Issuu

Alcohol regulations take a step forward

Fe b r u a r y 1 3 , 2 0 2 0 | N o r t h F u l t o n . 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 1 5 , N o . 7

►►Page 4

State mulls curbing dual enrollment

►►Page 6

Milton boys basketball defends region title

►►Page 11

Making a difference Last week, Cambridge students donated hundreds of hygiene kits to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for families facing an unexpected overnight stay at the hospital. The project was spearheaded by the school’s Future Businesses Leaders of America group. Read more, Page 10

Rucker family embodies compassion in practice

SPECIAL

►►Pages 16-18

Public Safety

2 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

Electronics stolen from department store 770-442-3278 | NorthFulton.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009 PUBLISHER EMERITUS: Ray Appen PUBLISHER: Hans Appen MANAGING EDITOR: Patrick Fox EDITORIAL QUESTIONS: Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: Alpharetta: ext. 118, Roswell ext. 122 Dunwoody Crier: ext. 143 Forsyth Herald: ext. 118 Johns Creek Herald: ext. 123 Milton Herald: ext. 139 Northside Woman: ext. 128 Calendar: ext. 122 TO SUBMIT EDITORIAL: News/Press Releases: NorthFulton.com/Sponsored Calendar/Events: NorthFulton.com/Calendar ADVERTISING QUESTIONS: General Advertising: ext. 100 advertising@appenmediagroup.com Classified Advertising: ext. 119 classifieds@appenmediagroup.com Circulation/Subscriptions/Delivery: ext. 100 circulation@appenmediagroup.com OUR PUBLICATIONS: Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: 28,000 circulation Johns Creek Herald: 20,000 circulation Dunwoody Crier: 18,000 circulation Forsyth Herald: 17,000 circulation Milton Herald: 10,000 circulation Answer Book: 40,000 circulation Northside Woman: 18,000 circulation

319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009

THECRIER.net Honored as a newspaper of General Excellence

2018

MILTON, Ga. — Police are investigating a Feb. 4 shoplifting incident at the Walmart on Windward Parkway. The store’s loss prevention officer said a man entered that day, placed several items in his cart and left without paying.

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

Vehicle burglarized in store’s parking lot MILTON, Ga. — Police are investigating the Jan. 24 burglary of a car parked at Fry’s Electronics on Webb Road. The owner said she had parked the car and left her $150 purse in the front seat. When she left work for the evening, she saw that the purse was missing along with several other items, including sneakers, gift cards and clothes. Surveillance footage showed another car park next to the woman’s car out of view from the camera for a few minutes before driving off. Police found a small gap between the front driver side window’s glass and car frame, which had not been there previously, but no pry marks.

Woman’s card stolen during shopping trip MILTON, Ga. — A Milton woman contacted police Feb. 3 after she realized her debit card had been stolen during a shopping trip at the Walmart on Windward Parkway. That afternoon, the woman visited the Walmart and placed her debit card in an exterior pocket of her purse. At one point, she said, someone bumped into her. When the woman tried to check out, she was unable to find her debit card. The woman later received an email from her bank about $250 worth of fraudulent activity on her account.

Security footage showed associates try to stop him as he fled to his pickup truck. The missing items, mostly electronics, included two drones, three iRobots and a case of beer. The total value is estimated at $1,500.

Man learns of fraud from letters in mail

Home burglarized while family on trip

MILTON, Ga. — A Milton man reported Jan. 31 that his identity had been stolen, something he realized after receiving suspicious checks in the mail. On Jan. 27, the man said he received a letter that had a return to sender notice attached to it. The letter was addressed to someone in New Mexico and contained a $2,000 check in the man’s name. The next day, the man received another letter. It contained a $3,000 check, also in the man’s name, for someone in Texas. The letter also contained a notice the transaction could not be completed, and the account was not found. Both checks were made through online banking. The man reported the checks to the bank and closed the account.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Police are investigating a home burglary that took place at Grenadier Lane. The homeowners had left the state on a three-day trip Jan. 17. When they came home, the homeowners noticed that a hidden key was missing. Then on Jan. 27 one of the homeowners noticed that she couldn’t find a watch. They then took inventory of their belongings and discovered that several items, including purses and jewelry, were missing. The total value of the missing items is estimated at more than $12,000. Police did not find any visible damage to the house aside from some damage to the master bedroom door and lock.

Man reports receiving counterfeit $20 bills

Thief removes electronics from parked vehicle

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A Lithonia man contacted police Jan. 27 after he realized he had been given two fake $20 bills from an Alpharetta auto shop on North Main Street. The man said that three days prior, he had visited the auto shop to return some items. He received three $20 bills as part of a cash refund. When the customer attempted to use bills the next day at a Lithonia restaurant, he realized two of the bills were counterfeit. The man contacted the auto shop, and the manager said he was aware of the fake bills and would give the man another $40. The man decided to report the incident before returning to the auto shop.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An Illinois man reported Jan. 25 that his car had been burglarized while he visited Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse on Haynes Bridge Road. The man said he arrived at 5:30 p.m. for dinner. About four hours later, he returned to his car and noticed the passenger’s side front window had been shattered. A $500 backpack was missing inside. The backpack had contained several electronics, including a laptop, iPad Pro, iPencil, headphones, prescription sunglasses and battery chargers. The total value of the missing items was placed at more than $6,000.

ENTER THE APPEN SWEEPSTAKES! A Winner Every Week! Gift cards for restaurants, carwashes and much more!

This Week’s Sweepstakes Sponsored By:

How To Enter: 1 Go to www.northfulton.com/sweepstakes

2 Fill out the form

3 That’s it!

You are now eligible to win our weekly giveaway for the entirety of 2020!

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 3

4 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

NEWS

Planning Commission OKs updates for alcohol-related business zonings

Milton repeats opposition to bill

By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com

MILTON, Ga. — Milton has been working to update its alcohol ordinance since last summer, but before it can uncork permits for breweries, distilleries and wineries, it first has to update its zoning to allow them. After hashing out some details, the Milton Planning Commission gave its nod last month for new language to its zoning regulations that will permit businesses such as micro-breweries, craft wine markets and growler shops to open in the city’s commercially zoned areas. The updates to the alcohol ordinance are set to go before the City Council for first presentation at its Feb. 19 meeting. Economic Development Director Sarah LaDart said the planners’ changes clarified information to make it more palatable to business owners and the public.

Updates to the zoning ordinance will permit businesses within the city’s commercially zoned districts, including accessory structures used by companies, to apply for alcohol licenses. However, LaDart said that while the new regulations will permit all alcoholrelated businesses to operate in commercial areas, a company will still have to apply for a license that fits their businesses. If passed, the updates will pave the way for several industries to open in Milton that were previously prohibited. Micro-breweries have been sprouting up all over North Fulton, and Milton could soon have its own. The updated alcohol ordinance and zoning regulations will permit breweries, micro-breweries, micro-distilleries and distilleries to do business in the city. The updates would also open the door to craft beer or wine markets that would be required to offer a minimum

number of different selections with no food sales required. A specialty wine market would permit a business with a footprint of fewer than 2,000 square feet to sell wine with at least 30 percent of its sales coming from food. Growler markets would also be permitted to sell their bottles and could apply for an additional license for on-site consumption. New alcohol permits would be available for brewpubs, farm wineries, specialty shops, sports clubs, tasting rooms, food hall cafes and private clubs. Each of the businesses are defined in the city’s proposed new alcohol ordinance. Several changes to the city’s codes will go before the City Council on Feb. 19 for first presentation. They will include the definitions of the city’s new alcohol licenses and alcohol-related businesses and the updates to the city’s zoning regulations. The City Council can approve or deny the updates at the second reading of the agenda items.

Schools respond to the threat of coronavirus flu By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com State health officials have issued guidelines to school systems as the global flu outbreak linked to China has become “an emerging, rapidly evolving situation,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since early January the novel coronavirus flu, known as nCoV, has spread from Wuhan, China, to more than 30 countries around the globe — despite efforts by government officials to close borders or screen individuals before entering. The flu was first detected in China in August. Worldwide, more than 30,000 people have been diagnosed with nCoV, with numbers rising daily. As of the first week of February, nearly 700 people have died from nCoV. In the U.S., more than 300 people in five states are considered “people under investigation,” according to the CDC. Georgia is not among those states as of early February. Institutions where large numbers of people gather, including schools, could be particularly vulnerable to an outbreak, although the threat level is minimal. In a letter to school systems dated, Jan. 30, Georgia Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey said the overall risk of the coronavirus flu remains low, and standard precautions should protect most people.

“The best way to prevent infection with any respiratory virus is to use the same preventive strategies used during a normal cold and flu season,” Toomey advised. “Get a flu shot every year, wash hands regularly with warm water and soap, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home when experiencing symptoms of illness.” She explained the flu and coronavirus are spread the same way by “respiratory droplets” from an infected person through coughing or sneezing. Without these symptoms, the person is unlikely to spread the virus. “Based on current information, a person who is not showing any signs or symptoms of nCoV does not pose a risk to other students and does not need to be excluded from school,” Toomey said in her letter to school systems. However, anecdotal cases of people without symptoms infecting others have emerged in China and other countries, raising the level of concern.

In the Fulton County School System, health officials are heeding the advice of the GDPH and not “excluding” students from school solely based on their past travel. “FCS has worked to keep abreast of all current changes and developments [and] this remains a very fluid situation,” said Brian Noyes, chief communications director. “Student Health Services continues to work very closely with [health partners] for continuous updates and guidance.” Other school systems are not taking any chances with the fast-spreading illness, including Forsyth County Schools which sent out a health advisory to anyone who recently traveled in China. The district is asking that students who traveled to China, or who live with anyone who recently returned, to “wait for the 14-day incubation period (beginning the day of return to the U.S.) to expire before enrolling… or returning to school.” Students will be provided online learning during this period. A spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Education said all health directives and information regarding nCoV in schools will come from the Georgia Department of Health. The health community response to nCoV is in marked contrast to the panic that ensued a decade ago when the H1N1 Swine Flu led to a widespread closing of schools to limit the spread. The flu spread to every state and resulted in the deaths of approximately 800 people.

MILTON, Ga. — For the second straight year, the Milton City Council has adopted a resolution opposing a state bill that would take away the city’s ability to regulate residential development standards. House Bill 302 could go before the Legislature this year, and if passed, counties and cities would no longer have the capacity to regulate building design for one- or twofamily residences. Milton adopted a resolution opposing the bill when it was introduced last year. Neither chamber passed the bill last year, but Patrick Jaugstetter with the city attorney’s office Jarrard & Davis said the measure has regained momentum. “I can tell you, with our contacts at the Capitol, the real estate development community is pushing very hard to put this back in front of the House and Senate and seek approval again,” Jaugstetter said. The regulations can present constitutional challenges, and the move to nullify local residential building standards is unparalleled, Jaugstetter said. “It would prohibit you from things like exterior building design standards, roof pitch standards, all of the things you are probably typically doing in most of your residential rezonings to ensure the quality of construction,” he said. “It is an unprecedented effort on behalf of the state to strip local governments of their traditional zoning powers. Essentially, the state grants you zoning powers, and this would be an effort to preempt you from imposing those conditions. And these conditions are probably the ones most important to you and your constituents when rezonings are brought before you.” Several North Fulton cities, including Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Roswell, have joined Milton both years in opposing the bill, and more will likely join the fray during the 2020 legislative session. Milton City Councilman Rick Mohrig said he strongly opposes the bill, and Councilwoman Carol Cookerly suggested the council also reach out to the city’s state representatives to voice their opposition. Councilwoman Laura Bentley said if the bill were passed, it would practically negate the roles of the city’s Design Review Board and the city architect.

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 5

SCHOOLS

6 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

Big changes coming to popular dual enrollment program Legislators applying the brakes to college credits in high school By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com A bill to cap the accumulation of free college credits by high school students is fast-tracking its way through the Georgia Legislature and may be one of the first education bills to land on Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk this session. House Bill 44 seeks to tighten guidelines for the state’s dual enrollment program in which high school students can take college classes paid for by the state. Lawmakers describe the actions as necessary “guardrails” on an increasingly popular — and costly — program. The dual enrollment program began nearly two decades ago by former Gov. Zell Miller to increase the number of students going on to college, and to ease the financial burden. In 2016, the program expanded under the “Move On When Ready” initiative

which opened options — and the state’s wallet — to attract even more students. The number of students in the program jumped by nearly 40 percent that year. Currently about 42,000 in 176 school districts are enrolled in dual enrollment courses, including more than 2,000 students in the Fulton County School System. Fulton officials also have seen the program numbers rise, especially after 2016 with the expansion of the program to more students. Fulton County Schools Assistant Superintendent Chris Matthews, who oversees Student Support Services, said students have numerous options available now to get a jump on college. “Increasingly Fulton County School students have utilized dual enrollment classes taught on our campuses and on college campuses,” Matthews said. “These classes along with Advanced Placement allow students to earn college credits while attending high school [and] get a head start on their post-secondary careers.” While the program continues to be successful in preparing more students

See COLLEGE, Page 37

Dual Enrollment Overview

Technical colleges 25,000

University system 12,000

Private colleges: 5,0000

High school students enrolled in dual enrollment courses during the 2018-19 school year Dual enrollment students take an average of 12.7 credit hours, or about four courses.

College credits earned by Fulton students

2015: 2,900

2019: 7,100

76 percent of dual enrollment credit hours are in core subject areas like English, language arts or math

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 7

72SOLDNORTHATLANTA.COM

VALUATIONS BY MIKE & BRITTANY OVBEY RE/MAX Paramount Properties 770-778-6182

COMMUNITY

8 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

Gifts FOR HIM & HER

♥ New Bourbon & Wine Selections

Climate Controlled Cigar Humidor

15840 Birmingham Hwy • Milton, Ga

(Birmingham Crossroads, behind 7 Acre Restaurant

www.BarnyardSpirits.com Follow Us On

JOE PARKER/HERALD

Owners Jennifer Newton (left) and Gretchen Smith announced last month that their popular downtown Crabapple venture, Laurel and May, will shut its doors March 14.

Laurel and May to shut its doors next month By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. — A staple of downtown Crabapple will soon close with the owners of Laurel & May announcing the company will shut its doors for good March 14. The company, which began as Mugs on Milton in Alpharetta, has been in operation since 2014 in several capacities. Last month, the company — which offers an eclectic mix as a coffee shop, bakery, market and gift shop — announced the closing on its Facebook page. “We are disappointed that we had to take this step, however, we were unable to come to a mutually agreeable resolution with the management/owners of Crabapple Market,” the post said. Co-owner Jenn Newton did not expound on the statement but shared her appreciation to the business’ loyal patrons for their support following the announcement. “It has been truly humbling to hear our customers’ stories, feedback and desire to see us stay here,” Newton said. “They have been so thoughtful, supportive and willing to support us now and in the future.” Newton and fellow owner Gretchen Smith began their venture in 2014 by opening Mugs on Milton on Milton Avenue in Alpharetta. A second location opened in downtown Crabapple in 2015, partnering with company With Love Paperie to add stationary and gifts to the business’ offerings in 2017. After the Alpharetta property housing Mugs on Milton was sold for re-development, Newtown and Smith combined their efforts into the current Laurel and

May market concept in March, 2018. “The idea to have a coffee shop has turned into something so much bigger than Gretchen and I ever thought it would be,” Newton said. “There have been challenges and there are definitely times we fell short, but this journey has been amazing, and it would never have lasted this long or been so sweet without all of the customers, friends and family we have made along the way.” Newton said the transition from a coffee shop to providing gifts, gourmet food items, in-house made sweets and sandwiches, beer and wine and more was organic to meet the customer needs. And it was a loyal following that made the venture a success, she said. “We have amazingly wonderful and loyal customers, which is one of our favorite things about our business,” Newton said. “We have so many that have been with us since the beginning showing their support, and we continually have new faces joining us at the shop. It has been amazing to share in our customers milestones, new marriages, kids, jobs and so much more.” Newton’s message to the faithful was the hope that the customers would remember the great times they had at the business, and that she and Smith have enjoyed their time with its customers. There are no plans for Newton and Smith to begin another venture or relocate, but she said the pair are family and will be sticking together. “So, who knows what might be in our future?” Newtown said. In the meantime, both owners will take a much-needed break and spend more time with their families, she said. Laurel & May will operate until March 14.

ody Crier 2/13/20 Crossword

PuzzleJunction.com

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 9

Across 1 5 9 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 23 25 26 29 30 33 34 35 36 38 40 41 42 44 45 47 50 51 52 54 58 59 61 62 63

Orient Make cookies Cal. lake Daniel Boone star, Parker Arm bone Swears Repose Regret feeler Cyphers Pocketbook Meliorating Tibetan mountaineer Consume Gr. letter Not him Residential fringe Booted Bricklayer Long narrow inlet Malevolent Beverage Breakfast dish Alert Terra ﬁrma Ravine Acid forerunner Invoice Cuckoo Distress signal Happy Football play Stumble Spam medium Inactive Bear dipper Agreement word

25 31

41 44

40 43

34 36

64 Encounter 65 Acts 66 Convex moldings 67 Klutzes 68 Sea eagles Down 1 In a new or different way 2 Foam 3 Distributor 4 Up and about 5 Chests of drawers 6 Grad 7 Leg part 8 Breadwinner

9 Implied 10 Eng. river 11 Gnawing rodent 12 Pay dirt 13 Curve 22 Light touch or stroke 24 Religious text 27 Rocky hills 28 Summate 31 Scarf 32 Subordinate 33 Respire 34 Bog 35 Retrieve 36 Panache 37 Ratify 39 Sense organ

41 Actress Gardner 43 Deﬁciency of vitamin D disease 45 Dandy 46 Arctic resident 47 Panic 48 Ascended 49 Go around 51 Arias 53 Opus 55 Ritual 56 Thought 57 Musical notation 59 Japanese capital 60 Russian ﬁghter jet

SOLUTION ON PAGE 11

Solution on next page

10 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

SCHOOLS

Cambridge students organize donations to hospital Hygiene kits created for families facing overnight hospital stay By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. — An unexpected overnight hospital stay can be taxing on the nerves, especially for parents. But a bit of comfort can come from the availability of basic hygiene products for those who did not know they would be spending the night. For the past two months, Cambridge High School has been working to provide the needed items and a little comfort in an anxious time. Spearheaded by the school’s Future Business Leaders of America Group, Cambridge students have been gathering toiletries and similar products to create hygiene kits that were donated to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta last week. The kits include shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, deodorant, dental floss, toothbrushes and toothpaste and a variety of miscellaneous toiletries to be given to families facing a surprise overnight stay at the hospital. “When a family goes into the ER and has to stay overnight, their first thought

SPECIAL

Spearheaded by the school’s Future Business Leaders of America Group, Cambridge students have been gathering toiletries and similar products to create hygiene kits that were donated to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta last week. is not, ‘I need deodorant tomorrow,’ it is their child being in harm’s way,” Reagan Sicchitano, a Cambridge FBLA officer said. “We wanted to be able to provide that little bit of care for them in trying times. Our original goal was [to collect] 100 kits, the fact we doubled that is exciting for us and humbling for us because we were able to receive so much

support for this project.” For the past two months, students collected more than 200 kits filled with over 3,000 items, then packaged them for donation to the hospital Feb. 5. Ekta Mistry, an officer with Cambridge FLBA, said the group was interested in helping children, so they contacted the hospital.

“CHOA told us of a need for the family care kits for the ER because it is such an overlooked need,” Mistry said. “We thought it would be the perfect project. It is a simple need, but it is a necessary one.” After the FBLA began the project and got the go-ahead from Assistant Principal Jennifer Beard to make the donations a school-wide effort, other groups began showing their support, including the schools’ SkillsUSA team, Beta Club and audio-video pathways students. Hopewell Middle School students also contributed, and donations rolled in from local businesses, including Target, Publix, Stonewalk Family Dentistry, Georgia Orthodontics & Children’s Dentistry, Holiday Inn and DoubleTree Hotel. FBLA officer Adrienne Lincoln said she was pleased to see how well the initiative went, and its ability to help others. “We were very happy to be able to do project,” Lincoln said. “FBLA has grown in community service and strengthened year by year. This year is the best we’ve ever done, and we will impact the most people we have been able to. It is humbling to see the community and the student body rise up around you to help others. Our community is very blessed, and being able to bless others is incredible.”

Bungalows Cottages Independent Assisted Memory Care Village Park Milton 555 Wills Road Alpharetta, GA 30009 470.509.4557

WINNER 2019

Best Of North Atlanta Presented By

Village Park Alpharetta 12300 Morris Road Alpharetta, GA 30005 678.740.3499

villageparkseniorliving.com

SPORTS

MILTON 61, SOUTH FORSYTH 54

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 11

Milton boys claim region title By ZACH SHUGAN news@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Milton continued its dominance in Region 5-AAAAAAA and fended off South Forsyth Friday night for the Eagles’ second straight region title. The Eagles were the region front-runner all season and reached the tournament final as the favored No. 1 seed over No. 3 South Forsyth with the teams battling in front of a packed crowd at Forsyth Central. “It was a great playoff atmosphere,” said Milton head coach Allen Whitehart. “[South Forsyth] is tough as nails, and they played until the end. They did a great job.” The Eagles flashed their ability to shoot from long range early in the game, knocking down four 3-pointers in the opening minutes to build a 19-9 lead. The teams traded blows during the second quarter, but the margin remained the same with Milton up 32-22 at halftime. Region Player of the Year Bruce Thornton had eight points, three rebounds and six assists in the opening half.

The War Eagles played at a frenetic pace all night, and it started to pay off in the second half. With Milton leading 41-32 at the start of the fourth quarter, South Forsyth began making its move. The War Eagles press defense forced a couple of turnovers and took advantage with points, allowing South to shrink the gap to 46-40 with 4:30 left in the game. Milton responded with a few baskets of its own, and soon enough, the Eagles’ lead was back up to 11 points with two minutes on the clock. The War Eagles continued to fight back and cut the margin to five points with 40 seconds left, but Milton’s lead proved insurmountable. “We knew coming in that they were going to lay it on the line,” Whitehart said. “We knew they were going to throw everything but the kitchen sink.” The War Eagles were led by junior big-man Devin McGlockton, who finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Thornton finished with a game-high 25 points, and freshman guard Kanaan Carlyle added 16 points for Milton. The Eagles knew going into the region tournament that their spot in the state tournament was already secured.

We’re in your neighborhood and want to be of service to you this tax season. Michael G. Allpass, CPA | Managing Principal 770-217-7371 | mike@afmcpa.com | www.afmcpa.com

Solution A F R E S H

S E E T H E

I S S U E R

E V A L A V A L A N I D E M A D I T O G E

A S T I R P S M A I L R M E S R O I L T O E S

B U R E A U S

A L U M B O A

F E O S P K I M O

K N E E

E T A A A V R C O N D I N E A T U R B S N F I D E E G E A R T H R R I C C H E I C K T D L E U E E T D A F S E

H E D G E H O G

O E R S E S

T E R R O R

A R I S E N

T A O D R D S B Y P A S S

WANT MORE?

ZACH SHUGAN/HERALD

Milton poses with the region championship trophy after winning the Region 5-AAAAAAA tournament Feb. 7. After defeating West Forsyth in the semifinals and holding on against South Forsyth Friday, Milton’s reward is what they’ve been aiming for all season to this point — a region title and a No. 1 in the state tournament. “We’ve talked about it all year,” Whitehart said. “It gives us the opportunity to set the tone. We’ll go home

and check out the brackets to shape up where we are and see who’s where. We’re just fortunate tonight to get another win. The kids played hard and stuck to our game plan all year. We’re back-to-back region champions. I’m excited.” The Eagles will host No. 4 seed Central Gwinnett next weekend to open the state tournament.

A lot of people ask us ‘Why Johns Creek?’ We want to put Johns Creek on the map. Michael He, founder of Lovol Media

12 | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020

North Fulton native returns to develop his own startup By CARSON COOK carson@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A North Fulton native is looking to shake up the digital advertisement game. Michael He, founder of Lovol Media, grew up in Alpharetta and studied economics and computer science at Harvard University. He worked with startup investing firms in Silicon Valley, before he decided to leave California and create a startup of his own, based in Technology Park in Johns Creek. “There’s a lot of technical talent here, and business talent as well,” He said. “In places like Silicon Valley and New York, it’s very crowded and expensive to launch a pilot of this scale.” His device is an LED screen than can be mounted in the rearview window of a car. Drivers may already be familiar with advertisement on the top of taxis, but He says Lovol is a totally new technology. While top-of-car ads may work in pedestrian-friendly New York City, the rear window placement is better for traffic-congested cities like Atlanta, he said. The digital screen also allows advertisers to geo-target their desired customers. “If you have a restaurant, we could

Synergis recognized for service excellence ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Synergis, a staffing agency, recently announced that it has won the Best of Staffing Client and Talent Awards for providing superior service to their clients and candidates.

NSW NORTHSIDE WOMAN

say every car within five miles who has their device will show your ad,” He said. “As soon as you enter the five-mile radius, you can see, say, Wendy’s is nearby. ‘Turn right. There’s a McDonald’s.’ It gives people a hyperlocal way of targeting.” He said Lovol offers an inventive and relatively inexpensive advertising solution. “It really helps the advertisers because they can reach a lot more people a lot more effectively,” He said. “With billboards and online advertisement, people have mentally trained themselves to block out the ads. This is a new ad space that people haven’t expected before.” For drivers, Lovol is targeting people who already drive professionally, like through Uber, Lyft or Doordash. “This is a way for them to keep driving the routes they already take while earning a supplemental income without doing anything but putting it on their car,” He said. There is often a bust and boom cycle for tech startups. With companies like Uber, Airbnb and Bird scooters excitement and promise turned into criticism and regulation. He said that’s why Lovol is taking things slowly, working with law enforce-

ment to ensure safety features are in place and starting with advertisements for local businesses before they pick up any big names. Longterm, He and his small team say they want to see Lovol Media go national

and maybe even international. “A lot of people ask us ‘Why Johns Creek?’” He said. “We want to put Johns Creek on the map.” To follow updates for Lovol Media, visit lovolmedia.com.

Presented in partnership with presenting sponsor, CareerBuilder, and gold sponsors Indeed and Glassdoor, ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing Award winners are chosen as industry leaders in service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients and candidates. On average, ClearlyRated has found that clients of winning agen-

cies are 3.3 times more likely to be completely satisfied and candidates who have been placed by winning agencies are 1.7 times more likely to be completely satisfied with the services provided compared to those working with non-winning agencies. Some of the highlights from this year’s survey include:

• Synergis received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 79.2 percent of their clients, which is higher than the industry’s average of 24 percent. • Synergis received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 69.5 percent of their placed job candidates, which is higher than the industry’s average of 45 percent.

CARSON COOK/Herald

Michael He shows off the patented advertisement technology behind Lovol Media.

Distribute Northside Woman In Your Store! Bring new customers into your store now by becoming a distribution point for Northside Woman!

It’s easy and FREE. Just give us a call! 770-442-3278

BUSINESSPOSTS

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 13

How the coronavirus sunk mortgage rates I was talking to a client last week who works at the CDC and was doing data analysis on the coronavirus that has swept China. She had heard mortgage rates were really low and was asking Geoff smith about a refinance. I Assurance Financial, blew her mind when I gsmith@lendtheway.com told her the low rates were in large part due to the virus. She assumed I was joking. I most certainly was not. In short, here is what happened: Investors freaked out and pulled their money from the stock market. Then, they put it into safer investments like 10-year Treasuries, which caused the yield to drop and mortgage interest rates along with it. Mortgage interest rates are loosely pegged to the yield on the U.S. Treasury’s 10-year note. Why? Because most people move in 7-10-year cycles. Check this out: On Jan. 17, a second death was reported in Wuhan Other cities from across the globe reported new cases of the virus, and health authorities in the U.S. announced that three airports would start screening passengers arriving from that city. This was the day people started to realize this could be something serious. On Friday, Jan. 17, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had risen for seven straight days and was at 29,348. By the end of the following Monday, it had dropped to 29,196. By Jan. 27 it had tanked to 28,536, according to the Wall Street Journal. On Jan.17, the 10-year yield was at 1.823 percent. It stayed flat the following Monday, then reacted strongly to the stock market’s plummet, and yields fell to 1.509 percent by Jan. 31. As for mortgage rates, according to MortgageNewsDaily’s daily survey, the

It’s like if a week before the Super Bowl, news broke that both teams were infected with the flu. Would you bet on a team not knowing who on each team was infected? Probably not. average rate for a conventional 30-year mortgage was at 3.7 percent on Jan. 17. By Jan. 31, it had plummeted to 3.47 percent. It was a pretty wild time for us lenders. On Monday, Jan. 27, we saw rates continue downward. On Tuesday, an independent international auditing agency released a statement saying they were impressed with China’s response to the virus, and rates actually ticked up a bit. Then on Wednesday, news reports came out saying that China’s reports on the virus and number of people infected were misleading, and rates continued back downward. My CDC friend asked me, “Why are investors so worried about this virus? What does it have to do with the stock market?” I think to some degree, it’s because it’s a new virus and details about it are unknown. China has literally locked people in their houses, which keeps them from going to work. This is a country that accounts for 20 percent of the world’s manufacturing output. If they all of a sudden stop manufacturing, there is going to be worldwide economic ramifications. The stock market is our country’s largest legalized gambling entity. Investors are betting on companies that they think will win profits in the near and distant future. It’s like if a week before the Super Bowl, news broke that both teams were infected with the flu. Would you bet on a team not knowing who on

each team was infected? Probably not. You’d probably wait to hear which key players were infected. It’s kind of the same thing with the stock market, except investors always want their money working. So instead of just pulling it from the stock market and holding it in their banks, they put it into things with a guaranteed rate of return. The rate of return on those instruments is much lower than what they could earn in a winning stock market, so they keep their clients’ monies there only until they get a better understanding of which companies and markets will grow in the coming economy. It’s been a wild ride that has saved a lot of homeowners a whole lot of money. If you have an interest rate of over 4 percent on your mortgage, you should quickly have someone run the numbers on a refinance. A cure for this flu, which I do recognize as a good thing, would likely shove rates back up quickly. Geoff Smith is a mortgage banker with Assurance Financial focusing on residential home loans for refinances and home purchases. Geoff Smith gsmith@lendtheway.com 770-674-1433 Personal: NMLS#104587 Business: NMLS#70876 *The views and opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of Assurance Financial Group

Retaining customers begins by knowing their expectations Are you meeting your customer’s expectations? Are your customers satisfied? Existing customers are the source of current revenue, future sales and referrals to others. Statistics dick jones Founder & President indicate that it is Jones Simply Sales six to seven times more expensive to attract a new customer than it is to sell an existing customer. As such, retaining current customers should be a No. 1 priority for every small business owner. Retaining customers begins by gaining a thorough understanding of their expectations and priorities. Oftentimes, this is unknown, unclear or internally defined by company personnel. In most cases, companies have not taken the time to actually ask their customers what they want. Deploying a customer satisfaction management system in your small business will ensure that you are developing and delivering your products and services based on what your customers want, not what you think they want. A simple three-step process will allow you to implement this. First, talk with your customers to understand their expectations. This can be done through interviews or focus groups. Next, have your customers prioritize their expectations by ranking the ones that they value the most. And finally, use the ranked list and have your current customers rate your performance. A simple survey can be used to do this. Satisfied customers buy more, are more loyal and recommend you to others. It is definitely an asset to your business to have satisfied customers and having a customer satisfaction management system is a proven approach to accomplishing this.

14 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

CALENDAR Parkway, Alpharetta More info and registration: northpoint.org/oasis

PORTIA TEWOGBADE: BOOK READING AND SIGNING

Portia Tewogbade will read from her latest book, “Red Was the Midnight.” Tewogbade is an award-winning author and former English teacher for Georgia Tech and Nigeria’s Federal Government College in Kaduna. Her short stories have appeared in African Voices, Mobius: The Journal of Social Change and Hawaii Pacific Review. Join the reading Thursday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. For more information, visit roswellroots.org.

feature YOUR EVENT online and in print!

CAMP ALEFBET 2020

What: Creative programming, experienced educators and happy campers for babies to Pre-K. When: June 1-July 30, Mondays-Fridays, flexible hours Where: Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Atlanta Cost: Prices vary More info: alefbetpreschool.com

EVENTS: THE WOMEN OF ROSWELL: A STAGED READING

It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people both online and in the Herald Newspapers. To promote your event, follow these easy steps: 1. Visit NorthFulton.com/Calendar; 2. Click the red button that reads “Go to Form” under the submit an event header; 3. Provide the details for your event including title, description, location and date; 4. Click the red button that reads “Create event” 5. Select to either feature your event online only for $25 or online and in print for $40 (print submissions must be submitted at least two weeks prior to event.)

What: Based on actual events, Robin Seidman Pullen’s play examines the story of mill workers in 1864 Roswell who were tried for treason for making confederate soldier uniforms. When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 7-9 p.m. Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell More info: roswellgov.com

FEATURED:

What: Listen to the stories, lessons, and words of wisdom from current and past residents discussing their experiences growing up in Roswell. When: Sunday, Feb. 16, 3:30 p.m. Where: Pleasant Hill Church, 725 Pleasant Hill St., Roswell www.roswellroots.org

CONCERTO COMPETITION SHOWCASE CONCERT

What: Come hear the winners of the tenth annual Samuel Fordis Concerto Competition perform with the Georgia Philharmonic. When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 7-9 p.m. Where: Lassiter Concert Hall, 2601 Shallowford Road, Marietta Cost: $10-25 More info and tickets: eventbrite.com

YELLOWJACKETS ON VALENTINE’S DAY

What: Seventeen-time Grammynominated jazz fusion band, the Yellowjackets, return to Georgia to kick off their 2020 season on Valentine’s Day. When: Friday, Feb. 14, 6-10:30 p.m. Where: The Legacy Theater, 12150 Morris Road, Alpharetta Cost: $89 More info and tickets: yellowjacketsvalentines.eventbrite.com

GOLDEN BEAD GALA

What: Enjoy a live auction, silent auction, dinner, drinks and dancing, with proceeds going toward the Alpharetta International Academy Montessori School’s building fund to update the primary classrooms.

When: Friday, Feb. 21, 6:30-10:30 p.m. Where: The Metropolitan Club, 5895 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta Cost: $80 More info and tickets: qtego. net/qlink/aiamontessori

BLACKSTORY: WORKS BY AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTS

TELLING OUR STORY: GROVEWAY COMMUNITY

What: This exhibition showcases contemporary African American artists working in a variety of media and representing multiple perspectives on the African diaspora and/or African American culture, history or experience. When: Opening reception Saturday, Feb. 1, 6-7:30 p.m.; works on display through Feb. 29 Where: Johns Creek Arts Center, 6290 Abbotts Bridge Road, Building 700, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekarts.org

ROSWELL ROOTS FESTIVAL

OASIS

What: Fairies and gnomes have been busy building all new homes for the Enchanted Woodland Trail. Whimsical works line the trails – slow down and search for the fairy houses made from tiny natural objects. When: Jan. 9-Feb. 29 Where: Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell More info: chattnaturecenter.org

What: Divorce and separation is painful. North Point Community Church offers eight week mentorled groups to connect attendees with support to help move toward healing and personal restoration. When: Weekly, starting Thursday, Feb. 13, 7-9 p.m. Where: North Point Community Church, 4350 North Point

What: Roswell will celebrate Black History Month with a series of unique and fun events for everyone. Roswell Roots is the largest and most comprehensive celebration of black history and culture in the state. When: Multiple events throughout the month of February Where: Throughout the City of Roswell More info and full schedule: roswellgov.com

ENCHANTED WOODLAND TRAIL

SMART RECOVERY FAMILY AND FRIENDS

What: This program uses science-based tools to provide support for those who are affected by the addictive behavior of someone close to them. Not a twelve step program. When: Mondays, 7-8 p.m. Where: DecisionPoint Wellness Center, 1070 State Bridge Road, Suite 6, Johns Creek More info: smartrecovery.org

TAKE-A-PEEK TUESDAY

What: Take a quick peek at Autrey Mill’s building collections and hear about the preservation and research efforts. When: Tuesdays, noon-2 p.m. Where: Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, 9770 Autrey Mill Road, Johns Creek Cost: $2 More info: autreymill.org

ALL RECOVERY MEETING

What: Join an open discussion for those in recovery from addiction or those affected by people with addiction. Not a twelve-step program. When: Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. Where: Emory Johns Creek Hospital, 6325 Hospital Parkway, Johns Creek More info: navigaterecoverygwinnett.org or 678-743-1808 x101

WEDNESDAY MORNING NETWORKING

What: Join for networking every Wednesday morning. When: Wednesdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Where: Perimeter Church, 9500 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek Cost: $5 for members, $10 for guests More info: johnscreekga.gov or 770-495-0545

HEALTH AND FITNESS: YOGA FOR BEGINNERS

What: All are welcome to learn simple but powerful yoga postures to help balance and stabilize your system. No prior experience necessary. Free. When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 9-11 a.m. Where: Prime Combat Sports, 4415 Front 9 Drive #500, Cumming More info and to register: innerengineering.com

WORLD WAR II ROUNDTABLE

What: Atlanta World War II Roundtable invites the public to attend its luncheon meeting. The featured speaker is Colonel Patricia Blassie. Lunch included in price. When: Thursday, Feb. 20, 11 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Where: United Methodist Church, 1548 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody Cost: $20 per person. $15 for WW2 veterans More info and registration: atlantaww2roundtable@ gmail.com or 770-457-4409

TOTALLY HAPPY FEET RUN/ WALK GROUP

What: Be a part of this weekly group run. The 3-mile run will start at the trailhead on McFarland Pkwy just down the street from Halcyon. When: Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Where: Starts at Big Creek Greenway Trailhead, 1622 McFarland Parkway, Alpharetta More info: visithalcyon.com/ events/totally-happy-feet-runwalk-group-halcyon

RUNNING CLUB

What: Join Alpharetta’s new, free social running group. Be prepared to run between 2-4 miles each meeting. When: Meets twice a week, Mondays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Where: Meet at the Alpharetta Community Center, 175 Roswell St., Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us

FREE FITNESS FOR WOMEN

What: Join your Alpharetta Females in Action group for free, peer-led workouts each week. Adult women of all fitness levels are welcome. When: Saturdays, 8 a.m. Where: Fowler Park, 4110 Carolene Way, Cumming More info: fianation.com

RELIGIOUS EVENTS:

MEN’S MINISTRY: FRIDAY MORNINGS

CHILDREN’S CLASSES

What: Baha’i children’s classes awaken the spiritual capacities of children, encouraging them to develop essential human virtues. When: First and third Sunday of every month, 10:30 a.m.noon Where: The Bahai’s of the Dunwoody Community, 5816 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Atlanta More info: 770-298-9993 or vojdanis@yahoo.com

YOUTH NIGHT

What: Youth gather for music, devotions, dinner and fellowship, and discuss topics like sacrifice, joyfulness, struggle, gratitude and more. When: First Saturday of every month, 7-10 p.m. Where: 4482 Fergus Way, Dunwoody More info: 770-757-3197 or mouzhan@yahoo.com

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL GATHERING

What: All are welcome to share prayers and readings from the sacred scriptures of all Faiths. When: Sundays, 4-6 p.m. Where: 1397 Wickendy Court, Dunwoody More info: 770-394-4539 or shayesteh8@gmail.com

CENTERING PRAYER GROUP

What: Explore meditation and silent prayer in a supportive group setting. When: Fridays, 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. Where: Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, Room 205, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta More info: alpharettapres.com

What: The First Baptist Roswell men’s group meets every Friday morning for friendship and to help each other grow spiritually. All are welcome to attend. When: Fridays, 7 a.m. Where: Panera Bread, 1195 Woodstock Road, Roswell More info: fbroswell.org

THERAPEUTIC YOGA

What: Gain health benefits from relaxing yoga that emphasizes strength and flexibility. No experience necessary. Taught by an advanced certified yoga instructor. When: Wednesdays, 9:45-11 a.m. Where: Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell More info: rumc.com or 770261-1705

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPERS What: Make and grow faithbased friendships for all ages. Enjoy a hot meal and/or volunteer. When: Wednesdays, 5:15-6:45 p.m. Where: Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, 69 North Main St., Alpharetta More info: afumc.org

MUSIC, ARTS & THEATER: ‘CHEEZUS CRUST, THAT’S FUNNY’

What: Join Rosati’s for an evening of stand-up laughter. When: Thursday, Feb. 13, 8-10 p.m. Where: Rosati’s Pizza and Sports Pub, 415 Peachtree Parkway, Cumming Cost: $5 per person or $25 for VIP Table for 4 guests More info and tickets: ticketleap.com

CALENDAR

‘THE GLASS MENAGERIE’

What: Stage Door Players will continue its 46th anniversary season with the award-winning drama ‘The Glass Menagerie,’ by Tennessee Williams. When: Jan. 24-Feb. 16, times vary Where: Stage Door Players, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Atlanta Cost: Tickets start at $34 More info and tickets: 770-3961726 or stagedoorplayers.net

‘LEADING LADIES’

What: From the writer of “Lend Me a Tenor,” and “A Comedy of Tenors,” Ken Ludwig, comes the story of two broke Shakespearean actors who plan to impersonate the nephews of a wealthy dowager but suddenly discover the “nephews” are actually nieces. When: Feb. 20-March 8, times vary Where: Georgia Ensemble Theatre, 950 Forrest St., Roswell More info and tickets: get.org

QUESTIONABLE ORIGINS EXHIBIT

What: Sculptor Eileen Braun conjures the skeletal hulls and germinating pods of an infant organism in her biomorphic forms. When: Through March 14, 11 a.m-6 p.m. Where: Spruill Gallery, 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta More info: spruillarts.org

SPOTLIGHT EXHIBIT: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF JIM ALEXANDER

What: Jim Alexander is an award-winning documentary photographer who has amassed a large collection of images of Black culture and human rights photographs. When: Jan. 9-March 31 Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell More info: jimalexanderphotography.com

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 15

‘AILEY REVEALED’

What: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns with six performances showcasing Ailey’s 32 dancers, including world premieres that shine a spotlight on social issues. When: Feb. 20-23, times vary Where: The Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta Cost: Tickets start at $29 More info and tickets: alvinailey.org, foxatltix.com or 855285-8499

LIBRARY EVENTS: EAST ROSWELL LIBRARY BOOK SALE

What: Proceeds go toward supporting the library and its programs. When: Feb. 14-16, times vary Where: Centennial Village Shopping Center,2300 Holcomb Bridge Road, Ste. 100-200, Roswell More info: afpls.org

SUMMER VOLUNTEEN INFORMATION SESSION

What: Rising 9th - 12th graders who are interested in joining the VolunTEEN program are required to attend an Information Session to be eligible to apply. When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 1010:45 a.m. Where: Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega St., Cumming More info: forsythpl.org

SAT PRACTICE TEST

What: Test-like practice without test day pressure. Full-length proctored tests enable particpants to see where they stand on the test without the pressure of an official score. When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Where: Alpharetta Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: afpls.org

PRESERVING FAMILY DOCUMENTS

What: Join David McDonough as he presents on “Preserving Your Important Family Documents.” When: Tuesday, Feb. 18, 6:30-7:45 p.m. Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Alpharetta More info: afpls.org or 404613-4402

FREE ENGLISH CLASSES

What: Join to practice your English skills with other learners. All materials will be provided by the instructor. No registration required. When: Tuesday, Feb. 18, 6-7:30 p.m. Where: Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell Info: afpls.org or 404-612-9700

GREAT DECISIONS 2020

What: Forsyth County Public Library and the University of North Georgia will present information and lead discussions on a range of fascinating and timely geopolitical topics. When: Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m. Where: Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega St., Cumming More info: forsythpl.org

ATTN: Summer Camp Leaders Don’t miss out promoting your camp! There are 4 Summer Camp Sections in the Herald and Crier newspapers! March 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th.

ALPHARETTA-ROSWELL HERALD

Delivers to 28,000 households every Thursday. Zip Codes: 30005, 30009, 30022, 30075, 30076.

MILTON HERALD

Delivers to 10,000 households every Thursday. Zip Code: 30004.

JOHNS CREEK HERALD

Delivers to 20,000 households every Thursday. Zip Codes: 30022, 30097.

FORSYTH HERALD

Delivers to 17,000 households every Thursday. Zip Codes: 30040, 30041.

Delivers to 18,000 households every Thursday. Zip Codes: 30338, 30350, 30360, 30346, 30319.

Call 770-442-3278 to reserve your space today!

16 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

COMMUNITY

COMPASSION in PRACTICE Here’s how Alpharetta’s Rucker family is connected to Appalachia and Uganda

RAY APPEN

Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmediagroup.com

This is the first in a series of articles about local people and local organizations who are making a difference in our world. Look for stories and podcasts about a local 13-year-old who started an outreach in Uganda and continues to support more than 300 school children there; about a local guy who is feeding a large percentage of Atlanta’s homeless; about another local person who is building wells and hospitals in Kenya and more. North Fulton and South Forsyth are full of people doing amazing, generous, compassionate things that can inspire us all. If you know of local individuals who are making differences either big like this or small (they all count), please drop me an email so we can possibly work on their story too! My email is RayAppen@gmail.com.

ran into two of our long-time friends Ralph and Sarah Rucker this past December at a multi-domination pre-Christmas service in Alpharetta. Ralph mentioned that in the morning, he and his wife were driving up to Stearns, Kentucky, with a shipping container. Of course, the reporter in me had to ask “why?” I was rewarded with yet another example of how, despite the darkness from all that seems to be going wrong in our world, I can still see light and grace. Ralph, Sarah and another couple, Larry and Joyce Smith of Cumming, were driving the container of Christmas presents for about 350 kids who live in and around Stearns, a small town in the coal-mining region of Kentucky — abject poverty, endemic unemployment, rampant addiction. The bundles contained toys, clothing, food and other items that, according to Sarah, were the only Christmas presents a majority of the kids would receive. I was a bit startled because that’s a lot of gifts, and I couldn’t imagine how they managed to transport it or how he and Sarah found the time and money to buy it all. They’re not rich and both still work for a living, even though they are nearing their 80s. It sounded like a huge and expensive undertaking. “Well, we had a little (actually a lot) help from our friends,” replied Ralph. “A friend of ours heard that we were looking for a big truck and offered us the use of a shipping container that he used for his business. I told him that we didn’t have anything that could carry it, and he offered us the use of his own truck, and driver too,” Ralph said. Ralph said this Christmas outreach has been going on for almost 20 years,

and they’ve been involved for the past five years or so. They drive up to Stearns at the beginning of August each year and interview all the children identified by a local outreach as needing help. “For each of the 350 individual kids we get a photo, a name, age, and we find out what they want and need,” Ralph said. “We also get to know the kids a little while we are at it. We budget $200 for presents for each child. Sarah and I and Larry and Joyce pay for as much of it as we can, and we have help from other folks out in the community.” Preparation lasts all year Ralph said buying for the kids lasts all year. His wife watches for sales at local stores and supporters donate money. Their home operates as the “present storage warehouse.” By the end of August, Ralph and Sarah have acquired all the gifts and they gather and have a packaging party at their home. “Filling that container this year was a whole lot of toys, cloths and other gifts,” Ralph said, “but we always have a good group of volunteers working with us and our wrapping party actually is a special time.” The outreach that Ralph and Sarah work with is called Integrated Community Ministries, founded by Barbara and Hilton Duncan of McCreary County, Kentucky. When they began their outreach, the high school graduation rate was 52 percent. Now, 20 years later, it is 94 percent in an area of the country that, considering what life roadblocks there are in the region, is unheard of – sort of a miracle. Barbara and Hilton began their outreach by getting personally involved, by embedding themselves in the schools and

To view a photo gallery of the Christmas Celebration with all the kids and the Ruckers and Smiths, please visit NorthFulton.com. in the families of the area. They met with the children and the parents. They listened. They cheered. They coached and taught. They became living examples and proof that the “outside world” actually did care and that each child, each parent was important and had standing. Then they showed the kids and the community paths to growth, to careers and employment, to practical life skills that so many of us take for granted, like managing money, peer relationships, stress management, interviewing skills, resume writing and goal-setting. The chicken story When I asked Ralph how he and Sarah got connected from Alpharetta to something going on in Kentucky, Ralph told me a story that both helped provide context to who was being helped and the type of person my friend Ralph Rucker is. Ralph recounted that he and Sarah were attending a New Year’s Eve party in Alpharetta at a mutual friend’s home — Steve Beecham (who also has his own outreach story to tell I believe). At the party, they met one of the bluegrass musicians who told the Ruckers about the terrible conditions for many up in the coal mining region. He told them about an outreach he worked with up in Kentucky, Integrated Community Ministries. So Ralph being Ralph, he and Sarah decided to drive up to Kentucky and see for themselves. When they arrived, the Duncans gave them a tour of the town, showed them the coal mines, and gave them a sense of place and people. About midway through the “tour,” Hilton suddenly stopped the car and started backing up. “I want you to meet a man who lives here,” he said. “There are so many who live in this town who are in a similar situation as he is and, well, I just think you should meet him.”

HOW TO DONATE Ralph & Sarah Rucker Christmas & School Outreach Contact Ralph & Sarah Rucker at 678-898-7237 for more info. If you would like to donate, tax-deductible checks can be made to the following: “Integrated Community Ministries” Ralph & Sarah Rucker 111 Henderson Lake Drive Canton, GA 30115 Sarah will forward checks to ICM. This will help Ralph & Sarah keep track of your donations for their planning/budgeting purposes. Integrated Community Ministries www.ky-icm.org 4837 Rattlesnake Ridge Road Stearns, KY 42647 606-376-8180 He was a coal miner for many years and now had black lung. It was summer and hot. The screened door of the house was propped open. The yard was cluttered and not a blade of grass was visible. Ralph could see the rotting wood and flaking paint on the clapboard walls of the house as they approached. As they entered, they were accompanied by a group of chickens who followed them right into the house. “You going to let them chickens come into your house,” asked Ralph to the 12-year-old Jacob who had greeted the Ruckers when they first pulled up. “They’re OK,” Jacob replied. “They sleep in a box that Grandma has back there in that room.” Before they returned to the car, Jacob told Ralph that he wanted to show him something. He led Ralph down a couple blocks to a tiny outdoor produce market where Jacob showed Ralph his own little

COMMUNITY

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 17

13-year-old granddaughter, Abi Rucker, and her Uganda Outreach

booth with chickens and quail for sale. They talked for a good time about Jacob’s little business and his life, as only a grown man “from the city” with a kind heart and a 12-year-old coal miner’s son can. Later, before he left, Ralph pulled out his wallet and gave Jacob $250. “I want to loan you this money,” said Ralph “so you can expand your business Jacob. You seem like a smart boy and I want to help you. You can pay me back someday.” With that, he shook Jacob’s hand and said he would see him next year. Following Jacob’s progress In the years that followed, the Ruckers would always make a point to try to look up Jacob to see how he was doing. Jacob eventually left McCreary County and graduated college, Ralph thinks, with a degree in graphic design. And the $250 loan? Jacob repaid it the year after Ralph gave him the money. “Jacob, you don’t have to do this,” Ralph recalled saying. Jacob replied: “But you told me it

was a loan and I promised to repay you Mr. Rucker.” “Oh, I get by with a little help (actually a lot of help) from my friends. Yes, I get by with a little help from my friends. With a little help from my friends. “ I consider myself blessed to have friends like Ralph and Sarah Rucker. They are just plain folk like any other, yet they lead lives that make a difference in so many ways. However, their kindness and empathy are not just character or personality traits, it is who they are and how they live. And the difference that their acts make in our world, is not confined just to their individual acts; it is contagious. I have come to see and understand that all behavior — both good and bad — tends to generate more like behavior. If you do good, more good will be done, and vice versa. In closing, one of my favorite takeaways from my Appalachian Trail hike was when I came to understand something that 99 percent of every AT thru hiker comes away with sooner or later from their hike. It is the understanding that

McCreary County, Kentucky l Holds the distinction of being the poorest county in the United States.

l The average annual income is $12,000, and in their particular community, the average annual income is $19,000 with two people in the family working.

Listen to the podcast If this really has sparked an interest with you about these amazing compassionate, very cool local people, don’t miss their podcast “From Alpharetta to Appalachia to Africa” coming soon. And if you know of folks doing wonderful outreaches like these — large or small — drop me an email so we can possibly work on their story too! My email is RayAppen@gmail.com. “the trail will provide.” It’s not conditional. It’s a fact, born from experience. That is, we can and will take care of each other. Life “off the trail” I think surely must be the same in that aspect as “life on the trail,” but maybe it is a bit more difficult to see and understand back in civilization. But it’s there, and people like Ralph and Sarah Rucker, like Abi and her Aunt Deann, are shining a bright light on it to help us all see it more clearly.

l The government owns 80 percent of the land, so there is no property tax income for most of the county.

Continued on Page 18 l Because mining is no longer practiced in this community, the nearest work is two hours away where there is a chicken processing plant and a few other opportunities.

Here is an example of the impact that Ralph has had on others. A number of years ago, Ralph’s granddaughter, Abi, and his oldest daughter, Deann, Sarah, Deann started an and Abi Rucker outreach in Africa called “New Hope.” “You fly into Entebbe, Uganda and then drive for another two-three hours into the bush to get to the village that Abi and Deann sort of adopted,” said Ralph. “It all started when Abi was 13 and told her mom that she wanted to go to Africa and help people. Her mom said “no, that’s not realistic.” So she talked her aunt Deann into going with her. Ruckers, at least the ones I know, are a stubborn bunch. Don’t get in their way or you might get run over. Today, Abi’s’s outreach has helped build two orphanages and keeps over 300 children in school with their ongoing financial support. What makes a person become like a Rucker? I say in part, family does. Ruckers are one of the oldest families here in North Fulton. Generations of Ruckers have lived here and still do. (See the profile that accompanies this article about Rucker history; it’s fascinating.) If you want to read more about this Rucker named Abi and the orphanages, she and her aunt Deann helped build and continue to support, look for that in The Herald newpapers soon. And that just might include a video of Ralph Rucker doing the Ugandan version of hip-hop dancing miles out in the bush.

l According to census data, 69.8 percent of the residents graduate from high school, 7.6 percent graduate from college.

l The median home value is $65,800.

18 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

COMMUNITY

COMPASSION in PRACTICE Continued from Page 17

Barbara and Hilton Duncan’s their community outreach Barbara Duncan, who, along with her husband Hilton, started Integrated Community Ministries, was raised and still lives in the community. ICM operates from a community center built on the family property where she, her parents and sister grew up. “This is a nice facility constructed and furnished by many different groups,” Barbara said. “They have Bible Study groups and youth meeting there, as well as provide a gathering place for people to stop by and check on friends and neighbors. They operate a food pantry, clothes closet, and a library as well as two bunk houses, with 22 bunk beds in each house with a kitchen and eating area for visitors.”

Barbara has done mission work in the community since she was a young girl, and her heart tug for the people is stronger than the financial opportunities she might find if she left the area. She and Hilton started this ministry as a THE DUNCANS team, while both working full-time jobs. They soon realized the ministry was a full-time job for both. Barbara and Hilton are college graduates. They have a son, who is a college grad working for the State Department and a daughter who will get her nursing degree this year. Their goals are to teach people about the Lord, make life as comfortable as possible for the elderly and widows, and help children and young people understand that an education makes the difference in choosing what you want to do and doing what you have to do. They are happy that many of “their kids” are finishing high school and going on to college. The children

go to public school, some catching the bus as early as 5 a.m. and getting home after dark. The children have no electronics but can use computers at the Center. They can come to the Center for extra help, support and encouragement at any time. While these people are poor and uneducated, they are a proud people. They hesitate to accept handouts, so they pay 19 cents a pound for items they get from the Clothes Closet. They carried backpacks and were able to give away clothes by calling it “Back to School” Day. Backpacks, school clothes and shoes were free that day. In October they carried 300 coats and jackets, plus other things. That was another “free day.” The Center feeds about 200 families (600 people) a month from the Food Pantry that is as clean and neat as can be. They use donated food and food bought from the Food Bank for 19 cents a pound. The amount of food a family receives is based on the number in the household and their income. We have never personally witnessed such a simple, mutual love between people.

The Rucker family: A bit of local history Used with permission and excerpted from the “Rucker Family Genealogy” by Susie Rucker Wood and available from Amazon

s you travel the roads around Milton and surrounding areas, have you ever considered the families honored by road names? Just imagine, they were lured to the beautiful area like many today. The community of Crabapple, once described as “The Garden Spot of North Fulton,” was the location chosen by the Rucker family in 1833. Travel back with me for the story of how the Ruckers came as immigrants to America and later migrated to Crabapple. The Rucker Coat of Arms, was first used by Johan Von Rucker, of Vienna, a crusader in 1096. The name then branches off to Livonia, Bavaria, Holland, France and England. From the beginning of the 17th century, the Ruckers were famous for making exquisite harpsichords, decorated by such artists as Rubens. Rucker harpsichords are on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Yale Collection of Musical Instruments. Peter Rucker, thought to be of German descent, was the first Rucker immigrant to settle on American soil, arriving in Virginia between 1690 to 1700. He traveled on the ship “The Rising Son,” loaded with 700 passengers, many French Huguenots. The story relates that the ship wrecked just before reaching the shores of Virginia. Peter gambled in a game of seven-up to see who would win the last remaining keg of rum to be used to float to shore. Peter was victori-

ous and floated onto the banks of the James River in Virginia. The descendants living in and around the Milton area have stuck to this legend through the years. Sounds exactly like an antic a Rucker descendant would love. Peter Rucker settled in Essex County, Va., and there he raised his 10 children. As the children left their home and married, many migrated south. Peter’s son, George, the ancestor of the Crabapple Ruckers, migrated to Franklin County, Ga. One of George’s sons, Simeon Bluford Rucker, along with his wife, and his mother, Catherine, left Franklin County and arrived in the area of Crabapple in 1833. He built a log cabin, which still stands today at 755 Old Rucker Road and is listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. The first internment in the Rucker Cemetery, possibly the earliest marked cemetery in the area, was Simeon’s mother, Catherine Ehart Rucker (1760-1835). At that time, the cemetery was on land owned by Simeon Bluford but is now part of Wallace Woods Subdivision. Many other notable homes and businesses in the area are attributed to Ruckers and listed on an inventory of places that appear to meet the National Register Criteria. Among those are the Joel Jackson Rucker Home and business, Rucker Cotton Gin, Rucker Warehouse, Rucker-Wright Home, L.G. Rucker Home, Troy Rucker Home, and the Harry Rucker, Sr. Home. Ruckers were known to work and play hard as well as contribute to the community they loved. Many worked

SPECIAL

the ground producing cotton and corn for their livelihood. Others, such as George Derrell Rucker, established a newspaper, The Alpharetta Free Press, was the county school superintendent, secretary of the Rucker Cotton Seed Company, postmaster of the area, president of the Milton County Bank and a steward of the Methodist Church. A contribution that was appreciated by young and old alike was a donation of land for the Crabapple Ball Field. In the early ’60s, Harry Rucker, Sr. and Joel Jackson Rucker each contributed property to be used by the community for baseball. Youth teams and young at heart shared the fields and many hours of entertainment and excitement. Many Rucker men were known for their athleticism in baseball and went on to play professionally. Nap Rucker played for a Brooklyn team, later called The Brooklyn Dodgers, and John Ruck-

er played with the New York Giants. John was also featured on the cover of Life Magazine April, 1940. Other Ruckers worked hard to preserve the beauty of the area we enjoy today. In 1970, Harry Rucker, Jr. and many other activists, including Celestine Sibley, writer for the Atlanta Constitution, worked diligently to prevent Atlanta’s second airport being built in the North Fulton area. Imagine what the pristine beauty of the area would be today if not for the hard work of those who loved the land. Hopefully this has piqued your interest in a family that took a chance in 1833 to venture to a new area to establish their home. This is not unlike those that have moved to Milton and the surrounding area in recent years. So, as you drive down Rucker Road, I hope this gives you a deeper appreciation of one of the original families that chose to make Milton home.

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 19

20 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

NORTH FULTON OFFICE 7855 NORTH POINT PKWY, #100 | ALPHARETTA, GA 30022 678-461-8700

KLOSTER GROUP

MICHELE COLLINS

#4 TEAM

#3 INDIVIDUAL

404-784-5287

678-614-9662

COMPANY WIDE

PETER KLOSTER

AWARD

DA 40

McGRAW & ASSOCIATES 678-642-8227

TEAM AUGELLO 770-241-1335

BRANDI NICKERSON 404-895-2943

LORI DePUCCI 678-772-4373

PAM GILLIG 770-862-4408

EVE JONES 770-365-1406

TREI SULL 770-778

DIANA FLORES 678-427-4089

KEY2 ATLANTA 770-789-8822

PAM SCUDELLARI 404-932-9621

LISA STEINBERG 678-993-8000

TRICIA FRAME 770-855-0257

DOUG PERKINS 770-560-6312

TER COUL 770-56

PHOENIX AWARD RECIPIENT IN 2019.

PHOENIX AWARD RECIPIENT IN 2019 & TOP 1%.

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 21

CONGRATULATIONS — To Our 2019 Top Sales Associates — FAMILY OF SERVICES

MISS EMMIE

RD OF EXCELLENCE

AVID SANDERS 04-285-0929

ROOKIE

OF THE YEAR

LYNDSEY COATES 678-527-9245

CONNIE MATTHEWS 678-296-6098

THE KLOSTER GROUP 404-784-5287

MICHELE COLLINS 678-614-9662

Prosperity Mortgage Prosperity Mortgage Campbell & Brannon #1 UNITS #1 BUYSIDE #1 BUYSIDE Campbell & Brannon #1 UNITS

NANCY MURPHY 678-641-9962 HN Insurance

IBLE LIVAN 78-7652

RUSSO & ASSOCIATES 770-712-0622

MARTY JOHNSON 404-432-5859

TRACY MORTON 404-784-6970

DANA COLEMAN 404-518-7523

SARA EAD 678-462-9507

DAVE WAGNER 678-628-6260

RRI LSTON 60-9617

SUSAN JANKOSKI 678-428-1232

PATTY ASH 678-557-2877

AUDREY JOUBERT 678-938-2166

FABER DoVALE 678-429-3031

CAROL WILLIAMS 404-210-4522

JOE HAMILTON 770-630-1589

22 | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020

Sponsored Section

The New Strong Gaining control over your fitness and your life For many people, aging equals lower metabolism, weight gain and less energy for activities you enjoy. This is directly related to loss of lean muscle. While you can’t avoid getting older, there are some steps you can take to stop the process of muscle loss and start rebuilding healthy, lean muscle. It doesn’t matter how old you are or whether you haven’t exercised in years. You can still regain lean muscle that improves your shape and increases your metabolism. Our downfall is inactivity. Too much sitting is the new smoking. Our bodies were meant to be active, stay active and be strong. When we stop doing meaningful exercise, we lose ground. What is meaningful exercise? A critical component of stimulating

the improvements we seek from exercise is the achievement of momentary muscular failure in each exercise performed. With steady-state activities, like walking on a treadmill or biking, there is no momentary muscular failure involved. Unless activity is demanding, it is practically worthless from an exercise perspective. However, if an activity is sufficiently demanding to take the targeted muscles to momentary failure, then it qualifies as meaningful exercise. Muscle failure should be viewed as a means of signaling the body that it needs to get stronger in order to meet the demands being placed upon it. What is the SuperSlow Zone solution? The SuperSlow Zone protocol is the original and genuine slow-motion, personal strength training workout. The exercise

protocol has been proven successful in both building muscle and increasing resting metabolism, thus allowing the body to burn more calories at rest.

SuperSlow Zone provides a safe and effective workout in a short amount of time so that you can get in, get out, and get on with your busy life!

SuperSlow Zone is helping adults get fit for life!

THE NEW

STRONG

Get a total body workout in just 20 minutes, 1 – 2 times a week! The benefits of our training include:

• Improved cardiovascular fitness • Greater muscular strength, endurance and tone • Increased metabolism and energy

Free Consultation & Sample Workout

Call 678-691-2969

7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Saturday

12540 Broadwell Road, Suite 2103, Milton | 678-691-2969 | SSZMilton.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS â€¢ Sponsored Section

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 23

24 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

Taking sports performance training to the next level Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has long been a trusted partner that families turn to when sick or injured kids and teens need care. With the opening of Children’s Sports Performance, a new sports training facility in Alpharetta, growing athletes can not only recover from injury but also work toward reaching their highest athletic potential under the Children’s umbrella. Children’s Sports Performance opened to the public in December, offering comprehensive sports training for individual youth and high school athletes, sports teams, elite athletes and even adults. The 3,000-square-foot facility is situated above Children’s at Webb Bridge (3155 North Point Parkway), which offers pediatric sports medicine and radiology services. Teaming up with Children’s in this new venture is EXOS, which describes itself as a human performance company. Trusted by the highest-performing athletes around the world, EXOS has trained Olympic athletes, MLS champions and top NFL draft picks. EXOS helps athletes at all levels improve functional movement, decrease the risk of injury, and build strength and power through targeted sports performance training. At Children’s Sports Performance,

training happens in small-group sessions that are customized according to the participants’ ages, sports, abilities and goals. Adults can train at the facility too, whether or not they have a child who is also working out there–Children’s Sports Performance memberships are open to the community. The approach to training is holistic, supported by research and guided by EXOS’ four pillars of human performance: mindset, nutrition, movement and recovery. Lu Fashina, performance manager and certified strength and conditioning specialist at the Alpharetta facility who has been affiliated with EXOS since 2014, attributes the program’s success to this evidence-based, comprehensive approach. “I think the ‘special sauce’ in what we do is that we have a system and a methodology that’s been proven and tested,” Fashina says. “We’ve used it with a lot of elite athletes and we’ve been able to scale it down to bring it to different communities and populations, and that’s what we’re hoping to build here.” The facility has state-of-the-art equipment, including turf space, free weights and other strength training equipment, machines that use pneumatic (air resistance) technology and

give real-time feedback, and just about every recovery tool an athlete could need, according to Fashina. Whether it’s an 8-year-old who’s new to a sport, an 18-year-old on the precipice of a college career, an adult who’s an exercise novice, or a former pro athlete, Fashina says anyone can benefit from the training at Children’s Sports Performance. “It’s for anybody who wants to

In 2020

Boost Your Brand 24/7! Stonger brands always boost sales.

Your source for personalized specialty products that showcase your logo and contact info at prices you can’t beat. Visit our website at www.AppenSigns.com and click on “Promotional Items” at the top.

APPEN

SIGNS & RESTORATION

Call for an estimate today! 770.722.9023 (cell) 770.442.3278 (x103)

www.AppenSigns.com

improve their performance in any way, whether that’s reducing pain, improving any type of performance output, just learning more about their bodies and figuring how to move them. It’s really any goal we can tailor and customize our program for,” Fashina says. Visit choa.org/childrenssportsperformance to learn more and sign up for a free training session and consultation.

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 25

Carson Nolan, Meniscus Tear

She might stick the landing like an Olympian, but she’s still growing. Growing bodies require special care, that’s why Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta specializes in treating teen athletes. Our team of doctors provides the coordinated care teens need throughout their recovery process to get them back out on the mat. It’s why where you take them matters. It’s why you take them to Children’s.

Visit choa.org/sportsmed to learn more.

Three Locations in Alpharetta and Cumming

WHERE YOU TAKE HER KNEE INJURY MATTERS

26 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

Emergency stroke care, back/neck pain relief are close to home Wellstar North Fulton Hospital welcomes two neurosurgeons When a stroke strikes, minutes matter. Roswell-area residents are fortunate Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, a Primary Stroke Center (PSC), is close by. Being a certified PSC means strict standards, set by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, have been met. The PSC designation signifies excellence in stroke care, and better outcomes for stroke patients. But North Fulton Hospital provides more than quality care for the specialized needs of stroke patients. Gen-

eral neurosurgery services, including complex and minimally invasive spinal surgery, are offered by two experienced neurosurgeons who recently joined the hospital’s Neurology team: Arthur Grigorian, M.D., and Basheer Shakir, M.D. Dr. Grigorian is a dual-trained neurosurgeon, performing traditional, open surgery, and less invasive endovascular neurosurgery, which involves threading a catheter through blood vessels to conduct procedures. “For example, a brain aneurysm, a bulge in a blood vessel, can sometimes be repaired by inserting a catheter in an artery, usually in the groin,” explained Dr. Grigorian. “Through the catheter, a coil is placed into the aneurysm, causing the blood to clot, and

the aneurysm to be destroyed. “We’re planning to enhance our operating room capabilities to allow us to perform these specialized, hybrid procedures,” he said. Dr. Shakir is a neurosurgeon with additional expertise in minimally invasive and complex spinal surgery. “I treat issues originating from the bottom of the skull to the tailbone,” said Dr. Shakir. “Some of my patients with neck or back pain have already undergone surgeries that didn’t resolve their discomfort,” said Dr. Shakir. “Patients come to me with pinched nerves in their arms or legs, and sometimes they’re unstable on their feet. I use motion- and musclepreservation technology to restore function and get them back to enjoying their lives. “Minimally invasive surgery is kinder and gentler,” he said, “with faster recovery, less time in the operating room and less pain medication. There usually is a solution to resolve patients’ pain.” For more information about Wellstar Medical Group Neurosurgery, contact 770-664-9600.

Stroke: Recognize symptoms, get medical help FAST Someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds on average, and stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability. If you’re having a stroke, it’s critical that you get medical attention right away. Immediate treatment may minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death. Thanks to recent advances, stroke treatments and survival rates have improved greatly over the last decade. Use the letters in FAST to spot stroke signs and know when to call 911: • Face Drooping • Arm Weakness • Speech (slurred or hard to understand) Additional symptoms include sudden: • Numbness • Confusion • Trouble Seeing • Trouble Walking • Severe Headache Source: American Stroke Association

The Memory Center Atlanta The Memory Center Atlanta is the most unique and comprehensive community for those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Devoted specifically to memory care, our expertly designed program meets the challenging conditions of an aging brain with a caring, interactive community. We understand a diagnosis of dementia doesn’t mean you or your loved one stops living, rather it means finding new ways to live by providing assistance to maintain an active and meaningful lifestyle. Our residents enjoy music, dancing, live entertainment, art, gardening, - even outings, pet therapy and religious services. Enjoy a drink in the Chattahoochee Tavern, grab a movie in the Fox Theater or ice cream at the Bull Dog Café. All residents experience socialization and activities accessible across all levels of dementia. Even those who need 24/7 care benefit from life at The Memory Center. Overseen by our medical director who specializes in the field of geriatric healthcare, our team of Licensed Practical Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants provide the best 24/7 care. Don’t let a crisis determine where your loved one receives care. If you are considering memory care, we encourage you to explore options as early as possible. Take the time to ask questions,

tour and include your loved one in the decision making process. Transitioning to memory care early ensures the best quality of life with daily socialization and engaging activities designed to meet the needs of you or your loved one. Get in touch - ask us a question or schedule a tour of The Memory Center Atlanta to learn more about how our team provides a seamless transition for your loved one into their new home. Located at 12050 Findley Rd, Johns Creek, GA 30097, less than ½ mile from Medlock Bridge Rd. directly behind Emory Johns Creek Hospital. Call Today, (770) 476-3678.

HEALTH & WELLNESS â€¢ Sponsored Section

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 27

BETTER HEALTH HAPPENS HERE

COMPREHENSIVE CARE CONVENIENT TO YOU Family Medicine Cardiac Diagnostics Cardiology

Hand Surgery Imaging

Pediatrics Rheumatology

Lab Services

General Surgery

Urgent Care

OrthoSport Physical Therapy

Urology

OrthoSport Physical Therapy, Imaging and Cardiac Diagnostics are services of Wellstar North Fulton Hospital.

WELLSTAR AVALON HEALTH PARK 2450 Old Milton Parkway | Alpharetta, GA 30009 (470) 267-0260

wellstar.org/avalon

28 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

Iron-deficiency anemia By MELANIE STEEN, CNM Modern OB/GYN Iron-deficiency anemia is a common condition in pregnancy, affecting approximately one in six women. Without MELANIE iron, our bodies cannot STEEN, CNM produce the proper red blood cells that supply our tissues with oxygen. Because of the increasing demands for oxygen-rich blood to sustain a pregnancy, women are often found to be deficient, or anemic. Certain additional factors make a woman more susceptible to developing anemia, such as multiple gestation, short interval pregnancies, frequent vomiting, an iron-poor diet, and a heavy pre-pregnancy menstrual flow. Women’s blood counts are often tested every trimester, as the demands for circulating red blood cells increase

as the pregnancy progresses. Through a simple blood test, your provider can detect the amount of hemoglobin in your body. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein responsible for carrying oxygen throughout your body. When your hemoglobin levels are low, AKA anemia, your body doesn’t receive adequate oxygen to all of its tissues. Consequently, we can see adverse symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, racing heart, chest pain, shortness of breath, pale skin, headaches and dizziness. In addition, pregnancy outcomes can be affected, resulting in possible low birth weight, preterm birth, low iron stores in offspring, and increased susceptibility to infection. Because of the negative implications, it is of vital importance to increase your iron stores if you have been diagnosed with anemia. The most effective prevention and first-line correction includes the addition of an iron-rich diet with accompanying vitamin C (orange juice) to

DR. j. reyes

DR. i. reyes

Nuria Nelkin, CNM

DR. KIM

DR. Kenkel

Emily Dixon, CNM

enhance absorption. Some examples of iron-rich foods include: green leafy veggies, collard greens, egg yolks, raisins, prunes, liver, oysters, and some fortified cereals. Pro-tip: utilizing cast-iron while cooking can increase the amount of iron you consume, as iron passes into your food from the cookware. In addition to a change in diet, depending on

DR. MMBAGA

DR. Pereira

LIz Coleman, CNM

Kortney Rogers, CNM

your deficiency, your provider may also encourage an oral iron supplementation of ferrous sulfate 2-3 times a day, or in severe cases, IV iron infusions. If you have been diagnosed with anemia, or are experiencing any of the above symptoms, know that you are not alone. Please speak with your Modern OB/GYN provider for more information.

HEALTH & WELLNESS â€¢ Sponsored Section

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 29

30 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

Your long term care policy could be the key to staying in your own home Brought to You by — Home Helpers of Alpharetta You or your older loved one planned ahead years ago and bought a Long Term Care (LTC) Policy. While you’ve faithfully paid your premiums every year, it may be as long as 20 years or more since you reviewed what that policy can provide. As care needs begin to surface, many people aren’t using the benefits they’ve paid for or understand when it makes sense to utilize LTC. Let’s review some general guidelines that apply to most policies, and some facts that may surprise you. There are typically two circumstances when you can consider starting LTC. The first is when you need help with at least two Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s). Those are the everyday basic activities of bathing, dressing, toileting or incontinence, transferring and eating. The second is when there is cognitive impairment. This could be due to conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. While physical assistance may not be the main concern here, help is needed with reminders and cues to just get through each day. Your LTC plan will have forms that you can provide to your doctor who will write an order confirming the need for assistance. Using your LTC policy does not affect Medicare. Here are some important facts. Your policy has benefit amounts, maximums and terms you need to know. There is typically an elimination period of 30, 60 or 90 days depending on the policy you chose. The elimination period on a longterm care policy works like a deductible: It’s the number of days you pay for care before the policy pays out. This

may, however, be waived for in-home care and reimbursement could start immediately. Call your provider if you have questions about these details. While LTC can be applied towards assisted living, many people don’t know that it can also apply towards in-home care if provided by a licensed agency. This can allow you to age in place in the comfort of your own home. It’s important to always stay current with your premiums. An added benefit is that once your policy is activated, you won’t pay premiums during the time you’re receiving care (the benefit). When you consider in-home care, you need to make sure you are working with professionals who understand and can help you navigate the use of your LTC plan. At Home Helpers of Alpharetta, we handle all the ongoing paperwork and filings that are needed as you use your LTC policy. We can also join you in a call to your LTC provider to help determine what your policy provides. Our skilled Caregivers have been trained to execute a comprehensive care plan that’s created for your unique needs. They can assist with all personal care, help around the house, provide transportation and specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc. The companionship and assistance a carefully matched, heart centered Home Helpers caregiver provides can also help build and boost self-confidence. We know that despite the passing years, each of our clients has a youthful spirit. Engaging that lets us share in the richness of their lives, both past and present. For a free in-home consultation and personalized plan contact Home Helpers of Alpharetta today at (678) 430-8511.

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

Why most people really should get the shingles vaccine By Dr. Brent Taylor Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta The varicella zoster virus (Chickenpox virus) is insidious. It infects us when we are young then often lies in wait for decades. You can’t Dr. Taylor feel it. You can’t see it. But it’s there, waiting to strike again – as a rash called shingles. The virus’s opportunity to cause shingles often comes when our bodies have been worn down by another illness, an immunosuppressive medication such as prednisone or a stressful life event. The virus starts to replicate; it emerges from its home in cell bodies called dorsal root ganglia near your spine or skull and travels down the nerves to a patch of skin where the virus erupts in a blistering, painful rash. For many years, shingles was thought to be a mild condition – a painful rash that came, lasted a few weeks, then was gone. With time, shingles was recognized to carry the risk of serious long-term complications. For example, the virus that causes shingles can cause strokes or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain that can cause brain damage). If the virus reactivates in the facial nerve, shingles can cause paralysis of one side of the face and hearing damage. If the virus reactivates in a nerve that goes both to the nose and to the eye, then blindness can result (known as herpes ophthalmicus). So Red Alert: shingles on the face can be a vision or hearing emergency. However, the much more common complication of shingles is “post-herpetic neuralgia,” which means nerve pain after herpes infection (VZV, the virus that causes shingles, is a member of the herpes family of viruses). Post-herpetic neuralgia is nothing to dismiss lightly. It is a neurologic syndrome of pain, tingling, itching or other discomfort that occurs often for months to years after the rash of shingles has gone away. The pain can at times be debilitating. There

is no cure. One only hopes it improves with time. Medications like gabapentin can help treat the symptoms, but such medications carry their own side-effects and problems. The CDC recommends that most individuals fifty years or older receive two shots of the Shingrix vaccine two to six months apart. Because protection from shingles is strongest only for the first five years after vaccination and most cases of shingles occur in those sixty and older, some physicians advocate getting vaccinated at age sixty or older instead of fifty. Dermatologists usually do not carry or administer the vaccine, so the exact age to be vaccinated should be discussed with your internist or family doctor as should any questions about whether re-vaccination is advisable after a number of years. Why all the fuss? Is shingles really a common enough problem to worry about? Currently, about half of people living to age eighty five will develop shingles at some point in their lives, and post-herpetic neuralgia occurs in at least ten percent of cases of shingles. Shingles is not fun. Its Norwegian name is “helvetesild” which means “hell’s fire.” Many Norwegians are descendants of the Vikings, known to be a tough and stoic lot and if they call something “hell’s fire,” then it is worth avoiding! Evidence is mixed, but treatment with valacylovir and other medications within 72 hours of the onset of shingles decreases pain and may decrease the chance of developing post-herpetic neuralgia. If you are ever worried you may have shingles, be sure to seek healthcare immediately and avoid and warn individuals who are pregnant, immunocompromised or who otherwise might be harmed by catching shingles, as the virus is contagious. Dr. Brent Taylor is a board-certified dermatologist, fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon, and is certified by the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. Surgical, medical and aesthetic services are available. If you or a loved one has a skin or vein care need, please consider making an appointment today.

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 31

32 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

Emory Women’s Center at Findley Road expands service to include midwifery care Emory Women’s Center at Findley Road is excited to expand our women’s health service to include midwifery care. Our Certified Nurse-Midwives are experts in providing safe and satisfying personalized healthcare to mothers during pregnancy, labor, birth, and breastfeeding. Our Certified Nurse-Midwives’ family-centered care extends throughout the postpartum period and beyond. To make an appointment call: 404-778 - 3401

Emory Women’s Center at Findley Road is excited to expand our women’s health service to include midwifery care. Our Certified Nurse-Midwives are experts in providing safe and satisfying personalized healthcare to mothers during pregnancy, labor, birth, and breastfeeding. Our Certified Nurse-Midwives’ family-centered care extends throughout the postpartum period and beyond. While midwifery has roots in traditional birthing practices, the choice to use a midwife has become increasingly popular in our modern time, with the number of hospital births attended by midwives increasing annually. In 2018 National Vital Statistics Reports recorded that Certified Nurse-Midwives attended 351,968 births nationally, which represents 9.1% of total US births.

JANICE COLLINS, CNM

CHRISTINE HIGGINGS, CNM

ANTOINETTE LEEGREGORY, CNM

Midwifery at Findley Road FAQs What is a Certified Nurse Midwife? Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) are classified as advanced practice registered nurses (APRN). In addition to traditional RN training, CNMs complete coursework through an accredited master’s or doctoral degree program. Our certified nurse-midwives can provide reproductive healthcare services, as well as care throughout and after delivery. What services can a CMN provide outside of my pregnancy and delivery needs? Emory CMNs complement our full range of women’s health services. Working in partnership with our OBGYNs, our CMNs may provide you other healthcare services such as: • Breastfeeding training and education • New parent education on infant care (i.e., SIDS and colic) • Birthing process preparation for

parents-to-be and counseling on issues including anesthesia and how to handle complications • Providing regular exams before and after childbirth • Staying with a mother during the labor and delivery process • Being on the lookout for complications that require medical intervention by one of our Emory Women’s Center OBGYNs • Providing postpartum care for mothers and infants OBGYN or CMN, how do I know which is right for me? Part of the benefit of choosing Emory Women’s Center is the partnership with our Emory faculty obstetrics and gynecology physicians who are present twenty-four hours a day at Emory Johns Creek Hospital. If you have been diagnosed with a preexisting condition that may create a need for complex care management or cesarean delivery, our OB-GYNs are on-hand to assist in any pregnancy need to safely deliver your baby. If you are interested in learning more about Emory Women’s Center at Findley Road or want to schedule an appointment with one of our Certified NurseMidwives, please contact us at 404-7783401. 12000 Findley Rd., Johns Creek, GA 30097.

SPORTS

POPE 56, ALPAHRETTA 26

Alpharetta girls take fourth By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Despite a strong regular season, Alpharetta girls basketball will enter the state tournament as the No. 4 seed from Region 7-AAAAAA after an abysmal region tournament. The Raiders entered the region tourney as the top seed but were dispatched handily in their two games, including Saturday’s 5626 loss to Pope in the third-place game. The Greyhounds’ region-leading offense put the game out of reach early, and the Raiders were held to single-digit scoring in each period. Alpharetta entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed and earned an automatic bid to the state tournament by besting the field in the regular season. Despite the high expectations for success in the region tourney, the Raiders had an extremely frustrating 24 hours. Friday night, No. 4 seed Johns Creek dominated Alpharetta in the semifinals, 46-18, the largest losing margin for the Raiders all season. On Saturday, the Raiders did not fare much better against Pope. The Greyhounds charged to a 15-4 lead and outscored Alpharetta 20-6 in

the second quarter to lead by 25 points at the half. Pope doubled the Raiders’ scoring in the third ahead of a shortened, 6-minute fourth quarter. Simone Lett led the Raiders with nine points followed by six from Njeri Lewis. “Teams are making adjustments, and we’re just not combating them,” Alpharetta head coach Rickey Jordan said. “Teams are packing it in on the zone against us, our shooters have gone ice cold, we’re having a hard time driving and finishing. We just need to get back to the gym and try to get better this week one day at a time.” Jordan said his team will need to regroup ahead of the state tournament which tips of Feb. 14-15 with the Raiders as the No. 4 seed from the region. Part of that regrouping goes beyond schemes and plays, it deals with a team atmosphere. “I want the girls to be supportive,” Jordan said. “This is frustrating on all ends, the players, the coaches. And as young women, I want them to stay in it, be supportive of one another through the frustration. Hold your teammates accountable, but be a support for them.” Alpharetta will go on the road to face the Region 5 champion in the first round of the state tournament.

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 33

JOHNS CREEK 48, CAMBRIDGE 43

Johns Creek girls hold off Bears to capture school’s first region title By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek girls basketball made history Saturday night with a 48-43 win over Cambridge in the 7-AAAAAA tournament, the first region basketball title for any Gladiators team, boys or girls. The win continued the rising trajectory of a program that had never reached the state playoffs four years ago. After earning their first state bid in 2017-18, the Gladiators returned last season and will enter this year’s bracket as a No. 1 seed with a region championship under their belt. “This group has fought and fought, and the three seniors we have this year have played all four years,” Johns Creek head coach Kirk Call said. “They kept getting closer and closer, and to get over that hump, I’m just so happy for them.” To capture the title, the Gladiators had to outperform a Cambridge squad that is having its best season in program history and chasing its first region crown. The two championship-hungry teams

battled throughout the contest, with the largest margin of the night a 10-point Johns Creek lead. Despite exchanging blows, Johns Creek built its lead to double digits in the third quarter and held the charging Bears in the fourth period to secure the region crown. It was quite the birthday present for Call, with his squad singing “Happy Birthday” to him before accepting the championship trophy. “It was the best thing they could have given me,” Call said. The first half featured physical play and a defensive battle from both teams with the Gladiators building a 26-21 lead at the half. Johns Creek was led throughout the night by junior Carson Tanguilig, who had an exceptional first half with 13 points, nine rebounds and a steal. She also drew two charges in the second quarter. The guard finished the night with 19 points and 11 rebounds. “Defensively they were so locked in early and did such a good job of having each other’s backs,” Call said. “It took [Cambridge] out of what they wanted

See BEARS, Page 36

34 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

CHATTAHOOCHEE 66, CAMBRIDGE 56

SPORTS

Cougars charge back in fourth quarter to down Cambridge for region title By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Heading into Saturday night’s Region 7-AAAAAA boys championship game featuring No. 3 seed Cambridge and No. 1 seed Chattahoochee, Cougars’ head coach Chris Short had thoughts of this time last year. In 2019, his squad was the favorites to capture the No. 1 seed for the region tournament and seemed destined to reach the finals. However, Hooch dropped its last two regular season region games, relegating the Cougars to the No. 2 seed. In the semifinals of the 2019 region tourney, Hooch dropped a 72-70 heartbreaker to the North Atlanta in the semifinals on what Short called, “kind of a fluke call.” And with that result, the Cougars’ hopes of earning the region crown were dashed after expectations had been so high. So Short was especially pleased with his team downing the defending region

champs Saturday for Hooch’s first region title since 2012. “I’m so happy for our kids,” Short said. “We have talked a lot about this moment since that moment a year ago.” But at the end of the third quarter, it appeared the Cougars’ might once again fall short of the 7-AAAAAA championship. The teams were deadlocked in the first half, but when the horn blew to start the third quarter, Cambridge seized on the Cougars. The Bears forced empty Chattahoochee possessions, scored quickly in transition and grabbed defensive boards to open the period on a 17-2 run to lead 45-30. But before the Bears could completely run away with the game, Hooch began to reel them in. The Cougars responded with a run of their own to cut Cambridge’s lead to 50-40 entering the fourth. If the third quarter belong to the Bears, there was no question the fourth

CITY OF MILTON NOTICE OF MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR USE PERMIT/CONCURRENT VARIANCE (Chapter 64 of the City Code) Number: Location: Applicant: Request:

Public Hearings:

U20-01/VC20-01 12900 Arnold Mill Road Ebenezer United Methodist Church A use permit (Sec. 64-1804) to construct a 23,000 sq.ft. activity center on the existing church property (5,088 sq.ft.) for a total of 28,088 sq.ft. on 6.61 acres. To request a four-part concurrent variance to 1) delete the 75-foot undisturbed buffer and 10-foot improvement setback adjacent to the north property lines and the property line labeled N10 degrees 22 minutes 54 seconds East (Sec. 64-1143 (3)(B)), 2) to allow parking in front of a building (Sec. 64-1143(g) (5)(c)), 3) reduce the required parking (Sec. 64-1410), and 4) To reduce the use area/structure setback from 100 feet to 25 feet from any adjoining residential district or AG-1 used for single family dwellings (Sec. 64-1804(b)(1)). Planning Commission Meeting Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. Mayor and City Council Meeting Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.

Location:

Milton City Hall 2006 Heritage Walk Milton, GA 30004 678-242-2540

JOE PARKER/HERALd

E.J. White looks to work around Hooch defender Gil Matondo.

was all Chattahoochee. “Our seniors have learned, and everything we’ve been through and our schedule as a team to prep us for these moments, I think it showed in the fourth quarter for us to be resilient and not give up,” Short said. Hooch junior guard AJ White knocked down a three, and Region Player of the Year Cameron Sheffield also converted from beyond the arc to kick off a run that nearly erased Cambridge’s lead in the opening two minutes of the quarter. The Cougars never let up. Suddenly the Bears had their backs against the wall with Chattahoochee running a zone trap defense, a scheme not used often by the Cougars, but one that gave the Bears fits. “We haven’t run that zone to create the trap and create some turnovers,”

Short said. “But the thought behind it worked, and it did what it was supposed to do.” The Bears struggled against the trap and could not seem to find an uncontested shot. It did not help their cause that the shots they were taking were off the mark. Eventually, Hooch would score 18 points in the fourth before the Bears had netted more than two to lead 58-52 with two minutes remaining. The Bears added just one more basket for a total of six points in the final quarter, allowing Hooch to claim the region crown. “Cambridge hit us in the mouth a lot tonight, hats off to them and coach [Chip] Flemmer does a great job coaching those guys,” Short said. “There is a reason whey they have played in three straight championship games. They played a great game, but we just hung in there. I’m just so proud of our kids. Our seniors deserve it, they have worked their butts off.” White led all scorers with 28 points, and Sheffield netted 23 with 10 rebounds. Cambridge was led by wing E.J. Smith, who scored 23 points, 16 of which came in the senior’s standout first half performance. Senior forward Sola Adebisi had four points and nine rebounds while junior Davis Sager netted 12 points with nine rebounds for the Bears. Chattahoochee and Cambridge will host in the first round of the state tournament which tips off Feb. 14-15. “The name of the game right now is 1-0,” Short said. “Season two is now, and we want to be prepared.”

Invitation to Bid Walking School Bus Smartphone Application Development ITB NUMBER 20-CD04 Sealed Bids Due Date: February 20, 2020 2:00PM Local Time Milton City Hall To be publicly announced at approximately 2:05 PM in the City of Milton City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004. The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids. The City of Milton is requesting proposals from interested parties for a public private partnership. The request for sealed bids for the Walking School Bus Smartphone Application Development will be posted on the following websites the week of February 6, 2020. http://www.cityofmiltonga.us or http://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/PR_index.jsp

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 35

It’s back, Vegan Chili.

10% OFF when you mention this ad.

We’re hard-pressed to think of another fast-casual spot that’s led by nutrition in the same way Freshii is, on our scale. Turmeric juices, Energii Bites and grain bowls only skim the surface. So come by, eat fresh and taste the difference.

Hours: Mon-Sat 7:30am - 9:00pm Sunday 9:00am - 6:00pm | 12460 Crabapple Rd Unit 502, Alpharetta, GA 30004 | freshii.com | (470) 233-7036

36 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

Bears:

SPORTS

Continued from Page 33 Request for Proposals Janitorial and Facilities Maintenance Technician Services RFP NUMBER 20-PW06 Sealed Proposals Due Date: March 5, 2020 2:00PM Local Time Milton City Hall To be publicly announced at approximately 2:05 PM in the City of Milton City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004. The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals. The City of Milton is requesting proposals from interested parties for a public private partnership. The request for sealed proposals for Janitorial and Facilities Maintenance Technician Services will be posted on the following websites the week of February 13, 2020. http://www.cityofmiltonga.us or http://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/PR_index.jsp

to do a little bit. And really, one thing everybody underestimates about this team is how much they love and fight for each other. In that first half we rotated over and created three charges, we’re rotating on the backside, and seeing kinds block out to allow their teammate to come in a get a rebound. They were so selfless tonight.” The Gladiators continued to add to the margin in the third quarter and entered the fourth with a 37-27 lead. However, the Bears began picking up momentum in the fourth behind freshman Jordynn Dudley. The guard had been kept quiet in the first half and limited to just two free throws, but in the fourth she led the Cambridge comeback. Dudley scored four of the Bears’ opening seven points in the period, and a contested bucket from the Bears’ Angelina Cofrancesco cut John Creek’s lead to 41-36 midway through the quarter. The teams exchanged scores, including a 3-pointer from the Bears’ Kennedy Daniels, to put the margin at 47-41 with 65 seconds remaining. After three called jump balls, a Johns Creek turnover and missed free throw from the Gladiators,

the Bears had just 18 seconds remaining in their comeback bid. A three that would have cut the margin to one possession was missed, however, and two made free throws from Tanguilig sealed the win. Dudley led Cambridge with 14 points and nine rebounds with Confrancesco netting 10. Nylah Njeri scored 11 for the Gladiators. In a tweet following the game, Cambridge head coach Lesley Broadwell said she was proud of her team for what they have accomplished this season, and especially the team mindset and character her squad has. She said the Bears were close against Johns Creek, but “could never quite get that run we needed.” “An awesome opportunity awaits us in the state playoffs, and after a little rest we are back to work to make [Bears] country proud,” the tweet said. Johns Creek and Cambridge entered the finals behind notable semifinals games on Friday night. The Gladiators dominated tournament No. 1 seed Alpharetta, 46-18, and Cambridge received a buzzer-beating layup from Dudley to advance the Bears to the finals over Pope. Both teams will host in the first round of the state tournament, which takes place Feb. 14-15.

College: Continued from Page 6 for college, based on studies by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, it has also become a financial victim of its own success. In the past five years, the cost to taxpayers for dual enrollment has increased by 325 percent, according to a 2019 audit, increasing from $18.5 million in 2014 to $78.8 million in 2018. This year the state budget proposes allocating $108 million to cover tuition, fees and books. Along with escalating costs, the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts also noted a lack of checks and balances in the program. The audit found examples of students taking aerobics classes paid for by the state, and students being approved for credit hours well beyond

SCHOOLS the limit of 15 credits a semester. One student cited in the 40-page audit accumulated 64 credit hours in a single semester while others earned credits far in excess of graduation requirements. Under HB 444, students can earn a maximum of 30 college credit hours through dual enrollment. It also limits participation primarily to 11th and 12th grade students. Ninth and 10th graders may still participate in some circumstances. Provisions will be made for students currently enrolled in the program. High school students who wish to earn more than 30 college credits — the equivalent of one year of college — will either have to pay the tuition or use their allotment of HOPE Scholarship credits for the excess hours. Any retake of courses will not be funded by the state, and after withdrawing from two dual enrollment courses the student will no longer be

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 37

eligible for the program. The proposed changes under HB 444 are estimated to save from $15-$17 million annually. The bill was passed by the

House during the last legislative session. The House will now consider the current bill with the Senate amendments added last week.

A Very Special Offer for Your Prearrangement Needs! Generations of local families have placed their trust in Canton Funeral Home and Cemetery at Macedonia Memorial Park. Today, more people are making arrangements in advance to lift the burden from loved ones and provide a sense of calm. To help you give your loved ones peace of mind, we are offering for a limited time* a cemetery plot at no cost for every prearranged burial funeral or a niche at no cost for each prearranged cremation. Stop by or call for an appointment to evaluate your need and receive your free pre-planning guide. *Offer valid until March 31, 2020

10655 East Cherokee Dr. | Canton, GA 30115 | www.MacedoniaMP.com | 770.479.2788

38 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

ONLINE INCLUDED C a l l t o d a y t o p l a c e y o u r a d 4 7 0 . 2 2 2 . 8 4 6 9 o r e m a i l c l a s s i f i e d s @ a p p e n m e d i a g r o u p . c o m • FA X : 7 7 0 - 4 7 5 - 1 2 1 6

Help Wanted

Bargains

Full-time

Furniture

S E C R E TA R I A L / BOOKKEEPING: Quickbooks/ internet/ tech-savvy. to $15/ hour. 770-231-5819

Antique dining table, excellent condition $40 negotiable. Patio table/ chairs. 678-663-5953

EXPERIENCED SEASONAL Tax Preparers needed. Remote work. Flexible hours. AFM CPAs and Advisors, LLC (770) 2177371 mike@ afmcpa.com

GREENLAWNROSWELL 4 lots, Garden of Lakeside. $16,000 or make offer. (Prefer to sell all 4). 470-454-7383

TELESALES/INSIDE SALES CLOSER

Phone experience/skills. Reliable, organized, self-motivated, basic real estate investing knowledge. Compensation: $60K+++/year. (No cap) PartnerDriven. com. To apply, call Abe 678-894-6783. abe@PartnerDriven.com. INP North America, Inc seeks Lead Automation Project Engineer for Alpharetta, Georgia office. Bachelor’s or equiv. in Mechatronics Engineering or closely related field & 2 yrs exp as automation engineer or similar position required. Email resume w/ cvr ltr to gaby. beyer@actemium.com, reference job #LAPE001

Part-time DRIVERS Flower shop. Valentines Day week; Paid by the delivery. Retirees welcome. 770-6427878

Cemetery

Real Estate HOW TO SELL YOUR HOME YOURSELF AND SAVE THE COMMISSION Free Report reveals 10 Inside Tips http://bit.ly/ sellwithnoagent or 1-833-768-7961 ID#1017

Business Services Legal Notice Notice is hereby given that articles of incorporation that will incorporate ST Professional Management Inc has been delivered to the Secretary of State in accordance with Georgia Business Corporation Code.The initial registered office of the corporation is located at 401 S Main St, Unit 5, Alpharetta, GA 30009 and its initial registered agent at such address is HuiLing,Tang

Instruction Classes MATHEMATICS: Many students advanced to Ivy league. 20 years advanced experience, especially SAT. KAIST Mathematics B.S. Purdue Mathematics M.S. Your home $35/ hour. 404-933-7094. pauljkim1@yahoo.com

SERVICE DIRECTORY Cleaning Services WiiKleen: Residential/ Commercial. Free estimates. Mention this ad for discount. Family owned/operated. Call today! 678-769-9745

Concrete/Asphalt

We fix ugly

DRIVEWAYS & PATIOS $150 OFF

Any job over $1500. Driveways Patios Sidewalks Walls & Steps Slabs NEW or REPAIR Residential Or Commercial FREE ESTIMATES

Text or Call 678-648-2010 Many local references. Competitive rates. McKemey Concrete

BOLD TYPE WILL REALLY MAKE YOUR AD STAND OUT. CALL 770-4423278

Concrete/Asphalt

Retaining Walls Brick or Wood

Contact Ralph Rucker. Many local references. Honest, punctual, professional and reasonable prices!

678-898-7237 Driveway REPAIR or REPLACEMENT Driveways, patios, sidewalks, walls. $150 off any job over $1500. Residential or Commercial. For a FREE estimate call Dave of McKemey Concrete and Hardscapes 678914-2576. Competitive pricing. Many local references

DRIVEWAYS PATIOS Repairs

Foundations Decorative Concrete for FREE ESTIMATE Call 770-766-5566 Ask for Bert Quality, professional, competitive concrete work. Many references. Reliable, Honest, Competitive. We do it right.

Flooring

Home Improvement

Landscaping

Roofing

PHILLIPS FLOORING Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes. Re-grouting is also available. Call 678-8871868 for free estimate.

PATIOS, DRIVEWAYS, SIDEWALKS and WALLS:

Full Service LANDSCAPING Company

ROOF TROUBLE?

$150 OFF any job

770-744-5700 “Appen-Rated 99”

Install/Repairs: Carpet, Laminate, Tile, Vinyl Wood floors, Backsplashes, and Shower surrounds. Carpet wrinkles removed! Call today for estimate! 706-429-4453

Many local references.

Capable of doing your job – grading, hauling and tree service.

Gutters AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Repaired and Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aarons-gutters. com. Senior citizen discount! 770-934-2766

Handyman Kitchen, Bath:

Plumbing, Electrical Drywall; Other Repairs/ Installations. Home Maintenance. Senior discounts and affordable rates! 20 years experience. Mike 678-986-4833

Haulers

Fencing SPECTRUM FENCE Residential/Commercial Chain-link, wood, vinyl, iron, aluminum fencing. Driveway gates. Fence painting/ staining. Custom design. Long-lasting. 5-year workmanshipwarranty. 770-367-2925 SpectrumFence.com

Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling, Etc. Many local references-

Call Ralph Rucker

678-898-7237

over $1500

Call Dave McKemey at 678-648-2010 DRIVEWAYS PATIOS Repairs Foundations Decorative Concrete for FREE ESTIMATE Call 770-766-5566 Ask for Bert Quality, professional, competitive concrete work. Many references. Reliable, Honest, Competitive. We Do It Right.

Finegan Home Improvements LLC: License #RBQA004932. Remodeling, handyman. 34 years experience. Basements finished, decks, screen porches, doors, drywall, painting, flooring, custom kitchens, bathrooms. All insurance. Paul Finegan 404-353-5611 Phillips Home Improvement We offer drywall, painting, carpentry, plumbing and electrical. Basements finished, kitchen and bath rehabs. All types flooring. Also total home rehab for those who have a rental house or one to sell. Call 678-887-1868 for a free estimate

Ralph Rucker

678-898-7237 Carreno Landscaping Monthly lawn maintenance, Retaining walls, irrigation, sod installation, plants, mulchfertilization, tree removal, pinestraw installation. 404-312-5082 or text address for work.

Pinestraw PINESTRAW, mulch delivery/installation available. Firewood available. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612.

Remodeling WOODPOINT CABINETS: Your One-Stop Remodeling Shop! We offer complimentary consultation and estimates for house painting/renovation projects, kitchen, bath & basement remodeling, cabinet, vanity & closet design. “We Specialize In Listening To What You Want.” We’re located right by the Campbell Tire at 500 N. Main St, Alpharetta GA 30009. Ph: 470-5453045. email: Contact@ WoodpointCabinets. com Web: www. WoodpointCabinets.com

Call for FREE Quote $500 OFF* New Roof Purchase.

Findlay Roofing *Cannot combine with any other discount.

ROOF LEAKS? Leaks stopped, roofs repaired, roof maintenance. 35 yrs. exp. Written guarantee. Free Est. Girard Roofing. girardroofing.com 770-476-3539

Tree Services Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts: 24 hour emergency service. Licensed, insured. Workers Comp, insurance claims. 25+ years experience. Family business. Free estimates. We Love Challenges! Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts, 770-512-8733. www.yellowribbon tree.com 404Cuttree. One of the most experienced and reliable tree companies in North Atlanta. Perfect reviews and reliable, professional, and honest service. Free quotes. Fully insured. 770Tree.com 678-506-0006 COMPLETE TREE SERVICES Appen-Rated 98 Text or Call us for a FREE quote appointment. Tree removal, Pruning, Stump grinding, Free mulch, Fully insured, Emergency 24/7 770-450-8188

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 13, 2020 | 39

NATIONAL ADVERTISING CADNET ADS Auto Donations

Medical

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call

ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. FREE information kit. Call 877-929-9587

1-800-245-0398

Autos Wanted CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! 2002 and Newer! Any Condition. Running or Not. Competitive Offer! Free Towing! We’re Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-416-2330.

Educational MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES NEEDED! Train online to get the skills to become a Medical Office Professional at CTI! 1-833-766-4511 AskCTI.com AIRLINES ARE HIRING Get FAA approved hands on Aviation mechanic training. Financial Aid for qualified students - Career placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888686-1704 COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train at home to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Call CTI for details! 888-449-1713 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

Financial ARE YOU BEHIND $10k OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888-626-3581

Health & Medical Recently diagnosed with LUNG CANCER and 60+ years old? Call now! You and your family may be entitled to a SIGNIFICANT CASH AWARD. Call 877-648-6308 today. Free Consultation. No Risk. VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 100 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures. 888-623-3036 or http://www.

ATTENTION DIABETICS! Save money on your diabetic supplies! Convenient home shipping for monitors, test strips, insulin pumps, catheters and more! To learn more, call now! 844-698-4858

Miscellaneous BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work… You reap the Rewards! Call for a FREE Author’s Submission Kit: 866-951-7214 LIVE PAIN FREE with CBD products from AceWellness. We guarantee highest quality, most competitive pricing on CBD products. Softgels, oils, skincare, Vape & more. Coupon Code: PRINT20 1-855-681-3113 DIRECTV NOW. No Satellite Needed. $40/month. 65 Channels. Stream Breaking News, Live Events, Sports & On Demand Titles. No Annual Contract. No Commitment. CALL 1-866-825-6523 CASH FOR CARS: We Buy Any Condition Vehicle, 2002 and Newer. Nationwide Free Pick Up! Call Now: 1-800-864-5960.

Autos Wanted CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! All Makes/Models 2002-2018! Any Condition. Running or Not. Top $$$ Paid! Free Towing! We’re Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888985-1806

Education & Training AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING – Get FAA Technician certification. Approved for military benefits. Financial Aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-453-6204

Health & Fitness GENERIC VIAGRA and CIALIS! 100 Pills $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-8895515

Miscellaneous Cross country Moving, Long distance Moving Company, out of state move $799 Long Distance Movers. Get Free quote on your Long distance move. 1-844-452-1706

Miscellaneous Call Empire Today® to schedule a FREE in-home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring. Call Today! 1-855404-2366 DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for [350 ] procedures. Call 1-877308-2834 for details. www. dental50plus.com/cadnet 6118-0219 HEAR AGAIN! Try our hearing aid for just $75 down and $50 per month! Call 800-426-4212 and mention 88272 for a risk free trial! FREE SHIPPING! Portable Oxygen Concentrator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 888-609-2189 DISH Network $59.99 For 190 Channels! Add High Speed Internet for ONLY $19.95/ month. Call Today for $100 Gift Card! Best Value & Technology. FREE Installation. Call 1-855837-9146 Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855402-0373

DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. 1-833872-2545. SAVE BIG on HOME INSURANCE! Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/ year! Call 866-695-8390! (M-F 8am-8pm Central) Make a Connection. Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. Try it FREE. Call NOW: Call 1-877-737-9447 18+

dental50plus.com/58 Ad# 6118

Home & Garden

Travel

Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-

DISCOUNT AIR TRAVEL. Call Flight Services for best pricing on domestic & international flights inside and from the US. Serving United, Delta, American & Southwest airlines. Call for free quote now! Have travel dates ready! 855-638-3462

Miscellaneous

Two great new offers from AT&T Wireless! Ask how to get the Next Generation Samsung Galaxy S10e FREE. FREE iPhone with AT&T’s Buy one, Give One. While supplies last! CALL 1-866-565-8452 or www. freephonesnow.com//cadnet

Become a Published Author. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing-Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author’s Guide 1-877-626-2213

Get NFL Sunday Ticket FREE w/ DIRECTV Choice All-Included Package. $59.99/ month for 12 months. 185 Channels PLUS Thousands of Shows/Movies On Demand. FREE Genie HD DVR Upgrade. Call 1-855-781-1565 or satellitedealnow.com/cadnet !! OLD GUITARS WANTED!! GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277 Applying for Social Security Disability or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc., Social Security Disability Attorneys, 1-855-498-6323! FREE Consultations. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)] Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-481-3969 or visit www. walkintubquote.com/national

Earthlink High Speed Internet. As Low As $14.95/month (for the first 3 months.) Reliable High Speed Fiber Optic Technology. Stream Videos, Music and More! Call Earthlink Today 1-855-520-7938 AT&T INTERNET Plus DIRECTV Only $89.99/month! 155+ Channels plus super high speed Internet! Free NFL Sunday ticket! Free HD DVR ! Stream 1000’s of free shows and movies! 877-541-0009 Attention all Homeowners in jeopardy of Foreclosure? We can help stop your home from foreclosure. The Foreclosure Defense helpline can help save your home. The Call is absolutely free. 1-855-5166641.

Miscellaneous

CALL NOW AND SAVE ON YOUR NEXT PRESCRIPTION

All pricing in U.S. dollars and subject to change without notice. “We accept Amex, Electronic Checking, Personal Check or International Money Order.” *Prices shown are for the equivalent generic drug if available.*

Mailing address: World Health Link PO Box 42 Station Main • Winnipeg, MB R3C 2G1 Canada

CODE MG09

AIRLINE CAREERS Get FAA approved maintenance training at campuses coast to coast. Job placement assistance. Financial Aid for qualifying students. Military friendly. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance

800-481-7894

Wanted to Buy Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201

1-855-530-8993

CALL 470-222-8469 TO LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN THE SERVICE DIRECTORY

ADVERTISE HERE!

CALL 770-442-3278 OR EMAIL US AT CLASSIFIEDS@APPENMEDIAGROUP.COM

Buy it, Sell it, find it! In the Herald classIfIeds

AT&T Internet. Starting at $40/ month w/12-mo agmt. Includes 1 TB of data per month. Get More For Your High-Speed Internet Thing. Ask us how to bundle and SAVE! Geo & svc restrictions apply. Call us today 1-888-796-8850 A PLACE FOR MOM has helped over a million families find senior living. Our trusted, local advisors help find solutions to your unique needs at no cost to you. Call 855741-7459

534-6198

Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the following classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license identification or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it’s illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in U.S. dollars. 800 numbers may or may not reach Canada.

Help Wanted Autos

Furniture

Homes

Services

Bargins

Household Haulers Gutters

coverIng nortH atlanta – In prInt and onlIne!

Alpharetta-Roswell Herald • Milton Herald • Johns Creek Herald • Forsyth Herald • NorthFulton.com

40 | February 13, 2020 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

Spring Market is here!!!

TEAM RUSSO SELLING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REAL ESTATE YEAR AFTER YEAR. LET US BE YOUR NUMBER ONE CHOICE TO HELPING YOU BUY & SELL YOUR HOME IN 2020 770-712-0622 c. | 678-461-8700 o. | Annemarie.Russo@HarryNorman.com | SellingLuxuryLifestyles.com

And Get Your Home Ready for the Market RIVER’S EDGE MI LTON

INTRODUCING “HOLLY HILL” A SPECTACULAR MODERN FARMHOUSE MASTERFULLY DESIGNED

READY FOR DELIVERY IN SPRING 2020 River’s Edge Milton is luxurious new neighborhood, privately set on 133+ acres located on “Little River”, one of Milton’s most sought after gated communities, offering estate-size lots, incorporating fine Architecture & New Custom Homes. Architecturally controlled by award-winning Harrison Design together with our Elite Group of high-end award winning luxury Builders.

6 BR | 8 BA | 2HB 4 CAR PORTE COCHERE GARAGE | POOL | 3 ACRE ESTATE OFFERED FOR $2,700,000+

REMAINING ESTATE HOME SITES - NEW PRICING FOR 2020 Lot 1 - 5.79 Acres - $ 650,000 Lot 6 - 3.02 Acres - $ 480,000 Lot 14 - 1.73 Acres - $ 300,000 Lot 20 - 3.91 Acres - $ 450,000

Lot 2 - 3.02 Acres - $ 450,000 Lot 12 - 2.00 Acres - $ 350,000 Lot 15 - 1.73 Acres - $ 350,000 Lot 21 - 3.11 Acres - $ 400,000

Lot 3 - 3.01 Acres - $ 400,000 Lot 13 - 2.52 Acres - $ 400,000 Lot 19 - 1.82 Acres - $ 360,000

North Fulton Office • 7855 North Point Pkwy #100 Alpharetta, GA 30022 • HarryNorman.com The above information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted. Offer subject to errors, changes, omissions, prior sales and withdrawals without notice. Equal Housing Opportunity.