Milton Herald - September 12, 2024

Milton continues path to Big Creek Greenway ► PAGE 4

Milton, Fulton County Schools tangle over threats

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Milton and Fulton County Schools issued a joint statement around 4 p.m. Sept. 6 declaring the public safety partnerships between the city and school district to protect students.

The joint statement is in sharp contrast to a fiery email Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison sent to Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney that morning.

Jamison laid into Fulton County Schools expressing his “deep concerns” about the district’s

response to threats of violence the school system learned about relating to at least one Milton school Sept. 5.

Appen Media obtained the mayor’s email to Looney after requesting explanations for rumors about threats made to local public schools in Milton, two days after a fatal shooting incident at Apalachee High School in Winder that killed four people. Jamison complained that city officials, including police, were not made aware of the threats.

Public educational institutions in Milton fall under the umbrella of Fulton County Schools.

A day after the fatal shooting,

Jamison said there was “a significant lapse in safety protocols … involving a threat of violence … made against students and faculty at one of the schools in Milton.”

Sociologists have identified the phenomenon of mass shooting contagion, which can result in copycat events after extensive media coverage of the initial tragedy.

“This lapse in public safety is unacceptable,” Jamison wrote. “It is my understanding that the Milton Police Department was not informed of this threat in a timely manner, which is alarming given the gravity of such situations and the recent

tragedy in Winder.”

It is not clear what the specific threats entailed or if threats were made to more than one school in the city.

“Immediate communication between the school system and local law enforcement is not just expected,” Jamison wrote. “It is absolutely essential for the safety of our children.”

The day of the mass shooting, Fulton County Schools and other Metro Atlanta school districts sent out an email to parents and

See WINDER, Page 27

Girl Scout’s initiative aids special needs teens

MILTON, Ga. — On her way to earning the highest honor in Girl Scouts, King’s Ridge Christian School junior Nora Michaelis created a mentoring program for teens with Down syndrome — bEquals.

Less than 4 percent of eligible candidates in Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta earn the Gold Award annually, according to data from a local Johns Creek-based chapter.

Michaelis is a member of Troop 14494 within Johns Creek’s Two Bridges Service

Unit, where her mother serves as troop leader. Recently, the family moved to Milton.

Michaelis earned her Gold Award at the end of August. Her project involved a series of opportunities throughout the school year for teens with Down syndrome to partner with neurotypical teens to improve social skills and communication.

During her mentoring program at GiGi’s Playhouse

See MICHAELIS, Page 27

KERI MICHAELIS/PROVIDED

From left, GiGi’s Playhouse Atlanta participant Cortni and Nora Michaelis, Troop 14494 Girl Scout who earned the prestigious Gold Award, smile and hug during a mentoring program for teens with Down syndrome — bEquals. Michaelis created the nonprofit program as a part of her Gold Award project.

NEWS TIPS

770-442-3278

AppenMedia.com

319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009

HANS APPEN Publisher RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus CONTACT

Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.

ADVERTISING

For information about advertising in the Milton Herald or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@ appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

CIRCULATION

To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

POLICE BLOTTER

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Dog owner says sitter stole items from home

MILTON, Ga. — A Milton woman reported to police Aug. 30 that up to $20,000 in valuables went missing from her home after she hired someone to watch over her dogs while she was away.

Police identified the sitter, a 61-year-old Alpharetta woman, as a suspect.

The dogs’ owner told police a person identifying himself as the sitter’s son contacted her during the three days the sitter was expected to watch her dogs. She told police the son said his mother had an “emergency” and that he would be taking over.

The son’s name could not be found under the number he used when contacting the dogs’ owner, according to the incident report.

The dogs’ owner said she noticed that items, like purses, appeared to be missing, according to the report. She estimated the value of the items at around $15,000 to $20,000.

A detective with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office notified the woman that the suspect had been arrested and that she may have some of the items listed as missing, the report says.

Police said the woman believed the suspect’s arrest may have been the “emergency” her son contacted her about.

The woman said she was informed that the suspect may be connected to another Milton incident, the report says.

She also told police she discovered that the suspect “left some gifts for her,” including a Louis Vuitton

bracelet suspected to be fake, according to the report. She showed them to police in case they were determined to have been stolen.

Woman reports scam over power account

MILTON, Ga. — A Johns Creek woman reported to police Aug. 31 that she transferred nearly $600 in cash to someone claiming to be with Georgia Power at a Walmart in Milton.

The woman, who uses Sawnee EMC, told police she was advised that her power would be shut off if she did not pay her balance and that she was provided with a correct account number, leading her to believe the scammer. She also told Sawnee EMC was part of Georgia Power, which they are not.

After the unidentified suspect sent over a barcode, the woman went to Walmart off Windward Parkway and transferred $595, the report says. When the suspect asked for the woman’s Social Security number, the woman contacted police, realizing she had been scammed.

Using a government database, police said they traced one number the suspect used to the Georgia Power fraud protection department and another to a name with several associated numbers.

Officer arrests man for meth possession

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested a 46-year-old Atlanta man Aug. 28 after finding him with methamphetamine at the Exxon gas station off Holcomb Bridge Road.

The officer said he saw a male, who was intermittently losing consciousness, sitting on a wall next to the gas station.

When someone is “on the nod,” the officer said it can be a sign of opiate use.

The officer said the man admitted to having used fentanyl earlier in the day

but denied possession of any narcotics.

When the officer found a bag of white crystals in his pocket, the man said he forgot he had it on him.

The officer said his field tests and the suspect confirmed the substance was methamphetamine.

After also finding drug paraphernalia, the officer arrested the suspect and obtained warrants for possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and drug-related objects.

The officer transported the suspect to North Fulton County Jail and submitted the narcotics for state testing.

Possible burglary suspect evades police pursuit

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are looking for a man suspected of burglary after a pursuit of the suspect Aug. 28 turned up a bag of tools commonly used for forced-entry crimes.

Officers said they were conducting a routine patrol around 3 a.m. at Old Dogwood and Old Holcomb Bridge roads, a high crime area of the city.

One officer said he saw a Hispanic male wearing a long yellow sleeved shirt, blue jeans, brown boots and a black backpack riding a bicycle out of the Economy Hotel parking lot.

Because the man rode through stop signs without stopping and accelerated when the officers pulled behind him, they activated the patrol car’s emergency lights.

Officers said the suspect then turned north on a path off Old Holcomb Bridge Road and headed toward the Roswell Creek community.

An officer said he lost sight of the suspect shortly after entering the apartment complex. He said he found the suspect’s bike and backpack, containing wire cutters, screwdrivers and other tools commonly used for breaking and entering.

After searching the surrounding area, officers said they could not locate the suspect.

THE PICTURE FRAMER

Milton paves way for 2025 budget

City advances on path to Big Creek Greenway

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — The Milton City Council held the first of two public hearings Sept. 4 for the approval of the 2025 budget.

Milton Historical Society President Jeff Dufresne said his group will have their fingers crossed for approval of a $220,000 funding request to stabilize the Chadwick-McConnell House.

Other Milton residents have their eyes on other items like the proposed athletic complex on Deerfield Parkway.

In preparation for the city’s next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, officials updated the current budget to give themselves a better picture of what they have to work with for 2025.

Overall, the adjusted 2024 budget is expected to exceed anticipated expenses by about $148,000.

The adjustments add close to $869,000 in revenue but $1 million in overages.

Amended expenditures show higher

than anticipated legal fees, a leveling out of employee benefits across city departments and more transfers from the general fund to capital projects like the Deerfield Implementation Plan and land acquisition for the future athletic complex.

A summary of the 2025 budget’s general fund shows revenues increasing $1.1 million and expenditures decreasing $2.1 million. The result is an anticipated increase to the ending fund balance in fiscal year 2025.

Council members will hold a final public hearing and vote to approve the proposed 2025 budget Sept. 16.

The city also moved forward with plans to expand multi-use trails in the city’s western commercial area to its border with Alpharetta and Forsyth County. The idea is to link Milton’s developing multi-use path system with the Big Creek Greenway, a trail system running from Roswell’s Big Creek Park north through Alpharetta and into Forsyth County.

Milton’s connection to the Big Creek Greenway runs from Bethany Bend down Cogburn and Webb roads to Morris and McGinnis Ferry roads. The city says the multi-use paths connecting

Cambridge High School to the Greenway promote pedestrian and cyclist safety and the goals of the Deerfield Implementation Plan.

Once the sidepath reaches McGinnis Ferry Road, the city says it will tie into the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Ga. 400 interchange project, which features a trail connection to the Big Creek Greenway.

As a part of the project, the City Council approved resolutions allowing the condemnation of four properties. Condemnations allow the city to consider the use of eminent domain if property owners and the government do not reach mutually agreeable terms.

City staff said Milton has made reasonable offers to property owners for acquisition of right-of-way and temporary easements needed to complete the path project, but negotiations with some continue.

The appraised value of the four acquisitions totals just under $300,000.

Engineering Project Manager Rob Dell-Ross said the condemnations are necessary to advance the project forward and do not mean negotiations with property owners have ceased.

In fact, Dell-Ross said the city reached an agreement on price with two of the property owners since staff prepared the condemnation resolution.

Before councilmembers opened

budget discussions, the mother of a student at Hopewell Middle School advocated for city investment in pedestrian safety around the campus.

Hopewell Middle School is at Cogburn and Webb roads along the proposed route of the city’s Big Creek Greenway Connection.

Mayor Peyton Jamison directed City Manager Steve Krokoff to find a solution at the commercial intersection.

Another resident and Trails Advisory Board member Jon Lundstedt said he’s apparently kicked a hornet’s nest — the Hopewell Youth Association’s baseball teams.

“We have 20 acres, so our responsibility as a city and leaders is to maximize and optimize [that space],” Lundstedt said. “Baseball plays on the rectangles at Bell [Memorial Park], it’s a fact, we’ve all seen it.”

Lundstedt, whose daughter plays and teaches lacrosse, said he advocates for more rectangles or multi-purpose fields at the future Deerfield athletic complex.

After providing examples of how such complexes are designed, Lundstedt said he does not want to get rid of proposed baseball fields at the athletic complex.

“Repurpose two of the fields [and] put them on a rectangle,” he said. “You will still have the four baseball fields and dedicated baseball fields, but you’ll add rectangles.”

CITY OF MILTON/PROVIDED

A map shows plans for Milton’s Big Creek Greenway Connection, extending from Cambridge High School to McGinnis Ferry Road and Ga. 400 at the Forsyth County and Alpharetta border. The City Council approved condemnations Sept. 4 of four properties along the corridor needed to complete the path system.

AUTUMN SHINDIG

AMBER PERRY/APPEN

Johns Creek High School football players shake hands with members of the Johns Creek Veterans Association before the kick-off of the Veterans Memorial Cup Aug. 30 at The Fortress, Centennial High School’s stadium. The special event, a nonconference match between Johns Creek and Centennial high schools that features the colors and the national anthem, is an annual tradition that began in 2017.

High school football teams mark tradition with veterans

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Centennial and Johns Creek high school football teams matched up Aug. 30, continuing a tradition that began in 2017 to honor veterans.

The Veterans Memorial Cup, a nonconference game, was held at Centennial’s home stadium, “The Fortress.” It ended in a 17-13 win for the Knights.

Before kick-off, players from both teams shook hands with members of the Johns Creek Veterans Association on the 50-yard line, and the announcer provided the crowd with a brief history of the event.

In its first year, the Veterans Memorial Cup was held at the Gladiator’s stadium where the Knights pulled off a “come-from-behindvictory” in the fourth quarter. Because a significant portion of Centennial’s students are from Johns Creek, the announcer said there’s a natural rivalry.

“While the competition on the field would be fierce, the community and spirit of honoring our local veterans will always be at the forefront,” the announcer said.

The evening featured a presentation of the colors by members of the Johns Creek Veterans Association and two riflemen from Centennial’s Junior ROTC as well as a speech from Roger Wise, member of the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame.

“We must never forget that when you see a veteran, you walk up to them and shake their hand, and look them eyeball to eyeball and thank them for their service to our country,” Wise told

the sea of students sporting camo print for the special event. “... Remembering freedom and service is not free. Someone has to pay for it.”

The display ended with the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem, performed by Centennial’s band.

In an interview, Wise said the group will continue the tradition for years to come.

“It does a lot for the high school kids, and it also does a lot for the veterans,” he said.

Trey Henson, athletic director at Centennial High School, helped coordinate the event. He told Appen Media the purpose is for students to understand that they can contribute to something bigger than themselves, like veterans who have served the country, but on a smaller scale.

Henson said it’s also an opportunity for students to show gratitude.

“...Also thanking those guys for allowing them to live the life that they live and play the sport that they love to play,” he said.

While the Veterans Memorial Cup has been on a hiatus since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Henson said there had also been little flexibility to allow for the match considering the way the regions had been aligned.

But, because of new classifications and a smaller region size, Henson said Centennial’s schedule has opened to allow the team to play its rivals, like Riverwood International Charter School and Chattahoochee High School.

“The big thing was to get those back for A: for the kids, B: for the community and C: they’re just good atmospheres,” Henson said. “It's a good situation for our feeder programs and everything like that.”

MEDIA

When you can have an effect, a positive effect, on other people — I think that’s what our purpose as humans is in life, is to take care of each other.

LYNN STALLINGS, founder/executive producer, Atlanta Workshop Players

8 | Milton Herald | September 12, 2024

Family hosts safe space to explore self, develop talent for the performing arts

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Lynn Stallings, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Atlanta Workshop Players, said her work involves teaching people to love.

The performing arts organization provides weekly classes in improv, acting essentials and on-camera acting, allowing clients to perform recorded scenes in a living room, kitchen or school. It also boasts a movie musical company, so students can sing, dance and act to original music for the big screen and earn IMDB credits.

“When you can have an effect, a positive effect, on other people — I think that’s what our purpose as humans is in life, is to take care of each other,” Lynn said. “If you can teach people to hate, you can certainly teach people to love, and that’s what we do.”

Sitting across from her husband Don Stallings and daughter Ashlyn Stallings in the studio’s Blackbox Theatre off Holcomb Bridge Road, Lynn provided the origin story of the Atlanta Workshop Players. The theater, an intimate setting, hosts improv comedy nights on Saturdays.

It was 1981, and while teaching acting classes, Lynn saw a void in venues where her students could perform. With a motto of “Kids Changing the World One Audience at a Time,” she founded the performing arts company and began touring schools. The young actors would share “something of importance to say,” or PSAs on social issues they brainstormed themselves, through original musicals.

“We were the first company that I know of that paid their kids, the performing kids, for their tour shows,” Lynn said.

The group toured for decades, producing one of Lynn’s favorite projects called “Masquerade” which is being developed into a movie. It’s about bullying.

Lynn, Don and Ashlyn spent a week in Florida to write the screenplay, with Don doing a lot of pacing. A former student of the nonprofit is slated as the film’s composer.

“It’s very entertaining and very funny and also very powerful, and it just grabs your heart,” Lynn said.

Family legacy

Like her own daughter, Lynn entered the industry at a young age, touring across the country with her mother, a dancer who had a performing arts company. Lynn’s first role, at age 9, was

in “Alice in Wonderland.”

But, she began to fall in love with behind-the-scenes work, eventually becoming a talent manager, a 24/7 job that ended once Ashlyn was born. Lynn said she has retained all the connections she found through her work, like casting directors and agents.

“We’re still connecting people to them and opening doors for our actors,” she said.

Lynn said hundreds of the nonprofit’s students have become professionals.

The walls of Studio 13 are covered in posters of movies and shows former students had performed in. A comprehensive set of projects are detailed in a poster by the door, including “Where the Crawdads Sing.” Don played a kindly father in that one, a relief for him.

“I’m usually squirrely bad guys,” said Don, also a standup comedian. “It was

See WORKSHOP, Page 9

PHOTOS BY: AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Lynn Stallings, left, her husband Don and daughter Ashlyn ham it up at their performing arts nonprofit Atlanta Workshop Players in Roswell. Lynn founded the company in 1981.

The Atlanta Workshop Players’ Blackbox Theatre is an intimate space that hosts improv comedy nights every Saturday.

BUSINESSPOSTS

Workshop:

Continued from Page 8

nice to actually be — I was like, ‘Oh, a loving father who likes opera and poetry. Wow.’”

Don, who has been with the nonprofit almost the whole time, 42 out of the 43 years, met Lynn while auditioning for a show she was directing. They fell in love over “Ms. Pac-Man” during their breaks at a pizza restaurant.

Packaging dreams

During a tour of the 3,200-squarefoot studio, the trio lifted the curtain on a sound booth where clients can record “self-tapes,” or audition videos for movies, TV shows or commercials. That’s most auditions nowadays, though call-backs are either in person or on Zoom.

Lynn, who walked around barefoot donning a long, flowy shawl, said the nonprofit also redesigns resumes. Don takes the headshots, and he spent time that day helping a student with hers on his Canon.

“We help package people so that they can follow their dreams,” Lynn said.

The studio’s floors are whimsical, sort of like the family whose lives are spent pulling at others’ creativity, covered in splattered paint.

For more information on Atlanta Workshop Players, visit https:// www.atlantaworkshopplayers.com.

The on-camera room, set up this day for a screening, features a couch and other props like lockers, which also act as a soundproofing device. That night, they were showing “English Teacher,” a newly released TV show featuring Scarlette Amber Hernandez, a student at the Atlanta Workshop Players.

The nonprofit will have another screening soon for a show called “Teacup,” set to premiere on Peacock in October. Lynn and Don worked as on-set acting coaches.

Excited to get up and go to work every day, Lynn said it’s a privilege to spend time with supportive, creative people.

“It is an environment that is safe and exciting and creative all at the same time, and people lift each other up,” she said.

Ashlyn, a professional actress who also leads classes, recently introduced “Voice and Movement,” intended to help clients tell stories through physicality. Another class was recently created for a 13-yearold with a knack for screenwriting, set to join the nonprofit’s professional courses. Lynn called her a “prodigy.”

“I think AWP is the space with that kind of safety because of who you are, too,” Ashlyn told her mother.

SEPTEMBER

21 & 22

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

The Atlanta Workshop Players’ 3,200-square-foot studio space called Studio 13 is located off Holcomb Bridge Road.

Miss being outside? Atlanta allergies persist and fall brings Ragweed

Brought to you by – Comprehensive

What are allergies?

Internal Medicine

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.

Alpharetta: (678) 205-9004

3180 North Point Pkwy | Suite 303 | Alpharetta, GA - 30005

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.

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.

Alexis obtained her nursing degree from Georgia College & State University and worked as a registered nurse at Emory University Hospital for over 4 years, where she specialized in Internal Medicine. She then earned her Master of Science from Kennesaw State University in their Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program. Alexis is a board certified FNP through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). She prides herself in forming lasting relationships with her patients, while also providing compassionate and individualized care. She has a special interest in the treatment of allergies, sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, and asthma.

Jeffrey Obiora, M.D.

Alexis Buelow, MSN, APRN, FNP-C.

Arezou Fatemi, M.D.

Sumera Pervaiz, M.D.

Sudeshna Nandi M.D.

Anju Bhushan, M.D.

Laurae Carpenetti, M.D.

Ryan Bozof, M.D.

Petula Gunn, APRN

Carol Hector, M.D.

Raphael Lopez, M.D.

Shima Mansouri, P.A.-C

Jacqueline

Pearson, M.D., M.S.

Knotted DNA

– Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

DNA is more knotted than you’d think. DNA can literally develop knots like a rope develops knots. DNA can also form knots like a string forms knots when you over-twist it. But those are not the type of knot we are focusing on in this article. Instead, a newly mapped type of “knot” called an i-motif turns out to be extremely common in the human genome. And i-motifs might prove to be the key to the development of new anti-cancer drugs.

When most of us picture DNA, we envision a beautiful spiraling structure consisting of two endlessly twisting strands. This structure is called a “double helix” and was first famously described as the structure of DNA by Watson and Crick in 1953. However, ten years later, Dr. Karst Hoogsteen described a DNA structure that did not exhibit the classic DNA shape.

Dr. Hoogsteen observed that DNA base pairs could bind together in a manner that would not cause DNA to assume its more linear, double helical shape. Instead, Hoogsteen base pairing causes DNA strands to assume strange shapes including three and four stranded structures called triplexes and quadruplexes that can fold back upon themselves. These structures were predicted in the 1960s but their biological relevance is only now being identified and explored.

One of the structures that exhibits Hoogsteen base pairing is called an “i-motif. I-motifs look like knots, and they can behave like knots too. Like a knot in a shoelace, i-motifs can trip up our cell’s machinery and keep genes from being turned “on.” I-motifs are concentrated in parts of our genes that control growth. As you might predict, genes that control growth are also extremely important in the development of cancer.

I-Motifs’ importance in cancer may be tremendous. They turn out to be concentrated in certain cancercausing genes that have so far been very difficult to treat. One example is the cancer gene c-myc . Melanomas that metastasize are more likely to have extra copies of the c-myc gene. Approximately 70% of uveal melanomas (melanoma of the pigmented inner layer of the eyeball) have extra copies of this gene.

To target a bad gene, we usually target the protein that the gene makes because the protein is like the physical object one makes from an instruction manual whereas the DNA is the manual itself. It’s easier to spot an apple pie than it is a page of text containing the recipe for an apple pie.

Unfortunately, the c-myc protein is so hard to target with drugs that an article in The Lancet Discovery Science even called the gene “undruggable.” In contrast, an “easy” drug target is a cancercausing protein that is relatively ordered, stable and has a predictably consistent shape such that a medication or antibody can be relied upon to nearly always bind to the cancer-causing protein and inactivate it.

An example of an “easy” target is the kinase class of proteins which often have a predictable pocket called the “active site” responsible for the protein’s activity. Medicines that fit this pocket like a key to a lock have helped us treat many cancers in which kinases are culprits. In contrast, c-myc is believed to be “disordered” or “transiently ordered” with regions that only briefly take on the shape needed for the protein to perform its activity. C-myc’s unstable shape and disorder make it difficult to design a drug that can always recognize and bind it.

The c-myc protein may be hard to target, but the i-motifs at the beginning of c-myc’s DNA sequence could be a sitting duck. Small molecules that target i-motifs have already been developed. If these molecules are found to be specific enough to target cancer cells, then i-motifs may be a way of zeroing in on c-myc DNA at a time when we cannot target the c-myc protein itself. In essence, discovering knots in DNA is like discovering that cookbooks have thick stickers before critical passages of text. We can quicky spot a sticker. We can also easily eliminate books that are so thick with stickers that they can’t even be closed. It might be a way to close the book on cancer.

I still like to imagine DNA as a beautiful spiral staircase of two endlessly winding coils of DNA, but biology is always messier than we imagine. And so often, it’s in the mess that we find new opportunities. DNA is knotty, and from those knots we may unravel a cure.

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

Experience the future of spine surgery at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center

Brought to you by - Dr. Basheer Shakir and Dr. Benjamin Zussman, neurosurgeons at Wellstar

At Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, we’re redefining spine surgery with cuttingedge technology and unparalleled expertise. Our neurosurgeons, Dr. Basheer Shakir, Dr. Benjamin Zussman and Dr. Arthur Grigorian, are leading the charge in providing minimally invasive procedures that prioritize patient comfort, reduce recovery times and deliver exceptional outcomes.

Advanced minimally invasive techniques

One of the groundbreaking procedures offered at Wellstar North Fulton is the minimally invasive lateral

lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF). Unlike traditional spinal fusion surgeries, LLIF allows access to the spine from the side of the body, bypassing major muscles and tissues. This approach minimizes postoperative pain and significantly shortens recovery times. LLIF is particularly effective for conditions like degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis and scoliosis.

Another innovative technique available at our medical center is the minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). This advanced version of the traditional TLIF procedure involves smaller incisions and less muscle disruption, leading to reduced pain and a quicker return to normal activities. MIS-TLIF is an ideal solution for patients suffering from spinal instability and degenerative disc disease.

Revolutionary artificial disc replacement

For younger, more active patients seeking relief from spinal pain without sacrificing mobility, our artificial disc replacement offers a promising alternative to traditional fusion surgery.

This procedure preserves spinal flexibility and reduces the need for future operations, allowing patients to maintain their active lifestyles with minimal disruption.

Minimally invasive decompression surgery

Not every spinal condition requires implants. For patients with stenosis or a pinched nerve, our minimally invasive decompression surgery offers a highly effective solution. Through a tiny incision, our surgeons can remove bone or tissue compressing spinal nerves, resulting in minimal scarring, reduced pain and a swift recovery. This procedure is particularly beneficial for those looking to preserve flexibility and range of motion.

Cutting-edge technology: image-guided navigation systems

Our commitment to excellence is further demonstrated through our use of image-guided navigation systems. These advanced systems provide real-time, 3D visualization of a patient’s anatomy during surgery, enhancing surgical

precision and significantly improving patient outcomes.

Spinal cord stimulation

For patients who continue to have pain after conventional spinal surgery procedures or without a surgical solution, spinal cord stimulation can provide life-changing control and improvement of pain. We offer spinal cord stimulator trials, as well as spinal cord stimulator implantation, to relieve chronic pain.

Take the next step toward

relief

At Wellstar North Fulton, we are dedicated to providing the highest level of care to our community. If you’re struggling with chronic back pain or a complex spinal condition, our expert neurosurgeons are here to help. With a patient-centered approach and personalized care plans, we ensure that each patient receives the treatment best suited to their individual needs.

Don’t let spinal issues hold you back. Schedule an appointment today by calling (770) 664-9600 or visit wellstar.org/ neurocare to learn more about our state-ofthe-art spine surgery services.

PEXELS

SHAKIR

Moving forward with healthy aging

We all know the future holds changes in our lives as we age. This September is Healthy Aging month, a time to take stock of where we are and make lifestyle improvements to follow our passions in life and maintain as much independence as possible.

just

about

a

with

The key to healthy aging is healthy living. By 2030, 1 in every 6 Americans will be over 65. This is leading to a new ways to think about the aging process. Assessing changes and taking steps now to improve your physical and mental fitness lets you take charge of your well-being. Here are some actions to consider.

Be proactive about regular checkups and tests. Preventive tests can catch changes early and help keep issues in check. This includes your vision and dental appointments. Research shows the increasing impact vision deterioration and dental problems can have on your entire body. Whether it’s a vision issue that increases your fall risk or periodontal disease that can have dietary and systemic impacts, consistent care leads to a better long term result.

Keep moving! Exercise is great as we age, while inactivity accelerates the aging process. Make sure your doctor is on board with any new exercise or dietary program. It’s so important to understand the role exercise and nutrition plays in staying strong.

Boost your mental health and learn something new. New skills can improve cognitive abilities, expand your social connections and open avenues for social activities and interactions. Exercise, diet, proactive health care, social activi-

ties and learning can all contribute to a better sleep cycle and help you get a good night’s sleep. It may get harder to fall and stay asleep as you get older but we all still need seven to nine hours each night.

Healthy aging means it’s also important to understand the signals that some assistance is necessary. ADLs, or activities of daily living, are those activities that you don't think much about until you or your older loved one has trouble with them. These are activities like walking safely around the house, eating nutritious meals, being able to perform basic grooming, bathing, dressing, toileting and move safely from one space to another.

Other signals are more subtle and may not occur daily. Can your older loved one do the laundry, handle basic house cleaning, meal preparation and grocery shopping, pay their bills, drive or take public transportation? Do they know when to take their pills or what to do in an emergency?

A Home Helpers caregiver can assist with all personal care, help around the house, accompany you on doctor’s visits and provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc. With a heart centered approach and positive spirit, they can also help pursue a hobby, enjoy outings and community activities, and build relationships that make for a longer and better life in the comfort of home.

We have a team with depth and skill that can provide the care you need from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 care. For a free consultation, please call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs at (770) 681-0323.

Amazing tooth replacements

Dr. Bradley Hepler, Atlanta Center for Dental Health

Dental Implants are popular and effective for individuals who have lost one or more teeth. They offer several advantages and can significantly improve a person’s oral health, appearance, and quality of life. Here are the reasons that so many people are choosing to have dental implants:

1. Replacement of missing teeth: Dental Implants are used to replace missing teeth, whether it’s a single tooth or multiple teeth. This is important for restoring proper chewing function and maintaining the alignment of surrounding teeth.

2. Improved aesthetics: Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth. They can enhance your smile, boost your self-confidence, and provide a more natural appearance compared to other tooth replacement options like dentures or bridges.

3. Enhanced eating ability: Dental implants provide strong biting and chewing capabilities, allowing you to enjoy a full range of foods, including hard and crunchy items without restrictions.

4. Comfort: Dental implants are comfortable and stable. Unlike removable dentures, they do not slip or move when eating or speaking, providing a natural and comfortable experience.

5. Convenience: Dental implants eliminate the need for messy adhesives or removal at night, as required with dentures. They function just like natural teeth, making daily oral hygiene routines simple and hassle-free. Dental implants are brushed and flossed like all your other teeth.

6. Durability: Implants are a longlasting solution. With proper care and maintenance, they can last a lifetime, whereas other options like dentures will require periodic adjustments or replacement.

7. Preservation of jawbone: When a tooth is lost, the underlying jawbone can start to deteriorate over time. Dental implants act as artificial tooth roots and stimulate the bone, preventing bone loss and maintaining the integrity of the jawbone.

8. Improved speech: Missing teeth, especially front teeth can affect speech clarity. Dental implants can restore normal speech patterns by replacing missing teeth.

9. No impact on adjacent teeth: Unlike dental bridges, which require the reduction of adjacent healthy teeth, dental implants do not affect nearby teeth. This helps preserve the long-term health of your

natural teeth.

10. Whole body health: Dental implants can contribute to better oral and overall health by filling the gaps left by missing teeth, preventing the shifting of neighboring teeth, and reducing the risk of gum disease and further tooth loss.

It is essential to consult with a dental professional to determine if dental implants are the right solution for your specific oral health needs. Factors like bone density, overall health, and personal preferences will influence the suitability of dental implants as a treatment option.

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

Dr. Bradley Hepler and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health are dedicated to your health and longevity. We provide all the modern advances that contemporary aesthetic dentistry offers. If you would like a complementary consultation to discover your smile restoring options, please call the Atlanta Center for Dental Health at 770-992-2236. It is our pleasure to serve this community and help as many people as possible live their best life.

Alone vs. lonely

Brought to you by

– Nehemiah McClendon, M.Ed, at Summit Counseling Center

Nothing is better than those moments you have by yourself cuddled up in your favorite blanket watching Love Island or legs stretched out having a drink watching your favorite team go for glory. This alone time is craved, desired, and sometimes needed, but what happens when the clock on alone time strikes lonely? Loneliness is often followed up with the thought starting with everyone: EVERYONE is getting married, EVERYONE is having a baby, EVERYONE has a bunch of friends and most often EVERYONE is doing better than me. As a therapist, I often witness the profound impact loneliness has on individuals’ lives. It’s not merely the absence of company but a deep-seated emotional experience that can permeate every aspect of one’s existence.

The

nature of loneliness

Loneliness isn’t just restricted to physical isolation; it can be an emotional state where we feel disconnected and unfulfilled in our

relationships, even when surrounded by others. It looks different in different forms:

• Social isolation: When one lacks meaningful connections or spends excessive time alone.

• Emotional loneliness: Feeling misunderstood or unsupported, even when people are around.

• Existential loneliness: A deeper sense of being disconnected from life’s purpose or meaning.

• Lonely-19

Oddly enough in a world where everyone is hyper-connected, it might seem paradoxical that loneliness is on the rise. The digital age has redefined how we interact, often replacing genuine connections with superficial online exchanges. This shift can exacerbate feelings of loneliness, as individuals compare their real lives to curated online personas. Instead of investing in authentic experiences and connections, we find ourselves trapped in a cycle of seeking temporary relief from loneliness through superficial online interactions, which only perpetuates our sense of isolation and disconnection from real-life fulfillment.

Lonely on the body and brain Loneliness isn’t just a passing emotion; it can have serious implications for mental health:

• Depression and anxiety: Prolonged loneliness can contribute to depressive symptoms and exacerbate anxiety disorders.

• Physical health: Research shows loneliness is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, weakened immune response, and other physical ailments.

Self-awareness: Understanding personal triggers and patterns that contribute to feelings of loneliness.

• Building connections: Foster genuine relationships through shared interests, volunteering, or joining communities.

• Seeking support: Therapy offers a safe space to explore feelings of loneliness and develop strategies for coping.

• The path forward

• Self-esteem: Feeling disconnected can erode self-worth, leading to a cycle of negative thoughts and behaviors.

Steps to connection

Self-reflection: Asking yourself questions like: What situations or environments trigger feelings of loneliness for me?

How do my thoughts and beliefs about myself contribute to my sense of loneliness?

Overcoming loneliness is a journey that requires patience and selfcompassion. It’s about nurturing meaningful connections, both with others and ourselves. If you’re experiencing loneliness, remember that you’re not alone in feeling this way. Reach out, seek support, and take small steps toward reconnecting with yourself and others. Together, we can navigate the complexities of loneliness, cultivating a life filled with genuine connection and fulfillment.

ADOBE STOCK

Roswell Dental now offers genetic testing

Brought

to you by -

Roswell Dental Care, Dr. Destinee Hood

So, you may be asking why having genetic information is so important for your dentist. With this information, the clinician will be able to create a more personalized risk assessment for cavities and periodontal disease. For example, how is the patient’s genetics contributing to the severity of disease? How will the patient respond to treatment? And how susceptible is the patient to relapse? As healthcare is going towards “precision medicine,” which looks at the genetics, environment, and lifestyle of a person to select treatment that could work best for them, we can now provide even further personalized dental health care.

Understanding saliva testing

Saliva is a vital fluid produced by the salivary glands, playing a key role in digestion, oral hygiene, and overall health. It contains a complex mixture of proteins, enzymes, electrolytes, and microorganisms. This composition makes saliva a valuable diagnostic tool. Saliva testing involves analyzing these components to gain insights into a patient’s health status. In our office, we utilize OralDNA® Labs. These saliva tests can identify the specific type and concentration of 11 disease-causing bacteria as well as identify your interleukin-6 (IL6) genotype, which is a crucial factor in promoting the inflammation pathway in the body. Information from these tests detect risk for disease, guide strategies for maintaining health, offer more accurate diagnosis, and guide treatment choices for a wide variety of conditions.”

Systemic effects of oral bacteria

These bacteria, especially at high levels, and in combination with an individual’s genetic inflammatory response, result in bad breath, painful bleeding gums, loss of bone, and eventually tooth loss. The consequences of these same bacteria, present for years and decades, add significantly to the risk of a wide range of life-threatening diseases beyond the mouth. Below are some

of those diseases and the measurable risk of those diseases becoming serious if these oral pathogens are not treated.

Cardiovascular disease

Periodontal bacteria contribute to the initiation, progression, and prognosis of cardiovascular disease. There is also over a 2-fold increase in the risk of stroke and peripheral vascular disease. The plaque in your mouth is the same as plaque in your heart!

Metabolic health and diabetes

Elevated levels of periodontal bacteria can directly cause hyperglycemia. Early detection of periodontal infection and proactive management to reduce bacterial loads can improve blood sugar control and lessen complications of diabetes and the consequence of periodontitis.

Health during pregnancy

The oral microbiota changes when women become pregnant, and levels of periodontal pathogens increase. During pregnancy, there is a marked risk of infection of the maternal blood and the placenta, which leads to an increase in preterm labor, lower birth weight and even the chance of fetal loss due specifically to the bacteria

Development of cancer & risk of progression

Advanced periodontal disease is associated with a 2.5-fold increase in smoking-related cancers. People with elevated levels of certain periodontal pathogens have a greater chance of breast cancer recurrence or failed response to treatment. Several recent studies show that these pathogens can be identified within the primary cancer cells from colonic tumors and are carried to metastatic sites involving regional lymph nodes. This is a newly observed phenomenon that will affect how cancer treatment protocols will be developed in the future.

Other health risks may be involved as well. Please contact Roswell Dental Care for more information on genetic testing.

Dr. Destinee Hood is excited to provide this service to her patients. Our entire team at Roswell Dental Care creates a caring, judgementfree environment to help educate and empower you to become your best self! We take the time to listen to you, hear you, and guide you! Knowledge is power! Call and make your appointment today at 770-998-6736 or visit www.Roswelldentalcare.com.

•

• Crowns and Bridges in a few days

• Porcelain Veneers

• 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

Dr. David Remaley

Dr. Destinee Hood

The Power of Peptides: Your ultimate guide to weight loss and wellness

Brought to you by – OlympusMD

Are you tired of battling the scale and feeling like your weight loss goals are always just out of reach? It’s time to discover the hidden potential of peptides - the tiny but mighty molecules that could be the key to transforming your health journey. From supporting weight loss to enhancing overall wellness, peptides are revolutionizing the way we approach our health and well-being.

Peptides are like the unsung heroes of our bodies, working behind the scenes to regulate vital functions and keep us in balance. One group of peptides, GLP-1 receptor agonists, has made waves in the weight loss world by offering a unique solution for individuals looking to shed extra pounds. Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, these peptides have a surprising side effect: they can help you lose weight. How? By mimicking the actions of natural hormones in the body, they can boost insulin release, reduce liver glucose production, and even curb your cravings and appetite.

When it comes to weight loss, three FDA-approved peptide medications stand, out all of which are powered

by the active ingredient Semaglutide. Compounded Semaglutide has captured attention for its effectiveness in promoting weight loss and improving cardiovascular health. This once-weekly injection has transformed the weight loss journey for many, showing impressive results in reducing body weight and managing heart disease risk factors.

But the real game-changer?

OlympusMD Wellness is bringing the power of Semaglutide directly to you, offering a comprehensive weight management program.

Say goodbye to endless dieting struggles and hello to a new chapter of empowered wellness. Our highly skilled staff of healthcare professionals is here to guide you throughout your weight loss journey. We understand that every individual is unique, which is why we provide personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs and goals.

To learn more about Semaglutide or schedule a consultation with one of our experts, please contact OlympusMD Wellness at (470) 3594815 We’re here to support you every step of the way to achieve your weight loss goals.

Minimally invasive dentistry is our goal for your health and vitality

Brought to you by –

North Fulton Smiles

Conservative dentistry, also known as minimally invasive dentistry, is an approach to dental treatment that focuses on preserving as much of the natural tooth structure as possible. The goal is to prevent or minimize the need for extensive dental treatment in the future by treating appropriately and emphasizing prevention.

Conservative dentistry emphasizes early detection and early intervention of dental problems, such as tooth decay, gum disease, fractures, trauma, or even tooth loss. It involves conservative techniques that aim to remove the diseased or damaged portion of the tooth while preserving the healthy tooth structure. It also emphasizes preventative measures, such as regular dental checkups, professional cleanings, supplemental products, and patient education on proper oral hygiene and dietary practices.

At North Fulton Smiles, our mission is to help patients maintain stable dental health and preserve their dentition for life. Recognizing that dentistry, like

any other procedures, will need to be revisited in a lifetime, we aim to maintain conservative options that preserve dental structures and set up one’s teeth for the future.

We believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and our team emphasizes proper preventative care. In doing so, we elevate our patients overall health and vitality. We use up to date, advanced technologies like Cerec CAD/CAM, digital radiographs and intraoral scanners making it more accurate, safe, and patient friendly to help maintain good oral health for our patients. Our thorough and careful examinations, involving necessary x-rays, photographs and scans help us design a customized treatment plan that addresses dental issues in an appropriate and timely manner, offers solutions for long term stability and esthetic or cosmetic desires.

A smile is a significant part of our faces and confidence. Valuing its beauty and health can be achieved with intention and attention to conservative techniques that ensure ones smile can remain attractive and stable for life.

"___ in the bag!"

THE

Bourbon & Cigar Night at the Post Friday, September 13, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Flight of 3 Bourbons, a Cigar & Hors d’oeuvres

Tickets: $50 per person at Clubroom/Bar or Online at www.legion201.org/event/bcn/

Dances & Dance Instruction

Dances: Friday, Saturday & Sunday Evenings Line Dance Instruction: Monday & Friday Mornings; Wednesday Evening For Complete

Student helps children navigate court system

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Flipping through the children’s book she wrote, Sanjana Shah explained a narrative built from interviews she conducted with local judges, child welfare law specialists and court appointed special advocates.

“All these illustrations that you see … it’s inspired by the Fulton County Juvenile Court,” said Shah, a senior at Johns Creek High School.

For the past year, Shah has led a service project to create resources for children forced to navigate the court system. They are housed under her nonprofit A Voice for Youth in Court, aimed at lessening the anxiety of children ages 8 to 15 who must testify.

Shah raised $3,000 for the project, including a workbook she created for child welfare professionals and volunteers to use with foster children. Most of the money went toward a professional illustrator. For the book, the artist used images Shah had taken while in the courtroom.

There are two iterations of the book. One follows a girl testifying in a dependency case, concerning foster care, and another concerning a criminal case, where a child might be a victim or witness to a crime.

According to data from the state Department of Human Services, close to 10,500 children are in foster care across Georgia.

The service project was of Shah’s own volition, motivated by feelings experienced after she lost her father when she was young — fear and anxiety, thoughts about what could happen if something happened to her mother.

“This kind of obstacle that I faced

throughout my childhood made me very passionate about also helping other children who are in vulnerable family situations,” Shah said.

But, Shah also noticed a knowledge gap among children while working for a nonprofit that provided extracurricular opportunities to those in the foster care system.

“As children in the system, it’s probably not something you’re thinking about,” Shah said. “You’re thinking about [how] you want to be reunified or what’s safety to you, but I feel like it was so important for them to know, as well, that there are people on the other side who are trying to do everything in their power to help you.”

Among the court personnel Shah

See NONPROFIT, Page 21

Conglomerated Host, Ltd is looking for an Accountant to join its team.

Job Description: Corporate office located in Milton, GA has an opening in the Accounting Department. Entry level position with opportunity to advance. Starting pay is $20.00 per hour/approximately 30 hours per week. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel is a plus. How To Apply: Email response to conglomeratedhost@gmail.com or fax to 770-521-0809.

SANJANA SHAH/PROVIDED Johns Creek High School senior Sanjana Shah holds a children’s book she wrote about a girl going through the court system, in front of the Judge Romae T. Powell Youth Justice Center.

SHAH/PROVIDED

Johns Creek High School senior Sanjana Shah, right, stands with Margaret Schweizer, staff attorney to Deputy Chief Judge Christopher Yokom with the Fulton County Juvenile Court. Schweizer was one of several individuals Shah worked with for her service project.

Nonprofit:

Continued from Page 20

worked with was Margaret Schweizer, staff attorney to Deputy Chief Judge Christopher Yokom with the Fulton County Juvenile Court.

Schweizer, a child welfare law specialist, said she was impressed by Shah’s work, a developmentally appropriate introduction to a system they may interact with.

“The story is easy to understand and relate to; the pages are colorful and comforting,” she said. “I am particularly proud that this resource was written by a child and from the perspective of a child.”

Schweizer said many children who have been alleged to be victims of abuse or neglect may be called on to testify in juvenile or superior court, and that process can be nerve-

For more information on A Voice for Youth in Court, visit https://www. avoiceforyouthincourt.org

wracking for anyone, especially a child.

“There is a local and national effort to make the process of a child testifying to be as trauma-informed as possible, while still respecting the constitutional rights of the accused,” Schweizer said. “Ms. Shah’s project aligns perfectly with that effort.”

Based on her experience, Schweizer said the more preparation a child has for court, the less harmful the experience will be.

“When a child is unprepared or does not have the adequate resources and support before, during, and after testifying, the system will further hurt the children it serves rather than protect them,” Schweizer said.

Support Local News Join Appen Press Club

CHARTER MEMBER

DC Aiken

Big Sky Franchise Team

David & Michelle Bertany

Amour & Duane Carthy

Adam Corder

Barbara Anderson

Kerry Arias

Scott Baynton

Joseph Bell

James Bennett

Carl Abernathy

Salpi Adrouny

Alpharetta Lions Club

Omar Altalib

Dave Altman

Ron Altman

Joel Alvis

American Legion Post 201

Alice & Dr. Richard Appen

Gaye Armstrong

Mary Asbury

Bangkok Boxing LLC

Shannon Banna

Beth Barnes

Janet Bass

Barbara Bauschka

Kathy Beck

Leslie Berry

Tom Billings

Tochie Blan

Ron Boddicker

Jodi Bogen

Sherri Bolles-Rogers

Helen Borland

Debra Bowen

Joe Bowen

Ryan Brainard

Mark Brandus

Mel Brannen

Dorothy Brouhard

Erendira Brumley

Bernhard Burgener

Alvin Burrell

Mike & Theresa Buscher

Mary Busman

Clea Calloway

Kirk Canaday

James Carr

Bridgette Carter

William Cartwright

Frank Catroppa

Pat Check

Virginia Christman

Christopher Cleary

Ann Coaloa

Kim Coggins

Evelyn Collazo

Michael Mackenzie

MEMBER+

MEMBER

Communications

Joan Compton

Terri Coons

Rhonda Cude

Christopher Cupit

David Davis

Duane DeBruler

Marilyn DeCusati

Rebecca Donlan

Tom Driscoll

Michael Dudgeon

Jeanette Dummer

DutchCrafters Amish Furniture

Mim Eisenberg

Danny Elkins

Su Ellis

Martha Fasse

Nell & Doug Fernandez

Lee Fleck

Cathy Flynn

Mary Ford

Nanci Foster

Amy Frederick

Kelly Frommer

Carol Fry

Tracey Ganesh

Daniel Gay

John Gibbs

John Gilberto

Leslie Gilliam

Bailey & Ryan Gladysz

Michelle Glotzbach

Harvey Goldberg

Christopher Goodrich

Phyllis Goodrich

Ralph Griffin

Marilee Hamilton

Susan Hanna

Roxanne Hazen

Joe Hirsch

Penn Hodge

Dianne & Steffan Holmquist

Joan Hostetter

Austin Hughes

Lynn Johnson

Tyler Jones

Arthur Kebanli

Laura Keck

To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size! Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Mark Kelly

Randall Kent

Allison Kloster

Dyna Kohler

Larry Krueger

Jess & Chris Kysar

Malinda Lackey

Leffingwell

Lehan

McCord

McCully

McDonald

McIntyre

McLoughlin

Mendoza

SANJANA

Memorial service honors fallen Kabul evacuation troops

By DAVIS WINKIE newsroom@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — More than a hundred people gathered at Newtown Park Aug. 24 to honor the 13 U.S. servicemembers who died during the Afghanistan War’s final days.

The ceremony commemorated the tragic event three years ago when the troops died while supporting civilian evacuations at the Kabul airport.

The Johns Creek Veterans Association and the Fr. Joseph T. O’Callahan Assembly of the Knights of Columbus organized this year’s annual memorial at the park’s Veterans Memorial Walk.

The emotional climax was a roll call led by retired Army Lt. Col. Michael Mizell, who heads the veterans association. Mizell called the name twice of each fallen soldier, Marine and sailor, followed by silence while a designated audience member would answer and deliver a portrait for placement in front of the park’s Afghanistan memorial. Afterward, two buglers played “Taps.”

“It’s said that if we don’t say their names, they’re forgotten,” Mizell said. “And four years ago … [we] made a promise to the parents of the 13 — their children’s sacrifice will never ever, ever be forgotten.”

Mizell said the fallen troops “were there to help people.”

The 13 killed by a suicide bomber Aug. 26, 2021, at the airport’s chaotic Abbey Gate, were:

• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20

• Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23

• Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31

• Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23

• Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22

• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20

• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20

• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20

• Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan WilliamTyeler Page, 23

• Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario, 25

• Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22

• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20

• Navy Hospital Corpsman Max Soviak, 22

The former head of the O’Callahan Assembly, Mitchell Touart, declared the annual event will continue “as long as we are physically able.” Representatives from the Marine Corps and the Georgia National Guard played ceremonial roles in the memorial.

Retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen.

Arnold Fields delivered the ceremony’s keynote remarks. Fields, a Vietnam veteran who retired from the military in 2004, was the first presidentially appointed watchdog protecting more than $61 billion in Afghanistan reconstruction funds. The former twostar general hails from South Carolina’s Lowcountry and now lives in the Atlanta area.

Fields and the other speakers reflected on the twofold courage of those killed at Abbey Gate: They volunteered to join a military mired in a decadeslong war, and they tirelessly worked to evacuate civilians in Kabul at great personal risk.

“Those 13 could have been any one of our children, or any one of our neighbors [or] anyone that we may have loved,” Fields said.

In an interview after the ceremony, Fields emphasized the youth of those who died in Kabul — the average age of the Kabul 13 was slightly less than the reported average age of those killed in Vietnam, the retired general said.

“To the extent that we can accomplish our national objectives without physical combat, we should always strive for that,” he said.

PHOTOS BY: DAVIS WINKIE/APPEN MEDIA

Retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Arnold Fields delivers remarks during an Aug. 24 memorial ceremony for the Afghanistan War’s final U.S. fatalities at Newtown Park, Johns Creek.

A Marine Corps officer salutes the U.S. flag during an August 24 memorial ceremony in honor of the 13 service members killed at the Kabul airport in August 2021. The ceremony took place at Newtown Park, Johns Creek.

Miss Mary’s cranks out confection to perfection

Drake House fundraiser celebrates its 20th year

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Hundreds of visitors walked around the grounds of Roswell United Methodist Church Aug. 25, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Miss Mary’s Ice Cream Crankin’.

Miss Mary’s is one of The Drake House’s signature fundraisers, named after North Fulton humanitarian Mary Drake. The nonprofit’s mission is to empower women and children experiencing homelessness to achieve economic independence and long-term stability.

It featured more than 35 volunteer organizations, or “crankers,” that provided samples of their homemade ice cream, entered into four juried categories: Best Vanilla, Best Chocolate, Best Fruit and Best Other Flavor.

Nesha Mason, president of The Drake House, said $50,000 was the fundraising goal that hot Sunday afternoon. Last year, Miss Mary’s cranked out around $44,000 to support families.

Mason recalled the beginnings of The Drake House, when community leaders fresh out of the Leadership North Fulton program realized there was a problem of homelessness that was disproportionately affecting single mothers and their children.

“So they thought: how can we raise funds and awareness to be able to provide the housing and resources needed, or even just to start remedying this problem,” Mason said. “And, Miss Mary’s Ice Cream Crankin’ was formed.”

Visitors, with smiles on their faces conversing about the unique flavor they just picked up from a cranker, were from all over North Fulton. Monica Geddis and her 6-year-old daughter Mackenzie had moved outside of Roswell but returned for Miss Mary’s.

“My favorite flavor is mint chocolate chip,” Mackenzie said, in the middle of trying a sample, colorful and filled with M&M’s. “We’re trying to find peppermint.”

Many kids were on the other side of the event, serving up ice cream, like the fourth and fifth grade students at Atlanta Academy, who would later win first place in Best Chocolate.

Felicia Hutt, a fourth grade teacher at Atlanta Academy, said 30 to 40 students were signed up to volunteer throughout the two-hour event. Hutt

Fourth and fifth graders from Atlanta

BEHIND THE PHOTOS: Dean Hesse

is an award-winning photojournalist. Following Appen Media’s acquisition of Decaturish, Hesse is now part of the Appen newsroom. Support the work of protecting and strengthening local news in North Atlanta by becoming a member of the Appen Press Club at appenmedia.com/join.

said the school has participated in Miss Mary’s for about a decade. She, herself, has attended for seven years.

“This is a tradition that we do at our school,” Hutt said. “It’s for such a great cause, and it gets our kids to get a little bit of volunteer work in, and they have so much fun making the ice cream and coming up with the flavors.”

Not far from the Atlanta Academy team, the Rotary Club of Roswell members were on a mission.

“We’ve been test-sampling them at our weekly meetings for about a month,” said member Mary Price, who had been a judge at Miss Mary’s since it began. This year was the first time she chose to make the ice cream. “So, everybody would bring their flavor in, and we’d embarrass them or cheer for them.”

The Drake House is one of the main nonprofits the Rotary Club of Roswell supports. It, and more than a dozen others, will benefit from the club’s 2024 Charity Golf and Tennis Tournament at Brookfield Country Club Sept. 9.

In a raised area above the sea of tents and visitors was the group of

Drake House President Nesha Mason announces the winners of the different categories during the 20th Drake House Miss Mary’s Ice Cream Crankin’ fundraiser Sunday, Aug. 25 at Roswell United Methodist Church.

judges, featuring state Sen. John Albers, members of the Roswell City Council, pastors and other community partners.

Karen Faber, who’s been a volunteer at Miss Mary’s for the past 15 years, coordinated the group of judges. She said about every 15 minutes, crankers bring up samples for taste-testing. Using a score sheet, judges rated samples on a scale of one to eight.

“It’s a very competitive situation,” Faber said. “People fight to be a judge.”

Roswell City Councilwoman Sara Beeson, a judge for Best Chocolate, said the crankers “came to win.” Beeson shared her approach to distinguishing the many flavors of chocolate coming her way. She said the trick is to have an “open-minded palate.”

“I feel like I’ve watched a lot of ‘Food Network,’ that has prepared me for this moment,” Beeson said. “Really, this is my time to shine. I have been eating chocolate ice cream and chocolate my entire life, and so I feel like I was prepared for this role.”

PHOTOS BY: DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA

Academy celebrate their first place win in the chocolate-based flavor category during the 20th Miss Mary’s Ice Cream Crankin’ fundraiser Aug. 25 at Roswell United Methodist Church.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Local theater company brings spark to new season

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — When Shuler Hensley was growing up in Marietta and attending Westminster Schools in the early 1980s, there were few opportunities for young aspiring actors in Metro Atlanta.

Downtown Atlanta had the Fox Theatre and some private schools with theater programs, but there was nothing like the City Springs Theatre Conservatory’s Pre-Pro Company.

Created after City Springs Theatre Company’s first two performances of its 2018 inaugural season, the Conservancy’s youth training programs prepare aspiring thespians for their first vocal, acting and dance auditions.

Hensley said the area’s young talent always impresses him when he returns from his work on Broadway. Today, there is a musical theater ecosystem in north Metro Atlanta, which simply didn’t exist a generation ago.

“Back in those days, if you had someone who could be a triple threat, which is great dancer, singer and actor all rolled into one person, that was considered extremely rare,” Hensley said. “Now, all these kids are triple threats … the Pre-Pro program is so good at the practical things.”

Like so much in Metro Atlanta, the musical theater industry has grown exponentially since the Tony Awardwinning actor was a kid.

Hensley serves as artistic director of the City Springs Theatre Company. Its seventh season of productions in the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center’s Byers Theatre begins with “The Music Man,” running Sept. 6-22.

Hensley, who directs the musical, tapped Atlanta’s own Billy Harrington to star as Harold Hill and Broadway colleague Sara Edwards to choreograph.

The 2024-25 season for City Springs Theatre Company also features “Frozen: The Musical” Dec. 13-19; “Ragtime: The Musical” March 14-30; and “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” May 2-18.

Hensley’s parents were born in southern Cobb County, and his life has taken cues from each of them.

His father is a former Georgia Tech football star and state senator. His mother, Iris Hensley, is a former ballerina and founder of the Georgia Ballet Professional Company.

“Being in the arts and giving back to the community was really important to her, and I feel like that’s where I found the spark to be that kind of artist,” Hensley said. “Some of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as a performer are working with local kids and talent here in Atlanta.”

With more than 25 years of experience acting on Broadway, Hensley said he is focused on giving back through his role as artistic director of the local nonprofit — City Springs Theatre Company.

After ditching his baseball scholarship at the University of Georgia, Hensley enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music and began his stage career in the early 1990s.

The move paid off for the 20-year-old Hensley, who now sports a Tony Award, numerous recognitions from national magazines and dozens of acclaimed performances.

His role as Jud Fry in “Oklahoma!” earned him the industry’s triple crown, the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards.

In 2022, Hensley played Marcellus Washburn and starred alongside Hugh Jackman in a Broadway production of “The Music Man.”

“It’s funny, when the Broadway revival was supposed to happen, I had a contract signed in 2019, and we were going to start the next fall,” Hensley said, referencing the two-year shutdown during the pandemic. “It’s one of those shows our patrons always talk about, there’s a big love of the classics.”

City Springs Theatre Company

Executive Director Natalie DeLancey said that in a survey of audience members, “The Music Man” ranks in the top three of requested productions.

Now, it’s Metro Atlanta’s turn to see Meredith Willson’s Broadway hit and winner of five Tony Awards in 1957, featuring some homegrown talent like

The cast of the City Springs Theatre Company’s “The Music Man” includes local talent, Broadway stars and young Metro Atlantans in the CSTC’s Pre-Pro Company. The production of “The Music Man” runs Sept. 6-22 in the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center’s Byers Theatre.

Hensley and a few of his Broadway colleagues.

“Our choreographer is a woman who I worked with on the Broadway revival of ‘The Music Man,’’ Hensley said. “If you’re in this business long enough, you come full circle with a lot of people.”

Hensley said he thinks the story is a timeless classic, and his experiences working on the 2022 Broadway production fueled his desire to bring it to local audiences.

Like productions of “Fiddler on the Roof,” Hensley said he thinks “The Music Man” is an industry standard and offers something every audience member can relate to.

“The reason these standards have been around for 70 years is because of the way they were constructed,” he said. “They have a great book, great music and a great story to tell, which is sort of

universal.”

Another reason for the musical’s appeal is that everyone who grew up in the theater probably played a role in it growing up, Hensley said.

“I had never really seen a proper production of ‘The Music Man’ prior to the one we did on Broadway,” he said. “That one had been reworked and rewritten to provide more opportunity for our herald, Hugh Jackman, to be on stage.”

Helsey said the script is different from the one on Broadway, but he thinks the change makes the show fresh for audiences.

“To allow your artists to think and create for themselves is what I’m interested in doing,” Hensley said. “What really helps is if you can find things within the story that people are familiar with in their own lives.”

PHOTOS BY: CITY SPRINGS THEATRE COMPANY/PROVIDED

From left, City Springs Theatre Company Artistic Director Shuler Hensley and Executive Director Natalie DeLancey are gearing up for the seventh season of productions at the Byers Theatre.

Johns Creek girl’s pageant title has resume of helping seniors

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Royal International Miss Pageant winner Lyric Fluellen loves to help out in her community.

“It was really fun,” Lyric said. As part of her platform for the pageant, Lyric, a 9-year-old Johns Creek girl and Montessori student, performed all kinds of community service from providing hundreds of holiday gifts to regularly making care kits for older residents.

Lyric won the Role Model Sweetheart title for 8-10-year-old girls division at this year’s pageant. She traveled to Orlando in July to attend the week-long pageant, which included interviews and fashion activities. She competed with more than 200 other girls from across the globe.

She donned various outfits, including a dress that was Chik-fil-A themed and emblazoned with the slogan “We didn’t invent the chicken, just the chicken sandwich.”

Meeting and competing alongside all those girls, Lyric said, was her favorite part.

Lyric prepared for eight months, working with coaches and her parents on interview, fashion and other skills.

Lyric’s father Andre Fluellen, a former defensive tackle who played for Florida State and the Detroit Lions, said she sometimes attended as many as five practices a day, bringing an intensity that would have been at home on the football field.

“When she really wants something and she has her mind put on it, it's going to happen,” he said. “She put all the work in. She put in all the practices.”

After all that work, Lyric felt at ease standing before judges and speaking publicly.

Lyric’s father admitted he initially had some reservations about his daughter competing in pageants. But he changed his mind after seeing how hard she worked and the many ways she’s given back to people in need.

“It's so much about public speaking, like she has her own platform, that she helps seniors around the community,” he said. “She sent out her senior care kits worldwide.”

Lyric has given out thousands of items and care kits to seniors around the country. On weekends, she and friends meet on what they’ve dubbed “Senior Saturday” to assemble care packages. She sometimes delivers the packages from door to door.

She regularly visits senior centers in Milton, Alpharetta and elsewhere in her community.

On a trip with her family to Malta, she found a senior center where she handed out kits to residents.

“It just shows you the power of what pageantry is really all about,” Andre said. “It's been great for her self-esteem, for her confidence, so I am a huge fan of pageantry, and I want her to continue.”

Lyric said she also finds personal satisfaction in the work.

“I love working with seniors, because first of all, I love making them smile,” she said.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Lyric Fluellen reacts after she is named Role Model Sweetheart at this year’s Royal International Miss Pageant in Orlando in July. Lyric said she had so much fun at the competition that she wants to attend future pageants.

Lyric Fluellen models a robin’s egg blue outfit at the Royal International Miss Pageant in Orlando in July. Lyric practiced for months to prepare for the public speaking and fashion portions of the competition.

Lyric Fluellen shows off her Role Model Sweetheart sash after receiving the honor at the Royal International Miss Pageant in Orlando in July. Lyric said her favorite part of the pageant was meeting competitors from other countries.

East Lake champions PGA Tour history

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — East Lake Foundation

President and CEO Ilham Askia ensures that the historic golf club lives up to its motto, “Golf with a Purpose.”

With the PGA Tour’s 30 best golfers competing for the 2024 FedEx Cup and its $100 million purse, Askia said the club’s new fan experiences and amenities brought a lot of people to east Atlanta for the tournament.

She also said her team has been working for weeks in the lead up to the Tour Championship, Aug. 29-Sept. 1.

Renovations of the historic East Lake Golf Club, permanent home of the PGA Tour Championship since 2004, began the day after last year’s tournament ended.

Around 11 months and $30 million later, designer Andrew Green completed the course restoration, which is based off the discovery of aerial photos from 1949.

In short, the renovation of East Lake means the topography of the course matches its look like it did a century ago.

Improvements include a new irrigation system, more than 100 acres of new grass, faster green surfaces and redesigned hazards.

“They incorporated some stuff from the 1940s and brought some modern stuff in from today,” Askia said. “They wanted to up the complexity for the pros but have it still playable for the members.”

A few alumni of the 2019 state champion Charles R. Drew Charter School recognized Askia from her work in the community and gave their thoughts on the final nine holes of the 72-hole tournament.

The local Drew Charter boys golf team vaulted into the national spotlight in 2019 when it won its first state title at Southern Landings in Warner Robins. The team became the first from Atlanta Public Schools and comprised entirely of Black players to win a state golf championship.

Chris McCrary, member of the state championship team and Georgia Tech alumni, said he and his friends had been watching Sahith Theegala.

“He had a great tee shot on No. 8,” McCrary said. “He can really bang that driver.”

McCrary and the Drew Charter alumni were looking to catch a glimpse of Scottie Scheffler’s final holes after back-to-back bogies on No. 7 and 8 dropped his lead to just a few strokes.

Season makes history

Scheffler is the winner of the 2024

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

From left, PGA Tour champion Scottie Scheffler and NBC’s Mike Tirico check out the FedEx Cup trophy Sept. 1 on the 18th green at East Lake Golf Club.

Masters Tournament, The Players Championship and the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup.

On top of that, he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational March 10, RBC Heritage April 22, Memorial Tournament June 9, Travelers Championship June 23 and set an Olympic record of 19-under, 265, across 72 holes on his way to a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

It’s been an exceptional season for Scheffler, and he did not let down his fans Sept. 1.

When his last putt dropped in front of the historic two-story clubhouse, Scheffler raised his putter in the air with one arm. The gesture seemed to recognize the significance of his accomplishments in 2024: lowest scoring average in PGA Tour history, most victories and season earnings since Tiger Woods in 2006-07 and the first win at East Lake on the redesigned course.

But Scheffler’s year also includes some other notable milestones.

The Louisville Metro Police Department charged him with felony assault of an officer the morning of May 17 at the 2024 PGA Championship, only to drop it a few days later.

Scheffler, in conversation with NBC’s Mike Tirico, went over his shank out of a green-side bunker on No. 8 and how the PGA Tour Champion rebounded.

“It’s a challenging week starting with the lead,” Scheffler said. “[There were] a lot of talented guys behind me that were really pushing me and trying to catch me, but fortunately, I had a nice week and was able to take this trophy home.”

When Tirico compared Scheffler’s season to some of Tiger Woods’ early 2000s greatness, cheers rang out again

has changed significantly since Jones donned hickory clubs and a neck tie as he strolled up and down fairways at East Lake Golf Club.

The great grandchildren of those who watched Jones play golf nearly a century ago made their way to the permanent home of The Tour Championship Sept. 1 to see if Scottie Scheffler could maintain his five-shot lead heading into the final round.

Some of the patrons walking around East Lake and enjoying the PGA Tour’s top talent would not have been able to do so a hundred years ago. In fact, many residents in the community, like the Drew Charter boys golf team, would have been removed.

Ninety-six years have passed since Jones lifted the U.S. Open trophy, and a lot has changed for the better in the East Lake community.

throughout the crowd.

“It’s hard to put into words what this year has been like for me,” Scheffler said, cracking a smile. “It’s been pretty emotional, there’s been a lot of stuff that’s gone on outside of golf.”

Scheffler and his wife Meredith celebrated the birth of their son just nine days before.

When Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced Scheffler’s Olympic gold medal, USA chants rang out across the gallery and clubhouse.

“Now you’re standing up here as FedEx Cup Champions, a tournament it takes 34 weeks to win and a trophy I know you fought so hard to win,” Monahan said. “Most importantly, when I look at this year, you were a tremendous ambassador for the game of golf.”

History matters at East Lake

Scottie Scheffler, like each generation’s most successful players, is tied to golf’s history.

Atlanta resident Bobby Jones, one of the most successful golfers in history, won his first tournament at East Lake at age 6 in 1908, the same year the final hole was completed.

Today, professional golf’s Grand Slam requires victories at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and the British Open.

Jones, the only golfer to ever capture all of golf’s major championships in one calendar year, did so winning the British Amateur and Open, as well as the U.S. Open and Amateur.

Ironically, the only person to ever achieve the Grand Slam did not play professional golf.

Like so many things today, golf

Foundation goes beyond golf

In Deepak Chopra’s “Golf for Enlightenment,” the global leader in mindfulness and alternative medicine gives a host of thought-provoking quotes about how to approach the game of golf.

“Freedom comes when you see the built-in contradiction of trying to manipulate something that is going right to begin with,” Chopra wrote. “Stop trying to steer the river.”

There is a lot going right around East Lake Golf Club, Foundation President and CEO Ilham Askia said.

“Next month will be my two-year anniversary with the foundation, although I’ve been a part of this community for more than 20 years,” Askia said. “If people who are coming home, returning citizens, had an opportunity to be a part of a community like this, it would reduce recidivism.”

The Foundation began construction of the Trust at East Lake, a 40-home affordable housing project that looks to address the crisis in east Atlanta.

The neighborhood’s great asset, East Lake Golf Club and its Foundation, helps subsidize the housing development and make it a reality.

“‘Golf with a Purpose,’ is what the club says, and it’s truly golf with a purpose,” Askia said. “A portion of the proceeds are donated to the East Lake Foundation and four other nonprofits.”

The funds go directly into the surrounding community, including early learning centers and Drew Charter High School.

“This is our 29th year as a foundation, we just had a huge initiative … to address housing inequities,” Askia said. “I just encourage everyone, see what we’re doing next year for our 30th.”

Winder:

Continued from Page 1

guardians, saying it’s “collaborating with local police jurisdictions to have increased patrols and presence on our campuses for the next few days to support our FCS Police Department and increase visibility.”

In the email, Jamison said he is only aware of four school police officers currently assigned to cover all public schools in Milton. The city is home to two high schools, two middle schools and four elementary schools.

“I must stress that while the district does an admirable job of educating our children, schools are not independent fiefdoms where administrators can make decisions in isolation, especially when it comes to public safety,” the mayor wrote. “Decisions made in a vacuum regarding safety are not only irresponsible but dangerous.”

Hours after sending the email, Fulton Conty Schools and Milton officials held a meeting to iron out the issue. The joint statement was issued at 4 p.m.

“The safety of students, teachers, staff and others involved in our schools is an utmost priority for the City of Milton and Fulton County Schools,” the statement read. “Like with other municipalities in Fulton, Fulton County Schools enjoys a very positive working relationship with the City of Milton.

“We share information regularly, as was the case during this latest investigation. The recent tragedy in Georgia has become top of mind for so many families. Fulton County Schools, the City of Milton and Milton Police will continue to collaborate, communicate and put the safety of our community members paramount.”

Metro Atlanta school districts have increased police patrols and presence on campuses in the wake of the deadly shooting.

School officials in Fulton County and DeKalb County school districts said their priority is to ensure students are safe back in class moving forward.

Nationwide, Americans are grappling with the largest school shooting since the March 2023 massacre at Covenant School in Nashville, which left six people dead. A day after the shooting, Fulton County Schools’ Chief Communications Officer Brian Noyes said the district is collaborating with local police jurisdictions to have increased patrols on campuses for the next few days to support the FCS Police Department and increase visibility.

Like many school districts in Metro Atlanta, Noyes said Fulton County Schools has made significant investments in safety resources and tools over the past several years.

In a letter to parents and guardians, Fulton County Schools first put the focus on supporting the entire Barrow County School District during such challenging times.

The letter stresses that there will be increased awareness of existing safety protocols in schools. It also encourages parents and guardians to speak with their children about their thoughts and feelings.

The DeKalb County School District issued a similar response Sept. 5, first extending condolences to Apalachee High School families and the entire Barrow County community.

“In times like these, it is crucial that we come together in solidarity to support one another and provide the necessary resources and care to navigate the challenging road ahead,” the letter said. “Our school counselors, social workers and psychologists are available to assist students, staff and parents/guardians in need of support.”

Tracey Whaley, the school district’s executive director of Public Safety, ordered his command staff and officers Sept. 4 to be in a heightened state of alert, saying the precautionary measure is not related to any known threats in the area but out of an abundance of caution.

DeKalb County School District also provided resources through the National Association of School Psychologists about talking to children about school shootings and violence.

To access the association’s website, visit www.nasponline.org/.

Forsyth County Schools coordinated with the Sheriff’s Office to increase a law enforcement presence on campuses, Director of Communication Michele Dugan said. Authorities, including school resource officers, may be parked at schools, walking the grounds or driving through campuses. The district also sent letters supporting Barrow County schools and informing local families about safety information.

“This heartbreaking incident is a solemn reminder of the challenges faced by all schools in ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff,” district officials said in their letter to Barrow County.

To view the letter, visit tinyurl. com/4myaa4eu.

Forsyth County school officials have made other preparations throughout the year, routinely performing lockdown drills and training staff members about school safety, Dugan said.

King’s Ridge Christian School junior Nora Michaelis stands beside the coffee bar and teen lounge at GiGi’s Playhouse that she funded and built as a part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project. Michaelis earned the prestigious award in August after creating a mentoring program for teens with Down syndrome.

Michaelis:

Continued from Page 1

Atlanta off Ga. 9 in Roswell, Michaelis looked to dissolve the stigma sometimes associated with working with special needs children.

She also fundraised for and designed a new coffee bar and the teen lounge at GiGi’s Playhouse’s newly renovated facility.

Michaelis said starting the

bEquals mentoring program is one of the best decisions she has ever made.

“My only regret is not starting it sooner,” she said. “There’s such a need for neurotypical outreach programs, and I’m just happy to have really made a change in my community.”

The playhouse provides programming for individuals with Down syndrome free of charge.

For more information, visit gigisplayhouse.org/atlanta/.

Newspaper Delivery Route Openings with

We are looking for one person or couple interested in delivering weekly newspapers in South Forsyth, Alpharetta and the Johns Creek areas.

Requirements: Must have a perfect driving record and background check, reliable transportation, honest, hard-working and positive attitude.

For more information or to apply, email heidi@appenmedia.com and include a paragraph or two about who you are and any relevant background/experience. In the subject line of the email please put “Delivery Route Application.”

KERI MICHAELIS/PROVIDED

Four tips to show your lawn some love

Those of us that enjoy our lawns are thrilled to have the warmer weather here in north Georgia! We are once again seeing our warm season grass at its peak beauty! Below are a few pieces of advice I would like to suggest to help maximize and maintain the appearance of your lawn now and throughout the year.

Test your soil.

While the best time to test your lawn soil is actually the fall, it is never too late and never a bad time to test. This low cost, potentially high impact activity can provide dividends to improve your lawn’s appearance. The actual results could save you money by providing a road map for exactly what fertilizers, or lack thereof, is needed to improve the overall health of your lawn. For more information on this, contact your county Extension office at http://extension.uga.edu/ about/county or call 1-800-ask-uga1.

Manage tree coverage.

The common thinking on lawns over the years has been that you cannot have a nice warm season lawn and trees at the same time. Further, as the thinking goes, it is nearly impossible for the two to coexist. I am here to tell you that it IS possible, BUT it may take some work. The first thing to evaluate is the location of tree limbs and lawn coverage. For most deciduous trees, you will want to limb up as high as possible. It is usually recommended that you leave the top two thirds of the tree canopy to maintain a healthy tree. This will not only allow for sunlight to reach your warm season grass, but it will also vastly improve air circulation on your lawn. We all know that to have a healthy lawn, good sunlight is necessary. Equally, without good air circulation, we are setting our lawns up for the ideal site for fungus growth. The damage to warm season grasses due to fungus growth is potentially catastrophic. I would suggest that one of the best things we can do for our lawns is limb up and thin out tree branches. It may be necessary to contact a local arborist for extensive tree work.

Manage site drainage.

Most people do not understand

that too much water and/or poor drainage is a surefire way to damage our turf lawns. If your lawn has low spots where water tends to pool after a good rain, now is the time to fill those spots and allow your turf time to adjust. Managing water runoff is equally important. Your lawn may be challenged by water from gutter downspouts and or other runoff points. If so, the necessary nutrients normally provided by topsoil that your lawn needs will not be there to support

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Ed O’Connor, a 2024 Master Gardener intern and member of the North Fulton County Master Gardeners. Ed is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in business administration. Ed is an avid gardener, hiker, camper, backpacker and all things outdoors.

lawn to need more water resources and will actually increase your mowing frequency. Under normal circumstances, clippings should be left on the lawn. Returning the clippings will provide additional nutrients to the soil and eliminate yard waste. Summer is such an exciting time of year for your warm season grass! There are lots of little things we can do to ensure we maximize their beauty!

Happy gardening!

growth. Managing that excess runoff through underground drainage pipes may be necessary. This simple activity can pay dividends on improving the appearance of your lawn.

Remember mowing rule 101.

When your warm season grass needs to be trimmed, never cut more than one-third of the leaf canopy in a single mowing. Cutting more than that amount can cause your lawn to stress, require your

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

ED O’CONNOR Guest Columnist

Proper management of stormwater can be critical to protecting turf lawns.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Limbing up and thinning out tree coverage allows for sunlight and air circulation on turf lawns.

Managing water runoff sometimes requires underground diversion of excess rainfall.

OPINION

Cary Cox preserves Brower Candy Company legacy

The candy business began growing in the early part of the 20th century and took off following the end of World War I. Candy and candy bars were often distributed to soldiers during and after the war. There were several candy companies in Atlanta. One was Brower Candy Company, a manufacturer of candies and cough drops. They also distributed candy and ice cream cones from other manufacturers.

Cary Cox holds precious family recipes, letters, and other documents passed down through the Brower family. She is a descendant of Walter A. Brower, founder of Brower Candy Company.

Walter Alexander Brower was born in Randolph County, N.C., in 1868. He moved to Atlanta and began working at the Frank E. Block Company, a local candy business. Brower decided to open his own candy company.

He married Gertrude Hendrix in 1899, and they had two sons, Milledge and Hugh. The family lived at 784 Capitol Avenue. Gertrude Hendrix was the daughter of James and Sarah (Sallie) Hendricks. James Hendricks was a contractor and builder in the Grant Park neighborhood. They also built and owned rental homes in the Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta.

Brower Candy Company first operated at 288 Edgewood Avenue. Later the company moved to 187189 Edgewood Avenue. The building included 12,000 square feet of space and was built in 1903 as the CocaCola Chewing Gum factory. The building still stands today and is listed as multi-family housing.

The company stationery featured Brower Candy Company’s motto at the bottom of the page, “Remember, everybody likes candy.” The image of a finger with a string tied around it accompanied the motto.

In 1916, the National Confectioner’s Association first introduced National Candy Day. It was discontinued when the U. S. entered World War I but returned in the 1920s. Atlanta proclaimed to be the second largest candy center in the U.S. in 1921. Candy companies listed as participating in National Candy Day included Frank E. Block Company, Brower Candy, Magnolia Candy Company and Tenenbaum

Brothers.

National Candy Day continued in Atlanta through the 1920s. In 1924, several candy companies, including Brower, donated candy to various children’s homes around the city. (Atlanta Journal, Oct. 12, 1924, “Atlanta Candy Men Donate Candy to Children’s Homes”)

Brower Candy began making pound cake ice cream cones in the 1920s and joined forces with Turnbull ice cream cones in the 1930s. Ice cream cones became a big seller with Brower Candy Company. The cones had a “waffle-like top,” which prevented breakage during serving. (Atlanta Constitution, May 28, 1934, “Brower Candy Company reports wide gains by grand cones”)

Cary’s parents, Betty Brower Cox and Fred Cox, lived on Shady Lane in Buckhead before they moved to 1155 Angelo Court in the Brookhaven Club Forest neighborhood. This is where Cary and her brother Ricky grew up, first attending McClatchey Elementary

Walter Brower kept his recipes in journals along with personal thoughts about

School on Loridans Drive and then Westminster. The home they lived in has been replaced with a new home. She recalls shopping at the A&P at Cherokee Plaza and at Lenox Square. She also remembers the Morrison Farms nursery on Osborne Drive, where her family bought many flats of pansies.

Cary’s maternal grandparents, Buford and Hugh Brower, lived on Lenox Road in the 1950s along with Cary’s mother Betty and Uncle Hugh, Jr. Betty Brower lived with her parents on Lenox Road until they moved to 765 Wildwood Road in Morningside. Cary’s paternal grandparents lived in Garden Hills.

Walter A. Brower was in an automobile accident on Flat Shoals Road in 1929. He was taken to Grady Hospital but did not survive. He was buried at Oakland Cemetery, and his wife Gertrude was buried beside him when she died in 1938. Walter and Gertrude’s son, Pfc. Milledge

Brower and his wife Dorothy Richards Brower are buried in the family plot. Pfc. Brower received the Purple Heart after being injured in France during World War II. Gertrude’s parents, grandmother Eliza Dean, and great aunt Virginia are buried in the Oakland plot.

Thank you to Cary Cox for sharing her family history with me. She will soon be donating the documents and recipe books of Brower Candy Company to the Atlanta History Center, where they will be preserved for generations to come. She also honors her Brower and Hendricks ancestors by working as a garden volunteer at historic Oakland Cemetery.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF/APPEN MEDIA

The Brower Candy Company logo appeared at the bottom of their letterhead.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF/APPEN MEDIA

his business.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF/APPEN MEDIA

The grave marker of Walter A. Brower, who died in a car accident in 1929. He is buried along with other family members at Oakland Cemetery.

CARY COX/PROVIDED

Cary Cox standing in front of the Cox family home at 1155 Angelo Court in Brookhaven Club Forest.

Request for Proposals

Design Services for SR 372 Operational and Safety Improvements

RFP NUMBER 24-PW11

Proposal Due Date:

October 9, 2024, by 2:00PM Local Time

Electronic submission via: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bidsrfps

Names for submissions received will be publicly announced via a virtual opening at approximately 2:30 PM at the City of Milton City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004. The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals. If the contract is awarded, it will be awarded to the highest scoring Offeror whose proposal meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the request for proposals.

The City of Milton is requesting proposals from qualified consultants to provide engineering services for conceptual 30-percent design plans for improvements to SR 372/Birmingham Highway. The City intends to select a single consultant team to provide all the required services through this selection process. The selected firm will be expected to provide services in accordance with the project schedule established by the City of Milton. The City, at its discretion, may choose to negotiate the scope, fees, and schedule with the Consultant for the development of the full construction documents for the plans developed as part of this RFP.

The request for electronic proposals for RFP 24-PW11, Design Services for SR 372 Operational and Safety Improvements will be posted on the following websites the week of September 12, 2024: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/

DEATH NOTICES

Heather Albro, 52, of Milton, passed away on September 1, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Lisa Clock, 62, of Roswell, passed away on August 30, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Elizabeth Cusick, 88, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 1, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Lisa Emberger, 53, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 2, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Gerald Fisher, 61, of Atlanta, passed away on August 29, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Mary Jane Hadley, 85, of Alpharetta, passed away on August 29, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Penelope Holder, 88, of Roswell, passed away on August 28, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Lucy McAlpine, 98, of Roswell, passed away on August 25, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Carrie Moss, 72, of Roswell, passed away on August 26, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

David Shadeed, 67, of Alpharetta, passed away on August 27, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Mary Thornton, 80, of Roswell, passed away on September 2, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Bradley Wedge, 37, of Roswell, passed away on August 26, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

SERVICE DIRECTORY

A/C Repair

A/C, plumbing, service repairs: Toilets, ceiling fans, hot water heaters/faucets, garbage disposal; light fixtures. 678-910-1094

AC/Heating

ATLANTA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING, INC. 678 605-91592 TON $5500 INSTALLED 3 TON $6000 INSTALLED COMPLETE SYSTEM INCLUDES CONDENSER 410A, FURNACE 80% AFUE, HIGH EFFICIENCY EVAPORATOR, WIFI THERMOSTAT, PAD, OVERFLOW PAN, FILTER RACK. CALL 678 605-9159

Cemetery

SAVE $12,000! Greenlawn, Roswell. Regularly $7995 each. Selling for $12,000, seller will negotiate. Side-by-side Fountain B. 26-c. 1.2,3.

Two adjacent burial plots at Greenlawn Cemetery, All Saints Section. Currently $8999 each, Priced $12,000. Call Cindy 404-797-0700

Sawnee EMC is seeking a Mechanic with diesel engine experience to perform mechanical work and related maintenance on company trucks, equipment and vehicles. Requires high school diploma or equivalency. Must have valid CDL Georgia Driver’s License or the ability to acquire a CDL. Requires previous work-related experience. Some Heavy Lifting. Rotating day and night shift schedule. Must be available to work alternate shift assignments and irregular work hours.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, September 13, 2024. Apply online: www.sawnee.coop/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

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

IT Professionals (Johns Creek, GA) Business Systems Analysts, Software Developers, Software Engineers, IT Project Managers, Application Developers. Multiple Positions. Travel/Relocation to client locations within the U.S. as and when required by the client. The frequency and nature of travel or relocation will depend on client’s project requirements and delivery timelines. Mail resume to Datum Software Inc. Attn: HRGC, 12000 Findley Road, Ste. 350, Johns Creek, GA 30097.

Have zip code! Professional lawn service: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Call now for a free quote. Ask about our first application special! 1-833-606-6777

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protec-tion. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936

Bath & shower updates in as little as 1 day! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts available. 1-877-543-9189

Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306

Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to re-ceive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-855-948-6176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation

ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405

Replace your roof w/the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install (military, health & 1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234