Dawson Living April/May 2024

APRIL / MAY 2024

4 Dawsonville Distinctive Dentistry Stepping into the furture with AI

7 Christine Hinton New tax forms for homeowners

8 Dawson Eats Frozen eats and treats

10 Dawson Community Blush Ivey under new ownership

12 Dawson Faces Peytan Porter shows hometown gratitude

/dawsonnews

@dawsoncountynews

@dawsonnews

Manuscripts, artwork, photography, inquiries and submitted materials are welcome. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Metro Market Media Inc. Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy of published materials, Metro Market Media cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. Dawson Living reserves the right to refuse advertisements for any reason. Acceptance of advertising does not mean or imply the services or product is endorsed or recommended by Dawson Living.

PUBLISHER

Stephanie Woody

ADVERTISING SALES

Jessica Shirley, Advertising Director

Meghan Hernandez, Multimedia Sales Representative

CREATIVE SERVICES

April Seymour, Chelsea Sunshine, Courtney Smith

PHOTOGRAPHY

Erica Jones, Scott Rogers, Julia Hansen

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Erica Jones, Julia Hansen, Adrienne

Crawford

DAWSON LIVING

A Division of Dawson County News

Dawsonville, GA

A Metro Market Media Inc. property

www.dawsonnews.com

DAWSONVILLE DISTINCTIVE DENTISTRY

Stepping into the future with AI Technology

By Adrienne Crawford

Dawsonville Distinctive Dentistry is renowned for its top-notch dental care, but also for its warm and welcoming environment. The practice has a fantastic reputation, not just for its excellent dental care but also for the sense of belonging it fosters among its patients. Winning the Best of Dawson award three years in a row is a testament to their unwavering commitment to providing unmatched service. Doctor Michelle Morrow’s legacy speaks volumes about the practice’s dedication to excellence. Her standards continue to shine through in Dr. Bilal Manzur and the current team. It’s no surprise that the practice has earned the trust of the community in Dawson County as they truly care about their patients’ well-being.

Dawsonville Distinctive Dentistry stands out in the dental field by embracing AI technology, which represents the future of digital dentistry. This forward-thinking approach not only enhances patient care but also streamlines processes, saving time and money for both dentists and patients. “Our office plans to start incorporating AI technology this year and by adding this technology it will allow us to provide our patients with better long-term treatment options. This technology will help us improve detection of cavities, abscesses, fractured roots, implant planning, TMJ dysfunction and much more. Also, on the radar this year, is using AI to evaluate patients who suffer from sleep apnea and the importance of yearly airway analysis and overall oral health. All this digital technology comes with a limited dose of radiation exposure.” explains Office Administrator, Barbara Anderson

One Key AI method already integrated by the Practice is the use of digital impressions, which eliminate the need for old-school alginate impressions. This cutting-

edge technology creates a virtual replica of the mouth’s soft and hard tissues, enabling the dentist to quickly and accurately assess dental conditions such as cavities. By collecting and analyzing data in minutes, this method allows for efficient decision-making regarding treatment options. AI-generated x-rays will also help patients to interpret what they are seeing and to understand their conditions more clearly.

In addition to digital impressions, the practice also incorporates CBCT or Cone Beam Technology. CBCT offers detailed images of the bone structure, enabling the dentist to conduct root scans, plan implant placements and detect diseases such as oral cancer. By enhancing diagnostic capabilities, CBCT contributes to more precise and effective treatment planning, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes. The implementation of AI methods further enhances the practice’s diagnostic abilities and treatment recommendations.

By leveraging AI, they can analyze data more extensively, which leads to more tailored treatment plans that address each patient’s unique needs and circumstances. This integration of AI technology in the diagnostic process ensures that patients receive personalized care that is optimized for their specific dental health requirements.

Dawsonville Distinctive Dentistry is committed to providing comprehensive care to their patients, ensuring that they have access to a wide range of treatments and therapies beyond regular dental procedures. Their approach aims to not only offer the best possible treatments but also to make them convenient and accessible for patients. One of the services they offer is Invisalign, an orthodontic device that uses clear, plastic aligners to adjust teeth. This modern alternative to traditional braces provides patients with a discreet and comfortable way to achieve straighter teeth.

In addition to dental treatments the practice will soon be collaborating with ear nose and throat (ENT) doctors to offer myofascial release therapies for patients with TMJ (temporomandibular joint) issues and snoring. TMJ patients can benefit from mouthguards to alleviate grinding and they can look forward to myofascial therapy, the technique that helps ease pain and tightness in the myofascial tissues of the face. By expanding their services to include treatments such as Invisalign and Myofascial release therapy, Dawsonville Distinctive Dentistry demonstrates their commitment to providing comprehensive care that addresses not only dental concerns but issues affecting patients’ overall well-being. Their holistic approach makes the practice more unique by offering patients convenient access to many different treatments under one roof.

The combination of CBCT technology and AI methods at Dawsonville Distinctive Dentistry represents a significant advancement in dental diagnostics and treatment planning. These innovative technologies underscore the practice’s commitment to providing patients with the highest standard of care through precision, efficiency, and personalized treatment approaches. Only the best of individualized care is offered to those who come to know Dawsonville Distinctive Dentistry as their dental home.

~Tim & Lindsay White

Homeowner Alert! Review Your Tax Forms

New tax rules are creating confusion

Because of many home-related tax changes over the years, it can easily confuse taxpayers on what, when and how much can be used to qualify for a home mortgage related deduction. So when your mortgage company reports tax-related information to you and the IRS using Form 1098, it no longer means all the interest and points reported on these statements are tax deductible. Here is what you need to remember:

Mortgage interest deductions loan amount limits. For mortgages starting on or after Dec. 15, 2017, you can deduct interest on up to $750,000 of the loan (it is $1 million for mortgages initiated before

Dec. 15, 2017). If your original mortgage is above the threshold, a calculation will have to be done to determine the deductible amount of interest. You can’t simply deduct the full amount of interest being reported on your Form 1098.

Proceeds not used to buy a home add complexity. Proceeds from home equity debt that are not used to build, buy, or substantially improve a qualified home are not tax deductible. This includes mortgage or home equity proceeds used to pay for college expenses, debit consolidation, or other purposes. Mortgage companies issuing these loans will still send you a Form 1098, but it’s up to you to prove how you use the funds during the current year and any prior year.

Mortgage points requires review of settlement statements. Points are paid as a way to obtain a lower interest rate. Generally, points are deductible in the

year they are paid, but they have more restrictions than mortgage interest. Points paid to refinance an existing mortgage, for example, may need to be deducted over the life of the loan. If you bought or refinanced a home this past year, a review of your mortgage settlement statement may be required to ensure proper tax treatment of the cost of your points.

Mortgage insurance premiums are not deductible. If you pay mortgage insurance, your mortgage insurance premiums are not deductible. This on again, off again deduction is now in the off position.

With the rise in interest rates over the past several years, more taxpayers will be itemizing their deductions due to mortgage interest. So for each Form 1098 you receive, make a note on the form to explain what the loan is for to ensure a proper deduction.

“Thank you for making us Best of Dawson for six years in a row. We are known for the quality of our service and the high standards we set for ourselves. Our primary goal is to help our clients make informed financial decisions.”

HERE’S WHAT frozen treats NEWLY-OPENED

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice IS BRINGING TO DAWSON COUNTY

By Erica Jones DCN Editor

People in Dawson County now have a new, fun frozen treat option, thanks to recently-opened Jeremiah’s Italian Ice.

Ashika Chokshi, who owns the new Dawson location along with her husband Maulik Chokshi and cousin Shivam Patel, said that she and her husband have lived in Dawson County for four years and were looking to open a new business in addition to a gas station and convenience store that they already own in Murrayville. When they attended the soft opening event for Jeremiah’s Italian Ice in Cumming about two years ago, she said they knew then that they wanted the franchise to be their next business venture.

“We went to the Jeremiah’s in

Cumming on exit 13 when they opened two years ago because that’s a family friend that owns that location, and as soon as we tried the first bite me and my husband fell in love with the product; we looked at each other and we said ‘this is our next business’,” Chokshi said.

Since then, she said, they’ve been in the market for a location that would work for their shop, and when a storefront off of Highway 400 opened up they knew that was exactly what they were looking for.

“We didn’t have to change much in here but we added the mural, changed the colors and brought all of our equipment in,” Chokshi said. “So far so good; it’s picking up and people are starting to know that we are here.”

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice offers 24 different flavors of Italian ice, as well as chocolate, vanilla and swirl soft-serve ice cream. The business also offers “gelatis”, which are a combination of both.

“A lot of people think a gelati is a gelato but it’s not a gelato — it’s a layering of the Italian ice and the ice cream and then we can put layerings of their choice, like chocolate chips or sprinkles,” Chokshi explained.

The flavors the business offers cover a wide range, from

Chokshi’s personal favorite combination of mango and vanilla to some of the most popular flavors like Oreo mud pie and grasshopper. They also plan to offer special seasonal flavors throughout the year, she added, like pumpkin in October, German chocolate cake in November and peppermint flavors for Christmas.

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice ownership and employees are all excited to finally be up and running, Chokshi said, and to have their new store located in their own hometown is especially sweet for her and her husband.

“We live in Dawsonville, we’ve been here for four years and we were looking for a place in Dawsonville just where there could be a place for ice cream where people could come and hang out and enjoy sweet treats and not have to drive to Alpharetta or Cumming,” Chokshi said. “I’m very excited to be open finally.”

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is located 391 Quill Drive Suite 110 and is open Sunday through Thursday from noon to 10 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 11 p.m.

For more information about the business, follow Jeremiah’s Italian Ice on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/JeremiahsIceOfDawsonvilleGA/.

“I love fashion”

Under new ownership, this local boutique recently moved to downtown Dawsonville

Julia Hansen DCN Staff

For new Blush Ivey Boutique co-owner Leslie Prichard, her and her husband’s business venture is fulfilling a longtime dream of hers.

“I love fashion. I love clothes. It’s always been something that I wanted to do,” Prichard said.

The boutique, located at 40 Ga. 9, recently held a grand opening on Nov. 11.

And perhaps the most serendipitous part of the whole experience was that the business opportunity just kind of fell into place, according to Prichard.

A few months ago, she was in another store in the Dawson Crossroads shopping center and later ended up seeing the “store closing” sign for Blush Ivey when it was located there.

Prichard and her husband had talked about opening something like a boutique for a few years.

Although she had some concerns about how running her own boutique would work out, Prichard said “one thing led to another” with her husband going to talk to the then-boutique owner.

The couple ended up wanting to buy the business from Andrea Feirer, Prichard said.

Prichard explained that her desire to pursue this type of business has endured, even though she grew up in a time where such interests weren’t necessarily considered a career.

She previously operated an electrical business with her family, and her and her husband also own a contracting business, Prichard added.

Blush Ivey Boutique co-owner Leslie Prichard smiles behind the counter for her and her husband’s business in downtown Dawsonville. - photo by Julia Hansen

With the boutique idea, she elaborated they were having a hard time finding somewhere to lease near Ga. 400, and everything “fell into place” after she saw the taped-up downtown space formerly occupied by Appalachian Armory (which moved next door).

While the landlord wasn’t prepared to lease quite yet when Prichard first inquired, her husband fortunately followed up with a later call at just the right time.

The space was renovated before the couple arrived with their new business.

“I can’t believe I got in. I feel like a lot of people were inquiring about this to begin with,” Prichard said of business. “This fits more downtown, and I’m glad that it’s this kind of feel, rather than a corporate and by [Ga.] 400…this is coming in at a time before downtown gets any bigger.”

“A lot of people are glad that there’s somewhere closer to shop [for clothes], because a lot of them live around here,”

she added. “They’re really glad that there’s something for them to come to without having to drive to [Ga.] 400 and mess with the traffic.”

With Andrea Feirer’s loyal following, a number of people showed up to the boutique’s grand opening downtown because they knew Andrea’s brand and store, Prichard said.

She added that she’s tried to stay true to the boutique’s image, so she carries a lot of the same brands and products, while putting her own “kind of spin on things” as well.

Blush Ivey carries a variety of merchandise, from flannels and jackets to dresses, jeans, graphic tees, accessories, cookware, candles and more.

“I want things to be affordable, but I don’t want them to be cheap,” Prichard said. “I want there to be quality versus quantity.”

“I don’t think I would be here now if it wasn’t for her, just because…she’s helped me through every step and has been such a good

mentor,” she added.

Prichard hopes to have more pop-up vendors and small events at the store in the future.

Right now, she’s excited about decorating the boutique for Christmas.

Prichard says she’s been thankful for the local response so far, like two customers stopping in and asking to pray with her.

“This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this, so that was really touching,” Prichard said. “The connection that I’ve been able to make with people through all this, even in such a short amount of time, is just really special. I don’t feel like you get that a lot nowadays.”

Now that she’s in downtown Dawsonville, Prichard said the boutique feels like something she could keep and do until she’s older.

“This could be something that stays in the community and is a part of the community,” Prichard added.

“I’m thankful”

Dawsonville native Peytan Porter’s new EP captures a deep sense of resolve, hometown gratitude

Dawsonville native and country music artist Peytan Porter released her EP “Grown” at the beginning of March.

Photo by CeCe Dawson.

By Julia Hansen DCN Staff

From locally-filmed music videos to the lyrics, country music artist Peytan Porter’s most recent release echoes her heart for her hometown and what’s important to her.

After showcasing her unique take on country music through her debut project, “In My Head” and garnering a fervent following online, Porter released her new EP, “Grown,” earlier this month.

“It was important [for me] to go back home and film everything because the songs are important to me, but so is telling that part of my story about where I come from,” the 26-year-old Porter told DCN in a recent interview. “I hadn’t had opportunity to do that, so I wanted to honor Dawsonville this time around.”

EP MUSIC

The “Grown” EP’s six songs, all co-penned by Porter, provide an everyday kind of relatability that’s laden with references to small town life in north Georgia.

The first track on the EP, “Lemonade” explores how people deal with the ups and downs of daily life through gritty, vulnerable lyrics balanced with ambient instrumentals and a slow-burn kind of melody that’s as enduring as it is catchy.

Second and third tracks “God’s Hotel” and “High Road” continue the persevering attitude, mixed with a rising empowerment. “Speaking of Georgia” harks back to a sense of home, while the EP’s title track, “Grown,” blends thoughts of endurance and self-reflection.

The final track, “Run the Radio,” brings an empowering, optimistic perspective to the forefront, and the song’s more upbeat tone reflects that.

INSPIRATION

The seeds for Porter’s song “Lemonade” were sown while she was reminiscing with some hometown friends during the pandemic about being back in Dawsonville. After having been immersed in city life, Porter said she found it “refreshing” to be around a different way of living. She and her friends began to take note of the different kinds of characters they came across while in town.

“We wanted to draw on a few things about a small town and bring a message of ‘take care of your own business before worrying about what everybody else is doing’,” Porter said.

Those ideas and experiences helped create what she called a “perfect storm” in the song.

That song, as well as the rest of the EP’s tracks, were “a long time coming” for Porter, who took a creative break before resuming work on her music last year.

She and her colleagues recorded music for the EP at the start of 2023 and developed the release’s artwork last June.

Now, Porter can revel in not only the completed songs and art but the growth that’s come from the project.

“It’s been a long journey, but the fact that people are resonating with my songs enough to put them on the radio, or [some] send me a text about it...it’s a dream come true,” Porter said. “This project came from tough season in my life, so I’m really grateful that people are engaging it.”

The music videos for “Lemonade” and “God’s Hotel,” as well as the EP cover shoots, were all done in the Dawsonville area. Porter even pulled in several friends and family members for the “Lemonade” video, which was partially filmed in downtown Dawsonville’s Pool Room restaurant. “I’m so proud to be from there,” Porter said of Dawsonville. “I’m thankful for people for loving, believing and supporting me.”

In the next few weeks, Porter will play her first-ever headlining “The Road to Grown” shows. She will play in Nashville on Apr. 17 and in Atlanta on Apr. 25 at the Eddie’s Attic venue. Each of those nights will be the longest times she’s played her own music live. Porter will also have someone from the Dawsonville area open for the Atlanta show, she added.

After April, Porter plans to play at a couple festivals before opening for country artist Tim McGraw in Atlanta and other Southern cities in June.

For more details on Porter’s tour dates and music, go to peytanportermusic.com.

We would like to show our

to everyone who voted for us