Forsyth Herald - April 13, 2023

Forsyth County to host annual Aging Well Expo

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Senior Services announced it will host its 19th annual Aging Well Expo from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. April 20 at the Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College.

More than 70 vendors from senior residential communities, home care, legal services and recreational opportunities will attend the event. Free health screenings, giveaways and refreshments will also be available.

The free expo provides county seniors and their families with information and networking opportunities with local businesses and services in the community.

More information on the event can be found at https://www.forsythco. com/Departments-Offices/Senior-Services/Expo or by calling Senior Services at 770-781-2178.

— Shelby Israel

First Baptist Church of Cumming holds Good Friday Service

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED County seniors gather at the 2022 Aging Well Expo. County Senior Services will host the 19th annual event this year from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. April 20 at the Forsyth Conference Center.

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The First Baptist Church of Cumming hosted a Good Friday Service to a packed sanctuary

5:30 p.m. April 7.

Hundreds of guests attended the service after it had relocated

from the Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center to the church due to inclement weather.

The event featured musical performances by the church choir, award-winning musician Laura Story and worship with Georgia Baptist Mission Board Lead Strategist Levi Skipper.

At top, Award-winning musician Laura Story performs at the First Baptist Church of Cumming’s Good Friday Service on April 7. Above, Levi Skipper, lead strategist for church strengthening at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, speaks at the First Baptist Church of Cumming’s Good Friday Service. The event, which was originally scheduled to be at Cumming City Center, drew a crowd of hundreds.

PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

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Forsyth County authorities arrest 6 students for threats

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrests of six students who allegedly made threats against county schools March 31.

Sheriff Ron Freeman said the students were arrested for alleged bomb threats, death threats and threats to bring a gun to school.

Freeman said the threats were unsubstantiated, but he and Forsyth

POLICE BLOTTER

County Schools investigated the claims seriously. The arrests follow similar incidents at schools nationwide after the March 27 shooting in Nashville, Tennessee.

Freeman said more than 100 parents and students contacted him directly regarding one of the suspects, a 12-yearold who was arrested after a 12-hour investigation.

Schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden and Freeman thanked students, parents and staff who had submitted tips regarding the threats using the P3 Campus app, an anonymous reporting service

ties discovered Criner had allegedly installed a Life360 app to stalk the mother of his children. He had known her exact location and followed her to the house, the report states, and the man and his brother failed to mention the app, which they helped to uninstall.

Man faces stalking charges following domestic incident

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a Cumming man for alleged stalking following a domestic dispute incident March 29.

A man told deputies his brother Antonio Criner, 26, had come to his house on Riviera Drive and started an argument. He said he did not invite Criner, and Criner was not allowed on the property due to bond conditions.

Criner was arrested Feb. 19 on charges of felony aggravated assault with a gun, misdemeanor simple assault involving family violence and misdemeanor cruelty to children in the third degree.

In the more recent incident, depu -

The man said Criner had argued with the woman in front of their children and pushed him, and Criner followed her outside to stop her from leaving. Criner reportedly left after another argument with the caller’s brother.

Criner was charged with felony aggravated stalking and violation of a family violence order.

Deputies find suspect in 2022 burglary case

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a suspect in an October 2022 burglary case March 27.

A man informed deputies Oct. 29 he had traveled to the Philippines from Sept. 26-Oct. 27, 2022, and he

provided in partnership between the district and the Sheriff’s Office.

Bearden and Freeman said parents should speak to their children about the consequences of posting fake threats on social media, and school counselors will be available for additional support.

“It takes us working together as a community,” Freeman said. “It takes our parents and our students being willing to say something when they hear something or see something that doesn’t look right to help us avoid a tragedy right here in Forsyth County.”

had noticed an open door and kitchen drawers when he returned.

The man said his laptop and an old phone were missing from his room. He tracked the phone’s location to an address on Elrod Circle.

Chainsaws, an impact wrench and lawn equipment were missing from the man’s garage. Deputies reported seeing cracked open doors and undone locks in the part of the man’s house that he does not use. The man said the total value of the missing items was $6,900.

Deputies also reported seeing two handprints on a garage window, and it appeared the suspects had attempted to pry the door open.

Deputies arrested Frankie Kalb, 33, of Cumming March 27 on felony charges of possession of methamphetamine and theft by receiving stolen property, as well as misdemeanor charges of theft by taking, possession of marijuana and obstruction of law enforcement officers.

Kalb is being held at the Forsyth County Jail, and bond is set at $20,070.50.

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.

Governor notes budget ‘holes’ after lawmakers pass spending plan

By JILL NOLIN GEORGIA RECORDER

ATLANTA — Lawmakers signed off on a $32.4 billion spending plan for next year as the clock expired on the 2023 legislative session, although Gov. Brian Kemp warned of “significant holes” in the budget.

“I think it’s important for me to say tonight that the recent news from the Federal Reserve and others suggest there may be storm clouds on our nation’s economic horizon,” Kemp told members of the Senate on the final day of the session. “Additionally, there are significant holes in this year’s final budget that my office will need to work closely with you all, the House and the Office of Planning and Budget to address in the coming months.”

Kemp called on lawmakers to assist in making the tough decisions necessary to keep the financial health of this state on sound footing.

As with all bills that pass through the Legislature, the governor has the power of the pen and can veto lines in the budget he finds problematic. The close of the session kicks off the usual 40-day bill signing period, and Kemp has already signed a few bills, including a controversial measure banning most gender-affirming care for minors.

Kemp also pressed senators to sign off on renewing a tax break for big economic development projects, threatening to call lawmakers back for a special session if they didn’t. The current perk is set to end this summer.

The Senate gave the measure final approval with a 43-to-6 vote shortly before midnight, extending the tax break to 2026.

“There’s only been 18 of them in the history of Georgia. These are used very selectively,” said Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, a Rome Republican who chairs the Senate Finance Committee and who is the bill’s sponsor. “About 75 percent of them are outside the Atlanta metro area that have been done. It’s brought in thousands and thousands of jobs.”

School voucher push fails

Kemp had less luck this year with a push to expand Georgia’s school voucher program. That measure fell short of votes in the House in what proved to be one of the more dramatic votes of the 2023 legislative session.

The governor and the state’s lead budget writers framed the process of developing next year’s spending plan as an exercise in restraint in anticipation of a potential economic downturn. Revenues will also be needed to fund future priorities, such as the gradual income tax rate reduction plan passed last year that is set to start in 2024.

State revenues have been on an upswing in recent years, but economists pre-

dict a slowdown in tax collections and that has caused budget hawks to approach new spending with caution. But rising revenues have also turned up the pressure to boost funding for state services.

“I’d like to note that this is no easy task to balance the revenue at hand with the needs statewide. With more money, we certainly could have done more things, and I would have liked that,” House Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett said.

When asked about the governor’s comment about “significant holes” in the budget, House Speaker Jon Burns told reporters there are always some funding plans that come up short. Lawmakers typically address the gaps when they return in January when they amend the budget.

“I think we have a very comprehensive budget, but I’m sure there’s some issues that maybe we could have addressed in different ways that may need to be backfilled some in the future,” Burns said.

Teachers will get pay bump

The new budget, which will take effect in July, provides a $6,000 pay raise for some state law enforcement and a $2,000 salary bump for teachers and other state employees, and funds the state’s HOPE scholarship at 100 percent.

The increase for educators is part of a multiyear effort to drive up those salaries and will put the average teacher salary in Georgia to $61,000, according to Hatchett. The budget also includes a $1,000 supplement for school custodians.

The final spending plan softened some of the cuts made in the Senate, but the reductions remained, including a $1.4 million cut to Georgia Public Broadcasting and $66 million cut to the University System of Georgia.

The top legislative budget writers said the Board of Regents has about $500 million in reserves to help absorb the cut, and Senate Appropriations Chair Blake Tillery told senators GPB’s news competitors have long complained about the state

subsidy.

“I think that’s actually a very valid point: Why are we picking winners and losers?” Tillery said this session.

Lawmakers also set aside $9.4 million to pay for 500 people to come off the wait list for services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. That’s short of the 2,400 a Senate panel recommended last year.

But this year’s budget process also appeared to become tied up with tensions between the House and Senate. Hatchett received a standing ovation when he kicked off his late-night budget presentation with this declaration: “This House does not play politics with the budget.”

Some Democratic priorities – such as $6.3 million for free breakfast and lunch for school children – were also restored after being stripped out in the Senate.

“Kids aren’t able to learn if they’re hungry,” Hatchett said to cheers from some lawmakers. “This funding will provide more than 17 million meals at no cost to low-income students in Georgia public schools. Seventeen million meals.”

This story comes to Appen Media through a partnership with Georgia Recorder, a nonprofit newsroom covering statewide issues.

JILL. NOLIN/GEORGIA RECORDER

Gov. Brian Kemp speaks to reporters after signing the amended fiscal year 2023 budget in early March.

PINECREST ACADEMY/PROVIDED

Pinecrest Academy seniors visit the University of Georgia main campus with School Counselor Marjorie Poss in September 2022. The class of 2023 achieved a 94 percent acceptance rate into the university.

Pinecrest Academy class of 2023 set high rate for UGA acceptance

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Surpassing the University of Georgia’s 42 percent admission rate, Pinecrest Academy announced its class of 2023 seniors achieved an acceptance rate of 94 percent.

The academy said the figure marks its highest UGA acceptance rate in recent years. Class of 2021 and 2022 seniors achieved 86 percent acceptance, and in 2020, the university admitted 63 percent of academy seniors.

Academy Principal Amy Bowman said

School Counselor Marjorie Poss contributed to the high acceptance numbers. Bowman said Poss provided personalized counseling to the students, which helped them find the best college for potential success.

“I’m so proud of our students and grateful for our gem of a college counselor,” Bowman said.

Pinecrest Academy, a private college preparatory school, has been named the best Catholic high school in Georgia for three years by Niche.

GARAGE SALES

See more garage sales in the classifieds

CUMMING-30040: Fieldstone multi-family; Elder Field Lane, Azurite Street, Balas Street, Preserve Crossing Lane, Delano Drive. Along Drew Campground and Hyde Roads. Saturday 4/22, 8am-3pm RAIN OR SHINE!

ROSWELL (HORSESHOE BEND NEIGHBORHOOD): Huge multi home sale! Saturday 4/15, 8am-2pm. Holcomb Bridge Road, 3 miles east of GA-400. Info & maps at: www.HorseshoeBendGarageSale.com. Organized by Mitch Falkin, RE/MAX Around Atlanta 770-330-2374.

ROSWELL: Tools, tool truck boxes, Honda lawnmower, chainsaw, edgers, yard art, pottery, metal shelves, rare framed Foo Fighters poster, paintings, clothing, shoes, outdoor furniture, kids’ teepee, dog kennels, rugs, RV accessories, camping gear & grill, household goods; something for everyone! Brookfield CC, 775 Fairbrook Lane 30075. Thursday 4/13, Friday 4/14, Saturday 4/15, Sunday 4/16, 8AM-4PM.

DEADLINE

To place garage sale ads: Noon Friday. Call 770-442-3278 or email classifieds@appenmediagroup.com

Transit group takes aim at MARTA Reach pilot

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA, Ga. — The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) is weighing its options on the future of MARTA Reach after interest and ridership climbed during a six-month pilot period last year.

MARTA Reach offers riders the ability to call a shuttle to a regular MARTA rail or bus stop or to one of several new stops added for the service.

The program, a partnership between Georgia Tech and MARTA, served more than 8,000 riders during its run from March-August 2022. Its launch followed the increasing call for on-demand transportation, rather than traditional fixedroute buses.

Reach launched with three Atlanta coverage zones, including Belvedere, the Gillem Logistics Center and West Atlanta. In May 2022, the service added a North Fulton zone, which spanned from Roswell to North Point Mall, Avalon and the Georgia State University Alpharetta campus.

Based on the ridership trend upward during its six-month run, MARTA Reach could increase the days and hours of service at a similar cost if it were relaunched, said Anthony Thomas, MARTA Customer Experience Innovation

Program manager.

With positive results from the endof-program data analysis, Thomas said he and staff recommend authority boardmembers incorporate underserved areas, pursue a request for proposal for the program’s software and include ADA trips on regular shuttles.

Thomas said the cost of the service using MARTA vehicles, maintenance and software would be ultimately cheaper than a contract with a third-party vendor.

The board made no decisions at the April 6 meeting, but it will hear a more complete overview on ridership and demographics in October.

Boardmembers also heard updates on the ATL Rides program, a multiagency trip planning app that allows riders to transfer from MARTA to Xpress buses, as well as Cobb, Douglas, Cherokee, Gwinnett and Henry County public transit.

Atlanta Regional Commission Transit Funding Manager Abby Marinelli said the app is in beta testing and will formally launch this summer.

The ATL is also assisting Forsyth County in implementing a new demand response computer aided dispatch and automated vehicle locator for county vehicles.

Gasthaus Tirol

Group focused on eating disorders schedules walk at Alpharetta park

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Atlanta’s annual NEDA Walk will take place April 16 at Webb Bridge Park.

The event is intended to raise awareness about eating disorders and help fund programs provided by the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), the country’s largest nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders.

The organization offers a number of services, including screenings, a helpline and connecting individuals with treatment. So far, Atlanta has raised more than $8,600 toward a goal of more than $18,500.

“People can come out and have a safe place to either celebrate the fact that they’re in recovery or if they know someone, or if they themselves kind of feel like they might be experiencing symptoms,” said Lyla Mills, a counselor at Johns

Alpharetta Police arrest 5 in child exploitation sting

Creek and Alpharetta Counseling. Mills, who has helped coordinate the Atlanta NEDA Walk since 2017, specializes in eating disorders. She also worked at an eating disorder facility before entering private practice.

NEDA Walks are an educational opportunity, Mills said. They often have dieticians and therapists who speak, and this year, Mills said the event will feature more outpatient providers.

Eating disorders are common, she said, and it’s common for them to go undiagnosed.

“Eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes,” Mills said. “It's more so about the patterns and behaviors and thought processes behind the eating than it is about how much you weigh in numbers.”

Check-in is at 9 a.m., and the walk will begin an hour later. Registration is free, but walkers who pay the suggested donation of $25 will receive a T-shirt.

For more information, email nedaatlanta@gmail.com.

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta Department of Public Safety Special Investigations Unit announced the arrests of five and outstanding warrants for two suspects in an undercover child exploitation operation March 29.

Police charged Neal Wurtz, 25, Jose Hernandez, 28, Douglas Cropf Jr., 30, and August Rich, 23, with felony use of a computer to entice a child to commit an illegal act. Erick GarciaSalinas, 34, and the four suspects were also charged with felony criminal attempt to commit child molestation.

Police Lt. Andrew Splawn said detectives posed as underage children in internet chatrooms and on websites in order to identify and arrest predators who allegedly believed they were soliciting sex from children.

Splawn said the operation ran from Dec. 1-3, 2022, and it was a joint effort between the city, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.

Four of the suspects were arrested immediately after they traveled to Alpharetta to meet the detectives who posed as minors. Detectives arrested the fifth suspect in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

While the websites used in the

operation were not designed for catching predators, Splawn said the department had chosen the sites based on trends reported by previous child victims.

“Alpharetta Police Department genuinely cares about the protection of children,” Splawn said. “And that's the reason that we run this type of operation is because children are a very special population, and we want to run proactive operations to make sure that we can keep them as safe as possible.”

As of press time, two suspects have not been arrested.

Tyquand Caldwell, 26, and Christopher Frazier, 43, are wanted for felony use of a computer to entice a child to commit an illegal act. Caldwell was also charged with felony criminal attempt to commit child molestation.

Splawn asked the public to contact the department with any information on the suspects or their whereabouts.

Anyone with information can contact Sgt. Braithwaithe at 678-2976338 or jabraithwaite@alpharetta. ga.us.

Rumble Boxing to launch in Alpharetta

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Rumble Boxing will host a grand opening for its first Alpharetta location April 27-30 with exclusive specials.

The studio offers 10-round group workouts that alternate between strength conditioning and boxing using teardrop-shaped bags filled with water in 45-minute sessions. All classes are open to beginners and are available for single purchase or in package and membership options.

First-time business owner Drew Oliver said he thinks Alpharetta is a perfect fit for the high energy work -

outs that the studio provides.

“Our Rumble Boxing Alpharetta studio is family owned,” co-owner Sarah Oliver said. “We love seeing families join Rumble to have fun, strengthen their relationships and get healthy together. This makes us feel like we are a part of something truly special.”

The grand opening will offer a buyone, get-one-free class special for local members.

The studio will operate from 5:30 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays, from 8:30 a.m.noon Saturdays and 9 a.m.-noon Sundays in Suite C at 6110 North Point Parkway in Alpharetta.

More information on offers and classes can be found at rumbleboxinggym.com/location/alpharetta.

CALDWELL

FRAZIER

Theater loses contract with Roswell, moves operation to Marietta

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — For now, the website for the Roswell Cultural Arts Center says it is “proud to have the Georgia Ensemble Theatre as its resident artist company,” but that relationship is changing.

After more than 30 years of residency in Roswell, the professional mainstage plays at Georgia Ensemble Theatre (GET) will have a new home at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in Marietta.

Its contract was canceled at a Roswell Recreation Commission meeting in early March with a recommendation that the theater enter the Roswell Cultural Art Center’s Partnership Production contract model.

Since its founding in 1992, the Georgia Ensemble Theatre has operated under a Resident Theatre contract which allowed the company to handle all things related to production.

But in Fiscal Year 2022, the theater presented only three of the five agreedupon productions. There were 47 “dark days” with no programmed activities. The city also cited a high turnover in production managers at GET, four managers in two years.

Production has a high price tag. GET co-founder Anita Allen-Farley said a play is about $60,000 to produce and musicals are well over $100,000.

“It’s expensive, and when you don’t have the money, you have to go … ‘how can we adjust to satisfy our patrons?’” Allen-Farley said. “By moving things around, by postponing different shows.”

Allen-Farley and Mary Saville, GET communications director, sat inside the theater’s studio on Hembree Parkway April 4, discussing the Georgia Theater Ensemble’s big move.

City partnership

The new partnership model would have allowed Roswell to help the Georgia Ensemble Theatre with production and marketing, run its box office and patron services, then collect the revenue. David Crowe, Roswell Cultural Arts coordinator, said the city would have found an “equitable split” once paying technical fees.

Many local arts organizations had been struggling with money post-COVID, Crowe said. The city has fostered successful partnerships using a similar model over the past couple of years,

See THEATRE Page 10

Mother-daughter café brings Vietnamese flavors to Alpharetta

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. —Hanh Nguyen filled a decades-long dream when she opened July Moon Bakery and Café at the Maxwell in Alpharetta in 2022 — and she did it with her daughter by her side.

The bakery and café named in honor of Nguyen’s daughters, offers Vietnamese iced coffees, boba teas, bánh mìs and Asian pastries. She opened July Moon in 2022, but her dream stretched back much further.

Nguyen is a first-generation Vietnamese immigrant born in a Malaysian refugee camp, where she said she “should have died but didn’t.” Her mother made Vietnamese iced coffee to make a living and Nguyen often had to help.

“I used to crush ice for my mom, it’s not an easy task for a child,” Nguyen said.

After a tumultuous childhood, Nguyen, her mother and siblings ran away from her abusive father and spent two years in a homeless shelter. Nguyen said she had “humble beginnings” but eventually made it to college, and later Seattle, Washington, where she began her career in the IT industry.

“I might look polished, like I had it all together, but it’s been a long journey, a lot of sacrifices and heartaches,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen found success in the industry, working for various Fortune 500 companies. But the memories of making coffee with her mom never disappeared. Nguyen said her time in Seattle, a coffee destination and the origin of Starbucks turned her into a “bit

of a coffee snob.”

She had wanted to open a business in Seattle, but the market was oversaturated with boba and coffee offerings. It wasn’t until Nguyen moved to Alpharetta for a job promotion that she saw an opportunity to bring her business concept to life.

Her eldest daughter, 11-year-old

Charlie, helped push Nguyen to pursue her dream. During a visit to a gourmet bakery years ago, Nguyen caught Charlie staring at the baristas. She told Charlie that if she wanted, she could work at a coffee shop one day.

“I’m not going to work here, I’m going to own my own bakery,” Charlie said.

Charlie’s response inspired Nguyen

to pursue the café, both for herself and to inspire her daughter. Nguyen had no business ownership experience, little capital and faced a long journey to creating July Moon, but she was determined to build a business from the ground up.

See FLAVORS, Page 9

DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA

Hanh Nguyen and her daughter, Charlie Crose, work together to bring the vision of July Moon Bakery and Café, an Asian coffee shop and bakery concept to life.

I might look polished, like I had it all together, but it’s been a long journey, a lot of sacrifices and heartaches.

HANH NGUYEN, Founder of July Moon

Flavors:

Continued from Page 8

She also knew Charlie would be integral to July Moon’s success. It would be a mother-daughter project in every aspect. Charlie is officially a co-founder of July Moon, and Nguyen’s younger daughter Colette is “quickly becoming more instrumental” in the business by putting stickers on the cups and helping clean the bathrooms.

“(Charlie) has been in all the major meetings, like loan signing, architectural rating floor plan design,” Nguyen said.

Charlie called the meetings “boring,” but her mother said Charlie’s candor and creativity helped bring July Moon to where it is now.

Charlie helps create new drink recipes for the business, which she jots down during development. During an April 6 interview, she concocted an ombre drink with “everything boba,” mango sparkling water, mango-rose tea and strawberry-kiwi tea.

The café has a limited food menu due to its small kitchen, but Nguyen’s focus is on the drinks. She sources coffee beans from local business Boarding Pass Coffee and gets tea from Atlanta-based business Just Add Honey. She also makes organic and

gluten-free drink syrups from scratch. Her taro tea, a popular boba drink made from a purple root vegetable, is made from actual taro rather than the powder used in many other boba shops. It’s more work to cut up and boil the vegetables, but for Nguyen it’s

essential.

“It’s these little things that people don’t see,” Nguyen said.

Every aspect of the business is “highly intentional,” Nguyen said, from the accessible seating to the drinkmaking methods.

“There’s meaning behind everything I do,” Nguyen said.

She said her pellet ice machine is a reference to her childhood spent crushing ice for her mother’s Vietnamese iced coffee. The ice is the “best way to drink” Vietnamese coffee.

Nguyen carries her intention into the rest of the businesses, where she focuses on mentorship and expansion opportunities. She hosts networking events for women in business, acts as a mentor for her young employees and spotlights small businesses.

“Charlie and I wanted to launch July Moon to be a safe, fun community space for people,” Nguyen said.

Tara Tucker

PHOTOS BY DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA

Hanh Nguyen prepares a traditional Vietnamese iced coffee at July Moon Bakery and Café April 6. The coffee is sweetened with condensed milk, and Nguyen serves it with pellet ice reminiscent of her mother’s recipes.

Hanh Nguyen serves a Vietnamese iced coffee across the outdoor bar at July Moon Bakery and Café on April 6.

International Festival celebration set for April 29 in Johns Creek

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — For the fifth year, Johns Creek will present a cultural smorgasbord to an anticipated 17,000 visitors at its largest International Festival April 29.

Home to more than 83,000 residents, Johns Creek is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the state and nation. Johns Creek’s Edie Damann, who has taken the lead on planning since the event’s inception, said the city has an international population of more than 51 percent.

“It was important for us to have an event that celebrates all those different cultures, and then bring people in from outside of Johns Creek to hopefully introduce them to things that are new that maybe they didn't know about — different types of foods, dances and music,” Damann said.

The event will feature countries from all continents, except Australia. To name a few, featured countries include Mexico, Canada, Hungary, Ghana, Kenya, France, Korea, Ireland and Turkey.

“If I’m lucky, somebody from Australia will come in and decide to participate,” Damann said.

The city has allocated $45,000 to this

Theatre:

Continued from Page 7

he said, like with the Atlanta Balalaika Society, the Atlanta Vocal Project, the Song of Atlanta chorus and the Atlanta Dance Theatre.

“We were trying to find ways to partner with [GET] so that they wouldn’t have to worry about rent anymore,” Crowe said.

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre had been behind on around $30,000 in rent for its space at the Cultural Arts Center. The City of Roswell offered reduced rent to the theater, but Allen-Farley said GET will pay half the cost at the Anderson.

Considering GET’s season isn’t quite over in Roswell, Crowe hasn’t actively sought other theater companies. But he intends to make those connections.

Crowe had been with the city’s Cultural Arts Center since 2015 but has known the founders of Georgia Ensemble Theatre much longer. He said Bob Farley, the late co-founder of the theater, gave him his “first big break” after graduate school to direct at GET. As a young person, Crowe also performed in “Of Mice and Men” in the 2004-2005 season.

“Georgia Ensemble Theatre has been an enormous asset to the city on and off for many years, and it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t find a way to continue

year’s festival, which will have more than 105 vendors including retail, food and sponsors.

A Global Marketplace will have arts and crafts from cultural artisans. From international restaurants and food trucks, visitors might smell the aroma of Asian and

working together,” Crowe said. “But the way that I see this is: everything is an opportunity. I think this is a great opportunity for them and for us to find something different, maybe.”

Community connection

Despite city efforts to retain the theater company, Allen-Farley said she couldn’t afford the partnership.

“The biggest issue was the model has [the city] selling all of the tickets, keeping all of the money until after the show is over,” Allen-Farley said. “And I have people that I have to pay, months before we open the show.”

The agreement would have also cut the theater’s 20-week season in half. Saville said producing two shows, rather than four or five, would generate far less income. The cut also would have meant the theater wouldn’t have been able to produce the same variety of shows, Saville said.

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Allen-Farley said it’s been fun to watch more and more patrons fill the seats. She said around 25 percent of the house was filled for the first two shows, which had gone up to 35 percent.

“And now, we’ve had some really nice houses with ‘Bright Star,’” AllenFarley said. For the foreseeable future, “Bright Star” will be GET’s last mainstage production in Roswell.

Many patrons have told Allen-Farley

Indian spices, sample the savory flavors of the Mediterranean and Europe and indulge in Latin American dishes.

The Global Beer and Wine Garden will feature brews and wines from around the globe. From stouts to chardonnay, festivalgoers ages 21 and over can explore differ -

they’ll ride along with her to Marietta and have bought subscriptions, or a package deal. While the move is only 13 miles away, she knows some won’t be able to follow her. The theater sees an older demographic, and many can’t drive at night.

“What I’ll miss most is that connection that we’ve had,” Allen-Farley said. “We’ve had some people that have had the same seats for 30 years.”

But she’s exploring a shuttle option for those who can’t make the drive themselves.

A new space

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre released a statement, saying staff will continue to be in conversation with Roswell officials about the future and are open to return if an opportunity arose. The theatre also said it would continue its investment into Roswell’s growth and well-being, considering its studio will remain on Hembree Parkway.

The studio hosts the theater’s administrative offices, its conservatory and the GET Travel Team, which takes professional productions to schools and senior communities at their locations. The studio also serves as the rehearsal space for mainstage plays.

The Jennie T. Anderson Theatre has around the same number of seats as the Roswell Cultural Arts Center with 606 seats. It does not include a balcony, but handicap-accessible seat -

ent beverages from countries far away and close to home.

There will also be a Kids Corner, hosted by the Johns Creek Arts Center, where the family can enjoy engaging and collaborative activities for the kids as they learn about cultures from around the world. Activities include face painting, cultural storytelling and art stations.

Cultural performances include some returning acts like the Drake School of Irish Dance and the Magic Eastern Ensemble, an instrumental group, as well as new performers.

For the first time, visitors will get the opportunity to see live African storytelling at the festival. Chetter Galloway, with the Kuumba Storytellers of Georgia, will use the Djembe drum and music to enliven African lore.

The rain-or-shine, free event is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the field located across from the Atlanta Athletic Club on Bobby Jones Drive. Visitors can enter the festival from Medlock Bridge Road. There will be ample on-site parking. Handicap parking will also be available. A local Boy Scout troop assisting with parking is asking for a $3 donation, but it’s not required.

ing is on the front row.

Saville shared that the Anderson was once home to the Atlanta Lyric Theatre, which recently closed due to a collection of pandemic-related issues, like rising costs, reduced revenue and donations, and audiences’ reluctance to return quickly.

“Being able to regain our footing after our entire industry was closed for over a year has been a very slow process— much slower than anyone anticipated— and we all need patience, understanding and grace while we’re still in the ‘rebuilding’ phase,” Saville said.

While GET is raising prices of premium seating, it has made more “budget-friendly” seats available at the Anderson Theatre. Preview plays will be $15 a ticket, and regular performances will range from $25 to $70. Discounts will be offered to seniors, students, educators, military/veterans and first responders.

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre is set to produce three plays at the Anderson, in October, February and April, though the titles have yet to be announced. GET will also co-produce two musicals in the Overture Series with the Anderson Theatre, “The Light in the Piazza” in December and “Ragtime” in June of 2024.

“I think people will enjoy the experience of watching a play [at the Anderson Theatre]. It is a change. But that doesn’t mean that it’s a bad thing,” Saville said. “Change is just inevitable.”

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK/PROVIDED

Visitors at the Johns Creek International Festival in 2022 hold flags from different countries.

H R NG ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Building a Parkinson’s support team

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

This is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Join us on April 22nd as we help sponsor the Parkinson’s Optimism Walk. You’ll feel the hope and support provided for this progressive disease by the Georgia Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association. (Visit their website at apdaparkinson.org/GA for details.)

Recent studies show Parkinson’s affects over 1,000,000 Americans, with over 90,000 new cases diagnosed annually. While there are early onset cases, the main risk factor is age - with over 90% occurring after age 60. It can be hard to diagnose and comes on slowly. When the brain cells that make the chemical dopamine stop working it impacts movement, thinking and behavior. There’s no definitive cause but aging, repeated head injuries and exposure to environmental toxins are factors. Men are twice as likely to be diagnosed, and while there may be some genetic issues it’s rare to run in families.

Tremors are a major symptom but not everyone has this. Slowness of movement, stiffness or tight muscles, balance instability, walking or gait difficulties, a decrease in arm swinging when walking, loss of smell (often months or years earlier), gastrointestinal issues, loss of facial expression,

monotone or decreasing vocal strength, fatigue, insomnia, cognitive changes and depression or anxiety are all symptoms. With two or more of these, it’s time to consult your doctor about a visit to a neurologist with Parkinson’s training or a Movement Disorder Specialist.

With a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, it’s important to build a support system. While there is no cure, there are a number of treatments that can maximize your potential with this disease and not let it overwhelm your life and outlook. This includes highly individualized medications like carbidopa and levodopa, physical, occupational and speech therapy for daily lifestyle changes to maintain fitness, balance and strength building, stress reduction, good sleep habits and maintaining a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables and unprocessed foods. To help manage this you need a team of professionals that includes your Primary Care Physician, Neurologist, a Movement Disorder Specialist, Nutritionist, Therapy providers and Psychologist.

Being a Care Partner for a loved one with Parkinson’s is a critical role. As an advocate, educating yourself, managing the daily care process and coordinating with the care team is crucial. Parkinson’s is a progressive disease and can take years to progress, so it’s just as important to care for yourself. To keep up your stamina you have to take time and get some respite and additional support.

Not tan? Labrador overweight? POMC might be the answer!

Brought to You by - Brent Taylor, MD, Premiere Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

Are you pale? Is your labrador overweight? Then this is the article for you! Proopiomelanocortin (POMC for short) is a remarkable hormone that your brain makes and that may unlock our ability to regulate body weight and even help us get a tan without going in the sun.

If we break apart POMC’s name, pro-“opio”-“melano”-“cortin” comes from the fact that POMC is cut apart by enzymes into three main smaller proteins. First, POMC is broken into opioid hormones that regulate pain, satiety (feeling full after eating) and response to exercise. Second, POMC is broken down into melanocyte stimulating hormones that affect skin pigmentation, sexual behavior and satiety. Third, POMC is broken down into adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), a cortisol-regulating hormone that affects blood sugar, responses to stress and the immune system.

To think like a doctor, imagine what could go wrong if any one of these proteins isn’t working due to a disease. In fact, a mutation in POMC has been linked to increased interest in food and obesity in labrador retrievers and might explain why your labrador is overweight. Many labradors have been found to have a mutation in beta-endorphin, which is one of the opioid hormones that POMC is broken down to form. Beta-endorphin is also famous as a protein that contributes to the “runner’s high” – the feeling of wellbeing that we get with exercise. Similarly, low POMC has been found to make affected humans constantly hungry.

To think like a pharmaceutical scientist, imagine the medical (or cosmetic) potential of developing medicines that affect our responses to pain, our sense of well-being, whether we feel hungry, blood sugar levels, immune system health, sex drive and how tan our skin is. Just one of these functions has incredible pharmaceutical potential. University of Arizona researchers got to work on the tanning applications of POMC in the 1980s and developed a synthetic form of melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) which became known as “Melanotan” (aka afamelanotide, aka Scenesse) and now is best identified as “Melanotan I.” As an aside, Melanotan II is another synthetic hormone similar to MSH, but it is not FDA approved for any use, has more sexual and satiety effects and has periodically received

coverage in the popular press as the “Barbie Drug.”

Melanotan I causes the pigment producing cells in your skin – the melanocytes – to produce more melanin. Melanin is an important defense against ultraviolet radiation. The problem is that we normally make melanin in response to ultraviolet light exposure after a lot of damage is already done. Increasing melanin before sun exposure sounds very appealing.

Is Melanotan I ready for the masses?

Not yet…

The package insert for Melanotan I points out that carcinogenicity studies have not been performed. These studies are often required for FDA approval. Melanotan I gained approval under special circumstances for a very specific condition called erythropoietic protoporphyria – a skin disease in which people are so sensitive to sunlight that their quality of life is severely affected. The FDA sometimes issues special approval of medications used for “Orphan” diseases when no other treatments are available and when the number of patients affected is so small that the cost of fully testing a medicine would stop it from coming to market.

We do not have enough data on Melanotan I to help us know if it is appropriate for sunless tanning. Carcinogenicity studies have not been published. Long term safety studies have not been published. Melanotan increases blood pressure, and long term effects on cardiovascular health would likely not be known for decades. Case reports of individuals who developed melanoma while using Melanotan cannot know whether Melanotan had a role in causing the melanoma because they are simply case reports and not case-controlled or placebo-controlled.

So where do things stand? Some individuals are purchasing Melanotan I and II illegally, as these chemicals are part of the steroid and tanning-bed using weightlifting community. They are purchased at great personal risk because of all the above unknowns in addition to the problems with purity and safety when illegal substances are procured. For the rest of us, the pharmaceutical companies are still hard at work. They are actively testing similar compounds to identify medicines with fewer side effects. There is reason to hope that in the future a pill may allow us to develop a tan before going on vacation and better protect ourselves from the sun. In the meantime, traditional sun safety measures are best… and our labradors will remain fat and happy!

Allergy season is here

Brought to you by - Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center

As spring comes, so do allergies!

If you have symptoms like congestion or sinus infections, you are not alone. Each year, more than 50 million people in the United States have allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Allergies are your body’s response to the environment. You might react to things in the air like dust or pollen. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, red eyes, itchy eyes and post-nasal drip. These can progress to infec-

tions if not treated.

Wellstar Ear, Nose and Throat knows every symptom and infection can impact your daily life. You can use simple tips to relieve your allergy symptoms and prevent infection.

How to relieve seasonal allergies

• Try over-the-counter medications like antihistamines and medicated nasal spray.

• Rinse your nose. Over the counter saline sprays and sinus irrigations can help clean your nose.

• Check the weather report. Avoid outside activities on days with a high pollen count.

• Don’t invite allergens inside. Keep windows and doors shut.

• Stay on top of spring cleaning. Dust, wipe and vacuum surfaces.

• Don’t forget your four-legged friends. Be sure to wash or brush your pets more often.

Expert care for allergies

When these tips do not work, Wellstar Ear Nose and Throat can help diagnose you. We help treat a full range of adult and pediatric allergy conditions at 1360 Upper Hembree Road in Roswell. Call (770) 475-3361 to make an appointment today.

COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CARE

From diagnosis to treatment and survivorship, Wellstar is ensuring the community in this area has access to expert, compassionate cancer care.

The new Wellstar North Fulton Cancer Center brings more than 12,000 additional square feet on the medical center campus dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking cancer treatments right here in the North Fulton area. Services include:

• CyberKnife radiation technology

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• Surgery, medical and radiation oncology

Find care at every step of your cancer journey here in North Fulton.

wellstar.org/northfultoncancercare

Wellstar North Fulton Cancer Center 4500 Hospital BLVD | ROSWELL (770) 410-4530

Summer Group Therapy: Helping your child thrive with 4 key benefits

Brought to you by - Summit Counseling Center

It's no secret that most kids love summer - with its long days, warm weather, and lack of school, summer break provides a welcome pause from the structure and routine of the academic year. For some kids, however, summer break can be a difficult time. Without the support, resources, and social exposure provided by school, they may struggle to maintain their mental health and well-being after the last school bell rings in May. Therapy groups during the summer can benefit all students, no matter where they fall along the spectrum of mental health, by helping provide a safe and supportive environment for children to learn new skills, build healthy relationships, and address any mental health concerns they may be experiencing.

According to a 2019 study, summer programs designed for children and youth with social and emotional difficulties showed moderate evidence of effectiveness in improving social skills, self-esteem, and overall emotional well-being while decreasing anxiety, depression, and unwanted behaviors at home (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Shaping Summertime Experiences: Opportunities to Promote Healthy Development and Well-Being for Children and Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press). There are several other potential benefits of therapy groups for kids during summer break, including:

1. Social support: Therapy groups can provide a sense of community and social support for children who may feel isolated or disconnected during summer break, proving particularly helpful for kids who struggle with social anxiety, shyness, or other

social difficulties. Therapy groups also allow kids to receive feedback and support from their peers, which can be great for students who may struggle receiving feedback from adults or authority figures.

2. Skill-building: Many therapy groups for kids focus on teaching specific skills, such as social skills, coping strategies, or emotional regulation techniques. Not only are these skills helpful during summer break when kids may have more unstructured time and less support from school-based resources, but they are also invaluable to have once school restarts in the fall.

3. Safe environment: If your student struggles to open up at home, therapy groups can help by providing a safe and supportive space for kids to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Additionally, participating in a therapy group can help reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues, as kids can see that they are not alone in their strug gles and that seeking help is a normal and healthy behavior.

4. Continuity of care: By regularly practicing skills throughout the summer, therapy groups can help chil dren maintain the progress they made during the school year and prevent any regression that may occur during summer break.

Summit Counseling Center is offer ing both individual and group therapy services for Kindergarten through 12th grade students throughout the summer, providing a supportive and structured environment for children to work on their mental health goals and develop new skills and coping strate gies. Selection requests for our 6-week groups close on May 12th, so register your student now at tinyurl.com/SCC Summer23!

I learned respect while protecting myself at all times

MIKE TASOS

These days, watching the national news is akin to watching a scary movie: Cover your eyes and don’t peek. Eventually, you are forced to look and deal with the carnage and gore.

Inevitably, you ask yourself: “Why do I even watch this stuff?”

There’s no way to call what happened at that Nashville school anything other than sickening and appalling. Feel free to add any other descriptions and we’re on the same page.

The Nashville tragedy, naturally, inspired others to get in on the action in the form of students making threats of violence. In a world gone mad, it points firmly to this type of imitation being a twisted form of flattery.

I have nothing but admiration for Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman’s recent stern warning that not only are threats by students unac -

ceptable, those making the threats will be arrested. Freeman and his deputies have made good on those promises.

I can’t imagine any parents condoning behavior from their children. I don’t know when all this started, but I can remember being in grade school and can picture how this would have gone over In Saints Peter and Paul School in Wilmington and St. Lawrence School in Bakersfield, both in California.

The Wilmington school was staffed by a crew of nuns who meant business. It wouldn’t have surprised me if one or two of them were on parole for unsanctioned fighting. Whatever the transgression, it was always followed by an Irish nun, probably fresh off the boat from Dublin, pockets stuffed with cash after winning her share of unsanctioned bouts held below deck, promising: “It’ll be God help ya’ when I get through with you.”

No matter how tough you thought you were, I swear it was time to throw yourself at their mercy, taking inspiration from the late boxing referee Mills Lane whose “protect yourself at all times” pre-fight admonition to

combatants always came into play.

Throw in a little ring announcer Michael Buffer’s “Let’s get ready to rumble” and the stage was set for a one-sided bout. Channeling a little Muhammad Ali, I learned to work on my footwork. I can’t fathom what would have happened if I ever threw a punch.

The Wilmington nuns were mostly Irish and, being a Notre Dame fan, I learned why the South Bend school earned it well-known “Fighting” moniker. If that wasn’t intimidating enough, these sisters had a ringer who was the group’s enforcer.

Sister Monica was not much taller than us fourth graders and I knew she wasn’t Irish. Her skin was dark and that’s when I discovered that there were many East Indians who hailed from Fiji. She put her cricket skills to good use, wielding a pointer or those thin, green bamboo sticks, which made a terrifying “whoosh” when Sister Monica was open for business.

With her shrill, piercing voice, sound strategy was to duck and cover. She morphed into some kind of Rocky Marciano, relentless in her

offense and never losing a battle.

Some of you parents may be recoiling in horror at these escapades, but I’ll swear on a stack of rosary beads that it’s true. Mostly.

What is totally true that we learned to be respectful and obedient or were sent home. Unlike today, math equations and solutions made sense. When my sons were in school, the convoluted way to solve multiplication problems that was being taught was terror in its own right. How could something so simple be so confusing?

Admittedly, we did bring weapons to school. A McDonald’s plastic straw as a perfect vehicle for firing spitballs towards classmates. Even then, we didn’t get off unscathed. Upon getting caught, we were handed brooms and dustpans. A month of sweeping classrooms made me long for a shot at Sister Monica’s undefeated string.

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.

Swing into spring with the Dunwoody Garden Club

The first day of spring, or the vernal equinox, fell on Monday, March 20 this year. Until I Googled the date, I’d forgotten that the vernal equinox is one of two days in the year when day and night are of equal length. Thank you Encyclopedia Britannica. Whatever the official meaning, in the South, that also means azaleas will be blooming and the neverending dusting of pollen will be in full swing.

It’s also the time of year when Dunwoody residents most appreciate the work of the Dunwoody Garden Club. Look around our community, and you will see the club’s output. The flowers at the entrance to Brook Run Park and the memorial benches for relaxation are thanks to the DGC. When you visit the Dunwoody Library and enjoy the landscaping at the entrance and the atrium planter, pic -

ture DGC members hard at work

Visit the North Woods Pavilion at Dunwoody Nature Center on Roberts Drive and Windwood Hollow Park on Lakeside Drive for other examples of their work. Do you have business at Dunwoody City Hall? The flagpole, flag and plantings out front are compliments of the DGC.

The Dunwoody Garden Club also contributes to and works with other Dunwoody, Atlanta-area, and Georgia organizations to beautify, maintain and grow our surroundings. Organizing and conducting community outreach projects in support of seniors, veterans, those in need, and the Georgia Regional Hospital – Atlanta keeps them busy, too.

I think of the members of this amazing club as a group of Energizer bunnies with a passion for digging in the dirt and bringing joy to the residents of Dunwoody. But it takes more than unending energy and passion. It takes the support of the community.

Whether you’re like me and sport two brown thumbs, or you’ve got a bit of gardening talent, you can show

your support by attending the club’s annual fundraiser.

You are invited to the Dunwoody Garden Club’s 45th annual card party, luncheon, fashion show, and silent auction on Tuesday, April 25.

It will be held at the same location as in recent years, the spacious Fellowship Hall at Dunwoody United Methodist Church, 1548 Mount Vernon Road, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 each. Reserve yours now and bring your friends, too. Sit down for a light breakfast with unlimited coffee. Play games and take a break to peruse and bid on the silent auction items. Top that off with a delicious lunch and a Chico’s spring fashion show.

Come at 10 a.m. to play cards, Mah Jong, or another game of your choice. Not into games? Arrive a bit later to socialize, bid on the silent auction items, and enjoy the luncheon and fashion show.

The silent auction items are donated by local merchants and friends, who, year after year, generously sup -

port this event. Among the tempting items, you’ll find restaurant gift certificates, passes to area attractions, fine art and jewelry, gift baskets, beauty, hair, nail & spa packages, a bounty of live plants and flowers, and more. I’m still enjoying the necklace I bid on several years ago.

The DGC invites you to join the party. It’s an opportunity to play games, spend time with friends, and enjoy food, fashion, and shopping. Tickets can be purchased on the DGC website or by calling Bonnie at 770639-3510. The ticket purchase deadline is Sunday, April 16. Get your tickets early and Swing into Spring with the Garden Club! I hope to see you there.

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

Columnist

KATHY MANOS PENN

Columnist

PRESERVING THE PAST

A Centenarian’s story of World War II (PART 2)

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

In Part 1 of Centenarian Henry (Hank) Cockerill’s story, we told of his experiences in France following the bloody invasion of Normandy in June 1944 when Allied forces marched across France toward Germany.

Hank’s exhausted battalion met up with the 7th Armored Division about Dec. 1 in Malmedy, Belgium, in the Ardennes Forest. After five days, Hank’s battalion went south about 16 miles to the town of St. Vith for a long overdue break.

Germany was on its last legs, or so thought Allied commanders, and no one expected any major offensives. American entertainers such as Marlene Dietrich and a group of baseball players led by Mel Ott of the New York Giants traveled to the Ardennes to entertain the troops. The Allies, including 500,000 Americans, were lightly defended, spread out along the 75-milelong forest, short of supplies, living in deep snow and bitter cold.

Battle of the Bulge

Hank tells a unique story about his experience. He became friends with the battalion cook, Frenchie. One day Frenchie suggested they take a hike. He said, “Let’s take our guns in case we see a deer and I will cook it.” They saw a deer across a valley about a mile east of St. Vith, then they heard a rumble. Hank says “I recognized Rommel’s old battalion of Tiger tanks with 81 caliber canons that could be lowered to shoot at ground forces. Two hundred tanks, all painted white, had been brought in from the Russian front. We weren’t prepared. We had settled down for the winter.”

Early on Dec. 16, an estimated 200,000 German troops with 800,000 in reserve and nearly 1,000 tanks launched a surprise attack along 50 miles of the forest.

At the end of the first day, the Germans broke through the American lines and captured key crossroads creating the “bulge” that gave the battle its name. Everything happened so quickly that troops often did not know what was happening nearby.

“Having to retreat knocked hell out of our morale. It was the breakthrough that no one expected,” says Hank. “That’s when Ike said ‘turn around and fight’ and we did.”

The Americans were quick to provide reinforcements. Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight Eisenhower rushed reinforcements to the bulge to prevent further penetration by the Germans. Gen. George Patton counterattacked with his Third Army. The Germans were ultimately

Hank Cockerill will celebrate his 100th birthday in May 2023. He joined the Army as a young man and had assignments in Europe during WWII, including Normandy following the D-Day invasion, the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Remagen. After the war, Hank went on to a distinguished career with The Coca-Cola Company, retiring in 1993 after 45 years.

American soldiers in heavy winter gear pause for a quick meal of K-rations in their advance during the Battle of the Bulge. The battle lasted six dreadful weeks, from Dec. 16, 1944, to mid-January 1945, The Allies ultimately prevailed but at a high cost. Approximately 19,000 American soldiers were killed in action, with 47,000 wounded and 23,000 missing.

Hank says “Our job was to disarm the explosives so our tanks could cross. One guy took the right side of the bridge and I took the left. We climbed on the girders and came across satchels full of dynamite. The wiring was different from ours and the wires were different colors. I had a feeling that the red wire was the one to cut. On the count of three I cut it and no explosion.”

After separation from the Army in December 1945, Hank’s first job was in Detroit selling Esquire calendars and playing cards.

“The challenge of sales gave me a thrill,” he remembers. He also owned a seasonal restaurant, Hank’s Hi-Da-Way, a Lake Huron favorite. He eventually realized he could not simultaneously work at a fulltime sales job, so he sold the restaurant.

thwarted and permanently weakened.

“I went back to find my pup tent,” says Hank. “It was full of bullet holes.”

The Battle of the Bulge was the largest and bloodiest single battle fought by the U.S. in WW II, with more than 19,000 killed. Fierce battles took place in Malmedy and St. Vith. In the Malmedy Massacre, 84 American soldiers were captured and executed by the Waffen-SS in a farmer’s field. St. Vith was a priority target due to its excellent road network. The Americans successfully defended the town, thereby slowing the German advance. Hank remained in the Ardennes until the middle of January.

Battle of Remagen

As German forces retreated, they destroyed all the bridges crossing the Rhine River except one, the Ludendorff Bridge in the town of Remagen. The bridge was mined but it had not exploded.

The two soldiers crawled toward satchels at the end of the bridge, but they were exposed to sharpshooters.

“We crawled back thinking we would disarm the explosives at night,” Hank says.

Just then a jeep drove up with a general on board. It turned out to be General Patton. He said, “What’s the delay?”

Hank replied, “We are going to remove the explosives tonight because of the sharpshooters.”

Patton said “Son, this is a war. People die. I want to cross the Rhine. Get back on the bridge.”

The men climbed back on the bridge, somehow avoided the sharpshooters, disarmed the explosives and saved the bridge from destruction.

Hank is a very humble man according to his son Gary.

“Dad has not spoken much about the war. He doesn’t volunteer information, but he will respond if people are really interested,” Gary says.

In December 1948, Hank obtained a job with The Coca-Cola Company selling Coke machines to outdoor movie theaters which were proliferating all over Michigan. He climbed the corporate ladder quickly thanks to his strong entrepreneurial spirit: district manager in Detroit, regional manager in Cleveland, senior regional manager in Baltimore. He was sent to Atlanta to create a sales team targeting the top 100 food chains in America. Hank’s team became the lead food service industry sales team for Coca-Cola. He worked 45 years at CocaCola, retiring to his home in Sandy Springs in 1993 as senior vice president, director National Accounts. He will celebrate his 100th birthday in May.

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/PROVIDED

U.S. ARMY PHOTO

FAMILY/PROVIDED

Hank Cockerill, left, receives an outstanding employee award from CocaCola President Donald Keough. At that time Cockerill was vice president of National Accounts, Coca-Cola USA.

WW II soldiers welcomed into local homes

When the United States entered World War II and Lawson General Hospital for wounded soldiers opened in nearby Chamblee, Effie McGaughey began thinking of ways to help recovering soldiers. McGaughey’s summer home was on what was Spruill Road and later became Meadow Lane. The home was a social gathering spot to a place for injured soldiers to rest and relax, known as Serviceman’s Shelter.

In “The Story of Dunwoody,” by Ethel Spruill and Elizabeth Davis, the authors describe the McGaughey home.

“Using a rustic building on the McGaughey property and colorful festive lanterns, church groups, community clubs, and Atlanta groups took turns at entertaining the boys and furnishing food and dance partners.”

Mrs. McGaughey also donated money for a new mobile emergency kitchen, capable of feeding 2,000 people. The truck could be driven around to different parts of Atlanta as part of the canteen corps of the Atlanta Red Cross. (Atlanta Constitution, June 7, 1942, “Canteen Corps Given Mobile Kitchen Here”)

Effie McGaughey and other Atlanta women organized a committee to plan parties for recovering soldiers around Atlanta. At the home of Carroll and Effie McGaughey, soldiers were entertained and treated with a barbeque supper and swimming, while listening to music by the Georgia Tech band, and a movie shown on an outdoor screen. (Atlanta Constitution, July 12, 1944, “Many parties are planned for convalescent officers”)

Mr. and Mrs. Ryburn Clay were on the list of homes opened to officers stationed in and around Atlanta. Their summer home was along the Chattahoochee River off Spalding Drive, and it included a swimming pool, tennis court, barn, horses and riding rings.

In August of 1944, the president of the Girls Battalion Club, Mary Parham Woolfolk, announced a swimming party and picnic at the Clay home, known as Lazy River Farm. The party was held for the officers of the armed forces stationed in and around Atlanta. (Atlanta Constitution, August 10, 1944, “Girls’ battalion gives picnic Sunday”)

The Girl’s Battalion Club was a group of 100 young women, usually from the “society” of 1940s Atlanta, who were organized to furnish hospitality

to the armed forces stationed in and around Atlanta. Every Friday, the group sent members to Lawson General Hospital in Chamblee to play Bingo with the patients. (Atlanta Constitution, August 2, 1942, “And now-hospitality for the officers in service”)

Ida Akers and her husband William owned a summer home known as Idalakers along Spalding Drive. She was a member of the Iris Garden Club, named for her favorite flower. In 1942, she was asked by a friend who lived far away to visit a patient at Lawson General Hospital. She gathered 100 gardenia blossoms from Idalakers and delivered them to the hospital for all the patients to enjoy. (Atlanta Constitution, July 1, 1942)

The Anderson family entertained injured soldiers at their home on the

corner of Tilly Mill Road and Mount Vernon Road with Sunday dinner, often following services at the Baptist church. Jane and Carolyn Anderson took their visitors around to see the sights of Dunwoody. Other families who entertained soldiers and patients of Lawson General Hospital were the Burell, Martin, and Kirby families.

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.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

PHOTO COURTESY OF “THE STORY OF DUNWOODY” During World War II, Effie and Carroll McGaughey entertained injured soldiers from Lawon General Hospital.

Jane Anderson spends the afternoon with a soldier from Lawson General Hospital.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JANE ANDERSON AUTRY

Discovering the brilliance of pink lady’s slippers

Every woodland walk or hike gives the observer an opportunity to view the seasonal transitions associated with the changing temperature, tree leaf cover and sunlight. My favorite spot for a daily walk is in the 150-acre wooded lot behind my house in Milton. Last year’s midApril walk revealed an amazing discovery! Not only are these Milton woods peppered with groves of native azaleas but also rare and protected Pink Lady’s Slippers. The first discovery revealed a handful of pink lady’s slippers, but as the April sun warmed the air and soil and the day length increased, more and more pink lady’s slippers emerged from their winter dormancy. By the end of April, my walking partner and I counted over 150 flowering plants!

Pink lady’s slippers are one of the most visually appealing of the many Georgia spring wildflowers. They are a native orchid species with one large pink, showy flower per plant. They are rare and protected by the Georgia Wildflower Preservation Act of 1973. Do not develop an urge to transplant one into your garden or pick the flowers, as it is illegal, and transplanting is almost always unsuccessful. What contributes to their rarity is destruction of their habitats, growth requirements and a seven-year reproductive cycle from seed to flowering. Over the last decade the metro Atlanta population has increased by almost a million people, creating a continuing need for new office buildings, homes and shopping areas and thus reducing the forest environment for lady’s slippers and other native plants and animals to thrive.

In February 2022, the Georgia Department of Transportation began a project to add lanes and a new exit/entry ramp onto Georgia 400 north of exit 11, Windward Parkway. During an environmental

assessment, the Department found a stand of close to 1000 pink lady’s slippers in the path of new construction. As required by law, it was determined the pink lady’s slippers needed to be saved and relocated. A team from the Department of Natural Resources and members of the Georgia Botanical Society attempted the difficult and meticulous task of digging up each individual plant along with its allimportant surrounding soil.

Pink lady’s slippers have a very poor transplant survival rate since they have a symbiotic relationship with a specific soil fungus. Without this fungus in the soil, they die. Even with the expertise of the Georgia Botanical Society and transporting the pink lady’s slippers to an area where the soil fungus was present, the survival rate was 70% with declining survival rates expected over time.

Scientists are learning more

each year about the network of interconnections among soil organisms and the types of plants that thrive in our environment. This spring, take a walk in the woods, closely observe the flora and fauna and you will be amazed at what you will find and learn about the north Georgia woodlands. Remember to leave the environment intact for the next visitor and for future generations.

Happy gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net.

About the Author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a Master Gardener since 2012. Carole describes herself as a born biologist. Since childhood, she loved to explore the out-of-doors and gardening with her mother. When she entered college, she selected biology as her major and made teaching high school biology her career for 35 years. After retirement in 2008, she had three goals: to move from Pittsburgh to Atlanta to be near her daughter and granddaughter, to volunteer, and to become a Master Gardener. Shortly after moving, she became involved with the philanthropic mission of the Assistance League of Atlanta (ALA) and in 2012, completed the Master Gardener program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners (NFMG) and the Milton Garden Club. Carole uses her teaching skills to create a variety of presentations on gardening topics for the NFMG Lecture Series and Speakers Bureau.

For more information

•“Plant Lovers Dig in, Save Pink Lady’s Slippers,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, December 10, 2022, page G-1

•Favorite Wildflower Walks in Georgia, Hugh Nourse and Carol Nourse, The University of Georgia Press, 2007, ISBN-13: 978-0-8203-2841-6

•North Fulton Master Gardenershttps://www.nfmg.net/

•To learn more about Spring Wildflowers, visit the NFMG YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/ sw4cdG3OoOA)

CAROLE MACMULLAN Guest Columnist

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Pink Lady’s Slipper on a wooded property in Milton, Georgia

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