inquiries to info@asculinaryconcepts.com or 678-336-9196

• Located in Johns Creek