Dunwoody Crier - February 29, 2024

WW II vet celebrates 100 years ►

Destination Tea posts guide to experience connections

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody resident Angela Renals shares a longtime love of afternoon tea.

It’s not just the beverage. It’s the experience.

Her website, Destination Tea, is a directory promoting local tearooms across the United States and Metro Atlanta.

A New Jersey native, Renals moved to the Atlanta area after college and worked in marketing and public relations. As a young mother in her late 20s, she said she often visited the now-closed Faded Rose Tea Garden in Chamblee, where she experienced her first afternoon tea.

“It was like all the things you love about a teahouse,” Renals said. “This place was just wonderful. They had all of the vintage china, and everything was very leisurely. All the food was homemade. Everything, just delicious. So, I loved it there.”

At Faded Rose, Renals said she made irreplaceable memories with her friends and found a place to escape from the routine of daily life.

In 2016, she founded Destination Tea to share her love of afternoon tea and highlight the community and connection the tradition offers.

My experience has always been, people are extremely welcoming to you, to learning.”

ANGELA RENALS Founder, Destination Tea

“It’s really just an excuse to chitchat while someone is taking excellent care of you and pouring you a fabulous cup of tea,” Renals said.

A nationwide guide

After her introduction to afternoon tea at Faded Rose, Renals decided to make a tea directory for herself.

“It became this really beautiful ritual in my family and in my friend groups,” she said.

Using her PR background, Renals said she wanted to bridge the gap in publicity for tearooms that do not have an online presence.

She originally used TeaMap,

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How the public can track crime

Police2Citizen (P2C) is a software Sandy Springs uses to display accidents and police incidents to the public online. It is one part of a suite of products the city gets from software firm CentralSquare.

Surrounding cities like Dunwoody, Roswell, Alpharetta and Johns Creek use the same technology.

As Appen Media has previously reported, the Sandy Springs P2C page went offline for a few days in November. When it came back online a few days later, the website no longer allowed residents to see arrests, suspects or charges.

Police officials said the city did not change their P2C systems and that the shifts were because, “CentralSquare conducted an update with the P2C ap plication.” Sandy Springs Police stated the new software was in the process of being verified and that arrest informa tion would return, “in the near future.”

Sandy Springs is the only city in North Fulton County whose P2C page does not list arrests, suspects or charges.

As of Feb. 23, the information is still absent. A City of Sandy Springs representative told Appen Media: “Hopefully there will be resolution in a few weeks” and declined to provide more details about the delay.

Recent Sandy Springs police arrests

Appen Media separately obtained a roster of arrests made by Sandy Springs police in early February. Included were four unnamed juveniles, aged 13 and 14. The listed offense was “entering auto” at an apartment complex on Roswell Road. Sandy Springs officials did not respond when asked for more information about the arrests. It is unclear where the teenagers were taken or the current status of their cases.

Because the city is currently not offering the service, Appen Media has made available a map of recent arrests made by the Sandy Springs Police Department. It is available on appenmedia.com.

CARL APPEN/APPEN MEDIA

The City of Sandy Springs has not offered a map of arrests since November. Officials say the change is temporary and that the information will return. They also attribute the shift to a software vendor’s update and declined to provide further details. Through open records requests, Appen Media has separately obtained arrest data from Feb. 1-18, 2024, and has made available a map so residents can be better informed about safety in the city. View it at appenmedia.com.

Tea:

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a worldwide tea directory run by Adagio Teas. But, Renals said she soon discovered many locations on the site were closed, and entries were often not updated.

“They say if a tearoom makes it three years, that’s kind of like the sink or swim,” Renals said. “So, it’s difficult to keep these directories up to date.”

This inspired Renals to create her own directory, and she compiled a master list of tearooms across the country using Google, TripAdvisor and TeaMap over the course of two years. She called businesses whose status she could not confirm online to speak with the owners.

Destination Tea also features teatime fashion and etiquette tips, history lessons and more than 150 afternoon tea reviews.

In 2018, Renals said there were some 1,450 tearooms in the U.S. That number dipped to 1,180 in 2021 before rising to 1,263 in 2023.

With the data she collected from making the website, Renals determined 34 percent of tearooms in the U.S. are in the South. The Northeast followed at 24 percent, and the West and Midwest were in third and fourth place.

There are 61 teatime opportunities across Georgia, 36 of them in the Atlanta area.

Renals said some of her favorites are The Emerald Chandelier in Griffin, Ivy Tea House in Norcross and Southern Seasons in Rome.

“I think that it’s a little bit the roots of the tradition, but I think it’s also the environment that it puts you into, and the connection and the community that it creates,” she said.

Stepping out of time

In a time dominated by envying others on social media feeds, Renals said afternoon tea allows young people to enjoy in-person connection.

“I don’t mind saying that one of my values is beauty,” Renals said. “It’s beautiful. The presentation is beautiful. The table settings are beautiful. You and your friends are beautiful. That’s quite superficial, but that’s the kind of thing that lifts your spirits.”

Renals attributed the rising popularity of afternoon tea to the desire for offline experiences, and to the nostalgia and growing interest in period pieces like “Bridgerton.” She said afternoon tea is becoming increasingly popular among 25- to

34-year-olds.

“I especially think, because of the times we’re in, which are so hectic, and there is so much information overload, and there’s so much disconnection because of screens, I think there’s a renewed love for period shows, period dramas,” Renals said.

Although there are still people who are adamant about staying true to the British style, many tearoom owners have started incorporating hints of their own cultures in their menus. Renals said she thinks each business’s unique spin on the tradition is beautiful.

“My experience has always been, people are extremely welcoming to you, to learning,” Renals said. “There’s not really barriers to entry. It’s not expensive. It’s not an expensive thing to buy and try.”

Rose Tea Garden in Chamblee.

ARTOFHATS STUDIO/PHOTO CREDIT

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

The Ginger Room at 61 Roswell St. in Alpharetta is one of 36 Metro Atlanta teatime locations featured on Destination Tea, a U.S. afternoon tea directory. Destination Tea owner Angela Renals named The Ginger Room one of Georgia’s best tearooms in a 2022 Explore Georgia article.

Sandy Springs resident raises money for Free Guitars 4 Kids

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Matt Houchin is more than just a producer, performer and “T-shirt wearer.” He has also embarked on a year-long campaign to raise $1 million for Free Guitars 4 Kids.

Houchin voluntarily signed himself up to wear a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt every day of 2024, something no one has ever done.

With about 30 T-shirts already, he said he will be gathering more throughout the year.

Because rock stars are made, not born, the nonprofit Free Guitars 4 Kids strives to put stringed instruments into the hands of children who are unable to afford one.

So far, the nonprofit has distributed 1,300 guitars across the United States, Jamaica and Uganda.

When Houchin reached out to a friend at the St. Louis-based nonprofit, his idea turned into a reality.

“I was moving, and I have a bunch of Hard Rock Cafe T-shirts,” Houchin said. “And, I just thought, what if I wore a Hard Rock shirt every day for a year?”

The idea stuck in his head, he said.

The discontinued model

Originally from Bloomington, Minnesota, Houchin said his favorite T-shirt is from the Hard Rock Cafe at the Mall of America, which closed in January 2021.

Before Houchin partnered with Free Guitars 4 Kids, he floated the idea of choosing a different charitable organization each month.

The vision for the shirt-wearing

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fundraiser kept getting stronger in late 2023, and the support from his friends and family encouraged him to follow through, he said.

“I wanted it to be tied to the whole ‘hard rock’ idea, or music or something like that,” Houchin said. “And I talked to a friend that I knew who started the organization.”

After talking with his friend and the executive director of Free Guitar 4 Kids, Houchin said things clicked.

While Houchin has experience producing video content, the world of fundraising is new to him.

Houchin graduated from Northwestern University in 2003 with a bachelor’s in radio, television and film. He has worked as a video producer in the corporate world, with some freelancing, for more than 20 years.

His career path has taken him to Minneapolis, San Francisco and now Metro Atlanta.

After moving to North Druid Hills in 2022, Houchin and his wife bought their first home on Brandon Mill Road in Sandy Springs in summer 2023.

“It definitely helps with a project like this, that I’m able to put out highquality videos to promote what I’m doing,” Houchin said. “It’s been really cool for me to use this as a springboard for creativity.”

Recruiting musicians

Along with sporting the same wardrobe daily, Houchin is interviewing every guitarist he knows.

He said the plan is to attend area spring festivals, like Shaky Knees May 3-5 at Atlanta’s Central Park, and to interview visiting rock stars.

Houchin also said he’s looking for community events and local opportunities to raise awareness for “2024 Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon,” and the nonprofits it supports.

So far, he’s attended the 2024 Hawks

To learn more about Houchin and the “2024 Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon,” visit https://fg4k.org/mattrocksshirts/.

Fast Break 5K at State Farm Arena and Cupid’s Undie Run in Buckhead.

Halfway through February, Houchin has raised more than $5,000.

“The goal is $1 million, which means we’re not exactly on track,” Houchin said. “This is something, I knew, would be a year-long process, so I’m hoping it grows organically and then snowballs at some point.”

Houchin said he enjoys the added pressure of figuring out how to raise $1 million.

So far, promotional content for “Matt’s Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon 2024,” using the hashtag #MattRocksShirts, has generated over 100,000 views across social media platforms.

Houchin said raising awareness for Free Guitars 4 Kids and its local partner, Amped Kids, is another important aspect of his “shirt-a-thon.”

Free Guitars 4 Kids works to ensure kids with a free instrument, receive lessons and mentorship through local organizations, schools and places of worship.

The nonprofit sponsors more than 20 charities across the country, including the Amped Kids Foundation in Georgia.

The Foundation, a Gainesville-based nonprofit founded in 2018, provides free music lessons and programs to foster and adopted children.

Houchin said he’s been invited to its annual gala March 7 at the Chattahoochee Country Club.

Proceeds from a special-guest performance by John Berry and a silent auction will go directly to the nonprofit’s music programs. Individual tickets start at $75.

In late January, Hard Rock Cafe reached out to Houchin on Instagram and expressed its excitement with the fundraiser.

He said he thought the company would send a cease-and-desist order or sue. Instead, Hard Rock Cafe reached out to brainstorm promotional ideas.

“I’m hoping they get involved at some point, and we’re able to have some sort of official partnership,” Houchin said. “That could really take it to the next level.”

Houchin said he’d like to get his neighbors and Sandy Springs residents involved with the fundraiser through a city-sponsored initiative or a gathering at a local brewery.

“I’m like the Neil Armstrong of wearing a Hard Rock Café T-shirt every day,” Houchin said. “Would love any ideas or help from the local community.”

MATT HOUCHIN/PROVIDED

Matt Houchin, wearing his Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt from Key West, Florida, glides on the ice at Skate City Springs Jan. 21. Houchin is raising money for the nonprofit Free Guitars 4 Kids by wearing a Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt everyday in 2024.

We are looking for one person or couple interested in delivering weekly

in South Forsyth, Alpharetta and the Johns Creek areas.

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

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

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23 Alpha’s opposite

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See solution Page 21

PUBLIC NOTICE

34 Condition of being notched

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The 15th annual VanderDash 5k and Fun Run supports Vanderlyn Elementary and will take place at Vanderlyn Elementary on Saturday, March 18, 2023. The race takes place between 8:00-10:00am. There will be road closures on Vanderlyn Drive and Vermack Road from Vanderlyn Drive to Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.

For more information and questions visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/GA/Dunwoody/VanderDash

PET OF THE WEEK

Lithia

Meet sweet Lithia (ID# 54164062). She is 1 year old and just under 55 pounds of cuddly cuteness. It’s impossible to pick her cutest feature since all of her features are adorable, but her freckles would be at the top of the list. This girl isn’t just great looking, she is a smart cookie who is already trained to sit on command. Lithia is one affectionate girl. If you’re looking for a cuddly best friend, Lithia could be your dog.

Expand your family by four furry little feet; meet Lithia and have a loving friend forever. All adoptions include spay/ neuter, vaccinations and microchip. If you would like more information about Lithia or if you have questions about adopting, fostering or volunteering please email adoption@dekalbanimalservices. com or call (404) 294-2165; all potential adopters will be screened to ensure Lithia goes to a good home.

The shelter is full; save a life and meet your new furry friend, stop by

DeKalb County Animal Services. We are located at 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Chamblee GA 30341 or give us a call at 404-294-2996. No appointment necessary.

Armed with shovels, Roswell city leaders take part in a groundbreaking ceremony Jan. 31 for Roswell Junction Food Hall, a 12,000-square-foot dining and entertainment venue on Atlanta Street.

Roswell Junction Food Hall holds groundbreaking service

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell city leaders gathered Jan. 31 for the groundbreaking of Roswell Junction Food Hall, a chef-driven dining, beverage and entertainment venue on Atlanta Street.

The 12,000-square-foot food hall, an open concept space, will have garage doors leading outside to the bandstand and a 2,400-square-foot covered patio with a vintage arcade, big screen TVs, outdoor games, children’s play area and a fenced-in dog park.

Roswell Junction developers, Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson and officials with

Roswell Convention and Visitors Bureau and Roswell Inc. attended the ceremony. Slated for completion in June 2024, Roswell Junction is located on the site of the former Atlanta Street Baptist Church. Developer Will Colley is partnering with food-and-beverage experts Coliccio Consulting and Cushman & Wakefield to deliver the redevelopment.

To learn more about Roswell Junction, please contact info@ roswelljunction.com, visit roswelljunction.com or follow the business on Facebook and Instagram.

Jennifer Member since

STEVE NEESE/APPEN MEDIA

With spring in the air, books are the fare during March

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com

Spring will be sprung and praises will be sung of books galore in March.

First up is the Dahlonega Literary Festival, celebrating its 18th year in the downtown’s historic heart. A full slate of activities March 2 will include 35-plus authors, many from North Fulton and Forsyth counties, as well as nationally acclaimed headliner Sharyn McCrumb.

Then another annual enterprise –Forsyth Reads Together – will feature Lisa Wingate, the New York Times bestselling author of “Before We Were Yours,” with over 3 million copies sold. The free event will be March 26 at the Forsyth Conference Center and is sponsored by Forsyth County Public Library, FCPL Friends and Advocates, and the Forsyth County Arts Alliance at the Forsyth County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the North Georgia Community Foundation.

Here are details about these and other happenings.

Saturday, March 2, Dahlonega Literary Festival. Over 35 fiction and nonfiction writers will conduct a full day of workshops, panels and talks. Lunch is $20, all other events are free. 9 a.m. Dahlonega Baptist Church, 234 Hawkins St., Dahlonega. literaryfestival.org

Sunday, March 3, Boozy Book Fair. Hosted by Johns Creek Books at Roswell’s From the Earth Brewing Company, new and used books for all ages will be available. 12:30 p.m. Free. 1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, 770-696-9999.

johnscreekbooks.com

Sunday, March 3, Susan Puckett, on “How to Write a Cookbook.” 2 p.m. Free. Hampton Park Library, 5345 Settingdown Road, Cumming. 770-781-9830. https://www.forsythpl. org/event/9992149

Saturday, March 9, Angie D. Comer. The local author will discuss her thriller, “Some Must Die.” Free. 1 p.m. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road, 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

Saturday, March 9, Dr. Martha Boone. One of the first 100 women board certified in urology, Boone will launch “Mother Charity” during the North Atlanta Author Series, with copies available from Bookmiser. 2 p.m. Free. Alpharetta Branch Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta. 770509-5611. bookmiser.net/book-events.html

Saturday, March 16, Karen Zacharias. The journalist and author will host a writing workshop followed by a signing of “No Perfect

Mothers.” 10 a.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Saturday, March 16, Victor Cosmos, author of “Treasure of the Pandavas.” Free. 1 p.m. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road, 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

Saturday, March 16, McCall Hoyle, author of “Mille.” 2 p.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com

Tuesday, March 19, Katherine Reay. The Friends of Sandy Springs Library will present the bestselling author discussing her new release, “The Berlin Letters,” available that day from Bookmiser. 1 p.m. Free. Sandy Springs Library. 395 Mount Vernon Highway Northeast, Sandy Springs. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/ book-events.html

Thursday, March 21, Colleen Oakley, Lynn Cullen. Poe & Company Bookstore will host a ticketed Girls Night Out with the authors including wine, appetizers and a book. 6 p.m. $25. Brookfield Country Club, 100 Willow Run Road, Roswell. Call 770-797-5566 to register.

Saturday, March 23, Piper Huguley. Atlanta Authors presents the Clark-Atlanta University professor and author of the biographical historical fiction novel, “By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register.” Bookmiser will sell copies of the story of the Black fashion designer of Jackie

Kennedy’s wedding dress. Free, in person or online. 2 p.m. Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St. 404-612-9700. forl.net/atlanta-authors

Monday, March 25, Rona Simmons, Piper Huguley, on “How to Write Historical Fiction.” 7 p.m. Free. Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega St., Cumming. 770-781-9840. https://www. forsythpl.org/event/9793795

Tuesday, March 26, Lisa Wingate. The Forsyth County Public Library’s 11th Forsyth Reads Together event will spotlight Wingate, bestselling author of “Before We Were Yours.” Wingate will be speaking and signing books sold by Suwanee’s Read it Again Bookstore. 7 p.m. Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming. Free but registration is requested at www.forsythpl.org/event/9048171.

Sign up now:

April 27, Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference. Sponsored by the Atlanta Writers Club, registration for indie authors and those curious about self-publishing is available at atlantaselfpublishingconference.com/ May 3-4, Atlanta Writers Conference. Sponsored by the Atlanta Writers Club, register now for the 30th Atlanta Writers Conference featuring 18 literary agents and publishers. atlantawritersconference.com/

To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@gmail.com by the 15th.

WINGATE

Dunwoody throws party for 100-year-old veteran

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — It’s special to honor a community member turning 100 years old, and even more impactful when the resident is a World War II veteran.

Fewer than 120,000 of the 16.1 million Americans who served in World War II are alive today, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

When Americans think of the “1 percent,” it’s unlikely they have Hilbert “Hilby” Margol in mind.

Margol, U.S. Army veteran and 40year Dunwoody resident, celebrated his 100th birthday with more than 40 neighbors and friends Feb. 18 at the clubhouse on Village Oaks Drive.

During the celebration, Margol went through more than 20 photos of him throughout his childhood, teenage years and military service.

The first photo in the presentation was of him and his twin brother, Howard, as toddlers.

When Howard Margol passed away in February 2017, the twins had already begun to share their experiences as Jewish-American soldiers who liberated the Dachau Concentration Camp.

After the war, the twins teamed up with their older brother, Melvin, to start a furniture business called National Home Supply.

Howard moved to Atlanta in 1965 and Hilbert and his wife, Betty Ann, followed in 1984.

Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch, who used to live nearby on Village Drive, surprised Margol at the neighborhood party. She read a proclamation declaring Feb. 22, 2024 as Hilbert Margol Day in Dunwoody and presented him with a key to the city.

“In Dunwoody, when you reach the auspicious milestone of turning 100 years old, I will present a key to the city,” Deutsch said. “The key will not get you out of a traffic ticket.”

Military service in Europe

Recounting past experiences proved easy for the 100-year-old.

The Margol twins were born in 1924 in Jacksonville, Florida, to a Jewish Lithuanian family.

“Since I was born 10 minutes before him,” Margol joked. “It helped me realize that I was the original and he was a copy.”

The twins were seniors in high school when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

After attending the University

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch presents Hilbert “Hilby” Margol with a key to the city Feb. 18 in the clubhouse on Village Oaks Drive. To his surprise, Deutsch also read a proclamation declaring Feb. 22, 2024 as Hilbert Margol Day.

of Florida and joining the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps horse-drawn artillery program, the twins were drafted and began basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Their specialized training took them to Syracuse University and the University of Illinois.

After the U.S. Army canceled its Army Specialized Training Program, Hilbert and Howard were sent to different infantry divisions hundreds of miles apart.

At the birthday party, Margol told a story about his mother writing a letter to President Roosevelt asking for her sons to be reunited.

The first reply to her letter, dated June 12, 1944, was signed by Maj. Gen. Edwin Watson and closed with the following.

“To you, a two-star-mother, the President sends friendly greetings and all good wishes.”

Back together with the 42nd Infantry “Rainbow” Division, Hilbert and Howard arrived in France in January 1945, seven months after D-Day and five months before the official surrender of Germany.

The twins fought their way across Europe, serving in the Alsace, Ardennes and Rhineland campaigns before arriving in a suburb 8 to 10 miles south of Nuremberg.

On April 29, 1945, the brothers stumbled upon a few dozen boxcars full of victims of the Dachau Concentration Camp, the longestrunning Nazi death camp.

The photos that the twins took are now held at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Upon returning from post-war Europe, the Margol twins settled down

He’s a special friend and neighbor. A true veteran of this community.”

ROSEMARY BARSKY Party organizer

in Jacksonville.

“Believe me, you have no idea what a welcome site the Statue of Liberty is, arriving in New York Harbor,” Margol said.

A special community party

Margol, celebrating his 100th birthday Feb. 22, has lived in the same home in Dunwoody’s Lake Village Oaks neighborhood since 1987.

“Every homeowner in this development has been welcoming, good neighbors,” Margol said. “This is the reason why we continue to stay here in this same house.”

Margol has served on the board of his homeowners association, meeting almost every resident of the neighborhood. Every few weeks, Margol joins a few residents for breakfast at Goldbergs.

While he is no longer as active as he once was, neighbors say they see him walking almost every day with his hands behind his back.

“He’s a special friend and neighbor,” party organizer Rosemary Barsky said. “A true veteran of this community.”

Margol and his wife purchased

one of the first homes in a Dunwoody subdivision, which was still under construction.

Margol told his neighbors how he and his wife ended up with the largest master bedroom in the 60-home neighborhood. He joked that at some point, he’s sure he will have to sell it.

Before the move to Jacksonville, it became clear the married couple’s bedroom suite could not fit in their new home.

After discussions with the developer, one wall of the bedroom was knocked down and extended 3 feet.

Margol entertained the packed clubhouse with quick-witted jokes and fascinating war stories for more than an hour.

Betty Ann, married to Margol for more than 75 years, sat by his side the entire time.

“Betty Ann’s mother said the marriage wouldn’t last!” Margol joked.

But, of course, it did.

After V-E Day May 8, 1945, the day the surrender of Germany was announced, Hilbert remained in Eastern Europe for nine months, serving on occupation duty.

The Margol twins returned to the University of Florida and graduated in 1948. Hilbert and Mary Ann married shortly after.

Beverley Armento, neighborhood resident and friend, spoke about how much Margol means to the community.

“People of all ages respect our Hilbert Margol,” Armento said. “Aren’t you proud to live in a community where Hilbert Margol lives?”

The packed room at the Village Oaks Drive clubhouse answered with resounding applause and cheers.

“Everybody’s birthday is a turning point, and this is a pretty big turning point,” Armento said. “We wish you joy, happiness and good health for as far into the future as we can all see. We love you.”

After Armento led the room in a toast, the guest of honor took the mic and thanked everyone for celebrating with him.

“It’s been a journey, and I’ve enjoyed all of it… most of it,” Margol said.

It’s no wonder why more than 40 neighbors and friends showed up to the clubhouse in the Village Oaks neighborhood.

Hilbert Margol is one of a kind.

“When you get past 90, life presents new challenges. Some of them can be on the rough side,” Margol said. “I hope and pray that every one of you does get there.”

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CARL APPEN/APPEN MEDIA Sandy Springs approved a $12.39 million contract Feb. 20 for construction of a multiuse path that will extend from Vernon Trace to the MARTA station on Abernathy Road.

Sandy Springs primes the pump for Mount Vernon Highway work

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Over the next two years, more than $27 million in construction projects will be underway on Mount Vernon Highway in Sandy Springs.

Public Works Director Marty Martin said construction is expected to begin in March on two major projects.

The City Council approved a $12.39 million contract with Marietta-based Excellere Feb. 20 for construction of the Mount Vernon Highway multi-use path.

The pedestrian project, labeled TS192, extends from Vernon Trace near the Sandy Springs Library to the MARTA station on Abernathy Road.

It will provide multi-modal connectivity from City Springs to public transit at Perimeter Center, eventually connecting into PATH 400 and proposed paths on Peachtree Dunwoody.

Multi-use paths, 8 to 10 feet wide, will be constructed on the southern side of Mount Vernon Highway, and a 6-foot-wide sidewalk will be installed on the northern side.

The project will widen Mount Vernon Highway, containing an eastbound and westbound lane in each direction and a center two-way left-turn lane.

Other roads affected Additionally, the project adds

new turn lanes at Glenridge Drive, Barfield Road, Crestline Parkway, Peachtree Dunwoody Road and Perimeter Center West.

The Perimeter Community Improvement Districts pledged up to $2.85 million toward the project’s right-of-way and construction costs through an agreement with the city.

Because Excellere’s low bid still exceeded city estimates, the project requires $4.6 million in additional funding from the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, and $680,000 of additional PCID funds, which its Board of Directors approved Jan. 24.

Before the City Council voted unanimously to approve the contract with Excellere, a budget amendment for TSPLOST programs approved in 2016 and 2021 was required to reallocate funding.

The additional funds required for the multi-use path come from uncommitted 2016 TSPLOST funds, completed projects and the recharacterization of funds from the 2021 TSPLOST sidewalk program.

“With that movement, the impacts we do see with this adjustment…are the further deferral of four projects not yet funded within the sidewalk program in the 2021 TSPLOST program,” Martin said.

While $2 million from the Brandon Mill Road sidewalk project was transferred to the Mount

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Area housing summit addresses ‘frozen’ market

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

NORTH FULTON COUNTY — Panelists for the North Fulton Improvement Network’s housing summit Feb. 20 made one thing clear, many people cannot afford to buy a home in the region.

The Improvement Network, formed in 2014 as a poverty task force, is a community think tank that supports public and private solutions to workforce housing, income and employment, transportation, child wellbeing and food insecurity.

The six cities making up North Fulton — Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs — are some of the most desired places to live, work and raise a family in the United States.

Jack Murphy, chair of the North Fulton Improvement Network and senior account manager at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, compiled statistics from the Federal Reserve in St. Louis to chart regional housing availability.

The NFIN divided the North Fulton population by generation, Generation Z (ages 15-24); millennials (ages 25-44); Generation X (ages 45-64); and baby boomers (ages 65 and over).

With a median income of $91,522, the affordable housing price for millennials is $443,943, according to the Fed’s data for Fulton County.

Murphy said North Fulton has three homes available at that price, and only 48 rental units on hand at a price of $2,299 a month.

“We have to be more intentional about these things,” Murphy said. “The fact that we don’t have more workforce housing impacts every one of us with congestion [and] reduction in business services.”

For more than 150,000 North Fulton residents, ages 15-44, with a median income of less than $100,000, there is little to no inventory for starter homes or apartments, Murphy said.

He also pointed to the growth of high-income households, earning more than $200,000, and decline of workforce-income households, earning less than $75,000, since 2015.

Murphy said his premise is that the people sought after for employment in the school system and regional hospitals often make less than $75,000 annually, and they are leaving North Fulton.

“We don’t know where they are going, necessarily,” Hunt said. “But we know they’re moving out of the population and out of North Fulton… that’s a problem for all of us.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic

MARKETNSIGHTS/PROVIDED

A rendering from John Hunt, housing expert with MarketNsight, shows multi-unit housing types, such as duplexes, multiplexes and live-work options, common to pre-1940s walkable neighborhoods. Hunt said “missing middle housing” provides affordable options for entry-level home buyers and younger generations.

opened the doors for remote work in North Fulton, the essential and inperson workforce does not have access to an affordable housing inventory near their jobs.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Apartment List and Zillow shows Metro Atlanta ranks first in home appreciation, fourth in rent appreciation and 13th in wage appreciation compared to other major U.S. cities.

While appreciation is great for homeowners, younger generations are unable to purchase a starter home to build equity, which plays a vital role in wealth gains for many middle-class and lower-income individuals and families.

“What we want you to think about are early career workers that are essential to our well-being in North Fulton,” Murphy said. “There aren’t many places for those folks to start their career and raise a family.”

Panelist talks market trends

John Hunt, housing expert with MarketNsights, traced the shortage in housing supply to the Great Recession, which began in December 2007.

According to Hunt, housing starts tracked with an increasing population before the crash and never recovered afterward.

Hunt said there was a housing crisis before the pandemic, and it only got worse after 2020 with no signs of improvement in the current market.

The annual housing deficit is 47,000 units, and with only 12,000 units scheduled for the next 12 months, builders are unlikely to catch up soon, he said.

“The second largest demographic group in the country, baby boomers, are sitting on their homes when they should use them to take advantage of skyrocketing prices,” Hunt said. “Why aren’t they moving? Because there’s nowhere for them to go.”

Many homeowners, he explained,

do not want to trade in their 3 percent mortgage for the current rate of 6.77 percent.

Hunt termed the situation in American cities, especially in North Fulton, as a “frozen housing market.”

“There’s a lot of talk about a ‘silver tsunami’ coming in this country with all these boomers starting to unload their houses,” Hunt said. “If there was going to be a ‘silver tsunami,’ it probably would have happened in 2021.”

While sales under $350,000 made up 70 percent of the housing market in 2016, they represent 30 percent of the share today, Hunt said.

He attributed the affordable housing crisis to “restrictive and exclusionary zoning,” which has eliminated the “missing middle housing” between single-family homes and mid-rise apartments.

“We are witnessing an all-out war being waged on housing attainability in our country,” Hunt said. “This is the defining issue of our time.”

Cities set lot size

The Roswell City Council passed an amendment to the Unified Development Code in May 2022, which removes multi-family zoning districts and prevents developers from submitting rezoning requests for constructing new standalone apartments without nonresidential uses such as retail.

Roswell also has minimum requirements for lot size and square footage, resulting in the construction of zero new homes under 2,000 square feet, Hunt said.

While there are resales of homes under 2,000 square feet, there is little to no availability in the local market.

“What we get a lot of is, ‘we don’t want our values being attacked or dropping based on building higher density or smaller homes,” Hunt said. “On the surface that makes sense… that’s absolutely not the truth.”

Comparing the price per square foot of homes in the Roswell High School district, a 2,500-square-foot home costs $280 per square foot and a 1,000-square-foot costs $386 per square foot.

While younger generations are scrambling to find affordable housing or moving in with their parents, the lack of affordable housing inventory is keeping older generations shackled to their single-family residential homes.

“Unfortunately, that middle square footage that we are looking for, 1,200 to 2,200 square feet, is missing,” Hunt said. “Today’s zoning is really polarized, its either detached-single family… or apartments.”

He advocates for multi-unit housing types, such as duplexes, multiplexes and bungalow courts, common to walkable pre-1940s neighborhoods.

Hunt said “missing middle housing” provides affordable options for entry-level homebuyers and younger generations.

Schools, healthcare affected

Some of the most important factors for prospective homebuyers are proximity to quality local schools, health care services and transportation. North Fulton has all three.

Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney and Wellstar North Fulton Hospital President Jon-Paul Croom joined Hunt as panelists at the summit.

Looney and Croom described the difficulty they face with recruiting workers, retaining their employees and remaining competitive.

While Croom said attracting doctors to the suburbs has not been an issue, nurses and technicians often cannot afford to live near the hospital in Roswell. Recruiting hospital employees is more difficult in lower-income brackets, he said.

“I believe that the problem that we’re seeing is younger people who are just entering the workforce and new professions,” Croom said. “Our challenge is trying to find people who live close and are willing to drive here.”

Looney said 30 percent of teachers leave their profession in their first five years.

To offset the turnover, Fulton County Schools offers a stipend of up to $5,000 for new teachers, which is not sustainable, he said.

Croom said Wellstar North Fulton Hospital has a similar program with signing bonuses and incentives for lowincome individuals.

“It’s not sustainable, it’s just not sustainable long-term,” Croom said.

Vernon Highway multi-use path, construction of the sidewalk will be completed with funds from the 2021 TSPLOST program, Martin said.

Starting construction

The city is also planning to begin work on intersection improvements at Johnson Ferry Road at Mount Vernon Highway. The goal of the project, TS191, is to alleviate bottleneck conditions for east-west traffic on Johnson Ferry Road and Mount Vernon Highway, as well as north-south traffic on Roswell Road.

The project consists of an eastbound and westbound lane in each direction and a center two-way left-turn lane that transitions to a left turn lane at intersections.

Additional improvements include a sidewalk, multi-use path and connector road at Vernon Trace.

“Any day now, I believe we are about two weeks out now for mobilization of TS191,” Martin said.

The City Council awarded a $15.9 million contract for construction of the intersection project Dec. 19 to Vertical Earth. The cost of the project is $6.6

million more than the city’s original estimate, which Mayor Rusty Paul attributed to inflation and supply chain difficulties.

“With the approval of two major construction projects, between TS191 and TS192, we now have some $27-29 million worth of active construction about to commence here over the period of two plus years,” Martin said. “The city is also in need of support that we’ve used pretty regularly on other major construction projects.”

Because the projects connect at Vernon Trace on Mount Vernon Highway, with an overlapping construction duration, the city contracted with Jacobs Engineering Group to provide engineering and inspection services for the construction of both projects.

“They will support the contractor’s on-site presence [and] act as our technical experts, over and above the city staff we will also dedicate to support this project,” Martin said.

The $996,000 contract for fulltime support will be split evenly between both projects.

Questions from councilmembers emphasized the need for communication with residents and motorists along Mount Vernon Highway.

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Calendar

ROSWELL ROOTS POETRY SLAM COMPETITION

What : A dozen poets will compete in an effort to win the title.

When : Thursday, Feb. 29, 7-9 p.m.

Where : Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell

Cost : $15

More info : roswell365.com

ROSWELL BEER FESTIVAL 2024

What : This event features more than 350 beers with unlimited tastings, food from Roswell restaurants and live music. Presented by STAR House, 100 percent of proceeds benefit local kids in need.

When : Saturday, March 2, 1-6 p.m.

Where : Town Square, 610 Atlanta Street, Roswell

Cost : Prices vary

More info : roswellbeerfestival.com

AUTHOR AND POET

SANDRA B. TAYLOR

What : Sandra B. Taylor will discuss her autobiography “All of Me” and her experience growing up in Roswell during the Jim Crow era and read a collection of her slam-winning published poetry. The event is free and open to the public.

When : Saturday, March 2, 2-3:30 p.m.

Where : Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell

More info : roswell365.com

ALPHARETTA RESTAURANT WEEK

What : With more than 45 participating businesses, Alpharetta Restaurant Week features local restaurants offering a special dinner menu with multiple courses for $2550 and many also offer similar lunch menus for $20-35.

When : March 3-9

Where : Participating restaurants

More info : awesomealpharetta.com/ alpharetta-restaurant-week

INTO THE WOODS JR.

What : A production of Jerry’s Habima Theatre, “Into the Woods Jr.” weaves together the stories of some of your favorite storybook characters including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, a cunning wolf, Jack

ALPHARETTA RESTAURANT WEEK

What : With more than 45 participating businesses, Alpharetta Restaurant Week features local restaurants offering a special dinner menu with multiple courses for $25-50 and many also offer similar lunch menus for $20-35.

When : March 3-9

Where : Participating restaurants

More info : awesomealpharetta.com/ alpharetta-restaurant-week

FEB. 29 MARCH 10

and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and a baker and his wife who have been cursed by a witch.

When : March 7-17, times vary

Where : Marcus Jewish Community Center, 5342 Tilly Road, Dunwoody

Cost : $10-36

More info : atlantajcc.org

BOOGILICIOUS

What : Boogilicious is an Atlantabased, high energy band covering hits from the ’60s right to today. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets to the performance, which is free with free parking. Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome.

When : Friday, March 8, 7-9 p.m.

Where : Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming

More info : cummingcitycenter.com

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

What : Step into the enchanted world of this modern classic, based on the Academy Award-winning animated film of the same name.

When : March 8-24, times vary

Where : Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost : Tickets starting at $44 More info : cityspringstheatre.com

THE RUBY SUNRISE

What : Presented by Act1 Community Theatre, “The Ruby Sunrise” charts the course of the phenomenon of television through a girl named Ruby.

When : March 8-24, times vary

Where : Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta

More info : act1theater.org

CUMMING WINE FESTIVAL

What : The second annual Cumming Wine Festival will feature live music, wine and spirits with many wineries represented.

When : Saturday, March 9, 1-4 p.m.

Where : Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming

Cost : Tickets starting at $50

More info : cummingcitycenter.com

A NIGHT WITH DADS 2: THE DADDENING

What : Comedians from improv comedy theater Dad’s Garage will perform.

When : Saturday, March 9, 7:30 p.m.

Where : Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody

Cost : $15-28

More info : stagedoortheatrega.org

Chamblee’s first store is now Moonbird Café and Southbound

The first store in Chamblee was opened in the late 1800s by W.D. Wallace and C.P. Warnock across from the railroad tracks and Chamblee depot. W.D. was known as Dave and C.P. went by Charlie. The building still stands today at the intersection of American Way and Peachtree Road and is home to Moonbird Café and Southbound restaurant.

Dave Wallace was one of the children of William R. Wallace, who ran a sawmill and built furniture in the area where Fischer Mansion was later built and today is the location of The Preserve at Fischer Mansion and D’Youville Condominiums.

The 1910 census record shows Charlie and Corrie Warnock living in the Cross Keys district of DeKalb County along with their five children. Charlie’s occupation is listed as retail merchant in a general store. Directly below this record is that of Dave and Sibbie Wallace and their son. Dave Wallace is also listed as a retail merchant in a general store.

In Vivian Price’s 1983 book, “A History of the Community and City of Chamblee,” she shares the history of the general merchandise store. “You could buy five yards of percale for 62 cents or a lamp globe for a dime.” Cows and chickens were kept in a pen behind the store, because customers sometimes paid their account with a cow or chickens.

Price says reading the ledger book of the store was like reading the census report for Chamblee. The names included Eidson, Carroll, Sexton, Rudisill, Bolton, Purcell, Coker, Berry, Britt, Pierce,

Etheridge, Miller, Loyd and Elliot. The Chamblee Masons met on the second floor and are also listed on the store ledger as a customer.

The store later became the location of Pierce’s Variety Store and Masonic Lodge 444. The Masons continued to meet in the building for several decades, until a new lodge was built at 5556 Peachtree Boulevard in Chamblee Plaza.

The owners of Moonbird Café and Southbound have gathered some history for interested customers. The building was originally free-standing and the first on the block. Other buildings were built up and down the road, but the Wallace and Warnock store was the only twostory. The bricks were handmade and molded, possibly on site.

Shady Ladies consignment and

window treatment shop was in the building before it became home to the café and restaurant.

The great care the owners took in restoring the building can be seen outside and when you step inside.

“Construction of Southbound took over two years and we opened in May 2014. We worked hard to preserve the original beauty and architecture of the building, which required peeling away many, many layers that the years had piled on.” Wood from the base of the bar was recycled and unique pieces were found to increase

the “rustic beauty of the building.”

The bar upstairs was originally in the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Southbound owners bought the bar from a carpenter who had saved the old and worn bar from becoming trash. Today, it has new life upstairs at Southbound.

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

Groundhog Day and predicting the economy

Since we are in February and we just recently went through Groundhog Day, I’d like to reference Punxsutawney Phil who predicts an early spring and less than six weeks left of cold weather. However, unlike him, our Warriors

of Wall Street have a different outlook with more than six weeks of higher rates. If the warriors are correct, it will be “painful” but better times are ahead.

The Consumer Price Index was released this week, showing prices at the “core” level rose by .4% while the market was expecting a rise of .3% and the overall rate, for the past 12 months, to be 3.9%.

Our “Warriors of Wall Street” pushed the 10-year Treasury north

of 4.3% for the first time since the Thanksgiving holiday, and mortgage rates are once again approaching 7% on fears that inflation is not subsiding yet. I’m not sure what they are thinking since it is not like we have runaway inflation, and if we look back over the past six months, we are still close to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target goal.

Regardless of how you look at it, inflation has moved from over 9% to below 4%. There is little to no chance

that the Federal Reserve will raise rates this year and most likely will begin a series of cuts this year, which may happen by late spring. But our “Wall Street Warriors” felt the need to push the 10-year Treasury and, ultimately, mortgage rates to higher levels.

The other thing is that they only look at the overall number and not what may be driving it to slightly

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Columnist

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF/APPEN MEDIA

Moonbird Cafe and Southbound restaurant occupy the historic building that began as the Wallace and Warnock store in Chamblee. Lenox Cupcakes is next door to the left.

DEKALB HISTORY CENTER/PROVIDED

This photo of the building that once housed the Wallace and Warnock store was taken when it was home to the Masonic Lodge 444. To the left is the Paradise Lunchroom.

John Breyer – Korean War, Vietnam, business executive

Since starting this weekly column almost two years ago, I have profiled and paid tribute to several World War ll heroes, both living and deceased, as well as a living Vietnam vet. This week’s column will highlight an unusual contributor, a sailor who fought in the Korean War and in Vietnam.

Alpharetta resident John Breyer, the oldest of five siblings, was born in St Louis. In 1953, at age 17, he joined the Navy. He was sent to electronics school for nine months at Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay where he learned to repair and maintain shipboard electronic equipment.

Beginning in 1954, he served a 15-month tour in Korea aboard the USS Epping Forest, an LSD (Landing Ship Dock). It featured a “well dock” for transport and launching of landing craft and other vehicles. It could simultaneously carry 300 Marines. John oversaw surface and air radar, sonar and communications equipment.

Epping Forest is the name of an estate in Virginia where George Washington’s mother was born.

Built during World War ll, the Epping Forest saw extensive action in the South Pacific. The ship was decommissioned after the war and recommissioned during the Korean War. In 1954, the ship engaged in mine sweeping operations in Wonsan Harbor, the site of major battles and a naval blockade in the early days of the war. It was the first time an LSD was used for mine sweeping.

“Even though a temporary armistice ending the war was signed in July 1953, the fighting continued for a long time and a permanent peace treaty has yet to be achieved,”John said.

John spent much of his time off the coast of Inchon, west of Seoul, where fighting continued after the armistice.

“We would send aircraft in to napalm the beach and then we would go on to the beach to set up communications with the ship so it could send in Marines and tanks,” John recalled.

The ship picked up supplies when necessary at the Sasebo Naval Base in Japan where millions of tons of supplies, ammunition, fuel and vehicles were loaded on ships bound for Korea.

Late In 1955, the ship took part in the nation’s second hydrogen bomb test series in the Pacific. The U.S. detonated 24 nuclear weapons between 1946 and 1958 on the Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, on land, under the ocean and in

FAMILY/PROVIDED

John Breyer soon after enlisting in the U.S. Navy at age 17 in 1953. Soon after this photo was taken, John underwent nine months of electronics training before shipping out to Korea.

the air. John installed measurement and weather stations and post text fallout measurement devices on the tiny atoll of Kapingamarangi located a safe distance from the atomic tests.

In 1956, during the early days of the Vietnam War, John’s ship moved to that country and mostly worked in the waters near vital Haiphong harbor in North Vietnam and the Saigon River in South Vietnam. Internal waterways and rivers, such as the Mekong Delta and the Saigon River which ran 13 miles from the ocean to the city, exposed the ship to persistent fire from the riverbanks.

“We had to keep the rivers open so our ships could get in,” John said.

Sometimes John had to man the guns which consisted of 40 and 20 mm machine guns and powerful 5-inch guns which were mainly for sea operations and could shoot a projectile 2 to 3 miles.

John left the Navy in January 1957 and enrolled in the University of Illinois where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. In 1960, he married Pat Beabout, who worked in the same university building as John. While he did research in acoustics, she worked in the office.

A month after graduating, John went to work for General Electric in their Ithica and Syracuse N.Y. research labs. His first assignment was to design components for spacecraft and large display systems used in convention halls. He continued engineering studies while at the company and attended the famous GE General Manager Training School for a year.

After 29 years at GE, in 1989, John accepted a position with Scientific Atlanta to direct their antenna

The Epping Forest was an LSD (Landing Ship Dock) used to carry large vehicles and landing craft and depositing them on beaches in hostile lands. The ship also carried up to 300 Marines. The LSD was a workhorse ship during World War ll, Korea and Vietnam. Shown with landing craft.

U.S. NAVY/PROVIDED

Officers and crew of the USS Epping Forest shown on the ship’s well dock probably taken in the Los Angeles area shortly after the ship was commissioned in October 1943. The well dock is a deck at the waterline at the ship’s stern which when flooded allows amphibious vehicles and landing craft to enter and exit the ship. The ship could travel at 17 knots and was 458 feet long. It could carry up to 12 medium tanks and several landing craft depending on how many vehicles it transported. It accommodated 22 officers and 218 men at full capacity plus officers and men to handle landing craft.

measurement and radar cross section, RCS, businesses. (RCS is a measure of how detectable an object is by radar.) He became group vice president in charge of 11 businesses and retired in 1999.

Retired is perhaps not the best term in John’s case. He purchased the business he had been responsible for from Scientific Atlanta and started MI Technologies, a company that made specialized instrumentation products for government, military and private sector enterprises. The company merged with a

California competitor in 2016 and John ran the new entity. He permanently retired in April 2021.

One could say that John has had four successful careers.

Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

BOB MEYERS Columnist

U.S. NAVY/PROVIDED

Teaching kids to flyfish with the ancient art of tenkara

Peanut butter and jelly...cheese and crackers... bacon and eggs... these things just go together.

So do kids and fly fishing!

But let me clarify.

What I’m thinking about this morning when I say “fly fishing” in the context of kids is actually something called “tenkara,” a centuries-old Japanese approach to fly fishing. Like Western-style fly fishing, it uses a long rod, a line and a fly. But in tenkara, the length of the line is fixed, and the line is tied directly to the tip of the rod. There’s no reel full of line, in other words, and that means that problems with line management just go away. All you have to do is to focus on putting the little fly where you want it to go, and the fish do the rest.

Think of a high-tech cane pole, and you’ve got the right idea.

Kids love it!

That’s what makes tenkara-style fishing so appealing to kids – the sheer simplicity of it all. Tenkara allows kids to focus on putting the fly where they want it to go without getting distracted by worrying about managing a bunch of rebellious line. That one simple fact makes tenkara almost intuitive, opening the door to a lot of fun for all concerned.

“It’s like throwing a ball, except I’m throwing a little fly,” one young person told me recently. “It’s just like I’m throwing the fly right to the fish.”

The big question, of course, is when to start a child learning the art of tenkara. What’s a good age to begin?

“Depending on the child, 5 or 6 years old may not be too young,” observes Pennsylvania-based tenkara enthusiast Joe Mulvey. Joe has enjoyed tenkara for many years, and as his grandchildren grew old enough to get their feet wet (pardon the pun), he was more than willing to teach them.

Right away, Joe says, the question

of choosing a suitable rod comes up. What sort of rod is best for kids? His advice is to look at something that’s not too long because a long rod is harder for young arms to manage.

“I would stick with tenkara rods that are 9 ft. or shorter until the kids get taller,” Joe says.

Another thing Joe suggests is to use high-visibility line when fishing with kids.

“I recommend braided line in a bright color as opposed to a level line, which can be harder to see,” he says. “That makes it easier for the kids to see and to cast.”

When introducing kids to tenkara, remember that the goal is to catch fish – pure and simple.

“Begin with small and easy-to-catch fish like bluegill,” he says. Kids want

to feel the tug on the other end of the line. If they do, there’s a great chance they’ll be hooked on the sport for years to come.

What kind of water is best for kids?

“Look for a shallow, easy-to-wade stream with lots of sunfish in it,” Joe says. “If the stream is shallow enough, you can even let them stand in the water while they fish. They’ll learn something about wading and get to play with casting too.”

When teaching kids to fish, whether with tenkara or traditional fly fishing gear, it’s important to remember that you’re fishing with kids. Children do not automatically appreciate the pretrip rituals that we adults treasure and enjoy; instead, they want to get to the water and catch some fish.

“That’s why I suggest that you use

Steve Hudson’s latest book, Tenkara 101, has just been published and is a great way to learn about tenkara fishing. It will be available from local outfitters or direct from the author at FlyBooks.net.

a line holder. Have it pre-rigged and ready to go so you can start fishing as soon as you get to the water,” Joe says. Being ready to go like that keeps kids from getting bored, and that’s important.

Joe also suggests having a fly vest or fishing cap for the child to wear. Again, it connects them to the day.

What about flies? For starters, try a surface fly like a brightly colored foam spider. Get some in a variety of colors, and let the kids choose the one they like.

Once the fishing begins, don’t worry too much about things like keeping the line off the water. Instead, encourage your proteges to just “throw the fly over there.” It works! You’ll be surprised at how quickly they learn the basic tenkara cast, and all the rest will follow.

When the child lands a fish, make a big deal of it! Take pictures and celebrate! You might even want to clip off the fly and present it later on to the mom or dad as a souvenir of the day’s adventure. It’s something the parents (and the child) will treasure for years to come.

Here’s one last thing to keep in mind when introducing kids to tenkara. For children, fishing is about a lot more than fishing. You’ll be combining fishing with wading and rock throwing and frog chasing too. Kids probably won’t be up for a whole day of throwing flies, so encourage those frog and rock breaks. I’m betting that you just might find that you enjoy chasing frogs and throwing rocks too.

And remember that you’re helping to ensure the future of the rivers and streams that we all love so much. You can’t do much better than that.

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

PROVIDED

Twelve-year-old Bates with his first fly rod fish, a sunfish that he caught on the “Hachi” tenkara rod from Zen Tenkara.

The changing landscape of finding a place to live

LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP Columnist The Investment Coach

For eons, humankind has asked: ‘Where will I live?’

The Book of Genesis tells us that Adam and Eve lived in comfort and security in the Garden of Eden. Then temptation got the best of them. They ate of the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge, and God banished them from Paradise. And so began mankind’s ongoing quest to find shelter and other necessities of life, including food, water, and security.

Early man lived in caves, stick and mud huts, animal skin shelters, and even ice blocks in Arctic regions. Following the predominate huntergatherer phase and the advancement of planting and harvesting, villages, towns, and cities emerged. Then cars replaced horses and wagons and we got insufferable traffic! And so it goes.

When we’re young, our parents or guardians determine where we live. When we leave the nest we are faced with a multiplicity of choices and questions, as are parents who may keep The Bank of Mom and Dad open for some time. Financial planning enters the picture. For the college bound does one live on-campus or off-

Economy:

Continued from Page 18

higher levels than their expectations.

Take motor vehicle insurance, which is included in the Consumer Price Index number. On average, motor vehicle Insurance has risen by 20% on a year-over-year basis. Call me crazy, but I am pretty sure our Federal Reserve policies for tightening and lowering rates have little to nothing to do with car insurance rates. Just wait until they see what the increase in homeowner’s insurance is doing. But it is one component that makes up our consumer price index.

The good news is that this, too, shall pass, and rates will most likely push back below the 4% mark on the U.S. 10-year Treasury over the next six weeks, which should take mortgage rates closer to the 6.5% mark. Like the weather, we will most likely endure a little more pain/cold weather and will also see marginally higher rates for the next several weeks. However, the

campus? Dorm, frat or sorority house, apartment? Living arrangements and commuting costs must be factored into college planning.

If one joins the military, as this writer did upon graduating from college, one’s rank, housing allowance, and assignment may factor into living quarter options, on base, or off base. When one enters the civilian work force, choices multiply along with budget considerations. For example, in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, apartment rents range from $1,325 per month to as much as $15,432 a month, with an average monthly rent of $3,082. Buckhead appeals with a wide range of restaurants, bars, and entertainment options, but may be budget busting for many.

Conversely, in the fast-growing Cumming area of Forsyth County, the median apartment rent is $2,200 a month. But a commute up and down traffic-clogged Ga. 400 is not my idea of a good time. By way of contrast, the average monthly rent for an apartment in Manhattan, New York City, is $4,768, plus you have bloodletting city and state income taxes to deal with on top of federal taxes and other considerations such as health insurance. No wonder the Sunbelt is booming, with lower taxes and more affordable housing options.

If you’re going to stay in one place for a time, consider buying a house,

underlying slowing of the economy and lower inflation are still on the horizon. We will likely be heading back towards the mid-6 % range by mid to late March as our “Warriors” finally realize that the unprecedented Federal Reserve rate hikes over the past two years have truly controlled inflation and “cooled” our overall economy.

an appreciating asset, an important step in a long-term inflation hedging and tax smart wealth accumulation program. In the early 1970s this writer accepted a job transfer from Chicago to Atlanta and was stunned at how much house my wife and I could get for the money. Our first house as a married couple was in Crystal Lake, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. On selling, we made a good profit even though we’d owned it for only two years, allowing us to make a healthy down payment on a home in Stone Mountain. As a side note, I had a 7 percent interest rate on my mortgage, a bargain in the highly inflationary ’70s. According to nerdwallet.com, the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loan quoted on 2/2/2024 was 6.554%. That’s more than the ridiculously almost free money rates of the recent past, but it is manageable within a well-thought-out budgeting and longrange financial plan.

As you move through the cycles of life, your housing needs or preferences may change. Many empty nesters are challenged when they determine that “downsizing” and moving may result in paying more for the home they want. If you move farther out to a booming and relatively new area where property taxes are lower, eventually taxes catch up. Staying put often is the result. But the realities of aging must be considered. If you lose your

Hope you have a nice remainder of your week and be careful out there!

D.C. Aiken is vice president, producing production manager for BankSouth Mortgage, NMLS # 658790.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

spouse, do you age in place? Where is your support network as a widow or widower living alone? The same question may be asked by a late-in-life divorcee. Do you have adult children nearby? Or are you the “go-to child” for an aging parent or other loved one and how close to them are you geographically?

With less sand in your hourglass you may move to an adult living community or a situation with various levels of care available, right down to nursing or hospice care. All of these possibilities must be considered in a long-term, comprehensive financial plan. Your ultimate goal is financial independence, being able to afford the best if need be, and never being a financial burden on children or other loved ones.

We humans are a unique mix of the material and spiritual, body and soul. At some point you will leave your physical essence and all of your earthly possessions behind. Since God promises eternal life, where will you reside in the hereafter? As children of God we have been promised a glorious home in Heaven, well beyond any earthly abode that we can imagine. All we need to do is to follow God’s teachings as to rules of conduct and service. How does your life plan, your financial plan, encompass spiritual and eternal aspirations? That’s something to think about.

The City of Dunwoody Zoning Board of Appeals will meet on Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council of Chambers of Dunwoody City Hall, located at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, for the purpose of due process of the following:

ZBA 24-03, 5299 Redfield Court: Two variances: a variance from Sec. 27-58 to allow a deck to encroach into the rear setback and a variance from Sec. 27-269 to allow a retaining wall to encroach into the rear and side setback and to allow retaining wall height of 8 feet.

ZBA 24-04, 5287 Wyntercreek Way : Variance from Sec. 27-58 to allow a house addition and screened porch to encroach into the rear setback.

ZBA 24-05, 5380 Brooke Ridge Drive : Variance from Sec. 16-78 to allow a porch to encroach into the 75-foot stream buffer.

Should you have any questions or comments, or would like to view the application and supporting materials, please contact the City of Dunwoody Community Development Department at 678-382-6800. Members of the public are encouraged to call or schedule a meeting with the staff in advance of the Public Hearing if they have questions or are unfamiliar with the process. The staff is available to answer questions, discuss the decision-making process, and receive comments and concerns.

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