Milton Herald - May 9, 2024

Milton officials tackle strategies for coming year

MILTON, Ga. — Milton officials parsed through sustainability initiatives, public art, land use, transportation and parks and recreation at their annual planning retreat May 3 at Avalon in Alpharetta.

Members of the City Council heard from city departments heads, including Community Development Director Bob Buscemi and Public Works Director Sara Leaders, about transportation infrastructure and land use planning.

City officials discussed two items related to land use, the Deerfield Implementation Plan and incentives for residents to hold onto their larger lots. Councilmembers referenced properties with 10 or more acres throughout the discussion of lot sizes.

The key takeaway from the land use discussion is that Milton wants to make it easier for residents to hold onto their farms, rather than subdividing and selling it off to residential developers.

City Manager Steve Krokoff said an agricultural exemption does not fit for the city, but lessening regulatory requirements on large lots may make them more manageable for owners.

The discussion then transitioned to commercial areas in the city.

Located in eastern Milton, the Deerfield area includes the Bethany Bend, Ga. 9 and Windward Parkway corridors. City officials are looking to revamp Deerfield to reflect Milton’s unique heritage and character.

See STRATEGIES, Page 24

North Fulton Futures Summit keys on economic growth

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A team of industry experts provided perspectives on economic development May 1 at the annual North Fulton Futures Summit.

City officials and business leaders packed the Studio Theater at City Springs to hear about

housing availability in the region, efforts to return to the office and the development of workforce talent.

While the 2023 summit featured a panel of the six North Fulton mayors, this year’s event heard more from the business community and educators.

The summit is sponsored by The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

In his introduction of the first panel, Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said it’s critical to have a conversation about housing when talking about economic development.

“We’re living at a time when the entire Metro Atlanta area is growing faster than we can keep up with,” Gilvin

See SUMMIT, Page 8

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney, left, discusses workforce development with executives from Gwinnett Technical College, Ford Motor Co., Amana Academy and Fiserv at the May 1 North Fulton Futures Summit.

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POLICE BLOTTER

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Bogus money-making job costs Milton man $11,000

MILTON, Ga. — A Milton man reported to police that he was scammed out of $11,000 after receiving a text about a money-making opportunity.

According to the April 29 incident report, the man said he was told he could put money into a “project,” and once completing daily tasks, he could receive a certain amount of money.

While attempting to complete the tasks, the man told police he would continuously get locked out of his account and would have to pay money to unlock it. Each time the man would get locked out, the cost to unlock the account would increase, but that the scammer offered to contribute to the fee.

The cycle continued until the man was out $11,000.

The man told police once he realized he was being scammed, he checked whether the website was legitimate. The site showed a copy of a real website with a different domain and email address, according to the report.

Woman taken for $2,500 by fake parole officer

MILTON, Ga. — A Milton woman reported to police April 29 that she was scammed out of $2,500 by a man claiming to be with the U.S. Bureau of Parole.

The woman told police the suspect told her he knew all of her and her husband’s personal information, including his prison release date and parole conditions.

The woman said the suspect told her there was an issue with her husband’s file and that she needed to pay for an

electronic monitoring device, which would be refunded by the government, according to the incident report.

After the woman offered to pay for the device with a credit card, the suspect instructed her to pay cash using a Coinme machine off Crabapple Road, the report says.

The woman told police she sent $2,500 to the suspect in two different payments because the machine got jammed. She said the suspect told her she would need to send a third payment for the full amount, threatening that her husband would stay in federal prison for more than a year if she did not pay, according to the report.

Police investigate report of fraudulent gift cards

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating a fraud scheme involving gift cards following an April 19 report from an employee at the CVS on Holcomb Bridge Road.

The store operations manager told officers she saw an unidentified young man acting suspiciously, avoiding employees and looking over his shoulder.

After the man left, the employee said she reviewed security footage and saw the suspect placing more than 200 gift cards on existing displays in the store.

The fake gift cards displayed brands like Visa, American Express and Target.

An officer said the serial numbers on the packaging matched the numbers on the cards, which showed signs of wear. After removing the fraudulent cards and unpackaging them, the employee said they resembled examples of fraud from prior incidents.

An officer said the cards appear to be real, but the money is deposited into a different account once activated by the buyer.

The officer said he submitted each type of gift card as evidence at the Roswell Police Department and notified

the Criminal Investigations Division. Man seen taking items on 2 consecutive days

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are searching for a man seen taking two sets of golf clubs from the PGA Superstore off Holcomb Woods Parkway on back-to-back days.

Officers said they responded April 19 to a shoplifting complaint.

An employee said a man walked out of the store with two full sets of Calloway and Taylor Made gold clubs, totaling around $2,500.

The employee also said the man had been in the day before and was seen making off with a set of the same clubs. He was reported to have later been spotted shoplifting from the PGA location in Lawrenceville.

An officer said the employee showed him security footage of a person wearing black shorts, white shoes and a red hoodie leaving the store with the merchandise.

The employee told officers that security footage showed the suspect drives a gray Honda sedan.

Police add drug charges to driver cited for texting

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested a 29-year-old Taccoa woman for trafficking methamphetamine April 19 after they spotted the woman texting while driving.

While eastbound on Holcomb Bridge Road, an officer spotted the driver of an Audi SUV using a cell phone and pulled the car over in the La Quinta parking lot.

Officers said they detected an odor of marijuana while speaking to the driver and asked her to step out of the vehicle.

The driver said she smoked two hours before and was headed to a gas station.

Two K-9 officers arrived on scene for a search and found two bags of suspected meth under the front seat.

THE PICTURE FRAMER

Milton to focus on Deerfield for future growth, vibrancy

MILTON, Ga. — Milton Community Development Director Bob Buscemi has been tabbed to lead an effort to reenvision the future vitality of the city’s Deerfield area.

The initiative comes in the wake of Georgia DOT’s widening of Ga. 9, a chief artery serving the area of eastern Milton.

Deerfield is made of the Deerfield and Bethany character areas, which include the Ga. 9 and Windward Parkway corridors. Many of the buildings there predate the city’s incorporation in 2006.

City officials say the Deerfield Implementation Plan will articulate a dynamic, community-driven, economically sustainable approach so this area will have vibrancy, top quality and a distinct “Miltonesque” character.

"Deerfield needs to become the economic engine for Milton going forward," Buscemi said. "This Implementation Plan can chart a path to make that happen in a way that embraces what makes Milton special."

To focus fully on the task, Buscemi will transition to a new role as director of Special Projects. The city plans to bring aboard a new Community Development director to eventually take his place.

Several plans and studies have been conducted over the years that touch on the area, such as the Milton Community Trails Prioritization Plan, Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Comprehensive Transportation Plan and a recent study on Ga. 9 and Windward Parkway performed in conjunction with the City of Alpharetta and True North 400 Community Improvement District. The Deerfield Implementation Plan

will incorporate relevant aspects of all these studies, as well as new feedback and analysis, into a guiding document, Milton officials said.

It may contain suggestions for roads, landscaping, pathways, architecture, placemaking and generally the look and feel of the built environment. The plan will allow developers guidance on what will work and what won't work in this part of Milton, officials said. Outside experts will express this vision through specialized graphics, 3D models, flythrough videos and other elements.

"This is the right time to hone in on Deerfield and outline a path forward that works for Milton, the businesses that call it home and our residents," said City Counciman Jan Jacobus, whose district includes the impacted area. "It's also an exciting time for our city with our council and so many departments working together for a common goal. That synergy, collaboration and shared vision makes Milton different."

Councilman Phil Cranmer, who also represents this district, said the initiative lays the groundwork for the future.

"By being purposeful and proactive now, we can be successful in the future,” he said, “and with Bob leading the way, I'm confident that future will be bright."

There will be multiple and varied opportunities for citizens to participate in the process, in-person and online. To keep up, follow the city's Facebook page (facebook.com/thecityofmiltonga/), go to its website (miltonga.gov), or sign-up for city emails at miltonga.gov/Emails.

APPEN MEDIA FILE PHOTO

, scan the QR code or go to miltonhistoricalsociety-georgia.org. For questions, please contact Jeff Dufresne at president@miltonhistoricalsociety-georgia.org.

From left, Jim Teel, board chairman of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, stands with 2024 North Fulton Regional Award winners Roger Lusby, Marilyn Margolis and Glen Cannon at the Chamber’s Spring Soiree April 25. Kali Boatwright, president and CEO of the Chamber, stands at far right.

Greater North Fulton Chamber awards local leaders at soiree

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A slate of local leaders were honored as recipients of the 2024 North Fulton Regional Awards, presented at the Spring Soiree hosted by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce April 25.

The awards recognize outstanding local leaders and businesses whose efforts have notably advanced the region’s economic and community development.

The soiree, held at Ameris Bank Amphitheater, marked a milestone as the largest event to date for the organization with over 550 attendees, more than 75 sponsors, and participation from 15 area restaurants. The Chamber serves Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs.

Cheryl McGowan

Marilyn Margolis, former CEO of Emory Johns Creek, earned the Lifetime Achievement Award. Margolis began her

career more than 35 years ago as a staff nurse in the Cardiac Care Unit at Emory University Hospital and led Emory Johns Creek for more than 12 years.

Roger Lusby, who earned the Pioneer Award, retired as a tax partner and the managing partner at Frazier & Deeter’s Alpharetta office. Lusby specialized in complex tax planning across sectors including healthcare, real estate, manufacturing, technology, and service industries.

Glen Cannon, president of Gwinnett Technical College, earned the Community Service Award. Under Cannon’s leadership, the college’s enrollment increased by 30 percent, reaching more than 22,000 students annually.

For more information about the North Fulton Chamber and other events, visit GNFCC.com.

New bids for Ga. 400 express lane project due this week

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

METRO ATLANTA — State transportation officials were set to receive a new set of bids May 7 for a project to add express lanes along a 16-mile stretch of Ga. 400 north into Forsyth County.

Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Brandon Beach made the announcement May 1 at the North Fulton Futures Summit, an event hosted by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce which featured panel discussions, insights from economic development partners and input from regional mayors.

The project calls for two toll lanes in each direction from the North Springs MARTA station in Sandy Springs north to about a mile past McFarland Parkway.

Appen Media reported that the project first hit a snag in 2021 when the State Transportation Board rejected the only qualified bid for the work. MW 400 Partners’ proposal came in far higher than the $1.7 billion GDOT had budgeted.

The project was delayed again last year after one of three contractor finalists dropped out of consideration, according to Capitol Beat.

State Express Lanes Administrator Tim Matthews told Appen Media the contracting mechanism for this go-around is different, a design-build-finance model where the private sector developer with financial equity will maintain and operate

the project for a 50-year term once it has been built.

Previously, Mathews said the Georgia Department of Transportation used the availability payment model, which operates like a home mortgage.

The bids will first be reviewed by the P3 Steering Committee then go before the State Transportation Board in August for final approval. The P3 Steering Committee provides oversight and guidance related to activities of GDOT’s Public-Private Partnership program.

Financial close on the project is slated for a year after final approval, but Matthews said the timeline may be shorter. The process, he said, is to ensure the developer team has the money in place to build and operate the project before construction.

The project has major ramifications for Alpharetta where two Ga. 400 overpasses will be replaced. The city will also inherit a new interchange just north of Webb Bridge Road exclusively for express lane traffic.

Roswell also will be affected.

The GDOT plans to add a partial express lanes interchange at Old Dogwood Road. It also will enhance the Ga. 400-Holcomb Bridge Road interchange. dge Road interchange.

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Summit:

said. “The levels of housing … just too much demand.”

The mayor touted his city’s April 29 approval of two projects from residential developers on the panel, Paul Corely with Empire Communities and Warren Jolly with The Providence Group.

Gilvin said Alpharetta is doing its part to make housing attainable in the region.

John Hunt, housing expert and principal at MarketNsights, traced the shortage in housing supply to the Great Recession, which began in December 2007.

After economic recovery and a revamp of construction, the COVID-19 pandemic created a housing boom, decreasing an already low supply.

With inflation and interest rates at a 23-year high, the costs of borrowing and building limit developers’ ability to increase supply.

Hunt said housing availability is measured in months of supply, or the amount of time it takes for the existing inventory to sell, with 6 months as a target to meet demand.

Metro Atlanta has a 2 and a-half months’ supply, and North Fulton’s inventory is a month less than that. Hunt said the housing shortage is worse in the region because of the high demand for schools, amenities and public safety.

Affordability is another issue that Hunt identified in the region’s housing market, with the average home price during resale at $800,000.

A potential solution is to change zoning and restrictions to allow more apartments and homes with a smaller square footage. Without a diversity of housing options, the housing market freeze is unlikely to disappear soon, he said.

We’re living at a time when the entire Metro Atlanta area is growing faster than we can keep up with. The levels of housing … just too much demand.”

JIM GILVIN, Alpharetta mayor

governments need to consider land use planning and where density works.

Corely said he doesn’t do much business in Roswell, he hopes Mayor Kurt Wilson listens to a recording of the summit and decides its time to build more residences in the city.

Milton Mayor Petyon Jamison joked that $800,000 couldn’t buy a dirt lot in his city.

Fulton County Schools

Superintendent Mike Looney led the next panel which focused on attracting talent to the region and retaining its young people.

The program trains two-year students and provides them with entry-level access to Ford automotive technician positions at dealerships.

Cannon said the graduates of Gwinnett Technical College programs have an opportunity to make a living and afford housing in high-demand areas like North Fulton. The technical college has a 25-acre satellite campus across from Avalon in Alpharetta.

Representatives from Amana Academy and Fiserv in Alpharetta talked about a partnership that introduces middle schoolers to the world of financial technology.

Panelists agreed with Hicks, saying dictates from employers do not work but giving folks a reason to come into the office does. Continued from Page 1

Georgia State Sen. Brandon Beach, who represents parts of Alpharetta, Milton and Johns Creek, speaks at the 2024 North Fulton Futures Summit May 1 at Sandy Springs City Hall. Beach emphasized the importance of Ga. 400 and its future expansion to economic development in the region.

Kennedy Hicks, chief investment officer at Cousins Properties, said it’s important to create a draw for white-collar workers to come back to the office.

Because converting office buildings to residential is so expensive, Hicks said opportunities for those kinds of redevelopments are limited.

Corely struck a slightly different tone, discussing the effects of regulation and cost escalation on building attainable housing units in a timely manner. He and Jolly agreed that local

Glen Cannon, president of Gwinnett Technical College, and Anthony Davis, a recruiter at Ford Motor Company, discussed their partnership and the ASSET Automotive Program in Lawrenceville.

MAY Celebrates

With large companies decreasing their office footprint and trending toward hybrid schedules, a return to the office is a focus of the commercial real estate industry and city officials.

She said bringing workers back to the office and retaining tenants is challenging, but creative solutions can attract employees.

MARTA Board member Freda Hardage and Jacob Vallo, assistant general manager of real estate development for the transit authority, touted transitoriented development as another solution.

PHOTOS BY HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Kennedy Hicks, chief investment officer at Cousins Properties, talks about backto-office trends with representatives from the engineering, transportation and commercial real estate industry. Hicks said white-collar workers are looking for more amenities in and around their offices.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Stuti Mohan, a sophomore at Chattahoochee High School, showcases her Girl Scout Gold Award project at Halcyon’s Spring Market April 28. For the project, Mohan is working to address early childhood literacy in infants and toddlers by distributing around 400 books as well as literary guides to areas like South Fulton and impoverished villages in India.

Girl Scout leads campaign to promote youth literacy

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

METRO ATLANTA — Stuti Mohan, a sophomore at Chattahoochee High School, spoke with library directors, childcare specialists and teachers in the area to arrive at her Girl Scout Gold Award project — addressing early childhood literacy.

The Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. It involves understanding the root cause of a community issue and acting to produce long-term benefits.

“A lot of them told me that, especially with the pandemic, they saw a larger gap between kids who could read and kids who couldn’t,” Mohan said. “A lot of kids were coming into kindergarten miles behind their peers because they simply weren’t offered the same education before entering the school system.”

After a number of conversations, Mohan said she began to research best practices to prepare infants and toddlers for kindergarten for her project, “Literary Lullabies.”

“We’re really trying to emphasize that literacy starts from in the womb, and literacy starts from the moment you’re born,” she said.

With a copy of “As I Lay Dying” by William Faulkner on-hand, Mohan set up shop at Halcyon’s Spring Market April 28 to sell homemade books and bookmarks to fundraise $2,000 to buy new books in addition to ones she plans to collect through a book drive.

The goal is around 400 books, which will be distributed to obstetrics

Monetary donations toward “Literary Lullabies” can be done through Zelle at 224-388-2831. Books for infants and toddlers can be dropped off at 12250 Stevens Creek Drive in Johns Creek from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, contact Stuti Mohan at 770-310-8743 or literarylullabies@gmail.com.

clinics, nonprofit organizations and hospitals along with literary guides that list the benefits and methods of reading to a child.

Mohan also intends to host workshops to educate families on the importance of literacy and provide them with resources to obtain a library card.

South Fulton is one area Mohan is focused on. Another is in India.

She plans to distribute 100 book bags filled with books, reading calendars and guides translated to Hindi throughout maternity and pediatric wards of hospitals in Lucknow, which see more low-income patients, in addition to hosting workshops in impoverished villages.

“A lot of times people who are in lower income situations, who grew up in these lower income situations, stay in lower income situations their entire lives, and that creates a system,” Mohan said, describing the correlation between literacy and college admission.

“So, by providing them with these opportunities, we can break out of that system.”

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Congratualations

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

Alpharetta calls for artists to take work to the streets

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Christopher Cleary was set up at Alpharetta’s North Main Street Park April 27, clacking away at his typewriter to create customized poetry for passersby.

The former Cambridge High School English teacher is one of a number of permitted applicants in a new city arts program.

“I think poetry is an art and to get people involved in it that way, instead of looking at their phones, and looking at a piece of paper instead — I think it’s a great thing,” Cleary said.

He was working on his 60th-ever customized poem.

The program, which went through a trial run last year, received updates in February, and since then, several new Public Performance Permits have been processed.

Earlier, Cleary had written a few poems during the Alpharetta Library Storytelling Festival and was scheduled to set up again the following day at the Oliver Waters/McCollum Warehouse Historical Marker. His first time writing on the spot for the public was at the Imagine Festival.

The temperature was moderate that Saturday evening, and music could be heard from nearby establishments, laughter from Mercantile Social. Cleary’s entourage of friends were there for support as he allowed strangers’ prompts to guide his writing, like Nina Skiles’ request for two poems, one for each of her young grandsons.

Cleary commented on the energy street performers provide, like musicians.

“I think just being able to have that out here just helps bring the city alive,” said Cleary, who has lived in Alpharetta for more than 20 years.

While 14-year-old Tripp Wilkinson has graced the stages of local venues in Metro Atlanta like MadLife, Smith’s Olde Bar, the Masquerade and Hard Rock Cafe, he performed on the streets of Alpharetta for the first time April 20.

Wilkinson, proficient in vocals, guitar and bass, said he is accustomed to having a band behind him but appreciated the way performing on his own in public allowed him to connect with businesses and the people.

“I like connecting with the audience a little more intimately,” Wilkinson said. “It’s just also a really amazing exposure for a 14-year-old … It’s a lot of fun on the street.”

He has more performances on the

CHUCK WILKINSON/PROVIDED Tripp Wilkinson, a 14-year-old who attends Milton High School, plays guitar for passersby next to Smokejack BBQ on Main Street April 20 as a permitted applicant to the City of Alpharetta’s street performance program.

docket.

Sought-after performing arts sets are expansive, though. Alpharetta Cultural Arts Commissioner Michael Barsky said they could also be comedy routines, drama, acrobatics, magic.

“It’s a full arts agenda,” Barsky said.

Efforts to get performing arts on the streets started around two years ago, Barsky said, involving work with a city ordinance that prohibited busking.

“Downtown Alpharetta has flourished in terms of diversity, in terms of restaurants and retail and all kinds of other stuff,” Barsky said. “In terms of actual arts being done in the street, it’s fairly limited to events.”

Last year, the program was in a beta test phase. Alpharetta Cultural Services Manager Kim Manning said the process was a little too restrictive, which prompted tweaks approved at the Alpharetta Cultural Arts Commission meeting in February.

Changes include a city-issued tip jar, which doubles as the permit, as well as allowing up to two performers at any given location. Now, there are a total of six locations, mostly pocket parks around downtown.

“We want to be Alpharetta Music City, and this is one of the programs that supports that,” Manning said.

The application fee is $60, half of it nonrefundable. To apply, visit www. eventeny.com/events/temporary-publicperformance-permit-2024-10805.

It’s allergy season in Atlanta!

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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

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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.

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

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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.

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Benzoyl Peroxide danger – fact or fiction?

Benzoyl peroxide or “BPO” is a dermatologist’s old standby. It is a triedand-true effective ingredient to treat acne including pimples and clogged pores and is found in both over the counter acne washes as well as prescription acne products. Given its extensive use and presence in so many over-the-counter products, it came as a shock to the world and the medical community when a company named Valisure recently argued that BPO too easily breaks down into benzene, a cancer-causing chemical known to cause leukemia and other types of cancer. Valisure advocated for the recall of over-the-counter acne products containing BPO.

Is Valisure right? What is the truth? The answer is complicated and interesting.

BPO’s potential to cause cancer was suggested in the 1980s when animal studies suggested that it might make skin tumors grow. BPO is a very reactive molecule and works at least in part by reacting with proteins of skin bacteria and killing the bacteria that cause acne. BPO has long been known to be destructive. The question is whether it is only destructive to bacteria or also to humans.

In 1991 new concerning animal data caused the FDA to formally declare that additional studies were necessary on BPO safety, but the data was weak, and sales of BPO products continued to be permitted. During the ensuing years, a concerted effort was made through multiple studies to verify BPO’s safety. In 2010, the FDA reviewed available data and voted to label BPO as GRASE (Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective). Recent data had been reassuring.

Fast forward to the present day and we have a curveball. A company named Valisure studied the potential of BPO to form benzene at elevated temperatures. Valisure tested benzene levels after exposing BPO products to 98.6, 122, and 158-degrees Fahrenheit for two weeks or more. As the temperature went up, so did the level of benzene. These are temperatures that BPO may be exposed to in real life situations such as being left in a hot car or during shipment from manufacturing sites.

Valisure appears to have proven that BPO has the potential to form benzene, particularly if exposed to high temperatures. How often this happens and how frequently this has caused

cancer remains unknown. Even if someone could guarantee that their BPO had never been exposed to heat, BPO left on someone’s shelf for long periods might eventually form significant levels of benzene over time.

Is Valisure a white knight rescuing the public from a serious threat?

One concerning conflict of interest is that Valisure’s president, David Light, filed a patent in 2023 for a method to prevent BPO from breaking down into benzene.

Timelines matter. Did Valisure know of BPO’s potential risks but wait to disclose them and request a recall until after they had filed for a patent for the fix? Valisure’s homepage states that they are a company focused on “transparency,” but Valisure’s mention of its patent application was buried on page 26 of a 34 page “Citizen Petition.” Acknowledgment of this patent application as a conflict of interest was nowhere to be found in that Citizen Petition. Valisure states that their goal is to provide “independent certification” of product safety, but when they stand to profit from finding dangers, then they are not as independent as they should be.

No recall has been issued. At least one manufacturer, Clearasil™, has responded by claiming that its products are safe when stored correctly and stated “The findings presented by an independent lab reflect unrealistic scenarios rather than real-world conditions” according to an article in Chemistry World.

And of course, class action lawsuits have already arisen.

One can argue about whether Valisure’s citizen petition for a recall was premature or whether it is motivated by its patent and a desire to force companies to use Valisure’s BPO stabilizer in BPO products to Valisure’s financial gain. The only thing that is certain is that with the filing of a patent, Valisure ceased to be the independent company that we wish it were.

What are doctors and patients to do? At the least, throw away expired BPO. Throw away BPO that has been exposed to high temperatures. Talk with your doctor about alternatives to BPO. We are in the fortunate position of having many alternatives to BPO available while the true safety of BPO and potential for benzene formation gets sorted out. Two over the counter alternatives to consider are adapalene or salicylic acid. For more stubborn acne including acne that is causing scarring, see a specialist in dermatology. And stay tuned for future updates on BPO.

Insist

Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.

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

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

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

Kathryn Filipek, PA-C

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

Getting a younger looking smile

Dr. Bradley Hepler, Atlanta Center for Dental Health

Improving the appearance of your teeth often involves addressing common issues such as discoloration, wear, and damage. Here are some suggestions for making your teeth look younger and healthier.

1. Professional Teeth Whitening: Professional teeth whitening treatments can effectively remove stains and brighten the color of your teeth, giving them a more youthful appearance. Your dentist can recommend the best whitening option for you, whether it’s in-office or take-home kits.

2. Dental Bonding: Dental bonding is a cosmetic procedure where a tooth-colored resin is applied to the teeth to repair chips, cracks, or discoloration. It can improve the appearance of damaged teeth and restore their youthful look.

3. Porcelain Veneers: Porcelain veneers are thin shells that are bonded to the front of the teeth to improve their appearance. They can correct issues like discoloration, gaps, and minor misalignment, giving your teeth a more youthful and uniform look.

4. Dental Crowns: Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that cover the entire

visible portion of a tooth. They can be used to restore the shape, size, and appearance of damaged or severely discolored teeth, helping them look younger and more aesthetically pleasing.

5. Tooth-Colored Fillings: Replace old metal fillings with tooth-colored composite fillings that blend seamlessly with the natural color of your teeth. This can improve the appearance of your smile and make your teeth look younger.

6. Gum Contouring: If your gums have receded or are uneven, gum contouring can reshape the gumline to create a more balanced and attractive smile. This

procedure can make your teeth appear longer, more balanced, and more youthful.

7. Orthodontic Treatment: Crooked or misaligned teeth can make you look older than you are. Orthodontic treatment, such as braces or clear aligners, can straighten your teeth, improve the health of your mouth, prevent future problems, and improve your smile’s appearance, making you look younger.

8. Regular Dental Cleanings: Schedule regular dental cleanings to remove plaque, tartar, and surface stains from your teeth. Professional cleanings can help maintain the brightness of your

smile and keep your teeth looking youthful. By addressing these common dental concerns with the help of a cosmetic dentist, you can rejuvenate the appearance of your teeth and achieve a more youthful smile.

“Preventive Dentistry can add 10 years to human life.” -Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic

Dr. Bradley Hepler and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide all the modern advances for healthy and attractive smiles. You will realize immediate results with non-invasive and often inexpensive procedures to enhance your smile and your health. If you would like a complementary consultation to discover your smile restoring options, please call the Atlanta Center for Dental Health at 770-992-2236. Dr. Bradley Hepler has spent many hours dedicated to perfecting and updating the latest and best techniques in dentistry. It is with this breadth of knowledge that we provide each patient with the perfect solution to their situation, their life, and their goals. It is our pleasure to serve this community and help as many people as possible live their best life.

ADOBE STOCK

Celebrating Older Americans Month and the power of connections

can be transformative, finding ways to reengage and enhance their life.

For over 60 years Older Americans Month (OAM) has been celebrated every May, recognizing the contributions, aging trends and commitments to serving older adults in our communities.

This year OAM is focused on going beyond the readily apparent needs for physical assistance with things like the activities of everyday living or recuperating from surgery, embracing the critical power of connections for emotional and social interactions that have a profound impact on wellbeing and healthy aging.

A recent report by the U.S. Surgeon General cites an epidemic of chronic loneliness and isolation that has drastic affects for the elderly. These include increasing the risk of developing dementia by 50%, and heart disease and stroke risk by 30%. The stress that comes from a lack of connection to other people can be equal to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

As we all age, there are challenges to face. Whether confronting obstacles from changing physical abilities, the transition from the loss of a partner, loss of a career or social contacts, it can seem like the world is shrinking. Over 27% of seniors now live by themselves. For some people, the resulting social isolation and loneliness can be a huge hurdle to overcome. At Home Helpers we know that promoting social interaction for your older loved one

Reconnecting can come from enjoying cultural activities, joining a social club, pursuing a new hobby, taking a class, trying new activities in their community or enabling giving back to others through volunteering or virtual mentoring. Reinventing ways to build new relationships yields rewards that make for a longer and better life.

For your older loved one, the warmth of companionship from a well matched and skilled Home Helpers caregiver can make a beautiful difference in their life. A heart centered approach and positive spirit can boost confidence and provide a better quality of life for our clients and their families. Creating new pathways to expand the social circle of our older loved ones helps us share in the richness of their lives, both past and present.

Caregivers can assist with all personal care, help around the house, accompany them on doctor’s visits or social outings and provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc. If your loved one is just getting home from a rehabilitation center or recovering from surgery, we can help safely speed up recovery.

For a free consultation and exceptional care management by a team with depth and skill from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 care, please call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs at (770) 681-0323.

Take action against strokes

Brought to you by - Dr. Benjamin Zussman, neurosurgeon at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center

While strokes have become relatively common—more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—many risk factors for stroke can be managed in partnership with your healthcare provider.

Manage your risk factors

Factors that can increase your risk of experiencing a stroke include:

• High blood pressure increases the risk of a stroke. Stay up to date on your annual physicals to know your

blood pressure levels, and if you have hypertension, talk to your provider about managing it.

• Elevated cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in the blood vessel and clotting in the blood, which can cause a stroke if the clot travels and blocks blood flow to the brain. Your primary care provider can help you monitor your cholesterol with a blood test and manage levels with medications or lifestyle changes.

• Diabetes increases risk of experiencing a stroke. Talk to your provider about diabetes screenings. If you are diabetic, discuss managing the condition in partnership with your provider.

• Smoking cigarettes accelerates atherosclerosis, or clogging in the arteries, and causes inflammation in blood vessels that then increases your risk of stroke and heart attack.

• Atrial fibrillation, a heart arrhythmia, can cause clots that then

travel to the brain, leading to a stroke.

How to recognize a stroke

Learn the warning signs of a stroke, and if you notice any of these in yourself or someone else, BE FAST and call 911 right away.

“If someone is experiencing a stroke, call 911 and don’t try to drive to the hospital,” Wellstar Neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Zussman said. “Emergency medical crews can initiate care in the ambulance, and with a stroke, time is crucial.”

• Balance — Look for a sudden loss of balance or coordination. This can also appear as a sudden, severe headache or dizziness.

• Eyes — Blurred vision, double vision or loss of vision can be signs of a stroke. If you think someone else may be having a stroke, ask if they are having trouble seeing out of one or both eyes.

• Face — One side of the face may be

feeling numb or appear to be drooping. Ask the person to smile and see if it appears uneven.

• Arms — Check for sudden arm weakness or numbness. See if the person can lift both arms without one drifting downward.

• Speech — Watch out for slurred speech or difficulty speaking. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence to find out if they are having trouble talking.

• Time — The more treatment is delayed, the more the brain is damaged. Don’t wait to seek care. If you notice any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center is designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, the highest level of stroke certification that recognizes hospitals that can treat the most complex stroke cases. Learn more at wellstar.org/strokecare.

ZUSSMAN ISTOCK

A

diverse team of neuro care specialists means more expertise for you.

At Wellstar, you’ll find more than 95 neurosurgeons, neurologists, pain medicine specialists and advanced practice providers ready to provide expert neuro care tailored to you.

Your health is in the right hands with our neuro team, providing services including ongoing treatment for neurological conditions and lifesaving emergency care for strokes. With minimally invasive spine surgery options, a comprehensive stroke care network and a dedicated functional neurosurgery team experienced in treating epilepsy and movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor, our providers partner with you to deliver world-class care, every time. wellstar.org/neurocare

Reignite your vitality

experience renewed energy and vigor with hormone replacement therapy

Brought to you by – OlympusMD Wellness

Special Notice: OlympusMD Wellness was formerly known as Hydralive Therapy Milton.

In an era where men’s health and wellness are gaining visibility, the conversation surrounding hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has emerged as a groundbreaking solution for revitalizing vitality and reclaiming optimal well-being. At OlympusMD Wellness Milton, we offer a tailored hormone replacement therapy designed to unleash the full potential of men’s health.

Understanding Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormones play a pivotal role in regulating numerous bodily functions, including energy levels, muscle mass, libido, and mental clarity. However, as men age, natural hormone production

can decline, potentially leading to a range of symptoms such as fatigue, reduced stamina, and diminished cognitive sharpness. Hormone replacement therapy aims to restore hormonal balance, combating these effects and fostering a renewed sense of vigor, vigor, and vitality.

The OlympusMD Wellness Approach

At OlympusMD Wellness Milton, our hormone replacement therapy program is designed to address the unique needs and goals of each individual. By leveraging a comprehensive assessment process and advanced medical guidance, our experienced team tailors a personalized HRT plan, featuring bioidentical hormones to closely emulate the body’s natural hormone production.

Empowering Wellness and Vitality

The benefits of hormone replacement therapy extend far beyond surface-level enhancements, encompassing a holistic

rejuvenation of mind, body, and spirit. Clients who embark on this journey often report heightened energy levels, improved mental acuity, increased muscle strength, and a revitalized sense of wellbeing. These effects empower individuals to embrace life with renewed vitality and pursue their passions more fully.

The OlympusMD Wellness Difference

Hormone replacement therapy represents a gateway to rediscovering vitality, reinvigorating well-being, and unlocking the full potential of every individual. By embracing this approach to men’s wellness, individuals can embark on a path towards a life filled with energy, vitality and purpose.

At OlympusMD Wellness Milton, we understand hormone replacement therapy can be extremely beneficial for men in certain circumstances, but it’s not right for everyone. Before seeking treatment of any kind, it’s important to speak with your primary care physician about your symptoms and to determine whether or not you’re suffering from unnaturally low levels of testosterone. Then, call (470) 3594815 to schedule a free consultation. Hormone replacement therapy could be your path to better aging, renewed energy and improved mental wellbeing.

Nature for all

Brought to you by – Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to focus on our well-being and explore ways to care for our minds. Studies show that simply stepping into nature can offer a powerful boost to mental health, reducing stress, anxiety and even symptoms of depression.

Did you know there's a national park right in your backyard? The Chattahoochee National River Area (CRNRA) offers 66 miles of trails and 48 miles of Chattahoochee River to explore and connect with the calming power of nature. Whether it’s running at Cochran Shoals, paddling at Jones Bridge, fishing at Bowmans Island, or hiking at East Palisades, CRNRA has something to soothe every mind.

If you’re looking for a challenge, take part in our Hike CRNRA initiative! This program encourages hikers to explore each and every mile of trail within the park. It's a fantastic way to experience the park's beauty and diversity while getting some serious exercise - both great for your

mental and physical health.

Want to make a lasting impact?

Consider becoming a member of Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy (CNPC), the nonprofit partner of CRNRA. Your membership helps to preserve this natural treasure for future generations, ensuring everyone has access to the mental health benefits of spending time in your backyard national park. Learn more atchattahoocheeparks.org/join.

Join us in celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month with Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy! A little fresh air never hurt anyone - unless you’re allergic to springtime pollen. Take your antihistamines and we’ll see you in the park!

Thriving through seasons navigating emotions and goals at work

Brought to you by

– Jason Howard M.A., Summit Counseling Center

As winter blooms into spring, and spring turns to summer, the world awakens with vibrant energy and numerous possibilities. Beyond the chirping birds and blooming flowers lies a business landscape ripe for growth. As a former sales and marketing manager turned licensed mental health counselor, I understand the delicate dance between emotions and success in the workplace.

In this article, I offer a few practical reminders to nurture your mental and emotional well-being as you steer your team toward achieving quarterly goals:

Embrace the Emotional Tides:

• Initial Excitement: When setting quarterly goals, enthusiasm often propels us forward. But as weeks pass, emotions shift. Take a weekly pause to observe without judgment. Where has excitement transformed into stress? Validate frustrations—they hold valuable insights.

• Fuel from Overwhelm: Paradoxically, acknowledging difficult emotions—like frustration—can fuel motivation and perseverance. Validate frustrations and annoyances and let them be your allies.

Mindfulness Anchors Success:

• Stay Present: Mindfulness grounds you in the now. Instead of dwelling on past errors or distant outcomes, focus on the facts of the present moment. Catch your mind when it time travels for too long into the past or future and remember swift problem-solving and creative brainstorming thrive in the here and now.

• Celebrate Progress: Small victories matter. Acknowledge achievements—even if they fall short of the grand goal. These moments boost morale and resilience.

Adaptability as Your North Star:

• Guideposts, Not Shackles: Quarterly goals are guideposts, not rigid chains. Priorities shift, unexpected challenges arise. Adaptability is your superpower.

• Learn from Setbacks: When setbacks occur, view them as steppingstones. What will you learn? How will you adjust? Resilience blooms from setbacks.

Remember, emotions aren’t adversaries; they’re allies. As you navigate seasons and goals, honor both— the blooming and the setbacks. Let this quarter be one of growth, connection, and thriving.

If you are a business leader looking for tools to harness your emotions, to reduce the effects of stress on your creativity, and to improve productivity and leadership skills, reach out and see how one of our therapists can help.

Learn more or schedule an appointment by calling the front office at 678-893-5300 or visiting us at www. summitcounseling.org.

cosmetic dentistry for our valued patients and measure our success in our ability to always exceed your expectations.

PEXELS

DESTINEE HOOD/PROVIDED

Why Dr. Hood goes gray for May

Brought to you by – Dr. Destinee Hood, Roswell Dental Care

In May of 2020, Dr. Destinee Hood self-diagnosed a brain tumor. What first began as mild, infrequent, and short-lasting disturbances in her vision, developed into episodes occurring more and more frequently.

Destinee got connected with a neurologist who would see her as a new patient (during COVID it was exceptionally hard to be seen by doctors!). After an initial exam, the neurologist told her she had “hormonal migraines”.

After receiving this diagnosis, something just didn’t feel right. She ordered her own MRI scan, and, that night, got the news that she had a brain tumor the size of a lemon.

The following 6 months, she had brain surgery and radiation. Recovery was a slow process, and felt frustrating, despairing, and downright unfair at times. She experienced severe radiation fatigue as well as problems with memory.

One of the biggest hardships was having a 2-year-old who didn’t know why Mommy was tired or couldn’t pick him up.

Destinee is now 3 years out and feels back to normal. She is incredibly thankful to have had the support of her husband Zach, her family, her dental team at Roswell Dental Care, and her mentor Dr. Remaley. She receives a regular 6-month MRI scan to check that she is tumor-free!

Dr. Hood brings her journey and advocacy to her patients at her practice every day. She works hard to advocate for her patients and empower their voice to be heard.

•

• Crowns and Bridges in a few days

• Porcelain Veneers

• Tooth Colored Composite Fillings

• Teeth Whitening- no sensitivity

• Oral Cancer Screenings on all patients

• Teeth Cleanings, Digital X-Rays and Comprehensive Oral Exams on all new patients

• Cosmetic Smile Makeovers and Full Mouth Reconstruction (Complimentary Consultation)

• Occlusal Guards and Bite Adjustments

• Snore Guards and Sleep Apnea Analysis

• Digital X-Rays (90% less radiation) and Intra-Oral Photos

• Digitally Scanned Dental ImpressionsNo more gooey impressions!

• Electronic Records

• Accept and File all Major Insurances

• Implants

• Root Canals

• Extractions

Relaxing Atmosphere Our services include:

• Facial Aesthetic

David Remaley

Destinee Hood

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

New exhibit honors Korean heritage, art

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The juried exhibition at the Johns Creek Arts Center, on display until May 10, features a dynamic set of more than 40 works that express Korean heritage.

Art shown in “Hallyu: A Celebration of Korean Art” is the coming together of a dozen Korean and Korean American artists with different lenses from which they view a shared culture, across varying mediums and levels of melding the traditional and modern.

“Hallyu,” originally of Chinese origin, translates to “Korean Wave” which refers to the dramatic growth in popularity of Korean culture, through products like Korean drama films and K-pop.

Work from a mother-daughter duo, Kyungsook Lee and Sarah Park, captures the multigenerational element to the show, how the relationship to culture might adapt but doesn’t dissipate with time.

Lee’s art is more in the traditional style, calligraphy drawn in “muk” on large scrolls made of hanji — Korean traditional paper primarily made from mulberry trees. Hanji is known to absorb ink more easily than other types of paper, and it is a frequently seen medium throughout the show.

When layered and lacquered, hanji becomes leather-like. Minjin Kim, another artist in “Hallyu,” uses hanji to create sturdy furniture pieces.

Park, Lee’s daughter, uses hanji on canvas to create more contemporary works of art. One titled “New Beginning,” which won third place, features English and Korean characters written around a 3-D geometric shape of cut hanji, becoming darker in color toward its open center.

“Through the interplay of fragility and strength, softness and solidity, my art seeks to evoke a profound connection with the aspects of change and growth that resonate within us all,” Park writes in her artist statement.

Artist Mina Duffie uses hanji as well but to create life-like puppets. Her work, “Conggi Nori,” which won first place, sets the scene of children playing Gonggi — a popular Korean children’s game played with at least five grapesized pebbles, or gonggitdol.

Another of Duffie’s works, “Agricultural Band,” shows a scene of puppet performers made of hanji in the canon of “nongak,” a popular pastime in rural communities that combines traditional wind instruments, marches, dance, theater, acrobatics and percussion ensemble.

Althea Foster, curator for the

An

Duffie’s work, “Conggi Nori,” which won first place, sets the scene of children playing Gonggi — a popular Korean children’s game played with at least five grapesized pebbles, or gonggitdol. The piece, along with her other work, uses Korean traditional paper called hanji.

At right, two works created by Kyungsook Lee, featured in the Johns Creek Art Center’s “Hallyu: Celebration of Korean Art” juried exhibition, are on display until May 10. Lee’s ink calligraphy is done on Korean traditional paper called “hanji.” At left, a third-place winner and more modern styled work created by Lee’s daughter Sarah Park, also uses hanji.

exhibition, described another one of Duffie’s works — an ornate house made of hanji. Each of the doors took Duffie around 40 hours to create. The piece, named “Korean Traditional Tiled Roof House” features a “sarangchae,” or a section of a Korean traditional house of noblemen, generally reserved for men and guests.

In the accompanying description, Duffie writes of “Hanok,” or Korean architecture that considers the positioning of the house in relation to

its surroundings. She writes that the ideal home, under a principle called “baesanimsu,” will have mountains at the back and a river in the front.

Foster noted the great response from the Korean community to the exhibition and the diversity of Johns Creek. According to data provided on the City of Johns Creek website, 33 percent of the city’s residents are Asian and of those, 4 percent are Korean.

While the Korean art exhibition is the first of its kind, the Arts Center

has held exhibitions with the intention to represent diversity in artists and subject matter, such as the recurring Black History Month show and past shows named “De Colores,” composed of works from Latinx artists, and one named “Beyond Borders,” which had a more global focus.

“If you walk into a place and there is nothing like you, you probably will not come back,” Foster said. “Our ultimate goal is to make shows like this is a necessary, so that you just enter all shows because you know that your contribution is as valued as anyone else’s.”

She also hopes to bring Korean language art classes to the Arts Center, observing that there have been more young Korean students than adults because of the language barrier.

“It’s all a process,” Foster said.

Mina

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

acrylic painting by Sarah Duff, titled “The Food Connects Us,” is featured in the Johns Creek Art Center’s current exhibition focusing on Korean art.

Minjin Kim’s furniture pieces are created from hanji, or Korean traditional paper. When layered and lacquered, hanji becomes leather-like. An informational poster about hanji is hung on the wall.

Appen Press Club presents

Crabapple – Thurs. May 16, 4–5pm Open to the public and FREE to attend!

1850 Heritage Walk | Milton, GA 30004 sixbridgesbrewing.com | (678) 404-5095

TO RSVP

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

TO JOIN

To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level. Questions?

Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

and Recreation

improvements, bathrooms and equestrian

the May 3

greenspace improvements.

Milton officials hear updates on transportation projects, parks and recreation plans and sustainability initiatives during the May 3 City Council retreat in the Georgia North Fulton Chamber of Commerce’s office at Avalon. Officials spent a part of the afternoon looking at the Georgia Department of Transportation’s plans for the Ga. 9 corridor through the city.

Strategies:

Continued from Page 1

The start of the Ga. 9 widening project brought Milton resident Ike Yancy, who leads the Coalition Against Georgia Department of Transportation Havoc, to the City Council retreat.

Yancy, in emails to city and state officials, has cited a 2018 compromise between GDOT and his homeowners association to reduce sidewalk width and save natural landscaping buffers.

Yancy says the state walked back their agreement on a compromise when city officials signed off on its Ga. 9

plans years ago.

Councilmembers and city staff discussed reducing the width of the GDOT multi-use paths, saving some of the landscaping buffer and working with state legislatures to ensure the city is heard.

Other topics discussed at the retreat included trail connections, plans for Birmingham Park, the buildout of active parks, outdoor venues for recreation and green infrastructure policy.

For an updated account on the May 3 City Council retreat, visit https:// www.appenmedia.com/.

— Hayden Sumlin

PHOTOS BY HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Parks

Director Tom McKlveen, pictured far right, discusses trail

activities at Birmingham Park during

Milton City Council retreat. McKlveen also discussed active parks and

You can’t always get what you want

On July 4, 1969, The Rolling Stones Introduced their song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”. The song goes on to say, “But if you try sometime, well, you just might find, you get what you need.”

This can be said about many borrowers trying to negotiate closing cost fees with their lender. Closing cost fees are made up of numerous charges such as lender fees, credit reports, appraisals, attorney fees, lenders title, owners title, recording fees, Georgia intangible taxes, HOA initiation fees as well as HOA prorations and others.

I had a call the other day from a client who wanted me to lower the attorney fees and totally take out the lender’s title insurance fee (required by all lenders if the buyer/borrower

is getting a mortgage, and this fee is charged by the closing attorney).

Granted, most folks believe that the lender controls all these fees which is simply not the case. I explained to the borrower that the credit report as well as the attorney fees, title charges the state transfer/tax fees, are third-party charges that are simply “pass through” charges that we estimate for them on the initial loan estimate, and the actual charges will appear on their final closing statement.

Ironically, the borrower/buyer chooses most of these fees when they agree to a specific closing attorney in their contract, because the attorney determines those fees. The lender only can control their bank/broker charges such as origination fees, discount points, underwriting, document preparation and other fees shown in the origination section of the loan estimate.

My point is, when buyers/borrowers are shopping fees from lender to lender they should focus on the “origination”

charges shown on the loan estimate only…the other fees will be the same at closing, as the lender does not actually charge them. Despite the varying estimates from lender to lender for title, attorney and recording charges shown by different lenders, they will be the same at closing since the closing attorney chosen in the contract will produce those numbers.

So, who do you trust for the most accurate estimate?

Great question! Most buyers/ borrowers are recommended to a lender(s) from their Realtor and or a friend(s). Trust them, especially a Realtor who has done business with this lender and has seen a track record of delivering what they estimated and excellent customer service.

Getting estimates from out-of-state lenders can be dangerous if they do not close many loans in Georgia and are simply going by what some chart in their office tells them to estimate for those charges. Your Georgia lenders do this

every day and know what the estimate should show, not to mention they do not want to let down the real estate agent who referred you to them. These lenders also depend on repeat business from the agents, and they won’t get it if they don’t deliver excellent customer service, including getting the funds to close right.

Trust your referral. Purchasing a home, in most cases, is the largest individual purchase they will make in their life. This is not like purchasing a car or an ATV. However, getting a recommendation from a friend might not be so bad when buying these either.

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.

‘Luck of the Draw’ recounts story of Frank Murphy

Frank DeSales

Murphy was a member of the U.S. Army 8th Air Force, 100th Bombardment Group during World War II, which became known as The Bloody Hundredth.

On Saturday, May 18 at the WW II

Atlanta Round Table, Chloe Melas, NBC news entertainment correspondent, will participate in a panel discussion and speak about her father’s book, “Luck of the Draw: My Story of the Air War in Europe.”

Frank Murphy was born at St. Joseph’s Infirmary in Atlanta in 1921. He was attending Emory University when Pearl Harbor was attacked, Dece.7, 1941. Murphy had taken flying lessons while at Emory. He applied to be an Aviation Cadet, but a depth perception issue prevented him from becoming a pilot. However, his role as a navigator was essential in every mission.

The 100th Bomb Group was stationed at Thorpe-Abbotts air base in England. On Oct. 19, 1943, Murphy was on his 21st mission as navigator when the plane was shot down over Muenster, Germany. He was sprayed with shrapnel. Murphy parachuted into the field of a German farming family, hurting his

ankle as he landed. The family helped him to their home, then reported him to the police. Murphy was picked up and taken for interrogation by the Germans. They kept him in solitary confinement for six days. Then, he was sent by railroad boxcar to Stalag Luft III. Two men on board the plane died, the remainder were captured and taken to Stalag Luft III.

Murphy spent 19 months at the prison camp. He writes extensively about his experience in “Luck of the Draw,” including how the German guards were harsher following an attempted tunnel escape by 76 British soldiers.

After the war ended, Murphy returned to Emory to finish his degree. He attended law school and met his wife Ann. They married in 1949.

Frank Murphy self-published his WWII memoir in 2001. His daughter Elizabeth Murphy, a children’s book author, encouraged him to write down his experiences. Frank Murphy died in 2007 at the age of 85. His daughter, granddaughter and wife took on the task of bringing the book to the public by publishing it in 2023. Elizabeth Murphy and Chloe Melas wrote a new forward to the book.

The book was one of the sources for “Masters of the Air,” available on Apple TV+ and produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. The series portrays the events

of the 100th Bomb Group beginning in 1943. A quote from Tom Hanks is featured on the cover of the book. “In the pursuit of authenticity, of accurate history, and undeniable courage, no words matter more than, ‘I was there.’ Read ‘Luck of the Draw’ and the life of Frank Murphy and ponder this, how did those boys do such things?”

Although Murphy is a supporting character in “Masters of the Air,” he is featured prominently in the accompanying documentary “The Bloody Hundredth.” The documentary is narrated by Hanks and features video clips of participants. Several video clips of Murphy sharing his detailed history are featured. His full interview is available on the Atlanta History Center website at https://album. atlantahistorycenter.com/digital/collection/ VHPohr/id/596/rec/4.

Murphy was awarded the Purple Heart, Air Medal and U.S. Prisoner of War Medal for his service. He later served on the Board of Trustees of the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum in Pooler, Georgia just outside Savannah.

The May 18 WWII Round Table meeting will be at Dunwoody United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 1548 Mt. Vernon Road. Contact Bill LeCount at 404-886-7383 by May 12, 2024, to make a reservation. Meetings include lunch and social time, beginning at 10 a.m.

PROVIDED

“Luck of the Draw” is the memoir of WW II veteran Frank Murphy originally published in 2001, newly released in 2023 by his daughter and granddaughter. It will be the subject of the upcoming May 18th WWII Round Table in Dunwoody.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

D.C. AIKEN Guest Columnist dcaiken.com

Gardening to-dos during month of May

May has arrived, and the days are getting warmer and longer. It’s time to tidy up spring plants and start planting summer bedding plants. According to the 2023 USDA Hardiness Zone Map, Atlanta is in zones 8a and 8b.

This is a change from the 2012 USDA Hardiness Zone Map, which had Atlanta in zones 7b and 8a. This is due to climate change. There are 13 growing zones across the country, and each zone represents a 10-degree range of average temperatures in winter. Zone 8 is a warm zone with a long growing season, mild winters and hot summers.

So, what are some of the best plants that can be planted in the month of May in the Atlanta area?

Flowers can add color to your landscape and attract pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Some annuals include begonias, lantana, salvia, petunias, coleus, caladiums, vinca, impatiens, petunias, geraniums and zinnias. Perennials, which come back each year, could include coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, Shasta daisies, daylilies, Russian sage, coreopsis, blanket flower, phlox, dahlias, yarrow, hostas, asters and sedum.

May is a good time to divide and transplant perennials. It’s the perfect time to divide hostas as they come into growth. Iris usually begin blooming in April and May. The best time to divide them is about six weeks after blooming. Roses will begin blooming in May, and climbing roses and any rambling roses should be tied up and secured. Check for blackspot and treat with a systemic fungicide if necessary.

Flowering shrubs like hydrangeas, butterfly bushes, spirea and hibiscus can be planted now. There are two types of hibiscus, hardy and tropical. The hardy variety is a perennial, whereas the tropical variety is treated as an annual in zone 8. Rose of Sharon and Confederate Rose are both in the hibiscus family. Spring and early fall are the best time to plant these

About the Author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Marty Thomas, a Master Gardener since 2018 and a resident of Johns Creek. A former teacher, she continues working with children through substitute teaching, children’s art camps and children’s ministry. Marty is on the Board of Directors for the Johns Creek Beautification Committee and a member of the American Hydrangea Society. She leads a Bible study discussion group at her church and loves spending time with her grandchildren.

flowering shrubs.

Herbs such as rosemary, lavender, dill, basil, oregano, thyme and sage can be planted now. Pinch herbs back to promote bushy growth. Cilantro should be planted earlier because it likes cooler temperatures and will bolt in summer heat. What does it mean to bolt? Bolting is common in heat-sensitive plants such as green leafy vegetables like lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and bok choy. Bolting is a horticultural term for when a plant prematurely develops a flowering stalk in order to produce seeds. This is often called “going to seed.” May is a good time to harvest leafy green vegetables.

Some vegetables good to plant this time of year are squash, tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, okra, beans, corn, Brussels sprouts and onions. Have a trellis system in place for tomato plants and pole beans before they begin to sprawl. If seedlings were started indoors, now is a good time to start hardening off frost-tender plants. This means to put them outside for a short period of time each day for several days to get them used to outside temperatures. The ground is warm enough in May to sow seeds outdoors. Both vegetable and flower seeds

can be sowed at this time.

It is safe now to plant almost anything outdoors, including tender annuals like impatiens. Houseplants can even be moved outside to a shady spot for a summer vacation. Now is a good time to feed your potted plants using a balanced fertilizer. This means using a fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, meaning it has balanced proportions of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). Top dress permanent potted plants to refresh compost. Weed beds and borders and add more mulch if needed.

Fruits and fruit trees can be planted now. Some good fruit trees to plant are apple, cherry, apricot, fig, pear, peach, plum and citrus fruits. Trees such as southern magnolia, dogwood and crape myrtle can be planted now.

Now’s the time to look after your finished spring bulbs. Do not cut back the green foliage because it provides nutrients to what will become next year’s bulbs. Simply let the foliage die back, turn brown and then clean up. I sometimes tie up bundles of daffodil leaves and secure them with a rubber band until they dry up.

Mid-May is a great time to propagate cuttings for flowering shrubs like spirea,

lilac and viburnum. FYI, you can make more plants from cuttings than from division. Simply take a cutting with at least three buds on it, dip into rooting hormone powder and plant in a pot until big enough to transplant.

Keep an eye out for pests and insects in the garden. Aphids are common and can be sprayed off with a strong jet of water or use insecticidal soap. Ladybugs are good insects to have around because they eat aphids. Contact your local Extension office for help identifying and managing insect pests.

You might want to keep a gardening journal and list seeds sowed and plants you’ve planted. Take time out to enjoy your garden now that the warm weather has arrived!

Happy May gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/.

MARTY THOMAS Guest Columnist

MARTY THOMAS/PROVIDED

Top left: Homemade raised beds with fencing to keep out deer and also used for trellises.

Bottom left: Irises at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve Right: May roses

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

Notes from Ireland: Things that change your life

This time of year, hiking in the great outdoors usually means one of two things. If the day is unseasonably warm, it can mean you’re sweating before you’re even a quarter mile into your hike. All those layers that once seemed like such a good idea are now conspiring to cook your pitiful self, kind of like you’d steam an ear of corn. Ugh. Should you hike back to the car and shed a few, or should you (in the interest of the total hiking experience) suffer silently and soldier on?

On the other hand, if it’s one of those days when the thermometer unexpectedly drops, getting outside may mean you freeze. You know how it is. Your world is in the mid 80s one minute and in the mid 30s the next. Oh, how you wish for the sweaters! That’s just the way it is with springtime in the South.

But this temperature thing is not limited to north Georgia. Apparently, it is a worldwide phenomenon.

I am thinking about that as we walk down the main street in Kenmare, a lovely little town in southwestern Ireland. Now we step into to the woolen goods store in search of a couple of wool sweaters. She likes sweaters because they keep her warm in the winter, and I like sweaters because they keep me warm 11 months of the year. We figure that made-in-Ireland

A Kenmare, Ireland, shop touts an offer too good to pass up.

sweaters made from wool from Irish sheep would be ideal souvenirs, practically perfect in every way. I pick a green one. Hers is a subtle shade somewhere in the neighborhood of light blue. It matches her eyes. And I get gloves too. You may remember the gloves I picked up a few weeks ago, high-tech insulated gloves with no fingertips on the index finger and thumb. Perfect fishing gloves! But (yep) I left those in Georgia. We’re going fishing tomorrow, and I need gloves to keep my hands warm, and what should I find in that very same store but hand-knitted fingertip-less wool gloves? And they fit.

I have to have a pair, and so I add them to the pile.

We pay for the sweaters and the gloves and step back into the clear, clean light of the Irish afternoon. The day is on the cool side. I put my hands in my jacket pockets. That helps a little. I think of digging my new gloves out of the bag to see if that will help more –

And then I see it: a bold sign proclaiming hot chocolate. But not just any hot chocolate.

“Life-changing hot chocolate!” I say,

reading the sign and the message it proclaims in vivid white letters against a chalkboard-gray background. An arrow points the way to the door, which is framed by electric orange-painted trim. Who am I to say no to something like that?

“How about it?” I ask.

She looks at me, hesitates an instant, and says, “Sure.”

I open the door for her, and we step into a tiny chocolate shop. There are packages of fudge and bars of flavored chocolate and confections behind glass by the check-out. I linger over some of chocolate bars. Have you ever tried orange chocolate? You should.

But what’s really on my mind is the kind of chocolate that comes in a cup, the kind of chocolate designed for sipping. Hot chocolate.

Life-changing hot chocolate!

There’s a tiny, little kitchen behind the counter, and the shop’s proprietor is seated there near a small stove. I see a pot atop one of the burners.

“Is this the place for life-changing hot chocolate?” I ask.

The proprietor looks up and says, “Well, yes it is.”

I have to ask.

“Does it change your life for the better?”

The proprietor looks directly at me then and says, “What? Oh. Well, It might.”

“We will have one then!” I say. “She and I will share it!” For one can never have too much betterness in one’s life, can one?

The proprietor turns to fixing our drink. A moment later it’s ready. I take a

sip. It’s hot and warming and sweet and smooth.

“Mmmm!” I say.

She takes a sip too.

“Not bad,” she says.

“How is your chocolate?” the proprietor asks.

“It is good,” I say. “And warm. But I still wonder what changes to expect?”

The proprietor looks at me quizzically.

“You know,” I say. “When the hot chocolate changes my life. Like on the sign.”

“Oh, that bloody sign,” says the proprietor. “It’s been there for years. I hate that sign!”

We sip some more hot chocolate, she and I do, and then step back through the door and onto the street. The warm drink knocks the edge off the cool afternoon air, and we stroll slowly down the line of shops back towards our car.

“Do you feel any changes?” I ask her. “You know, from the life-changing hot chocolate.”

“Not yet,” she replies. “But it was very good.”

And she adds:

“I don’t think I want any changes.” She leans into me a little. “I don’t think I want anything to change.”

We visit another shop or two, looking, perusing, savoring the day.

She buys some wool yarn. It is the color of my new sweater.

“I will crochet you a scarf,” she says. “To match.”

And she adds, “You do like scarves, you know.”

I do.

Pick your poison, a cozy mystery or a thriller

“Death and the Lit Chick” by G. M. Malliet

This is book two in the author’s St. Just series, and I found it even more enjoyable than the first. The bonus is that it can easily be read as a standalone. A writers conference in Scotland is the setting, and, of course, a writer is the murder victim.

The references to the world of writing and publishing made it especially enjoyable for me as an author, but I think avid readers will find them amusing as well. Who hasn’t read a romance novel and heard the genre dissed as chick lit or light fare, not worth reading? The same question could be asked about cozy mysteries.

The sprinkling of snarky remarks provides a humorous touch to the book. Yes, they’re over the top, but I suspect there’s a kernel of truth in the depiction of backbiting among authors, editors, and agents. Fortu-

nately, I haven’t experienced that behavior in my author career. Toss in a castle where the attendees are staying and a drawbridge that is mysteriously stuck in the up position, and you have the makings of an Agatha Christie novel. No, DCI St. Just is not Poirot, but neither is he a bumbling member of the constabulary. Oh! Did I mention that the authors all write mysteries? Who better to commit murder?

“Everybody Knows” by Jordan Harper

This book is a shift from my reading fare of late. I’m most often found reading British

mysteries — usually cozies and police procedurals. From time to time, I branch out to a title I find reviewed in the local paper or the Wall Street Journal. Jordan Harper’s latest novel is billed as a murder thriller and praised by the likes of authors Michael Connelly, Megan Abbott, and S.A. Cosby.

Set in Los Angeles, its protagonist is a black bag publicist. I had no idea what that was until I read this book, but it makes sense that people like her exist. I have no doubt that crisis PR firms are in the business of making the messes of the rich and powerful disappear. With enough money and enough power, the rich and famous can have their debauchery and depravity managed and whitewashed.

As I read of Mae Pruett’s work for the firm, I could easily put celebrity names to some of the scenarios she handles. Some-

times, real life situations are referenced, like the discovery of John Belushi dead of an overdose. It only takes a small leap to imagine what would have happened if he’d been found in time to save his life. With someone like Mae working her magic, we might never have known he overdosed.

If you’re looking for a book to keep you up late at night, a book to keep you guessing until the end, this one’s a keeper.

Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries on Amazon or locally at The Enchanted Forest, Bookmiser, Tall Tales, and Johns Creek Books. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/KathyManosPennAuthor/.

THE INK PENN

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

STEVE HUDSON

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Public Hearings/Meetings: Community Zoning Information Meeting (CZIM)

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Locations: Milton City Hall - Council Chambers

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