Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - August 3, 2023

Alpharetta charter school opens eco-friendly pond

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Officials from Amana Academy, a public charter school on South Main Street, celebrated the opening of a bioswale July 25 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The bioswale is a 60-by-60-foot hole in the parking lot that will treat and slow stormwater runoff and improve water filtration for the facility. The bioswale is landscaped with rocks, mulch, cacti and plants. A 60foot bridge will connect the feature to the school.

Officials said the bioswale also includes outdoor seating for lessons. Construction of the bridge and 12,000 square feet of landscaping is expected to be completed July 2024.

The bioswale marks the first phase of Amana Academy’s green infrastructure program.

The Alpharetta location of the STEM academy opened in 2005. The school has a second campus in Mableton. Combined, the campuses enroll more than 700 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

— Shelby Israel

Drug enforcement seizures aid Alpharetta police funding

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Every year, the Alpharetta Public Safety Department receives funding from the city for operational costs. But, some of the department’s expenses are also covered through local drug enforcement.

These funds are generated through

the Equitable Sharing Program, an asset forfeiture program run by the U.S. Department of Justice that allows assets or proceeds from federal crimes to be liquidated. Assets that are seized from illegal drug activity are managed by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Once these assets are liquidated, Alpharetta Police Lt. Andrew Splawn said the funds can be used for

anything besides salaries, benefits and recurring expenses. This can include weapon accessories, accommodations and supplies — even Yeti cups.

In 2022, the department used $102,525 in confiscated asset funding for a range of expenses, including equipment and machinery; employee training and travel; and general supplies and materials.

For example, some $21,579 was

used for firearms. Of the $15,425 used for supplies, the department purchased $13,953 in Yeti cups for all Public Safety employees, with the remainder funding miscellaneous items such as magnets, weapon lights and phone chargers.

But, before an asset can be converted into real dollars, it must

See FUNDING, Page 11

AMANA ACADEMY/PROVIDED

Amana Academy, a public charter school on South Main Street in Alpharetta, is opening a bioswale to manage stormwater. School officials commemorated the project July 25 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Amana Academy officials open a bioswale in the school parking lot July 25 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

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Milton man sentenced in Jan. 6 attack on U.S. Capitol

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ATLANTA – A Georgia man has been sentenced to one year and a day in prison for assaulting a law enforcement officer during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Bruno Cua, 21, of Milton, also received 36 months of supervised release Wednesday from U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss.

According to stipulated facts, Cua and his parents attended the rally at the Washington Monument that day, then walked to the Capitol. After arriving there, Cua separated from his parents and entered the building armed with the type of

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.

Couple reports threat at Alpharetta complex

ALPHARETTA, Ga. —Police reports said a couple was recently threatened with a firearm at their apartment on Huntington Place in Alpharetta.

Officers responded to the Mansions at Manchester Apartment Complex at about 9 a.m. July 14, after a woman reported a neighbor threatened her and her husband multiple times, including instances where a gun was pointed at them.

Police learned threats against the couple started several months ago, when the neighbor tried to recruit the husband “to do gang stuff with him” and become the man’s “sicario” or hit man. During that incident, the suspect pointed a handgun with a large suppresser at the couple.

Officers found no sign of the suspect

baton police typically carry.

After reaching the doors to the Senate Gallery, he assaulted a Capitol Police officer trying to lock the doors by violently shoving him. The officer Cua attacked and fellow officers on the scene retreated from the doors without locking them.

After rushing into the Senate Gallery, Cua jumped to the floor of the chamber, walked to the dais, and sat in the vice president’s chair with his feet propped up on the desk. He was escorted out of the chamber by law enforcement personnel.

Before the attack, Cua made multiple statements on social media about his plans to violently interrupt the proceedings certifying the election of Democrat Joe Biden to the presidency over incumbent

at the complex, and he wasn’t identified in the report.

Thieves take equipment from North Point store

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An unidentified suspect recently stole more than $3,000 in equipment from the Guitar Center store on North Point Drive in Alpharetta, reports said.

Alpharetta police responded to the guitar store at about 6 p.m. July 16, after an employee reported equipment worth more than $3,100 had been stolen through identity fraud.

Witnesses said a man entered at about 1 p.m. and selected several microphones, lights and other items, before charging the items to a store credit account.

After the transaction was completed and the buyer left with the equipment, employees received a call reporting a victim’s card had just been charged at the store without their permission.

The victim said a similar theft happened the day before at another Atlanta Guitar Center store

A description of the suspect was pro-

Republican Donald Trump.

After Jan. 6, Cua admitted on social media that he took part in the attack using violence and that more violence might be necessary in the future.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Atlanta field office, working with the federal agency’s Washington, D.C., field office and the Capitol Police.

During the 30 months since the attack, at least 1,070 have been arrested in all 50 states. More than 350 have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.

vided to police, but he was not identified in the report.

Alleged trespasser charged for obstruction

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police arrested a 42-year-old Newnan man on obstruction charges after he was reported for trespassing while parked in a restricted lot.

Officers responded to Nocturne Drive, near Ameris Bank Amphitheater in Alpharetta at about 11 p.m. July 16 after witnesses reported a vehicle was illegally parked in a reserved neighborhood parking spot and would not move.

When officers approached the vehicle, the driver allegedly said he was waiting to pick up friends from a concert at the amphitheater nearby, and he was given permission to park on Nocturne Drive.

However, the suspect would not tell officers who gave him permission to park there or give them his ID card.

The man was taken into custody for obstruction of a police officer, loitering and prowling and was transported to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.

‘Schoolhouse Rock Live!’ sends audience back decades

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — At Milton Arts Council’s fifth annual Community Theatre production, President Bill Purdie stepped out of a giant Magnavox television and welcomed an audience of about two dozen to a show filled with nostalgia and fun.

The musical “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” sent the audience back to 1973, the same year the animated educational TV series began. Held at Mill Springs Academy from July 21 to July 23, the show featured around 20 songs, performed by five voice-trained actors under the direction of Glenda Gray.

The musical is about a teacher named Tom, wet behind the ears and nervous about his first day of school. One Saturday morning, he turns on the television, and figments of his imagination appear, who help him prepare for the big day through engaging songs about grammar, history, math and science.

“I usually enjoy a good morning hallucination …” said Tom, played by Marshall Cain.

In an interview with Appen Media,

Gray voiced her excitement about the show and recalled watching “Schoolhouse Rock!” as a young girl.

“The nostalgia, for at least my generation, is huge,” Gray said. “We’re all like, ‘Oh, I remember that one!’ You know, just automatically jump back to your childhood, and sit in front of the

Saturday morning cartoons.”

Gray also commented on the musical’s fun, interactive aspect. Tom and his hallucinations walked between the rows of audience members, sat beside them, talked to them. By the end of the show, balloons covered the floor.

The Community Theatre is one of

many services the Milton Arts Council (MAC) offers. The nonprofit also has children’s programs, like summer camps and the Children’s Theatre, a creative writing contest and Milton’s Got Talent. It also takes performances to assisted living facilities and provides scholarships.

Last year, Purdie said MAC saw involvement from about 1,800 people.

“What I have learned is that the city, like others, has a great deal of talent, particularly in our youth,” Purdie said.

The nonprofit is a spin-off of the Milton Cultural Arts Committee, which was dissolved by the city in 2018 to provide more funding opportunities. Purdie said Milton is one of the only North Fulton cities that doesn’t fund the arts.

“When the city charter was adopted in 2006, and the city was born, there was no provision made for [the arts],” Purdie said. “So, we’re kind of on our own, which is a bit difficult.”

The nonprofit relies on donations and government grants from Fulton County and the state.

“We’ve proven to the City Council that we can do this, and that we’re serving a lot of people,” Purdie said. “We’ve been creative.”

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

In the Milton Arts Council’s fifth annual Community Theatre production, actors perform in “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” July 23 at Mill Springs Academy. Standing from left are: Emily Estrada, Lauren Quesnel, Eddie Estrada and Marshall Cain Christie Lee Fisher sits on the stage.

Johns Creek residents seek tax rate rollback

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — In the first public hearing for the property tax millage rate, Johns Creek highlighted that its current rate — one it plans to keep — is the lowest in Fulton County. But residents went before the council July 25 with criticisms, saying this is an apples-to-oranges comparison.

The city has tentatively adopted a property tax rate of 3.986 mills, unchanged from last year. Even so, property owners may face higher tax bills because of rising values. According to the preliminary tax digest from Fulton County, the value of Johns Creek property has increased by more than 10 percent.

Property taxes account for about 30 percent of the city’s General Fund revenue base, funding public safety, city administration, capital projects and enhancements as well other strategic priorities the City Council identifies.

The Johns Creek fiscal year 2023 budget anticipated $20.2 million in property tax revenue. Based on the property value increase, the current millage rate would generate $2.7 million more than anticipated. If a rollback rate of 3.646 mills is adopted, the city would generate $0.7 million more.

All three residents who spoke at the public hearing asked for the rollback

Royce Reinecke, Johns Creek resident and former City Council candidate, appeals to the City Council for a rollback on the property tax rate at a July 25 meeting. The three residents who spoke at the public hearing asked for the rollback rate of 3.646 mills, as opposed to the proposed current rate of 3.986 mills.

rate.

Royce Reinecke, a former City Council candidate, said the city should compare itself to other cities in terms of the millage rate because every city has a different level of exemptions.

“In other cities, where the millage rate is higher, they have very much higher exemptions,” Reinecke said. “So,

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you have to look at the total burden, not just the millage rate burden. So, don’t get deluded into thinking that somehow our millage rate is uniquely low because it isn’t. We have very few exemptions in Johns Creek.”

He also said the cap on property increase does not pertain to all property owners. The Georgia General

Assembly passed legislation in 2016 allowing Fulton County to cap property value increases at 3 percent or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.

The cap does not protect business owners, Reinecke said. Property owners must have a homestead exemption for the cap to take effect.

Another resident, Gibb Green, said he has lived in Johns Creek for less than four years and his mortgage payment has gone up almost $400, in part due to the city’s millage rate. He also said he has been “battling” to secure the homestead exemption.

“Folks like me live on a fixed income,” Green said. “I’d just really like you to consider the effect [the millage rate] has on the homeowners.”

Resident Azure Duan also asked the council to consider those with a fixed income.

“If we increase the millage [rate], it might not affect the high-income families, the affluent families that are in Johns Creek that much …” Duan said. “This will affect more the people who rely on fixed income ... nurses, police officers and also retired people that may have limited income.”

The second public hearing will be Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. in the Ocee Conference Room at City Hall. The third and final public hearing will be held during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting at 7 p.m. on Aug. 8.

Johns Creek schedules final hearings on proposed 2023 property tax rate

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek officials conducted the first of three public hearings July 25 to set property tax rates for 2023.

The city’s proposed levy of 3.986 mills would be the same as last year. Even so, property owners may face higher tax bills because of rising values.

The second and third public hearings are set for Aug. 8 at City Hall on Lakeview Drive. There will be a morning session at 11 a.m., then the final hearing during the regular City Council meeting at 7 p.m. At the close, the council will take a formal vote on the levy.

Under Georgia law, maintaining the same millage rate when property values rise is regarded as a tax increase, and the city is required to hold a public hearing to give residents an opportunity to comment.

Had the City Council opted to keep property tax revenue the same as last year, the mill levy would have been reduced – or “rolled back” – to 3.646 mills.

Each year, the Board of Tax Assessors is required to review the assessed value of taxable property in the county. When the trends of prices on properties that have recently sold in the county indicate there has been an increase in the fair market value of any specific property, the Board of Tax Assessors is required by law to redetermine – or reassess – its value.

Residents are invited to email comments to public.comment@ johnscreekga.gov. For additional information on the proposed 2023 millage rate please visit the city website at www.johnscreekga.gov.

– Amber Perry

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Accusations of partisan election tampering spark discussion in Milton

Mayor calls involvement ‘highly inappropriate’

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — At the July 24 Milton City Council meeting, Mayor Peyton Jamison asked the city’s chief administrator in his capacity as the elections superintendent whether he was confident in Milton’s ability to run its own election and what he would need for it to be successful.

“Mechanically, we can definitely run our own election,” City Manager Steve Krokoff said. “... But as you know … Trust and legitimacy are a critical piece. They’re more important than the financial piece at the end of the day, and it's important that if we move forward, we can maintain a level of trust and legitimacy.”

Milton officials have come under fire recently after records surfaced that showed some councilmembers may have overstepped ethical bounds in the hiring process for the city’s new elections consultant.

According to the Milton city charter, the city manager has the authority to hire staff who would act as department heads or directors. While Krokoff was solely responsible for hiring the consultant, he saw outside pressure to interview Vernetta Nuriddin, the former vice chair of the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections.

Nuriddin was hired in late May.

Citizens lodge complaints

Appen Media reported June 6 Nuriddin had been hired based on nominations from Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne and Milton City Councilman Rick Mohrig. While she had never worked as an elections superintendent — a minimum qualification — Krokoff said Nuriddin was “quite knowledgeable.”

The recommendations from Thorne and Mohrig were confirmed by texts and emails obtained through an Open Records request, though not directly quoted.

Tim Becker, former Milton resident of nearly 30 years, expanded on the personal exchanges among city staff and councilmembers on his blog “Milton Coalition,” providing screenshots of emails and text messages. Since he began blogging on elections, which waged comments about “backroom tampering,” Becker said his blog has been viewed nearly 2,900 times.

He voiced the same concerns, appearing in person during the public comment portion of the July 24 meeting. He prefaced his complaints of partisanship and secrecy to the council by saying he is a “life-long Ronald Reagan Republican and conservative.”

He also said he is a veteran, who served as a nuclear submarine officer for eight years to “uphold the principles that this country was founded on.”

“I come here because I am seeing in Milton a trampling of those principals by a few councilmembers and some political partisans,” Becker told the City Council.

Others have come before the council as well, who have landed on these records, like Milton resident Francia Lindon at a July 19 council meeting.

“It is no secret at this time that Open Records requests are circulating around the city,” Lindon said. “To anyone who’s read these Open Records requests, it’s clear that there has been significant, exclusive and persistent pressure to direct the elections course by highly partisan players. Some of this heavy influence came from city councilmembers, who should not be involved in their own elections.”

‘Personal request’

Mohrig was one councilmember named in Becker’s blog, and the author of many of the texts and emails found in the records.

“I obviously can't commit to anything, but I asked that [Krokoff] speak with you to interview you,” Mohrig said in a text to Nuriddin March 8. “Personal request.”

Then, in a text message to Councilman Jan Jacobus April 24, Mohrig said he had asked Krokoff “no less than 3 times specifically to interview her - 2 times in person.” He went on to say at least one councilmember or Municipal Election Feasibility Committee member should participate in the interview. He and Councilman Paul Moore were the two councilmembers appointed to the committee.

“I'm having a trust issue with some staff at this point,” Mohrig said in the text message.

In response to questions from Appen Media about his requests to Krokoff, Mohrig said it was important that city staff hire someone early so the city could

run the election smoothly.

“To the extent that I appeared eager for the city manager to connect with Ms. Nuriddin, that is simply a by-product of my eagerness for the city to shine in conducting its first election,” Mohrig said in an email.

Moore, also named in Becker’s blog, shared his views with Krokoff as well, but at the request of Krokoff to the mayor and all the council.

“If a city manager/superintendent is asking me a specific question about what I think about something, I believe it's my charge to be able to reach out to respond to him … because he believes I have a valuable perspective on it.”

Council purview

In an interview with Appen Media, Mayor Jamison said one-off requests regarding Nuriddin’s employment came as a surprise.

“When it comes to employment with the city, and anyone wanting to do business with the city, it is highly inappropriate for an individual council member, or myself, to continue to direct the city manager to hire someone, especially if that someone didn't meet the qualifications,” Jamison said.

The “majority of council” can give

direction to the city manager, he said, but not an individual councilmember.

“An individual council member cannot just direct the city manager to do something that is not in line with what the majority of council would like to see happen,” Jamison said.

Krokoff told Appen Media that city staff is usually tasked with seeking out service providers and choosing the best possible candidate or company, then the contract is placed on the consent agenda and approved by the City Council.

“Typically, I do not get requests to interview any specific consultants,” Krokoff said.

At the advice of counsel, Krokoff would not provide his opinion on whether he felt pressured by any councilmember to interview Nuriddin.

A Fulton County option

Moments before Jamison inquired about Krokoff’s confidence in the city’s capacity to run the election at the July 24 meeting, Councilwoman Carol Cookerly weighed the option to change up the game plan and work with Fulton County.

Cookerly said she believes the future lies in Milton running its own election, and maybe more in conjunction with other North Fulton municipalities, but she said she was open to an alternative that had not been voiced by a councilmember since the City of Milton voted to run its own election in December.

Allowing the county to run Milton’s local election would not be a step back but a step to the side, she said.

“It may not be popular to at least open our minds to it, but it might be prudent because we owe the citizenry as open a spring line and as clean a process as possible,” Cookerly said. “I think recent and near-term events — and I'm not indicting anything or anyone because there's still quite a bit to play out — We've got some burdens to sort through. I see an escalation of issues, not a minimization of issues.”

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison asks City Manager Steve Krokoff in his capacity as the elections superintendent July 24 if he is confident about the integrity of Milton running its own election. Krokoff responded with the need for trust and legitimacy.

Forsyth County officials break ground on long-anticipated Denmark Library

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Library staff and local and state officials gathered on a humid morning July 27 to celebrate the groundbreaking for the Denmark Library, a $15 million facility in southwest Forsyth County.

Most of the bill, $9.7 million, is covered by SPLOST VIII revenue. Some $4.4 million is funded through state grants and county impact fees. In June, the Forsyth County Commission granted the library $280,000 to cover construction costs.

The 9.5-acre site, the second library in County Commissioner Todd Levent’s District 3 and the first in the southwestern corner of the county, was purchased in 2018. The 22,504-squarefoot facility will feature 75,000 books and materials; a quiet room for studying and reading; and personal study rooms tailored for remote working.

Further plans include adult, children and teen sections, as well as a bookstore. Denmark Library will also be the first to have a drive-up window for retrieving books on hold.

McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture is charged with the design of the facility, and construction will be completed by Albion General Contractors.

Staff estimate construction will be finished in late 2024 or early 2025.

Denmark Library is the county library system’s fifth branch. It follows the 2013 opening of the $7 million Post Road Library, also in District 3, and the 2018 expansion of Sharon Forks Library,

which originally opened in 2000.

“Post Road Library is at max capacity, could even be seen that tables and chairs are always full,” Levent said. “So, making today a reality is a must.”

The facility neighbors Denmark High School on Fowler Road and the future site of the new Midway Elementary School on Mullinax Road. Officials at the groundbreaking emphasized the library will be an invaluable resource for all county residents, including students.

“There really is no greater gift that you can give to the children and families of your communities,” Georgia Public Library Service State Librarian Julie Walker said. “We've never needed libraries more than we do today.”

PHOTOS BY ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Forsyth County leaders and library system officials break ground for construction of Denmark Library July 27 at a site on Fowler Road near Denmark High School. Leaders said construction will be finished in late 2024 or early 2025.

Forsyth County Library Director Anna Lyle speaks to a crowd July 27 during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Denmark Library on Fowler Road.

New state work guidelines may affect food assistance

By STANLEY DUNLAP Georgia Recorder

ATLANTA — Food assistance advocates contend that a Georgia agency’s refusal to apply for a federal work exemption puts thousands of Georgians in danger of losing much-needed monthly payments for groceries.

Since July 1, more than 87,000 adults without children in Georgia have been required to work at least 80 hours a month in order to receive benefits provided through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps. The shift in policy comes after the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services declined to request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture temporarily waive the work guidelines that were suspended since March 2020 during the public health emergency.

The “able-bodied adults without dependents” program requires participants to work a minimum of 20 hours per week, enroll in job training or perform state-approved volunteering. Participants who fail to meet these standards for three consecutive months will be cut off from receiving any more food stamps for another three years.

Supporters of the work requirement see it as an incentive for adults to put in some sweat equity in order to earn the benefits that help put food on the family table. However, Ife Finch Floyd, director of economic justice at Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, says the state’s family and children’s services are reversing a longstanding policy while ignoring research that minimizes the motivational effects of mandatory work hours.

Floyd says that since the Great Recession, officially counted as late 2007 until June 2009, Georgia sought waivers from the federal government that suspended work rules for areas where jobs were hard to find. Georgians working jobs with inconsistent schedules who average 70 hours a month would be disqualified from the federal program after three months.

“During the Great Recession there were certainly a lot of tough economic conditions across states, but even as the overall economy improved certain counties were still struggling,” Floyd said.

“What is concerning for us is that unemployed people, people who are underemployed may be at risk of losing benefits if they’re having trouble

SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN

Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services has recently started distributing extra money to families with school age children for a summer food program. Families receiving SNAP benefits who have children six years of age and older will receive a one-time payment of $123.

The agency has also started sending Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfers, or P-EBTs, to families with children under five years old. Those families will receive $26.94 per child each month. Those benefits are also available to children who turn six between August and December 2022.

meeting those work requirements,” she said.

In a response to a question about the decision to not apply for the waiver, a Georgia Department of Human Services’ Division of Family and Children Services spokeswoman referenced that federal law limits waivers to areas that have unemployment rates above 10 percent or otherwise do not have a sufficient number of jobs.

Georgia’s statewide unemployment rate of 3.2% in June was below the national average of 3.6%. Prior to the declaration of the public health emergency in spring 2020, Georgia routinely requested exemptions for dozens of counties with unemployment rates above 20% over a 24-month period.

Over a year-long period through May, several counties averaged unemployment rates of at least 4.3%, exceeding the 20% threshold.

The maximum monthly allocation for the able-bodied SNAP program is determined by the household’s monthly income. A one-person household receives up to $281 per month.

There are a number of job training programs and educational opportunities offered by the state that can count toward work requirements and improve the odds of SNAP

See SNAP, Page 10

Name: The Market Place at North Point

Owner: Lisa Williams and Gregory Patterson

Description: The Market Place at North Point is an 8,000-square-foot store in North Point Mall dedicated to providing opportunities to Georgia small business owners and entrepreneurs to sell their products, merchandise and services. Additionally, we offer fun and exciting events e.g., arts and crafts, soap making, and small event opportunities. The Market Place at North Point is more than a store; we are a destination shop for all mall shoppers.

Opened: May 2023

Address: 1000 North Point Circle, Alpharetta, GA

Phone: 770-595-8086

Web Address: @The_Market_Place_GA (Instagram)

Just opened?

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

Herald | August 3, 2023

Sandy Springs wine shop shares craft with patrons

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Tucked away in a small plaza on Hilderbrand Drive in Sandy Springs, Beer and Wine Craft invites guests to step away from the traditional retail and tasting rooms and into the world of winemaking.

The shop, which also includes the Sandy Springs Boutique Winery and Tasting Room, first opened in 1969 as Wine Art. Following decades of relocation around the Atlanta perimeter, head winemaker Joe Keenan bought the business in October 2012. From there, he dedicated it to teaching customers the art of vinification.

Keenan sold the shop in June to his wife Shanie Mattox, a graphic designer who makes most of the labels for the store. Together, the couple sell signature wines by the bottle and offer tastings, events and beer and winemaking classes.

Although Keenan’s interest in wine was sparked by a winemaking kit Mattox had gifted him, he is well-versed in millennia of wine history, which he warmly shares with customers at the beginning of his classes.

To Keenan, winemaking is a craft he has enjoyed for 16 years, and through the shop, he shares that craft with the community.

“This is unique to Atlanta,” Keenan said. “This store here, there’s nothing like it.”

An artistic process

Beer and Wine Craft buys concentrated grape juice from a distributor. Customers can choose from more than 100 grape varieties, some grown in the Napa Valley in California; Tuscany, Italy; Bordeaux, France; the Barossa Valley in Australia; and the Willamette Valley in Oregon.

“We don’t bring in the grapes,” Keenan said. “I don’t ever want to bring in the grapes. Once you pick that grape, it is on its way downhill faster than you know. It’s got bad microbes in it that [causes it to spoil] real easy. It oxidizes real easy. Everything goes wrong with it.”

The juice is treated with sulfites, which are naturally occurring in grapes. It is then placed into a primary fermenter, where it stays for 15 days.

Keenan also ferments wine in his beloved Hungarian oak barrels, a process that lasts between two and three months.

While French, American and Hungarian oak barrels come from subspecies of the white oak tree, he said the Hungarian barrels leave a perfect finish because of the size of the cellulose cells.

“This is an art, not a science,” he said. “You have to taste it on a regular basis.”

After the wine rests for the allotted time, it is fined and cleared, which involves stopping the

See WINE, Page 9

Beer

PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Owner Shanie Mattox and head winemaker Joe Keenan operate Beer and Wine Craft at 203 Hilderbrand Drive in Sandy Springs. Keenan bought the business in 2012 before transferring ownership to Mattox, his wife, in June.

and Wine Craft, 203 Hilderbrand Drive in Sandy Springs, includes a tasting room where guests can sample a variety of house-made wines. The American Wine Society awarded the shop’s private reserve a silver medal in 2022.

This is unique to Atlanta. This store here, there’s nothing like it.

JOE KEENAN, head winemaker, Beer and Wine Craft

Wine:

Continued from Page 8

fermentation process and adding sulfites and clearing agents. The wine is then transferred into a carboy, a large, clear jug.

The wine remains in the carboy for roughly two weeks before it is transferred to another carboy to remove unwanted sediment. The beverage is refined for two more weeks until it is siphoned into a third carboy. Then, it is ready to be bottled.

From start to finish, the process takes between six and eight weeks. Keenan said every 6 gallons of wine yields 30 bottles.

In the back of the shop, customers can also buy supplies to make their own beer. Here, there are kits complete with instructions, hops, spices, yeast and malt extract to create a variety of ales.

However, because the shop does not have a license for beer tasting, it only offers classes and sells supplies.

Beer and Wine Craft will host winemaking classes from 10 a.m.2 p.m. Sept. 16, Oct. 7, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2. Each class is $75 per person.

Beer making classes are set at the same time on Sept. 23, Nov. 11 and on an undetermined date in December. Beer classes are $55 per person.

Fruits of labor

After a decade of leading its wine production, Keenan has cemented Beer and Wine Craft as a Sandy Springs staple where customers can enjoy wines that cannot be found anywhere else.

“It’s just a really, really nice craft, and people enjoy it,” he said. “It takes less than two hours to make 30 bottles of it. It takes about half an hour to start it, half an hour to fine and clear it and about 45 minutes to bottle it.”

In addition to offering guests the opportunity to make their own batch, the shop keeps red, white and dessert wines stocked by the bottle and for tasting. Its standout selection is its private reserve, a Chianti-style blend that won Keenan a silver medal at the American Wine Society’s Commercial Wine Competition in 2022.

Beer and Wine Craft is open every day, with hours varying from late morning or noon to early evening. More information on tastings and classes can be found at beerandwinecraft.com.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Fermenting red wines await bottling July 25 in the back of Beer and Wine Craft at 203 Hilderbrand Drive in Sandy Springs. Customers can make their own red, white and fruit wines at the shop, which requires three visits over four to eight weeks.

Celebrating Award-Winning Pet Care... For Over 50+ Years

Rabid raccoon captured in south Forsyth County

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County officials confirmed July 19 a raccoon captured in a subdivision in the southeastern portion of the county tested positive for rabies.

The animal was captured by County Animal Services July 16 in the Grand Cascades subdivision in Suwanee near Rivercrest Lane. The raccoon was transported to the Georgia Public Health Lab, where it tested positive for the virus July 18.

Residents and a dog who encountered the raccoon were treated for exposure. The virus is transmitted to humans and domestic animals through saliva when it is introduced into bite

SNAP:

Continued from Page 7

recipients finding employment, the state agency said.

“The goal of the program is to help all SNAP recipients who are unemployed or underemployed with getting a good-paying job that eliminates their reliance on public assistance program,” DHS spokeswoman Kylie Winton wrote in an email.

The changes to Georgia’s ablebodied adults program are also coinciding with major adjustments looming from Congress, which passed a Fiscal Responsibility Act in June that tacks on additional work requirements for adults ages 18 to 55 without dependents.

The new law also exempts from the workload policy veterans, people experiencing homelessness and someone under 24 who is aging out of the foster care system

Starting this fall, the ages that must follow time limits increases until it reaches 55 in 2025.

Catherine Buhrig, associate administrator for USDA’s SNAP benefits, recently updated state food assistance directors about the upcoming changes. In the June 30 letter, she urged states to update their policy documents, train staff, collaborate with other agencies, and meet directly with families that could be affected.

“Implementing these provisions will require state agencies to make extensive changes in a short period of time,” Buhrig wrote.

One of the groups calling for reining in the SNAP program for

wounds; mucous membranes such as the eyes or mouth; or open cuts.

County staff urge people who may have had contact with a raccoon to contact County Environmental Health at 770-781-6909.

To report an animal behaving strangely, people should avoid the animal and contact Animal Services at 770-781-2138 during business hours and the 911 Center at 770-781-3087 after hours.

To report bites, county staff said to call the Georgia Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

able-bodied adults is the conservative American public policy think tank, the Foundation for Government Accountability.

According to the foundation, many states have taken advantage of the system over the years to exempt as many counties as possible from the work requirement. About four million people were enrolled in the program this spring, with three-quarters of participants unemployed, according to a research paper published by the foundation in May.

“States have used loopholes and gimmicks to waive work requirements enacted by congress, even in areas with record-low unemployment,” the report said.

Charles Bliss, director of advocacy for Atlanta Legal Aid Society, said that understanding the requirements for each SNAP program can become complicated to a point where many people don’t understand what’s happening or why their benefits get cut off.

Atlanta Legal Aid provides free civil legal guidance for low income people across the metro area. Most of the food assistance program problems Georgians face with the state are related to administrative issues, such as paperwork and interview coordination, Bliss said.

But he’s worried about the mandatory work requirement will have unintended consequences.

“The real problem is that it doesn’t really do much to get more people working,” Bliss said. “It just does more to cut people off benefits.”

This story comes to Appen Media through a partnership with Georgia Recorder, a nonprofit newsroom covering statewide issues.

— Shelby Israel

The Alpharetta Police Department displays customized Yeti cups for the 911 Center and Fire, Police and Public Safety departments July 27. The department said the cups, which were purchased in 2022 with confiscated asset funds, were given to all public safety employees as part of a recruitment and retention initiative.

Funding:

Continued from Page 1

undergo a process of oversight.

Splawn said two Alpharetta police detectives are assigned to DEA task forces. One is assigned to the highdensity drug trafficking area, or HIDTA, task force, and the other is assigned to the financial investigation team, or FIT.

The HIDTA task force is responsible for drug enforcement, while the FIT task force investigates money laundering. FIT investigations are not always drug-related but oftentimes are, Splawn said.

“Throughout the course of their investigations, if there's any money or property that is either helping facilitate the illegal activity, or it's a proceed or benefit from the illegal activity, those funds are seized,” Splawn said.

The department also has a Special Investigations Unit, which focuses on narcotics, vice and human trafficking offenses. While this is not one of the DEA task forces, Splawn said assets seized by the unit are still counted in the department’s confiscated assets fund.

“There's no difference in how we spend the money, whether it comes federally or locally,” he said. “But once we have the money, it can be spent

on things like training, equipment, initiatives. In fact, much of our second floor is paid for with asset forfeiture money. We got a SWAT bus and some other high-dollar items that are typically hard to budget for.”

Once an asset is seized, a judge determines if it had aided a crime or was the benefit of a crime. If the judge rules that it was not, the asset is returned to its owner. If it was, the Department of Justice uses a formula to determine how much an agency receives from the forfeiture.

“That's kind of the key thing that sometimes gets missed is that whenever assets are seized, assets or money is seized, whoever the property is taken from has a right to a hearing,” Splawn said.

Such assets can include land, homes and, most often, vehicles.

To liquidate the assets, the Alpharetta Police Department submits the funds to GovDeals, an online auction-based marketplace for governments and educational agencies. After the assets are awarded to the department, the rest of the process is conducted through the state, Splawn said.

He said to provide a layer of oversight and prevent abuse, all expenses covered by asset forfeiture must be approved by the chief of public safety.

ALPHARETTA POLICE DEPARTMENT/PROVIDED

Should

• What do I need to know about Revocable Living Trusts?

• How do Irrevocable Trusts work?

Trusts and your property

• Medicaid. What’s true and what’s not?

• How do I protect my assets for my family and legacy?

• How do I remain in control?

• How do I avoid losing everything to nursing home costs?

• How can my family avoid probate? August

Tues, Aug 15th – 4pm

How important is it to put your property into a trust? Let’s do a case study. There once was a Mr. Smith who was unfortunately diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Knowing that he didn’t have long to live and wanting to make sure his children did not have to suffer through the tedious probate process, Mr. Smith signed his property over to his three children. He had the real estate attorney draft a special deed with joint right of survivorship language. With this language, if one of his children passed away, the remaining two would get the deceased sibling’s share without having to go through probate. Here’s the catch - the joint right of survivorship only delays probate for as long as one of the owners is alive. When the last owner dies, the property still must go through probate if it is not placed in a trust. When Mr. Smith’s children realized this, they went to speak to Mr. Smith, but it was too late. The deed had already been recorded. What’s worse was that one of the three siblings was legally incompetent, meaning that he could

not sign any legal document. Now, while the three siblings could avoid probate after Mr. Smith’s death, they could not sell the property or take any protective measures because of the legally incompetent sibling. On top of that, due to owning a share of the property, the legally incompetent sibling lost his government benefits. Equally worse, Mr. Smith’s attempts to shortcut probate caused him to impose heavy capital gains tax burden that otherwise could have been waived for his children if he had transferred the property into a trust.

Although Mr. Smith did his best to protect his property for his children, his lack of knowledge caused him to make a costly mistake. If he had placed the property in a trust, he would have been able to avoid the probate process and allow for his legally incompetent child to have his share of the property without losing his government benefits. This isn’t his fault - but it’s an example of why you should always consult an estate planning attorney local to your area to understand the specific laws governing estate and assets in your county and state and choose the best estate plan for you while you are healthy and competent because emergency decisions involving your assets and family rarely accomplish your goal and do more harm than good.

GEERDES

ADVERTISE IN OUR Real Estate Report

Reach North Atlanta with a circulation of 105,000 the first week of each month. with each ad purchased receive a free advertorial of equal size!

To advertise your business in the next section, call 770-442-3278 or email: mike@appenmedia.com

Top tips for planning a kitchen remodel

you.

3. Enlist professional help.

Even with less-than-ideal function and a cringy design, it’s easy to put off a kitchen remodel because, well, the disruption. However, fear of change or logistics doesn’t need to hold you back from making room for a fresh look and layout. Here are a few pro tips to help you get ahead of the decision-making, so you can stop settling for the devil you know and get ready for a stunning dream kitchen that adds value to your lifestyle as well as your resale price.

1. Figure out your motivation for renovating.

Do you need to improve an inefficient design? Want to customize and personalize your space? Lower energy costs? Accommodate multigenerational living? Increase property value or repair damage? Identifying the ‘why’ gives the ‘how’ clarity and direction, making the rest of your decisions much more apparent.

2. Identify what you love about your existing kitchen…

…and don’t fix things that aren’t broken. If you can work with the existing plumbing locations, retain the current square footage or preserve windows and walls, there is no need to change them. Your budget will thank

Unless you’re a builder, save the DIY for projects that don’t involve building codes or plumbing and electrical. Even then, partnering with professionals not only alleviates a significant amount of stress throughout the remodel but also often protects you against potential issues after completion in the form of warranties or quality guarantees.

4. Prioritize function.

More than any other room in a house, the kitchen relies on an efficient layout and workflow, so take your time with planning for things like the work triangle (the relationship between the sink, stove and refrigerator), ample storage, task lighting and practical countertops. Focus on making it work before you make it pretty.

5. Choose appliances early.

Representing a large chunk of your overall budget, appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens and cooktops also influence your overall layout. Making these choices early allows you to plan the rest of the design effectively.

With the right help, remodeling can be a successful endeavor that enhances your life instead of something you dread and postpone indefinitely. If you need assistance staging your home or have any other real estate needs, please contact Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty at 770.442.7300. We would be happy to assist you! Compiled and edited by Angela

Valente, Marketing Copywriter/ Copyeditor

Bill Rawlings and Sherri Conrad

How to choose the right school?!

Brought to you bySam DiVito, REALTOR® HOME Real Estate, The Kloster Group

As we begin August, many of us are focused on back to school! We all know that school districts and school ratings largely drive home values. When you pay taxes into a school district, you want to know that you are getting the best education you can provide for your kids. As a mom, I know it can be hard to feel like you’ve

done sufficient research, so I want to provide a few ideas and resources that can help evaluate where to send your kids to school!

First of all, you can begin by researching the school ratings, test scores, reviews and demographics on a few websites to help narrow down your search. www.greatschools.org and www.schooldigger.com are both excellent sources of information. They can provide a helpful overall view of the school and what it provides for your student!

Another great resource to use are community-based groups through Facebook or Next Door. This is a

wonderful way to ask fellow parents for their experiences, opinions and pointed questions based on your interests and priorities in a school.

Finally, go on a tour of your top schools! What better way to learn how comfortable your student will be in the school than to actually go visit and meet the teachers and staff that make that school special? You can focus on what curriculum they use, the classroom size, the after-school activities, sports, etc. that would be available to your child! Nothing compares to walking the halls before deciding which school district in which to buy your new home! And remember, always trust your gut!

You are your child’s best advocate!

If you need help evaluating the schools in your area, I’ll be happy to help. The Kloster Group team members are all parents and were all raised in these same districts!

Investing in your home is one of the hardest and most important decisions you will make for your family. You don’t have to do it alone!

Call or email Sam today and we’ll evaluate your needs and get your family into the best schools the area has to offer. Call 404-803-5999 or email sam@homegeorgia.com and get a response within 24 hours.

Luxury resort living at The Manor Golf & Country Club

Brought to you by-

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties

The last few remaining lots in an exclusive gated community with awardwinning schools are selling out quickly, and this is the final chance to live in one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in metro Atlanta.

Just north of Atlanta, The Manor Golf & Country Club offers an unparalleled lifestyle with Georgia’s only Tom Watson-designed championship golf course, country club amenities including tennis and indoor/outdoor swimming, private lessons with a pro, dining, spa treatments, and a year-round calendar of activities to keep little ones engaged and bring adults together to create memories.

With a 32,000-square-foot European inspired clubhouse overlooking Manor

Lake, The Manor Golf & Country Club is part of Invited Clubs, a network of several Atlanta clubs and a national network of 200 clubs where members can find a home away from home and make new friendships when they travel.

The Manor Golf & Country Club has a few exclusive remaining readyto-build homesites offered by renowned custom luxury design and construction firm Loudermilk Homes. This stunning 2.2-acre double lot that overlooks picturesque Manor Lake at 605 Stilwell Court is a tree-lined gem that’s easily walkable to the clubhouse, with unobstructed natural preserve views across the street. A handful of other private estate-sized lots and double lots are also available and are selling quickly.

The Manor Golf & Country Club also offers luxury homes that are almost complete and ready for move-

in soon, including this 5-bedroom, 5-bathroom home at 1069 Kent Court, which overlooks the 7th and 8th holes of the golf course. Nestled on a 1-acre homesite in a quiet and private culde-sac, this home features a modern design, breathtaking views of the golf course, exquisite architectural details, custom millwork, and quality craftsmanship with bespoke professional designer selections. The open floor plan includes a gourmet chef’s kitchen with custom cabinets and professional grade appliances, a second catering prep kitchen, a spacious owner’s suite on the main level with a spa-inspired bathroom, and four additional large bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. The current list price for the home is $2,895,900, and it is drawing intense interest.

Located in the highly rated Milton school district, The Manor Golf &

Country Club is just minutes from historic downtown Alpharetta and the Avalon luxury shopping and restaurant district, as well as charming historic downtown Roswell, Crabapple and other communities. The local equestrian community is a big draw for families, and there are numerous stables and riding trails nearby. Homes in The Manor are priced from the $2 million range up to $8 million or more for a truly bespoke private estate mansion custom designed and built by awardwinning Loudermilk Homes.

For additional information about The Manor Golf & Country Club, please call 678.578.6766 or visit www.themanorhomes.com. Sales and marketing by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties New Homes Division. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Jumping on the AI bandwagon

– Lara Dolan, The Craft Dolan Team at Ansley Real Estate

Anyone who has a blog, uses social media for business, or writes a regular newspaper article struggles with the ever-elusive search for meaningful content. What topic will readers find interesting, informative, and worthy of consuming for five minutes with their morning coffee?

For this article I decided to have a bit of fun with ChatGPT’s artificial intelligence and put the inquiry

‘Interesting Facts About Real Estate’ to the test. I figured it would generate some good and educational topics about the market, but the answers were vastly divergent from what I anticipated. My family has a running joke when we travel, accusing me of always having ‘fun facts’ about what we are visiting… so settle in, and let’s look at some real estate ‘fun facts’ and tie them into actual valuable tidbits:

- The oldest property deed

ever recorded dates to 2300 BC in Mesopotamia and was a clay tablet documenting the transfer of property. Thanks, ChatGPT! While that may have worked 4000+ years ago, today you need a real estate attorney to check title, and officially record your deed with the county. Note: after you purchase property, please ignore all those solicitations in the mail to pay for your deed. For most closings, you will be provided an electronic or physical copy of the recorded deed shortly after the sale, as part of the closing process.

- The world’s smallest house is just 258 square feet and is in Warsaw, Poland. I’m not sure that data point is still accurate with the advent of the tiny-homes market, but there is a point to make here about downsizing. The number-one challenge we encounter when readying a house for market is that people simply have too much stuff. Purging is the first big step toward getting ready to sell. 100% of our clients say it feels great when they finally start to get rid of items and most let go of way more than expected. Open a closet and start today (after you finish reading the paper).

- There is a Haunted House Real

Estate market, and these stigmatized properties often sell for less money and take longer to close. Realtor.com listed several in a 2021 article – most of them well over $1 million. If it’s a friendly ghost, would you purchase a ‘haunted’ house? This does open the topic of disclosures. When selling your home, it’s important to complete the disclosure documents honestly and thoroughly. While hauntings are not a question on the Seller’s Disclosure in Georgia (although hauntings disclosures are required in New York), and there’s probably nothing ghoulish to worry about, water intrusion definitely is

something to disclose and be sure to properly address.

- In 2013, thieves disassembled an entire 1300-square foot house in Oregon overnight, stealing it right off its foundation. We talk a lot about fraud in real estate, but this one takes the cake! In all seriousness, diligence protecting your largest asset is important. There are some new protections local governments have made available to protect property owners, which we would be happy to share with you, especially if you have vacant property, land, or property that you own debt-free.

- Real estate makes up approximately 70% of the world’s total wealth. There were 450 homes newly listed for sale in Alpharetta, Milton, and Roswell in June 2023; supply is gently on the rise and that is opportunity for wealth-building. Call if you want to check some out this week!

I don’t know what AI has in store for our business, our culture, or our communities. For today, it was a useful source of ‘fun facts.’ When you want to understand the nuances of real estate, call a human professional for RI (Real Intelligence). We’ll be glad to help.

Tucker

DOLAN

ISTOCK

GARDEN

Walk in the woods, exploring the agents of decay

In July of 2020, my next-door neighbor found a fungus extraordinaire in the woods behind our homes, and she graciously shared this photo and the location with me. I am amazed at what can be found when we take a walk in the woods! Look at this beautiful creation of nature! To track down the name of this exquisite fungus, my neighbor consulted a fungi expert. It is commonly known as Chicken of the Woods, since it is edible. It is classified in the genus Laetiporus.

What a unique and beautiful architectural design! The fungi looks like it was constructed of concentric, half circles of orange with white margins piled in decreasingly smaller sizes to create a knockout, look-at-me fungus extraordinaire! Note its size by comparing my neighbor’s feet with the Chicken of the Woods growing on the ground in front of her.

This year, I searched for Chicken of the Woods early. I was amazed to find two Chicken of the Woods in the same location as in 2020 but three months earlier. In April 2023, I was again attracted to the size and design of this unique fungus. But this year, the design was off. The 2023 architectural playbook was different from 2020. Instead of a symmetrical, cylindrical form, the form was chaotic. Small, orange, half-sized and quarter-sized, circular sections were haphazardly piled on top of each other, along with white and orange blobs. Possibly the fungus’s growth was interrupted by the four days of March frost, and when the warm weather returned, the growth continued.

Fungi, though plant-like, are not plants. Fungi do not produce the green pigment chlorophyll, do not carry on photosynthesis, and create spores instead of seeds. When the soil temperature, soil moisture content and air temperatures have reached the proper balance, the reproductive cycle ramps up! Spores begin to germinate underground and send out a network of hyphae. These hyphae in turn form an underground, lace-like network of mycelium. The above-ground hyphae then coalesce to produce the fruiting body or mushroom you see in the pictured illustration.

Like all fungi, the Chicken of the Woods is doing its job – finding organic matter to decompose, which in turn provides nourishment for growth and reproduction. This massive fungus can usually be found inhabiting woodland

areas where once a mighty oak tree resided. On close examination of the Chicken of Woods growing in the North Fulton County woods behind my house, it was feasting on the remains of and aiding in the decay of a fallen oak tree! If you turned this fungus or any mushroom upside down, you will find its gills which radiate out like the spokes of a wheel. Lining every surface of these gills are thousands of spores ready to be released to create more of its own type and kind!

I hope I have piqued your interest in fungi. I challenge you to visit your yard and woods to observe the beauty of fungi.

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.

Learn more

• Fungi are adapted for Nutrition by absorption - https://bodell.mtchs.org/ OnlineBio/BIOCD/text/chapter18/concept18.1.html

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a Milton resident and master gardener since 2012. Carole describes herself as a born biologist. Since childhood, she loved to explore the out-of-doors and garden 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. She also volunteers weekly at the ALA thrift store and acts as chair of their Links to Education scholarship program. Her favorite hobbies are gardening, hiking, biking and reading.

CAROLE MACMULLAN/PROVIDED

Chicken of the Woods Fungi found in Milton, GA in April of 2023

CAROLE MACMULLAN Guest Columnist

MR. BLACK’S ARMY/WEEBLY Parts of a fungus

CAROL WAHL/PROVIDED

Chicken of the Woods found in 2020

New friends, falling in love with a Dragon

As I sit here cursing this infernal North Carolina deluge that is wreaking havoc with my welllaid plans to ride freely through these difficult to describe mountain roads, I’m thankful for the two perfect days of partnering for adventures with The Black Beauty. Regular readers know that’s the moniker I’ve bestowed upon my Harley Road Glide 3 trike. On our maiden voyage to these “ridelike-you-know-what-you’re-doing” highways and byways, by all accounts from veteran bikers, we have both performed at an “A-plus” level.

That’s the consensus because we didn’t find ourselves in a ditch, off a mountain, or like so many others before us, contributors to the Deals Gap “Tree of Shame,” where metal carnage from motorcycle wrecks that run the gamut of seriousness have been laid to rest as their final resting place fastened to a tree in a motel parking lot.

The mangled, crinkled parts in this case are the lucky parties in this case.

I consider myself extremely fortunate on this trip to have made two solid experienced rider friends and for having fallen in love with a Dragon.

Highway 129, also known as Tail of The Dragon, is like being on a paved roller coaster consisting of 318 turns for an 11-mile jaunt through the North Carolina-Tennessee mountains. A twisted soul must have designed the road. Imagine being at an amusement park with a ride operator who had stopped off at their favorite watering hole for five too many, pulling the lever that sent you on this insidious road.

Anyone with a wrecker service would be in a perfect spot to clean up both monetarily and in terms of contributing the local junkyard.

Good friend Jerry Nix introduced me to Rick Robins and Biff Kinney, who know the area as if they were professors at the mountain college of “no hard knocks” in terms getting a nasty case of road rash.

Two characters who kept me safe and in stitches the whole time,

Rick is the more cerebral of the two, meticulously planning the days down to the precise routes we would be taking. He has vast encyclopedic knowledge of the whole area. Along with the Dragon, I was blessed to experience rides on “Moonshiner 28,” “Cherohala Skyway,” and “The Foothills Parkway.”

The latter was my favorite, a meandering long ride through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Then there was Biff, who had me on the floor with tales of family gatherings and relatives of all shapes and sizes.

I found it hilarious that these two macho bikers are roller skaters or “jam skaters,” who are the scourge of a Gwinnett rink, where their exploits are available online.

I’ve never met anyone named “Biff,” and the name was foreign to me except for familiarity with the ruffian from “Back To The Future” films.

I mentioned Biff making me almost choke on my lunch talking of Thanksgiving and certain members’ prowess with cleaning their plates.

I’m going to keep his name in

my contacts. His cousin is Freddie Freeman, and maybe there’s a chance I can write about him.

Our headquarters for the trip was The Iron Horse Motorcycle Resort, nestled in a lush, green site near Robbinsville, N.C. There are accommodations for everyone, ranging the gamut from huge rooms to – get this – covered wagons just like you saw in all those cowboy movies.

The entire property embodies all the good elements that goes with “rustic.” I loved it and hope I didn’t gum things up too badly for Rick and Biff. Jerry has become somewhat of a mentor who has so many admirable traits, and his calm demeanor is settling.

So, with the first big motorcycle trip under my belt, I’m in love with The Dragon but figured two unscathed rides with no Black Beauty entrails on the Tree of Shame was sufficient.

Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.

RESULTS FROM HERALD ADVERTISING ARE AMAZING

Advertising in the Herald newspapers has given our law firm great exposure in the community regarding our legal and professional services. There is no other paper or advertisement that compares with the rate of return on our investment in the Herald. I recommend any business or professional services to use the Herald to not only learn about the community but to also advertise your services and products. The Herald is the primary paper or advertisement that the community relies upon and reads every day for up to date information about the community and reliable source for services and products in the community.

Regards, Holly Geerdes, Esq. Estate Law Center

For more information on advertising contact Mike Dorman at mike@appenmedia.com or call 770.442.3278.

MIKE TASOS

Columnist

PRESERVING THE PAST

Forgotten history: Bethlehem Methodist Cemetery and Church

Bethlehem Cemetery on Clubhouse Drive in Alpharetta’s Windward community of Alpharetta is an example of how a cemetery can become largely forgotten despite its significant historic value. With burials as early as 1828 and records dating back to 1838, according to attorney and local historian Tim Spruell, the cemetery is the final resting place of some of the area’s earliest settlers, some with familiar last names such as Cunningham, McGinnis, Dodd, Nesbitt, Douglas, Pace, Shirley and Tribble. There are at least 74 markers, most of them illegible, and numerous other fieldstone markers without names, and some graves without markers, possibly the graves of slaves. Twenty-six marked graves are those of babies less than 1 year old, and many graves are young children, a testament to the hard life and diseases of the time.

According to Spruell, in 1890 the Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Church, South (the church’s complete name) reported on their deed. The value of the church and property was estimated at $250, but the deed was “conditional” on remaining a church property. The membership, which had been declining, moved from Bethlehem Church to the newer Ocee Methodist Church in 1920 and was completely dissolved in 1932 meaning that according to the terms of the deed the property would revert to the original owner. Spruell believes the original owner was Cornelius Cauley who had two daughters. One was Judah Ann Cauley Rogers and the other married a Shirley. Since the Ocee Methodist Church was the last to exercise any church function ownership of the property, ownership may be an open question today.

The church, according to research done by Windward resident Betty Cruickshank, now deceased, was one of the oldest in old Milton County. It was one of six churches on the Alpharetta Methodist Church circuit. Some congregations could only afford a preacher once a month, and members rotated between circuit churches on Sundays. Methodist churches of the time were often served by itinerant circuit preachers not only for economic reasons but also because

John Wesley (1703-1791), founder of the Methodist church, believed that itinerant preachers were more effective at spreading religion than those who remained with one church.

In 1736, Wesley traveled to Georgia with James Oglethorpe and preached in the Savannah area for almost two years before returning to England. The cemetery is on land encircled

by the 1,500 acres once owned by James Wright Shirley, which is now part of the Windward Community. According to Billy Bates (1926-2021), who spearheaded efforts to preserve North Fulton County cemeteries, James Wright Shirley always insisted on being present when plowing was done near the cemetery because he knew that slaves and Indians were

buried there in unmarked graves.

Mobil Land Development purchased the land in 1978. Don Rifenberg, who was vice president of Development Operations for Mobil, managed the construction of the Windward Community. He recalls discovering the cemetery that was unknown and completely overgrown when he was scouting locations for a new road. Fortunately, Don, who has ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War and Civil War, has a keen sense of history and was determined to save the cemetery. Well, the cemetery was almost unknown. Tim Spruell recalls Halloween hayrides to the cemetery in the mid-1970s for Ocee Methodist Church Sunday School children organized by his great uncle Billy Brooks, a school bus driver and owner of a pick-your-own-crops farm.

After the cemetery closed and families died or moved away due to development, the cemetery was abandoned until Don rediscovered it. From time to time, Boy Scout troops or volunteer groups have had cleanups and performed repairs, but the cemetery currently is basically not cared for like scores of other cemeteries in Georgia.

Betty Cruikshank did extensive research on the Bethlehem Church “which sat on the northeast side of the cemetery.” She described the church: “The parishioners came from the surrounding farmland by buggy, surrey and wagon, tying their horses to the trees. The front door led to a center aisle flanked on each side with rows of handmade wooden benches with slat backs….In one pulpit was the ‘Amen Corner,’ two or three benches placed lengthwise, reserved for the elderly whose sight and hearing might be somewhat impaired.”

Betty reported that during the Great Depression, several families took up residence in the rotting church building before it eventually collapsed and was burned. She believed that it was likely that an earlier church, probably made of logs, sat on the site.

The cemetery is worth a visit by those with a love of history, especially out of the way places with interesting stories to tell.

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

BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

At least two Confederate soldiers are buried in the cemetery. This marker is for Stephen Decatur Tribble, one of four Tribble family members in the cemetery.

Some of the headstones in Bethlehem Cemetery are in good condition, but due to erosion are difficult or impossible to read.

BOB MEYERS Columnist

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PAST TENSE

Moonshine stories abound from the Great Depression

The name “moonshiners” evolved because the people who produced alcohol operated their stills at night. The necessity of keeping stills and the production of alcohol secret was due to Prohibition, and later, taxes that would be due if discovered. (georgiaencylcopedia.org)

Richard Adams recalled that his father and two of his father’s brothers made and sold moonshine. One of the Adams brothers lived along what is now Hewlett Road in Sandy Springs. A large amount of glass was discovered behind the house by the homeowner.

Adams grew up along what is now Dunwoody Club Drive and shared the story of the night there was a raid on the family home.

“We had considerable bottles of white lightning. Knowing the cost issues if found, my mother placed the filled bottles under the mattress and got in bed pretending to be

sick.”

The marshals asked a young Richard Adams if he knew where his daddy’s liquor was hidden, but Adams knew to say he knew nothing about his dad’s business. (Memoirs of Richard Adams)

When Ralph Glaze was a boy growing up along Winters Chapel and Peeler Road, he remembers the rumor of moonshine production between Happy Hollow and Winters Chapel Road along what is now Dunwoody Club Drive. Adults used to say, “Don’t go down there,”

Randy Knighton City Administrator

sometimes using the story of a monster to keep children away. The monster was a moonshine-producing still. (Ralph Glaze oral history for Dunwoody Preservation Trust, 2017)

J. W. Wilborn and Frank Self of Sandy Springs shared the story of Tubby Sewell and his multiple stills. They recall him as a local bootlegger who kept residents in whiskey. Sewell drove a 1944 coupe that “could go down the road 90 miles an hour and turn around and meet the police coming back, turn that thing around at ninety miles an hour right

CITY OF ROSWELL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following item will be heard at a public hearing held by the Mayor and City Council on Monday, August 28, 2023 at 7:00 PM in the Roswell City Hall Council Chambers, 38 Hill St. Roswell, Georgia.

a. UDC Text Amendment

An ordinance to amend the Unified Development Code by modifying Article 10, Site Development, Section 10.3, Signs – 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.

in the middle of the road.” (Sandy Springs Gazette Volume 1, 2017)

In the 1930s, Tubby Sewell was the main supplier of whiskey for Sandy Springs.

“If you needed a pint of whiskey, why you called this number, and he said put two dollars in the mailbox. When you went back by you picked up your whiskey.”

The Ware family once lived on land where Life Center Ministries is today on Mount Vernon Road. The cottage that still stands on the property was built by Bill Ware’s great grandfather John Ware. Farmers sometimes tried the moonshine business during the Great Depression to help their families survive, but Bill Ware says the Wares’ difficulties started before the Depression. (From Bill Ware oral history for DPT, 2017)

When farming was not enough, his grandfather William Ware opened a store in Roswell and tried moonshining. Rather than keep a still on Ware land, it was built across the road where Brooke Farm is today. The family eventually sold their land and moved in with a relative who had a home in Kirkwood.

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

Kurt Wilson Mayor

The Ware family home, built in the late 1800s, is now on the property of Life Christian Ministries. William Ware operated a still across the road in what is now Brooke Farm subdivision.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Columnist

CADILLAC JACK MY SECOND ACT

CITY OF ALPHARETTA

PUBLIC NOTICE

PH-23-AB-18

Please note that this meeting will be a virtual meeting, conducted online using Zoom meetings.

PLACE

To Attend the Virtual Meeting: Using Your Computer, Tablet or Smartphone

Go to: https://zoom.us

Meeting ID: 885 7567 7746

Dial In: +1 646 558 8656 US

August 14, 2023 at 2:00 P.M.

PURPOSE

Restaurant

Consumption on Premises

Distilled Spirits, Beer, Wine & Sunday Sales

APPLICANT

RINA Avalon, LLC

d/b/a RINA Avalon

3180 Avalon Boulevard

Alpharetta, GA 30009

Owner RINA Avalon, LLC

Registered Agent Michael Sard

CITY OF ALPHARETTA

PUBLIC NOTICE

PH-23-AB-17

Please note that this meeting will be a virtual meeting, conducted online using Zoom meetings.

PLACE

To Attend the Virtual Meeting: Using Your Computer, Tablet or Smartphone

Go to: https://zoom.us

Meeting ID: 835 0532 3053

Dial In: +1 646 558 8656 US

August 7, 2023 at 2:00 P.M.

PURPOSE

Change in Business Ownership

Hotel

Consumption on Premises

Distilled Spirits, Beer, Wine & Sunday Sales

APPLICANT

JK North Point Management, LLC

d/b/a Hyatt Place Atlanta/Alpharetta/ North Point Mall

7500 North Point Parkway

Alpharetta, GA 30022

Owner

JK North Point Management, LLC

Registered Agent Prem Patel

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CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF CONSIDERATION OF CITY CODE AMENDMENTS

The following item will be considered by the City Council on Monday, August 21, 2023 and Monday, August 28, 2023 during the Alpharetta City Council Meeting and Public Hearing, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers located at 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. The Code of the City of Alpharetta, Georgia Text Amendments –Code of Ethics and Conduct

Consideration of an ordinance to amend Article V of Chapter 2 of The Code of the City of Alpharetta, Georgia; to amend requirements for the filing of ethics complaints, to provide for the composition of the ethics panel, to provide operating procedures for the ethics panel, to establish procedures for processing ethics complaints, to provide for disciplinary action, to provide for penalties for the wrongful use of an ethics complaint, to provide for attorney’s fees; to repeal conflicting provisions, to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION AND QUALIFICATION FEES

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on the 7th day of November 2023, a nonpartisan general election will be held in the City of Alpharetta, Georgia to elect the Mayor of the City of Alpharetta and three (3) Members of the City Council (Posts 1, 2, and 3).

Pursuant to Georgia Code § 21-2-131(a)(1)(A), the qualifying fees are as follows:

Mayor $900

City Council Member $450

Election qualifying will be held in the City Clerk’s Office at Alpharetta City Hall, which is located at 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009. The qualification dates and times are as follows:

Monday, August 21, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 22, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 23, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Lauren Shapiro

City Clerk for the City of Alpharetta, Georgia

Human Resources Manager

Handles all employee-related processes and procedures. This role will be responsible for Recruitment and Onboarding, Job Design, Employee Relations, Performance Management, Training and Development, Employment Compliance, Total Rewards and Talent Management. This position reports to the Director of Finance and Administration and will interact with the entire management team by providing guidance on all Human Resources related topics at NFCC. Bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field and 3-5 years of Human Resources experience, preferably in multiple HR disciplines required. Please visit https://nfcchelp.org/ work-at-nfcc/ to see the full job description. To apply, submit a resume to sholiday@nfcchelp.org and to mburton@nfcchelp.org.

Full-time

Workforce Development Coordinator is responsible for developing programs and services for NFCC clients and students seeking employment, post-secondary education, or other career options. The workforce development coordinator collaborates with local employers to help match job seekers to open positions. They work directly with clients on the job application, resumes, and interview preparations and provide tips for successfully securing and improving employment to foster financial stability.  Bachelor’s degree in a human services, human resources, or other related field required and 2 years of professional experience in human services, human resources or career counseling preferred.

To view the entire listing visit https://nfcchelp.org/ work-at-nfcc/. To apply, please submit resume to Carol Swan at cswan@nfcchelp.org.

Geospatial Solutions Analyst. Job location: Roswell,GA. Telecommuting avail. from any location in U.S. Occasional domestic travel to client sites. Duties: Perform spatial analysis & create info. products incl. maps & reports using ArcGIS Desktop software & advanced geoprocessing tools incl. ArcGIS Pro & ArcMap. Develop tools & templated appls. using ERSI Model Builder & Python. Provide end-user support services for city-provided GIS software (ESRI suite) incl. diagnosing & resolving issues. Requires: Master’s degree (or foreign equiv.) in Environ. Planning, Environ. Science, Surveying or related field. Coursework must incl. classes in: Geospatial Analysis, City Planning & Environmental Planning. Must have Geographic Info. Science (GIS) Certificate. Send resume (no calls) to: Gary Nichols, InterDev, LLC, 900 Holcomb Woods Pkwy., Roswell, GA 30076.

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Community Events Manager

The Community Events Manager is responsible for all aspects of NFCC’s community events, from inception through execution, including helping secure sponsorships. Events may include annual golf tournament, annual fundraising gala, community engagement events, donor recognition events, and other community events. Position requires a highly organized, creative, and motivated person to lead event planning, sponsorship, and community engagement. Bachelor’s Degree preferred with 2-3 years special events and fundraising experience. To view entire listing visit: https://nfcchelp.org/workat-nfcc/  To apply, send a resume to Sandy Holiday, sholiday@nfcchelp.org.

GLOBAL TALENT ACQUISITION LEAD: NCC Group (Americas) Inc., Alpharetta, GA 30009 – Manage delivery of divisional specific recruitment needs across mult global regions & manage & train a team across the UK, North America, Europe, and APAC. Req 3 yrs exp. View full job description @ https://www.nccgroupplc.com/careers/, Click “Search Roles”, Search Job ID: R7364. Email resume & cover letter to NCC Group (Americas) Inc. @ us-recruitment@nccgroup.com

Infor (US), LLC has an opening for a Solution Architect in Alpharetta, GA. Position responsible for proposing a specific Infor Enterprise Solution that will fit within the customer’s business environment and business objectives; understanding of Digital Transformation, Industry Solutions, enterprise application software like ERP, future state architectures, cloud transformation roadmap from on-premise application, business opportunities and challenges. Travel required up to 75%; Telecommuting permitted up to 100%. How to apply: E-mail resume, referencing IN1008, including job history, to careers@infor. com. EOE.

Senior Manager Energy Optimization (Alpharetta, GA): Lead the energy policy implementation within the region. Coordinate with the procurement team the energy strategy for the region in a portfolio that exceeds $120 million annually in purchases of solid fuels, power and diesel. 50% domestic and international travel. Mail resumes to Argos USA, LLC, Attn: Mark Prybylski, General Counsel, 3015 Windward Plaza, Suite 300, Alpharetta, GA 30005. Reference job number #CJ354983.

Donor Operations Associate

The Donor Operations Associate greets and removes donations from vehicles and sorts merchandise in a designated area.  They are responsible for keeping the merchandise secure, all areas free of debris and the donor door area neat and clean.  This position is the face of NFCC so they are expected to provide excellent customer service and treat each donor with a professional and friendly demeanor.  High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Ability to perform low to moderate facility maintenance tasks.  To view entire listing visit: https://nfcchelp.org/work-atnfcc/  To apply, please complete an application for employment and email to Marten Jallad,  mjallad@nfcchelp.org.

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