Forsyth Herald - December 11, 2025

PAGE 6

County allows plans for disability community

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Parents give everything for their developmentally disabled children, but they worry about the future.

Tammy Miller and Beth Burns, Cumming adoptive mothers of children with special needs, said that thought kept them up at night. So, they set out to find a solution.

“We wonder what's going to happen to them, and that's where the real passion behind this is,” Miller said. “It’s making sure our kids are cared for for

the rest of their lives.”

Burns and Miller founded the Keystone Village nonprofit with the aim of one day meeting that need.

Six years later, their children, who are now adults, finally have a solution.

At a Dec. 4 meeting, the Forsyth County Commission approved changes to zoning conditions bringing Keystone Village one step closer to fruition. The 90-resident project will provide affordable long-term residency and care for adults with intellectual and developmental needs.

women indicated several hundred who said they were interested in it.

“It really has been like an incredible ride,” Burns said. “We've had so many doors that have opened to us. We've had so many wonderful things happen.”

Career hub links job seekers, employers

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

DULUTH, Ga. — The Atlanta Regional Workforce Development Board celebrated the opening of its relocated career resource center Dec. 3 in Duluth that offers training and assistance with job-seeking to Gwinnett County residents.

The Workforce Development Board includes members of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and oversees the six career centers serving seven Metro Atlanta counties: Gwinnett, Cherokee, Clayton, Douglas, Fayette, Henry and Rockdale.

The Gwinnett County career resource center is open at its new location, 3805 Crestwood Parkway NW, Suite 200 in Duluth.

The need for such a center is enormous within Forsyth County, Burns said. A needs survey conducted by the

Located off Ga. 400 at Settingdown Road, the project will include more than 76,000 square feet.

Burns and Miller hope Keystone will provide much-needed long-term stability and quality of life in a community where providers are increasingly expensive and hard to find.

The career resource center is a collaboration between Gwinnett Technical College and WorkSource Atlanta Regional, a federally funded program working to connect employers with job candidates.

“When you provide individuals with a skill set, you provide them with a life-changing opportunity to earn a viable wage, and therefore, increase their quality of life,” said Lauren Dod-

See CAREER, Page 15

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POLICE BLOTTER

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Women find tracker on their rental vehicle

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Police investigated a report of unlawful surveillance Nov. 12 after a 47-year-old Hanson, Ky., woman and 24-year-old Tampa, Fla., woman found a global positioning system tracker on their rental car. The women were in Alpharetta on a business trip.

The women discovered the tracker after noticing it on their phones. It was located near the rear driver-side tire.

The car rental company said their company uses no external trackers on vehicles.

The women said they suspect the tracker was placed on their vehicle while it was parked at their Deerfield Parkway hotel. Neither woman said they knew of anyone who would want to track them.

The incident was classified as a felony unlawful surveillance.

— Jon Wilcox

Police link New Yorker to drug overdose death

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested a 30-year-old New York man living in Alpharetta Nov. 23 citing him for aggravated involuntary manslaughter related to the fatal overdose of a 22-year-old Dunwoody woman.

The incident leading to the man’s arrest occurred in early July. Officers said they responded to a residence for recovering addicts off Woodcreek Drive and found a woman unconscious on her bed.

The woman was pronounced deceased at the Wellstar North Fulton medical Center after receiving multiple doses of Narcan, a drug that reverses the effects of a fentanyl overdose.

Through conversations with the woman’s roommates, officers said they learned her drug of choice was fentanyl and that she had been asking a friend for “candy” the day before.

The July report stated that a detective had taken over the investigation.

On Nov. 22, Roswell police arrested the New York man in connection with the case. He was an employee of the Westside Parkway Top Golf.

Officers said he was arrested without incident and remains in the Fulton County Jail.

— Hayden Sumlin

Driver reports incident of road rage on Ga. 400

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 25-year-old woman reported a driver pointed a gun at her during a road rage incident Nov. 17.

Alpharetta police said the woman reported a driver brake checked her while traveling southbound on Ga. 400.

The woman allegedly passed the vehicle and brake checked it. The other driver then allegedly pulled up beside her and pointed a gun at her.

The woman said she was unable to identify the driver because of the vehicle’s dark window tint. She provided a license plate number to police.

The incident was classified as a misdemeanor pointing a gun at another.

— Jon Wilcox

Sandy Springs, Roswell reports conflict on arrest

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell and Sandy Springs officers arrested a 35-year-old Jonesboro man Nov. 24 on charges involving auto theft, but jurisdiction on the arrest is cloudy.

Police were alerted after getting a license plate hit on a stolen vehicle at Ga. 400 and Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell.

A Roswell officer said dispatch notified him that the Nissan Murano had been reported stolen out of Gwinnett County and began to search the area for the vehicle.

While the Roswell officer was enroute, he said dispatch told him that Sandy Springs officers had found the vehicle in a gas station parking lot at Holcomb Bridge and Old Alabama roads in Roswell.

Eventually, Roswell and Sandy Springs officers met up at 1465 Holcomb Bridge Road and used their patrol cars to block the Nissan’s exit.

After finding the vehicle empty, a Roswell officer reported Sandy Springs officers immediately ran inside the gas station and detained the driver.

Roswell officers said Sandy Springs personnel took over the investigation from there.

The Sandy Springs Police Department’s report says the incident occurred at Ga. 400 northbound and Northridge Parkway, inside Sandy Springs.

The Roswell report indicates the car was spotted inside its city limits and the arrest occurred there.

— Hayden Sumlin

Main Street restaurant reports overnight burglary

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Officers

investigated a reported burglary at a North Main Street restaurant Nov. 16.

Alpharetta police said officers cleared the building after an alarm sounded about 1:30 a.m.

No one was found inside, but police viewed a video showing three people entering the restaurant with tools and flashlights.

The three people allegedly pried open a door and stole a cash drawer.

About $800 was reported stolen, and a door valued at $500 was damaged.

The incident was classified as a felony forced burglary of a business.

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Suspect in assault case dies after pulling gun on police

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A suspect in a Dec. 4 alleged assault died at the hospital after he pulled out a gun and was shot by Sandy Springs police.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Dec. 5 that the suspect, a 27-year-old man from Jackson, Mississippi, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The GBI said his body will be taken to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Officer for an autopsy.

Just after 11 a.m., the Sandy Springs Police Department made a social media post about a large police presence in the city’s North End district just south of the Chattahoochee River.

Officers said they responded to an

assault call near the Bank of America

Financial Center at 8755 Roswell Road at Dunwoody Place and Hope Road shortly after 10:30 a.m.

Sandy Springs Police Sgt. Leon Millholland said officers quickly located a male suspect who was reported to have assaulted a 46-year-old Sandy Springs woman walking her dog near the bank.

“They were separated,” Millholland said. “[Officers] showed up on scene and located a guy on the sidewalk. When they were talking to him, running his name, date of birth and information, the dude pulls out a gun, and an officer shot him.”

Millholland said the suspect did not fire a shot and confirmed no officers were injured.

Sandy Springs Police Officer Jarrell Greene, also speaking with the media in

a nearby staging area, said ambulances transported the suspect in critical condition to Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center.

Thursday’s officer-involved shooting is the second within the North Fulton city in the past three months.

In mid-October, a bullet struck a Sandy Springs officer in the hand, causing minor injuries, after responding to a shots-fired call near Carroll Manor Drive and North River Parkway. After an exchange of gunfire, the incident ended with the suspect surrendering to crisis negotiators.

The officer-involved shootings, both involving suspects who brandished a firearm, were within a mile of one another.

Appen Media asked Greene and Millholland whether there has been an increase of violent police incidents.

“It’s two different situations,” Greene said.

Millholland said the Sandy Springs Police Department’s command staff talked about an across-the-board decline in property crimes and general police incidents earlier Thursday morning.

“Numbers are down,” Millholland said. “I just think they’re independent, random acts.”

Sandy Springs Police detectives were notified and have taken over the investigation, the news release said. The incident was captured on body-worn cameras.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has also been asked to investigate, which is standard for any shooting involving a law enforcement officer.

This is a developing story. Check appenmedia.com for updates.

Pillars of Milton football sign letters to colleges

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — December National Signing Day has been busy over the past few years at Milton High School, and the class of 2026 was no different. Dec. 3 saw six seniors sign to play Division I football.

Athletic Director Kory Keys said the athletic department wouldn’t be as successful as they are without the parent and community support in Milton.

“The investment starts at home,” he said. “Students come to us already having that foundation, and then our coaches and teachers do a great job at making this place a launching pad.”

Football had its first signing day of the season. Offensive guard Madden Mones signed to Georgetown University. Long snapper Graham Coady signed to Lafayette University.

Four core members of the Eagles’ defense committed – linebackers Tristan Lester to Marshall University and Billy Weivoda to the University of Iowa, cornerback Lawson Estes to Samford and defensive end Gage Lawrence to Colgate. The six young men were instrumental in Milton’s back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.

Head coach Ben Reaves said his goal for the program is to get players to see their goals and dreams, whether on or off the field, and how their hard work would pay off.

“Today ends the season on a high note for us,” he said. “What’s really important is molding young men and helping them to grow and achieve their dreams. These seniors never stopped fighting, they just continued to try to find a way to overcome the adversities we faced this season, and that speaks to their character as people.”

Billy Weivoda, a three-star recruit, told Appen Me-

From left, seniors Lawson Estes, Graham Coady, Gage Lawrence, Tristan Lester, Billy Weivoda and Madden Mones stand with teammates at Milton High School Dec. 3 after signing their letters of intent to play Division I football.

dia he picked Iowa for its history of sending linebackers to the NFL and shared his favorite memory at Milton – having to kick a 20-yard field goal to avoid a practice punishment for his team, and making it.

“It’s truly a blessing, just the opportunity that the coaches at Iowa gave me,” Weivoda said. “Tristan’s dad coached us in flag football, and I’ve been playing with him and Lawson since we were 6 years old. I’m excited for the development at the next level on and off the field.”

Tristan Lester said it will be a new experience to compete without his brothers at Milton. Lester will play

defensive back for Marshall next year, a true Swiss army knife for any defense.

Lester’s video essay to say goodbye to the program thanked an extensive list of support staff but started with a message to his late father, Tim.

“I would like to thank my dad for planting the seeds of trusting God’s plan for me, hard work, determination and mental toughness in my life,” he said. “Even though you are not here physically, you live through me, and you are with me every second. I promise I will make you and God proud of me.”

Lester’s mom, Natalie, said being grounded in faith has carried her family through this hard time since losing Tim in 2021 to COVID-19. She said that she frequently tells friends that she asks God for her sons to play together in college, “wherever his plan sees fit.”

“I see Tim’s legacy through them because they glorify God and give 100 percent at everything they do,” she said. “He would tell them, ‘only you and God know if you gave 100 percent’, and I’ve now seen them push through even when they didn’t think they could. Both of my sons have dealt with so many injuries and I’m humbled and grateful to see them both on to the next level.”

Tristan and his brother TJ, a freshman running back at West Georgia, both served as captains in their senior year at Milton.

“[Lester] is one of those names I wish was always going to be on the field,” coach Reaves said. “Truly, the way both of them have impacted our program, and even the way their father Tim did, who I got to know when I first got to Milton, they’ll always be on the field, in a way. What they’ve left to the younger generations and the way they’ve passed the torch and showed the younger kids how to do things the right way, there will still be a piece of them on field even if it’s not physically.”

Three Roswell football pillars sign to play at next level

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell High School celebrated National Signing Day before school Dec. 3 with three standout seniors committing to play Division I football.

Jonathan Thompson, who was named 5A Region 7 Coach of the Year in his first year as a head coach, presented impressive stats for all three signees and shared his pride in his first senior class.

“I don’t want to think about the end [of the season], just because of how special this group is,” he said. “So I’m not going to think about the end, I’m going to think about doing everything I can for these kids as long as I can ... These three guys work when nobody else is watching.”

Wide receiver Wills Campbell signed to Cornell University, and Thompson said he was the first receiver brought up by coaches when deciding the all-region first team.

A standout 5-catch, 3-touchdown performance against Sequoyah put Campbell in the lead of Division 5A for receiving yards with 1,336. He has moved up to No. 6 in all classifications in Georgia from No. 12 after the second-round matchup.

Quarterback Trey Smith signed to Furman University and was announced as the region Player of the

Kicker Balint Vorosmarty, who was highlighted by Thompson for a 92% touchback rate this year and the “two kicks heard round the world,” signed to Georgia State and was named Specialist of the Year for the region.

Vorosmarty told Appen Media that the celebration after a game-winning field goal to beat Milton for the first time in seven years will be something he remembers for the rest of his life.

“It’s been an honor to be able to be a Hornet and play with all these boys,” he said. “I had great leaders to learn from as a freshman when I came in and didn’t really know anything. It’s really sad that I’ve played my last game in Ray Manus Stadium, but moving on to play Division I football is a childhood dream of mine.”

The kicker has accounted for 150 points in his career and was ranked No. 1 at Kohl’s kicking camp.

Athletic director Ben Sutter said the day represented a true accomplishment and spoke to the signee’s abilities as community leaders and teammates.

Year. Thompson said the vote was unanimous. Career stats include 89 total touchdowns, 5,000 passing yards and 2,100 rushing yards in two seasons.

“I appreciate the effort that the three signees have given and what you have made Roswell athletics, leaving a lasting legacy here,” he said. “We talk about Well Made, its about more than just the wins on the field. It’s creating a sense of belonging for the kids in a partnership with other sports.”

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Bird supply store nurtures nature lovers

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — David Peterson was leaving his favorite bird supply store with $100-worth of seeds when an idea popped into his head.

“I'm walking to the car, and I'm like ‘Should I just buy one of these stores?’” he said. “And so, I made the call immediately.”

About 13 years later, the former salesman remains the proud owner of Outdoor Bird Supply, 3651 Peachtree Parkway in Johns Creek, where he sells all things birdrelated. Tucked into an unassuming strip mall, the shop’s walls and floors are lined with everything one need to attract birds to their yards.

Most days, Peterson can be found eagerly greeting customers, often with his two well-behaved poodles, Teddy and Bear, in tow.

Pallets of large, modestly priced bags of bird food sit at the center of the store. Bird food may be the main attraction, but the shop also carries a dizzying variety of

supplementary products, from cameras to live mealworms to houses and baths to feeders and lawn ornaments.

After more than a decade in business, Peterson’s brain is just as well stocked. He has come across just about every question from how much sugar to use in hummingbird nectar to what kinds of seed attract specific species.

Fair prices, a bounty of avian knowledge and genuine love for the hobby have served Peterson well, building a base of repeat customers in the hundreds.

The joy of working in a hobby as simple and delightful as feeding birds is contagious, he said.

“A lot of people say it’s their happy place,” he said.

With more than a half dozen feeders at his own home, Peterson said he has developed an addiction to watching his feathered friends. It’s a delight that is simultaneously simple and deceptively deep. Feeding birds naturally leads to researching them,

See BIRD, Page 7

Bird:

Continued from Page 6

and many, Peterson included, have found themselves wandering down rabbit holes of avian research and ecology.

“When you're looking out of your kitchen window and you see a new bird, that moment is exciting,” he said.

With more than 400 different songbirds in Georgia, suburban Atlanta is surprisingly well-suited for feeding birds. Woodpeckers, gold finches, bluejays, which are Peterson’s favorite, ruby-throated hummingbirds, cardinals, robins, chickadees, sparrows, doves, nuthatches and many more are all around and ready to grace yards with their presence.

“You've probably got a segment of 40 solid birds that are around,” he said.

It’s all about choosing the right food, Peterson said.

“You can bring over a giant segment of birds just by offering the right food,” he said.

Bird feed is available online, but Outdoor Bird Supply is able to offer cheaper prices because shipping the giant bags of seed, nuts and worms gets expensive fast.

Rookie bird enthusiasts also will quickly discover that the tiny birds in the yards are surprisingly hungry.

“This time of year, you might get three weeks out of it,” Peterson said, motioning toward a 20-pound bag of bird feed. “In May, customers will be back every week.”

It may seem unbelievable that a tiny songbird can consume so much food, but Peterson said there’s another fact to consider.

“There’s not just one bird. There’s lots of little birds,” he said, smirking.

The store stocks all sorts of food from shelled and unshelled peanuts to sunflow-

er seeds to spicy mixes to keep squirrels away. Live mealworms remain one of his most popular items because they allow the chance of witnessing the jackpot moment of a mother feeding its baby.

“They want the little blue bird coming to the mama, and you need the worms to do that,” Peterson said.

Feeding birds is a hobby best shared. Peterson said his 4-year-old grandson has come to love visits to his home because he gets to feed birds.

Employee David Linde said it’s also a great hobby for older adults.

“A lot of customers who have parents who maybe are housebound get a lot of joy watching the birds at the feeder out the window,” Linde said.

Despite all the varieties of bird food and feeders at the store, it’s easy to forget that birds have no trouble feeding themselves. Deciding to create a bird sanctuary in your yard really boils down to one thing.

“The point of the hobby is to bring joy to you and your family,” Peterson said.

December 24th Christmas Eve

3:00 p.m. Children’s Pop-up Christmas Pageant

This family-friendly service invites children to help tell the story of the very first Christmas! Wear a costume or borrow one from the church.

5:00 p.m. Modern – Sanctuary 7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m. Traditional – Chapel

Join us for one of these candlelight and communion services as we celebrate the birth of Christ.

Find expert epilepsy care at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center

to you by

– Wellstar Neurologist Dr. Ericka Bennett

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that is characterized by recurrent seizures and affects millions of people worldwide. These seizures result from sudden abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which can cause temporary disturbances in movement, behavior, sensation or awareness. Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center provides expert, specialized care for epilepsy.

The new The Epilepsy and Seizures Program at Wellstar, one of only a few programs of its kind in Georgia, provides comprehensive care to help people manage several types of seizures, including absence, tonic, atonic, clonic, myoclonic and tonic-clonic seizures. The expert team surrounds patients with support throughout their entire care journey, providing specialized outpatient and inpatient treatment.

Which types of doctors diagnose and treat epilepsy?

Diagnosing epilepsy requires the expertise of a multidisciplinary medical team. Each specialist brings a different perspective and skill set to ensure the most accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan:

• Neurologist: Performs initial assessments, orders imaging and begins treatment

• Epileptologist: This is a neurologist with specialized training in epilepsy. They lead the diagnostic process and manage complex cases.

• Neuropsychologist: They conduct cognitive and behavioral evaluations, especially in preparation for epilepsy surgery.

• Neurosurgeon: They assess whether surgical treatment is a viable and safe option for epilepsy that isn't helped by medications.

• Nurse Coordinator: They are here to help you navigate through your diagnosis and treatment. They can help with scheduling, educating you about your diagnosis and connecting you with community resources.

What is the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) and how can the EMU at Wellstar North Fulton help with management of your epilepsy?

An epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) is a specialized inpatient facility designed to diagnose and evaluate seizure disorders. Patients are voluntarily admitted, on average between three to five days, for continuous video electroencephalogram monitoring. This comprehensive assessment helps differentiate epilepsy from other conditions that mimic seizures, such as movement disorders, fainting spells or psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.

Why is an EMU hospitalization essential for epilepsy diagnosis and treatment?

1. Accurate diagnosis: The EMU provides high-precision monitoring, ensuring that patients receive the correct diagnosis and, consequently, the right treatment.

2. Personalized treatment plans: By analyzing seizure patterns, neurologists can tailor a treatment plan specific to the patient and their diagnosis.

3. Identifying surgical candidates: For patients whose seizures are not well-controlled with medication,

an EMU evaluation can determine if epilepsy surgery is a viable option.

What are the next steps after spending time in the EMU?

Once the EMU hospitalization is complete, your epileptologist will review important data collected from the hospitalization, confirm the diagnosis, discuss if you are a surgical candidate and adjust the treatment plan accordingly.

Learn more about neuro care at Wellstar at wellstar.org/neurocare. To schedule an appointment with Wellstar Neurologist Dr. Ericka Bennett in Roswell, call (770) 663-4649.

Expert epilepsy care means more advanced support for you.

At Wellstar, our epilepsy and seizure program, one of only a few of its kind in Georgia, provides multidisciplinary care to help people manage these neurological conditions with specialized treatment plans including advanced functional brain surgery options for those with severe seizure conditions. Our in-hospital epilepsy monitoring units use advanced technology to diagnose and treat seizures.

With Wellstar’s Neuro Care services your health is in the right hands with more than 200 neurosurgeons, neurologists, pain medicine specialists and advanced practice providers to deliver expert neuro care and surround you with support throughout your care journey. wellstar.org/epilepsy

Honored to be Voted: Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist

Insist on the

BEST

Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.

He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.

Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 23 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.

Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.

A pilot dies of Alpha Gal syndrome

Alpha gal syndrome, also known as “red meat allergy,” is a disease on the rise. Sadly, a November 2025 publication describes the first well-documented death resulting from alpha gal syndrome.

In the summer of 2024, a New Jerseybased airline pilot went camping with his family and suffered multiple bites believed to be either lone star tick larvae or nymphs which the family identified as “chiggers.” He and his family typically ate chicken. However, two weeks after camping, he ate a steak. Four hours later, he developed diarrhea, vomiting and such severe abdominal pain that he told his family “I thought I was going to die.” Symptoms lasted two hours, but the next day he felt so good that he saw no reason to seek medical attention.

Two weeks later, he had an additional exposure to red meat. At a barbecue, he ate a hamburger. Four hours later, he became ill again. Within minutes, he was dead. Post-mortem blood testing revealed extremely high tryptase levels – consistent with an anaphylactic reaction, a severe type of allergic reaction in which difficulty breathing or a sudden drop in blood pressure can result in death.

Alpha gal syndrome was first discovered around 2007 when a physician in Virginia identified that lone star tick bites could cause red meat allergy. A sugar called galactose-alpha 1,3-galactose (aka “alpha-gal”) is found in many types of mammal meat and dairy but not in humans, so humans can become allergic to this sugar if they are exposed in the right circumstance. A tick bite is just such a circumstance.

Lone star ticks are on the rise. Expanding deer populations and tick populations are likely resulting in an increase in tick bites and disease in humans. Increased testing certainly plays a factor, but between

2013 and 2024, a 100-fold increase in positive test results for alpha-gal occurred, and the CDC estimates as many as half a million people may be affected by this disease.

What makes the death of the New Jersey pilot so startling is the nature of the alpha gal allergic reaction. Most of the time, when we think of allergic reactions, we think of hives and rashes. If we think of death, we usually think of reactions such as those to peanuts which often involve difficulty breathing. The symptoms of the pilot would normally make someone worried for food poisoning or a severe stomach bug – not an allergy.

But diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain can be signs of an allergy. With alpha gal on the rise, severe abdominal pain following red meat or dairy ingestion should raise concern for alpha gal syndrome, which we now know can be fatal. In the right context – a recent hike, camping trip or other potential exposure to ticks, someone with severe abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea should consider getting tested for alpha gal before ingesting red meat, dairy or other cross-reacting substances a second time.

Reportedly, numerous individuals on Martha’s Vineyard are now unwillingly having to live essentially a vegan lifestyle due to the number of meat and dairy products that they now must avoid. Deer, ticks and alpha gal are on the rise and apparently here to stay.

As a Mohs surgeon and dermatologist, I have learned that the beach-goer has more to fear from the Sun in the sky than from a shark in the water. As someone who loves the great outdoors, I would add that I am more afraid of the tick on the leaf than the bear in the woods. If you, like me, have ever been sun-kissed or tick-bitten and are concerned about tick-born illness, Premier Dermatology is here to help.

Rethinking what counseling means for children

When most people hear the word therapy, they often picture trauma, or a problem that needs to be fixed. But for children, therapy is so much more than that. It’s not just about healing, it’s about learning, growing, and building skills that help them in everyday life.

In counseling, children learn tools that don’t always get taught in the classroom. They practice handling frustration without shutting down, expressing feelings in a healthy and respectful way, making and keeping friends, and building confidence after mistakes or failures. Therapy gives kids the chance to practice these skills in a safe and supportive space. They get to experiment, learn about themselves, and feel proud of their growth along the way.

I often compare therapy to exercising, it’s about maintenance, not just repair. When children learn emotional regulation early, they develop the tools to handle life’s challenges before they start to feel too overwhelming. By building that emotional foundation early on therapy helps prevent behavioral issues, anxiety, and low self-esteem from taking place later in life. It’s about giving kids the skills and confidence to manage their big feelings.

Therapy also supports healthy relationships with family, friends, and teachers. When kids understand themselves better they are able to communicate more clearly and feel more confident in social settings. Parents often notice their child becoming more flexible, empathetic, and calm in situations that used to feel difficult or triggering.

Ultimately, therapy isn’t a sign that something is wrong or broken, it’s a way to help your child grow stronger. Whether a child is struggling, shy, or simply learning to navigate a busy world, therapy can help them build resilience, confidence, and self-awareness that they’ll carry throughout their lives.

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Why some companies and some people fail

In one of Malcolm Gladwell’s books, “Outliers,” the premise is that ultimately, everything and everyone regresses to the mean.

In sports, long jumper Bob Beamon is a good example. In the 1968 Olympics he destroyed the existing world record by jumping 29 feet 2 ½” – almost 2 feet more than the existing world record. Beamon’s second longest jump in his career was 27 feet, 4 inches – roughly his mean.

Yes, there are exceptions to the “regress to the mean” rule, but they are few. It is almost like gravity is at work, and no matter how hard someone or something tries to defy it, it never works – because it always works, ultimately.

Business is like that too. Think Intel, GE, Polaroid – or if we want to go way back, The British East India Company. It was founded in 1600 by Queen Elizabeth to expand trade for the crown. It ultimately built its own private army and by the mid-18th century acted effectively as a sovereign power – collecting taxes, administering justice and waging war.

However, in 1874, the company was dissolved by the British government because it had become too powerful, too much of a threat and too corrupt. It had its day in the sun but ultimately, it didn’t last. It regressed even past the mean.

Southwest Airlines is a good – but to me, sad – case in point today.

I have been a huge, loyal fan of Southwest Airlines for many years. I recall the day that Gary Kelly (CEO

County:

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A community center will feature meeting rooms for residents, counselors and family members, and spaces for socializing, dining, exercise, arts and crafts, indoor recreation, laundry, gatherings and various other activities.

Living units will support residents with varying needs.

Independent living residences are intended for those with mild service needs. Supportive living homes cater to those with moderate service needs

from 2004–2022) announced, at a gathering I attended, the new hub in Atlanta.

“We’ll bring competition; bring down prices; and we’ll introduce you to the Southwest way of flying” – or something along those lines.

Excitement in the air

I think everyone was excited, and many of us welcomed the new upstart airline because we hoped it would give the old guard – Delta – a reason to try a little harder; be a little more customer friendly; and in general, shape up. It did force Delta to work harder on their rates I think, but that’s all it did – but that is another story.

Southwest was different. Bags were free. Check-in was totally different; it worked more like a roundabout than a four-way stop, which was the industry standard at the time – and still is. That is, the Southwest “way” relied on people to do the right thing in terms of check in and seating themselves on their own accord instead of being herded like cattle into paddocks.

It gave people standing and respect in a sense. At least that was the way it seemed to me. And I liked that.

More than anything else though, flying Southwest was fun. From the pilots to the flight attendants, everyone just seemed nice, upbeat, and full of positive energy. When you stepped into that Southwest plane, life lifted a little for everyone, and you were in for a welcome break from the rat race.

So, for the next 20-plus years, I never considered flying on any other airline than Southwest. Then – I want to say around 2022 when Gary Kelly retired – something happened. Granted, a pandemic hit, and granted, Southwest encountered operational

who often have physical challenges and may require direct personal support or rehabilitative services.

The long-term service and support unit is for residents who have profound disabilities that limit their physical or cognitive abilities to perform self-care and require daily help. Those residents also often need supervision and around-the-clock monitoring.

The facility will include outdoor walking paths.

The center aims to enrich residents’ lives through activities there and in the community at large. A partnership with Creative Enterprises, a local nonprofit that connects participants with services, employment and activities, has helped the effort.

failures in their back-end system and near catastrophic plane issues. Nevertheless, Southwest changed; it digressed back toward the mean. They introduced baggage fees. They ended the open seating – the roundabout idea – and started offering premium seating options – basically stratifying the pricing structure and how customers were treated – some better than others.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that, because that is how the rest of the world works, but it wasn’t how Southwest became the airline that so many of us loved and patronized.

Fast forward. Southwest now, like all the other airlines, nickels and dimes you to death. It’s all about up charges, making that incremental buck – charges for this, upgrades that. Flight attendants move about their jobs robotically, sullen and drained of any energy or that old Southwest vibe. Seeing a smile on a Southwest employee’s face now seems as rare as a white tiger – and laughter, nowhere to be heard.

It’s not like Southwest does a bad job today; they do OK. However, in relative terms, compared to the airline it was before, the one today is simply a pallid imitation – one going through the motions and not really caring all that much – back to the mean.

I still fly Southwest I will admit. Loyalty to something or some idea often endures and doesn’t fade quickly with a few bumps or occasional turbulence. I still want to smile when I board a Southwest flight. I want Southwest attendants and pilots to still at least act like they are glad to see you and that they find some sort of pride and excitement about their jobs. That is, I want to give them the

“They provide all kinds of activities for them to do, not only on the campus, but off the campus,” Burns said. “They take them out for meals. They take them for shopping. They teach them life skills.”

After acquiring its land through a donation by developer The Pacific Group, Keystone Village will need to raise an additional $17 million to realize its vision, Burns said. Already, the nonprofit has attracted considerable donations, an indication of how the community recognizes the need it will fulfill.

The organization hopes to meet its goal through grants and donations from businesses and residents. They soon hope to debut a campaign asking

benefit of the doubt – a pass - with the hopes that something will happen and they will change – change back.

Holding out hope

There are still some companies out there, however, that have maintained that “Southwest vibe” – companies where the employees treat customers like they do care about them, companies with employees that seem like they enjoy coming to work and take pride in who they are and what they do.

Costco.

I am reminded about one company in particular. A new CEO recently was named for the company, but the founder remained at the helm as chairman of the board I believe. One of the first moves the new CEO made was to increase the prices in this company’s trademark food court – their pizza, hotdogs, ice-cream. One giant hot quarter-pound all-beef hotdog and a 20-ounce (free refills) soda, $1.50.

“We’re losing money on that food,” said the new CEO.

“You’ll increase the prices on our food over my dead body,” replied the founder.

Some things are far more important than money – like values. Most companies that allow money to become the lowest common dominator – instead of a set of values commonly held, ultimately fail. There is always someone out there willing to sell the product or service cheaper or at a discount.

The same concept holds for countries. Not everything in life is a transaction. When the values fade or disappear, when the “why’s” are forgotten, it is just a matter of time until the arrival back to the mean – or lower. Some things never change.

100 businesses to donate $100 each month for a year.

“It's really a vote of confidence for what we're doing and who we're doing it for,” Burns said. “I just think there's so many people in this community that see the need.”

As the project nears its final stretch, Burns said she sees the story of Keystone’s creation as one of faith and a community coming together to care for its most in need residents.

“We call it a mission because honestly we prayerfully took all these children in and felt like we wanted to serve God,” Burns said. “We felt like God was saying to us, ‘I've got another project for you.’ That's how Keystone was born.”

BEING KIND

1. Knight fight. Speech impediment. Kind of butter.

2. Up and down toy. Kind of order. Way too weighty.

3. Kind of race. Tableland. Plaster of Paris.

4. Burger topper. Kind of stick. Sag.

5. Rapids runner. Chess piece. Kind of shot.

6. Long-tailed parrot. Kind of attack. Stinger.

12/11/25 Sudoku PuzzleJunction.com

7. Chinese tea leaves. Golfer’s cry. Kind of chamber.

1 Knight fight. Speech Impediment. Kind of butter

2. Up and down toy. Kind of order. Wa

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. Kind of race. Tableland. Plaster of Paris

4. Burger topper. Kind of stick. Sag

5. Rapids runner. Chess piece. Kind of shot.

6. Long-tailed parrot. Kind of attack. Stinger.

7. Chinese tea leaves. Golfer’s cry. Kind of chamber.

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9. 86 9 89 5 4 5 3 1 7 85 6

How to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Back of the boat Artist Bonheur

Standing still Knitting stitch Job for a body shop Block house? Pottery fragment

Balancing pro Swimming with a Blood-related Ballpark figures

How to Solve: Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence.

Lead Software Engineering needed by AT&T Services, Inc. in Alpharetta, GA to lead, mentor, and inspire a team of software engineers by providing technical guidance and support. 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-85871.

Lead Data/AI Engineering needed by AT&T Services, Inc., in Alpharetta, GA to analyze, design, program, debug and modify software enhancements and new products used in distributed, large-scale analytics and visualization solutions. 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-88503.

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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

Career:

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son, vice president of Economic Development for Gwinnett Tech. “We are thrilled to have this new facility in our backyard.”

Brett Lacy, director of the Workforce Development Board, described the career resource centers as the place for job seekers and training providers to connect, leading to further skill development and certifications needed for employment.

“The relocation of our career resource center shows our dedication to meeting job seekers where they are and helping them succeed in the long run,” Lacy said. Career resource centers throughout the state resulted from WorkSource Georgia, a statewide employment and training system created in 2016 after Congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. When the program launched, the state’s unemployment rate

hovered around 5.5 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Georgia’s unemployment rate now stands a full percent point lower than the nation’s average of 4.4 percent.

The ribbon-cutting for the new resource center was one piece of good news shared at the Dec. 3 meeting of the Atlanta Regional Workforce Development Board.

By summer 2026, Building Georgia will launch its first training cohort as the program aims to fill the need for an estimated 136,000 jobs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The program began in 2024 and is a partnership between ARC, the Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Transportation. All three are collaborating to complete the curriculum that will focus on entry-level construction skills and basic industry knowledge. Graduates from the program will be paired with participating employers throughout the state.

Suite 200 in Duluth.

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