Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - October 31, 2024

preserving native culture

Jim Sawgrass, a native Floridian of Muscogee Creek (Mvskoke) descent and living historian of the southeastern tribes of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, shows a replica of a Christopher Columbus gun during a program based on the history and culture of Southeastern Native Americans at Riverside Park in Roswell on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. See story and more photos, page 3.

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell city leaders celebrated the grand opening of Southern Post, a 4.28acre mixed-use development off Alpharetta Highway.

The property features nearly 140 luxury apartments, 95,000 square feet of office space and 40,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.

Nearly 100 residents are living on-site in the multifamily portion, Chandler Residences, and around 90 percent of retail space is leased.

The roster features Amorino, Azotea Canwtina, BODYROK, Bey Mediterranean Kitchen + Bar, Watch Your Wrist, Sweathouz, Cavina Wellness, Belux Coffee, Silla Del Toro, Grana and Da Vinci’s Donuts.

Roswell Inc Executive Director Steve Stroud introduced a slate of speakers including Shawn Tibbetts, CEO of Southern Post’s owner and developer Armada Hoffler; Kim Scott, CEO and president of Southern Post tenant Vestis Corporation; and Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson.

DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA

NEWS TIPS

770-442-3278

AppenMedia.com

319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009

HANS APPEN Publisher RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus CONTACT

Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.

ADVERTISING

For information about advertising in the AlpharettaRoswell Herald or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278

CIRCULATION

To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Alpharetta man arrested for role in Capitol attack

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

ATLANTA — A Georgia man has been arrested in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted the counting of electoral votes from the 2020 presidential election.

Cylester Maxwell, 42, of Alpharetta was taken into custody in Georgia Oct. 18 and charged with assaulting law enforcement officers with a dangerous weapon and civil disorder, both felonies. He also faces misdemeanor charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and engaging in physical violence

POLICE BLOTTER

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

Man discovers bank transfers after returning from trip

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A man reported to police an invasion of his digital privacy and fraudulent financial transaction on Oct. 16.

The man, an Alpharetta resident, said he discovered transactions from his checking account totaling $12,700, according to an Alpharetta police report. The man noticed the transactions after finding his cellphone’s service was mysteriously disrupted.

The man noticed the suspicious activity after turning on a phone he had left at home after returning from a trip abroad. He suspected his SIM card had been removed and scanned.

An employee of the apartment complex or maid he employs could have entered his apartment, he said.

Access to the man’s phone had no protection from passwords or facial identification.

in a Capitol building or grounds.

According to court records, Maxwell was identified in video footage marching with a crowd of rioters away from the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse toward the Capitol building. Maxwell then entered the restricted grounds of the Capitol and positioned himself near the front of a crowd confronting a police line on the West Plaza.

A short time later, he joined others in the crowd in shoving a giant metal-framed “TRUMP” sign into the line of police like a battering ram. A few seconds later, he let go of the sign and pulled a barricade away from the police line.

No physical items were reported stolen from his apartment.

Police classified the reported crimes as computer invasion of privacy and financial transaction credit fraud.

— Jon Wilcox

Police arrest Augusta man for alleged threats, drugs

ROSWELL, Ga. — Police arrested a 27-year-old Augusta man Oct. 24 after he allegedly broke into an apartment and threatened to kill a construction worker.

Dispatch told officers that an armed, shirtless man had threatened people with a knife at a residence within the Landings Martin Lakes development.

Officers said they quickly located and detained the suspect around 9:30 p.m. after setting up a perimeter.

One victim, a 40-year-old Roswell resident, said the suspect entered the apartment, pulled out a switch blade and began yelling and saying he was going to kill somebody.

The victim told officers he feared for his life during the incident and was there for a construction job.

Officers said they then spoke with

Maxwell later joined the front of the mob as it broke through the police line. He then remained on or near the West Plaza as rioters flooded the Capitol’s Lower and Upper West Terraces.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Atlanta and Washington field offices and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Justice Department’s Counterterrorism Section.

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

the worker’s boss who said she was also at the apartment during the incident.

When she first saw the suspect, the victim said she ran to her vehicle in the parking lot.

Eventually, she said the suspect exited the residence and walked toward her before she drove off.

Officers said they provided both victims with a case number and told them to reach out with any other information.

During a search of the suspect, officers said they found crystallized substance and two glass pipes with residue.

Officers said a field test of the substance was positive for fentanyl.

An ambulance transported the suspect to Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center to be evaluated for a possible overdose.

Officers then secured warrants for aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

After being denied at the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta, officers transported him to the Rice Street facility.

— Hayden Sumlin

Living historian educates Roswell community

ROSWELL, Ga. — Jim Sawgrass, a native Floridian of Muscogee Creek (Mvskoke) descent and living historian of the southeastern tribes of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama brought his educational program based on the history and culture of Southeastern Native Americans to Riverside Park in Roswell on Sunday, Oct. 27.

Dressed in historic 1800’s-era native clothing, Sawgrass demonstrated tools, weapons, toys and other implements and talked about the food, clothing, shelter, beliefs and cultural practices of

the Southeastern Native Americans.

The program which was presented by Roswell’s Historic House Museums and the city of Roswell also featured traditional drumming and dancing.

“I’m showing things that go back thousands of years: life ways, farming, fishing, hunting, gathering of nature. The Native knew how to live off the land, that’s for sure. I’m very honored to be here to share our story,” Sawgrass said.

— Photos by Dean Hesse

Jim Sawgrass (left) a native Floridian of Muscogee Creek (Mvskoke) descent and living historian of the southeastern tribes of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama leads an educational program based on the history and culture of Southeastern Native Americans at Riverside Park in Roswell on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.

Francisco Zamora drums and sings during an educational program based on the history and culture of Southeastern Native Americans at Riverside Park in Roswell on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.

has been

since

Following Appen Media’s acquisition of Decaturish, Hesse is now part of the Appen newsroom. Support the work of protecting and strengthening local news in North Atlanta by becoming a member of the Appen Press Club at appenmedia.com/join.

Audience members join in a friendship dance during an educational program based on the history and culture of Southeastern Native Americans at Riverside Park in Roswell on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.

Aigauge Jumper performs a traditional dance during an educational program based on the history and culture of Southeastern Native Americans at Riverside Park in Roswell on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024

Henry Mekseree performs a traditional hoop dance during an educational program based on the history and culture of Southeastern Native Americans at Riverside Park in Roswell on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.

BEHIND THE PHOTOS: Dean Hesse is an award-winning photojournalist who

capturing stories for Decaturish

2019.

Food hall neighbors address traffic concerns

Council

buys more Green Street land for $1.15 million

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Junction food hall, which was scheduled to open off South Atlanta Street in late October, is causing a stir among its neighbors.

Their concern is how additional traffic caused by the development might impact the neighborhood, with more than two dozen homes.

Roswell Junction is a 12,000-squarefoot space that will feature three bars, a bandstand and outdoor patio, in addition to the seven food vendors slated for the location. Management is planning on nightly events.

Its developer Will Colley, principal of private equity real estate firm Polara Capital, is looking to mitigate the impact by transforming the functional use of Church Circle, the street leading up from behind to the food hall.

The plan, approved by the City Council Oct. 28, is to transform the northernmost 100 feet of Church Circle

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Ernie Geyer, a neighbor to the Roswell Junction food hall, asks Roswell Transportation Director Jeff Littlefield questions regarding the developer’s plans to change the functionality of a nearby road at the Oct. 28 City Council meeting.

into a two-way, from the intersection of Jones Drive to the food hall’s rear parking lot.

It also calls for the remaining portion to be constructed into a multi-use trail, equipped with bollards that are wide enough to allow a golf cart but not a vehicle.

“We're trying to protect the neighborhood from having excess vehicles travel through and just unnecessary trips to the neighborhood,” Transportation Director Jeff Littlefield said in his presentation Monday evening.

While there’s no financial impact to the city, Littlefield said the city would

own and maintain the bollards, which the developer would install.

There will also be directional signage into Roswell Junction, he said.

Neighbor concerns

Janet Russell, who lives in the nearby neighborhood, was the first of three neighboring resident to comment on the item.

Russell took issue with the twoway concept, noting the narrow width of Church Circle and how the grading creates a limited sight distance.

“Remember that the people who go to the Junction will be entering, or actually leaving, probably drunk,” Russell said.

Another neighbor Ernie Geyer, also the owner of Lucky’s Burger and Brew, said the proposal was “probably the only solution,” but recalled when the business’ site plans were first approved.

“This was discussed about how the parking was going to be … a convoluted problem,” Geyer said. “... I think it was overlooked. It's like you approved it, but now we haven't even opened it, and it's already a problem that they're trying to find a solution to.”

Geyer advocated that a police officer

See TRAFFIC, Page 16

The Power of Preventive Care.

If

Alpharetta police pitch Tesla patrol, admin cars

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Tesla electric vehicles could provide the city’s police officers a cheaper, more efficient alternative, a department official said at an Oct. 28 meeting.

“At the end of the day, this is about being a good steward of the taxpayers’ money,” Major Trent Lindgren said.

Lindgren gave a presentation to council members, asking them to consider the $349,910.70 purchase of four Tesla Model Ys from Unplugged Performance, a company that upgrades the electric vehicles for police use, and the necessary charging infrastructure. The Teslas would be used on a trial basis in patrol and administrative duties.

Lindgren said the No. 1 motivator for trying out the vehicles is their cost, which is further reduced by a $7,500 federal tax credit rebate.

Before their tax credits are applied, each of the Teslas modified for patrol use would cost $80,744. The vehicles outfitted for administrative use would cost $59,722.

Council members listen to a presentation by Major Trent Lindgren about Tesla electric vehicles for police use at their Oct. 28 meeting. The vehicles would be cheaper and could last longer than gas-powered vehicles, a department official said.

Patrol Ford Explorers cost $70,629.88, and Chevrolet Tahoes come with a $79,811.41 price tag.

The electric vehicles also offer savings in gas and maintenance, Lindgren said.

department’s fleet usually have a lifetime of about six to eight years or 110,000 miles. Lindgren said the department will evaluate the durability and lifetime of the four Teslas during their trial period. But he said he expects them to last longer and be cheaper to maintain than their gas counterparts.

The Teslas also come with a built in maintenance software package that tracks repairs, giving the department an overview of exactly how they perform.

Lindgren said he has researched the use of Teslas in other police departments around the nation, but policing in Alpharetta has unique demands, making a comparison difficult. The department will analyze potential savings of the Teslas, and officers who use them will provide feedback.

With that information, the department hopes to make a decision within a matter of years about whether they should be used on a wider scale. The electric vehicles provide other benefits, like comfort and a softer impact on the environment, he said.

The department currently has about 70 gas vehicles in its patrol fleet.

On average, a vehicle may travel up to 150 miles during a patrol and as many as 60 for an officer’s commute, he said. The Tesla’s range of about 280 miles easily accommodates those requirements. The electric vehicles also can reach 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.

Gas powered vehicles in the police

Using vehicles that don’t contribute carbon emissions is a plus, but it’s not

See TESLA, Page 16

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

Regional agency pushes aid plan for homebound to area counties

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — An Atlanta Regional Commission trial program reduced long waitlists for in-home care by allowing those in need to hire their own staff, the agency said.

If implemented by counties, the consumer-direct model could reduce backlogs and give caregivers more autonomy and flexibility, said Cara Pellino, access to services unit manager for the ARC.

In Fulton County, waitlists for all in-home services extend more than one year, with many on the sidelines several years, Pellino said. Many on the waitlists are people in immediate need.

“These are vulnerable individuals, some of whom have limited or no caregiver support in the community or may even be caregivers themselves,” she said. “The help is not there when they need it.”

The Atlanta Regional Commission is a regional planning agency. Its Area Agency on Aging serves 10 metro counties, including Fulton and DeKalb.

Often, homebound senior clients who seek in-home services through the 1965 federal Older Americans Act are placed on waiting lists while a case manager determines which services and resources are needed, Pellino said. The act provides funding to allow local and state agencies to provide care for older adults. Its services include homedelivered meals, health and wellness programs, in-home care, transportation, elder abuse prevention, caregiver support and adult day care, according to the nonprofit USAging.

Through the ARC’s consumerdirected model, those seeking aid can bypass the normal process and directly hire their own care staff or request help from an agency.

“The assumption is that the person knows better about what they need,” Pellino said. “It’s about preference and choice.”

During its four years of operation which ended in September, the ARC program served 68 clients and seniors in all 10 counties its Area Agency on Aging covers. About 75 percent chose to hire their own employees or family members. About 20 percent opted for finding care through an agency.

The ARC used federal COVID-19 funding to start the program, hoping it would serve as a “proof of concept,” said Becky Kurtz, manager of ARC’s Aging & Health Resources Division.

“We were like, ‘Let’s show the value of

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA Cara Pellino, access to services unit manager for the Atlanta Regional Commission, gives a presentation on the organization’s consumer-direct program for caretakers and older adults at the ARC office in Downtown Atlanta Oct. 23.

this,’” Kurtz said.

Studies on consumer-direct care programs have shown no increase in fraud than traditional models, Pellino said.

Next, the ARC plans to apply the consumer-direct model to services offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

ARC officials will visit veterans who need services and help them complete the necessary paperwork to enroll and hire their own caregivers.

Consumer-direct service models could and should be applied at locallevel Area Agencies on Aging, Pellino and Kurtz said.

“They’re the ones that get the funding to pull people off the waiting list, to provide the homemaker personal care,” Pellino said. “So, if they had the consumer-directed model, they could probably really further reduce their waitlist.”

The ARC is ready to work with county governments to show them the benefits and how they can be implemented, Kurtz said.

“We’ve had experience with it over the last few years,” Kurtz said. “We can coach you through it. We really want you all to be trying this at the county level.”

Georgia ranks 47th in the nation for access to consumer-directed programs, Pellino said. Local governments may be wary of trying out a model that is unfamiliar, but she said there’s nothing to be afraid of.

“Try it,” Pellino said. “Instead of having people on multiple waitlists, they could use the same dollar amount … and be more efficient.”

Samantha B. Benson, MD Johns Creek: Tues., Thurs. Milton: Mon., Fri.

Kaavya Chivukula, MD Johns Creek Only

Learning Pod students give funds for new bus to hurricane victims

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Students at an Alpharetta learning pod learned the power of kindness with their most recent class project.

The students, aged 4-12, donated $517 of their profits to victims of hurricanes Milton and Helene after selling handmade products to community members.

“(The kids decided), ‘We are raising money for the people who have nothing, who have no homes,’” said Emelie Lidberg, who teaches at the pod with her mother Nicole Lidberg, founder and lead educator.

It’s a lesson so important it’s listed on the school’s doormat, which reads “Be kind.”

As a part of their Seed to Table project, the pod’s nine students made and sold items like rosemary-infused olive oil bath salts, cooking salts, lavender garlands and baked goods. At an Oct. 9 farmers market hosted by the students, they sold the items to friends, family and employees from a nearby office park.

After subtracting about $200 they sunk into the project, they handed off the proceeds to the nonprofit Convoy of Hope.

Victims of the storms were on the tops of the students’ minds after discussions about those impacted. Some students had loved ones whose homes were flooded.

The learning pod NEST Academy focuses on teaching their students in small, intimate settings in a nearly oneon-one environment, Nicole Lidberg said. Students are allowed to learn as fast or

slow as they like on topics and areas they help decide.

For the Seed to Table project, students grew vegetables, learning about everything from the dirty work of gardening to germination to photosynthesis.

“You can teach a 5 year old photosynthesis,” Lidberg said. “The word is hard, but the concept is easy.”

They also received lessons in budgeting, sales and marketing. Students wrote invitations and pitches to attract customers to their market. They even got some practice in approaching strangers to tell them about their project.

“That was a challenge,” Lidberg said. “What do you say? How do you present yourself? How do you look people in the eye?”

The market attracted about 40 people, many of whom were eager to support the students in any way they could, she said.

Although the school had planned on using profits from their projects to raise money for a school bus, the students decided it was more important to help those affected by the devastating storms.

The Learning Pod regularly makes field trips to take learning outside the classroom, but Lidberg said getting a new vehicle will have to wait. For their next project, which will culminate with a fun run fundraiser, the students already are keen on again donating the profits.

“They were so proud to be giving money to people,” Emelie Lidberg said.

I wanted to uplift girls like me to know they are beautiful, valued and worthy of respect.

NSHIRA ASENSO-OKYERE, AsenSoul Inspirations

8 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | October 31, 2024

Three kid-preneurs take reins of family business

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

CUMMING, Ga — In 2015, Mom Adwoa Asenso-Okyere started a business she called Akoma Collections designing and making bags and jewelry. She got acquainted with the local trade show market and would attend them as a vendor with her three young children.

Papa Yaw, now 11, Akoma, 9, and Nshira, 7, took an interest in what their mom was doing, prompting the family to transition the business with a new name and have the parents take a supporting role while their children are in the driver’s seat.

Today, AsenSoul Inspirations, based out of Cumming, still attends trade shows with jewelry, bags, journals and other goods, but the true focus of their business now revolves around creating media. Snowballing from the first idea of writing a children’s book, AsenSoul sells coloring books, with more in the works, and has a presence on social media with kid-created and kid-focused content.

AsenSoul Inspirations will make its next in-person appearance Nov. 16 at the Fall Children’s Business Market in Stone Mountain. Their books and coloring books are available on Amazon as well.

Mom Adwoa says their goal as a family is to promote balance.

“Each of them is involved in different extracurricular activities,” she said, “but the point [of having them take the ropes] is they have realized they can do anything they put their minds to. They’re not too young. The sky is truly the limit and I think they’ve seen that.”

business, AsenSoul Inspirations, focuses on cultural education and empowerment.

AsenSoul Inspirations frequents

KidBiz Expos to help introduce other children to “Kid-preneurs” that are in a similar position while gaining life skills as they learn about business. In the Asenso-Okyere family, each child has their own responsibilities within the business.

Papa Yaw is the social media manager for AsenSoul Inspirations

and runs their TikTok and YouTube accounts. He also has a podcast called AsenSoul Kid Talk where he interviews other kids about current events and their world views.

Papa Yaw manages another platform the business handles called FunFam. This is where they have information about activities and events, focusing on cultural adventures.

Akoma handles the production of many of the goods sold at trade shows, including the jewelry and the refreshments at their booth. She’s also responsible for the idea of the children’s book that led to their business transformation, now published, titled “Yo Bro, I Am Not a Monkey.”

See ASENSOUL, Page 9

ASENSOUL INSPIRATIONS/PROVIDED

From left, Adwoa, Papa Yaw, Akoma, and Nshira Asenso-Okyere attend A Taste of Black Gwinnett in Norcross Oct. 18. Their

ASENSOUL INSPIRATIONS/PROVIDED

“Yo Bro, I Am Not a Monkey” was published to help educate other children in response to Akoma’s experience in elementary school.

Asensoul:

Continued from Page 8

Mom Adwoa detailed the process of writing, illustrating and publication, explaining that her daughter’s experience throughout pre-K and elementary school came to a head the first week of this school year when another incident of racist and hurtful language took place.

“We don’t know the angle they’re coming from, but there’s ways to help,” Adwoa said. “We’re doing this not spitefully but in love, to educate and to help people.”

Akoma told said that her goal in creating “Yo Bro” was to “touch people’s hearts and let them know they are respected,” fostering more tolerance and love to those in need.

Another positive result made from a troublesome situation has been the cultural empowerment club, the Difference Makers, that Akoma formed in her school. The club features cultural diversity presentations and other events to promote education and inclusion.

Mom Adwoa says, “I think she’s seen some of the fruits of that at school already.”

Nshira is the creative director of the jewelry operation, coordinating the design before it goes to production with Akoma. Nshira felt inspired by her older sister creating a book and said she “wanted to uplift girls like me to know

Asen-Soul Inspiration upcoming events:

• Nov. 16: Fall Children’s Business Market at D7 Lounge in Stone Mountain, Ga., 9-3 pm

• Nov. 30: Holly Jolly Market (Kid Biz Expo) at 4096 E Cherokee Dr Canton, Ga., 10-3 pm

• Dec. 13: A Taste of Black Gwinnett at Norcross Cultural Arts & Community Center, 6-10 pm

Instagram: @Asensoul_Inspirations

YouTube: @Asensoul_Inspirations

TikTok: @Asensoul_Inspirations

they are beautiful, valued and worthy of respect.”

The method to accomplish this, coloring books.

Nshira’s first coloring book is titled “Unapologetically Me,” which features inspiring words and images aimed to encourage young girls and highlight different cultures, backgrounds and dreams. A second coloring book, “Colorful Cultures,” highlights historic landmarks and cultural aspects of more than 50 countries to draw attention to the beauty of diversity.

Akoma has plans to make “Yo Bro” a series with the help of some of the members of the Difference Makers club and their experiences facing mistreatment at school. They hope to increase awareness of cultural differences for more people and expand their scope. Papa Yaw and Nshira are also working on stories of their own to be published soon.

Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm

Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm, re-imagining how bath & kitchen remodels are done.

Remodeling Design and Installation Services. We even remove walls!

Guiding you through the whole design process. Ask about our 3D Renderings.

Making bath & kitchen remodeling fun, easy and affordable.

Early voting for general election ends Nov. 1

By ZOE SEILER zseiler@decaturish.com

NORTH METRO ATLANTA — This is the last week of early voting for the general election. Early voting ends on Friday, Nov. 1.

Polls are open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Fulton and DeKalb counties, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Forsyth County.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Georgia has surpassed voting records so far in the 2024 election. Over 2.9 million ballots have been cast in the state – 216,688 in DeKalb County, 331,622 in Fulton County and 89,055 in Forsyth County, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s website as of about 3:30 p.m. Oct. 28. Atlanta News First reported that Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is projecting the state to hit about four million votes by the end of early voting.

In addition to local county elections, the president and vice presidential races will be on the ballot. All U.S. and state legislators are up for election as well, and the My Voter Page will show voters who their representatives are.

Voters can check their registration status, see their sample ballot and Election Day voting precinct on the state’s My Voter Page by visiting mvp.sos. ga.gov.

Here’s a look at what’s on the ballot

• Local Fulton County races on the ballot are the District Attorney, Fulton County Board of Commissioners District 2, 4 and 6 as well as several other uncontested county officials.

• Local DeKalb County races on the ballot are the DeKalb County Chief

A vote sign on display ahead of an election.

Executive Officer, DeKalb Board of Commissioners Districts 1 and 3-7, as well as several other uncontested county officials. Decaturish’s voters guide has more information about the DeKalb County candidates. Visit decaturish.com for more information.

• Local Forsyth County races on the ballot are Forsyth Board of Commissioners Districts 2, 4 and 5 as well as Forsyth County Board of Education Districts 2, 3 and 4. Other uncontested county officials are also on the ballot.

Voting absentee

Absentee ballots must be returned

to a ballot box by 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the latest to a drop box or a county registrar’s office. Absentee ballots can be returned at any time before Nov. 5. Absentee ballots can be returned in person, through a drop box or mailed. Here’s where they can be turned in:

• In Fulton County, absentee ballots can be returned to a drop box during early voting. They can be turned into the Fulton Election Offices as well. Visit fultoncountyga.gov/vote for more information.

Absentee ballots can be mailed to Fulton County Registration and Elections Absentee Ballot Division, 5600 Campbellton Fairburn Road, Union City,

GA 30213

• In DeKalb County, absentee ballots can be turned in at drop box locations or hand-delivered to advance voting locations without a drop box during early voting. To see the list of locations, visit dekalbvotes.com.

Ballots can be mailed to DeKalb Board of Registrars, 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, Decatur, GA 30032

• In Forsyth County, absentee ballots can be returned to the Voter Registrations and Elections Office, a drop box at the office or by mail. The address for the Forsyth VRE Office is 1201 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040. Visit forsythco.com/vote for more information.

Newspaper Delivery Route Openings with

We are looking for one person or couple interested in delivering weekly newspapers in South Forsyth, Alpharetta and the Johns Creek areas.

Requirements: Must have a perfect driving record and background check, reliable transportation, honest, hard-working and positive attitude.

For more information or to apply, email heidi@appenmedia.com and include a paragraph or two about who you are and any relevant background/experience. In the subject line of the email please put “Delivery Route Application.”

DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA

Kemp announces income tax rebate

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

ATLANTA — A For the second time in three years, Gov. Brian Kemp is giving Georgians a tax rebate worth more than $1 billion.

Kemp said Tuesday he will include the rebate in the midyear budget he introduces to the General Assembly in January. He said the extra money will come in handy, particularly for Georgians who suffered losses from Hurricane Helene.

“We all know that even if inflation has fallen, high prices haven’t,” he said. “Families see that every day when they go to the grocery store or the gas pump. … People shouldn’t

have to deal with that added burden, especially in the wake of tragedy.”

The Oct. 22 announcement was the second tax relief measure the governor has issued in recent weeks. Kemp temporarily suspended collection of the state sales tax on gasoline and other motor fuels shortly after Helene struck large portions of South Georgia and the Augusta region.

The governor proposed a similar tax rebate two years ago worth about $1 billion. The General Assembly approved that rebate during the 2023 legislative session.

Under the new tax rebate, single

See REBATE, Page 20

AMERICAN LEGION POST 201 EVENTS

a.m.

Dances & Dance Instruction

Dances: Friday, Saturday & Sunday Evenings Line Dance Instruction: Monday & Friday Mornings; Wednesday Evening For Complete Details Visit: www.club201dance.com

Passion for environment drives Johns Creek Stormwater staff

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek Stormwater Utility Manager Cory Rayburn was still energized days after a presentation on Creekside Park at the Southeast Stormwater Association’s Annual Regional Stormwater Conference.

On the third floor of City Hall, he began an hour-long conversation by describing the many benefits of the project, the city’s biggest to date at nearly $36 million. Stormwater Engineer Roman Carey, a self-described lifelong “tree hugger,” sat across from Rayburn in the room covered in maps.

A large screen showed unseen park renderings, and at one point, data on weather extremes, illustrating a progressive situation that spoke to the urgency of their role in the Public Works division.

It hasn’t rained since Hurricane Helene swept through Metro Atlanta, bringing with it 10 inches of rainfall in two days.

“We’ve had the driest October on record,” Rayburn said. “...It’s these extreme events that really put a lot of pressure on our infrastructure and our drinking water resources.”

City staff in the Stormwater Department oversee water quantity and water quality. That day, Stormwater Inspector Dahn Nguyen was out sampling waterways around Johns Creek for E. coli.

A novel approach

In August, city leaders broke ground on Creekside Park, the tentative name for the 21-acre plot behind City Hall. It’s an innovative project.

The park’s upper pond will feature an amphitheater and deck over the water, terraced seating and pedestrian access areas, including a 15-foot-wide boardwalk that stretches to a lower constructed wetland area. There will also be a trail connection to the pedestrian tunnel under Medlock Bridge Road, the park’s southern gateway.

The project seeks more than to activate the area with a green space for visitors to enjoy, but it also has major utility. Rayburn said it will add around 4.5 million gallons of stormwater storage for the entire area downstream.

He said the plan is to reduce the water in the lower wetland pond about 5 feet and regrade it into a series of shallow and deep wetland pools, then planting native species.

The pond will help with downstream flooding as well as water quality. Plus, the extra detention volume encourages growth in the Town Center area.

Rayburn said it’s an economic incentive, saving upstream developers

Pictured is a damaged stormwater pipe. Since the City of Johns Creek implemented its Stormwater Utility in 2021, it has spent around $11 million on stormwater infrastructure repairs, operations, and maintenance.

up to millions of dollars in creating a detention pond themselves. It also saves space, giving developers more buildable area.

“For us, it’s a win-win,” Rayburn said. “We’re doing good for the downstream folks, but we’re also providing some economic incentive for redevelopment upstream, and we’re using constructed wetlands to do it. It’s kind of a novel approach.”

‘Headwall to headwall’

Aside from coordinating new projects, the team oversees repairs to the existing stormwater infrastructure. That’s 23,000 assets — 150 miles of pipes as well as manholes, catch basins and other structures.

The city has spent around $11 million on operating and maintaining its stormwater system since it implemented the Stormwater Utility in 2021, and Rayburn said Johns Creek is ahead of schedule.

More than 1,700 stormwater as-

sance, checking out complaints or issues, overseeing a lot of the repair work. He engages with residents regularly, advising them of the opportunity for the city to step in and take the burden, so long as they grant the easement, or right of entry.

City assistance

Carey said homeowners often assume repairs are the city’s responsibility anyway, but that’s a misconception. Carey’s role involves a lot of education.

“A lot of calls that I go out to, what I hear is, ‘You guys neglected the system for 10 years,’” Carey said. “‘Well, this system, this pipe, is through your property. Technically, you neglected it for 10 years, but we have the ability to help you.’”

CIVIC DUTIES: In a new series from Appen Media, Civic Duties will take readers behind the scenes of local government. Senior Reporter Amber Perry and her colleagues will shadow employees across different city departments and turn those experiences into original reporting, so residents get a closer look at what exactly local governments provide the community.

sets have been maintained by removing excess sediment; around 80,000 feet of pipe has been cleaned; and more than 400 pipe segments, spanning 30,000 feet, have been repaired, replaced or lined.

Rayburn said the city’s use of “trenchless technologies” have resulted in significant cost savings. They extend the life of a pipe by 80 years and cut the price of a traditional repair in half.

One practice, called “cured-in-place pipe lining,” works by forcing a flexible liner into an existing pipe and curing it with steam to create a new pipe. Another process, called “spincasting,” uses a remote-controlled robot to spray the insides of an existing pipe with a fiber-reinforced cement that hardens in place.

“So, we’re extending the life of these pipes without having to dig up roads and without having to dig up yards,” Rayburn said.

Without the city’s stormwater credits — incentives to good stewards — and if all $70 annual household bills were paid, the utility would bring in around $3.2 million to maintain, repair and improve the city’s stormwater system.

And, in Johns Creek, one of the newer Metro Atlanta cities to implement the program, the service extends “headwall to headwall,” meaning the city can help repair pipes on private property that are connected to the public right of way.

Carey does most of the reconnais-

Sometimes, a pipe on someone’s private property can affect a larger system, like a project that Carey oversaw last year in the Foxmoor subdivision, a neighborhood developed in the early ’90s. Ten properties were affected.

“Essentially, the entire pipe system was undersized, which was causing flooding within the cul-de-sac, which led to water issues for individual residents who weren’t even touching the pipe systems,” he said.

While pipes in the public right of way are often made of concrete, ones through residents’ yards are typically made of corrugated metal which is good for about 40 years. If ignored, Rayburn said they will start to collapse, causing sinkholes, or in worst-case scenarios, washed-out, collapsed roadways.

“It’s much more expensive than to do the preventative maintenance,” Rayburn said, adding that the city has an asset management strategy that prioritizes repair and maintenance.

Future relief

Rayburn said the City of Johns Creek is exploring a grant-funded program for residents experiencing the detrimental impact of stormwater to their property, like erosion — issues that fall out of the city’s jurisdiction in its extent of service.

Appen Media previously reported on backyard erosion in the Parsons Run subdivision and recently visited the home of a couple in Lexington Woods experiencing a similar issue.

Using walking sticks, Ronald and Trevolyn Sullivan descended the steep slope of their back yard, arriving at a trench that has expanded over time. They said a tree from their neighbors’ yard had recently fallen into the yard of someone living across the way.

“Homes are beginning to move down,” Trevolyn said, adding the expen-

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Johns Creek Stormwater Utility Manager Cory Rayburn and Stormwater Engineer Roman Carey stand next to a map of plans for Creekside Park, which includes constructed wetlands that will add 4.5 million gallons of stormwater storage.

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK/PROVIDED

IrishFest readies plans for Roswell weekend

ROSWELL, Ga. — IrishFest Atlanta 2024 is gearing up for its annual celebration of the rich culture and traditions of Ireland, scheduled from Nov. 8-10 at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center.

The free, family-friendly festival will feature Irish dance teams, Irish music groups including Cherish the Ladies and The Friel Sisters, an Irish whiskeytasting, a bread-making contest judged by two Atlanta-based Irish chefs, a traditional Irish céilí, Irish sports demos and an Irish film festival.

IrishFest Atlanta is presented by Phoenix Irish Arts of Atlanta, a nonprofit dedicated to igniting a sustained passion for the Irish Arts through access, education and participation.

IrishFest Atlanta Director Teresa Finley voiced her excitement about this year’s celebration.

“IrishFest invites people to immerse themselves in the rhythm of traditional music and dance and the warmth of Irish hospitality,” Finley said.

While the three-day festival is free, tickets for Cherish the Ladies and The Friel Sisters and several other events are available for purchase at IrishFest.org.

Frank Groome, who newly arrived as the Consul General of Ireland in Atlanta, is looking forward to his first IrishFest.

“I’ve heard great things about this festival and its authentic music and events,” Groome said. “I'm excited to meet people who take an interest in Ireland's rich culture.”

Impact

of dog waste

Support Local News Join Appen Press Club

CHARTER MEMBER

DC Aiken

Big Sky Franchise Team

David & Michelle Bertany

Amour & Duane Carthy

Adam Corder

Barbara Anderson

Kerry Arias

Scott Baynton

Joseph Bell

James Bennett

Rita Brown

Carl Abernathy

Bruce Ackley

Salpi Adrouny

Alpharetta Lions Club

Omar Altalib

Dave Altman

MEMBER+

sive efforts of her neighbors to build up their embankments to slow erosion and the legal limitations on construction allowed in the area.

Erosion is affecting nearly a dozen homes in Lexington Woods.

The Sullivans were told about the city’s grant program, which has more than $420,000 in funding in fiscal year 2025. The application process will be open sometime next year, once it’s finalized.

Applicants will be able to install green infrastructure on their property like rain gardens, permeable pavement as well as stream restoration projects.

“There’s about 10 different mechanisms of improving water quality downstream and preventing some of those erosion issues,” Rayburn said.

He noted that the environmental permitting process on the city’s stream restoration project, currently in the works, took 18 months. It will restore 1,500 linear feet of stream bank and add a multi-use, 10-foot-wide trail connecting McGinnis Ferry Road to Creekside Park.

“There’s kind of a quicker way to do some of that kind of stream bank work, but we’re currently talking with [the Environmental Protection Division of the state Department of Natural Resources,] the folks that kind of regulate the buffers and variance process,” Rayburn said.

He emphasized the issue is not just in Johns Creek.

“Everywhere you have development, you start seeing degraded streams,” Rayburn said.

Rayburn, who has a bachelor’s degree in environmental health science, said he’s always been a “policy geek.” Later, he earned a master’s degree in civil engineering.

“I’ve wanted to try to implement policies that will protect homeowners and to improve water quality and improve the environment,” he said.

Since Rayburn joined the City of Johns Creek in 2021, the City Council has passed a dog waste ordinance. Pet owners in violation must pay a fine.

“It’s not something we talk about all the time, but it’s important,” he said.

Last year, Rayburn worked with Student Leadership Johns Creek to develop a survey on dog waste and pamphlets on the city’s stormwater system, handed out at Pup-a-Palooza.

The city is plagued with impaired creeks and streams, meaning they don’t meet the state requirements for fishing, swimming and other recreation. Rayburn said one of the main contributions to the poor water quality is dog poop.

Rayburn oversaw a series of master plans that addressed the issue, identifying a number of projects across three major areas in Johns Creek that could help improve water quality.

Master plans help obtain grant money.

Just this past year, he said the city has received almost $1 million to help with bigger projects, like the stream restoration effort near Creekside Park.

“There’s an unprecedented amount of funds for infrastructure,” Rayburn said. “Having those master plans really help smaller, medium-sized cities to really get some of those federal grant dollars.”

Ron Altman

Joel Alvis

American Legion Post 201

Alice & Dr. Richard Appen

Gaye Armstrong

Mary Asbury

Bangkok Boxing LLC

Shannon Banna

Beth Barnes

Janet Bass

Barbara Bauschka

Kathy Beck

Leslie Berry

Tom Billings

Tochie Blan

Ron Boddicker

Jodi Bogen

Sherri Bolles-Rogers

Helen Borland

Debra Bowen

Joe Bowen

Ryan Brainard

Mark Brandus

Mel Brannen

Carol Bright

Linda Brill

Dorothy Brouhard

Erendira Brumley

Bernhard Burgener

Alvin Burrell

Mike & Theresa Buscher

Mary Busman

Clea Calloway

Kirk Canaday

James Carr

Bridgette Carter

William Cartwright

Frank Catroppa

Pat Check

Virginia Christman

Christopher Cleary

Ann Coaloa

Kim Coggins

Evelyn Collazo

Michael Mackenzie

Communications

MEMBER

Joan Compton

Carol Cookerly

Terri Coons

Rhonda Cude

Connie Cunningham

Christopher Cupit

David Davis

Duane DeBruler

Marilyn DeCusati

Rebecca Donlan

Tom Driscoll

Michael Dudgeon

Jeanette Dummer

DutchCrafters Amish Furniture

Mim Eisenberg

Danny Elkins

Su Ellis

Martha Fasse

Nell & Doug Fernandez

Lee Fleck

Cathy Flynn

Mary Ford

Nanci Foster

Amy Frederick

Kelly Frommer

Carol Fry

Tracey Ganesh

Daniel Gay

John Gibbs

John Gilberto

Leslie Gilliam

Bailey & Ryan Gladysz

Michelle Glotzbach

Harvey Goldberg

Christopher Goodrich

Phyllis Goodrich

Ralph Griffin

Marilee Hamilton

Susan Hanna

Marion Hannah

Roxanne Hazen

Joe Hirsch

Penn Hodge

Dianne & Steffan Holmquist

Joan Hostetter

Austin Hughes

Lynn Johnson

Tyler Jones

Arthur Kebanli

Laura Keck

Mark Kelly

Randall Kent

Carol Kerr

Allison Kloster

Dyna Kohler

Larry Krueger

Jess & Chris Kysar

Malinda Lackey

Ken Leffingwell

Carol Lehan

Bonnie Lind

Francia Lindon

Harlan Little

Ross Long

Brenda Lundy

Rita Loventhal

Karen Magill

Kyile Marshall

Julie Martin

Carla Masecar

Valerie Matthews

William Maxwell

Rachel McCord

Austin McCully

Diane McDonald

Karen McEnerny

Lynn McIntyre

Mike McLoughlin

Jennifer Mendoza

Al Merrill

Chris Miller

Christine Miller

Fred Moeller

Sarah Moen

Carol Morgan

Kathy Morgan

Stu Moring

Leslie Mullis

Donna Murphy

Jack

O’Brien

Pappas

Provissiero

Pugh

Rajagopalan

Ramaswami

To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts

to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size!

Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Pelosi, Fauci head lineup for annual book festival

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The lineup for the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s 33rd annual Book Festival is star-studded this year.

The festival, which runs from Nov. 2-17 at the Community Center off Tilly Mill Road, has a diverse roster of noted speakers, bestselling authors, and international thought leaders.

Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is scheduled to close out the festival that Sunday with a presentation of her newly released memoir “The Art of Power.” The book recounts her historic career, from housewife to House speaker, offering a personal view of her legislative successes and political battles.

In addition to Pelosi, the festival will have appearances from Noa Tishby, two-time New York

Opening:

Continued from Page 1

Tibbetts said the new “vibrant mixed-use community” is a place “where convenience and connection occur.”

“It’s a place where people gather, and it’s a place where memories are made,” Tibbetts said. “This is a true ecosystem.”

One major component of the ecosystem is Vestis, a uniform and workplace supply provider that spun off from Aramark and became a publicly traded company last October.

In March, the business announced it would house its corporate headquarters and Teammate Support Center at Southern Post. It is the development’s largest tenant.

Scott, a Roswell resident, said there had been no doubt that the city would be Vestis’ home.

“Roswell, you’re deciding how our day starts because we’re driving down these roads and we are entering these buildings and we are coming into Southern Post … we are proud to be here,” Scott said. “We are proud to call this place home.”

Mayor Wilson closed out the grand opening, hours before Southern Post was scheduled to host a block party with music, food, cocktails and giveaways.

Wilson said Southern Post transformed a declining economic area into something “vibrant,” alluding to its former use as a plaza built in the 1960s.

“It’s now a dynamic hub and will be for the next 20 years, of activity that blends Roswell’s history with modern design and innovation,” Wilson said. “It’s the perfect example of smart growth and revitalization that the current council and I are committed to bringing to Roswell.”

Times bestselling author and former Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and Delegitimization, as well as Lior Raz, a celebrated Israeli actor and cocreator of the movie “Fauda.”

Other keynote festival authors and entertainers include:

• Dr. Anthony Fauci, former chief medical advisor to the president and author of “On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service”

• Emily Giffin, bestselling author of “The Summer Pact: A Novel”

• Michael Richards, “Seinfeld” actor, comedian and author of “Entrances and Exits”

• John Quiñones and Maria Elena Salinas, journalists and co-authors of “One Year in Uvalde: A

Story of Hope and Resilience”

• Mitch Albom, bestselling author of “Tuesdays with Morrie” and “The Little Liar: A Novel”

• Amir Tibon, journalist and author of “The Gates of Gaza: A Story of Betrayal, Survival, and Hope in Israel’s Borderlands”

• Stuart Eizenstat, former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union and author of “The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements that Changed the World”

• Joan Nathan, renowned chef and cookbook author of “My Life in Recipes: Food, Family, and Memories”

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the official MJCCA Book Festival event page.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Visitors to the grand opening of Southern Post raise a toast Oct. 24.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson shakes hands with Armada Hoffler CEO Shawn Tibbetts Oct. 24 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Southern Post, a mixed-used development on Alpharetta Highway. Roswell Inc. President and CEO Steve Stroud and Vestis Corporation CEO Kim Scott celebrate the grand opening alongside them.

SPORTS

Alpharetta volleyball to compete for back-to-back state titles

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga — Alpharetta volleyball will advance to the 6A Georgia championship to be held at Lake Point Sports in Cartersville at noon on Nov. 2 for the second year in a row. The win also boosted the Raiders up in the national rankings to No. 8.

The Raiders traveled to East Coweta High School Oct. 22 for a match against the Indians. The match saw senior Brooke Boyles reach 1,000 career digs.

It was a block party for the rest of the Raiders, with senior middle hitter Madison McLin logging a solo block in addition to four block assists. McLin had a season highlight of a night, posting 13 kills and securing her spot at the second-highest hitting percentage in Georgia. Senior setter Abigail Li also recorded four block assists at East Coweta in addition to her 30 assists.

Set one went quickly, with the Indians only scoring eight points before the Raiders got to 25. Alpharetta’s focus was intact, seeing Li and junior libero Kailey Leonard combine for five aces in the first set alone.

The Indians struggled in the first set, seeing a double hit penalty immediately followed by a rotation violation, putting the score at 8-19. Kills from Boyles and McLin sealed off the set, 8-25.

The second set got a bit more dicey. East Coweta senior outside hitter Karea Copeland found her footing to throw down a few kills, while sophomore right side Taryn Timmons and junior outside hitter Niah Redmond came through clutch with powerful spikes when the Indians needed it most.

The Raiders had to battle hard against the Indians during the second set but came out on top. Final score of set two was 19-25.

Boyles and McLin were hot in set three with flashes from junior outside hitter Kennedi White. Final score of set three 15-25 to make another clean sweep for the Raiders.

The Final Four was held at Westminster School Oct. 26, where the Raiders played the Norcross Blue Devils. The two teams met earlier in the season, resulting in a sweep by Alpharetta although the Blue Devils had a major contributor out due to injury. Head coach Marshall King told Appen Media, “this is the toughest team we have faced all season.” King said he “expected the game to go to five sets,” the first match to do so for the

Raiders this year.

The Raiders won the first set 19-25, and took a slightly wider margin in set two with a final score of 17-25. Boyles led Alpharetta in kills again with 21 on the match, but White broke through and notably had 12 kills in addition to a block assist.

Norcross has several division I commits of their own, battling hard against the Raiders. Senior outside hitter Kendall White (committed to St. John’s) and junior right side Sofia Guerrero-Wilson (committed to Cincinnati) headlined the Blue Devils’ effort to send Alpharetta home. Norcross entered set three hungry and unwilling to lose.

Despite best efforts in powerful kills by Boyles and McLin, and blocks from McLin and Simpson (who reached a season-high six block assists), the Blue Devils took set three 25-23. Norcross kept the game close through the halfway point of the fourth set, at which point the Raiders were able to separate themselves and bring the nail-biter to a close, final score of set four 16-25.

The final moments of the fourth set when Alpharetta was able to run away with the game came from key plays by McLin, Li, White, and Boyles.

The Raiders advance to the state championship again and will play against North Cobb High School Nov. 2 at Lake Point Sports in Cartersville.

ALPHARETTA VOLLEYBALL/PROVIDED

The Raiders take a 3-1 win over the Norcross Blue Devils at Westminster School Oct. 26. Alpharetta will be competing Nov. 2 for the state championship.

ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA Raiders junior outside hitter Kennedi White (left) is locked in on a set from senior Abigail Li (No. 15) at East Coweta High School Oct. 22. White ended the match with five kills and three aces.

Traffic:

Continued from Page 4

manages traffic flow out of the Roswell Junction lot and that there be a traffic light.

“It's going to cause a lot of heartache for the people that live in this subdivision, including myself, to get out, especially on a Saturday or Sunday or Friday, if this place is busy,” Geyer said.

In an interview, Colley, the developer, said he met with dozens of neighbors, the City Council and Littlefield, then worked on different options with engineers to arrive at the road plan. He said neighbors were “thrilled” about it.

“What the city came up with seemed to be a very good solution,” Colley said.

Sharing photos with Appen Media, Colley added that the two-way area is about 27 feet wide, wide enough for two cars to pass. The remaining portion, where the trail will be, is about 15 feet wide.

Green Street plan work

In other action Oct. 28, the City Council approved a $1.15 million purchase of around .36 acres of land at 1028 Green Street for the Green Street Improvement Plan.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Former Roswell City Council candidate Jason Yowell questions the city’s proposed $1.15 million purchase of .36 acres of land on Green Street for the Green Street Improvement Plan at the Oct. 28 City Council meeting.

The plan calls for modifications to Green Street to provide safer, easier access to the bond-funded parking deck, for both drivers and pedestrians. Updates include making Green Street one way southbound and incorporating a wide, bricked-paved multi-use trail as well as improved lighting and landscaping along the street.

City Attorney David Davidson said that night’s land purchase was allocated within the city’s fiscal year 2024 sixmonth budget.

While Mayor Kurt Wilson could not provide of a timeline of work to the area, he told Appen Media the parking deck is the top priority, then the Green Street Improvement Plan. Wilson said he thinks the city has purchased all the properties needed for the deck and for the Green Street plan, but that rightof-way easements may still need to be addressed.

As of press time, Appen Media could not confirm the number of properties purchased for either project, or the total

Tesla:

Continued from Page 5

the most important factor, he said.

“Nobody wants to live with dirty air and water,” Lindgren said.

Officers often spend as many as 10 hours a day in their vehicles, making a vehicle’s comfort an important consideration, Lindgren said.

The Tesla’s smart and electric climate control system means officers can keep their cabins comfortable and computers protected without leaving the engine running.

Those onboard computers also make transferring the vehicles between officers easier, he said. Instead of handing over the keys, vehicles can be assigned by an administrator at a desk.

The Teslas’ suite of 360-degree cameras may not replace dash cameras, but they could be useful when the vehicles experience a crash. Tesla cameras automatically log their recordings after a collision.

The vehicles’ novelty may also aid the department in connecting with the community, he said. After Lundgren’s presentation, several residents stopped him to express their excitement.

Lindberg admits the department’s officers have had mixed reactions to the idea of replacing gas vehicles with electric ones.

amount spent on them.

However, in February, Appen Media reported that the city purchased two properties, one along Green Street and one along Alpharetta Street for a combined total of $2.1 million.

Then, in April, the City Council exercised eminent domain to acquire two adjacent properties on Alpharetta Street, one that holds the historic Masonic Lodge.

After a grassroots group successfully campaigned to save the building, the City Council voted to transform it into an open air pavilion. The city also settled outstanding litigation surrounding the properties for $3.95 million.

Monday evening, Jason Yowell, a former Roswell City Council candidate, raised concerns about the cost of the purchase and whether the city has researched the structure located on the property.

Yowell recalled the campaign to save the Masonic Lodge which had been slated for demolition to accommodate the Green Street plan.

Davidson said he hasn’t done any research.

“I have not looked at the historic nature of a potato barn,” Davidson said. “I think that’s what the use was originally and so it wouldn’t be a significant structure either way, in my opinion.”

CITY OF ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED Unplugged Performance sells a variety of Tesla vehicles upgraded for police use. Alpharetta police are considering the use of the Tesla Model Y for patrol and administrative duties.

Some officers are thrilled at the idea, he said. Others are wary.

At the Oct. 28 meeting, council members expressed excitement about the proposal, asking a number of questions about their use. City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom promised to soon return at a future meeting with a decision on the proposal for the council to vote on.

If the four Teslas prove successful in the department, police may even consider the use of Cybertrucks, Lundgren said.

OPINION

100 most influential people, top 10

Pat Fox, our editor and friend, keeps asking me when I am going to write my column on the 100 most influential/impactful people of all time. It seems like a good idea for a column albeit, a bit imposing. But I have finally worked up enough energy and optimism to at least start. Spoiler: I think these might not be your traditional “influential” folk, at least some of them, and I may not take this idea seriously all the time.

No. 1: George Balanchine. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Balanchine was the most influential choreographer in ballet history. Why should No. 1 designation go to a ballet choreographer? I went to the performance of the Ukraine Ballet last night at The Cobb Energy Center with my ballerina daughter (once upon a time) and realized in the middle of the performance, that the opposite of “war” is – and has to be “ballet.” The horror of war is mirrored/refracted by the beauty and truth that is ballet. Both ballet and war are choices. One is not a good one. The other is.

No. 2: Alfred Nobel. He might as well have invented modern war. In 1867 he invented dynamite. Naturally, following his ranking somewhere has to be Robert Oppenheimer —generally regarded as the father of the atomic bomb, the ultimate weapon of war — but I don’t know how I feel about putting him high in the rankings, or at all. Maybe my grandfather H.V. Appen should be there instead. He helped build the Manhattan Project Oakridge Tennessee, the facility where the bomb was developed. He did that while his brother Albert von Appen was piloting a German U-boat. Okay, maybe not. Actually, maybe none of them should be on the list. Maybe the guy who prevented the use of the Atomic Bomb should be.

No. 3: Vasilli Arkhipov. Context: Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962, Oct. 27. Soviet submarine, B-59 which is equipped with nuclear torpedoes and captained by Valentin Savitsky. U.S. Navy enforcing blockade around Cuba and is dropping depth charges to force Soviet submarines to surface. Communication is cut off with B-29, and its captain believes that war with the United States has begun and orders the nuclear torpedoes armed and readied to launch. Launch requires approval of three people — the captain, the political officer, and the second in command. The political officer gives his approval, leaving only the second in command to approve. The second in command, Vasilli Arkhipov, refuses to consent to the launch. One guy. Just one guy and a probable nuclear armaged-

don between the Soviet Union and the United States is averted.

No. 4: Stanislav Petrov. Context: In 1983 — about 20 years after the almost nuclear war — this Soviet military officer was on duty when the Soviet early warning system detected multiple U.S. missile launches aimed at the Soviet Union. Protocol called for Stanislav to report the perceived attack to his superiors which would probably have triggered a Soviet nuclear retaliatory strike. Petrov suspected that the alarm was a malfunction and did not report it to his superiors. His assumption later proved to be correct, and his willingness to risk his career and probably his life potentially saved the world from a catastrophic nuclear conflict. Maybe he is the one who should get that Peace Prize.

No. 5: Jointly, Linus Pauling and Albert Schweitzer. Both won Nobel Prizes for Peace, Pauling specifically for his activism in opposing the testing, use and proliferation of nuclear weapons, and Schweitzer for his “Reverence for Life Philosophy” which included his opposition to nuclear arms and his work jointly with Pauling, his friend Albert Einstein, and other scientists. Of note, Pauling also won the Nobel prize for Chemistry, the only person ever to win two unshared Nobel Prizes and one of only two people to have won Nobel Prizes in two different categories. The other was Marie Curie, who won in physics and in chemistry (for the discovery of polonium and radium).

No. 6: The Joker in Batman (The Dark Knight), Context: Hans Zimmer who wrote much of the music for the Dark Knight trilogy said that The Joker — not Batman —- was the only true honest character in The Dark Knight Trilogy. So, naming him as No. 6 is sort of my way of nominating “honesty” as a most influential idea (instead of an individual) — and the fact that it is through art and culture — in this case a movie and a music composer — that the value is spotlighted and promoted. It’s sort of like the Ukraine Ballet and their representation and opposition to Putin’s war.

No. 7: Antulio Ramirez Ortiz. Context: Antulio is the first guy to hijack a commercial plane (National Airlines Flight #337 in 1961) which was traveling to Key West from Miami and was diverted by Antulio to Cuba. He was allowed to live in Cuba but most of the remainder of his life is undocumented.

Honorable Mention goes to D.B. Cooper, the first person to hijack a domestic plane and escape via parachuting out (as it flew somewhere over Washington State) on Nov. 24, 1971. D. B. Cooper was never caught. Both Ortiz and Cooper are largely responsible for the billions of dollars spent worldwide on security screening apparatus and the tens of thousands

of jobs associated with the staffing in airports.

No. 8: Andy Warhol. (I apologize for my indulgence here) Context: There is no serious merit for this ranking, OK? Andy Warhol — mainly because I love the Campbell Soup Cans; I love the potoroids of Marilyn Monroe; actually because I love anything and everything Marilyn Monroe — what and who she was, represented, and suggested; and because when I think about MM, it takes me back to the time when Lou Reed was playing with The Velvet Underground and wrote two of my sentimental favorites, “Walk on the Wild Side” and (my very favorite) “Pale Blue Eyes.”

No. 9: Joe DiMaggio. (Another indulgence, sorry) Context: His 56-game hitting streak — probably the baseball record least likely to ever be broken. Also, his class and dignity. And finally, I have to admit what a romantic sucker I am — his short marriage to Marilyn Monroe (see No. 8) and after her death on Aug. 5, 1962, he delivered a dozen roses to her grave every week for the next 20 or so years… “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.” (Thank you Paul Simon)

No. 10: Muhammad Ali. Context: Take your pick Mohammad Ali his principals, his integrity, his willingness to fight for and go to jail for what he believed in — a Black man in a White man’s world who ended up being the most famous, most recognized and arguably one of the most respected human beings on the planet.

Or does one pick his fights? Ali vs Smokin’ Joe Frazer — heavy weight fights that are the boxing standard we will never see again. “It was the closest thing to dying that I know. I was in a war.” That’s Ali on the first fight (losing) with Frazier. “It was like a war. I gave it my all. I thought I was going to die in there.”

Joe Frazier on the second (losing) fight with Ali. “I hit him (Ali) with punches that would’ve taken a tree down. Lord he is a great fighter.” Joe Frazier on the “Thrilla in Manilla.”

Or, do you pick just one fight — the epic fight in 1974 — “The Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa, Zaire, between an aging in the final years of his career Ali and the 25-year-old George Foreman, the reigning heavy weight champion with 37 knockouts. Prior to his match with Ali, Foreman destroyed Joe Frazier (January 1973), knocking him out in the second round, and in March 1974, he destroyed Ken Norton in the second round, the same Ken Norton who broke Ali’s jaw in the second round of their March of 1973 non-title bout.

After the broken jaw, Ali fought another 10 rounds and end up losing to Norton in a split decision. Who fights 10 rounds with a broken jaw? Who? Only

one guy — Ali.

Everyone expected Ali also would be destroyed by Foreman, and for almost eight rounds, Foreman pounded him. Ali had nothing. Just stayed on the ropes and let Foreman hit him until early in the eighth when Ali exploded, drawing on all the remaining strength of his tired arms and relying on pure raw will — the kind of will that only true champions have. He released a series of hooks that rocked Foreman, then landed a heavy right hand followed by a left hook that shook the boxing world to its core as Foreman toppled and couldn’t get up. Only one person wasn’t surprised by the win — only one. Ali. No. 11: Our Appen Media Herald/ Crier reporters and news staff. They are working their hearts out for you, and they need — we need — you to come on board with us and help row; row with your financial support so we can keep doing what we do for you and your family.

We’re monitoring government spending of your tax dollars. We saved helped save thousands this year and we’ll continue to do that. We continue monitoring law enforcement to make sure your rights are respected and you are kept safe. We’ll monitor all this growth and development that directly impacts your quality of life — and the traffic! This accountability journalism is critical. But we do more. You see stories like these:

• Our story on a Dunwoody memorial for fallen American soldiers and the South Vietnamese who fought alongside them.

• A story about local, dedicated business owners working hard to make a living.

• A critical story about efforts to save a top-performing public elementary school from district closure.

All those stories were written by just one of our reporters, Hayden Sumlin; he wrote them all within just a few days and he wrote others as well. The rest of the reporters work just as hard and diligently. Our newsroom is skilled, fast and efficient, so when we ask you for your support, know that we will use it wisely. Our goal is to add 35 new Press Club members by the end of October. We are so close to reaching this membership goal.

Here’s how to make a recurring contribution or a one-time payment, any amount you are comfortable with: CONTRIBUTE ON AppenMedia.com home page — upper right — click on that red bar that says “JOIN THE CLUB” to access your options. You can also just mail in a contribution: Appen Press Club, 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009. Make the check out to Appen Media and in the subject line write “Appen Press Club.”

In the next column we’ll take a left hook at the next 10 most influential or impactful people or maybe a top 10 rotten tomatoes list! Who knows?

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

Keep an eye out for spotted lanternfly

If you keep up with the news, you’ve probably heard some buzz about spotted lanternfly. This invasive insect was first seen in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has since spread to 15 states, most recently to North Carolina in 2022. Spotted lanternfly has not been observed yet in Georgia, but entomologists and residents alike are keeping their eyes open.

What is Spotted Lanternfly?

Despite its name, spotted lanternfly is not a fly. It is a large planthopper, a type of insect related to aphids, cicadas, stink bugs and more, that uses its needle-like mouthparts to pierce plant tissues and suck out sap. Spotted lanternfly can feed on over 100 different types of plants, including natives like beech, birch, black gum, maples, oaks and sycamore, as well as food crops like grapes, apples, peaches and plums. Its favorite host plant is tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), an invasive tree that grows across the Southeast.

Feeding by spotted lanternfly causes aesthetic damage and also stresses plants, making them more susceptible to diseases and environmental pressures. Spotted lanternfly adults aggregate in large groups and are considered “swarm feeders.” Feeding by a large group can cause wilting and dieback on plants and trees. Just like aphids, lanternflies produce sugary excrement called honeydew. When honeydew builds up on plants, it acts like a petri dish for sooty mold to grow. Not to mention it’s just unpleasant to have a swarm of feeding insects in your landscape! The damage caused by spotted lanternfly is likely to affect farmers, plant nurseries, landscapers and gardeners in many ways. Farmers, nurseries and landscapers will have to spray more insecticides and spend more on labor to manage this new pest. Any producers who transport plants across state lines – a common practice – will have to expend significant resources making sure their cargo is completely free of spotted lanternfly eggs, nymphs and adults.

A preliminary study by Penn

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 presented “Insect Allies: Predators and Parasitoids in the Garden” in the spring 2023 Gardening Lecture Series presented by the North Fulton Master Gardeners, https:// youtu.be/NZ3um6QXXKc.

insect is yellow with brown/black bars.

How to Report a Sighting

The earlier an invasive pest like spotted lanternfly is detected, the better state and federal agencies, homeowners and producers will be able to manage it and control its spread. Do your part and keep your eyes open!

State University found significant economic effects following spotted lanternfly’s introduction in Pennsylvania alone, estimating that damages could reach as high as $554 million with a loss of 4,987 jobs if the insect spreads throughout Pennsylvania.

What to Look For

Spotted lanternflies have several life stages: egg, four nymphal (juvenile) molts and adult. To correctly identify the spotted lanternfly, we need to know what they look like at each life stage.

• Eggs: Spotted lanternfly ride out the winter as eggs, grouped together in masses on any hard surface. According to Cornell University Extension, “The egg masses are often found on the underside of branches or objects and vary in size but are typically about 1 1/2” long and 3/4” wide and look like grayish splotches of mud or putty.”

• Nymphs: Nymphs hatch from

the egg masses in spring or early summer. The young nymphs (molts 1-3) are less than ¼” long and have black bodies with small, white spots. At their 4th molt, the final nymph stage can be up to ½” long. They are still black with white spots but now have a red wash across their backs with a vertical black line down the center.

• Adults: By late July, spotted lanternflies complete one final molt to the adult stage. Adults are about 1” long and ½” wide. They have wings at the adult stage, which they hold tent-like over their backs. The front wings, which are visible when adults have their wings closed, are grayish tan with black/brown spots. They may even have a purplish sheen. The tips of the front wings have a brownish speckled pattern. The hind wings – only visible when the adults spread their wings open – have brown tips, a white section in the middle, and a flash of scarlet on the inside corner. The body of the

If you suspect you have seen a spotted lanternfly, take a good photo and contact your local Extension Office to report your sighting. You can also report suspected populations of spotted lanternfly or tree-of-heaven via the EDDMapS website or app (https://www. eddmaps.org/). These reports go directly to the GFC Forest Health Coordinator, UGA entomologists, USDA-APHIS and other programs for evaluation.

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. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https:// appenmedia.com/opinion/columists/ garden buzz/.

BUGWOOD.ORG/PROVIDED

Top left: Spotted lanternfly egg masses (image by Kenneth R. Law)

Top right: Spotted lanternfly nymph after its fourth molt (image by Richard Gardner) Bottom: Adult spotted lanternfly has grayish-tan front wings with black/brown spots. Hind wings have a flash of scarlet (image by Lawrence Barringer)

GABRIELLE LATORA Guest Columnist

OPINION

Benjamin Franklin Lesh Civil War diary

This is the story of a young Civil War soldier, Benjamin Franklin Lesh (18451882), based on the diary he kept. Franklin was 18 years old when he joined the Ohio Volunteer Infantry Nov. 6, 1862.

His great grandson, Ned Lesh, a resident of Roswell has a copy of Franklin’s diary which was meticulously kept during his final year of military service in 1864 and 1865. Ned’s Uncle Harvey, deceased, had the original handwritten diary, which was typed by Harvey’s daughter Virginia Ramsey, also deceased. My notes are italicized. Clearly troops spent a lot of time marching during the day or sometimes all night. It rained frequently and the troops were often soaking wet and uncomfortable. There were frequent skirmishes with Confederate soldiers which Lesh calls Rebs, Johnny Rebs or Johnnies.

I will quote a few highlights from the diary using Franklin’s spelling and language. It starts on May 1,1864 by describing a march from Decatur, Alabama, to Georgia marching over the Chickamaga battle grounds which “looks torn up pretty bad…we camped on Chickamaga Creek.” [The Battle of Chickamauga in September 18-20, 1863, was the second bloodiest battle of the war after Gettysburg as Union troops sought to seize control of Chattanooga, a major rail hub and manufacturing center. The Union troops lost the battle but came back in late November under Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and retook Chattanooga which led to the Atlanta campaign when Atlanta fell to Sherman’s troops.]

[maybe a week or two later] “This morning we started out and marched till

midnight and camped in an open field. Morning came too soon.”

[next day] “This morning we started out and marched fast and pretty steady and the weather being warm, made it pretty hard for us. At two we stopped and was ordered to make coffee and rest till four, but we rested till sundown and then marched all night, till broad day light. We drew rations and set out at nine and arrived at Kingston about three in the afternoon.” [On May 18, 1864, General Sherman occupied Kingston and stayed there for three days as he prepared for his push toward Atlanta.]

[Some days later.] “We drew rations and started out reconnaissance. We crossed a little hill from where we could see the Mountain Kennesaw at a distance of about seven miles. We went along the railroad. Deployed skirmishers [solders sent ahead of troops to harass the enemy], have drove the rebels back a piece.

Benjamin Franklin (Frank) Lesh (1845-1882) was only 18 when he joined the 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry in November 1862. His occupation was listed as musician. He mustered out in July 1865 after three years as a soldier during the Civil War. In May 1864 the regiment joined Sherman’s Atlanta campaign. Lesh is buried in the North Canton (Zion) Cemetery, Stark County, Ohio. In 1866 he married Eliza S. Bushong. The regiment lost during its term of service two officers and 91 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and five officers and 259 enlisted men by disease, for a total of 357 fatalities.

NED LESH/PROVIDED

“It rained all day today Sunday. The skirmishers are picking [a line of soldiers set out in front of the main soldiers to provide early warning] all the time. Some of our batteries are sending their compliments to the Johnnies.”

[Some strange developments as the war is not going well for the Confederates.]

“I seen a great many of them run into our lines waving a white flag some turned and fired into their own men.”

“This morning we got orders to go to Marrietta, thirteen miles. We reached it by night. We drew our skirmishers and lost not one man.”

“I have been over in town, Roswell. The factories are all burned. Our men have the bridge about down.”

“This morning we started for Decatur

Ga., but encountered the Johnnies, so we stopped and camped for the night.”

“All the talk is about the veterans and election, which will be elected, Lincoln or McClellan.” [The election was held Nov. 8, 1864. Lincoln defeated former Gen. George McClellan by a wide margin, partly due to the Union victory at the Battle of Altanta.]

“I went along the railroad and saw where the rebels burnt a trestle. Election day, our boys voted. I bought pounds of hard beat [?] at Altoona and saw the prisoners and wounded men. They tried hard for that place but was whipped and lost a number of men.” [The Battle of Allatoona took place Oct. 5, 1864.]

“This is my birthday, November 4. Two years ago today I enlisted.”

“This is election day, everything seems lively and peaceable….The election was as follows in our regiment: For McClellen – 93; Abaham Lincoln – 218 votes….We got our pay and I got 10 months pay from the first of November 1863 to the last of August 1864. Six dollalrs a month since the first of May 1864….Sent home 60 dollars and paid off my debts.”

[Final entry.] “March 1, 1865 We lay in camp all day. The rebels are fortified at Cheran….Moved at six nineteen miles to town. The rebels ran and left all the sick men, camp equipment, teams and forty pieces of artillery. I took a walk through town and saw the sick rebels. It is a very nice town on the great Parddee River.”

[Franklin was mustered out July 8 1865 after three years of active service.]

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.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following item will be considered by the City Council on Monday, December 2, 2024 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. PH-24-18 Unified Development Code (UDC) Text Amendments – Signs Consideration of text amendments to Section 2.6 of the Unified Development Code (UDC) to amend regulations pertaining to Signs.

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

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

Rebate:

Continued from Page 11

tax filers will receive $250. A single filer who is the head of his or her household will get $375, and married couples filing jointly will receive $500.

Kemp said the state can afford the rebate because conservative budgeting has helped the state build up a huge budget surplus. He said he’d rather send that money back to

taxpayers instead of pouring it into new government programs.

“This is one-time money … a way for us to use our excess surplus to get it back to the people we believe know how to use it best,” he said. “The worst mistake the state could make would be to grow government with one-time money.”

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

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE CITY OF ROSWELL SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITS REVISED SECTION 108 LOAN APPLICATION

The City of Roswell is seeking public comments on its revised Section 108 loan application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Section 108 program allows local governments to leverage portions of their Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds into federally guaranteed loans for economic and community development projects. The City’s loan funds will go to support the Roswell Housing Authority’s Phase I redevelopment of the Pelfrey Pines Apartments located at 199 Grove Way.

To ensure access to all information, a revised draft of the application will be placed on the City of Roswell’s website, www.roswellgov.com/cdbg and hard copies are available at:

City of Roswell Grants Division

38 Hill St., Suite 130 Roswell, GA 30075

East Roswell Public Library 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road Roswell, GA 30076

Housing Authority of the City of Roswell 766 Myrtle Street Roswell, GA 30075

Roswell Public Library 115 Norcross Street Roswell, GA 30075

Public comments are encouraged and can be submitted in writing to the City of Roswell, Grants Division, 38 Hill Street, Suite 130, Roswell, GA 30075 or through the City’s CDBG Program email, cdbg@roswellgov.com. Per the City’s Citizen Participation Plan, the public comment period for the revised draft will run for 30 days, starting on Friday November 1, 2024. All comments must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. on Monday December 2, 2024.

No displacement will occur as a result of the activities described herein. Should displacement occur, the City of Roswell will implement the provisions as required by CFR 570.606 (Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance). The City of Roswell does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission of, access to, or treatment of, or employment, the programs and activities described herein. An interpreter is available upon request to assist persons with limited English proficiency. Any requests for reasonable accommodation required by an individual to fully participate in any open meetings, programs, or activities should be directed to the Roswell Grants Division, (770) 641-3727 , CDBG@roswellgov. com .

Election chaos has historical precedent

With the 2024 election just days away, I can’t stop thinking about the time the U.S. House of Representatives chose the president.

The four-candidate race for the 1824 presidential election yielded no one with a majority of the Electoral College. It’s only happened once in American history, almost exactly 200 years ago.

Today, both presidential candidates and their supporters claim that American democracy and the future of the republic is at stake. This history nerd is doubtful, especially given an interesting case study from two centuries ago.

All four presidential candidates in 1824, Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, William Crawford and Henry Clay, were members of the DemocraticRepublican Party.

Crawford, whose poor health throughout the election resembles contemporary times, was a nonfactor.

Jackson received the most popular and electoral votes but fell short of the threshold to secure a clear victory.

The 12th amendment excluded Clay, who received the fewest electoral votes, from the House runoff.

Clay, speaker of the House at the time, famously backed Adams, who named him as secretary of state once elected to the White House.

Jackson and his supporters denounced Adams’ election and Clay’s appointment as a corrupt bargain.

The 1824 presidential election ended the Era of Good Feelings, a term associated with unity, the end of bitter partisan disputes and the presidency of James Monroe.

Jackson would go on to serve two terms, centering his 1828 run on accusations of the corrupt bargain.

This also reminds us of today, and an easy comparison can be made between the two populists, Jackson and former President Donald Trump.

Both leveraged nontraditional political backgrounds to win over votes in an era of political realignment. Both have accused the political establishment of working against them.

Regardless of how you feel about this election’s candidates, there’s no indication that a chaotic election will spell the end of American democracy and civil liberties.

I think it’s all normal and a part of the game.

There have been two presidential elections in the United States since I received my driver’s license.

After elections in 2016, 2020 and even the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election, whichever political party lost the election spent months challenging the results, telling their supporters it was stolen and blaming everything but themselves.

Republicans and Democrats are both doing it, repeatedly, when politically expedient.

There’s nothing unusual about this election. Stop buying “your” party’s line.

HAYDEN SUMLIN Staff Reporter hayden@appenmedia.com

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

The presidential election of 1824 serves as a reminder of the resilience of the United States after none of the four candidates received a majority of Electoral College votes.

President Andrew Jackson President John Quincy Adams

Randy Knighton City of Roswell

Did this ad catch your eye?

Then imagine the number of other readers that noticed it too!

Advertise your products and services in our newspapers and get noticed by our 262,500 readers every week in North Atlanta.*

CONTACT YOUR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE TODAY! 770-442-3278

319 North Main Street | Alpharetta, GA 30009 AppenMedia.com

*Based on total circulation of 93,000 homes delivered x 2.5 readers per home (newspaper industry standard).

Kurt Wilson

City Administrator Notice of Neighborhood Meeting Mayor

The following items will be discussed at a Neighborhood Meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Roswell City Hall, Room 220, 38 Hill Street, Roswell, Georgia.

a. UDC Text and Map Amendment

A text and map amendment to the Unified Development Code by modifying Article 8, Hill Street Overlay, land lot 414, for the following properties: 25, 39, 111,115, and 121 Hill Street; 791, 801, 821, 825, 833, and 839 Atlanta Street; 16, 42, 60, 90, 108, 122, and 897 Oak Street; 826, 830, and 846 Ellis Street; 800, 808, and 820 Community Circle.

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

Randy Knighton City of Roswell Kurt Wilson City Administrator Notice of Public Hearing Mayor

The following items will be considered by the Planning Commission at a public hearing on November 19, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the Roswell City Hall Council Chambers, 38 Hill Street, Roswell, Georgia.

a. UDC Text and Map Amendment

A text and map amendment to the Unified Development Code by modifying Article 8, Hill Street Overlay, land lot 414, for the following properties: 25, 39, 111,115, and 121 Hill Street; 791, 801, 821, 825, 833, and 839 Atlanta Street; 16, 42, 60, 90, 108, 122, and 897 Oak Street; 826, 830, and 846 Ellis Street; 800, 808, and 820 Community Circle.

b. UDC Text Amendment

An ordinance to amend the Unified Development Code by modifying Article 10, Section 10.3.27, Signs Requiring a Permit, and Section 10.3.32, Crown Signs. Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or a City Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250), within two (2) years, file a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law is available in the office of the City Attorney.

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

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The following items will be considered by the City Council on Monday, December 2, 2024 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

a. Z-24-08/V-24-08 306 Thompson Street

Consideration of a rezoning and variance to allow for the construction of 2 ‘For-Sale’ single-family detached homes on 1.148 acres in the Downtown Overlay. A rezoning is requested from R-12 (Dwelling, ‘For-Sale’, Residential) to DT-LW (Downtown Live-Work). Variances are requested to Unified Development Code (UDC) Appendix A Subsection 2.4.6 to allow parking between the building and the street and to eliminate the requirement for a street-facing garage to be recessed at least 20’ behind the front building façade, and to Appendix A Subsection 2.8.7 to allow a variation to the architectural style for the proposed homes. The property is located at 306 Thompson Street and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 802, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

b. V-24-27 1555 Harvest Lane Setback Variance

Consideration of a front setback variance to allow for an addition on the front elevation of a single-family home. A variance is requested to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.2.5(D) R-15 Dwelling, ‘For-Sale’, Residential, District Regulations to reduce the front setback from 35’ to 12’. The property is located at 1555 Harvest Lane and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1246, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

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

CITY OF ROSWELL

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLACE: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street, Suite 215

DATE & TIME: 10 A.M. Thursday, November 7, 2024

PURPOSE: Application for Limited Pouring/Beer/Wine/Sunday Sales

APPLICANT: Basem Salame

BUSINESS NAME: Mashawi (Salame LLC)

BUSINESS ADDRESS: 850 Mansell Road, Roswell, GA 30076

CITY OF ROSWELL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLACE: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street, Suite 215

DATE & TIME: 10:00 A.M. Thursday, November 7, 2024

PURPOSE: Brewpub/Package/ Sunday Sales

APPLICANT: Elizabeth A. Rouse

BUSINESS NAME: Voodoo Brewing Co./Voodoo Lakeside UC

BUSINESS ADDRESS: 1010 Mansell Rd. Ste 180, Roswell, GA 30076

Interior/Exterior Painting, Pressure Washing, Rotten Wood Repair, Deck Repair, Window Installation. Licensed/ Insured. Call Thurman 770-899-1354. Free Estimates

Global Lead Trauma Care, Alpharetta, GA & 30% int’l travel to Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Peru, Haiti, Kenya, Zambia and/or Lebanon. Telecommuting is permitted. Work w/key trauma specialists to understand care for children that exp’d trauma. Finding advocates & key members of nat’l staff exp’d in trauma care. Mail resumes to R. Young, Kids Alive Int’l, 2555 Northwinds Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

Donor Operations Associate The Donor Operations Associate greets and removes donations from vehicles and then sorts the 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, volunteer, and staff member professionally and with a friendly demeanor.

Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in extreme hot and cold conditions. Must have the ability to work in extreme temperatures, ability to lift up to 75lbs and or use a lift aid, ability to push and pull items, and be able to stand for up to 8 hours.

To apply, please submit a resume to Marten Jallad, Director of Thrift and Donor Operations, NFCC, mjallad@nfcchelp.org

Childcare Associate: The NFCC Childcare Associate has the critical role of providing a safe and welcoming environment for children from the ages 2 to 11 while their parents attend classes in the NFCC Education Programs. Contract position with competitive hourly rate, Evenings 5 – 8 pm. Contact Carol Swan at cswan@nfcchelp.org to apply.

Sawnee EMC is seeking a General Clerk 1L (Building and Grounds/Custodial/ Maintenance) (part-time position) to perform facility maintenance and grounds keeping duties. Requires some heavy lifting, high school diploma or equivalency and a valid GA driver’s license. Related experience with outdoor maintenance equipment and a valid CDL are preferred. Hours: Availability for alternate shift assignments and irregular work hours.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, November 8, 2024. Apply online: www.sawnee.coop/ 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.

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

Bath & shower updates in as little as 1 day! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts available. 1-877-543-9189

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

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! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306

Call 1-855-948-6176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

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

Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405

Replace your roof w/the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install (military, health & 1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234

Jacuzzi Bath

Become a member with a recurring or one-time gift today at appenmedia.com/join