Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - August 24, 2023

Alpharetta city leaders hold updated budget talks

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

Students flee carnage of Hawaiian wildfire

Local woman aids couple who lost everything

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — As the wildfires slowly enclosed Hawaii’s historic coastal town of Lahaina, Kristina Benbow quickly grabbed her laptop, wallet and passport.

“The smoke that was starting to get really black – we were starting to see orange and red,” Benbow said. “At this point, we were sobbing.”

She and her friend Natalie Moning are in their final year of pharmacy school at the University of South Carolina. To have some fun during their nine one-month

rotations, they applied to a Walgreens in Lahaina and arrived at the home of Bill and Lorri Robusto July 30, about a week before the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history.

The Robustos have been integral to the Lahaina community for more than 20 years, with Bill as the pharmacist at the town’s Walgreens. He retired last year after a 46-year career in the field but continued to host students in the guest house behind his home, a 5-minute walk from the beach.

In an aerial shot taken a day after the

See LAHAINA, Page 10

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta City Council is proposing to set the property tax rate the same as in past years, a move that is expected to bring in an additional $1.8 million in revenues.

At the first of three public hearings Aug. 21, councilmembers agreed to hold the levy on property steady at 5.75 mills.

Most of the levy, 4.951 mills, covers operational costs. Revenue from the remaining 0.799 mills is dedicated to debt service on bonds. City staff said the transfer of 0.081 mills from debt service will result in an additional $505,000 to the general fund.

Alpharetta has maintained a 5.75mill tax rate since 2009.

Although the combined mill levy remains unchanged from its previous approval in June, the city must reopen the process because of revised figures from Fulton County showing larger than anticipated growth in property values.

The city adopted the first iteration of its budget June 19, but received the county tax digest June 28. When City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom

See RATE, Page 12

PHOTOS BY KRISTINA BENBOW/PROVIDED At top: smoke from building flames is seen from a porch in Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 8. Above: Natalie Moning and Kristina Benbow, pharmacy students at the University of South Carolina, join a sunset dinner cruise three days before the wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii. They planned to stay with Bill Robusto, a retired pharmacist, and his wife Lorri for a month to work at a local Walgreens.

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North Georgia driver cited for laying drag

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police arrested an 18-year-old North Georgia man Aug. 15 after he was spotted allegedly “laying drag” and drift racing near Rainwater Drive.

Officers responded to the Cookout restaurant on Haynes Bridge Road at about 8 p.m. after hearing a vehicle revving its engine and spinning its tires. They found a car meetup taking place in the restaurant parking lot.

Reports said a blue Lexus sedan was witnessed doing burnouts and drifting around a roundabout.

An 18-year-old man from Saute Nacochie, Ga., was identified as the vehicle’s driver and was taken into custody. He was charged with reckless driving and laying drag and was transported to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.

Alpharetta Lowe’s reports stolen truck

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Employees of the Lowe’s store on Windward Parkway reported a stolen vehicle to Alpharetta police after a truck was rented and never returned.

Police reports said a 2022 Ford F-150 was rented for 24 hours on July 29. But the vehicle was never returned. Lowe’s employees made multiple unsuccessful attempts to reach the renter, a 51-year-old Atlanta man, before contacting the police.

The truck was allegedly tracked to a location in McDonough but wasn’t

located. No suspect was identified in the report.

Roswell man charged with brandishing gun

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police arrested a 41-year-old Roswell man who allegedly brandished a firearm recently during an incident at a local restaurant, reports said.

Officers took the man into custody Aug. 16 after he allegedly pointed a handgun at the owner of Gourmania on Devore Drive.

Reports said the owner was closing his restaurant when a man approached him from behind with a gun for an unknown reason. The suspect, who smelled strongly of alcohol, was disarmed and wrestled to the ground by the owner and a nearby witness.

The suspect later told police he was at the restaurant to “comment on a cheesesteak he had eaten” and claimed not to have drunk any alcohol despite slurring his words badly.

The man was arrested for aggravated assault, reckless conduct and public drunkenness. He was transported to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta without incident.

Suspect arrested for resisting arrest

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police arrested a 22-year-old woman for resisting arrest after she allegedly fled from a traffic stop near Windward Parkway Aug. 16.

Reports said officers initiated the traffic stop at about 10 p.m. near Windward Parkway and Westfield Drive after determining a vehicle had an expired Ohio dealer plate and registration.

The vehicle’s driver allegedly refused to provide her driver’s

license during the stop and drove away at a high rate of speed when officers asked her to step out of the vehicle. The driver was located off Alpharetta Highway with help from Milton Police Officers, and she was taken into custody.

Officers charged the driver with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, simple battery against a police officer, and multiple other offenses.

The suspect was transported to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.

Students report classmate threatened to shoot them

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police were dispatched to Holy Redeemer Catholic School on Old Alabama Road Aug. 12 with reports about a 10-year-old student who threatened to shoot his classmates with his father’s gun.

The school’s principal told police she received two emails from concerned parents regarding the threats. A mother wrote that her daughter, one of two listed victims, was sharing things she did at school and described the suspect as “saying bad words in the classroom,” the police report said.

The victim told her mother she and another classmate requested the suspect stop and that they would tell the teacher if he didn’t, the report said. The suspect responded by saying, “You tell the teacher, I will grab a gun from my dad, put it in my pencil pouch, and I will kill you,” according to the police report.

Another mother confirmed the account.

The principal told police she informed the suspect’s mother of the incident and advised that he not return to school for the time being.

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Retired U.S. Marine honored in Roswell

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell City Council honored a local veteran and police officer at its Aug. 14 meeting.

City leaders named United States Marine Corps Cpl. Jacob Hughes, a Roswell police officer, an “Esteemed Veteran of Roswell” for his service overseas in Romania and Japan. Huges, who was honorably discharged in 2018, has since worked for police departments in Roswell and Marietta.

“His training in the United States Marine Corps has been extremely beneficial in performing

his duties as a police officer,” officials said. “He knows that combat training in quick response and de-escalating challenging situations has helped to keep the citizens of Roswell safe.”

During his time in the Marine Corps, Hughes earned the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal and many other awards.

— Alexander Popp

Roswell Fire Department improves response times

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell Fire Department reported steady improvement in its response time to calls since 2021.

From January to June, fire officials said the department’s 90th percentile response time, which records how quickly the department responds to nine out of 10 emergency calls, was a full minute and 3 seconds faster than last year’s number. It also

marked a 1 minute and 38 second improvement from June 2021.

“In June of 2023, the Roswell Fire Department achieved an average response time of 5 minutes and 46 seconds to emergency calls,” City Fire Chief Joe Pennino said.

The department attributes its success to automatic vehicle location dispatch, the dedication of its first responders and fluid

communication between employees. Automatic vehicle location, or AVL, dispatch is a technology that uses GPS data to dispatch the nearest emergency vehicle to the site of a call.

The Milton Fire-Rescue Department also uses AVL dispatch.

Alpharetta Fire Administration Chief Philip Seabolt said the Alpharetta Fire Division does not

use AVL dispatch due to signal loss in city fire stations. However, Seabolt said the department’s firefighters are trained to dispatch the nearest unit to an incident when a call is received.

Roswell fire officials said the department is seeking part-time firefighters and will soon hire fulltime positions.

— Shelby Israel

Park study: Chattahoochee River bolsters North Fulton community

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — National Park Service officials said more than 3.5 million people visited the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in 2022, spending millions of dollars and bringing thousands of jobs to North Fulton County communities.

A recent National Park Service report shows that $176.6 million was spent around the park in 2022, supporting 2,372 jobs in the area. The Chattahoochee River National Park is a 48-mile waterway corridor stretching from Buford Dam in Forsyth County to Peachtree Creek in Atlanta.

“Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area provides great opportunities for outdoor recreation in the Atlanta region and attracts many out-of-town visitors,” Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area Superintendent Ann Honious said National Park Service economists gathered this data as part of a nationwide park visitor spending analysis. Officials said the study showed the lodging, hospitality and

restaurant industries were most affected by park attendance in 2022. Officials said that 312 million visitors spent nearly $24 billion directly around national parks.

“Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said. “With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 300 million visitors every year.”

To learn more about the Chattahoochee River National Park visit www.nps.gov/chat.

— Alexander Popp

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Fulton County grand jury hands Trump fourth indictment

By Dave Williams Capitol Beat News Service

ATLANTA – A Fulton County grand jury indicted former President Donald Trump Aug. 14, charging the Republican with trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia that saw Joe Biden become the first Democrat to carry the Peach State since 1992.

Monday’s indictment was the fourth for Trump, following federal charges arising from his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and his retaining of classified government documents at his Mara-Lago club in Florida after leaving office. He also is accused in a New York case of paying hush money to ex-porn actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign to cover up a sexual relationship.

Unlike the other cases, the Fulton County indictment was wide ranging, naming 18 other defendants and covering 41 counts. The list of defendants includes former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, formerly Trump’s personal lawyer; Mark Meadows, who served as the former president’s chief of staff; former Georgia Republican Chairman David

Indictment names local figures

The Fulton County grand jury indictment includes several local political and legal figures. State Sen. Shawn Still, who represents portions of Fulton and south Forsyth counties; Harrison Floyd, who ran as a Republican candidate for Georgia’s 7th Congressional District in 2020; and Robert Cheeley, an Alpharettabased attorney.

Attorney Tom Bever, who represents Still, told Appen Media Aug. 17 the first-term senator is innocent of all charges laid against him. Floyd and Cheeley could not be reached for comment on the indictment.

Shafer; and state Sen. Shawn Still, R-Norcross.

Charges listed on the indictment included violation of Georgia’s RICO law (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations), submitting false documents and false statements, forgery, conspiracy to commit election fraud, and perjury.

The RICO charge, which was leveled against all 19 defendants, carries a mandatory minimum prison term of five years.

While the other cases against

Trump were narrowly focused on specific incidents, the 97-page Georgia indictment encompassed several episodes. The list includes then-President Trump’s phone call asking Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger at the beginning of January 2021 to “find” 11,780 votes, the margin Trump needed to overcome Biden’s vote count in Georgia.

The indictment also cited a meeting of “fake” Republican electors inside the state Capitol in December 2020 to certify Trump as the winner of Georgia’s 16 electoral votes rather than Biden, presentations Giuliani made to state lawmakers – also in December 2020 – leveling false allegations of election fraud, and a data breach at the elections office in Coffee County.

“Rather than abide by Georgia’s legal process for election challenges, the defendants engaged in a criminal racketeering enterprise to overturn Georgia’s presidential election results,” Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis told reporters after the indictments were unsealed.

Trump took to his social media

website to blast the indictments as politically motivated by Willis, a Democrat, while sticking to his claim that he won the election in Georgia.

“[The] only election interference that took place in Fulton County was done by those that rigged and stole the election, not by me,” he wrote.

Willis took exception to Trump’s accusations.

“I make decisions in this office based on the facts and the law,” she said. “The law is nonpartisan.”

The grand jury had not been expected to act on Monday, as some final witnesses had been summoned to testify on Tuesday, including former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan. Instead, Duncan, who has been one of Trump’s most vocal critics among Georgia Republicans, spent more than an hour testifying early Monday evening.

“I was honored to answer their questions to the best of my ability,” he said shortly after completing his testimony.

The grand jury also heard Monday from two Georgia Democrats, former state Rep. Bee Nguyen and former state Sen. Jen Jordan. Both ran unsuccessfully for statewide office last year, Nguyen for secretary of state and Jordan for attorney general.

“No individual is above the law,” Nguyen said after giving her testimony. “I believe that every individual who wrongfully and illegally tried to overturn our valid elections should be held accountable.”

Willis said she will give the defendants until noon Aug. 25 to turn themselves in. She said she plans to try all 19 at the same time.

While the timetable for that trial is up to the judge, Willis said she will ask for the case to be heard within the next six months.

Lemonade stand sells sweet hit at Alpharetta Farmers Market

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Cooper Garrison-Brook, a 12-year-old Johns Creek student, began selling lemonade to raise money for a new computer. Now, he has dedicated the weekly stand to helping those in need.

In May 2021, Cooper said he slipped while exiting the school bus and dropped his laptop, which broke on the pavement. Cooper, who was 10 years old, sought an enterprising way to earn money for a replacement.

That summer, he and his parents opened the first Lemonade with a Purpose booth at the Alpharetta Farmers Market.

His father Dan Brook is a partner in Bagel Boys Cafe, another local business. Dan said Bagel Boys owner John Lamb had provided the family some supplies for a test run at the market.

“Now it’s become sort of a family thing where we all look forward to the time together on Saturday and doing it together,” Dan said.

While the lemonade stand began as a way for Cooper to earn money, sales continued to grow. By the summer’s end, the family decided to make Lemonade with a Purpose a staple at the market.

“We have had lots of people tell us it’s the best lemonade they have ever had,” Cooper said.

The purpose

Staying true to its name, Lemonade with a Purpose donates more than a third of its profits to charity. Its current recipients are the Rainforest Awareness

See LEMONADE, Page 9

Dr. Eva Heintz graduated from GaTech in 2004 with a Ph.D. in Chemistry. She is currently a Global Strategic Key Account Manager and a Large Deals Coach at Solvay. Additionally, she is Chairwoman for Solvay North America, GGF and founder and former Chairwoman of Solvay X-factor

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Cooper Garrison-Brook, center, runs Lemonade with a Purpose on Saturdays at the Alpharetta Farmers Market. From left, Cooper’s grandmother Cindy, mother Laura, father Dan and exchange student Bermet, whom Cooper considers a sister, volunteer at the booth.

COOPER

GARRISON-BROOK,

Founder,

Lemonade with a Purpose

I’ve just been having fun with it. That’s the whole goal, is having fun at this point.

Lemonade:

Continued from Page 8

Rescue Education Center, Discovering My Purpose and Save the Children.

Cooper’s mother, Laura GarrisonBrook, is the president and CEO of Discovering My Purpose, a nonprofit that provides resources and programs for young people.

Ultimately, Laura said Cooper chose the three groups because he is passionate about them. While the family volunteers at the market to keep the booth running, she and Dan said Lemonade with a Purpose is Cooper’s idea, from concept to execution.

“This is a big endeavor for our family,” she said. “And it’s about helping Cooper connect to what lights him up, helping him connect to a sense of, ‘I have the ability to make a difference in the world,’ his own sense of agency.”

In its first year, the booth donated $1,555 to charity. To date, it has given more than $6,800. The booth’s cash tips sponsor Shihab, a boy in Bangladesh who is around Cooper’s age.

With the profits from the booth’s second year, Cooper and his family volunteered at the Rainforest Awareness Rescue Education Center in the Amazon rainforest in Peru for a week.

“I wanted to give back to the community,” Cooper said. “Obviously, everyone in the farmers market is what’s fueling this business, so I felt wrong to just take for myself. I had to give back.”

The process

Much like the concept of Lemonade with a Purpose, the lemonade itself is also a product of Cooper’s mind. He said he spent weeks studying and testing recipes to find the perfect blend to sell at the market on Saturdays.

The process starts on Wednesday or Thursday, when Bermet, an exchange student from Kyrgyzstan whom Cooper considers his sister, makes a simple syrup base. Before, Cooper and his family would hand-squeeze the lemons, a process that takes between four and five hours.

The family has since invested in a commercial juicer, which expedites the process. They work through Friday to prepare the lemonade and watermelon puree. The juices are packed that evening and ready for the market in the morning.

At the farmers market booth, customers can choose from blueberry, mango, peach, pina colada, raspberry, strawberry and watermelon lemonade.

The booth also has weekly specials, like peach tea. Customers can add lemon, lime or grapefruit sparkling water or flavored popping pearls to their

lemonade for $1 extra. Prices range from $5 to $7.

Cooper said the work is sometimes tiring, but he enjoys his seasonal business venture because it allows him to meet people and feel like he is a part of the community. On the side, he also works at a summer camp.

“I’ve just been having fun with it,” he said. “That’s the whole goal, is having fun at this point.”

With two summers under his belt and a successful third in progress, Cooper has no plans to stop selling his lemonade. While he said he may try to expand one day, for now, he is content.

Cooper said he and his family are considering finding other families to sell his lemonade at other local markets. Until then, Lemonade with a Purpose can be found at the Alpharetta Farmers Market.

The market runs April through November from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays in downtown Alpharetta. The market will start at 9:30 a.m. in November.

“It’s been a really good experience for our family to do this together and do something that gives back and at the same time, gives him a good experience,” Dan said.

Lemonade with a Purpose volunteer Laura Garrison-Brook pours lemonade for a customer Aug. 12 at the Alpharetta Farmers Market. More than a third of the booth’s profits are donated to charity.

PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Lemonade with a Purpose volunteer Dan Brook offers guests lemonade Aug. 12 at the Alpharetta Farmers Market. Dan and his wife Laura work at the booth to help their son Cooper, the founder.

Continued from Page 1

group escaped, the Robustos’ property had been reduced to ash. Only the frame of Bill’s Ford pickup truck was left standing.

According to an Aug. 18 report from Maui Now, more than 2,100 acres have been burned in Lahaina, aided by winds from Hurricane Dora. There have been 114 deaths. Local media have also reported more than 1,000 people remain unaccounted for.

There was no outside communication for the town of Lahaina. Power went out at 4 a.m. that Tuesday morning, Aug. 8., and cell phone service had been lost.

After Benbow and Moning were sent home from Walgreens, they arrived at the Robustos at 10 a.m., and heard shingles ripping off surrounding homes from the violent winds. Beach chairs and tables slammed into the house.

“It was like out of a movie,” Benbow said. “It was very scary.”

Flames trickled down a hill across the street from the neighborhood, first seen by Lorri who had stepped onto a neighbor’s roof. There was a fire truck out there, but no one in authority gave orders to evacuate their area.

Everyone was on their own.

“The lack of knowledge of what was happening was really difficult,” Benbow said.

It wasn’t until the group heard explosions – propane tanks at a gas station down the street – that they

gave themselves five minutes to pack belongings.

They left at around 5:30 p.m., but others didn’t leave for another hour.

“We would pass by people on the road, and we'd roll down the window, and be like, ‘Hey, do you know what's going on?’” Benbow said. “No one really knew.”

As they were leaving the neighborhood, flames were to the left and right, but the Robustos stayed positive with the hope that winds would go the opposite direction. They told Benbow and Moning not to worry and did what they could to distract them, with pictures of cats and videos of whales.

“They were fantastic,” Benbow said.

After hours of driving, the group finally found a hotel room outside of Wailea, and Benbow made first contact with her family in Roswell. There wasn’t any sleep that night, and Benbow says when she closes her eyes to sleep nowadays, she sees the flames coming down the hill and has thoughts about what she could have done differently.

But she says she’s getting better, surrounded by family. Moning, too, is back with family in Maryland.

Since FEMA arrived on the island, the Robustos have been placed in a condo on the other side of Maui and have seen major support from Benbow and Moning, who launched a fundraising campaign to help them rebuild their lives. As of Aug. 21, nearly $27,000 has been raised.

“We've been blown away,” Benbow said. “There's been complete strangers donating. It's been incredible. We've been very thankful to everyone who has donated.”

Lahaina:

To make a donation to Bill and Lorri Robusto, visit www.gofundme.com/f/ maui-fires-robusto-family-home.

KRISTINA BENBOW/PROVIDED

A drone image of Bill and Lorri Robusto’s home in Lahaina, Hawaii, shows it reduced to ash following wildfires that devastated the community, reported to be the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history.

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SATURDAY, SEPT. 30 - “MARRIED WITH LAUGHTER”

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A Laughter at the Legion Series Show

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See solution Page 31 201

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For Complete Details Visit: www.club201dance.com/calendar

Rate:

Continued from Page 1

first announced the city must reopen its budget and mill levy process in July, councilmembers expressed interest in using the additional revenues on unfunded capital projects, which include one-time, big-ticket items like street resurfacing and new equipment.

Some of these projects include sidewalk, parks and recreation facility renovations; facility assessments; and traffic safety improvements.

While City Council sentiments remained largely unchanged from earlier budget funding discussions, Councilman Jason Binder was dissatisfied with placing the $1.8 million in an unallocated account to be used on capital projects at a later date. He said he would prefer the City Council distribute the funds to specific projects.

“My preference would be to earmark those funds to tell the public what we’re going to do with it,” Binder said. “I think it’s our responsibility to have the hard conversations and make the discussions of where it should go.”

At a work session preceding the meeting, Lagerbloom emphasized councilmembers have the authority transfer the funds to accounts or projects as they see fit.

But Binder maintained the City Council has ample time to be more deliberate with the new revenues.

Councilman Doug DeRito said compared to the city’s entire budget, $1.8 million is not a large sum, and with uncertain inflationary costs, the city could use some of the funds to offset possible higher expenses on current projects.

“What I don’t want this to turn into is that we got this newfound money that

we’re going to put into this little slush fund, and then the council at some point is going to decide to use it on pet projects and stuff,” DeRito said. “I think all we’re saying is, we’re putting this money aside until the council has time to really look at it and decide, ‘How do we want to invest that money?’”

Councilmembers voted 6-1 to advance the budget and property tax millage rate to a second hearing. Binder cast the dissenting vote for each.

The public will have the opportunity to speak on the rate and the budget during a called hearing at 11:30 a.m. and at the regular City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m., both on Aug. 28.

In other matters Aug. 21, the City Council approved the first reading of its updated ethics ordinance. The ordinance proposes an Ethics Board that consists of three attorneys and two Alpharetta residents. Each board member serves for four years and is appointed by the City Council.

A previous proposal to delay ethics complaints against an incumbent official ahead of a municipal election has been removed.

Councilmembers will vote on the amended ethics ordinance at an upcoming formal meeting.

Also at the meeting, the City Council recognized Radiant Church of Georgia Lead Pastor Keith Welton, who spoke in support of the Jewish community after antisemitic flyers were distributed in Alpharetta neighborhoods earlier this month.

Mayor Jim Gilvin issued a statement condemning the flyers Aug. 6, the morning the materials were discovered. In February, antisemitic flyers were distributed throughout several Dunwoody and Sandy Springs neighborhoods. Residents in Roswell and Milton reported a wave of flyers in May.

DNP, FNP-C Johns Creek Only Samantha Lewis, FNP-C Johns Creek: Tues.,

Fri.

Yianna Manolakis, FNP-C Milton Only

Menees, FNP-C Johns Creek Only

Dr.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Radiant Church of Georgia Lead Pastor Keith Welton speaks in support of the Alpharetta Jewish community Aug. 21 at a City Council meeting. In early August, antisemitic flyers were distributed throughout neighborhoods in the city.

Milton artist’s creations mark 50 years of hip-hop

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — DL Warfield might be known as “coach” to many in the area, but to others he’s the cover art designer of OutKast’s acclaimed “ATLiens” and “Aquemini” studio albums and dozens more from other well-known hip-hop artists.

Warfield, a Milton resident and human hip-hop encyclopedia, has a stylish confidence. When out and about, he sports one of his 15 wide-brimmed hats and patterned eye glasses, standing out in the crowd much like his iconic artwork.

“My trademark as a creative person is thinking differently at the drop of a dime,” Warfield said.

He aims to disrupt stereotypes, epitomized in his decision to pull inspiration from Spaghetti Westerns for T.I. and the Hustle Gang’s 2017 compilation album “We Want Smoke.”

Long before he became a youth football and track coach or helped brand Cambridge and Milton high schools, Warfield used his background in fine arts to create packaging for Atlanta hip-hop artists. The sensibilities he developed as a breakdancer in the early ’80s on the streets of St. Louis had their place, too.

In 1995, he became the creative director for LaFace Records, once home to artists like OutKast, T.I. and Goodie Mob. Some of their album covers, designed by Warfield, are hanging on the walls of the Atlanta mayor’s office downtown in celebration of hip-hop’s 50th year. They will be available for viewing until October.

Appen Media joined Warfield in his Alpharetta studio, where he was in the midst of adding warm colors with a long paint brush to a piece for a retrospective show to be held in St. Louis.

The space had some of his older work, like the original painting for OutKast’s single “Elevators (Me & You),” tucked away in a side room. But many pieces, propped along the wall, were part of his new series “CYPHERS.” Large wooden wheels, some with rotating pieces, painted and printed in mostly black and white, moving bodies forming kaleidoscopic patterns.

Warfield’s latest hip-hop infused collection materializes the inner workings of a cypher – a tight circle of individuals where someone might step into the middle to rap or breakdance with a competitive spirit.

Warfield said cyphers are a place where rappers “exchange ideas and flows,” where some five B-Boys “keep going and going and going.” From a bird’s eye view of a cypher, he said angles

appear and present as sacred geometry, patterns present in all of nature.

“That’s not by mystery, that’s designed on purpose,” Warfield said.

One of his intentions with “CYPHERS” is to create an air of mystery before a big reveal. From a distance, viewers see abstraction and it isn’t until they inch closer that they digest the event, the intensity of graffiti, dancers.

“I’ve always thought about, like, visually, ‘How can I elevate breakdancing

See WARFIELD, Page 19

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

DL Warfield, Milton resident, accompanies a piece from his new hip-hop infused series “CYPHERS.”

DL Warfield’s original painting of OutKast’s “Elevators (Me & You)” single hangs in his studio.

From exhaustion to empowerment: Conquering caregiver stress

Brought to you by - Line Fleming, Staff Therapist at Summit Counseling Center

We hear a lot about someone going through a medical or mental health issue. We hear about their symptoms, how they affect them, and treatments they implement to improve their health.

But what about the caregiver helping with their recovery? The caregiver is the person experiencing the issues with you and providing care needs, and it can be short-term or life-long depending on the situation.

Caregiver stress is a state of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion caregivers experience.

As a caregiver, you can become so focused about providing care for your loved one that you forget about yourself, putting your physical health and well-being in jeopardy. It’s important to be aware of how you’re feeling physically and emotionally, and to listen to others if they recognize that your health is suffering.

Signs of caregiver stress:

• Feeling overwhelmed and worried

• Not getting enough sleep

• Isolating from others

• Neglecting daily activities

• Becoming easily irritated

• Feeling sad

Ways to cope with caregiver stress:

• Focus on what you can provide.

ALPHARETTA-ROSWELL HERALD | FORSYTH HERALD | JOHNS CREEK HERALD MILTON HERALD | DUNWOODY CRIER | SANDY SPRINGS CRIER

Delivering Readers Award-Winning

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Delegate some tasks to others.

• Establish a daily routine. Make a list of what needs to be done.

• Be intentional about self-care. Do one thing daily that rejuvenates you.

• Take a break! It is okay to accept help and take a “time out” from your caregiver duties.

Caring for a loved one who needs you is both rewarding and stressful. As your role as caregiver evolves, it’s natural to experience a mix of emotions and stressors. It’s important to recognize them to be proactive with helping yourself. A healthy and happy caregiver is better for you and your loved one!

PEXELS

Ticks are ruining hot dogs and hamburgers

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

Although I grew up in Georgia, I spent my summers near Boone, North Carolina at my granddad’s Christmas tree farm. Most mornings, I helped him in the fields where, at 70 years old, my granddad still easily outworked me. As the sun rose higher, I inevitably asked permission to leave the heavy burlap bags behind to hike into the cool shade of the mountain hollows above his fields. At the day’s end, my dog Willy and I would return with muddy scratches and a tick or two to pluck off our skin.

At the time, I didn’t recognize ticks for what they are. I thought that they were just another nuisance like a spider or a wasp. They are so much worse.

Ticks are vile, nefarious, silent creeping instruments of disease, disability, and death. The list of diseases that they carry stands at over two dozen and counting. Ticks carry bacterial diseases including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Tularemia (a type of plague). Ticks carry viruses such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and Powassan virus. They carry protozoal diseases like Babesiosis. Some ticks even produce a toxin that can completely paralyze you and result in death if the tick is not found and removed. In the movie Oppenheimer, the famous physicist contemplates the destructive power of the atomic bomb and says “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” For me, the tiny tick is every bit as soul-shivering as the tiny atom.

Alright, maybe that comparison is a bit over the top, but ticks really are terrible. In addition to the diseases and toxins listed above is the amazing ability of some ticks to make their human victims allergic to mammalian meat including beef, pork, lamb and more. Ticks can cause a disease called Alphagal syndrome in which people bitten by a tick develop an allergy to these meats. Many patients with Alpha-gal can also no longer eat dairy.

Some mammals including cows, pigs and deer produce a carbohydrate (a chain of sugar molecules) called galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (aka “alpha-gal”). When a tick feeds on one of these animals, some alpha-gal particles remain in the tick’s digestive tract. When the tick then feeds on a human, the tick injects a bit of this alpha-gal into the bloodstream of the human which can cause the human to develop an allergic reaction to alpha-gal carbohydrates.

Then, if the human eats food or products made from animals that produce alphagal, the human will have an allergic reaction. Three to eight hours after eating alpha gal-containing mammalian meat, affected individuals develop symptoms ranging from severe stomach pain to rashes, hives, difficulty breathing and even anaphylaxis.

Patients with Alpha-gal can still eat chicken, turkey, eggs and seafood, but some non-obvious foods like jello as well as some medicines can contain alphagal. Refined readers will be dismayed to learn that the CDC website on Alpha-gal syndrome states that Rocky Mountain oysters and “scrapple” are particularly high in alpha-gal. For me, prairie oysters and scrapple were always off the table, but hamburgers and hot dogs are more than just an American staple – they are an American treasure. When my kids and I have discussed what defines Mexican food, French fare, and other national cuisine, they have asked me what qualifies as “American” food. I believe that there is no more obvious answer than a burger at a backyard barbeque with friends or a hot dog at a family outing to a baseball game. And ticks are trying to ruin it!

Ticks aren’t just attacking us in National Parks. They are attacking us in our backyards. They are riding our clothes and animals inside to attack us where we live. They are causing allergies so that we can no longer eat hamburgers and hot dogs. Ticks are un-American.

In all seriousness, ticks really are more dangerous than I ever realized in my childhood, and recognizing the dangers of tick bites should provide inspiration to use insect repellants, carefully check clothing, hair and fur after outings and seek care for any signs of tick-borne illness. Some diseases ticks carry can cause lifelong disability or death, and parents and grandparents alike should perform “tick checks” in armpits and other nooks and crannies for unwanted pests after time in woods or fields. In areas endemic for Lyme disease, recent guidelines are even suggesting prophylactic doses of doxycycline after prolonged tick exposure (tick attachment for 36 hours or more).

As a Mohs surgeon, I have learned that the beach-goer has more to fear from the Sun in the sky than from a shark in the water. As someone who loves the great outdoors, I would add that I am more afraid of the tick on the leaf than the bear in the woods. If you, like me, have ever been sun-kissed or tick-bitten, Premier Dermatology is happy to help.

The Exercise Coach: Revolutionizing personal fitness

Brought to you by – The

Exercise Coach - Alpharetta

Discover The Exercise Coach, a groundbreaking approach to fitness that promises to redefine your journey towards optimal health and wellbeing. The unique philosophy of The Exercise Coach is predicated on the idea that personal fitness isn’t a one-size-fitsall endeavor, but rather, a bespoke journey unique to each individual.

At The Exercise Coach, we believe in the power of quality over quantity. Diverging from conventional wisdom that insists on hours of grueling exercise, we embrace a smarter, science-backed approach that leverages technology to deliver effective, time-efficient workouts tailored to your specific needs.

Our workouts, packed into just 20 minutes, twice a week, are created using a data-driven strategy, incorporating insights from exercise science, physiology, and human performance. Our patented Exerbotics technology ensures that each routine

is personalized, dynamically adapting to your progress and challenging you to grow stronger, faster, and fitter in less time.

The Exercise Coach fosters an atmosphere of inclusion and personal attention. Our team of dedicated coaches guide you every step of the way, offering invaluable insights, motivation, and a touch of inspiration. We work in small, private studios, which guarantees an intimate and personal workout experience free from the distractions and discomforts of crowded gyms.

What truly sets The Exercise Coach apart is our focus on effectiveness and efficiency, allowing you to achieve more in less time. Whether you are a fitness enthusiast seeking a new challenge or a busy professional struggling to find time for exercise, The Exercise Coach is a beacon of change and the future of fitness.

Join us at The Exercise Coach, and experience the transformative power of smart, personalized exercise.

Heart and Vascular Care welcomes Cardiologist Dr. Jigishu Dhabuwala to the practice

Brought to You by - Heart and Vascular Care

With over 10 years of experience treating patients in Cumming, Alpharetta, Buford and beyond, Dr. Jigishu Dhabuwala has joined the physician team at Heart and Vascular Care.

With a passion to provide comprehensive, compassionate, high quality cardiovascular care in metro Atlanta and the surrounding North Georgia communities, Heart and Vascular Care has been a proud leader in the Cardiovascular community for the last 15 years.

Dr. Dhabuwala’s background being board-certified in interventional cardiology and as a member of the American College of Cardiology and The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, allows him to be up to date on state-ofthe-art treatments and cutting-edge technology.

While the practice continues to grow in both size and service lines, Heart and Vascular Care is committed to maintaining timely communication as well as being sure to nurture sincere patient-to-physician relationships.

“Dr. Dhabuwala had been practicing

in the community for the past ten years. He is well-respected by his peers and colleagues, the hospital staff, and his patients and we are excited to have him onboard,” says Rod Roeser, CEO at Heart and Vascular Care.

All Heart and Vascular Care physicians, along with a full team of physician assistants, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, and other healthcare professionals, pride themselves on providing the best care

experience possible for each and every patient we see.

Call us at 678-513-2273 or book an appointment online at www. hvcmd.com to take control of your cardiovascular health today.

ADVERTISE IN OUR empty Nest Report

Medicare is coming, Medicare is coming…ACT Now!

Many of my clients are receiving phone calls and mailers making it sound like the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is already here, but it’s not! It’s actually close to two MONTHS away.

Medicare Advantage Plans and StandAlone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan companies are just now getting final approval from Medicare on their plans for 2024. After that, the plan material still needs to be printed and mailed out to plan members.

Still a good ways to go!

That said, disregard Marketing Call Center communication and advertisements talking about “it’s time to change”, because it isn’t.

Right now, is a great time to be thinking about your current plan and if it has met your needs for 2023.

• If there is a monthly premium, are you still able to fit it into your budget?

• Are your copays reasonable?

• Do you need more dental coverage or is the current amount adequate?

• Are there other Medicare insurance plans you’ve heard about that you want to check out during the Annual Enrollment Period?

In other words, it’s a great time to Game Plan! No disrespect to Georgia Tech fans, but my Georgia Bulldogs are game planning right now to take it all the way again!

I digress but having a list (game plan) of benefits and extras you’d be interested in will help your insurance agent find the best option for you, whether it’s a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement or StandAlone Prescription Drug Plan.

About The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period:

Medicare Advantage and Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plans’ Annual Notice of Changes to clients should be in mailboxes by late-September. The time to make changes for 2024 coverage is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period from October 15, 2023 - December 7th, 2023. Your selections made during the AEP will become effective January 1st, 2024.

The Medicare AEP is for Medicare Advantage Plans and Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plans only. Medicare Supplements are not affected by the AEP and may be changed throughout the calendar year, barring any health underwriting requirements.

If you’d like to sit down with a Medicare Insurance Agent from SeniorSource this fall and find the best plan for your needs, give us a call today at (770) 913-6464 or contact us through our website at www.SeniorSourceMedicare.com.

Warfield:

Continued from Page 13

in a way that it feels like fine art?’” Warfield said.

While a location has not yet been decided, he anticipates an exhibition for “CYPHERS” to be held in early 2024.

Warfield said hip-hop, like many other pop culture movements, is a movement started by those with lesser means. From there, he said the music took on a life of its own, but to him Atlanta’s hip-hop scene is special.

“Atlanta separated themselves by being non-traditional, not trying to be like anybody else,” he said.

Warfield and his wife Lisa, both from the Midwest, knew they would move to the Georgia capital because of its reputation as a place where a young Black man could go and find success. But what cemented the move, Warfield said, was listening to OutKast’s song “Player’s Ball,” produced by Organized Noize.

“When I first heard that song, I was like ‘Jesus Christ, what is this?,’” he said. “It sounded like some place I gotta go and be around.”

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.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

An exhibit of DL Warfield’s album art will be available at the Atlanta mayor’s office until October. Warfield was responsible for designing album covers like OutKast’s “ATLiens.”

Several pieces in DL Warfield’s new “CYPHERS” series sit in his studio off Trotters Way. He anticipates the exhibition to take place in early 2024.

What: Kick off the weekend a little early at Alpharetta’s Food Truck Alley. Culinary options include more than 10 food trucks every fourth Thursday of the month until October, offering a diverse range of cuisine types. This is a family-friendly event, with limited seating available and will feature live music each month. It is recommended that attendees bring a blanket or chair and leave pets at home for these events.

When: Thursday, Aug. 24, 5-9 p.m.

Where: Old Roswell Street, 37 Old Roswell, Alpharetta

More info: facebook.com/foodtruckalley

OPENING RECEPTION:

BEYOND TRANSPARENCY

What: “Beyond Transparency” is an exhibition of local artists, emerging to professional, presenting a myriad of glass arts. Works in mosaic, stained, blown, lampworked and fused glass will be shown. The exhibit will be on display during normal operating hours from Aug. 26 to Sept. 28.

When: Friday, Aug. 25, 6-8 p.m.

Where: Roswell Visual Arts Center, 10495 Woodstock Road, Roswell

More info: roswellgov.com

MOVIES BY MOONLIGHT:

‘THE LION KING’

What: Bring a picnic or choose your dinner from a food truck and enjoy “The Lion King” on the big screen at this free event. The movie begins after sunset.

When: Friday, Aug. 25, 7 p.m.

Where: Heritage Amphitheater Lawn, 6110 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

GEORGIA AUDUBON

SOCIETY BIRD WALK

What: Learn about Georgia’s birds from Atlanta Audubon’s volunteer field trip leaders. All walks are free and open to the public, but please register. If you need to borrow a pair of binoculars, contact the field trip leader or the Dunwoody Nature Center in advance, and they should be able to loan you a pair.

When: Saturday, Aug. 26, 8-10 a.m.

Where: Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody

More info: dunwoodynature.org

GEORGIA AUDUBON SOCIETY BIRD WALK

What: Learn about Georgia’s birds from Atlanta Audubon’s volunteer field trip leaders. All walks are free and open to the public, but please register. If you need to borrow a pair of binoculars, contact the field trip leader or the Dunwoody Nature Center in advance, and they should be able to loan you a pair.

When: Saturday, Aug. 26, 8-10 a.m.

Where: Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody

More info: dunwoodynature.org

MILTON

FARMERS MARKET

What: Every Saturday morning through October, more than a dozen vendors set up shop around Milton City Hall with fresh produce, fresh meat, sweets, coffee and tea, flowers, soaps, jewelry and more.

When: Saturday, Aug. 26, 8:30 a.m.12:30 p.m.

Where: Milton City Hall plaza, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton More info: facebook.com/ miltongafarmersmarket

RIVERSOUND SOUNDS: JAKE LA BOTZ

What: Grab your lawn chairs, blankets and friends for a night along the banks of the Chattahoochee River, filled with music from singer-songwriter Jake La Botz. Guests are invited to bring their own food and beverages, but there will also be food and drink vendors onsite, while supplies last.

When: Saturday, Aug. 26, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Riverside Park, 575 Riverside

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT!

AUG. 24 SEPT. 3

Road, Roswell

More info: roswellgov.com

BJ WILBANKS

What: Georgia-based BJ Wilbanks’s exploration of love and the pursuit of enlightenment has been referred to as “Back Porch Soul,” fusing the musical roots of Americana, Motown and Delta Blues into a blend of Southern Rock.

When: Saturday, Aug. 26, 8-10 p.m.

Where: Matilda’s Music Under the Pines, 850 Hickory Flat Road, Milton Cost: $28.50

More info: matildasmusicvenue.com

ARTIST RECEPTION FOR DIANA TOMA

What: This reception is for the latest exhibit in the rotating gallery at Sandy Springs City Hall, featuring the work of Diana Toma until early November. Toma, an instructor at the Abernathy Arts Center, also painted a mural inside the Sandy Springs Library.

When: Tuesday, Aug. 29, 6-8 p.m.

Where: Sandy Springs City Hall, 1

Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

MOVIES BY MOONLIGHT: ‘THE BAD GUYS’

What: Bring a picnic or choose your dinner from a food truck and enjoy “The Bad Guys” on the big screen at this free event. The movie begins after sunset.

When: Friday, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.

Where: Heritage Amphitheater Lawn, 6110 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

ROTARY CLUB OF ALPHARETTA CONCERT SERIES: FLUXCAPACITOR

What: Held on the Town Green, this Alpharetta Rotary concert will feature the opening band School of Rock. Fluxcapacitor, an ’80s cover band, will follow.

When: Friday, Sept. 1, 7-10 p.m.

Where: Town Green, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta

More info: facebook.com/ RotaryClubAlpharetta

To promote your event, follow these easy steps: Visit AppenMedia.com/Calendar

Provide the details for your event including title, description, location and date Click the red button that reads “Create event”

That’s it! Submissions are free, though there are paid opportunities to promote your event in print and online.

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PRESERVING THE PAST

The early history of firefighting in Alpharetta

The current hot summer is an appropriate time to write about firefighters because of risks due to weather.

Firefighters’ gear is hot in the winter and dangerously hot in summer when every 15 or 20 minutes firefighters must be replaced by a fresh team so they can hydrate and cool off before going back to fighting a blaze. A special rehab vehicle is an important part of keeping firefighters cool. In this column we are going to highlight the early history of the Alpharetta Fire Department which today is part of the Alpharetta Public Safety Department headed by John Robison.

The five fire departments in North Fulton County are Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Roswell and Sandy Springs. Each department has more than one location, and all departments help each other when there are major fires or other catastrophes. Alpharetta has six fire stations.

In the early 1940s, Alpharetta was a town of about 300 people and had no fire department. When a fire broke out, there was little to be done except to rely on ineffective bucket brigades. During World War ll, the Federal Office of Civil Defense donated some surplus firefighting equipment to the city so it could protect civilians in a war emergency. The equipment sat in the Milton County Courthouse unused. In 1944, two local businessmen, Ben and Loyal Brady, who owned a small Chevrolet dealership, gas station, repair shop and taxi business in downtown Alpharetta, worked with the local Civil Defense Council to access the stored equipment. The brothers bought a Dodge military truck for $200 from the Fort McPherson surplus yard in southwest Atlanta, today the location of Tyler Perry Studios. The truck was modified to accept a pump from the courthouse equipment. The brothers bought a 500-gallon water tank which Loyal welded onto the chassis. Hooks to hold ladders, a hose box, a siren and a coat of red paint were added, and Alpharetta had its first fire engine.

Ben Brady became Alpharetta’s first fire chief. Loyal was assistant chief. They kept the truck in Brady’s repair shop, and if a fire occurred, volunteer garage mechanics would jump aboard with Ben or Loyal and

ATLANTA CONSTITUTION/PROVIDED

On Sept. 7, 1964, an Alpharetta fire truck was responding to a request for help from the Roswell Fire Department when the truck swerved to avoid hitting an oncoming car. The truck left the road and overturned. None of the three volunteer firemen were seriously injured but the truck was badly damaged. The city ordered a new fire engine and had it painted white to increase its visibility. Ever since, Alpharetta’s fire engines have been white.

head to the blaze. Since it was the only fire truck in North Fulton that could pump water from a tank, it was often called upon to fight fires in other cities, according to volunteer firefighter John Edelen, now deceased. Over time, better trucks replaced old trucks and more volunteers joined the department, including Billy Bates, deceased, who rose to prominence as a historian and genealogist of local families. Historian Connie Mashburn in his book, “Alpharetta, Milton County, the Early Years,” says that in the early 1950s the city built a small building adjacent to the old courthouse for the use of the fire and police departments. In 1957, a new city hall was completed, and the fire department was given space in the basement. A surplus siren installed on the roof was used to notify volunteers of a fire.

In 1964 Alpharetta responded to a call for help from the Roswell Fire Department to fight a fire that destroyed the Economy Church Furniture Store. While trying to avoid an oncoming car on Highway 9, Alpharetta’s fire truck left the road and rolled over. Although thrown from the truck cab, none of the three volunteers were seriously hurt; however, the truck was severely

damaged. The city ordered a new engine from the John Bean Fire Engine Company in Michigan with a high-pressure pumping engine and a 750-gallon water tank. To make the engine more visible, it was ordered in white. Ever since then, Alpharetta fire engines have been white.

In 1969, the Brady brothers retired from the department. New people and new equipment came and went in subsequent years. In 1976, for the first time the city purchased helmets, rubber coats and boots for the department. Until then volunteers fought fires in their street clothes.

Billy Bates’ son Bill joined the department as a volunteer in 1972 after earning a degree in marketing from Georgia State University. As a youth, Bill accompanied his father when he went on calls. Bill had to stay in the car while Billy fought fires. Bill became the second paid employee of the volunteer fire department in 1988, and in 1990 he became the city’s first full-time paid fire chief. Bill retired in 2006 from Alpharetta Fire Services which became part of the combined police, fire and 911 Public Safety Department.

One of Bill’s proudest achievements was the dramatic improvement in the department’s

FAMILY/PROVIDED Bill Bates in his turnout gear at the Canton Street Apartments near Wills Park in Alpharetta circa 1990. Turnout gear is the personal protective equipment (PPE) used by firefighters. The suit consists of three layers, an outer shell, a moisture barrier, and a thermal liner. A full set can weigh 45 pounds including helmets, gloves, hoods, boots, coats and pants.

ISO rating which is a score assigned to a fire department based on how well it can protect a community. The rating is used by insurance companies to determine homeowner insurance premiums. The lower the ISO rating, the lower the insurance premiums. When Bill started with the department, Alpharetta’s rating was 8. When he retired it was 2, thus saving residents a lot of money. Alpharetta Fire Services first earned an ISO1 rating in in 2015. Fewer than 1 percent of fire departments in the U.S. achieve that status.

Many dedicated, courageous individuals have served as Alpharetta firefighters over the years. All Alpharetta firefighters are also EMTs or paramedics. All undergo extensive training and are experts at what they do. Alpharetta’s citizens can be very proud.

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

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

Shirley Peters Pruitt, memories of DeWald’s Alley

In February of 2023 I wrote about DeWald’s Alley, a community of Black families who lived off Barfield Road from the 1920s until the early 1970s. Shirley Pruitt contacted me to share her story, because she and her family lived there. Pruitt was born Shirley Peters in 1941 at Grady Hospital. She left Sandy Springs for many years but returned and lives there today.

The Peters family included seven boys and one girl, Shirley. There were eight homes at DeWald’s Alley. Some of the houses were set up for two families, and Shirley Pruitt’s family shared one side of their home with her aunt’s family for a while before using both sides.

Residents of DeWald’s Alley rented from Clyde and Susie DeWald, who lived nearby on Spruill Road, later known as Meadow Lane Road. Susie DeWald would go door to door collecting rent each month. The houses of DeWald’s Alley had outhouses, no electricity, and well water. Pumps were eventually installed.

Ms. Pruitt’s family planted a garden each year by their house. She remembers as a child going to Burdette’s Store at Mount Vernon Road and Roswell Road to buy groceries. She also recalls going with her father to a Spruill farm where Perimeter Mall is today for butter and buttermilk.

When she was 5 years old, Ms. Pruitt started school at the community’s church, known as Mt. Mary’s Baptist Church. The church was a wooden building, painted white, and located on Mt. Vernon Highway. Her grandfather, Will Peters, helped build the church. There had been both a school and church, but the school building burned down.

When the church membership had fallen to only five people, it moved to Lynwood Park in Brookhaven. Then, the children of DeWald’s Alley, including Shirley Pruitt, were bused to the Alpharetta Colored School. Due to segregation, the children were not permitted to attend nearby Hammond or Morgan Falls School. They were bused to a school that would have been at least a 15-mile trip before Ga. 400 existed.

The children’s teachers, Ms. Hambrick and Ms. Jones, went to the new school also. While Pruitt was attending the school, the school’s name was changed to Bailey Johnson. Bailey Johnson was the only school for Black children in north Fulton County. The last class to graduate from the school was in 1967.

All these schools, including Mt. Mary’s,

were part of the Fulton County School System. In the school archives of the county, records indicate that Mt. Mary’s School was in a church building. Some of the other schools that Black children attended were also in churches.

Other Black children in the area, who did not live on DeWald’s Alley, attended

PROVIDED

Mt. Mary School. Those families included the Brown, Evans, Martin and Lucas families. The Evans children were cousins of Shirley Pruitt, and the family lived where Glenridge and Mount Vernon Road meet. The Lucas family lived on Meadow Lane.

The Fulton County Superintendent’s Annual Report reveals the inequities of

the time. There was one teacher at Mt. Mary during the 1929-1930 school year, and she earned $660 for the year. Hammond School had six women teachers who earned $1,434 each. (Fulton County School Archives)

During the 1948-1949 school year, Mt. Mary’s had two teachers for 51 children. Nearby Morgan Falls School had 12 teachers for 130 children.

At the age of 13, Shirley Pruitt had a terrifying experience. A White family that lived near where Johnson’s Ferry meets the Chattahoochee River was asking around for a babysitter. She went with the father of the family to their property and the man attempted to assault her. Fortunately, after a long struggle she was able to fight him off and escape.

There would have been no protection or recourse from the legal system at that time for Shirley Pruitt or her family. The family no longer felt safe and moved to Roswell. After the family moved, Pruitt needed to see a dentist for a filling, but no dentist in Roswell would take a Black patient. She ended up going to a Norcross dentist, who said she must enter through a back door. Then, when he administered Novocain, he struck a nerve causing permanent damage to her face.

Shirley Pruitt’s grandparents lived on the property of Dr. Griffith on Heard’s Ferry Road, where her grandfather worked. The couple had 10 children, plus they raised a grandchild on the property.

Ms. Pruitt remembers learning to drive a Dodge straight shift on Barfield Road, a dirt road at the time.

Shirley Peters later married Lugene Pruitt, and they had four children. After the marriage ended in divorce, Shirley Pruitt moved back to Sandy Springs.

While living in Roswell, her oldest son played basketball at Roswell High School, and her youngest child Denny was the mascot. Later, after moving to Sandy Springs, Denny played basketball at North Springs High School. During his time playing on the team from 9th to 12th grade, in the mid-1980s, he was the only Black player. Ms. Pruitt went to all his games. As a senior in 1988, Denny Pruitt was nominated to the McDonalds’s AllAmerican Team.

I am grateful to Shirley Pruitt for reaching out to me and sharing her story of living at DeWald’s Alley in Sandy Springs. This history can be preserved thanks to Ms. Pruitt.

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.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

SHIRLEY PRUITT/PROVIDED

This Atlanta Journal Dec. 17, 1987 clipping from Shirley Pruitt’s mementos includes her son Denny Pruitt, far left, during his years playing basketball at North Springs High School.

At left, Ms. Pruitt's brother-in-law Clarence Pruitt, and on the right her cousin A.C. Peters stand in this DeWald's Alley photo from the 2017 Sandy Springs Gazette.

Thank you to the class of 2023, four years in the making

When I agreed to be a coach with Cambridge High School, I was elated about the opportunities ahead. It was initially a little different because I had competed against them for at least the past five years while coaching other teams.

PATRICK STAFFORD

Fresh off a state runner-up finish for the girls team the past season, I was excited to retool and reload for a chance to compete for a state title. I began to build a relationship with the returning veterans (and fellow coaches) and looked forward to welcoming newcomers and incoming freshmen (particularly because we all would create experiences together).

The season started with promising big meet results in the Archer Invitational and Milton Showcase. Then, the track and field world as we knew it ground to a halt with the COVID-19 suspension of the remainder of the season. All were devasted, but understanding. The promising season was over. To this day, I wonder what would have been. I wonder which of our athletes would have competed for an individual state title. I wonder whether we would have competed for the elusive state team title. I wondered how the freshmen felt. With the NCAA granting an additional year of eligibility to their athletes, I wondered how many of the seniors may have lost

collegiate recruiting opportunities. I, and the world, just wondered.

The 2021 season arrived with much anticipation, along with a number of unknowns. Would many of the athletes return after the COVID pause? Did we lose some to transfer? The answer for us, thankfully, was that many returned. We worked hard that year with the boys winning the region and the ladies finishing fourth, but we were not able to advance enough athletes to state to make a measurable team impact except in a few events. Nevertheless, we were happy to have completed a full season.

The 2022 season turned out to be a positive one in the process of building on a program goal of continual improvement. The team enjoyed success at a number of big meets and

was finding success in a number of disciplines around the track. After the girls won the region and the boys finished a close second, a number of athletes advanced to sectionals and then to state. Our state contingent was strong with the girls team just missing the podium and having one state champ (0livia Bollenbacher – now at Colorado State – in the pole vault), and the boys competing well.

We looked with a great deal of anticipation at what the next year would bring. We were slated to drop down one classification and go to a new championship venue. It did not matter. Although we lost some key athletes due to graduation, we could not wait for the new region and season.

The 2023 season had arrived.

The senior year for those who had lost their first year due to the COVID suspension. Those same seniors that were determined to make this an impactful and memorable season. Indeed it would be. After doing well in any number of big meets, with state classification leading marks in a number of events, both the girls and the boys won a tough region title. At sectional, a large contingent advanced to state. The team performed superbly at state with the girls finishing a close runner-up (led by state titles from Julia Versluis in pole vault; Lilah Versluis in triple jump; and Gabrielle Dandridge finishing second in the 400 meters), and the boys finishing tied for sixth (led by the hurdling duo of Dominick Lawshea and Ibrahim Bangura, plus Dillon Shin in a number of events).

All in all, the seniors contributed to a number of the top finishes and showed great leadership for the underclassmen as they depart for their next steps in life. My primary thought is that they endured and lasted the four years and set the tone and model future team success.

I end by simply saying thank you to the seniors! Thank you to each of them. Thank you to the coaches, athletes, school administrators and those that officiated across the state. Wishing each of you continued success – in track and life.

Patrick Stafford is an assistant coach for Cambridge High School Track and Field. He lives in Atlanta.

Authors can trigger a variety of emotions

with its spunky heroine and a few mystery men.

Rookie reporter Irene is on the scene for a murder or two and, of course, uses her investigative skills to ferret out the murderer and get the story. Along the way, Hollywood moguls and others try to shut down her investigation, but she has no plans to stop.

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

My two recent reads evoked different emotions — one book was entertaining, while the other was thought-provoking. I found one delightful and the other distressing. Perhaps I should have read them in reverse order, so that I could more easily dispel the cloud created by the second one.

“The Girl Who Knew Too Much”

by Amanda Quick

Amanda Quick is a new author for me, and this book, the first in her Burning Cove series, was a great place to start. Set in the 1930s in an exclusive hotel near Hollywood, California, it entertained me

It’s an intriguing mystery with a bit of romance thrown in, and there’s more than one mystery solved by the time it’s over. I enjoyed the way the author slowly revealed the backgrounds of the main characters as the story progressed. Wanting to know more about each of them was a big reason that I found this book to be a page-turner. I wanted to learn their secrets as much as I wanted to find out who the villain was –and the villain was a shocker.

I highly recommend this book, but I suggest you be prepared to stay up late

several nights to finish it. I sure did. This next novel will also keep you awake at night, but for different reasons.

“I have some questions for you”

by Rebecca Makkai

I’ve been struggling to put words to how I feel about this book. It is unquestionably a well-written crime tale, one set in a New England boarding school.

Finally, I found an NPR review that captured its essence:

“This is a dark, uncomfortable story about murder, racism, sexual abuse, grief, the nature of collective memory, privilege, the way humans want to be at the center of tragedy even when they’re not, and feeling like an outsider.”

The story centers on a crime committed in 1995 at the school, the murder of a promising senior girl. Twenty years later, Bodie Kane, the girl’s

roommate, answers the call to teach two short mid-semester courses at her alma mater.

Even before she gets there, the question tormented her: Did they convict the right person? What follows is Bode working her way backward and forward as she examines what she remembers, what she may have blocked, and what she could have done differently. Mixed in with the crime at the center of the novel are references to the oh-so many crimes against women that we are now accustomed to hearing about.

It’s a thought-provoking book, not just as you try to determine whodunit, but also as you consider today’s social environment. What I found most horrifying — yes, horrifying – were the descriptions of what teenage boys said and did to their

Guest Columnist

SPECIAL TO APPEN MEDIA

Both the boys and girls track and field teams at Cambridge High School won the 5A Region Championship for the first time in school history April 24-25.

Who wants to be a Master Gardener Extension Volunteer?

Two weeks ago, I began to notice brown spots in my lawn. Neighbors’ lawns also have these brown patches. Will it eventually go away on its own? Or, should I act?

What are these ferns? They’re choking everything out and they’re so dense they don’t look good. I’m considering removing them entirely, if that’s possible. Some of them are 6 feet tall.

We planted a tree several years ago and now it seems to be dying branch by branch. Why are these branches dying? Are there options available to preserve my tree?

Finding solutions for plant problems sometimes feels like being a contestant on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”

Myriad websites and product advertisements provide the multiple choices. Neighbors, contractors, and retail garden professionals compose the audience and your phone-a-friend list available as lifelines.

Georgia residents seeking answers to horticultural questions can access another resource. UGA Extension Master Gardener Extension Volunteers are here providing unbiased researchbased horticultural information and educational programs in counties around the state.

The Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program started in the early 1970s as a way for an agricultural extension agent in Washington state to meet the growing demand of home gardeners with requests for information about plants in their landscapes. Volunteers were recruited and trained to respond to gardeners’ questions. The program’s success led to the establishment of programs in all 50 states and multiple countries around the world.

Georgia’s Master Gardener Program was started in Atlanta in 1979, and participants have been teaching community members how to use plants and gardening to improve their environment, personal health, and quality of life since. The UGA Extension Fulton County agriculture and natural resources team depends on the dedicated service of more than 100 volunteers to provide our diverse community of more than one million with answers to their questions, beautifully maintained gardens, and horticultural programs.

The purpose of the Georgia

Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program is to assist UGA Extension in delivering educational programs to increase environmental stewardship, success in home food production, youth participation in gardening, the value of landscapes, and health benefits of gardening. Active projects in Fulton County include exhibiting at horticultural shows and festivals, writing articles, presenting to live and virtual audiences, and responding directly to residents’ questions — like the real questions received by our office last week and included at the top of this article.

The first step in becoming a Master Gardener is completing a few forms and an interview with the local UGA Extension office. Selected trainees complete 42 hours of core horticultural training and pass two exams to prepare for their new role. Within the first year, trainees complete 50 hours of volunteer service. After completing 50 hours on Extension-approved projects that support MGEV program initiatives, the Trainee is recognized as an official MGEV. To remain a current, active MGEV, volunteers give at least 25 hours of volunteer service hours each year and track their accomplishments using an online recordkeeping system.

If you have a passion for teaching others through volunteer community service and consumer horticulture programming, we hope you will consider applying for our upcoming class beginning in January 2024. Applications are being accepted until September 15, 2023 and notification of acceptance will be communicated by December 1, 2023.

To learn more about the UGA Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program or to submit your application for the next training class, visit https:// site.extension.uga.edu/fultonag/ files/2023/08/2024-Fulton-CountyMGEV-Application-Final.pdf or Fulton County’s MGEV site at https:// extension.uga.edu/county-offices/ fulton/agriculture-and-naturalresources/mastergardner.html.

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

• 2024 MGEV class application - https://site.extension.uga.edu/fultonag/ files/2023/08/2024-Fulton-County-MGEV-Application-Final.pdf

• Fulton County MGEV page - https://extension.uga.edu/county-offices/ fulton/agriculture-and-natural-resources/mastergardner.html

• Becoming a MGEV - https://extension.uga.edu/programs-services/ georgia-master-gardener-extension-volunteer-program/volunteer/becominga-mgev.html

• Frequently Asked Questions - https://extension.uga.edu/programsservices/georgia-master-gardener-extension-volunteer-program/volunteer/ becoming-a-mgev/frequently-asked-questions.html

• Become a Master Gardener - https://nfmg.net/becomeMG.html

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is James Herrin, agriculture and natural resources agent with UGA Extension Fulton County. James is motivated by learning and leverages this to help clients solve the issues and answer the questions they bring to the Extension office. In addition to helping coordinate Fulton County’s Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program, James supports county teachers with agricultural programming, works with farmers, and delivers educational programs for Fulton County residents.

JAMES HERRIN

Guest Columnist

MGEV Logo/Learn Serve Grow, UGA

Me and Jethro: Double aught spies (almost)

Ok kiddies, since school is back in session, it just might be time for Uncle Mikey to tell you a story that I swear is 99.99 percent the God’s honest truth. So get out your resting mat and relax.

Try to stay awake, and I’ll do my best to re-create a tale that happened in the summer of 1981. After I’m done, my bet is that I’ll get letters, phone calls, and maybe even a bullet in my head for what I’m going to divulge.

If you’re not excited and bursting with anticipation, I don’t know what else I can do to set up how your humble columnist, came within a spider’s eyelash of becoming just like Jethro Bodine, a double-aught spy for the Central Intelligence Agency.

I’ve probably lost some of you. A few are probably saying: “That’s it, Eunice. No more wasting my valuable jigsaw puzzle time by reading that lunatic’s malarkey.”

For those of you sticking around, here goes.

I’d just watched “The In-Laws” starring Peter Falk and Alan Arkin, the former a shady, seemingly scatterbrained CIA agent. Arkin is a dentist whose daughter was to marry

Emotions:

Continued from Page 24

female classmates in 1995. Do the sexual insults and accusations hurled by these young men have any basis in reality? If so, today’s teenagers inhabit a different world than the one I grew up in. “Dark” is a word that comes to mind as I attempt

Falk’s son. The movie was hilarious, inspiring me to ask colleagues in the newsroom: “How do you go to work for the CIA?”

“Look ‘em up in the phonebook,” was the snarky reply.

So that’s what I did. I called the CIA office in the Los Angeles area and spoke to a gentleman named Larry Curran. At least that’s what he said his name was. More about name games later.

Early in the conversation, he asked the following questions: “Were you ever in the military? Can you speak a foreign language? Why are you calling me?”

Two “no’s” and an “I think I can help my country and do my part to put an end to what these Commie bastids are trying to do.”

The last one must’ve set a hook because he asked me to meet him in LA. I was given an address that turned out to be a bank. At least the first floor looked like a bank. The front desk guard, before I could hitch up my trench coat and say a single word, directed me to the fifth floor.

Since there were only four floors listed on the directory, I figured I might be a goner. I met Mr. Curran and I thought he was marvelous. Our 30-minute meeting stretched to three hours. I was given a list of books and he said he’d be in touch.

I read the books and shared my

to describe this book, but somehow, that doesn’t begin to touch it.

Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries locally at The Enchanted Forest in Dunwoody and Bookmiser in East Cobb or on Amazon. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ KathyManosPennAuthor/.

thoughts. A few weeks later, I was in a hotel room with two agents. Again, I found them and the whole process fascinating.

Mr. Curran’s next move was to enroll me in a one-day foreign language aptitude battery of tests. Again, I was fascinated but hated the class, only because it was held at USC.

I heard from someone in Washington that I would now be known as “Michael J. Treet.” Mr. Curran told me that the process weeds out 98 of 100 applicants. Two received an all-expense-paid trip to Washington for a week of interviews and activities.

My parents were petrified, believing “they’re going to turn you into a Lee Harvey Oswald.” The FBI descended on Bakersfield and spoke to teachers, co-workers and friends.

The phone calls were something like: “What the hell! You’re going to be a spy?” I had fun by replying: “I can neither confirm nor deny that.”

I remember them saying the agents were serious and that the female agent was huge.

I flew to Washington where I was taken for a ride several times. It was quite a gauntlet. Several buildings were non-descript on the outside. Open the doors and they were beehives of intelligence gathering.

The highlight was taking a lie detector test at CIA headquarters, where I was asked about past activities by the most serious FBI agent on the planet. Unconvinced of the accuracy of a polygraph, the skeptic in me wanted some proof. The agent produced a deck of cards, asked me to pick a card, then lie when he showed it to me.

I tried to lie and failed miserably but must’ve passed the test. The next day, there was a final interview where I was asked where I might like to be stationed.

I was newly married, and the plan was for me to work as some sort of journalist and for Vicki to teach. I replied to my potential CIA boss that I thought England or France might be cool.

His reply: “No son, where in the Middle East or Central America do you think you might want to live?” Check please. I came home, quit my newspaper job and went to work as a pharmaceutical salesman. Not as wild as being a spymaster, but I’m here to write about it.

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.

MIKE TASOS

Columnist

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following items will be heard at a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on Thursday, September 7, 2023 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, September 18, 2023 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. Z-23-08/V-23-13 10355 Waters Road Tract

Consideration of a rezoning and variance to allow for the construction of 3 ‘For-Sale’ single-family detached homes on 1.5 acres. A rezoning is requested from AG (Agriculture) to R-12 (Dwelling, ‘For-Sale’, Residential) and a variance is requested to reduce the front setback from 65’ to 50’ and to reduce the rear setback from 30’ to 25’. The property is located at 10355 Waters Road and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 35 & 36, 1st District, 1st Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

b. Z-23-09/V-23-15 2325 Old Milton Parkway Tract

Consideration of a rezoning and variance to allow for the construction of 24 ‘For-Sale’ townhomes on 4.9 acres. A rezoning is requested from O-I (OfficeInstitutional) and R-12 (Dwelling, ‘For-Sale’, Residential) to DT-LW (Downtown Live-Work). Variances are requested to reduce stream buffers, modify streetscape standards and reduce landscape strips. The property is located at 2325 Old Milton Parkway and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 748, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

c. PH-23-11 Unified Development Code (UDC) Text Amendments – Signs, Parking, Multi-Use Trails, Downtown Architecture and Tree Preservation

Consideration of text amendments to the Unified Development Code (UDC). Amend Section 2.3 Supplementary Regulations to address fence and wall regulations along multiuse trails. Amend Section 2.5 Parking and Loading to address the different levels of electric vehicle charging stations. Amend Section 2.6 Signs to prohibit face illuminated channel letter signs, require master sign plans for all commercial shopping centers and extend time period for banner signs for new businesses after DRB submittal. Amend Section 3.2 Tree Conservation, Landscape and Buffer Requirements to remove pines as a specimen or tree of quality and to allow homeowner’s associations to review certain requests for tree removal within the front yard. Amend Section

3.5 Installation of Street to add regulations pertaining to the installation of multi-use trails. Amend Appendix A: Alpharetta Downtown Code, Section 2.8 Building Design to address applicability of architectural style requirements.

The following items will be considered by the City Council on Monday, September 18, 2023 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

d. PH-23-12 Gated Subdivision/1580 Mayfield Road

Consideration of a public hearing to allow a 5-lot subdivision to be gated. Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 3.5.6 Gated subdivisions/private streets requires that requests for gated subdivisions be considered at a public hearing by City Council. The property is located at 1580 Mayfield Road and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 1057 & 1104, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

e. PH-23-15 McCoy Way Road Abandonment

Consideration of request to abandon a remnant portion of McCoy Way. The property is located adjacent to 12200 McCoy Way and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 1244, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

The following items will be considered by the Board of Zoning Appeals on Thursday, September 21, 2023 commencing at 5:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

f. V-23-16 265 Dania Drive

Consideration of a variance to allow for a tear down and rebuild of a single-family detached home on 1.02 acres. A variance is requested to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.2.1(D) AG agriculture, District Regulations to reduce the side setback from 25’ to 12.5’ and to reduce the front setback from 100’ to 50’. The property is located at 265 Dania Drive and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1177, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

g. V-23-18 1060 Gramercy Lane

Consideration of a variance to allow for a swimming pool on a single-family residential lot. A variance is requested to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.3.3(B) Accessory Uses and Structures, Swimming Pools to reduce the rear setback from 20’ to 11.5’. The property is located at 1060 Gramercy Lane and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 1202 & 1203, 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.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA FOR

SALE OF CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GA OWNED REAL PROPERTY NEAR SHILOH ROAD AND FOWLER HILL ROAD, FORSYTH COUNTY, GA ITB # 24-005

The City of Alpharetta is offering SALE OF CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GA OWNED REAL PROPERTY NEAR SHILOH ROAD AND FOWLER HILL ROAD, FORSYTH COUNTY, GA to the public and seeking bids from interested Bidders for the sale of approximately 36.3989 acres non-contiguous land tract along the Forsyth County Big Creek Greenway, zoned R2R. This property is within Forsyth County, GA, and is west of Shiloh Road, north of Union Hill Road, and east of Fowler Hill Road. The City intends to sell to one Bidder. No access is available from either of these roadways. Forsyth County’s Big Creek Greenway bisects the property on the northern portion and a portion of this property can be viewed from the greenway.

The legal description of the parcels is as follows:

All that tract or parcel of land lying and being Land Lots 601, 602, 622, 623, 624, and 625, of the 2nd District, 1st Section, Forsyth County, Georgia, and being more particularly described as follows:

BEGIN at a point at the common Land Lot corners of Land Lots 602 and 623 and run thence north 01 degrees 28 minutes 26 seconds east a distance of 284.34 feet to a point; run thence north 01 degrees 28 minutes 26 seconds east a distance of 605.10 feet to a point; run thence south 66 degrees 03 minutes 56 seconds east a distance of 1097.21 feet to a point; run thence south 24 degrees 49 minutes 35 seconds west a distance of 150.60 feet to a point; run thence south 09 degrees 06 minutes 29 seconds east a distance of 196.94 feet to a point; run thence south 08 degrees 26 minutes 31 seconds east a distance of 20.00 feet to a point; run thence south 27 degrees 01 minutes 50 seconds west a distance of 68.13 feet to a point; run thence south 64 degrees 29 minutes 15 seconds west a distance of 106.53 feet to a point; run thence north 85 degrees 13 minutes 12 seconds west a distance of 58.51 feet to a point; run thence south 59 degrees 26 minutes 39 seconds west a distance of 82.00 feet to a point; run thence south 00 degrees 13 minutes 06 seconds west a distance of 79.00 feet to a point; run thence south 12 degrees 09 minutes 46 seconds east a distance of 214.16 feet to a point; run thence south 33 degrees 29 minutes 38 seconds west a distance of 94.40 feet to a point; run thence south 23 degrees 15 minutes 43 seconds west a distance of 53.86 feet to a point; run thence south 27 degrees 06 minutes 05 seconds west a distance of 86.52 feet to a point; run thence south 01 degrees 52 minutes 28 seconds east a distance of 77.60 feet to a point; run thence south 15 degrees 38 minutes 05 seconds east a distance of 161.09 feet to a point; run thence south 17 degrees 37 minutes 58 seconds east a distance of 145.52 feet to a point; run thence south 39 degrees 02 minutes 11 seconds east a distance of 180.32 feet to a point; run thence south 53 degrees 28 minutes 27 seconds east a distance of 143.92 feet to a point; run thence south 41 degrees 07 minutes 52 seconds west a distance of 102.15 feet to a point; run thence south 43 degrees 39 minutes 58 seconds east a distance of 296.08 feet to a point; run thence north 88 degrees 58 minutes 08 seconds west a distance of 1173.39 feet to a point; run thence north 88 degrees 57 minutes 04 seconds west a distance of 16.02 feet to a point; run thence north 12 degrees 09 minutes 04 seconds east a distance of 146.23 feet to a point; run thence north 03 degrees 09 minutes 58 seconds east a distance of 72.67 feet to a point; run thence north 25 degrees 53 minutes 08 seconds east a distance of 80.20 feet to a point; run thence north 29 degrees 17 minutes 24 seconds east a distance of 81.24 feet to a point; run thence north 32 degrees 28 minutes 48 seconds east a distance of 189.95 feet to a point; run thence north 35 degrees 59 minutes 33 seconds east a distance of 151.21 feet to a point; run north 12 degrees 27 minutes 51 seconds east a distance of 279.59 feet to a point; run thence north 09 degrees 43 minutes 09 seconds east a distance of 301.35 feet to a point; run thence north 89 degrees 17 minutes 19 seconds west a distance of 364.69 feet to a point; run thence north 00 degrees 14 minutes 43 seconds east a distance of 201.22 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, containing 36.3989 acres, as reflected on survey prepared by George W. Nelson (Georgia Registered Land Surveyor #966) of Shirey, Nelson & Associates, Inc., dated December 27, 1995.

LESS AND EXCEPT:

All that tract or parcel of land lying and being in Land Lot 602,623 of the 2 Land District and/or N/A Georgia Militia District of Forsyth County, Georgia, being more particularly described as follows:

Beginning at a point 10 feet left of and opposite Station 152+25.22 on the construction centerline of Big Creek Greenway on Georgia Highway Project No. TEE-0006-00(586); running thence N 13°10’47” E a distance of 12.07 feet to a point 10.00 feet left of and opposite station 152+37.29 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence northeasterly 157.860 feet along the arc of a curve (said curve having a radius of 1240.000 feet and a chord distance of 157.754 feet on a bearing of N 9°31’58” E) to the point 10.00 feet left of and opposite station 153+96.42 on said construction centerline laid out tor Big Creek Greenway; thence N 5°53’08” E a distance of 37.73 feet to a point 10.00 feet left of and opposite station 154+34.16 on said construction centerline laid out tor Big Creek Greenway; thence northwesterly 178.612 feet along the arc of a curve (said curve having a radius of 490.000 feet and a chord distance of 177.624 feet on a bearing of N 4°33’25” W) to the point 10.00 feet left of and opposite station 156+16.42 on said construction centerline laid out tor Big Creek Greenway; thence N 14°59’58” W a distance of 26.07 feet to a point 10.00 feet left of and opposite station 156+42.49 on said construction centerline laid out tor Big Creek Greenway; thence northwesterly 106.603 feet along the arc of a curve (said curve having a radius of 510.000 feet and a chord distance of 106.409 feet on a bearing of N 9°00’41” W) to the point 10.00 feet left of and opposite station 157+47.00 on said construction centerline laid out tor Big Creek Greenway; thence N 3°01’23” W a distance of 52.83 feet to a point 10.00 feet left of and opposite station 157+99.83 on said construction centerline laid out tor Big Creek Greenway; thence northwesterly 144.261 feet along the arc of a curve (said curve having a radius of 490.000 feet and a chord distance of 143.741 feet on a bearing of N 11°27’26” W) to the point 10.00 feet left of and opposite station 159+47.03 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence N 19°53’30” W a distance of 27.76 feet to a point 10.00 feet left of and opposite station 159+74.80 on said construction centerline

laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence northwesterly 126.028 feet along the arc of a curve (said curve having a radius of 760.000 feet and a chord distance of 125.884 feet on a bearing of N 15°08’28” W) to the point 10.00 feet left of and opposite station 160+99.17 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence N 10°23’26” W a distance of 32.54 feet to a point 10.00 feet left of and opposite station 161+31.71 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence northwesterly 103.750 feet along the arc of a curve (said curve having a radius of 740.000 feet and a chord distance of 103.665 feet on a bearing of N 14°24’25” W) to the point 10.00 feet left of and opposite station 162+36.86 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence N 18°25’24” W a distance of 56.73 feet to a point 10.00 feet left of and opposite station 162+93.58 on said construction centerline laid out tor Big Creek Greenway; thence S 66°56’13” E a distance of 26.70 feet to a point 10.00 feet right of and opposite station 162+75.90 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence S 18°25’24” E a distance of 39.04 feet to a point 10.00 feet right of and opposite station 162+36.86 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence southeasterly 106.554 feet along the arc of a curve (said curve having a radius of 760.000 feet and a chord distance of 106.467 feet on a bearing of S 14°24’25” E) to the point 10.00 feet right of and opposite station 161+31.71 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence S 10°23’26” E a distance of 32.54 feet to a point 10.00 feet right of and opposite station 160+99.17 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence southeasterly 122.712 feet along the arc of a curve (said curve having a radius of 740.000 feet and a chord distance of 122.571 feet on a bearing of S 15°08’28” E) to the point 10.00 feet right of and opposite station 159+74.80 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence s 19”53’30” E a distance of 27.76 feet to a point 10.00 feet right of and opposite station 159+47.03 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence southeasterly 150.150 feet along the arc of a curve (said curve having a radius of 510.000 feet and a chord distance of 149.608 feet on a bearing of S 11°27’26” E) to the point 10.00 feet right of and opposite station 157+99.83 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence S 3°01’23” E a distance of 52.83 feet to a point 10.00 feet right of and opposite station 157+47.00 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence southeasterly 102.423 feet along the arc of a curve (said curve having a radius of 490.000 feet and a chord distance of 102.237 feet on a bearing of S 9°00’41” E) to the point 10.00 feet right of and opposite station 156+42.49 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence S 14”59’58” E a distance of 26.07 feet to a point 10.00 feet right of and opposite station 156+16.42 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence southeasterly 185.902 feet along the arc of a curve (said curve having a radius of 510.000 feet and a chord distance of 184.874 feet on a bearing of S 4°33’25” E) to the point 10.00 feet right of and opposite station 154+34.16 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence S 5°53’08” W a distance of 37.73 feet to a point 10.00 feet right of and opposite station 153+96.42 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence southwesterly 160.406 feet along the arc of a curve (said curve having a radius of 1260.000 feet and a chord distance of 160.298 feet on a bearing of S 9°31’58” W) to the point 10.00 feet right of and opposite station 152+37.29 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence S 13”10’47” W a distance of 7.33 feet to a point 10.00 feet right of and opposite station 152+29.96 on said construction centerline laid out for Big Creek Greenway; thence S 89°50’24” W a distance of 20.55 feet back to the point of beginning. Containing 0.485 acres more or less.

The Invitation to Bid (ITB) will be available online August 24, 2023 at our bid posting website, https://cityofalpharetta.bonfirehub.com/. Interested parties are required to log in to review the ITB documents.

The virtual public bid opening will be held on Thursday, September 21, 2023, 10:00 AM using Zoom. See bid document for details.

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 bids or any bid 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 City may also elect to contingently accept one or more Bids so that in the case of the default of the Apparent Successful Bidder, the City will accept the Contingent Bid.

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

Full-time

SERVICE DIRECTORY

PC TECHNICIAN

Sawnee EMC is seeking a PC Technician to review PC and network system capabilities; inspect personal computer equipment; prioritize and schedule repairs; and coordinate help desk activities. Requires an associate degree with a minimum of three years of experience in LAN/Network design, configuration, installation, and PC troubleshooting. Position is fulltime; must be flexible to work irregular hours as necessary, to include evenings and weekends.

Must have a thorough working knowledge of administering and maintaining the latest version of Windows Operating Systems; MS Office products; Office 365; internet configuration and technologies. Must have strong verbal documentation and customer service skills. Strong abilities performing monitoring, testing, troubleshooting, maintenance, and administration of WAN/LAN infrastructure, SCCM, Power Shell, iPhone, iPad, Airwatch, MDT, Intune and KMS.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, September 1, 2023. Apply online: www.sawnee. com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer of Females, Minorities, Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.

Software Engineer Senior (Alpharetta, GA): Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Work throughout the software development life cycle and perform in a utility capacity to create, design, code, debug, maintain, test, implement and validate applications with a broad understanding of a variety of languages and architectures. Resumes to: Total System Services LLC, Brian Simons, Associate Director, HR Risk and Compliance, One TSYS Way, Columbus GA 31901. #AN489124

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.

Part-time

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.

ASSISTANT TEACHERS Midway Preschool at Midway United Methodist Church is looking for people to join our team as part-time Assistant Teachers. Tuesday/Thursday or M-F from 8:15am – 1:30pm. Please contact Beth: beth@midwayumc.org

Tree Services

24 hour emergency service. Licensed, insured. Workers Comp, insurance claims. 25+ years experience. Family business. Free estimates. We Love Challenges!

Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts

770-512-8733 • www.yellowribbontree.com

COMPLETE TREE SERVICES

Appen-Rated 98

Text or Call us for a FREE quote appointment.

Tree removal, Prun ng, Stump grinding, Free mulch. Fully insured. Emergency 24/7. 770-450-8188

Home Improvement

DECKS BUILT & REPAIRED-DRYBELOW SYSTEMS INSTALLED – Affordable hardwood flooring-engineered flooring. Heritage Home Maintenance, 678-906-7100 HOMEREPAIRGA@GMAIL.COM, (HERITAGECONSTRUCTIONGA.COM)

Gutters

AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 678-508-2432

Pinestraw

PINESTRAW, MULCH

Delivery/installation available. Firewood available. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612

Bargains/Antiques

ANTIQUE TABLE, diningroom size. No scratches, looks new. $75/negotiable. 678-663-5953, 253-293-6508.

Roofing

ROOF LEAKING?

Call us for roof repair or roof replacement. FREE quotes. $200 OFF Leak Repairs or 10% off New Roof. Affordable, quality roofing. Based in Roswell. Serving North Atlanta since 1983. Call to schedule FREE Quote: 770-284-3123. Christian Brothers Roofing

Driveway

$250 OFF NEW DRIVEWAY!

Flooring

PHILLIPS FLOORING

Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes. Regrouting is also available. Call 678-887-1868 for free estimate.

Health & Fitness

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00.

100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos

Español

Dental Insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real in-surance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www. dental50plus.com/ads #6258

Attention oxygen therapy users!

Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587

Mention this ad. Concrete driveway specialists. Driveways, Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways, Slabs.  A+ BBB rating. FREE ESTIMATE. Call Rachael at 678-250-4546 to schedule a FREE Estimate. 30 years of experience. ARBOR HILLS CONSTRUCTION INC Please note we do have a minimum charge on accepted jobs of $4,500.

Cemetery

GREENLAWN ROSWELL: 2 plots on picturesque lakeview hillside. Market price, $9000 each. Bargain priced at $6000 each! 770-475-7307

Miscellaneous

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-855-948-6176

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call

1-800-245-0398

HughesNet - Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo!

Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499-0141

Become a published author.

We want to read your book!

Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24.

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Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Fi-nancing available.

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Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom!

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Diagnosed with lung cancer & 65+? You may qualify for a substantial cash award. No obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help! Call 24/7 1-877-707-5707

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Deadline to place a Classified ad is Thursday at 4

pm