Forsyth Herald - 04-14-22

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

County commissioner proposes expanding agenda transparency

By SYDNEY DANGREMOND sydney@appenmedia.com and PATRICK FOX pat@appenmedia.com

JEFFREY ALBERTSON/APPEN MEDIA

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signs The Mental Health Parity Act bill at a ceremony April 4 at the Capitol in Atlanta. The legislation, which passed unanimously in the House and Senate, broadens mental health access to residents.

Kemp signs mental health bill

By JEFFREY ALBERTSON newsroom@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — A bipartisan supported mental health and substance abuse bill became official with the signature of Gov. Brian Kemp at a State Capitol

ceremony April 4.

HB 1013, known as “The Mental Health Parity Act,” cleared the Legislature on March 30, passing 54-0 in the Senate and 166-0 in the House.

In remarks delivered at the ceremony, Kemp said the bill ensures Geor-

gians do not fight alone and applauded the full bipartisan support from the General Assembly.

“Today has been a long time coming, this outcome is exactly what we hoped for,” Kemp said. “Everyone in the Gen-

Lawmakers pass slew of new bills

Preparations underway for International Festival

Gift-giving spirit guides shop owners

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See GOVERNOR, Page 3

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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Commissioner Todd Levent has raised concerns about the amount of time residents get to study Board of Commission agenda items before they are voted on.

At the April 7 commission business meeting, Levent said he’d like to explore a path by which residents had more time to study background material on agenda items.

The background material for the 5 p.m. meeting was made available to the public around 2 p.m., giving residents three hours to study the materials.

Public meeting agendas and supporting materials provided in packets, allow the public to fully understand items up for discussion on the agenda. Without supporting documents provided in advance of the meeting, residents may unaware of the full impact an agenda item may have on their lives.

For years in Forsyth County, a

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Legislature passes flurry of bills in final hours

By JEFFREY ALBERTSON newsroom@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — A flurry of legislation cleared the Georgia General Assembly on the 40th day of the legislative session, a marathon that ran into the early morning hours of April 5.

Around 12:15 a.m., a day of farewell speeches, voting and hurry-up-andwait moments, finally ended. With the adjournment, legislators transition from lawmaking to campaigns as primaries scheduled for May 24 approach.

Day 40 opened with laughs, backslapping, and a joyous singing of “This little light of mine” by Rep. Dexter Sharper (D-Valdosta). “I’m going to let it shine all sine die,” Sharper belted in song.

Bipartisan favor continued through the first half of the day as Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus) gave a farewell address ending a 48-year career. That continued as Gov. Brian Kemp signed “The Mental Health Parity Act” about 1:30 p.m. bringing changes to mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Despite late evening political theatrics, at least three bills passed with support from both parties: • HB 911 represents the state’s $57.9 billion budget, with $30.2 billion coming from state funding and the rest from the federal government. This includes a $5,000 cost-of-living raises for full-time, benefit eligible state employees. Teachers will receive a $2,000 increase starting Sept. 1.

• HB 1437 gradually lowers the state’s income tax rate to 5.49% in 2025 to 4.99% in 2029. Standard exemptions would increase to $12,000 for single filers and $24,000 for married couples who file jointly.

• SB 338 extends postpartum Medicaid coverage from six months to one year after childbirth.

As midnight loomed, most bipartisan favor had faded as Republicans spurred on dormant bills. Around 8 p.m. Gov.

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Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan presides over his final Senate session on sine die. Duncan opted to not seek re-election in 2022.

Kemp spoke separately to both chambers and urged action.

In the speeches, Kemp referenced a tax refund bill, movement on a bill addressing how race is taught in schools and a measure to restrict trans child participation in sports. Each had seen little movement as the clock approached midnight.

A main thrust of the Republican platform cleared earlier in the session, providing an initial salvo for campaign season. These bills await the governor’s signature.

One measure, dubbed the Freedom to Farm bill, limits conditions a nuisance suit can be brought against farms, livestock handlers or the timber industry.

The permitting requirement to carry a concealed firearm was eliminated with SB 319, waiving additional background checks from the GBI and FBI, fingerprinting and the fee collected by county probate courts. Georgia is set to become the 25th state to eliminate these requirements.

The governor had already signed SB 514 on March 29 allowing parents to opt their children out of school mask mandates.

Two bills related to education were also bound for Kemp’s desk before the last legislative day started: • SB 226 requires local boards of ed-

ucation to create a complaint policy for parents who claim that education materials are harmful to minors. Under the proposed law, principals are required to respond to parents within seven days.

Opponents call it a book ban bill.

• HB 1178, called the Parents’ Bill of Rights, would give parents the right to see materials used in classroom instruction. State law already grants public review.

Both chambers chugged along after the speeches, passing bills with eyes towards the May primaries: • SB 259 removes places of worship from the unauthorized list where firearms or rifles can be carried. The bill also prevents local governments from prohibiting the discharge of firearms on land that is 10 acres or more.

• HB 1, called “The FORUM Act,” prevents universities and technical schools from creating free speech zones.

• SB 345 prevents the state or local governments from asking for proof of COVID-19 vaccination before receiving any services or accessing a building. The requirement does not apply if adherence would violate Centers for Medicare and Medicaid or any federal requirements.

• SB 441 authorizes the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to investigate

See LEGISLATURE, Page 4

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | April 14, 2022 | 3

Tax cut clears General Assembly in last hour

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat News Service ATLANTA – Georgia lawmakers approved a tax cut during the final hour of this year’s General Assembly session April 5.

After the state House of Representatives voted 1672 to support a compromise version of the legislation reached by a joint conference committee, the state Senate followed by a margin of 41-13.

The bill includes a phased-in rollback of Georgia’s income tax rate from 5.49% to 4.99% over six years, starting with the 2024 tax year. The current tax rate is 5.75%.

Democrats had blasted the original version of the bill proposed by the Legislature’s Republican majority, which would have dropped the tax rate to a flat 5.25% immediately upon taking effect, arguing some Georgians actually would end up paying higher state taxes.

“We haven’t been able to find anyone who pays more,” House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Shaw Blackmon, R-Bonaire, said of the compromise bill. “Everybody pays zero [more in taxes] or less under this plan.”

The bill also includes a trigger mechanism to ensure tax cuts don’t continue if the economy falters.

Taxes would not be reduced in any year in which state revenues don’t grow by at least 3% or the year’s net revenue collections are not higher than those of each of the previous five fiscal years.

“If the triggers aren’t met, it will pause a year,”

Governor: Continued from Page 1 eral Assembly made history today.”

The legislation was sponsored by Speaker of the House David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge), who had marked it as a top priority.

The 76-page bill brings sweeping changes to the treatment of mental health and substance abuse, including a state loan cancellation program and revised complaint filing and tracking procedures for private and state managed insurance plans. Also included is a provision permitting law enforcement to seek involuntary commitment under certain criteria.

The law goes into effect on July 1.

Ralston called the bipartisan efforts the model of effective lawmaking and acknowledged the work of Rep. Todd Jones (R-South Forsyth) and Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur).

“This will lift Georgia from the basin of mental health care,” Ralston said.

The bill faced vocal right-wing opposition in a Senate Health and Human Services Committee hearing. Opponents said it would lead to guns being removed from people diagnosed with mental illness.

The version signed by Gov. Kemp

said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome.

The legislation also increases taxpayers’ personal exemptions. Single filers will get an exemption of $12,000. Exemptions for married couples filing jointly will increase every two years, from $18,500 in 2024 to $24,000 in 2030.

Hufstetler said the tax cut will cost the state $455 million during its first year and $1 billion during the second year.

Danny Kanso, senior tax analyst with the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, said it will end up costing more than either version of the bill the House and Senate passed earlier in the session.

“Lawmakers are skewing the tax code so that the wealthy get massive tax cuts and would not have to pay their fair share, but only paying lip service to support for low- and middle-income families,” he said.

Kanso noted the final version of the bill does not include a state-level Earned Income Tax Credit, which had been included in the Senate version.

But Blackmon said the tax cut has something for all taxpayers.

“This bill puts $1 billion back in the pockets of hardworking Georgians,” he said.

The legislation now goes to Gov. Brian Kemp, who is expected to sign it.

This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.

removed an earlier provision that required insurance companies to provide mental health benefits if they did not offer them.

“This bill is many things (and) a result of years of study and work,” State Sen. Michelle Au (D-Johns Creek) said.

“It’s a framework for continued work that needs to be done. But above all, it is a moral document.”

The bill creates a litany of studies and reports that will be delivered to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house or the entirety of the Legislature in the coming years.

“H.B. 1013 is a bill for 11 million hardworking Georgians,” Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan said. It is not a Republican or Democratic bill Duncan said.

Loan cancellation by the Georgia Student Finance Authority (GSFA) is a key component to address the state’s fledgling mental health care staffing storages. Data from Mental Health America indicates the Peach State ranks 48th in access to mental health care.

For students in paramedical or other fields related to aging or primary care, up to $10,000 per year may be cancelled. A person on track to become a doctor of medicine would be ineligible unless specializing in psychiatry or primary care. A person enrolled in a program to become a licensed practical

This will lift Georgia from the basin of mental health care.”

DAVID RALSTON Speaker of the House nurse or registered nurse is also eligible for loan cancellation.

Georgia National Guard members are eligible for loan cancellation, but must exhaust all federal funds, including those from the Departments of Defense or Veterans Affairs. A National Guard member would no longer qualify once active duty ends, fails to maintain sufficient academic standing or graduates.

There is no requirement to study in a medical-related field.

A student enrolled in a program related to mental health or substance abuse — including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers or behavioral health — are eligible for loan cancellation.

GSFA has the ability to identify areas with personnel shortage for future loan cancellation.

Another provision in the bill changes

FILE PHOTO

how law enforcement may respond to a person experiencing a mental health or substance abuse emergency.

If someone commits an offense and the officer has probable cause that the person is mentally ill requiring involuntary treatment, they can be taken for emergency examination by a physician.

The officer does not need to file charges prior to the person going to a physician or emergency receiving facility.

The officer is required to consult with a physician either in-person or by telephone and write a report that will become part of the clinical record. The physician in turn must authorize the person to be transported for examination.

Police can transport the person to a facility.

If county transport is required, vehicles normally used to transport criminals must be avoided.

In some circumstances the person may be transported by family members to a facility. In nonemergency situations, a female may not be transported without another female who is not needing care. A female may be transported by a husband, father, adult brother or adult son.

If transportation is not provided by a law enforcement agency, the cost cannot be billed to the respective government. It may be billed to the person

4 | April 14, 2022 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

Legislature: Continued from Page 2 any election fraud claims. That authority currently rests with the Elections Division under Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. If a GBI investigation happens, the GBI director, assistant director and deputy director for investigations are authorized to issue subpoenas, with approval from the Georgia Attorney General. A subpoena could require local elections board to produce papers or documents.

A prior elections bill, HB 1464, cleared the House, but was gutted in a Senate committee hearing. An earlier version of this bill had a provision about ballot chain of custody.

Fifteen minutes before midnight

political theater was on full display as the “divisive concepts” legislation was brought before the House for a floor vote.

The bill, HB 1084, limits how “divisive concepts” such as race are taught in K-12 curriculum. It was amended at the last moment to include language allowing the Georgia High School Association to ban transgender participation in sports.

The House quickly approved 98-77 along a party line vote. A motion to reconsider failed 70-99.

The Senate took up the bill just after midnight without debate and before the bill was printed. Despite objection from Democrats about the procedure, the Republican controlled Senate passed it 32-21.

Before final dismissal, both chambers passed HB 824 giving lawmakers about a 40% pension increase.

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Johns Creek to host International Festival 2022

By SYDNEY DANGREMOND sydney@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The City of Johns Creek’s biggest annual event is returning to Heisman Field April 30.

Johns Creek International Festival, first launched in 2018, will feature roughly 80 food and retail vendors and performers from all over the world.

Gates open at 11 a.m. with performances set to begin at 11:30 a.m., External Communications Manager Edie Damann said.

The festival will run all day, shutting down at 7 p.m.

Damann said the event should be slightly larger than the city’s most recent International Festival hosted in October, which brought in about 18,000 visitors.

She said that some of the event’s typical vendors were not ready to attend a large-scale event in October due to the spread of COVID-19, but many are set to return April 30.

“They are open for business, and they are excited to be coming back for festivals, to see people and talk to people and show off their products or services,” Damann said.

Just as in years past, the Johns Creek

PROVIDED

Arts Center will be on site with their kids zone tent, featuring 10-15 different crafts for children of all ages to complete. Each craft is carefully curated by the Arts Center and displays a different culture from around the world.

Also in attendance will be representatives from the Johns Creek Cricket Association. Shafiq Jadavji, the association’s president, will also be serving as one of the celebration’s three emcees. Jadavji has been a participant and supporter of the International Festival since its inception in 2018. He was a member of the class of Leadership Johns Creek that helped launch the now annual spring event.

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“The reason why this festival is important is it allows us to celebrate the diversity of our city and surrounding cities,” Jadavji said. “In my view, this is one of those kinds of events where it makes the city and citizens very proud to not only host this event but also partake in the event.”

Preparations for this year’s International Festival began just two weeks after last year’s event ended, Damann said.

Historically, the event is held in the spring, but it was postponed until fall last year due to high COVID-19 spread. This year, it is returning to its regular schedule leaving a tighter turnaround for city staff.

Before the big day, city staff will have access to Heisman Field, directly across from the Atlanta Athletic Club, for a week of final preparations including tent marking and placement, stage installation and sound and lighting hookups, Damann said.

“We have people from almost every department involved in the production of this event,” Damann said. “It’s all hands on deck.”

In addition to the boots on the ground, staff at City Hall will serve as the people behind the curtain, managing traffic flow for the event from the city’s traffic control

room, Damann said.

Communications Director Bob Mullen said visitors should expect the same magic as years prior, but with new additions.

“It’s all your old favorites plus, perhaps some new vendors as well,” Mullen said.

The city is still seeking additional volunteers to help put on International Festival. Those interested can find more information at johnscreekga.gov.

The reason why this festival is important is it allows us to celebrate the diversity of our city and surrounding cities.”

SHAFIQ JADAVJI Johns Creek Cricket Association president

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | April 14, 2022 | 7

GUEST COLUMN

How to get your book published in 10 easy steps My first novel, “Mama Tried,” comes out this week. This is a sentence I only dreamed about writing long before and throughout the years I penned Good Books stories for Appen Media Then one of KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI Group. those articles finally Xxxxxxxx helped turn fantasy into reality for me.

The assignment: Interview George Weinstein, Atlanta Writers Club executive director, about how to get published.

There are three ways, he said: traditionally with a big press and, usually, a literary agent, (difficulty level: 10 out of 10); traditionally via a small press, minus the agent, (difficulty between 5-7); self-publishing (difficulty from 1-4). After spending years fixated on big houses – fiercely guarded by what author Laura Morelli calls “gatekeepers” – I listened to Weinstein. Now I have a published book, thanks to these 10 steps.

Step 1: Finish. Every author I’ve interviewed in 40-plus years had one thing in common: They’d finished their books.

Sounds obvious, but it’s key.

Step 2: Pick your priorities. While shifting my focus away from big publishers means I didn’t snag a million-

dollar book deal, it also means I have a published book now instead of piles of printouts.

Step 3: Get the words right. I wrote so many versions of the same book over so many years that nearly half the people in my acknowledgements died. I just didn’t write any of the drafts well. I was always too anxious to rush them off to top agents I assumed were just waiting to wade through wordiness and a weak plot to discover raw talent. They weren’t. Once you burn a literary bridge with work that isn’t ready, it’s burned forever.

Step 4: Don’t get too many words right. Publishers – especially for first books – have a word limit of around 100,000, sometimes much less. Don’t think that will change once the powersthat-be see your stunning words. It won’t. They won’t even look at something far too long.

Step 5: Be prepared to trim some of your words. Especially if there are 160,000 of them. In that case, be prepared to trim over a third of your words.

Imagine weighing 160 and dieting down to 100 or so. Avoid that torture with editing.

Step 6: Be prepared to similarly part ways with some of your publishing fantasies. Like the aforementioned million-dollar contract. Throw in Reese Witherspoon turning your novel into a

movie and being an Oprah Book Club pick. If it happens, yay! If it doesn’t, still yay because you’re published.

Step 7: Find a reliable reader. None of Step 6 will occur without accepting constructive criticism. This can be from a friend, spouse or book buddy. Anyone who will read endless drafts and tell you the hard truth. Find your person. Then listen.

Step 8: It IS what you know. If you don’t read thrillers, don’t write thrillers. Conversely, if you write mainstream fiction, read mainstream fiction. Lots of it. There’s truth in Malcom Gladwell’s 10,000-hour rule.

Step 9. It can also be who you know.

I volunteered alongside author Marilyn Baron for three years with Roswell Reads, watching six of her 28 works of fiction come to fruition, before realizing her publisher was seeking numerous genres other than cozy mysteries and romance – including mine. Yes, that elusive literary introduction I’d spent ages chasing had been one friend-turnedfairy-godmother away for years. Who do you know? Ask for help.

Step 10: Help others. There’s a reason Weinstein is called “the book whisperer.” He helps writers. I will, too, in whatever small way I can. Just go to kathydesjardins.com and drop me a message.

PROVIDED

Kathy and her new book “Mama Tried.”

Kathy is a guest columnist for Appen Media. You can find her new book “Mama Tried” on Amazon.

The lifespan of history and the lessons lost I came across a nice piece of writing the other day.

Marc Cenedella, founder and CEO of Ladders website, wrote a piece, “Once in a Lifetime,” in which he proposed that the United States PAT FOX faces a monumental Managing Editor crisis every 80 years. pat@appenmediagroup.com He observed that in 1781, 1861, 1941 and again in 2021, this country has had to reshape itself to forge a new social and economic path to the future.

It is no coincidence, he wrote, that the average human life is about 80 years.

These major upheavals surface as the final eyewitnesses to the last crisis are buried – the limit of personal memory.

“We bury wisdom in its grave, only to retrace the path to its errors.”

That’s a good line.

It explains much of what’s going on in America today.

Most astounding to me are neo-Nazis parading openly on the same soil where, 80 years earlier, my father, the fathers of nearly all the kids I grew up with, and three of my uncles shipped overseas to fight tyranny in its most evil incarnation.

Even a decade after the war, when I was a kid, the extremist displays we see today would never have happened. There was no audience for them.

In today’s polarized society, it is remarkable how both ends of the political spectrum siphon blood spilled for this country to nourish their own agendas – less regulation, higher wages, smaller houses, bigger cars.

Sometimes, when I see at old, scratchy newsreels from the 1920s, I study the people walking down city streets in their suits and porkpie hats.

I wonder what they are thinking about.

Maybe they’re musing over a Will Rogers column poking fun at Calvin Coolidge, or

how Black Gold won the Kentucky Derby.

Maybe they are chatting with a friend about the new Buster Keaton movie (never mentioning that he performed all his own mindboggling stunts without computer generated imagery).

Whatever it was the were talking about, most has been lost to history, topics we’ll probably never discuss again.

One final note about the lifespan of memory and its blue-collar relationship with history. It’s personal, but it helps illustrate how fickle the relationship can be.

During my childhood, my dad would often say, “I like old Joe,” whenever my little brother, Joseph, did something praiseworthy, like bringing home a good report card.

It was years later he told me where he came up with the expression.

He picked it up from Harry Truman.

During Truman’s 1948 campaign, a reporter asked the president his thoughts on Soviet Premier Stalin whom he’d met

at the Potsdam Conference in 1945. This was a good 12 years after Stalin had organized a mass starvation in Ukraine that led to the deaths of more than 3 million peasants.

“I like old Joe,” Truman told the reporter. “He is a decent fellow. But Joe is a prisoner of the Politburo.”

You won’t find that quote in any history book. Before Google, you’d have had to scour library basement archives to unearth it.

Yet, my dad remembered it from when it happened. He might have read it in a newspaper or heard it on a radio news broadcast.

It stuck with him, and it died with him – except for my remembering it.

The quote is all but forgotten now.

If no one reads this column – which is pretty likely – then, in a few years, it will be as though Truman’s expression of fondness for one of history’s greatest monsters will never have been uttered.

It’s not just a gift shop. It’s a ministry, and that’s what’s going on in all these little gift shops around us.

BARBARA ROWE, co-owner, Findlay Rowe Designs Gift Shop and Boutique 8 | Forsyth Herald | April 14, 2022

Roswell business owners find meaning in gift giving Loyal customer base has kept shop thriving

By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Sisters Audrey Findlay and Barbara Rowe say it was their lifelong dream to open a gift shop, but over time, their business became like a ministry in the community.

For years, the women worked together in the corporate world and raised nine children between the two of them. Findlay was a pharmacist and Rowe a computer programmer, but they loved decorating and entertaining, so they created floral designs on the side for over 25 years.

That’s until 2011 when they decided the time had finally come to take a shot at their dream.

In November of that year, they celebrated the grand opening of Findlay Rowe Designs Gift Shop and Boutique on Woodstock Road in Roswell with a special ribbon-cutting by former Mayor Jere Wood.

Findlay said the shop started out small with only 800 square feet, but after their first year, they took over the spot next door, and in May 2021, they expanded to Woodstock.

Initially, the shop was both a fullservice florist and boutique for gifts, but after just five years, they nixed the floral side of the business altogether.

Today, their Roswell storefront features a variety of items from gifts and jewelry to decorative home accessories and clothing. Many of the companies they work with are either women or locally owned, including Inspiredesigns, which is

FINDLAY ROWE DESIGNS/PROVIDED

Sisters Audrey Findlay and Barbara Rowe are the owners of Findlay Rowe Designs Gift Shop and Boutique in Roswell and Woodstock. The original Roswell location opened in 2011.

based in Alpharetta, and INDIGO Home and Design, based in Milton.

Rowe said they all support each other.

“We are all separately owned,” Rowe said, “but we are here to lift each other up, so anytime there’s a need we say, ‘Well, let us call one of our surrounding gift shops.’ We really like the camaraderie. There’s really no reason for us to be in competition because what you do for your customer is what makes the difference in them coming back.”

Findlay said they have about 11 employees at their Roswell store and another six or seven who work in Woodstock. And because they’re small stores, they get to really know their customers.

Rowe said some customers come in just to buy a gift but may end up opening up about an issue in their lives to one of their employees, who will then hand out little bracelets to remind them that they are not alone, and someone is praying for them.

“There’s nothing like being able to touch a life,” Rowe said. “It’s not just a gift shop. It’s a ministry, and that’s what’s going on in all these little gift shops around us.”

In the 11 years they’ve been in Roswell, Rowe said they’ve watched their customers’ children grow up, and then their children have children. She said their customers are like family and recounted a story about a gentleman who would always drop his wife off at the store while he went out to get a haircut.

“Well, she passed away,” Rowe said, “and then he would come in and we’d just tell him what he needed to buy. So, we just take all the guessing away, you know, because it’s familiar and we’re

See SISTERS, Page 10

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | April 14, 2022 | 9

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North American Properties announced that five new businesses will open shop at mixed-use development Avalon.

North American Properties to open new stores at Avalon ALPHARETTA, Ga. –– North American Properties has announced five new brands coming to Alpharetta’s Avalon in the coming months.

The list includes Aerie and Offline, Allbirds, Electric Gamebox and Freebird.

“Our team’s ability to create experiences that continually attract top retailers to seek out space at Avalon is unmatched,” said Adam Schwegman, partner and senior vice president of leasing at North American Properties. “Avalon is already home to nearly 100 retailers and restaurants, and we look forward to delivering these new concepts to round out our lineup of best-in-class offerings.”

Retail brands Aerie and Offline by Aerie sell women’s apparel with a focus on inclusivity and body positivity.

Allbirds is a sustainable apparel and footwear brand whose products are made

with environmentally conscious materials.

The Allbirds store and community center is set to open in May, taking over the space which formerly housed Lululemon.

Also joining Avalon is Electric Gamebox, a virtual reality gaming experience where players use their bodies as controllers. Electric Gamebox offers a variety of gaming options for ages 5 and up.

Freebird, a Denver-based footwear brand, prides itself on its handcrafted, well-constructed footwear.

Most recently, Lilly Pulitzer joined Avalon earlier this month with a grand opening celebration. Rowan will host a grand opening April 15. North American Properties said Makers Marker is also set to open later in the spring.

For more information on new openings at Avalon, visit experienceavalon.com.

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Roswell to host Tillman Honor Run to benefit military and their families Sisters:

CHAMIAN CRUZ/APPEN MEDIA

Continued from Page 8 family.”

Those types of relationships, Findlay said, are what allowed them to reopen after closing for six weeks during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. Rowe said that during that time, they were able to remodel and get their online business going thanks to the support they received from the Alpharetta/ Roswell community, which wanted to see them succeed.

“It really didn’t impact us that badly, because we had an amazing group of customers who supported us during that time,” Findlay said. “They shopped online, and we would do curbside pick-up. I

Findlay Rowe Designs Gift Shop and Boutique Sales Associate Wanda Grigg works behind the cash register April 8.

think I sold more of my Jellycat bunnies that Easter than ever before. We were still above what we had done the year before after closing that long. It was just amazing.”

While the sisters think “totally different,” Findlay said it’s worked out well for them. She said Rowe works on the creative side of the business, and she tries to rein in her ideas.

The sisters also give back to the community by supporting the local schools, such as the Child Development Academy, as well as community events like the backpack drive for North Fulton Community Charities.

Findlay Rowe Designs Gift Shop and Boutique is at 1030 Woodstock Road in Suite 3110 in Roswell.

For more information, including store hours, visit findlayrowedesigns.com.

By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — The Tillman Honor Run is coming to Roswell.

Formerly held in Atlanta, runners will now get to celebrate the memory of Pat Tillman at Riverside Park, starting at 8 a.m. on April 23. The race is hosted by the Arizona State University Alumni Georgia Chapter.

Tillman, a former TILLMAN Arizona State University and Arizona Cardinals football player, left his sports career and enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 2002 in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. He was killed by friendly fire while in Afghanistan.

The 4.2-mile race pays homage to Tillman’s number on the field and helps raise money for the Pat Tillman Foun-

dation’s Tillman Scholars program, which helps active-duty service members, veterans and military spouses afford high-quality education. It is meant to be a casual, family-friendly fun run.

While the Pat Tillman Honor Run has been a longtime staple at Arizona State’s main Tempe campus, it has extended to more than 30 cities around the United States.

Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson called Tillman an American hero at the March 28 City Council meeting.

“I think what Pat embodies … is giving of oneself ultimately for others and no greater cause,” Wilson said. “… I ask all of my friends and fellow residents and non-fellow residents to come to the Pat Tillman run on April 23. It’s a great way to honor your country. It’s a great way to honor your community. It’s a great way to honor yourselves.”

To register, visit asuevents.asu.edu/ content/tillman-honor-run-atlanta.

Riverside Park is located at 575 Riverside Road in Roswell.

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AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | April 14, 2022 | 11

Sign-up opens for annual Tim Lester 34-Day Camp

By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — Milton High School is hosting the second annual Tim Lester 34-Day Camp in honor of the former NFL player and founder of the Milton Steelers youth football program.

Lester died last year at age 52 due to complications related to COVID-19.

The free camp is slated for May 1 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. and will offer sports-related speed and agility stations for boys and girls entering kindergarten through eighth grade.

Milton High School teacher and coach Lonnie Estes, who worked with Lester for about 13 years, said a little over 110 students participated in the camp last year, and he hopes even more join this year. He said the camp is open to all athletes, not just those who play football.

“We were trying to create an additional positive day in the community with this camp as we remember Tim and try to create the next generation of leaders in our community,” Estes said.

At the camp, students will get to hear from a diverse group of coaches, teachers, business leaders and various college and high school athletes, who will lead multiple character discussions and drills to challenge, promote and reinforce influential life behaviors.

Estes said some of the college and high school athletes were Lester’s students and are now helping with the camp as a way to carry on his legacy.

The camp will focus on building the following 10 character traits: • Determination – I will believe in myself.

• Effort – I will always do my best.

• Diligent – I will be willing to take small steps toward my greatness.

• Faithful – I will not be shaken by someone’s opinions or actions in my life.

• Discipline – I will replace my bad habits with good habits.

• Loyal – I will always be respectful and responsible in my actions.

• Brave – I will face my fears with passion and purpose.

• Fierce – I will bring my “A” game daily.

• Humble – I will be gracious in my success and stumbles.

• Leader – I will learn from my mistakes and make those around me better.

LAWANDA ESTES/PROVIDED

Participants in the 2021 Tim Lester 34-Day Camp battle it out in a tug of war competition at Milton High School. More than 110 students participated in the first camp which stresses leadership and discipline.

We were trying to create an additional positive day in the community with this camp as we remember Tim and try to create the next generation of leaders in our community.”

LONNIE ESTES Milton High School teacher and coach

Remembering Tim Lester

Lester grew up in Florida and later attended Eastern Kentucky University, where he played for the Colonels football program from 1988-91. He was voted all-conference several years as a

fullback/halfback.

He rushed for 3,640 yards with EKU with 37 touchdowns and was an integral part in the Colonels winning three

conference titles. He was voted into the EKU Hall of Fame in 2011.

Lester was then drafted in the 10th round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and spent three years with the franchise before playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1995-98.

He was perhaps best known in NFL circles as the “Bus Driver” for serving as the lead blocker for Jerome “The Bus” Bettis.

Lester closed out his professional career in 1999 with the Dallas Cowboys and went on to found Pigskin Academy, a non-profit mentoring program for at-risk athletes, as well as New Found Life Youth Football, better known as the Milton Steelers.

For several years, the Steelers organization was the youth football provider in Milton, and Lester led a charge to waive registration fees to allow families to join the program free of charge.

Lester also served as an assistant coach for Milton High School and Fellowship Christian School.

Estes said he worked with Lester during his last year as a coach at Milton High School in 2008-09. He said that as a motivational speaker and coach

in the Milton/Alpharetta area, Lester’s message was always, “Clear eyes, Full heart, Can’t Lose.” “[That was] a tag he used during multiple public speaking engagements where his football popularity was used to address elementary and middle school kids on the importance of identifying positive character traits and being accountable,” Estes said.

He added that even now when he’s teaching or coaching, sometimes he comes across kids who are missing certain traits in their behavior that could make them more successful. Through the Tim Lester 34-Day Camp, Estes said he hopes to continue to plant seeds to build students’ character.

“It helps them to just become a better all-around person, and that’s what Tim did,” Estes said. “He took football and used it as a tool to draw people in to the options and opportunities to build their character or make great choices and become better people.”

To register for the second annual Tim Lester 34-Day Camp, visit https:// forms.gle/EsbwvYUKXqXTZ6SF8.

For questions, call 470-509-536 or email TimLesterDay34@gmail.com.

12 | Johns Creek Herald | February 11, 2021

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Self-advocacy and second opinions Brought to you by - Premier Dermatology Second opinions can be invaluable.

A study by the Mayo Clinic found that a diagnosis was changed or discovered in 21% of patients seeking a second opinion, and nearly 66% of all patients seeking a second opinion had their diagnosis refined. Receiving care for the wrong diagnosis or, more often, not receiving care for an undiagnosed issue can be life altering or sometimes even prove deadly.

Recently, a surprising number of patients have told me about experiences when their own initiative or a second opinion proved to be lifesaving. One patient was told that an incidental finding of low platelets (thrombocytopenia) was dismissed by his first physician as likely of little consequence. This patient sought a second opinion, and a bone marrow biopsy identified leukemia and led to treatment. Another patient’s doctor told her that a mass could be watched and that since imaging was not necessary, it would not be covered by insurance. She paid out of her own pocket for a CT scan that identified the cancer that she suspected she had. Multiple other patients shared similar stories. And whereas this may come as a shock to some, it is, sadly, not surprising to me. Physicians are not infallible. I genuinely believe that patients should be their own advocate.

Good physicians support their patients seeking additional professional opinions.

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Our oldest effectively stopped talking at about 14 months old. He never had a diagnosed or suspected ear infection.

And although he would eventually turn towards us when we called his name, my wife was convinced that he could not hear. She took him to multiple pediatricians and was repeatedly dismissed with the counsel that “boys will be boys” and “not everyone is a talker.” These were board-certified, well-trained physicians.

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Finally, at our second pediatric ENT and audiology appointment, the audiologist determined that the way sound waves bounced back from his ear drums was not consistent with open, air-filled middle ears. Dr. Matthew Whitley (Pediatric Ear Nose and Throat of Atlanta) scheduled an appointment to place tubes in his ear drums and explore further. Shortly into the surgery, Dr. Whitley discovered that my son had “glue ear,” which is when a glue-like semisolid forms behind the ear drum. Our son could hear sounds, which explains how he passed his first hearing test at one year old, but sounds were heard as if underwater, and he could not differentiate between many sounds which made speech unintelligible. Dr. Whitley inserted tubes, removed the glue-like material from our son’s middle ear and restored his hearing. Within one week our son went from speaking two words to twenty words. We were informed that in a case such as our son’s, it would likely have taken years for the glue ear to resolve on its own. Had we stuck with our first, second, third, or fourth opinion, our son would have been severely affected by deafness (and thus speech) during critical developmental years.

As a Mohs surgeon, I have had many of my greatest successes in the field of skin cancer, oftentimes in the context of my serving as a second opinion. One patient was told by his previous Mohs surgeon that further surgery was not possible on his scalp, which was riddled with painful cancers. However, my patient and I selectively employed photodynamic therapy, 5-fluorouracil cream and Mohs surgery with skin grafts. His scalp is now healed and pain and cancer-free.

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See SECOND, Page 14

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Second: Continued from Page 13 cancers that, if left untreated, could metastasize to other organ systems.

Perhaps most frustrating to my patients, innumerable individuals have come to me upset that at their previous practice they were never told that Mohs surgery is an option. Frequently, patients first see me when cancers treated elsewhere begin to regrow. Usually, these cancers were treated by a scrape and burn (ED&C), standard excision or freezing by another doctor. Each of these methods is appropriate in certain circumstances, but what frustrated these patients is that they were not offered the choice of Mohs surgery.

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treatment options, even when that treatment option is not available in their own practice. I sleep well at night knowing that I genuinely give my patients treatment that I would not necessarily pick for myself. My job is to present facts and to be a guide but not to choose for my patients. Just today, I saw a patient who was referred to me for Mohs surgery of a basal cell carcinoma on the lower edge of the nose. We reviewed his treatment options together. He had never considered radiation therapy until I presented it as an alternative to Mohs surgery, and ultimately radiation therapy is what he selected. Likewise, I occasionally have patients referred to me for Mohs surgery who select imiquimod cream instead of surgery after I present it as a treatment option for certain types of basal cell carcinoma. When non-surgical options exist, it is a surgeon’s responsibility to help educate a patient about treatment options worth considering.

The providers at Premier Dermatology believe in second opinions and in patient advocacy. I, along with Kathryn Filipek, PA-C, strive to truly listen to our patients and empower them to seek second opinions and alternative courses of treatment. At Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta, whether we are your first or second (or fifth!) opinion, we

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Scottsdale Farms continues to grow in Milton

By SYDNEY DANGREMOND sydney@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — What began as a mom-and-pop garden center run out of two greenhouses and a barn has blossomed over the past 22 years into an agricultural cornucopia off Birmingham Highway.

Scottsdale Farms now houses thousands of plants, trees, shrubs and garden supplies on 65 acres. That’s in addition to a café, a home goods store, a boutique, a farm, seasonal Christmas tree lots and pumpkin patches and a playground for young children.

The business has grown and diversified steadily over the past two decades, owner Kathy Gianturco said.

“I know people have said, ‘find your niche and stick to it,’ but I’ve just continued to go like, ‘well if they like pillows, maybe they’ll like rugs, and if they like rugs, maybe they’ll like mirrors,’” Gianturco said.

It all started when she realized the majority of her customers were women, and she decided to expand to products she thought would appeal to her base. Since then, she has yet to find an area that hasn’t resonated with her devoted customers.

Kathy runs the business with her ex-husband Luca, focusing on the interior, boutique and café sides of the business, while Luca runs the garden center.

“I buy everything non-living, and he buys everything living,” Kathy said.

Alpharetta resident Brianna Evans has been coming to Scottsdale Farms a couple times a month for years, even before her two kids were born, and says her visits always turn into an event. The variety of offerings is what keeps her coming back.

“For the kids, it’s definitely the animals and the playground, but then as a mom, I’ll come here with my girlfriends and we’ll get coffee and lunch and sit out on the picnic tables,” Evans said. “And I’m a really big gardener so I normally buy dirt every time I come.”

The Gianturco’s are joined by a rotating group of 78 employees who help Scottsdale Farms run, including the pair’s children, and one day, Kathy hopes, their grandchildren.

Jodi Galloway is one of the business’ newest employees who joined the staff about two weeks ago. She works in the greenhouses, potting annual and perineal plants.

A passionate gardener, Galloway was making ends meet with an office job that had her driving past the Scottsdale sign daily, “and I was like, ‘that would be so much cooler,’” Galloway said.

Now she spends her days outside doing what she loves.

“I wake up in the morning and I’m eager to go to work,” Galloway said. “What more could you ask for?

You’re outside all the time. I plant plants every day.”

Beyond the retail, both living and non-living included, Scottsdale Farms also hosts events and workshops from holiday parties to “how to build your own charcuterie board,” Gianturco said, there’s always something going on.

For more information on Scottsdale Farms, visit scottsdalefarms.com.

Kathy runs the business with her ex-husband Luca, focusing on the interior, boutique and café sides of the business, while Luca runs the garden center.

“I buy everything non-living, and he buys everything living,” Kathy said.

PHOTOS BY SYDNEY DANGREMOND/APPEN MEDIA

Scottsdale Farms houses thousands of plants, trees, shrubs and garden supplies on 65 acres in Milton off Birmingham Highway.

Alpharetta resident Brianna Evans has been coming to Scottsdale Farms a couple times a month for years, even before her two kids were born, and says her visits always turn into an event. The variety of offerings is what keeps her coming back.

“For the kids, it’s definitely the animals and the playground, but then as a mom, I’ll come here with my girlfriends and we’ll get coffee and lunch and sit out on the picnic tables,” Evans said. “And I’m a really big gardener so I normally buy dirt every time I come.”

The Gianturco’s are joined by a rotating group of 78 employees who help Scottsdale Farms run, including the pair’s children, and one day, Kathy hopes, their grandchildren.

Jodi Galloway is one of the business’ newest employees who joined the staff about two weeks ago. She works in the greenhouses, potting annual and perineal plants.

A passionate gardener, Galloway was making ends meet with an office job that had her driving past the Scottsdale sign daily, “and I was like, ‘that would be so much cooler,’” Galloway said.

Now she spends her days outside doing what she loves.

“I wake up in the morning and I’m eager to go to work,” Galloway said. “What more could you ask for?

You’re outside all the time. I plant plants every day.”

Beyond the retail, both living and non-living included, Scottsdale Farms also hosts events and workshops from holiday parties to “how to build your own charcuterie board,” Gianturco said, there’s always something going on.

For more information on Scottsdale Farms, visit scottsdalefarms.com.

Alpharetta resident Brianna Evans and her daughter Olivia enjoy watching the goats at Scottsdale Farms in Milton March 30. Evans has been coming to Scottsdale Farms a couple times per month for years, even before her two kids were born, and says her visits always turn into an event.

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | April 14, 2022 | 21

Commissioner: Continued from Page 1 rationed number of binders were assembled with support documents and given to commissioners, senior staff and selected media outlets to study during meetings.

But late last year, the county began uploading the packets to their website, giving residents their first opportunity to fully understand what items were being voted on from the dais.

These packets however, Levent said, are typically uploaded around lunchtime the day of the commission meetings.

County Manager Kevin Tanner said the limited headroom is due to changes occurring to the packet right up until the meeting. He also said the clerk needs time to prepare the packet with any additional information.

Fulton County residents are given five days to study agenda items before their Board of Commissioners meet.

The board agenda, including background packet information, is usually posted to the county’s website the Friday prior to the meeting the following Wednesday, according to spokeswoman Regina Waller.

Fulton County’s commission agenda went out Friday, April 8 for the Wednesday, April 13 meeting.

In Gwinnett County, spokeswoman Heather Sawyer said the commission agenda, including background packet materials, is posted online generally on Friday afternoons preceding the Board of Commissioners’ morning work session and evening business session the following Tuesday.

Gwinnett County was one of the first Metro Atlanta counties to make agenda packets available to the public online some 10 years ago.

Forsyth County first launched its efforts to provide online agenda pack-

PHOTOS BY SYDNEY DANGREMOND/APPEN MEDIA

Commissioner Todd Levent raises concerns about the short turnaround time residents are given to view agenda materials prior to commission meetings at a meeting April 7. The background material for the 5 p.m. meeting was made available to the public around 2 p.m., giving residents three hours to study the materials. ets two years ago, and Levent has spoken publicly about providing citizens access to the same background materials commissioners have during meetings. He said he recognizes constraints with some late changes.

“They definitely can’t get it out too early, and I don’t know what that fine balance is because there are constantly different departments coming up with different information,” Levent said.

“Sometimes they will change our books and update them before we get to a meeting. I’m saying this just so anybody who’s listening understands that we’re not hiding anything. And we’re not attempting to hide anything.”

Still, Levent continued, “Staff is going to look at whether the fine line there of balance, that it might be able

to come out a tad bit earlier that day or maybe as much as 24 hours earlier, but that’s up to staff and what they feel is best to make sure our books are as clean as possible.”

Also during the meeting, commissioners approved a subgrant agreement with the Atlanta Regional Commission concerning grants the county received Commissioners also approved a septic tank rebate pilot program and authorized county staff to draft amendments to the Animal Control ordinance regarding the prohibition of retail sales of animals at pet shops.

County Commissioners also oversaw seven public hearings for zoning and conditional use of various properties and unanimously approved six of the requests.

County Manager Kevin Tanner discusses the reasoning for the current timeline of releasing supporting materials to the public during an April 7 meeting.

Tanner said the limited headroom is due to changes occurring to the packet right up until the meeting. He also said the clerk needs time to prepare the packet with any additional information.

DEATH NOTICES Ronald Russell, 84, of Milton, GA passed away on March 22, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Scott Dunbar, 50, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on March 25, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Cheryl Jorgensen, 75, of Roswell, GA passed away on March 31, 2022. Arrangements

by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Nodya Havice, 75, of Roswell, GA passed away on March 23, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Jewell Dalton, 98, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on March 25, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Ann Hudson, 67, of Roswell, GA passed away on March 31, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Darrell Flowe, 68, of Roswell, GA passed away on March 24, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Patsy Flowe, 94, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on March 30, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Rita Leanza, 85, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on April 2, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Bobby Joe Reed, 88, of Cumming, GA passed away on April 3, 2022. Arrangements

by Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory.

22 | April 14, 2022 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

ONLINE INCLUDED C a l l t o d a y t o p l a c e y o u r a d 4 7 0 . 2 2 2 . 8 4 6 9 o r e m a i l c l a s s i f i e d s @ a p p e n m e d i a g r o u p . c o m • FA X : 7 7 0 - 4 7 5 - 1 2 1 6

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RECEPTIONIST GCAC of Georgia, Giving Children A Chance is in search of a receptionist in Alpharetta, Georgia We are seeking an exceptional individual with a positive attitude who has the ability to multitask and possesses great organizational skills. The right person will be willing to go above and beyond to deliver superior services to a diverse customer base. This candidate will function as a team player supporting a passionate group of professionals working in a private Foster Care Placement Agency and performing front office responsibilities. The candidate must have excellent verbal communication skills, with a great understanding of how to work with others from all walks of life. Qualified candidate will function as a gate keeper for the organization. The rewards of this job offer a unique opportunity to work in an environment where one can truly makes a difference in the life of a child.

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Director of Open Arms Special Needs Ministry Alpharetta Presbyterian Church has an opportunity for a compassionate and energetic individual who enjoys working with special needs children, youth, and adults to direct our Open Arms ministry.

Responsibilities • Lead the Promise Class (where our special needs community congregates) during Sunday morning services in worship through music, Bible lessons, crafts, and other activities.

• Supervise, work with, and coordinate volunteers and staff.

• Direct quarterly respite events at the church.

• Work alongside the Open Arms committee and Associate Pastor to identify opportunities to sustain and grow this ministry.

Hours vary but average six per week, with 3–4 hours every Sunday morning. Compensation is up to $18/hour plus 3 Sundays (weeks) of paid vacation per year.

Requirements • Annual Background Check and Child Safety Training • Current American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC) CPR training/certification for infants, children, and adults (or complete within 3 months of hire) • Proof of vaccination against COVID-19, since you will be working with a vulnerable population.

• Degree in Special Education and experience managing staff preferred.

• Age 21 years or older.

Interested? Send us a letter telling us why, along with your resume: jobs@alpharettapres.com To learn more about Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, please visit us in person or at https://alpharettapres.com/.

Newspaper Delivery Routes Open We have several delivery routes open in the Alpharetta-Roswell / North Fulton area.

The work is once a week and requires the following: Reliable transportation, very clean driving record (we do a record check), and professional work ethic. We prefer the ideal person to have experience delivering newspapers but that is not an absolute requirement.

The delivery route is to every home in the subdivision - and is NOT subscriber based.

The route can be done on your schedule - within our specific 2-3 day window - depending on which paper you deliver.

We pay for all your gas, provide bags, and pay you as an independent contractor on a per home delivered basis.

Call our office at 770-442-3278 to request an application.

The typical route pays approximately $140 plus gas per week and takes about 4-5 hours to deliver.

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PINESTRAW, mulch delivery/installation available.

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Honest, punctual, professional and reasonable prices!

Mention this ad. Concrete driveway specialists. Driveways, Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways, Slabs. A+ BBB rating. FREE ESTIMATE. Call Rachael at 678-250-4546 to schedule a FREE Estimate. 30 years of experience. ARBOR HILLS CONSTRUCTION INC. Please note we do have a minimum charge on accepted jobs of $4,500.

PHILLIPS FLOORING Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes.

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AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | April 14, 2022 | 23

AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Repaired and Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 770-934-2766

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24 | April 14, 2022 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

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