Issuu

SEE THE WINNERS INSIDE S e p t e m b e r 2 4 , 2 0 2 6 | 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 3 0 , N o . 3 9

‘Pup-a-Palooza’

Tails wag and treats flow at annual Johns Creek dog event

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek City Council approved an $83.2 million budget for fiscal year 2027 in a 5-2 vote on Sept. 14. Mayor John Bradberry and Council Members Dilip Tunki, Chris Coughlin, Larry DiBiase and Erin Elwood supported the measure. They acknowledged reaching a consensus required compromise. “I’m supporting this budget not because it’s perfect. It doesn’t have everything I want in it, but most budgets don’t,” DiBiase said. “I don’t enjoy funding the recreation center for $2 million this year, but we will have a chance to talk about that.” Council Members Stacy Skinner and Bob Erramilli voted against the budget.

By JON WILCOX | jon@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Getting out of the house on a Saturday afternoon is important whether you have two legs or four. Brittany Nyzio, Thomas Bertling and their dog Ted were among many other local residents and their furry best friends who were doing just that at Pup-a-Palooza Sept. 19. The pooch-friendly event attracted hundreds to Newtown Park with vendors and events from artisanal dog treat sellers to best-dressed and best-trick contests. For Nyzio and Bertling, taking Ted, who they think is 14, out on the weekends is an essential activity. They adopted the small, potato-shaped dog about a year ago. “We only have Ted for a short time,” Nyzio said. “We want him to experience life.” At the event, Ted enjoyed treats like frozen cucumbers and homemade peanut butter cups. He took a photo with Nyzio at a doggy kissing booth photo stand. He also made some fellow canine friends.

See PUP, Page 17

City Council approves $83.2M budget in 5-2 vote

See BUDGET, Page 18

Fulton honors educators in annual ceremony JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

Roxy, a Johns Creek pug, rides in a stroller at Pup-a-Palooza at Newtown Park on Sept. 19.

► PAGE 4

2 | September 24, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

PUBLIC SAFETY

Students petition to remove Flock cameras at Alpharetta High By PATRICK QUINN Atlanta News First

770-442-3278 AppenMedia.com 319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009 HANS APPEN Publisher RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus CONTACT NEWS TIPS Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com. LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance. ADVERTISING For information about advertising in the Johns Creek Herald or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278. CIRCULATION To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Students at Alpharetta High School are petitioning to have Flock Safety cameras removed from campus, saying the cameras infringe on their privacy. Flock cameras are installed outside every entrance to the school, capturing footage of each car that comes on and off campus. “We hope that Fulton County takes down every Flock camera,” said Aditya Manchanda, 17, a senior at Alpharetta High School. Manchanda and Henry Jones, 17, started the petition in September. They said they believe the cameras violate the Fourth Amendment, which protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures. “I think the school has a responsibility to protect the privacy of its students. And Flock cameras are directly contradictory to that,” Jones said. Petition cites cost and privacy concerns The petition, titled “Remove flock cameras from Alpharetta High School,” was created Sept. 1 and, as of this report, has 92 signatures. The petition is backed by the Alpharetta Young Democratic Socialists of America. Organizers are calling for the cameras’ removal and proposed alternatives, including increased patrols by security personnel, community-based safety programs, and efforts to strengthen relationships between students, teachers and administrators. District says cameras were approved in 2022 The Fulton County School System said the cameras are not new to campus. They were approved by the school board in September 2022 and are installed at all 101 schools

HQ/Loan Center (678) 385-0826 Duluth Branch (678) 385-0800

Home Loan (470) 514-1712 Doraville Branch (678) 385-0840

Philadelphia (PA) LPO* (484) 686-8467 Johns Creek Branch (678) 892-7000

Sugarloaf Branch (678) 892-7020 Bayside Branch (NY) (347) 428-9090

McGinnis Branch Suwanee Centreville Branch (VA) (571) 321-6272 (678) 892-7040 678-892-7030 Annandale Branch (VA) Houston (TX) (713) 821-3570*Loan Production (703) 354-4310 Office www.promiseone.bank

DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA

A Flock Safety automated license plate reader is shown on Main Street in Tucker. The readers scan passing license plates and capture the plate number, location, date, time and photographs of the vehicle. This information is uploaded to a central database that users across the country can access. district-wide. According to a Fulton County Schools bulletin published Sept. 23, 2022, the cameras are automatic license plate readers, which capture computer-readable images of license plates and vehicle characteristics, not people or faces. According to the district, the system compares plate numbers against those of stolen vehicles or vehicles linked to people suspected of criminal activity and sends real-time alerts to law enforcement when a vehicle associated with a wanted suspect or endangered person passes the camera. “Our goal is to ensure that everyone feels safe on their school campus,” District Superintendent Mike Looney said in the 2022 bulletin. “We are constantly thinking about ways to secure our campuses and protect students and staff, while protecting their privacy.” According to the bulletin, captured camera data is owned by Fulton County

Schools and is not sold or shared with third parties, except when shared with other law enforcement agencies. The bulletin states the data is encrypted, stored in a cloud and permanently deleted after 30 days, and that the cameras are intended to maintain campus safety rather than to enforce minor traffic or parking violations. The district-wide camera installation cost roughly $626,300, paid for through ESPLOST funds, according to a 2022 Flock blog post. The district said at the time it planned to have cameras installed at all schools by January 2023. The school board also authorized an additional $6 million that fiscal year to enhance safety measures further, according to the report. In 2022, Looney said the cameras were intended to track people convicted of sex crimes, those barred from having a gun and those banned from school grounds.

See FLOCK, Page 18

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | September 24, 2026 | 3

THIS IS AN ADULTS-ONLY EVENT (21+)

1 1 TH A N N I V E R S A R Y

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 TH • PULLMAN YARDS • 6-10PM

tickets on sale now: $75 GA $100 vip featured Spirits ANGEL’S ENVY • ARDBEG • BAKERS • BASIL HAYDEN’S • BIG CREEK DISTILLING CO. • BLUE NOTE BOURBON • BOOKERS • BROADSTREET INFAMOUS WHISKEY • BUBBA’S WHISKEY • CASTLE & KEY • DISTILLERY OF MODERN ART • D’USSÉ EDRINGTON BRAND • FOUR ROSES • FREY RANCH • GLENMORANGIE • HIGH WEST DISTILLERY • JEFFERSON’S BOURBON • JIM BEAM BLACK • JYPSI SPIRITS • KNOB CREEK • LARCENY BOURBON • MAKER’S MARK • MARY DOWLING • MASH AND MALLOW • MICHTER’S • NIKKA • OLD DOMINICK DISTILLERY • OLD FOURTH DISTILLERY • RABBIT HOLE • REDBREAST • SHORTBARREL • SKREWBALL PEANUT BUTTER WHISKEY • THE GLENLIVET • THE MACALLAN • UNCLE NEAREST PREMIUM WHISKEY • VIVIENTE MEZCAL • WIDOW JANE • WOODINVILLE • WOOLER WHISKEY

featured Restaurants 17TH AND STATE • AUBURN ANGEL • BOLD MONK • BURTONS GRILL • CHEF SHAWN OSBEY • CT REFORMA TAQUERIA • FLAVOR RICH • GASTON STREET EATS • GIRL DIVER • KNIFE RESTAURANT • MISSION + MARKET • NAKATO • STEAK MARKET 44 • THE BOARD ROOM ATL • THE FOODIE PLACE • UNBELIEVEGAN • ZENU

P R E S E N T E D BY

SPONSORED BY

BENEFITING

SCAN HERE

NEWS

4 | September 24, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

Fulton honors educators in annual ceremony By JIM BASS jim@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — Fulton County Schools on Sept. 16 rolled out the red carpet to honor more than 200 teachers and school professionals at its annual Legacy of Excellence Awards, held in the Georgia International Convention Center ballroom. A teacher of the year and school or support professional of the year were each honored for each of the 101 schools in the district, walking to the stage in front of more than 1,000 attendees consisting of family, friends, principals and other teachers. Board president Kristin McCabe said it's her favorite event of the year. She was attending the event as a board member for the fourth time. “It is necessary to recognize those that make a difference in our children's lives every single day,” McCabe said. “I think it's important that we recognize people for the work that they do, celebrate them so they know their value, and how much we appreciate them,” McCabe added. Joining WSB-TV news anchor

DRIVEWAYS & CONCRETE

Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways, Slabs

$250 OFF

Mention ad for $250 Off. New Driveway. Cannot combine coupons.

BBB A+ Rating

ARBOR HILLS CONSTRUCTION INC. 678-250-4546 | FREE QUOTES • Landscaping Residential & Commercial • Tree Services • Sprikler Systems • Maintenance & Installation Pine Straw & Mulch • Over 25 Years of Experience • Many Local References • Fair Prices for Professional Work • Maintenance & Installation Pine Straw & Mulch • Reliable, Punctual, Honest

Wendy Corona and board president Kristin McCabe on the list of speakers, superintendent Mike Looney spoke about the positive impact that a teacher can have on a student, and why it's worth remembering. “Long after our students matriculate through our system, they're going to be thinking about their public education experience here in Fulton,” Looney said. “They're not going to remember perhaps their bus number, or what they ate at lunch one day, or the lesson that a teacher taught, but what they are going to remember is how we made them feel.” The Westlake High School Jazz Ensemble and New Prospect Elementary School Musical Theatre performed during the lunch hour. The Roswell High School Drumline later escorted the overall teacher of the year to the stage. The district honored its overall teacher of the year award winner: Crabapple Middle School’s Jennifer Priddy. She took home the honor along with overall support professional of the year Vahnesa Jourdan, who is a district human resources employee, and school professional of the year James Grantham of

CONCRETE

Driveways • Patios • Walls • More McKemey concrete $250 OFF* Any job $2500 or more

Competitive Pricing Many Local References

Fulton County Schools superintendent Mike Looney speaks at the annual Legacy of Excellence Awards on Sept. 16. ATTENTION - Double check ad for ALL content. Phone, web, address, coupons, etc. Assume nothing Reply back that ad is approved once ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN CHECKED FOR ACCURACY.

DRIVEWAYS

NEW or REPAIR and Patios • Slabs • Walls Sidewalks • Pool Decks McKemey concrete $250 OFF

Any job $2500 or more

Bobby Albritton

Master Licensed Electrician Bobby Albritton

Residential & Commercial Services Master Licensed Electrician

CallResidential for a FREE Estimate &

404-519-8635 Commercial Services bgalbritton@live.com

Many Local References

10% OFF

*Offer expires 10 days after publication

Any job $500 or more.

*Offer expires 10 days after publication

Ask for Dave McKemey

678-648-2010 | FREE QUOTES

678-506-0006 | FREE QUOTES

ROOF REPAIR & REPLACE

Fruit Trees NOT Producing Fruit?

STOP LEAKS

Serving North Atlanta Since 1983. Affordable Quality Roofing. Based in Roswell.

98 • Tree Removal • Tree Pruning • Stump Grinding

• Full Insured • Free Mulch • Emergency 24/7

$150 OFF

$200 Leak Repairs or 10% OFF New Roof *Offer expires 10 days after publication

770-450-8188 | FREE QUOTES

Fruit Tree Pruning Fruit Tree Planting  Soil Care



$200 leak repair. Up to 8 penetrations. (1-story house, up to 7/12 pitch). Some restrictions apply

jobs $1500 or more

770-771-5432 | FREE QUOTES

Centennial High School. Priddy, an English Language Arts teacher, first won the schoolwide teacher of the year award after a contest between three finalists was decided by who students would produce the most noise for. Priddy, who leads the school’s student-led news crew for the school, heard she won the overall award during a live show in April. “I was there supporting them, making sure all the kids were behaving themselves and all of a sudden, they turned the announcement around on me,” Priddy said. Priddy has been teaching students since 1996 and joined the district 15 years ago. Crabapple Middle School principal Stephanie Haga said she is special in how she is able to support students by listening to what they want to accomplish instead of giving it to them and helping guide them to those goals. “[Priddy] She seeks to support kids, and she got recognized because of that. She had an opportunity to leave the classroom, and she said, ‘I want to be with the kids. That's where I belong,” Haga said. “I think that is the true teacher's heart.”

770-284-3123 | FREE QUOTES

Specialized Fruit Tree Prunning and Care

bloom and fruit

bloomandfruit.net

info@bloomandfruit.com

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | September 24, 2026 | 5

6 | September 24, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

COMMUNITY

Centennial alum Diaz returns to coach against Alpharetta By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Centennial volleyball alumna and head coach Olivia Diaz is in her first year back with the program and faced a familiar group when her former team, Alpharetta, came to Roswell for a match. Alpharetta has been nationally ranked for several years, the last two of which Diaz joined the staff first as an assistant then as co-head coach last season. When the job opened at her alma mater, she couldn’t turn down the opportunity to give back to a place that shaped her. “I love the girls, I love the program, I love the school,” Diaz said. “I love Alpharetta, too; I’m always going to support them, even if I’m on the other side of the net rooting for Centennial. It’s really fun to have that rivalry now.” Diaz was named to the Prep Volleyball Class of 2019 Watchlist during her time as a Knights libero and defensive specialist before she went on to play for UNC. “No doubt the Centennial volleyball program will greatly benefit from Olivia’s leadership,” reads a comment on a Facebook post announcing her hire. She’s not the first Centennial alum to come back and take over at the

helm, demonstrating the strength of the school’s community. Several dozen students attended the game in a student section similar to that seen on the gridiron. “Just seeing how supportive all the fans are … we have fans at every single game,” Diaz said. “Win or lose, they’re in here, and that’s just what Centennial is about. It’s really fun to be part of that culture and build up volleyball players that get to experience that and know that people care about volleyball.” The Knights went 11-19 last year and have nine seniors on the team this season. Diaz has coaching experience at one of the most highly regarded clubs in the country, A5, so she is expected to elevate her alma mater’s program. Diaz said she feels the program’s 6-17 record does not “reflect the team that they are.” “A lot of those losses were just mindset,” she said. “Now, they’re starting to develop a mindset where they’re expecting to go out and play hard. Where towards the beginning of the season, as soon as the other team would start getting ahead, they would think ‘we’ve already lost.’”

See DIAZ, Page 18

ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA

Centennial volleyball head coach Olivia Diaz smiles after a Knights point, signaling to a player which attack to run. Diaz, a 2019 Centennial graduate, went on to play for the University of North Carolina.

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | September 24, 2026 | 7

STORE CLOSING

Final Weeks!

Going Out Of Business

60-75% OFF Entire Store!

Over 1,000 Rugs in Stock! All Sizes and Colors!

A few examples of our Going Out of Business prices: 13x20 hand-knotted rug 100% wool – $9,850 now $1,250 11x16 hand-knotted rug 100% wool – $7,500 now $1,050 8.5x11.5 antique heriz – $11,500 now $2,500 8x10 power loom – $1,720 now $290 6x9 woven 100% wool – $950 now $175 3x5 antique – $1,200 now $175

Store Closing Means Unbeatable Savings.

Thousand plus rugs are available in all sizes, colors, and styles new and antiques from all over the world with unbelievable prices. This is your opportunity to purchase premium rugs at some of the lowest prices we’ve ever offered. These savings are only available while inventory lasts, so don’t wait to find the perfect rug for your home.

SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION Store Hours:

Monday - Saturday 10:30 am - 7 pm | Sunday 12 pm - 6 pm 11266 State Bridge Rd, Suite 300, Alpharetta, GA 678-404-7555 * All sizes are approximate. | License #15200

8 | September 24, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

COMMUNITY

Boy Scout’s project aims to house Milton’s bluebirds By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — Earlier this month, Milton High School student and Boy Scout Saavan Ghelani built 60 birdhouses for bluebirds to nest in throughout the city. Ghelani, 16, is part of Troop 841 and has been a boy scout for about two years. He is a life scout with 27 badges, most of them earned through summer camp at Bert Adams Scout Camp in Covington. He is currently working toward the eagle scout rank. His biggest influence is his brother, Shreyan, who encouraged him to join the scouts. “My favorite part [about being a boy scout] is probably learning a bunch of different skills that I can use in the future, like how to build a campsite [and other outdoor skills]; it helps me out whenever I go camping,” Ghelani said. The city of Milton is the project’s beneficiary. Jen Young, Milton’s outdoor recreation supervisor, helped bring about the opportunity for Ghelani to work with Eastern bluebirds. Young said she enjoys projects where scouts can take a simple idea and create something that will benefit

birds, families and the community for years to come. “Saavan and his troop’s project exemplify what it looks like when young people take an active role in caring for natural spaces in our community,” Young said. “The bird boxes he created will become homes for wildlife in our parks and in residents’ yards, showing people what stewardship of wildlife is all about. I’m excited to see Saavan’s project give Milton residents another opportunity to get outside, learn about our native birds and become wildlife stewards.” Ghelani originally planned to build 30 birdhouses but discovered that number was too small. He doubled it and has already sent eight of them to Milton City Park and Preserve and seven to Providence Park. In April, 45 of Ghelani’s birdhouses will be distributed to families at Milton’s Earth Day event. “I thought the birds were pretty neat … they have to find their own shelter in the homes that we’re gonna make for them because there’s a lot more deforestation or they can’t find new cavities in the trees,” Ghelani said. “So, we’re basically gonna build artificial cavities for them so they can peacefully lay their eggs and thrive.”

The birdhouses are built from one 6x6 cedar plank, which is cut seven times into seven different pieces. Each piece correlates with a front panel, back panel, bottom panel, two roof panels and two side panels. The sides are glued to the other panels. Gluing the birdhouse together ensures the wood is less likely to split when adding screws. A door to the birdhouse will allow park maintenance workers to clean it. The project’s equipment cost around $1,500, and Ghelani has created a fundraiser to defray those costs. For more information or to donate, visit troop841.com/saavan. He said he hopes community members will see the birdhouses and be inspired to also help the bird population. “If they’re out in the park and they see one of these birdhouses, they’ll probably think, ‘Maybe I should get one at my house, and maybe I should help out a bird species,’” Ghelani said. His project took more than 80 hours to finish, including the steps for approval. Ghelani said projects like this one take effort and determination. “It’s definitely worth it because you’re helping out your community,” Ghelani said.

TAKING FLIGHT Masterworks featuring Paganini Winner Simon Zhu and The Michael O’Neal Singers performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.

October 9 at 7:30 pm Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center Students 21 and under and free

(678) 748-5802 WWW.JOHNSCREEKSYMPHONY.ORG Funding for this program is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.

PRIMARY CARE

SERVING THE NORTH ATLANTA COMMUNITY

Linda Mauldin • Margolis Charitable Trust • Massey Charitable Trust

SAAVAN GHELANI/CONTRIBUTED

Boy Scout Saavan Ghelani crouches near one of his completed birdhouses and among cedar planks for other ones. The Milton High School student, 16, has built 60 birdhouses as part of a scouting project. They will be distributed to parks and homes in Milton.

Just opened? Appen Media publishes New Business Spotlights to highlight local businesses as they get started. Submit yours for free at appenmedia.com/newbusiness. 9 | Johns Creek Herald | September 24, 2026

NFCC job fair connects local employers and job seekers

EOS Fitness coming to North Point Commons anchor spot

By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — EOS Fitness is expanding to Alpharetta, bringing its brand of affordable, high-value fitness to North Point Drive. The company signed a long-term lease for a 38,419-square-foot gym at 965 North Point Drive, an EOS representative said Sept. 3. The company’s website says the gym will open in 2027. The gym will serve as an anchor tenant for the North Point Commons retail property. JoAnn Fabrics was the previous tenant. That company, after its bankruptcy and sale to a private equity firm, closed all 800 of its locations in 2025. With more than 225 locations open and on the way nationwide,

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

A EOS Fitness member exercises in this promotional image provided by the company. The gym will soon open an Alpharetta location at 965 North Point Drive.

EOS Fitness offers premium cardio and strength equipment, recovery solutions, group fitness and personal training. Memberships start at $9.99 a month. The gym has locations in Roswell and Austell. A second Alpharetta location, at 700 McFarland Parkway, is planned to open in 2028, according to the company’s website.

ROSWELL, Ga. — On Oct. 6 North Fulton Community Charities (NFCC) will host its 2026 Job Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the NFCC Barbara Duffy Center. Sponsored by Wellstar, the free event is open to all job seekers and offers an opportunity to meet directly with local employers, explore career paths and connect with recruiters and hiring representatives. Held at 11275 Elkins Road, business professional attire is encour aged, and attendees should bring copies of their resume. Registering in advance is encouraged. Participating employers include Wellstar Health System, the city of Alpharetta, the city of Roswell, Enterprise Mobility, Right at Home

North Atlanta and Solutionz, Inc. “A job can be so much more than a paycheck; it can be a step toward greater stability for an individual and their family,” said Dr. Amy Gates Stroud, President of North Fulton Community Charities. “Our Job Fair is about creating opportunities for people in our community to connect directly with employers, explore what’s possible and take that next step forward in their career.” One past attendee shared that meeting directly with a recruiter gave them the opportunity to receive feedback after their resume was repeatedly rejected through online applications. Others have noted the variety of employers, welcoming environment and opportunity to have meaningful conversations with recruiters.

10 | September 24, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

NEWS

Milton mom readies for third ‘American Ninja Warrior’ run By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — Milton resident Alyssa Rives is returning for her third run on “American Ninja Warrior,” the popular NBC sports entertainment and reality game show competition. She will be featured in 2027’s season 19, which will air next summer. Filming begins this month. Rives previously competed in seasons 11 (2019) and 13 (2021) of the show. She planned to compete in 2022’s season 14 but, before filming started, found out she was pregnant with her daughter. After her pregnancy, she injured her knee, again delaying her return. In “Ninja Warrior,” contestants complete difficult obstacle courses for the chance to win a jackpot. Rives said she knew she had to be completely healthy to win the competition, and, after knee surgery and the birth of her second daughter, she is ready for another run. “I’ve been back in the gym, and I feel like it’s finally my time to return to ‘Ninja Warrior,’” Rives said. “I feel healthy enough … my knee feels healthy enough … I have recovered from having two babies, and I just feel like this is the year.” She said she is not scared of the show’s obstacle courses but does worry about leaving her children behind for the show’s filming period and being injured again. Rives said she hopes her daughters understand that women and moms can chase their dreams and accomplish their goals. “A lot of women in my generation and previous generations grew up with the societal standards that women shouldn’t be fit, and I don’t really agree,” Rives said. “I’ve always wanted my children to know that women can be strong and have muscles. Women can run fast and do really hard

PHOTOS BY ALYSSA RIVES/CONTRIBUTED

Alyssa Rives competes in a past “American Ninja Warrior” season. The Milton physical therapist, who competed in the NBC show’s 11th and 13th seasons, will appear in 2027’s season 19. things.” Rives said people see fitness professionals compete on “Ninja Warrior” and think they can also complete the courses but that the obstacles are technical in nature. “You can be a super strong person and be an incredible athlete in another sport, and it does not translate to ‘Ninja Warrior,’” she said. “There’s a lot of specific technique that is involved.” For example, she noted, hanging from a bar with one arm requires shoulder stability and grip strength. While competing in season 11, she encountered the “ferris wheel” obstacle, which features two large wheels 3 feet apart, each with 12 swinging handles competitors must climb across to reach the landing platform. Each time a competitor tops out on a wheel,

it rotates roughly 120 degrees clockwise under their weight. “That’s the obstacle I fell on just because it was a really strenuous obstacle; I think I was on it for like two to three minutes just hanging there,” Rives said. “I would love to try that obstacle again because I think I could conquer it this time. I think that my grip, upper body endurance and stamina is strong enough to crush that obstacle this time around.” Balancing obstacles — like a floating bridge — are “sketchy” to Rives. She said in those obstacles, nothing is stationary, and competitors must be quick on their feet. “You have to be perfectly aligned, with your head and shoulders in a straight line over your feet, and you’ve gotta step right in the middle of each of those obstacles

to clear it,” Rives said. “If you’re a little bit off-balance or if your shoulders are too far forward or to one side, you’re going to fall off of it.” Rives said if she could go back to 2019 and give first-time competitor Rives advice, she would say to not be too hard on herself. “Even stepping out onto the course is a win; you don’t have to clear every single obstacle,” Rives said. “You don’t have to make it to the national finals. I think it’s a big deal to have the courage to get on the course and attempt it.” Motherhood has changed her definition of what being strong means, Rives said. “Before, I would say strong was purely a physical thing,” she said. “Now, I would say there’s a lot more to that … not just physical but also mental and emotional … I think there’s many definitions of strong and how somebody could interpret that. I think you need to have strength in multiple areas.” Rives, a physical therapist, founded Momumental Physical Therapy & Performance, a concierge women’s health practice in Cumming. There, she specializes in pelvic floor and orthopedic physical therapy, birth preparation, and personal training for women during and after pregnancy. She also offers free monthly “baby + me” classes at Bell Memorial Park. The classes focus on restorative and functional movements to rebuild core and hip strength. These low-impact movements — squats, lunges, overhead presses and glute bridges, all completed while holding a baby — can then be replicated at home. “[After pregnancy, you find] your body is changed, your body is different,” Rives said. “You go see your doctor at a six-week checkup, and they’re like, ‘OK, you’re all good to get back to exercise,’ but you don’t really know where to start. So, I wanted to create baby + me to give that experience to moms.”

Chapel of Reflections Our chapel mausoleum offers timeless options of both cremation and traditional burial. Contact us for further information on the Chapel of Reflections and our many other offerings. 950 Mansell Road, Roswell, GA 30076 770-993-4811 | www.roswellfuneralhome.com

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | September 24, 2026 | 11

Pentagon survivor shares 9/11 story at Blessed Trinity By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — For the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, U.S. Air Force veteran and federal cybersecurity adviser Kevin Carpenter made the trip from the nation’s capital to Georgia to give a message to the students of Blessed Trinity Catholic High School. The school displayed memorial flags on its lawn for each victim of the attacks and hosted a stadium run earlier that morning. Participating students ran or walked 110 flights in honor of the victims and first responders. It was Carpenter’s second time publicly telling his story of working in Wedge 1 of the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 struck that segment of the building. The first time was five years prior in the same gymnasium. “I had never spoken about it before, and then the 20th anniversary happened,” Carpenter told Appen Media. “And I remember thinking, ‘I’ve got to do something because there’s people who aren’t here to tell their stories.’ They’re being forgotten about, and it’s the weight of a giant on my shoulders.” Principal Cathy Lancaster introduced Carpenter and detailed his career path from the Air Force to the federal Office of Management and Budget as a senior cybersecurity policy adviser who assists with incident response. The OMB reports to the president and is responsible for implementing his agenda across the executive branch. “Today, Mr. Carpenter isn’t here to give us a history lesson,” Lancaster said to the crowd. “He is here to share something much more personal — what September 11th felt like through the eyes of someone who was there.” Carpenter said it was an honor to be welcomed back to the school and have the opportunity to share his story. Many students were taking in facts about the attacks they had not previously heard as Carpenter detailed the timeline of that morning at the headquarters of the Department of Defense. The Pentagon is located in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. On Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers flew a Boeing plane into the Pentagon’s western facade at 9:37 a.m., killing 184 people and sparking a fire that took days to fully extinguish. The strike came less than an hour after hijacked jetliners hit the World

ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA

Blessed Trinity Catholic High School faculty and community members stand with Kevin and Angela Carpenter, center, in front of memorial flags placed on the school’s lawn. Trade Center’s twin towers in New York, killing nearly 2,750 people and bringing down both towers. A fourth hijacked plane, United Flight 93, crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers fought to retake control from the hijackers, killing all 40 people aboard. In total, the terror attacks killed 2,977 people. Carpenter centered his message — encouraging students to take initiative with a servant’s heart — on a regret from that day: ignoring his urge to disobey orders and enter the rubble. The survivor’s guilt that followed was not something the post-9/11 Pentagon’s culture of strength had a name for, but it is what has driven Carpenter to pay it forward ever since. He also recognized the school’s memorial efforts with the nearly 3,000 flags on the lawn. Carpenter shared the stories of several victims, including Michael Gann from Roswell, as well as the story of a family with two young children, a lieutenant general, and a group of three 11-year-old students and their chaperones en route to a National Geographic marine biology field trip. When Carpenter’s speech was over, the entire gymnasium rose for a standing ovation. Students waited in line for nearly an hour to shake his hand. Carpenter said his goal in speaking with the student body was to give them “something they could walk out of this assembly with that they can use and make themselves better human beings.”

“If we can get them to go out and touch 10 more people, that’s a win,” he said. “I didn’t spend any time in anger and hate … I would like to believe that

[paying it forward] is my contribution and the legacy that [the victims] would want me to portray and convey to others.”

Sponsored Section

Skin Cancer & Mohs Surgery • Medical Dermatology Vein Care • Cosmetic Services

Honored to be Voted: Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist 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. Dr. Brent Taylor

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. Kathryn Filipek, PA-C WINNER

WINNER

2026 WINNER Best Of WINNER Best Of WINNERBest Of WINNERBest OfWINNER Of 2021 Best North 2018 North 2020 North 2023 North 2025 Atlanta Best Of Atlanta Best OfNorth Best Of Atlanta Best OfAtlantaBest Of North North North North North Atlanta AtlantaAtlanta Atlanta Atlanta Atlanta Presented By 2017

2019

2022

2024

Presented By

Odysseus and medicine in the age of Homer Brought to you by – Premier Dermatology

Insist on the BEST

Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 24 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.

September 24, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | 12

Presented By

Accepting new patients. We accept Medicare. Schedule your appointment with Premier Dermatology today. 3180 North Point Parkway, Suite 420 • Alpharetta, GA 30005 PremierDermatologyAtlanta.com • 678-345-1899

Medical science can sometimes help us step back in time and understand the past as though centuries no longer separate us. Homer's The Odyssey has received renewed attention through Christopher Nolan's recent film adaptation, providing an opportunity to revisit medicine in Homer's world. By understanding the effects of two plants—nightshade and snowdrops—modern pharmacology sheds light on one of the epic's most perplexing episodes: the transformation of Odysseus's men into swine. Christopher Nolan's adaptation includes the startling scene in which the sorceress Circe turns Odysseus's men into pigs. In Homer's original epic, Circe poisons the soldiers' drink. The god Hermes gives Odysseus an antidote in the form of a plant called Moly, described as having a black root and a white flower. Odysseus consumes the herb, drinks Circe's poisoned brew without harm, then confronts Circe and rescues his men. To modern audiences, Circe's potion seems fantastical. But to ancient listeners familiar with local plants and traditional healing, it may have suggested something far more recognizable. One influential interpretation proposes that Circe's potion was inspired by poisonous plants of the nightshade family, which profoundly affect the nervous system. Normally, the body shifts between "rest and digest" and "fight or flight" through the action of acetylcholine. Nightshade blocks acetylcholine, pushing the nervous system toward "fight or flight." In larger doses, the consequences become severe. Poisoning by nightshade produces the classic symptoms: "blind as a bat, mad as a hatter, red as a beet, hot as a hare, dry as a bone." Victims may suffer blurred vision, impaired sweating, confusion, hallucinations, and delusions. Nightshade is among history's most famous poisons, appearing in Homer, Shakespeare, and countless ancient texts. Homer's audience would likely have recognized its effects. Nightshade could leave Odysseus's men as helpless as pigs—or even convince them they were pigs. Medical historians have suggested

that Moly may have been the snowdrop (Galanthus), which has a white flower, dark roots when freshly dug up, and which contains galantamine, a compound that increases acetylcholine activity and largely counterPROVIDED acts the effects of nightshade. But snowdrops are not harmless. In excessive doses, they can slow the heart, weaken breathing, lower blood pressure, and become poisonous themselves. Only a master herbalist or a hero with Hermes as his guide could have chosen the proper balance. For ancient audiences, the story likely gained another layer of suspense now largely lost on us. They may have recognized that Moly itself was dangerous. Once Odysseus swallowed it, the clock began ticking. Odysseus had to drink Circe’s nightshade before the snowdrop killed him. The antidote became the poison, and the poison became the antidote. When Odysseus consumed Moly, ancient listeners may have experienced the same suspense we feel watching heroes race to obtain an antidote in modern films. When Odysseus swallowed one poison in preparation for another, ancient listeners, too, were likely on the edge of their seats. Almost any substance can be a medicine at one dose and a poison at another. That paradox—and the knowledge that Hermes' "gift" was both antidote and toxin—deepens our understanding of the peril Odysseus faced. Between Circe and Hermes, nightshade and snowdrops, he navigates a medicinal Scylla and Charybdis in which each plant is both poison and cure. A knowledge of ancient herbal medicine and modern pharmacology makes sense of a scene of soldiers turned into pigs and helps us appreciate a moment of tremendous danger and suspense for our great ancient hero Odysseus.

PAST TENSE

COMMUNITY

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | September 24, 2026 | 13

Celebrating 20 years of writing Past Tense In the early 2000s, I enjoyed reading the Past Tense columns of Jim Perkins in the Dunwoody Crier newspaper. He authored the column from 1994 VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF until 2006. His articles about the Columnist Hightower Trail, Roswell Railroad and history of local road names made me curious to learn more. In 2006, Dick Williams owned the Dunwoody Crier and Cathy Cobbs was managing editor. I noticed an article by Cobbs in the Crier letting readers know they needed someone to take over writing the Past Tense column. Because of health issues, Jim Perkins was retiring from his position as “unofficial historian.” He would mentor the person who took over the column. As a person who loved local history and writing, I didn’t take long to consider and put my name in the hat. One of Perkins’ article suggestions for my trial run was the history of the land where DeKalb-Peachtree Airport is located. My first Past Tense article, “DeKalb-Peachtree Airport’s past life,” was published Sept. 13, 2006. I wrote about World War I Camp Gordon and World War II Naval Air Station Atlanta, both of which were once on the land that is the airport today. Since my mom was born in DeKalb County and was interested in family and local history, I asked her what she knew about Camp Gordon. She said my paternal grandfather was sent there for training in 1918. That sparked my interest even more, and Camp Gordon became the subject I have written about most frequently over the years. I also learned the Naval Air Station was used to train reserves during the Korean War. Nick Nicodemus emailed, saying he had been stationed there and recalled the introduction of jet aircraft and the limited size of the runways. Perkins was an immense help in those early years, providing topic ideas and sharing his book and map collection with me. He always added fun to our history talks by telling a joke or two. There have been many people from the generation before mine who shared their stories growing up in the 1920s,

‘30s and ‘40s. Ken Anderson, who had a day named for him by the city of Dunwoody, was the person I relied on the most for those stories. Ken and his sisters, Carolyn and Jane, recalled the celebration at Dunwoody Grammar School when the class completed their World War II savings bond books. Carlton Renfroe remembered when electricity came to Dunwoody. His parents bought a home on Tilly Mill Road in the 1930s, but his mother would not make the move to Dunwoody from Atlanta until the road was paved and electricity was available. They moved to Dunwoody in 1941. Many people have shared their memories, family histories and photographs with me through the years. There are too many to name, but I am grateful to each one. They have helped me gather history from Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Chamblee, Brookhaven and Doraville. When I first started writing Past Tense, it seemed eventsCRABAPPLE that happened in my early life were too recent to be considered history. As time went by, subjects such as skating rinks, movie theaters, Rich’s pink pig and telephone party lines became more frequent in the Past Tense column. I know there are others who also enjoy reminiscing about these because thankfully I hear from them by email. Their memories often become part of a follow-up article. Authoring Past Tense also led to my becoming a volunteer and board member of Dunwoody Preservation Trust, where I continue to volunteer. I am now in my fourth year on the board of DeKalb History Center. Am I living in the past? Only when I research and write about local history. The rest of the time it seems crucial to try to keep up with the times, even though I am not always successful with that effort. I still love to hear stories of days gone by, watch old movies and listen to old music. Well, music from the 1960s and 1970s, not so long ago. One more thing you need to know — the photo you see today is the same one that appeared in September 2006. Somehow 20 years have gone by, but I have not aged at all.

THE ANDERSON FAMILY/PROVIDED

2023-2026

Best Family Practice

Best Internal Medicine

This 1937 photograph in front of the Carpenter home includes, left to right, Amanda Carpenter, Carolyn Andrson Parker, Lucy Carpenter Anderson holding baby Ken, Jane Anderson Autry sitting with Ambry Carpenter.

Thanks for Voting Us A COMMUNITY OF Practice CARE IN CRABAPPLE Best Family NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL A 2ND Medicine LOCATION TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD &WELCOMES Best Internal 4 Years in a Row

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. Write her at pasttensega@gmail.com. Learn more at pasttensega.com.

2026

Best Nursing Staff

A COMMUNITY OF CARE

WE OFFER A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES INCLUDING: Internal Medicine Associates Health and Wellness Care of Crabapple • Gynecology • Insomnia • Osteoporosis

• Anxiety • Chronic Fatigue • Depression • Diabetes

• Heart Disease • High Cholesterol • Hypertension

A Northside • Network • Insulin Resistance WeightProvider Gain • Metabolic Syndrome • Thyroid Disease

875 Mayfield Road Milton, GA 30004

Dr. Samantha Benson

P: 678-474-9633 Kaavya Chivukula, MD Samantha B. Benson, MD Dr.Thurs. Cheryl McGowan Johns Creek Only Johns Creek: Tues., Milton: Mon., Fri.

Yianna Manolakis, FNP-C Milton Only

Marwan Mahmoud, DO Johns Creek Only

Michelle Hall, DNP, FNP-C Johns Creek Only

Roja R. Sanikapally, MD Johns Creek Only: Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri.

Hannah Cummings, FNP-C Samantha Lewis, FNP-C Johns Creek: Tues., Thurs., Fri. Johns Creek: Tues., Thurs. Milton: Mon., Fri. Milton: Wed.

CALL TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT! Internal Medicine Associates of Crabapple 875 Mayfield Road, Building A Milton, GA 30004 678.474.9633

Internal Medicine Associates of Johns Creek 3380 Paddocks Parkway Suwanee, GA 30024 Scan to be directed to the website 678.474.9633

www.imacrabapple.com

www.imajohnscreek.com

14 | September 24, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

Our trip down the Danube – river of dreams My wife, Christina, and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary on one of those riverboat tours floating down the Danube. We started in the Czech Republic, RAY APPEN in Prague. But Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com before the boat, we celebrated with a vow renewal at our church, Alpharetta Presbyterian — a most wonderful openhearted church with broad welcoming shoulders. It was a fitting celebration of a first pass at this thing called life together, and the beginning of a second wind — looking and moving forward into the unknown. A river of dreams, then. Sometimes full of light, but other times without light — like banks of dark and threatening thunderheads wrapped in chaos. Black dogs, the old name for the darkness that settles over a person and won't lift. The light or the darkness, both reflections in a mirror. One is a point in time — "now," this hour, this minute. The other is sometimes a thousand years prior, like a matrix in concurrent but unequal layers. Since we have only limited travel experience, these nearly two weeks on the Danube with Gate 1 Travel guiding our itinerary were all new. Everything. I think we went through five countries — the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Slovakia and Hungary — ending in Budapest. The boat crew numbered about 30. We passengers were around 125. By the end, we all knew one another, and we made friends we will see again. In each city, our guides lectured as we walked and listened and tried to absorb where we were, how and why. Our guides made the trip. Their knowledge — the canvas for the paint — provided the context, the beating hearts of the humanity we witnessed. It's so different from reading about or studying history and geography, or people, from books or via lectures in a classroom. This, in contrast, was in many ways real time — see it, touch it, feel it, sense it, imagine it. Thousand-year -old churches that changed sides every few centuries or so. Narrow cobblestone streets. Church organs with thousands of pipes. Stained-glass windows of infinite color. Kings and queens, wars and empires. Plagues. All close, all almost within arm's reach. All

Ray and Christina Appen at the Lennon Wall in Prague.

PHOTOS BY: RAY APPEN/APPEN MEDIA

Our travel brought us closer to a reality that was not - and never has been - on our personal radar. It drove home that we — the US — is not the center of the universe. It helped us recognize that we are collectively one village - a village that aspires, lives, and dies the same way.” somehow personal, relevant. Our guides took us to Terezin — known to the Nazis as Theresienstadt — about 40 miles north of Prague, where we passed through iron gates to tiny cells with and without light. We walked the hard stone floors. We saw the photographs: in the ghetto, the condemned Jews awaiting transport; next door in the Small Fortress, the Gestapo's political prisoners, the Czech resistance fighters and the others who fought back or opposed. All of them chattel, crated, boxed, packaged, ready for disposal. Terezin was a "transit" concentration camp through which prisoners passed on the way to the extermination camps, including Auschwitz, Treblinka and Chelmno. It was the camp where 51 prisoners, primarily young resistance fighters in their 20s, were executed May 2, 1945, over a two-hour period — three days before the SS guards abandoned the camp and six days before Soviet troops liberated it. Karl Rahm, the last commandant of the ghetto,

was hanged in April 1947. Heinrich Jöckel, who ran the adjoining Small Fortress, was hanged in October 1946. Walking through Terezin was chilling. We saw things made of stone and steel, as well as ideas made from values and faith. And we saw the spoils of those who won and those who lost — the things that obscured, the cataracts of history. We just had no idea. We were blindsided by Hungary, where we spent a day touring the shelters, the bunkers, the radiation-proof underground escapes that were everywhere in Budapest. Today, we listen to the news about the war in Ukraine daily; we all do, I think. There are the wars in Iran and Gaza, too. But those wars, and that trauma for all the humanity involved, stay remote, out of reach, impersonal — and almost not real. The shelters we experienced in Budapest erased much of that distance for us. Many of the bunkers in Budapest were built during World War II. Some were large enough to hold 20,000

Plzen, also known in English and German as Pilsen, is a city in the Czech Republic people for weeks, if not months. Many others were built during the Cold War of the 1950s and '60s in anticipation of a nuclear war. There were bunkers for the military and civilian leaders, and they tended to be better equipped. There were bunkers for the general population. Underground hospitals, schools, kitchens, power stations, food storage, living quarters, water storage and systems and dining halls. We spent more than an hour in one of the bunkers, going through it room by room. What made these bunkers so powerful to me was twofold. No. 1: the sheer quantity of the shelters. Our guide told us Budapest alone has an estimated 3,000 shelters today, with the capacity to hold about 490,000 people. No. 2: the bunkers and shelters, especially those built during the Cold War, are only roughly 60 to 70 years old. That is, this "way of life" — this living in the shadow of a probable nuclear war, as evidenced by the bunkers — is, or was, so real and so much a part of life, especially for baby boomers in Budapest and Hungary, today. Our travel brought us closer to a reality that was not - and never has been - on our personal radar. It drove home that we — the US — is not the center of the universe. It helped us recognize that we are collectively one village - a village that aspires, lives, and dies the same way.

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | September 24, 2026 | 15

VISIT THE APPEN MEDIA STORE Support local journalism by visiting appenmediastore.com – every purchase directly funds the vital work of the Appen Media newsroom.

SHOP AT APPENMEDIASTORE.COM AND SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM

16 | September 24, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

OPINION

How lasagna gardening saved my 81-year-old back I am too old to dig! After turning 81 this year, I have realized that digging garden beds is just about over for me. However, I still want to create new garden beds. For those with JUDY PEACOCK similar physical Guest Columnist limitations, I found a solution: lasagna gardening, also known as sheet-compost gardening. This is a “no-dig” gardening method. One area of my yard needed definition. I wanted to create a bed of various shrubs and flowers. But when I attempted to dig holes, I found that previous owners had put gravel there and grass had grown over it. Every hole I tried to dig was like excavating into cement. So, I thought a berm would be the solution, but building a berm would require a lot of soil. Upon doing some research, I discovered the concept of lasagna beds, which use layers of different compostable materials to build rich soil. Here is the process to implement a lasagna bed: • Clear the area: Remove large weeds and tall grasses from the footprint of your future bed. • Lay down cardboard: Gather enough cardboard to cover the entire spot. You can also use five to six layers of black-and-white newspaper. Avoid sections with color print. The cardboard smothers the grass and weeds, gradually breaks down to add carbon to the soil, and creates a cool, dark place for earthworms to congregate. Wetting the cardboard down helps hold it in place, but it is not required. • Add woody debris: Collect and cover the cardboard with fallen twigs and dead branches found around your property. • Layer the green waste: Collect grass clippings and add them to the pile. If your lawn has been treated with chemical herbicides, do not use the clippings. You can also mix kitchen scraps and coffee grounds directly into this layer. • Finish with topsoil: The final layer is made up of bags of topsoil and compost. Essentially, you are building a large compost pile shaped directly into a planting bed. A successful sheet-compost system relies on a specific ratio of three key components: • Two-thirds brown material (carbon): This includes cardboard, newspaper,

BECK DIAMOND/PROVIDED

A chart showing the layers in lasagna gardening. Come visit us at the Alpharetta Farmers Market and the Sandy Springs Farmers Market. We will also have a booth at the Crabapple Festival in Milton on October 3rd 2026

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Judy Peacock, a master gardener for fifteen years. A former resident of Atlanta now retired and living in Ellijay, GA., she graduated from the University of Georgia majoring in Art Education and has volunteered at the High Museum of Art in the Department of Children’s Education. Judy loves gardening and composing flower arrangements. She is a member of the Speakers Bureau of the North Fulton Master Gardeners.

shredded paper, dead leaves, straw, twigs, small sticks, wood ash or sawdust. • One-third green material (nitrogen): This includes untreated grass clippings, plant cuttings free of disease, and kitchen scraps like coffee grounds, eggshells, fruits and vegetables. Avoid meat or animal fats, which attract pests. • Water and air: Microorganisms need oxygen to breathe and water to digest materials. The pile must remain consistently moist, like a wrung-out sponge, but never soggy. Composting begins when microorganisms feed on the materials added to the compost pile. They use carbon and nitrogen to grow and reproduce, water to digest materials and oxygen to breathe.

Lasagna bed gardens supports plants and shrubs.

bed to continue to build the soil. As the various elements break down into soil, I will top-dress with compost as I would any of my garden beds. And again, cover the bed in pine straw to tidy it up. Best of all, as I age, I can keep creating new gardens without the backbreak. By letting nature's decomposers do the heavy lifting, lasagna gardening allows you to expand your landscape easily, one layer at a time. Happy Gardening!

Planting and maintenance You can start a lasagna garden anytime, but the best time is in the fall, when brown leaves are abundant. Try to make the entire pile at least 3 feet tall since it will shrink to half that size as everything starts to decompose. Covering the pile with a tarp or black plastic helps prevent weed seeds from germinating, keeps heavy rains from washing away nutrients and traps heat to speed up the breakdown.

When I was ready to plant, I added additional compost to each hole I dug as total breakdown had not yet occurred. The decomposition process is complete when the layers are indistinguishable. It typically takes six months to one year. I now have a pink weigela, pink quince and a viburnum growing nicely in this bed. I also added some bulbs and a pink Japanese anemone. I mulched the whole bed in pine straw. This fall, when the leaves begin to drop, I will sweep them into the

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/.

JUDY PEACOCK/PROVIDED

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | September 24, 2026 | 17

Pup: Continued from Page 1 “There were balls, lots of balls,” Nyzio said. “Everyone is so friendly. All the vendors have a ton of treats. It’s just like the perfect thing on a Saturday.” Under the pavilion, Sarah Brasington spent the day selling dog treats out of her Ballpark Biscuits stand. She said she was happy to give out free samples to passing dogs, who eagerly obliged. The homemade treats were made with real ingredients like whole wheat flour, peanut butter and a “touch” of cinnamon. Brasington said dogs, like humans, can taste when a treat is made with love and care. Some dogs lingered around her table hoping for seconds. “They eat them up, and they want more,” she said, smiling. The festival also was host to local nonprofit organizations, some of which were hoping to find homes for rescued dogs. LifeLine Animal Project showed off several pups from their shelter, including L yric who had been at the shelter since July. LifeLine operates with Fulton and DeKalb counties’ animal shelters in an effort to find owners for surrendered and stray pets. Brantlee Vickers, offsite events manager, said she was eagerly telling passersby about the nonprofit’s volunteer opportunities and events. They offer an adopt for a day program. “You can literally just check a dog out, like a library book, and take them out of the shelter just to give them a break,” she said. Vickers said she and her nonprofit are dedicated to their work because every dog is worth saving. “She deserves it,” Vickers said, looking at L yric. “They all deserve it. They all deserve to have a loving home.”

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

Lyric, an adoptable dog, enjoys a day out with LifeLine Animal Project at Pup-a-Palooza at Newtown Park on Sept. 19.

Locally Owned and Operated

• Pre-planning • Grief Support • Funeral Services • Veteran Services • Cremation Services

Built for memories, for community made Built for memories, made for community.

Built for memories, Built for memories, for made forcommunity. community. made

770-645-1414

info@northsidechapel.com www.northsidechapel.com

North Fulton’s Only On-Site Crematory 12050 Crabapple Road • Roswell, GA 30075 T:\Obits Death Notices\2026 Death Notices

DEATH NOTICES

We’re proud to introduce our new celebration of life center, unlike anything else in the Atlanta area.

We’re proud to celebration introduce our new celebration We’re proud to introduce our new of life center, unlike anything else in the anything Atlanta area. else in the Atlanta a unlike

> Cremations > Funerals

> new Cremations > Funerals of >> Life Celebrations We’re proud to introduce>our celebration life center, Life Celebrations Grief Support > Cremations > Funerals > Life Celebra > Griefin support > Catered area. events > Veteran services unlike anything else the Atlanta > Catered Events > Grief support > Catered events > Vetera > Cremations > Funerals > Celebrations > Life Veteran Services

South Forsyth Memorial Chapel

> Grief support > Catered events > Veteran services

South Forsyth Memoria South Forsyth Memorial Chapel

James Exparza, age 91, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on September 7, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

LuAnn Gumkowski, age 73, of Roswell, GA passed away on September 15, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Clement Pereira, age 81, of We’re proud to3545 Peachtree Pkwy | Suwanee, GA 30024 introduce our new celebration of life center For information on preplanning, call 470-375-1192 or visit SouthForsythChapel.com. Roswell, GA passed away unlike anything else in the Atlanta area. on September 7, 2026. 3545 Peachtree Pkwy | Suwanee, GA 3 Arrangements by Northside > Cremations > Peachtree Funerals > Life Celebrations 3545 Pkwy. For information on preplanning, call 470-375-1192 or visit South Chapel Funeral Directors & Peachtree Pkwy | Suwanee, GA 30024 3545 > Grief supportSuwanee, > Catered GA events > Veteran services 30024 Crematory. For information on preplanning, call 470-375-1192 or visit SouthForsythChapel.com.

Karen Freeman, age 87, of Milton, GA passed away on September 14, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Pauline Hahn, age 97, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on September 13, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Tyler Preston, age 30, of call 470-375-1192 or visit Roswell, GA passed away SouthForsythChapel.com. on September 9, 2026. Arrangements by Northside 3545 Peachtree Pkwy | Suwanee, GA 30024 Chapel Funeral Directors & For information on preplanning, call 470-375-1192 or visit SouthForsythChapel.co Crematory.

Whole life insurance and annuities underwritten by Forethought Life Insurance Company, Indianapolis, IN.

For information on preplanning,

Whole life insurance and annuities underwritten by Forethought Life Insurance Company, Indianap

South Forsyth Memorial Chap Whole life insurance and annuities underwritten by Forethought Life Insurance Company, Indianapolis, IN.

Whole life insurance and annuities underwritten by Forethought Life Insurance Company, Indianapolis, IN.

18 | September 24, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

Budget: Continued from Page 1 Skinner said the process failed to reach enough compromise and needed more focus on essential infrastructure. “We have to pass a budget, but it should be about compromise,” Skinner said. Erramilli said he was satisfied with about 90% of the budget but wished to see ongoing projects completed before new ones were undertaken. “We just ended up spending about $15 million buying two parcels of land and one building; that weighed very heavily on me when there are so many things we need to do and address,” he said. Local option sales tax (34.3%) and property tax (28.2%) make up the majority of the city’s revenue. Personnel is the city’s largest expenditure, with a little more than 70% of the general fund allocated to city staff. The budget also provides funding for four unfunded police officer and two fire recruit positions, police specialized and shift differential pay, and fire department relief pay for apparatus users. On the civilian side of staffing, the budget cre-

Flock: Continued from Page 2 “We want to make sure that we are prepared, that we’ve made smart decisions, and we have trained to be ready to respond,” Looney said in a 2022 interview with Atlanta News First. Police chief says cameras support investigations Fulton County Schools Police Chief Mark Sulborski provided a statement on Thursday in light of the petition. “Fulton County Schools installed Flock cameras at Alpharetta HS and across the district in 2022. The cameras

Diaz: Continued from Page 6 She said she does not want her team to define themselves by their mistakes and that she is proud of how they uplift each other. “They have so much fun when they win, so I push that on them,” Diaz said. “But I don’t sit here and harp on them for how many losses they have and how many wins they have. I just want to see them grow as people and as players.” The match against Alpharetta ended in a sweep, but the Knights improved their point total by more than 10 compared to last year’s meeting. The second set, which ended 25-21, was especially back and forth, with Centennial leading at times. Alpharetta has a new look this year, coming off a loss to Walton in the title

ates a new facilities department directed by a new position called facilities manager. The department will have four other employees, all transfers from other units. One other new position, stormwater grants coordinator and inspector, has also been added; this role falls under public works. This year, the city begins numerous new initiatives, including obtaining a tethered drone and a new public safety response vehicle and the replacement of a fire engine and 14 police vehicles. New parks projects include funding for a recreation center, planning and engineering for a trail connection from Town Center to Cauley Creek Park, Newtown Park synthetic turf replacement, trail maintenance, retaining wall rehabilitation, and tennis and pickleball court lights. The budget also includes a new pond dredging grant initiative and funding for a second year of a stormwater grant program. That program helps residents with expertise and matching funding to fix and prevent stormwater problems through a points-based award system. Bradberry said that approach was a novel one intended to support property owners by threading a narrow needle of state law. “It’s probably unlike any program that any city in Georgia is doing,” he said.

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK/PROVIDED

The Johns Creek City Council votes on the fiscal year 2027 budget during its Sept. 14 meeting. The new budget passed 5-2.

are now located at all FCS schools and facilities and have supported a variety of safety and investigative matters,” Sulborski said. “Flock cameras are only one component of the district’s comprehensive safety strategy, but they provide an important additional layer of security around the exterior of our campuses. They help our police department identify vehicles connected to potential threats, criminal activity, missing or endangered individuals, and other investigations while supporting our broader goal of protecting students, employees and visitors,” Sulborski said. “FCS has an established audit protocol to ensure the technology is used

appropriately and for authorized public safety purposes,” Sulborski said. Earlier this year, following a shooting outside Palmetto Elementary School, school police used Flock cameras on campus, which helped identify and locate the suspect within hours of the shooting. “Even if they’ve helped in investigations, the cons outweigh the pros,” said Manchanda.

game last season and two back-to-back 6A championships the years before that. They hired Georgia State volleyball alumna Jordan Screen to fill Diaz’s absence. The team had received news before the season began that star outside hitter Leilani Lamar would not be available after sustaining multiple injuries during the club season. Lamar is ranked as the No. 2 player in the junior class and committed to the University of Pittsburgh in June. With a younger team compared to past years, the two seniors on the squad have stepped up in major ways. Bella Thompson, who played right side for the Raiders last year, has moved into the role of outside hitter at the advisement of Coach Screen, who also played right side and outside hitter in her college career. Fellow senior Ava Tillman serves as a team captain with Thompson. Thompson reflected on playing against her former coach.

“We still love [Coach Diaz], and it was a really great game,” Thompson told Appen Media. “She’s great competition; it was really fun to see her again.” Alpharetta is focused on rebounding after a tournament brought an eligibility issue to a head. One of their new players was identified as having “pending” eligibility, requiring the team to forfeit their first seven wins. All members of the Alpharetta roster are now deemed eligible to compete by the Georgia High School Association. Co-head coach Elizabeth Margeson explained how they are recovering from the miscommunication. “[We’re] definitely building resilience with a young team,” she said. Screen said every challenge is an opportunity. “I love a young team,” she said. “They’re hungry, they’re ready to learn and they have a ton of energy. I think people are

Students plan to bring petition to principal The students said public safety should not come at the cost of public privacy. They said they hope their effort brings change to schools across Fulton County and beyond.

“Hopefully if we start with our campus, it can spread to the wider Alpharetta and hopefully the rest of the United States, and we can get more regulation on these kinds of cameras,” Jones said. Students have also raised concerns about who has access to the camera footage. The district did not specify who has access to the footage but said it audits the system to ensure it is being used appropriately. The two students plan to continue gathering signatures and hope to bring the petition to their principal within the next week. Appen Media partner Atlanta News First published this story Sept. 3. underestimating Alpharetta because we graduated a lot of important pieces, but I’m excited to show them how resilient they are and how important defense is.” Margeson also highlighted defense as a highlight of this year’s squad. Sophomore outside Sydney Taylor led the team, posting 22 digs and 14 kills. The Raiders are headed into three region matchups against Milton, Johns Creek and Riverwood, then an upcoming tournament Sept. 26. They will wrap up their regular season Oct. 1 with a tri-match against rivals Cartersville and Marist. Centennial has two region matches left, against St. Pius X and Chattahoochee, and five non-region matchups, with two coming against St. Francis. If they can pull off an upset on a region team, perhaps Chattahoochee who has just one more win in-region, they will have an opportunity to improve upon last season’s 11-19 finish.

Puzzles

Dunwoody Crier 9/10/26 Connect-It

Connect-It

Johns Creek Herald .....................September 24, 2026 | 19

Dunwoody Crier 9/10/26 Crossword

Across

1 Figure out 6 Ice cover 11 Bawl 14 Bay window 15 Dog-___ 16 Hasten 17 Falling stock prices, at times 19 Belief 20 Sphere 21 Pick up the tab 22 Evita role 23 ___ gin ﬁzz 25 Soft leather 28 Boy 31 Cockpit reading (Abbr.) 32 Honey maker 33 Self-image 34 Walk through wet snow 37 Wedding rings 40 Harbor boats 42 G.I. entertainers 43 Stir up 44 18-wheelers 46 ___ cotta 49 Altdorf is its capital 50 Broke bread 51 Nurse a drink 52 Asian holiday 53 Medical image 57 1961 space chimp 59 ___ Baba 60 Heart valves 62 French possessive 65 Apart (Preﬁx) 66 Certain sweaters

17 20 23 29

50 54

55 60

4 39

56 61

62 67

Creators

64 68

8 Mountain nymph 9 Brawl 10 Six-pointers, for short 11 Back down from a ﬁght 12 Hindu sage 13 Red Sea land 18 Coral reef 24 ___ Tunas, Cuba 26 Abate 27 Scorch 28 Permits 29 Chills and fever 30 Zealots 35 Compass pt. 36 Roughhousing

9/10/26 Kakuro PuzzleJu How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle Dunwoody above has Crier three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is 1. first Pooh creator. Nervous. Tempest. the 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 Kakuro, alsoLittle known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, a crossword grid. The rules are easy: 2. Resting place. English race place. Lulu for 3 answers on thepuzzle, line. Buteach here’s the catch! The clues are creator. not in order - so the first clue in Line solved 1 mayin(or may not) style actually To the solve the Sudoku row, column and 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 lin be the second or the thirdnumbers answer in1that line. Got it? Good luck! boxformust contain to of 9. 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 3. Not crazy. Addy Capp creator. Former spouses. 4. School assignment. Frost. Popeye creator.

1 See 11 Across 2 Creme cookie 3 Yarn spinner 4 Action words 5 Stately tree 6 Uncover through investigation 7 Gardening tool

Down

1. Pooh creator. Nervous. Tempest. 2. Resting place. English race place. Little Lulu creator. 3. Not crazy. Addy Capp creator. Former spouses. 4. School assignment. Frost. Popeye creator. 5. Dracula creator. Burden of proof. Ready to pick. 6. Large sword. Out for the night. Garfield creator. 7. Sherlock Holmes creator. Ballet attire. Everglades wader. PuzzleJunction.com

Dunwoody Crier 9/10/26 Sudoku7 58

69 Rodent 70 On the briny 71 Eagle’s home 72 Sharp curve 73 Microscopic 74 Feather

CREATORS

Each line in the puzzle below has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 5, 5 and 4 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

PuzzleJunction.com

38 Calamitous 39 Buttonhole, e.g. 41 Grabs a chair 45 Dry, as wine 47 Wash cycle 48 G.I.’s address 53 Inner circle 54 Assumed name 55 Critical 56 Hospital ﬁgure 58 Girder material 61 British gun 63 Beige 64 Remove cream 66 Make lace 67 40 winks 68 Behold

65. Dracula creator. Burden of proof. Ready to pick. 6. Large sword. Out for the night. Garfield creator. 97. Sherlock Holmes creator. 3 7 Ballet attire. 1 Everglades 5 wader. 3 4 5 1 3 8 6 9 7 5 1 2 5 4 3 2 4 How to Solve: Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. 7 1 The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a Copyright ©2026 PuzzleJunction.com

See puzzle solutions on Page 20

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

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.

Solution

Is Your Company Hiring? Solution

6 9 5 7 4 1 3 2 8

1 2 7 3 6 8 9 4 5

3 4 8 2 5 9 6 1 7

5 6 1 9 3 2 7 8 4

4 3 9 5 8 7 2 6 1

8 7 2 6 1 4 5 3 9

7 8 6 1 9 3 4 5 2

2 1 3 4 7 5 8 9 6

9 5 4 8 2 6 1 7 3

Submit your opening at appenmedia.com/hire

6 9 5

20 | September 24, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

1 5 SOLUTIONS Solution 3 4 1 Join today 8 3 for $16/month 9 7 6 PuzzleJunction.com 10/26 Kakuro 5 2 1 DC Aiken Big Sky Franchise Team David & Michelle Bertany 5 4 3 MaryAnne Browne Amour & Duane Carthy Scott Childress 2 4 7Connect-It1 Solution 3 7

C R Y F R O S T S O L V E H I E E A R E D O R I E L I S M B E A R M A R K E T S C H E T R E A T O R B D O E S K I N S L O E B E E A L T L A D B A N D S S L O S H E G O R O I L U S O T U G S U R I T E R R A S E M I S T grid. The rules are easy: A number T E style S I inPa crossword E puzzle, solved A Tnumber Cross Sums, is a challenging S of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum E toNtheOright A Nsquares C white of the T S A sum e in a black square Cis the S can only be used once in any sequence. the sequence below P S1 to 9, TandEa digit S digits U the I may onlyCuse A it.L You PuzzleJunction.com /17/26 Connect-It T U R T L E N E C K S D I S A E R I E A T S E A R A T P L U M E T E E N Y E S S

Support Local News Join Appen Press Club CHARTER MEMBER Adam Corder Patrick Cressaty Lindsay DeFranco Robert Flint Robin Fricton Zachary Hahn

2 A S C O T O M B U E L L 3 S M Y T H E X E S A N E 4 S E G A R I M E S S A Y

Barbara Anderson Kerry Arias Scott Baynton Joseph Bell Rita Brown SM Buscher Mark Casas

David Conti Theodore Davis III Maureen Drumm Charlcie Forehand Aileen Horton Deborah Jackson David Johnson

Solution

7 D O Y L E G R E T U T U

6 9 5 7 4 1 3 2 8

9 5 4 8 2 6 1 7 3

Kim Truett Roger Wise Jr. Colt Whittall

Ali Mahbod Richard Matherly Evan McElroy Vickie McElroy Anne Peer Helen Perry Mary Phelps

Jennifer Phillippi Robert Popp Dave Rhinehart Sergey Savin Heather Sawyer Kate Seng Karen Shih

Christina Singleton Bob Stevens Kimberly Verska Carol Williams

Rebecca Donlan James Dorsey Tom Driscoll Michael Dudgeon Jeanette Dummer DutchCrafters Amish Furniture Thomas Edmonds William Edmundson Denise Eicher Mim Eisenberg Danny Elkins Su Ellis Grady Evans Leslie Ann Everett Steve Fabian Carol Fain Martha Fasse Nell & Doug Fernandez Renai Fitzpatrick Daniel Fleck Lee Fleck Laura Floyd Andrew Flynn Cathy Flynn Paul Folger Adrienne Fontaine Mary Ford Nanci Foster Amy Frederick Kelly Frommer Carol Fry Tim Fulton

Andrew Garner Tracey Ganesh Steve Garrett Daniel Gay Matthew Geller John Gibbs John Gilberto Leslie Gilliam Bailey & Ryan Gladysz Michelle Glotzbach Harvey Goldberg Christopher Goodrich Jim Gray Ralph Griffin Rihard Griffiths Elaine Gwynn Carolyn Hall Marilee Hamilton Susan Hanna Marion Hannah Chris Harrell Roxanne Hazen Penn Hodge Dianne & Steffan Holmquist Joan Hostetter Julie Hostetter Krista Howland Austin Hughes Jason Hunyar Jacqueline Hursh Barbara Hurt-Simmons Susan Huss

MEMBER

5 O N U S T O K E R I P E 6 A B E D A V I S A B E R

Bruce Paulk Ross & Lori Ramsey Sarah Reiter Mark Rundle Matthew Sayle Lynn Thomas

MEMBER+

I L N E D G Y 1 S T O R M PuzzleJunction.com

Allison January Michael Kenig Roderick Liptrot Bob Meyers Claude Nardy Cliff Oxford

Carl Abernathy Bruce Ackley Salpi Adrouny Alpharetta Lions Club Omar Altalib Dave Altman Ron Altman Joel Alvis American Legion Post 201 Ken Amos Alice & Dr. Richard Appen Stewart Applbaum Gaye Armstrong Mary Asbury Marcus Ashworth Amy Auffant Bonnie Avera Carolyn Axt Bangkok Boxing LLC Sandra Balmer Shannon Banna Beth Barnes Michael Baron Janet Bass Caitlin Bates Jannet Bauer Barbara Bauschka Miriam Beattie Kathy Beck Laura Bentley William Bentley Steve Berman

Leslie Berry Tom Billings Caroline Blackmon Tochie Blan Ron Boddicker Jodi Bogen JoAnn Bogner Sherri Bolles-Rogers Katherine Bolt Helen Borland Debra Bowen Joe Bowen Kenneth Bowman David Boy Ryan Brainard Mark Brandus Mel Brannen Amy Bratten Carol Bright Linda Brill Dorothy Brouhard Mary Anne Brown Erendira Brumley Zack Buchanan Lee Buechele Bernhard Burgener Alvin Burrell Mike & Theresa Buscher Mary Busman Clea Calloway Jean Campbell Kirk Canaday

James Carr Bridgette Carter William Carter William Cartwright Linda & Frank Catroppa Pat Check Virginia Christman Adam Cleveland Ann Coaloa Kim Coggins Michael Cohen Kathleen Cohen Evelyn Collazo Jeffery Conn Michael Mackenzie Communications Joan Compton Kathleen Cook Carol Cookerly Terri Coons Sarah Cox Cynthia Crawford Rhonda Cude Connie Cunningham Christopher Cupit Bart Dean David Dean Duane DeBruler Marilyn DeCusati Kathleen DeMartino Nancy Diamond Sarah Donehoo

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.

Scan QR code to join the Appen Press Club

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | September 24, 2026 | 21

Support Local News Join Appen Press Club

Join today for $16/month

MEMBER (CONT.) Paul Huth Jeffrey Hyde J. Craig Inman Sandra Jacobs Susan Jacques Lynn Johnson Tyler Jones Zach Jones Patricia Kachur Amy Kanderis Arthur Kebanli Laura Keck Mark Kelly Nancy Kennell Randall Kent Carol Kerr Sally Klaskala Allison Kloster Dyna Kohler Brett Koutnik Larry Krueger Jess & Chris Kysar Malinda Lackey Sarah Lamm Daniel Lashinsky Richard Lapin Christine Law Brandon Leach Dennis Lee Ken Leffingwell Carol Lehan Melissa Libby

Bonnie Lind Francia Lindon Karen Lippert Harlan Little Jarrett Long Ross Long Kyser Lough Rita Loventhal Jerry Lucas Brenda Lundy Harry Lutz Rita Loventhal Karen Magill Freda Manning-Rumph Hilbert Margol Julie Martin Linda & Todd Martinez Carla Masecar Valerie Matthews Theresea Mattioli William Maxwell Nicole Mayer Rachel McCord Austin McCully Diane McDonald Evan McElroy Karen McEnerny Jack McGinnis Lynn McIntyre Mike McLoughlin Margaret McManus Jay O’ Meara

Celia Mendez Jennifer Mendoza Dan Merkel Al Merrill Chris Miller Christine Miller Patricia Miller Milton Animal Hospital George Mobley Joe Modica Fred Moeller Sarah Moen Catherine Moore Ralph Moore Carol Morgan Kathy Morgan Stu Moring Karen Mowery Leslie Mullis Donna Murphy Jack Murphy Aileen Nakamura George Nathan Caroline Naughton Richard Nichols Cindy Nolan North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. Carol & Carl Obenland Tricia Novarro Bob O’Brien Martha O’Brien Jay O’Meara

THE FUTURE OF LOCAL NEWS

Diana O’Sullivan Anne Pappas Lynn Pennington Jonathan Peters Kurt & Leslie Phillips Mary & Jan Phillips James Potts Debra Powell Seth Price Joyce Provissiero Chuck Pugh Douglas Quat Patricia Rackliffe Robert Radloff Raj Rajagopalan Pankaj Rajankar Ashwin Ramaswami Cheryl Rand Manu Rao James Rasmussen Paula Rattray Lori Rausch Jean Rearick Joseph Reed Scarlett Reynolds Righteous PR Angie Rigney Sean Riley Neil Robertson Rory Robichaux Kimberly Robinson Matt Rohs

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.

Kim Romaner Courtney Rozear Fran Russell Janet Sandberg Carolina Santos Kelly Sarmiento Fran Schefer Derek Scheidt Dorothy Scherr Stephanie Schniederjan The Schoenblum Family Robert Scholz Robert Schreiner Stephanie Schuette Susan Searles Frances Segars Tracy Shealy Tina Shelton Lisa Shippel Steve Short Tom Simon Cindy Simpson Robert Singleton Faye Sklar Mitchel Skyer Judith Slaughter Andy Smith Lee Smith Tia Solh Morris Soriano Heidi Sowder Gena Spears

Donald Spencer Melissa Spencer Jordan Spivack Jan Stephens Judith Stewart Wesley Stewart Cathryn Stovall Celeste Strohl Diana Sullivan Andy Sumlin Kathy Swahn Carol Tall Mike Tasos Candice Teichert The Small Business Advisor Suzanne & Bob Thomas William Tietjen Lisa Tilt Michael Townes Trunnion LLC Matthew Tyser Edward Votta Linda Wabler Ollie Wagner Lewis Walker Elizabeth Waller Valerie Walters-Gold Ann Marie Warning Terry Warnke Jonathan Washburn Michael Watson Deborah Weiss

Michael Weiss Herbert Wells Benjamin Wemberly Beverly Whisenant Sally White Thom White Umpika White Mae Whiteside Ashley Whitt Jennifer Wieland Christine Williams Jamie Wimberly Jonathan Winkie Nancy & Dave Wistrand Kalle Wood Theresa Woolridge Laura Wysong Jonathan Young

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. Scan QR codeto join the Appen Press Club

22 | September 24, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

T:\ADS_2026\Appen Ads\Did This Catch Your Eye

Did this ad catch your eye? Then imagine the MONSTROUS number of other readers that noticed it too! Advertise your products and services in our newspapers and get noticed by our 285,000 readers every week in North Atlanta.* CONTACT YOUR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE TODAY! 770-442-3278

ink

Decaturish 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009 | AppenMedia.com *Based on total circulation of 114,000 homes delivered x 2.5 readers per home (newspaper industry standard).

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | September 24, 2026 | 23

Full-time Lead Java Developer, GIS, HQ: Cumming, GA Design, develop & maintain enterprise level apps; work from hm ofc anywhere in US; BS or foreign equiv in CS or clsly rel.; 5 yrs rel. exp; $152,131; resume & cvr ltr to: CJ@global-it-solutions.net. Lead System Engineering needed by AT&T Services, Inc., in Alpharetta, GA responsible for translating the core architecture for business requirements into the final technical solution (consisting of platform, network, software, cloud, etc.) through functional, performance, and reliability analysis using engineering models and techniques, primarily through software development throughout the vertical stack. 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-118679.

T:\ADS_2025\Appen Media Group\Filler Ads\ Shop, Eat, Read Local

SHOP LOCAL EAT LOCAL READ LOCAL

Part-time

Architectural Project Lead (Suwanee, GA) Prep drawings & construction docs. REQ: Master’s Deg in Architecture or Construction mgmt + 12 mos of exp in architectural project lead/coord’n. Mail resume to Sung Chung, N-Gineers LLC, 450 Old Peachtree Rd NW, Ste 201, Suwanee, GA 30024.

Part-time

CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER WANTED Established Milton/Alpharetta exercise studio specializing in SuperSlow training, serving mature clientele. Exhibit enthusiasm for teaching and coaching. All sessions are by appointment. Friendly, professional team environment. Onboarding provided. Luis 404-545-1443.

SERVICE DIRECTORY Electricians

Belco Electric

“Family Owned Since 1972” Fast Dependable Service by Professional Uniformed Electricians

Check out our new website:

770-455-4556 BelcoInc.com

and follow us on:

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR (Part-Time) Alpharetta Presbyterian Church Seeking an organized, detail-oriented professional to support church operations and staff. Position is 2025 hours per week, M-F, on-site. Responsibilities include: • Human resources administration and staff support • Church operational and administrative functions • Technology systems coordination and support • Insurance, compliance, and records management • Vendor and contractor administration To apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter to alpharettajobopening@gmail.com

Qualifications: • Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree required • Strong computer and organizational skills • Experience in office administration, operations management, HR, or related field preferred • Excellent communication skills and ability to maintain confidentiality • Successful criminal records/child abuse background check required

Equal Opportunity Employer.

Herald Headlines:

northfulton.com/newsletters

Home Cleaning/Organizing Move in, move outs, one time or monthly cleanings, clean out a room, need some organizing? CALL Tracey Wood @ 470-779-9981

To place a classified ad, email classifieds@appenmedia.com. Deadline is Thursdays by 3pm

Your North Atlanta News & Podcast Source AppenMedia.com

NATIONAL ADVERTISING Autos Wanted Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398

Health & Fitness

Home Services

No more cleaning gutters. Guaranteed! LeafFilter backed by no-clog guarantee & lifetime warranty. Call 1-833-610-1936 to schedule FREE inspection/ estimate. Get 15% off your entire order. Military & Seniors get additional 10% off. Limited time. Restrictions apply, see rep for details.

Aging roof? New homeowner? Storm damage? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. 877-461-0698 Have Bath & shower updates in as zip code ready when calling! little as 1 day! Affordable prices Water damage cleanup & - No payments for 18 months! restoration: A small amount of Lifetime warranty & professional water can lead to major damage installs. Senior & military discounts in your home. Our trusted available. 1-877-543-9189 professionals do repairs to protect your family & home value! 877318-6832. Have zip code ready!

Dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400+ procedures. Real dental insurance - not just a discount plan. Get your free Information Kit with details! 1-855-526-1060 Prepare for power outages www.dental50plus.com/ads today with a Generac Home #6258 Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-855-948-6176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

Miscellaneous

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405 Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as 1-day. Limited time, waving all installation costs! Additional terms apply. Subject to change & vary by dealer. Ends soon. 844-501-3208

Home break-ins take less than 60 seconds. Don’t wait! Protect your family, home, Wesley Financial Group, assets now for as little as 70¢/ LLC timeshare cancellation day! 877-907-0316 experts over $50 million timeshare debt/fees cancelled Need cash quickly? We buy in 2019. Free info package. houses in any condition. Get a Free consultations. Over 450 fair cash offer within 24 hours! positive reviews. 833-308-1971 Call today. Liz Buys Houses: 833-359-4707

MobileHelp America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! Call 1-888-489-3936

Reach millions of homes nationwide with one easy, affordable buy in the ADS Network! For more information www.communitypublishers.com/ category/all-products

Consumer Cellular - same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees free activation. All plans feature unlimited talk & text, starting at just $20/mo. Call 1-877-751-0866

Pest control: Protect your home from pests safely. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders & more. Locally owned &affordable. For service or inspection today! 877-916-2103 Have zip code ready!

Inflation is at 40 year highs. Interest rates are way up. Credit cards. Medical bills. Car loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call National Debt Relief and find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! Free quote: Call 1-844-955-4930 TOP DOLLAR PAID for old vintage guitars! Gibson, Fender, Martin, Grecsch, Rickenbacker, Epiphone, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. Call 866-433-8277

Professional lawn service: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Free quote. Ask about first application special! 877-484-8583 Peace of mind & early detection-Now more than ever, it’s important to get screened for Stroke & Cardiovascular Disease risk. Life LineScreening is simple & painless. 833-970-4172

SunSetter. America’s Number One Awning! Instant shade at the touch of a button. Transform your deck or patio into an outdoor oasis. Up to10year limited warranty. Save $350 today! 855-914-1148

End your tax worries today. Let us make your tax problem our priority. Scared, stuck with high tax amounts? Our A+ tax professionals can help. Free consultation. Priority Tax 855-959-2267

24 | September 24, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

BONUS TRADE-IN FOR 20% MORE

WE BUY GOLD & JEWELRY EVERY DAY GOLD, SILVER, PLATINUM, DIAMONDS & MORE!

SELLER’S BONUS!

Receive an Extra 20% VALUE TOWARDS IN-STORE PURCHASE * Have Jewelry or Sterling that is Just Sitting Around?

Let’s turn that into cash or new jewelry! JEWELRY & PRECIOUS METALS Gold, Silver & Platinum New, Used & Damaged Estate Jewelry Dental Gold Sterling Silver Flatware

Watches

Coins & Currency

DIAMONDS & GEMS

Diamond Jewelry 3ct+ Natural Diamonds Color (Ruby, Emerald & Sapphire)

Gemstone Jewelry

Loose Diamonds

ROLEX & LUXURY WATCHES LUXURY BRANDS

Tiffany, Cartier, Van Cleef, etc.

COINS & GOLD BULLION

Sterling Silver Flatware

By Appointment Only. Please call (770) 766-7424 or visit us at iroff.com to schedule your appointment. 3960 Old Milton Parkway 300, Alpharetta, GA 30005 (770) 766-7424 | iroff.com Sun & Mon: CLOSED | Tues-Fri: 10am-5pm | Sat: 10am-4pm *See store for complete details.

Gold & Silver Jewelry

Diamond Jewelry