Alpharetta Roswell Herald, January 14, 2016

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J a n u a r y 1 4 , 2 0 1 6 | N o r t h F u l t o n . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 3 4 , N o . 2

Health & Wellness

Gwinnett Tech Alpharetta Campus Opens

Sponsored section ►►PAGE 22

Time to set sail Learn how to win the cruise of your dreams ►►PAGE 40

Cities eye T-SPLOST Transportation funding at stake ►►PAGE 4

Basketball roundup

Boys, girls teams push for finish ►►PAGE 34

MARTA’s red herrings?

Senator tackles ‘lack of facts’ ►►PAGE 9

Ben Gravitt, the first student to walk through the doors of Gwinnett Tech Alpharetta-North, chats with Vice President of Academic Affairs Victoria Seals, Ed.D. Read more, Page 10.

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2 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

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Woman claims man broke in, asked for money 770-442-3278 | NorthFulton.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 PUBLISHER Ray Appen EDITORIAL QUESTIONS: Alpharetta-Roswell: ex. 122 Forsyth Herald: ex. 143 Johns Creek Herald: ex. 121 Milton Herald: ex. 143 Business Post: ex. 116 Northside Woman: ex. 102 TO SUBMIT EDITORIAL: News: news@appenmediagroup.com Press Releases: NewsLink.NorthFulton.com Calendar/Events: NorthFulton.com/Calendar ADVERTISING QUESTIONS: General Advertising: ex. 101 advertising@appenmediagroup.com Classified Advertising: ex. 119 classifieds@appenmediagroup.com Circulation/Subscriptions/Delivery: ex. 100 circulation@appenmediagroup.com Our Weekly Publications

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ROSWELL, Ga. — A man called Roswell Police Jan. 4 after his tenant at his Chattahoochee Street home called him to report a man had entered the home and asked for money.

When officers arrived, they found the front door open and the tenant lying on the couch.

She got up and “stumbled over to the door” and asked why the officers were there. One officer explained the call about the person coming into the home and she said the

DUIS & DRUGS

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.

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.

DUI arrests

Two women feel threatened, then shoplift

►► Thomas Eric Tribble, 27, of Aaron

Sosebee Road, Cumming, was arrested Dec. 27 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI and speeding. ►► Weston Myles Barrett, 21, of Fieldstone Edge, Alpharetta, was arrested Dec. 27 on Webb Bridge Road in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Michael John Ostrica, 49, of Big Canoe, Georgia, was arrested Dec. 16 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI, speeding and disorderly conduct.

DRUG arrests

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man walked into the home and sat down in a chair and asked for money.

She at first said she didn’t give him any money, but then said she gave him $20 so he would leave.

She told the officer different things about the amount of time the stranger was there and was reportedly “extremely intoxicated.” Neighbors across the street told the officer they had not seen anything suspicious.

►► Desmond D. Bryant, 25, of Atlanta,

was arrested Dec. 17 on North Point Drive in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana. ►► Likitha Duggirala, 22, of Mortons Crossing, Alpharetta, was arrested Dec. 18 on Preston Ridge Road in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana and possession of drug-related objects.

ROSWELL, Ga. — Two women were issued criminal trespass warnings from Value Village Dec. 30 after they reportedly shoplifted because they felt threatened.

The manager told police he noticed the two acting suspicious so he started following them around. He said once they noticed him following them, they started to videotape him on a cell phone. He then said he requested them to leave the business but they reportedly refused, so he called 911.

Prior to the officer’s arrival, the two left the store but were located down the street. They told the officers they felt threatened by the manager so they “fled the store in fear along with some merchandise.” It was agreed upon by all parties the two would return the merchandise. They were issued criminal trespass warnings

for this location and advised not to return.

Cashier gets played FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A cashier at the Marathon Gas Station on Ga. 9 called the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Jan. 4 after a reported theft occurred.

The woman told officers she was exchanging money with a customer when he “tricked” her with the amount of money to be changed. She said the man came in to buy lottery tickets and initially paid with a $50 bill.

When the cashier put the money in the drawer, the customer reportedly said he had given her the wrong bill and it was his lucky $50 bill from his niece.

She said she then removed the bill and went to exchange it for another when he gave her many instructions on how he wanted his change, which confused her.

The customer then gathered up the change as she counted it and also his original $50. He then reportedly abruptly left despite her telling him to return with the money.

The man left on foot and the immediate area was checked for people fitting his description.

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Annual Mayor’s Breakfast and the State of the City Address Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 7:30 a.m.

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NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 3

What is Astigmatism?

By Samir Vira, M.D.

Astigmatism refers to an imperfect curvature of the eye that results in a defocused or blurred image. Astigmatism is not a disease; it is a type of refractive error that can be present along with other refractive errors, such as nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia).

Refractive error occurs when the eye is unable to focus light Samir Vira, MD. into a single point. The focusing LASIK/Refractive Surgeon power of the eye is determined by a combined interaction of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, and the lens inside the eye. Astigmatism typically occurs in the cornea but can also occur in the lens as well.

How does it affect people?

Individuals without astigmatism have a smooth spherical cornea shaped like a round basketball. Alternatively,

individuals with astigmatism have an oblong-shaped cornea – more like a football – with images focused to 2 different points resulting in distorted vision. Symptoms of astigmatism can vary from distorted or blurred vision to eyestrain, squinting, and headaches. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see an eyecare provider, such as an optometrist or ophthalmologist, for a complete eye examination. During an eye exam, astigmatism can be easily determined by refraction, or an individual’s prescription. A corneal topography, which displays the overall corneal shape and power, may be performed. Large amounts of worsening astigmatism can rarely occur due to a condition called keratoconus.

How is it treated?

For individuals with astigmatism, correction can be achieved with prescription glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery. Prescription glasses and soft contact lenses for astigmatism, or Toric lenses, have an additional cylinder component in the refraction. This cylinder specifies an axis in which greater bending of light is required to achieve optimal focus for good vision. For individuals with high astigmatism

or keratoconus, rigid gas permeable lenses are an excellent option. Refractive surgery, such as LASIK or PRK, is also a safe option for those who have stable astigmatism and meet the criteria for the procedure.

Older individuals with cataracts have other options to surgically correct astigmatism at the time of cataract surgery.

An accurate measurement of the magnitude and location of astigmatism is critical in achieving the optimal outcome after surgery. For low amounts of astigmatism, “limbal relaxing incisions” can be made into the peripheral cornea. These incisions have traditionally been performed with a diamond knife, but more recently, a laser has come into favor due to improved precision. For moderate to higher amounts of astigmatism, specially designed lens implants called Toric intraocular lens implants can be inserted into the eye to obtain excellent vision.

Astigmatism may slowly increase with age, and this is why it is important to have regular eye exams done to ensure and maintain good vision.

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4 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

Transportation SPLOST spreads uncertainty Rush to meet 90day deadline leaving cities frustrated

What a T-SPLOST means to North Fulton

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Fulton County cities may at last have the opportunity to get comprehensive traffic relief, but local city governments are confused about the details and the rush to get an acceptable plan before the voters in time for November elections.

Voters will be asked to opt for a Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax. If it passes, T-SPLOST would raise more than $1.2 billion over the next five years for Fulton transportation improvements.

It turns out there are several “ifs” in the plan that would add 1 percent to the Fulton sales tax and then sunset at the end of five years.

• Perhaps the biggest hurdle is it must have all Fulton cities voting in favor of it. If even one city fails to vote for the measure, then the T-SPLOST would still be invoked but at a lesser tax, either 0.75 percent or 0.05 percent.

• The county also specifies all cities to submit their transportation improvement plans in 90 days.

• The county specifies that one engineering firm put all of these transportation recommendations from the cities into one coherent plan. In theory it would produce one plan when the Georgia Department of Transportation is determining the actual costs.

To that last end, the county is asking one engineering firm be hired to collate the plans into specified groups – North Fulton would be one encompassing all the cities north of Atlanta – Sandy Springs, Mountain Park, Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton and Johns

Fulton County voters may be asked to vote for a 1 percent sales tax increase devoted entirely to transportation projects. It would raise an estimated $1.2 billion. Divided on a per capita basis, this is what North Fulton cities could expect for transportation: City Population Tax Portion Alpharetta 63,000 $75.9M Johns Creek 83,000 $100M Milton 36,600 $44.2M Roswell 94,000 $120M Sandy Springs 102,000 $122.7M

Creek.

Each city is asked to pay its pro rata share of the plan based on population.

When Alpharetta heard the proposition laid out at its Jan. 4 City Council meeting, council members balked. They had too many unanswered questions before they were willing to pony up $186,000 for Alpharetta’s part of creating the scope of the plan.

Eric Bosman, a certified planner for Kimley-Horn, one of the engineering companies partnering on this project (Atkins Engineering is the other), tried to answer the council’s questions.

• Were the companies deciding the projects to be submitted? No. The cities would submit their own transportation plans. The engineering companies are simply connecting projects with those of other contiguous cities where applicable.

• Why are the plans so expensive?

The plans have a quick turnaround of 90 days. They must be ready to submit to the General Assembly for the legislative session and inclusion to legislation that will authorize it. That means Kimley-Horn and Atkins will have to put a lot of staff on the project to meet the county’s deadline. The engineering teams will revise the city plans and assign appropriate budgets for them and schedule them for construction.

• Why such a short deadline? Fulton County wants to have the plan voted on during the presidential election cycle. The feeling is presidential elections bring a heavier turnout, so more people will take the opportunity to vote.

The public works director and city manager of each city would be the liaison between the various cities and the management teams.

Meanwhile each city has no idea which, if any other, cities are even going to participate. Johns Creek was briefed before the holiday break and tabled it because council members wanted more information.

Now Alpharetta council members did the same Jan. 4. Alpharetta City Council will convene this week in a work session for more clarification.

“I’m not comfortable without having a scope set for the whole project,” said Councilman Chris Owens. “If we join, who has the ultimate say about what gets on the list?”

The only thing clear about the process so far is that cities are uncertain about proceeding.

There is a big carrot on the table in the form of $100 million designated solely for transportation improvements.

But it is apparent local elected officials have more questions than answers now – and the clock is ticking.

GARAGE SALES See more garage sales in the classifieds • Page 37

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NEWS

NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 5

JONATHAN COPSEY/STAFF

JONATHAN COPSEY/STAFF

Roswell Councilman Marcel Zapata takes the oath of office Jan. 11 to take his seat. His wife, Selina, swore him in.

Newly elected Roswell City Councilman Michael Palermo takes the oath of office Jan. 11 from Sen. John Albers while his wife, Melanie, and daughter, Vienna Rose, look on.

New Roswell council members take seats Zapata, Palermo take oaths of office

By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagoup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – Two newly elected Roswell council members took their seats for the first time Jan. 11 at the City Council meeting. They were sworn in by family members as supporters

watched.

Marcelo Zapata, who won the race for Post 1, is a local small-business owner. Michael Palermo, who won the race for Post 2, is in financial services.

“I look forward to doing what our city desires,” said Palermo. “I appreciate the opportunity to work for you [the residents].”

Both Zapata and Palermo unseated incumbents in November’s elections.

The new council, including newly

elected Councilman Donald Horton, who filled the unexpired term of Betty Price in November, tackled a range of items in the Jan. 11 meeting. They approved agreements with state and federal agencies to pave the way for the Historic Gateway Project and an agreement to work with other North Fulton cities on a transportation project list.

Zapata said he was eager to get going, saying to the audience, “Let’s start working!”

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6 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

COMMUNITY

Experience a Divine Culture Shen Yun’s one-of-a-kind performance revives stories and legends from thousands of years of Chinese culture. With the richly expressive art of classical Chinese dance, groundbreaking musical compositions, and cutting-edge, interactive stage effects, Shen Yun is leaving millions around the world in awe.

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Hundreds of people take part in a unity march in Alpharetta last year for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. They march again this year from St. James United Methodist Church to Alpharetta City Hall Jan. 18.

Service, march to honor MLK ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- St. James United Methodist Church of Alpharetta, GA will host the Annual Alpharetta Community Martin Luther King Day Service Jan. 18, MLK Day. The service will begin at 10 a.m. at the St. James United Methodist Church located at 3000 Webb Bridge Road in Alpharetta.

The service will include a traditional Unity March to the First Baptist Church of Alpharetta, directly across from the City Hall. Special invited guests include the mayor of Alpharetta,

David Belle Isle, and Reverend Dr. Walter Kimbrough, who will serve as the guest speaker.

Refreshments will be served at First Baptist following the march. St. James invites all members of the community, surrounding cities and counties, and media to come walk with hand and hand as they celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For more information, visit stjamesumc.org.

—Jonathan Copsey

Registration open for Roswell’s spring rec and parks programs TICKET PRICE: $65 - $205

Hotline: 770.285.7786 Online: ShenYun.com/Atlanta Box Office: 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339

ROSWELL, Ga. — Discover a new passion in 2016 when you sign up for one of the City of Roswell’s award-winning recreation, parks, historic & cultural affairs programs.

Registration for spring classes and activities began January 11, for residents, and begin Tuesday, January 19, for non-residents.

From athletics and fitness classes to visual and performing arts, there is something for everyone, no matter age or ability. To learn more about pro-

grams and activities, browse the spring brochure and register at roswellgov. com/register.

In addition to online registration, in-person registration for residents is offered at Roswell City Hall, Suite 100, 38 Hill Street, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. beginning January 11. Numbers will be handed out starting at 8:00 a.m. and registration will begin at 9:00 a.m.

For more information, contact recweb@roswellgov.com or call 770-6413705.

Baylor School in Chattanooga

SCHOOLS

NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 7

Imagine a school day that involved a two-minute walk to classes each day instead of a two-hour commute in the car.

That’s the reality for students at Baylor School in Chattanooga. One of the nation’s leading prep schools, Baylor is located on the Tennessee River with scenic views of surrounding mountains, yet only five minutes from a vibrant downtown.

Baylor sophomore and Atlanta resident Julia Steck says she chose to attend Baylor for high school because she was seeking challenges, independence, and opportunities. “It came down to what was best for me personally,” Julia says.

“My parents and I love everything about Baylor, especially all of the things you can get involved in. Colleges also recognize all that Baylor is known for.”

Julia’s mother, Wendy Steck, was further impressed by the support provided by dorm parents and academic advisers, who meet with students throughout the week to establish personal goals and monitor progress. “We appreciate the sense of caring and family that permeates throughout the entire campus,” says Wendy. “There is a great support system with the residential life staff. We knew she would be cared for, challenged, and respected in a way that any parent would want for their child.”

Talented teachers, high academic standards, a huge array of extracurricular activities, and the development of leadership skills in a coed environment are hallmarks of a Baylor education. And with the Baylor family supporting you, just about anything is possible. Learn more at www.baylorleads. org or call 423-267-5902.

Julia and Wendy Steck.

Chattanooga

8 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

OPINION

Why we should be connectivists I recently listened to two TED Talks recommended to me by my son Carl and my daughter, Amelia. One was on addiction and the other featured a fascinating 75-yearold ongoing study RAY APPEN being conducted Publisher ray@appenmediagroup.com

by Harvard on what makes people happy, healthy and productive.* The gist of the addiction talk suggested that how we have treated addiction for the past hundred years has, by many measures, failed – and that there may be a better, more effective approach. We currently have more people incarcerated than any other country in the world, and a very large percentage are there for drug or drug-related offenses. We have spent billions on the “drug war” – for law enforcement and punishment – and, for the most part, it appears to me that the main outcome of that policy has been to create many drug lord billionaires who, as they get caught, are replaced with new ones. Much of the effect of our policy has simply been to create just enough of a scarcity of the product to support a high enough price point to incent continued smuggling and, indirectly, addiction.

That TED Talk spent a significant amount of time discussing how we currently treat people who are addicts – again, relying primarily on punitive measures and disincentives to “cure” their addiction. Since incarcerated addicts have felony records that make later employment almost impossible, they tend to be isolated and generally shunned, or “disconnected,” from society. The talk goes on to suggest – and this is where I got chills – that curing addiction may be less dependent upon traditional treatment and more upon “reconnecting” people by successfully changing their environment. In other words, mainstreaming addicts by focusing efforts on making them employable again and helping them have some sort of meaningful “purpose” or reason to exist within society. The TED Talk suggests that being “disconnected” may be the fundamental component in the addiction puzzle and that reconnecting people could be the core part of the “solution.”

Yes, I know that this seems “pie in the sky,” trite and naive. Ok, I get that. But if you watch that TED Talk and think about what Johann Hari is saying, and if you suspend skepticism for just a moment, it may just begin to

make sense. At least it does to me. And if, for fun, you were to forget that he is talking about “addiction” and replace that word with “life,” it may make even more sense.

The first TED Talk cites two examples that support Hari’s idea. The first one concerned a lab experiment that involved rats and drugged water vs. nondrugged water. The second example was a big one – the Vietnam War. It is generally understood that drugs – particularly heroin – were huge problems in Vietnam, where up to 15 percent of U.S. forces were using or addicted to heroin. Yet, when all those soldiers returned home, the rate of addiction and recidivism were many times lower that what had been expected and also much, much lower than the current rates today. Both the lab experiment and the success rate of the returning soldiers seem to suggest that changing the environment that fosters enfranchisement, connectivity and a sense of community was the critical factor in combating addiction.

Both TED Talks suggested that humans need to bond: They need to be connected to other humans for support, companionship and a sense of community or tribe. Without friends, support and healthy relationships, people are most vulnerable and will find someone or something else to bond to – to connect with – to help them deal with their lives.

In many cases that “something else” is addiction in some form. And the addiction is not limited to drugs. People also can be addicted to such things as work or exercise or electronics.

So, the first TED Talk suggests that the opposite of “addiction” is not, as we have believed all these years, “sobriety.”

It is, instead, “connection.” That need to be connected is so strong that people not only destroy their lives slowly through drug addiction, they also make other tragic choices – such as, for example, joining extremist groups and strapping on and detonating suicide vests for a cause.

People are most vulnerable when they feel isolated. Disconnection is

the major source of all addictions, the TED Talk suggests. It also implies that much of today’s connectivity – smart phones, social media, the text/digital world – is at best a parody of real human connections that are so crucial to healthy relationships within a wider society. As the TED Talk mentions, “The average amount of floor space we enjoy has been increasing for years while the average number of ‘close friends’ we believe we have has continued to diminish.” Connection to others through Facebook and other social media will never be a substitute for having real friends who are there when you need them or talk to you all night when your life seems like it is falling apart. Such a large percentage of today’s “connections” are faux connections that are non-nourishing and nonsustaining. The condition is of epidemic proportions.

I am not saying that we can solve the world’s problems or addiction by being friendlier. I am not saying that the insanity of ISIS can be completely explained as a lack of “connection.” What I am saying is that I am becoming more and more convinced that our world is rapidly becoming more isolated, more arrogant, more selfish, lonelier, harder, less livable and more dangerous.

And that, the more it gets this way, the more acute is our need for it to be exactly the opposite – more connected in real, personal, meaningful and less self-centered ways.

My daughter, Amelia, sent me a note this week about riding the subway in San Francisco, where she lives now.

It was about an encounter she had on the subway with a homeless person.

The homeless person spoke to her and everyone else in her car because she spoke to him first and he gave her this message – for all of us: “I would rather be hungry than invisible. I’m not crazy and I’m not an addict, I’m just homeless. If you don’t have the means to help me out, that’s OK. That’s not all I’m asking for. I’m asking for your communication – for you to smile at me. That would mean a lot. I only get to shower maybe three times a week. Look

... Connection to others through Facebook and other social media will never be a substitute for having real friends who are there when you need them or talk to you all night when your life seems like it is falling apart.

at my hands. I just want to be acknowledged. I would rather be hungry than invisible.”

I want to close with that, but I won’t. My son Carl sent me the addiction TED Talk and another YouTube lecture called, “This is Water.” Amelia shared with me her subway story and the Harvard TED Talk.

Most of the books I have read that have made a difference in my life I read because my children – Hans, Amelia, and Carl – were reading them. I get more flattering compliments than I deserve from my columns.

Those of you who get something from what I write should thank my kids, not me.

Amelia earns a modest living to reside in San Francisco. She is very frugal: 55 percent of her income goes to rent and 33 percent goes to Uncle Sam, so she lives on 12 percent. Every week she spends $20 and makes peanut butter sandwiches, a lot of them. She carries them with her every day and hands them out to homeless people – after she stops for a moment to talk with them.

I have so far to go to be even remotely as engaged and connected as my daughter and my wife, both of whom actively help others every week.

It is a struggle for me to just function within my own envelope, much less outside of it. But that is exactly what I am promising myself – today – to do.

I am going to become an activist – a “connectivist” – and it only takes one act to be one. One a day would be even better.

The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it is being connected. It is being cared for by someone else. It is being loved.

It is feeling like you are part of a community – a community of other people who actually care that you are alive and who reach out to you deliberately and consistently. It is the only antidote to loneliness and addiction and probably the only hope that we have to make it another hundred years in one piece.

That’s my story and I am sticking to it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go buy a loaf of bread and some peanut butter and jelly. Happy New Year 2016.

*T ED Talk on addiction: Google “Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong Johann Hari” TED Talk Harvard study: Google “What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness Robert Waldinger” YouTube lecture: “This is water:” Google “David Foster Wallace This is Water”

OPINION

NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 9

MARTA expansion north and the red herrings I am baffled and amazed at the lack of facts and logic used to support issues. Often, these issues are being justified by something I like to refer to as a red herring. A red herring is someJOHN ALBERS thing that misleads State Senator or distracts from a relevant or important issue. Red herrings are typically used as part of rhetorical strategies such as politics. The samples of red herrings below distract from the real issue. Those perpetrating these false and misguided tales are misrepresenting the facts and causing fundamental mistrust.

I represent all six cities in North Fulton County and speak to residents every day. The people overwhelmingly tell me they do not want a heavy rail solution forced upon them, so why are they being sold a bill of goods? This is the case for the proposed and nearly $3,000,000,000 ($3 billion) expansion of MARTA rail into North Fulton County. A project of this magnitude will likely increase traffic and taxes for North Fulton residents.

The people overwhelmingly tell me they do not want a heavy rail solution forced upon them, so why are they being sold a bill of goods?

Cobb County learned through a study commissioned by the Board of Commissioners that their proposed transit system could make traffic worse at key intersections. North Fulton does need innovative solutions to circumvent traffic congestion, but a heavy rail expansion is not the solution. Citizens are smart and understand the reality of the situation.

North Fulton is blessed in many ways. We rank highly in Georgia and nationally in most major categories including: public safety, level of higher education, household income, parks,

O F NORTH ATLA NTA

best places to start a business, best places to raise a family, lowest unemployment, cutting-edge businesses, best quality of life, top-ranked schools and so much more. One popular red-herring argument starts with the millennial generation saying they will never own a car or live in the suburbs. I guess they forget people grow up, get married and desire a different quality of life. I think the millennial generation is very talented, and I have already seen them moving to North Fulton in large numbers and, according to Bloomberg, they account for 27 percent of all new car sales.

Another myth to debunk claims businesses need to have heavy rail transit in order to thrive. Businesses locate to our area because we lead in most major areas as referenced earlier and employees live and work in their community. Some people are saying Mercedes-Benz chose a new office location based on the MARTA line, which made me laugh out loud. This is a luxury carmaker that provides automobiles for their employees!

Furthermore, I even read an article where someone compared the quality of life to the number of heavy rail miles.

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conclusion. We are already thriving and leading in most every metric in North Fulton.

Lastly, and perhaps the most outrageous, was a “Twitter poll” claiming strong support for expansion with no basis or controls whatsoever. This was the height of irresponsible journalism. I speak to constituents every day and this could not be further from the truth. As John Adams said, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”

Let’s review together: an expansion of MARTA will increase taxes, cost billions, take countless years to complete and increase traffic. Additionally, it will not improve our public safety, household income, parks, business climate, quality of life, unemployment rates, or our top-ranking public school system.

Why defy the will of the people?

Expanding a heavy rail line is not operationally, financially or logistically feasible.

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10 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

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By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – It was a crisp, cold Jan. 6 morning when the Alpharetta-North Fulton campus of Gwinnett Technical College welcomed its first student – and he didn’t even have class that day.

Ben Gravitt, 28, was the first student at 8 a.m. to walk through the campus doors at 2875 Old Milton Parkway.

“No, I didn’t have class today. But I can’t study at home. There’s too much distraction. So I got up and came here,” he said.

That means Gravitt has the distinction of being the first student to cross the threshold of the Alpharetta-North Fulton campus. It is certain he won’t be the last.

A graduate of the Howard School in Roswell, Gravitt is now pursuing a career as a respiratory technician.

“In the respiratory program, I’ll work with people who have breathing problems and administer respiratory drugs.

I have one more class to finish and I can start the program in the spring,” he said.

He said he looked at several opportunities to go into the medical field around the state, but chose Gwinnett Tech because it was affordable and “the science programs are very good.

“Health science is what I wanted.

I looked at other programs at other schools and they just weren’t the same,” Gravitt said.

Inaugural education programs at Alpharetta-North Fulton campus Gwinnett Technical College’s Alpharetta-North Fulton campus is on 25 acres at 2875 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, on the west side of Ga. 400.

Initial program offerings were decided in consultation with North Fulton business and economic development leaders. Students choose from these areas: • Computer Sciences Computer Programming, Game Development, Cybersecurity, Website Design/Development, Networking Specialist, Data Center Specialist • Business Accounting, Logistics, Criminal Justice Technology, Business Management, Marketing Management, Business Technology, Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management • Health and Life Sciences Health Care Assistant (multiple concentrations: Allied Health, Medical Unit Secretary, Patient Care), Bioscience Environmental Lab Tech, Bioscience Regulatory Assurance Tech, Clinical Research Professional • Education

HATCHER HURD/STAFF

Gwinnett Tech President Glen Cannon and Vice President of Institutional Development Mary Beth Byerly welcome students to Gwinnett Tech’s Alpharetta-North Fulton campus.

• Early Childhood Education • Criminal Justice • Criminal Justice Technology • General Education • Math, English About Alpharetta-North Fulton Campus • Three stories, 95,000 square feet • 35 classrooms and technology-enhanced classrooms; seven computer labs; three science labs; library; bookstore; two 75-seat lecture halls; Learning Success Center.

State-of-the-art lab classrooms are part of the Alpharetta-North Fulton campus.

SCHOOLS

NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 11

rst student an eager beaver Gwinnett Tech Alpharetta/North Fulton campus greets 1st student Just harbinger of 10,000 students to come

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com

HATCHER HURD/STAFF

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Students in this English class also earn credits that will transfer to a four-year college. Students can earn up to two years of college credits while still in high school, saving two years of Hope Scholarship funding.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The doors of Gwinnett Technical College’s Alpharetta-North Fulton campus swung open on Old Milton Parkway for the first time Jan. 6.

They admitted students at long last who will learn skills for careers in well-paying jobs, and the classrooms and the jobs may not be too far from where they live now.

Getting the doors open at the Alpharetta campus, however, was years in the making.

Nevertheless, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce President Brandon Beach said Gwinnett Tech’s presence on Ga. 400 will be “transformational.”

“Five years ago, we saw the need for a technical school that could fill needs both for our IT community and the growing medical community in the Ga. 400 corridor,” Beach said.

Beach and members of the Greater North Fulton Chamber team — David Seago, Penn Hodge and the then-head of Progress Partners North Fulton Al Nash — approached then-Gwinnett Tech President Ron Jackson to shift North Fulton into the Gwinnett Tech coverage area with the goal of having a North Fulton technical college.

“Once that was accomplished, we got tremendous support from Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones [R-Milton], who got $25 million into the budget for the construction of the school,” Beach said.

Not all high school students are candidates for a four-year college. There is a huge need for technical and medical careers for people here, he said.

“And it is a build-it-and-they-willcome effect. Gwinnett Tech is just the latest tool in our toolbox to add to the many other assets and inducements Ga. 400 provide. It

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12 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

Campus: Continued from Page 11 will play a huge role in attracting new and high-paying jobs to the corridor.”

Gwinnett Tech Vice President of Institutional Advancement Mary Beth Byerly said it was a great effort by community leaders to figure out how Gwinnett Tech could best serve the area and, what’s more, find the funds to get it done.

“This community came together and got the capital to build this,” Byerly said. “It was a time of tight budgets but the leadership was united.”

Indeed, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta and Johns Creek all made bids for the site, but Alpharetta was by far the strongest. Adding a $3 million sweetener which will build the school’s parking deck certainly helped.

Its Ga. 400 location will also serve communities from Sandy Springs to Dahlonega and along the east-west axis of Woodstock to Duluth.

Future plans will triple the size of the campus from one building of 95,000 square feet to three buildings

totaling 300,000 square feet and serving 10,000 students.

The campus will also serve students in the Move On When Ready program. Students can take advanced core courses which will also transfer as college credits.

Students already in the program have graduated high school with enough credits to enter college as juniors.

Meanwhile, the campus will provide the business community with workforce development courses such as Certified Cisco Network Associate that will make their workers more valuable employees, Byerly said.

“Information security specialist is another two-year or less certification that has an entry level of around $60,000 a year,” she said. “Our programs align with what the community tells us it needs. Whether that is early childhood education or medical technician.”

It is also more affordable than most college tuitions and Hope Scholarship funds are applicable.

“Using the Move On When Ready program, a student can get the first two years of college and be debtfree,” she said.

Gwinnett Tech President Glen Cannon was on hand the first day of class. He called it a relief to finally to

be open.

“We hope to keep the North Fulton workforce growing. We are already the largest supplier of health care workers in this service area,” Cannon said.

That’s not just nurses.

It is radiation technicians, EMTs, medical stenographers and more, he said.

The medical profession has a “1-2-7” ratio that Gwinnett Tech tries to fill. For every one doctor, two four-year degreed positions are created and seven associate degree positions.

“There is still a gap in the need versus the supply,” Cannon said. “We are working to narrow that.”

The Alpharetta-North Fulton campus will have its full-blown ribboncutting in the spring. For now staff is working out the kinks and getting faculty in place.

“We are getting ramped up, and we want a seasoned faculty to greet students in the spring,” Cannon said.

They are also getting articulation agreements signed every month with colleges and universities to accept Gwinnett Tech Alpharetta-North Fulton campus credits.

“Technology retools exponentially.

Computer information systems are constantly being updated. It is our job to provide the people who will dothat,” Cannon said.

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Roswell resident Billie Leonard, left, had the opportunity to dance onstage with her musical idol, Smokey Robinson.

Resident gets on stage with Smokey Robinson ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell resident Billie Leonard had the opportunity to dance onstage with her musical idol, Smokey Robinson recently. The video can be found by searching ‘Smokey Robinson & Billie from Detroit’ or by visiting http://bit. ly/1kM7qVy (this was previously published without the URL so we have provided it for you this time)

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NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 13

14 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

SCHOOLS

Fulton School’s upkeep to top $475M in next building phase Needs will be prioritized for the 2017-22 cycle

NF locations & times: Wednesday, Jan. 13 6:30 p.m.

Chattahoochee High School

By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com ATLANTA — Renovations, repairs and “refreshing” to the 320 buildings which make up the Fulton County School System could cost taxpayers $475 million during the 2017-22 capital program time frame.

How to pay for it will be a decision made by voters in the next year, faced with either a renewal of the one-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, a bond referendum or a hike in the millage rate to cover the bill.

But for now, system planners are focusing on needs, not solutions. Overall, Fulton School buildings are in good shape, due primarily to a bevy of new buildings and ongoing maintenance.

“The district is in pretty good condition, and it should be,” noted Casey Morris of Jacobs, which serves as the capital program manager for Fulton Schools. “[Fulton has] been spending money on schools--you’ve built a lot square footage — [but] you do have needs.”

Thursday, Jan. 14 6:30 p.m.

Milton Center (old Milton High School) Media Center

In the past 20 years, 45 new schools and 34 additions helped meet an enrollment that has increased by 35,000 students. In North Fulton, 20 new schools have opened since 1997 – nearly half of the current inventory.

The goal now, said Patrick Burke, Fulton’s deputy superintendent for operations, is to protect those investments. A facility conditions assessment of all 8 million square feet of system space was recently completed, with the data now compiled into a priority list.

“In the coming month we will prepare a facilities master plan that will help the system prioritize the critical needs for existing facilities,” said Burke.

Once finalized and approved by the Fulton School Board, this plan will serve as the capital program plan for through 2022.

Interim Superintendent Ken Zeff said having a priority list helps the system stay transparent during the process.

“We will run out of money and we are not going to get all the way through [the list],” said Zeff. “But being thoughtful about the needs will be helpful as we move through the [projects], and allow [the community] to understand where they are on the list.”

The facility assessment, which started in May, looked at needs in two ways — current deficiencies and life cycle.

Current deficiencies are things that are broken, functionally obsolete or inadequate, and need to be addressed in the short term, one to two years.

“The life cycle forecast,” explained Morris. “Is [something] not deficient today, but will likely be during the fiveyear window.”

For instance, a 20-year roof which has been on for 17 years is likely getting to the end of its functional life.

“It’s not necessarily deficient today – it’s doing what it should – but we need to plan for that to fail in the near term,”

he added.

Based on the facility assessment, the majority of buildings are in the “good” range with a system average of 88 on a 100-point scale. Individually, every need is assigned a priority one to priority five rating.

“Priority one are mission critical and have direct impact on the ability of the school to function,” said Morris, citing mechanical systems, roofs and plumbing.

During the capital programs update on Dec. 8, Fulton school board members were in agreement of the need to spend millions on keeping buildings in good shape.

“We’ve had a lot of new construction, but as growth is slowing down, it’s time to start refreshing and updating,” said North Fulton board member Julia Bernath.

And in a system with dozens of spanking-new schools, schools that are simply decades are considered old and dated.

“I don’t know where else in the country that looks at a school built in the ‘70s and ‘80s and considers it old,” said Board President Linda McCain of Johns Creek. “But that’s where we are at and we need to be cautious about that.”

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NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 15

Creek View students tackle world issues

ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- On Dec. 4, fifth grade students in Jennifer Bowers’ and Carol Evans’ Talented and Gifted (TAG) classes held a Research Contract Fair at Creek View Elementary School in Alpharetta.

Each individual student had been investigating a real-world problem, such as terrorism, cancer and the energy crisis since August in a variety of ways. Students used the writing process to complete a research paper in order to learn about their topics and how they relate to the fifth grade curriculum. They completed an interview with a person in the real world who is workCreek View Elementary School student ing to solve the problem and created Emma Chen explains her research to a visual to summarize their learning. her mother and fellow TAG student Lastly, they brainstormed ways in Saachi Varshney while another stuwhich they, as a fifth grader, could dent listens. help to solve the problem. One student, Davis Cloud, was inspired to put her solution to foster care into action by holding a clothing drive at school.

Community members and fellow students were able to view the presentations during the Research Contract Fair.

Crabapple Middle hosts grandparents ROSWELL, Ga. -- Crabapple Middle School held its annual Grandparent’s Coffee. This year the theme was “My Favorite Things.” The coffee was a hit with close to 200 grandparents joining their grandchildren for a breakfast, as well as orchestra, band and choir performances with videos of grandchildren telling their grandparents some of their favorite things about them.

The day was made possible for the CMS’s PTA chair, Nicole Gordon and CMS’s Assistant Principal, Nancy Thweatt.

Many volunteers gave their time to set up, donate food and perform.

Independence High student wins art contest ALPHARETTA, Ga. - Independence High School student Dylan Moore successfully applied his talent and the knowledge gained in John Campbell’s art classes to the work he submitted for Roswell Library’s fall art contest.

The competition, entitled “There’s No Place Like…,” challenged local area high school students to put their imaginations on paper or canvas and depict the place from literature that they would most like to visit.

Moore was inspired by John Steinbeck’s novel, “The Grapes of Wrath” and created the colored pencil drawing, “Eating the Grapes of Wrath.” His work won first place in the contest and he received a cash prize and will have his sketch on display in the children’s section of the Roswell branch library for the remainder of the year.

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16 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016

ENCORE BRIDGE CLOSED 18 MONTHS:

Alpharetta, North Fulton CID bridging the future on Ga. 400 Encore Parkway Bridge replacement begins $17.7M project for corridor redevelopment

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – A cold wind blew Jan. 6 over Encore Parkway Bridge that

connects Westside Parkway and North Point Parkway. But dignitaries gathered for the groundbreaking of a replacement bridge project were warmed by the economic impact the $17.7 million new development will have.

The major new traffic connector, scheduled for completion in July 2017, is being jointly funded by the North Fulton Community Improvement District, the city of Alpharetta, Georgia Department of Transportation, Atlanta Regional Commission, and the State yn

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Officials representing the North Fulton CID, the City of Alpharetta, Fulton County and the Atlanta Regional Commission join in breaking ground on the new Encore Parkway Bridge.

Road and Tollway Authority.

“It is a project that does a lot of good things, and we were able to get the help of a lot of folks to do it,” said Kerry Armstrong, chairman of the North Fulton CID board of directors.

Encore Parkway Bridge is the connector over Ga. 400 that links North Point Parkway and Westside Parkway midway between Haynes Bridge Road and Mansell Road.

NFCID Chairman Kerry Armstrong said the project will transform the area.

With wider vehicular lanes, bike lanes, sidewalks and landscaped medians along the connector road and the bridge, the project will allow more vehicle traffic while providing pedestrian and bicycle access that just wasn’t there before.

“The old bridge was just two lanes and no pedestrian access. This new bridge will provide much more access.

It will really unite these two major roads, North Point and Westside,” Armstrong said. “And it provides cross-access without getting involved at Ga. 400 interchanges at Haynes Bridge or Mansell.”

The west side of Encore Parkway also leads right to Verizon Wireless T:\ADS_2015\NFAYP Amphitheater’s doorstep, so the wid-

Project cost breakdown • • • • • •

ARC - $4M GDOT - $3.4M SRTA (GTIB) - $1M City of Alpharetta - $1.7M North Fulton CID - $7.625M Project Total - $17.725M

ened bridge will help ease traffic during concert events.

The project’s connectivity aspects and friendliness to pedestrians and cyclists helped win it a Livable Communities Initiative Award from the Atlanta Regional Commission, Armstrong noted.

State Sen. Brandon Beach had nothing but praise for the project, as well.

“Anytime you can provide connection for two arteries like North Point Parkway and Westside Parkway you have made a great enhancement for mobility,” Beach said.

“It opens the area for economic de

See BRIDGE, Page 17

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BUSINESSPOSTS

Don’t second-guess yourself

40 UNDER 40:

Samantha Dawkins

Editor’s note: The North Atlanta Business Post, an Appen Media Group publication, recently recognized 40 individuals under the age of 40 with outstanding accomplishments in their professional or extracurricular lives. Each week for the next 40 weeks, we will publish a profile showcasing one of these individuals.

Visit NorthAtlanta BusinessPost.com for more info.

Age: 33 Title/Company: Vice President, brand & communication, for Pruitt Health A native of Rome, Georgia, Samantha Dawkins graduated from Brenau University. She has since expanded the vision for several of America’s bestknown brands including Aflac Inc., Caesars and Nobu Hotel.

“Truly great brands can’t be managed, they must be led,” Dawkins said.

While working on the national advertising team for Aflac, she was

NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 17

As we head into a new year, most small-business owners set high goals to grow their business. Hopefully they have done meticulous planning to make 2016 a banner DICK JONES year. Execution of Founder & President Jones Simply Sales the plan is important to achieve the intended results, but second-guessing yourself after rolling out a plan for the new year is a recipe for disaster.

Here are some simple ways to stay the course on what you’ve planned for the new year. Number one, don’t change your plan until you have actually executed it. If something goes wrong early in the year, it doesn’t mean your plan is bad. It may be related to factors you couldn’t control or didn’t anticipate.

To eliminate second-guessing

tasked with helping coordinate $80 million in marketing per year and eventually came to report to the chief DAWKINS marketing officer as his primary liaison.

After helping Caesars Entertainment launch new hospitality products as brand director and winning numerous awards, Dawkins chose to return to her Southeastern roots, working with Pruitt Health, the 14th largest provider of skilled nursing in the U.S. “No matter the task, do it well,” she advised. “Everything is an opportunity to develop a relationship. No matter what business you’re in, you’re in the people business.”

In her spare time, Dawkins enjoys the solace of the outdoors and Buckhead Church. She also has an affinity for travel and said her most memorable moment was running with the bulls in Pamplona.

yourself, trust that you’ve done your homework and have put together a good plan to successfully grow your small business. Not all things happen overnight, so if you are experiencing less than planned results, don’t freak out. Sometimes the best plans take longer than planned to unfold.

Go easy on yourself. The worst enemy for a small-business owner is yourself! Recognize that you’ve got a lot of experience and expertise, and that your planning has put you in a position for success in the new year.

Just because something negative happens early in the year doesn’t mean you have to change your strategy, and it certainly doesn’t mean that you should be second-guessing yourself.

Be comfortable with mistakes as they are going to happen all the time.

Remember the past results you have achieved and stay the course with what you’ve planned for this year.

Don’t second-guess yourself in January, or for that matter, at any time!

Bridge

The Lund Group joins Berkshire Hathaway

Continued from Page 16

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties has announced The Lund Group has joined the firm.

The Lund Group principals are Cathi and Bill Lund. Other members include their transaction coordinator, Tiffany Schrader, plus Jamie Lund Cumbo and Becky Beaver.

Cathi Lund has been ranked as the top agent in the Coldwell Banker Roswell office since 2001.

The Lund Group is among the top 1 percent of agents in the country with over 950 homes sold and more than $325 million in sales volume.

The Lund Group will now be affiliated with Berkshire Hathaway’s Alpharetta/ North Fulton office.

“I am honored to welcome The

velopment in the corridor and it eases congestion, which is a public-safety enhancement as well. It doesn’t get any better than this. And this has been a partnership in every sense of the word.”

The project, which is designed to support mixed-use development around the corridor, has three major components: Replacement of the existing Encore Parkway Bridge over Ga. 400 that connects Westside Parkway and North Point Parkway; Transformation of the corridor into a multimodal complete street; Creating the first east-west pedestrian/bicycle connection to Alpharetta’s Big Creek Greenway.

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Lund Group,” said Dan Forsman, president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties. “Their commitment to delivering exceptional service and outstanding results for their clients is a perfect fit for our company as we continue to redefine the real estate experience.”

“We are excited to be joining the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices family,” said Cathi Lund. “Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties is the clear market leader for homes sold in metro Atlanta.

The Lund Group will now be able to leverage many advantages that will benefit our clients and the company’s innovative programs will give a new level of energy to our business.”

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18 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

BUSINESSPOSTS

KATHLEEN STURGEON/STAFF

From left, Brandon Herder, Don Webb, Scott Doll, DePriest Waddy, Laurie Woodruff and Morris Cowan during the check presentation.

United Way donates to YMCA Will be investment in local after-school programs

By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The United Way of Greater Atlanta and the Ed Isakson/ Alpharetta Family YMCA teamed up Jan. 6 to give back to local students.

A $20,000 donation was given from United Way to the YMCA to help fund their after-school and summer programs at local schools including Hembree Springs and Manning Oaks elementary schools.

Scott Doll, YMCA executive director, said the donation shows the community is better when it works collaboratively to improve academic achievement for all students, but particularly those who need extra assistance.

“One of our taglines at the Y is we believe that every child needs to be at a point where they are prepared to read to learn by the third grade,” Doll said.

“That early education is so important.

Particularly these summer programs that provide a lower teacher-student ratio that enable those students to really hone in on those fundamentals that they’re missing. The work we’ve done in the past has shown we’ve been able to bring the majority of those students up to grade level versus the trajectory that they would typically follow, where they would fall further and further behind.”

The Y serves over 2,000 elementary students in North Fulton every day with its after-school program, Doll said.

Laurie Woodruff, principal at Hembree Springs, said they see firsthand the benefits the after-school program has for students.

“It’s about the whole child, not just the academics,” Woodruff said. “It’s about bridging that gap for them so there is not summer regression with learning. When they come back to school they’ll be more confident and well-rounded because of these types of experiences. They may not have the confidence to speak out in class or they may be in a remedial situation in

school on a regular basis, in which programs like this will help them to break out of that cycle and be more successful and confident students when they return in the fall.”

Every year, United Way’s North Fulton advisory board decides which group they are going to donate to. This check from United Way of Greater Atlanta is an investment in the Y’s summer program which in turn is invested in the school program. DePriest Waddy, regional director and community engagement for United Way, said it’s a collective impact.

“When you look at North Fulton, you look at a level of affluence that you feel is cast equally across every family and child,” Waddy said. “But as we know, that’s not necessarily the case. We are taking this opportunity to leave no child behind and to make sure those who are the least served get some bridges so they can be competitive with the mainstream.”

The way we are going to break the cycle of poverty is by educating our children, said Morris Cowan, county engagement director for North Fulton for United Way. “The way we are going to prepare for the workforce of the 21st century is by educating our children,” Cowan said. “We need to have a group of young people come through their educational opportunities. Some will go to college, some may not, but all need to be prepared to go out into the world and prosper, each according to their ability.

Being able to achieve that is going to dramatically impact the sustainability of a high quality of life for the community and all citizens. Education is fundamental to everything we do. The kids are encouraged by the community and parents and faculty and organizations like the Y. The whole community comes around and that’s why so many of our kids, even some on the margins, aspire to and work to achieve things they can.

That’s what we’re about. Helping people achieve all they can.”

JUMP TNT opens in Suwanee Business: JUMP TNT Opened: Oct. 1, 2015 Owners: Jim and Linda Dowling and Oliver Mullin What: JUMP TNT is a trampoline and power tumbling facility.

We offer both recreational classes and have nearly 50 currently on our

competitive team. If you love to jump, you’ll love this sport! In addition, we also offer cheer tumbling and a level 1-3 all-star team.

Address: 3950 Johns Creek Court, Suite 125, Suwanee, GA 30024 Phone: 770-559-5430 Website: JUMPTNT.net

The Tutor Shop offers help at elementary schools Business: The Tutor Shop Homework Club Opened: 2013 Owners: Hal and Terri Eisenberg What: We are a very unique, academic-based, after-school program currently located in seven North Fulton elementary schools and growing rapidly across the Southeast. We keep our students-to-teacher ratio very low and utilize degreed teachers whose main goal is to help students complete their homework, class projects, and study for tests before parents pick them up each day. Parents love

us because they never have to tackle homework again, and children love us because, when they get home, they can be a kid again!

We’re proud to be helping families “turn homework tables back into dinner tables!”

Hours: 2:30 p.m. until as late as 6:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday Schools: Barnwell, Cogburn Woods, Crabapple Crossing, Dolvin, Shakerag, State Bridge Crossing and Summit Hill Phone: 404-610-1531 Website: www.tutorshops.com

NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 19

| NorthFulton.com 20 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Johns Creek HeraldHerald | NorthFulton.com

CALENDAR

TASTE OF ST. BRIGID

Ministries at the church will prepare their favorite recipes and offer tastings throughout the evening of delicious food and fellowship. Saturday, Jan. 16, 6-9 p.m. St. Brigid Catholic Church, 3400 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek Tickets are available at the door or church office; $10 for adults, $5 for children. All proceeds benefit the 2016 Habitat for Humanity home building project. Visit saintbrigid.org for more info.

Looking to get the word out about your event? Email us with photo and description of your event to calendar@appenmediagroup.com.

EVENTS: WINTER WARM-UP SOFTBALL SKILL CLINIC FOR GIRLS

What: The Alpharetta Youth Softball Association invites area girls, ages 4-18, to free Winter Warm-Up Softball Skill Clinic Events. All experience and skill levels welcome. Girls will be divided by age group. While supplies last, attendees get a free T-shirt.

When: Saturday, Jan. 16, noon-3 p.m.

Where: Alpharetta North Park, Fields 1-4, 1350 Cogburn Road, Alpharetta, More Info: alpharettasoftball.com

2016 ROSWELL WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

What: The 12th Annual Roswell Hornet Folkstyle Classic Wrestling Tournament.

When: Saturday, Jan. 16 Where: Roswell High School, 11595 King Road, Roswell More info: Or to volunteer, contact Bruce Gunning, tournament director, gunningb@bellsouth.net

ONE-DAY BEEKEEPING COURSE

What: Course covers all you need to know to get started in urban beekeeping. Taught by UGA faculty and professional and hobbyist beekeepers, this classroom course is followed up with access to several hands-on hive visits during the spring and summer months.

Advanced registration required.

When: Saturday, Jan. 16, 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Atlanta Botanical Garden, Day Hall, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta GA 30309 More info: metroatlantabeekeepers.org

ALPHARETTA/ ROSWELL NEWCOMER’S CLUB

What: General meeting. Plum Street Yoga will present a program on stress reduction and meditation.

When: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m.

Where: Hembree Center, 850 Hembree Road, Roswell More info: arnewcomers.org

FORSYTH COUNTY WOMEN’S CLUB MONTHLY LUNCHEON

What: Luncheons are on the third Thursday of each month and membership is open to all women of Forsyth and surrounding counties.

When: Thursday, Jan. 21, 11 a.m.

Where: Windermere Golf Club, 5000 Davis Love Drive, Cumming Cost: $22 More info: forsythcountywomensclub.net

More info: barnesandnoble.com

More info: 404-613-4402

BARNES & NOBLE STORY TIME

READ TO A THERAPY DOG WITH CAREING PAWS

What: Children’s story time When: Tuesdays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.

Where: Barnes & Noble, 7660 North Point Parkway Alpharetta Cost: Free More info: barnesandnoble.com

LIBRARY EVENTS: For a complete list of North Fulton events, go to afpls.org/events For a complete list of Forsyth events, go to forsythpl.org/ eventCalendar/eventCalendar.aspx

LET’S KNIT! PARENT AND CHILD KNITTING CLASSES

What: Jasmine Moobed will show parents and children the basic skills of knitting. Please plan to attend both sessions. Ages 8 and up. Reservations are required.

When: Saturdays, Jan. 16 and 23, 11 a.m.

Where: Roswell Library, 115 Norcross Street, Roswell 30075 More info: 770-640-3075

FREE FAMILY REUNION WORKSHOP

TEENAGE ATHLETES AND CHIROPRACTIC CARE

ROSWELL COLLECTING FOR TROOPS

YOUNG ARTISTS AT OCEE

What: The expert staff at the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau will offer a free family reunion workshop.

When: Saturday, Jan. 23, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Where: Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta, 5750 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta More info: awesomealpharetta.com What: The Roswell Rotary Club, the city of Roswell and the Roswell Visitors Center is collecting donations for troops. This year’s recipients are the 1st Battalion 7th Marines, 1st Division in Iraq.

When: Drop off donations by 5 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 29.

Where: Roswell Visitors Center, 617 Atlanta St., Roswell More info: 770-640-3253, visitroswellga.com

ROSWELL MARDI GRAS BALL

What: The Krewe of Viola will present the inaugural Roswell Mardi Gras Ball, Bow Ties & Pearls, to benefit Emory ALS Center.

When: Feb. 6, 2016, 7-11 p.m.

Where: Country Club of Roswell, 2500 Club Springs Drive, Roswell More info: facebook.com/roswellmardigrasball

BARNES & NOBLE STORY TIME

What: Children’s story time When: Generally Tuesdays, though some locations offer Saturdays, as well Where: Barnes & Noble (check website for location and hours) Cost: Free

What: Prevent injuries and increase peak performance. Registration required.

When: Saturday, Jan. 16, 1:30 p.m.

Where: East Roswell Library, 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell 30076 More info: 404-613-4050 What: Classes designed to teach the fundamentals of art, including perspective, shading, cartooning and manga, to children and teens. Ages 7-14. Registration is not required. Limit first 20.

When: Saturdays, beginning Jan. 16, 2 p.m.

Where: Ocee Library, 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road, Johns Creek 30005 More info: 770-360-8897

What: Come and read to therapy dogs Chloe and Surcee. Build confidence and fluency by reading aloud to a friendly pup. Registrations required.

When: Thursday, Jan. 21, 3:45 p.m.

Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton 30009 More info: 404-613-4402

FINANCIAL WELLNESS WORKSHOP

What: Come learn how to make sure that all of your financial needs are covered. Adults. Registration required.

When: Saturday, Jan. 23. 11 a.m.

Where: East Roswell Library, 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell 30076 More info: 404-613-4050

DONUTS WITH DADS STORYTIME

What: This is a special storytime. Dads, bring your little ones for stories, songs and snacks. Registrations required.

When: Saturday, Jan. 23, 11 a.m.

Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton 30009 More info: 404-613-4402

SELECTING COLLEGES THAT BEST FIT YOUR GOALS

What: You have your criterion. You’ve checked rankings, researched websites and visited campuses. To make sure you’re making the right decision, consider the college’s perspective. Parents Welcome. Ages 14-18.

When: Saturday, Jan. 23, 2:30 p.m.

Where: Ocee Library, 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road, Johns Creek 30005 More info: 770-360-8897

MUSIC, ARTS & THEATER:

E-BOOKS WITH EASE

What: Learn how to use Overdrive to add e-books and audiobooks to your Kindle, Nook, iOS and Android devices.

Registration required.

When: Mondays, beginning Jan. 18, 6 p.m.

Where: East Roswell Library, 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell 30076 More info: 404-613-4050

PALLIATIVE & HOSPICE CARE EXPLAINED

What: Seminar run by AmityCare on an important topic facing a growing percentage of our population.

When: Tuesday, Jan. 19, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton 30009

GEORGIA ENSEMBLE THEATRE’S “CHARLEY’S AUNT”

What: Georgia Ensemble Theatre, North Fulton’s only professional theater company, will kick off the New Year with a play that’s sure to be the cure for the post-holiday doldrums, the hilarious comedy, “Charley’s Aunt.”

When: Jan. 7-24, times vary Where: GET, the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell Tickets: $26 for Wednesdays, Thursdays and matinees; Friday nights start from $30, and Saturday nights start from $35; senior/student discounts available for select performances More info: www.get.org, or call 770641-1260

CALENDAR

NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald Herald || January January 14, 14, 2016 2016 || 21 21

ADULT BEGINNERS ART CLASS

What: Join us for Adult Beginners Art Class with Kay Griswell.

When: Saturday, Jan. 16, noon-3 p.m.

Where: Strawberry Fields – A Dana Gallery, 12655 Birmingham Highway, Milton More info: strawberryfieldsgallery@ gmail.com

HOME BY DARK CONCERT

What: Since 2007, Home by Dark has captivated audiences with one of the most powerful and unique concert events in America.

When: Friday, Jan. 22 Where: Roswell Historic Cottage, 972 Alpharetta St., Roswell More info: homebydark.com

SPRUILL CENTER FOR THE ARTS CLASSES, NEW EXHIBIT

What: Spring quarter registration opens; “Sights & Insights” exhibit opens.

When: Registration begins Tuesday, Jan. 27; new exhibit opens Wednesday, Jan. 28 Where: Spruill Center for the Arts, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Atlanta More info: spruillarts.org

PET ADOPTIONS: FORSYTH COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER What: Pet adoptions When: Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: The Forsyth County Animal Shelter, 4065 County Way, Forsyth County More info: 678-965-7185

FULTON COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES

What: Pet adoptions When: Every Satur day and Sunday, noon-5 p.m., PetSmart, 6370 North Point Parkway, Alphar etta.

Additional adoptions: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Fulton County Animal Services, 860 Marietta Blvd NW, Atlanta More info: 404-613-4958

OF INTEREST ELSEWHERE: “WILD AFRICA” AT FERNBANK MUSEUM

What: BBC Earth’s “Wild Africa,” narrated by Helena Bonham Carter and taking viewers on a spectacular ride across, over and through the most dramatic continent on earth, premieres.

When: Friday, Jan. 8-May 19, times vary Where: Fernbank Museum’s Imax Theater, 767 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30307 More info: fernbankmuseum.org/experience-imax

Discover ancient rock shelters at Island Ford Would you like to hike back into the past? Then check out the Riverside Rock Shelter Trail in the Island Ford Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

STEVE HUDSON This delightful trail Get Outside Georgia, Chattahoochee Media Group takes you along a scenic section of the Chattahoochee – and on an adventure into the past, too, thanks to several ancient rock shelters used

by Native Americans who lived here thousands of years before the Europeans came.

You’ll definitely sense the past when you explore these rock shelters today. And, who knows, with all the rain we’re getting, you might even have a chance to see they still work!

That’s exactly what happened to me one afternoon many years ago.

My daughter was just a little girl, and we were hiking this very trail when a sudden thunderstorm opened up on us with a deluge of near-biblical proportions.

We had no rain gear – but was that an overhanging rock up ahead?

Indeed it was. We dashed for the shelter, where we waited out the storm … accompanied only by the shadows of long-ago Native Americans.

“Daddy,” I remember my daughter saying, “do you think some other

daddy and some other little girl might have hidden out here a long time ago?”

“Could be,” I said. “Could be.”

The child is grown now and lives far away. But a few weeks ago, hiking that same trail yet again but this time by myself, I thought back to that day.

And as I did, I realized that I had one thing those Native Americans did not have – a cell phone.

I decided that my return to the rock shelter was a perfect excuse to give Daughter of Mine a call.

So I did. I told her where I was, and she remembered.

“Aw, Dad,” she said. “That’s sweet that you called me from there!”

To hike this trail yourself, start at the Island Ford Visitor Center at the end of Island Ford Parkway (off Roberts Drive). The building was constructed in the 1930s and 1940s using cypress logs from the Okefenokee and rock from Stone Mountain. It’s one of the few Adirondack-style structures in the South.

Follow the paved trail around the left of the building. Then, as that trail swings right, turn left through a picnic area and descend several steps. Turn right at the bottom of the steps and continue to the riverside trail. Then go left, cross a footbridge over a creek, and you’ll be on your way into history.

The first of the ancient rock shelters awaits you on your left about 300 paces beyond the footbridge. It’s tucked up among the trees, and an inviting little side trail beckons you to

check it out.

But don’t take too long, for there are more shelters yet to see. Continuing down the riverside trail, you’ll soon cross another creek. Just beyond is a second rock shelter, also on your left, and a third one awaits about 60 paces farther along the trail.

The last of these shelters – the one where my daughter and I took refuge that rainy day all those years ago – is about 500 yards beyond that point. It may be my favorite. Located right by the trail, it requires no climbing at all to explore it. It’s a great place to visit with young kids.

From that point, backtrack to return to your starting point – or explore further. There are many, many great trails here. Just be sure to listen carefully for echoes of the past as you go.

Steve Hudson has written numerous books on fishing, hiking, the outdoors and more, including, “Hiking the Hooch,” a guide to the trails of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Check them out at www. chattahoocheemedia.com.

22 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

22 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016

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HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 23

Hypothyroidism: Understanding How it is Diagnosed

By Dr. Sean Savedoff Hypothyroidism affects an estimated 27 million people, so it is quite common. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms, it is important to see your doctor to receive a diagnosis and begin treatment as soon as possible so that you can start feeling better.

How is hypothyroidism diagnosed?

Blood tests can usually confirm whether you are suffering from hypothyroidism.

There are a few different things that your doctor can test you for. Whether you want to know this or not, understanding a bit of the anatomy can make it easier to understand what the blood tests mean.

Here’s a bit of an anatomy explanation first.

Your thyroid gland is located in your neck. It is, however, also regulated and controlled by a part of your brain, called the pituitary gland. The pituitary also receives feedback from the thyroid so it is kind of like they are always communicating with one another.

There is also another part of the brain called the hypothalamus, and it also regulates and works with the pituitary.

Therefore, it takes all three working together – the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the thyroid– to have a properly-functioning thyroid system. This is called the HPT Axis.

This is how they SAVEDOFF work together: The hypothalamus in your brain releases Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH).

TRH then stimulates the pituitary gland in your brain to release Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH).

Now, the TSH signals the thyroid gland (located in your neck area) to release its hormones (T4 and some T3). T4 also gets converted into T3 in the liver. Yes, your digestive system is involved in this process as well, so if you have any digestion issues or have had surgery to remove any digestive organs, the odds are it’s affecting your thyroid. Now you may understand why so many endocrinologists are getting your diagnosis wrong. The thyroid also releases calcitonin, which is related to calcium and bone metabolism, but for

See SAVEDOFF, Page 24

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24 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

Savedoff: Continued from Page 23 the purposes of this, we do not need to discuss it. T4 and T3 then go about their work of maintaining a healthy metabolism, as well as ensuring proper growth in infants and children.

Here’s a schematic of what was just explained: Hypothalamus releases TRH --> Pituitary Gland releases TSH --> Thyroid Gland releases T4 and some T3 (and calcitonin).

So when you go to your doctor, there are many blood tests that can be performed. It is helpful for you to know all of the different types available. Here are most of them: 1. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) – This is usually the most common test. Hypothyroidism can be detected if the TSH is high. This test can also be helpful in diagnosing subclinical hypothyroidism, where you have higher than normal levels of TSH, but normal levels of T3 and T4.

The reason behind the TSH test is that in healthy individuals with normal, functioning thyroids, when their thyroid hormones get too low, the pituitary knows it has to make more TSH to tell the thyroid to make more of its hormones. When the pituitary receives feedback that the thyroid has made enough hormones, then it slows its production of TSH. That is how it is supposed to work.

However, in the case of hypothyroidism, when the thyroid is not making enough thyroxine (T4), the pituitary tries to stimulate the thyroid to make more by producing more TSH. However, if the thyroid cannot make more T4 (depending on what is wrong with the thyroid), the pituitary keeps on making more and more TSH, resulting in higher amounts of TSH. So when high levels of TSH are seen, it could mean that the body also has low levels of T4. Which in rare cases, may mean something is wrong with your pituitary and not your thyroid.

2. Total Thyroxine (T4) – Most of the T4 in your blood is attached to a protein. About 1% is not. A total T4 test is looking at both kinds of T4 (bound and not). The free T4 (the 1%) is what affects your tissues.

3. Free Thyroxine or Free T4 – This test checks the amount of free T4 available for actual use by your body.

4. T3 Tests – There are Total T3, Free T3, and Reverse T3 tests. Like T4, T3 circulates in the blood mainly bound to proteins, but 1% is not bound. It is that 1% that is believed to be most potent in its effects at the cellular level, even in comparison to T4. In fact, your body converts T4 into T3 in your liver.

How well it does this in all individ-

uals is a matter of how well your digestive system is working.

No matter what, T3 is another important blood test to consider. The Free T3 and Reverse T3 tests can also provide valuable information. Free T3 appears to correlate best with your functioning.

Reverse T3 is a controversial test that is not often done by medical doctors, because it is assumed that your body can convert T4 into T3 without problems. However, holistic practitioners, and some medical doctors, are now recognizing it as an important test.

Reverse T3 is a product created when your body converts T4. It should convert it into T3, but instead it converts it into Reverse T3. This Reverse T3 is useless to your body’s cells, and cannot provide the energy they need, hence the growing diagnosis of Reverse T3 dominance in my practice.

5. Thyroid Antibodies – It is quite common for someone with hypothyroidism to have thyroid antibodies, created when the body attacks its own tissues. This is the only way to properly diagnose Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

The reason most doctors do not request this test is because even if it comes back positive, there treatment will be the same as for a standard hypothyroid case. This is why so many people complain of the there symptoms even though they’re on the medication. Thyroxin will not address the inflammation causing the autoimmune attack on your thyroid. It only makes your TSH values look normal….

In summery, I hope this article answers some of your questions regarding the confusion about how hypothyroidism is commonly misdiagnosed. My goal is to bring to light some of the amazing lab tests out there for patients to request from their doctors and get real answers. There are some natural ways to support your thyroid, and ensure it functions optimally. By gaining an understanding of these different lab tests and there proper values, I believe the majority of people with a thyroid disorder will be able to get a true diagnosis and see significant improvements in their symptoms. That being said, there are those who will need additional tweaks, deeper testing, and personalized changes to their diet, supplements, and lifestyle plan before they see the improvements they’re looking for. So you may want to find a doctor that practices functional medicine. A functional medical doctor can assist you with natural ways of treating the root cause of illness, rather than just treating the symptoms with medication.

And this is what we do, so if you or someone you know may have a thyroid disorder and want to correct this condition, please call (770) 731-9410 or visit www.DrSavedoff.com and schedule an appointment with us today.

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

Make Bone-Healthy Foods Part of your New Year’s Resolution The holidays are over, and New Year’s resolutions focused on health are top of mind. One of the best things you can do for your bones—and your health—is to eat foods that will maximize bone strength.

Proper diet builds strong bones, essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Eating the right foods is one of our most powerful weapons to maintain strong bones and combat bone loss that can occur as we age. Here are five foods that will help you keep your bones at their best.

• Milk - the calcium provided in milk is key to strong bones • Dark leafy greens - vegetables like kale, bok choy and turnip greens deliver large amounts of calcium • Salmon - fatty fish like salmon and mackerel provide omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D that helps you absorb calcium.

• Nuts and seeds - the protein in these foods supports strong bones • Fortified orange juice - look for brands with calcium added Make these foods a regular part of your diet, and your New Year’s Resolution, to take care of your bones.

OrthoAtlanta is one of the largest orthopaedic and sports medicine practices in Atlanta with offices including Johns Creek, 6300 Hospital Parkway, Suite 400, 678-205-4261, and Gwinnett, 771 Old Norcross Road, Suite 155, Lawrenceville, 678-957-0757. OrthoAtlanta offers comprehensive operative and non-operative musculoskeletal care and expertise includes sport medicine, arthroscopic surgery, hip replacement, knee replacement, spine surgery, pain management and acute orthopedic urgent care. Learn more: OrthoAtlanta.com.

Look forward to healthy vision

By Reay Brown, M.D. When our vision is clear, we tend to look the other way when it comes to eye exams. But unless you get your vision examined, you really can’t see what’s coming. Seeing an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) regularly to monitor your eye health can be as important as when you see your family doctor to manage your overall health.

For people over the age of 40, regular eye exams can detect age-related causes of blindness such as macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and early signs of glaucoma.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health. Glaucoma can lead to blindness because there is no pain or visual disruption associated with this disease and it’s often left untreated, uncon-

trolled or undiagnosed. Those who are at higher risk of being visually impaired from glaucoma include African Americans over the age of 40, Hispanics over the age of 60 and people with a family history of glaucoma.

Glaucoma, which refers to a group of eye conditions that lead to damage of the optic nerve, first causes peripheral vision loss. Regular eye exams can screen for glaucoma, including testing your peripheral vision, measuring intraocular pressure and evaluating your optic nerve.

Early detection allows the eye disease to be treated immediately, which can prevent irreversible vision loss.

To ensure your eyes are healthy, have an eye exam at least every two years. The doctor will ask you about your medical history, use that familiar wall chart to measure your ability to see small details clearly and evaluate how well your eye muscle align or coordinate when working together and individually.

Dr. Reay Brown is an ophthalmologist on staff at Northside Hospital and works in a range of innovative ways to diagnose and treat cataracts and glaucoma. For more information, visit www. northside.com/ophthalmology.

NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 25

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26 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

State of the art surgical options for women available in Johns Creek and Cumming One of the most exciting advancements of modern medicine is the use of minimally invasive surgical techniques. The founding physicians of Modern Ob/Gyn, Drs. John and Ingrid Reyes have dedicated their practice to this philosophy. “Minimally invasive surgery allows us to perform complex procedures through either small incisions or no incisions at all. Patients benefit from having less pain, shorter recovery times, and few or no scars,” says Dr. John Reyes.

Minimally invasive surgery also refers to in-office procedures which include treatment of heavy bleeding with endometrial ablation and incision-free permanent sterilization. “In office procedures are a safe and excellent option for many patients. It’s great to be able to offer these procedures to women because they can get back to their lives so quickly, oftentimes even the same day. And typically, because these are seen as office visits, the cost to the patient is only their co-pay which makes such a big difference” says Dr. John Reyes.

Modern Ob/Gyn stands by its promise to bring the most advanced and sophisticated options to this community. “We are here to do our very best for the women of this community. This is why we went to school and trained for so long—we really value the work we do and how we can help our patients,” says Dr. Natu Mmbaga, the most recent addition to the physician staff of the practice.

The physicians at Modern OB/GYN provide comprehensive women’s care at two convenient locations in Johns Creek and Cumming, including prenatal care, annual well women exams, and management of many other women’s health care needs.

The physicians provide services at both Northside Forsyth and Emory Johns Creek Hospital. To schedule an appointment visit their website at www. reyesobgyn.com or call the office at 404-446-2496.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 27

There’s an APP for that ! For YOUR ears and YOUR world

By Dr. Deborah Woodward Can you imagine being able to stream the sounds from your iPhones and iPads directly into hearing devices that NO ONE else can see? What if you could answer or make phone calls and clearly hear the person on the other end through both ears?

The marvels of technology have made these scenarios possible to create a seamless connection to a world filled with sounds. More than 36 million Americans experience hearing challenges in various environments and situations - a frustrating disadvantage to those affected.

Forget about what you think you know about hearing devices up to now. You will be AMAZED at how smart, how helpful, and how transforming better hearing can now be. “As an audiologist for almost 24 years, it is both exciting and overwhelming to stay on top of the latest advances in hearing technology. It is a very fulfilling time to be in a profession that is truly transforming people’s lives by connecting them to the world in a way that others take for granted” says Dr. Deborah Woodward.

“Another leap forward has been the very successful extended wear option.” These devices are invisible to others, worn 24/7 for months at a time, and have no batteries to change. If you have a mild to moderate hearing loss, this cutting edge option may be right for you.

As the local community’s leading link to better hearing over the past 17 years,

Dr. Deborah Woodward and her staff at the Johns Creek Audiology and Hearing Center have successfully led thousands of hearing challenged patients to a more enjoyable and fulfilling life. Dr. Woodward offers patients not only improved day to day communication, but also the solutions to those challenging listening environments such as restaurants, group meetings, phone communication, and yes, that age old argument between spouses on the “correct” loudness of the television volume.

Countless devices and services are now being marketed to assist the hearing challenged but like fingerprints, no two ears are the same. Consulting with an audiologist is an absolute must. The “one model fits all” bought from a magazine or website has the potential to actually add MORE damage to your current hearing profile.

If in need of help, you can rely on the expertise of a Doctor of Audiology and a Center with a proven TRUST record to help plan your personal and unique solution to “better” hearing. The Johns Creek Audiology and Hearing Center is known for their competitive pricing along with award winning service. They can also provide diagnostic testing for hearing disorders, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), vertigo, and ear wax management. All major insurance plans are accepted and no interest finance plans are offered.

Call (770)814-1260 to schedule YOUR life changing appointment

ADHD – not just in children anymore personality disorders. Adult ADHD is a valid psychiatric disorder of adulthood distinct from these other conditions.

Adult attention deficit disorder differs from the childhood variant because the hyperactivity in adults may be replaced by other symptoms such as anxiety, impulsivity and inattentiveness. In fact, prior to 2002 there were no diagnostic guidelines, but there have been great advances since. Some of the symptoms that characterize Adult ADHD are:

ADHD is a relatively common psychiatric disorder among adults. The prevalence is thought to be 3.5%-5.3%, which accounts for more than 11 million cases in the United States alone. With increased public awareness, adult ADHD became a topic of great interest so clinicians should be able to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with this disorder.

Etiology is still uncertain. Genetics however is believed to play a prominent role, followed in importance by acquired injuries to the brain. ADHD was widely thought to be strictly a disorder of childhood. Now there are numerous scientific papers and clinical trials that acknowledge the existence of an adult version of this disorder, which can be traced back to the younger years. Before this time ADHD in adults was known as Minimal Brain Damage or Dysfunction (MBD).

Adult ADHD is associated with multiple co-morbidities such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and other

1. Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in school-work, work or other activities.

2. Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.

3. Often does not seem to listen when spoke to directly.

4. Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand directions) 5. Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities.

6. Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework)Often loses things necessary for tasks and activities (eg. School assignments, pencils, keys) 7. Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.

8. Is often forgetful in daily activities.

Some children with ADHD continue to have it as adults.

And many adults who have the disorder don’t know it. They PAID ADVERTORIAL

may feel that it is impossible to get organized, keep a job, or remember and keep appointments. Daily tasks such as getting up in the morning, preparing to leave the house for work, arriving at work on time, and being productive on the job can be especially challenging for adults with ADHD. These adults may have a history of failure at school, problems at work, failed relationships and traffic accidents.

Like teens, adults with ADHD may seem restless and may try to complete several tasks as once, most of them unsuccessfully. They also tend to prefer “quick fixes,” rather than taking the steps needed to achieve greater rewards.

On the other hand, it is important to know that ADHD can occur in high frequency with other comorbidities such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and other personality disorders. There is high frequency of misdiagnosis and diagnosis is usually subjective and based on behavior and clinical history.

Treatment is very rewarding, there are multiple classes of medication and alternative treatment available for those who don’t respond to conventional therapy. Cognitive behavior therapy and coping strategies remain the long term treatment of choice for ADHD If you or someone you know may have Adult ADHD, call Johns Creek Family Medicine at 770-771-6591 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Zack Charkawi.

28 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

COMMUNITY

From left are Haley Evans, Jan Ingersoll, Janeen Blecker, Steve Siders, Robert Fezza, and Carrie Bellware.

Odyssey helps furry friends, donates to Senior Services NORTH FULTON, Ga. -- Odyssey Personal Financial Advisors recently provided supplies and donations to Senior Services North Fulton in support of their Meals on Wheels for Pets program.

This is Odyssey’s 11th annual Holiday Outreach in support of local charities during the holidays, and it would not have been possible without the help of their clients.

Most of the Odyssey team know through their own experiences how much joy their own pets bring to their life, and many studies have shown that pets provide companionship and happiness to people of all ages.

More than $3,300 in cash and supplies were donated, including a matching contribution by Odyssey’s partners Robert Fezza and Steve Siders.

Carrie Bellware, executive director, and Haley Evans, volunteer program manager, of SSNF both expressed their

NORTHSIDE CHAPEL

gratitude for the donations. This unique programs touches the hearts of many volunteers who offer their time to help, so they said they were appreciative of the cash donation of this size to expand the reach of the program.

For 25 years Senior Services North Fulton has been at the forefront of efforts to provide essential care and support to the region’s growing population of older adults. We are a nonprofit organization, supported by local governments, business and individuals, as well as more than 500 volunteers, and a prime example of a public-private partnership with a proven track record of improving the quality of life in north Fulton. To learn more visit www. ssnorthfulton.org.

For more about Odyssey Personal Financial Advisors, visit www.odysseypfa.com.

—Jonathan Copsey

Rex T. Grizzle, Owner Locally Owned and Operated 12050 Crabapple Rd. Roswell, GA 30075

FUNERAL DIRECTORS 770-645-1414 info@northsidechapel.com www.northsidechapel.com and CREMATORY

North Fulton’s Only On-Site Crematory

Susie Richter with two of her Sons, Lance, 10, and Hayden, 7, with the bike they won at the Alpharetta Tree Lighting from The American Heritage Society of Georgia, Inc.

Local family wins, donates bike at Alpharetta tree lighting ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Richter family of Milton won a bike Dec. 5 at the Alpharetta Tree Lighting. The bike was from The American Heritage Society of Georgia, Inc. and Walmart donated it for the raffle drawing at their “North Pole Post Office.”

Instead of keeping the bike, the boys decided they wanted to bless a less fortunate family with it for Christmas. While visiting the North Pole Post Office, they also chose to write their letters to the troops for Christmas instead of Santa and became a star patriot receiving their “star patriot ribbons.”

The family the bike was given to was a family of four with a 5-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy whose father had been unemployed until just recently. The Richter family also added some additional surprise gift items for the recipient family. The father of

the recipient family said, “They loved everything and was in awe of the kind generosity and thoughtfulness from the Richter boys. This is the best Christmas we have ever had.”

Vesta Smith, president/CEO/ founder of AHS, said, “it is very rewarding as this special act of kindness by the Richters is a component of the American Heritage Society of Georgia’s mission. The mission is of restoring American values and community awareness in promoting and reawakening one of America’s foundational principles, “the golden rule of community, family and country: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” As President John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural address on January 20, 1961, “My fellow Americans ask not what you can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

GA. ENSEMBLE THEATRE:

COMMUNITY

NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 29

‘Charley’s Aunt’ all it pretends to be Midwinter’s tale leaves warm feeling inside

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away …

Well, a Victorian galaxy, anyway.

“Charley’s Aunt” is of a type of theater — British farce — that continues to capture audiences who love to return to that quaint world again and again.

We have preserved the era with Public Broadcasting period soaps such as “Downton Abbey,” as we did with “Upstairs, Downstairs” a generation before.

We are fascinated by Victorian class consciousness that had calcified by that time into a caste system as firm as that of any Brahmin or Untouchable in India.

Through the prism of the 21st century, “Charley’s Aunt” as performed at the Georgia Ensemble Theatre is still all it pretends to be, farce and nothing more. But that is more than enough.

GET has served up a cross between “The Importance of Being Ernest” and “Mrs. Doubtfire.” And like all farce, you must only accept one premise – the one outrageous and unbelievable premise that sets loose an ever dizzying chain of events.

It is to be drawn into the world of two recent Oxford grads, Jack [Joe Sykes] and Charlie [William Webber], who have the position – that is to say family – of the elite, if not the money that normally attends the rank.

But among the upper crust, form is everything. If you have the form, that is to say the family connections, attended the right schools and know all the right people, then you may pass through the ivied estates and London townhouses

without question. The only sin is to be discovered to be without money.

That is why it is perfectly understandable when Jack’s father, Colonel Sir Francis Chesney, explains to Jack that he will have to actually take gainful employment. This event ensued because he, Sir Francis, has had use of the fortune he made in India to pay off the family debt when he acquired the title.

Sir Francis (played by Scott DePoy, who is becoming a delightful regular at GET) is actually apologetic in breaking the bad news to Jack.

That is merely one subplot among several, as the improbably named Lord Fancourt Babberly [Hugh Adams] finds himself forced to impersonate Charley’s millionaire Aunt Donna Lucia D’Alavadorez.

Here I must stop talking about the plot of “Charley’s Aunt,” as it rather becomes similar to explaining a striptease. As well executed as the description may be, it cannot do justice to seeing the performance.

And make no mistake, “Charley’s Aunt” is worthy. It has a charming cast through and through and the ensemble work seamlessly and cohesively together. They never make the mistake of letting the audience know they are in on the jokes.

Their many asides to the audience, rather than breaking down the “fourth wall,” keep them hermetically sealed instead.

Adams as the ersatz Aunt Donna Lucia is the glue that keeps plates spinning as each of the three acts threatens to end in entropy.

Director David Crowe does a masterful job of varying the pace of the madness and his use of the anachronistic and quirky 1960s soundtrack is just the right, light touch of camp.

While some of the sight gags are

GMOONEY.COM/SPECIAL

“Charley’s Aunt” brings fun and farce to the Georgia Ensemble Theatre. From left are stars Hugh Adams, Joe Sykes and William Webber. over top, even for farce, overall “Charley’s Aunt” is a fanciful diversion to

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SPORTS

30 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

Boys teams focus on region games in last month of season

By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. — As the boys basketball season enters the final stages of the regular season and with most nonregion games behind them, teams will shift their focus to region opponents and potential region titles.

Lambert and Johns Creek currently sit atop the Region 6-AAAAAA standings where Lambert will look to repeat as region champions and Johns Creek will be seeking their first.

Lambert (15-2, 10-0) is currently one game ahead of Johns Creek with eight games remaining in the regular season. The Longhorns defeated Johns Creek 64-53 on Jan. 5.

Lambert Head Coach Scott Bracco said he is pleased with his team’s performance so far this season. “We’ve played well on both ends of the floor but there is always room for improvement to make a push for a state championship run.

“We’re looking forethic. ward to finishing the “The core of our season out strong,” he team has been tosaid. gether for four years.

The Longhorns will We added Mark be seeking their thirdLancaster to the consecutive regular group last year and season region title. he fit in with [our The Johns Creek team] and made us Gladiators (14-2, 9-1) stronger. These core are off to their best players are some of start in school histhe hardest workers tory and will be seekI have coached,” said ing their first Region JOE PARKER/STAFF Goggin.

6-AAAAAA title.

The importance Milton senior Alex O’Connell Head Coach Pete of a team mindset leads an Eagles team seeking Goggin said his team is also crucial, said their first region championship will continue to focus Goggin. in three years. and not let the momen“Our whole team tum of their impressive start slip away. is just that-- a team. Our players on “We started well but it doesn’t mean the bench understand that only five get anything unless we finish at the same to play but that doesn’t mean they are level. Our goal at the beginning of the not in the game. I give a lot of credit season was to put a banner in the gym. to all of our players because they have To do that we need to win the region or bought in to what we are doing.” come in runner-up, but we want the If neither team falters late, Johns championship banner. That won’t hapCreek and Lambert will meet in each pen if we rest on our accomplishments team’s regular season finale on Feb. 5, so far,” said Goggin. with the region title possibly at stake.

Goggin said the Gladiators’ sucMilton (11-6, 8-1) currently sits atop cesses of this season can be attributed the Region 5-AAAAAA standings in a to a strong core of talent and work region with powerhouse Wheeler, the

defending Class 6A state champions, who beat the Eagles 71-60 last Saturday. Led by Junior Alex O’Connell and Harvard commit Chris Lewis, the Eagles are seeking their first region title since joining Region 5-AAAAAA in the 2012-13 season.

Also in the region, Roswell (8-10, 4-5) will need to have a strong run in their final region games to secure a state playoff bid, which would be their first appearance in three seasons.

In their final season in Region 4-AAA Division B, Blessed Trinity (9-7, 3-2) will look to repeat after capturing the region title last season, but will have to climb the standings after losing two region games this past weekend.

In Region 6-A Division B, defending Class A state champions the St. Francis Knights have opened the bulk of their region games with an undefeated record.

St. Francis (9-5, 4-0) leads King’s Ridge Christian (8-5, 4-2) with both teams having seven region games remaining. In a closely contested game, the Knights were able to slip by King’s Ridge 72-71 on Jan. 5 to gain the onegame lead in the standings.

The Knights and Tigers will meet once more this season on Jan 29.

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SPORTS

NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 31

Girls teams begin final push for region titles Forsyth County teams at top of Region 6-6A once again

By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. — With the end of the regular season just a few weeks away, the grind for region titles has begun in girls basketball as teams enter the bulk of their region games. As has been the case for the past three season, the favorites to capture the regular season title in Region 6-AAAAAA are all from Forsyth County.

The South Forsyth War Eagles, defending regular season and region tournament champions, have continued their success of last season and are currently undefeated in region play with nine games remaining. The War Eagles (12-4, 9-0) are currently tied for the lead in the region standings with West Forsyth.

In their nine region games this season, South has averaged a 27-point margin of victory, including a 71-31 win over Lambert, currently third in the region standings, on Dec. 8.

Though his team season with a game has had an impressive against North Forstart to the season, syth on Feb. 5.

Head Coach Keith On the heels of Gravitt said the War EaSouth, West Forsyth gles are still looking to is also currently improve. undefeated in region “We are still trying play. The Wolverines to take something from (11-3, 9-0), led by every game and improve Maryland commit and fine-tune our game.

Jenna Staiti, will be Everyone is getting betseeking their first ter as the season has regular season title progressed. Maintaining in Region 6-AAAAAA our focus and playing after finishing third for the full 32 minutes the previous two is what we are focusing seasons. on.

West Head Coach “We have two strong David May said of seniors who lead us as JOE PARKER/STAFF his team, “This is the captains and we have most balanced we Abi Hall and the Milton Eagles veterans on our team have been in a numwill face a tough challenge to that have played very ber of years as far as make the playoffs in the final well for us and we think few weeks of the season. getting scoring from that has a lot to do a number of different with our results. It’s a players. We’ve had great group of young ladies for me and six players score in double digits this our coaching staff to work with,” said season. Teams are focusing so much on Gravitt.

[Staiti] that our other players are stepEntering the final nine games of ping up and doing a good job of scoring their season, South will face West and playing well.”

Forsyth twice and finish out the regular In Region 5-AAAAAA, the Lady

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Eagles of Milton have a chance to earn a playoff spot after winning just six games in region play the past two seasons. Milton (8-9, 4-5) is currently fifth with nine games remaining, all against region opponents.

Meanwhile, Roswell’s woes have continued as the Hornets are just 2-10 overall.

Blessed Trinity (4-8, 2-3) faces an uphill battle if they hope to make a run for the state playoffs, which would be their first appearance since 2013-14.

In Region 6-A Division B, defending state champions St. Francis looks poised to capture their fifth straight region title and make a run for the state championship.

The Lady Knights (15-1, 4-0) are ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 13 in the nation according to Maxpreps.com.

In their opening four region games, the Lady Knights’ margin of victory is a staggering 52 points per game.

After winning the state title with mostly underclassmen last season, the Lady Knights now have an added year of experience under their belt, led by juniors Maya Dodson, Nichel Tampa, Kasiyahna Kushkituah and Taja Cumming, as well as sophomore Jala Jordan.

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32 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

LIVING THROUGH THE PAIN:

COMMUNITY

Couple struggle with cancer, kidney transplant Uncertainty, loss of income add to family troubles

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Kim and Scott Donaldson should be living the American dream. They have a new house, loving son, great marriage and good jobs. But kidney failure for Kim and cancer for Scott could ruin their dream.

Kim and Scott met in college in 1987, but things didn’t get romantic until after they had graduated.

“We were friends first,” said Kim. “All our friends told us we were made for each other.”

They must have decided their friends were right because they did marry and began to make a life for themselves.

Kim became a nurse working at North Fulton Hospital’s emergency room while Scott works at Turner Broadcasting, where he has won two sports Emmys.

But in his early 20s, while still in college, Scott developed Hodgkin’s disease, which required radiation treatment, chemotherapy and eventually a bone marrow transplant.

“Basically, the treatments poison your body; they almost kill you to get the cancer. That’s why I needed the bone marrow transplant.

“They also told me if I ever wanted to have children, I should make arrangements before the radiation,” Scott said. “So that’s what I did.”

Scott recovered, and he and Kim were able to have son A.J., now 14, through in vitro fertilization.

But cancer was not through with Scott. Unrelated to the Hodgkin’s, he developed a rare cancer in his left eye in 2011, a tumor called choroidal melanoma, which six out of a million people will be diagnosed with annually. This too was successfully treated.

But in June 2015, Scott found out the cancer had metastasized in his liver.

“That was grim,” he said.

A new treatment has given him hope, however, and the cancer is in remission. But for how long, he and Kim

HATCHER HURD/STAFF

Scott and Kim Donaldson have a loving home. Scott’s two Emmy awards and their wedding photo attest to the good side of life. It’s Kim’s looming kidney transplant and Scott’s new cancer drugs that make their life together unsettling.

don’t know.

“I received immunotherapy similar to what President Jimmy Carter received. It’s very new. If I had been diagnosed three years ago, I would have

gone home with six months to live,” he said. “And new therapies are developed all the time. So we are praying a lot and have a lot of hope.”

Meanwhile, Kim has had medical problems of her own. Kidney disease has plagued her most of her adult life.

Nevertheless, she continued to work as nurse and raise her son. But in the last year, the kidney disease has worsened and she is now on dialysis and awaiting a kidney transplant.

It’s having a “huge impact” on the family, she said.

“I can’t work as a nurse now. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, but the worst part about this is fatigue. It just saps all your energy,” Kim said. “I’m able to work at the mall two days a week to bring in something, but that’s all.”

Now Kim is awaiting a kidney transplant. Her brother has volunteered to donate one of his kidneys. He is not a match for his sister, but is participating in what is called the kidney paired donor exchange program. The Emory Healthcare System will match a donor in the program with another donor who

See CANCER, Page 33

COMMUNITY

Cancer: Continued from Page 32 will match Kim to effect an exchange of kidneys.

Scott has remained healthy enough in his current remission to continue to work for Turner Sports and moonlight as a part-time bartender. But despite insurance for both of them, finances have become tight.

Kim’s parents are paying the tuition for A.J. to continue to attend King’s Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta.

They continue to drive regularly to Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University together, she to see her kidney doctor and he to check with his doctor for any change in his condition.

“My cancer is not growing, but it

is not gone, either. Right now I am on maintenance drugs. I live in a sort of limbo,” Scott said. “But so far I have blessed. There have been no side effects from the treatment and I’m able to continue to work.”

As the bills pile up while the couple live in mounting uncertainty about their health and their future, they say they try to live with optimism and faith.

“We’ve had bad days with tears and anger. I miss my work and get so frustrated,” Kim said. “But you have to just fight through those days. We have a lot to be thankful for. We have hope.”

They are especially thankful for friends and family who have started a GoFundMe account to help them deal with huge medical bills and a shrinking income.

For more information, go to gofundme.com/thedonaldsons.

NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 33

New Eagle Scouts welcomed for the Northern Ridge District NORTH FUTLON — The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District, which include cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Milton, held its final Eagle Scout Board of Review for 2015 on Dec. 28 at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.

Northern Ridge District welcomes its 139th Eagle Scout for 2015, Benjamin Miller of Troop 985, sponsored

by Northbrook United Methodist Church. Miller’s project was the design and construction of a wooden Benjamin Miller receives his completion fence 91’ x 74’ surrounding the of a board of review certificate from his community garden located at Christ Eagle Advisor Robert Owens.

United Methodist Church, in Roswell.

Miller capped off the fence with an arbor and gate.

Help the Donaldson family An online fund has been set up to help Kim and Scott Donaldson as they fight through Scott’s cancer and Kim’s kidney failure. Scott continues to work two jobs despite his cancer but Kim has had to give up nursing because kidney failure and dialysis sap her strength.

Donations for medical bills and other expenses can be made to: gofundme.com/thedonaldsons

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SPORTS

34 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

CITY OF ALPHARETTA PUBLIC NOTICE PH-16-AB-04

CITY OF ALPHARETTA PUBLIC NOTICE PH-16-AB-05

PLACE City Hall Two Park Plaza Council Chambers January 21, 2016 3:00 P.M.

PLACE City Hall Two Park Plaza Council Chambers January 21, 2016 3:00 P.M.

PURPOSE Consumption on Premises Liquor, Beer & Wine Sunday Sales

PURPOSE Consumption on Premises Liquor, Beer & Wine Sunday Sales

APPLICANT Altamirano Balsas, Inc. d/b/a Rio Balsas Taqueria 235 South Main St. Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 Owner Altamirano Balsas, Inc. Registered Agent Yazmin Diaz

APPLICANT Guitron Ruelas Northpoint, LLC d/b/a Moctezuma Mexican Grill 5950 North Point Pky., Suite 100 Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 Owner Guitron Ruelas Northpoint, LLC Registered Agent Jesus Ruelas

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The following item will be heard at a public hearing held by the City Council on Monday, February 1, 2016 commencing at 7:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia. a. CLUP-15-14/Z-15-15 Oak Hall Companies/Webb Bridge Tract Consideration of a request to rezone approximately 30 acres from AG and R-22 to R-15 in order to develop detached “for-sale” single family homes.

A request to change the Comprehensive Land Use Plan from “Very Low Density” to “Low Density” Residential is also requested. The property is located at the north corner of Webb Bridge Road and Shirley Bridge Road.

The property is legally described as being located within Land Lots 1238, 1249, 1250, 2nd District, 1st Section, Fulton County, Georgia. b. MP-15-06/V-15-12 Marriott Courtyard/Parkway 400/Pod C Consideration of a request to amend the Parkway 400 Masterplan in order to allow a Hotel as a permitted use. Consideration for a variance to reduce parking as well as a variance to the front setback from 35 feet to 15 feet, variance to the parking lot screening and a variance for lot coverage from 70% to 80% is also requested. The property is located on Amber Park Drive and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 804, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza.

Eagles fall to Whee Coach Kramer upset with officiating

By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. — Milton (11-6, 8-1) dropped their first region game of the season against the defending Class 6A state champions Wheeler (11-5, 8-0), 71-60. The Eagles led by as much as 9 in the third quarter, but fouls against Milton and missed shots by their offense would prove to be too much to overcome late in the fourth.

Alex O’Connell led the Eagles in scoring with 15 points, followed by Kyrin Galloway with 13 points and Chris Lewis with 10. Galloway and Lewis also combined for 17 rebounds.

Galloway and Lewis would both foul-out late in the fourth quarter with Wheeler holding on to a slim lead. After the game, Milton Head Coach Matt Kramer expressed his displeasure with the officiating crew’s calls late in the game.

“The fouls in the second half were 11-5 against us. We have our two big guys [Galloway and Lewis] and they have two big guys and ours are fouled out. That’s all there is to it,” he said, visibly upset with what he believed to be one-sided calls against his team.

“I think we outplayed them,” said Kramer.

Milton led the entire first quarter before Wheeler went on a 7-0 run to claim their first lead of the game near the end of the second quarter. Wheeler hit a 3-pointer with just a few seconds remaining in the first half when Milton’s Lewis made a full-court pass to Galloway, who came down with a dunk to pull within 3 of the Wildcats as time expired in the second quarter.

Midway through the third quarter, Milton would get two 3-pointers from sophomore Justin Brown and senior Charlie Newell to lead 44-35.

However, Wheeler began to up the tempo of the game by pushing the ball down the court quickly, which played to their advantage as they were able to tie the game at 47-47 just two minutes later and take a 53-51 lead into the fourth.

With 5:30 remaining in the game, the score was tied at 58-58 when the Eagles began to struggle to finish baskets.

The Eagles would score just 9 points in the fourth quarter. Coupled with the multiple fouls against the Eagles, Wheeler was able to gain a late lead

JOE PARKER/STAFF

Milton senior Kyrin Galloway fights off multiple defenders on his way to the basket. Galloway finished the game with 13 points and nine rebounds.

from free throws. The Wildcats would eventually gain the largest lead of the game for either team at 71-60 in the final minute, which would be the final score.

With the win, Wheeler gained a halfgame lead over Milton for the lead in the Region 5-AAAAAA standings.

The Eagles have eight games remaining, all against region opponents.

Their next game is Jan. 19 at Woodstock. The Eagles will face Wheeler once more in the regular season on Feb. 2.

Other notable weekend games (boys): St. Francis 66 - Fellowship Christian 56: The Knights currently lead the Region 6-A Division B standings.

With their win over Fellowship Christian, the Knights have put themselves in a strong position to repeat as region champions.

Lambert 74 - South Forsyth 49: Lambert improved to 10-0 in region play with their win over the War Eagles.

They now hold a one-game lead over Johns Creek.

Blessed Trinity 56 - Douglass 62: The Titans dropped both of their games this weekend to Westminster and Douglass. Both Westminster and Douglass now sit ahead of BT, who is currently third, in the Region 4-AAA Division B standings.

Centennial 51 - Northview 42: Centennial defeated Northview to

SPORTS

ler in final minutes Boys scores from Dec. 8 Walker 66 - King’s Ridge 63 Whitefield Academy 59 - Mount Pisgah 20 St. Francis 66 - Fellowship Christian 56 Westminster 49 - Blessed Trinity 39 Providence Christian 59 - Pinecrest Academy 64 Forsyth Central 62 - Cambridge 60 North Forsyth 41 - Chattahoochee 56 Lambert 74 - South Forsyth 49 Roswell 53 - Pope 57 West Forsyth 37 - Alpharetta 75 Johns Creek 61 - Habersham Central 42 Centennial 51 - Northview 42 Walton 52 - Milton 79 Girls scores Dec. 8 St. Francis 87 - Fellowship Christian 26 Providence Christian 34 - Pinecrest Academy 48 Westminster 56 - Blessed Trinity 32 Johns Creek 54 - Habersham Central 47 Roswell 29 - Pope 38 West Forsyth 57 - Alpharetta 42 Walton 25 - Milton 51

remain third in the Region 6-AAAAAA standings behind Lambert and Johns Creek. They fell to Roswell, a nonregion opponent, on Dec. 9.

Other notable weekend games (girls): St. Francis 87 - Fellowship Christian 26: The Lady Knights continued their domination in region play with a huge win over FCS. The Lady Knights’ average margin of victory in region games is 52 points per game so far this

Centennial 65 - Northview 49 North Forsyth 43 - Chattahoochee 40 Lambert 31 - South Forsyth 71 Boys scores Dec. 9 Pinecrest Academy 52 - Our Lady of Mercy 59 Mt. Paran Christian 27 - Fellowship Christian 48 Blessed Trinity 42 - Douglass 62 Lanier 53 - Chattahoochee 57 Cambridge 35 - Cedar Shoals 71 Walton 65 - Alpharetta 57 North Forsyth 40 - Johns Creek 59 Centennial 56 - Roswell 71 Girls scores Dec. 9 Pinecrest Academy 29 - Our Lady of Mercy 35 Mount Paran Christian 60 - Fellowship Christian 42 Blessed Trinity 45 - Douglass 57 Lanier 34 - Chattahoochee 61 Pebblebrook 44 - Alpharetta 51 Centennial 36 - Roswell 29 Wheeler 57 - Milton 47 Cambridge 48 - Cedar Shoals 41 Forsyth Central 44 - Chestatee 32

season.

Lambert 31 - South Forsyth 71: South dominated Lambert to remain undefeated in region play at 9-0. The War Eagles are currently tied with West Forsyth for the region lead.

North Forsyth 43 - Chattahoochee 40: North Forsyth outlasted Chattahoochee to improve to 6-4 in region play.

The Raiders are currently in fourth in the region standings.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR PROPOSALS CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA FOR CCTV PIPELINE INSPECTION CAMERA RFP #16-107 The City of Alpharetta is requesting proposals from qualified and experienced companies to supply the necessary camera pipeline equipment to successfully perform video inspections of existing storm sewer pipes. A portion of the funding for this project is being provided through a US EPA Grant.

The RFP will be available online Thursday, January 14, 2016, at our bid posting website, https://www.ebidexchange.com/alpharetta.

Interested parties are required to log in to review the RFP documents.

Proposals will be due on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 10:00 AM at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009.

For information, please contact Debora Westbrook at the City of Alpharetta Finance Department via email at purchasing@alpharetta.ga.us or at 678-297-6052.

NorthFulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 35

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The following items will be heard at a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on Thursday, February 4, 2016 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

Items forwarded by the Planning Commission will be considered by the City Council on Monday, February 22, 2016 commencing at 7:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza Alpharetta, Georgia. a. Z-15-18/V-15-28 Fox Road Subdivision Consideration of a request to rezone approximately 10 acres from AG to R-12 for the construction of 22 “for-sale” homes. The property is located at the end of Fox Road north of Kimball Bridge Road. A variance for the front setback from 30’ to 15’ is requested and a reduction to the side setback (adjacent to lots) from 10’ to 5’, but maintain a minimum building separation of 20’. A request to reduce the side setback (adjacent to street) from 20’ to 15’ and a request to build sidewalk on only one side of the street, reduce lot width from 80’ to 75’, and allow required tree plantings to be planted on adjacent property are also requested. The property is legally described as being located within Land Lots 195 and 196, 1st District, 1st Section of Fulton County. b. Z-15-17/PH-16-01/V-16-04 Nicholson/Big Creek Overlook Consideration of a request to rezone approximately 3 acres from RE to R. Variances to the rear setback from 50’ to 25’, reduction of the side setback from 25’ to 15’, and the 100’ lot width is requested. A change to a condition of zoning requiring existing stream crossing for lots 12-A and 12-B is also requested. The property is south of Webb Bridge Road off of Big Creek Overlook. The property is legally described as being located in Land Lot 8, 1st District, 1st Section, Fulton County, Georgia. c. Z-15-09/V-15-17 Providence Group/DT-LW Consideration of a request to rezone approximately 7 acres from R-12 and O-I to DT-LW to construct 56 “for-sale” townhomes and an office building.

A variance is requested to allow a gated entrance to the townhomes and a variance to allow front entry townhomes on the lots 13-27. The property is located on the south side of Old Milton Parkway and east of Haynes Bridge Road. The property is legally described as being located in Land Lots 748 & 749, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia. d. Z-15-12 Old Milton Holdings/DT-LW Consideration of a request to rezone approximately 2.19 acres from O-P and R-12 to DT-LW to construct 11 “for sale” attached townhomes and 7 “for-sale” detached homes. The property is located on the south side of Thompson Street and east of Haynes Bridge Road. The property is legally described as being located in Land Lot 749 & 802, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza.

36 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

SCHOOLS

AHS Academic Team qualifies for 2 national titles ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The Alpharetta High School Academic Team has been the champions in three of five tournaments and was runner-up in a fourth

CITY OF ALPHARETTA PUBLIC NOTICE PH-16-AB-02 PLACE City Hall Two Park Plaza Council Chambers January 21, 2016 3:00 P.M. PURPOSE Package Store Beer & Wine - Sunday Sales APPLICANT S3 Mansell, LLC d/b/a Smart Mart Mansell 3790 Mansell Road Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 Owner S3 Mansell, LLC Registered Agent Sajid Halani

so far this year. That success has led to an opportunity to compete for two national titles.

The team has qualified for the most prestigious 2016 National Academic

CITY OF ALPHARETTA PUBLIC NOTICE PH-16-AB-03 PLACE City Hall Two Park Plaza Council Chambers January 21, 2016 3:00 P.M. PURPOSE Consumption on Premises Beer & Wine – Sunday Sales APPLICANT Cuzi Fresh Café 4160 Old Milton Parkway Alpharetta, Ga. 30005 Owner and Registered Agent Christopher M. Cusimano

AHS Academic Team members are from left Susan Lee, Michael Horton, Shubhom Bhattacharya (Captain), Krishna Dwarampudi and coach Dr. G. Sowdayya.

Quiz Tournament High School National Championship in Dallas this summer.

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NAQT provides a standardized, nationwide competition format that is open to all middle schools, high schools, home school collectives, community colleges, and colleges.

The team has already qualified for another national championship with the Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence in Chicago.

The Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence is a 501(c)(3) non -profit organization that promotes high school quiz bowl competition and runs the National Scholastic Championship, an end-of-year national tournament for high school quiz bowl teams.

PACE was founded in 1996 by a group of quiz bowl players and coaches who were dissatisfied with the quality of high school quiz bowl at the time.

COMMUNITY

northfulton.com || Alpharetta-Roswell Alpharetta-Roswell Herald Herald || January January 14, 14, 2016 2016 || 37 37 NorthFulton.com

Hooch alum takes top academic honors at law enforcement academy

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Luke Cioffi, Chattahoochee High School class of ’09, earned the top academic award during the Oct. 30 North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy’s commencement ceremonies.

Cioffi earned a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Georgia in May and a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from Georgia College and State University in 2013. He was enrolled in the 10-week basic law-enforcement training course upon employment with the Emory Police Department.

The 408-hour program – a requirement for becoming a law enforcement officer in Georgia – trains recruits from a variety of state agencies, including sheriff’s offices from Bartow, Douglas and Carroll counties and police departments from Kennesaw, Carrolton and Clarkston, among others.

Of the 22 officers participating in Class No. 293, Cioffi earned the Honor Student Award for having the highest cumulative academic scores throughout the program.

KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI/STAFF

Emory University Police Department officers on hand for the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy commencement ceremonies Oct. 30 included, from left, Darrell Johnson, crime prevention officer, Officer Luke Cioffi, Chief Craig Watson and Officer Andrew An.

ONLINE INCLUDED

» Hiring? Pay once & we’ll run your ad until your position is filled.* » Selling Something? Pay once and we’ll run your item until it’s sold!*

Call today to place your ad • 470.222.8469 • classifieds@appenmediagroup.com • FAX: 770-475-1216 •

Help Wanted

Full-time

Full-time

Part-time

Childcare

OFFICE MANAGER/ BOOKKEEPER A l p h a r e t t a Presbyterian Church seeks a full-time office manager to lead and coordinate the efficient running of the church office. In addition to supervising support staff and organizing all personnel records, the office manager will manage all church finances. This is a full time position with benefits. Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, salary requirements and three references to: Office Manager Search Committee, A l p h a r e t t a Presbyterian Church, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009 or jobs@ alpharettapres.com

North Fulton Community Charities Now Hiring Full-Time: Director Of Volunteer Services.

Requires excellent management and oral/written communication skills.

BA & 2 yrs. experience required.

NFCC is a locally supported, volunteer based nonprofit serving a diverse population in North Fulton with emergency needs. NFCC requires background check, drug screen and e-Verify.

Submit resume and salary requirements or pick up application and job description at NFCC, 11270 Elkins Road, Roswell 30076 or bduffy@nfcchelp.org

COACHES Team, and recreational.

Must have experience, and reliable transportation and be good with kids. If interested, contact Lindi at 770-475-8188

Part-time

Income Opportunities

ASSISTANT The Alpharetta Presbyterian Dayschool is looking for an assistant in their part day Parent’s Morning Out program.

Classroom experience with children ages 2 and 3 is a must.

If you are interested in being considered for this position, please submit a resume to nancy@ alpharettapres.com

Full-time Journeymen Electricians/Foreman GA State Licensed. Night work. Resumes: butch@ brandersonelectric.com or fax 562-493-4800

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Parts Professional: Reliable, Outgoing.

M o n d a y - F r i d a y, 7:00am-6pm, some Saturdays 7:30am-3pm.

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HANDYMAN who can “fix almost anything”.

Non-smoker, honest, dependable, good references. Must pass background check.

Preferable plumbing, electrical, sometimes framing, HVAC, etc ability for any of those. $15/hour. 770-992-2469. realestatetreasure@ msn.com

LEGAL SECRETARY

Litigation experience.

Alpharetta area. Flexible schedule.

Resumes: robballard@earthlink.net PET SITTER/DOG WALKER FT/PT. Must have flexible schedule. www. happytailscare.com HOUSEKEEPERS NEEDED At Roswell Nursing Center 1109 Green St. Roswell Please apply in person ask for Shelton

Start your own FUN home-based business selling Beauty/ Fashion/ Decor. Set your hours.

Ice Cream Social, 5910 Bethelview Rd, Cumming, 30040.

1- 2:30pm, 1/19/16 & 1/21/16. 678-4282726, 770-826-3301

*Some Restrictions

Sales

Building Supplies

Cemetery

Furniture

Estate Sale

DECORATIVE DORIC COLUMN, new, 12”dx8’t, $160. 770-521-5335

A R L I N G T O N , Garden-C, Lot 61 Sandy Springs. Asking $1800 negotiable.

770-9934065

PATIO FURNITURE, sturdy metal. 2 chairs with ottomans, loveseat, all cushions. $100. 770569-2589

CUMMING 6535 Polo Drive 30040.

Preview: Friday 1/8, 12pm-4pm.

Friday 1/15, Saturday 1/16, 8am-3pm.

Houseful of contemporary and traditional treasures (mostly furnishings)

VELUX SKYLIGHTS, used. (Eight, 21”x44”, two miscellaneous sizes). $475/all. 770992-6848 leave message

Animals

ARLINGTON Desirable Calvary Section.

Lake and Crucifix views. Lot 545A, 2 spaces, Retail $13,990. $7900 both.

770-7513643

Horses BEGINNING HORSEBACK LESSONS 4 years old-adult.

Conveniently located, 400, exit 12.

Gift certificates are available! info@ whitedogfarm.com 770-889-7373 www.whitedogfarm. com

Bargains Antiques European wardrobe/ armoire, single door, beveled mirror, 84”hX 21”dX37”w. $700.

Photos. 678-549-6057.

Cemetery

ARLINGTON

2 premium spaces, prestigious Pine Hill. #184-C, 3 & 4. $4000 each, valued $8900 each. 770-886-9088

Greenlawn/Roswell 4 lots, Garden Of The Fountain. $2700 each/ obo, includes upkeep and maintenance. 770475-7025 Roswell-Greenlawn.

Garden of Prayer overlooking lake with fountain.

4 plots. ivypaigereeder@gmail. com for more info and photos

Arlington Memorial Park Atlanta Section E, Lot 71A, spaces 1, 2, 3, 4. $3800/each.

Debbie ewingadeb@yahoo.com or text/call 770-3559681

Furniture Leather sectional in Rio Chinese Red (103x103”), 6 Extra Firm Cushions, Foam Pillow Tops. Excellent Condition! $800. 678591-0450 DINING TABLE: Round Ralph Lauren 60”d cherry $200. 770-7810961 BABY BED; Collapses, foldable. Carrying bag. $40, 770-993-0835 Bunk Bed, Buzz Lightyear with slide and matching Desk $450.

864-567-0362

Custom Laminate Shelves with 3 drawers (beige). 14’Lx8’Wx16”D. $500. 770-633-0107

Household Amana Dishwasher, black. $50. 678-4563738

Household GE OverOven MW- SS, $50. 678-456-3738 GE Gas Range, Black, $50 678-456-3738

Medical Equipment HOSPITAL BED: Electronic controls with deluxe mattress. Bought new, used less than 2 weeks. $750. Originally $2000. 404-735-7250

MAIN CLASSIFIEDS continued on page 38

38 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | northfulton.com

MAIN CLASSIFIEDS continued from page 37 Full-time

Wanted to Buy WANTED: CAR 1968 Mustang Fastback, restored original or Restomod, Automatic ONLY. No clones, tributes or project cars.

Serious adult buyer in Alpharetta. Ed 470-2221595 Vintage Barbie, Midge, Francie, Skipper dolls, clothing and accessories. (Local).

Cell 214-883-8215

NATIONAL ADVERTISING Real Estate Wanted Real Estate Wanted Rent/Lease 3-4 bedrooms, ranch home for retired and retiring couple. Need by 1/30/16. Will be in area 1/17 and 1/18 to look at homes. 704860-3156 anytime

Office Space for Rent

Acreage/Lots

Commercial Space for Lease

Medical Equipment

Miscellaneous

Recreation

Recreation

CHAIR LIFT for vehicle, Bruno Curbsider, for motorized chair, remote control, 400-lb. capacity $1500. 404-345-2372

DRIFTWOOD: For decorating and/or projects. $350/all! Text for pix: 678-468-8687

POOL TABLE: Brunswick 8’. Three slates. Pool cues, pool rack, table light, Excellent condition. $1500. 678-339-0410

TREADMILL: Trimline heavy duty $100. 678339-0410

TH-36 PSORIASIS PHOTOTHERAPY LAMP $100. 404-3452372 Rechargeable Mobile Chair by Invacare: Joystick hand operated.

Adjustable up and down seat and back.

Gel cushion seat for pressure.

Used 4 months. $6000. 404345-2372

Musical Instruments PIANO, Baby Grand: Elegant case, matching bench; warm, rich tone.

Sacrifice $1650 obo.

678-445-3654 CELLO, 7/8 Doetsch, Pernambuco bow, Hiscox hard sided case $2400. 770-753-0787

Pool Table, 8’. Balls, racks, cue stand, sticks. Slate base, Dark cherry, leather ball pockets. $850.

770-617-5943 POOL TABLE, 4x8, 4 chairs, cues, rack, 2 more tables. $2300.

404-934-7307

GOLF CART: Club Car. Trojan batteries with charger. Lights, horn.

Excellent condition! $1950. 404-290-6364.

GOLF MEMORABILIA: Club Logo; balls and towels, etc. $295. 404583-2078 Nordic Track Walk Fit 5000: Non-electric, no batteries. $100. 770993-0835

FRAME YOUR AD Do you want your ad to stand out? Ask your classified sales rep how you can enhance your in-column line ad with a

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537 Lake Center Parkway for lease 12003600 SF space available in beautiful brick building. Easy access to Highway 9 and Market Center Blvd in Cumming.

Call Christy Scally, Keller Williams 678-341-7400 office, 404-660-2919 cell, www.AgentScally. com

Home for Sale Rare 3000 sqft on one level. 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, giant family room and master bedroom, each with it’s own fireplace. Minutes from exit 14, major shopping and Northiside hospital. $239,000. Call Bob at 770-757-8654 or email dnabob@bellsouth.net for information.

Miscellaneous

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED! Top $$$$$ PAID! Running or Not, All Years, Makes, Models.

Free Towing! We’re Local! 7 Days/Week. Call Toll Free: 1-888-416-2330

Make a Connection. Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. Try it FREE. Call NOW: Call 1-877737-9447 18+

Educational MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES NEEDED! Train at home to process Medical Billing & Insurance! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Online training at Bryan University! HS Diploma/GED & Computer/Internet needed.

1-888-734-6711 NEW YEAR, NEW AIRLINE CAREER. Get FAA approved certification at campuses coast to coast. Job placement assistance. Financial Aid for qualifying students. Call AIM 888-686-1704

Real Estate

1.98 acre Residential Lot off of E. Cherokee Dr./ Murphy Dr. (secluded drive) in Cherokee County. Wooded with mature hardwoods, sloped lot. All utilities at road. $50,000 Call Christy Scally, Keller Williams 678-341-7400 office, 404-660-2919 cell, www.AgentScally. com

Autos Wanted

Main Street Commons Office Condo Park, Heart Of Downtown Alpharetta. Single Story Office Condo 1104 SF, 3 Offices, Reception Area, Conference & Break Rooms, Storage Closet, very nice finishes. $1385/ month. 1020 Powers Place.

Linda.Ekes@ccgatl.com

Business Services Business Opportunity LIFE COACHES: Join our team/earn to $60$90. P/T, F/T. Training and support. This year’s goal: 10,000 clients.

Text (VAP) 770-6177092

Legal Notice Notice is given that a notice of intent to dissolve JUSTINE MASON INC., a Georgia Corporation with a registered office at 400 Oak Laurel Ct., Johns Creek, GA 30022 has been delivered to the Secretary of State for filing in accordance with the Georgia Business Corporation Code Notice is given that a notice of intent to dissolve MD Gaither System Services, Inc., a Georgia corporation with its registered office at 2020 Breckenridge Lane, Alpharetta, has been delivered to the Secretary of State for filing in accordance with the Georgia Business Corporation Code.

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Habla Espanol.

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SERVICE DIRECTORY

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Need a housecleaning?

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References. 404-4687667. “I get all your dust to earn your trust!”

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Call Ralph Rucker at 678-898-7237

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Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the following classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license identification or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it’s illegal to request any money before delivering its service.

All funds are based in U.S. dollars. 800 numbers may or may not reach Canada.

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northfulton.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 14, 2016 | 39

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40 | January 14, 2016 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com

IT’S BACK! WE ARE GIVING AWAY ANOTHER CRUISE!

2016 Appen Awesome

Adstravaganza!

January 20th - February 25th

ATTENTION READERS!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We are kicking off 2016 by giving away a

2015 Winners Anthony & Jenny

FREE CRUISE!

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LOOK for the Expedia Cruise logo hidden throughout the papers each week.

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“The trip was fantastic,” said Jenny. “We fell in love with Roatan. It was probably our favorite of the islands we visited. It’s stunningly beautiful.”

10945 State Bridge Rd., Ste 105 cruiseshipcenters.com/Alpharetta (678) 712-5059

Sponsored by:

Cruise winner will be drawn and notified via email Monday March 7th.

One entry per email, per week.