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Swift Learning
Gone fishin’
Buford Trout Hatchery offers unique outing for the family ►►PAGE 21
The Swift School in Roswell offers children with dyslexia a proven path to learning. It offers their parents hope. Here students in MandyMenshon’s second grade class learn about shapes by taking pictures of things in the school hallway. See what it is about the school that inspired one family to move from Australia for their child. Read more, Pages 34 – 35.
City moves forward with Parks & Rec bond Council tweaking parks strategic plan to bring before citizen vote ►►PAGE 4
Lambert principal put on temporary leave Davison’s ‘Islamophobic’ Facebook posts lead to leave of absence ►►PAGE 10
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2 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
770-442-3278 | NorthFulton.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 PUBLISHER Ray Appen
Nurse fakes cancer, accepts over $25K By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 29-yearold Cumming woman was charged with theft and forgery recently after she reportedly faked having stage IV ovarian cancer. In 2010, Mary Bennett told friends and family she had the deadly disease and wanted to check off some items on her bucket list. She has since received and accepted more than $25,000 in cash and donations, including a sky diving adventure, trips to places like
EDITORIAL QUESTIONS: Alpharetta-Roswell: ex. 122 Forsyth Herald: ex. 143 Johns Creek Herald: ex. 121 Milton Herald: ex. 143 Business Post: ex. 116 Northside Woman: ex. 102 TO SUBMIT EDITORIAL: News: news@appenmediagroup.com Press Releases: NewsLink.NorthFulton.com Calendar/Events: NorthFulton.com/Calendar
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Groomsbridge Road, Johns Creek, was arrested Jan. 15 on State Bridge Road in Johns Creek for DUI and following too close. ►► James David Ball, 27, of Eider Down Court, Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 12 on Old Alabama Road in Johns Creek for DUI. ►► Paul Daniel Mineck, 39, of Bossier Drive, Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 18
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The suspect arrested for bank robbery in the Jan. 27 Herald article was incorrectly identified. Police have released the corrected name, Stephen James Villavasso. He was taken into custody Jan. 26 outside Autrey Mill Middle School in Johns Creek after allegedly robbing a bank using a phony bomb.
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New Orleans and Biloxi, a hot air balloon ride, fishing trip and Braves baseball tickets. Bennett is currently unemployed but is a licensed practical nurse. She was charged with a misdeBENNETT meanor because more businesses haven’t pressed charges against her, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. Bennett was charged with forgon Hopewell Road in Milton for DUI, child endangerment and driving on the wrong side of the roadway. ►► Michael James Mueller, 48, of Flying Scot Way, Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 14 on North Point Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Madeline Emma Whitefield, 25, of Highland Colony Drive, Roswell, was arrested Dec. 13 on Davis Drive in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to yield when entering roadway. ►► Jennifer Lee Hutchins, 35, of Masters Way, Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 16 on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI, failure to maintain lane, and headlights required. ►► Kathryn Marie Whitehead, 26, of Woodstock, was arrested Dec. 18 on Mansell Road in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to maintain lane.
Drug arrests ►► Martin S. McLemore, 27, of State
Bridge Road, Johns Creek, was arrested Jan. 11 on Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek for possession of marijuana and suspended license. ►► Michael Bazile, 25, of Gran Crique Drive, Roswell, was arrested Jan. 14 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana.
NORTHSIDE CHAPEL
ery after the FCSO requested medical records to prove treatment, but she reportedly forged the signatures. She also would allegedly have friends and family take her to the hospital but would go in alone, so no one knew if she was in fact getting treatments. In addition, she faked a treatment at Northside Hospital where she posted a picture online of bandages on her head, which were later found to be fake. The FCSO asks for anyone with information to contact Detective Jeffrey Roe at 770-781-3038.
POLICE BLOTTER All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
‘Surprised’ driver gets DUI ALPHARETTA, Ga. – A driver seemed surprised police pulled him over Jan. 23 after he was swerving on Ga. 400. Police say the man, a 43-yearold Fairburn resident, was drifting on the road, causing traffic around him to quickly stop. When pulled over on Mansell Road, the man was surprised, asking the officer, “You stopping me?” He claimed he was on his phone. Police smelled alcohol, yet he declined to say if he had been drinking before driving. Instead of a driver’s license, he handed police a passport. A search of his car turned up several empty vodka bottles as well as a cup with vodka and orange juice in the center console. The man was arrested for DUI, driving with an open container,
See BLOTTER, Page 45
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NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 3
What are the differences between LASIK and PRK? By Samir Vira, M.D.
Laser vision correction or refractive surgery gives individuals the opportunity to reduce their dependency on glasses or contact lenses. The two primary types of refractive surgeries offered are LASIK and PRK. LASIK, or laserassisted in situ keratomileusis, is the most commonly performed refractive surgery with over 700,000 procedures done in 2014 by surgeons in the US.
Samir Vira, MD.
In LASIK, a thin flap is initially created on the cornea using a microkeratome blade, or more recently a femtosecond laser. This flap is then lifted, and an excimer laser is employed to reshape the underlying corneal bed according to the patient’s prescription, or refractive error. Once LASIK/Refractive Surgeon
this has been performed, the flap is laid back into its original position as the last step. The procedure is usually done for both eyes in about 15 minutes.
weeks. Most patients undergoing PRK take some days off from school or work, whereas LASIK patients usually resume their daily activities within the next day or so.
PRK, or photorefractive keratectomy, is an alternative procedure and actually the predecessor to LASIK. As opposed to the creation of a flap, the top layer of the cornea called the epithelium is removed carefully. The same excimer laser is then used to reshape the cornea. After this, a contact lens is placed on the eye as a bandage to allow the surface of the eye to heal. Similar to LASIK, the procedure is complete in about 15 minutes.
So why choose PRK? Some individuals have thin corneas or unusual corneal shapes that precludes them for being suitable candidates for LASIK. In these individuals, PRK is the safer alternative with similar outcomes. Additionally, there is no risk for any flap-related complications with PRK. All patients undergoing refractive surgery will experience temporary dry eye symptoms; however, these symptoms tend to be less severe with PRK.
The final visual results with both LASIK and PRK are very comparable. The biggest difference lies in the recovery period. Recovery after LASIK is fairly quick – most patients feel minimal discomfort and can see well within a few days of the procedure. With PRK, patients usually experience mild to moderate discomfort as the surface epithelial cells heal in over the first 3-5 days. Visual recovery is gradual, with the final outcome achieved over a few
In rare instances, patients with extreme nearsightedness or high myopia are not candidates for either LASIK or PRK. For these individuals, phakic intraocular lenses, or IOLs, is a safer alternative. These implantable lenses are placed within the eye – either between the cornea and iris or behind the iris. While the procedure is more invasive and expensive, phakic IOL surgery can produce very good results for patients.
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4 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
NEWS
City edging toward $50M-$60M parks and recreation bond Council evaluates city’s Recreation and Parks Strategic Plan By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The Johns Creek City Council is slowly moving toward putting a recreation and parks bond before the voters after receiving the updated Recreation and Parks Strategic Plan last week. The bond proposal would be in the neighborhood of $50 million to $60 million and would require a millage rate adjustment. At a special work session the council received details from Mack Cain, one of the city’s consultants on the strategic plan. More public hearings will proposed, but they will likely be after the City Council retreat, where council members will thrash out details for the parks and recreation proposal. If all goes well at the retreat, the public hearings will be scheduled leading up to a vote in the November elections. “I would like to have this vote in November because it is a presidential election year and I would like to see as many voters turn out as possible,” said Mayor Mike Bodker. Johns Creek Assistant City Manager Kimberly Greer said the strategic plan presented by the city consultants Cain and Robert G. Betz is a compilation the city’s needs, priorities and stated objectives. It also takes into consideration public input from town hall meetings held in 2015. “The strategic plan, once adopted, will serve as both a guide for the formulation of recreation polices and decision making,” Greer said. “In it, we’ve identified the priorities for the next 10
Consensus Needs in Parks Strategic Plan • Acquisition of additional parkland strategically located throughout the city • Add recreational facilities to accommodate tournament sports • Offer a broader range of recreational programs serving all age groups • Create loop trails and a citywide recreational greenway system • Increase trail linkages to existing parks and recreational facilities • Improve existing parks • Improve parks and recreational maintenance
HATCHER HURD/HERALD
Councilman Steve Broadbent makes a point as, from left, council members Lenny Zaprowski, Bob Gray and Cori Davenport look on. years. It will be up to the City Council to balance needs and costs based on the plan once it is adopted.” Heading the list of recommendations are: • A tournament sports park of at least 100 acres (Estimated cost $20 million) • A large community park of at least 100 acres (Estimated cost $25 million) • A town green of 10 acres (Estimated cost $3 million) • Passive-use park of 40 acres (Estimated cost $10 million) • Community park of 40 acres (Estimated cost $11 million) The total cost of parkland acquisition would be nearly $70 million and, with contingencies, add another $10 million. In addition to more parkland, the citizen survey indicated the public wants new facilities – including a tournament facility – and a broader range of programs, Greer said. Not too far behind that are calls for “trails without cars.” Citizens would like a true trail system that would be connected. Greer noted the City Council has already ticked off two items on the plan’s wish list with the recent purchase of 133 acres at Cauley Creek ($20.3 million) and 20 acres in Technology Park ($2.85 million). In the public survey, 77 percent of residents said they favored “accelerated funding,” which means a general obligation bond referendum. With the bond, the city could expect to complete all the projects in about 10 years. Of course, those prioritized first would come much sooner. Today, Johns Creek operates about
200 acres of parks comprised of Newtown Park, Ocee Park, Shakerag Park and Autrey Mill Nature Preserve. A $60 million bond would require something less than a 0.5 mills increase in the homeowner property taxes, Greer said. Councilman Bob Gray said, before things go too far down the road, he wanted to know what effect the ongoing operating costs would have on the budget. “We can afford the Cadillac, but can we afford the gas?” Gray asked. Much of the discussion revolved around a proposed tournament facility that would likely go in at Cauley Creek, since that is where the city just bought 133 acres. It could handle 10 ball fields, a field house and concession stand. Councilman Steve Broadbent said he would like the city to have funds on hand so the city could move quickly when land becomes available. Councilwoman Stephanie Endres said, before the plan gets too far along, she would like “hard numbers” associated with the plans. “Meanwhile we should do something with the parks we’ve purchased, especially those pocket parks,” Endres said. Another item that needs more study is parkland along the Chattahoochee River. The Cauley Creek acquisition gives the city 133 acres very close to National Parks Service land at the Jones Bridge Landing. “I think we have opportunities of creating some synergies with the Parks Service there,” Bodker said. Council members agreed to flesh out a course of action after their upcoming City Council retreat that will give everyone time to prepare what they want to bring before the public.
NEWS
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 5
Police chase ends in fatal crash for couple Drs. Krzystof and Elzbieta Krawczynski die when speeding car slams into them By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com
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Drs. Krzysztof Krawczynski and Elzbieta Gürtler-Krawczynska were killed when a suspected drug dealer’s car ran into theirs during a police chase that started in Johns Creek.
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duced us to the Polish community here. When we started the Chopin Society of Atlanta, Elzbieta became a founding board member,” Lato said. “But that was so typical of them. They were truly a Renaissance couple. They both had careers as medical doctors, they were internationally known scientists, they were dedicated to the arts. They were determined to preserve Polish culture for the next generation,” Lato said. The couple started or supported many Polish cultural events in the Atlanta community such as the Atlanta Pierogi Festival. Gürtler-Krawczynska was the founder and longtime president of the Polish Catholic Apostolate of Atlanta. Gwinnett County Police conducted the investigation of the accident and arrested the driver, Larry Thomas, 47, at the scene for two counts of vehicular homicide, DUI, fleeing an officer and trafficking drugs. He is from Tennessee. Police found quantities of morphine, methamphetamine, cocaine and LSD. A gun was also taken at the scene. A passenger and the driver’s son, Jesse C. Thomas, 18, was arrested on drug charges also.
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JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – A car chase Jan. 28 by Johns Creek Police and two suspected drug dealers ended in the tragic deaths of a prominent elderly Peachtree Corners couple when their car was struck by the suspects’ vehicle. According to police, shortly after 10 p.m. a Johns Creek officer saw a suspicious vehicle – a white 2000 Crown Victoria with several radio antennas protruding – and tried to pull it over. The driver slowed down then stepped on the gas and sped away, heading south on Ga. 141. The officer pursued, reaching speeds in excess of 80 mph. After about a four-mile chase lasting just two minutes, the suspects’ car slammed into a silver Mercedes at the intersection of Ga. 141 and Jay Bird Alley, killing the two occupants of the Mercedes, Drs. Krzysztof Krawczynski, 77, and Elzbieta Gürtler-Krawczynska, 78. They were returning from their daughter’s birthday celebration and, according to a friend, were only two minutes away from home. According to media reports, Gurtler-Krawczynska had retired from the Department of Radiology at Emory’s School of Medicine. Her husband, an internationally known expert in viral hepatitis, retired last year from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after 31 years, and had recently received privileges to return to the lab on an emeritus status. Both were active in their community, their church and the Atlanta Polish community and their deaths have rocked the close-knit Atlanta Polish community. Johns Creek resident Dorota Lato, president of the Chopin Society of Atlanta, knew them well, especially Gürtler-Krawczynska, who served on the Chopin Society board of directors. Lato said she first met the couple when she and her husband moved to Johns Creek from New York City. “It was quite a transition for us, but they welcomed us and intro-
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6 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
ACTIVE SHOOTER: CIVILIAN RESPONSE
NEWS
JCPD forum tells how to survive mass shooting More than 200 attend By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – What would you do if you suddenly found yourself in the midst of a terrorist attack in a public place – or just your garden-variety nut case with a gun? That is precisely what more than 200 local residents showed up Jan. 28 at Perimeter Church in Johns Creek to find out. The Johns Creek Police Department conducted a forum called Active Shooter: Civilian Response. With a rising number of attacks on civilians occurring randomly in public places – we know them by place names now such as San Bernardino, Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech – Police Chief Ed Densmore said his department decided to respond to citizen requests. “We wanted to get people some good information about what they can do to try to survive an active shooter event. We think, with some basic information, folks can greatly increase their chances of surviving a mass shooting,” Densmore said. JCPD Maj. John Clifton led the two-hour seminar with the help of Sgt. Lane Shannon and Sgt. Todd Hood. He began by saying, due to the subject matter, attendees would see and hear “sensitive material” and see violent videos as part of the program. The forum began eerily with a tape of the Colorado 911 operator talking to the librarian at Columbine High School during the shooting in 1999. At first the librarian said she did not realize what was going on, thinking somebody was playing a prank with firecrackers inside the building. Then, when it became apparent it was gunfire coming from the hallway outside, she had the students get under their desks. The last thing the audience heard was her telling the 911 operator, “They’ve just walked in the room.” Clifton said it is important to understand the normal thought processes when something like this happens. “If you get anything from this program, listen to how to survive such an event. This is the time and age we live in,” Clifton said. “Columbine was where they say America lost its innocence. We all watched that play out on television. The lessons were hard. It took police officers 47 minutes to enter the building.” Columbine led to changes in the ways police handle such situations.
Surviving a mass shooting Johns Creek Police say the way to survive such a terrifying situation is to ADD to your chances. ADD stands for avoid, deny, defend. • AVOID: At the sound of gunfire, leave the area as quickly as possible. Don’t wait to see if it is “really happening.” Make it a habit to notice other exits in public places other than the one you entered. That also helps in case of fires. • DENY: If escape is not possible, try blocking the shooter’s entry. If that does not entirely discourage the shooter, it could give you the chance to jump out of a window. • DEFEND: This the last-ditch option when the shooter is coming at you face-to-face. Negotiation is not an option with this type person. Throw a chair or some object but follow with an attack, especially if there are more of you than shooters. It is perhaps a forlorn hope but it is the best option among poor ones. HATCHER HURD/HERALD
Only three days earlier, an alleged bank robber was fleeing pursuit by a Johns Creek police officer and crashed his car in front of Autrey Mill Middle School. He jumped out of his car and ran toward the school parking lot. The pursuing officer saw this and radioed what was happening. Before the suspect got to the school door, the principal had already been notified and the school was in lockdown. He was arrested minutes later, without gaining entry into the school. “It was only a matter of seconds for the radio call to get to the school,” Densmore said. Clifton noted rather than hide under tables, the students should have been going out the windows at the sound of gunfire. “It was a one-story drop, but that was better than what was waiting for them outside the door,” Clifton said. It is all part of the strategy that Clifton and his sergeants Shannon and Hood said people should follow if a shooting happens nearby. They call it ADD – avoid, deny, defend. Avoid the situation by getting away. Make it a habit to study the exits when entering a public place. If avoidance is not possible, you must
Sgt. Lane Shannon said the three things to remember if you hear shots are ADD: avoid, deny, defend. Avoid the situation, get away; deny the shooter entrance to your space; but, if face to face, defend with everything you have. deny the shooter access. Create a barrier, lock the door or place some other obstacle between you and the shooter. If that fails, defend yourself, don’t hide. Police say to fight as if your life depends on it is the best last choice. “We don’t want people to be paranoid, just prepared. You don’t expect to have an accident, but you buckle your seat belt. It’s just about being prepared,” Clifton said. Another graphic video showed what happened during a fire at a nightclub. It started at the bandstand and engulfed the entire club in about six minutes. Hundreds died at the main entrance as the panicked mob made it impossible for anyone to move. Yet there were three other exits that almost no one used because they didn’t know they were there. The typical reaction, whether to a fire or gunfire, is for the brain to go into denial. Studies show people will look at the reactions of others to take cues on whether to react to danger. While everyone is standing around wondering what
to do, precious time is lost. People go through three stages, Clifton said. First it’s denial, then deliberation and then the “decisive minute” when they react. That takes too long. “Delay is when people die,” Clifton said. “If you smell smoke or hear firecrackers, react as if it is the worst. That’s the best state to be in.” For those carrying weapons of their own, the officers had this advice: Don’t go hunting the shooter or shooters. Defend yourself, but you are at a disadvantage. Almost always the shooter has planned the event with multiple weapons and ammunition. Another real danger is when police arrive on the scene. They are looking for someone with a weapon in hand, and it could easily end with a “friendly fire” casualty. Densmore said his department would be available to make the presentation to businesses or other groups as a civic service. “The more people we can inform about the correct way to act in such a situation, the better,” he said.
NEWS
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 7
Deputy returns to work after 2014 courthouse shooting
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By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Nearly 18 months ago, in June 2014, Forsyth County Deputy Daniel Rush was shot in the leg outside the old Forsyth County Courthouse. But now he is back on duty. According to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, “Deputy Rush is extremely grateful for the concern that the community has shown for him during his recovery.” Rush, a 30-year sheriff’s veteran, was shot when Dennis Marx, who was due in court that morning on drug and weapons charges, drove across the sidewalk, into the steps of the courthouse and then started shooting. He reportedly tried to run over Rush, who opened fire. Marx, who was acting alone, fired at the deputy through his windshield and struck the deputy in the leg. Marx was later killed by deputies. In July 2014, Rush was given the Deputy of the Year Award of Valor by
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8 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
OPINION
Hate and bigotry do not belong in schools “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” –First Amendment of the United States Constitution As a journalist, the First AmendKATHLEEN STURGEON ment was drilled into my head. In Reporter kathleen@appenmediagroup.com college I had a class called Media Law that required us to write out the exact words of the First Amendment on every test. We were expected to know what it means since it grants journalists the opportunity to do our jobs without interference. That amendment is simple and yet says a lot. It gives me and my fellow journalists the right to freely investigate the truth. It gives citizens the right to protest or petition if they don’t agree with leaders, without fear of retribution. And it also gives anyone in America the right to worship as they please. A debate broke out last week on the Forsyth Herald’s Facebook page, Twitter account and website that quickly turned into a widespread, heated dispute invoking First Amendment rights on both sides of the controversy. When Lambert Principal Gary Davison was placed on administrative leave for comments he made on social media, a deeply divided discussion erupted, immediately escalating to name calling, insults and degradation the likes of which simply can’t be printed in the pages of a family newspaper. One side stands by Davison, who has been hailed as a pillar in the Forsyth school system. He was the first and only principal at Lambert, and had served as principal at South Forsyth High School and Settles Bridge Elementary School. He has touched the lives of countless students and parents and, judging from online comments made in support of him, has clearly made a positive impact in the community. Many have said
Read about Lambert principal Gary Davison’s leave of absence, Page 10. Davison’s comments were on his personal Facebook account and, therefore, should be considered free speech. A petition has collected over 3,000 signatures in support of giving Davison back his job. One student wrote, “This year I began my transition from male to female, with [administration’s] support. While I never personally met Dr. Davison, the administration he controlled allowed me to use the bathrooms I wanted, change my name on the rosters, and be the runner-up in the female category for senior superlatives ... But his personal opinion should NOT matter. His personal opinion is that — an opinion. And he has made it very clear, at least with me, that his opinion does not come into play as an administrator. He has been fair to me, and he is a renowned principal.” However, his detractors say the principal of a public school with a diverse student body is wrong to make what some are calling “racist, Islamophobic and homophobic posts.” While nothing about this situation is uplifting, some of the worst parts of the ordeal are the backlash and response to Davison’s suspension. Many of the comments I’ve read online are just simply horrifying. Students are turning on students and saying they should kill themselves for speaking out against Davison. Eventually, I had to stop reading the comments. It just got too depressing
So when responsible leaders dip their quill into that poisonous ink, they must accept not only responsibility for their words, but the consequences.
to see how much real hated, racial and religious, the issue has inspired. As I’ve stated before, I’m very much in favor of our First Amendment rights. Nevertheless, I am held accountable by my newspaper for the things I write for the public. To a lesser degree, I must be ready to defend to my publishers my personal beliefs that I am allowed to express on this, the Opinion Page. Were I to express opinions that my bosses felt were too extreme, they have the right to deny me this platform for the expression of those thoughts. As any banker, lawyer, minister or other person who holds a position of public trust in their community knows, their private opinions should be kept private. Most bankers, for example, would be hard pressed to demonstrate in favor of or against a controversial cause, say abortion rights. It is simply not a subject the bank wants associated with its name, either pro or con. And the banker knows, to take a public stance invites censure. Likewise, the Forsyth Board of Education has a similar duty to remain independent of even the odor of discrimination. Social media today is like speaking on a street corner. You may intend it only for friends, but the reality is you are sharing it with the world. As a high school principal, Davison
knows better than most people how easy it is for his students to see what is posted online. He also should know that, as a high school principal, he has a tremendous amount of influence on his students. The basic issue is Davison, as principal of a high school, must be held to a higher standard. As principal, he must be a person his students can trust and feel comfortable talking to. The moment he shared that first post depicting followers of the Muslim religion as killers and terrorists, he instantly ruined his connection to any Muslim students at his school. Davison’s posts – which imply much about such subjects as Muslims and transgender individuals – cross that line of responsible speech. That is to say speech for which his employers may hold him responsible. It is a principal’s job to be a leader and role model to all students. A principal should not create artificial boundaries that separate students into “good” or “bad” groups. The trouble with Facebook and the catchy slogans that are passed around is they often reduce each side to trading insults and name-calling. So when responsible leaders dip their quill into that poisonous ink, they must accept not only responsibility for their words, but the consequences.
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NEWS
10 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
Lambert HS principal put on temporary leave of absence Following what the district calls discriminating Facebook posts BY KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Gary Davison, Lambert High School’s principal, has been put on a leave of absence following a meeting Jan. 28 with Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden regarding posts on Davison’s personal Facebook page. Assistant Principal Pam Bibik has been assigned as Lambert’s acting principal. Davison opened Lambert in 2009 after being the principal at South Forsyth High School and Settles Bridge Elementary School. FCS Director of Communications Jennifer Caracciolo said a Lambert class of 2015 alumnus, Yassin Watson, posted screenshots on social media of Davison’s posts. FCS was notified of the posts Jan. 27. Some people are calling Davison’s posts inflammatory, racist, Islamophobic and politically charged. One of his posts included a picture that said, “one
nation under God, not Allah.” Davison also posted on his Facebook page, “Giddy up, Governor!” in response to a statement from Gov. Nathan Deal saying Georgia will not accept Syrian refugees. Bearden said the DAVISON “school district values all individuals and does not tolerate discrimination.” Davison released a statement saying he apologizes “to the current and former students of Lambert HS, their parents, the school staff and our community for the shared posts on my personal Facebook. I offended many individuals and embarrassed our school. I ask for your forgiveness. I have learned a valuable lesson from these mistakes and I am committed to regaining our community’s trust.” As of press time, Davison had not responded to emails from the Forsyth
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From Facebook Since this story broke Thursday, Jan. 28, on the Forsyth Herald Facebook page, it has reached over 40,000 people, been shared by more than 1,300 users, and received over 60 posted comments. Here is a sampling of what readers are saying on Facebook: Karen Duffy: “Gary Davison is a man of incredible character and it makes me sick that a few people cry political correctness and hurt a good man’s name. How about hearing from the majority of students and parents who love Gary and have for many years? Our children were blessed to have him as both elementary & high school principal and consider him one of the strongest role models in their lives.” Claire Bee: “Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences Herald requesting further comment. Bearden said Davison “acknowledges and recognizes the damage his personal posts have done to his position as the leader of Lambert HS and commits to addressing those concerns. The school district is also committed to
of that speech...say all the bigoted stuff you want, but the first amendment doesn’t protect you from losing your job.” Ada Basilone DeRosa: “This is not discrimination. Discrimination is when you purposely don’t put a qualified child on a sports team or allow them to join a club because you don’t like them because of their race, religion, or condition.” Deborah Smith Author: “Sadly, his racism is very well suited to his community. That’s obvious. Let me guess-if he’d posted that he’s an atheist, and that he’s got severe problems with fanatical Christians--you’d all be screaming for his head. BTW, Freedom of Speech does not and never has prohibited an employer from telling an employee to stop being a bigoted moron in public.” assessing its ongoing efforts with staff and students to celebrate the diversity of our community and promote acceptance of everyone.” The firestorm erupted when Watson,
See PRINCIPAL, Page 42
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The newest members of the Roswell City Council have wasted little time before attacking the city’s Uniform Development Code, a document that was months, if not years, in the HATCHER HURD making. Executive Editor hatcher@appenmediagroup.com It is understandable that these new members would want to move forward with zeal and dispatch. But they have a four-year term before them. And despite campaign rhetoric and promises, it would behoove them to show some patience before using their newly found clout to issue a moratorium on development. Frankly, you are still wet behind ears as council members go. You would do well to begin learning what this job is all about before weighing in on some perceived delinquencies in the city’s UDC. First, it is highly doubtful that you as council members in your first month in office have the sufficient grasp of the UDC and what its suspected flaws may be. Certainly people have gained your ear to tell you what they think must be done, but the wiser course is to get some experience under your belt first. If this sounds like unwanted advice from a source that has never stood for public office, it is. But it is a source that has seen elected bodies at their best and at their worst. Their worst often comes when actions are taken in haste. Let me give you one anecdotal example of a city I once covered on the south end of metro Atlanta. It seemed a bevy of new council members were keen to do the people’s will. And a great many of them were fed up with the CSX
Railroad because of late-night trains blowing their horns as they approached city intersections. Children couldn’t sleep, affecting their class work, and other such unwarranted disturbances by this nocturnal blaring should be stopped forthwith, the council members said. Eager to do the public’s bidding, they complied with a new ordinance banning train whistles between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. CSX was served notice of same and the council was promptly informed the railroad would comply but only unless and until the city provided CSX with an agreement that it would assume all risk of indemnification for any accidents should one of their trains collide with a vehicle in their fair city. On advice of counsel, that ordinance was quietly rescinded the next week. It only confirmed the adage about government: Laws one enacts in haste may be regretted at one’s leisure. New council members could and should take advantage of a number of instructive courses in governance offered by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia. In a series of courses designed especially for newly elected city council members and county commissioners, it acquaints these tyros with powers and the limits they possess. New elected officials also find out about the often unintended consequences of pending legislation. I read also with interest the justification for taking the bold action of a permit moratorium which we were happy to publish in last week’s Herald. You spoke of a “mandate from the public” as evinced by your election. I will not question your ability to divine
In a series of courses designed especially for newly elected city council members and county commissioners, it acquaints these tyros with powers and the limits they possess. New elected officials also find out about the often unintended consequences of pending legislation.
See ROSWELL, Page 44
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 13
SCHOOLS
14 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
Education issues abound for legislators BY CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com
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ATLANTA — With all signs pointing to few, if any, seismic changes on the education landscape this legislative session, Georgia lawmakers are still considering a number of initiatives that could impact the classroom in significant ways. Rep. Mike Dudgeon of Forsyth County has introduced House Resolution 864 which would allow school boards to impose impact fees on developers in high-growth school districts. Based on current information on enrollment growth, the resolution affects only Cherokee, Forsyth and Fulton county boards of education. If passed, the resolution would require a two-thirds approval of Georgia voters as a constitutional amendment. Currently, impact fees can be assessed and used for infrastructure improvements, such as roads and bridges, but not for new classroom space. Dudgeon’s bill would allow impact fee proceeds to pay for a share of the cost of “additional educational facilities” in districts which have had growth of at least 15 percent over the past five-year period. A number of bills related to “religious freedom” in the classroom, as well as general freedom of speech, are also in the hoppers on both sides of the aisle. Those include: HB 816 — The Georgia Student Religious Liberties Act of 2016. This bill would swing the doors wide open to “voluntary student expression of religious viewpoints in public schools.” Students would be allowed religious expression in class assignments, freedom to organize religious groups and activities, and allow districts to have voluntary prayers at school events and graduation events. HB 870 — High schools that receive state funding cannot participate in an athletic association which bans religious expression on the clothing of student athletes. This is a reaction to the GHSA disqualifying a Forsyth County cross country runner who competed in an event last year wearing a headband with a religious saying. The bill would also ban state-funded schools from joining an athletic association which does not allow the school to play scrimmage matches, games or other athletic competitions with nonmember schools. Again, a political jab at the powerful GHSA. SB 275 — Prohibits the governing body of any county, city or school board
from having a policy, rule or other provision that prevents the members of that body from exercising their right to free speech. So, in essence, local school boards would not be allowed to limit free speech of students and teachers in the classroom, or elsewhere. How this would impact free speech on a person’s social media account will certainly be considered in light of high profile cases involving content on Facebook accounts. SB 284 — The First Amendment Defense Act of Georgia. While not targeted specifically to schools, the impact could have implications. If passed, this law would essentially prohibit nonprofit organizations from being penalized because they believe “marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman or that sexual relations are properly reserved to such marriage.” In recent years, some schools have banned groups such as the Boy Scouts of America from using space in public schools because of their “morally straight” oath. Other bills of education interest in the current legislative session include: HB 740 — Creates an income tax credit of $15,000 over five years to someone who purchases a home that qualifies for a homestead exemption in the attendance zone of a low-performing school. HB 744 — Revises the criminal code to make it a sexual assault if any employee of a school engages in sexual conduct with an individual they knew or should have known is enrolled at the same school. HB 814 — Authorizes the Department of Education to provide a unique identifier for students from military families so their data can be disaggregated. HB 825 — Protecting Military Children Act, relating to notifying the Department of Defense of child abuse in a military family. HB 848 — Would establish the Blue Star Family Scholarship Program for children of military service members. HB 861 — Creates an income tax credit up to $1,000 for home schooling expenses. HB 864 — Expands the definition of eligible postsecondary institution for the Move On When Ready program. SB 281 — Requires schools to provide information to students and parents before using any digital learning platform. SB 287 — Requires a separate home room be offered for at-risk students.
[The southern skillet corner] is a key element in the redevelopment of our downtown area, and we were not sure what was going to happen there.
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JERE WOOD, Roswell Mayor
15 | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016
MAYOR’S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS:
Roswell has great future but lacks unity of purpose Greets new maverick council members warmly but common ground needed to move forward By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – Roswell Mayor Jere Wood rose to deliver his 17th State of the City address Jan. 29 with usual bonhomie and optimism despite facing a legal challenge to his tenure in office and three new maverick council members who seem bent on stirring things up. “These three new council members have taken on the toughest job in the city, and they have taken on a lot of heat and pressure with enthusiasm and energy,” Wood said. “And they have energized me, too.” He had a pretty picture of Roswell to paint, as well. Wood started off by noting the unemployment rate in Roswell is 3.9 percent. “That’s the lowest it has been in Roswell during my entire term as mayor,” he said. In addition, Roswell has $90 million “in the bank,” he said. Capital projects for Roswell this year include: • Holcomb Bridge Road improvements totaling $7 million. • Ground broken recently on the Sun Valley Connector which will connect Mansell Road/Westside Parkway with Ga. 9. • The House Road roundabout is slated for 2016 completion • Sidewalks are coming down Hardscrabble Road.
• The Roswell Water Treatment Facility will get a $15 million improvement. To cap off improvements, the $3.7 million senior therapeutic pool on Grimes Bridge Road opens Feb. 3. WOOD The city has also bought the 6-acre shopping center on Ga. 9 that contains the former Southern Skillet. “That is a key element in the redevelopment of our downtown area, and we were not sure what was going to happen there. So the City Council thought it prudent for the city to control its development,” Wood said. It represents a $15 million investment in the city’s future. But Wood said the city will recoup the investment when a satisfactory development plan comes along. With a nod to the impending zoning moratorium for downtown apartments and townhouses, Wood asked the rhetorical question what is the future for housing in the downtown district. “There are limitations to what the city can do with zoning,” he said. Wood pointed out that new townhouses in the historic district such as those on Goulding Place, which had upset many folks as “too much density” in the Canton Street area, had already been approved for some time.
Today, we are more divided on where we want to go. What we need is a common vision. We need to come together, and it won’t be easy. But I am a son of Roswell – born here and lived here. I will do everything I can to reunite this city. So let’s all come together to do this.” JERE WOOD Roswell Mayor
“We are constantly challenged by what we risk when we [oppose] some zonings,” he warned. Meanwhile there is a plan for a new Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax. While no one likes more taxes, T-SPLOST offers a way to pay for some big-ticket projects the city would like to accomplish, Wood said. These include: • South Atlanta Street improvements including the Riverside intersection, which has a $20 million price tag. • The proposed Big Creek Parkway which would provide a fly-over bridge at Ga. 400 comes in at $50 million. • Holcomb Bridge Road, the major east-west corridor for all of North Fulton, is estimated to cost $70 million to $80 million. The T-SPLOST could mean $1.3 billion for all of Fulton County with Roswell’s share over the five-year life of the sales tax at $120 million.
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However, there are some hurdles to cross yet. First, there is an attempt in the General Assembly to have some T-SPLOST dollars diverted to MARTA if it were to pass. That has its own legal problems since any tax dollars for MARTA must be leveraged over 40 years and the T-SPLOST sunsets in five years. Also, every Fulton city must pass the T-SPLOST or there will not be a full penny tax on the dollar. If a majority does pass the sales tax then something less than a penny will be assessed. In conclusion, Wood said while the city has accomplished great things to date, there is no consensus on how the city should proceed. “Today, we are more divided on where we want to go. What we need is a common vision. We need to come together, and it won’t be easy,” he said. “But I am a son of Roswell – born here and lived here. I will do everything I can to reunite this city. So let’s all come together to do this.”
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16 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
BUSINESSPOSTS
Frank Norton gives economic outlook for Forsyth Says county has ‘much going for it’ By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Frank Norton said Forsyth County has a lot going for it. From the boom in population to the excellent schools, he said the county will continue to expand productively for many more years, however there are a few things that need to be addressed. At his annual economic outlook breakfast Jan. 26, Norton, known for his real-estate expertise, talked about many topics relating to the county and the state as a whole including affordable housing, population increases and the county’s future. “I’m bullish about Forsyth, and about your future,” Norton said. “You have so much going for you. You have position, you have strength, you have geographic position, you have a tax base.
KATHLEENSTURGEON/STAFF
Frank Norton gives his annual economic outlook.
If you look at the return on investment of what I pay in taxes and what I get here, it’s amazing. You have school test scores which are the envy of the entire Southeast. You have a can-do, positive attitude. You have communities I would love to live in.” Forsyth is the fastest-growing
county in the Southeast, he said. However, the lack of affordable housing might start turning people off from living in the area. He said if you talk about affordable housing in the context of metro Atlanta, the average is $175,000. But Norton said there is no way to build a $175,000 house in Forsyth. Homes under the $175,000 mark could be gone by 2020, according to Norton, with townhomes following in 2023. The affordable housing definition in Forsyth is probably at $250,000 to $275,000, he said. “We have to fix affordable housing,” he said. “This affordable housing problem is going to affect you. If we lose affordable housing surrounding you, it gives me great concern. If we lose affordable housing in Dawson and Cherokee and Gwinnett and Hall, where are your teachers — who you have probably already lost and are commuting in — going to live?” But this isn’t all bad news. In 2015, the county sold nearly 1,800 homes in the $250,000 to $399,000 price range, something that is good, he said.
In discussing the population boom Forsyth has experienced in recent years, he predicts the county will be at 500,000 residents by the 2030s or ’40s. “We need to understand and blueprint life at 500,000” residents, he said. “Your next-door neighbor today is at 850,000 people. That’s the gorilla called Gwinnett. They’re projected by 2030 to be 1.3 million people. If they’re 1.3 million, could you conceive us at 500,000? We need to be building infrastructure and we need to be building water resources and transportation resources for 500,000 people. I don’t want this to be a cry in the dark. This needs to be a collective conversation.” He ended by using a metaphor, saying the county needs to be careful they don’t “kill the golden goose.” “You can’t squeeze it to produce more golden eggs and you can’t kill it because then you lose all you have,” he said. “You have to care and nurture and feed it and protect it from all kinds of outside influences. If you do that, Forsyth County will continue to be on that pedestal that every other county around you wants to be like you.”
Southern Aquatics opens doors in Roswell Local fish store offers rare fish, sustainable lessons By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – The saying goes that if you do something you love, you will never work a day in your life. For sisters Ashley Burre Hilburn and Taylor Burre, their love of fish has turned a hobby into a career. They are the new co-owners of Southern Aquatics Local Fish Store, recently opened on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell. The sisters, who were born and raised in Roswell, say owning and operating an aquatic store was never their life dreams. Hilburn has a degree in English and Burre has hers in retail management and fashion. However, they both shared one love: animals, namely fish. The sisters became interested in fish at a young age. Hilburn convinced her younger sister to pressure their parents for an aquarium. The fish in it died quickly, because the girls did not know how to care for them. “You can’t create an ecosystem in one day,” Burre said. “It takes time to grow and replenish. It can take weeks or months.” Despite that unfortunate early aquarium experience, it eventually spurred an interest in the care of fish that led to finally opening a store. “We thought, ‘We can do this,’” Hilburn said. For the past nine months, they have kitted out the
location on Holcomb Bridge Road, not far from the intersection with Ga. 9/Alpharetta Highway, one of the busiest areas in town. Even though they haven’t had a grand opening yet, they put a sign out front, hoping simply to generate excitement, and customers began coming by, looking for help with their fish. “We thought we would have a few weeks, but people started showing up,” Hilburn said. With 3,000 square feet to work with, the store specializes in both fresh and saltwater fish, a first for Roswell. They also focus on rare or uncommon species that can’t be found in “big box” stores. They have hundreds of fish varieties, sharks, eels, shellfish and even a stingray. There are coral gardens with a variety of colors and types. They even have shark eggs. Education is a large part of the sisters’ mission. They recently donated a large tank along with two shark eggs to a local school for the students to learn about fish and their life cycle. “We believe in education,” Hilburn said. “But if we are going to educate people, we have to be responsible.” One example of responsible business practices is not selling a customer a “cute” shark baby in a small tank since they know the shark will quickly outgrow it. Similarly, small eels may be popular pets, but many stores do not tell customers eels can get large and aggressive. “We handhold a lot of customers,” she said. “We don’t want things dying in their home aquarium because they are too big or the customer doesn’t know how to care for them.”
The owners of the new Southern Aquatics Local Fish Store are, left, Ashley Burre Hilburn and, right, Taylor Burre, and between them is their father, David Burre. And conservation is another key consideration. “I have to know where I am getting my animals,” Hilburn said. “We buy from local suppliers where we can, and we promote sustainability.” The new Southern Aquatics Local Fish Store is located at 620 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite B, Roswell, 30076 and can be found online at southernaquaticslfs.com.
BUSINESSPOSTS
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 17
Meet Geoff Smith: Mortgage banker, southerner, Herald columnist Two hundred articles and counting
GEOFF SMITH
Assurance Financial, gsmith@lendtheway.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — I was born and raised here in Roswell, which I suppose makes me a Southerner – even though my mother is from New Jersey. So, with that in mind, I’ll go ahead and introduce myself before diving into the business
news of the day. I am a mortgage banker for Assurance Financial and work here in the North Fulton area. I write residential home loans for purchases and refinances and I am a junkie when it comes to development news in and around the Metro area. I write a weekly newsletter about development and Ray Appen, one of the longtime publishers of the Herald newspapers, read a couple and asked if I would do a weekly column for his papers. Obviously I jumped at the chance. Let me first be clear: I’m not a real newspaper person like the other reporters on this staff. I used to be, though. Almost 12 years ago, I worked directly under the great Hatcher Hurd. I say great because, to a guy not far
out of college with dreams of being an old-school reporter, I thought he was. Being in the business world, it’s easier for me to see how important a good, honest, tell-it-like-it-is newsperson is to the health of a community. Obviously we all like it when reporters cover our events and highlight our children’s accomplishments. With some news outlets, that’s really all they do. But I always respected the journalistic ethics of this paper. You could probably count on one hand the number of council meetings that have been held in North Fulton over the last 15 years without a Herald reporter sitting somewhere in the audience. And that is important. Because what our leaders see is not just the reporter, but they also see all of you readers. It’s the power of the pen, and here that power has always been used humbly and honestly. Roswell, and especially Alpharetta, were very small towns when I was growing up. I remember taking back roads to get to downtown Atlanta. I remember when the Roswell Mall (now called Roswell Town Center at the northeastern corner of Holcomb Bridge and Ga. 9) was the big deal up here. I remember when a Greek father and son from New York opened
Mama’s Pizza there. The good old boys and girls in Roswell used to go there to watch Pete’s girlfriend (Pete was the father) yell at him in her New York accent because he wasn’t getting the pizzas out fast enough. It was a small town that was blessed. We got Ga. 400. We got Country Club of the South. We got fiber-optic cable. And we became the “Golden Corridor” and the “Silicon Valley of the East Coast.” We have the best schools in the state, some of the best recreation and parks in the state, fantastic natural parks along the most famous river in the state, and we even have some of the coolest nightspots of any suburb in the state. Yes, folks – it’s great to be living and working up in these parts. We’ll see you next week.
Geoff Smith is a mortgage banker with Assurance Financial focusing on residential home loans for refinances and home purchases. Geoff Smith gsmith@lendtheway.com 770-674-1433 Personal: NMLS#104587 Business: NMLS#70876 *The views and opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of Assurance Financial Group
C2 Education to award up to $10,000 to Forsyth high schools FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – C2 Education, the nation’s fastest growing network of subject tutoring, SAT, ACT and PSAT test prep and education support centers, will award $25,000 to high schools in nine states throughout the country, including North Forsyth and West Forsyth high schools. C2 joined forces with Forsyth area high schools to host new SAT practice tests in January. The tests gave students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the redesigned SAT and accurately measure performance before taking the real test on March 5. The SAT has been revamped before, but the updated format and scoring system bring a considerable difference to the test. In order to help ease student anxiety, as well as
support area high schools, C2 will donate all proceeds from the January events to the hosting high schools. The company will award $5,000 to the four schools whose students obtain the highest average score and randomly select five participating schools for a $1,000 donation. To qualify for a donation, the school must have had at least 30 students participate on-site or at a C2 center during the month of January. The January test events were part of the C2 Community Giveback Program, which, in addition to school support, offers support programs for parents and students. For more information on Forsyth SAT prep opportunities, go to www.c2educate.com/north-forsyth or www. c2educate.com/west-forsyth or call 888-777-3889.
YARD SIGNS
Four years ago, Hans Appen, the general manager of Appen Media Group (which publishes the paper you are reading), asked me if I would be interested in writing a small-business adDICK JONES vice column. With Founder & President Jones Simply Sales my 35 years of experience working with small businesses, I thought it would be a great opportunity to share tips and ideas to help small-business owners run and grow their businesses. I initially thought I would be able to write weekly articles for at least three to four months before I ran out of ideas on topics to write about. I was totally wrong. The list of challenges, responsibilities, tasks, activities and the “balls in the air” that a small-business owner has to deal with goes on and on and on. Growing sales, retaining customers, developing new products and services, hiring and training employees, attracting and retaining customers, managing finances, day-to-day operations, entering new markets, beating the competition, and improving working capital are just the tip of the iceberg in what small-business owners do every day. Last week my 200th article was published, and the pipeline of future topics is still a mile long. The point of this article is not the topics I have written about; it’s an article itself about the hundreds of things small-businesses owners have to deal with while running their businesses! Hopefully those who read these articles each week have been assisted in running their businesses better, or at least received ideas to improve and grow their businesses. I wonder when I’ll run out of topics …. probably never!
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18 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
Business name: In & Out Smart Repair Opened: Dec. 1, 2015 Owner: Jereme Scott What: In & Out Smart Repair was founded in 2012 in Lafayette, Louisiana, and focuses on being a one-stop solution that provides smart device users a quick, cost-effective repair and accessories service. The company
Business name: Staymobile Opened: Oct. 12, 2015 Owner: Chuck Morrison, president and CMO; Brian Hutto, CEO; Stacey Adams, area manager What: Staymobile offers consumers and businesses on-site repair of all mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, game consoles and additional electronic devices. Its in-store technicians are able to repair various devices, including fixing water damage, cracked screens and dead batteries, with sameday turnaround on most of these services, and many within an hour. Addi-
BUSINESSPOSTS
currently has 45 locations across the country. Address: 1580 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite 9, Roswell, GA 30076 Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Phone: 678-731-7767 Website: www.phonerepairstore.com/ roswell
Business name: OH Pharmacy Opened: Dec. 21, 2015 Owner: Min Hwan Oh, Pharmacist What: We are a professional, fullservice, independent pharmacy focused on standard prescriptions, personalized compounding of medications, wellness and health management, a full line of health care
Business name: NutriMost Opened: May 2015 Owner: Dr. Joseph McNamara What: We use cutting-edge technology to detoxify and bring a person’s body into maximum fat-burning mode. Address: 767 Peachtree Parkway #3, Cumming, GA 30041 Phone: 770-268-3148 Website: www.letslosepounds.com
tionally, all repair service is backed by the industry-leading Staymobile lifetime warranty. For businesses, Staymobile offers device buyback programs, device trade/upgrade programs, mobile device accessories, as well as corporate incentive programs tailored toward each business it serves. Address: 675 West Crossville Road, Suite 142, Roswell, GA 30075 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday noon-4 p.m. Phone: 470-219-5828 Website: staymobile.com/roswell-ga Business name: The Original Mattress Factory Opened: Oct. 1, 2015 Owner: Dave Choppa, Randy Cromer, Mike Newcomb What: We manufacture our own high-quality mattresses and box springs in our own factory and sell directly to our customers, through our own stores, every day at factory-direct low prices. Address: 11270 Medlock Bridge Road, Suite 220, Johns Creek, GA 30097 Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m. Phone: 770-232-0770 Website: www.originalmattress.com
and over-the-counter products, and are dedicated to providing exceptional service. Address: 10900 Medlock Bridge Road, Suite 308 Johns Creek, GA 30097 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: 470-223-4775 Website: www.ohpharmacyga.com
Business name: Puppy Haven Opened: Dec. 11, 2015 Owner: Laura Bryant What: Puppy Haven is a doggy day care and boarding facility that offers a unique and exciting experience for your pups. Our 10,000-squarefoot facility includes large play areas separated by dog size and temperament, climate-controlled guest rooms, luxury suites and apartments, and live web cameras for you to watch your dog throughout the day. We pride ourselves on providing person-
alized attention for every guest and treating your pups as if they are our own. Puppy Haven was voted the top doggy day care in Atlanta by Best Self Atlanta Magazine for 2013, 2014 and 2015. Address: 2854 Holcomb Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA 30022 Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.7:30 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m. Phone: 770-609-7483 Website: www.puppyhavenatl.com
BUSINESSPOSTS
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 19
Mammoth Car Wash to open new location Third location for Alpharetta chain By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Mammoth Car Wash is expanding to a new location in a new town with new partners. A staple of downtown Alpharetta for two decades, Mammoth’s new location will be in Norcross. It’s not a really a franchise, said owner Jimmy Tester, but the new store has license agreement to use the Mammoth processes, software, logo and procedures. Tester said Mammoth began in Alpharetta’s historic district in 1996. “I always washed my own car,” he
said, “and I was always disappointed with the car washes around town. So I decided to open my own car wash.” The first location was on Main Street, just south of the intersection with Old Milton Parkway. Mammoth uses only hand washing – no machines – to which Tester said the community responded very well. “We specialize in hand car washing and detailing, so you can pamper your car with a luxury bath,” he said. Within nine years, he was looking for a new location and opened the second store on Old Milton Parkway. Business boomed. When the new Norcross store opens, it will be headed up by Ted Marcus and his son, Andrew. They were early supporters of Tester and Mammoth Car Wash. “I’m a car guy,” said Marcus. “My
son is a car guy too,” so much so that Andrew has worked with Tester for over a year and will be director of operations at the Norcross site. Marcus said he has wanted to open his own location for years and, when the Norcross property opened up, it was a perfect fit. “The traffic count is high, the demographics are great and it’s already been a car wash for years. We are very excited,” Marcus said. “We’ve completely remodeled the building and parking lot to attract high-end customers,” he said. The newest Mammoth Car Wash be just like the Alpharetta locations both in looks and in services offered – a fast hand wash and detail. Marcus anticipates hiring at least 15 new employees. The business will open in the coming weeks.
The new location is at 4050 Holcomb Bridge Road, Norcross, convenient to Roswell, Norcross, Peachtree Corners and Sandy Springs. For more on Mammoth Car Wash, offerings and locations, visit mammothdetail.com.
the North Fulton Community Improvement District
fit,” she said. “I love having the ability to feel engaged in public service while also having private resources to get infrastructure projects built quickly and efficiently,” said Hanlon, who has a bachelor’s degree in government and computer science from Notre Dame and a master’s degree in public administration from GSU. Tying in with her professional role, she was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to the board of directors for the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority to help coordinate transportation in the state. Communication for all this is key, she said.
“Especially in our modern world with so much technology, leaders still must be able to effectively communicate and develop relationships to get work done,” she said. “I hope my peers see me as someone they can sit down with face-to-face and have a productive conversation.” Part of this, she said, is putting down the cell phone and actually talking with colleagues. “Effective communication, or lack thereof, can really make the difference between organizations that succeed and ones that suffer. Always be the one who offers to go have lunch or coffee with a colleague and communicate face-toface.”
40 UNDER 40:
Ann M. Hanlon Editor’s note: The North Atlanta Business Post, an Appen Media Group publication, recently recognized 40 individuals under the age of 40 with outstanding accomplishments in their professional or extracurricular lives. Each week for the next 40 weeks, we will publish a profile showcasing one of these individuals. Visit NorthAtlanta BusinessPost.com for more info. Age: 36 Title/Company: Executive director of
As the executive director of the North Fulton Community Improvement District, Ann Hanlon is able to bridge the public-private gap HANLON by being a public servant with private resources. She began her work with the Atlanta Regional Commission when she moved to Atlanta in May 2002 while doing graduate work at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, “so it was a perfect
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20 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
CALENDAR ROSWELL UMC PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN 2016-17 REGISTRATION
15TH ANNUAL ROSWELL ROOTS FESTIVAL
One of the largest and most comprehensive celebrations of black history and culture in the Southeast, the festival will feature a variety of events. Activities through Feb. 29 Various locations throughout Roswell. Visit roswellroots.com for more info. Looking to get the word out about your event? Email us with photo and description of your event to calendar@appenmediagroup.com.
EVENTS: FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TOUR
What: For prospective families with K412th-grade students. Meet in the high school foyer. No reservations required. When: Thursday, Feb. 4 Where: Fellowship Christian School, 10965 Woodstock Road, Roswell More info: fellowshipchristianschool.org
3RD ANNUAL PALESTINE CHILDREN’S RELIEF FUND TRIVIA NIGHT
What: A fun night of trivia! Show off your smarts and enjoy time with friends and family while helping to support a great cause! When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 6:30 p.m. Where: Casablanca Banquet Hall, 631 N Main Street #113, Alpharetta More info: Pcrfatlantayouth@gmail.com
CUPID CHASE 5K ROAD RACE
What: The PT Solutions Physical Therapy Cupid Chase 5K is for all skill levels and age groups and benefits Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 8 a.m. Where: PTS Store, Sweet Apple Village, 12050 Etris Road, Roswell More info: ptssports.com/events/ptscupid-chase-5k
ROSWELL GREEN EXPO
What: Keep Roswell Beautiful announces the Roswell Green Expo, with family-friendly activities designed to introduce residents to vendors and organizations that can assist them in becoming more green at home. When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Where: Roswell Area Park Community Activity Building, 10495 Woodstock Road, Roswell More info: www.roswellgreenexpo.org
BOW TIES & PEARLS ROSWELL MARDI GRAS BALL
What: Benefitting the Emory ALS Center, the Krewe of Viola will present the inaugural Roswell Mardi Gras Ball, Bow
Ties & Pearls. When: Feb. 6, 2016, 7-11 p.m. Where: Country Club of Roswell, 2500 Club Springs Drive, Roswell More info: facebook.com/roswellmardigrasball
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION MEETING
What: The DAR Patriots of Liberty chapter will help you determine if you are a descendant of a Revolutionary Patriot and how to begin the process of substantiating your lineage. When: Sunday, Feb. 7 Where: Alpharetta Public Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: PatriotsOfLibertyNSDAR@ Yahoo.com
ROSWELL UMC JOB NETWORKING
What: The Roswell United Methodist Church Job Networking event will feature workshops, job interview opportunities and eight keynote speakers in a single hour. When: Monday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Where: Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell More info: rumcjobnetworking.com
OFFICIAL BOOK LAUNCH, AUTHOR SIGNING FOR “BLACKHEARTS”
What: Nicole Castroman will be on hand for the official launch of her first book, “Blackhearts.” When: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m. Where: Barnes & Noble, The Collection at Forsyth, 410 Peachtree Parkway, Cumming More info: nicolecastroman.com
MARDI GRAS PUB CRAWL AT AVALON
What: In celebration of Fat Tuesday, Avalon will host its second-annual pub crawl featuring New Orleans-themed drinks, food, and live music that will transform Avalon Boulevard into Bourbon Street. When: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Where: Avalon, 2200 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta More info: experienceavalon.com/events/ eventitems/mardi-gras-pub-crawl
What: The Roswell United Methodist Church Preschool and Kindergarten will hold registration for 2016-17. When: Monday, Feb. 8, for RUMC members and alumni of RUMCK and Parents’ Morning out; Tuesday, Feb. 9 for the general public. Where: Roswell UMC, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell More info: rumc.com/RUMCK
MUSIC, ARTS & THEATER: ROSWELL VISITORS CENTER FEATURES ARTISTS’ WORKS
What: Works by two of North Fulton’s highly regarded artists, Joan Hilliard and Barry Etris, will be on exhibit, with originals available for purchase as well as a selection of prints. Spruill Arts Student & Instructor When: Through February Where: Roswell Visitors Center, 617 Atlanta St., Roswell More info: visitroswellga.com
EVENING OF ART, JAZZ & COCKTAILS IN JOHNS CREEK
What: Opening reception for a trio of new exhibits: Tina Dunkley’s new artwork from the Merikans series; “Sistagraphy: When the Spirit Calls Me,” perspectives on spirituality from African-American women photographers; and “Photography on the Color Line,” photographs compiled by W.E.B. DuBois for the 1900 Paris Exhibition. When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 6 – 8 p.m. Where: Johns Creek Arts Center, 6290 Abbotts Bridge Road, Building 700, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekarts.org
LIVE! IN ROSWELL PRESENTS BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA
What: LIVE! In Roswell presents the Blind Boys of Alabama, recognized worldwide as living legends of gospel music, have won five Grammys. When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 8 p.m. Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell Cost: Tickets $40 More info: roswellgov.com
GEORGIA PHILHARMONIC PRESENTS YOUNG CONCERTO WINNERS What: The Georgia Philharmonic will continue its 2015-2016 season with a performance featuring the six winners of the annual Samuel Fordis Young Artists’ Concerto Competition. When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m. Where: Lassiter Concert Hall, 2601 Shallowford Road, Marietta More info: georgiaphilharmonic.org
ST. JAMES UMC HEART HEALTH SCREENING AND INFORMATION
What: St. James United Methodist
Church’s Health and Wellness ministry will host a heart and health screening and information session. When: Sunday, Feb. 7, following 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. services Where: St. James United Methodist Church, 3000 Webb Bridge Road, Alpharetta More info: sziegler@stjamesumc.org
SPRUILL METALS DEPARTMENT’S 8TH ANNUAL STUDENT & INSTRUCTOR JEWELRY MARKET
What: Selections for purchase will include diverse jewelry styles in precious metals, glass, beads, gemstones and more at prices for every budget. When: Sunday, Feb. 7, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Where: Spruill Arts Education Center, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Atlanta More info: spruillarts.org
ONCE UPON A TIME: SONGS OF IMAGINATION
What: Kaleidoscope, the 36-voice ensemble from The Michael O’Neal Singers, will take a musical journey exploring songs written about the world of imagination from composers including Brahms, Shumann, Eric Whitacre, John Rutter and Ola Gjeilo, among others. When: Sunday, Feb. 7, 3 p.m. Where: Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta Cost: $10 More info: mosingers.com/kaleidoscope
“LOVE IS A VERB” SCREENING
What: “Love Is A Verb” is an examination of a social movement of Sufi-inspired Muslims that began in Turkey in the 1960s and now reaches across the globe. The group is called Hizmet, the Turkish word for service, or the Gulen Movement after its inspiration, leader and beloved teacher Fethullah Gulen, a man that Time Magazine named one of the most influential leaders in the world in 2013. When: 6:30-7:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11 Where: Regal Cinemas Avalon, 3950 1 St., Alpharetta Cost: $12 per person More info: tugg.com/events/82771#
ROSWELL DANCE STARZ PRESENTS “EVER AFTER: A JOURNEY FROM NEVERLAND TO WONDERLAND” What: The Roswell Dance Starz will present “Ever After: A Journey from Neverland to Wonderland” at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, featuring scenes from some of the most beloved children’s tales of all time as well as more recent Disney hits. When: Friday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m. Performances also Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell More info: roswellgov.com/everafter
CALENDAR
DOCUMENT SHREDDING, GREASE RECYCLING IN JOHNS CREEK
What: The city of Johns Creek, Keep Johns Creek Beautiful and Panera Bread will offer a chance for residents to shred documents and dump cooking fats. When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Where: Panera Bread, 11715 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek More info: 770-551-7766
LIBRARY EVENTS: For a complete list of North Fulton events, go to afpls.org/events For a complete list of Forsyth events, go to forsythpl.org/eventCalendar/eventCalendar.aspx
LIBRARY’S ONE WORLD FORSYTH PROGRAM TO HOST JAPANESE, CHINESE EVENTS
What: Two special One World Forsyth events, sponsored by the Forsyth County Public Library and the FCPL Friends and Advocates, will spotlight Japanese and Chinese events. When: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Sharon Forks Library to celebrate Japan; 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7 at Post Road Library to celebrate Chinese New Year. Cost: Free More info: forsythpl.org.
ROSWELL LIBRARY BOOK SALE
What: Book sale is sponsored by the Friends of the Roswell Library. All proceeds go back into the library. When: Feb. 4-7, 10 a.m.-5:30 Thursday, Friday, Saturday and 2-5:30 on Sunday. Where: Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell More info: 770 643 4839
FRIENDS OF THE ALPHARETTA LIBRARY BOOK SALE
What: Come support the library shopping at the Friends’ Book Sale. All ages. Library porch and Friends Bookstore. When: Feb. 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Where: Alpharetta Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: 404-613-6735
BECOMING A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER
What: Focuses on teaching responsible pet ownership. Find out how to take care of your fur kid and learn about volunteer opportunities at the Humane Society. When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 2 p.m. Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton More info: 404-613-4402
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES IN PALLIATIVE/HOSPICE CARE
What: Courtesy of AmityCare, join us for explanations of alternative therapies available to those in palliative or
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 21
hospice care. When: Friday, Feb. 12, 10:30 a.m. Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton More info: 404-613-4402
PET ADOPTIONS: FORSYTH COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER What: Pet adoptions When: Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: The Forsyth County Animal Shelter, 4065 County Way, Forsyth County More info: 678-965-7185
FULTON COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES
What: Pet adoptions When: Every Saturday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m., PetSmart, 6370 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta Additional adoptions: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Fulton County Animal Services, 860 Marietta Blvd NW, Atlanta More info: 404-613-4958
OF INTEREST ELSEWHERE: “DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST” DISCOUNTED STUDENT TICKETS What: Broadway’s classic fairy tales returns to the Fox Theatre for a week of musical enchantment. For any local college students looking for a night of romantic hilarity mixed with magic and charm, Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta presents a special $25 Student Rush ticket price. When: Feb. 2-7, times vary Where: Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta More info: broadwayinatlanta.com
MARDI GRAS STREETCAR ADVENTURE
What: The 2nd Annual Mardi Gras Streetcar Adventure, a tour including nine locally owned restaurants, bars and attractions with a New Orleans vibe. When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 1 p.m. Where: Park Bar at Centennial Olympic Park and Sweet Auburn Curb Market off Edgewood Avenue More info: AtlantaBarTours.com
ATLANTA BALLET’S “MOULIN ROUGE” What: Get up close and personal with the bohemian world of Paris in its heyday and the spiritual birthplace of the cancan – Moulin Rouge, the most famous cabaret in history. Experience the explosive story of young love and rising stardom set against a glamorous, sizzling Parisian backdrop. When: Feb. 5-13, 8 p.m. Where: Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta More info: cobbenergycentre.com
Trout fun at the Buford Trout Hatchery “Let’s go see the fish!” This enthusiastic request is heard all the time at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Buford Trout Hatchery, located just off Ga. STEVE HUDSON 20 about five miles Get Outside Georgia, Chattahoochee Media Group from Ga. 400. Located adjacent to the Chattahoochee River, this hatchery provides rainbow and brown trout for stocking in Georgia’s trout waters – and it just may be a perfect choice if you’re looking for something truly unique to do with the family this weekend. The Buford Trout Hatchery really is a great place to visit with the family. First, of course, you’ll get to see the trout – lots of trout – which are being reared in the site’s raceways. At this site, fisheries biologists raise hundreds of thousands of trout each year. The products of their efforts are eventually stocked into the state’s public streams and range from small trout measuring just a few inches long to what the hatchery folks call “showand-tell” fish of 10 pounds or more. One of the best ways to experience the hatchery is to take the free guided tour offered every Saturday at 1 p.m. This family-friendly tour, which lasts 45 minutes to an hour, starts at the hatchery’s office building. First, you’ll get a great overview of how the facility operates and what it does. Then it’s off to the raceways where you get to see the fish up close and personal. For many visitors, especially kids, the highlight of the tour is the chance to help feed the fish. The young folks get a huge kick out of tossing bits of “trout chow” to the fish, which respond enthusiastically. The water actually seems to boil as the trout go after the food.
But kids are not the only ones who get into this. The adults in the group will have just as much fun – and that’s the voice of experience speaking. The trout, of course, are the stars at the Buford Fish Hatchery. But there’s plenty more to do here as well. For example, you can hike the site’s nature trail, which offers excellent birdwatching opportunities. If the weather’s good, you can also try your hand at some catch-and-release fishing in the site’s family fishing pond. The pond is stocked with bream and catfish, and young anglers in particular will have a blast (especially as the weather warms toward spring). You’ll want to bring your own bait and gear, though a limited number of loaner rods are available. Kids under 16 can fish for free, but anglers 16 and over will need to have a current fishing license. Good baits for bream are worms, crickets and dough balls made from white bread; for the catfish, try some night crawlers or even small pieces of hot dog. Nearby picnic tables make this a great place to spend an afternoon. The Buford Trout Hatchery is located at 3204 Trout Place Road (what a great address) in Cumming. It’s open daily from 8 a.m. till 4:30 p.m.; the pond and nature trail are open till 3 p.m. By the way, the Buford Trout Hatchery is a great jumping-off point for a fantastic hike up the Chattahoochee River to Buford Dam. We’ll look at that hike next time. Steve Hudson has written numerous books on fishing, hiking, the outdoors and more. Check them out at www. chattahoochee media.com.
22 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
22 | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016
Sponsored Section
The 3 new real estate mantras: Location, condition, price Brought to you by: Jane Patneau With Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty I grew up in the real estate business. My father owned his own real estate company in our small Kentucky town of Danville. I would like to have a nickel for every time someone said, “Real estate is determined by three factors: location, location, location.” Location does determine the value of real estate, but lately in residential real estate an updated version has emerged: “Location, condition and price.” In Johns Creek, our great schools drive up the real estate prices. If the elementary, middle and high school that serves your home are all rated a “10” by GreatSchools.com and have excellent state testing scores, the result is more value in home sales. I work with a number of relocation buyers and they do their homework. They will request homes only in certain
school districts based on test scores or ratings from different websites. We are very lucky we have so many highly rated schools in our area. Even buyers without school-age children realize the imporPATNEAU tance of good schools and home values. Johns Creek is very fortunate to have great schools. Another factor to John’s Creek LOCATION is our proximity to GA-400 and Peachtree Industrial for getting Downtown easily. Even though our traffic can be terrible, our location is fairly central to the commuting all around Atlanta. The condition of your home also is a large factor into its value. Homeownership takes constant maintenance and improvements. Homes have many moving parts that must be constantly
Today’s buyers do not want to spend their hard earned cash on “fixing up” a home. cleaned and serviced to stay in good working order. Today’s buyers do not want to spend their hard earned cash on “fixing up” a home. Your home will be more valuable already “fixed up.” Today’s buyers prefer you spend YOUR cash and time on having your home in great shape. You will sell your home for more money the better CONDITION it is in. PRICE is so important in today’s market. As a REALTOR®, we used to advise sellers as to what their home
should sell for and then we would list it for what the sellers wanted to “try and get.” This method ended up having the home sit on the market for a long period and becoming “tired.” Homes priced well in our market end up selling quickly and for the best price. The list price should be very close to what the eventual sales price will be. Once the list price is determined, staging the home and marketing will be the next step your REALTOR® should take. Hiring an experienced, top-producing REALTOR® will help you obtain the highest sales price for your home. Hire an expert to help sell your home. I have been in the real estate business more than 15 years and I am a top producer at the best real estate company in business: Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty. Call me today! 770.337.3538 or 770.442.7300.
REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 23
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24 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section
Empty Nesting and retirement trends may surprise you By Eve Jones Harry Norman Realtors If you are under 50 years old, this article is probably not for you. For those of us who are 50 years or older, listen up, pre-retirement and retirement is starting to look a little different in terms of housing trends. JONES According to a recent study by Merrill Lynch and Age Wave research group, the greatest household growth will come from the 65+ age group. Pervious trends have shown that empty nesters and retirees were opting for downsizing their living spaces. That trend is starting to change. The Baby Boomer generation, age 50-68 years, have accumulated wealth via their homes and the majority of them say they are currently living in the best homes of their lives. A good number of these boomers are not willing to change their style of living, but to accommodate a 20-30+ year retirement, they need to think ahead about how their needs may change. Probably the most common issue for empty nesters and retirees that I see is the location of the master bedroom. Most are looking
for a master on the main floor, but not willing to compromise quality or even, sometimes square footage. According to the Merrill Lynch Study, this is called the down-size surprise. This study shows that only half of retirees moved to a smaller home and almost one-third moved to a larger home. Apparently, Baby Boomers are thinking about accommodating other family members who may visit (and even stay long term) with them. This generation has also been called the “sandwich” generation because they are tasked with tending to the needs of their parents who are living longer and their children who may move home after college or job changes. Regardless of the possibility of family members moving in, Baby Boomers want a home that has the space and quality to comfortably entertain family and friends. One of the major questions, is where should I move? Based on this study, the most popular region of the country is not surprisingly the South Atlantic region. Florida has traditionally been a big draw for retirees, but many people have found that is too far from family and grandchildren. A lot of empty nesters and retirees are staying close to family. One of the advantages about
See TRENDS, Page 27
2016 housing outlook Brought to you by –BILL RAWLINGS Vice President/Managing Broker, North Atlanta Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty Atlanta’s housing market ended last year with strong gains in sales and price appreciation and we only expect it to continue gaining strength. So what is selling? Lifestyle and location continue to be the biggest drivers in the market. Desirable school systems make desirable neighborhoods. As a significant number of buyers are families looking to find a new home and get settled before the school year begins; spring will be especially hot for areas with excellent public schools. New construction and updated properties offer ease and value to buyers. Builders are very active and homeowners are looking to get the most for their homes now and transitioning into new product. Additionally, buyers want
to be able to move into their home and not worry about performing renovations themselves or updating to today’s tastes. We are in a seller’s market with a huge shortage of available inventory in certain RAWLINGS price points for the ready, willing and able buyer. Surging demand in the housing market can be attributed to growing household formation, a prosperous job market and low unemployment rates. The average home price of $306,000 in December was a 7 percent gain from a year ago. As prices continue to rise, it will encourage sellers to come to the market. In addition, Georgia is expected to outpace the rest of the United States again in 2016 in economic growth. It is for this reason that the Metro Atlanta market is hot and will remain hot in 2016.
REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section
Exclusive Property Listings from The Ash-Jones Team.
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 25
Top rated Ash-Jones Team: Bringing Sellers and Buyers together all over North Fulton and South Forsyth. Here’s what we do: • Over 70 listed homes under contract in an average of 38 days • Sales prices averaging 97% of list price • Sales from $150,000 up to over $1,000,000 • Average customer satisfaction rating 5 out of 5! *transactions since 2013
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26 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section
Spring has sprung… At least is Crye-Leike, Real Estate services has in the Real Estate Market Brought to you by: Babs Price With Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty Many sellers wait to put their home on the market until the spring. There is no doubt that a home is even more appealing when the grass is emerald green and gardens are bursting with blooms. This is PRICE the time of year when many homes go on the market. With the increased inventory, buyers have more choices. This is great for buyers, but not so great for the sellers. Did you know that if you are a seller that NOW is the time to call your REALTOR® and put your home on the market? There are more buyers than there are homes on the market in North Fulton County right now. Your REALTOR® will be glad to put together a marketing plan to get the most money for your home and sell it quickly.
Did you know that if you are a seller that NOW is the time to call your REALTOR® and put your home on the market? Our area has many new jobs that are attracting buyers. These buyers must find a home. The buyers may have children who need to have an address in this area to enroll in school. Do yourself -- and the buyers -- a favor and make your home available. Babs Price, REALTOR® Atlanta Board of REALTORS® Multi-Million Dollar Sales Club 2014, 2015 c. 404.697.2008 o. 770.442.7300 babsprice@atlantafinehomes.com
Since 1977, Harold Crye and Dick Leike have known great resources make great associates. Crye-Leike, REALTORS® offers several customs programs, in-house and online, to help our associates learn quickly and stay up-to-date with the newest technology and best practices in the real estate industry. Crye-Leike’s website, www.cryeleike.com, annually wins awards from Leading Real Estate Companies in the world for its innovation with property listings and search engine optimization. Unlike other national real estate websites, Crye-Leike.com offers all area home listings including all home photos from the multiple listing service. Over 400,000 listings are updated every 12 minutes on Crye-Leike’s website to ensure the most accurate information. In comparison, studies revealed it can take 7-9 days for new home listings to appear on national sites such as Zillow and Trulia. With over 12,000 visitors per day and 30 million hits per month, no local company comes close to Crye-Like. com on internet activity. Crye-Leike makes substantial
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REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section
Trends: Continued from Page 24 North Atlanta, more specifically the Roswell/Alpharetta/Johns Creek cities, is all-around livability and desirability. Forbes magazine has recognized Alpharetta multiple times as one of the best places to move and one of the friendliest cities. Roswell has won multiple awards for a great city to raise your family or to retire too and was voted Atlanta Magazine’s, “Best Place to Live in Metro Atlanta.� And, Johns Creek was voted “America’s Top 25 Places to Live and to Go to School� by Relocate America. Each of these cities continue to improve their parks, recreation, entertain-
ment options, shopping and transportation. So, there’s really no reason to leave. The good news is that empty nesters, pre-retirees and retirees have worked hard and accumulated enough wealth to offer up lots of options or better said, lifestyle freedom! You could decide to stay put and improve your living environs or opt for another new home or project home that better suits your long-term needs. Regardless, you should elicit the help of a seasoned real estate agent to assist you in exploring your next housing move. She/he can help you determine the value of your current property and viable options for a new home. I have personally consulted with couples in this situation and it’s always rewarding to be a part of my clients’ “next big (exciting) step.�
Atlanta Perimeter Office Congratulates
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 27
Sales Leaders Ashley Zhang Johns Creek 678-707-2005
Grace Yoon Norcross 404-514-1000
Megan Dwyer Dong Dong Fang-Lopez Roswell Norcross 770-331-7986 678-800-4989
Linda Bell McDonough 678-898-4900
Cynthia Wilson Norcross 678-910-4572
Tammie Carter Johns Creek 770-820-7127
Thomas Hughes Norcross 706-429-3545
Steve Wrenn Norcross 770-916-1000
Janice Chatham Cumming 770-876-0391
Amanda Yu Norcross 404-432-0068
Vanessa Williams Smyrna/Vinings 404-213-0422
on their 2015 Team Accomplishments #1 Team Atlanta Perimeter Total Closed Units #2 Team Atlanta Perimeter Total Closed Volume #2 Companywide Small Team Closed Units #4 Companywide Small Team Dollar Volume
Beverly Parker Cumming 404-271-6351
Amy Barocas 404-790-0913
amy.barocas@harrynorman.com
Peggy Feldman 404-310-0895
peggy.feldman@harrynorman.com
Laura Moye 404-316-8694
laura.moye@harrynorman.com
Our Team is Ready to Help You Reach YOUR 2016 GOALS! Call Us Today!
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Malvin Trawick Smyrna/Vinings 404-794-1403
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28 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
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SCHOOLS
VARSITY BRIEFS Send us your news! Email to news@appenmediagroup.com More Info: 770-442-3278
Savannah College of Art and Design SAVANNAH, Ga. — Jackson James Cioffi, of Johns Creek, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2015 quarter at SCAD. Dean›s list honors are awarded to full-time students who attain a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average during an academic quarter.
Georgia College MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — The following students completed courses with exemplary marks and made the 2015 fall president’s list at Georgia College. Students making the president’s list completed at least 12 hours of coursework with a 4.0 GPA. From Alpharetta: Erica West,
Lucas Clari, Ashley Pinkerton, Alyssa Ahrens, Jennifer O’Neill, Leo Mager, Sarah Scott, Kendal Tomasin, Hannah Houston, Blake Nipper, Hannah House, Hannah Mead, Sydney Watts, Brett Grauss, Laura Campen, Corinne Hullfish, Chloe Clark, Michaela Schival, Nickolas Wiedemann, James McCormick, Jenna Allenson, Allie Dawson, Cayla Orris, Kelly Rankin, Olivia Ruark, Jack Waylock, Catherine Parker, Chason Wakefield, Krista Campbell, Caroline Dumas, Evan Thomas and Lauren Chiodo. From Duluth: Lauren Clement, Jessica Sullivan, Katherine Cox and Benjamin Lyons. From Milton: Emily Eubanks, Nolan English, Morgan Carter, Kourtney Raby, Madison Gamma and Sarah Pollifrone. From Roswell: Caitlin Murray, Marykate Malena, Natalie Pizzuto, Kristin Baron, Rachel Jenkins, Chloe Parker, Jacob Zawoysky, Collin Joiner, Connor Sova, Joseph Tomassi, Camille Tracy, Jordan Ball, Madeleine Robertson, Whitney Sweet, Veronica Ulicny, Bailey Moran, Kathryn Jacobs, Julia Lee, Leah-Kathryn Collier, Brandon
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 29
Schultheis, Elizabeth Casstevens, Madison Lord, Jonathan Golden, Marley Fiveash and Elise O’Neal. From Suwanee: Caroline Cline, David Madore, Caroline Williams, Jeanne Brock, Mikaela LaFave, Lindsay Hamilton, Abigail Stout, Margaret Duran, Sarah Patrick, David Gastley, Frank Chavez, Lindsay Porter, Jacob Lee, Katherine Cryan, Chelsea Ciminera, JMarissa Beindorf, Kathryn McGraw, Chance Jones, Jennie Pless, Parker Jameson, Samantha Baker, Loren Lownes, Lacey Najafi, Lauren Boone and Emily Fowler. In addition, Dr. Steve Dorman, president of Georgia College, has awarded degrees to the graduating class of December 2015. Local students include: From Alpharetta: Nicholas Hanchey, Sarah Holding, Colin Hughes, Alexis Nesselroad, Cara Powell, Alexander Kesner, James Callahan, Rory Filberg and Colin Rosenberger. From Duluth: Katherine Lynch. From Johns Creek: Travis Skillingstad. From Milton: Lauren Dort, Phillip Speer, Caitlin Pease and Katherine Stratton.
Religious Services
From Roswell: James Clark, Shelby Hatcher, Shelby Light, Caitlin McGinty, Olivia Moesser, Jordan Orlandini, David Teston, Robert Woodward and Emily Zilleox. From Suwanee: Danielle Bonet, Ella Corry, Bennett Gualdoni and William Strickland.
Samford’s Nursing School MOBILE, Al. – Samford University’s Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing recently hosted its annual white coat ceremony. Sixty-eight Bachelor of Science in Nursing students who began clinical courses this year were honored during the event, including: Julia Haase and Russell Smith, both of Roswell, and Erin Yost of Duluth. The ceremony included the presentation of a white coat and commemorative pin to each student. The pin serves as a reminder of the student’s commitment to providing compassionate, patient-centered care and of the nursing poem recited during the ceremony.
COMMUNITY
30 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
Johns Creek Police taking Mount Pisgah’s McConnell receives honors from State House Polar Plunge Feb. 20 Officer to dive into Lake Lanier for Special Olympics Georgia JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Johns Creek’s finest will be Johns Creek’s coldest Saturday, Feb. 20, when Johns Creek Police brave the freezing waters of Lake Lanier to raise money in the Special Olympics Georgia Polar Plunge at Lake Lanier Islands. All donations received go directly to Special Olympics Georgia. The public can donate any pledge amount by visiting the JCPD donation page at specialolympicsga.ejoinme. org/47541?mode=1. Pledges from any participating Johns Creek group automatically are credited to the Johns Creek Police Department. Johns Creek Police and their supporters raised more than $40,000 in the 2015 Polar Plunge, and about $70,000 for the year. To “plunge” yourself, register at
COUPLES/FRIENDS
THAI
To “plunge” yourself, register at www. plungega.org. the Special Olympics of Georgia website. Participants must raise $55 or more. Be sure to note on the application that you’re “plunging” on behalf of the Johns Creek Police Department. Gates open at 11 a.m. and the event begins at 1:30 p.m. This is the fifth year that the JCPD has participated in the Polar Plunge, the largest fundraising effort for all Special Olympics organizations across the U.S. Questions about participation in the JCPD’s support of the Special Olympics Georgia Polar Plunge can be directed to Maj. John Clifton at 678474-1600. For information about the event, visit the Special Olympics Georgia Polar Plunge website at www. plungega.org.
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ATLANTA – Mount Pisgah Christian School eighth grader Jack McConnell was invited to address the Georgia House of Representatives as its members issued a House Resolution in recognition of his tremendous work through his foundation: 20/20 Hearing. The student has turned his own hearing loss into a gift to serve the world. When he was just 11 years old, Jack felt led to help other hearing-impaired individuals. His mission has taken him to Peru, Nicaragua, Ghana and other parts of Africa. His story is inspiring countless people here at home and across the globe. Jack was born with a hearing impairment. He was fortunate in that it was diagnosed early, and he further fortunate in that he received the care, treatment and hearing devices that have made a huge difference in his life. It was the realization of how much that changed his life that led him to want to start the 20/20 Hearing Foundation. His desire to make a difference in the lives of other hearing impaired people is an inspiration to others, and
Mount Pisgah student Jack McConnell addresses the Georgia House of Representatives after receiving special recognition from the House for work with the hearing impaired. the House of Representatives honored him for those efforts. For more information go to 20/20hearing.org.
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SCHOOLS
32 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
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McCain selected to prestigious US Senate Youth program Johns Creek HS senior to spend week in nation’s capital JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek High School senior Meredith McCain is one of two Georgia students selected to serve as delegates to the 54th annual United States Senate Youth Program in March. The 104 delegates chosen for this year’s Washington Week include two students from every state, Department of Defense schools, and the District of Columbia. McCain’s selection was announced by U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) based on her leadership and academic accomplishments. She was nominated by her teachers and principal, and designated by Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods. “Meredith McCain sets a positive example for her peers and has earned this achievement through dedication to servant leadership” in her school and community, said Isakson, adding he looks forward to welcoming both Georgia students to Washington this March. McCain serves as a student council representative at Johns Creek High, and is the president of the French National Honor Society and the National English Honor Society. Selected to the Governor’s Honors Program in summer 2015 for French and social students, she is editor-in-chief of her school’s literary
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magazine, The Pulse, and is a member of the northeast Atlanta chapter of the National Charity League and Student Leadership Johns Creek. She plans to major in international affairs or political science and McCAIN French. McCain is the daughter of Stephen and Linda McCain of Johns Creek. While in Washington, student delegates will attend meetings and briefings with the president, U.S. senators, U.S. House representatives, congressional staff, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, an ambassador to the United States and senior members of the national media. The students will also tour many of the national monuments and several museums. Founded in 1962, the United States Senate Youth Program is sponsored by the Senate and fully funded by The Hearst Foundations. In addition to outstanding leadership abilities and a strong commitment to volunteer work, the student delegates generally rank academically in the top 1 percent of their states among high school juniors and seniors. In addition to the all-expenses-paid week in Washington, D.C, March 5-12, student delegates receive a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship from the Hearst Foundation. –Candy Waylock
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34 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
SCHOOLS
Swift School carves ni
20062016
10
th
Anniversary
City Calendar Events
& 08
February City Council Work Session City Hall 5:00 p.m. City Council Meeting City Hall 7:00 p.m.
09
Convention & Visitors Bureau City Hall 9:00 a.m. Public Art Board Meeting City Hall 6:30 p.m.
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President’s Day City Offices Closed
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Zoning Board City Hall 7:00p p.m.
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City Council Work Session City Hall 5:00 p.m.
Teachers specialize in helping students who learn differently By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – The Swift School is nestled near the southern end of Grimes Bridge Road in Roswell and is easy to miss if you are not looking for it. But parents searching for a school that understands dyslexic students are lasered in on the Swift School as a place that can be life changing for their children. Swift’s Head of School Richard Wendlek says there is still a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about dyslexia even though 20 percent of all Americans fall into that learning category. “Dyslexia is a language-based difference, often seen in language acquisition. Dyslexics process information differently and may express themselves differently,” Wendlek said. What the fully accredited Swift School does is teach students how to acquire language and process it in ways that let them communicate to others. They may also have trouble recalling things they have learned. On the other hand dyslexics can have strengths in spatial cognition, making for excellent architects, engineers and designers. It is believed Leonardo da Vinci was dyslexic, not only because he preferred to write left-to-right, but because of his phenomenal skills in
About Dyslexia Dyslexia is believed to be caused by a neurological difference in language processing. The Swift School refuses to call it a disorder. Dyslexia symptoms often include difficulty with written and spoken information. Dyslexia is not a disability, but it is a different kind of ability often misunderstood. President Woodrow Wilson was a considered a “slow” learner because he didn’t read until age 12. Presidents Andrew Jackson and George Washington are also believed to be dyslexic. Other well-known people who learned to use their dyslexia include: • Albert Einstein • Leonardo da Vinci • Tommy Hilfiger • John Lennon • Whoopi Goldberg • Sir Richard Branson Dyslexics make up 20 percent of the population and go on to be successful in all fields of endeavor. engineering, anatomy and science. Those are symptomatic of dyslexic abilities. So was his tendency to leave projects unfinished. “Our students process slowly because they depend on creating a story – a narrative pattern to process thoughts,” Wendlek said. Gail Swift founded the school in
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CITY OF JOHNS CREEK 12000 FINDLEY ROAD SUITE 400 JOHNS CREEK, GA 678.512.3200 JOHNSCREEKGA.GOV
Ready to open doors for dyslexic teachers are from left Swift Board Member Bob Gray, Head of School Richard Wendlek and Board Member Laura Ries. The school’s small classes, one-on-one teaching and tailored curriculum allow dyslexic students to thrive.
Like most classes in the Swift School. Mus used. Students are taught to understand m 1998, beginning with five students and finishing the term with nine. Her second year, she had 18 students. Many parents of dyslexic students are at a loss for where to turn when their child is diagnosed. Public schools are rarely prepared to deal with students who don’t process information the way most children do. Wendlek says dyslexia a field of learning unto itself, and that is why the Swift School has grown to some 260 students in elementary and middle school levels. A high school is planned that would draw students from across the northern Atlanta perimeter. “We have one student whose parents moved to Roswell from Sydney, Australia. Many other parents of our students have been so dedicated to what we do to have moved to put their students here. No others have come so far as Sydney, but it shows how far parents will go for their children’s education,” he said. Most of the education is multisensory. The student sees it, hears it, writes
SCHOOLS
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 35
che teaching dyslexic children
PHOTOS BY HATCHER HURD/HERALD
ic is a hands-on affair. As in most Swift classrooms, a multi-sensory approach is usic using touch, sight and hearing. Perhaps most important, it learning by doing. it, moves it, touches it, Wendlek said. “We engage a bright child to use their strengths to better understand the world. Parents have bright children, but they have met defeats and lack of success elsewhere. Parents tell us they see a dramatic change in as little as two or three weeks,” he said. It’s what Wendlek calls that “no more tears around the kitchen table” moment. Family life is transformed, he said. Classes are small, no more than 10 students. And each class has two teachers who follow the Orton-Gillingham approach, a leading methodology in teaching dyslexic students. Perhaps what is best about Swift School for the students is its atmosphere of “everybody learns like me.” And small class sizes encourage students to participate. In normally larger classes, dyslexic students withdraw from participation. “In public school, the older the students become, the more they realize they aren’t getting it – not the way other
students do,” Wendlek said. “It’s like being in a class where everyone is speaking Russian and you don’t. Eventually, you pick up things, but not at the rate everyone else is.” For parents such Johns Creek City Councilman Bob Gray, the school has been a godsend. When he brought his son to the Swift School, he was searching for answers that would put his boy on the right path. “They care here. They are very nurturing. And these are not easy kids to reach,” Gray said. Today, Gray’s son is a sophomore at Virginia Tech. Donna Cherry, the Swift School’s director of technology and assessments, said what the school does is give students an array of tools to “find strategies that work.” By definition, dyslexics are not “cookie-cutter” students. “In the end, each child learns to make choices at getting good at articulating their position. And they advocate from that platform,” Cherry said.
A teacher and a student act out a point of grammar. It is hard for students to process a concept, but by demonstrating them, it opens a path to learning it.
Art is a big part of the Swift School curriculum. Dyslexic students often show great competency in art. Could this student be another Leonardo da Vinci (thought to be dyslexic)? She could be.
At the Swift School, the curriculum is about serving the whole student. That means physical education, music and art are part of the curriculum also. Laura Reis is a Swift parent and board member. She says the transformation in students’ confidence in learning is remarkable. “It makes them independent. They advocate for how they learn,” Reis said. “Childhood is a long race. We are getting them ready at every stop and challenging them to do more.” Gray agrees. He saw the transformation in his son “from the first day.” “These kids have been told they are stupid, that they are lazy. They are made to feel different. They come here
and they find they are not different,” Gray said. “In two weeks, my son went from hating this school to loving it.” Swift School is moving ahead with plans for a north metro high school for dyslexic students. A plan for a 300- to 400-student high school at Holcomb Bridge Road and Old Alabama has passed the Roswell Planning Commission and will be headed for City Council approval soon. Meanwhile, the school is also building relationships with universities to “teach the teachers,” said Wendlek. The school recently met with 60 Cobb County teachers to begin a relationship that could lead to dyslexic classes being taught in public school.
Small classrooms, usually with two teachers, ensure students make steady progress and many go on to college.
36 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
COMMUNITY
The Varsity leaving Alpharetta Feb. 1 was last day By HATCHER HURD hatcher@Appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The Varsity in Alpharetta, a fixture for 12 years, closed its doors with the “Varsity V” handles Monday, Feb. 1. “We would like to sincerely thank the people of Alpharetta for welcoming us in their community for the past 12 years,” said The Varsity President Gordon Muir in a press release. “Many of the outstanding team members from our Alpharetta store already work at our other locations and will continue to carry the spirit of hospitality to our customers that The Varsity has been known for since 1928,” Muir said. “After a great deal of thought and consideration,” The Varsity will close up shop on Monday, Feb. 1, the company announced. The Varsity, 11556 Rainwater Drive, was a favorite stop for many who liked its staples of burgers, dogs, fries and onion rings. Orders were often topped off with signature frosted orange drinks. For many customers, visiting the
Alpharetta location was a step back in time when a trip to The Varsity meant a drive to downtown Atlanta. Almost as famous for its long lines of customers as its dogs and burgers, the service line then and now in Atlanta is a hive of activity. “What’ll ya have, what’ll ya have,” is the call as the counter workers enjoin customers to keep moving and to have their orders ready. Perhaps the bustle of being asked to be a part of the fast service didn’t sit so well with suburban customers who often were not acquainted with Varsity lore and traditions. Whatever the reason, the Alpharetta Varsity has closed its doors. But, as the clock was ticking, it seems many customers were flocking to the Alpharetta Varsity to get one last taste of Varsity fare. Mabel and Bob Scott of Alpharetta were two such customers last Saturday. “We’d come once in a while,” said Mabel Scott. “We always enjoy it when we do.” Husband Bob agreed. “I’m sorry to see it go. We don’t go downtown [Atlanta] much anymore,” he said. But they often did, going back to the
The Alpharetta Varsity on Haynes Bridge Road at Ga. 400 has closed its doors forever. So North Futon residents will have to go a little farther to answer the question, “What’ll ya have?
PHOTOS BY HATCHER HURD/HERALD
A Varsity family, Jay and Mary Powell came from East Cobb for a final Varsity meal with their sons, Will and Eric. 1960s. “You know it was just something you did. If you wanted a burger or a hot dog, well, The Varsity was it.” Jay and Mary Powell came all the way from their home in East Cobb to sample Varsity fare one more time with their two sons. “We heard they were closing here, so we had to come see it one more time,” Jay Powell said. “We grew up in Atlanta so we’ve always gone to The Varsity.” He grew up a Georgia Tech fan and The Varsity sits in the shadow of Tech’s Grant Field. “Yeah, it was a tradition to stop by The Varsity on the way to the game,” Jay Powell said. His wife, Mary, said she has always loved the food and their boys have inherited the taste, as well. “They really didn’t have a chance I guess,” she said. “We had The Varsity cater our wedding.” An Atlanta landmark, The Varsity on North Avenue bills itself as “the world’s
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largest drive-in restaurant” and sits on more than 2 acres. It can accommodate 600 cars and more than 800 people inside. On Saturday Georgia Tech football games, up to 30,000 people visit The Varsity. And, on any given day, people come with an appetite for The Varsity’s madefrom-scratch fare. During an average day, the North Avenue location sells: • More than two miles of hot dogs • A ton of onion rings • 2,500 pounds of fresh-cut potatoes • 5,000 homemade fried pies • 300 gallons of chili The downtown Varsity is also the world’s largest single purveyor of Coca-Cola. For nearly 30 years, the restaurant had its own Coca-Cola truck driver assigned to make several trips daily, bringing bottled Cokes. That only stopped when Coca-Cola officials convinced owner Frank Gordy that he could sell more Coke as fountain drinks.
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NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 37
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38 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
SPORTS
Central downs Cambridge 48-32 in region matchup Julie Richards scores 16 in Bulldogs win By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com CUMMING, Ga. — The Forysth Central girls (11-13, 7-4) beat Cambridge (9-15, 3-8) 48-32 on Jan. 30 in Cumming. After a slow start, the Bulldogs took the lead midway through the second quarter and never looked back against their Region 7-AAAA Division B rival. Central senior forward Julie Richards led the Bulldogs in scoring with 16 and rebounds with six. Richards also had a standout performance defensively with five blocks and a steal. Abby Fagan added 13 points for the Bulldogs as well as two steals and junior Caroline Hearn scored 11. For the Lady Bears, freshman Julie Powell led in scoring with 10 points and shot 80 percent on free throws. Fellow freshman Audrey Smith compiled 9 points, 15 rebounds and a steal. Cambridge got off to a positive start with 5 points from Smith and a 3-pointer from Powell to open the game with an 8-2 lead. In the first quarter, Cambridge’s defense limited the Bulldogs’ passes inside the paint. However, beginning in the second quarter, the Bears were unable to do so. The Bulldogs outscored Cambridge 12-4 in the second quarter after 3-pointers from Hear and Fagan and took a 21-15 lead into halftime. The Bulldogs continued their offensive success in the third, opening the second half with an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 29-15. The Bulldogs were also able to outduel Cambridge’s Smith for rebounds, getting jump balls when they could not bring in the rebounds. A reverse of the first quarter, Cambridge struggled to get passes inside the paint and were forced to shoot outside shots, which limited Smith’s production under the net. Cambridge would continue to build their lead for the remainder of the game and take the win 44-32. Forsyth Central finished out their regular season with their Tuesday game against subregion-leading Kell while Cambridge completed their regular season against Sprayberry.
JOE PARKER
Lady Bears center Audrey Smith battles with Bulldogs’ Julie Richards for a rebound under the net. Richards had a standout performance against Cambridge with 16 points, six rebounds, a steal and five blocks
Other notable games (boys):
Other notable games (girls):
Johns Creek 65 – Alpharetta 62 Johns Creek won in a shootout last Friday in a Region 6-AAAAAA matchup against Alpharetta, battling back to regain the lead in the final minute. Johns Creek’s defense created multiple turnovers late and were able to take the lead with free throws. Johns Creek is off to their best start in school history (21-2) while two-time defending regular-season champion Alpharetta fell to 9-14 overall.
South Forsyth 60 – Chattahoochee 44 The War Eagles improved to 16-0 in Region 6-AAAAAA with their win over Chattahoochee on Friday. Maryland commit Sarah Myers led South in scoring with 23 points. South will close out their regular season against North Forsyth this Friday.
Lambert 74 – West Forsyth 46 Connor Mannion led the Longhorns with 23 points as the Longhorns remained unbeaten in Region 6-AAAAAA this season. The Longhorns (21-2, 16-0) will face Johns Creek this Friday in what could be a winner-take-all game for the regular-season region championship. St. Francis 82 – King’s Ridge 55 St. Francis locked up the Region 6-A Division B subregion championship with their win over King’s Ridge on Friday. Senior Knights player Kobi Simmons was presented as a McDonald’s All American earlier that day. King’s Ridge lost their second consecutive region game with the loss.
West Forsyth 62 – Lambert 46 West won their fourth straight region game Friday after losing to region-leading South on Jan. 18. West (18-5, 15-1) was led by senior Jenna Staiti who scored 40 points in the win. West is seeking their first regular-season region title. West fell to nonregion opponent McEachern on Saturday. Fellowship Christian 63 Pinecrest Academy 57 Fellowship Christian greatly helped their chances of earning a playoff berth with their win over Pinecrest. In the most recent Power Rankings, which determine the top-16 teams that will make the playoffs in Class A Private, FCS was on the outside looking in as they were ranked 22nd. Their win over Walker on Friday and Pinecrest on Saturday could push them into the top 16 if they can win out. Pinecrest, on the bubble at 16th, beat Whitefield Acad-
Weekend Scores Boys scores (Friday) • West Forsyth 46 Lambert 74 • South Forsyth 64 Chattahoochee 58 • Alpharetta 62 Johns Creek 65 • Milton 77 Lassiter 35 • North Springs 61 Cambridge 54 • Sprayberry 40 Forsyth Central 58 • Blessed Trinity 42 Decatur 44 • King’s Ridge 55 St. Francis 82 • Mount Pisgah 61 Providence Christian 35 • Pinecrest Academy 40 Whitefield Academy 59 • Fellowship Christian 41 Walker 50 Boys scores (Saturday) • North Forsyth 50 Walton 70 • Lassiter 62 Roswell 51 • Milton 49 Etowah 38 • Cambridge 65 Forsyth Central 70 • Mount Pisgah 46 North Cobb Christian 76 • Pinecrest Academy 51 Fellowship Christian 40 • King’s Ridge 45 Greenforest 74 Girls scores (Friday) • West Forsyth 62 Lambert 46 • South Forsyth 60 Chattahoochee 44 • Alpharetta 42 Johns Creek 33 • Northview 47 Habersham Central 39 • Milton 47 Lassiter 31 • North Springs 31 Cambridge 27 • Sprayberry 51 Forsyth Central 39 • Blessed Trinity 46 Decatur 49 • Mount Pisgah 34 Providence Christian 29 • Pinecrest Academy 62 Whitefield Academy 41 • Fellowship Christian 40 Walker 38 Girls scores (Saturday) • McEachern 58 West Forsyth 37 • Cambridge 32 Forsyth Central 48 • Milton 34 Etowah 41 • Mount Pisgah 36 North Cobb Christian 45 • Pinecrest Academy 57 Fellowship Christian 63 emy on Friday, possibly keeping them in the top 16 even with the loss to FCS.
SPORTS
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 39
St. Francis’ Kobi Simmons named McDonald’s All American Will play at All American Games in Chicago March 30
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By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — St. Francis senior basketball player Kobi Simmons was selected to play in the 39th annual McDonald’s All American Games that will take place in Chicago’s United Center on March 30. Simmons was one of only two Georgia players selected for the 24-player roster from among 755 nominees nationally. During a McDonald’s American Hometown Heroes presentation at St. Francis Jan. 29, Simmons, who has committed to the University of Arizona, said being named an All American is “a dream come true.” “It means the world to me to be selected,” he said. “It’s just really a blessing and I’m honored to be named an All American. “This is something a young man dreams to be a part of. You dream about it as a little kid and now it’s actually happening.” Simmons, a 6-foot-5 point guard, is St. Francis’ all-time leading scorer with 2,186 points. Simmons also has 469 assists, over 200 steals and is sixth on St. Francis’ list of all-time leaders in rebounding. Simmons said he was shocked when he saw his name on the list of All Americans. “When I saw my name on ESPN I was shocked — I couldn’t move. Everybody was just surrounding me and giving me hugs but I just couldn’t move. I stayed there and just stared at the screen in shock,” he said. Regarding what he hopes to accomplish at the All American Games, Simmons said, “My goal is to play well, win at the highest level and overall just have fun. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so I want to have fun out there.” Simmons thanked his family “for getting me to this point,” as well as his coaches and all who have supported him through his career. St. Francis Head Coach Andrew Catlett said of Simmons, “I met Kobi when he was in middle school and I saw a lot of potential. As a coach you become connected with the players and the feelings are deep. To see a kid realize his dreams is extremely gratifying as a coach.”
H R NG
JOE PARKER
St. Francis’ Kobi Simmons is the alltime leading scorer at St. Francis and has committed to the University of Arizona.
Simmons will join the list of some of basketball’s all-time greats who have been selected for the games, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Simmons became the 36th player from Georgia to be selected for the All American Games. Georgia has produced the ninth-most All Americans in the 39-year span of the games. Simmons, who has led St. Francis to 91 wins in the past four seasons and two state championships, said he believes the team will repeat as state champions in Class A this season. The Knights will play their last regular-season game this Friday. After graduation, Simmons will begin his tenure with the Arizona Wildcats. Simmons, who said he is very excited to play for the prestigious program, said his relationships with the Arizona coaches led to his decision to commit to a school so far away. “My relationship with Coach Miller and the assistant coaches are great. At first I didn’t know if [Arizona] was going to be the right fit, but after the trip to Arizona I woke up knowing that’s where I wanted to go. I can’t wait to get to Tucson,” said Simmons. The 39th annual McDonald’s All American Games will be played in Chicago at 9 p.m. March 30 and will be televised live on ESPN.
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40 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
SPORTS
JC sweeps series against Alpharetta with thrilling win Free throws and turnovers key in the hard-fought victory By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek (21-2, 15-1) defeated rival Alpharetta (9-14, 9-7) with a last-minute victory over the Raiders on Jan. 29. The Gladiators swept the regular season with the win after defeating Alpharetta 62-52 on Dec. 18. In a shootout game, the Gladiators would rely on forcing turnovers and crucial free throws to secure the victory after trailing with under two minutes remaining. Johns Creek senior Mark Lancaster led the Gladiators in scoring with 18 points, followed by Ian Joseph who scored 9 of his 13 points at the freethrow line. Miles Clay and Topher Sullivan each had 6 points and two steals. The matchup began with quick play as both teams worked the ball into the offensive zone quickly, with Johns Creek taking a 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter with multiple
Senior Mark Lancaster led the Gladiators in scoring with 18 points in the Gladiators’ thrilling 65-62 win over Alpharetta last Friday.
Gladiators senior Ian Joseph (15) shot 90 percent on free throws. Joseph finished the game with 13 points. 3-pointers. The pace of the game would increase from that buzzer on. Johns Creek was able to take the largest lead of the first half, 19-13, early in the second before Alpharetta began to press, causing two consecutive turnovers and allowing the Raiders to pull within 3 points. A 3-pointer from Carlos Carriere, a field goal from Eric McElroy and a block from Carriere gave Alpharetta a 33-32 lead at the end of the second. Opening the second half, the Gladiators got off to a quick start offensively. Two 3-pointers from Mason Henkel and Lancaster gave the Gladiators a 10-point lead. In what would be the theme for the remainder of the backand-forth game, Alpharetta’s Rashaun Pass would hit a 3-pointer just moments later. Pass led the Raiders in scoring with 13 points. Another 3-pointer from Pass would give the Raiders a 51-49 lead with six minutes remaining in the fourth. At that point, the fouls were 7-0 against Alpharetta. With fouls to give, Gladiators Head Coach Pete Goggin told his players to be aggressive. “We told them in the timeout (after the technical foul) to go out there and get the ball. We told them we had fouls to give so they could be aggressive in getting the ball,” said Goggin.
The strategy worked. Johns Creek was able to create multiple turnovers in the final minutes. However, they struggled to get the baskets needed to reclaim the lead. After three Raiders turnovers, Johns Creek missed two layups and a pass on a Gladiators two-on-one would bounce out of bounds. Johns Creek’s Nate Zodulua made one of his two free throws to tie the game at 60-60 with a minute remaining. Both teams would exchange fouls, sending the Gladiators’ Joseph and the Raiders’ Elum Nwuke to the line where both players would make both of their free throws to keep the game tied at 6262 with 32 seconds remaining. Once again, a foul would be called against Alpharetta, giving Clay two shots. Clay would make his first shot, but his second shot would miss and ricochet off a Johns Creek player before bouncing to the corner, destined to go out of bounds and give Alpharetta the ball. However, Johns Creek junior Bo Majkowski would make a diving save on the loose ball, hurtling it behind his back as he fell to Joseph, who was open. With just 15 seconds left, and down by one, the Raiders fouled Joseph, sending him to the line with a
JOE PARKER
chance to extend the Gladiators’ slim lead. Joseph made both shots, giving the Gladiators a 65-62 lead with nine seconds remaining. Joseph shot 9-10 on free throws in the game. Alpharetta would cycle the ball quickly beyond the arc, finding Carriere with just two seconds remaining, needing a 3-pointer to tie the game. However, Carriere’s shot would ring off rim to seal the victory for the Gladiators. After the game, Johns Creek’s Goggin said he was happy with his team’s hard-fought victory. “I’m very proud of the effort coming from behind. Alpharetta has improved greatly since the last time we played them. Coach Hurd does a great job with those guys,” said Goggin. He also said the game will help keep the momentum of their season going with just two regular-season games remaining, including their final game of the year against Lambert, which could decide the regular-season region championship. After starting the season 3-11, Alpharetta bounced back in January, compiling a 6-2 record in region play in the month. The Raiders will finish out their regular season against Northview this Friday.
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 41
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK ITB #16-066 STATE BRIDGE ROAD OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS The City of Johns Creek is accepting sealed Invitations to Bid (ITB) from qualified construction firms for the State Bridge Road Operational Improvement Project. Sealed ITB’s will be received no later than 10:00AM. on March 7, 2016 in the City of Johns Creek Purchasing Office, 12000 Findley Rd., Suite-400, Johns Creek, Georgia, 30097. ITB’s received after the above time or in any other location other than the Purchasing Office will not be accepted. Deadline for questions is February 16, 2016 at 5:00PM. The City of Johns Creek, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 78 Stat. 252, 42 USC 2000d—42 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, part 21, Nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin in consideration for an award. ITB packages and plans are available on the City of Johns Creek website (www.johnscreekga.gov) . Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing Office at (678) 512-3233. ITB’s shall be presented in a sealed opaque envelope with the ITB number and name clearly marked on the outside of the envelope. The name of the company or firm submitting an ITB response should also be clearly marked on the outside of the envelope. (TWO (2) ORIGINALS AND ONE (1) COPY OF THE ITB ON CD MUST BE SUBMITTED.) ITB’s will not be accepted verbally or by fax or email. All offerors must comply with all general and special requirements of the ITB information and instructions enclosed herein. The City of Johns Creek reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities, and to make award in the best interest of the City of Johns Creek. Warren Hutmacher City Manager
Mike Bodker Mayor
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK RFP #16-075 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN The City of Johns Creek is accepting sealed Request for Proposals (RFP) from qualified consultant firms for the preparation of a major update to the City’s comprehensive plan that exceeds the requirements of a five-year update, as required by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Sealed RFP’s will be received no later than 2:00PM. on March 16, 2016 in the City of Johns Creek Purchasing Office, 12000 Findley Rd., Suite-400, Johns Creek, Georgia, 30097. RFP’s received after the above time or in any other location other than the Purchasing Office will not be accepted. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on February 17, 2016 at 10:00 AM at the City Hall address (shown above), Taylor Farms Conference Room, 3rd floor. The City of Johns Creek, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 78 Stat. 252, 42 USC 2000d—42 and Title 49, issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin in consideration for an award. RFP packages are available on the City of Johns Creek website (www.johnscreekga.gov). Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing Office at (678) 512-3233. RFP’s shall be presented in a sealed opaque envelope with the RFP number and name clearly marked on the outside of the envelope. The name of the company or firm submitting an RFP response should also be clearly marked on the outside of the envelope. (SIX (6) ORIGINALS AND ONE (1) COPY OF THE RFP ON CD MUST BE SUBMITTED.) RFP’s will not be accepted verbally or by fax or email. All offerors must comply with all general and special requirements of the RFP information and instructions enclosed herein. The City of Johns Creek reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities, and to make award in the best interest of the City of Johns Creek. Warren Hutmacher City Manager
Mike Bodker Mayor
42 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
NEWS
Principal: Lambert’s Davison put on temporary leave Continued from Page 10 19, who now attends Georgia Tech, said he learned of Davison’s posts by “stum-
PUBLIC NOTICE City of Johns Creek Strategic Planning Retreat February 27-28, 2016 The Mayor and Council of the City of Johns Creek will attend a Strategic Planning Retreat. This Planning Retreat will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2016 from 8:00AM until 5:00PM and again on Sunday, February 28th from 8:00AM until 3:00PM. The Strategic Planning Retreat will be held at the Heron House located at 102 Russell Road in Mountain Park, Georgia 30075. Please contact the city clerk at 678-512-3212 should you need more information. Joan Jones City Clerk
bling upon” them. He said he decided to contact the district in part because of the county’s influx of minority students who, he said, are “being oppressed.” “Many staff are incredible people,” Watson said. “But sadly the people who make the overarching decisions seek to push ‘controversy’” he said and, in the process, they push “justice under the rug. The road to having a safe environment will require very uncomfortable change and will inevitably and logistically be difficult, but it is the product of change that will reign true to why this movement can foster greatness in Forsyth County. I care about my home. I want it to be changed. I know it can happen, and it will be greater for the entirety of the area.” One Facebook comment, written by Lambert alum Jack Jenkins, noted that, as the principal of Lambert, Davison “has the responsibility to make sure that his students are safe from bullying and shame and ridicule. If he could show that his posts in no way affected his treatment of his students, then he would not be in this situation.” In addition to the screenshots Watson saved from Davison’s Facebook page, Watson also collected testimo-
nies from current and former Lambert students. The 20-some accounts, also on Watson’s Facebook page, are what the authors of the testimonies say are personal experiences at Lambert that involved interactions they considered racist, homophobic or that generally made them feel uncomfortable. According to Jenkins, the testimonies show “Dr. Davison has ignored the concerns of minority students. His actions (and inaction) have allowed bullying, racism, homophobia, and even death threats to go unchallenged.” However, one of the testimonies, written by Ruwa Romman, a South Forsyth High School 2011 alumna and Muslim, had a different tone. She said that while she has experienced much of the same discrimination as the other students who wrote testimonies, she wants to extend a hand of friendship and dialogue as opposed to attacking Davison. “Instead, I would love to speak with you. I would love to sit down and engage in a dialogue where you ask me about this faith that so many misunderstand and we talk about how you can lead this school towards a place of acceptance and real learning,” Romman wrote. “I do
The road to having a safe environment will require very uncomfortable change and will inevitably and logistically be difficult, but it is the product of change that will reign true to why this movement can foster greatness in Forsyth County.” YASSIN WATSON Lambert alumnus
not think that suspending principals is a constructive way to fix this, and I truly believe that your leadership can really turn this page towards a better chapter, but it has to start with you being truly willing to listen and learn.”
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK RFP #16-054 FIRE DEPARTMENT FEASIBILITY STUDY The City of Johns Creek is accepting sealed Request for Proposals (RFP) from qualified consulting firms to conduct a service delivery study to guide management decision making in providing improved fire, rescue and emergency medical response to the community. Sealed RFP’s will be received no later than 2:00 PM. on February 23, 2016 in the City of Johns Creek Purchasing Office, 12000 Findley Rd., Suite-400, Johns Creek, Georgia, 30097. RFP’s received after the above time or in any other location other than the Purchasing Office will not be accepted. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on February 9, 2016, at 10:00 AM at City Hall address, Taylor Farms Conference Room, 3rd floor. The City of Johns Creek, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 78 Stat. 252, 42 USC 2000d—42 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin in consideration for an award. RFP packages are available on the City of Johns Creek website (www.johnscreekga.gov). Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing Office at (678) 512-3233. RFP responses shall be presented in a sealed opaque envelope with the RFP number and name clearly marked on the outside of the envelope. The name of the company or firm submitting an RFP response should also be clearly marked on the outside of the envelope. (FOUR (4) ORIGINALS AND ONE (1) COPY OF THE RFP ON CD MUST BE SUBMITTED.) RFP responses will not be accepted verbally or by fax or email. All offerors must comply with all general and special requirements of the RFP information and instructions enclosed herein. The City of Johns Creek reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities, and to make award in the best interest of the City of Johns Creek. Warren Hutmacher City Manager
Mike Bodker Mayor
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 43
CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The following item along with previously advertised items will be considered by the City Council on Monday, February 22, 2016 commencing at 7:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia. a. V-16-06 Home2 Suites Consideration of a variance to the setbacks for a structure encroaching into the front, side and rear setbacks for the Home 2 Suites. The property is located at Webb Bridge Road and Morris Road and the property is legally described as being located within Land Lot 1262, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia. Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza.
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA FOR CITY NETWORK EQUIPMENT 2016 ITB #16-012 The City of Alpharetta is accepting bids for the purchase of HEWLETT PACKARD (HP) NETWORK EQUIPMENT. This equipment is for replacement of existing network equipment at the City of Alpharetta. The Project Manual will be available online Thursday, January 28, 2016 at https://www.ebidexchange.com/alpharetta. The bid opening will be held on Thursday, February 18, 2016 at 2:00PM at the City of Alpharetta Finance Department, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009. For information, please contact Stephanie Cochran at the City of Alpharetta Finance Department at 678-297-6052 or via email at purchasing@alpharetta.ga.us.
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA FOR WESTSIDE PARKWAY INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS ITB #16-010 The City of Alpharetta (City) is accepting bids for WESTSIDE PARKWAY INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS including, but not limited to, maintenance of traffic, asphalt pavement, curb & gutter, signalization, striping and signage, erosion and sediment control, clean up and restoration. The location of the work is along Westside Parkway, north of Cumming Street --- within the City of Alpharetta, Georgia. The ITB will be available online Thursday, February 4, 2016, at our bid posting website, https://www.ebidexchange.com/alpharetta. Interested parties are required to log in to review the ITB documents. The bid opening will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 10:00 AM at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009. For information, please contact Debora Westbrook at the City of Alpharetta Finance Department via email at purchasing@alpharetta.ga.us or at 678-297-6052. ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA FOR SHERRY DRIVE STORM DRAIN REPAIRS ITB #16-013 The City of Alpharetta (City) is accepting bids for SHERRY DRIVE STORM DRAIN REPAIRS including, delivery and installation of storm sewer system materials, slip-lining of existing 48� corrugated metal pipe (CMP), pipe replacement, manhole installation, catch basin rehabilitation, excavation and trenching, driveway replacement, landscaping and other work related to drainage improvements. The location of the work is at 1320 Sherry Drive, Alpharetta, GA 30009 --- within the City of Alpharetta, Georgia. The ITB will be available online Thursday, February 4, 2016, at our bid posting website, https://www.ebidexchange.com/alpharetta. Interested parties are required to log in to review the ITB documents. The bid opening will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 2:00 PM at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009. For information, please contact Debora Westbrook at the City of Alpharetta Finance Department via email at purchasing@alpharetta.ga.us or at 678-297-6052.
44 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
Roswell: Hatcher Hurd’s open letter to Roswell council Continued from Page 12 the will of the voters who checked your names last November. I only point out that, sadly, only about 5 percent of the voters were moved to exercise that most cherished right of freedom and cast a ballot. Given the winning margin meant the support of about 3 percent of the electorate, I think “mandate” is a bit strong. Now you and your fellow council members are facing a growing problem in Roswell. Your downtown is dying. It has a morbidity about it that was years in the making. Other councils before you for one reason or another have not found the formula to revitalize the downtown, give it vibrancy and the verve that by rights it should possess. In the mid-1990s, Roswell was twice named the best place in America to
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live. No less an authority than Oprah Winfrey made that pronouncement. But that was then. Today, I don’t think you can say Roswell is the best place to live in North Fulton. For a downtown to have life and vibrancy it needs one essential quality: people. People have to live downtown. Buildings don’t create energy, people do. And as every expert has been telling us, the baby boomers are downsizing and millennials aren’t interested in a two-car garage and a picket fence. Now this new majority on the City Council appears to want to slam that door shut on people living downtown. On whose authority do you want to do that? It is normal for cities to find the best consultants to advise them on how best to revitalize their cities. Roswell should be an outstanding candidate for revitalization. It has desirable housing, a living standard most cities would envy and great schools. Yet, while Roswell talks about revitalization, her sister cities are doing something tangible. Consider Alpharetta. It looked at the one jewel in Roswell’s developmental crown – Canton Street – and looked to
It has desirable housing, a living standard most cities would envy and great schools. Yet, while Roswell talks about revitalization, her sister cities are doing something tangible. do it one better. Alpharetta has created a new downtown that will have life and vitality. While Roswell dithers about building a parking deck for Canton Street (lack of parking is the district’s most serious threat), Alpharetta has already built one downtown. Evidently, making capital improvements to its most vibrant economic district is not in Roswell’s purview. Otherwise why has it taken so long? Try to buy commercial space on Roswell’s Canton Street and it commands the highest dollar per square foot in the city. Yet it is only about a quarter-mile strip in a city of nearly 100,000. But when a newly elected majority on the City Council comes in with a
moratorium for redevelopment, what signal does that send to would-be developers? Certainly they have given anyone considering it a reason to pause. Meanwhile, neighbors such as Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs are spreading open arms. The new council members spoke of being in support of revitalization in Roswell, but your actions do not instill confidence. No, it sounds like more of Roswell’s decades-long ambivalence to real revitalization. More’s the pity because, with just a little push, Roswell could realize its potential. And that upside could be colossal. All that is really lacking is the will to do it.
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 45
Blotter: Continued from Page 2 failure to maintain lane, driving with a suspended license, driving with an expired tag and improper tag.
Box swap doesn’t fool store employees MILTON, Ga. – A 20-year-old Gainesville resident was arrested Jan. 21 after allegedly swapping boxes holding items so he could pay a lower price for an expensive item. Employees of Fry’s Electronics in Milton said they spotted the young man select a Pioneer Digital Receiver car stereo, valued at $130, and a $30 MPS
car radio. He then swapped the merchandise, putting the more expensive item into the cheaper model’s box. He put the less-expensive item back on the shelf and bought the more expensive item (now in the cheap box with a lower price tag). He was stopped as he left the store and claimed he was unaware of the switch and that the models looked similar. Police say they do not look similar.
a computer system ($20,000 value), computer terminal ($500), Tommy Bahama cooler ($100) and a salad prep table ($3,500). The last employees to leave the building said there was nothing missing when they left.
Restaurant equipment vanishes overnight
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Five vehicles were broken into in the early morning of Jan. 11, with windows broken out and personal items missing. The vehicles were all in the parking lot of the Crabapple location of Atlanta Fitness. Windows were broken out of all the vehicles and items such as headphones, purses, credit cards and cash
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Someone stole several expensive items of equipment from a local restaurant Jan. 5. According to police, someone entered the Firefly restaurant on Windward Plaza overnight and made off with
were reported missing. Police say women’s vehicles were targeted for the purses inside, and that it took only seconds per car to break in. Many of the items missing were found later that day in a dumpster on Sandy Plains Road.
Vehicles broken into, some Identity fraud costs items recovered later resident $1,700 MILTON, Ga. – Someone stole a resident’s personal information and racked up $1,700 in cable charges for the victim. The victim told police someone in Detroit, Michigan, had used his name and Social Security number to open an account with Comcast. The suspect reported charges of $1,700 in Comcast services.
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Part-time Moving Organizer/ Decorator Help seniors relocate & organize apartments. Must be organized, self-starters who love working with seniors. Reliable transportation. Willing to work Roswell to Suwanee. $10/ hour to start. Email resumes: anita@ lifetimetransitions.com PET SITTER/DOG WALKER FT/PT. Must have flexible schedule. www. happytailscare.com CAREGIVER Looking for loving caregiver. Email resume to homecare4momndad@ gmail.com
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Sr. PeopleSoft Interaction Hub, Security & Integration Specialist (Alpharetta, GA) Develop & implement complex & specialized interaction hub, security & integration solutions for SCI Higher Education Oracle clients. Create customer-specific strategies for implementation of PeopleSoft security & Integration Hub (Portal) products in a manner that will be maintainable by clients. Execute security strategies throughout the entire project lifecycle & across all product lines (Campus Solutions, Customer Relationship Management, Finance & Supply Chain Management, Human Capital Management). Align Integration Hub product with user experience requirements. Provide knowledge transfer to allow clients to manage long-term maintenance of their systems. Min of 5 years of related PeopleSoft experience required. May live anywhere in the US, but position requires ability to travel to unidentified client sites throughout the continental US during the work week. Please apply to Sierra-Cedar, Inc. (EOE) online at: http://www.sierra-cedar.com/ careers/. REF #1775.
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European wardrobe/ armoire, single door, beveled mirror, 84”hX 21”dX37”w. $700. Photos. 678-549-6057.
Building Supplies VELUX SKYLIGHTS, used. (Eight, 21”x44”, two miscellaneous sizes). $475/all. 770992-6848 leave message
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Arlington Memorial Park Atlanta Section E, Lot Part-time 71A, spaces 1, 2, 3, 4. $3800/each. Debbie HANDYMAN who can ewingadeb@yahoo.com “fix almost anything”. or text/call 770-355Non-smoker, honest, 9681 dependable, good ARLINGTON references. Must pass Desirable Calvary background check. Section. Lake and Preferable plumbing, Crucifix views. Lot 545electrical, sometimes A, 2 spaces, Retail framing, HVAC, etc $13,990. $7900 both. ability for any of those. 770-7513643 $15/hour. 770-992-2469. ARLINGTON realestatetreasure@ 2 premium spaces, msn.com prestigious Pine Hill. #184-C, 3 & 4. $4000 each, valued $8900 each. 770-886-6988
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Roswell-Greenlawn. Garden of Prayer overlooking lake with fountain. 4 plots. ivypaigereeder@gmail. com for more info and photos
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Musical Instruments CELLO, 7/8 Doetsch, Pernambuco bow, Hiscox hard sided case $2400. 770-753-0787
MAIN CLASSIFIEDS continued on page 46
46 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
MAIN CLASSIFIEDS continued from page 45 Full-time
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Concrete/Asphalt We fix UGLY driveways and patios. $50 OFF any concrete job over $250 $250 OFF any job over $3500 New or Repair: Driveways, patios, sidewalks, walls. Residential or Commercial. Call for FREE estimate. The Best Concrete Company-Ask for Dave McKemey. 678-6482010. P r o f e s s i o n a l , competitive, many local references.
Driveway We fix UGLY driveways. $50 OFF any concrete job over $250 $250 OFF any job over $3500 New or Repair: Driveways, patios, sidewalks, walls. Residential or Commercial. Call for FREE estimate. The Best Concrete Company-Ask for Dave McKemey. 678-9142576. P r o f e s s i o n a l , competitive, many local references.
Farm/Garden Services Bushhog, bobcat work,clearing/ cleanups,light grading, plowing,garden tilling, pinestraw/mulch, pasture renovation/ finish mowing. Insured, experienced. 770-363-5092, michaelebrightllc@ gmail.com
Helpp Wanted? Helpp Foound!
Handyman
Home Improvement
® HANDYMAN REMODELING Ask us about
10% OFF remodels 678-455-2434 www.HandyHero.net
30 yrs. exp./FREE ESTIMATES • 1 YR WARRANTY/Lic. & Ins. Flooring
Handyman
Flooring Installation & Repairs: Carpet, Ceramic, Laminate, Tile, Vinyl, Wood. Free Estimates! I can remove carpet wrinkles! Satisfaction Guaranteed! 706-4294453
ALL CARPENTRY & REPAIRS: Roof Leaks, Wood Rot Repair, Siding, Deck Repairs and Refinishing, Painting, Doors/Windows. Excellent References. 404-895-0260
PHILLIPS FLOORING Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes. Re-grouting is also available. Call 678-8871868 for free estimate.
Gutters AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Repaired and Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www. aarons-gutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 770-934-2766
Handyman L&D Home Services: Kitchen remodeling, home repair/ maintenance, HoneyDo list, painting, garage organization/cleanout, pressure washing/ sealing, Reliable. Licensed. 15 years experience. 443-3981100
Fill your position today! Call 770-442-3278 to advertise
RELIABLE H O M E REPAIRS: 20 years experience. References. Electrical, plumbing, carpentry, wood rot repair, siding, painting, pressure washing. Free estimates! 770-605-0340
Kitchen & Bath Remodeling
Plumbing,Electrical and Drywall Repair and Installation Complete home maintenance We do it all! Call Mike 678-763-2420 Haulers Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling etc. Many local references. Call Ralph Rucker at 678-898-7237
Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling etc. Many local references. Call Ralph Rucker at 678-898-7237 Finegan Home Improvements LLC: License #RBQA004932. Remodeling, handyman. 31 years experience. Basements finished, decks, screen porches, doors, drywall, painting, flooring, custom kitchens, bathrooms. All insurance. Credit cards accepted. Paul Finegan 404-353-5611
Landscaping Yellow Ribbon Tree. Near perfect reviews and award-winning service. Hands on owner. Free estimates and insured. 770Tree.com 770-7442200 and ask for Gary. 404Cuttree. One of the most experienced and reliable tree companies in North Atlanta. Perfect reviews and reliable, professional, and honest service. Free quotes. Fully insured. 770Tree. com 678-506-0006 Landscape Design, Hardscape Design and Installation. 35 Years’ Experience; Retaining Walls, Flag Stone and BrickP aver Patios, Landscape Lighting, Drainage Issues, Pavilions. Outdoor kitchens, irrigation systems installation and repairs. FREE C O N S U LTAT I O N S ! www.thebodigroup.com. 678-788-5656
Lawn Care LEAVE THE MOWING TO US”A”! Weekly/ Bi-weekly Father/ Son team Residential/ Comm Garden Tilling/Lawn Aeration www.oldtrucklawn.com 678-727-6850
Lawn Care Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling etc. Many local references. Call Ralph Rucker at 678-898-7237
Painters
Advantage Painting 770-255-8575 Interior/Exterior Decks Sealed & Stained Carpentry Repairs No Up Front Money Proudly use Benjamin Moore & Sherwin Williams paints Prompt Professional Service Free Estimate, Insured
Pinestraw PINESTRAW, mulch delivery/installation available. Firewood $110/$200, plus delivery. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612.
Tree Services JJ Tree Cutting Services. Complete Tree Removal. Call us for a Free Quote, 678-467-1325 or 770630-6672. Licensed and insured. jjtreecutting@ gmail.com Yellow Ribbon Tree. Near perfect reviews and award-winning service. Hands on owner. Free estimates and insured. 770Tree.com 770-7442200 and ask for Gary. 404Cuttree. One of the most experienced and reliable tree companies in North Atlanta. Perfect reviews and reliable, professional, and honest service. Free quotes. Fully insured. 770Tree. com 678-506-0006
Thank you for reading the classifieds.
Need work done on your home?
Call the Experts
in the
S E RV I C E D I R E C T O RY
NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 4, 2016 | 47
CADNET ADS
Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the following classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license identification or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it’s illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in U.S. dollars. 800 numbers may or may not reach Canada.
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AIRLINE CAREERS Get FAA approved maintenance training at campuses coast to coast. Job placement assistance. Financial Aid for qualifying students. Military friendly. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance
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Sell Your Car The Easy Way
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Wanted to Buy CASH PAID- up to $25/ Box for unexpired, sealed DIABETIC TEST STRIPS. 1-DAYPAYMENT. 1-800-3711136
UGLYDRIVEWAY?
Save $50
on any job over $300 Cannot combine with other offers. Expires 10 days after publication.
Dave McKemey:
Call Today: 678-648-2010
New Driveways | Patios | Pavers | Stone and More Landscaping Retaining Walls Ponds Hardscapes Lighting Irrigation
Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201
Thanks for Reading The Classifieds!
250 OFF
$
RUCKER
LANDSCAPING
Any job of $3500 or more.
Cannot combine with other offers. Expires in 10 days
Tad Carter • 678.648.2012 Many Local References
48 | February 4, 2016 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com
OCA
ARGOONS
OCA
®
ARGOONS
®
DECORATIVE FABRIC SALE CUSTOM WORKROOM SALE Boca Bargoons has 1000’s and 1000’s of rolls of every possible designer namebrand fabric in stock all at far below wholesale prices
75 Take up to
%
Boca Bargoons has the best custom workroom in the area with highly trained professionals to produce the finest draperies, upholstered pieces and more!
Now Open Sundays, 12-4
Off
the lowest ticketed price on every fabric in stock 5 DAYS ONLY! Thurs. - Mon. 2/4- 2/8
5 DAYS ONLY! Thurs. - Mon. 2/4- 2/8
Draperies Valences Cornices Furniture Bedding Pillows Cushions & More!
any single item in stock
Limit 1 per customer. Expires 2/8/16. jch
Mon. - Sat. 10-5:30 Sun. 12-4
Exit 9 Haynes Bridge Rd.
Kimball Bridge Rd.
Off
GA 400
15
%
(2.5 Miles) Boca Bargoons Exit 10 Old Milton PKWY / State Bridge Rd.
Walgreens
Avalon
50
$
Off
N W E S
ALPHARETTA 11120 State Bridge Rd.
(770) 475-1219
any new custom workroom order of $400 or more
Limit 1 per customer. Expires 2/8/16. jch
Mon. - Sat. 10-5:30 Sun. 12-4
(2.5 Miles) Boca Bargoons Exit 10 Old Milton PKWY / State Bridge Rd. GA 400
Avalon
Now Open Sundays, 12-4
Exit 9 Haynes Bridge Rd.
Kimball Bridge Rd.
Damasks Silks Sheers Velvets Cotton Prints Toiles Chintzes Linens Sunbrella Upholsteries Matelasse
Walgreens
N W E S
ALPHARETTA 11120 State Bridge Rd.
(770) 475-1219