Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - February 29, 2024

Roswell loads up on land

City purchases properties for parks, economic boost

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell officials are expanding park and recreation programs after agreeing to dish out $6.5 million for more than 20 acres that border Roswell Area Park, once the site of Crabapple Middle School.

The City Council unanimously approved the purchase at its Feb. 26 meeting, using funds from the $180 million bond referendum passed in 2022. The area is already zoned for civic use.

“This was high priority for quite a long time now,” City Councilman Will Morthland said.

The building would alleviate some of the pressure on the Bill Johnson Community Center, he said. The city has already had an agreement with Fulton County Schools to use the fields, he added.

Since the new facility for Crabapple Middle School opened in 2021, the school district has used the building as an administrative center. The contract includes a six-month occupancy clause to provide transition time to relocate administrative services.

See LAND, Page 16

Employee retirement plan sees red

► PAGE 16

By SHELBY ISRAEL

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta officials have approved new redevelopment and rehabilitation plans at the site of the Bailey Johnson school, a historic facility that served Black North Fulton students through the 1960s.

At its Feb. 26 meeting, the City Council approved a change in zoning conditions to allow for the demolition and reconstruction of the school’s historic gymnasium. Developers will reconstruct the facility with a “similar size and design.”

Plans also call for a three-story office building to the west of the school and a five-level parking deck in the northwest corner of the site. The three buildings that make up the Bailey Johnson school will be rehabilitated and designated as a historic property.

Opened in 1950 as the Alpharetta Colored School, the Bailey Johnson school on Kimball Bridge Road served Black students in first through 12th grade until the desegregation of North Fulton County schools in 1967. The school enrolled roughly 100 students from North Fulton to Dunwoody.

It was renamed in 1953 after George Bailey, a blacksmith in Alpharetta who donated the land, and

See PROJECT, Page 15

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA Fulton County School Board Member Katha Stuart speaks at the Roswell City Council meeting Feb. 26 about the city’s $6.5 million purchase of the former Crabapple Middle School. Stuart represents areas in Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton and Mountain Park.

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Suspect arrested for financial identity fraud

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested 37-year-old Marlon Henry-Nichols at his home in Johns Creek Feb. 15 following an investigation into credit card theft.

In November, Alpharetta police received complaints from a woman whose credit cards were stolen from the mail and used at various stores around Metro Atlanta. More than $3,500 had been charged to her credit cards, according to the arrest warrant.

After detectives with the Alpharetta

POLICE BLOTTER

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Weapon, purse stolen from parked vehicle

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A Marietta man reported someone stole $750 in belongings from his vehicle outside Ray’s at Killer Creek on Mansell Road Feb. 18.

The victim reported that he parked outside the establishment around 8 p.m. When he returned to his vehicle around 10 p.m., he said his rear driver side window was smashed out.

He reported a $300 9 mm Taurus pistol, a $300 Michael Kors purse and a $150 Michael Kors wallet were stolen.

No suspects have been identified.

Local business owner reports equipment theft

ROSWELL, Ga. — Police are investigating the theft of more than $4,500 in construction equipment Feb. 21 from a Chevrolet Express Van at Roswell apartment complex on Eagles Crest Village Lane.

The victim, the owner of GFC Remodeling & Painting, told officers he left his two Chevrolet vans in the parking lot of the

Police Criminal Investigation Division investigated the complaints and determined Henry-Nichols was the offender, they were granted a warrant to search the suspect’s home with assistance from Johns Creek police.

Alpharetta Detective Capt. Andrew Splawn said detectives recovered multiple credit/debit cards and Social Security cards that were not in HenryNichols’ name as well as three firearms.

Splawn said detectives charged Henry-Nichols with financial

complex around 6 p.m. Jan. 20.

The victim is a 44-year-old Roswell resident and local entrepreneur.

The victim’s daughter said both vehicles were found with all the doors open around 9 a.m. the next morning.

Officers said they observed forced entry to the key holes of both vans.

The victim said three items were missing from one of the vans, including a $2,500 Titan industrial spray painter, an $1,800 Greco industrial spray painter and a $290 DeWalt nail gun.

While the second van had damage to the keyhole, the victim said nothing was missing from the vehicle.

Woman reports theft of wallet from vehicle

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An Alpharetta woman reported Feb. 14 that someone had stolen her purse from her car parked in her garage on Greenmont Walk and then used her cards to make fraudulent purchases in Lithonia.

The victim reported she returned home around 4:30 p.m. Feb. 13 and left her purse in the front seat of her vehicle. She said she usually leaves her car unlocked because it is inside a locked garage.

The victim’s husband reportedly returned home shortly after, and he left the garage open. The victim closed the door around 5 p.m.

Around 8:30 p.m., the victim said she received notification for a transaction on her credit card in Lithonia. She then checked

transaction card fraud, identity fraud and theft by receiving stolen property and arrested him at his home. Johns Creek police also charged him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Splawn said the case is still under investigation and detectives are working to locate other victims identified during the search warrant execution.

— Amber Perry

the garage and discovered her purse was missing, the report states.

She reported $450 in gift cards, $175 Ray Ban sunglasses and a $295 wallet were inside the purse.

Three of her cards were reportedly used to make more than $600 in unauthorized purchases.

A blue vehicle with a Utah tag was seen driving slowly by the victim’s house around 5 p.m., but no suspects have been identified.

Police respond to call of suspected overdose

ROSWELL, Ga. — A 28-year-old Roswell woman was transported to the hospital Feb. 19 after officers responded to a suspected overdose at the Economy Hotel on Old Holcomb Bridge Road.

A food delivery driver notified police after he found a male with his eyes closed and “steam” coming from his face. Officers located the man conscious and alert at the Old Marina abutting the hotel. The suspected overdose victim declined medical treatment from American Medical Response, officers said.

Police said a woman was with the man inside a cargo trailer at the marina. The woman requested transport to the hospital when she was asked to leave the trailer.

Both subjects were given a verbal criminal trespass warning.

The female was transported to the Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center.

Organizational, trust issues dominate Roswell retreat

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ADAIRSVILLE, Ga. — The Roswell City Council hunkered down with city department heads at their annual planning retreat, focusing on working out the kinks that clog communication channels and erode internal and public trust.

The session, held in Adairsville Feb. 20-23, was facilitated by Peter Sorckoff, whose consulting company Seer World applies behavioral science to business problems. Through a number of exercises, elected officials and city staff aired grievances on how information is shared among them and to the community.

One element raised involved City Council liaisons, council members assigned to monitor and interact with a specific department, like transportation or public safety.

While the intent of council liaisons is to give the low-down to the rest of the council on agenda items before decisions are made, or before they arrive at council committee meetings, Deputy City Administrator Sharon Izzo said city staff found that isn’t happening.

Deputy City Administrator Jeff Leatherman added that there’s no system in place to address how council liaisons and staff effectively respond to the overwhelming number of emails from residents.

But, Mayor Kurt Wilson said the current council is much different from years past, in terms of engagement and cooperation. He said past councilmembers have been guilty of pigeon-holing information from one another.

“Historically, there were real silos,” Wilson said.

Setting goals

A primary objective to the retreat was having elected officials and department heads draft goals. Altogether, staff refined its list from dozens to a few overarching goals to be solidified in future weeks.

Infrastructure projects spanned from Big Creek Parkway, the city’s parking strategy to hiring a program manager for the city’s Capital Improvement Plan. Dozens of projects were also identified under community development, police, fire, legal, administration and finance.

Mayor Wilson and City Administrator Randy Knighton identified five “enterprise” goals, which

address trust, organizational development, the city’s bond programs, economic development, and safety, traffic and speeding.

“You can talk about trust, but if you’re not competent, it doesn’t matter,” Wilson said, in his “soliloquy” on trust and the need to resist in-fighting. The room had recently engaged in a discussion on the lack of trust in government, and the media, at-large. “You got to be a highly functioning, highly effective organization that knows what it’s doing. You got to be capable.”

Organizational development included redefining the structure, which follows recent changes to the city’s organizational chart that added a COO. The goal also included reducing “churn” rates — more than 70 resignation letters had been tendered by the City of Roswell in 2023, though Appen Media could not confirm which were related to retirements.

On the bond front, the city plans to roll out a

Roswell parking authority. The $180 million bond referendum passed by voters in 2023 included $20 million for a downtown parking deck.

Sports, entertainment district

Under economic development, the city plans to partner with the private sector to bring professional sports to Roswell. In an interview, Wilson said he’s targeting soccer which may be the center of a new “Battery-like” project coming to Roswell, alluding to the entertainment district in Cobb County.

“We feel very comfortable with our position on soccer … that will be sooner rather than later, but we’ll make a significant announcement on soccer,” Wilson said.

He said the city’s oncoming sports and entertainment district is coming “fast,” and has

See RETREAT, Page 18

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Roswell City Administrator Randy Knighton, right, describes overarching goals for the city’s legal, administration and finance departments at the City Council retreat Feb. 22.

A rendering from John Hunt, housing expert with MarketNsight, shows multi-unit housing types, such as duplexes, multiplexes and live-work options, common to pre-1940s walkable neighborhoods. Hunt said “missing middle housing” provides affordable options for entry-level home buyers and younger generations.

Housing summit panel keys on ‘frozen’ market

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

NORTH FULTON COUNTY — Panelists for the North Fulton Improvement Network’s housing summit Feb. 20 made one thing clear, many people cannot afford to buy a home in the region.

The Improvement Network, formed in 2014 as a poverty task force, is a community think tank that supports public and private solutions to workforce housing, income and employment, transportation, child well-being and food insecurity.

The six cities making up North Fulton — Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs — are some of the most desired places to live, work and raise a family in the United States.

Jack Murphy, chair of the North Fulton Improvement Network and senior account manager at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, compiled statistics from the Federal Reserve in St. Louis to chart regional housing availability.

The NFIN divided the North Fulton population by generation, Generation Z (ages 15-24); millennials (ages 25-44); Generation X (ages 45-64); and baby boomers (ages 65 and over).

With a median income of $91,522, the affordable housing price for millennials is $443,943, according to the Fed’s data for Fulton County.

Murphy said North Fulton has three homes available at that price, and only 48 rental units on hand at a price of $2,299 a month.

“We have to be more intentional about these things,” Murphy said. “The fact that we don’t have more workforce housing impacts every one of us with congestion [and] reduction in business services.”

For more than 150,000 North Fulton

residents, ages 15-44, with a median income of less than $100,000, there is little to no inventory for starter homes or apartments, Murphy said.

He also pointed to the growth of high-income households, earning more than $200,000, and decline of workforceincome households, earning less than $75,000, since 2015.

Murphy said his premise is that the people sought after for employment in the school system and regional hospitals often make less than $75,000 annually, and they are leaving North Fulton.

“We don’t know where they are going, necessarily,” Hunt said. “But we know they’re moving out of the population and out of North Fulton… that’s a problem for all of us.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic opened the doors for remote work in North Fulton, the essential and in-person workforce does not have access to an affordable housing inventory near their jobs.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Apartment List and Zillow shows Metro Atlanta ranks first in home appreciation, fourth in rent appreciation and 13th in wage appreciation compared to other major U.S. cities.

While appreciation is great for homeowners, younger generations are unable to purchase a starter home to build equity, which plays a vital role in wealth gains for many middle-class and lower-income individuals and families.

“What we want you to think about are early career workers that are essential to our well-being in North Fulton,” Murphy said. “There aren’t many places for those folks to start their career and raise a family.”

DAN PAROLEK (OPTICOS)/PROVIDED

Housing:

Continued from Page 4

Panelist talks market trends

John Hunt, housing expert with MarketNsights, traced the shortage in housing supply to the Great Recession, which began in December 2007.

According to Hunt, housing starts tracked with an increasing population before the crash and never recovered afterward.

Hunt said there was a housing crisis before the pandemic, and it only got worse after 2020 with no signs of improvement in the current market.

The annual housing deficit is 47,000 units, and with only 12,000 units scheduled for the next 12 months, builders are unlikely to catch up soon, he said.

“The second largest demographic group in the country, baby boomers, are sitting on their homes when they should use them to take advantage of skyrocketing prices,” Hunt said. “Why aren’t they moving? Because there’s nowhere for them to go.”

Many homeowners, he explained, do not want to trade in their 3 percent mortgage for the current rate of 6.77 percent.

Hunt termed the situation in American cities, especially in North Fulton, as a “frozen housing market.”

“There’s a lot of talk about a ‘silver tsunami’ coming in this country with all these boomers starting to unload their houses,” Hunt said. “If there was going to be a ‘silver tsunami,’ it probably would have happened in 2021.”

While sales under $350,000 made up 70 percent of the housing market in 2016, they represent 30 percent of the share today, Hunt said.

He attributed the affordable housing crisis to “restrictive and exclusionary zoning,” which has eliminated the “missing middle housing” between singlefamily homes and mid-rise apartments.

“We are witnessing an all-out war being waged on housing attainability in our country,” Hunt said. “This is the defining issue of our time.”

Cities set lot size

The Roswell City Council passed an amendment to the Unified Development Code in May 2022, which removes multifamily zoning districts and prevents developers from submitting rezoning requests for constructing new standalone apartments without non-residential uses such as retail.

Roswell also has minimum requirements for lot size and square footage, resulting in the construction of zero new homes under 2,000 square feet, Hunt said.

While there are resales of homes under 2,000 square feet, there is little to

no availability in the local market.

“What we get a lot of is, ‘we don’t want our values being attacked or dropping based on building higher density or smaller homes,” Hunt said. “On the surface that makes sense…that’s absolutely not the truth.”

Comparing the price per square foot of homes in the Roswell High School district, a 2,500-square-foot home costs $280 per square foot and a 1,000-squarefoot costs $386 per square foot.

While younger generations are scrambling to find affordable housing or moving in with their parents, the lack of affordable housing inventory is keeping older generations shackled to their singlefamily residential homes.

“Unfortunately, that middle square footage that we are looking for, 1,200 to 2,200 square feet, is missing,” Hunt said. “Today’s zoning is really polarized, its either detached-single family… or apartments.”

He advocates for multi-unit housing types, such as duplexes, multiplexes and bungalow courts, common to walkable pre-1940s neighborhoods.

Hunt said “missing middle housing” provides affordable options for entry-level homebuyers and younger generations.

Schools, healthcare affected

Some of the most important factors for prospective homebuyers are proximity to quality local schools, health care services and transportation. North Fulton has all three.

Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney and Wellstar North Fulton Hospital President Jon-Paul Croom joined Hunt as panelists at the summit.

Looney and Croom described the difficulty they face with recruiting workers, retaining their employees and remaining competitive.

While Croom said attracting doctors to the suburbs has not been an issue, nurses and technicians often cannot afford to live near the hospital in Roswell. Recruiting hospital employees is more difficult in lower-income brackets, he said.

“I believe that the problem that we’re seeing is younger people who are just entering the workforce and new professions,” Croom said. “Our challenge is trying to find people who live close and are willing to drive here.”

Looney said 30 percent of teachers leave their profession in their first five years.

To offset the turnover, Fulton County Schools offers a stipend of up to $5,000 for new teachers, which is not sustainable, he said.

Croom said Wellstar North Fulton Hospital has a similar program with signing bonuses and incentives for lowincome individuals.

“It’s not sustainable, it’s just not sustainable long-term,” Croom said.

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Registration opens for Mayor’s Ride in Roswell Moves!

ROSWELL, Ga. — Early registration has opened for Bike Roswell! Mayor’s Ride, the kickoff to the fifth edition of Roswell Moves!, when Canton Street will transform into a space of activities April 28.

The Mayor’s Ride, now in its 22nd year, will begin at 8 a.m. Cyclists can choose from routes of 18, 40 and 64 miles. Beginning at City Hall, riders will be led out by new sponsor Regal INEOS Grenadier and end on Canton Street for lunch.

Simultaneously, Canton Street, stretching from Heart of Roswell Park to Woodstock Road, will close to vehicle traffic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organizers will host a variety of activities, including chalk art and a kids bicycle safety rodeo, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

While there’s a registration fee for the Mayor’s Ride, all other Roswell Moves! activities are free. Proceeds from the Mayor’s Ride benefit Bike Roswell!, supporting cycling advocacy and initiatives. Bike Roswell! members receive an additional registration discount.

Businesses can join this year’s event in three categories: route host, activity partner or event sponsor.

Applications run until March 31 for groups with engaging, health-focused activities. Find the application form at bikeroswell.com/roswellmoves/ activitypartner/.

Event Highlights:

• Roswell Moves! activities: A dynamic mix of activities, demonstrations and games promoting healthy lifestyles. Dance, jump, roll, stretch, twirl, and walk your way through the day. Enjoy live music on two stages by Mojo Vinyl and Rock ’N’ Taco, and don’t forget the shopping, eating and drinking.

• Roswell Arts Fund Chalk Art: Presented by Roswell Arts Fund, the Georgia Chalk Artist Guild and The Hagan Family Foundation, watch as professional chalk artists brighten the day and the pavement with chalk murals along Canton Street in this new edition to the Roswell Moves! experience. Grab a piece of chalk yourself and join in on creating a community patchwork of color, showing off Roswell’s creative side.

• Family Bike Parade at 11 a.m.: Led by Bike Roswell!, the parade along Canton Street is for all ages and all types of pedal-powered

If you go

What: Bike Roswell! Mayor’s Ride

When: Sunday April 28th 8 am to 12 pm

Where: Roswell City Hall

Cost: $45.00 registration fee

vehicles.

• Historic Roswell Kiwanis Kids’ Bicycle Safety Rodeo (12-3 p.m.): A hands-on learning experience about cycling safety and bicycle handling skills, culminating in an obstacle course.

Mayor’s Ride details:

• Starting point: Roswell City Hall

• Ride options: 18, 42 and 64 miles, including a flat 18-mile route along the Chattahoochee River.

• Extras: Pre-ride support from Roswell Bicycles, rest stop refreshments, post-ride lunch by Lucky’s Burger & Brew and Gate City Brewing Company Beverages served by Top Job Beverage & Events.

• Registration: Discount available through March 31 at bikeroswell. com/rides-maps/mayorsride/.

Resident registration begins: Resident registration begins:

Wednesday, February 28 @ 8 am Wednesday, February 28 @ 8 am

Non-resident registration begins: Non-resident registration begins: Wednesday, March 13 @ 8 am Wednesday, March 13 @ 8 am

Sandy Springs resident raises money for Free Guitars 4 Kids

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Matt Houchin is more than just a producer, performer and “T-shirt wearer.” He has also embarked on a year-long campaign to raise $1 million for Free Guitars 4 Kids.

Houchin voluntarily signed himself up to wear a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt every day of 2024, something no one has ever done.

With about 30 T-shirts already, he said he will be gathering more throughout the year.

Because rock stars are made, not born, the nonprofit Free Guitars 4 Kids strives to put stringed instruments into the hands of children who are unable to afford one.

So far, the nonprofit has distributed 1,300 guitars across the United States, Jamaica and Uganda.

When Houchin reached out to a friend at the St. Louis-based nonprofit, his idea turned into a reality.

“I was moving, and I have a bunch of Hard Rock Cafe T-shirts,” Houchin said. “And, I just thought, what if I wore a Hard Rock shirt every day for a year?”

The idea stuck in his head, he said.

The discontinued model

Originally from Bloomington, Minnesota, Houchin said his favorite T-shirt is from the Hard Rock Cafe at the Mall of America, which closed in January 2021.

Before Houchin partnered with Free Guitars 4 Kids, he floated the

idea of choosing a different charitable organization each month.

The vision for the shirt-wearing fundraiser kept getting stronger in late 2023, and the support from his friends and family encouraged him to follow through, he said.

“I wanted it to be tied to the whole

To learn more about Houchin and the “2024 Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon,” visit https://fg4k.org/mattrocksshirts/.

‘hard rock’ idea, or music or something like that,” Houchin said. “And I talked to a friend that I knew who started the organization.”

After talking with his friend and the executive director of Free Guitar 4 Kids, Houchin said things clicked.

While Houchin has experience producing video content, the world of fundraising is new to him.

Houchin graduated from Northwestern University in 2003 with a bachelor’s in radio, television and film. He has worked as a video producer in the corporate world, with some freelancing, for more than 20 years.

His career path has taken him to Minneapolis, San Francisco and now Metro Atlanta.

After moving to North Druid Hills in 2022, Houchin and his wife bought their first home on Brandon Mill Road in Sandy Springs in summer 2023.

“It definitely helps with a project

DEERFIELD

MATT HOUCHIN/PROVIDED

Matt Houchin, wearing his Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt from Key West, Florida, glides on the ice at Skate City Springs Jan. 21. Houchin is raising money for the nonprofit Free Guitars 4 Kids by wearing a Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt everyday in 2024.

My experience has always been, people are extremely welcoming to you, to learning.

ANGELA RENALS, founder, Destination Tea

8 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | February 29, 2024

Destination Tea offers roadmap to experience personal connection

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody resident Angela Renals shares a longtime love of afternoon tea.

It’s not just the beverage. It’s the experience.

Her website, Destination Tea, is a directory promoting local tearooms across the United States and Metro Atlanta.

A New Jersey native, Renals moved to the Atlanta area after college and worked in marketing and public relations. As a young mother in her late 20s, she said she often visited the now-closed Faded Rose Tea Garden in Chamblee, where she experienced her first afternoon tea.

“It was like all the things you love about a teahouse,” Renals said. “This place was just wonderful. They had all of the vintage china, and everything was very leisurely. All the food was homemade. Everything, just delicious. So, I loved it there.”

At Faded Rose, Renals said she made irreplaceable memories with her friends and found a place to escape from the routine of daily life.

In 2016, she founded Destination Tea to share her love of afternoon tea and highlight the community and connection the tradition offers.

“It's really just an excuse to chitchat while someone is taking excellent care of you and pouring you a fabulous cup of tea,” Renals said.

A nationwide guide

After her introduction to afternoon tea at Faded Rose, Renals decided to make a tea directory for herself.

“It became this really beautiful ritual

in my family and in my friend groups,” she said.

Using her PR background, Renals said she wanted to bridge the gap in publicity for tearooms that do not have an online presence.

She originally used TeaMap, a worldwide tea directory run by Adagio Teas. But, Renals said she soon discovered many locations on the site were closed, and entries were often not updated.

“They say if a tearoom makes it three years, that's kind of like the sink or swim,” Renals said. “So, it's difficult to keep these

directories up to date.”

This inspired Renals to create her own directory, and she compiled a master list of tearooms across the country using Google, TripAdvisor and TeaMap over the course of two years. She called businesses whose status she could not confirm online to speak with the owners.

Destination Tea also features teatime fashion and etiquette tips, history lessons and more than 150 afternoon tea reviews.

In 2018, Renals said there were some 1,450 tearooms in the U.S. That number dipped to 1,180 in 2021 before rising to

The Greater North Fulton Chamber (GNFCC) hosted its annual North Fulton Day at the Capitol on February 7, 2024, bringing a group of 30 business leaders to the Georgia State Capitol to meet with state legislators and discuss legislative priorities for the North Fulton business community. The event was sponsored by Axis Companies.

The GNFCC Government Affairs Committee organizes the annual North Fulton Day at the Capitol event as well as the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda, which can be found at GNFCC.com, on behalf of the regional business community.

1,263 in 2023.

With the data she collected from making the website, Renals determined 34 percent of tearooms in the U.S. are in the South. The Northeast followed at 24 percent, and the West and Midwest were in third and fourth place.

There are 61 teatime opportunities across Georgia, 36 of them in the Atlanta area.

Renals said some of her favorites are The Emerald Chandelier in Griffin, Ivy Tea

See TEA, Page 9

DESTINATION

The Dunwoody Preservation Trust serves afternoon tea at the Donaldson-Bannister Farm in 2022. The farm hosts an annual afternoon tea each spring for up to 50 people.

The Ginger Room at 61 Roswell St. in Alpharetta is one of 36 Metro Atlanta teatime locations featured on Destination Tea, a U.S. afternoon tea directory. Destination Tea owner Angela Renals named The Ginger Room one of Georgia’s best tearooms in a 2022 Explore Georgia article.

Tea:

Continued from Page 8

House in Norcross and Southern Seasons in Rome.

“I think that it's a little bit the roots of the tradition, but I think it's also the environment that it puts you into, and the connection and the community that it creates,” she said.

Stepping out of time

In a time dominated by envying others on social media feeds, Renals said afternoon tea allows young people to enjoy in-person connection.

“I don't mind saying that one of my values is beauty,” Renals said. “It's beautiful. The presentation is beautiful. The table settings are beautiful. You and your friends are beautiful. That’s quite superficial, but that's the kind of thing that lifts your spirits.”

Renals attributed the rising popularity of afternoon tea to the desire for offline experiences, and to the nostalgia and growing interest in period pieces like “Bridgerton.” She said afternoon tea is becoming increasingly popular among 25to 34-year-olds.

“I especially think, because of the times we're in, which are so hectic, and there is so much information overload, and there's so much disconnection because of screens, I think there's a renewed love for period shows, period dramas,” Renals said.

Although there are still people who are adamant about staying true to the British style, many tearoom owners have started incorporating hints of their own cultures in their menus. Renals said she thinks each business’s unique spin on the tradition is beautiful.

“My experience has always been, people are extremely welcoming to you, to learning,” Renals said. “There’s not really barriers to entry. It’s not expensive. It’s not an expensive thing to buy and try.”

ARTOFHATS STUDIO/PHOTO CREDIT

Tea enthusiast Angela Renals runs Destination Tea, a national tearoom directory, out of her Dunwoody home. Renals launched the website in 2016 after discovering a love of afternoon tea at the former Faded Rose Tea Garden in Chamblee.

North Metro Atlanta tearooms

• Ark Coffeehaus at 4448 Tilly Mill Road in Dunwoody

• Besties at 5238 McGinnis Ferry Road in Forsyth County

• Bulloch Hall at 180 Bulloch Ave. in Roswell

• Donaldson-Bannister Farm at 4831 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road in Dunwoody

• The Ginger Room at 61 Roswell St. in Alpharetta

• Morningbirds at 10930 Crabapple Road in Roswell

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Name: House of Hazen

Owner: Rhonda Hazen

Description: House of Hazen is a fine gift, home décor & baby shop. We offer a selection of carefully curated pieces that elevate any space. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the little ones we have a selection of clothing and toys that are sure to delight them. We also offer a variety of unique accessories for ladies and men.

Opened: January 2024

Address: 735 N. Main St, Alpharetta, GA. 30009

Phone: 404-500-5293

Web Address: www.houseofhazen.com

Visit destinationtea.com for more information on times, prices and tearooms across Metro Atlanta.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Dunwoody throws party for 100-year-old veteran

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — It’s special to honor a community member turning 100 years old, and even more impactful when the resident is a World War II veteran.

Fewer than 120,000 of the 16.1 million Americans who served in World War II are alive today, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

When Americans think of the “1 percent,” it’s unlikely they have Hilbert “Hilby” Margol in mind.

Margol, U.S. Army veteran and 40-year Dunwoody resident, celebrated his 100th birthday with more than 40 neighbors and friends Feb. 18 at the clubhouse on Village Oaks Drive.

During the celebration, Margol went through more than 20 photos of him throughout his childhood, teenage years and military service.

The first photo in the presentation was of him and his twin brother, Howard, as toddlers.

When Howard Margol passed away in February 2017, the twins

had already begun to share their experiences as Jewish-American soldiers who liberated the Dachau Concentration Camp.

After the war, the twins teamed

up with their older brother, Melvin, to start a furniture business called National Home Supply.

Howard moved to Atlanta in 1965 and Hilbert and his wife, Betty Ann, followed in 1984.

Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch, who used to live nearby on Village Drive, surprised Margol at the neighborhood party. She read a proclamation declaring Feb. 22, 2024 as Hilbert Margol Day in Dunwoody and presented him with a key to the city.

“In Dunwoody, when you reach the auspicious milestone of turning 100 years old, I will present a key

He’s a special friend and neighbor. A true veteran of this community.”

ROSEMARY BARSKY Party organizer

to the city,” Deutsch said. “The key will not get you out of a traffic ticket.”

Military service in Europe

Recounting past experiences proved easy for the 100-year-old.

The Margol twins were born in 1924 in Jacksonville, Florida, to a Jewish Lithuanian family.

“Since I was born 10 minutes before him,” Margol joked. “It helped me realize that I was the original and he was a copy.”

The twins were seniors in high school when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

After attending the University of Florida and joining the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps horsedrawn artillery program, the twins were drafted and began basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Their specialized training took them to Syracuse University and the University of Illinois.

After the U.S. Army canceled

See MARGOL, Page 12

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch presents Hilbert “Hilby” Margol with a key to the city Feb. 18 in the clubhouse on Village Oaks Drive. To his surprise, Deutsch also read a proclamation declaring Feb. 22, 2024 as Hilbert Margol Day.

3rd

1st

2nd

2nd

2nd

2nd

2nd

2nd

2nd

48 Hiatus

49 Egyptian cobra

50 A, in Acapulco

51 Seed cover

55 Assist illegally

58 Actress Balin

60 Lose weight

62 Sandwich shop

63 Like a raccoon, e.g.

65 Assortment

66 Jai ___

67 Cattail, e.g.

68 The Joy Luck Club author, Amy

69 Fewer

70 Big ___, Calif.

Down

1 Withers

2 Cast out

3 Capone nemesis

4 Over (Poet.)

5 Molded, as metal

6 Cookie

7 Tenant

8 Moscow resident or isinglass

9 Sicilian city

10 Level

11 Fair attraction

14 French possessive

15 Surprise word

16 Photo taker

23 Alpha’s opposite

25 Moore of G.I. Jane

28 Oklahoma city

29 Source

30 Sea eagles

31 Followers (Suffix)

32 “___ stop now!”

33 Kett of the comics

See solution Page 31

SINATRA and FRIENDS Visit Post 201 Friday, Mar. 15

Show Starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 Per Person

Doors Open at 6:30 p.m. Free Dance Lessons Before Show

Visit www.legion201.org to Buy Tickets & for More Details

BASEBALL at the LEGION

Thurs., Feb. 29, 5 p.m. – King’s Ridge JV vs Holy Innocents

Fri., Mar. 1, 5:30 p.m. – King’s Ridge Varsity vs St. Francis

Mon., Mar. 4, 5 p.m. – King’s Ridge JV vs King’s Academy

Wed., Mar. 6, 5:30 p.m. - King’s Ridge Varsity vs West Forsyth

Thurs., Mar. 7, 5:30 p.m. – King’s Ridge JV vs South Forsyth

Fri., Mar. 8, 5:30 p.m. – King’s Ridge Varsity vs Mt. Bethel

Season Schedule: www.krtigers.com/sport/baseball/boys/

Dances & Dance Instruction

Fri., Sat. & Sun. Evenings

Line Dance Instruction:

Mon. & Fri. Mornings; Wed. Evening

Free Dance Lessons: Thurs. Evening www.club201dance.com/calendar

55 Big fuss

56 Buckle holder

57 Lamb alias

59 Cairo’s river

61

201 Wills Road

Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-475-9023

www.legion201.org

Margol:

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its Army Specialized Training Program, Hilbert and Howard were sent to different infantry divisions hundreds of miles apart.

At the birthday party, Margol told a story about his mother writing a letter to President Roosevelt asking for her sons to be reunited.

The first reply to her letter, dated June 12, 1944, was signed by Maj. Gen. Edwin Watson and closed with the following.

“To you, a two-star-mother, the President sends friendly greetings and all good wishes.”

Back together with the 42nd Infantry “Rainbow” Division, Hilbert and Howard arrived in France in January 1945, seven months after D-Day and five months before the official surrender of Germany.

The twins fought their way across Europe, serving in the Alsace, Ardennes and Rhineland campaigns before arriving in a suburb 8 to 10 miles south of Nuremberg.

On April 29, 1945, the brothers stumbled upon a few dozen boxcars full of victims of the Dachau Concentration Camp, the longestrunning Nazi death camp.

The photos that the twins took are now held at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Upon returning from post-war Europe, the Margol twins settled down in Jacksonville.

“Believe me, you have no idea what a welcome site the Statue of Liberty is, arriving in New York Harbor,” Margol said.

A special community party

Margol, celebrating his 100th birthday Feb. 22, has lived in the same home in Dunwoody’s Lake Village Oaks neighborhood since 1987.

“Every homeowner in this development has been welcoming, good neighbors,” Margol said. “This is the reason why we continue to stay here in this same house.”

Margol has served on the board of his homeowners association, meeting almost every resident of the neighborhood. Every few weeks, Margol joins a few residents for breakfast at Goldbergs.

While he is no longer as active as he once was, neighbors say they see him walking almost every day with his hands behind his back.

“He’s a special friend and neighbor,” party organizer Rosemary Barsky said. “A true veteran of this community.”

Margol and his wife purchased

one of the first homes in a Dunwoody subdivision, which was still under construction.

Margol told his neighbors how he and his wife ended up with the largest master bedroom in the 60home neighborhood. He joked that at some point, he’s sure he will have to sell it.

Before the move to Jacksonville, it became clear the married couple’s bedroom suite could not fit in their new home.

After discussions with the developer, one wall of the bedroom was knocked down and extended 3 feet.

Margol entertained the packed clubhouse with quick-witted jokes and fascinating war stories for more than an hour.

Betty Ann, married to Margol for more than 75 years, sat by his side the entire time.

“Betty Ann’s mother said the marriage wouldn’t last!” Margol joked.

But, of course, it did.

After V-E Day May 8, 1945, the day the surrender of Germany was announced, Hilbert remained in Eastern Europe for nine months, serving on occupation duty.

The Margol twins returned to the University of Florida and graduated in 1948. Hilbert and Mary Ann married shortly after.

Beverley Armento, neighborhood resident and friend, spoke about how much Margol means to the community.

“People of all ages respect our Hilbert Margol,” Armento said. “Aren’t you proud to live in a community where Hilbert Margol lives?”

The packed room at the Village Oaks Drive clubhouse answered with resounding applause and cheers.

“Everybody’s birthday is a turning point, and this is a pretty big turning point,” Armento said. “We wish you joy, happiness and good health for as far into the future as we can all see. We love you.”

After Armento led the room in a toast, the guest of honor took the mic and thanked everyone for celebrating with him.

“It’s been a journey, and I’ve enjoyed all of it… most of it,” Margol said.

It’s no wonder why more than 40 neighbors and friends showed up to the clubhouse in the Village Oaks neighborhood.

Hilbert Margol is one of a kind.

“When you get past 90, life presents new challenges. Some of them can be on the rough side,” Margol said. “I hope and pray that every one of you does get there.”

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA Dunwoody resident and World War II veteran Hilbert “Hilby” Margol, seated next to his wife, Betty Ann, enjoys a special 100th birthday party Feb. 18 at the clubhouse on Village Oaks Drive. Margol and his twin brother, Howard, were among the first liberators of Dachau Concentration Camp on April 29, 1945.

Houchin:

Continued from Page 7

like this, that I’m able to put out highquality videos to promote what I’m doing,” Houchin said. “It’s been really cool for me to use this as a springboard for creativity.”

Recruiting musicians

Along with sporting the same wardrobe daily, Houchin is interviewing every guitarist he knows.

He said the plan is to attend area spring festivals, like Shaky Knees May 3-5 at Atlanta’s Central Park, and to interview visiting rock stars.

Houchin also said he’s looking for community events and local opportunities to raise awareness for “2024 Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon,” and the nonprofits it supports.

So far, he’s attended the 2024 Hawks Fast Break 5K at State Farm Arena and Cupid’s Undie Run in Buckhead.

Halfway through February, Houchin has raised more than $5,000.

“The goal is $1 million, which means we’re not exactly on track,” Houchin said. “This is something, I knew, would be a year-long process, so I’m hoping it grows organically and then snowballs at some point.”

Houchin said he enjoys the added pressure of figuring out how to raise $1 million.

So far, promotional content for “Matt’s Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon 2024,” using the hashtag #MattRocksShirts, has generated over 100,000 views across social media platforms.

Houchin said raising awareness for Free Guitars 4 Kids and its local partner, Amped Kids, is another important aspect of his “shirt-a-thon.”

Free Guitars 4 Kids works to ensure kids with a free instrument, receive lessons and mentorship through local organizations, schools and places of worship.

The nonprofit sponsors more

Mill Road.

than 20 charities across the country, including the Amped Kids Foundation in Georgia.

The Foundation, a Gainesville-based nonprofit founded in 2018, provides free music lessons and programs to foster and adopted children.

Houchin said he’s been invited to its annual gala March 7 at the Chattahoochee Country Club.

Proceeds from a special-guest performance by John Berry and a silent auction will go directly to the nonprofit’s music programs. Individual tickets start at $75.

In late January, Hard Rock Cafe reached out to Houchin on Instagram and expressed its excitement with the fundraiser.

He said he thought the company would send a cease-and-desist order or sue. Instead, Hard Rock Cafe reached out to brainstorm promotional ideas.

“I’m hoping they get involved at some point, and we’re able to have some sort of official partnership,” Houchin said. “That could really take it to the next level.”

Houchin said he’d like to get his neighbors and Sandy Springs residents involved with the fundraiser through a city-sponsored initiative or a gathering at a local brewery.

“I’m like the Neil Armstrong of wearing a Hard Rock Café T-shirt every day,” Houchin said. “Would love any ideas or help from the local community.”

MATT HOUCHIN/PROVIDED

Matt Houchin stands with Harry the Hawk Feb. 3 during the 2024 Hawks Fast Break 5K at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta. Houchin said his goal is to raise $1 million for a nonprofit by wearing a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt every day of 2024.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA Matt Houchin, the man behind the “2024 Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon,” stands in front of his Sandy Springs home Feb. 19 on Brandon

Project:

Continued from Page 1

Warren Johnson, an advocate of Black education who was formerly enslaved.

Fulton County Schools previously owned the site and primarily used it as a storage facility. Project developer The Garren purchased the property for $6 million in 2022.

The City Council approved site plans for the property in 2021, which called for a 120,000-square-foot office building, parking deck and an adaptive reuse of the school and gymnasium.

At the Feb. 26 meeting, developers said the gymnasium has foundation issues that would require additional bracing for the building to meet code requirements, and there is a hole in the roof that has caused severe water damage.

Construction is set to roll out in two phases. Developers will first rehabilitate the school, build the new gymnasium and construct a 149-space parking lot. In phase two, the parking lot will be replaced with the parking deck and new office building.

addressed councilmembers at the meeting, requesting a portion of the gymnasium floor be preserved to honor the basketball team that played there.

“I think for the people that played on that court to be able to walk in there and to step on it again, even if it’s a small piece of it in some way, I think would be very meaningful, and it would enhance our efforts to say, ‘We are preserving this the best we can,’” Buchanan said.

Developers emphasized the importance of preserving the character of the school. The new gymnasium will incorporate unique design elements and red brick to match the original facility.

Pat Miller, president emeritus of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society, said project developer Bruce Fernald reached out to her. She said Fernald and his team have consulted the Historical Society and the Bailey Johnson alumni association to understand the significance of the school.

GRAPHICS BY CITY OF ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED

This illustration shows new plans for the historic Bailey Johnson school on Kimball Bridge Road. The school buildings, right, will be rehabilitated and preserved. The gymnasium, building 2, will be demolished and rebuilt, and new structures will be added on the western portion of the site.

“I think the resulting product is going to be something really unique,” Miller said. “He will have a better story to tell than he did when he started out just rehabbing an old school, and Alpharetta will have something it can be really proud of.”

Alpharetta Natural Resources Commissioner Michael Buchanan

The 1964-65 Bailey Johnson High School basketball team won the Georgia Interscholastic Association Class-B State Championship. Eight members of the team were presented championship rings at City Hall last July.

City Councilman John Hipes proposed a nonbinding amendment for developers to work with city staff to build the gymnasium and update one of the existing school buildings to make their setbacks consistent with the new construction on the site.

But, Councilman Donald Mitchell took issue with altering another part of the school building, especially while the city is unsure if Kimball Bridge can be widened west of Northwinds Parkway. Kimball Bridge is currently being widened from Waters Road to Northwinds.

The motion passed 4-2, with Mitchell and Mayor Jim Gilvin opposed. Councilman Doug DeRito was absent from the vote.

approved a change in zoning conditions to demolish and reconstruct the gymnasium.

Land:

Continued from Page 1

According to a city newsletter, the final purchase and closing on the property is pending a due diligence review.

“I look forward to this transaction going through and to your increasing the park space for the city,” said Katha Stuart, Fulton County Board of Education member who represents the area.

The contract with Fulton County Schools also includes the right of first refusal on a Mimosa Boulevard property that currently houses Independence High School and the Teaching Museum North, if the school district decides to sell it over the next three years.

City buys more land Councilmembers also approved the purchase of two more properties, one along Green Street for $1 million and another along Alpharetta Street for $1.1 million. Both tracts are about half an acre.

Roswell resident Janet Russell informed the City Council of word circulating about city plans to construct a parking garage on the Green Street property. The bond referendum passed in 2022 included $20 million for a public parking deck downtown.

“I’m just going to tell you that if you think you’re going to put a parking garage there, it’s really a big mistake,” Russell said, highlighting that the property is in front of a 600-car parking garage slated for the oncoming Southern Post mixed-use development.

She said a parking garage on the property would put stress on Green Street, which she said is the width of less than two cars, has no sidewalks, and there’s a nursing home nearby.

“The nursing home will be the next to go because we love our elderly and our handicapped and our underserved so much that we’ll kick them out,” Russell said.

But, Mayor Wilson told Russell the property is part of the city’s “economic development strategy.”

City’s pension plan liability balloons to over $22 million

The City of Roswell is transitioning to a new retirement plan provider after staff uncovered that the unfunded liability in its pension plan more than doubled over the past decade.

Against the actuarial assumption that the funded status would increase, the trend has gone in the opposite direction. Liability has outpaced assets, causing unfunded pension liability to grow from $9.4 million in 2014 to $22.3 million in 2023.

“That’s so illogical, it’s not even funny in the financial world,” Mayor Kurt Wilson said at the Feb. 13 meeting of the Administration and Finance and Recreation and Park Committee. “I can’t imagine when you guys first got this. You must have been aghast when you saw this … Talk about lack of fiduciary responsibility.”

The city’s current unfunded liability payment is $3.2 million, representing around 65 percent of its contribution.

Joe Griffin, an actuary working with the city, told officials at the committee meeting that the unforeseen trend is likely due to the Georgia Municipal Association’s assumption based on the larger group of clients, rather than the city alone. For its defined benefit (DB) pension plan, the city was a participating member in the GMA’s Georgia Municipal Employee Benefit System Retirement Fund, created in 1965.

For the past three decades, the city has used MissionSquare as a vendor for its defined contribution (DC) plan.

He later told Appen Media the property on Alpharetta Street is a part of this same “strategy.”

The City Council also approved a budget amendment for an 8.73-acre property at the corner of Woodstock and Bowen roads that had been purchased for $4.5 million, paid out of the city’s General Fund.

Staff told Appen Media the city is still determining how the property will be used, though the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported Oct. 13 the city would redevelop the site into a “park and recreation facility with greenspace.” A city newsletter from November said it would be for “civic use, including preserving part of the property for parkland.”

Staff said the city has the option to reimburse the General Fund with bond money if the determined use is consistent with projects identified in the referendum.

Massage establishments

In other matters Feb. 26, the City Council voted to defer till

But, best practices call for a competitive bid process every 5 years for retirement plan providers.

“So, what we’re seeing is losses after losses after losses,” Griffin said.

All the city’s assets will be in the hands of Transamerica going forward, which includes $49.4 million in its DC plan, $98 million in its frozen DB plan as well as its deferred compensation plan. The pension plan has been closed to new hires since 2011, and its number of active employees has dwindled from 500 to 175.

The unanimous decision at the City Council meeting Feb. 26 is expected to result in more than $2 million in savings over the next five years.

Our goal here is two things: One, we want to protect licensed massage therapists and do away with illicit massage therapy establishments.”

CHARLES WEISS Roswell resident

March 11 the second reading of proposed changes to the city’s code of ordinances related to massage establishments. Councilmembers also voted to extend the moratorium on new massage businesses from March 11 to March 12 to accommodate the deferral.

City Attorney David Davidson made last-minute changes to the

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ordinance which were not available for review prior to the meeting. He said he had gathered additional feedback from the attorney for the Georgia Chapter to the Massage Therapy Association of America.

Davidson led the City Council through the adjustments, drafted onto printed handouts and projected to the rest of the Council Chamber. Some updates included clarifying the role of a registered agent and the requirement for massages to be performed by a Georgia licensed massage therapist.

Roswell resident Charles Weiss, who operates a chiropractic business in the city, listed a number of issues with the proposal, emphasizing that it wasn’t available online before the meeting.

“Our goal here is two things: One, we want to protect licensed massage therapists and do away with illicit massage therapy establishments,” Weiss said. “This law is not accomplishing that in its current form.”

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Jim Fallon, a retirement plan consultant, and Roswell Human Resources Director Linda Warren explain the city’s decision to switch providers at the City Council meeting Feb. 26.

With spring in the air, books are the fare during March

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com

Spring will be sprung and praises will be sung of books galore in March.

First up is the Dahlonega Literary Festival, celebrating its 18th year in the downtown’s historic heart. A full slate of activities March 2 will include 35-plus authors, many from North Fulton and Forsyth counties, as well as nationally acclaimed headliner Sharyn McCrumb.

Then another annual enterprise –Forsyth Reads Together – will feature Lisa Wingate, the New York Times bestselling author of “Before We Were Yours,” with over 3 million copies sold. The free event will be March 26 at the Forsyth Conference Center and is sponsored by Forsyth County Public Library, FCPL Friends and Advocates, and the Forsyth County Arts Alliance at the Forsyth County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the North Georgia Community Foundation.

Here are details about these and other happenings.

Retreat:

Continued from Page 3

been a one- to two-year effort in the making. Wilson also said the city would be the first with a “vertiport,” or an area that supports aircrafts, which “could be” integral to the district.

In September, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that the city paid Sorckoff’s Seer World $250,000 for consulting work related to “potential real estate acquisitions and the possible development of a ‘stadium and entertainment district.’” The paper also reported the contract raised concern because it was not required to go through the city’s bidding process, nor was it discussed publicly.

Roswell Purchasing Manager Greg Anderson resigned the day before the Aug. 15 Administration, Finance, Recreation and Parks Committee meeting when the budget amendment for $250,000 in professional services was initially proposed.

Bidding process

At the retreat, Knighton announced the city’s RFP, or request for proposal, plan, which “has been

Saturday, March 2, Dahlonega Literary Festival. Over 35 fiction and nonfiction writers will conduct a full day of workshops, panels and talks. Lunch is $20, all other events are free. 9 a.m. Dahlonega Baptist Church, 234 Hawkins St., Dahlonega. literaryfestival.org

Sunday, March 3, Boozy Book Fair. Hosted by Johns Creek Books at Roswell’s From the Earth Brewing Company, new and used books for all ages will be available. 12:30 p.m. Free. 1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, 770696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

Sunday, March 3, Susan Puckett, on “How to Write a Cookbook.” 2 p.m. Free. Hampton Park Library, 5345 Settingdown Road, Cumming. 770-781-9830. https://www.forsythpl. org/event/9992149

Saturday, March 9, Angie D. Comer. The local author will discuss her thriller, “Some Must Die.” Free. 1 p.m. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road, 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

Saturday, March 9, Dr. Martha Boone. One of the first 100 women board certified in urology, Boone will launch “Mother Charity” during the North Atlanta Author Series, with copies available from Bookmiser. 2 p.m. Free. Alpharetta Branch Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta. 770509-5611. bookmiser.net/book-events.html

Saturday, March 16, Karen Zacharias. The journalist and author will host a writing workshop followed by a signing of “No Perfect Mothers.” 10 a.m. Free. Poe & Company

a source of discussion for quite some time,” would be refined.

“Part of the issue, I would say, has been a legacy within the organization where we had the ordinance and you had certain policies that were set up that were subject to interpretation,” Knighton said. “These policies that were subject to interpretation really entangled us when it came to the RFP process and really slowed some things down, and also provided a level of inconsistency within the organization.”

He said the city wants state and federal guidelines to serve as the “bedrock.”

“We’ll have certain policies in place that allow us to execute more quickly,” Knighton said.

Wilson told Appen Media the issue is also that staff often receives “mixed messages” when it comes to executing the RFP policy. He also said there isn’t enough trust in staff, referencing the $25,000 limit in purchasing power before the City Council must approve the contract.

“We often treat our people … like errand boys and errand girls like, ‘Hey, we expect you to do this,’ and then we micromanage them,” Wilson said. “Purchasing is huge. Our purchasing process? Completely, like super flawed.”

Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Saturday, March 16, Victor Cosmos, author of “Treasure of the Pandavas.” Free. 1 p.m. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road, 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

Saturday, March 16, McCall Hoyle, author of “Mille.” 2 p.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com

Tuesday, March 19, Katherine Reay. The Friends of Sandy Springs Library will present the bestselling author discussing her new release, “The Berlin Letters,” available that day from Bookmiser. 1 p.m. Free. Sandy Springs Library. 395 Mount Vernon Highway Northeast, Sandy Springs. 770-509-5611. bookmiser. net/book-events.html

Thursday, March 21, Colleen Oakley, Lynn Cullen. Poe & Company Bookstore will host a ticketed Girls Night Out with the authors including wine, appetizers and a book. 6 p.m. $25. Brookfield Country Club, 100 Willow Run Road, Roswell. Call 770-797-5566 to register.

Saturday, March 23, Piper Huguley. Atlanta Authors presents the Clark-Atlanta University professor and author of the biographical historical fiction novel, “By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register.” Bookmiser will sell copies of the story of the Black fashion designer of Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress. Free, in

person or online. 2 p.m. Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St. 404-612-9700. forl.net/atlantaauthors

Monday, March 25, Rona Simmons, Piper Huguley, on “How to Write Historical Fiction.” 7 p.m. Free. Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega St., Cumming. 770-781-9840. https://www. forsythpl.org/event/9793795

Tuesday, March 26, Lisa Wingate. The Forsyth County Public Library’s 11th Forsyth Reads Together event will spotlight Wingate, bestselling author of “Before We Were Yours.” Wingate will be speaking and signing books sold by Suwanee’s Read it Again Bookstore. 7 p.m. Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming. Free but registration is requested at www.forsythpl.org/ event/9048171.

Sign up now:

April 27, Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference. Sponsored by the Atlanta Writers Club, registration for indie authors and those curious about self-publishing is available at atlantaselfpublishingconference.com/ May 3-4, Atlanta Writers Conference. Sponsored by the Atlanta Writers Club, register now for the 30th Atlanta Writers Conference featuring 18 literary agents and publishers. atlantawritersconference.com/

To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@gmail.com by the 15th.

WINGATE

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson speaks with Councilmember Sarah Beeson about internal communication issues during the Roswell City Council retreat at the Barnsley Resort in Adairsville Feb. 22.

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Joy Pooler

Debra Powell

Righteous PR

Chuck Pugh

Raj Rajagopalan

Ashwin Ramaswami

Cheryl Rand

Jean Rearick

Neil Robertson

Matt Rohs

Stephanie Schuette

Susan Searles

Tina Shelton

Lisa Shippel

Joanne Simmons

Tom Simon

Carol Williams

Marilyn Colarossi-Woods

Cindy Simpson

Robert Singleton

Faye Sklar

Judith Slaughter

Andy Smith

Wesley Stewart

Cathryn Stovall

Celeste Strohl

Andy Sumlin

Mike Tasos

Candice Teichert

Lisa Tilt

Michael Townes

Matthew Tyser

Ollie Wagner

Lewis Walker

Jonathan Washburn

Sally White

Thom White

Michael Weiss

Susan Wilson

Jamie Wimberly

Nancy & Dave Wistrand

Carla York

Calendar

ROSWELL ROOTS POETRY SLAM COMPETITION

What : A dozen poets will compete in an effort to win the title.

When : Thursday, Feb. 29, 7-9 p.m.

Where : Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell

Cost : $15

More info : roswell365.com

ROSWELL BEER FESTIVAL 2024

What : This event features more than 350 beers with unlimited tastings, food from Roswell restaurants and live music. Presented by STAR House, 100 percent of proceeds benefit local kids in need.

When : Saturday, March 2, 1-6 p.m.

Where : Town Square, 610 Atlanta Street, Roswell

Cost : Prices vary

More info : roswellbeerfestival.com

AUTHOR AND POET

SANDRA B. TAYLOR

What : Sandra B. Taylor will discuss her autobiography “All of Me” and her experience growing up in Roswell during the Jim Crow era and read a collection of her slam-winning published poetry. The event is free and open to the public.

When : Saturday, March 2, 2-3:30 p.m.

Where : Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell

More info : roswell365.com

ALPHARETTA RESTAURANT WEEK

What : With more than 45 participating businesses, Alpharetta Restaurant Week features local restaurants offering a special dinner menu with multiple courses for $2550 and many also offer similar lunch menus for $20-35.

When : March 3-9

Where : Participating restaurants

More info : awesomealpharetta.com/ alpharetta-restaurant-week

INTO THE WOODS JR.

What : A production of Jerry’s Habima Theatre, “Into the Woods Jr.” weaves together the stories of some of your favorite storybook characters including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, a cunning wolf, Jack

ALPHARETTA RESTAURANT WEEK

What : With more than 45 participating businesses, Alpharetta Restaurant Week features local restaurants offering a special dinner menu with multiple courses for $25-50 and many also offer similar lunch menus for $20-35.

When : March 3-9

Where : Participating restaurants

More info : awesomealpharetta.com/ alpharetta-restaurant-week

FEB. 29 MARCH 10

and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and a baker and his wife who have been cursed by a witch.

When : March 7-17, times vary

Where : Marcus Jewish Community Center, 5342 Tilly Road, Dunwoody

Cost : $10-36

More info : atlantajcc.org

BOOGILICIOUS

What : Boogilicious is an Atlantabased, high energy band covering hits from the ’60s right to today. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets to the performance, which is free with free parking. Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome.

When : Friday, March 8, 7-9 p.m.

Where : Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming

More info : cummingcitycenter.com

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

What : Step into the enchanted world of this modern classic, based on the Academy Award-winning animated film of the same name.

When : March 8-24, times vary

Where : Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost : Tickets starting at $44

More info : cityspringstheatre.com

THE RUBY SUNRISE

What : Presented by Act1 Community Theatre, “The Ruby Sunrise” charts the course of the phenomenon of television through a girl named Ruby.

When : March 8-24, times vary

Where : Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta

More info : act1theater.org

CUMMING WINE FESTIVAL

What : The second annual Cumming Wine Festival will feature live music, wine and spirits with many wineries represented.

When : Saturday, March 9, 1-4 p.m.

Where : Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming

Cost : Tickets starting at $50

More info : cummingcitycenter.com

A NIGHT WITH DADS 2: THE DADDENING

What : Comedians from improv comedy theater Dad’s Garage will perform.

When : Saturday, March 9, 7:30 p.m.

Where : Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody

Cost : $15-28

More info : stagedoortheatrega.org

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John Breyer – Korean War, Vietnam, business executive

Since starting this weekly column almost two years ago, I have profiled and paid tribute to several World War ll heroes, both living and deceased, as well as a living Vietnam vet. This week’s column will highlight an unusual contributor, a sailor who fought in the Korean War and in Vietnam.

Alpharetta resident John Breyer, the oldest of five siblings, was born in St Louis. In 1953, at age 17, he joined the Navy. He was sent to electronics school for nine months at Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay where he learned to repair and maintain shipboard electronic equipment.

Beginning in 1954, he served a 15-month tour in Korea aboard the USS Epping Forest, an LSD (Landing Ship Dock). It featured a “well dock” for transport and launching of landing craft and other vehicles. It could simultaneously carry 300 Marines. John oversaw surface and air radar, sonar and communications equipment.

Epping Forest is the name of an estate in Virginia where George Washington’s mother was born.

Built during World War ll, the Epping Forest saw extensive action in the South Pacific. The ship was decommissioned after the war and recommissioned during the Korean War. In 1954, the ship engaged in mine sweeping operations in Wonsan Harbor, the site of major battles and a naval blockade in the early days of the war. It was the first time an LSD was used for mine sweeping.

“Even though a temporary armistice ending the war was signed in July 1953, the fighting continued for a long time and a permanent peace treaty has yet to be achieved,”John said.

John spent much of his time off the coast of Inchon, west of Seoul, where fighting continued after the armistice.

“We would send aircraft in to napalm the beach and then we would go on to the beach to set up communications with the ship so it could send in Marines and tanks,” John recalled.

The ship picked up supplies when necessary at the Sasebo Naval Base in Japan where millions of tons of supplies, ammunition, fuel and vehicles were loaded on ships bound for Korea.

Late In 1955, the ship took part in the nation’s second hydrogen bomb test series in the Pacific. The U.S. detonated 24 nuclear weapons between 1946 and 1958 on the Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, on land, under the ocean and in

FAMILY/PROVIDED

John Breyer soon after enlisting in the U.S. Navy at age 17 in 1953. Soon after this photo was taken, John underwent nine months of electronics training before shipping out to Korea.

the air. John installed measurement and weather stations and post text fallout measurement devices on the tiny atoll of Kapingamarangi located a safe distance from the atomic tests.

In 1956, during the early days of the Vietnam War, John’s ship moved to that country and mostly worked in the waters near vital Haiphong harbor in North Vietnam and the Saigon River in South Vietnam. Internal waterways and rivers, such as the Mekong Delta and the Saigon River which ran 13 miles from the ocean to the city, exposed the ship to persistent fire from the riverbanks.

“We had to keep the rivers open so our ships could get in,” John said.

Sometimes John had to man the guns which consisted of 40 and 20 mm machine guns and powerful 5-inch guns which were mainly for sea operations and could shoot a projectile 2 to 3 miles.

John left the Navy in January 1957 and enrolled in the University of Illinois where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. In 1960, he married Pat Beabout, who worked in the same university building as John. While he did research in acoustics, she worked in the office.

A month after graduating, John went to work for General Electric in their Ithica and Syracuse N.Y. research labs. His first assignment was to design components for spacecraft and large display systems used in convention halls. He continued engineering studies while at the company and attended the famous GE General Manager Training School for a year.

After 29 years at GE, in 1989, John accepted a position with Scientific Atlanta to direct their antenna

The Epping Forest was an LSD (Landing Ship Dock) used to carry large vehicles and landing craft and depositing them on beaches in hostile lands. The ship also carried up to 300 Marines. The LSD was a workhorse ship during World War ll, Korea and Vietnam. Shown with landing craft.

Officers and crew of the USS Epping Forest shown on the ship’s well dock probably taken in the Los Angeles area shortly after the ship was commissioned in October 1943. The well dock is a deck at the waterline at the ship’s stern which when flooded allows amphibious vehicles and landing craft to enter and exit the ship. The ship could travel at 17 knots and was 458 feet long. It could carry up to 12 medium tanks and several landing craft depending on how many vehicles it transported. It accommodated 22 officers and 218 men at full capacity plus officers and men to handle landing craft.

measurement and radar cross section, RCS, businesses. (RCS is a measure of how detectable an object is by radar.) He became group vice president in charge of 11 businesses and retired in 1999.

Retired is perhaps not the best term in John’s case. He purchased the business he had been responsible for from Scientific Atlanta and started MI Technologies, a company that made specialized instrumentation products for government, military and private sector enterprises. The company merged with a

California competitor in 2016 and John ran the new entity. He permanently retired in April 2021.

One could say that John has had four successful careers.

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. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

U.S. NAVY/PROVIDED

U.S. NAVY/PROVIDED

Ancient art of tenkara helps kids learn flyfishing

Peanut butter and jelly...cheese and crackers... bacon and eggs... these things just go together.

So do kids and fly fishing!

But let me clarify.

What I’m thinking about this morning when I say “fly fishing” in the context of kids is actually something called “tenkara,” a centuries-old Japanese approach to fly fishing. Like Western-style fly fishing, it uses a long rod, a line and a fly. But in tenkara, the length of the line is fixed, and the line is tied directly to the tip of the rod. There’s no reel full of line, in other words, and that means that problems with line management just go away. All you have to do is to focus on putting the little fly where you want it to go, and the fish do the rest.

Think of a high-tech cane pole, and you’ve got the right idea.

Kids love it!

That’s what makes tenkara-style fishing so appealing to kids – the sheer simplicity of it all. Tenkara allows kids to focus on putting the fly where they want it to go without getting distracted by worrying about managing a bunch of rebellious line. That one simple fact makes tenkara almost intuitive, opening the door to a lot of fun for all concerned.

“It’s like throwing a ball, except I’m throwing a little fly,” one young person told me recently. “It’s just like I’m throwing the fly right to the fish.”

The big question, of course, is when to start a child learning the art of tenkara. What’s a good age to begin?

“Depending on the child, 5 or 6 years old may not be too young,” observes Pennsylvania-based tenkara enthusiast Joe Mulvey. Joe has enjoyed tenkara for many years, and as his grandchildren grew old enough to get their feet wet (pardon the pun), he was more than willing to teach them.

Right away, Joe says, the question

of choosing a suitable rod comes up. What sort of rod is best for kids? His advice is to look at something that’s not too long because a long rod is harder for young arms to manage.

“I would stick with tenkara rods that are 9 ft. or shorter until the kids get taller,” Joe says.

Another thing Joe suggests is to use high-visibility line when fishing with kids.

“I recommend braided line in a bright color as opposed to a level line, which can be harder to see,” he says. “That makes it easier for the kids to see and to cast.”

When introducing kids to tenkara, remember that the goal is to catch fish – pure and simple.

“Begin with small and easy-to-catch fish like bluegill,” he says. Kids want

to feel the tug on the other end of the line. If they do, there’s a great chance they’ll be hooked on the sport for years to come.

What kind of water is best for kids?

“Look for a shallow, easy-to-wade stream with lots of sunfish in it,” Joe says. “If the stream is shallow enough, you can even let them stand in the water while they fish. They’ll learn something about wading and get to play with casting too.”

When teaching kids to fish, whether with tenkara or traditional fly fishing gear, it’s important to remember that you’re fishing with kids. Children do not automatically appreciate the pretrip rituals that we adults treasure and enjoy; instead, they want to get to the water and catch some fish.

“That’s why I suggest that you use

Steve Hudson’s latest book, Tenkara 101, has just been published and is a great way to learn about tenkara fishing. It will be available from local outfitters or direct from the author at FlyBooks.net.

a line holder. Have it pre-rigged and ready to go so you can start fishing as soon as you get to the water,” Joe says. Being ready to go like that keeps kids from getting bored, and that’s important.

Joe also suggests having a fly vest or fishing cap for the child to wear. Again, it connects them to the day.

What about flies? For starters, try a surface fly like a brightly colored foam spider. Get some in a variety of colors, and let the kids choose the one they like.

Once the fishing begins, don’t worry too much about things like keeping the line off the water. Instead, encourage your proteges to just “throw the fly over there.” It works! You’ll be surprised at how quickly they learn the basic tenkara cast, and all the rest will follow.

When the child lands a fish, make a big deal of it! Take pictures and celebrate! You might even want to clip off the fly and present it later on to the mom or dad as a souvenir of the day’s adventure. It’s something the parents (and the child) will treasure for years to come.

Here’s one last thing to keep in mind when introducing kids to tenkara. For children, fishing is about a lot more than fishing. You’ll be combining fishing with wading and rock throwing and frog chasing too. Kids probably won’t be up for a whole day of throwing flies, so encourage those frog and rock breaks. I’m betting that you just might find that you enjoy chasing frogs and throwing rocks too.

And remember that you’re helping to ensure the future of the rivers and streams that we all love so much. You can’t do much better than that.

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

Twelve-year-old Bates with his first fly rod fish, a sunfish that he caught on the “Hachi” tenkara rod from Zen Tenkara.

Groundhog Day and predicting the economy

D.C. AIKEN Guest Columnist dcaiken.com

Since we are in February and we just recently went through Groundhog Day, I’d like to reference Punxsutawney Phil who predicts an early spring and less than six weeks left of cold weather. However, unlike him, our Warriors of Wall Street have a different outlook with more than six weeks of higher rates. If the warriors are correct, it will be “painful” but better times are ahead.

The Consumer Price Index was released this week, showing prices at the “core” level rose by .4% while the market was expecting a rise of .3% and the overall rate, for the past 12 months, to be 3.9%.

THE INVESTMENT COACH

Our “Warriors of Wall Street” pushed the 10-year Treasury north of 4.3% for the first time since the Thanksgiving holiday, and mortgage rates are once again approaching 7% on fears that inflation is not subsiding yet. I’m not sure what they are thinking since it is not like we have runaway inflation, and if we look back over the past six months, we are still close to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target goal.

Regardless of how you look at it, inflation has moved from over 9% to below 4%. There is little to no chance that the Federal Reserve will raise rates this year and most likely will begin a series of cuts this year, which may happen by late spring. But our “Wall Street Warriors” felt the need to push the 10-year Treasury and, ultimately, mortgage rates to higher levels.

The other thing is that they only look at the overall number and not what may

be driving it to slightly higher levels than their expectations.

Take motor vehicle insurance, which is included in the Consumer Price Index number. On average, motor vehicle Insurance has risen by 20% on a yearover-year basis. Call me crazy, but I am pretty sure our Federal Reserve policies for tightening and lowering rates have little to nothing to do with car insurance rates. Just wait until they see what the increase in homeowner’s insurance is doing. But it is one component that makes up our consumer price index.

The good news is that this, too, shall pass, and rates will most likely push back below the 4% mark on the U.S. 10-year Treasury over the next six weeks, which should take mortgage rates closer to the 6.5% mark. Like the weather, we will most likely endure a little more pain/cold weather and will also see marginally higher rates for

the next several weeks. However, the underlying slowing of the economy and lower inflation are still on the horizon. We will likely be heading back towards the mid-6 % range by mid to late March as our “Warriors” finally realize that the unprecedented Federal Reserve rate hikes over the past two years have truly controlled inflation and “cooled” our overall economy.

Hope you have a nice remainder of your week and be careful out there!

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.

The changing landscape of finding a place to live

LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP Columnist The Investment Coach

For eons, humankind has asked: ‘Where will I live?’

The Book of Genesis tells us that Adam and Eve lived in comfort and security in the Garden of Eden. Then temptation got the best of them. They ate of the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge, and God banished them from Paradise. And so began mankind’s ongoing quest to find shelter and other necessities of life, including food, water, and security.

Early man lived in caves, stick and mud huts, animal skin shelters, and even ice blocks in Arctic regions. Following the predominate huntergatherer phase and the advancement of planting and harvesting, villages, towns, and cities emerged. Then cars replaced horses and wagons and we got insufferable traffic! And so it goes.

When we’re young, our parents or guardians determine where we live. When we leave the nest we are faced with a multiplicity of choices and questions, as are parents who may keep The Bank of Mom and Dad open for some time. Financial planning enters the picture. For the college bound does one live on-campus or off-

campus? Dorm, frat or sorority house, apartment? Living arrangements and commuting costs must be factored into college planning.

If one joins the military, as this writer did upon graduating from college, one’s rank, housing allowance, and assignment may factor into living quarter options, on base, or off base. When one enters the civilian work force, choices multiply along with budget considerations. For example, in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, apartment rents range from $1,325 per month to as much as $15,432 a month, with an average monthly rent of $3,082. Buckhead appeals with a wide range of restaurants, bars, and entertainment options, but may be budget busting for many.

Conversely, in the fast-growing Cumming area of Forsyth County, the median apartment rent is $2,200 a month. But a commute up and down traffic-clogged Ga. 400 is not my idea of a good time. By way of contrast, the average monthly rent for an apartment in Manhattan, New York City, is $4,768, plus you have bloodletting city and state income taxes to deal with on top of federal taxes and other considerations such as health insurance. No wonder the Sunbelt is booming, with lower taxes and more affordable housing options.

If you’re going to stay in one place for a time, consider buying a house,

an appreciating asset, an important step in a long-term inflation hedging and tax smart wealth accumulation program. In the early 1970s this writer accepted a job transfer from Chicago to Atlanta and was stunned at how much house my wife and I could get for the money. Our first house as a married couple was in Crystal Lake, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. On selling, we made a good profit even though we’d owned it for only two years, allowing us to make a healthy down payment on a home in Stone Mountain. As a side note, I had a 7 percent interest rate on my mortgage, a bargain in the highly inflationary ’70s. According to nerdwallet.com, the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loan quoted on 2/2/2024 was 6.554%. That’s more than the ridiculously almost free money rates of the recent past, but it is manageable within a well-thought-out budgeting and longrange financial plan.

As you move through the cycles of life, your housing needs or preferences may change. Many empty nesters are challenged when they determine that “downsizing” and moving may result in paying more for the home they want. If you move farther out to a booming and relatively new area where property taxes are lower, eventually taxes catch up. Staying put often is the result. But the realities of aging must be considered. If you lose your

spouse, do you age in place? Where is your support network as a widow or widower living alone? The same question may be asked by a late-in-life divorcee. Do you have adult children nearby? Or are you the “go-to child” for an aging parent or other loved one and how close to them are you geographically?

With less sand in your hourglass you may move to an adult living community or a situation with various levels of care available, right down to nursing or hospice care. All of these possibilities must be considered in a long-term, comprehensive financial plan. Your ultimate goal is financial independence, being able to afford the best if need be, and never being a financial burden on children or other loved ones.

We humans are a unique mix of the material and spiritual, body and soul. At some point you will leave your physical essence and all of your earthly possessions behind. Since God promises eternal life, where will you reside in the hereafter? As children of God we have been promised a glorious home in Heaven, well beyond any earthly abode that we can imagine. All we need to do is to follow God’s teachings as to rules of conduct and service. How does your life plan, your financial plan, encompass spiritual and eternal aspirations? That’s something to think about.

Chamblee’s first store is now Moonbird Café and Southbound

The first store in Chamblee was opened in the late 1800s by W.D. Wallace and C.P. Warnock across from the railroad tracks and Chamblee depot. W.D. was known as Dave and C.P. went by Charlie. The building still stands today at the intersection of American Way and Peachtree Road and is home to Moonbird Café and Southbound restaurant.

Dave Wallace was one of the children of William R. Wallace, who ran a sawmill and built furniture in the area where Fischer Mansion was later built and today is the location of The Preserve at Fischer Mansion and D’Youville Condominiums.

The 1910 census record shows Charlie and Corrie Warnock living in the Cross Keys district of DeKalb County along with their five children. Charlie’s occupation is listed as retail merchant in a general store. Directly below this record is that of Dave and Sibbie Wallace and their son. Dave Wallace

is also listed as a retail merchant in a general store.

In Vivian Price’s 1983 book, “A History of the Community and City of Chamblee,” she shares the history of the general merchandise store. “You could buy five yards of percale for 62 cents or a lamp globe for a dime.” Cows and chickens were kept in a pen behind the store, because customers sometimes paid their account with a cow or chickens.

Price says reading the ledger book of the store was like reading the census report for Chamblee. The names included Eidson, Carroll, Sexton, Rudisill, Bolton, Purcell, Coker, Berry, Britt, Pierce, Etheridge, Miller, Loyd and Elliot. The Chamblee Masons met on the second floor and are also listed on the store ledger as a customer.

The store later became the location of Pierce’s Variety Store and Masonic Lodge 444. The Masons continued to meet in the building for several decades, until a new lodge was built at 5556 Peachtree Boulevard in Chamblee

Plaza. The owners of Moonbird Café and Southbound have gathered some history for interested customers. The building was originally free-standing and the first on the block. Other buildings were built up and down the road, but the Wallace and Warnock store was the only two-story. The bricks were handmade and molded, possibly on site.

Shady Ladies consignment and window treatment shop was in the building before it became home to the café and restaurant.

The great care the owners took in restoring the building can be seen outside and when you step inside. “Construction of Southbound took over two years and we opened in May 2014. We worked hard to preserve the original

beauty and architecture of the building, which required peeling away many, many layers that the years had piled on.” Wood from the base of the bar was recycled and unique pieces were found to increase the “rustic beauty of the building.”

The bar upstairs was originally in the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Southbound owners bought the bar from a carpenter who had saved the old and worn bar from becoming trash. Today, it has new life upstairs at Southbound.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Sandy Springs. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Columnist

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF/APPEN MEDIA

Moonbird Cafe and Southbound restaurant occupy the historic building that began as the Wallace and Warnock store in Chamblee. Lenox Cupcakes is next door to the left.

DEKALB HISTORY CENTER/PROVIDED

This photo of the building that once housed the Wallace and Warnock store was taken when it was home to the Masonic Lodge 444. To the left is the Paradise Lunchroom.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following item will be considered by the City Council on Monday, March 4, 2024 and Monday, March 18, 2024 during the Alpharetta City Council Meeting and Public Hearing, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers located at 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. The Code of the City of Alpharetta, Georgia Text Amendments – City Parks Rules and Regulations

Consideration of an ordinance to amend Article I, Chapter 32 of The Code of the City of Alpharetta, Georgia relating to the rules and regulations for parks owned and operated by the City and events occurring in city parks; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following items will be considered by the City Council on Monday, March 25, 2024 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. E-24-01 Greco/1530 Stelten Way Backyard Chickens

Consideration of an exception to allow backyard chickens on a 0.47 acre residential property with a chicken coop that is approximately 13’ from the side property line. Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.3.3(C)(9)

Accessory Uses and Structures, Uses Customarily Accessory to Dwellings

Located in Residential Zoning Districts requires that backyard chickens be located on a minimum 1-acre property with a single-family detached dwelling and associated structures (chicken coop) having a minimum setback of 25’ from the side and rear property lines. The property is located at 1530 Stelten Way and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1201, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

In Memoriam

Dorothy Jane Galloway

Dottie Galloway, 94, of Roswell, passed away peacefully Feb. 12. She has joined Ron, her beloved husband of 66 years and we are sure they are dancing and laughing together once again. Her strength and loving spirit endeared her to everyone who knew her.

Dottie excelled at everything she attempted. A former beauty queen, she rose from part-time bookkeeper to clerktreasurer of several Ohio school systems. She was named the top State school Employee in Ohio and served as an officer in numerous professional organizations. She was a million-dollar salesperson her first year in real estate. She was a tireless volunteer, officer, and trip planner for the many organizations in which she and Ron were involved including the Elks,

Masons, Eastern Star, American Legion and various church groups.

Jan 29, 2024, the mayor pro tem of Roswell, read a proclamation honoring her volunteerism at Brookdale Senior Living.

But what people will remember most about Dottie is her warmth and loving care for the people she met. Family and friends were EVERYTHING to her. In the dictionary, the definition of a “people person” is Dottie Galloway. She will be missed. Her earthly body gave out, but her huge heart and compassion live on in the hundreds of people she touched.

Refer to Northside Chapel Funeral Directors in Roswell for complete obituary.

Notice is given that there will be introduced at the 2024 regular session of the General Assembly of Georgia a bill to create the City of Roswell Public Facilities Authority; and for other purposes.

In Memoriam

Gwen Ann Brittain Grant

Gwen Grant, age 75, of Canton, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord on February 16, 2024. Mrs. Grant was born on March 5, 1948, in Fayetteville, Arkansas to the late Fern and Claude Clifton “Red” Brittain. She was a loving and dedicated daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend.

Mrs. Grant leaves behind her siblings, brother, Greg Brittain of Augusta, Georgia, and sister, Stacy Brittain Sova of Cleveland, Ohio.

Gwen remained married to the “love of her life,” Mr. Gary Leigh Grant for nearly 54 years. Mr. and Mrs. Gary Grant were married in Atlanta, Georgia on June 12, 1970 and began their family in Dayton, Ohio. Gwen leaves behind her three children, daughter, Lori Grant Martin (W. Andrew) of Charlotte, North Carolina; son, Robert Alan Grant (Mandy) of Canton, Georgia; and son, Ryan Leigh Grant (Katie) of Johns Creek, Georgia.

Gwen’s family was always her priority and she cherished “each moment” with them. Her grandchildren Emma Martin (22), Charlie Martin (20), Ethan Grant (20), Reese Grant (17), Molly Martin (16), Ella Grant (14), Nora Grant (12) and Brynn Grant (8) especially, brought her great joy. From the sidelines she cheered them on in golf, soccer, baseball, gymnastics, cheer, dance, theater and art shows; each birthday and milestone celebrated with a card signed with her favorite affirmation, “Jesus Loves You and So Do I, Love GG.”

Her legacy will be her servant’s heart and demonstrative faithfulness to her Heavenly Father and her deep and abiding personal relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She shared

the Gospel story far and wide through ministries in her many hometowns of Ohio, Indiana, Florida, and Georgia as well as through global missions in Singapore, Peru and Croatia. Mrs. Grant was a member of Roswell United Methodist Church, True Identity Ministries, Bible Study Fellowship, Community Bible Study, and NOMADS, a Methodist disaster recovery ministry where she, Gary, and their faithful labradoodle, Gus, traveled the country in their RV volunteering their labor skills to rebuilding communities in need.

The family would like to thank Dr. Erin Dunbar, founding physician of the Brain Tumor Center and Director of Neuro-Oncology at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital for her skilled care of Gwen from diagnosis in May 2021 until present. Dr. Dunbar personally oversaw the treatment of Gwen’s Glioblastoma Tumor and her team was tender and gracious to Gwen and her entire family during the nearly three years she lived and thrived with her diagnosis.

Additionally, they would like to thank Accent Care, Inpatient Hospice Center in Cumming, Georgia for the compassion they showed to Mrs. Grant and her family during Mrs. Grant’s final weeks. Mrs. Grant passed peacefully at home in Canton as she wished.

A Celebration of Life Service is planned for March 5, 2024 at 11:00 am. The family will gather with friends at Roswell United Methodist Church, Roswell, Georgia to celebrate Gwen’s heavenly homecoming and her earthly birthday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts and donations may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association, Glioblastoma Foundation or a charity of your choosing.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following items will be considered by the City Council on Monday, March 18, 2024 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. PH-24-08 Windward Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)

Consideration of plan adoption of the Windward Livable Centers Initiative (LCI). Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF ALPHARETTA , GEORGIA FOR

HARRIS ROAD DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS ITB #24-016

The City of Alpharetta is accepting bids for the HARRIS ROAD DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS project, including, but not limited to, furnishing of all materials, labor and equipment for the demolition and reconstruction of existing sidewalk, installation of storm sewer system materials (including but not limited to structures, pipe, and bedding), installation of curb and gutter, tree removal, grading, utility re-location, erosion control, traffic control, and stabilization of disturbed soils. The work is within the City of Alpharetta.

The ITB and associated documents will be available online at no cost to bidders on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at our bid posting website, https:// cityofalpharetta.bonfirehub.com/. Interested parties are required to log in to review the ITB documents.

This procurement is issued under the authority of the City of Alpharetta’s Procurement Policy, also following State of Georgia and Federal applicable laws. The City has the right to reject all bids or proposals, to reject any bid or proposal that has not followed or met the City’s scope of work or specifications (nonresponsive) or reject any bid or proposal that shows that a bidder cannot meet one or more of the requirements (non-responsibility). The City has the right to ignore unimportant mistakes that do not affect the work or service to be provided, the purchase of requested item(s), or proposal pricing to award a contract that is in the best interest of the City.

The bid opening will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 10:00 AM. All responses must be received before closing at https://cityofalpharetta.bonfirehub. com/, webpage for this project. Responses submitted by hard copy, mail, facsimile, or e-mail will not be accepted. Responses received after the closing time will not be considered.

A Public Bid Opening will be held shortly after the closing of the ITB using Microsoft Teams. The link to the meeting can be found on the project’s webpage, https://cityofalpharetta.bonfirehub.com/.

For information, please contact Abby Shipp at the City of Alpharetta’s Finance Department via email at purchasing@alpharetta.ga.us or at 678-297-6052.

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.”

NOTICE OF LOCATION AND DESIGN APPROVAL

P. I. 0017187

FULTON COUNTY

Notice is hereby given in compliance with Georgia Code 22-2-109 and 32-3-5 that the Georgia Department of Transportation has approved the Location and Design of this project.

The date of location and design approval is: January 31, 2024

The proposed project is located in Fulton County and is within Land District 1. The proposed project intends to widen SR 120/Old Milton Parkway from 4-lanes to 6-lanes with a 20-foot raised median from North Point Parkway to Kimball Bridge Road. All the widening except near the bridge over Big Creek will be to the inside. Total project length is approximately 2 miles. The project will replace the two existing bridges (EB & WB), that span over Big Creek and the Big Creek Greenway Trail, with one wider bridge.

The City of Alpharetta would be responsible for acquiring property rights for this project.

Drawings or maps or plats of the proposed project, as approved, are on file and are available for public inspection at the Georgia Department of Transportation:

Britni McCullough – Area Manager District 7, Area 2

bmccullough @dot.ga.gov

1268 Kennestone Circle Marietta, GA 30065 478-234-7985

Any interested party may obtain a copy of the drawings or maps or plats or portions thereof by paying a nominal fee and requesting in writing to:

Kimberly Nesbitt, Office of Program Delivery Administrator

Attn: Rodney Leverette, Project Manager

RLeverette@dot.ga.gov

600 West Peachtree Street NW Atlanta, Ga. 30308 (404) 424-9033

Any written request or communication in reference to this project or notice SHOULD include the Project and P. I. Numbers as noted at the top of this notice.

CITY OF ROSWELL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLACE: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill St, Suite 215

DATE & TIME: 10:00 AM, Thursday, March 7, 2024

PURPOSE: Application for Full Pouring/Liquor/Beer/Wine/ Sunday Sales

APPLICANT: Shehzad Patel

BUSINESS NAME: Fiesta Bar Y

Parrilla/Alishmaan Investements Inc

BUSINESS ADDRESS: 11235

Alpharetta Hwy, Suite #102, Roswell, GA 30076

CITY OF ROSWELL

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLACE: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill St Suite 215

DATE & TIME: 10:00 AM, Thursday, March 7th, 2024

PURPOSE: Application for Package/ Beer Sale

APPLICANT: Shehzad Patel

BUSINESS NAME: San Miguel #3 Alishmaan Inc

BUSINESS ADDRESS: 11235

Alpharetta Hwy, Suite 103, Roswell GA 30076

CITY OF ROSWELL PUBLIC NOTICE

PLACE: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill St Suite 215

DATE & TIME: Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 10:00 am.

PURPOSE: Application for Full Pouring Liquor/Beer/Wine/Sunday Service

APPLICANT: Muslum Gulmez

BUSINESS NAME: Loquom Lounge / Zara Lounge LLC

BUSINESS ADDRESS: 915

Holcomb Bridge Rd. Ste B. Roswell GA 30076

During these turbulent times, we would like to highlight the

courage and commitment of everyone who works in the health care, law enforcement, childcare, food service and utility sectors. We are extremely grateful.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

CITY OF ROSWELL GEORGIA

CITY OF ROSWELL 2024 BRIDGE REPAIRS

General Notice

The City of Roswell, Georgia, (Owner) is requesting Bids from GDOT Pre-qualified Contractors for the construction of the following Project:

CITY OF ROSWELL 2024 BRIDGE REPAIRS ITB# 24-046-A

Bids for the construction of the Project will be received at the location, date and time provided for on the City’s official bid management and receipt platform, accessed using the City’s Designated Website: https://roswellgov.bonfirehub.com/ opportunities. At that time the Bids received will be publicly opened and read aloud. The Bid opening will also be provided via simultaneous Zoom virtual meeting. Zoom information will be provided on the Designated Website.

The Project includes the following Work:

Perform repairs on multiple bridges located within the City of Roswell. The Bid Schedule available on the Bonfire website provides details, including the bridge locations and a description of the repair work required. Bids are due and bid opening will occur on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 2:00 PM in Room 130 at City of Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street, 30075.

Exactly 90 calendar days have been set aside for performance of the contract. Liquidated Damages are set at $213 per calendar day in accordance with RDOT General Conditions and GDOT 2021 Specifications.

Information and Bidding Documents for the Project can be found at, and Bids must be submitted using the following Designated Website : https://roswellgov.bonfirehub.com/opportunities

Bidding Documents may be downloaded from the designated website at no charge. Prospective Bidders must register with the designated website in order to obtain official Bidding Documents. Documents obtained from a plan room or source other than the designated website in either electronic or paper format may not be official documents. The designated website will be updated periodically with addenda, reports, and other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project. All official notifications, addenda, and other Bidding Documents will be offered only through the designated website. Bids must be submitted through the designated website. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for Bidding Documents, including addenda, if any, obtained from sources other than the designated website.

A Bid Bond in the amount of 5% is required. Payment and Performance bonds equal to 100% of the Awarded Contract value are required.

The City reserves the right to reject any one or all bids.

Any pre-bid conference for the Project, and its status as a mandatory or non-mandatory event, will be provided on, and held in accordance with the Project Schedule posted on the designated website – if posted as an event.

For all further requirements regarding bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents and/or on the Designated Website.

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