Forsyth County Schools prohibits phones in class
By JON WILCOX
jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County School Board approved a policy banning students from using electronic devices during school hours.
The policy requires phones, smart watches and tablets to be stowed away and turned off during the school day. Students may use devices on buses, at bus stops and on campus before and after school. High school students are allowed to use devices during lunch.
School Board Chairman Mike Valdes said the policy strikes a balance between students’ independence and creating a distraction-free learning environment.
“They work. They have lives,” he said. “They are learning to be responsible and be functional adults in society.”
At a June 17 meeting, board members unanimously approved the policy, which follows the passage of a state law mandating bans on students’ devices. Staff worked on the policy for months before presenting it to board members for a vote.
See PHONES, Page 12
Residential project to occupy location on Upper Hembree
You may have noticed a certain tab on Appen Media’s website titled “Ask a Question.” At Appen, community engagement is essential, and we want to answer your questions. Here are a few recent inquiries we can answer for you.
What will replace the old Whole Foods on Upper Hembree Road in Alpharetta?
A 149-home subdivision is planned at the site that once hosted a Whole Foods office.
Empire Communities is developing the project on 19.32 acres at 1180 Upper Hembree Road near Harris Road. Plans call for multilevel homes and recreational amenities.
The property was used as a corporate office and distribution center for Whole Foods.
It once featured a 145,000-square-foot building and 588-stall parking lot.
Until 2014, it was a Harry’s Farmers Market. Offices and neighborhoods now surround the site.
What is the location of the proposed Johns Creek Performing Arts Center?
The City of Johns Creek plans to build the Performing Arts Center in the Town Center area at 11315 Lakefield Drive.
The almost 6-acre property lies between City Hall and a multistory office. The center would be a part of the Town Center area, which is envisioned as a walkable area that will include The Boardwalk community area and Medley mixed-use project.
City officials have described the center as a recreational and cultural game changer. It is intended to serve as a home for the arts and a destination for residents.
See ASK, Page 12
Ask Appen
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FORSYTH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD/PROVIDED
Amy Bartlett, associate superintendent of teaching & learning, addresses Forsyth County School Board members on a policy restricting students’ electronic devices during a June 17 meeting.
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POLICE BLOTTER
All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
Man cited on drug charges for smoking meth in RV
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 61-year-old Dawsonville man was arrested on drug charges June 24.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were dispatched to a recreational vehicle on Winding Creek Drive after neighbors reported a person inside. The vehicle was supposed to be uninhabited.
Deputies looked through the mobile home’s window and saw what appeared to be a man smoking methamphetamine. A baggie of the drug was observed next to him.
The man was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and possession of a Schedule II substance, which stemmed from an unspecified drug.
— Jon Wilcox
Deputies discover drugs in late-night traffic stop
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 32-yearold Hoschton man was arrested when deputies found cocaine in his vehicle June 24.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said deputies stopped a car about 11 p.m. while patrolling near McGinnis Ferry and Kemp roads. The vehicle’s tag lights were off.
Deputies searched the vehicle after smelling marijuana coming from it.
They found a small prescription bottle containing a straw and baggie of cocaine.
The man had outstanding warrants for failure to appear and possession of cocaine.
He was charged with felony possession of cocaine.
— Jon Wilcox
Roswell man seeks probe into brokerage company
ROSWELL, Ga. — Police are investigating an alleged fraud after a 39-year-old Roswell man reported falling victim to an investment scheme June 24 facilitated through the social media app Telegram.
While the brokerage firm and its website appear legitimate, the victim said he thinks that the company is a scam because it was denying his request to withdraw money.
The officer designated the incident as felony theft by deception in his report.
The victim said he initially invested $100 with a brokerage website and was able to withdraw $50 from his account after making some money on an investment.
The officer said the victim invested around $21,000 with the help of a financial analyst, communicating with him through the social media app Telegram.
After that, the man said the analyst advised him to open a portfolio that required another $9,000, which he could not afford. When the analyst and company offered the man two loans, totaling $17,000, he agreed to both.
The analyst then told the man that he could not withdraw any of his money until he repaid the loan. At the time, the victim said the account had $60,000 in it with $45,000 invested in various cryptocurrencies.
The officer said he notified the Roswell Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division after a request from the victim.
— Hayden Sumlin
Fraudulent withdrawals raid account for $5,100
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 19-year-old Alpharetta man reported fraudulent withdrawals of more than $5,100 from his bank June 16.
Alpharetta police said the man told officers he noticed the withdrawals June 17 and immediately called his bank.
A bank representative said they would update the man within a week about his claim. The representative said the money
was withdrawn as cash from tellers at two bank locations, one in Marietta and the other in Smyrna.
The incident was classified as a felony identity theft with possession of identifying information.
— Jon Wilcox
Officers arrest two men after fight at restaurant
ROSWELL, Ga. — Police arrested two 45-year-old men, one Roswell resident and a California native, after they got into a fight June 27 at a Canton Street restaurant.
An officer said he arrived at the restaurant after the two men were separated by employees shortly after midnight June 28 and reviewed security footage of the altercation.
The officer said the Roswell man is seen on camera with his group of companions, including two women from Cumming.
The women said the California man approached them several times and harassed them throughout the evening.
The officer also said footage showed the California man approach different women in the group. At one point in the night, the Roswell man, the Cumming woman and the California man were sitting at the bar close to one another.
The officer said the Cumming woman began arguing with the California man after he pushed into her shoulder. The next moment, the Roswell man stepped in between them and punched the California man in the face.
Eventually, the officer said the men were separated after exchanging a couple of punches.
After transporting both men to the Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, the officer said he obtained warrants for misdemeanor affray, or fighting and disturbing the peace.
The Roswell man was released from Fulton County Jail June 28, but there is no record of the California man’s arrest.
The officer said the California man was still awaiting clearance from the hospital when he wrote the report around 5 p.m. June 28.
— Hayden Sumlin
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area seeks new fate
ROSWELL, Ga. — The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is enlisting the help of the public for an environment assessment for the Roswell Gateway and Vickery Creek Unit Access Improvements from now until July 31.
In partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and the City of Roswell, the National Park Service is evaluating proposals for two transportation projects, the Hwy. 9 Pedestrian Bridge and Hwy. 9 reversable land removal and widening adjacent to the Vickery Creek Unit in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
The two projects would require the transfer of the National Park Service managed lands for transportation use. This process will require an authori -
zation by the National Park Service through special use permits and a federal Highway Easement Deed.
A spokesperson for the National Park Service said that both projects will have long-term adverse impact to park resources.
The mitigating actions to improve the Vickery Creek Unit Access could offset the effects of the conversion of the National Park Service lands and resources into transportation use. The improvement to enhance accessibility to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area will help to protect cultural and natural resources and create a better connection within the unit and across Vickery Creek.
Two alternatives, along with analysis of their po -
tential impacts will be presented in the environment assessment.
The first and preferred alternative aims to improve traffic flow, access and construct a pedestrian bridge. The alternative will convert around 2.49 acres of the National Park Service’s land to transportation use along Hwy. 9., construct a multi-use trail and pedestrian bridge over the Chattahoochee river on the eastside of Hwy. 9 and update and create new trails, footbridges and a parking lot.
The second alternative will provide no action and will not authorize any of the changes.
To learn more and submit a comment on the environment assessment, visit https://parkplanning. nps.gov/RoswellHistoricGatewayEA.
—
Sarah Coyne
Joyful Soles tailors program to enrich youths’ experience
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Camp Joyful Soles is more than a summer day camp. It’s a place to make meaningful connections and build confidence.
For more than a decade, Camp Joyful Soles has provided participants with a comfortable environment to thrive and grow during the summer. The summer day camp is put on each year by Milton Parks and Recreation for 13 to 22-year-olds with special needs.
No day is the same. Each features special guests ranging from therapy dogs to drama therapy, a practice involving drama and theater techniques to help individuals resolve conflicts and problems. Even the Milton Fire Department and Police Department join in on the fun. Campers are also taken on field trips to go swimming or visit the zoo.
“I think one thing I really like about this camp is that we’re not just here the whole week, we actually take them into the community,” camp manager Brooke Nolan said.
For seven weeks from June 2 to July 25, campers are invited to Mill Springs Academy and spend their summer with the team of counselors.
Nolan, a middle school special education teacher, has been working with the camp since 2016. She found her passion for working with children with special needs when she volunteered at Camp Joyful Souls in high school.
Serving as camp manager for Joyful Soles has shaped her life.
“I built my whole life around special education,” Nolan said.
She said she believes that the environment of Camp Joyful Soles allows the campers to grow in ways parents thought weren’t possible.
“There’s unfortunately not a lot out there for our kids, and so this program has kind of given them an opportunity to go somewhere where they feel like they belong and feel like they had a great summer and just to be happy,” Nolan said.
She has seen her kids come out of their shell and gain new confidence by participating in the camp.
Jason Evans, right, with Shenanigans, a program offering life scenario engagement, leads an improv at Camp Joyful Soles.
Every day Nolan receives thanks from parents for helping their children grow.
“It’s amazing watching them just like become different people,” she said.
The camp, which hosts 35 kids, has a growing waitlist.
Although volunteer registration is closed for this season, she encourages rising ninth graders on up to join the team.
“I just feel like it changes your perspective on life, and also just what you know about these kids,” Nolan said.
Planning for the summer camp is a year-round effort. Parks and Recreation Program Supervisor Thomas
Rhodes oversees Camp Joyful Soles.
“Camp Joyful Soles suddenly became my baby,” Rhodes said.
The department tailors the camp to allow kids to come and feel like everybody else, Rhodes said.
“Our goal is to make sure there’s opportunity for our participants, and make sure there’s a safe and fun and meaningful environment for them to be involved in outside of the school months,” he said.
Volunteer registration and camper registration for next summer will begin early 2026. To learn more, visit miltonga.gov/government/parks-rec/ camp-joyful-soles.
SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
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Apothecary owner finds calm in the chaos
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Nestled in a triangleshaped store at the corner of Alpharetta and Frazier streets in Roswell, Carol McEwin combines science and art to create skincare products.
Lilly Sage Apothecary crafts self-care rituals made of all natural, eco-friendly ingredients. McEwin works in her lab, carefully concocting new lotions, lip oils, bubble baths, body oils – even her own skincare line, LS.Topaz.
For most of her adult life, McEwin worked as a real estate agent, but she always carried a little of the hippie from her youth with her.
Growing up, McEwin said she was a true hippie who was always fascinated with oils, plants and mother nature, growing even more inspired thanks to her father who was a surgeon.
“The kind of thing that a hippie would be influenced by, and so that was really what started it,” she said.
She applied her fascination for oils and botanicals to create products to treat her and her daughter’s eczema after becoming frustrated with dermatologists.
“It scared me,” McEwin said.
Her fascination continued throughout her life, even while in the corporate world. She would draw inspiration from the remote places she lived, like Alaska, to create products that matched her lifestyle.
“I would look at one oil and play with it and see what it did and how it felt,” McEwin said. “And so, I was always doing that my whole life.”
In 2012, she moved to Roswell. When she retired in 2015, she realized it was time to return to her hippie roots. McEwin enrolled into Formula Botanica, where she took rigorous coursework online. There, she learned that she would go down the facial, skin and body care route.
SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
Owner of Lilly Sage Apothecary Carol McEwin, holds
“Mother Nature brings us lots of lovely things,” she said.
McEwin discovered her quaint triangle store after facing the reality of high rent on Roswell’s popular Canton Street. The building was practically abandoned and dirty, so she started from the ground up.
Researching store renovation, she realized most pampering places were almost all pastels, so she went the opposite route.
“I wanted men to feel warm and comfortable, so I went with powerful blues,” McEwin said.
The apothecary is filled with warm and cozy décor, with nods to her mother and father. Hidden in the store, visitors can find her mother’s teapot and her father’s medical bag.
McEwin noted that the store functions as two parts, a place to manufacture products and another to get feedback on her products.
“The store has always been about the production and the testing and selling of my products,” she said.
In the left corner of the apothecary, guests can find McEwin and her staff cooking up new recipes. She creates scents such as Georgia, which features notes of Kudzu paired with peaches and gardenia.
“It’s definitely an art,” she said. “Scent is so important in our lives.”
McEwin noted that she gets some of her inspiration from her dreams.
“I go to sleep with the thing on my mind and in my dreams, it sorts of cooks, and then I wake up and go,” McEwin said.
She carefully layers notes of scents to get the perfect
BUSINESSPOSTS
product, which can take months – sometimes years – to create.
In addition to marketing her two different lines in the store, she also features other small businesses and collaborates with other local stores to create soap scents. She currently sells two soaps that feature two local businesses, From the Earth Brewery and Oli+Ve.
McEwin said she finds it critical to feature other small businesses, especially in the wake of tariffs.
“We need to help each other and recognize that the talent that that person has brought to the table and risk and investment they brought to the table to try and create this thing they're working on,” she said.
Tarriff, she said, have absolutely affected her, likening it to a domino effect.
“I may be buying from an American company, but I don't know how much of their supply chain came from probably China,” she said.
But it’s not just China, McEwin sources her pure essential oils from all over the world.
Despite this concern, she is hopeful for the future. McEwin said she is excited to welcome the Chambray Hotel, a $30 million project to create a five-story boutique hotel nearby. Construction of the 125-room hotel is set for completion in 2026.
“It'll bring a lot of foot traffic that we don't currently have,” McEwin said. “We were really on an island.”
She attributes the lower activity and foot traffic to the fact that her store is not on Canton Street.
“Roswell is more than just Canton Street,” McEwin said. “It's so much more, and we need to be able to expand our consciousness.”
McEwin invites guests who want to venture off Canton Street to come play and learn more about her products at the apothecary.
“You can always wash your hands but washing your hands with something that feels really beautiful, like a luxurious experience is just a nice little touch in your day,” she said.
More information is available at lillysageapothecary. com, or you can visit the store at 1097 Alpharetta St. McEwin hopes her products can add some comfort and calmness to the lives of her customers in a time of chaos.
“If everybody walked out of the store with that feeling, I would have done something,” McEwin said.
COYNE/APPEN
‘Dog day’ label unfair to man’s best friends
I’ve never understood why the most miserable weather time of the year is called “the dog days of summer.”
I find that grossly unfair to the majority of canines I’ve run across.
Now, if someone can come up with a witty way to cast aspersions on cats, I would be happily floppy eared.
I spent a good part of my life in the sweltering heat of Bakersfield, California. IO high temperature of 108 degrees might be viewed as some type of cold snap.
These days, my Harley is in hibernation of sorts, sitting idle and ignored. The last ride, when the temperature was in the low 90s, wasn’t at all unpleasant. The breeze made for some relief from the
stifling oven-like atmosphere.
But, oh baby, I might have been a tad lightheaded when I had to stop at a light. I figured a more pleasant climate would be an inspiration to free The Black Beauty from the trickle charger. If I don’t go riding during the early morning, I think I’ll turn over and catch a little more shut eye.
Not wanting to be completely sedentary and wanting to take heed with all the potential heatstroke warnings, I have come up with a smattering of sure-fire ways to not wind up getting IV fluids at Northside.
• Fire up the air conditioner and shudder until the Georgia Power Bill arrives. In order to not sweat while taking a shower, I’ll gladly pay the bill if it means no chafing.
• Even though the term “Summer Blockbuster” is sadly outdated, there are a few movies that I might inspire me to take
advantage of some senior discount deals at a local theater. I was inspired when informed that “Jaws” was released 50 years ago. I remember I cancelled a beach trip after seeing it and decided to swim in our pool where the biggest danger was getting cannonballed by my brothers, it was also a “swim at your own risk” proposition as my siblings did their best to turn the pool into a mudhole. I was tasked with keeping the pool pristine, but with a minimum of 50 dirt clods thrown at me from three directions, it wasn’t conducive to relaxation. I am a less-than-cerebral moviegoer. My movie bucket list consists of the new “Mission Impossible,” the “F1” racing flick, and the new “Jurassic Park” epic. Not cerebral, but at least I won’t walk to my car in a state of confusion.
• Hit North Point Mall. Notice I didn’t say “shop” at the mall, which used to be a great place to doze while the boys rode the carousel incessantly. Sure, it forced me
to empty my wallet and supply the boys with a pocketful of tokens. They rode and I snoozed. I can’t remember the last time I set foot in that mall, or any indoor mall, for that matter. My mission, if I decide to beat the heat in search of a refreshing Orange Julius, would be to see if the place has morphed into some type of ghost town. Word is that the place is devoid of shops and shoppers.
I think the best way for me to stay cool will be heading for the Man Cave, which seems to be 15 decrees cooler than the rest of the house. I might just stare at the 85inch Sony and count the days until college football starts.
Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.
amazing what you can hear when you listen
The family sits down in the restaurant. The waitress comes to take their order. The parents order first. Then their young daughter orders for herself.
“I’d like a hotdog, French fries and a Coke. Please.”
The dad – sitting next to her – shakes his head and motions “no” to the waitress – “She wants meatloaf, mash potatoes, and milk.”
The waitress looks at the little girl, then the dad. Almost imperceptibly she pauses and exhales. Then she looks back to the little girl: “Do you want ketchup on your hotdog sweetie?”
The parents tense up. The father glares. His wife stares down at the table. The little girl looks at both her parents, first one then the other.
“She thinks I’m real,” the little girl says.
It not a question and it’s not a statement. It is an observation – an epiphany, an explanation, almost an offering – from the little girl to her parents. A light glimmers for the first time – an aura – within the little girl. It’s not that it hasn’t always been there, though.
Please listen. Please see. Please understand. Are you paying attention?
She-thinks-I’m-real.
I have listened to that part of the podcast, “Stories That Imprison Our Heart,” by Tara Branch (minute No. 24-ish) now a dozen times. I can’t stop listening to it. It is almost as if I am sitting at the adjoin-
ing table and watching and listening, not unlike having a front row seat for “A Streetcar Named Desire” in an old, historic theater somewhere.
I, too, have to catch my breath, then breathe. I hold my breath and hope –wait – to see if the father lets her have her hot dog and fries – to see if he gets it. I never see how the scene ends. I can only guess. But I am there, sitting right next to the little girl, wanting to shout, “You are enough. I can hear you. I see you. Promise.”
She thinks I’m real.
That story was part of a podcast about stories – how all our lives are part of stories – bound by the stories we believe and stories we don’t. It is about how we navigate the stories through life, how we allow them to impact our lives. Or not.
Stories can be suffocating. They can bury us deeply, so deep we can’t find what our own story is. They can deny us a voice – or give us one. They can deny us agency, the recognition that we too, have our own story to tell and to live – that we too count – our voice, our opinions, our own values – instead of someone else’s. My daughter used to ask me – “I too?” I suppose I was too wrapped up in my own story that I didn’t notice hers – or acknowledge it as much as she deserved for it to be acknowledged. “I too?” That she had to ask, makes me sad. Listen. You just have to be still and then listen. Be calm, so you can hear their story and get it.
Do you want ketchup on your hotdog, Sweetie?
Yes. Please.
MIKE TASOS Columnist
RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
Section
Wait, so you’re saying I have slug bacteria on my face from kissing my new boyfriend
Nemaslug® is a snail and slug pestcontrol product sold in England and Canada but not available in the United States. I first learned about this product while investigating a skin infection of a patient, and what I learned emphasizes that our connections with our creepy crawly garden neighbors are a little too close for comfort.
A female in her early 20s presented to clinic with a sore on her face that had been present a few days. It was solitary, several millimeters in size and did not seem like a lesion typical of acne. She was prescribed hydrocortisone 2.5% cream and mupirocin 2% ointment (an antibiotic), and a culture was performed to identify the type of bacteria present. Three days later, the results returned positive for Moraxella osloensis (M. osloensis). We were prepared to prescribe an oral antibiotic, but she was asymptomatic with the lesion having resolved with topical therapy.
Moraxella is a genus of gram negative bacteria that normally colonize the human respiratory tract. In medical school, we typically learn about Moraxella catarrhalis, which is a frequent cause of ear infection and pneumonia. Its cousin M. osloensis is almost never discussed due to its rarity. However, there are over fifty case reports in the medical literature of M. osloensis causing infections in both children and adults. Infections range from pneumonia to blood infections, genital sores and even brain infection. Sometimes, this bacteria has been found in the area of a cancer. One case report of a brain tumor found to contain M. osloensis pointed out that it is not known whether the bacteria caused the tumor or whether the tumor provided a hospitable environment for the infection. Most interestingly, M. osloensis does not just piggyback on cancers. Rather, this type of Moraxella likes to piggyback on worms – nematodes to be precise. Nematodes, also called “eelworms” or “threadworms” are small round slen-
der worms that infect a wide variety of animals and humans. The type of worm that infects salmon meat is in fact a nematode and is the reason one should only eat raw fish if it has been sufficiently frozen beforehand.
The same bacteria that infected our patient is actually sold commercially in certain countries outside the United States. Nemaslug® 2.0 contains the nematode P. californica and the bacteria M. osloensis. This nematode infects snails or slugs, but it can only complete its lifecycle and kill the snail if the bacteria M. osloensis is also present. Scientists believe that M. osloensis helps the nematode kill the snail by releasing a bacterial toxin that causes blood poisoning and death. The nematode and its side-kick M. osloensis both replicate and proliferate. The nematode needs the bacteria to kill the snail. The bacteria needs the nematode because the nematode is mobile and can wriggle its way to its next snail or slug. Nemaslug® 2.0 is not sold in the United States out of concern that it could harm our native and sometimes helpful snail and slug species with specific concern for species in the Pacific Northwest.
Our patient did not use Nemaslug® 2.0 on her face. She did mention having a new boyfriend. Because M. osloensis is a normal colonizer of the human respiratory tract, it is possible that our patient already had this bacteria in her own respiratory tract and happened to infect her own skin. However, since she had not experienced a similar lesion in the past, it is more likely that that she accidentally came into contact with this bacteria during contact with another human such as her new boyfriend.
From case reports in the medical literature, we know that M. osloensis can very rarely cause blood poisoning in humans. Perhaps we are more closely related to snails than we would like, or perhaps M. osloensis just makes a toxin that is highly effective across vastly different species. Regardless, I know I am not kissing snails anytime soon, especially if they look under the weather.
Insist on the BEST
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.
He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 22 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.
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Wellstar Achieves elite national recognition in Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery team earns top ratings in all categories, placing it among the nation’s best programs
Brought to you by – Wellstar Center for Cardiovascular Care
Wellstar has achieved a rare milestone in cardiac care, earning the highest possible rating—three stars—in four categories evaluated by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). This distinction places the cardiovascular surgery program, based at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, among the elite cardiac surgery programs in the U.S. and Canada.
The STS Star rating system is one of the most rigorous, verified and respected measures of quality in healthcare, based entirely on objective patient outcomes and implemented medical care processes. The latest analysis covers a three-year period, from January 2022 to December 2024, and evaluates performance in four key areas: isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG or open-heart surgery), aortic valve replacement (AVR), AVR + CABG, and multiprocedural cardiothoracic surgeries. Wellstar Ken -
nestone earned the coveted three-star rating in four.
Wellstar Kennestone previously held three-star ratings in two categories. This latest achievement marks a significant advancement, solidifying its position as a national leader in cardiothoracic surgery.
“This new accomplishment speaks volumes about the skill, precision, and teamwork of our cardiothoracic team,” said Wellstar Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Richard Myung. “We’re proud to deliver exceptional outcomes for patients from across the Southeast who have some of the most complex heart conditions.”
With a team of more than 110 cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons, the Wellstar Center for Cardiovascular Care is home to one of Georgia’s most comprehensive cardiovascular programs. Its flagship, Wellstar Kennestone, was the first hospital in the state to earn the prestigious Comprehensive Cardiac Care Certification—the highest distinction
awarded by the Joint Commission and the American Heart Association.
For more information about heart care at Wellstar, visit wellstar.org/heartcare.
Wellstar Center for Cardiovascular Care
4500 Hospital Blvd., Suite 320 Roswell (770) 410-4520
2450 Old Milton Parkway, Suite 206 Alpharetta (470) 267-0430
Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center 3000 Hospital Blvd. Roswell (770) 751-2500
A team of advanced heart care specialists means more expertise for you.
At Wellstar, you’ll find more than 100 cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons across our cardiovascular services team who are ready to care for you. Whether you need preventive screenings or treatment for complex heart conditions, your heart is in good hands with our skilled team— highly rated by patients like you.
We are leading the way in Georgia and beyond with innovative technology and experienced clinicians to ensure you have the expertise you need close by. Learn how Wellstar can help keep your heart going strong at wellstar.org/northfultonheart.
OPINION:
PRESERVING THE PAST
Celestine Sibley, a woman of achievement
BOB MEYERS
Columnist
Celestine Sibley was not born in Georgia, but she was a Georgia treasure. She spent an important part of her life in and around Crabapple and through her writings helped establish the community as a special place, enriching many lives in the process. This week’s column pays tribute to her accomplishments, enthusiasm for life and for the people she inspired along the way.
Celestine Sibley (1914-1999) was the author of nearly 30 books beginning in 1958. Her final published book was “Spider in the Sink,” released in November 1997. She was a reporter for the Atlanta Constitution from 1941 to 1982 and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 1982 to 1999. She wrote more than 10,000 columns for the newspapers. She had a no-nonsense approach to writing yet could instill a touch of homespun humor.
When asked how long it took her to write a column, she nonchalantly replied “about 15 minutes.” That was because she said she would go through the day thinking about it, “sort of mentally writing it.”
When she first started out as a political reporter, she could turn out 10 stories a day plus a column, which did not mean that they were any good, she said, but it got the job done. That was her way, quick and thorough, and that made her a model for other young journalists.
When she died of cancer in 1999 the Atlanta Journal-Constitution printed page after page of tributes to her for many days and printed 1.5 million copies of a 24-page supplement. The famous and not famous poured their hearts out in tribute to the remarkable woman who inspired a whole generation of writers and ordinary people.
Former President Jimmy Carter wrote “For as long as Rosalynn and I can remember, she has shared her spirit and soul with the people of Georgia. Her common sense and wisdom reminded us that, although our lives have become very complicated, we are surrounded by simple beauty and unchanging truths – if we only take the time to recognize them.”
When reporter Rheta Grimsley Johnson joined the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1994, she said, “Celestine Sibley already had a lifetime’s worth of friends with
Phones:
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Signed into law May 9, the Distraction-Free Education Act requires school districts to prohibit students from using phones and other electronic devices dur -
Ask:
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The City Council approved a resolution calling for a November referendum asking
PROVIDED
Celestine Sibley as a child with her mother at Pensacola Beach. The photo appears on the back cover of her 1988 memoir, “Turned Funny,” by Celestine Sibley, published by Harper & Row
whom to share her wit and wisdom. Yet Celestine was one of the first, the few, to drop by my desk, welcome me to town and invite me to lunch.”
Lee Walburn, who was for a longtime editor of Atlanta Magazine and a highly regarded journalist with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is a great admirer of Celestine. He told me that she was idolized by all who knew her.
“Most people know her as a writer,” he says, “but she was also one of the greatest reporters of the Georgia Legislature. She was hard working and tough and didn’t take any foolishness from anybody.”
Celestine was very close to her granddaughter Sibley Fleming who has written several award-winning books. Both women wrote extensively about each other over the years.
In an interview Sibley Fleming described to me a book she wrote, “Celestine Sibley, a Granddaughter’s Reminiscence.”
“The book is a personal account of a special grandmother through the eyes of her granddaughter,” she
ing school hours with some exceptions. The law requires districts to act by 2026.
Cell phone school bans are gaining traction throughout the nation, and at least 14 states have executive orders or laws restricting their use.
The Pew Research Center survey found 72 percent of high school teachers believe the distractions created by
voters to consider a $40 million bond to help fund the center’s creation.
Are there any plans to widen Kelly Mill Road in 2025?
Forsyth County engineers are looking into traffic along Kelly Mill Road, but
said. “She was a great role model for me and my little sister, Betsy. We both followed her around — albeit a generation apart — attached to her apron strings. She imbued in us both a love of nature and books and a keen sense of compassion for the underdog.”
The Georgia Writers Association named Fleming Georgia Author of the Year for the book. Sibley Fleming is currently editor in chief of the Urban Institute’s Urban Land quarterly magazine. The organization is a think tank in the areas of social and economic policy.
Celestine Sibley’s cherished cottage is located in the North Fulton countryside area of Milton, near Roswell and Alpharetta. She lived there for the final 36 years of her life. She and a partner purchased the rustic cottage and 1 acre in the 1960s for about $1,000 and called it Sweet Apple according to the Georgia Encyclopedia. The log house was built in1844 and may have served originally as a schoolhouse.
She wrote about the house in her 1967 book, “A Place Called Sweet Apple.” To Celestine, the cottage symbolized a kind of life rooted in simplicity and community which she feared was slowly vanishing in Georgia. She lovingly restored the ancient cottage, but as new housing developments moved closer and closer, she used the cottage to record and critique the gradual disappearance of the rural South.
But the cabin symbolized more than that as it served as backdrop to some of her mystery novels. It became a kind of battleground where the forces of change and greed clashed with the values of tradition and honesty. She felt that unchecked growth threatened Southern life and traditions, and she made her views known through her writing. In some of her plots she highlighted the tension between preserving the past with land disputes, greedy developers and the decline of community values. The house still stands today as a private residence.
Celestine Sibley was a pioneer. She never slowed down, and she never quit. The result is a lasting body of work that will guide those who love history or a good yarn for generations to come.
Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
the devices are a major problem in the classroom.
Amy Bartlett, associate superintendent of teaching & learning, said the new policy is a reflection of the community. The district’s surveys of thousands of respondents showed enormous support for a policy limiting electronic use.
Respondents also said they wanted
officials have no plans yet to improve the roadway.
Kelly Mill Road stretches more than 4 miles just outside Cumming.
The road runs past an elementary school, which can contribute to traffic, Commissioner Todd Levent said.
enforcement to be consistent and expectations to students to be clear.
About 2 percent of respondents had negative feelings about device restrictions.
“There was widespread recognition that there is negative impact of phones on student focus and well-being,” Bartlett said.
A widening project is underway at nearby Post Road, with construction expected to begin in 2026.
The project will add two lanes through about 3.6 miles and build sidewalks, a multiuse trail and median.
— Jon Wilcox
Puzzles
of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 5, 4 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
SNACK FOODS
1. Bank document. Ring-shaped sweet snack. Bath powder.
2. Peruvian capital. Room at the top. Snack of sweet confections
3. Mexican cash. Snacks with dips, maybe. Astute.
4. Round cake snack. Blue shade. Pillow cover.
5. Fencing sword. Small sweet treat. Large-scale.
6. Mand member. Mystique. Health snack.
7. Crunchy snack. Egg carton measure. Eros.
1 Bank document. Ring-shaped sweet snack. Bath powder
2. Peruvian capital. Room at the top. Snack of sweet confections.
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Mexican cash. Snacks with dips, maybe. Astute
4. Round cake snack. Blue shade. Pillow cover
5. Fencing sword. Small sweet treat. Large-scale.
6. Mand member. Mystique. Healthy snack.
7. Crunchy snack. Egg carton measure. Eros.
A
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Full-time
Vice President of Client Programs
NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the fulltime Vice President of Client Programs position. The Vice President of Client Programs (VPCP) is a senior leader responsible for creating and implementing the Client Services department strategy for NFCC. This includes creating programs and services, monitoring their effectiveness and ensuring funds are distributed appropriately. The VPCP also leads a team of 13 client services staff who handle client intake, case management, impact and outcomes data, education (GED/English classes) and workforce development programs.
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
Operations Manager – Plan, direct, and coordinate the operations of the company. Manage daily operations and administration to obtain optimum efficiency and maximize profits.; Bachelor’s Degree in Business req.; 40 hr/wk in Alpharetta, GA; Mail resume to ACR Ventures, LLC dba Craft Burger by Shane Old Milton, 2500 Old Milton Parkway, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30009
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