Milton Herald, November 26, 2014 by Appen Media Group

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November 26, 2014 | miltonherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 9, No. 47

Milton approves $10M bond MILTON, Ga. – The city approved taking out a $10 million bond, the first for Milton since it was created. The decision has come in little steps before now, but on Nov. 17, the City Council gave the final go-ahead to take out the bonds. The money will be taken out by the Milton Public Building and Facilities Authority.

Chris Lagerbloom, Milton city manager, said the bonds that were taken out are very advantageous to the city, with a competitive interest rate. And the best part – it can be taken out and paid down without raising taxes. The bond will largely fund the Bell Memorial Park construction, Lagerbloom said. It would also go toward other projects in the city.

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Milton's Micco Brisker (33) cuts through the Langston Hughes defense during one of his 35 carries.

MILTON 17, LANGSTON HUGHES 14 »

Defense shines again in Eagles’ playoff victory Top-ranked Colquitt is Milton’s next test By MIKE BLUM news@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. – Prior to this season, the Milton Eagles had never won a state playoff game in football.

After last Friday night’s narrow 17-14 victory over South Fulton opponent Langston Hughes, the Eagles now have two playoff wins in succession; but three straight will be a serious challenge.

Milton will face Colquitt County, the state’s No. 1 team in Class AAAAAA and one of the top-ranked teams in the country, in Moultrie in the quarterfinals Friday night. A coin toss was held to determine where the game will be

See EAGLES, Page 13

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2 | November 26, 2014 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com

Mom high, crashes car with kids

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ROSWELL, Ga. – Two women were arrested Nov. 11 after a low-speed crash on Holcomb Bridge Road. They were allegedly on drugs with two young children in the car. An officer on patrol noticed a Honda Odyssey on Holcomb Bridge Road driving slowly and swerving, crossing all lanes of traffic, including oncoming traffic. The car swerved into a guardrail at Eves Road, then crossed all lanes back again before coming to a stop on the side of the road. When the officer went to investigate, he found both adults in the front seats – Erica Lynne Mondor, 26, of Commonwealth Circle, Alpharetta, and Autumn Kendra Miller, 26, of Arborhill Lane, Alpharetta – unconscious. “The officer had to break out the

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.

Residents find cars broken into JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Several residents along Haynes Bridge Road reported their vehicles broken into Nov. 8, with personal items stolen. One Woodvale Court victim told police his unlocked Jeep was entered and a digital camera was stolen. Also taken was a company MacBook Air. Using the computer’s tracking software and camera, the victim had discovered it near the intersection of Holcomb Bridge Road and Peachtree Corners Boulevard in an apartment area. The computer was remotely wiped. Another victim said a MacBook computer was stolen. Items of little value to the suspect were found throughout the neighborhood discarded on lawns. Nearby, on Haynes Trail, an unlocked vehicle was searched and $10 in cash was taken. That same night, just down the street at Wentworth Terrace, someone rummaged through two unlocked vehicles but took nothing of value. Down the road from that, on Ivey Oaks Lane, another victim reported

passenger window to get treatment to them,” said Officer Lisa Holland, Roswell Police spokeswoman. That’s when the officer noticed two young children strapped into car seats in the back of the car. MILLER “There were a boy and a girl,” Holland said. “They were fine.” Inside the car, police say they found suspected heroin along with hypodermic needles and a spoon containing suspected heroin. Both Mondor and Miller were taken to North Fulton Hospital for treatment. Holland said when they were roused, they admitted to meeting a dealer in a

Roswell parking lot, buying the drug and shooting up there before driving away. “It’s irresponsible to put yourself first and not think of the welfare of your children,” said Holland. “Someone could have MONDOR been killed.” The children were turned over to a family member. The driver, Mondor, was charged with DUI, reckless conduct, child endangerment, failure to maintain lane, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug-related objects. Miller was arrested for possession of drug-related objects and possession of a controlled substance.

an iPhone 4 missing from their vehicle sometime that night.

Both women were carrying large bags with them belonging to other stores. A manager from the store noted the bags appeared to get larger as the women strolled through the store. When the women left, security was alerted. One of the suspects, Maria M. Amante, 38, of Gainesville, was found in the parking lot. When she spotted police coming toward her, she allegedly fled. She and the officer ran around her car in the parking lot before she attempted to hide the bags she had in a wheel well. A search of the bags turned up stolen merchandise. Amante was arrested for shoplifting.

Jewelry taken from home JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – A Woodscape Trail resident had several high-value pieces of jewelry stolen from her home Nov. 6. According to the victim, she returned home about 7:30 p.m. and heard footsteps in the house. She assumed it was her son. When she spotted an open window in the kitchen, she called out to her son and realized he was not home. The master bedroom was found to be rummaged through. The victim reported an $8,000 Rolex watch, a $22,000 diamond ring, a $5,000 necklace and a pair of $10,000 diamond earrings were taken.

Suspect runs, chased by cop ALPHARETTA, Ga. – A Gainesville resident is suspected in attempting to steal more than $200 in clothing Nov. 9 from a store in the mall. Employees of the Victoria’s Secret store said they saw two women walking through the store and selecting items from the racks. As they did, employees said the items disappeared from both the racks and the suspects’ possession.

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Alpharetta homes broken into ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Two residents of Karen Drive had their homes broken into Nov. 7. One resident told police he returned home about 2:40 p.m. to find the home ransacked. Entry was made by a side door, where the door was pried open. Taken were a flat screen TV, laptop computer, two tablet computers, a vacuum cleaner, $900 in cash and several pieces of jewelry. A neighbor on Jon Scott Drive faced a similar problem. They found a side door pried open and the house a mess. As in the other break-in, computers and TVs were taken, along with a cowboy hat, cowgirl boots, dolls and clothing.

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Bomb materials found in Roswell park ROSWELL, Ga. – A suspected bomb was found in Roswell’s Vickery Creek Park Nov. 4. According to FBI agent Stephen Emmett, a mother and daughter were hiking on the trails in the park when they came across a bag. Inside the bag, they found suspicious materials that caused them to call police about 1:45 p.m.

Roswell police called in the FBI and the Cobb County bomb squad. The bag contained bombmaking materials, Emmett said, and it was detonated onscene to “render it safe.” The remains were taken by the FBI to determine any additional information. The investigation is ongoing, Emmett said.

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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 ►► Matthew Marshall, 28, of

Montgomery, Alabama, was arrested Oct. 31 on Westside Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI, possession of marijuana, possession of drug-related items and failure to maintain lane. ►► Stuart Frederick Usry, 38, of Sandpoint Trace,

Milton Herald | November 26, 2014 | 3

Alpharetta, was arrested Nov. 6 on North Main Street in Alpharetta for DUI and reckless driving. ►► Kyle Lanier Sullens, 47, of Providence Road, Alpharetta, was arrested Oct. 29 on South Main Street in Alpharetta for DUI, open container, hit and run and improper backing. ►► June C. Rondinone, 52, of Pinewalk Forest Trace, Alpharetta, was arrested Nov. 5 on Jones Bridge Road in Johns Creek for DUI and following too closely.

of Jameson Pass, Alpharetta, was arrested Nov. 3 on Jameson Pass in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana. ►► Haley Lynn Barnabel, 22, of Christophers Run, Alpharetta, was arrested Nov. 3 on Haynes Bridge Road in Alpharetta for possession of heroin and failure to maintain lane. ►► Derrick Favors, 31, of Atlanta was arrested Nov. 1 on Davis Drive in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana and disorderly conduct.

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Drug arrests ►► Benjamin J. Nelson, 24,

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4 | November 26, 2014 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com

Milton Police Chief Harrell to resign Steps down Dec. 4 By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. – After five years at the helm, Milton’s police chief is stepping down. Chief for almost the entirety of Milton’s cityhood, Deborah Harrell said the time has come for her the leave the post. Harrell has been policing for 20 years and was the city’s second police chief, after Chris Lagerbloom, who became the city manager not long after Milton’s creation. The offer to become the young city’s police chief was one Harrell could not refuse. “It was an opportunity to be part of the setup of an agency,” she said. “I could give it a fresh start.” After all, it is not every day you can create a department largely from scratch, and Harrell said she did the best she could. “I enjoyed it. It has been challenging, but I learned a lot,” she said. “I wouldn’t do it any different.” Milton’s police department has 42 employees, of which 39 are sworn officers.

Harrell realized early in her life she wanted to go into policing. “I was going to save the world,” she said. “I wanted to help HARRELL people.” She said she has always been fascinated by police officers, ever since a young age, when she would see them working. “They are taking care of the community and being there when someone needs help,” she said. “I knew that was the only thing I ever wanted to do. “I hope at some point I made a difference to somebody,” she said. Lagerbloom, Harrell’s predecessor and current Milton city manager, said she will be missed. “She has done a lot of great things,” said Lagerbloom. “I’m sad to see her go. I’ve known Deb 15 years. You grow as a team and mature as a group.” Since Harrell became chief, the department has received the state certification award and has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation

for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). “I think she has led a department that has met the needs of our Milton community,” said Lagerbloom. “We have a closure rate above the industry standard and a crime rate below. It is a testament to our department’s professionalism and policy.” The Milton Police Department, he said, has become a community partner rather than simply a policing force. “She has encouraged her officers to have compassion and discretion,” he said. Lagerbloom said he was happy with Harrell at the helm, but change can be good and refreshing. “I’m most proud of the current officers that work here and the civilian employees,” she said. “My image of success is based on those officers and how they perform and do their job. That’s made me successful.” Harrell is stepping out of public policing and entering the corporate world of asset protection. “It’s time to de-stress a little bit,” she said. “I feel like I carry the weight of so much on my shoulders, worrying about offi-

cers, safety and things that are going on in the country, and of course a lot of that always weighs on you 24 hours a day.” With her daughter growing up, Harrell said she wanted a move that would give her more time to enjoy her family. Harrell has no worries over the department, she said. “Milton will be fine when I leave,” she said. “Those officers will still be there.” An interim chief will be selected until a permanent replacement can be found. Lagerbloom said he will conduct a search both within and outside the department for her successor. “I am looking for someone highly experienced in ethics and police with a proven track record of success,” he said. “Somebody who can understand the vision for Milton.” Prior experience and education, commitment to ethics in the profession, vision for the future and, importantly, “organizational fit” will all play into his ultimate decision. He said the applicant needs to understand the police function in service to the community first. Harrell’s last day will be Dec. 4.

New City Hall not likely LEED Council balks at certification pricetag

By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com, MILTON, Ga. – Milton is in the design phase of its new City Hall building, which will be placed in downtown Crabapple. Being a city known for its rural and ecological friendliness, an important question was put before the council Nov. 17 – should the new City Hall be LEED certified? LEED – Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design – is a series of national standards that seek energy

efficiency and environmentally friendly building practices. This can range from anything as simple as motion-sensitive lighting to insulated materials. The city has established itself as a leader in sustainable practices, and makes a point of including discussions on such matters. City policy requires all new buildings of 5,000 square feet or larger to be considered for LEED certification. Unfortunately, to make the new City Hall LEED official, it will add as much as $58,000 to the price tag. That caused the City Council to pause. “If we do everything right, are we paying $58,000 for a plaque?” asked Councilmember Matt Kunz. The LEED status costs

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The new Milton City Hall is expected to be located in the heart of Crabapple. come in three parts – design, construction and administrative. Of that $58,000, the administrative costs are about half. Even so, Public Works Director Carter Lucas said the city has tried to follow sustainable practices as best it can and keep within budget. “While we have followed those practices in principle, we have not followed them to get the certification,” Lucas said. “In my opinion, that money is better spent on the facility itself rather than trying to

achieve those goals within the facility itself through the administrative costs. We are really going through the process, but we are just not paying the administrative costs to get certification at the end.” Members of council were also cautious about spending so much “on a plaque.” “The important part of this process is conforming to Georgia energy code, building with sustainable products – which we can do whether we

See LEED, Page 9

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miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | November 26, 2014 | 5

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Twelve year old Connor Murphy wants a go-cart in the worst way, but if the grades on his recent report card are an indication, it will be a socks and underwear Christmas if ever there was one.

Over $25,000 Raised! This year’s YRC benefit Bowl-a-Thon at Midtown Bowl raised the largest amount the YRC has raised to-date! The event was held to benefit Kate’s Club, a local charity that empowers children and teens who have lost a parent or sibling.

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6 | November 26, 2014 | Milton Herald

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Sedgwick Gallery raises more than $120,000 for charity Will host celebration party Nov. 29 ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Sedgwick Gallery has only been in downtown Alpharetta for one year, but it has been busy raising money to benefit charities in its new community. Located at 61 Roswell St. in one of the city’s oldest homes, the fine art gallery has participated in 13 fundraising events in North Fulton this year, helping them raise more than $120,000 for local charities

and nonprofit organizations. Gallery owners, the father and son team of Scott and Ryan Sedgwick, are inviting the public to celebrate their fundraising success and a year of fine art in downtown Alpharetta at a one-year anniversary party and sale Nov. 29 from 5 – 9 p.m. “We had an amazing first year with the support of the Alpharetta community. Partici-

pating in 13 fundraisers was a good start. Now we are gearing up for 30 in 2015,” said gallery manager Ryan Sedgwick. Sedgwick Gallery was created not only as an outlet for emerging artists works in Alpharetta, but also as a fundraising tool for the community by hosting and participating in auction events. For more information, please visit sedgwickgallery. com or call 470-296-0612.

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Toys for Tots tournament to benefit multiple charities MILTON, Ga. — The seventh annual Metropolitan Golf Association Toys for Tots holiday charity golf tournament will be held Dec. 6 at 9:30 a.m. at the Alpharetta Athletic Club’s East Course. The tournament is the largest charity event of the year at AAC and will benefit both Toys for Tots and Turning Point Women’s Health Care with a goal of raising more than 200 toys and $20,000 for these charities. MGA is looking for its AAC members to participate in one of four ways. A corporate sponsorship will cost $500, and the company will receive signage at the entrance to clubhouse among other benefits. A tee sign sponsorship costs $50 and sponsors will have a personalized sign prominently displayed on the golf course. Business or personal sponsorships welcomed. The tournament is currently accepting donations for prizes for a raffle that will be held the day of the event. Guests are also invited to sign-up and play in the tour-

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nament. Detail sheets and sponsorships forms will be available in both the East and West golf shops, or email Blake Atchley, East Course head golf professional, at blake.atchley@alpharettaac. com. Drop off completed sponsorship forms and checks at the East Course Golf Shop. Please make checks payable to Alpharetta Athletic Club.

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Providence Baptist turns 180 years old Celebrates long history By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. – In 1834, two families migrated from South Carolina into what was then the Cherokee territory. There, they made their lives in the wilderness. They also made their own church – Providence Baptist Church. That church celebrated 180 years of service Nov. 16. When the Walker and Phillips families came to the area that is now Milton, the federal government had recently rounded up the native Cherokee peoples and sent them on the infamous Trail of Tears. There were still some Native Americans remaining, and they were not very happy with new settlers. Joseph and Drusilla Walker, along with nearby neighbors (they were only a mile away) Abner and Nancy Phillips, were from South Carolina. Both families had a slave woman each. The Walkers and the Phillips frequently visited each other, said local historian C.V. Dinsmore Jr. They were Christians and in the evening,

The Providence Baptist Church, on Providence Road in Milton, turned 180 years old this year. in front of the fireplace, they would sit and listen to the Bible readings and hold religious discussions or sing. In the fall of 1834, it was decided to start a church. Abner Phillips and Joseph Walker cleared an area and built the first church building – a small one-room log building around a 6-foot fireplace. It was less than one-third of a mile away from the current location, on Providence Road. The original cemetery is still located along Birmingham Highway. The first church meeting of the newly formed Providence Baptist Church took place Dec. 20, 1834, with the two found-

ing families and their slaves taking part together. A year later, with a membership of 15, PBC and 11 nearby churches formed the Hightower Baptist Association. Preachers would make the circuit between the churches, there being more congregations than preachers. The log building served the church for 25 years as more settlers streamed in and it continued to grow. In 1859, the church was moved and rebuilt to accommodate its new size. The current grounds served that purpose. In 1934, the church celebrated 100 years, with nearly

TAG students pursue jobs, dreams Internship program joins kids, leaders

NORTH FULTON, Ga. – As a kindergarten student at Fulton County’s Crabapple Crossing Elementary School in 2003-04, Madison Hablas had no idea that 11 years later she would be back in her original classroom with her original teacher, Kelly Williamson. Several days a week, however, Hablas – now a junior at Milton High School – is right there, in the same room that saw her blossom under the care and guidance of Williamson and Kathy Devine. Only now, though, she spends her time under the tutelage of Williamson in a different context. Thanks to Fulton County’s Talented and Gifted Internship Program and with an eye to the future, Hablas has been able to learn more about early childhood education and what a teaching career entails. Approximately 250 other Fulton County TAG students are currently being served by the program, which has seen

Milton High junior Madison Hablas is a TAG intern for her former kindergarten teacher, Kelly Williamson. growth double over the past five years. Like Hablas, some interns are pursuing education, but a variety of career areas are represented by the program. Many interns spend time in local hospitals and doctors’ offices. Interns can also be found in vet clinics, local businesses, marketing firms, theater groups, sound studios,

engineering and architecture firms, local government offices, law offices, research labs in universities and in many other contexts. Since the internships are student requested, any field of interest could potentially be pursued; and, with the growth in the program, it can be a challenge to find enough spots

1,500 people reportedly attending the day-long ceremonies. At the time, a reporter covering the event commented on the fact that the slaves of the original founders were included as charter members. A descendant of the founders said the white members of the church encouraged the slaves to join the church and to regularly attend services. Slaves and ex-slaves are buried in the cemetery. The current building was constructed in 1941, with the

first services held in December 1941. 180 years young For the 150th anniversary celebrations, the congregation gathered memories of the church from its oldest members. They largely recall a wooden building that was stiflingly hot in the summer, with windows open and hand fans waving. Services were held only on the third Sunday of the

See CHURCH, Page 32

A few quick facts about the TAG program: Interns are juniors and seniors in high school and are in good-standing in the Talented and Gifted program at their school. They have all completed a prerequisite course in career education and have been screened before being able to join the program. Internships are semester long and last approximately fourteen weeks. Interns need to work an average of five hours a week for fourteen weeks, seventy hours total for the semester Interns are unpaid. They are receiving academic compensation for their efforts and therefore cannot be paid under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Internships are typically scheduled during the last period in a student’s high school schedule. They are able to leave school an hour early, approximately 2:45 p.m. at which time they can report to their internship site. Students usually work two to three days a week in order to fill their requirement of five hours. Internships begin with an initial meeting. At this meeting, the site supervisor, the intern, and the Fulton County Career Internship Advisor will meet at the internship site and discuss the details of the internship. for the students. Where there’s a business or organization, there could also be an intern. Whether to affirm a college studies path or even a career path, the Fulton County TAG Internship Program is a valuable resource and an example of public/private partnership that can benefit the community at large and its most won-

derful asset – the students who will be tomorrow’s leaders. Student or employers interested in learning more about the program should contact Meredith Drummond, TAG career internship advisor, Fulton County Public Schools, at drummondm2@fultonschools. org or call her at 404-3131796.

NEWS

miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | November 26, 2014 | 9

LEED: Price elected chairman of house budget committee

Continued from Page 4

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Price, M.D. (GA-06) was elected to serve as Chairman of the House Budget Committee for the 114th Congress. “It is an honor to be chosen to serve as the next Chairman of the House Budget Committee. I look forward to working with members of the committee, our House Republican Conference and our colleagues across the aisle to help put our nation on a stronger economic and fiscal footing,” said Price. In years past, the House Budget Committee, along with the House of Representatives as a whole, have drafted, debated and adopted budgets that have staked out a path to greater American prosperity. Price hopes to build upon that

success in the next Congress. Price proposes to do so by putting forward a budget that restores balance to the nation’s books that will proPRICE vide a blueprint for how to save and strengthen vital health and retirement programs while ensuring needed resources for those who protect and defend our great nation. “For all the challenges America faces today – both at home and abroad – we also have tremendous opportunities to accomplish positive solutions on behalf of the American people,” said Price. —Vallari Bhave

AND CHRISTMAS FARMERS MARKET Friday, December 5 Tree Lighting On Milton Ave. Events begin at 5 p.m.

Saturday, December 6

Alpharetta Christmas Farmers Market 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

have certification of not – and maintaining systems afterwards,” said Councilmember Bill Lusk. “I would promote following the process, but it’s not worth our while to spend that money chasing points.” One member of the community, Jack Lindon with Milton Grows Green, said the investment was a good idea. “For new ball fields at Bell Memorial Park, the city was asked by the Recreation and Parks director to increase the budget by $300,000 to put in

artificial turf fields that will save the city significant money over the lifetime of those fields,” Lindon said. “The LEED certification is a similar thing. It will cost some money to do this, but it will save us money in the long run.” He said LEED standards are able to be paid back in about eight years through savings. “Even though it will cost the city more in the short term, it will save us in the long run,” Lindon said. Council gave direction to staff to proceed without LEED certification, but to pursue as many eco-friendly practices as possible within budget.

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8 0 0 N O R T H M A I N S T R E E T , A L P H A R E T TA

10 | November 26, 2014 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com

SCHOOLS

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From left, Jayda Smith, Mason Guerra, Alex Shi, Tylin Jackson run to help raise money for their school.

Manning Oaks ES holds boosterthon fun run The Cambridge Debate Team, from left to right: Nico Leis, team sponsor James Campbell, Madison Landis, and Nik Yagnik. (Not pictured: Connor Christiansen).

Cambridge Debate team sweeps tournament MILTON, Ga. - Cambridge High School’s varsity and junior varsity debate teams swept the competition Nov. 8 at the Autumn Argument at Sequoyah High School in Canton, Ga. The varsity team, comprised of Nico Leis and Madison Landis, were crowned tournament’s varsity champions. The team of Leis and Landis now qualify for the state championship.

Nik Yagnik and Connor Christiansen of the junior varsity team also went undefeated in the tournament, giving Cambridge’s varsity and junior varsity teams a combined record of 11-0 at the tournament. Yagnik was crowned first place speaker in his division. The Cambridge debate team is sponsored by James Campbell.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Manning Oaks Elementary students had lots of fun raising money for their school several weeks ago by participating in the Boosterthon Fun Run. Students collected pledges and contributions from friends, local businesses, and family members. Sponsors pledged to give per lap for a maximum of 35 laps or made a flat donation to the student. On Oct. 10th, Manning Oaks students ran their laps

with staff, teachers, and parents cheering them on. Over $37,000 was raised which will provide the PTA with the resources to purchase new technology for the school. Manning Oaks Elementary, with the help of the PTA, has also held several other successful family friendly events so far this year such as The Lego Movie Event, BBQ and Bingo, and Oktoberfest Fall Festival. —Vallari Bhave

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miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | November 26, 2014 | 11

Milton’s Newest Gated Luxury community n ty nity www.RiversEdgeMilton.com

Please Join Us December 12, 2:00 PM for the Ribbon Cutting at Taylor Road Hosted by Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce Sponsored by The Sequoyah Club & Southeast Mortgage

Elegant Homes in Natural Serenity River’s Edge Milton set on 133 acres located on “Little River” is one of Milton’s newest pristine gated communities and positioned in the heart of Milton’s horse country & farm land. Offering exceptional 1.6+ to 5+ acre home sites with timeless natural beauty and amenities. DIRECTIONS: 400N Exit 10 -Old Milton Pkwy. Turn left Old Milton Pkwy & continue - changes to Rucker Rd. Turn right on Broadwell Road. Continue STRAIGHT, this becomes Birmingham Hwy to left on Taylor Road. River’s Edge Milton on THE RIGHT.

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12 | November 26, 2014 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com

SCHOOLS

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Cambridge Band Boosters raffle winner announced Mary Mueller claims grand prize: $13,000 Cambridge band has New Year’s date in London

Andrew Mattie, left, who sold the winning ticket stands with Cambridge raffle winner Mary Mueller holding the winning ticket. and CHS Band Director Ryan Borger.

MILTON Ga. – The Cambridge High School Band Boosters raffle ended with a bang Friday, Oct. 24, at the Cambridge High School football game That’s when Mary Mueller of Alpharetta won the grand prize of $13,050. Students won’t have to go far to congratulate Mueller. The Fulton County School System employee works in the Cambridge High School cafeteria. The raffle was a fundraiser of the Cambridge Band Booster Club to raise money to help defray the cost of student participation in the London New Year’s Day Parade on Jan. 1,

2015. The raffle did not reach the minimum threshold needed to award a new car to the winner, so, per the raffle rules, it reverted to a 50/50 raffle with the winner taking 50 percent of the proceeds and the Band Boosters benefiting from the other 50 percent. “We appreciate the Milton community members who purchased raffle tickets and supported the Cambridge Band’s trip to perform on a world stage in the London New Year’s Day Parade,” said Ryan Borger, CHS band director. “It’s going to be the trip of a lifetime for our band.”

ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE

Friday, December 5 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. HISTORIC DOWNTOWN ALPHARETTA CLOSED Fri, Dec. 5, at 6 a.m. through Sat, Dec. 6, at 9 p.m.

• Milton Ave - Closed from SR 9 to Roswell St/Canton St • Old Roswell St - Closed from Jones Ave to Milton Ave • Old Canton St - Closed from Milton Ave to Canton St

CLOSED Fri, Dec. 5, at 4 p.m. through 12 a.m.

• Academy St - Closed from Haynes Bridge Rd to State Route 9 / Main St

678-297-6000

WWW.ALPHARETTA.GA.US

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Eagles: Continued from Page 1 played, and Colquitt County won the home field. The Packers are 12-0 and rolled through powerhouse Region 1-AAAAAA, although that region has taken a hit in the playoffs, with the other three playoff qualifiers winning just one of four games. Milton, the Region 6 champion, brings an 11-1 record into the game, with region runner-up Etowah still in the playoffs after a big win last week over Westlake. Roswell and Cherokee both lost close games against champions from other regions. Once again, the Milton defense turned in an outstanding effort, limiting the Panthers (9-3) to nine first downs, 27 yards rushing and 238 yards total offense. Langston Hughes converted just three of 14 third downs and scored just seven points against the Milton defense, with one of the Panthers’ two touchdowns coming on an interception return. Apart from a 45-yard touchdown pass that tied the game 7-7 in the final 30 seconds of the first half, the Panthers never got closer than 29 yards to the Milton goal line. Milton was aided by a Hughes penalty that nullified a 66-yard return for a touchdown, with the Eagles squandering an 84yard kickoff early in the third quarter after Hughes had taken the lead. Milton stuck with its game plan of running Micco Brisker straight at an aggressive Hughes defense. The hardrunning tailback battled for 105 yards on 35 carries, rarely getting more than a few yards

past the line of scrimmage. Brisker gained 86 of his yards in the second half, including a tackle breaking 22-yarder to set up Ethan Suda’s tie-breaking 41-yard field goal late in the third quarter. His key 17-yard burst in the closing minutes minimized how much time Hughes would have for a possible comeback. The Eagles did most of their damage through the air. Austin McLeod connected on three passes downfield for 99 yards to set up both Milton touchdowns. Milton safety Lucas Nedza, who enjoyed an outstanding game, intercepted a tipped Hughes pass on the first play of the game, giving the Eagles the ball at the Panthers’ 44. Will Bond made a lunging, fingertip grab of a deep McLeod throw for 37 yards to the Hughes 3 on third down, and Brisker banged into the end zone two plays later. Defense dominated the rest of the half until Hughes quarterback Isaiah Green heaved the ball downfield and Montavious Atkinson grabbed it amid a clump of players from both teams near the goal line for a 45-yard score and a 7-7 tie late in the second period. Less than a minute into the third quarter, the Panthers had the lead after Jeffrey Allison jumped a quick out pass and returned the interception 51 yards for a score. The Eagles’ Chris Franklin returned the kickoff 84 yards to the Hughes 4, but four inside runs by Brisker netted only 2 yards. A 55-yard punt got the Panthers out of trouble, but McLeod and wide receiver Obi Fortune produced gains of 25 and 37 yards, the latter on third-and-16 to the Hughes 4. Fortune took a direct snap out

miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | November 26, 2014 | 13

of the wildcat formation on the next play for the tying touchdown. Suda broke the tie after Brisker’s 22-yard burst put the Eagles in scoring position. The Milton defense zealously protected the slim lead, tackling Green for losses on each of the last three Hughes possessions and preventing the speedy Panthers from breaking any big plays. “The defense was unbelievable, just like they’ve been all season,” Milton coach Howie DeCristofaro said. “On offense, we kept doing what we do and we made the plays when we had to.” Nedza keyed a Milton defense that held the Panthers to just 10 completions in 33 attempts, with the line pressuring Green into hurried throws. Three completions accounted for 127 of Hughes’ 211 yards passing, and two of the three led to no points. The game ended with an interception by Nedza on a desperation pass from by Green, giving the senior safety a pair of bookend picks. “It feels great,” said Nedza, who was very aware of the game’s significance to the Milton program. “It’s great to be the first Milton team to do this,” he said. “We made history.” Nedza said the Eagles were prepared for the speed and athleticism of Hughes’ receivers thanks to some summer passing game work against top teams from Florida. He is confident in the ability of the Milton defense to contain opposing offenses,

SOL SIMS/SOLARVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY

Quarterback Austin Mcleod (11) barely gets a pass off with a Langston Hughes defender in pursuit. even ones with the talent of the Panthers. “You’ve got to play the best teams sometime in the play-

www.mammothdetail.com Obe Fortune (1) runs upfield.

SOL SIMS/SOLARVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY

offs,” DeCristofaro said of the Eagles’ upcoming opponent. “You may as well do it in the third round.”

14 | November 26, 2014 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com

SPORTS

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King’s Ridge’s Penny Hart ends season with bang Substitute quarterback runs wild in only 3rd game at QB By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – King’s Ridge Christian School footballer Penny Hart has been a four-year starter for the Tigers, but he saved his best for last in the season finale Nov. 7 against Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove, when he simply ran wild for 390 yards and passed for 162 yards. That is 552 total yards of offense and he scored seven touchdowns, threw for another and scored a two-point conversion in the 56-40 win. It was an unbelievable performance in any league. The winless Tigers had struggled through an injury-plagued season, especially on defense. And when quarterback Henry Jones was hurt in the seventh game of the season, there was only one real choice to fill the gap for the last three games – and that was Hart. “Even though I’d never

played quarterback, I figured there was literally no one else. It would give us an option to run or pass,” Hart said. “Even though I had never thrown a pass in a ballgame, I knew as a leader on the team I couldn’t shy away from it.” Hart simply is the best athlete on the team. Playing slotback on offense and playing defensive back, he almost never comes off the field. The game against Strong Rock was no creampuff victory either where the numbers were padded against a bad team. The game was a seesaw battle as both teams marched up and down the field. The biggest difference for Hart was handling the ball on every snap. “Having the ball in my hands was a lot of responsibility. I knew there was no one to back me up, and I still had to mentally manage the game,” he said. Coach Jeff Pickren said the coaches got together after

Jones went down to assess what they should do, but it was a quick consensus that Hart would play quarterback. “This did cost us on defense. Most of our kids go both ways; we have so few players. But not the quarterback,” Pickren said. The team runs a spread set offense out of the shotgun, and it didn’t change with Hart at quarterback. So the team does a lot of running inside and outside with an option to pass. “Penny did a good job in all three games. It was fun to watch when Henry could come back to play some too,” Pickren said. “That made for a lethal combination. Penny could be at running back, wide receiver or quarterback.” In fact at the Strong Rock game, he also did some time at defensive back to try to slow down their star receiver. He even went on the last kickoff as part of the “hands” team and recovered the onside kick. Hart said it was a great win for the team, who played their hearts out. “Everything clicked that Friday night. But if you measured this team by its effort,

HATCHER HURD/STAFF

King’s Ridge coach Jeff Pickren congratulates Penny Hart, who led the Tigers to their only win when he ran for seven touchdowns and passed for an eighth TD. He also scored a two-point conversion for a total of 50 points. we were 10 and 0. Injuries really hurt us all season,” Hart said. Hart has committed to play football at Georgia State University, but NCAA rules don’t permit formal signing until

February. He plans to major in exercise science and kinesiology and minor in computer science. “I want to help people. I have a passion for healing,” he said.

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THANKSGIVING

miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | November 26, 2014 | 15

What are you most thankful for this holiday?

Alica Best, Roswell“I’m thankful for everyone getting together and the fact that people are more thankful for the small stuff.”

T.J., Alpharetta“I’m a motorcycle rider so I’m thankful for medical professionals.”

Georgia Glenn, Alpharetta“I’m thankful that I am alive and all the wonderful things that come with that.”

Kathy Goldstein, Milton“I’m thankful for my family’s health and the positive growth of our community.”

Kelly Mullen, Roswell“I’m thankful that my daughter-in-law is expecting my first grandchild.”

Alex Ciaburri, Roswell“I’m thankful for family, friends, and to have a great job.”

Sarah Vance-Knetchel, Roswell“I’m thankful to be a stay at home mom.”

Michael Salpeter, Alpharetta“I’m thankful for my health, family, good job, and my wife.”

Alicia C., Alpharetta“I’m thankful for health, family, and the ability to provide.”

Brent O’Neill, Roswell,“The ability to buy food, and my family and friends.”

Lonnie W., Roswell“The Lions are going to make the playoffs.”

Deborah B., Alpharetta“I’m thankful that my grandson is more into giving than receiving.”

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16 | November 26, 2014 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com

SCHOOLS

The Cambridge Eco-Bears adopt a road Nov. 15 as part of their cleanup efforts around the Milton community. From left are Roni Ruadap, Andrew Mattie, Isabella Stubbs, Amy Li, Jason Born, Justin Weisel and Will Ruff.

Eco-Bears help community MILTON, Ga. – The Cambridge High School EcoBears have been extremely busy over the last month. From Oct. 20 – Nov. 7, they were collecting donations for Pennies for Patients during all lunches and at two home football games. They were able to collect $1,284.91 to donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of Mary Elizabeth, a sixth-grader at Hopewell Middle School, who was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia this past April. Donations can still be made online at http:// ga.sy.llsevent.org/ng/index.cfm/13807/regPages/pledge/CambridgeHighSchool. On Saturday, Nov. 15, the Eco-Bears braved the cold weather and took part in their first Adopt-A-Road clean-up. They have adopted Cogburn Road from the light at Bethany Bend to Hopewell Middle School. They plan to participate in a clean-up event every couple of months.

The Cambridge Eco-Bears are, from left, Lydia Chen, Mickayla Sowder, Isabella Stubbs and Amy Li.

17 | November 26, 2014 | Milton Herald | appenmediagroup.com

Sponsored Section • EMPTY NEST

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Thank You...

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miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | November 26, 2014 | 25

to all our sponsors who contributed to the Best of North Fulton & South Forsyth Awards Gala TITLE SPONSOR

TABLE SPONSORS

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

DOOR PRIZE / GOODY BAG SPONSORS Primrose Schools

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Home Fashion Interiors

Cosmetic Market

Collection at Forsyth

Cumming Med Spa

Studio Movie Grill

Lance’s Jewelry

Tiffany Lynn Photography

26 | November 26, 2014 | Milton Herald

BEST OF THE BEST

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Appen honors ‘Best of the Best’ 2nd annual event celebrates local businesses By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – With nearly 4,000 votes cast, the results of the 2014 Best of the Best contest were announced Nov. 20 at the annual gala. Hundreds of guests representing local businesses came to the Metropolitan Club on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta for the second annual event. With the backdrop of a seven-piece band, a dozen local restaurants served up plenty of food as Appen Media Group’s General Manager Hans Appen and Events Manager Jade Rodgers announced the winners for each award category. “It was thrilling to see such a magnificent turnout for our second annual Best of the Best Gala at the Metropolitan Club this year,” said Appen. “We were able to give our local businesses the recognition they deserve, and earned, in a fun atmosphere.” Everything from “best date night” to “best ophthalmologist” was on the table, with each winner and first runnerup named the best at what they do. Voters had six months to cast ballots in the contest in each category. “It’s nice to recognize the businesses that make our community so great,” said Rodgers. “We are a big area with a very small-town feel thanks to people like them. “The gala has gained a lot Medical Winners Best Assisted Living Benton House: Winner Parc at Duluth: 1st Runner Up Best Audiologist North Fulton ENT: Winner Little Listeners: 1st Runner Up Best Chiropractor Willis Chiropractic: Winner Care More: 1st Runner Up Best Cosmetic Surgery Robinson Facial Plastic Surgery: Winner Swan Center: 1st Runner Up Best Dentist Center for Advanced Dentistry: Winner Jones Bridge Dental: 1st Runner Up Best Dermatologist Johns Creek Dermatology & Family Medicine: Winner North Atlanta Dermatology: 1st Runner Up Best Internal Medicine Johns Creek Dermatology & Family Medicine: Winner Internal Medicine Associates of Johns

See all the photos from the gala by visiting tinyurl.com/ lcxhwfp of momentum in the community since last year,” she said. “The reputation of the gala is already building and people are vying for spots, attempting to win and promoting voting with gusto.” Being the second year, there were improvements upon the inaugural event. Beyond the band, there was a photo booth and dancing, creating a more festive air, said Rodgers. “We made it more of a party than an awards gala,” she said. To give the event a special flair, Moda Tequila, a black tequila, created a signature drink, called the “Moda Swizzle.” The Institute for Advanced Medical Research claimed title sponsor status. In a surprise announcement, Appen Media Group’s Executive Editor Hatcher Hurd was honored for his 20 years of community coverage. He received proclamations from many regional and state officials. “We had the privilege of seeing Fulton County Commissioner Liz Hausmann and Roger Wise Jr. honor our longstanding, amazing journalist Hatcher Hurd on behalf of Fulton County, the secretary of state and lieutenant governor of Georgia,” Appen said. “It was an exciting aspect we were thrilled to provide,”

Creek: 1st Runner Up Best Nutritionist Dr. Sean Savedoff – Revolution Health: Winner Citron Nutrition: 1st Runner Up Best OB-Gyn Peachtree Women’s Clinic: Winner Roswell OB-Gyn: 1st Runner Up Best Oncologist Georgia Cancer Specialists: Winner Atlanta Cancer Care: 1st Runner Up Best Ophthalmologist Milan Eye Center: Winner Thomas Eye Group: 1st Runner Up

A.J. MCNAUGHTON/STAFF

Pinot’s Palette in Johns Creek was the most decorate business of the night, taking home six total awards.

A.J. MCNAUGHTON/STAFF

Founder and medical director of Institue for Advanced Medical Research Angelo Sambunaris, M.D. warms up the crowd.

SUZANNE PACEY/STAFF

Rodgers said. Appen agreed. “The gala was spectacular and we look forward to seeing everyone next year,” he said.

Winner Pinot’s Palette: 1st Runner Up

Best Urgent Care Bethany Bend Urgent Care: Winner CHOA of Mansell and Forsyth: 1st Runner Up

Best Family Activity Pinot’s Palette: Winner Lake Lanier: 1st Runner Up

Best Urologist Georgia Urology: Winner North Atlanta Urology: 1st Runner Up Best Vein Specialist VeinInnovations: Winner North Georgia Vein Institute: 1st Runner Up

Best Optometrist Milan Eye Center: Winner Windward Eye Care: 1st Runner Up Best Orthodontist Dr. Jeffery W. Jordan Orthodontics: Winner Mibab Orthodontics: 1st Runner Up

Best Dance Lessons Tolbert Yilmaz: Winner Cumming Dance Academy: 1st Runner Up

Best Podiatrist North Fulton Podiatry: Winner

For more about Appen Media Group and the Best of the

Village Podiatry Centers: 1st Runner Up

Recreation & Service Winners Best Art Studio Pinot’s Palette: Winner Johns Creek Art Center: 1st Runner Up

Best Pediatrician Georgetown Pediatrics: Winner Roswell Pediatrics: 1st Runner Up

Non-profit band Atlanta Plays It Forward provided the soundtrack to the night.

Best Date Night Cabernet: Winner Pinot’s Palette: 1st Runner Up Best Entertainment Venue Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre:

Best Golf Course (Three way tie) • Polo Golf and Country Club: Winner • Alpharetta Athletic Club: Winner • Atlanta Athletic Club: Winner The Standard Club: 1st Runner Up Best Group/Corporate Activity Andretti’s: Winner Pinot’s Palette: 1st Runner Up Best Gym/Workout Facility Lifetime Fitness: Winner YMCA: 1st Runner Up Best Hair Salon Salon De La Vie: Winner Muse: 1st Runner Up Best Hotel/Lodging Alpharetta Mariott: Winner Roswell Double Tree: 1st Runner Up Best Kid Party Pinot’s Palette: Winner Skyzone: 1st Runner Up

Best, visit www.northfulton. com.

Best Park Roswell Area Park: Winner Fowler Park: 1st Runner Up

Best Burger Lucky’s Tavern: Winner Burger Fi: 1st Runner Up

Best Spa Spa Sydell: Winner LaVida: 1st Runner Up

Best Business Lunch Village Tavern: Winner Norman’s Landing: 1st Runner Up

Best Staycation Lake Lanier: Winner Stone Mountain: 1st Runner Up

Best Casual Dining Village Tavern: Winner Norman’s Landing: 1st Runner Up

Best Theatre Studio Movie Grill: Winner Aurora: 1st Runner Up

Best Dessert Alpine Bakery: Winner Foundation Social Eatery: 1st Runner Up Davinci’s Donuts: 1st Runner Up

Best Wedding Venue Founders Hall: Winner Naylor Hall: 1st Runner Up Restaurant Winners Best BBQ Cue BBQ: Winner Jim n Nick’s BBQ: 1st Runner Up

Best Donuts Davinci’s Donuts: Winner Dutch Monkey Donuts: 1st Runner Up Best Family Dining Norman’s Landing: Winner Rick Tanner’s Grille: 1st Runner Up

Best Breakfast J Christopher’s: Winner Egg Harbor Café: 1st Runner Up

Best Happy Hour Village Tavern: Winner Hop Alley: 1st Runner Up

Best Brew Pub Hop Alley: Winner Cherry Street: 1st Runner Up

Best Patio Pure Taqueria: Winner Nine Street Café: 1st Runner Up

BEST OF THE BEST

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Milton Herald | November 26, 2014 | 27

A.J. MCNAUGHTON/STAFF

Appen Media Group executive editor Hatcher Hurd was honored for his 20 years of community coverage. From left, Hatcher’s wife Kathy, Hurd and representing the Secretary of State Roger Wise, Jr.

A.J. MCNAUGHTON/STAFF

Milan Eye Center was voted the winner for best optometrist and best ophthalmologist.

A.J. MCNAUGHTON/STAFF

Alpine Bakery was voted winner for best dessert and best bakery. They also supplied some of the tasty desserts during the gala.

A.J. MCNAUGHTON/STAFF

SUZANNE PACEY/STAFF

There was no short order of drinks, including Forsyth’s Cherry Street Brewing Company and Moda Tequila, a black tequila, who created a signature drink, called the “Moda Swizzle.”

The Drake Closet took home a trio of awards, be named the winner for best boutique, local store and consignment store.

SUZANNE PACEY/STAFF

A.J. MCNAUGHTON/STAFF

KeyWorth Bank was named 1st runner up for best bank. Best Pizza Crust: Winner Mellow Mushroom: 1st Runner Up

Best Boutique Drake Closet: Winner South Harmony: 1st Runner Up

Best Local Store Drake Closet: Winner Parsons: 1st Runner Up

Best Steak Stony River: Winner Little Alley Steakhouse: 1st Runner Up

Best Consignment Store Drake Closet: Winner Kid to Kid: 1st Runner Up Best Interior Designer Home Fashion Interiors: Winner Tuscany Fine Furnishings: 1st Runner Up

Best Shopping/Entertainment The Collections at Forsyth: Winner North Point Mall: 1st Runner Up

Best Restaurant (All Around) Village Tavern: Winner Rick Tanner’s Grille: 1st Runner Up Best Sushi Sushi Nami: Winner Atlantic Seafood Company: 1st Runner Up Retail Winners Best Antiques Queen of Hearts: Winner City Antiques of Roswell: 1st Runner Up

Best Kid Store Kid to Kid: Winner Alex n Sis: 1st Runner Up Best Farmers Market Alpharetta Downtown Farmers Market: Winner Don’s Farmers Market: 1st Runner Up

Best Appliances/Electronics Fry’s Electronics: Winner HH Gregg: 1st Runner Up

Best Florist Flowers From Us: Winner Best Little Florist in Roswell: 1st Runner Up

Best Art Gallery Muse: Winner Ann Jackson: 1st Runner Up

Best Furniture Home Fashion Interiors: Winner Peacock Interiors: 1st Runner Up

Best Beverage Store Red’s: Winner Red’s Package Store Winner Crabapple Beverage: 1st Runner Up

Best Jewelry Store Iroff and Sons: Winner Brown & Co: 1st Runner Up Lance’s Jewelry: 1st Runner Up

Service winners Best Auto Service Department Scott’s Auto Center: Winner Carl Black: 1st Runner Up Back on Road: 1st Runner Up Best Bakery Alpine: Winner Davinci’s Donuts: 1st Runner Up Best Bank Wells Fargo: Winner KeyWorth Bank: 1st Runner Up Best Car Sales (New) Honda Carland Roswell: Winner Infiniti Roswell: 1st Runner Up Regal Nissan: 1st Runner Up Best Car Sales (Used) CarMax: Winner Honda Carland Roswell: 1st Runner Up Best Car Wash

RAY APPEN/STAFF

Hundreds turned out to the Metropolitan Club for the gala.

The Johns Creek Veteran’s Association color guard, along with Roger Wise, Jr., lead the crowd in the pledge of allegiance.

Cactus Car Wash: Winner Mammoth Car Wash: 1st Runner Up

Bureau: Winner Appen Media Group: 1st Runner Up

Best Caterer Talk of the Town: Winner 3 Brothers Catering: 1st Runner Up

Best IT Carmichael Consultants: Winner Peachtree Computers: 1st Runner Up

Best Construction Service Paramount Drywall: Winner Bullseye: 1st Runner Up Best CPA Santi & Associates: Winner Robin McIntyre: 1st Runner Up Best Deck Builders Atlanta Decking: Winner Deck Doctor: 1st Runner Up Best Handyman Trusted Toolbox: Winner Andy On-Call: 1st Runner Up Best Heating/Air Reliable Heating/Air: Winner CoolRay: 1st Runner Up Best Independent Senior Living Community: Chambrel Roswell – Winner Benton House – 1st runner up Best Information Services Alpharetta Convention and Visitors

Best Plumber Pete’s Plumbing: Winner Superior Plumbing: 1st Runner Up Best Pre-School/Day Care Primrose Schools: Winner The Goddard School: 1st Runner Up

Best Landscaper TruCut: Winner Mobile Joe’s Landscaping: 1st Runner Up

Best Private K-12 School Pinecrest Academy: Winner King’s Ridge: 1st Runner Up

Best Law Firm Hipes & Belle Isle: Winner Grissom Law Firm: 1st Runner Up

Best Private Primary School Pincrest Academy: Winner King’s Ridge: 1st Runner Up

Best Maid Services Mini Maid: Winner The Maids: 1st Runner Up

Best Printer Alpharetta Print & Sign: Winner Brandywine Printing: 1st Runner Up

Best Pet Day Care Pet Lodge Pet Resort: Winner Camp Bow Wow: 1st Runner Up

Best Realtor Keller Willliams: Winner Kloster Group: 1st Runner Up

Best Pet Services Alpharetta Animal Clinic: Winner Loving Hands Animal Clinic: 1st Runner Up

Best Travel Agency AAA: Winner Aladdin Travel Service: 1st Runner Up

Best Photographer Whitelake Studios: Winner Clark Savage: 1st Runner Up

Best Tree Service Redfern: Winner Acorn: 1st Runner Up

28 | November 26, 2014 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com

OPINION

Attitude of gratitude By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com During my freshman orientation at the University of West Georgia, then-President Dr. Beheruz Sethna told my class that we need to come up with goals to have during our college career. One of those goals stuck with me — I wanted to get a job as a newspaper reporter. That simple wish kept me motivated throughout college. It helped me get an internship last summer with Appen Media Group and eventually led to my current job as a full-time reporter with Appen, something that I thought would never happen. The past four years were filled with people telling me newspapers are dead. The commencement speaker at my graduation even told us to prepare to hate our first job. This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for the fact that I landed my dream job only six months after graduating. I fully believe that I wouldn’t have my job if I hadn’t grown up in an environment that values education and a healthy competitive spirit. When I first started college, I assumed my new peers had gone through the same

KATHLEEN STURGEON

Forsyth Herald Reporter kathleen@appen mediagroup.com

level of academic training that I had. The schools in North Fulton and Forsyth County are widely known for their academic success, and my alma mater, Alpharetta High School, is no different. Alpharetta High School prepared me for college more than I could even imagine. It wasn’t until I read some of the essays my college classmates wrote that I realized not everyone had the benefit of the outstanding English classes I had in high school. I’m thankful that I had teachers such as Mrs. Kennedy, Mrs. Wren, Mr. Shuman and Mr. Blackwell, who heightened my love for learning and writing, and who initially sparked my interest in reporting. Like most of North Fulton and Forsyth County, growing up in Alpharetta was competitive. Without knowing it, my hometown shaped my way of learning and thinking. In college, I was able to

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A very Copsey Thanksgiving

understand what my teachers expected out of me because I was used to teachers with high expectations. I’m thankful I was able to get a high school education that fully prepared me for my next academic step. While at college, I had incredible professors who changed my whole way of thinking. They encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and knew when I was being lazy. My mentor, Dr. Sewell, had confidence in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. As a newspaper reporter himself, he gave me insight into the future career to which I aspired. I’m thankful for professors who encouraged me and guided me to where I am today. Of course, I’m thankful for other things including my family, health and friends. But as a recent college graduate who just entered the working world, education and my job are at the top of my thankful list this year. Most importantly, I’m thankful for the opportunities I have been given, and I’m glad I didn’t listen to the negative voices around me. By following my dreams, I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

This year will be my first Thanksgiving in matrimonial indenture. I’ve been told things are different once you’re married. To be sure, I’m getting a lot less hate email and more wellwishes from the community. I see this as a positive step that I attribute to being married. Is this the bliss people are talking about? The Missus gets a new look in her eyes when she calls herself “Mrs. Copsey,” and accidentally refers to herself as “married” to a “husband.” I can only assume this is permanent. This year, we will be visiting my family who (currently) live in New Jersey. I have never been to New Jersey except as a pass-through to more interesting destinations beyond. I hear it is cold this time of year. This will be the first year I have spent Thanksgiving with them in… four years? Five years? I’ve lost count. I have spent the turkey-day with my new family instead for the past two years. My new inlaws came down to Alpharetta and brought a nice meal with them. Last year, the Missus and I spent it alone together. She cooked duck. I love duck. I feel she knew the old adage, the way to a man’s heart is

JONATHAN COPSEY

Revue & News Editor jonathan@appen mediagroup.com

through a heart attack. And I’m OK with that. So I am looking forward to this year. We get to spend the holidays officially as man-andwife for the first time and will be spending time with the new extended family of in-laws. Also, we get to see New York City. She has never seen the Big Apple and I have never been in winter. Rockefeller Center, here we come! I’m sure there are plenty of holiday traditions that families throughout our readership have to share. While I will create my own traditions over the coming years, I have one message I think we can largely agree on – the holidays are the few days of the year we as a nation all agree to stop, take a moment and spend time with our families. Drop the hubbub of the daily grind and hassle, and pause, reflect on what you have and be thankful. I know I will. Happy Thanksgiving, readers.

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Milton Herald | November 26, 2014 | 29

GETTING TO KNOW »

Officer Erin Johnson, Roswell Police Department By KATIE VAN BRACKLE katie@appenmediagroup.com

fantastic and we’ve had great feedback from the community on it.

Officer Erin Johnson, 31, of the Roswell Police Department, grew up in metro Atlanta and is passionate about helping people in her local community, especially children, feel safe and protected.

What do you enjoy the most? Working with kids is my favorite part of my position. They are so brutally honest and innocent, and I think we can make the biggest difference with them. It breaks my heart to see children who are afraid of police officers because I want them to understand that we are their friends and here to help them if they need it. I recently went to an elementary school and met a little girl who was terrified to speak with me because police officers had been to her house in the past and it had frightened her. She eventually warmed up to me and by the end of my visit, she was sitting in the backseat of my patrol car, talking on the PA system with a big smile on her face.

When did you decide to pursue law enforcement as a career? My initial plan was to obtain a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, then attend law school to practice criminal law. As part of my degree requirements, I chose to intern with a local police department, thinking it would be more entertaining than a law firm. It was definitely entertaining, and it made me realize that I would rather be out in the community as a police officer than in an office as an attorney. How long have you been with the Roswell Police Department? For almost seven years now. I started my career on patrol, assigned to morning watch from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., and I loved it! I have been in the Community Relations Unit for the past several years, and I love that, too. What I do now is extremely different from patrolling, but it is rewarding in a different way. What are your primary duties? I go to schools, businesses, neighborhood and community meetings to explain how the police department works and how we can work together to prevent or solve crimes. I also teach S.A.F.E. women’s self-defense classes and am a certified radKIDS instructor, which teaches kids how to be safe in a variety of situations – everything from bullying to safety around water. It’s a 10-hour, all-encompassing program with hands-on practice drills. It’s

Are the kids surprised to see a female officer? Yes, almost always! They say, “Hey, you’re a lady policeman!” I also get a lot of moms and grandmas who tell me how happy they are to see a woman in a traditionally male position. At an event a few weeks ago at Home Depot, two little girls came running up to meet me, asking a million questions. Their grandma said they saw me across the parking lot and were so excited to see a lady police officer. They gave me big hugs and we took a picture together after they crawled through the back of my police car to see what it was all about. I try to be a positive role model for all kids, but I think I make the biggest impression on some of the little girls. What do the kids want to know about your job? I get a lot of traditional questions about guns and bad guys, but

Erin Johnson teaches radKIDS students how to defend themselves.

DEVON MORGAN/PHOTOSYNTHESIS ATLANTA

sometimes they can be pretty funny. I remember speaking to an elementary class about my equipment and everything I have on my duty belt, and I showed them the bulletproof vest I wear under my shirt to help keep me safe. Without missing a beat, a little girl raised her hand and asked what I wore under my pants. I busted out laughing – just when you think you’ve heard it all!

Erin Johnson, with her young son.

What is your favorite thing about being a police officer? Knowing that I have made a difference in people’s lives. Police officers see people at their lowest lows sometimes, so it can easily make you jaded if you don’t keep some perspective. Every once in a while, I will run into someone I really helped, often I didn’t even know I really helped them at the time, and it makes all the hard work worth it.

30 | November 26, 2014 | Milton Herald

COMMUNITY

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HAIRDRESSER TO THE SANTAS:

Santas trek to Roswell salon to get ‘The Look’ Hairdresser Franklin has legions of Santas who won’t get into their sleigh without her By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – For Sharon Franklin, Christmas comes early – very early. Like about the day after Halloween. That’s because Franklin has a special talent that is sought after by some very special clients. While Rodeo Drive has salons that have hairdressers to the stars, Franklin is the unquestioned Hairdresser to the Santas. Beginning the first of November, between 75 and 100 Santas will make the trek to Taylor House Salon in Roswell to have their hair – and beards – superbly coiffed to the standards of thousands of little kids who have their particular worldview of what Santa should like. “It’s no easy job,” Franklin said. “It’s seven days a week, nine or 10 hours a day until Christmas. There are no off-days. It’s every day of the week. “It’s more than doing hair. You have to put five or six hours into each of the men, and they’re not used to it. It’s not fun, but it’s worth it,” she said. It is something Franklin has been doing for 36 years, and as the word has spread over that time, more and more department store and mall Santas have learned that to look their best, they have to see Sharon first. “I did the Phipps Plaza Santa, and I made up all his elves, too,” Franklin said. “The word just got around, and more and more of these men would call me up.” That was the legendary James Ray Bryan, a retired East Point Fire Department captain. He was reputed to be the highest paid Santa in the metro Atlanta area and would hold court at Phipps Plaza Mall with some 18,000 children crawling onto his lap every season for 23 years. So what is her secret? What makes her Hairdresser to the Santas? Franklin tells all. “It’s my experience of doing hair 20 years in Buckhead. During the 1980s, there were a lot of chemicals and a lot of coloring,” she said. “That was Buckhead in those days. It was all about that. You can’t do this without a lot of chemical experience.” The proof is in the snowy white hair and beards of her jolly old gents. She takes what nature has given them and whitens it, curls it and sometimes she straightens it.

HATCHER HURD/STAFF

Santas flock to Taylor House Salon on Woodstock Road in Roswell to get their locks and beards looking just right. From right are “Santa Rick” Rosenthal, hairstylist Sharon Franklin, “Santa Terry” Sloan, “Santa Dan” Simpson and salon owner Tara Taylor. Always, the color is perfection. It takes hours to prepare one of her Santas for the Christmas season. They come in at 8 a.m. and don’t leave until 3 p.m. Franklin worked 14 years at Phipps Plaza before taking her skills to Roswell. But the Santas have followed her, and they come from all over metro Atlanta. “It’s our expertise in coloring. That expertise came from those years of learning about chemicals and how to use it on hair. I wouldn’t trade that for anything,” she said. Tara Taylor, the salon owner, agreed. “That was the place to learn, and Sharon really learned it well. What she knows about hair you can’t buy,” Taylor said. On one particular day, Franklin had three Santas in for the day. One is Terry Sloan, who owns a trucking company in Douglasville. He will be Santa at Arbor Place Mall. Dan Simpson, a real estate broker 11 months out of the year, is Santa at Stonecrest Mall in Conyers. Rick Rosenthal is a mediation/arbitration/divorce coach who will be one of the Santas in the 2,000-square-foot Dreamworks Santa Village at North Point Mall.

All of them swear by Franklin and say their long trek to Roswell is amply rewarded by their transformation under Franklin’s delicate ministrations. “When we’re done, each of us looks different, but each of us looks like Santa,” said Santa Dan. Santa Terry saw Franklin featured on TV’s Channel 5, and decided he would try her for one season. Now four years later, he says he won’t go to anyone else. “She has a passion for what she does,” said Santa Terry. “She gets every curl just right. She wants every one of us walking out looking just like Santa.” Santa Dan read a feature on Franklin in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Parade Magazine and decided he would go to her. “I was interested in getting into this, and I figured a hairdresser would know how. That was three years ago,” Santa Dan said. “And it turns out, we found out we went to high school together.” Santa Rick was advised to go to Franklin by fellow Santas, and was eager to see her. He said it was good advice. “You get a bad beard trim as Santa, and you’re out of business,” he said.

Mall Santas find perks in holiday job Role of Santa has rewards found nowhere else By HATCHER HURD hatcher@ appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – For those men who grow their white hair and beards long and dress in red between November and December, it is a true transformation. Men like Terry Sloan, Rick Rosenthal and Dan Simpson who make that transformation into Santa Claus find it is more than just a job when they look into the eager, bright faces of children. They get to experience the magic of Christmas. “I can walk into a Home Depot, and kids know who you are even in regular clothes,” said Santa Rick. “People see you 40 feet away and just stand and look.” Santa Dan said something special happens when you put on that Santa suit. “It’s the only job I’ve had where everyone smiles when you walk into a room,” he said. “That is always a good feeling.” For Santa Terry, the best part is what he can do as Santa. He likes to see excitement in the little faces when they crawl into his lap. “Your job then is to take their problems away. And then you see the adults smiling, too. You see them go back to their childhood,” Santa Terry said. Often, they get asked to

parties and to greet returning military personnel. They get a charge out of seeing folks light up. It seems no one can be sad if Santa is around. “But the kids are what it’s all about,” said Santa Dan. “They keep me entertained. And when I spend time with special needs adults and see them get excited, it’s a moving experience.” Santa Rick says being Santa changes you. The children may be yelling and squirming, but then they see Santa. “They look at you and light up like a light bulb. That changes you. You have to be that guy. That’s something no one else can do. Only Santa can do that,” said Santa Rick. “There is a real beauty to that, which no one else gets to see. You can’t explain what you get out of it.” Once a teacher came to Santa Dan with a special needs child, but she warned him the child did not like to be touched. She helped the child out of his stroller, and then he saw Santa. “He looked up and saw me, then just ran into my arms,” said Santa Dan. “The teacher just started to bawl when she saw it. ‘I never got that response from the boy,’ she told me. It’s the magic of the red suit.”

Going Green

Making a difference in your local community Milton Herald | November 26, 2014

Get the dirt on composting A farmer I was talking to recently voiced her opinion that people shouldn’t be burning their fall leaves, but should compost them instead. Composting is a critical component of creating a sustainable lifestyle and eliminating synthetic chemicals in our environment. There is no better way to create a rich and healthy soil than by using compost, and you can start with your fall leaves. I interviewed Amy Escalante who manages the composting process for the Alpharetta Community Gardens at Wills Park to learn more about how to compost and why it is so important.

Q & A with Amy Escalante

Why should we compost? Composting reduces landfill waste, by recycling decomposed organic matter into rich, nutrient-dense soil often referred to as “black gold.” Up to 30 percent of the material we send to landfills is organic and can likely be composted at home. It’s an easy way to give back to Mother Nature… literally! Why is using compost better than using synthetic fertilizers? Synthetic fertilizers are generally derived from by-products of the petroleum industry. As far as your plants go, they can’t distinguish between an organic (compost) or synthetic fertilizer. The nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium) are processed the same way. Synthetic fertilizers provide plants with the nutrients they desire; however, plants need more to survive. Compost provides plants with

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the desired nutrients, while at the same time, adding organic material and introducing beneficial microorganisms into the soil. When synthetic fertilizers are used, the microbiology of the soil is interrupted, resulting in providing an environment for pathogens to thrive. Sure, you have beautiful, blight-free tomatoes for a short period of time, but at what cost? Why is composting fall leaves better t han burning them? Composting is definitely a preferred method of getting rid of unwanted leaves. When you burn a pile of leaves, hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and other carcinogens are released at ground level. Particulates found in the smoke can accumulate in the lungs, resulting in breathing difficulties, especially in children, those with asthma and other respiratory disorders. The alternative to burning your leaves is simple: compost them. It takes very little effort, while providing you with a usable end product. Pound for pound, leaves contain twice as many minerals as manure. What is the best way to get started? The only thing you need to get started composting is a little bit of knowledge. First of all, it is a common misconception

that composting requires a lot of space or a large backyard. I have successfully created quality compost in a 2-by-2 foot square area. The ideal location is to set up your compost area on grass or soil in a sunny (or partly sunny) area. A large pile of leaves raked into a corner will certainly breakdown, but it will take a very long time. In order to create quality compost with those leaves in a timely manner, it is helpful to shred them first (using a lawnmower is the most efficient) and to add a source of nitrogen. Here’s a quick example of compost mix. Start with a generous layer of dead leaves (or other “browns” like newspaper or dead grass clippings), then add a layer of nitrogenrich material (“greens” such as food scraps, fresh grass clippings, coffee grounds). You should aim for adding two to three times as much browns as greens. While it doesn’t need to be an actual layered system, it is always recommended to add browns after greens to prevent odors and unwanted pests. Water and air are also recommended if you want a timely turn around on usable soil, but aren’t completely necessary. Turning a compost bin and adding water periodically (think moist material, not wet) will definitely speed things up as the compost is full of microorganisms that thrive on water and air. The more microorganisms you have, the faster they will decompose the material. Is fancy equipment required to compost? Not at all. A compost bin is preferred, as it will help keep your material confined. However, you can easily make

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extension.uga.edu/publications. In the search box, type “compost.” Creating a sustainable lifestyle and reducing our carbon footprint is becoming more and more imperative; as our population continues to grow, so does the burden on the planet. If you think of your home in terms of things coming in and out, sustainability is about reducing these inputs and outputs. Close the loop as much as possible. Grow some of your own food (less coming in), and compost your leaves and waste (less going out). You’d be surprised the impact of doing just these two things. Start small, a few tomato plants or herbs in pots, a small pile of leaves somewhere in your yard. Eventually over time, this may grow, but every little bit makes a difference. Fall leaves provide a great opportunity to get started. Pascale Chambers is an organic gardener and supporter of local and naturally grown foods. An advocate for living a sustainable lifestyle, she inspires others to learn and take action to improve their health and the health of our planet. Comments or questions can be sent to pascale@appenmediagroup.com.

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a bin using some wood scraps or fencing. Other tools that are recommended: a shovel, a fork and a wheelbarrow to haul your home grown soil to the garden. That’s it! You can spend a lot of money on composting systems, but they are not at all necessary. What are some dos and don’ts of composting? My rule of thumb has always been that the compost bin is vegan, meaning no meat or other animal by-products. The biggest exception would be egg shells; however, they must be rinsed well. Highly recommended material: food scraps, coffee, tea, manure (no dog or cat manure), grass clippings, garden waste, paper, leaves, sawdust (untreated), tissue paper, dead grass clippings. Not recommended: meat, fish, eggs, dairy, oily foods, bones and diseased plants. Escalante and a team of volunteers at the Alpharetta Community Gardens not only provide compost for use in the gardeners’ beds but also help to teach new gardeners and others in the community about composting. Another great resource is the UGA Extension Office. They have a great publication and downloadable PDF about composting. Go to: http://

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32 | November 26, 2014 | Milton Herald | miltonherald.com

OPINION

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Bless your heart: Words of Southern comfort Every region of the country has its own means of expression that are peculiar to those folks. In the South, that is particularly so. These verbal regionalisms remained just that, until the vehicle mobility of the 1960s and air conditioning brought people to South, where they found it hard to understand the native drawl and expression. This has been especially true in North Fulton, which has seen its population skyrocket in the last 20 years. So it is reasonable and proper to provide newcomers with a little help navigating the linguistic minefield that can result. First, one must understand that Southerners pride themselves on their good manners. I have heard historians say this has its roots in the 17th and 18th century predilection to dueling. Any perceived insult could result in an affair of honor, even among the hardscrabble gentry. So Southerners used a

HATCHER HURD Executive Editor hatcher@appen mediagroup.com

careful, if somewhat exaggerated, way of speaking that emphasized good manners. Take for example the fine old Southern expression, “Well, bless your heart.” This is a common response to someone who has suffered some sort of social setback. Say a neighbor tells you his wife has just left him. That will almost certainly elicit the response, “Well, bless your heart!” Implicit in the expression, however, can be the unstated, “Well, if you had come home once in a while instead of carousing all of the time, she might not have left.” The recipient may realize this cut, or he may not. But the veneer of manners allows both parties to take the mean-

ing in their own way, and civility is preserved. Of course, many expressions are just colorful. They have entered the region’s psyche and give speech life and vigor. Say Johnny wants to be the leader in a project, but doesn’t really have any of the necessary follow-through to get it done. A critic might say, “Oh, he just wants to wear the hat.” A Texas corollary to that is a disparaging way to refer to a fellow rancher: “He’s all hat and no cattle.” As a child, I often had my mother rebuke me with the warning, “You do that again and I’ll be on you like a duck on a June bug.” I had never actually seen this happen, but the visual was sufficient to modify my behavior. Many expressions recall earlier days when most people led rural lives, and their imagery reflected that. If someone says they are “standing in tall cotton,” things were going good. Cotton was king for the farmer, and tall cotton meant a bigger yield. That conjures another expression I heard often as

Church: Continued from Page 8 month. There were no restrooms. Instead, the women’s outhouse was near the cemetery. The men’s was across the street. There have been 44 pastors in the church, from 1834 to today. The current pastor is Don

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a child. “She’s as happy as a mule eating briars.” It meant her joy might not be justified, or it was short-lived or perhaps feigned. The expression comes from people who have seen a mule eating said briars rather carefully, exposing her teeth and taking care not prick her lips in the process. If someone told me, “Can’t never could,” it means I should try before conceding failure. New settlers in North Fulton will ask for a soda or perhaps a bottle of pop. Native Georgians just naturally use “coke” as the generic term. It would result in a conversation like this. “Would you like a coke?” “Yes, please.” “What kind of coke?” “A Coke coke.” One expression that baffles people who aren’t from around here is “fixing to.” “No honey, I haven’t taken out the garbage yet, but I’m fixing to.” It means “about.” One of the favorite pastimes of Southerners is hunting and working with hunting dogs. So if someone says, “That dog won’t hunt,” it means that is a problem with no solution or the wrong solution is being used.

And if you are showing some ambivalence about entering into an enterprise that involves some risk, someone might say, “Either run with the big dogs, or stay on the porch.” There is also the expression that someone or something has natural beauty that goes “as pretty as a yellow dog under a new porch.” A bucket is always a useful tool and has many uses. So if someone “poured a whole bucket of sad on her,” she’s really morose. An agricultural region has many sayings about the world. If it is “clouding up,” that means it’s fixing to rain. Someone who is inordinately tall might be referred to as a “tall drink of water” and if the person is none too bright, “not the sharpest knife in the drawer.” Certainly Tennessee Williams fans are familiar with as fidgety as “a cat on a hot tin roof,” and so is anyone who has endured a Southern summer. And if you want to sound Southern when you bid a friend so long, don’t say goodbye. Say: “Come to see us.”

Westray, who has served in the post for the past year. Westray has the honor of serving twice in the church. Providence was his first time pastoring, in 1994. For four years, he served before moving on. And now, this year, he is back to where he began. “Twenty-one years later, I’m back,” he said. Pastor Westray said the Nov. 16 celebrations in the church were amazing. “It was a blessed day,” Westray said. “I don’t think the day could be any sweeter.” The church was filled with the congregation, some Westray said he had not seen in a long time, all to celebrate the special day. Choirs and singers sang

old songs while local historian Dinsmore told of the history of the reverent church. “Providence is a body of born again believers that have survived and thrived for 180 years by putting their faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Westray said. “They have followed Mark 12:30-31 as best they could – ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, and love neighbor as thyself.’ “That’s how she made it 180 years and will make it 180 more,” he said. For more on Providence Baptist Church, visit them at www.pbcmilton.org or at 14500 Providence Road, Milton.

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SCHOOLS

miltonherald.com | Milton Herald | November 26, 2014 | 33

Fulton Schools addresses lack of substitute teachers Looks to reduce teacher absentee rate By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com ATLANTA – On an average day in the Fulton County School System, about 9 percent of classrooms are being led by substitute teachers, filling the roles of between 600 to 700 teachers who are out for various reasons. It’s a situation that is straining the diminishing pool of available substitutes, and raising concern from school leaders who believe learning takes place primarily when the regular teacher is in the classroom.

“The bottom line is the improving economy means fewer people are signing up to be substitutes, and more importantly, teacher attendance needs to be addressed,” said Ron Wade, director of talent for Fulton Schools. “It’s a twopronged approach to increase supply and also limit demand.” Wade said the immediate fix is increasing the pool of substitutes by adding another 800 to 1,000 qualified subs to the current pool of about 1,700. Last week, the Fulton School Board authorized a pay increase for substitute teachers, raising the daily pay for subs

to $111 per day, and $120 a day for long-term subs. That pay increase makes Fulton more competitive with other metro school districts competing for subs. The additional pay equates to an $11 million increase to the sub budget, but Wade said that cost can be absorbed in the current budget. Subs can also now work an additional two days per month – 17 total – to avoid the need for insurance under the new federal health plan. Wade said that alone will increase availability, and said six out of the 10 months of school have fewer than 17 days. Requirements to be a substitute teacher in Fulton County include having a high

school diploma and successfully completing an assessment. Information is contained on the school system website, www.fultonschools.org. The second part of addressing the issue is reducing the absentee rate to 4 or 5 percent from its present 9 percent. Wade said some fixes are already in place, such as limiting professional development and training during instructional hours to avoid teacher absence during the work day. “We’ve asked the principals to think differently and protect the instructional day when scheduling teachers to be out of the classroom,” said Wade. “We are pushing out more professional development online,

after school and on teacher work days, and we hope to see the effects of that [soon].” He is also looking at reimplementing incentives for good attendance, which went away several years ago during budget cuts. “We know student performance improves with teacher attendance, so maybe it’s time to really address the long-term thinking of how to accomplish this,” said Wade. Teachers receive 1.25 to 2.0 days of sick leave every month, depending on years of experience, and can carry it over from year to year. In addition, teachers have five personal days a year, which require no reason for the absence.

DEATH NOTICES Stacy Watson Burnett III passed away October 15, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Mary Ann Chulick, 88, of Cumming, passed away November 17, 2014. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home. Peter Derise, 68, or Norcross, passed away November 4, 2014. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery. Joan Cecelia Eigel, 77, of Johns Creek, passed away November 3, 2014. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.

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Maria Nelly Martino, 79, of Cumming, passed away November 19, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. Richard McCloy, 62, of Milton, passed away November 15, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

Barbara JoAnn Elrod, 70, of Cumming, passed away November 17, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.

Donald Monroe Mundy, 69, of Forsyth County, passed away November 15, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.

Jerry Wayne Goodson, 70, of Marietta, passed away November 7, 2014. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.

Thomas Newsome, 65, of Roswell, passed away November 16, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

Jeanne Howard, 70, of Gainesville, passed away November 13, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.

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Kathleen Chumbler Lummus, 89, of Cumming, passed away November 16, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.

Louise Lyn Jelly, 77, of Gainesville, passed away November 15, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. Josephine Kantor, 95, of Suwanee, passed away November 15, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.

Margaret Mary Rasper, 94, of Cumming, passed away November 16, 2014. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home. Doris Ellen Shafer, 71, of Cumming, passed away November 17, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.

Gertrude Sifa, 64, of Atlanta, passed away November 11, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. Josefa Stockl, 96, passed away November 19, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Wanda Swofford, 74, of Dahlonega, passed away November 14, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Guy M. Tarrance, 75, of Alpharetta, passed away October 31, 2014. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery. Matha Tallant Tribble, 95, of Cumming, passed away November 12, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Scott D. Villar, 54, of Woodstock, passed away November 16, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

Martha Delice Walker, 93, of Alpharetta, passed away November 12, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. Theron Walker, 85, of Cumming, passed away November 16, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Jerry Walters Winberry, 78, of Cumming, passed away November 12, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.

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Atlanta Hawks cheerleaders get makeovers from the Mastery Salon