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Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - August 6, 2026

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Alpharetta to install 10 new outdoor sculptures across city

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A new series of sculptures will transform Alpharetta into an outdoor art gallery this fall.

At an Aug. 3 meeting, the Alpharetta City Council approved a contract with Arts Alpharetta to produce an exhibit featuring 10 new sculptures.

Dubbed “Dazzle and Discord,” the pieces will be installed from August to September, city officials said.

Officials have installed

artwork throughout Alpharetta since 2018.

Kim Zane, cultural services manager, said the art enhances walkability within Alpharetta, stimulating the imaginations of passing residents and visitors. The pieces also serve as useful landmarks.

“This is just an outdoor gallery, and it just provides interest as you’re walking,” she said.

Zane said some residents have reported growing attached to the previous installation’s artwork.

See SCULPTURES, Page 22

CITY OF ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED “Nouveau Crane” will be installed near City Hall.

Roaring Social selling $10K martini with diamond necklace

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Roaring Social in Alpharetta and Decatur has partnered with Solomon Brothers Jewelers to create a $10,000 martini experience that pairs a crafted martini topped with a spoonful of beluga caviar and a 5-carat diamond necklace.

Guests can now order the Roaring Jewel Martini accompanied by the Roaring Social bottle experience featuring a custom marquee sign and sparkler presentation. The signature martini is made with Beluga Gold Line vodka, a dry vermouth rinse, a float of Billecart-Salmon Champagne Le Réserve.

See MARTINI, Page 22

SOLOMON BROTHERS JEWELERS AND ROARING SOCIAL/PROVIDED The Roaring Jewel Martini, now offered at Roaring Social in Alpharetta and Decatur, is a $10K crafted martini topped with a spoonful of beluga

with paired with a 5-carat diamond

valued at more than $11,0000 that guests can redeem at a Solomon Brothers location.

Metro Vein Center to open Alpharetta location

ROSWELL, Ga. — Metro Vein Center will bring patient-centered vein disease treatments to North Fulton once its first Georgia storefront opens Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 11660 Alpharetta Highway, Building 515. The clinic sits in Roswell

Alpharetta man threatens to kill cops

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near the Alpharetta line, and staff members are branding the first of four anticipated locations in Georgia as the Alpharetta location.

The new clinic will be led by Dr. M. Ali Pervaiz, a boardcertified physician and vein specialist with over 20 years of experience in internal medicine and genetics. Pervaiz is a board-

Artist spotlights brothers born with cleft lip

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certified medical researcher and educator in the Atlanta metro as well as a fellow of the American College of Physicians. Vein disease affects 1 out of 2 women and 1 out of 3 men, commonly first presenting as spider veins or varicose — large or swollen — veins.

See VEIN, Page 22

Barbecue spot to open in Johns Creek

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caviar
necklace

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Man charged after gun fires, wounds two on MARTA bus

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A man is facing federal charges after authorities say his firearm accidentally discharged on a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority bus, hitting a woman and also wounding himself while traveling in Sandy Springs July 22.

Guillermo Cruz Velazquez appeared in federal court July 28 on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully present in the U.S., the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Georgia said in a press release. He will remain in the

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.

Man allegedly found with methamphetamine in Alpharetta jail

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Police allegedly discovered methamphetamine in the sock of an inmate who was being held at the Alpharetta Detention Center July 18.

CUSTOM FRAMING

Alpharetta police said a sergeant searched the socks of a 40-year-old Whitnell, Tenn., man while moving him to another unit because of his erratic behavior. The sergeant became suspicious of the socks after noticing they were black.

The detention center does not issue black socks to inmates.

A search found a clear plastic baggie containing a crystal substance. The man had been at the jail for longer than 24 hours.

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custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.

The incident happened near the intersection of Roswell Road and Glenridge Drive. A firearm in Velazquez’s bag discharged one round that struck a female passenger in the leg and Velazquez in the forearm.

Velazquez fled on foot, and Sandy Springs police found him wounded in a parking lot and possessing a bag with a hole in it, the release said. Officers found a .45 caliber pistol with a used cartridge case stuck in the ejection port in nearby bushes.

Chief of the MARTA Police Department M. Scott Kreher said the

A field test confirmed the substance contained methamphetamine.

Police were unable to determine when the drug entered the jail.

The man, who was admitted into the jail on a disorderly conduct charge, was charged with going inside the guard line with drugs and possession of a Schedule II substance.

Alpharetta man threatens to kill Roswell cops during arrest

ROSWELL, Ga. — An Alpharetta man allegedly threatened to kill Roswell officers and kicked one in the head multiple times at a bus stop on Holcomb Bridge Road while under arrest for public indecency.

The man called police himself before 11:30 p.m. July 29 to report he had fallen. While officers were en route to the site, dispatchers said they observed the individual through a camera at the traffic intersection and reported they saw him exposing himself to drivers while urinating at the bus stop. Responding officers viewed the footage themselves while the man was

THE PICTURE FRAMER HAS MOVED!

safety of passengers and employees remains a top priority.

“We are working closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners as the investigation continues,” Kreher said. “Reckless actions that place the public at risk have no place on our transit system, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe environment for everyone who relies on MARTA.”

The case is being investigated by the MARTA and Sandy Springs police departments, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

undergoing a medical evaluation.

The man was placed under arrest for public indecency. He allegedly had slurred speech and lacked balance, which prompted the officer to ask the man how many drinks he had consumed. The incident reports said the man began yelling and became unruly while threatening to fight the officers.

Officers said they had to physically control the man while he allegedly shouted expletives at them and threatened to kill them. After officers said the man refused verbal demands to get in the patrol car, they went to grab the man to force him into the backseat.

According to the responding officers, the man kicked an officer in the head multiple times, causing them to restrain his legs. Officers dragged him into the vehicle and said the man continued kicking the car door.

During transport and while at the hospital, the man continued threatening to kill the officers, they said. He was transported to the Fulton County Jail and charged with public indecency, public drunkenness, making terroristic threats and acts, and felony obstruction of officers.

August

Georgia

Art tour spotlights Milton brothers born with cleft lip

ATLANTA — Artist Katie Manning believes babies born with cleft lip — a common birth difference where the upper lip does not close all the way during pregnancy — are uniquely themselves and worth celebrating.

She is providing Atlanta with 100 reasons why through her 100 Cleft Portraits tour, a traveling art and education exhibition featuring drawn and painted portraits of people born with cleft from around the world.

The portraits are currently featured at two Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hospitals, Arthur M. Blank on North Druid Hills Road and Scottish Rite on Johnson Ferry Road.

Portraits of two Milton brothers are included in the series, and they will be formally presented to the brothers and their family members by Manning on Aug. 8 at Cherokee Town & Country Club in Atlanta, 155 W. Paces Ferry Road NW, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Guests interested in seeing those portraits and hearing from Manning about her work should register in advance at acpacares.org/100-cleft-portraits-tour.

The portraits and accompanying tour are part of National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month. The month serves as a time to advocate on behalf of patients with cleft lip — and also to celebrate them and their health journeys. The American Cleft Palate Association and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are among the tour’s sponsors.

The Milton brothers have been under the care of Dr. Joseph K. Williams, a pediatric plastic surgeon and director of Children’s Center for Cleft and Craniofacial Disorders, since birth.

DRIVEWAYS

at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Scottish Rite Hospital. The portraits, which include depictions of two brothers from Milton, are designed to highlight the beauty and uniqueness of each patient, the artist noted.

Williams said Manning’s work creates visibility for patients with cleft lip while also highlighting the artist’s own journey with the birth difference. Manning’s son was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate.

“This is a mom who … needed to understand how to deal with that internally, the emotions and guilt that a lot of these families have,” Williams said. “She went back to what was in her core, which is to be an artist.”

A surgeon for 30 years, Williams said a common

misconception about patients born with cleft lip is that it is a life-altering condition. He acknowledged, however, that treating the birth difference is a lengthy process and one that can be challenging for families.

“I think when that happens twice, in a situation like this [with the brothers from Milton], the burden of care becomes formidable,” Williams said. “It is undoubtedly an enormous stress on the family and the family dynamics.”

He said cleft repair involves an 18-year treatment plan with an average of five to seven surgeries.

Surgeries start in a patient’s first year of life and are followed by speech and dental development evaluations. Other procedures could later be necessary, including reconstruction of the gums, revisions of the lip and nose, and jaw surgery.

Patients meet a number of health care specialists — surgeons, dentists, speech-language pathologists, nutritionists and even psychologists — during their journey, Williams added.

The surgeon said a prenatal, or before birth, diagnosis can be helpful both to medical teams and families. With that information, parents can prepare for the process and be provided with sufficient information to make decisions and adapt to potential challenges.

“We can ease their mind and make sure they understand that this is a well-worn path and there are a lot of people that are there to take care of it,” Williams said.

He said medical advancements are helping shorten recovery times. One bright spot, he noted, is that lab-created materials, instead of bone taken from a patient’s hip, can now be used to repair a bone gap.

DRIVEWAYS

SUBMITTED/CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA
Portraits of patients born with cleft lip by artist Katie Manning are on display

Book pairs father, son’s reflections on autism journey

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — When David Raphael wrote his first essay, “Jacob’s Story: A Miracle of the Heart,” nearly 30 years ago, he never predicted it would turn into a published book that explores the “amazingly emotional” experience he said results from raising a child with autism.

“Every autistic kid’s story is unique,” David said. “Among the things that makes Jacob’s path unique is … he started in a really serious place.”

His son Jacob was diagnosed with autism at 2 years and 7 months old, and doctors could not guarantee how far he would progress due to significant cognitive delays. In the essay published in 1997, David wrote that the weeks following his son’s diagnosis were among the most painful he had ever experienced.

“I would lie awake at night, unable to sleep,” David wrote. “I had no appetite. I could think of nothing but the son that would be lost to me forever.”

This severe anxiety continued until the Raphaels were introduced to the

DIR model, a scientific framework used to promote healthy development in children with autism. DIR — an initialism for the developmental, individual differences, relationshipbased model — was developed in the 1980s and 1990s by Dr. Stanley Greenspan and expanded upon by Dr. Serene Wieder.

“The first time we saw Dr. Greenspan … Jacob and I were in his office and it was as if somebody had opened a door to the future,” David said. “When we started doing the Floortime method, we saw changes right away.”

Floortime, according to the DIR website, is the DIR model put into practice. Activities focus on building a child’s underlying developmental capacities — emotional regulation, engagement, two-way communication and problem-solving — through play that follows the child’s interests.

With Floortime treatment, David said progress came “immediately,” making the three-hour commute to Greenspan’s office — and the thousands of dollars spent on provider costs — worth it. He said it was gratifying and exhilarating to see his son’s growth.

“As Jacob was healing, I was healing, too,” David said.

David read his “Jacob’s Story” essay at the 1996 Zero to Three child development conference, sharing how important early intervention and DIR was to their lives. He said it was hard work, frustrating at times, and he noted Jacob’s progress was rapid and remarkable. Jacob, by age 5, had said his first word — “meow” — and wanted to learn everything.

“Jacob’s Story” was published in the April/May 1997 edition of the Zero to Three Journal, which publishes the latest research on early childhood development and related insights from experts. Three years later, he was again invited to speak at the group’s conference. His second essay, “Jacob’s Story Part II: Each Day is Another Adventure,” was published in 2000.

David said parents of children diagnosed with autism are desperate for hope. The diagnosis is becoming more prevalent, with the Centers for Disease Control reporting that, in 2022, 1 in 31 8-year-old children in the U.S. were identified with autism spectrum disorder.

See RAPHAEL, Page 7

ANTHONY BOYD GRAPHICS/PROVIDED David Raphael, left, embraces his 13-year-old son Jacob in the cover photo for “A Miracle of the Heart: A Father and Son’s Autism Journey,” which was published earlier this year.

Raphael:

Continued from Page 6

In 2002, 1 in 150 were noted.

“We’ve been telling Jacob for years that he has an important message to share, that he has an important story to share with others,” David said.

Last year, David collected his essays and spoke with Jacob about each chapter. The dad transcribed his conversations with his son. Jacob contributed his own chapter, “A Boy and His Autism,” which details the confusion and difficulties he experienced while growing up with autism. The prose also recounts the first time he read “Jacob’s Story.”

Jacob, usually hesitant to discuss the development disorder, wrote that reading the essay caused a wave of emotions to burst through a dam he had long been building.

“The emotion that broke the camel’s back, in this case, wasn’t anger but empathy … empathy and a radical shifting of a memory that happens years after the fact,” Jacob recorded.

Chapters pairing dad-and-son reflections weave readers through the shared experience and what those times meant to both individuals. The essays and reflections were published in the book “A Miracle of the Heart: A Father and Son’s Autism Journey,”

which was released this summer through the publisher they founded, The Narrow Bridge Press.

Jacob, now 35 with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Georgia College and State University, is working on his own novel and applying for a graduate-level social work program. With his father, he served as a keynote speaker at the Creating Connections to Shining Stars child development conference in Virginia July 14-16.

“It’s taken me three decades to become more comfortable in my own skin and with my own unique qualities,” Jacob said. “I still have a ways to go. That said, I’d like to think that I’ve learned a thing or two along the way.”

Jacob told the conference crowd, a group of special educators and parents, that it is essential to help neurodivergent people connect with others around them. He said finding people who accept others as they are — autism and all — is even more important.

“When thinking about his long journey, the latest chapter of his is embracing his autism identity,” David said. “He really embraced who he is and it’s incredibly … empowering for him and affirming.”

To learn more, read the dad-andson pair’s blog or purchase a book, visit narrowbridge.us.

DAVID RAPHAEL/PROVIDED
Jacob Raphael, left, visits with his dad, David. They recently wrote a book, “A Miracle of the Heart: A Father and Son’s Autism Journey.”

Just opened?

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Famous Dave’s barbecue chain to open Johns Creek location

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek will be the site of a new location for a Minnesota-based barbecue chain.

Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que will open at 10710 State Bridge Road, Suite 150 — an Alpharetta address within the Johns Creek city limits — in the fall. It is operated by a group called The Georgia Partnership, which includes Dr. Derek S. Scott, operations developer Vetra A. Stephens and growth strategist Lord Bryan DeGraffenreid.

The new location will be the “flagship location for long-term growth across Georgia,” according to a press release from the group. Famous Dave’s was founded in 1994 in Hayward, Wisconsin, and now has 111 locations in 30 states as well as a Winnipeg, Canada, branch and three locations in the United Arab Emirates.

The menu offers “the kind of barbecue that tastes as though it has been carefully tended for hours, allowing seasoning, smoke, and time to create unmistakable flavor,” according to the release. Entrees range from St. Louis-style ribs to Texas beef brisket, Georgia chopped pork and country-roasted chicken.

Made-from-scratch sides include coleslaw, the restaurant’s own take on beans and fries, and cornbread muffins.

The quick-service eatery is also known for its signature barbecue sauces, with flavors ranging from sweet and zesty to bold and spicy. The menu items and flavors, operators said, turn “an ordinary meal into an experience worth remembering.”

Visit famousdaves.com for more information.

PHOTO COURTESY FAMOUSDAVES.COM
Famous Dave’s will soon bring its signature barbecue spread to Johns Creek. The Minnesota-based chain is opening a location on State Bridge Road this fall.

Sponsored Section

The best offer this summer is rarely the largest one. It is the one with the fewest conditions attached

Where the market stands

Metro Atlanta closed June with a median sale price near $410,000, effectively where it stood a year ago. Inventory tells the more interesting story. Active listings are up nearly ten percent from last summer, placing Atlanta third among the country's forty largest markets for supply growth, and putting us back within reach of pre-pandemic levels for the first time since 2019. Homes are taking roughly fifty-five days to sell. Across Georgia, sellers are collecting 95.6 percent of their original asking price, down slightly from a year ago.

None of that describes a market in trouble. It describes a market that has finally caught its breath, and one in which the terms of a transaction now carry as much weight as the price.

Inside the perimeter

Town has shifted, and the shift is most visible at the top. Inventory above one million dollars is up roughly eighteen percent year over year, and Buckhead is now sitting at approximately six months of supply. By the standard we hold to, six months is balanced. Not soft, not distressed, balanced. The median luxury sale in Buckhead is holding near $1.72 million, which tells you demand has not left. It has simply become selective. For sellers in Buckhead, Brookhaven, Morningside, and Druid Hills, this means the days of waiting for the market to come to you are behind us. For buyers, particularly in the high-rise segment, this is the most workable negotiating window we have seen in several years.

Outside the perimeter

Country continues to run at a different tempo. Alpharetta is carrying roughly four and a half months of supply, which by our standard is balanced, and well-positioned homes are still going under contract in about three and a half weeks. The distinction that matters here is not average versus average. It is prepared versus unprepared. Across North Fulton, the share of listings taking a price reduction climbed again in June, and those homes have been sitting an average of eighty-two days. Fresh, correctly positioned inventory moves. Everything else waits.

Pricing across much of North Fulton has moderated, with Johns Creek the notable exception, posting a solid gain in median sale price during June. Milton, Roswell, Cumming, and northern Forsyth remain supported by relocation demand, school reputation, and a new construction pipeline that gives buyers a genuine alternative. A resale home more than a decade old is now competing directly against a builder who can offer rate buydowns and closing cost credits. That is not cause for concern. It is cause to prepare properly and structure thoughtfully.

The cost of money

Rates moved up again this week to 6.66 percent, the highest reading in about a year, after the Federal Reserve held its position in late July. Two things are worth saying plainly. First, we are still slightly below where we were twelve months ago. Second, buyers in this market have stopped waiting for a number and started negotiating for a payment. Seller concessions, rate buydowns, and creative structure are doing work that price reductions used to do, and they often serve both sides better.

What we are advising clients right now

For sellers: if your goal is to close before the holi -

days, you are on the runway now, not in September. Price to the last ninety days of closings rather than to last spring's aspiration, and come to market prepared. Then be genuinely open on terms. A clean, well-structured offer at a slightly lower number is frequently worth more than a higher one carrying contingencies.

For buyers: you have leverage you did not have two years ago, and it is concentrated in listings that have been sitting. Use it on structure, not just on price. Ask for the buydown. Ask for the credit. And move decisively when the right property appears, because well-prepared homes in strong neighborhoods are still trading quickly.

For both: the transaction is no longer won on a single number. It is won on how the whole agreement is assembled.

With warm regards, Bill Rawlings Founder and CEO Peachtree Town & Country

Market data is compiled from FMLS, Georgia MLS, the Georgia Association of REALTORS, and Freddie Mac. Figures are not a representation of properties listed or sold by Peachtree Town & Country. INSIDE TOWN & COUNTRY: AUGUST 2026 MARKET PERSPECTIVE

BILL RAWLINGS
Brought to you by – Bill Rawlings, Peachtree Town & Country

THE RARE LUXURY OF OPTIONS

Privacy without isolation

Five wooded acres, main-level living, and a second complete residence under one roof

Brought to you by – The Blumenfeld Group

Luxury is often described through finishes, square footage, and location. At 131 Soapstone Way, luxury begins with something valuable: the freedom to live exactly as life requires.

Set on five wooded acres along a private road shared by only eleven estate properties, this custom residence offers quiet, discretion, and breathing room within easy reach of Milton, Hickory Flat, Canton, and I-575. It is close enough for demanding schedules, dining, schools, and daily conveniences, yet removed enough to feel genuinely private.

The home was built in 2019 with a ranch-inspired plan that places most

everyday living on the main level. Twelve-foot ceilings, eight-foot doors, wide-plank Brazilian hardwood floors, and expansive windows create a sense of scale without sacrificing warmth. The open kitchen pairs Bosch appliances, marble countertops, a statement island, and a walk-in pantry with wooded views. It flows naturally into the breakfast area and family room, making the space equally comfortable for a quiet morning or a full house.

Three bedrooms are located on the main level, including an owner’s suite with a sitting area, direct deck access, custom California Closets, and a spainspired bath. For buyers ready to leave behind the maintenance and limitations of a traditional neighborhood home, the layout provides a compelling alternative: expansive land and privacy without requiring daily life to revolve around stairs. Two additional upstairs bedrooms

offer flexible space for guests, offices, studios, or private retreats.

The terrace level changes the possibilities. With more than 3,600 finished square feet, it is not simply an entertainment basement. It operates as a second home, complete with its own entrance, garage access, full kitchen, dedicated laundry, living area, bathroom, and multiple private rooms. Parents, adult children, long-term guests, household staff, or business needs can be accommodated with independence and dignity while remaining under one roof.

The estate also respects the practical side of luxury ownership. Energyefficient construction, smart-home features, Wi-Fi-enabled garage doors, durable finishes, and newer systems reduce the compromises often associated with purchasing acreage. With no HOA, the private-road setting limits through traffic, while the wooded perimeter creates a natural screen from neighboring properties. There is room to host without feeling exposed, work without interrup-

tion, and store the vehicles and equipment that accompany an active lifestyle. Whether the next chapter involves simplifying daily routines, bringing family closer, building a personal retreat, or protecting hard-earned privacy, the property is prepared to evolve alongside its owner over time.

Outside, the acreage offers room to imagine what comes next. The expansive deck overlooks a private, tree-lined setting with space for a pool, gardens, an outdoor kitchen, or expanded entertaining. A fully enclosed chicken coop is already in place. Two garage areas accommodate up to five vehicles, with additional flexibility for boats, motorcycles, ATVs, equipment, or collections.

For an executive, professional athlete, entrepreneur, land buyer, or household planning for several generations, 131 Soapstone Way delivers something increasingly difficult to find: a newer luxury estate that protects privacy, simplifies main-level living, and creates true independence for the people who matter most.

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The most dangerous place for seniors

Brought to you by – Bath and Kitchen Galleria

The bathroom, a place we take for granted, transforms into one of the most hazardous areas in the home for aging seniors. With slippery surfaces, high tub walls, and the need for frequent maneuvering, the risk of falls—the leading cause of injury among older adults—spikes dramatically. John Hogan, President of Bath and Kitchen Galleria and Aging in Place Expert says, “Proactive bathroom modifications are not merely an upgrade; they are an essential investment in the long-term safety, independence, and dignity of our seniors.”

To mitigate the dangers, several specific aspects of the bathroom should be modified to create a supportive and accessible environment:

Shower and Bathtub: The single greatest fall risk is often stepping over a high tub wall. The ideal solution is a curbless or low-threshold walk-in shower to eliminate this barrier entirely. For added security, install a permanent shower seat or bench and a handheld showerhead to allow for comfortable, seated bathing. Shower floor should have non-slip tile surfaces.

Grab Bars: Strategically placed sturdy, professional-grade grab bars are critical. They must be securely anchored into wall studs, not just

the drywall. Placement is key: near the toilet to assist with sitting and standing, and both inside and just outside the shower/tub for secure entry and exit. Modern grab bars come in a variety of stylish finishes to seamlessly blend with your décor.

Toilet Area: A standard toilet can be difficult to use for those with limited mobility. Installing a comfort-height or raised toilet seat reduces the strain on joints and makes the transition from sitting to standing much easier. Pairing this with well-placed grab bars provides a significant boost in stability.

Flooring and Lighting: Replace slippery tile or remove loose bathmats and throw rugs, which are tripping

hazards. Install slip-resistant flooring throughout the bathroom. Finally, good lighting is paramount. Bright, even lighting—including motion-sensor nightlights—helps seniors navigate safely, especially during middle-of-thenight trips.

By implementing these thoughtful changes, the bathroom can evolve from a high-risk area into a secure, comfortable, and accessible space that supports an aging senior’s desire to age in place safely at home. For more information visit Bath and Kitchen Galleria’s showroom at 10591 Old Alabama Rd Connector in Alpharetta (no appointment needed) or call them at 678-459-2292.

Tune-Up Projects

Kitchen Tune-Up

Paint Cabinets

New Countertops, Sink & Faucet

New Backsplash

Cut Down 2-level

Island

Bathroom Tune-Up

New Countertops, Sink & Faucet

Enlarge Shower

Shower Glass

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Full Remodel Projects

Kitchen Remodel

Total Cabinet Replacement

Large Island

Optimize Cabinet / Appliance Locations

Open Concept –Move Walls

9-5 Mon-Fri • 10-4 Sat

Showroom – Design Center 10591 Old Alabama Rd. Connector Alpharetta, GA

Bathroom Remodel

New Larger Shower

Vanity Replacement –Cabs, Counter, Sink

Free Standing Tub

Floor Tile, Wall Tile

Plumbing Fixtures

Results Worth Talking About

A seamless process. A seller who didn’t have to wonder if they made the right call. Five Days on Market.

Records don't happen overnight

People tend to remember the ending. The sold sign. The record-breaking sale. Five days on market.

Those are the moments everyone sees. But the best results are rarely created once a home hits the market.

The outcome wasn't determined on launch day. By the time a home goes active on the MLS, we like to say that 90% of the work has already been done. Not because the work is over— but because the foundation has been built.

Preparation has never mattered more than it does in today's market. Buyers have more choices than they've had in years. Homes are taking longer to sell. Expectations are higher than ever, and buyers often decide within moments whether a home is worth seeing in person. Our goal isn't just to create a beautiful first impression, it's to make sure buyers don't want to miss it.

A well-prepared home photographs better, shows better, and captures a buyer's attention from the moment they see it online. In today's market, that's often what determines whether they schedule a showing or keep scrolling.

When 525 Tiverton Court became the highest sale yet in Harrington Falls, it wasn't a lucky break. The foundation had been laid years before—with a homeowner who took pride in maintaining the property and invested in meaningful improvements over time. Long before the listing ever went live, we built a strategy to showcase those strengths. The result was a home that stood out from day one and sold for a record price in just five days.

While every home is different, our philosophy never changes. We don't believe in rushing to market. We believe in taking the time to understand your goals, identify the opportunities that will have the greatest impact, and build a strategy tailored specifically to your home and your priorities.

That work begins long before the first showing.

Why a will alone no longer fits the way families plan

For decades, a will was the default estate planning tool — simple, familiar, and seemingly sufficient. That's changing, and the numbers back it up.

This is not a small shift. It is a sign that more families are starting to understand the real difference between the two documents — and that difference matters more than most people realize until they're the ones dealing with a loved one's estate.

A will tells the court what you want. A trust lets your family avoid the court altogether.

A will is, at its core, a set of instructions for a judge. It doesn't transfer anything on its own — it has to be validated, interpreted, and executed through the probate process before your wishes carry any legal weight. A properly funded trust sidesteps that step entirely. Assets titled in the name of the trust pass directly to beneficiaries according to the trust's terms, with no court involvement required.

A will becomes public record. A trust stays private.

Once a will is filed for probate, it becomes part of the public court record. Anyone — a nosy neighbor, a dis-

gruntled relative, a scam artist targeting new heirs — can request a copy and see exactly what you owned and who inherited it. A trust is a private contract. Its terms, its assets, and its beneficiaries are not filed with any court and are not part of the public record.

A will still has to go through probate. A properly funded trust does not.

Probate is not free, and it is not fast. Depending on the state and the size of the estate, it can take anywhere from several months to well over a year, and it typically comes with court fees, executor fees, and attorney fees that reduce what's left for the family. A properly funded revocable living trust — meaning one where the person's assets have actually been retitled into the trust's name — bypasses probate for those assets altogether. The family gets access to what they need, often within weeks, not months.

Why "properly funded" is the phrase that matters most

Here is where most DIY trust plans fail: a trust document is only as good as the funding behind it. If a house, brokerage account, or business interest is never retitled into the trust's name, that asset still goes through probate — regardless of what the trust document says. This is the single most common mistake in self-prepared estate plans, and it's exactly the kind of detail an experienced estate planning attorney is trained to catch. Proper funding requires coordinating deeds, account retitling, beneficiary designations, and sometimes business entity documents — work that goes well beyond filling out a template. The biggest growth in probate is the DIY Trust that didn't get property expert advice in setting up properly beyond just signing the trust.

Why this shift is happening now

More families are choosing structure over paperwork, and that's a good thing. It reflects a growing awareness that estate planning isn't just about stating your wishes — it's about building a system that actually carries those wishes out without unnecessary cost, delay, or public exposure for the people left behind. But building that system correctly, with all the pieces properly funded and coordinated, is not a do-it-yourself project. It takes an attorney who understands both the legal requirements and the practical funding steps that make a trust work the way it's supposed to.

Come visit our workshop to learn more!

Long Hollow Landing | 7970 Beryl
Long Hollow Landing Community Dock

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and modern features today’s buyers want.

The available homes showcase open concept living spaces, gourmet kitchens, inviting primary suites and flexible rooms that can serve as home offices, guest accommodations or additional entertainment areas. Outdoor living spaces and generous yards provide even more opportunities to enjoy the natural North Georgia setting.

With five homes ready for a faster move, Creekside Overlook is an excellent choice for buyers who want the advantages of a new home without waiting through the full construction process. It’s convenient Gainesville location also places residents near Lake Lanier’s boating, fishing and recreation, along with area dining, shopping and medical services.

For buyers dreaming of a home directly connected to the lake lifestyle, Long Hollow Landing in Gainesville

offers a rare opportunity. Recognized as Best New Homes Community by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, Long Hollow Landing has only two lakeside homes remaining. Priced from $1.2 million, each home includes a deeded boat slip at the community dock, making it easy for residents to enjoy days on Lake Lanier.

In Cumming, Reece Run offers an intimate setting with only four homesites. Each homesite is more than one acre, providing privacy and space while remaining convenient to Forsyth County destinations. Homes are priced from the mid $700s, and a Move-In Ready home is currently available with $45,000 in incentives, creating an exceptional opportunity for buyers ready to make their move.

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From move-in ready homes near Lake Lanier to lakeside residences, spacious estate homesites and walkable townhome living, David Patterson Homes offers opportunities for a variety of lifestyles and price points throughout North Georgia. Call David Patterson Homes at 678-578-6824 or visit DavidPattersonHomes.com to begin your new home search.

Each line in the puzzle below has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

OUTSIDE THE BIRDCAGE

1. Radar image. Gung-ho. Small olive-colored flycatcher.

2. Big party. Long-legged webfooted shore bird. Urban haze.

3. Clan emblem. Elevator, in England. European blackbird.

4. Three-toed bird. Downhill racer. Newbie golfer.

5. Winter wear. Diving duck. Figure skater’s jump.

6. Big brass. Room at the top. Short-billed Old World rail.

7. Tyrant flycatcher. Pricing word. Trade.

1 Radar image. Gung-ho. Small olive-colored flycatcher.

2. Big party. Long-legged web-footed shore bird. Urban haze

How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

3. Clan emblem. Elevator, in England. European blackbird.

4. Three-toed bird. Downhill racer. Newbie golfer

5. Winter wear. Diving duck. Figure skater’s jump

6. Big brass. Room at the top. Short billed Old World rail.

7. Tyrant flycatcher. Pricing word. Trade

How to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence.

Forsyth County cleanup teaches environmental stewardship lessons

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Taking her kids to a county cleanup came with a silver lining for Cumming mom Caroline Richardson.

Manipulating a trash grabber and donning a neon vest were certainly fun for Penny, 9, and Rhett, 7. And the bag full of plastic bottles, weathered political campaign signs and other roadside garbage was a testament that the family was bettering the environment.

But perhaps most importantly, Richardson said the opportunity gave her children the chance to learn the importance of community service.

“We’re out here being part of the community, and we’re taking pride in cleaning up part of the community that they’re part of,” she said.

Richardson added that she was pleased the lesson seemed to be sticking.

“It’s important to help out in the community,” Penny said while hunting for trash in the weeds. “Because we want Earth to be really healthy, and we want the animals to live a longer, happier life.”

The family was part of a handful of environmentally conscious residents who gathered on Namon Wallace Road in mid-July to take part in a cleanup hosted by the county. About once a month, Keep Forsyth County Beautiful invites residents to help out in cleaning up county roads.

For the Richardson family, the event was a good deed but also admittedly a little bit of fun. Caroline Richardson said after seeing a notice about it online, she added it to the kids’ summer bucket list, which also included laser tag and a visit to Six Flags Whitewater.

Julia Bonogofsky, community outreach coordinator for the county’s recycling and solid waste department, said the county makes a concerted effort to reach out to the community.

They also host hazardous household waste disposals and visit schools to educate students about the importance of keeping the environment healthy.

Roadside garbage is unsightly, but it also poses a more serious risk, she said.

On a recent vacation to the Caribbean, she was shocked to find floating patches of trash in the pristine aquamarine water. Some of that trash very well could have come from Forsyth County, she said.

Trash, particularly plastic waste, can wash out into waterways before finding its way to the ocean, where it can contribute microplastics to marine organisms like fish.

One thing is for sure, she said: most of the trash doesn’t vanish on its own.

“Aluminum cans take about 450 years to decompose, and glass really doesn't decompose,” Bonogofsky said. “It takes about a million years for glass to decompose.”

Trash seems sometimes to be a neverending issue, and that’s why educating the next generation is so important, she said.

“I tell them you can make a difference,” she said.

Rhett Richardson holds up garbage he collected with a grabber on Namon Wallace Road in July.

COMMUNITY

Volunteer, 100, celebrated at food pantry she serves weekly

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — For the past four years, Margaret Lines’ Tuesday afternoons have been spent volunteering at the food pantry at the Community Assistance Center off Roswell Road.

She planned the afternoon of July 28 to be no different, buta crowd of 30 fellow volunteers had other ideas. They gathered around a birthday cake to surprise Lines as she strolled in for her 1 p.m. shift with her daughter, Nancy Overheim.

Surprise washed over Lines as she stepped into the food pantry and was greeted by familiar faces and even those who didn’t know her but wanted to help celebrate her 100th birthday.

She walked around the room thanking everyone, hugging those she knew and people she had just met.

“It’s not everyday somebody turns 100,” CEO Francis Horton said. “And it’s certainly not every day that somebody turns 100 and is volunteering at a food pantry.”

Lines serves as an inspiration to those doing nonprofit work, Horton said.

She started her work with the Community Assistance Center at age 96, but serving others has always been important to Lines.

She grew up on a farm in Indiana, walking through muddy fields to attend a one-room school until she entered sixth grade, when she could take a bus to the school in town. She earned a scholarship to Purdue University and worked as a dietitian for

several hospitals before retiring.

“Not a lot of women were [graduating college] back than,” Lines said. “And I was able to do that and go on and offer my services to … the state of Indiana.”

Nutrition isn’t the only thing Lines remembers from her college days. She began bowling 82 years ago as a freshman at Purdue and keeps her skills sharp by playing at least one game a week at a nearby bowling alley with Overheim and friends on their way home from the Community Assistance Center.

Volunteering became a part of Lines’ Tuesday routine after she moved from Arizona to be closer to her daughter. Every week, the pair weigh and sort food items donated by community partners that feed hundreds of families throughout the month.

“I worked as a dietitian for many years,” Lines said. “I want to see the nutritious things that are offered here … I don’t want it to just be thrown away.”

Lines said time spent volunteering with her daughter is wonderful, allowing them to talk about things that otherwise might not come up while filling a passion she has had all her life.

The Community Assistance Center is built around its roughly 520 monthly volunteers, Horton said, and it has been for 40 years. They staff the Canopy Thrift Shop six days a week, unload and sort food delivered from local food banks and pack donations from the nonprofit’s 28 church partners.

“It really is a picture of community helping community,” Horton said.

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE CENTER/PROVIDED Margaret Lines shakes hands with Frances Horton, CEO of the Community Assistance Center in Sandy Springs, after being surprised on her 100th birthday, July 28, at the start of her volunteer shift at the center’s food pantry.

Young actors star in summer musical camp production

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Around 25 young actors took to the stage July 18 at the Stage Door Theatre to perform a collection of songs, dances and scenes from the musical “Wicked,” closing the curtain on five weeks of Saturday morning rehearsals.

The group, ages 10 to 22, were participating in the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta’s musical theatre summer camp. The organization partnered with the Stage Door Theatre, and volunteers from the Dunwoody Woman’s Club helped produce the show.

“These individuals in our community love being on stage and performing,” Denise Arribas, engagement director for the camp, said. “With encouragement and support, the sky is the limit for individuals with Down syndrome. It has been a true joy and pleasure working with these students.”

A group of performers sing along to songs from the musical “Wicked” during their final performance July 18 at the Stage Door Theatre after a five-week-long musical summer camp hosted by the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta.

NICOLE ELIASON/PROVIDED

Sculpture:

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As many as four pieces from a previous exhibit could remain in the city at the Alpha Loop and other locations.

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If left untreated, vein disease can cause more serious medical issues, such as ulcers and blood clots. People should be aware of early warning signs, including cramping, restless or swelling

Martini:

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It’s topped with a spoonfull of premium beluga caviar. The drink is accompanied by a full bottle of BillecartSalmon Champagne Le Réserve and a 5-carat natural diamond tennis necklace in 14K white gold from Solomon Brothers Jewelers. The necklace is valued at $11,700.

Selection of the pieces considered numerous attributes from size to style, Zane said. The process went

legs.

Patients can receive comprehensive medical and cosmetic vein treatments, including radio frequency ablation, Varithena, VenaSeal, sclerotherapy, spider vein removal and diagnostic ultrasound evaluations.

Through the clinic’s advanced minimally invasive treatments and patient-first approach, Metro Vein

“Roaring Social is built around creating extraordinary experiences, and we wanted to bring our guests something truly exceptional,” said Brian Harper, chief operating officer of Competitive Social Ventures, the parent company of Roaring Social.

“This collaboration celebrates the art of indulgence, pairing our signature hospitality with the timeless elegance of Solomon Brothers Jewelers. Whether marking a milestone, raising a glass for a special occasion, or simply embracing

through several rounds.

Arts Alpharetta will provide services for the project, including artist outreach, curation, budget management, installation, removal and marketing.

Centers aims to make specialized vein care more accessible while encouraging earlier diagnosis and treatment for patients across Georgia.

“I’m excited to welcome patients to Metro Vein Centers’ first Georgia location and help bring specialized vein care to the Atlanta community,” Pervaiz said. “Many people don’t realize that symptoms like leg heaviness, swelling or aching can

an unforgettable moment, this is an experience unlike anything else in Atlanta.”

The Roaring Jewel Martini is available at both the Alpharetta and Decatur Roaring Social locations. Upon purchase, guests receive a certificate of purchase, a cubic zirconia replica necklace and pickup instructions. The necklace can be redeemed at any of Solomon Brothers’ three locations in Sharpsburg, Buckhead or Alpharetta.

“We’re excited to introduce this one-

Installations include “Vortex Vortex,” a piece that rotates and is powered by solar energy, and “RedGreen Construction,” a colorful geometric sculpture that will stand in Union Hill Park.

be signs of an underlying vein condition. By providing comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans, we hope to help more patients find lasting relief and improve their quality of life.”

Interested patients can register for a free consultation at the new Alpharetta location prior to its opening on Aug. 26 by visiting metroveincenters.com/ consult.

of-a-kind luxury experience in the city we proudly call home,” Solmon Brothers Jewelers President Jaron Solomon said. “Partnering with Roaring Social felt like a natural fit, not only because we’re both rooted in Atlanta, but because we share a passion for creating unforgettable experiences.”

Roaring Social is also launching its specialty martini list alongside the Roaring Jewel Martini, introducing six new martinis that put a twist on the classic martini or limoncello.

"A Crack in the Past" will be installed in Wills Park.

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Speech Therapy Best Substance Abuse/Addiction Treatment Best Urgent Care Best Urology Best Vein Specialist

Veterinarian

RECREATION: Best Art Lessons/Studio

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Presented By

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All the many benefits of water therapy

Oh, how I do love the sound of flowing water – but not when it’s coming from the potty.

Yeah, that’s right. The other day, something happened and the outflow from the washing machine had nowhere else to go. You really can’t blame the water; it was just doing what water does.

The first clue that something was amiss was a burbling commode. Toilets are not supposed to burble. But this one was.

Hearing it, I walked into the bathroom to check things out. The potty was full of soap-sudsy bubbles, and the first thing I thought was, “Well, at least it looks clean.”

The burbling stopped. I went back to the other room. But then the burbling resumed, even more burbly than before. It sounded…cheerful, like a burbling creek…happy even…

I went to look again. This time the carpet squished.

Uh-oh.

Long story short: That musical hydrology was just a devious little teaser of what was really going on, which was that water was flowing across the basement floor on the other side of the wall. Said water flowed around baseboards and into the carpet, soaking the padding, sheetrock, and whatever boxes or other items were within its reach. It didn’t take long for it all to happen, and by the time we got the water cut off we had (as my grandma used to say when talking about politics) “a mell of a hess.”

Fast forward a few days, during which the disaster folks came and did their thing. That basically involved tearing up the kitchen, bedroom, closet, vanity area and bathroom, too. That latter, which was especially disruptive to (forgive me) the normal flow of things, involved removing the toilet (the very same one which had alerted me in the first place) and setting it unceremoniously in the tub (no, not so it could be used but just to get it out of the way). I actually felt kind of sorry for the toilet, ensconced as it was in that noble but now totally non-functional state. The bathroom sink, for its part, ended up in the living room, while the kitchen sink ended up outside. Oh boy.

One has not fully experienced this modern world until one has lived in

it accompanied by a non-functioning toilet sitting in one’s bathtub – and without a kitchen, too. If we’d had at least a functioning kitchen, we might have used it to prepare some sort of comfort food, ideally one involving chocolate or perhaps some sort of fortified spirits.

We stayed for a little while, albeit without kitchen or sinks and or toilet or tub (remember, it now held the

out (but this time with conveniences) at an Airbnb up in the foothills north of home.

This evening, barely two days into telling ourselves that lemonade-outof-lemons is really a thing, we decided that we needed respite. This water catastrophe had messed with our home, with our nest – and by her own admission, my wife is a nest builder. She was stressed, for you do not lightly mess with a nest-builder’s nest.

Water therapy. That’s what we needed. It would be oddly appropriate, wouldn’t it? So we got in the car and drove to the local lake. As its watery expanse came into view, thoughts of that other H2O and all it had wrought began to fade from view. Life on Earth began to look a little better.

I knew we were on the right track when she asked me, “Do you think there will be fish?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “But I will go find out.”

“Some fish would be good right about now,” she mused, her voice a little softer maybe. “Maybe they’re there. I’ll sit here and crochet while you check it out.”

So that’s what she did, and that’s what I did, too. I tied a bright yellow foam fly to the end of the line, made my way down to the water, and immediately caught a decent bluegill. Three casts later, I caught another.   Then I stopped fishing and turned to walk back up the hill, ready to deliver the happy news.

“It’s good,” I told her.

Together, we walked back down the hill to the water’s edge. She cast, using the rod I had built for her not long after we married, and she promptly caught a bluegill of her own. It was a good one.

I caught one, too, and she took my picture.

toilet), while the restoration folks worked. It was, my wife observed, kind of like camping but without the woods.

That is not nearly as much fun as you might imagine.

Soon, they told us we needed to go somewhere else while things dried out (mold) and then, a few days later, they told us we needed to go somewhere else again while repairs were made.

That’s where we are now, camping

I walked on down the shoreline, fishing as I went. Then I heard her call my name and turned and saw her rod bent more than I’d ever seen it bent before. She had a big one – an enormous one, a brag-worthy one, a bluegill of epic proportions. I watched as she brought it in, and I went to her to take a picture.

It was the biggest bluegill she’d ever caught.

“With fishing like this, we could have had some for supper,” she said. “We would have eaten well.”

But she slipped it back into the water, and for the first time that day I saw a smile flicker across her face.

Water therapy? Uh huh. Sometimes that’s all you need.

STEVE HUDSON Columnist
STEVE HUDSON/APPEN MEDIA

GARDEN BUZZ

Southeast Pollinator Census is this month

Do you look forward to delicious fresh peaches, golden zucchini and luscious tomatoes every summer?

Then thank the bees and other insect pollinators! They pollinate over 85% of wild flowering plants, more than 75% of agricultural crops and are essential to maintaining a balanced ecosystem.

Why is pollination so important?

Pollination allows plants to develop seeds, which then produce flowers, fruits or vegetables. It requires the transfer of pollen from the male flower part (the stamen) to the female flower part (the ovule), which then forms the seed. The problem is that some flowers may have only male or female parts, so they require pollinators to move pollen.  Research shows that a single flower requires eight separate pollinator visits to develop properly shaped fruit. Talk about busy bees!

Flowers produce both nectar and pollen. Nectar is a sugar-rich fluid packed with energy to attract pollinators.  Pollen is a protein-rich powder that contains the plant’s male genetic material. Bees are considered the most efficient pollinators because they collect and transport both pollen and nectar.  They are also “fuzzy,” and pollen collects on their hair or on special collection structures on their legs. Wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles and ladybugs are more accidental pollinators. They are primarily after the nectar and may transport pollen collected on their legs, but their true benefit is as predators that eat harmful insects such as aphids, mites, thrips, leafhoppers and insect larvae. Most insects are not aggressive and are just interested in the nectar or pollen, but it is best not to touch them.  Using the magnifying feature on your phone may help with insect identification.

Insect populations have been declining since the 1930s. This trend is widespread, not only in developing areas of the world but also in remote locations. Scientists believe this insect decline is due to habitat loss, light pollution, microplastics, pesticide use, disease and climate change. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently lists more than 50 species of pollinators as threatened or endangered. The loss of insect communities may have a disastrous effect on food webs.

The University of Georgia Extension developed and launched the Great Georgia Pollinator Census in 2017 to track insect pollinator populations in Georgia to measure the effects of pollinator habitat restoration. The initiative has since expanded throughout the Southeast to include South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and, for the first time this year, Mississippi. Now known as the Great Southeast Pollinator Census (gsepc.org), it is the nation’s largest pollinator counting effort. The project also features an educational component designed to augment STEM curriculum in elementary schools.

Anyone can participate in the GSEPC on either Friday, Aug. 21, or Saturday, Aug. 22, and all ages are welcome! Participants simply pick a pollinator plant and count the number of insect visits to that single plant in a 15-minute window. Participants can complete multiple counts using a separate tally sheet.

The census tracks insects across eight different categories: bumble bees, carpenter bees, honeybees, small

bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths and others, such as beetles, ladybugs, dragonflies and lacewings.

The tallies are then loaded onto the GSEPC website for analysis. A pollinator plant is any blooming native or nonnative plant that shows insect activity. The GSEPC tally sheets feature pictures of the different insects to assist with identification, and an identification guide on the website helps participants understand differences between the pollinator groups.

This year, the Fulton County Extension Office is hosting census events at four locations on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026:

• Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, Summerour House Garden, 9770 Autrey Mill Road, Johns Creek, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Chastain Park Native Plant Garden, 4001 Powers Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, 9 a.m. to noon.

• GROWL Garden at Camp Truitt, 4300 Herschel Road, College Park, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Little Diggers Booth at Sandy Springs Farmers Market, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Fulton County Master Gardeners will be at these locations and will host free, family-friendly educational activities to help everyone learn about the importance

of pollinators in nature.  You will find everything you need to participate in the census, including tally sheets and insect ID guides.

You can also participate in your own yard or local park, any place with flowers! You will find all the necessary information and forms at gsepc.org. Consider joining their Facebook page: Southeast Pollinator Census or follow on Instagram @SoutheastPollinators.

So Bee on the lookout for pollinators!

Happy Gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment.  Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.

Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/opinion/ columnists/garden_buzz/.

Come visit us at the Alpharetta Farmer’s Market on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays through October or the Sandy Springs Farmer’s Market the 3rd Saturday of the month through October.

UGA EXTENSION SERVICE/PROVIDED
Leafcutter bee on mountain mint.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following item will be considered by the Historic Preservation Commission on Thursday, September 10, 2026 commencing at 3:00 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. PH-26-15 John C. Weatherford House/193 Canton Street –Certificate of Appropriateness

Consideration of a request for Certificate of Appropriateness related to the rehabilitation of the John C. Weatherford House. The property is located at 193 Canton Street and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 1197 & 1252, 2nd 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, Alpharetta, Georgia.

During these turbulent times, we would

What’s behind Atlanta’s housing slowdown?

If you ask almost any real estate agent why homes are taking longer to sell, you'll likely hear the same answer: mortgage rates.

It's an understandable response. Thirtyyear fixed mortgage rates began 2022 near 3.25%, climbed rapidly, and averaged 5.34% that year. Since 2023, they've averaged roughly 6.67%, and today they're hovering around 6.75%.

That sounds expensive—until you zoom out. Since Freddie Mac began tracking mortgage rates in 1971, the long-term average has been approximately 7.70%. By historical standards, today's rates are not unusually high. They simply feel high because we've become anchored to the once-in-a-generation rates of 2020 and 2021.

So, if mortgage rates aren't the primary villain, what is?

The answer may be hiding in plain sight: home prices.

In Metro Atlanta, the average homeowner has seen approximately $200,000 in appreciation since 2020. That's wonderful news for current

homeowners. For buyers, however, it's an entirely different story.

A $200,000 increase in purchase price translates into roughly $1,500 more per month on a typical mortgage payment. Compare that with today's higher interest rates, which add another $300 to $400 per month relative to the ultra-low-rate era.

The math is revealing.

Interest rates certainly matter, but they account for only a fraction of today's affordability challenge. The overwhelming driver is the dramatic increase in home values. When a family's monthly payment rises by nearly $1,900, about four-fifths of that increase stems from the higher purchase pricnot the higher interest rate.

Here's the irony. Many homeowners who purchased in 2020 invested perhaps $20,000 to $30,000 as a down payment. Five or six years later, many have accumulated more than $200,000 in equity, largely by making their mortgage payments and maintaining their property. Warren Buffett often reminds investors that time is the friend of a good asset. Metro Atlanta homeowners have received a remarkably vivid demonstration of that principle.

The next question is obvious: Are home prices due for a correction? Perhaps, but context matters.

We're already seeing subtle adjustments. Sellers are offering larger concessions. Price reductions have become more common. Homes are staying on the market longer than they did during the 2021 frenzy.

That doesn't necessarily signal another 2008. Today's homeowners generally have significant equity, lending standards remain far stronger than they were before the financial crisis, and inventory is still well below historical norms.

The market is adjusting, not collapsing.

Mortgage rates make convenient headlines because they're easy to measure and easy to blame. But if we're looking for the principal force behind today's slower housing market, we should spend less time staring at interest rates and more time looking at price tags.

Sometimes the biggest obstacle isn't the cost of borrowing money. It's the cost of the house itself.

DC Aiken is Senior Vice President of Lending for CrossCountry Mortgage, NMLS#658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.

The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC or its affiliates.

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THE FUTURE OF LOCAL NEWS

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Continued innovation in digital media has changed the ways in which people buy, sell and interact with products and services. It has caused businesses to reassess the ways in which it communicates with potential customers and advertises its products. It has been well documented that these changes have had a destructive impact on local newspapers, which continues to be a primary source for local news, but is no longer a primary source for local advertising dollars – historically the lifeblood for reporters and their coverage. At Appen Media Group we want to address this conflict head on, and build new and innovative approaches to monetizing local news and creating a sustainable future for local journalism in metro Atlanta.

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THE APPEN PRESS CLUB

One solution is the creation of a membership driven organization called the Appen Press Club that is dedicated to recruiting people and companies to join as members. Members pay recurring monthly or annual dues that are 100% dedicated to sustainable journalism. By providing predictable revenue, Appen Press Club members and partners help fund the salaries and expenses of local reporters who will no longer be subject to the whims of marketing budgets and an ever changing advertising world. In turn, those reporters will provide the readers they serve with highly researched and qualified journalism focused on subjects that directly affect their quality of life.

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

SOLUTIONS

Breaux & Associates Architects, Jr. Project Architect, Alpharetta, GA: Assist w/ archtrl dsgn & tech tasks. Prep/coord. archtrl drawings, conduct zoning/ building code research, coordinate consultants, review submittals/RFIs, maintain project records, prep. cnstrctn docs. Resp for: Schematic Dsgn (drafting, site analysis, zoning/code research, dsgn materials); Dsgn Dvlpmnt (refine dsgn, coord. w/ eng’g consultants, assist w/ material/system/ finish selections); Cnstrctn Documentation (prep permit/bid docs); Procurement/Bidding (maintain bid docs, contractor clarification); Cnstrctn Admin (review submittals, RFIs, ensure compliance w/ approved drawings/specs). Reqs: Bach degree (or higher), or foreign equiv. in Architecture + license as an Architect in GA + 3 yrs exp. in job offered or as an Architectural Dsgner in an archtrl firm. Reqs project exp in hospitality, mixed-use, multifamily residential, commercial office, retail, educational, concrete masonry unit cnstrctn, & large-scale urban master planning projects + exp w/AutoCAD, Revit, V-Ray, Enscape, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator), Adobe Premiere to create presentation videos, & MS Office. Reqs exp. devlp’g archtrl drawings, renderings, physical & 3D virtual models for conceptual/schematic dsgn; researching zoning/code ordinances, building codes, by-laws, materials, & building systms data; prep’g drawings for bidding/cnstrctn; analyzing space/ site reqmnts; coord’g consultants; & reviewing tech docs. Portfolio of professional dsgn work required. Email resume to: careers@BXArch.com

Food Pantry Manager

NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the full-time Food Pantry Manager position. Under the direction of the Food Pantry Director, the Food Pantry Manager leads back of house food pantry operations including inventory control, receiving products, client orders, managing volunteers, entering data and creating reports.

This role is perfect for someone who enjoys managing people and process! Volunteer and inventory management, operations and data entry are primary responsibilities of this role.

The applicant should have a desire to join the team of a mission-driven non-profit where we work to ease hardship and build financial stability throughout our community. We offer one of the most competitive total rewards packages among Atlanta’s nonprofit organizations, making this role both meaningful and rewarding.

Please send resumes to jobs@nfcchelp.org

Midway Preschool is looking for an experienced Young 5’s/Prek teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. Contact Beth at beth@midwayumc.org.

SOFTWARE ENGINEER: Alpharetta, GA & various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S.: Wrk in var stgs of STLC lk rqmt anlys, Tst dsgn, tst Atmtn, Tst Excutn & Dfct rprtng. Crt & exec s/w tst plns, cases, & scrpts to uncvr, idntfy & dcmnt s/w bgs & thr caus. Exec autom scripts u/ Selenium WebDriver, Cucumber, Java for web-bsd apps & API testing. Using Postman & SoapUI for API tstng to valdte JSON & XML files. Cndct Func, Integn, End to End, Smok & Rgrssn tstng. Dcmnt & rprt s/w dfcts u/ bug trckng tools lk JIRA & Confluence. Master’s degree in Sci, Tech, or Engg (any) is reqd. Email resume: at VERINOVA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC at sud@verinovainc.com

Medtronic MiniMed Inc.– Duluth,GA – Principal IT Architect – Business Intelligence Engineering

– Responsible for the design, development, and implementation of end-to-end enterprise reporting and analytics solutions. Req’d to be onsite at least 3 days/wk. To Apply: https://www.minimed.com/en-us/careers.

Req. # R-801105

Advance Solutions Corp. (Alpharetta, GA): ServiceNow Developer to wrk on in-house prjcts rltd to app dvlpmnt. Min Reqs: Bach dgr in Comp Applctns, Mech Engg, or rltd fld & 5 yrs exp in sftwr dvlpmnt, or rltd occptn. Plus 5 yrs exp w/ the fllwng: Dsgnng, dvlpng & cstmzng ServiceNow app & modules; & ITSM. Telecommuting anywhere in the U.S. 40 hrs/wk. To apply, email resume to megha.s@advancesolutions.com

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Wesley Financial Group, LLC timeshare cancellation experts over $50 million timeshare debt/fees cancelled in 2019. Free info package. Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971

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

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

Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as 1-day. Limited time, waving all installation costs! Additional terms apply. Subject to change & vary by dealer. Ends soon. 844-501-3208

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Tutoring

Math & Science Tutoring: In person, Online, @ home. Math all topics up to grade 12 & SAT,ACT. AP(Pre Calc,Calc,Physics,Chemistry). With 40+ years of experience. M: 470-861-7972

Professional lawn service: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Free quote. Ask about first application special! 877-484-8583

Peace of mind & early detection-Now more than ever, it’s important to get screened for Stroke & Cardiovascular Disease risk. Life LineScreening is simple & painless. 833-970-4172

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