South Vietnamese, U.S. veterans commemorate 1975 fall of Saigon ► PAGE 4 M ay 8 , 2 0 2 5 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 9 , N o . 1 9
Still giving
Building project raises concerns among residents along gravel road
Man, 90, marks milestone with 200th blood donation By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Marvin Epp wants to share his good health. At 90 years old, the energetic but soft-spoken Forsyth County resident still works, volunteers at his local church and helps neighbors when he can. He also regularly donates blood, a routine he has maintained for the past 65 years. “God did not intend for me to waste my good health on myself,” Epp said. After church April 13, Epp donated his 200th pint of Type A positive blood at Northside Hospital Forsyth, marking a lifetime total of about 25 gallons — enough to fill a pickup’s gas tank or most of a bathtub. Neighbor Ann Matia, 91, accompanied him on the visit, presenting him with a balloon to mark the occasion. “This is something that needs to be recognized,” Matia said. Epp has always felt strongly about civic duty, and donating is just one part of that responsibility. Epp said he holds a deep respect for veterans and first responders and has never missed voting. He also extends a “24/7, 365” invitation to his neighbors, offering to help them with any predicament at any time. Matia said she once knocked on Epp’s door at 2 a.m. after experiencing severe pain. He leapt into action and took her to the hospital where she was treated for kidney stones.
See EPP, Page 7
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Residents along one of Forsyth County’s few remaining gravel roads say they are concerned about traffic impacts from a planned subdivision and highway exit. Ann Garvin, a resident who has lived on Tidwell Road since 1990, said a near 1-mile portion of the road has remained unpaved since she began living there. She said she is worried the creation of a subdivision and opening of a Ga. 400 exit at McGinnis Ferry Road could bring dangerous traffic. “I beg the county due to the additional traffic that is going to be using this road, please make some improvements,” Garvin said. Commissioners have delayed a rezoning decision for a subdivision along Tidwell Road about a half mile north of the Ga. 400 exit at McGinnis Ferry, which is still under construction. Tidwell Estates is a 12.5-acre, 20-lot, single-family subdivision. A zoning condition would require the developer to pave about 800 feet but would leave a majority of the gravel section unpaved.
ANN MATIAS/PROVIDED
Marvin Epp holds a balloon he received from friend and neighbor Ann Matias while donating his 200th pint of blood April 13 at Northside Hospital Forsyth.
See ROAD, Page 12
2024 DR. JOHN REYES
DR. INGRID REYES
DR. NATU MMBAGA
DR. ANNIE KIM
DR. ZIN ALONSO
404.446.2496 | WWW.REYESOBGYN.COM
DR. NADA MEGALLY
EMILY DIXON, CNM
DR. MIRANDA LONG
8TH YEAR IN A ROW!
THANK YOU!
KEIANNA HALEY, CNM
SKYLER JACOBS, CNM
MIMI SONG, CNM
KATIE VAUGHN, CNM
KRISTINE RAYNARD, CNM
ALPHARETTA | JOHNS CREEK | CUMMING
Best OB/GYN DR. TINA LU
DR. NATALIE CLERICUZIO
DR. SHELLEY ZIPPAY
KRISTI PRESLEY, WHNP
JOANNE LEE, FNP
AMBER BECKER, WHNP
HEMALI PATEL, WHNP
“We focus on personal, compassionate care”
EMILY CHUNG, FNP
PAIGE MAROLF, WHNP
LANA WERTZ, CNM
ERICA RICHMOND, CNM
LAURA WIESE, CNM