Art tour spotlights Milton brothers born with cleft lip
By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA, Ga. — Artist Katie Manning believes babies born with cleft lip — a common birth difference where the upper lip does not close all the way during pregnancy — are uniquely themselves and worth celebrating.
She is providing Atlanta with 100 reasons why through her 100 Cleft Portraits tour, a traveling art and education exhibition featuring drawn and painted portraits of people
born with cleft from around the world.
The portraits are currently featured at two Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hospitals, Arthur M. Blank on North Druid Hills Road and Scottish Rite on Johnson Ferry Road.
Portraits of two Milton brothers are included in the series, and they will be formally presented to the brothers and their family members by Manning on Aug. 8 at Cherokee Town & Country Club in Atlanta, 155 W. Paces Ferry Road NW, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
See ART, Page 26
Bridge replacement will affect back-to-school traffic
By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Local students and their families can expect significant delays when school resumes due to the replacement of a Freemanville Road bridge.
Students from Milton High School, Northwestern Middle School, Crabapple Crossings Elementary School, and some Birmingham Fall Elementary may be affected, according to a news release.
The bridge project is said to be on schedule, with the bridge expected to reopen by the end of October.
Every year, traffic congestion increases as more vehicles head to and from schools. The start of the 2026-27 school year could be especially challenging.
Several buses have to be rerouted onto Birmingham Highway, forcing them to abandon the usual route.
Fulton County Schools have made efforts to adjust routes, though there are limits to what they can do.
Expect high traffic in the Heritage Walk and at the Birmingham Highway roundabout, and along Mayfield Road, likely adding congestion at the front of schools.
To ensure safety, it is recommended that children ride the bus or walk to school.
Adjusting travel times between 7 - 9 a.m. and 2:15 - 4:15 p.m. can help minimize disruptions and maximize efficiency.
Milton police officers will fan across the city on weekday mornings and afternoons during August to help traffic move as smoothly as possible.
SUBMITTED/CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA
Portraits of patients born with cleft lip by artist Katie Manning are on display at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Scottish Rite Hospital. The portraits, which include depictions of two brothers from Milton, are designed to highlight the beauty and uniqueness of each patient, the artist noted.
NEWS TIPS
770-442-3278
AppenMedia.com
319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009
HANS APPEN Publisher RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus CONTACT
Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.
LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.
ADVERTISING
For information about advertising in the Milton Herald or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@ appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
CIRCULATION
To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
Man charged after gun fires, wounds two on MARTA bus
By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A man is facing federal charges after authorities say his firearm accidentally discharged on a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority bus, hitting a woman and also wounding himself while traveling in Sandy Springs last week.
Guillermo Cruz Velazquez appeared in federal court July 28 on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully present in the U.S., the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Georgia said in a press release. He will remain in the
POLICE BLOTTER
All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
Roswell man reports sports cards missing
ROSWELL, Ga. — A Roswell man recently reported that nine packages containing sports cards valued at $5,805 were stolen from his P.O. box on Holcomb Bridge Road.
He reported the theft to the Roswell Police Department July 21 after tracking information showed the packages had been delivered the previous day.
CUSTOM FRAMING
The man resells sports cards purchased in high volumes from various sellers through the online retail site Fanatics. He told police that his P.O. box is not always big enough to hold all his packages. When that happens, UPS Store staff typically put the overflow packages in a bag kept behind the service counter for pickup.
The man told police there are
custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
The incident happened near the intersection of Roswell Road and Glenridge Drive. A firearm in Velazquez’s bag discharged one round that struck a female passenger in the leg and Velazquez in the forearm.
Velazquez fled on foot, and Sandy Springs police found him wounded in a parking lot and possessing a bag with a hole in it, the release said. Officers found a .45 caliber pistol with a used cartridge case stuck in the ejection port in nearby bushes.
Chief of the MARTA Police Department M. Scott Kreher said the
multiple sports cards posted on eBay that he believes are from the missing packages. He said photos of the cards feature his Fanatics username, indicating they are the ones he bought.
He was told to audit all of his transactions with Fanatics to see if other packages had been previously stolen. The man is asking police to pursue charges against whoever stole the packages.
— Hannah Yahne
Roswell police intervene in attempted bank fraud
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell police recently confronted a woman allegedly posing as an employee of Bank of America’s fraud department.
Police were alerted to the scam by a Roswell man who had withdrawn $21,500 in cash at the woman’s direction.
When police arrived at the scene on Alpharetta Highway July 20, the man was standing in front of a silver Honda Accord he alleged was involved in the crime. The man told police he had been directed over the phone to withdraw $10,000 at one Bank of America location and an additional $11,500 from a
THE PICTURE FRAMER HAS MOVED!
• Canvas Stretching, Rugs, Mirrors
• Round, Oval and Float Frames
• Sports & Military Memorabilia
• Shadowboxes & Specialty Mounts
• Frame Repairs & Touch-Ups
safety of passengers and employees remains a top priority.
“We are working closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners as the investigation continues,” Kreher said. “Reckless actions that place the public at risk have no place on our transit system, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe environment for everyone who relies on MARTA.”
The case is being investigated by the MARTA and Sandy Springs police departments, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
separate location to cover charges on his American Express card.
He was told to call back when the money had been obtained. With police present, the man called the alleged bank employee, who instructed him to place the money in a plastic bag to pass off to someone in a silver Honda Accord. An assisting officer detained the driver of the car while another spoke on the phone to the alleged bank employee.
The woman told police the driver was not part of the attempted crime. When asked why she was instructing the man to give cash to a courier, the woman began scolding the officer for stopping a crime in progress before hanging up.
Police determined the driver of the silver Honda Accord worked for Uber, was unaware of the attempted scam and was only responding to a call. He provided his account details for further investigation and was released.
The Roswell man and his wife thought the call was legitimate because the alleged bank employee provided a correct cellphone number, driver’s license information and Social Security number. Police told them that information can be found in public records.
— Hannah Yahne
Book pairs father, son’s reflections on autism journey
By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — When David Raphael wrote his first essay, “Jacob’s Story: A Miracle of the Heart,” nearly 30 years ago, he never predicted it would turn into a published book that explores the “amazingly emotional” experience he said results from raising a child with autism.
“Every autistic kid’s story is unique,” David said. “Among the things that makes Jacob’s path unique is … he started in a really serious place.”
His son Jacob was diagnosed with autism at 2 years and 7 months old, and doctors could not guarantee how far he would progress due to significant cognitive delays. In the essay published in 1997, David wrote that the weeks following his son’s diagnosis were among the most painful he had ever experienced.
“I would lie awake at night, unable to sleep,” David wrote. “I had no appetite.”
I could think of nothing but the son that would be lost to me forever.”
This severe anxiety continued until the Raphaels were introduced to the DIR model, a scientific framework used to promote healthy development in children with autism. DIR — an initialism for the developmental, individual differences, relationship-based model —
was developed in the 1980s and 1990s by Dr. Stanley Greenspan and expanded upon by Dr. Serena Weider.
“The first time we saw Dr. Greenspan … Jacob and I were in his office and it was as if somebody had opened a door to the future,” David said. “When we started doing the Floortime method, we saw changes right away.”
Floortime, according to the DIR website, is the DIR model put into practice. Activities focus on building a child’s underlying developmental capacities — emotional regulation, engagement, two-way communication and problem-solving — through play that follows the child’s interests.
With Floortime treatment, David said progress came “immediately,” making the three-hour commute to Greenspan’s office — and the thousands of dollars spent on provider costs — worth it. He said it was gratifying and exhilarating to see his son’s growth.
“As Jacob was healing, I was healing, too,” David said.
David read his “Jacob’s Story” essay at the 1996 Zero to Three child development conference, sharing how important early intervention and DIR was to their lives. He said it was hard work, frustrating at times, and he noted Jacob’s progress was rapid and remarkable. Jacob, by age 5, had said his first word — “meow” — and wanted to learn everything.
See RAPHAEL, Page 26
ANTHONY BOYD GRAPHICS/PROVIDED David Raphael, left, embraces his 13-year-old son Jacob in the cover photo for “A Miracle of the Heart: A Father and Son’s Autism Journey,” which was published earlier this year.
Drive for the Cure offers free prostate cancer screenings
By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — When Ed Hoppe learned about Drive for the Cure from friends more than 20 years ago, he thought the annual golf tournament, which raises funds for prostate cancer research, was a worthy cause and that he should get involved.
“One in eight men will, presumably, be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, so it’s a good thing,” Hoppe said. “It’s a worthy cause for us men.”
Drive for the Cure was started in 1999 by a group of men at the Country Club of Roswell. As the tournament heads into its 28th year, the nonprofit organization has raised around $1.5 million for the Emory Winship Cancer Institute.
Last year’s tournament offered an exciting addition, volunteer Dan Gordon said. Golfers could receive free screenings at the course through a blood test at
Emory’s Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Bus.
About 20% of men screened last year were recommended for further testing after their results flagged concerns. This year, community members not participating in the tournament are also able to take advantage of the free screenings.
“Early detection for men is key to making sure that there’s no long-term issues,” Gordon said. “That bus screening has been fantastic.
Community members are invited to receive a free mobile screening at the Country Club of Roswell, 2500 Club Springs Drive, from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. the day of the fundraiser, Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Participation in the golf fundraiser is filled. Anyone interested in donating to the cause or participating in the silent auction to bid on vacations, golf packages and memorabilia can visit birdease.com/ DrivefortheCure.
PROVIDED
The Emory Winship Cancer Institute’s Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Bus travels the state offering free prostate cancer screenings via a blood test. It will be open to the public from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Country Club of Roswell on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Best
Best
Best
Best
Best
Best
Best
Urgent Care Best Urology Best Vein Specialist
Veterinarian
RECREATION: Best Art Lessons/Studio
Community Event
Dance Lessons/Studio
Best Of North Atlanta 2026
Presented By
Best Date Night Hotspot
Best Day Spa / Massage
Best Farmers Market Best Golf Course
Best Group/Corporate Activity Best Gym / Fitness Facility Best Music Lessons
Just opened?
Appen Media publishes New Business Spotlights to highlight local businesses as they get started. Submit yours for free at appenmedia.com/newbusiness.
Confetti Jar connects parents with party vendors
By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Less than three years after its launch, nearly 10,000 parents a month are using ConfettiJar.com, an Atlanta-based platform that, according to its founders, connects families with trusted local vendors for birthday parties and other events.
Jessica Vicars, who moved to the Atlanta area 18 years ago, and Roy Duvall, a lifelong Georgian, founded the website. They worked together in healthcare information technology before founding Confetti Jar to solve an ongoing issue — birthday parties that required parents to find service providers and vendors through blind social media or internet searches.
Confetti Jar makes that process more simple, bringing those businesses together on one website. Its staff members spend time with vendors, helping them get exposure and build trust with customers. It’s free for parents to use, with a small
A
commission fee charged to businesses when their services are booked through it, the founders said. The latest update, they said, allows customers to book services
from local vendors directly through Confetti Jar. The new booking feature cuts out the back-and-forth quote requests that used to define party planning, they said.
“It’s bringing everything together for both sides to make a seamless experience,” Duvall said.
The website now has 150 participating businesses. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have been the biggest driver of Confetti Jar’s visibility.
“[I’m] a real mom [who] genuinely cares about other families having a great birthday party experience, and we really aim for that to come through in [our] social media pages, where people get a chance to get to know us,” Vicars said.
Vicars and Duvall have plans to branch out to other cities but are more invested in Atlanta right now, they said, wanting to ensure local businesses are seeing growth.
“[Our local businesses are] so collaborative, fun and friendly,” Vicars said. “It’s been an amazing community to get to connect with, and we certainly couldn’t do something like this without the local businesses being so excited about what we’re building.”
SCREENSHOT
screenshot shows the homepage of ConfettiJar.com. The Atlanta-based platform connects parents with local vendors for birthday parties and other events.
8 | Milton Herald | August 6, 2026
Sandy Springs to host inaugural paddleboarding competition
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The city of Sandy Springs is hosting its first standup paddleboarding showdown on Saturday, Aug. 15, at Morgan Falls Overlook Park.
Participants can expect a 7 a.m start. They will navigate a six-mile out-andback course along the Chattahoochee River and Bull Sluice Lake. It costs $75 to register; the registration deadline is Aug. 12. Prize money will be awarded to the top three overall male and female finishers.
The event is presented through a partnership between Murph’s Surf
and the city’s recreation and parks department. Catalyst Sports is providing support for adaptive kayak athletes.
City officials said the event aims to create a new tradition for paddle sports enthusiasts while introducing more residents and visitors to the city’s outdoor recreation opportunities along the Chattahoochee River.
For registration information and event details, visit www. SandySpringsGa.gov/events/sandysprings-sup-showdown.
— Elle Girard
Forsyth County cleanup teaches environmental stewardship lessons
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Taking her kids to a county cleanup came with a silver lining for Cumming mom Caroline Richardson.
Manipulating a trash grabber and donning a neon vest were certainly fun for Penny, 9, and Rhett, 7. And the bag full of plastic bottles, weathered political campaign signs and other roadside garbage was a testament that the family was bettering the environment.
But perhaps most importantly, Richardson said the opportunity gave her children the chance to learn the importance of community service.
“We’re out here being part of the community, and we’re taking pride in cleaning up part of the community that they’re part of,” she said.
Richardson added that she was pleased the lesson seemed to be sticking.
“It’s important to help out in the community,” Penny said while hunting for trash in the weeds. “Because we want Earth to be really healthy, and we want the animals to live a longer, happier life.”
The family was part of a handful of environmentally conscious residents who gathered on Namon Wallace Road in midJuly to take part in a cleanup hosted by the county. About once a month, Keep Forsyth County Beautiful invites residents to help out in cleaning up county roads.
For the Richardson family, the event was a good deed but also admittedly a little bit of fun. Caroline Richardson said after seeing a notice about it online, she added it to the kids’ summer bucket list, which also included laser tag and a visit to Six Flags Whitewater.
Julia Bonogofsky, community outreach coordinator for the county’s recycling and solid waste department, said the county makes a concerted effort to reach out to the community.
They also host hazardous household waste disposals and visit schools to educate students about the importance of
keeping the environment healthy.
Roadside garbage is unsightly, but it also poses a more serious risk, she said.
On a recent vacation to the Caribbean, she was shocked to find floating patches of trash in the pristine aquamarine water. Some of that trash very well could have come from Forsyth County, she said.
Trash, particularly plastic waste, can wash out into waterways before finding
its way to the ocean, where it can contribute microplastics to marine organisms like fish.
One thing is for sure, she said: most of the trash doesn’t vanish on its own.
“Aluminum cans take about 450 years to decompose, and glass really doesn't de-
compose,” Bonogofsky said. “It takes about a million years for glass to decompose.”
Trash seems sometimes to be a neverending issue, and that’s why educating the next generation is so important, she said.
“I tell them you can make a difference,” she said.
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Rhett Richardson holds up garbage he collected with a grabber on Namon Wallace Road in July.
The Richardsons — mom Caroline, 9-year-old Penny and 7-year-old Rhett — clean up garbage along Namon Wallace Road in mid-July.
The best offer this summer is rarely the largest one. It is the one with the fewest conditions attached
Where the market stands
Metro Atlanta closed June with a median sale price near $410,000, effectively where it stood a year ago. Inventory tells the more interesting story. Active listings are up nearly ten percent from last summer, placing Atlanta third among the country's forty largest markets for supply growth, and putting us back within reach of pre-pandemic levels for the first time since 2019. Homes are taking roughly fifty-five days to sell. Across Georgia, sellers are collecting 95.6 percent of their original asking price, down slightly from a year ago.
None of that describes a market in trouble. It describes a market that has finally caught its breath, and one in which the terms of a transaction now carry as much weight as the price.
Inside the perimeter
Town has shifted, and the shift is most visible at the top. Inventory above one million dollars is up roughly eighteen percent year over year, and Buckhead is now sitting at approximately six months of supply. By the standard we hold to, six months is balanced. Not soft, not distressed, balanced. The median luxury sale in Buckhead is holding near $1.72 million, which tells you demand has not left. It has simply become selective. For sellers in Buckhead, Brookhaven, Morningside, and Druid Hills, this means the days of waiting for the market to come to you are behind us. For buyers, particularly in the high-rise segment, this is the most workable negotiating window we have seen in several years.
Outside the perimeter
Country continues to run at a different tempo. Alpharetta is carrying roughly four and a half months of supply, which by our standard is balanced, and well-positioned homes are still going under contract in about three and a half weeks. The distinction that matters here is not average versus average. It is prepared versus unprepared. Across North Fulton, the share of listings taking a price reduction climbed again in June, and those homes have been sitting an average of eighty-two days. Fresh, correctly positioned inventory moves. Everything else waits.
Pricing across much of North Fulton has moderated, with Johns Creek the notable exception, posting a solid gain in median sale price during June. Milton, Roswell, Cumming, and northern Forsyth remain supported by relocation demand, school reputation, and a new construction pipeline that gives buyers a genuine alternative. A resale home more than a decade old is now competing directly against a builder who can offer rate buydowns and closing cost credits. That is not cause for concern. It is cause to prepare properly and structure thoughtfully.
The cost of money
Rates moved up again this week to 6.66 percent, the highest reading in about a year, after the Federal Reserve held its position in late July. Two things are worth saying plainly. First, we are still slightly below where we were twelve months ago. Second, buyers in this market have stopped waiting for a number and started negotiating for a payment. Seller concessions, rate buydowns, and creative structure are doing work that price reductions used to do, and they often serve both sides better.
What we are advising clients right now
For sellers: if your goal is to close before the holi -
days, you are on the runway now, not in September. Price to the last ninety days of closings rather than to last spring's aspiration, and come to market prepared. Then be genuinely open on terms. A clean, well-structured offer at a slightly lower number is frequently worth more than a higher one carrying contingencies.
For buyers: you have leverage you did not have two years ago, and it is concentrated in listings that have been sitting. Use it on structure, not just on price. Ask for the buydown. Ask for the credit. And move decisively when the right property appears, because well-prepared homes in strong neighborhoods are still trading quickly.
For both: the transaction is no longer won on a single number. It is won on how the whole agreement is assembled.
With warm regards, Bill Rawlings Founder and CEO Peachtree Town & Country
Market data is compiled from FMLS, Georgia MLS, the Georgia Association of REALTORS, and Freddie Mac. Figures are not a representation of properties listed or sold by Peachtree Town & Country.
BILL RAWLINGS
Brought to you by – Bill Rawlings, Peachtree Town & Country
THE RARE LUXURY OF OPTIONS
Privacy without isolation
Five wooded acres, main-level living, and a second complete residence under one roof
Brought to you by – The Blumenfeld Group
Luxury is often described through finishes, square footage, and location. At 131 Soapstone Way, luxury begins with something valuable: the freedom to live exactly as life requires.
Set on five wooded acres along a private road shared by only eleven estate properties, this custom residence offers quiet, discretion, and breathing room within easy reach of Milton, Hickory Flat, Canton, and I-575. It is close enough for demanding schedules, dining, schools, and daily conveniences, yet removed enough to feel genuinely private.
The home was built in 2019 with a ranch-inspired plan that places most
everyday living on the main level. Twelve-foot ceilings, eight-foot doors, wide-plank Brazilian hardwood floors, and expansive windows create a sense of scale without sacrificing warmth. The open kitchen pairs Bosch appliances, marble countertops, a statement island, and a walk-in pantry with wooded views. It flows naturally into the breakfast area and family room, making the space equally comfortable for a quiet morning or a full house.
Three bedrooms are located on the main level, including an owner’s suite with a sitting area, direct deck access, custom California Closets, and a spainspired bath. For buyers ready to leave behind the maintenance and limitations of a traditional neighborhood home, the layout provides a compelling alternative: expansive land and privacy without requiring daily life to revolve around stairs. Two additional upstairs bedrooms
offer flexible space for guests, offices, studios, or private retreats.
The terrace level changes the possibilities. With more than 3,600 finished square feet, it is not simply an entertainment basement. It operates as a second home, complete with its own entrance, garage access, full kitchen, dedicated laundry, living area, bathroom, and multiple private rooms. Parents, adult children, long-term guests, household staff, or business needs can be accommodated with independence and dignity while remaining under one roof.
The estate also respects the practical side of luxury ownership. Energyefficient construction, smart-home features, Wi-Fi-enabled garage doors, durable finishes, and newer systems reduce the compromises often associated with purchasing acreage. With no HOA, the private-road setting limits through traffic, while the wooded perimeter creates a natural screen from neighboring properties. There is room to host without feeling exposed, work without interrup-
tion, and store the vehicles and equipment that accompany an active lifestyle. Whether the next chapter involves simplifying daily routines, bringing family closer, building a personal retreat, or protecting hard-earned privacy, the property is prepared to evolve alongside its owner over time.
Outside, the acreage offers room to imagine what comes next. The expansive deck overlooks a private, tree-lined setting with space for a pool, gardens, an outdoor kitchen, or expanded entertaining. A fully enclosed chicken coop is already in place. Two garage areas accommodate up to five vehicles, with additional flexibility for boats, motorcycles, ATVs, equipment, or collections.
For an executive, professional athlete, entrepreneur, land buyer, or household planning for several generations, 131 Soapstone Way delivers something increasingly difficult to find: a newer luxury estate that protects privacy, simplifies main-level living, and creates true independence for the people who matter most.
Scan for Photos, Video & Details.
The most dangerous place for seniors
Brought to you by – Bath and Kitchen Galleria
The bathroom, a place we take for granted, transforms into one of the most hazardous areas in the home for aging seniors. With slippery surfaces, high tub walls, and the need for frequent maneuvering, the risk of falls—the leading cause of injury among older adults—spikes dramatically. John Hogan, President of Bath and Kitchen Galleria and Aging in Place Expert says, “Proactive bathroom modifications are not merely an upgrade; they are an essential investment in the long-term safety, independence, and dignity of our seniors.”
To mitigate the dangers, several specific aspects of the bathroom should be modified to create a supportive and accessible environment:
Shower and Bathtub: The single greatest fall risk is often stepping over a high tub wall. The ideal solution is a curbless or low-threshold walk-in shower to eliminate this barrier entirely. For added security, install a permanent shower seat or bench and a handheld showerhead to allow for comfortable, seated bathing. Shower floor should have non-slip tile surfaces.
Grab Bars: Strategically placed sturdy, professional-grade grab bars are critical. They must be securely anchored into wall studs, not just
the drywall. Placement is key: near the toilet to assist with sitting and standing, and both inside and just outside the shower/tub for secure entry and exit. Modern grab bars come in a variety of stylish finishes to seamlessly blend with your décor.
Toilet Area: A standard toilet can be difficult to use for those with limited mobility. Installing a comfort-height or raised toilet seat reduces the strain on joints and makes the transition from sitting to standing much easier. Pairing this with well-placed grab bars provides a significant boost in stability.
Flooring and Lighting: Replace slippery tile or remove loose bathmats and throw rugs, which are tripping
hazards. Install slip-resistant flooring throughout the bathroom. Finally, good lighting is paramount. Bright, even lighting—including motion-sensor nightlights—helps seniors navigate safely, especially during middle-of-thenight trips.
By implementing these thoughtful changes, the bathroom can evolve from a high-risk area into a secure, comfortable, and accessible space that supports an aging senior’s desire to age in place safely at home. For more information visit Bath and Kitchen Galleria’s showroom at 10591 Old Alabama Rd Connector in Alpharetta (no appointment needed) or call them at 678-459-2292.
Tune-Up Projects
Kitchen Tune-Up
Paint Cabinets
New Countertops, Sink & Faucet
New Backsplash
Cut Down 2-level
Island
Bathroom Tune-Up
New Countertops, Sink & Faucet
Enlarge Shower
Shower Glass
Shower Safety
Full Remodel Projects
Kitchen Remodel
Total Cabinet Replacement
Large Island
Optimize Cabinet / Appliance Locations
Open Concept –Move Walls
9-5 Mon-Fri • 10-4 Sat
Showroom – Design Center 10591 Old Alabama Rd. Connector Alpharetta, GA
Bathroom Remodel
New Larger Shower
Vanity Replacement –Cabs, Counter, Sink
Free Standing Tub
Floor Tile, Wall Tile
Plumbing Fixtures
Long Hollow Landing | 7970 Beryl Overlook
Long Hollow Landing Community Dock
Find your new home – and your North Georgia lifestyle – with David Patterson Homes
and modern features today’s buyers want.
From peaceful acreage and Lake Lanier living to a walkable downtown address, David Patterson Homes is creating exceptional new-home opportunities across Gainesville, Cumming and Dawsonville. The award-winning homebuilder is known for creating thoughtfully designed, European urban farm style homes with spacious floorplans, quality craftsmanship and desirable locations close to excellent school districts, shopping, recreation and everyday conveniences.
Creekside Overlook in Gainesville , an enclave of just 33 homes, is located just minutes from Lake Lanier. Set within a peaceful, wooded neighborhood, Creekside Overlook features spacious half acre plus homesites and beautifully designed single-family homes that offer the room, privacy
The available homes showcase open concept living spaces, gourmet kitchens, inviting primary suites and flexible rooms that can serve as home offices, guest accommodations or additional entertainment areas. Outdoor living spaces and generous yards provide even more opportunities to enjoy the natural North Georgia setting. With five homes ready for a faster move, Creekside Overlook is an excellent choice for buyers who want the advantages of a new home without waiting through the full construction process. It’s convenient Gainesville location also places residents near Lake Lanier’s boating, fishing and recreation, along with area dining, shopping and medical services.
For buyers dreaming of a home directly connected to the lake lifestyle, Long Hollow Landing in Gainesville
offers a rare opportunity. Recognized as Best New Homes Community by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, Long Hollow Landing has only two lakeside homes remaining. Priced from $1.2 million, each home includes a deeded boat slip at the community dock, making it easy for residents to enjoy days on Lake Lanier.
In Cumming, Reece Run offers an intimate setting with only four homesites. Each homesite is more than one acre, providing privacy and space while remaining convenient to Forsyth County destinations. Homes are priced from the mid $700s, and a Move-In Ready home is currently available with $45,000 in incentives, creating an exceptional opportunity for buyers ready to make their move.
David Patterson Homes is also introducing Enclave on Wallace Tatum , its newest Cumming-area community. This limited collection will feature
only six homesites of more than one acre, with homes priced from the high $700s. The intimate size and large homesites are expected to make this a highly sought-after address.
In the city of Dawsonville, Downtown Fausett offers a different style of living. New townhomes are currently under construction and priced from $329,900. Residents can enjoy a walkable location near Downtown Dawsonville, the local farmers market, restaurants, community events and other city attractions.
From move-in ready homes near Lake Lanier to lakeside residences, spacious estate homesites and walkable townhome living, David Patterson Homes offers opportunities for a variety of lifestyles and price points throughout North Georgia. Call David Patterson Homes at 678-578-6824 or visit DavidPattersonHomes.com to begin your new home search.
Brought to you by – David Patterson Homes
Records don't happen overnight
Brought to you by – Ansley Real Estate – The Dolan Group
People tend to remember the ending. The sold sign. The record-breaking sale. Five days on market.
Those are the moments everyone sees. But the best results are rarely created once a home hits the market.
The outcome wasn't determined on launch day. By the time a home goes active on the MLS, we like to say that 90% of the work has already been done. Not because the work is over— but because the foundation has been built.
Preparation has never mattered more than it does in today's market. Buyers have more choices than they've had in years. Homes are taking longer to sell. Expectations are higher than ever, and buyers often decide within moments whether a home is worth seeing in person. Our goal isn't just to create a beautiful first impression, it's to make sure buyers don't want to miss it.
A well-prepared home photographs better, shows better, and captures a buyer's attention from the moment they see it online. In today's market, that's often what determines whether they schedule a showing or keep scrolling.
When 525 Tiverton Court became the highest sale yet in Harrington Falls, it wasn't a lucky break. The foundation had been laid years before—with a homeowner who took pride in maintaining the property and invested in meaningful improvements over time. Long before the listing ever went live, we built a strategy to showcase those strengths. The result was a home that stood out from day one and sold for a record price in just five days.
While every home is different, our philosophy never changes. We don't believe in rushing to market. We believe in taking the time to understand your goals, identify the opportunities that will have the greatest impact, and build a strategy tailored specifically to your home and your priorities.
That work begins long before the first showing.
CELEBRATING A RECORD SALE IN
A seamless process. A seller who didn’t have to wonder if they made the right call. Five Days on Market.
Why a will alone no longer fits the way families plan
Brought to you by – Holly Geerdes Estates Law Center USA
For decades, a will was the default estate planning tool — simple, familiar, and seemingly sufficient. That's changing, and the numbers back it up.
This is not a small shift. It is a sign that more families are starting to understand the real difference between the two documents — and that difference matters more than most people realize until they're the ones dealing with a loved one's estate.
A will tells the court what you want. A trust lets your family avoid the court altogether.
A will is, at its core, a set of instructions for a judge. It doesn't transfer anything on its own — it has to be validated, interpreted, and executed through the probate process before your wishes carry any legal weight. A properly funded trust sidesteps that step entirely. Assets titled in the name of the trust pass directly to beneficiaries according to the trust's terms, with no court involvement required.
A will becomes public record. A trust stays private.
Once a will is filed for probate, it becomes part of the public court record. Anyone — a nosy neighbor, a dis-
gruntled relative, a scam artist targeting new heirs — can request a copy and see exactly what you owned and who inherited it. A trust is a private contract. Its terms, its assets, and its beneficiaries are not filed with any court and are not part of the public record.
A will still has to go through probate. A properly funded trust does not.
Probate is not free, and it is not fast. Depending on the state and the size of the estate, it can take anywhere from several months to well over a year, and it typically comes with court fees, executor fees, and attorney fees that reduce what's left for the family. A properly funded revocable living trust — meaning one where the person's assets have actually been retitled into the trust's name — bypasses probate for those assets altogether. The family gets access to what they need, often within weeks, not months.
Why "properly funded" is the phrase that matters most
Here is where most DIY trust plans fail: a trust document is only as good as the funding behind it. If a house, brokerage account, or business interest is never retitled into the trust's name, that asset still goes through probate — regardless of what the trust document says. This is the single most common mistake in self-prepared estate plans, and it's exactly the kind of detail an experienced estate planning attorney is trained to catch. Proper funding requires coordinating deeds, account retitling, beneficiary designations, and sometimes business entity documents — work that goes well beyond filling out a template. The biggest growth in probate is the DIY Trust that didn't get property expert advice in setting up properly beyond just signing the trust.
Why this shift is happening now
More families are choosing structure over paperwork, and that's a good thing. It reflects a growing awareness that estate planning isn't just about stating your wishes — it's about building a system that actually carries those wishes out without unnecessary cost, delay, or public exposure for the people left behind. But building that system correctly, with all the pieces properly funded and coordinated, is not a do-it-yourself project. It takes an attorney who understands both the legal requirements and the practical funding steps that make a trust work the way it's supposed to.
Come visit our workshop to learn more!
OPINION
GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!
All the many benefits of water therapy
Oh, how I do love the sound of flowing water – but not when it’s coming from the potty. Yeah, that’s right. The other day, something happened and the outflow from the washing machine had nowhere else to go. You really can’t blame the water; it was just doing what water does.
The first clue that something was amiss was a burbling commode. Toilets are not supposed to burble. But this one was.
Hearing it, I walked into the bathroom to check things out. The potty was full of soap-sudsy bubbles, and the first thing I thought was, “Well, at least it looks clean.”
The burbling stopped. I went back to the other room. But then the burbling resumed, even more burbly than before. It sounded…cheerful, like a burbling creek…happy even…
I went to look again. This time the carpet squished.
Uh-oh.
Long story short: That musical hydrology was just a devious little teaser of what was really going on, which was that water was flowing across the basement floor on the other side of the wall. Said water flowed around baseboards and into the carpet, soaking the padding, sheetrock, and whatever boxes or other items were within its reach. It didn’t take long for it all to happen, and by the time we got the water cut off we had (as my grandma used to say when talking about politics) “a mell of a hess.”
Fast forward a few days, during which the disaster folks came and did their thing. That basically involved tearing up the kitchen, bedroom, closet, vanity area and bathroom, too. That latter, which was especially disruptive to (forgive me) the normal flow of things, involved removing the toilet (the very same one which had alerted me in the first place) and setting it unceremoniously in the tub (no, not so it could be used but just to get it out of the way). I actually felt kind of sorry for the toilet, ensconced as it was in that noble but now totally non-functional state. The bathroom sink, for its part, ended up in the living room, while the kitchen sink ended up outside. Oh boy.
One has not fully experienced this modern world until one has lived in
it accompanied by a non-functioning toilet sitting in one’s bathtub – and without a kitchen, too. If we’d had at least a functioning kitchen, we might have used it to prepare some sort of comfort food, ideally one involving chocolate or perhaps some sort of fortified spirits.
We stayed for a little while, albeit without kitchen or sinks and or toilet or tub (remember, it now held the
out (but this time with conveniences) at an Airbnb up in the foothills north of home.
This evening, barely two days into telling ourselves that lemonade-outof-lemons is really a thing, we decided that we needed respite. This water catastrophe had messed with our home, with our nest – and by her own admission, my wife is a nest builder. She was stressed, for you do not lightly mess with a nest-builder’s nest.
Water therapy. That’s what we needed. It would be oddly appropriate, wouldn’t it? So we got in the car and drove to the local lake. As its watery expanse came into view, thoughts of that other H2O and all it had wrought began to fade from view. Life on Earth began to look a little better.
I knew we were on the right track when she asked me, “Do you think there will be fish?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “But I will go find out.”
“Some fish would be good right about now,” she mused, her voice a little softer maybe. “Maybe they’re there. I’ll sit here and crochet while you check it out.”
So that’s what she did, and that’s what I did, too. I tied a bright yellow foam fly to the end of the line, made my way down to the water, and immediately caught a decent bluegill. Three casts later, I caught another. Then I stopped fishing and turned to walk back up the hill, ready to deliver the happy news.
“It’s good,” I told her.
Together, we walked back down the hill to the water’s edge. She cast, using the rod I had built for her not long after we married, and she promptly caught a bluegill of her own. It was a good one.
I caught one, too, and she took my picture.
toilet), while the restoration folks worked. It was, my wife observed, kind of like camping but without the woods.
That is not nearly as much fun as you might imagine.
Soon, they told us we needed to go somewhere else while things dried out (mold) and then, a few days later, they told us we needed to go somewhere else again while repairs were made.
That’s where we are now, camping
I walked on down the shoreline, fishing as I went. Then I heard her call my name and turned and saw her rod bent more than I’d ever seen it bent before. She had a big one – an enormous one, a brag-worthy one, a bluegill of epic proportions. I watched as she brought it in, and I went to her to take a picture.
It was the biggest bluegill she’d ever caught.
“With fishing like this, we could have had some for supper,” she said. “We would have eaten well.”
But she slipped it back into the water, and for the first time that day I saw a smile flicker across her face.
Water therapy? Uh huh. Sometimes that’s all you need.
STEVE HUDSON Columnist
STEVE HUDSON/APPEN MEDIA
GARDEN BUZZ
Southeast Pollinator Census is this month
ANNE WISKIND Guest Columnist
Do you look forward to delicious fresh peaches, golden zucchini and luscious tomatoes every summer?
Then thank the bees and other insect pollinators! They pollinate over 85% of wild flowering plants, more than 75% of agricultural crops and are essential to maintaining a balanced ecosystem.
Why is pollination so important?
Pollination allows plants to develop seeds, which then produce flowers, fruits or vegetables. It requires the transfer of pollen from the male flower part (the stamen) to the female flower part (the ovule), which then forms the seed. The problem is that some flowers may have only male or female parts, so they require pollinators to move pollen. Research shows that a single flower requires eight separate pollinator visits to develop properly shaped fruit. Talk about busy bees!
Flowers produce both nectar and pollen. Nectar is a sugar-rich fluid packed with energy to attract pollinators. Pollen is a protein-rich powder that contains the plant’s male genetic material. Bees are considered the most efficient pollinators because they collect and transport both pollen and nectar. They are also “fuzzy,” and pollen collects on their hair or on special collection structures on their legs. Wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles and ladybugs are more accidental pollinators. They are primarily after the nectar and may transport pollen collected on their legs, but their true benefit is as predators that eat harmful insects such as aphids, mites, thrips, leafhoppers and insect larvae. Most insects are not aggressive and are just interested in the nectar or pollen, but it is best not to touch them. Using the magnifying feature on your phone may help with insect identification.
Insect populations have been declining since the 1930s. This trend is widespread, not only in developing areas of the world but also in remote locations. Scientists believe this insect decline is due to habitat loss, light pollution, microplastics, pesticide use, disease and climate change. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently lists more than 50 species of pollinators as threatened or endangered. The loss of insect communities may have a disastrous effect on food webs.
The University of Georgia Extension developed and launched the Great Georgia Pollinator Census in 2017 to track insect pollinator populations in Georgia to measure the effects of pollinator habitat restoration. The initiative has since expanded throughout the Southeast to include South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and, for the first time this year, Mississippi. Now known as the Great Southeast Pollinator Census (gsepc.org), it is the nation’s largest pollinator counting effort. The project also features an educational component designed to augment STEM curriculum in elementary schools.
Anyone can participate in the GSEPC on either Friday, Aug. 21, or Saturday, Aug. 22, and all ages are welcome! Participants simply pick a pollinator plant and count the number of insect visits to that single plant in a 15-minute window. Participants can complete multiple counts using a separate tally sheet.
The census tracks insects across eight different categories: bumble bees, carpenter bees, honeybees, small
bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths and others, such as beetles, ladybugs, dragonflies and lacewings.
The tallies are then loaded onto the GSEPC website for analysis. A pollinator plant is any blooming native or nonnative plant that shows insect activity. The GSEPC tally sheets feature pictures of the different insects to assist with identification, and an identification guide on the website helps participants understand differences between the pollinator groups.
This year, the Fulton County Extension Office is hosting census events at four locations on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026:
• Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, Summerour House Garden, 9770 Autrey Mill Road, Johns Creek, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Chastain Park Native Plant Garden, 4001 Powers Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, 9 a.m. to noon.
• GROWL Garden at Camp Truitt, 4300 Herschel Road, College Park, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Little Diggers Booth at Sandy Springs Farmers Market, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, 8:30 a.m. to noon.
Fulton County Master Gardeners will be at these locations and will host free, family-friendly educational activities to help everyone learn about the importance
of pollinators in nature. You will find everything you need to participate in the census, including tally sheets and insect ID guides.
You can also participate in your own yard or local park, any place with flowers! You will find all the necessary information and forms at gsepc.org. Consider joining their Facebook page: Southeast Pollinator Census or follow on Instagram @SoutheastPollinators.
So Bee on the lookout for pollinators!
Happy Gardening!
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.
Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/opinion/ columnists/garden_buzz/.
Come visit us at the Alpharetta Farmer’s Market on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays through October or the Sandy Springs Farmer’s Market the 3rd Saturday of the month through October.
UGA EXTENSION SERVICE/PROVIDED
Leafcutter bee on mountain mint.
What’s behind Atlanta’s housing slowdown?
If you ask almost any real estate agent why homes are taking longer to sell, you'll likely hear the same answer: mortgage rates.
It's an understandable response.
Thirty-year fixed mortgage rates began 2022 near 3.25%, climbed rapidly, and averaged 5.34% that year. Since 2023, they've averaged roughly 6.67%, and today they're hovering around 6.75%.
That sounds expensive—until you zoom out. Since Freddie Mac began tracking mortgage rates in 1971, the long-term average has been approximately 7.70%. By historical standards, today's rates are not unusually high. They simply feel high because we've become anchored to the once-ina-generation rates of 2020 and 2021.
So, if mortgage rates aren't the primary villain, what is?
The answer may be hiding in plain sight: home prices.
In Metro Atlanta, the average homeowner has seen approximately $200,000 in appreciation since 2020. That's wonderful news for current homeowners. For buyers, however, it's an entirely different story.
A $200,000 increase in purchase price translates into roughly $1,500 more per month on a typical mortgage payment. Compare that with today's higher interest rates, which add another $300 to $400 per month relative to the ultra-low-rate era.
The math is revealing. Interest rates certainly matter, but they account for only a fraction of today's affordability challenge. The overwhelming driver is the dramatic increase in home values. When a family's monthly payment rises by nearly $1,900, about four-fifths of that increase stems from the higher purchase price. Not the
higher interest rate.
Here's the irony. Many homeowners who purchased in 2020 invested perhaps $20,000 to $30,000 as a down payment. Five or six years later, many have accumulated more than $200,000 in equity, largely by making their mortgage payments and maintaining their property. Warren Buffett often reminds investors that time is the friend of a good asset. Metro Atlanta homeowners have received a remarkably vivid demonstration of that principle.
The next question is obvious: Are home prices due for a correction?
Perhaps, but context matters. We're already seeing subtle adjustments. Sellers are offering larger concessions. Price reductions have become more common. Homes are staying on the market longer than they did during the 2021 frenzy.
That doesn't necessarily signal another 2008. Today's homeowners generally have significant equity, lending standards remain far stronger
than they were before the financial crisis, and inventory is still well below historical norms.
The market is adjusting, not collapsing.
Mortgage rates make convenient headlines because they're easy to measure and easy to blame. But if we're looking for the principal force behind today's slower housing market, we should spend less time staring at interest rates and more time looking at price tags.
Sometimes the biggest obstacle isn't the cost of borrowing money. It's the cost of the house itself.
DC Aiken is Senior Vice President of Lending for CrossCountry Mortgage, NMLS#658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.
The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC or its affiliates.
RESULTS!
Each line in the puzzle below has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
OUTSIDE THE BIRDCAGE
1. Radar image. Gung-ho. Small olive-colored flycatcher.
2. Big party. Long-legged webfooted shore bird. Urban haze.
3. Clan emblem. Elevator, in England. European blackbird.
4. Three-toed bird. Downhill racer. Newbie golfer.
5. Winter wear. Diving duck. Figure skater’s jump.
6. Big brass. Room at the top. Short-billed Old World rail.
7. Tyrant flycatcher. Pricing word. Trade.
1 Radar image. Gung-ho. Small olive-colored flycatcher.
2. Big party. Long-legged web-footed shore bird. Urban haze
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Clan emblem. Elevator, in England. European blackbird.
4. Three-toed bird. Downhill racer. Newbie golfer
5. Winter wear. Diving duck. Figure skater’s jump
6. Big brass. Room at the top. Short billed Old World rail.
7. Tyrant flycatcher. Pricing word. Trade
How to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence.
Art:
Continued from Page 1
Guests interested in seeing those portraits and hearing from Manning about her work should register in advance at acpacares.org/100-cleftportraits-tour.
The portraits and accompanying tour are part of National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month. The month serves as a time to advocate on behalf of patients with cleft lip — and also to celebrate them and their health journeys. The American Cleft Palate Association and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta are among the tour’s sponsors.
The Milton brothers have been under the care of Dr. Joseph K. Williams,
Raphael:
“Jacob’s Story” was published in the April/May 1997 edition of the Zero to Three Journal, which publishes the latest research on early childhood development and related insights from experts. Three years later, he was again invited to speak at the group’s
a pediatric plastic surgeon and director of Children’s Center for Cleft and Craniofacial Disorders, since birth.
Williams said Manning’s work creates visibility for patients with cleft lip while also highlighting the artist’s own journey with the birth difference. Manning’s son was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate.
“This is a mom who … needed to understand how to deal with that internally, the emotions and guilt that a lot of these families have,” Williams said. “She went back to what was in her core, which is to be an artist.”
A surgeon for 30 years, Williams said a common misconception about patients born with cleft lip is that it is a life-altering condition. He acknowledged, however, that treating the birth difference is a lengthy process
conference. His second essay, “Jacob’s Story Part II: Each Day is Another Adventure,” was published in 2000.
David said parents of children diagnosed with autism are desperate for hope. The diagnosis is becoming more prevalent, with the Centers for Disease Control reporting that, in 2022, 1 in 31 8-year-old children in the U.S. were identified with autism spectrum disorder. In 2002, 1 in 150 were noted.
and one that can be challenging for families.
“I think when that happens twice, in a situation like this [with the brothers from Milton], the burden of care becomes formidable,” Williams said. “It is undoubtedly an enormous stress on the family and the family dynamics.”
He said cleft repair involves an 18year treatment plan with an average of five to seven surgeries.
Surgeries start in a patient’s first year of life and are followed by speech and dental development evaluations. Other procedures could later be necessary, including reconstruction of the gums, revisions of the lip and nose, and jaw surgery.
Patients meet a number of health care specialists — surgeons, dentists, speech-language pathologists, nutri -
“We’ve been telling Jacob for years that he has an important message to share, that he has an important story to share with others,” David said.
Last year, David collected his essays and spoke with Jacob about each chapter. The dad transcribed his conversations with his son. Jacob contributed his own chapter, “A Boy and His Autism,” which details the confusion and difficulties he experienced while growing up with autism. The prose also recounts the first time he read “Jacob’s Story.”
Jacob, usually hesitant to discuss the development disorder, wrote that reading the essay caused a wave of emotions to burst through a dam he had long been building.
“The emotion that broke the camel’s back, in this case, wasn’t anger but empathy … empathy and a radical shifting of a memory that happens years after the fact,” Jacob recorded.
Chapters pairing dad-and-son reflections weave readers through the shared experience and what those times meant to both individuals. The essays and reflections were published in the book “A Miracle of the Heart: A Father and Son’s Autism Journey,”
tionists and even psychologists — during their journey, Williams added.
The surgeon said a prenatal, or before birth, diagnosis can be helpful both to medical teams and families. With that information, parents can prepare for the process and be provided with sufficient information to make decisions and adapt to potential challenges.
“We can ease their mind and make sure they understand that this is a well-worn path and there are a lot of people that are there to take care of it,” Williams said.
He said medical advancements are helping shorten recovery times. One bright spot, he noted, is that lab-created materials, instead of bone taken from a patient’s hip, can now be used to repair a bone gap.
which was released this summer through the publisher they founded, The Narrow Bridge Press.
Jacob, now 35 with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Georgia College and State University, is working on his own novel and applying for a graduate-level social work program. With his father, he served as a keynote speaker at the Creating Connections to Shining Stars child development conference in Virginia July 14-16.
“It’s taken me three decades to become more comfortable in my own skin and with my own unique qualities,” Jacob said. “I still have a ways to go. That said, I’d like to think that I’ve learned a thing or two along the way.”
Jacob told the conference crowd, a group of special educators and parents, that it is essential to help neurodivergent people connect with others around them. He said finding people who accept others as they are — autism and all — is even more important.
“When thinking about his long journey, the latest chapter of his is embracing his autism identity,” David said. “He really embraced who he is and it’s incredibly … empowering for him and affirming.”
To learn more, read the dad-andson pair’s blog or purchase a book, visit narrowbridge.us.
NOTICE OF MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR THE CITY OF MILTON
RZ26-05 – Text Amendments to the Unified Development Code regarding AG-1 lots, development standards, and related development regulations, including previously deferred provisions from RZ26-03, affecting the following: Article 2 General Provisions; Article 3 Agricultural Districts; Article 6 Special Purpose Districts; Article 8 Use Provisions (as it relates to setbacks for private swimming pools); Article 9 Site Development; Article 10 Streets and Improvements; Article 11 Environment; Article 12 Administration; and Article 13 Definitions.
The above item will be considered at the following meetings and public hearings:
Community Zoning Information Meeting
Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 6:00 pm
Planning Commission Public Hearing
Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 6:00 pm
Mayor and City Council Public Hearing
Monday, November 2, 2026, at 6:00 pm
Location:
Milton City Hall – Council Chambers 2006 Heritage Walk Milton, GA 30004
678-242-2540
Invitation to Bid
Pavement Preservation Asphalt Rejuvenation Project
ITB NUMBER 26-PW11
Bid Due Date: August 26, 2026, by 2:00PM Local Time
Electronic submission via: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bidsrfps
Bid submissions will be publicly announced via a virtual bid opening at approximately 2:30 PM at the City of Milton City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004. The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids. If the contract is awarded, it will be awarded to the lowest reliable bidder whose bid meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the invitation for bids.
The City of Milton is requesting bids from qualified parties for the Pavement Preservation Asphalt Rejuvenation Project. The scope of work for this project generally consists of providing an asphalt pavement preservation treatment to the city-owned streets. This work falls under the City's Pavement Management Plan. The Contractor will be required to complete the project by December 31, 2026. All qualified bids will receive consideration without regard to age, handicap, religion, creed or belief, political affiliation, race, color, sex, or national origin. The time and terms of payment, along with the plans and specifications can be found in the solicitation of bids posted on the websites below. A bid bond of 5% is required when submitting bid response. The request for electronic bids for ITB 26-PW11, Pavement Preservation Asphalt Rejuvenation Project will be posted on the following websites the week of August 6, 2026: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The City of Milton City Council will hold a public hearing for the applications for alcohol licenses listed below on Monday, August 17, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the First Floor of City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, Georgia 30004. All interested persons are encouraged to attend the public hearing.
PH-26-AB-08 – Alar Enterprise LLC dba Chevron Food Mart for a license to sell Wine and Malt Beverages for Retail Package Sales, and for Sunday Sales of same, at its place of business located at 13021 Deerfield Pkwy, Milton, Georgia 30004.
City of Milton
Notice of Meetings and Public Hearings for a Use Permit
Case #U26-01
Location: 631 N. Main Street, Suite 207
Current Zoning : T5 – Deerfield Form Based Code
Applicant: Ragin & Associates, Juan Ragin
Request: A Use Permit to allow an Event Facility (Sec. 8.5.6.B of the UDC) within a 1,625 square feet tenant space, in an existing two-story 38,000 square foot commercial building, to accommodate a maximum of 90 attendees. [TW1]
The above item will be considered at the following meetings/public hearings:
Community Zoning Information Meeting Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 6:00 pm
Design Review Board Meeting Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 6:00 pm
Planning Commission Public Hearing Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 6:00 pm
Mayor and City Council Public Hearing Monday, November 2, 2026, at 6:00 pm
Location:
Milton City Hall – Council Chambers 2006 Heritage Walk Milton, GA 30004
678-242-2540
Join
Support Local News
CHARTER MEMBER
DC Aiken
Big Sky Franchise Team
David & Michelle Bertany
Amour & Duane Carthy
Scott Childress
Adam Corder
Barbara Anderson
Kerry Arias
Scott Baynton
Joseph Bell
Rita Brown
SM Buscher
Mark Casas
Carl Abernathy
Bruce Ackley
Salpi Adrouny
Alpharetta Lions Club
Omar Altalib
Dave Altman
Ron Altman
Joel Alvis
American Legion Post 201
Ken Amos
Alice & Dr. Richard Appen
Stewart Applbaum
Gaye Armstrong
Mary Asbury
Amy Auffant
Bonnie Avera
Carolyn Axt
Bangkok Boxing LLC
Sandra Balmer
Shannon Banna
Beth Barnes
Michael Baron
Janet Bass
Caitlin Bates
Jannet Bauer
Barbara Bauschka
Miriam Beattie
Kathy Beck
Laura Bentley
William Bentley
Steve Berman
Leslie Berry
Patrick Cressaty
Lindsay DeFranco
Robert Flint
Robin Fricton
Zachary Hahn
Allison January
David Conti
Theodore Davis III
Maureen Drumm
Charlcie Forehand
Aileen Horton
Deborah Jackson
David Johnson
Tom Billings
Caroline Blackmon
Tochie Blan
Ron Boddicker
Jodi Bogen
Sherri Bolles-Rogers
Katherine Bolt
Helen Borland
Debra Bowen
Joe Bowen
Kenneth Bowman
David Boy
Ryan Brainard
Mark Brandus
Mel Brannen
Amy Bratten
Carol Bright
Linda Brill
Dorothy Brouhard
Mary Anne Brown
Erendira Brumley
Zack Buchanan
Bernhard Burgener
Alvin Burrell
Mike & Theresa Buscher
Mary Busman
Clea Calloway
Kirk Canaday
James Carr
Bridgette Carter
William Carter
William Cartwright
Michael Kenig
Roderick Liptrot
Bob Meyers
Claude Nardy
Cliff Oxford
Bruce Paulk
MEMBER+
Ali Mahbod
Richard Matherly
Evan McElroy
Vickie McElroy
Anne Peer
Helen Perry
Jennifer Phillippi
MEMBER
Linda & Frank Catroppa Pat Check
Virginia Christman
Adam Cleveland
Ann Coaloa
Kim Coggins
Michael Cohen
Evelyn Collazo
Michael Mackenzie
Communications
Joan Compton
Kathleen Cook
Carol Cookerly
Terri Coons
Sarah Cox
Cynthia Crawford
Rhonda Cude
Connie Cunningham
Christopher Cupit
Bart Dean
David Dean
Duane DeBruler
Marilyn DeCusati
Kathleen DeMartino
Nancy Diamond
Sarah Donehoo
Rebecca Donlan
James Dorsey
Tom Driscoll
Michael Dudgeon
Jeanette Dummer
DutchCrafters Amish Furniture
Ross & Lori Ramsey
Sarah Reiter
Mark Rundle
Matthew Sayle
Lynn Thomas
Kim Truett
Robert Popp
Dave Rhinehart
Sergey Savin
Heather Sawyer
Kate Seng
Karen Shih
Bob Stevens
Thomas Edmonds
William Edmundson
Denise Eicher
Mim Eisenberg
Danny Elkins
Su Ellis
Grady Evans
Leslie Ann Everett
Steve Fabian
Carol Fain
Martha Fasse
Nell & Doug Fernandez
Renai Fitzpatrick
Daniel Fleck
Lee Fleck
Laura Floyd
Andrew Flynn
Cathy Flynn
Paul Folger
Adrienne Fontaine
Mary Ford
Nanci Foster
Amy Frederick
Kelly Frommer
Carol Fry
Tim Fulton
Andrew Garner
Tracey Ganesh
Steve Garrett
Daniel Gay
Matthew Geller
John Gibbs
Roger Wise Jr.
Colt Whittall
John Gilberto
Leslie Gilliam
Bailey & Ryan Gladysz
Michelle Glotzbach
Harvey Goldberg
Christopher Goodrich
Jim Gray
Ralph Griffin
Rihard Griffiths
Elaine Gwynn
Carolyn Hall
Marilee Hamilton
Susan Hanna
Marion Hannah
Chris Harrell
Roxanne Hazen
Joe Hirsch
Penn Hodge
Dianne & Steffan Holmquist
Joan Hostetter
Julie Hostetter
Krista Howland
Austin Hughes
Jason Hunyar
Jacqueline Hursh
Susan Huss
Paul Huth
Jeffrey Hyde
J. Craig Inman
Sandra Jacobs
Sue Jacques
Lynn Johnson
Kimberly Verska
Carol Williams
Tyler Jones
Zach Jones
Patricia Kachur
Amy Kanderis
Arthur Kebanli
Laura Keck
Mark Kelly
Nancy Kennell
Randall Kent
Carol Kerr
Sally Klaskala
Allison Kloster
Dyna Kohler
Brett Koutnik
Larry Krueger
Jess & Chris Kysar
Malinda Lackey
Sarah Lamm
Daniel Lashinsky
Richard Lapin
Christine Law
Brandon Leach
Dennis Lee
Ken Leffingwell
Carol Lehan
Melissa Libby
Bonnie Lind
Francia Lindon
Karen Lippert
Harlan Little
Jarrett Long
Ross Long
Kyser Lough
Rita Loventhal
Jerry Lucas
Brenda Lundy
Harry Lutz
Rita Loventhal
Karen Magill
Support Local News Join Appen Press Club
Freda Manning-Rumph
Kyile Marshall
Julie Martin
Linda & Todd Martinez
Carla Masecar
Valerie Matthews
Theresea Mattioli
William Maxwell
Nicole Mayer
Rachel McCord
Austin McCully
Diane McDonald
Evan McElroy
Karen McEnerny
Jack McGinnis
Lynn McIntyre
Mike McLoughlin
Margaret McManus
Jennifer Mendoza
Al Merrill
Chris Miller
Christine Miller
Patricia Miller
Milton Animal Hospital
George Mobley
Joe Modica
Fred Moeller
Sarah Moen
Catherine Moore
Ralph Moore
Carol Morgan
Kathy Morgan
Stu Moring
Leslie Mullis
Donna Murphy
Jack Murphy
Aileen Nakamura
George Nathan
Caroline Naughton
THE FUTURE OF LOCAL NEWS
Richard Nichols
Cindy Nolan North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc.
Tricia Novarro
Bob O’Brien
Diana O’Sullivan
Anne Pappas
Lynn Pennington
Jonathan Peters
Kurt & Leslie Phillips
Mary & Jan Phillips
James Potts
Debra Powell
Seth Price
Joyce Provissiero
Chuck Pugh
Patricia Rackliffe
Robert Radloff
Raj Rajagopalan
Pankaj Rajankar
Ashwin Ramaswami
Cheryl Rand
Manu Rao
James Rasmussen
Paula Rattray
Lori Rausch
Jean Rearick
Joseph Reed
Scarlett Reynolds
Righteous PR
Angie Rigney
Sean Riley
Neil Robertson
Kimberly Robinson
Matt Rohs
Kim Romaner
Courtney Rozear
Fran Russell
Continued innovation in digital media has changed the ways in which people buy, sell and interact with products and services. It has caused businesses to reassess the ways in which it communicates with potential customers and advertises its products. It has been well documented that these changes have had a destructive impact on local newspapers, which continues to be a primary source for local news, but is no longer a primary source for local advertising dollars – historically the lifeblood for reporters and their coverage. At Appen Media Group we want to address this conflict head on, and build new and innovative approaches to monetizing local news and creating a sustainable future for local journalism in metro Atlanta.
Janet Sandberg
Kelly Sarmiento
Fran Schefer
Derek Scheidt
Dorothy Scherr
Stephanie Schniederjan
The Schoenblum Family
Robert Scholz
Robert Schreiner
Stephanie Schuette
Susan Searles
Frances Segars
Tracy Shealy
Tina Shelton
Lisa Shippel
Steve Short
Tom Simon
Cindy Simpson
Robert Singleton
Faye Sklar
Mitchel Skyer
Judith Slaughter
Andy Smith
Lee Smith
Tia Solh
Morris Soriano
Heidi Sowder
Gena Spears
Donald Spencer
Melissa Spencer
Jan Stephens
Wesley Stewart
Cathryn Stovall
Celeste Strohl
Diana Sullivan
Andy Sumlin
Kathy Swahn
Carol Tall
Mike Tasos
Candice Teichert
The Small Business Advisor
Suzanne & Bob Thomas
William Tietjen
Lisa Tilt
Michael Townes Trunnion LLC
Matthew Tyser
Edward Votta
Linda Wabler
Ollie Wagner
Lewis Walker
Elizabeth Waller
Valerie Walters-Gold
Ann Marie Warning
Terry Warnke
Jonathan Washburn
Michael Watson
Deborah Weiss
Michael Weiss
Herbert Wells
Benjamin Wemberly
Beverly Whisenant
Sally White
Thom White
Umpika White
Mae Whiteside
Ashley Whitt
Jennifer Wieland
Christine Williams
Jamie Wimberly
Jonathan Winkie
Nancy & Dave Wistrand
Kalle Wood
Theresa Woolridge
Laura Wysong
Jonathan Young
THE APPEN PRESS CLUB
One solution is the creation of a membership driven organization called the Appen Press Club that is dedicated to recruiting people and companies to join as members. Members pay recurring monthly or annual dues that are 100% dedicated to sustainable journalism. By providing predictable revenue, Appen Press Club members and partners help fund the salaries and expenses of local reporters who will no longer be subject to the whims of marketing budgets and an ever changing advertising world. In turn, those reporters will provide the readers they serve with highly researched and qualified journalism focused on subjects that directly affect their quality of life.
To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size! Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
Scan QR code to join the Appen Press Club
Breaux & Associates Architects, Jr. Project Architect, Alpharetta, GA: Assist w/ archtrl dsgn & tech tasks. Prep/coord. archtrl drawings, conduct zoning/ building code research, coordinate consultants, review submittals/RFIs, maintain project records, prep. cnstrctn docs. Resp for: Schematic Dsgn (drafting, site analysis, zoning/code research, dsgn materials); Dsgn Dvlpmnt (refine dsgn, coord. w/ eng’g consultants, assist w/ material/system/ finish selections); Cnstrctn Documentation (prep permit/bid docs); Procurement/Bidding (maintain bid docs, contractor clarification); Cnstrctn Admin (review submittals, RFIs, ensure compliance w/ approved drawings/specs). Reqs: Bach degree (or higher), or foreign equiv. in Architecture + license as an Architect in GA + 3 yrs exp. in job offered or as an Architectural Dsgner in an archtrl firm. Reqs project exp in hospitality, mixed-use, multifamily residential, commercial office, retail, educational, concrete masonry unit cnstrctn, & large-scale urban master planning projects + exp w/AutoCAD, Revit, V-Ray, Enscape, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator), Adobe Premiere to create presentation videos, & MS Office. Reqs exp. devlp’g archtrl drawings, renderings, physical & 3D virtual models for conceptual/schematic dsgn; researching zoning/code ordinances, building codes, by-laws, materials, & building systms data; prep’g drawings for bidding/cnstrctn; analyzing space/ site reqmnts; coord’g consultants; & reviewing tech docs. Portfolio of professional dsgn work required. Email resume to: careers@BXArch.com
Food Pantry Manager
NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the full-time Food Pantry Manager position. Under the direction of the Food Pantry Director, the Food Pantry Manager leads back of house food pantry operations including inventory control, receiving products, client orders, managing volunteers, entering data and creating reports.
This role is perfect for someone who enjoys managing people and process! Volunteer and inventory management, operations and data entry are primary responsibilities of this role.
The applicant should have a desire to join the team of a mission-driven non-profit where we work to ease hardship and build financial stability throughout our community. We offer one of the most competitive total rewards packages among Atlanta’s nonprofit organizations, making this role both meaningful and rewarding.
Please send resumes to jobs@nfcchelp.org
Midway Preschool is looking for an experienced Young 5’s/Prek teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. Contact Beth at beth@midwayumc.org.
SOFTWARE ENGINEER: Alpharetta, GA & various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S.: Wrk in var stgs of STLC lk rqmt anlys, Tst dsgn, tst Atmtn, Tst Excutn & Dfct rprtng. Crt & exec s/w tst plns, cases, & scrpts to uncvr, idntfy & dcmnt s/w bgs & thr caus. Exec autom scripts u/ Selenium WebDriver, Cucumber, Java for web-bsd apps & API testing. Using Postman & SoapUI for API tstng to valdte JSON & XML files. Cndct Func, Integn, End to End, Smok & Rgrssn tstng. Dcmnt & rprt s/w dfcts u/ bug trckng tools lk JIRA & Confluence. Master’s degree in Sci, Tech, or Engg (any) is reqd. Email resume: at VERINOVA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC at sud@verinovainc.com
Medtronic MiniMed Inc.– Duluth,GA – Principal
IT Architect – Business Intelligence Engineering
– Responsible for the design, development, and implementation of end-to-end enterprise reporting and analytics solutions. Req’d to be onsite at least 3 days/wk. To Apply: https://www.minimed.com/en-us/careers.
Req. # R-801105
Advance Solutions Corp. (Alpharetta, GA): ServiceNow Developer to wrk on in-house prjcts rltd to app dvlpmnt. Min Reqs: Bach dgr in Comp Applctns, Mech Engg, or rltd fld & 5 yrs exp in sftwr dvlpmnt, or rltd occptn. Plus 5 yrs exp w/ the fllwng: Dsgnng, dvlpng & cstmzng ServiceNow app & modules; & ITSM. Telecommuting anywhere in the U.S. 40 hrs/wk. To apply, email resume to megha.s@advancesolutions.com
NATIONAL ADVERTISING
Tutoring
Math & Science Tutoring: In person, Online, @ home. Math all topics up to grade 12 & SAT,ACT. AP(Pre Calc,Calc,Physics,Chemistry). With 40+ years of experience. M: 470-861-7972
LeafFilter backed by no-clog guarantee & lifetime warranty. Call 1-833-610-1936 to schedule FREE inspection/ estimate. Get 15% off your entire order. Military & Seniors get additional 10% off. Limited time. Restrictions apply, see rep for details. Bath & shower updates in as little as 1 day! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts available. 1-877-543-9189
generator. It’s a power move. No more cleaning gutters.
Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads
Wesley Financial Group, LLC timeshare cancellation experts over $50 million timeshare debt/fees cancelled in 2019. Free info package. Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971
DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405
Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as 1-day. Limited time, waving all installation costs! Additional terms apply. Subject to change & vary by dealer. Ends soon. 844-501-3208
Home break-ins take less than 60 seconds. Don’t wait! Protect your family, home, assets now for as little as 70¢/ day! 877-907-0316
Need cash quickly? We buy houses in any condition. Get a fair cash offer within 24 hours! Call today. Liz Buys Houses: 833-359-4707
MobileHelp America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! Call 1-888-489-3936
Consumer Cellular - same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees free activation. All plans feature unlimited talk & text, starting at just $20/mo. Call 1-877-751-0866
Professional lawn service: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Free quote. Ask about first application special! 877-484-8583
Peace of mind & early detection-Now more than ever, it’s important to get screened for Stroke & Cardiovascular Disease risk. Life LineScreening is simple & painless. 833-970-4172
SunSetter. America’s Number One Awning! Instant shade at the touch of a button. Transform your
