Forsyth Herald - October 13, 2022

We Treat Peripheral Neuropathy

County tightens rules for rental developments

Officials set conditions

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners have approved an amendment to the county’s Unified Development Code, strengthen ing requirements placed on developers of “build-to-rent” communities proposed in the county.

At their meeting on Thursday, Oct. 6, commissioners approved a measure that will require new rental communi ties to acquire a conditional use permit before starting construction in Forsyth County.

Molly Esswein, of law firm Jarrard and Davis, explained that the permit requirement would apply to all “planned residential developments” where a cer tain percentage of dwellings are offered for rental only.

Conditional use permits for the rent al communities would only be available in residential districts, with the excep tion of senior rental housing products, which are allowed in some other limited areas, Esswein said.

After hearing public concerns over the rights of landowners to rent their property, Esswein said they differen tiated between “major” and “minor” subdivisions in the code, to ensure the intent of the requirement could be

Forsyth County

their

for developers of “build-to-rent”

meeting in the Forsyth County Administration Building.

carried out, while also allowing citizens their freedom.

In “minor subdivisions” a conditional use permit would be required if the com munity contained over 50 percent rental units, but for “major subdivisions” the permit would be required with 10 per cent rental units.

“Say it’s a minor subdivision, you have two homes only, one is intended for rent, one is intended for owner oc cupancy, more than 50 percent would

be what would trigger [a Conditional Use Permit],” Esswein said.

With seven units or more the code would also require developments to have a staffed, on-site management company, in a stand-alone building in the commu nity.

Officials reject opposition view

The meeting had no speakers in-favor of the proposal, but commissioners did hear from two who opposed to the

change.

Joseph Santoro, director of Policy and Government Affairs at the Coun cil for Quality Growth told the board that Forsyth County is still one of the fastest growing counties in Georgia and it’s housing demand is likely going to continue.

“Given Metro Atlanta’s severely under supplied housing market, it is important for Forsyth County not to limit the type of housing options there are, that are market driven,” Santoro said.

Santoro and Garrett Wiley of the Greater Atlanta Home builders As sociation brought commissioners a series of recommendations they think would improve the proposal, such as increasing the percentage of rental homes that would trigger the permit requirement, diversifying the type of home allowed, and loosening the re quirement for an on-site management office.

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Pink Floyd tribute band scheduled for City Center

CUMMING, Ga. — Psychedelic jams and a face-melting laser show by Interstellar Echoes, the Southeast’s premiere Pink Floyd tribute band, are in store as part of the first free community concert at the Cumming City Center.

Interstellar Echoes will be the inau gural performance at Lou Sobh Amphi theater on Friday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.

“For our inaugural community con cert, we wanted a group that would have far-reaching appeal for a lot of differ ent generations,” Cumming City Center Property Manager Jennifer Archer said. “Pink Floyd is one of those all-time great, iconic type of bands, and after we discovered Interstellar Echoes, who have

a large fan-base throughout Georgia and are known for their great respect of Pink Floyd, we thought this would be an amazing opening act for the Lou Sobh Amphitheater.”

Archer said Interstellar Echoes will offer an authentic Pink Floyd live experience, featuring both classic hits and deep cuts, and a laser show that will please even the most die-hard Pink Floyd fan.

Parking and admission to the concert are free, and the event will include a va riety of food and beverage trucks on site.

“We hope everyone comes out and enjoys this opening night for the Lou Sobh Amphitheater,” Archer said.

Interstellar Echoes, the Southeast’s premiere Pink Floyd tribute band, will take the stage at the Cumming City Center’s Lou Sobh Amphitheater on Friday, Oct. 21, for the amphitheater’s first free community concert.

Forsyth County to celebrate National Libraries Week

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — From Oct. 17 to Oct. 22, the Forsyth County Public Library system will celebrate National Friends of Libraries Week with a week of book sales to support the library system.

For $5 and a “Friends” bag from the Forsyth County Public Library Friends and Advocates, literary lovers can take home a whole shelf of books, DVDs, CDs

audio books from the bookstores at the Cumming, Post Road and Sharon Forks libraries, while supporting a good cause.

Over the past 25 years, the Forsyth County Public Library Friends and Advocates has contributed more than $500,000 to the library system through donations and book sales.

National Friends of the Library

Week, Oct. 16 through Oct. 22, rec ognizes the people who donate their time and resources to local libraries, by joining non-profit Friends’ groups.

Forsyth County Public Library Friends and Advocates hosts book sales and fundraisers throughout the year to help defray the cost of library program ing and add new materials to library collections.

The Forsyth County Bag Sale for National Friends of the Library Week will kick off with a member day on Monday, Oct. 17, and will continue with public sales Tuesday, Oct. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 23.

For more information about the For syth County Public Library Friends and Advocates, visit forsythfol.org/.

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Rent:

None of the suggestions seemed to sway commissioners.

“It seems that our objectors hold to the opinion that Forsyth County has the responsibility to be the housing solution for Metro Atlanta and that we should yield our standards to accomplish that,” District 5 Commissioner Laura Seman son said. “I personally find that offen sive.”

Semanson also said that Santoro’s recommendation to loosen the on-site management requirement, didn’t fly with her.

“Having an on-site management is the cost of doing business, if you really want to be in the rental game you have to provide service,” she said. “So, I re ject both of those recommendations.”

Responding to Santoro’s sugges tion that the rental percentage should be increased, District 3 Commissioner Todd Levent said that even allowing 10 percent was a big deal for him and increasing it was out of the question.

“I don’t like the 10 percent, I thought it was a fantastic compromise,” Levent said. “I think that’s more than I’m com fortable with to begin with.”

The proposal was unanimously ap proved.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Also at the meeting, Forsyth County Commissioners proclaimed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizing the culture, heritage and importance of the county’s Hispan ic/Latino community.

Hispanic Heritage Week was first ob served in 1968 and was later expanded to a monthlong celebration by President Ronald Reagan in 1988.

The theme of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.”

“One uniting factor within the Hispan ic community is the desire to have their diverse backgrounds, wealth of ideas and perspectives be included and represented in all aspects of American society,” a Forsyth County spokesperson said after the meeting.

Call us today!

I thought it was a fantastic compromise,”

TODD LEVENT Forsyth County Commissioner

Jewish Community Center event raises funds for local programs

ALPHARETTA, Ga. —The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) recently held its annual golf tournament, the Harry Maziar Classic presented by Truist, at the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta.

Chaired by David Kusiel and cochaired by Allen Soden, the tournament shattered previous event records includ ing the most participants in tournament history with over 200 golfers. The event raised more than $535,000 through contributions and a silent auction to support MJCCA programs and scholar ship funds.

“This event is extremely important to the entire Jewish community, as the MJCCA impacts thousands of lives across the metro Atlanta area,” Kusiel said.

This year’s tournament brings the total raised to $4.6 million over the past 14 years, MJCCA CEO Jared Powers said.

“Every dollar we secure helps us raise scholarship funds so families can attend our award-winning camps, accredited preschools, enriching afterschool programs and all the activi ties that make the MJCCA home to so many,” Powers said.

Each year, the tournament honors an outstanding MJCCA member, whose

leadership and dedication helped shape Atlanta’s Jewish community. This year, the MJCCA honored native Atlantan and real estate powerhouse Eliot Arno

vitz.

Arnovitz’s connection to the MJCCA can be traced all the way back to his childhood, when he spent his formative

DAVID KUSIEL

years in the Atlanta Jewish Community Center’s nursery school. He now volun teers with numerous Jewish organiza tions across Metro Atlanta, including as a Life Trustee with the Jewish Federa tion of Greater Atlanta.

“Eliot’s commitment to the At lanta Jewish community is exem plary,” Soden said. “The turnout at this year’s event is a testament to the longstanding impact he’s had on the Jewish community and the number of people he’s positively affected with his work, advocacy and volunteer efforts throughout the years.”

MARCUS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF ATLANTA/PROVIDED Eliot Arnovitz accepts his award at the golf tournament hosted by the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. Each year, the tournament honors an out standing MJCCA member, whose leadership and dedication helped shape Atlanta’s Jewish community.

This event is extremely important to the entire Jewish community”

Chair, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s Harry Maziar Classic

Kemp renews suspension of Georgia’s gasoline tax

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

ATLANTA — Gov. Brian

Kemp extended the tem porary suspension of the state’s gasoline tax Oct. 3, a reprieve the state can afford due to a bulg ing budget surplus.

The latest extension runs through Nov. 11.

The governor also extended a state of emergency for the supply chain he first ordered back in April.

While Kemp has extended both the gas tax suspension and supply chain state of emergency several times over the past six months, he warned this time might be different.

As Georgia’s neighboring states of Florida and South Carolina continue re covery efforts following the severe dam age caused by Hurricane Ian last week, the Southeast could experience further supply chain issues and higher demand on fuel supplies, Kemp said.

“While Georgia was largely spared the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, Florida and South Carolina endured both significant destruction and flood ing,” he said.

“As we both pray for these neigh bors in need and send resources and volunteers to aid in their recovery, we’re also bracing for the impact on already strained supply chains and prices at the gas pump that are already too high.”

Since the temporary suspension of the gasoline tax was implemented last March amid soaring pump prices nation wide, Georgia’s average price for gas has remained one of the lowest in the nation. Currently, a gallon of regular gas costs Georgians about 62 cents below the na tional average, according to AAA

Without the tax being collected, Georgians have saved about $800 mil lion in fuel costs over that same period.

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

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Before studios were cool, we were cool.

Balance Salon owner reflects on 25 years

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Not many can say they have both good and bad luck, nor mally it’s just one or the other.

But for longtime salon owner CJ Nicotera, every cloud has a silver lining, and with a little hard work, even the worst luck can be overcome.

For the past 25 years, Nicotera, who runs Balance Salon in Dunwoody, has battled every kind of bad luck, from the 2008 financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic to roof collapses, but still she hasn’t lost her love of providing top ser vice to loyal clients.

“There’s something about her energy and her spirit,” said Lisa Rayner, a long time customer and friend. “She’s just such a vibrant, uplifting person I went, ‘This is what I need in my life.’ Then she turned out to be a great hairdresser as well.”

Nicotera got her start in the business in 1997, working with partners out of a house on Buford Highway in Atlanta. She said they were so broke and so new to the business, they cut hair with clients sitting in lawn chairs and saved every penny they could to get real equip ment and outfit the salon.

“So, I did that for 10 years,” Nicotera said. “It was Buford highway, but it’s the cheapest rent we could find. So, before studios were cool, we were cool.”

Nicotera and her partners would literally walk neighborhoods throughout the Metro Atlanta, putting flyers and postcards in mailboxes for the salon, earning the business of locals with hard work and sweat.

“That’s how we grew the company the first 10 years,” she said. “We would

pound pavement and pound doors, and just did whatever it took to, you know, pay the bills the following month.”

Eventually, people began to notice them, especially after they made friends with and a client of a local Atlanta radio personality.

“Next thing you know, she’s putting us on the radio as one of the best finds in Atlanta because we were just so hard working,” she said. “It was the help we needed.”

It wasn’t like they were instantly flooded with business and money, but it did give them a bit of breathing room.

Hard work counters bad luck

After 10 years, Nicotera left the part nership, wanting to move and open a more corporate type of salon, with more resources and help on the business and marketing side of things. So, she borrowed $10,000, signed a lease, and started putting in the elbow grease to make her idea a success.

Unfortunately, it was the exact worst time to start a new business, and just a year after she opened, the 2008 financial crisis hit the like a thunderbolt.

“I got shingles, I was so stressed out during that one,” she said.

But about 6 months into the crisis, Nicotera said she got some unexpected help that kept her business going, when a nearby salon in Dunwoody unexpect edly went out of business.

“So immediately, I got four people with a clientele,” she said. “And I still have two of them with me.”

Through the years since the 2008 fi nancial crisis, there have still been spots of bad luck, like when her salon’s roof caved in after Atlanta experienced sev eral weeks of torrential rains. But each

BALANCE SALON/PROVIDED

Balance Salon owner CJ Nicotera

launched her career cutting hair in a house on Buford Highway in Atlanta, us ing lawn chairs for customers.

months, she said. But they never had to let any employees go and were quickly able to get back to business, thanks to the small business loan opportunities offered by the state and federal govern ment at the beginning of the pandemic.

“I had no idea what I was filling out. I just had to figure out how to find money to keep my company open,” she said. “I was on my kitchen floor … bawling my eyes out. Two days later, the money showed up in the in the business ac count.”

Finding Balance

But even when they were given the go-ahead to reopen, it wasn’t like before. Nicotera said that even with the precau tions they were taking, nearly 20 percent of her business was lost by the pan demic.

But the clients that did stay, are more loyal than ever.

Rayner said she admires her friend for persevering through the pandemic, especially because the salon business is based so much on touch and letting a stranger into your personal space.

“As a client, I just feel like it’s such a warm and welcoming environment, everyone who works there,” Rayner said. “They honor your time as much as they do theirs.”

time, her business was able to move on and survive.

“My first year I actually hit a million dollars in business was 2019, and then in March of 2020, we were shut down for being unessential,” she said.

In total, they were closed for four

After all these years, Nicotera says she still leads her employees by ex ample, putting in the hard work that her clients expect and deserve, because that’s what’s led her to this point, and anything else would be a betrayal of her years in business.

“As the owner, I could say, ‘Hey, I’ve been doing this 30 years. I don’t have

CJ NICOTERA, owner of Balance Salon

For 25 years CJ Nicotera of Balance Salon in Dunwoody has been putting in the hard work, providing top service to clients in the Atlanta area. Nicotera and her staff will celebrate their clients and supporters with a week of events starting on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Salon:

Continued

Page 8

to work and work hard like I do,’” she said. “But I still feel the way I did when I opened up that first one. Anyone can cut some bangs, anyone can do some foils, there’s tons of us out there. But what we’ve worked so hard at is to not forget where we come from and how hard we’ve worked to get it.”

To say thank you to all of the clients that supported them over the years, Bal ance Salon will open its doors for a week

of events Oct. 18, to celebrate how far they’ve come and everything they’ve gone through.

Throughout the week, Balance Salon will have special promotions, special guests and special events, culminat ing with an “open-air” cocktail party on Friday, Oct. 21.

“I want to give back to them,” Nico tera said. “I want to give back to my team for standing by me this whole time and all the people that have helped me.”

For more information about Balance Salon and their week-long celebration of “inner and outer beauty” visit balancesalon.com/dunwoody-event.

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Help with Navigating the Road to Recovery

Brought to you by – Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs

In time we all are faced with the need for a planned procedure or an emergency that may require surgery. The next critical step is understanding how to navigate the road to a success ful recovery. It’s important to take stock of the care you or a loved one will need when you get home, whether it’s directly from the hospital or from a rehabilitation center.

The transition home can be very chal lenging as your mobility, health and emo tional needs have changed. As we age, we may also heal more slowly and have more complications.

Juggling physical or occupational therapy visits, managing nutritional needs and therapy homework can be overwhelm ing. Home visits from Physical or Occupa tional Therapists typically happen one to three times a week. The hardest part for you or an older loved one can be carrying out therapy homework instructions daily and exercising faithfully, but this can determine your mobility and best quality of life going forward.

Initially your doctor will do a medical assessment to determine your in-home care needs, and what level of assistance you’ll need with the activities of daily living (ADL’s). With in-home care, you may be discharged directly home. If you enter a rehabilitation facility, that assessment will happen when you’re ready to be dis charged. In either case, it’s important to determine a plan of care in advance.

At Home Helpers, we know the benefits that in-home care with a skilled caregiver can bring as we become a partner and work with you on your recovery journey. Our Care Managers also form a critical communication and coordination link with you and your family. They can go that ex tra step and visit a rehabilitation facility to observe your daily therapy regimen before you are released, providing informed sup port for your recovery.

The first few days home can be in tense, and we can provide round the clock care for the first 48 to 72 hours. Being disoriented on the return home is com mon, so preventing nighttime falls and a reinjury is important. As your strength improves, the schedule can quickly be adjusted according to your needs. The question we constantly seek to answer is where are you today, and what can we do to move your recuperation and your personal independence forward?

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Taking charge of your health can make all the difference

Brought to you by – By Dr. Laura Pearson, breast surgeon at Wellstar Health System

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. That’s probably not news to any one. It’s a month of pink ribbons, walks and awareness campaigns. I would rather use it to not only bring aware ness to breast health but to discuss how breast health awareness can be good for your whole body.

There are factors, such as fam ily history and breast density, that are unchangeable in terms of breast cancer risk, but there are certainly many modi fiable risk factors and behaviors we can affect to protect ourselves from breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other diseases. The list below includes my go-tos when I counsel women regarding real ways they can protect and maintain their breasts, heart, brain and body.

1. Maintaining a healthy weight: A nor mal range for BMI lowers risk for cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and

orthopedic issues

2. Quitting or not start ing smoking

3. Exercise: The Ameri can Cancer Society rec ommends that adults get at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week

4. Avoid or limit alcohol intake: Even small amounts can increase your risk for breast cancer, and there is a limit to the benefit of red wine for your heart health

5. Eating a balanced diet of carbohy drates, protein and fats (yes, our body does need some fat to maintain healthy cell and brain function), with a focus on brightly colored fruits and vegetables to give you vitamins, minerals and other phytonutrients that can help protect cells and organs from environmental stressors that can lead to cancer, cardio vascular disease and dementia

6. Staying current on all recommended preventives and screenings: Colon can cer screenings (the age to start has been lowered to 45 from 50), regular skin cancer checks, yearly mammograms, heart screenings like heart calcium scans, ultrasounds to check for carotid artery narrowing (stroke risk), bloodwork to check for diabetes, thyroid issues, etc. and gynecological exams as indicated by age and other factors

At Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, we take women’s health seri ously. By offering comprehensive screen ings, diagnostics and treatment for all your health issues, there is no reason to go outside your own community to find world-class healthcare. Our providers take an individualized approach to care, tailoring treatment to each patient to help them achieve their health goals.

Our Breast Cancer STAT clinic offers consultations that include your entire breast cancer team (surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, genet ics and nurse navigation) in a single

visit. We offer state-of-the-art treat ments, including oncoplasty and hidden scar surgery, one-dose intraoperative radiation and access to clinical trials. Our Center for Best Health provides multidisciplinary care for weight man agement, which can lower the risk of or even help treat conditions such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. We have highlytrained specialists for cardiovascular diseases, neurology including movement disorders, rheumatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology and pain management.

By being proactive with our breast health, we can also protect the rest of our health.

Dr. Laura Pearson is a Wellstar breast surgeon who serves as the direc tor of the Wellstar North Fulton Breast Program and the Wellstar Breast Cancer STAT Clinic. To make an appointment with Dr. Pearson at her office on the campus of Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, call (470) 956-4270.

NANCARE

For years, Nan Harman-Dempsey has loved practicing law in the community where she was born and raised: Alpharetta. But when her mammogram revealed breast cancer, even she was surprised to find such high-tech care less than five miles away. At Wellstar North Fulton , Nan was a candidate for intraoperative radiation therapy, or IORT.

During her lumpectomy, Nan’s medical and radiation oncology surgeons worked side-by-side as one removed the tumor and the other gave Nan radiation therapy, seamlessly in one fell swoop. Instead of weeks, her radiation took moments. After her fasttracked treatment, Nan’s newest love is her care team at Wellstar. No two people named Nan are exactly alike, and at Wellstar, we would never treat them that way. wellstar.org/peoplecare

Healing from disordered eating

How many people will struggle with an eating disorder during their lifetime?

It’s a more complicated question than you might think. Since the vast major ity of people with eating disorders either never seek formal treatment for their disorder or are never formally diagnosed (Hart et al., 2011), researchers can’t just search medical records.

The term “eating disorder” covers a wide range of unique mental illnesses. The common characteristic they share is causing some type of harmful food-cen tered behavior that includes either food restriction or excessive eating. Eating disorders can lead to harmful physical ef fects and even death. According to ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Ner vosa and Associated Disorders), eating disorders are among the deadliest mental health disorders, second only to opioid overdose. 10,200 people die each year from complications of an eating disorder,

One of the most constructive ways to navigate your recovery journey is the ba sic understanding that you are not alone. It can be hard to ask for help for many reasons. However, healthcare profession als, loved ones, and the support of those who have gone through similar struggles can make a difference in your journey.

If you haven’t found people in your

current support circle, consider reaching out to a professional to get their opinion and support. They will have tools and resources to support you in a way that feels comfortable and validating - be cause you are worthy of getting the sup port you need just the way you are!

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Blue light season has returned

Brought to you by – Brent Taylor, MD

Blue light therapy, also called photody namic therapy (PDT), is a treatment that can help eliminate precancerous lesions and lower one’s risk of skin cancer. A PDT treatment involves applying a medi cine called aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to a patient’s skin and then shining blue light on the treated area to activate the medicine. ALA is an organic, naturally occurring amino acid that our bodies use to make hemoglobin.

When applied to the skin and activated by blue light, ALA preferen tially kills pre-cancerous cells that make up lesions called actinic keratoses (AKs). Patients can often feel their own AKs by running their fingers over sun damaged areas such as the tip of the nose, the tops of the ears or the scalp. AK’s usu ally feel rough or hard and will some times bleed if picked. AKs can develop into skin cancer if untreated.

PDT has a “season” because most pre-cancer treatments leave the skin temporarily irritated and paradoxi cally vulnerable to the sun’s rays for a period of a few days to a week as healing takes place. Good cells need time to heal into the place previously occupied by bad cells. After a PDT treatment, a patient needs to avoid the sun for a few days. If a patient is going to see a child or grandchild’s baseball game, go fishing, golfing, boating or otherwise be in the sun, then many dermatologists would recommend waiting to perform preventative skin cancer treatments until a less sunny time of year when it’s easier to avoid the sun’s UV rays.

Now that the days are getting shorter and the sun is less intense, it’s

time to start thinking about skin cancer prevention again. Multiple treatment options exist to help prevent skin cancer including in-office treatments like PDT as well as at home creams that a patient applies such as fluorouracil, imiquimod, diclofenac and tirbanibulin. A dermatol ogist can help a patient choose the best, personalized treatment.

PDT and the best topical treat ments can eliminate 75% or more of one’s actinic keratoses and dramatically decrease the number of times a patient has to have spots frozen or cancers cut out. Our experience is that thoroughly treated areas that were growing skin cancers at the rate of one per year often go multiple years without another skin cancer after PDT treatments.

Cosmetically, PDT can be part of a skin rejuvenation regimen. On the face of men and women and on the up per chest “décolletage” area of women, PDT treatments can address the pre cancerous component of sun-damaged skin, and then laser treatments (such as 532/1064nm Nd:YAG laser) can help address aesthetic components of sun damage. These treatments allow many rough, red or brown spots to be eliminated resulting in medical and cosmetic benefit.

If you would like to repair sun damaged skin and treat actinic keratoses or are simply overdue for a skin exam, consider Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta. Dr. Brent Taylor is a fellowship-trained and board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon. Kathryn Filipek, PA-C has greater than 15 years of experience in dermatology and has expertise in medical dermatology, cos metic injectable treatments, sclerotherapy, external laser treatments and more.

ISTOCK

Grammar policing sparks traumatic childhood tribulations

I had a traumatic childhood.

So did my sisters. And the source of the trauma was our dear mother. And I have always said or thought that if you really want to know someone or figure out what makes them tick, you have to go back to their child hood and their parents. That is ground zero on who we are – or are not.

I don’t think mother ever did not not correct us when she heard us murdering the king’ English. And she usually had a little funny saying to help us remember.

For example, “chickens lay, people lie.” That is, people cannot “lay” be cause that is what chickens do; people, instead, “lie.”

is at the store” but you cannot correctly say, “where is he at?”

RAY APPEN

Let me explain.

One of my sisters sent me a T-shirt a couple years ago as a present. The shirt was light blue and had a single sentence on the front: “I am silently correcting your grammar.” I had to laugh because it was unfortunately and obsessively, capital “T” true. I cannot talk to another person or overhear a conversation with out involuntarily and (usually) silently correcting errors in grammar that I hear.

And I say “involuntarily” because I literally cannot not do that. Once I even, to my own mortification, corrected something that the woman in front of me in the line at the grocery store said –seriously. I was aghast at myself and she should have punched me.

Here is another. Upon hearing one of us say something like “Me and her went to the store,” she would respond – every single time – with “me didn’t go to the store,” “her didn’t go to the store,” but, she would explain, “I went to the store” or “she went to the store.”

I think that using the word “me” incorrectly is the most common mistake. The rule I think should be to never ever use “me” unless you put “to” in front of it.

My favorite though – and it always reminds me of Simon & Garfunkel (“Dangling Conversation), was this one. Someone would say “Where is so and so at?” My mother, without fail, would always respond with “behind the preposition ‘at.’” That is, you can’t end a sentence with a dangling preposition. Instead, one should simply say, “Where is so and so?” I would guess that 80 percent of humanity tacks on “at” at the end of every interrogative location-relat ed question. You can correctly say “he

I think that speaking correctly is an art that we are rapidly losing, and there are a number of reasons for this. I would suggest that the first is simply that fewer and fewer people grow up with a mom who actually knows her grammar well –“well” or “good?”

OK, so which is it, “good” or “well?”

Can you say “I am doing good,” and be grammatically correct? No. The short version is that “well” is generally used as an adverb and it modifies verbs, adverbs or phrases. For example, “She runs well.” Well describes the verb, “to run.” But she is a “good” runner. “Good,” in this case modifies the noun “runner.” It serves as an adjective.

So, you would use “well.” She is a mother who knows her grammar “well.” In this case, “well” modifies the verb “knows.” It serves an adverb (how, when, where).

The other reason I think so many folks make grammatical mistakes today is that they no longer teach students how to diagram sentences in school. I remember spending what seemed like hours every day in elementary and middle school diagramming sentences. You can’t diagram sentences unless you understand the basic mechanics of the

English language – matching subjects with proper verbs in tense and number; knowing the difference between direct and indirect objects; or understanding what a participle is.

Another reason I think that my gram mar is relatively good is because I – in another life – learned languages - Span ish, German and Portuguese. Again, one must have at least a fundamental grasp of grammar to master another language. Learning how grammar functions in another language immensely helps one with their English grammar.

I have to acknowledge though, that I recall sitting in on one of my kid’s classes at Milton High School – fresh man English – and the teacher handed out a grammar quiz which consisted of about a dozen sentences. The stu dents were asked to circle where in the sentence there was incorrect grammar. Naturally, I thought I would nail it but, I think I only spotted maybe four of the mistakes out of 12. Talk about a hum bling experience!

So, I really don’t know nearly as much grammar as I think, even though I keep and periodically read my favor ite grammar book, “The Plain English Handbook” (written in the 1950s) that I keep on my bedside table, the book with which mother tortured us.

Thank you!

Before I say another word about this year’s Best of North Atlanta results, I first want to take the opportunity to extend a hearty congrats to the entire business community for not only bouncing back from a COVID economy, but thriving in the time since.

HANS APPEN

I suspect one of the reasons is that we all learned how to dig a little deeper to make ends meet. We all had to figure out new and creative ways to meet our customers where they are, engage with our staff, and work efficiently to deal with supply chain interruptions and limited resources.

Perhaps one challenge that proved particularly difficult was continuing to deliver a level and quality of product/service that our customers had come to expect in a business environment where that was sometimes near impossible. This meant that we witnessed businesses reinvent themselves on the fly. I suspect that for many of them, they made structural changes to their businesses they’d been putting off for years but were now essential to staying open. We learned what had to get done immediately, and what could wait another day.

We retained many of those lessons learned, even when we no longer needed to use them, and for that I believe our business community is stronger and better.

It is certainly more resilient.

Now, onto the results. After 107,000(!) votes were cast in this year’s contest, we are thrilled to present the winners in this week’s editions of our Herald newspapers.

To our winners, take pride in this great accomplishment. There is no higher praise than

willingness of a customer to go online and cast a vote to hopefully help you win your category. Many posted links to their social media accounts, emailed their friends and family asking them to support you, and returned multiple times to the ballot to maximize their impact on the results! You’ve got a lot of fans out there.

We hope to celebrate each of you in person at the awards gala in October – the first time we’ve been able to host the event in three years. It is going to be a lot of fun, and we hope you take the opportunity to enjoy yourself, take a break, and appreciate your accomplishments.

To the voters, our newspapers’ readers, and the patrons of our winning businesses, thank you. Thank you for helping us bestow the much-deserved recognition on the businesses you support. Every year now for over 15 years we have asked you to take a couple minutes out of your day to help us nominate and then vote on the best the area has to offer, and you have yet to disappoint.

Please continue to support your local business community, and the next time you visit one of the winners listed on the following pages, make sure to congratulate them.

Hans Appen Publisher, Appen Media Group

Alpharetta • Forsyth County • Johns Creek • Milton • Roswell

Best Of North Atlanta

BEST BAKERY

Nothing Bundt Cakes Alpharetta

5230 Windward Pkwy., Ste 102 Milton, GA 30004 678-366-1445 nothingbundtcakes.com/bakery/ ga/Alpharetta

Alpine Bakery & Pizzeria Crabapple 12315 Crabapple Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-410-9883 alpinebakeryandtrattoria.com

BEST BBQ Cue

Multiple Locations

770-667-0089 cuebarbecue.com

Smokejack

How the winners are displayed

MAIN CATEGORY

SUBCATEGORY

Winners appear in bold. Address, phone number and website

1st runner-ups appear in normal text. Address, phone number and website

29 S. Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-410-7611 smokejackbbq.com

BEST BREAKFAST/BRUNCH

Gracious Plenty Bakery & Breakfast

1164 Canton St. Roswell, GA 30075 678-878-3105 graciousplentybb.com

The Original Pancake House

BEST CAJUN/CREOLE FOOD

Flatlands Bourbon and Bayou

52B N Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 470-242-5458 flatlands52.com

Hugo’s Oyster Bar 10360 Alpharetta St. Roswell, GA 30075 770-993-5922 hugosoysterbar.com

BEST COFFEE SHOP (LOCAL)

Crazy Love Coffee House 1088 Canton St. Roswell, GA 30075 770-545-8228 crazylove.coffee

Valor Coffee

44 Milton Ave. Alpharetta, GA 30009 706-452-3329 valor.coffee.com

BEST DESSERT

Nothing Bundt Cakes Alpharetta 5230 Windward Pkwy., Ste 102 Milton, GA 30004 678-366-1445 nothingbundtcakes.com/bakery/ ga/alpharetta

BEST GERMAN FOOD

Gasthaus Tirol

310 Atlanta Rd. Cumming, GA 30040 770-844-7244 gasthaus-cumming.com

Kurt’s Euro Bistro

3305 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. #100 Duluth, GA 30096 770-623-4128 kurtsrestaurant.com

BEST HAPPY HOUR

Deep Roots Wine Market & Tasting Room

1055 Canton St. #100 Roswell, GA 30075 770-676-6146 www.deeprootswine.co

Village Tavern

11555 Rainwater Dr. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-777-6490 villagetavern.com

BEST HOT DOG

BobbyG’s Chicago Eatery & Sports Bar 12990 GA-9 North Milton, GA 30004 770-772-0710 bobbygs.com

BEST ITALIAN FOOD

Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant

5670 Atlanta Hwy, A1 Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-475-9100 casanuovarestaurant.com

Osteria Mattone

1095 Canton St. Roswell, GA 30075 678-878-3378 www.osteriamattone.com

BEST LOCAL FLAIR RESTAURANT

Table & Main

1028 Canton St. Roswell, GA 30075 678-869-5178 eats.rohospitality.com

Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails 800 Mayfield Rd, Milton, GA 30009 770-817-0161 miltonscuisine.com

BEST LUNCH SPOT

Never Enough Thyme 2 Alpharetta locations neverenoughthyme.net

BurgerFi

BEST ALL-AROUND RESTAURANT

Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant

5670 Atlanta Hwy., A1 Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-475-9100 casanuovarestaurant.com

Village Tavern

11555 Rainwater Dr. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-777-6490 villagetavern.com

BEST ASIAN FOOD

JINYA Ramen Bar

401 South Broad St., 4A Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-609-8238 Jinyaramenbar.com

Thai House

10930 Crabapple Rd. Roswell, GA 30075 770-993-1688 thaihouseroswell.com

5530 Windward Pkwy. #120a Alpharetta, GA 30004 678-393-1355 pancakesalpharetta.com

BEST BREWERY/BREWPUB

Six Bridges Brewing 11455 Lakefield Dr. Ste 300 Johns Creek, GA 30097 470-545-4199

www.sixbridgesbrewing.com

Cherry Street Brewpub at Halcyon 6640 Town Square Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-696-4929 cherrystreethalcyon.com

BEST BURGER

Lucky’s Burger & Brew 1144 Alpharetta St. Roswell, GA 30075 770-518-5695 luckysburgerandbrew.com

BurgerFi

5475 Windward Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-817-4658 burgerfi.com

Alpine Bakery 12315 Crabapple Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-410-9883 alpinebakeryandtrattoria.com

BEST FAMILY DINING

Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant 5670 Atlanta Hwy., A1 Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-475-9100 casanuovarestaurant.com

Village Tavern 11555 Rainwater Dr. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-777-6490 villagetavern.com

BEST FINE DINING

Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant 5670 Atlanta Hwy. A1 Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-475-9100 casanuovarestaurant.com

Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails 800 Mayfield Rd. Milton, GA 30009 770-817-0161 miltonscuisine.com

Nauti Dog Grill 10 N Broad St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-676-0154 www.nautidoggrillga.com

BEST ICE CREAM

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Multiple Locations jenis.com

Andy’s Frozen Custard

3670 Old Milton Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30005 470-268-6175 eatandys.com

BEST INDIAN FOOD

Madras Chettinaad

4305 State Bridge Rd. #108 Alpharetta, GA 30022 678-393-3131 madraschettinaad.com

Curry Up Now 24 South Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-694-1422 curryupnow.com

5475 Windward Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-817-4658 burgerfi.com

BEST MEXICAN FOOD

Pure Taqueria

Multiple Locations 678-240-0023 or 770-817-7873 puretaqueria.com

Surcheros Fresh Mex 91 S Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-737-7902 www.surcheros.com

BEST PATIO DINING

Table & Main 1028 Canton St. Roswell, GA 30075 678-869-5178 eats.rohospitality.com

Citizen Soul 60 South Main St.

BEST PIZZA

Antico Pizza Napoletana

Multiple Locations

770-674-8811 littleitalia.com

Campania Alpharetta

800 N Main St. #100

Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-825-2156 campaniaga.com

BEST SALAD

Brookwood Grill

880 Holcomb Bridge Rd.

Roswell, GA 30076 770-587-0102 www.brookwoodgrill.com

Never Enough Thyme

2 Alpharetta locations neverenoughthyme.net

BEST SEAFOOD

Hugo’s Oyster Bar

10360 Alpharetta St.

Roswell, GA 30075 770-993-5922 hugosoysterbar.com

Rena’s Italian Fishery & Grill

240 S Main St. Ste M

Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-790-4040 renasifg.com

BEST SMOOTHIE/JUICERY

Smoothie King

Multiple Locations www.smoothieking.com

July Moon Bakery and Café

200 S Main St. Ste Z

Alpharetta, GA 30009 470-273-5971 www.julymoonbakeryandcafe.com

BEST TAKEOUT FOOD

Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant

5670 Atlanta Hwy. A1

Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-475-9100 casanuovarestaurant.com

BurgerFi

5475 Windward Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-817-4658 burgerfi.com

BEST WINGS

Smokejack BBQ

29 S. Main St.

Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-410-7611

BobbyG’s Chicago Eatery & Sports Bar

12990 GA-9 North Milton, GA 30004 770-772-0710 bobbygs.com

MEDICAL

BEST AUDIOLOGIST

Mraz Audiology Consulting

3400-C Old Milton Pkwy., Ste. 385 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-653-7027 audiologyconsulting.com

Robb Family ENT

3400 Old Milton Pkwy

Bldg. C, #575 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-410-0202 robbfamilyent.com

BEST CHIROPRACTOR

North Fulton Chiropractic Center 254 N Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-754-4567 www.nfultonchiro.com

North Atlanta Spine

5755 North Point Pkwy., #240 Alpharetta, GA 30022 678-691-3221 northatlantaspine.com

BEST COSMETIC SURGERY

Robinson Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Burke Robinson 3400 Old Milton Pkwy. Bldg. C, Ste 330 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-667-3090 robinsonfps.com

The Graivier Center 3333 Old Milton Pkwy. #260 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-772-0695 thegraiviercenter.com

BEST COUNSELING

Summit Counseling Center 2750 Old Alabama Rd. #200 Johns Creek, GA 30022 678-893-5300 summitcounseling.org

Family Solutions Counseling, LLC 3534 Old Milton Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-220-0090 familysolutionscounselingga.com

BEST DENTISTRY

Roswell Dental Care 1570 Old Alabama Rd. #102 Roswell, GA 30076 678-802-8576 roswelldentalcare.com

Atlanta Center for Dental Health 11190 Haynes Bridge Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30022 770-992-2236 www.atlantacdh.com

BEST DERMATOLOGIST

Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta 3180 North Point Pkwy., Ste 420 Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-345-1899 premierdermatologyatlanta.com

Goodman Dermatology P.C. 2500 Hospital Blvd., #280 Roswell, GA 30076 770-754-0787 goodmandermatology.com

BEST ENT

Robb Family ENT 3400 Old Milton Pkwy. Bldg. C, #575 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-410-0202 robbfamilyent.com

Northeast Atlanta Ear, Nose & Throat, PC Multiple Locations 770-237-3000 northeastatlantaent.com

BEST FAMILY PRACTICE

North Atlanta Primary Care 3400-C Old Milton Pkwy., Ste. 270 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-442-1911 northatlantaprimarycare.com

Laureate Medical Group 3400 Old Milton Pkwy., C-500 Alpharetta, GA 30005 Multiple Locations 678-775-2284 www.laureatemed.com

BEST HAIR RESTORATION

The Graivier Center

3333 Old Milton Pkwy., #260 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-772-0695 thegraiviercenter.com

Anderson Center for Hair 2710 Old Milton Pkwy., Ste. 170, Alpharetta, GA 30009 404-256-4247 atlantahairsurgeon.com

BEST HOLISTIC/ ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Salt n’ Sauna Wellness

735 N Main St., Ste. 1900 Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-580-2501 saltnsauna.com

Next Level Stretch

3950 Johns Creek Ct., #125

Suwanee, GA 30024 678-620-4018 www.nextlevelstretch.com

BEST HOME CARE FOR SENIORS

Home Helpers Home Care

5755 North Point Pkwy., #259 Alpharetta, GA 30022 770-681-0323 homehelpershomecare.com/Al pharetta

Skylark Home Care

4265 Johns Creek Pkwy., Ste. B Johns Creek, GA 30024 404-410-1510 skylarkseniorcare.com

BEST INTERNAL MEDICINE

Johns Creek Primary Care Physicians

4365 Johns Creek Pkwy., #400 Suwanee, GA 30024 678-957-1910 johnscreekprimarycare.com

North Atlanta Primary Care

3400-C Old Milton Pkwy., Ste. 270 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-442-1911 northatlantaprimarycare.com

BEST MED SPA

Salt n’ Sauna Wellness

735 N Main St., Ste. 1900 Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-580-2501 saltnsauna.com

The Graivier Center

3333 Old Milton Pkwy., #260 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-772-0695 thegraiviercenter.com

BEST MEDICAL ESTHETICIAN

Heather Davis, LE

Visage Skin Care & Laser Center

3400 Old Milton Pkwy. Bldg. C, Ste. 330 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-667-3090 robinsonfps.com

Ashley King

The Graivier Center

3333 Old Milton Pkwy., #260 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-772-0695 thegraiviercenter.com

BEST MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS

Elvina Vitkin, M.D. Weight Control

631 N Main St., Ste. 203 Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-664-0803 drvitkin.com

Salt n’ Sauna Wellness

735 N. Main St. Ste. 1900 Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-580-2501 saltnsauna.com

BEST MEMORY CARE

Celebration Village Forsyth 3000 Celebration Blvd. Suwanee, GA 30024 770-744-0832 agewellliving.com

The Memory Center 12050 Findley Rd. Johns Creek, GA 30097 770-476-3678 www.thememorycenter.com

BEST MOBILITY STORE/SERVICES

Heavenly Wheels

6375 McGinnis Ferry Rd., #101 Johns Creek, GA 30005 678-847-0301 heavenlywheels.com

Mobility Georgia 2905 Jordan Ct., Ste H Alpharetta, GA 30004 470-357-6130 mobilitygeorgia.com

BEST NUTRITIONIST/DIETICIAN Medical Fitness & Wellness Group

10700 Medlock Bridge Rd. #105 Johns Creek, GA 30097 770-623-4078 exercise4prevention.com

Johns Creek Primary Care Physicians 4365 Johns Creek Pkwy., #400 Suwanee, GA 30024 678-957-1910 johnscreekprimarycare.com

BEST OBGYN

Modern Obstetrics & Gynecology

of North Atlanta

Multiple Locations 404-446-2496 reyesobgyn.com

Roswell OBGYN

Multiple Locations 770-751-3600 roswellobgyn.org

BEST OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

High Hopes Children’s Therapy

3538 Old Milton Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-395-3269 highhopestherapy.com

All About Kids Therapy - Peachtree

Corners/ Norcross

3850 Holcomb Bridge Rd., #245 Norcross, GA 30092 770-710-0181 allaboutkidstherapyservices.com

BEST ONCOLOGY

The Center for Advanced Medicine

Jonathan Stegall, MD

3333 Old Milton Pkwy., Ste. 560 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-551-2730 advanced-med.com

Piedmont Cancer Institute

755 Mt. Vernon Hwy. Sandy Springs, GA 30328 404-350-8711 www.piedmontcancerinstitute.com

BEST OPHTHALMOLOGY

Milan Eye Center

Multiple Locations

678-381-2021 milaneyecenter.com

Thomas Eye Group - Roswell Office

Multiple Locations 770-475-5515 thomaseye.com

BEST OPTOMETRY

Thomas Eye Group –

Roswell Office

11690 Alpharetta Hwy. Roswell, GA 30076 770-475-5515 thomaseye.com

Caris Eye Centers – Alpharetta

9995 Jones Bridge Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30022 770-475-1242 cariseyecenters.com

BEST ORAL SURGERY

Paul Korb, DMD & Craig Taylor, DMD - Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

4355 Johns Creek Pkwy., Ste. 530 Suwanee, GA 30024 770-495-9193 korbtaylor.com

Atlanta Oral and Facial Surgery

Multiple Locations

877-269-2637 atlantaoralsurgery.com

BEST ORTHODONTIST

Hiser Orthodontics

Multiple locations 470-330-9083 hiserortho.com

Smile Doctors by Jordan Orthodontics

Dr. Jeff Jordan, Dr. Jim Awbrey Multiple Listings 770-751-1688 smiledoctors.com

BEST ORTHOPEDICS

Resurgens Orthopedics

Multiple locations 770-475-2710 resurgens.com

Peachtree Orthopedics

Multiple Locations 404-355-0743 peachtreeorthopedics.com

BEST PAIN MANAGEMENT

Pain Physicians of Atlanta

3333 Old Milton Pkwy., Ste. #400 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-391-3979 painphysiciansofatlanta.com

Align Spine and Pain Institute 960 Warsaw Rd., Ste. 150 Roswell, GA 30076 770-988-7246 alignspine.com

BEST PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Children’s Dental Zone

3455 Old Alabama Rd. Johns Creek, GA 30022 770-777-1222 childrensdentalzone.com

Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics

4205 North Point Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30022 770-664-4936 alpharettachildrensdentistry.com

BEST PEDIATRIC PRACTICE

Roswell Pediatric Center, P.C. Multiple Locations 770-751-0800 roswellpediatrics.com

North Fulton Pediatrics

1285 Hembree Rd., #100 Roswell, GA 30076 770-442-1050 northfultonpediatrics.com

BEST PHARMACY (LOCAL)

Lily’s Pharmacy & Wellness Center

11670 Jones Bridge Rd. Johns Creek, GA 30005 678-964-5459 lilyspharmacy.com

North Fulton Compounding Pharmacy

305 S Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-475-8903 northfultonrx.com

BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY

Johns Creek Physical Therapy

4060 Johns Creek Pkwy., Ste. H Suwanee, GA 30024 770-622-5344 johnscreekpt.com

Medical Fitness and Wellness Group

10700 Medlock Bridge Rd. Ste. 105 Johns Creek, GA 770-623-4078 exercise4prevention.com

BEST PODIATRY

Ankle & Foot Centers of GA Multiple Listings 770-418-0456 ankleandfootcenters.com

Dean P. Kostakos, DPM 1380 Upper Hembree Rd. Roswell, GA 30076 770-346-7500

BEST SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER

Skylark Adult Day Care 4265 Johns Creek Pkwy., Ste B Johns Creek, GA 30024 404-410-1510 skylarkseniorcare.com

Sexton Hall Enrichment Center 2115 Chloe Rd. Cumming, GA 30041 770-781-2178

BEST SENIOR LIVING

COMMUNITY

Celebration Village

3000 Celebration Blvd. Suwanee, GA 30024 770-744-0832 agewellliving.com

Village Park Senior Living Multiple Locations 678-740-3499 villageparkseniorliving.com

BEST SPEECH THERAPY

High Hopes Children’s Therapy

3538 Old Milton Pkwy.

Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-395-3269 highhopestherapy.com

Rogers Bridge Pediatric Therapy 2845 Summercrest Ln. Duluth, GA 30096 478-454-8889 rogersbridgepediatrictherapy.com

BEST SUBSTANCE ABUSE/ ADDICTION TREATMENT

No Longer Bound 2725 Pine Grove Rd. Cumming, GA 30041 770-886-7873 nolongerbound.com

Summit Counseling Center 2750 Old Alabama Rd., #200 Johns Creek, GA 30022 678-893-5300 summitcounseling.org

BEST URGENT CARE

Piedmont Urgent Care — Milton/Alpharetta Multiple Locations 770-521-6690 wellstreet.com

Here to Help Urgent Care 1137 Alpharetta St. Roswell, GA 30075 678-336-9240

BEST UROLOGY

Advanced Urology Multiple Locations 404-586-4570 advancedurology.com

Georgia Urology: David M Banks MD 1800 Northside Forsyth Dr., #370 Cumming, GA 30041 678-947-6199 www.gaurology.com

BEST VEIN SPECIALIST

Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

3180 North Point Pkwy., Ste. 420 Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-345-1899 premierdermatologyatlanta.com

North Atlanta Vascular Clinic Multiple locations 770-771-5260 navascularclinic.com

BEST VETERINARIAN

Midway Animal Hospital

6785 Atlanta Hwy. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-475-2003 midwayvets.com

Dr. Beatriz Segarra

The Village Animal Hospital

5075 Abbotts Bridge Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-754-1234 www.thevillageanimalhospital.com

PEOPLE & COMMUNITY

BEST BARTENDER

Pepe Fundora

Cork & Glass

5670 Atlanta Hwy., Ste A2 Alpharetta, GA 30004 678-694-8812 corkandglass.com

Joe RampinoCreation Social House 11500 Webb Bridge Way Alpharetta, GA 30005 470-264-1871 Creationsocialhouse.com

BEST BOSS

Dr. Kenan Sener

3035 Fanfare Way Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-366-2555 fultonscienceacademy.org

Dana Gurela, Deep Roots Wine Market

BEST DENTIST

Dr. Bradley Hepler

Atlanta Center for Dental Health

11190 Haynes Bridge Rd.

Alpharetta, GA 30022 770-992-2236 www.atlantacdh.com

Dr. Destinee Hood

Roswell Dental Care

1570 Old Alabama Rd., # 102 Roswell, GA 30076 678-802-8576 roswelldentalcare.com

BEST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

Caitlin Lawrence

Alpharetta Police Dept.

Scott Mulvey

Milton Police Dept.

BEST LIBRARY

Milton Library

855 Mayfield Rd. Milton, GA 30009 404-613-4402 fulcolibrary.org

Alpharetta Library

10 Park Plaza

Alpharetta, GA 30009 404-613-6735 fulcolibrary.org

BEST LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESS

Deep Roots Wine Market & Tasting Room

1055 Canton St., #100 Roswell, GA 30075 770-676-6146 www.deeprootswine.co

Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant

5670 Atlanta Hwy., A1 Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-475-9100 casanuovarestaurant.com

BEST NEW BUSINESS (OPENED IN 2021)

The Vick

1182 Canton St. Roswell, GA 30075 678-587-5856 www.koffeeandkocktails.com

Doodle Pies

1105 Woodstock Rd., Ste 140 Roswell, GA 30075 678-373-1758 doodlepies.net

BEST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

Atlantic Institute

591 N Main St., #100

Alpharetta, GA 30009 404-254-4884 theatlanticinstitute.org

North Fulton Community Charities

11275 Elkins Rd. Roswell, GA 30076 770-640-0399 nfcchelp.org

BEST PARK Wills Park

11925 Wills Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-297-6130 alpharetta.ga.us

Roswell Area Park

10495 Woodstock Rd. Roswell, GA 30075 770-817-6670 www.roswellgov.com

BEST PEDIATRICIAN

Dr. Greg Cabrera

North Point Pediatrics

3180 North Point Pkwy. Ste. 410, Bldg. 400 Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-664-0088 northpointpediatrics.biz

Sridevi Muthukumar

10710 Medlock Bridge Rd., #250 Johns Creek, GA 30097 770-870-1085 meadowpediatrics.com

BEST PERSONAL TRAINER

Mike Hardy – Medical Fitness & Wellness Group

10700 Medlock Bridge Rd. Ste. 105 Johns Creek, GA 30097 770-623-4078 exercise4prevention.com

Krystal Donaldson Meyer

BEST PILATES/ YOGA INSTRUCTOR

Sarah Hailey

Oya Yoga Studio

50 Canton St., Ste. 114 Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-381-1569 oyayogastudio.com

BEST PLACE TO WORK

Aura Hair & Makeup

7878 Roswell Rd. Sandy Springs, GA 30350 770-640-2882 www.aurasas.com

BurgerFi

5475 Windward Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-817-4658 www.burgerfi.com

BEST POLICE OFFICER

Mark Tappan

Alpharetta Police Department 2565 Old Milton Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-297-6300 alpharetta.policetocitizen.com

Sgt Trent Lundgren

BEST REALTOR

Deniece Toth

Compass Atlanta 3107 Peachtree Rd. NE, Ste. A 1 Atlanta, GA 30305 404-509-4003 thinktoth.com

Allison Kloster

1819 Peachtree Rd., Ste. 100 Atlanta, GA 30309 404-784-5287 www.homegeorgia.com/agents/ allison-kloster

BEST SCHOOL TEACHER

Ms Duzyol

Fulton Science Academy 3035 Fanfare Way Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-366-2555 fultonscienceacademy.org

Robin Chiang

Fulton Science Academy 3035 Fanfare Way Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-366-2555 fultonscienceacademy.org

RECREATION

Taste of Alpharetta tasteofalpharettaga.com

BEST DANCE LESSONS/STUDIO

Tolbert Yilmaz School of Dance

601 Houze Way

Roswell, GA 30076 770-998-0259 tysod.com

Rhythm n’ Shoes Dance

175 Roswell St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 404-290-9142 rhythmandshoes.com

BEST DATE NIGHT HOTSPOT

Avalon 400 Avalon Blvd. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-765-1000 www.experienceavalon.com

The Painted Horse Winery and Vineyards 2105 Bethany Way, Milton, GA 30004 770-846-1559 thepaintedhorsewinery.com

BEST DAY SPA / MASSAGE

The Woodhouse Day Spa – Avalon

7150 Avalon Blvd. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-241-2733 avalon.woodhousespas.com

Youthtopia Med Spa 33 Teasley St Ste 115 Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-772-4806 youthtopiamedspa.com

BEST FARMERS MARKET

Alpharetta Farmers Market North and South Broad St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 alpharettafarmersmarket.com

The Manor Golf & Country Club 15952 Manor Club Dr. Milton, GA 30004 770-810-3175 www.invitedclubs.com/clubs/themanor-golf-country-club

BEST GROUP/ CORPORATE ACTIVITY

Topgolf

10900 Westside Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-217-0513 topgolf.com

A&S Culinary Concepts

9945 Jones Bridge Rd., Ste. 303 Johns Creek, GA 30022 678-336-9196 asculinaryconcepts.com

BEST GYM / FITNESS FACILITY Senergy Fitness

10595 Old Alabama Rd. Con. Ste. 21 Alpharetta, GA 30022 470-282-5225 senergyfitness.com

Body by Design Fitness Studio Alpharetta 131 S Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-823-1683 www.bodybydesignalpha.com

BEST MUSIC LESSONS

Perfect Harmony Health 1001 Macy Dr. Roswell, GA 30076 678-965-0993 perfectharmonyhealth.com

RISPA 14155 Ga-9 N. Milton, GA 30004 678-620-3500 rispa.net

BEST ART LESSONS/STUDIO

Johns Creek Arts Center 6290 Abbotts Bridge Rd., Bldg. 700 Johns Creek, GA 30097 770-623-8448 johnscreekarts.com

Sis + Moon’s 24 Milton Ave. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-310-9338 www.sisandmoons.com

BEST COMMUNITY EVENT

Alive In Roswell aliveinroswell.com

Roswell Farmers & Artisans Market 755 Mimosa Blvd. Roswell, GA 30075 404-492-9938 roswellfam.com

BEST GOLF COURSE Country Club of Roswell 2500 Club Springs Dr. Roswell, GA 30076 770-475-7800 ccroswell.com

BEST PERFORMING ARTS / THEATRE

Georgia Ensemble Theatre 950 Forest St. Roswell, GA 30075 770-641-1260 get.org

Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra P.O. Box 5003 Alpharetta, GA 30023 678-740-3554 www.alpharettasymphony.org

BEST PLACE FOR GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT

Deep Roots Wine Market & Tasting Room

1055 Canton St., #100

Roswell, GA 30075 440-676-6146 www.deeprootswine.co

Johns Creek Wine & Crystal

9810 Medlock Bridge Rd., #700

Johns Creek, GA 30097 770-680-2380 johnscreekwineandcrystal.com

BEST PLACE FOR KIDS

TO HAVE FUN

Chattahoochee Nature Center

9135 Willeo Rd.

Roswell, GA 30075 770-992-2055 chattnaturecenter.org

Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios

Alpharetta

131 S Main St., Ste. G

Alpharetta, GA 30009 470-760-6460 www.flourpowerstudios.com/Al pharetta

BEST SPORTS PROGRAM

Alpharetta Ambush Soccer Club

10945 State Bridge Rd. Ste. 401-315

Alpharetta,GA 30005 678-297-6160 alpharettaambush.org

St. Andrew Rowing Club

675 Riverside Rd.

Roswell, GA 30075 770-225-2040 www.standrewrowing.com

BEST SUMMER CAMP

Johns Creek Arts Center

6290 Abbotts Bridge Rd. Bldg. 700

Johns Creek, GA 30097 770-623-8448 johnscreekarts.org

Alpharetta Recreation Gymnastics

175 Roswell St.

Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-297-6100 alpharettarecreationgymnastics.com

BEST WEDDING VENUE

Country Club of Roswell

2500 Club Springs Dr. Roswell, GA 30076 770-475-7822 ccroswell.com

Little River Farms

14505 Batesville Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-973-0108 www.littleriverfarmsga.com

RETAIL

BEST ANTIQUES STORE

Lakewood 400

1321 Atlanta Hwy.

Cumming, GA 30040 770-889-3400 lakewoodantiques.com

Queen of Hearts

670 N Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-297-7571 queenofheartsantiques-interiors.com

BEST APPAREL/BOUTIQUE (LOCAL)

Clothes Horse Men’s Apparel

28 Milton Ave., Alpharetta, GA 30009 470-294-2132 clotheshorsemensapparel.com

Spirited Boutiques Multiple Locations 770-864-1064 spiritedboutiques.com

BEST ART GALLERY/RETAILER

Vinings Gallery Multiple Locations 770-545-8887 viningsgallery.com

Sis + Moon’s 24 Milton Ave Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-310-9338 sisandmoons.com

BEST BEVERAGE / WINE STORE (LOCAL)

Deep Roots Wine Market & Tasting Room 1055 Canton St., #100 Roswell, GA 30075 770-676-6146 deeprootswine.com

Cork & Glass

5670 Atlanta Hwy., Ste. A2 Alpharetta, GA 30004 678-694-8812 corkandglass.com

BEST BOUTIQUE SHOP (LOCAL)

The Red Hound Gifts

211 Market St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-624-7733 theredhoundgifts.com

La Bella Maison

20 Milton Ave. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-609-6182 labellamaison.com

BEST CBD RETAILER

Your CBD Store –

SUNMED Alpharetta

3460 Old Milton Pkwy., Ste. 102 Alpharetta, GA 30005 470-299-3152 cbdrx4u.com/find-us/Georgia/ Alpharetta

Canna Wellness - Alpharetta 5250 Windward Pkwy., Ste. 116 Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-676-0853 www.cannawellnessusa.com

BEST CONSIGNMENT STORE

The Finer Consigner

11130 State Bridge Rd., F101 Alpharetta, GA 30022 770-751-3501

Southern Comforts Consignments 633 N. Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-521-5000 www.southerncomforts.com

BEST FLOWER SHOP

The Best Little Flower Shop in Roswell

10800 Alpharetta Hwy., #228 Roswell, GA 30076 770-642-7878 bestlittleflowershop.com

Flowers From Us 825 Mayfield Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-640-6007 flowersfromus.net

BEST FURNITURE / HOME DÉCOR

Paul Martin Interiors, LLC 920 Peachtree Pkwy. Ste. 100 Cumming, GA 30041 678-947-4899 paulmartininteriors.com

13 Hub Lane 10800 Alpharetta Hwy., Ste. 402 Roswell, Georgia 30076 770-802-5740 13hublane.com

BEST JEWELER

Iroff & Son Jewelers

3960 Old Milton Pkwy., Unit 300

Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-751-7222 iroff.com

Brilliant Atlanta 1144 Canton St., Ste. 103 Roswell, GA 30075 770-649-1901 brilliantatlanta.com

BEST SHOPPING/ ENTERTAINMENT PLAZA

Avalon

2200 Avalon Blvd. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-765-1000 experienceavalon.com

Alpharetta City Center

2001 Commerce St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 470-268-4328 citycenteralpharetta.com

SERVICES

BEST ADULT DAY CARE

Skylark Adult Day Care

4265 Johns Creek Pkwy., Ste. B Johns Creek, GA 30024 404-410-1510 skylarkseniorcare.com

Milton Grace Senior Living 17210 Birmingham Hwy. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-663-0165 themiltoncenter.com

BEST AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

Johns Creek Arts Center

6290 Abbotts Bridge Rd. Bldg. 700 Johns Creek, GA 30097 770-623-8448 www.johnscreekarts.org

Crabapple Academy 285 Rucker Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30004 440-475-4544 crabappleacademyonline.com

BEST AUTO SERVICE REPAIR

Roswell Auto Center

10700 Alpharetta Hwy. Roswell, GA 30076 770-992-1962 roswellautocenter.com

Extra Mile Tire Pros & Service

2875 Bethany Bnd. Milton, GA 30004 678-566-6627 extramiletirepros.com

BEST BANK / CREDIT UNION

American Commerce Bank

10690 Medlock Bridge Rd. Johns Creek, GA 30097 470-422-1200 americancommercebank.com

Providence Bank 4955 Windward Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30004 678-624-2265 www.providencebankga.com

BEST BARBER SHOP

Diesel Barbershop

7758 McGinnis Ferry Rd. Suwanee, GA 30024 470-655-5001 www.dieselbarbershop.com

Jack and Sons Barber Shop Roswell

11490 Alpharetta Hwy. Roswell, GA 30076 770-663-4247 jackandsonsbarbershop.com

BEST CAR WASH

Mammoth Detail Salon Multiple locations 770-521-0599 mammothdetail.com

Club Corners Car Wash 12274 Crabapple Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-751-7111 www.clubcornercarwash.com

BEST CATERING

A&S Culinary Concepts

9945 Jones Bridge Rd., Ste. 303 Johns Creek, GA 30022 678-336-9196 asculinaryconcepts.com

Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant 5670 Atlanta Hwy., A1 Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-475-9100 casanuovarestaurant.com

BEST CPA

Lindsey, Greenway & McIntire, LLC 10925 Crabapple Rd. Roswell, GA 30075 770-992-7671 cpalgm.com

Santi & Associates, PC

4010 Old Milton Pkwy.

Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-623-4440 santicpa.com

BEST DECKS & PORCHES

Bear Mountain Custom Painting

3315 Hutchinson Rd.

Cumming, GA 30040 470-380-5447 bearmountainpainting.com

Atlanta Decking & Fence

5125 Shiloh Rd. Cumming, GA 30040 770-781-4641 atlantadecking.com

BEST DRY CLEANER

Professional Cleaners

113 S Main St.

Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-410-7817

Crabapple Cleaners

12370 Arnold Mill Rd., #2

Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-663-7919

BEST ELECTRICIAN

TE Certified Electrical, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling

9800 Old Dogwood Rd.

Roswell, GA 30075 404-596-5172 tecertifiedelectricians.com

Reliable Heating & Air, Plumbing and Electrical Multiple locations 770-594-9969 reliableair.com

BEST ESTHETICIAN

Bethany Esthetics Spa

970 North Point Dr., Loft #16

Alpharetta, GA 30022 770-312-8981 salonlofts.com/bethany_carl son_hood

Urban Skin Care Clinic

1195 Woodstock Rd.

Roswell, GA 30075 404-832-0292 urbanskincareclinic.com

BEST FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

Swilling Family Law Firm, LLC

11115 Houze Rd., Ste. 100 Roswell, GA 30076 678-562-6525 swillingfamilylaw.com

The Millard Law Firm

3030 Royal Blvd. South, Ste. 250

Alpharetta, GA 30022 678-319-9500 themillardlawfirm.com

BEST FENCE COMPANY

Bear Mountain Custom Painting

3315 Hutchinson Rd.

Cumming, GA 30040 470-380-5447

bearmountainpainting.com

Atlanta Decking & Fence 5125 Shiloh Rd. Cumming, GA 30040 770-781-4641 atlantadecking.com

BEST FINANCIAL PLANNER

Edward Jones – Financial Advisor

– Mike Breit

1302 Abbey Ct. Alpharetta, GA 30004 470-450-0013 edwardjones.com

Johns Creek Advisors, Inc.

11138 State Bridge Rd., Unit 125 Johns Creek, GA 30022 404-477-4015 johnscreekadvisors.com

BEST FLOORING INSTALLATION

Bear Mountain Custom Painting

3315 Hutchinson Rd. Cumming, GA 30040 470-380-5447 bearmountainpainting.com

Flack’s Flooring and Rugs 5750 GA-400 Cumming, GA 30028 440-874-6785 www.flacksflooring.com

BEST FUNERAL HOME

Northside Chapel Funeral Directors and Crematory 12050 Crabapple Rd. Roswell, GA 30075 770-645-1414 northsidechapel.com

Roswell Funeral Home 950 Mansell Rd. Roswell, GA 30076 770-993-4811 roswellfuneralhome.com

BEST GRAPHICS & PRINTING SHOP

Signs of Significance

1335 Northmeadow Pkwy. Ste. 112 Roswell, GA 30076 678-379-5187 signsofsignificance.com

OPINION

Signarama Roswell, GA 795 Holcomb Bridge Rd., Ste D Roswell, GA 30076 770-998-9126 signarama.com

BEST HAIR SALON / STYLIST

Aria Salons

Multiple Locations 770-475-8111 ariasalons.net

Aura Hair 7878 Roswell Rd. Sandy Springs, GA 30350 770-640-2882 aurasas.com

BEST HEATING & AIR

Milton Mechanical

785 Branch Dr. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-765-0622 miltonmechanicalservices.com

Neese Jones Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. 1120 Alpha Dr. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-751-1850 www.neesejones.com

BEST HOME BUILDER / DEVELOPER T-Olive Properties 14300 Providence Rd. Milton, GA, 30004 770-826-3666 toliveproperties.com

The Providence Group 11340 Lakefield Dr. Johns Creek, GA 30097 678-475-1800 theprovidencegroup.com

BEST INFORMATION SERVICES

Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau 175 S Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-297-2811 awesomealpharetta.com

Roswell CVB 821 Atlanta St. Roswell, GA 30075 770-640-3253 www.visitroswellga.com

BEST INSURANCE AGENCY

State Farm Insurance

Agent – Rich Ziegler

11705 Jones Bridge Rd., Ste. B106 Johns Creek, GA 30005 770-424-0142 richziegler.com

State Farm Insurance

Agent – Cliff Wilcox

1160 Grimes Bridge Rd., #F Roswell, GA 30075 770-998-9909 www.cliffordwilcox.com

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES

Kat Nelson Designs 770-751-8168 katnelsondesigns.com

Paul Martin Interiors, LLC

920 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 100 Cumming, GA 678-947-4899 paulmartininteriors.com

BEST IT/ BUSINESS SERVICES

1iX Network Solutions

3550 Engineering Dr., #210 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 770-325-7325 1ix.com

Carmichael Consulting 11660 Alpharetta Hwy. Ste. 100, Bldg. 100 Roswell, GA 30076 678-719-9671 carmichaelconsulting.net

BEST LANDSCAPING SERVICES

Crabapple Landscape Experts

1012 Union Center Dr., #A Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-740-9739 crabapple.com

Michaelangelo’s Sustainable Landscape & Design Group 2204 Justin Trl., #1 Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-940-4336 landscapedesignalpharetta.com

BEST LAW FIRM

Bross, McAllister & Williams, LLC (BMW Law Group)

5400 Laurel Springs Pkwy., Ste. 102 Suwanee, GA 30024 770-225-4710 bmwlawgroup.com

Lisa Shippel Law, LLC 5755 North Point Pkwy., Ste. 213 Alpharetta, GA 30022 678-615-3349 lisashippellaw.com

BEST LIVING TRUST SERVICE

Wilson Legal, PC

407 E Maple St., #105 Cumming, GA 30040 770-821-6469 www.wilson-legal.com

Herbert Legal Group, LLC

101 Vickery St. Roswell, GA 30075 404-850-0180 herbertlegalgroup.com

BEST MERCHANT SERVICES

Netcom PaySystem

5755 North Point Pkwy., Ste. 242 Alpharetta, GA 30022 800-875-6680 netcompaysystem.com

Fiserv

2900 Westside Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30004 678-375-3000 fiserv.com

BEST MOBILE NOTARY

Lisa’s Mobile Apostille, Notary & Signing

4503 Tree Corners Pkwy. Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-819-8526 mobilenotaryplus.business.site

Georgia Mobile Notary Center 310-720-3309 mobilenotarycenter.com

BEST MORTGAGE LENDER

Mountain Peak Mortgage –Pete Brown

10050 Medlock Bridge Rd. Ste. 220 Johns Creek, GA 30097 404-964-6880 mountainpeakmortgage.com

Home Town Mortgage 199 Academy St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-543-4152 hometownmortgage.net

BEST NETWORKING GROUP

Alpharetta Business Association

11770 Haynes Bridge Rd. Ste. 205 Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-865-6608 alpharettabusinessassociation.com

Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce 10000 Avalon Blvd., Ste. 100 Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-993-8806 www.gnfcc.com

BEST NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

T-Olive Properties 770-826-3666 www.toliveproperties.com

Perry Custom Homes, LLC

4080 McGinnis Ferry Rd., Ste. 902 Alpharetta, GA 30005 678-806-6000 perrycustomhomes.net

BEST OIL CHANGE

Extra Mile Tire Pros

2875 Bethany Bnd. Milton, GA 30004 678-566-6627 extramiletirepros.com

Speed Auto Repair Multiple Locations speedautorepair.com

BEST PAINTER

Bear Mountain Custom Painting

3315 Hutchinson Rd.

Cumming, GA 30040 470-380-5447 bearmountainpainting.com

Dream House Painting 678-873-2821 dreamhousepainting.com

BEST PERSONAL INJURY

ATTORNEY

Bross, McAllister & Williams, LLC (BMW Law Group)

5400 Laurel Springs Pkwy. Suwanee, GA 30024 770-225-4710 bmwlawgroup.com

Herbert Legal Group, LLC

101 Vickery St. Roswell, GA 30075 404-850-0180 herbertlegalgroup.com

BEST PET DAYCARE / LODGER

Ruff House Kennel & Daycare

640 Dorris Rd.

Alpharetta, GA 30004 888-790-RUFF (7833) ruffhouseinc.com

It’s a Dog’s Life Doggy Daycare & Resort

11130 State Bridge Rd., Ste. A101 Johns Creek, GA 30022 770-504-4555 itsadogsliferesort.com

BEST PET GROOMING

Puff N Fluff Pet Spa

11550 Jones Bridge Rd., #8 Johns Creek, GA 30022 770-274-4600 puffnfluffpetspa.com

That Dirty Dog Inc.

11255 Woodstock Rd., #100 Roswell, GA 30075 770-993-7877 www.thatdirtydog.com

BEST PET SUPPLY / BOUTIQUE

Top Dog’s Pet Boutique – Roswell 900 Mansell Rd., #13 Roswell, GA 30076 770-641-8620 topdogspetboutique.com

Unexpected Pooch 6210 Town Sq. Alpharetta, GA 30005 470-255-2144 unexpectedpooch.com

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER

Abby Byrd Photography 678-787-6060 abbybyrd.com

Charla Ayers Studio 706-429-6987 charlaayers.com

BEST PLUMBER

Pete’s Plumbing 2280 Justin Tr. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-442-3934 petesplumbing.com

Reliable Heating & Air, Plumbing and Electrical Multiple Locations 770-594-9969 reliableair.com

BEST POOL SERVICES Milton Pools 13650 Birmingham Hwy. Milton, GA 30004 404-490-1950 miltonpools.com

First Response Pool Service, LLC Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-330-8557 firstresponsepools.com

BEST PRE-SCHOOL / DAY CARE

Primrose School of Alpharetta 315 Henderson Village Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-664-7508 primroseschools.com/schools/ alpharetta

Johns Creek Montessori School of Georgia 6450 E Johns Crossing Johns Creek, GA 30097 770-814-8001 jcmsog.org

BEST PRIVATE K-12 SCHOOL

Fulton Science Academy Private School

3035 Fanfare Way Alpharetta, GA 30009 678-366-2555 fultonscienceacademy.org

Kings Ridge Christian School 2765 Bethany Bnd. Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-754-5738 kingsridgecs.org

BEST PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS

Anchor Marketing

11660 Alpharetta Hwy., #145 Roswell, GA 30076 770-587-0017 anchormarketing.com

North Georgia Promotions

4040 Nine McFarland Dr., #1200 Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-710-0467 ngapromotions.com

BEST REAL ESTATE

BROKERAGE FIRM

Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty 1125 Sanctuary Pkwy., Ste. 400 Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-442-7300 atlantafinehomes.com

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services

33 S. Main St., Ste. 201 Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-393-2522 www.bhhs.com

BEST REALTOR TEAM

Team Toth Real Estate

3107 Peachtree Rd. NE, Ste. A 1 Atlanta, GA 30305 404-509-4003 thinktoth.com

The Jenny Doyle Group 1125 Sanctuary Pkwy., Ste. 400 Alpharetta, GA 30009 404-840-7354 jennydoyle.com

BEST RENOVATION/ HOME IMPROVEMENT

Remodeling Expo Center 48 King St. Roswell, GA 30075 678-459-2292 remodelingexpo.com

Bear Mountain Custom Painting

3315 Hutchinson Rd.

Cumming, GA 30040 470-380-5447 bearmountainpainting.com

BEST SENIOR INFORMATION SERVICES

NexSeason Transitions 404-439-1022 nexseasontransitions.com

Senior Services North Fulton 11381 Southbridge Pkwy. Alpharetta, GA 30022 770-993-1906 ssnorthfulton.org

BEST SHREDDER

EcoShredding 770-490-5607 ecoshredding.com

I-Shred 488 N Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-667-9111 i-shred.net

BEST TRAVEL AGENCY / SERVICE Cruise Planners – Michael Consoli 770-650-7667 planmycruise.com

Aladdin Travel Services, Ltd. 1499 Alpharetta Hwy., #200 Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-475-1511 www.aladdintravelservices.com

BEST TREE SERVICE

Silver Axe Tree Experts & Stump Grinding 1150 Pine Crest Ter. Alpharetta, GA 30004 678-663-8608 silveraxetree.com

Tomahawk Tree Service 78 Thompson Pl. Roswell, GA 30075 770-640-0003 tomahawktreeservice.com

BEST TUTORING CENTER

Infinity Learning 12150 Morris Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30005 770-322-4185 learningisinfinite.com

Kumon Math & Reading Center of Alpharetta 865 North Main St., #106 Alpharetta, GA 30004 770-625-1070 kumon.com

Smith’s Five & Ten Cent Store had everything

Smith’s Five & Ten Cent Store at the cor ner of Elizabeth Way and Canton Street in downtown Roswell was a small-town store that people relied on in a town of 2,000 people. The store was opened in 1946 by Ruben A. Smith (1911-2000). He rented the space from Arthur William Smith (no relation), owner of the nearby Smith Plantation built in 1845.

The historic building housing the store dates back to either the late 1860s or 1880 and was originally one story. At some point a second story, or loft, was added, which may have been used to store hay because there is evidence of a hay door. This raises the question about the original use of the building, possi bly as a stable for the Smith Plantation. Through the decades, it has been home to a number of businesses including the Lyon’s Drug Store and a barber shop with public bath in the early 1900s, Gal lery V art gallery and Bradford Florist in the 1980s, and most recently a water sports store. I believe that the building is named for Dr. G. T. Lyon who owned

BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

The building that housed the Five & Ten Store is vacant today and its interior has been demolished. The walls are bare in places, revealing a stacked stone wall separating the two stores that were sometimes rented separately and sometimes rented together as in the case of Smith’s Five & Ten.

a local drug manufacturing company at the turn of the last century.

The store occupied two individual retail spaces separated by a 2-foot-thick wall and connected by a door. Portions of the walls have been removed exposing

the original stacked stone covered with two inches of mortar on each side.

Smith’s Five & Ten Cent Store had just about everything a family needed, except food. One side carried dry goods such as buttons, zippers, thread, cloth

SMITH FAMILY/PROVIDED

Smith’s Five & Ten Cent Store was a special place for area residents for 20 years, from 1946 to 1966.

and Simplicity patterns, because back then people made their own clothes. Also popular were dungarees, shirts, Buster Brown children’s shoes, and lingerie.

The store sold window shades and 9x12 and 8x12 linoleum “rugs” rolled up in cardboard tubes.

The other side housed toys, house wares such as pots and pans, school supplies and paint.

Smiths:

Continued from Page 28

Teenagers came in to buy plastic kits of model cars and airplanes, popular items in the 1950s and 1960s. Because these had to be assembled and painted, the store sold a lot of glue and hobby paint.

The business was open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It was closed on Sunday due to blue laws that restricted many commercial activities on the Sabbath.

Ruben and his wife Ophelia (19132000) had six children, all of whom worked in the store as sales clerks. They also stocked shelves and swept.

“We kids had to do it all,” says namesake son Ruben Jr. “The worst was doing inventory January 1 and 2 with at least 1,000 items to count and record.”

Every Friday the store cashed paychecks for workers from the lo cal Roswell Mill and Roswell Company (previously the Oxbow Pants Factory). Ruben walked to the Roswell Bank, the only bank in town, early Friday to get $2,000 in cash which he carried back to the store in a metal cash box. He carried the cash box home every night under his arm. He was never robbed even though people knew he had money in that box.

On Wednesday, all stores closed at 1 p.m., and Ruben would go to Atlanta to restock his merchandise. Saturday was the busiest day when people came to town from the surrounding area to shop.

“It was our make-or-break day,” says Ruben Jr.

Ruben’s store had a Coke machine and charged 5 cents a bottle. In 1960 The Coca-Cola Company increased the price to 10 cents which completely stopped Coke sales. After a few weeks, Coke reduced the price to 6 cents, and sales resumed.

In 1966 Ruben retired from the business and entered divinity school to become an ordained Baptist minis ter, preaching to seniors in retirement homes, until his death in 2000.

The building is now vacant, the interior stripped to the bare bones. The flooring is gone.

The plan is to have a restaurant oc cupy the highly desirable space in the heart of the vibrant downtown Roswell dining district.

Ruben Jr. became a minister in 1973. His first church was Grace Baptist Church in Roswell. Then, as is common in Baptist churches, Ruben Jr. served in several churches in Cherokee, Forsyth and Gilmer counties and now does interim church work as needed. He and his wife Connie now live on a farm in Waleska, a small community in north western Cherokee County.

Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net.

SMITH FAMILY/PROVIDED

Simplicity patterns were popular at the Five & Ten Cent Store because many people made their own clothes. The store carried about 1,000 items which made annual inventory a major chore. Photo circa 1965.

APPEN PRESS CLUB

PPEN PRESSCLU

AA

MEMBER

CHARTER MEMBER

Robin Fricton

Roderick Liptrot

Bob Meyers

Roger Wise Jr.

MEMBER+

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Mark Casas

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Anne Peer

Robert Popp

Mark Rundle

Suraj Sehgal

MEMBER

Mary Asbury

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Leslie Berry

Tom Billings

Joe Bowen

Clea Calloway

Kirk Canaday

James Carr

Pat Check Rebecca Donlan

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Carol Fry Christopher Goodrich Joe Hirsch

To learn more about

MEMBER (Cont.)

Penn Hodge

Tyler Jones

Mark Kelly

Allison Kloster

Ken Leffingwell

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Lewis Walker

Appen Press Club or to join,

Full-time Part-time

POOL TECHNICIANS WANTED

Part-time & Full-time positions available. Pay is $12-$14 per hour. Hours starting at 6:30AM, Monday-Friday. Pick-up truck not required but must have your own reliable transportation. Gas allowance provided. Looking for people who enjoy working outside and are enthusiastic, dependable & punctual. Able to contribute independently or on a crew with consistently friendly attitude.

Well-established commercial pool maintenance company providing service in the North Atlanta Metro area.

Carmichael, Brasher, Tuvell & Company is hiring an Income Tax Preparer, Corporate and Individual. Great pay and flexible, relaxed work environment. Seeking full and/or part-time individual for individual and corporate tax preparation and accounting. Prior tax preparation required and have working knowledge of QuickBooks. Our office is located in the heart of Dunwoody and work from home is an option. To apply email your resume to gbrasher@cbtcpa.com

ASSIST PARTIALLY DISABLED EXECUTIVE

Onsite at his place of employment. Perfect for retired nurse. Helping with meal prep, drive to doctors appointments, some shopping. Salary negotiable. English speaking non-smoker. Charlotte 678-208-0774

TAX PREPARER ASSISTANT

Experience required. Flexible hours. Lacerte software experience helpful. admin@skbcpas.com

Income Opportunity

FDS Bank has openings in Johns Creek, GA for Senior Manager, Fraud Strategy (Job 11908.1033) responsible for providing fraud loss analysis & reporting, data development, & analytical support. May telecommute from home. To apply, mail your resume to FDS Bank, 5985 State Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097, Attn. William Trevethick. Must reference Job # 11908.1033.

Zoominfo Technologies LLC seeks Senior Software Engineer in Roswell, GA to write high-volume server applications (full-stack). Telecommuting is permitted. Apply at https://www.jobpostingtoday.com/

Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC seeks in Alpharetta, GA: Virtual Engineering Specialist – Application Development (Job code 8210) to Act as a virtual engineering simulation specialist within the Solvay Application Development team. Mail resume referencing applicable Job Code to Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC Attn: HR, 4500 McGinnis Ferry Road, Alpharetta, GA, 30005. No recruiters

SiteOne Landscape Supply, LLC seeks a SAP Commerce (Hybris) Sr. Development Lead to Analyze, design, implement, and test application software changes for the Hybris Ecommerce site. Teleworking is permitted within a reasonable commuting distance of the Roswell, GA worksite location. Send resume to Kelli Reeves at kreeves@siteone.com and reference job title.

Building/Facilities Assistant Manager

If you are concerned with your Vending Machine looking like this, please call FitNGo Healthy Vending, LLC to discuss your vending issues and concerns. We specialize in Healthy and Classical/Traditional options as well as a hybrid of both. We are employee-centric and are committed to visit your site at least twice a week to ensure your machines are full and ready for use. To discuss further, contact: Brian Weis - (404)861-9730

Mervyn Weis - (770)377-8357

We look forward to talking with you!

MAILROOM CLERK

Downtown Cumming, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. Lifting, indoor/outdoor walking. Drug & background checks required. Entry level. Full benefit package (PTO, paid holidays, health insurance). applications@morebizz.net

ASSISTANTS & KENNEL HELP

FULL & PART TIME

Currently hiring Veterinary Assistants and Kennel Help. If you enjoy working with small animals, please contact us. This position offers Dental, Vision, and Major Medical. Please send Resume to docjch@bellsouth.net. 678-327-7008.

Alcon Research, LLC has openings for Regulatory Managers, Vision Care for the Johns Creek, GA office. The Regulatory Manager, Vision Care is responsible for developing and implementing regulatory strategy, as applied to project, process, and/ or product. Job is 40 hours per week. Please send all resumes to Sylvia Cruz, Alcon Research, LLC, 6201 South Freeway, Fort Worth, TX 76134, Ref. No. SG0922

Seeking part-time Building/Facilities Assistant Manager for Alpharetta Presbyterian Church from about 12-4 Monday – Friday. Candidate needs basic knowledge/competency in building maintenance and grounds keeping as well as strong interpersonal skills. Computer skills are desired.

Requires successful completion of a criminal record and child abuse background check, a valid driver’s license and the ability to perform physical tasks. Full job description can be seen at https://alpharettapres. com/about-us/jobs/.

Qualified candidates please send resume to office@alpharettapres.com

Home Improvement

PHILLIPS HOME IMPROVEMENT

We offer drywall, painting, carpentry, plumbing and electrical. Basements finished, kitchen and bath rehabs. All types flooring. Also total home rehab for those who have a rental house or one to sell. Call 678-887-1868 for a free estimate.

Pinestraw

PINESTRAW, MULCH Delivery/installation available. Firewood available. Licensed, insured.

Haulers

Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling, Etc.

Many local references Call Ralph Rucker 678-898-7237