Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - December 21, 2023

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Alpharetta City Council agrees to $441,000 bid for repairs to 6 bridges

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — At its final meeting of 2023, the Alpharetta City Council approved upgrades for six bridges, unanimously voting to award Massana Construction $441,402 to make the repairs.

Public Works Director Pete Sewczwicz said the project will be completed within 180 days.

“They’re all somewhat minor repairs,” Sewczwicz said.

“There’s nothing that’s going to remove the load rate or anything. This is to keep up with what we have to do, so that we don’t have a major repair in the future.”

The maintenance and repairs are based on the Georgia Department of Transportation’s biennial state bridge inspection report.

See ALPHARETTA, Page 26

CHABAD OF DOWNTOWN ROSWELL/PROVIDED

Rabbi Chaim Shwartz shares a brief Hanukkah message and says the traditional blessings alongside Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson at the Heart of Roswell Park Dec. 14. Wilson lit the central torch, or shammash, of the menorah.

Mayor Kurt Wilson lights menorah with Chabad of Downtown Roswell

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenemdia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — The Chabad of Downtown Roswell held a community gathering at Heart of Roswell Park on the eighth night of Hanukkah Dec. 14 to light the last candle in the

menorah.

Mayor Kurt Wilson opened the evening with a warm welcome to guests before lighting the shammash, or helper candle, in the center of the nine-branch candelabrum.

Rabbi Chaim Scwartz, director of Chabad of Downtown

Roswell officials, residents honor retiring councilman ► PAGE 3

Roswell, shared a brief Hanukkah message, said the traditional blessings and lit all eight candles of the menorah.

One Jewish custom is to kindle the lights of the Hanukkah menorah when daylight ends.

See HANUKKAH, Page 16

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

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Woman gets fraud alerts on credit card purchases

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ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A Roswell woman reported Dec. 7 someone stole her credit cards while at Avalon and used them to make fraudulent purchases at Apple and at a Walmart in Dunwoody.

The victim reported receiving a notification for a declined charge of $5,167 at the Apple store in Avalon around 5:20 p.m.

She then received a receipt on a second credit card for the same amount and began canceling all her cards.

She reported receiving an alert for a second attempted purchase at Apple around 6 p.m.

The suspect also made a $268 purchase with a third card, as well as an attempted purchase with the first card at Walmart on Ashford Dunwoody Road, the report states.

The victim reported there were two men standing behind her some 20 minutes before the theft, but no suspects have been identified.

Suspect leaves Macy’s with stolen apparel ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police are pursuing a suspect who allegedly stole $1,392 worth of merchandise from Macy’s on North Point Circle Dec. 9.

Loss prevention employees reported a male suspect entered the store around noon, grabbed four Polo coats and left without paying.

The suspect allegedly stole two $248 Polo Ralph Lauren hybrid hoodies for men and two $448 hybrid down jackets for men.

Officers reported confirming the theft on security footage.

Employees said the suspect returned the following day to steal more merchan-

PUBLIC SAFETY dise, but he fled the store after being confronted by loss prevention, the report states.

No suspects have been identified.

Man turns over devices in electronics repair scam ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An Alpharetta man reported Dec. 8 a suspect stole four smart devices and $250 in cash from him after posing as an electronics repairman.

The victim reported he met the suspect some months ago, and the suspect provided him with a phone.

He said the suspect told him he fixes electronics, and the victim met up with him at QT on Old Milton Parkway to give him devices for repair Dec. 7.

The victim reported giving the suspect an iPhone 12 mini, an iPhone 11, a Samsung Galaxy S21, a tablet and $250 for the repairs around 9:30 a.m.

The suspect reportedly said the repairs would be finished around 9 p.m. that night.

When the victim tried to contact the suspect multiple times approaching 9 p.m., he received no answer. He continued calling Dec. 8, but the suspect eventually blocked his number. He also found the suspect had blocked him on all social media accounts, the report states.

When the victim called the suspect using a different phone number, he reported the suspect claimed he knew nothing about the electronics, and he blocked him again.

The victim reported the electronics were valued at $950.

Fired employee suspected of washing firm’s checks ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating a former employee of Peleman Industries for allegedly washing about $70,000 in company checks through multiple bank accounts.

The complainant, a South Carolina woman, is the human resources manager at the Roswell location on Wills Road.

An officer met with her Dec. 11.

Check washing, or third-degree forgery, involves a person altering a check over $1,500 with the intent to defraud.

The suspect was fired Nov. 13, the manager said.

While cleaning out the suspect’s desk, employees found about $70,000 in company checks.

The manager said the company’s investigation found the suspect was washing the checks through multiple bank accounts.

The police Criminal Investigations Division was notified of the reported theft.

Officer on foot patrol discovers drugs in car ROSWELL, Ga. — A 30-year-old Roswell woman was arrested for intent to distribute schedule II, III and IV drugs Dec. 15 after her vehicle was searched on Harbor Landing.

An officer on foot patrol contacted the driver of a 2011 Lexus RX 350 around 11 p.m. because of marijuana odor emanating from the vehicle.

When the officer told the suspect there was probable cause to search her vehicle, she began to cry and contacted her boyfriend.

After initially refusing to allow a search of the vehicle, the suspect and her boyfriend eventually conceded.

Officers said they found two locked bags and instructed the suspect to open one.

Inside both bags, officers found 40 pills of morphine, 13.6 grams of hydromorphone, 31 pills of oxycodone, six pills of naloxone, 79 pills of Xanax and 77 grams of methamphetamine.

Other items found in the vehicle include five cell phones and $830 in cash.

The suspect’s boyfriend fled the scene when the drugs were discovered. The woman was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and with intent to distribute schedule II, III and IV drugs.

She was transported to the Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta Jail.

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Roswell pushes for public facilities authority

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — The City Council adopted a resolution Dec. 18 petitioning the local delegation in the Georgia General Assembly to create the City of Roswell Public Facilities Authority.

The impetus would be to form an agency that could help fund major public projects.

Municipalities across Georgia, including Sandy Springs, have petitioned the state Legislature to create similar public corporations.

The Sandy Springs Public Facilities Authority uses the contractual pledge of future rent payments to raise capital through the issuance of bonds, which is then used to acquire, design and build public facilities, according to the city.

Members of the Sandy Springs City Council serve as members of its Public Facilities Authority, an arrangement that keeps ownership of the properties within public control.

Creating a public facilities authority allows local governments to serve as a financing and ownership partner for major city developments.

The City of Roswell is prohibited to commit to spending public funds

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

City Councilman Mike Palermo speaks in favor of a resolution asking the local legislative delegation to create the City of Roswell Public Facilities Authority. The 2024 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly begins Jan. 8. beyond one year under the Georgia Constitution.

By creating its own public facilities authority, Roswell would be able to pay

rent to the authority for the use of public facilities. The authority can then issue bonds based on the pledge of future rent to raise capital for new amenities.

Since the creation of the City of Sandy Springs Public Facilities Authority in 2006, the city opened City Springs in 2018 — a 14-acre mixed-use development with a performing arts center, a park, City Hall and year-round programming.

Roswell City Attorney David Davidson said the item was fast tracked without going before a committee because the 2024 legislative session begins Jan. 8, the date of the next Roswell City Council meeting.

There was no public comment for or against the resolution.

“This is very exciting,” Councilwoman Christine Hall said. “It just goes to show the intentionality of this mayor and council as far as economic development — real economic development for the residents for the benefit of the entire city.”

City Councilman Mike Palermo also spoke in favor of the Public Facilities Authority at the meeting.

“The strong majority of the Authority would be individuals who are accountable to the residents of Roswell,” Palermo said. “In reality, it’s just opening up a tool.”

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See ROSWELL, Page 28

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NEWS

Starbucks will close North Point location

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Starbucks at 7660 North Point Parkway is set to close at the end of December after more than 10 years of operation.

The café, which borders Barnes and Noble, will officially shut its doors Dec. 31.

A Starbucks spokesperson said the decision is part of the company’s standard practice of evaluating its store portfolio “to ensure it's meeting the needs of our customers and the communities we serve.”

The company said employees at the location will be transferred to a nearby Starbucks.

Starbucks has two other locations, 6000 North Point Parkway and 10830 Haynes Bridge Road, within 2 miles of the closing café.

What will replace the vacant space is not yet confirmed.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Starbucks in Suite 200 at 7660 North Point Parkway will permanently close Dec. 31. The location is one of three within a 2-mile area in Alpharetta.

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Helping You Save for What’s Next—that’s Banking on Purpose.

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The Chattahoochee Inventeam, a group of Chattahoochee High School students, works to solve methane leakage from gas stoves through the Lemelson-MIT program. The grant helps fund high schoolers’ efforts to invent technological solutions to real-word problems.

High school students awarded MIT grant

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JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — About a dozen students from Chattahoochee High School are working to reduce harmful leakage from gas stoves, using a grant awarded to only eight schools in the country.

The students, members of the Chattahoochee InvenTeam, received $4,500 through the Lemelson-MIT program — a yearly research initiative out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology geared toward high schoolers to invent technological solutions to real-world problems of their choosing.

The Chattahoochee InvenTeam is composed of mostly 11th graders. Lin Lee, their sponsor and the school’s media specialist, has each student play a specific role. Some work to get the word out as part of a communications team, some are figuring out how to finance any funding gaps, and some are more hands-on in building the project with technical skills or through sustainability research.

Sophie Lin, the administrative student lead, said the decision to study methane leakage came after a long brainstorming process. After Riley Jocham, a student on the technical team, found an article from Stanford that described methane emissions, even with gas stoves turned off, Lin said the group jumped on board.

Because the project is unaffiliated with Chattahoochee High School, Lin was responsible for recruitment. Students must find the time to work on

Chattahoochee Inventeam

Lin Lee - Sponsor and media specialist at Chattahoochee High School Sophie Lin - Administrative student lead Keefer Lin - Technical lead Riley Jocham - Technical team Shiven Gupta - Technical team Srinidhi Chebrolu - Sustainability lead David Xibille - Sustainability team Paola Leal - Financial lead Sophia Knudsen - Financial team Moukthika Rajala - Communications lead Kennedy Bailey - Communications team Kristen Lee - Communications team the project outside of the school hours and other extracurriculars.

Keefer Lin, the technical lead, said he spends as many as three hours a day thinking about how to move the project forward.

In addition to methane, Lin said the group’s problem statement looks to nitrogen dioxide as a harmful household gas. He said both are shown to increase the risk of cancer and cause damage to the environment.

Srinidhi Chebrolu, the sustainability team lead, added that breathing in nitrogen dioxide can exacerbate preexisting respiratory issues or increase the risk of developing those issues in the future.

“Most of the team, if not all of the team, owns a gas stove at home, and we use it every day,” Chebrolu said.

“So, we’ve been breathing these gases in for a really long time.”

See GRANT, Page 26

NEWS

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Two-part redesign approved for McGinnis Ferry widening This map shows the proposed two phases of the McGinnis Ferry Road widening.

The Forsyth County Commission approved a contract for the project to be redesigned in two parts at a work session Dec. 12.

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County has initiated a redesign to split the McGinnis Ferry Road widening into two phases after earlier estimates came in too high to handle.

At its Dec. 12 work session, the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a contract with Atlas Technical Consultants to redesign the major infrastructure project for $101,209.

The county will now pursue the widening in two sections: one from Douglas Road to Sargent Road in Johns Creek, and another from Douglas back to the Union Hill Road and Ronald Reagan Boulevard intersection in Forsyth County.

The County Commission was scheduled to vote on a $79.4 million bid to commence the widening at an Oct. 10 work session, but commissioners rejected all bids because of the price tag.

McGinnis Ferry, a major east-west artery connecting traffic from Cobb and Gwinnett counties to and through Fulton and Forsyth counties, currently sees some 20,000 vehicles daily, 55 percent over its designed capacity.

Forsyth County is sharing costs for the project with the Fulton County cities of Johns Creek and Alpharetta and the Georgia Department of Transportation.

At the October meeting, Forsyth County Manager David McKee said after lengthy discussions with the GDOT and the two cities, there was no feasible way to cover the costs.

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.

The two North Fulton cities each agreed to commit $8.9 million to the widening in 2020, with Forsyth County pitching in $23 million. Johns Creek later indicated it would con-

MAP BY DIONNA WILLIAMS/DATAWRAPPER/APPEN MEDIA

tribute an additional $3 million from TSPLOST II funds.

With a $10 million offer from GDOT, the 2020 agreement priced the project at $50.8 million.

But, with the lowest bid at $79 million three years later, the county hit pause to pursue the more feasible option of two parts.

Once the redesign is completed, the county can approve either section to be widened first. The Board of Commissioners will vote on the new cost estimates at future meetings.

In an email to Appen Media, Alpharetta Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard said the city has not changed its position or commitment to the McGinnis Ferry widening.

“We look forward to receiving additional information from the redesign effort and will likely pause discussion of the project until that effort is completed,” Drinkard said.

Also at the Dec. 12 meeting, the County Commission approved a

$20,000 increase to the County Division of Family and Children Services’ annual funding.

In March, the commissioners approved $140,000 as the department’s maximum annual funding, with up to $80,000 to be used to supplement

salaries for full-time employees.

The new agreement raises the DFCS budget to $160,000 and the employee supplement to $125,000.

“A year ago, we were in a very dire situation with our staffing at DFCS,” Forsyth County DFCS Board Chair Sarah Pedarre said.

She said the department was operating with a skeleton crew, but the supplement funding approved by the County Commission enabled DFCS to attract more experienced staff.

The funding also allowed the department to enter a pilot program with Benchmark that facilitated in-home mental health services for clients.

“And only three counties in the State of Georgia got that,” she said. “So, it’s showing that it is working, and it is a wonderful benefit for our community, but we did miss the forecasting of how much it was going to be.”

Division Director Cara Bowen said DFCS is currently open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but with new staff onboarding in the next two to three weeks, the department will be back to regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The County Commission will formalize the two action items at an upcoming regular meeting.

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NEWS

Sandy Springs hosts gun safety course

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SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs Police Department offered a gun safety class for its Jewish population late last month after more than 200 people expressed interest.

“Since the Israel-Hamas conflict began a couple of months ago, members in our Jewish community have inquired about the class to learn more about gun laws along with weapon safety and handling,” Sandy Springs Public Information Officer Sgt. Leon Millholland wrote in an email to Appen Media.

Millholland said police offer a public handgun safety class for all Sandy Springs citizens every other month. When requested, Millholland said the department offers the course to specific groups and organizations in the city.

He said there were 18 participants between two classes Nov. 22.

The request for gun safety classes tracks with a rise in gun sales among Jewish people around the country, fearing for their safety amid a rise in antisemitism after the war broke out in Israel and Gaza.

From Oct. 7 to Oct. 23, the Anti-Defamation League recorded a total of 312 antisemitic incidents — of those, 190 were “directly linked” to the Israel-Hamas War.

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The group has also reported a rise in antiMuslim hate, listing a sampling of close to 30 incidents from early October to late November.

Alex Brill, an Alpharetta gun store employee, said he saw an increase in gun sales among his Israeli and Jewish patrons right after Oct. 7.

“I would say that it’s definitely connected to the rise in antisemitism in the United States,” Brill said.

Brill, who said he is pro two-state solution, served in the Israel Defense Forces for more than three years and has an Israeli citizenship. He said he ends up speaking Hebrew with his clients.

“I can kind of tell when somebody has Israeli-accented English,” he said.

Several antisemitic incidents have been reported around north Metro Atlanta since area police departments increased patrols at places of worship following Oct. 7.

Most recently, a man in Johns Creek allegedly threatened to blow up Target on State Bridge Road and kill Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to a monthly report in Dunwoody, a man went to the Marcus Jewish Community Center and asked “odd” questions, like how to become a member and if he could speak with someone from Israel who was fluent in Hebrew, then left the location.

Roswell Police were also called to an incident involving antisemitic threats, a joint effort with the FBI. Millholland declined an interview of follow-up questions Appen Media had hoped to share with readers who either own a gun or are considering buying one.

“The men and women of the Sandy Springs Police Department take great pride [in] engaging and educating our citizens on such important topics,” Millholland said, before he declined any further response.

But, the National Shooting Sports Foundation has the basics covered: • Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

• Firearms should be unloaded when not actually in use.

• Don’t rely on your gun’s safety.

• Be sure of your target and what’s beyond it.

• Use correct ammunition.

• If your gun fails to fire when the trigger is pulled, handle with care.

• Always wear eye and ear protection when shooting.

• Be sure the barrel is clear of obstructions before shooting.

• Don’t alter or modify your gun, and have guns serviced regularly.

• Learn the mechanical and handling characteristics of the firearm you are using.

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | December 21, 2023 | 9

CLASS 7A GHSA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: MILTON HIGH SCHOOL 31, WALTON HIGH SCHOOL 21

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The Milton High School Eagles celebrate their win against the Walton Raiders in the Class 7A GHSA State Championship game Dec. 13 at Mercedes Benz-Stadium.

Eagles earn 2nd state title in upset win over Walton

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — Milton High School Eagles defeated the Walton Raiders in the Class 7A GHSA State Football Championship game Dec. 13 at Mercedes Benz-Stadium.

The 31-21 victory marks the second state title for the Eagles, who won against the Colquitt County Packers in 2018.

Ranked eighth in the nation, the Raiders were favored. Milton head coach Ben Reaves said everyone also counted his team out because of losses early in the year.

But, Reaves, who served as the offensive coordinator during the 2018 championship, said the outcome was a surprise to everyone but his team. The

Eagles made it to the state semi-finals last season, the final four.

“We’ve always believed in ourselves,” he said in a hoarse voice the following day. “We always knew that we had a state championship-caliber team.”

Reaves said the title shows the tremendous amount of hard work and dedication of Milton’s football team, practicing Monday through Thursday since the last week of July, and from the coaches, from everyone. “... Just to be able to take the physical beating day after day after day, because football is just such a rough sport, and still be standing in mid-December playing your best football … It was good for it to all come to fruition, and for everybody to, quote-on-quote, get paid last night,” Reaves said.

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10 | December 21, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

Artists celebrate 20 years of Roswell’s Works in Clay Show

By LUKE GARDNER newsroom@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — The 20th Anniversary Works in Clay Show was held at Art Center West through Saturday, Dec. 9, and featured works from around 50 local artists.

Opening night kicked off Nov. 30, with hundreds of people on hand to celebrate the week-long tradition. Visitors were greeted by an intimate band outside before heading in the center to enjoy free food and wine while viewing thousands of artworks displayed in a museum-style showcase.

“I didn’t know how big the event was,” visitor Sommer Sparrow said. “I love experiencing the creativity; It’s nothing you can find in a store.”

Artworks included cups, bowls, mugs, candle holders, flower pots, sculptures, ornaments, abstract pottery and jewelry.

A few booths featured knives, axes and metalwork made by blacksmiths at Art Center West.

“It’s been a fabulous night,” artist Jennifer Squires said. “You wouldn’t believe the crowd; it has been over the top, crazy busy. I’m working as a docent and pieces are flying out of here.”

Every featured pottery artist belongs to the Roswell Clay Collective, a group of local creatives formed in 1991.

“We started in a couple of rooms,” said Art Center West Coordinator AJ Argentina. “Now, we spread to the point of being maxed out, packing in as tight as we can in a 5,000-square-foot space. The show has diversified and there has been a surge of new interest.”

Argentina began as a resident artist 19 years ago and has gone on to showcase work in 39 various shows, including this year’s Works in Clay.

His work featured a few functional glasses but mostly included black, grey and cream-colored sculptures comprised of swirling, geometric patterns.

“I love supporting independent artists,” said shopper Ellen Dierkes. “All the artists did such a good job. I bought some beautiful, unique pieces.”

Squires, who has been creating pottery

Jennifer Squires’ HavenMade Ceramics booth features a plethora of bowls, mugs, cups and dishes.

PHOTOS BY LUKE GARDNER/APPEN MEDIA

Jim Neal explains the meanings and processes behind his diverse set of artwork. for almost eight years, also displayed her work at the event.

Her table featured several pieces from her shop, Haven Made Ceramics, including bowls and mugs in every size. Color palettes ranged from more understated earth tones to pieces with bright hues of red, green and blue.

“I get so lost in the art of throwing,” Squires said. “It moves with you as you learn how to do it. The rest of the world goes away. There is so much gratitude in creating something from dirt.”

In a separate room, artist Kathy King stood next to her booth proudly displaying ornaments, serving dishes and decor incorporating natural elements like birds and flowers in shades of blue and green. In her 19-year journey with the collective, King has been at almost every Works in Clay event and has transformed from beginner to teacher.

“I started doing pottery after a break of 29 years,” King said. “I bought a pottery

wheel my senior year, put it away, and started over again 30 years later. Now, I love teaching [and] creating any kind of form out of that lump of clay. [At these events,] I enjoy seeing older clients and it’s fun to meet new people.”

Patrons also enjoyed meeting local artists.

“I like seeing stuff people create with their own hands and hearing the artists talking about their work,” Aleah Irvin said.

Artist Jim Neal has been creating work with the Roswell Clay Collective for around 30 years. His booth showcased mugs, vases, bowls, lamps, and several larger otherworldly sculptures. Incorporating ancient imagery of dragons and skulls, Neal enjoys playing on the edge of reality and paying homage to spiritual experiences with his art.

For Neal, the creative process is one of discovery, often finding shapes and inspiration along the way. He pointed to an ethereal winged-skull creature and

proclaimed “This started out as a tail [for something else].

“You sit down and take a piece of clay, put it on the wheel and start throwing it’” Neal said. “Then, your mind goes ‘That could be a dragon or a cat,’ and you go from there. You make a potato shape and start sticking on eyes and arms, and suddenly you’ve got a face with a crown.”

In a room across the building, Neal excitedly displayed sculptures made at local children’s art festivals. The eclectic pieces started with Neal crafting the base and children making smaller ornamental pieces to adorn it with. The final products are a unique collection of five avant-garde pieces, complete with eyes, seashells, dragon skulls, and creatures beyond human comprehension.

“I’ve been to just about all of the Works in Clay events,” Neal said. “It’s wonderful; we always have great opening nights. You get to know so many different people and get to watch them grow in their artwork.

It’s been really rewarding.”

The show runs from 3-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4 through Thursday, Dec. 7, and from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8. The show runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.

For more information, visit roswellclaycollective.com.

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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?

67 68 66 36 Kyrgyzstan range 70 71 69 37 Handout Copyright ©2023 PuzzleJunction.com 38 Arctic bird 9 Passionless 66 Townshend of the 40 Tuna type 39 Hot sauce 10 Overshadowed Who 41 Brunch order 42 “___ the land of 67 Regrets 11 Merit 44 Sofas the free ...”

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70 Proof word 22 Assist 50 Adage 45 Tax 71 Take up space 24 Consume 52 Singing voice 46 Kenyan 25 Colorful carp 53 Make do tribesman 27 Die down 54 Comply with 48 Corps de ballet Down 28 UCLA player 55 Musical mark 50 Unruffled 29 Croupiers’ tools 56 See the sights 1 Heroic tale 51 Spanish aunt 30 Word hard 58 Delhi dress 2 Dutch export 52 Unguent 31 Effortless 3 Austen heroine 59 Liberal pursuits 53 Send an email 4 Slow-witted 32 Hemp necktie 60 Cousin of 57 Astonish 5 Not moving 33 Fresh from the “ahem” 58 Plant production shower 6 Sir Walter, for one 63 Dowel 61 Slender reed 7 Stir-fry pan 34 Bone-chilling 65 Woodwind 62 “My bad” 8 Bern’s river 36 Eve’s son instrument 64 Autocrats of old

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It’s about community building.

It’s about bringing people together.

ANDREW PHILLIPS, Owner of Level Up Games 12 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | December 21, 2023

Business builds community across the board Level Up Games grows through table-top play

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — From competitive players to the more casual dabblers, Level Up Games is the place to find community in table-top gaming.

Keenan Crotty, manager of the Johns Creek location, says about 50 people have become regulars since the store’s opening in February. They attend weekly events for a variety of games found in the store’s well-balanced stock, including your traditional board game, trading card games, role playing games aka RPGs, and miniatures.

Crotty was planning for a weekly event dedicated to “Flesh and Blood,” which he described as a video game turned trading card game.

That early afternoon was slow, save for a first-time visitor from Roswell who had been looking for a decade to play a physical game of BattleTech, a science-fiction tactical wargame.

Level Up is much busier in the evening, Crotty said, when the business’ primary demographic leaves work and needs respite.

“That’s why we host events and things because we want people to have that third place to go hang out and do their hobby,” Crotty said.

Community focus The Roswell visitor pulled up a chair to one of the tables in the back, as if he’d been going there for years, taking to the cozy, welcoming environment. Crotty told him he had a couple BattleTech guys, including one cop in the area, and connected the customer to the store’s Discord server.

See BOARD, Page 13

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Above: Keenan Crotty, manager of Level Up Games in Johns Creek, stands at his desk in front of a collection of trading cards. Owner Andrew Phillips also has two more locations in Duluth, the largest store of its kind in Georgia at 12,000 square feet, and in Athens.

At right: During weekly gaming events, participants use several tables situated at the back of the store.

BUSINESSPOSTS

Board:

AppenMedia.com | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | December 21, 2023 | 13

Continued from Page 12 About 3,500 people have joined the business’ Discord, used across all three locations — Johns Creek and Athens as well as the 12,000-squarefoot store in Duluth, the first to open and the biggest of its kind in Georgia.

Crotty said there are dozens of channels for specific games, allowing you to get advice, make a game and build groups.

Andrew Phillips, owner of Level Up, had been in the gaming industry for two decades on the distributor side before opening the Duluth location in 2019.

He took over the space from longtime Atlanta gaming institution Titans Games & Comics — Phillips gave it a new name with a new culture and had to ditch comics at the tail-end of 2020 due COVID-19’s hit to the industry, to focus on table-top games.

“It’s a true passion type thing,” Phillips said. “Nobody ever, unfortunately, gets wealthy doing this, but we enjoy it. It’s about community building.

It’s about bringing people together.”

Phillips grew up on traditional board games, and he eventually found himself at the center of “geek culture” that rose in the mid-’90s, the same time when board games began transitioning from Europe. He said board games are a huge deal over there, where supermarkets and shopping markets often use dramatic board game displays and sales to attract shoppers.

“The industry is great,” Phillips said. “It’s full of a lot of creative people.

There’s a lot of artistic people. There’s a lot of people with great imagination.

Obviously, Dungeons and Dragons paved the way for all of this originally, and it kind of all bled into each other.”

The best thing about gaming, he said, is that there’s a genre for everyone. It’s not all fantasy.

“If you’re into horror, there’s tons of that stuff. If you’re into film noir, there’s tons of stuff for that,” Phillips said.

Game experts Crotty, who helped open the Johns Creek location, started at the Duluth store last May after moving from Indiana. Like Phillips, Crotty began his gaming journey at a young age with traditional board games, playing with his highly competitive family — he said his dad once accused him of cheating in a game of Risk, and they didn’t talk for a few days.

But, Crotty mostly played with his brother who eventually showed him Dungeons and Dragons, diving into his D&D books as a freshman

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

At Level Up Games in Johns Creek, there’s an even-balanced stock of boardgames, role playing games aka RPGs, trading cards and miniatures.

Just opened?

Appen Media publishes New Business Spotlights to highlight local businesses as they get started. Submit yours for free at appenmedia.com/newbusiness. in high school. He began creating his own campaigns, versus premade adventures, and roped his friends into weekly campaigns that lasted through college.

Crotty described a significant number of games with intermittent history lessons and up-to-date controversy, like pushback on Wizard of the Coast’s restrictive licensing on D&D content creators — which changed the popularity of the game at Level Up, though it still hosts D&D groups every week.

He said “Magic: The Gathering” remains the most popular at Level Up, a trading card game that started in the ’90s, though it’s being rivaled by “Disney Lorcana.” “[Magic: The Gathering has] gotten to the point where people who started playing it when they were teenagers are now parents, and they can teach it to their kids, so their kids are getting into it,” Crotty said.

He also said the game is updated

with new sets every month, it’s highly competitive with complexity and modularity, but it’s also easy to learn.

Next in popularity at Level Up are board games, then come RPGs like D&D, often serving as a gateway, and miniatures.

When he started working at the shop, he became more interested in miniature games, not the well-known “Warhammer” though, but the Star Wars and Marvel versions of it.

“I am a bad hobbyist, because there are a lot of people who get into miniature games, like it for the building and the painting. In fact, some of them never even play the game. They just like the modeling part,” Crotty said. “I like the game.”

Games for everyone Sometimes, Level Up offers demos often led by “paragons,” or volunteers Crotty chooses who have solid teaching and people skills. Demos could be of games that are popular at the time, a game that the store has a large amount of or simply a game the paragon is interested in.

The week before, the store demoed “Queen by Midnight,” a deck-building card game. Others have been what

Crotty called “perennial classics” like “Azul,” an easy-to-play game where the objective is to create point-scoring patterns using colored Spanish, Moorishera tiles that look like Starburst.

Crotty said one popular demo is “Wingspan,” a resource-management game where players collect things and accumulate them in such a way to get the most victory points. He said it’s “the bird game where you do bird things,” and includes the scientific Latin names of birds.

Crotty listed several games which have an explicit educational aspect like “Darwin’s Journey” and “Hegemony,” another resource-management game made in collaboration with professors of political science and economics. In “Hegemony,” he said players choose to be either the working class, the capitalist class or the state, and try to achieve specific goals.

When asked if all presidents should be required to play “Hegemony,” Crotty said the game veers towards certain sociopolitical ideals that might be uncomfortable for some people.

“A lot of games, like Monopoly, you’re just playing, like, ‘My Little Capitalist,’ but some games are doing other things,” he said.

14 | December 21, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

Entertainment options abound to ring in 2024

BY ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com As 2023 comes to a close, Metro Atlanta cities are ringing in the new year with local festivities. Parents can expect to end their children’s holiday break with a final New Year’s celebration before they return to the classroom. And for the parents and adults looking for a night of their own, there are plenty of adult-oriented celebrations for the big night.

Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell, Johns Creek, Cumming, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs are holding celebratory events to kick off 2024. Here are some New Year’s celebrations scheduled throughout the area to mark the final days of 2023.

Milton While the city has no formal events on the calendar, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails on Mayfield Road is hosting their New Year’s Eve celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 31. Guests can expect to pop the champagne while enjoying executive chef Dean Wenzel’s specially curated threecourse prix fixe menu for $85 per person.

Don’t miss out on their exclusive New Year’s menu. To make a reservation or view the menu in its entirety, visit www.MiltonsCuisine.com.

Alpharetta Residents have several local options to fill their day on Dec. 31. From 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Hotel Avalon is hosting Noon Year’s Eve where all ages can enjoy live music, children’s activities, and a countdown to noon with a giant balloon drop welcoming the new year. Tickets are required for admission.

For something a little later in the day, Fogón and Lions is presenting their second annual New Year’s Eve Celebration from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. with live music from Arena Sound, a spirited Latin band, an open bar, a late-night DJ, and a Latin-American holiday-themed buffet curated by Chef Julio and his culinary team. Located on Roswell Street, don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes to dance the year away. For more information on these events and other local New Year’s happenings, visit www.AwesomeAlpharetta.com.

Roswell Several of Roswell’s best bars and restaurants are hosting fun New Year’s events.

For those craving some live music, From the Earth Brewing Company on Holcomb Bridge Road is hosting a live concert on Dec. 31 at 9:30 p.m. featuring the popular local band, the 31’s. Throughout the night,

guests will enjoy specially curated NYEthemed food and drinks.

Meanwhile, Rock ‘N’ Taco is hosting a New Year’s party of their own at the same time on Canton Street. Once midnight strikes, everyone can raise their glass and keep the party going with live music and a variety of specialty drinks and cocktails.

For more information on these events and other nearby New Year’s celebrations, visit www.Roswell365.com.

Johns Creek For parents wanting a date night out, Kidcreate Studio on Old Alabama Road is hosting a Date Night New Year’s Eve party on Dec. 30 at 5:30 p.m. For $28 per child, the studio will watch over your young artist and help them create noisemakers, party poppers, and New Year’s Eve hats while you and your special someone go out to a special celebration of your own. Visit www.

KidCreate.com for more information.

On New Year’s Eve, Oly’s Tavern on Jones Bridge Road is hosting a New Year’s performance of their own with local band, Reckless. Live music, food, and drinks are always a fun way to ring in the new year. Visit www.OlysTavern.com for more information.

Cumming Forsyth residents hoping to kick off the new year with some live music can check out Rockin’ Around on New Year’s Eve at Music Authority on Merchants Square on Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are only $10 and can be purchased at www.

MusicAuthorityInc.com. For those hoping to start their new year’s fitness goals early, Five Star NTP is holding a Half Marathon & 5K Run at North Forsyth Middle School on Jan. 1. The half marathon starts at 8:50 a.m. while those running in the 5K begin at 9 a.m. Admission is $24 with T-shirts available for purchase. The first 250 runners will receive a special Finisher Medal to wear at the finish line. Learn more at www.

FiveStarNTP.com.

Dunwoody Night owls can kick off 2024 like it’s 1924 with the Party Like It’s 1920 party on New Year’s Eve at the Brass Tap on Ashford Dunwoody Road from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Come wearing your best 1920s attire and enjoy a free champagne toast when the clock strikes midnight. A live DJ will supply the music while those dressed their best can win a cash prize. Don’t forget to take some fun photos at the photo booth.

See EVENTS, Page 26

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16 | December 21, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

Hanukkah: Continued from Page 1 “Through this ritual, we see the power of light to brighten a dark environment,” Schwartz said. “When we tap into the message of the menorah, we appreciate that we each have an inner light and truth, a clarity that can illuminate even the most dark and confusing circumstances.”

Schwartz was asked about the increase of antisemitism across the United States following the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Schwartz said members of Roswell’s Jewish community have experienced a mixture of emotions, including fear, isolation and indignance. He thinks the key question facing communities throughout North Fulton and the United States centers on defining the proper response to antisemitism.

“Locally, we have felt very welcomed by the Roswell community and have received warm messages of support from the people we speak to,” Schwartz said. “We see this phenomenon as a call to further our commitment to our Jewish identity and pride and to respond to the increase in darkness through increasing in light — acts of kindness, charity, prayer and unity.”

Schwartz said the Chabad of North Fulton started the event at Heart of Roswell

CHABAD OF DOWNTOWN ROSWELL/PROVIDED

Members of the Chabad of Downtown Roswell and the local community gather at Heart of Roswell Park for a menorah lighting Dec. 14. The Roswell Fire Department dropped prizes and treats from a fire truck ladder above the crowd.

Park about five years ago.

When the Chabad of North Fulton opened its Downtown Roswell branch in fall 2022, organizational duties were handed to Schwartz.

He said about 60 people attended the menorah lighting last year.

This year, about 150 people came to sing along to Hanukkah music and enjoy some jelly donuts and latkes.

“This year had a great turnout with larger participation from the Jewish community and participation from the broader community as well,” Schwartz said.

Roswell Fire Department set up a ladder above the park and dropped prizes and treats for children below.

The Chabad of Downtown Roswell is a part of Chabad-Lubavitch International, the world’s largest educational Jewish outreach program, according to its website.

“Chabad is dedicated to making the beauty of our Jewish principles and heritage accessible to all Jews, helping to bring the light of Jewish tradition into one’s life,” the website says. “Chabad welcomes and accepts all Jews regardless of background or affiliation.”

In 1775, Rabbi Shneur Zalman founded Chabad-Lubavitch, a movement, philosophy and organization under the umbrella of Hasidic Judaism. He is considered the movement’s first leader, or rebbe.

The name “Chabad” is an acronym formed from three Hebrew words meaning wisdom, comprehension and knowledge, which comes from Zalman’s most read work, “Book of the Average Man.” The name “Lubavitch” is a town in Russia where the movement was centered from 1813-1915.

After the Russian Revolution, the Chabad movement migrated west to Poland to flee the Bolshevik government.

During the outbreak of World War II, the movement’s leaders fled to Brooklyn,

New York, where the organization is headquartered today.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh and final rebbe, is responsible for expanding the Chabad-Lubavitch movement through educational and serviceoriented organizations.

During its 250-year history, the Chabad-Lubavitch has expanded to become one of the world’s best-known Hasidic movements.

Chabad of Downtown Roswell is a branch of Chabad of North Fulton, which operated under the name Chabad of Alpharetta from 1998-2008.

Following the incorporation of Johns Creek and Milton, the group changed its name to Chabad of North Fulton in January 2009.

Chabad of North Fulton serves Jewish communities in Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Roswell, as well as Duluth in Gwinnett County.

The Chabad of North Fulton held a Menorah lighting on the Town Green at City Center in Alpharetta Dec. 7, followed by an additional Hanukkah celebration at Avalon Dec. 10.

The Milton Menorah Lighting was held at Broadwell Pavilion Dec. 11.

Roswell resident and Chabad member Nolan Feintuch attended the Roswell Menorah Lighting to celebrate the eighth night of Hanukkah with the community.

“It was nice seeing all the people and children coming together and enjoying themselves,” Feintuch said. “The Jewish community is struggling due to the conflict in Israel and rising antisemitism, so showing the community we are strong is important.”

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | December 21, 2023 | 17

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TIP YOUR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY PERSON This holiday season, consider giving your newspaper delivery person a tip for their weekly delivery of the free community newspaper to your driveway. These folks work hard to make sure you are informed of all the local happenings, rain or shine, week in and week out.

Importantly, at Appen Media, we have always been intentional about our desire to keep delivery of our newspapers free. That said, it would mean the world to us if you would consider tipping your newspaper delivery person so that they will have a little extra money for the holiday season.

If you can help us help these amazing people, we promise to keep delivering high quality news to your driveway, for free, every week. Free home delivery of 105,000 homes is hard work – and we couldn’t do it without our amazing delivery folks.

How you can give your delivery person a tip: 1 We have created an online portal at www.appenmedia.com/deliverytip.

100% of every dollar you contribute will be spread out evenly between the 24 newspaper delivery people that Appen Media employs. Whether you give $5 or $50, they will greatly appreciate it.

2 If you prefer, you can also mail a check made out to “Appen Media Group C/O Newspaper Delivery Tip” to 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

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December 21, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | 18

Don’t let mistakes cost you Brought to you by - Geerdes & associates

Let’s say you’re looking for the perfect estate plan. Your goal for doing so is probably to ensure that your assets are transferred smoothly and efficiently to your family and loved ones after your death.

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Mistake #1: Not funding your trust. Oftentimes people will invest time and money into setting up a trust, but mistakenly believe that all their assets are protected the moment the trust is established. However, trusts only govern and protect the assets transferred into them, so if you are setting one up, make sure you take that last critical step to transfer and transfer your properties, company shares, or bank accounts into the trust so that your assets can be protected after your death.

Mistake #2: Not updating your estate plan. Life happens. Divorce, adoption, or procuring a new property can occur while you’re alive. People often forget to update

their estate plans in the face of new spouses, children, and assets. Not removing an ex-spouse as a beneficiary to your will or bank accounts, or forgetting to name your new children as beneficiaries, can lead to conflicts and confusion regarding who gets what after your death.

Mistake #3: DIY or old wills. Laws change. Your personal circumstances may also change. Having an old will or worse - a will you drafted yourself - can open your estate to claims from people you did not want to inherit. Remember that wills are drafted based on state laws and require important legal language and references, meaning it is incredibly risky for you to use a generic online form or leave everything to a simple letter you’ve written designating who should inherit your assets. Make sure your will is updated at all times and that it was drafted and executed by a lawyer.

You want to make sure your loved ones will be able to inherit your assets smoothly, so always check with a lawyer who specializes in estate planning to ensure all of your documents are valid. Take the time and effort to craft a plan that suits you and will protect your assets.

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AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | December 21, 2023 | 19

Northern Ridge announces September Eagle Scouts

project was the renovation of the atrium at Lake Windward Elementary School, by removing all plants and leveling the area, pressure washing the concrete pathway and then placing weed fabric artificial turf on the area.

Collins Moye, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the replacing of the arbor over the entrance of the garden of the Alpharetta Community Garden as well as building a new donation bin.

Jack Spohrer, of Troop 1717, sponsored

by Cross of Life Lutheran Church, whose project was the design and construction of an outdoor classroom, with 6 benches and

a lectern for Elkins Pointe Middle School.

Samuel Smith, of Troop 356, sponsored by Fellowship Christian School, whose project was the design and construction of a GAGA pit for Mimosa Elementary School.

Brady Clements, of Troop 431, sponsored

by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a shade garden for the Roswell United Methodist Church Giving Garden.

Bottom row, from left; Dileep Kotireddy, of Troop 429, sponsored

by Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and construction of a pollinator garden at Innovation Academy.

Jordan McCloskey, of Troop 1857G, sponsored by Christ the Shepard Lutheran Church, was the design and creation of a kit that has two blankets and two hats one for the deceased baby to be wrapped in and one that matches for the parents to keep for the Teeny Tears Foundation.

Jordan made a total of 288 blankets and hats.

Mia Katz, of Troop 431, sponsored by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of 16 bee boxes for the Chattahoochee Nature Center.

Noah Katz, of Troop 431, sponsored by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the renovation of the Butterfly Garden at Roswell North Elementary School.

Isaac Linnen, of Troop 226, sponsored by Bridge to Grace Church, whose project was overall cleaning and reorganization of the North Springs High School Band Rooms.

This included constructing several shelving units, organizing the sheet music and scanning to Charmsoffice.com database.

Jonah Horwitz, of Troop 1818, sponsored by the North Metro office of the Marcus Jewish Community Center, whose project was the restoration or building new stage flats for the Centerstage North Theater.

John Fincher, of Troop 985, sponsored by Northbrook United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of 15

PVC bike racks for Foster Care Support Foundation in Roswell.

Thomas Blumberg, of Troop 1717, sponsored

by Cross of Life Lutheran Church, whose project was the design and construction of wardrobes with shelves and wheels, for storing and moving costumes and props, for the theater troupe at Mount Pisgah Christian School

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (Cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton) is proud to announce a new class of Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review Sept. 28 at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.

Top row, from left; William Morgan, of Troop 1459, sponsored

by St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, whose project was removal of existing shelves and replacing them with new shelving units for the preschool storage room at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church.

Noah O'Brien, of Troop 1717, sponsored

by Cross of Life Lutheran Church whose project was the rehabilitation of the woods and trail system behind Elkins Ponte Middle School, which included the removal of a downed tree and large log, cutting a large area of overgrown weeds as well as framing the natural trail with landscape timbers.

Adam Singleton, of Troop 69, sponsored

by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a rainwater irrigation system for the charity garden of St. Thomas Aquinas, powered by a solar pump.

Noah Singleton, of Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of an educational bee hive for the Rucker Road Farm Park.

Hunter Burch, of Troop 431, sponsored by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of four benches for the outdoor classroom at Roswell North Elementary School as well

PROVIDED

as remove an existing garden and garden clean up.

Ian Schlecht, of Troop 429, sponsored

by Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and construction of 10 informational signs for the blue trail at Providence Park.

Middle row, from left; Andrew Ghent, of Troop 1459, sponsored

by St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, whose project was the design and construction of four information kiosks for the trail at Bell Memorial Park.

Aaron Wang, of Troop 1857, sponsored by Christ the Shepard Lutheran Church, whose

Northern Ridge announces October Eagle Scouts ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (Cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton) is proud to announce a new class of Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review Oct. 26 at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.

Top row, from left; Robert Harris II, of Troop 143, sponsored

by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a GAGA pit for Settles Bridge Elementary School.

Jonathan Mortensen, of Troop 429, sponsored by Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and construction of the foundation of an 1845 historical cabin for the Forsyth County Historical Society.

Benjamin Weber, of Troop 7153, sponsored

by St. Brigid Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of a roofed firewood storage stand for Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center.

Alexander Hogan, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church, whose project was the design and construction of 2 picnic tables for Statebridge Road Park.

Yuvasurya Vangala, of Troop 3143, sponsored by The American Legion Post 251 whose project was the design and construction of two wooden shelving units to function as shoe racks, and two wooden benches for Ganesh Temple of Atlanta.

Bottom row, from left; Malas Gatautis, of Troop 985, sponsored by Northbrook United Methodist Church, whose project was the renovation of the community Garden located at Northbrook United Methodist Church.

Jack Maloney, of Troop 2000, sponsored

by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was the restoration of outdoor courtyards at Shakerag Elementary School.

Ryan Feldstein, of Troop 2000, sponsored

by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was the restoration of the outdoor chapel and the loop trail around the outdoor chapel at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church.

PROVIDED

20 | December 21, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

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22 | December 21, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

OPINION

Connections keep coming for those who seek them Connections and circles keep on coming when you least expect it. If you put yourself out there, I think it is almost a given that every day can bring something or someone new – if you look.

RAY APPEN As I age, I slowly Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com – much more slowly than most – begin to learn more. For example, my default as an almost 70-year-old guy is to stick pretty close to myself. I have a miniscule circle of friends and I rarely go out or socialize in any way, and I am OK with that. I read. I write. I read more. And I try to spend as much time at the beach – reading, writing, and sometimes running – as I can. Oh, almost forgot, I also work on my tennis (against a backboard usually) and spend time with my kids and grandchildren.

All that is fine, except I have repeatedly found in my reading that there appears to be a high correlation between dementia and socialization. That is, it is suggested that the more social one is – the more engagement and interaction a person has – the less likely it is to get dementia. Crap. Not good.

I also have read that perhaps the variable most tied to dementia is hearing loss. That is, if you want to try to postpone or prevent dementia and you are losing your hearing, get those hear-

ing aids now!

So, I do have the hearing aids, but I am not sure where they are at the moment. But when I know where they are, I definitely wear them. Hmmmm.

But this is not a column about dementia. It is one about connection.

So, after about 10 years on the West Coast – including several years in Berlin – my daughter Amelia recently moved home from Oakland, Calif., to a “holler” – 5 acres with a large stream down a number of gravel roads deep in the woods in Ellijay. She and her two dogs – a husky and a mastiff – see bears, turkey and assorted other wildlife almost daily on their morning walk.

Previously she was a dancer – a ballerina with a degree in dance from the University of Oklahoma. Now, she studies soil up there in Ellijay. She is close to completing a multi-year online program on soil. She has always wanted to save the world. She used to pack sandwiches for the homeless people she would encounter on the subway or bus. She tried to create a program for refugees in Oakland. Now she wants to save the world from Round-Up and the other pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers that are killing us and our food supply.

“Compost” is a big part of what she wants to do. It is a major component of her program. Usually, most people think of compost as something that takes place of many months as organic matter breaks down and finally turns into soil.

Amelia now is able to create compost

from scratch in about 20 days. The process is fascinating. Who knew?!

To make her compost, she uses wood chips as one of the core ingredients.

She has had a difficult time sourcing them, so I told her I knew someone in Norcross who was in the mulch business and might be able to supply her with the wood chips. Bob Delbridge used to advertise with us off and on since 1990, but I had not had contact with him in years. I wasn’t sure if he was still in the mulch business, so I called him. He answered. Yes, he is still in the business.

“Sure Ray, just come over and I’ll load up your truck. How have you been?”

Bob and I greeted each other as if it was yesterday that we had last visited instead of a decade or more. We are both entrepreneurs and used to compare notes on marketing, advertising, sales and such. We think a lot alike. I shared with him that for the past several years all I had read about was related to trees, soil and fungal networks – and that the stimulus for that came from having read a book called “The Overstory,” a Pulitzer Prize work by Richard Powers.

“It’s about the eco-wars back in the ’60s and ’70s on the West Coast,“ I told him.

One of the main characters I told Bob was based on the life of a real person named Julia “Butterfly” Hill, a young environmental activist who lived on a platform in the top of a 1,000-year-old, 200-foot Redwood for a little over two

years to protect it from being cut by the Pacific Logging Company. She named her tree “Luna.”

“She is my hero” I told Bob. He looked at me puzzled, with wide eyes.

“Luna…my daughter Jamie was a tree sitter too back then,” he said, “and I think she is friends with Julia Hill. I remember her talking with me about Luna and Julia.”

I was speechless.

We started talking about our daughters and discovering parallel lives.

Jamie lived in Oklahoma, too. For over 10 years, Jamie was an organic farmer in Norman, struggling to make a living producing healthy food, just like Amelia. After 10 years, she too moved back “home” to Dahlonega where she went back to school to be a nurse.

“Her heart is still in farming and organics though,” he shared with me. “She still wants me to let her take over my mulch and compost company.”

Amelia and Jamie are planning to meet up as soon as they can. They will share dreams. They will connect. They already have. They will complete something that was waiting to finish I believe.

Bob and I will stay connected too I am sure – now more than ever. He would love to figure out how to scale up his compost production. Maybe Amelia can help. Who knows?

The circle will be completed one way or another.

THE INK PENN

Don’t underestimate a modern-day senior sleuth My latest mystery reads are set in England and have amateur sleuths as their main characters.

If you’re a Miss Marple fan, you’re sure to enjoy these modernday senior sleuths.

KATHY MANOS PENN And in the case of Columnist the second book, if you were a fan of Queen Elizabeth, you’ll be intrigued by the glimpses into the family life of the royals.

“The Last Devil to Die” by Richard Osman The fourth installment in The Thursday Murder Club series is spectacular. As always, the murder mystery is cleverly plotted. What makes this series for me, though, is the cast of characters—the retirees living at Coopers Chase Retirement Village. Ron, Ibrahim, Joyce, and Elizabeth enjoy the amenities at the posh village near

the coast of England, but more than that, they love solving murders.

This group of 70- and 80-year-olds meets every Thursday afternoon in the game room at the village, just like other retirees. But this quartet doesn’t play games. They work on murder cases. Way back in book one, it was unsolved cold cases. More recently, they’ve been drawn into an up-to-the-minute case or two.

This time, the victim is an old friend of Elizabeth’s husband, Stephen. As the series has progressed, so has Stephen’s dementia. Elizabeth has always been the leader of the crime solving retirees, but as Stephen’s health deteriorates, her priorities shift. She’s on the case, but to a lesser extent, and this forces the others to step up. The result is a poignant portrayal of love, loyalty, and sacrifice wrapped around a murder mystery.

“Murder Most Royal” by SJ Bennett Queen Elizabeth II is the sleuth in this mystery, the third in the “Her Majesty the

Queen Investigates” series. “The Windsor Knot,” the first in the series, is set in the spring of 2016 at Windsor Castle, and this one transports the reader to Sandringham Hall for Christmas the same year.

I credit this series and Kate Quinn’s “The Rose Code” for piquing my curiosity about Prince Phillip. While he’s not the main character in either, I enjoyed the glimpses of his personality in both. Yes, Queen Elizabeth is the star, but her staff and the prince are also key players in the mystery.

It’s the affection and humor in the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip that will surely warm your heart as it does mine. Does it tell you anything to learn that I ordered a biography of Prince Phillip after reading “The Windsor Knot”? Have I read it yet? No. But perhaps one day.

In “Murder Most Royal,” I felt like a fly on the wall as I read about the holiday traditions of the royal family. What a treat to learn that Kate Middleton is known for

her humorous gifts, and that she once gave Harry a “grow your own girlfriend” kit. This was pre-Megan Markle—of course.

All three books kept me guessing, but more than that, they made me realize how very human the royal family is. As one review says, “Pitch-perfect … If “The Crown” were crossed with Miss Marple … the result would probably be something like this charming whodunnit.” I’m eagerly awaiting Queen Elizabeth’s next sleuthing adventure.

I highly recommend you spend a winter evening or several visiting with the senior sleuths in these series. Their intelligence and wit are a treat.

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

PRESERVING THE PAST

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | December 21, 2023 | 23

Living History: Crabapple Baptist Cemetery There are 27 cemeteries in the City of Milton based on initial research performed by famous Atlanta historian Franklyn M. Garrett in 1935 and Phillip B. Anglin in 2000.

Subsequently, James Farris, a member of the Milton Historical Society Board of Directors, worked with historical society volunteers and BOB MEYERS City of Milton government IT personColumnist nel, to build upon the early work.

The group visited all the cemeteries to confirm their conditions and locations using GPS coordinates available at the time, not all of which were accurate. An accurate map was painstakingly produced and posted on the city website in 2021.

Eight months were required for the project because precise locations were not always known and because some of the burial grounds were overgrown and challenging to locate and access. According to Farris, most are family cemeteries on private property, and many have only a few markers or headstones. The smallest family cemetery has about five headstones. One of the largest, the Providence Baptist Church Cemetery, dating back to 1834, has more than 860 memorials according to the authoritative website findagrave.com.

One of the more interesting cemeteries is the Crabapple Cemetery, or Crabapple Baptist Cemetery, partly because it is hidden in plain view across the street from the Milton Library. The church dates back to 1892 when 21 individuals organized the Crabapple Baptist Church.

Some of the area’s most prominent citizens were among the church’s charter members, names such as Broadwell, Rucker, Dorris, Bates and Coleman. In February 1893 E.E. (Euel) Broadwell (1830-1917) donated ½ acre of land to “church members and their successors to build a church house on land lot 1135.” Euel’s brother J.W. (James) Broadwell (1828-1908) owned the land where the cemetery is located. In April 1904 he gave ½ acre of land lot 1134 to the church and community of the county of Milton for use as a “grave yard.”

Prior to deeding the land he gave parcels for burials to several local families.

John B. Broadwell (1855-1953), Euel’s son and very successful cotton farmer, made and donated the bricks for the first church meeting house. Over the years, the church grew at its location in Crabapple’s five-way intersection until in 1992 when parishioners began construction of a new church a short distance up Birmingham Highway on ten acres of land the church had purchased earlier from Fulton County. The City of Alpharetta bought the old church building and the land it occupied in 1996 for $1.1 million and converted it into the Crabapple Government Center. In 2022, the church merged with the Grace Church in Alpharetta and changed its name to the Milton Community Church. The Crabapple Cemetery is owned and maintained by the church.

Bryson Coleman probably knows more about the cemetery than anyone in the area. His wife, children and their spouses are buried there in parcels given to his family by his grandfather Simeon Broadwell (1871-1949). Bryson often goes by B.Y. in keeping with common practice back in the day when men were often known by their initials. B.Y. is so committed to the cemetery that he installed a bronze plaque memorial on the grounds giving details of the property’s history.

B.Y.’s grandfather Simeon lived in a house next to

BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

View of the Crabapple Baptist Cemetery in downtown Crabapple. The cemetery dates back to the early 1900s. the original church where a dentist’s office is today. He had a smokehouse, barn, henhouse, and garage on his property. His land extended from Crabapple Road to the rear of today’s Kensington Farms subdivision where he maintained a large apple orchard. The land was referred to as Mountain Hill.

Simeon’s brother John B Broadwell owned the land where downtown Crabapple is today up to the Milton Community Church.

B.Y., who is 97 years young, served in the U.S. Navy during World War ll. After the war, he was a member of the Alpharetta amateur baseball team and began working for Southern Bell where he remained for 40 ½ years in a variety of jobs. Born in Crabapple, B.Y. moved to Atlanta as a teen but came to Crabapple every weekend to stay at his cousin Pryor Albertson’s house near the historic Cantrell and Nallie Reese House. “Pryor’s mother, Velma Albertson, and my mother were sisters.

Velma was a Broadwell before she married,” he explains.

“The house had a tin room and didn’t have insulation, electricity or running water.”

The Crabapple Cemetery has 154 memorials according to findagrave.com. There are 35 Broadwell graves in the cemetery. It preserves much of Crabapple’s earliest pioneer history.

Special thanks to Sheila Rucker Pennebaker for introducing me to B.Y. Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth. net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

MILTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY/2021

Pat Miller, president of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society, James Farris board member of the Milton Historical Society and Jeff Dufresne, President of the Milton Historical Society at the Adams Family Cemetery standing beside the only Revolutionary War soldier’s grave in Milton.

24 | December 21, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

GARDEN BUZZ

OPINION

’Tis the season for mistletoe, holly and other holiday plants Oh, by gosh, by golly It’s time for mistletoe and holly. ..

About the author This week’s guest Master Gardener “Garden Buzz” columnist is Roswell resident Pam Rentz. Pam has been a North Fulton Master Gardener since 2010. Along with a background in marketing communications for tech companies, she has a longtime passion for plants and our planet.

There are songs we associate with Christmas, and there are also the PAM RENTZ plants.

Guest Columnist “It’s time for mistletoe and holly . . .” or “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus, underneath the mistletoe last night...” or “Have a holly jolly Christmas, It’s the best time of the year, I don’t know if there’ll be snow, but have a cup of cheer...” are a few that come to mind.

Those of us who’ve lived in Atlanta for a while are probably not dreaming of a White Christmas (because the chances of having one here are minimal), yet we still enjoy the image along with plants linked with the holidays.

So, as you sit back with your cup of cheer, here are a few good-to-know tips for your holiday plants.

Hollies Hollies have a long tradition of being part of winter festivities that dates back thousands of years to the Druids, who believed the holly’s evergreen nature made it sacred.

The clippings make great holiday arrangements and wreaths, and the holly trees themselves are an excellent landscaping choice.

Hollies are typically lowmaintenance trees and shrubs that perform year-round in the landscape, not only during the holidays. They tolerate well-draining, slightly acidic soil and full sun to partial shade.

They’re (mostly) deer resistant. Holly plants are also primarily either male or female, which means the female plants produce the berries and depend upon the male plants for pollination.

American holly (Ilex opaca) is a native broadleaf evergreen tree that produces bright red berries throughout the winter that are eaten by cedar waxwings, cardinals, and other birds. Remember, these berries are considered toxic to humans and pets.

Mistletoe One of the most famous holiday traditions may be kissing under the mistletoe. You’ll come across mistletoe hanging in doorways at many gatherings. Harry Potter even shared a kiss underneath a sprig.

The Celtic druids supposedly considered the mistletoe plant sacred and hung it above doorways for luck

Learn more

UGA EXTENSION/PROVIDED

Top left: American holly/Ilex opaca Top right: Although mistletoe is generally associated with winter holidays, this parasitic plant grows year-round and can kill trees.

Bottom: A variety of poinsettias. and to ward off evil spirits. In reality, mistletoe is an evergreen that grows high on tree branches and not in a good way. Mistletoe is a semi-parasite.

Its roots penetrate the tree’s wood and suck water and nutrients from the host tree. Heavy mistletoe growths can harm or even eventually kill a tree.

Oak mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) is Georgia’s most common mistletoe species, although it can grow on other tree species. The berries are toxic to humans.

Poinsettia I don’t know of any good poinsettia songs, but it is an iconic plant we associate with the holidays. When November comes around, grocery stores and big box stores are flooded with these beautiful subtropical plants.

Poinsettias can last for months if you provide bright, indirect light and don’t allow the plant to dry out. However, overwatering can damage the plant.

Check plants daily and when the soil is nearly dry to the touch, water enough

• Care of Holiday and Gift Plants, https:// extension.uga.edu/publications/detail. html?number=C951&title=care-of-holidayand-gift-plants • Holiday Plant Care, https:// site.extension.uga.edu/fanningilmer/2021/12/holiday-plant-care, https://site.extension.uga.edu/lincoln/ holiday-plant-care/ • Poinsettias can thrive for years if properly cared for, https://newswire. caes.uga.edu/story/5669/poinsettiacare.html • Confusion about the Christmas CactusThey aren’t from the desert, https://site. extension.uga.edu/cherokee/2015/12/ confusion-about-the-christmas-cactus-theyarent-from-the-desert/ • Keep your holiday gift plants beautiful all year, https://site.extension.uga.edu/ colquitthomeowners/2021/12/keep-yourholiday-gift-plants-beautiful-all-year-2/ • Holiday Plant Highlight: Paperwhites, https://site.extension.uga.edu/ mgevp/2021/12/holiday-plant-highlightpaperwhites/ • Managing Mistletoe in Trees, https://site.extension.uga.edu/ madison/2021/01/managing-mistletoein-trees/ • Growing Indoor Plants with Success, https://extension.uga.edu/publications/ detail.html?number=B1318&title=growingindoor-plants-with-success

that water drains from the bottom of the pot.

Happy Holidays and Happy Gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/.

›

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | December 21, 2023 | 25

Calendar

DEC. 21 — DEC. 31

ROSWELL WINTER PUPPETS: TROUBLE IN TOYLAND

What: Join “That Puppet Guy” Lee Bryan for a story about Christmas Eve, where the toys aren’t finished, the elves are on strike, Santa has lost his laugh and Rudolph has a runny nose.

When: Wednesday-Friday, Dec. 20-22, times vary Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell Cost: Tickets are $10, children 2 and under free More info: roswell365.com

CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS ON THE GREEN

HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT BROOK RUN PARK What: Holiday Lights returns for a 4th year with a self-guided walkable display.

When: Until Dec. 31, 5-10 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody More info: dunwoodyga.gov

What: Join the Local Church Milton at the Christmas Eve “Eve” Candlelight Service. Sing carols, hear an inspirational message and light a candle with your friends and neighbors at this free, public event.

When: Saturday, Dec. 23, 5:30 p.m.

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

SPRUILL GALLERY’S HOLIDAY ART FAIR

What: Shop Spruill Gallery’s 30th Annual Holiday Art Fair for original art and craftworks from more than 50 Georgia artists and artisans. The Holiday Art Fair is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m. Inventory is refreshed daily.

When: Until Dec. 23 Where: Spruill Gallery, 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody More info: spruillarts.org/holiday-artfair

IRVING BERLIN’S ‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’

What: Based on the 1954 film, the musical “White Christmas” features veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis who have a successful song-anddance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil’s former army commander.

When: Until Dec. 24, times vary

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $42 to $110 More info: cityspringstheatre.com

LIVE MUSIC: HUTCH AND WAILS

What: Tommy Wails and Christy Hutcherson, or Hutch and Wails, will provide a musical experience that resonates with the spirit of the holiday season.

When: Friday, Dec. 29, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Ground and Pound Coffee, 8420 Holcomb Bridge Road, Alpharetta More info: groundandpoundcoffee.com

NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA What: Make unforgettable memories with a concert of favorites by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

The program includes the “Waltz” from Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,”

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.

Mendelssohn’s “Nocturne” from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Rossini’s “Overture” from “La gazza ladra,” Offenbach’s “Can-Can” and Strauss waltzes.

When: Sunday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: Starting at $53.50 More info: sandyspringsga.gov

RING IN THE NEW

What: Ring in the new year with a party in Studio Theatre, including DJ Newk playing dancing favorites, a buffet of light bites, coffee and desserts, and a glass of sparkling beverage to toast the new year at midnight.

When: Sunday, Dec. 31, 10 p.m.

Where: Studio Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $65 More info: sandyspringsga.gov

To promote your event, follow these easy steps:

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TONY THOMAS: ‘SCENES FROM MY TRAVELS’

What: See original drawings and paintings by local artist Tony Thomas, including renderings of the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Multnomah Falls and Devils Tower National Monument.

When: Until Jan. 12, business hours Where: Community Gallery at City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us

PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF ATLANTA EXHIBITION

What: The Portrait Society of Atlanta presents its annual member exhibition.

When: Until Jan. 20, business hours Where: Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton Street, Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us

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.

26 | December 21, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

Alpharetta:

OPINION

Continued from Page 1 Repairs will include westbound Windward Parkway over Camp Creek; eastbound Windward Parkway, westbound Mansell Road, Haynes Bridge Road and Kimball Bridge Road over Big Creek; and Windward Parkway over the Big Creek tributary.

Sewczwicz said the Public Works Department reached out to its previous contractors, but the project received only one bid.

When Councilman Brian Will questioned the price tag, Sewczwicz said he is comfortable with the bid.

“It’s a good price,” Sewczwicz said.

“The last time we had a project like this it was $330,000 back in ’21, so it was a 30 percent increase. We’ve seen costs increase a lot more than that. And then, we also checked the GDOT projects that they have for other areas in the region, and they’re right in line.”

In other matters at the Dec. 18 meeting, councilmembers voted to continue the city’s partnership with Johns Creek to waive resident requirements for youth softball, baseball, lacrosse and soccer.

The agreement, Parks without Borders, still grants residents of each city priority to register in the sports, but it allows residents from the other city to sign up for the programs at the same rate.

“Both cities get a lot of good feedback from this particular program,” Parks and Recreation Director Morgan Rodgers said. “And there is no one particular city that’s having more residents go across the border than the other.”

It also allows full-time employees of Johns Creek and Alpharetta and their immediate family members to register for the sports under the resident rate in

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Lindsey Ross of the American Red Cross of Georgia presents Wills Park Pool manager Eli Haverdink with a Life Saving Award at an Alpharetta City Council meeting Dec. 18. Haverdink and lifeguard instructor Adam Penn were recognized for saving the life of a swimmer at the Wills Park Pool in July. their respective cities.

Councilman Dan Merkel said the agreement allows children in areas of Alpharetta that would otherwise have too few players to form teams with Johns Creek athletes.

Also at the meeting, Alpharetta Public Safety Director John Robison and Lindsey Ross of the American Red Cross of Georgia presented Wills Park Pool manager Eli Haverdink and lifeguard instructor Adam Penn with Life Saving awards.

Haverdink and Penn were recognized

Events:

ball drops. Families can enjoy the free, self-guided walk through 85,000 beautiful lights. Learn more about these free events at www.DiscoverDunwoody.com.

Continued from Page 14

Sandy Springs

For parents wanting to take one last look at the holiday lights with their kids before ringing in the new year, Brook Run Park on North Peachtree Road is keeping up their holiday lights display through New Year’s Eve before the

Grant: Continued from Page 6 Lin said the group has considered creating a mesh that traps the gas, but the “conundrum” they face is that the mechanism wouldn’t work in household conditions.

for saving the life of a swimmer at the Wills Park Pool July 28.

Councilmen Doug DeRito, Donald Mitchell and John Hipes closed the meeting by recognizing Councilman Jason Binder.

Although Binder was unable to attend, the Dec. 18 meeting marked his last on the City Council after two terms.

Fergal Brady will be sworn-in to the Post 5 seat Jan. 2.

“Just like many of us up here, we all work very closely together to continue to enhance the quality of life for all our

Enjoy classical music favorites with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. at Byers Theatre on Galambos Way. The concert program includes the Waltz from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake,

“Before we actually create a product, it’s all theory,” Lin said.

He noted several factors to consider in the inventing process, like the sustainability of the device and its accessibility and cost to homeowners. Eventually, the group will conduct patent research.

Lee, the group’s sponsor, said the target problem is still “uncharted territory” because it’s more of a recent problem, with

residents here in Alpharetta,” DeRito said. “And he certainly played a part in that for eight years, so I wanted to publicly thank him for that.”

Mitchell and Hipes credited Binder for his work on the city’s park facilities.

Binder has been a champion of green space in Alpharetta since he was first elected in 2016.

“I think children for future generations, if they go to a local park within a 2-mile radius of their home, can look to Jason Binder and say, ‘Thank you for what you did for our city,’” Mitchell said.

Mendelssohn's Nocturne from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Rossini's Overture from La Gazza Ladra, Offenbach's Can-Can, Strauss waltzes, and more.

For those hoping to dance afterwards, check out the Ring in the New Afterparty nearby at the Studio Theatre. Be ready to enjoy DJ Newk playing all your dancing favorites, a buffet of light bites, coffee and desserts, and a glass of sparkling beverage to toast the new year at midnight. Ticket prices for both events vary and can be purchased at www.SandySpringsGA.gov.

gas stoves becoming the go-to installation post-2000.

For the past five years, Lee said students from Chattahoochee High School have been interested in applying what they learn through the Lemelson-MIT program.

Last year, she said students tried to resolve sewer problems in Johns Creek.

But, Lee said this is the second time that students from Chattahoochee High

School made it to the final round of applications.

“What’s missing from education these days … are they really given the chance to apply what they learn and … connect everything they learn, and really use it with a real-life connection?” Lee said.

In June, the group will fly out to MIT and present the project during LemelsonMIT’s EurekaFest.

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | December 21, 2023 | 27

In Memoriam

Office Space for Lease

Rev. Dr. Joseph Brown Bowen, Jr.

Close to Downtown Alpharetta Small private office space (unfurnished) available in Appen Media Office close to Downtown Alpharetta (319 North Main Street, Alpharetta). All utilities included, Internet included (within reason), 24/7 access. Space is upstairs in area of Appen Newsroom. Private, quiet, and open. Approximately 200 sq. ft. (14’ x 14’). $/600 per month, first/ last/security deposit required as well as solid reliable references.

Space would be perfect for a bookkeeper or a self-employed person.

Contact via text or email: Ray Appen at 770-527-4042 or RayAppen@Gmail.com

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• Pre-planning • Grief Support • Funeral Services • Veteran Services • Cremation Services

770-645-1414

info@northsidechapel.com www.northsidechapel.com

Remembering All This Holiday Season

The Reverend Dr. Joseph Brown Bowen, Jr. passed away peacefully on November 28, 2023. He lived 89 meaningful years, full of compassion, kindness and universal acceptance. He is survived by his children: Bruce Bowen (Silvia) & Lucy Scott (Randy), his grandchildren: Courtney Rowe (Ryan), Rebecca Mackey (Lewis), Emily Frericks (Bradford), Sarah Lynn Bowen (Austin), Luis Bowen, and Carli Bowen and his great grandchildren: Charlie and Catherine Rowe, Ella Mackey, and Leo Frericks.

His family grieves the loss of their “Papa Joe”, but they take comfort in the fact that he is now resting at peace with his wife of 63 years, Harriette Bowen, who passed away last year.

A memorial service will be held at 10am, Friday, December 15th at the Alpharetta Methodist Church. In lieu of flower, donations would be appreciated to North Fulton Charity, (online or N Fulton Community Charity, 11270 Elkins Road Roswell, GA 30076) Wellroot Family Services (previously UMC Childrens home - online or Wellroot Family Services Attn: Gift Center, 1967 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 400 Tucker, GA 30084 ), or the Clemson University Foundation, 110 Daniel Dr., Clemson, SC 29631. Please note Joe & Harriette Bowen Scholarship on the memo line.

“Joe” was born in 1934 in Tate, Georgia -the only child of Lucy Kinney Bowen & Joe Bowen—a teacher and principal. He grew up in Villa Rica among family and friends. During World War II, Joe’s father taught US airmen and sailors how to recognize enemy aircraft and ships. They followed his father along the east coast living in Hollywood Beach,

FL, Williamsburg, VA, Bainbridge, MD and even spent a summer in a fraternity house at Ohio State. Joe’s father died unexpectedly when he was 14. His mother, grandfather, uncles, aunts, football, and the Methodist church kept him going.

Joe went to college at Clemson University where he walked onto the football team, earning a starting spot as both a tight end and defensive end. He played under the legendary coach, Frank Howard. He was a lifelong Clemson Tiger fan and could regularly be seen sporting a Clemson baseball cap with a Tiger Paw pin on the brim. After completing an undergraduate degree, he went to Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

At seminary school, he met the love of his life, Harriette who had recently transferred from Clemson. Later, he earned a doctorate in Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary.

As a Methodist minister, Joe and his family moved every few years.

Wherever he went, he brought with him a gentle kindness and welcoming spirit that accepted everyone just as they were.

Churches in and around Snellville, Athens, Atlanta, Dunwoody, LaGrange, Augusta, Alpharetta and Roswell all felt his presence.

As much as Joe loved his career sharing the Word of God, nothing brought him more joy than seeing his family together.

He loved making his grandchildren laugh.

Joe viewed the moments of joyful noise and chaos at family gatherings as sacred, and always made sure to gather together and acknowledge the gratitude and gift that is family.

Love you dad. You will be missed.

12050 Crabapple Road • Roswell, GA 30075

DEATH NOTICES Ernest Bond, 76, of Marietta, passed away on December 7, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

James Gaus, 60, of Roswell, passed away on December 5, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

William Loomis, 44, of Roswell, passed away on December 6, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Imogene Coberly, 98, of Roswell, passed away on December 5, 2023.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Dylan Jarrett, 35, of Woodstock, passed away on December 9, 2023.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Roger Nord, 82, of Alpharetta, passed away on December 6, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Alison Perry, 35, or Woodstock, passed away on December 11, 2023.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

28 | December 21, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

The City of Alpharetta’s Public Works Department, in accordance with National Flood Insurance Program regulation 65.7(b)(1), hereby gives notice of the City’s intent to revise the flood hazard information, generally located between North Point Parkway and Rock Mill Road. Specifically, the flood hazard information shall be revised along Big Creek Tributary 11 from a point 10 feet downstream of North Point Parkway to a point approximately 0 feet upstream of Rock Mill Road.

As a result of the revision, the floodway shall widen and narrow, the 1% annual chance water-surface elevations shall decrease, and the 1% annual chance floodplain shall widen and narrow within the area of revision.

Maps and detailed analysis of the revision can be reviewed at the City of Alpharetta Public Works Department at 1790 Hembree Road, Alpharetta, Ga 30009. If you have any questions or concerns about the proposed project or its effect on your property, you may contact Mr. Dennis Roland of the City of Alpharetta at 678-2976261 from 12/21/2023 to 1/4/2024.

Randy Knighton City Administrator

CITY OF ALPHARETTA PUBLIC NOTICE PH-23-AB-31 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: 892 8618 2315 Dial In: +1 646 558 8656 US December 28, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. PURPOSE Change in Ownership Eating Establishment Consumption on Premises Distilled Spirits, Beer, Wine & Sunday Sales APPLICANT JG Group LLC d/b/a Secreto Kitchen and Bar 6195 Windward Parkway Suite 102 Alpharetta, GA 30005 Owner: JG Group LLC Registered Agent: Glenda Mata

City of Roswell Notice of Public Hearing

Kurt Wilson Mayor

The following item will be heard at a public hearing held by the Mayor and City Council on Monday, January 22, 2024 at 7:00 PM in the Roswell City Hall Council Chambers, 38 Hill St. Roswell, Georgia. a. CU 20230197/CV 20230195 - 400 Vickery Falls Drive The applicant, Smith, Gambrell, & Russell, LLC, is requesting a Conditional Use for townhouses and a Concurrent Variance for rear setback. Land lot 383.

Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250), within two (2) years, file a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law is available in the office of the City Attorney.

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

ASK APPEN

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

City Councilman Mike Palermo, at front center, holds “The Key to the City of Roswell,” at the Dec. 18 council meeting at City Hall. Palermo brought along his three children, who joined him in front of the dais, for his last meeting as a councilmember.

Roswell: Continued from Page 3 Much of the Dec. 18 meeting was spent honoring retiring Councilman Palermo’s eight years of service on the Roswell City Council.

A farewell reception was held an hour before the called meeting across from the Council Chambers at City Hall.

“I’m so so proud of everything we’ve accomplished altogether in the last eight years,” Palermo said at the reception. “I’m really so proud of all the protections we’ve put in place and all the different aspects to make us more resident-focused in Roswell.”

Palermo, along with former Councilman Marcelo Zapata, were credited for ushering in an era of resident-run Roswell.

Msgr. Peter Rau, pastor at St. Peter Chanel, gave the invocation to open the meeting.

After Transportation Director Jeffrey Littlefield received the “Esteemed Veterans of Roswell” award, members of the City Council shared their favor-

What do you want to know about the community?

ite memories of working with Palermo.

Councilman William Morthland thanked Palermo for his civic engagement and cited his first time meeting him at a Cub Scouts meeting.

Councilwoman Hall spoke about Palermo’s leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and credited him with Roswell’s zero-based budgeting approach.

Councilwoman Lee Hills spoke about meeting Palermo for the first time in the parking lot of Roswell High School. She said he paved the way for her as new liaison to the Transportation Department.

More than a half dozen Roswell residents spoke about the impact Palermo has had on the City Council and their lives during public comment.

While some tributes honoring Palermo’s service were more emotional than others, everyone had good things to say.

“I’ve seen a lot of people up there in all the 50 years I’ve lived here,” Janet Russell said. “I want to thank you for your composure, your decorum, your manners, your attention to detail and your persistence. My hat’s off to you.”

Submit questions at appenmedia.com/ask or scan QR code.

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | December 21, 2023 | 29

CITY OF ALPHARETTA PUBLIC NOTICE PH-23-AB-32 Please note that this meeting will be a virtual meeting, conducted online using Zoom meetings.

CITY OF ROSWELL PUBLIC NOTICE PLACE: ROSWELL CITY HALL, 38 HILL STREET, SUITE 215 DATE & TIME: 10:00 A.M. Thursday, January 4, 2024 PURPOSE: Full Pouring/Liquor, Beer & Wine/Sunday Sales APPLICANT: Rena Hume Youngblood BUSINESS NAME: Computer Museum of America/Computer Museums of America Inc. BUSINESS ADDRESS: 5000 Commerce Pkwy. Roswell, GA 30075 Randy Knighton City Administrator

PLACE To Attend the Virtual Meeting: Using Your Computer, Tablet or Smartphone Go to: https://zoom.us Meeting ID: 830 5365 8426 Dial In: +1 646 558 8656 US January 3, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. PURPOSE Eating Establishment Consumption on Premises Beer, Wine & Sunday Sales APPLICANT Delta Chapter Ramen LLC d/b/a Kyuramen 735 North Main Street Suite 1700 Alpharetta, GA 30009 Owner: Delta Chapter Ramen LLC Registered Agent: Bing Jie Wang

City of Roswell Notice of Public Hearing

Kurt Wilson Mayor

The following item will be considered by the Planning Commission at a public hearing on January 16, 2024 at 7:00 PM in the Roswell City Hall Council Chambers, 38 Hill St. Roswell, Georgia. a. UDC Text Amendment An ordinance to amend the Unified Development Code by modifying Article 12 “Environmental Protection” and Article 13 “Administration.”

Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250), within two (2) years, file a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law is available in the office of the City Attorney.

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

Randy Knighton City Administrator

City of Roswell Notice of Public Hearing

Kurt Wilson Mayor

The following item will be heard at a public hearing held by the Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 7:00 PM in the Roswell City Hall Council Chambers, 38 Hill Street, Roswell, Georgia. a. BZA20234321 - 270 Park Bridge Lane The applicant, Randall Collins/ Bully Contracting, is requesting a Stream Buffer Variance; land lot 389.

The complete file is available for public view at the Roswell Planning & Zoning Office, 38 Hill Street, Suite G-30, Roswell, Georgia, 770.817.6720 or planningandzoning@roswellgov.com. Refer to www.roswellgov.com.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The following items will be heard at a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on Thursday, January 4, 2024 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

Items forwarded by the Planning Commission will be considered by the City Council on Monday, January 29, 2024 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia. a. MP-23-05/CLUP-23-04/Z-23-12/V-23-20 Brand Properties/3650 Brookside Parkway Consideration of a master plan amendment, comprehensive land use plan amendment, rezoning and variances to allow for the redevelopment of a 129,238 square foot office building with 299 ‘Dwelling, ‘For-Rent’ units and 1 st floor active uses on 8.76 acres. A master plan amendment is requested to the Brookside Master Plan Pod A to add ‘Dwelling, ‘For-Rent’ and to modify development regulations. A comprehensive land use plan amendment is requested from ‘Corporate Office’ to ‘High Density Residential’ and a rezoning is requested from O-I (Office-Institutional) to R-10M (Dwelling, ‘For-Rent’ or ‘For-Sale’, Residential). Variances are requested to the definition of neighborhood grocery and to reduce parking. The property is located at 3650 Brookside Parkway and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 43 and 44, 1 st District, 1 st Section, Fulton County, Georgia. b. CU-24-01 Terra Nova Skin Clinic/5755 North Point Parkway Consideration of a conditional use to allow a ‘Spa Services’ business to operate in a 1,115 square foot suite within an office condominium development. A conditional use is requested to allow ‘Spa Services’ for Terra Nova Skin Clinic.

The property is located at 5755 North Point Parkway, Suite 62 and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 797, 798, 807 & 808, 1 st District, 2 nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia. c. PH-24-01 Unified Development Code Text Amendments – Golf Course Tree Removal Consideration of text amendments to the Unified Development Code (UDC).

Amend Subsection 3.2.3 Exemptions, to exempt golf courses from the tree conservation, landscape, and buffer requirements.

The following items will be considered by the Board of Zoning Appeals on Thursday, January 18, 2024 commencing at 5:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia. a. V-23-16 265 Dania Drive Consideration of a variance to allow for a tear down and rebuild of a single-family detached home on 1.02 acres. A variance is requested to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.2.1(D) AG agriculture, District Regulations to reduce the side setback from 25’ to 12.5’ and to reduce the front setback from 100’ to 50’. The property is located at 265 Dania Drive and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1177, 2 nd District, 2 nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia. b. V-23-25 Busch/212 Brook Drive Consideration of a variance to reduce a front setback from 35’ to 20’ and side setback from 10’ to 8’ to allow for a garage addition. The property is located at 212 Brook Drive and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1251, 2nd District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia.

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

30 | December 21, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

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SERVICE DIRECTORY

Full-time IT/Engg Professionals Software Developers: Modify complex apps programs & maintain programs using various techs Computer Programmers: Write comp. programs, store, locate, retrieve docs, data, info using various techs.

SQA Engr/Testers: Coordinate software testing protocol & quality of software app using various techs. Job locs Cumming, GA & various unanticipated client sites in US req travel & reloc. to these sites. Specify Jobtitle & Mail resume: Global Infotech LLC, 600 Peach Tree Pkwy,#106,Cumming, GA 30041.Att HR

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E-mail resume referencing job code 1023AP to Proinfy Solutions LLC at hr@proinfy.com.

Infor (US), LLC has an opening for a Senior Software Engineer in Alpharetta, GA. Position will manage the design and the development, and platform deployment enabling scale up and scale out foundation capabilities; and, design and Manage Cloud automation tooling to allow our applications to elastically respond to load and fault conditions. 100% telecommuting permitted. How to apply: E-mail resume, referencing IN1022, including job history, to careers@infor.com.

Infor (US), LLC has an opening for a Cloud System Engineer, Senior Principal in Alpharetta, GA. Position is responsible for leading Product Lifecycle Management activities related to the development and successful release of PLM Process applications; and, act as an advisor to team members to meet schedules and/or resolve technical problems.

Telecommuting permitted up to 100%. How to apply: E-mail resume, referencing IN1021, including job history, to careers@infor.com. EOE. OFFICE HELP Crabapple/Crossville. Answering phones, setting appointments for sales crew, scheduling work, applying for permits, phone interfacing with customers; must know DropBox and social media. Accounting & bookkeeping skills a plus. $17-$22/hour based on skills/experience.

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New American Funding d/b/a Broker Solutions Inc. seeks a Loan Consultant in Duluth, GA. Builds rapport and leverages existing relationships with network and potential borrowers with the goal of helping customers achieve their mortgage financing goals. Apply @ https://www.jobpostingtoday.com/ 92487.

Flooring

Tree Services

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Gutters Part-time REAL ESTATE ASSISTING: Healthy, hard-working, very tech-savvy lady, good organizing skills. 1-5 or 6pm. 2-3 days/week. My Johns Creek home. Also willing to help with home organization. Salary approx. $15+/hour based on performance & work accomplished. Have own reliable transportation. 678-524-3881 & send resume: realestatetreasure@msn.com

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Bargains/Musical DULCIMER: Excellent condition! $120. 678-455-7376

Donor Operations Associate North Fulton Community Charities is in Roswell off of Hwy 9, serving North Fulton area individuals and families 40+ years. Our Mission is “To Ease Hardship and Foster Financial Stability in Our Community”.

28 hours/week. Must be available to work Monday 9-5, Tuesday and Thursday 11-5, and Saturday 9-5.

Key team member who helps in the donation process; greets and removes donations from vehicles and then sorts the merchandise in a designated area; responsible for keeping the merchandise secure, all areas free of debris and the donor door area neat and clean; work with other staff, volunteers and community service.

This position is the face of NFCC so are expected provide excellent customer service and treat each donor with a professional and friendly demeanor. For complete job description: https://nfcchelp.org/work-at-nfcc/ .

Please submit your resume to: Marten Jallad, mjallad@ nfcchelp.org or Suzanne Brown, sbrown@nfcchelp.org.

NFCC participates in EVerify and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NFCC does not discriminate based on race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disabilities, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis protected by the law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.

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Contact via text or email: Ray Appen at 770-527-4042 or RayAppen@Gmail.com

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AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | December 21, 2023 | 31

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32 | December 21, 2023 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell