Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - March 9, 2023

Alpharetta group salutes Arbor Day with tree planting

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Residents and city officials joined the Alpharetta Natural Resources Commission to mark Arbor Day at Wills Park March 4.

The group planted a serviceberry tree beside the Alpharetta Community Garden to commemorate the holiday. The native, all-season tree blossoms with flowers and berries beloved by birds.

Urban Forestry Program Manager Will Eberly said the serviceberry tree, which also adorn the median of Old Milton Parkway, is resilient and makes a nice addition to Wills Park.

“Trees promote outdoor recreation which improves human health and well-being and reduces ‘Nature-Deficit Disorder’ in children by encouraging more activity and connection to the natural world,” Natural Resources Commissioner Kate Tunison said in the proclamation.

Parks Supervisor Nate Hand shoveled the first soil to the base of the tree and invited citizens to participate by pouring mulch.

Deborah Eves, owner of Alpharetta Bee Company, joined in, saying she is passionate about tree preservation.

“I came today because I am really proud that Alpharetta cares about trees and supporting our canopy and adding more trees to our city,” Eves said.

City Arborist David Shostak said the event marks the city’s commitment to urban forestry. After the planting, he invited attendees to enjoy the nature of Wills Park to celebrate Arbor Day.

“Keeping our trees and planting more trees enhances our lives and the enjoyment of everybody,” Tunison said.

Heads-up action saves man’s life at Roswell park

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. —The last thing Nick Bogle saw before his heart stopped beating at Roswell Area Park was two people inspecting the park’s automated external defibrillator, or AED.

The 63-year-old Milton resident was walking past the park bathrooms toward his soccer practice Feb. 4 when he experienced sudden cardiac arrest. Within moments, a fellow soccer player and retired fire chief started CPR on him.

When CPR proved ineffective, the pair inspecting the AED acted. Jeff Freemyer, a board member of elder-focused soccer club FC Georgia United, called 911. Alina Waring, an emergency physician administered the AED.

After only a few minutes and a single shock from the defibrillator, Bogle was revived and taken to the hospital by emergency medical services. Bogle spent four days in the hospital where he had an internal cardio defibrillator placed in his heart. If his heart stops again the device will restart it.

Weeks later Bogle is back on his feet, preparing to return to his athletic lifestyle.

“My recovery really is going to be complete because they got to me so quickly,” Bogle said.

The soccer player called the lifesaving measures a “miracle.” Bogle

See REVIVED, Page 7

PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Alpharetta Natural Resources Commissioner Kate Tunison, left, reads the city’s proclamation to Arbor Day 2023 alongside City Arborist David Shostak, right, at a tree planting ceremony March 4 at Wills Park. The Natural Resources Commission planted a serviceberry tree to commemorate the holiday.

Alpharetta Parks Supervisor Nate Hand, front left, prepares the base of a serviceberry tree for mulch at the city’s March 4 Arbor Day celebration at Wills Park. Residents followed Hand by pouring mulch at the base of the tree.

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Thieves steal vehicle along Gardner Drive

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A woman delivering groceries to her sister at an Alpharetta residence Feb. 13, reported her car was stolen while parked on Gardner Drive.

Police reports said the victim arrived at the home at about 7 p.m., and when she left the house an hour later, her 2016 BMW was missing.

Both the victim and her mother said a suspicious white Toyota Camry carrying several occupants, was seen in the area when she arrived at the residence but was gone when she exited and discovered the theft.

Police officers entered the stolen vehicle’s information in the state database but did not discover any further evidence at the scene.

At the time of the report, no suspect had been identified in the case.

Roswell U-Haul reports theft of rental vehicle

ROSWELL, Ga. — U-Haul on Holcomb Bridge Road reported one of its vehicles stolen on Feb. 22 after discovering the suspect used a fake driver’s license for the rental.

Employees told police the suspect rented the vehicle, valued at $10,000, on Jan. 9.

Company officials said they had tried to contact the suspect about the vehicle but received no response. The store’s regional manager said he thinks the stolen truck now has a different tag on it.

A U-Haul store manager in Florida said he saw a truck with the same equipment

number as the stolen vehicle but a different tag than it was registered with.

Police pulled a photo of the suspect from the store’s security cameras, but facial recognition software provided no results.

Multiple vehicle burglaries reported at businesses

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police investigated a series of vehicle burglaries that took place between Feb. 16-18 at businesses throughout the city.

Over the three-day period, five vehicles were reported burglarized, with either with broken windows or unlocked doors. Thieves reportedly stole multiple electronic devices, a handgun, clothing, wallets, credit cards and other items from the vehicles, police reports said.

The vehicles were targeted at the Marriott Hotel and Wild Wing Café on Windward Parkway, the Lifetime Fitness on North Point Parkway, the Benihana restaurant on Mansell Road and the Ruth Chris Steak House restaurant on Haynes Bridge Road. Several of the locations have been previously targeted by thieves for vehicle burglaries.

Several of the burglaries occurred at night and others happened during the day.

In one of the cases, possible suspects driving a white BMW sedan were witnessed but not identified.

Resident reports theft of check from mailbox

ROSWELL, Ga. — On Feb. 21, a resident on Pattingham Drive told Roswell Police a check had been stolen from his mailbox.

The resident had placed the check valued at $88 in his mailbox and put the red flag up. Soon after, he noticed the flag had been moved down.

He reviewed footage from his Ring camera and saw a dark blue Nissan had driven past his house, turned around,

stopped by the mailbox and taken the check.

When the car stopped by the mailbox, the passenger window rolled down and footage showed a person’s arm, clad in a light grey long sleeve shirt, reaching out to grab the check. The car then drove off.

The resident has since frozen his bank account and the case remains active.

$24,000 fraud reported at Alpharetta business

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police say that a local business was recently defrauded of more than $24,000 by thieves using a forged check.

The fraud was reported Feb. 16 and police were told a business on Mansell Court in Alpharetta discovered that one of their company checks had been written out to a company called “Jenkins Beds And Mattresses” for $24,685.

The company CEO told police they would not have purchased beds as part of their business, and they have no knowledge of Jenkins Beds And Mattresses. Employees said they do not know how the business’s checking account was compromised.

At the time of the report, no suspect had been identified.

Alpharetta police introduce new therapy dog

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta Police Department is instating its first therapy dog to provide victim and witness support and departmental therapy.

Lt. Andrew Splawn said Det. Caitlin Lawrence pitched Scout, a 14-monthold beagle mix, to Director of Public Safety John Robison in 2022. He said Scout was approved, and Lawrence attended a 40-hour basic training school with Scout in December.

Splawn said Scout came from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office’s Paws and Stripes College in Florida, a program where select jail inmates train shelter dogs in obedience to determine whether they would be a good fit as a therapy or a comfort dog.

“They have to do a mock therapy dog interview where they’re interviewing a victim or a witness and the dog is in the room,” Splawn said. “They have a really nice program down there at Brevard County, and then after the one-week certification, then the handler gets to come back and start to do work with the dog.”

Scout’s training did not end with

Paws and Stripes, Splawn said. Scout will continue to learn and improve his skills for the rest of his time at the department.

Splawn said standard K9 dogs are used as tools in the field for scent detection, tracking and apprehension, but Scout will be used to bring comfort for those who have had traumatic

experiences.

“Because whenever somebody’s been a victim of a traumatic crime, especially like a person-on-person crime, being able to help them recall the details and speak about them, it’s very challenging,” Splawn said. “And if we can use therapy dogs to help them out, we’re helping the victim, but then we’re

also helping to identify suspects.”

He said Scout’s primary purpose is a therapy dog for victims and witnesses, but the dog will also provide therapy for the Public Safety Department’s employees, such as firefighters and 911 dispatchers, who can witness traumatic events in the course of their duties.

Since February, Splawn said Scout has already made rounds around the department to cheer up employees, but Scout has not yet been employed in direct response to a traumatic event.

Splawn said a study conducted by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office found that in 24 cases, 83 percent of child abuse victims made active disclosures when comforted by a therapy dog, compared to the national average 30-40 percent disclosure rate.

“It really helps victims and witnesses [who are] anxious in an interview room,” Splawn said. “It really helps calm them down, and as they get more calm, they’re able to recall more instances and details to be able to give to the police.”

Splawn said the department will review Scout’s success rate in the future to determine if more therapy dogs would be worthwhile, but the department is open to having more.

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ALPHARETTA POLICE DEPARTMENT/PROVIDED

The Alpharetta Police Department is instating its first therapy dog Scout to its K9 team. Police Lt. Andrew Splawn said Scout will be used for departmental therapy, as well as witness and victim support.

Pickleball club franchise to launch in Roswell

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Ace Pickleball Club is set to open Roswell’s first indoor pickleball club on Market Boulevard this spring. The club will feature 14 professional grade courts members can access anytime.

The membership-driven, indoor pickleball court will be the first location for Ace Pickleball Club. It will function as the headquarters and “beta-testing site” as the franchise expands nationally.

Pickleball is a sport that has skyrocketed in popularity since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020. The sport is similar to tennis but employes paddles and whiffleballs on a smaller court.

Ace Pickleball Club co-founder and CEO Jay Diederich said the sport became popular with older age groups, then grew to include the younger set.

“There are millions of people pouring into the sport and it’s no longer that retiree age group,” Diederich said. “The average age was 64 and a-half, and now we’re headed to the mid-20s.”

Diederich said the sport is starting to expand into high school programs as well. People as young as 12 and as old as 80 can play, and the gender split is even.

The club co-founder started playing the

sport with his wife while living in Florida at the start of the COVID-19 shutdowns. It was one of the few ways the couple could get out of the house.

“We were hooked immediately,” Diederich said.

Within weeks, the pair had already met upwards of 40 new people who also played pickleball. For Diederich and others, the sport replaced the gym.

But the Florida weather wasn’t ideal because of the “brutal” heat, and many tournaments and matches got cancelled or rescheduled last minute.

When Diederich’s wife suggested the sport move indoors, a lightbulb went off.

Diederich has worked in development for Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline park franchise for the past decade, so he was familiar with the concept of indoor athletic spaces. He met with Joe Sexton and Vincent Barrios, both Sky Zone employees, to “take a hard look at moving pickleball indoors.”

The co-founders knew they wanted something different than the typical entertainment establishments, like Pickle and Social or Chicken N Pickle which are primarily restaurants that use pickleball to drive traffic.

Pickle and Social had originally committed to developing a location in East

Roswell in 2020 but backed out of the deal in 2022 after they deemed the property too cost-prohibitive. The pickleball facility and restaurant opted to develop a location in Alpharetta instead.

Diederich said those places are creating family-friendly environments, but he wants to prioritize an all-ages pickleball club that’s “welcoming to all players.” That welcome extends to costs, too.

“For the price of one trip to Pickle and Social, that’s monthly access (to Ace Pickleball Club),” Diederich said.

The Roswell location will be open play-

oriented, and members will have priority access. For a monthly fee, members can come in at any time to hop into a game. There will also be member-focused events and tournaments.

“Everything revolves around the game itself, and activating more people to the sport, whether you’re playing for fun or socializing or training to get on tour,” Diederich said.

The co-founder picked Roswell after he moved his search out of Florida. He said the establishment could work in most markets, but Roswell “blew him away.” The location is close to Atlanta’s HartsfieldJackson Airport, a perk for future business travel, and Diederich was drawn to the area’s growing film industry.

As the Ace Pickleball Club franchise headquarters, the location will be the site of future advancements, like livestreaming, instant replay and instant highlight reels.

“The Roswell players are going to be on the cutting edge,” Diederich said.

While the club will likely not open until late May, Diederich said interested players should join the waitlist now. The club has a cap on memberships to provide adequate playing time for everyone.

“We have the leg up to figure out what this can look like, what the model can look like,” Diederich said.

DELANEY TARR / APPEN MEDIA

Ace Pickleball Club is set to open Roswell’s first indoor pickleball club on Market Boulevard in May 2023, with 14 courts available to members anytime.

Alpharetta strengthens powers for non-HOA neighborhoods

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta City Council has amended the Unified Development Code to allow a neighborhood not represented by a homeowners association to set design and building standards if a majority of property owners approve.

City Council voted 5-0 March 6 to approve the amendments.

Councilmembers John Hipes and Brian Will were absent. The amendments allow the neighborhood to adopt design standards to prevent incompatible development.

For the city to consider a residential infill overlay district, 30 percent of the property owners must support it, and the percentage increases to 75 percent for the city to adopt the district. Councilman Jason Binder succeeded in a proposal to lower the 75 percent majority to twothirds, which passed unanimously.

Resident Michael Buchanan said he supported an overlay district

Milton, Alpharetta address plans for Mayfield Farm

where a majority of residents agree to maintain consistent architectural styles, and where he currently lives, 25 percent of residents can make decisions for the rest.

Economic and Community Development Director Kathi Cook said that the 30 percent threshold includes only owners who reside on the property, but the percent to adopt the district can include developers.

Councilman Donald Mitchell said he found that element of the code troublesome.

“You moved into that neighborhood for a reason, because it looks a certain way, and it feels a certain way, and it has trees, and it has architecture that you like, and then all of a sudden you can get a developer that moves in and wants to change everything for all the folks who have been paying taxes on it,” he said. “There’s something about that that doesn’t ring fair to me.”

Councilman Doug DeRito said the property rights of all individuals are

See POWERS, Page 22

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Three land lots off Mayfield Road, a 12-acre former homestead, could be the subject of a “Grow-A-Row” program.

As part of Milton’s goal to hone agritourism, the project would increase food security for local families and expand production at the 2.5-acre Old Rucker Farm, a joint program between the cities of Milton and Alpharetta.

The Old Rucker Farm produces 4,000 pounds of food each year, said Anita Jupin, Milton economic engagement manager. From that harvest, she said 2,100 pounds of food were donated to the North Fulton Community Charities food pantry last year.

Jupin presented the program for Mayfield Farm at the Milton City Council meeting March 6. A central aspect of “Grow-A-Row” is to engage residents on multiple food system issues, she said.

The Mayfield property was acquired in 2017 under an agreement with Alpharetta, splitting the cost of purchase. During that time, the cities identified a need for a future intergovernmental agreement that outlines daily and long-term decisions, maintenance, repair and upkeep, capital improvements and potential programs.

With collaborative efforts among Community Development, Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments, Milton city staff has been working to draft the initial agreement alongside staff from Alpharetta.

Emily Groth, Milton environmental program manager, presented other ideas for Mayfield Farm, like composting and organic waste diversion as well as educational partnerships with local schools, the University of Georgia Agriculture Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

See PLANS, Page 22

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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.”

Big Creek Greenway project receives $2 million in grants

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Big Creek Greenway Community Connectivity Planning Project is getting a shot in the arm, thanks to $2 million in federal grants announced Feb. 28 by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The project aims to design a multiuse path to unite disadvantaged residents to jobs, health care, education and other civic life. It will be built on a 20-foot easement in Roswell underneath Ga. 400, land owned by the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The path will connect Roswell’s town center, Alpharetta, the

historically disadvantaged Liberty Square neighborhood and Metro Atlanta through the Big Creek Greenway.

“Transportation should connect, not divide, people and communities,” Buttigieg said.

The Reconnecting Communities Program, established by President Joe Biden provides technical assistance and funding for community planning and construction projects that aim to reconnect neighborhoods split by transportation barriers.

The grants, totaling $185 million, were awarded to 39 planning projects and six capital construction projects.

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said he was lucky to be right by the AED, and he was lucky the device they inspected was charged and ready for use.

Bogle ran through everything that could have gone differently, that could have kept the three individuals from saving his life. The American Heart Association says 436,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest every year.

Somebody could have been in the bathroom where the AED is stored, Bogle said. The device could have been dead. He could have been alone.

Thankful for his recovery, Bogle said he wants to raise awareness about the lifesaving measures around Roswell parks. He credits the city for keeping AEDs at all the fields.

Recreation and Parks Department Director Jeffrey Leatherman said the city has 31 AEDs spread across the parks, recreation centers and art centers.

“We want people to be as safe as they can be in our parks and facilities,” Leatherman said.

The devices are stored in women’s restrooms, usually around active areas like the sports fields. While the devices are readily available, Leatherman knows

they can blend into the background.

“When you notice them all the time, you forget they’re even there,” Leatherman said.

Leatherman encourages people to “be conscious” and take mental notes of where the devices are in the parks. He said staff are also available to help in emergency situations.

“It’s just a way we can all help take care of the community and take care of our neighbors,” Leatherman said.

Bogle said the other part of community safety falls on “individual responsibilities,” and everyone should take the time to learn CPR. If performed immediately, the American Heart Association said CPR can double or triple survival chances for cardiac arrest.

He also said people should learn how to use the AED devices, because they can be “intuitive, but intimidating.”

The devices all have directions printed on the outside, as well as audible commands and photo instructions. The defibrillator only activates when all the systems are hooked up correctly.

Leatherman said the device manufacturers also have how-to videos online.

Bogle and his soccer club have helped fund some of the devices because, as an older group, they must prepare for heart attacks.

DELANEY

TARR / APPEN MEDIA

After experiencing sudden cardiac arrest at Roswell Area Park on Feb. 4, Nick Bogle was revived with the help of people around him and an automated external defibrillator, or AED.

Bogle emphasized that cardiac arrest could happen to anyone, no matter their age or fitness level. He named Damar Hamlin, a 24-year-old professional football player who experienced sudden cardiac arrest on the field as an example.

“I didn’t think this could ever happen to myself, and I was a little bit arrogant about it,” Bogle said. “It shows it can happen to anyone really.”

As he prepares to resume sports again, Bogle said he’s grateful for the community who came together, from his family and teammates to the doctors and nurses at the hospital.

“This story has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with everybody else around,” Bogle said.

Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | March 9, 2023

Vino Venue serves as one-stop wine shop

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — For the past decade, Vino Venue has been a onestop shop for all things wine related in Metro Atlanta. As a retail space, restaurant, wine school, private event space and travel hub, the store aims to educate everyone interested in wine.

Michael and Lelia Bryan went on their first trip as a couple to Napa Valley, California in 2001. Lelia was a wine lover, but Michael Bryan was new to the spirit.

“He absolutely fell in love with it,” Lelia said.

Michael returned and decided to start teaching wine classes. In the early 2000s, Lelia moved from Brookhaven to join Michael in Dunwoody and the pair opened the Atlanta Wine School on Holcomb Bridge Road. The school was a success, but the couple wanted to expand.

“We had so many people who would taste wine during their classes and want to buy them, want to learn more about them, want to be able to sample different wines,” Lelia said. “It really just made sense to have a place like Vino Venue.”

In October 2012, they opened the doors to Vino Venue, a so-called “wine emporium” with a retail store, cooking classes, tastings and a tapas-style restaurant. One month later, Michael Bryan was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. He passed away five years later, in 2017.

Those five years were challenging

for Lelia and the couple’s daughter, Willa.

“When he did pass, it was my goal to really just keep the vision he had alive,” Lelia said.

Vino Venue now sees 3,000 visitors annually for wine and cooking classes

and conducts about 300 private wine events a year. The emporium also hosts a variety of guided wine trips throughout the year to destinations like Portugal and Piedmont, Italy.

The establishment has grown since it opened 10 years ago, but Lelia said

she tries to maintain Vino Venue’s initial goal.

“We want to educate people who wanted to know more about the passion around wine,” Lelia said.

DELANEY TARR / APPEN MEDIA

Vino Venue, a wine bar, restaurant, event space and wine school has more than 100 wine bottles for sale at its Dunwoody location. The staff tastes about 100 wines a week to maintain a varied offering.

We want to educate people who wanted to know more about the passion around wine.

LELIA BRYAN, owner, Vino Venue

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“Not in a snotty or uptight way, but in a fun way, where people can really experience and try new things and broaden their horizons.”

Vino Venue offers more than 100 types of wine for sale. About 10 percent of the selection costs more than $75. Lelia said the goal is to make wine approachable for everyone.

“We pride ourselves in finding unique wines that aren’t going to break the bank, are very enjoyable and are between $10 and $20,” Lelia said.

The selections aren’t what a customer may find at a typical grocery store, because the Vino Venue staff takes time to find “unique gems.” Lelia said her team tastes about 100 wines a week to find the best bottles.

“It’s a labor of love, it’s actually a lot of work,” she said.

Across the years, Vino Venue has opened its wine classes to people with all levels of experience and interest. Atlanta Wine School, now housed in Vino Venue, offers Wine and Spirit Education Trust certifications.

The establishment also offers casual classes during the week that span across wine regions, like “taste

of Italy” or “taste of Greece.” Wine professionals teach attendees about the flavors of the region, as well as the best pairings for different foods.

Every few months, Vino Venue puts on a “discover” festival, like the upcoming “Discover France Festival” on March 26. Attendees can buy a ticket and sample around 80 wines and foods centered around France.

Events like the discover series draw hundreds of customers, but Lelia said the business is “relationshipbased.” Her goal is to bring customers in on any level of their wine education and keep the relationship growing.

“Michael was passionate about making people feel comfortable in whatever wine knowledge they have, but also in their preferences,” Lelia said.

As the managing partner of Vino Venue, Lelia is an avid wine drinker. She said picking a favorite wine is like “picking a favorite child.” She takes particular pride, though, in a wine that honors her husband.

Lelia had a close friend and winemaker in Italy scatter Michael’s ashes in a vineyard, and the winemaker dedicated the vineyard to Michael. The white wine created from the vineyards is sold at Vino Venue, and all profits go to sarcoma research.

Name: VIVA Chicken

Owner: Gerald Pulsinelli, CEO

Description: VIVA Chicken, a fast-casual charcoal-fire rotisserie joint that serves distinctively fresh and flavorful chicken and sauces made from authentic Peruvian recipes, will open its second Georgia restaurant on March 1, located at 11760 Haynes Bridge Road in Alpharetta.

Opened: March 1, 2023

Address: 11760 Haynes Bridge Road, Alpharetta, Ga, 30009

Phone: (404) 474-8512

Web Address: http://vivachicken.com

Tucker

Paras

Summer Camps

A summer camp to stretch their imagination and delight

Brought to you by – Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios

Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios, located on Main Street in downtown Alpharetta, is ready to welcome your children to summer camp! Our popular cooking camps are offered weekly, May 30th through August 5th,   and are open to kids ages 5-12. We’re offering both full and half day camps this year!

Each week will feature a different theme, from the Chocolate Factory to Christmas in July to Movie Munchies! Your lil’ chef will be making their own snacks and lunch and will round out their day with arts and crafts, kitchen science experiments, games, and

Summer Camp

lots of FUN! All ingredients and supplies are included.

For more information and to register, visit our website at www. flourpowerstudios.com/alpharetta. Questions? Give us a call at 470.760.6460. We look forward to seeing you this summer!

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Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios

Alpharetta flourpowerstudios.com/alpharetta

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Don’t miss out on our upcoming classes and events! Check them out and register here.

What’s not to “Love”?

Brought to you by - Universal Tennis Academy

The Southeast’s premier tennis academy, Universal Tennis Academy (UTA) is pleased to announce the third year of its popular Summer Tennis Camp at beautiful Horseshoe Bend Country Club in Roswell! These weekly camps, which start the day after Memorial Day and run through July, will once again be headed up by UTA’s Casey McAfee and her amazing staff! We will be offering full and

half-day options for kids between the ages of 6-14 years old.

For more information on our Horseshoe Bend Summer Tennis Camps call the Horseshoe Bend Athletic Center at 770-810-0972 or email tennis@horseshoebendcc.com.

For information on all UTA Programs and Summer Camps at other Atlanta locations please visit our website at www.utatennis.com We look forward to seeing you on the courts at Horseshoe Bend this summer!

A summer camp where happy childhood memories are made

Imagine a home away from home where your child feels secure, welcome and re-assured! That’s Camp Woodmont! Located 2 & ½ hours north of Atlanta, Camp Woodmont is a small, traditional, overnight camp for boys & girls ages 6 –15. The camp features horseback riding, high-ropes courses, climbing, sports, dance, drama, crafts, canoeing, archery, swimming, fishing, ultimate Frisbee, disc golf, & more by carefully-chosen, dedicated staff!

Founded by Jane and Jim Bennett, formerly of Dunwoody, GA in 1981, Camp Woodmont now has two generations of family management. The camp’s close, family-like atmosphere provides cabin living, smores, creative counselors, new friends, skit nights, character-building experiences & more!

Accreditation by the American Camp Association (ACA) for 30+ years. Counselors are college-age and live in the cabins with the campers. Staff to camper ratio averages 1:5. And enrollment averages around 85 campers per week.

Camp Woodmont’s program is very wellsuited to first-time campers since activities start at introductory levels and the camp is very conveniently spaced out. And, returning campers enjoy new activities each year!

Come tour the camp at the Open House May 21, 2023 from 2- 5 pm Register now at www.campwoodmont. com! Or call (423) 472-6070.

The Georgia Politics Podcast focuses on all things under the gold dome. Show host Preston Thompson covers the most noteworthy

Brought

A wakeup call to learn your risk for diabetes

Brought to You by - Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs

March 28th is an important day on the calendar. The fourth Tuesday in March is the American Diabetes Association Alert Day, a “wakeup call” to take time, learn your risk factors and determine if you or your loved ones are at risk for Type 2 diabetes.

Over 34 million Americans have diabetes, which happens when blood glucose levels, or blood sugar, is too high. Even more surprising is that 1 in 7 – or over 7 million adults - don’t know they have it. As we age, the risk of developing diabetes increases. Type 1 diabetes most often occurs in children and young adults. Type 2 diabetes is the most common kind for middle aged and older adults. Over time it can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, eyesight and nerve damage. Millions of additional Americans also have prediabetes, which means their glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to reach diabetic levels.

Learning your risk factors can start with taking the simple Diabetes Risk test on the American Diabetes Association website. Chances of getting it are higher if you are overweight, inactive or have a family history. Talk to your doctor to find if simple blood tests that can help diagnose diabetes, like an A1C test that can be given at any time of day and shows your average glucose level for the past three months, are a good idea for you. Become familiar with the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes, that include

increased hunger or thirst, feeling tired, losing weight without trying, going to the bathroom more frequently, blurred vision and skin infections or slow healing bruising. Your older loved one may also have signs of depression or cognitive issues.

The good news is that many Type 2 diabetes cases are preventable with healthy lifestyle changes. Develop a plan to review with your health care provider that addresses the following steps. Avoid a sedentary lifestyle, with a plan for walking or other forms of daily exercise. Manage your weight with healthy food choices, like eliminating sugar and refined carbohydrates. Stop smoking. Stay hydrated, water is a wonderful choice. Make sure you regularly take any prescribed medications for blood pressure or cholesterol, and track your numbers.

At Home Helpers we know a skilled and well matched Caregiver can help make each day the best it can be for your older loved one, whether it’s making sure a safe walk is a part of their day, following a healthy diet with nutritious meals, monitoring vital signs or creating bonds to battle social isolation. Our heart centered Caregivers can assist with all personal care, help around the house, or provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s, etc.

We’re here to help – from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 and live-in care. For a free consultation contact Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs at (770) 681-0323.

The intersection of faith communities and mental health

Brought

to you by

- Cathy Murphy, Director of Community Outreach, Summit Counseling Center

Many people with mental health conditions, including suicide risk, often turn first to their faith community for help. On Thursday, March 30th the North Fulton Mental Health Collaborate will lead a panel discussion surrounding mental health and the important role of our faith communities.

Spirituality and Mental Health

Many turn to their faith community for support in dealing with mental health problems. Supportive relationships, such as family, longterm friendships and meaningful connections through faith can be important to building resilience and well-being. Faith communities can also play a key role in educating their members about mental health problems.

Culture and Mental Health

Culture can provide a lens for how people think about mental health and how people and mental health professionals interact with one another. Racial and ethnic minorities bear a greater burden from unmet mental health needs due to the stigma surrounding mental health in their culture. There is also a racial/ethnic inequity within the mental health workforce. Just this month, Rep. Michelle Au, D-Johns Creek, was able to get a last-minute amendment to H.B. 520 that would require a workforce study commission to examine cultural competence and language to better understand how the state can meet the mental health needs of Georgia’s diverse population.

How can faith communities address these issues and minister to those in need?

Educate your communities and congregations. Promote awareness by educating the members of your communities and congregations about mental health issues through educational forums and other opportunities.

• Invite local mental health experts—including those who have experienced mental illness—to speak with your congregation or at community gatherings.

• Share facts and common myths about mental health.

• Organize additional meetings, dinners, or other gatherings for members of your congregation or community to have conversations about mental health.

Identify opportunities to support people with mental illnesses. Religious organizations can play an important role in supporting individuals living with mental illnesses and encouraging them to seek help.

• Consider offering your organization’s meeting spaces for community conversations and support groups focused on addressing mental health issues.

• Provide space for peer-led groups that give people the chance to tell their stories in their own time and way.

• Support community programs (for example: peer mentoring programs or opportunities for volunteering) that encourage social participation and inclusion for all people.

Connect individuals and families to help. Strengthen the connections within your community to mental health services and support and

enhance linkages between mental health, substance abuse, disability, and other social services.

• Learn the basic signs of mental illnesses and other facts about mental health to encourage those in need to seek help.

• Remind others that people can and do recover from mental health challenges and that help is available and effective.

• Train key community members (such as adults who work with the children, youth, older adults, veterans, and LGBTQIA) to identify the signs of depression and suicide and refer people to resources.

• Develop relationships with local mental health service providers and other family and youth organizations to help direct individuals and families in need to available services and support in the community. other social services.

• Promote acceptance of those with mental health issues. The voices of leaders and members of faith-based organizations can greatly influence

attitudes about mental health conditions and those who experience them.

• Talk about your own mental health openly.

• Be an example of taking good care of your mental health by making mental wellness a priority in your personal life.

• Be inclusive. Mental health affects all of us.

• Foster opportunities to build connections with individuals and families dealing with mental health challenges through trust and acceptance.

• Foster safe and supportive environments for people to openly talk about mental health, stress, trauma, and related issues.

Join us on Thursday, March 30th from 10:00-11:30am at Alpharetta FUMC, 69 North Main St., Alpharetta to be a part of this important discuss. Learn more about the event and our panelist on our website at summitcounseling.org

Information from mentalhealth.gov/ talk

Why do I get so many Cavities?!

At Roswell Dental Care, we take pride in our ability to educate our patients about their oral health. One question we frequently hear from our patients, “Why do I get so many cavities? I brush my teeth every day!” We understand the frustration that comes from putting the work in to maintain your teeth and still ending up with cavities, we are here to help break those reasons down for you.

1. How deep your grooves are:

How your teeth are shaped, including the grooves of your teeth, are inherited. These grooves are too small for your toothbrush bristles to get in and clean properly. Some teeth have deeper grooves, which increases the risk of biting surface cavities. We can prevent these types by placing sealants (plastic) over the grooves of the teeth.

2. Your oral bacteria:

Did you know, you inherit the genetic layout of your oral bacteria from your mom? The types of oral bacteria can impact your oral health, including your likelihood of cavities and developing periodontal disease. Staying on a cleaning schedule with your dental hygienist will help reduce the number of bacteria you have in your mouth.

3. Your frequency of sugar intake:

Your habits also play a significant role in your oral health. Your frequency of sugar intake has a direct tie into the frequency of the occurrence of cavities. The more times you consume sugar, the more opportunities for cavities to take hold.

4. Your flossing habits: Flossing removes plaque and bacteria from the sides of your teeth, so not flossing on a consistent basis increases your risk of developing cavities between your teeth.

5. Your medications:

When you eat or drink anything other than water, the pH of your mouth becomes acidic. Saliva’s job is to neutralize the acidic environment. Some medications cause xerostomia (or dry mouth). If your saliva is reduced or becomes thicker, your teeth have an increased risk of developing decay, especially along the gumline. Products containing xylitol are “mouth wetters,” and xylitol prevents bacteria from adhering to tooth structure, helping to prevent the effects of a dry mouth.

The above reasons are just a few of the many complex factors that go into why cavities develop. As dental professionals, we strive to keep our patients educated in their oral hygiene. Good or bad oral hygiene plays a role in overall health, and we are here to get your oral health in excellent condition so that your overall health can be too. Drs. Hood and Remaley at Roswell Dental Care understand and customize treatment for each person. We assure you will feel confident in the solution you choose before beginning any treatment. For enhanced comfort, we offer FREE nitrous oxide. You can rest assured that your experience will be positive, relaxing, and rewarding on many levels. Give our office a call at 770.998.6736, or visit us at www. roswelldentalcare.com, to begin your journey to happy and pain-free oral healthcare!

Brought to You by - Dr. Destinee Hood, Roswell Dental Care

Colorectal cancer: moving beyond awareness

Brought to you by - Dr. Jay Singh, medical director of surgical services at Wellstar Health System

Since 2000, when then-President Bill Clinton designated March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the mission to decrease the worldwide incidence of the third most common cause of cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths has largely been successful if we simply measure “awareness.”

Unfortunately, as we have seen decreasing incidences in colorectal cancer related to screening, particularly colonoscopies, in older individuals, we

have seen a disproportionate increase of cancers at younger ages. As a result, the current recommendation for screening has gone down from 50 years of age now to 45, as of 2021.

Awareness begins with education of not only the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer but the fact that real prevention occurs before any symptoms can be seen. Awareness begins with understanding one’s own risks, including family history and personal behaviors that would immediately put someone at higher risk for developing colorectal cancer. We know that people with a first-degree relative who has had colorectal cancer are at twice the average risk of developing colorectal cancer and should generally get screened earlier. We know that people who smoke, consume alcohol or are obese are more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Adopting healthy behaviors, including quitting the use of tobacco products, reducing

alcohol consumption and eating meals that include fruits, vegetables and whole grains, can also reduce the risk.

Recognizing the impact that this disease has on individuals, families and society, Wellstar has invested in educational programs designed to get the word out, preventive programs that recognize that any test for colorectal cancer is better than no test and treatment programs that involve the comprehensive, multispecialty care of the disease process from diagnosis to treatment.

Wellstar has had an intensive focus on increasing access to screening by the creation and growth of a gastrointestinal service line spanning all our campuses and outpatient centers. This has been in coordination with growth of colorectal surgical services at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center and the expansion of our minimally invasive and robotics programs

throughout the system.

We are proud to have Atlanta’s first program recognized by the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons, at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center and hope to soon have that same accreditation at Wellstar North Fulton and Cobb medical centers. This accreditation demonstrates Wellstar’s commitment to providing personalized, high-quality cancer care close to home for patients in Georgia. Imagine, after being diagnosed with a potentially devastating illness, you could meet your whole treatment team and have a plan developed in one visit. This is all part of our mission at Wellstar to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve.

Learn more about colorectal cancer screening at wellstar.org/cleancolons.

SINGH

COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CARE

From diagnosis to treatment and survivorship, Wellstar is ensuring the community in this area has access to expert, compassionate cancer care.

The new Wellstar North Fulton Cancer Center brings more than 12,000 additional square feet on the medical center campus dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking cancer treatments right here in the North Fulton area. Services include:

• CyberKnife radiation technology

• Physician expertise in many specialties

• Surgery, medical and radiation oncology

Find care at every step of your cancer journey here in North Fulton.

wellstar.org/northfultoncancercare

Wellstar North Fulton Cancer Center

4500 Hospital BLVD | ROSWELL (770) 410-4530

Medical ethics and dermatology

Ethical questions arise in all fields of medicine, and dermatology is no different. One of the more remarkable cases that I encountered during training was that of a woman who became pregnant while taking a medication known to cause birth defects. Despite explicit and severe warnings, she insisted that she be allowed to keep taking the medicine throughout her pregnancy. When her dermatologist refused to prescribe the medicine, the patient convinced the hospital’s ethics board to recommend that her obstetrician continue prescribing the medication during pregnancy. The woman received her prescriptions at the board’s recommendation, and the baby was tragically but not unpredictably born with birth defects.

Although I wholeheartedly disagree with the ethics board’s recommendation, I can see how ethical principles are sometimes difficult to apply in practice. The four guiding principles of medical ethics are often taught to be “autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.” Loosely translated, these principles mean: respect someone’s right to choose; do good; do no harm, and act in a fair or equitable way.

The above example is extreme. The ethics board made a mistake and prioritized “autonomy” above all other considerations (including “do no harm”). But many less dramatic ethical considerations occur almost every day in practice. When treating patients, I find that the common sense strategies of putting the patient first and asking what I would want for a family member go a long way towards making sound ethical decisions.

In Mohs surgery, a tissue removal technique for curing skin cancers, shades of grey are often encountered. Cancer is not always black and white. Sometimes, invasive cancer has been eliminated, but the edges have “in situ” cancer – cancer

confined to the top layers of the skin, or the edges exhibit “actinic keratoses,” best understood as “pre-cancers.” Severely sun-damaged individuals sometimes have cheeks or scalps that are covered with precancers and “in situ” cancers. Continuing to cut in such cases is sometimes not in the patient’s best interest. Instead, once the invasive cancer is removed, I frequently discuss switching strategies with my patients. We often treat the area around an invasive cancer with an anti-cancer cream post-operatively instead of dogmatically continuing to cut and missing the forest for the trees.

Personalized medicine is often medicine at its best. One recent patient presented to me for a second opinion regarding a melanoma on his eyelid. The first surgeon the patient saw recommended complete removal of the lower eyelid and a 3 month reconstruction process during which the patient would not be able to see from that eye. The patient and I discussed that the large margin the first surgeon recommended is the standard of care. However, the patient stated that at his age he did not want to undergo an extensive surgery. He understood the risks and chose a smaller margin. He understands that the “middle ground” option that he wanted is not in line with the official guidelines for treating cancers like his, but the smaller surgery that he chose is the option that is right for him. The standard of care is a guideline. The patient comes first.

As interesting as philosophical principles like autonomy and nonmaleficence are, I have found that the most useful principles are variations of the Golden Rule. Treat patients like you would want your family or loved ones treated. And put the patient first.

If you or a loved one has a skin cancer or other skin care needs, please consider Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta. It is our privilege to take care of you.

Brought to You by - Brent Taylor, MD, Premiere Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

It’s time for spring cleaning

reshaped painlessly. You can make your smile healthy and vibrant again and create the smile of your dreams.

I don’t know about you, but I can feel it. I can see everything starting to bloom. Everything is getting greener. These last two weeks the weather has warmed up. I can finally start to spend more time outside. Spring is coming! It’s time to get ready. It’s time to get in shape! I can’t wait to walk and run and spend more time outside. It’s time for Spring Cleaning! Do you need a spring dental cleaning or maybe a Smile Tune-up?

This year, let’s eat healthy, exercise, and address our health proactively and preventively. This includes a visit to the dentist to address those problems that you know are getting worse and to prevent future problems.

• Restoring Your Smile –

Repairing your teeth allows you to keep your teeth for a lifetime and look and feel your best.

• Cosmetic Dentistry – It’s more than just Whiter Teeth. Uneven and chipped teeth can be

• Dental Implants – Replacing missing teeth allows you to eat your favorite healthy foods again, smile without fear, and provides support to your face to avoid looking older.

• Invisalign – The metal-free way to straighten your teeth, improve our bite, and have an attractive smile that everyone notices.

• Preventive Tooth Cleaning – Routine cleanings prevent problems and keep your teeth healthy, white, and attractive.

• Don’t Forget that these things can be accomplished comfortably while you rest… with Sedation Dentistry!

A healthy mouth is part of a healthy body. Our wish for you is that you look and feel your best in 2023!

“Preventive Dentistry can add 10 years to human life.” -Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic

Dr. Bradley Hepler, Dr. Jeffrey Priluck and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide the most modern advances in cosmetic dentistry. Experience immediate results with procedures to greatly enhance your smile and your health. If you would

like a complimentary consultation to discover your options, please call us at 770-992-2236. Dr. Hepler and Dr. Priluck are highly trained and certified to provide you with the latest and best techniques to allow you to achieve your cosmetic and restorative goals.

Brought to you by – Dr. Bradley Hepler and Dr. Jeffrey Priluck, The Atlanta Center for Dental Health

cancer risk was even greater in women who experienced a severely striking life event. Other studies have shown similar findings regarding stress and cancer risk.

We know that stress sets off a cascade of events inside the body involving various hormones and neurotransmitters which affect the health of the body’s cells. Our current understanding is that significant stress, especially over the long term, causes significant damage and dysfunction in the body which can result in cancer. It

turns out that the mind isn’t a separate entity from the body, but rather, in close communication with the body at all times, with tremendous power over how the body functions!

The good news is that there are many strategies we can adopt in order to reduce our stress and anxiety. I highly recommend a regular daily practice of prayer and meditation. Exercise, being outside in nature, breathing techniques, and engaging in healthy relationships with others are also proven stress-lowering strategies.

STEGALL

CALENDAR

COMMUNITY:

DUNWOODY FARMERS MARKET

What: The Dunwoody Farmers Market brings together a variety of vendors selling local and organic fruits, veggies and produce, coffee, breakfast, baked goods, prepared meals, frozen treats, eggs, grass-fed meat and fresh seafood.

When: Saturday, March 11, 10 a.m.12 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody

More info: dunwoodyga.gov

FOOD DRIVE - ALL SAINTS

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

What: All food items are essential and appreciated, however the greatest need is canned meat, peanut butter and diapers. Please, no glass containers as these items break in transport.

When: Saturday, March 18, 2-6:30 p.m. & Sunday, March 19, 8 a.m.6:30 p.m.

Where: All Saints Catholic Church, 2443 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody More info: allsaintsdunwoody.org/ ministries/st-vincent-de-paul/

LEARN AND LEAD:

THE ECOLOGY OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER

What: Alan Toney, longtime Sandy Springs resident, master naturalist, soil and water supervisor, fly fisherman and Chattahoochee River activist, talks about the ecology of the Chattahoochee River past, present and future. The presentation will explore the river’s importance for water supply, wildlife and recreation as well as its beauty, threats and resilience.

When: Tuesday, March 14, 7 p.m.

Where: Lost Corner Preserve, 7300 Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

JUST FOR FUN:

150 YEARS OF SPRUILL

What: Spruill Gallery presents works by four women who define the power of art. As influential artists and educators, these women are renowned in their mediums and have mentored many students to also become artists of note. Works are by artists Chery Baird, Carol Brull, Ann Clancy and Vicki Paulet.

When: Up to March 11, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Spruill Gallery, 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody

More info: spruillarts.org/gallery

ROSWELL DANCE STARZ PRESENTS ‘CINDERELLA’

What: The enchanted tale of Cinderella is brought to stage with a fun and modern twist! Join Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother, the silly stepsisters, and all the magical characters as they tell the treasured tale through ballet, lyrical, jazz, hip hop and tap.

When: Saturday, March 11, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

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

Cost: $15

More info: roswellcac.showare.com

‘A MOMENT OUT OF TIME WITH I.O.Z’

What: I.O.Z., a musical collaboration driven by Daniel Groover and Steven Senn, will be accompanied by Jeff (Apt. Q258) Sipe on drums, Pat Postlewait on multiple instruments, Jon Marett on keys, Dan Campbell on violin, Alex Tramble and Jon Lee sitting in on bass and Jeff Bowden supporting vocals.

When: Saturday, March 11, 9 p.m.

Where: From the Earth Brewing, 1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell

Cost: $30

More info: ftebrewing.com

‘HEROES AND VILLAINS: SPRING CONCERT’

What: Every good guy needs a bad guy. Every protagonist needs an antagonist. The Atlanta Concert Band presents music from Hollywood, Broadway, the Olympics and more. Darth Vader vs. Yoda. Captain Kirk vs. the Klingons. U.S. Olympic athletes vs. the World. Wile E. Coyote vs. the Roadrunner. Wear your favorite hero or villain costumes to celebrate the music of John Williams, Michael Giacchino, Georges Bizet, Andrew Lloyd Webber and more.

When: Sunday, March 12, 4 p.m. Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell

Cost: $20

More info: roswellcac.showare.com

‘THE NICETIES’ AT STAGE DOOR THEATRE

What: Zoe is a young Black student at a liberal arts college. What begins as a polite clash in perspectives of the founding fathers between her and her liberal, tenured professor explodes into a tightrope of what it means to hear and what it means to listen.

When: March 17-April 2, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

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

Cost: $35 for adults, $20 for students, $15 for children

More info: stagedoortheatrega.org/ the-niceties/

NORTHSIDE SAINT PATRICK’S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL

What: The inaugural Northside St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival will commence with the parade honoring St. Patrick and the Irish community in Georgia and will include Irish Societies, businesses and social groups, local school units, bands, families, and some pipes and drums. The parade will complete its route at the City Green where the festival will be in full swing. Local and Celtic vendors will be selling wares, and there will be Irish sports demonstrations, music, Irish dancing and more. The evening will culminate with a concert, ages 21 and over, by Kate Curran at nearby Thos. O’Reilly’s Public House.

When: Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m.

Where: City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

More info: visitsandysprings.org

SANDY SPRING THEATRE COMPANY’S ‘SPAMALOT’

What: Join King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table and the glamorous Lady of the Lake as they turn the Arthurian legend on its ear in their quest for the Holy Grail. Along the way, they encounter dancing showgirls, flying cows, killer rabbits and assorted French people. The production is the winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical.

When: Up to March 26, times vary

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: $37-100

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

Plans:

Continued from Page 5

Groth said sustainable programs at Mayfield Farm would expand what work the city already does with local schools, like the competitive, cityfunded mini-grant offered every fall.

The next couple of months, Milton city staff will look to feedback from the City Council based on agreement terms with Alpharetta. The cities would then begin organizing volunteers to cultivate the land and potentially start “Grow-A-Row” in spring 2024 planting season.

Future budget discussions would include demolitions, preparation, security and accessibility. The city had previously established $35,000 for Mayfield Farm, Groth said.

“This is great. I really like the program,” Milton City Councilman Paul Moore said. “And of course, I look forward to supporting it to make sure that it’s something that we can all enjoy in the community.”

Powers:

Continued from Page 5

important, and the city works hard to balance minority and majority interests.

Mayor Jim Gilvin, however, expressed concerns that the lower number may negatively impact property owners.

“I’ve got to reconcile with myself that I can dictate to your neighbors who may be counting on that investment,” Gilvin said. “Because what you’re trying to do is make sure it’s what you want to remain in your neighborhood. Some of the people in your neighborhoods are counting on that to pay for a nursing home when they can no longer live independently. Those are huge investments to them, and I take that seriously.”

Tourism director recognized

Also at the meeting, the City Council recognized Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Janet Rodgers for her contributions to the community, as well as her receipt of the Tim Kilgore Lifetime Achievement Award at the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus’ state tourism conference in February.

Rodgers has held the post for more than 20 years, where she has promoted shopping, dining, entertainment and live music in the city. She also created the successful Taste of Alpharetta.

At its March 6 meeting, the Alpharetta City Council also heard a report on Mayfield Farm’s potential “Grow-A-Row” program, but members voiced cost concerns.

“There’s value in it, but we’re already investing a lot,” Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said. “I’m concerned that the cost could become more than the benefit if we’re not very cautious in how we design those programs.”

Gilvin noted the city’s existing stake in the Old Rucker Farm. The program was once volunteer-led, Gilvin said, but since its inception, several Alpharetta staff members have begun managing the project.

Alpharetta City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom said there are nearly a dozen structures on the Mayfield property that should be demolished as soon as possible to prevent nuisance for nearby residents.

“Regardless of whether or not ‘Grow-A-Row’ moves forward, I think that parcel is a site that we own that we need to make a little safer than it might be today,” Lagerbloom said.

“She really is the backbone to a lot of the things that makes Alpharetta special and has been for a very long time,” Gilvin said. “She really is a special, unique person who loves to serve and embodies that mantra.”

Councilmembers also unanimously approved a conceptual site plan for Rucker Road Park, which will add parking, a restroom, benches, park pavilions, green space, walking paths and a park operations and maintenance area off the Rucker Road entrance.

The Recreation, Parks and Cultural Services Department said the project cost is $3 million, $378,070 of which has been spent.

Municipal elections

The City Council will discuss whether the city will run its own municipal elections this fall at a March 20 workshop.

City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom said the City of Johns Creek, which had also considered handling its own election, will remain under Fulton County operations due to the higher cost.

While Johns Creek had estimated the cost for roughly 18 polling locations, Lagerbloom said Alpharetta currently has 13 locations. He said city staff can estimate the cost for its current number of locations, as well as the cost for fewer, but more than one, at the workshop.

Lagerbloom said councilmembers have until March 27 to make their decision before Fulton County’s March 31 deadline.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Anita Jupin, Milton economic engagement manager, presents plans for a new community farming program at the Milton City Council meeting March 6. The proposed program would be implemented on the 12-acre Mayfield Farm, consisting of three land lots off Mayfield Road jointly owned by Milton and Alpharetta. The Alpharetta City Council workshopped the item the same night.

PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Alpharetta City Council recognizes Janet Rodgers for her service to the city and her receipt of the Tom Kilgore Lifetime Achievement Award at its March 6 meeting. Rodgers has served as president and CEO of the Convention and Visitors Bureau for over 20 years.

Alpharetta resident Michael Buchanan addresses the City Council at its March 6 public hearing. Buchanan said he supports the approved residential infill overlay district for allowing a majority of residents to make decisions for the neighborhood, rather than the current 25 percent requirement for his neighborhood.

Insect allies: predators and parasitoids in the garden

It’s important to identify an insect in your garden before taking action. Are you sure it’s a “bad guy?”

Many insects are actually providing free pest management!

Natural enemies, insects that kill or suppress other insects, help control prey populations and keep nature in balance. There are two categories of natural enemies. A predator is an insect that captures and eats another insect (the prey). A parasitoid is an insect that develops on or inside another insect (the host). The host usually dies in the process of the parasitoid’s development.

Conserving Natural Enemies

Natural enemies need alternate food sources in addition to prey. While they’re out hunting, insect predators might need “snacks” to keep up their energy. Cue flowering plants! Flowers provide nectar and pollen that natural enemies use as supplemental food while hunting or if prey becomes scarce.

To keep natural enemies in the area, plant flowers with varying bloom times, providing food year-round. Native plants are especially pest-tolerant and supportive to natural enemies. Bonus: While drinking nectar and traveling between flowers, natural enemies become pollinators!

Natural enemies also need habitat where they can reproduce, take shelter and overwinter. Aim for structural complexity— variation in height, depth and texture—in your plantings to provide plenty of cover. Many overwinter in cavities, twigs and leaf litter, so “leave the leaves” where you can.

Some natural enemies, like lady beetles, can be purchased in bulk for release in the landscape. This is a short-term solution. The most sustainable way to reap the benefits of our insect allies is to attract and retain them with suitable habitat and food sources. It’s important to remember, natural enemies need prey! Don’t expect to eradicate all pests. It is impossible, and you will lose your natural enemies. Instead, aim to keep pest populations at tolerable levels.

Common natural enemies

Wasps

Most wasps are predators—they capture insects to feed to their larvae (immature wasps). Social wasps, like paper wasps and yellowjackets, live in colonies. Social wasps can be aggressive when their nests are disturbed but are generally docile while they are feeding on nectar. Many are generalist predators, eating a wide variety of different insects. Caterpillars, including

corn earworms, armyworms, loopers and hornworms, are popular prey. Solitary wasps do not live in colonies. A female solitary wasp creates one or a few nests at a time for her developing larvae. She may build her nest in the soil, in a cavity or with mud. After she lays her egg inside, she hunts and delivers live (sometimes paralyzed) prey to her hungry larva once it hatches. Solitary wasps are rarely aggressive.

Parasitoid wasps are extremely beneficial and come in all sizes, from nearly microscopic “fairyflies” (0.5 mm) to giant ichneumon wasps (up to 5 inches). Most lay eggs directly inside aphids, whiteflies, scale insects, leafminers or caterpillars. The larvae hatch and feed inside the insect until they are ready to pupate, emerge as adults and fly away. Gruesome but cool!

Beetles

Lady beetles, or lady bugs, come in all sizes and colors, not only red with black spots. Adults and larvae eat a variety of garden pests, like aphids, mealybugs and whiteflies. Some larvae can consume 200500 aphids before they reach adulthood! Beetles in the family Carabidae, called ground beetles, are common in the garden. These generalists have long legs and powerful mandibles for chomping prey. Adults and larvae are often found hunting on or in the soil at night.

True Bugs

Insects in the order Hemiptera are known as “true bugs.” Some of our worst garden pests, including aphids, whiteflies and scales, and some of our most valuable

predators, are true bugs.

Insects in the genus Orius are called minute pirate bugs for their diminutive size (2-5 mm) and are predators of aphids, armyworms, thrips, spider mites and whiteflies. They can even deliver a pinch to unsuspecting humans. Assassin bug adults and nymphs (immature true bugs) use sharp beaks to pierce aphids, leafhoppers, caterpillars and Japanese beetles. Larger assassin bugs, like the wheel bug, should be handled with caution or not at all, as they can administer a powerful bite.

Flies

Hover flies and flower flies are predators of common garden pests, including aphids. Many species mimic wasps and bees but cannot sting. Robber flies are aerial predators of many insects, including other predators! Larvae feed on soft-bodied insects, like scales and mealybugs.

Flies in the family Tachinidae are parasitoids. Females lay eggs in or on host grasshoppers, Japanese beetles and stink bugs. Larvae feed on the host, leading to its demise.

Lacewings

Lacewings eat soft-bodied mites, aphids, mealybugs and scales. Look out for lacewings’ distinctive eggs, which are perched at the ends of long, graceful stalks.

You may also see mantids, or “praying mantises.” These insects are powerful ambush predators that capture a variety of different insects. Dragonflies may be in the garden if a pond or body of water is nearby. Dragonflies have excellent eyesight and can move each of their four wings independent-

ly, making them precise aerial hunters. They especially like mosquitoes and have earned the nickname “mosquito hawks.”

While spiders are arachnids, not insects, they are excellent predators that feed on a wide range of pests. Garden spiders build webs to capture their prey, while jumping spiders and green lynx spiders are ambush predators that pounce on unsuspecting insects.

Natural enemies are our allies in the garden, providing valuable pest control services and enhancing the complexity and wonder of our natural world. Next time you’re out in the garden, look closer. Is that a foe you see, or could it be a friend?

If you are interested in learning more about common insect predators in the garden and easy ways we can conserve them, please join me for a virtual talk on Sunday, March 19 at 2 p.m. To assure your place in the third class of the Spring 2023 Gardening Lecture Series presented by the North Fulton Master Gardeners, “Insect Allies: Predators and Parasitoids in the Garden,” please register at https://bit.ly/Spring2023NFMG-GardeningLectureSeries. The class will also be available for later viewing on the NFMG YouTube channel at youtube. com/northfultonmastergardeners.

Happy Gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net.

About the Author

This week’s guest Master Gardener columnist is Gabrielle LaTora, agriculture agent in Fulton County’s Extension office. An entomologist by training, Gabrielle is interested in insects on farms and in gardens and is passionate about closing the gap between people and their food. In addition to helping coordinate Fulton’s Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program, Gabrielle oversees the North Fulton Community Garden, answers clients’ questions about gardening and natural resources, works with urban farmers and delivers high-quality educational programs for Fulton County residents.

GABRIELLE LATORA Guest Columnist

A solitary wasp feels on nectar and pollen

A lady beetle larva feeds on an aphid.

Hover flies often mimic the look of bees and wasps. Lacewing eggs are perched on long stalks.

PRESERVING THE PAST

If only houses could talk

Sometimes we may pass a building every day for years without giving it a second thought. Such structures may reveal interesting stories if given a second look.

Today, I will describe two buildings side by side on Birmingham Highway in Milton, across the road from Scottsdale Farms, one an attractive white brick house and the other brightly painted green and white with a porch situated under a tall shade tree. The two houses are joined by the history of one family. What stories might these houses tell?

In an earlier column I profiled the life of Billy Albertson (1932–2021) a sharecropper’s son who lived to become a beloved local personality, famous for his vegetable garden on Hardscrabble Road. Billy’s garden was a symbol of friendship, neighborliness, and conversation by those who stopped by to chat, help in the garden, to buy fresh produce or to buy goats that Billy raised.

Circa 1950 Billy’s parents, Egbert Tabor Albertson (1892-1975) and Ola Bell Etris Albertson (1891-1969), purchased a 3-acre farm from Billy’s older brother Judge Albertson and his wife Lula Mae across Birmingham Highway from today’s Scottsdale Farm. Judge and Lula Mae moved to Atlanta for Judge’s new job. Since the family had been sharecroppers and moved from farm to farm every few years, the move to their own farm on Birmingham Highway was a welcome chance to settle down. The green wooden house was already on the property. As a teenager, Billy lived in the house with his parents and sister Betty and brother Bobby. For a while as a teenager, Billy worked at Judge’s mobile sawmill. After an accident at the sawmill Billy began his life’s work as a butcher, initially at the Crabapple Sausage Company, eventually at A&P grocery stores. Billy lived with his parents in the house until he married Marjorie Mary Cornelison (1935-2008) in 1955. About five years later he built the home on Hardscrabble Road that would become his landmark farm.

The widowed Egbert lived in the green painted house until his death in 1975. The house remained vacant from that time on.

Next to the painted green house is a white brick house built in 1956 that Denise and Janet’s cousin Shirley Pilcher and her husband Ronnie lived in for 60 years beginning in 1971 when Ronnie got out of the Air Force. Shirley and her father J.T. Albertson bought the house property from her grandparents Egbert and Ola in the 1960s, attracted by the fact that their Albertson kin lived next door. The house was red brick until painted white about a year ago. The house has been kept up to date and is today a comfortable residence.

In 2015 Luca Gianturco, owner of Scottsdale Farms, bought both houses and surrounding property totaling 10.5 acres at the time, which he enlarged by purchasing parcels in subsequent years. He did not tear down the painted green house even though it would have required substantial renovation to make it inhabitable for two reasons. First, Luca has a keen sense of history, and the painted green house has stories to tell. Second, it serves a useful purpose as a storehouse for the bales of hay cut off the land around the house that he uses at Scottsdale Farms. He did put a new roof on the house to keep its contents dry.

Billy’s daughter Janet Bobeng has fond memories of regular Sunday family gatherings in the 1970s.

“Dad had 10 brothers and sisters, and some would always show up,” she says.

Up to 20 people sat on folding chairs under the large water oak tree in the front yard. A long wooden table was piled high with food brought by the guests.

“Those were special days,” recalls Janet.

Shirley Pilcher has a slightly different memory of those Sunday gatherings which she always attended since she lived next door. She says, “after the guests left, grandmother would cover the leftovers with a large cloth until evening when I would return to indulge in homemade biscuits and raw onions. It was such a happy place.”

In 2016, Luca bought some goats from Billy Albertson to serve as an attraction at Scottsdale Farms. Billy, and his daughter Denise Huntley, brought the goats to Scottsdale Farms and showed Luca how to castrate the goats. Billy looked across the street and told Luca that he had once lived in the green colored house. He took Luca on a tour of the property, and Luca took a picture of Billy and his daughter in front of the house. The photo has become a family gem. For Luca the picture brings back pleasant memories of the visit, and for Denise it evokes special memories of walking

through the house with her father. Billy showed her where important events took place and the kitchen where Billy’s father made biscuits for the family.

So, when you are driving along country roads and see old houses or barns in less-than-ideal condition, know that those old greying structures may have some tales to tell, if only we could get them to speak to us.

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 MEYERS

Columnist

ALBERTSON FAMLY/PROVIDED

Billy Albertson and his daughter Denise Huntley visited this painted green house where the Albertson family previously lived across the road from Scottsdale Farms where Billy had delivered goats raised on his farm. The photo which is prized by the family, was taken by Luca Gianturco, owner of Scottsdale Farms. 2016

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS CITY OF MOUNTAIN PARK 118 LAKESHORE DRIVE MOUNTAIN PARK, GA 30075

The City of Mountain Park is accepting proposals from qualified waste management companies to provide trash and recycle services for the City. Please contact City Hall at (770)993-4231 to obtain a copy of the RFP or visit the website at www.mountainparkgov.com. Deadline for submission is Wednesday April 12, 2023, by 2:00 p.m.