Dunwoody Crier - January 12, 2023

Community destination

Junior Theater to draw talent from across U.S.

ATLANTA — The 2023 Junior Theater Festival will host 125 groups from 28 states as well as groups from Washington, D.C., Canada and Australia in Atlanta Jan. 13-15 for fellowship, singing, dancing, acting and learning.

Called a “rousing celebration of theater” by The New York Times, for the past 20 years thousands of musical theater students and their teachers have made the pilgrimage to this annual, event for young people and educators creating musical theater worldwide.

The announcement was made by Timothy Allen McDonald, founder and CEO of iTheatrics and the Junior Theater Group, which produces the international Junior Theater Festivals.

“These students and teachers are not just the future of musical theater — they are musical theater,” McDonald said. “Their positive impact is huge. They chart cast albums; they sell out shows. They introduce so many to musical

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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.

Kidnapping charge filed against Dunwoody woman

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody police have charged a local 27-year-old Dunwoody woman with kidnapping for allegedly refusing to let her ex-boyfriend leave his house during a domestic dispute in December.

Police reports said the incident occurred Dec. 24 at an apartment complex on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. Witnesses reported to police that during a verbal altercation, the woman grabbed onto a male victim, struck him in the face and refused to let him leave his apartment.

The woman allegedly held on to the man, not letting him leave for an extended period of time, causing a disturbance that had to be broken up by the man’s adult son.

When interviewed by police at the scene, the woman allegedly admitted that she hadn’t let him leave even after he asked her to let him go, “because she wasn’t done talking to him.”

Officers arrested the woman and charged her with kidnapping and cruelty to children, because the incident occurred near the man’s 2 year old. She was taken to the DeKalb County Jail.

Man cited for gunshot at apartment complex

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Police have charged a Tennessee man with multiple crimes, after he allegedly fired gun through the wall of a Dunwoody apartment unit.

Officers were dispatched to an apartment complex on Lake Ridge Lane in Dunwoody Dec. 26 at 7 p.m., after a woman reported a bullet had been fired through her apartment wall, near her

daughter, son and nephew.

The woman said the bullet had been fired from the apartment next to her and had lodged into her wall.

When officers contacted the occupant next-door, an 18-year-old man from Memphis, Tenn., they were told the bullet had come through an outside wall and the man didn’t know anything about who fired it.

However, police discovered the holes in the suspect’s apartment did not line up, and the hole in the wall did not reach the outside of the apartment. Officers concluded the man had gouged a hole in the wall to make it look like the gunshot came from outside.

When officers attempted to identify the man, he allegedly gave them a false name and date of birth.

The man was arrested and charged with false representations to police and firing a weapon. He was transported to the DeKalb County Jail.

Mailed check Fraud reported by Dunwoody resident

DUNWOODY, Ga. —More than $3,000 was taken from a Dunwoody resident after a check mailed through the post office was stolen, altered and cashed.

The victim reported to Dunwoody police that his bookkeeper mailed a check to the DeKalb County Property Tax Department in September, but later learned the check had been stolen after it was dropped off at the USPS collection box on Chamblee Dunwoody Road.

Police were told printed images of the check showed it had been altered by someone before being deposited.

Police have no suspect in the case.

Drugs found in vehicle parked near residence

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody police officers have arrested two men who were allegedly found in possession of cocaine and marijuana during a recent traffic stop.

Police were called to an apartment complex on Lake Ridge Lane at about 3:20

p.m. Dec. 26, responding to a call about a suspicious vehicle parked at the complex’s leasing office, occupied by two male suspects.

When officers arrived on scene, the men were outside the vehicle looking under the hood, but they quickly began acting suspiciously, the report said.

The occupants allegedly said they were at the complex visiting a friend but were not able to say where the friend lived. When the men were asked to step away from the vehicle to answer questions, officers reportedly observed one of the men trying to hide a small clear bag filled with white power.

When the vehicle was searched, officers located another bag of marijuana in the vehicle’s cupholder.

Both men were arrested and charged with possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana. They were transported to the DeKalb County Jail without incident.

Residential worksite plagued by burglaries

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — For the second time in less than a month, thieves burglarized a home under construction in Alpharetta twice, stealing thousands of dollars in construction materials, police said.

Alpharetta police first responded to the job site on Hook Street in Alpharetta Dec. 5, after receiving reports that 32 bundles of shingles had been stolen. Officers were again called to the scene Dec. 17, after a witness reported seeing a strange truck and a man going in and out of the residence late at night.

The homeowner reported in both cases that nobody had permission to be at the home and no workers would have been at the house that late.

Officers arrived on scene and found a black pickup truck with multiple cases of shingles loaded in the bed, but no suspect was located.

Police identified the truck’s owner, who later said two friends had been using the truck at the time of the burglary.

Reports said the truck was impounded, but the report did not say whether the investigation has led to any arrests.

Certain DeKalb County residents can file online for tax exemption

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County homeowners interested in filing for a special homestead exemption now have the ability to file paperwork online, county officials announced.

Seniors, disabled residents and veterans will still have the option of filing their special homestead exemption in person, but starting Jan. 3 , the DeKalb County Tax Office opened an online portal for special homestead exemption applications.

Special exemptions are additional tax savings for eligible senior citizens ages 62 and older, disabled veterans and disabled residents.

“Providing the highest level of cus-

tomer service continues to be a top priority as we leverage technology to enhance the way we do business,” Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson said. “Automation and efficient operations enhance the overall customer experience while saving taxpayers valuable time and resources in the process. By bringing the special exemption application process online, seniors and disabled residents avoid delays with filing in person and significantly reduce processing errors.”

Applicants for special exemptions must have an existing homestead exemption on the primary residence to qualify for a special homestead exemption, officials said. Age and income

requirements must be met to qualify for all senior exemptions.

The DeKalb County tax office has allowed online applications for basic exemptions since 2018.

Officials said applications for homestead exemptions are accepted yearround, but current year exemption applications are only accepted from Jan. 2 through April 1. Applications received after April 1 will be processed for the following year.

To apply online for special homestead exemptions, or a basic exemption, please visit the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s website www.dekalbtax.org/filehomestead-exemption.

Chattahoochee to receive federal aid

By REBECCA GRAPEVINE Capitol Beat

ATLANTA — President Joe Biden has signed legislation aimed at protecting the Chattahoochee River.

The first-of-its-kind measure authorizes $90 million in federal funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work with local partners on water projects throughout the Chattahoochee River system.

Biden signed the bill recently as part of congressional reauthorization of the Water Resources and Development Act.

“This exciting new program will improve water quality, protect essential public works, and restore ecosystems along the river, which supplies much

Theater:

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theater through their own productions, and they continually evolve this art form through their storytelling. After 20 years of this festival, we’ve seen what prioritizing the arts can do for individuals, communities and musical theater itself, and we understand the importance of giving theater kids the opportunity to be in the company of thousands of other people who care just as much about this art form as

of our state’s drinking water,” said U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., who introduced the bill into the Senate along with Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.

“Clean water is essential for healthy and thriving communities,” Warnock said. “While the Chattahoochee River’s water quality has improved in recent years, hundreds of miles of Chattahoochee watershed waterways still do not meet waterquality standards. I’m proud to have worked with Senator Ossoff to ensure this provision that will invest in improving, protecting, and preserving the Chattahoochee River gets signed into law.”

According to the Georgia River Network, the Chattahoochee supplies

70 percent of Metro Atlanta’s drinking water. The river is also a key source of water for farmers and an important source of power generation through hydroelectric dams.

However, more than 1,000 miles of waterway within the Chattahoochee watershed do not meet water quality standards, creating potential health risks to humans and wildlife.

In 2019, the National Park Service reported visitors to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area added more than $200 million to the metro region’s economy, supporting more than 2,000 local jobs.

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

PALS

PERIMETER ADULT LEARNING & SERVICES

PALS is pleased to announced its Winer 2023 Program lineup. Classes will run on Mondays from January 9 –March 6 at the Dunwoody United Methodist Church, 1548 Mt Vernon Rd. Dunwoody, GA 30338. Registration is online at www.palsinline.info.

The class line up is as follows:

MONDAYS:

From 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Spies, Saboteurs and Rescuers During World War II Dan O’Lone will present a fascinating look at double and even triple agents who played key roles in saving thousands of Allied lives during World War II. He will also continue with his unique take on those who rescued Jews during the War, including sewer cleaners, zookeepers, circus performers and German soldiers, as well as the man who stopped the trains to Auschwitz, a diplomat from a country that he had never been to.

From 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Andrew Jackson and His Indian Wars

Tom McElhinny will continue his series on Native Americans, this time dealing with Andrew Jackson’s presidency and his Indian wars from his first battles with the Cherokee and Creek nations until the establishment of the Indian Territory in Oklahoma. The most infamous outcome of Jackson’s relentless exploits at Indian removal culminated with one of the greatest forced migrations in history-the Trail of Tears. It is a sobering reminder of a violent and dark episode in our nation’s history.

From 10:00 am - 1:45 pm

Mah Jongg

Bring your own Mah Jongg card and come play. There is no instructor for the session- just fun and self-evaluation.

From 10:00 am - 1:45 pm

Open Bridge for Experienced Players

There is no instructor for this weekly session – just fun and self-evaluation.

From 11:15 am - 12:15 pm

A History of the Space Race

they do.”

At the festival, each group will perform 15 minutes of a Broadway Junior musical for adjudicators.

In addition to mainstage performances featuring powerhouse Broadway and West End guests, the groups will enjoy a keynote address by Thomas Schumacher, president and producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, a “Mean Girls” panel featuring conversations with and performances by the original Broadway cast and a “New Works Showcase” of performance selections from upcoming Broadway Junior musicals.

John Baumbusch will take us through the history of how we got to the Moon more than 50 years ago. He will discuss moon lore, the Cold War, Russians and the Right Stuff! Through this series, we will re-live the heady days of the Space Race from the 1950s to the 1970s.

From 11:15 am - 12:15 pm

The Economic Implications of Immigration

Shai Robkin will discuss how immigration is a misunderstood topic in America’s social discourse, with much of what we believe is based largely on myth. He will compare the experiences of immigrants from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to those of immigrants today, and how immigrants and their children compare educationally, professionally and economically with US born citizens and discuss the policy implications of what we find.

Business: Regions Bank Avalon Crossing Branch Owners: Regions Financial Corporation

Description: Regions Bank combines advanced technology with personalized service at our modern Avalon Crossing branch in Alpharetta. Our local bankers are ready to listen to your needs and assist with everything from basic transactions to indepth conversations to assess your financial health.

Opened: December 2022

Address: 11790 Haynes Bridge Road Alpharetta, GA 30009 Phone: 770-5437060 Website: www. regions.com

Business: North Main Street Market at Alpharetta

Owners: Kristina Conley & Joern Seigies

Description: The North Main Street Market at Alpharetta is a winter market running from November - March. Serving the Alpharetta & surrounding communities by providing access to locally produced foods and artisan goods.

Opened: November 2022 Address: 735 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 Phone: (563) 723-1774

Machu Pichu

The Watts family from Dunwoody and Do family from Johns Creek hiked the mini Incan Trail in Peru on a beautiful sunny day and ended the hike at Machu Picchu on Christmas Eve. The Crier was lucky enough to join them on the trip.

CALENDAR

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT!

PAINT LIKE BOB ROSS

What: Complete a Bob Ross painting in just one class — even if you’ve never painted before. That’s the magic of the techniques used by Bob Ross in his popular TV series, the “Joy of Painting.” Bob Ross Certified Instructor Jeremy Rogers walks you through step by step how to paint a beautiful Ross landscape, complete with “happy trees.” This is a light-hearted painting class totally focused on creating beauty and having fun. Please bring a roll of paper towels and a cardboard box to carry your piece of art home with you. The box needs to be big enough to hold a 12x16-inch canvas. Register online.

When: Saturday, Jan. 21, 10 a.m.

Where: Hammond Park, 5909 Glenridge Dr, Sandy Springs Cost: $70 More info: sandyspringsga.gov

JUST FOR FUN:

TRIVIA NIGHT

What: Whether you’re the whiz of the group or the dunce, a trivia outing is about so much more than the questions themselves. Bring your friends and test your knowledge while you drink a pint at the King George Tavern.

When: Thursday, Jan. 12, 8 p.m. Where: King George Tavern, 4511 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody More info: kinggeorgetavern.com

FROSTY MINI GOLF TOURNAMENT AT THE FRINGE

What: Putters League Atlanta is hosting a Mini Golf Tournament at The Fringe Miniature Golf. There will be three rounds, where players can play to win a $1,000 purse. The Frosty tournament will have a purse for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place overall, 1st place Women’s Division, Most Aces and Lowest Round.

When: Saturday, Jan. 14, 11 a.m. Where: Area 51: Aurora Cineplex and The Fringe Miniature Golf, 5100 Commerce Parkway, Roswell Cost: $35

More info: Sign up at PuttersLeague. com

LEARN AND LEAD:

BIRD WALK

What: Morgan Falls Overlook Park boasts several habitats, and thus a large variety of birds over the course of the year: mudflats (shorebirds, including Avocets in 2017), lake (winter ducks, nesting bald eagles), river, woodland, and field (sparrows). The walk will involve possibly wet grass, stairs, gently sloped pavement and unpaved trails. A scope and loaner binoculars will be available. The walk will begin at the overlook, past the playground. Register online.

When: Sunday, Jan. 15, 8 a.m.

Where: Morgan Fall Overlook Park & Dam, 200 Morgan Falls Road, Sandy Springs More info: sandyspringsga.gov

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.

To promote your event, follow these easy steps:

1. Visit AppenMedia.com/Calendar; 2. Provide the details for your event including title, description, location and date;

3. Click the red button that reads “Create event”

4. That’s it! Submissions are free, though there are paid opportunities to promote your event in print and online.

DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

ART & FILM CELEBRATION

What: The Sandy Springs annual tribute will feature interactive art projects and a film designed to celebrate, educate, and share the teachings of Dr. King.

When: Monday, Jan. 16, 1 p.m. Where: Studio Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: Admission is free, reservations encouraged More info: sandyspringsga.gov

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE

What: Register online to join the City of Dunwoody’s annual day of giving back. Available projects include tree planting with Trees Atlanta, daffodil planting with the Daffodil Project, Cleanup at Brook Run Community Garden, plantings at Dunwoody Nature Center, and New Year prep at the Spruill Center for the Arts, as well as a blood drive at Brook Run Park and an ongoing food drive through the Souper Bowl of Caring.

When: Monday, Jan. 16 Where: Locations vary More info: dunwoodyga.gov

COMMUNITY:

ROSWELL RESTAURANT WEEKS

What: It’s time for Roswell Restaurant Weeks. This year, more than 45 restaurants are participating with a variety of cuisine and experiences. Check out RoswellRW.com for a list of all the participating restaurants and make your reservations for a delicious meal.

When: Jan. 19-Feb. 5

Where: Location varies More info: roswellrw.com

PET OF THE WEEK

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Queen Sheba

Queen Sheba (ID# 42041632) deserves to be treated like the royalty she is. This 5-year-old girl is amazingly sweet and gentle, and a joy to take on a leisurely stroll. Sheba’s main goal in life is to receive as many pets as possible and lots of attention. If you’re up for the task of doting on Queen Sheba every day, then don’t wait to meet this lovebug. You will be so glad you made her the queen of your heart. Meet Queen Sheba at DeKalb County Animal Services. To learn more, please email adoption@ dekalbanimalservices.com.

Our shelter is full of incredible pets waiting for homes, and to them, your love

is priceless. We must find 500 homes; will yours be one of them? To foster, adopt or meet your new furry friend, stop by DeKalb County Animal Services at 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd., Chamblee, GA 30341 please call (404) 294-2165 or email us at adoption@dekalbcountyanimalservices. com today.

Expand your family by four furry little feet; meet Queen Sheba and have a loving friend forever. All adoptions include spay/ neuter, vaccinations and microchip! All potential adopters will be screened to ensure Queen Sheba goes to a good home.

Springs Cinema & Taphouse creates ‘gathering place’

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Brandt Gully never planned to own an independent movie theater.

But when his daughter fell seriously ill six years ago, Gully bought the Lefont Sandy Springs to plant his roots deeper into the community.

Gully’s Springs Cinema & Taphouse is a neighborhood movie theater at Parkside Shopping Center with a full kitchen and bar that shows new, old and independent movies.

Gully’s background is in finance, where he worked with movie theaters and entertainment companies on the financial side. He had been around the industry for years, but when his eldest daughter was diagnosed with cancer, Gully’s perspective changed.

“I had the question: What is the point of what I do?” Gully said.

Gully spent most of his time in the hospital, around nurses and doctors he watched serve the community. His daughter is fine now, and so is Gully, but the experience made him realize he wanted to get more “plugged in” to the community.

It was then that George Lefont told Gully he wanted to sell his business— a local movie theater.

“That’s when it just clicked that maybe this is my way to get plugged into the community, through my profession,” Gully said.

The theater had been untouched since the 1980s. Gully said it had a beloved arthouse following, but it needed a revamp to bring in bigger crowds. It was a task Gully was ready to take on.

“I had no idea how hard it was going to be, and if it was, I probably wouldn’t have done it,” Gully said. “I’m very pleased that I was naïve, as I’ve loved every minute of it.”

The revamp Gully had in mind was a top-to-tail renovation. Gully had no renovating experience, but he had a vision. He wanted recliner seats and big screens, a full kitchen and bar. He also wanted the theater to have a distinctly local feel.

“I had been to a thousand movie theaters, but I had never really walked through them thinking this is the way I want it,” Gully said.

He brought in multiple movie theater architects, but none of their designs matched his vision. They felt like theaters, but they were lacking any distinct community feel.

Gully wanted a different approach. Because the bar would take up about 75 percent of the theater lobby, Gully brought in a bar architect. His vision

came to life, and the Spring Cinema & Taphouse was born.

The bar sprawls across the lobby, taking up the space where concessions would typically dominate. The lights on the ceiling look like film reels, a motif that carries through to the design of the walls. The space is decorated with movie posters and art prints. The bar boasts 18 beers on draft, a variety of wines and different craft cocktails. The cocktails range from espresso martinis to themed drinks, like the blue beer and frozen margarita to promote the newest Avatar movie.

The Springs also has a full kitchen, with offerings from hummus to hot dogs. Gully wanted a little bit of everything for his Sandy Springs clientele.

The food and drinks were one thing. The content was another challenge. When Gully took over the theater, the previously named LeFont showed mostly art house films.

“I knew art house and indie would be a piece of what we did,” Gully said.

The Springs theater does play some

arthouse films, but it also plays major studio films, which draw bigger audiences and more money.

The issue with those major films, Gully said, is that movie theaters typically function at the whim of Hollywood. Whatever films trickle into theaters get shown, but at the peak of COVID-19 Hollywood had no content to send to movie theaters.

That left Gully with a staffed theater and no content to screen. The theater, renovated in February 2019, was only a year into its new start before the pandemic shut everything down.

Gully wanted to keep his team busy and find a way to stay afloat, but he had nothing to show onscreen and knew audiences were unlikely to risk going into theaters.

“We’re like, why don’t we show drive-in movies in our parking lot? And our first one was ‘Back to the Future,’” Gully said.

After that, he showed “Indiana Jones,” then “Jurassic Park” and “Jaws.” Each showing was a smash success. The drive-in was one of the

few things open at the time, so audiences came in droves to sit inside and outside their cars to watch the old films.

“It helped us do things we didn’t know we were capable of and helped us find aspects of our business we didn’t know existed,” Gully said.

The retro films became a permanent fixture, even as people began to venture back inside the theater. Now, the theater hosts film series like Fright Nights or Movie Party, classic scary movies and retro film showings.

The theater also hosts private events, from birthday parties to memorial services and private corporate events.

Gully finds that screening old and new films, and hosting special events, have built the theater into a real community destination.

“I’m around every day, and most of our regular customers see me here at some point, so that’s important,” Gully said.

Now, he finds the theater has

DELANEY TARR/ APPEN MEDIA

The Springs Cinema & Taphouse has a full kitchen and bar with craft cocktails and draft beer, alongside typical movie concessions.

Cinema:

reached a level where the customers trust his taste.

“We give people what we want, but we also curate what they want and help them understand their tastes and broaden their horizons,” Gully said.

To Gully, the greatest sign of success is that customers show up to the theater without even knowing what they plan to see.

“It’s more about the complete experience than just the movie,” Gully said.

They may not have the largest screens in the industry, but Gully hopes the community feeling, culinary offerings and local feel will keep people coming back.

Most of all, he hopes to show people “really good movies, really good movies people haven’t even heard of.”

As for the future of the theater, Gully guarantees he’ll “always be tinkering.” He said the movie theater industry is always doing just enough to stay relevant, and he plans on doing the same.

“I’ll do whatever continues to make this a relevant gathering place,” Gully said.

Hello

Frank Paras

Tara Tucker

DELANEY TARR/ APPEN MEDIA

Owner Brandt Gully hired a bar architect to design the space to give The Springs Cinema & Taphouse a more distinctive and local feel than chain movie theaters.

APPEN MEDIA’S FIRST EVER

Shopping Spree Giveaway

Start the year off right with a chance to win a $1,000 Shopping Spree courtesy of Appen Media and the Crier Newspapers.

Each week, our newsroom will hide this shopping cart image in the newspaper. Once you find it, visit appenmedia.com/shoppingspree and enter 1) Your name 2) Your email 3) The page number you found the image That’s it!

The contest will run for 13 consecutive weeks, so submit an entry each week to maximize your chances of winning.

The winner will be randomly drawn, notified on Monday, April 3rd and announced in the April 13th Crier publications. HAPPY SHOPPING …and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Start the new year prepared for your in-home care needs

With the beginning of a New Year, it’s a great time to assess your care needswhether it’s the need for live-in care or using the benefits of your Long-Term Care policy.

Live-in care alternatives allow you to age in place in the comfort and safety of your own home. A skilled and well-matched caregiver lives in your loved ones home, providing daytime support care ideal for challenges like decreased mobility, fall dangers and conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. They’re also available for occasional nighttime assistance or emergencies. But a caregiver needs five hours of uninterrupted sleep and eight total hours of sleep, so if care is needed throughout the night this option was unavailable, making a team of caregivers and more expensive fees the norm. Home Helpers takes a different approach, providing a nighttime caregiver for supplemental assistance. This allows your primary caregiver to get the rest they need, is more economical than an hourly team and creates a safe, calming environment with no shift changes during the day.

If you have a Long-Term Care Policy (LTC) this is the time to review your annual records and policy. As care needs begin to surface, many people aren’t using the benefits they’ve faithfully paid for or understand when it makes sense to utilize LTC. While LTC can be applied towards assisted living, it can also apply towards in-home care if provided by a licensed agency.

There are typically two circumstances when you can consider starting LTC. The first is when you need help with at least two Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s), those everyday basic activities of bathing, dressing, toileting or incontinence, transferring and eating. The second is when there is cognitive impairment due to conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, where help is needed with reminders and cues to just get through each day. Your LTC plan will have forms that you can provide to your doctor who will write an order

confirming the need for assistance. Using your LTC policy does not affect Medicare.

Your policy has daily benefit amounts, maximums and terms you need to know. There is typically an elimination period of 30, 60 or 90 days depending on your policy. This may be waived for in-home care and reimbursement could start immediately. It’s important to stay current with your premiums but remember, when you start using your policy for care you won’t pay premiums. Call your provider if you have questions about these details.

At Home Helpers, we can help you navigate the use of your LTC Plan, handle all the ongoing paperwork and filings that are needed and even join you in a call to your LTC provider to help determine what your policy provides.

Our heart centered Caregivers can assist with all personal care, help around the house, safely speed up recovery from surgery, or provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s, etc.

We’re here to help - from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 and live-in care. For a free consultation contact Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs today at (770) 681- 0323.

Sponsored Section January 12, 2023 | Dunwoody Crier| 11

Brought to You by - Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs

PROVIDED

The state of mental health:

changing the conversation in 2023

Brought to you by - Cathy Murphy, Director of Community Outreach at Summit Counseling Center

Even before COVID-19 the state of our mental health was on the decline. Since 2019 we have heard reports that “our children are not OK”, “90% of adults say mental health is a crisis”, “suicide rates are on the rise”, and “over 107K people died of a drug overdose in the past 12-month period”.

In October of 2022, Mental Health America (MHA) released their annual report for “The State of Mental Health in America 2023”. MHA uses 15 measurements to create a national snapshot and state-by-state rankings for this report. It is also worth noting that the most recent data is from 2020, so it will be several years before we realize the full impact of COVID-19 on our mental wellbeing. Key findings show that during the reporting period:

• 21% of adults experienced a mental illness.

• 15% of adults had a substance use disorder.

• 55% of adults with a mental illness received no treatment.

• 16% of youth reported suffering from at least one major depressive episode.

• 60% of youth with major depression did not receive mental health treatment.

The report also shows that the State of Georgia finished at or near the bottom in the following categories (1 being the highest ranking and 51 being the lowest ranking):

• Access to mental health care (49th).

• Adults with a mental illness did not receive treatment (43rd).

• Adults with a mental illness who were not insured (47th).

• Adults reporting 14+ mentally unhealthy days a month who could not see a doctor due to costs (51st).

• Youth with major depression did not

receive any mental health treatment (44th).

• Youth with severe depression did not receive consistent treatment (42nd).

• Youth with private insurance that did not cover mental or emotional problems (44th).

• Mental health workforce availability (47th).

While these key findings are disappointing and continue to move in the wrong direction, it is also worth noting some major mental health improvements being made at the local, state and national levels. Join The Summit for 2 community events during the month of January to learn more about new laws and legislation, state and local support, and services available in our community.

The Summit Open House, 2750 Old Alabama Rd., Wednesday, January 18th, 9:00-11:00am. Join our clinical team for presentations on our services, programs and community partners and learn more about our mission and vision of meeting the behavioral health needs of our community by removing common barriers to care through awareness, accessibility, and affordability.

Changing the Conversation Surrounding Mental Health: Georgia Update, Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, 69 N. Main, Thursday, January 26th, 10:0011:30am. Join this community discussion about 9-8-8, Georgia HB1013, CHOA’s Behavioral and Mental Health program, and other mental health topics impacting our community. Panelists will include representatives from Georgia Department of

Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability (DBHDD), Fulton County DBHDD, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and other mental health stakeholders from our community.

For more information visit our website at SummitCounseling.org or email cmurphy@summitcounseling.org.

Variety is the spice of life

‘Tis the season for relaxing by a roaring fire with a good book or two or three. Yes, a stack of books to choose from is a must for me. Believe it or not, I do read books that aren’t set in England, though that is my preferred location. This week I bring you my perspective on three novels. One, of course, set in England, another in Boston, and the third in Africa.

“Darling Girl” by Liz Michalski

The author “brings all the magic of the classic Peter Pan story to the present, while also exploring the dark underpinnings of fairy tales . . .” As someone who fondly remembers Mary Martin’s Broadway portrayal of Peter Pan and the Disney animated version, reading this novel was at times disturbing.

I didn’t really want to give up the innocent fairy tale image of Peter Pan, but

I was hooked on the book from the get-go. Nor did I want to set aside my image of the man who wrote Peter Pan. Having made J.M. Barrie’s real-life visits to the Cotswolds a plot point in my modern-day cozy mystery series, I plan to retain my view of him as a generous, quirky, funloving man. Still, the darker portrayal of him is intriguing.

The descriptions and the references to characters like Tinker Bell and Captain Hook bring the story alive. What really happened to the Darling children after they returned home? Where did J.M. Barrie get the idea for this tale? You’ll find tantalizing hints sprinkled throughout the book.

“Blood

Feud” by Mike Lupica

Does anyone else miss Robert B. Parker? I was hooked on his three series set in Boston: Spenser, Jesse Stone, and Sunny Randall. And I was always disappointed that he didn’t write more Sunny Randall books. She’s a female version of Spenser with all of his wit and pithy comebacks.

So, I was delighted when I found that Mike Lupica had picked up the Sunny

Randall series with the blessings of the Parker estate. I loved this book and have already ordered the next one.

Sunny is a PI with a retired policeman for a father and gangster’s son as a significant other. Her relationships are complex and play a central part in this book as they do in the Parker versions. What’s different is the inclusion of more cursing and a bit more sex (though not graphic)--a sign of the times, I suspect.

If you like Spenser’s other series, you’ll get a kick out of Susan Silverman – Spenser’s girlfriend – showing up as Sunny’s therapist. And Jesse Stone gets his mention, too. I don’t want to be Sunny Randall, but I envy her way with words. I hope Mike Lupica continues this series for many years to come.

“The Lioness” by Chris Bohjalian

While I haven’t read every book by Bohjalian, I’ve been a fan since I read “The Double Bind” with its references to Fitzgerald. “The Lioness” is similar in its references to Hemingway and his novels set in Africa. Yes, most of the characters are Hollywood stars and players, but among them are likable people you can root for.

They’re not all arrogant, demanding prima donnas.

The story unfolds in alternating chapters told by the various characters as the reader experiences the immediate danger but also bits of each one’s back story. The descriptions of the Serengeti’s breathtaking beauty stand in stark contrast to the perils that await the travelers from both animal and human predators.

The comparisons to Hemingway and Agatha Christie are well-deserved. I couldn’t put the book down, and the interlocking clues kept me guessing until the end. Well done all the way around.

As I glimpse the glowing embers in our woodburning stove, I realize it’s time to choose a new book and put another log on the fire. ‘Tis the season, after all.

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

KATHY MANOS PENN

Here’s a simple formula for happy New Year, life

“If it’s to be, it’s up to me.”

That nugget of motivational wisdom was gifted to me early in life by a coach and mentor. It isn’t about rugged individualism or selfcenteredness, as that may seem selfish. True, personal and financial self-sufficiency largely is a doit–yourself project, but all of us depend on others for some aspect of our varying needs and ultimate success. Parents, spouses, loved ones, teachers, coaches, mentors, friends, business associates, doctors and nurses, military and police, and countless others, whether truck drivers, store clerks, farmers, repair specialists, etc., play a vital role in our daily rounds and life.

He got annoyed when he could not find the coffee. I approached him and asked, “Sir, the coffee is out in the lobby. May I get you some?

How would you like it?” He agreed and seemed pleased. As I returned with his coffee, creamer and sugar packets, a lady at a table nearby gave me a smiling nod of approval.

LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP

I remembered that incident when reading Kelly’s book. It seemed at the time to be a trivial and easy thing to do, but it was a “Holy Moment.”

Kelly defines a Holy Moment as “a single moment in which you open yourself to God. You set aside personal preference and self-interest, and for one moment you do what you prayerfully believe God is calling you to do.”

The holy season of Advent, Hanukkah and Christmas, and thoughts about New Year’s resolutions, had me thinking about how I relate to others, spurred, too, by a new book by acclaimed author and speaker, Matthew Kelly. The powerful but short 116-page tome, “Holy Moments: A Handbook for the Rest of Your Life,” was a Christmas gift from St. Brigid Catholic Church in Johns Creek. The book is not for sale, but you can order six free copies by visiting HolyMomentsBook. com. The message is needed in these turbulent and challenging times. This past Thanksgiving, I was staying in a hotel along the Cristina River in downtown Wilmington, Delaware. I was in town to spend the holiday with my son and his family. I was feeling a bit blue and down as it was the first Thanksgiving that I was without my wife and best friend, as Helen had passed away in July following a tough year of needing 24/7 care and, finally, hospice at home. Missing her, it was easy to feel sorry for myself.

There was a large self-serve breakfast room, but the coffee service was outside of the dining room in the lobby some distance away, a bit inconvenient. An elderly gentleman with a cane came in, walking with difficulty and looking like he was having a challenging day.

In that instant I could have ignored the man, seeing him as irascible as I continued to eat my breakfast, but for some reason I jumped in to help him with an act of kindness. Outside along the river it was cold, foggy and raining, a gray day conducive to the funk I was in. But helping that man, as simple as it was, gave me a lift as I began to focus not on what I’d lost, but on what I had, including the gift of my son and family with whom I was to spend the day. Helen was in my life for 56 years, one year of courtship and 55 years married. Her children and grandchildren are her lasting gift to me.

This past year I lost my wife, sister, and two dear friends, but it helps to recognize, not what is gone, but what is yet to be, appreciating the gift of love and friendship that sustains uplifting memories. Kelly advises that “the principle of Holy Moments teaches us to focus on the good we can do.”

In a recent workshop he asked participants to list the 10 aspects of life that mattered most. Cited were “health, marriage, family, spirituality, home life, finances, friendships, recreation, community, and personal growth.”

That’s an excellent list for Godcentered, “Holy Moment-powered” New Year resolutions as a foundation for serious, life-changing, and purpose-affirming planning and actions. How do your goals for 2023 and beyond relate to the list of 10?

Column about roundabouts chronicled early controversy

I would like to comment on Pat Fox’s article of December 8, 2022 regarding roundabouts.

As the Transportation Director for the City of Roswell during that time I have intimate knowledge of all the details of the Grimes Bridge at Norcross roundabout project.

First, like many others, I am amazed that a decade has passed since we constructed this milestone project. Second, I am grateful to Mr. Fox for highlighting the significance of this project not only for Roswell, but for the surrounding communities as well.

Mr. Fox did not contact me in advance of publishing this article. But he didn’t need to. As usual, Mr. Fox did his homework. I can verify his article is accurate in every detail, except for one small one. The intersection of Grimes Bridge at Norcross was in fact a signalized intersection, not stop controlled. Regardless, it was consistently one of the highest accident locations in Roswell at the time. The need for improvement at this fivelegged intersection was obvious. But the idea of improving it at the time using a roundabout was controversial to say the least. Mr. Fox is correct in the fact that the

Formula:

Continued from Page 15

How do finances play into the other nine? Financial self-sufficiency bolsters your ability to aid others, but you don’t have to be wealthy to help.

Read history books and the Old and New Testaments in the Bible. The world is a mess and always has been, plagued by “unholy moments” that won’t change. But we can change. We can spur Holy Moments in our family, community, country. There are countless charities locally that we can support with volunteer efforts and giving. Community food banks, North Fulton Community Charities, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Atlanta Mission and the outreach efforts of your house of worship, as examples. Global charities such as Doctors Without Borders and Samaritan’s Purse depend on Holy Moments support.

accident rate declined dramatically after the construction of the roundabout.

This article brought back memories for me that are still vivid today. Ms. Smith, Mr. Burroughs, the large trees, contentious public meetings, the struggle to combat fear and emotion with facts and sound engineering. I also remember how we spent a great deal of time and energy educating the public on how roundabouts worked since this was the first one many drivers had ever experienced. In the end, the citizens put their trust in us and the rest is history. I remain grateful to the Mayor, the City Council, the City staff, and all the residents and stakeholders who supported this groundbreaking project.

Finally, given the recent controversies surrounding the media, including misinformation and disinformation, I am encouraged that there are still professionals like Mr. Fox who take the time to “journal” significant events in our lives in a balanced, accurate and thought provoking manner.

Steve Acenbrak, Former Director, Roswell Department of Transportation

Some Holy Moments may require great personal sacrifice, as in caring for an ailing loved one. But Holy Moments also liberate you from an energy-eroding sense of helplessness. As Kelly notes, they move us from a passive state (waiting for something good to happen), to an active state (making something good happen). Holy Moments offer a gift of energy, purpose, and focus.

Order the free book. It’s truly a handbook for a great 2023 and “the rest of your life.”

Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group; 770-4413553; lewis@capitalinsightgrp.com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA). Lewis is a registered representative and investment adviser representative of SFA, otherwise unaffiliated with Capital Insight Group. He’s a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

OPINION

Tree stump stone markers spark grave interest

If you have ever visited a cemetery and noticed a stone marker shaped like a tree stump, you experienced a fascinating bit of history. The “tree stone” markers were provided free of charge by an insurance company to its policy holders many years ago. Several of the markers are found in North Fulton cemeteries, others throughout the state. Here is the story behind them.

BOB MEYERS Columnist bobmey@bellsouth.net

Joseph Cullen Root (1844-1913) was a philanthropist and businessman who as a young man in Iowa was member of many fraternal organizations. He operated several businesses, including a grain elevator, two flour mills and a store. He sold insurance and real estate, taught bookkeeping and practiced law.

In 1890 he founded Woodmen of the World in Omaha, Nebraska, a membershiponly insurance company. He wanted to create a fraternal membership organization that would look after the financial and social wellbeing of its members and would welcome Jews, Gentiles, Catholics, Protestants, agnostics, and atheists. He believed that working as a woodman cutting trees was a noble occupation, and he was aware that his last name could be associated with the order’s name and might imply an organization growing from its roots, much like a tree in the forest. He wanted to “clear away problems of financial security for its members.”

In 1913, he visited “camps” or “lodges” in the South, including Georgia. He became ill during a Southern tour and died in December 1913 at age 69.

In 1922, Woodmen of the World began its own radio station in Omaha. By 1935 it was one of the most powerful radio stations in the country with 5,000 watts of power. In 1949 the organization launched a TV channel with local resident Johnny Carson hosting his show “The Squirrel’s Nest.”

From 1890 to 1900, the organization’s life insurance policies had a provision that provided grave markers free of charge to members. From 1900 to the 1920s, members paid as little as $100 for the markers. The cost was added to a member’s life insurance policy with the actual cost determined by how elaborate the member wanted the marker to be. Due to the increasing cost of the stones, the organization discontinued the benefit by the mid-1920s.

A single 4 to 5-foot-high stone was designed for adults and three stacked logs for children. The organization sent the pattern to a local stone carver in the deceased woodman’s hometown.

Joseph Cullen Root sits for a formal portrait probably in the early part of the last century. Root was a successful businessman who founded a unique membership-based insurance company in Omaha, Nebraska, that provided many social and economic benefits to its members. The Woodmen Life Insurance Society has been very successful over the years and currently has more than $39 billion in life insurance in force.

The pattern could be altered locally as desired. Woodworking tools are sometimes depicted on the stones such as axes or mauls. Doves and lilies were also popular additions. The company moto “Dum Tacet Clamet” (Though silent he speaks) on a round medallion is often carved on the stump.

Ed Malowney, local historian and president of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society, has been intrigued by tree stones and has identified the locations of several in North Fulton cemeteries including Clear Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church in Johns Creek and Warsaw Cemetery in Johns Creek.

Todd Wiley, regional director of Woodmen of the World in North Georgia, notes that some markers are 12 to 14 feet tall and very elaborate.

“It all depended on what the policy owner wanted,” he says.

In the North Georgia mountains, there are several tree stones in almost every cemetery, according to Wiley. The cemetery at the Level Grove Baptist church in Cornelia has at least five Woodman markers, for example. Since the Woodmen of the World was a membership organization, the social aspect of affiliation was important, especially in small, isolated mountain communities.

“It provided people with something to

In 1890, Joseph Cullen Root founded Woodmen of the World, a fraternal benefit organization, to make life insurance affordable to everyone. During its first 10 years, the company provided free tombstones in the shape of tree trunks with their policies. From 1900 to 1920, members bought a $100 rider on their policies. The tombstones were discontinued in the 1920s. Several tombstones have been found in north Fulton County cemeteries. This tombstone marks the grave of Dr. J.A. Parsons in the Warsaw Cemetery in Johns Creek.

do and be involved in,” according to Wiley. There was a summer camp for children of members in Gainesville, he added.

Woodmen of the World continues to be active in communities in numerous ways. Since 1998, the organization has partnered with the American Red Cross to provide disaster relief nationwide. Under the program, local Woodmen lodges encourage members to volunteer with their local Red Cross chapters and provide support for Red Cross relief efforts. The company’s national cause is feed the hungry, which it supports by partnering with local soup kitchens and food pantries

throughout the United States.

Tree stone monuments can be found in the West, Midwest and South. Today, Woodmen of the World is also known as Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society. According to the company, at the end of 2021 the socially conscious organization Root founded had $11.5 billion in assets and more than $39 billion of life insurance in force.

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.

ED MALOWNEY/PROVIDED

FIND A GRAVE

Webb family dairy in Sandy Springs was well equipped

Clifford and Clara Sanders Webb, along with their 12 children, moved from Mayson Avenue in Atlanta to the intersection of Glenridge Road and Johnson Ferry Road in 1924. Mayson Avenue was where the Lindbergh Marta Station is today. The family traveled down Lindbergh Drive across Peachtree Road to Peachtree Battle Road, then north on Northside Drive toward Sandy Springs. The cattle the family owned followed behind. (Interview with Montez Webb Shackleford, 2008)

Their new home was on 24 acres. They called the farm C.S. Webb Dairy Farm, named for Clara Sanders Webb. They enlarged the small house that already sat on the property. Local Sandy Springs builder Arthur Mabry constructed the dairy buildings. There was a dairy barn, milk house, sleeping barn, engine room, smokehouse and boiler room. Fifteen stalls were built on either side of the dairy barn, and the barn doors were wide enough to allow milk trucks to park inside at night. (More of Sandy Springs Past Tense, 1982, Lois Coogle)

The C.S. Webb Dairy kept Aberdeen Angus and Holstein cows. As soon as each child reached the age of 10, they were expected to help with the milking. Each child had their own stool and bucket. The buckets were carried to the milk house where the milk was strained into large, sterilized cans, bottled in glass bottles with a stopper and stored

in a large ice box. Ice was brought in from the Buckhead Icehouse in 100-pound blocks.

Milk and other products such as buttermilk and chocolate milk were delivered by truck seven days a week to Atlanta. The people of Sandy Springs and other neighboring communities did not need milk delivery because most families had their own cow. The Webb family wrote bills and collected at the end of each month.

The children attended Hammond Grammar School, which was located where Mount Vernon Towers is today at Mount Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road meet. Daughter Montez Webb Shackleford recalled going to high

school at North Fulton High School on Delmont Drive, which is now The Atlanta International School. She rode a bus from Sandy Springs.

The family attended Sandy Springs Methodist Church. In the summer, they went to the Sandy Springs Methodist Camp Meeting, a week of outdoor church services held at the time when crops were laid by. This was when farmers waited to harvest their crops.

The Webb family only bought flour and sugar at stores. In addition to the dairy and vegetable garden, they had a fruit orchard. They raised chickens, turkeys, ducks and guineas and always had canned goods and meat stored in the smokehouse. They bought their

necessities at Burdette’s Grocery in Sandy Springs, often bartering with eggs from their farm.

Glenairy Drive and Aberdeen Forest got their names from the Webb Dairy and cattle that once were on the land. When Clifford Webb’s health declined in 1938, the family sold the farm and moved to a home on Sandy Springs Circle. The old home that was part of the dairy farm burned in 1940.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media. She lives in Sandy Springs. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@ gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

PROVIDED

The neighborhood of Aberdeen Forest at Glenridge Drive and Glenairy Drive gets its name from the C.S. Webb Dairy that once was on this land and the Aberdeen Angus cows they raised.