Forsyth Herald, June 4, 2014 by Appen Media Group

Real Estate Report Sponsored section ►►page 16

Thrifty experience

Local stores raise funds for nonprofits ►►page 10

Looking for lost wills

Author completes decades long research ►►page 6

Bird is the word

Local resident builds unique birdhouses ►►page 18

Lambert wins state

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June 4, 2014 | forsythherald.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 17, No. 23

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By MIKE BLUM news@forsythherald.com

ALDO NAHED/Staff

Above: Col. Raymond Bossert Jr. gives the keynote speech. Right: During the flag dedication, members of Ivan Lamar Orr’s family honor his service to the Navy during the Memorial Day Ceremony in Cumming.

Remembering those who served CUMMING, Ga. – The city of Cumming honored those who gave their all. With flags, salutes and releasing of doves, the Memorial Day remembrance ceremony added 11 more veterans to those honored at the May 23 event. The event was held on the Friday before Memorial Day to allow families to spend time together, Mayor H. Ford Gravitt said.

The Forsyth County Fire and Sheriff’s Office Honor Guards presented the colors and a rifle salute. The solemn event’s Avenue of Flags displayed more than 200 flags representing veterans from the Forsyth County community. The keynote speaker was Col. Raymond Bossert Jr. The 11 deceased veterans were:

Air Force • Gene Amber Bagwell • John Lawrence Merritt Army • William Everett Bennett • Billy Charles Cowart • Johnny Clay Cowart • Elmer Jewell Dodd • Charles L. Gravitt • Landrum Thomas Martin Navy • George Winton Bagwell • Benjamin Franklin Heald • Ivan Lamar Orr

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The Lambert Longhorns defeated defending state champs Milton for the Class AAAAAA state baseball title. Lambert, ranked No. 1 nationally in one poll, won the best-of-three series two games to one, both wins coming by scores of 2-1. The high-scoring Longhorns (36-2) managed just five runs in the series. But thanks to two game-winning bloop singles and Milton’s series-long struggle to deliver a hit in a key situation, Lambert came away with s state title, Memorial Day, May 26, while the Eagles ended the season wondering what could have been. Lambert won the first and third games of the series, with the Eagles taking the second game 5-1. After last Saturday’s doubleheader split, the teams returned to the Milton field Monday to decide a series that had lots of tense moments but very

few runs. Milton (28-9) managed just two hits in 24 at bats with runners in scoring position in the three games. Lambert wasn’t much better, but the Longhorns had the only two hits that mattered. Lambert’s Tucker Maxwell looped a soft single just over second base in the top of seventh inning of the series opener to snap a 1-1 tie. Teammate Kyle McCann dropped an even softer single over third base to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the fifth in the decisive third game to again break a 1-1 deadlock. Most of the Milton players on the 2014 team were part of the 2013 state championship squad, but that did not take away any of the sting from the loss to the Longhorns. “When you lose the state championship, it’s not fun,” Milton ace pitcher Alex Schnell said. “It could have gone either way. We could have had the bloop hits, but that’s the game of baseball.”

Lambert’s Tucker Max, (1), went 2-for-3 Monday May 26 during the Longhorn’s 2-1 win over Milton.

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2 | June 4, 2014 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

22-month-old run over by SUV 770-442-3278 northfulton.com

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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — On May 24 about 1 p.m., Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an address on Claude Martin Drive, Gainesville, in response to a 22-month-old male that had been struck by a Chevrolet Trailblazer sports utility vehicle.

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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.

Man on bicycle almost causes accident CUMMING, Ga. — A man on a bicycle was caught violating several traffic laws and threated officers after being confronted, according to a Cumming Police incident report. Emir Hornston, 27, was charged with failure to maintain lane and failure to yield. At about 8 p.m. May 20, officers saw Hornston riding through the intersection of Maple Street and Atlanta Road. Officers said he was reaching out to grab a truck bed in front of him. He continued straight on Atlanta Road and took up the left lane. Officers said he then went straight onto Pilgrim Mill Road and caused a truck to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. Officers signaled for him to pull over, but he refused. After about a quarter of a mile, officers used the PA system and told him to stop. He finally pulled into the City Park’s Kiwanis Club parking lot. Officers said when they confronted Hornston, he cussed and refused to provide identification. He eventually showed them a license out of Suwanee.

The SUV was being driven by the child’s father. The child walked out of the garage and stood behind the vehicle as the vehicle was backing out of the garage, according to deputies. The child was stuck by the rear bumper and then ran over with the back tire.

The father and mother of the child picked him up from underneath the SUV and drove him to Forsyth County Fire Station No.9, where firefighters called a helicopter to their location. The child was then transported by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Critical Care

Helicopter to Egleston Hospital, where he was treated by the critical care team. The child is in stable condition and expected to recover from his injuries. The case was investigated by the crash investigations unit and no charges are anticipated in this crash.

Hornston was taken to Cumming Police Department.

Sheriff’s incident report. On May 15, the assistant manager of Walmart, 5455 Atlanta Highway, told deputies the man came into the store and took the $170 Nikon riflescope and brought it to the clothing department. Then, he took the scope out of the package and stuffed it into his pants. He walked out of the store through the garden department and headed to his car. The assistant manager confronted the suspect and the suspect dropped the scope and fled on foot. The assistant manager said he chased the suspect through the parking lot and saw him get into a gold Honda Accord. Deputies later spoke to the suspect on the phone about the incident. He told deputies he took the scope out of the package and into the parking lot, so he could test it. He said he got angry and left when the assistant manager confronted him. Behzad Mehran, 49, was later charged with shoplifting, a misdemeanor, and taken to Forsyth County Detention Center.

Course, 5314 Davenport Manor, told deputies the woman heard the shot come from a nearby home. Deputies spoke to a homeowner, who had a son with an airsoft gun. She told deputies her son’s airsoft gun was broken, but she said “it was probably the squirrel man.” She said there’s an older man a few doors down from her home who allegedly shoots squirrels off his bird feeders. Deputies went to the home and saw the man’s bird feeders aligned with the victim’s tee box on the golf course. The man said he was at the gym and did not shoot his pellet pistol that morning. Deputies said no arrest were made due to a lack of evidence.

Customer files stolen from business FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Someone broke into a business and stole about 20 customer files that contained personal information, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s incident report. The theft occurred between 4:30 p.m. and 4:50 p.m., on May 20, the business owner of Bridgeport Carpet, Hardwood & Tile, 1000 Union Center, told deputies. He said the business was left unoccupied and the front door was unlocked. He said the thief took about 15 to 20 customer files from the desk by the front door. Files contained detailed diagrams of the inside of customer houses along with addresses, names and some credit card information. Deputies said nothing else seemed to be out of place or missing. There were no video surveillance cameras on at the time.

Shoplifter stuffs riflescope in pants FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A man was caught shoplifting a riflescope from a store, but he said he was trying to “test it,” according to a Forsyth County

Golfer hit by pellet shot CUMMING, Ga. — A woman was teeing off at the first hole when she was struck by a pellet gunshot, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s incident report. On May 16, the general manager of Windermere Golf

Woman hits dog with van CUMMING, Ga. — A woman struck a dog while driving east on Kelly Mill Road, according to Cumming Police incident report. At about 10:30 a.m. May 22, officers were dispatched to the scene close to West Maple Street. Officers saw the husky laying on the ground and breathing with a small amount of blood coming from its mouth. The husky had a collar with a rabies tag on it. Officers placed the husky in the back of the patrol car and took it to Crestview Animal Hospital.

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Woodland Trace, Cumming, was arrested May 24 on Castleberry Road in Cumming for DUI and failure to use seatbelts. ►► Jacob W. McClinton, 26, was arrested May 24 on Ga. 400 in Cumming for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Alejandro Sanchez, 36, of Shadewater Drive, Cumming, was arrested May 24 on East Maple Street in Cumming for DUI, open container and failure to obey a traffic control device. ►► Kenneth M. Downing, 59, of Vickery Circle, Cumming, was arrested May 24 on Bald Ridge Marina Road in Cumming for DUI and failure to obey a stop sign. ►► Jimmy George Holtzclaw, 51, of Dawsonville was arrested May 24 on Old Federal Road in Ball Ground for DUI and suspended license. ►► Aden Elliot Sterzer, 19, of Stardust Trail, Cumming, was arrested May 26 on Kelly Mill Road in Cumming for DUI, failure to maintain lane, hit

See ARRESTS, Page 18

Sheriff's Office warns of fake ticket and warrant phone scam

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forcement numbers. There are many variations of this scam with different agencies across the state and country. No law enforcement agency will ever call someone and ask for payment over the phone. If something sounds suspicious, we recommend that you hang up and find a phone number in a phone book or online for that local agency. Do not call the phone number that they provided. The investigation has led us to suspects incarcerated in Georgia prisons. Attempts have been made to contact the wardens of these prisons to investigate further. Call the sheriff’s office’s non-emergency number at 770-781-2222 to report a crime.

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has had a number of reports of an ongoing phone scam. The scammers are calling their victims and posing as law enforcement officers from various agencies. The victims are then told that they have a warrant out for their arrest for some kind of outstanding fine or citation. The scammers will inform the victim to travel to a local store and purchase prepaid cards in various amounts and relay the card numbers. While they are on the phone, they tell the victims that they are not allowed to disconnect. The scammers are also using techniques that disguise their caller ID as local law en-

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DUI arrests ►► William Agisotelis, 49, of

ed May 25 on Ga. 400 in Cumming for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Jessica Louise McDaniel, 31, of Jason Lane, Cumming, was arrested May 15 on Atlanta Road in Cumming for DUI, child endangerment, failure to maintain lane, possession of drug related items and failure to signal when turning. ►► Marcy L. Littlefield, 40, of Snellville was arrested May 21 on Keith Bridge Road in Cumming for DUI. ►► Robert Paul Pittman, 25, of Sharon Circle, Cumming, was arrested May 22 on McFarland Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to obey a traffic control device. ►► Richard Dylan Elliott, 20, of Echols Road, Cumming, was arrested May 22 on Pilgrim Mill Road in Cumming for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Alana Marie Leffler, 41, of Cavaletti Circle, Cumming, was arrested May 23 on Majors Road in Cumming for DUI, failure to maintain lane and littering. ►► Christian Pareja-Balanta, 25, of Acworth was arrested May 13 on Abbotts Bridge Road in Johns Creek for DUI and reckless driving. ►► John Playford, 28, of Norcross was arrested May 3 on Birmingham Highway in Milton for DUI, failure to maintain lane and child endanger-

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and run and underage possession of alcohol. ►► Raymond Ernest Miller, 50, of Lakeside Trail, Cumming, was arrested May 26 on McFarland Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI, open container and obstruction of an officer. ►► Brandon Maddox Parker, 38, of Summit Crossing Way, Cumming, was arrested May 1 on Buford Highway in Cumming for DUI and speeding. ►► Candi Lynn Sneed, 28, of Dawsonville was arrested May 19 on Hubbard Town Road in Cumming for DUI, failure to maintain lane, too fast for conditions and defective tires. ►► Nicole G. Jollie, 23, of Misty Lane, Roswell, was arrested May 16 on Creamer Drive in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Trina Nicole Brown, 31, of Flowery Branch was arrested May 10 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI. ►► Patrick Jilberto Mendez, 25, of Lawrenceville was arrested May 24 on Highway 306 in Cumming for DUI, possession of methamphetamines, suspended license and open container. ►► Kimberly Renee Brown, 43, of Township Circle, Alpharetta, was arrested May 25 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Michael James McKellar, 48, of Dawsonville was arrest-

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4 | June 4, 2014 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

Deputies, K-9s honored for service to Forsyth community By CAROLYN RIDDER ASPENSON news@forsythherald.com CUMMING, Ga. — The dogs barked and panted their appreciation through the crowd’s applause. Forsyth County Sheriff’s K-9 dogs Tryst, Sheba and Bogie all served with the department for about seven to nine years and received plaques for their service at a ceremony May 21. But humans were also honored during the promotions, retirements and commendations celebrated by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office during the employee recog-

nition event at the Public Safety Complex. Sheriff’s Maj. Matt Hester awarded Deputy Stephen Maddox a commendation for his commitment to the community on and off duty. Hester said Maddox observed a customer at a pawnshop acting strangely while attempting to purchase a gun. Off duty, Maddox saw the customer was on the (BOLO) “be on the lookout” list and found the person had recently threatened to shoot up a school. Maddox received the commendation for acting quickly and in a professional manner on and off duty.

Sgt. Matt Runion presented a commendation to school resource officer Deputy Terri Wright for her continued excellence in her work. Cpl. Matthew Starr received the medal of merit from Maj. Mark Hoffman. Starr received the commendation for his efforts to help an elderly citizen who suffered an injury during a fall. Deputy of the Quarter went to Michael Herbst. Sgts. Scott Wilson and Sebastian Strano were promoted to lieutenant. Cpls. Starr and Jason Soles were promoted to sergeant, and Deputy Chad Evers was promoted to sergeant.

Forsyth County water quality report available t por

what it contains and how it compares to standards set by the regulatory agencies. Forsyth County’s water met all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state drinking water health standards in 2013. “We are pleased to present this annual Water Quality Report to our more than 50,000 customers,” said Tim Perkins

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Water and Sewer Department will be mailing the 2014 Water Quality Report to county water and sewer customers with their bills. Customers will receive the report with their monthly bill. The report provides information from 2013 on where the county’s water comes from,

150) in the County Adminisdirector of water and sewer. tration Building, 110 E. “The Water and Sewer Main Street. Department takes a Reports can also great deal of pride uality re be mailed upon in providing Forrq request by calling syth County the 770-781-2160. highest quality of Visit the water water and sewer department page service.” at www.forsythco. Additional t. l y/ 1lU NQA com or you can copies of the report view the report onare available in line at bit.ly/1lUNQAq. the Water and Sewer –Aldo Nahed Department offices (Suite

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Report details water quality in 2013

Surveys Corps partnerships enhance fish migration offer county perspective FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) mobile district has partnered with The Nature Conservancy of Georgia, Florida and Alabama state fisheries to improve the opportunities for successful fish migration in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River and the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) River Basins. The fish passage efforts utilize the Corps navigation locks at these waterway projects during the spring spawning migration runs. In 2005, the Nature Conservancy contacted the Corps to discuss the possibility of opening navigation lock gates at Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam (JWLD) to allow safe passage for fish mi-

grations as part of a five–year study. The JWLD is at the confluence of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers and below the dam is the Apalachicola River. The largest remaining populations of Alabama shad and Gulf striped bass live within the Apalachicola River system. “For decades the dam has impeded the access to more than 150 miles of historic river and spawning habitat for fish species who live in salt water and spawn in fresh water,” said Lisa Parker, spokeswoman for the mobile district said. “Adult fish generally migrate and spawn from March through June and then return to the sea. Downstream passage occurs through spillway gates, or coincidentally with ship lockages.”

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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Sharon Springs Alliance conducted a survey with the intention of capturing resident’s opinions on the current state of affairs in Forsyth County – the good, the bad and thoughts on the county’s future. Results are now posted on the Sharon Springs Alliance Website: www.sharonspringsga.org. This online survey came on the heels of a similar effort made by Forsyth County government in garnering public input for rebranding. “We observed that the county’s branding survey didn’t offer citizens a chance to give their entire perspective and we sought to give people that opportunity,” said Stephen Newman, co-founder of the Sharon Springs Alliance. “We were hoping to get 500 responses in the twelve days the survey was open. We ended up with more than 1,000.” Eight hundred and fifty eight responses were received by Forsyth County brief survey, which was conducted as part of a branding effort. Respondents identified Lake Lanier as the county’s “most valuable asset.” –Aldo Nahed

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Submit your news & photos to news@forsythherald.com

Laurel Spring Golf Club to hold charity golf event By CAROLYN RIDDER ASPENSON news@forsythherald.com SUWANEE, Ga. — Laurel Springs Golf Club will host a charity golf tournament on Aug. 22 and 23. Club Corporation, owners of the golf club, hold the annual charity event with proceeds going to their nationally sponsored charity, Augies Quest and a charity of the club’s choice. Laurel Springs Golf Pro Chris Dare said Laurel Springs chose the Wounded Warrior Project. “We have many members who are veterans and the club has supported the project for years,” Dare said. The event starts Friday night, Aug. 22, with a dinner and silent auction and continues Saturday with an 18-hole tournament. Registration is $150 per player and is open to the general public. “We’re expecting at least 100 participants,” Dare said. The goal is to raise $20,000 goal for Wounded Warrior. For more information or to register, contact Chris Dare at chris. dare@ourclub.com.

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forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | June 4, 2014 | 5

Golf tourney raises $20k for Young Life FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Young Life hosted their annual golf tournament at Laurel Springs Golf Club on April 28. There were 29 foursomes which competed doubling the number of participants from last year. The tournament was organized by two fathers, Michael Cline and Jeff Hodge whose daughters attend Lambert High School and Forsyth Young Life. The tournament raised over $20,000 from tournament entry fees and a silent auction. The tournament winners were teams sponsored by Carpet-Depot and Hose and Fittings USA. “The money raised is funding a worthwhile organization that is reaching kids,” said Matt Thomas said Carpet Depot owner. “I consider it an honor to have been a part of it.” For more information on Young Life, visit www. fcyl.younglife.org or contact area director Chris Ashburn at 770-687-8122. —Lindsey Conway

2014 Co-Champions: Team Hose and Fittings USA from left: Michael Cline, tournament cochair; Patrick Brown, Shannon Horn, Kelly Vaughn, Jason Chester, Jeff Hodge, tournament co-chair).

2014 Co-Champions: Team Carpet Depot from left: Michael Cline tournament cochair; Scott Blake, Matt Thomas, Edgar Summerville, Demar Mills, Jeff Hodge tournament cochair.

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6 | June 4, 2014 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

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Local author publishes stray wills By ALDO NAHED aldo@forsythherald.com ATLANTA — Wills mean a lot to author and researcher Ted O. Brooke. Brooke, 71, of Cumming, has spent decades compiling wills. He started with wills that were probated in his 1976 published book “In the Name of God, Amen, Georgia Wills, 1733-1860.” His latest effort goes after “stray” wills, or those that were probated, but were never recorded in will books. Entitled “Georgia Stray Wills 1733-1900,” Brooke has collected and abstracted 541 Georgia wills dated prior to 1901, located in Georgia Supreme Court case files, Superior Court records and original wills filed in county probate offices. “Wills are a way of identifying family members, disposal

of property, land and it tells a lot about a person’s life,” Brooke said. Last month, the National Genealogical Society awarded Brooke with the Award for Excellence for his work in “Georgia Stray Wills 1733-1900.” Sometimes, the testator (those whose wills are being probated) left things to family, close friends and even slaves. Brooke came across the will of a man with five different copies and five different versions of the will. “The reason that it got in the court is that he left all his property to his slaves and his family took him to court saying he was not of right mind,” Brooke said. “That would have been a reason to have it thrown aside and there was testimony from neighbors and people who said the man had been sleeping in trees outside and in hollow

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logs outside of his house.” Brooke said in looking through this case, he learned the slaves slept in his house. Surprising enough, for the time, the court upheld the will. “One thing I learned, among many, that historically speaking, I don’t know about today, it’s very difficult to have a will overturned,” Brooke said. “The testator is not there to speak for himself and the court uses it that way, ‘he wrote this and had it witnessed.’” In addition to sifting through 22,000 Supreme Court cases to find these stray wills, Brooke dug through the Georgia Archives, private papers, secondary published records and various other obscure and inconspicuous sources which, with very few exceptions, are not found recorded in Georgia colonial or county probate records. “I wanted to compile them together so that researchers could go to one place and find the will that otherwise they would probably never find,” Brooke said. The book, which covers the entire state, includes the complete text of each will, the county where it was probated and the location of the original. The wills are arranged in alphabetical order, with an index covering the many names found within them, including slaves. In addition to wills of ordinary citizens, there are members of some prominent families, including Louisa Greene Shaw, daughter of Gen. Nathanael Greene. While some wills are fragments, most are whole. Brooke, who is now retired from AT&T, has not slowed down. He has written 28 books along the lines of genealogy

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ancestor in Georgia and looking to fill a research gap. Published with a grant from the R.J. Taylor Jr. Foundation, the book is available for reference at 42 repositories throughout the country and for sale at $35 postpaid from Ted O. Brooke, 2055 Foster Drive, Cumming, GA 30040. For more information, visit www.tedobrooke.com.

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and is a running and Corvette enthusiast. Brooke, who grew up in Tucker and has lived in Forsyth County for 20 years, said he enjoyed the work. “They were all a little different and that is what kept me going,” Brooke said. The hardbound book is a gem for anyone researching an

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ALDO NAHED/Staff

Ted O. Brooke holds his National Genealogical Society award and a copy of his “Georgia Stray Wills 1733-1900.”

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8 | June 4, 2014 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

Senior services kicks off summer FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Senior Services is starting summer with a dance and chili cook off for adults age 40 and up. The summer kick off will be from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 at the Sexton Hall Enrichment Center. The Sounds of Sawnee Jazz Band will provide live music. The cost is $10 in advance and $15 at the door and light refreshments are included in the admission price. Entry to the dance is free for those entering the cook-off.

“Our dances in the bimonthly dance series continue to be popular and well attended,” said Judy Theilman senior services director. “We are looking forward to adding an exciting chili cook-off to this dance.” For more information, call senior services at 770781-2178. —Lindsey Conway

community

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Fiesta 5K/15K draws 700 runners for ALS awareness CUMMING, Ga. – Seven hundred runners and a crowd of over 1,200 came together to “get loco” for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at the eighth annual Fiesta 5K/15K Challenge on May 3. The event was held at the Forsyth Conference Center on the campus of Lanier Technical College in Cumming, and raised $30,000 for the Emory ALS Center in Atlanta. Overall winners in the 15K distance were Paul Koster (1:03:35) and Shelley Elliott. In the 5K distance, the overall winners were Jon Hager (16:21) and Holly Jimenez (19:12). A fun run was also held where 40 participants, young and old, ran around the Lanier Tech campus. Sponsors for the event included Control Southern Inc., Star 94/790 The Zone, HisGrip Homecare, Community and Southern Bank, Georgia Highlands Medical Services, Penta

Ultra Purified Water, MECO, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Mellow Mushroom and more. Music and big sombreros added to the fiesta atmosphere for a morning of great family fun. May was ALS Awareness Month and the nonprofit organization Cure for ALS hosts the Fiesta Challenge each year on the first Saturday in May to begin the month-long advocacy campaign. ALS is a universally fatal neuromuscular disease that can strike anyone without warning. The average life span after diagnosis is only two to five years. It takes away the ability to move, speak, swallow and ultimately breathe. There are approximately 30,000 people in the U.S. who are living with ALS; more than 500 are in Georgia. The Emory ALS Center is one of the largest clinical centers for ALS in the United States. The team of neurologists, neuro-

surgeons, nurses, therapists and dieticians care for both the physical and emotional needs of patients and their families, while scientists and researchers work in the laboratory to discover how to stop the disease. The focus is on independence and quality of life through state-of-the-art intervention. For more information about the Emory ALS Center, visit www.als.emory.edu. —Katherine Tuggle

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community

Above: Troop 1099 pose in front of Governor John Clark’s grave. Right: The Robert Forsyth Chapter SAR and Piedmont Chapter SAR demonstrate a mock battle for Troop 1099.

Boy Scouts pay tribute to fallen soldiers FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Boy Scout Troop 1099 made their annual trip to Marietta National Cemetery to place flags on military graves on May 24. There were 1800 scouts at the cemetery to place flags on each of the 18,000 graves. Troop 1099 met with the Robert Forsyth Chapter Sons of the American Revolution and

the Piedmont Chapter Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard. They also visited Governor John Clark’s grave. Governor Clark was a major general in the Georgia militia during the American Revolution and served as Georgia’s governor from 1819 to 1823. —Lindsey Conway

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community

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Thrift stores fund charities through donations and sales Thrift stores Humane Society of Forsyth County Thrift Store 168 Tri-County Plaza, Cumming, Ga 30040 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit www.bit.ly/ 1tTMc87 No Longer Bound Thrift Store 315 Dahlonega Street, Cumming, Ga. 30040 Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Donation Center 2725 Pine Grove Road, Cumming, Ga. 30041 Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit www. bit.ly/ 1tTMhZE Family Haven Thrift Store 433 Canton Highway, Cumming, Ga. 30040 Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.bit.ly/ 1tTMqfI

PHOTOS BY CAROLYN RIDDER ASPENSON/Staff

Humane Society of Forsyth County Thrift Shop Executive Director Debbie Bertsch and store manager Cliff Norton both love what they do, and the staff at the store.

Abba House Thrift Stores 6800 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming, Ga. 30028 243 Stowers Road E Dawsonville, Ga 30534 Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Visit www.bit.ly/ 1tTMA6x The Place of Forsyth County 2550 The Place Circle, Cumming, Ga. 30040 Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.bit.ly/ 1tTMDze

No Longer Bound Thrift Store manager Jason Avera said his store has done very well since opening two years ago.

Family Haven Thrift Store’s Beth Meers, Pat Shope and manager Claudia Golden take a much needed break from keeping the store stocked for customers. By CAROLYN RIDDER ASPENSON news@forsythherald.com CUMMING, Ga.—Thrift store shopping in on the upswing and four local charities are benefiting from the saying, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Family Haven, the Forsyth County Humane Society, No Longer Bound and Abba House all have thrift stores to help support their cause. “We opened in September 2010,” Forsyth County Humane Society Thrift Store Executive Director Debbie Bertsch said. “Since then, we’ve raised over $375,000 for the Humane Society.” That’s a lot of kibble. “We have donations coming in all of the time,” Bertsch said. “We’ve got a group of amazing employees that work hard to keep our program so successful.” Bertsch said they keep the store stocked with fresh items and things that don’t sell are donated to other charities like Helping Hands. “What we can’t donate we recycle and that money also goes to the Humane Society,” she said. Jason Avera manages No Longer Bound’s thrift store and said they raise about $10,000 a week for their program. “Our program is a faith-based addiction recovery and regenerating program,” Avera said. “The store has been opened for two years and we’re doing well.” Avera said they turn items quickly by reducing the price and recycle things that don’t sell. Family Haven’s thrift store has been in business for about 20 years. Manager Claudia Golden said the store not only sells donated items to raise money for the charity but also uses items donated for women in the program. “Family Haven is a program for women and children of domestic violence,” Golden said. “And a lot of women come to Family Haven with nothing, but the clothes on their backs so we give them what they need when they arrive and also help get them set up when they’re ready to be on their own again.” Abba House, a faith based addiction recovery program for women has two thrift store locations in the Cumming area. The Silver City location opened in 2002 and has seen over 50 percent in profits since opening. Abba House thrift stores fund over 40 percent of the programs operating costs. The Place of Forsyth County is a nonprofit that has been serving Forsyth County families with emergency basic needs since 1975. The Place also operates a thrift store onsite. All sales support The Place’s operations.

11 | June 4, 2014 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

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Alpharetta makes pitch as technology capital With 900 area tech companies it’s time to get organized By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – When Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle took office, one of his first goals was to make Alpharetta the Technology Capital of the Southeast. It may already be the case. With the establishment of the Greater Alpharetta Technology Network (GATN), the seeds have been sown to not only brand Alpharetta as a technology capital, but to build on the synergy of these companies to strengthen their own self-awareness and attract more tech businesses to the greater Alpharetta area. Karen Cashion is founder and president of GATN, a fully chartered 501(c) trade association. Cashion also happens to be a corporate and technology law partner at the Alpharetta law firm of Hipes & Belle Isle (the mayor’s law firm), so she has a kindred spirit in getting GATN off to a flying start. She is also former assistant general counsel for EarthLink, Inc. She says there are 600 tech companies within Alpharetta’s corporate limits and another 300 more in outlying areas of North Fulton and South Forsyth, yet hardly anyone knows that.

“It’s staggering that until now they had no local association to serve them and to foster a community of collaboration and connection,” Cashion said. “GATN’s mission is to promote and engage our local tech community through thought leadership, educational and networking events.” Cashion launched GATN with a kickoff dinner May 8 featuring Atlanta Tech Village founder and serial tech entrepreneur David Cummings spoke about creating a community of innovation. More than 150 were in attendance. Belle Isle sees GATN as another tool in bringing the technology community together. He has already formed a Technology Commission to advise the city in growing the tech community within its borders. Gwinnett Tech is building a North Fulton campus in Alpharetta to furnish a trained workforce and the city is in negotiations with Avalon to bring a 4-star hotel/convention center that will host trade shows and showcase area tech companies. “The tech companies we have here already are all over the map in size and scope,” Belle Isle said. “Thirty-five percent of the Technology Association of Georgia’s membership is right here. But to lead

GATN Mission Statement The purpose of the Greater Alpharetta Tech Network (GATN) is to engage and strengthen the Greater Alpharetta technology community by serving the interests of technology companies and professionals in Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Roswell, Sandy Springs and South Forsyth County, through thought leadership, educational, and networking events. in entrepreneurial start-ups, the technology community has to have a place to come together and connect – to feel like they are a part of something. But we have to recognize that Alpharetta is the economic engine of North Fulton.” “All of Atlanta has 300 technology companies. Austin, Texas, has 600 technology companies, and it is the state capital with a major airport and a university” Belle Isle said. “What we have is a fiberoptic community with a power grid supported by Georgia Power.” Tech companies attract other tech companies and the talent to support them, Belle Isle said.

See TECH, Page 13

HATCHER HURD\Staff

Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle and GATN President Karen Cashion share a common goal: to foster sense of community and connection among the more than 900 technology companies in greater Alpharetta.

12 | June 4, 2014 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

BusinessPosts

Submit your business news & photos to businessnews@northfulton.com

Existing homes can offer Are you preparing for the buyers more options If you haven’t already noticed, new home construction is back in full swing in our area. Everywhere you go in Forsyth County and North Fulton, there are trucks carrying lumber and building supplies to new home sites. This activity is only going to increase as we head further into summer. According to information from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), approximately 20 percent of sales year-to-date have been new homes in Forsyth County, 5 percent in North Fulton have been new. The actual number is quite higher due to the fact that pre-sales don’t get entered into the MLS. Either way, the percentage of new home sales will continue to rise as more homes are built. Unfortunately, with all the new home construction many home buyers are priced out of the new home market. The average sales price year-to-date for new construction in Forsyth County is $345,920 and for resale inventory the average is $310,445, a difference of 10 percent, which doesn’t seem that significant. However, only 10 percent of new home sales are under $250,000 compared to 26 percent of the resale inventory.

Robert Strader

Local Realtor Keller Williams Realty

um over an existing home that may offer more square footage, a larger lot, finished basement and mature landscaping for less money.

Have you got a plan to prepare for the worst things that could happen to your business? The answer for most small business owners is yes. Anticipating problems and preparing for challenges is in the DNA of most small business owners. What about preparing for the best? While preparing for the best may sound funny, it’s not. If you are doing an incredible job growing your small business, and you’re not prepared to manage that growth, you may find your-

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...Only 10 percent of new home sales are under $250,000... In North Fulton the difference is far greater. The average sales price for new homes is $659,651 year-to-date compared to $408,398 for existing - a difference of 38 percent. As if you didn’t know, there are no new homes in North Fulton available under $250,000, but 9 percent of existing inventory sales fall into that price range. So, what does all this mean? To the buyer who says to themselves they absolutely want, must have, will only consider new construction; then you know you’ll be buying in a higher than average price range to get what you want. But to the buyer who isn’t sure, you’ll have to ask yourself if having something brand new is worth a premi-

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BusinessPosts

forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | June 4, 2014 | 13

Massage Heights opens in Johns Creek

John Bemont, president of the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce, addresses attendees of Massage Heights Johns Creek grand opening.

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Business: Massage Heights Opened: May Owners: Joe Huggins and Bryan Goggans What: International Franchise that started in San Antonio, Texas as a ‘better brand of massage” in an upscale spa setting, but at a fraction of the costs. We specialize in all modalities of massage as well as facials by licensed, professional therapists and provide free aromatherapy with each session. The Johns Creek location is the newest of five in the Atlanta market that in addition to our services has an extensive line of therapeutic, all natural products and features the Dermalogica line of skin care products. Where: 3000 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Call: 678-500-9800 Web: www.MassageHeights. com/JohnsCreek

Tech: Continued from Page 11 “With a supporting cast such as GATN, Gwinnett Tech and perhaps a convention center, we will be getting the word out to the rest of the country,” he said. Recent technology addition FiServ is bringing 2,500 jobs to Windward Parkway and a 30,000-square-foot expansion and structured parking. And in the last 18 months 4,300 high-paying tech jobs have come to North Fulton, the mayor said. “We can expect more acquisitions like that which add to the tax base and the local economy,” he said. Once Alpharetta reaches critical mass, the GATN mission will be even more important, Cashion said. “We will still need to foster a sense of community,” she said. “We want to create opportunities for people to come together, interact together. And that means looking at the greater Alpharetta area. Technology doesn’t have borders.” That means GATN needs partnerships with organizations such as Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and North Fulton Progress Partners.

14 | June 4, 2014 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

BusinessBriefs

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Kloster Group records $6M home sale in Roswell City’s largest real estate sale of year

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with the Roswell Home Team agents Laura Hamling, Anne Chamberlin and Tricia Frame, representing the buyer, Front Door Communities to negotiate this sale. The Goulding Place estate is comprised of the elegant main home that features five bedrooms and five and a half baths, 10 foot ceilings, Pine hardwood floors, gardens and out buildings including a two bedroom guest house. The new owners of Goulding Place, Front Door Communities, an Atlanta-based real estate management and development company, plan to include upscale single family homes as well as townhomes that are in keeping with the look of Historic Roswell. The development will start immediately and take two years to complete. FrontDoor Communities

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Above: The Goulding House. Inset: From left: The Kloster Group Peter Kloster and Allison Kloster, Harry Norman senior vice president and managing broker Jenni Bonura and the Roswell Home Team: Tricia Frame, Laura Hamling and Anne Chamberlin.

St.

ha ret ta St.

ROSWELL, Ga. — Atlantabased FrontDoor Communities has bought a little over 16-acres in downtown Roswell listed for $6.9 million. Peter and Allision Kloster, of the Kloster Group, along with the Roswell Home Team of Harry Norman’s North Fulton office were the agents involved in the nearly $6 million sale

of the historic estate located 109 Goulding Place off Canton Street on May 22. “As it turns, this is one of the largest sales in the city this year and certainly the largest one for Harry Norman,” Peter Kloster, who along with Allison Kloster sold the property. Peter Kloster said the sale is great for downtown Roswell because it will bring about 40 new affluent housing units to the area. The Roswell location is within walking distance of restaurants and shops. “They will support and patronize the downtown Roswell businesses,” Peter Kloster said. Allison Kloster said the process of taking a historic home through a rezoning process was a major hurdle. The Goulding Place estate, built in 1857 and listed on the Georgia Register of Historic Places, will remain and be incorporated in FrontDoor Communities’ future design plans. In addition, Goulding Place will be extended to connect with Windy Pines Trail to prevent increasing traffic on Canton Street. “One of the criteria that will be required by the community is to preserve the historic home,” Peter Kloster said. “The historic home and about an acre-and-a-half have been carved out of the development and will be incorporated as a central structure to the community.” The Goulding Place will receive some modern amenities such as a garage, but beyond that, the structure will remain a central part of the finished development. Harry Norman was able to connect the buyer and seller, Bill Miller, together with the Kloster Group. Real estate agents Peter and Allison Kloster, who represented the seller, worked

Alp

By ALDO NAHED aldo@northfulton.com

109 Goulding Pl.

Norcross St.

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EDITOR’S PICKS

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forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | June 4, 2014 | 15

Send

me your event...

Ryan Pieroni

Calendar Editor ryan@northfulton.com Submit your event to northfulton.com or email with photo to calendar@northfulton.com. For a more complete list of local events including support groups, volunteer opportunities and business meetings visit the calendar on northfulton.com.

LOCAL LIVE MUSIC »

FLYING COLORS BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL

All ages will enjoy live music, exhibits, arts and crafts and more. Kids can wear butterfly costumes and join the daily butterfly parades. Pollinator and host plants will be on sale. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. June 7 – 8. 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. Call 770-992-2055 or visit chattnaturecenter.org.

Please call 678-297-0102 or visit vzwamp.com.

Following the successful release of their latest album, “Life, Love and Hope,” legendary band Boston will embark on a highly anticipated summer tour in June. Always a huge crowd pleaser with their highenergy stage show, out-of-this-world sound and remarkable musicianship and singing, Boston will feature the personnel and music from their highly acclaimed 2012 tour with some exciting additions. 8 p.m. June 14. 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta.

ART »

Cigars and Salsa Anniversary

ROSWELL FINE ARTS ALLIANCE MEMBERS SHOW

The Roswell Fine Art Alliance announces their spring members show, hosted by Jackson Accura and on display for viewing and purchase in the showroom lobby. Through June 7. Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 10900 Alpharetta St., Roswell. Please call 770-650-4000 or visit rfaa.org.

THEATER » ‘TARZAN: THE MUSICAL’

The main-stage musical production of “Tarzan” will be performed at The Cumming Playhouse by MelloDrama Productions. The exciting show, based on the Disney movie, has intense choreography, cirque aerialists, gymnasts and entertaining music. 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. June 5 – 22. 101 School St., Cumming. Please call 770781-9178 or visit playhousecumming. com.

‘A PLACE AT THE TABLE’ MOVIE SCREENING

The Atlanta Community Food Bank is hosting a special screening of “A Place at the Table,” a documentary that lets viewers see hunger through the eyes of food pantry staff, a working mom, dedicated teachers, and a young child. “A Place at the Table” examines the complex issue of hunger in the United States. A brief Q and A with Atlanta Community Food Bank staff will follow the screening. 7 – 9:30 p.m. June 5. 7730 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta. Please call 770-992-9663 or visit amctheatres.com.

Over 30 breweries including craft beer, food trucks, vendors, live entertainment for the whole family. Admission to the festival includes unlimited beer samples. 1 – 5 p.m. June 7. 118 Lakeshore Drive, Mountain Park. Call 770-993-4231 or visit mountainparkbeerfestival.com.

BACK TO THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER RACE AND FESTIVAL

An entertaining evening with Italian flatpicker and acoustic guitarist Beppe Gambetta. Whether your favorite music is bluegrass, classical, folk or traditional Italian music, Beppe has a song for you. 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. June 14. 585 South Atlanta St., Roswell. Please call 770-365-7738 or visit ssccs.com.

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Downtown Alpharetta will host one big street party with beer, wine, food and live music. 6:30 – 11 p.m. June 7. 35 Milton Ave., Alpharetta. Please call 678-2970102 or visit awesomealpharetta. com.

The 12th Annual Back to the Chattahoochee River Race and Festival is returning to Roswell. The race begins at 9 a.m. from Garrard Landing Park, and the free festival kicks off at 10 a.m. at Riverside Park. Enjoy live music and an array of exhibits that include local artisans and farmer’s market vendors. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. June 14. 575 Riverside Road, Roswell. Please call 404-352-9828 or visit chattahoochee.org.

ITALIAN GUITARIST BEPPE GAMBETTA

BOSTON AT VERIZON WIRELESS AMPHITHEATRE

ALPHARETTA BREW MOON SUMMERFEST

CITY OF MOUNTAIN PARK BEER FESTIVAL

Celebrate with Cutters Cigar Emporium at their Havana Nights Cigars and Salsa Anniversary Event. Apperances by DasoFino dance studio and Don Pepin Garcia. Their will be live latin music and special pricing on all My Father Sigars. 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. June 7. 5530 Windward Pkwy., Suite 200 B, Alpharetta. Please call 770-6400550 or visit cutterscigaremporium. com

ROSWELL LAVENDER FESTIVAL

Join the 4th Annual Roswell Lavender Festival on the beautiful grounds of historic Barrington Hall in Roswell to experience all things lavender. Events this year include beer and wine tasting and a textile demonstration. Come check out the arts and crafts, antiques, music, lavender food samples, Zen Zone Yoga and Pilates, demonstrations in the barn and food vendors. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. June 14. 535 Barrington Dr., Roswell. Please call 770-640-3855 or visit southerntrilogy.com.

MOVIES AT NEWTOWN PARK

Movies at Newtown Park includes preshow entertainment like an inflatable moonwalk, face-painting, children’s activities, give-aways, music, food and drinks. Pre-show activities start about two hours before sundown. The movies start at dusk and are shown on a large inflatable screen. Families are encouraged to bring blankets

FORSYTH COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS GARDEN TOURS

The Forsyth County Master Gardeners open their private grounds to the public, showcasing a variety of fantastic gardens. Learn how to plant in the challenging southern garden. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. June 7. Please call 770-887-2418 or visit fcmg.sharepoint.com. and relax as they watch the movie. The movie titles will be announced a week prior to each event. 6 p.m. June 14. 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek. Please call 678-512-3200.

RACES AND BENEFITS » FOR THE LOVE OF A HORSE CHARITY GOLF EVENT

As part of its ongoing fundraising efforts, For the Love Of A Horse, Inc. is hosting the 3rd annual golf tournament at the Trophy Club of Atlanta in Alpharetta. All proceeds will benefit For the Love Of A Horse, a Roswell-based nonprofit. The 18-hole golf classic will include a 4-person team scramble format with prizes, gift bags, hole-in-one contests and longest drive contest. An awards reception, live auction and raffle will take place after the tournament. 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. June 6. 15135 Hopewell Road, Alpharetta. Please call 404680-0392 or visit fortheloveofahorse. org.

SUMMER WINE AUCTION

enAble of Geor gia, an organization that provides residential, vocational and day employment services to adults with disabilities, will host a Summer Wine Auction. The money raised will help to maintain and expand vital programs for persons with disabilities. 7 – 9 p.m. June 10. 23 Oak St., Roswell. Please call 770-664-4347 or visit enablega.org.

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The North Atlanta market is one of the shining stars in the Atlanta real estate market, so it was only fitting that Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty would establish our North Atlanta office in Sanctuary Park. Our phenomenal school systems, coupled with a thriving business economy, attract many buyers to our area. As a matter of fact, we bring so many buyers that we have a real estate problem in North Atlanta. It’s not the problem we had to deal with through the recession though: Now it’s the shortage of inventory. This inventory shortage, along with increased demand and historically low interest rates, is driving the surge in North Atlanta. In the real estate business, we call anything less than six months of inventory a “Seller’s Market.” The inventory in Alpharetta has dropped to

2.5 months over the same time last year, which shows the great demand in our market. The median sales price has increased 8.2%, which is reflective of an average price per square foot increase of 13.1% over the same Rawlings time last year. So if you have ever thought of selling, or know anyone that is thinking of selling, it cannot be stressed enough that now is the time to put your home on the market. As a result of having nearly 10% fewer homes on the market than the same time last year, bidding wars – pitting buyers against other buyers for the same home – have become common. Should you want further information on how the market for your particular home is performing, please reach out to someone on my team. We would be happy to meet with you personally. We look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.

Strong schools equal strong market By CARROLL CUNNINGHAM

In the Atlanta division, prices, plans and speciﬁcations are subject to change without notice. Photographs and or renderings are for illustrative purposes only. Information believed to be accurate but not warranted. See Sales Counselor for details and a complete list of HouseWorks® features. © 2014 The Ryland Group, Inc.

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Strong public schools are an important facet of any housing market. The difference between a good elementary and a great elementary school can translate into thousands of dollars. Home buyers will stretch their budgets $10,000 to $15,000 more to get into an area where the schools have been ranked high academically. Good schools equate to a more vibrant community. If the real estate market is hot in a particular area… so is the local economy. It has been shown that there is a definite correlation between the school system and the real estate market. The Rand Corporation did a study for the city of Santa Monica, CA and found 4 major impacts made by the school system on the community. They were: Housing values, crime rate, tax revenues and civic participation. There was also strong evidence that the quality of education impacted the physical and mental health in the community. A one year increase in the average education levels showed a substantial reduction that same year in major

crimes – 27% fewer murders; 30% fewer assaults and 20% fewer motor vehicle thefts. The study noted that a 1% increase in the average school district reading or math scores equated to a .5% to 1% increase in property tax revenue. The higher housing values, the higher the property tax revenues are for the community. Schools definitely impact our community. Another impact comes from our community leaders. They must be made aware of a very dangerous term, “Student Mobility.” This refers to the phenomenon of students changing schools for reasons other than grade promotion. Frequent movement of students from school to school puts those students at

See CARROLL, Page 17

schools

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varsity briefs Send us your news! Email to news@forsythherald.com More Info: 770-442-3278

University of Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. – Several local students were listed on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus Honor Roll and President Honor Roll for the fall 2013 semester. President Honor Roll students earned a 4.0 grade point average. In most colleges, students must earn a minimum 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale to be included on the Honor Roll. Students in the College of Architecture are recognized with a 3.3 or better, and students in the College of Engineering are recognized with a 3.0 or better. Those recognized on the President Honor Roll include Kimberly Lynn Maxwell of Alpharetta, Keith D. Strasbaugh of Cumming and Philip Nathaniel Barker of Johns Creek. Honor Roll recognitions went to Claire Jean Demetree of Alpharetta, Allison Nicole Snyder of Roswell and Hani Suleiman of Suwanee.

Harding University SEARCY, Ark. – Garrison Gerard of Suwanee spent a

three-month semester studying abroad at Harding University in Paris, France (HIP). As part of the HIP curriculum, Gerard spent the semester immersed in French culture and sharpening language skills. Students in the program have a full course load available to them taught by visiting professors who travel with the students. The classes encourage exploration and interaction among the French people.

Brenau University GAINESVILLE, Ga. – The following local students achieved Dean’s List and Merit List honors at Brenau University for the fall 2013 semester. Dean’s List students earned at least a 3.6 grade point average for 15 semester hours, and Merit List students earned at least at 3.5 grade point average on coursework of less than 15 semester hours. Dean’s List: Caitlin Macalla Cavanaugh of Suwanee, Chelsea Morgan Foster of Alpharetta, Jennifer Marie Garciasalas of Suwanee, Laura Ann Harvey of Johns Creek, Deirdre Michele Kunze of Alpharetta, Ding Yuan of Duluth, Hogai Balouch of Cumming, Stephanie Lynn Desrosiers of Roswell, J.R. Mae B. Espinoza of Alpharetta, Angela Vicki Hawkins of Alpharetta,

Shannon Nichole Heath of Alpharetta, Lindsay A. Kelly of Cumming, Jamie Leigh Merola of Cumming and Jordan Bryant Wallace of Cumming. Merit List: Carly Ann Berg of Duluth, Tara Sylace Davis of Cumming, Kathryn Mary Kibler of Cumming, Rachel Elizabeth Lange of Alpharetta, Nicolette Amanda Weaver of Cumming, Denisa J. Dafinescu of Suwanee and Lois Sherrell Powell of Suwanee.

Saint Joseph’s College of Maine

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Tufts University

TROY, N.Y. – Eric Deutsch of Roswell has been named to the Dean’s List at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for the fall 2013 semester. The Dean’s List recognizes full-time students who maintain grade point averages of a minimum of 3.0 out of a possible 4.0. Deutsch studies physics.

Georgia College MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – Taylor Wood of Cumming completed courses with exemplary marks and made the Dean’s List for 2013 fall semester at Georgia College in Milledgeville, according to President Steve Dorman.

Carroll:

STANDISH, Maine – Michelle Mackey of Alpharetta and Kamela Sooknanan of Duluth earned degrees at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine following the fall 2013 semester. Mackey graduated in December with a bachelor’s of business administration degree in management. Sooknanan graduated in December with a master’s degree in health administration.

MEDFORD, Mass. – Sahar Roodehchi of Cumming has earned Dean’s List recognition from Tufts University for the fall 2013 semester. Dean’s List honors at Tufts University require a semester grade point average of 3.4 or greater.

Colby College WATERVILLE, Maine – K. Owens Strawinski, a firstyear student at Colby College, was named to the Dean’s List for her outstanding academic achievement during the fall semester of the 2013-14 year. Strawinski is the daughter of James and Tyler Strawinski of Alpharetta, and attended Mount Pisgah Christian School. Students whose grade point averages were 3.68 or

higher were named to the Dean’s List.

Colgate University HAMILTON, N.Y. – Nathan Harries is a recipient of the Dean’s Award for academic excellence during the fall 2013 term at Colgate University. Harries is a graduate of Centennial High School and lives in Alpharetta. To be eligible for the Dean’s Award, a Colgate student must achieve higher than a 3.30 average while enrolled in at least four courses.

University of Iowa IOWA CITY, Iowa – Kennedy Bodnarek of Alpharetta, Steven Long of Roswell and Ryunosuke Kawamura of Duluth were named to the University of Iowa’s Dean’s List for the fall 2013 semester. Undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering and the Tippie College of Business who achieve a grade point average of 3.50 or higher earned Dean’s List honors.

Wofford College SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wofford College student Tara Savannah Hartford, a member of the class of 2016 from Milton, is studying abroad in Granada, Spain.

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Continued from Page 16 greater risk for academic and behavioral problems. Many drop-out students have been victims of frequent school change. Housing is the most important issue that must be addressed with this critical problem. Often times a family moves due housing being cheaper for the family. When this movement occurs, and schools end up with a 40 to 60% mobility rate, the quality of the education for all students in the system are impacted. Being a Principal and teacher for 30 years, I know how important schools are to the community. It is so essential for the community leaders, the school system and the real estate companies that operate in that community to work together to preserve high academic standards for our clients. We all must remember that students are clients; the citizens who live in our area are clients; and new buyers and sellers of homes are clients. They definitely deserve our cooperation in working together to give them an outstanding community in which to live, work and grow.

forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | June 4, 2014 | 17

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community

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Many of Strauss’ birdhouses are a crazy quilt of geometric designs. No two are ever alike because he says he makes them up on the spot.

PHOTOS BY HATCHER HURD/Staff

Gordon Strauss, a retired civil engineer, enjoys nothing better than sitting at his workbench to design and build his whimsical birdhouses. He says he never works from a planned design, he just makes what springs into his mind.

Retiree makes birdhouses that sing Gordon Strauss turns hobby into art By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – One thing you can say about Johns Creek resident Gordon Strauss. His art is definitely not for the birds. “I got started just making plaques down at the hospitals – for Northside, Emory and Children’s Healthcare,” Strauss said. “Then I decided to start making birdhouses.” That is sort of like Michelangelo saying he he started to paint ceilings. The retired civil engineer volunteers his time and combines that with his urge to create things with his hands. He hit on birdhouses, but they are all unique and hand-painted. Strauss likes to say they

are “unique, but not perfect.” Then he laughs. He says they are not perfect, because he could never make two of them alike. But then that is what makes them unique. “I like to work in wood, and I wanted something to do,” he said. Strauss calls Pittsburgh home, but he moved all over the Northeast working for U.S. Steel. When it came time to retire, he and his wife followed their daughter south. Many of them have geometric designs that just grab the eyes. Strauss says he never knows what a birdhouse will look like when he sits down to make one. “It just depends on what pops out of my mind when I’m at the bench,” he said. “They [the designs] just come naturally.”

Arrests: Continued from Page 3 ment.

►► Candice L. Trierweiler, 26, of Wilkie

Court, Alpharetta, was arrested May 14 on Cogburn Road in Milton for DUI, speeding and failure to maintain lane.

Drug arrests

►► Kevin Chad Daniel, 35, was arrested

May 23 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana and speeding. ►► Brannon Joseph Walker, 31, of Snellville was arrested May 25 on Peachtree Parkway in Cumming for possession of marijuana and failure to use seatbelts.

The bench is in one tidy corner of his garage in GlenCree neighborhood. There is a place for everything, and everything is in its place. Just what you would expect from an engineer. He has lost count of how many birdhouses he has made. But if you have just one, you know it’s something special. Strauss started making birdhouses a couple of years ago, and doesn’t want to stop. He will personalize them like the one he made for a friend who is a Pittsburgh Steeler fan. It has a tiny Sports Illustrated cover reduced on the front porch of the house with other Steeler memorabilia attached. It shows how creative he can be. But what he does not seem to realize is his houses are works of art. They dazzle, they entertain and they provoke thought – which a pretty good definition of the word.

►► Shawn Raikeen Wallace, 33, of

Wilke Road, Alpharetta, was arrested May 25 on Freedom Way in Cumming for possession of marijuana, suspended license, expired tag and taillight violation. ►► Matthew Tyler Compton, 23, of Rising Mist Lane, Cumming, was arrested May 15 on Buford Highway in Cumming for possession of marijuana and no headlights. ►► Daniel De La Riva, 22, of Aintree Chase, Cumming, was arrested May 18 on Keith Bridge Road in Cumming for possession of marijuana. ►► Phillip Lindsay Cusmano, 38, of Dahlonega was arrested May 10 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. ►► John Eric Mathis, 19, of Mountain

He gives away most of his birdhouses, often to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and even to Barak and Michelle Obama, as this note from the White House attests.

Here is a birdhouse that is also an homage to the Pittsburgh Steelers that he made for a friend.

Road, Cumming, was arrested May 22 on Pilgrim Mill Road in Cumming for possession of methamphetamines. ►► Pedro Collazo, 30, of Sugar Hill was arrested May 24 on Martin Road in Cumming for possession of marijuana. ►► Jessie James Pugh, 24, of Hickory Hills Road, Cumming, was arrested May 24 on Highway 306 in Cumming for possession of marijuana. ►► Michael Paul Brennan Abt, 18, of Blackstock Drive, Cumming, was arrested May 24 on Highway 306 in Cumming for possession of marijuana. ►► Yaroslav Menshikov, 25, of Norcross was arrested May 25 on Martin Road in Cumming for possession of marijuana and open container. ►► Kurt Kleinschmidt, 52, of Shady Grove Road, Cumming, was arrested

May 21 on Shady Grove Road in Cumming for possession of methamphetamines. ►► Lewis Gerald Holland, 49, of Marietta was arrested May 24 on Bald Ridge Creek in Cumming for possession of marijuana. ►► Stephen Samuel Williams, 47, of Auburn was arrested May 24 on Shadburn Ferry Road in Cumming for possession of methamphetamines. ►► Ruslan V. Anokhin, 36, of Nocturne Drive, Alpharetta, was arrested May 12 on Abbotts Bridge Road in Johns Creek for possession of marijuana. ►► George Anthony Pickens II, 32, of Marietta was arrested May 13 on New Providence Road in Milton for possession of marijuana and speeding.

Recycled paper | Submit your news & photos to news@forsythherald.com

forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | June 4, 2014 | 19

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When it gets hot — I run I run for a number of reasons. At the top of the list is because it is so much cheaper than therapy and, for me it works better. I run to get away. I run to think. I run to escape. The bigger the monster under the bed, the further I go – a couple miles or lots of a couple miles. I also run to listen to music without distractions. Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix (Live at Monterrey Pop Festival), Fleetwood Mac greatest hits, occasionally CSNY, and my beloved CCR -same albums over and over. They never get old. When we lived on Key Biscayne in Miami, my run was in the afternoon along the ocean. Frequently I could go for miles and miles and never encounter a human - just me, the gulls, sand, pelicans and sometimes a horseshoe crab or turtles. If I was very lucky, a dolphin would see me running and follow me, swimming parallel to the shore sort of on the side so he or she could watch me running. That actually happened several times and I suspect that they probably found me as funny and silly as I found them. But we entertained each other and would have stopped for a conversation had one of us spoke the language of the other. Actually we probably did have that conversation. Words aren’t always necessary. A friend once told me that her dad (a family practice physician) used to tell her that when he couldn’t diagnose someone that he would send them to see a veterinarian. He said that they have to practice medicine without words – so they have a different skill set and a different way of processing information.

Ray Appen

Publisher ray@northfulton.com

Stiltsville today — what’s left — is a cluster of seven severely weathered sun-bleached wooden houses that have been built and rebuilt on pilings. On weekends, I would run along the black top road on the Key because there would be way too many people at the beach. I always wanted to run down to the big bridge over Biscayne Bay and over it, but never made it. It was really far and usually too hot even for my taste. However, it’s on the bucket list. I haven’t given up. My usual run would take me south on the island and around, where I would inevitably be staring into a blazing and intensive like a magnifying glass late afternoon sun. It gets really hot in Miami in the summer. On the Key it is even hotter — especially when there was no wind. But I was out running and that was all that counted. I have always said that I would rather run than eat. The run would take me through old Australian Pines, past stands of sea grapes, so thick they were impenetrable

and under the shadow of the Cape Florida Lighthouse that was originally built in 1825 and was not decommissioned until 1990. It is stationed in Bill Baggs State Park on the south end of Key Biscayne. I actually was friends with Mr. Baggs’ grandson when I lived in Miami, so my emotional ties to the island are deep in many ways. Near the halfway point of the run, when I would be running along the sea wall around the west side of the island, I could look out on the water at Stiltsville and would almost always be transported somewhere far away. Just seeing those rebel houses way-way out in the middle of Biscayne Bay flooded my I imagination — of the present, the past and the future. Stiltsville today — what’s left — is a cluster of seven severely weathered sun-bleached wooden houses that have been built and rebuilt on pilings. They were originally retreats of the old Miami gentry built in the 1930s. Most were weekend houses, fish camps, although occasionally they had a more colorful past as speakeasies and drinking clubs and gambling dens. Access of course was by boat. Food, fuel, water all had to be transported although I imagine that some must have had cisterns that collected rainwater. A neighbor always arrived by boat and fishing for dinner was the order of the day. Diesel generators and candles provided light and I imagine air-conditioning depended on the wind. You fell asleep and woke up listening to the waves pounding against the pilings and mornings always started out warm — then got hotter by the hour with the morning sun bouncing off the water and radiating every inch of the homes with magnified

Stiltsville at a glance When I was doing my homework about Stiltsville I discovered that former Florida Gov. Leroy Collins used to frequently visit and, small world, his grandson, Roy Collins is a neighbor of mine at our beach, so the connections somehow continue in unexpected ways. Here is a quote from Wikipedia that was a pleasant surprise for me: “Florida’s Governor LeRoy Collins (1955-1961) was a frequent visitor (to Stiltsville) during the 1950s, a guest of Jimmy Ellenburg at his house in the flats. Ellenburg established his barge near Crawfish Eddie in 1939 and was known as the unofficial mayor of Stiltsville. A handwritten note from the Governor to his host read: “Jimmy Ellenburg, When the time comes when I say so long to this life, I hope the great beyond seems alot [sic] like your cabin in the sea - Roy Collins”[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiltsville heat. Hurricanes came and went, but most of Stiltsville endured — even after category 5 Andrew that passed directly over it with 200-plus miles per hour winds. After Andrew, Bill Bags — a park that had been so heavily forested — was barren. Not a single living plant, brush, or tree survived Andrew. It looked like a desert. Yet, Stiltsville made it. Go figure. The resilience and defiance embodied in these renegade Stiltsville structures and the life they represent to me have always been an inspiration. I went to Florida State University with a Belcher Oil granddaughter whose family owned one of the homes and she always promised to take me out, but we never made it. As close as I came was at-

tending her wedding at Villa Viscaya — a magnificent Italian Renaissance estate home on the water built by John Deering during from 19141920s. Running has always grounded me and a big part of that has been simply because it has given me the time to think. I believe that the companion part to that has been having an activity that I was passionate about always in front of me, waiting. It still gives me something to look forward to and enjoy. The run on the Key though was probably the most special of them all because it would take me past that anarchistic Stiltsville, which would beckon to me just like Greek sirens, only I would always listen to their enchantments and be joyously taken in.

Children’s Healthcare announces summer safety tips Five part initiative on summer safety for kids ATLANTA — Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has released its 2014 Summer Safety Tips, which focuses on five aspects of summer safety that parents and children can practice to ensure a safe and healthy summer. The list includes helpful advice to promote water, travel and play, sun and skin, heat and fireworks safety. “Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in children age 14 and under,” said Dr. James Fortenberry, pediatrician-in-chief at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “Summer is an exciting time for kids. With that excitement comes an added responsibility for

parents and children to educate themselves on what they can do to ensure a safe and healthy summer.” Children’s has created a special section of their website dedicated to summer safety awareness. Parents can visit choa.org/summersafety to educate themselves and their children on ways to have a safe and healthy summer. The tips include: • Water Safety – Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death of children age 14 and under. Practicing water safety including boat, pool, swimming, life jacket and general water safety can help prevent this.

• Play and Travel Safety – The summer season brings more time outside and on the road. Keep your family safe by practicing safe play and travel tips like following road rules on a bike or properly buckling your children while in the car. • Sun and Skin Safety – Melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer that can spread rapidly to different parts of the body, accounts for up to three percent of pediatric cancer. Protect your kids by taking measures to prevent sunburn, and by understanding the potentially permanent effects of excessive sun exposure. • Heat Safety – Each year, young athletes and children die from heat-related illness, which is completely preventable.

Know the signs of heat illness, keep kids hydrated while playing outside, and understand how to protect babies and young children from the heat. • Fireworks Safety – When it comes to fireworks safety, stick to the professionals and keep kids away. Doing so can prevent burns, the most common fireworks injury. “We see an increase in emergency department visits during the summer months due to unintentional injuries that can be prevented by taking a few extra safety precautions,” said Fortenberry. “Summer should be a fun and active time for families, not spent in the hospital.” For more summer safety tips, visit www.bit.ly/1lUP2Uj.

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forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | June 4, 2014 | 21

Breakfast: the most important meal of the day After I wrote my column about proposing to my nowfiancé, I had a lot of outpouring of support from the community. There are also a good number of stories told about how other people proposed. One story in particular caught my attention – it came from a Roswell couple who only this year got married. After a whirlwind romance and a lot of breakfasts, they tied the knot. Local author Jerry Walker and Denise Buchanan, of Keller Williams Realty, met at a breakfast seminar in August 2013. Denise said Jerry made an impression on her the moment she saw him from across the room. “He is really handsome. What is his story?” she asked her friends. From there the trail ran cold until about three months later, December, mutual friends hooked them up and they went on their first date. It was coffee over breakfast. Neither one said sparks flew and they said it may never amount to anything. It was, after all, just coffee. But something must have clicked. Two days later, they went on a second date. Again, it started at breakfast, but

jonathan copsey

Revue & News Editor jonathan@northfulton.com

went much, much longer. Eleven hours, in fact. “It was a marathon date,” Jerry said. Brunch, museum, coffee shop then the botanical gardens. This time something clicked. “We knew on our second date that this was uniquely special,” Denise said. “By the end of the second date, we were arm in arm and holding hands. We knew we would either be dating, just friends or sworn enemies by the end of it.” Jerry proposed Feb. 23, after nearly three months of dating. They were married March 16. “It’s been kind of a whirlwind,” Denise said, adding that, because they are both older with grown children, they were more secure in knowing what they wanted. “We have a greater awareness of where we are in our lives. This is not our first rodeo.” There was no question over how they should get

Master Gardeners to give tour June 7 FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Seven gardens will be featured in this year’s Forsyth County Master Gardeners tour. The Master Gardeners will host the garden tour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 7. The Cumming Elementary School gardens will be open to the public as well. Funds from the Garden Tour support the organization’s demonstration gardens at each of the county public libraries and the Louise Masburn Native Plant Garden at Sawnee Mountain Preserve. In addition, the Master Gardeners offer research-based advice on planting, growing and caring for gardens and lawns and provide educational training programs to children

in schools and adults throughout the year. Every other year, the Master Gardeners open their private home grounds to the public showcasing a variety of the most interesting gardens allowing us to share how to plant for sun, shade, drought tolerance and privacy screening. This year includes a mix of seven distinctive gardens. Each will offer visitors new ideas to take home and adapt to their personal space. A rain date is scheduled for June 14. The tours cost $15 advance purchase and $20 cash or check the day of the tour. For tickets or more information, visit http://fcmg. sharepoint.com –Shannon Weaver

married – over breakfast, of course. “Every milestone has been over coffee and breakfast,” Jerry said. So they had a breakfast wedding, which Denise says stressed their wedding planner out to no end. How do you hold a breakfast wedding? Afternoon and evening weddings, sure, they are easy. But breakfast? “Everyone is stepping back and thinking how this changes how the wedding plays out,” Jerry said. “Everybody is rearranging how they think. What do you wear for a breakfast wedding?” It’s easy. You start with coffee. Instead of salad there are eggs and grits. Instead of wine there are mimosas. The wedding cake was a coffee cake (of course). Denise’s wedding dress was a short dress, fitting for a relaxed, day ceremony. Jerry still wore a tux. “This is the first breakfast wedding we know of,” Denise said. “We are making the rules up as we go.” That they did. I have never heard of a breakfast wedding, but from what Jerry and Denise said, it was lots of fun. If nothing else, readers, you can learn a valuable lesson from the two starry-eyed lovers - breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Denise and Jerry Walker cut the cake at their wedding March 16. It was coffee cake.

DEATH NOTICES Bernice Bauman, of Sandy Springs, passed away May 20, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

Joseph Buchinski, 55, of Lilburn, passed away May 22, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. Donna Lorraine Chappell, 86, of Cumming, passed away May 21, 2014. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home. Jean B. Cochran, 81, of Roswell, passed away May 22, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. Henry Delling, 89, of Alpharetta, passed away May 20, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. Roy Dews, 87, of Suwanee, passed away May 19, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.

Allen L. Kattmann, 71, of Lilburn, passed away May 21, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Flora Lingefelt, of Alpharetta, passed away May 22, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

Evelyn V. Martin, 83, of Acworth, passed away May 25, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Jud Everett McNatt, 61, of Woodstock, passed away May 25, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. Madelyn Robinson, of Alpharetta, passed away May 25, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

James R. Seagraves, of Manchester, TN, passed away May 23, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

72, of Jessie Tinsley, Cumming, passed away May 26, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Betty O Tribble, 81, of Canton, passed away May 23, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Jinliang Zhong, 82, of Alpharetta, passed away May 22, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.

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24 | June 4, 2014 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

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