Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - June 12, 2025

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By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

PHOTOS BY: SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA

Three-year-old Kate smells the flowers on the grounds of Barrington Hall June 7 at the annual Lavender Festival.

Blooming success Lavender scent fills Barrington Hall grounds

By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — The smell of fragrant flowers filled the air at the annual Lavender Festival at Barrington Hall June 7.

The grounds were full of colors from freshly bloomed flowers and trees, alongside vendors ready to greet guests.

More than 60 arts and craft booths selling handmade goods were featured at the event.

Michelle Werl brought her art to the Lavender Festival for the first time this year because her art matches the theme of the festival.

“I figured for the Lavender Festival, you tend to have people that will like flowers,” Werl said.

Werl lives in Statham where she creates colorful mixed media collage art on wood blocks and canvases.

See LAVENDER, Page 24

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The first thing Richard Landin plans to do after reuniting with his wife is give her a big hug.

“I’m ecstatic, happy, joyful, honestly a lot of different things,” the Alpharetta husband said June 4. “I’m very, very, very happy that I’m going to see my wife and hold her again.”

Richard was separated from his wife Daniela Joy Landin May 12 when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents apprehended her without warning from their Alpharetta apartment.

See REUNITED, Page 24

Michelle Werl stands with her artwork at the June 7 Lavender Festival at Barrington Hall.

City hires lawyers for NHL team bid

Roswell puts limits on vacation rentals

Butterfly festival attracts community

► PAGE 4

► PAGE 5

► PAGE 6

RICHARD LANDIN/PROVIDED

Richard Landin and his wife Daniela Joy Landin enjoy time together.

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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.

Police investigate theft of designer sunglasses ALPHARETTA, Ga. — More than $10,000 in designer sunglasses were reported stolen from an Avalon shop May 30.

Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to the sunglasses shop about 2 p.m. after a theft was reported.

A woman who works for the shop said two men stole 14 pairs of Chanel glasses from the store. The men fled on foot before leaving in a car.

The glasses carried a total value of $11,950.

Security cameras were recording at the time.

The incident was classified as a felony theft by shoplifting over $500.

— Jon Wilcox

Police file drug charges against Dunwoody man ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested a 28-year-old Dunwoody man June 8 after officers found him asleep in a parking lot off Ga. 9 with Xanax, fentanyl and methamphetamine in his vehicle.

Officers said they responded to a report around 5 p.m. of a man unconscious in his vehicle parked at Killer Creek Harley-Davidson at 11480 Alpharetta Highway (Ga. 9).

Prior to the report, officers also said dispatch received calls about the same vehicle, a green Ford F-150, driving erratically and running onto a curb before turning into the dealership.

The driver told officers that he had not slept much and was resting in the parking lot before grabbing a part for his motorcycle.

While speaking with the driver, officers said he appeared under the influence of narcotics, not alcohol.

PUBLIC SAFETY Officers said the man failed most aspects of the standardized field sobriety test, showing an inability to balance and comprehend instructions.

After placing him under arrest for driving while under the influence, officers said the man requested a supervisor before submitting to a search of his person.

During the search, officers said they found a burnt straw, commonly used to consume narcotics, in his front right pocket. They said it gave them probable cause to search the vehicle.

The search yielded around 50 Xanax bars of various sizes, more than 3 grams of a substance later testing positive for fentanyl and meth, tinfoil, syringe caps and $1,655 in cash.

Officers said they secured additional warrants for possession of schedule II and IV controlled substances and drug paraphernalia before transporting the man to Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center.

After he was cleared, officers transported him to the Fulton County Jail.

— Hayden Sumlin

Thieves hit boutique store for thousands in goods

$1,500 Chrome Hearts baseball cap, $2,200 GoYard toiletry bag and $1,800 GoYard bowling bag.

The incident was classified as a felony theft by shoplifting over $500.

— Jon Wilcox

Trailer, work tools stolen from Roswell landscaper ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating the theft of around $14,000 in landscaping equipment after a 39-year-old resident reported an overnight theft June 6.

The victim said he returned to his residence at the Roswell Creek apartments and parked his enclosed trailer on a side street around 6 a.m. When he returned to the spot around 2 p.m., the trailer was missing.

Officers said the victim reported the trailer is valued around $6,500. The tools within the trailer, including a sit-on mower, chainsaw, trimmer and blower total another $7,500.

After confirming with the property owner that the trailer was not towed, officers said they documented all the stolen items and provided the victim with a case card.

— Hayden Sumlin

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Almost $10,000 in luxury boutique items was reported stolen from a North Point Mall store May 30.

Alpharetta police said an employee, a 25-year-old Kennesaw man, told them he saw a person grab items from a glass case and run out.

Security camera recordings corroborated the claim. They also showed a second person possibly acting as a lookout.

A mall security staff member recorded a portion of the license plate on a vehicle used by both suspects.

Officers tracked the vehicle with Flock Security cameras and contacted the owner, who said she was out of town and had left her vehicle at her grandmother’s house.

She said she had no idea who might have been driving it.

The stolen items include a $2,500 pair of Louis Vuitton denim shorts, $1,100 Chrome Hearts varsity shorts,

Cumming Street eatery reports May 31 burglary ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Cash and a phone were reported stolen in a burglary of a Cumming Street restaurant May 31.

Alpharetta police said restaurant employees found the front door unlocked and damaged about 7:30 a.m.

A cash register drawer with $150 and an Apple iPhone was missing.

Officers discovered a hammer on a table behind the register.

The cost to replace the door was estimated at $5,000.

The restaurant has exterior security cameras, but police were unable to access the recordings immediately.

The incident was classified as a felony burglary of a commercial building.

— Jon Wilcox

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NEWS

Alpharetta hires law firm to prepare for pro hockey team bid

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta is quietly positioning itself to lure a potential National Hockey League team to the once-thriving North Point Mall area.

At its June 2 meeting, the Alpharetta City Council approved hiring Troutman Pepper Locke, a prominent national firm that specializes in corporate law, as special counsel. A letter of engagement retains an attorney with the firm for a “confidential matter” for an hourly rate of $943.50.

City documents offered no further details about the engagement, but City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom said the move was intended to avoid a conflict of interest with Jarrard & Davis, the Cumming-based firm that typically provides legal services to Alpharetta.

Jarrard & Davis also represents Forsyth County, which was first to pitch drawing an NHL team tied to The Gathering at South Forsyth, a massive mixed-use development in the works just across the county line.

County commissioners have reviewed plans for the $2 billion development near Union Hill Road and Ga. 400.

Those plans include a 750,000 square-foot arena and a 450-room hotel. County officials have openly discussed drawing a professional hockey franchise since late 2023.

Alpharetta gathered itself from the initial news and began strategizing how it could lure pro hockey to North Point. In March 2024, Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment Group submitted a petition to attract a hockey franchise to the city.

“The special counsel does, in fact, revolve around the future of North Point Mall and its redevelopment,” Lagerbloom said. “We simply wanted to have somebody in place that we could go to if we needed to.”

Lagerbloom said hiring Troutman Pepper Locke is about being prepared. The Alpharetta City Council has yet to receive any redevelopment plan for the mall involving a hockey team or arena.

“I don't have an application for anything. I don't

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

North Point Mall welcomes a steady stream of shoppers, although the once-thriving area has taken a hit over the past 10 years. have a request for anything …, (but) I'm trying to put the best (legal) team together to represent the city, so that when an application is received, we've got the right team in place to review it,” Lagerbloom said.

The decision to retain the firm comes about a month after the Alpharetta Development Authority approved a $150,000 feasibility study by strategic consulting firm Creative Artists Agency to research the economic viability of a hockey team and arena.

The study, which is expected to take five to six months, will determine market demand and appropriate characteristics for a new arena. It will estimate what kind of event programming and attendance the market can support, generating a profile to evaluate financial viability.

“We wouldn’t go into something blind,” Lagerbloom said previously. “A good progressive city does this type of work in advance of these massive, massive types of

CITY OF ALPHARETTA PUBLIC NOTICE Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Notice is hereby given that the following public hearings shall be held before the Mayor and Council of the City of Alpharetta, Georgia regarding the adoption of the budget for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026): June 16, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.

June 23, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.

June 23, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.

The public hearings are scheduled to be conducted at City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, in City Council chambers.

The proposed budget is available on the City’s website as well as in the Department of Finance (City Hall, 2 Park Plaza) from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

(Monday through Thursday) and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Friday).

These public hearings are in accordance with O.C.G.A. 36-81-5. All citizens of Alpharetta are invited to attend, and comment will be heard.

projects.”

Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said a North Point Mall redevelopment project could provide enormous benefits for city residents.

Once a premier shopping destination, the mall’s significance has faded over the past decade as mixeduse developments like Avalon and Alpharetta City Center have siphoned a lot of visitors.

“A lot of our residents have seen that the mall is no longer what it used to be, and they are concerned about that,” Gilvin said.

A redevelopment plan could incorporate dining and shopping amenities and serve as an economic driver, stimulating investment in nearby areas, Gilvin said.

“North Point as a corridor is a critical part of our community,” Gilvin said, adding, “We see that as a very critical part of what Alpharetta will be. That is why we have been so diligent."

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Roswell adds restrictions on short-term rentals

By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell City Council voted unanimously June 9 to tighten restrictions on short-term vacation rentals.

Beginning Jan. 1, homes that participate in rental firms, such as Airbnb and VRBO, will be required to go through the same occupational safety inspection that commercial operation buildings undergo.

The operators must also register with the Business Registration Office within the city’s Finance Department, so the fire marshal can conduct annual inspections.

Upon registration, the operators will be required to have 24/7 contact with public safety and emergency officers for any complaints or emergencies. The cost for administering registration will be offset by the hotel/motel tax from rental agencies that the city already collects. “[It’s] really just making sure that people can stay here and be safe,” Councilwoman Sarah Beeson said. “It's not a way to try to get around or to end our short-term rentals here in Roswell.”

Beeson introduced the legislation May 13 at the Committees of Council meeting.

Speaking during its passage June 9, she said the mission behind the legislation is to help keep residents and visitors safe.

“We are limited on our hotel supply,”

Beeson said. “…these short-term rentals are one of the few ways that we have that allow people to enjoy the City of Roswell who don't live here as a tourist.”

Setting occupancy limits Beeson said she has received several images of large groups of people staying at short-term rentals in the city. The legislation will establish safety measures to help cap the number of people allowed to stay at the rentals.

Beeson pointed out that, unlike the City of Alpharetta, Roswell will not place a cap on the number of short-term rentals in the city. Alpharetta has a cap of 5 percent per single family community.

“We want to make sure that people can still operate these businesses,” Beeson said.

“Some folks do depend on them as a source of income for their homes. Other folks depend on them as a way of coming to visit.”

In other matters June 9, the City Council unanimously approved an amendment to the city code allowing wine to be brought into a special event facility.

Councilwoman Lee Hills said the amendment was introduced to allow guests to bring their own bottle of wine to a new cooking class business, which is set to open soon.

The amendment clears up language in the ordinance, and states that in order to

be eligible for a consumption on the premises license, the facilities must be available to public or private groups, be used for special occasions, be open to guests or be a multi-sport complex situated on at least 20 acres in the Downtown Mixed Use and Historic Area Town Center District.

Advancing safety measures In other business, the City Council unanimously passed the Citywide Safety Action Plan and the approval of a Vision Zero Resolution.

The resolution outlines the eventual goal of the city to have zero roadway fatalities or serious injuries. To do this, the city will commit to focus on safe roads, vehicles, speeds and post-crash care.

Staff recommended for its approval at the May 27 Committees of Council meeting, after the city received $200,000 for the Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2023.

In order to get infrastructure grant funding from USDOT in the future, the city must adopt the plan and resolution.

Over the past year, city staff worked with consultants, residents, elected officials and stakeholders to create the plan. The plan includes an analysis of existing traffic conditions and crash trends that involve fatalities and serious injuries and identi-

fies projects and strategies to improve road safety.

In other matters, Mayor Kurt Wilson swore in 15 newly promoted fire apparatus operators and four newly hired firefighter paramedics.

“These 19 appointments reflect the City of Roswell's ongoing evolution, expanding capacity, enhancing operational readiness and investing in leadership from the ground up,” interim Fire Chief Pabel Troche said.

The Roswell Fire Department operates from seven fire stations and responds to over 10,000 calls annually. The department currently holds an Insurance Service Office rating of Class 2, a distinction shared by only 4 percent of the nation’s approximately 40,000 departments.

The evaluation for the rating takes place every four years and ensures that the department is protecting the community.

The rating runs on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being exceptional.

The swearing-in ceremony aligns with the city’s five-year transition to operate a full-time fire department.

In May 2024, the city began a sixmonth pilot program that introduced a new 48/96 work schedule, compared to the usual 24 hours on and 48 hours off. The goal is to allow firefighters to have uninterrupted rest at home.

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COMMUNITY

Butterfly Festival awes visitors with nature’s colorful helpers

By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — The 26th annual Flying Colors Butterfly Festival was in full flight the weekend of June 7.

Hosted by the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell, visitors gathered to learn about the winged heroes that help the world blossom with beauty.

The event featured music, food, art, a butterfly encounter and a native plant sale.

The festival serves to educate the public about the role that butterflies play in the environment, communities and cultures around the world.

Events Supervisor Fabiola Clermont said that through her passion for the environment, she has learned how important it is to get people to care in order to act.

“Sometimes things can seem really overwhelming, but when you give people small acts of concrete actions that they can take every day, it kind of makes you feel a little bit more empowered and gives people the information to make empowered decisions for themselves,” Clermont said.

While the butterfly festival provides an enchanting spectacle, it’s main goal is education.

“Butterfly Festival is a celebration of pollinators,” Clermont said.

Visitors flocked into the net-enclosed butterfly encounter to meet all types of butterflies. Guests were provided small sponges soaked in sugar water to attract the winged creatures.

Necia Porter joined the festival with her family to get outside and enjoy nature.

“I always like to get my children and

PHOTOS BY: SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA

A butterfly sits on a flower inside the butterfly encounter at the Chattahoochee Nature Center June 7.

my grandchildren interested in nature,” Porter said.

Guests were offered a chance to buy their own native plants to attract butterflies to their home.

Horticulture Manager Jacqueline McRae helped carry out the plant sale, which will continue through the Aug. 31 in front of the Discovery Center.

“My favorite part about this festival is opening up the eyes of these people that really haven't paid attention, that suddenly, now it all becomes very clear, this connection between what they're seeing in [the butterfly encounter] and then these plants,” McRae said.

Gardening, she said, is simple, and anyone can do it.

“Every little bit makes a huge difference,” McRae said.

The butterfly encounter will be open until Aug. 31. To learn more, visit chattnaturecenter.org/special-events/ butterfly-encounter/

Kelsey Greenwood holds a butterfly at the Flying Colors Butterfly Festival at the Chattahoochee Nature Center June 7.

Five-year-old Declan Porter holds a butterfly on the end of a sponge stick in the butterfly encounter at the Flying Colors Butterfly Festival at the Chattahoochee Nature Center June 7.

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Siblings Jake and Parker Meyer sit on Roswell police motorcycles at the annual Cops ‘N Cars show June 7 at Lebanon Baptist Church.

Roswell Cops ‘N Cars draws auto enthusiasts

By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Car enthusiasts, police officers and families gathered at the fifth annual Cops ‘N Cars show at Lebanon Baptist Church in Roswell June 7.

More than 100 cars, from antiques to new models were featured at the show to support the Roswell Police Department. The event provided visitors a chance to view the show cars, meet local businesses and eat from food trucks.

Over the past five years, the Roswell Police Department and Friends of Roswell Police Foundation has presented the event to help support the department. This year, Carl Black Roswell and Rocco’s European Garage were sponsors for the show.

Roswell Police Foundation President Terri Bell said this year’s show was the largest yet.

“It's really to bring the community together and raise funds for our foundation,” Bell said.

The Friends of Roswell Police is a qualified law enforcement foundation whose mission is to build strong relationships between the police department and the community by identifying and meeting the needs of the city.

The event began in 2020 after the

group realized they wanted to create a way to build community through an outdoor event.

“We felt like this was a great way to bring people together outside, and it's just been a hit ever since,” Bell said.

As the biggest fundraiser of the year, the show raises money by allowing car enthusiasts to enter their cars into the show for $30. The cars are entered into several competitions throughout the day. Among the cars on display were a blue 911 GT3 Porsche, a black McLaren Artura and a factory built 1995 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing replica.

Even the Roswell Police Department got involved, showing off its vehicles and allowing children to hop on a real police motorcycle. Other cities and departments joined as well including the Roswell Fire Department, Atlanta Police Department and the North Fulton S.W.A.T. unit.

Roswell Police Public Information Officer Tim Lupo said the show helps police officers connect with the community.

“It's really important and beneficial for us to have events like this, where the highest stated goal is just community building, relationship building,” Lupo said.

The event fosters the Friends of Roswell Police Foundation mission by inviting community members to see what the department does.

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Our goal is for the customers who come in to find something unique for whoever they’re gifting to.

ELIZABETH MORRIS, co-founder, The Enchanted Forest 8 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | June 12, 2025

Enchanted Forest at The Village focuses on keeping customer base Tariff uncertainty adds wrinkle to longtime Dunwoody gift shop

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — Elizabeth Morris and her mom, Kay Underwood, had some free time on their hands and opened a small gift shop in a small Gwinnett County city in 2005.

Now in its 20th year, The Enchanted Forest is in the back right corner of the Dunwoody Hall shopping center at 5580 Chamblee Road.

Morris said she opened the Village location in 2008, right around the time Dunwoody was incorporating. The Gwinnett native said opening a business in her hometown of Metro Atlanta keeps lots of friends from high school and college in her life.

Most of the employees are nearby residents as well, which lets the shop follow up with customers they know by name.

“Because we are a small business, we have the opportunity to really get know our customers,” Morris said. “That does make a difference.”

The shop sells a variety of gifts, candles, dinnerware, bags for every season, baby gifts, books and Mahjong tiles of every size, style and color. If you’re looking for a specific brand, The Enchanted Forest probably has it.

“We had two stores for a little while and then closed down the second store and just focused on our Dunwoody location,” Morris said. “Initially, I opened it as a part of a corporate gift business … and then realized we needed a little more space and opened a storefront.”

The Gwinnett location shuttered around 2010 because of significant construction slowing foot traffic in the area, making it hard to access the space. Around that time, The Enchanted Forest firmly planted its roots in Dunwoody, operating the single storefront through the Great Recession and COVID-19 pandemic.

“We still do some corporate gifts for companies … we help them create a unique gift to send to their clients and then send it out, usually around the holidays,” Morris said. “For the most part, we’re just a regular little gift store, and we try to carry unique brands at a good price point.”

Today, the shop ships some items to out-ofstate customers and specializes in its face-to-face customer service with gift wrapping, holiday specials and all the top brands.

Morris and Underwood, the mother-daughter duo behind The Enchanted Forest, are teachers by trade.

Before she opened the first location, Morris said she chose the name of the business because she wanted to open a children’s bookstore.

“We love talking to people and visiting with people,” Morris said. “She offered to help because I

PHOTOS BY: THE ENCHANTED FOREST/PROVIDED

Kay Underwood and Elizabeth Morris are a motherdaughter duo who own The Enchanted Forest within the Dunwoody Hall shopping center, selling home décor and uniquely themed gifts.

needed somebody else, it takes more than one person to get things up and going.”

She said her father — a financial planner and accountant — suggested expanding the store’s merchandise to draw in a larger demographic.

While many department stores and corporate retailers have stopped complimentary wrapping and packaging, The Enchanted Forest wants its customers to walk out the door with a gift they can hand to someone.

“Our goal is for the customers who come in to find something unique for whoever they’re gifting to,” Morris said. “We offer the giftwrap, so they don’t have to go somewhere else. It’s one less step that the customer has to take.”

Morris said she thinks customers get value from coming into a brick-and-mortar shop, perusing merchandise and selecting something they can touch and see.

Like other local retailers and small business owners, the on-again, off-again tariffs are impacting The Enchanted Forest. In the first week of June, Morris said there’s a lot of uncertainty.

“A lot of our vendors have already implemented significant price increases across the board, in addition some of our vendors are charging us tariffs on top of the price increase,” she said. “It’s hard for people because money is tight, not everyone has a lot of expendable income right now.”

Because the gift shop usually has its price points set by manufacturers and vendors, the family-owned business doesn’t usually have the flexibility to change prices.

“It’s been a pretty big increase for a small business,” Morris said. “We try to partner with other small businesses, people who make their own

Gifts celebrating Georgia, Atlanta and Dunwoody sit on display at The Enchanted Forest, a small business within the Dunwoody Hall shopping center off Chamblee Dunwoody Road. A mother-daughter duo from Gwinnett County, Elizabeth Morris and Kay Underwood, opened the shop within the Village in 2008. products, and the tariff surcharges for them have caused some of them to go out of business or really reduce what they can produce.”

As a result, The Enchanted Forest is adjusting its purchasing to reduce order volume in some cases.

Morris said she thinks small businesses are bearing the brunt of tariffs and trade uncertainty.

“We have a lot of vendors who say, ‘we can no longer absorb the tariffs,’” Morris said. “At the same time, they aren’t necessarily in effect, but they’re still passing [the surcharge or price increase] onto us regardless of what comes of the tariffs.”

Trying to predict where things may go, Morris said she thinks the price increases will stay but hopefully the tariff surcharges go away as trade disputes cool.

“Having been in business for a long time, it tends to level out,” she said. “We try and seek out the smaller vendors who are trying to feed their families, and those are the companies that we do our best to continue to support because it does make a difference.”

Morris said she thinks there are similarities between the business environment during the pandemic and the current tariff situation.

“This time we’re still able to get product, during COVID we couldn’t get much product because so many things were shut down,” she said. “Companies are trying to figure out what they can do to pivot how their businesses are run to be able to adapt and adjust.”

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Nominate Now for Best of North Atlanta May 15 – June 15

FOOD & BEVERAGE: Best All Around Restaurant Best Asian Food Best Bakery Best BBQ Best Beer (LOCAL) Best Breakfast/Brunch Best Brewery/Brewpub Best Burger Best Cajun/Creole Food Best Coffee Shop (LOCAL) Best Dessert Best Family Dining Best Fine Dining Best German Food Best Happy Hour Best Indian Food Best Italian Food Best Local Flair Restaurant Best Lunch Spot Best Mexican Food Best Patio Dining Best Pizza Best Salad Best Smoothie/Juicery Best Takeout Food MEDICAL: Best ABA Therapist Best Adult Day Care Best Audiologist Best Chiropractor Best Cosmetic Surgery Best Counseling Services Best Dentist Best Dermatologist Best ENT

Best Family Practice Best Gastroenterologist Best Hair Restoration Best Holistic/Alternative Medicine Best Home Care for Seniors Best Hospice & Palliative Care Best Internal Medicine Best Med Spa Best Medical Weight Loss Best Memory Care Best Mobility Store/Services Best Music Therapy Best Nutritionist Best OBGYN Best Occupational Therapist Best Oncology Best Ophthalmology Best Optometry Best Oral Surgery Best Orthodontist Best Pediatric Dentist Best Pediatrician Best Physical Therapy Best Podiatry Best Senior Activity Center Best Senior Living Community Best Speech Therapy Best Substance Abuse/Addiction Treatment Best Urgent Care Best Urology Best Vein Specialist Best Veterinarian RECREATION: Best Art Lessons/Studio Best Community Event Best Dance Lessons/Studio

2025

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Best Date Night Hotspot Best Day Spa / Massage Best Farmers Market Best Golf Course Best Group/Corporate Activity Best Gym / Fitness Facility Best Music Lessons Best Performing Arts / Theatre Best Place for Kids to Have Fun Best Sports Program Best Summer Camp Best Wedding Venue RETAIL: Best Antiques Store Best Apparel Boutique (LOCAL) Best Art Gallery / Retailer Best Beverage / Wine Store (LOCAL) Best Boutique Shop (LOCAL) Best Bridal Shop Best CBD Retailer Best Consignment Store Best Florist Best Furniture / Home Décor Best Jeweler Best Pharmacy (LOCAL) Best Shopping/Entertainment Plaza SERVICES: Best Auto Service Repair Best Bank / Credit Union Best Barber Shop Best Car Wash Best Commercial Real Estate Company Best CPA Best Dry Cleaner Best Electrician Best Esthetician

Best Family Law Attorney Best Financial Planner Best Funeral Home Best Graphics & Printing Shop Best Hair Salon / Stylist Best Heating & Air Services Best Home Builder / Developer Best Information Services Best Insurance Agency Best Interior Design Services Best IT/ Business Services Best Landscaping Services Best Law Firm Best Maid Service Best Merchant Services Best Mortgage Lender Best Networking Group Best Painter Best Personal Injury Attorney Best Pet Daycare / Lodger Best Pet Grooming Best Pet Supply / Boutique Best Photographer Best Plumber Best Pool Services Best Pre-School / Day Care Best Private K-12 School Best Promotional Products Best Real Estate Brokerage Firm Best Realtor (Individual) Best Realtor Team Best Renovation/Home Improvement Services Best Senior Information Service Best Shredder Services Best Travel Agency / Service Best Tree Service

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Thank You for Voting for Us 10 Years in a Row! 2015, 2019, 2023, 2024

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Dr. Destinee Hood

Family-owned and providing excellent services for over 40 years.

Our services include: • Spa-Like Relaxing Atmosphere • Free Nitrous Oxide and Oral Conscious Sedation • Cone Beam 3D Radiography Digital Scanner – No More Gooey Impressions • Botox and Dermal Filler Master Injector • Platinum Invisalign Provider

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How Photobiomodulation is changing dental care Brought to You by - Dr. Destinee Hood, Roswell Dental Care Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation (PBM) or low-level laser therapy, uses red and near-infrared light to stimulate healing, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain. PBM works by enhancing mitochondrial ATP production, cell signaling, and growth factor synthesis, while also reducing oxidative stress.

This therapy is used for a variety of conditions, and dentists are using PBM lasers in many ways to make your treatment experience easier and your recovery faster. If you experience dentin hypersensitivity, TMJ pain, cold sores, lichen planus, or going through cancer treatment, PBM laser therapy can help!

1. Pain relief After tooth extractions, root canals, or dental implants, this therapy can reduce discomfort- sometimes even better than pain medication, but without the side effects.

2. Faster healing Whether you’ve had gum surgery or a sore spot from your denture, photobiomodulation helps tissues heal more quickly and naturally. Red or swollen gums? This therapy helps calm inflammation, making it great for patients with gum disease or other oral infections 3. Cold sore prevention and treatment If you tend to get cold sores, you know how one can come on at inopportune times. Whether you’re feeling the first tingle or you have an active lesion, PBM drastically reduces severity and duration of cold sore. You can also receive treatments to help prevent developing cold sores in the first place!

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4. Orthodontic comfort Braces adjustments can be painful.

Photobiomodulation soothes soreness and may even help teeth move faster, making your treatment shorter.

5. Cancer care support Patients going through cancer

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treatments often get painful mouth sores (called mucositis). PBM lasers can reduce that pain and help those sores heal faster.

What to expect • Quick and Easy: Treatments usually take just a few minutes.

• Painless: No discomfort during or after.

• No Recovery Time: You can get back to your day right away.

A brighter future for your mile Photobiomodulation is one of the most exciting innovations in dental care today, and we are excited to offer it at Roswell Dental Care. It offers a natural, drug-free way to help you feel better faster after dental procedures. If you’re curious about how it might help you, just call and we will be happy to explain how this healing light can brighten more than just your smile.

Dr. Destinee Hood gives your comfort and trust top priority. We assure you feel confident in any dental solution before beginning treatment after a thorough and comprehensive examination. For enhanced comfort, we offer FREE conscious sedation, including nitrous oxide. Rest assured that your experience will be positive, relaxing, and rewarding. Take the first step in feeling great about your oral health. Schedule your oral health screening and give us a call at (770) 998-6736 or visit www.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

A major step forward in understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Brought to you by – Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta While I usually focus on dermatology, every so often, a discovery from another field demands attention. A recent, elegantly designed study has produced compelling evidence that some cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) may be caused by bacteria in the Lachnospiraceae family.

MS is a chronic disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the central nervous system—the brain and spinal cord. MS often worsens over time, leading to disability and reduced life expectancy. Common symptoms include fatigue, difficulty walking, balance problems, and cognitive impairment—issues that severely impact quality of life.

In recent years, the importance of gut health in overall wellness has come into focus. We now frequently hear about the “gut-skin,” “gut-joint,” and “gut-brain” axes, suggesting that gut health is closely tied to the health of distant organs. We’re just beginning to understand how gut bacteria— collectively known as the gut microbiome— play a role in both health and disease.

Clues to MS’s origins have come from a related condition, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). In GBS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath around peripheral nerves, leading to symptoms like hand and foot weakness and sometimes paralysis. A well-established trigger for GBS is Campylobacter jejuni. Its surface proteins mimic those found in human nerves closely enough to confuse the immune system, leading the immune system to attack both the bacteria and the body’s own tissues—a phenomenon called molecular mimicry.

Since the 1982 discovery that C. jejuni can cause GBS, researchers have hunted for a similar microbial trigger for MS. Many studies proposed potential bacterial culprits, but with thousands of gut bacteria to sort through, most leads fell flat.

That may have changed in February 2025. A breakthrough study involved using a mouse model that mimics MS when mice are exposed to certain gut bacteria. In sterile environments, these mice remained healthy, but once exposed to normal gut flora, they could develop a MS-like illness.

They were more likely to develop this illness if the bacteria came from the gut of people with MS. The challenge was identifying which specific bacteria were responsible.

The game-changing insight came from studying identical twins where one twin has MS and the other does not. Researchers

collected bacterial samples from the ileum and colon—both stool and wall-adherent bacteria—from these twins. The twins’ DNA might be identical, but their gut microbiomes were not! Researchers transferred these bacterial communities into the MS-prone mice. The result: mice receiving microbiota from MS-affected twins developed illness, and a bloom of bacteria from the Lachnospiraceae family was observed.

Two species in particular—Eisenbergiella tayi and Lachnoclostridium—were linked to disease development.

While this study is a landmark in neurology, its implications extend to autoimmune diseases across the body, including those of the skin. For example, patients with inflammatory bowel disease are nearly three times more likely to have severe psoriasis, a chronic skin condition. Molecular mimicry involving the gut microbiome could be a unifying cause in many autoimmune disorders.

Why the ileum and not some other part of our gut such as the stomach? The stomach is extremely acidic. In contrast, the pH of the ileum is around 7.4 – similar to the rest of our body. The bacteria that thrive in the ileum could also easily thrive in the rest of our body, so bacteria in the ileum pose more of a threat of invading and causing disease. To defend our bodies from the bacteria that live in the ileum, the immune system has to be hypervigilant – sometimes too vigilant. The ileum has specialized lymphoid structures to train aggressive immune system cells. But highly trained immune cells can sometimes become overzealous attacking not just harmful invaders, but our own tissues as well. Sometimes, autoimmunity is a consequence of having a part of our gut be the same pH as the rest of our body and of having to fight off the bacteria that grow there.

The discovery of Lachnospiraceae in the ileum likely causing some cases of MS is exciting because it offers a roadmap for uncovering microbial causes of autoimmune diseases more broadly. If a suitable animal model exists for a disease, and if human twin pairs can be identified where only one of the two twins is affected, this approach could be replicated across various conditions—perhaps in psoriasis, certain types of eczema or in hidradenitis.

We are entering an era when the microbiome may hold the key to some of medicine’s most enduring mysteries. As our understanding of these bacterial-human interactions deepens, causes of disease will be identified, and new treatments will follow.

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Skin Cancer & Mohs Surgery • Medical Dermatology Vein Care • Cosmetic Services

Honored to be Voted: Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist

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

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

Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 22 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.

Dr. Brent Taylor

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

Kathryn Filipek, PA-C

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Accepting new patients. We accept Medicare.

Schedule your appointment with Premier Dermatology today.

3180 North Point Parkway, Suite 420 • Alpharetta, GA 30005 PremierDermatologyAtlanta.com • 678-345-1899

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HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

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Lifestyle changes can transform your heart health Brought to you by – Emory Heart & Vascular High cholesterol and high blood pressure are chronic conditions that can lead to heart attacks, strokes and other forms of cardiovascular disease.

The good news is that they are often preventable. Most people can lower their risk by adopting a heart-healthy diet, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight. Even if you already have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, you can make changes now to lower your risk.

The link between high cholesterol and high blood pressure Cholesterol is a fat-like substance in the blood. Our bodies make cholesterol, and we also get it from food. You’ve probably heard of good cholesterol, known as HDL (high-density lipoprotein), and bad cholesterol, known as LDL (low-density lipoprotein).

Too much bad cholesterol can cause atherosclerosis or plaque buildup in the arteries.

Atherosclerosis makes arteries stiff and narrow, and the heart has to work harder to pump blood through them.

This increased work by the heart leads to high blood pressure. Most patients don’t have any symptoms until their blood pressure is significantly elevated.

That’s why high blood pressure is known as the “silent killer.” Before you even know you have it, the condition can damage your heart, kidneys, brain or eyesight and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.

How diet and exercise can lower your heart disease risk Routine check-ups with your primary care provider can help you keep tabs on your blood pressure and cholesterol. If you are concerned about your risk for heart disease, it’s time to take action with your provider.

Ijeoma Isiadinso, MD, director of Heart Disease Prevention at Emory Heart & Vascular, encourages people to consider following a heart-healthy diet like the Mediterranean or DASH Diet.

The Mediterranean diet is high in fiber, vegetables, fruits and fatty fish and low in red meats and processed and fatty foods. DASH, which stands for “dietary approaches to stop hypertension,” is a well-studied diet that is low in sodium and scientifically proven to reduce blood pressure. Exercising and maintaining a healthy weight will also improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Medication can also help if your clinician feels that it is needed in order to control your blood pressure and cholesterol to reduce your risk of heart disease.

Some people inherit high cholesterol It is important to understand that high cholesterol isn’t solely caused by unhealthy food and lifestyle choices. It

can also be inherited. Certain genetic types of high cholesterol can increase the risk of premature heart attacks and strokes. One misconception about genetic high cholesterol is that people will outgrow it. This is not true. People with this form of high cholesterol need medication, in addition to a hearthealthy lifestyle, to lower their LDL levels.

Ready to transform your heart health?

We can help. If you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, consider making an appointment with a cardiologist or preventive cardiologist at Emory Heart & Vascular. We can help you understand your risk for heart disease and help you make positive lifestyle changes.

Visit emoryhealthcare.org/ transform to learn more and schedule an appointment.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

Bad breath: Causes, prevention, and treatments Brought to you by – Dr. Bradley Hepler, Atlanta Center for Dental Health Bad breath—also known as halitosis— is something nearly everyone experiences at some point. Whether it’s morning breath or a more persistent issue, it can be embarrassing and even impact your social confidence. Fortunately, understanding the causes and solutions can help keep your breath fresh and your mouth healthy.

Common causes of bad breath Most cases of bad breath start in the mouth. The leading culprit? Bacteria. Your mouth is home to hundreds of types of bacteria, and when they feed on leftover food particles, they produce foul-smelling sulfur compounds.

Here are the most common sources of halitosis: • Poor oral hygiene: Infrequent brushing or flossing allows food debris and plaque to accumulate, leading to odorproducing bacteria.

• Dry mouth: Saliva helps wash away food and bacteria. If your mouth is dry— due to dehydration, medication, or mouth breathing—bad breath can result.

• Food choices: Garlic, onions, and spicy foods can contribute to temporary

• Treat underlying infections: Cavities, gum disease, or abscesses may need treatment to eliminate the source.

• Manage dry mouth: Over-the-counter rinses or medications may help, especially if it’s medication-induced.

• Medical consultation: If your dentist rules out oral causes, a doctor can check for gastrointestinal, sinus, or metabolic conditions.

bad breath, as can high-protein or lowcarb diets.

• Gum disease: Persistent bad breath can be an early warning sign of gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis), where bacteria infect the gums and bone supporting the teeth.

• Tongue coating: A coated tongue, especially at the back, is a common and overlooked source of odor.

• Medical conditions: Though less common, chronic bad breath can be linked to conditions like sinus infections, acid reflux, diabetes, or liver/kidney problems.

Prevention tips The best way to fight bad breath is to maintain excellent oral hygiene and healthy habits. Here’s what you can do: 1. Brush and floss regularly: Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily. Don’t forget to gently brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper.

2. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your mouth moist and stimulate saliva production.

3. Avoid tobacco products: Smoking and chewing tobacco dry out the mouth and leave behind strong odors.

4. Watch your diet: Limit odor-causing foods and try to eat more crunchy fruits and vegetables, which help clean the teeth

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and boost saliva.

5. Chew sugar-free gum: This stimulates saliva flow and can help mask temporary odors.

6. Visit the dentist: Regular cleanings and exams can catch issues like gum disease or tooth decay before they worsen.

Treatment options If you’ve tried basic hygiene improvements and bad breath persists, it’s time to dig deeper: • Professional dental cleaning: Removing tartar and plaque buildup can dramatically reduce odor.

Bad breath is a common problem, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. With good hygiene, regular dental care, and a little attention to diet and lifestyle, you can keep your breath fresh—and your confidence high.

“Preventive Dentistry can add 10 years to human life.”

-Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic Dr. Bradley Hepler and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide the most modern advances in dentistry. Experience immediate results with procedures to greatly enhance your smile and your health. If you would like a complimentary consultation to discover the best options for you, please call us at 770-992-2236.

THANKS FOR VOTING US BEST OF NORTH ATLANTA 2022

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Specialist in Integrative Oncology Cancer Treatments Including: Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Nutrition Supplementation

Jonathan Stegall, MD WINNER 2016

Best Of North Atlanta Presented By

Brought to you by - Jonathan Stegall, MD This month, we celebrate cancer survivors as part of National Cancer Survivor Month. For those of you who are reading this who are cancer survivors, congratulations! Surviving a cancer diagnosis is a significant accomplishment.

Despite the media attention given to the number of people diagnosed with cancer, as well as those who die

from cancer, I believe we should also focus on cancer survivorship. It is estimated that there are roughly 17 million cancer survivors in the United States. Due to significant advances in research and education, many people who are diagnosed with cancer are beating the disease.

I am very proud of the fact that I have many cancer survivors in my oncology practice. I can attest to the significant amount of hard work on the part of patients and their families,

as well as medical personnel. It truly takes a team of dedicated people to achieve that level of success, and my staff and I are honored to join our patients in their cancer journeys.

If you are a cancer survivor, keep up the good work! Stay motivated in your quest to keep cancer at bay.

For cutting edge cancer information, please check out cancersecrets.com to learn more about my bestselling book, award-winning podcast, and online cancer course.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

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Your body’s check engine light: Don’t wait for it to flash Brought to you by Dr. Scott Miller, Wellstar Urologist Most men pride themselves on being low maintenance. If nothing’s obviously wrong, why bother going to the doctor?

MILLER But here’s the thing— just like your car, your body can be quietly heading toward trouble long before any warning lights come on.

Still, many men will change their brake pads before they book a physical. We rotate our tires, change the oil and keep up with maintenance because we know neglect leads to breakdowns. But when it comes to our health, many of us take a “wait and see” approach that can backfire.

At Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, we see the impact of that

delay all too often: men arriving with advanced prostate cancer, uncontrolled blood pressure or kidney problems that could have been caught early. These aren’t rare cases. They are common consequences of skipping routine check-ups.

The reality is that many of the biggest threats to men’s health— prostate cancer, heart disease, low testosterone and diabetes—often start with no symptoms at all. You might feel fine while a problem is quietly progressing. A simple prostatespecific antigen blood test, a blood pressure check or lab work to monitor cholesterol, and glucose can give us the early warning signs we need to keep you healthy and active.

We also know that men tend to avoid talking about certain issues, including urinary symptoms, sexual performance, energy levels or even stress and burnout. These aren’t

simply part of “getting older.” They’re signs that something might be off, and they’re usually treatable.

At Wellstar, we make it easy to have those conversations. Our men’s health specialists take the time to listen and offer care that’s rooted in science, respect and discretion.

No awkwardness, no judgment— just answers, guidance and a path forward.

Remember that staying healthy isn’t only about you. It’s about showing up for the people who count on you—your partner, your kids, your family and friends, your team at work.

When you take care of yourself, you’re protecting everything and everyone you care about.

• Aim for 30 minutes of movement most days.

• Limit processed foods and added sugar.

• Reduce alcohol and quit smoking if you use tobacco.

• Don’t ignore new symptoms, especially related to urination, energy or mood.

• Make your annual check-up nonnegotiable.

Quick Tune-Up Tips for Men’s Health: • Get seven to eight hours of sleep consistently.

Ready for a tune-up?

Visit wellstar.org/primarycare to find a location near you and book your appointment online.

Even if you feel fine today, investing in your health now can prevent bigger problems tomorrow.

And when you partner with a trusted, local team like Wellstar North Fulton, you’re not checking a box—you’re taking control of your future.

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

Hey Man, Make Health Your Habit

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Men are less likely than women to see a healthcare professional regularly, but an annual check-up with your Wellstar primary care physician can help you be proactive against health concerns.

Important numbers for men to know Body mass index | Cholesterol | Blood pressure Hemoglobin A1C | Prostate-specific antigen test Partner with your Wellstar care team on a personalized screening plan. wellstar.org/menshealth WELLSTAR CARDIOLOGY

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MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

How to properly regulate your emotions Brought to you by - Jason Howard, M.A., Licensed Professional Counselor and Site Lead at Summit Counseling Center Milton

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can act effectively out of the data the emotion is giving you. In the work I do with men, we process what our main emotions are trying to communicate and determine effective responses. Anger, sadness, and fear are very useful indicators we need to respond to our world. But how? The key is knowing when to act on the emotion and when to do something different.

For example, if an important goal gets blocked at work and you are angry, behaviors like yelling, becoming passive aggressive, or shutting down may not be effective. Learning to observe anger when it starts in your body, checking the facts, and then engaging in something more effective is tough and doable.

Finally, another important strategy for regulating emotions is developing healthy coping mechanisms.

Mental and physical health are forever connected.

It is amazing the benefits I see in my office from straightforward actions, such as addressing sleep issues, drinking water and eating a more balanced

diet, and getting exercise once or twice a week. In fact, regular exercise has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to reduce anxiety and depression and improve mood in men.

Seeking mental health treatment is an important step for men because it is shown to reduce tension, improve gains at work, and build healthier relationships. I know it takes courage to seek help, and the benefits of improved mental health and wellbeing are well worth it.

At the Summit, we have an easy-to-use online tool to determine if scheduling an appointment with a therapist is right for you.

Visit https://app.aiberry.io/screening/homepage/ the_summit_counseling_center to get your results and a recommendation for a counselor that can help. You can also learn more and schedule an appointment by calling the front office at 678-893-5300, or visiting us at www.summitcounseling.org.

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As a male therapist, I’m constantly surprised by my own hesitancy to ask for help. I know personally the benefits from checking my thoughts, regulating my emotions, and opening HOWARD up to someone I trust about my inner struggles. As a man, however, I also know the unique challenges we face when it comes to seeking mental health treatment. Many men have grown up feeling the pressure to suppress emotions, conform to societal norms and maintain a stoic and tough exterior. Be vulnerable? Not today!

Unfortunately, this leads many men to suppress valid thoughts and emotions. When we suppress thoughts and emotions, we miss out on the relief and freedom from not carrying them around and experience greater satisfaction in our work, relationships, and life.

When it comes to regulating emotions, here are several strategies both myself, and the men I work with have found helpful: First, men need to develop an awareness of their emotions. We have them, and every emotion serves a purpose. This means becoming attuned to bodily sensations that go with certain feelings that arise in response to different situations. When you feel nervous, hurt, sad, or happy, how do you know? How does that emotion show up in your body? Are your shoulders tense, legs shaky, and stomach in knots?

Do you notice a complete lack of energy? Your body is there to alert you to changes in the environment and taking 20 seconds to step back and acknowledge the change is the first step in gaining control and regulating difficult emotions. Additionally, learn to identify the prompts that set off your main emotions (i.e., sad, mad, glad, and scared). For example, stress at work, financial problems, or a heated argument with someone can (and should) prompt strong emotions. Your body is naturally wired to respond and let you know something is up.

Next, once you are aware of your emotions, your body response, and the common prompts, you can develop strategies to regulate each emotion so you

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Feel good about your teeth.

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northfultonsmiles@gmail.com | www.northfultonsmiles.com PEXELS

Adult orthodontics Brought to you by – North Fulton Smiles Adult orthodontics is becoming increasingly popular as more and more adults are seeking to improve the alignment and appearance of their teeth. While orthodontia is often associated with kids or teenagers, adults are also realizing the benefits of orthodontic treatment and are seeking out options to improve their smile and the longevity of their teeth, There are several reasons why adults may choose to undergo orthodontic treatment. Some adults may have experienced relapse from previous treatment, while others may have never had the opportunity for treatment in their youth. Additionally, some adults may have experienced changes in their teeth and jaw alignment over time, leading to the desire for orthodontic correction.

One of the most common reasons adults seek orthodontic treatment is cosmetics. A straighter, more aligned smile can greatly improve a person’s confidence and self-esteem.

Additionally, properly aligned teeth are easier to clean and maintain, leading to better overall oral health.

There are several options available

for adult orthodontics. Traditional metal braces are still relevant, but North Fulton Smiles offers more discreet options such as clear aligners, which offers them to straighten their teeth without drawing attention to their orthodontic treatment. We offer both Invisalign and CandidPro. It is important to realize that adult orthodontics still needs to be doctor driven and not self-imposed. While direct to consumer orthodontics may be “cheaper” initially it has been shown that it can be “more costly” in the long run.

Adult orthodontics is a fantastic and conservative option for those who want to improve their smile and longevity of their dentition.

12315 Crabapple Road, Suite 121, Alpharetta, Georgia 30004

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Puzzles

Dunwoody Crier 6/12/25 Connect-it

Connect-It

Copyright ©2025 PuzzleJunction.com

Alpharetta-Roswell Herald......................June 12, 2025 | 20 Dunwoody Crier 6/12/25 Crossword Across

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Copyright ©2025 PuzzleJunction.com

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2. Arab kingdom on the Red Sea. Threesome. Barber shop call.

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PuzzleJunction.com

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PuzzleJunction.com

10 Bonanza find 11 Tricks 12 More than plump 13 Filled to excess 21 Claim 23 Brunch serving 26 Digressed 28 Matter of debate 29 Grade A item 30 Environs 31 We the Living author 33 Beldam 35 Backgammon piece 38 Elevator pioneer 39 Palm starch 41 Mosey

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Copyright ©2025 PuzzleJunction.com

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

See puzzle solutions on Page 31

AMERICAN LEGION POST 201 EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

GA

1 • Alpharett

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3 8 2 5 1 4 6 7 9

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6 1 9 7 2 8 4 5 3

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How to Solve: Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid.

The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum 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.

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | June 12, 2025 | 21

County leaders reappoint Registration and Elections Board chair

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners reappointed Sherri Allen as chairwoman of the Registration and Elections Board in a 5-2 vote along party lines at its June 4 meeting.

Allen is a practicing Sandy Springs attorney and an active community member, sitting on city and local nonprofit boards. She also works as a legal assistance manager for The Warrior Alliance.

Commissioners approved her nomination unanimously last July during a special-called meeting before the 2024 election. At the time, elected officials on both sides of the aisle spoke positively about Allen’s confirmation.

Less than a year later, the board’s two Republican commissioners voted against her renomination to a new two-year term.

At a May 21 meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to confirm the Fulton County Democratic Party’s two nominees, Douglass Selby to replace Aaron Johnson and the reappointment of Teresa K. Smith Crawford.

Moments later, commissioners failed to appoint current board member Julie Adams and Jason Frazier, the Fulton County Republican Party’s nominees, in a 5-2 vote along party lines.

At that May meeting, District 5 County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. took issue with the move.

“This is not about partisan politics for me … maybe it is for some,” Arrington said. “The problem we have in this country is the far right and the far left, the solutions are in the middle.”

Arrington said he thinks the Democratic nominees, Selby and Crawford, are in the center but inferred Adams and Frazier are on the “far right.”

District 4 County Commissioner Mo Ivory said Adams sowed “discord and chaos” when she refused to certify the county’s primary results last year. Ivory also read off comments from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger about the county’s well-run 2024 election, saying she can work with some Republicans.

Democratic commissioners made similar comments about Frazier, saying he has “an egregious record of voter suppression.” Frazier characterizes his work as “fighting

THORNE

ELLIS

for election integrity,” showing one of the stark divides in American politics.

Two weeks after failing to appoint all four regular members of the board, Republican commissioners told their Democratic colleagues that they could not support Allen’s reappointment.

District 1 County Commissioner Bridget Thorne, a Republican representing east North Fulton, said she supported Allen’s nomination last year but has issues with

her as chair.

“I ran on transparency in our elections, and it has been all but transparent,” Thorne said. “To have trust in our elections, we need transparency, and that’s exactly what Sherri Allen has not done.”

Thorne said she spoke and met with Allen when she was nominated.

After confirmation, she said Allen stopped taking her calls.

Thorne said both sides of the aisle contribute to lawsuits and public uncertainty about elections.

County Commissioner Arrington, who abstained from Allen’s confirmation vote last year, said his focus is on ensuring county boards have the staff they need.

“Commissioner Thorne, I actually found something that we agree on,” Arrington said, cracking a smile.

“Because our boards need to be compliant with our rules. So, I agree.

I hear the allegations that are being made regarding Ms. Allen, but we need to address a bigger problem.”

Arrington then brought up other county boards, which he alleged do not follow established rules and procedures. As a suggestion, Arrington said the county should hire an officer in the County Attorney’s Office to ensure board compliance.

As far as his comments at the last board meeting, when two Republicans nominees were denied confirmation, Arrington said he hopes he didn’t offend or call anyone names.

“I want to see people in the center on both sides … closer to the center than in the fringes,” Arrington said.

“That being said, some people are obstructionists. And some people

will add so many questions that they prevent the people from doing the work they have.”

The problems, Arrington said, are with the county’s processes and systems.

Thorne and Arrington said they are both glad to have found common ground.

“I would love to pursue some sort of compliance officer, I think it will save on litigation … and pay for itself,” Thorne said. “I do believe it’s processes and systems, and I’m all about process.”

Bob Ellis, the other Republican commissioner, struck a different tone.

“I have no ill will toward Ms. Allen, and I do thank her for her service and willingness to serve,” Ellis said. “But I would rather us take some time and identify a person who we think could move this board further in a greater fashion, and I’m

not going to be supportive of the nominee today.”

Ellis said the remarks about Registration and Elections Board nominees were “really unfortunate.”

“All of these people are wellintentioned citizens who are looking to play a civic role in the right manner,” he said. “But this persistent issue — with the challenges with our elections — it just goes on and on … it’s tiresome.”

Ellis, who’s served as a commissioner for 11 years, said there have been consistent questions about the Registration and Elections Board’s funding and spending plan.

“I felt like we fell short on that for a number of years. We’ve made some incremental progress, I want to acknowledge that,” he said. “In many ways, our elections are significantly better than where they were, but ultimately transparency is our friend.”

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE The Mayor and Council of the City of Alpharetta has tentatively adopted an operating (“M&O”) millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes for the General Fund by 6.50 percent.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at the City of Alpharetta, Council Chambers, City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, on the following dates and times: June 16, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.

June 23, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.

June 23, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.

This tentative increase will result in an M&O millage rate of 5.030 mills, an increase of 0.307 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the M&O millage rate will be no more than 4.723 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $700,000 is approximately $42.08 and the proposed tax increase for non-homesteaded property with a fair market value of $1,275,000 is approximately $156.57.

While Alpharetta’s overall millage rate would remain flat under the proposal, there would be some changes to the individual components as follows:

The City is shifting 0.02 mills from the Bond millage rate to the M&O millage rate and investing revenue growth to cover, among other things, public safety, and economic development initiatives.

22 | June 12, 2025 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

PUBLIC SAFETY

Man arrested for elder abuse, narcotics the NVU was pulled in on the case to handle the drug Police investigation aspect of the investigation.” the dots covered nearly a year Connecting Leading up to the raid, a Sandy Springs detective

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — After months investigating, the Sandy Springs Police SWAT team executed a search warrant May 29 and arrested a 53-year-old resident for narcotics, weapons and elder abuse felonies.

The operation occurred at a home off Highbrook Drive in the High Point neighborhood south of I-285 in Sandy Springs. The suspect is the son of the registered homeowner, an 85-year-old woman who lost her husband in March 2023.

According to police informants and an Adult Protective Services agent, the victim’s son had allegedly been taking advantage of her cognitive state for more than two years.

Appen Media obtained the criminal warrants, containing descriptions of the investigations, through the Fulton County Clerk’s Office, which makes law enforcement records available to the public as is required by law.

According to the warrants, the investigation began in June 2024 with a tip about possible drug activity at the residence. Police then executed two “trash pulls,” according to county records.

Sandy Springs Police spokesman Sgt. Leon Millholland told Appen Media that the Narcotics & Vice Unit (NVU) worked that tip last year. While officers reportedly found a substance in the trash that tested positive for meth, there was not enough actionable information to obtain a warrant.

It took authorities almost a year to accumulate enough evidence to act.

“The gap in the timeline is due to the Narcotics & Vice Unit lacking probable cause to move forward until the more recent information came to light,” Millholland said.

Two simultaneous investigations, one for the alleged narcotics and the other for elder abuse and financial impropriety, came to a head May 27 and 28.

The more recent investigative information, “was directly related to fraud and abuse,” Millholland said.

Police also obtained new “evidence regarding drugs, so

worked with informants and Georgia Adult Protective Services investigators as they built a case against the victim’s son.

On May 12, 2025, a Sandy Springs detective said he spoke with one of the elderly woman’s caregivers about the suspect’s alleged abuse of his elderly mother. The detective spoke with a second caregiver May 24, along with the elderly mother.

The detective said the caregivers told him that the son was stealing money from his mother’s bank accounts and psychologically abusing her.

After the caregivers told the detective they were not licensed to care for the woman and could not do so properly, the detective said he contacted Adult Protective Services and discovered a home equity loan in the mother’s name.

The woman’s home is reportedly paid off, and the home equity loan is in arrears, with over $800 past due.

A pivotal point in the investigation, according to court reports, was when the homeowner’s son took her to purchase a car May 27. The sale agreement, with a 28 percent interest rate, carries the victim’s name as the sole signatory.

Sandy Springs police cite a medical document from Adult Protective Services indicating that the woman should not be making financial decisions.

Detectives and the District Attorney’s Office say the vehicle contract and its high interest rate, in combination with the medical record, is evidence of financial exploitation.

In petitioning for warrants, Sandy Springs police also allege that the suspect recently purchased several vehicles, including two Teslas, a motorcycle and a BMW. The warrants claim the man is unemployed.

Day of arrests The caregivers transported the elderly homeowner to the Fountain Oaks shopping center off Roswell Road May 29 before Sandy Springs SWAT entered the home and executed the warrant.

During the search, officers said they found 18 grams of meth, 1 gram of psilocybin, a Winchester lever-action rifle and a possible hallucinogenic liquid, which is awaiting lab testing.

While the June 2024 tip referenced a potential meth lab, police received a video from a source in May 2025 that allegedly shows a drug lab used to produce dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, considered a powerful psychedelic.

“The NVU did not recover a DMT lab, but did see images of something consistent with such a lab,” Millholland said. “The NVU did locate an unidentified liquid

GOOGLE MAPS

The red pin on the map shows the location of a May 29 Sandy Springs SWAT raid on a residence along Highbrook Drive, which resulted in the arrest of the homeowner’s 53-year-old son for narcotics, weapons and elder abuse felonies. According to the Sandy Springs man’s arrest warrant, his 85-year-old mother was removed from the home before the raid and taken to Northside Hospital.

Behind the story This reporting began with readers asking Appen Media about a purported SWAT event occurring in their Sandy Springs neighborhood. The newspaper asked local police officials for information and filed open records requests for related reports.

Response was scant, and the report police released contained two words – “Narcotics investigation.’

Appen then obtained records from the Fulton County Clerk’s Office, laying out a substantive timeline of what took place leading up to the neighborhood event. With the court documents in hand, the newspaper went back to the police department, who then answered more questions.

consistent with DMT and sent samples of it for Georgia Bureau of Investigation lab testing.”

Officers arrested the son and two other people who were in the home, a 35-year-old East Point man and a 33-year-old Marietta woman. They were charged with disorderly conduct involving narcotics.

According to Fulton County Jail records, the elderly woman’s son was booked May 30 and remains in custody on a $20,000 bond.

His felony charges include two counts of elder abuse, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of schedule I controlled substances.

COMMUNITY

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | June 12, 2025 | 23

Roswell sets Juneteenth celebration ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell will celebrate Juneteenth with music, dancing and food at the Heart of Roswell Park on Historic Canton Street.

The June 19 Alive in Roswell Special Edition begins at 5 p.m. and will feature Mayor Kurt Wilson and DJ TRON. Guests are invited to listen to music and participate in line dancing. Food trucks and local vendors will also be on hand.

To learn more visit, www.roswell365.com/ categories/juneteenth/.

— Sarah Coyne

If you go What: Juneteenth at Alive in Roswell When: Thursday, June 19 at 5 p.m.

Where: Historic Canton St Cost: Free and open to the public; dogs are allowed but on leash

CITY OF ALPHARETTA 2025 TAX DIGEST AND LEVY NOTICE The City of Alpharetta does hereby announce that the 2025 millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia on June 23, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. Section 48-5-32 does hereby publish the following presentation of the current year’s tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years.

CURRENT 2025 TAX DIGEST AND FIVE YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY

24 | June 12, 2025 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

NEWS

County celebrates solar panel installations on more buildings

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — When the sun’s out, solar panels generate cheap, clean energy on the roof of the Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Center off Vernon Woods in Sandy Springs.

Fulton County is installing solar panels on 53 of its facilities as a part of a push to have the sun power 25 percent of its electricity by 2030. The county says it hopes to have some installations complete by the end of 2025 with other major ones wrapping up early next year.

The Board of Commissioners hosted two ceremonies in late May on both sides of Atlanta, billing them as a major expansion of its sustainability program.

The other solar panel installation was just inside the city of South Fulton at the Evelyn G. Lowry Library at Cascade. Another existing installation from the original contract is at the

Reunited: Continued from Page 1 Led away in handcuffs, Daniela remained in custody at federal immigration detention centers in Georgia and Texas for more than four weeks.

Daniela, who sought asylum as a Columbian immigrant, was granted a $10,000 bond after a June 4 hearing in El Paso, Texas.

Her attorney said she has broken no laws.

Previous attempts to reach the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were unsuccessful.

Immediately after learning she had a hearing date set, Richard hopped on a plane, so he could post bond as quickly as possible.

Daniela presented herself to Border Patrol officers in 2024 after leaving Columbia stating her fear of violence at the hands of paramilitary groups. She has appealed a decision by an immigration judge who denied her asylum status.

The couple was married Feb. 8 in a small ceremony in Alpharetta.

Expecting the worst from her bond hearing, Daniela was “very emotional” upon

Lavender: Continued from Page 1 Most of her work features colorful flowers, with the occasional butterfly.

She began her small business in 2019, right before the COVID-19 pandemic. Her

Alpharetta Branch of the Fulton County Library System off Park Plaza.

Commissioners adopted a Sustainability and Resilience Plan in 2019, entering into a procurement agreement with Atlanta-based Cherry Street Energy a year later.

Jessica Lavender, the county’s Energy and Sustainability manager, announced completion of the Benson Center installation in early April.

“We started a smaller project in 2021 where we installed solar panels on seven buildings. That’s gone really well, and we’ve saved almost $150,000 since then,” Lavender said. “That went so well that we expanded our contract with that vendor to the 46 additional buildings.”

The county says commissioners approved a major expansion of the pilot program in December 2024 after its initial success.

Fulton County officials, including Commission Chairman Robb Pitts and Commissioner Bob Ellis, joined

Cherry Street Energy CEO and Founder Michael Chanin for the May 30 celebration of clean energy expansion.

While it was a rainy morning, the installation’s springtime completion is set to have the solar panels soaking up the sun all summer.

Under the agreement, Cherry Street sells the generated electricity to the county at a lower rate than commercial electric utilities like Georgia Power.

Because the local company owns, maintains and operates the systems, county officials say it’s a win-win.

The program is expected to generate $2.4 million in taxpayer savings over the agreement’s 20-year term. The solar panels are expected to last that long as well.

Some of Cherry Street Energy’s clients include Emory University, the cities of Atlanta and Savannah and Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. One representative pitched a similar agreement to the Sandy Springs

City Council in March.

The county says the shift to solar energy supports its adopted environmental goals and is expected to bring down long-term energy costs, with lower prices compared to traditional commercial rates.

The solar panel installations, especially their cost savings for local governments, are achievable through tax incentives within the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 that can accelerate the transition to clean energy. The accelerant is a tax credit that allows Cherry Street Energy to sell electricity to the county at a competitive market rate. The county says the new batch of solar panels are expected to generate more than eight times as much electricity as the first seven sites, or 4,695 kilowatts.

When the current program wraps up next year, Fulton County will be generating more than 5,000 kW across its facilities with solar energy.

learning she would be freed, Richard said.

“I’m going to take her to eat a good meal for the first time in three weeks and let her have some actual rest and tranquility after such a terrible, terrible time for her,” he said.

Richard described his wife’s experience in federal custody as difficult.

Through in-person visits and video calls, Daniela had told him she was struggling in custody.

Richard said his wife was “desperate” and “depressed,” and he worried she was losing faith.

She experienced sleep deprivation from a rigid schedule in her pod, where overhead lighting was dimmed for only a few hours each day. She battled boredom mainly indoors, unwilling to venture outside during yard excursions because of high temperatures and a lack of shade.

“She always sounds very desperate,” Richard said previously. “When she calls me, she’s always asking, ‘Hey, is there an update? Do we know when the bond hearing will be?’ She feels like they’re treating her worse than criminals.”

Her immigration attorney Jameel Manji, who is based in Tucker, said Daniela will likely be released within a day after her bond is posted.

After her release, her asylum case will

continue and could reach a resolution within months or years. A federal immigration board has received her case but has yet to issue a ruling.

The board could order her deportation, allow her to remain in the country or send her case back to the original judge for a ruling. Manji also has begun the process for her to obtain a green card through a spousal application.

Since the start of 2025, federal agents have begun apprehending immigrants who would have previously remained free, he said.

“ICE has changed its priorities under this administration,” Manji said. “The previous administration was focused on individuals with final deportation orders and people with criminal histories. This administration is openly much more aggressive.”

Immigrants in detention can receive rulings on their appeals within months, but a decision can take years for those on bond.

During her entire time in the U.S., Daniela has never broken a law, failed to make a court appearance or filed paperwork late, Manji said. She also has no criminal history.

“She didn’t deserve to be detained at all,” Manji said. “She is certainly not a dan-

ger to society or a flight risk.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents initially told the couple she would be held because of problems with a tracking anklet she wore.

Richard said a case worker told him they could see no problems with the anklet’s function, leading him to question the agents’ explanation.

Richard said he wonders about the fairness of an immigration system that works within laws but seemingly punishes those who follow them.

“It is a big injustice because we have a system to be able to seek lawful and permanent residence in the U.S.,” Richard said. “This whole situation kind of makes me feel like the government doesn’t care if these things are in place. They are more trying to use it against people who are trying to immigrate.”

Manji said Daniela could be separated from her husband if federal agents decide to detain her again.

He said her release was “wonderful news” but also worried about the damage done to her and her family.

“It was a terrible experience for her,” Manji said. “It was unfortunate and unnecessary for them to take those actions. Now, she will live with the trauma for the rest of her life.”

work now has a following of more than 12,800 on her Instagram @michellewerlart.

The lively event allowed members of the community to meet small business from across the state.

Amelia Lorden brought her small business to the festival to gain exposure for her 1-month-old bookstore, Damsel.

“I saw the pictures of the building and

the grounds, and that’s what made me [join],” Lorden said.

Her romance themed bookstore, which will officially open August in Canton, features handmade stickers, hats, tote bags and more. Her plan for the bookstore includes building a community through bookstores and parties.

Attendees also toured the inside of

Barrington Hall, which is surrounded by tree canopies and lavender during the summer. The Greek Revival mansion was built in 1842 by Barrington King, whose father, Roswell King co-founded the colony which became Roswell.

To learn more about the hall, visit roswellgov.com/discover-us/historichouse-museums/.

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | June 12, 2025 | 25

GDOT, Peach State Partners advance Ga. 400 express lanes

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com METRO ATLANTA — A year from now, commuters in North Fulton may begin seeing familiar orange barrels lining Ga. 400 regularly.

Just as the major I-285/Ga. 400 interchange project is wrapping up in Sandy Springs, Georgia DOT is poised to begin work on a 16-mile express lanes project along Ga. 400 from North Springs MARTA station north to southern Forsyth County next summer, just as Atlanta prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup from June 15-July 15. The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce estimates some 300,000 people will visit the city for eight games.

Already, GDOT contractors are scheduling several overnight lane closures this summer to perform roadwork activities on sections of the Ga. 400 the express lanes project.

Substantial completion of the estimated $4.6 billion express lanes project is expected in 2031. The major mobility improvement project has a minimum five-year construction timeline.

The State Transportation Board selected SR 400 Peach State Partners as the project’s private-sector partner last August setting up an expected financial closure within 12 months.

In November, GDOT and the State Road and Toll Authority signed agreements and reached commercial close with Peach State Partners, signifying a key milestone in projects with public-private partnerships.

The project’s timeline is subject to change as the developer advances final design concepts, obtains the necessary financing and begins permitting. In the last few months, GDOT says it has continued to purchase necessary right of way.

SR 400 Peach State Partners is a union of local, national and international experts with expertise in transportation design, construction and operations.

The team includes Acciona, ACS Infrastructure and Dragados from Madrid; Meridiam from Paris; and Virginia-based Parsons. According to Peach State Partners, Parsons has more than 50 active contracts

Hey y’all, I’m Hayden Sumlin and I report on all things in and around North Atlanta. If you have any story tips or ideas please contact me at hayden@appenmedia.com

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION/PROVIDED

A map shows plans for the Ga. 400 Express Lanes project, running some 16 miles from North Springs MARTA station in Sandy Springs to just north of MacFarland Parkway in southern Forsyth County.

with GDOT with more than 200 employees in Metro Atlanta.

The Ga. 400 project will add new express lanes in both directions from the North Springs MARTA station Park & Ride (Exit 5C) in Sandy Springs to about 1 mile north of McFarland Parkway (Exit 12) in Forsyth County.

There will be two express lanes in each direction between the North Springs station and McGinnis Ferry Road in Alpharetta, switching to a single lane north to the project limits in south Forsyth County.

According to GDOT’s May 2025 fact sheet, the express lanes will operate like others in Georgia with dynamic congestion pricing based on traffic conditions.

The corridor will be widened as part of the project

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with the express lanes running along the median of the state highway, like those along I-75 south of Atlanta.

The state is also investing $100 million for parts of the planned MARTA bus rapid transit (BRT) line, which will ride for free in the express lanes. The BRT line is designed to run north from the North Springs station to a planned MARTA Park & Ride and transit-oriented development at Windward Parkway in Alpharetta.

GDOT says SR 400 Peach State Partners is providing MARTA with $26 million to build the bus rapid transit lanes. Peach State Partners is also set to build two BRT stations at Holcomb Bridge Road and near North Point Mall with additional access to the North Springs station and Windward Parkway.

The interchanges for BRT stations are expected to have slip ramps throughout the corridor and some direct express lane connections to existing highway exits like Holcomb Bridge Road.

Speaking at the May 20 Envision Perimeter gathering at the King building, GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurray said ongoing mobility investments will make Central Perimeter and the surrounding region thrive.

After more than seven years of construction delays and orange cones, the I-285 and Ga. 400 interchange project is all but wrapped up. The redesigned interchange covered some 12 lane miles at an estimated cost of $800 million.

“We’re going to give you a reprieve from orange barrels for a little bit,” McMurray said. “Enjoy the Transform 285/400 for now … there’s more investment coming in future mobility that will continue to make this Perimeter Center thrive economically and competitively.”

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26 | June 12, 2025 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

OPINION

PRESERVING THE PAST

A historic stone house is reborn When I wrote a column about local historic stone houses in March 2024, I purposely omitted one stone house located on Birmingham Road in Milton because it was undergoing major renovation by its new owners Carol Cookerly and her husband Robert Beal. Work has progressed, so now is the perfect time to highlight this important historic structure.

BOB MEYERS When Carol and Robert Columnist purchased the property in 2023, the stone house was surrounded by a thick landscape of dense brush and trees. Despite recommendations that they demolish the house, the couple saw the great potential of the property and set about repairing the house, a neglected stable and historic courthouse (see February 2025 column Militia Districts in Georgia and the Double Branch Courthouse).

The stone house was designed and built in 1935 or 1937 by William T. (Will) Wright (1888-1952) on land he purchased for farming circa 1930. According to Nina Samples, his great-granddaughter, Wright was a highly successful farmer and businessman.

He raised beef cattle, prize bulls and chickens on his 56-acre farm. He grew high-quality vegetables which he sold in the wealthy neighborhood of West Paces Buckhead. Robert W. Woodruff, president of the CocaCola Company, was one of his customers. Will had three chicken houses and a large three-story barn on his property.

Will opened a small general store which no longer exists on the corner in front of the house which his wife Nettie Joanna Henderson Wright (1888-1967) operated.

Like most country stores, it was a social gathering place for local farmers. Before opening the store, Will and Nettie operated a cotton gin and a sawmill.

Will and Nettie had five children. Their second daughter, Estelle (1912-2002), was Nina’s grandmother.

She married Toledo Burgess (1906-1987). The couple bought land next door to the stone house and lived there all their lives. Toledo drove school buses owned by Will and helped him on the farm.

“Toledo was well known for the beautiful clocks he made,” says Nina. The youngest daughter, Janelle (1915-1952), married J. W. (Joseph Wesley) Walker and lived in a stone house about a half-mile down Birmingham Road. Will and J.W. designed and built the house.

Will obtained stone from the Stone Mountain quarry, about 40 miles from Alpharetta on today’s roads. The stone was probably transported by wagon. The stone is granite which the quarry produced in several colors including gray and dark brown. The Wright house is gray interspersed with large, very dark brown stones which creates a unique and beautiful appearance.

One of the features of the house is its parquet floor made of pine, oak and poplar. Will designed the floor and used 1-nch wood strips or micro-slats originally scheduled for use by the famous Brumby Chair Company in Marietta. The parquet goes from room to room with a complex design. The result is a design beyond exceptional. Robert and Carol have taken great pains to protect and preserve the floor.

The Wrights were known for having family picnics and social gatherings on the front porch and lawn,

PHOTOS BY: BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

A beautiful historic stone house in Milton is undergoing major renovation by owners Carol Cookerly and husband Robert Beal. The house was built circa 1935.

The parquet floors in this historic stone house are intricate and beautiful. They were installed throughout the house when it was built. according to Nina.

After their deaths, the Wrights only surviving son Charles inherited the property, which he kept intact until the early 1990s. He then divided the property into multiple acre lots which he called Freemanville Estates and sold them. Over the years, the property with the stone house and the Double Branch Courthouse has had several owners and occupants.

In 1956, Bud Sutton and his wife Marion rented part of the stone house while they built a house on Mountain Road.

“We rented it from Nettie Wright for $25 a month,” Bud says. “We occupied half of the main floor and Nettie

lived in the other half. We shared the bathroom and the phone.”

Heath Cashin and Bill Manning rented the property from Charles Wright for 7 or 8 years in the 1980s. They raised llamas and had a herd of about a dozen llamas and two guanacos. Heath recalls when they took a llama to a Fox Theater production. “It was a huge success,” Heath says.

Realtor Cynthia Chandlee owned the property from 1994 to 2010 which she named Cornerstone Farm. She was responsible for the first major renovation of the property by building a horse barn, an addition to the house, clearing land for pastures, reworking the stone structures and putting up extensive fencing.

She says, “It was a commitment to honor the past,” she says.

The property gradually deteriorated following her ownership.

For the past two years, Carol and Robert have worked diligently to restore and preserve the history and charm of the property. The result is amazing. It is, in Carol’s words, “an ideal horse property.”

They restored the six-stall horse barn. Two semiretired European Warmblood horses enjoy the revitalized pastures. Carol and Robert planted many new shrubs, trees and plants throughout the property.

They chose historic paint colors throughout the 10-room stone house. They have furnished the rooms with paintings and folk art which reflect American history. And of course, they have gone to great lengths to preserve the stunning floors.

Special thanks to Sally Shirley David for her help with this column.

Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@ bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

GARDEN BUZZ

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | June 12, 2025 | 27

Darling daylilies provide more than ‘beauty for a day’ Hemerocallis – The botanical name for the daylily. It means “beauty for a day.”

Why would anyone want to spend the time and energy to have a plant that only provides beauty for a single day? Well, while VIKI BREELAND the individual bloom Guest Columnist lasts for only one day, the stem (also referred to as the scape) on which that bloom was produced has at least a dozen flower buds. Therefore, you’ll have several weeks of beauty from these plants.

Most of us, myself included, grew up thinking that a daylily was that orange flower often seen by the roadside or in a field where an old home once stood. I am delighted to share with you that there are now more than 100,000 registered cultivars available! Number 100,000 was registered last year: ‘Alpenglow Magic’ (Rich, 2024). Visit daylilydatabase.org and click on the name of the cultivar and you can see the flower and the stats.

There is a type of daylily for every garden enthusiast. If you like large blooms, small blooms or something in between, there is a flower for you. You can have blooms from late May through September here in Zone 8. There are cultivars that are early bloomers, mid-season bloomers and late bloomers. I actually have a very late bloomer, ‘Final Touch’ (Apps, 1991) that blooms from late July through September/ October.

Daylilies are hardy plants. They multiply very well and form large clumps. When purchasing a plant from a hybridizer/ grower, you normally get two fans (two whole plants). These two fans will become at least three and probably four fans by the next growing season. With each new fan comes the potential for more scapes that provide more buds/blooms. It is very exciting to inspect your plants when they come out of dormancy in the spring. Finding new fans coming out of the soil is a favorite pastime of mine – it is almost as exciting as finding the first scapes as they emerge from the foliage.

Daylilies are also very forgiving. While they really appreciate being fertilized in the early spring and in the fall before being put to bed for the winter, they will still give you lots of beautiful blooms even without regular feeding! The plants are heavy drinkers but will tolerate dry spells. Daylilies prefer full sun, which is a minimum of 6 hours.

After four or five years, your clumps will need to be divided. Here in Zone 8, the best time to dig and divide daylilies is late summer or very early fall. You can amend the hole where you dug the clump, add

DAYLILY SOCIETY OF GREATER ATLANTA

Top left: Full Form Daylily; top right: Double Daylily; bottom left: Unusual form Daylily; bottom right: Spider Daylily

About the author This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Viki Breeland, a master gardener alumnus who lives in Roswell.

Daylilies have become her favorite plants. Viki’s gardening goal is to make her property a place of beauty and relaxation. Her garden is shared with a couple of bunnies, birds and a brown snake (tiny, and its main diet is slugs).

just a small amount of fertilizer and water, pull some of the soil back into the hole and replant 5-6 of the fans in the “mud.”

You can share the extra fans with friends, or if you join the Daylily Society of Greater Atlanta (DSGA), you could contribute the

extra fans to the sale at The Duluth Fall Festival.

If my enthusiasm has sparked an interest in daylilies for you, I would like to invite you to visit our annual show and sale, June 14, at Sexton Hall Enrichment Center, 2115 Chloe Road, Cumming, GA 30041 (It faces Sharon Road). The show judging usually wraps up around 11 a.m., and the public can enter the hall to see all the blooms. It is a wonderful experience.

Our club members will have plants available for sale. The plants will be tagged with the name of the cultivar, and the prices are beyond reasonable! You can arrive early to shop or shop after you’ve visited the show and you have that irresistible urge to start your own collection. Free admission.

Warning: Daylilies, the addiction is real.

Daylilies are NOT deer resistant. If you do decide to grow them, make sure you spray them regularly with various deer repellents and or have a system in place that keeps deer away from your flower beds.

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://www.appenmedia.com/opinion/ columnists/garden_buzz/

28 | June 12, 2025 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

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12050 Crabapple Road • Roswell, GA 30075 ADVERTISEMENT FOR INVITATION TO BID CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA FOR FY 2026 MILLING & RESURFACING ITB #26-001 The City of Alpharetta is inviting bidders to bid for FY 2026 MILLING & RESURFACING. The work to be done includes, but is not limited to, maintaining traffic control measures, milling existing pavement, installing tack coat, installing asphaltic concrete surface course, installing soil cement, seal coating, crack sealing, performing cleanup, and related work. The location of the work is at various locations within the City of Alpharetta, Georgia. A bid bond in the amount of 5% of the bid pricing is required with each bid submitted.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The following items will be considered by the Design Review Board on Friday, July 18, 2025 with a workshop commencing at 8:30 a.m. and regular meeting commencing at 9:00 a.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

1. DRB250024 Parrish Construction 7905 Westside Parkway Consideration of exterior improvements. The property is located at 7905 Westside Pky and is legally described as being in Land Lot 0751, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia 2. DRB250025 Omni Med Spa 11760 Haynes Bridge Rd Consideration of new signage. The property is located at 11760 Haynes Bridge Rd and is legally described as being in Land Lots 0695 and 0696, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia 3. DRB250026 Mattress Warehouse 7301 North Point Pkwy Consideration of exterior changes and signage. The property is located at 7301North Point Pkwy and is legally described as being in Land Lots 0687, 0686 and 0654, 1st District , 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia 4. DRB230045 Continuum Alpharetta Consideration of Design Guide for new development. The property is located at 5555 Windward Pkwy and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1186,1187,1190 & 1191 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.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF CONSIDERATION OF CITY CODE AMENDMENTS

All construction shall conform to the State of Georgia Standard Specifications for the Construction of Transportation Systems, latest Edition. Only contractors that have been pre-qualified with the Georgia Department of Transportation to perform this class of work shall be allowed to submit bids. Please submit your Georgia Department of Transportation qualification specification letter with the package.

The following item will be considered by the City Council on Monday, June 23, 2025 during the Alpharetta City Council Meeting and Public Hearing, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Alpharetta City Hall, located at 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009. The purpose of the public hearing shall be for public review and comment regarding the following:

The ITB will be available online Thursday, June 12, 2025, at our bid posting website, http://cityofalpharetta.bonfirehub.com/. Interested parties are required to log in to review the ITB documents. All bids must be received before closing at http://cityofalpharetta.bonfirehub.com/, webpage for this project. Responses submitted by hard copy, mail, facsimile, or e-mail will not be accepted. Responses received after the closing time will not be considered.

Consideration of an ordinance to amend Chapter 4 of The Code of the City of Alpharetta, Georgia, referred to as the Alcohol Ordinance. Specifically, to amend the following: Sec. 4-1, Definitions; Sec. 4-17, Distance requirements; Sec. 4-398, Minimum distance requirements within downtown district; Sec. 4-399, Waiver procedure and standards; Sec. 4-451, Minimum distance requirements within mixed use districts; and for other purposes.

This procurement is issued under the authority of the City of Alpharetta Procurement Policy and applicable law. The city has the authority to reject all proposals or any proposal that is non-responsive or not responsible, and to waive technicalities and informalities to award a contract that is in the best interest of the City.

A copy of the proposed amendment will be on file with the City Clerk and will be made available on request.

The bid opening will be held on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 11:00 AM online using Microsoft Teams. Meeting ID: 236 180 283 606 3 Passcode: 6G9oZ3RM For information, please contact Beth Rucker at the City of Alpharetta Finance Department via email at purchasing@alpharetta.ga.us or at 678-297-6052.

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Part-time If you love working with children, Midway Preschool is hiring Assistant Teachers.Call Beth @ 770-752-0440 or email beth@midwayumc.org

Vice President of Client Programs NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the fulltime Vice President of Client Programs position.

The Vice President of Client Programs (VPCP) is a senior leader responsible for creating and implementing the Client Services department strategy for NFCC. This includes creating programs and services, monitoring their effectiveness and ensuring funds are distributed appropriately. The VPCP also leads a team of 13 client services staff who handle client intake, case management, impact and outcomes data, education (GED/English classes) and workforce development programs.

If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org

Workforce Development Coordinator NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the fulltime Workforce Development Coordinator position.

The Workforce Development Coordinator serves as a crucial link between NFCC clients, Volunteer Coaches, and local employers.

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Through these efforts, the Coordinator helps clients improve their employment prospects that may lead to greater financial stability.

If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org

Web Developers/Application Program Analyst – Multiple openings - Alpharetta, GA. Josh Pros LLC needs professionals: Work on Jenkin, Maven, Git, CI/CD, Python, AWS Shell script, & Terraform. Req. –Bachelors + 2 yrs. Comp. sal.

Relocate to unanticipated sites. No National/ International travel. Send resume to Ref: HR Manager, 1740 Grassland Parkway, Ste 105, Alpharetta, GA, 30004.

Community Engagement Manager NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the fulltime Community Engagement Manager position.

The Community Engagement Manager oversees all aspects of NFCC’s community events from planning through execution, including creating timelines, managing vendors and securing sponsorships.

Events range from the annual golf tournament and fundraising gala to donor recognition and community engagement gatherings. The ideal candidate must be highly organized, creative, and motivated to successfully lead event planning and community engagement initiatives.

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Part-time Salesforce Business Analyst NFCC is seeking a part-time Salesforce Business Analyst to help ensure operational efficiency by updating data, building reports and assisting organizational teams to increase their capability to meet organizational needs. The Salesforce Business Analyst will also build and generate organizational reports monthly (eg. KPI, volunteer reports), complete Salesforce data clean-up projects and analyze data sets for special projects to ensure organizational efficiency.

Pilot Travel Centers LLC (Roswell, GA) seeks Engineer III, Big Data to develop Big Data Lake processes & jobs in accordance w/ data architecture and modeling reqs, & to provide tech. expertise for R&D & mod of ETL processes and jobs in support of a Big Data infra. Partial remote work permitted. For more details/to apply online, see: https://smrtr.io/rxtgK Export Logistics Coordinator, Poseidon Forwarding Co, Roswell: Dvlp, implmnt supply chain strategies for customers. Provide route & trailer optimizatn, routing dsgns & models. Source carriers & conduct bids.

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STAFF ACCOUNTANT: prepare tax returns and fin. recommendations. In ROSWELL GA. Mail resume: Green Insurance, 1530 Old Alabama Rd Suite 130, Roswell, GA 30076

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Part-Time Bi-lingual (Spanish/English) Thrift Shop Associate NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the part-time Bi-lingual (Spanish/English) Thrift Shop Associate position. One of the primary responsibilities of this role is to provide a high level of customer service in the Thrift Shop. The associate is responsible for all cash register and client clothing program transactions and keeping the merchandise in the store neat, clean, and organized. The role requires a friendly and customer-focused demeanor where all shoppers are treated with dignity and compassion.

If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org To place a classified ad, email classifieds@appenmedia.com Deadline is Thursdays by 3pm

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New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an a behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and conditions may apply and the offer may not available in your area. If you call the number provid contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages by Erie or its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithsta NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance.com. All rights reserved. License numbers available at erieh

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New orders only. Does not include material costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase required. Other restrictions may apply. This is an advertisement placedon behalf of Erie Construction Mid-West, Inc (“Erie”). Offer terms and conditions may apply and the offer may not be available in your area. If you call ® the number provided, you consent to being contacted by telephone, SMS text message, email, pre-recorded messages by Erie or its affiliates and service providers using automated technologies notwithstanding if you are on a DO NOT CALL list or register. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on homeservicescompliance. com. All rights reserved. License numbers available at eriehome.com/erielicenses/

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WE BUY GOLD & JEWELRY EVERY DAY GOLD, SILVER, PLATINUM, DIAMONDS & MORE!

SELLERS BONUS!

Receive an Extra 20% VALUE TOWARDS IN-STORE PURCHASE * Have Jewelry or Sterling that is Just Sitting Around?

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JEWELRY & PRECIOUS METALS Gold, Silver & Platinum New, Used & Damaged Estate Jewelry Dental Gold Starling Silver Flatware

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Diamond Jewelry 3ct+ Natural Diamonds Color (Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire)

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ROLEX & LUXURY WATCHES LUXURY BRANDS

Tiffanu, Cartier, Van Cleef, etc.

COINS & GOLD BULLION

Sterling Silver Flatware

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Please call (770) 609-5536 or visit us at Iroff.com to schedule your appointment.

3960 Old Milton Parkway 300, Alpharetta, GA 30005 (770) 609-5536 | iroff.com Sun & Mon: CLOSED | Tues-Fri: 10am-5pm | Sat: 10am-4pm *See store for complete details.

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