Residents spur Milton to delay alcohol permit
By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Residents’ public comments persuaded the Milton City Council to postpone votes on two agenda items that were up for approval at the Nov. 17 meeting.
Mayor Peyton Jamison and Councilwoman Juliette Johnson were absent, but there was still a quorum to hear the agenda items.
Gracious Gatherings, a catering company under Culinary Management of America, applied for an alcohol permit to serve beer and wine at the Pardue Family Foundation Center. The company has been operating under a temporary alcohol license at the rural event facility at Ebenezer Church for the past 60 days.
Resident Samantha Evans speaks to oppose approval of Gracious Gathering’s alcohol permit during public comment at the Nov. 17 Milton City Council meeting at City Hall.
County services grow in North Fulton
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — In just a few months, North Fulton residents will have a new county facility off Ga. 400 in Alpharetta, expanding access to health and human services.
Local leaders gathered at 4770 North Point Parkway Nov. 18 for a hard-hat tour of the nearly completed Fulton County Health and Human Services North facility.
With renovations of both floors substantially completed, the facility will focus on senior health services when it opens in early 2026.
The Fulton County Health and Human Services Center North will centralize and expand existing services while making room for new ones, like specialized services for independent seniors and an adult day care for those in assisted living or with caregivers.
Officials last met for a sledgeham-
mer ceremony to kick off renovations in February.
County Commissioner Bridget Thorne said she hopes the Health and Human Services Center becomes a community building, where residents can come enjoy the cafeteria that looks out onto a lake. Thorne said she’s most excited about the facility’s new services for seniors.
See SERVICES, Page 11
6
HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne discusses expanded senior services moving to the new Health and Human Services North early next year. County officials attended a hard hat tour of the facility Nov. 18 off North Point Parkway in Alpharetta.
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Judge recuses self in Sandy Springs public records lawsuit
By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — Fulton County Superior Court
Judge Kevin Farmer recused himself from a lawsuit Nov. 20 involving the City of Sandy Springs and its handling of public records.
Farmer said he stepped away from the case because he lives in Sandy Springs and regularly reads the Sandy Springs Crier, the Appen Media-published newspaper which brought the suit.
The decision further delays a resolution in a case that began 30 months ago.
Appen Media brought suit May 2023, claiming the city is violating the Open Records Act by denying the newspaper access to police incident reports.
After a Fulton County judge ruled in favor of the city in December 2023, Appen appealed the decision to the higher state court. The Court of Appeals then rejected the lower court ruling, stating, “the trial court’s grant of summary judgment was premature. Genuine issues of material fact remain based on this record and thus the trial court erred by granting summary judgment to the City.”
That decision sent the case back to Fulton County Superior Court.
During the initial phase of the suit, Appen Media requested the city provide copies of complete incident reports so the court could compare them with those the city gave the newspaper.
The city did not complete that request. Its justification largely mirrored the city’s defense for not handing them over in the first place. Sandy Springs said the underlying cases involve open investigations and therefore, it claims, are exempt from release.
Following the appellate ruling and ahead of upcoming trial proceedings, Appen filed a motion requesting the court order the city to provide those outstanding documents.
It argued the materials will help cure deficiencies identified by the appeals court.
“We cannot say as a matter of law that a narrative report is not part of the initial incident report subject to disclosure …
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Editor’s note: Carl Appen is a representative of Appen Media, which publishes the Sandy Springs Crier. He is also a deposed witness in the case. This article attempts to offer an unbiased update on the status of the lawsuit.
Based upon the record before us which was simply not fully developed as to that issue,” the appellate court stated.
Citing that ruling, Appen’s motion argued the newspaper, “is entitled to these reports to fully develop the record as to whether these reports should have been initially produced as Appen alleges in its Complaint.”
Thursday’s hearing was meant to adjudicate the request, deciding whether the city must provide the requested reports before the court.
It was also the first time Farmer weighed in on the case.
The Fulton County Superior Court judge who first oversaw the suit, and who ruled in the city’s favor – Kimberly Adams –had since been transferred to family court. When the Appeals Court overturned Adams’ verdict and ordered the case back to Fulton County, Farmer became the newly assigned judge.
It was a short-lived assignment.
Judge Farmer opened the downtown hearing by asking the courtroom to guess where he lived.
Sandy Springs was the correct answer.
Attorneys for the city and the newspaper, representatives from Appen Media including this author, and two Sandy Springs Police officers were in attendance.
The judge remarked how it would be the Sandy Springs Police who may respond to a safety incident near his home, and how he was familiar with the case based on reading regular coverage in the newspaper delivered there.
As a result, he said he would recuse himself from the case.
Farmer gave thanks to both sides, saying he supported the freedom of the press and those who keep him safe, before
finalizing his ruling.
Appen Media now awaits a new judge assignment as the case rambles on.
Background on the case
State law mandates public records be open to public inspection but allows certain exceptions. Agencies may withhold police records that involve ongoing investigations.
However, the initial incident and crime reports must always be released even if the case is open.
At the center of the Appen lawsuit is the question of what constitutes an “initial incident report.”
For years, the city has published documents with one-sentence narratives stating when and where police are dispatched. Unlike incident reports provided by police agencies in surrounding jurisdictions, the Sandy Springs reports typically lack details on the nature of the crime, an accounting of property damage, injuries associated with a crime, whether there were any victims or any arrests were made, and whether any suspects have been identified.
Sandy Springs admits that officers generally write more detailed reports in a second document, often written the same day. The city claims in its legal defense that this second report is not part of the initial incident report, and therefore can be withheld.
In its complaint, Appen cited examples of Sandy Springs reports in which both documents were created at the same time on the same day. When the newspaper filed open records requests for the reports associated with these incidents, the city only provided the first, one-sentence page.
This behavior runs counter to that of surrounding agencies and statewide practices.
Appen noted in its complaint guidance from the state Attorney General’s Office that, “A common-sense interpretation of ‘initial incident report’ is that anything written at the same time as the first part of the report is part of the initial incident report.”
Fulton County extends Reparations Task Force two years
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — The Fulton County Commission extended the Reparations Task Force for another two years at its Nov. 19 meeting after accepting a report from the advisory group, now in its fourth year.
The Reparations Task Force presented a summary of its nearly 650-page Harm Report, a $250,000 study commissioned in 2021.
Rodney Littles, representing Fulton County’s sixth district on the task force, said the framework of the study focuses on the county’s role, examining property taxes, courts, records, jails, voting, libraries, health and human services, parks and schools.
The 21 chapters of the report fall under six themes: profiteers of slavery; convict labor, jails and chain gangs; property taxes; social, political and economic domination; racial terror; and segregated and inferior county services.
Property taxes and slavery
When the state created ad valorem taxes in 1852, counties like Fulton were allowed to begin collecting property taxes from residents the next year, including those owning enslaved people.
presents the Harm Report, a 650-page document centered on the local government’s role in slavery, segregation and the unequal treatment of African Americans at the Nov. 19 County Commission meeting in Atlanta. Sims-Alvarado said the presentation was very emotional.
Using tax records from 1854-1864, Task Force Chair Karcheik Sims-Alvarado, Ph.D., found the county collected $75,000 in taxes on enslaved people.
“Slave holders were allowed to evade paying nearly $9 million in wages,” SimsAlvarado said. “So, what is due to the enslaved? That seed money of $75,000 with a conservative interest rate of 7 percent, is now valued at nearly $675 million. For the state, it’s $1.3 billion.”
Another Task Force member Elon Butts Osby said her grandfather’s land in Forsyth County was stolen through terror in 1912. She said her family’s next home within what is now Buckhead’s Bagley Park was taken away by eminent domain or for pennies on dollar.
Osby said the land was taken for “rich white residents of the adjacent newly built subdivision of Garden Hills,” estimating the property value to be $60 million today.
“Fulton County was responsible for the generational loss of wealth for my family and others,” she said. “It’s time for the Fulton County government to right the wrongs of its former fellow commissioners.”
Immediately after the presentation, County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts said the Reparations Task Force was presenting “just the findings, not recommendation.”
County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr., who sponsored the legislation creating the panel, said he wanted to apologize to speakers for Pitts’ rushing them through the presentation.
Arrington Jr. and Pitts are both Black men. Pitts’ legislation to extend the Reparations Task Force another 12 months failed.
“We do you know that our chair, on the day he voted to approve the $250,000 said to the news … that he fundamentally disagrees with reparations,” Arrington Jr. said, who filed a resolution that passed extending the task force 24 months.
As commissioners discussed the report and how to move forward, it was not clear how continued work will be funded.
See FULTON, Page 20
SCREENSHOT
Fulton County Reparations Task Force Chair Karcheik Sims-Alvarado
Program helps 8th graders to reach for greater heights
By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Five eighth graders from across Fulton County will receive $10,000 upon graduation from high school to help them access post-secondary education at any Georgia HOPE-eligible university.
Fulton County Schools hosted a signing ceremony Nov. 14 where the middle school students reaffirmed their commitment to education, and parents promised to support their students through the state’s Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH) program.
The students are:
• Christyionn Matthews, Holcomb Bridge Middle School
• Damien Valencia, Bear Creek Middle School
• Dashawn Williams, Renaissance Middle School
• Eyoel Solomon, Taylor Road Middle School
• Jhoselin Carmona-Santana, Ridgeview Middle School
REACH was launched in 2012 to encourage low-income students with academic potential to continue their education.
In addition to financial support, REACH scholars receive academic help and a mentor who helps them overcome challenges and lends extra support for the student and family.
Shamona Harrell, the director of college, career and student supports, said it’s the goal of the program to get these scholars across the stage at high school graduation and give them the wholistic support they need throughout their academic journey. All scholars will meet with their designated mentor twice a month to build academic skills,
plans for college and potential career paths.
“We know that providing these kinds of support remove barriers so that nothing stands in the way of your success,” President of the Fulton County School Board Kristin McCabe said to the 2025 REACH scholarship recipients.
All five scholars will be first-generation college students, something the REACH scholar interview panel looks for throughout the application process.
“We understand the importance of college access for all students and the impact
that has on students and the trajectory of the entire family,” Harrell said.
Althea Byers, guardian of Holcomb Bridge Middle School REACH scholar Christyionn Matthews, described the program as a blessing. She said Matthews has so much devotion to what she does, whether it be her education or trash valet business.
“I find myself being kind of average,” Matthews said. “Of the whole eighth grade, they chose me out of a bunch of other people … I was very excited.”
Another 2025 scholar, Eyoel Solomon, spoke before the crowd of parents and educators. He said he wants to become a professional soccer player on Atlanta United. Through this program, Solomon wants to enhance his knowledge to eventually create a personal brand.
“I’d like to thank my family,” Solomon said, “for pushing me beyond my limits and believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
He also thanked himself for staying consistent, determined and resilient, even in his toughest times. Solomon said he feels sheer relief and joy knowing that all his hard work has finally paid off.
“You never know what your life has in store for you,” Solomon said. “So always be your best because your effort today could change your tomorrow.”
CHEERS, SHOP & WRAP
The Ultimate Holiday Experience!
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10 | 10 AM – 2 PM WHITE COLUMNS COUNTRY CLUB | 300 CLUBHOUSE DRIVE, MILTON, GA 30004
A festive shopping event with local boutiques, curated vendors, wine tasting, a mimosa bar, tasty bites, and stunning golf carts on display and available for rides — plus a gift-wrap station and holiday raffle benefiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA
REACH scholars stand with Fulton County staff at the signing ceremony Nov. 14 hosted at the county’s South Learning Center.
Milton hosts three top-10 flag football matchups
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
Milton senior captains Audrey Jensen, left, and Alliyah Holmes, right, shake hands with the North Oconee captains before the matchup at Milton High School Nov. 18. North went on to beat the Eagles 12-7.
Correction: A previous Appen Media story reported that Valor Christian Academy basketball player Alex Gonda formerly played for Paul Belcher at the Atlanta Bucks. She did not.
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Milton High School hosted two top-10 flag football teams in the state – No. 1 North Oconee and No. 7 Blessed Trinity – for a tri-match Nov. 18, and the top-ranked team in Georgia maintained its ranking with a 2-0 sweep.
The Eagles, ranked No. 3, matched up first against Blessed Trinity to decide the area title. Both teams came in undefeated in region play, and they battled to knot the score at 12 points apiece at the end of regulation.
BT was unable to connect in the overtime period, with a loss of a yard through their first three downs. On their final shot at the end zone, Milton junior Caroline Marshall slammed the door with her first critically-timed interception of the evening.
Milton senior Kylie Parsons caught the game-winning touchdown, her second of the night to secure the 18-12 win. She said her team’s fight and effort make all the difference in tough matchups like these.
“Going into the first game, we were all nervous, but we knew we had each other’s backs,” she said. “I was focused on doing what I could control for my team, do it for the people around me.”
Blessed Trinity had lost just two games this year prior to the Nov. 18 matchup –one to Alabama’s reigning state champion and one to Southeast Bulloch High, the No. 2 team in the state.
Senior Maggie Sullivan went off against the Eagles in the first half, playing catch with her quarterback to throw Milton’s defense off her trail. Milton adjusted to cover the pitch in the second half.
Against North Oconee, BT fell short but put up the second-most points of any North opponent this season in the 26-20 loss.
Senior Hannah Daley said suffering two heavy losses after a widely successful season will drive the team through two more tough matchups a few days later.
Daley recorded the only pick-6 of the evening against North Oconee to give her team their first lead of the game after a successful conversion to junior Chelsea Lewis.
“I just stepped up at the right place at the right time,” Daley said. “These were games that we can definitely learn from. We know that if you make a mistake, someone’s there to pick you up, it’s never just you, it’s a full team push every defensive series.”
See FLAG, Page 21
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Join us for the annual Christmas in Crabapple and Tree Lighting Event, a magical evening filled with holiday cheer! Bring the whole family to enjoy professional photos with Santa, festive crafts, live music, and cookie decorating. Sip on hot cocoa as you take in the twinkling lights and joyous atmosphere. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to create lasting memories and kick off the holiday season with your community. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Doctor-turned-entrepreneur advises seniors how to avoid ER
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dr. Nadia Nabavi, a former Northside Hospital and Grady Healthcare physician, said the top three reasons seniors end up in the emergency room are falls, UTIs and pneumonia.
The North Atlanta chapter of Adult Children of Aging Parents invited Nabavi to host its Nov. 11 program, “From UTIs to Falls: Understanding What Sends Seniors to the Emergency Room,” at Dunwoody United Methodist Church.
Nabavi listed the Big Three causes in order. She said a third of people over age 65 will fall at least once.
“I’m an emergency/EMS physician … that means I’m really good at identifying things that are gonna kill you,” she said. “One thing we saw over and over again was there were many calls for seniors, and it wasn’t like our seniors needed the hospital, but they also needed more than just ‘take two aspirin and call your primary care physician.’”
That realization inspired Nabavi to found Green Dot Health as an alternative to what she sees as a broken healthcare system that saddles seniors with huge hospital bills, sometimes for care they could receive at home.
Green Dot Health’s services includes
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Dr. Nadia Nabavi explains how seniors can avoid preventable trips to the emergency room at the North Atlanta chapter of Adult Children of Aging Parents’ Nov. 11 program at Dunwoody United Methodist Church.
24/7 access to board-certified ER doctors like Nabavi, at-home lab draws, prescription and imaging coordination, post-visit follow-ups and a straightforward billing process.
Membership to the virtual practice starts at $149 a month, a three-month minimum commitment is required.
flexible savings accounts, which can be especially useful for Medicare enrollees to offset out-of-pocket costs.
When Nabavi asked the crowd of 30 how many had been to the emergency room in the past year, at least half of the hands went up. More than 800,000 seniors are hospitalized each year.
A urinary tract infection is far more common than pneumonia but much more dangerous for seniors. Falling is the most common, which can occur after a senior develops an infection.
Nabavi said one way caregivers can assess fall risk is to perform a “timed up-and-go test,” having them stand up, walk 10 feet, turn around, stroll back to the chair and sit down. If it takes someone more than 12 seconds, they may be at risk of falling.
With an emergency room visit ranging from $1,500-$3,000 and trips to an urgent care exceeding $150, Green Dot Health “fills a gap” in senior healthcare.
Incentives to join
The membership also qualifies for tax-free reimbursement from health and
Prevention methods include physical and occupational therapy, which can strengthen core and leg muscles while teaching people how to get up after a fall. An occupational therapist can also come into a home and strategize how things like furniture placement and lighting can be improved.
What seniors really want to avoid is falling and breaking their hip, which exacerbates existing ailments and mortality rates.
See NABAVI, Page 23
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10 | Milton Herald | November 27, 2025
Chamber luncheon explores future of hiring in Perimeter
By JAMIE GODIN newsroom@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga — Nearly 100 hiring professionals gathered at City Springs in Sandy Springs Nov. 19 for the Greater Perimeter Chamber’s Signature Luncheon, sponsored by Atlanta International School.
The discussion focused on how shifts in skills, technology and worker expectations are changing hiring strategies for major employers in the Perimeter market.
The panel featured Cathy Manginelli, chief talent officer at TriNet; Teal Edmeade, who leads talent acquisition and HR operations at Northside Hospital; and Nancy Whatley, senior director of global talent acquisition and learning at Veritiv Corporation. Greater Perimeter Chamber CEO Adam Forrand moderated.
Across sectors, the panelists said employers are placing greater emphasis on human-centered abilities that cannot be automated. Manginelli, whose company provides HR services and support to small and mid-sized businesses, described TriNet’s focus on adaptability and confidence in uncertain situations.
“You have to be agile, a problem solver, someone who is going to lean in when there are challenges,” she said. She added that the company looks for what it calls self-efficacy, “believing in yourself when you do not know the road ahead.”
Edmeade, whose organization is one of the region’s largest hospital systems,
uses automation in parts of its recruitment process, but views AI as a tool rather than a replacement.
“Is it going to replace certain parts of jobs? Yes,” she said. “Is it going to help certain tasks be automated so that you can focus on other stuff? Yes. And we are already seeing that.”
Flexibility continues to shape employee expectations. Manginelli said TriNet has adopted a core-hours model in its Atlanta office, creating a 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. overlap while allowing employees to shift their schedules. The company also provides six remote days each month. Whatley said Veritiv’s flexibility varies by role, with warehouse workers and drivers required on site while sales and corporate positions have more options.
Development programs are becoming a major retention tool. Edmeade said Northside offers scholarships, residencies and structured career-pathing for employees seeking new specialties. “We take about 1,200 nurses every year and put them through those programs,” she said.
said Northside prioritizes people who bring values-driven decision-making to patient care. She pointed to the commitment shown during Atlanta snowstorms, when workers stayed at the hospital for days to care for patients.
“The same way they are committed to taking care of those who need care, we need as an organization to provide the care to them,” she said.
Whatley, whose company designs and
manufactures digital infrastructure and industrial solutions, noted that data literacy has become essential across Veritiv’s workforce, from warehouse employees to sales teams.
“It does not matter what kind of job you are in,” she said. “It is all about the data you are collecting and how you choose to use it.”
Technology is also changing how companies hire. Manginelli said TriNet
TriNet is building out a 150,000-square-foot office in Dunwoody’s High Street, planning to add 750 jobs over five years. Veritiv is also growing following recent acquisitions, and demand across the region’s healthcare systems remains strong.
Despite differences in industry, the panelists agreed that investing in people, through culture, training and flexibility remains the most reliable strategy.
JAMIE GODIN/APPEN MEDIA
From left, Greater Perimeter Chamber CEO Adam Forrand, Teal Edmeade of Northside Hospital, Cathy Manginelli of TriNet and Nancy Whatley of Veritiv appear Nov. 19 at Sandy Springs City Hall during a workforce panel which highlighted in-demand skills, employee flexibility and technology-driven hiring strategies.
Services:
“I just see that as a need for seniors to have facilities close by,” she said. “I’m excited about having events and activities here for them to bring our seniors together, mainly to engage with them and understand what their needs are.”
The building will also house departments addressing adult behavioral health, developmental disabilities, DUI-related services and real estate and asset management.
The upstairs includes access to vital records, supplemental programming for women, infants and children (WIC), emergency preparedness, nursing and wrap-around services for children and adolescents.
Designed for easy navigation
With multiple departments and dozens of services packed into one building, the project management team with Atlantabased construction firm Beck designed the renovation to fit the specific services slated for each room.
Jason Smith, project manager and architect at Beck, said each department’s lobby is color-coded to help people navigate the winding hallways. Corresponding signage and wayfinding are still down the road.
The county purchased the roughly 24-acre site, containing an existing 180,000-square-foot commercial office building, surface parking lot and lake, in fall 2019.
When the pandemic hit months later, the county used the building to store personal protective equipment before turning it into the one of largest COVID-19 testing and vaccination centers in the area, second only to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
County Manager Dick Anderson said the renovation of 4770 North Point Parkway was fortuitous.
“The mission fundamentally … was to make a statement for North Fulton,” Anderson said.
Fulton County Manager Dick Anderson explains the evolution of the county’s use of a 24acre site at 4770 North Point Parkway Nov. 18 before a tour of the new Fulton County Health and Human Services North facility. Anderson said some existing county personnel will relocate to the building, which is slated to open in early 2026, with new programming for seniors.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Drive [just a couple blocks away].”
The other county-provided service relocating is behavioral health at the North Fulton Service Center along Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.
“Those are the two primary ones moving,” Anderson said. “Behavioral health and some of the additional Board of Health services, like women, infants and children (WIC)) are new.”
Getting the word out
Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin observed that many residents in his city are unaware of the services the county makes available to them. He said he is grateful for Fulton County investment in Alpharetta.
“We have a lot of requests for these types of services that are more convenient for residents, but it’s difficult for individual cities to provide those services individually,” Gilvin said. “This is a game changer for Fulton County, for North Fulton specifically, and our residents.”
County Commissioner Bob Ellis, representing the western half of North Fulton in District 2, said the facility will have a meaningful impact on the lives of local residents who take advantage of county services.
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“We provide a number of services … one of them is public health, which is on Royal
While the site is in District 1 on the east side of North Fulton, Ellis said the site was chosen because of its proximity to Ga. 400 and central location in North Fulton.
“When we get this thing close to being active, help us to publicize the services so people are aware of them and come in here and take advantage of them,” Ellis said.
“It’s a great place, and feasibility studies showed that’s where a large part of the population is concentrated,” Anderson said. “The land is already owned, and it’s collocated with another government facility.” Continued from Page 1
The county is moving forward with plans for a sister facility in South Fulton.
Anderson said staff is recommending the County Commission to select a 40-acre site across from the South Fulton Service Center off Stonewall Tell Road in College Park.
The site was formerly used to house roadway paving equipment before the City of South Fulton incorporated and took over the routine maintenance.
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The brilliance of Poison Ivy
If you are one of the 85% of the population allergic to poison ivy, you might feel some resentment, indignation or even dare I say animosity toward this plant. However, the scientist in you might take a moment to marvel at just how effectively it has managed to discourage us from touching it – let alone eating it.
Urushiol is the reason you won’t find poison ivy for sale at the local grocery store or in your Caesar salad. Urushiol is an oil found within poison ivy, and it makes one’s immune system go haywire.
Many plants attack us with thorns, stinging appendages, a hail of coconuts or verbal insults. Not poison ivy. Poison ivy uses our own immune systems against us to pack a delayed but far more powerful punch. The oil of poison ivy is a relatively simple and small ring-shaped molecule that can easily penetrate our skin. The oil is so small that it can slip in easily and undetected. Once in our skin, urushiol chemically reacts with and attaches to our own cell’s proteins. In so doing, the oil stealthily plants a flag on our cells that tells our immune system that our own cells are enemies.
Our bodies have a type of white blood cell called a T cell whose job is to circulate and look for viruses, bacteria and other foreign invaders. T cells have proteins on their surface that detect whether what they contact is “self” or “non-self.” In general, T cells assume that “non-self” needs to be attacked. The T-cell doesn’t recognize your own healthy cells as “self” when those cells have reacted with urushiol. Your own T cells start attacking your otherwise healthy skin. Itching, blisters and misery result.
defied effective solutions. Once the oil has had time to be absorbed into your skin, your goose is cooked.
When a small molecule can attach to a larger molecule and result in a combination that elicits an immune response, the small molecule is called a “hapten.” So poison ivy oil is a “hapten.” Most examples of haptens are accidental haptens. For example, penicillin is made by certain mold species to help them fight off bacteria. When we use penicillin as an antibiotic, a small number of people will develop an allergy. Rarely, when penicillin breaks down, it reacts with some of our proteins and creates a hapten-self protein combination similar to that of urushiol and a self-protein. But this is not penicillin’s purpose.
In contrast, poison ivy oil is a hapten by design. The plant developed a chemical that flags our own cells for destruction and turns our immune system against us.
Accepting
The brilliance of poison ivy’s strategy is that the oil doesn’t depend on a certain protein or certain molecule being present in our bodies. If that were the case, our bodies might have easily learned how to avoid a poison ivy reaction. Instead, poison ivy oil can theoretically react with just about any protein that your cells contain, and every one of these combinations is going to look different and dangerous to the T cell. It’s a strategy that has
Scientists are working on a vaccine to poison ivy. A compound similar to urushiol is being studied by researchers at the University of Mississippi and by a company called “Hapten Sciences.” Perhaps one day people can frolic through poison ivy without the next day regret.
Until a vaccine comes to fruition, avoidance is your best bet. Learn to identify poison ivy and poison oak. Wash with soap and water immediately and change your clothes if you think you have accidentally had contact with these plants. And if you do develop a rash, your dermatologist is at the ready with effective treatments.
Dr. Brent Taylor
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
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Foiled in pursuit of a new political conspiracy
PAT FOX Managing Editor pat@appenmedia.com
There is more ink devoted to conspiracies today than ever.
As an alien comet tours our solar system and governments conceal “the truth” behind UFOs, news organizations speculate on hidden political agendas.
Conspiracies, with evidence as thin as gossamer, are vortexes that draw us into a blurry reality.
Yet, despite my practice of weighing all facts before leaping into conjecture, I recently descended into the abyss.
The reptilian part of my brain took over last week when I received emails and calls about Rep. Chuck Martin and his high-octane advocacy for failed Alpharetta City Council candidate Donna Murphy.
I spoke with people I’ve grown to trust over the years, people I respect.
A vague tapestry formed in my head, as they murmured theories of a year-long ploy to manipulate conditions in favor of specific candidates.
Here are the facts
Three days after losing the race to Katie Reeves for Alpharetta City Council Post 2, Donna Murphy appeared before the Fulton County Board of Elections to ask whether newly enacted legislation would make her eligible for a runoff with Reeves.
Under a new format passed by the City Council this year, Alpharetta, for the first time in its history, now decides winners of municipal races by a
majority of votes cast – 50 percent plus one vote. Before this year, whoever received the most votes won.
The official count was Reeves, 5,189 or 50.1 percent; Murphy, 3,647 or 35.3 percent, Bart Dean with 1,519 votes or 14.7 percent.
A lot was made of that razor thin 50.1 percent Reeves garnered. That .1 percent constitutes about a dozen votes.
But the total count did not factor in write-in votes. If it had, Reeves might have fallen short of the threshold required to avoid a runoff with Murphy.
Now, here’s the conspiracy
Rep. Martin co-sponsored the legislation allowing Alpharetta to change its election system. Look it up, HB640.
He was asked to do this following a 6-1 vote at a December 2024 City Council meeting. Official records show the item was sponsored on the agenda by council members John Hipes and Dan Merkel. Both had supported Murphy’s failed City Council bid in 2021 against incumbent Councilman Donald Mitchell.
Mitchell lodged the lone dissenting vote on the proposal.
Rep. Martin has publicly stated he prefers a council’s unanimous consent before pursuing legislation focused on that city. Yet, Donald Mitchell, the person he’d tried to unseat three years earlier on behalf of Murphy, had voted no.
Add to that, shortly following the Nov. 4 election,
Rep. Martin visited the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office himself for a ruling on whether the new legislation he co-sponsored should include write-in votes.
The state said “no.”
Fulton County said “no.”
The city explains that write-in candidates must qualify, just like those printed on the ballot. If they do not file papers to qualify, the written name means nothing in the count.
Clearing the fog
After scanning public records, making phone calls and other rabbit-hole activity, part of me wanted this to be a conspiracy. I wasn’t out to get Chuck Martin, just a good story.
But unless Martin is some sort of political Edgar Cayce, it doesn’t add up.
First, the legislation allowing Alpharetta’s new election format was co-sponsored by three other local legislators.
One was Rep. Todd Jones. Another was Rep. Jan Jones. Both endorsed Katie Reeves.
The fourth co-sponsor, Rep. Michelle Au, has no record of endorsing any of the candidates.
Second, candidates Reeves, Murphy and Dean were running for a seat they couldn’t have known would be open when the election format proposal was made last December. The Post 2 seat became vacant in June when Councilman Brian Will resigned for run for the State Senate.
See FOX, Page 15
Continued from Page 14
Of course, there were two other council seats on the ballot in this cycle, and one was going to be open for sure, because Mitchell was prohibited by term limits.
So, there’s that.
Finally, although he voted against changing the local election format, Mitchell signed the official City Council document advocating for the legislative action. Mitchell says he signed mostly as a formality to move the election forward. He says he remains opposed to a system forcing a runoff that could cost the city an extra $150,000, a system that favors the candidate with the most money.
Martin says he read the official, signed document as full council consent.
Rep. Martin makes no apologies for being an enthusiastic campaigner for his friend. I know he riled some people in Windward, a northern part of the city outside his legislative district. He says he was correcting misinformation.
He also says he disclosed to the Secretary of State’s Office, from the outset, that he had a personal interest when he asked for a ruling on the writeins.
In the aftermath, Martin says he believes write-in votes should be included to calculate candidate percentages. He argues that if a person writes in a name on the space provided on the ballot, that person believes they have just voted. Martin says he wants ballot clarity.
Good enough.
One final word on this exercise: I am not tired.
Even after a week chasing a ghost, this newspaper remains committed to listening to readers, using our resources to seek truth. There are things going on behind closed doors people should know about.
Sometimes, though, there’s just nothing there.
Fox: A
‘Boom Boom’ – The history of local nicknames
When Juliet said “what’s in a name” in Shakespear’s ”Romeo and Juliet,” she was saying that a person’s name is just a label. Nicknames, on the other hand, often reflect a characteristic of a person or are given for convenience such as “Liz” for Elizabeth or “Ike” for Eisenhower.
Sometimes a person may have more than one nickname. Frank Sinatra was known as, “Ol’ Blue Eyes,” “Chairman of the Board” and “The Voice.”
The word nickname is a derivative of “ekename” which means an additional name in Middle English, the language spoken in England circa 1150 to 1500.
In these parts, nicknames were likely to be based on funny incidents, odd behavior or an inside joke. Here are a few prized local nicknames that lasted and some that disappeared over time.
The “Boom Boom” nickname belonged to James Newton Dinsmore (1936-2004). His grandparents, Joe and Patsey Dinsmore lived on Redd Road in Alpharetta. Young James dammed the creek that ran behind his grandparents’ barn every summer to make a swimming hole. One day, a snapping turtle grabbed his toe and would not let go. James’ cousin Lester Samples ran to get grandfather Joe who rushed to the creek and told James the turtle would not let go until it thundered. So, James yelled Boom Boom over and over again, and a nickname was born.
Boom Boom was a star athlete at Milton High School. He was on the same baseball team as another star, Gene Estes (more about him later), when the team won the state championship in 1955. He also excelled at football and shotput. Boom Boom ran a gas station for many years after serving in the Army for two years and then worked for Coke as a truck driver. Later, he was employed by the county.
Boom Boom was a popular character. He was also very opinionated about Ford cars and meticulously wore khaki pants with pleats. He had the best flat top haircut in school, but he never outlived his nickname. In fact, “Boom-Boom” is listed as part of his name on the Find a Grave website.
Connie Mashburn, Boom Boom’s cousin and local historian told me the Boom Boom story. Connie was also a star athlete at Milton High School and had two nicknames, “Mashed Potatoes” because of his name, and “Half Pint” because when he was in the 6th grade he
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, AUG. 27, 1953
Milton High School star all-round athlete Gene Estes had several colorful nicknames bestowed on him by sports writers. The caption of this photo says Milton’s One Man Gang Snatches Aerial.
would go to varsity basketball practice with his brother Larry, a member of the team. Coach Beavers would have Connie fill in when they were short a player for team scrimmages. The varsity players gave Connie his nickname.
Eugene Talmage Estes (1935-2025) was the greatest all-round athlete in his time at Milton High School. He was a favorite of sportswriters in the 1950s who gave him nicknames such as “Mr. Everything,” “Big Gene” and “Waterproof,” the latter because of his ability to “slip through tackles like water off a tin roof.” He excelled in baseball, football and track. Later, he turned down an offer to play pro baseball in Kansas City, choosing instead a football scholarship at the University of Georgia. His career was cut short by a broken leg and other injuries during his freshman year, but his legend endured. After leaving college he became a firefighter in Atlanta for 23 years. In 2022 he was inducted into the Milton High School Hall of Fame.
Walter Ferguson (1932-2014) had the nickname “Square” because he bought so
HAL COLEMAN/PROVIDED
Lamar “Hobo” Coleman is shown stoking the potbelly stove in his gas station in Roswell in the early 1960s. The heater was where local storytellers gathered. The famous columnist Celestine Sibley, who was a fan of Hobo, said in a column “There is always some project going around the heater.”
much chewing tobacco for his grandfather Paul Wood from the general store owned by his uncle C.M. Wood. It was near the intersection of Redd Road and Hopewell Road. In those days some chewing tobacco was sold in squares. The chewer would cut off a small piece from the square and pop it in his mouth. Square owned a TV repair shop and was Chief of the Alpharetta Volunteer Fire Department for 28 years. For 35 years, he supervised special education school bus operations in Fulton Country. He was a Korean War veteran.
Lamar “Hobo” Coleman (1906-1967) was part of a family that migrated from North Carolina and settled in the Roswell area in 1836. Hal Coleman, Hobo’s nephew, also known as Milton Crabapple on the entertainment and music circuit, says the Hobo nickname came about because, as an infant, he wore clothes that were too large. Hugh William “Happy” Coleman (1906-1959), also a local personality, said the baby looked like a hobo, and the nickname stuck.
Hobo owned a gas station in Roswell at the corner of Canton Steet and Wood-
stock Road. “It was always crowded,” says Hal Coleman. “It was just the place to be.”
The celebrated columnist Celestine Sibley wrote several articles about Hobo. In 1966 when he was in the hospital she said “half of North Fulton County is desolate….Hobo’s is sort of a masculine retreat….There is always some project going around the heater. In spring, the group makes birdhouses or fiddles around with gourds or polishes some bit of copper or brass that Hobo picked up somewhere.”
Special thanks to Don Rolader for his help with this story.
Because nicknames are so much fun, I will do a future column about other local folks blessed or cursed with clever nicknames.
Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
BOB MEYERS
Columnist
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TIP YOUR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY PERSON
Your local community newspaper lands in your driveway every week—rain or shine—bringing you the stories, events, and updates that matter most. But did you know that the person delivering it is often a dedicated individual who goes the extra mile (literally) to ensure you stay connected?
Why Tip?
• Show Appreciation: Your delivery person is out there early in the morning or late at night, navigating all kinds of weather, so you can enjoy the news with your morning coffee.
• Support Local Efforts: While the paper might be free, the effort behind it isn’t. Tipping helps reward those who keep this vital community service running smoothly.
• Brighten Their Day: A small tip can make a big difference in someone’s day, showing gratitude for their hard work and dedication.
If you enjoy receiving your free community newspaper, consider giving a small token of appreciation to the person who brings it to your driveway. A little kindness can go a long way!
Thank you for supporting your local delivery heroes!
How to give your delivery person a tip:
Give via the online portal at appenmedia.com/deliverytip or scan this QR Code
If you prefer, you can also mail a check made out to Appen Media Group and mail it to Newspaper Delivery Tip C/O Appen Media Group, 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009
100% of every dollar you contribute will be spread out evenly between the 24 newspaper delivery people that Appen Media employs. Whether you give $5 or $50, they will greatly appreciate it.
Connect-It
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!
“X” MARKS THE SPOT
1. Pricing word. Popular saying. Syrup type.
2. Hindu princess. Beasts of burden. Deep blue.
3. Strong adhesive. Lion family. Wine bottle info.
4. Wild dog of Australia. Beach feature. Trinity River locale.
5. African antelope with long straight horns. Coffee pot. Reverberate.
6. Shopper’s delight. Tropical vine. Kick out.
7. Small whirlpool. Unsophisicated. Female fox or temptress.
“X” Marks the Spot
1 Pricing word. Popular saying. Syrup type.
2. Hindu princess. Beasts of burden. Deep blue.
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. Strong adhesive. Lion family. Wine bottle info.
4. Wild dog of Australia. Beach feature. Trinity River locale
5. African antelope with long straight horns. Coffee pot Reverberate.
6. Shopper’s delight. Tropical vine. Kick out
7. Small whirlpool. Unsophisicated. Female fox or temptress.
Fulton:
Some $40,000 remains, and the Reparations Task Force plans to return to the County Commission next year when they have more information about the funding required.
Agenda protocol squabble
The Fulton County’s seven elected officials continue to spend most of their time arguing about commissioners’ action items introduced to the meeting agenda.
Individual commissioners are allowed to sponsor their own legislation and bring it to the floor for a vote.
The current voting blocs on the County Commission, referenced repeatedly at the Nov. 19 meeting, are three Democratic commissioners against Chairman Robb Pitts (D) and commissioners Khadijah Abdur-Rahman, Bob Ellis and Bridget Thorne.
The chairman’s voting bloc has the two Republican commissioners in North Fulton and Abdur-Rahman on the west side.
County Commissioners Dana Barrett and Marvin Arrington Jr., who have both announced their 2026 campaigns for chair, are typically
joined by County Commissioner Mo Ivory.
While topics like the county’s legally binding agreement with the federal government to improve conditions at the main Rice Street jail and efforts toward building a hospital in South Fulton remain unresolved, commissioners spend most meetings shouting at one another over procedural measures and competing resolutions.
Milton:
Continued from Page 1
After the Fulton County Ethics Board dismissed Barrett’s complaint against Thorne for her comments about members of the Registration and Elections Board in October, Thorne brought forward an ordinance requiring commissioners to talk with one another before submitting one.
The discussion of Thorne’s resolution rehashed the original ethics complaint.
The Nov. 19 resolution, which was eventually held, calls Barrett’s ethics complaint “frivolous” and “baseless,” which caused tempers to flare and repeated interruptions.
A ‘flawed process’
After her voting bloc failed to pass its preferred ordinance designating a presiding officer when the chair and vice chair are absent, said the changes to the ethics complaint process are significantly flawed.
“This legislation says that if I as an individual commissioner want to file a complaint, then I have to first talk to the person who I think may have done something wrong,” Barrett said. “Then they bring it to the chair and vice chair who are in the same voting bloc.”
Thorne said she does not think filing ethics complaints against political opponents is how a governing body should operate.
“We fall in different political lines, but we shouldn’t be so divided,” Thorne said. “We should have common sense procedures. We should be able to talk to each other. Personally, I know I need to do a better job.” Continued from Page 3
Code violations were a source of concern for both staff and residents. Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill cited three noise complaints lodged in May, the same month the property received a use permit for a rural event facility. She said the alcohol permit includes conditions that would limit the venue’s hours of outdoor operation to 8 p.m. daily.
Deputy Public Works Director Rob Dell-Ross outlined conditions of the use permit that the rural event facility operates under. He said the venue has been inconsistent in providing required signage indicating if the venue is hosting a rural event or a church event. This is important, Dell-Ross said, because the two events are allowed different noise levels.
Dell-Ross said there have been claims the venue has not been hiring off-duty police officers to manage traffic during events. However, the use permit only requires officers for events of more than 100 people. Paul Crum, the CEO of Gracious Gatherings, said the venue tries to hire an officer for every event, despite not yet hosting one that exceeds 100 people.
“Serving alcohol … would make a bad situation worse,” resident Samantha Evans said during public comment. She also raised issues with the venue’s outdoor lighting which can be seen from inside her home.
Jeff Grant, who moved to Milton in August, supported Evans’ statement, saying the noise and lights resembled Las Vegas.
Bill Humphrey, the project manager who oversaw construction of the Pardue Family Foundation Center, agrees that there were, “light code violations,” in the past, but assured the City Council they have solved the problem. He said the exterior lights have been disconnected and the venue implemented a rule against amplified outside sound.
Crum said they have had no issues
HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA Paul Crum, CEO of Gracious Gatherings, defends his company during public comment at the Nov. 17 Milton City Council meeting. Crum said there has not been a complaint filed with the city since the catering company received a temporary alcohol permit.
since receiving the temporary alcohol permit.
“We are doing everything that we can do,” Crum said. “Gracious Gatherings has never had a single complaint in the 24 years that we’ve been doing this.”
After hearing public comments, Councilwoman Carol Cookerly proposed extending the temporary alcohol permit to allow the church and catering company time to fine tune operations and engage in conversation with the venue’s neighbors.
“I can’t in good conscious tonight vote for [the permit] with this level of unhappiness,” Cookerly said.
Councilman Phil Cranmer agreed, saying he would like to use data of to drive these decisions. He encouraged residents to call the police and ensure that a code violation is documented.
The City Council voted to defer the decision on the alcohol permit for 60 days and readvertise the public hearing so they can receive updates at a later meeting.
In related matters at the meeting, council members withdrew two agenda items after hearing residents’ concerns that there was not enough public outreach regarding Milton’s updated trail plan. The city sought public input through a survey in February and received 140 responses.
Residents spoke on the issue saying that survey was poorly advertised, and the public outreach campaign lacked public input meetings.
“The map is not ready to be approved,” Julie Zahner Bailey, a former Milton City Council member, said. “More changes are needed, and public engagement and input is certainly needed.”
A decision was made to approve the development, Elara at Bethany, which will include 13 single-family lots across a little more than 3 acres on Bethany Bend.
A contract with Gresham Smith to provide preliminary engineering plans and land acquisition services for the Ga. 9 widening was approved, allowing the project to regain momentum.
Flag:
Continued from Page 6
Lewis, Daley and Sullivan were major pillars of BT’s defense. Lewis notched several pass breakups to shut down Milton’s arm in Audrey Jensen and North quarterback Catherine Cooper.
Sullivan was an effective pass rusher, providing a complementary source of pressure to Lewis’ downfield coverage.
Blessed Trinity head coach Brandon Harwell said matching up with two explosive offenses has strengthened his team going into the postseason.
“The grit that the girls showed is going to carry us a long way, and we’ve still got all of our goals in front of us,” he said. “We’re grateful to have the opportunity to play in the playoffs. We’re excited about the first game. If we’re fortunate enough to win that one, we’ll be excited about the second one and just keep building.”
Blessed Trinity was scheduled for two more regular season games Nov. 20 against D1 Harris County, led by Miss Georgia Watchlist quarterback Cricket Cauley, and against D5 McEachern, who has lost one game this season to Grayson.
The last game of the evening was a
The Blessed Trinity flag football team says a prayer in between games at Milton High School Nov. 18. The Titans lost both their games, 1812 to Milton and 2620 to North Oconee.
ANNABELLE REITER/ APPEN MEDIA
high-intensity matchup between two of the top three teams in the state. The Eagles struggled to break through a hard-nosed Titans defense, falling 12-7 to North.
Milton’s Caroline Marshall scored her second touchdown of the evening to put the Eagles on the board against North Oconee. Her second pick of the night showed a defensive toughness that Milton has displayed time and again.
Milton head coach Clark Nixon, who celebrated a milestone birthday with his second straight region title, said the adversity the team faced against these top-10 teams will be invaluable as the Eagles look to make a push to the Benz.
“Our word for the game was ‘trust,’ trusting in ourselves, our ability, our preparation for the game, our teammates,” he said. “Here at Milton, we’re going to schedule the best competition the state has to offer. To hold [North Oconee] to 12 points, to not be at full strength and to play the way they played after coming off a huge emotional win in the first game, I couldn’t be more proud of the girls.”
BT and Milton won’t have to worry about North Oconee in the GHSA D4 state tournament that starts Dec. 2. Both teams will have over a week off to practice and prepare for the postseason.
NOTICE OF MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR THE CITY OF MILTON
RZ25-08 – Text amendment to Sec. 3.1.4 Building Placement with respect to setbacks in the AG-1 district and Sec. 8.8.19.B.2. and Article 13 Definitions in order to add setbacks for qualified subdivisions and pools.
RZ25-09 – Text amendment to Sec. 9.2.5.E to create sign standards for the Arnold Mill Road Hamlet Overlay District.
RZ25-10 – Text Amendment to Sec. 6.5.3.B. to modify AG-1 Standards in the Arnold Mill Road Hamlet Overlay.
RZ25-11 – Text amendment to Sec. 8.2 Use Tables and to Sec. 8.8 to create a new Sec. 8.8.20 for accessory food trucks in limited situations.
The above items will be considered at the following meetings and public hearings:
Mayor and City Council Public Hearing
Monday, January 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Location: Milton City Hall – Council Chambers 2006 Heritage Walk Milton, GA 30004
678-242-2540
Invitation to Bid
Right of Way Maintenance Services
ITB NUMBER 26-PW01
Bid Due Date:
December 11, 2025, 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 responsible and responsive 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 to provide right of way maintenance services within the city limits of Milton, Georgia. The Contractor will be providing day to day right of way maintenance for the Milton Public Works Department. Examples of this work should be pothole repair, sign installation, small concrete repairs, and other related maintenance needs as specified in the bid document. 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 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-PW01, Right of Way Maintenance Services will be posted on the following websites the week of November 20, 2025:
https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/
Request for Proposals
Engineering & Design Services: SR372 @ Batesville Rd and SR372 @ New Bullpen Rd.
RFP NUMBER 26-PW01
Proposal Due Date:
December 18, 2025, by 2:00PM Local Time
Electronic submission via: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bidsrfps
Names for submissions received 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 proposals. If the contract is awarded, it will be awarded to the highest scoring Offeror whose proposal meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the request for proposals.
The City of Milton is requesting qualifications from qualified consultants to provide engineering design services for improvements to two intersections on SR 372. These projects are assigned PI# 0021207 and PI# 0021208 by the Georgia Department of Transportation and programmed with 80% federal funds and 20% local funds. The selected team will be expected to deliver both projects from concept report approval through to construction letting to meet both project schedules set up by the Georgia Department of Transportation. The intent of this two-step Qualifications-Based Selection procurement is to shortlist the top 3-5 SOQ's and then evaluate proposals from the shortlisted teams.
All qualified proposals will receive consideration without regard to age, handicap, religion, creed or belief, political affiliation, race, color, sex, or national origin.
The request for electronic proposals for RFP 26-PW01, Engineering & Design Services: SR372 @ Batesville Rd and SR372 @ New Bullpen Rd will be posted on the following websites the week of November 20, 2025: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/
Sawnee EMC is seeking a Mechanic with diesel engine experience to perform mechanical work and related maintenance on company trucks, equipment and vehicles. Requires high school diploma or equivalency. Must have valid CDL Georgia Driver’s License or the ability to acquire a CDL. Requires previous work-related experience. Some Heavy Lifting. Rotating day and night shift schedule. Must be available to work alternate shift assignments and irregular work hours.
Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, December 1, 2025. 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.
Construction Manager (Alpharetta, GA.) Must maintain valid Georgia driver’s license. Require daily driving to various construction job sites in the Metro Atlanta area on company vehicle): Responsible for performing daily construction staking tasks for all phases of concrete and rebar construction. Apply referencing job code# 1125CC to Wheeler Services, Inc. at https://jobs.miter.com/wheeler-services-inc-1/ construction-manager-ga-alpharetta.
Sr. Industrial Engineers / Suwanee, GA: Creating & Approving Process in Factory Logix, an MES/ Manufacturing Execution System dvlpd by AEGIS for existing products & NPI’s. Incorporating ECO/Engineer Change Orders & Deviations to the process in Factory Logix. Send res to: ABV Electronics Inc. dba Sienna Corporation at ashish@avalontec.com
HELP WANTED
American Legion Post 201
Part Time Custodian – Needed Saturdays & Sundays start time 6:30 am. General cleaning of building, pick up and discard trash on grounds. Supervise community service workers when available. Must be able to lift 50 lbs., and move around safely and efficiently without aid of mechanical support, accept and sign for deliveries. Approx. 5-7 hours a day.
Part Time Bartender – Flexible schedule afternoon and evening hours, approximately 15-20 hours per week. Previous experience preferred but not necessary. Must be able to qualify for City of Alpharetta Pouring Permit.
If interested in either position please contact DiAna Casale (770) 475-9023 Mon-Thurs 10 am – 2 pm or americanlegionalpharetta@gmail.com. Detail job description for both available upon request.
Front Desk Intake Specialist (Bilingual-Spanish)
NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the part-time Front Desk Intake Specialist position. The Front Desk Intake Specialist is responsible for connecting clients to the programs and services that NFCC offers. The role includes data entry, updating clients’ applications, and keeping clients and students informed of programs and service enhancements. As the face of NFCC at the Intake desk, this role requires maintaining a professional and welcoming presence that reflects the organization’s values.
Proficiency in Microsoft Suite and Spanish are required. Experience using Salesforce or other CRM systems is a plus.
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
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Nabavi:
Nabavi said seniors can meet with a podiatrist to have a doctor look at their feet and suggest optimal footwear. She said checking vision and hearing is important as well.
“If there’s something else going on … the fall is actually a symptom of a bigger problem,” Nadavi said. “And that’s sort of our segway into infections.”
Tracking another threat
Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are more common in women than men due to a variety of anatomical and hormonal factors. Men can get them too.
“If a bladder infection doesn’t get treated, then that infection can then move up to your kidney,” she said.
“Usually the trigger is ‘mom is getting up a lot to the restroom, and she doesn’t normally do that,’ and that may culminate in a fall.”
A few program attendees were in the process of caring for their own aging parent suffering from an infection.
Kelly, a Brookhaven woman, said her 88-year-old mother had been refusing to undergo a procedure to take images of her bladder to diagnose what doctors told her may be a UTI.
So far, medicine hasn’t helped.
Growing impatient, Kelly said the program inspired her to keep pushing for answer to her mother’s discomfort, which may involve convincing her to have the procedure.
Preventing pneumonia, or an infection of the lungs, is straightforward. The best was to protect against it is to have seniors routinely vaccinated against the most prolific strain and
wear a mask in crowded spaces.
Despite the politicization of vaccines, seniors in the room said they get them after conducting their own costbenefit analysis.
The North Atlanta chapter of Adult Children of Aging Parents held its Nov. 11 meeting in the Asbury Room at Dunwoody United Methodist.
The nonprofit ACAP has grown from a small program founded in Hickory, North Carolina in 2012 to more than nine locations across the eastern United States.
The state of Georgia has four chapters, one in Cobb and Cherokee counties, another in Forsyth County, a Hall County group and the North Atlanta chapter, which meets on the second Tuesday of each month.
All in-person programming is free.
More informational meetings
ACAP North Atlanta Chapter Coor -
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dinator Mary Remmes, a life coach for the adult children of aging parents, said there will not be a meeting in December but programming through March 2026 is ready to go.
Another member of the leadership team, Holly Mitchell, discussed her entrepreneurial venture ChangingSpaces with co-founder Linda Kaplan that helps manage moves for seniors.
“My company can help people do all of these tasks,” Mitchell said. “ChangingSpaces was born to help people move and rightsize and figure out how they’re going to help themselves live easier and simpler and stress-free.”
For more information about the North Atlanta chapter of Adult Children of Aging Parents, visit acapcommunity.org.
For more information about Dr. Nabavi’s business, visit greendothealth.com.
For more information about Mitchel and Kaplan’s business, visit changingspacesatlanta.com.
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