Real Estate Report Sponsored section ►►PAGE 20
For Valentine’s try Brasstown Blue Ridge Mountains make ideal getaway ►►PAGE 12
Schools to get tougher testing State vows will raise bar on assessments ►►PAGE 4
Chamber Gala goes ga-ga Business folk let their hair down ►►PAGES 30 – 31
February 5, 2015 | johnscreekherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 19, No. 6
Public comment sought for JC’s future
Arts Center celebrates black women artists Johns Creek Arts Center Director of Programs Althea Foster stands with an untitled batik painting by Tina Dunkley. Batik is a process of using an Indonesian method of wax-resist dying on cloth to produce a work similar to pointillism. The work is part of the JCAC exhibition “Re-imagining: Female Artists from the Hammonds House Museum.” Read more, Page 34.
Kick-off meeting Feb. 10 for revitalizing Central Business Planning District By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. –The public is invited to weigh in on the city’s proposed 20-year project with no less a goal than to secure the economic viability of Johns Creek. The first of what will be a series of public meetings about the 728-acre central business district, or simply The District, will be at City Hall 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10. Urban Design Associates, the Pittsburgh-based com-
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See FUTURE, Page 5
Stopping child trafficking in the ‘burbs HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Final redistricting map up for review Jones-Huff, director of planning for the Fulton County School System. “These changes were made at the elementary and middle school levels based on feedback received during the review period, but were previously vetted at a prior meeting.” During the school board’s
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – It takes a good reason to get Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vernon Keenan out on an early Saturday morning. The chance to talk to more than 300 people who want to learn how to stop child sex trafficking in Georgia tops his list. That is why he came as the guest of Perimeter Justice Team to Perimeter Church to spread his message that the fight against child sex trafficking begins locally. Speaking Saturday morning,
See MAPS, Page 33
See TRAFFICKING, Page 10
Changes impact about 4,000 students in North Fulton By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. – Parents whose children’s schools may be impacted by the current redistricting process are encouraged to view the map under final review by the Fulton County School Board. School planners said some changes have been made to the
See the maps, Page 35 maps since the last time the public saw the draft plans at a Dec. 10 meeting. “Changes were made, as they typically are, from the third round to the final recommendation,” said Yngrid
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Brown named Firefighter of Quarter
PUBLIC SAFETY
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The Johns Creek Fire Department has named Kyle Brown as its Firefighter of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2014. “We’re fortunate to have Kyle Johns Creek Firefighter Kyle Brown as part of our department,” said was named the Johns Creek Fire city’s Firefighter Chief Jeff Hogan. of the Quarter for the third quarter of “His hard work 2014. and dedication are of great value to the city.” Brown, originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, received his firefighter training with the Fulton County Fire Department when he started his career in 2001. Brown joined the JCFD when the department launched in 2008 and is currently a Firefighter II at Station 61 off Medlock Bridge Parkway. “It’s an honor to receive the Firefighter of the Quarter award,” said Brown. “I’m proud to be a part of the JCFD.”
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.
Someone’s headed to the slots ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Someone stole $2,000 in coins from a storage unit in the first few weeks of 2015. The victim told police that between Dec. 29, 2014 and Jan. 17, 2015, someone entered his storage unit on South Main Street. He was out of town for several weeks and everything was where it should have been before he left. When he returned, someone had pried their way in to the unit. Taken were a glass, 5-gallon water jug containing roughly $2,000 in coins and a white gold ring containing six diamonds.
Young teens caught high, driving ROSWELL, Ga. – Four teens were arrested Jan. 11 on Holcomb Bridge Road after all four were accused of smoking pot. Police say they received reports of a car with an impaired driver. Seeing the suspect car, police pulled it over. Inside were four teens – a 17-yearold driver and three young teens, one younger than 14. All four allegedly admitted to smoking pot. Police say the car smelled of burnt marijuana. The
driver was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and endangering a child.
Guns stolen from home ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Jewelry and five guns were reported missing Jan. 19 from a Sweetberry Court home. The victims told police they returned from vacation to find their front door pried open. Taken were a Spike tactical AR-15 long gun, a Smith and Wesson M&P 10 model, Glock Generation 23 and an antique pistol, each with their cases. In total, they were valued at about $3,500. Also missing were a gold 14K wedding ring, a silver ruby chain, a PlayStation 3 game console and five PS3 games.
Shoplifter pregnant and fighting ALPHARETTA, Ga. – A pregnant shoplifter attacked and fought with store employees Jan. 17 at the Macy’s store at North Point Mall. Store employees told police they saw the suspect, Lauren Duarte, 50, of DeKalb, select several items of clothing from the store and then allegedly leave without paying. Employees attempted to stop her as she walked to a waiting car, however Duarte allegedly pushed down one and began fighting with her. Another employee got into the fray and broke
See BLOTTER, Page 3
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Blotter: Continued from Page 2 up the fight. All three declined medical help, despite Duarte claiming she was four months pregnant. When questioned by police, Duarte allegedly used a fake Florida license and claimed she was 27 years old. Only when she was fingerprinted did she admit to her real identity. She was arrested for battery, shoplifting, giving a false name and forgery.
Driver becomes runner, arrested ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Two people were arrested Jan. 16 after one fled police and another made up stories to cover for him. According to police, an officer on patrol spotted a car speeding on Ga. 400. When the officer tried to pull the vehicle over, it accelerated and fled, eventually coming to a stop off Haynes Bridge Road. The driver ran away, leaving his passenger in the car. When questioned, the 18-year-old woman said the driver was her cousin, but could not name him. She then said the driver was dating her cousin. It was determined the man was Ariel Thomas Andrews, 26, of Atlanta, who had two warrants out for his arrest as well as a suspended driver’s license. Andrews was found walking along the road a few hours later. Andrews was arrested for speeding, driving with a suspended license and obstruction. The woman was charged with obstruction.
Woman, friends skip out on $6K tab ALPHARETTA, Ga. – A woman was arrested Jan. 24 on charges stemming from skipping out on a $6,000 bill.
According to police, beginning in April 2104, the suspect, Tiffany Michelle Odom, 28, of Griffin, stayed at the Residence Inn on North Point Drive with a group of friends. Employees of the business said the group stayed there for several months, racking up about $6,000 in bills. Credit cards Odom tried to use to pay were declined. When pressed to pay her bills in June, Odom allegedly packed up and left for the La Quinta across the street. Police found and questioned Odom by phone, who said she could not pay her bill. She was charged with theft. However she was not arrested until Jan. 24, 2015 in DeKalb County.
Pizza boy robbed at gunpoint JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – A pizza delivery boy was robbed at gunpoint Jan. 22 at a Camberbridge Drive home. The victim told police he was delivering $71 worth of pizzas to the residence at nearly midnight when two masked men, each holding pistols, walked around the home and ordered him to the ground. They took everything from his pockets – $49 in cash – as well as the pizzas and fled.
Driver turns self in CUMMING, Ga. — A woman called the Cumming Police Department Jan. 20 in reference to a hit and run on Marketplace Boulevard. The woman said she was traveling northbound when a white four-door vehicle pulled out in front of her. She reportedly said she then struck the vehicle, but the vehicle continued southbound toward Buford Highway. She said the vehicle should have damage to the driver side rear quarter panel and her vehicle had damage to the driver side front bumper area, but she did not get a tag or good description of the other vehicle.
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DUIS & DRUGS All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
DUI arrests ►► Barry M. Napier, 52, of
Bramshill Drive, Johns Creek, was arrested Jan. 12 on Jones Bridge Road in Johns Creek for DUI and headlight violation. ►► Wendy M. Milich, 48, of Lakefield Place, Johns Creek, was arrested Jan. 17 on Abbotts Bridge Road in Johns Creek for DUI and failure to maintain lane.
Johns Creek Herald | February 5, 2015 | 3
►► Isaac Walker Womack, 24,
was arrested Jan. 17 on Morris Road in Milton for DUI, open container, failure to maintain lane and improper U-turn.
Drug arrests ►► Austin Andrew Fitzpatrick, 21, of Flint Creek Drive, Cumming, was arrested Jan. 8 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana, speeding and reckless driving. ►► Brandi Lei Stewart, 34, of Snellville was arrested Jan. 14 on North Point Parkway in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana and brake light violation. ►► Dequetta A. Gleaton, 25, of Ellenwood was arrested
Jan. 15 on South Main Street in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana and wanted person. ►► Patrick Scott Smith, 25, of High Falls Circle, Johns Creek, was arrested Jan. 15 on High Falls Circle in Johns Creek for possession of marijuana and wanted person. ►► Clifford Cadet, 22, of Barsham Way, Johns Creek, was arrested Jan. 17 on Abbotts Bridge Road in Johns Creek for possession of marijuana. ►► Felicia Montez Gray, 29, of John Trammel Drive, Cumming, was arrested Jan. 24 on John Trammel Drive in Cumming for possession of methamphetamines.
4 | February 5, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
NEWS
State promises more rigor, higher bar under Ga. Milestones tests By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com
and the End of Course Tests in high school, will likely plunge initially as students become accustomed to the higher bar ATLANTA – Melissa Fincher and rigor. readily admits the state’s most Gone are the tests comrecent assessments, primarposed completely of multiple ily the Criterion-Reference choice answers; they will be Competency Tests (CRCTs), replaced by a combination of did little to evaluate achievemultiple choice, short answers ment over their past 14-year and essays. life span. This year poses a chal“Georgia has the very lenge since test results will dubious distinction of havnot be released until late fall. ing the lowest achievement Fincher said “human scorers” expectations in the nation… will grade the written sections, as far as what it means to adding delays. Therefore, this classify a student as profiyear is a “hold harmless” year cient,” said Fincher, deputy superintendent of testing and for districts since scores released in the fall are meaningaccountability for the Georless this school year. gia Department of Education Although a waiver is in (GDOE). place this year, districts With the CRCT, given for the final time in grades 3-8 last must still determine what will replace the Milestones spring, only students scorscores. ing in the “Exceeds” expectaState law requires an antions category likely mastered nual assessment to count for the curriculum. In some test 20 percent of final grades in categories, getting fewer than tested subjects in high school, half of the answers correct was and many courses had factored considered passing. that in prior to the waiver. Fincher is confident the Scott Muri, deputy supernew Georgia Milestones Asintendent of academics for the sessments will be a true indicator of academic achievement, Fulton County School System, said this year and allow the state to move poses a chaltoward one aslenge. sessment tool “The state instead of a requires series of tests. 20 percent “We have and we’re been a test not going to happy state have that and we are number from trying hard to Milestones turn the page this year,” he in launching said. “There Georgia Mileare differstones,” said ent options Fincher. [for how to During a assess 20 media forum percent] and hosted by I applaud the Georgia the state Partnership for allowing for Excellence districts to in Education make their in January, own choice.” Fincher laid In Fulton, out the plans Muri said for the Georgia schools can Milestones, use “an apwhich will propriate be adminand comistered for prehensive MELISSA FINCHER the first time evaluation Deputy superintendent of testing and this spring activity at the accountability for the Georgia in grades 3 conclusion of Department of Education through 12. every [tested] “If I had course” as a three words to replacement describe what for the Milewe are trying to accomplish stones grade this year in tested with Georgia Milestones, they subjects. would be comprehensive, coThis could be in the form herent and consolidated,” said of a test, project, portfolio or Fincher. other measure determined apShe said Milestones scores, propriate, he noted. when compared to the CRCT Tested subjects, which
Georgia has the very dubious distinction of having the lowest achievement expectations in the nation… as far as what it means to classify a student as proficient.”
Nearly $110M budgeted for Georgia Milestones tests ATLANTA – In June 2013 with Common Core Standards a four-letter word among many politicians and parents, Georgia opted out of the national assessment, preferring to create its own annual assessment of the standards. Georgia had been part of a consortium of 22 states that joined to develop the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) in math and English/language arts to measure achievement under the Common Core standards. The test would have been administered for the first time in 2013 as a pilot, then rolled out nationwide this school year. The state’s decision not to use PARCC surprised few, and its unceremonious dumping was seen as a compromise between those for and against the Common Core standards. At the time, then-State School Superintendent John Barge cited the per pupil cost for the PARCC test – $23 million annually – as prohibitive. But last year, Georgia entered into a contract for $108 million to develop the Georgia Milestones as the state’s annual assessment beginning this school year. That figure does not include the millions of dollars spent to develop and validate test questions and the communications components to educate and inform the public, according to state officials. The exorbitant price tag has prompted the person who took Barge’s job, current State School Superintendent Richard Woods, to proceed cautiously and methodically. “[The costs] adds to the need for an audit to provide information on the number of tests and loss of instructional time our children endure, as well as a cost-benefit analysis on our current national testing model,” said Woods, who has been in office for just over one month.
Georgia Milestones: An overview ATLANTA – The Georgia Milestones Assessment System (Georgia Milestones) will be administered annually beginning this spring in grades 3 through 12. The assessment will measure a student’s knowledge in language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. Students in grades 3-8 will take an end-of-grade (EOG) assessment in language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. High school students will take an end-of-course (EOC) assessment in eight courses designated by the State Board of Education. The test will count for 20 percent of the student’s final grade in that subject. The test format will include: open-ended response items in language arts and mathematics in all grades and courses. a writing component at every grade level and course within the language arts assessment. embedded items that are nationally normed (instead of just Georgia curriculum) to provide a national comparison. a transition to complete online administration over time, replacing paper-pencil. For more information on the Georgia Milestones Assessment, visit the Georgia Department of Education at http:// www.gadoe.org. include ninth grade literature and composition, American literature, biology, physical science, coordinate algebra, analytic geometry, U.S. history and economics, will be using alternative assessments this year in lieu of the Milestones score. A spokesman for the GDOE said the impact should be minimal on schools this year, and the department can pro-
vide guidance if needed. “Local districts issue grades on a regular basis without state assessments [and] make these determinations following their local practices,” said Matt Cardoza, spokesman for the Georgia Department of Education. “Keep in mind the vast majority of courses taught in high schools do not have a state mandated test.”
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Future: Continued from Page 1 those 728 acres centered around Technology Park. The plan is to create a new central business district for Johns Creek that would give the city not only an identity, but a personality. Johns Creek Advantage Chairman Neil Stevens, also chairman of Keyworth Bank, said making The District a destination would be huge from an economic development perspective. “It is important to create an identity for Johns Creek, something that resonates with people who are looking to move here, would define where Johns Creek is and what it’s about,” Stevens said. “When you think about Roswell, you think about their historic district and all the restaurants they have there. You think of Suwanee and its town green and all of the shops there. Norcross and Duluth are destinations when you think of their downtown. “But where is downtown Johns Creek?”
‘The District’ Public Kickoff
Who: All citizens with a vested interest in the future of Johns Creek What: Kick-off meeting for the Central Business Planning District (“The District”) When: Tuesday, 7 p.m., Feb. 10 Where: City Council chambers, 12000 Findley Rd., Suite 300 Bringing executives in to look at Johns Creek as a place for a business, there is no quintessential place to show them that says what Johns Creek is. It is a situation that economic development experts describe by saying, “There is no there there.” Johns Creek would like to have a more appealing look to show executives looking to locate a business, Stevens said. “They would be a more appealing place for such executives to put their business if they knew they could live in the city as well,” he said. It is also important that the city be attractive to the millennials, the 25- to 35-year-
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johnscreekherald.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 5, 2015 | 5
olds who are attracted to a more urban environment. It is important for the future of the community to attract these younger residents who will also be the backbone of the workforce, he said. “I’m personally excited about the downtown. It is the missing piece that would tie the city together,” Stevens said. Mayor Mike Bodker said the biggest reason for pushing for The District to be a vibrant, mixed-use area is it would be a catalyst for commercial growth in the city. “It is about creating tax base in the city that right now is 81 percent residential and 19 percent commercial. For the city to have a more sustainable
city that will continue to grow, we need to grow commercial tax base along with it,” Bodker said. That is where Johns Creek will get the revenue to reinvest in the city’s quality of life, whether it is parks and recreation or infrastructure such as roads and bridges. “We want to be able to do more, but not have the residents pay for it all. To make sense, it has to be relatively dense. But we plan to keep it as close to traffic-neutral as we can,” Bodker said. The plan should attract new businesses and jobs while growing the tax base. It is up to Urban Design to make a plan that will do all of the above and be a place that its
citizens want to go as well. The Urban Design team is working in the city, talking to focus groups to learn people’s aspirations for the area’s future. It will form the basis for plans for the area that will be developed over the next 20 years. “We’re looking at The District as a blank slate,” said Bodker. “We want people to tell us what we need in Johns Creek.” Additional public meetings are planned for the week of April 13. Then April 15 and 16, the consultant team members will summarize what they learned and begin developing design concepts to share with the community.
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6 | February 5, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
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JC clears way for mattress company Use had been disallowed at Johns Creek Promenade By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The Johns Creek City Council cleared the path Jan. 26 for a 4,000-square-foot Mattress Factory to bed down in the Johns Creek Promenade on Medlock Bridge Road, after a 3-2 vote to change the zoning restriction that denied mattress stores at that location. The property had rezoned for MIX (mixed use) in 2006 by Fulton County, but at the specific request of the community, a mattress company was stricken from the approved uses in this particular zoning category. Why this particular use was
BODKER
ZAPROWSKI
prohibited remains somewhat vague, but according to the city, residents were leery of the type of signage it might display. Since 2006, there have been some changes with the property. First, it is now in incorporated Johns Creek with a specific, no-nonsense
sign ordinance of its own. The property has also gone through foreclosure, and parcels of the property have sold off so zoning uses no longer apply to a single piece of property. The Planning Commission gave a thumbs up to the zoning change to allow The Original Mattress Factory to be allowed to place an outlet on the property. The city’s zoning staff recommended denial of the request. Zoning Administrator Justin Kirouac said the zoning exception had been made as part of a public hearing process. To reverse it, Kirouac said it should use the same procedure. He recommended a new zoning public hearing be
held on the issue to give the community more time to weigh in on the matter. There was no citizen opposition to the rezoning. And the Johns Creek Community Association said no homeowner associations voiced any objections at the JCCA zoning meeting about the property. The attorney for The Original Mattress Factory said the “high standards” for zoning the city has in place made the citizen concerns moot. “The tide of opinion has shifted,” the attorney said. “This tenant has a track record of staying and investing in the community.” The City Council split almost down the middle on what might have been a routine rezoning. Councilmembers Lenny
Zaprowski and Cori Davenport were opposed to the change. “They make a great product, but I don’t like the precedent it sets,” said Zaprowski. “This is a slap in the face to the people who worked on this.” Mayor Mike Bodker said he “knew the history” of the project since he was a JCCA Board member at the time. He said he has softened his stance on barring such businesses. “I came to see what we were doing is picking winners and losers,” Bodker said. “I think that’s wrong. If there is no longer any opposition to the zoning, I don’t think it should continue [to be barred].” Zaprowski remained unconvinced. He said just because opposition was not present doesn’t mean it has gone away.
City changes alcohol serving licensing JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The Johns Creek City Council voted 5-0 to amend its alcohol ordinance Jan. 12 that had required all employees serving alcohol by the drink to get a permit from the city. Applicants not only must take an education course on the alcohol ordinance, but must pay for a background check. Then the city must expend “considerable” time to review and approve the permits.
“There have been numerous instances where a server permit has been denied to an applicant based on minor legal mistakes they may have made when younger that have no logical connection related to serving alcohol,” said City Manager Warren Hutmacher. The City Council had asked staff to revisit the ordinance after turning down an appeal in 2014 of a young person who
was denied a permit for a relatively minor infraction of the law. The young person was now back in school, living at home. The applicant wanted to move up to a better position at the restaurant and take a wait staff position. The council had to turn down the applicant’s appeal under the existing
See ALCOHOL, Page 36
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8 | February 5, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
OPINION
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Seniors Enriched Living: 25 years young It is hard to imagine a more friendly or eclectic group than the folks you meet at a Seniors Enriched Living event. If you are retired, have some free time on your hands or work nights, Seniors Enriched Living has some of the most stimulating seminars, talks, classes and company you could hope to meet. SEL, for short, has just celebrated its 25th anniversary of serving up hours of fun and stimulating discourse targeting active seniors but even attractive to a young pup like me. Well, I was a young(er) pup when I did my first article on SEL. It was a great organization then and only has gotten better. I popped in for the 25th celebration, which was not much since everybody was anxious to get to their respective seminars. It is supposed to be for those 55 and older, but nobody asks to see your birth certificate. Not only do people learn a lot, they make lots of new friends. Indeed, many friendships have grown a decade or more and there has been at least one wedding. SEL is a nonprofit, interfaith organization that has been providing senior adult continuing education since 1990. SEL is interdenominational and facilities are provided by local churches and temples on a rotating basis. Tom Nash is one of the original founders, along with the Rev. Malone Dodson, pastor emeritus at Roswell United Methodist Church. RUMC still provides offices for SEL. Dick Higgins is the new boy on the block – he has been SEL director for only 18 years. “Tom and Mel Smiley started SEL. They took the idea to Malone, and that was all it took,” Higgins said. Each quarter, up to 300 sign up for new and interesting topics for discussion
HATCHER HURD
Executive Editor hatcher@ appenmediagroup.com
from art to theology, history, current politics and even archeology. If you like bridge or want to learn, SEL can fix you up. The eight-week sessions rotate among the 30 churches and synagogue affiliates. Called Lunch ‘n’ Learn sessions, you can have lunch or brown-bag it, while listening to experts lead discussions – so be prepared to offer up an opinion if you want. One of my newest friends, Edie Davis, says the Lunch ‘n’ Learn sessions are great because there is always something fun happening. “When people retire, they don’t want to sit back and do nothing. I like it because everybody is interested in events,” Edie said. “Everybody has something to add to the discussions. And the people who lead the courses have experience or are an authority on the subject. One teaches on the Old West and dresses like a cowboy.” That would be “Texas Red,” aka Quentin Thomas. He is a retired Air Force colonel, historian of the Old West, cowboy poet and, of course, born in Texas. Yes, he loves to tell about the West that the he learned about growing up, and he loves to wear his western gear. SEL is a great asset to the community, Texas Red says. “People don’t realize how many programs like this are around. Most colleges have continuing education programs, but this one is special. These programs keep folks active longer and work their brains,” he said.
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
SEL Director Dick Higgins, left, and SEL co-founder Tom Nash have kept the SEL engine purring.
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Lecturer Quentin Thomas, aka Texas Red, gives lectures about the Old West usually in western garb.
Say goodbye to Cadbury?
Another new pal at SEL, Peter Klowkow is a bit of a world traveler. He grew up in Germany (when there were still two of them), moved to Canada, back to Liebes Deutschland and then to America, where today he is a citizen. He says he always learns something new when he comes. My friend Linda F. said she loves the “stimulation” of gatherings as well as the topics. She just came from a class on GMOs – which she informed me are genetically modified organisms. “Oh,” I contributed. Obviously I need to stick to Texas Red. The lecturers are as interesting as their topics. The Rev. Tim Buchanan is assistant pastor at Emory Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, but lives only 10 minutes from Roswell Presbyterian Church in Roswell where this quarter’s classes are. He leads classes on ethics and religion. Dr. Caralyn Romeyn is an art professor who spent time in Florence as part of her studies. So when she speaks of the Renaissance masters, she knows. Romeyn finds her seniors apt pupils. “I teach a graduate art class for these people. They absorb everything I say and have no problem following the material,” she said. Bob Bahr teaches a popular course on celebrity in the 20th century, something he calls an important 20th century phenomenon. I wanted to stay and listen to them all, get to know them all. But that little lifeguard kept whispering in my ear telling me to get out of the pool. I had to go back to work. Oh, to be young again like they all are. Maybe someday.
I am not a huge fan of chocolate. I like the occasional piece, but I do have some sweets that I enjoy over others. High on that list are many types made by British chocolatier Cadbury. They make the ever-famous Cadbury’s Crème Egg at Easter as well as Chocolate buttons, Maltesers and Cadbury Bar (their equivalent of the Hershey’s Bar). These candies and many more can be found in grocery stores’ “international aisles” as well as British-themed shops throughout the nation. So imagine my dismay upon hearing the news that many of the Cadbury candies will no longer be imported to the States. The horror! This news comes after a legal dispute between a major importer of the sweets, L.B.B. (Let’s Buy British imports) and Hershey’s, the Pennsylvania chocolate goliath. According to the New York Times, the results are horrendous – “The company also agreed to halt imports on KitKat bars made in Britain; Toffee Crisps, which, because of their orange packaging and yellow-lined brown script, too closely resemble Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups; Yorkie chocolate bars, which infringe on the York Peppermint Patty; and … Maltesers.” (As a side note, apparently Swiss company Nestle was also targeted by Hershey’s.) One type of candy not affected by this are the Cadbury chocolates made by Hershey’s itself. The Pennsylvania company has an agreement with Cadbury to make U.S. versions of their chocolate, albeit with changes for the American market. For instance, the iconic Cadbury Bar is made by Hershey but with a different recipe, making it taste, oddly,
JONATHAN COPSEY
Revue & News Editor jonathan@ appenmediagroup.com
U.S. chocolate only has to have 10 percent actual chocolate to be considered “chocolate.” That percentage is twice as much in the U.K. a lot like a Hershey Bar. A la the NY Times – “Chocolate in Britain has a higher fat content; the first ingredient listed on a British Cadbury’s Dairy Milk (plain milk chocolate) is milk. In an Americanmade Cadbury’s bar, the first ingredient is sugar.” Also, U.S. chocolate only has to have 10 percent actual chocolate to be considered “chocolate.” That percentage is twice as much in the U.K. I understand stopping Brit KitKats, maybe even Yorkies (not to be confused with York Peppermint Patties), because of their similarities to American chocolates. But to stop all other imports seems like spite and an example of Hershey’s trying to keep their near-monopoly on the U.S. chocolate market. I for one will be stocking up on the imports while I can. Who knows when they will next be available?
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NEWS
10 | February 5, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
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Trafficking: Justice Team focuses on stopping child exploitation Continued from Page 1 Jan. 31, he told the 300 men and women who want to do something about this cancer in society that the fight begins on the street where they live. Keenan said the No. 1 priority of the GBI is to investigate crimes against children. That has led to the creation of the GBI’s Commercial Exploitation of Children Task Force. Keenan said there are several reasons he jumps at the chance to speak to groups like the Perimeter Justice Team. “First, most of the children exploited in sexual trafficking come from right here in Georgia. And I come to the northern suburbs because this is where the best customers of child traffickers live,” Keenan said. Atlanta is a rich hunting ground to harvest runaway children for a number of other factors: It is a high-tourism area with the busiest airport in the world. It is a nexus for many interstate highways. It is densely populated. It has the largest concentration of colleges and universities in the Southeast. So for many reasons, child sex trafficking is a huge problem in Georgia, and the state is ill-equipped to deal with it.
Child trafficking facts 1. The No. 1 way children and underage women are bought and sold is over the Internet. 2. Atlanta had the largest underground sex economy in the U.S., earning nearly $300 million. 3. Atlanta is among the top 14 U.S. cities with the highest incidence of exploited children for prostitution. 4. Atlanta is a Top 5 hub of trafficking children, and it is the top U.S. city for human trafficking of Hispanic females. 5. The majority of sex trafficking victims are female with an average age of 12. 6. It is estimated one out of three youth will be approached by an exploiter within two to three days of becoming homeless. 7. The average life expectancy of a trafficking victim is seven years. That means most do not live to see their 20th birthday. 8. An estimated 1.6 million children run away annually. 9. Of that number, 90 percent already have a history of sex abuse. 10. In 2012, of the 190 cases of human trafficking made by state and federal enforcement agencies, 105 involved children (often more than one child per case). While local enforcement officers are trained to look for indications a minor is in the company of an adult who is not a parent, the most immediate problem is what to do with that child once he or she is identified and the trafficker is in custody. “Georgia does not have facilities for these children,” Keenan said. “Fortunately in Atlanta, there are nonprofit agencies such as Street Grace and Wellspring Living that are helping educate the public about the need.” Wellspring Living volunteer
Mary Francis Bowley said her organization is at the forefront for caring for children rescued from their traffickers. It is one of the few organizations that are working with minors. They provide shelter for girls 12 to 17 while they work to re-integrate them into society. Often going back to their families is not an option, because that is where the girls’ abuse began. So Wellspring offers education and therapy. “We offer them support. They usually have no life skills at all. They literally cannot do laundry or boil an egg. So we
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
GBI Director Vernon Keenan talks with a concerned parent after addressing the Perimeter Justice Team’s seminar on ending child sex trafficking.
begin to fill those huge gaps in their lives exploitation has created,” Bowley said. The first thing they do is get them re-introduced to the correct grade level of education. Their average age is 12 to 14, and they need to re-connect with a world that is not trying to exploit them. The goal is to put them on a career-readiness track so they have path to reintegrate into society.
Wellspring calls them Empowered Living Academies. These are safe houses where the rescued minors can be assessed and given the therapy they need. But for the Perimeter Justice Team, their purpose of this Saturday was to make the 300 people who came to their seminar aware of the problem and, more importantly, how they could become part of the solution. After GBI Director Keenan dealt out the hard facts, the attendees split up into smaller groups. There, they listened in greater detail about the problem of trafficking and learned how to spread the word and volunteer to take a more personal role in helping children get out of “the life.” That can begin with attending DMST (Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking) Lobby Day, Feb. 12, to lobby local legislators to do much more than has been done in the past. Go to streetgrace.org/Lobby Day 2015, to register to participate. Volunteers can sign up for a seat on a bus. They know the situation will never really change for these girls and their younger sisters until the community as a whole and the legislators are united to end child trafficking.
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12 | February 5, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald
COMMUNITY
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Almost heaven – in Brasstown Valley Oceanfront may be your idea of romance in the sumsum-summertime, but for Valentine’s Day, go north – north to Young Harris, young man. When the temperature’s low, romance is high at Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa. When it comes to cozy coupling, it’s our hands-down favorite getaway. It’s your tax dollars at work at its absolute finest. This is a Department of Natural Resources project developed to create jobs, honoring and preserving sensitive Native American patrimony while providing recreation and an ideal wedding and meeting venue for state residents – or anyone else in need of the renewal of a beautiful mountain stay. Metro Atlantans are so fortunate to have the ability to be so far away so close by. The magnificent lobby has the feel of a Great Northwestern lodge with its massive 72-foot tall stone fireplace and huge elk and deer antler chandeliers. Mountain laurel banisters continue the rustic motif, and the clubby sofas and chairs are perfect for curling up with a book in front of the roaring fire. There are cards and board games available, but on Cupid’s Day, the games people play are less likely in the lobby.
JEMILLE WILLIAMS
Senior contributor on TripAdvisor jemille@bellsouth.net Inside the rooms, locally crafted laurel branch headboards and hickory furniture with tree-branch pulls give you a delightful sense of woodsiness. The main lodge is peaceful enough, but the outlying cottages really give you a sense of being far, far away. You are surrounded by trees with old-time rockers on a broad covered wraparound porch. For those who can’t bear to part with their fur-babies, some cottages are pet-friendly. So, lodge or cottage will certainly do the trick, but if you want to be the Mack Daddy of V-Day, be the first to lock down the hottest spot in the joint – the 825-square-foot Equani Spa Suite, complete with stone fireplace, hot tub and “Experience Shower” that will excite every one of your senses. Although it was controversial at the time, the DNR spent
over $2 million turning a typical brick country house into a first-rate spa. Sometimes you just have to go big or go home. It puts the Equani on a par with a standard world travelers have grown accustomed. If you book a treatment, use of the facilities is complimentary, but for only $25 you can enjoy a day pass to roast, steam, parboil and bask to your heart’s content. And remember, romance isn’t limited to Feb. 14, guys. If you have your heart set on that swoony spa suite, it’s available 364 other nights of the year. And I guarantee it will make any woman’s heart go pitty-pat any time. But baby, when it’s cold outside, it’s nice that you never have to leave the resort cocoon. There’s a beautiful indoor pool and hot tub. Although you can max the alone-togetherness with room service, we enjoy dinner in Brassie’s Grill with a round of darts and game of pool. If you still have any energy left after your romantic night, there’s a fitness room, tennis courts, golf course and nine miles of trails – even one that connects with the Appalachian Trail if you’re seriously hyperactive.
Penny is a white Shepherd-mix that needs a new home.
Pet of the Week: Penny FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – Penny is a beautiful and gentle 2-year-old white Shepherd mix who weighs 35 pounds. She is a smart dog who loves to take walks and be close to her human. Penny would make the perfect companion. She’s good around children and gets along well with other dogs too. As part of Fulton Animal Services’ “Ring in the New Year with a New Pet” promotion, Penny (or any of the shelter’s pets) may be
adopted. Her spay, vaccines and microchip are also free. All potential adopters will be screened to ensure Penny is going to a good home. To meet Penny, please drop by the shelter, email adoptions@fultonanimalservices.com or call 404613-0357. To view dogs or cats available for adoption, please visit the shelter at 860 Marietta Blvd. NW, Atlanta, 30318 or go to www.fultonanimalservices.com/adopt.
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johnscreekherald.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 5, 2015 | 13
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COMMUNITY
14 | February 5, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald
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Subpoenas issued in Cumming insurance flap By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com CUMMING, Ga. — The U.S. District Court has subpoenaed Cumming Human Resources Manager Phil Higgins for documents related to Cumming’s mayor, the mayor’s girlfriend and the city attorney, and will require Higgins to appear before a grand jury in Atlanta next month. According to information obtained by the Forsyth Herald through the Open Records Act, the court issued three separate
subpoenas Jan. 20 to Higgins. In addition to commanding Higgins “to appear and testify before the grand jury of the United States” at 9 a.m. on Feb. 10, the subpoenas requested documents or objects regarding Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt, his longtime girlfriend Angela Mullinax and City Attorney Dana Miles. The first subpoena requested documents including any city of Cumming checks issued to Mullinax, as well as correspondence related to Mullinax between the city of Cumming and the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), which is where the city gets its insurance. The court is also seeking a list of government or city property issued to Mullinax, travel expenses related to her and any records relating to the payment of health and/ or dental benefits by the city for Mullinax. The second subpoena requests similar documents relating to the mayor, including any city of Cumming checks issued to Gravitt, his personnel file, a list of government and/or city property issued to him, all records of donations or funds provided to the Carolyn Gravitt Memorial Scholarship Fund Inc. and all records re-
... [Councilman Sexton and I] had been discussing insurance and the annual renew rate we get from Georgia Municipal Association. I felt it was OK to give him this information.” PHIL HIGGINS Human Resources Manager
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ed documents related to Miles, the city attorney. Information requested in the subpoena included Miles’ personnel file, any Georgia Municipal Association benefit enrollment forms and applications related to or associated with Miles, city of Cumming checks issued to him, any correspondence between the city of Cumming and the GMA related to him, including any letters waiving the probationary period for health and/or dental benefits for him, and any city contracts awarded to him or to Miles, Patterson, Hansford & Tallant LLC. The subpoenas come on the heels of the potential impeachment of Councilman Rupert Sexton. Sexton has been accused by fellow councilmembers of directly or indirectly publishing a list put together by Higgins that contained confidential insurance and financial information of the city’s employees. Higgins said he provided the document to Sexton at the councilman’s request in July 2014. “In and around that time period, we had been discussing insurance and the annual renew rate we get from Georgia Municipal Association,” Higgins said at an impeachment hearing Jan. 13. “I felt it was OK to
give him this information.” The document was later leaked onto social media, causing the city to launch an impeachment investigation of Sexton over releasing confidential documents. Sexton, however, said he did not release any information, but that the records in question are open records anyway. The release of the document listed Mullinax and Miles as recipients of city-funded health insurance plans. When asked why his girlfriend is on the document, Gravitt admitted to putting her on the list. “She does a lot of work for the city of Cumming,” said Gravitt. “I put her on [the list]. I think the city pays $663 a month for her insurance – that’s it. I think we got a good bargain.” Miles, who does work for the city but isn’t a full-time employee, was also on the leaked document. He said that other city attorneys in the state receive health insurance as a form of payment, so he believes it’s not a conflict of interest. The city uses GMA for insurance coverage. GMA’s policy says in order to receive health insurance benefits, the employee must be full-time.
COMMUNITY
Johns Creek Herald | February 5, 2015 | 15 Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com
OUT WITH THE OLD:
Alpharetta’s old City Hall building demolished Makes way for new development By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Betty-Ann Busby, benefits manager for the city of Alpharetta, looked on as a bulldozer demolished its way through the brick, steel and wood that comprised what she called her “second home,” the old Alpharetta City Hall. She pointed out the nameplate bearing her name as the walls around it began to crumble. “I spent 25 years in that building,” she said. “To see it all get demolished is difficult.” Demolition began on the old Alpharetta City Hall on Jan. 29. Busby began working for the city of Alpharetta in the summer of 1989. “A lot of memories are in that building,” she said. “A lot of work was done in the building for the city. People came together and built the city.” Alpharetta resident Rick Morris, who was also watching the demolition, spoke fondly of entering the old Alpha Soda restaurant that was located
JONATHAN COPSEY/STAFF
within the City Hall building. He circled the building, pointing out the additions to the original structure and the old jail cell. “This place has always been
a landmark,” he said. Busby stated that moving into the new Alpharetta City Hall has been “exciting,” but that it is still difficult to see the old City Hall demolished.
“When I first walked in, it was so clean and well designed,” she said. “It almost inspires you to want to work there for 25 more years. That helps to process this. Some
of the newer employees can’t relate, but [the old City Hall] became a home away from home.” Busby left before the bulldozer reached her old office.
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16 | February 5, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
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Coca-Cola Enterprises CEO refreshes GNFCC Eggs & Enterprise John Brock heads European bottling operations, says world’s best brand still needs to remain current By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – CocaCola Enterprises Chief Executive Officer John Brock has spun a career that began as an undergraduate at Georgia Tech to heading up the largest soft drink bottling operation in Europe – Coca Cola Enterprises. Sure, it helps to have the most valuable consumer brand in the world, but it still takes a lot work to keep on top of an ever-changing world, he said. Speaking at the Jan. 20 Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Enterprise breakfast, Brock said being No. 1 means staying No. 1, and that still takes drive, technology and good marketing. That means selling 30 billion units in Europe alone. Coca-Cola Enterprises maintains its dominance doing the little things in a big way. “We are the best at managing retail relationships,” Brock said. “That means from the biggest retailer to the local pizza parlor.” It means sending in reps to move product on store shelves three and four times a day because the store manager doesn’t have the staff to restock Coke products that often. Coca-Cola mines the data that comes from its sales and customer preference. “What allows us to win in the marketplace is for our salespeople to go and make a call and to know more about our business in that store than
the owner does,” Brock said. There are two entities in the Coca-Cola world – the people who make the Coke and Coca-Cola Enterprises, which markets the retail product. They are separate companies. Of their combined 800,000 employees, only 50,000 are employed by Coke. The rest work for Coca-Cola Enterprises. Of course there are numerous products in the Coca-Cola line that are not Coke. And in Europe, there are many options Americans don’t see this side of the Atlantic, as tastes differ in the various regions of the world. Yet Coca-Cola products are sold in more countries than there are members of the United Nations. Staying No. 1 means you don’t stand still, Brock said. Therefore, Coca-Cola has embraced social media. It has the largest Facebook following in the world. The brand is always in front of people – on coolers, menu boards, umbrellas and, likely as not, on the scoreboard of your Little League field. Innovation is continuous, he said. The newest Coke product in Europe is a greenlabeled Coke Life, a reduced calorie cola sweetened with sugar and stevia, a non-caloric natural sweetener from a South American plant. “It tastes the same as red Coke, but has only a third of the calories,” Brock said. “We want to be a part of the solution to obesity. So 40 percent of our products are low-cal or no-cal drinks.”
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Coca-Cola Enterprises CEO John Brock addresses the Greater North Fulton Chamber’s Eggs and Enterprise breakfast at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Coke Zero has been the biggest new product introduced since Diet Coke. Coke Life will be a different “flavor system” with 89 calories, he said. Which brings Brock to the theme of sustainability. “That is important to the company, but also the future of the planet,” he said. “The two most important measures of that are reducing water
usage and power usage. The company’s goal is to be 100 percent recyclable by 2020.” As chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises, Brock and his leadership team established the company’s first-ever global operating framework with a single vision and strategic priorities. Two of the key priorities have been sustainability and
corporate responsibility. Both are keyed into the expectations of the new millennials – that population cohort born after 1990 – who have a different worldview from their parents about the future. As a company that wants to serve that generation, Coca-Cola must operate in the changing environment, he said. It must embrace that generation’s values. “Does a company have a social purpose? The world is changing and the millennials pay to a different drummer,” Brock said. “They have an idea of what a company should be. They see [a career] of many jobs, not one.” So Coca-Cola’s corporate response – as well as all corporations – must be, “How do we connect” to the millennials who will be company’s customers and its next generation of managers? As a practical matter, Brock’s job is built on three pillars – brands, customers and employees. “I spend most of my time in people development. Part of that is diversity. We are one of 13 Fortune 500 corporations that feature female board members,” Brock said. “All I have to do to find them is look.” Diversity is desirable because it increases the pool from which to recruit the best and brightest minds. “We make better decisions with diversity at the top,” he said. “It is all about winning, and we love winning.”
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BusinessPosts
Johns Creek Herald | February 5, 2015 | 17
Development dominates north metro 2014 business news Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of excerpts from Frank Norton Jr.’s “Norton Native Intelligence Report for 2015.” The report, which reflects and synthesizes the views from more than 500 individuals surveyed and economic vital signs recorded, has been used to chart the north Georgia economy and real estate for more than 25 years. For years, Norton Native Intelligence has published its Top 10 Trends for North Georgia, but for the last three years, we have diverted from that ”David Letterman” countdown and focused on strong and grand narratives of leading conditions in our region rather than stretch ourselves to talk about or repeat watered-down “trends.” This year, we have reintroduced a Top 10 list but one that, through interviews with our commercial brokers and other knowledgeable industry experts, have determined the most significant real estate or business events that have happened in our primary service area in 2014. While in Atlanta, you might include such things as the construction of the new Falcons Stadium, the relocation of the Atlanta Braves to Cobb County or sightings everywhere of Atlanta’s New Bird, “The Apartment Construction Crane.” North Georgia is our focus and our hometown, our roots from which our legacy springs. Norton Top 10 Business/RE stories 1. Kubota Manufacturing’s 150-acre land acquisition on U.S. 365 at the Gateway Industrial Park. A development which not only brings 650 to 1,000 new jobs and $100 million in plant investment, but solidifies the strength of Gainesville’s North Industrial Park and Kubota’s North Georgia and Hall County’s presence. Kubota is the largest industrial user in
FRANK NORTON JR. CEO and Chairman The Norton Agency
Forsyth County’s transportation SPLOST referendum perhaps is the tipping point for countyby-county transportation initiatives. Hall County. 2. Forsyth County’s transportation SPLOST referendum perhaps is the tipping point for county-by-county transportation initiatives. The positive vote creates a $200 million transportation program of work and could push other counties – Gwinnett, Cobb, Hall and Cherokee – to mount similar self-help transportation initiatives. 3. With the new River Place Hospital (South Hall – Braselton) only months from opening, a frenzy of companion developments are under way or on the drawing boards. Athens Vascular, Medical Arts/Longstreet/Diagnostic Clinic are already underway with separate medical campuses. Smaller medical providers are scrambling for space and a myriad of associate support users are being drawn closer like a moth to a flame to the new hospital epicenter. 4. Walmart Markets has entered the Hall County
market with two stand-alone grocery stores. One is on Thompson Bridge Road,; the other on Browns Bridge Road. The street rumors are a third is planned in south Hall. This is major. The first new Walmart Markets we know of in Georgia, and Hall County is their test market for the South. 5. Residential sales are on the way up. Metro Atlanta and North Georgia inventory is down and horizontal development is returning in isolated pockets. As inventory of available lots continues to decline, the hot elementary school zones (Forsyth, Gwinnett, Cobb, Cherokee) will see more and more land sales, rezoning and platted lot development. 6. The new poultry lab construction on Ga. 356 and the sewer expansion up U.S. 365 north have spurred other development (see No. 1 Kubota). East Gainesville development is heating up; Kroger, McDonald’s, QuickTrip, and now Ga. 356 expansion opens an employment pipeline for Habersham, Banks, Stephens and Rabun. 7. The industrial explosion on I-85 in Jackson County merits this year’s ranking. Over 5 million square feet of industrial space is either under construction or in the pre-development stage. Significant movement includes Ollie’s Bargain Outlet lease in Commerce and a major German manufacturer on the Prologics site, to name a few. The next decade is sure to be Jackson’s industrial awakening. 8. The national builders who have primarily concentrated their renewed construction activities in a tight North Atlanta swath have, at long last, entered the Hall, Barrow and Jackson counties residential fray in 2014. This signals renewed strength in those markets and expanding builder confidence overall. 9. The record industrial sale of 37 acres on Dry Pond
Road in the Raco Industrial Park at $125,000 per acre. WOW, simply WOW. 10. The boom in active adult communities such as Cresswind, Deaton’s Creek and Soleil Laurel Canyon in Cherokee County lead the market into a new character and market demographic, perhaps even a “retirement mecca” if others follow. Other notable real estate or market-driven events not making our Top 10 included: • Gov. Nathan Deal’s reelection; • the announcement of impending upscale retail
along Ga. 400 between Cumming and Dawsonville; • Avalon’s live, work, play development opening in North Fulton; • King Hawaiian’s plant expansion in Oakwood; • Verity Bank (Barrow and Habersham) sale to C&S Bank; • The Mega Kroger store opening in East Gainesville; • Norton’s-952 acre sale in Lumpkin – the biggest acreage sale in our region since 2006; • Brenau University opening a new Medical School in downtown Gainesville.
Protecting your small business from getting hacked With all of the recent data breaches, are you worried that your small business will get hacked? Have you implemented security measures to protect your digital assets, such as customer or financial information? There is little doubt that small businesses face a growing threat to cyberattacks. So, what are you going to do to protect yourself? First and foremost, lock up your network. Many small businesses are compromised via Wi-Fi networks. Hackers drive by buildings and use technology to identify networks that aren’t secure. Once they find one, getting into your information systems is easy. Second, make sure you install anti-malware and anti-virus software. Even if a hacker can breach your network, it makes it more difficult for them to infect computers with malicious software or viruses. Educating your employees can also go a long way in preventing hacking. Make sure employees are changing their
DICK JONES
Founder & President Jones Simply Sales
passwords and not clicking on unknown links in emails that could provide an entry point for hackers. Employees need to know that your data and information is important, and part of their job is protecting it. Hiring an outside security expert may cost you some additional money, but it’s far cheaper than someone getting your information. A small business security expert can do an assessment of your current environment and make recommendations to protect your digital assets. Protecting your data is not just for large corporations. Small businesses are becoming targets for hackers, and it’s imperative that data security is a high priority.
18 | February 5, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald
NEW LOCATION »
Principal Financial Group opens Roswell business center ROSWELL, Ga. – The Principal Financial Group has opened a new office at 11285 Elkins Road, Suite H2B, to serve Roswell and surrounding areas. The new location provides a full line of financial planning and retirement products and services, as well as tax-saving strategies, estate-planning options and insurance protection plans needed to meet long-term goals. The Roswell office will include Phil Vance, CLU, senior financial services representative, who has more than 35 years’ experience in the insurance and financial services industry. Staff also includes Jim Reinhardt, MBA, registered investment advisor, and Henry Levine, MBA, registered representative. For more information or to set up an appointment, call 678-878-2078.
Neuropathy Treatment Centers open in Roswell, Sandy Springs ROSWELL, Ga. – Foundation Therapy Center has opened the Comprehensive Neuropathy Treatment Center at its Roswell and Sandy Springs locations. Owner Beverly Stegman said the center uses specialized treatments that may include physical therapy, orthopedic therapy, balance rehabilitation and fall prevention, pain management Bev Stegman, Foundation treatment, reflexology Therapy Center owner with use of medical and administrator, leads grade essential oils, a session in therapeutic therapeutic yoga and chair yoga. massage therapy. It also offers complimentary screenings, clinics and lectures/demonstrations, available to the community at large. For more information about the Roswell location, call 770-753-9195.
BUSINESS COMPUTER PROBLEMS? “Carmichael manages our IT. I have never worked with a more client-centric business before – ever. They return calls fast. They listen exceedingly well. They know what they are doing. They are honest, professional, and local. They are partners with Appen Newspapers / Appen Media Group in the truest sense of the word.” – Ray Appen, Publisher Appen Media Group Appen Newspapers
BusinessBriefs HealthSource Chiropractic moving to new location JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — HealthSource of Alpharetta/Johns Creek (formerly Chiropractic Health Center of Alpharetta) is moving to a bigger location in Johns Creek. The new office will be at 11180 State Bridge Road, Suite 501. Dr. Lenny Zaprowski said his new space will provide not only excellent chiropractic care, but also progressive reZAPROWSKI hab as well as therapeutic massage, nutritional counseling and custom-made orthotics. The new office hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturdays by appointment. Zaprowski said the move was to serve his expanding practice and to better serve patients’ needs. He plans to be in the new space by Feb. 16. The phone number will remain the same, 770-772-0335.
Convention, Visitors Bureau launches new website ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau has updated its website, adding new features to attract a wider audience. The CVB marketing team worked with Inward Solutions, an Alpharetta-based company that specializes in web and graphic design, to accommodate the many technology devices being used to search for information on Alpharetta. Potential visitors can download electronic newsletters and brochures, book hotel rooms through the booking engine or share information from the website on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Google Plus and email. For more information, visit www.awesomealpharetta.com or call 678-297-2811.
PEOPLE »
Ryan Assad joins Keller Williams Realty JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Ryan Assad, one of Atlanta’s top producing residential real estate agents, has joined Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners. Assad joins Keller Williams following 19 successful years ASSAD with Re/Max and Atlanta Communities, where he was honorably inducted into the Re/ Max Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement.
State Bank and Trust names Mike Sims chief banking officer ATLANTA, Ga. — State Bank and Trust Company announced Mike Sims has been appointed the bank’s executive vice president and chief banking officer for all banking functions in both Atlanta and Middle Georgia, reporting to State Bank Chief Executive Officer J. Thomas Wiley Jr. “Mike is an outstanding banker SIMS who exemplifies all the best qualities of our organization,” Wiley said. “I am thrilled to have Mike as a leader of our organization as we continue to grow our presence both in Atlanta and in Middle Georgia.”
Harry Norman North Fulton welcomes three agents Call today for your free IT assesment.
– Tyler Jones, Principal
678-224-8000 • www.CarmichaelConsulting.net
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Harry Norman, Realtors is pleased to welcome its three newest agents in their North Fulton office: sales associates Kim Schott, Rick Lara and Sara Ead. Raised in Pennsylvania, Schott graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Marywood
Submit your business news & photos to businessnews@appenmediagroup.com College. Prior to joining Harry Norman, she worked as a space planner and designer in the corporate architectural field. She has lived in Cumming with her husband and EAD LARA two daughters for many years. Lara is an Atlanta/Roswell resident for over 25 years and is exceedingly familiar with the city and its surrounding areas. As a former Atlanta luxury hotelier and Les Clefs d’Or member with IHG, Lara brings a wealth of hospitality and tourism experience to the team. Ead moved to North Fulton in SCHOTT 2011, and is no stranger to re-location. She is the owner of her own children’s clothing company and has served as president of her school’s parent organization. She wishes to extend the same warm welcome she received to newcomers to North Fulton. For more, visit at www.harrynorman.com.
REAL ESTATE »
Ryland opens model home in Marketplace Commons CUMMING, Ga. — Ryland Homes Atlanta has opened its fully decorated model, The Augustine, at the new Marketplace Commons in Cumming. The community offers homebuyers a selection of several floor plans ranging from 2,064 to 3,329 square feet, starting in the $290,000s. The community, as part of the Forsyth County School District, places residents’ children in three schools: Mashburn Elementary, Lakeside Middle and Forsyth Central High, which features the STEM program for math and sciences.
NEW BUSINESS »
New bakery to cut ribbon in downtown Alpharetta ALPHARETTA, Ga. — 2B Whole Gluten-Free European Bakery will hold a grand opening and ribboncutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5 at 42 Milton Avenue. The bakery will feature 100 percent gluten-, wheat-, soy-, casein- and peanutfree baked products. Owner Toula Argentis said she got the idea for the business about 10 years ago when one of her sons was diagnosed with a gluten allergy. After years of experimenting, Argentis developed a product line of breads, pies, cakes, cookies and paleo products suited for those with common and uncommon food allergies.
EXPO »
More than 80 exhibitors to attend GNFCC business expo ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce will hold its seventh annual North Fulton Business Expo March 27 at the Alpharetta Marriott on Windward Parkway, just east of Ga. 400. With more than 80 exhibitors and 1,200 attendees expected, the sell-out event provides local business people the opportunity to network with a wide variety of business service providers and vendors of all types, as well as financial and legal professionals. “Meet! Greet! Connect!” is the theme of the 2015 Expo, which is sponsored by Renasant Bank.
CALENDAR
EDITOR’S PICKS
Submit your event online at johnscreekherald.com
Johns Creek Herald | February 5, 2015 | 19
Send
me your event...
SHANNON WEAVER
Calendar Editor JODY MAYFIELD calendar@ appenmediagroup.com Jody Mayfield has worked with
Submit your event to northfulton.com or email with photo to calendar@northfulton.com. For a more complete list of local events including support groups, volunteer opportunities and business meetings visit the calendar on northfulton.com.
ART:
top hip-hop producers such as Organized Noize, Anthony David, Marq (Remarqable) Jefferson of So So Def Records. The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta. Friday, Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $22. Visit thevelvetnote.com for more info..
EVENTS: FATHER/DAUGHTER VALENTINE DANCE
What: Fathers and daughters are invited to step out for a fun evening! A special time of sweet memories await participants at our Father/Daughter Valentine’s Day Dance. Where: Alpharetta Community Center, 175 Roswell Street in Alpharetta When: Friday, Feb. 6 Hours: 6:30 p.m. Cost: $20 Alpharetta or Milton residents, $30 non-residents Online: alpharetta.ga.us
LIVE! IN ROSWELL PRESENTS RUTHIE FOSTER
Three-time Grammy nominee Ruthie Foster brings her blend of soul, blues, rock, folk, and gospel to Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street. Saturday, Feb. 7, 8 p.m. (doors open 7:30). Tickets are $35 for general admission. Visit roswell. gov for more info.
6TH ANNUAL BOWLS EVENT
Celebrate art, food and fun with ceramic wheel and hand-building demonstrations, as well as handmade pottery by the Johns Creek Arts Center available for purchase. Johns Creek Arts Center, 6290 Abbots Bridge Road. Saturday, Feb. 7. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. $20 Visit johnscreekarts. org for more info.
$20 BATH TIME TUESDAYS
ROSWELL GREEN EXPO
What: A fun family event that promotes sustainable living in our community. Featuring a “Green Market,” family entertainment and crafts, and unique demos and workshops. Where: Hembree Park, 850 Hembree Road in Roswell When: Saturday, Feb. 7 Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost: Free Online: keeproswellbeautiful.org
A monthly competitive storytelling series with a different theme each month at Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street. Monday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, 180 Academy Street in Alpharetta When: Ongoing Online: www.alpharettapres.com Contact: nancy@alpharettapres.com or 770-751-3862
SHARON CRUMLEY ART EXHIBIT
What: Join us for an opening reception for the Sharon Crumley exhibit on display at the Smith Plantation Barn throughout the month. Where: Smith Plantation Home, 935 Alpharetta Street in Roswell When: Friday, Feb. 6 Hours: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cost: Free Online: roswellroots.com
STORY SLAM: ‘LOVERS AND HATERS’
What: Bring us your less than fresh pup and we with bath them, dry them and brush them. Where: Pet Lodge Pet Resort, 3456 Bethany Bend in Alpharetta When: Tuesday, Feb. 10 Cost: $20 Contact: 770-475-3455 Online: petlodge.us
950 Forrest Street When: Sunday, Feb. 8 Hours: 7 p.m. Cost: $25 Online: chopinatlanta.org
THEATER:
MUSIC:
CELEBRATING THE LIVES OF SENIORS
SUBMIT YOUR EVENT AT
What: Annual fundraiser for Senior Services North Fulton with a seated dinner, silent and live auctions, and dancing to the music of Platinum. Where: Atlanta Athletic Club, 1930 Bobby Jones Drive in Johns Creek When: Saturday, Feb. 7 Hours: 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Cost: $135 for single tickets Online: ssnorthfulton.org
ALPHARETTA PRESBYTERIAN DAYSCHOOL
What: Registration for part day programs for children of ages 18 months to 5 years.
GREEN EGGS AND HAMLET
YULIANNA AVDEEVA PIANO RECITAL
What: Adveena is the winner of the First Prize and best performance of a sonata at the 2010 International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center,
What: Please join Barnwell Elementary School 4th and 5th graders as they perform a zany musical parody. Where: Northview High School, 10625 Parsons Road in Johns Creek When: Thursday, Feb. 5 and Friday, Feb. 6 Hours: 7 p.m. Cost: $7 Online: seatyourself.biz/barnwell
20 | February 5, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
North Atlanta’s
Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com | Recycled paper
Sponsored Section • Johns Creek Herald | February 5, 2015
News and advertising for new homes, realtors, developers, commercial properties and more.
Essential tips for staging your home By MICHELLE PITTMAN Buying a new home is so personal, yet, to sell yours, you need to remove so many of your homey, personal touches. This is part of staging your home. Buyers should be able to picture themselves living in your house — not picture you living in your house. Successful staging will boost your home’s appeal — and your chances of selling. Think like a buyer. Staging lets you see your house with fresh perspective and helps you correct any eyesores you may have become used to over the years. It helps you to view some of your beloved items as clutter and gives you the initiative to clear away the unneeded. Create a comfortable bedroom. A bedroom should be a place of serenity. Stage your bedroom to convey a tone of comfort and relaxation. You also want it to appear spacious. Soft and neutral tones, new linens and pillows and clearing out your closet make the space more appealing to a buyer. Bathrooms can be beautiful. Purchasers don’t spend a lot of time in
bathrooms, so your bathrooms have to make a great first impression. Bathrooms should be impeccably clean and somewhat modern. Replacing old fixtures, hanging luxurious-looking towels and adding spa-like accessories go a long way. Cleanliness is a virtue. Buyers
have to imagine themselves living in your home, and they will have a hard time picturing themselves living in a dirty house. In fact, the top of your todo list when you list your home to sell should be a deep, thorough clean, like your house probably hasn’t seen since you moved in. Rid your house of mold
and mildew, clean windows inside and out and steam carpets so buyers step into a fresh home that they want to move into. If you smoke or have a pet, be especially vigilant about eradicating those odors—because a clean, wellstaged home should bring you a quick and profitable sale.
R E A L E S TAT E S E R V I C E S IN JOHNS CREEK
MICHELLE PITTMAN, REALTOR® c. 404.402.7124 o. 770.442.7300 michellepittman@atlantafinehomes.com atlantafinehomes.com | sothebysrealty.com ©MMXV Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. A Realogy Company. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section
When is the right time to sell your home? By BILL RAWLINGS Vice President/Managing Broker Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty The decision to sell your home is both a financial and emotional one. While you should definitely pay high attention to market conditions as part of your thought process — conditions which will absolutely impact your home sale — you should always remember that the choice to buy or sell a home is completely individual. Reasons to Sell. Whether you have an expanding or shrinking family, a job change or a desire to move to a particular school district — your reason for selling ultimately impacts when you should put your home on the market. Market Conditions. Find out your loan payoff amount so you have an accurate idea
of what your sales proceeds will be after you have paid off all home loans and closing costs. Research recent sales prices of comRAWLINGS parable homes in your community. Consult with REALTORS® about current market conditions to estimate a listing price and how long it may take for your home to sell. Selling for the Season. Many sellers opt to put their homes on the market in the spring because that is when more buyers are looking, but you can choose to sell at any time of year. If your home attracts families and is in a sought-after school district, you are just as likely to get offers in the sum-
mer as in the spring because buyers want to settle in before school starts. Is your home ready to sell? An important element in determining when to list your home is its condition. You will need time to make repairs and improvements, deep-clean your home and clear away many of your possessions. If you have a large, disorganized home with overflowing closets and a garage with no space for a car, you may need weeks or months before you are ready to put your home on the market. Today’s buyers have high expectations of your home’s condition, so do not expect to be able to work on your home after it is listed. Your home should be priced correctly and in prime condition on day one in order to sell quickly and for the best price possible.
Schools, Real Estate, and the Community Excellent schools raise home values; this increases tax revenues; and the economy in the community thrives. Why then, do so many of us who don’t have children in our schools pay so little attention to what is being taught in our schools. Have you heard about the effects of the Core CUNNINGHAM Curriculum and how it is impacting our children? Tax dollars again are being wasted and children are suffering the results of bandwagon politicians and greedy “so-called” educational experts pushing their agendas on our school systems. A national curriculum has been the dream of would-be educational reformers since the time of Dewey, but our country is set up so states are in charge of the schools. We have numerous laws forbidding the federal government from mandating any sort of national curriculum. But, the government uses the “Old Money Hammer” to demand states sign up for their ideas or all federal grants are revoked. Let me give you a short list of failed governmental and educational theorists programs and ideas from the 1950’s till now: Initial Teaching Alphabet(ITA), Programmed Learning, Open Classroom concept, Whole Language, Saxon Math, Fuzzy Math, Free at Last, Learner-Centered Education, DiscoveryCentered Learning, New Math, New, New Math, Head Start, NDEA, NCTM, No Child Left Behind(NCLB), and now Common Core. (COST – Trillions of your tax dollars) For some reason education is the one profession where it is acceptable to throw out proven practices and replace these with new. Theories that have little or no evidence to support them are readily brought into our schools. Now we have the Common Core State Standards! Diane Ravitch, an educational historian, is opposing the Common Core State Standards. She wants to know why The American National Standards Institute was not used to the write these CC standards. This institute represents the interest of over 1,000 companies, organizations, governmental agencies,
For some reason education is the one profession where it is acceptable to throw out proven practices and replace these with new. Theories that have little or no evidence to support them are readily brought into our schools. institutional and international members. Ms. Ravitch states that only 24 people wrote these standards. A large number of these people were from the testing industry. No input was sought from experienced teachers or subject matter experts. Early childhood and educators for children with disabilities were not consulted. In fact, there were no elementary teachers in this group. No process for appeal or revision was established. States are not allowed to deviate from the set Common Core. They can add a small amount (15%). This ends most local control of public schools and may end alternative schools, such as Montessori. Georgia schools received the grade of “C” for overall achievement. Isn’t it time we (the taxpayers) get involved? Remember: The school system’s success or failure will affect our community, economy, and our overall well-being. –Carroll J Cunningham
February 5, 2015 21
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Sponsored Section • REAL ESTATE REPORT
johnscreekherald.com | Johns Creek Herald
What you don’t know can hurt you By EVE JONES Harry Norman Realtors So, you are ready to list your home for sale and you start by consulting with an agent or two. You may be tempted to use an agent JONES that offers a discount commission structure, but careful, you may be shooting yourself in the proverbial foot. Whomever you decide to use, there are some details you should be tracking closely. First, your agent, who has so generously decided to take a cut in his or her commission, may be cutting the other agent’s commission without your knowledge. For instance, your agent has contracted to sell your home at 5%, but are they still offering the selling (buyer’s) agent a full 3%? Or, are they offering a 2.5% commission and discounting the buyer’s agent’s commission as well? Why would you care about what that other agent makes? You should care, because your home listing is competing
against other listings who are likely offering a fee of 3%. How motivated will that buyer’s agent be to sell your home at 2.5% to their buyer with whom they have been driving around and showing homes for three solid months? This is the first, but not the only, way to shoot yourself in the foot. So, get
that “co-op fee or commission agreement” in writing. Another important listing step often overlooked by sellers and agents is staging and preparing the home for the market. Not taking the time to make needed repairs, neutralizing paint colors, and arranging
furniture for the optimal flow is going to cost you. Your agent should be the primary resource for the most effective prepping of your home for market. He or she is not doing his or her job if they are not walking through your home and spending time to honestly talk about improvements that will maximize your price. All of this takes planning, time and money, but can add lots of cash to your bottom-line. Another detail for listing your home concerns the marketing plan. The listing agent’s primary job is to market your property by presenting your home in the most positive light. Have you ever browsed home listings on-line and had a good laugh when looking at the photos? It never ceases to amaze me how agents get away with really bad photography (and typos for that matter). It is as if they are trying their best to “not sell” the home. Make sure your agent emails your listing once it is entered into the multiple listing service so you can see for yourself how your home looks and then, every once in
a while, go out and check on your listing to make sure you remain satisfied. Of course, good (preferably professional) photography is critical, but make sure your agent provides you with a written plan for marketing your home as well. That plan should include pricing strategies, professionallooking collateral materials (brochures, upgrades, etc.), agent open houses, e-flyers, advertising, showing feedback follow-up and networking with agents active in the area. The last way to avoid shooting yourself in the foot is to confirm that your listing agent is a full-time Realtor with the right kind of experience to sell your home. Asking for his or her sales production and references is a good way to sift through those less qualified agents. Since the home is most individual’s largest investment, you don’t want to experience the frustration of working with an agent who sells homes “on the side”. Your agent needs to be available full-time throughout the transaction to best represent you and your best interests. To protect your investment, remember to take special care when choosing your real estate agent.
ryland.com
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Visit ryland.com for more information.
In the Atlanta division, on accepted purchase agreements on homes that are signed between January 1, 2015 and January 31, 2015 are eligible to receive $15,000 in Flex Cash; can be used towards MyStyle® Design Center Options and/or closing costs when using RMC Mortgage® and/or lot premiums, finished basement, etc. Incentive offer does not apply to contracts written prior to January 1, 2015. The following communities are excluded from the $15,000 incentive, Bethany Crossing, Bridleton, ManorView and Marketplace Commons. Individual promotions may vary by community. Certain included features may not be available on all plans. Value of package, and products, may vary by community and plan. Homes already under contract prior to this offer are not eligible. Plus for New to-be built homes, buyer eligible to receive up to $5,000 toward closing costs. Individual incentives may vary by community. Closing cost assistance available from Ryland Homes to those financing through RMC Mortgage® Corporation and closing with a closing attorney selected by Ryland. Amount of closing cost assistance may vary by product and community, and is subject to applicable contribution limitations. For all financing promotions, see a RMC Mortgage® Corporation Loan Officer for details. RMC Mortgage® Corporation is located at 1000 Mansell Exchange West, Suite 200, Alpharetta, GA 30022 and is a Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee, license number 24225 and NMLS number 203897. Buyers also eligible to receive Waived 1% Origination Fee through RMC Mortgage®; average value of $4,000 which is based on a $400,000 loan amount. The waived origination fee through RMC Mortgage® Corporation is subject to cancellation or change without notice. Buyers must make a loan application by January 31, 2014 with RMC Mortgage® Corporation (NMLS# 203897) a Georgia Residential Mortgage Lender Licensee #24225. *Buyers must also close with RMC Mortgage® Corporation. Please contact your RMC Mortgage® Corporation Representative for exact quotes. Prices, plans and specifications are subject to change without notice. Ryland reserves the right to modify or cancel these offers at any time. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only. Offer may not be combined with any other promotion or incentives. Information shown believed to be accurate but not warranted. See a Sales Counselor for details on available promotions, restrictions and offer limitations. © 2015 The Ryland Group, Inc.
Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section
February 5, 2015 23
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COMMUNITY
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BlueHair Technology offering senior workshops for iPhones Courses to be offered in February, March and April ATLANTA — BlueHair Technology Group will be offering a series of four-week iPhone technology workshops for older adults in February, March and April at various north Atlanta area locations. BlueHair Technology Group’s courses are specifically designed to address the unique challenges that adult seniors have with technology. The classes are constructed to be fun, comfortable and convenient for seniors. Courses are taught by seasoned technology instructors, assisted by volunteers from the local community. The program’s goal is to empower older
adults with the knowledge and skills they need to increase their independence, social interaction, confidence and connection to society. The workshops teach participants the basic hardware functions of the iPhone, iPad or Android smartphone and how to maintain the device, as well as how to make and receive calls, send and receive emails and text messages, take photos and videos and share them with others, surf the Internet, download apps, listen to music and more. BlueHair Technology Group is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate seniors about current technology and the tools available to them to improve the quality of their lives. Through developing a technology skill set, older adults will be able to participate more effectively in today’s society.
Schedule of workshops • Apple iPhone Basics Part 1 Feb. 17 – March 10 Tuesdays 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Dogwood Forest of Alpharetta • Apple iPad Basics Part 1 Feb. 17 – March 10 Tuesdays 1 – 2:30 p.m. Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce • Apple iPhone Basics Part 1 Feb. 21 – March 14 Saturdays 10 – 11:30 a.m. Second Ponce De Leon Baptist Church – Buckhead • Android Smartphone Basics Feb. 21 – March 14 Saturdays 1 – 2:30 p.m. Atria North Point – Alpharetta • Apple iPhone Basics Part 2
March 21 – April 11 Saturdays 10 – 11:30 a.m. Second Ponce De Leon Baptist Church — Buckhead • Apple iPhone Basics Parts 1 and 2 April 1 – March 20 Saturdays 1 – 2:30 p.m. St. George Village – Roswell (Complimentary workshop for any senior 70-plus) Each four-week class costs $65 per person. Payment is due in full upon registration. Space is limited. To register for any of these workshops, please contact BlueHair Technology Group at 770-696-9808. For information about BlueHair Technology Group’s other upcoming courses, visit www.bluehairtech.org.
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SPORTS
johnscreekherald.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 5, 2015 | 25
Local wrestlers advance to area meets Competing for state berths this weekend By MIKE BLUM news@appenmediagroup.com CUMMING, Ga. – Local high school wrestlers competed in area meets Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, with the top four finishers in each weight class advancing to sectionals, which are scheduled for this coming weekend. The top finishers from sectional meets will advance to the state champions meets in Macon Feb. 12 –14. The AAAAAA Area 6 meet was held at North Forsyth, with Chattahoochee advancing eight wrestlers to sectionals at Mill Creek in Gwinnett. Johns Creek advanced four wrestlers, Centennial three, Alpharetta two and Northview one. Area results for Chattahoochee’s wrestlers advancing to sectionals were (season records in parentheses): Jordan Pitt, 120, first (443); Sean Hoffman, 195, first (33-3); Perry Benton, 285, first (26-13); Matt Picus, 152, second (39-10); Daniel Amram, 170, second (22-11); Carrington Hill, 182, second (264); Ethan Phillips, 113, third (40-7); Sam Latzsch, 220, third (21-13). Johns Creek: Michael
Banks, 138, fourth (19-11); Nash Barney, 170, fourth (1313); Jerome King, 195, fourth; Austin Otto, 182, fourth. Centennial: Nicholas Floyd, 138, second (20-3); Julio Urbina, 145, third, (1811); Jack Shields, 160, fourth (16-11). Alpharetta: Alex Rahm, 106, second (20-8); Julian Monroe, 145, fourth (24-11). Northview: Jack Kenyon, 220, second (23-2). Roswell qualified seven wrestlers from the AAAAAA Area 5 meet at Lassiter. The Hornets will also compete this weekend at Mill Creek. Roswell’s qualifiers were: Demarco Gatti, 160, first (34-3); Tylor Johnson, 195, first (18-4); Cole Anderson, 170, second (32-11); Cameron Whiteman, 285, second (12-2); Ryan Willis, 220, second (318); Robert Copenhaver, 182, third (30-9); Brian Slewitzke, 138, third (29-10). Cambridge qualified nine wrestlers from the AAAAA Area 7 meet at Cass, and will host sectionals this weekend. Cambridge’s qualifiers were: Sean Kaira, first, 220 (4010); Devin Kane, 160, first (54-1); J.R. Salemi, 126, first
(57-6); Trey Wolfe, 195, second (35-20); Will Britain, 145, third (48-7); Dawson Brooks, 106, third (26-16); Brock Nielson, 170, third (31-11); Zack Cameron, 113, fourth (28-13); Nathan Kurtz, 138, fourth. Blessed Trinity qualified 11 wrestlers from the AAA Area 4 meet at Locust Grove. The Titans will compete in sectionals this weekend in Sonoraville. BT’s qualifiers were: James Hawkins, 285, first (21-3); Cameron Nolan, 195, first (22-5); James Humphrey, 113, second (9-3); Ian Spitler, 138, second (20-13); Joey Brins-
maid, 126, third (12-8); Ben Pierce, 152, third (16-10); Jon Anderson, 160, fourth; Huiet Joseph, 220, fourth (19-9); Josh Likes, 182, fourth; Jacob Schoonover, 106, fourth; Caelan Tackitt, 145, fourth (14-7). St. Francis qualified 12 wrestlers from a Class A area meet at Commerce. The Knights will compete in sectionals this weekend at George Walton Academy in Monroe. The St. Francis qualifiers were: Seth Cecil, 285, second (1810); Sam Franke, 220, second; Evan Robinson, 132, second (21-10); Ethan Sparks, 126,
second (17-13); Stephen Agon, 182, third; Matthew Fezza, 145, third (21-9); John Franke, 160, third (20-16); Will Smith, 106, third (12-7); Josh Snyder, 152, third (25-11); Ben Ziegler, 138, third; Jack Kilpatrick, 120, fourth (19-15); Chris Rech, 113, fourth. Fellowship Christian qualified one wrestler for sectionals – Nathan Shirley, 160, second (25-6). Mount Pisgah had three wrestlers qualify: Pierce Erhardt, 152, second (52-4); Connor Spence, 113, third (25-25); Karlos Nadal, 106, fourth (43-16).
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SPORTS
BASKETBALL ROUNDUP:
McClung, Sloter spark Cambridge victories Alpharetta improves to 16-0 in region play By MIKE BLUM news@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. – The Cambridge Bears scored back-to-back victories last weekend, collecting their 10th win of the season at home Saturday, defeating Forsyth Central 55-42. The Bears (10-14) easily defeated North Springs 72-54 Friday, connecting on 30 of 52 field goal attempts. Jordan Sloter hit five three-pointers and scored 17 points for Cambridge, while Emerson McClung had 16 points and eight assists. Sloter scored 14 of his 20 points in the final period Saturday, connecting on four three-pointers in the quarter. McClung had 13 points, seven rebounds, five steals, four blocks and three assists. The Bears also got 13 points from Jackson Boyea and 10 rebounds from Neill Christian. McClung and Sloter are among six seniors who either start or play significant minutes off the bench, with Christian, Brawley Thomas, Kayode Adebisi and Nithin Balaji the other senior front line players. North Fulton features a number of standout players who will play at the Division I level in college, but the 6-foot-3 McClung may be the area’s most versatile
performer. He leads the team in scoring (18 points a game), rebounds (7), assists (3.5), steals and blocked shots, playing point guard on offense and forward on defense. Sloter averages 17 points and is among the area’s premier long-distance shooters with 55 three-pointers. In other North Fulton boys’ games last week: Alpharetta ran its record to 19-4 (16-0 in Region 6-AAAAAA) with a 62-54 win at home Friday against Johns Creek. The Gladiators hung close the entire game, but were unable to overtake the Raiders. The game was tied 23-23 in the final minute of the second period, but Alpharetta’s Mark Eze and Greg James led a late 7-0 burst to make it 30-23 at the half. The Raiders opened the second half with a 7-2 run to increase their lead to 12 and kept control the rest of the way. Eze led the Raiders with 21 points and Devontae Cacok added 14. Ian Joseph had 23 points and Mark Lancaster 16 for the Gladiators (12-11). Johns Creek defeated West Forsyth 85-61 earlier last week. Lancaster led the scoring with 20 points and Roderick Whitlow
See ROUNDUP, Page 37
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Basketball scoreboard; Feb. 6 – 10 Boys Tuesday • Alpharetta 63, Chattahoochee 55 • Centennial 68, Lambert 61 • Johns Creek 85, West Forsyth 61 • South Forsyth 71, Northview 58 • Cherokee 48, Milton 44 • Wheeler 67, Roswell 48 • North Atlanta 51, Cambridge 42 • St. Francis 110, Pinecrest 59 • Mount Pisgah 50, Walker 48 • Whitefield 69, King’s Ridge 38 Friday • Alpharetta 62, Johns Creek 54 • Centennial 56, North Forsyth 42 • Chattahoochee 50, South Forsyth 32 • Northview 64, Habersham Central 53 • Milton 55, Lassiter 45 • Cambridge 72, North Springs 54 • Blessed Trinity 35, Decatur 31 • Fellowship 43, Walker 35 • St. Francis 84, King’s Ridge 45 • Providence Christian 57, Mount Pisgah 49 Saturday • Milton 68, Buford 58 • Cambridge 55, Forsyth Central 42 • Blessed Trinity 51, Etowah 50 • St. Francis 91, Walker 41 • Mount Pisgah 57, Lanier 54 (OT)
• Pinecrest 68, Fellowship 57 Girls Tuesday • Chattahoochee 39, Alpharetta 25 • West Forsyth 48, Johns Creek 45 • Lambert 48, Centennial 45 • South Forsyth 69, Northview 30 • Cherokee 38, Milton 28 • Wheeler 41, Roswell 33 • Cambridge 51, North Atlanta 30 • Blessed Trinity 60, King 29 • Mount Pisgah 44, Walker 27 • St. Francis 80, Pinecrest 53 • Whitefield 70, King’s Ridge 29 Friday • Johns Creek 49, Alpharetta 34 • South Forsyth 75, Chattahoochee 45 • North Forsyth 62, Centennial 53 • Habersham Central 42, Northview 37 • Milton 26, Lassiter 18 • Cambridge 48, North Springs 41 • Decatur 71, Blessed Trinity 32 • Fellowship 38, Walker 19 • St. Francis 85, King’s Ridge 13 Saturday • Forsyth Central 40, Cambridge 26 • Mount Pisgah 52, Lanier 34 • Fellowship 65, Pinecrest 31 • St. Francis 71, Walker 19
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SPORTS
johnscreekherald.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 5, 2015 | 27
REGION TOURNAMENT PREVIEW – 2015:
Region basketball tournaments set to tip off Roswell, Chattahoochee to host region events By MIKE BLUM news@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. – Region high school basketball tournaments begin either this weekend or early next week, with Chattahoochee and Roswell serving as hosts for the 6-AAAAAA and 5-AAAAAA tournaments respectively. Cambridge, Blessed Trinity and the four North Fulton schools in 6-A will play their region tournaments on an opponents’ home court, with Cambridge’s tournament starting this weekend. Most region tournaments begin Monday, with semifinals scheduled for next Friday and the championship and consolation games Saturday. The top four teams in each region qualify for state, except in Class A, where 16 public and 16 private school boys’ and girls’ teams are selected based on their power rankings. Coming into this week’s games, the Milton boys were in the best position among the four local teams in 5-AAAAAA. The Eagles were third at 10-4, but their final week schedule has games against state No. 1 Wheeler and rival Roswell. There is a possibility that Milton and Roswell will face off in the quarterfinals of the region tournament, with the winner going to state and the loser going home. The Hornets are 6-8 going into the final week of the re-
gion schedule, and are battling Walton and Etowah for the fifth, sixth and seventh seeds in the region tournament. Milton and Cherokee (8-6) are vying for the third and fourth seeds, with the No. 3 seed competing in the opposite bracket from Wheeler. Pope (12-2) is the likely No. 2 seed. Both the Milton and Roswell girls will be among the lowest seeds in the tournament. Milton came into this week sixth in the region at 4-10, with Roswell tied for seventh at 3-11. The teams are competing for the sixth, seventh and eighth seeds with Walton (3-12). The Alpharetta boys (160) will be the No. 1 seed in 6-AAAAAA, with Centennial (11-5) and Johns Creek (106) third and fourth with two games to play. Chattahoochee (8-8) is fifth and will likely play either Centennial or Johns Creek in the quarterfinals, with the winner advancing to state. Northview (3-13) is ninth in the standings and will play in a first round game Monday. Forsyth teams are 1-23 in the girls’ standings, with Centennial (8-8) in fourth and Chattahoochee (7-9) tied for fifth with Lambert. Lambert holds the tiebreaker over the Lady Cougars and has a more favorable final week schedule. Chattahoochee closes out the season against West Forsyth, with the two teams possibly playing again Tuesday in the tournament quarterfinals. Johns Creek (6-10) was tied for seventh with Habersham Central and needed to move up one spot to avoid playing in the first round Monday, possibly
Most region tournaments begin Monday, with semifinals scheduled for next Friday and the championship and consolation games Saturday.
against Northview (2-14). Cambridge will play in the 7-AAAAA tournament at Creekview, with the 14-team event beginning Friday. The Cambridge boys were 6-5 in their sub-region and in fourth place with a chance to finish in a tie for third. The Cambridge girls were 4-7 in the sub-region and fifth in the standings. The Blessed Trinity Titans were 8-0 in their 4-AAA subregion with a showdown for the regular season earlier this week against Westminster. The
BT girls are 2-7 and sixth out of seven teams in the subregion. The region tournament will be played at Douglass. The Region 6-A tournament, which will be played at Whitefield Academy, won’t directly impact state tournament berths, but several North Fulton teams may need a win or two to finish in the top 16 in the power rankings and qualify for state. Both St. Francis teams are unbeaten (10-0) in the sub-region, with the girls No. 1 in the
state and the boys No. 2. The Mount Pisgah boys (6-4) were 12th in the power rankings, but faced a tough final week of the season. King’s Ridge (4-7) was 17th, but had lost its last five games. The Tigers are in a three-way battle for fourth in the region standings. The Fellowship Christian and Mount Pisgah girls were part of a four-way competition for second behind St. Francis, with Fellowship (7-3) 12th in the power rankings and Mount Pisgah (6-4) 14th.
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28 | February 5, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
SPORTS
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MILTON BOYS BASKETBALL:
Eagles better team than record shows Rugged schedule should pay off in postseason By MIKE BLUM news@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. – A team’s wonlost record does not always reflect how well it has played over the course of a season. Take the Milton Eagles basketball team, for an example. Milton came into the final week of the regular season with a 14-9 record, after going 18-10 and reaching the state tournament last season. The Eagles’ record could be better had coach Matt Kramer put together a less ambitious schedule, but Kramer elected to test a young team that returned only one starter and two reserves from last year’s squad. “The kids want to be challenged, and I did not schedule down,” said Kramer, in his second season as the team’s head coach. “I’d like to be 202, but I wouldn’t change the schedule a bit. We’ve got some pretty good wins, but it’s been
challenging.” The Eagles were third in region play at 10-4 coming into this week’s games, with three of their losses against Wheeler and Pope, the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in 5-AAAAAA. Those two teams were a combined 41-5, with one of Pope’s losses against Wheeler, the state’s No. 1-ranked team. Until a loss last week against Cherokee, the No. 4 team in the region, Milton’s first eight defeats were against seven teams that were a combined 145-12. Of that group, six were ranked in the top 10 in their state, with Milton’s opponents including the No. 3 and 6 teams in Florida, No. 4 in North Carolina and Nos. 1, 4 and 7 in Georgia. Four of the losses came in the Eagles’ first five games, when they were without football standout Quarte Sapp, who was absent due to Milton’s deep run in the state football playoffs. Sapp, who committed to a football scholarship to Tennessee last week, has emerged as the team’s second leading scorer (11 points a game) and a key defender and rebounder. Kramer believes Sapp could
have been a big-time recruit had he concentrated on basketball, and drew some attention from college coaches with his play in the Eagles’ holiday tournament in Tennessee. He provides an inside complement to Chris Lewis, the team’s lone returning starter and the Eagles’ leader in most statistical categories. Lewis, a 6-foot-8 junior, has been on the radar of Division I coaches since he was in the eighth grade, but is also a star in the classroom and has already committed to Harvard. Although his offensive game is still a work in progress, Lewis averages 16 points a game, averages double figures in rebounds and ranks among the state’s leaders in blocked shots. “He covers up some mistakes,” Kramer said of Lewis, who zealously protects the basket with his size and athletic ability, and is worth far more to the Eagles than his scoring average. Lewis is the leader of what is an excellent defensive team. “He’s a fantastic player and an even better kid,” his coach said. As vital as Lewis is to the Eagles’ success, they proved
they can play without him when they held off Woodstock recently. Lewis was out with an ankle injury, but was back in the lineup a few nights later and scored 20 and 21 points in the last two games. He combined for 40 points in back-to-back Milton wins last weekend. Sophomore guard Alex O’Connell stepped up against Woodstock with 20 points, one night after scoring a seasonhigh 23 in an overtime win over rival Alpharetta. The Raiders are unbeaten in Region 6-AAAAAA. O’Connell hit a three-pointer at the buzzer in overtime to lift the Eagles to the victory over the Raiders, and is the team’s primary outside threat. “When he makes his shots, we’re a lot better team,” said Kramer of the sophomore guard, who has grown from 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-3 since last June. O’Connell’s older brother Shawn, a starter last year who is now at Georgia Southern, is 6-foot-8, and Kramer says Alex is heading in that direction. Senior Jordan Burrow, the other returning regular from last season, directs the offense as the Eagles’ point guard. Burrow provides leadership,
averages nine points a game and is “a great on-ball defender,” Kramer says. He keyed a recent comeback win against Etowah with back-to-back steals that produced late-game baskets. “He changes games with his defense,” Kramer observed. Burrow’s successor at point guard next season will be sophomore D.J. Young, who is starting on the wing and is second on the team in three-pointers made behind O’Connell. The back-to-back wins over Alpharetta and Woodstock, the latter without Lewis, have given Kramer a belief that the Eagles’ best is still ahead of them this season. “We’re still getting better, but we haven’t played a 32-minute game yet,” he said. “There are still a lot of good things we can do.” The Eagles close out the regular season Friday night at Roswell. There’s a decent possibility that the two teams will meet again in the first round of the region tournament, also at Roswell, with state tournament berth on the line. Milton defeated the Hornets last year in the region quarterfinals to qualify for state.
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Pratt Institute BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Andrew Kim of Johns Creek has begun studies at New York’s Pratt Institute. Kim is one of 835 students selected from more than 7,300 applicants.
Auburn University AUBURN, Ala. – Zachary Gunnz of Alpharetta was awarded the National Collegiate Scholar Award as a freshman at Auburn University because of his grade point average. After graduating from Alpharetta High School with honors, he was accepted into Auburn’s chemical engineering program.
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Sapp to sign with Tennessee MILTON, Ga. – Milton High School linebacker Quarte Sapp committed to Tennessee Thursday, adding to the list of Milton football players expected to sign Division I scholarships this week. Sapp will join former Milton teammate Treyvon Paulk with the Volunteers, with Paulk recently reinstated to the squad after being dropped from the team early this past season. Sapp was a first team all-state selection his senior season, and chose Tennessee over North Carolina. Alpharetta graduate Josh Dobbs is Tennessee’s starting quarterback, and former Alpharetta teammate Andrew Butcher is joining him, having already enrolled at the school. Butcher, a defensive end,
and Sapp shared North Fulton Defensive Player of the Year honors this past season. Also expected to sign Division I scholarships for the Eagles are offensive lineman Nick Wilson (Stanford), wide receiver/defensive back Obe Fortune (Appalachian State) and defensive lineman Nick Steinhaus (West Point). Several other players are likely to sign with smaller schools. Former Milton offensive lineman Cory Helms, who has played the last two seasons at Wake Forest, is transferring to South Carolina. Helms was a freshman All-America selection at center, and started at guard this season at Wake Forest. —Mike Blum
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WHEATON, Ill. – April Sylvester of Duluth and Elizabeth Schriver of Alpharetta both made the spring 2014 Dean’s List at Wheaton College. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or better and take a minimum 12 credit hours.
Berry College MOUNT BERRY, Ga. – Berry College recently celebrated 60 new fall 2014 graduates, including the following local students: Kelsey Campbell, Roswell, bachelor’s degree in communication; Richie Keezer, Roswell, bachelor’s degree in psychology; Lindsay Luckett, Alpharetta, bachelor’s degree in accounting; and Eve Israel, Roswell, education specialist degree in
Johns Creek Herald | February 5, 2015 | 29
educational leadership.
Mercersburg Academy MERCERSBURG, Pa. – Clare Liss of Alpharetta and Erin Pak of Duluth were named to the fall Honor Roll at Mercersburg Academy. They both were named a commended scholar for having all grades of 85 and above.
Ga.Southwestern State University AMERICUS, Ga. – The following local students have recently graduated from Georgia Southwestern State University: Thomas Chapman, Suwanee, bachelor’s degree in business administration in management; Aniko Horne, Suwanee, bachelor’s degree in psychology; Crystal Neal, Suwanee, bachelor’s degree in dramatic arts; Deborah Obinwa, Suwanee, bachelor’s degree in nursing; Amara Quddus, Suwanee, bachelor’s degree in accounting; and Cindy Ring, Suwanee, bachelor’s degree in accounting. In addition, the following local students made the fall 2014 Dean’s List at Georgia Southwestern State: Rachel Creagan of Roswell, Lindsey Fetner of Duluth, Katherine Hollingsworth of Roswell, Erin Quinn of Roswell, Amelia Cornell of Cumming and Amara Quddus of Suwanee. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or better and take a minimum 12 credit hours.
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi BATON ROUGE, La. – The following students were inducted into the Honor
Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Olivia La Selva of Cumming was initiated at Valdosta State University. Chelsea Lupica of Milton was initiated at DePaul University. Kristen Kennedy of Roswell was initiated at Mississippi State University. Shirley Middleton of Roswell was initiated at University of North Alabama. Melissa Morrison of Milton was initiated at University of South Alabama. Emily Ruggles of Alpharetta, Caroline Garner of Cumming and Lauren Still of Roswell were initiated at Auburn University.
Tufts University MEDFORD, Mass. – Sahar Roodehchi of Cumming made the spring 2014 Dean’s List at Tufts University. Dean’s List honors at Tufts University require a GPA of 3.4 or greater.
Brenau University GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Rachel Elizabeth Lange of Alpharetta and Allison Leigh Smyth of Alpharetta both made the fall 2014 Dean’s List at Brenau University. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must maintain a GPA of 3.6 or better and take a minimum 15 credit hours. Also at Brenau, local students participated in the Gainesville Theatre Alliance production of “Oklahoma,” performed at the Hosch Theatre of the John S. Burd Center for the Performing Arts. Students from North Fulton and Forsyth included Caitlin Cavanaugh of Suwanee, Katie Keel of Johns Creek, Deirdre Kunze of Johns Creek, Sydney Rohrbaugh of Suwanee, Rebecca Martell of Cumming, Meredith Martin of Cumming and Amanda Willett of Cumming.
See VARSITY, Page 33
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JC Chamber gala standing room only Annual business awards presented at AAC By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The annual Johns Creek Chamber Gala Jan. 23 was once again one of the top entertaining soirees of the social season. Never say Johns Creek’s business community does not know how to party, and the Atlanta Athletic Club was just the place to do it. The gala also attracted several distinguished guests, including Fulton County Chairman John Eaves, Fulton Vice Chairwoman Liz Hausmann and Sheriff Ted Jackson. Before the fun began, the amenities were observed. The annual awards were presented, and the chamber’s accomplishments were duly noted. This year’s keynote speaker, DeKalb County’s Interim School Superintendent Michael Thurmond, again defended his reputation as a public speaker as being motivational and uplifting and well spiced with wry humor. Thurmond’s life story reads like an Horatio Alger story with a little sprinkling of George Washington Carver. He was born the son of sharecropper parents in Georgia’s Clarke County. After graduating cum laude from Paine College, he got his law degree at the University of South Carolina and then went on to complete the political executives program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Thurmond was named to Georgia’s Power List of 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2015. In 1986, after his third
Top business awards highlight gala The Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce’s annual gala celebrates the chamber’s membership and accomplishments. This upscale event draws a large crowd of the Who’s Who in Johns Creek, including notable elected officials. It was an evening of elaborate dining, awards and entertainment by the Infinity Show Band. 2015 award winners receiving their recognition are: Chamber Leadership Award • Whitney Bryant, Financial Strategies of Georgia • Dan Callahan, Alcon • Paul Creamer, Coca-Cola • Susan Edson, Alphagraphics – Johns Creek/Norcross • Bill Hamilton, FastSigns of Norcross Chamber Spirit Awards • Lee Dawkins, American Family Insurance Agency • Kelly Dunham, Gwinnett Medical Center – Duluth • Robbie Helms, Community member • Ray Pope, Atlanta Inbound
DAN SIMKEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Chamber members recognized at the gala include, in front from left, Leadership Award winners Bill Hamilton and Whitney Bryant. In back, from left, are Spirit Award winners Lee Dawkins and Ray Pope, along with Business Spirit Award winners Joe Huggins of Massage Heights, Mike Bothwell of Compelling Signs and Dean Callahan of Alcon.
Business Spirit Awards • Chili’s – Johns Creek • Compelling Signs • Massage Heights campaign, Thurmond became the first African-American elected to the Georgia General Assembly from Clarke County since Reconstruction. Following his legislative service, Thurmond was tapped to lead the state Division of Family and Children’s Services and direct Georgia’s historic transition from welfare to work. The innovative Work First program he created helped 90,000 welfare-dependent Georgia families transition from dependence into the workforce. In 1998, Thurmond was elected for the first of three terms to the statewide office of
Georgia labor commissioner. Recently called to step in as interim school superintendent of DeKalb Schools, he has reversed the school district’s fortunes from a $14 million deficit to a $40 million surplus. His philosophy is act in enlightened self-interest. That means helping a neighbor get back on his feet so that he doesn’t become a burden to his neighbors and his home improves in value, not falls. “You do that because helping your neighbor is going to help the neighborhood where your children will live,” Thurmond said. It works in the macrosense as well. Improve education opportunities for all one’s
neighbors, even in the next county, and the community is well served, he said. He noted that French historian Alexis de Tocqueville marveled at 18th century America’s communities that worked in association to improve their towns for the betterment of all. “Public education is just one of the great examples of that,” Thurmond said. “As citizens, we are compelled to see that all children in every city, every county and every state is ultimately in our own self-interest.” A successful, highly qualified workforce in Georgia will not only draw people to the state, but provide the jobs and the livelihoods for children to live here as well.
DAN SIMKEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Interim DeKalb Schools Superintendent Michael Thurmond addresses chamber guests.
There has never been a better time to become a member of the Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce.
BRING IT ON! Start the new year right by considering a membership to the Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce. It is a great way to network, learn, and grow your business. For more information, visit alpharettachamber.com or contact Ciara Rubin at ciara@alpharettachamber.com or 404-277-4930. A L P H A R E T TA C H A M B E R
AFTER
H URS URS
ALPHARETTA CHAMBER’S
BUSINESS ACADEMY
Gala 2015
January 24
www.AlpharettaChamber.com
CHAMBER GALA
Johns Creek Herald | February 5, 2015 | 31 Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Picture perfect.
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
That’s entertainment!
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Chamber members keep the dance floor jumping.
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Dancing cheek to cheek.
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
The Johns Creek Chamber cuts a lot of ribbons, but President John Bemont and Marketing Manager Maria Rose show they can cut a rug as well.
DAN SIMKEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Looking good.
HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Ray Pope and Whitney Bryant trip the light fantastic on the dance floor.
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Being Herself Bridget O’Donnell starts conversation of hope and inspiration about recovering from eating disorders By KIMBERLY BROCK CUMMING, Ga. – Bridget O’Donnell, a soft spoken sophomore at Lambert High School in Cumming has a story to tell and she’s not afraid to talk about the hard stuff. Today Bridget spends her time running track, playing soccer and spending time with friends, her parents Susan and Tim and her older brother and sister. But only four years ago, she faced the horrible descent into anorexia and the difficult journey toward recovery. “People think eating disorders are a choice,” Bridget explained. “They think you just choose to stop eating. But it’s not really so much about the physical. It’s mental. It’s a constant war with yourself.” Bridget’s mom, Susan O’Donnell, agrees. “Anorexia is a symptom of a state of mind,” Susan said. “For Bridget, the struggle began in seventh grade, but we chalked it up to the typical teenage kinds of things. Her siblings were moving into new phases in their lives. Her sister left for college and then her brother started high school, leaving Bridget alone in middle school and feeling anxious. “The schedules and routines in our home that had always provided stability, were changing and less predictable,” she said. “She also faced changes in her childhood friendships as the girls began to gravitate toward different groups according to their in-
terests and activities. Everyone seemed to know where they fit, but Bridget felt uncertain. She began to obsessively compare herself to others and felt she always came up short.” Bridget also remembers that time in her life when everything changed. “At school, we watched a video about eating disorders, and I thought it was awful,” she said. “I thought how could you do that to yourself? And then everything changed and I started obsessing and comparing myself. It was just a few months and I was that girl.” Susan said the changes in Bridget were gradual. “The changes we first saw weren’t in Bridget’s weight, but in her personality,” Susan said. “She became withdrawn, manipulative, depressed and belligerent. She would eat in front of us, but was a master of deception when we weren’t watching. She was skipping meals or severely limiting her food and exercising to excess. She began to have a hard time getting up and was often late for school. She started complaining of stomach aches all the time. That’s when we went to see our pediatrician.” Most of Bridget’s meals weren’t with her family anymore due to busy schedules, and so her condition was fast deteriorating by the time she was diagnosed with an eating disorder. Susan has advice for parents. “If you have suspicions,
People think eating disorders are a choice. They think you just choose to stop eating. But it’s not really so much about the physical. It’s mental. It’s a constant war with yourself.” BRIDGET O’DONNELL
don’t wait. Days count,” she said. “Call ahead to your physician with your concerns so the conversation happens before your appointment, so you’re taken seriously and everyone comes to the appointment prepared.” Bridget’s activities were
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Bridget O’Donnell with her mom Susan. restricted as she and her family focused on improving her eating. Susan took her to the Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders (ACE) for an evaluation, where they recommended she start treatment. But this meant daily trips to the center, which would take Bridget out of school. Bridget was able to talk Susan out of making her go to the center. Within weeks, a follow-up appointment revealed Bridget’s condition required hospitalization. For two-and-a-half weeks, Bridget was at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), where she continued to deteriorate physically and mentally struggled with suicidal thoughts. At this point, she was transferred to the women’s eating disorder wing at Ridgeview Institute, where she remained for two months. It seemed to be a turning point. Going into eighth grade, Bridget seemed to be doing well and made the decision to come off her medication. It was a mistake.
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“We relaxed and she relapsed,” Susan said. “It happened so fast. It was terrifying.” ACE recommended she go to a residential treatment center. Bridget’s parents found Veritas Collaborative in Durham, North Carolina, a program that specializes in adolescent disorders. The focus was on emotion regulation, something Bridget felt really made a difference in her recovery. Therapists guided her through exercises to help her focus not on where she was failing or needed to change, but on the idea that everyone is on their own journey. It’s a process, learning to take her time and find what works from one day to the next. “Talking to others with eating disorders was the biggest relief,” Bridget said. She is gentle, but there is purpose in her voice. “The program included yoga, art, movement and cu-
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SCHOOLS
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Maps: Continued from Page 1
Barnwell students rehearse for the spoof, “Green Eggs and Hamlet.”
Barnwell students to perform ‘Green Eggs and Hamlet’ Musical set Feb. 5-6 at Northview HS JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Barnwell Elementary School’s fourthand fifth-grade students are getting ready for their performance in a zany musical parody of those most distinguished men of letters, Dr. Seuss and William Shakespeare.
They will appear in “Green Eggs and Hamlet” Thursday and Friday, Feb. 5 and 6 at Northview High School. The production pairs up Seuss’ “Sam I Am” and Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” to lead a group of literature-loathing
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Troy University TROY, Ala. – The following local students graduated from Troy University following the fall 2014 semester. Tran Nguyen of Duluth graduated with a master’s of business administration degree in international business and Xi Wang of Alpharetta graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
NORTHSIDE CHAPEL
LEXINGTON, Va. – The following Virginia Military Institute cadets were recently named to the Dean’s List for the second semester of academic year 2013-2014. Garrett B. Manarin, Alpharetta, majoring in mechanical engineering; Robert L. Danielson, Duluth, majored in economics/business; and Matthew D. DeRito, Alpharetta, majoring in history/international studies.
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kids into the books they think they don’t want to read. This original and comical play was written by Whitney King, Jamie Moore and Eric Nash. Tickets can be purchased at www.seatyourself.biz/barnwell or at the door.
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Jan. 21 meeting, Jones-Huff presented the staff-recommended map and emphasized all changes to attendance lines have been shown to the community for input. “There are no moves [in the recommended version] which were not presented in either the second or third round of community meetings,” said JonesHuff. After a month-long comment period, the school board will vote on the final map during its Feb. 19 meeting. Middle school changes will go into effect in August 2015, with elementary changes the following year. The latest round of redistricting for North Fulton schools is needed with the opening of a new elementary school in Roswell on Highway 9 this summer, along with additions at three area middle schools and a rebuild of Esther Jackson Elementary in Roswell in 2016. When questioned as to the number of students moved, including some who lived a far distance from new construction, JonesHuff said the current redistricting process had a dual
purpose. “The primary purpose was to [fill] the new schools,” said Jones-Huff. “But as we looked at boundaries across the board, this presented us with the opportunity to balance enrollments and [correct] imbalances.” She noted Creek View Elementary has an enrollment over 970 students this year, while nearby schools have several hundred fewer students. Feeder lines from elementary to middle were also tweaked to allow as many kids to remain with their classmates from elementary to middle, and on to high school. Still, Jones-Huff recognizes that change is hard for many and the map will not make everyone happy. “While staff reviews all comments received during a redistricting, multiple perspectives must be balanced in developing a final recommendation,” said JonesHuff. “The ultimate goal is to balance enrollment and capacity and fill new seats when a school opens. Some community concerns cannot be addressed during the process.” To view the recommended map, visit www.fultonschools. org, and search for redistricting information.
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JC Arts Center unveils prestigious Hammonds House artists Exhibit celebrates black women artists as part of Black History Month events By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The Johns Creek Arts Center will have a number of events during February as part of Black History Month, but centerpiece this year has to be the ongoing exhibition of works on loan from the Hammonds House Museum in Atlanta. Called “Re-imagining: Female Artists from the Hammonds House Museum,” it has a stunning selection of 25 works from the museum’s collection, including Elizabeth Catlett, Sheila Pree Bright and Ouida Canaday. Many of these artists worked in the South and Atlanta. The exhibition was arranged by Johns Creek Arts Center Program Director Althea Foster. “It is a marvelous collection of media including abstract,
What this exhibition shows more than anything is the diversity and variety and different modes of expression these women possesses.” ALTHEA FOSTER Johns Creek Art Center Program Director representational, folk art and sculpture,” said Foster. “You cannot really hang all of the styles here on one peg. While
“Cloud Suite Morning 1” is by Ouida Canaday.
This sculpture, “Mother and Child,” is cast in bronze by Elizabeth Catlett, one of the renowned artists of the Southeast.
If you go What: Reimagining – Female Black Artists Where: Johns Creek Arts Center; 6290 Abbotts Bridge Road Suite 700 When: Thru Feb. 28; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Cost: Free More info: 770-623-8448 some show ethnicity, their visions are all different.” The exhibit is the cornerstone of this year’s Black Arts Festival. Hammonds House Museum in Atlanta is one of the premier museums of African American art and culture in the Southeast. Artists include Catlett, Renee Stout, Canaday and Lois Mailou Jones to name just a few. Of them, Catlett is perhaps the most widely known artist among the group. A sculptress known for her ability to depict both the physical and spiritual essence of her subjects, she is most often regarded for her works of working class women and women as mothers. She is especially close to Foster because she interviewed Catlett as part of her master’s thesis in art history while at Tulane University. “She was born in Washington, D.C., and was accepted at Carnegie Mellon Institute but then was forced to withdraw when authorities discovered she was black,” Foster said. “She became persona non-grata in the 1950s for her politics. “She also lived in Mexico, married and raised a family, before coming back to America in the ‘60s to get involved in the Civil Rights Movement,” Foster said. In her art, she always portrayed ordinary people, and continued working right up to her death in 2011 at the age of 98. Nellie Mae Rowe is at the opposite end of the Reimagining spectrum. She was self-taught and is the only folk artist in the exhibition. “A lot of her work is about her personal mythology,” Foster said. “It has become a popular genre today.” Canaday, in addition to being featured in the show, is notable for founding The Artists Atelier, Atlanta’s first artists co-op to provide artists a place to work, learn and sell their own work. “She was involved in the Atlanta art scene and was mentor to many artists starting out,” Foster said. She died in 1994. “What this exhibition shows more than anything is the diversity and variety and differ-
PHOTOS BY HATCHER HURD/STAFF
“Portrait of a Slave Marriage,” detail, is by Yanique Norman.
“African Dancers” is by Lois Mailou Johns. ent modes of expression these women possesses,” Foster said. “The depth of expression and the way these artists interpreted the world is what makes it
so interesting.” This exhibition will be available for viewing through Feb. 28. This event is free and open to the public.
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SCHOOLS
johnscreekherald.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 5, 2015 | 35
Elementary School Final Recommendation
Middle School Final Recommendation
36 | February 5, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
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Alcohol: CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PUBLIC NOTICE PURPOSE An Alcoholic Beverage License Application was submitted to the City on January 26, 2015 for Consumption on Premises of Malt Beverage, Wine and Distilled Spirits. BUSINESS NAME Brooklyn Cantina, Inc. dba Brooklyn Cantina 9945 Jones Bridge Road Suite 301 Johns Creek, GA 30022 OWNER/OFFICERS Brooklyn Cantina, Inc. dba Brooklyn Cantina 9945 Jones Bridge Road Suite 301 Johns Creek, GA 30022 Stephanee Wade Prince President/Secretary
Continued from Page 6 CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PUBLIC NOTICE PURPOSE An Alcoholic Beverage License Application was submitted to the City on January 27, 2015 for Consumption on Premises of Malt Beverage. BUSINESS NAME Solid Kore LLC dba ZPizza 11720 Medlock Bridge Road Suite 110 Johns Creek, GA 30097 OWNER/OFFICERS Solid Kore LLC dba ZPizza 11720 Medlock Bridge Road Suite 110 Johns Creek, GA 30097 Owner Yuri Song
CITY OF ALPHARETTA PUBLIC NOTICE PH-15-AB-03 PLACE City Hall Two Park Plaza Council Chambers February 12, 2015 3:00 P.M. PURPOSE Growler Sales APPLICANT 752 Enterprises, LLC d/b/a The Beer Growler 865 North Main Street Suite 106 Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 Owner 752 Enterprises, LLC Registered Agent Julie Overton
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK ITB NUMBER #15-057 OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS ON BOLES RD., OLD ALABAMA RD., & MEDLOCK CROSSING The City of Johns Creek is accepting sealed Invitation to Bid (ITB) from qualified construction firms for Operational Improvements at three (3) locations-Boles Rd., Old Alabama Rd., and Medlock Crossing. Sealed ITB’s will be received no later than 10:00 A.M. on February 26, 2015 in the City of Johns Creek Purchasing Office, 12000 Findley Rd., Suite-400, Johns Creek, Georgia, 30097 at which time ITB’s will be opened and publicly read aloud. 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 12, 2015 @ 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) 5123233. Please refer to ITB #15-057 and name, Operational Improvements at Boles Rd., Old Alabama Rd., and Medlock Crossing when requesting information. 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. THREE (3) ORIGINAL HARDCOPIES AND ONE (1) ORIGINAL COPY ON CD OF THE ITB 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
statute, despite offering their congratulations to the applicant for taking such positive steps to move forward. Restaurant owners complained the process was overkill. Not only was the process costly and time consuming, it made it harder for them to compete for competent wait staff with so many restaurants in the surrounding suburbs that did not have such burdens placed on their establishments. The council requested that Hutmacher revisit the statute. In his review of the statute, Hutmacher said it was a burden on the local businesses as well as the city. Nor was it clear that the process “created a safety net” that would prevent the serving of alcohol
to minors or over-serving the patrons. Hutmacher presented an alternative server model he said “was more nuanced,” similar to that of other cities. It requires the owner or the manager on duty to receive the server’s permit and further makes that holder of the permit responsible for any serving violations committed by any server on the premises. “The business can lose its alcohol permit if anyone is negligent in their duties to manage their employees,” Hutmacher said. “This would greatly reduce the number of permits issued, the time lag to hire employees as well as the time associated with applications, background checks and appeals.” The education class required for all servers and managers will still be enforced. – Hatcher Hurd
ONLINE AUCTION BY CITY OF ALPHARETTA The City of Alpharetta, in conjunction with GovDeals, will conduct a CONTINUOUS online auction to sell surplus material, equipment, and vehicles. To view the surplus items or to place a bid, please visit www.govdeals.com. All sales will be final to the highest bidder and sold as is, where is, with no warranty expressed or implied. The City of Alpharetta and GovDeals reserves the right to reject any and all bids, and the right to waive formalities. Once the items are sold, the coordination of and actual removal of the items must be completed by the selected party. For further information, visit www.govdeals.com or contact Jonathan Bulau with the City of Alpharetta, Department of Finance at (678) 297-6095 or jbulau@alpharetta.ga.us.
PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF JOHNS CREEK Tuesday, February 10, 2015 OPEN HOUSE and Possible Quorum Johns Creek Central Business District Redevelopment Plan The City of Johns Creek will host an OPEN HOUSE on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 beginning at 7pm. The purpose of the Open House is to have Urban Design Associates provide information and receive feedback regarding the Johns Creek Central Business District Redevelopment Plan. In conformance with the Georgia Open Meetings Law, please note a quorum of the City of Johns Creek Mayor and Council Members may be in attendance. In addition members of the Arts and Culture Board, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Public Arts Board along with members of the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals may also be in attendance at this Open House scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at Johns Creek City Hall Council Chambers (3rd floor) which is located at 12000 Findley Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097. This Open House is from 7pm until 9pm and the public is invited to attend. Please contact the City Clerk’s office at 678-512-3212 should you have any questions or need assistance. Joan Jones, City Clerk
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Bridget: Continued from Page 32 linary classes,” she said. “We learned about mindfulness, being in the moment, skills for dealing with anxiety.” Both Bridget and Susan recall that time apart as difficult, but hopeful. “The Veritas program is hours away from our home, but family-oriented,” said Susan. “They wanted us involved. On weekends, we often participated in family therapy. We’d struggled to understand or find ways to help. “It was difficult when we tried to find activities we could enjoy as a family that didn’t center on food. My older kids withdrew from the situation, afraid for Bridget and confused by what she was doing to her-
Roundup: Continued from Page 26 added 15. The Gladiators, who scored 57 points in the second half, made 31 of their 53 field goals attempts, including 11 of 15 on three-pointers. Lancaster and Whitlow were seven of 10 on threes. Jaylon Gamble scored 19 points as the Raiders won 6355 at Chattahoochee earlier last week, playing without
self,” she said. “When we tried to encourage them to spend time with her, to show support, it often made things worse instead of better. Veritas helped us learn to reconnect with one another.” After four months, Bridget was able to go home and return to school for her freshman year. Now she’s starting a conversation, beginning with a video about the possibility of recovering from eating disorders that she recorded for her video broadcasting class. It features many of the other young women she’s met along her journey. She wants others to know there’s hope. “I remember thinking this was just how I was going to be and there was nothing I could do about it,” Bridget said. “Then, when I went into treatment, I hoped it would just
click one day and everything would be alright. But that’s not how it is. “You have to put a lot of effort into yourself and your recovery,” she said. “You have to go through the pain, the hard time. But if you put forth the effort yourself, it will get better. You will get better.” Susan, too, feels the need for action. “Once we started talking about what we’d been through, we were amazed at how many kids in Bridget’s social circles were in therapy for various reasons,” she said. “We realized our large schools may be less than prepared to support families like ours. It’s a battle for every child with an eating disorder and every family trying to support them mentally and physically while keeping them from falling behind or through the cracks.
“I feel it’s important to advocate for our kids as they face these stressors in our culture, to move away from the stigma of treatment, whether it’s therapy or stabilizing medications,” Susan said. “First, being aware and second, being open can make all the difference. Therapy or drugs may not be for life, but they can certainly save one.” “I’m hopeful now,” Bridget shared. “It’s been a lot, but I’m happier, stronger. It’s easier to finally just be myself, and that’s the best part.” To learn more: • You can watch Bridget’s video on recovering from eating disorders at: http:// youtu.be/SzbIp7DLAOA. • The O’Donnell family recommends the following books, services and educational resources:
• Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders, www.eatingdisorders.cc. Affiliated therapists include Julie Orr, 770-458-8711, ext. 217, and Rachel Rose, 770-4588711, ext. 211. • National Eating Disorders Association, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org. • “Brave Girl Eating” by Harriette Brown • “Teach Your Children Well” by Madeline Levine • Links to books, articles and blogs written by experts at www.bulimia.com and https://www.newharbinger. com. • Atlanta Dialectical Behavior Therapy in Norcross • Ray of Hope Counseling Services in Suwanee • Healthy Eating and Weight Support at Emory University, Dr. Erin Jones, 404805-6008
Cacok, who was sidelined with an injury. Centennial moved into third place in the 6-AAAAAA standings with a 68-61 victory over Lambert, which had lost only to Alpharetta in region play coming into the game. The Knights enjoyed an outstanding shooting game, connecting on 24 of 43 field goal attempts and hitting 17 of 19 free throws. Centennial led 25-17 after one quarter and had a 14-point lead going to the final period.
Darrian Brown led the Knights (14-9) with 22 points and nine rebounds. Terrell Dirton added 15 points and Adam Saeed contributed 12 points, 10 rebounds, six blocks and four steals. Saeed was eight of nine from the field for 17 points and had 11 rebounds in a 56-42 win at North Forsyth later in the week. The Cambridge girls (9-15) won two of three games last week, winning 51-30 at North Atlanta and 48-41 at North Springs. Ali LoPiccolo led the
Cambridge scoring with 15 points against North Atlanta and 21 against North Springs, connecting on 10 field goals in the latter game. Cambridge lost 40-26 Saturday to sub-region leader Forsyth Central, with LoPiccolo scoring 15 points.
Johns Creek (11-12) defeated Alpharetta 49-34 Friday, with Sydney Tanguilig scoring 17 of her 22 points in the first half. Johns Creek battled West Forsyth, one of the region’s three dominant teams, losing 48-45 earlier in the week.
DEATH NOTICES Robert Marcellous Bishop, Jr., 64, of Cumming, passed away January 25, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.
Roger Lee Hubbard, 65, of Gainesville, passed away January 25, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.
Sally Gentry Trawick, 74, of Alpharetta, passed away January 26, 2015. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.
Marie Collis, of Milton, passed away January 24, 2015. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Masami Hull, 79, of Cumming, passed away January 27, 2015. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.
Virginia Louise Vaughn, 77, of Cumming, passed away January 19, 2015. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.
Andrew Jack Duncan, 80, of Cumming, passed away January 25, 2015. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. Ronny Reamer Floyd, 71, of Cumming passed away January 27, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Marcus M. Gazaway, 87, of Forsyth County, passed away January 25, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Peggy Lou Hanley, of Alpharetta, passed away January 23, 2015. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
johnscreekherald.com | Johns Creek Herald | February 5, 2015 | 37
Jeanne F. Kohler, 63, of Gainesville, passed away January 25, 2015. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.
Earl Vick, of Roswell, passed away January 24, 2015. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Warren Kraemer, of Alpharetta, passed away January 27, 2015. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors. Hugh Lee Wall, Sr., 78, of Cumming, passed away January 26, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Kathy Schlacht, of Johns Creek, passed away January 23, 2015. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Helen Opal Wilson, 86, of Cumming, passed away January 24, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Joel Ronald Zingerman, 78, of Suwanee, passed away January 24, 2015. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.
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Country Ranch
Hiring Technicians, Stone Masons
Mad Hatter Services hiring air duct and chimney technicians, helpers and stone masons. We will train. Must be dependable, have a good driving record and a valid driver’s license. Mad Hatter Services promotes a smoke free work environment and conducts random drug screening on a continual basis. Potential Annual Earnings: $40,000+. Walk in applications are encouraged at 5220 Atlanta Highway, Alpharetta, GA 30004. E-mail resumes toinfo@madhatterservices. com or call 770-740-8133.
Hiring Office Staff
The Mad Hatter Service Company in Alpharetta is hiring customer service representatives. Job duties include managing incoming calls, scheduling appointments, and doing basic administrative tasks. Must be familiar with QuickBooks and scheduling software. Must be dependable, friendly and have a positive attitude. 9:00am – 5:00pm M-F. Mad Hatter Services promotes a smoke free and drug free work environment. Please reply to this posting by submitting a cover letter and resume to info@madhatterservices.com.
HANDYMAN REMODELING
ALL REPAIRS & REMODELS
678-455-2434 www.HandyHero.net 30 yrs. exp./FREE ESTIMATES 1 YR WARRANTY/Lic. & Ins.
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
WANTED OLD JAPANESE MOTORCYCLES KAWASAKI-- Z1-900(1972-75), KZ900, KZ1000(1976-1982), Z1R, KZ1000MK2(1979,80), W1-650, H1-500(1969-72), H2-750(1972-1975), S1-250, S2-350, S3-400, KH250, KH400, SUZUKI--GS400, GT380, HONDA--CB750K(1969-1976), CBX1000(1979,80)
$$ CASH $$
1-800-772-1142 1-310-721-0726 usa@classicrunners.com
40 | February 5, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com | Recycled paper
The Spring Market Is...
Now is the time to get your home ready for sale! If you are thinking of selling, The Ash-Jones Team will work with you every step of the way to help you prepare your home for sale and make your home picture perfect. We have a proven track record of over $30 million in sales for 2013-14 and the expertise to sell your home for top dollar! Call us today for a free in home consultation and 3 hours of staging. And, get ready to sell!
The
Ash- Jones Team ashjonesteam.harrynorman.com
Just Around The Corner
Patty Ash 678-557-2877 cell patty@pattyash.com
Eve Jones 770-365-1406 cell eve.jones@harrynorman.com
Recent Sales By The Ash-Jones Team
580 Longstone Landing
700 Sorrel Lane
3595 Goldenrod Drive
250 Wembly Circle
4947 Feather Lane
NORTH FULTON OFFICE | 678-461-8700 | 7855 North Point Parkway, Suite 100 | Alpharetta, GA 30022 | www.harrynorman.com