School redistricting
GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE CALL TODAY: 678-240-9240
New maps available PAGE 4
Human trafficking flourishing Atlanta suburbs prime market ►►PAGE 6
Hope and inspiration
Teen recovers from eating disorder ►►PAGE 34
February 4, 2015 | miltonherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 10, No. 6
HITTING THE HIGH NOTE »
Sarah Lewis performs in ‘Tuck Everlasting’ Milton resident stars in Alliance Theatre musical By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.org.
PHOTO BY GREG MOONEY
Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Milton resident Sarah Charles Lewis in the Alliance Theatre’s 2014/15 world premiere production of “Tuck Everlasting,” which runs through Feb. 22, 2015.
State sets high bar for Milestones test Promises more rigor By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com ATLANTA – Melissa Fincher readily admits the state’s most recent assessments, primarily the CriterionReference Competency Tests (CRCTs), did little to evaluate achievement over their past 14-year life span. “Georgia has the very
dubious distinction of having the lowest achievement expectations in the nation… as far as what it means to classify a student as proficient,” said Fincher, deputy superintendent of testing and accountability for the Georgia Department of Education (GDOE). With the CRCT, given for the final time in grades 3-8 last spring, only students scoring in the “Exceeds”
See TESTS, Page 14
MILTON, Ga. – For the Atlanta premiere of “Tuck Everlasting” at the Alliance Theatre, the showrunners did not have far to look for their lead role – 10-year-old Sarah Charles Lewis, of Milton, landed the part. Sarah plays Winnie Foster, the young girl who befriends a unique family that has gained eternal life by drinking from a spring flowing from a tree in the woods. “It a very well-known book. Every middle school makes you read it,” Sarah said. “The musical is very similar to the
See TUCK, Page 35
Fulton passes $628M budget Restores all library hours, no millage increase needed By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ATLANTA – The Fulton County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a $628 million budget that did not raise the millage rate as feared, and instead left the county with a surplus. Meanwhile, commissioners completely restored the shortened hours of Fulton’s public libraries, which commissioners admitted was easily the most unpopular budgeting measure taken in 2014.
For the first time in more than two decades, commissioners unanimously passed a county annual budget. The 7-0 vote is the EAVES ELLIS first unanimous approval for a county spending plan since 1991. The fiscal year 2015 budget includes no millage rate increase for any Fulton County homeowners and a restoration of See BUDGET, Page 30
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book, not the movie.” The performing gene is in Sarah’s blood. Both Sarah’s parents are musical. Her parents met in a band and Sarah’s mother Jennifer said they were performing until she was 8 months pregnant with Sarah. “She learned from osmosis,” Jennifer laughed. Sarah’s older brother, Harrison, is also a performer. He starred in a recent production of “Bull Durham,” also at the Alliance Theatre. “She was born being able to sing with rhythm,” Jennifer said. “She could hum on pitch before she could talk. She was 4 and in a typical 4-yearold ballet class. And she just blossomed from there.” Sarah attends the Miltonbased RISPA school of per-
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Brown named Firefighter of Quarter
County Fire Department when he started his career in 2001. Brown joined the JCFD when the department launched in 2008 and is currently a Firefighter II at Station 61 off Medlock Bridge Parkway. “It’s an honor to receive the Firefighter of the Quarter award,” said Brown. “I’m proud to be a part of the JCFD.” Brown, who currently lives in Cumming, is marJohns Creek Firefighter Kyle Brown was named the city’s Fireried and has a 6-year-old fighter of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2014. daughter.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The Johns Creek Fire Department has named Kyle Brown as its Firefighter of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2014. “We’re fortunate to have Kyle as part of our department,” said Johns Creek Fire Chief Jeff Hogan. “His hard work and dedication are of great value to the city.” Brown, originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, received his firefighter training with the Fulton
DUIS & DRUGS 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.
Creek for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Isaac Walker Womack, 24, was arrested Jan. 17 on Morris Road in Milton for DUI, open container, failure to maintain lane and improper U-turn.
DUI arrests
Drug arrests
►► Barry M. Napier, 52, of Bramshill
►► Austin Andrew Fitzpatrick, 21,
Drive, Johns Creek, was arrested Jan. 12 on Jones Bridge Road in Johns Creek for DUI and headlight violation. ►► Wendy M. Milich, 48, of Lakefield Place, Johns Creek, was arrested Jan. 17 on Abbotts Bridge Road in Johns
POLICE BLOTTER
of Flint Creek Drive, Cumming, was arrested Jan. 8 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana, speeding and reckless driving. ►► Brandi Lei Stewart, 34, of Snellville was arrested Jan. 14 on North Point
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.
left. When he returned, someone had pried their way in to the unit. Taken were a glass, 5-gallon water jug containing roughly $2,000 in coins and a white gold ring containing six diamonds.
Someone’s headed to the slots
Young teens caught high, driving
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Someone stole $2,000 in coins from a storage unit in the first few weeks of 2015. The victim told police that between Dec. 29, 2014 and Jan. 17, 2015, someone entered his storage unit on South Main Street. He was out of town for several weeks and everything was where it should have been before he
ROSWELL, Ga. – Four teens were arrested Jan. 11 on Holcomb Bridge Road after all four were accused of smoking pot. Police say they received reports of a car with an impaired driver. Seeing the suspect car, police pulled it over. Inside were four teens – a 17-year-old driver and three young teens, one younger
Parkway in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana and brake light violation. ►► Dequetta A. Gleaton, 25, of Ellenwood was arrested Jan. 15 on South Main Street in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana and wanted person. ►► Patrick Scott Smith, 25, of High Falls Circle, Johns Creek, was arrested Jan. 15 on High Falls Circle in Johns Creek for possession of marijuana and wanted person. ►► Clifford Cadet, 22, of Barsham Way, Johns Creek, was arrested Jan. 17 on Abbotts Bridge Road in Johns Creek for possession of marijuana. than 14. All four allegedly admitted to smoking pot. Police say the car smelled of burnt marijuana. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and endangering a child.
Guns stolen from home ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Jewelry and five guns were reported missing Jan. 19 from a Sweetberry Court home. The victims told police they returned from vacation to find their front door pried open. Taken were a Spike tactical AR-15 long gun, a Smith and Wesson M&P 10 model, Glock Generation 23 and an antique pistol, each with
See BLOTTER, Page 3
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Blotter: Continued from Page 2 their cases. In total, they were valued at about $3,500. Also missing were a gold 14K wedding ring, a silver ruby chain, a PlayStation 3 game console and five PS3 games.
Shoplifter pregnant and fighting ALPHARETTA, Ga. – A pregnant shoplifter attacked and fought with store employees Jan. 17 at the Macy’s store at North Point Mall. Store employees told police they saw the suspect, Lauren Duarte, 50, of DeKalb, select several items of clothing from the store and then allegedly leave without paying. Employees attempted to stop her as she walked to a waiting car, however Duarte allegedly pushed down one and began fighting with her. Another employee got into the fray and broke up the fight. All three declined medical help, despite Duarte claiming she was four months pregnant. When questioned by police, Duarte allegedly used a fake Florida license and claimed she was 27 years old. Only when she was fingerprinted did she
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Driver becomes runner, arrested ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Two people were arrested Jan. 16 after one fled police and another made up stories to cover for him. According to police, an officer on patrol spotted a car speeding on Ga. 400. When the officer tried to pull the vehicle over, it accelerated and fled, eventually coming to a stop off Haynes Bridge Road. The driver ran away, leaving his passenger in the car. When questioned, the 18-year-old woman said the driver was her cousin, but could not name him. She then said the driver was dating her cousin. It was determined the man was Ariel Thomas Andrews, 26, of Atlanta, who had two warrants out for his arrest as well as a suspended driver’s license. Andrews was found walking along the road a few hours later. Andrews was arrested for speeding, driving with a suspended license and obstruction. The woman was charged with obstruction.
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Woman, friends skip out on $6K tab ALPHARETTA, Ga. – A woman was arrested Jan. 24 on charges stemming from skipping out on a $6,000 bill. According to police, beginning in April 2104, the suspect, Tiffany Michelle Odom, 28, of Griffin, stayed at the Residence Inn on North Point Drive with a group of friends. Employees of the business said the group stayed there for several months, racking up about $6,000 in bills. Credit cards Odom tried to use to pay were declined. When pressed to pay her bills in June, Odom allegedly
packed up and left for the La Quinta across the street. Police found and questioned Odom by phone, who said she could not pay her bill. She was charged with theft. However she was not arrested until Jan. 24, 2015 in DeKalb County.
Pizza boy robbed at gunpoint JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – A pizza delivery boy was robbed at gunpoint Jan. 22 at a Camberbridge Drive home. The victim told police he was delivering $71 worth of pizzas to the residence at nearly midnight when two masked men, each holding pistols,
Milton Herald | February 4, 2015 | 3 walked around the home and ordered him to the ground. They took everything from his pockets – $49 in cash – as well as the pizzas and fled.
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Three nabbed in retail fraud scheme Had hundreds of fake checks, cards ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Three people were arrested Jan. 17 for fraud after they allegedly tried to use hundreds of fake checks and cards to buy items at Atlanta-area stores. Apple store employees contacted Alpharetta police and advised a woman had used 25 fraudulent American Express travelers’ checks to purchase two MacBook Pro computers. Upon contacting American Express to confirm that the checks were fake, it was learned that the same person had purchased Apple products using fraudulent travelers’
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checks at a different store the day before. Alpharetta police arrived and made contact on scene with the suspect, Ieisha Ashwood, 25, of Jamaica, New York. They found that she was in possession of numerous fraudulent travelers’ checks and credit cards, and that she was not working alone.
Police found Ashwood’s suspected accomplices who were waiting outside the store in an automobile. Two addiASHWOOD tional suspects, identified as Napoleon Van Mills, 26, of Brooklyn, New York, and Jaquanna Hendrickson, 23, of New York, were detained. A search of their vehicle found 128 fake American Express travelers’ checks. Officers seized two fraudulently purchased MacBook Pros, dozens of credit cards, debit cards and gift cards.
Police also seized personal identity information allegedly used by the group for identity theft purposes. The investigation revealed Mills arrived recently in Atlanta by Amtrak out of New York City. The other two suspects also have addresses in New York City. The investigation indicates that the group may have committed an initial theft by fraudulent use of traveler’s checks in the state of Pennsylvania prior to arriving in Atlanta. Ashwood and Mills were arrested for fourth degree forgery, credit card forgery and conspiracy. Hendrickson was arrested for credit card forgery and third degree forgery.
Final redistricting map up for review Changes impact about 4,000 students in North Fulton By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. – Parents whose children’s schools may be impacted by the current redistricting process are encouraged to view the map under final review by the Fulton County School Board. School planners said some changes have been made to the maps since the last time the public saw the draft plans at a Dec. 10 meeting. “Changes were made, as they typically are, from the third round to the final recommendation,” said Yngrid Jones-Huff, director of planning for the Fulton County School System. “These changes were made at the elementary and middle school levels based on feedback received during the review period, but were previously vetted at a prior meeting.” During the school board’s
Jan. 21 meeting, Jones-Huff presented the staff-recommended map and emphasized all changes to attendance lines have been shown to the community for input. “There are no moves [in the recommended version] which were not presented in either the second or third round of community meetings,” said Jones-Huff. After a month-long comment period, the school board will vote on the final map during its Feb. 19 meeting. Middle school changes will go into effect in August 2015, with elementary changes the following year. The latest round of redistricting for North Fulton schools is needed with the opening of a new elementary school in Roswell on Highway 9 this summer, along with additions at three area middle schools and a rebuild of Esther Jackson Elementary in Roswell in 2016. When questioned as to the number of students moved, including some who lived a far distance from new construction, Jones-Huff said the cur-
Changes were made, as they typically are, from the third round to the final recommendation.” YNGRID JONES-HUFF Director of planning for the Fulton County School System
rent redistricting process had a dual purpose. “The primary purpose was to [fill] the new schools,” said Jones-Huff. “But as we looked at boundaries across the board, this presented us with the opportunity to balance enrollments and [correct] imbalances.” She noted Creek View Elementary has an enrollment over 970 students this year, while nearby schools have several hundred fewer students. Feeder lines from elementary to middle were also tweaked to allow as many kids to remain with their classmates from elementary to middle, and on to high school.
Still, Jones-Huff recognizes that change is hard for many and the map will not make everyone happy. “While staff reviews all comments received during a redistricting, multiple perspectives must be balanced in developing a final recommendation,” said Jones-Huff. “The ultimate goal is to balance enrollment and capacity and fill new seats when a school opens. Some community concerns cannot be addressed during the process.” To view the recommended map, visit www.fultonschools. org, and search for redistricting information.
See MAP, Page 27
Signage, erosion control added at B’Ham roundabout MILTON, Ga. – In the past six days, crews working on the Birmingham Highway/ Providence Road roundabout began paving portions of the asphalt trail included with the project. In addition, they began preparing sites for permanent signage, the city reported in a Jan. 27 update. For the rest of the week mo-
torists could expect to see the installation of permanent road signage and various measures to establish erosion control. Weather permitting, crews could also pour a concrete truck apron. Check the city of Milton’s Facebook page for weekly updates. —Jonathan Copsey
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NEWS
miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | February 4, 2015 | 5
Setback in Supreme Court case Stems from Roswell cell tower denial By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – The city of Roswell has lost its arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court after the court ruled 6-3 to reject and remand the case to a lower court. The case has cost the city about $330,000 in legal fees so far. The City Council voted Jan. 26 to increase the city’s legal contract to pay for the expenses. City Attorney David Davidson said the issue is not over yet, as a lower court – the 11th Circuit – will decide the outcome, if the issue was a harmless error or not. The dispute comes from a 2010 denial in Roswell of a
cell tower owned by T-Mobile. National laws are strict on how a cell tower can be denied, and aesthetic or property value reasons are not good enough. The law also is clear on how the telecom company is to be notified of a denial. The City Council voted unanimously at the time to deny the tower. Roswell informed T-Mobile of the denial, however, rather than spell out why the tower was denied, the city pointed to the minutes of the meeting. These minutes were not made available until 26 days after the decision. T-Mobile filed a lawsuit contesting the denial three days after receiving the minutes. Under the law, T-Mobile had 30 days to make an appeal of the decision. Since the minutes were not available until four days before the deadline, the company cried foul.
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An initial court sided with the company, yet an appeals court sided with the city. In its Jan. 14 decision, the Supreme Court sided with the initial court, saying that while pointing to the minutes was fine, waiting 26 days was not. In her decision, writing for the majority of the court, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said, “the locality must provide or make available its written reasons at essentially the same time as it communicates its denial.” Also at the meeting: The City Council approved
a contract with firm JB + A for the development of a master plan for the proposed city green project. The contract will cost the city about $360,000 for an official master plan and includes just about everything except for actual construction documents, said Community Development Director Alice Wakefield. She and her staff will come back before council for approval of a construction contract when it comes time. Councilmember Betty Price noted the contract includes
designs relating to moving the Faces of War Memorial, which some members of the community have opposed. “That has not been decided yet,” Wakefield said. “That will depend on what the advisory committee recommends.” John Fish, with JB+A, said his company will create a document after meeting with the advisory committee and council to determine what everyone wants. “The goal is to refine the concept plan before we move forward with the actual master plan itself,” Fish said.
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Human trafficking alive and well in suburbs Film, GBI director put spotlight on teens forced into sexual slavery By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. – If you think the sexual enslavement of teenage and younger girls is not something that happens in the suburbs, then you are sadly misinformed. The truth is many of the young girls pulled into the sordid realm of sexual exploitation come from Atlanta’s suburbs. The U.S. Department of Justice places Atlanta as one of the top 20 highest human trafficking jurisdictions in the country. Residents have started taking up the cause in suburban Atlanta to fill the gap left by indifferent lawmakers to make the public aware and to begin to bring these human predators to justice. As part of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Perimeter Justice Team at Perimeter Church in Johns Creek is hosting the Atlanta Justice Conference. Highlighting the one-day event will be GBI Director Vernon Keenan, who will relate the depth and breadth of the human trafficking cancer that
The U.S. Department of Justice places Atlanta as one of the top 20 highest human trafficking jurisdictions in the country. is a plague on Georgia and the entire country. After the address by Keenan, the audience can participate in focus groups to let residents know what they can do to participate in the fight against human trafficking. A breakfast will be served before the Keenan address. There will be a break for lunch and the program will conclude at 2:30 p.m. “We’ve been part of the campaign to raise awareness of
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the human trafficking issue in Atlanta since 2007,” said Lauren Lopez, Perimeter Church communications director. “But January is the Human Trafficking Awareness Month. We try to do any awareness events in the month of January to go along with that.” As part of the awareness effort, the feature film “8 Days” will run for a week at the Studio Movie Grill on Holcomb Bridge Road. The film is in part sponsored by Out Of Darkness, an anti-trafficking ministry of Atlanta Dream Center. They are dedicated to reaching, rescuing and restoring all victims of commercial exploitation. “Atlanta is a dark place in the sense that so many men, women and children are being trafficked for sex here. But a light is also shining,” said Jeff Shaw, director of Out Of
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miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | February 4, 2015 | 7
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8 | February 4, 2015 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com
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DRUG AWARENESS »
Saving a life more important than protecting a reputation Getting invited to attend a Drug Awareness Council is not something that happens every day, especially in a town that you don’t think has a drug problem. Like many local papers, we get sent police reports each week. Of course, there are DUIs and drug arrests, but nothing too out of the ordinary. I thought we would be discussing drugs in general and how to prevent it from becoming a problem in Forsyth County. I figured there may be some concerned parents in
KATHLEEN STURGEON Forsyth Herald Reporter kathleen@appen mediagroup.com
attendance. I didn’t know what to expect. So I was taken aback when I walked into the room and saw it was filled with some of the most important people in the county. Judges, lawyers,
law enforcement, teachers, parents, drug abuse advocates, religious leaders, elected officials and more filled the room to the brim. It was pretty cool to see these prominent people in the county collaborate to tackle an existing issue. We discussed numbers and figures, but eventually, the talked turned real. When it was announced that there had been at least three overdose deaths in the county by young people in the past three months, the room went quiet.
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Various people spoke up about their associations with drug abuse, whether personal or through their job. But in the end, it was decided that Forsyth County has a drug problem that’s affecting the young people – and it needs to be address as quickly as possible. Many talked about parents who know their child has a problem but don’t want to admit it, either because of selfpreservation or stigma. This needs to end. The council decided there
needs to be more people to talk to and places to go when parents need help. In the upcoming months, the council hopes to hold events and figure out more resources that could be helpful, even in a matter of life and death. For starters, visit http:// forsythcountydrugawarenesscouncil.org to get information if you think your child is using drugs. After all, isn’t saving a life more important than protecting a reputation?
Say goodbye to Cadbury? I am not a huge fan of chocolate. I like the occasional piece, but I do have some sweets that I enjoy over others. High on that list are many types made by British chocolatier Cadbury. They make the ever-famous Cadbury’s Crème Egg at Easter as well as Chocolate buttons, Maltesers and Cadbury Bar (their equivalent of the Hershey’s Bar). These candies and many more can be found in grocery stores’ “international aisles” as well as British-themed shops throughout the nation. So imagine my dismay upon hearing the news that many of the Cadbury candies will no longer be imported to the States. The horror! This news comes after a legal dispute between a major importer of the sweets, L.B.B. (Let’s Buy British imports) and Hershey’s, the Pennsylvania chocolate goliath. According to the New York Times, the results are horrendous – “The company also agreed to halt imports on KitKat bars made in Britain; Toffee Crisps, which, because of their orange packaging and yellow-lined brown script, too closely resemble Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups; Yorkie chocolate bars, which infringe on the York Peppermint Patty; and … Maltesers.” (As a side note, apparently Swiss company Nestle was also targeted by Hershey’s.) One type of candy not affected by this are the Cadbury chocolates made by Hershey’s
JONATHAN COPSEY
Revue & News Editor jonathan@ appenmediagroup.com
itself. The Pennsylvania company has an agreement with Cadbury to make U.S. versions of their chocolate, albeit with changes for the American market. For instance, the iconic Cadbury Bar is made by Hershey but with a different recipe, making it taste, oddly, a lot like a Hershey Bar. A la the NY Times – “Chocolate in Britain has a higher fat content; the first ingredient listed on a British Cadbury’s Dairy Milk (plain milk chocolate) is milk. In an Americanmade Cadbury’s bar, the first ingredient is sugar.” Also, U.S. chocolate only has to have 10 percent actual chocolate to be considered “chocolate.” That percentage is twice as much in the U.K. I understand stopping Brit KitKats, maybe even Yorkies (not to be confused with York Peppermint Patties), because of their similarities to American chocolates. But to stop all other imports seems like spite and an example of Hershey’s trying to keep their near-monopoly on the U.S. chocolate market. I for one will be stocking up on the imports while I can. Who knows when they will next be available?
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miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | February 4, 2015 | 9
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Roswell gets first glimpse at Riverwalk Village 104-acre mixed use development at Ga. 400, Holcomb Bridge By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – The next big project for North Fulton is the coming 104-acre mixed-use development of Riverwalk Village, at the intersection of Ga. 400 and Holcomb Bridge Road. Roswell NEXT, a networking and social group for Roswell, hosted an information meeting Jan. 22 at the Aurora Cineplex, where Riverwalk’s architects were able to present their ideas for the project to a crowd of residents. As presented, Riverwalk Village is an ecologically driven development that will include parks and public spaces, pedestrian-oriented areas near retail and entertainment and a system of public running, walking and biking trails that will connect the development and surrounding neighborhoods to the Chattahoochee River. The developer, Duke Land Group, holds more than $2 billion in real estate in the metro area. As Roswell Inc Executive Director Steve Stroud said,
“They know what they are doing.” The Riverwalk property is 104 acres that follows the east side of Ga. 400 from just south of Holcomb Bridge Road south to touch the Chattahoochee River, with Old Alabama Road following the property to the east. Currently, some apartment buildings sit on the site. A large pond is in the center and feeds into the river. Riverwalk comes as the economy is rebounding and large, mixed-use developments are becoming hot commodities. Alpharetta’s Avalon just up Ga. 400 is similar in concept. Roswell is no longer a small town. With nearly 100,000 residents, it is one of the largest cities in the state. Stroud said such a development was necessary as a means to build quality, affordable housing in the city, a feature that is largely lacking. “I want this so my daughter can come back [from college] and has a great place to work and live and an affordable place to work, live and play and enjoy all the great things I
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The proposed Riverwalk Village is a 104-acre mixed-use development on the east side of Ga. 400 in Roswell. As currently envisioned, it will feature more than 1,500 residential units, 1.7 million square feet of office, a hotel and a school. enjoy,” he said. If developed as currently planned, an office park will be to the southern end of the site, with eight- to 10-story buildings sitting on the lowest grade of the land. To the center and north of the site will be multi-
family residential buildings with retail beneath. A supermarket will be onsite, along with a school. The hope is the development will be largely self-sufficient. Residents will live and work in or near the site.
Kevin Sloan, the principal architect and urban planner, called the development “landscape-driven urbanism.” He designed the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the
See RIVERWALK, Page 33
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miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | February 4, 2015 | 11
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SCHOOLS
12 | February 4, 2015 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com
Avossa to serve on governor’s Education Reform Committee Will look to improve education system By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com
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ATLANTA – With education improvements at the forefront of political agendas in Georgia, Fulton Schools Superintendent Robert Avossa could play a key role in driving change. Last week, Gov. Nathan Deal named Avossa to serve on the newly formed Education Reform Committee, tasked with making recommendations for improvements to the state’s public school system. Deal outlined his vision for the committee during his recent State of the State address, delivered Jan. 14. He cited the need for an in-depth look into the state’s education system, including its much-maligned funding formula, and called for recommendations to improve the system. The committee will also focus on how Georgia can increase access to early learning programs, recruit and retain high-quality
teachers and expand school options. “This is an opportunity to both provide a voice for our stakeholders and learn from the colAVOSSA lective experience of others,” said Avossa. “These issues are of critical importance to Fulton County Schools, given our recent efforts on teacher recruitment and retention strategies as well as our exploration of choice options.” The committee’s charge to study public school funding mirrors a similar effort more than a decade ago under former Gov. Sonny Perdue. Originally named the QBE Task Force (Quality in Basic Education), it morphed into the Investing in Education Excellence (IE2), with a rotating membership of key figures in education and politics. The committee ended its work with few firm recommendations, and no subsequent actions, on revamping the QBE formula for school funding. That formula has not been adjusted since its development in 1985, and has never been fully funded.
These issues are of critical importance to Fulton County Schools, given our recent efforts on teacher recruitment and retention strategies as well as our exploration of choice options.” ROBERT AVOSSA Fulton Schools Superintendent
Regardless of the past inaction, Avossa said he welcomes the opportunity to deal directly with those who ultimately make the decisions on how the state funds its schools. “Whether any of the commission’s recommendations are accepted in full or in part is up to the legislative body,” said Avossa. “But overall, this puts Fulton County Schools at the table and gives us a great opportunity to help legislators understand the real issues affecting public schools.” In all, 33 people were named by Deal to the Education Reform Committee, representing education, business and political sectors around
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the state. Avossa is one of only five school superintendents on the committee, including Alvin Wilbanks of Gwinnett County Schools, Kent Edwards of Carrolton County Schools, Will Schofield of Hall County Schools and Noris Price of Baldwin County Schools. Price is a former principal in Fulton County. State Rep. Mike Dudgeon of Forsyth County is also on the committee. The commission will convene for its first meeting Feb. 5 and meet periodically throughout the year. Recommendations are expected to be sent to Deal by Aug. 1.
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SCHOOLS
miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | February 4, 2015 | 13
Delivery system falters in latest test of Milestones Online platform ‘freezes,’ locking out tens of thousands By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com ATLANTA – Georgia students are preparing for the newest statewide assessment, Georgia Milestones, but the question is whether the state is ready for the rollout of the high stakes, high cost test. Last month, a test of the readiness component had a success rate of just over a 10 percent when the online delivery platform crashed. Of the 105,000 students statewide who participated in the “stress test,” only 12,000 were able to
complete the readiness test, according to state officials. “The system failed,” said Matt Cardoza, spokesman for the Georgia Department of Education. “Student computers became frozen and prevented students from progressing through test items.” He was quick to point out the failure was not in the test itself, just the delivery method. “The readiness test was designed to assess the performance of the online platform that will be used to deliver the Georgia Milestones tests this spring; it was not a trial test of the assessments themselves,” said Cardoza. “In other words, this was not a field test.” But semantics aside, the state has less than three months to perfect the full roll-
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out of the Georgia Milestones, which will be delivered in grades 3 through 12 beginning in April. The test replaces the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCTs) in grades 3-8, and the End of Course Tests (EOCTs) in high school. Milestones is high stakes for the state. It serves as the federal requirement under Georgia’s waiver from the No Child Left Behind law, which mandates a statewide assessment each year. It is also the foundation for the College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI) –essentially the
annual report card for schools and school systems. Cardoza said last month’s delivery launch did not meet standards, however the department is confident the test will be good to go in April when more than 1.5 million students will be taking it. “The test will be ready [and] we are optimistic we will be in position to offer the test online in April,” said Cardoza. “We assessed over 130,000 students online without major incident during our winter administration of the [test] in December/ early January.”
State School Superintendent Richard Woods, who is just a month into his position, is more cautiously optimistic about the rollout. “I am hopeful that the spring assessment will run smoothly. I have complete confidence in the leadership and capability of the Assessment Department, but still have concerns regarding the capacity of the testing vendor and some of our school districts,” said Woods, who had urged a “moratorium” of the rollout this year while on the campaign trail.
14 | February 4, 2015 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com
Tests: Continued from Page 1 expectations category likely mastered the curriculum. In some test categories, getting fewer than half of the answers correct was considered passing. Fincher is confident the new Georgia Milestones Assessments will be a true indicator of academic achievement, and allow the state to move toward one assessment tool instead of a series of tests. “We have been a test happy state and we are trying hard to turn the page in launching Georgia Milestones,” said Fincher. During a media forum hosted by the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education in January, Fincher laid out the plans for the Georgia Milestones, which will be administered for the first time this spring in grades 3 through 12. “If I had three words to describe what we are trying to accomplish with Georgia Milestones, they would be comprehensive, coherent and consolidated,” said Fincher. She said Milestones scores, when compared to the CRCT and the End of Course Tests in high school, will likely plunge initially as students become accustomed to the higher bar and rigor. Gone are the tests
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Georgia Milestones: An overview ATLANTA – The Georgia Milestones Assessment System (Georgia Milestones) will be administered annually beginning this spring in grades 3 through 12. The assessment will measure a student’s knowledge in language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. Students in grades 3-8 will take an end-of-grade (EOG) assessment in language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. High school students will take an end-of-course (EOC) assessment in eight courses designated by the State Board of Education. The test will count for 20 percent of the student’s final grade in that subject. The test format will include: • open-ended response items in language arts and mathematics in all grades and courses. • a writing component at every grade level and course within the language arts assessment. • embedded items that are nationally normed (instead of just Georgia curriculum) to provide a national comparison. • a transition to complete online administration over time, replacing paper-pencil. For more information on the Georgia Milestones Assessment, visit the Georgia Department of Education at http://www.gadoe.org. composed completely of multiple choice answers; they will be replaced by a combination of multiple choice, short answers and essays. This year poses a challenge since test results will not be released until late fall. Fincher said “human scorers” will grade the written sections, adding delays. Therefore, this year is a “hold harmless” year for districts since scores released in the fall are meaningless this school year.
Although a waiver is in place this year, districts must still determine what will replace the Milestones scores. State law requires an annual assessment to count for 20 percent of final grades in tested subjects in high school, and many courses had factored that in prior to the waiver. Scott Muri, deputy superintendent of academics for the Fulton County School System, said this year poses a challenge.
Nearly $110M budgeted for Georgia Milestones tests ATLANTA – In June 2013 with Common Core Standards a four-letter word among many politicians and parents, Georgia opted out of the national assessment, preferring to create its own annual assessment of the standards. Georgia had been part of a consortium of 22 states that joined to develop the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) in math and English/language arts to measure achievement under the Common Core standards. The test would have been administered for the first time in 2013 as a pilot, then rolled out nationwide this school year. The state’s decision not to use PARCC surprised few, and its unceremonious dumping was seen as a compromise between those for and against the Common Core standards. At the time, then-State School Superintendent John Barge cited the per pupil cost for the PARCC test – $23 million annually – as prohibitive. But last year, Georgia entered into a contract for $108 million to develop the Georgia Milestones as the state’s annual assessment beginning this school year. That figure does not include the millions of dollars spent to develop and validate test questions and the communications components to educate and inform the public, according to state officials. The exorbitant price tag has prompted the person who took Barge’s job, current State School Superintendent Richard Woods, to proceed cautiously and methodically. “[The costs] adds to the need for an audit to provide information on the number of tests and loss of instructional time our children endure, as well as a cost-benefit analysis on our current national testing model,” said Woods, who has been in office for just over one month. – Candy Waylock “The state requires 20 percent and we're not going to have that number from Milestones this year,” he said. “There are different options [for how to assess 20 percent] and I applaud the state for allow-
ing districts to make their own choice.” A spokesman for the GDOE said the impact should be minimal on schools this year, and the department can provide guidance if needed.
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miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | February 4, 2015 | 15
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16 | February 4, 2015 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com
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Coca-Cola Enterprises CEO refreshes GNFCC Eggs & Enterprise John Brock heads European bottling operations, says world’s best brand still needs to remain current By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – CocaCola Enterprises Chief Executive Officer John Brock has spun a career that began as an undergraduate at Georgia Tech to heading up the largest soft drink bottling operation in Europe – Coca Cola Enterprises. Sure, it helps to have the most valuable consumer brand in the world, but it still takes a lot work to keep on top of an ever-changing world, he said. Speaking at the Jan. 20 Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Enterprise breakfast, Brock said being No. 1 means staying No. 1, and that still takes drive, technology and good marketing. That means selling 30 billion units in Europe alone. Coca-Cola Enterprises maintains its dominance doing the little things in a big way. “We are the best at managing retail relationships,” Brock said. “That means from the biggest retailer to the local pizza parlor.” It means sending in reps to move product on store shelves three and four times a day because the store manager doesn’t have the staff to restock Coke products that often. Coca-Cola mines the data that comes from its sales and customer preference. “What allows us to win in the marketplace is for our salespeople to go and make a call and to know more about our business in that store than
the owner does,” Brock said. There are two entities in the Coca-Cola world – the people who make the Coke and Coca-Cola Enterprises, which markets the retail product. They are separate companies. Of their combined 800,000 employees, only 50,000 are employed by Coke. The rest work for Coca-Cola Enterprises. Of course there are numerous products in the Coca-Cola line that are not Coke. And in Europe, there are many options Americans don’t see this side of the Atlantic, as tastes differ in the various regions of the world. Yet Coca-Cola products are sold in more countries than there are members of the United Nations. Staying No. 1 means you don’t stand still, Brock said. Therefore, Coca-Cola has embraced social media. It has the largest Facebook following in the world. The brand is always in front of people – on coolers, menu boards, umbrellas and, likely as not, on the scoreboard of your Little League field. Innovation is continuous, he said. The newest Coke product in Europe is a greenlabeled Coke Life, a reduced calorie cola sweetened with sugar and stevia, a non-caloric natural sweetener from a South American plant. “It tastes the same as red Coke, but has only a third of the calories,” Brock said. “We want to be a part of the solution to obesity. So 40 percent of our products are low-cal or no-cal drinks.”
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Coca-Cola Enterprises CEO John Brock addresses the Greater North Fulton Chamber’s Eggs and Enterprise breakfast at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Coke Zero has been the biggest new product introduced since Diet Coke. Coke Life will be a different “flavor system” with 89 calories, he said. Which brings Brock to the theme of sustainability. “That is important to the company, but also the future of the planet,” he said. “The two most important measures of that are reducing water
usage and power usage. The company’s goal is to be 100 percent recyclable by 2020.” As chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises, Brock and his leadership team established the company’s first-ever global operating framework with a single vision and strategic priorities. Two of the key priorities have been sustainability and
corporate responsibility. Both are keyed into the expectations of the new millennials – that population cohort born after 1990 – who have a different worldview from their parents about the future. As a company that wants to serve that generation, Coca-Cola must operate in the changing environment, he said. It must embrace that generation’s values. “Does a company have a social purpose? The world is changing and the millennials pay to a different drummer,” Brock said. “They have an idea of what a company should be. They see [a career] of many jobs, not one.” So Coca-Cola’s corporate response – as well as all corporations – must be, “How do we connect” to the millennials who will be company’s customers and its next generation of managers? As a practical matter, Brock’s job is built on three pillars – brands, customers and employees. “I spend most of my time in people development. Part of that is diversity. We are one of 13 Fortune 500 corporations that feature female board members,” Brock said. “All I have to do to find them is look.” Diversity is desirable because it increases the pool from which to recruit the best and brightest minds. “We make better decisions with diversity at the top,” he said. “It is all about winning, and we love winning.”
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BusinessPosts
Milton Herald | February 4, 2015 | 17
Development dominates north metro 2014 business news Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of excerpts from Frank Norton Jr.’s “Norton Native Intelligence Report for 2015.” The report, which reflects and synthesizes the views from more than 500 individuals surveyed and economic vital signs recorded, has been used to chart the north Georgia economy and real estate for more than 25 years. For years, Norton Native Intelligence has published its Top 10 Trends for North Georgia, but for the last three years, we have diverted from that ”David Letterman” countdown and focused on strong and grand narratives of leading conditions in our region rather than stretch ourselves to talk about or repeat watered-down “trends.” This year, we have reintroduced a Top 10 list but one that, through interviews with our commercial brokers and other knowledgeable industry experts, have determined the most significant real estate or business events that have happened in our primary service area in 2014. While in Atlanta, you might include such things as the construction of the new Falcons Stadium, the relocation of the Atlanta Braves to Cobb County or sightings everywhere of Atlanta’s New Bird, “The Apartment Construction Crane.” North Georgia is our focus and our hometown, our roots from which our legacy springs. Norton Top 10 Business/RE stories 1. Kubota Manufacturing’s 150-acre land acquisition on U.S. 365 at the Gateway Industrial Park. A development which not only brings 650 to 1,000 new jobs and $100 million in plant investment, but solidifies the strength of Gainesville’s North Industrial Park and Kubota’s North Georgia and Hall County’s presence. Kubota is the largest industrial user in
FRANK NORTON JR. CEO and Chairman The Norton Agency
Forsyth County’s transportation SPLOST referendum perhaps is the tipping point for countyby-county transportation initiatives. Hall County. 2. Forsyth County’s transportation SPLOST referendum perhaps is the tipping point for county-by-county transportation initiatives. The positive vote creates a $200 million transportation program of work and could push other counties – Gwinnett, Cobb, Hall and Cherokee – to mount similar self-help transportation initiatives. 3. With the new River Place Hospital (South Hall – Braselton) only months from opening, a frenzy of companion developments are under way or on the drawing boards. Athens Vascular, Medical Arts/Longstreet/Diagnostic Clinic are already underway with separate medical campuses. Smaller medical providers are scrambling for space and a myriad of associate support users are being drawn closer like a moth to a flame to the new hospital epicenter. 4. Walmart Markets has entered the Hall County
market with two stand-alone grocery stores. One is on Thompson Bridge Road,; the other on Browns Bridge Road. The street rumors are a third is planned in south Hall. This is major. The first new Walmart Markets we know of in Georgia, and Hall County is their test market for the South. 5. Residential sales are on the way up. Metro Atlanta and North Georgia inventory is down and horizontal development is returning in isolated pockets. As inventory of available lots continues to decline, the hot elementary school zones (Forsyth, Gwinnett, Cobb, Cherokee) will see more and more land sales, rezoning and platted lot development. 6. The new poultry lab construction on Ga. 356 and the sewer expansion up U.S. 365 north have spurred other development (see No. 1 Kubota). East Gainesville development is heating up; Kroger, McDonald’s, QuickTrip, and now Ga. 356 expansion opens an employment pipeline for Habersham, Banks, Stephens and Rabun. 7. The industrial explosion on I-85 in Jackson County merits this year’s ranking. Over 5 million square feet of industrial space is either under construction or in the pre-development stage. Significant movement includes Ollie’s Bargain Outlet lease in Commerce and a major German manufacturer on the Prologics site, to name a few. The next decade is sure to be Jackson’s industrial awakening. 8. The national builders who have primarily concentrated their renewed construction activities in a tight North Atlanta swath have, at long last, entered the Hall, Barrow and Jackson counties residential fray in 2014. This signals renewed strength in those markets and expanding builder confidence overall. 9. The record industrial sale of 37 acres on Dry Pond
Road in the Raco Industrial Park at $125,000 per acre. WOW, simply WOW. 10. The boom in active adult communities such as Cresswind, Deaton’s Creek and Soleil Laurel Canyon in Cherokee County lead the market into a new character and market demographic, perhaps even a “retirement mecca” if others follow. Other notable real estate or market-driven events not making our Top 10 included: • Gov. Nathan Deal’s reelection; • the announcement of impending upscale retail
along Ga. 400 between Cumming and Dawsonville; • Avalon’s live, work, play development opening in North Fulton; • King Hawaiian’s plant expansion in Oakwood; • Verity Bank (Barrow and Habersham) sale to C&S Bank; • The Mega Kroger store opening in East Gainesville; • Norton’s-952 acre sale in Lumpkin – the biggest acreage sale in our region since 2006; • Brenau University opening a new Medical School in downtown Gainesville.
Protecting your small business from getting hacked With all of the recent data breaches, are you worried that your small business will get hacked? Have you implemented security measures to protect your digital assets, such as customer or financial information? There is little doubt that small businesses face a growing threat to cyberattacks. So, what are you going to do to protect yourself? First and foremost, lock up your network. Many small businesses are compromised via Wi-Fi networks. Hackers drive by buildings and use technology to identify networks that aren’t secure. Once they find one, getting into your information systems is easy. Second, make sure you install anti-malware and anti-virus software. Even if a hacker can breach your network, it makes it more difficult for them to infect computers with malicious software or viruses. Educating your employees can also go a long way in preventing hacking. Make sure employees are changing their
DICK JONES
Founder & President Jones Simply Sales
passwords and not clicking on unknown links in emails that could provide an entry point for hackers. Employees need to know that your data and information is important, and part of their job is protecting it. Hiring an outside security expert may cost you some additional money, but it’s far cheaper than someone getting your information. A small business security expert can do an assessment of your current environment and make recommendations to protect your digital assets. Protecting your data is not just for large corporations. Small businesses are becoming targets for hackers, and it’s imperative that data security is a high priority.
18 | February 4, 2015 | Milton Herald
NEW LOCATION »
Principal Financial Group opens Roswell business center ROSWELL, Ga. – The Principal Financial Group has opened a new office at 11285 Elkins Road, Suite H2B, to serve Roswell and surrounding areas. The new location provides a full line of financial planning and retirement products and services, as well as tax-saving strategies, estate-planning options and insurance protection plans needed to meet long-term goals. The Roswell office will include Phil Vance, CLU, senior financial services representative, who has more than 35 years’ experience in the insurance and financial services industry. Staff also includes Jim Reinhardt, MBA, registered investment advisor, and Henry Levine, MBA, registered representative. For more information or to set up an appointment, call 678-878-2078.
Neuropathy Treatment Centers open in Roswell, Sandy Springs ROSWELL, Ga. – Foundation Therapy Center has opened the Comprehensive Neuropathy Treatment Center at its Roswell and Sandy Springs locations. Owner Beverly Stegman said the center uses specialized treatments that may include physical therapy, orthopedic therapy, balance rehabilitation and fall prevention, pain management Bev Stegman, Foundation treatment, reflexology Therapy Center owner with use of medical and administrator, leads grade essential oils, a session in therapeutic therapeutic yoga and chair yoga. massage therapy. It also offers complimentary screenings, clinics and lectures/demonstrations, available to the community at large. For more information about the Roswell location, call 770-753-9195.
BUSINESS COMPUTER PROBLEMS? “Carmichael manages our IT. I have never worked with a more client-centric business before – ever. They return calls fast. They listen exceedingly well. They know what they are doing. They are honest, professional, and local. They are partners with Appen Newspapers / Appen Media Group in the truest sense of the word.” – Ray Appen, Publisher Appen Media Group Appen Newspapers
BusinessBriefs HealthSource Chiropractic moving to new location JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — HealthSource of Alpharetta/Johns Creek (formerly Chiropractic Health Center of Alpharetta) is moving to a bigger location in Johns Creek. The new office will be at 11180 State Bridge Road, Suite 501. Dr. Lenny Zaprowski said his new space will provide not only excellent chiropractic care, but also progressive reZAPROWSKI hab as well as therapeutic massage, nutritional counseling and custom-made orthotics. The new office hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturdays by appointment. Zaprowski said the move was to serve his expanding practice and to better serve patients’ needs. He plans to be in the new space by Feb. 16. The phone number will remain the same, 770-772-0335.
Convention, Visitors Bureau launches new website ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau has updated its website, adding new features to attract a wider audience. The CVB marketing team worked with Inward Solutions, an Alpharetta-based company that specializes in web and graphic design, to accommodate the many technology devices being used to search for information on Alpharetta. Potential visitors can download electronic newsletters and brochures, book hotel rooms through the booking engine or share information from the website on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Google Plus and email. For more information, visit www.awesomealpharetta.com or call 678-297-2811.
PEOPLE »
Ryan Assad joins Keller Williams Realty JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Ryan Assad, one of Atlanta’s top producing residential real estate agents, has joined Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners. Assad joins Keller Williams following 19 successful years ASSAD with Re/Max and Atlanta Communities, where he was honorably inducted into the Re/ Max Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement.
State Bank and Trust names Mike Sims chief banking officer ATLANTA, Ga. — State Bank and Trust Company announced Mike Sims has been appointed the bank’s executive vice president and chief banking officer for all banking functions in both Atlanta and Middle Georgia, reporting to State Bank Chief Executive Officer J. Thomas Wiley Jr. “Mike is an outstanding banker SIMS who exemplifies all the best qualities of our organization,” Wiley said. “I am thrilled to have Mike as a leader of our organization as we continue to grow our presence both in Atlanta and in Middle Georgia.”
Harry Norman North Fulton welcomes three agents Call today for your free IT assesment.
– Tyler Jones, Principal
678-224-8000 • www.CarmichaelConsulting.net
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Harry Norman, Realtors is pleased to welcome its three newest agents in their North Fulton office: sales associates Kim Schott, Rick Lara and Sara Ead. Raised in Pennsylvania, Schott graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Marywood
Submit your business news & photos to businessnews@appenmediagroup.com College. Prior to joining Harry Norman, she worked as a space planner and designer in the corporate architectural field. She has lived in Cumming with her husband and EAD LARA two daughters for many years. Lara is an Atlanta/Roswell resident for over 25 years and is exceedingly familiar with the city and its surrounding areas. As a former Atlanta luxury hotelier and Les Clefs d’Or member with IHG, Lara brings a wealth of hospitality and tourism experience to the team. Ead moved to North Fulton in SCHOTT 2011, and is no stranger to re-location. She is the owner of her own children’s clothing company and has served as president of her school’s parent organization. She wishes to extend the same warm welcome she received to newcomers to North Fulton. For more, visit at www.harrynorman.com.
REAL ESTATE »
Ryland opens model home in Marketplace Commons CUMMING, Ga. — Ryland Homes Atlanta has opened its fully decorated model, The Augustine, at the new Marketplace Commons in Cumming. The community offers homebuyers a selection of several floor plans ranging from 2,064 to 3,329 square feet, starting in the $290,000s. The community, as part of the Forsyth County School District, places residents’ children in three schools: Mashburn Elementary, Lakeside Middle and Forsyth Central High, which features the STEM program for math and sciences.
NEW BUSINESS »
New bakery to cut ribbon in downtown Alpharetta ALPHARETTA, Ga. — 2B Whole Gluten-Free European Bakery will hold a grand opening and ribboncutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5 at 42 Milton Avenue. The bakery will feature 100 percent gluten-, wheat-, soy-, casein- and peanutfree baked products. Owner Toula Argentis said she got the idea for the business about 10 years ago when one of her sons was diagnosed with a gluten allergy. After years of experimenting, Argentis developed a product line of breads, pies, cakes, cookies and paleo products suited for those with common and uncommon food allergies.
EXPO »
More than 80 exhibitors to attend GNFCC business expo ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce will hold its seventh annual North Fulton Business Expo March 27 at the Alpharetta Marriott on Windward Parkway, just east of Ga. 400. With more than 80 exhibitors and 1,200 attendees expected, the sell-out event provides local business people the opportunity to network with a wide variety of business service providers and vendors of all types, as well as financial and legal professionals. “Meet! Greet! Connect!” is the theme of the 2015 Expo, which is sponsored by Renasant Bank.
CALENDAR
EDITOR’S PICKS
Submit your event online at miltonherald.com
Milton Herald | February 4, 2015 | 19
Send
me your event...
SHANNON WEAVER
Calendar Editor JODY MAYFIELD calendar@ appenmediagroup.com Jody Mayfield has worked with
Submit your event to northfulton.com or email with photo to calendar@northfulton.com. For a more complete list of local events including support groups, volunteer opportunities and business meetings visit the calendar on northfulton.com.
ART:
top hip-hop producers such as Organized Noize, Anthony David, Marq (Remarqable) Jefferson of So So Def Records. The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta. Friday, Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $22. Visit thevelvetnote.com for more info..
EVENTS: FATHER/DAUGHTER VALENTINE DANCE
What: Fathers and daughters are invited to step out for a fun evening! A special time of sweet memories await participants at our Father/Daughter Valentine’s Day Dance. Where: Alpharetta Community Center, 175 Roswell Street in Alpharetta When: Friday, Feb. 6 Hours: 6:30 p.m. Cost: $20 Alpharetta or Milton residents, $30 non-residents Online: alpharetta.ga.us
LIVE! IN ROSWELL PRESENTS RUTHIE FOSTER
Three-time Grammy nominee Ruthie Foster brings her blend of soul, blues, rock, folk, and gospel to Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street. Saturday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m. (doors open 7:30). Tickets are $35 for general admission. Visit roswell. gov for more info.
6TH ANNUAL BOWLS EVENT
Celebrate art, food and fun with ceramic wheel and hand-building demonstrations, as well as handmade pottery by the Johns Creek Arts Center available for purchase. Johns Creek Arts Center, 6290 Abbots Bridge Road. Saturday, Feb. 7. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. $20 Visit johnscreekarts. org for more info.
$20 BATH TIME TUESDAYS
ROSWELL GREEN EXPO
What: A fun family event that promotes sustainable living in our community. Featuring a “Green Market,” family entertainment and crafts, and unique demos and workshops. Where: Hembree Park, 850 Hembree Road in Roswell When: Saturday, Feb. 7 Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost: Free Online: keeproswellbeautiful.org
A monthly competitive storytelling series with a different theme each month at Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street. Monday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, 180 Academy Street in Alpharetta When: Ongoing Online: www.alpharettapres.com Contact: nancy@alpharettapres.com or 770-751-3862
SHARON CRUMLEY ART EXHIBIT
What: Join us for an opening reception for the Sharon Crumley exhibit on display at the Smith Plantation Barn throughout the month. Where: Smith Plantation Home, 935 Alpharetta Street in Roswell When: Friday, Feb. 6 Hours: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cost: Free Online: roswellroots.com
STORY SLAM: ‘LOVERS AND HATERS’
What: Bring us your less than fresh pup and we with bath them, dry them and brush them. Where: Pet Lodge Pet Resort, 3456 Bethany Bend in Alpharetta When: Tuesday, Feb. 10 Cost: $20 Contact: 770-475-3455 Online: petlodge.us
950 Forrest Street When: Sunday, Feb. 8 Hours: 7 p.m. Cost: $25 Online: chopinatlanta.org
THEATER:
MUSIC:
CELEBRATING THE LIVES OF SENIORS
SUBMIT YOUR EVENT AT
What: Annual fundraiser for Senior Services North Fulton with a seated dinner, silent and live auctions, and dancing to the music of Platinum. Where: Atlanta Athletic Club, 1930 Bobby Jones Drive in Johns Creek When: Saturday, Feb. 7 Hours: 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Cost: $135 for single tickets Online: ssnorthfulton.org
ALPHARETTA PRESBYTERIAN DAYSCHOOL
What: Registration for part day programs for children of ages 18 months to 5 years.
GREEN EGGS AND HAMLET
YULIANNA AVDEEVA PIANO RECITAL
What: Adveena is the winner of the First Prize and best performance of a sonata at the 2010 International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center,
What: Please join Barnwell Elementary School 4th and 5th graders as they perform a zany musical parody. Where: Northview High School, 10625 Parsons Road in Johns Creek When: Thursday, Feb. 5 and Friday, Feb. 6 Hours: 7 p.m. Cost: $7 Online: seatyourself.biz/barnwell
20 | February 4, 2015 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com
North Atlanta’s
Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com | Recycled paper
Sponsored Section • Milton Herald | February 4, 2014
News and advertising for new homes, realtors, developers, commercial properties and more.
Quick Ways to Enhance Your Property Value Jennifer Pino, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty Many sellers ask me the same question, “What is the best thing I can do to improve my home’s value?� It is important to consider that many home renovations will not bring you a return on investment which will cover the cost of the project. However, the following suggestions can bring you a higher return and should be on your checklist if you are thinking of listing your home for sale. Clean and Declutter. You have heard this one before, but this improvement relies only on the effort of the home owner, and can pay dividends. Box up clutter and have a garage sale, sell it on ebay, deliver to your local charity as a tax deductible donation, or simply box it up and store it elsewhere. Show some empty space on shelves, counters and closet floors, which gives the illusion of an abundance of
space and storage. Deep clean the home including carpet and upholstery cleaning. Don’t forget the windows! Repair and Paint. You are likely aware of maintenance items on your home that need attention. Deferred maintenance which is visible to the naked eye is a sure way to turn off a buyer. They will wonder what else you have not done. In regards to painting, if your walls are neutral, touch up with the same color, and if you have any crazy colors in the main areas, consider buying a $40 gallon of paint and repainting it yourself. This is money in your pocket! Quick Kitchen Fix. Kitchens are one of the most important rooms considered by buyers when purchasing a home. Consider some simple updating that can be done to bring your kitchen into the 21st century. Stone countertops, new hardware/fixtures and appliance updates to preferable stainless steel are great ways to enhance value.
Bathroom MiniMakeover. Bathrooms are right behind the kitchen in importance to buyers, with the master bath being of PINO utmost importance. Consider updating plain tile floors and basic counters with stone. The smaller quantities needed in a bathroom area mean you will get a lot of bang for your buck. The hardware, fixtures and lighting are also important in creating a look that feels fresh and new. If replacing an existing shower door, choose a frameless, clear option to enhance the feeling of spaciousness. Enhance Curb Appeal. Curb appeal is important to buyers, and will set the stage for what they can expect in the interior of the home. Many buyers do a “drive by� before they decide whether or not
they want to schedule a showing appointment. Checking your exterior for needed repairs and touch ups, then create a welcoming entryway. Freshen mulch, trim landscaping, lay a fresh coir doormat and plant seasonal flowers along the front walkway. The addition of elegant and simple pots of
color flanking your front door is the perfect final touch to make your home appear loved and cared for. For any of your real estate needs, please contact Jennifer Pino at Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, 305-310-6114, jenniferpino@ atlantafinehomes.com.
“The overall experience stands heads and shoulders above the rest.
Simply put – Jennifer is the best.â€? “My wife and I have bought and sold six homes in the past 15 years. Jennifer Pino is the best REALTORÂŽ we have ever worked with. Her professionalism, experience and attention to every detail are second to none. Jennifer qualiďŹ ed our needs on the front end which allowed us to become quickly educated on a new area, hone our search and operate with efficiency throughout the process ... The overall experience stands heads and shoulders above the rest. Simply put – Jennifer is the best.â€? - CORY CHAMBERS, MILTON, GA
JENNIFER PINO REAL ESTATE ADVISOR, NORTH ATLANTA c. 305.310.6114 o. 770.442.7300 jenniferpino@atlantaďŹ nehomes.com ŠMMXV Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. A Realogy Company. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International RealtyÂŽ is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Milton Herald | miltonherald.com
REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section
February 4, 2015 21
Milton’s Newest Gated Luxury community www.RiversEdgeMilton.com
9 Lots Sold and 14 Lots Remaining!
Elegant Luxury Homes in Natural Serenity River’s Edge Milton set on 133+ acres located on “Little River” is one of Milton’s newest pristine gated communities and positioned in the heart of Milton’s horse country & farm land. Offering exceptional 1.6+ to 5+ acre home sites with timeless natural beauty and amenities. Lot prices starting at $325,000 DIRECTIONS: 400N Exit 10 -Old Milton Pkwy. Turn left Old Milton Pkwy & continue - changes to Rucker Rd. Turn right on Broadwell Road. Continue STRAIGHT, this becomes Birmingham Hwy to left on Taylor Road. River’s Edge Milton on THE RIGHT.
Call now to select your estate home site.
ANNEMARIE RUSSO NORTH FULTON LUXURY MARKETING SPECIALIST
770.712.0622 Cell 678.461.8700 Office www.RiversEdgeMilton.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
NORTH FULTON OFFICE | 7855 North Point Parkway, Suite 100 | Alpharetta, GA 30022 | www.HarryNorman.com
22 February 4, 2015
Sponsored Section • REAL ESTATE REPORT
miltonherald.com | Milton Herald
10 Apps you need to download before you tackle the next project in your home By Jody White Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty Should that wall be black? Do I need another coffee table or one at all? I think I may want to do the entire kitchen over! Well, there are apps that are ready, willing and able to help you get all those projects done quickly! Here is a list of my favorites and some of them are FREE. HOUZZ – If you are looking for images to inspire a remodel, try Houzz. I describe it as a dictionary for interior and exterior design on steroids! Great for seeing how a paint color or rug will look in a room. ROOMSCAN –This is an ingenious app that can draw up a room’s floor plan quickly. No tape measures. ROOMHINTS – After you enter what you are looking for (sofa, pain color, etc..), upload a photo of your room then design pros will send you recommendations. SNAPSHOT – Can’t visualize how a piece of furniture will look in a room? Snapshot to the rescue! Just upload a pic of your space and overlay images of furniture, moving and rotating the piece to see how it will look. MARK ON CALL – This app is really helpful for plotting out all the details if you are tackling your own remodel. This is from interior designer, Mark Lewison. You can snap a photo of what you like
and drop it into your space to see how it will look. It works with fabrics and architectural features as well. Cost $5.00 MYPANTONE – You can plan general color schemes for rooms and entire homes. Pantone WHITE has extensive colors, shades of colors, etc. Save your favorites so you have a head start on finding the shades you really want when you shop for paint. Cost $7.99 - $9.99 nousDECOR – This app streamlines the process of quickly finding where to get that item you just spotted in the flea market or department store and gives you similar items at different price points from more than 100 retailers. It even has mood boards! HOMESTYLER – This app helps you conceptualize a room from start to finish BEFORE you know down the walls! You get to “try on” lighting, mirrors, furniture, artwork, etc. ISCAPE – This is a Mark on Call for outdoor spaces. You can upload a shot of your garden and see how more or less trees will work or see how that fountain you have your eye on will jive in your garden. PAINT MY SPACE – Choosing paint colors can be an overwhelming, exhausting process. Paint my place makes it a little bit easier.
ryland.com
Fabulous Forsyth & Fulton County Locations! Live in One of These Prestigious Counties with Fantastic School Systems, Recreation and Much More! Fulton County
Briarcrest
Marketplace Commons
Cedar Park
(Alpharetta) 770-296-8954 Homes From the $330’s
(Cumming) 678-777-7187 Homes From the Low $300’s
(Milton) 770-569-2004 Homes From the High $500’s
$15,000 Flex Cash – PLUS –
Up to $5,000 Toward Closing Costs – PLUS –
Limited Time Only:
RA1788
Waived 1% Origination Fee Through RMC Mortgage®
ManorView (Milton) 678-672-0862 Homes From the High $500’s
Bridleton (Suwanee) 470-385-6616 Homes From the Low $500’s
Madison
Forsyth County
(Cumming) 404-969-9446 Homes From the $470’s
Arbors at LakeView
Shiloh Pointe - Coming Soon!
(Cumming) 470-297-8190 Homes From the $310’s
(Cumming) 678-463-0341
The Summit at Shiloh (Alpharetta) 470-253-8825 Homes From the Low $400’s
Seneca (Cumming) 470-297-8006 Homes From the Low $400’s
Visit ryland.com for more information.
In the Atlanta division, on accepted purchase agreements on homes that are signed between January 1, 2015 and January 31, 2015 are eligible to receive $15,000 in Flex Cash; can be used towards MyStyle® Design Center Options and/or closing costs when using RMC Mortgage® and/or lot premiums, finished basement, etc. Incentive offer does not apply to contracts written prior to January 1, 2015. The following communities are excluded from the $15,000 incentive, Bethany Crossing, Bridleton, ManorView and Marketplace Commons. Individual promotions may vary by community. Certain included features may not be available on all plans. Value of package, and products, may vary by community and plan. Homes already under contract prior to this offer are not eligible. Plus for New to-be built homes, buyer eligible to receive up to $5,000 toward closing costs. Individual incentives may vary by community. Closing cost assistance available from Ryland Homes to those financing through RMC Mortgage® Corporation and closing with a closing attorney selected by Ryland. Amount of closing cost assistance may vary by product and community, and is subject to applicable contribution limitations. For all financing promotions, see a RMC Mortgage® Corporation Loan Officer for details. RMC Mortgage® Corporation is located at 1000 Mansell Exchange West, Suite 200, Alpharetta, GA 30022 and is a Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee, license number 24225 and NMLS number 203897. Buyers also eligible to receive Waived 1% Origination Fee through RMC Mortgage®; average value of $4,000 which is based on a $400,000 loan amount. The waived origination fee through RMC Mortgage® Corporation is subject to cancellation or change without notice. Buyers must make a loan application by January 31, 2014 with RMC Mortgage® Corporation (NMLS# 203897) a Georgia Residential Mortgage Lender Licensee #24225. *Buyers must also close with RMC Mortgage® Corporation. Please contact your RMC Mortgage® Corporation Representative for exact quotes. Prices, plans and specifications are subject to change without notice. Ryland reserves the right to modify or cancel these offers at any time. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only. Offer may not be combined with any other promotion or incentives. Information shown believed to be accurate but not warranted. See a Sales Counselor for details on available promotions, restrictions and offer limitations. © 2015 The Ryland Group, Inc.
Milton Herald | miltonherald.com
REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section
February 4, 2015 23
Five Quick Ways To Upgrade Your Home For Resale (NAPSI)—Whether you’re considering cashing in on your equity, downsizing, trading up, moving for a change of scenery or relocating for better prospects, a few smart investments and improvements can help your home stand out from the competition so you get top dollar. Even if you’re not planning on moving anytime soon, these strategies can maximize your home’s value and increase its marketability: • Sprucing up the exterior. If you think you’ll have a few years before you move, work on your landscaping now to give plants time to mature. Look for easy-care perennials such as hostas, which multiply on their own. If you have less time, you can still achieve a quick makeover by power washing paths and siding, painting or upgrading your front door and keeping the lawn watered and weeded. • Removing eyesores inside. Some minor adjustments can help buyers recognize what’s great about your home. Swap outdated fixtures, remove wallpaper and give everything a deep clean. Replacements don’t have to be top of the line; they just need to eliminate hang-ups for potential buyers. • Improving the kitchen—to a point. You probably won’t re-
coup the cost of a full kitchen renovation but smaller projects such as upgrading appliances and painting or refinishing cabinets can modernize the space. • Refreshing rooms with neutral paint. This is a time-honored tip for a reason. While seeing your favorite bold hues on the walls makes you happy, potential buyers may not agree. A fresh coat of neutral paint can help them envision their own belongings in the space. • Focusing on energy efficiency. The right energy-smart upgrades can assure buyers they’re seeing an efficient home where utility bills can be minimized. Adding insulation to the attic and walls can make a dramatic improvement in many homes. Consider the windows as well. Adding a heat-rejecting window film such as 3M Sun Control Window Film can reduce cooling costs and typically does not change the windows’ appearance. Since the window film can reject up to 99 percent of UV rays, it can protect the investment you made in your hardwood floors, rugs, window treatments, furniture and artwork. Learn More For further facts, visit By rejecting up to 99 percent of UV rays, window film can help protect interior investments www.3M.com/homeimprovement. including hardwood floors, rugs, window treatments, furniture and artwork.
Atlanta magazine
Featuring All Milton Neighborhoods
Crooked Creek
Kingsley Estates
North Valley
The Manor
Triple Crown
White Columns
Perfect Home Finder
Buying a home? Why not take a few minutes to fill out a form to describe your ‘dream’ home and see if we can’t find a matching property?
• Everything you need as you look to buy or sell in the City of Milton • Search every listing in Milton • List your home with the Milton Specialist • Free seller valuations • Milton’s leading brokerage
40+ Page Buyer Guide
No matter what your real estate goals are, we’ve got exclusive tips and extensive industry knowledge you can immensely benefit from.
MIKE STEVENS
Milton Home Specialist 770-905-7053 (cell) mike@northatlantateam.com www.movetomilton.com www.crookedcreekhomesales.com
What’s my Home Worth? Want to know what your home is worth? Let our experts prepare a free home analysis for your Milton area home!
Michael Stevens, Principal, The North Atlanta Real Estate Team, RE/MAX Around Atlanta • 770-905-7053 • mike@NorthAtlantaTeam.com
24 February 4, 2015
Sponsored Section • REAL ESTATE REPORT
miltonherald.com | Milton Herald
When is the Right Time to Sell Your Home? By Bill Rawlings Vice President/Managing Broker Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty The decision to sell your home is both a financial and emotional one. While you should definitely pay high attention to market conditions as part of your thought process — conditions which will absolutely impact your home sale — you should always remember that the choice to buy or sell a home is completely individual. Reasons to Sell. Whether you have an expanding or shrinking family, a job change or a desire to move to a particular school district — your reason for selling ultimately impacts when you should put your home on the market. Market Conditions. Find out your loan payoff amount so you have an accurate idea of what your sales proceeds will be after you have paid off all home loans and closing costs. Research recent sales prices of comparable homes in your community. Consult with REALTORS® about current market conditions to estimate a listing price and how long it may take for your home to sell. Selling for the Season. Many sellers opt to put their homes on the market in the spring because that is when more buyers are looking, but you can choose to sell at any time of year. If your home attracts families and is in a sought-after school district, you are just as likely to get
RAWLINGS
offers in the summer as in the spring because buyers want to settle in before school starts.
Today’s buyers have high expectations of your home’s condition, so do not expect to be able to work on your home after it is listed.
Understanding escheatment and how to keep your property safe
Is your home ready to sell? An important element in determining when to list your home is its condition. You will need time to make repairs and improvements, deep-clean your home and clear away many of your possessions. If you have a large, disorganized home with overflowing closets and a garage with no space for a car, you may need weeks or months before you are ready to put your home on the market. Today’s buyers have high expectations of your home’s condition, so do not expect to be able to work on your home after it is listed. Your home should be priced correctly and in prime condition on day one in order to sell quickly and for the best price possible.
(NAPSI)—If you have a bank account, are holding uncashed checks, own stock, are heir to an insurance policy or have property in a safe-deposit box, there are steps you can take to help protect your property from escheatment. “Escheatment” is the term that describes how “abandoned,” “unclaimed” or “lost” property is turned over to the state. If the property owner cannot be found or hasn’t demonstrated an interest in the asset, the U.S. state where the holder lives can take custody of those belongings. If the owner or heir comes forward, he or she can claim it back from the state but early withdrawal penalties or market losses may significantly affect the asset’s value and the funds may not be immediately
By Cynthia Nisley
available. You may say, “But I haven’t abandoned my property. I don’t have anything to worry about.” That’s not necessarily so. Consider the case of an employee of a fast-growing technology company who held stock certificates with a face value of nearly $500,000. He kept the certificates in a safe and intended to use the funds for his kids’ college education. Unknown to him, his stock had been escheated due to returned mail and lack of contact. His nest egg was ruined and he was able to claim just under $20,000, the amount the state sold his stock for at the time of escheatment. Here are a few similar scenarios that can happen to anyone: • If you don’t cash dividend checks, those checks and associated stock may be escheated unless you have made contact with the transfer agent. Since most states sell shares immediately, you will lose out on any market gains, dividends or stock splits that occur after the shares are sold. • If you move and do not update your address with your financial institution (such as a bank), it will mark your account as “lost” once it receives two pieces of undeliverable mail from the post office. After three to five years, depending on the state, your assets will be escheated unless you make contact with the institution. • If you have a safe-deposit box and never access it or make contact with your bank, the contents of the box may be turned over to the state and sold at auction. You could claim back the cash value—but not the valuables themselves.
So how can you protect your assets? Staying in contact with your financial institutions is the key to protecting your property. To actively show interest in all your assets: 1. Keep a list of all the financial institutions you deal with, such as a bank or transfer agent, and contact them at least once per year. This can be as simple as accessing your account online, calling in to the customer service center, cashing a check, updating your address, changing a beneficiary or voting a proxy. 2. Keep your address updated with all your financial institutions if you move. 3. Consolidate accounts, to make it easier to maintain contact and keep track of your assets. 4. If you receive a notice alerting you to the fact that your account is considered “inactive” or “abandoned,” respond immediately. Note that service providers such as Georgeson may contact you, offering to provide assistance in helping prevent escheatment of an inactive or abandoned account. You have the option to use the service or handle it yourself directly with your financial institution—the service provider should disclose all options 5. Make sure that your heirs know which stocks you own and where you have financial accounts. To find out if any of your property has been escheated, visit www.missingmoney. com and search participating states’ records by the property owner’s name, or for contact information for nonparticipating states. * Ms. Nisley is Senior Vice President, Georgeson Inc.
Milton Herald | miltonherald.com
REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section
February 4, 2015 25
COMMUNITY
26 | February 4, 2015 | Milton Herald
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Roswell community bands together for Honduran kids Benefit to feed, This event will teach children provide food for ROSWELL, Ga. – All it takes is $150 to feed a child in Honduras a school lunch for a year. That food will keep the child in school and learning, rather than trying to work to pay for food. Chris Archer, president of Talk of the Town Catering, and several other local businesses in North Fulton are hosting a fundraising event Feb. 13 at Founders Hall on Canton Street. The beneficiary is Lunches for Learning, a nonprofit based in a remote region of rural Honduras. Its focus is simple – feeding elementary school students as an incentive to stay in school. Archer visited the remote region of rural Honduras with Roswell Rotary in 2012 and was inspired by the success rate of the charity and their low administrative costs. Upon return, he offered to host a benefit, free of charge, at Founders Hall. The Hearts for Honduras event is Valentinethemed and includes drinks, dinner and dancing with a live band. “It’s an incredible nonprofit, and anyone that witnesses,
children that would otherwise be forced to drop out to work for food. It eliminates the choice of feeding their minds or feeding their mouths.” THEO KEYSERLING Event chair for Hearts for Honduras
firsthand, the level of poverty these children are living in would be inspired as well,” said Archer. “I feel lucky to have the resource to be able to have an impact.” As part of the event, Roswell’s Gate City Brewing Company will debut their much anticipated craft brew. “It’s exciting to see Roswell’s finest businesses
It takes $150 to feed a child in Honduras a school lunch for a year. Roswell residents are hosting a fundraiser to support many of these children Feb. 13 at Founders Hall. reaching beyond our borders and expanding into global humanitarianism,” said Theo Keyserling, event chair for Hearts for Honduras. “This event will provide food for children that would otherwise be forced to drop out to work for food. It eliminates the choice of feeding their minds or feeding their mouths.”
If you go What: Hearts for Honduras When: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 13 Where: Founders Hall, 1076 Canton Street, Roswell More Info: www.roswellhforh.com Keyserling has been on multiple trips to the region and has been involved with the nonprofit since 2011.
For more information on Hearts for Honduras, visit www.roswellhforh.com. —Jonathan Copsey
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Roswell celebrates black history Month-long annual Roswell Roots Festival returns ROSWELL, Ga. — For the 14th year, Roswell is home to one of the largest and most comprehensive celebrations of black history and culture in the Southeast. In conjunction with Black History Month, Roswell will celebrate Roswell Roots: A Festival of Black History and Culture. This year, there will be 28 different events over the 28 days of February, ranging
from music and art exhibitions to panel discussions and poetry. Last year, Roswell Roots garnered the Gold Award for Best Cultural Event by the Southeast Festival and Events Association. Selected highlights of this year’s festival include: • “Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People” – Feb. 4, 7 – 9 p.m., Aurora Cineplex, 5100 Commerce Pkwy. This free film screening embraces both historical material and contemporary images by luminaries
such as Roy DeCarava, Gordon Parks and Carrie Mae Weems. Following the film, there will be a discussion with renowned Atlanta photographer Sheila Pree Bright. • LIVE! in Roswell presents Ruthie Foster – Feb. 7 at 8 p.m., Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St. Three-time Grammy nominee Ruthie Foster brings her blend of soul, blues, rock, folk and gospel to Roswell. Her performance in Roswell will be the night before this year’s Grammy Awards, where she is nomi-
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As part of the Roswell Roots Festival, a film by Sheila Pree Bright will be shown Feb. 4. nated for a third time. • Speaker and panel discussion: “Black Love and the Black Family” – Feb. 12, 7 – 9 p.m., Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St. African-American culture places heavy emphasis on family connectedness, yet data shows that AfricanAmericans are significantly less likely than other American racial groups to ever marry. Why is this and what can be done about it? Relationship coach and author Dr. Aaron Turpeau will speak and moderate this discussion. • Breaking Down Barriers Around the Table: Pound Cake Cook-Off and Southern Foodways Alliance Films – Feb. 14, 1 – 3 p.m., East Roswell Recreation Center, 9000 Fouts Road. Registration is open to compete in the first Pound Cake Cook-Off by visiting roswellroots.com/poundcake. During the cook-off, there will be a screening for
two short films by Southern Foodways Alliance on the desegregation of restaurants during the civil rights movement. • “Slammin’ in the Suburbs”: Roswell Poetry Slam – Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. at Roswell Historic Cottage, 972 Alpharetta St. This is Roswell’s 11th annual poetry slam, during which poets perform their work and are judged by members of the audience on content and presentation. • Unity Concert featuring a Morehouse College Glee Club Quartet – Feb. 28 at 4 p.m., Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 888 Zion Circle. Hear the voices of choirs from several area churches perform separately and together as one unified choir with a special guest appearance by a Morehouse College Glee Club Quartet. For a full listing of Roswell Roots events, visit www. roswellroots.com.
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SPORTS
miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | February 4, 2015 | 29
Sapp to sign with Tennessee MILTON, Ga. – Milton High School linebacker Quarte Sapp committed to Tennessee Thursday, adding to the list of Milton football players expected to sign Division I scholarships this week. Sapp will join former Milton teammate Treyvon Paulk with the Volunteers, with Paulk recently reinstated to the squad after being dropped from the team early this past season. Sapp was a first team all-state selection his senior season, and chose Tennessee over North Carolina. Alpharetta graduate Josh Dobbs is Tennessee’s starting quarterback, and former Alpharetta teammate Andrew Butcher is joining him, having already enrolled at the school. Butcher, a defensive end, and Sapp shared
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North Fulton Defensive Player of the Year honors this past season. Also expected to sign Division I scholarships for the Eagles are offensive lineman Nick Wilson (Stanford), wide receiver/defensive back Obe Fortune (Appalachian State) and defensive lineman Nick Steinhaus (West Point). Several other players are likely to sign with smaller schools. Former Milton offensive lineman Cory Helms, who has played the last two seasons at Wake Forest, is transferring to South Carolina. Helms was a freshman All-America selection at center, and started at guard this season at Wake Forest. —Mike Blum
30 | February 4, 2015 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com
Budget: Continued from Page 1 hours for the branches of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System. Fulton Commission Chairman John Eaves said the dire predictions of a millage increase and plunging cash reserves did not materialize for a number of reasons. Eaves called it a “perfect storm of converging factors” that staved off the red ink that had been expected. “No. 1, the county did a much better job of reducing its expenses than we had projected at the end of last year. We had reduced expenses and increased revenue,” Eaves said. Valuations are up in Fulton County and the collections had $11 million already collected for 2015. Fulton will tilt the millage rate down some to reflect the appreciation in the tax digest, relieving the county of the duty to report a tax increase reflecting that appreciation. The big question is how did this new Board of Commissioners come together in such a short span with three new members and diverse representation by four Democrats and three Republicans from across rural South Fulton, urban Atlanta and affluent North Fulton?
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“I think it was indicative of a new Fulton County, where there really is a spirit of ‘let’s make this happen and let’s get it done.’ There was true compromise and give and take,” Eaves said. That included a resolution Eaves co-sponsored with Republican Commissioners Liz Hausmann, Bob Ellis and Lee Morris to maintain a fund balance reserve doubled from 8.33 percent to 16.33 percent. That is equal to two months’ cash flow. “That will be about $120 million we will have in cash reserves,” he said. “That’s an indication of our desire to have more fiscal restraint as well being a signal to the crediting agencies that we are responsible in our budgeting.” Other cost-saving measures will include consolidating human resources functions that are currently scattered around the county. It also defused the confrontation that might have arisen from the General Assembly’s legislation barring Fulton County specifically from raising its millage rate this year and requiring a super-majority of five votes to raise taxes in the future. “To me, this was a great day for Fulton County,” Eaves said. “It was a unanimous vote on the budget and indicative of more to come in terms of an effort toward greater efficiency and more delivery of services to
Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System announces restored library hours for 2015 ATLANTA – The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 21 to restore the lost hours of operation for all Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System branches. Fulton’s budget will allow hours to be restored at the libraries as of April 1. Fulton Commission Chairman John Eaves said it will take some weeks to rehire part-time staff to get the libraries up to speed for the new hours. Commissioners unanimously passed Fulton County’s 2015 budget, which included allocation for the restoration of hours for the library branches and an increase to the library system’s materials budget to $1.9 million. “This is a great day for our libraries and the communities we serve throughout Fulton County,” said Interim Library Director Anne Haimes. “We are meeting critical needs by restoring hours and public confidence in our libraries.” In 2014, budget reductions meant significant cuts to library hours including the elimination of Friday hours at many branches. As a result of the action taken by the commissioners, hours will be restored to their 2013 levels. The library building program is also progressing, with the new Wolf Creek and Palmetto Libraries open and additional new libraries opening this year. The Auburn Avenue Research Library and the South Fulton Branch are both currently closed for renovation and expansion projects that are part of the building program. For information, visit www.afpls.org or call 404-730-1977. the citizens of our county.” He said he was especially proud of the “spirit of compromise and cooperation” embraced by the fellow commissioners. “This budget balances fiscal responsibility with the demand for county services by our residents,” Eaves said. “Politically, I think we have a more collegial board than we have had in the past.” For many years, Fulton County’s budget process has been more of an internecine battle over cherished programs and bringing home services important to one’s own district. “We all felt good about
going through this exercise of budget approval and the outcome,” Eaves said. Freshman Republican Commissioner Bob Ellis, representing Roswell, Alpharetta and Milton, said in the few short weeks he has been aboard, things happened fast. He had been working unofficially at budget sessions before January, so he had spent a lot of time on it. “We have a lot moving parts that had to be addressed – facilities needs, certain service areas that have cried out to be addressed more adequately, libraries,” Ellis said. “Then, there is the continual pull
we’ve always had, including senior services for instance. “And our FRESH grants and human services grants have always been convoluted in the way they have been handled,” Ellis said. All the commissioners were wondering what was going to come out of this budget, and there had been a lot of collective work to craft the budget they came up with, he said. “While there wasn’t universal agreement from each of us on what we would like the budget to look like, we were able to work within a framework that all of us could support,” Ellis said.
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SPORTS
miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | February 4, 2015 | 31
Student athletes of the month named NORTH FULTON, Ga.- Lila Clair Best of Riverwood International Charter School and Ian Joseph of Johns Creek were named the XL212 Student-Athletes of the Month (SAM). The SAM Award recognizes student-athletes who show academic-proficiency, exceptional athletic accomplishment and dedication to civic action. Senior Lila Clair Best, who recently signed with the Naval
Academy, is the 2015 Fulton County champion high-point winner, three-time scholastic All-American swimmer and captain of the Stingray swim club. Best has a 3.7 GPA and is a member the Beta Club, Interact Club, Stringray Community Service and the Vice President of the Chinese Club. Johns Creek junior Ian Joseph averages 11 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists
per game. Joseph has a 3.6 GPA, is a member of the Beta Club and Vice President of the Young Men’s Service League. Johns Creek coach Pete Goggin said of Joseph, “He’s one of the most intelligent players I have ever coached, not just academically, but also basketball-wise. It is very much like having a coach on the court.” Best and Joseph were honored with the SAM Award at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Enterprise Breakfast. —Joe Parker
Riverwood Charter School senior Lila Clair Best was named Student-Athlete of the Month
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32 | February 4, 2015 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com
SPORTS
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MILTON BOYS BASKETBALL – 2015 »
Eagles a better team than record shows Rugged schedule to help in postseason play By MIKE BLUM news@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. – A team’s wonlost record does not always reflect how well it has played over the course of a season. Take the Milton Eagles basketball team, for an example. Milton came into last Friday’s game against Lassiter with a 12-9 record, after going 18-10 and reaching the state tournament last season. The Eagles’ record could be better had coach Matt Kramer put together a less ambitious schedule, but Kramer elected to test a young team that returned only one starter and two reserves from last year’s squad. “The kids want to be challenged, and I did not schedule down,” said Kramer, in his second season as the team’s head coach. “I’d like to be 202, but I wouldn’t change the schedule a bit. We’ve got some pretty good wins, but it’s been challenging.” The Eagles were third in
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region play at 9-4 coming into Friday’s game, with three of their losses against Wheeler and Pope, the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in 5-AAAAAA. Those two teams were a combined 38-5, with one of Pope’s losses against Wheeler, the state’s No. 1-ranked team. Until a loss last week against Cherokee, the No. 4 team in the region, Milton’s first eight defeats were against seven teams that were a combined 142-12. Of that group, six were ranked in the top 10 in their state, with Milton’s opponents including the No. 3 and 6 teams in Florida, No. 4 in North Carolina and Nos. 1, 4 and 7 in Georgia. Four of the losses came in the Eagles’ first five games, when they were without football standout Quarte Sapp, who was absent due to Milton’s deep run in the state football playoffs. Sapp, who committed to a football scholarship to Tennessee last week, has emerged as the team’s second leading scorer (11 points a
game) and a key defender and rebounder. Kramer believes Sapp could have been a big-time recruit had he concentrated on basketball, and drew some attention from college coaches with his play in the Eagles’ holiday tournament in Tennessee. He provides an inside complement to Chris Lewis, the team’s lone returning starter and the Eagles’ leader in most statistical categories. Lewis, a 6-foot-8 junior, has been on the radar of Division I coaches since he was in the eighth grade, but is also a star in the classroom and has already committed to Harvard. Although his offensive game is still a work in progress, Lewis averages 16 points a game, averages double figures in rebounds and ranks among the state’s leaders in blocked shots. “He covers up some mistakes,” Kramer said of Lewis, who zealously protects the basket with his size and athletic ability, and is worth far more to the Eagles than the 16 points he averages on offense. Lewis is the leader of what is an excellent defensive team. “He’s a fantastic player and an even better kid,” his coach
said. As vital as Lewis is to the Eagles’ success, they proved they can play without him when they held off Woodstock recently. Lewis was out with an ankle injury, but was back in the lineup a few nights later and scored 20 and 21 points in the last two games. Sophomore guard Alex O’Connell stepped up against Woodstock with 20 points, one night after scoring a seasonhigh 23 in an overtime win over rival Alpharetta. The Raiders are unbeaten in Region 6-AAAAAA. O’Connell hit a three-pointer at the buzzer in overtime to lift the Eagles to the victory over the Raiders, and is the team’s primary outside threat. “When he makes his shots, we’re a lot better team,” said Kramer of the sophomore guard, who has grown from 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-3 since last June. O’Connell’s older brother Shawn, a starter last year who is now at Georgia Southern, is 6-foot-8, and Kramer says Alex is heading in that direction. Senior Jordan Burrow, the other returning regular from last season, directs the offense as the Eagles’ point guard. Burrow provides leadership,
averages nine points a game and is “a great on-ball defender,” Kramer says. He keyed a recent comeback win against Etowah with back-to-back steals that produced late-game baskets. “He changes games with his defense,” Kramer observed. Burrow’s successor at point guard next season will be sophomore D.J. Young, who is starting on the wing and is second on the team in three-pointers made behind O’Connell. The back-to-back wins over Alpharetta and Woodstock, the latter without Lewis, have given Kramer a belief that the Eagles’ best is still ahead of them this season. “We’re still getting better, but we haven’t played a 32-minute game yet,” he said. “There are still a lot of good things we can do.” The Eagles close out the regular season Friday night at Roswell. There’s a decent possibility that the two teams will meet again in the first round of the region tournament, also at Roswell, with state tournament berth on the line. Milton defeated the Hornets last year in the region quarterfinals to qualify for state.
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miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | February 4, 2015 | 33
Riverwalk Village by the numbers Developed by Duke Land Group • 104-acres in size • 1,556 residential units, including single family attached, multifamily and active adult housing • 490,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, entertainment and grocery space • 1.7 million square feet of office space • 200-key hotel • 200,000 square feet of civic and institutional space including the Swift School, a school for children with language-based learning differences. • 51 acres, or 49% of the property will remain open space • 13 acres, or 12% of the total acreage, will be left in its natural state
Riverwalk: Continued from Page 10 Sprint headquarters campus as well as the south campus for Syracuse University. He said he primarily works with taking the landscape and working around it, not simply bulldozing it. “We want to make sure it’s done right,” he said. Sloan said he will use “abundant” Georgia plants native to the state to create a landscape in the property. Just under half the site will be left open, and 12 percent will be dedicated to nature preserve, largely to the south, near the river. Resident reaction from the
Aurora presentation was generally positive, if cautious. “It looks great. You can spend the whole day there and not get in your car,” said resident Chipper Gronholm, who watched the presentation. He added that traffic on Holcomb Bridge Road can be bad, and adding so many people could make it worse. Riverwalk has not yet come before the city for official approval or public input. The developers expect this process to begin mid-year. Construction could begin in the next two years. “This is just the beginning of the conversation,” Stroud said. “[The plan] can be tweaked and discussed.” For more about Roswell NEXT, visit their website at www.roswellnext.org.
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Being Herself Bridget O’Donnell starts conversation of hope and inspiration about recovering from eating disorders By KIMBERLY BROCK CUMMING, Ga. – Bridget O’Donnell, a soft spoken sophomore at Lambert High School in Cumming has a story to tell and she’s not afraid to talk about the hard stuff. Today Bridget spends her time running track, playing soccer and spending time with friends, her parents Susan and Tim and her older brother and sister. But only four years ago, she faced the horrible descent into anorexia and the difficult journey toward recovery. “People think eating disorders are a choice,” Bridget explained. “They think you just choose to stop eating. But it’s not really so much about the physical. It’s mental. It’s a constant war with yourself.” Bridget’s mom, Susan O’Donnell, agrees. “Anorexia is a symptom of a state of mind,” Susan said. “For Bridget, the struggle began in seventh grade, but we chalked it up to the typical teenage kinds of things. Her siblings were moving into new phases in their lives. Her sister left for college and then her brother started high school, leaving Bridget alone in middle school and feeling anxious. “The schedules and routines in our home that had always provided stability, were changing and less predictable,” she said. “She also faced changes in her childhood friendships as the girls began to gravitate toward different groups according to their interests and activities. Everyone seemed to know where they fit, but Bridget felt uncertain. She began to obsessively compare herself to others and felt she always came up short.” Bridget also remembers
that time in her life when everything changed. “At school, we watched a video about eating disorders, and I thought it was awful,” she said. “I thought how could you do that to yourself? And then everything changed and I started obsessing and comparing myself. It was just a few months and I was that girl.” Susan said the changes in Bridget were gradual. “The changes we first saw weren’t in Bridget’s weight, but in her personality,” Susan said. “She became withdrawn, manipulative, depressed and belligerent. She would eat in front of us, but was a master of deception when we weren’t watching. She was skipping meals or severely limiting her food and exercising to excess. She began to have a hard time getting up and was often late for school. She started complaining of stomach aches all the time. That’s when we went to see our pediatrician.” Most of Bridget’s meals weren’t with her family anymore due to busy schedules, and so her condition was fast deteriorating by the time she was diagnosed with an eating disorder. Susan has advice for parents. “If you have suspicions, don’t wait. Days count,” she said. “Call ahead to your physician with your concerns so the conversation happens before your appointment, so you’re taken seriously and everyone comes to the appointment prepared.” Bridget’s activities were restricted as she and her family focused on improving her eating. Susan took her to the Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders (ACE) for an evalua-
People think eating disorders are a choice. They think you just choose to stop eating. But it’s not really so much about the physical. It’s mental. It’s a constant war with yourself.” BRIDGET O’DONNELL
tion, where they recommended she start treatment. But this meant daily trips to the center, which would take Bridget out of school. Bridget was able to talk Susan out of making her go to the center. Within weeks, a follow-up appointment revealed Bridget’s condition required hospitalization. For two-and-a-half weeks, Bridget was at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), where she continued to deteriorate physically and mentally struggled with suicidal thoughts. At this
point, she was transferred to the women’s eating disorder wing at Ridgeview Institute, where she remained for two months. It seemed to be a turning point. Going into eighth grade, Bridget seemed to be doing well and made the decision to come off her medication. It was a mistake. “We relaxed and she relapsed,” Susan said. “It happened so fast. It was terrifying.” ACE recommended she go to a residential treatment center. Bridget’s parents found Veritas Collaborative in Durham, North Carolina, a program that specializes in adolescent disorders. The focus was on emotion regulation, something Bridget felt really made a difference in her recovery. Therapists guided her through exercises to help her focus not on where she was failing or needed to change, but on the idea that everyone is on their own journey. It’s a process, learning to take her time and find what works from one day to the next. “Talking to others with eating disorders was the biggest relief,” Bridget said. She is gentle, but there is purpose in her voice.
“The program included yoga, art, movement and culinary classes,” she said. “We learned about mindfulness, being in the moment, skills for dealing with anxiety.” Both Bridget and Susan recall that time apart as difficult, but hopeful. “The Veritas program is hours away from our home, but family-oriented,” said Susan. “They wanted us involved. On weekends, we often participated in family therapy. We’d struggled to understand or find ways to help. “It was difficult when we tried to find activities we could enjoy as a family that didn’t center on food. My older kids withdrew from the situation, afraid for Bridget and confused by what she was doing to herself,” she said. “When we tried to encourage them to spend time with her, to show support, it often made things worse instead of better. Veritas helped us learn to reconnect with one another.” After four months, Bridget was able to go home and return to school for her freshman year. Now she’s starting a conversation, beginning with a video about the possibil-
See NSW, Page 35
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Tuck: Continued from Page 1 forming arts, taking multiple classes. She trains as much as 20 hours a week there, Jennifer said. “I took ballet, and then I started to do more, like tap, voice and acting,” Sarah said. That dedication is paying off. Among Sarah’s career highs have been several acclaimed productions, and she was recently nominated for Best Leading Actress in a Musical in her role as Annie at the Atlanta Lyric Theater. Sarah said the producers of “Tuck Everlasting” contacted her about auditioning for the role of Winnie. She did so, and got a call back. She did that and landed the role. “It was ‘oh my gosh!’” she said. “I freaked out. We thought they would hire a Broadway girl from New York, but they ended up picking me and giving me a chance.” While she is familiar with being on stage, being around Broadway veterans is new for Sarah. “Everyone in the cast has
NSW: Continued from Page 34 ity of recovering from eating disorders that she recorded for her video broadcasting class. It features many of the other young women she’s met along her journey. She wants others to know there’s hope. “I remember thinking this was just how I was going to be and there was nothing I could do about it,” Bridget said. “Then, when I went into treatment, I hoped it would just click one day and everything
miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | February 4, 2015 | 35
been on Broadway except for me and a couple other children in the show, but I am learning from them how they handle changes, how they take care of themselves and take everything well.” The cast is like a family, she said. While she normally attends Crabapple Crossing Elementary School, Sarah has a tutor on set so she can practice and learn at the same time without having to go PHOTO BY GREG MOONEY to school. From left are, Shannon Eubanks, Sarah Charles Lewis and Liza Jaine in the Alliance Theatre’s 2014/15 world The experipremiere production of “Tuck Everlasting,” which runs through Feb. 22, 2015. ence had been great so far, she said. It runs at the Alliance Theatre the audience claps is such a her interested in performing, “All the people in the cast through Feb. 22. For more ingood feeling.” Sarah did not hesitate. are amazing. This is one of formation, visit alliancetheatre. The performance of “Tuck “I like being on the stage the biggest things I have ever org. For more on Sarah, visit Everlasting” is the world prethe most,” she said. “Singing done,” she said. “It’s so cool. her website at www. Sarahmiere of the musical based on a big note is one of the best It’s unbelievable.” CharlesLewis.com. the novel by Natalie Babbitt. things ever. After a song, when When asked what kept would be alright. But that’s not how it is. “You have to put a lot of effort into yourself and your recovery,” she said. “You have to go through the pain, the hard time. But if you put forth the effort yourself, it will get better. You will get better.” Susan, too, feels the need for action. “Once we started talking about what we’d been through, we were amazed at how many kids in Bridget’s social circles were in therapy for various reasons,” she said. “We realized our large schools may be less than prepared to support families like ours. It’s a battle
for every child with an eating disorder and every family trying to support them mentally and physically while keeping them from falling behind or through the cracks. “I feel it’s important to advocate for our kids as they face these stressors in our culture, to move away from the stigma of treatment, whether it’s therapy or stabilizing medications,” Susan said. “First, being aware and second, being open can make all the difference. Therapy or drugs may not be for life, but they can certainly save one.” “I’m hopeful now,” Bridget shared. “It’s been a lot, but I’m
happier, stronger. It’s easier to finally just be myself, and that’s the best part.” To learn more • You can watch Bridget’s video on recovering from eating disorders at: http:// youtu.be/SzbIp7DLAOA. • The O’Donnell family recommends the following books, services and educational resources: • Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders, www.eatingdisorders.cc. Affiliated therapists include Julie Orr, 770-458-8711, ext. 217, and Rachel Rose, 770-4588711, ext. 211.
• National Eating Disorders Association, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org. • “Brave Girl Eating” by Harriette Brown • “Teach Your Children Well” by Madeline Levine • Links to books, articles and blogs written by experts at www.bulimia.com and https://www.newharbinger. com. • Atlanta Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Norcross • Ray of Hope Counseling Services in Suwanee • Healthy Eating and Weight Support at Emory University, Dr. Erin Jones, 404805-6008
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SCHOOLS
36 | February 4, 2015 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com
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Georgia Tech ATLANTA – Local students received academic honors from Georgia Tech, earning Faculty Honors for their 4.0 grade point average and Dean’s List for achieving at least at 3.0 GPA for spring 2014 semester. Faculty Honors Alpharetta: Rabeea Ahmad, Brennen Bukovics, Kelli Capshaw, Nathan Corbin, Dylan Garrett, Rachel Isaac, Namrata Kolla, Wilson Lauerman, Lauren Levinson, Jerry Lung, Jennifer Ma, Michele Mandula, John Mastrangelo, Mary Mayfield, Meagan Elizabeth Morrow, Matthew O’Shaughnessy, Leah Purdy, Rebecca Raffaele, Holly Richer, Mark Sennett, Dalton Sherwood, Mary Shinners, Mark Solarski, Mark Stathos, Ellesse Wilten and David Zisek. Cumming: Hannah Earle, Mary Kathryn Elliott, Ricardo Garcia Rulfo, Casey Hirschmann, Jared Kleinwaechter, James Nelson, Justin Reichling, Alexander Roe, Thomas Ross, Mackenzie Sloan, Max Stockslager, Rachel Witt and Graham Wright. Duluth: Jaya Janadhyala and Michael Roberts. Johns Creek: Sara Billings, Angela Choung, Austin Delk, Miraj Desai, Alan Dong, Ethan Everett, Prachi Fulay, Shane Gizzi, Taylor Kelly,
CITY OF MILTON PUBLIC NOTICE PH-15-AB-04 PLACE 13000 Deerfield Pkwy Bldg 100 Ste 107E Milton, GA 30004 DATE & TIME 2/18/15 6:00 PM
Anna Malcom, Philip Mallory, Christine Park, Akash Patil, Bharat Sanders, Parth Sehgal, Priyanga Srinivasan, Kathleen Sweeney, Somya Tirath, Amy Voytek, William Wagenseil and Mitchell Webster. Milton: Kelly Albano, Evan Anderson, Zachary Bailey and Julie Bu. Roswell: Angela Berry, William Clark, Morgan Cox, Gerald Demeunynck, Rachel Engle, Kiley Fagan, Anna Gwaltney, Rachel Hudgins, Kevin Mahmoudi, James Martinek, Laura Morgan, Christopher Sweat, Shreyyas Vanarase and Sarah Wilson. Suwanee: Emily Benjamin, Allison Dell, Ryan Hawks, Jordan Leroux and Craig Owenby. Dean’s List Alpharetta: Madeline Baker, Parastoo Baradaran-Mashinchi, Catherine Bullock, Zachary Campbell, Blake Carson, Selina Chan, William Cherry, Elizabeth Coco, Matthew Connors, Poonam Dalwadi, Emily Davidson, Adam Debruler, Taylor Earley, Miguel Flores, Steven Fullerton, Caridad Fundora, Daniel Furman, Daryl Halima, Sara Hojjatie, Katherine Horton, Lauren Jarrett, Ashley Jennings, Seongyu Jung, Shibani Kansara, Mihir Kumar, Brian Lee, Vincent Lugli, Jun Ma, Nima Madani, Deron Mai, Nairita Nandy, Aroon Narayanan, Azka Niaz, James Nugent, Richard Papantonis, Matthew Prince, Rachel Puechner, Alexander Raabe, Jonathan Radivoj, Mark Richer, Stephen Roegge, Sanchari Roy, Nicholas Russell, Nicholas Savage, Kaleigh Sawyer,
Kirsten Schulz, Alexander Sierota, Carrie Simpson, Tanya Su, Gueorgui Tzintzarov, Rohan Verma, Mitchell Williams and Ashley Zuniga. Cumming: Heidi Bonilla, Madison Chilton, George Cooksey, Chloe Cooper, Nathan Echols, Soheil Faghihi, Matthew Farkas, Jacqueline Howard, Zachary Jordan, Jessica Kline, Lily Long, Zachary McGill, Alexis McLeod, Jay Michal, Aida Mokube, Andrew Na, Jacob Newman, Dana Ochs, Taylor Pruitt, Grace Purdy, David Rojo, Sarah Rueger, Ryan Simpson, Ethan Smith, Ruby Smith, John Taylor, Benjamin Thomas, Alexandra Underwood, Natasha Vasandani, Lauren Wilder and Derek Zittrauer. Duluth: April Ahn, Samir Jain, Sophia Rashid, Emma Siegfried and Rebecca Yoo. Johns Creek: Nicole Alampi, Sara Allen, Shelby Apps, Diego Carvallo, Casey Chae, Esther Chang, William Coons, Shinjini Das, Alex Eplan, Andrea Fletcher, Meagan Gadreault, Nicholas George, Hareen Godthi, Ansley Grantham, Eliza Hanson, Miki Hayashi, Kathryn Hettinger, Kelly In, Katherine Kardomateas, Kartikay Kini, Sai Kondabattula, Stefan Koshy, Shannon Kratz, Arshiya Lal, Arush Lal, Tri-An Le, Meghna Mahadevan, Erinn Manby, Mason Marceau, Jenna McConnico, Mark Miller, Davis Mitchell, Kevin Muench, Alexander Newton, William Padget, Michael Parque, Binita Patel, Madison Raese, Jay Reynolds, Priyadharshini Sampathkumar, Kristen Schaaf, Monica Shum, Kunwar Singh,
Invitation to Bid FY15 - Hopewell Road - Birmingham Road Intersection Improvements ITB NUMBER 15 - PW3 Sealed Bid Due Date:
PURPOSE Consumption on Premises Wine and Malt Beverages
March 3rd, 2015 2:00 PM Local Time Milton City Hall To be publicly opened approximately 2:05 PM in the Courthouse The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids.
APPLICANT Sterling Arcade, Inc d/b/a Paradise Biryani Pointe 5310 D Windward Parkway
The City of Milton is requesting submittals from interested parties for a public private partnership.The request for sealed bids for FY15 Hopewell Road - Birmingham Road Intersection Improvements will be posted on the following websites the week of February 2nd.
Contact Raheem Budhani 678-517-6336
http://www.cityofmiltonga.us or http://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/PR_index.jsp
Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com
Katherine Sledjeski, Ann Suh, Divya Vedula and David Zhou. Milton: Bryan Bates, Quinn Campbell, Peter Giglia, Maria-Sylvia Gonzalez, Amelia Goydich, Rachel Lee, Lauren Lewis, Kathleen Murphy, Vaughan Nickerson, Lauren Parisian, Andrea Schodorf, Kaitlan Stott and Gaurav Tamhan. Roswell: Hollis Barton, Scott Berry, Alec Blenis, Jennifer Blyth, Brian Bradley, Jacky Cheng, David Conner, Matthew Cribb, Ariana Daftarian, Brian Edmonds, Justin Eisenberg, Ryan Gant, Taylor Green, Kathryn Maloy, Kelly Meyer, Anisha Naidu, Sarah Poole, Jordan Senken, Elizabeth Shaw, Domingo Uceda, Andrew Warren and Marnie Williams. Suwanee: Tameem Badwan, Brandon Dudgeon, Christopher Harwell, Rohan Iyer, Katherine Kenna, Ryan Kerns, Jimin Kim, Alice Lee, Kelliann Morrisey, Bridget Nabb, Dalton Nechanicky, Jillian Nivilinszky, Kate Overstreet, Shiv Patel, Chad Pollitt, Katie Poynter, Kyle Scott, Carly Smith, Suzanne Solis, Samantha Stadmiller, Ikenna Uzoije, Jonathan Vallecillo and David Williams.
University of Georgia ATHENS, Ga. – Lorin Janae Crear has enrolled at the University of Georgia as a Stamps Foundation Fellow. The value of the Stamps Foundation Fellowship for four years at UGA is worth up to approximately $84,000, including enrichment funds for international travel, research internships and outdoor leadership experiences. Chosen for her leadership, scholarship, perseverance, service and creativity, Crear plans to study biology at UGA. The child of Walter and Monika Crear, she graduated summa cum laude from Chattahoochee High School, where she served as yearbook copy editor and president of the Books for Africa Club. She is a first-degree black belt in American Karate and has volunteered as small group leader at North Point Community Church. Also at the University of Georgia, Madelyn Teel of Milton was recently recognized as a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda, the national leadership and honors organization.
University of North Georgia DAHLONEGA, Ga. – University of North Georgia’s spring graduating cadets were award-
ed commissions as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army or Georgia National Guard. Justin M. Stephens earned a bachelor’s of business administration degree and will be stationed with the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Stephens, of Cumming, is the son of Michael and Debbie Stephens and a 2009 graduate of South Forsyth High School. Stephens served his senior year as the president of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and was inducted into the ROTC honor society Scabbard and Blade. Stephen C. Mulhern, son of Leslie Mulhern and John Tumblin, received a Certificate of Commendation and his first set of “gold bars” during ceremonies at the University of North Georgia, and was commissioned into the U.S. Army following graduation. Brooke E. Mazur, daughter of Kirsten Rappa and Brendan Mazur, received a Certificate of Commendation and her first set of “gold bars” at the University of North Georgia, and was commissioned into the U.S. Army following graduation.
Clemson University CLEMSON, S.C. – Bridget Johnson of Roswell was named to the President’s List for the 2014 spring semester, earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the semester. In addition, she was also inducted as a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda, a national leadership and honors organization. Johnson is a 2013 graduate of Roswell High School and is the daughter of Ray and Karen Johnson.
The Citadel CHARLESTON, S.C. – Members of The Citadel class of 2014 were recognized for excellence in leadership, service and academics at commencement ceremonies following the spring semester. The following local students graduated: Eric Joseph Bueltel of Cumming, Brian Eugene Dopson of Roswell and Connor Macquire Reasoner Blasch of Alpharetta.
Armstrong Atlantic State University SAVANNAH, Ga. – Armstrong Atlantic State University in recently announced its President’s List honorees, each of whom earned a 4.0 GPA for two consecutive semesters during the 2013-2014 academic school year. The following local students
See VARSITY NEWS, Page 37
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Varsity News: Continued from Page 36 were named to spring 2014 President’s List: Samantha Brown of Cumming, a senior early childhood education major, and Alyssa Plemmons of Cumming, a sophomore pre-radiologic sciences major.
Pomfret School POMFRET, Conn. – Lucas Jenkins of Milton, a member of the Pomfret School class of 2015, earned high honor roll distinction at Pomfret School for the 2014 spring term. High honors are earned with a grade point average of at least 3.5. Jenkins also performed Catherine Rollins’ “Fire Dance” on the piano in an end-of-term recital for the school community, parents and friends.
Valdosta State University VALDOSTA, Ga. – Joely Caroline Henriquez, a 2013 graduate of Alpharetta High School, has been inducted into the Sigma Alpha Lambda National Honor Society at Valdosta State University. A sophomore with a 3.6 GPA majoring in
speech communication with an emphasis in public relations, Henriquez is an active member of VSU’s Phi Mu Kappa Beta chapter. In addition, local students recently graduated and/or earned Dean’s List status from Valdosta State following the spring 2014 term. Graduates: Terrae Alexander of Suwanee, Mariela Andersen of Alpharetta, Kristen Bates of Cumming, Paige Boccia of Alpharetta, Hannah Bodie of Cumming, Shayla Brawner of Cumming, Makeda Bryce of Alpharetta, Alexis Carter of Alpharetta, Carl Caballes of Cumming: Bradley Covert of Alpharetta, Stephanie Crook of Alpharetta, Jacob Edwards of Roswell, Jonathan Frost of Duluth, Nikole Fuente of Alpharetta, Ashlie Gilbert of Alpharetta and Dana Griffith of Duluth. Kelly Hessler of Alpharetta, Melissa Insardi of Alpharetta, Derrick Iverson of Milton, Ayannah John of Roswell, Ericson Joubert of Suwanee, Thomas Keller of Cumming, Elizabeth Knutson of Milton, Baily Korb of Johns Creek, James Lord of Roswell, Ashley McKenna of Cumming, Colleen McGinn of Alpharetta, Natalie McPherson of Cumming and Brian Miller of
Cumming. Chris O’Connor of Cumming, Rebecca Perkins of Milton, Coleman Rankin of Roswell, Ainsley Robinson of Johns Creek, Rachel Santangelo of Milton, Louie Schroeder of Alpharetta, Sierra Schultz of Alpharetta, Cody Smith of Alpharetta, Melissa Sams of Suwanee, Christopher Spooner of Roswell, Jessica Tuggle of Alpharetta and Kaitlyn Wild of Suwanee. Dean’s List: Maegan Abkemeier of Cumming, Shabana Ahmed of Alpharetta, Natalie Ajamian of Roswell, Caroline Baum of Roswell, Lucas Bell of Johns Creek, Isaac Berrios of Alpharetta, Austin Bohannon of Roswell, Brennan Byrd of Cumming, Jason Champ of Cumming, Stewart Cockerham of Alpharetta, Stephanie Crawford of Alpharetta, Matthew Deese of Roswell, Madison DiMauro of Alpharetta and Elizabeth Eaton of Alpharetta. Alison Fay of Cumming, Maci Fletcher of Cumming, Alena Franks of Cumming, Nikole Fuente of Alpharetta, Zachary Gainey of Cumming, Grant Gardner of Duluth, Ashlie Gilbert of Alpharetta, Hannah Gorman of Duluth, Michael Habib of Roswell, Anna Hardin of Alpharetta, Allyson Hayenga of Alpharetta,
DEATH NOTICES Robert Marcellous Bishop, Jr., 64, of Cumming, passed away January 25, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.
Roger Lee Hubbard, 65, of Gainesville, passed away January 25, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.
Sally Gentry Trawick, 74, of Alpharetta, passed away January 26, 2015. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.
Marie Collis, of Milton, passed away January 24, 2015. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Masami Hull, 79, of Cumming, passed away January 27, 2015. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.
Virginia Louise Vaughn, 77, of Cumming, passed away January 19, 2015. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.
Andrew Jack Duncan, 80, of Cumming, passed away January 25, 2015. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. Ronny Reamer Floyd, 71, of Cumming passed away January 27, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Marcus M. Gazaway, 87, of Forsyth County, passed away January 25, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Peggy Lou Hanley, of Alpharetta, passed away January 23, 2015. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Jeanne F. Kohler, 63, of Gainesville, passed away January 25, 2015. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.
Earl Vick, of Roswell, passed away January 24, 2015. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Warren Kraemer, of Alpharetta, passed away January 27, 2015. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors. Hugh Lee Wall, Sr., 78, of Cumming, passed away January 26, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Kathy Schlacht, of Johns Creek, passed away January 23, 2015. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Helen Opal Wilson, 86, of Cumming, passed away January 24, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Joel Ronald Zingerman, 78, of Suwanee, passed away January 24, 2015. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.
miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | February 4, 2015 | 37 Joely Henriquez of Alpharetta, Daniella Hermoza of Roswell and Melanie Jackson of Alpharetta. Andrew Jeschke of Alpharetta, Naomi Johnston of Cumming, Charles Keeling of Alpharetta, Baily Korb of Johns Creek, Emily Li of Duluth, Natalie McPherson of Cumming, Cody Mixon of Cumming, Dillon Moore of Cumming, Victoria Papadelis of Duluth, Patricia Price of Cumming, Emily Raymond of Alpharetta and Cody Smith of Alpharetta. Erica Smitherman of Duluth, Margaret Stauffer of Roswell, Shelby Varchmin of Cumming, Taylor Watts of Alpharetta, Jamie West of Alpharetta, Christopher Whelan of Cumming, James Whelan of Cumming, Courtney Whitenack of Duluth and Kyle Wilkerson of Duluth.
Hamilton College CLINTON, N.Y. – The following local students have been named to the Dean’s List at Hamilton College for the 2014 spring semester: Rachael L. Feuerstein, daughter of Harry and Jill Feuerstein and a graduate of
Alpharetta High School, is a rising junior majoring in psychology. Jacob L. Wagner, son of George and Heather Wagner of Alpharetta and a Milton High School graduate, is a rising senior majoring in biology.
Brenau University GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Brenau University student-athlete Sydney Danielle Koon of Johns Creek was named the NAIA Volleyball National Player of the Week. Koon was selected for her performances the week of Oct. 27 through Nov. 2. She helped guide Brenau to wins against Bethel and Martin Methodist in the Southern States Athletic Conference. Also at Brenau, local students participated in the Gainesville Theatre Alliance WonderQuest production of “Sleeping Beauty” Sept. 26 through Oct. 4. Among the local participants were Katie Keel of Johns Creek, Rebecca Martell of Cumming, Meredith Martin of Cumming, Amanda Willett of Cumming, Caitlin Cavanaugh of Suwanee and Sydney Rohrbaugh of Suwanee. All are majoring in theater.
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Hiring Technicians, Stone Masons
Mad Hatter Services hiring air duct and chimney technicians, helpers and stone masons. We will train. Must be dependable, have a good driving record and a valid driver’s license. Mad Hatter Services promotes a smoke free work environment and conducts random drug screening on a continual basis. Potential Annual Earnings: $40,000+. Walk in applications are encouraged at 5220 Atlanta Highway, Alpharetta, GA 30004. E-mail resumes toinfo@madhatterservices. com or call 770-740-8133.
Hiring Office Staff
The Mad Hatter Service Company in Alpharetta is hiring customer service representatives. Job duties include managing incoming calls, scheduling appointments, and doing basic administrative tasks. Must be familiar with QuickBooks and scheduling software. Must be dependable, friendly and have a positive attitude. 9:00am – 5:00pm M-F. Mad Hatter Services promotes a smoke free and drug free work environment. Please reply to this posting by submitting a cover letter and resume to info@madhatterservices.com.
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40 | February 4, 2015 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com
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