Johns Creek Herald, December 31, 2015 by Appen Media Group

D e c e m b e r 3 1 , 2 0 1 5 | N o r t h F u l t o n . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 1 9 , N o . 5 2

Johns Creek has wild 2015

Get outside Georgia: Gone fishin’ Find the best spot for Trout fishing this season ►►Page 18

It’s that time of year again. We start recovering from Christmas and start thinking of our New Year’s resolutions. But before we completely move into 2016, let’s take a look at the biggest headlines from 2015. Pictured: Johns Creek mayor Mike Bodker sports a snake boa Sept. 12, 2015 during a fundraiser benefiting Autrey Mill Nature Preserve & Heritage Center. Read more Year in Review, Pages 4 – 12.

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Recycle your Christmas trees, FOG and more ►►Page 23

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Public Safety

2 | December 31, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

770-442-3278 | NorthFulton.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 PUBLISHER Ray Appen

ALPHARETTA, GA – Two Milton High School students are suspected of stealing packages from the front porches of residents in the week before Christmas. On Dec. 18, an officer was dispatched to the Knightsbridge Way neighborhood in Crabapple after reports of a suspicious vehicle at 4:20 p.m. Dec. 18. A witness said the people in a Silver Honda Pilot had taken a package from a neighbor’s front porch. They were then seen tossing a box out of their car window. The officer stopped the suspect vehicle at the Crabapple Government Center. The driver and passenger of the vehicle were both students at Milton High School and members of the varsity football team. Appen Media Group policy is to not identify suspects under 21 years old. The suspects are listed as 17 and 18 years old. A search of the vehicle allegedly turned up dozens of items that were reported stolen from residents in nearby neighborhoods.

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Man suspected of multiple thefts ALPHARETTA, Ga. – An Alpharetta resident is accused of breaking into several

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►► Erica Suzanne Ardis, 33, of Piney

Ridge Walk, Johns Creek, was arrested Dec. 4 on Mansell Road in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to maintain lane.

Drug arrests

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►► Lucia Susan Huie, 60, of Duluth,

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vehicles in his neighborhood Dec. 18. Police were alerted to the activity at 7 a.m. when one victim called 911 saying she saw a man in her vehicle. When police arrived to the Homestead Trail residence, they say they saw the suspect, Darren Antonio Thomas, 23, of Cotton Patch Lane, Alpharetta, arguing with two other people. The victim was one of those arguing with Thomas. She said she had seen Thomas inside her vehicle, rummaging through it.

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false information to a police officer and suspended license. ►► Kimby Sue Royalty, 38, of Parkview Lane, Alpharetta, was arrested Dec. 4 on Park Plaza in Alpharetta for possession of a scheduled II controlled substance. ►► Raymond Sookram, 31, of Canton, was arrested Dec. 3 on North Point Parkway in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana and brake light violation. Police note Thomas was wearing several different coats and had his pockets filled with miscellaneous items, including $124 in cash. He also had a backpack containing Social Security cards, electronic benefit transfer cards and medical cards all belonging to different people. While police were speaking with Thomas and the victim, two other reports came in from the same neighborhood of cars

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What is that white spot on my eye? By Samir Vira, M.D.

Samir Vira, M.D.

Don’t Let Cataracts Keep You From Enjoying The New Year

If you wear contact lenses and you ever wake up with a painful red eye with discharge or blurred vision, you should always consider the possibility of a corneal infection. A corneal ulcer, or infectious keratitis, occurs when there is a breakdown in the cornea and microbes create an infection of the eye. The cornea is the transparent window into the eye, and it is critical for this segment to remain healthy and intact so that you can see everything clearly.

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A corneal ulcer is mostly commonly caused by bacteria. It can occur in anyone after sustaining direct injury to the eye. The trauma creates an entry point for bacteria or other microorganism to invade and establish an infection. Contact lens wearers have a significantly higher risk of developing a corneal ulcer. This is especially true for individuals who wear extended duration contact lenses – they are ten times more likely to develop an infection. Contact lens wearers are susceptible to microtrauma that can occur from the lens itself. With extended wear, contact lenses can develop small scratches at the edge or deposits that can lead to this microtrauma. In addition, these contact lenses can harbor bacteria on the surface over time. Lastly, these contact lenses can obstruct oxygen availability and thus make the cornea more susceptible to infection. Overnight wear of contact lenses is also associated with a higher risk of infection. Ulcers can also occur due to other microorganisms. The herpes virus, commonly associated with cold sores, can lead to recurrent corneal ulcers. Contact lens wearers are at higher risk for a fungal or parasitic infection. Acanthamoeba, a parasite found in tap water, swimming pools, hot tubs, and lakes, can lead to a severe corneal ulcer in contact lens wearers. Contact lens wearers must maintain good hygiene to reduce their risk for an infection. This includes washing hands regularly before handling contact lenses, disinfecting and disposing lenses in a timely fashion, and frequent cleaning of contact lens cases. Individuals should also avoid wearing contact lenses during swimming or showering. Patients with severe dry eyes, eyelid abnormalities leading to exposure of the cornea, and autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, are especially prone to infection and should be aware of this possibility. Any individual, especially contact lens wearer, experiencing symptoms of eye pain or foreign body sensation, blurred vision, discharge, or light sensitivity should seek urgent care from an eyecare provider. Delay in attention and treatment can lead to vision loss and sometimes even blindness or loss of the eye. Contact lens wearers should immediately stop the use of their lenses. Your ophthalmologist or optometrist will obtain a detailed history and examine the extent and location of the corneal ulcer. He or she will initiate frequent use of topical antibiotics, and in certain severe or unusual circumstances, obtain cultures to determine the specific bacteria causing the infection. You will be asked to return for re-assessment of the ulcer and its response to antibiotics every 1 to 3 days. Most patients respond well to topical antibiotics with good visual prognosis. In severe cases where the central cornea is affected, treatment may be required for a duration of several weeks to months. Patients can also develop cataracts or glaucoma concurrently. Permanent vision loss may occur despite aggressive treatment due to irreversible scarring of the cornea. In these rare cases, a corneal transplant procedure followed by long visual rehabilitation may be necessary to restore the patient’s vision.

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4 | December 31, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

YEAR IN REVIEW

JC getting pavement relief to tune of $11.6M Seven city street projects easing traffic congestion By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Traffic and roads are the city’s No.1 problem and the Public Works Department answered with five major projects under construction and three more projects pending with contracts totaling $11.678 million. With the promise of relief coming, it has also meant dealing with the headaches that come with roads under construction/repair.

[The Public Works Department] have found a way to add a lane here or restripe an intersection there. It doesn’t seem like much, just adding a bit of pavement. Yet they make a big difference in moving folks along,” Mike Bodker Johns Creek mayor

Johns Creek traffic has long been a hot political topic. The city’s traffic woes have worsened as more than 110,000 people have moved into surrounding communities just since 2010, and more are on the way. Two state highways intersect at Medlock Bridge Road (Ga. 141) and Abbotts Bridge Road (Ga. 120). And McGinnis Ferry Road, which has almost as much traffic, is slated to become four lanes. That means more traffic from surrounding communities. Mayor Mike Bodker praised the Public Works Department for maximiz-

Some Johns Creek projects slated or finished Johns Creek Public Works has a lot on its plate as it rushes to finish some transportation projects and gets ready to add more. Johns Creek has taken a strategic approach in its effort to improve roadways while communicating with the Georgia Department of Transportation to track its progress. However, the timing of the construction on both sides is often dependent on the availability of state and federal funding. The following is a list of projects completed, underway or about to commence, with the associated cost. • Jones Bridge Road between State Bridge and Abbotts Bridge roads. Funding: $2.427 million. The city is widening the road from two lanes to four lanes with a center median, adding an 8-foot-wide trail on one side of the road and a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the other, and installing a new traffic signal at the entrance of the North Bridges Shopping Center. • Old Alabama Road between Buice and Medlock Bridge roads. Funding: $3.623 million. The project will widen Old Alabama Road from Buice Road to Medlock Bridge Road to four lanes with two in each direction, separated by a 20-foot-wide median. A 5-foot sidewalk will be built south of Old Alabama Road and a 10-foot wide multiuse trail will be added on the north side. An additional left-turn lane will be added on Medlock Bridge Road onto Old Alabama Road. The project is scheduled to be completed in October 2016. • Parsons Road Bridge replacement. GDOT project. Funding: $1.556 million. Source: All federal. The 50-year-old bridge (completed) has been replaced. The replacement bridge is wider and includes a 10-foot-wide trail on one side and a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the other side. • Bell Road Bridge replacement. GDOT project. Funding: $1.464 million. The completion date was set Nov. 30, 2015. However, the project is currently on hold while GDOT works out an agreement with the contractor on a redesign of the road grades. The new bridge will include a 10-foot trail on one side and a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the other. • Roundabout at Bell and Boles roads. City project. Funding: $1.474 million. Construction of a roundabout and preparation of a site for a future pocket park. The contract calls for the roundabout to be completed in March. • Roundabout at Crossington and Sargent roads. City project. Funding: $448,899. Source: All local. Completion scheduled by Jan. 1, weather permitting. The project will allow residents in the Wellington subdivision to more safely enter and exit their neighborhood and encourage large vehicles to use more appropriate routes. • Jones Bridge Road extension south of State Bridge Road. City project. Funding: $440,000. Source: All local. Tentatively set to begin Sept. 28. The contract for the project was expanded in August to include an 850foot extension of the second of two southbound lanes on Jones Bridge south of State Bridge Road (starting near the Waffle House). The extension will provide motorists more time to merge safely into traffic and help relieve congestion in the intersection. It is scheduled to be complete in the spring. ing traffic control on the current grid system in place. “They have found a way to add a lane here or restripe an intersection there. It doesn’t seem like much, just adding a bit of pavement. Yet they make a big difference in moving folks along,” he said.

Bodker said he heard from residents who said some improvements on Old Alabama had “literally cut 10 to 15 minutes off their commute.” “We are just going to continue to work through these problems because we know it will ultimately make things better,” he said.

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 31, 2015 | 5

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6 | December 31, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

YEAR IN REVIEW

A river runs through it: The District’s ‘bump in the road’ By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The Johns Creek City Council has been asked by staff to consider asking The District’s consultants to come up with an alternate plan for The District’s center core that was to have TAYLOR focused on a water feature using the existing creek. CH2M Hill, an engineering and operations consultant that provides services to Johns Creek in a public/ private partnership, was preparing a feasibility study when it ran into some severe constraints based on preserving the existing creek. They have come back asking for direction on whether to pursue it based on expected higher costs. So has The District — the city’s plan for a new, vibrant city center — hit a bump in the road, or has it run into a ditch? The consensus from the city is it is closer to a bump in the road. The city has to decide, however, if it should look at alternatives to The District being designed around a water feature such as a canal or lake. “What we have done is take a step back,” said Assistant City Manager Eric Taylor, who has oversight of the city project. “We have done a preliminary look with CH2M Hill to see what obstacles we might face.” So Taylor has presented the ques-

tion of whether to pursue a plan B at a City Council workshop. But no decision has been made to do so at this time. “The fact of the matter is the stream is already there, and we have to figure out just how we are going to work with it,” he said. “It is likely feasible, but there will be some challenges obviously we will have to face early on.” These would include permitting times, the processes and how to mitigate all the environmental issues surrounding the creek and any tributaries. “So what we want to do is figure out what those challenges were on the front end,” he said. “We want to see what a second alternative might look like.” It is still too early for the city to say how long it will take to get a handle on those challenges and then ask the consultants Urban Design Associates to come up with alternatives. Come what may, the city expects that same area on the east side of Medlock Bridge Road to be the core of the 728-acre development. “When you look at the entire area, the most likely spot for that core with the most density is still going be that same place we’ve been concentrating on,” Taylor said. “That’s still the starting point.” Mayor Mike Bodker said any development of this magnitude will need what he called a “central feature.” “We were trying to use the natural landscape and enhance it to become that natural feature. In this case what we call the Canal District,” Bodker said. “At some point you have to explore whether to do it is doable or not. You have to make a decision whether it is

Johns Creek residents discuss plans for The District.

worth the time delay and the expense. Also there are new laws all the time that make it more difficult to deal with areas that have flowing water,” Bodker said. So the city is looking at two other options. One includes a manmade water feature and the second would have no water feature at all. Either option would be substantive enough to create that “spark of vibrancy” that would serve as an attraction and a magnet to bring people to the property. “If all we do is a ‘me-too’ version of Avalon, we have to get in line. Forsyth has its me-too version of Avalon, and Roswell is looking at a similar version at Holcomb Bridge Road at Ga. 400,” Bodker said. So the city wants something that will differentiate it from what others are doing in the neighboring boroughs. Bodker says since the name of his city is Johns Creek, a water feature should play a role. He pointed to successful examples across the country. Chicago has made a huge feature of the Chicago River running through that city. The same is true with the Bricktown Canal in Oklahoma City. San Antonio, Texas, has its famous Riverwalk and Reno, Nevada, has successfully incorporated the Truckee River into a commercial and tourist attraction. It has an Olympic kayak run that is in use 12 months out of the year. Manmade water features have similarly revitalized other downtowns, such as the Central Canal in Indianapolis and Waterplace Park in Providence, Rhode Island. Each of these cities invested in the infrastructure to turn their waterways into vigorous economic activity centers and tourist attractions. “It has been transformational for these communities. It would be absolutely unique for the metro Atlanta area if Johns Creek were to do it. The closest example is the Old Fourth Ward in Atlanta. It uses a detention facility and spurred development all around it,” the mayor said. Johns Creek’s goal is not to be just a me-too community. What Johns Creek must do is something unique, he said. “Many argue that it is not the city’s business to get involved in this. My answer is this: Name one city that has gotten something really big going and wasn’t proactively involved. “If you sit on the sidelines and wait for something to naturally occur, it will never occur,” Bodker said.

What is The District? The District is the Johns Creek City Council’s idea to create a plan for the city to have a downtown that would attract visitors and provide vibrancy and an identity for the city. The council identified 728 acres along Medlock Bridge Road and McGinnis Ferry Road that could be redeveloped into an area that would have dining, shops, a park and other amenities. It would invite and attract residents and visitors to what would be the city’s downtown. The first ideas from the city’s design consultants, Urban Design Associates, looked too much like Manhattan to residents who came to look at renderings at town hall meetings. So the city has taken in the comments and asked the consultants to come up with something on a somewhat smaller scale. Yet the project is perhaps the most exciting thing that the city is considering. While Johns Creek has a name, a city government and the post office will send mail to a Johns Creek address, it still lacks that identifiable characteristic of a downtown. But The District is more than a slogan. It should illustrate how people live in this city, what it values and what makes it unique. It’s still a blank slate, but the possibilities are interesting to consider. Roswell has taken a proactive stance in reinvigorating its city center, as have Alpharetta, Forsyth County, Duluth, Suwanee and Norcross, he said. “That doesn’t mean the cities pay for everything. But they do create the environment where change can succeed. The notion to stand back and to let development occur is a formula for sprawl,” he said. As for the current situation and taking that “step back” to look at the water feature, it will be something the city has to deal with in any case. “By the way, if we are able to do what we want to do, we are confident it would in fact enhance the quality of the water that flows through there. But we can’t in good conscience wait until we are five years down the road and then find out we can’t do something,” he said. “We can’t wait because no one else is.”

YEAR IN REVIEW

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 31, 2015 | 7

Brand new council facing 2016 Politics cleared the benches in 2015 JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – In 2015, the City Council experienced a massive turnover as several events combined to bring a completely new board by the beginning of 2016. Not since the creation of the city in 2006, when the entire council was made up of newbies, has Johns Creek been in this situation. It began in the summer of 2014, when five of the City Council members tried to oust Mayor Mike Bodker through an Ill-fated “investigation” that boomeranged completely. Two of the three council members were defeated in the November elections. The only one to win re-election was Kelly Stewart, who supported Bodker. Bodker defeated another council member to return as

BODKER

BROADBENT

DAVENPORT

mayor. Immediately after the elections, Stewart and Brad Raffensperger resigned to run for state Rep. Lynne Riley’s seat in the General Assembly, which she resigned to take her appointment as state revenue commissioner. That created yet another vacuum on the City Council, which was compounded by the resignation of Councilman Ivan Figueroa who was moving out of the city. The City Council members seated in 2015 include Bodker,

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With the election of council members Stephanie Endres and Jay Lin, the council will have seven members, six of whom have one year of experience or less. Cori Davenport, Bob Gray, Dr. Lenny Zaprowski and Steve Broadbent. Citing “voter fatigue” and the $200,000 cost of a special election, four voted not to call a special election to fill the two vacant seats. Only Zaparowski voted to hold the special election, citing it was clearly the

city charter’s intent that vacant seats be filled as soon as possible even if the charter did not make it explicit. With the election of council members Stephanie Endres and Jay Lin, the council will have seven members, six of whom have one year of experience or less.

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8 | December 31, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

OPINION

A New Year’s challenge Every New Year’s, most of us think about what we’d like to resolve to change. The lists often include losing weight, getting in shape – either physically Kathleen Sturgeon or financially – landing a new job, Reporter kathleen@appenmediagroup.com getting married, etc. Unfortunately, whatever is wished for is often soon forgotten. But still we make our resolutions. The new year is a unique time when many of us feel we have a chance to start over. It’s as if we think we can almost be anyone or do anything we want. It’s pretty cool. There is usually a sense of recharged energy in the air. Come Jan. 1, most people are ready to kick off the year with a bang. So this year I would like to challenge our readers to put all of that energy to good use. Let’s be better. 2015 felt like a hard year. Granted, there are always tragedies in every year, but 2015 seemed to be one of the worst. While we had many, many good times, the bad often seemed to overshadow the good and take precedence. So, for 2016, I would love to see us all be better. Better friends, parents, significant others, workers and people. We need to be better in how we

So this year I would like to challenge our readers to put all of that energy to good use. treat each other, how we resolve issues and how we voice our differing opinions. We can start this new year off by really taking our lives, country, city and families by the reigns and going full force to make all of it better. In addition to being better, I also charge everyone reading this to be more positive. I write a lot on this topic because I honestly believe a positive outlook and mindset goes a long way toward ending negative issues and just making us better people as a whole. Being better and positive are behaviors we can easily incorporate into our daily lives. Smile at someone, hold the door for the person behind you and maybe put down your phone or device and listen and look at the world around you. It will amaze you what you miss when you’re tuned into your device all the time. So happy New Year, dear readers. Let’s make this year better and more positive by starting the change within ourselves. Happy 2016!

Goodbye 2015, hello spanking-new 2016 The new year is a great time for looking back, but it is also a good time to look forward. For me, it is easy to do both. I can take those shiny new 2015 resolutions I made, wipe HATCHER HURD a mote of dust off Executive Editor hatcher@appenmediagroup.com them and go with them again. There they are, still new in the box. Let’s see, begin a regimen of exercise, check. Start my new (make that my first) novel, check. Become a contestant on “Jeopardy,” check. Yes, they’re all here, so I’ll just put them back in the box and use them for 2016. That’s OK, for me. Nobody is going to care much whether I get these things done. But it is a little different for our local governments. Each year is new and calls for new, or at least continued, efforts to get these local cities down the road. City council members will have to ask themselves, “What have I done to govern?” That makes it hard for those who pledge what they won’t do. “I won’t raise taxes. I won’t spend money frivolously. I won’t vote for this or for that project.” These are commendable goals in and of themselves. But you will find you can’t build a political career on don’ts and won’ts. At some point you are going to have to say I – or better, we – did this and thus so that the city’s economy is stronger, the quality of life is better and the future is brighter. Too often the appeal is to do nothing. But that ultimately leads to dry rot for a city. It begins to decay from within. Doing nothing is much like a cancer. It kills a business here, a neighborhood there, until the blight is unmistakable. Suddenly, you’ll look around at a picture less bright than when you took office. You’ll be asked what you supported. And you had better have an answer. But this involves a certain amount of risk. Do the wrong thing and it will backfire on you. But if you do nothing, that will backfire, too.

So you work with your fellow council members to do “the right thing.” It is not always obvious what the right thing is. That is why you have consultants, experts and fellow council members. It also takes a vision. Hard thing that, vision. But if you don’t have the vision, there can be no right thing to do, because the goal is missing. One option is to treat a city like a car. Just maintain it, change the oil every so often, rotate the tires and get a tuneup. But, like a car, a city is made to go somewhere. And in the bustling suburban communities of North Fulton, it is easy to see people are going in every direction. Cities can’t do that. They have to have direction to go where they want to end up – prosperous, full of quality of life, good infrastructure and the like. And you can’t pull in a service station and say, “Fill it up with quality of life. Oh, and check the roads.” No, this is 2016 (almost). And it is all self-service. That means we have to do the work, the planning, the decision making. What we don’t have is the luxury of status quo. That’s because a city is like an organism, perhaps it is an organism. It certainly is not a car. It lives and breathes and needs care and sustenance. If you are not growing as a city, you are dying. Often, neither happens very quickly, but one or the other is inevitable. So a city council has to decide what is going to make our city grow and be well. It takes a plan and a regimen to become stronger, livelier, more robust. You will find not everyone wants to take the medicine. They won’t want to spend the money, they won’t want to make changes, in general they don’t want change. But change is inevitable, and remaining unchanged becomes a form of change itself – and almost always it is for the worse. That does not mean all change is good, of course not. It takes a lot of planning, a lot of hard work. So a council has taken on the job of leading. And leading is making decisions. You’ll find getting elected is the easy part – yes, the easy part. Making the tough decisions? Well, that’s a job I wouldn’t have the guts to do.

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 31, 2015 | 9

10 | December 31, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

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YEAR IN REVIEW

City buys 133-acre Cauley Creek Pays $20.3M for riverfront property JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The city’s Recreation and Parks Department got a huge shot in the arm when the City Council paid $20.3 million for the Cauley Creek property on Bell Road. It includes Cauley Creek Water Reclamation Facility, a 5-million-gallons-per-day waste water and reuse water plant Fulton County closed down in 2013. The city bought the land for a park to be programmed at a later date. But the City Council held out hope that the county would entertain a “bargain basement” price to put it back in action. But the county has turned thumbs down on that idea. Nevertheless, the purchase remains a huge step forward in acquiring parkland for the city. Its river frontage on the Chattahoochee opens up interesting possibilities for recreation and as a part of a Johns Creek greenway. “This large tract of land provides the city additional park space, and will add to the high quality

This large tract of land provides the city additional park space, and will add to the high quality of life in Johns Creek...” Mike Bodker Johns Creek mayor of life in Johns Creek. The public has said loud and clear that adding park space in Johns Creek is a high priority,” said Mayor Mike Bodker at the time of the purchase. He bemoaned the county’s lack of interest in maintaining the water reclamation facility. “When they shuttered Cauley Creek, they gave up 5 million gallons of capacity. Regardless of the county’s ability to expand, that’s still 5 million gallons of capacity that is gone. You never give away your capacity if you don’t have to,” Bodker said.

Event Location:

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Cauley Creek Water Reclamation Facility on the 133-acre site looks like a barn from the road.

YEAR IN REVIEW

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 31, 2015 | 11

REMODELING MADE SIMPLE

No Stress. No Mess.

HATCHER HURD/Staff

Rogers Bridge may well be the conduit to unite various trail systems in North Fulton and Gwinnett. As a regional project, it has the interest of the National Parks Service as well.

$2.4M Rogers Bridge project moves forward 5-way partnership to study restoration for pedestrian use By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The more the merrier is indeed the case as Johns Creek and its partners take a hard look in February at turning the abandoned Rogers Bridge into an iconic pedestrian bridge over the Chattahoochee River. More means five entities agreeing to partner to divvy up the $2.4 million it is expected to take to get the bridge project completed. First, a $500,000 study will determine the best plan for the Rogers Bridge restoration. Johns Creek, Duluth, the Gwinnett County Water Authority, the Fulton County Water Authority and the National Park Service are entering into a memorandum of understanding to pursue a $500,000 grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission. The grant will be in the form of an ARC Transportation Alternatives Pro-

gram grant, which will fund the initial study to rehabilitate, restore or replace the bridge. The grant requires a 20 percent match, of which $20,000 is Johns Creek’s share of the cost. Whether the preferred option of the study is to rebuild or replace the bridge, Johns Creek Public Works Director Tom Black said the final cost will be $2.4 million. Johns Creek, Duluth and the NPS are interested in the restoration of Rogers Bridge because it would be a huge recreational amenity for joggers, hikers and cyclists at that nexus of the Johns Creek Greenway, Duluth/Gwinnett recreation area and the NPS Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. This MOU is the first step in pursuing the project, which could come to fruition in 24 to 30 months. The staffs of the five entities worked six months as an “informal task force” to find the best solution for the restoration of Rogers Bridge. Johns Creek staff will also provide project management oversight and administrative support in the grant application process. The only investment of funds at the start is the $20,000 share for the initial grant.

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12 | December 31, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

YEAR IN REVIEW

JC strikes radio tower deal with Forsyth Need for 400-foot tower in downtown eliminated By KATHLEEN STURGEON & HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Johns Creek City Council faced a seemingly no-win situation to solve the problem of creating a fire and police radio system that would penetrate the walls of any school or other building in the county. The only option seemed to be a 400-foot radio tower near Medlock Bridge Road and State Bridge Road, but many residents are calling it a 400-foot eyesore. At nearly the last minute, city staff came up with a marvelous solution. The city could partner with Forsyth County which was already putting up a smaller – but effective – tower in Forsyth’s Shakerag area. In the summer of 2014, Johns Creek had determined it would need to erect a 200-foot radio communications tower in Shakerag on city-owned property next to Fire Station 62. That would

end the need for a 400-foot tower in the center of town. But area residents were not happy with that solution, saying such a tower would affect their property values and create visual pollution in the rural area. The City Council agreed to hold off while it searched for another solution. With the deal struck with the county – the Forsyth Commission approved in principal the intergovernmental agreement Feb. 23 – Johns Creek will build

on a site that already has two towers. It will also secure an easement to serve the tower as well. In exchange, the city would allow Forsyth to co-locate a 200-pound tornado/weather warning siren and a receiver for the Forsyth public safety radio net. Forsyth wants to tie the city to cooperation on the widening of McGinnis Ferry Road. The City Council wants to cooperate

on McGinnis Ferry Road, but it does not have that kind of money on hand. However the city was willing to contribute $200,000 for the engineering work for the improvements. “We are supportive of the McGinnis Ferry improvements, we just don’t have $9 million right now to commit,” Mayor Mike Bodker said at the time. Johns Creek has spent months now studying its plan to replace its aging analog public safety radio net. Having agreed to partner with Fulton County, the city received free equipment for the existing radio tower on Jones Bridge and Morton roads. The upgrade was necessary to allow more reliable radio communications for police and fire personnel as well as sister units in other North Fulton communities. The old system had been failing for years.

Hard drugs can hit any family Heroin lethal, cheap and in the suburbs By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. – Heroin has become stronger, cheaper and more available in recent years as the drug is in the midst of an unprecedented resurgence. Parents who say it can’t happen in my town, in my schools, in my neighborhood or even in my family are not facing reality. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, over 669,000 Americans used heroin in 2012, with 18- to 25-year-olds having the highest incidence of use. Since 2006, heroin-related overdose deaths have risen by 45 percent. In 2014 in Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs, there were 23 overdose deaths directly caused by heroin, heroin laced with the drug fentanyl or heroin combined with other drug use. Of those deaths, males accounted for 74 percent, and nearly two-thirds

involved those under the age of 30. Georgia Poison Control Center Director Dr. Gaylord Lopez said the resurgence in heroin use can partly be attributed to the tougher regulations on opioid prescription drugs and the crackdown on pill mills. “The supply of [prescription opioids] is drying up. The market is such that those pills are becoming too expensive to purchase. The alternative is heroin, which is going to be half the price. And then you’ve got yourself a resurgence,” said Lopez. Once hooked on prescription painkillers, it is a small step to go on to heroin. It is cheaper, more easily available and more potent. George Gordon of the Alpharetta Public Safety Department said heroin has been confiscated at much higher levels of purity than in the past. However, heroin that is not particularly pure is now being mixed with fentanyl and fentanyl derivatives such as acetyl fentanyl and is even more addictive.

The supply of [prescription opioids] is drying up. The market is such that those pills are becoming too expensive to purchase. The alternative is heroin, which is going to be half the price. And then you’ve got yourself a resurgence,” Dr. Gaylord Lopez Georgia Poison Control Center Director The rise in deaths in the North Fulton area coincides with the number of heroin overdoses nationwide. According to a Drug Enforcement Administration

report, heroin overdose deaths rose 172 percent from 2010 to 2013. The report also states that heroin use has spread to suburban areas and is now attracting users of higher socio-economic classes, younger users and is used by all races. “There is no longer a typical heroin user,” stated the report. For Alpharetta resident Kate Boccia, the statement holds true. Her son Daniel is currently an inmate at Central State Prison in Macon. At the time of Daniel’s arrest, he was a heroin addict and scoring heroin in affluent North Fulton. That’s because dealers know this is where the money is. “Daniel became someone that is not the person you know,” Boccia said. “He became a lying, cheating creep. And all heroin users are like that.” He is now serving a minimum of 15 years in prison for armed robbery at a party on the campus of Georgia Tech. Boccia takes solace that at least in prison, her son is off heroin.

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 31, 2015 | 13

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Since 2014, I’ve shared with our board’s executive officers that my desire was to take on a new challenge, to make the next impact while testing my skills. Tino Mantella, President and CEO of the Technology Association of Georgia

14 | Johns Creek Herald | December 31, 2015

Technology Association of Ga. leader stepping down TAG’s Tino Mantella to serve through 2016

Prior to joining TAG in 2004, Mantella had amassed 20 years of related experience leading the National Arthritis Foundation ATLANTA – After 12 years of leading and YMCA of Metropolthe Technology Association of Georgia, itan Chicago. Tino Mantella announced that he will “Tino has headed be stepping down as the organization’s TAG during a period of president and CEO at the end of 2016. MANTELLA dynamic and exciting The news was announced at a recent change within the tech industry,” said meeting of the TAG board of directors. TAG 2015 Board Chairman Barry Mc“Since 2014, I’ve shared with our Carthy. “Because of his expertise and board’s executive officers that my deguidance we’ve created a tremendously sire was to take on a new challenge, to effective association guided by industry make the next impact while testing my leaders second to none. skills. Simultaneously, I have outlined “Tino’s leadership has put us in a a plan in concert with our board of true position of strength that will only directors to build on TAG’s incredible continue to drive us forward,” McCalegacy,” Mantella said. rthy said. TAG will continue its drive to make Stacie Hagan, Georgia one of the top vice president of five states in America human resources for technology. at Dell Secure“I have asked the Works and TAG board to start the pro2016 board chaircess needed to conduct woman, thanked a national search for Manetella for his a leader who will take service and said TAG to the ’next level’ of she expects 2016 success.” Mantella said. will be a “capstone Under Mantella’s year” for him and leadership, TAG has TAG. become the largest state “The next sevtechnology trade associeral months will ation in North America provide many new with more than 30,000 exciting opportumembers, multiple nities as we roll chapters and societies, out TAG’s new and a prestigious board quantum growth made up of more than Tino Mantella President and CEO of the Technology strategy, and we 60 of Georgia’s leading Association of Georgia are fortunate to technology stakeholdhave the benefit of ers.

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Tino’s experience and input as we do this,” she said. Mantella is a member of the boards of Venture Atlanta Coalition Inc., TAG Education Collaborative, the Midtown Alliance, the Tech College System of Georgia’s Foundation and the Chambers of Commerce in North Fulton and for Georgia. He also serves on the advisory board of the Atlanta Metropolitan Chamber. “Over the years, with the help of the T:\ADS_2015\NFAYP

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NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 31, 2015 | 15

Alpharetta sees mixed development trends Homes up, stores down By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – According to numbers provided by the city of Alpharetta, the number of new construction permits in Alpharetta over the last two years contains a mixed bag of blessings, with increased residential activity, but decreased commercial activity. The number of new single-family home permits went up slightly between 2014 and 2015, from 142 permits to 166. Similarly, permits to make additions or alterations to residences went up from 130 to 194. The number of approved

permits for condos, townhomes or apartments went down from 130 to 89. There was only one permit issued for apartments. For commercial properties, the total number of new commercial construction permits issued went down from 21 in 2014 to 15 this year. These permits are for brand-new buildings, built from the ground up. For renovations of existing sites into new businesses, those numbers went down significantly, from 386 in 2014 to 283 in 2015, a decline of 103 permits. “Miscellaneous” permits, which includes pools, demolition and foundation permits, declined from 242 in 2014 to 227 in 2015. Since December’s numbers were not available for 2015, the 2014 numbers used only include January through November.

Getting off to a fast 40 under 40: start in the New Year James Carr Happy New Year! Hopefully you’ve spent the past couple of weeks celebrating your success from the previous year, and spending some quality time with your family and dick jones friends. Now that Founder & President Jones Simply Sales the new year is here, it’s time to get things in motion. Small businesses that get off to a fast start in the new year are more likely to achieve their annual goals and objectives. To get off to a fast start in the new year, you have to have a plan of action. Documenting your strategic and tactical plans will help ensure you are doing the right things early in the new

year. Whether it’s hiring new employees, rolling out new products and services, or identifying the best prospects you want to meet with, a plan of action will help you get more done. When the new year arrives each year, almost everyone has “resolutions” they make. What are yours? Based on your performance last year, what changes are you going to make to improve your results? Analyzing what was successful, and not as successful last year, will help you to identify ways to improve. Too many small-business owners waste time in the beginning of the year by not having a plan to get off to a fast start. Don’t let that happen to you. Getting off to a fast start in the new year will significantly improve the odds you’ll have a great year!

YARD SIGNS

Editor’s note: The North Atlanta Business Post, an Appen Media Group publication, recently recognized 40 individuals under the age of 40 with outstanding accomplishments in their professional or extracurricular lives. Each week for the next 40 weeks, we will publish a profile showcasing one of these individuals. Visit NorthAtlanta BusinessPost.com for more info.

Age: 26 Title/Company: Communication coordinator for Georgia Organics A sports buff, James Carr has always been interested in communications. Growing up in Australia and London, England, before settling in Alpharetta, he was editor of the Milton High School Eagle Edition and sports editor at the University of Georgia’s radio station before working for Fox Sports South. He got into the local food movement through his book, “The Jig is

Up,” which moved him to work for Georgia Organics. “Almost all of the CARR major issues faced in this country and the world can be traced back to our food system, and I am thrilled to now peruse the fight for good food in my regular waking hours,” Carr said. Curiosity and exploration are important traits, he said. “Explore your curiosity and talk to people older than yourself. Inspiration is everywhere; but you have to be open to it,” he said. Some of those older people have taught Carr important life lessons. “I am fortunate to have several mentors in my life, from writers to filmmakers to managers. All of them push me to think in different ways, more inclusive ways, more effective ways, more creative ways.”

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16 | December 31, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

BUSINESSPOSTS

Sharon Springs still fights for cityhood By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The second study regarding the potential city of Sharon Springs was brought before the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners Dec. 22. Originally approved Sept. 8, the study, conducted by Georgia Tech, was a contract between the BOC and GT. A more in-depth presentation will be held in January by Georgia Tech. However, before this second study was released, on Dec. 15, District 25 State Rep. Mike Dudgeon said the delegation decided House Bill 660 for creating Sharon Springs was “unconstitutional.” “The delegation has decided to withdraw House Bill 660, which would enable a referendum on the creation of Sharon Springs,” Dudgeon said. “Legal developments and opinions over 2015 have made ‘city light’ restrictions in a charter unconstitutional.” State Sen. Michael Williams said the legislature wants to regroup and find another way to go about creating Sharon Springs. The study examined the fiscal impact that the proposed city of Sharon Springs would have on Forsyth County. The report said it answers several key questions posed by the board that have not been addressed by previous studies. “This analysis was done using 2014 financial data (the last year for which complete data is available), and compares what the county actually experienced to what they would have experienced had the city of Sharon Springs existed,” the report read. “Rather than rely on simple ratios of tax digests and population, in most cases revenues and expenses were assigned to their actual geography. In the few cases

where this wasn’t possible, or in cases where the dollar amounts were relatively small, appropriate ratios were used. Further, the research staff interviewed county employees who are experts in their various service delivery areas in order to get expert knowledge related to potential cost reductions.” The proposal for Sharon Springs includes only three services — solid waste, planning and zoning, and code enforcement, deeming it a “city light.” Since the county does not currently offer curbside solid waste services, and since the existing drop-off convenience centers would continue to operate as a county enterprise fund, the study said there is no fiscal impact to the county from the city’s provision of solid waste. “However, had the city of Sharon Springs existed in 2014, the county would have saved nearly $770,000 in expenses in both code enforcement and the planning and development departments,” the study read. “These savings are primarily due to the reduction of 13-15 positions with the associated salaries, benefits and other related expenses.” With respect to operating revenue, had Sharon Springs existed in 2014, the county would have received $6.20 million less than it actually collected. The primary revenue losses would have been in alcohol licenses and excise taxes, business licenses and occupation tax, cable franchise fees, planning and zoning permits and fees and insurance premium taxes “Because the revenue loss is significantly more than the cost savings, the county would have been left with a revenue gap of approximately $5.4 million,” the study read. “Given the size of the Forsyth County net tax digest, it would have required an additional 0.623 mills to recover that amount of revenue. Given

However, had the city of Sharon Springs existed in 2014, the county would have saved nearly $770,000 in expenses in both code enforcement and the planning and development departments...These savings are primarily due to the reduction of 13-15 positions with the associated salaries, benefits and other related expenses.”

the 2014 millage rate of 4.812, that represents a 12.9 percent tax increase.” In March, a study done by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia for the Sharon Springs Alliance completed a feasibility study for the proposed city and the research released March 2 confirmed a “city light” is financially viable. To view the whole county study, visit http://bit. ly/1mgy8GW.

NEWBUSINESSSPOtlightS

Juice Bar Johns Creek opens

Sport Clips opens in Roswell

Business name: Juice Bar Johns Creek Owner(s): R.A.D Health (Retha Blackburn) Opened: November 2015 What: We are a “healthy way of life” vegetarian-style restaurant. We serve freshly made juices, smoothies and

Business: Sport Clips Opened: November 2015 Owners: Brett Gluck What: At Sport Clips, TVs everywhere are playing sports as guy-smart stylists give customers the cuts they want. No appointments needed. Address: 10779 Alpharetta Highway,

grab-and-go snack foods, which include salads, soups, muffins and more. Address: 11270 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097 Website: ilovejuicebar.com/johnscreek-2

Suite 150, Roswell Hours: Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: 770-557-0733 Website: www.haircutmenmansellshopsroswellga.com

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 31, 2015 | 17

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18 | December 31, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

CALENDAR

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Georgia Ensemble Theatre’s ‘Charley’s Aunt’ Kick off the New Year with a play that’s sure to be the cure for the post-holiday doldrums, the hilarious comedy, “Charley’s Aunt.” Jan. 7-24, times vary. GET, the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell. $26 for Wednesdays, Thursdays and matinees; Friday nights start from $30, and Saturday nights start from $35; senior/student discounts available for select performances. Visit www.get.org, or call 770641-1260 for more info.

Events: Habitat for Humanity ReStore Volunteer Information Session

What: Volunteer information session/ open house for volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in in Roswell. When: Saturday, Jan. 2, at 10:30 a.m. Where: The ReStore 11060 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell 30076 More info: Contact Vernita Gibson, assistant store manager, at vgibson@ habitat.org or 770-415-1633.

LIBRARY EVENTS: Friends of the Alpharetta Library Book Sale

What: Shop at the Friends’ book sale. When: Saturday, Jan. 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Where: Library porch and Friends Bookstore (upper level, lobby area), Alpharetta Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta 30009 More info: 404-613-6735

Laughter for Wellness

What: Let laughter lighten your mood. Instructor is a certified laughter yoga leader trained by Dr. Madan Kataria. Registration required. When: Saturday, Jan. 2, 2-3 p.m. Where: Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Johns Creek 30022 More info: 770-360-8820

Anime and Manga Club for Teens

What: Teens meet to discuss anime and manga, share fan art and fan fiction. This program is by teens for teens. Ages 12-18. Registration required. When: Sunday, Jan. 3, 2:30 p.m. Where: Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Johns Creek 30022 More info: 770-360-8820

Monday Morning Movies

What: Watch a classic film on the big screen in our auditorium every Monday morning. All are welcome. When: Monday, Jan. 4, 10:30 a.m. Where: Alpharetta Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta 30009 More info: 404-613-6735

Beginner’s Genealogy Class

What: Bob Volz will counsel others on how to begin the search for their ancestors. This class will help you gain the research skills needed to discover your own family history. Registration required. When: Tuesday, Jan. 5, 6 p.m. Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton 30009 More info: 404-613-4402

Energy Yoga

What: Energy yoga is a combination of stretching, breathing and meditation. Please bring a yoga mat or towel and wear loose comfortable clothes. Open to ages 10 and up. When: Sundays, 4 p.m. Where: Ocee Library, 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road, Johns Creek 30005 More info: 770-360-8897

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS: Lanier Islands Magical Nights of Lights and Winter Adventure What: Drive across the Lanier Islands Bridge and into a world of lights. Also, enjoy a new adventure this year with Winter Adventure, a snow-packed winter play land perfect for building a snowman, delightful tubing and thrilling sledding. When: Opens Nov. 27 Where: Lanier Islands, 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford 770-945-8787 More info: lanierislands.com

Fernbank Rings in Noon Year’s Eve

What: Celebrate the new year a full 12 hours early as Fernbank hosts a dinosaur photo stop, a resolution station, dancing and games with DJ Willy Wow, and a balloon drop at the stroke of noon. The event caters to families with youngsters who may not be able to stay up until midnight. When: Thursday, Dec. 31, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Where: Fernbank Museum of Natural History, 767 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 More info: fernbankmuseum.org

Volunteers carry trout from the stocking truck to the water during the Dec. 22 “bucket brigade” volunteer-assisted stocking on the Chattahoochee at the Whitewater access.

YOUR GUIDE TO FISHING, HIKING, CAMPING AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS:

More trout for the holidays A few days before Christmas, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and an eager crew of volunteers helped stock more than 2,000 rainbow and brown trout in the STEVE HUDSON Chattahoochee Get Outside Georgia, Chattahoochee Media Group River delayed harvest water at the Whitewater access point near Mount Paran Road. Some impressive fish were stocked, including 1,500 rainbow and 500 brown trout in the 10- to 11-inch range. Larger fish were stocked, too, among them 100 browns and 100 rainbows in the 13- to 14-inch range. Those on hand to help stock included Steve Bailey and his daughters Alex, 11, and Kate, 9. This enthusiastic trio made several trips from the stocking truck to the river, carrying trout in 5-gallon buckets and then placing the fish into the river. After the stocking was completed, I had the pleasure of helping Alex and Kate each catch their very first trout on a fly rod. In fact, each of them landed and released several nice fish. The trout were big, but the smiles were even bigger! Favorite flies for the day tended to be bright and flashy streamers (minnow imitations). Using the “countdown” technique (that is, counting to two or three after the fly hits the water to give it time to sink a bit), every angler I spoke with ended up catching fish. You don’t have to be a fly fisher to pursue Hooch DH trout, however. Spinning gear works well, too. Try a Rooster Tail, Mepps spinner, or a white curly-tailed grub-and-jig. Just

remember that, on delayed harvest water, it’s artificials only and each lure can have just one single hook. One challenge this year on the Hooch DH has been ongoing high water. Extreme flows have made the river difficult to impossible to fish on many days – and those flows may wash some trout downstream, too. To deal with this, the fisheries folks at Georgia DNR have fine-tuned their stocking pattern by stocking larger numbers of fish in the upper portion of the Chattahoochee DH water. “We know that those trout may be pushed downstream [into the rest of the DH water] by the high flows,” noted Pat Markey, manager of the state’s Buford Trout Hatchery. As those fish spread out downstream it should be good news for Chattahoochee delayed harvest trout anglers later on in the season. How many fish have been put into the Chattahoochee DH water so far this season? Since the end of October, Markey notes, about 30,000 trout have been stocked in the Hooch DH water. Another 20,000 will be stocked through the first months of 2016, so there will be plenty of fish. Once conditions improve in the river, there should be trout through most or all of the Chattahoochee DH water. Steve Hudson has written numerous books on fishing, hiking, the outdoors and more. Check them out at www. chattahoochee media.com.

NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 31, 2015 | 19

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20 | December 31, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

‘Charley’s Aunt’

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

GET aims high with madcap comedy Kicks Off 2016 with assault on funny bone By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – Georgia Ensemble Theatre begins the New Year with a play that will ward off the post-holiday blues with a hilarious comedy and a deft cast that is sure to please. GET Artistic Director Robert Farley said he has always started the new year with a good laugh, and in picking “Charley’s Aunt” he has come up with a sure a winner. Over the years, GET has become a great favorite of Atlanta’s best directors and actors, and this time out of the box is no different. “Our aim is to create a lot of madcap mayhem,” Farley said. “We are very pleased to have the great Atlanta director David Crowe to stage this rollicking comedy by Brandon Thomas.” Farley has also enlisted a stellar cast headed by Hugh Adams (“The Foreigner” at GET) as Lord Babberly; Joanna Daniel as Donna Lucia (fresh

‘Charley’s Aunt’ Where: Georgia Ensemble Theatre at Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St. Roswell. When: Jan. 7-Jan. 24. Tickets: Prices start at $26 for Wednesdays, Thursdays and matinees; Friday from $30; Saturday nights from $35. (Senior/student discounts available for select performances). Tickets are available now online at www.get.org, or call the box office at 770-641-1260. from “Calendar Girls” at GET); and Scott DePoy as Colonel Chesney (“Almost Heaven, John Denver’s America” and “Swell Party” at GET). The plot is as old as Shakespeare and as fresh as “Mrs. Doubtfire” or “Tootsie.” Yes, it involves four starcrossed lovers and the cross-dressing “aunt” they enlist to save their romances. Charley’s rich aunt from Brazil (“where the nuts come from”) cancels her trip to meet the nephews’ two loves – and their protective guardians – that

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would have cemented blessings for the unions all around. So the boys enlist a friend to pose as said aunt to put them over the top anyway. All would go well if things go as planned – but of course things don’t go well, do they? “I just love this story,” Farley said. “Our approach is to put Hugh Adams in a dress and let him run around for two hours. That is all you have to do with a pro like him and a part like that.” Director Crowe says “Charley” is a simple play – simply devastatingly funny. Says Crowe, “At its heart, ‘Charley’s Aunt’ is a very silly play about the very serious business of courtship. That’s one of the reasons the play has been produced so much in the past hundred or so years. “Falling in love sometimes requires us to bend and even break society’s rules in order to live happily ever after.” Crowe offers up his recipe for “Charley” this way: “Take a big helping of bawdy humor and a generous portion of dry wit with a keen eye for character, and you have Charley’s Aunt – a hilariously naughty

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Joe Sykes and Rachel Garner, above, and Hugh Adams take a deft view of what we mortals will do in the name of love in GET’s “Charley’s Aunt.”

comedy about young love.” If you are a fan of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” “Merry Wives of Windsor” (one in five of the Bard’s plays involve cross-dressing), or “Shakespeare in Love” – or TV’s “Three’s Company,” “Benny Hill,” “Bosom Buddies” etc. – this should fall in right at the top. So forget about those credit-card bills about to start cropping up in January. GET has the perfect antidote for the after-Christmas blahs.

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Boy Scout donates 600 puzzles to sick children

Students from left are Evan Schmitz, Chastity Dawson, Caitlyn Brown, David Godbey, Alexis Merlette, Tori Bottini, Lauryn O’Neil, Amiya Curtis, Superintendent Kenneth Zeff, Destiny Storey, Ceiarra Birchfield, Josh Saha, Tia Adams, Dhian Khattak, Kiya Draper, Jiabin Du, Jessica Martinez, Emily Reisser and Jennifer Kilroy.

AHS culinary students cook for Superintendent’s luncheon

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Boy Scout Cameron Webb organized the donation of 600 puzzles for sick kids at Childrens’ Healthcare of Atlanta.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – AHS students had to show what they have learned in culinary class by putting it on the table. They catered the Fulton Schools Superintendent’s annual holiday luncheon Friday, Dec. 11 – just an intimate affair for 500 school employees. The menu included assortment of

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ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Cameron Webb, a junior at Alpharetta High School and a Boy Scout with Troop 69, created and completed his Eagle Project, called “Puzzles for Patients.” This project is to provide a fun diversion for children patients at Childrens’ Healthcare of Atlanta during their hospital stay. Webb collected 600 new puzzles and donations from family, friends, local schools, his church, troop and neighborhoods during his puzzle drive. He also stickered each puzzle with a quote for the kids so they could be strong and get well, such as, “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think,” said Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh in “Pooh’s Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin. Webb delivered all 600 puzzles to CHOA and presented them to Dr. Daniel Salinas, chief medical officer of CHOA. Also, he was the first one to use their new self-automated donation tablet to track and record donations. — Jonathan Copsey

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NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 31, 2015 | 23

Go green: Recycle that Christmas tree Recycle Christmas trees, FOG, and fluorescent lights Jan. 2 JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Recycle your Christmas tree, fluorescent bulbs, as well as fats, oils and grease (FOG) by taking them to The Home Depot parking lot at 5950 State Bridge Rd. in Johns Creek on Saturday, Jan. 2, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Be sure to remove electric lights, tinsel and ornaments from the tree and make sure the tree has not been

Bring one for the Chipper Who: City of Johns Creek, Keep Johns Creek Beautiful, What: Christmas tree, FOG and fluorescent bulb recycling Where: The Home Depot parking lot, 5950 State Bridge Rd. When: Jan. 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: Free More info: contact Keep Johns Creek Beautiful at 770-5517766 or info@knfb.org.

flocked, or sprayed with fake snow. As part of the statewide “Bring One for the Chipper” program, the recycling effort helps keep trees out of landfills and the mulch can be used for playgrounds, public beautification projects, wildlife habitat and homeowner landscaping projects. Mulch is available free to the public upon request by contacting Davey Tree Expert Co. at 770-451-7911. Since 1991, “Bring One for the Chipper,” has collected millions of trees for beneficial reuse. Fats, oils and grease from cooking should not be poured down sinks or drains. They can clog pipes and cause nasty backups in homes and neighborhoods. Fluorescent tubes and curly compact fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, which lingers in the environment for years. Keep Johns Creek Beautiful has special equipment that destroys the lights and stores the material and gases for recovery later by a certified fluores-

cent-light recycling firm. The local event, sponsored by the City of Johns Creek and Keep Johns Creek Beautiful, is part of a statewide recycling effort by Keep Georgia Beautiful and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Statewide corporate sponsors are The Home Depot, 11Alive, Earth 911.com, and The Davey Tree Expert Company.

24 | December 31, 2015 | Johns Creek Herald | NorthFulton.com

KRCS students give to Empty Bowl Project ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Over the past month, King’s Ridge Christian School students have been handcrafting bowls for the Empty Bowl Project. This project is dedicated to raising money and awareness to help the fight to end hunger internationally. Their mission is to “to create positive and lasting change through the arts, education and projects that build community.” Students in all grade levels participated in this project by creating bowls in their Art classes under the supervision and direction of Art teachers, Lisa LeRoux (Lower School), Patty Zeitz (Middle School) and Lisa Gould (High School). The bowls were available for a suggested donation of $5 with 100 percent of the proceeds given to Meals

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KRCS art teacher Lisa LeRoux presents the check to Meals by Grace at the Lower School Annual Christmas Play Dec. 18. From left are Brenda Clinton, Holly Krig-Smith, Lisa LeRoux, Meals by Grace Executive Director Suellen Daniels, board member Rubye Hunsberger and Deb James. Meals by Grace is a local non-profit organization in the Alpharetta community who partners with schools to “identify children in need and seek to feed and serve their families.” They have multiple programs in place to offer food support to these children and families.

by Grace during the Annual KRCS Christmas at the Ridge event on Dec. 3. In total, the students were able to raise $1,912 for the project. In addition to the monetary donation, the KRCS Athletic Association also donated 40 coolers to their organization.

AHS’s Thornhill receives U. of Illinois scholarship ALPHARETTA. Ga. – Kaitlyn Thornhill, a senior at Alpharetta High School, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) and awarded a $22,000 Capital Scholars Honors Program Scholarship covering tuition over 4 years.

The scholarship is awarded based on GPA and ACT scores and can be renewed for a total of four years, if the student maintains a college GPA of 3.0 or higher. She plans to major in accountancy at UIS and will also receive a scholar-

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ship to play for the UIS Prairie Stars women’s tennis team. “I chose UIS because I enjoy the close knit community it has to offer,” she said. “I also have the opportunity to play tennis, in addition to receiving a great education in one of the top business schools.” In high school, she’s played on the varsity tennis team for four years and participated in animal rescue clubs. She is also a member of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). The CAP Honors Program is a selective undergraduate program combining high standards and emphasis on excellence with a small residential college model, enrolling only about 100 first-year students each year. The program brings together in-

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tellectually strong students with talented, dedicated faculty to create a unique academic environment within the greater UIS community. As a Capital Scholar Honors student, Thornhill will Thornhill participate in an interdisciplinary core curriculum designed to prepare her for her major and provide her with leadership opportunities. For more information on scholarships, contact the UIS Office of Financial Assistance at 217/206-6724 or email finaid@uis.edu. For a full list of scholarship opportunities, visit www. uis.edu/financialaid/scholarships/

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NorthFulton.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 31, 2015 | 25

Roswell celebrates Bulloch-Roosevelt wedding Christmas reenactment held one night a year By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. - Dec. 22, 1853, was an unusually cold night, with a wet and bitter chill in the air. It was on this night that the finest families of Roswell gathered in the cozy and warm Bulloch Hall for the social event of the year – the wedding of Martha “Mittie” Bulloch to Theodore “Thee” Roosevelt. Each year, on (or near) the anniversary of the event, Roswell’s Bulloch Hall hosts a reenactment of that night in 1853. With ladies and gentlemen in their finest period attire, the house is bedecked with wreaths and garlands and poinsettias aplenty. It’s a mixture of Victorian Christmastime with wedding formality. Mittie and Thee would become the parents of President Teddy Roosevelt Jr. With actors throughout the historic home, guests of this year’s event – held Dec. 21 – were able to feel almost as if they were witnessing a wedding party nearly eight years before the start of the Civil War. The women of the event held court in the parlor, chatting and gossiping about the latest fashions and the couple-to-be. “They are so in love,” said “Mrs. Margaret Roosevelt,” mother of the groom. “They are a delight-

JONATHAN COPSEY/Staff

Roswell’s historic home celebrates the Christmas wedding of its famous daughter – Mittie Bulloch – to New York’s Theodore Roosevelt. The couple would become parents to President Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ful pair.” The wedding guests marveled at the life the new couple would have in New York City with the Roosevelts. Mittie should be happy, said Mrs. Roosevelt, since a new department store was opening near their home – Lord & Taylor. The men were gathered in the library, discussing politics and commerce – when will railroads come to Roswell for the cotton mill?

Talk also turned to another matter of great import – that new Lord & Taylor store would be selling readymade dress shirts! The bridesmaids busied themselves in the upstairs bedrooms, practicing their dances for the wedding, giggling and prancing as they did. Finally, it was time for the main event – the wedding ceremony. Everyone gathered in the parlor to watch Roswell’s Mittie join with New York’s Thee to spend the rest of their lives together. Then there was dancing, of course. Guests on the tour were treated to refreshments and a story afterward. Josie Bailey, a professional storyteller, regaled the group with the old Uncle Remus tale of Brer Rabbit. Norman Jacobs, a DeKalb County resident, said he grew up in New York City and has loved learning the history of President Teddy Roosevelt. He has visited Mittie’s New York home away from home with Thee, Teddy’s childhood home. Jacobs said he enjoyed seeing the wedding performance, an event he has tried to attend for years. “It’s the closest you can get to how it felt like back then,” he said. “This was better than anything I could have expected.” His wife, Kathy, agreed. “It was fabulous,” she said. “They did a really nice job.” The wedding of Mittie Bulloch and Theodore Roosevelt is only held one night a year. For more about Bulloch Hall, its holiday events and next year’s wedding performance, visit bullochhall.org.

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