MILTON, Ga. — The parking lot at Legacy Park will be resurfaced and expanded to 127 spaces – nearly double its current capacity – after the Milton City Council approved the contract June 1.
The $1.67 million contract with Summit Construction and Development was approved within the meeting’s consent agenda. It includes the base construction bid of $1.3 million, a construction and electrical allowance.
Still, anticipated project costs come in roughly $138,000 more than what’s budgeted due to increased design costs from when it was first envisioned. Suggestions to close the funding gap include using available impact fees and capital contingency funds.
Additional park improvements include fencing off the maintenance area, creating a dedicated dumpster location, adding a seating wall around Field 3 and constructing a Legacy Wall to recognize notable community members.
The project will address infrastructure issues at the park, which offers two full-size artificial turf fields and one small turf field used by multiple youth sports leagues and adult soccer. Construction work is expected to begin by the end of the month with a goal to reopen the park by September.
Also included on the consent agenda – the meeting’s only action item – was a contract to repair the fencing along Lackey Road and Sweetapple Road near Lakhapani Preserve.
The City Council approved a service agreement totaling $18,330 with Spectrum Fence. Funding is included in the current budget and includes cost of materials, installation and project implementation.
See COUNCIL, Page 26
CITY OF MILTON/PROVIDED Fire Chief Gabe Benmoussa praises Milton first responders for achieving the Heart Safe Community Award from the International Association of Fire Chiefs. The City Council recognized public safety departments at its June 1 meeting.
Water fountains at City Springs flowed freely in early May, but city officials say the City of Atlanta’s neglect of water infrastructure has caused low pressure at hospitals and businesses, making it a public safety issue.
Cities’ water rate dispute rattles
county service talks
By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The longstanding feud between the cities of Sandy Springs and Atlanta over water supply and distribution has spilled over into service delivery negotiations with Fulton County.
The dispute could lead to the cities losing valuable state and federal dollars if an agreement is not reached.
Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul was harsh in his assessment of how Atlanta has responded to his city’s water woes at a May 12 Fulton County Service Delivery Strategy meeting. The years long dispute is not just about water bills but is one of public safety, he said.
“This is beyond now just being concerned about how much we’re being charged for water,” Paul told county and city leaders. “It’s truly a health and safety issue.”
See WATER, Page 27
DYANA BAGBY/APPEN MEDIA
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Johns Creek to send offenders to Forsyth County Jail
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek Police Department has found a solution to its jail dilemma months after the closing of one of North Atlanta’s few jails.
At a June 1 meeting, City Council members gave the department the go ahead to seek an agreement with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office for use of its jail.
The city decided to go with Forsyth County despite the reopening of the former Fulton County North Annex Jail in nearby Alpharetta. In December, Alpharetta reopened the facility as the Alpharetta Detention Center, giving tours to officials from Johns Creek and other cities.
Johns Creek staff said they recommended an agreement with Forsyth County after determining its terms were more advantageous than those offered at the Alpharetta Detention Center.
For use of the Forsyth County Jail, Johns Creek would be assessed an annual fee of $65,000 and charged $195 for an inmate's first day and $140 for subsequent days.
City staff estimate an annual cost of $200,000 based on an average of 22 inmates per month.
The decision comes months after the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office closed the North Annex Jail in the wake of a Department of Justice investigation that found Fulton County jail conditions violated prisoners’ rights.
An agreement with Forsyth County would give Johns Creek a way to house those arrested without making the long drive to Fulton County’s Rice Street Jail in downtown Atlanta.
Johns Creek Police Chief Mark Mitchell said driving inmates to Atlanta cost his officers considerable time, which could be better spent doing police work.
“The traffic going downtown is pretty
rough,” Mitchell said.
Officers can spend up to 90 minutes traveling to and from the Rice Street jail, and processing inmates takes a considerable amount of time.
“They are busy at the jail — busy, busy,” the police chief said.
It also will allow Johns Creek to detain people arrested on municipal charges, which include driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a license and other potentially serious charges, he said.
Mayor John Bradberry said the Forsyth County Jail will provide a close and safer alternative to the facility in downtown Atlanta.
“If someone is arrested, it’s important we have somewhere to take them, and ideally it would not be Rice Street,” Bradberry said.
Department of Justice investigators began looking into Fulton County’s downtown Atlanta jail after the 2022 death of Lashawn Thompson, who was
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arrested on a simple battery charge and was accused of spitting on a Georgia Tech police officer.
The federal investigation found Thompson was malnourished, infested with “an enormous presence of body lice” and “neglected to death” when he was found deceased in his “filthy cell.” It also highlighted a pattern of violence that included more than 300 stabbings there in 2023 on top of homicides and sexual violence.
The Forsyth County Jail sits in the heart of Cumming, about a 20-minute drive from the Johns Creek Police Department. It was the first jail in Georgia to receive national accreditation through the National Institute for Jail Operations.
Chief Mitchell said an agreement with Forsyth County will likely run for a year, after which time the city could reassess the arrangement.
“This gives a local option,” Mitchell said.
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Johns Creek Police Chief Mark Mitchell speaks to the City Council June 1 about plans to use the Forsyth County Jail in Cumming to house detainees.
Fulton Schools faces $57 million revenue shortfall for ’27
By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Fulton County Board of Education will decide June 11 on approval of a $2.3 billion budget for 2026-27 that includes a projected revenue shortfall of nearly $57 million.
The board gave preliminary approval to the budget at its second public hearing May 12.
The tentative general fund budget for Fiscal Year 2027 shows a 5.71 percent spending decrease from the current budget of $1.5 billion.
General fund revenues are projected to total $1.4 billion – a nearly 3 percent decrease from this year’s budget. The general fund covers day-to-day operating expenses, like salaries, student services and transportation.
Based on new property tax exemptions that passed this year, Fulton Schools’ Finance Department is projecting an $891 million reduction in local revenues. Federal revenues will also decrease by 10 percent because two grant programs are set to end by June 30.
Because general fund spending
exceeds projected revenues by $56.9 million, the district must use roughly 20 percent of its remaining fund balance from this year to cover the difference. Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef said the general fund balance is estimated to total $282.9 million by the end of Fiscal Year 2026.
In a budget presentation last month, Dereef highlighted state-mandated increases in school districts’ contributions to the Teacher Retirement System and health insurance for all employees without additional funding for non-certified employees.
The general fund budget also includes supplementing a mid-year step in pay for all employees totaling $7.8 million.
Elementary schools will receive a slight increase in funding. Middle and high schools will see less due to declining enrollment and allocation adjustments, Dereef said.
Overall, schools will receive 1.6 percent less than the current year. Even so, their share of the general fund increased to 79 percent – more than $1.16 billion – as the district reduced spending in other departments.
The budget for most departments
within the general fund are decreased as well, as the school district worked to reduce positions and expenditures, “reflecting efforts to streamline operations and improve efficiency,” Dereef said.
Additional funds
The school district will have to continue tapping into its existing funds to cover the $56.9 million deficit set to accrue next year.
All funds are projected to result in a deficit except for the pension and student activity funds.
The capital project fund is the second largest, and revenues are projected to total $254.4 million which will be collected in advance to finance upcoming projects. The fund is currently balanced, and it is projected to remain in the black at the end of the year as education sales tax dollars are collected, Dereef said.
Much of this funding will go to expanding technological support in schools and education centers, as well as enhancing cybersecurity.
The special revenue fund expenditures span various line items related to student services, instructional training and administrative duties
totaling $66.5 million and showing a more than $3 million deficit in revenues. The deficit is attributable to the pre-K grant program, which is partially funded by the district’s general fund.
Rising health insurance and food costs will result in a $1.3 million deficit in the school nutrition program which is projected to take in $56.5 million in revenues.
The fund will be balanced using carryover from the current budget and by raising school meal prices by 25 cents.
G.L.I.D.E. initiative
Since last year, Fulton County Schools has been developing a datainformed strategy focused on finding cost-savings and revenue-generating strategies. The initiative, called G.L.I.D.E., stands for growth opportunities, lean operations, investment in innovation, diversified revenue and enhanced efficiency.
G.L.I.D.E. strategy recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget are projected to save the district around $50 million.
See SCHOOLS, Page 28
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Goizueta Business School sees rise in veteran grads
By LYDIA MAGALLANES decaturish@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — In 2026, Emory University's Goizueta Business School significantly increased its veteran graduates across its Master in Business for Veterans, full-time MBA and working professional programs.
The number of veteran graduates increased by roughly 47 percent, from about 55 to more than 80.
The shift is part of Emory's continued investment in the veteran community. Goizueta began offering an alternative 12-month program, the Master in Business for Veterans (MBV), in 2024. The specialized track is designed for "active-duty military, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve personnel to leverage their military leadership expertise and pair it with business knowledge for a successful career in the business world."
The 2026 school year also marks the first time Emory has named an executive director of veterans initiatives for the entire campus. Retired Maj. Gen. Matt Smith is the first to fill the position, building on the legacy of retired Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, who is now an associate professor emeritus. Smith said the year-
to-year increase in veteran enrollment at Goizueta was "a little bit of a halo effect" of promoting the MBV program.
The only other MBV available in the country is at the University of Southern California. Retired Air Force Combat Systems Officer Grant Kimmel, a 2026 MBV graduate, said he came to Emory to translate decades of military leadership to the private sector.
"When you were in the military, you were either in a position of authority or you had a rank that equals some level of authority," explains Kimmel. "But then when you go into the private sector, you know that that doesn't necessarily exist, and so now you have to figure out ways to earn trust, or, how do you influence people without having direct authority over someone else?"
Kimmel, originally from North Carolina, is living with his family in Smyrna. The Goizueta MBV helped him translate his experience in Air Force Special Operations to a remote government position at Viasat, a California-based satellite communications company.
Smith said veterans are highly sought after by companies because of their tested leadership skills.
LYDIA MAGALLANES/APPEN MEDIA
Dan Heckman (left) and Sean Titus (far left), are part of a group of 19 veterans who graduated with a full-time MBA from Emory on May 10.
COMMUNITY
Georgia primary runoff voting will take place June 16
By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Several primary elections are in runoffs. Runoff Election Day is Tuesday, June 16.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but sometimes open later if there are technical problems. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast their vote. On Election Day, you must vote at the precinct listed on your voter registration.
Races on the ballot include DeKalb County School Board District 4 and County Commission District 3. In Fulton County, there are runoffs for county commission chair and commission District 3. There are several legislative runoff elections on the ballot as well.
There are also statewide runoffs for lieutenant governor and secretary of state for both parties, and Republican candidates for governor, Public Service Commission District 5 and U.S. Senate.
Early voting
Early voting ends Friday, June 12. In DeKalb County, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through June 12. DeKalb and Fulton counties each
provided about 20 early voting locations and several absentee ballot drop boxes. Forsyth County also opened a few advance voting locations.
To see a list of the early voting locations, visit mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/ advanced-voting-location-information and search for your county of residence.
Absentee voting
Absentee ballots must be returned by Election Day, June 16, to your county elections office.
After early voting ends, absentee ballots can be returned to the DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections Office during its business hours on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and until 7 p.m. on Election Day.
The DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections Office is located at 4380 Memorial Dr, Suite 500, in Greater Decatur.
The Fulton County elections offices are located at:
• South Annex: 5600 Stonewell Tell Road, Room 105 in College Park.
• Fulton County Government Center: 130 Peachtree Street SW, Ste 2186, in Atlanta.
• North Annex: 7741 Roswell Road, Room 251, in Sandy Springs.
What to bring
• Elections Hub & Operations Center: 5600 Campbellton Fairburn Road in Union City.
The Forsyth County office is at 1201 Sawnee Dr. in Cumming.
Sample ballots, polling sites
The Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page will show you your sample ballot and polling location. Visit that page at mvp.sos. ga.gov/s/.
DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections said all voters need to bring the following items when they show up to early voting or at the polls on Election Day.
• A valid ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, or voter identification card.
• Your absentee ballot, if you want to vote in person instead. If you do not have your absentee ballot, you will need to sign an affidavit stating that you are instead casting your ballot in person.
Sips of Summer Fest aids mission to employ disabled adults
By DEAN HESSE newsroom@appenmedia.com
CUMMING, Ga. — The third annual Sips of Summer Festival, hosted by The Well GA, took place at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center on Saturday, May 30.
The event serves as a fundraiser for Launch Ability, a nonprofit that supports adults with disabilities finding employment. It featured free admission, a local artisan market, live music and unlimited tastings of beer, wine, spirits and seltzers from The Well's curated selection, available with a ticket purchase.
Ivy Lawson, director of workforce development for Launch Ability, said the organization is the sister nonprofit to SliceAbility, a pizza restaurant located upstairs at the city center, where more than 80 percent of employees are autistic or have an intellectual or physical disability.
Lawson said Launch Ability's goal is to help other local businesses recognize the value of hiring people with disabilities.
"We provide free job coaches, we provide conversations with those small businesses, and at events like this here at the City Center," Lawson said. "Not only do proceeds benefit us, but it's a great community event. We meet business owners, people donate. It's really amazing that they do this for us."
— Photos by Dean Hesse
From left, Jennifer Sheran , Jana Birdseye and Kim Welch dance to live music by Rock Station during the third annual Sips of Summer Festival at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center May 30.
From left, Susan Roberson and her daughter Cameron Moon, a market vendor, at the third annual Sips of Summer Festival at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center on Saturday, May 30. Moon owns Magnolia Moon Modern Outfitters, a boutique in Alpharetta, and said she enjoys getting out to meet people at festivals.
Mark Reardon, left, and his son, local Atlanta chef Ben Reardon, of market vendor Benny Sauce, offer a sample of Ben’s Verde Heat sauce during the third annual Sips of Summer Festival at the Lou Sobh Amphitheater on May 30.
Sips of Summer Festival returns to Cumming City Center’s Lou Sobh Amphitheater for its third annual celebration on Saturday, May 30.
Resident input sought for federal parks grant
By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Entering the final stages to receive a $200,000 grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the City of Milton is seeking residents’ input on upgrades to Birmingham Park.
The upgrades will bring trail improvements, a restroom building compliant with the Americans for Disabilities Act and other maintenance to a portion of the park. The project was outlined as part of Milton’s Community Trail Prioritization Plan which residents played a part in drafting, according to Parks and Recreation Director Tom McKlveen.
The recommendations received positive feedback from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the City Council.
The money comes through the federal government’s Recreational Trails Program and will pay for roughly half of the project’s overall cost of around $400,000. The balance will come from
funds previously designated toward Birmingham Park upgrades.
“Receiving this grant is a big win for the city because it allows us to utilize outside funding to pay for nearly half of a sought-after project,” McKlveen said.
“This means we can make needed improvements at Birmingham Park while preserving local funding for other needs and future projects as they come up.”
The Department of Natural Resources wants to see this project is generally supported by the community, McKlveen said.
Public input is being sought on the Birmingham Park upgrades, and residents can share their ideas by submitting a form on the City of Milton website. Comments will be collected over the next several weeks and shared with the Department of Natural Resources when closed.
Go to www.miltonga.gov/government/parks-rec/parks-facilities/birmingham-park-project/ and fill out the form at the bottom of the webpage.
APPEN MEDIA FILE PHOTO
Find comprehensive breast care with Wellstar in North Fulton
Breast health is an important part of every woman’s overall wellness. Routine breast cancer screening and timely evaluation of breast concerns can lead to earlier detection, more treatment options and improved outcomes. At Wellstar, we are committed to helping women feel informed and empowered throughout every stage of their breast health journey.
Catch
cancer early
Regular screening mammograms remain one of the most effective tools for detecting breast cancer early, often before symptoms develop. If you’re at average risk of developing breast cancer, you should start annual mammograms at age 40. However, if you have a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors, your care team may recommend starting earlier and will help you create a screening plan.
In addition to annual screening, our team helps women understand their individual breast cancer risk and personal screening recommendations. Whether you are coming in for a routine screening, evaluation of a breast symptom or guidance regarding elevated cancer risk, our goal is to provide compassionate, expert care.
Care for benign conditions and cancer
Our breast health specialists provide evaluation and treatment for a range of breast conditions, from common benign concerns to newly diagnosed breast cancer. We understand that any breast abnormality can create anxiety, and we work closely with you to provide clear communication and individualized care plans.
We treat many benign breast conditions, including:
• Breast cysts
• Fibroadenomas
• Breast pain
• Dense breasts
• Nipple discharge
• Breast infections and abscesses
• High-risk and atypical breast lesions
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, we provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary care and guide you through each step of diagnosis, treatment and beyond. We also care for women who are considered high-risk for breast cancer, including those with significant family histories, prior high-risk breast lesions or inherited genetic mutations such as BRCA and other hereditary cancer syndromes. Our team works closely with you to develop personalized surveillance and risk-reduction strategies tailored to your individual needs.
Advanced breast surgical care
At Wellstar, women have access to advanced breast surgical care delivered with a focus on precision, safety and cosmetic outcomes whenever possible. We offer procedures to diagnose and treat breast conditions using evidence-
based surgical techniques. Our surgical services include:
• In-office ultrasound-guided breast biopsies
• Excisional breast biopsies
• Duct excisions
• Partial mastectomies (lumpectomies)
• Sentinel lymph node biopsies and targeted axillary dissections
• Mastectomies with flat aesthetic closures
• Skin-sparing and nipple-sparing mastectomies
• Breast reconstruction in collaboration with plastic surgery specialists
We aim to streamline care and reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment. If you require breast cancer surgery, our surgeons utilize best-in-class techniques designed to achieve excellent oncologic outcomes while also preserving
appearance and quality of life.
Patient-centered approach to breast care
We believe exceptional breast care goes beyond medical treatment alone. Everyone deserves compassionate, personalized care in a supportive environment where questions are encouraged and concerns are heard.
From the first consultation through follow-up care, our team is dedicated to helping you feel comfortable, informed and confident in your care plan. We recognize that navigating breast concerns or a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. We strive to make the process as seamless as possible through coordinated care, patient education and ongoing support.
Call (470) 956-4270 to schedule an appointment with a breast surgeon in Roswell.
Brought to you by - Dr. Jessica Bilz, Wellstar breast surgeon
DR. JESSICA BILZ
Honored to be Voted: Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist
Insist on the
BEST
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.
He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 23 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.
Efudex exhibitionism
Recently, patients have brought to my attention that people are posting startlingly graphic videos on social media of their experiences using creams like Efudex® to treat precancerous sun damage. Efudex® is a prescription-only cream that can help treat certain skin cancers and precancerous lesions. These “influencers” often discuss how many times they have gone through Efudex® treatments and continue to apply medicine long after their skin has become severely irritated. I fear that these individuals are causing themselves suffering and likely damage for dramatic effect, “clicks,” or “likes.” Because social media platforms can financially reward high view counts, there is an incentive for self-treatment to be intentionally extreme.
I do not know whether these individuals are misguided themselves, but what is certain is that they are misleading their viewers. Many of these creators highlight their severe skin reactions, holding themselves up as models for how treatment should be carried out. They report performing multiple rounds of treatment back to back, continuing treatments for weeks after skin is severely inflamed and are likely crafting their own regimens, presumably against medical advice. Contrary to what the influencers imply, “no pain, no gain” doesn’t mean the higher the pain, the higher the gain.
with Efudex® is to exploit cancerous cells’ hyperactive metabolism—targeting the abnormal cells while sparing the healthy ones.
Achieving this balance requires aiming for a "Goldilocks zone." In general, the goal is to apply just enough cream to cause severely sun-damaged areas to become inflamed, pink, and mildly scabby, but not enough to turn the entire application area into a raw field of broken skin.
If the skin seems barely pink or completely unaffected, then the patient is likely under-dosing the medicine, and precancers are not being eliminated. If the entire skin surface is painful and severely inflamed, then both the precancers and the healthy skin are likely being damaged. Very rarely, a patient’s burden of disease may be so severe that a “harsh” result is advised by their dermatologist, but this is generally the exception to the rule.
Severe Efudex® reactions can lead skin to breakdown to such an extent that skin infections and scarring can occur. Many times, the whole point of using a cream like Efudex® is to try to eliminate precancerous lesions and avoid surgery. If the cream itself is overdosed and leads to scarring, then the entire enterprise of using a cream can prove counterproductive, and influencers’ digital martyrdom ultimately hurts our common cause.
Accepting
To understand the proper way to use Efudex® (also known as 5-fluorouracil), it helps to understand its mechanism of action. Cells use building blocks called nucleotides to replicate DNA and RNA. Think of these blocks like individual cars in a model train set. Efudex® acts as a counterfeit part that gums up the assembly of the train and then often causes the completed train to break into pieces. Unable to function, the damaged cell is essentially sent to a cellular scrap yard.
Dosing is key. Precancerous cells divide and manufacture proteins much faster than healthy, resting skin cells. But even healthy “resting” skin cells exhibit some degree of growth and division. The strategy
Undergoing this treatment under the guidance of a caring and competent dermatologist is vital. A spot of concern might actually be a skin cancer requiring a biopsy rather than a cream. Other spots might be purely cosmetic, requiring entirely different therapies tailored to aesthetic sun damage. Before starting Efudex®, risks, benefits, and alternatives all need to be discussed.
If you have concerns about sun damage, a non-healing spot, or any other skin condition, a consultation with a qualified dermatology provider can help determine the most appropriate treatment options. If you are in the Atlanta area, we would be honored to help.
At Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta, Dr. Brent Taylor, Kathryn Filipek, PA-C, and our staff are privileged to care for patients and families throughout our community.
Dr. Brent Taylor
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
Brought to you by – Premier Dermatology
Why are my teeth so sensitive?
Why are my teeth sensitive? What can I do about it? To understand why your teeth are sensitive, we must find the underlying causes and factors contributing to this discomfort. Tooth sensitivity is a common dental problem that affects millions of people. It is often experienced as sudden, sharp pain when teeth are exposed to cold, hot, sweet, or acidic foods and drinks. Some people also notice sensitivity while brushing or flossing. The sensation can range from mild to severe and can significantly impact your quality of life, if left untreated.
The most common cause of tooth sensitivity is exposed dentin. Dentin is the layer beneath the enamel and contains tiny channels that connect to the nerve inside the tooth. When enamel wears away, these channels become exposed, allowing temperature changes and other stimuli to reach the nerve and cause pain.
Gum recession is another frequent cause of sensitivity. As gums pull away from the teeth, the root surfaces become exposed. Unlike the crown of the tooth, the root is not protected by the hard white enamel, making it much more vulnerable to sensitivity.
Tooth decay, cracked teeth, and worn or leaking fillings can also lead to discomfort. These conditions create pathways that allow heat, cold, or pressure to reach the tooth's nerve. In some cases, sensitivity may be a warning sign of a cavity or fracture that requires dental treatment.
Teeth grinding and clenching, known as brux-
ism, can wear down enamel over time and create tiny cracks in the teeth. Both can increase sensitivity and may lead to more serious dental problems if left untreated.
Diet can also play a role. Frequent consumption of acidic foods and beverages such as soft drinks, citrus fruits, sports drinks, energy drinks, and wine can gradually erode enamel. Medical conditions such as acid reflux, bulimia, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can have a similar effect by exposing teeth to stomach acids.
Certain dental procedures, including professional cleanings, whitening treatments, fillings, and crowns, may cause temporary sensitivity. Fortunately, this type of sensitivity usually resolves within a few days or weeks.
The best way to treat sensitive teeth is to identify and address the underlying cause. Desensitizing toothpaste, fluoride treatments, proper brushing techniques, and wearing a nightguard for grinding can often provide relief. Regular dental examinations are important because they allow problems such as decay, gum disease, and cracked teeth to be detected and treated early. If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, consult your dentist. With an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, most cases of sensitivity can be successfully managed, allowing you to eat, drink, and smile comfortably again.
“Preventive Dentistry can add 10 years to human life.” - Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic
Dr. Bradley Hepler and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide all the modern advances for healthy and attractive smiles. You will realize immediate results with non-invasive and often inexpensive procedures to enhance your smile and your health. If you would like a complementary consultation to discover your smile restoring options, please call the Atlanta Center for Dental Health at 770992-2236. Dr. Bradley Hepler has spent many hours dedicated to perfecting and updating the latest and best techniques in dentistry. It is with this breadth of knowledge that we provide each patient with the perfect solution to their situation, their life, and their goals. It is our pleasure to serve this community and help as many people as possible.
The wellness shift
A new approach to personalized health
Brought to you by – OlympusMD
Milton
For years, healthcare has focused on treating illness after symptoms appear. Today, a growing number of people are taking a different approach—one that focuses on optimizing health before problems develop.
This movement toward personalized wellness is changing how people think about aging, energy, weight management, recovery, and long-term health.
Rather than relying on a one-sizefits-all solution, modern wellness programs are increasingly built around an individual’s unique needs, goals, and lifestyle. Factors such as nutrition, activity levels, sleep quality, stress, body composition, lab results, and even genetics can all play a role in how a person feels and functions.
As a result, many people are seeking personalized health pathways that provide a clearer roadmap toward bet -
ter health. These pathways may focus on areas such as metabolic health, weight management, recovery, hormone balance, cognitive performance, or healthy aging.
The goal is not simply to add years to life, but to improve the quality of those years.
This shift is especially appealing to adults who want to stay active, maintain independence, improve energy levels, or address concerns before they become larger health challenges.
Experts believe preventive and personalized wellness will continue to play an increasing role in healthcare as technology and scientific understanding advance. From genetic insights to targeted wellness strategies, individuals now have more tools than ever to take a proactive role in their health.
The future of wellness may not be about finding a single solution. It may be about finding the pathway that is right for you. To find out more visit OlympusMDWellness.com.
Are our jaws getting smaller?
way the jaws and teeth develop.
So, what does this mean for dental health?
Have you ever heard someone say, “There just isn’t enough room for all these teeth”? As dentists, we see this every day. Crowded teeth, impacted wisdom teeth, narrow arches, mouth breathing, orthodontic relapse, and bite problems are all signs that the jaw and the teeth are not always developing in harmony.
Interestingly, this is not just a modern dental inconvenience. Over time, human jaws have gradually become smaller. Our ancestors had larger, wider jaws and more space for their teeth. Their diets were much tougher and required significantly more chewing. They ate foods that were fibrous, coarse, and unprocessed, which placed more natural stress on the jawbones during growth and development. That chewing force helped stimulate wider jaw development.
Today, our diets are much softer. Many foods are processed, cooked, blended, or easy to chew. While that may be convenient, it also means children’s jaws may not receive the same developmental stimulation as they did generations ago. When the jaw does not develop to its full size, the teeth may not have enough room to come in properly.
This is one reason wisdom teeth are so commonly impacted or removed. The teeth themselves did not suddenly become “wrong.” In many cases, the jaw simply does not have enough space to accommodate them. Some people are also born missing certain permanent teeth, such as wisdom teeth or smaller premolars, which may reflect long-term evolutionary changes in our dentition.
But jaw size is not only about food. Breathing patterns, tongue posture, oral habits, and facial muscle function can all influence jaw growth. A child who chronically mouth-breathes, has a low tongue posture, or struggles with airway issues may develop a narrower palate or altered facial growth pattern. Thumb sucking, prolonged pacifier use, and tongue thrusting can also affect the
When the jaws are smaller, teeth may become crowded, rotated, or difficult to clean. Crowding can increase the risk of plaque buildup, cavities, gum inflammation, and bite problems. A narrow upper jaw may also be associated with airway concerns, snoring, or sleep-disordered breathing in some patients.
The good news is that early evaluation can make a big difference. Children should be monitored not only for cavities, but also for jaw growth, airway signs, tongue position, spacing, bite development, and oral habits. Sometimes early orthodontic guidance, expansion, myofunctional therapy, or airway evaluation can help support healthier growth.
For adults, crowding or bite changes can still be addressed with options such as Invisalign orthodontics, restorative dentistry, and periodontal care. Even if jaw growth is complete, improving tooth alignment can make teeth easier to clean, improve function, and support long-term oral health.
Our jaws may be getting smaller over time, but our understanding of growth, function, airway, and prevention is getting better. Dentistry is no longer just about fixing teeth after problems occur. It is about understanding the whole system — teeth, jaws, muscles, breathing, and health — so we can help every patient build a stronger foundation for a healthier smile.
Here at Roswell Dental Care, Dr. Hood and her team of elite healthcare providers evaluate each patient to gain a complete picture of your overall health. We will help you understand what the root cause is and customize each treatment plan. We assure you will feel confident in the solution you choose before beginning any treatment. For enhanced comfort, we offer FREE nitrous oxide. You can rest assured that your experience will be positive, relaxing, and rewarding on many levels. Give our office a call at 770.998.6736, or visit us at www.roswelldentalcare.com, to begin your journey to happy and pain-free oral healthcare!
Destinee Hood
Brought to you by — Dr. Destinee Hood, Roswell Dental Care
Knowing the signs of trauma in children
to you by
– Maddie McGarrah, M.Ed., Summit Counseling
Recognizing signs of trauma in children is an important but challenging task for parents, caregivers, and educators. Traumatic experiences can deeply affect a child’s emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Since children often lack the language or coping skills to express their feelings, trauma may manifest in both subtle and obvious ways. In some cases, trauma can even lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Understanding these signs is crucial for providing appropriate support and creating a safe environment for healing.
The DSM-5-TR defines trauma as exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. This can occur through direct experience, witnessing, or learning about an event involving a close family member or friend. Trauma can also result from repeated or extreme exposure to disturbing details of such events. Signs that a child may be struggling with trauma include:
• Increased or obsessive thoughts about death or safety. Sometimes a hyper-focus on mortality.
• Sleep or eating disturbances, such as too little or too much sleep, or changes in appetite.
• Increased times of unexplained irritability or anger outbursts.
• Difficulty concentrating and staying focused during tasks or conversations, which may resemble ADHD but is a response to the trauma.
• Hypervigilance such as being easily startled or reacting strongly to stimuli.
• Symptoms resembling an anxiety disorder, like excessive worry or difficulty separating from parents.
• Symptoms resembling a depressive disorder such as difficulty experiencing positive emotions, like happiness, satisfaction, or love.
McGarrah, M.Ed.
• Intrusive symptoms, such as nightmares, flashbacks, or unexpected memories of the traumatic event.
• Increased symptoms triggered by reminders of the event, such as anniversaries, visual or auditory cues, and even smells.
• Negative beliefs about oneself, others, or the world.
• Lastly, stress and trauma can manifest differently in girls and boys. Although this can vary, boys often react more quickly and with more irritation and anger, while girls can have delayed reactions that are more internal.
Recognizing these signs early is essential for providing timely support and helping children begin the healing process. If you have observed your child experiencing some of these after a potentially, seeking therapy can provide children with the tools and support they need to heal and navigate their trauma in a safe and constructive way.
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Will Wall Street buy the Fed’s new inflation math?
For decades, investors, economists and policymakers have relied on familiar inflation gauges such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index to help determine the direction of monetary policy. While neither measure is perfect, both have served as the common language through which inflation has been discussed, debated and ultimately confronted. Now, Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh appears ready to change the conversation.
During his April confirmation proceedings, Warsh argued that policymakers should place greater emphasis on “trimmed mean” inflation measures indexes that remove the largest monthly price increases and declines before calculating the overall inflation rate. The goal is to strip away temporary distortions caused by energy shocks, supply-chain disruptions, geopolitical conflicts, weather events and other short-term anomalies in order to reveal the economy’s underlying inflation trend.
From a theoretical standpoint, the
argument has merit. Monetary policy operates with long and variable lags, making it poorly suited to react to every temporary spike in gasoline prices or every disruption in global shipping lanes. Central bankers are supposed to focus on persistent inflationary pressures, not every headline that flashes across a financial news terminal.
Yet economic theory often becomes more complicated when it encounters reality.
The central question is deceptively simple: When does a temporary shock stop being temporary?
If gasoline prices surge for a month, most economists would agree that the increase represents an outlier. But what if prices remain elevated for three months? Six months? A year? At what point does a statistical anomaly become an economic trend? More importantly, when does a cost repeatedly paid by consumers become too economically significant to be dismissed as noise?
That question is arriving at a politically sensitive moment.
Just weeks ago, President Trump publicly expressed confidence in Warsh’s judgment regarding the future path of interest rates. Since then, however, the White House has become increasingly vocal in its desire for lower borrowing costs. The coincidence is difficult to ignore. If policymakers place greater emphasis on inflation
measures that exclude the most extreme price movements, inflation may appear more subdued than traditional headline measures suggest. And if inflation appears lower, the justification for cutting interest rates becomes easier to make.
To be clear, trimmed-mean inflation is not a statistical gimmick. Economists have studied and utilized such measures for decades. Supporters argue that they provide a cleaner signal, helping policymakers avoid overreacting to temporary volatility.
Critics counter with a straightforward observation: Households do not live in a trimmed-mean economy.
Families pay actual prices for groceries, gasoline, insurance, rent and utilities. They experience inflation in real time, not after economists remove the inconvenient data points. If elevated costs persist long enough to alter household budgets and consumer behavior, excluding those costs may improve statistical precision while diminishing public credibility.
But perhaps the most important question is not whether consumers will accept the new measure. It is whether Wall Street will.
Financial markets ultimately determine long-term borrowing costs. The Federal Reserve directly controls overnight interest rates, but mortgage rates, corporate borrowing costs, and Treasury yields are heavily influenced by bond investors’ ex-
pectations for future inflation.
If investors conclude that inflation is genuinely falling, lower short-term rates could translate into lower long-term rates. But if markets view a shift toward trimmed-mean inflation as an attempt to redefine inflation rather than defeat it, the result could be exactly the opposite.
Bond investors may demand higher yields to compensate for perceived inflation risk, pushing long-term Treasury rates and mortgage rates higher even as the Federal Reserve cuts short-term rates.
In other words, the policy could backfire.
Economics has always depended on confidence. Inflation measures work because people trust them. Monetary policy works because markets believe it. The Federal Reserve is certainly free to change the “ruler” it uses to measure inflation.
The question is whether investors will accept the new measurements or decide that the “ruler” itself has become part of the problem.
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.
OPINION
The old man and the vampire romantasy
Life sometimes both amazes and humbles me. And lately, it keeps teaching me lessons that broaden my horizons and make "day to day" simply more fun. I offer this example.
I am a sentimental old fool. It is just who I am. I cling to connections to the past — especially old friends and "childhood." I go to class reunions. I write Christmas cards. I pick up the phone and call. I help out the children of old friends when I have the opportunity. I go to funerals; I always show up for funerals, no matter how far away — usually the parents of my childhood friends, but increasingly, my childhood friends themselves.
So, when one of my childhood friends called me recently and told me that her younger adult daughter, Natalie, had written a book and asked if I would consider editing it for her, I responded, "Of course."
"It's kind of long," she said, to which I replied, "That's OK."
So, I thought to myself, "Just be-
cause you publish newspapers, people think you can edit."
Well, I can, sort of. I am not sure, however, I would rely on myself to edit a book I wrote, but what the heck, she asked, so I will do my best.
So, I emailed Natalie. In hindsight, I should have called. I am determined to stop emailing and texting people instead of calling or visiting face-to-face, but that is another story.
"It's a long book," she said.
OK, the second time I have heard that. Little alarms should have started ringing but didn't. "That's OK, Natalie."
"It's about vampires," she said.
More alarm bells; I don't think I have ever read a book about vampires and generally don't read fantasy (except for "Harry Potter," "Dune," and "Lord of the Rings," but they don't count; those aren't about vampires, sort of).
"That's OK," I replied again.
What was I thinking?
"How do you want me to send it to you?" Natalie asked. "I can put it on Google Drive. Would that work for you?"
Now, everyone knows that newspaper people know about Google Drive and how to use it to edit novels, right? Of course. So, I naturally replied with — you guessed it — "of course." But not
that "of course" — the "of course" that means "No, I have no idea how Google Drive works, and I am too embarrassed to admit it, much less suggest that 'editing' is not necessarily a skill that I was born with or formally trained to do."
And, yes, of course, if the book is only around 350 pages, sure, why not?
So, we set up Google Drive, but first, Natalie asks how much I charge to edit. I did appreciate the question, but I growled at her in response.
"Natalie, you are family and family doesn't charge family — for anything."
That would never enter my mind, although what did go through my mind was how long — how much of my precious time — I just committed. Gzzzeezz.
"What about sex?" she asked next.
"OK," I think, "What?"
"It has sex," Natalie said. "Do you want me to leave those chapters out?"
"Natalie, I'm 71," I said. "This is a book. I can handle it. But thank you for asking. You don't have to leave out the sex."
Fast forward about four weeks.
Natalie has asked me to finish editing by the end of July so she can send the manuscript to potential publishers as soon as possible. So, I double up on my editing timeline.
I now get up early every day — or try to — and spend about an hour on Natalie's book, and I edit twice as many chapters. I am now past the halfway point of the book, through Chapter 50. And, well, wow.
So here is the thing. This book is actually really good — I mean, like it is publishable, I think. And I don't even like vampire novels. Granted, I have no idea what publishers are looking for and what the market is for vampire-romance-fantasy novels, also known as "romantasies."
I am excited because I volunteered to help Natalie, committing to take on a rather substantial body of work. History says that I don't usually finish these types of projects. I start them, then just stop. I know this.
I took the project on because I want to fix myself — fix this character flaw. That's what I am trying to do now, in my 71st year — get better, become more intentional, and be more willing to step outside my comfort zone and engage.
That is, do things that I would have avoided in the past. Because who wants to just fade away? Not me.
And the icing on the cake? Well, how cool would it be to get a mention — one of those dust jacket or "after the last page" thank-yous on a new best seller!
"Very," I think to myself. Next?
RAY APPEN
Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
Nurse Ginny, a Vietnam heroine who saved lives
This is the history of a nurse who did amazing work over 43 years of service mainly in the Army Nurse Corps. Her accomplishments are many, and the number of people who owe her their lives would be difficult to count.
Her name is Ginny Deardorff Dornheggen and she is worthy of a special place in local history. She is familiar to Milton residents who heard her speak at this year’s Memorial Day Ceremony at Milton City Hall.
Ginny was born and raised in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Her family had an extensive military background. Her father served in the Corps of Engineers in World War II, and his brother was a doctor serving in Europe. Her mother’s brother was in the Navy in Korea. As a young girl, Ginny was determined to become a nurse. After high school she entered nursing school where, in her senior year, she enrolled in the Army student nurse program.
After graduation, she joined the Army Nurse Corps as a Second Lieutenant and went through basic training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, where medics and nurses traditionally trained. Her first assignment was the surgery recovery room at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. She took care of wounded Vietnam soldiers and families of the soldiers.
“It was one of the most wonderful places I have ever worked, and the preparation for Vietnam was thorough,” Ginny says.
In September 1970 at age 22 she was ordered to Quy Nhon, Vietnam, a provincial city on the central coast where she worked in the 67th Evacuation Hospital’s surgical intensive care unit and recovery room. A large runway allowed C130s to bring supplies and personnel to the hospital, and helicopter pads were used for wounded soldiers, sailors and marines. Medevac helicopters landed very close to the hospital entrance to reduce the time required to begin treatments. During the Vietnam War, Bell UH-1 “Huey” helicopter ambulances moved more than 900,000 wounded troops.
Most of the wounds were due to explosions and gunshots. They involved loss of limbs, head injuries and the effects of punji sticks, bamboo sticks sharpened at one end and jammed into camouflaged pits where American troops often fell and became impaled. The tips of the sticks were often covered in feces to cause infections.
Nurses also cared for delayed wound closures, which meant carefully monitoring non-critical wounds for several days before they were surgically repaired to prevent infection.
Nurses were on duty 12 hours or longer six days a week and sometimes seven days if mass casualties occurred. At times taking care of the sudden arrival of large numbers of wounded was overwhelming.
One night in January 1971 the Viet Cong detonated 5,000 tons of explosives on an ammunition dump near the hospital. The attack lasted 10 hours. Ginny and her fellow nurses had to move quickly to get the wounded soldiers to safety under their metal bed frames using their mattresses for additional cover. The nurses saved the soldiers, but the terror of that night stayed with Ginny for many years.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious
PROVIDED
Evacuation Hospital’s intensive care unit recovery ward in Quy Nhon, Vietnam in September 1970.
health condition caused by a traumatic event. For a person to be diagnosed with PTSD, effects of the trauma must last for months or years. Ginny relived the horror of that night for years but did not talk to anyone about it. She suffered her nightmares in silence and continued as a wife, mother and nurse.
“Anyone who goes through combat will likely have PTSD,” Ginny says. “I feel I have it under control. I do have episodes, but I am married to a phenomenal man who helps me through them.”
During the final 30 days of their one-year assignments, nurses often maintained a shorttimes calendar with a “Freedom Bird.” These were pictures of Snoopy, and with each passing day, nurses marked Snoopy with a different color. It helped relieve the stress of those final days.
About 7,000 women served as nurses in Vietnam during the war. Nurses received very little recognition after the war, and many did not want to talk about their experiences. In 1984, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Project, originally called the Vietnam Nurses Memorial Project, was founded. After a nine-year struggle, a 15-foot bronze memorial statue was dedicated in November 1993 on the Mall in Washington D.C. as part of the famous Vietnam
Veterans Memorial. The memorial features a nurse supporting a wounded soldier lying across her lap and is a tribute to all women who served during the Vietnam war years.
The novel “The Women” by Kristin Hannah published in 2024 opened the door for nurses who served in Vietnam to talk about their experiences. In the book, a nurse serving in Vietnam returns to the United States only to find that the country is hostile to veterans and dismissive of women's contributions in the war. The book is about her struggles in the midst of war and her return to “the world” after her service time coping with depression and acceptance.
In another book, “Women in War” by David Yuzuk, published in 2024, the opening chapter is about Ginny, and her photo is on the cover. Yuzuk had read about Ginny on the internet. She was contacted by Yuzuk to get permission to use her story in the book and to ask for other nurses who might want their stories told.
In recent years Ginny has become a popular public speaker. One of her most celebrated presentations is a video interview by the Atlanta History Center in July 2017 as part of the Library of Congress Vietnam History Project. It is a beautiful presentation that you can see at https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.110993/.
Bob is a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission, director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and member of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society Board of Directors. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
Photo of 1st Lt. Army Nurse Ginny Dornheggen in the 67th
PROVIDED
An exhausted Nurse Ginny Dornheggen rests for a few minutes on a bunk following the January 1971 attack.
BOB MEYERS Columnist
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OPINION
Want to replace those prickly, overgrown hollies? Ouch!
If you have lived in your house for at least 10 to 15 years, you probably have some foundation plantings you would like to replace, especially if they are the sticky, hard-tomaintain hollies.
When most houses were built, unless you hired a landscape designer or landscape architect, the foundation plantings were chosen by the builder to soften the line between the house and the land. The plants may have been selected because they were inexpensive or chosen for their size because at the time they filled up the space. Most landscaping budgets are inadequate for the number and types of plants needed.
Plants, shrubs and trees should be chosen for their mature size; otherwise, they will eventually outgrow their space. This is the plight of many foundation plantings. Once trees and shrubs start blocking windows and walkways, interfering with roofs and gutters, or causing damage to the foundation, it is time to make a change.
The foundation plantings in your garden are the plants you put around the house, close to the walls, under the windows and beside the doors. These plants are used in landscape design to blend a building with its setting and obscure any undesirable features of the foundation.
Most landscapers suggest two to four different types of evergreen shrubs in a foundation landscape. Choose one or two types of vertical plants to anchor a corner or for tall vertical spaces on the front of a house. Choose one or two types of round or mounding evergreens for under windows. If your home is symmetrical, you can repeat the same pattern on the other side. Another rule of thumb is using odd numbers, such as one, three or five of the same plant, to create visual balance in the landscape.
Too many different types of shrubs can make the design very busy and distract from, rather than accent, your house. My preference is to first choose the majority of foundation plantings as evergreens in order to add structure and year-round interest.
Once you have planted your evergreen shrubs, you can then add shrubs that have foliage colors other than green, which may also flower in different seasons. Small pockets in your design can also be left open for smaller perennials and annual flowers for seasonal color. If you have the right space in your design, plant several vertical shrubs for interest. There is a high demand for dwarf shrubs
that fit under low windows and are great for smaller homes and landscapes. Many new and exciting shrubs on the market far outperform what was routinely used in the past and fulfill the needs of today’s homeowners. If planted with their mature size in mind, they will not outgrow their space.
When choosing a new tree or shrub, remember its mature size before planting. Place the center of the plant no closer to the foundation (or the plant next to it) equal to half of its mature width plus 1 foot. For example, a 6-footwide mature shrub should be planted at least 4 feet (3 plus 1) away.
Below are 10 of my favorite foundation plantings. I have listed the smallest size variety to the largest within each plant name. They are all evergreen except for the Japanese maples. In addition, these shrubs can have foliage colors other than green and may also flower in different seasons.
1. Distylium (Full sun to part shade): Has a range of leaf color and growth habits. Cultivars include Little Champ, Cinnamon Girl, Swing Low, Emerald Heights, Vintage Jade and Linebacker.
include BananAppeal and Florida Sunshine.
8. 'Inkberry' holly (Full sun to part shade): A native plant. Suggested cultivars include Strongbox and Gem Box Prime.
9. Dwarf pieris (Part shade to full shade): Produces white blooms in spring. Suggested cultivars include Cavertine, Mt. Snow and Prelude.
10. Evergreen ferns (Part shade to full shade): Add fine texture and interest, fill in small spaces and are deer-resistant. Suggested cultivars include the Autumn Brilliance fern, East Indian holly fern and Christmas fern.
Your home's landscape should be an inviting frame, not an overgrown barrier. Take a walk around your yard this week to evaluate which legacy shrubs have overstayed their welcome. Swapping out a few high-maintenance hollies for a dynamic mix of colorful, evergreens is one of the easiest ways to instantly elevate your home's value and neighborhood curb appeal.
Happy Gardening!
2. Camellia sasanqua (Part shade): Slim and trim. Flowers in the fall and is a good candidate for an espalier, meaning it can be trained to grow flat against the house. Suggested cultivars include the October Magic series, which features 11 varieties.
3. Arborvitae (Full sun to part shade): The cultivars Fire Chief, Golden Child and Tater Tot are round in shape. The cultivars North Pole, Emerald Green, Sling and Forever Goldy provide vertical interest.
4. Japanese maple (Part shade): A small tree used as a specimen or focal point, offering vibrant fall color. Cultivars include Tamukeyama, Red Dragon and Crimson Queen.
5. Boxwood (Full sun to part shade): Used as low borders and hedges. Suggested cultivars include Franklins Gem, Little Missy, Green Velvet, Wintergreen, Sprinter, Green Tower and Graham Blandy.
7. Yellow anise tree (Illicium parviflorum, part shade to full shade): Features a fragrant licorice or anise scent and yellow foliage in all seasons. Cultivars
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. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https://appenmedia.com/opinion/columists/garden buzz/.
Come visit us at the Alpharetta Farmers Market and the Sandy Springs Farmers Market every other weekend. We will also have a booth at the Crabapple Festival in Milton on Oct. 3, 2026.
Learn more at nfmg.net.
About the author
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Roswell resident Pat Camp. Pat has been a Master Gardener for 26 years, has worked as a landscape designer at a local nursery and is a Georgia Certified Plant Professional. Her cutting garden, which she started five years ago, is her newest passion where she continues to add new and interesting flowers every year. Her flower garden is a virtual banquet for a multitude of pollinators. Pat enjoys making flower bouquets from her garden for her home and to share. Pat enjoys sharing her love of nature and flowers with others, especially her grandchildren.
PAT CAMP Guest Columnist
NETPS PLANT FINDER TOOL/PROVIDED
Pieris Shrub
Puzzles
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 5, 5 and 4 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!
DOUBLE FIRSTS
1. Cummerbund. Honshu port. De Mille or Morehead.
2. Wanderer. Martin or Cain. Railroad station.
3. Newman or Giamatti. Psychiatrist. Castle part.
4. Musical notation. Smell bad. Dinklage or Falk.
5. Writing on the wall. Redford or Duvall. Threesome.
6. Truman or Belafonte. Sweater eater. Axiom.
7. Cast of thousands film. Like an old mattress. Burnett or Lynley.
1 Cummerbund. Honshu port. De Mille or Morehead.
2. Wanderer. Martin or Cain. Railroad station
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. Newman or Giamatti. Psychiatrist. Castle part.
4. Musical notation. Smell bad. Dinklage or Falk
5. Writing on the wall. Redford or Duvall. Threesome
6. Truman or Belafonte. Sweater eater. Axiom
7. Cast of thousands film. Like an old mattress. Burnett or Lynley
Council:
Continued from Page 1
In total, the project will include approximately 1,520 feet of fencing improvements and the installation of two gates that will allow pedestrian access while deterring motorized vehicles from entering the park.
Temporary pedestrian detours may occur during installation, which must be completed within 30 days of the contractor receiving a notice to proceed.
The council approved to transfer four active task orders executed in
Emory:
Continued from Page 6
"I think senior business leaders in Atlanta and the Southeast understand the non-tangible benefits that veterans bring to a team," Smith said. "The discipline, the values-based decision making, the ability to operate in ambiguous, friction-filled environments."
Smith adds that Emory offers something that "can't be replicated." The nationally ranked MBA program is
2022 with BM&K to LJA Engineering after it acquired the construction and engineering firm last year. There is also an active professional services agreement with the company.
The contracted work includes rightof-way acquisitions for the roundabout project at Bethany Road and Providence Road and pre-construction, engineering and inspection services for the Birmingham Middle Bridge Design. Both projects will continue without interruptions.
The last item approved on the consent agenda was to redraw property lines for two existing parcels at 14771 Hopewell Road to make each a minimum of 3 acres.
a pipeline to heavy-hitting companies with military hiring programs, such as Delta, UPS, and Home Depot, all just a few hours from several large military installations.
Staying in Atlanta
That localized corporate demand is part of why many of the 2026 Goizueta veterans are staying in the area. A closer look at the class of 2026 fulltime MBA veteran cohort alone (which is different from the MBV) reveals that three-quarters will be working and living in the Atlanta area, including DeKalb and Fulton counties.
Atlanta native Dan Heckman, an Army veteran and 2026 full-time MBA graduate, landed a job at an Atlanta Fortune 500 company to work in finance and technology. But attending Emory was also an opportunity to put down roots after a decade of service. His young family is living in Roswell, where his wife is from.
Aside from location, Heckman said Emory was the right fit because of the Yellow Ribbon program, which provides government funding to cover remaining school tuition and fees for eligible veterans after the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Heckman said the university's veteran network had the most impact on his life. He said second-year
Staff said the request is consistent with the Unified Development Code and maintains the large-lot development pattern and rural character along Hopewell Road.
The meeting also included formal recognition of Deputy Court Clerk Wendy Lee and Court Clerk Brook Lapen as Georgia celebrates Municipal Court Clerks Week June 8-12.
“[The court] always, always runs great and that is something I think we sometimes take for granted,” Mayor Peyton Jamison said. “That they’re over there doing wonderful work and we are very, very glad that you’re there.”
Officials also recognized the Milton Fire Department for earning the
students guided students through the recruiting process. They identified companies that value veteran resumes and offered advice during the interview process.
"Alumni in Atlanta working in finance, consulting, defense, and operations, responded quickly to outreach, often because they had received similar help," he said.
A safety net
Fellow 2026 full-time MBA graduate Sean Titus, a former Army field artillery officer, is living in Brookhaven with his wife, who is originally from Johns Creek. He secured a job at one of the top three management consulting firms in the world, Boston Consulting Group. Titus joked he could spot his fellow veterans right away because of the "haircuts and Garmin watches."
But that network served as a sort of safety net for Titus. Like many of his peers, he had to readjust to civilian life. Despite using various veteran employment resources, working in production at an Atlanta concrete plant and later in the supply chain at Home Depot, Titus said he still had impostor syndrome going into business school. "I remember I barely passed corporate finance in under -
Heart Safe Community Award from the International Association of Fire Chiefs. It comes during National CPR and AED Awareness week June 1-7.
Milton recorded a cardiac arrest survival rate of 20 percent last year which is around double the national average.
In his remarks, Fire Chief Gabe Benmoussa emphasized the important contributions of police officers, who are often the first responders on the scene. He dedicated the award to Milton leaders and citizens.
“Those survival rates that we achieve … a lot of those are influenced by bystander CPR,” Benmoussa said. “So, the CPR we teach to our community is actually where we’re seeing the results.”
grad, and (at Emory) that was the second class we ever sat in. I was like, 'Oh man, I'm cooked."
For Titus, the past couple of years offered a welcome change of pace, allowing for personal growth. He's seeing a therapist to better handle that "impostor syndrome," and addressing his servicerelated anxiety and mild depression.
"Whether it was in training or on deployment, some of that stuff comes out of nowhere," he said. "Nothing I saw was horrific, but it comes back and can put you down for a few days, or not make you feel like yourself."
As stressful as it is to be in a highstakes environment for years, that experience, like leading troops in combat and being solely responsible for expensive equipment, gives veterans an edge in the business world.
Tyler Fortenberry, a 2026 full-time MBA graduate and former Army armor officer, said that precision under pressure is a superpower.
"You have tanks, you have a limited amount of ammo, you have a limited amount of miles," Fortenberry said. "It takes millions of dollars to operate this machine for just a few days. There's so much more depth and attention to detail."
Fortenberry is living in Buckhead with his wife and is on track to become a Chick-fil-A franchisee.
Many 2026 Goizueta veterans plan on sharing their experiences with the next class. Kimmel is staying connected to the Goizueta MBV program.
"I just want to pay it back to the program and the people that supported me and allowed me to grow," he said. "It helped me stay positive, stay engaged, and just overcome some of the adversity with trying to figure out what that next career looked like."
Titus agreed.
"I hope we keep our group chats alive," Titus said. "I love spending time with these guys … Emory gave us a whole new set of friends, and I really want to make sure we stay in touch."
Water:
Continued from Page 1
Sandy Springs has purchased water from the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management since before it incorporated in 2005. But in the two decades since, the two governments have never reached a formal agreement on an arrangement, Paul said. Without that agreement, Paul said Atlanta has allowed critical infrastructure to deteriorate without accountability.
Paul said the city’s own engineering assessments estimate that between $40 million and $100 million in upgrades are needed to meet current demand.
Paul listed litany of problems with the water system.
Hospitals in Sandy Springs, he said, are reporting inadequate water pressure during peak hours. Some multi-story buildings cannot generate enough pressure to flush toilets above the third floor. Firefighters have raised concerns about whether sufficient flow is available to fight certain types of fires. And Atlanta’s lack of response to come up with any kind of solution is frustrating, he said.
“We’re down now to having utilized the water storage tanks to maintain pressures, and at certain times, particularly in the evening of high demand, those tanks are drawn down to a dangerously low level,” Paul said.
Invitation to Bid
“We had a meeting with Watershed last week, where we raised these concerns, and they simply took notes. They have not brought any plans, or any ideas or any solutions to the table.”
Sandy Springs has been in litigation with Atlanta for 15 years over a 21 percent surcharge the city pays on water delivered outside Atlanta’s city limits. Paul said at the meeting the fee is unjustified because Atlanta draws from the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant to provide Sandy Springs with water. Paul said Sandy Springs is closer to the Tom Lowe Atlanta-Fulton County Water Treatment Plant in Johns Creek than the Hemphill plant on 17th Street in Atlanta.
The Tom Lowe plant serves the rest of North Fulton including Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Roswell.
Atlanta Chief Operating Officer Lashondra Burks pushed back against Paul, saying Atlanta is committed to having conversations and finding solutions. She said that after a recent meeting with Sandy Springs, Atlanta asked the city to submit a consolidated list of infrastructure concerns, but no list has been received.
“We are still waiting on the list,” Burks said. “We would like to have these conversations to address all your issues. That is what we are committed to.”
Looking for conversation
Burks told Paul that because Atlanta does not know what new
Gunston Hall Circle Rehabilitation Project Project #TS2-2515
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 Gunston Hall Circle Rehabilitation Project. The scope of work for this project generally consists of the installation of geogrid and backfill material, reconstruction of roadway and curb and gutter with associated road shoulder work. The Contractor will be required to complete the project by September 30, 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-PW08, Gunston Hall Circle Rehabilitation Project will be posted on the following websites the week of June 11, 2026: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/
development and growth is happening in Sandy Springs, it cannot determine infrastructure needs and water capacity.
“You don’t have to come to the City of Atlanta for permits, but if we have a great partnership [so that] we know you’re building hotels, we know that you’re building hospitals — those are the type of partnerships that we can work on the front end for water versus on the back end,” she said.
In short, Burks said, it’s difficult for Atlanta to address water needs when Sandy Springs provides no information on its development.
Paul shot back that Sandy Springs has handed Atlanta every engineering study it has commissioned.
“If you go back and read those studies we’ve provided you, that’s the list,” he said.
The debate between Atlanta and Sandy Springs impacts negotiations between Fulton County and its cities. Every 10 years, the state mandates the county and its cities to reach agreement on which services the county provides and how much each city should be charged.
Fulton County, for example, provides senior services, animal
control and operates the jail.
Failure to finalize a Service Delivery Strategy agreement by the end of the year means losing access to state grants and federal pass-through funding. A recently passed change in state law now limits that penalty to only the parties in dispute — in this case, Atlanta and Sandy Springs — rather than all of Fulton County’s cities. Paul said the threat of losing funding should motivate both cities to reach a deal.
“I’m hoping with the sword of Damocles hanging over our heads, we’ll get some kind of agreement,” Paul said. “If not, then we’ll be in court until we can get this resolved, and in that period neither city will be able to get grants from the state or the feds.”
Several south Fulton mayors voiced similar frustrations with Atlanta over inadequate pressure and delayed development projects tied to water capacity constraints. A long-term solution may be a regional water authority, Paul said.
“The problems are so profound and affect so many of our areas of operation — economic development, health care, public safety,” he said. “It may be beyond the scope of the city of Atlanta to be able to fix.”
Notice of Open House
We want to hear from you! The City is updating the Milton Comprehensive Plan, which will help guide how Milton grows and evolves over the next 20 years. Join us for a public open house on Monday, June 29th, between 6 and 8 PM at City Hall to learn more about the draft updated plan and share your thoughts. This open house builds on the five Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) meetings held throughout the process, all of which were open to the public, livestreamed, and posted online. We’d love for you to stop by and provide your input as we shape Milton’s future together.
www.miltonga.gov/2026CompPlanUpdate
Schools:
Continued from Page 4
These include implementing a district-wide furlough day to shorten the instructional calendar by one day which will save around $4.5 million. The district also removed the ability for high school students to have reduced schedules, increasing full-time student enrollment to gain an additional $1.2 million in funding.
Other strategies being deliberated include reducing take-home vehicle usage and reducing the number of external rental facilities the district uses.
With forecasted G.L.I.D.E. adjustments, Fulton County Schools predicts a positive change in its fund balance by Fiscal Year 2030.
The Fulton County Board of Education will take a final vote on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget at its June 11 meeting, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the North Learning Center, 450 Northridge Parkway in Sandy Springs.
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THE FUTURE OF LOCAL NEWS
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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.
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Regional Manager (position in Alpharetta, GA 30005):
Direct yard management for multi-million dollar distribution of products for over 600 customers in the food, hardware, consumer goods, medical and beverage industry; develop and implement plans for trailer movement within high density logistics hubs at customer facilities, from yard to dock and back ensuring seamless transitions for drivers, incoming volume and warehouse capacity; develop and implement training programs for site management in supply chain management, communications and safety compliance; conduct financial analysis to manage P & L reporting and evaluation, overseeing financial performance for over 20 locations; and optimize supply chain processes, driving operational efficiencies.
Must have a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Supply Chain Management or a related field and one year of experience in yard management of highdensity logistics, including process optimization, key performance indicators, metrics, spending, and financial analysis and financial performance management. Domestic travel required 15% of working time. Employer’s HQ is in Alpharetta, GA; periodic relocation and/or travel may be required to various unanticipated work sites in the U.S.
Please submit in duplicate your resume and cover letter referencing position #0138 to: Lazer Spot, Inc. (d/b/a Lazer Logistics), Attn. Candice Mirasol, Chief People Officer, 6525 Shiloh Road, Suite 900, Alpharetta, GA 30005; or cmirasol@lazerlogistics.com. Lazer Spot, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Sawnee EMC is seeking an Associate Vice President, Power Supply to support the Vice President, Power Supply in the development, evaluation, and execution of the cooperative’s power supply strategy. This role is responsible for supporting key initiatives related to load forecasting, resource planning, wholesale power cost analysis, contract evaluation, and long-range portfolio strategy. The position will also contribute to the assessment of power purchase opportunities, market options, renewable and demand-side resources, and emerging large-load requirements, while providing analytical support for executive decision-making and member-focused outcomes. Requires: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Finance, Economics, or a related field is required; advanced degree preferred, with a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in electric utility power supply, financial analysis, resource planning, rate support, commodity markets, or related areas.
Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, June 12, 2026 . Apply online: www. sawnee.coop/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.
Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled and Protected Veterans. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.
at beth@midwayumc.org.
DIRECTOR (Part-Time) Alpharetta Presbyterian Church — Alpharetta, GA
APC seeks a vibrant, relational leader to serve as Youth Director for middle and high school students. 20–25 hrs/week | Up to $25/hr. Ideal candidates have a passion for youth mentorship and a background in education, coaching, or youth leadership. Retired teachers and ministryminded professionals encouraged to apply. Strong volunteer team and pastoral support in place.
To apply: Submit a brief introduction and resume to jobs@alpharettapres.com.
LAKE KEOWEE,
SC – For Sale
3 Horizon Pointe Lane located in the gated community of Keowee Key. It’s a magnificent post/ beam construction Lake Home (not contemporary) with dock and 280’ of deep waterfrontage. 25’ high cathedral wood ship lap ceiling in the great room brings an airiness to the open living concept. All rooms have expansive Lake Keowee views. 4 BRs, 3.5 BAs, over 5000 sq ft, heated-cooled with 3 zone Geothermal system. Take a drone video tour and interior virtual tour at: www.3horizonpt.com. Click on the 3 bars then “Virtual Tour” after the video. $2.495M. Owner/ Broker: IsaveRealty. WUMLS # 20292262. Call Wayne 864-710-2214 between 10 AM and 8 PM.
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