Forsyth Herald - April 27, 2023

ONE-STOP NERD SHOP

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. —

While comic book and hobby shops have sprung up in Metro Atlanta in recent years, Kapow Comics focuses on the interests of its customers in a unique way.

“Atlanta area is probably the mecca of the nerd world,” store owner Andy Diehl said. “And if you do research and look it up, you'll see how many stores fail, open and closed, that are like this ... And at the end of the day, it's the ones who take care of their customers that keep their stores open.”

After a career in retail, Diehl said he realized he disliked working for others, which spurred his decision to expand his collection from the home into his own business.

Kapow, located in the Westlake Terrace plaza off Lake Center Parkway in Cumming, offers comic books, manga, figurines and an open space for trading card and tabletop games.

Kapow Comics brings collectors to Cumming

Developer unveils plans for 100-acre social venue

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A North Georgia businessman has announced plans for a 100-acre mixed-use entertainment, dining and social venue.

Plans for The Gathering at South Forsyth, a proposed entertainment hub at Union Hill Road and Ronald Reagan Boulevard, were on tap for discussion at an April 25 work session of the Forsyth County Commission. Public hearings on the project are scheduled for May.

County Commission Chairman Alfred John said The Gathering at South Forsyth will generate thousands of jobs and serve as an economic driver.

“It will enhance what our county currently offers with an added focal point for world-class events, shopping and dining,” John said. “And it will generate thousands of jobs both during, and after construction.”

The 100-acre project is the dream of Vernon Krause, CEO of Krause Auto Group, which operates a collection of family-owned dealerships across four states in the Southeast.

Forsyth County Commissioner Laura Semanson said road projects in the area, like the widening of McGinnis Ferry Road, the Ga. 400 McGinnis Ferry interchange and the Ronald Reagan Boulevard extension will mitigate traffic impacts from the new development.

“This project will be of a similar caliber to other successfully executed mixed-use developments like Avalon and Halcyon,” Semanson said. “Finally, it will provide the county with significant added tax revenue that will benefit every resident with long-term economic viability.”

The development plan includes 1.6 million square feet of commercial and retail space, an arena, a community center, a fire station, 450 hotel rooms with meeting spaces and residential units.

— Shelby Israel

PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Top, Kapow Comics owner Andy Diehl, far right, and employees stand by the counter. Kapow Comics offers an array of merchandise and games for hobbyists and fans.

THE GATHERING AT SOUTH FORSYTH/PROVIDED This rendering shows The Gathering at South Forsyth, a mixed-use and walkable entertainment hub on 100 acres at Union Hill Road and Ronald Reagan Boulevard.

770-442-3278 AppenMedia.com

Poole’s Mill Elementary teacher arrested for child pornography

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A former fourth grade teacher at Poole’s Mill Elementary School was arrested on child pornography charges and online sexual exploitation of children April 21.

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The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office arrested James Andrew Cecil, 38, of Cumming on nine warrants for possession of child pornography and one warrant for sexual exploitation of children. Cecil was released from the Forsyth County Jail on a bond amount of $55,200.

“James Andrew ‘Drew’ Cecil taught

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.

Deputies arrest man on felony marijuana charges

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a Jeffersonville man after an April 2 traffic stop allegedly uncovered large packages of marijuana in his car.

Deputies reported observing a Honda Accord traveling 20 miles over the speed limit, and the vehicle’s tag was expired.

When they conducted a traffic stop at Bethelview and Atlanta roads, deputies reported sensing the odor of marijuana coming from the car when speaking to the driver, Ronnie Clark, 28, of Jeffersonville.

Deputies reported searching Clark’s vehicle and finding a scale, baggies and three large, packaged bags of marijuana. Clark was charged with felony possession of a Schedule 1 substance with intent to distribute.

and coached volleyball at North Forsyth High School from 2016-21 and taught fourth grade at Poole’s Mill Elementary School since 2021,” Forsyth County Schools said in a statement. “He has not been at school since April 14 when we were made aware of the allegations against him.”

The Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit had received a time sensitive tip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children that identified Cecil as a suspect regarding online sexual exploitation of

Two women charged for drug possession

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested two women on multiple substance charges following a traffic stop April 16.

Deputies reported responding to reports of a Chevy Malibu that was not moving on a green light on Buford Highway near Sanders Road. They observed the driver Victoria Estevan, 34, of Illinois, had dilated pupils and bloodshot and watery eyes.

Estevan was placed under arrest for DUI, the report states, and deputies conducted a search of the vehicle. They reported finding a glass pipe with burnt methamphetamine residue in a pocket in Estevan’s purse and cocaine in a folded foil wrapper in her wallet.

Deputies also reported finding a bag of marijuana, an unlabeled bottle of prescription pills, gold Kratom pills and CBD gummies inside a makeup bag in the glovebox.

Estevan allegedly denied possessing any drugs, and she reportedly blamed the passenger, Amanda Boone, 37, of North Carolina. Deputies found half of a pink pill in Boone’s wallet, the report states.

Deputies reported confirming the substances they found as methamphetamine, Kratom, CBD, cocaine and marijuana.

a child.

The school district and Sheriff’s Office said no children from Forsyth County Schools were involved in the investigation, and Cecil is no longer employed by the school district as of April 21. Staff said the district cannot legally share further personnel information.

Parents, guardians or former students who have information on Cecil’s charges are asked to contact the county Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation remains ongoing.

— Shelby Israel

They also identified the pills as Alprazolam and Adderall.

Boone was charged with felony possession of a Schedule 4 controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and possession of a Schedule 2 substance. She is being held at the County Jail, with bond set at $23,435.

Deputies charged Estevan with felony possession of cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as misdemeanor DUI drugs and failure to obey a traffic control device. Her bond is set at $25,655.

School Board rejects first book appeal under new Georgia law

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County School Board denied a parent’s appeal to have a book removed from a school library under an appeals process set up under a new state law.

It was the first time the appeals process under the harmful to minors policy had been implemented in the district, and the parent filing the complaint said the board has not been accessible throughout the process.

The Board of Education voted unanimously April 18 to affirm the principal’s decision to allow “Endlessly Ever After” to remain in the Daves Creek Elementary School library. District 1 Board Member Wes McCall was absent from the vote.

Parent and speaker Jonathan McCord, who filed the complaint and appeal, said the children’s book, in which the young protagonist must kiss a sleeping maiden to escape a fairytale world, encourages pedophilia to children.

Criteria for banning books

McCord’s complaint falls under one of the district’s policies that set the criteria that must be met for book challenges.

The harmful to minors policy mandates the book must appeal “to the prurient,

shameful, or morbid interest of minors”; be offensive to the adult community as a whole with respect to what is appropriate for minors; and be lacking in serious literary, political, artistic or scientific value when taken as a whole to be removed.

The policy mirrors language in the 2022 state Senate Bill 226, which streamlined the process in which parents can challenge school library books. The legislation also placed the burden of the book reviews in the hands of the school principal, and community school boards may enact a final review of the materials within 30 days if the parent appeals the principal’s decision.

After the principal’s decision to keep the book in the library, McCord filed an appeal to the Board of Education for final review.

The vote marked the board’s first decision on a book under the full process of the harmful to minors policy.

When McCord’s three-minute allotment for speaking ended, he requested the board allow him more time. He said he had received feedback from only one board member during the review process.

"Now we have time, and I'm saying there's more to talk about,” McCord said. “Once again, you've chosen not to listen to the parents in this school system.”

After the vote, District 5 Board Member Mike Valdes said he studies all book reviews and appeals intently.

“I will not hesitate to vote accordingly when a book comes before me that contains content that is harmful to minors,” Valdes said.

Parents respond

Despite the School Board’s assurance, county parents and residents took to the stand to request more oversight and action on students’ access to themes they find inappropriate.

Speaker Kathy Stewart showed board members pages from the manga series “Assassination Classroom,” saying she was concerned the violence in a school depicted in the books could encourage copycat behavior in light of the March 27 school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee.

One volume, Stewart said, depicts characters saying “ready, aim, fire” to their teacher, and the March arrests of six students who made threats against schools in the district made the content in the series alarming.

"It's these types of books that add to the illusion that the graphics on a page are not reality, and what they do is harming a real human life,” Stewart said. “Is it possible that some of our students have trouble differentiating fantasy from reality?”

Speaker Jere Krischel said book

publishers should censor inappropriate portions of the text, and he requested the School Board remove inappropriate books until publishers provide censored versions.

Resident Renee Clare-Kovacs spoke in favor of the district’s current process, saying she has faith in library professionals to understand what is appropriate and inappropriate for children.

Also at the meeting, board members recognized students Lakelyn Smith, Alexa Mederos-Olguin and Luke Droegemueller for their participation in the Chattahoochee and East Forsyth Cluster Orchestras.

The group includes students in the Chattahoochee String Orchestra; the East Forsyth Youth and Community Orchestra; the East Forsyth String Orchestra; the Chestatee String Orchestra; and the Little Mill String Orchestra.

“Being able to play an instrument was a fun thing overall,” Smith said. “But what really impacted me was all the bonds and friendships I had made throughout the years within orchestra.”

The School Board also adopted its 2023-2024 school year Code of Conduct, which adds an amendment to prohibit students from loitering in unsupervised areas of school campuses.

Blank Family Foundation giving surpasses $1 billion

By MARIA SAPORTA SaportaReport

ATLANTA – What a milestone – $1 billion!

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation just passed the $1 billion threshold in grants made and committed.

Arthur Blank, co-founder of the Home Depot and majority owner of the Atlanta Falcons, began giving away money through his foundation in 1995 – donating a little more than $5 million that first year.

Over the decades, Blank has become a prominent philanthropist primarily in Georgia and Montana, investing in a myriad of charitable causes.

“I feel so blessed that our family is fortunate enough to reach this milestone,” Blank responded in an email. “I’m incredibly proud and grateful, but I also know that there’s more to be done. We couldn’t have reached a billion in giving without the partnership of so many nonprofit organizations doing the work in our communities, and we’ll continue working together to address some of our society’s most important challenges.”

The $1 billion investment has supported early childhood education, parks and green space, the arts, health and wellness, college and career preparation, the environment as well the ongoing revitalization of Atlanta’s Westside neighborhoods.

In the past two years, under the leadership of Fay Twersky, the foundation’s giving has accelerated to about $100 million a year. The family foundation currently has five priority areas: democracy, youth development, climate change and the environment, mental health and Atlanta’s Westside. It also has identified team members to lead each of those priority areas.

“It’s been a fantastic two years and two months,” Twersky said in an exclusive interview with SaportaReport. “I love being in Atlanta, and I love the opportunity to get to know this community and develop relationships with nonprofits and work with a remarkable family in order to really fulfill the aspirations of the family. I feel great about where things are.”

In addition to the priority areas, Blank is giving money away through his “founder initiatives” – including his commitment in 2020 to donate $200 million to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for the new $1.5 billion Arthur M. Blank Hospital.

“One of Arthur’s sayings is that there is no finish line,” Twersky said. “But there are mile markers along the way. This is a huge milestone for Arthur, for the foundation and for the communities we serve. It’s important to celebrate important milestones. Arthur has given so much, and there’s so much more to be done.”

Twersky said the $1 billion marker is an opportune time to take stock of what the foundation has accomplished and to strategize on how it can have the greatest impact going forward.

“We are committed to accelerating our philanthropy, and while we don’t know exactly when we’ll reach the next billion, I remain committed to my pledge to direct 95 percent of my wealth to our family foundation,” Blank said. “The last 25-plus years have been a blessing, and I’m looking forward to what the future brings.”

Twersky expects the foundation to continue giving at a pace of at least $100 million a year – which means it would reach its $2 billion mark in the next decade.

See GIVING, Page 20

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Forsyth County schedules annual Citizens’ Academy

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Those who wish to learn more about how Forsyth County government operates may attend any of a series of summer programs the county has on tap.

County staff announced the second annual Citizens’ Academy, which will take place twice monthly on Wednesdays from May 24-Aug. 30. The classes will run from 6-8 p.m., and participants must be at least 18 years old and a county resident, student or business owner.

Officials from the county Finance, Fire, Community Development and Planning departments will host some of the classes.

County schedules public surveys to update transportation plan

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — With ever-increasing growth in population and commerce, Forsyth County will update its transportation plan in February.

This marks the first change to the comprehensive transportation plan since 2018. The plan uses stakeholder and community input to draft guidelines for future transportation investments, including needs, funding decisions and projects.

Since the plan’s last update, the county reported a 132 percent population increase between 20002019. In 2021, Forsyth County abandoned its longtime membership in the Georgia Mountain Regional Commission and joined the Atlanta Regional Commission to reflect its demographic more suited to the Atlanta Region.

The update is funded in partnership with the Atlanta Regional Commission under the Federal Surface Transportation Program.

Work will include drafting an action plan that will include project recommendations and transporta -

tion-related improvements, such as new roads, road widenings, intersection improvements and possible accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians.

County officials are asking residents to engage in the process through virtual and in-person meetings this year in April and May and in August and September.

Through the end of May, the county will host a booth at community events, an online survey and an open house meeting from 5-7 p.m. April 26 at the Central Park Recreation Center.

The survey can be completed at wikimapping.com/Forsyth-CountyComprehensive-Transportation-Plan. html.

The county will also host five district-centered open houses on project prioritization in August and September, as well as a second online survey.

Plan documents, updates and event information can be found at forsythctp2024.com/.

— Shelby Israel

County Manager David McKee said the program is designed to inspire residents to become community leaders themselves.

Space in the classes is limited, and spots will be given on a first come, first served basis. Those interested can fill out an application at forsythco.com/Departments-Offices/Communications/Community-Engagement/ Citizens-Academy-Application.

Applications must be submitted by May 5. For more information on the academy, residents are asked to contact Taylor Hall at TDHall@forsythco. com.

— Shelby Israel

FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED

Forsyth County residents visit the Fowler Water Reclamation Facility during the 2022 Citizens’ Academy.

Johns Creek students host exhibit

chronicling area’s COVID history

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Student Leadership Johns Creek showcased the experience of COVID-19 through a community lens in a student-led “Same Storm, Different Boats” exhibit at Northview High School April 19.

Students from four area schools demonstrated their August 2022-March 2023 research through photos, interviews and collaborative projects in the Northview High School food court on Parsons Road.

Guests toured the exhibit, which featured interviews with first responders and community public servants, COVID in the local media and firsthand experiences on color-coordinated poster boards.

Students from Northview High School Katie Bernard, Hasini Bollampalli, Neha Gurram, Riya Havanur, Irene Huang, Rohan Mistry and Yatihya Sahoo were responsible for audio visual evidence of the project.

Johns Creek High School students Olivia Bernard, Maggie Dowd, Reagan Forkey, Yoseop Han, Heather Hutmacher, Grace McGehee and McKeith McIlhinney provided the written evidence in the exhibit.

Secretary of State ambassadors Brady Carnsesale, Neha Gurram, Alisha Kohli, Varsha Nirmal, Tiffany Obasohan, Lakshana Ramanan, Aria Smith, Nicholas Stone and Shruthi Balachander contributed to the project’s oral history evidence.

Obasohan, whose group was responsible for interviews with judicial and public officials, as well as education and government leaders, said working on the exhibit changed her perspective on the pandemic.

“Being an opportunity to meet some people I never thought I would before really showed me what it means to have a pandemic in my community,” Obasohan said. “It truly just takes a little bit of care from everybody to get out of things like this.”

Innovation Academy students Sana Fatima, Rebecca Gottlieb, Nyneishia Janarthanan, Chloe Lee, Aabha Muley, Tanmaya Muvva, Lakshana Ramanan, Aditi Satghare and Ananya Tadepalli also contributed photographic evidence to the exhibit.

Funded by a Humanities Seed Grant from the Mercer University Office of the Provost and a Teaching with Primary Sources Grant from the Library of Congress, the students reflected on their experiences, questions and feelings to craft a diverse retelling of COVID in the community.

“I'm really grateful to have the privilege to be able to do this because we live in a privileged community where some of us had better experiences than places that are more underprivileged or not developed,” Balachander said. “Overall, I'm really grateful and happy for this project.”

The full exhibit can be viewed online at studentleadershipjohnscreek.com/ same-storm-different-boats.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Secretary of State Ambassador Tiffany Obasohan displays her team’s work at the “Same Storm, Different Boats” exhibit at Northview High School April 19. Obasohan and fellow ambassadors handled interviews with judicial and public officials, as well as education and government leaders.

Georgia National Guard to advertise at north Metro Atlanta high schools

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — The Georgia Army National Guard is mounting an advertising effort to increase recruitment and awareness at 67 Georgia public high schools, including some in north Metro Atlanta. Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton and Johns Creek high schools are among dozens of schools throughout the state whose students will be targeted with location-based advertising.

The National Guard will use geofencing, which serves ads to social media users based on their location data, with the “intent of generating qualified leads of potential applicants for enlistment” from the 17 to 24-year-old demographic, according to contract documents obtained by Appen Media.

In addition to high school juniors, seniors and recent graduates, documents said the campaign will target parents who visit school locations and “centers of influence” at the schools, like coaches and school counselors.

The proposed contract, which closed bidding in February but has not yet been publicly awarded, stipulates concentrating on a 1-mile radius around each school through social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and oth-

ers. The infamous video-sharing social network, TikTok, which is banned for official United States Department of Defense use, will not be included in the campaign, despite its enormous popularity among young people.

Other schools included in the ad-

vertising campaign include Cambridge High School in Milton and Centennial High School in Roswell. However, within a mile radius of nearly all the schools listed, there are middle and elementary schools that could also be targeted.

An Associated Press report from

February said the U.S. Army fell about 15,000 soldiers, or 25 percent short of its recruitment goals in 2022. Officials said this may be due to a declining perception of army life among young people.

Army officials told the Associated Press that, based on information gathered through surveys, they believe young people do not see the Army as a safe place or a good career path, as previous generations might have.

Representatives from the Georgia Army National Guard could not be reached for comment on the advertising campaign.

In an email to Appen Media, Fulton County Schools Media Relations Manager Anne Boatwright said the school system is not involved with the Georgia National Guard’s advertising plans but does supply student directory information to aid in military recruitment, as required by Georgia law.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, local schools are required to release the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of high school students when requested by military recruiters, unless students or parents request that the information not be made available. Attempts to reach representatives at the DeKalb County School System for comment were unsuccessful.

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA Dunwoody High School is one of 67 Georgia schools that will be taregeted by Georgia Army National Guard’s advertising campaign.

Kapow:

Continued from Page

Beyond its official offerings, the shop serves as a place of community and fun for hobbyists and collectors.

“Everybody's welcome to come here,” Diehl said. “Everybody, we don't care. There's no discrimination, there's no judgment, there's nothing.”

A niche offering

Customers are greeted with packed shelves of figures, comic books and graphic novels. To the right of the main sales floor is a sprawling space dedicated to a Pokémon league, tabletop games and an upcoming corner for retro video games.

Diehl said he targeted comic books when he opened the shop, and the neighboring expansion was added for games to maintain a quiet reading and browsing space.

Each week, Kapow hosts Dungeons and Dragons, Werewolf and Warhammer games. The first Sunday of the month is reserved for painting and building miniatures, and Tuesdays and Wednesdays mark comic book release days.

Diehl said the shop’s busiest days are Saturdays, which are dedicated to its Pokémon league of over 100 members.

“It is whole families coming in here, mom, dad, their kids, their nephews,” Diehl said. “They've created a community to themselves to come in here and play Pokémon … It's not like any Pokémon league anybody goes to.”

Diehl said Kapow does not charge for its card and tabletop games as much as other stores in the industry, and the shop aims for price to not be an obstacle to participation.

Adults are asked to purchase a $5 store gift card to play Dungeons and Dragons, and Magic the Gathering Commander players aged 13 and older contribute $5 to a prize pool.

“We just prefer you to come in and have a good time,” Diehl said.

The Kapow comeback

When Kapow opened in 2012, Diehl said he had less than $200 in the cash register and $1 in the store bank account.

“It was kind of spooky,” Diehl said. “The store was packed full of product. I had $172 in the cash register, and I said, ‘Well, we'll see if this works.’ I had zero working capital, and I was doing it by myself.”

The shop’s niche product offerings and loyal community kept the business growing. But in 2017, Diehl said a fire had destroyed $300,000 in inventory in the shop’s back room at a previous location.

After recouping losses from the fire, the shop closed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Diehl said he had no intentions of reopening.

“Then we saw a void in the community that said they wanted the store here, somebody’s store, so I looked at it again,” Diehl said. “We started the same way again over here. We started off a little smaller space to see what the community would bear, and it was just huge.”

Moving forward, Diehl said he plans to dedicate the back wall of the shop to anime, manga and Japanese pop culture. He also hopes to expand the store’s selection of T-shirts.

Now, the shop has four employees, and its success has enabled Diehl to open its dedicated space for games.

“We're trying to make this the one-stop nerd shop,” Diehl said.

Kapow Comics is located in Suite 108 at 540 Lake Center Parkway in Cumming. The shop is open from 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Andy Diehl owns Kapow Comics on Lake Center Parkway in Cumming. Diehl, who co-owns the shop with his wife, departed a career in retail to pursue his passions in the business.

“I had zero working capital, and I was doing it by myself.”

ANDY DIEHL Owner of Kapow Comics

Kapow Comics sells comic books, collectible figures and storage boxes. The shop, owned by Andy Diehl, offers an array of merchandise and games for hobbyists and fans.

Youth theater marks 20 years with ‘SpongeBob the Musical’

ROSWELL, Ga. — Christian Youth Theater Atlanta, a nonprofit youth development and arts organization, celebrated its 20th anniversary with its 50th main stage production, “SpongeBob the Musical,” April 20-23.

Held at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, the production was a familyfriendly musical based on the popular Nickelodeon cartoon series. It had higher stakes than ever as SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom faced the total annihilation of their undersea world.

Christian Youth Theater (CYT) Atlanta was founded in 2003 with a mission to provide arts education and community theater productions for North Fulton and surrounding areas. Since then, the organization has served more than 10,000 students and produced over 50 main stage shows.

“It is hard to believe that we are celebrating this milestone,” said Connie Matthews, CYT Atlanta executive director. “We have had the joy of watching students enter this program as early as 5 years old and graduate high school at 18. Many of our alumni are working actors locally, on cruise ships, off Broadway and on.”

In addition to providing students with the opportunity to perform, CYT At-

lanta also offers a variety of educational programs, including classes in acting, singing, dancing and music. The organization’s mission is to build character on and off stage, and Matthews says that

she is most proud of the growth she has seen in many of the students she has worked with.

“Several of our students pursue music, dance, or musical theater and

have received generous scholarships at renowned universities,” said Matthews. “Many have graduated from college and are working and living their dreams, and we couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Tara Tucker

CYT ATLANTA/PROVIDED

The cast of Christian Youth Theatre’s “SpongeBob the Musical” will perform at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center April 20-23 in celebration of the theater’s 20th anniversary.

Misconceptions about active Adult 55+ living

you by - Outlook Gwinnett

Assumption: Active Adult and Independent Living are the same thing Reality: FALSE! Active adult communities serve as choice-based option for individuals 55 and better who may not be ready for the needsbased services and amenities of a traditional senior living community.

Assumption: Active Adult site staff are medically certified

Reality: FALSE! Our staff does not provide any medical care or interventions. This allows our residents to maintain their long-time health care providers and medical independence.

Assumption: I have to be retired in order to move into an Active Adult community

Reality: FALSE! Just like living in a multi-family community, we encourage our residents to continue to engage in their career and social interests as they did prior to moving in!

The Active Adult environment caters to older adults who typically have lower health needs and prefer an active,

community-based lifestyle where they can engage with their neighbors of similar age. This may allow for a stronger sense of community and an easier adjustment to apartment living. Here at Outlook Gwinnett, we seek to provide luxurious, worry-free living long before you are ready to relinquish your independence. Look forward to spending hot summer days lounging by our meticulously cared for outdoor pool! Or connect with your neighbors and plan your evening get-togethers around our stocked wine nook and sports lounge. Add in our community calendar, packed with a never-ending variety of SUN program activities, the possibilities are limitless here at Outlook Gwinnett!

Stop by our leasing office today to find out how to reserve a spot in this unique community today.

1500 Laurel Crossing Parkway Buford, GA 30519

(678) 890-5371

outlookgwinnett.com

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How does Medicare work when I travel?

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With spring in full swing and the summer travel months upon us, many of us will be traveling stateside or to a foreign country. An important part of planning is understanding how your Medicare insurance coverage works outside of where you live. This will vary depending on your type of plan.

If you have Traditional Medicare and a Medicare Supplement Plan, you may see any doctor or hospital in the United States that accepts Medicare, either for emergency or non-emergency care. Coverage outside of the United States is not covered by Traditional Medicare; however, your Medicare Supplement plan will provide emergency coverage outside of the United States.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your coverage will depend on your network type, typically a PPO or an HMO. A PPO style network will give you national coverage for emergency, urgent care and non-emergen -

cy services. An HMO style network would only provide for emergency and urgent care services outside of your plan’s service area (typically the county or a group of counties around where you live). For foreign travel, the Medicare Advantage plan will provide emergency coverage only while outside of the United States.

When traveling internationally, we recommend acquiring additional Trip Insurance. This will typically give you additional health insurance protection when traveling. Most Trip Insurance policies will bundle other protections into the policy, such as lost baggage and last-minute cancellation coverage. Also, when planning international travel, it is a good idea to touch base with your Medicare insurance carrier to fully understand coverage outside of the United States.

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Broken relationships between parents and their grown children are, sadly, very common. Whether actions were simply misunderstood or serious emotional injury was inflicted, it’s a painful situation for everyone involved. While you may not be entirely responsible, initiating reconciliation may be up to you. Here are some points to keep in mind as you seek to reconnect:

• Remember your child is an adult. While you may feel that just yesterday they were children, they are grown and should be treated with the respect they deserve.

Gorman Agent

• Acknowledge your contribution. There are two sides to every story

- harmless actions in your eyes may have been seen as hurtful to your child. Try to understand their perspective and apologize for your part.

• Be fair. This doesn’t mean you accept all blame and overlook their wrongdoings, but criticizing everything you see wrong may do more harm than good - try to stick to the current issue.

• Get support. By reaching out to a friend or therapist, you can gain a neutral perspective that can help you be more objective and empathetic. Navigating relationships with adult children can be tricky, but the reward of a healthy connection is worth it. Visit summitcounseling.org to view our services and see how we can help you in your journey!

Reconnecting with your adult child: A guide to healing broken relationships

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

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- 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 placebocontrolled.

So where do things stand? Some individuals are purchasing Melanotan I and II illegally, as these chemicals are part of the steroid and tanningbed 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!

Spruill Center students tour Atlanta street art

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Since moving to Virginia Highlands in 1981, Taylor Daly said she has watched the “march of gentrification” throughout Atlanta.

“This city was built on a really strong African American economy,” Daly said, “and we have not honored it.”

Daly had just finished the introductory class on street art at the Spruill Center for the Arts, part of a six-week curriculum developed by Brave Nu Ventures. In it, Leigh Elion, an academic who examines street art in the context of urban development, lectured about the rhetoric of the medium as a response to gentrification in Atlanta’s historically Black communities.

“Street art is so important because it's still people's voices,” Daly said. “It's people's voices, and I want to be able to listen to it.”

Daly, alongside her sister and longtime friend, are among about a dozen of the course’s students. “Exploring Street Art in Atlanta” was designed over a year, with the help of local artists and scholars. Rachel Griner, founder of Brave Nu Ventures, says it’s one of only a handful out there.

“If we looked at street art with that same kind of lens of educational validity, intellectual validity, creative validity, we would have courses,” Griner said.

Griner, who lived in Atlanta 20 years ago and has recently returned, noticed how street art had grown to be a defining part of Atlanta.

“It really hit me how much of a cultural asset it is,” Griner said. “It's everywhere.”

Griner is expected to lead one class about the merits of street art. Other instructors will be Malcom Turpin, who teaches graffiti, and Aysha Pennerman, a muralist. The course will culminate in a student-produced chalk mural on one of the Spruill Center’s walls, using insights and techniques provided by Pennerman.

As one student pointed out — the class had exclusively White women, late to middle-aged. Before the class, students shared why they decided to sign up for a course on street art.

Answers varied — whether it be the love for its aesthetic or the story, which is often political. Some also shared how they’re “illiterate” in street art and simply wanted to know more about a medium that permeates the City of Atlanta.

“One thing that I love about it is the message comes from the people and not from the media,” said one student who had been a fan of street art for 20 years.

Street art rhetoric

Elion, director of Emory’s Writing Center, described the uniqueness of street art in how it is an active, transformative process that tells viewers something about what artists, or communities want the city

to look like and how they want people to relate with one another.

“Street art, to me, offers us a powerful tool for understanding how other people want to be able to exist and live their lives in a city,” Elion said. “It’s a really powerful tool for understanding the experiences of other people, even those who might be different from us.”

Elion said Atlanta’s street art tends to deepen ties to community roots, revise narratives about belonging to include the marginalized as well as model an ethics of community engagement.

One of Elion’s objectives with her presentation was to provide students a set of questions they could use to approach or interpret street art, despite abstract qualities or personal unfamiliarity.

When viewing street art, Elion recommended that students ask themselves questions about elements of the mural, what they notice, where the mural is located — how a neighborhood might explain what is seen, and vice versa.

She also recommended students look at themselves when they look at street art.

“We might not always like an artist’s stylistic choices. We might not always get a reference. We might not agree if something is overtly political,” Elion said. “We might not agree with it. We might not understand

it.”

But Elion said the art might prompt students to take up its argument and to take action like meeting their neighbors, advocating for historical preservation or affordable housing, challenging racial and gender stereotypes, or by learning about the histories important to other people.

“Street art really invites us to look at the city, so that we might, with our communities, develop a shared vision for the future,” Elion said.

To the streets

The following week, students took Elion’s instruction to the streets of the Castleberry Hills and South Downtown in Atlanta April 22, under the guidance of Claudia Hart, founder of ATL Street Art Tours.

Calling the tour an “open air gallery,” Hart used a Maya Angelou quote to define its premise: “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” She said her objective was to create a shared experience with a diverse group of people.

Starting on Peters Street, Hart highlighted around 10 murals across a 2-mile walk, describing their history and connection to the neighborhood as well as through her own perspective. Most of the murals offered social commentary, which Hart and

Griner would ask the students about.

Some murals on the tour had been around for years, like Faatimah Stevens’ on Peters Street which has “Hey Brown Girl You’re Beautiful” in bold, black letters and an outline of a Black woman wearing a cultural headdress.

Hart said street artists in Atlanta are good at preserving murals, whereas artists in other cities might be less respectful. But walls easily become a free-for-all, she said, once someone breaks into frame with their own tag.

One mural sparked Hart to recall a conversation she had with her mother.

“She’ll say, ‘Kids are so resilient,’” Hart said. “And I'm like, ‘Please stop saying that. I understand that may be the case, but kids shouldn’t have to be resilient.”

Painted by New Orleans-based Brandan Odums, Walker Street featured a black-and-white image of a Black child with his arms raised and fists clenched. The child, genderless, appeared as though they hadn't slept. Their eyes had a haunted look. Ribs were pronounced.

But the backdrop was bright yellow, and flowers burst forth from behind the child’s head. The words, “God is Love” were painted to the far right. Hart said the contrast could represent the need to protect innocence.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA ATL Street Art Tours founder Claudia Hart, center, describes Travis Love’s Coca-Cola mural off Peters Street.

Roswell Housing Authority seeks to revive Grove Way

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Nearly one year after the residents of 199 Grove Way were displaced from their public housing units, the Roswell Housing Authority has a $30 million plan to redevelop the complex.

The Roswell Housing Authority owns the 40-unit complex in the Pelfrey Pines public housing development, designated for seniors and people with disabilities that make less than 80 percent of the area’s median income.

In July 2022 the residents were told the property had been condemned and everyone needed to find another place to live. At the April 11 board meeting, the Roswell Housing Authority announced the last remaining tenant had been relocated.

It’s a step that moves the housing authority closer to demolishing the existing building and increasing the number of units to 102. The residents who left the property would have “first right of refusal” according to officials with the City of Roswell.

Grove Way is managed in partnership with the Gainesville Housing Authority, helmed by Executive Director Beth Brown.

Project plans take shape

The Roswell Housing Authority declared the 199 Grove Way units structurally unsound in 2022. The building was held up in some parts with metal supports, and residents had issues with mold, cracks and doors that didn’t close.

The $30 million redevelopment project calls for tearing down the existing building and construct new units, increasing capacity by over 60 apartments. It will be helmed by the developer Pennrose.

Roswell Housing Authority Chair Karen Parrish said the group has about 2,000 people on a waiting list for the Grove Way homes.

“They’re so old that it takes a while to go through just because people have found other housing or they don’t respond or their address has changed,” Brown said.

At a March 27 Roswell City Council meeting, officials changed requirements for Grove Way to allow for redevelopment.

Schumacher said the group is still looking at public art for the property but wanted to remove the financial requirement.

Parrish said she wants to be “especially responsible with every dime,” and that involves prioritizing homes over anything else.

With the property rezoned for the major development, the housing authority must look to securing the funds from local and state sources. In the meantime, the property will remain vacant.

Gainesville Housing Authority Executive Director Beth Brown said the Roswell Police Department approached the group about potentially using the space to run drills.

“We agreed there would not be a problem with it, and it could be a win for us just having a greater police presence here on site,”

Another board member asked for advance notice to residents, so they can know when drills will be happening. Brown said the housing authority could give notice that drills would “happen occasionally.”

Board member Schumacher said the housing authority should also avoid any liability with the police, because the building has already been condemned for safety reasons.

“We want to make sure that’s accepted and it’s not a problem for insurance because this is like, a secondary use,” Schumacher said.

Finding the funds

The Roswell City Council approved $2 million in grant funding for the Roswell Housing Authority at an April 11 meeting, a step toward securing a 9 percent Low Income Housing Tax Credit worth $6 million.

To qualify for the credit the housing authority must show proof of financial support. The $2 million loan from the city proves some funding, but the group is looking at other options to fill the gap.

Parrish said she met with state representatives, including members of Sen. Raphael Warnock’s office to talk about using appropriation funds for the project. She said the office likely won’t provide an answer in time for the tax credit deadline in May.

Roswell hosts Georgia run to honor fallen veteran

ROSWELL, Ga. — Runners raced through a 4.2-mile path that looped around Roswell City Hall early on Saturday, April 15 to participate in the state’s only annual Pat Tillman honor

run. The run honored the legacy and impact of football star-turned-army ranger Pat Tillman.

The adjusted plans will allow four story portions of Roswell Housing Authority buildings to exceed 100 feet in depth and all building lengths to exceed 300 feet.

“We also eliminated the requirement to spend about $200,000 on public art, because we thought it would be better spent on housing,” said Eric Schumacher, Roswell Housing Authority board member.

The city had also explored using COVID-19 funds in the past, the board said, but the group is uncertain about the logistics of accessing the funds. Board members said it’s a “positive thing” in discussion.

The tax credit application is due by May 19, but the housing authority won’t know until November whether it has secured the funds.

— Delaney Tarr

PHOTOS BY DELANEY TARR

The Proud. The Few. Always a fit

Shame on me for not seeing the big picture a lot sooner. As a coach of a 12-yearold baseball team, Jud Howard was a kid who could part the clouds on a bad day.

There was an assistant coach so infuriating he could’ve made any preacher cuss like a Marine. With a comment and some encouragement, Jud offered perspective that was wise beyond his years. Sitting on a bucket between innings, often it was difficult for me to appreciate who was doing the coaching.

MIKE TASOS Columnist

Of course, without exception, I always walked away giggling at the perspective of a 6th-grader well on his way to being able to invent curse words that were both creative and appropriate. It’s also germane that Jud could do a spoton imitation of me as a third-base coach, complete with signs, arm-waving and facial expressions.

No fear from a 12-year-old. It was a preview of what would be his life five years later. Tack on another five years and Jud, last week, left California and

his life as Sgt. Howard USMC, behind. Prior to hopping on a bus and heading for legendary Parris Island in South Carolina, I joined The Order of The Restless Nights (Jon Howard, Cheech Milano and Papa Kenny Cagle) sat around his dad’s pool, smoking cigars and trying to find the words to express our feelings.

We guys aren’t the best at that type of thing, so we wished him the best, handed him a little spending money and saw him off. Kenny has since died. Rest assured he would have been about to pop when Jud came home.

It’s hard to fathom the terror going through Jud’s mind on that bus ride headed for the low country swamps. A stop at a gas station before passing through the base gates resulted in his last purchase for a while.

“I drank a Yoo-Hoo. Don’t know why, but that’s what I wanted.”

He probably would have opted for something stronger, had Jud known what awaited him. And the fact that he

was 17 and about to meet his drill instructor precluded any cutting up.

We’ve all seen the movies about what occurs when you meet your drill instructor for the first time. It was sobering seeing his boss, inside the gates, arms crossed and looking like he was in the foulest of moods. From that moment on, until it got better, the instructors wreaked havoc on the recruits. The molding into Marines started at that moment.

“They broke us down, then built us up. We were the lowest scum on earth. They stripped us down. They knew what they were doing. It was controlled chaos.”

After three months, he had become a Marine. He had accomplished something most couldn’t survive, with the peace of mind that he would never have to go through it again. But it didn’t stop there.

After distinguishing himself while going through infantry school, Jud was chosen as a member of FAST (Fleet Antiterror Strike Team), an elite unit that is deployed whenever things will probably get messy.

In deference to Jud as he tried to decompress from his five-year hitch, we didn’t talk much about specific missions, except for being on a ship some-

where “over there,” with Jud as a leader of 18 teammates who were ready to hit the ground and fight.

Luckily there was no Chinese invasion, but Jud was ready. He had trained his team to be outstanding.

“It’s like football, training all day like it’s a scrimmage. Being the first Marines on the ground was going to be like the Super Bowl.”

It was heartwarming to read on Facebook the comments from the men who Jud led. He was like a father figure to men some 10 years his senior. He thought about staying in but says “The juice wasn’t worth the squeeze.”

His dad is thrilled to have Jud home. No more wondering what part of the world his son is in. Not much traveling when you embark on a career as an Atlanta fire inspector.

As a youth coach, you want to be a hero to your players. Jud is now my hero. “The Few. The Proud” has never been more appropriate.

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.

Confession — I like characters of a certain age

I mentioned several books in my recent column about hitting the jackpot at the library, and these two were part of that haul. Perhaps it’s a coincidence that they both feature “older” characters, as in at least age sixty. Could that be because I’m, ahem, in my sixties? Check out my latest reads and see what you think.

“Killers of a Certain Age” by Deanna Rayburn

OMG! What’s not to like about this book? Four menopausal women in their sixties are retiring. The lifelong friends who worked together for forty years as deadly assassins are looking forward to retirement--or at least they were until their employer puts out a hit on them.

They started together in 1979. Fast forward to 2018 and learn how the world has changed not only for the rest of us but also for highly trained assassins. The younger generation of clandestine

operatives relies on different skills. Oh sure, these “killers of a certain age” and today’s youngsters all excel in hand-tohand combat, but the seniors aren’t very good with computers or even smartphones.

The tales of their past exploits are sprinkled throughout the story, so you get a glimpse of their former prowess. It’s not that they’ve completely fallen apart at age 60. It’s just that they have creaky knees and hot flashes and don’t run as fast or jump as high as they used to. But, they’re still deadly.

You have to laugh as one of them pops her osteoporosis pill and admires a goodlooking waiter at the same time. They’re just like other menopausal women except they can throw together a recipe for poison and use garrottes.

The book is packed with witty and pithy dialogue. Her colleagues quip about the smallest of the four who wears “wedge espadrilles that were four inches high and tied halfway up her leg with yellow satin ribbons” and bats her eyes at pool boys.

When she asks what they think her chances are with her favorite porter, her friend responds, “Maybe he has a geriatric kink. Dab a little Metamucil behind each

ear and go get him, cougar.”

Do I recommend this book? For sure. It’s a rollicking read. You don’t want to miss out on four senior women kicking butt! Not quite convinced? Here’s one last teaser. If you’re a woman of a certain age, you’ll covet the “Menopaws” app.

“Winter Solstice” by Rosemunde Pilcher

What a delight to travel to several spots in the United Kingdom in one book. It moves from a small English village to London, to Cornwall, and on to the village of Corrydale in Scotland. Pilcher has a wonderful way with words and describes the scenery so vividly that you will feel as though you are there. I saw the waves crashing on the Cornwall coast and the snow falling in Scotland.

The book begins with Elfrida, a woman in her mid-sixties, and her delightful neighbor Oscar, who is slightly older. This is the story of their evolving relationship through the good and the bad. The story unfolds with each chapter told from the perspective of a different character. Along the way, Elfrida’s niece Carrie joins the tale as does a great-niece. So, if more mature characters aren’t to your liking, you will

also find younger ones to entertain you.

As the book jacket says, “The December solstice is … about hope, renewal, and rebirth,” and the friendships in the story reflect that spirit. It’s a heartwarming story about friends, family, and neighbors.

As I googled information about the book, I was delighted to find a Rosamunde Pilcher Winter Solstice Tour, an eight to nine-hour tour that visits the Scottish locales featured in the book. The description says it’s enjoyable even if you haven’t read the book, but I think fans of the book would enjoy it even more. Yet another idea to add to my never-ending wishlist.

There you have it, two very different books featuring characters of a certain age. I highly recommend them both.

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

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

PRESERVING THE PAST

Rest Haven Cemetery is part of Alpharetta’s history

Rest Haven Cemetery in Alpharetta is unusual for several reasons. First, it is one of the few cemeteries in Georgia owned by a municipality. Second, it is in the heart of the city across Milton Avenue from Innovation Academy, a new STEM high school. Third, even though it is not full, it does not sell any new plots as explained below. Finally, it is closely associated with the early history of Alpharetta.

A farmer and prominent local citizen Arthur Tarpley Camp (1800-1868) purchased several 40-acre parcels of land distributed in the 19th century Georgia land lotteries. He paid $108, $100 and $350 for three lots from different sellers between 1836 and 1841. He and his sister Mary Camp Manning (1811-1900) sold 60 acres of land to Milton County in 1858. He donated two additional acres circa 1860 to the town of Alpharetta for the creation of a cemetery. Arthur is buried in the small, private Martin Cemetery in Alpharetta together with several other members of the Camp family. Mary is buried in Rest Haven along with nearly two dozen Manning family members.

Arthur Camp’s daughter Susan Camp Garrison (1822-1861) was the first person to be buried in Rest Haven. Her husband, Russell Davis Garrison (18181862), a blacksmith, joined the Confederate Army in March 1862 and was a second lieutenant in Company C of the Georgia 42nd Infantry Regiment. He died near Nashville of an illness in October 1862 and was buried in Rest Haven.

According to Find a Grave website, there are 1569 memorials, or grave markers, in the cemetery. The number is not precise because over the years many records have been lost or destroyed. There are numerous unidentified graves, some of which have a simple fieldstone. In times past the care of the cemetery was sometimes haphazard. A large, sloped area in the middle of the cemetery has very few markers which has led to some speculation over the years that African Americans may have been buried there in unmarked graves.

The cemetery is historically significant in part because some of Alpharetta’s prominent early citizens are buried there.

Pat Miller, President Emeritus of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society, who has some ancestors in Rest Haven, says there are eleven former Alpharetta mayors and 109 veterans from the Civil War through Vietnam interred there.

While it is not possible to mention all the pioneer families represented in the cemetery, a list would include Broadwell, Manning, Maxwell, Mayfield, Mosteller, Rucker, Skelton, Teasley, Webb and Wills.

Oliver Perry Skelton (1817-1896) was a physician who played an important role combatting smallpox during an outbreak in the 1860’s. He helped save Milton County records during the Civil War by hiding them in Elberton, Georgia. When he built his Greek-Revival house with a masonry foundation and 12 inch thick walls in 1856, Alpharetta was still called New Prospect Campground. When the name changed to Alpharetta two years later, Skelton was named the town’s first postmaster. In 1869 he was elected Milton County’s first Ordinary, a position similar to today’s county commissioner, according to local historian Connie Mashburn’s book Alpharetta, Milton County, the Early Years.

Connie tells fascinating stories of some of the early families. Isham Oliver Teasley, Jr. (1917-1944) loved airplanes and learned to fly at a young age. To impress the girls, he once landed a plane in front of the courthouse on Main Street in Alpharetta. He had a serious side

as well and joined the 15th Airforce, a special unit established in 1943 by the Army Air Forces, headed initially by famed General Jimmy Doolittle. Oliver was a B-17 pilot and was shot down and killed in Italy in August, 1944. He was brought to his final resting place in Rest Haven in March, 1949. His great grandfather Isham HailyTeasley, Jr (1807-1883) owned a cotton gin and grist mill in Farm House, a predecessor community to Alpharetta. He donated property to build the First United Methodist Church in downtown Alpharetta. He and his wife Mary Maxwell Teasley (1803-1851) are buried in the Maxwell Family Cemetery in Alpharetta.

Someone once said that when graves are in disrepair, we lose a part of our history. In spite of the cemetery’s somewhat confusing past ownership, the city of Alpharetta has taken responsibility for maintaining the facilities. Today Rest Haven, sometimes called Alpharetta Cemetery, contains 6 ½ acres, of which the city owns four. A private company owned the cemetery but quit the cemetery business circa 1970s and transferred ownership to the city. It appears to have been a handshake

agreement. Thanks to a substantial gift from a now-deceased resident, the city created a special budget account for maintenance of the cemetery. Plots are no longer available, but individuals who already own plots can be buried in Rest Haven. From time to time funerals do take place. The city established a special committee consisting of the City Clerk, Director of Public Works and the Director of Parks and Recreation, supported by the City Attorney and Finance Director to oversee maintenance of the public areas of Rest Haven. Individual plot owners are responsible for the maintenance of their plots.

For information on cemetery maintenance, contact Lauren Shapiro, Alpharetta City Clerk, at LShapiro@alpharetta. ga.us. To become involved in voluntary efforts to support the cemetery contact Pat Miller at ptatummiller@gmail.com.

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

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

Rest Haven Cemetery in downtown Alpharetta is closely linked to the history of Alpharetta. It is the final resting place of some of the city’s early pioneering families, yet it has an unusual story to tell.

Meet the weird and wonderful Butterfly Pea Flower

It’s a wonderful time to be a gardener. Perhaps this is one of those times, after the great Columbian exchange and the era that saw the fervor of the Victorian plant collectors, where we’re seeing the introduction of so many new plants previously unheard of to the West. Although the Victorian plant explorers went all over the world, their precious Wardian cases in hand, collecting new specimens to satiate their patron’s hunger for anything exotic, those plants they brought home from distant lands came at a premium. In most cases, only the rich could afford them. However, these days, thanks to the advances in technology and shipping and not to mention better phytosanitary measures, anybody can source quality plant materials from any corner of the world. One such plant, still relatively new to the temperate gardens of the west, is the Butterfly Pea plantClitoria ternatea.

Belonging to the pea (Fabaceae) family, the plant is native to equatorial Asia. As a legume, its roots form a symbiotic association with soil bacteria known as rhizobia, which transform atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-usable form - a process called nitrogen fixing. Therefore, this plant makes for a great companion plant and is also used to improve soil quality through the decomposition of the nitrogen-rich plant material.

It’s a remarkable flower with vivid deep blue petals and light-yellow markings in the center. The form itself is quite striking. The conch-shaped petals have earned it the moniker of Shankhupoovu (Shankhu - conch, poovu- flower) in many parts of India. What makes the flower extraordinary is that, apart from its various purported medicinal values, it is a great source of all-natural blue dye which can be used to color food and natural fibers alike. When steeped in warm or hot water/milk, the blue dye is released from the flower and can then be used as a coloring agent. The tea made from the butterfly pea flowers steeped in hot water with the addition of flavoring agents like ginger, lemongrass, or mint, served with honey, makes for a wonderful soothing drink. If you like a little herbal alchemy, try adding some lemon juice to the tea and sit back and enjoy the magic as the color of the drink changes from blue to a pinkish purple hue.

A versatile ingredient, the flowers can be used to color anything from beverages to rice to delectable desserts. When steeped in milk, the dye from the flower turns a lighter shade of blue, lending the endproduct the color of a clear summer sky.

While the extract of the flowers has a mild woody/earthy taste, with the addition of vanilla or any other flavor of choice, it is rather unnoticeable. The depth of the color, be it in a beverage or food, depends on the number of flowers used. You can use fresh or dried flowers- to dry the flowers, simply lay them on a piece of parchment paper on your countertop away from direct sun.

Being that it is from the tropical region of Asia (India, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.), the butterfly pea plant is grown as an annual in most parts of the United States. The flowers, although usually single petaled, are also available in double petaled forms. However, if growing from seed, the form of the flower cannot be guaranteed as the genetics of the seed-grown plant can be unpredictable.

There are also some varieties that have light blue, lavender, or even white flowers, and while they are pretty, they don’t produce the much-desired deep

blue dye. The plants are easy to grow from seed. They can be soaked in warm water for up to 24 hours before sowing to improve germination. You can start the seeds indoors under a grow light or on a windowsill before planting them out in the spring after the last frost date. There’s still time if you’d like to give it a go this year. Although, be forewarned that once you fall for the hypnotic blue of this exotic flower, you might find it hard to be without it.

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 Anila Nair. Anila, a Johns Creek resident, has been a master gardener since 2020. After graduating with a degree in Computer Science Engineering, she worked as a Software Engineer for more than a decade before leaving that life behind to pursue a career in horticulture. A self-confessed plantaholic and plant hoarder, she can be found puttering around in her garden when not assisting the North Fulton Master Gardeners with their Gardening Education classes.

ANILA NAIR

Guest Columnist

ANILA NAIR/SPECIAL TO APPEN MEDIA

Morrison Farms on Osborne Road in Brookhaven

Morrison Farms, a nursery business which began in 1970, once operated at 3086 Osborne Road in Brookhaven. Today, 3086, 3068 and 3064 Osborne Road are on the market and under contract, according to advertising. The three addresses total 7.1 acres.

William Morrison was born on a farm in Utica, Mississippi, in 1920. Growing up on a farm, raising vegetables and flowers was part of everyday life, and he put that knowledge to use later in life.

Morrison first entered the military in 1942 in Biloxi, Mississippi. When selected for aviation school he was sent to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and from there went to Walla Walla, Washington, to continue training to fly B-24 bombers.

In Walla Walla, Morrison met Mary

Giving:

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Elaine Kolberg. When he was transferred again, this time to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia in 1944, he asked Mary to move there so they could get married.

Morrison participated in the Berlin Airlift after World War II. He attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, and served 25 years in the military, both in the U.S. and overseas. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1966. Four years later, he opened Morrison Farms in Brookhaven, which he continued to operate until 2006. Mary Elaine worked along with him as bookkeeper for the business.

When The Atlanta Constitution recommended six metro Atlanta nurseries to visit for an enjoyable weekend outing, they included Morrison Farms. The 1991 article advises, “You might miss it because the sign was small with red letters and pointed the way.” Morrison Farms was the only nursery on the list located inside I-285. (The Atlanta Constitution, May 12, 1991, “A weekend escape: Hop in the car and find

these 6 nurseries”)

Morrison Farms had 40,000 square feet of greenhouse space and offered vegetables, annuals, perennials, herbs, houseplants, hanging baskets and clay pots. It was described as a farm with shade trees and level terrain, making it a fun place to walk around and explore.

In 1994, suggestions of Morrison as Father Christmas or Colonel Christmas are made. Poinsettias, which are native to Mexico, became the popular plant at the farm.

“William Morrison doesn’t live at the North Pole. But a visit to his Morrison Farms in northeast Atlanta, near Oglethorpe University, will almost make you believe this engagingly energetic 74-year-old nursery owner is the real thing.” (The Atlanta Constitution, Dec. 23, 1994, “Colonel Christmas: Nurseryman’s knack begets a wonderland of poinsettias”)

The farm’s October 1996 newspaper advertisement announced, “Poinsettias are

Here is a list of recent grants the Blank Foundation has made to put it over the $1 billion mark:

growing.”

In November of 2000, the nursery was featured in an article about poinsettias. The greenhouses were filled with various varieties of poinsettias and other holiday flowers. Colors included the Freedom variety featuring red, white, and pink, Monet poinsettia with speckled red and cream color flowers, and the Red Velvet variety. (Atlanta Constitution, Nov. 23, 2000, “Welcome holidays with poinsettias from Morrison Farms”)

Morrison Farms also advertised their poinsettias and other plant offerings on a regular basis in the Dunwoody Crier newspaper. I don’t remember ever visiting there, but if you have memories to share of Morrison Farms, please send me an e-mail.

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.

Blank also has intentionally been sharing his love of philanthropy with his six children.

“Our entire family shares the core value of giving back,” Blank said in his email response. “Many of my children already have their own philanthropic endeavors, and we’ll continue to have family members sit on the board of our family foundation. My children all have their own interests, and when we’re not working together to address our shared interests through our family foundation, they’re giving to their own personal passions.”

In addition to running the family foundation, Twersky sits on the leadership team of Blank’s various for-profit businesses, which include the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Montana, PGA TOUR Superstore and AMBSE Ventures.

In her role, Twersky has been impressed with the corporate, civic and philanthropic communities in Atlanta.

“There’s a lot of terrific corporate giving in Atlanta,”

DEATH NOTICES

David Arthur, 74, of Alpharetta, passed away on April 14, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Marc Caruso, 42, of Alpharetta, passed away on April 17, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

• $3 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta to support its Rising Together campaign to serve more children, more often, with greater impact.

• $1 million to CARE USA for its Humanitarian Surge Fund, which enables the rapid deployment of staff, equipment and resources when emergencies strike, delivering aid that saves lives while paving the way for long-term recovery.

• $500,000 from the AMB West Community Fund, a committee funded by the foundation and led by associates at Blank’s ranches in Paradise Valley, Mont., that invests in the local community.

• $1 million from the Molly Blank Fund to support the PJ Library, which provides free books to more than 600,000 Jewish children.

• $500,000 to The Carter Center to support its Georgia mental health program, as part of the foundation’s new Mental Health & Well-Being giving area.

she said. “It’s quite stunning to me. It’s different than any other city I’ve ever lived in. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s an important part of the tapestry of Atlanta.”

And Blank has been among Atlanta’s top philanthropic leaders for decades.

“The act of giving itself brings so much purpose to my

Michael Dougherty, 67, of Roswell, passed away on April 14, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Judith Hill, 82, of Milton, passed away on April 17, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

• $9.25 million to the Energy Foundation to inform policymakers about the benefits of clean energy markets and commitments across regions, as part of the foundation’s new Environment giving area.

• $1.04 million to the Westside Future Fund to support the production of permanently affordable rental housing as part of the foundation’s recent $2.4 million in grants to increase financial security and affordable housing for legacy residents in Atlanta’s historic Westside.

life,” Blank said. “You always get more than you give, and it’s infectious. I’m inspired when others around me join in, and when I see our businesses and foundation coming together to bring more value to philanthropy and community service.”

This story originally appeared on SaportaReport.com.

Daniel Lazzaroni, 34, of Roswell, passed away on April 16, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Anne McShane, 90, of Milton, passed away on April 15, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Richard Merkel, 88, of Alpharetta, passed away on April 14, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Valeria Nagel, 87, of Johns Creek, passed away on April 16, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Columnist

Blank Family Foundation giving

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