ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta City Council heard an array of mid-year operating requests for more funding at its annual strategic planning retreat held Jan. 29-30 at The Inn at Serenbe in Chattahoochee Hills.
Councilmembers fielded requests for an additional $750,000 in city legal services and more than $826,000 from Recreation, Parks & Cultural Services.
Officials, residents worry about planning timeframe
By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell City Council has unanimously agreed to push forward on plans to have the city conduct its own municipal elections.
At a special called meeting Jan. 30,
the council drew from discussions raised at a Jan. 23 work session and Jan. 24 committee meeting to avoid skyrocketing election costs from Fulton County, which has run municipal elections for years. In 2019 and 2021, Fulton County charged cities $2.96 per registered voter to manage their elections. In December 2022, the county proposed a new fee, $11.48 per voter.
The Fulton County Board of Registrations and Elections pushed back against
the price hike and negotiated the county charge down to $9.38 per registered voter for this fall’s elections.
The number is still too high for Roswell elected officials.
Roswell is one of several North Fulton County cities pushing to split from the county-run arrangement.
Milton set things in motion in December when its City Council voted to
Roswell residents listen as members of the City Council discuss proposals for the city to conduct its own municipal elections during a Jan. 23 work session. See
Staff presented breakdowns of their department’s mid-year operating requests for the remainder of the 2023 fiscal year, which ends June 30.
Based on information presented by Finance Director Tom Harris, legal expenses are expected to rise from current budgeted rates now and in the coming years.
Nearly eight months following the death of longtime City Attorney Sam Thomas in 2021, the city appointed Cumming-based Jarrard & Davis to serve as city attorneys to handle an array of issues, including rightof-way... acquisitions and legal guidance.
Harris said legal services will require an additional $750,000 this year, doubling its original budget for the 2023 fiscal year.
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ATLANTA — The two Milton High School student athletes accused in the 2021 murder of an Alpharetta man appeared via Zoom for a Jan. 23 case management hearing in Fulton County Superior Court.
Cameron Walker and Jonathan Murray, of Roswell, were indicted Feb. 11, 2022, for the murder of Connor
Mediate, 24, who was found in the parking lot of his Alpharetta apartment complex with gunshot wounds to his neck on Oct. 14, 2021. He died on the scene. Walker and Murray were 17 and 18 at the time. Walker and Murray were arrested Nov. 18, 2021 on three counts of felony murder, murder, criminal attempt to commit armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal attempt to purchase marijuana and possession of a firearm
gun from an individual on Instagram for a heavy discount. The officers said the driver should have known the gun was stolen given the purchasing method and cost. Police arrested the driver for theft by receiving.
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell police arrested a Jenkinsburg, Ga., man after they found a stolen handgun during a traffic stop on Jan. 24 on Holcomb Bridge Road.
An officer pulled over the vehicle when he noticed the tint on the front window was too dark to see the driver, a violation of Georgia law. The officer ran the plates and found the driver had multiple warrants out in different jurisdictions.
The officer also stated that when he approached the car, he could smell marijuana, but the driver said there were no drugs inside. Other officers arrived on the scene and asked the driver and passengers to get out of the car so they could search it for marijuana.
In the search, officers found a handgun under the driver’s seat and multiple bags of marijuana. The serial number of the gun showed it was listed as stolen.
The driver said he purchased the
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell police responded to a wooded area of Alpharetta Highway near Hospital Boulevard early Jan. 21 after a woman reported she had been in an altercation with a man who lived in the woods.
Police said the woman was swaying and appeared intoxicated, and repeatedly said she did not want the man to go to jail for domestic violence. Officers noticed the woman had bruising around her eye.
She said the pair got into an argument while lying in a tent together, and he had elbowed her in the eye. The man told police he had nothing to do with the injuries.
Officers left the scene but returned at 6 a.m. after receiving multiple calls from the same woman, who said the man punched her in the face. When they arrived on the scene again, the woman’s face was visibly swelling.
They detained the man, who told police he may have slapped the woman. The man was arrested and trans -
during the commission of a felony. The teens were denied bond in March 2022.
At the Jan. 23 hearing, the prosecutor told Judge Shukura Ingram she recently received the ballistics report which will give information on the firearms used in the murder. She also sent the report to the defense.
Judge Ingram said the “status check” was complete and the case would move forward sometime in February.
ported to Fulton County Jail for simple battery.
ROSWELL, Ga. — A husband and wife at Creekside Way told Roswell officers on Jan. 26 that a man in a white hoodie banged on their apartment door around 1 a.m. stating “I’m going to kill you.”
When officers arrived on the scene, they located a man who matched the physical description of the suspect. The man denied any involvement but said he had knocked on a different door in the apartment complex, which police soon found was a vacant property.
The couple could not confirm whether the man officers spoke to was the same person who banged on their door, but they did say the man police located was frequently seen around the complex. The husband also said that his uncle had received a threat from the man on Facebook messenger. The husband showed officers a message in which the man wrote in Spanish, “If you change it, I’m going to kill you as promised after.”
Officers did not have a witness to the incident, so they gave the suspect a criminal trespass warning and left the scene.
bring municipal elections in-house. The decision came after more than a year of research by a special committee to study the feasibility of city-run elections. Milton officials said the move would save the city close to $90,000 for the fall 2023 municipal election.
Alpharetta and Johns Creek followed Milton’s lead, with recent meetings to deliberate on the issue.
The cities plan for a possible partnership by which the polling will be run by one shared election superintendent. The timeline is tight, though, because Fulton County has set a March 1 deadline for cities to decide.
The Roswell City Council agreed to have city staff “work on due diligence with sister cities” on conducting municipal elections. The details of the possible intergovernmental agreement are still in the early stages, and Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson said the council cannot answer all the questions right now.
Roswell City Councilwoman Sarah Beeson raised concerns with the timeline, especially because so little is known about the plan right now. She asked whether a city twice the size of Milton could put all the pieces in place by March 1 and whether Roswell would face
the same organizational pressures in future municipal elections.
Still, Beeson voted in support of moving forward, asking for a kind of “exploratory committee” to see if the city could manage their own municipal elections in 2023 or 2025.
While Wilson stressed that the decision is not binding, and the city will “bail” if necessary.
“I talked to the mayor of Milton this evening, and if the process is not worked out to the satisfaction of any of the cities, the process could be aborted,” Wilson said.
Beeson also asked if the city had tried to further negotiate costs with the
county, in the effort of “due diligence on both sides,” in case Roswell decides not to run their own elections.
There’s little time left to renegotiate. Fulton County was set to vote on formalizing the $9.38 cost at a Feb. 1 Board of Commissioners meeting.
“With respect to the Wednesday meeting, there are no negotiations,” Wilson said.
Residents also commented on the election decision, with varying levels of support and concern. One resident asked whether the city had run a feasibility study for the elections.
“We’ve done a workshop and we’ve done a committee meeting where we’ve
begun to explore the costs,” Wilson answered.
Two poll members came forward with different takes on the city’s plan. One said she was in favor of the plan, as well as the possibility of using paper ballots, which the Milton elections committee recommended for its elections. The poll worker said the paper ballots were more efficient than electronic scanners.
Councilmembers have raised concerns with the logistics of having a city of Roswell’s size use paper ballots, rather than electronic scanners.
Another poll worker, Eren Brumley, took issue with the tight timeline.
“I strongly suggest this change is taken as a research project for this year and then implement it next year after we find out it makes sense in the long run,” Brumley said. “In the meantime, you could negotiate a better rate from Fulton just for this year.”
Other residents asked for more voting locations in East Roswell, and they asked how the city would decide on an election superintendent.
Wilson said he does not have all the answers, because the discussion is about “learning more about” what it would look like for Roswell to run elections.
“In committee we began to share information, but by no means is it all the information or all the i’s dotted and t’s crossed,” Wilson said.
ROSWELL, Ga. — On a sunny afternoon in Martin’s Landing, 87-year-old Marlene Fellows watches a herd of deer eat the few remaining plants in her backyard.
Fellows, a longtime resident of the 1,030-acre neighborhood in historic Roswell, has spent the past few years trying to prevent deer from settling on her property.
Martin’s Landing bills itself as “teeming with nature and wildlife,” with a 52 acre lake and numerous walking trails.
As the neighborhood has grown, the deer have spread out to residences and backyards where they eat, rest, give birth and leave droppings. Fellows said the deer have “ruined” her backyard.
She can’t remember exactly when the deer became a problem, but she recalled the first time she saw one on her property.
“I can remember one Christmas when my husband was alive, we saw a deer in the yard,” Fellows said. “We were excited, because there was a deer for Christmas.”
Now all she can see is the creatures who decimated her garden. Fellows, an avid gardener, has photo albums of all the flowers and vegetables she used to grow. Every plant has been eaten or destroyed by deer.
The last thing Fellows planted was a bed of perennials, hoping to see them flower year after year. She knew gardening would grow too difficult as she got older.
“They ate them all, they ruined them,” Fellows said.
Frustrated, Fellows reached out to her homeowner’s association for help. She said she was told a 10-foot fence might help. Some of her neighbors have built high fences, and it seems to have worked.
“If I tried to put up a fence, I’d have to do a survey and a whole big folderol,” Fellows said. “I’m not going to make that expense at my age.”
Fellows tried deer repellant and installing plants deer may avoid. Nothing has worked, and the deer population keeps growing.
Her neighbors have experienced similar issues with the deer. Suzie Malone, a Martin’s Landing resident, said the deer have “eaten everything” she’s grown.
“I’ve gotten over it,” Malone said. “I’m going to try to plant things they won’t eat.”
Malone said she would like to see
the deer population reduced, though. Fellows wants the same.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Kara Nitschke said deer are a common issue in neighborhoods across Georgia, specifically in Metro Atlanta.
“There’s big developments with a lot of pretty landscaping, and people spend a lot of time and money on their yard,” Nitschke said.
The biologist called the neighborhoods a “buffet for deer,” especially as development replaces the natural habitat with hardscapes and pushes the animals into residential areas.
Nitschke said there is no easy answer to address the issue. She encouraged bow hunting as an option during deer season in Georgia, which runs from Sept. 10 to Oct. 22.
Georgia law allows bow hunting in residential areas with permission from the property owner, and Roswell allows deer hunting with a permit. In subdivisions like Martin’s Landing, the rules get more complicated.
The neighborhood’s community
guidelines explicitly ban hunting of any sort. While residents could attempt to hunt on their private property under state law, the homeowner’s association could fine anyone who breaks community guidelines.
Fellows said she “wishes they would” hunt, but she understands the hesitancy to allow hunting in a residential area.
Nitschke said the other option is lethal removal, which agencies often do in residential areas.
“Lethal removal makes the most sense,” Nitschke said. “They donate the meat to charity, so it’s a win-win.”
Typically, Nitschke said the homeowner’s association would have to decide whether to have the deer population thinned through lethal means.
That could be controversial, though.
While some residents are frustrated with the deer, others enjoy having them around.
“Some people in the neighborhood feed them and like them,” Malone said.
Residents have indicated in social media posts they like the deer, overpopulation aside. Fellows even says the deer are cute.
Nitschke said the issue comes down to attitudes around the deer, because the animals have found islands of resources in the more urban landscape.
“Environmentally, there’s plenty of resources for the deer, but culturally the carrying capacity is much lower,” Nitschke said.
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“The actual in 2019 before the firm came on was $842,500, and then in 2020, it was $882,000,” Harris said. “With prices and hourly rates going up, in addition to the actual work, I just think it’s unrealistic to have a budget of $750,000 on this firm.”
Mayor Pro Tem Dan Merkel and Councilman Brian Will agreed the city could hire in-house legal representation to handle smaller legal expenses that do not require a private attorney.
Mayor Jim Gilvin said he is pleased with the work the law firm has done, especially with the McGinnis Ferry Road right of way acquisition, which he said the firm handled in 30 days.
City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom said the McGinnis Ferry project accounted for about 35-50 percent of this fiscal year’s legal spending.
The council also heard a funding increase request from Recreation & Parks.
Director Morgan Rodgers told councilmembers the cost of replacing the upper field synthetic turf at Webb Bridge Park has increased from $1 million to $1.2 million.
An inspection of the field’s septic system revealed the system is failing, and due to the condition of the soil, the project would require another $875,000 to connect the field to Fulton County’s sanitary sewer system.
The Public Works Department
submitted a capital project request for the 2024 fiscal year for the sewer connection. Mayor Gilvin, however, said the project is worthy of a midyear budget adjustment, and he suggested the department use the city’s unallocated funds for the new system.
Out of the city’s current capital project fund budget of $2.2 million, $1.8 million remains unallocated for other uses and projects approved by councilmembers.
Other requests included $39,263 for the Wills Park Recreation Center and $109,413 for aquatic services at the Wills Park Pool.
Rodgers said the increase in his department’s costs is partly due to more residents using park facilities.
He also said the design package for the Wacky World 2.0 project, the wood playground designed in the 1990s with community input, is scheduled to be completed July 2023.
Rodgers also presented a concept for the Farmhouse Trail off Old Milton Parkway, a staircase and path that will lead to the site of the city’s original settlement.
Councilman Will said he is concerned about funding the project this fiscal year because there is no dedicated parking for the trail, and it is not ADA compliant.
Director of Economic and Community Development Kathi Cook will pursue a temporary easement agreement to allow parking at the site if the council decides to move forward with the project.
The trail is estimated to cost $1 million. The concept has not yet been presented to the public for comment.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Less than a week before Christmas, Heather Quiggle was shot six times by an ex-boyfriend while she slept in her Johns Creek home on Plantation Bridge Drive.
She and her boyfriend, who was shot three times, survived the attack. Her son fled the house unharmed.
Quiggle’s coworker at Keller Williams Realty, Allison Cutler, said she made it her priority to keep Quiggle’s life moving while she was in the hospital.
Cutler said Quiggle, a Realtor, had offers on a home listing, and when she and coworker Andrea Wright went to Quiggle’s house after the shooting, there was still food on the stove.
“Your life just stops,” Cutler said. “You can just imagine, like, if you go to bed tonight, and you don’t wake up the next morning and people have to come into your house, that’s what it looks like.”
Quiggle was shot by her ex-boyfriend Abdul Batin Rashid Dec. 19, 2022. Rashid had fled the scene and was found dead the next day in Sandy Springs, the victim of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.
Meanwhile, Wright and Cutler did not know where Quiggle was or what her condition was.
“She had been able to get in touch with her sister, and her sister had given her my cell phone number because the shooter had taken her phone,” Wright said. “And so, she didn’t have anybody’s phone numbers.”
Cutler, who described Quiggle as a hard worker always willing to help, said when she got out of surgery, Quiggle called Wright first to tell her she had an open listing.
“Honestly, I’m not used to being on the receiving end of help,” Quiggle said. “I’m the one that wants to give the help.”
Cutler and Wright organized a GoFundMe campaign for repairs to Quiggle’s home and to pay her bills for a year. By the end of January, the fundraiser had raised nearly $15,000.
Agents who work with Quiggle at the Keller Williams South Forsyth office gave her a new bed, and 13 people volunteered to work on her home. Another agent in the Duluth office provided an air fryer.
“When one of the Keller Williams family members was knocked down, they called upon the community, which came together, to help put my home back together,” Quiggle said. “That allows me to put my life back together as well, and seeing the community come together gives me a renewed faith in humanity.”
Metro Atlanta businesses also provided free services and goods to prepare Quiggle’s home for her return.
Perimeter Roofing installed a new roof with no out-of-pocket costs. Sundial Plumbing replaced her cracked toilet and worked on her plumbing; and Brad Chapman of Everlast Waterproofing repaired her sheetrock and provided a fresh coat of paint to the house’s interior.
Quiggle has also received a new sliding door and dog door from Meyer Construction; landscaping services courtesy of Adams Landscaping; and kitchen cabinets from Provencal Staging.
Gary Skinner, co-owner of Junk Express, said his business removed any items tied to Rashid. Quiggle was not charged for the services.
“I think it’s important for people to kind of come together and, like, support one another, regardless if it’s a good time or a bad time,” Skinner said. “We all need to be doing that all the time.”
Recovery has taken longer than Quiggle expected. She is staying with a coworker until the renovations are complete and expects to return home in the next two weeks.
Moving back into her home, she said, will also mark a big reunion for her and her son who fled the home during the shooting. Both have been separated since.
She said she hopes her experience can help others find joy in life.
“I wanted to somehow help people understand, just even in the domestic violence part, if somebody hurts you once, that they’ll do it again,” Quiggle said. “I feel like even though this experience has been very painful, and we still have a long way to go in healing, I’ve just tried to remain positive.”
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Firelabs serves as a playground for visitors who like to tinker and create.
“It’s basically like a recreation center for your brain,” Roswell Firelabs Executive Director William Strika said, sitting in the facility’s multi-purpose room. The room is home to electronics, HAM radio and sewing/cosplay workstations.
“It’s just like somebody who goes to a gym to work out for physical strength,” Strika said. “You come here to kind of exercise your brain.”
Strika got together with a few people in 2017 and pitched an idea to the Roswell City Council to convert the newly vacated fire station on Holcomb Bridge Road into a makerspace. Roswell Firelabs, a volunteer-driven nonprofit, opened in November 2018 with 40 members.
Membership grew rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, Strika said, when people were losing their jobs, wanting to learn new skills or just wanting to get out of the house. Now, there’s around 145 members.
Roswell Firelabs offers regular classes on a variety of skills, open to the public. Members, who pay $50 a month, can receive classes for free or at discount. Strika teaches classes like laser cutting. Because he works his regular job remotely, he’s able to spend about six to eight hours a day at Roswell Firelabs.
“I love being here and helping everybody,” Strika said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Gadgets line most of the walls and
are tucked into every crevice inside Roswell Firelabs. Loads of industrialgrade equipment are separated into rooms categorized by purpose, like woodworking, metalworking, laser cutting, 3D-printing and a glass and sculpture space.
The largest area in Roswell Firelabs
is its 1,200-square-foot woodworking area. Active use of the space’s equipment triggers the loud drone of the air filtration system, which catches wood dust. Over the deafening sound, Strika pointed to the metal, tubular air purifiers hanging out the room.
“Fine particle dust — it’s really
hazardous to your health,” Strika said with a raised voice. “We take it pretty seriously.”
Woodworking is the biggest demographic, Strika said. Across the room, member Doug Falan operated woodworking equipment to cut out small
See FIRELABS, Page 9
“You come here to kind of exercise your brain.”
WILLIAM STRIKA, Executive Director of Roswell Firelabs
hearts. He plans to put them in bundles to sell to friends and family.
Falan and his family are from Michigan, but they come down for the winter. He either throws pottery or comes to Roswell Firelabs to work on wood projects. He said nobody has access to the number of tools Roswell Firelabs has.
“You can come over here and pick your project, and you’ve got something to work with,” Falan said.
Strika personally likes to operate the high-tech stuff, like CNC, or computer numerical controlled, router.
In a demonstration, Strika walked to a nearby computer that has cloud-based software, used to carve designs on a number of different materials.
Roswell Firelabs also has 3D-printing. Strika said his number one functional 3D-prints are vacuum adapters for different size hoses.
“I’ve 3D-printed more things than I can count,” Strika said. “How do I adapt a 5-inch pipe down to a 2 ½-inch part? It doesn’t exist … That’s a custom-made part that someone needs to make.”
Strika said many members use Roswell Firelabs as a launching point with prototyping. Some use the shop to sell products on Etsy for a living, he said.
Doug Falan uses woodcutting equipment to create small hearts at Roswell Firelabs Jan. 20. While Roswell Firelabs has several areas dedicated to different hobbies, woodworking has the greatest interest among the nonprofit’s 145 members.
Roswell Firelabs has proven functional outside of personal items. Members have built parade floats for the city’s Youth Day Parade, winning first place in the Civic Club Division in 2018 and 2019.
The first year, they built a replica of a 3D-printer that had a gantry, allowing the replica to move. The second
year, they built a float that resembled NASA Mission Control. Strika said kids were sitting at desks, pretending to be scientists.
Strika hopes to collaborate more with the city, like making public art installations.
“Since we’ve actually kind of grown into our own space, we can start
a month, receive them for free or at a discounted price.
focusing outward instead of inward,” Strika said.
Early on, Strika said the board for Roswell Firelabs had to ask questions about how to get enough members to keep the place going.
“And now it’s like, how can we help the community more than just what’s inside our walls?” Strika said.
Brought to you by –
Bill Rawlings, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty
Curating the details that fit your home and make it yours is always an individual process based on your personality, needs, budget and preference. The best design is not a replica of the latest trends but a custom articulation of the individual designer or homeowner’s interpretation of them. Ironic, then, that personal expression is very on-trend for 2023. That, and smart homes…
1. Cozier spaces.
As spacious and expansive as openconcept floor plans are, post-pandemic the consensus seems to be that there is such a thing as too much togetherness. Intimate retreats reimagined from nooks and crannies and in-between spaces are in demand, along with areas that promote privacy, such as libraries, home offices and yoga rooms.
2. Moodier use of color.
Although timeless, the Scandinavian aesthetic characterized by white and wood is now giving way to richer, more emotional color palettes. Dramatic, evocative palettes— including jewel tones—have increased in popularity, part of a larger trend toward self-expression.
3. Floating vanities.
Popular for its versatility and use of space, the floating vanity now figures largely in residential bathroom
renovations and new builds, and for good reason. They are more portable, just as durable as floor-standing vanities and generally competitive in price.
4. Elevated mindset.
Less about the glam or expensive furnishings, taking a luxe approach to design in 2023 is about an appreciation for the finer things, creating a custom space that feels warm, inviting and timeless. Interpreted in any number of ways, this principle might be rendered through the quality and sustainability of the materials, the type and amount of available light or the rustic comfort of wood and stone accents.
5. Black Accents.
From doors to cabinetry to lighting fixtures and other finishes, the trend toward accenting in black appears to be growing, especially since it pairs well with different colors and mixed metal finishes. Sophisticated and dramatic, it complements any space well.
Whether you are remodeling your space for personal enjoyment or looking to sell in 2023, figuring out the best way to interpret design trends and create a comfortable, inviting space is a process. If you need assistance staging your home or have any other real estate needs, please contact Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty at 770.442.7300. We would be happy to assist you!
As we slide into a New Year, it’s valuable to take time and reflect. For 2023, we’ve spent more time than normal contemplating our experiences over the past 3 years and concluding that the first few months of each 2020, 2021 and 2022, were pretty unique times in our collective experience.
- The first quarter of 2020 had us wondering where this “corona virus” would lead. Terrifying numbers of actual and anticipated deaths, overworked hospital staffs, global shutdowns, and intense economic fear were a reality for many. In our industry, Realtors, builders, and lenders worried that the business of real estate would halt dramatically which it did, for about 8 weeks.
- January of 2021 ushered in some positivity. Vaccines were being widely distributed; however, people had left the workforce in droves and most schools were not yet in person. Real estate prices were on a dramatic upward swing as people considered that business might never return to “normal”. The trend that began in summer 2020, of people purchasing homes farther away from cities and traditional employment hubs gathered steam. Combined with record low interest rates, the real estate market saw continued unprecedented growth in a heavily slanted seller’s market.
- Q1 2022, and Omicron was on everybody’s lips. While the impact of this variant was less severe, it was clear Covid may be here to stay. With continued low interest rates, competition remained stiff for buyers while sellers enjoyed continued profit taking for the first half of the year until the Fed’s activities resulted in an abrupt increase in mortgage interest rates and the corresponding nose-dive in real estate activity overall.
“Chaos” seems an adequate term for the past three years. So where are we now? The early weeks of 2023 find most communities carrying on as normal; schools are back in session and many people are back to work in-person at least some of the time. Residential real estate is slowly emerging from the halt brought on by last summer’s swift interest rate hike.
A “return to normalcy” has become a common phrase, but what does it mean? In real estate we believe it means a more equitable position between buyers and sellers without either party having a dramatic advantage. Stabilizing interest rates and inventory are helping to drive that equilibrium. Our Milton/Alpharetta/ Roswell area consistently fell below the one-month-of-inventory mark in those chaos filled months… meaning that if no new homes came on the market it would take only week or two for inventory of available homes to be zero. Now, inventory sits at approximately 3 months…still a seller’s market (experts consider 6 months to be “neutral”), but certainly it’s a leveling playing field. Most experts anticipate that interest rates too will stabilize around 5.5%
which is a solid, palatable rate for buyers.
This leaves us excited for 2023 and the opportunities for buyers, sellers and investors. We are energized by the chance to engage with clients at deeper levels and spend more time evaluating their options and next steps. We see first time homebuyers coming into the market now that they aren’t beating their heads against all-cash buyers or those willing to waive every contingency. We also believe there will be buying opportunities in some second home markets later this year, and small investors are stepping forward to fill some much-needed lease options. If the past three years can be characterized by “chaos” then perhaps 2023 will bring “calm”, which should be a good thing for a while.
For more on some of the hot topics facing the real estate markets please check out The Craft Dolan Team’s “Tastings and Teachings” calendar for 2023. On March 2nd we will host a panel on Aging Parents, a situation we are facing along with many of our clients.
https://www.ansleyre.com/site/thecraft-dolan-team/pages/6283/tastingsteachings
Brought to you byCaroline Nalisnick, The Kloster Group at HOME Real Estate
We are only a few weeks into 2023 and the spring real estate market is already in full force. Buyers felt defeated going into the fall with high interest rates causing a lot of buyers to pull out of the market. Now that interest rates are starting to settle down, buyers are resuming their home search. As we trend towards a more neutral market, one aspect has changed from last year - buyers are more selective.
While we are seeing average days on market around 30-45 days, multiple
offer situations are out there. Buyers are willing to compete for a home when the home is move-in ready. As a Seller, that means that preparing your home for market is more important than ever. Buyers value a clean and well-maintained home. A well cared for home that is clean with up-to-date renovations, fresh landscaping, and staging all play into how desirable your home will be this spring.
Some of the easiest ways to make your home standout include cleaning windows, refreshing landscaping with new mulch and pine straw, de-cluttering your home, deep cleaning the house from top to bottom, updating light fixtures, replacing burnt out light bulbs, pressure washing your exterior, blowing leaves off your roof, cleaning out gutters, and touching up paint
on trim, doors, and walls. You want a buyer to walk into your home and be able to spend their energy and time envisioning their lives within those walls. You don’t want a buyer to leave with a checklist of small projects to tackle immediately upon closing which overwhelms and scares a buyer away. Without taking on full renovations, staging is an excellent way to showcase how to best utilize the space with furniture that is on trend and neutral to a wide buyer base. Homes that are staged are selling quicker and for more money.
Buyers are also expecting to include contingencies in an offer they present. Due diligence is rightfully back as well as appraisal and financing contingencies. While it is still competitive, it is a lot more even playing field than last
spring. Buyers want to take the time to make sure they know what they are buying and have had the proper time to inspect and analyze such a large purchase.
If you need help determining what preparation is necessary to sell your home, reach out to a full-service realtor like The Kloster Group. We are happy to walk through your home and help set you up for success in your sale. The effort you put into prepping your home will pay off every time!
Investing in your home is one of the hardest and most important decisions you will make for your family. You don’t have to do it alone! Call or email Caroline at 404-513-9226 or email caroline@homegeorgia.com and get a response within 24 hours.
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For a limited time, Patrick Malloy Communities is offering a 4.99% 30-Year Fixed interest rate on available homes at Hillandale a charming Charleston inspired neighborhood. Offering elegant interior finishes and unique designs, Hillandale is located just minutes from the heart of Historic Roswell and features sophisticated four-and five-bedroom thoughtfully curated homes with an abundance of entertaining spaces both indoors and out. Luxury features can include a unique moving wall of glass doors that lead to outdoor living areas, primary suites, 10 ft ceilings and hardwoods on the main level, as well as high-end stainless-steel appliances and basements. In addition, the Patrick Malloy Design Center is available to help customize each home’s interior.
In addition to impressive interior details, the homes at Hillandale include a variety of features including an irrigation system, tankless water heater, freestanding tub, gas lanterns per plan on front patios, pebbled driveways and community sidewalks. Front and rear
lawn maintenance are also included in the HOA.
There are several move-in ready homes available including the popular Windham situated on lot 9 which offers a lavish owners retreat on main level. The grand 2-story entry foyer showcases the wonderful flow and functionality of this home. There is a dining room with butler’s pantry and seating for 10+ guests. The chef’s kitchen with oversized island and breakfast bar opens to the fireside family room with beamed ceilings. This fourbedroom and four and one-half bathroom home is offered at $1,098,820.
On Lot 10, the Galway B does not disappoint with its spacious open concept living and guest suite on the main level. The impressive kitchen boasts upgraded finishes, center island, stainless steel appliances and double ovens. The covered patio off the kitchen is ideal for large scale entertaining. Upstairs find an impeccable owner’s suite with sitting room, a loft, and generous secondary bedrooms for a total of four-bedrooms and three-and-one half baths. Offered for $1,126,060.
The Tierney situated on homesite 11 is a striking two-story home featuring four bedrooms, three and one-half baths and is perfect for entertaining with open living
spaces and a chef’s kitchen with the latest in design. There are three large secondary bedrooms and a large loft. Priced at $1,126,005, this discerning home includes hardwoods on the main level and an extensive list of designer upgrades.
Homesite 12 features the Galway A an open and inviting home design with three bedrooms, four baths and a loft perfect for a home office. The elegant, sleek kitchen offers a huge island with breakfast bar and a hidden walk-in pantry with appliance bar and floating shelves. Enjoy easy access from the kitchen to the covered patio for additional outdoor entertaining space. Other assets include a mud room, an abundance of storage and three-car tandem garage. Offered for $1,105.310.
Homeowners at Hillandale enjoy a convenient and central location with easy access to local dining and shopping. The Chattahoochee River and pristine parks envelop the area creating a wide array of recreational activities. The Chattahoochee River Nature Preserve is just a short drive away with kayaking, biking and walking trials, and a summer music series. Districted in Roswell’s highly acclaimed school system, Hillandale is a neighborhood suited for any lifestyle.
Patrick Malloy Communities, founded in 1994 by Patrick Malloy, builds new homes in Metro Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia. To date, the builder has developed over 11,000 homesites and built 7,000 homes with a total of more than $4 billion in sales. Accolades include multiple mentions in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 20 Homebuilder and numerous professionalism awards, including community of the year awards. Patrick Malloy Communities also received a 2022 Guildmaster Award from GuildQuality for demonstrating exceptional customer service within the residential construction industry.
For more details on Hillandale, visit PMCommunities.com, call 770/2545372 or visit the sales center at 3025 Barnes Mill Ct. Roswell, 30075. Patrick Malloy Communities is represented by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division. BHHSgaNewHomes.com. An Equal Housing Opportunity.
For a limited time, 4.99% 30-Year fixed interest rate at Hillandale in Historic Roswell
Brought to you by – Wesley
Hansard, Harry Norman Realty
As we enter 2023, Georgia’s housing market continues to be desirable as our state attracts individuals and businesses. Now the 8th most populous state, Georgia was the 4th highest state for population growth last year. These movements continue to create economic activity and demand for housing, supporting a solid housing market.
This growth will help fuel on-going demand for housing in 2023, a positive if you are considering selling your home. For buyers, we anticipate inventory to remain lower than historical averages, though not as drastically low as we have seen over the past couple of years. The potential impact of rising mortgage rates will be top of mind for buyers.
Regardless of where interest rates move in 2023, Georgia and Atlanta are the place to be. The National Association of REALTORS® recently named Atlanta the No.1 Market to watch in 2023. To get a better understanding of your opportunity, reach out today for a market update specific to your situation. We’ll provide what you need to make 2023 a real estate success.
some notable contenders include Medicaid, creditors, debtors, and of course, the government.
Estate planning isn’t about how much money you have. It’s about protecting what you have for you and your loved ones. Whether your estate plan includes just a Will and Power of Attorney, or if you’ve set up a trust, estate plans go a long way in making sure that what you leave behind goes to the people you care about.
So, what is an estate plan and why should you create one? To answer the second question first, Georgia is a state in which the right of survivorship is not automatic - meaning that you could lose control of your house if your spouse passes away while owning the property jointly. Not to mention, if you don’t prepare an estate plan that avoids probate court, you could lose a significant amount of your assets, as probate court is the only way to reclaim an estate - even if you have a will. In probate court, anyone can go after the assets of your loved ones, but
The last thing anyone wants to do is to have to fight for the assets of their loved ones right after losing someone precious. That’s why an estate plan is essential if you want to leave your family with a peace of mind. An estate plan is an asset protection plan that focuses specifically on ensuring that what you own goes to the people you want it to go to. Simple estate plans generally include establishing a trust, which is one of the few ways to avoid probate court. More advanced plans will include not just a trust, but also a healthcare directive, Power of Attorney, will, and many more documents to prepare for every scenario.
If you pass away tomorrow, are you certain that everything will be in good hands? If not, then it’s time to start strategizing to make sure no court battles or obscure law will take what you own from you.
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Stand-Alone Gloss
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Megan Frix loved watching music videos and coffee.
“Megan was so funny,” said Lisa Bennett, manager of the Forsyth and Dawson campuses of Creative Enterprises, a nonprofit community rehabilitation program that teaches life and social skills to adults with disabilities. “And so, she loved Conway Twitty, and she loved looking at Kohl’s ads and, you know, showing you what she wanted to buy.”
On Jan. 8, Megan, 26, was found dead in her Cumming home, the victim of an apparent murder-suicide. While the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and the State Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating the official cause of death, Sheriff Ron Freeman announced Jan. 11 that Megan was apparently killed by her father, Jerry, 58, who then killed himself.
Bennett, who had known Megan since she was 3 years old, said she was on the autism spectrum. Bennett and Coordinator Abby Otwell said Megan was nonverbal and struggled to communicate her wants and needs.
“She also was just very easily put into sensory overload, like tags on her shirts and things like that bothered her,” Otwell said. “And if we couldn’t figure that out quick enough, you know, that would be a problem.”
Megan began attending Creative
Enterprises in January 2019, but she left six months later due to behavioral issues.
Under Medicaid funding, Bennett said Creative Enterprises must maintain a ratio of one instructor to 10 clients. Otwell said Megan could not have one staff member assigned to her like she needed.
“So, it weighs on us very heavily, I think, with Megan, especially because we couldn’t serve her,” Bennett said. She continued communicating with
Megan’s father after Megan left the program, she said, but one day he stopped calling.
Bennett said Megan’s primary caretaker was her mother, who died three years ago. Despite receiving support, Megan’s father couldn’t see any way out, she said.
“Her dad had a lot of help,” Bennett said. “I don’t really blame the state for this one because they were doing everything they could to get her services.”
Clients at Creative Enterprises are supported by the Medicaid Waiver Program. Clients are also referred to the program by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency.
While she was able to receive athome care under state waivers, Megan was ineligible to receive care in a residential facility. Bennett said there are also host homes, individuals who volunteer to take in adults with disabilities, but there are none in Forsyth County.
If Megan’s father had the opportunity to place Megan in a residential care facility, Otwell said she believes he would have accepted.
Megan’s situation is not unique to the Forsyth program. Bennett said a client with Down syndrome was killed while receiving at-home care. Bennett found another client alone in the hotel room he and his sister were staying in. His sister had died, she said, and he did not know what to do.
Bennett said Megan’s death and those before hers made Creative Enterprises act to inform others about the reality of caring for an adult with special needs.
“The community has really stepped up, too, and I’m sure a lot of them are wishing that they had helped Jerry when he kept asking for help,” Bennett said. A GoFundMe created for Megan’s funeral expenses raised over $10,000.
ATLANTA, Ga. — Adult Children of Aging
Parents, known as ACAP, has established a Metro Atlanta chapter of the educational nonprofit aimed at educating adult children about how best to care for their aging parents.
The Metro Atlanta chapter will be led by 16 professionals from different
services areas that impact senior citizens. Professionals will hold community programs starting Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. at Town Square Sandy Springs Adult Day Care on Dunwoody Place.
“One in six Americans are caregivers for someone over the age of 50,” Atlanta chapter coordinator Mary Remmes said.
“Most adult children don’t think about caring for an aging parent until there’s a crisis and they’re called on to manage someone else’s needs.”
Programs will be held in-person and virtually on the second Wednesday of every month, with a focus on teaching strategies, insights and skills to the
adult children who care for their elderly parents.
Adult Children of Aging Parents was established in 2012 in North Carolina. The Atlanta chapter will mark the organization’s expansion to a third state, along with its chapters in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Mount Pisgah Christian School’s Varsity Wrestling team brought home its second Georgia High School Association Dual State Championship win on Saturday, Jan. 28. at Pickens High School in Jasper. The team won its first dual state championship in 2021.
Mount Pisgah Christian School,
located in Johns Creek, offers education from kindergarten to 12th grade, as well as preschool.
The win marks the fifth year in a row that the school’s wrestling team, the Patriots, have placed in the GHSA Dual State Championship. The athletic association brings wrestling teams from across the state together
to compete in head-to-head matches. The team entered the tournament ranked third.
“This year we had five freshman starters, so the team knew it was really going to come down to the leadership of our veteran wrestlers who experienced the last championship run in 2021,” coach
Josh Merry said.
Across the wrestling matches, nine of the wrestlers remained undefeated, and five did not give up a single fall.
With a statewide win secured, the wrestling team will head to the individual state championship in February.
A simple tombstone in a small cemetery in Johns Creek marks the final resting place of a young man who died too soon. Ervin
O. (Oscar) Jones was killed in the World War II battle of Okinawa at age 20. His tombstone has a portrait of Ervin in his Army uniform, with his garrison cap askew as was often the fashion back then. He looks proud to be serving his country. This is his story together with four sub-stories.
I am indebted to Ed Malowney, president of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society, who took me to visit Ervin’s tombstone. Thanks also to Craig Gleason former coordinator for the Nashville Songwriters Association who interviewed Ervin’s younger brother Curtis, Ervin’s last living sibling, a decade ago.
Ervin was born June 22, 1924, in Alpharetta, the son of H. (Harmon) B. Jones (1898-1983) and Jennie Mae Stapler Jones (1901-1988). His father farmed cotton and corn at the intersection of Jones Bridge Road and Barnwell Road, and Ervin grew up working the land. Growing up on a farm, hunting came naturally to Ervin, and he was known as an excellent shot. He joined the Army on April 10, 1943, at Fort McPherson in East Point near Atlanta, a major recruitment center during the war. He was only 19 years old.
Ervin was sent to the South Pacific in May 1944 and quickly saw action in Saipan and Leyte. The Battle of Saipan, in the Mariana Islands, was a major victory for the United States in June to August 1944. In October, U.S. troops invaded Leyte, 110 miles long with 4,000foot mountain peaks making it one of the largest Philippine islands. The U.S. won decisively in December.
On April 16, 1945, the 77th U.S. Infantry Division arrived on le Shima, a small island 3 miles off Okinawa where Ervin was assigned to a wire line team laying communication wires to support efforts to capture the important Japanese airbase on the island. What was expected to be a quick and relatively easy operation turned out be six days of living hell for the 6,100 U.S. troops on the island as dug in Japanese soldiers fought to the death and kamikaze pilots wreaked havoc on US ships offshore. By April 21 when the US troops accomplished their objective, the U.S. had lost 1,155 men killed, including Ervin who
was shot on April 17 while singlehandedly trying to attack some Japanese soldiers who had pinned down his platoon.
Sub-story 1. Ernie Pyle was the most acclaimed war correspondent of World War II. He told the war’s story from the points of view of ordinary GIs and won their respect and that of the American public. He spent four years covering the war in North Africa, Italy and France before arriving on le Shima. On April 19, a jeep carrying Pyle and three officers came under fire from a hidden 30 caliber Japanese machine gun. Pyle was shot in the left temple and
died instantly two days following the death of Ervin Jones at almost the same spot. Ervin died almost two years after he was sworn into the Army.
Sub story 2. Ervin had a dog named Champ, a bulldog mix who was never allowed in the house. When Ervin’s coffin was placed in the living room of the farmhouse at Jones Bridge Road and Barnwell Road, Champ barked incessantly and finally broke the screen door get in. He sat defiantly under the coffin and would not let anyone near it for several days until the hearse took it away. Champ followed the hearse 1 mile up Jones Bridge Road to the Pleasant Hill Cemetery and returned every day for the rest of his life to visit Ervin’s gravesite.
Sub story 3. When I visited Ervin’s grave, there were two pennies on top of
the tombstone. A coin left on a headstone lets family know that another member of the military stopped by to honor the deceased. In military cemeteries, the coins are collected monthly and used for cemetery upkeep or for charitable reasons. Each type of coin has a special meaning. A penny simply means you visited. A nickel means you and the deceased went through boot camp together. A dime means you and the deceased served together. A quarter means you were with the deceased when the veteran died.
Sub story 4. A decade ago, singer/ songwriter Craig Gleason took his young daughter to visit the small Mount Pleasant Cemetery where Ervin is buried to teach her how cemeteries can help us learn about people who came before us. When he came across Ervin’s marker, he was overcome with emotion as he thought of this long-forgotten young man who gave his life for his country. Craig tracked down Ervin’s younger brother Curtis, now deceased, and learned enough about Ervin to compose a song as a tribute to his life. You can listen to his beautiful song by searching YouTube for “The Ballad of Ervin O. Jones.” You can also visit his website www/craiggleason.com.
Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net.
Every one of them don’t walk. They sorta limp/amble while not working. Their job is seemingly so simple: Eight seconds. Eight measly seconds can spell the difference between a payday and more pain.
Even the winners grimace, tight-lipped as they gingerly head into the bowels of whatever arena they find themselves in on any particular weekend.
In my many years ago days as a sportswriter, I grew to appreciate the sheer brutality of just how physical life on an NFL playing field actually was. The clash of pads escalated at every level of football, from high school to college and finally to the crescendo of on-field NFL battles.
To put it bluntly, to close your eyes on a pro football sideline, sounds like a sickening car crash. And that’s on every play.
But we’re getting away from what I feel I need to impart this week: The riders who make their living on the Professional
Bull Riders tour are the toughest athletes in the world.
The PBR Tour made a stop recently in North Georgia, replacing the ice used for hockey with a layer of dirt, no matter how thick, would never provide nearly enough cushion to assuage the sheer fact that there is little give provided to a cowboy who is flung scarily off the back of a 2,000-pound beast who doesn’t want anyone on its back.
The riders wear helmets. The padded protective vests really don’t provide much help but have to be better than nothing.
Accompanied by two Cumming buddies, “Buckshot” Bob Milano and Jon “Hondo” Howard, I got as up-closeand-personal as possible, marveling at the cowboys’ ability to take a gargantuan dose of punishment and walk away, sometime with the aid of the PBR medical staff, back to a locker room that resembles a war-time infirmary.
Forget the Advil. Give me the “good” stuff.
Hondo joked before the show that he was prepared to ride should there be an opening. On the ride home, we Cumming cowboys for the day, tried to process what we had witnessed.
I used to marvel at the skills and
toughness of a world-class boxer. The fight game is a nasty business. But after every bout, the opponents hug and shake hands.
If given the opportunity, these bovine beasts would just as soon, stomp, kick or gore anyone foolish enough to stand in the way.
After getting smacked in the noggin, former World Champion Dener Barbosa was prone in the dirt for several minutes. The 7,000-plus spectators reverently quiet as they hoped for the Brazilian to come to. PBR officials and fellow riders were shown on the arena screen with heads bowed in prayer.
You could have heard a dirt clod drop, the air seemingly sucked out of the building. The biggest roar of approval of the afternoon came when Barbosa was helped on his walk to the locker room.
He traveled back to his Texas home, with no word from the PBR officials as to when he would compete again. Barbosa had just returned to riding, recovering from back surgery that involved 10 screws being utilized to help him in his attempt to regain championship form.
With rodeos scattered around our area (Wills Park and Cumming), with bull-riding being the main event, the
PBR is big-time. Flint Rasmussen, the grease-painted emcee for the day, was a featured guest on ESPN’s College Game Day.
Rasmussen was days shy of his 55th birthday while in Georgia, poised to catch an early-evening flight back to Montana. It’s a marvel to see him work a crowd and keep his material fresh.
“These hallways (under the arena) all look the same and we don’t get a weekend off until May.”
Rasmussen, as personable and accommodating while talking (sans greasepaint) before the event, has a sweet gig.
Never a rider but growing up in a rodeo family, he knows he’ll not do this forever.
He’ll have collected many souvenirs from his PBR days.
Not immune to injuries, Rasmussen, like the riders, will always have his limp. He’ll just have to do it without the greasepaint.
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.
William T. Donaldson was born in 1921 in the family home on North Shallowford Road where the Dunwoody Emory Clinic sits today. Dr. Puckett came to the home for the delivery.
W. T. Donaldson’s parents were Mattie Azilee Eison Donaldson and James W. Donaldson. I had the honor of meeting and interviewing World War II veteran W. T. Donaldson in 2011.
The location of the Donaldson home on North Shallowford meant that the children attended Chamblee School, which included elementary and high school all in the same location. Back then, school went through grade eleven.
The Donaldsons were dairy farmers, delivering their milk to Atlanta. When Mr. Donaldson was old enough to drive, he would deliver milk in a Chevrolet pickup truck, rising early in the morning to make deliveries before high school.
His first class each morning was a study period, so being a little late didn’t matter.
The family grew corn and wheat on the farm and took it to the Cheek mill for grinding. The Cheek mills and cotton gin were located in the area of the southeast corner of Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Mount Vernon Road.
As a young boy, Mr. Donaldson attended the Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church, which was the church of his mother’s family. Church services were not held every Sunday, because the preachers travelled and delivered sermons at more than one church. Preachers would be hosted for the night by a local family. Mr. Donaldson recalls Pastor Bartow Phillips of Ebenezer staying overnight with his family.
When the Dunwoody Methodist church built a new parsonage, Mr. Donaldson was hired by Mr. Marchman to help with the framing. When the parsonage was complete, all the church and community were invited to a dinner on the ground.
In later years, W.T. Donaldson visited Winters Chapel Methodist Church and
that is where he met his future wife, Lillian Grace Robbs. Her friends dared her to sit next to him on the church pew. They married in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1943 during World War II.
Mr. Donaldson was working at the Cochran base in Macon when he received his draft notice. At first, he was deferred because of the necessity of the work he was doing. Later, he was inducted at Fort McPherson here in Atlanta. From there he went to Miami Beach for basic training and then Sioux Falls, South Dakota for
radio school.
He served with the Army Air Corps in the Pacific as a radio operator on B-24’s, beginning in Darwin, Australia. This was soon after Darwin had been bombed by the Japanese. Mr. Donaldson went on many missions, but the longest lasted 16 hours. The mission involved flying over Borneo and Java. His outfit fought in the Battle of Coral Seas and New Guinea and received commendations for their service.
After the war, W. T. Donaldson returned to Dunwoody and his father gave him 5 acres of land on North Shallowford Road near where The Columns at Lake Ridge Apartments are today.
He and his wife and family lived there for twenty years before moving to Sandy Springs.
The Donaldson Bannister Home at the corner of Vermack Road and Chamblee Dunwoody Road was built in 1870 by W. T. Donaldson’s great grandfather, W. J. Donaldson.
W.T. Donaldson died on Dec. 4, 2015, and is buried at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs.
GARDEN BUZZ
Get your soil tested. Once you have taken your samples to the North Fulton Service Center’s Cooperative Extension Office in Sandy Springs (Room 248), along with $12 per sample, UGA’s soil lab will email the analysis report to you. You can locate your nearest Extension office as well as get instructions for submitting a soil sample by visiting the University of Georgia’s Extension website: extension.uga.edu.
You may also obtain Soil Test Kit for $15, includes container and prepaid postage. Soil testing will be extremely helpful for your property’s future success.
The recent flash-freeze in December 2022 caused damage and injury to many broad-leaf evergreens and possibly some thin-bark trees. Refrain at least for a month from cutting back anything until you notice new growth. The UGA Extension website has detailed information, including a circular, “Winter Protection of Ornamental Plants.”
On the ground
Clean up your plant beds. Remove excess leaves, weeds and fallen branches. Renew mulch if needed. Clay soil needs lots of help, so remove old mulch and add soil conditioners and decomposed compost. Till it in around the plant roots and tamp down the soil. Replace it with 2-3 inches of fresh mulch.
Do you have an established vegetable garden? Till the soil when it is dry to eliminate overwintering
insects and weeds.
Clean and sharpen garden tools. Spray paint the handles a bright color. There will be less chance of losing tools when traveling from one section of the yard to another.
Chop English ivy and other invasive ground covers. Cut back liriope and other ornamental grasses.
Trees Tree planting is ideal from January through mid-February. Make sure you site your tree in the proper location according to its requirements. Check often to ensure that it has enough water during the first several months after the planting date.
In order to establish its root system, a tree requires watering regularly. While we are on this subject, Georgia’s Arbor Day is always the 3rd Friday in February, so, plant it then to celebrate Arbor Day Feb. 17.
Selectively pruning trees and evergreens is also best done at this time of the year. The “sap” is dormant due to the lower winter temperatures. Topping trees or evergreens is highly discouraged.
Other tips:
• Keep watering fall-planted material when rainfall is sporadic.
• Work inside with houseplants. If the root ball is very tight and water penetrates slowly, it’s time to repot. Untangle the roots and loosen the soil around the root ball. Cut leggy or overgrown plants back, then repot with fresh potting soil.
• Perform hardscape projects during the winter months when possible. Adding walking stone paths provides definitive ways to travel through your property, without trampling on turf or beds.
• Fescue sod can be planted or
fescue seed can be applied where the lawn is thin. Because of the lower temperatures, it may take longer for the seeds to sprout.
• Check for unwanted weeds in the lawn and, if possible, remove them by hand with the proper tool instead of using chemicals. If you remove the weed’s root (and seed head), it won’t return.
• Don’t allow leaves to pile up and suffocate your turf. Even though bermudagrass turns brown during its dormant phase, it still needs sunlight.
• Early bulbs will begin to emerge. If you notice flowers blooming prematurely, cover them with pine straw. Remember that all bulbs have their own internal time clock!
• Generally, by February (but maybe not this February, due to the extreme recent freezes), bush roses (such as Knockouts) should be pruned to a height of 15-18 inches, with only 4-5
main canes. Important to remember: when using any of your pruning tools, clean the blades with Isopropyl alcohol or bleach before moving to the next plant. It reduces the chances of spreading fungi, bacteria, and other pathogens.
• Do not fertilize spring-flowering shrubs or trees until after they bloom. Summer-flowering shrubs and shade trees can be fertilized in late February through March.
Happy Gardening!
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net.
This week’s guest Master Gardener “Garden Buzz” columnist is Marlysa Raye-Jacobus. Raised on the coast of southern New Jersey, Marlysa arrived in the Atlanta area in 1997 after five corporate moves. Initially, she became a Master Gardener through Ohio State University’s program in 1996 and interned in 1997-98 in North Fulton County. She is an active member of several horticultural organizations in addition to North Fulton Master Gardeners. Marlysa is the current co-chair of the Plant! Milton gardening classes presented by the North Fulton Master Gardeners in partnership with the City of Milton. Her passions are: six wonderful grandchildren, traveling, playing tennis, reading, and attending cultural events in the Atlanta area with her husband and friends.
What: Presented by the Roswell Historical Society, this event highlights the struggles and triumphs of African Americans in the Roswell area, beginning with the enslaved people brought from the coast by the founding families and ending with the Civil Rights movement. Elaine DeNiro, archivist for the Roswell Historical Society and the City of Roswell, will present original documents pertaining to the area’s Black history. Charles Grogan, Roswell’s Black historian, and Sandra Taylor will share their personal experiences about growing up in a Black neighborhood in Roswell.
When: Thursday, Feb. 2, 2 p.m.
Where: Roswell Branch, Fulton County Library System, 115 Norcross Street, Roswell More info: roswellhistoricalsociety.org
THE SPIRIT OF HARRIET TUBMAN
What: Leslie McCurdy invokes the “spirit” of Harriet Tubman as she portrays the life of the famous Underground Railroad conductor, recreating stories familiar and some rarely told, using words said to have been Harriet Tubman’s own. Through it all, viewers will learn of the faith and conviction that drove Harriet Tubman to follow her dreams — the spirit of the past connecting with the present, inspiring her charges to have the courage to do the same in envisioning their future.
When: Friday, Feb. 3, 10-11 a.m.
Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell
Cost: $12
More info: roswellgov.com
SALSA DANCING FOR NEW STUDENTS
What: Discover a new world and tune into sexy and spicy tropical sounds of Salsa and Bachata music and dance. All you have to bring is the desire for learning how to dance and we will guide you step by step toward the experience of your life.
When: Monday, Feb. 6, 7-10 p.m. (recurring)
Where: PASOFino Latin Dance Studio, 8610 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
Cost: $20 per class
BLACK OPRY REVUE
What: Black Opry’s stellar line-up of some of the most acclaimed Black performers in the industry launch the 2023 Roswell Roots Festival at Roswell Cultural Arts Center with a celebratory evening of music and storytelling. Black Opry is home for Black artists, fans and industry professionals working in country, Americana, blues and folk music. This collective of performers brings the long-overlooked contributions of Black country artists to the forefront.
When: Friday, Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell
Cost: Tickets are $32.50; Tickets for seniors, student and military are $27.50
More info: roswellgov.com
DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE
What: Mark your calendar for the annual date night of the year at the Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks 13th Annual Daddy Daughter Dance for daughters in kindergarten through fifth grade. The dance will feature music from both dads’ (and father figures) and their daughters’ favorite playlists provided by a live DJ. In addition to dancing, there will be plenty of fun activities that include dance contests, musical games and refreshments. Participants can make a keepsake photo, and there will be door prizes and a goody bag for each girl. The attire for dads and daughters is business casual to semi-formal.
When: Saturday, Feb. 4, 6-8 p.m.
Where: Studio Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs
Cost: $35
More info: sandyspringsga.gov
What: Neranenah presents Michael Feinstein performing the music of the Jewish American Songbook, including works by the Gershwins, Jerome Kern, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Lerner & Loewe and more. Feinstein has built a career, bringing the music of the Great American Songbook to the world. From his Grammy-nominated recordings to Emmy-nominated PBS specials and appearances at iconic venues, his work as an educator and archivist define him as one of the most important musical forces of our time.
When: Sunday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m.
Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs
Cost: $44-74
More info: citysprings.com
What: The fairies and gnomes have been busy building whimsical houses along Chattahoochee Nature Center’s forested trails. Slow down as you search for houses made from tiny natural
objects. Take notice of the beautiful and enchanting features of the winter woods.
When: Up to Feb. 28, open daily except for December 24-26 and January 1-3
Where: Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell
Cost: $15 for adults
More info: chattnaturecenter.org
What: How does a computer scientist hook up with a molecular biologist? He blinds her with science, of course. When Elliot builds a computer program to help Molly with her research project, the variables in their evolving relationship shift as rapidly as the terms of their experiment. This deft and imaginative new ROM-comedy shows that even the most sophisticated algorithm may freeze in the face of love’s infinite possibilities.
When: Jan. 27- Feb. 12, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody
Cost: $35 for adults, $20 for students, $15 for children
More info: stagedoortheatrega.org
What: Sixty world-class films, narrative and documentary features alongside two handpicked shorts programs, the 23rd annual festival brings Atlanta Jewish Film Festival’s mission to life, inspiring diverse communities with cross-cultural understanding.
When: Feb. 8-21, times vary
Where: City Springs, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs
Cost: Prices vary by date and film
More info: ajff.org
What: Princesses and the prince of their choice will learn step-by-step dance moves, then enjoy free pictures and Valentine’s treats. Princesses must be accompanied by a prince 18 years of age or older.
When: Thursday, Feb. 9, 5-7 p.m.
Where: N. Shallowford Annex, 4470 N. Shallowford Road, Dunwoody
Cost: $35 per couple
More info: dunwoodyga.gov
By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com
It may be the shortest month, but February is long on local literary events. From romancethemed presentations to more sobering explorations on the Black experience in America, authors will be sharing new releases and a broad range of messages with readers in and around North Fulton County throughout the month.
Book lovers yearning for light-hearted yarns shouldn’t miss A Novel Idea’s Dunwoody event Feb. 21. Celebrating a month of romance, A Novel Idea will present a pair of authors, Marilyn Baron and Kim Conrey, with much to say about the saucy subject. Baron, who has won numerous writing awards in a variety of genres, including romance, will release her 29th work of
Saturday, Feb. 4: Dr. Sree Meleth: Meleth, a public health researcher and transformational life coach, will discuss and sign her book, “More than Peace, Power & Presence through Meditation.” Free. 11 a.m.-noon mini meditation workshop. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com.
Saturday, Feb. 11: George Weinstein: Weinstein, author of seven books – ranging from historical fiction to thrillers – as well as the executive director of the Atlanta Writers Club and Atlanta Writers Conference director, will talk about his most recent release, “Return to Hardscrabble Road.” Conversation, signing. Free. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Posman Books, 4105 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta, 470-509-5727. posmanbooks.com
Tuesday, Feb. 21: Marilyn Baron and Kim Conrey: A Novel Idea revels in a month of romance with two authors intimately acquainted with the subject. Baron, who writes in a variety of genres, including romance, will release her 29th work of fiction, “The Case of the Forgotten Fragonard,” in March, which she will discuss with local novelist Kathy Des Jardins. Conrey is the debut author of the sci-fi romance “Stealing Ares,” published not long after she and husband, author George Weinstein, were married. Conrey and Weinstein will reflect on life for a pair of writers finding love and literary success together. Signing. Free. Vintage Pizzeria Dunwoody, 5510 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, 470-359-5982. anovelidea.us.
Feb. 24-26: Georgia Writers Museum Writers
Retreat: Numerous authors from the Appen Media reading area, including George Weinstein, Kim Conrey, Beverly Armento and Milton Davis, will be leading writing workshops and panel discussions at the second annual Writers Retreat hosted by the Georgia Writers Museum. Talks include paths to
fiction in March. “The Case of the Forgotten Fragonard” is Book 3 of her Massimo Domingo Mystery series, which she will discuss with local novelist Kathy Des Jardins.
Conrey is the debut author of the sci-fi romance “Stealing Ares,” which she completed as a newlywed. Conrey and her husband of 19 months, author George Weinstein, will chat about romance – in books and in real life.
As for weightier themes, novelist Daniel Black will be discussing his debut essay collection, “Black on Black: On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America,” in Roswell Feb. 25 for the Atlanta Authors Series. Black, an acclaimed author and professor of African American studies at Clark Atlanta University, is the winner of the Distinguished Writer Award from the Middle-Atlantic Writer’s Association and has been nominated for the Townsend Prize for Fiction, the Ernest J. Gaines Award, the Ferro-Grumley Literary Prize, the Lambda Literary Award, and the Georgia Author of the Year Award. Issues covered in his collection, published Jan. 31, include police brutality, the AIDS crisis and the role of historically Black colleges or universities.
publication, writing short stories vs. novels, memoir writing, working with an editor, writing nonfiction, writing children’s books, and more. Several pricing options are available. Georgia Writers Museum, 109 South Jefferson Ave., Eatonton. 706-991-5119. georgiawritersmuseum.org/2023-writers-retreat
Saturday, Feb. 25: Sarah K. Lanier: Lanier will be reading her children’s book, “My Glasses Story: How I Learned to See Myself Clearly,” which she also illustrated. Signing. Free. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566.
Saturday, Feb. 25: Daniel Black: The Atlanta Authors Series, sponsored by the Friends of the Roswell Library and the Friends of the East Roswell Library, will host Black discussing his new book, “Black on Black: On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America.” Black is a professor of English and African American studies at Clark Atlanta University and author of seven novels, including “Don’t Cry For Me.” “Black on Black” is his first work of nonfiction. Bookmiser, the event’s bookseller, will have copies to purchase. Conversation, signing. Free. 2-3:30 p.m. Roswell Public Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell. 404-6129700. forl.net/atlanta-authors
Tuesday, Feb. 28: Anju Gattani: Johns Creek Books and Gifts will host “A Celebration of Diversity,” featuring Gattani, author of “Dynasties,” the first book in her newly released “Winds of Fire” series. Talk, signing, refreshments and a henna artist on site. Free. Johns Creek Books and Gifts, 6000 Medlock Bridge Parkway, Suite B500, Johns Creek. 770-696-9999. Johnscreekbooks.com
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@ gmail.com by the 15th.
NFCC is looking for a full-time executive assistant to support the Executive Director and leadership team. This person will play a vital role in help keep the NFCC leadership team organized and productive and will interact with the board of directors and other important stakeholder groups. Sensitivity, discretion and attention to detail are a must. Candidate must have a two-year degree, bachelor’s degree preferred and should have at least 2-3 years of relevant experience. For a complete job description visit https://nfcchelp.org/work-at-nfcc/
The full-time Client Services Specialist greets visitors to NFCC and assists them with obtaining services. In addition, this person conducts followup interviews, enters data and may participate in additional follow-up activities. A high school degree or equivalent is required along with at least one year in customer service or other relevant experience. Discretion and strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Spanish are also required. For a complete job description, please visit https://nfcchelp.org/work-at-nfcc/
NFCC needs a reliable driver to work part-time picking up scheduled donations. The person in this role may also assist with facility maintenance and must maintain accurate vehicle maintenance records. It is crucial that they represent NFCC with a professional and friendly demeanor. 1-2 years of box truck delivery experience is preferred. Candidate must maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license and be free of any traffic violations for the past three years. Work on Saturdays or Sundays may be required occasionally. For a complete job description, please visit https://nfcchelp.org/work-at-nfcc/
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