Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - April 13, 2023

Theater loses contract with

Roswell, moves operation to Marietta

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — For now, the website for the Roswell Cultural Arts Center says it is “proud to have the Georgia Ensemble Theatre as its resident artist company,” but that relationship is changing.

After more than 30 years of residency in Roswell, the professional mainstage plays at Georgia Ensemble Theatre (GET) will have a new home at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in Marietta.

Its contract was canceled at a Roswell Recreation Commission meeting in early March with a recommendation that the theater enter the Roswell Cultural Art Center’s Partnership Production contract model.

Since its founding in 1992, the Georgia Ensemble Theatre has operated under a Resident Theatre contract which allowed the company to handle all things related to production.

Over the moon

Roswell shows support for Grove Way housing

► PAGE 4

Five arrested in sting targeting exploitation

► PAGE 6

Fulton athletics chief departs after 11 years

► PAGE 7

But in Fiscal Year 2022, the theater presented only three of the five agreed-upon productions. There were 47 “dark days” with no programmed activities. The city also cited a high turnover in production managers at GET, four managers in two years.

Production has a high price tag. GET co-founder Anita Allen-Farley said a play is about $60,000 to produce and musicals are well over $100,000.

See ENSEMBLE, Page 20

Hanh Nguyen and her daughter, Charlie Crose work together to bring the vision of July Moon Bakery and Café, an Asian coffee shop and bakery concept to life. Nguyen opened July Moon at the Maxwell in Alpharetta in 2022. Read story, Page 8.

DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA

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Burglars trigger alarm at Zaxby’s building

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police say unidentified individuals burglarized the Zaxby’s restaurant training center on Roswell Street in Alpharetta March 28.

Police were alerted to the burglary at about 2:30 a.m. when a motion alarm notified them the building had been entered by force. Officers located broken glass from a window in the building and pry marks on the door handle, as well as multiple opened doors.

Nothing was taken.

At the time of the report, no suspects were identified.

Atlanta woman arrested after reporting attack

ROSWELL, Ga. — An Atlanta woman was arrested by Roswell Police on March 19 for battery after she called to report she was attacked by a man at the La Quinta Inn and Suites on Holcomb Bridge Road. Officers determined that the woman had been the one to attack the man.

When officers arrived on the scene, the woman said she had been staying with a friend when the man came into her room and began to strangle her. She said she lost consciousness.

The woman said the man then dragged her off her bed, took a lamp, hit her on the forehead, and bit her fingers. The woman had bruises on her neck, a knot on her forehead and several lacerations.

She said the man was just a friend.

Police located the alleged assailant who told police that he was talking to the woman when she got upset and threw a lamp at him. He tried to hug and restrain her, but the woman bit his hand. She then headbutted him. The man had injuries that corroborated his account.

He said he had only known the woman for a week.

A witness came forward and said she had seen the Atlanta woman approaching random doors and trying to get inside. The witness also watched her headbutt the man, and saw him attempt to calm her down.

Police then discovered the Atlanta woman had a warrant issued by Cobb County for aggravated assault. Officers took her into custody and transported her to North Fulton Hospital.

She was later taken to Fulton County Jail.

Woman finds bullet holes on her apartment door

ROSWELL, Ga. — A Roswell woman called the police after she returned to her apartment on Hemingway Lane to find bullet holes in her door on March 25.

The woman told police she came home around 9 p.m. to find three bullet holes that went through her front door, with shell casings on the floor in and around her apartment.

Police accessed footage from a neighbor’s Ring camera which showed two individuals running down the stairwell at 2:57 p.m. that same day, both wearing face masks.

Roswell officers also found a call record from around 2:57 p.m. in which another resident of the apartment building said she heard gunshots in the area. Police found the caller, who lived on the floor where the incident took place. The caller said she heard the gunshots as she entered her apartment.

The caller went inside and watched a man wearing a mask run past her

apartment. She also saw 4-5 teenagers running away in the parking lot, then get into a silver car that sped away.

The reporting officer said the incident was “possibly a failed home invasion attempt.” Two Roswell detectives took over the case, which remains active.

$30,000 shipping fraud fools Alpharetta company

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police reports said a company on North Point Parkway was recently defrauded of more than $30,000 by a logistics company.

The Alpharetta firm contracted a company called Spedigo LLC to take five shipments to Los Angeles in February 2023, reports said. The first shipment was completed without issue, but during subsequent shipments in March, Spedigo LLC allegedly failed to complete the deliveries.

The local company said after the failed deliveries, Spedigo LLC representatives stated they would not be able to complete the delivery until they were paid $30,000. After the company made payment, Spedigo LLC allegedly cut contact and didn’t deliver the shipments.

Roswell pledges $2 million to help Grove Way housing

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell City Council approved a resolution to support the Roswell Housing Authority with $2 million in grants, loans and infrastructure assistance at an April 11 City Council meeting.

The Roswell Housing Authority explained that the resolution is focused on the units at 199 Grove Way in the Pelfrey Pines public housing development. The development has 40 one-bedroom units set aside for tenants who make less than 80 percent of the area’s median income.

The units, designated for seniors and people with disabilities, were declared structurally unsound by the City of Roswell in March 2022. Residents had to vacate the property over the following months. Now, the Roswell Housing Authority is looking to redevelop Grove Way.

Project plans show the capacity would grow from 40 to 102 units. The residents who left the property in 2022 would have the “first right of refusal” to return to Grove Way once it’s redeveloped, Councilwoman Lee Hills said.

Hills said she supports the Roswell Housing Authority and their long-term efforts to help the residents of Grove Way.

“I hate that we have people that are in that capacity that need this kind of support and help, but I am glad, and I

am happy that the mayor and council has embraced the opportunity to redevelop an area that is in bad need of repair,” Hills said.

Roswell Housing Authority Chair Karen Parrish said the board needs the city to show formal support through the resolution so it can apply for a tax credit by May 19. The tax credit, which requires proof of project funding, will help the housing authority with the nearly $30 million redevelopment.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credits give local agencies the authority to issue tax credits for the acquisition, rehabilitation or new construction of rental housing targeted to lower-income households.

Councilman Mike Palermo said he was hesitant to pass the resolution because it had not been discussed in any committee meetings prior to April 11.

“When you have residents seeing that we’re finding a way to support with $2 million, that’s something I would have preferred going to committee and there being a robust discussion,” Palermo said.

The councilman said more discussion could show a dedication to safety and fiscal responsibility. He asked for the matter to be placed on the next committee meeting agenda and deferred to the next City Council meeting on April 24.

Parrish said the timeline makes her nervous because it’s “very fast” and See

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ROSWELL: Tools, tool truck boxes, Honda lawnmower, chainsaw, edgers, yard art, pottery, metal shelves, rare framed Foo Fighters poster, paintings, clothing, shoes, outdoor furniture, kids’ teepee, dog kennels, rugs, RV accessories, camping gear & grill, household goods; something for everyone! Brookfield CC, 775 Fairbrook Lane 30075. Thursday 4/13, Friday 4/14, Saturday 4/15, Sunday 4/16, 8AM-4PM.

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Alpharetta Police arrest 5 in child exploitation sting

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By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga.

— The Alpharetta Department of Public Safety Special Investigations Unit announced the arrests of five and outstanding warrants for two suspects in an undercover child exploitation operation March 29.

Police charged Neal Wurtz, 25, Jose Hernandez, 28, Douglas Cropf Jr., 30, and August Rich, 23, with felony use of a computer to entice a child to commit an illegal act. Erick Garcia-Salinas, 34, and the four suspects were also charged with felony criminal attempt to commit child molestation.

Police Lt. Andrew Splawn said detectives posed as underage children in internet chatrooms and on websites in order to identify and arrest predators who allegedly believed they were soliciting sex from children.

Splawn said the operation ran from Dec. 1-3, 2022, and it was a joint effort between the city, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against

Children Unit and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.

Four of the suspects were arrested immediately after they traveled to Alpharetta to meet the detectives who posed as minors. Detectives arrested the fifth suspect in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

While the websites used in the operation were not designed for catching predators, Splawn said the department had chosen the sites based on trends reported by previous child victims.

“Alpharetta Police Department genuinely cares about the protection of children,” Splawn said. “And that’s the reason that we run this type of operation is because children are a very special population, and we want to run proactive operations to make sure that we can keep them as safe as possible.”

As of press time, two suspects have not been arrested.

Tyquand Caldwell, 26, and Christopher Frazier, 43, are wanted for felony use of a computer to entice a child to commit an illegal act. Caldwell was also charged with felony criminal attempt to commit child molestation.

Splawn asked the public to contact the department with any information on the suspects or their whereabouts. Anyone with information can contact Sgt. Braithwaithe at 678-2976338 or jabraithwaite@alpharetta. ga.us.

Milton television personality schedules May 6 book signing

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

gardening in Georgia.

The tour hosted by Johns Creek Beautification features six home gardens at the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve. Each garden includes a musical ensemble or solo performer and visual artists, and volunteers will be available to provide information about the gardens.

LAMP’L

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Secret Gardens of the Johns Creek Community tour will feature a book signing and presentation by Milton resident and TV host Joe Lamp'l at the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve May 6. Lamp'l, the host and executive producer of PBS’s “Growing a Greener World,” will offer a signing for his new book “The Vegetable Gardening Book” at 9:30 a.m., as well as a presentation on vegetable

Proceeds from the tour support public art in the city, as well as a citywide daffodil planting that will raise awareness of cancer survivors. Proceeds will also honor veterans by planting daffodils in Newtown Park.

The tour will run from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. May 6. Passes can be purchased for $35 at johnscreekbeautification.org/secretgarden-tour.html.

CALDWELL

FRAZIER

Dr. Richard Kaufman Dr. Shamir Bhikha

Craft leaves legacy in Fulton County Schools athletics

By MCCLAIN BAXLEY newsroom@appenmedia. com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga

— After more than 100 state championships, one national championship, countless college signees and 11 years of building a foundation, Fulton County Schools Athletic Director Steven Craft is stepping away.

“I think it’s time for someone else to have an opportunity,” he said. “It excites me to have a new challenge. I feel like we have accomplished so much in Fulton County in the last 11 years.”

Craft has held the post since 2012 and is set to begin April 10 as assistant superintendent for Dalton County Public Schools. He’ll go from overseeing 16 athletic departments to a school system that has two high schools. But it’ll be an exciting change for someone whose life has been ingrained in high school athletics for more than 20 years.

During his time heading Fulton County athletics, there have been new schools founded, championships won and hiring changes — and Craft has

been on hand for it all.

“I think Fulton County has become the standard,” Craft said. “When you look at what we’ve done top to bottom, north to south, there isn’t a sport that we’ve not been at the top of the mountain. It shows that we have a true commitment to being great — academically and athletically.”

In a last tune-up before the 2013 season, the Creekside High School football team played at Banneker for a preseason scrimmage two weeks before the Seminoles’ season opener. It was August 16.

During the scrimmage between the two South Fulton schools, star cornerback De’Antre Turman, a 16-year-old junior for Creekside made a play on the ball, forced a fumble and fell to the ground. Paramedics were called and he was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead following a fractured third vertebrae, the Fulton County Coroner’s Office later confirmed.

Tragedy and heartbreak to the highest degree. A child’s life was suddenly taken away while doing what he loved. The impact of Turman’s loss swept throughout the Fulton County community.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of this student,” then Fulton County Schools spokeswoman Samantha Evans said to the Atlanta JournalConstitution. “This is a truly horrific way to begin a school year.”

Two weeks after that scrimmage, Creekside played its season opener against Langston Hughes with the memory of Turman still heavy on their minds. Craft was on the sideline as the 2013 high school football season began.

“That could have torn apart that community, but it banded them together,” Craft said. “On the opening kickoff, one of Creekside’s players took it all the way to the 1-yard line, and they punched it in on the next play. It was the perfect tribute to Deuce, and I think it was just incredible to see that team come together and win a state championship.”

The Seminoles posted a 15-0 season, ending with the program’s first state championship — capped with a dominant 52-28 outing against Tucker.

That was the first football state championship Craft saw during his time in Fulton.

Most recently, Langston Hughes went 15-0 and finished the 2022 sea-

son as 6A state champions and the No. 15 high school football team in the country, per MaxPreps.

Asked about moments he’s most proud of and Craft was able to list off a champion-by-champion — the 2021-22 Tri-Cities’ boys basketball team taking over Macon Coliseum, Westlake girls basketball winning four-straight state championships before winning a national title, Milton girls lacrosse’s 18-year-long dynasty.

And as he was gleaming with pride seeing another program reach the pinnacle of high school football as the Langston Hughes Panthers won state, he was also proud of the support within the county.

“There’s seven other head coaches from around our county cheering on Langston Hughes,” Craft said. “If it wasn’t them, they wanted it to be someone from the county.”

Craft said its part of the culture now, unique to Fulton County.

“I think that’s what separates us from anywhere else is we have some great rivalries, but we’re going to support each other,” he said. “Our kids support each other, our coaches, ADs.

See CRAFT, Page 24

CRAFT

| Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | March 23, 2023

Mother-daughter café brings Vietnamese flavors to Alpharetta

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Hanh Nguyen filled a decades-long dream when she opened July Moon Bakery and Café at the Maxwell in Alpharetta in 2022 — and she did it with her daughter by her side.

The bakery and café named in honor of Nguyen’s daughters, offers Vietnamese iced coffees, boba teas, bánh mìs and Asian pastries. She opened July Moon in 2022, but her dream stretched back much further.

Nguyen is a first-generation Vietnamese immigrant born in a Malaysian refugee camp, where she said she “should have died but didn’t.” Her mother made Vietnamese iced coffee to make a living and Nguyen often had to help.

“I used to crush ice for my mom, it’s not an easy task for a child,” Nguyen said.

After a tumultuous childhood, Nguyen, her mother and siblings ran away from her abusive father and spent two years in a homeless shelter. Nguyen said she had “humble beginnings” but eventually made it to college, and later Seattle, Washington, where she began her career in the IT industry.

“I might look polished, like I had it all together, but it’s been a long journey, a lot of sacrifices and heartaches,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen found success in the industry, working for various Fortune 500 companies. But the memories of making coffee with her mom never disappeared. Nguyen said her time in

Seattle, a coffee destination and the origin of Starbucks turned her into a “bit of a coffee snob.”

She had wanted to open a business in Seattle, but the market was oversaturated with boba and coffee offerings. It wasn’t until Nguyen moved to Alpharetta for a job promotion that she saw an opportunity to bring her

business concept to life. Her eldest daughter, 11-yearold Charlie, helped push Nguyen to pursue her dream. During a visit to a gourmet bakery years ago, Nguyen caught Charlie staring at the baristas. She told Charlie that if she wanted, she could work at a coffee shop one day.

“I’m not going to work here, I’m going to own my own bakery,” Charlie said.

Charlie’s response inspired Nguyen to pursue the café, both for herself and to inspire her daughter. Nguyen had no business ownership

See FLAVORS, Page 9

DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA

Hanh Nguyen prepares a traditional Vietnamese iced coffee at July Moon Bakery and Café April 6. The coffee is sweetened with condensed milk, and Nguyen serves it with pellet ice reminiscent of her mother’s recipes.

I might look polished, like I had it all together, but it’s been a long journey, a lot of sacrifices and heartaches.

HANH

NGUYEN, Founder of July Moon

Flavors:

Continued from Page 8

experience, little capital and faced a long journey to creating July Moon, but she was determined to build a business from the ground up.

She also knew Charlie would be integral to July Moon’s success. It would be a mother-daughter project in every aspect. Charlie is officially a cofounder of July Moon, and Nguyen’s younger daughter Colette is “quickly becoming more instrumental” in the business by putting stickers on the cups and helping clean the bathrooms.

“(Charlie) has been in all the major meetings, like loan signing, architectural rating floor plan design,” Nguyen said.

Charlie called the meetings “boring,” but her mother said Charlie’s candor and creativity helped bring July Moon to where it is now.

Charlie helps create new drink recipes for the business, which she jots down during development. During an April 6 interview, she concocted an ombre drink with “everything boba,” mango sparkling water, mango-rose tea and strawberry-kiwi tea.

The café has a limited food menu due to its small kitchen, but Nguyen’s focus is on the drinks. She sources

coffee beans from local business Boarding Pass Coffee and gets tea from Atlanta-based business Just Add Honey. She also makes organic and gluten-free drink syrups from scratch.

Her taro tea, a popular boba drink made from a purple root vegetable, is made from actual taro rather than the powder used in many other boba shops. It’s more work to cut up and boil the vegetables, but for Nguyen it’s essential.

“It’s these little things that people don’t see,” Nguyen said.

Every aspect of the business is “highly intentional,” Nguyen said, from the accessible seating to the drinkmaking methods.

“There’s meaning behind everything I do,” Nguyen said.

She said her pellet ice machine is a reference to her childhood spent crushing ice for her mother’s Vietnamese iced coffee. The ice is the “best way to drink” Vietnamese coffee.

Nguyen carries her intention into the rest of the businesses, where she focuses on mentorship and expansion opportunities. She hosts networking events for women in business, acts as a mentor for her young employees and spotlights small businesses.

“Charlie and I wanted to launch July Moon to be a safe, fun community space for people,” Nguyen said.

DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA

Hanh Nguyen serves a Vietnamese iced coffee across the outdoor bar at July Moon Bakery and Café in Alpharetta April 6.

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Building a Parkinson’s support team

Brought to You by - Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North

Atlanta Suburbs

This is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Join us on April 22nd as we help sponsor the Parkinson’s Optimism Walk. You’ll feel the hope and support provided for this progressive disease by the Georgia Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association. (Visit their website at apdaparkinson.org/GA for details.)

Recent studies show Parkinson’s affects over 1,000,000 Americans, with over 90,000 new cases diagnosed annually. While there are early onset cases, the main risk factor is age - with over 90% occurring after age 60. It can be hard to diagnose and comes on slowly. When the brain cells that make the chemical dopamine stop working it impacts movement, thinking and behavior. There’s no definitive cause but aging, repeated head injuries and exposure to environmental toxins are factors. Men are twice as likely to be diagnosed, and while there may be some genetic issues it’s rare to run in families.

Tremors are a major symptom but not everyone has this. Slowness of movement, stiffness or tight muscles, balance instability, walking or gait difficulties, a decrease in arm swinging when walking, loss of smell (often months or years earlier), gastrointestinal issues, loss of facial expression, monotone or decreasing vocal strength, fatigue, insomnia, cognitive changes and depression or anxiety are all symptoms. With two or more of these, it’s time to consult your doctor about a visit to a neurologist with Parkinson’s training or a Movement Disorder Specialist.

With a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, it’s important to build a support system. While there is no cure, there are a number of treatments that can maximize your potential with this disease and not let it overwhelm your life and outlook. This includes highly individualized medications like carbidopa and levodopa, physical, occupational and speech therapy for daily lifestyle changes to maintain fitness, balance and strength building, stress reduction, good sleep habits and maintaining a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables and unprocessed foods. To help manage this you need a team of professionals that includes your Primary Care Physician, Neurologist, a Movement Disorder Specialist, Nutritionist, Therapy providers and Psychologist.

Being a Care Partner for a loved one with Parkinson’s is a critical role. As an advocate, educating yourself, managing the daily care process and coordinating with the care team is crucial. Parkinson’s is a progressive disease and can take years to progress, so it’s just as important to care for yourself. To keep up your stamina you have to take time and get some respite and additional support.

In-home care that is skilled and knowledgeable about Parkinson’s can be the key to helping you and your loved one thrive. A professional, heart-centered and well matched caregiver from Home Helpers can help with a personalized care plan and specialized support to achieve your best possible quality of life.

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.

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Not tan? Labrador overweight? POMC might be the answer!

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

Are you pale? Is your labrador overweight? Then this is the article for you! Proopiomelanocortin (POMC for short) is a remarkable hormone that your brain makes and that may unlock our ability to regulate body weight and even help us get a tan without going in the sun.

If we break apart POMC’s name, pro-“opio”-“melano”-“cortin” comes from the fact that POMC is cut apart by enzymes into three main smaller proteins. First, POMC is broken into opioid hormones that regulate pain, satiety (feeling full after eating) and response to exercise. Second, POMC is broken down into melanocyte stimulating hormones that affect skin pigmentation, sexual behavior and satiety. Third, POMC is broken down into adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), a cortisol-regulating hormone that affects blood sugar, responses to stress and the immune system.

To think like a doctor, imagine what could go wrong if any one of these proteins isn’t working due to a disease. In fact, a mutation in POMC has been linked to increased interest in food and obesity in labrador retrievers and might explain why your labrador is overweight. Many labradors have been found to have a mutation in beta-endorphin, which is one of the opioid hormones that POMC is broken down to form. Beta-endorphin is also famous as a protein that contributes to the “runner’s high” – the feeling of wellbeing that we get with exercise. Similarly, low POMC has been found to make affected humans constantly hungry.

To think like a pharmaceutical scientist, imagine the medical (or cosmetic) potential of developing medicines that affect our responses to pain, our sense of well-being, whether we feel hungry, blood sugar levels, immune system health, sex drive and how tan our skin is. Just one of these functions has incredible pharmaceutical potential. University of Arizona researchers got to work on the tanning applications of POMC in the 1980s and developed a synthetic form of melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) which became known as “Melanotan” (aka afamelanotide, aka Scenesse) and now is best identified as “Melanotan I.” As an aside, Melanotan II is another synthetic hormone similar to MSH, but it is not FDA approved for any use, has more sexual and satiety effects and has periodically received

coverage in the popular press as the “Barbie Drug.”

Melanotan I causes the pigment producing cells in your skin – the melanocytes – to produce more melanin. Melanin is an important defense against ultraviolet radiation. The problem is that we normally make melanin in response to ultraviolet light exposure after a lot of damage is already done. Increasing melanin before sun exposure sounds very appealing. Is Melanotan I ready for the masses? Not yet…

The package insert for Melanotan I points out that carcinogenicity studies have not been performed. These studies are often required for FDA approval. Melanotan I gained approval under special circumstances for a very specific condition called erythropoietic protoporphyria – a skin disease in which people are so sensitive to sunlight that their quality of life is severely affected. The FDA sometimes issues special approval of medications used for “Orphan” diseases when no other treatments are available and when the number of patients affected is so small that the cost of fully testing a medicine would stop it from coming to market.

We do not have enough data on Melanotan I to help us know if it is appropriate for sunless tanning. Carcinogenicity studies have not been published. Long term safety studies have not been published. Melanotan increases blood pressure, and long term effects on cardiovascular health would likely not be known for decades. Case reports of individuals who developed melanoma while using Melanotan cannot know whether Melanotan had a role in causing the melanoma because they are simply case reports and not case-controlled or placebo-controlled.

So where do things stand? Some individuals are purchasing Melanotan I and II illegally, as these chemicals are part of the steroid and tanning-bed using weightlifting community. They are purchased at great personal risk because of all the above unknowns in addition to the problems with purity and safety when illegal substances are procured. For the rest of us, the pharmaceutical companies are still hard at work. They are actively testing similar compounds to identify medicines with fewer side effects. There is reason to hope that in the future a pill may allow us to develop a tan before going on vacation and better protect ourselves from the sun. In the meantime, traditional sun safety measures are best… and our labradors will remain fat and happy!

Optometrist or Ophthalmologist?

Brought to you by – North Fulton Eye Center

Most people don’t know the difference between an Optometrist and an Ophthalmologist.

Optometrists provide eye examinations, mainly for young healthy eyes, for determining your glasses and/or contact lens prescriptions.

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors and eye surgeons. They provide medical eye exams to determine eye conditions, diseases, and the treatment of such and can also determine your best corrected vision and provide you with a prescription for glasses or contacts.

Celebrating 40 years of eyecare in the Roswell and Cumming community. Drs. Paré, Hewitt and Park are general ophthalmologists/ surgeons. All are board certified

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Summer group therapy: helping your child thrive with 4 key benefits

Brought to you by - Summit Counseling Center

It’s no secret that most kids love summer - with its long days, warm weather, and lack of school, summer break provides a welcome pause from the structure and routine of the academic year. For some kids, however, summer break can be a difficult time. Without the support, resources, and social exposure provided by school, they may struggle to maintain their mental health and well-being after the last school bell rings in May. Therapy groups during the summer can benefit all students, no matter where they fall along the spectrum of mental health, by helping provide a safe and supportive environment for children to learn new skills, build healthy relationships, and address any mental health concerns they may be experiencing.

According to a 2019 study, summer programs designed for children and youth with social and emotional difficulties showed moderate evidence of effectiveness in improving social skills, self-esteem, and overall emotional well-being while decreasing anxiety, depression, and unwanted behaviors at home (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Shaping Summertime Experiences: Opportunities to Promote Healthy Development and Well-Being for Children and Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press). There are several other potential benefits of therapy groups for kids during summer break, including:

1. Social support: Therapy groups can provide a sense of community and social support for children who may feel isolated or disconnected during summer break, proving particularly helpful for kids who struggle with social anxiety, shyness, or other social difficulties. Therapy groups also allow kids to receive feedback and support from

their peers, which can be great for students who may struggle receiving feedback from adults or authority figures.

2. Skill-building: Many therapy groups for kids focus on teaching specific skills, such as social skills, coping strategies, or emotional regulation techniques. Not only are these skills helpful during summer break when kids may have more unstructured time and less support from school-based resources, but they are also invaluable to have once school restarts in the fall.

3. Safe environment: If your student struggles to open up at home, therapy groups can help by providing a safe and supportive space for kids to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Additionally, participating in a therapy group can help reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues, as kids can see that they are not alone in their struggles and that seeking help is a normal and healthy behavior.

4. Continuity of care: By regularly practicing skills throughout the summer, therapy groups can help children maintain the progress they made during the school year and prevent any regression that may occur during summer break.

Summit Counseling Center is offering both individual and group therapy services for Kindergarten through 12th grade students throughout the summer, providing a supportive and structured environment for children to work on their mental health goals and develop new skills and coping strategies. Selection requests for our 6-week groups close on May 12th, so register your student now at tinyurl.com/ SCCSummer23!

Enjoy spring without the sneezing

Brought to you by – Urgent Team

Are you feeling tired and congested? Sneezing? Red, watery, itchy eyes? It’s the time of year when pollen and other allergens can make you miserable and put a damper on outdoor fun. When self-care isn’t doing the trick, it’s time to make a quick trip to Urgent Team Walkin Urgent Care to get your allergies under control and get you back to enjoying the warmer weather.

At Urgent Team, providers can evaluate your symptoms, recommend over-the-counter treatment options, write prescriptions for stronger medications when needed, or refer

you to an allergist for specialized treatment if necessary. They can also help if your symptoms are actually caused by another issue, such as an unexpected virus or infection. Their caregivers also treat rashes and insect bites or stings. Treatment is available for children as well as adults.

When allergy symptoms flare up, Urgent Team is close by to get care and treatment for the whole family, so you can all enjoy spring without the sneezing.

Urgent Team is open seven days a week at 5705 Atlanta Highway, near Kroger Grassland. Just walk in, schedule online with Hold My Spot® or reserve a Telemedicine visit.

Allergy season is here

Brought to you by - Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center

As spring comes, so do allergies! If you have symptoms like congestion or sinus infections, you are not alone. Each year, more than 50 million people in the United States have allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Allergies are your body’s response to the environment. You might react to things in the air like dust or

pollen. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, red eyes, itchy eyes and post-nasal drip. These can progress to infections if not treated.

Wellstar Ear, Nose and Throat knows every symptom and infection can impact your daily life. You can use simple tips to relieve your allergy symptoms and prevent infection.

How to relieve seasonal allergies

• Try over-the-counter medications

like antihistamines and medicated nasal spray.

• Rinse your nose. Over the counter saline sprays and sinus irrigations can help clean your nose.

• Check the weather report. Avoid outside activities on days with a high pollen count.

• Don’t invite allergens inside. Keep windows and doors shut.

• Stay on top of spring cleaning. Dust, wipe and vacuum surfaces.

• Don’t forget your four-legged

friends. Be sure to wash or brush your pets more often.

Expert care for allergies

When these tips do not work, Wellstar Ear Nose and Throat can help diagnose you. We help treat a full range of adult and pediatric allergy conditions at 1360 Upper Hembree Road in Roswell.

Call (770) 475-3361 to make an appointment today.

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

but

There is a consensus among scientific researchers that alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing multiple types of cancer, including cancer of the head and neck, esophagus, breast, colon, liver, pancreas, and prostate. The more alcohol you consume, the higher your risk of getting cancer.

Is there a safe amount to consume?

The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends not to drink alcohol at all, but if you do, limit it to two drinks for men and one drink for

women each day. One drink equals 12 fluid ounces of beer, 5 fluid ounces of wine, or 1.5 fluid ounces of hard liquor.

It is also important to note that alcohol’s cancer-causing effect is magnified by smoking tobacco. Studies have shown that people who use both alcohol and tobacco have a greater risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, and esophagus compared to those who use either alcohol or tobacco alone.

If you choose to consume alcohol, please do so responsibly!

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

Alpharetta Symphony to present ‘Organic Fanfare’ concert

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta Symphony announced it will host an “Organic Fanfare” concert 8 p.m. April 21 at Alpharetta First United Methodist Church.

The program will feature three artists and a showcase of the organ by Matthew Alan Edwards, who serves as keyboardist for the Alpharetta Symphony and director

Ensemble:

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“It’s expensive, and when you don’t have the money, you have to go … ‘how can we adjust to satisfy our patrons?’” Allen-Farley said. “By moving things around, by postponing different shows.”

Allen-Farley and Mary Saville, GET communications director, sat inside the theater’s studio on Hembree Parkway April 4, discussing the Georgia Theater Ensemble’s big move.

City partnership

The new partnership model would have allowed Roswell to help the Georgia Ensemble Theatre with production and marketing, run its box office and patron services, then collect the revenue. David Crowe, Roswell Cultural Arts coordinator, said the city would have found an “equitable split” once paying technical fees.

Many local arts organizations had been struggling with money postCOVID, Crowe said. The city has fostered successful partnerships using a similar model over the past couple of years, he said, like with the Atlanta Balalaika Society, the Atlanta Vocal Project, the Song of Atlanta chorus and the Atlanta Dance Theatre.

“We were trying to find ways to partner with [GET] so that they wouldn’t have to worry about rent anymore,” Crowe said.

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre had been behind on around $30,000 in rent for its space at the Cultural Arts Center. The City of Roswell offered reduced rent to the theater, but Allen-Farley said GET will pay half the cost at the Anderson.

Considering GET’s season isn’t quite over in Roswell, Crowe hasn’t actively sought other theater companies. But he intends to make those connections.

Crowe had been with the city’s Cultural Arts Center since 2015 but has known the founders of Georgia Ensemble Theatre much longer. He said Bob Farley, the late co-founder of the theater, gave him his “first big break” after graduate school to direct at GET. As a young person, Crowe also performed in “Of Mice and Men” in the 2004-2005 season.

of music and organist at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Snellville.

Edwards will play Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Symphony No. 3,” named the “Organ Symphony” for its uncommon use of the pipe organ.

Following Edwards, violist Jason Seo will perform Max Bruch’s “Romanze” with

the orchestra. Seo, 17, of Johns Creek was selected by the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America to play at Carnegie Hall in New York City and on tour in Europe.

The concert will conclude with “Oracle,” an original piece that highlights brass instruments and high woodwinds by

composer Michael Torke.

The Alpharetta Symphony is also set to host a “Twilight in Paris” concert 7:30 p.m. May 29 at Brooke Street Park. Tickets can be purchased at alpharettasymphony.org.

— Shelby Israel

A new space

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre released a statement, saying staff will continue to be in conversation with Roswell officials about the future and are open to return if an opportunity arose. The theatre also said it would continue its investment into Roswell’s growth and well-being, considering its studio will remain on Hembree Parkway.

The studio hosts the theater’s administrative offices, its conservatory and the GET Travel Team, which takes professional productions to schools and senior communities at their locations. The studio also serves as the rehearsal space for mainstage plays.

The Jennie T. Anderson Theatre has around the same number of seats as the Roswell Cultural Arts Center with 606 seats. It does not include a balcony, but handicap-accessible seating is on the front row.

Saville shared that the Anderson was once home to the Atlanta Lyric Theatre, which recently closed due to a collection of pandemic-related issues, like rising costs, reduced revenue and donations, and audiences’ reluctance to return quickly.

“Georgia Ensemble Theatre has been an enormous asset to the city on and off for many years, and it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t find a way to continue working together,” Crowe said. “But the way that I see this is: everything is an opportunity. I think this is a great opportunity for them and for us to find something different, maybe.”

Community connection

Despite city efforts to retain the theater company, Allen-Farley said she couldn’t afford the partnership.

“The biggest issue was the model has [the city] selling all of the tickets, keeping all of the money until after the show is over,” Allen-Farley said. “And I have people that I have to pay, months before we open the show.”

The agreement would have also cut the theater’s 20-week season in half. Saville said producing two shows, rather than four or five, would generate far less income. The cut also would have meant the theater wouldn’t have been able to produce the same variety of shows, Saville said.

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Allen-Farley said it’s been fun to watch more and more patrons fill the seats. She said around 25 percent of the house was filled for the first two shows, which had gone up to 35 percent.

“And now, we’ve had some really nice houses with ‘Bright Star,’” AllenFarley said. For the foreseeable future, “Bright Star” will be GET’s last mainstage production in Roswell.

Many patrons have told Allen-Farley they’ll ride along with her to Marietta and have bought subscriptions, or a package deal. While the move is only 13 miles away, she knows some won’t be able to follow her. The theater sees an older demographic, and many can’t drive at night.

“What I’ll miss most is that connection that we’ve had,” Allen-Farley said. “We’ve had some people that have had the same seats for 30 years.”

But she’s exploring a shuttle option for those who can’t make the drive themselves.

“Being able to regain our footing after our entire industry was closed for over a year has been a very slow process— much slower than anyone anticipated— and we all need patience, understanding and grace while we’re still in the ‘rebuilding’ phase,” Saville said.

While GET is raising prices of premium seating, it has made more “budget-friendly” seats available at the Anderson Theatre. Preview plays will be $15 a ticket, and regular performances will range from $25 to $70. Discounts will be offered to seniors, students, educators, military/veterans and first responders.

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre is set to produce three plays at the Anderson, in October, February and April, though the titles have yet to be announced. GET will also co-produce two musicals in the Overture Series with the Anderson Theatre, “The Light in the Piazza” in December and “Ragtime” in June of 2024.

“I think people will enjoy the experience of watching a play [at the Anderson Theatre]. It is a change. But that doesn’t mean that it’s a bad thing,” Saville said. “Change is just inevitable.”

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

From left, Mary Saville, communications director at the Georgia Ensemble Theatre, and Anita Allen-Farley, co-founder of the Georgia Ensemble Theatre, stand outside of the theater’s studio on Hembree Parkway April 4. After more than 30 years of residency in Roswell, the theater is moving to the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in Marietta.

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.”

Group focused on eating disorders schedules walk at Alpharetta park

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Atlanta’s annual NEDA Walk will take place April 16 at Webb Bridge Park.

The event is intended to raise awareness about eating disorders and help fund programs provided by the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), the country’s largest nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders.

The organization offers a number of services, including screenings, a helpline and connecting individuals with treatment. So far, Atlanta has raised more than $8,600 toward a goal of more than $18,500.

“People can come out and have a safe place to either celebrate the fact that they’re in recovery or if they know someone, or if they themselves kind of feel like they might be experiencing symptoms,” said Lyla Mills, a counselor at Johns Creek

and Alpharetta Counseling.

Mills, who has helped coordinate the Atlanta NEDA Walk since 2017, specializes in eating disorders. She also worked at an eating disorder facility before entering private practice.

NEDA Walks are an educational opportunity, Mills said. They often have dieticians and therapists who speak, and this year, Mills said the event will feature more outpatient providers.

Eating disorders are common, she said, and it’s common for them to go undiagnosed.

“Eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes,” Mills said. “It’s more so about the patterns and behaviors and thought processes behind the eating than it is about how much you weigh in numbers.”

Check-in is at 9 a.m., and the walk will begin an hour later. Registration is free, but walkers who pay the suggested donation of $25 will receive a T-shirt.

For more information, email nedaatlanta@gmail.com.

Roswell to host Pat Tillman Honor Run

ROSWELL, Ga. — The City of Roswell will host Georgia’s annual Tillman Honor Run, a nationwide event that honors the legacy and impact of Army Ranger Pat Tillman on Saturday, April 15 at 8:00 a.m. It is the organization’s only run in Georgia.

It costs $42 to register for the run online, which will kick off at the Faces of War Memorial behind Roswell City Hall. The 4.2-mile running and walking route represents Tillman’s jersey number as an Arizona State University Sun Devil football player.

The run is open to all ages and everyone who participates will receive a medal and a T-shirt. The registration funds will go to the Pat Tillman Foundation’s Tillman Scholars program, which provides education opportunities to active-duty

service members, veterans and military spouses.

The event is held annually nationwide by the Arizona State University Alumni Association and the Pat Tillman Foundation. It honors Pat Tillman, an Arizona State University graduate who joined the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals in 1998. Tillman was a successful player until he put his football career on hold after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Tillman joined the U.S. Army in July 2002 and was killed in April 2004 by friendly fire. Tillman’s family and friends started the organization after his death to continue the athlete and soldier’s legacy.

Participants can register at https:// pattillmanfoundation.org/pats-run/.

ASHLEY DONAHUE/PROVIDED

Four individuals hold the NEDA Walk banner in 2018 at Piedmont Park.

Roswell to celebrate Earth Day at historic homes

ROSWELL, Ga. — The City of Roswell will celebrate Earth Day with a free community day on Saturday, April 22 at four of its historic house museums.

Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall,

Housing:

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edges up to the May 19 deadline, but she understands the need for public comment.

“We just have to have some kind of assurance that we’re moving forward,” Parrish said.

Councilwoman Hills clarified that the resolution to support Roswell Housing Authority is “just a commitment” that does not nail down specifics. The $2 million loan commitment would only be spent if the housing authority receives the tax credit.

Even with the $2 million commitment, the Roswell Housing Authority would be millions of dollars short for the redevelopment project. Parrish said the group is looking to grant programs and appropriations from the Senate.

With Councilwoman Christine Hall acting as Mayor pro tempore in Mayor Kurt Wilson’s absence, all councilmembers except for Palermo

Craft:

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It’s the secret sauce, whatever you want to call it.”

Support and working to help peers is something that became a staple in Craft’s repertoire. Jasper Jewell witnessed it first-hand.

Jewell, Director of Athletics for Atlanta Public Schools, has been friends with Craft since he took the job in Fulton County.

“A lot of our schools mirror each other in socioeconomic status, diversity and background, so it makes it an easy sell for us to mesh and work together,” Jewell said. “At the end of the day, we just want to be the best athletic directors we can for our student athletes.”

While they’ve known each other for a decade, their relationship — personally and professionally — got a boost in March 2019.

The two were at the annual Georgia Athletic Directors Association conference, sitting in seminars and going through training sessions to improve as athletic directors. One night, Jew-

Smith Plantation and Mimosa Hall & Gardens will be open and free to guests from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with volunteers to talk about the history and eco-friendly preservation of the

historic homes. The homes will also offer self-guided tours and scavenger hunts for kids.

Guests are welcome to bring a picnic to the grounds and pavilions.

At Smith Plantation, living historian and open-hearth cooking expert Clarissa Clifton will show historic seasonal recipes and cooking methods.

which has served as an early voting location in years past.

Councilman Palermo has been a strong advocate for two early voting locations to increase voter access in Roswell. In the first reading of the Fulton County agreement, he added a secondary resolution that would create an East Roswell early voting location.

The agreement proposed by Fulton County has a $814,420 price tag for the 2023 elections and possible runoff elections. With Palermo’s addendum of an East Roswell location, the cost increases to $886,502.

Councilwoman Sarah Beeson suggested that the city look for a “costsharing agreement” with neighboring cities Alpharetta and Johns Creek, who would benefit from the East Roswell voting location.

voted in favor of the resolution.

“My opposition was not due to the underlying intent, more so just the process and discussion,” Palermo said.

In other business, the City Council moved forward with an agreement to let Fulton County run municipal elections

ell, Craft and several other ADs from around Metro Atlanta got together and formed the “Metro Mafia.” The group included ADs from Fulton County, City of Atlanta, Clayton County, Forsyth County, Paulding County and Gwinnett County.

“We all just formalized this group because we bounce so many ideas off of one another, whether it’s school closings, weather, issues, how we handle different issues in our district to see if it can be implemented in a neighboring district,” Jewell said. “We’re all so close to one another so we tend to lean on one another a lot. We talk a lot and develop things that we can take back to our superintendents that can make our districts better for the betterment of our kids and the betterment of teachers and coaches.”

One of the other group developments Craft was crucial in founding was the Aspiring AD Cohort in Fulton County.

With open athletic director positions at several high schools, Craft sifted through resumes and realized how many qualified candidates came from within the district. So, Craft and other ADs and administrators founded the

in 2023. Councilmembers approved the second reading of the resolution and discussed the addition of a second early voting location.

Fulton County’s earlier proposal only offered one early voting location, removing the East Roswell Library

cohort to help train coaches, teachers and prospective athletic directors in Fulton County.

“It used to be: sit behind a desk and figure it out,” he said. “Now we have a training program that can be replicated and shared with other districts,” Craft said.

The initiative has essentially created a labor pool to fill positions with a sense of continuity and consistency, he said.

Today, six of the 16 ADs have come from the cohort.

“I think Fulton County has become a state perennial power when you look at school systems in athletics,” said former Johns Creek AD Jason Holcombe, who is set to become the Gwinnett County Public Schools Athletic Director in April. “That all starts with what Steven started 11 years ago. He made me a better athletic director, a better coach and a better mentor.”

It was late on a Wednesday night, maybe early Thursday morning, in late May 2017, but Craft picked up the phone.

Holcombe was down in Lee County where his Johns Creek baseball team had just suffered a heartbreaking

“No one votes in a vacuum,” Beeson said.

The councilmembers were open to the suggestion but focused on the addition of a second location to the April 11 resolution. The council unanimously approved the resolution with the added East Roswell voting location.

5-3 loss in Game 2 of the GHSA state semifinal series, ending their season. The loss was extra painful because they thought they had won the game. The Gladiators won on a walk-off run, but after further review the umpire reversed the call, the game went to extra innings, and the Trojans won.

“(I) called Dr. Craft and told him that it wasn’t right, and we needed to do something,” Holcombe said. “We explained everything, he saw everything, and he was right there. We took it to GHSA, they agreed with us and the original decision was upheld so we got the opportunity to play a Game 3.”

The Game 3 was played the following week, and Johns Creek lost, but Holcombe said that the players were grateful for Craft’s involvement, allowing them a fair opportunity to extend their season.

Doing what’s right for students has always been at the center of Craft’s mission and his work. No one expects that to change.

“To say that Fulton County is losing a giant is an understatement,” Jewell said. “He’s a man of high character, a great leader and I can’t say enough about him.”

DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA

The Roswell City Council voted to support the Roswell Housing Authority’s Grove Way property with $2 million in grants, loans and infrastructure assistance at an April 11 meeting at City Hall.

PRESERVING THE PAST

A centenarian’s story of World War II (Part 2)

In Part 1 of Centenarian Henry (Hank) Cockerill’s story, we told of his experiences in France following the bloody invasion of Normandy in June 1944 when Allied forces marched across France toward Germany.

Hank’s exhausted battalion met up with the 7th Armored Division about Dec. 1 in Malmedy, Belgium, in the Ardennes Forest. After five days, Hank’s battalion went south about 16 miles to the town of St. Vith for a long overdue break.

Germany was on its last legs, or so thought Allied commanders, and no one expected any major offensives. American entertainers such as Marlene Dietrich and a group of baseball players led by Mel Ott of the New York Giants traveled to the Ardennes to entertain the troops. The Allies, including 500,000 Americans, were lightly defended, spread out along the 75-mile-long forest, short of supplies, living in deep snow and bitter cold.

Battle of the Bulge

Hank tells a unique story about his experience. He became friends with the battalion cook, Frenchie. One day Frenchie suggested they take a hike. He said, “Let’s take our guns in case we see a deer and I will cook it.” They saw a deer across a valley about a mile east of St. Vith, then they heard a rumble. Hank says “I recognized Rommel’s old battalion of Tiger tanks with 81 caliber canons that could be lowered to shoot at ground forces. Two hundred tanks, all painted white, had been brought in from the Russian front. We weren’t prepared. We had settled down for the winter.”

Early on Dec. 16, an estimated 200,000 German troops with 800,000 in reserve and nearly 1,000 tanks launched a surprise attack along 50 miles of the forest.

At the end of the first day, the Germans broke through the American lines and captured key crossroads creating the “bulge” that gave the battle its name. Everything happened so quickly that troops often did not know what was happening nearby.

“Having to retreat knocked hell out of our morale. It was the breakthrough that no one expected,” says Hank. “That’s when Ike said ‘turn around and fight’ and we did.”

The Americans were quick to provide reinforcements. Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight Eisenhower rushed reinforcements to the bulge to prevent

Hank Cockerill will celebrate his 100th birthday in May 2023. He joined the Army as a young man and had assignments in Europe during WWII, including Normandy following the D-Day invasion, the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Remagen. After the war, Hank went on to a distinguished career with The CocaCola Company, retiring in 1993 after 45 years. (March 2023)

further penetration by the Germans. Gen. George Patton counterattacked with his Third Army. The Germans were ultimately thwarted and permanently weakened.

“I went back to find my pup tent,” says Hank. “It was full of bullet holes.”

The Battle of the Bulge was the largest and bloodiest single battle fought by the U.S. in WW II, with more than 19,000 killed. Fierce battles took place in Malmedy and St. Vith. In the Malmedy Massacre, 84 American soldiers were captured and executed by the Waffen-SS in a farmer’s field. St. Vith was a priority target due to its excellent road network. The Americans successfully defended the town, thereby slowing the German advance. Hank remained in the Ardennes until the middle of January.

Battle of Remagen

As German forces retreated, they destroyed all the bridges crossing the Rhine River except one, the Ludendorff Bridge in the town of Remagen. The bridge was mined but it had not exploded.

Hank says “Our job was to disarm the explosives so our tanks could cross. One guy took the right side of the bridge and I took the left. We climbed on the girders and came across satchels full of dynamite. The wiring was different from ours and the wires were different colors.

I had a feeling that the red wire was the one to cut. On the count of three I cut it and no explosion.”

The two soldiers crawled toward

satchels at the end of the bridge, but they were exposed to sharpshooters.

“We crawled back thinking we would disarm the explosives at night,” Hank says.

Just then a jeep drove up with a general on board. It turned out to be General Patton. He said, “What’s the delay?”

Hank replied, “We are going to remove the explosives tonight because of the sharpshooters.”

Patton said “Son, this is a war. People die. I want to cross the Rhine. Get back on the bridge.”

The men climbed back on the bridge, somehow avoided the sharpshooters, disarmed the explosives and saved the bridge from destruction.

Hank is a very humble man according to his son Gary.

“Dad has not spoken much about the war. He doesn’t volunteer information, but he will respond if people are really interested,” Gary says.

After separation from the Army in December 1945, Hank’s first job was in Detroit selling Esquire calendars and playing cards.

“The challenge of sales gave me a thrill,” he remembers. He also owned a

seasonal restaurant, Hank’s Hi-Da-Way, a Lake Huron favorite. He eventually realized he could not simultaneously work at a full-time sales job, so he sold the restaurant.

In December 1948, Hank obtained a job with The Coca-Cola Company selling Coke machines to outdoor movie theaters which were proliferating all over Michigan. He climbed the corporate ladder quickly thanks to his strong entrepreneurial spirit: district manager in Detroit, regional manager in Cleveland, senior regional manager in Baltimore. He was sent to Atlanta to create a sales team targeting the top 100 food chains in America. Hank’s team became the lead food service industry sales team for Coca-Cola. He worked 45 years at Coca-Cola, retiring to his home in Sandy Springs in 1993 as senior vice president, director National Accounts. He will celebrate his 100th birthday in May.

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.

BOB MEYERS Columnist

BOB MEYERS/PROVIDED

GARDEN BUZZ

Discovering the brilliance of pink lady’s slippers

Every woodland walk or hike gives the observer an opportunity to view the seasonal transitions associated with the changing temperature, tree leaf cover and sunlight. My favorite spot for a daily walk is in the 150-acre wooded lot behind my house in Milton. Last year’s mid-April walk revealed an amazing discovery! Not only are these Milton woods peppered with groves of native azaleas but also rare and protected Pink Lady’s Slippers. The first discovery revealed a handful of pink lady’s slippers, but as the April sun warmed the air and soil and the day length increased, more and more pink lady’s slippers emerged from their winter dormancy. By the end of April, my walking partner and I counted over 150 flowering plants!

Pink lady’s slippers are one of the most visually appealing of the many Georgia spring wildflowers. They

are a native orchid species with one large pink, showy flower per plant. They are rare and protected by the Georgia Wildflower Preservation Act of 1973. Do not develop an urge to transplant one into your garden or pick the flowers, as it is illegal, and transplanting is almost always unsuccessful. What contributes to their rarity is destruction of their habitats, growth requirements and a seven-year reproductive cycle from seed to flowering. Over the last decade the metro Atlanta population has increased by almost a million people, creating a continuing need for new office buildings, homes and shopping areas and thus reducing the forest environment for lady’s slippers and other native plants and animals to thrive.

In February 2022, the Georgia Department of Transportation began a project to add lanes and a new exit/entry ramp onto Georgia 400 north of exit 11, Windward Parkway. During an environmental assessment, the Department found a stand of close to 1000 pink lady’s slippers in the path of new construction. As required by law, it was determined the pink lady’s slippers needed to be saved and relocated. A team from the Department of Natural Resources and members of the Georgia Botanical Society attempted the difficult and meticulous task of digging up each individual plant along with its allimportant surrounding soil.

Pink lady’s slippers have a very poor transplant survival rate since they have a symbiotic relationship with a specific soil fungus. Without this fungus in the soil, they die. Even with the expertise of the Georgia Botanical Society and transporting the pink lady’s slippers to an area where the soil fungus was present, the survival rate was 70% with declining survival rates expected over time.

Scientists are learning more each year about the network of interconnections among soil organisms and the types of plants that thrive in our environment. This spring, take a walk in the woods,

About the Author

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closely observe the flora and fauna and you will be amazed at what you will find and learn about the north Georgia woodlands. Remember to leave the environment intact for the next visitor and for future generations.

Happy gardening!

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

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a Master Gardener since 2012. Carole describes herself as a born biologist. Since childhood, she loved to explore the out-of-doors and gardening with her mother. When she entered college, she selected biology as her major and made teaching high school biology her career for 35 years. After retirement in 2008, she had three goals: to move from Pittsburgh to Atlanta to be near her daughter and granddaughter, to volunteer, and to become a Master Gardener. Shortly after moving, she became involved with the philanthropic mission of the Assistance League of Atlanta (ALA) and in 2012, completed the Master Gardener program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners (NFMG) and the Milton Garden Club. Carole uses her teaching skills to create a variety of presentations on gardening topics for the NFMG Lecture Series and Speakers Bureau.

For more information

•“Plant Lovers Dig in, Save Pink Lady’s Slippers,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, December 10, 2022, page G-1

•Favorite Wildflower Walks in Georgia, Hugh Nourse and Carol Nourse, The University of Georgia Press, 2007, ISBN-13: 978-0-8203-2841-6

•North Fulton Master Gardenershttps://www.nfmg.net/

•To learn more about Spring Wildflowers, visit the NFMG YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/ sw4cdG3OoOA)

CAROLE MACMULLAN

Guest Columnist

Pink Lady’s Slipper on a wooded property in Milton, Georgia

2 Pink Lady’s Slippers with three observers

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