Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - November 2, 2023

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Fulton County acts to remove Cheeley from CID position

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia. com

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Roswell City Administrator Randy Knighton, middle, touts a new city initiative called “Reinvent Roswell” in response to issues raised by a former city employee at the City Council’s open forum Oct. 30.

Roswell to ‘reinvent’ in response to criticism

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Christopher Zack, former Roswell IT director, told the City Council he left the organization because he didn’t like the way it was being run.

Now, Roswell leadership is looking to launch a “reinvention” campaign to examine city operations, and how services are delivered to the public.

“I came to the city. I wanted it to do good, and I got to the point where I thought, internally, I wouldn’t have

North Fulton mayors chart economic course ► PAGE 4

the capability to do so, so I left,” Zack said at a Roswell City Council open forum Oct. 30. “I think you guys are seeing a lot of my colleagues doing the same, and there’s still some here who don’t have the privilege to find a place to land.”

He posed a series of questions, first asking why the city’s finance director and the city’s purchasing manager quit within a week of one another. According to their LinkedIn profiles, former Roswell Finance Director Ryan Luckett and former Roswell Purchasing Manager Greg

Anderson left the city in August.

Zack also asked if there was an organizational chart change and if there was, who benefited from it and who designed it. On Roswell’s job posting website, there are two listings for an assistant city administrator, but with different roles. One is for a chief financial officer, a renaming of finance director, and another to oversee economic and community development.

Crossfit gym caters to individual needs

McGinnis widening to see another bid

► PAGE 8

See REINVENT, Page 5

► PAGE 10

METRO ATLANTA — The Fulton County Commission is seeking to remove Bob Cheeley from the True North CHEELEY 400 board, a move officials said is supported by county code.

The resolution also says the decision comes after Cheeley attempted to undermine Fulton County’s elections.

True North 400, formerly the North Fulton Community Improvement District, is a selftaxing business district dedicated to community, transit and road improvements between Mansell and McGinnis Ferry roads. Its coverage area encompasses parts of Roswell, Milton and Alpharetta.

North 400 is managed by a board with at least seven members who each represent a Metro Atlanta business. State Sen. Brandon Beech is executive director of the CID. Under Fulton County code, the Board of Commissioners can appoint two members to the CID board if more than 50 percent of land within the CID lies in

See CHEELEY, Page 25

PUBLIC SAFETY

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Arborwoods Drive home destroyed in Oct. 23 fire 770-442-3278 AppenMedia.com 319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009 HANS APPEN Publisher RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek firefighters responded to a house fire on Arborwoods Drive at around 3:30 a.m. Oct. 23, where they found 75 percent of the structure engulfed in flames.

While there was an initial concern of entrapment, Fire Chief Chris Coons said everyone had escaped the home. He said there were no injuries to firefighters, civilians or pets. But, he said the house is

likely unsalvageable.

Coons said the cause of the fire is still unknown, and with a fire this size, the investigation will take some time. He listed some common causes of house fires like unattended cooking or charging phones and electric cars as well as faulty electrical wiring. He also said Johns Creek sees a great deal of lightning strikes.

“There’s a million different things,” said Coons, who noted regular cautionary alerts to the public about potential fire hazards from the Johns Creek Fire Department.

According to the incident report, it took firefighters nearly seven hours to get everything settled.

“It takes a long, long time to get everything cooled down where it’s not smoldering anymore,” Coons said. “We go ahead and actually push over some of the walls and things so that they’re not a hazard for folks that may try to get in there and take a look.”

He also said the Fire Department spends time on scene assisting the victims, like coordinating a place for them to stay.

Roswell man told officers a bug or worm crawled on him, so he took off his pants and ran into the parking lot.

The suspect denied taking any illegal substances or being on medication.

Roswell Police cited the man for public indecency and transported him to North Fulton Hospital without incident.

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Three suspects sought in theft at Avalon Nike ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police are pursuing three suspects who allegedly stole $4,700 of merchandise from the Nike on Avalon Boulevard Oct. 20.

The store manager reported one male and two female suspects entered the store around 5:15 p.m., grabbed 17 tech jackets and 19 tech pants and ran out of the store a minute later.

Officers reported observing on security footage the suspects left in a gray Toyota Camry, but the license plate was covered.

No suspects have been identified.

Naked man charged with public indecency

Judged a newspaper of General Excellence 2023

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell officers cited a naked man for public indecency in the parking lot of an apartment on Old Holcomb Bridge Way. A Roswell officer said he arrived on scene to find three officers speaking with a man wearing a white tank top, no pants, no underwear and black socks.

A witness told police she heard the man screaming, cursing loudly and asking people to shoot him.

During police questioning, the

Man’s identity used for iPhones at AT&T ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An Alpharetta man reported Oct. 20 someone had used his identity to purchase three iPhones through AT&T. The victim reported he attempted to open an AT&T Fiber account, but employees said there was an outstanding debt in his name.

Employees at the AT&T on Old Milton Parkway told the victim a suspect had purchased the phones, valued at $5,958, in March and had them sent to an address in Stone Mountain, the report states.

No suspects have been identified.

Roswell woman realizes fraud too late ROSWELL, Ga. — A Roswell woman reported a fraud incident to police Oct.

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.

28 after an unidentified caller asked her to pay $2,000 for missing jury duty.

The victim told police she received a phone call from an unknown number Oct. 27.

The caller told the victim she missed jury duty in Fulton County and a citation would be issued for her arrest unless she paid for it.

At the caller’s direction, the victim purchased $2,000 in gift cards from Target and provided the caller with the card numbers.

When the caller told the victim there was an additional fee and to purchase $5,000 of bitcoins, police said she realized it was a fraud and disconnected the phone.

The victim told police the unidentified caller attempted to reach her three more times with different caller identifications.

Since the money stolen exceeds $1,500, the caller is facing felony charges for theft by deception.

Police said the victim was given a case number and a few scam warnings to look out for.

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NEWS

Mayors chart economic course, tout wins Milton is focused on Ga. 9 development to match their bucolic environment.

North Fulton County cities, business leaders forge economic design

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — North Fulton County is home to six cities, each with a distinct character and vision for the future.

The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce hosted a summit Oct. 26 drawing on political and business leaders to help chart an economic course for the region.

About 200 business and community leaders packed the City Springs Studio Theatre on Galambos Way to hear an economic accounting from the six North Fulton County mayors on what lies ahead for their cities.

True North 400 – formerly North Fulton Community Improvement District – Executive Director Brandon Beech touted the organization’s transportation and infrastructure projects.

“I talk about three economic engines in our state, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the port of Savannah and the

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, far right, highlights the success of City Springs at the North Fulton Futures Summit Oct. 26. Paul was part of an economic development panel that included, from left, MARTA Board member Freda Hardage; Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin; Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson; Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry; Mountain Park Mayor Jim Still; and Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison.

World Congress Center,” said Beech, who also serves in the Georgia Senate. “I add a fourth economic engine when I speak now, and that’s the Ga. 400 corridor.”

Beech said the growth of the financial and technology industries in North Fulton is one reason the state is spending $1.6 billion dollars on two lanes of bus rapid transit for MARTA’s expansion on Ga. 400.

“We’re going to continue to invest in Ga. 400 because we know this is an economic engine,” Beech said.

Samir Abdullahi, director of Select Fulton, which advocates for Fulton County economic development,

said his agency seeks to partner with the six cities to bring redevelopment, investment and jobs to North Fulton.

One role for Select Fulton is to serve as a liaison between the business community and residents. Its services include incentives, site selection and information sharing for business growth and development.

Abdullahi said he thinks people are missing the story with economic development in the region. People want to live and work here, he said, because of the quality of life in the area.

Abdullahi was part of a panel that included Joshua Barnes, vice president of real estate investments at Orkin & Associates in Milton; Bob Mullen, communications director for the City of Johns Creek; and John Curcio, managing director of infrastructure and technology at Morgan Stanley in Alpharetta.

Curcio joined E*TRADE before it was acquired by Morgan Stanley in Oct. 2020. He said the multinational financial company quickly recognized the region’s value, with the number of employees at Morgan Stanley’s Alpharetta branch tripling since the acquisition.

Parts of the region with less commercial development, such as Johns Creek and Milton, have begun to create a modern town center.

The other two panelists discussed their work on Town Center East in the Crabapple Market District of Milton and Toro Development’s Medley, planned at the 192-acre Johns Creek Town Center.

Milton and Johns Creek have developed plans for future development at their town centers, which allows each community to carefully consider what is built.

“These are the parameters we want to work in,” Mullen said. “There wasn’t a lot of vagaries, but there were some good specifics that set up the guardrails for what that vision of the Town Center and master plan would be.”

While Johns Creek is focused on attracting more commercial tenants like Boston Scientific to their town center,

Hearing from the mayors MARTA’s Fulton County Director Freda Hardage moderated the regional mayor’s panel.

“I think the thing that I noticed in being able to work with them is how well they all work together,” Hardage said.

While all six cities compete to attract economic development and investment, municipal governments cooperate on projects that involve state routes and Fulton County.

North Fulton is home to older communities in Alpharetta, Roswell and Mountain Park, and newer communities in Milton, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs.

Economic development may have different characteristics in Roswell — incorporated in 1854—than in Sandy Springs — incorporated in 2005.

All six mayors acknowledged the competition between the cities but emphasized the value of cooperation.

Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison said the success of neighboring cities has stimulated the development of the Ga. 9 corridor, which the city shares with Alpharetta.

“The energy has been brought to all of us,” Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said. “I’ve never seen this type of cooperation, while there may be competition and the slinging of a few elbows.”

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul said he’s seen more cooperation in North Fulton since the incorporation of Johns Creek, Milton and Sandy Springs in the early 2000s.

Each mayor came with their individual city’s plan for the next decade.

While Johns Creek and Milton are beginning to build town centers, more developed cities like Roswell are looking for redevelopment opportunities to increase connectivity.

“Each of the cities have done a very good job of carving out their identity,” Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson said.

The 100,000 residents of Roswell are opposed to stand-alone, multi-family housing regardless of demographics, Wilson said.

Roswell’s 20-year plan intends to increase residential property values without sacrificing community and investment from the private sector, Wilson said.

Mountain Park Mayor Jim Still said his residential-only community of about 600 is invested in its neighboring North Fulton cities because residents access their amenities and visit their economic corridors.

“I look forward to what these guys are going to say about what’s going to happen in North Fulton,” Still said.

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | November 2, 2023 | 5

Roswell City Council, Sikh Temple share mutual embrace

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — For the first time in history, a Sikh priest gave the invocation at the Oct. 23 Roswell City Council meeting.

An invocation is a prayer said before a local government meeting, which follows the tradition established by Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional Convention in 1789.

In Roswell, the invocation is traditionally given by a member of the Christian faith.

The City of Roswell has invited Muslim, Jewish and Christian faith leaders to give invocations at City Council meetings.

“Thank you so much, we’re honored by your presence,” Mayor Kurt Wilson said.

Gyanni Baljeet Singh and Jagjeet Singh Sidhu represented the Sikh temple.

Singh, the temple’s priest or granthi, said a prayer in Punjabi, the predominant language spoken by Sikhs.

Sidhu translated the Punjabi into English for everyone in attendance to understand the message.

“No one knows your limits, o highest of the high, most generous God,” Sidhu said.

“The whole creation is under your control, and we accept your will and command.”

Sikhs believe everyone worships the same God, regardless of religion or culture.

Reinvent: Continued from Page 1 Zack’s other questions include: • What is the turnover rate for staff this recent year?

• Does everyone in senior leadership positions have the qualifications for their current role?

• Did everyone in a senior leadership role go through an interview process? Were they picked based on their merits and weren’t preselected?

• Have there been any reports or discussions of discrimination about any members of senior leadership?

• How does staff leadership make their decisions? Who’s involved in the decision-making process?

• What positions are being prioritized to fill?

• What strategy is there for role creation and merit increases?

Zack had also raised budgetary issues, but those were later dismissed

by Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson.

In response to Zack’s concerns over city operations, Roswell City Administrator Randy Knighton touted

About 80 percent of the 30 million Sikhs worldwide live in the Punjab region of India.

“The main difference I notice is that other religions believe that you have to converge…that their way is the only way,” Sidhu said. “There is not only one way, basically we are more about being a good human being than being a good Sikh or a good Christian.”

In the Punjabi language, Sikh means learner or disciple.

The Sikh religion originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent.

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that emphasizes human equality.

It was established from 1469 to 1708 by 10 human gurus who were believed to be inhabited by the same spirit.

After the death of the last Sikh guru, Gobind Singh, the Sikh’s sacred scripture became regarded as the sole guru.

Sikhs believe the sacred scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, is inherited by the single spirit of the 10 gurus.

The Sikh diaspora in the late 1800s followed the collapse of their empire and the annexation of the region by British India.

Today, Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world and the youngest of the major world religions. a new city initiative called “Reinvent Roswell.”

“What that entails is a very hard look at the entire organization in order to ultimately best serve the residents of Roswell,” Knighton said.

He said the initiative involves an examination of the city’s policies and procedures; organizational structure; and internal and external communications.

“With that organizational assessment, there comes change,” Knighton said. “In order for us to be the organization that moves toward being the No. 1 family community in America, that does take a real hard look and scrutiny into how we deliver services.

Any organization that wants to better itself should always be in the mode of self-evaluation, which our organization is currently undertaking.”

Knighton said there have been several benefits because of the city’s introspection, like a development of strategies to redesign Roswell City Hall and how it will address the needs of residents “more profoundly, more specifically in a more detailed manner.”

“I don’t have all of the answers,” Knighton said. “Our leadership team doesn’t have all of the answers. But, our staff members do, and we’re giving them a voice through this ‘Reinvent Roswell’ initiative.”

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Gyanni Baljeet Singh, representing a local Sikh temple, gives the invocation at the Roswell City Council meeting Oct. 23.

As a result, many Americans are familiar with Sikhs but unaware of their culture.

Sidhu immigrated to New York City in 1971. When he arrived in Metro Atlanta, there was not a place for him to congregate with his fellow Sikhs.

“I came here in 1989, there was no Sikh Temple, now we have four,” Sidhu said.

He estimates that there are at least a thousand Sikh families living in Metro Atlanta.

Gurdwara Sahib, or simply gurdwara, is another name for a Sikh temple or place of worship.

People of all faiths are welcomed in the congregation of a gurdwara.

The Sikh temple in Roswell is officially named the Sikh Educational Welfare Association Gurdwara Sahib.

The Sikh Educational Welfare Association is only associated with the gurdwara in Roswell.

The nonprofit organization, Sikh Educational Welfare Association, manages the gurdwara, community service efforts and cultural activities.

The gurdwara in Roswell opened in 2002.

Since then, the gurdwara has expanded to accommodate a growing congregation.

Sidhu said the growth of Alpharetta’s technology industry has fostered the growth of the Sikh Educational Welfare Association and their congregation.

In 2021, the gurdwara was renovated to expand its capacity from 150 to 300 people, Singh said.

Parvinder Singh Arora, a board member of the Sikh Educational Welfare Association, said the COVID-19 pandemic allowed Sikhs to relocate from different states to North Fulton.

Arora said the congregation is already looking at options to expand their space on Woodstock Road.

“It’s a great community,” Mayor Wilson said.

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NEWS

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Auxiliary members Lee Harrison, Burma Anderson and Karen Hicks are honored Oct. 17 at an American Legion Post 201 meeting. President Linda Stancil-Redner and Post Commander Tom Billings, at right, recognized the trio for 50 years of membership and service.

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ALPHARETTA, Ga. — American Legion Post 201 recognized three auxiliary members for 50 years of service Oct. 17.

Post staff said recipients Lee Harrison, Burma Anderson and Karen Hicks were honored for their decades of serving local youth, the community

and the needs of veterans.

Unit 201 Auxiliary President Linda Stancil-Redner and Post Commander Tom Billings presented the three with certificates to recognize their contributions.

— Shelby Israel

Rotary schedules painting on Alpharetta Greenway ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The North Fulton Rotary Club will paint nine raised manholes Nov. 11-12, the first step to create its Alpharetta Greenway Mural Trail.

Rotarian Richard Matherly said his home overlooks the Big Creek Greenway, and he walks the trail often, which led him to envision the project. He said the murals will advocate “Clean Water for All” and celebrate wildlife and plant life on the Greenway.

While Matherly hopes to see all 60 manhole covers on the 12-mile stretch painted, the first nine are between Haynes Bridge and Kimball Bridge roads.

“And this is just another little thing of community spirit, creating an artwork display that's going to be interesting and attractive to visitors as well as locals to see all these murals as this trail takes place,” he said.

Eight of the nine paintings will be completed by local high school students.

The Rotary Club’s professional mural adviser, Annalysa Kimball, will guide the students and paint a manhole.

“It's fun for me to watch a mural being painted and to see art at work, and you know, the Greenway is busy,” Matherly said.

The Alpharetta Cultural Arts

CITY OF ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED

This map shows the locations of the nine raised manholes that will be painted Nov. 11-12 as part of the North Fulton Rotary Club’s Alpharetta Greenway Mural Trail.

Eight of the manholes will be painted by local high school students.

Commission approved the first murals Oct. 24. Matherly said the project would be impossible without the cooperation of the Arts Commission, the city and the Fulton County Public Works Department.

Matherly said the paintings will likely take all day on both days. The painting site can be accessed from the Greenway parking lot on Haynes Bridge Road.

— Shelby Israel

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | November 2, 2023 | 7

Innovators strive to make government more accessible

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — When James Dillard created Recap Roswell, a website that breaks Roswell City Council meetings into digestible chunks, he drew from his time living in Switzerland as inspiration.

“Switzerland is a very high trust society with a very high degree of civic participation,” he said. “When you’re living abroad, you see your home differently, and that caused me to place a greater value on participating, in making the system work.”

Dillard also said Robert Putnam’s nonfiction book “Bowling Alone” was an influence. Putnam writes about the decline of social capital, how society is becoming less participatory, even in smaller institutions like social clubs.

Dillard is not alone. Other innovators are developing tools to help keep citizens engaged in government.

“I feel like Roswell, Georgia, the United States would be healthier if we have more of those institutions, or micro institutions, where people are connecting and going through the process of deciding what they think

they should do together and then, trying to make that happen in the real world,” Dillard said.

In May, Dillard built Recap Roswell from scratch using ChatGPT, an AIpowered language model developed by the nonprofit organization OpenAI. For each post, he creates a transcript from the video recording of the latest council meeting. Then, he runs the transcript through the OpenAI API, based on a chain of different requests which synthesizes it down to a quick summary.

“You now are taking hundreds of hours of time and condensing it to something that someone, like yourself, can get through in 15 or 20 minutes,” Dillard said.

But, using AI is not without its pitfalls. He has to check the summary for “hallucinations,” or errors presented as fact.

“I don’t want to minimize the chance that I invent a decision by the City Council,” Dillard said.

He said Recap Roswell also spawned from wanting to understand where the political fault lines are in Roswell government.

“All of the candidates sort of say the same things,” Dillard said,

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referring to his latest post on candidates in Roswell’s upcoming municipal election. “It’s very difficult to parse what the choice actually is between them, right?”

Roswell’s local election is one of the most contested in north Metro Atlanta, where at least two candidates are vying for each seat. In other cities, some candidates – many of them incumbents – will automatically get a council seat because they have no opponents.

Because there were no contested races in Alpharetta this year, the city canceled its municipal election. It did the same in 2015 for the same reason.

In the past couple of decades, other area cities have canceled their municipal elections, including Roswell in 2003, Johns Creek in 2009, Milton in 2013 and Cumming across three years. There have been cancellations in Sandy Springs, too.

Incumbents who get their reelection bid without challenge might mean there’s less accountability, said Saba Long, executive director of Atlanta Civic Circle (ACC).

With the slogan “Complexity shuts you out, ACC opens the door for you,” the nonprofit is a civic engagement

and media outlet that covers local democracy and housing affordability challenges in Metro Atlanta.

“When an elected official is not adhering to the public trust, when they are not making decisions that are in the best interest of their constituents and the public at large, then they should be contested,” Long said.

She said the number of candidates running for office runs parallel to the level of civic engagement.

“When more people are engaged in their local government, the more likely it is that people will vote; the more likely it is that people will run for office; and the more likely it is that they have a stake in what’s happening,” Long said.

To increase public engagement, and thus accountability, she said local government meetings need to be “de-mystified.” She said a solution could be that municipalities add a webpage explaining how citizens can sign up for public comment or interact with elected officials.

“Public meetings can be intimidating for those who aren’t familiar with it and don’t know about it,” Long said.

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We’re intentional about what our goals and values are… community, coaching and programming.”

Mike Vialpando, owner and head coach, Forge Roswell 8 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | November 2, 2023

Pandemic-forged Roswell gym strives to shape community

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — When you think of a CrossFit gym, a group of people with different skills, circumstances and strengths may not be what comes to mind.

Mike Vialpando said it’s a dream to be in his third year as owner and head coach of Forge Roswell at The Mill in Historic Roswell, 23 Maple Street.

“What separates us, I believe, from other gyms is not that we’re ‘better,’” Vialpando said. “We’re intentional about what our goals and values are… community, coaching and programming.”

While some members joined the gym for general conditioning and a sense of community, Forge Roswell’s unique style has allowed it to retain and expand membership.

The workout programs at Forge Roswell are geared toward the individual’s desired level of functionality. Most gyms affiliated with CrossFit differ in some ways.

While some are geared toward CrossFit competitions and highintensity workouts, others, like Forge Roswell, modify the fitness regimen to suit individuals.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many gyms across the country closed permanently.

When Vialpando acquired CrossFit NBK in Oct. 2021, membership had declined amid lockdowns.

The 6,000-square-foot gym needed a community based revival, Vialpando said.

“We’ve been growing ever since,” Vialpando said.

There was a group of five coaches from the prior gym when Vialpando acquired it in 2021.

Today, there are 10 coaches at Forge Roswell.

The start of Vialpando’s coaching journey began when he left a 10-year healthcare career at St. Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta. He said starting a youth fitness program was spurred by his desire to address healthcare before patients reached the hospital.

Because of his experience in a hospital, Vialpando said he thinks the cost of a gym membership is much less than the cost of healthcare later in life.

“I created youth programs to get ahead of it,” Vialpando said.

Prior to acquiring the gym, Vialpando was head coach and manager for several years at another gym in Metro Atlanta.

“In the Roswell area, we are saturated with other CrossFit gyms specifically [and] just fitness organizations for adults, so there’s a lot to choose from,” Vialpando said.

Following a 2020 controversy in the CrossFit organization, in which founder Greg Glassman resigned amid charges of racism in his social media posts, Vialpando and his coaching staff have taken measures to promote an inclusive culture at Forge Roswell.

See GYM, Page 9

SHOP LOCAL

FORGE ROSWELL/PROVIDED

Roswell Forge staff and gym members gather in the middle of the 6,000-square-foot facility at 23 Maple Street, Roswell. Owner Mike Vialpando sits at center, wearing a cap and light blue shirt.

I t ’ s H olIday s HoppIng s eason !

F Ind t He p erFect g IFt I n d owntown a lpHaretta

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Gym: Continued from Page 8 “CrossFit comes with some stigmas,” Vialpando said. “But if somebody steps into our gym, they will see themselves reflected in the leadership.”

Forge Roswell has community events, like Trivia Night at Summit Coffee on Atlanta Street Oct. 19.

The community at the gym participates in competitions and gatherings around North Fulton, Vialpando said.

“Ruck the Mill” is a 1-hour hike, two Sundays a month at 8 a.m. Forge Roswell invites anyone interested to enjoy the Vickery Creek Trail at Roswell Mill.

The Forge Roswell coaches have crafted unique classes with modifications for individuals based on their fitness condition and lifestyle.

The gym has programs for CrossFit athletes, as well as a low-impact functional training program for people with less experience.

There are six CrossFit classes Monday through Friday, with two classes on Saturday and Sunday.

Each class throughout the day is 60-minutes and designed for people with CrossFit experience.

The competitive lifting class is 6:30

BUSINESSPOSTS p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Saturday.

The low-impact functional training classes are twice a day Monday through Friday.

Vialpando’s own LIFT classes are designed to sustain everyday activities by focusing on strength training and aerobic conditioning.

Vialpando said he thinks Forge Roswell’s modified CrossFit workouts create a community designed for any committed individual regardless of experience.

“Our goal is to help support the activities that you’re already doing,” Vialpando said.

Vialpando encourages men and women of all ages to consider a 60-minute class at Forge Roswell.

The gym also has a summer teen program, which meets three days a week starting June 5.

“We taught kids how to safely and properly lift and move weights,” Vialpando said. “The whole goal is to create an active lifestyle.”

Kids who play year-round sports and kids with other interests are encouraged to attend youth classes at Forge Roswell.

Vialpando said he hopes to start week-long youth programs when school is out for the holidays.

To learn more about classes at Forge Roswell, visit https://www. theforgeroswell.com/

AppenMedia.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | November 2, 2023 | 9

FORGE ROSWELL/PROVIDED

Gym members hang from pull-up bars during gymnastics class at Forge Roswell.

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10 | November 2, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

NEWS

Forsyth County rejects bid on McGinnis Ferry widening

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

More to come

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Efforts to widen a 4.7-mile stretch of McGinnis Ferry Road in south Forsyth County hit a snag Oct. 10 when the County Commission rejected all construction bids for the project.

McGinnis Ferry Road serves as a major east-west artery across Johns Creek, connecting traffic from Cobb and Gwinnett to and through Fulton and Forsyth counties. Latest data from Johns Creek Transportation puts the traffic count at close to 20,000 vehicles per day on the two-lane – 55 percent over its designed capacity.

Forsyth County now plans to rebid the project after contract proposals came in higher than expected.

The County Commission voted 4-0 to reject construction firm Vertical Earth’s $79.4 million bid on the project Oct. 10 at a work session. Commissioner Todd Levent was absent from the meeting.

Official project cost estimates have varied since the widening was first proposed nearly 10 years ago, from $36 million originally, then climbing to $61.5 million by 2020.

This is a developing story. Return to appenmedia.com for updates.

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK/PROVIDED

This map shows the portions of the McGinnis Ferry Road widening project in Johns Creek, Alpharetta and Forsyth County’s jurisdictions. Forsyth County is now seeking to rebid the project in two sections.

At the Oct. 10 work session, County Manager David McKee said after lengthy discussions with the Georgia Department of Transportation, Johns Creek and Alpharetta, there was no feasible way to cover the costs.

“It's inevitable that we don't have the funding to fund it completely as it is,” McKee said.

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Forsyth County entered an agreement with the North Fulton cities in 2020 to fund the multi-million-dollar road project, which will widen McGinnis Ferry from two to four lanes from Union Hill to Sargent roads.

Alpharetta and Johns Creek each committed $8.9 million in the 2020 agreement. Johns Creek recently indicated it would contribute an additional $3 million from TSPLOST II funds.

Forsyth County, which borders the entire stretch of the road to the north, agreed to foot most of the costs at $23 million.

With GDOT’s $10 million offer toward the project, the four parties agreed to contribute some $50.8 million in 2020.

Now, three years after the 2020 contract, bids for the regional roadway improvements are hovering at more than

$79 million.

McKee said Forsyth County staff will work alongside GDOT and likely rebid the project in two phases.

As of Oct. 3, the county has spent some $17 million for wetland and stream buffer mitigation; right-of-way and easement acquisitions; roadway and utility design; and legal fees for the widening.

Alpharetta Finance Director Tom Harris said as of Oct. 12, the city has spent some $4.6 million on the project.

The two cities and the county acquired property rights for the construction in April 2022, with multiple condemnation cases still ongoing. In September, the Alpharetta City Council settled eight cases for the widening.

Forsyth County is also participating in constructing a Ga. 400 interchange with McGinnis Ferry Road. And, plans are well underway for a McGinnis Ferry interchange farther east at I-85 in Gwinnett County.

All projects point to a busier east-west artery for the northern suburbs.

The widening also seeks to handle potential traffic growth from The Gathering at South Forsyth, a $2 billion mixeduse development at Union Hill Road and Ronald Reagan Boulevard, which borders McGinnis Ferry.

The Board of Commissioners will formalize the vote to rebid the project at an upcoming meeting.

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | November 2, 2023 | 11

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12 | November 2, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

Calendar

NOV. 2 — NOV. 12

SKYLER SAUFLEY

What: Skyler Saufley, a blues player, will perform at this free concert. No coolers, outside food, outside alcoholic beverages, cans, glass bottles or smoking allowed. Friendly dogs onleash are welcome. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets.

When: Friday, Nov. 3, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center, 423 Candon Road More info: cummingcitycenter.com

PUPPET PALOOZA SATURDAYS

What: In collaboration with Piccadilly Puppets, Stage Door Theatre will host a puppet show as part of a series.

When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 10:30 a.m.

Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $10 More info: stagedoortheatrega.org

‘HAMLET’

What: Presented by Act1 Community Theater, “Hamlet” is Shakespeare’s most popular play. It follows the form of a “revenge tragedy,” in which the hero, Hamlet, seeks vengeance against his father’s murderer, his uncle Claudius, now the king of Denmark.

Much of its fascination, however, lies in its uncertainties.

When: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 3-4, times vary Where: Brooke Street Park, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: act1theater.org

DIWALI FESTIVAL

What: To celebrate the symbolic meaning of Diwali, a “victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance,” this familyfriendly festival will feature a DJ, performances as well as a variety of food and retail vendors.

When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 4-8 p.m.

Where: Atlanta Athletic Club, 1930 Bobby Jones Drive, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov

THE ELEGANT ELF HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE

What: This two-day gift market features more than 80 carefully selected vendors who offer hand-

‘HAMLET’

What: Presented by Act1 Community Theater, “Hamlet” is Shakespeare’s most popular play. It follows the form of a “revenge tragedy,” in which the hero, Hamlet, seeks vengeance against his father’s murderer, his uncle Claudius, now the king of Denmark. Much of its fascination, however, lies in its uncertainties.

When: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 3-4, times vary Where: Brooke Street Park, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: act1theater.org

crafted items, artistic creations and the latest gourmet delights.

When: Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 4-5, times vary Where: Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs More info: sandyspringssociety.org/ the-elegant-elf

WALTER ISAACSON, ‘ELON MUSK’ AUTHOR TALK

What: The 32nd Edition of the Book Festival of the MJCCA presents Walter Isaacson, who authored “Elon Musk,” in conversation with Gail Evans, former executive vice president of CNN and bestselling author.

When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 8 p.m.

Where: Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody Cost: $38 More info: showclix.com/event/ walter-isaacson-elon-musk

‘ONE PINT AT A TIME’

What: As part of the Southern Circuit

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT! It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people, whether online, through our newsletters or in the Crier and Herald newspapers.

Tour of Independent Filmmakers, a free screening of “One Pint at a Time” will be featured. The film, directed and produced by Aaron Hose and co-produced by Brigitte Hose, is about Black brewers, brand owners and influencers reshaping the craft beer industry.

When: Monday, Nov. 6, 6-9 p.m.

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell More info: roswell365.com

stage show that’s dance, music and theatrical performance blended in one rhythm when matchboxes, brooms, trash cans fill the stage with energizing beats.

When: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 10-11, times vary Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $46.35 to $94.80 More info: citysprings.com

HONORING OUR VETERANS

What: The Chattahoochee Evening Stars Quilt Guild is exhibiting a collection of seasonally inspired quilts capturing the warmth of the fall season.

When: Until Nov. 14, business hours Where: Community Gallery at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us

What: Celebrate, honor and thank those who have served in the United States’ military services.

When: Saturday, Nov. 11, 9-11 a.m.

Where: Johns Creek Veterans Memorial Walk, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov

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Visit AppenMedia.com/Calendar Provide the details for your event including title, description, location and date Click the red button that reads “Create event” That’s it! Submissions are free, though there are paid opportunities to promote your event in print and online.

EDUCATION • Sponsored Section

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | November 2, 2023 | 13

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Providing an exceptional college preparatory program since 1976 Brought to you by - Saint Francis School Saint Francis School is an independent, not-for-profit school with no religious affiliation, providing an exceptional college preparatory program serving the students of metro Atlanta since 1976. The mission of Saint Francis School is to provide a college preparatory program to students with diverse academic ability in a structured environment that is challenging and supportive.

Kindergarten – 8th grades are located on the 24-acre Roswell Campus while the High School is located on the 47-acre Milton campus. The

school’s commitment to small class sizes, low pupil-to-teacher ratio, and a strong emphasis on structure and organization allows students to enjoy success in academic areas and develop the self-confidence necessary to be successful in college. Curriculum offerings include AP, Honors, Traditional, and Support classes.

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14 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | November 2, 2023

Sponsored Section

Hope thru Soap Open House Fundraiser for at-risk youth Brought to you by - HOME Real Estate – The Kloster Group Hope thru Soap, a non-profit organization based in Atlanta, dedicated to providing Mobile Outreach services for those experiencing homelessness and poverty, is thrilled to announce an upcoming Open House fundraising event on Monday, November 20th. This special occasion will not only showcase the remarkable work being done by Hope thru Soap but will also raise critical funds to further their mission.

Founded on the principle of providing hope and dignity to those in need, Hope thru Soap’s Mobile Outreach program has been a beacon of support for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty in the Atlanta community.

Their dedicated team delivers essential mobile shower services directly to

the less fortunate, making a tangible difference in their lives.

In addition to their Mobile Outreach program, Hope thru Soap has initiated “Thrive by Hope,” a program with the sole mission of directly impacting the lives of at-risk young adults in the Atlanta area. This program aims to supply effective pathways and longterm solutions to empower these young individuals to thrive despite their challenging circumstances.

To further extend their reach and support the Atlanta community, Hope thru Soap has also established “Miller’s Market Food Pantry,” which provides food and essential items to those in need, ensuring that no one goes hungry.

The Open House event on November 20th promises to be a memorable evening, with a range of activities that will not only inform local residents about

the organization’s incredible work but also engage them in making a difference.

The event will feature guest speakers who will share inspiring stories and insights into the organization’s mission.

Hope thru Soap is expanding its efforts into Gwinnett & Clayton County at the end of this year.

Guests can enjoy wine and appetizers while mingling with likeminded individuals who are passionate about giving back to our community.

Opportunities to volunteer and support Hope thru Soap’s ongoing initiatives will also be available, allowing attendees to directly contribute to the cause.

For those looking to get a head start on their holiday shopping, the event will include a holiday gift shop, where unique and thoughtful gifts will be available for purchase. All proceeds from this shop will go directly towards

supporting Hope thru Soap’s vital programs.

Hope thru Soap’s Open House fundraising event on Monday, November 20th, is an opportunity for community to come together, learn about the organization’s impactful work, and contribute to a cause that makes a real difference in the lives of the less fortunate and at-risk youth.

We invite all Metro-Atlanta community members, supporters, and individuals interested in making a positive impact to join us on this special evening. Together, we can provide hope, dignity, and support to those who need it the most.

For more information on this the event, please visit the Hope thru Soap page on Facebook for updates.

To make a donation, please visit www.hopethrusoap.org

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | November 2, 2023 | 15

The Kloster Group contributes to charitable organizations across Atlanta with EVERY closed real estate transaction!

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16 | November 2, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

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Don’t be mislead Brought to you byGeerdes & Associates When you own a property, what may naturally come to mind is how to protect that property after your death.

You may do this by GEERDES adding the right of survivorship language to the deed or even transferring ownership to a child. However, one of the best ways to protect your property for future generations is to put it in a trust so why don’t people do this? That’s mostly because of two common misconceptions: Misconception 1: I don’t need a T rust because I have joint ownership.

Many people add their spouses or children on the property with right of survivorship language, which allows the spouse and children to automatically inherit when the original owner passes away. However, by jointly titling your property, you forgo important tax planning opportunities during your life, potentially resulting in a higher tax bill after you pass. In addition, if you make a child a joint owner with the right of survivorship, this can be considered a taxable gift to your child, who may end up having to file a gift tax return.

The right of survivorship language is only a temporary protection levied on the property. Once all owners pass away, the property will still have to face tax bills and the lengthy, costly probate court.

Misconception 2: The property is under a mortgage, so I can’t put it in a trust.

If you have a mortgage on your property, you may worry that transferring the property into a trust will violate the loan. This is false if you plan on transferring the property into a revocable trust.

When you transfer property into a revocable trust, you are not selling the property and therefore you are not violating your loan (Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982). This is different for irrevocable trusts, where you should not put the property in until the mortgage is fully paid off.

The trust is ultimately one of the best ways to protect your real estate.

However, every family situation is different, and that’s why you should make sure you’re fully informed on all possible solutions. We recommend getting second opinions and reaching out to local estate planning attorneys to ensure you know all the correct laws and methods to protect your property. Finally, it’s never too early to secure your real estate, so make sure that you set up an estate plan as soon as you feel ready.

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | November 2, 2023 | 17

Three energy-efficient smart home upgrades for fall Brought to you by – Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty It’s no secret that keeping your Bill Rawlings home warm and Sherri Conrad and well-lit during the fall season means higher energy costs.

According to SaveOnEnergy.com®, utility bills rose significantly between 2021 and 2022 (about 16 percent for U.S. homeowners), a trend that makes the transition to winter the perfect time to initiate a home energy audit. Here are three ways to prime your home to fend off inefficiencies ahead of the colder months 1. Install a smart thermostat for precise temperature control.

Smart thermostats work their magic through features like personalized scheduling, geofencing technology and adaptive learning, ensuring efficient heating and cooling. They seamlessly integrate with some of the most popular smart-home voice assistants, such as Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Microsoft Cortana, Samsung SmartThings, Logitech Harmony or Wink. Remember to verify compatibility with your existing smart home system before purchasing, and keep in mind that installation often involves extra power requirements and the establishment of wireless communication with other smart devices in your home.

Unless you have a strong background in electrical work, we recommend leaving the installation to a professional rather than attempting it as a DIY project.

2. Add smart lighting and automation to reduce energy consumption.

Intelligent lighting solutions are key to enhancing efficiency and convenience. One of the easiest and most effective ways to save money is to switch out incandescent light bulbs for smart bulbs, which consume less energy and boast a longer lifespan. If you prefer a more integrated solution, smart in-wall light switches are a fantastic option.

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Finally, smart plugs that offer on/ off scheduling functions provide a cost-effective solution for controlling everything from lamps to holiday lights.

3. Incorporate energy-efficient appliances.

While the upfront cost of energyefficient appliances is substantial, this investment can translate to significant long-term savings on your electricity bills. Moreover, many governments provide rebates and incentives that can help alleviate the initial financial burden. The top three energy hogs (read, the ones you probably want to replace) tend to be refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers. Look for the energy efficiency ratings provided on the appliances themselves or consult online resources that offer comprehensive energy efficiency data.

Selecting the right energy-efficient solutions can result in significant savings and a more comfortable, eco-conscious lifestyle. If you need assistance renovating your home or have any other real estate needs, please contact Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty at 770.442.7300. We would be happy to assist you!

Compiled and edited by Angela Valente, Marketing Copywriter/ Copyeditor

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18 | November 2, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

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After nearly a decade in Roswell, Bath and Kitchen Galleria has moved to a larger 10,000 SF showroom in Alpharetta. Owners, Bobbie Kohm and John Hogan, have expanded their business by tripling the size of the showroom to keep up with the amazing growth of the company. “North Atlanta has thousands of homes built in the 90’s and 2000’s and homeowners need a way to remodel their homes. They need a company that offers design assistance, has a large showroom, provides installation services, and does it all cost effectively, too”, says co-owner Bobbie Kohm, “…and that’s what we do.”

Bath & Kitchen Galleria, (formerly Remodeling Expo) has grown by more than 400% since 2018 and the company attributes this to one simple best practice, “listening to the customer”.

Customers want cost effectiveness, projects completed on-time, and they demand quality design assistance. “So, we responded with exactly that”, says co-owner John Hogan, “in short, we’ve brought service excellence to an industry that is known for low service standards.

We’ve changed this and now we perform over 300 projects each year.”

Bath & Kitchen Galleria recently moved from Roswell to Alpharetta where they found a huge new showroom to show their amazing versatility: cost effective to fully custom bathrooms and kitchens, from $10,000 to $250,000, styles from farmhouse to traditional to transitional, project scopes from partial room update to fully rebuilt rooms. They have cabinetry, tiles, plumbing fixtures, countertops, shower glass, knobs and pulls, lighted mirrors, accessories and most importantly, remodeling consultants to help you. “We take the anxiety and pressure out of the process and make it fun” says Bobbie, “and that’s how it should be.”

John and Bobbie have built a great business that provides personal attention to every customer; because every home is different, and every homeowner is different. “I wish we could say that we have some secret widget; but our competitive advantage is pure “service excellence”. Bath and Kitchen Galleria (BathAndKitchenGalleria.com) is located at 10591 Old Alabama Rd Connector in Alpharetta. 770-765- 6000.

Open Weekdays and Saturday.

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

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PROVIDED

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division Shines again at 43rd OBIE Awards Brought to you by- Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division The Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association hosted the 43rd annual Professionalism (OBIE) Awards Saturday, October 21st at the Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division, led by President Lori Lane, and their builder clients took home an astounding 30 gold and silver awards.

With over 100 different categories, the OBIE awards celebrate outstanding achievements in homebuilding and highlight those in the homebuilding industry for excellence in building, marketing, and personal achievement.

This year Berkshire Hathaway’s New

Homes Division was honored to receive the gold award for Best Website, Best Online Banner ad, Best Email Marketing Message, Best Newspaper Ad, and Best Print New Homes Publication to name a few. In addition to winning numerous marketing accolades, Berkshire Hathaway’s builder clients Trilith Development, Patrick Malloy Communities, JW Collection, McKinney Builders, Loudermilk Homes, Vision Development Partners, and David Patterson Homes all received top honors.

Lori Lane has earned her reputation as a powerhouse in the new construction industry. Alongside her dedicated team, she has crafted innovative strategies for the marketing and sale of new construction, resulting in the accumulation of numerous industry awards.

As a testament to their unwavering determination and tireless efforts, the New Homes Division also continues to deliver outstanding sales results. For the past 12 months, the New Homes Division has consistently held the position of the #1 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices office in the region. It also earned a prestigious spot as one of the top 30 offices across the entire Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices global network.

Lori Lane, the President of the New Homes Division at BHHS Georgia Properties and Senior Vice President of Luxury and Global, attributes this success to the team’s unwavering commitment. She emphasizes, “Success is about hard work and determination, and you have to pour yourself into it every day.” Lane expresses her deep

gratitude for the opportunity to work with builder and developer clients she respects and enjoys.

Lane and her New Homes Division are redefining the landscape of new home and luxury real estate sales and marketing in Atlanta. Their continuous contributions are leaving a lasting impact on the city’s real estate industry.

The success of the New Homes Division reflects the resilience and commitment of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties as a whole. Despite the challenges posed by the real estate market, this division’s unwavering dedication to excellence in sales, marketing, and client relationships has propelled it to the top ranks of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices regional and global network.

20 | November 2, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

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REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

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22 | November 2, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

NEWS

Creating

SUCCESS FOR YOU

ST. MARY’S ORTHODOX CHURCH/PROVIDED

Dancers perform at the India Festival Oct. 14 at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church. The annual festival featured four food stalls, 15 performers, 23 vendors, live music by Achaar the Band and a volleyball tournament.

India Festival draws crowds to St. Mary’s Orthodox Church ROSWELL, Ga. — Some 1,000 guests gathered at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church Oct. 14 to celebrate food, culture and dance at its fifth annual India Festival.

The church first hosted the annual gathering in 2016 until a three-year hiatus brought on by COVID-19. The Oct. 14 celebration marked the event’s return following the break.

The festival featured four food stalls, 15 performers, 23 vendors, live music by Achaar the Band and a volleyball tournament that raised funds for the church’s new Sunday school building and indoor gymnasium.

“We were very happy in terms of

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hosting this event,” festival organizer Cherian Chacko said.

St. Mary’s Orthodox, which serves more than 80 families, also marked its 10th anniversary with the India Festival. To commemorate the anniversary, Chacko said the church donated a home to a family in Thodupuzha, Kerala, India.

“As we celebrate our 10th-year anniversary, let us remember that our faith is not just a compass,” he said. “It is the foundation upon which we have built a strong, loving and supportive community.”

— Shelby Israel

Eatery to host wine fest benefiting police and fire ROSWELL, Ga. — The Mill Kitchen and Bar will host the seventh annual Grandiose Grape Wine Festival at 2 p.m. Nov. 4 at 590 Mimosa Boulevard.

The festival will feature a collection of more than 100 wines from 30 wineries, food pairings by Executive Chef Derek Dollar and live music by The Vibe Band. Guests will receive a souvenir wine glass and complimentary valet parking.

General admission to the gathering is $85 per person.

VIP tickets are $135 and grant early

access to the festival at 1 p.m., as well as access to a reserve wine tasting.

The VIP entry also includes a VIP food menu, a gift bag and gift certificates at The Mill Kitchen and Bar and its sister concepts.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit the Roswell Fire and Police Foundation.

Tickets can be purchased at themillkitchenandbar.com/blog/ grandiose-grape-wine-festival-2023.

— Shelby Israel

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | November 2, 2023 | 23

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21 Gangster’s gun 50 48 49 23 Enduring 51 52 25 Make a sweater 26 Palooka 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 27 Overseas 62 63 64 65 61 30 Life, for one 35 Thinking cap?

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70 Proof word 13 Pigeon pea 49 Actress Farrow 45 Tax 22 Assist 71 Take up space 50 Adage 46 Kenyan 24 Consume 52 Singing voice tribesman 25 Colorful carp 53 Make do 48 Corps de ballet Down 27 Die down 54 Comply with 50 Unruffled 28 UCLA player 1 Heroic tale 55 Musical mark 51 Spanish aunt 2 Dutch export 29 Croupiers’ tools 56 See the sights 52 Unguent 3 Austen heroine 30 Word hard 58 Delhi dress 53 Send an email 4 Slow-witted 31 Effortless 59 Liberal pursuits 57 Astonish 32 Hemp necktie 5 Not moving 60 Cousin of “ahem” 58 Plant production 33 Fresh from the 6 Sir Walter, for 63 Dowel 61 Slender reed one shower 65 Woodwind 62 “My bad” 7 Stir-fry pan 34 Bone-chilling instrument 64 Autocrats of old

See solution Page 30

AMERICAN LEGION POST 201 EVENTS

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

SUNDAY, NOV. 5, 4 p.m. – ANNUAL FLAG RETIREMENT Post 201 sponsored Scout Troop 51 will honorably retire more than 2,000 flags collected during the year. The ceremony will take place on the grassy knoll adjacent to the baseball field’s first base line. There is no charge to attend the event.

FRIDAY, NOV. 10, 7:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.

Solution on next page DANCE SHOWCASE FUNDRAISER To Benefit Troops & Veterans Services Dance Instructors Showcase Student Talent Social Dancing Follows Demonstrations $12 Per Person Cash or Credit at the Door Visit www.legion201.org/events for Details DANCES & DANCE INSTRUCTION For Complete Details Visit: www.club201dance.com/calendar

201 Wills Road Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-475-9023 www.legion201.org

24 | November 2, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

NEWS

Milton performs mock municipal election

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — The public had a chance to see how Milton’s municipal election would run Oct. 12 as a cast of 25 city staff members marked pretend ballots at City Hall.

Deputy City Manager Stacey Inglis explained each move made over the course of the demonstration, which ran about two hours. The session included intermittent Q&A sessions with about 10 people interested in the process.

Inglis shares the roles of deputy election superintendent and deputy ballot clerk with City Clerk Tammy Lowit. Inglis will also serve as the chief manager of tabulation, the process of counting all the ballots — including those cast during the advanced voting period — at the end of Election Day. In about 15 minutes, Inglis successfully performed logic and accuracy testing of a poll pad after she took a staged oath, a promise that must also be made by each poll worker. Milton resident Judy Burds, who will serve as a poll manager, said the process takes days under Fulton County.

Testing technology The city borrowed 14 poll pads, used for voter check-in during advanced voting and on Election Day, from the county at no charge.

They will be divided among the three Election Day polling locations: City Hall, the Community Center at Milton Park and Preserve and the Public Safety Complex on Ga. 9.

Roswell resident Michael Gordon fired several questions about how the poll pad data consisting of Milton voter information, verified during the logic and accuracy test, is retrieved and stored. Gordon said he attended the mock election with a curiosity and hope that other cities, including his own, do what Milton is doing because of his distrust in Fulton County.

Inglis explained the voter data is first downloaded to ePulse, an election management software, which is then uploaded to the poll pads — produced by KNOWiNK through collaboration with the Secretary of State. The data also syncs with Georgia’s voter registration system, she said, so voters can view their activity.

Inglis said when the election has concluded, the city will print out the data, clear the poll pads and send them back to Fulton County. She said the data is stored for two years.

cannot leave until the results are certified, including any provisional ballots to be added to the count of regular ballots. She doesn’t expect there to be many provisionals, close to none during early voting and what could be counted on one hand per precinct.

Inglis, serving as a mock tabulator, called out the ballot marking as another individual tallied them on an official form. Write-ins are recorded on another form but are not considered because they must be qualified.

For questionable ballot markings, two assistant poll managers review the ballot to determine the intent, and if they do not agree, the chief manager will make the determination.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Milton Deputy City Manager Stacey Inglis answers questions as city staff “voters” file into Council Chambers to begin the mock voting process Oct. 12.

Casting the ballots Each of the 25 city staff members walked to the poll pad, where their pretend IDs were manually entered to determine if they were eligible to vote. During the actual voting process, IDs can be scanned, and if voters do not have an ID, information from a passport can be entered.

The city staged a variety of mishaps for purposes of demonstrating expectations of voters either not showing up to the correct polling location, or having a cellphone in the voting area which is prohibited.

A poll clerk shouted, “No phones allowed!” when Milton Communications Coordinator Oksana Solovei walked through the area talking on her phone. She apologized.

If voters show up at the wrong location, the city can print out directions to the correct polling site or send a text to the voter with the directions. If a voter insists on voting at the wrong location, they can vote on a provisional ballot after 5 p.m., in accordance with a new state mandate.

Any provisional ballot cast before 5 p.m. will not count. “[The law] just assumes that before five o’clock, you’d have enough time to go over to your own precinct,” Inglis said.

Voter notification cards were recently mailed out by Fulton County, the city’s registrar. Milton residents said the county had originally sent a card with misleading information, showing both their former voting location and new location this year. A second card has since been sent out.

Kevin Muldowney, who had resigned from working as poll clerk in Milton’s election, said he thought the voter cards were “almost deliberately confusing.”

“I don’t think Fulton — they don’t have a great interest in this process being successful,” Muldowney said.

As votes are cast, Inglis said the poll clerks will periodically reconcile the number of ballots by using a “number strip” voters placed in a bin before tossing their official ballot in the ballot box on their way out the door. This process was performed for onlookers.

Counting the ballots While the mock tabulation involved one group of four individuals, on Election Day six groups for a total of 24 tabulation poll clerks are expected to tally the ballots at the end of Election Day – a process that is estimated to take five hours.

Theoretically, the ballots from advanced voting had already been counted and sorted by precinct via a stamp, without opening the ballot, then delivered to the “tabulation center” on the second floor of City Hall in a secured ballot bag.

At the end of Election Day, those ballots are recounted – a process that involves opening the ballots and laying them face down. By 11:59 p.m., Burds said the city will have to send the Secretary of State the number of ballots that have been cast, but the actual results may not come until later.

Burds also said the tabulators

Voter confidence After seeing the election process in action, Inglis said the city is “definitely ready” for what’s to come.

“The [mock election] shows, ‘Okay, we’ve prepared — now, we can go ahead and carry out the plan,’” Inglis said.

Some Milton residents, like Muldowney, shared their confidence in the city to run a successful election.

He said he anticipates Milton’s election to be a “good experience” and that the process is a lot simpler than with the voting machines.

“The machines have just overcomplicated the entire process,” Muldowney said. “They’ve negated transparency. You don’t really know what’s going on in the machine. Here, everything is right in front of you.”

Resident Rebecca Fricton said she was impressed by what she saw Thursday. Though she voiced her confidence in Milton’s election process based on the sheer amount of work that has been done to make it a success, Fricton said she anticipates “things that come on” — she mentioned cases of provisional ballots that she herself worked through as an election auditor for Fulton County.

Fricton’s husband Robin was more skeptical and said he never took issue with the way Milton’s elections were handled by Fulton County. Though municipal elections are labeled as a nonpartisan affair, Robin questioned a Republican takeover in Milton.

“My question to Republicans in Milton: If Fulton County was screwing around with the voting, then how did Milton become predominantly Republican because why would the Democrats want Republicans taking over?” Robin asked. “The problem I have now is — we’ve seen what Republicans do. They’ll do anything about the election.”

PRE-BROADWAY ATLANTA PREMIERE

NEWS

Cheeley: Continued from Page 1

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | November 2, 2023 | 25

PRE-BROADWAY ATLANTA PREMIERE

unincorporated portions of the county.

Because the percentage of unincorporated land has fallen below 50, the resolution states one of its two appointees, Bob Cheeley and Al Nash, are no longer needed. “… the Board of Commissioners finds that it is in the best interest of the CID Board, Fulton County, and the general public that Mr. Al Nash continue to serve as its appointee,” the resolution reads.

Cheeley was one of 19 defendants, including former President Donald Trump, who were indicted by a Fulton County grand jury in August for alleged attempts to overturn 2020 election results.

Cheeley was charged with allegedly violating Georgia’s anti-racketeering law; conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer; two counts of conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree; two counts of conspiracy to commit false statements and writings; conspiracy to commit filing false documents; solicitation of a public official to violate their oath; false statements and writings; and perjury.

The County Commission appointed Nash to the CID board in 2017. Nash, who represents Parallax Advisory Group, also serves as True North 400 treasurer.

Cheeley was appointed in 2020 and represents his Alpharetta law firm on the CID board.

The Board of Commissioners will vote on the resolution at its formal meeting Nov. 1.

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26 | November 2, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

NEWS

City of Milton figures are for first-year expenses only.

CALCULATING MILTON STAFF TIME

TOTAL COST OF INGLIS’ TIME: $77,983 TOTAL COST OF LOWIT’S TIME: $22,297 TOTAL COST OF KROKOFF’S TIME: $46,414

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By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — Prompted by cost savings when it opted to run its own municipal election this year, the City of Milton will have spent more than it would have paid Fulton County to run the show.

An Appen Media study conducted through open records and interviews shows the city will have spent at least $60,000 more.

Soon after the City Council adopted Milton’s fiscal year 2024 budget in September allocating $102,280 for the municipal election, a dozen more poll workers were hired.

City staff discovered during a trial run that they needed more tabulators to count the ballots at the end of Election Day. Paid at $17 an hour in addition to $40 for training, the 12 new hires increased the election budget by $1,500. Five hours of work was estimated for each.

Milton now has a total of 55 poll workers. That’s not including Deputy City Manager Stacey Inglis, who will double as the chief manager of tabulation, and Lavinia White, the city’s new election consultant.

Some poll workers have also served on one of three volunteer committees, pulled together to cut the workload of election preparation. Two committees, one for training and one for tabulation, are no longer active.

The Training Committee was responsible for assembling the poll worker training manual. The Tabulation Committee helped determine the best way to count votes and helped finalize the tabulation training manual.

Members of the Communications Committee, headed by Milton Communications Director Greg Botelho, have been making recommendations on how to best inform the public on various aspects of the election through website content, social media posts and printed material. They will continue to meet until the conclusion of the municipal election.

Another factor to consider in the city’s election budget, which has not been previously calculated, is city staff time dedicated to elections.

While the city’s volunteers may have helped, Appen Media estimates tens of thousands of election dollars have been spent in time against a six-figure salary for city employees involved in the process.

In a May interview, City Manager Steve Krokoff said he spent around 30 percent of his time on the city election,

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HOW HAVE COST ESTIMATES FOR THE MILTON 2023 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS CHANGED OVER TIME?

APPE

More poll workers, staff time, legal fees raise Milton election costs Story made possible by valued members of the Appen Press Club Appenmedia.com/join

which amounts to more than $5,800 in a month based on his current $232,061 salary. Today, half of his work time is spent on election matters.

Krokoff is not alone apportioning time away from regular duties.

Back in May, Inglis was already dedicating half of her work schedule to elections. For Inglis, whose current annual salary is $176,562, that figure jumped up to 100 percent in August — or $14,714 a month. She and City Clerk Tammy Lowit share the responsibility of deputy elections superintendent and deputy ballot clerk.

Lowit, who also serves as the city’s absentee ballot clerk, has a current annual salary of $97,294. She has also dedicated more of her time, around half of it, to election-related work in recent months, and that time will likely increase once advanced voting begins Oct. 16.

Lowit must also deal with an onslaught of open records requests; Krokoff has had his fair share of media inquiries as well.

Appen Media calculates the city has spent a total of $146,694 in city staff time since January, based on time estimates provided by Krokoff from January to September.

Krokoff also told Appen Media the legal fees Milton has incurred due to the municipal election have more than exhausted the budget’s 10 percent contingency. He was correct.

From September 2021 to August 2023, Milton City Attorney Ken Jarrard said the city has spent $27,700 in legal fees related to the November general municipal election — $17,472 more than the 10 percent buffer.

Legal fees are the result of drafting election-related resolutions as part of standard council procedure, or interpreting state election code for city staff. But the city is also billed when Jarrard’s office responds to election inquiries from the media or private citizens.

Fulton County officials said they would have charged Milton $216,565 for its municipal election this year.

With the extra poll workers, the consideration of city staff efforts, and all the legal fees, the city is looking at an election budget of about $280,000.

That figure does not include projected staff time or legal expenses for October and November.

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | November 2, 2023 | 27

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THE INVESTMENT COACH

OPINION

Quincy and Amazing Grace, baby boomers in good standing Born in 1947, Quincy was an inquisitive child interested in allthings-electronic and technical. Like Sheldon Cooper of “Young Sheldon” television fame, his favorite store LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP to poke around in Columnist was Radio Shack.

The Investment Coach In 1977, Radio Shack introduced the TRS-80 home microcomputer featuring a 12-inch video monitor, a cassette recorder and a cassette tape containing the games blackjack and backgammon. It cost $599, a stretch for the young father, but Quincy really wanted it. His wife, Grace, surprised him with the purchase on Christmas morning. As an outgrowth of his interest in the expanding world of micro computing, Quincy became an early investor in emerging companies such as Intel, Microsoft and Apple, among others.

Quincy was not a speculator. Actually, he was quite conservative. He bought stock in companies he believed in, reinvested dividends and held on through market ups and downs. He had some clunkers, but in the main, he built a core group of long-run winners. He and Grace, a school teacher, had three children. When they in succession headed off to college, Quincy used his stocks as collateral for loans from a local bank at favorable and tax-deductible interest rates, sparing his children from college debt burdens.

Graduate school was on them, however.

When Quincy and Grace retired, they had a paid-for home, a tidy financial nest egg

and a strong flow of dividend and interest income. Financial freedom allowed them to travel the world in comfort.

Even before they retired, Quincy and Grace took their three children on adventures around the United States and abroad. They were active in their church, and Grace put many miles on a station wagon shuttling children to and from sports and cultural activities. An avid tennis player, Grace’s older daughter called her mom “Amazing Grace.”

Quincy and Grace embody what we call WOOFs, well-off-older-folks. Per “The Wall Street Journal,” 10/9/2023, seniors aged 65 and up comprise 17.7% of America’s population, the highest percentage since 1920. They’re an economic and “spending force to be reckoned with.”

As the Journal noted, they accounted for 22% of consumer spending last year, the highest share since recordkeeping began in 1972. Americans aged 70 and older control almost 26% of household wealth, and they’re spending it on hobbies, travel, sports, home renovation and other interests. They are key donors to local, national, and transnational charities, often involving time and talent in addition to treasure.

Like all consumers, rising prices for food and essentials bite, but seniors did get an 8.7% cost-of-living-adjustment in Social Security payments this year. Of those, they still have a mortgage, many locked in low rates when money was cheap. Medicare helps to cushion the rising cost of medical care. Retirees aren’t worried about layoffs or job losses, unless such things adversely impact their grown children. The WSJ quoted Ed Yardini of Yardini Research, a respected forecaster, who thinks that

spending by seniors will help prop up the economy, avoiding a deep recession. This thinking parallels a comment made by this writer in a previous column that the WOOFs will save Delta Airlines from a shortfall of premium-fare-paying-businessflyers flying first class domestically and Delta One internationally. The WOOFs are flying up-front on planes and buying suites on cruise and river ships.

The oldest baby boomers turn 77 this year. The Journal noted that boomers control $77.1 trillion in wealth. But as many seniors find out, the Bank of Mom and Dad never really closes. Many are assisting grown children with challenges, including helping to pay for private elementary or high school expenses or college tuition for grandchildren.

A 2021 Gallup poll found that church membership and attendance strongly correlates with age. Sixty-six percent of traditionalists, those born prior to 1946, belong to a church, synagogue or mosque, versus 58% of baby boomers, 50% of Generation X, and 36% of millennials, also known as Gen Y. Quincy and Grace are even more active in their church now that they’ve retired. Seniors increasingly comprise the bulk of volunteers and donors. Their giving patterns and philanthropy objectives often reflect religious values. Grandma and Grandpa are setting an example by attending religious services and church leaders need to step up, working to attract more young people to participate in organized religion.

Quincy and Grace are fictitious characters, but they represent a composite view of families who have achieved financial independence over my many years of active financial life

planning counseling service. They used debt prudently and invested in quality stocks over the long run, recognizing that ownership of potentially appreciating assets was the answer to ever-present inflation that varied in intensity over time. They drove used, off-lease cars and shopped for bargains, especially when the kids were growing up and expenses were high. Grace clipped coupons and was a good shopper. They maintained adequate levels of health and disability insurance, insurance on home and autos, as well as umbrella liability insurance, very important when they had teenage drivers in the family. Both Grace and Quincy carried levels of life insurance designed to support the family in the event of death of either one or both of them. Planning for death and disability is a prudent part of any financial plan.

When Mom and Dad get older and need assistance, when one passes away, becoming a widow or widower, they may depend on an adult child for help, often a daughter. Grace and Quincy arranged a family meeting with their adult children and their financial adviser. They put key documents in place along with instructions, a “family love letter,” so that when emergencies occurred, the family was prepared. Lives well lived.

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

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

Old-time navigation tool helps you see what’s not visible Here’s a question for you: How do you know where to go when you aren’t sure where you are going?

Yeah. They say that getting from Point A to Point B can be half the fun, but only if you can find STEVE HUDSON the way.

Columnist A friend of mine from years back always made that finding-the-way thing look easy. Even hiking cross-country without benefit of trails, he never got lost. It was uncanny, like he had a GPS unit implanted in his brain, and that was long before GPS was

even a thing. He just seemed to know where he was going. He didn’t even carry a compass.

That’s a handy skill to have.

Me? I’m not so blessed in the area of direction finding. But that’s okay, I tell myself. Sometimes it’s fun just to set out and see what you find – especially if what you find is a previously undiscovered thrift store.

A thrift store? Uh huh. She does like thrift stores, you see. So, we keep an eye out for them just to see what we might find.

And when we see one?

“Want to stop?” she will ask, and I will always say, “Sure!”

I have to admit that I kind of liked

thrift stores too. Like garage sales, they tease you with the promise of treasures waiting to be found. And who doesn’t like to find treasures? On occasion I’ve found nifty outdoor goodies lurking among the rows of clothing and castoff kitchen appliances and ten-year-old computer monitors. And I keep hoping that someday I’ll walk into a thrift store and there in front of me will be a dusty cardboard box full of classic handmade bamboo fly rods, all priced at $5 apiece.

Heck, if I go on “half-price day” the deal will be even better.

That hasn’t happened yet. But it could.

I’ve had some smaller triumphs, though. Just the other day, for example,

in the thrift store right down the road, what should I happen across but an “orienteering compass.” This compass was designed for navigating crosscountry (see how we outdoor writer types eventually bring everything full circle?) using nothing more than it and a paper map. It was just the thing to help you when you weren’t sure exactly which direction was which.

So I bought the compass. I couldn’t let it go. It was a deal at $3, and since this was half-price day it was mine for the paltry sum of only $1.50, no batteries required. About that I felt pretty good.

The compass was in good shape, all

See TOOL, Page 29

Tool: Continued from Page 28 things considered, and needed only a new lanyard (can you say “old shoe lace”?) to be good as new. Then I was ready, my new old-school navigational aid worn proudly around my neck. I glanced in the mirror and saw that I looked like one of the really cool hikers, too cool for technology, firmly in tune with tradition.

I adjusted my hiking slightly. Man, I was something else. All I needed was somewhere to go.

Where indeed? For a while, I’d been hearing about a place called the Indian Seats in Forsyth County’s Sawnee Mountain Preserve over near Cumming. There really are actual seats there, carved into massive outcrops of mountaintop stone ages ago, and legend says that Native Americans used them as comfortable places from which to keep watch over the surrounding terrain. The seats are said to offer one of the very best scenic overlooks in the region, too, and that sounded like something I would like to see.

According to Whitman Morgan, outdoor recreation supervisor for Forsyth County, the Indian Seats are not actually on Sawnee Mountain itself. But Booger Mountain?

Whatever you call it, you’ll find it easy to hike to the top. Most hikers start at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitor Center parking lot (set your GPS for 4075 Spot Road in Cumming) and start by following the trail to the right of the visitor center.

The Indian Seats trail, marked by blue diamond-shaped blazes, is what’s called a lollipop trail ¬– that is, an approach trail (the lollipop’s “stick”) which connects you to a loop trail (the candy). Round-trip in-and-out distance is about four miles or a little less.

From the visitor center, the approach trail gently ascends to its intersection with the loop. Then you have to decide whether to turn left or right.

A lot to see on the way If you go right, you’ll initially enjoy some relatively level hiking that takes

OPINION you past old gold mine workings as well as another trail access point (the parking area at Bettis Tribble Gap) before turning uphill on its way to the summit. Go left, and the ascent begins right away. Since it’s a loop, either will work. And you’ll have the same elevation change (about 500 feet) either way.

I flipped a mental coin and decided to turn left, following the loop more or less clockwise – though with this trail’s many switchbacks and turns, it would be a strange-looking clockface indeed.

The trail is well maintained and easy to follow, though stretches can be rooty or rocky (or sometimes both).

Strategically placed guideposts are located at several points along the way, helping you keep track of where you are.

But who needs guideposts? I’ve got my paper map and my compass!

I’m having a good time with that compass, too, keeping track of which direction I’m heading. Do I actually need that info? No, not really; it is a loop trail, after all. But knowing where I’m going is just kind of fun, especially on a trail that changes its compass heading as much as this one does.

I see wildlife along the way: many deer, a couple of hawks, myriad other birds, and an abundance of squirrels.

One squirrel near the summit appears tame, and a mom and her daughter are having a great time feeding it nuts.

What I do not see is dogs, for dogs are not permitted on this trail.

Eventually, I reach the top. I see a short spur trail leading to a wooden overlook, and the wind picks up as I climb the steps to see what I might see.

I don’t spot any thrift stores in the distance, at least not that I can recognize.

But I do encounter a vista that you must see to appreciate. The reports are spot on. This really is one of the most spectacular views around.

An interpretive sign helps me identify what I’m seeing. There’s Pine Log Mountain (compass heading 280 degrees). There’s Springer Mountain (compass heading 353 degrees and a bit more than 26 miles away) and Blood Mountain too (39 miles, heading 18 degrees). Just for fun, I check these bearings with my compass. It’s nice to

DEATH NOTICES Thomas Abercrombie, 96, of Roswell, passed away on October 20, 2023. Arrangements

by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Kathleen Rice, 78, of Roswell, passed away on October 17, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Isabelle Doneff, 91, of Roswell, passed away on October 20, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Roberta Van Pelt, 77, of Roswell, passed away on October 22, 2023.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | November 2, 2023 | 29

know where things are.

Out there somewhere Sometimes the adventure is in what you don’t see. For instance, the sign tells me that Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest peak, is 39 miles away at a bearing of 23 degrees. It’s not visible from the overlook, being obscured by other features of the landscape. But (I check my compass and sight along the bearing line) it’s there. Right there. Even though I can’t see it, I know that’s where it is.

I realize it’s getting late and that I had better get going lest I find myself hiking out in the dark.

But first ... and yeah, you knew I would … first I have to check out the Indian Seats.

The seats, those three depressions cut into the rock, beg to be sat in. Who am I to refuse?

Carefully – very carefully – I ease across some rocks and finally, slowly, settle into the first of the three seats.

That’s plenty far for me. And it’s remarkably comfortable. I sit there for a while, enjoying the panorama before me. My vantage point opens up the landscape. I can see far, and clearly, and unforgettably.

What’s the official view of folks sitting in the seats?

“We urge caution,” notes Whitman Morgan. But it’s impossible to prevent folks from sitting in the seats, he says,

CITY OF ALPHARETTA PUBLIC NOTICE PH-23-AB-27 Please note that this meeting will be a virtual meeting, conducted online using Zoom meetings.

PLACE: To Attend the Virtual Meeting: Using Your Computer, Tablet or Smartphone Go to: https://zoom.us Meeting ID: 844 2083 9690 Dial In: +1 646 558 8656 US November 6, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. PURPOSE: Eating Establishment Consumption on Premises Distilled Spirits, Beer, Wine & Sunday Sales APPLICANT: Walking Astro, LLC d/b/a Standard at Alpharetta 4 South Main Street Lower Alpharetta, GA 30009 Owner: Walking Astro, LLC Registered Agent: Michael Sard

adding, “We have yet to have any calls” about people falling. And hear this clearly: the rocks below the seats mean that a fall would not end well. So don’t take chances, and keep an eye on kids.

Remember that your safety is your responsibility and yours alone.

After a while, I look at my watch and realize that it’s time to head back down the mountain. So, I ease out of the seat and make my way back to the trail.

The trail is familiar now and comfortable. I continue clockwise to complete the loop, passing more wildlife and the Bettis Tribble Gap parking area and even another old gold mine. But I don’t linger. The sun is setting. I pick up my pace a little, but it is sure-enough dark by the time I reach the car.

It was a good hike, but now I am ready to be home, to share my adventure, to tell her what I have seen. I don’t even need the compass, for now I’ve got faith in the trail. I’ve got confidence it will take me where I want to go.

As I make the drive home, I relax in that certain peace, that pleasant restedness, that a good walk in the woods always seems to bring.

And then I spot another thrift store.

It’s one I’d not noticed before. Again, I think how much she likes to visit them.

I must tell her about it. She will want to go.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA PUBLIC NOTICE PH-23-AB-26 Please note that this meeting will be a virtual meeting, conducted online using Zoom meetings.

PLACE To Attend the Virtual Meeting: Using Your Computer, Tablet or Smartphone Go to: https://zoom.us Meeting ID: 844 2083 9690 Dial In: +1 646 558 8656 US November 6, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. PURPOSE Change in Ownership Hotel Consumption on Premises Distilled Spirits, Beer, Wine & Sunday Sales APPLICANT LRP Hotels of Alpharetta, LLC d/b/a Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Northpoint 10975 Georgia Lane Alpharetta, GA 30022 Owner: LRP Hotels of Alpharetta, LLC Registered Agent: Ankil Bhakta

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Full-time

North Fulton Community Charities Mission has been serving individuals and families in the North Fulton area for over 40 years. Our Mission to ease hardship and foster financial stability in our community and our purpose is to provide opportunities for the whole community to thrive. Full Time employees receive benefits on the 1st day following working 30 days.

Benefits include: Medical, dental and vision insurance after 30 days of employment. 403b retirement plan matching offered, Paid Time Off. Short and Long Term insurance and life insurance are provided by employer.

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They are responsible for keeping the merchandise secure, all areas free of debris and the donor door area neat and clean For a complete job description visit https://nfcchelp.org/work-at-nfcc/ Solution

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S E E D S S W A P D E A D A D M I T C O A L W A S H G A M M A O K R A A R E A A M A G A T E T E R N A L K N I T O A F A B R O A D S E N T E N C E B R A I N A L A I D O L E A U K T A B A S C O O E R L E V Y M A S A I T I E S S E R E N E E N S E M B L E T I A B A L M C O N T A C T A W E S A P O O P S T S A R S O B O E R U E S T A R T S P E T E E R G O E X I S T E Y E S

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GENERAL CLERK III - CUSTOMER SERVICE: Sawnee EMC is seeking a General Clerk III – Customer Service to assist in a high-volume call center. Requires high school diploma or equivalency, computer, communication and general office skills. Two years of related experience preferred. Position is full-time; must be flexible to work irregular hours, to include evenings, weekends and holidays.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, November 3, 2023. Apply online: www.sawnee.com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

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COORDINATOR, GENERAL ACCOUNTING Sawnee EMC is seeking a Coordinator, General Accounting to oversee and supervise the Bookkeeping and General Accounting staff. This position will verify, allocate, and post details of business transactions, authorize, and execute cash/ wire transfers for payments; assist in creating reports, analyzing ledger accounts, and maintaining subsidiary records. Requires: a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field, and a minimum of seven (7) years related experience and/or training in an accounting/ bookkeeping to include a minimum of two (2) years’ experience as a supervisor or manager in a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, November 10, 2023. Apply online: www. sawnee.com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-8872363 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 accommodation(s) may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.

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HONORED TO BE NAMED A

2023 Top Performer This year has been a remarkable journey, and it’s all thanks to my wonderful clients. Their trust, enduring relationships and collaboration have led to a successful $23,531,200 in pending and sold listings to date. I’m profoundly grateful for the chance to assist them in achieving their real estate objectives.

RONY GHELERTER c. 703.899.6663 o. 770.442.7300 ronyghelerter@atlantafinehomes.com ronyghelerter.atlantafinehomes.com 1125 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 400, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009 © 2023 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. The Sotheby’s International Realty network fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.