Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - August 31, 2023

Alpharetta sets aside $1.8 million surplus

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta City Council approved its fiscal year 2024 millage rate and budget Aug. 28, securing an extra $1.8 million in revenues for capital projects.

City councilmembers voted 6-1 to formalize the millage, or property tax, rate and revised budget at the regular meeting. Councilman Jason Binder cast the dissenting vote for each.

The rate is set at 5.75 mills, which the city has maintained since 2009.

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.

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

The vote places the additional revenues into an unallocated capital projects account to be distributed to projects the City Council has earmarked as priorities. Capital projects are one-time, big-ticket items like street resurfacing and new equipment.

Some of these projects include sidewalk, park and recreation facility renovations; facility assessments; and traffic

See PROJECTS, Page 12

INSIDE

Candidates for council

► PAGE 3

Seized assets report

► PAGE 5

and organizations to support a helpful cause.

Drake House ice cream event a sweet success

By ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Drake House held its 19th annual Miss Mary’s Ice Cream Crankin’ fundraiser at First Baptist Roswell on Sunday, Aug. 27.

Each year, over 3,000 guests enjoy more than 100 homemade ice cream flavors from community businesses and organizations competing for top awards from local judges including Best Vanilla, Best Chocolate, Best Fruit, and Best Other Flavor. The gathering also

includes ice cream eating contests, music, and children’s activities. All proceeds from the event benefit the Drake House’s community outreach.

“This event has been going on since the second year that the Drake House existed. So, we’ve been doing it every year,” said Lynn Wilson, Chair of the Drake House’s Board of Directors. “We think that providing ice cream made by community organizations and businesses that support our community is a great way to bring people together and reinforce

See FUNDRAISER, Page 11

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Multiple vehicles stolen in Alpharetta

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police are investigating reports that several vehicles were recently stolen from locations around the city.

Public documents said a rented 2023 Toyota Highlander was stolen from the Hilton Garden Inn parking lot off Windward Parkway during an incident on Aug. 10. During another incident Aug. 20, a Honda motorcycle was stolen from the parking area of an apartment complex near Carriage Trace.

In both thefts, officers reported the vehicles were stolen without force and no evidence was found at the scenes.

Reports said no surveillance camera footage or FLOCK camera footage was able to identify where the vehicles went or who the suspects might be.

Milton man arrested for hit-and-run wreck

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 54-year-old Milton man was arrested in Alpharetta after allegedly fleeing the scene of a wreck Aug. 21.

Officers responded to the Taco Mac on North Main Street at about 8 p.m. after a victim reported his parked 2014 Volkswagen Jetta was struck from behind by a Ford Ranger that was attempting to back out of a parking space.

After the collision, the suspect fled to the QT gas station on Windward Parkway and then to his residence nearby.

Officers located the suspect at his home in Milton and charged him with hit and run.

Road rage suspect sought by police

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Police are searching for a road rage suspect who allegedly menaced a local woman in Alpharetta recently.

Reports said a driver was turning left from GA. 400 onto Windward Parkway at about 2 p.m. Aug. 9 when a Chevy Tahoe truck driver started acting aggressively towards her because she changed lanes.

The suspect driver allegedly stopped very close to her vehicle at a traffic light and punched her passenger side mirror.

The victim’s account was corroborated by security camera footage from the intersection, according to the police report. Authorities also say the film helped them identify the suspect as a 67-year-old Cumming man.

Police are now searching for the man, reports said.

Alleged dealership scammer wanted for false reports

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A man allegedly embroiled in lawsuits with several local luxury car dealerships may now be in deep water with the Alpharetta Police Department, after filing several false police reports recently.

Incident reports said a 37-year-old Atlanta man came to the Alpharetta Police Headquarters at about 2 p.m. Aug. 18 to report he was defrauded by a local car dealership that was using forged documents to alter sales contracts.

The man said the alleged fraud occurred after he purchased a $60,000 vehicle. He provided officers with several different documents that had allegedly been forged to change details in the contract.

However, when officers visited the dealership, they learned the man was lying and was part of an ongoing lawsuit over 10 vehicles financed illegally through multiple banks. The report said

the dealership had repossessed several of the vehicles involved in the alleged scheme.

The alleged victims told officers they believed the police report was the man’s latest attempt to “muddy the waters and avoid being held responsible for the fraud he has engaged in.”

Officers will charge the suspect with filing a false police report and forgery once he is taken into custody, reports said.

Fraud victim reports $15,200 in charges to jewelry store

MILTON, Ga. — A Milton woman reported to police Aug. 17 that she discovered more than $15,200 in fraudulent charges made to Kay Jewelers using her store credit card.

While the woman is in physical possession of the credit card, the police report says she never activated it but enrolled in-store during the purchase of a piece of jewelry.

The woman showed police her final payment of $390 made on June 18 of last year, but three more purchases were made in Locust Grove and Snellville.

She filed a fraud report with Kay Jewelers in April, the police report said, but the business sent a letter to her stating its investigation was complete and that it deemed her responsible for the debit.

The woman told police she had never been to either of the locations where the purchases occurred, and that she believes there is more evidence that can be obtained from the store, including video footage and transaction information.

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All four Alpharetta seats go without challengers

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta City Council now has three incumbents and one new candidate on the ballot for its elections this November.

Four candidates qualified Aug. 21 to fill the mayoral seat and City Council posts 4, 5 and 6.

Mayor Jim Gilvin has held the seat since his election in 2018, which was preceded by two terms as a city councilmember. He has lived in Alpharetta since 1998 and is a licensed real estate agent.

His top public policy goals include maintaining the safety of Alpharetta and its appeal for businesses, visitors and residents, and ensuring Alpharetta is the best city in the state to raise a family and own a business.

Post 4 Councilman John Hipes is also seeking reelection. Hipes, who was first elected in 2018, announced his reelection campaign May 1 on Facebook. He is an attorney by trade and has lived in Alpharetta between 1989 and 2005, as well as 2014 to the present.

Hipes serves as the City Council’s liaison to Recreation, Parks and Cultural Services. He has named the expansion of the Alpha Loop; the redevelopment of the North Point Mall and North Point corridor; and stormwater management as his top three public policy goals.

Mayor Pro Tem Dan Merkel also

saw no challengers for the Post 6 seat. Merkel, who has lived in the city since 1995, works as a commercial independent insurance agent. He was first elected in 2016, and he announced his campaign for reelection in the May 19 edition of the Alpharetta-Roswell Herald.

Merkel serves as the City Council's liaison to the Community Development Department. His top three public policy goals are listed as increased public safety and policing; redevelopment of the North Point Mall and its corridor; and the support and implementation of Phase II TSPLOST projects.

Fergal Brady is the only candidate who is not a sitting city councilmember. Brady filed his declaration of intent to accept campaign contributions March 17.

Brady is vying for City Council Post 5, which is currently held by Jason Binder. Binder announced in March he would not be seeking reelection.

Brady’s occupation is listed as the chief financial officer of Galerie Living, a senior living operation based in Buckhead. He also served on the Alpharetta Planning Commission since 2015.

The Alpharetta municipal election will be held Nov. 7. The deadline to register is Oct. 10.

More information on voting in Alpharetta can be found at alpharetta. ga.us/government/voting-elections/ voting.

Ten candidates qualify to run for Roswell council positions

By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Ten candidates have qualified for four seats on the Roswell City Council in the Nov. 7 elections.

Councilwoman Sarah Beeson is running to hold the Post 1 seat and will face Jason Miller for the second time in the past year.

Beeson and Miller were two of four candidates vying in last year’s special election to fill the same position after Marcelo Zapata resigned for medical reasons. Beeson and Allen Sells, another candidate, went on to a Dec.

6 runoff where Beeson secured 52 percent of the vote.

In the four-way November race, Beeson had secured 43 percent of the vote while Miller garnered 20 percent.

Now Beeson and Miller will go head-to-head, vying to fill the seat for a complete term.

Sells and three others are now qualified to run for the Post 2 position. The remaining candidates are Michael Dal Cerro, Judson McClure and Marisa Pereira.

Dal Cerro has his own experience

See QUALIFY, Page 4

Celebrating Award-Winning Pet Care... For Over

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Alpharetta Animal Hospital has been serving the Alpharetta community and surrounding area for over 50 years. We offer a variety of medical services to treat your dog or cat and strive to provide excellent care with established and emerging medical technology.

Alpharetta firm plans food drive

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta bank consulting firm Ceto will host a “Pack It Together” food drive Sept. 15 at The Plaza at Avalon to benefit North Fulton Community Charities.

The food drive is aimed at filling a 9-foot van with nonperishable items for the North Fulton Community Charities Food Pantry, which needs restocking as fall approaches. The nonprofit provides food assistance to Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park and Roswell residents.

Most needed items include peanut butter, pasta, pasta sauce, soups, macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, cereal and full-size toiletries.

Other items in need include

small milk boxes, stew, sloppy joe sauce and hash, canned fruit and canned beans. Corn and green beans are not needed.

Guests can pull up to the concierge and have their donations unloaded as well.

Chick-fil-A in Avalon will also host the Chick-fil-A cow from 4 to 5 p.m.

The food drive will run from 3 to 6 p.m. Activities and refreshments from Avalon, Chick-fil-A and Atlanta Party People will be provided. Donations to North Fulton Community Charities can also be made online at give.nfcchelp.org/ give/502699/#!/donation/checkout.

— Shelby Israel

Ed Isakson/Alpharetta Family

YMCA calls for volunteers

80 Milton Ave., Alpharetta Mon-Fri 7am-6pm • Sat 7am-10am 770.475.7613

AlpharettaAnimalHospital.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Ed Isakson/Alpharetta Family YMCA is seeking volunteers on Sept. 9 to assist with assembling lunch kits, diaper bundles and hygiene kits to support local families in need.

Community members are invited to participate in the service project from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Ed Isakson/Alpharetta Family YMCA located at 3655 Preston Ridge Road.

Qualify:

Continued from Page 3

in a Roswell runoff. In November 2021 he, Yalonda Freeman and Councilman Will Morthland ran for the Post 5 seat. Dal Cerro and Morthland would go on to a runoff election later that month, which Morthland won with 62 percent of the vote.

McClure is an east Roswell resident and product analyst for JPMorgan Chase. Pereira is a product design and process consultant. Pereira, former member of the Roswell Transportation Advisory Commission, is a product design and process consultant.

Morthland is not seeking reelection.

Councilwoman Christine Hall is seeking to hold the Post 3 seat against challenger Lyndsey Coates.

Hall won a December 2021 runoff against Lisa Holland. Hall is

This event is part of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta’s Annual Days of Service Events, where the organization brings together volunteers from across metro Atlanta to complete service projects benefiting neighbors and partners in need.

For more information and to register as a volunteer, visit ymcaatlanta.org/daysofservice.

a consulting chief financial officer for CliftonLarsonAllen, a large professional services firm.

Coates is a real estate agent and serves as president of Roswell NEXT. In a campaign announcement she said her platform focuses on transparency, improving Roswell’s business environment and “fostering a sense of unity” in the city.

Post 4 Councilman Peter Vanstrom announced his resignation in July, citing personal challenges. David Johnson and Jade Terreberry have qualified to run for the seat.

Roswell’s municipal judge position is also on this year’s ballot. Incumbent Brian Hansford has qualified for reelection and will run unopposed.

More information about the candidates and their platforms will be available as the elections grow nearer.

Send questions and topic to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

Metro Atlanta police agencies report 2022 asset forfeitures

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

METRO ATLANTA — While public safety departments across Metro Atlanta receive annual funding from local governments for operational costs, a portion of these agencies’ expenses are covered through local asset forfeiture.

A forfeited asset is property or currency that has been determined to be the benefit or proceed of a crime by a state superior court judge.

Once an agency is granted a forfeited asset, it is distributed among the law enforcement groups that participated in the investigation. Assets that are not currency are assigned a fair market value and may be liquidated through sales, such as on auction-based sites like GovDeals and PropertyRoom or through a Federal Firearms License holder.

State law requires departments to report annual asset forfeiture funds to the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a financial reporting database for local governments.

Alpharetta, Roswell, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs and Forsyth County each reported a list of expenses covered by forfeited assets in the 2022 fiscal year to the Carl Vinson Institute.

Combined, the Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs police departments and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office reported some $398,675 in expenses covered by forfeitures.

Milton Police Capt. Charles Barstow said the Milton Police Department initially did not provide an asset forfeiture report to the Carl Vinson Institute due to an oversight. The report has since been submitted, and it is pending approval by the institute as of publication.

Of the six Metro Atlanta agencies that have available reports, Roswell was the biggest spender, recording around $140,174 in expenditures covered by state forfeiture funds. Some of these expenses included training, employee travel, equipment and facilities.

The Dunwoody Police Department reported the lowest dollar amount of expenditures at $20,917, which covered training; law enforcement awards, museums and memorials; training; investigation; and facilities and equipment.

According to state law, local law enforcement agencies can use funds derived from forfeited assets “for any official law enforcement purpose at the discretion of the chief officer of the law enforcement agency receiving such distribution,” if the use does not replace other funds that have been appropriated for the purpose, or for salaries or rewards to employees.

DATA: CARL VINSON INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT CHART: CARL APPEN/APPEN MEDIA Data for Milton was unavailable. A police official told Appen Media the city did not submit their report due to an oversight, but had remedied it after it was brought to their attention.

Alpharetta provided a detailed list of expenses from its confiscated assets fund, including firearms, customized public safety Yeti cups and phone chargers.

Police departments can also cover specific types of training with forfeited asset funds. Roswell and Johns Creek offered its officers Brazilian jiu jitsu, which officials said is effective in reducing injury to suspects and officers during arrests.

“There's no difference in how we spend the money, whether it comes federally or locally,” Alpharetta police Lt. Andrew Splawn said. “But once we have the money, it can be spent on things like training, equipment, initiatives. In fact, much of our second floor is paid for with asset forfeiture money. We got a SWAT bus and some other high-dollar items that are typically hard to budget for.”

For aiding in federal investigations, local agencies can also participate in the Equitable Sharing Program, an asset forfeiture effort operated by the United States Department of Justice that allows assets or proceeds from federal crimes to be liquidated.

The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation

NOTE

Funds received through the Equitable Sharing Program are counted as federal expenses but are still considered forfeited or confiscated assets in local jurisdictions’ budgets. This story contemplates only state expenditures.

participate in the program. Local task forces that participate in investigations related to each federal branch are eligible to receive funds from assets forfeited from the crimes.

Many agencies employ officers on task forces that are related to the federal law enforcement branches, such as the highdensity drug trafficking area or financial investigation teams.

Milton student earns honor among Georgia cheerleaders

MILTON, Ga. — In early August, Milton resident Peyton Rountree earned a spot on the Top 16 2023-2024 All-State Cheerleading team, division A-4A through the Georgia Cheerleading Coaches Association.

The criteria included athletic performance; application scores that review a competitor’s academic honors, community and volunteer activities; and an in-person interview.

Rountree, a senior at Fellowship Christian School and captain of its sideline team, also placed in the top four at The Cheerleading Worlds twice. She is also a four-time Cheersport Champion, including MVP, Major’s Champion, and

has earned the “All-American” and “All Around” awards from Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders.

Rountree has also earned 27 national championships during her competitive cheer career, primarily with The Stingray Allstars.

“Peyton shows great integrity, drive and dedication in all areas of her life,” said Christina Bohler, former head coach of FCS cheerleading. “Her personal love of cheerleading and willingness to motivate those around her creates an environment of encouragement and advancement in everyone she encounters. She is a leader and an encourager, both on and off the field, or mat.”

The Herald is first and foremost a community newspaper. Send your notes, awards and photos to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

DNP, FNP-C Johns Creek Only

Lewis, FNP-C Johns Creek: Tues.,

Manolakis, FNP-C Milton Only

Menees, FNP-C Johns Creek Only

Peyton Rountree stands with awards at Columbus State University earned as part of Georgia Cheerleading Coaches Association’s All-State team Aug. 5. Rountree’s awards included a letterman patch, all-state metal and a certificate. She also earned a scholarship.

MILTON ELECTIONS

Funding group forms ahead of municipal ballot season

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Adam Hollingsworth, Milton resident and former chief of staff for Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott, calls his independent expenditure committee Milton Families First a “grassroots movement” he hopes will last for “years and years and years.”

Different from political action committees (PAC), an independent committee is a group that does not coordinate with individual candidates, according to the State Ethics Commission. It expends funds to affect the outcome of an election.

An independent expenditure committee can spend as much as it likes so long as it is completely divorced from any one candidate.

Milton Families First is the only active, independent committee registered in Milton and one of just a few in North Fulton.

Hollingsworth, president of Milton Families First, said he formed the group because some of the city’s leaders “have put their self-interests above those who they were elected to serve.” The committee boasts three founding principles — government transparency and accountability, public safety and responsible growth.

“We hope to build Milton Families First as a place to give the citizenry a seat at a really important table,” he said.

When asked how his background in politics informs Milton Families First, Hollingsworth said his background as a citizen is what’s most important.

“I’ve served in government. I’ve been a citizen who has interacted with government at every level, just like every citizen in Milton, and what’s most important to me is the functionality and responsiveness of government,” he said.

Committee focus

The Milton City Council’s three Post 2 seats are up for election in November. Two residents have announced their candidacy on the council — Doug Hene to replace Councilman Paul Moore in District 2 and Phil Cramer to replace Councilman Rick Mohrig in District 3. Both seats are ones Hollingsworth said his committee is “focusing” on.

Neither Moore or Mohrig have announced whether they will run for reelection. Moore has filed a declaration of intent to accept campaign contributions, however. No one has announced for the District 1, Post 2 seat now held by Councilwoman Carol Cookerly.

“Unfortunately, what we know is that in the case of Paul Moore, he was unanimously found to have violated multiple sections of the Milton Ethics Code, and then two appeals courts refused to even take up his appeal,” Hollingsworth said.

Last August, Moore was charged with three ethics violations when he voted to defer a council decision related to White Columns — a subdivision of about 440 homes, where he lives. Hollingsworth serves as the White Columns Community Association secretary. Milton Families First Treasurer Tony Palazzo is the White Columns president.

“In the case of Rick Mohrig, we’ve read your reporting, we’ve read the reporting from others in the community that make it clear that he crossed a line in engaging in the way in which Milton’s city elections could and should be administered,” Hollingsworth said.

In recent months, records surfaced showing Mohrig made several personal requests to Milton City Manager Steve Krokoff to interview Vernetta Nuriddin for a position as an elections consultant. Nuriddin was hired in late May.

Reporting requirements

While Milton Families First does not coordinate with candidates, Hollingworth admits he and Hene’s kids attend Kings Ridge Christian School and that he and Hene are in the same men’s prayer group. On the other hand, Hollingsworth said he met Cramer for the first time when he first considered running about a month ago.

Hene has a campaign war chest of $77,000, according to a July Campaign Contribution Disclosure Report.

Hollingsworth and Palazzo would not disclose how much money their committee has raised since its July 19 registration. Attorney R. Mansell McCord, former treasurer of the Georgia GOP, registered the committee.

“You’ll see on the Sept. 1 filing,” Palazzo said.

The State Ethics Commission requires an independent committee to file reports on the first day of each of the two months preceding an election. It also requires the committee to file a report two weeks before the election, then a final report before Dec. 31 of the election year. The committee also must file supplemental reports on June

30 and Dec. 31 of each year that it continues to accept contributions or make expenditures.

Trouble in White Columns

The White Columns HOA Board has seen major criticism in recent months. Some residents in the subdivision have said the board has lacked transparency — one of the cornerstones of Milton Families First’s founding.

One issue cited by residents who contacted Appen Media, was a “secret” personal transportation vehicle path project no longer in the works after a negative response from the community. The path would have connected the gated section to the White Columns Country Club.

Responding to the complaint, Hollingsworth said it is part of his job as a neighborhood leader to address issues raised by residents.

“[The project is] a great example of where leaders have to adjust and adapt and be responsive to the community, even if the leader’s opinion and desire is inconsistent with that of the

See FUNDING, Page 15

Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | August 31, 2023

Rivermont Golf Club celebrates after 50 years in the game

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — It’s not often that you hear of a family owned and operated golf club, or one that takes so many environmentally green measures, but that’s Rivermont in Johns Creek.

Chris Cupit, owner and general manager of Rivermont Golf Club, is the son of one of the guys who started the place in 1973. In July the club hosted the Georgia Amateur Championship for the first time as part of a week-long celebration to mark its 50th year. There were also parties for the club’s 700 members and a night of fireworks.

Cupit and his mother Lynda are neighbors and live on the golf course. Cara, Cupit’s sister, will soon run a Pilates studio that was recently built next to the clubhouse. A brown spritely dog named Hobbes, after “Calvin and Hobbes,” acted as an escort to the new building.

Cupit said family-owned private golf clubs are an unusual model. There are member-run clubs, he said, but there’s an increasing number of companies who consolidate.

“We have to be successful, and we have to make money because it’s our livelihood,” Cupit said. “But our focus is on so much more. My mom will say it’s her ministry.”

Family history

Cupit sat in his office on the second floor of the clubhouse, stately and tastefully dated, describing the story of his father David, how he came over from a big golfing family in Texas. David, who died in 2003, was one of 10 kids, and one of five who became a golf professional.

Cupit’s father moved to Atlanta and began working at the Atlanta Country Club in the ’60s, then Ansley Golf Club. Before making Rivermont what it is today, David was the first head golf professional at Dunwoody Country Club.

The Cupits became the sole owners in 1988 and since then, have fostered a sense of community among its members and beyond, like with the Rivermont Women’s Association.

While the club never had any exclusionary policies like other clubs at the time, Cupit said his family recognized the ladies wanted to be more involved and allowed not only members, but also women in the surrounding neighborhood to join.

The association has an investment club, a book club, a lunch bunch and several bridge groups. That day, about a dozen women played the card game in the dining area. The association also regularly brings in guest speakers.

See GOLF, Page 9

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Chris Cupit is the owner and general manager of Rivermont Golf Club, where he lives. The club, located on Rivermont Parkway in Johns Creek, celebrated 50 years in operation this year and hosted the Georgia Amateur Championship for its first time in July.

A member drives along the cart path to his next swing. Rivermont Golf Club prides itself on environmentally green, organic course maintenance.

If we can help people find friends and develop relationships, and have fun being together, centered around golf … that’s what we want.

CHRIS CUPIT, owner and general manager,

Rivermont Golf Club

Golf:

Continued from Page 8

Eye on environment

Rivermont Golf Club has become known for its innovative green practices.

To fertilize the course, the club’s “mad scientist” Mark Hoban brews compost tea using worm manure, or worm castings, fish hydrolysate and mycorrhizal fungi, brought in from different areas around the country like Alaska.

Hatcher Hurd, former editor and writer for Appen Media, detailed Hoban’s positive impact on Rivermont in a story from 2015. Hurd reported Hoban’s “organic maintenance philosophy” earned him the Environmental Leader in Golf award from the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation.

Cupit said Rivermont uses less than a pound of nitrogen per acre in a year, whereas golf courses tend to use four to five pounds of nitrogen per acre annually. Homeowners typically use one to two pounds of nitrogen per acre, he said.

He also said Rivermont’s irrigation uses recycled water.

“We’re the last bit before it goes in

the Chattahoochee,” Cupit said. “So instead of all the runoff going from the neighborhoods going right into the river, we capture it.”

A social sport

There’s 100 people waiting to become a member at Rivermont, Cupit said, in part due to the growth in golf’s popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Golf was one of the few things people could safely do.

The pandemic reminded everyone of how they’re social creatures, he said, contributing to the mission of Rivermont.

“If we can help people find friends and develop relationships, and have fun being together, centered around golf … that’s what we want.”

While he didn’t follow his father’s footsteps as a pro, Cupit played golf in college and involves himself with the game today whether it’s through volunteering with the Georgia State Golf Association or with the United States Golf Association as a rules official.

Cupid said he loves golf because it has some “old fashioned values,” defined by walking with a bag and not being bombarded by screens, and he enjoys that the game is “primal.”

“You get to hit a ball with a bat,” he said. “It’s fun to whack something.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

A new Pilates studio was recently built to the right of Rivermont’s clubhouse. Classes are expected to begin in September.

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. 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

HOME BY DARK CONCERT: UNION HILL PARK SERIES

What: The event, featuring Sarah Darling and Emily Shakelton, is part of a series that offers the opportunity to enjoy music by established and emerging performers and songwriters in an intimate setting under the covered pavilion nestled in the trees at Union Hill Park.

When: Friday & Saturday, Sept. 1-2, 8-10 p.m.

Where: Union Hill Park, 1590 Little Pine Trail, Alpharetta

More info: homebydark.com

ALPHARETTA FARMERS MARKET

What: Every Saturday morning through November, more than a dozen vendors set up shop near the Town Green with locally grown produce, natural meat, gardeners with fresh flowers and plants, handcrafted gifts, jellies, sauces and soaps, homemade baked goods and more.

When: Saturday, Sept. 2, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: North and South Broad streets, Alpharetta

More info: alpharettafarmersmarket.com

JAZZ ON THE LAWN

What: Forever Pink Foundation, Inc. will present the “Jazz on the Lawn” music concert with performances by Groove Centric, PR Experience and DJ XL/ Xavier Lewis. All proceeds go toward funding grants, scholarships and other philanthropic thrusts of the Foundation. Bring your cooler, picnic basket and lawn chairs to relax and enjoy the melodic tunes.

When: Saturday, Sept. 2, 4-9 p.m.

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

Cost: $75-$100

More info: jazzonthelawn.my.canva.site

JAZZ ON THE LAWN

What: Forever Pink Foundation, Inc. will present the “Jazz on the Lawn” music concert with performances by Groove Centric, PR Experience and DJ XL/Xavier Lewis. All proceeds go toward funding grants, scholarships and other philanthropic thrusts of the Foundation. Bring your cooler, picnic basket and lawn chairs to relax and enjoy the melodic tunes.

When: Saturday, Sept. 2, 4-9 p.m.

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

Cost: $75-$100 More info: jazzonthelawn. my.canva.site

SHOP, SIP & STROLL

What: This event, recurring one Friday a month through November on The Green, will feature 25-plus artisans and makers offering handmade items like candles, jewelry, pottery, skincare, gourmet food and more. There will also be live music and drinks.

When: Friday, Sept. 8, 5-8 p.m.

Where: The Green at Crabapple Market, 12650 Crabapple Road, Milton More info: crabapplemarketga.com

MUSIC ON THE HILL: THE GEEK SQUAD

What: In this event, as part of a free outdoor music series every second Friday of the month through September, The Geek Squad Band will perform. Bring a blanket, unpack your picnic and uncork a bottle to unwind with sounds from this dynamic cover band.

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT!

It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people, whether online, through our newsletters or in the Crier and Herald newspapers.

When: Friday, Sept. 8, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street, Roswell More info: roswell365.com

AN EVENING OF SONG FEATURING INDIA TYREE

What: Join this event for a performance of musical theater standards by one of Atlanta’s talented singers, India Tyree.

When: Sept. 8-10, 7:30-9 p.m.

Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $28 for adults; $20 for students; $15 for children

More info: stagedoortheatrega.org

DOGGY DAZE OF SUMMER

What: Bring your pooch and enjoy the last days of summer at East Roswell Park for a free outdoor extravaganza.

When: Saturday, Sept. 9, 4-9 p.m.

Where: East Roswell Park, 9000 Fouts Road, Roswell More info: roswell365.com

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: WHO’S BAD

What: Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to this free summer concert series, where the Michael Jackson cover band Who’s Bad will perform. Food trucks will be on-site. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Dogs are not allowed, except service animals. Music begins at 7 p.m.

When: Saturday, Sept. 9, 6-10 p.m.

Where: Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater at Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek

More info: johnscreekga.gov

CONCERT BY THE SPRINGS: STILL SWINGING

What: Get ready to hear horns, woodwinds, strings and percussion with the band Still Swinging. Lawn seating is free. No pets are allowed.

When: Sunday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m.

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

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

easy

Fundraiser:

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how important community is to organizations like ours.”

Since 2004 the Drake House has served as a nonprofit organization addressing the homelessness of single women and their children within the North Fulton community. While initially taking donations, they opened their doors in 2006 to provide safe housing for those in need. The house was named in honor of Roswell native Mary Drake, a founder of North Fulton Community Charities.

The Drake House remains the only agency in the region offering a private crisis-housing program, serving two apartment buildings to help more than 50 families and 100 children each year. Since its conception, the Miss Mary’s Ice Cream Crankin’ event is the Drake House’s largest opportunity for raising funds to benefit families and programs.

“It’s named after our founder, so there’s a very sentimental perspective there…It provides programming for our residents and support for our organizational goals,” Wilson said.

The Drake House has held their annual Miss Mary’s Ice Cream Crankin’ fundraiser for almost two decades to raise money and awareness for homelessness in the North Fulton community.

their support for years. One of the contributing churches is Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.

Phone: 770-442-3278 www.northfulton.com

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319 North Main Street, Alpharetta

“We just love supporting the Drake House. Honestly, it’s such a worthy cause,” said Walter Dean, a member of the church. “We’re uplifting the marginalized women and children in this community that are temporarily down on their luck and need support for a short period of time to get back on their feet…I am glad to be a part of it.”

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Being a staple event for the community, many of the local businesses, organizations, and churches serving ice cream have lent

First Run Date: 012419

To learn more about the Drake House and how to become involved with upcoming events and programs, visit www.thedrakehouse.org or call (770) 587-4712.

Account Exec: Mike

Production Artist: David

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PHOTOS BY ADAM DARBY/APPEN MEDIA

Alpharetta Presbyterian Church (APC) has contributed to the event with a booth of their own for over 10 years.

Comedy show to benefit local groups, with stand-up from celebrated actress

MILTON, Ga. — Southern Magnolia Charities has scheduled its third annual “Comedy on the Green” on Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m., featuring comedian and actress Caroline Rhea, and the proceeds will benefit three local groups.

Founded in 2018, Southern Magnolia Charities is a Milton nonprofit organization that serves the people of North Georgia through fundraising events and donations, making philanthropic grants, and providing services or support that contribute to the health and vitality of the community.

This year’s “Comedy on the Green” at Crabapple Market will benefit the Children’s Development Academy, a nonprofit preschool providing highquality early learning programs to children from low-income families.

Proceeds from the show will also

Projects:

Continued from Page 1

safety improvements.

At the first reading of the ordinances Aug. 21, 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.

Binder voted to deny both items at the Aug. 28 meeting, but both passed with approval from the remaining six councilmembers with no discussion. There were no public comments on the budget and tax rate at the three meetings.

The City Council awarded $97,500 at the meeting to one of its prioritized capital projects, a facilities assessment of the city’s six fire stations. Councilmembers first discussed allocating renovation funds toward the assessments at the City Council planning retreat in January.

The funding will cover an assessment of each fire station’s uses, systems, conditions and identify possible improvements. The analyses will then be used to provide recommendations for renovations to be funded separately in the future.

The work will be handled by Jericho Design Group of Cumming, one of the six firms that bid for the project in June.

City Public Safety Director John Robison said five Alpharetta firefighters have been diagnosed with cancer in recent years, which he thinks could be related to some of the materials in the aging facilities.

help fund the Georgia National Cemetery Advisory Council, whose mission is to honor veterans and their spouses, both living and in memory of, and to support the Georgia National Cemetery and Wreaths Across America.

Meals by Grace, another benefit group, brings food, hope and transformation to children and families in need. Last year, the nonprofit distributed 482,490 pounds of food to 35,812 families.

General admission and VIP tickets for “Comedy on the Green” are now on sale. VIP tickets include early admission to set up chairs as well as food and beverages from the VIP tent. For more information, visit www. SouthernMagnoliaCharities.org or follow the Facebook and Instagram pages for Southern Magnolia Charities.

SHELBY

Alpharetta Public

Director

presents an agenda item for renovations of the city’s six fire stations Aug. 28 at a City Council meeting. Councilmembers approved a contract to determine improvements for the stations.

“The clean station concept and the safety of our firefighters, of course, is number one on that list,” Robison said.

Robison said he hopes to present more formal numbers from the assessments by the City Council’s 2024 planning retreat this winter.

Also at the meeting, councilmembers unanimously approved the second reading of the updated city 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.

ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Safety

John Robison

Johns Creek City council hits pause on medical weed

Allots $8 million to Creekside Park

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek City Council voted to stall medical cannabis dispensaries in the city for 90 days to study their appropriate zoning districts.

Before the vote at the Aug. 22 regular meeting, Community Development Director Ben Song said city staff received two inquiries about Johns Creek opening a medical cannabis dispensary in the past month.

“We were sort of caught off guard because generally we would treat it as just any other commercial use, which will be permitted in C-1, just like any other pharmaceutical or pharmacy,” Song said.

Since Georgia’s Hope Act passed in 2019, the possession and sale of low-level THC oil has been legalized as medicine for people with qualified conditions, like cancer, Parkinson’s disease and autism. Song said the

Johns Creek Community Development Director Ben Song presents information on medical cannabis dispensaries and the need for a related 90-day moratorium to study the city’s zoning districts Aug. 22 at a City Council work session. Later that night, councilmembers voted unanimously to stall applications for the dispensaries.

current state law allows for up to six operators with 30 dispensaries statewide.

The oil must contain less than 5 percent THC. The product is different from CBD, which does not contain THC and is already being sold in the city.

Other North Fulton cities have issued a similar moratorium on dispensaries in previous years, including Alpharetta and Roswell.

Earlier this month, Dunwoody officials finalized an amendment to their zoning ordinance, allowing medical

cannabis dispensaries in all their commercial districts but with a 1,000foot separation state requirement from schools, daycare and places of worship. Dunwoody also required a 2-mile separation between the businesses.

After Song’s presentation, Mayor John Bradberry requested city staff also look into the age requirement of tobacco sales to align the city ordinance with state requirements. In 2020, Georgia enacted a law that raised the age for tobacco sales from 18 to 21.

“I’m definitely hearing some things about how the age that kids are getting access to some of these things is getting lower and lower,” Bradberry said.

Councilmembers were all in favor of the moratorium, some sharing the same sentiment as the mayor. Councilwoman Erin Elwood said she supports the decriminalization of marijuana but understands the need for proper safeguards for young people in the community.

Also at the work session, the City Council continued its discussion on how to allocate $8.5 million in fiscal year 2023 surplus funds. Bradberry

See PAUSE, Page 15

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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.

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

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Nonprofit plans program on navigating dementia

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Atlanta chapter of Adult Children of Aging Parents will host a free program on communicating with loved ones who have dementia Sept. 13 at the Town Square Sandy Springs Adult Day and Alzheimer’s Resource Center.

The educational event “Communicating with Individuals Living the Dementia Experience” will feature three techniques on navigating the subject, as well as discussions on relationship building and overcoming obstacles.

Dementia Team Lead Staci Hannah of the Georgia Department of Human

Funding:

Continued from Page 7

community,” Hollingsworth said.

Residents of the non-gated section of White Columns were not aware of the path project until March, nor its $47,000 estimated cost. But Hollingsworth said the project was exclusively funded by gated residents, who had been informed about the plan since it began more than a year ago.

Residents have also criticized the way the HOA Board’s fall 2022 elections were handled. Hollingsworth, who was on the ballot, received cast proxies as the secretary, but he said this was in line with the community’s

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Continued from Page 14

brought forth the need for $350,000 in retention bonuses for public safety and another $200,000 for city offices, and the council gave unanimous support.

However, there was tension when discussing how the rest of the money would be spent, while keeping in mind the fiscal year 2024 budget, to be based on the newly adopted rollback rate of 3.646 mills.

Councilmembers were given a few options, but most of the conversation rested on funding Creekside Park or setting aside money to replace Fire Station 63, the city’s oldest fire station, in the future.

While the City Council conceded to send nearly $8 million to Creekside Park, it was a close call. Some stayed with their concerns about banking on next year’s surplus to fund Fire Station

Services will present the program. Hannah specializes in supporting those living with dementia and their caregivers. She also owns Graceful Journey, a coaching business on navigating terminal illness.

Registration opens at 5 p.m., and refreshments will be provided. The program begins at 5:30 p.m. in Suite 130 in Building 1 at 8601 Dunwoody Place in Sandy Springs.

More information on ACAP Atlanta programs is available at acapcommunity.org/upcoming-events.

— Shelby Israel

Delivering Readers Award-Winning Newspapers

governing documents.

There were other ways White Columns residents could participate in the election, Hollingsworth said, including sending proxies to the property manager.

Questions also surround the proxies themselves. Hollingsworth ran in a slate with other candidates, and pre-filled DocuSign proxies were circulated throughout the community, but he said residents had the option to vote for individual candidates.

“We have made the bold and courageous decision to be public about advocating for important principles in government, which certainly makes us ripe for those who want to throw stones,” Hollingsworth said.

63, which needs $6 million.

“That’s way too risky,” Councilwoman Stacey Skinner said.

But when Councilman Larry DiBiase later shared similar concerns, Elwood said the city will have around $19 million leftover for fiscal year 2025 after budgeting for operations to fund the fire station with certainty.

“We will have money to fund the fire station,” Elwood said. “We just may have to make some decisions.”

Using funds previously set aside, the City Council later agreed to move forward with a $418,438 design and engineering contract for the new Fire Station 63. The building will be combined with a police south substation.

“I do want to emphasize this project is important for us internally,” Recreation and Parks Director Erica Madsen said at the work session. “We’re pulling together expertise from across all the different departments to really make this project a success.”

PRESERVING THE PAST

A story of three different churches

In a sense, this week’s column is a sequel to a recent column I wrote telling the story of Amariah Hembree (17811855) and the house he built in Roswell around 1834, along with its modern day restoration and renovation. Amariah and his family together with 13 other Christians met in the Hembree home on July 16, 1836, to establish the Lebanon Baptist Church. It was named after the community of Lebanon and was to be the first church in the area to welcome black members.

Caroline Dillman in her seminal book, “Days Gone by in Alpharetta and Roswell Georgia,” described Lebanon as “a thriving village,” located in the general area from where Holcomb Bridge Road goes over Big Creek to the intersection of Highway 9 and Holcomb Bridge Road. Early Roswell pioneering residents such as Roswell King and people living in other local areas depended on Lebanon for their supplies, post office and services such as blacksmithing.

Amariah’s son James, a carpenter, built a structure, possibly a log cabin, on Houze Road about a mile from the Lebanon business center to serve as a church reportedly at a cost of $158. A cemetery was built next to the church. During the Civil War in 1864 Union soldiers badly damaged the church. Repairs were done but a new church was built at the corner of Highway 9 and Holcomb Bridge in 1866 where it remained for about 130 years.

In 1996 the Lebanon Baptist Church purchased 28 acres on Crabapple Road which is the church’s current home.

The original cemetery remains on Houze Road. The cemetery is not easy to find and is surrounded by houses. Some 145 memorials are there. Most of the tombstones are illegible. Many original church members are buried in the cemetery including at least 20 members of the Hembree family and more than 70 unmarked fieldstones, most likely anonymous black graves. One identified slave named Jone worked in the home of John Bulloch, grandfather of former president Theodore Roosevelt. Amariah Hembree and his wife Sara Minton (1781-1856) are buried in the cemetery. Burials took place until the 1980s, although most took place many years earlier.

Two slaves, Burt Hembree and his brother Alec Hembree, were ordained

as ministers by the Lebanon Presbytery circa 1839/40.

Around 1847-1855 the black congregation of the Lebanon Baptist Church established their own church, the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and cemetery. Burt Hembree was the first pastor with Alex Hembree serving as a deacon. The original church, located at the corner of Holcomb Bridge and Highway 9, is gone. The Pleasant Hill Church purchased land and built a new church on Pleasant Hill Street in 1922 with members contributing the labor. In 1963 the building was replaced by a new church in the same location. The cemetery was established in 1855 and has more than 112 graves. It is located off Old Roswell Place. Burials continued until the early 1960s.

Circa 1871 white members of Lebanon Baptist Church donated land for a missionary church and school which was built in 1885 at Zion Circle in Roswell by a group of African American Christians. The original one room Zion Missionary Baptist Church building was destroyed by fire in 1885. Its replacement was severely damaged by fire in the early 1960s and torn down in 1963 to be rebuilt the following year. In 2001, Zion moved in to a new 77,000 square-foot building on Zion Circle.

Thus, three historic and successful Roswell churches, The Lebanon Baptist Church, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church

and the Zion Missionary Baptist Church, are linked together over time in unique ways. Brian Peterson, Senior Pastor of the Lebanon Baptist Church since 2012, says “The partnership and faithfulness in the gospel of these three churches for more than a century is a clear demonstration of the sovereign grace of

God.”

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.

PHOTOS BY BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

The Lebanon Baptist Church cemetery has some 145 memorials including members of the founding Hembree family and many blacks in mostly unmarked graves.

This is the sign at the entrance to the Lebanon Baptist Church cemetery on Houze Road.

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

Have a question? Ask a master gardener.

Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteers (MGEVs) assist the UGA Cooperative Extension in providing horticultural information using research and the resources of the University of Georgia. Here are a several recent questions that came to the help desk at the Fulton County Extension office.

Question: My Bartlett pear bloomed beautifully in early spring, but then the stems started turning brown and died. I’ve learned it may be due to fire blight so I cut off as much as I could and sterilized the pruners. It still looks like the tree will die. Is there any remedy for this disease?

Answer from MGEV Dana Hallberg: I’m sorry for the loss of your pear tree due to fire blight. As you have already done, prune any affected plant parts, making sure to clean pruners with isopropyl alcohol or disinfectant wipes between cuts. This will help prevent spreading the disease. Dispose of pruned limbs in the garbage or burn them. Next year, apply fungicides/bactericides preventively. Most fungicides will not make a difference on plants that are already showing symptoms. The publications above have suggestions about pruning symptomatic branches, along with information on what products to apply and when.

Question: I’ve noticed large mounds in a mulched area in the alley behind my house and huge hornets flying around the mounds. There are also some dead cicadas on the ground nearby. I managed to get a few photos of the hornets. What are they and do I need to be worried?

Answer from Extension Agent Gabrielle LaTora: Your photos confirm that these are not actually hornets, but Eastern cicada killer wasps! Cicada killers, even though they’re huge, are not aggressive and are only interested in hunting cicadas. The male wasps like to “patrol” and

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might be more interested in people than the female wasps, but they can’t sting. Females are very unlikely to sting unless they’re being handled or accidentally squeezed. The adults are busy during mid-late summer building their nests and collecting cicadas for their larvae inside the nests. They should be done flying by early September. The larvae will overwinter in the spots where the mounds are and emerge next year from those spots. I wouldn’t expect a huge explosion in the population, but you will see wasps in that area next year if you leave the mounds. If you decide to remove them, you can apply insecticides listed for wasps or grow plants or turfgrass in that spot. If you decide to disturb the mounds during the summer, I would do so at night when the females are inactive, and wear protective clothing (or leave it up to the professionals!).

I would encourage you and your neighbors not to worry about them and to leave them alone since they’re great pollinators and beneficial predators of cicadas.

Question: What can I do about ambrosia beetles in my crape myrtle and fig trees?

Answer from Extension Educator

Norlethia Harris: Unfortunately, once you start seeing signs of an ambrosia beetle infestation there is not much you can do to get rid of them. The beetles bore into the trunks of trees and produce frass (insect poop) that looks like toothpicks sticking out of the trunk. This is the main sign that you have the beetles. Ambrosia beetles also inoculate the tree with a fungus that feeds the emerging larvae. This fungus then clogs up the vascular system of the tree and affects its ability to take up water. If you are seeing signs of the beetle on a small number of branches, we recommend pruning the infected limbs and safely burning or bagging them and removing them from the site. If the damage is more extensive, you will have to remove and dispose of the entire tree to prevent the beetles spreading to other trees.

Ambrosia beetles are attracted to trees that are stressed, e.g., trees that may not be receiving the right amounts of water, nutrients from the soil, or are stressed from the environment. The two

If you have a question about your landscape or garden, contact the North Fulton UGA Extension Office at 404-613-7670 or northfulton.extension@uga. edu. Or find a local UGA Extension office by calling 1-800-ASK-UGA1 or visit https://extension.uga.edu/county-offices.html.

deep freezes we had this past winter (in December and March) resulted in trees being stressed and susceptible to the ambrosia beetles. The best solution to an ambrosia beetle attack is early identification and early removal and disposal of infected plant material. You also want to make sure that the trees remain as healthy as possible. This means planting tree species that are suited to our climate here in Georgia and to the particular characteristics of your yard or landscape and fertilizing and watering

More information

appropriately.

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.

Your local Fulton County Extension office does soil testing and plant disease diagnostics. Follow instructions for taking soil and plant samples and bring them to your local Fulton County Extension office.

Pricing:

• Routine Soil Test – pH, Lime, P, K, Ca, Mg, Z, Ma ($12 per sample)

• Expanded Soil Test – S1 + Na, Fe, Cu, Cr, Mo, Ni, Cd, Pb, CEC, % base saturation ($14 per sample).

• Homeowner Plant Disease Sample ($10 per sample)

About the author

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

GABRIELLE LATORA Guest Columnist

THE INVESTMENT COACH

Is tithing one of your financial imperatives?

percent, and counseled, “You should also know how much you make. Part of the benefit of giving a portion of your money is it makes you think about where your money goes. God does not want us to be sloppy with our finances, Don.”

LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP

The Investment Coach

In Newtown Park in Johns Creek there is a free lending library in what looks like a big birdhouse. Walking in the park almost every day, I always check the library to see if there’s a new book that piques my interest. Recently I finished “Blue Like Jazz,” a book by Donald Miller billed as “nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality.” A semi-autobiographical work, it’s a collection of essays and personal reflections of a young man wrestling with his conscience midst secular surroundings as he seeks to better understand the nature of God and Jesus, and the need for an authentic personal response to that understanding.

In a chapter on the subject of money, after learning that a friend, who always seemed broke and, in many ways, appeared to be non-religious, tithed, Don confessed to his pastor that he gave no money to the church. Rick, the pastor, asked why he didn’t give, and Don replied, “Because I have no money. Everything goes to rent and groceries. So am I exempt?” Acknowledging Don’s tough financial situation, Rick said, “Nope. We want your cash.” After a brief conversation, Don speculated that maybe he made about a thousand dollars a month as a struggling writer. Rick said the church wanted a hundred dollars, ten

One reason folks engage a financial planner is because they don’t want “to be sloppy with finances.” They desire a well-thought-out and disciplined approach based on defined goals and objectives and life transitions timelines. In planning what your money and investments should do for you, questions are posed. Writer Mitch Anthony, in his best-selling book, “The New Retirementality,” offered a way to think about money based on Abraham Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs.” At the base of a pyramid titled “Maslow Meets Retirement,” Anthony starts with “survival money,” funds needed to handle everyday expenses and necessities. At the next level up is “safety money,” a reserve to meet “life’s unexpected turns,” emergency money.

Next you have “freedom money,” funds for life’s fun things, hobbies, travel, dining out, theater, sports, plus personal growth and education, etc. Higher on your pyramid, is “gift money,” funds for the people and causes about which you care deeply, including support and gifts to children, grandchildren, charities, etc. Sometimes “sandwich generation” needs for offspring (whether minors or adults over age 18), or aging parents or grandparents, may necessitate funding expenses out of cash reserves or deferring “freedom money” aspirations. At the top of your pyramid is “dream

money,” perhaps for a second home, motor home, boat, exotic trips. Dreams often are listed as “bucket list” items.

In talking with clients early in the planning stage, it is useful to understand religious preferences and affiliations as some folks practice tithing. For many, tithing, money donated for God’s purposes comes “off of the top,” given as part of “survival money” with faith that our Lord will provide. When Don decided to tithe, he emptied his checking account that contained only eight dollars. But shortly thereafter he got a lucrative writing gig with a magazine plus well-paid speaking engagements at retreats and conferences. Each time he took ten percent off of the top for his church and another ten percent went into a savings account. His life, attitude, earning power, net worth, and sense of wellbeing, improved dramatically. As an advisor I have heard the same story over and over; those who give time, talent, and treasure to causes about which they care report getting more done with more energy and success in work and play. Interesting how that works!

The concept of tithing one-tenth of your income first appeared in the Old Testament. Leviticus 27:30 instructs, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” The 10% requirement specifically comes from the Hebrew translation of tithe, or “ten.”

Philanthropy is an important aspect of financial planning, which can be combined with prudent tax planning. Some Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by asking

whether it was lawful to pay taxes to the oppressive Roman Emperor. Pointing out that Caesar’s face appeared on the coin of the realm, Jesus replied, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21). For those blessed with significant income and net worth, it’s prudent and acceptable to minimize taxes while doing good. Various types of trust vehicles may be employed. Gifting common stock with embedded taxable capital gains may make sense compared to giving cash. Insurance vehicles may provide tax free cash to heirs while some of the estate assets go to charity. Those taking mandatory distributions from qualified retirement plans like 401(k) or IRA plans, may donate up to $100,000 per year as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to approved charities while having the money excluded from taxable ordinary income. That may help to lower Part B Medicare premiums.

Mark Victor Hanson, author of “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” opined, “Discover the joy of giving and you will discover the reason for living.” Life without purpose is a train wreck.

Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group (CIG); 770-441-3553; lewis@ capitalinsightgrp.com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA), which is otherwise unaffiliated with CIG. Lewis a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

Roxy kills a Copperhead in a late-night battle

The way I see it, there are three ways to look at snakes.

There are those who pay the creatures no mind.

Others are fascinated and will participate on social media sites trying to one-up one another when it comes to identifying whether you’ll be close to bodily harm should you step on one like it while walking barefoot in the yard.

But majority rules whenever folks are anywhere near one of these slithering creatures. They refuse to leave the house until someone has blasted the reptile to smithereens. They’re the ones who quote the Bible about snakes being “evil,” quoting Genesis and relaying how the no-good belly-crawler tricked Eve and now we have a passel of bad things because Eve didn’t refuse the apple.

In my house, everyone except me is scared to death every time someone says there is a snake in Forsyth County. We used to have a big, gorgeous white king snake that would use our yard as a thoroughfare every summer.

“Welcome back, Whitey,” I would say. “Help yourself. Treat our lot like it’s your own Golden Corral.”

Vicki and the boys, whenever there is a snake on the premises, lock the doors, close the shutters and turn out the lights, refusing to go outside until Dad has given assurances that “Mr. No Shoulders” has departed.

My brother Matt refuses to visit because there are snakes in Georgia. I’ve told him you can step around a snake to avoid it. How can you dodge an earthquake.

So far, you’re probably thinking: “Okay, he’s a little goofy and kinda likes good snakes that eat bugs and whatnots.”

A recent occurrence in the neighborhood could have turned out a lot worse. In summary, there was an encounter where

the final score turned out to be Roxy, the 80-pound pit bull-mix, besting a Copperhead in a fight to the finish.

As part of a bedtime ritual, neighbors Josh and Alethea let Roxy out to do her business before bedtime. Roxy didn’t want to go to bed, instead staring at the grass.

Josh said she was very lethargic and not herself. She was producing a Niagara Falls amount of drool and still staring out into the yard.

If Roxy was a boxer, she would have been dancing with her arms stretched to the sky like she was Muhammad Ali after a win.

Josh investigated, grabbing a flashlight, paying little mind to the stick in the yard. After all, the stick wasn’t moving. Roxy had vanquished a six-foot Copperhead, but not before the snake bit Roxy an estimated five times.

It must’ve been a whale of battle. Roxy was hurting and needed help. It took two vials of antivenin and a stay at All Pets in Alpharetta, a facility that luckily had the

antidote to the poison that was coursing through Roxy’s body. She was discharged after a night of treatment and came home.

She was in excellent hands. After all, Alethea is a nurse. Roxy received antibiotics and there was no sign of infection or necrosis. All told, with the antivenin costing $495 a vial, the entire episode cost Josh and Alethea around $2,000.

It was a most unfortunate encounter and the snake didn’t mean to put a hurtin’ on Roxy. After all, it was just being a snake. And now it’s a hatband.

Copperheads are around these parts, and they aren’t looking for a fight. If you see one, don’t shoot it, unless it’s with a water hose. They just want to eat a mouse or a frog.

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.

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MIKE TASOS Columnist

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Dunwoody Nature Center to host free Saturday event

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody Nature Center will host its monthly Free First Saturday event Sept. 2, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Nature Center officials said this month’s event theme is “Reptile Roundup” and will feature a craft, activity, guided hike and unique meetings with a real-life reptile. The event is free to all ages and families do not need to register ahead of time.

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