Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - May 28, 2026

Cities observe Memorial Day

Above: Attendees wave flags as Massie McKinley sings “God Bless the U.S.A.” at Roswell’s 27th annual Memorial Day ceremony May 25.

At left: Vietnam veteran Joe Zakrzewski, right, greets keynote speaker retired Army Capt. Tommy Clack at the Alpharetta Memorial Day Tribute May 25 at City Hall. Clack suffered severe injuries in a May 1969 attack on the Cambodian border.

Read more, starting on page 10.

Wacky World Playground reopens with kids, confetti

By DEAN HESSE newsroom@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – An enthusiastic crowd gathered at Wills Park in Alpharetta on Saturday, May 23, for the grand opening of the new Wacky World Playground, with the rain mostly holding off for a ribbon-cutting and a chance for kids to try out the new equipment.

“There’s been some twists, some turns, some ups and downs, but with the perseverance and dedication of the City of Alpharetta, our citizens, our business leaders, our elected officials, we are now

about to cut the ribbon on the best adaptive fully inclusive playground in the entire state of Georgia,” said Wacky World Committee Chair Jeremy Scott.

Recreation, Parks and Cultural Services Director Morgan Rodgers offered a history of the playground, noting it was the facility’s 29th birthday.

“Twenty-nine years ago this month, the City of Alpharetta dedicated Wacky World, and it changed the course of Alpharetta because it gave Alpharetta a place to play, a place to congregate,” Rodgers said.

See WACKY, Page 12

Abram Hardy-Williams, 2, enjoys the swings during the grand opening of Wacky World Playground in

on Saturday, May 23.

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POLICE BLOTTER

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Woman reports threats from her ex-boyfriend

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Officers investigated a report of aggravated stalking May 1.

Alpharetta police officers were dispatched to a Rock Mill Road home after threats were reported.

A 39-year-old Atlanta woman reported a 50-year-old Waukegan, Ill., man was trying to call her and threatening to assault her, police said. The man, her ex-boyfriend, allegedly was served a no-contact order by Alpharetta police.

The woman sent police screenshots of her call history and recorded conversations.

Aggravated stalking is a felony.

— Jon Wilcox

Police cite homeowner over graduation party

ROSWELL, Ga. — A party involving some 50-70 high school students at a house on Kingridge Court in Roswell ended after police arrived and cited the homeowner for a loud residential gathering.

CUSTOM FRAMING

Police heard loud music as they arrived on scene May 18 and entered the backyard to see the partygoers surrounded by containers of alcoholic beverages discarded on the ground. A variety of liquors and other beverages were observed on a folding table.

A juvenile told police that no one was 21 or older, and all individuals were detained on the property.

An officer found the homeowner among the crowd of underage drinkers, who told police it was his daughter’s

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high school graduation party. The homeowner had slowed speech and appeared intoxicated, according to the police report, and said he had just arrived home drinking on Canton Street.

Police questioned the homeowner’s daughter, who said she told partygoers they were not allowed to have alcohol but that it got out of control when more people arrived.

All individuals were checked for their age and if they had been drinking any alcohol. Those who were drinking were transported from the home by a sober driver.

Police said there were too many people to cite or arrest for underage drinking.

Police found it unreasonable that the homeowner had no knowledge of the crime taking place and cited him for a loud and unruly gathering in a residential neighborhood.

— Hannah Yahne

Building materials stolen at Heardsville Road home

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies investigated a home burglary May 15.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said doors and tin roofing were reported stolen from the property on Heardsville Road.

A 37-year-old Gainesville man who owns the property reported the theft, saying his agent had found four people there earlier in the day. The agent provided their license plate numbers to deputies.

The roofing was valued between $3,000 and $4,000.

The incident was classified as a felony burglary of a home and theft by taking case.

Jon Wilcox

Authorities investigate reports of elder neglect

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies investigated reports of neglect of two elderly women May 8.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said an employee with the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services reported the 84-year-old Gainesville woman suffers from a medical condition. The condition was redacted from the deputy’s report.

The employee said the woman is left unattended while her son goes to work, the sheriff’s report stated.

The employee said he had serious concerns about the condition of the woman’s home, adding it smelled strongly of urine and feces.

The incident was classified as a felony cruelty to a person 65 years or older case.

Deputies also investigated a report made by a Northside Hospital Forsyth nurse who said a 90-year-old Suwanee woman was admitted to the hospital for a fall.

Dried feces was found on the woman, raising concerns she may have been left unattended.

The incident also was classified as a felony cruelty to a person 65 years or older case.

— Jon Wilcox

Guest reports theft of diamond earrings

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A pair of diamond earrings were reported stolen from a hotel room April 30.

Alpharetta police said a 44-yearold Johns Creek woman reported the earrings went missing from a Milton Avenue hotel.

The woman placed the earrings on a dresser before going out for the night. They were missing when she returned the next morning, police said. The woman searched the room but could find no sign of the jewelry.

The earrings were valued between $1,500 and $2,000.

The woman said she noticed that morning that the room’s door did not close fully.

The incident was classified as a felony theft by taking case.

Jon Wilcox

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Roswell community mourns San Diego shooting victims

By STANLEY LEARY newsroom@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — As members of Roswell Community Masjid grieved the deadly May 18 shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, they chose to respond by opening their doors to neighbors and people of different faiths.

On May 20, the mosque hosted a community vigil and Salat al-Janazah in absentia, an Islamic funeral prayer offered when the deceased are not physically present, honoring three men killed during the San Diego attack who community members said died while protecting children.

“We are first honoring the lives of the three men who gave their lives for protecting the children,” said Shannon Landry, development and communications representative for Roswell Community Masjid.

The gathering brought together faith leaders, city officials, law enforcement and residents from across Roswell in an expression of support and shared grief.

For Dania of Roswell Community Masjid, the tragedy felt especially personal.

Dania lived in San Diego for two and a half years and attended the Islamic Center of San Diego.

Dr. Mona Megahed, a pediatrician, addresses parents during a community vigil at Roswell Community Masjid, urging them to speak openly with their children about the San Diego shooting and to seek support for themselves.

“Parents take care of yourself,” she said. “We have counselors available here at the Masjid for you.”

“This was my mosque,” Dania said, explaining that family members still live in the area, including a cousin who attends the school's second-grade program.

“We are grieving and also asking people to allow for our humanity in this time and recognize it for the hate crime it is,” she said.

Roswell Mayor Mary Robichaux reflected on relationships built between the mosque and the wider community over the years. She recalled helping plant a fig tree outside the masjid seven and a half years ago.

Roswell Police family honors fallen officer

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — More than 30 Roswell police officers traveled to Washington, D.C. during National Police Week, May 11-17, alongside family members of Jeremy Labonte who died last year.

Labonte was killed in the line of duty while responding to a suspicious person report at a Roswell shopping center in February 2025. The 24-year-old had served for three years with the Roswell Police Department.

It was critical for Roswell officers to not only stand in support of Labonte’s loved ones but to have their own opportunity to process and heal, Roswell Police Public Information Officer Tim Lupo said.

“National Police Week is vital for survivors,” Lupo said, “and our officers need to experience these events too.”

The week consisted of various events to honor the fallen, such as a candlelight vigil and the conclusion of the Road to Hope, a 1,000-mile bicycle ride honoring officers who were recognized throughout the week. Family members and co-workers could attend the two-day National Police Survivors’ Conference giving them an opportunity to connect with other survivors.

One night, Roswell officers and Labonte’s family stepped away from the formalities and enjoyed a pizza dinner, giving them a chance to connect and share fellowship amid a solemn week.

“Standing together in Washington was about making sure the Labonte family felt the full weight of our support, while also giving our own personnel a necessary space to process, reflect and heal,” Police Chief James Conroy said. “Going through this remembrance side-by-side reminded us that we are navigating this profound loss not just as a department, but as a family.”

DRIVEWAYS & CONCRETE

A group representing the Roswell Police Department assembles in Washington, D.C.

honor fallen officer Jeremy Labonte during National Police Week May 11-17. Georgia representatives for Concerns of Police Survivors praised the turnout saying this is the largest group they’ve seen a police agency send.

DRIVEWAYS

Alpharetta sets hearings on 2027 property tax rate

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The City of Alpharetta will hold three public hearings for 2027’s proposed millage rate.

The hearings will be held at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza at:

• 6:30 p.m. June 1

• 11:30 a.m. June 15

• 6:30 p.m. June 15

The 2027 budget includes a property tax rate of 5.75 mills, the same level since 2009.

That rate includes a 5.050 mill levy for maintenance and operations and a rate of 0.7 mills for general obligation debt.

One mill generates $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, which by state law is 40 percent of a property’s real — or fair market — value. A home that is worth $100,000 on the market would have a taxable value of $40,000, and a levy of 1 mill would cost the homeowner $40 in taxes.

Property tax reassessments are expected to result in a property tax increase of 6.50 percent for the maintenance and operations levy.

The city provides a number of homestead exemptions including a floating homestead exemption, basic homestead exemption, senior basic homestead exemption and senior fullvalue exemption.

Coupled with Homeowner Tax Relief Grant credits, the exemptions are expected to save homeowners more than $12.3 million in Fiscal Year 2027.

On March 3, Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Bill 973, which includes a Homeowner Tax Relief Grant initiative to refund $850 million in property taxes.

The grant provides one-time tax relief to homesteaded property owners by reducing the assessed value by up to $18,000.

— Jon Wilcox

Roswell Mayor Mary Robichaux addresses attendees during a community vigil at Roswell Community Masjid, held in solidarity with victims of the San Diego mosque shooting.

Solidarity:

Continued from Page 4

She said people told her the tree would take seven years to bear fruit, and last year it finally did.

For Robichaux, the tree represented something larger.

“The roots of the Muslim faith community are deep in our community,” she said.

Roswell Community Masjid Imam Abdullah Jaber encouraged those gathered to respond with resilience rather than fear.

“Being resilient as a Muslim

community because faith under pressure doesn't break but deepens,” Jaber said.

He also urged attendees to continue making room for others.

“Every stride we make as a nation is making room for others in our hearts,” he said.

As the vigil ended, Jaber offered one final thought that captured the evening's message.

“Learn to love your children as my children,” he said.

The event's focus remained on honoring lives lost, but throughout the evening, another message surfaced repeatedly: grief shared across communities can become a bridge rather than a dividing line.

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It takes time, effort and perseverance, but you can be successful. It’s really nice to be among the top of the top.

GUIOMAR OBREGÓN, Precision 2000 CEO

Sandy Springs CEO earns dual honors for leadership

Construction executive seeks women for work

By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Guiomar Obregón has spent nearly three decades leading her company building roads, runways and drainage systems across the Southeast. Her work and success have put her in the spotlight.

The Sandy Springs resident is CEO of Precision 2000 Inc., a civil engineering and construction firm. She was inducted this spring into two prestigious programs: the Georgia Titan 100 Hall of Fame on May 7 and the Georgia Tech College of Engineering’s 2026 Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni on March 21.

The Titan 100 Hall of Fame honor came after Obregón was named a Georgia Titan 100 for three consecutive years. The program selects 100 top CEOs and C-level executives annually across Georgia. Hall of Fame status is awarded to just 10 of those honorees and recognizes executives who demonstrate “exceptional leadership and community impact,” according to its website.

At Georgia Tech, Obregón made history. In the academy’s more than 20-year history, she is the first Hispanic woman inducted and one of fewer than five Latin American honorees overall.

“These are very meaningful to me,” Obregón said. “It shows that it can be done. It takes time, effort and perseverance, but you can be successful. It’s really nice to be among the top of the top.”

Obregón co-founded Precision 2000, known as P2K, in 1998 with her husband, Carlos Sánchez, following

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the construction boom sparked by the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games. The Chamblee-based firm specializes in civil infrastructure and transportation projects, with clients including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Georgia Department of Transportation, MARTA and the City of Atlanta.

“We saw an opportunity, and decided, let’s give it a try,” she said. “We were young, had lots of energy.”

Born in Boston and raised in Colombia, Obregón earned a civil engineering degree from the Colombian School of Engineering before coming to Georgia Tech, where she completed a master’s degree in structural engineering and an MBA. Her parents were both engineers. Her mother served as dean of engineering at the National University of Colombia, and her father earned a doctorate from MIT.

Under Obregón’s leadership, P2K has earned national recognition, including the Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2024 and the Minority Construction Firm of the Year award from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency in 2003.

The company was instrumental

in the Transform 285/400 project in Sandy Springs. Crews installed storm drainage systems with reinforced concrete pipes ranging from 18-inches to 48-inches along the new lanes and shoulders along 6.2 miles of Ga. 400 from the Glenridge Connector to Spalding Drive.

World Cup boon

P2K is currently working near Mercedes-Benz Stadium on sidewalk, intersection and traffic improvements ahead of Atlanta’s hosting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Obregón wants to attract more Hispanics and women into the construction industry and has funded nearly $500,000 in scholarships at Georgia Tech.

“Guiomar is the epitome of service and walking the walk,” said Patricia White, director of development at Georgia Tech’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “Her leadership helps diversify the student body and launch the careers of young Hispanic engineers.”

In 2012, she co-founded the Georgia Hispanic Construction Association to create networking and mentorship opportunities for Hispanic business owners and workers. She also helped launch the association’s Latinas in Construction program to support women seeking a path into the industry.

Obregón says it is important that P2K is known as a family-owned business. Her daughter, Cristina Sanchez, 28, is a SCAD graduate and oversees marketing. Her son, Diego Sanchez, is 19 and a sophomore at Georgia Tech studying computer science and participates in internships in the summer. Her mother, now 85 and retired, would do whatever was needed, Obregón said. Her mother also inspired her to start an internship program to bring civil engineers from Colombia to practice in the U.S.

Being a business owner has given her the flexibility to work and have a family, she said, although it is not always easy. But watching your children grow, and your business grow, is rewarding, she said.

“You have to juggle a lot,” she said. “My company is like another kid. I get to see them grow and mature, and they have issues sometimes. Overall, I’m very happy, very grateful for how things happened.”

FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED Webb Bridge Middle School students celebrate with Fulton County Schools officials May 19 after reading the most minutes during the district-wide 10-million-minute reading challenge.

Webb Bridge Middle students win district reading challenge

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Webb Bridge Middle School students celebrated May 19 after reading for more than one million minutes throughout the school year and becoming the top school in the district-wide reading challenge.

The school and its media and educational tech instructor Nan Brown were recognized with a banner and trophy by district officials. For winning the challenge, students got to spray the school district’s Superintendent Mike

Looney with Silly String.

This past school year, Fulton County Schools set a district-wide goal to read a collective 10 million minutes by May 1. Students logged books throughout the year to help represent their school in the challenge.

Collectively, Fulton County Schools students read more than 11.1 million minutes throughout the 2025-26 school year.

Hannah Yahne

Fulton County libraries promote summer reading

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Libraries across Fulton County will host kick-off parties to encourage young readers to unearth a story as part of the annual Summer Reading Program starting June 1.

Those who participate in the twomonth Summer Reading Program are encouraged to improve their reading skills by cracking the covers on new books or revisiting old ones for a chance to win prizes.

Families can log their reading progress on Beanstack, a mobile app or website that connects to reading programs at local libraries. Participants can track how many pages or how long they read and earn prizes from their library. Visit fultoncounty.beanstack.com/

reader365 and register an individual, family or reading group to participate.

Upcoming summer reading kickoff parties at North Fulton libraries include:

May 30 – East Roswell Branch, 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road, from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

June 1 – Milton Branch, 855 Mayfield Road, from 1–3 p.m.; Ocee Branch, 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road, from 2–3 p.m.; Northeast/Spruill Oaks Branch, 9560 Spruill Road, from 11 a.m.–noon;

Sandy Springs Branch, 395 Mount Vernon Highway, from 11–11:45 a.m. and from 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Hannah Yahne

Roswell Remembers nation’s fallen heroes

BY: HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA

Roswell Mayor Mary Robichaux delivers opening remarks to guests at the city’s

annual Memorial Day ceremony May 25. “Today, I’m remembering [my father], I’m remembering the sacrifices he made and the sacrifices of those who also never made it home,” she said.

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — More than 3,000 people gathered outside City Hall May 25 for Roswell Remembers, the city’s 27th annual Memorial Day ceremony hosted alongside the Roswell Rotary Club.

A sea of red, white and blue covered the lawn in front of the Faces of War Memorial as past Rotary President David Young led the ceremony through the presentation of the colors and performance of the national anthem.

Mayor Mary Robichaux welcomed the crowd and spoke of her father, a Navy veteran, who was determined to serve despite being born blind in one eye.

“He taught us what it means to serve, what it is to be an American and to be proud of that,” Robichaux said.

The featured speaker was retired Army Lt. Col. Cary S. King who spoke of people he loves but lost when serving in the military. His service began in April 1967, and King said his memory is as vivid today as it was more than 50 years ago.

Quoting Ronald Regan to close his remarks, King shared stories of soldiers he knew and lost in an attack on June 21, 1968.

“When they died, they died as boys,” King said. “And they gave up two lives: the one they were living and the one they would have lived.”

Alpharetta conducts Memorial Day tribute

By DEAN HESSE dean@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A standing-room-only crowd filled City Hall for Alpharetta’s annual Memorial Day Tribute Monday, May 25.

Originally scheduled for Brooke Street Park, rainy conditions forced the event indoors The ceremony, a collaboration between the Rotary Club of Alpharetta and the city, featured music by the Alpharetta City Band and a presentation of colors by the Johns Creek Veterans Association Color Guard.

Scott Doll of the Rotary Club of Alpharetta made opening remarks.

“Today we pause to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country,” Doll said. “They gave their lives to secure the freedoms that we, as Americans, continue to enjoy today. It is to those who did not return home that we owe our deepest reverence and our continued pledge as Americans to preserve and defend those freedoms for future generations.”

He noted that this year marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

In his remarks, Mayor Jim Gilvin emphasized the sacrifices made by veterans and their families.

The keynote speaker was retired U.S. Army Capt. Tommy Clack, a Decatur native and 1965 honor graduate of Decatur High School, where he was named the most outstanding track and field athlete. He attended the University of Houston on a track scholarship before leaving college and enlisting in the Army in 1966.

Clack was wounded on the Cambodian border on May 29, 1969, losing three limbs and suffering internal injuries and hearing loss. He was medically retired as a captain and spent 22 months at the Atlanta VA Medical Center, where he underwent 33 operations.

He has traveled as a public speaker since 1970 and earned a bachelor’s degree in urban administration and city management from Georgia State University in 1975, graduating with honors.

— Photos by Dean Hesse

Wacky:

Continued from Page 1

“They came together to build a playground, but what they built was a community.”

Rodgers said the city chose to honor that legacy by staging another community build to replace it. Hundreds of volunteers turned out through rain, mud and muck.

“This is Wacky World Next Generation, because we don’t ever want to give up what Wacky World was meant to be and did for the City of Alpharetta,” Rodgers said. “Everybody has Wacky World stories. Those stories are going to continue to live.”

Mayor Jim Gilvin told the crowd the playground represents more than playground equipment.

“Wacky World is more than a collection of swings, slides and zip lines,” Gilvin said. “This is a place

where imagination can run free, kids can be kids, and new friends are made.”

After the ribbon was cut, confetti flew and kids raced onto the equipment. Braxton Zeyfang, 7, hung from an overhead climber and called it “really cool.”

Liam Lynch, 8, declared “I love it” after trying out the slide. Sitting on a seesaw with his dad, Daniel, Charlie Higgins, 5, offered a smile and a thumbs-up.

Andrew Henning watched his daughter Juliette play and recalled that his own parents had brought him along when they volunteered on the original Wacky World build.

“I’m almost 40, and I have a daughter now playing on the same playground I played on,” Henning said. “It’s a very surreal, but nice experience.”

Wacky World Playground is at Wills Park, 1815 Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta.

Your Local Broker for Medicare Insurance Needs

Does having Medicare insurance limit my access to healthcare?

When you are a Medicare insurance beneficiary, it can limit which doctors and hospitals you are permitted to see under your plan. Let’s dive into the details!

In general, most hospitals and doctors are willing to accept Traditional Medicare. From my experience, those doctors who do not accept Medicare AT ALL are usually in the Primary Care Physician field and are typically independent doctors. This is a small percentage of doctors, not the majority.

Many doctors that accept Medicare insurance will put a limit or “cap” on the amount of Medicare insurance patients they will see. This is because they want to reserve space for patients with employer coverage, and other coverages which can pay them more for their services. When you encounter a doctor with a Medicare patient “cap”, don’t take it personally, it’s a business decision. I do understand it can be frustrating, especially when they come highly rated and you can’t use them.

On the other hand, if you are on a Medicare Advantage plan, your access

to healthcare depends on the list of contracted doctors and hospitals- called a network. The doctor and hospital network can and will vary per Medicare Advantage carrier and plan. HMO networks are local geographic networks, whereas PPO networks are national networks. This network design should be a consideration when choosing a plan.

Medicare Advantage networks have come a long way over the past decade and are now widely accepted among doctors and hospitals, but your list of providers should be analyzed prior to enrolling into a plan.

Next time you need help combing through the details of the doctor and hospital networks, or would like help choosing your next Medicare insurance plan, turn to SeniorSource Medicare Solutions.

We offer our Medicare insurance expertise at $0 cost to you and would be delighted to be your Medicare insurance broker. Locally based in Alpharetta, give us a call today at (770) 913-6464 or send us a message through our website at SeniorSourceMedicare.com/ contact-seniorsource.

Ancient India, syphilis, war and cancer

– The journey to rebuild a nose

Brought to you by – Premier Dermatology

For as long as humans have had noses, we’ve had reasons to repair them. The nose sits at the center of the face, essential not just for breathing, but for identity. The history of nasal reconstruction is therefore not just a surgical story—it is deeply human, shaped by conflict, disease, and ingenuity.

One of the earliest chapters begins in ancient India, around 600 BCE. In some regions, nasal amputation was used as punishment for theft or adultery. This harsh practice drove innovation. Surgeons developed a method to rebuild the nose using a pedicled facial flap—the “Indian method” of nasal reconstruction. This technique is attributed to Sushruta, often considered one of the fathers of surgery. In these descriptions, a facial flap of tissue is measured, raised while maintaining a living attachment for blood supply, and transferred to reconstruct the nose, with small tubes used to preserve the airway during healing.

Over time, this tradition evolved into what is most closely associated with the modern forehead flap. Today, a segment of forehead skin is elevated on a preserved arterial supply, left attached at its base, and rotated down to reconstruct the nasal tip. In modern Mohs and reconstructive surgery, it remains a cornerstone technique after skin cancer removal and one of the most reliable methods for complex nasal defects.

From ancient India, the narrative jumps forward two millennia. But what about Greece? What about Rome?! Didn’t Rome invent everything?

There is little evidence of formal nasal reconstruction in classical antiquity. Aulus Cornelius Celsus described facial wound care and basic repair but not structured reconstructive nasal surgery. When nasal reconstruction re-emerges in Europe centuries later, it is better understood as rediscovery rather than continuous tradition.

So, indeed, we fast forward 2000 years from ancient India.

In the Renaissance and early modern period, nasal deformities became more common due to trauma and disease. Syphilis was especially destructive, eroding nasal structures and leaving profound disfigurement. This increased interest in both reconstruction and prosthetic

solutions.

Artificial noses—made from leather, metal, or wax—allowed patients to return to society with some degree of normalcy and laid the groundwork for modern facial prosthetics.

In the 1500s, Gaspare Tagliacozzi developed the “Italian method” of nasal reconstruction, transferring skin from the arm to the nose in a staged fashion. Though innovative, his work was later abandoned for centuries due to technical limitations such as a lack of modern anesthesia and antisepsis and also due to social and religious objections.

The next major leap came from war. World War I produced devastating facial injuries, forcing rapid innovation. Harold Gillies refined skin flaps, introduced staged reconstruction, and emphasized both function and appearance—principles that remain central today. World War II further advanced reconstruction through improved anesthesia, antibiotics, and surgical planning.

In the 20th century, the ancient forehead flap evolved into the modern paramedian forehead flap. A segment of forehead skin is elevated on a preserved arterial supply just lateral to the midline, kept attached at its base, and rotated to reconstruct the nasal tip. In modern Mohs and reconstructive surgery, it remains a foundational technique after skin cancer removal.

In recent decades, nasal repair has entered a more precise era. In dermatologic surgery, particularly Mohs surgery, cancer can be removed with microscopic accuracy while preserving healthy tissue. Reconstruction then restores contour and function using techniques such as the paramedian forehead flap, skin grafts and an assortment of elegant and innovative flaps. However, Mohs surgery often allows for so much tissue preservation that many wounds can close in a much simpler linear fashion further enhancing postoperative results.

From ancient punishment to modern cancer care, nasal reconstruction reflects restoration— of form, function, and confidence. It is also a story of trust. Patients facing facial cancer entrust their health and their identity to their surgeon. Modern techniques now allow us to restore not only structure and function but also the sense of wholeness that comes from having one’s identity preserved.

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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.

Connect-It

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!

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

1. Wander. Kind of tube. Jiddah denizen.

2. Tough. Corinth native. Military wear.

3. Suva resident. Squabble. Exploding star.

4. Scat. Marine NCO abbr. South African native.

5. Foot part. Mombasa native. California wine valley.

6. Vase name. Aix-la-Chapelle denizen. Barbershop call.

7. Pak Kret native. Stiff-upper-lip type. Citadel student.

Home Is Where the Heart Is

1 Wander. Kind of tube. Jiddah denizen

2. Tough. Corinth native. Military wear.

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. Suva resident. Squabble. Exploding star.

4. Scat. Marine NCO abbr. So. African native.

5. Foot part. Mombasa native. California wine valley.

6. Vase name. Aix-la-Chapelle denizen. Barbershop call

7. Pak Kret native. Stiff-upper-lip type. Citadel student

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North Fulton student leaders earn statewide championship

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Student Leadership NORTH Secretary of State Ambassadors have claimed the Georgia Secretary of State Ambassador State Championship, surpassing the second-place team by more than 150,000 points.

Student Leadership NORTH empowers students from local high schools to interact with business and government executives to lead positive change within their communities.

This past year, the leadership team played a role in registering and informing Johns Creek voters, hosting multiple voter registration drives and facilitating a debate and mayoral forum for local candidates. Students also hosted two financial literacy forums in partnership with the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.

“Our Secretary of State Ambassador teams have shown what it means to truly show up for their community,” Executive Director Irene Sanders said. “They have engaged with elected officials, championed financial literacy, registered voters and inspired everyone around them. We couldn’t be prouder of all that they have accomplished, and we know each one of them will carry these values with them wherever life takes them next.”

Many of this year’s Ambassador team members are preparing to head to college, where they will carry the skills, relationships and civic values cultivated through Student Leadership NORTH into their next chapters.

The Ambassadors team was led by Program Coordinator Lucy Liu, a member of last year’s winning team.

Student leaders on the 2025-26 state championship team are:

Violette Purcell, Anay Bahukhandi, Spoorthi Kakarla, Amber Qian, Aditi Kothari, Aanya Shah, Prinsha Chanda, Vishal Varma, Zara Duque Vasquez, Elliot Shin, Benny Hamann, Ishita Tyagi and Shaurya Attal.

Hannah Yahne

Custodial staffs recognized for district’s cleanest schools

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Two North Fulton schools were awarded the Jerry Coker Award for Custodial Excellence in May for scoring the highest on cleanliness across the district.

Across two inspections, Crabapple Middle School in Roswell scored the highest average with a custodial team led by Ned Zahirovic. The school’s principal, Stephanie Haga, said she is grateful for their commitment and pride the custodial staff brings to Crabapple Middle.

“We are proud to be recognized as the cleanest school in the district,” Haga said. “This honor reflects the dedication and hard work of our incredible custodial team. They go above and beyond each day to create a safe, healthy and welcoming environment for our students and staff.”

Sal Sapina and the custodial staff at Hembree Springs Elementary School, also in Roswell, scored second. Global Impact Academy in Fairburn placed third.

The award is named for late environmental technician Jerry Coker who passed away while working for Fulton County Schools. He started as a head custodian at schools across all three levels and became one of the first environmental technicians in the district.

“This award represents the overall collaborative efforts between administrators and custodians to provide a clean, safe and healthy environment for students and staff to be in,” Coordinator of Environmental Services Eric Flint said. “We are so proud of these award winners who represent the overall best in each of the grade level tiers of elementary, middle and high school.”

— Hannah Yahne

What to know when Hollywood comes knocking

By GALYN CHATMAN decaturish@appenmedia.com

DECATUR, Ga. – Production season is back and Georgia neighborhoods are buzzing with activity. More than 20 projects, including "Southern Bastards," "Scooby-Doo: Origins," and "Turpentine," are currently filming, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

And while many residents welcome Hollywood in their community, they also hope that filming won't disrupt their daily lives—a sentiment that industry veterans said is all too real.

Making first contact

During "production season," location managers and scouts are sent to find places fitting a film's narrative and creative vision. Once given guidelines by the creative team, they visit neighborhoods, knock on doors, and leave letters notifying of their prospective projects.

"It's my job to introduce the reason I'm knocking on someone's door," said Dodd Vickers, a location manager, scout, and member of the Television Academy, as well as the Location Managers Guild International.

"In Decatur, for example, I made it a point to speak with someone from the economic development office so that if someone from the community called, the city could say they knew who I was," Vickers recalled about filming "See You When I See You," a 2026 Duplass Brothers film. Professionals in the industry understand they are guests in residential communities.

When Fulton County resident Ricky Gaines was approached by scouts from FX's "English Teacher,” he wondered what he was getting into.

"When the scout explained they were filming a TV show in the neighborhood, he detailed why my house was a fit for what they were looking for," Gaines recalled. "It was definitely a leap of faith."

The production crew began staging an in-progress pool build—requiring removing sod, digging a massive hole in his backyard, and taking down part of his fence. But the production team's upfront communication put him at ease.

"They explained how long they needed it to be there, and what restoration would look like afterward. That made all the difference— and of course they explained the compensation," Gaines said.

Kadesha McCastle, another Atlantaarea location manager, said this level of communication should be standard practice.

"It's crucial to outline what the

production is looking for," she said. "Knowing what the timeline is, what areas of your home will be used and modified, helps homeowners feel more comfortable and prepared. They shouldn't have to guess or worry about what's happening in their own space."

Respecting the community

Netflix's "Tulsa King" recently wrapped its fourth season after filming across multiple DeKalb County locations. John Weeks, the show's construction coordinator, brings a perspective sometimes missing between residents and production operations.

"I love being a cheerleader for the film industry, but we also understand that we're sometimes speaking a whole other language from a whole other universe that people don't see every day," Weeks said. "And it just rolls into communities like a circus."

Weeks emphasized the genuine commitment crews feel to being respectful guests.

"We're all parents. Family people. And it sucks to us too if we have to leave someone waiting who has to take their child to Girl Scouts," he said. "People are justifiably concerned with how our presence is going to impact their daily lives. So, we just know to respect that they want us out of their driveway as quickly as possible."

Todd Brunsvold, vice president of zoning for the Inman Park Neighborhood Association (IPNA), works at the intersection of resident concerns and production needs.

"We embrace being a community that invites everybody in. We want to share our history and architecture," Brunsvold said. However, he said the neighborhood does not accept unlimited disruption. "IPNA welcomes productions, but we also don't want anyone to have a problem getting to the grocery store just because filming is happening."

When filming wraps

Location teams commit to resetting homes to their original state, so McCastle and Vickers encourage residents to view the location department as a concierge.

"I joke that I'm a professional guest," Vickers said. "We fold the towels, make the beds, and leave everything as we found it. When production crews are good guests, the community is happy, and when the community is happy, we get to make entertainment."

For homeowners interested in listing their properties as filming locations, visit the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Honoring Pvt. James Hooper, Revolutionary War soldier

James Hooper (1746-1836) is one of only two Revolutionary War soldiers known to be buried in North Fulton. The other is John T. Maxwell (1763-1840), who was a subject in a column I wrote about the Maxwell family in July 2024. Both men survived the war. Hooper is buried in the United Methodist Cemetery in Sandy Springs. Maxwell is buried in the Maxwell family cemetery in Alpharetta. This column will focus on James Hooper who has an interesting story to tell.

First, why are there so few Revolutionary soldiers buried in North Fulton while there are more than 3,500 soldiers’ graves and records in the state of Georgia according to the book “Georgia Revolutionary Soldiers and Sailors, Patriots and Pioneers” by H. Ross Arnold and Hank Burnham?

North Fulton was settled in two waves due to different Native American land cessions. Both waves took place well after the Revolutionary War (1775-1783). By the time European settlers came to North Fulton, Revolutionary War soldiers were elderly or deceased.

The southern tier of Sandy Springs, Dunwoody and Shallowford was settled in the early 1820s. The land was Creek (Muscogee) territory and was ceded to the United States under the 1821 Treaty of Indian Springs.

The northern tier of Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton and other communities was part of the Cherokee Nation throughout the Revolutionary War.

James Hooper

James Hooper was born in Lunenburg County Virginia in 1746. His parents were Obediah Hooper Sr. (1720-1803) and Massilva or Massilina Brooks (1723-1800). They had 11 children. Both parents died in Georgia, but details of their burials are unknown. Like many women of that time, Massilva’s name had several variants because they were recorded phonetically in official documents.

The family moved to Georgia from South Carolina in 1789 where Obediah purchased 150 acres in Franklin County. He served as justice of the peace from 1796-1798.

In 1778 at age 32, James joined the Continental Army, our country’s first army and its primary military organization during the Revolutionary War. He served for a year as a private with the 6th Virginia Regiment.

It is not known in how many battles James fought in, but he fought in the March 15, 1781, Battle of Guilford

Courthouse in a small town near today’s Greensboro, N.C. The battle was "the largest and most hotly contested action" in the southern theater, according to the National Park Service which preserves the battlefield as the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park.

A 2,100-man British force, under the command of Lt. Gen. Charles Cornwallis defeated Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene's 4,500 Americans. However, it turned out to be a victory within a defeat for the Americans as the British forces soon after the battle were forced to abandon the South.

The British forces suffered major casualties during the battle – up to 27 percent of their total force according to some estimates, while the Americans also had

significant casualties but far fewer wounded. Having failed to destroy Southern resistance, Cornwallis took his troops to Virginia where he was defeated at Yorktown by Gen. George Washington in the fall of 1781 which led to the formal surrender of Cornwallis on Oct. 19, 1781, and the end of the Revolutionary War.

In 1781, James married Elizabeth Chambers (1746-1839) in Lunenburg. They raised six children. James and his family may have moved to Georgia around 1800 after his parents migrated to Georgia. The family eventually settled in today’s Sandy Springs area.

When James died in 1836, he was buried in land that was used as a community gathering point and burial site because

of its location near the “Sandy Spring.” Sometime between 1849 and 1851, Wilson Spruill, an early Sandy Springs settler, donated 5 acres for the construction of a log cabin church and school which served until after the Civil War when a frame structure was built.

Today, James is buried in the Sandy Springs United Methodist Church Cemetery.

On April 18 this year, the Sandy Springs Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR, held a Grave Marking Ceremony in honor of James Hooper before a large and appreciative audience at the soldier’s gravesite. Celia Méndez, Regent of the Sandy Springs Chapter of the DAR, gave a history of James Hooper and together with Mary Wolff, Vice Regent of the Sandy Springs Chapter dedicated a plaque to Private Hooper. Other DAR Chapter representatives were Lisa Cappetto, Sandy Springs Vice Regent; Joseph Habersham Chapter, Regent Luann Miller; Roswell King Chapter, Regent Lauren Hays; Kennesaw Mountain Chapter, Regent Betsy Wampler; Fielding Lewis Chapter, Vice Regent Andrea Riddle; Mount Vernon SAR Chapter President Tom Hewett and Captain John Collins SAR Chapter President Jim Poole.

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. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

OPINION

The self-care routines of a workaholic

DAN WHISENHUNT Editor dan@appenmedia.com

Dear readers, When you find your self-worth in your work, as I do, self-care can be a chore.

As a selfdescribed workaholic, I have spent many hours in therapy trying to separate my personal from my professional satisfaction. They are entwined like a pile of jumbled wires. Untangling the pile can be a tedious, discouraging experience. It’s often easier to just “roll with it” and hope you can find your pleasures where you can.

But self-care, like therapy, is important work. It can save your life.

There are a few activities I’ve discovered I can’t do without. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, here are the self-care routines that I find valuable. I hope you will find them valuable, too.

Walking

Before I started my therapy journey, I weighed 300 pounds. I’m at a respectable 235 now.

Food became my go-to source of comfort during COVID, when I was running my own company. I deluded myself into thinking my dangerous eating habits were OK because I wasn’t retreating into substance abuse like so many of us were then. I was eating my way through the pandemic. It wasn’t until I was in therapy and had an embarrassing flare-up of gout that I decided to make a change.

So, I began walking and kept going. I set a goal of walking 10,000 steps (about five miles) every day. The first few weeks of this were excruciating. My legs throbbed and the gout continued gnawing at my toes. My brother, who is a CrossFit trainer, kept me focused through calorie counting and exercises designed to increase my range of movement.

After a while, the walking became easier. Then it became mission critical. I began to cherish my time away from my screen and in the sunshine. (Avoiding screens will be a recurring theme of this column.) I began walking extra miles just for my own enjoyment. Last year, I walked all the way from Decatur to the Atlanta Beltline. My community looks so different when I’m walking through it. I see the architecture subtly change as I go from neighborhood to neighborhood. I notice the clever yard signs, the people holding new babies while

walking their jilted dogs, the smell of freshly cut grass in the spring and the shuffling piles of leaves in the fall. In the summer, I wake up earlier when I can to avoid the worst of the heat. But when I sleep in, I hydrate more and endure.

The walking sustains me. It gives me clarity of thought and focus. I get some of my best ideas when I’m listening to my music and feeling the warmth of the sun on my neck.

When I miss a day or two of walking, I get antsy. It’s an essential activity for me. I swear by it.

Playing piano

I taught myself to play piano not long after my son was born. I learned a few tunes that make for great party tricks. I’m told my singing voice is nice. When I’m at the keyboard and belting out Chappell Roan or Tom Petty, I feel free, as ifsome enormous weight has been removed from my shoulders.

When I sold Decaturish to Appen Media Group, the one extravagance I indulged was obtaining an old piano. It’s a brown wooden upright I call my granny piano. It can’t hold a tune longer than a few months, and the keys stick in the upper ranges. Sometimes, on a Saturday morning when my family is sleeping, I’ll gently roll through chord progressions before moving into slow pop songs, waiting for my wife and son to come down the stairs. We make coffee. I sing. They listen. Then we go on about our day.

I love pop music. I’m learning to play “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves. It’s hard, but every time I learn a new section, I have to step away so my brain can rest and rewire itself.

It’s the kind of challenge that I don’t mind dipping back into. I am not overly critical of myself or my playing, unlike with my job. It’s just for fun.

Cooking

A gourmand, I am not, but I like what I like. This is peak dad energy, but there are few things more satisfying than mowing my lawn, then looking at my mowed lawn while I grill a steak. I’ve become something of a nerd about cooking steak, though inflation has limited my ability to indulge my hobby. When it’s in my budget, I inspect juicy cuts of beef behind glass the way a handyman judges the straightness of a two-byfour.

I often watch food YouTubers. I’m fascinated by the people who do these weird dry-aged beef experiments like encasing a steak in butter for three months, before proclaiming, “and then this happened!” Spoiler alert: Most of

the time, what happened is a culinary abomination. Better your ribeye than mine.

My favorite food YouTuber is Max Miller, who hosts “Tasting History.” He’s ridiculously charming and a great reporter at heart. He does his own research, rather than mindlessly regurgitating Wikipedia. Miller’s series on homefront cooking during World War II is simply outstanding. He makes a strong case that food history is human history.

These are some of the self-care

methods I recommend. They are not cures for unhappiness. But I can’t do without them. I’d love to know what you do for self-care and what gives you peace amid life's pressures. Drop me a line: dan@appenmedia.com. I may include some of your routines in next year’s Mental Health Awareness month column.

I remain your humble and grateful community news editor.

– Dano

Dan Whisenhunt, editor and founder

Treat your garden with some lovely lavender

Who wouldn’t be interested in a perennial, evergreen flowering herb that thrives on neglect, is drought tolerant, is a favorite of pollinators and hummingbirds and one that deer won’t eat? Then think of lavender! Lavender has been popular for thousands of years for its aroma and medicinal properties of treating headaches, anxiety and insomnia. Today, lavender is grown as an ornamental shrub, as a cut flower and for essential oil which is used in soaps, candles and lotions.

There are many species of lavender that are part of the Lavandula genus of the mint family.

The four most important types of lavender are: Lavandula augustifolia, a hardy English lavender grown mostly for its cut flowers; Lavandula dentata, French lavender with leaves covered with soft fuzz and rosemary-scented flowers, Lavandula stoechas; Spanish lavender with tall, elegant dark purple flowers; and Lavandula x intermedia, also known as Lavandin a sterile hybrid developed for the French perfume industry. Lavandin is more aromatic than other lavender species and has the highest yield of flowers and lavender essential oil. The two most common species grown in north Georgia are Lavandula augustifolia and Lavandula x intermedia.

Where lavender thrives

Lavender will thrive under the right growing conditions. It requires welldrained soil, full sun and alkaline soil (pH 6.5-7.5), so soil testing is strongly recommended. It does not like wet feet, so consider adding sand or grit to the soil to improve drainage, and planting in mounds, slopes or rock gardens. Lavender can be difficult to grow in pots due to the tendency for the soil to retain moisture and may only last as annuals They do not grow reliably from seed but are easily propagated from live plants. Plants in the landscape should be spaced at least 18 inches apart to maintain good airflow and watered weekly until established, then sparingly. Crushed stone or shells may be considered as mulch to prevent moisture from being trapped around the roots. Lavender can be planted near doors, windows and outdoor seating areas where the scent can repel mosquitoes.

Caring for lavender

Lavender plants should be pruned

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Anne Wiskind, a Master Gardner who completed her Fulton County Master Gardner training in 2024. She is a life-long gardener with an active interest in encouraging biologic diversity and growing beautiful flowers for pollinators.

farms in North Georgia where you can purchase specific species with growing instructions. Because they are propagated locally, you can be sure they are adapted to our climate.

Lavender farms in North Georgia:

• Red Oak Lavender Farm and Shop (Dahlonega): redoaklavender.com

• Lookout Lavender Farm (Lookout Mountain): lookoutlavender.com

• Lavender Lamb Farm (Cleveland): lavenderlambfarm.com

• The Lavender Cottage and Garden (Helen): thelavendercottageandgarden. com

• White Hills Lavender and Herb Farm (near Athens): whitehillsfarm.us

The best time to visit these farms is between the end of May and early July. Mornings are the best time when the scents are the strongest. Some of these places have U-pick or special classes. So, plan ahead to catch all the activities that might be of interest.

Treat yourself to a scent-sational and relaxing experience this summer.

Happy Gardening!

after the first bloom to establish shape. Established plants also benefit from pruning every spring, about 2-3 inches above where the leaves meet the woody base. During the growing season, dead leaves and stems should be removed and the lower branches trimmed to maintain good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases. Good companion plants to grow with lavender also tend to be drought resistant and like alkaline soil, such as other herbs, (rosemary, sage, and thyme), coneflower, yarrow, salvia, Shasta daisy, black-eyed Susan, marigold and zinnia.

Anticipating lavender issues

Lavender does not suffer from many diseases or pests, but they are susceptible to crown and root rot which can be a challenge with our hot, humid summers. The best treatment is prevention with good spacing and airflow. Use very well-draining soil and avoid overwatering. With proper care, you will be rewarded with longlasting blooms that are the favorite of pollinators.

Where to find lavender

Lavender plants can be purchased in many nurseries and big-box stores, but there are also several lavender

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/.

Catch North Fulton Master Gardeners at these scheduled events throughout the season:

• Alpharetta Farmers’ Market

• Sandy Spring Farmers’ Market: Diggin’ in the Dirt kid’s activities

• Crabapple Festival in Milton this fall

OPINION

How to get what you want, made simple

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

"Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss is a book that should probably be required reading for everyone. I am sure of this.

However, I am not sure if it should be read in elementary school, middle school or high school. Or maybe it should be required in every corporation at every level.

It's not a new book. I read it almost 10 years ago and am rereading it now. I reread books that I think are important or magical — such as "One Hundred Years of Solitude" or "The Overstory."

In "Never Split the Difference," Voss shares the methods he used as one of the FBI's top hostage negotiators. That was his job: talking people who had kidnapped others and held them for

AIKENOMICS

ransom — under threat of death — into releasing their hostages alive. There may be no bigger ask than that. Failure is not an option.

The book is engaging, highly readable and filled with accounts of actual hostage negotiations from around the world — rebel armies, prison revolts and hijackings. But its lessons are not limited to dangerous or traumatic situations. At its core, hostage negotiation is really nothing more than advocating for your wants and needs to others. In that light, consider negotiating a major software contract with a Fortune 500 company, convincing your boss to promote you with a raise or persuading your child not to quit piano lessons or drop off the travel team.

At the end of the day, life is driven by wants and needs. This book is about how to recognize them and respond appropriately, efficiently and successfully.

What this book is not, however,

is one of those formulaic bestsellers promising to teach you how to sell anything to anybody. It is not that. Alongside "Never Split the Difference," another book has recently resurfaced in my memory — one I have read at least three times over the years: "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman. Both books are about how people make decisions, how they think, and how they process information. Think Malcolm Gladwell — "The Tipping Point," "Blink," "Outliers" and all his other books. To be clear, though, Gladwell rode to fame on the shoulders of Kahneman — as did Voss. Voss's message is simple, profound and accessible. Getting your way with another person involves basic, teachable skills — listening better, practicing empathy, building trust and seeing the world through the other person's eyes. Step by practical step, Voss shares techniques for achieving these things, and most of what he suggests is little

more than common sense. The problem is that most of us have forgotten how to connect effectively with others because we are too busy, too distracted or not focused on what matters most to the other person. We are too self-centered.

He brings the core pieces together and shows how each connects to the others — teaching both context and execution. It is not rocket science. It requires practice, focus and a genuine desire to achieve goals that depend on another person or organization.

Usually something happens that reminds me that wisdom from a past book needs to be revisited. Sometimes I am the one who needs the refresher course. Sometimes it is people in my orbit. In this case, it's the "other people" who sparked the memory and the motivation to reread it. They are dealing with life curveballs at the moment, and reading and internalizing the book will help them navigate forward more successfully.

Housing market hits pause amid economic uncertainty

Inflation, mortgage rates, and gasoline prices have all surged to threeyear highs, placing significant pressure on the U.S. housing market and causing real estate activity to slow sharply in recent weeks. Mortgage applications have cooled dramatically, consumer confidence has weakened, and for many Americans the dream of homeownership once again feels like a subscription service nobody can afford.

At first glance, the outlook appears bleak. But beneath the headlines, there are signs this may be less a collapse and more a temporary economic detour driven largely by geopolitical instability.

Before the escalation of the Persian Gulf conflict on March 10, the housing market was showing meaningful signs of renewed strength. Mortgage rates had briefly moved below the psychologically important 6 percent threshold, mortgage applications during February and early March were outperforming normal seasonal trends, and home sales activity was steadily improving during what is traditionally a slower period of the year. At the same time, gasoline prices were hovering near $2.50 per gallon, and inflation readings had stabilized below 3 percent. In short, consumers were beginning to regain confidence and the housing market responded accordingly. Then came the geopolitical shock.

Since March, rising energy prices and renewed inflation concerns have driven bond yields and mortgage rates sharply higher. Consumers are now confronting borrowing costs, fuel prices and economic uncertainty not seen in several years.

Add in the normal seasonal distractions of spring break travel, graduations and wedding season; periods that historically slow housing activity even in healthy markets and the recent decline in real estate sales becomes far less surprising.

Wall Street, meanwhile, continues to react to every overseas headline like a guy trying to day-trade espresso shots. One week investors are pricing in recession, the next week they are convinced inflation is immortal. The result has been heightened volatility across both the bond and mortgage markets.

The encouraging reality, however, is that underlying housing demand did not disappear. We saw clear evidence of pent-up demand earlier this year when rates briefly fell below 6 percent. Buyers returned quickly, applications improved, and sales activity strengthened almost immediately. That demand is likely still there; simply

waiting for economic stability to reemerge.

Should geopolitical tensions ease and energy markets stabilize, inflation pressures could moderate relatively quickly, allowing mortgage rates to retreat toward pre-March levels. If that occurs, the housing market may rebound faster than many currently expect.

For now, the real estate sector appears less like a market in collapse and more like a market stuck in traffic; frustrated, expensive, and wondering why the warning lights came on all at once.

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.

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

There’s still gold in those thar Georgia hills

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

Turning on the TV these days is not much fun. I am reminded of that again just now when, out of habit, I punch the little button on the cable remote and the big screen over the mantle comes to life. It brings visions of talking heads talking, of wars and rumors of wars, and of scandal and deception. There’s a lot of talk about gold, too, and it’s all mixed up in a casserole seasoned with inuendo and outright lies.

What would Mr. Kitchens have had to say about all that?

I’m talking about the late Dan Kitchens, journalist extraordinaire. You won’t know anything about him unless

During these

times,

you happened to have been in one of his classes at the good ol’ U-of-GA, where he took starry-eyed young writers like me and birthed them into the Way of Reported Words.

Mr. Kitchens (one always added the “Mr.”) had high standards, and woe to anyone who did not adhere.

“It is MISTER Kitchens, not DOCTOR Kitchens,” he’d say. “Do your research, Mr. Hudson, and always get it right.” There was no academic posturing in him, no holier-than-thouness, nothing like that. There was just a mantra of accuracy, completeness, and using one’s brain – and on reporting every story it like it really is.

What a concept.

“Yeah,” I think to myself. “Mr. Kitchens would have plenty to say about today’s journalistic landscape, and I think most of it would not be complimentary…”

Ahhh. Such reflection is fun. But

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12050

IN THE CHANCERY COURT FOR RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE AT MURFREESORO

LISA ANNE ECKMAN, Plaintiff, VS.

TRAVIS JOHN ECKMAN, Defendant,

TO: TRAVIS JOHN ECKMAN

Order of Publication CASE NO. 25CV-253

It appearing from the bill in this cause, which is sworn to that the residence and current address of the above-listed respondent, TRAVIS JOHN ECKMAN is unknown and cannot be served with process. It is ordered that publication be made for four consecutive weeks in the ALPHARETTA-ROSWELL HERALD, a newspaper published in ROSWELL, FULTON COUNTY, GA requiring said respondent, TRAVIS JOHN ECKMAN to appear before the clerk of said Court on or before thirty (30) days after the last publication hereof and make defense to the bill filed in the above cause, which seeks COMPLAINT FOR DIVORCE or otherwise said bill be taken for confessed and cause proceeded with exparte. This the 7TH day of May, 2026. Adam T. Dodd, Clerk of said Court. By/Solicitors for Petitioner: ABIGAIL L. BURNHAM/MITCHELL E. SHANNON

TO BE RUN: 5/21, 5/28, 6/04 & 6/11/2026

inevitably reverie fades as the blather of the newsfeed creeps back in. A different talking head is at it now – different, but spouting the same stuff as the one before. The voice is prattling on about golden glitz in high places. There’s that gold thing again. Where is this noise coming from? I check the channel. Oh, well, yeah. How did it get switched over to that one?

It is enough to make one want to turn the darned thing off.

So I do. It requires just one click of the button, and peace again fills the room.

I lean into the quiet and savor the silence. But then I realize that my mind has latched onto one of the words I’d just heard:

Gold.

Okay. So gold is definitely in the news these days. Yesterday it was selling for upwards of $4,600 per ounce. That’s a lot of lunch money. Maybe that’s why I’ve been seeing more and more folks prospecting for it using gold pans in all sorts of colors, among them (though it pains me to say it) Auburn orange.

As it turns out, one of my favorite fishing streams just happens to be a popular gold panning stream too. It’s not unusual to see a prospector or two there on any sunny afternoon, working the

gravel with high expectations. Sometimes, when I see someone panning for gold, I stop fishing and strike up conversation. Once in a while, the prospector chats back. The exchange is usually cordial, at least until I acknowledge the little vial tucked into the prospector’s pocket and, pointing to it, ask the big question: “Are you finding anything?”

That’s when the poker face appears. The less it reveals, I figure, the more gold that bottle likely holds. But I’m not offended by the reticence. Heck, if I was finding gold, I’d play it close to the chest too.

Over time, in gold prospecting as in life, you learn things. The big thing you learn is that there’s still gold in them thar hills. Sure, those old-time prospectors found a lot of it. But they didn’t get it all.

Let me tell you a story about some of the gold they left behind.

Some years ago, a friend of mine – a classic man-of-the-mountains prospector type – took me into his confidence and showed me part of his personal stash of Georgia gold. This was gold he had found with his own hands, mind you, and it filled a large mayonnaise jar.

T:\ADS_2026\City of Roswell Legals\ Comm-Dev

See HUDSON, Page 27

City of Roswell Notice of Public Hearing

The following Item will be considered by the Planning Commission at a Public Hearing on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 7:00 PM, at Roswell City Hall, Council Chambers, 38 Hill Street, Roswell, GA, 30075.

a. ZUSE-0326-000001 – 200 Hembree Park Drive, Unit H

The applicant, Ephraim Bistritzky, is requesting a conditional use permit for used vehicle sales; land lot 594.

The complete file is available for public view at the Roswell Planning & Zoning Office, 38 Hill Street, Suite G-30, Roswell, GA, (770) 817-6720 or planningandzoning@roswellgov.com. Refer to www.roswellgov.com.

HEARING

PLACE: ROSWELL CITY HALL

38 HILL STREET, SUITE 215

DATE & TIME: June 4, 2026 10:00 A.M.

PURPOSE: APPLICATION FOR: Consumption on the Premises, Full w/ Sunday Sales

APPLICANT: Felix Segura De La Cruz

BUSINESS NAME: Laredos Taqueria & Grill

BUSINESS ADDRESS: 2300 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Ste. 101, Roswell, GA 30076

Hudson:

Continued from Page 26

It was so heavy it took two strong hands to pick it up.

Yeah, he eventually told me where he found it. Yeah, he swore me to secrecy.

And no (sorry), I will not violate that oath, not for love nor money nor even for directions to your most secret fishing hole. Some confidences just must be kept.

But there are plenty of other places where you can prospect. I’ve tracked some of them down, and I’ve found a little gold for my trouble. You can too.

How do you get into this prospecting game? Maybe you start at one of our state’s many tourist gold mines. They’re great places to learn basic panning and perhaps find a few flakes of color too.

As your panning skills develop, take it to the next level – perhaps by researching what’s known as the Gold Belt, a northeasttrending zone that starts near Villa Rica and stretches up through northeast Georgia and beyond. That’ll show you where gold-bearing geology might be found. Just note the word “might,” for there are no sure bets when it comes to gold. Eventually, you must put

CITY OF ALPHARETTA

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PH-26-AL-02 MINIMUM DISTANCE REQUIREMENT WAIVER REQUEST FOR GROVE AND BARREL PROVISIONS, LLC

211 MARKET STREET, SUITE 5C

DATE AND TIME

Monday, June 15, 2026 6:30 P.M.

PLACE

Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers 2 Park Plaza

Alpharetta, GA 30009

PURPOSE

The applicant is requesting a variance from Section 4-17(b) of the Code of the City of Alpharetta, the minimum distance required between an establishment seeking a license for retail sales of wine, beer, and/ or malt beverages and any school grounds, church, or public park.

APPLICANT

Josep Juncosa

PROPERTY

211 Market Street, Suite 5C Alpharetta, GA 30009

your boots on the ground and check things out in person.

Finally, remember that there are rules regarding where and how you can look for gold. For instance, prospecting is not allowed in Georgia state parks. But you may be able to prospect in national forests or on Corps of Engineers land, though special regs may dictate where and how. To be sure you’re following the rules, it’s always a good idea to check with land administrators beforehand.

Finally, get written permission from the landowner before searching for gold on private land.

Prospecting for gold gives you a great reason to get outside and experience the natural world on its own terms. Will you find what you seek? You might.

But even if you don’t, the search yields a treasure of even greater value – a blessed opportunity, at least for a little while, to leave the talking heads behind.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA

NOTICE OF CONSIDERATION OF CITY CODE

AMENDMENTS

The following item will be considered by the City Council on Monday, June 15, 2026 during the Alpharetta City Council Meeting and Public Hearing, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Alpharetta City Hall, located at 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia. The purpose of the public hearing shall be for public review and comment regarding the following:

Consideration of an ordinance to amend Chapter 4, titled “Alcoholic Beverages,” of the Code of the City of Alpharetta, Georgia. The purpose of the public hearing shall be for public review and comment concerning proposed modifications to amend provisions related to definitions; inspections of licensed establishments; condition of premises; licensing qualifications; operational requirements; excise taxes; distance requirements; renewal of licenses; transfer of licenses; purchases from wholesalers; violations; revocation, suspension or other penalties; hearing and appeal procedures; hours of sale; underage persons; hotels and motels; employees of licensed establishments; the downtown district; to provide for severability; to provide for an effective date; and for other purposes. A copy of the proposed amendment will be on file with the City Clerk and will be made available upon request. All City of Alpharetta residents and any other affected and/or interested persons are invited and encouraged to attend.

In Memoriam

Michael Arthur Demita

January 18, 1933 – May 17, 2026

Michael Arthur DeMita, Jr. was born on January 18th, 1933 in Sunnyside Queens, New York to Italian immigrant parents Michael and Rachel DeMita. He passed peacefully at his home in Marietta, Georgia after a short illness on May 17th, 2026 at the age of 93.

Michael Jr. is survived by four living children, Michael DeMita III, John DeMita, Regina DeMita and Christopher DeMita, 8 grandchildren and his 98 year-old elder brother, Frank DeMita. He was pre-deceased by his daughter Catherine, the former wife and mother of his 5 children, Helen Elizabeth Wynne, from Hawkinsville, Georgia, his brother Johnny DeMita and his sister Florence Duban.

After working as a senior tax counsel for Philip Morris in NYC, he moved the family first to Valley Stream, L.I. and then onto Greenwich Connecticut, where his 5 children were raised.

Michael Jr. rose in the Philip Morris organization to become a senior Executive V.P. in charge of their Washington office and was very much a part of the Washington political scene in the 1980’s as head of Washington relations for the firm, all while commuting back and forth from Greenwich to D.C.

Michael Jr’s father and mother were from Nusco, Italy, a mountain town in the province of Avellino, east of Naples. After migrating to America, his father opened a shoe repair shop in Queens and instilled a hard work and educational ethic in all of his children.

Michael Jr’s education included obtaining an undergraduate degree from NYU and a J.D. from St. Johns University in NYC where he majored in tax law while raising his two infant children in Sunnyside.

He was and will always be loved and remembered by his children, their spouses, his grandchildren and his many nephews and his nieces. He will be sorely missed.

A memorial service and celebration of his life was held in the chapel at the Northside Chapel Funeral Directors home on May 24th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. His choice was to be cremated, so there was no graveside service.

The family would ask that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Tunnel To Towers, https://t2t.org/ or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, https://www.stjude.org/.

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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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THE APPEN PRESS CLUB

One solution is the creation of a membership driven organization called the Appen Press Club that is dedicated to recruiting people and companies to join as members. Members pay recurring monthly or annual dues that are 100% dedicated to sustainable journalism. By providing predictable revenue, Appen Press Club members and partners help fund the salaries and expenses of local reporters who will no longer be subject to the whims of marketing budgets and an ever changing advertising world. In turn, those reporters will provide the readers they serve with highly researched and qualified journalism focused on subjects that directly affect their quality of life.

To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size! Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

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Ryder System, Inc. seeks a Sourcing & Supply Manager I in Alpharetta, GA, to contract Management-Develop and manage a contract portfolio which will entail business reviews, supplier performance management, and contract renewal activities. Telecommuting is permitted. 10% of domestic travel to local sites within 50 miles of the worksite address is required. Apply at https://www.jobpostingtoday.com/Ref #70825.

Lead Software Engineering needed by AT&T Services, Inc., in Alpharetta, GA to collaborate to gather and review software requirements/user stories, provide estimates, create software design specifications, and collaborate with engineers/ architects to assess and test hardware and software interactions. Apply at http://att.jobs/, select JOB SEARCH and APPLY and select Search by Requisition Number at the left bottom of the page and enter Job Number: R-108022.

Hussmann Corporation seeks Controls Engineer, Systems Controls in Suwanee, GA to work with product engineering, marketing, manufacturing, Quality, and others to capture functional requirements and design documents. Requires up to 25% Domestic Travel and up to 5% International Travel. 1 day remote work permitted/week. Apply at www.jobpostingtoday.com Ref # 34680.

Sawnee EMC is seeking a General Clerk III –Customer Service to assist in a high-volume call center. Requires high school diploma or equivalency, computer, communication, and general office skills. Requires one (1) year experience in a customer service call center or service-type organization, utility, finance, banking, or equivalent industry. Bilingual is preferred, fluent in English and Spanish (written and verbal).

Position is full-time; must be flexible to work irregular hours, to include evenings, weekends and holidays.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5PM, May 29, 2026. Apply online: www.sawnee. coop/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-8872363, 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.

Midway Preschool is looking for an experienced Young 5’s/Prek teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. Contact Beth at beth@midwayumc.org.

Lead Software Engineering needed by AT&T Services, Inc. in Alpharetta, GA to collaborate to gather and review software requirements/user stories, provide estimates, create software design specifications and collaborate with engineers/ architects to assess and test hardware and software interactions. Apply at http://att.jobs/, select JOB SEARCH and APPLY and select Search by Requisition Number at the left bottom of the page and enter Job Number: R-106067.

Part-time

YOUTH 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.

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