Alpharetta-Roswell Herald — April 16, 2020

A note to our readers A p r i l 1 6 , 2 0 2 0 | N o r t h F u l t o n . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 3 8 , N o . 1 6

Perfect handoff SPECIAL

From left, Alex Willson, Celeste Jackson and Jamie Miller gather for a selfie in the Cracker Barrel parking lot south of Macon last week on a transfer of some 2,000 masks en route to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany. Willson and his daughter drove up from Albany to meet the Alpharetta women who had secured the masks through their organization, Medical Masks for Georgia. Read more, Page 16

Appen Media Group and the Herald newspapers are committed to providing our readers with the latest information to keep them safe and aware during the coronavirus pandemic.

Our staff is working overtime to provide the latest updates from state and local governments who make decisions that impact our lives. We are also tracking the impact of the crisis on our schools, our businesses and our quality of life.

While the information in this publication is timely when printed, the pandemic is evolving rapidly. For the most up to date information, visit our special COVID-19 online section at northfulton.com/special/ coronavirus which is being updated daily.

With a focus on your neighborhood like no other news service, we strive to deliver the most relevant information to our readers.

COMMUNITY

2 | April 16, 2020 | NorthFulton.com

Your stories: How COVID-19 is impacting the community 770-442-3278 | NorthFulton.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009 PUBLISHER EMERITUS: Ray Appen PUBLISHER: Hans Appen MANAGING EDITOR: Patrick Fox EDITORIAL QUESTIONS: Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: Alpharetta: ext. 118, Roswell ext. 122 Dunwoody Crier: ext. 143 Forsyth Herald: ext. 118 Johns Creek Herald: ext. 123 Milton Herald: ext. 139 Northside Woman: ext. 128 Calendar: ext. 122 TO SUBMIT EDITORIAL: News/Press Releases: NorthFulton.com/Sponsored Calendar/Events: NorthFulton.com/Calendar ADVERTISING QUESTIONS: General Advertising: ext. 100 advertising@appenmediagroup.com Classified Advertising: ext. 119 classifieds@appenmediagroup.com Circulation/Subscriptions/Delivery: ext. 100 circulation@appenmediagroup.com OUR PUBLICATIONS: Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: 28,000 circulation Johns Creek Herald: 20,000 circulation Dunwoody Crier: 18,000 circulation Forsyth Herald: 17,000 circulation Milton Herald: 10,000 circulation Answer Book: 40,000 circulation Northside Woman: 18,000 circulation

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By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com NORTH METRO ATLANTA — Alia Browning is experiencing what many parents are going through during the coronavirus pandemic — talking to their kids about COVID-19.

“It’s been a tricky balance to try and communicate the severity of the pandemic and its highly contagious spread without scaring the hell out of children,” Browning said. “They don’t read the news and see the graphs. They’re on social media and getting incomplete and possibly dangerous We want to know information. how the coronavirus They want pandemic is impactto believe ing your daily life, it’s not ‘that and we will continue bad.’ They to publish reader want to be submissions. If you free to do as would like to contribthey’ve alute, email Joe Parker ways done. at joe@appen This is not mediagroup.com. a time for business as usual.”

Browning, who lives in Alpharetta, is at home with her daughter while her husband and son, both of whom have compromised immune systems, are in the mountains of North Carolina.

“Much like many other folks, the public health scientists are telling us that staying home is our best course of action,” Browning said. “We are doing that and hoping for the best. Aside from going to the store and taking a walk outside, we’re home most all days. We are reading, listening to music, dancing, doing video classes, FaceTiming and Zoom-ing, watching lots of TV and trying to keep ourselves informed.”

Charles Swahn was informed of the pandemic’s rapid spread in March by his daughter, who works for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

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With a statewide shelter-in-place order in effect on April 8, Grace Haberman could not celebrate her “sweet 16” birthday in a traditional way. So, her mother, Leslie, tried to make Grace’s day “a little sweeter” by adorning the yard of their Roswell home in the Saddle Creek neighborhood with 16 balloons and signs that read, “Honk to wish Grace a sweet 16.”

“She was way out in front of this, giving us the heads up on what was coming,” Swahn said.

After not taking COVID-19 “too serious” at first, Swahn said he has since changed his tune and is “doing all the right things.”

Each day he walks his golden retriever around his Johns Creek neighborhood, and the attitude of his neighbors regarding the pandemic has been surprising.

“I have had quite a bit of interaction with neighbors while social distancing, but everyone is in the same boat, and I’ve just been impressed with everyone’s positivity,” he said. “We all have concerns on the conditions of the virus and what’s going to happen with the economy, but everyone has had a good attitude about it. There has been some worry, but no real frustration. That is one refreshing thing I take from it.”

Since his retirement around three

years ago, Swahn has become a dedicated blood and platelet donor, a passion perhaps more important than ever as donations dwindle.

In mid-March, the American Red Cross announced thousands of blood drives had been canceled, taking with it an estimated 86,000 donations.

Swahn has donated three times over the past few weeks and said the experience provides him with more of a sense of belonging in the community. He is encouraging others to join the cause amid the pandemic.

“The Red Cross is committed to everyone’s safety, I’ve noticed,” he said.

“They have their due diligence during the donation process. Step in the door and they check your temperature, there are gloves and hand sanitizer, chairs are spread out, and after a donor is finished and they come behind and sanitize everything. The safety is definitely there.”

NorthFulton.com | April 16, 2020 | 3

4 | April 16, 2020 | NorthFulton.com

NEWS

Tax revenues take a beating as commerce slows down Alpharetta hears dreary details of effect coronavirus is having

By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Widespread business shutdowns and sheltered residents are taking a toll on government finances, and it’s likely to strain public coffers in the coming year.

That’s the word from Alpharetta Finance Director Tom Harris who reported Monday that sinking revenues could wipe out nearly all the projected surplus the city had expected to collect for the current 2020 budget year.

The news comes as a harbinger of possible rough sledding for cities throughout Metro Atlanta as they ride out the storm.

“We’ll still finish at budget or slightly above budget, but it won’t be as good as projected pre-COVID,” Harris told the Alpharetta City Council.

Harris said projections back in January — based on revenue trends and expenses at the time — showed the city ending the fiscal year in June with a surplus in its revenue of about $2.5 million. With fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, the surplus is now predicted to be about $184,000 — a drop of $2.3 million.

Worse, Harris said, if the falloff in sales taxes and hotel-motel taxes continues through the end of December, the city could face serious fiscal stress trying to fund the 2021 budget.

Expenses will be down One offset to the drop in revenue, however, is that expenses will also drop because the city isn’t operating all the things it normally operates, like sports programs, classes and other services. The city has frozen positions, canceled travel and training, all public buildings are closed, and department heads have been told to shut down everything that is not essential.

Harris said he expects expenses to drop by as much as $2.5 million for the current budget year.

Alpharetta’s distribution from the countywide local option sales tax accounts for about $16.5 million annually in the city’s revenue, but Harris expects that number to fall short by half a million dollars. As early as February, he said, sales tax collections were down 7 percent, possibly because of the social distancing practices that began at that time.

Alpharetta will also take a big hit in hotel-motel tax revenue which was anticipated to bring in $9.2 million this

fiscal year. Harris is predicting revenues to fall $750,000 short of what was estimated in January.

Alpharetta has nearly twice the number of hotels, 27, than all immediate neighboring cities combined, and the hospitality industry helps fuel its business model.

“We know the revenues are down, probably 85 percent from the beginning of March to the end of March,” Harris said, adding that occupancies are down along with rates for rooms. “Revenues collected by the hotels are probably at 15 percent of what they should be.”

Another major revenue source, recreation and special events, will take a big hit from the coronavirus shutdown, Harris said. He is predicting those revenues to fall almost $600,000 short of estimates. At the same time, however, the expense of operating some of the facilities, like the swimming pool, will go down, he said.

The city also collects $2.3 million in alcohol beverage excise taxes a year.

Updated estimates predict that figure will fall by about $150,000, primarily through the loss of restaurant dining.

Alpharetta’s fiscal year ends June 30, so its current budget will be saddled in the homestretch.

Hoping for recovery The 2021 budget, which is being drafted right now, is another matter.

A lot of it will depend on when things get back to some sort of normal operation, Harris said.

He said, if the pandemic subsides by the end of December, hotels could be operating at around 90 percent. Retail sales could pick up as well, he added.

The early take, Harris said, is that he is predicting a nearly $4 million deficit in revenues from what was earlier anticipated to fund the 2021 budget. That includes a 9 percent drop in sales tax revenue, a 27 percent decline in hotel tax revenue and a 19 percent drop in business occupation license fees.

Property tax collections are likely to dip, Harris said, especially among commercial properties.

Right now, he said, he is working with City Administrator Bob Regus to shave travel, training and other departmental expenses. Planned employee merit raises are also on the table for cuts, and there could be steps taken to shave recurring capital expenses.

“Again, it’s early, and I’m not trying to be a pessimist, but there’s probably a little bit of a higher chance that these numbers could get a little more negative,” Harris said.

City employees remain on the job amid shutdowns It’s almost business as usual, except it’s mostly from home

By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Statewide shutdowns have left North Fulton cities looking like Super Bowl Sunday – closed shops, empty streets and a few wayward pedestrians walking their dog.

With government buildings off limits to residents and staff, city officials say they’re still on the job and government workers are busy behind the scenes.

“All of our folks are working,” Roswell Community Relations Director Julie Brechbill said. “They may be working from home, but they’re permitting, all the stuff they usually do in the office, they’re doing it from home. Everybody is working, just in a different way.”

Hard numbers can be hard to digest, but they do suggest the city continues to operate.

From March 30 to April 3, the Roswell Department of Community

Development conducted 119 building inspections and 152 land disturbance inspections. Staff issued 47 land disturbance and building permits and received 46 new residential applications and 14 new commercial permit applications.

The department collected $50,000 in fees before issuance of permits.

The city’s 911 center handled 12 percent fewer calls from March 1 to April 6 compared to the same period a year ago.

Public Works remains on the job, Brechbill said.

“All design engineers and planners are working remotely,” she said.

Right now, the city has field inspectors on site as work continues on the Ga. 9 at Oxbo Road intersection improvement project, the Ga. 92 at Hardscrabble Road southbound right turn lane and the connector road at Waller Park and Grimes Bridge Park.

Local crews are also working on pothole repairs, signal timing refinements and other maintenance duties, Brechbill said.

Alpharetta Alpharetta City Administrator Bob Regus has been giving the City Council weekly updates, tracking work from its

452 full-time employees.

At the April 6 council meeting, Regus reported Community Development conducted 460 inspections the prior week, issued 43 permits, received 13 new residential and 13 new commercial applications. Overall, Regus said, the department collected $136,000 in fees.

Calls to the Alpharetta 911 Center are down 20 percent to both police and fire from March 1 to April 6 compared to the same period in 2019, Regus said. Calls to Milton 911, which are also fielded at the Alpharetta center, are down 24 percent to police and down 16 percent for fire.

Regus said Public Works reports that work is continuing on a number of projects, including the two roundabouts on Bethany Road at Mayfield and Mid Broadwell roads, Rucker Road safety improvements and the triple left-turn lanes project on Windward Parkway. He said crews are also performing trail work on the Big Creek Greenway extension into Forsyth County, and work is also underway on connections and extensions to the Alpha Loop.

Johns Creek Johns Creek Communications Direc-

tor Bob Mullen said a lot of activity is focused on street and parks projects.

“Crews are using the relatively good weather and light traffic conditions to make up for lost time due to cold and rainy conditions in the first quarter,” Mullen said.

The 4-acre Morton Road neighborhood park near State Bridge Road is continuing development. When completed, he said, it will feature a playground, pavilion, walkways, a restroom, picnic areas and a half-court basketball court.

Work on the Shakerag Park fishing pier has just wrapped up, and work continues on the Wall that Heals memorial at Newtown Park and on the turf cricket pitch at Shakerag.

About a dozen major road projects are underway, including State Bridge Road widening from the river to Camden Way, and intersection improvements at McGinnis Ferry and Bell Road and at Medlock Bridge and Bell Road. All three are part of the city’s list of TSPLOST projects.

Other Public Works infrastructure projects underway include sidewalk repairs at Tech park, sound abatement along Abbott’s Bridge Road and resur-

See EMPLOYEES, Page 21

NorthFulton.com | April 16, 2020 | 5

NEWS

6 | April 16, 2020 | NorthFulton.com

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Ways to respond

NORTH FULTON, Ga. — Johns Creek residents lead the pack in the race among major North Fulton cities to complete the 2020 census. Johns Creek recently passed Milton, who carried a lead since tracking began in late March, for the top spot.

The U.S. Constitution requires an actual count of every person residing in the United States every 10 years, and local governments depend on accurate counts for access to millions in federal and state dollars.

Steven Wardrup, GIS manager with the City of Alpharetta, said an inaccurate count could cost the city an estimated $20 million in federal and state funding over the next 10 years. Population is a key factor, he said, in determining allocations of federal and state grants.

A 2015 national survey showed that local communities lost $1,091 in federal dollars for each person uncounted in the 2010 Census.

Like most cities, Alpharetta is using a census tract map that shows the predicted response rate for different areas within the city. The predictions

The U.S. Census Bureau provides three options for residents to participate in the 2020 Census.

Residents can: • Respond by mail • Respond by phone • Respond online Forms and information about how to participate are available at 2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond are based partly on the response rate recorded during the last census.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, cities and counties are pushing advertising and social media sources to encourage residents to participate. Public workshops and speaking engagements originally planned for this spring have been suspended.

Wardrup said that in addition to social media, Alpharetta is pursuing spreading the word through local churches and through local newspaper ads. He said another option is sign placement in low-response areas.

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Roswell 31.5% 48.9% 55.4%

NorthFulton.com | April 16, 2020 | 7

VIRTUAL

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Since deliveries are made throughout the day, arriving first thing doesn’t guarantee product availability.

NICOLE KRAUSS, Publix spokeswoman 8 | April 16, 2020

Grocery stores hiring, trying to keep up with demand

By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com NORTH METRO ATLANTA — The coronavirus pandemic has impacted just about every industry, but people always need food. For weeks, grocery stores have been struggling to keep up with that demand, and many customers have been met with barren shelves.

Some customers are finding limits on sought-after items, such as meat, toilet paper or bread. Stores are facing a sharp increase in demand from their customers but cannot always keep some items on the shelves because their hands are tied.

A local grocery industry spokesman said some major grocery wholesalers have placed purchasing limits on some items. With stores only able to order so much product and an increased need from shoppers, shelves are quickly being picked clean.

In order to keep a steady supply of items, Publix spokeswoman Nicole Krauss says customers should be shopping as they normally would. Like other grocery stores, the company has put purchasing limits on some items.

Krauss also said customers should not arrive early and wait for a store’s doors to open thinking it is their best shot to find everything they need.

“Since deliveries are made throughout the day, arriving first thing doesn’t guarantee product availability,” she said.

One item people have been lining up to purchase is toilet paper, and many are striking out in their searches. Various theories have been floated for the shortage, but an employee at a local grocery store said one reason why toilet paper is so difficult to keep in stock is because of its bulk. A single pack of toilet paper can take up as much warehouse space

HERALD FILE PHOTO

as dozens of boxes of pasta, for instance, so its availability can be lower and its demand higher than other products.

The pandemic has wreaked havoc on American workers with a record 6.6 million applying for unemployment March 22-28 the Department of Labor reported.

Grocery stores have gone against the grain, and several chains have hired thousands in recent weeks. Employees are also receiving raises or bonuses.

Kroger announced April 1 it hired nearly 33,000 employees from midMarch to April. Sales in March increased 30 percent over February figures, the company reported.

Publix announced March 20 it would hire “thousands” of employees through March, and Aldi said it hired nearly 7,500 new employees during a single

week in March and plans to “hire more each day.”

Amazon, which owns Whole Foods, announced it would add 100,000 jobs to meet demand. That includes Amazon Prime shoppers and drivers who use Whole Foods to fulfill Amazon grocery orders.

Those already employed by the four major grocery chains are seeing a relaxation of some policies or added incentives.

Kroger employees deemed “frontline associates” received a one-time bonus on April 3, and Kroger will provide an added $2 per hour “hero pay” for hours worked March 29 through April 18.

Whole Foods also increased pay by $2 per hour for its employees and is allowing unlimited call-outs on shifts.

Aldi announced it would increase wages for its workers, and Publix will

Stores are facing a sharp increase in demand from their customers but cannot always keep some items on the shelves because their hands are tied.

provide paid leave for any employee who tests positive for COVID-19 and any employee who is in close contact with that person.

Store policy changes have also been made during the pandemic, including shopping times dedicated to seniors or others vulnerable to COVID-19, updating cleaning procedures and reduced operating hours.

Kroger and Aldi have also set limits on the number of customers allowed in stores at any one time. Kroger will allow one customer per 120-square feet, which the company says is about half of each stores’ building code capacity. Aldi said it would limit its locations to “approximately” five customers per 1,000 square feet.

“All three of my children are ELP graduates from 2017-2019. As high school juniors facing college decisions, ELP helped expand their understanding of our North Fulton community and its structure which helped guide their career interests. The contacts made with fellow students, parents and community leaders have already proven beneficial for each of them.”

Emerging Leaders (ELP) is a yearlong high school program for students who wish to develop leadership skills, identify and address community issues and interact with local leaders. Students will enjoy a combination of interactive lectures, discussions, site visits, community service, and networking opportunities.

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Some childcare facilities close as enrollment numbers drop

By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com NORTH METRO ATLANTA — Local childcare facilities are feeling the crunch as thousands of parents are now working remotely and opting to keep their kids at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

With enrollment numbers in freefall and safety concerns for teachers, kids and their families, many facilities have shut their doors until further notice.

Peggy Kernan, owner of the Crabapple and Milton Kids ‘R’ Kids academies, made the difficult call to suspend operations on April 2.

“We felt it was our social responsibility,” Kernan said. “It was a brutal decision, but we decided it’s what is best for our staff, kids and parents.”

Overall enrollment fell dramatically in March, and with far fewer students, the Crabapple location was closed March 18, its families absorbed into the Milton location.

Kernan said one of the core reasons to keep operating as long as they did was to provide childcare for parents in critical care roles. Several parents work in healthcare, and one works at the CDC. However, as the coronavirus spread, these families were making alternate childcare arrangements.

Another factor that drove her to keep the facilities open was so her employees could continue receiving a paycheck.

The company was offering full hours at full pay, and some teachers were extra just on site to clean. With both facilities now closed until further notice, the financial burden on Kernan and her employees has increased. She and her husband, Rich, will not be taking any pay during the closure, and they are fortunate to be financially conservative, Kernan said.

“My husband and I have saved our whole lives, and we are not going to be

We know the vast majority of preschools have had to make the difficult decisions to lay off all or most of their staff, but we are doing our best to avoid having to do that for as long as possible. putting people out on the street,” she said.

Kernan will be applying for a Paycheck Protection Program loan and hopes between that, unemployment and the school’s distance learning initiative that has kept some on payroll, all her employees will receive their full pay.

The academies’ distance learning program was put into place in midMarch, and includes online classes, Zoom meetings with classmates and other ways to stay connected.

“I’m super proud of our teachers, they essentially created an all-new product we did not have three weeks ago,” Kernan said.

While the doors are closed at Kids ‘R’ Kids, families are not being asked to pay any tuition or holding fee. Some families have been gracious enough to continue paying, Kernan said.

“Every dollar coming in goes straight to payroll,” she said.

Primrose School of Alpharetta owner Irina Bhatia closed her school April 6 after an employee was tested for COVID-19.

As of April 8, the results of that test are still pending. Bhatia said if the employee’s test comes back positive, the school will stay closed for at least two weeks.

Bhatia had planned to keep operating the school despite around a 75 percent

See CHILDCARE, Page 21

COMMUNITY

NorthFulton.com | April 16, 2020 | 11

North Fulton COVID-19 survivor recalls his battle with virus

By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com

said this has gotten too weird. I was still very weak and run down.”

Burger went to Wellstar Urgent Care where he was told “right away” he had pneumonia.

“They said that’s the crackly sound,” Burger said. “I said, well, that solves that mystery, but when they checked my bloodoxygen level, they freaked out a little bit.”

Burger was immediately sent to the Wellstar North Fulton emergency room.

His wife dropped him off at the door, but by the time she parked, Burger had been admitted. He would not see his wife again for more than a week.

NORTH FULTON, Ga. — Milton’s Chip Burger, 59, has no pre-existing conditions or underlying health problems.

He avoids high-risk behaviors and is in overall good health. However, he said the novel coronavirus still “caught up with him,” and resulted in a nine-day stay at Wellstar North Fulton, much of it spent in the intensive care unit.

Burger, who has now recovered from the virus, is sharing the lessons he learned and thanking all those working on the front lines to fight the pandemic.

Breakfast spurs hospital trip Burger said on March 11 he developed a dry cough while at work, and it got worse as the day progressed. He left to work from home as a courtesy to his coworkers, not fearing coronavirus but suspecting it may have been related to an allergy or irritant.

That night, Burger said his wife “banished” him to the downstairs portion of their home.

“That was probably a good thing,” he said.

Over the next few days Burger said he felt fine, but that changed March 15.

“That Sunday I really dropped down a step,” he said. “My energy level was low, and I just wasn’t feeling well.”

Burger continued to feel ill over the next week, and he noticed other symptoms appearing. He said he developed a “crunchy, crackly” sound in his chest when breathing in too deeply or moving a certain way. He lost his appetite and said his sense of taste had changed to where everything he ate tasted unpleasant.

On March 22, Burger went to eat a bowl of his “tried and true” favorite cereal, and the experience was the final push to seek medical attention.

“I took the first bite and it just tasted contaminated,” he said. “I knew what it was supposed to taste like. Between that and the crackly sound in my lungs, I

‘The ventilator really alarmed me’ Burger spent nine days at Wellstar North Fulton, six of them in the ICU. When first admitted, Burger said the experience was much like that of the urgent care facility — the medical staff was seriously concerned about his blood-oxygen levels. It was the pneumonia preventing oxygen exchange in his lungs, he said.

Burger was put on oxygen, but he continued to feel extremely weak and tired.

“At one point while they were working on me, the thought occurred to me that I am circling the drain here,” he said.

That was grim enough, but Burger said what truly scared him was the thought of being intubated and put on a ventilator.

“When they first put me on oxygen, the doctor said, ‘You are on oxygen, and if you don’t respond, we will have to intubate you and put you on a ventilator,’” Burger said. “That scared me. The ventilator really alarmed me, so I really focused on breathing as much as I could as the oxygen started my rehabilitation.”

Burger’s health gradually improved, and after six days he was moved out of the ICU. A few days later, he was discharged to continue recovering at home in isolation.

Though it has been weeks since Burger first began feeling symptomatic, he still has a slight cough that flares after he has been talking for an extended time.

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Chip Burger is wheeled out of WellStar North Fulton on March 30 after spending nine days in the hospital battling the novel coronavirus.

Burger said he still does not know how he contracted the virus, and he does not know anyone else who has a positive case.

Lessons from a survivor While at Wellstar, Burger stayed in contact with his wife and others close to him through texting, and after his stay, he had documentation of many of the thoughts and feeling he had while battling the worst of the virus. He has since recognized the top 10 things he learned from fighting COVID-19.

First on the list is “don’t overdo it.”

Burger said anyone feeling symptoms

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that have been associated with coronavirus should notify their doctor, take overthe-counter medications and get plenty of rest. The day before his symptoms worsened, Burger said he “overdid it” on projects around the house.

Second is to listen to your body.

“You know when something is going on that’s not right,” he said. “Tell your doctor what is going on and let them make the call.”

Burger also said those with the virus should push for the least invasive treatment option, his being put on oxygen, not a ventilator.

Burger said early on in his ICU stay, he knew his foreseeable future was going to “suck.” His fourth lesson is to embrace it. He describes a bevy of uncomfortable tests conducted and shots in the belly, but said the “suck” is what is going to save you.

“This is where the medical team is getting the vital information they need to help you,” Burger said.

Along similar lines, patients should always take what is offered and do what they are told by medical professionals.

Those fighting the virus can also “join the team” while being treated. With hospitals facing shortages of personal protective equipment, Burger would request two cups of water or other ways to limit staff’s number of visits to his room.

Lesson seven is to be kind to hospital staff and understand what they are going through.

As he recovered, Burger began asking staff about other coronavirus patients.

Many were treated and released, and there had been plenty of success stories, he was told, but some patients had died.

“I imagine that has to be one of the hardest things for staff,” he said. “Not only are you dealing with a deadly virus, you are seeing it take people. They were heartbroken.”

Finally, be thankful to be alive. No explanation is needed for that lesson, he said.

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12 | April 16, 2020 | NorthFulton.com

SCHOOLS

Hopes fade for ceremony celebrating senior class of 2020

By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com Like dominos falling in succession, so were the milestone events for Senior Year — first delayed, then possible, then over. Spring sports, playoff games, musicals, concerts, prom, graduation.

For the class of 2020, every day brought another door slamming shut.

COVID-19 and the statewide shutdown made sure of that.

Fulton County Schools’ decision to host “senior celebrations” in lieu of traditional graduation was the biggest blow to many seniors who held onto hope the ban on gatherings would lift by late May. “Throughout high school, all the stress and pressure is [endured] with one goal in mind: graduation,” said Milton High senior Regan Williams. “For me, I couldn’t wait for graduation, it was a sign that everything I worked for was worth it.”

She said she understands in the wide-angle view of life, the “hole in her heart” from a canceled graduation ceremony pales in comparison to what many are enduring.

“As seniors, we know our ‘perfect senior year’ is not the priority — peoples’ lives are being saved by our actions, and that’s what matters,” Williams said.

“But for us, this was going to be one of

the best times of our lives, our first big milestone. And we were robbed.”

A spokesman for Fulton Schools said the decision to cancel planned graduation ceremonies was necessary. With no indication of how long Gov. Brian Kemp would keep the ban on public gatherings in place, the district had to make a choice.

“Some public health officials are saying it could extend well through the summer,” said District Communications Director Brian Noyes. “So, what date is safe for planning purposes or even considering some type of event?”

Nearly all high schools in North Fulton had planned to hold graduation ceremonies at Ameris (formerly Verizon) Amphitheater in Alpharetta. Noyes said even if the ban was lifted, he questioned if the venues would still be available.

Fulton Schools Superintendent Mike Looney directed principals to plan with their school community for a “modified ceremony” held at the high schools. Events might include a blend of virtual and in-person participation, or an all virtual ceremony.

“The sudden end to all of these major, milestone events has created heartbreak for not just the students, but the parents, teachers and staff who care deeply about them,” Looney said. “We all want to see them get the recognition they deserve.”

Williams is fairly certain she knows

what many seniors would like as a sendoff to the next chapter in their lives.

“I can’t speak for everyone, but most people I know would rather move graduation to a later date and still have a traditional experience to walk,” Williams said. “This is an experience every class before and every class after will get.”

She said an online or virtual celebration will not be the same.

Cambridge High senior Torie Laney is also hoping for a delayed graduation that would allow the entire Class of 2020 to gather together.

“I’m praying Cambridge will be able to hold a ceremony in the late summer for us because graduation through my computer would be a bummer,” said Laney, who will attend the University of Tennessee.

If a traditional ceremony is not possible, Laney said she and her friends will create their own graduation ceremony. She understands everyone is going through hardships.

“The fact that my senior year has ended has not hit me yet,” Laney said.

“It is comforting knowing that everyone around the country is in the same boat.”

Williams knows there is a bright future ahead, as she prepares to enroll at Georgia State University.

“Graduation is all I have left of my senior year,” Williams said. “To lose that on top of everything else would be so devastating.”

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14 | April 16, 2020 | NorthFulton.com

It’s going to be ok An old friend sent me an email with this poem attached. It is going viral on the internet, but I like it so much that I want to reprint it here for any of our readers who have not yet RAY APPEN seen it. My friend is Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmediagroup.com in his 80s now, is a retired physician, and is probably as scared as you and I are. He mentioned that his father — at age 19 — came down with and survived the Spanish Flu during the pandemic of 1918, and I think what he is saying is that most of us will too.

Most of us, but not all of us.

It seems to me that almost everywhere I turn, almost everyone I talk to is sharing stories about someone they know who is helping someone else in some way. Random acts of kindness abound. This is my “great America” — the one I know and expect.

I have had friends call me in tears because of the unexpected generosity of friends. I have watched people dig in and put one foot in front of the other and move forward — with positive attitudes and smiles — in the face of really awful circumstances.

I have seen so many people out walking or playing with their children in their yards or just in conversation with a spouse or neighbor. For once, and it is counter-intuitive, here in Alpharetta I am seeing faces that are not contorted or distorted by stress and urgency. People out driving are not honking horns. They seem very much at peace. Some sort of newfound peace in the middle of a dark tempest, but a peace never the less. We’re reading. We’re resting. We’re waiting. We’re praying. And we’re waiting to heal.

And maybe, just maybe, when the pandemic is in our rearview mirror, as the poem below suggests, we will live our

OPINION

It seems to me that almost everywhere I turn, almost everyone I talk to is sharing stories about someone they know who is helping someone else in some way. lives a bit differently, a bit more generously with ourselves and others. And maybe even slow down, and, yep, smell the roses a bit more or allow ourselves to be more in touch with what life really is about — the stuff that sustains souls.

Here is the poem, “And the People Stayed Home,” written by Kitty O’Meara.

And people stayed at home And read books And listened And they rested And did exercises And made art and played And learned new ways of being And stopped and listened More deeply Someone meditated, someone prayed Someone met their shadow And people began to think differently And people healed.

And in the absence of people who Lived in ignorant ways Dangerous, meaningless and heartless, The earth also began to heal And when the danger ended and People found themselves They grieved for the dead And made new choices And dreamed of new visions And created new ways of living And completely healed the earth Just as they were healed.

The other health concern There is no escape.

My television has only shown lighthearted shows or comedy movies, and only the stand-up comedy channels on SiriusXM are being played. I ignore the torrent of emails from news orgaJOE PARKER nizations that flood my Editor joe@appenmediagroup.com inbox, and social media has been avoided.

But there is no eluding the anxiety caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

No going to shops to distract the mind with a lust for objects, no going to bars to quench a thirst for relief, no meeting up with friends for respite.

There are other ways to shut down the mind and, at least for a little while, elude the anxiety. But not when your job has been totally consumed by the pandemic.

The only words I have written in weeks are related to the COVID-19. I have heard the fear, and sometimes heartache, in the voice of business owners who face a grim future. I have listened to employees wonder how they are going to get along with no paycheck with rent payments lingering largely over their heads. I have heard from those who have contracted the virus, and the serious message they have for all the world to hear.

Sure, there are happy stories as well.

The makeshift celebrations amid social distancing or those doing their part to help others. Though these strike a much different chord than articles outlining the health crisis and/or its subsequent economic crunch, there is still no relief from the coronavirus.

Truth is, though, I have it easy in so many ways.

As I write this, my family and I are all in good health. I’m still earning a paycheck. My job is not on the frontlines of the medical field, where healthcare workers witness the tragedy of this pandemic each day.

Unfortunately, anxiety does not let you see the positives for long.

Sure, no one I know has contracted COVID-19 yet, but the number of cases is rising rapidly. What if I get it? What if I spread it to my wife or daughter? What if one of us has a serious case requiring hospitalization? And hell, even if I get a mild case, the virus scares me senseless.

At the same time Georgia had its first confirmed cases, I had a sinus infection come back after a round of antibiotics.

Every cough sent a rush of fear through my body, and I checked my temperature every hour. The thermometer has stayed in my pocket for three weeks now.

Even if I and those close to me stay healthy, will I still have a job in two months? My Twitter feed has been full of seeing good reporters and editors laid off, and I can’t help the thoughts that I could be the next one putting out a heartfelt string of tweets thanking this community.

This is not a “woe is me” opinion piece, nor is it me patting myself on the back for working through anxiety. Rather, I want to say it is okay to have anxiety, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around two years ago, I experienced my first anxiety attack, which was almost as surprising as it was harrowing.

I am an easy-going guy most of the time. I never have anxiety aside from the normal, day-to-day worries. I am happy.

This is what I told the doctor, feeling ashamed that she was going to prescribe an anti-anxiety medication.

I have since come to accept my mental health issue.

The world is reeling from a physical health crisis, but even those who are physically well have been bombarded with worry. The past few weeks have been frightening, and the upcoming weeks and months will still be daunting.

Whether or not you have anxiety issues, it is okay to be scared. It is okay to worry. This is perhaps the most significant worldwide event of our lifetime.

Most of us will get through this unscathed physically, but we should also try and avoid the traumatization to our mental state by finding our escape where we can.

COMMUNITY

NorthFulton.com | April 16, 2020 | 15

Meals by Grace faces challenges in weeks ahead

By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Meals by Grace Executive Director Suellen Daniels got choked up talking about how things will be for the organization over the next two months.

With skyrocketing unemployment, the closure of schools for the remainder of the academic year and limited supplies at foodbanks, the nonprofit has seen a surge in demand for meals, and Daniels is worried about meeting the need.

“I try not to think about where we will be in eight weeks,” she said. “I realize that’s probably not a good executive director thing, but the reality is, there’s a very real possibility that we are not going to have sufficient food to give families all they need.”

During the last two weeks of March, the nonprofit supplied just under 20,000 meals, and Daniels expects that need to remain. Between the cost of additional food, transporting meals and leasing a refrigerated truck, Meals by Grace’s budget has increased by $33,000 each week.

Funding is a serious concern, but

food supply presents a greater issue.

Meal by Grace receives food from two major sources — food banks and food drives. With the ongoing pandemic, companies and organizations aren’t holding food drives, Daniels said, and food banks are becoming barren.

Each week, the group normally orders from a food panty 200 boxes of frozen meat and mixed canned goods, which supplies families who use the nonprofit’s pantry. But for the past few weeks, the response has been, “we don’t have that,” Daniels said.

Another source is salvage food. That includes food that has left a distributor, but has not been received by the restaurant, grocery store or other company that placed the order. Daniels said if anything interrupts this process, such as a restaurant cancelling its order, the food can either be given to nonprofits or must be taken directly to a landfill.

But with many restaurants closing their doors and grocery stores struggling to keep shelves stocked, the availability of salvage food is also drying up, Daniels said.

Salvage food is often perishable, so if some does become available, Meals

Advice for those in need of help

Meals by Grace Executive Director Suellen Daniels said there are resources available to those facing food insecurity. She suggests calling the United Way of Greater Atlanta at 211 to find food pantries in their area. There is also a phone app, GA Food Finder, that lists food pantries, their hours of operation and other information.

To receive assistance from Meals by Grace, a picture ID is required, along with some proof of residency in Forsyth County or Dawson County. A one-page USDA self-declaration form, which is provided by the nonprofit, must also be completed.

by Grace must act quickly to retrieve it.

That requires a refrigerated truck. As the pandemic got its foothold in the state a few weeks ago, the nonprofit’s truck broke down, likely for good.

Meals by Grace has since leased a

See MEALS, Page 24

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Spark of inspiration snowballs into major campaign of assistance Group engineers drive to deliver safety masks where they’re needed

By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Sometimes, friends are perfectly matched for a task of passion.

That’s the case with a group of Alpharetta women who are locating, buying and delivering coveted protective masks to healthcare workers and first responders throughout the state.

It’s a full-service operation, said Dr. Jamie Miller who sparked the effort.

Medical Masks for Georgia is a grassroots GoFundMe effort to distribute critical N95 and KN95 masks directly into the hands of healthcare workers, first responders and community caregivers.

Miller’s core organizers include fellow Alpharetta residents Leigh “LaLa” Halsema and Celeste Jackson, all with strong ties to the local medical community and professional networks that have allowed them to source the medical masks that are in such short supply.

Since its launch April 3, the organization has raised upwards of $16,000 and delivered close to 3,000 masks to hospitals, fire stations and other sites engaged in the front lines of the coronavirus battle.

Originally, everything started just trying to locate the N95 masks, Miller said. They sent feelers out to all their friends and acquaintances to scour their homes, search their work warehouses for the items.

“We were sourcing community members to find them because they’re used by more than just medical personnel – construction workers, auto body shop workers,” she said. “Sadly, the supply of these N95 masks is very small, very few

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Staff at the Special Care Nursery at Northside Hospital Forsyth were delighted when Medical Masks for Georgia dropped off 80 N95 masks April 7. and far between.”

Like other healthcare facilities the women then turned to the KN95 masks from China that were recently approved by the FDA. The three used their connections in the medical community to locate supplies.

Halsema, a video and film producer, used her skills in social media to publicize the effort to raise funds and marshal drivers for delivery.

“When we saw we could get the KN95s, we realized we needed to raise as much money as quickly as possible because the prices on these masks are going up every day,” she said. “The quickest way we could think of was GoFundMe.”

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NorthFulton.com | April 16, 2020 | 17

Animal shelter suffers funding losses over coronavirus woes

By JULIA GROCHOWSKI julia@appenmediagroup.com ATLANTA — One of North Atlanta’s few animal shelters remaining open, Furkids Animal Rescue and Shelter, has sustained some major financial hits during the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic.

The nonprofit, headquartered in Atlanta, is a no-kill shelter that regularly partners with the Petco Foundation to serve the Atlanta area with 13 adoption centers. As the pandemic has continued to spread however, several of its facilities have closed, and Furkids’ operations have drastically changed.

Like many businesses and nonprofits, Furkids now lives in a state of uncertainty.

“It’s impacted our life as we know it,” said Samantha Shelton, CEO and founder of Furkids. “We’re taking it a day at a time, just trying to provide for the fundamental needs for our animals, our staff and the public to keep them safe and supported at this time.”

After Gov. Brian Kemp’s shelter in place order was issued April 3, Furkids was forced to close its three thrift stores and furlough some of its staff. The move comes as a “huge disturbance” for the organization, Shelton said, as the thrift

FURKIDS/SPECIAL

Furkids is facing a fundraising drought at a time when other shelters are closing their doors. One good bit of news is that dog adoptions are steady during a time when many families are forced to stay at home. stores alone provide about 35 percent of its annual funding.

That, coupled with the cancellation of its annual fundraiser in March, has been a large financial blow for Furkids.

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The fundraiser provides vital revenue for the nonprofit leading up to spring and summer, its busiest seasons, Shelton said.

Past fundraisers have on average raised $150,000.

“Will people be able to continue to support nonprofit animal shelters?”

Shelton said. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

For the health and safety of the public and its staff, Furkids has also temporarily suspended volunteer programs.

It is still taking in and adopting out animals, and adoptions are now being carried out, one-at-a-time by appointment only.

However, Shelton said there is a silver lining to the situation: adoptions at FurKids have gone up, especially for dogs.

“It’s been very heart-warming for us in the industry nationwide,” she said.

“People have been showing up and wanting to adopt, seeing this as an opportunity to add a new family member by adopting... There are, I think, a lot of lonely people in their homes right now, and they’re looking for that companionship. We’re thrilled that they realize the companionship of a pet is so worthwhile.”

On April 6, for example, Shelton said

Furkids had five dogs and has capacity for 65.

“The numbers are way down in the building, which is a cause for celebration,” she said. “But we also want to be able to go out and save more dogs at this time.”

Furkids has also moved several animals into foster homes and is urging others to consider fostering during the pandemic to open up more space in the shelters. It is actively reaching out to other area shelters, especially those that have closed, to see if there are any animals in need of help.

One of the best ways people can support Furkids and its mission at this time is through cash donations or by buying items on its Amazon wish list, Shelton said.

The shelter annually helps about 5,000 animals. Furkids staff are currently bracing themselves for an uncertain “kitten season,” as more kittens without mothers tend to be brought to the shelters in the coming weeks.

“It takes a lot to provide for these animals,” Shelton said. “We survive off of donations. We do not receive government funding.”

To donate and for more information about Furkids’ operation changes or how to help, visit furkids.org.

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18 | April 16, 2020

Sponsored Section

Financial decisions during a pandemic

By MICHELLE WILSON Wilson Legal, PC 2020 was supposed to be a big year for you. You had goals and dreams. Now it probably feels like you’ve had the wind knocked out of you.

What plans do you move WILSON forward on? How does the current pandemic change your plans or should it? The Coronavirus Pandemic has changed the way we live drastically for at least a few month and may continue to change the way we live and work. Many of us are adjusting to this new “normal” and wondering if it will be permanent or if we will get back to the way live used to be. Many families were planning to make some big changes this year like selling a home. Some families are wondering whether or not to keep moving forward with their plans.

Here are three key questions to ask

yourself. First, take a look at the original purpose of your project or purchase – was it a luxury item or project or something that would help you in a recession?

Second, would you delay the project or purchase if the effects of the pandemic affected us for 2-3 months versus 6-9 months or longer? Third, what about employment and savings? What stress will you be under if you complete the project or purchase now and are laid off or your employment is decreased?

Like many of you, this pandemic caught me at a point when I was nearly done with a large project. My decision to proceed with the project was based upon the probability that the pandemic may be affecting us longer than 2-3 months.

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BANKING & FINANCE • Sponsored Section

Banking upside down: When banks give money away Everyone loves “free samples”: chocolates at the candy store, cheese cubes at the grocer. But banks giving away money? Seems like an idea for a Dr. Seuss book.

It’s hard to find humor in our current environment, but bankers above all else need to have a positive attitude these days, because our communities are under stress and need help. The effort to distribute $ billions through the SBA’s “forgivable loan” program has been an all-hands effort at most community banks. In less than a month, the banking industry has transformed from a lending and payment business to the country’s foremost financial relief enterprise.

There are four separate relief programs being administered through the SBA: the Paycheck Protection Program, EIDL loan advances, Express Bridge Loans and SBA debt relief. These programs will be enormously beneficial to business owners—but learning about them and navigating each option requires time, effort and support. While banks are the entry point for PPP loans, the SBA itself is the gateway for the other three programs.

“We’ve already processed dozens of applications”, says ACB lender Gary

Lochbaum, “and customers are signing electronic loan documents every day.

We’re proud of the effort from everyone on our team, and it’s amazing to see that we already have $ millions in our PPP loan pipeline. This is a challenge, but it’s also a rewarding experience”.

Deno Andros of Alpha-Omega Companies was an early PPP applicant: “The financial guidance and caring touch provided by American Commerce Bank means a lot to us!”, he says.

For more information about the SBA’s various support programs, type “SBA funding programs coronavirus relief” into your web browser, or visit American Commerce Bank’s website, which includes links to these important programs.

American Commerce Bank specializes in customized solutions for commercial and consumer banking customers.

The bank offers market-leading deposit rates as well as convenient on-line banking and treasury management services.

By structuring terms to the specific needs of borrowers, ACB is a champion of local business owners.

For more information about American Commerce Bank, stop by the branch located at 10690 Medlock Bridge Road, or visit www.AmericanCommerceBank.com.

Gary Lochbaum, a lender with American Commerce Bank processes a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.

NorthFulton.com | April 16, 2020 | 19

COMMUNITY

20 | April 16, 2020 | NorthFulton.com

Luxury car showroom turned into blood donation center

By DENISE RAY denise@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Some quick thinking on the part of RBM of Alpharetta resulted in a successful blood drive April 4.

Due to social distancing, a scheduled bloodmobile drive at Halcyon was in

peril. Spacing inside the vehicle would not allow for social distancing.

The luxury car dealership quickly converted its Mercedes-Benz Experience Center at Halcyon into a blood donation center for the American Red Cross as vehicles were rolled out and appropriate medical equipment and personnel rolled in.

“If there’s ever anything we can do to

CANCELLED PUBLIC NOTICE

THE CITY OF MILTON WILL NOT HOLD A REGULARLY SCHEDULED WORK SESSION MEETING APRIL 20, 2020 6:00 PM AT CITY HALL 2006 HERITAGE WALK MILTON, GEORGIA 30004

help, we’ll do it,” Christy Spooner, RBM brand experience manager said.

At each blood drive and donation center, Red Cross employees already follow thorough safety protocols to prevent the spread of any type of infection, including donning and frequently changing gloves, routinely disinfecting donor areas, using sterile collection sets for every donation and preparing the donor’s arm with an aseptic scrub, Cheryl Mahan, donor recruitment account manager for the American Red Cross said.

“Twenty-eight people stood in line, six feet apart. They had their temperatures taken and entered one person at a time,” Spooner said. “They were very patient.”

People may be hesitant to come out for a blood drive, but the Red Cross wants to reassure the public that it has implemented additional precautions to ensure the safety of employees, volunteers and donors. These steps included checking the temperature of staff and donors before entering the building, providing hand sanitizer, increased disinfecting of surfaces and equipment inside the store and staff wearing face masks, Mahan said.

“These mitigation measures will help ensure staff and donor safety in reducing contact with those who may potentially have this, or any, respiratory infection,” Mahan said.

A total of 27 units of blood were donated that Saturday. One unit of blood is just under one pint.

“It’s important to emphasize that blood drives are not mass gatherings and adhere to the highest standards of safety and infection control, and we have put additional safety precautions in place to limit the number of donors in any given space and follow social distancing practices,” Mahan said.

The Red Cross is emphasizing the importance of blood donation appointments to manage the flow of donors and is also looking at staggering donor appointments further apart to reduce the number of people at a drive at any one time. Donors may also be asked to wait in their cars to further limit congregating in the arrival area, Mahan said.

Thanks to the many who gave blood and scheduled upcoming appointments, the American Red Cross has been able to meet immediate patient needs. During these uncertain times, the organization encourages individuals to keep scheduled blood donation appointments and to make new blood donation appointments for the weeks ahead to ensure a stable supply, Mahan said.

The Red Cross asks potential donors who may have any risk factors to postpone and donate later. The organization only collects blood from individuals who are healthy and feeling well at the time of donation.

To make an appointment to donate, you can use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED, Mahan said.

Invitation to Bid Demolition of Exterior Accessory Buildings – Former Milton Country Club ITB NUMBER 20-CD05 Sealed Bids Due Date: May 12, 2020 2:00PM Local Time Electronic submission via: www.cityofmiltonga.us To be publicly announced at approximately 2:15 at the City of Milton City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004(*). The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

The City of Milton is requesting bids from interested parties for a public private partnership. The request for sealed bids for the Demolition of Exterior Accessory Buildings – Former Milton Country Club will be posted on the following websites the week of April 16, 2020. http://www.cityofmiltonga.us or http://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/PR_index.jsp (*) Bid opening/announcement to be publicly made via virtual meeting as outlined in bid document.

COMMUNITY

Roswell restaurant fans establish virtual tip jar for struggling workers ROSWELL, Ga. — Amid the financial devastation brought on by COVID-19, a group of Roswell residents are helping others reach out to the restaurant workers they’ve grown used to seeing on nights out or at lunch.

“I love to eat out, and Roswell has some of the best restaurants,” said Brenda Orlans who has organized a virtual “tip jar” for restaurant workers. “It breaks my heart to hear about the struggles of some of my favorite servers.”

Through the virtual tip jar, the community can help support the staffs of their favorite restaurants, who still have bills to pay while dining rooms are closed, Orlans said.

In some cases, users of the tip jar can even tip a specific server. In other instances, the tips are spread among the staff of a chosen restaurant.

The tip jar is a project of Hope Roswell, a group of church leaders of various denominations who combine their efforts to help meet local needs.

“The restaurants have been hit hard, and we feel this will be helpful in enabling employees to pay their mortgages and other bills that our dine-in tips would normally help pay,” said Orlans, who serves as the director of Hope Roswell.

At Lucky’s Burger and Brew, one employee expressed a preference to stay home and practice social distancing to best protect her children.

Ted Lescher, the general manager of the Roswell Lucky’s, says he understands and was surprised to see the woman appear to work her shift. She was caught between the need to pay her bills and her desire to protect her family.

Lescher, who has not had to resort to layoffs, has scheduled shifts giving preference to workers for whom Lucky’s is the only source of household income. With everyone working fewer hours, the others have understood, and Lescher has been heartened by community support.

Lescher said he “thoroughly appreciates” the money that has come in through the online tip jar “It’s phenomenal,” he said. “They need all the help they can get.”

The tip jar can be accessed at www.hoperoswell.org, and donations can be made through Venmo and PayPal. Roswell restaurant owners can have their business included by contacting hoperoswell@gmail. com. The list will be updated as new participants are added.

NorthFulton.com | April 16, 2020 | 21

Childcare: Continued from Page 10

decrease in enrollment in recent weeks.

“Many of the families in our care are essential personnel, especially nurses, as well as others who are still required to keep working,” she said.

Bhatia said most of those families were still using Primrose each day. She was only informed of her employee being tested the night of April 5, resulting in a short notice to families that the school would be suspending operations.

“Something like this greatly disturbs and inconveniences the families in our care, especially those who were unable to contact their employers in advance of their obligations for Monday morning,” Bhatia said. “We were not aware of the situation until very late on Sunday and had to act very quickly.”

Primrose has committed to keep all 31 of its employees on staff despite the closing, Bhatia said, but that will be challenging if the school remains closed longer than two weeks.

“We know the vast majority of preschools have had to make the difficult decisions to lay off all or most of their staff, but we are doing our best to avoid having to do that for as long as possible,” Bhatia said. “We love and value our team greatly, and we are doing every-

Primrose has committed to keep all 31 of its employees on staff despite the closing, Primrose School of Alpharetta owner Irina Bhatia said, but that will be challenging if the school remains closed longer than two weeks. thing we can to keep them employed and engaged with the families.”

A “special and superbly” generous family has given the school a lump payment of monthly tuition fees, even with their child at home, to support the school’s payroll, Bhatia said. Families have also donated cleaning supplies and brought lunch for staff.

Employees:

Survivor:

Continued from Page 4

Continued from Page 11

facing roads.

Emergency calls were down year over year in March. The Fire Department received 17 percent fewer calls over the past month from March 2019. Emergency calls to police were down just over 7 percent.

Johns Creek Community Development conducted 661 inspections from March 1 to April 6. New residential permits totaled 118, and there were 21 new commercial permits filed. The department issued 82 permits during those five weeks and collected $110,000 in fees.

There are other things the cities are doing outside the routine. All have added special COVID-19 pages on their websites to keep residents updated on closures and policies.

In Roswell, Brechbill said the city has set up a meal train sign-up because of the influx of offers to feed first responders. She said the city has already received from 50 to 70 N95 masks donated for emergency personnel.

“That’s why we set all this up,” Brechbill said. “We’ve had people calling us that wanted to buy the 911 operators dinner or lunch, bring in food for all of them. We set that up where people could sign up.”

Taking precautions and giving thanks For those who have not contracted the novel coronavirus, Burger said people should protect themselves as much as possible.

“Follow the CDC guidelines and other organizations’ safety protocols, and avoid other people,” he said. “But its between panic and complacency.

Yes, I got it, and I got it bad, but the majority of people will survive. But don’t be complacent. I was not in a risk category, just a normal guy doing my thing and [the virus] still caught up to me.”

The fight against COVID-19 is far from over, but Burger is grateful for the medical personnel who battled alongside him during his bout.

“I can’t say enough about Wellstar, both the urgent care and hospital, they were great,” he said. “How lucky we are to have that facility in our community.

And we should reach out to any who is on the front line or a first responder.

Not just medical personnel, but also police, fire, EMTs, social workers and others who are putting themselves at risk trying to help us. That’s the definition of a hero in my book.”

SPECIAL

“It is so very encouraging to know that our teachers are loved, valued and appreciated by the families in our care, and it certainly makes a difference for all of us taking the daily risk of coming to work every day,” Bhatia said.

In the meantime, Primrose is using its propriety curriculum and a distance learning program to keep kids engaged.

PUBLIC SAFETY

22 | April 16, 2020 | NorthFulton.com

Authorities apprehend suspect in Alpharetta stabbing murder

By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with a Monday morning knife attack on three members of a local family that left one man dead.

The victim, Andrew Chuong, 56, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after public safety personnel arrived at the home on Nathan Circle at about 5 a.m., according to Alpharetta Police spokesman Sgt. Howard Miller.

Police said the first officers were met at the front door by one of the victims, 24-year-old AUSTIN CHUONG Eric Chuong, who was injured and bleeding.

After entering the residence, police were told the alleged attacker, 19-year-old Austin Chuong, had fled the scene before they arrived.

After finding Andrew Chuong deceased, police turned their attention to 57-year-old Jenny Phang, who suffered stab wounds to her chest. Officers per-

formed life-saving aid to Jenny and Eric Chuong, while other officers immediately began searching for the suspect.

With assistance from a John’s Creek Police K-9 team, Austin Chuong was quickly captured in the woods behind the home where he surrendered to officers. He was not armed at the time of his arrest and he had lacerations on one of his arms, Miller said.

The surviving victims and suspect were taken to North Fulton Regional Hospital where they were treated for their wounds. It was determined that had it not been for the quick first-aid intervention of the first officers on-scene, there likely would have been a second fatality.

Detectives from the Alpharetta Major Case Squad obtained a search warrant for the home where they processed the crime scene and collected evidence, including weapons. The suspect was interviewed by detectives and transported to the Fulton County Jail.

Austin Chuong is charged with murder and two counts of aggravated assault. This investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.

No motive has been established, Miller said.

Masks: Continued from Page 16 Jackson, whose background is as a speech pathologist, used her husband’s connections in the healthcare industry to assemble a list of facilities where the needs were greatest.

Top on the list was Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany, where 56 people have died of COVID-19, by far, the most in the state. They rounded up 2,000 masks for the delivery.

“Jamie and I drove, and on the drive, LaLa was finding somebody who could meet us just south of Macon,” Jackson said. “She found somebody through her church … and he met us in a parking lot of a Cracker Barrel, and we made the transfer.”

COMMUNITY Miller had also made arrangements with Dr. James Black, who works in emergency medicine at the hospital, and arranged to deliver the masks directly to him because they were desperate.

The women have also delivered 490 masks to the Milton Fire Department and most recently to Northside Hospital Forsyth.

And more are on the way. The group placed an order early last week for another 2,000 KN95 masks that will soon arrive from Japan.

“They were more than excited at the fire station to receive the masks,” Miller said. “If it weren’t for social distancing, it would have been two very well-abled men hugging us.”

Medical Masks for Georgia has a goal of raising $90,000 through the GoFundMe campaign. You can help by

visiting visit gofundme.com/covid19masks-for-georgia. The campaign also can be followed on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

All three organizers say they are blown away by the support of money, even offers of free truck rentals. They say it speaks to how the community rallies in a time of need.

The group also received word that they now have a nonprofit sponsor, so donations now qualify for a tax deduction.

NorthFulton.com | April 16, 2020 | 23

Alpharetta resident Mandy Gawley was one of the first to jump on board when she saw what her friends were up to.

“It speaks to that grassroots effort,” she said. “We’re all sitting here as moms in our houses in our quarantine, trying to do our part by not leaving. But by an effort of people coming together and using their own resources… and wanting to do good, this is what can happen.”

24 | April 16, 2020 | NorthFulton.com

Meals: Continued from Page 15

family owned & operated since 1928

210 Ingram Ave. Cumming, 30040 770.887.2388 ingramfuneralhome.com

refrigerated truck, but it comes with a monthly price tag of $2,200. Daniels says she shudders at how many meals those funds could provide, but it is a necessary expense.

“That would provide a lot of food, but [the truck] is a means to get food,” she said. “The best solution for us is to have a truck on the road anytime someone wants to give us food. And with a lease, a breakdown or maintenance issue won’t put us out of business, because we cannot be out of businesses for a second.”

Not everyone qualifies When food is available, it is not necessarily available to anyone. When the statebacked Georgia Nutrition Assistance Pro-

COMMUNITY gram donates to a food bank, it is required that food be given to someone already receiving public assistance, Daniels said.

“Right now, if you come to me for food and all I have is GNAP food and you are not already on public assistance, I cannot give you that food, even if it breaks my heart,” she said. “I have to report who that food goes to, and I report I gave GNAP food to a non-GNAP client, we lose our agency status and we can’t order from the food bank at all.”

That is an especially important factor with many people seeking assistance for the first time. Daniels said many are hardworking, but maybe did not have funds saved up, and now they have lost their jobs.

“Now all of the sudden they are desperate, they need help, they need food and they don’t know where to go,” she said.

“They don’t know the rules, what documentation they need, when food banks are

Now in our 91st year Family owned and operated On site crematory • Serving all faiths Offering: Burials • Cremation • Prearrangements Out-of-state transportation

open. They are just panicked, and you can even hear it in their voice, they don’t even know the questions to ask.”

Resources are running short Daniels said the organization needs help.

Volunteers have stepped up to help package food, a process performed in small groups with gloves and other sanitary precautions. People can also donate through the Meals by Grace website or by texting “Feed kids now” to 44321.

The biggest needs are for meals in a can, like beef stew or ravioli, canned fruits and vegetables, and cereal.

Food drop-off locations can be found at mealsbygrace.org.

“Our commitment as long as I’m breathing is to give out everything that comes in,” Daniels said. “We will likely need to meter that, and might not be able to hand out as lavishly as we have, Solution but we will serve.”

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F E R O C I O U S

N E S H O N S E M A Y O R F O E C U R R A S S S C O E E D A L E O I L T O T B R P S A U R E

H I K E L E N D S R I L L

A M R E E R S B S O I L Y N O F E R O E A N B L T I O D E S D P Y A

B E S I E G M I E N A G T E A L M A I N D D S E A L

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W A I T S

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DEATH NOTICES Roswell Funeral Home Green Lawn Cemetary Faithfully Serving Families Since 1839

Lawn Cemetery.

Gilbert Bartman, 91, of Cumming passed away on March 24, 2020.

Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green

Roswell Funeral Home 83, of Cumming passed Shirley Cooper, Green Lawn Cemetary away on April 2, 2020. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.

Faithfully Serving Families Since 1839

Roswell Funeral Home Green Lawn Cemetary Faithfully Serving Roswell Since 1839 Roswell Funeral Home Green Lawn Cemetary Faithfully Serving Families Since 1839

Lawn Cemetery.

Michael Corrigan, 70, of Alpharetta passed away on March 30, 2020.

Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green

Roswell Funeral Home Constatinos Green Lawn Cemetary

Dascalos, 81, of Roswell passed away on April 3, 2020. Arrangements

by Northside Chapel Funeral Roswell Funeral HomeDirectors & Crematory.

Faithfully Serving Families Since 1839

Green Lawn Cemetary

Faithfully Serving Roswell Since 1839

C. Curtis Douglass, Jr., 85, of Roswell passed Roswell Funeral Home away on April 4, 2020.

Green Lawn Cemetary Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.

Faithfully Serving Families Since 1839

Roswell Funeral Home Green Lawn Cemetary Faithfully Serving Families Since 1839

Roswell Funeral Home Green Lawn Cemetary Faithfully Serving Families Since 1839

Roswell Funeral Home

Green Cemetery.

Lawn Cemetary Lawn

Richard Fritz, 95, of Roswell passed away on March 20, 2020.

Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green

Faithfully Serving Roswell Since 1839

Faithfully Serving Families Since 1839

Roswell Funeral Home Crematory.

Roswell Funeral Home Green Lawn Cemetary Faithfully Serving Families Since 1839

Lawn Cemetery.

Roswell Funeral Home Green Lawn Cemetary Faithfully Serving Families Since 1839

Roswell Funeral Home

Lawn Cemetery.

Mueller, 94, of Roswell passed away on April 1, 2020. Arrangements

by Northside Chapel Funeral Roswell Funeral Home Directors & Crematory.

Betty Kizer, 87, of Alpharetta passed away on March 23, 2020.

Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green

Katherine Phillips, 76, of Cumming passed away on April 6, 2020. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.

Roswell Funeral Home Armand Green Lawn Cemetary Faithfully Serving Families Since 1839

Charles O’Shields, 81, of Cumming, passed away on March 31, 2020. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.

Faithfully Serving Roswell Since 1839

Green, 80, of Cumming passed away on April 4, 2020. Arrangements

by Ingram Funeral Home &

Green Lawn Cemetary

Faithfully Serving Families Since 1839

Green Lawn Cemetary

Roswell Funeral Home Edmund Green Lawn Cemetary

Faithfully Serving Roswell Since 1839

Roswell Funeral Home Green Lawn Cemetary

Dorothy J. Maloney, 96 of Roswell passed away on March 30, 2020.

Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green

Elizabeth Ohrstrom, 84, of Alpharetta passed away on April 3, 2020. Arrangements

by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Edna Phillips, 69, of Cumming passed away April 5, 2020. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.

Crematory.

Ravi Ramaswamy, 60, of Cumming passed away on March 31, 2020.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors &

John Smith, 90, of Alpharetta passed away on April 3, 2020. Arrangements

by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Jerry Stancel, 77, of Cumming passed away April 4, 2020. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.

Jackie Tinsley, 59, of Cumming passed away on April 7, 2020. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.

NorthFulton.com | April 16, 2020 | 25

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