Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - June 20, 2024

Webb Bridge Dog Park Opens to Public

By ALEX ANTEAU newsroom@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Furry friends across Alpharetta will have a new place to beat the heat in the summer shade, with the opening of the Webb Bridge Dog Park on May 5.

The new facility is nestled in a copse of trees with separate areas for large and small dogs to roam around off leash, water fountains, several

benches and can accommodate about 30 dogs at a time. The park’s entrance is also marked by the silhouette of a dog, where guests can leave dog tags to memorialize canine companions who’ve passed on.

The park was the brainchild of Johns Creek couple Tim and Michele Mulroy and their rescue golden retriever Pebbles. The couple said they’ve been frequent guests at Webb Bridge Park since it opened, but began spending

more time there during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was about that time, we decided we wanted to do something for the park. And it started out simply with a couple of benches,” Tim Mulroy said.

“And then we were like, ‘you know, we probably could go bigger than a couple of benches.’”

“We wanted to give something back

State tax revenues continue to decline

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat News Service

ATLANTA – Georgia tax collections continued to fall last month, dropping 1.1% compared to May of last year, the state Department of Revenue reported. With just one month remaining in the current fiscal year, tax revenues are down by 1.2% compared to the first 11 months of fiscal 2023. However, that doesn’t account for the fact the state wasn’t collecting sales taxes on gasoline and other motor fuels during the first half of the last fiscal year.

As a result, the 11 months that ended May 31 saw a net decrease in tax revenues of 4.3% from fiscal 2023. Individual income tax receipts for May were down 3.3% compared to the same month last year, driven largely by a 32.9% decline in individual tax return payments.

Net sales tax collections rose slightly last month, increasing by 0.4% compared to May a year ago.

Corporate incomes taxes fell by 35.1% percent in May due to the combination of a 23.1% decline in payments and a huge increase of 497.5% in refunds issued by the revenue agency.

With the state likely to show tax revenues down at the end of fiscal 2024 June 30, Gov. Brian Kemp has been warning of leaner times ahead. However, the $16 billion budget surplus the state has built up during the last three years should provide ample cushion to avoid major spending cuts.

Led by the Mulroy Family and Alpharetta City Council Member John Hipes, residents and their furry friends celebrate the opening of a new dog park located inside Webb Bridge Park on May 5.

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Police conduct sting op for alcohol compliance

By HANNAH FRAZER hannah@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Milton police issued citations to employees at three businesses for serving alcohol to an underage, undercover volunteer May 14.

Police cited a 35-year-old Cumming man at The Nest Cafe, a 20-year-old Alpharetta woman at Community Burger and a 34-year-old Suwanee woman at Nahm Thai Cuisine, according to the incident reports.

Milton Public Information Officer Lt. Andrew Noblett said police select businesses at random during their quarterly inspections, unless they

POLICE BLOTTER

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

Woman reports theft of jewelry, $300 in cash

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating a non-forced burglary at an apartment on Hemingway Lane June 6 after a woman reported stolen jewelry and cash.

Officers said the victim, a 38-yearold female, said she last saw the items June 3 and didn’t notice them missing until that day. She said she suspects someone took her key, which she accidentally left in the lock when she returned from vacation May 30.

The officer said there were no signs of forced entry or damage to the residence.

The victim’s stolen jewelry includes six rings, five chains, six bracelets and eight watches, valued

are previous offenders. If a company has failed an alcohol compliance inspection in the past, police usually check more frequently to ensure it is following the rules.

The legal drinking age in Georgia is 21.

Noblett said Nahm Thai Cuisine had been noncompliant in another inspection earlier this year, though the business passed a check in late 2022.

He said Community Burger and The Nest Cafe saw their first inspection May 14.

As of press time, Appen Media could not reach The Nest Cafe, Community Burger or Nahm Thai

around $15,000. The stolen cash totals $300.

The victim said most items are 18 karat gold.

Officers said there are no security cameras near the woman’s apartment.

Officers did not identify a suspect.

Police investigate claim by fired spa worker

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating a spa on Grimes Bridge Road after an ex-employee claimed management wanted her to perform sexual acts on customers.

An officer said he spoke with the business owner and manager June 7 at the establishment.

They said the reason for the incident stemmed from the woman’s request for more money.

The manager said an argument ensued and resulted in a phone call to 911.

The ex-employee, who called 911, said the manager and owner asked her to perform sexual acts on customers. She said she wanted

Cuisine for comment.

For their routine checks, Milton Police select a volunteer, typically an underage individual familiar to them, to enter the establishment with an officer. The volunteer then orders an alcoholic beverage with their driver’s license.

The same volunteer entered the three businesses with a police sergeant. After the underage individual was served an alcoholic beverage, an officer at the scene cited the server.

“The checks are important to keep alcohol out of the hands of people that aren’t legally allowed to have alcohol,” Noblett said.

to work at the spa because she was told it was a legitimate massage parlor.

She also said the manager and owner refused to pay her for refusing to perform the acts.

The Criminal Investigations Division responded and took over the scene, the officer said.

Man says wheels stolen from car parked in lot

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police responded to The Crossings at Holcomb Bridge apartments June 7 after a man reported stolen rims and tires.

The victim, a 24-year-old Roswell man, said the theft occurred sometime between 9:30 p.m. June 6.

Thieves took the tires and rims for three 18-inch stock wheels, totaling around $1,500 from the owner’s vehicle, a 2009 Infiniti G7.

The officer said there were no security cameras in the area.

Officers did not identify a suspect.

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Alpharetta Legion post announces new officers

The more than 700 members of Alpharetta’s American Legion Post 201 will see new leadership this month as swearing-in ceremonies put a new post commander, auxiliary president, and Sons of the American Legion commander into office.

Bob Byrd has been named post commander, his fifth time serving in the role. He has also served as adjutant, judge advocate and Executive Committee member. Byrd, a U.S. Army veteran and a twodecade member of the post, is retired from a lengthy career in information systems.

Lee Harrison has been a member

of Unit 201 for over 50 years as she takes on the role of unit president. During her five decades of active and dedicated membership she is a past president, vice president, and chair of several committees.

Derek Garmon will take the oath as commander of the Sons of the American Legion, for the 18th time. He will lead his group of more than 270 members, which is now the second largest in Georgia.

For information about the Post 201 family go to www. legion201.org. To contact the post about membership, email americanlegionalpharetta@gmail.com.

AMERICAN LEGION POST 201/PROVIDED

Newly installed officers for American Legion Post 201 include, from left: Derek Garmon, Sons of the American Legion commander; Lee Harrison, unit president; and Bob Byrd, post commander.

State halts Ga. 9 widening amid fraud investigation

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Work to widen Ga. 9 through Milton is at a standstill until the Georgia Department of Transportation sorts through a snag in its right-of-way and easement process.

GDOT notified the city June 11 that it has become aware of fraudulent activity associated in the acquisitions.

Nearly 23,000 vehicles use the roadway daily, and the city has braced residents for months of construction which had already been poised to commence with orange cones and heavy equipment along the thoroughfare.

Milton officials said their first priority is to strongly urge GDOT to promptly take action to clean up properties damaged and affected by construction. Because the widening is a state project, city officials have little control over its administration and timeline.

“We’re already reaching out to state leaders for answers and expect productive conversations to ensure that Milton citizens and businesses are heard, and their best interests are served,” Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison said. “Highway 9 is vital to our city’s present and future, and it’s important that this project is done right.”

Milton was alerted to the fraudulent activity surrounding the project around 1 p.m. June 11. It involves a now-former Georgia Department of Transportation official associated to the Ga. 9 widening project.

Milton Communications Director Greg Botelho said the city is still looking for answers.

“We are concerned and disappointed by these reports, as well as the resulting impact on our citizens, business leaders and employees and others who travel on this main Milton thoroughfare,” he said.

Scott Higley, director of strategic communications for GDOT, said the department investigated the actions of a former right-of-way acquisition specialist who was involved in the falsification of internal documents which led other officials to believe that right-of-way parcels necessary to advance a total of five infrastructure projects in metro Atlanta had been acquired by GDOT, when in fact they had not.

Higley said GDOT traced the falsified information to a single employee, who was immediately fired

after an initial investigation.

“A subsequent and thorough investigation into all projects verified by the employee over the past decade has since been conducted, and an internal audit of processes and procedures is underway,” Higley wrote in an email. “At this time, it has been confirmed that the extent of fraudulent information traced to the employee is limited to just five projects.”

He said the other four projects are not associated with the Ga. 9 widening and that they are less extensive in their impact.

According to GDOT, there are 139 parcels necessary to advance an active project to widen Ga. 9 in the city of Milton from Windward Parkway in Alpharetta north to the Forsyth County line.

Higley said work had begun on 33 parcels GDOT believed had been acquired for the project.

The Office of the Inspector General and other state officials are conducting further review of the matter.

“The Georgia Department of Transportation will notify any property owner impacted by activity on their property that GDOT will work to properly acquire the necessary rights and easements for the project,” Higley said. “GDOT is also making immediate changes to certain internal processes and procedures to help ensure that the state is protected against any such fraudulent activity in the future.”

Ike Yancy, leader of Milton’s Coalition Against GDOT Havoc, said he and surrounding neighbors are grateful to the city for casting light on this apparent total mismanagement of the widening of Ga. 9.

“This development is extremely disturbing, especially in the light of the cavalier attitude by GDOT towards the wanton destruction of our landscaping and mature trees,” Yancy said. “If I read this correctly, it appears that trees, landscaping and areas along Ga. 9 in Milton that were not legally owned by GDOT were destroyed.”

As for what comes next, Yancy said the news gives a reason for GDOT officials to listen to residents along the corridor.

“All of this casts serious doubt on the management and control of the Ga. 9 widening,” Yancy said. “Now that the widening has been shut down, the whole approach needs to be given a thorough and complete review.”

Roswell Cultural Arts Center opens summer puppet series

By LUKE GARDNER newsroom@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Kids, their teachers, and families gathered at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center June 11 for All Hands Productions’ performance of “Three Billy Goats Gruff and Other Stuff,” the first show in this year’s Summer Puppet Series.

“It's such an infusion of energy when kids come for the first puppet show of the summer,” Cultural Arts Manager David Crowe said. “The building responds to that excitement, and it ushers in a sunny warm pleasant feeling for the rest of summer.”

“Three Billy Goats Gruff and Other Stuff” included five performances running through June 15. The show retells the story of several traditional fairytales interpreted through the lens of puppeteer David Stephens.

“There are five different stories in this show,” Stephens said. “I tell the story of ‘Little Red Riding Hood,’ a version of ‘Three Little Pigs,’ ‘Three Billy Goats Gruff,’ and a takeoff on ‘Stone Soup,’ which is about a couple of farmers in my show. There's also a bit with a couple of chickens.”

The stories contain slight deviations from the original fairytales, like Little Red

Riding Hood’s real name being Julie, and the Big Bad Wolf developing a blueberry allergy. These retellings are performed through a colorful variety of puppets that Stephens constructs himself. He also makes brief appearances as a narrator.

“This is the show’s 25th anniversary,” Stephens said. “I created this show after I had been doing tours through summer reading programs at libraries. I had already done a show of Aesop’s fables and I was looking to select a group of classic fairytales I could do in one show.”

As a creator of several shows, Stephens has learned how to craft puppets, characters, storylines and jokes over his decades-long career.

“Shows start out as an outline,” Stephens said. “I begin mapping out characters and figuring out the dynamics between them. There’s an outline of the major plot points, but there’s no set script when I start. It’s dictated by the audience, born out of improv, and after several years the show locks itself in, with subtle changes over time.”

Stephens can’t always see his audience while he’s on stage, so he relies on audible cues, like the sounds of children’s reactions and laughter. Sometimes the show includes calls and responses to

Puppeteer

engage young audience members. However, it's not just the children who enjoy themselves at his puppet shows.

“Sometimes the adults bring in something else to do, like a book to read,” Stephens said. “Teachers might bring papers to grade. By the end of the show, the adults are paying attention like the kids.”

Stephens has been performing at the Cultural Arts Center for more than a decade, but his career has lasted over twice as long, and his passion for puppets stretches back to his youth.

“I was obsessed with ‘Sesame Street’ and ‘The Muppet Show;’ glued to the TV,” Stephens said. “I started to make puppets as a teen, and in college, I was already getting paid to do shows. I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and for about two years I didn’t do any shows because of the pandemic. This is my first year back on my feet again. It’s been a very rewarding experience seeing that the shows still have resonance.”

The Cultural Arts Center features an entire lineup of productions throughout the year, including theater performances, music, dance, puppet shows, pageants, exhibits and special events.

“Immediately the puppet shows were popular,” Cultural Arts Manager Crowe said. “People are looking for a fun experience with the little ones. At these shows, they can spend 45 minutes to an hour laughing in a comfortable environment.”

The next installment in the puppet series will be the Tanglewood Marionettes’ performance of “Sleeping Beauty” from June 18-22.

For more information about the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, its schedule of performances and ticket packages, visit roswellcac.showare.com/.

Forecasting experts evaluate prospects for housing market

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — More than 1,200 professionals from the housing industry tuned into a two-hour zoom call June 13 from John Hunt, chief analyst, principal and cofounder of MarketNsights.

Hunt’s presentation, “Higher for Longer May Be Here to Stay,” covered markets from Dallas to Richmond, and he spoke from a vantage point of someone with more than 30 years of experience and a track record of accurate modeling to the discussion.

In 2006, Hunt was on the team that first predicted the Great Recession.

Hunt briefly mentioned the U.S. is still recovering from the “irrational exuberance” in the housing market.

Quoting former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s famed comment about market bubbles, he traces the current housing availability crisis back to December 2007.

Hunt said housing starts had reflected increases in population before the crash, but they have not recovered since.

During a discussion with the North Fulton Improvement Network in February, Hunt said housing attainability or affordability is the defining issue of our time.

Hunt reaffirmed the significance of housing June 13. He said the barriers to

“missing middle housing” stem from the emergence of zoning regulations 100 years ago from politicians during Jim Crow.

“Their goal for doing zoning was to circumvent Civil Rights laws and to keep neighborhoods White,” Hunt said. “Don’t trust me, look it up and read the book, ‘The Color of Law.’”

Georgia State University economist Rajeev Dhawan also spoke in the June 13 presentation.

Georgians can expect “practical” cuts from the Federal Reserve totaling 175 basis points by the end of 2025, he said.

Dhawan is the holder of the Zwerner Chair of Economic Forecasting and director at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at GSU.

The questions are whether interest rate cuts will help bring down mortgage rates, and whether homebuyers should wait on the cuts, Dhawan said.

For the week of June 9-15, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. is 7.33 percent.

The Federal Reserve voted to hold rates steady at the end of its two-day meeting June 12, pushing back the start of rate cuts and relief from high borrowing costs.

Dhawan’s prediction came during an explanation for what spurred the growth of the national economy in the second half of last year.

Dhawan pointed to pent up travel demand, changes with consumer spending, a government hiring spree and a superb stock market rally.

Another factor stimulating the economy is the lack of mortgage rate shocks, as seen in other countries like the United Kingdom and Canada.

“Fed rate cuts are going to happen, the speed is different and it’s going to come in,” Dhawan said. “The issue is what is going to happen after that.”

Hunt said the shortage of affordable homes in the region is here to stay, keeping many younger buyers from owning while pushing others farther from downtown Atlanta.

Dhawan and Hunt were clear about the role homeownership plays in building wealth for Americans.

Hunt is skeptical about the effect of decreasing mortgage rates on housing attainability, but he also doesn’t think it should dissuade new buyers.

Pointing to data from the second half of the 20th century, Hunt showed waiting for rates may hurt prospective buyers.

One of the topics debated between the two forecasters is whether mortgage rates will fall when the Fed cuts rates on a ratio of 1-to-1.

Dhawan said increasingly restrictive trade policies, which take dollars chasing

Treasury bonds out of the market, prevents rates from dropping together.

MarketNsights also brought along some of its clients and sponsors to discuss how they view the housing industry.

Lori Lane, director of Berkshire Hathaway’s New Homes Division, discussed the new regulations surrounding real estate commissions and their effect on sellers, buyers and agents. The rules take effect in July.

The changes remove the assumption that sellers will pay the buyer’s agent and require buyers’ agents to secure written agreements with clients. Up till now, the average real estate commission in the United States is around 5.5 percent, divided between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. The new law eliminates that arrangement.

Representatives from Jackson EMC and BankSouth Mortgage discussed the mortgage industry, affordability and their companies’ initiatives.

Mac Kregger, senior vice president at BankSouth, promoted the Georgia Dream Homeownership program, which provides affordable financing options, down payment assistance and education to first-time and low-income buyers.

More information is available on the Georgia Community Affairs Department’s website, dca.ga.gov.

LUKE GARDNER/APPEN MEDIA

David Stephens interacts on stage with Julie, the “Little Red Riding Hood” puppet.

Park:

from Page 1

to the place we lived,” Michele Mulroy said.

the area, including North Fulton Community Charities, an organization that assists individuals and families in financial need, and the men’s addition facility No Longer Bound.

“Mostly we just write checks, this is the first time we’ve actually had something material come out of it,” Tim Mulroy said.

In particular, the couple said they wanted to have somewhere where Pebbles could go off-leash and thought it would be nice to have an area where dogs could roam around and mingle. Tim Mulroy proposed the concept and donation to park officials, who were receptive to the idea, and the project was born.

The Mulroys established the Mulroy Family Foundation in 2020 to support causes related to the environment, the sick, the young and animals.

According to Tim Mulroy, the foundation directs the bulk of its contributions to charities across

City of Alpharetta Marketing Coordinator Deanna McKay said the project cost in the neighborhood of $50,000, with major help coming from the foundation. The park took about six months to complete.

As for what’s next, the Mulroys said they are interested in taking on another project, but don’t yet know what it will be. In the meantime, McKay said the city is planning enhancements to Waggy World Paw Park in Wills Park, “paving the way for the next generation of dog parks in Alpharetta.”

Continued

Tim Mulroy and his dog Pebbles spending time together at the Webb

ALEX ANTEAU/APPEN MEDIA

Tim and Michele Mulroy at the Webb Bridge Dog Park entrance with their dog, Pebbles, on June 10.

COMMUNITY

Fundraiser for sculpture offers lessons on sustainability

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek Beautification, a nonprofit whose mission is to bring the community together through public art and landscaping, hosted its first annual learning luncheon June 6.

The fundraiser “Seeds Soil Sunshine” at Sugo featured two guest speakers — Ashley Frasca, who hosts a Saturday morning garden show on WSB Radio, and Mark Hoban, a golf course superintendent at Rivermont Golf Club.

Trent Ellis, owner of Armor Wildlife Management, also led a Q&A on how to humanely deter deer.

JCB President Lynn Pennington introduced the speakers and other guests to the crowd of 70. They included Mayor John Bradberry and Johns Creek External Communications Manager Edie Damann, a member of the city’s “Green Team” which works to create an eco-friendly environment internally at City Hall and throughout city events.

Before taking their seats, guests selected raffle items, like bird houses, pottery and orchids. Proceeds from the event will go toward a new Native American sculpture, intending to represent more than 14,000 years of history of the Johns Creek area.

“It’s really important that everybody who comes to Johns Creek in our area — we want them to know our history because by laying out the history, we can welcome the future together,” Pennington said.

In her presentation, Frasca spoke about best gardening practices, like sticking to native plants and retaining the leaves usually tossed in the garbage for use by caterpillars necessary to feed birds.

“We’re blowing them into garden beds,” Frasca said. “We’re blowing them up underneath that Japanese maple [where] no grass is going to grow … So, stop trying, for the love of God.”

With photos, Hoban described his sustainable, organic methods to his work at Rivermont which promotes wildlife habitats. He has worked with researchers from the University of Georgia about his innovative practices, incorporating a 10-hive apiary, worm farm, compost extract and thermal composting.

“It’s a much more frameable, unique situation that we’re not mowing and watering and fertilizing,” Hoban said, referring to newly introduced broomsedge on the course, a native plant. “So again, it’s just adding to the value.”Hall and throughout city events.

Kimberly-Clark names scholarship recipients

NORTH METRO ATLANTA, Ga. — Kimberly-Clark awards the Bright Future College Scholarship to six local high school students.

The Kimberly-Clark Foundation, based in Roswell, presents college scholarships of up to $20,000 to the children of company employees. The selection process includes academic performance, extracurricular activities, work experience, and

community contribution. The following students received scholarships based on the listed criteria:

• Sayhan Alam-Murillo , a senior at East Paulding High School, who plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology.

• Lauren Cavin , a senior at Chattahoochee High School, who plans to attend Colorado State University.

• Rohan Dalal , a senior at Johns Creek High School, who plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology.

• Isabella Stankiewicz , a senior at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School, who plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology.

• Brendan Strickland, a senior at Rome High School, who plans to attend Cornell University.

This year, the Kimberly-Clark Foundation provided 47 scholarships to students in the United States and Canada. The grade point average for this year’s recipients is a 3.97. Since the program began, it has awarded over $47 million in scholarships to more than 2,300 students.

— Hannah Frazer

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Johns Creek Beautification President Lynn Pennington introduces special guests at the nonprofit’s first annual learning luncheon June 6 at Sugo. Proceeds from “Seeds Soil Sunshine” will go toward funding a new Native American sculpture in Johns Creek.

Guests mingle at Johns Creek Beautification’s first annual learning luncheon June 6 at Sugo.

North Metro Atlanta’s 2024 valedictorians and salutatorians

By HANNAH FRAZER hannah@appenmedia.com

High Schools commemorate top students each year by highlighting the valedictorian and salutatorian in the graduating class. The valedictorian is awarded to the student with the highest academic rank in their gradating class, based on GPA and academic achievements. The salutatorian is the student with the second highest rank. Congratulations to the following students in area schools.

DeKalb County

Fanta Ndiaye

• Magnet Valedictorian

• Arabia Mountain High School

Rayna Robinson

• Magnet Salutatorian

• Arabia Mountain High School

Jada Bailey

• Resident Valedictorian

• Arabia Mountain High School

Nathan Thwaites

• Resident Salutatorian

• Arabia Mountain High School

Jack Bolte

• Magnet Valedictorian

• Chamblee High School

Joshua Jacks

Magnet Salutatorian

Chamblee High School

Hanna Lin

• Resident Valedictorian

• Chamblee High School

Kai Henderson

• Resident Salutatorian

• Chamblee High School

Adriel Ammah

• Valedictorian

• Cedar Grove High School

Waynijah Kuykendall

• Salutatorian

Cedar Grove High School

Kennedy Edge

• Valedictorian

• Clarkston High School

Rasina Abdulkadir

• Salutatorian

• Clarkston High School

Leah Johnson

• Magnet Valedictorian

• Columbia High School

Christopher Cook

• Magnet Salutatorian

• Columbia High School

Zoe Carter

Resident Valedictorian

• Columbia High School

Sakhari Matthews

• Resident Salutatorian

• Columbia High School

Exahel Castaneda

• Valedictorian

• Cross Keys High School

Floricela Bravo-Avendano

• Salutatorian

• Cross Keys High School

Christalle Bristol

• Valedictorian

• DeKalb Early College Academy

Blain Daniel

• Salutatorian

• DeKalb Early College Academy

Danielle Beaucejour Valedictorian

• DeKalb School of the Arts

Anna Kirk

• Salutatorian

• DeKalb School of the Arts

Terry Crawford

• Valedictorian

• Druid Hills High School

Micah Burton

• Salutatorian

• Druid Hills High School

Neil Shah Valedictorian

Dunwoody High School

Naomi Kleber

• Salutatorian

• Dunwoody High School

Deandra Smith

• Valedictorian

• Lithonia High School

Shakara Miles

• Salutatorian

• Lithonia High School

Hannah Parks

• Salutatorian

Lithonia High School

Shreya Chatterjee

• Valedictorian

• Lakeside High School

Matthew Phillips

• Salutatorian

• Lakeside High School

Zachary Murphey

• Salutatorian

• Lakeside High School

Danielle Buchanan

• Valedictorian

• McNair High School

Dieynabou Diallo

• Salutatorian

• McNair High School

Zy’Eshia Hudson

• Salutatorian

• McNair High School

Chance Hill

• Valedictorian

• Martin Luther King, Jr.

High School

Richard Halloway, Jr.

• Salutatorian

• Tapestry Charter High School

Bram Rosenblatt

Salutatorian

Tapestry Charter High School

Violett Todd

• Salutatorian

Janea Jackson

• Salutatorian

• Martin Luther King, Jr.

High School

Winter Adam’s

• Valedictorian

• Miller Grove High School

Asauni Jones

Salutatorian

Miller Grove High School

Mikiah Jones

• Valedictorian

• Redan High School

Chi Choo

• Salutatorian

• Redan High School

Myra Furlow

• Salutatorian

• Redan High School

Aryel Allen

• Magnet Valedictorian

Southwest DeKalb High School

Autumn Luke

• Magnet Salutatorian

• Southwest DeKalb High School

Austin Akhabue

• Resident Valedictorian

• Southwest DeKalb High School

Keion Jefferies

• Resident Salutatorian

• Southwest DeKalb High School

Journee Love-Gates

• Valedictorian

• Stephenson High School

Morgan Shepperd

• Salutatorian

• Stephenson High School

Matthew Kedir

• Valedictorian

• Stone Mountain High School

Sojat Kedir

• Salutatorian

Stone Mountain High School

Kisha Richard

• Valedictorian

• Towers High School

Trystan Davy

• Salutatorian

• Towers High School

Betelehem Gidey

• Valedictorian

• Tapestry Charter High School

Anirudh Naveen

• Valedictorian

• West Forsyth High School

Maya Zhang

• Salutatorian West Forsyth High School

Fulton County

Malavika Niverthi

• Valedictorian

• Tapestry Charter High School

Epherata Zeleke

• Valedictorian

• Tucker High School

Ava-Elizabeth Jacoby

• Salutatorian

• Tucker High School

Forsyth County

Advaith Nidumukkala

• Valedictorian

• Alliance Academy for Innovation

Eshan Jaffar

• Salutatorian

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Sheil Dharan

• Valedictorian

Denmark High School

Pranav Potluri

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• Denmark High School

Madison Lee Malone

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Rebecca Ann Wade

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Suyash (Vasu) Dwivedi

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Phillip Porter

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Anish Madireddy

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Coleton Thomas

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Isabela Damian

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• Global Impact Academy

Myles Estime

• Valedictorian Independence High School

Jasmine Valle

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Daniel Bao

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Faye Lu

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Ruqaiyah Njie

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• Banneker High School

Jameiyah Sparks

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• Valedictorian Creekside High School

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• FCS Innovation Academy

Tanish Potula

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Andy Qu Valedictorian

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Cyr Kamga

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• Johns Creek High School

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• Milton High School

Kiran Bardakjy-

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Christopher Yamamoto Valedictorian North Springs High School

Aoi Chiara Misawa

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Kevin Xiang

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Leah Perlman

• Valedictorian

• Riverwood High School

Ava Satisky

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Christian Jimenez

• Valedictorian

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Nori Liang

• Salutatorian

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Dana Lopez Lopez

Valedictorian

• Tri•Cities High School

Jennifer Bojorge-Arredondo

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Mi’Cai Haywood

• Valedictorian

• Westlake High School

Sayantan Das

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• Westlake High School

Sponsored Section June 20, 2024 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | 11

Questions after you pop the question

Brought to you by –

Estates Law Center USA

Whether you’re getting married or entering a new partnership, it’s important for you to lay down some ground rules to make sure there are no misunderstandings going forward. Although the conversation may be difficult, it’s best to have the talk early with your new spouse or partner to make sure you are on the same page. The goal of any type of estate planning is to avoid probate and here are several important questions you should ask when setting up your estate plan:

Are the estates of both parties equal? If not, a prenuptial/ postnuptial agreement or an agreement to keep your estates separate should be considered. Whose name is on the deed to the house? Rights of survivorship

aren’t always automatic depending on the state, so you must specify what will happen in case of death if the surviving partner’s name is not on the deed. You may want to consider giving your partner or new spouse the right to occupy your property. In addition, after the death of surviving partner or spouse, do you want the property or asset to be split among your children?

Do you have powers of attorney and healthcare directives? POA gives the person you name legal and financial authority to act on your behalf if you become incapacitated or incompetent. Healthcare Directive appoints an agent for medical and life support decisions in the event you are incapacitated or incompetent. Depending onyour situation, each of you need separate financial and Healthcare Directives. You should also consider if you want your

children involved in these decisions with your partner or new spouse. Will beneficiary designations on your accounts change upon remarriage or new partner? Make sure the beneficiary designations on your bank, investment, life insurance and retirement accounts are updated so the proceeds are handled according to your new relationship and prevent disinheriting your children accidentally. If you’re entering a new relationship with a home, assets, and family members, creating a new estate plan is essential to balance the expectations of your new spouse/ partner with the needs of the loved ones who have been with you for years. Consult a local estate planning attorney familiar with the inheritance laws in your state to make the best estate plan as you start the next phase of your journey.

•

HOLLY GEERDES ESTATE LAW CENTER USA TOP 5% SUPER LAWYER IN GEORGIA

I’m just trying to do right by the customer. That’s why I was always successful, not just as a wine educator but successful as a salesperson.”

ANITA LARAIA, founder, Anita LaRaia Wine School/Winegroceries.com

Wine educator shares fruits of her experience

Industry authority keys buyers to value

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — When students at Anita LaRaia’s Wine School wrap up their first class, they’re likely struck with the extensive knowledge and infectious energy of their instructor.

Whether they took her series of 2-hour in-person classes decades ago or stumbled across her new videos on YouTube, LaRaia’s students remember her empowering personality and wine expertise.

In her 33 years, LaRaia has graduated more than 2,000 people from her classes – young adults in the hospitality industry, trade professionals and anyone interested in understanding the process of selecting a quality wine.

So, what did students walk out the door with? LaRaia says they carried confidence and a bottle of wine with some of five noble grapes of Bordeaux: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

If the mention of Red Bordeaux and blended wine makes your head spin, LaRaia’s new venture in 2024 can get you up to speed in no time.

LaRaia, a 30-year resident of Dunwoody, kicked off 2024 with the rollout of her YouTube channel, Winegroceries.com, including six videos around 10 minutes each.

She said her goal is to give viewers the information they need to be able to walk into a grocery store or

distributor and select a cost-effective wine that pairs with an occasion and its food.

Instead of paying hundreds of dollars for six two-hour classes with the wine expert, you can access them for free on YouTube. Viewers won’t get a nice bottle of wine, but they will be able to find one on their own.

In her six videos available on YouTube, viewers are first introduced to the different processes used to make Champagne in France and different varieties of sparkling wine from around the world.

One video explores Australian wines, which LaRaia helped popularize in the United States. Other topics include South American and Latin wines, “Big Spenders,” or expensive bottles and which American wines give you the best bang for your buck.

LaRaia says her decision to roll out her wine classes online was sparked when her channel’s producers, Nancy and Murph Ivey from South Carolina, began sending her photos of wine bottles on grocery store shelves.

“I was sitting there thinking, well my goodness, I’m back in the business,” LaRaia said.

The 77-year-old wine expert, unafraid to discuss her recent foot surgery and time in a wheelchair, told the Iveys to drive down to Dunwoody and film some videos at her dining room table.

See LARAIA, Page 13

Anita LaRaia sits ready to record the “Latin Lovers” video on her YouTube channel, Winegroceries.com, in early January. The third educational video in a six-part series

LaRaia:

Continued from Page 12

“I set it all up and decided to think long and hard, what could I cover in these short videos?” LaRaia said. “I did write scripts, although people think I do this extemporaneously; Yes, I do because it’s real, more exciting and I have that personality.”

Winegroceries.com on You Tube combines LaRaia’s six years studying in London, her time answering questions posed from around the world for CNN.com and 33 years of teaching in Atlanta – all in an easily digestible one-hour series.

“I wanted to do this as a service to grocery shoppers,” LaRaia said.

WineGroceries.com creates videos designed to make viewers savvy buyers of wine in their local grocery store wine department, with entertaining instruction from one of America’s top independent wine educators.

Pairing the correct wine bottle with a meal, occasion or partner is what it’s all about. If complicated grape varieties, sommeliers and “wine snobs” have soured your wine education, LaRaia’s sweet and energetic personality make the process more palatable.

The daughter of Italian immigrants to New York City after World War I, LaRaia’s story is an inspiration.

After earning the valedictorian title at her high school, LaRaia received two degrees from Cornell University before heading to London for her wine education.

If the American Dream is a myth, try telling LaRaia.

She still carries the first payment her father received in the United States, a 1908 Golden Eagle coin.

“My Osage friend from Oklahoma worked on the necklace for a year,” LaRaia said. “I wear it sometimes with that gold coin.”

Equality among all Americans is important to LaRaia, and her decision to start her YouTube channel represents that philosophy.

LaRaia’s resume also includes 10 years at the retail, wholesale and importer levels, including as Banfi Vintner’s sales manager in Georgia.

Her deluxe tours have taken her everywhere from the vineyards of Tuscany, Italy and France to Jack Nicklaus Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida.

Anita LaRaia’s Wine School established Feb. 1978

• WineGroceries.com

• @WineGroceries on YouTube

• “Pick a Perfect Wine in No Time” on Amazon

knowledge available to the public.

If someone picks up a wine bottle in the grocery store and checks out the label, odds are they won’t recognize the region of origin and grape varieties.

One of LaRaia’s goals with her YouTube channel is to give patrons the knowledge to select the cheaper bottle with the same grapes grown in the same region as the bottle worth hundreds of dollars on the top shelf.

“I’m just trying to do right by the customer,” she said. “That’s why I was always successful, not just as a wine educator but successful as a salesperson.”

LaRaia’s next series, shot from the Kroger off Dunwoody Club Drive in Sandy Springs, will be available shortly on the Winegroceries channel.

LaRaia said trips to other local stores, like Costco, may be in the cards for future installments.

Despite her luxurious experiences in the wine industry, LaRaia remains down-to-earth.

Her inspiring story as the daughter of American immigrants approaches legendary status as the wine expert now wants to make her lifetime of

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

14 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | June 20, 2024

Name of Business: Dunwoody Gallery

Owner(s): Dawn Tresh and Linda Pozzobon

Description: As the inaugural fine art gallery in Dunwoody, we are honored to present a captivating fusion of established and emerging talent, curated with meticulous care and a discerning eye for beauty. Join us on a journey of exploration and inspiration as we celebrate the boundless possibilities of fine art.

Opened: April 2024

Address: 5496 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338

Website: dunwoodygallery.com

FYZICAL

Name: FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers of Alpharetta

Owner(s): Irfan Mandani and Vikash Sharma

Description: FYZICAL Alpharetta is unlike any physical therapy clinic you've been to before. Our highly skilled, compassionate team of physical therapists, who work one-on-one with you, are 100% focused on achieving optimal health and wellness for you so you can get back to living the life you love!

Opened: December 2023

Phone: 770-881-8100

Address: 3400-C, Suite 390, Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta GA 30005

Website: fyzical.com/alpharetta-ga

Just opened?

Appen Media publishes New Business Spotlights to highlight local businesses as they get started. Submit yours for free at appenmedia. com/newbusiness.

DUNWOODY GALLERY

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Nancy & Dave Wistrand

So many hills, so many views to block

I drive this stretch of road every day, usually multiple times a day. It is the road I take leaving or heading to my home in Crabapple just inside the Alpharetta city limits. Every day when I travel this road, it is the same. I pass the same buildings, the same school, the same lawns and trees; it rarely changes. I know, because I look; I am always looking.

This past week when I was driving the road, Milton Avenue, however, I noticed something I have never seen before. This happens to me when I reread a book; I notice things I missed the first time through – details, names, plot twists, descriptions. My rereads of any of JD Salinger’s books are

notorious for this. Those I have reread at least a half dozen times each, and still, I spot things I missed the previous five times.

So, I spotted a sign on Milton Avenue that I had never noticed. Part of me wants to believe it is a new sign, but another part of me suspects it has been there all along, and I just wasn’t watching close enough to see it. When you are traveling east on Milton Avenue almost in front of the old Milton High School – now called Innovation Academy – you go up a hill. Just before the crest of the hill, on the right, is that yellow regulatory sign I just noticed. The sign says, “Hill blocks view.”

And it does – somewhat.

I am sure I have never seen quite that specific message on a street sign before. It struck me as odd. On one hand, the hill really doesn’t obstruct your vision, not really. On the other hand, a “view” as I think of “views” does not really exist there; it is just a

street a couple blocks from downtown Alpharetta that runs past a cemetery and a school at the top of a very slight grade, barely what one might call a “hill.” It certainly wasn’t as linear a message, such as “blind curve use caution” that immediately precedes a dangerous curve on the side of a mountain or something. That is, the sign just didn’t seem very necessary to me or have that much utility. But, I have a hunch as to why it is really there.

Anyway, the sign struck some kind of nerve in me. I have stewed about it – a lot. Yea, I know that sounds weird, a little bit off. I just started thinking about the idea, about things blocking views. Lots of things block our views these days besides hills. And there are lots of “views” that really aren’t “views.”

Right now, the most obvious “hill” that is “obstructing” many “views” is that trial we have all just watched for the past month or so – the so-called

“hush-money” trial. The “hill” is one’s belief about what that was all about. The “view” is how our beliefs determine what we think we just witnessed – our interpretation. The “street” is both the trial itself and the sum total of all our past experiences, values and beliefs. While there is great divergence among us in our views, the one aspect that we all hold in common is how our bias determines what we think – or say – we witnessed. This is in spite of the fact that there is an actual objective, straight-forward reality here, a paved asphalt street that slopes upward perhaps 5 degrees – enough to partially obstruct a driver’s vision of the street ahead – an objective reality not subject to opinion, no matter how much one desires to see something different.

And the reason for that sign? I think it might have something to do with law enforcement, radar guns, and tickets for speeding. But what do I know?

This week’s “rock” pick, as it relates to current-day “rate shoppers,” is the 1968 chart-topper “I Heard It Through The Grape Vine” by Marvin Gaye. In my 40 years of being in the mortgage industry, I have now heard many interesting things that our clients have listened to “through the grapevine” from friends or even other mortgage bankers.

One of these current mortgage folklore tales is that having a “hard pull” on your credit will hurt your credit scores significantly. Hard credit pulls enable mortgage lenders to accurately determine

the borrower’s creditworthiness, providing an accurate pre-approval letter to give to the potential seller when making an offer on a home.

A “soft pull” only pulls from one of the three credit bureaus and may or may not be accurate when determining an overall pre-approval and, more importantly, being able to get an accurate rate quote since rates and PMI payments (if applicable) are determined by the middle score of the three scores for the borrower. So, if you had a soft pull from one of the bureaus, and it reflected a 781 credit score, but your three scores, once a hard pull is done, reflects the 781 and then 747 and 751…there may be a notable difference in the rate you were quoted as well as your PMI payment, if required.

According to Forbes Magazine, Hard credit inquiries generally have a

minor impact on your credit scores, if any. Yet, just because credit inquiries are less influential compared with other credit scoring factors doesn’t mean they don’t matter.

FICO (Fair Issac Corporation and one of the credit scores on your credit report) states that one new inquiry will generally lower a credit score by less than 5 points.

As you can see, a hard credit pull has a minimal effect, if any, on your overall scores and gives the lender an accurate picture of not only your creditworthiness but also allows them to provide you with an accurate rate quote for your mortgage rate as well as what your possible PMI payment will be when putting less than 20% down.

In most cases, based on my experience in the business, as long as you keep your hard inquiries

within a 10–14-day period, it has little to no effect on your scores. Unfortunately, there are lenders out there who will scare you from having your credit hard pulled again from a competitor after they have done it, so you will not “shop” your rate with another lender. As a seller, do you want a pre-approval letter that knows all three scores or just one, when most lenders use all three scores to make a final credit decision?

D.C. Aiken is vice president, producing production manager for BankSouth Mortgage, NMLS # 658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.

The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of BankSouth Mortgage or its affiliates.

RAY APPEN

Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

OPINION

PRESERVING

Remarkable stories of the Ann Jackson Gallery, Part 1

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

Most readers will be familiar with the iconic Ann Jackson Gallery, purveyors of outstanding fine art and custom framing, a mainstay of downtown Roswell for more than 50 years. Now, as the saying goes, it is time for the rest of the story — in two parts.

The Gallery and disaster

Ann Marie Moir Jackson (19322012) was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She loved to paint and majored in home economics and art at Ursuline College, founded in 1871 and one of the oldest colleges for women in the United States.

She met her husband Basil George Jackson (1923 –2013) on a blind date when he and some fraternity brothers from North Carolina University traveled to Cleveland. The couple courted and married in 1952 and lived in Cleveland until 1958 when they moved to Sandy Springs where Basil’s family resided. Basil was born in Scotland and had dual citizenship. He had moved to Massachusetts with his family and then to the Atlanta area.

Ann started to paint after her eight children were old enough to have a degree of independence. She participated in Piedmont Park art festivals, and she and Basil studied how to frame paintings since framing was so expensive. The couple started the Ann Jackson Gallery on the Roswell Square in 1971, the first gallery in Roswell. The population of the city was 5,000, and the Square was being restored after a period of neglect. The gallery featured some wellknown artists, local artists and Ann’s work. Their oldest daughter Valerie was studying to be a nurse and dropped out of Dekalb College to help her parents in the gallery. Valerie had no training in business or art and had to teach herself.

She says “the gallery became my work and my passion. I worked in the gallery by day and waited on tables at night. Fifteen years later, I bought the gallery from my parents.”

One day, Ed’s Gun and Tackle Store caught fire and bullets were flying out into Canton Street. The police evacuated the area and let the building blow up. The roof blew completely off.

Valerie says that “by then the Square was going downhill. Rents were going up, and I was looking for another place for the gallery. When I looked up through where the roof was supposed to be and saw the sky, I knew that the time had come to leave the Square.”

She saw the potential of Canton Steet. It had charm, adequate parking and room for growth. The city had spruced it up for the 1996 Summer Olympics with sidewalks, landscaping and old fashioned street lights. So, after 15 years, the gallery moved.

Prisoner of war

When World War ll began, 19-year Basil was determined to join the fray. The United States had not yet entered the war, so Basil went to Canada, lied about his age and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Desperate for pilots, the RCAF taught Basil to fly. He flew a Lancaster heavy bomber, was a squadron leader and flew 30 missions over Germany. He was one of the youngest pilots in the war. The 7,377 Lancasters produced during the war were primarily used for nighttime strategic bombing of German cities. The Lancaster had the largest payload of any bomber in the war. It was used by the RAF, RCAF and air forces of other allied countries.

PROVIDED

Ann Jackson Gallery owner Valerie Jackson stands in front of a painting done by her mother Ann Jackson in 1995 while she was in France. Valerie, the oldest of their eight children, eventually took over the gallery from her mother. Today she operates the gallery at her home on Bowen Road in Roswell. Call her at 770 6865613 to make an appointment to visit the gallery.

On Feb. 24, 1944, Basil was flying over Schweinfurt in Bavaria, Germany, on a night mission involving 734 bombers to destroy vital ball bearing factories, when his plane was hit by intense flack and attacked by German Luftwaffe fighters. He was blown out of the top of the plane and his boots were blasted off his feet. Only Basil and one other crew member survived the attack. Basil landed in snow and, due to frostbite, later lost many of his toes and was permanently blinded in one eye due to shrapnel. Equipped with civilian clothes, he caught a train but was spotted by German soldiers and taken to the notorious prison Stalag Luft lll, one of nine POW camps run by the Luftwaffe to house captured Allied airmen. He remained there until the camp was liberated by Soviet forces in January 1945. The camp was manned by 800 Luftwaffe guards who ranged from cruel to sympathetic.

The prison was made famous by the 1963 movie “The Great Escape,” starring Steve McQueen, James Garner and Richard Attenborough. The film was an exaggerated version of a famous mass escape of 76 British airmen from the prison the night of March 24, 1944. Seventy-three escaped prisoners were recaptured within a matter of days and under direct orders from Hitler, 50 of them were executed by the Gestapo. Many

ATLANTA CONSTITUTION/PROVIDED

Ann and Basil Jackson opened the Ann Jackson Gallery in Roswell Square in 1971. In this photo Ann points to one of the many works of art in her gallery.

Before the U.S. entered World War ll, 19 year old Basil Jackson, future husband of the founder of the Ann Jackson Gallery in Roswell, went to Canada to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. He piloted 30 missions over Germany before his bomber was shot down. This portrait was taken shortly after he enlisted in the RCAF. FAMILY PROVIDED

of the Gestapo killers were identified and executed or imprisoned after the war.

The escape was meticulously planned. Six hundred prisoners were engaged in the digging of three tunnels, 30 feet below the surface. Newly captured airmen had to pass rigorous inspections by the prisoners before they could be trusted in order to avoid German spies infiltrating the project.

Basil helped dig tunnels and worked on plans for the escape, but fortunately he was not one of the escapees.

After the war, Basil returned to North Carolina University and became an electrical engineer. He worked for General Motors and for Lockheed Corporation in addition to helping with the art gallery.

In next week’s column I will tell a sad tale about the Jackson “farm” and a story about Dr Seuss, whose works played and still play an important role in the Ann Jackson Gallery.

Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

FAMILY

Stone circles, wool socks and fish stew

If there’s one thing that’s true about exploring the great out-of-doors, it’s the fact that it’ll make you hungry. It’s hard work climbing mountains and fording creeks, even low ones and narrow ones, and one must have sustenance if one is to reach the summit or come out of the water safely on the other side.

I have learned that that’s just as true in Ireland as it is anywhere else.

One Tuesday, for instance, we get an early start with the idea of driving to the town of Kenmare to see the stone circle which sat just outside of town. It’s a well-known early Bronze-Age site within walking distance of the little town.

We know we have to see it (after first doing a little shopping for wool socks). And then we will continue the day with what had turned into a genuine quest – specifically, to find the very best fish stew in the land.

To understand the importance of this quest, you must first know that I absolutely love any kind of seafoodbased soup. I make a mean crab and clam bisque, and she makes a shrimp and corn chowder that’s even better.

In Ireland, we discovered right away, they make what they all call fish stew. Rich, thick, warm, flavorful – the adjectives could go on and on, but none adequately describe it. I’d fallen into the pleasant habit of ordering fish stew everywhere we went, and I was beginning to learn to differentiate the various recipes. All were good. Which was best? Maybe the next one… and today the next one would most likely come from a pub somewhere in Kenmare.

It’s all in the name of research, and I do it all for you.

The drive over from our cottage is a little less harrowing than before (maybe we are getting the hang of it?), and we arrive with plenty of time for socks shopping. She purchased a pair a few days before and immediately pronounced them one of the crowning achievements of humankind. We need

DEATH NOTICES

Bradley Bromelow, 54, of Alpharetta, passed away on June 9, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

STEVE HUDSON/APPEN MEDIA

The stone circle in Kenmare, Ireland, dates back some 3,000 years and includes a center stone surrounded by 15 others. The purpose for the arrangement remains a mystery.

more, she says, and Kenmare seems as good a place as any to fine ‘em.

So sock shopping we go. We find some for us and for family back home too. The day is off to a grand start!

And then, socks secured, we walk up a small street and follow a sign pointing down a little lane. “Kenmare Stone Circle,” it says. We are almost there.

“Two of ye?” asks the gatekeeper.

I pay the small admission and turn to follow the path to the stones. But he stops me and hands me two small pieces of paper, each with a string attached –one for me and one for her.

I look at them, puzzled.

“For the tree,” the gatekeeper says. “For the hawthorn tree.”

Taking hers, she walks on ahead of me toward the ancient stones. But I linger for a moment. I want to know more about the hawthorn trees.

Hawthorns, I learn, are considered magical and sacred, symbolizing love and protection. They’re said to bring blessings and good luck, and so for ages they have been revered and treated with great respect by one and all. In fact, roads in Ireland have been rerouted to avoid having to take one down.

Wesley Goswick, 60, of Alpharetta, passed away on June 8, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Usually, it seems, that common knowledge is enough to keep the trees safe. But to deal with the occasional chainsaw-wielding ne’er-do-well who hasn’t gotten the word, further protection for hawthorn trees is said to come from the fairies who live under them. The fairies’ job is to protect the trees from harm, a task which they apparently embrace with gusto. The fairies don’t seem to mind if you respectfully collect hawthorn twigs and flowers, especially for a bride who might wear the blossoms in her hair or carry them in her bouquet as a symbol of love. But if your motives are not so good as that, be forewarned!

As it turns out, hawthorn trees are commonly found at ancient sites like this one.

“There are several hawthorn trees near the stones, and visitors often leave notes with handwritten wishes attached to the trees’ branches,” our host tells me. “Maybe you’ll want to do that too.”

We chat a minute more, and then I start down the short path to the stones. She is already ahead of me, and as I round a bend in the path I see her standing by one of the hawthorns

Angela Pruett, 96, of Roswell, passed away on June 3, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

and affixing something to one of its branches.

I stroll toward her, suddenly aware of the notecard I hold in my hand. I need to leave a note too, a decide, a word or a wish or something too.

But what?

That one’s easy.

We writer types usually carry a pen in case we ever need to write something down. So, I retrieve my pen and stop mid-path and write some words on the card. Then I walk up to the biggest of the hawthorns (which is already decorated with dozens and dozens of words and wishes from others before me) and begin to look for just the right branch. Which one…that one? Yes! Then, carefully, I tie my note to the tree.

By this time, she has moved from the trees to the stones themselves. Ancient and weathered but strong and enduring, they have been there for perhaps 3,000 years, silent and solid as the earth itself. There are 15 stones arranged in a circle about 17 meters (roughly 55 feet) in diameter, plus a center stoner. The rock used to make them came from a site several miles away. Only someone who really wanted to build this would go to the trouble of moving those stones so far.

Why are they there? No one is completely sure. Some say it was a ritual site used by Druids. Others believe it is some sort of calendar or perhaps a memorial site. The fact is that no one knows for sure.

But whatever its purpose, the stone circle is captivating. We wander there for a while, walking among the stones, touching them, wondering…

After a while, I realize, I am getting hungry.

“Fish chowder time?” I ask her, and we turn back to the path to walk back into Kenmare.

We do find a pub with fish stew, and it is good.

“Is that the best one?” she asks.

“I’m still not sure,” I answer. “Further research is in order, I think.”

She smiles at me and squeezes my hand across the table. A moment passes.

“That was a neat place,” she says at last. “The stones. And the hawthorn trees. Did you leave a note?”

“I did,” I say, and I feel the beginnings of a smile.

What did I wish for in my note on the hawthorn tree?

Did I wish for the perfect bowl of fish stew? Did I offer a word of thanks that I had already found it?

Maybe.

But maybe not.

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

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Randy Knighton City of Roswell

Kurt Wilson City Administrator Notice of Public Hearing Mayor

The following item will be heard at a public hearing held by the Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at 6:00 PM in the Roswell City Hall Council Chambers, 38 Hill Street, Roswell, Georgia.

a. HPC20241988 – 77 Maple Street

The applicant, Ryan Colwell/Stone Pine, LLC, is requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness for construction of a single family home; Land Lot 415.

The complete file is available for public view at the Roswell Planning & Zoning Office, 38 Hill Street, Suite G-30, Roswell, Georgia, (770) 817-6720 or planningandzoning@roswellgov.com. Refer to www.roswellgov.com.

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Randy Knighton City of Roswell

Kurt Wilson City Administrator Notice of Public Hearing Mayor

The following items will be heard by the Mayor and City Council at a public hearing on Monday, July 8, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the Roswell City Hall Council Chambers, 38 Hill Street, Roswell, Georgia.

a. CV 20230195/CU 20230197 - 400 Vickery Falls Drive

The applicant, J. Alexander Brock/Smith, Gambrell, and Russell, LLP, is requesting a Conditional Use for townhomes with two Concurrent Variances; land lot 383.

b. CU 20235005/CV 20241822 - 1293 Minhinette Drive

The applicant, MK Ventures Management, LLC, is requesting a revision to the approved site plan with a Concurrent Variance to the Landscape Open Space requirement; land lot 410.

c. CU 20240905 - 200 Sussex Court

The applicants, Nikolaus and Susan Walter, are requesting a Conditional Use for a Carriage/Pool House; land lot 118.

d. UDC Text Amendment

An ordinance to amend the Unified Development Code by modifying Article 13, Administration, Section 13.12, Administrative Appeal. (First Reading)

e. UDC Text Amendment

An ordinance to amend the Unified Development Code by modifying Article 10, Site Development, Section 10.3.7, Application Content. (First Reading)

Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250), within two (2) years, file a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law is available in the office of the City Attorney.

The complete file is available for public view at the Roswell Planning & Zoning Office, 38 Hill Street, Suite G-30, Roswell, Georgia, (770) 817-6720 or planningandzoning@roswellgov.com. Refer to www.roswellgov.com.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the City of Mountain Park proposes to exchange Lot 34 of Block 32 as shown on O.I. Freeman plat of the City of Mountain Park dated March of 1925 for Lot 39 of Block 32 as shown on the same plat. Said swap is being made pursuant to the provision of O.C.G.A. § 36-37-6(c), it having been determined by competent appraiser that the lots are of equal value.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR INVITATION TO BID CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA FOR FY 2025 MILLING & RESURFACING

ITB #25-001

The City of Alpharetta is inviting bidders to bid for FY 2025 MILLING & RESURFACING. The work to be done includes, but is not limited to, maintaining traffic control measures, milling existing pavement, installing tack coat, installing asphaltic concrete surface course, applying high density mineral bond, installing soil cement, seal coating, crack sealing, performing cleanup, and related work. The location of the work is at various locations within the City of Alpharetta, Georgia. A bid bond in the amount of 5% of the bid pricing is required with each bid submitted.

All construction shall conform to the State of Georgia Standard Specifications for the Construction of Transportation Systems, latest Edition. Only contractors that have been pre-qualified with the Georgia Department of Transportation to perform this class of work shall be allowed to submit bids. Please submit your Georgia Department of Transportation qualification specification letter with the package.

The ITB will be available online Thursday, June 20, 2024, at our bid posting website, http://cityofalpharetta.bonfirehub.com/. Interested parties are required to log in to review the ITB documents. All bids must be received before closing at http://cityofalpharetta.bonfirehub.com/, webpage for this project. Responses submitted by hard copy, mail, facsimile, or e-mail will not be accepted. Responses received after the closing time will not be considered.

This procurement is issued under the authority of the City of Alpharetta Procurement Policy and applicable law. The city has the authority to reject all proposals or any proposal that is non- responsive or not responsible, and to waive technicalities and informalities to award a contract that is in the best interest of the City.

The bid opening will be held on Monday, July 22, 2024, at 10:00 AM online using Microsoft Teams. Meeting ID: 223 170 769 113. Passcode: 95UJas.

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

PUBLIC NOTICE OF CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION REGARDING USE OF BOND FUNDS FOR UNION HILL PARK

Notice is hereby given that the City Council of Alpharetta, Georgia will consider a Resolution Regarding Use of Bond Funds for Union Hill Park. The Resolution is to amend the planned use of a portion of the funds generated pursuant to that certain General Obligation Bond issued pursuant to Ordinance No. 830 adopted by the City Council on June 28, 2021, and a Referendum approved in November, 2021 for the Union Hill Park redevelopment. The Resolution will be presented to and considered by the City Council on Monday, June 24, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza in Alpharetta, Georgia. If approved, the Resolution will re-allocate a portion of the Bond funds planned to construct a playground and apply such funds to construct and expand a parking area at Union Hill Park. All City of Alpharetta residents and any other affected and/or interested persons are invited and encouraged to attend. A copy of the proposed Resolution is on file at City Hall for purposes of examination and inspection by the public.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following item will be considered by the Board of Zoning Appeals on Thursday, July 18, 2024 commencing at 5:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. V-24-19 Kaplan/120 Broadwell Oaks Court Variance

Consideration of a variance to reduce the rear setback from 30’ to 15’ to allow for a deck replacement and expansion at a single-family detached home on 0.42 acres. The property is located in the Broadwell Oaks subdivision, which has a platted rear setback of 30’. The property is located at 120 Broadwell Oaks Court and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1249, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

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

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following items will be heard at a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on Thursday, July 11, 2024 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

Items forwarded by the Planning Commission will be considered by the City Council on Monday, July 29, 2024 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. MP-24-05/CU-24-08 Sixers Cricket Academy/Windward MP Pod 14

Consideration of a master plan amendment and conditional use to allow Sixers Cricket Academy to occupy approximately 10,000 square feet in an existing building. A master plan amendment is requested to the Windward Master Plan Pod 14 to add ‘Recreation Facilities, Indoor’ as a conditional use and a conditional use is requested to allow ‘Recreation Facilities, Indoor’ for Sixers Cricket Academy. The property is located at 2855 Marconi Drive and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 1114 & 1175, 2nd District, 1st Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

b. CLUP-24-04/MP-24-07/Z-24-12 Epic Design & Build Upper Hembree Townhomes

Consideration of a comprehensive land use plan amendment, master plan amendment, and rezoning to allow 8 ‘For-Sale’ townhome units on 1.127 acres. A master plan amendment is requested to the George Oswald Jr. Master Plan to add ‘Dwelling, ‘For-Sale’, Attached’ as a permitted use. A comprehensive land use plan amendment is requested from ‘Professional Business Office’ to ‘High Density Residential’ and a rezoning is requested from O-I (Office-Institutional) to R-8A/D (Dwelling, ‘For-Sale’, Attached/Detached, Residential). The property is located at 0 Upper Hembree Road and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 550, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

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

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Midway Preschool is hiring lead and assistant teachers for the 2024-2025 school year. Please call Beth @ 770-752-0440 or email beth@midwayumc.org

VISUAL DESIGNER: E & E Co., Ltd. dba JLA Home. Headquarters in Fremont, CA. Jobsite in Roswell, GA. Create 3D product model/package rendering. Master degree req’d. Salary: $67,267/year. Fax resume to 510-490-2882 or e-mail: hrdept@jlahome.com

Software Trainer: train end users, internal employees on company software products. BS/BA (US or foreign equiv.) in technical discipline; OR 2 yrs technical training or IT support work exp. Email CV to scott.bracewell@onsolve.com; OnSolve, LLC (Alpharetta, GA)

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Software Engineer Senior (Alpharetta, GA): Dvlps basic to moderately cmplx code using front and/ or back-end prgmng langs within mltpl pltfrms as needed in collaboration w/ biz & tech teams for internal & external client s/w solutions. Dsgns, creates, & delivers routine to moderately cmplx prgm specs for code dvlpmt & spprt on mltpl projects/ issues w/ a wide understanding of the application/ database to better align interactions & techs. Resumes to: Total System Services LLC, Brian Simons, Associate Director, HR Risk & Compliance, One TSYS Way, Columbus, GA, 31901. #TG294866

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