Lunar New Year concert wows crowd
By EVERETT CATTS newsroom@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell Lunar New Year Celebration combined ancient Chinese traditions and modern music to charm an audience of more than 500.
Held Saturday at the city’s Cultural Arts Center, the concert was performed by the Magic Music Ensemble, a music studio dedicated to music education and professional performances, and
Looking back at icy temps
► PAGE 4
DJ Ezzy, renowned for his work in the Caribbean and Atlanta. Members of the ensemble dressed in Hanfu, the clothing of the Han Chinese people dating back thousands of years.
The music was played on Chinese instruments dating back to 221 BC, including bamboo flutes; a shaoqin, which resembles a violin; and gu zheng, a large, curved string instrument.
See LUNAR, Page 10
Roswell Roots schedule set
► PAGE 5
This year marks our first dedicated Lunar New Year concert, representing an exciting new chapter for us.
YAO LU Founder, Magic Eastern Ensemble
Hornets squads top Gladiators ► PAGE 14
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta City Council approved three agreements for youth sports at its Jan. 27 meeting, but one contract was noticeably absent.
An agreement with the North Atlanta Football League, which Alpharetta has contracted with for decades, was not included.
City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom said city officials instead plan to submit a request for proposal for a new contract allowing a football league to use Alpharetta fields to host games and practices for youth football, flag football and cheerleading.
Alpharetta is seeking a new contract, which the North Atlanta Football League is welcome to apply for, because of unequal representation on the league’s board of directors, Lagerbloom said.
The city previously partnered with the City of Milton for a joint league through the NAFL, splitting games and practices between both cities’ facilities. Alpharetta could join with Milton again if a new agreement is reached with the NAFL but will likely head off
See PACT, Page 7
EVERETT CATTS/APPEN MEDIA
Pao Lu, center, plays a bamboo flute as the rest of the Magic Music Ensemble performs at the Roswell Lunar New Year Celebration concert at the Cultural Arts Center.
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Motorist skirts arrest after striking cyclist
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police said they were unable to arrest a 22-yearold Sandy Springs man after he intentionally struck a cyclist along Canton Street.
A police sergeant witnessed the incident and followed the suspect’s Honda CR-V to the Roswell Presbyterian Church parking lot. But, police were not able to locate the cyclist.
After no victim was found, officers said they were unable to secure warrants and told the man he was free to leave.
While speaking with the suspect, officers said he admitted to striking the cyclist intentionally because the cyclist was weaving in and out of traffic lanes on purpose to annoy motorists.
Officers said the man reiterated that anger won him over and he hit the cyclist, even though he knows he should have stopped.
After reviewing security footage, officers said the victim wore all black and rode a pink bicycle.
Police warned the motorist about the consequences of an aggravated assault charge before he was released.
Correction
In the January 16th edition of the Herald Newspaper, the article, Great minds think differently by The Cottage School incorrectly had that they provide programs for grades 3-12. The correct information is they provide new offering to grades K-12. Please contact The Cottage School for more information. Cottageschool.org.
Perfumes
— Hayden Sumlin
valued
at $782 stolen at department store
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Thieves stole hundreds of dollars’ worth of perfume from a North Point Mall department store Jan. 3.
A loss prevention officer told police two women had stolen the items by concealing them in plastic bags.
Surveillance cameras recorded the alleged theft.
The items stolen included a Jimmy Choo, Prada, Valentino and Dolce & Gabbana perfume gift sets. According to the police report, 14 gift sets, totaling $785 in value, were stolen.
The loss prevention officer identified one of the women as a serial shoplifter. He also provided an image he said was her that was taken during a theft at a Perimeter Mall department store.
The incident was classified as a felony theft by shoplifting over $500.
— Jon Wilcox
Officers arrest employee for alleged felony theft
ROSWELL, Ga. — Police arrested a 51-year-old Roswell woman after she allegedly pocketed cash from fraudulent merchandise returns during her employment at the AutoZone off Ga. 9.
An officer said he met with a corporate investigator who reported an employee for returning multiple items to the shelf, creating false returns, and pocketing the cash.
The officer said security footage from the investigator indicated the transactions, totaling $1,638, occurred between Oct. 15, 2024, and Jan. 1, 2025.
The AutoZone investigator told officers that the stolen merchandise included various items from the sales floor.
While speaking with the suspect, officers said she admitted to taking the merchandise and expressed a willingness to pay for them.
Because AutoZone wanted to press charges, officers arrested the suspect, charged her with felony
theft by conversion and transported her to the North Fulton County Jail. Fulton County Jail records show the suspect was released Jan. 17 after a promise to appear in court.
Hayden Sumlin
Officers arrest suspect in Roswell gym theft
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 23-year-old Marietta man Jan. 17 after the manager of the Crunch Fitness off Olde Perimeter Way reported him for suspicious activity.
The Dunwoody Crunch Fitness manager said the manager of the Roswell location contacted him about a suspect who had stolen credit cards from patrons the prior day. The Dunwoody gym manager told officers that he was not certain if the man had stolen anything from his location.
When officers spoke with the suspect inside the gym, they said he told them that he was from the Bahamas and did not have identification with him.
After being unable to locate anyone matching the suspect’s information in law enforcement databases, officers used a fingerprint scanner to identify him as a 23-yearold Marietta man.
While detaining the suspect, Dunwoody officers said the Roswell Police Department contacted them. They said Rowell detectives secured two felony warrants for financial transaction card theft and fraud stemming from the incident in Roswell.
Because the Marietta man had a suspended license for failure to appear, Dunwoody officers secured warrants for providing a false name and date of birth and driving with a suspended license. He was transported to DeKalb County Jail.
— Hayden Sumlin
ROSWELL
When was metro Atlanta this cold? Looking back at historical winters
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — North Metro Atlanta residents cranked up their heaters and grabbed an extra blanket, or two, after a winter storm swept through the Southeast last week.
The National Weather Service issued an extreme cold warning and cold weather advisory for North Georgia ahead of frigid temperatures Jan. 20-22. The weather prompted school closures and warnings from local officials.
It was deja vu after a similar winter storm hit weeks earlier. Residents have endured a lingering cold spell that has stretched for weeks.
Known for its sweltering summers and often mild winters, Metro Atlanta has experienced its fair share of cold weather.
This winter
The area experienced its coldest temperatures on Jan. 20 with a low of 18 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
The bitterly cold low was still a far cry from the lowest ever recorded temperature.
Meteorologists recorded a low of -6 degrees on Jan. 20, 1985. On Jan. 20, 2017, the area enjoyed a balmy 74 degrees.
The cold temperatures at the start of last week are part of an ongoing spate of below-freezing weather. So far in January, at least 13 days have seen lows below freezing.
Temperatures dipped to 22 degrees Jan. 9 ahead of a winter storm that blanketed the area with more than 1 inch of snow and ice, closing roadways, schools, businesses and government offices.
Last month, the coldest day was Dec. 6 with a low of 24 degrees. About two weeks later, Atlanta experienced its warmest day of the month at 74 degrees on Dec. 17.
Recent years
Atlanta’s coldest temperatures in recent years was 13 on Jan. 17, 2024 and Jan. 2, 2018.
On Dec. 8 and 9, 2017, an exceptionally heavy snowfall brought inches of frozen precipitation to the city, causing widespread power outages. Some parts of North Georgia recorded more than 1 foot.
BROWN/APPEN MEDIA
During the January 2014 “Snowpocalypse, Hopewell Road in Milton was like so many others — clogged with traffic and abandoned vehicles.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Snow blankets the landscape north along Lake Forrest Drive in Sandy Springs
Jan. 10, 2025. Some traversed the hilly corridor, but law enforcement encouraged motorists to stay at home
A year later, snow again fell in Atlanta on Jan. 16-17.
The infamous “Snowpocalypse” in late January of 2014 left Atlanta with several inches of snow and ice, causing “tremendous” impacts for the region, according to the National Weather Service.
Thousands of motorists were stranded on roadways and highways
for hours, and many simply abandoned their vehicles. According to the Georgia State Patrol, there were more than 1,500 storm-related crashes in the state with over 180 injuries. At least two people died.
Historical cold
On March 13, 1993, “The Storm of the Century” slammed the Eastern
OF
An unidentified woman walks in the snow of 1940 along Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. Burdette Store with a Coca-Cola sign is in the background.
U.S., killing 15 in Georgia. It brought 4 inches of snow to HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport and as many as 3 feet in some parts of Georgia.
According to the National Weather Service, the storm was one of the most intense mid-latitude cyclones to hit the Eastern U.S.
From Jan. 18-22,1985, recordbreaking cold affected every state east of the Rocky Mountains, freezing Atlanta with temperatures as low as -8 degrees. At least 165 deaths across the country were attributed to the weather.
In mid-January 1982, a weather event since dubbed “Snow Jam,” brought about 4 inches of frozen precipitation, paralyzing the city. Gov. George Busbee declared a state of emergency and mobilized the National Guard to aid motorists and clear roadways. At least 10 people died in the state.
One of the most devastating snowstorms in the history of the Southeast occurred from Feb. 9-11, 1973, dropping as much as 2 feet of snow across the region. Atlanta was spared from much of the carnage as the heavy snow remained mainly south of the city.
DAVID
‘IMAGES
AMERICA, SANDY SPRINGS’/KIMBERLY M. BRIGANCE AND MORRIS V. MOORE
City Council announces event list for Roswell Roots
By SARAH COYNE newsroom@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell City Council rolled out the itinerary Jan. 27 ahead of its celebrated Roswell Roots festival honoring Black History Month.
“It’s a must see,” City Councilwoman Lee Hills said.
Roswell Roots, one of the largest Black History Month events in the Southeast, is dedicated to educate, impact and promote cultural awareness.
“I’m proud to call our city No. 1 in that respect,” Hills said.
The celebration will consist of 24 events around the city.
The first week of February starts with eight events including:
• Black Experiences in Roswell: Barrington Hall at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 at Barrington Hall
• Blacktop Improv at 7:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 at Roswell Cultural Arts Center
• 11th Anniversary Bid Whist Card Party at noon Saturday, Feb. 1 at Roswell Adult Recreation Center
• Beats + Ballads at 6-10 p.m. Sunday, Feb 2. at Roswell River Landing
• Mo Better Blues 35th Anniversary Screening at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 at Area 51: Aurora Cineplex and The Fringe Miniature Golf
• Ruben Studdard, The Masterpiece Tour at 7:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 at Roswell Cultural Arts Center
• Rooted with Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 Pleasant Hill Church
• Reflections on Slavery in Roswell: Barrington Hall at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 at Barrington Hall
“I’m a big fan of our historic assets in this city and the history of this city,” Hills said. “We’re 170-years-old, and that is certainly a piece of our history, celebrating our Black roots in the community.”
In other action Jan. 27, U.S. Army Cpl. Samantha Thompkins was
City Councilwoman Lee Hills announces events for the upcoming Black History Month celebration, Roswell Roots, at the Roswell City Council meeting Jan. 27. The celebration will feature 24 events throughout the month.
More information
Find a full list of Roswell Roots events at roswell365.com.
presented with the “Esteemed Veteran of Roswell” Award by Mayor Kurt Wilson. Thompkins was recognized based on her “distinguished military service,” serving in Iraq. She continues to serve her community by speaking on the impact of PTSD.
“This is a beautiful city that you guys continue to strive for excellence, and I love that about the City of Roswell,” Thompkins said.
In light of Thompkins' service to the country, Wilson asked council members and the public to recognize the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
“I point this out to my fellow citizens, that we have responsibility to not forget the kinds of events that have been kind of forgotten over the last generation,” Wilson said.
In other matters, the council unanimously deferred the appeal of denial of a massage establishment at 10711 Alpharetta Highway based on Police Chief James Conroy’s request.
PHOTOS BY: SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
U.S. Army Cpl. Samantha Thompkins, center right, receives the “Esteemed Veteran of Roswell” Award from Mayor Kurt Wilson as members of the City Council join in applause Jan. 27 at City Hall.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Supporters of Spading Drive Elementary School, a crowd including elementary school parents, local politicians and community advocates, stand in support of speakers during public comment at the Fulton County Board of Education’s Jan. 14 work session. Fulton County Schools recommended closing the elementary school amid declining enrollment, an aging facility and financial concerns.
Spalding Drive Elementary remains on district list suggested for closure
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Fulton County Schools staff recommended the closure of Spalding Drive Elementary to the Board of Education Jan. 14, setting up a final vote Feb. 20.
Board member Katie Gregory, who represents the south half of Sandy Springs in the district 3 seat, asked for more information about the school’s statedefined capacity and facility assessment score and the rationale behind shuttering the neighborhood institution.
“I appreciate that we often talk about our financial stewardship, and it’s often compared … to home and personal budgets, but it’s not,” she said. “It’s a school district … when we talk about these kinds of operations or teacher raises … we play almost a game of chicken, like we can’t balk first at some of this.”
Gregory had the most questions about Fulton County Schools’ rationale for the closure from the seven-member board.
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“Yes, there are financial implications and things to be considered, but there are regional impacts,” she said. “Is this the right time, and a necessity, to make this [decision]?”
District 7 member Michelle Morancie, representing the northern half of Sandy Springs, said she appreciated the concerns of Superintendent Mike Looney and Spalding Drive Elementary School parents.
Looney said Fulton County Schools is faced with a deficit, spending millions more each year than it collects in revenue. He told School Board members that they must decide whether to cut expenses or raise taxes.
In August, the School Board passed a
slight rollback on the district’s property tax rate from 17.14 mills to 17.08.
Looney said the issue is nationwide, not unique to Fulton County. He said the financial reality facing school districts is that everything is more expensive, including labor. Because the state funds public education based on enrollment, a district-wide decline means less revenue.
Student populations have dropped roughly 10 percent over the past seven years, according to data presented in August.
Looney said the school district is spending $7,000 more dollars on students at Spalding Drive and Parklane than at other elementary schools in the county. Parents said it was their first time hearing the dollar figure since staff announced in September their recommendation to close the schools and redistrict.
Looney and some board members said they may need to take another look at the district policy for school closure and consolidation, which sets the conditions and procedure for staff. The policy, officially listed under the Facility Expansion Program with code FDB, was last updated in October 2010.
District gives rationale
Fulton County Schools says the proposed closure of Spalding Drive Elementary at the end of the 2024-25 school year is driven by declining regional enrollment, underutilized classroom capacity and the age and condition of the facility.
At three community forums at Riverwood International Charter School last fall, staff received more than 1,000
See CLOSURE, Page 17
Alpharetta Cultural Services lists upcoming classes, camps
By EVERETT CATTS newsroom@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The city of Alpharetta Recreation, Parks & Cultural Services Department has released its spring-summer guide announcing the programs and camps it will host later this year.
The programs are listed in six categories, ranging from art classes to performing arts to workshops to events and gallery exhibits.
Registration for spring classes and camps opened Jan. 15 for Alpharetta residents. Registration for non-residents opened Jan. 29. Registration for summer classes and camps will open Feb. 26 for Alpharetta residents and March 12 for non-residents.
Youth classes and workshops
The city will host art classes at the Alpharetta Arts Center & Gallery on Canton Street and the Spotlight Stage at North Point Mall, in addition to pop-up art via the Art on the GoGo Car at four
Pact:
Continued from Page 1
on its own if another association is contracted, Lagerbloom said.
The city’s action relates to the NAFL’s failure to abide by its contract, which demands equal board representation, said Morgan Rodgers, Recreation, Parks & Cultural Services director. That representation has a direct influence on the participation and interests of the city’s youth players, he said.
“At end of the day, it’s about the kids,” Rodgers said.
Alpharetta residents most recently made up about 14 percent of seats on the board, which were supposed to be split equally, according to the city.
In a letter to one Alpharetta resident, Mayor Jim Gilvin said the league had declined to fulfill its contractual obligation for board representation for at least the past four years.
Gilvin, a parent of a former player, said the city is seeking a new contract with an organization that will serve residents rather than neglect them.
“The City of Alpharetta’s goal is to serve our residents, and the NAFL board members have made it abundantly clear that is not their goal,” Gilvin said. “Quite frankly, their behavior over the last few months isn’t what I would expect from responsible adults who are shaping the character
locations. The center is also hosting Art Pals, a class for students with special needs through a partnership with the Lionheart Life Center.
There will be special school break classes March 3 and 4 and April 7-10, plus youth classes from February through August. The youth classes are for ages 3-18.
The city is also hosting youth ceramic classes for children ages 3-10.
Youth & teen workshops
Youth and teen workshops will be held for children ages 3-16. One of the workshops involves making paper-related art by recycling your own receipts, junk mail and scrap paper.
Teen and adult workshops
Two adult workshops will teach students printmaking and sculpey making. Sculpey is a polymer multicolored clay with different colors. Adult and teen ceramic workshops and adult ceramic art classes are also available.
The city is also offering adult classes
of young men and women.”
According to registration data, the league consisted of 194 Alpharetta families, 438 in Milton and 66 from surrounding areas.
Rodgers and Laerbloom said they think more Alpharetta players would sign up if the city was better represented on the board.
Meanwhile, Alpharetta has invested considerable funds into improving and maintaining turf fields and LED lighting at North Park, where games and practices were held.
In 2024, the city spent about $200,000 on LED lights. In 2021 and 2022, two fields were improved at a cost of almost $2 million.
A request for proposal would likely take a minimum of 30 days to complete, Lagerbloom said. The City Council could review decisions for a new league agreement by March or April.
Tony Palazzo, one of the NAFL board’s volunteer members, said the potential of ending the partnership is worrisome because the loss of playing space could jeopardize the league’s existence.
“The folks on the board are just moms and dads trying to do our best for the kids and the league,” Palazzo said. “We all view Milton and Alpharetta as one place.”
While the league’s future is unclear, Alpharetta officials said their decision to find a new partner is wholly based on the interests of their players.
in painting and knitting and open studios for clay and painting students.
Performing arts
The city will hold performing arts classes for ages 8-18, with a musical theatre class focusing on “Annie Jr.” with the City Center Players and a creative reflections class focusing on transforming your emotions into original songs and abstract art pieces. Disney’s “Frozen Jr.,” with the City Center Players, and Movie Star Camp with Popcorn Media, are also offered.
Other options include Rock Band Camp, Rock Band Camp All-Stars and Acoustic Jam Fest, all with Metro Music Makers.
Adaptive arts
There will be an art class for teens 16 and older and adults with autism and other neurodevelopmental differences. A Physio Jazz program with the Sideways Dance Company will be offered for children 8 and older to have a chance to dance.
“We are in no shape, form or fashion anti-football, anti-children’s programs,” Rodgers said. “But at
Summer camps
The city’s summer camps will take place at the center (Camp Creative) and the Future Farmers of America Log Cabin (Country Living Arts & Crafts Cam for Kids). They are for children ages 7-12.
The city’s visual arts camps are for children ages 5-12 and include painting, sketching and clay.
Fashion camps include Salon Stylist Camp, Let’s Make a Skirt, Tee Quest Blast, Fashion Design Experience and Sew It All, all in partnership with Fashion Workshops LLC
Ceramic camps include wheel-thrown pottery and hand-building in clay sessions with Kids with Rosita Czekala.
General info
The city is calling for volunteers, artists and instructors this spring and summer. Also this summer, the city will host several exhibitions at various venues.
For more information about fees or to register, visit https://bit.ly/40CaBqz.
the end of the day, we are a city organization that is responsible for the 65,000 people who pay taxes.”
The prices...you cannot match them at a normal store; you always find good deals here.
CLAUDIA CORSINO, new owner, Consigning Women
8 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | January 30, 2025
Consigning Women charms Dunwoody community
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Claudia Corsino moved from Belgium to Dunwoody in 2015 to be closer to her son at Virginia Tech and fell in love with the community.
With her husband working in Duluth and daughter attending the Atlanta International School, the Corsino family chose a spot in the middle.
While she and her husband moved to Alpharetta before the pandemic, the Dunwoody Running Club and her best friends kept Corsino coming back to Dunwoody every week.
When she found out the prior owners of Consigning Women were looking to sell and move closer to their grandchildren in Florida, Corsino said she loved it too much to let it shutter.
“I do everything here, it’s still my area,” Corsino said with affection in her voice.
Consigning Women has six longtime employees, some within walking distance of the store in the Mount Vernon Shopping Center.
“They just love the store, and they treat it like their own home,” Corsino said. “You can feel that when customers come in.”
Typically, someone will walk in the store and ask to see a specific item or speak with an employee they’ve known for a decade. Corsino said there are new items in the store each day, and the most unique treasures and popular new items have competition.
The consignment store specializes in upscale resale, and its structure lends itself to more of a community
environment. Consigners bring items in and often start shopping afterward.
“We have both sides of the community,” Corsino said. “We always have really cute stuff you cannot find in any other store.”
Back when she first moved to Dunwoody, Corsino said she started volunteering at the Community Assistance Center’s Canopy Thrift Shop off Roswell Road in Sandy Springs’ North End. Her time volunteering with the Perimeter nonprofit gave
her experience with the operations of clothing store.
“It’s a thrift store, the only difference in the concept is we receive donations [at the Community Assistance Center] and here we take consignments,” she said. “The selling process is the same.”
Corsino said Dunwoody stands out in Metro Atlanta because of her former neighbors and the wonderful friends she made. For the local business owner, the people in Dunwoody make it what it is.
“The important thing is to let
people know we have new items every day,” Corsino said. “We have five appointments, so we take in new items and put them on the floor; every time you come shop, you can find something new, something different.”
After a month, merchandise gets a 25 percent knock down. Consigning Women cares and sells for local Metro Atlantans, giving them 40 percent of each sale.
See CONSIGN, Page 9
THE PICTURE FRAMER
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
From left, Claudia Corsino and Christine Kratzenberg work the front register at Consigning Women, a Dunwoody community staple since 2011, within the Mount Vernon Shopping Center. Corsino, an Alpharetta resident and the third owner of Consigning Women, bought the business in October because of how much the store and its community means to her.
Consign:
Continued from Page 8
To get started, consigners need to call 770-394-1600 to set up an appointment (with a maximum of 25 items). The store accepts almost all women’s clothing and accessories with exceptions for wedding dresses, vintage items, lingerie and most jewelry, unless it’s signed or unique.
The items remain the property of consigners until they sell or 60 days pass. After that point, expired items may be donated.
“There’s always lots of items, some 50 percent off,” Corsino said. “The prices ... you cannot match them at a normal store; you always find good deals here.”
The consignment store, owned and operated by local women, makes its mission to create a unique shopping atmosphere of hospitality and friendship.
Corsino said she’s encouraged that a recent rezoning of the Mount Vernon Shopping Center will help generate more foot traffic for the other small shops around Consigning Women. She attended rezoning meetings in the fall and said other small business owners within the shopping center need more customers too.
Business was better during the holidays than it has been during
BUSINESSPOSTS
January’s notorious retail slump. Corsino said business has been good, and she wants to keep growing.
Next door, Southern Comforts Consignment, shuttered last January and consolidated to its Mountain Park Plaza location. A former co-manager said the shopping center needs some work to make it more attractive.
The philosophy of the Consigning Women is as important to its employees and owner as it is to the customers and consigners that keep it running. With new ownership, loyal customers were quickly won over by Corsino’s infectious smile and energy. She also kept the interior of the store the same, which longtime customers appreciated.
Christine Kratzenberg, celebrating a decade working at Consigning Women this year, said she loves Corsino for stepping up and buying the business. She said the community was worried when they heard the prior owner was looking to sell.
Kratzenberg said the best thing Corsino has done for business was getting Consigning Women on social media and spreading the word about the neighborhood consignment store.
You can follow Consigning Women at facebook.com/p/Consigning-WomenAtlanta-100057294286434/ and at instagram.com/consigningwomen. atlanta/.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
The Consigning Women storefront sits on the Jet Ferry Road side of the Mount Vernon Shopping Center. Owner Claudia Corsino says she is encouraged the shopping center will get more foot traffic after its January rezoning.
Continued from Page 1
“Magic Eastern Ensemble has accumulated nine years of performance experience, with the past seven years dedicated to growing as an ensemble,” said its founder, Yao Lu. “This year marks our first dedicated Lunar New Year concert, representing an exciting new chapter for us. Last year, we successfully hosted a New Year’s Eve concert on Dec. 31, and this year’s event will offer a fresh experience that celebrates both tradition and modern influences.”
Lunar New Year, represented by a different animal every 12 years, celebrates the calendar turning for Chinese and other Asian cultures. This year’s lunar new year, the Year of the Snake, was Jan. 29.
“The uniqueness of the Lunar New Year Celebration lies in its deep cultural significance and inclusivity,” Yao said. “It’s more than just a traditional celebration; it serves as an opportunity for cultural exchange and community connection.”
The Roswell performance blended traditional and contemporary elements, offering an interactive experience for audiences from diverse backgrounds.
This year’s theme was “Journey Through Time” or “Across Space and Time.”
Yao said it “symbolizes the evolution and continuity of culture and music while embracing modern innovation.”
She said the goal is to take the audience on a musical journey that transcends time and space, fostering a greater appreciation for cultural diversity and artistic expression. DJ Ezzy’s music was added to include some fusion music, Yao said.
While the concert included many traditional Chinese or Asian songs, it also featured recent pop songs, such as “Light Years Away,” a 2016 song that became the Chinese theme song for the American film “Passengers.”
Liz MacDonald, an east Cobb resident, called the concert “beautiful.” It was her first time attending an ensemble performance but not her
Chapel of Reflections
first trip to the center. MacDonald is a Roswell Cultural Arts season ticketholder.
“I looked at it online so I’d have some idea of what I was going to,” she said. “I think it’s beautiful. I can’t believe the things in their hair. I wish they would just bring them up to show off their costumes and hairstyles and that. But … I think it’s beautiful.”
MacDonald said she loved the variety of flutes Yao played, concentrating on the differences in the sound. She said she was also struck by the variety of performers, young and old.
Roswell resident Roxanne Cauthorn said it was her first time attending an ensemble concert, but she often goes to cultural arts events in the city.
“I think the music is good, but all the ads talking about the sponsors, that got a little old,” Cauthorn said, referring to frequent breaks announcing which businesses sponsored the event.
Our chapel mausoleum offers timeless options of both cremation and traditional burial. Contact us for further information on the Chapel of Reflections and our many other offerings.
For more information
To learn more about the Magic Eastern Ensemble, visit: magiceastern.org/
• To learn more about DJ Ezzy, go to: https:// ezzyspotlight.com/about-ezzy/
• The Roswell Cultural Arts Center’s website is at: https://roswellcac.showare.com/
Yao saw the concert as a way to unite the community.
“We are very excited about this event and hope it will serve as a bridge to foster mutual understanding and friendship across cultures,” she said. “Through music, we aim to bring people closer, offering a platform to share, appreciate and celebrate cultural diversity.”
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EVERETT CATTS/APPEN MEDIA
Pao Lu, second from left, plays a bamboo flute as the rest of the Magic Music Ensemble performs at the Roswell Lunar New Year Celebration concert at the Cultural Arts Center.
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Roswell boys avenge home loss to Johns Creek
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga — After a slow start, the Roswell High School boys avenged a December home court loss to Johns Creek with a 63-59 win Jan. 24 at Johns Creek.
In a rematch of the Dec. 13 game – a 70-58 win for Johns Creek – Roswell came prepared to clamp down on defense, never allowing the Gladiators to pull away.
Sophomore guard Trey Phillips led Roswell with 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Roswell head coach Ty Phillips, Trey’s father, praised the play of seniors Ryan Koch, Parker Hake and Will Foust, along with sophomore Will Vogler who hit four 3-pointers in the first half.
“They’re really the heart and soul of our team,” the coach said. “Box outs [from Foust] and big shots from [Hake] and [Vogler] were a huge part of the win. We competed and battled a little bit better tonight, it’s a great region win.”
Johns Creek juniors Tatum Holmes and Isaiah Johnson got the Gladiators’
attack moving in the first quarter but struggled as the Hornets’ defense clamped down. Johnson led Johns Creek with a game-high 16 points, four rebounds and two assists. Holmes posted 10 points, 10 rebounds, five steals, and a blocked shot.
The Gladiators had a four-point lead at the end of the first quarter, but the game began to heat up as Roswell forced more missed shots. Tensions flared in the second quarter when a scuffle resulted in technical fouls against each team.
Despite lead changes, the Hornets finished the three ensuing quarters with the lead.
The Hornets out-rebounded the Gladiators 33-29 and tallied more assists, 11 to 8, en route to a close victory.
Trey Phillips reflected on a good night scoring and hanging on for the win.
“My teammates find me and help me get to the spots,” he said. “I trust them to run the offense, when we work together and move the ball, we’re unstoppable.”
Johns Creek junior Tatum Holmes pulls up for a shot against defending Roswell junior Wills Campbell at Johns Creek High School Jan. 24. Holmes ended with 10 points and 10 rebounds to go along with five steals in a losing effort for the Gladiators.
Roswell girls clamp down on Johns Creek in 2nd half
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga — The Roswell High School girls extended their dominance over the Gladiators of Johns Creek Jan. 24 with a 53-37 victory at Johns Creek High School. It was a rematch of the Dec. 13 game where Roswell won 42-38 at home.
Roswell guard Eve Buckley led the team with 22 points, six rebounds, and two blocks, splashing three 3-pointers in the second quarter to get the Hornets moving offensively.
After a close first half, Roswell went to the locker room up two. Head coach DJ Moore said the team met his challenge to get after it defensively, allowing the Gladiators only 16 points in the second half, while the Hornets tacked on another 30.
“In the second half, we set a tone,” Moore said. “We’re focused on getting stronger defensively, moving the ball, and getting multiple people to score. Two points here and three there add up, little contributions are very meaningful.”
Roswell forward Alex Gonda tallied five assists to go along with 13 points and eight rebounds.
The Hornets have succeeded this season in part due to their emphasis on ball movement.
After an 8-18 record last year, they’ve reached their goals to win more in-region and regular season games.
Buckley attributed the team’s coming together at the half to how well the group has meshed over the past two seasons. She reflected on getting a second stab at matching up with Johns Creek.
“Our offense was more fluid this time around,” Buckley said. “Defensively, we were able to close those gaps tonight and not allow them to get clean looks.”
The Gladiators struggled to get going offensively, unable to match their first-half offensive output.
Leading scorers Grace Landeck and Savannah Jenkins were stifled by the Hornets’ defense. Landeck ended with 13 points. Jenkins contributed 5 points. The pair combined for just six points in the second half.
Roswell has five games remaining in the regular season. Sitting at 5-3 in region play and tied for third place with Gainesville, a postseason push is on the line at Gainesville High School Jan. 28.
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
Johns Creek junior Paige Camiolo guards Roswell sophomore Livy Harrison at Johns Creek High School Jan. 24. The Gladiators fell to the Hornets 53-37.
Cambridge High girls top Centennial, 54-14
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga — The Cambridge High School girls dominated Centennial on the hardcourt Jan. 17 in a 54-14 blowout.
The win boosted the Bears’ record to 8-10 overall and 3-0 in region 6 of the 4A division.
In another display of sharing the ball, only one Bear, guard Gabi Johnson, reached double figures in scoring, while others contributed on offense.
The matchup featured two young teams, with only one senior taking the court. Centennial guard Desiree Stamps had 5 points and sank the only 3-pointer for the Knights, leading her team as the floor general.
Centennial scored nearly 2 points more than their 12.4 average per game against the Bears. Freshmen forward Leah Reddykotha shot 75 percent from the foul line, and guard Iyanna Boykin was the only Knight to make more than one field goal, ending with 6 points.
Cambridge was able to run away
with the game by forcing turnovers and exploiting the fast break. Junior Grace Miller and freshman Emily Spencer had multiple steals. Miller finished with 8 points. Spencer posted 9.
Cambridge dominated the boards, pulling down 16 offensive rebounds. Junior forward Parker Pruett contributed 8 points and nine total rebounds for a near double-double.
Junior guard Gabi Johnson, a University of Florida commit in lacrosse, led the Bears as the only player in double figures.
“If I’m playing hard on defense, it’s a lot easier for me to go into offense,” she said. “I feel like I’ve been able to thread the needle more, using ball handling to get to the rim.”
Cambridge head coach Shanteona Keys said she is looking ahead to the remainder of the season.
“It’s a good region win that we need as we build toward February and the region tournament,” she said. “We take it one game at a time and that’s just the next one. We played well and executed things that we needed to tonight.”
Bears fall at home to second-half Knights’ surge
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga — The Centennial High School boys mounted a second-half blitz against Cambridge, energized by a first-half buzzer-beater from Knights senior guard Kam Stone.
Stone put up 27 points, three rebounds and two steals, leading his team to an 8070 victory over the Bears.
The Knights had a tough first quarter, shooting 30 percent and putting only nine points on the board while Cambridge notched 13.
Everything changed after that as Centennial shooters got hot.
Cambridge guards returned fire, though they weren’t able to generate enough smoke to complete a comeback. Senior Avery White demonstrated he’s earned his Division 1 offers, showing up in the most important moments, sinking shots and getting to the foul line.
White tallied 29 points, going 13-for16 from the line. Junior Christian Frasier landed three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to cut the Bears’ deficit from 22 points to 9.
The final minutes devolved into
exchanging fouls, resulting in three Bears and one Knight fouling out of the game.
Centennial head coach Matt Barksdale reflected on what allowed the Knights to find their stride.
“It’s been two years since we’ve won in this gym,” he said. “At halftime, we got together and improved rebounding and not turning the ball ove,r and that translated to scoring more than 50 points in the second half.”
Strong defensive performances from forwards senior Lamari Campbell and sophomore Noah Brady boosted the Knights in the second half. Campbell posted a double-double, 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Brady contributed 12 points, six rebounds and four blocks.
The Knights’ second-half surge was sparked when Stone sunk a 3-pointer right before the first half buzzer. The play cut Cambridge’s lead to 1 point at the break.
“If my teammates and my coaching staff trust me to take those shots in the clutch, I’ve gotta knock ‘em down,” Stone said. “We’ve been playing together since fourth grade, I love these guys and it’s a brotherhood for sure. Playing together and staying together is what means the most to us.”
guard Avery White at Cambridge
the loss, going 13-for-16 from the foul line.
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
Centennial senior forward Lamari Campbell defends against Cambridge senior
High School Jan. 17. White tallied 29 points in
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
Centennial freshman Iyanna Boykin contests Cambridge junior Grace Miller’s shot at Cambridge High School Jan. 17.
Milton comeback falls short in tournament loss to Woodward
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — The Woodward High School girls defeated Milton 65-60 at the J-4 Sports MLK Holiday Basketball Invitational Tournament Jan. 18 at Chapel Hill High in Douglasville.
The Eagles didn’t go down easy, cutting Woodward’s lead from 19 points to 5 in the final quarter.
Milton point guard Londyn Walker and center Zana Justice combined for nearly 40 of the Eagles’ 60 points. Strong twoway performances from forwards Caroline Young and Tamia Tomlinson, as well as offensive boosts from Aaleanna Milord’s three ball kept the Eagles in the game through the first half and brought them back in the final period.
Justice notched a monster double-double of 18 points and 15 rebounds, headlined by several strong post-ups in the lane that landed her a spot on the alltournament team.
“Today I had to play strong, post up strong and trust my gut to make lay-ups,” she said. “As a team we
did good, I feel like we could have won it today for sure.”
Walker tallied 19 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals in the loss. She hit all seven of her free throws.
The lead went back and forth numerous times in the first half, with Woodward up by 1 at the break.
But, the War Eagles went on a rampage in the third quarter, led by senior guard Kayla Whitner, who made three 3-pointers in the period. Whitner went seven-for-eight from deep for 23 total points.
The Eagles clamped down on defense in the fourth quarter while seeing more of their own shots fall. Milton held Woodward to only seven points in the final period to cut their deficit to 5 points as the clock ran out.
Milton head coach Julian Barfield reflected on the close matchup and looking toward the postseason.
“Still working on those individual skill sets but also building those team skill sets as we move on to the playoffs,” he said. “Today was wellbattled. We had a couple turnovers in a row, but you live and you learn.”
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
Milton junior forward Caroline Young (left) tips off against Woodward senior Delaney Cooper at Chapel Hill High School Jan. 18. Young posted 8 points, four rebounds and three steals in the loss to the War Eagles.
Closure:
in-person comments from more than 500 people. Almost all argued against the recommended closure of Spalding Drive Elementary School this May.
While no vote was taken at the Fulton County Board of Education’s Jan. 14 work session, the Sandy Springs community showed up with elected officials to let school officials know how important the school is to them.
State Rep. Deborah Silcox, Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis, all members of the Sandy Springs City Council and Mayor Rusty Paul put some political weight behind the push to save the school.
Since the announcement, the elementary school community formed a committee, hired a public relations firm and began work on a 106-page document — “The Case to Save Spalding”— handed over to board members and district staff a week before Christmas.
However, after Fulton County Schools staff gave their presentation, committee members said they were disappointed the district did not address the document, which details inconsistencies with enrollment data and the closure’s rationale.
Closure impacts take form
The final recommended map for attendance zone changes at Sandy Springs elementary schools was the same as that presented by the school district at the third and final community forum Dec. 9 at Riverwood High School.
The final map, showing attendance zones for the city’s seven elementary schools, shows the closure of Spalding Drive with its students going to either Woodland, east of Ga. 400, or Heards Ferry, south of I-285. Parents said the shift is significant for students at the neighborhood-based school with most households in walking distance.
The map shows students living on the west side of Brandon Mill Road attending Heards Ferry for the 2025-26 school year, while those on the east side would go to Woodland.
Meanwhile, the attendance zone for Ison Springs would expand south to include current Woodland students living north of Cimarron Parkway and west of Ga. 400.
SCHOOLS
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED
The final recommendation map for attendance zone changes to Sandy Springs elementary schools shows the closure of Spalding Drive and subsequent redistricting of its students to Woodland and Heards Ferry. Some Woodland students are also redistricted to Ison Springs.
There are four elementary schools affected in the city.
The district says 264 current K-4 students are impacted by the closure and 276 students are affected by redistricting. The district’s policy allows 53 rising fifth graders to remain at their current school if they satisfy conditions.
During public comment at the work session, parents cited issues with feeder patterns, a result of shifting attendance zones and the myriad of programs at Fulton County Schools.
For example, some Spalding Drive students redistricted to Heards Ferry would attend Sandy Springs Middle. Because of shifting school curriculum, like International Baccalaureate and STEAM, some students may be unprepared or left behind, parents said.
Leaders speak out
Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis highlighted the list of speakers at the meeting, arguing that it harms the community to close a school in the 95th percentile of academic performance in the state.
“Within [my] district there are many great schools, and one of those great schools is Spalding Drive Elementary,” he said. “I want to thank all the citizens for their thoughtful engagement and the work they’ve done in presenting an extremely compelling case for why Spalding Drive should not be closed, and instead be a model for how we improve our elementary’s schools.”
Ellis said the school’s diversity and academic achievement is a special thing in the county, and the last thing students who
are still catching up from the pandemic need is to shift school buildings. He said it’s not a risk worth taking.
“I’m highly concerned about the proposed closure and the negative impact it would potentially have, not only on the citizens who are here, but on our taxpayers … the quality of school system overall and, most importantly, the children of Fulton County,” he said.
Mayor Rusty Paul asked the board to compete with private schools in Sandy Springs, one of the reasons for declining enrollment.
“Parents here have a choice, they can send their kid to private school,” Paul said. “Compete to get them back in the public school system by being innovative and creative.”
Following the meeting, Paul told Appen Media the school district needs to take time to consider the community’s report and how to strengthen the city’s public schools and compete for students.
What happens next?
Throughout community forums in October, November and December, Fulton County Schools staff stood by the data, rationale and the district’s policy for closures and redistricting.
Paul told the community when news broke in September that they needed to come up with a data-driven argument to keep the school. He says they did just that.
Chris McShane, who lives within walking distance of the elementary school, said he aspires to be a Spalding Drive parent. One of the reasons he moved his family to the Sandy Springs neighborhood was so his children could attend the school, like state Rep. Silcox.
Steven Bell, a Spalding Drive parent, asked board members “to take the path less traveled” and pressed the district to explain its financial constraints to the community.
With the viewing gallery at capacity during the board’s work session, around 50 supporters of the school listened to the session in an overflow room. The display of community support has been common throughout the redistricting process.
Some parents say they wants the School Board to delay the closure at least one year to give the district time to take their data and arguments into consideration. Others say they want a fiveyear deferral.
More discussions about the closure and redistricting are expected at school board meetings Jan. 23 and Feb. 11.
The case for another great presidential humanitarian
PAT FOX Managing Editor pat@appenmedia.com
The monthlong mourning for Jimmy Carter has ended.
What a blessing it would be to see Carter’s post-presidency spirit survive him. Chances are slim in today’s fractured America, but history has shown that charity and humanitarianism are not exclusive to liberal Democrats. Carter is not the only former president with a stellar humanitarian resume.
On the morning of May 28, 1945, first daughter Margaret Truman brushed past an elderly gentleman entering the White House as she rushed to class at George Washington University. Years later, she told historian Thomas Fleming that, at dinner that evening, she asked her father what the distinguished-looking man had been doing at the White House.
Harry Truman, a mere high school graduate, used the opportunity to teach the college history major a lesson. He instructed Margaret to go downstairs and scan portraits of the presidents in the main hall.
Others at the White House that same morning also paid little notice of the portly, 70-year-old man. Over the past dozen years, he had been all but erased. But, he knew his way to the Oval Office.
President Truman, five weeks into office, invited Herbert Hoover inside where they discussed relief efforts for the starving millions in Europe following Germany’s defeat.
Truman had chosen well.
Before his disastrous Republican presidency, Herbert Hoover had acquired
notoriety for engineering one of the greatest relief efforts in history.
A self-made man
Orphaned at age 10 in 1884, Hoover became a multi-millionaire by age 40 through his acumen in the mining business. From humble beginnings, he graduated from Stanford, then established mining consulting services throughout the world with offices on three continents.
A devout Quaker, Hoover was moved by reports of mass starvation in Belgium in 1914 after German forces overran the country in the First World War.
Operating out of his London office, Hoover won the blessing of President Woodrow Wilson and a Belgian relief organization to launch the Commission for Relief in Belgium. Through private donations and government grants, the CRB accumulated 5.7 million tons of foodstuffs for distribution in areas suffering most.
The CRB had its own factories, its own navy and railroads. It had its own flag.
Hoover worked 14-hour days, overseeing food distribution to millions. Still a private citizen, he crossed the English Channel 40 times pressing German leaders to allow the food shipments into Belgium and occupied northern France in 1915. In London, he negotiated safe routes through Britain’s shipping blockade of the continent.
His efforts were a textbook in efficiency, going so far as to salvage the flour sacks for Belgian trade schools where students turned them into clothing.
Hoover assembled volunteers to fundraise for the campaign. Not a penny of that money found its way into his pockets.
He extended relief into areas of the new Soviet Union besieged with famine in 1921. When one critic posed whether he was
helping communism, he replied that 20 million people are starving. “Whatever their politics, they shall be fed!”
During and after the war, Hoover’s efforts were credited with having saved more than 9 million lives.
And, while he shunned acclaim, he became known worldwide as “The Great Humanitarian.”
Downfall within a decade
Tragically, less than a decade later, as president, Hoover was painted as heartless to the helpless during the Great Depression. Like many conservatives at the time, he held a core belief in separating government from domestic social safety nets.
Few presidents have been so vilified. Tent cities for the homeless became “Hoovervilles.” His successor, Franklin Roosevelt, obliterated his name from the crowning public works achievement of his presidency. Hoover Dam became Boulder Dam.
In point of fact, Hoover had pursued private unemployment insurance as Secretary of Commerce in 1922. He pushed for a safety net negotiated between insurance companies, employers and workers, without “the blighting hand of government.”
As president, he supported a handful of major public works projects to provide jobs, but he would not abide channeling public money directly to the poor.
He believed charity came from the heart, and he practiced what he preached, discretely donating his presidential salary and untold amounts of his personal wealth to charities during his term. From the time of the great Belgium relief effort until his death in 1964, Hoover kept not one dime of public money.
Truman recognized Hoover for the man he was. In that May 1945 visit, he asked Hoover to mount another massive relief campaign in Europe. This time, it was Germany and Austria that lay in ruin.
At Truman’s behest, Hoover visited 38 nations in an effort to avert mass starvation among war victims. Over three months, he traveled more than 50,000 miles.
Rescuing Europe again
Hoover also helped sway the prevailing tide of high-level U.S. government sentiment that called for reducing Germany “into a pastoral state” that could never wage war again. Instead, Hoover argued that Germany was essential to the economic prosperity of Europe, and he promoted plans to rebuild the country into an exporter. This, he argued, would “relieve American taxpayers of the burdens of relief and for economic recovery of Europe.”
Truman, himself, was apt to leaving Germany adrift, but his regard for Hoover helped sway him.
The result was the Marshall Plan which infused billions into western Europe, revitalizing industry, blunting the spread of Soviet communism and creating a thriving economy.
In a final benevolent act for the man who had restored his dignity, Hoover accepted the presidential pension when it was first enacted in 1958. He accepted because Truman publicly claimed to be on poverty’s doorstep after leaving office – a claim historians today dispute. Nevertheless, Hoover did not want his Democratic friend to suffer the shame of being alone on the public dole, so he also took the pension. Then, he discretely donated it to charity. A soft heart needn’t be tethered to political persuasion.
‘The Future’s so Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades’
This week’s music inspiration for my article is the 1980 hit “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades” by Timbuk3. This week we had the inauguration of our 47th President Donald J. Trump. In his speech, President Trump spoke about many things regarding his vision/plans for the economy, from tax cuts, to reducing government spending, increasing the research of AI capabilities, to making home ownership more affordable. He signed numerous executive orders within
72 hours of taking office.
For the most part, our “Wall Street” warriors like what they have heard thus far.as the DOW, as of this report, was at its highest point since mid-December of 2024. The 10-year Treasury has gone back below 4.65 percent after testing the 4.80 level a few weeks ago, and mortgage rates appear to be heading back below the 7 percent mark. So far…so good. While he has signed many executive orders as of today, the one which has not been officially put in place are the tariffs on Cananda, China and Mexico. The date of Feb.1 has been bantered around as when he may impose a 10 percent tariff on China, but that date does not appear to be set in stone as of now. He has further stated he is having folks close to
the White House, including our Treasury Secretary, do further research on the overall affects that these potential tariffs may have on the U.S. economy.
The tariff issue is a question being bounced around Wall Street as whether it will be ultimately inflationary for the U.S. consumer or not. The fact that he is having further research done is a good thing, and it appears that our “warriors” on Wall Street are taking a wait-and-see position for now, which is why we have seen, for now, mortgage rates move back to lower levels.
President Trump has many plans for improving the overall economic outlook for the United States. U.S. jobs and bringing down inflation are at the top of his list. The inflation component will certainly
drive the direction of mortgage rates over the next several years, and we know that lower mortgage rates will increase home sales and new home construction which creates many more jobs.
While it is way too early in the game to get too excited about our economy and home sales moving back in the right direction, for now…I am certainly cautiously optimistic.
D.C. Aiken is vice president, producing production manager for BankSouth Mortgage, NMLS # 658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.
The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of BankSouth Mortgage or its affiliates.
OPINION
100 most influential people and things: No. 61- 65
RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
Here’s more of my continuing list of important people and things –some serious, some not so much.
No. 61 – Urban Legends
These are popular myths often shared as if true that seem to just keep on keeping on. Many are used as plots in books, TV shows, movies. They are included in the Top 100 list because they represent our fears and superstitions which, to varying degrees, are part and parcel to our unhealthy national infatuation with conspiracy theories.
Here are a few.
The Vanishing Hitchhiker: Someone picks up a hitchhiker. They later vanish but they leave behind something – a discarded letter, some memento, a newspaper clipping that leads the driver to discover that their hitchhiker died years earlier. Often used in TV episodes of “One Step Beyond” and Rod Serling’s “The Twilight Zone.”
Alligators in Sewers: New York city is often where these giant alligators swim around in the sewers. Flushed pets from years ago. Of course, one variation of this urban legend is the snakes in the toilets.
The Hook-Handed Killer: A couple are parked in lover’s lane and hear a radio broadcast about an escaped killer with a hook for a hand. They later find a hook hanging from the door handle of their car. One variation of this is found in the movie “Miracle on 34th Street” where, at the end of the movie, a cane is found, left behind by someone in the house. It’s the same cane that Kris Kringle had used earlier in the movie.
No. 62 – Top 10 most objective/reliable/credible news media sources
According to ChatGPT, an arguably reliable/objective information source, here they are:
Associated Press (AP), a global news wire service known for its straightforward and neutral reporting style and relied upon by many media outlets.
Reuters, another global focused news source – one celebrated for its impartiality, accuracy and commitment to factual reporting.
NPR, National Public Radio, provides in-depth coverage of national and global issues known for its balanced, well-researched reporting.
The remaining seven sources, ranked in order are: PBS NewsHour, The Wall Street Journal (owned by Fox News owner, Ruppert Murdock), The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, ProPublica, Christian Science Monitor.
No. 63 – The belief that all the mainstream media is biased
It just ain’t so. If everyone would do their homework and fact-check their news sources, we would live in a much safer, more predictable, more sustainable world. Conspiracy theories are easily fact-checked, but one has to invest the time in doing that. The problem is that so many believers in the non-mainstream, social mediabased information platforms are unwilling to double check the veracity of their information.
ChatGPT.com is an easy way to start your fact-checking your information. ChatGPT is an artificial intelligencebased website. While its data sources are a combination of subjective and objective information by nature, its
output can generally be relied upon because of its ability to parse and process vast quantities of resource data to arrive at a most likely objective conclusion.
No. 64 – Top 3 conspiracy theories
The Illuminati and New World Order theory that there is a secret group of elites who control world governments, financial systems and major events with the goal of establishing a totalitarian global government. Yes, people with billions of dollars, like Musk and Theil, have more influence in our systems than you and I do, but that influence is not based on some sort of formal organization or deep state. It’s 100 percent
pure bunk.
9/11 Truth Movement is the theory that the 9/11 attacks were either orchestrated or knowingly permitted by the U.S. government to justify wars in the Middle East. Pure bunk. There is no credible proof, just as there was no proof that Trump won the 2020 election. If your news source presents “proof,” then challenge that “proof” by researching it. Google it. Use ChatGPT. Do your homework.
The government controls the weather including hurricanes and flooding! Pure bunk. The High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) has generated a frenzy of conspiracy theories linked to weather manipulation, earthquakes and even mind control. There is no proof. Test this concept by posting the following in your ChatGPT.com search: “Is there proof that the government controls the weather via HAARP?”
No. 65 – The two Voyager satellites
Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were launched in 1977 and are now located respectively 15.4 billion and 12.8 billion miles away from Earth. They now are transversing interstellar space well beyond our own solar system. Both are powered by nuclear batteries which have a core of plutonium-238, which has a half-life of 88 years. Hence, they are gradually depleting. These two EnergizerBunny satellites make the list because they speak to the
Church gave Old Antioch School in Chamblee a home
In 1899, Chamblee student Carrie Hudgins wrote a letter to the Atlanta Journal which appeared in a section called “Juvenile Letterbox.”
Based on census records Hudgins was around 15 years old when she wrote the letter.
“As I have never seen any letters published from this place, I will attempt to write a short letter. I go to school at Chamblee. We have sixty scholars enrolled. My teacher’s name is Miss Gordon Hudgins. She is my cousin.”
This first location of a school in Chamblee is recorded as being next door to Corinth Baptist Church, along today’s Hood Avenue and New Peachtree Road. This is the location of the First Baptist Church of Chamblee Cemetery and the Interactive College of Technology today.
Around 1905, the old school was moved to Johnson Ferry Road and Antioch School was built in the back of Corinth Baptist Church. The new school had three rooms and three teachers. (“A Century in DeKalb, First Baptist Church of Chamblee,” 1975)
The school continued to be owned by the community until World War I, when the land became part of Camp Gordon
Price Saffold)
Once the land was purchased by Camp Gordon, money from the sale, along with help from the county, made it possible for the people of Chamblee to purchase 5 acres to build a new school for both elementary and high school children. A two-story brick school was started in 1919 on Chamblee Dunwoody Road where Chamblee High School is today. People from the community helped build the school, and boys who would attend the school carried bricks to the construction site.
The Antioch school building on Camp Gordon land was moved to the new site and became the Home Economics building and cafeteria. The October 27, 1919, Atlanta Constitution described the school as “one of the finest country schools in the state.” The construction cost was $30,000.
The day after Pearl Harbor Day, on December 8, 1941, the people of Chamblee, Dunwoody, Doraville and Brookhaven were devastated as the school building was destroyed by fire. Chamblee was the high school for students from all these communities.
encampment. Children who had attended the Chamblee School were taken by muledrawn wagons to Doraville School or Wylie
1983, by Vivan
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
Talking winter weather and PET scans with Slats
I’m getting tired of shivering. How much can my teeth chatter before I start chipping them?
We had a little snow that darned near shut us down.
I’m sure any Buffalo Bills fans took off their shirts, cracked open a few beers, threw giant snowballs at one another, then had a good laugh at our expense.
Pittsburgh denizens probably split their sides if they happened to catch a local weather telecast.
“Looky there, if you zoom in, you’ll see some snow on the ground. You’ll have to look hard, but there are at least a dozen flakes coming into view.
“But y’all turn off your Samsung and skedaddle off to the Piggly Wiggly before they run out of the necessary 3 B’s: bread, bologna and beer.”
In all fairness, our first significant snow since 2014’s “Snowmageddon” transformed
the yard into a picture-postcard winter landscape. It was a perfect time to hunker down and watch Netflix, football and read the latest Spenser novel on my Kindle.
With our steep driveway frozen solid, there was no way I was going to drive anywhere. Negotiating a drive to the street would have been like riding Space Mountain without guardrails or brakes.
Chances were pretty good my Acura, despite possessing all-wheel drive, would have been a most unwelcome décor addition to my across-the-street neighbor’s dining room.
It was peacefully enjoyable watching all the sledding, snowman-building, and youngsters having a great time while getting a bonus day off from the rigors of school.
Even more enjoyable was the respite from crime stories on the local news telecasts. I guess thugs and miscreants were too frigid to commit crimes.
As the weather gurus were setting the stage for more future climate mayhem, my solace was disturbed by a headache-inducing phone call.
Burford “Slats” McElroy channeled his newscaster personality.
“I got an update for you,” Slats said breathlessly. “I got promoted.”
This was a head-scratcher. I didn’t know Slats had ever found gainful employment since that unfortunate accident with the short-fused firecrackers.
“I’m now the landscape supervisor here at Shady Acres Estates trailer park,” Slats said with a proud lilt in his voice. “They gave me the job after all that snow and told me to start shoveling. Problem is, none of my neighbors own a shovel and my hands are getting pretty cold.
“How do you know if I have frostbite?”
Slats then threw me a curve when he asked: “Enough about me. How are you enjoying that new dog that Santa brought you? And did everything work out at the vet?”
In order to take care of this headscratcher, I figured I’d need a garden rake.
I told Slats that, despite my doing my best oral argument since Gregory Peck in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the family vetoed my plan to get an English Bulldog as a
companion. I even had a name picked out: Oswald Cobblepot, Ozzy for short. I envisioned me and Ozzy taking naps, having a snore-off competition and see which of us could hit the highest decibels. I even vowed to eschew kibble for those Ozzy-food packets that are kept in the fridge.
“You said you were having a PET scan and I figured it was for your new dog.”
I smiled and answered: “No, Slats my amigo, the PET scan was to see if the cancer treatments were working.”
I told him the cancer had grown a bit, which was a setback and prompted a new treatment regimen. The good news was that the cancer hadn’t spread.
Slats proposed a deal: “I’ll keep shoveling and you keep fighting.”
Having a friend like Slats is as comforting as a warm drink on a frigid night.
Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.
School Near Embry Hills along Chamblee Tucker Road. (“A History of the Community and the City of Chamblee,”
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
VIVIAN PRICE COLLECTION
Antioch School in Chamblee was located next door to Corinth Baptist Church until World War I Camp Gordon took over the land. Later, the old school building was used as the cafeteria and Home Economics building at the 1919 Chamblee School.
MIKE TASOS Columnist
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Newspaper Delivery Route Openings with Appen Media Group
We are looking for one person or couple interested in delivering weekly newspapers in South Forsyth, Alpharetta and the Johns Creek areas.
Requirements: Must have a perfect driving record and background check, reliable transportation, honest, hard-working and positive attitude.
For more information or to apply, email heidi@appenmedia.com and include a paragraph or two about who you are and any relevant background/experience. In the subject line of the email please put “Delivery Route Application.”
DEATH NOTICES
Elgin Aeschliman, 75, of Roswell, passed away on January 19, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
James Clack, Sr., 93, of Alpharetta, passed away on January 16, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Arlene Corsiglia, 91, of Roswell, passed away on January 11, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Mary Elkins, 88, of Roswell, passed away on January 12, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Marlene Hitt, 90, of Alpharetta, passed away on January 11, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Arthur McCracken, 84, of Alpharetta, passed away on January 16, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
CITY OF ALPHARETTA
NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION AND QUALIFICATION FEES
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on the 4th day of November 2025, a nonpartisan general election will be held in the City of Alpharetta, Georgia to elect three (3) Members of the City Council (Posts 1, 2, and 3).
Pursuant to Georgia Code § 21-2-131(a)(1)(A), the qualifying fees are as follows:
City Council Member $450
Election qualifying will be held in the City Clerk’s Office on the third floor of Alpharetta City Hall, which is located at 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009. The qualification dates and times are as follows:
Monday, August 18, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Lauren Shapiro
City Clerk for the City of Alpharetta, Georgia
Marilyn Owens, 88, of Alpharetta, passed away on January 14, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Mae Riley, 87, of Roswell, passed away on January 18, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Amy Sims, 50, of Alpharetta, passed away on January 17, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
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