Kari Apted
Kari Apted has been writing for The Newton Community Magazine since its inception. She began writing professionally in 2005 when her work was chosen to appear in "Operation Homecoming: Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Home Front, in the Words of U.S. Troops and Their Families," an anthology sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Kari’s portfolio now includes blogs, feature stories, humorous newspaper columns and a plethora of home design articles. She’s currently working on her first book. Kari adores her husband, Donnie, their four mostly-grown children, and the family’s pack of rescued mutts. When she isn’t writing, Kari loves creating artwork, traveling, and hosting paint-and-sip parties.
Sick Days
Kamilah Smith was alarmed when she became violently ill at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis. Pregnant with her third child at the time, she would soon discover that she
More Than a Little off the Top
by Kari Apted Haircuts are an ordinary part of most people’s lives, but in October, Jon Krieger had a trim he will never forget. The Mansfield Elementary School physical education
Fight of His Life
Anderson Krieger was in fourth grade when he was diagnosed with leukemia. After enduring two remissions and an innovative new immunotherapy treatment, he now pursues his studies as a thriving
Rescue Mission
Familiar white buses have trumpeted the arrival of blue-shirted heroes every weekday since March 17, as the Covington YMCA delivers much-needed food and supplies to those in need during the COVID-19
Creative K9 Cuisine
Amanda Yu-Nguyen was unexpectedly bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and has since turned what she first passed off as an insignificant idea—charcuterie boards for dogs—into a burgeoning business that has
From the Source to the Sink
Clean water remains a luxury with which millions across the globe are unfamiliar. The Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority is charged with safely providing the life-giving resource to unincorporated
A Transformative Triumph
Traci Mask battled an aggressive brain tumor eight years ago, unaware that it was preparing her for another major battle ahead. Now cancer-free, the perseverant eternal optimist uses her experiences
From Patients to Purses
Lifelong trauma caught up to Shannon Monique once she became a nurse, leading to a stunning diagnosis: complex PTSD. Now an advocate for mental health care and wellness, she tapped
Starting Over
Life was forever changed when Beth and Jimmy Rogers decided to become foster parents. Spurred by faith, they now work to help other families discover the blessings associated with fostering