Forsyth Herald - February 29, 2024

Denmark Library finds funds to add landscaping amenities

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Denmark

Library, a $15 million facility in southwest Forsyth County, is now scheduled to open in late 2024, and possibly with amenities that were previously nixed from plans.

At a work session Feb. 20, the Forsyth County Commission approved an easement and a service agreement with Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation to provide electricity at the new library.

At the facility’s groundbreaking ceremony in July, library officials estimated Denmark would open in late 2024 or early 2025. The facility is now on track to open by the end of this year.

In April, library staff had requested $1 million to cover the remaining construction costs, but commissioners were reluctant to grant the sum amid other increased expenses for capital projects and postponed the item.

Ultimately, the County Commission granted the library $280,000 to cover con-

struction, but design elements had to be removed to fit within the budget.

But, with newfound investment earnings totaling $509,868 in the project’s SPLOST VIII account, previously scrapped outdoor features, irrigation and landscaping are back on the table.

FCPL Director Anna Lyle said she anticipates confirmation on the items that can be added back to the facility over the next two weeks.

See LIBRARY, Page 12

Denmark Library, a $15 million facility in southwest Forsyth County, is set to

Vertical construction at the site began in January, and the frame of the main library building is completed.

770-442-3278

AppenMedia.com

319 N. Main Street

Alpharetta, GA 30009

HANS APPEN Publisher RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus

CONTACT

NEWS TIPS

Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.

ADVERTISING

For information about advertising in the Forsyth Herald or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

CIRCULATION

To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Rabid raccoon detained in north Forsyth County

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Animal Services captured a raccoon that has tested positive for rabies near Crooked O Trail Feb. 21.

Animal Services officials said there is no reported human exposure to the raccoon.

County Animal Services Supervisor Haley Brown said a resident called to report the potential rabies infection.

“The prompt report of the animal

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.

Atlanta man charged with attempted forgery

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 66-year-old Atlanta man Feb. 13 for alleged meth possession, attempted forgery and identity fraud at a bank on Peachtree Parkway.

Bank employees called deputies because other banks in the franchise had issued a BOLO for the suspect. The suspect was allegedly seeking information and balances for an account that was not his.

The suspect reportedly provided employees with a passport with his photo on it and a Social Security card, neither in his real name.

Deputies searched the name on the documents and found his driver’s license photo did not match the suspect.

The suspect was reportedly talking on the phone, writing on a sheet of paper and asking, “What should I do?” Deputies ultimately reported ending the suspect’s phone call to speak with him.

Deputies reported finding a baggie of methamphetamine on the floor near their feet, but the suspect denied it was his.

allowed for Animal Services to respond quickly and capture it for testing,” Brown said.

The virus is transmitted to humans and domestic animals through saliva when it is introduced into bite wounds; mucous membranes such as the eyes or mouth; or open cuts.

Officials said the most common carriers of rabies are bats, foxes, coyotes, skunks and raccoons, and the infection is almost

Security footage allegedly showed the suspect dropping the baggie of drugs on the floor where deputies found it, the report states.

The suspect reportedly said he was dropped off at the bank by someone in a gray SUV who asked him to get the victim’s account information. He said the person who dropped him off pays his rent, and he “gets 10 percent of whatever he gets from the bank.”

The suspect was charged with felony forgery in the first degree, identity fraud and possession of methamphetamine.

He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail. Bond is set at $27,835.

Alabama woman arrested for damaging car window

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 31-year-old Alabama woman Feb. 13 who allegedly smashed her boyfriend’s window with an iron during an argument.

The victim reported he and the woman were in his vehicle having an argument. When it became heated, he said he removed her from the vehicle so she would not damage the interior.

The suspect allegedly grabbed a clothes iron and began striking his rear window. He reported the suspect punctured three holes in the window and left the iron in the backseat.

Deputies reported the suspect admitted to causing the damage.

She was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass damage.

always fatal unless treated immediately.

To report an animal behaving strangely, people should avoid the animal and contact Animal Services at 770-781-2138 during business hours and the 911 Center at 770781-3087 after hours.

To report bites, county staff said to call the Georgia Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

— Shelby Israel

Ball Ground couple cited with criminal trespass

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 46-year-old Ball Ground woman and a 47-year-old Ball Ground man Feb. 11 for alleged trespass at a vacant house on Browns Bridge Road.

Deputies reported noticing a suspicious vehicle parked behind two abandoned vehicles behind the home. The female suspect allegedly walked out of the back of the house, and the male was seen walking up the stairs that lead to the basement.

Deputies reported the suspects’ stories were inconsistent. The woman first told deputies that they were told the owner of the house had died a month ago, and she wanted to come see for herself.

She later said her friend told her the owner was unwell, and she came to check on her. She also said she heard there were cats roaming around the property, and she wanted to see if the cats were still there.

The man said they were on the property because someone told them the owner of the house had died.

Deputies reported the suspects initially denied being in the house, but they ultimately admitted they had entered when they crossed the threshold of the doorframe.

The man was charged with misdemeanor loitering and prowling and giving false information to law enforcement.

The woman was charged with misdemeanor loitering and prowling.

School Board amends policy for nonresident enrollment

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County School Board has finalized a policy that removes eligibility for nonresident students in the district’s Virtual Academy.

At a formal meeting Feb. 20, the Board of Education unanimously approved an update to its nonresident students policy. Chairwoman Darla Light was absent.

Previously, students who did not live in Forsyth County could attend the county’s schools if their parent or guardian was an employee or if they were approved for participation in the virtual school program.

The policy was revised in December, and the Feb. 20 vote formally removes the virtual school attendance qualification.

“At one point, we allowed students from outside of the county to attend our virtual school, and we no longer do that, so we’re just cleaning this policy up a little bit,” Schools Chief Technology and Information Officer Mike Evans said.

Also at the meeting, board members recognized the Coal Mountain Elementary School rockstars program.

The rockstars initiative is a reverseinclusion program where general education students can help and interact with peers in the school’s specialized instruction classes.

“They get to have fun with them,” Coal Mountain Principal Kelly Fuchs said. “They get to have opportunities to help them learn and grow with their academic skills, their social skills, adaptive skills, getting ready to go to the playground. All of the different things that you need to do to be successful at school.”

To participate in the rockstars program, Fuchs said students must apply, be interviewed and explain why they want to be a rockstar and how they can contribute.

Students in the program spend two of their recesses each week supporting exceptional peers in their classrooms.

“We’ve had as many as 99 students apply before, and we’ve had to split it into two separate cohorts,” Fuchs said.

Fourth grader Carter said he loves being a rockstar because it allows him to play with students in specialized instruction and help them achieve their goals.

“It’s like you can’t explain the feeling,” he said. “It’s too strong.”

SCREENSHOT

Principal Kelly Fuchs recognizes students in the Coal Mountain Elementary School rockstars program at a Forsyth County School Board meeting Feb. 20. Students in the program help and interact with peers who are in specialized instruction.

North Fulton 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 well-being 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).

DAN

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.

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 highincome 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.”

Metro area school districts log top rankings in SAT, ACT

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

METRO ATLANTA — Metro Atlanta school districts ranked among the best in the state for SAT and ACT scores based on the performance of the class of 2023.

Colleges across the United States use the SAT and the ACT to assess college readiness and determine acceptance and placement. A perfect score is 1600.

Among the 165 public school districts that recorded scores, Forsyth County Schools’ total mean ranked highest at 1177.

Three Forsyth County high schools, Lambert (1254), Alliance Academy for Innovation (1239) and South Forsyth (1218) ranked among the top 10 for average scores. Denmark High School ranked 18th highest with a mean of 1168.

The Georgia Department of Education placed the statewide average SAT score at 1045.

“It takes talented students, dedicated teachers and support staff, engaged parents and guardians, and a supportive community for this to happen,” Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden said. “We are fortunate

2023 SAT Results for North Fulton high schools

2023 ACT Results for North Fulton high schools

Alpharetta

Cambridge

to have all of this in our community to provide a safe, connected and thriving educational experience.”

Fulton County Schools, the state’s fourth largest district by enrollment,

came in 19th place with a system-wide average score of 1085.

Students at Northview High School in Johns Creek earned the second highest average (1263) among all indi -

vidual schools in Georgia.

The DeKalb County School District ranked 92nd with a mean score of 993 for 2,721 test-takers.

Forsyth County Schools also ranked second for the highest composite ACT score in Georgia at 24.4 with 1,663 students tested.

The ACT measures math, reading, science and English proficiency. Students can also take an optional writing section. A perfect score is 36.

Lambert High School ranked third (26.5), Alliance Academy for Innovation ranked fourth (26.3) and South Forsyth ranked seventh (25.3) overall for average composite scores.

Fulton County Schools came in seventh place with an average systemwide score of 22.8 with 3,282 students tested. Northview (second) and Alpharetta (sixth) high schools also placed in the top 10 for individual performance.

DeKalb County recorded 20.6 as its average composite score for 1,129 testtakers. Chamblee Charter High School ranked fifth among individual school scores at 25.8.

The statewide ACT average was 21.3, and the national average was 19.5.

Drug enforcement forum stresses fentanyl’s threat

By ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A former top official with the DEA alerted area residents Feb. 15 that fentanyl is “the biggest monster that we’ve ever had in drug law enforcement.”

Speaking at a fentanyl awareness and drug prevention forum at Sandy Springs’ Studio Theatre at City Springs, Dan Salter, former DEA Special Agent in Charge, and current director of the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program, pleaded for parents to involve themselves in their children’s lives.

“This takes all hands-on deck,” Salter said. “For the parents that are in the room, get to know your kids and what’s going on. Talk to them. Be aware of some of these things.”

The primary purpose of the meeting, one of a number community outreach events hosted by law enforcement agencies across the country, is to bring awareness to the widespread misuse of the popular painkiller, fentanyl, and the rapid increase in deaths and overdoses for users, especially in teens and young adults. Through social media platforms such as Tik Tok, younger users are easily purchasing the deadly narcotic online as user numbers continue to grow.

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Ryan Buchanan also spoke at the event offering his experience and perspectives.

“We [as U.S. Attorney] work primarily to understand what poses the greatest threat to the citizens of our district,” he said. “It’s clear to us that fentanyl plays

a huge role in threatening our safety.”

Just last year, more Americans died from drug overdoses and drug poisonings than any other year in the history of the United States, Buchanan said.

Spreading awareness is vital, he said, and he hoped that everyone attending the meeting leaves with their “eyes wide open about what threatens us.”

The presentation included videos from drug experts expressing their thoughts on the recent popularity of fentanyl with firsthand examples and accounts of how it leads to nationwide fatalities.

Closing speaker Angela King offered her personal experiences of losing her teenage son, Jack, to a fentanyl overdose. While she continues to mourn his passing, she is working hard to spread her message to parents and communities everywhere.

“We’re [her family] grieving and we’re hurting,” King said. “But we have to turn our pain into a purpose. Saying ‘don’t do drugs’ isn’t working. We have to start communicating. We have to start making this real…we have to be prepared. I’m committed not only to speak, but to take action. We have to end this terrible epidemic that we’re faced with. I will be talking with legislators to get legislation passed. I will do what I can.”

The event closed with a Q&A session between attendees and each of the contributing speakers.

To watch the full presentation, visit Sandy Springs’ YouTube channel at youtube.com/@CityOfSandySprings.

For more information on the AtlantaCarolinas HIDTA Program and fentanyl

Authorities arrest suspect for financial identity fraud

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested 37-year-old Marlon Henry-Nichols at his home in Johns Creek Feb. 15 following an investigation into credit card theft.

In November, Alpharetta police received complaints from a woman whose credit cards were stolen from the mail and used at various stores around Metro Atlanta. More than $3,500 had been charged to her credit cards, according to the arrest warrant.

After detectives with the Alpharetta Police Criminal Investigation Division investigated the complaints and determined Henry-Nichols was the offender, they were granted a warrant to search the suspect’s home with assistance from Johns Creek police.

Alpharetta Detective Capt. Andrew Splawn said detectives recovered multiple credit/debit cards and Social Security cards that were not in HenryNichols’ name as well as three firearms.

Splawn said detectives charged Henry-Nichols with financial transaction card fraud, identity fraud and theft by receiving stolen property and arrested him at his home. Johns Creek police also charged him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Splawn said the case is still under investigation and detectives are working to locate other victims identified during the search warrant execution.

— Amber Perry

SCREENSHOT Director of the Atlanta-Carolines HIDTA Program, Dan Salter, leads the fentanyl awareness event at the Studio Theatre in Sandy Springs Feb. 15.

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

ANGELA RENALS, founder, Destination Tea

Destination Tea offers roadmap to experience personal connection

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.

“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, 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

The Greater North Fulton Chamber (GNFCC) hosted its annual North Fulton Day at the Capitol on February 7, 2024, bringing a group of 30 business leaders to the Georgia State Capitol to meet with state legislators and discuss legislative priorities for the North Fulton business community. The event was sponsored by Axis Companies.

The GNFCC Government Affairs Committee organizes the annual North Fulton Day at the Capitol event as well as the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda, which can be found at GNFCC.com, on behalf of the regional business community.

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

See TEA, Page 9

www.gnfcc.com

DESTINATION TEA/PROVIDED

The Dunwoody Preservation Trust serves afternoon tea at the Donaldson-Bannister Farm in 2022. The farm hosts an annual afternoon tea each spring for up to 50 people.

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.

Tea:

Continued from Page 8

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 25to 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.”

ARTOFHATS STUDIO/PHOTO CREDIT Tea enthusiast Angela Renals runs Destination Tea, a national tearoom directory, out of her Dunwoody home. Renals launched the website in 2016 after discovering a love of afternoon tea at the former Faded Rose Tea Garden in Chamblee.

North Metro Atlanta tearooms

• Ark Coffeehaus at 4448 Tilly Mill Road in Dunwoody

• Besties at 5238 McGinnis Ferry Road in Forsyth County

• Bulloch Hall at 180 Bulloch Ave. in Roswell

• Donaldson-Bannister Farm at 4831 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road in Dunwoody

• The Ginger Room at 61 Roswell St. in Alpharetta

• Morningbirds at 10930 Crabapple Road in Roswell

Visit destinationtea.com for more information on times, prices and tearooms across Metro Atlanta.

Name of Business: House of Hazen

Owner: Rhonda Hazen

Description: House of Hazen is a fine gift, home décor & baby shop. We offer a selection of carefully curated pieces that elevate any space. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the little ones we have a selection of clothing

and toys that are sure to delight them. We also offer a variety of unique accessories for ladies and men.

Opened: January, 2024

Address: 735 N. Main St, Alpharetta, GA. 30009

Phone: 404-500-5293

Web: www.houseofhazen.com

4 Aroma

8 Bumped into

Fury

12 Hibernia

13 Building block

15 TV type

17 Old dagger

18 Black Sea port

19 Bunk

20 Autos

21 Diamond Lil actress, Mae

43 Helper

49 Egyptian cobra

50 A, in Acapulco

51

55

58 Actress Balin

62 Sandwich shop

63

65 Assortment

66 Jai ___

67 Cattail, e.g.

68 The Joy Luck Club author, Amy

69 Fewer 70 Big ___, Calif.

Down

1 Withers

2 Cast out

3 Capone nemesis

4 Over (Poet.)

5 Molded, as metal

6 Cookie

7 Tenant

8 Moscow resident or isinglass

9 Sicilian city

10 Level

11 Fair attraction

14 French possessive

15 Surprise word

16 Photo taker

23 Alpha’s opposite

25 Moore of G.I. Jane

28 Oklahoma city

29 Source

30 Sea eagles

31 Followers (Suffix)

32 “___ stop now!”

33 Kett of the comics

See solution Page 14

54

there’s always the Oscars

MIKE TASOS Columnist

The NASCAR season ended a day later than it was supposed to this year. Thanks to enough liquid Florida sunshine that turned the long Presidents’ Day into an even longer holiday for banks and government employees, I’ve concluded this year’s participation in enjoying those machines only make left turns.

Don’t scratch your head and tell Velma Mae: “He’s done lost his spaghetti. We’ve still got racing in Atlanta, Darlington, Talladega and all those hallowed places where moonshiners came of age and became legendary names so many years ago.”

NASCAR has certainly changed. Corporate sponsors have removed some of the “if you ain’t rubbin’, you aint’ racin’” sports charm. The good old boys have gone aground. There was nary a drawl to be found. NASCAR always meant a good infield scrap or two. Nothing close to fisticuffs this year. The driver interactions were civil to the point I wondered if they were they were offering a jar of Grey Poupon to one another.

I watched the entire Daytona 500. Every single lap. I was certain there were guys who drive just like those Atlanta nitwits who have turned tailgating into an art form. No cops but those gorgeous cars at the start of the race became mangled, twisted and nearly unrecognizable by the checkered flag.

Now, I don’t know racing. But I know that whenever there’s any kind of mishap at Daytona, I reflect to watching Dale Earnhardt look like he barely tapped the wall late in the race. That “tap” killed him. I was flabbergasted that night when discussing the result with my late brotherin-law, Ginsburg Gussion. He thought IO

was full of Mobil One and insisted it was a sick joke I was pulling on him.

That wreck simply didn’t look that bad. Until it was.

How fitting that this year’s winner, 26-year-old William Byron, drove the No.24 car, was a replacement for retired Jeff Gordon, Earnhardt’s arch nemesis for all those years.

Hey wait a minute. Maybe I know more about this than I think. No matter. I’ll stay away until Daytona 2025.

##

With Daytona concluded, I’m looking forward to this year’s Oscars. Oops. Sorry. I’m not looking forward to the cringeworthy display of self-aggrandizement crammed into a way-too-long broadcast. Maybe Chris Rock can find someone to brawl with now that Will Smith has earned a 10-year exile to the green room.

Frankly, I could care less about the Hollywood bozos who will bust the seat out of their rented tuxedos. This is a rare year where I saw a handful of the nominated movies.

Oscar and I rarely see things eyeto-eye. But this year I liked a flick that I found on Netflix, “Nyad,” that starred nominees Annette Benning and Jodie Foster. It was noteworthy in that Diana Nyad kept trying to swim from Cuba to Florida all those times, finally… Well, I’ll not spoil it. Rest assured, it’s worth your time.

Then there’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Oppenheimer,” and “The Holdovers” with Best Actor Nominee Paul Giamatti.

None of those films or actors will win.

I just don’t get Hollywood. But it did get a little bit of my money this year.

Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM Join the Appen Press Club

As a PR firm, we joined the Appen Press Club to show our support for the hard-working reporters covering the northside of Atlanta. Without them, small businesses in the area would struggle to get the word out about their business. We also support the Press Club as individuals who live and work in the area to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in our communities. Local media outlets are becoming few and far between, and we are fortunate to have Appen Media Group providing us with local news that matters.

— Pat Check Latitude 34PR, President Appen Press Club Member since 2022

Support your local press.

Every article we write about local elections, school board budgets, public safety and more is made possible by our dues paying members.

Join today for just $13/month.

To join, visit appenmedia.com/join, select your membership level and enter your t-shirt size. Questions?

Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Housing:

Continued from Page 4

While the COVID-19 pandemic opened the doors for remote work in North Fulton, the essential and in-person 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.”

Library:

Continued from Page 1

FCPL Communications Manager Leslie Marinelli said library staff are waiting on change orders to determine what features will return.

“With the fluctuating construction costs and everything, that's why we ended up in the situation where we had to remove some of those outdoor features,” Marinelli said.

Staff expects the investment earnings and savings on furniture and shelving will allow the features to be added back, Marinelli said, but final word is pending pricing estimates.

The cost of the amenities cut during value engineering was previously estimated at $436,000.

As of Feb. 22, the frame of the main library building is completed, and workers are placing roof decking. A turning lane to enter the campus from Fowler Road is also being created. Vertical construction began in January.

Most of Denmark Library’s bill, $9.7

Cities set lot size

The Roswell City Council passed an amendment to the Unified Development Code in May 2022, which removes multifamily zoning districts and prevents developers from submitting rezoning requests for constructing new standalone apartments without non-residential 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 pre1940s 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 low-income individuals.

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

COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY/PROVIDED

million, is covered by SPLOST VIII revenue. Some $4.4 million is funded through state grants and county impact fees.

Denmark Library will be the county library system’s fifth branch. It follows the 2013 opening of the $7 million Post Road Library and the 2018 expansion of Sharon Forks Library, which originally opened in 2000.

The new, 22,504-square-foot facility will feature 75,000 books and materials; a quiet room for studying and reading; and personal study rooms tailored for remote

working.

Further plans include adult, children and teen sections, as well as a bookstore. Denmark Library will also be the first to have a drive-up window for retrieving books on hold.

The facility neighbors Denmark High School on Fowler Road and the new Midway Elementary School on Mullinax Road. McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture is charged with the design, and construction will be completed by Albion General Contractors.

FORSYTH

This rendering shows a completed picture of Denmark Library on Fowler Road, Forsyth County’s fifth branch. With newfound investment earnings, the project will now include exterior amenities such as landscaping and irrigation.

DATA SCIENTISTS – Alpharetta, GA

Intuites LLC needs professionals:

Work using SAP-Fieldglass, SAP ERP, SAP S/4HANA, SharePoint, Workday, Power BI, QlikView and Tableau. Req. –bachelor’s +2yr Exp. Comp. salary, Relocate to unanticipated site. No National/ International travel. Please mail resume to Ref: Director, 1740 Grassland Parkway, Ste 405, Alpharetta, Georgia, 30004.

SOFTWARE ENGINEER: MS computer related w/ one year expr. Expertise in OOPs, Project Mgmt, Software QA & Testing, Data modeling, DB design & analysis, JAVA/J2EE, Web Tech, Spring Frameworks, Microservices, SDLC, Agile/Scrum, MVC & n-tier architecture. Travel/Reloc. Resumes to: Before You Solutions LLC, 2970 Davidsonville Dr, Cumming GA 30041.

Bargains / Medical Equipment

MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR

Merits Vision Sport. Less than a year old. Purchased 3/2023. $2800/obo. Alpharetta; must pick up. 352-391-4276

Landscaping

Carreno Landscaping

Monthly lawn maintenance, irrigation, sod installation, plants, mulch-fertilization, tree removal, pinestraw installation. 404-333-5107 or text address for work.

Roofing

program. If you are an early riser and love kids, we may be a perfect fit. Hours: 6:45am – 9:15am.

Contact Beth by email: beth@midwayumc.org or phone: 770-752-0440

REAL ESTATE ASSISTING

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

Flooring

PHILLIPS FLOORING

Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes. Regrouting is also available. Call 678-887-1868 for free estimate.

Serving North Atlanta since 1983. Call to schedule FREE Quote: 770-284-3123.

Christian Brothers Roofing

Cemetery

GREENLAWN

ROSWELL:

2 plots on picturesque lakeview hillside. Market price, $9000 each. Bargain priced at $5000 each! 770475-7307

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725

Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398

Become a published author. We want to read your book!

Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet!

Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 On-Demand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today!

1-866-479-1516

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Fi-nancing available. 1-855-417-1306

A Community of Advocates For Local Journalism

Join today for

Big Sky Franchise Team

David & Michelle Bertany

Amour & Duane Carthy

Barbara Anderson

Kerry Arias

Scott Baynton

Alpharetta Lions Club

Omar Altalib

Dave Altman

Ron Altman

American Legion Post 201

Gaye Armstrong

Mary Asbury

Beth Barnes

Barbara Bauschka

Kathy Beck

Bill Bentley

Leslie Berry

Tom Billings

Tochie Blan

Ron Boddicker

Jodi Bogen

Debra Bowen

Joe Bowen

Ryan Brainard

Dorothy Brouhard

Erendira Brumley

Bernhard Burgener

Alvin Burrell

Mike & Theresa Buscher

Mary Busman

Gary Butterfield

In 2022, Appen Media Group created the Appen Press Club, its mission driven news division dedicated to creating a sustainable infrastructure for local journalism in the north metro Atlanta area. Residents of that community, like you, join the Press Club by committing to small monthly or annual dues, 100% of which is dedicated to producing reliable, professional journalism on local issues that affect your lives.

Adam Corder

Robert Flint

Robin Fricton

Joseph Bell

James Bennett

Rita Brown

Clea Calloway

Kirk Canaday

James Carr

Bridgette Carter

William Cartwright

Pat Check

Virginia Christman

Christopher Cleary

Ann Coaloa

Kim Coggins

Evelyn Collazo

Michael Mackenzie

Communications

Joan Compton

Terri Coons

David Davis

Duane DeBruler

Rebecca Donlan

Tom Driscoll

Michael Dudgeon

Jeanette Dummer

DutchCrafters Amish Furniture

Mim Eisenberg

Danny Elkins

Su Ellis

Martha Fasse

Roderick Liptrot

Tom McMurrain

MEMBER+

Mark Casas

David Conti

Theodore Davis III

MEMBER

Lee Fleck

Cathy Flynn

Nanci Foster

Amy Frederick

Kelly Frommer

Carol Fry

Tracey Ganesh

John Gibbs

John Gilberto

Leslie Gilliam

Bailey & Ryan Gladysz

Michelle Glotzbach

Harvey Goldberg

Christopher Goodrich

Phyllis Goodrich

Marilee Hamilton

Susan Hanna

Joe Hirsch

Penn Hodge

Dianne & Steffan Holmquist

Joan Hostetter

Austin Hughes

Lynn Johnson

Tyler Jones

Arthur Kebanli

Mark Kelly

Bob Meyers

Ross & Lori Ramsey

Charlcie Forehand

Ali Mahbod

Vickie McElroy

Allison Kloster

Dyna Kohler

Larry Krueger

Jess & Chris Kysar

Malinda Lackey

Ken Leffingwell

Carol Lehan

Bonnie Lind

Francia Lindon

Harlan Little

Ross Long

Brenda Lundy

Rita Loventhal

Karen Magill

Kyile Marshall

Julie Martin

Valerie Matthews

William Maxwell

Rachel McCord

Austin McCully

Lynn McIntyre

Mike McLoughlin

Jennifer Mendoza

Al Merrill

Chris Miller

Christine Miller

Mark Rundle

Kim Truett

Roger Wise Jr.

Colt Whittall

Anne Peer

Robert Popp

Kate Seng

Fred Moeller

Carol Morgan

Kathy Morgan

Stu Moring

Donna Murphy

Jack Murphy

Tricia Novarro

Bob O’Brien

Lynn Pennington

Kurt & Leslie Phillips

Joy Pooler

Debra Powell

Righteous PR

Chuck Pugh

Raj Rajagopalan

Ashwin Ramaswami

Cheryl Rand

Jean Rearick

Neil Robertson

Matt Rohs

Stephanie Schuette

Susan Searles

Tina Shelton

Lisa Shippel

Joanne Simmons

Tom Simon

Carol Williams

Marilyn Colarossi-Woods

Cindy Simpson

Robert Singleton

Faye Sklar

Judith Slaughter

Andy Smith

Wesley Stewart

Cathryn Stovall

Celeste Strohl

Andy Sumlin

Mike Tasos

Candice Teichert

Lisa Tilt

Michael Townes

Matthew Tyser

Ollie Wagner

Lewis Walker

Jonathan Washburn

Sally White

Thom White

Michael Weiss

Susan Wilson

Jamie Wimberly

Nancy & Dave Wistrand

Carla York