Elections Board tosses AI voter challenges
By JAKE DRUKMAN newsroom@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Board of Voter Registrations and Elections rejected challenges to 742 voter registrations June 28 citing a lack of evidence that the voters were ineligible to vote in Georgia. The list of challenged voters was
generated by a group of activists using a software called “EagleAI,” which creator Dr. John “Rick” Richards says is not actually an artificial intelligence program.
Instead, the software compares the state’s publicly available voter rolls with other records, such as the National Change of Address registry and inmate records from the Georgia Department of
Corrections, according to documentation Richards provided to the Herald. Richards suggested the software can be used to identify registrations of people who are no longer eligible to vote in the state, such as those who have permanently moved out of Georgia or who are serving a felony sentence.
See VOTER, Page 15
By BEECHER TUTTLE newsroom@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in April signed a bill to limit large annual property tax increases that have plagued homeowners in Metro Atlanta suburbs for the better part of a decade.
While the legislation should help property owners in counties like Fulton, DeKalb and Forsyth, it will also quietly remove what some deem a loophole that has benefitted taxpayers who know the ins and outs of the property assessment process. The coming days and weeks will likely represent the last chance homeowners have to lock in their property values without much of a fight.
Set to be enacted prior to the 2025 tax season, House Bill 581 will enable counties to limit the appreciation of property values to no more than the current rate of inflation. The new law comes on the heels of significant annual surges in taxable property values in most every county in North Georgia and parts of Metro Atlanta.
However, the bill will also soon prevent homeowners from taking advantage of the current system where simply appealing a property tax assessment will freeze the appraisal value for the current and two succeeding years, no matter if they actually win their case. Starting in 2025, property owners will need an appeal to be
JAKE DRUKMAN/APPEN MEDIA
From left, Dr. John “Rick” Richards and Stefan Bartelski speak at a press conference following the June 28 Forsyth County Elections Board meeting. Bartelski unsuccessfully challenged 742 Forsyth County voter registrations using information from EagleAI, a program Richards developed to identify potentially ineligible voters.
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Johns Creek police seize car in drug trafficking bust
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek Police Department seized a 2015 Audi belonging to Kevin Vega-Santana, an Atlanta man charged with trafficking 22,200 grams of methamphetamine.
Vega-Santana was stopped at Bolton Road and James Jackson Parkway in Atlanta by Officer Hennessee with the Johns Creek Police Department, who is assigned to the DEA’s High Intensity Drug Task Force.
Vega-Santana was also charged with possession of a firearm or knife during commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies, having carried a Glock 19 handgun inside his vehicle, according to court records.
Two more suspects were charged in
Burglars take $30,000 in sports memorabilia
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating a burglary June 25 at Hot Hands Sports Cards on Canton Street after employees reported an estimated $30,000 in stolen merchandise.
An employee said he arrived at 10 a.m. to open the store and discovered an open window near the front register with merchandise scattered throughout the store.
The employee estimates the stolen merchandise totals between $25,000 and $35,000.
Officers said they did not observe forced entry into the store and didn’t know if the window had been locked overnight. Officers also said large amounts of sports trading cards, empty boxes and the cash register were spread across the floor.
The owner said he was the last person at the store.
Because the store is closed Sunday and Monday, employees closed at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 22.
When employees closed shop, they wiped down the display cases, removing any fingerprints.
connection with the case, Hector LopezBernal and Luis Angel Gonzales-Rios, both of Atlanta. Both were charged with trafficking in illegal drugs and possession of a firearm or knife during commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies.
According to the police incident report, Vega-Santana’s $20,000 vehicle will be turned over to the Johns Creek Police Department once asset forfeiture proceedings are completed.
A forfeited asset is property or currency that has been determined to be the benefit or proceed of a crime by a state superior court judge, and it is used to fund agency expenses.
Once an agency is granted a forfeited asset, it is distributed among the law enforcement groups that participated in the investigation. Assets that are not currency are assigned a fair market value and may
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.
Officers said they located fingerprints on glass cases and other surfaces throughout the store. Oofficers said they discovered the building’s power had been shut off.
Police said cameras went dark between 1:05 a.m. and 11:12 June 25.
Officers said the store’s power box does not appear to be broken into, but they believe the perpetrator shut it off manually.
The Criminal Investigations Division responded and lifted additional fingerprints.
Later, an officer said the store’s landlord contacted him with security footage from the exterior of the building.
Officers said they contacted surrounding businesses for access to their security cameras, including video of cars driving on Canton Street around the time of the incident.
be liquidated through sales, such as on auction-based sites.
Johns Creek reported more than $45,500 in expenses covered by asset forfeiture funds in fiscal year 2022 to the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a financial reporting database for local governments.
State law requires departments to report annual asset forfeiture funds to the Carl Vinson Institute.
While the Johns Creek agency owns the seizure in this incident, Police Chief Mark Mitchell said that is not always the case.
“There are different variables during the investigation that will determine where a vehicle could be seized federally or through a local jurisdiction,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said the case is under investigation through the High Intensity Drug Task Force.
Woman reports harassment while working out at gym
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Cumming woman reported to police June 21 that a man who had sexually harassed her six months before at a gym on Medlock Bridge Road showed up again.
The woman said the suspect called her pretty and stared at her breast while asking about her moles, then poked her breast with his finger where a mole was and asked her out to coffee, according to the incident report.
The woman said the suspect also made lewd comments, continued to ask her on a date and grabbed her hand tightly, the report says.
The woman described the suspect as an Asian man in his late 20s with short black hair and nonathletic attire.
The woman told police she asked staff about the suspect and said he had been banned from the gym chain nationwide. She said staff told her he had been signed up for a membership again by mistake, the report says.
County water passes federal, state standards
BY STASIA DEMARCO newroom@appenmedia.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Department of Water and Sewer’s latest water quality report shows the utility met federal and state industry standards.
The report covered the year 2023.
Tap water is safe, customers can now check for lead and copper in their lines, and there is a new internet portal for customers interested in monitoring their water quality.
Forsyth County honors noted business leader at highway dedication
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — In honor of Bobby Thomas, owner of Thomas Lumber Company and lifelong Forsyth County resident, a ceremony was held on June 26 to dedicate a section of Ga. 369 as Bobby Thomas Highway. Bobby Thomas Highway extends from Gravitt Road to Ga. 400.
Thomas was born in Cumming in 1946. He graduated from Forsyth County High School (Forsyth Central High School), obtained a bachelor’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and served in the U.S. Navy.
He was an involved member of the Forsyth County Community as seen through his roles in the CummingForsyth County Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Forsyth County and the board of People’s Bank in Forsyth County.
The water quality report addressed creation of the Lead and Copper Service Line Industry. According to County Water and Sewer Director Scott Adams, customers can complete a short water service line survey by July 31, 2024. By reporting their water service line type, customers can help create a comprehensive inventory to safeguard the water supply.
See WATER, Page 13
The tests measured the levels of microplastics or PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which at high levels, can cause disease or other adverse health effects.
“The naming of SR 369 in Bobby Thomas’ honor is very fitting because of all the contributions and impact he has made to and on Forsyth County, and for the history of his family’s business along this roadway,” said District 4 Commissioner Cindy Mills.
The dedication ceremony follows the introduction of Georgia House Resolution 1300, which acknowledges Thomas's contributions and authorizes the Georgia Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs designating the Bobby Thomas Highway.
— Hannah Frazier
FORSYTH COUNTY
Lake Lanier serves as the primary source for Forsyth County water customers.
Area fire departments prepare for July 4 amid dry conditions
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
NORTH METRO ATLANTA — As Independence Day rolls around, fire officials across Metro Atlanta have shared the game plan for fireworks displays.
According to the National Drought Information System, parts of Fulton County and all of Forsyth County are “abnormally dry,” meaning the region is going into or coming out of a drought.
Because of the conditions, Alpharetta Fire Marshal Ethan Talbot said the risk of fire has significantly increased.
“Recent fire incidents like the brush fire earlier this week on Westside Parkway show how easily fires can start, posing a threat to property and disrupting community life,” Talbot said.
Alpharetta, Talbot said, is strongly urging all residents to consider the potential dangers of using consumer fireworks this year. While it has been legal in Georgia to use fireworks for some time now, he said the risk of starting a fire is exceptionally high under the drier-than-normal conditions.
Fireworks can be very, very dangerous outside of just the fire side of it. Obviously, they cause fires, but they can cause just incredible injuries.”
CHRIS COONS Johns Creek Fire Chief
“Instead, we encourage everyone to enjoy professional fireworks events like the Alpharetta July 4th celebration at Wills Park,” Talbot said. “This event is organized with the utmost attention to safety and provides a spectacular and secure way to enjoy the holiday with friends and neighbors.”
Alpharetta division chiefs said staffing for the Fourth of July is currently
planned to be the same as in previous years, though they would reevaluate as the holiday draws near in case adjustments become warranted.
In Johns Creek, Fire Chief Chris Coons said the Fire Department will continue to house a fire truck at each professional firework display, permitted and inspected by the city’s fire marshal.
“We’ve been doing that now for several years,” Coons said. “We kind of put that in place just because this time of year is the dry time of year, and you never know what may happen if some of those beautiful sparks fall in somebody’s pine straw … So, we’re there to get on it quick.”
This year, there are six professional firework displays scheduled, three on July 3 and three on July 4.
Coons said the city has seen some fires because of consumer-level fireworks, citing an example of a firework landing in a gutter with leaf litter.
“Be mindful of where [the firework] is intended to go and where it could potentially go and what that may look like,” Coons said. “Fireworks can be very, very dangerous outside of just the fire side of it. Obviously, they cause
fires, but they can cause just incredible injuries.”
Coons also cautioned parents against allowing children to handle fireworks, or a lighter to set them off.
Depending on the size of the event, Forsyth County Fire Division Chief Jason Shivers said a fire engine, a brush truck, ambulances as well as on-foot personnel and the bicycle team will be on-site, such as the celebration at the Cumming Fairgrounds July 4.
“We always have a very large presence there for that event, and it’s from both a fire prevention and fire response [perspective] but also because of the large crowd,” Shivers said, adding that the Sheriff’s Office and the Cumming Police Department will be there as well to ensure safety.
In the past two to three weeks, Shivers said the Fire Department has handled small brush fires, which he said are not uncommon for this time of year.
“Anytime you’ve got a period of dry weather, a grass fire on the side of Ga. 400 or in someone’s backyard or from a campfire, those are going to get worse quicker because of the dryness … and the wind,” Shivers said.
County Commission sets preliminary millage rate
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners has announced its intention to maintain the county’s Maintenance & Operations millage rate at 4.791 mills.
At the same time, the county will decrease the Bond millage rate to 0.600 mills and increase the Fire millage rate to 2.505 mills.
Due to growth in the overall value of property in the county, Maintenance & Operations property taxes levied by the county this year will increase by a net 3.95 percent.
The proposed Fire rate increased from 2.175 mills to 2.505 mills. The proposed Bond rate decreased from 0.930 mills to 0.600 mills. These rates will fund the county’s 2025 General Operating Budget, which is currently in the preliminary stages of development.
Forsyth County continues to have millage rates among the lowest in Metro Atlanta.
A growth of 7.1 percent in Forsyth County’s tax digest means that the anticipated total collections will increase. A little less than half the property value increase is due to new construction. Reassessments of existing properties accounts for the lion’s share of the increase.
Any change in an individual tax bill
will depend upon the change in assessed valuation for that property, and the value of any Homestead Exemption, which may also change with the assessed value. When the total digest of taxable property is prepared, Georgia law requires that a rollback millage rate must be computed that will produce the same total revenue on the current year’s digest that last year’s millage rate would have produced had no reassessments or growth occurred.
The preliminary 2025 budget presented to the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is based on a millage rate higher than the rollback millage rate, therefore before the Board of Commissioners may set a final millage rate, Georgia law requires three public hearings to be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on the increase.
Public hearings are schedule for: Thursday, July 18, at 5 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 1, at 11 a.m.; and Thursday, Aug. 1, at 6 p.m. The public hearings will be held at the Forsyth County Administration Building at 110 E. Main Street, Suite 220, in Cumming. Adoption of the millage rate is slated for 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 1, as part of the Board of Commissioners formal meeting.
Just opened?
5 | Forsyth Herald | July 4, 2024
Printmaker enters time machine with photogravure
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
CUMMING, Ga. — When someone shows you their basement, you might expect to find a mess of cardboard boxes, a pool table, exercise machines, lost things.
But, downstairs at Susan James’ home is a 2,500-square-foot printmaking studio, filled with mostly used and discontinued equipment collected over the years.
The space is the heart of her business Passerina Press which she operates alongside her husband Ken Wilkens, who acts as the “sherpa,” helping with logistics and loading the van for juried artist fairs.
Both are photographers, and their work is used in James’ printmaking process — specifically photogravure, a technique that dates to the 19th century.
It involves exposing a light-sensitive gelatin tissue to a film positive, then using a wet process to adhere the tissue to a polished copper plate. Across from James’ “dream press,” the one she regularly uses and takes to workshops at universities, is a metal shear used for cutting.
James mixes up potassium dichromate in a solution, where she floats the tissue, leaves it in for more than a minute, then adheres it to a piece of plexiglass that she places on a Lazy Susan to dry for around three hours.
“It’s a real slow drying process,” James said. “Humidity in the room should be between 60 and 65 percent, so it’s really, really finicky.”
The result is an engraved plate that captures the detail and continuous tones of a photograph, which is printed using a traditional etching press. The ink is deposited below the surface, like banknotes, a style called “intaglio.”
A rare medium
James said there’s maybe 100 people in the United States who engage in photogravure. The craft is more popular in Europe, she said.
“I knew there was a way that photography and printmaking collided back in the past, and so I did some research,” James said.
She found a guy who worked in photogravure, a former
Susan James, a Cumming-based printmaker, unveils a newly printed image on her etching press using the 19th-century technique of photogravure in her basement studio. James sells her work under her business Passerina Press, a joint venture with her husband Ken Wilkens.
instructor at the Rhode Island School of Design named Paul Taylor. When Taylor helped James set up her studio in Nashville in 2018, the year she founded Passerina Press, she took copious notes which became her go-to manual.
“This tells me everything I need to know,” James said, holding the tattered and stained booklet of stapled paper. “It stresses how much you have to clean everything before you get started…”
Starting with a love of drawing in pen and ink, James found printmaking when she was 22, a contestant in her first art fair in Florida.
“I set up my little panels. I was so proud of my work and was getting some positive feedback, but I didn’t win first of show, and of course, I was kind of disappointed…” James said.
She met the first-place winner, David Hunter, a printmaker based in Winter Park whose hand-etched entry hangs on James’ living room wall,a sailboat riding
painstakingly crosshatched ocean waves.
James said on that day, Hunter explained to her the difference between a reproduction and an “edition,” an original in its own right that uses an antique process of inking, wiping and printing by hand. Not long after that, James was in Hunter’s studio learning his process, sometimes staying until 2 o’clock in the morning, eventually getting her own key.
“I was just totally addicted to it, and from then on, it’s just been printmaking, printmaking, printmaking,” James said.
An appetite to learn more
Since then, she has taken workshops at a number of schools in the United States, including Parsons School of Design in New York City, and one in Florence, Italy, studying intaglio printmaking at Santa Reparata International School of Art.
Through Passerina Press, James offers photogravure plates and limited edition prints from personal digital photographs. But, her dream is to one day establish a cooperative printmaking studio in the area. James has also talked about loaning out her printing presses, acknowledging the barrier to entry.
The goal is to be self-supporting, she said. Last year was James’ first as a full-time printmaker, retiring after a career in systems engineering and cybersecurity, similarly process-oriented.
One area in the couple’s basement is James’ digital dark room. She often combines digital photography, photocompositing and digital illustration to produce her printed images.
“If someone struggles to categorize my work as one thing or another, I don’t think that’s a bad thing: I want the observer to feel a little discombobulated, and to seek more information about how my work is created,” James said.
Right now, she’s working on an image that uses a photo taken from her and her husband’s trip to White Sands National Park. A group of nine individually drawn horses gallop through the scenery, and an AI-generated steampunk carousel is in the background.
“This is kind of the story of my post-retirement life, how I feel like I’m free of the carousel now, you know, and my horses are all my ideas, and they’re just running away from the routine,” James said.
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Taxes:
Continued from Page 1
successful and result in a reduction in the value of their property to lock in the threeyear assessment – something easier said than done.
The numbers tell the story
Treat badly
Actress Beverly or Judy
Goose egg 25 Having the means
28 Period in the earth’s history
29 Kind of injection
30 Lettuce type
31 Hilo wear
34 Henry VIII’s last wife
37 Actor Andrews of “Laura”
39 It’s handed down
41 Fee charged for exchanging currencies
42 Like some bombs
44 Burger order
45 Latin American dance
47 Malaria symptom
48 Lords-and-ladies, e.g.
49 Halloween prankster’s aid
50 More, in Madrid
52 Fit of pique
54 Certain digital watch face, for short
55 Miniature sci-fi vehicles
56 Eastern newt 59 Scoundrel
62 Kind of leaf
64 Tipster
65 Roundup need
68 Horse of a certain color
69 One of the Indies
70 Beautiful people
71 Line of rotation
72 Fencing sword
73 Silenus, e.g.
74 Instrument for Orpheus Down 1 November birthstone
2 It might be airtight
3 Abatement
4 They may be drawn
5 Video maker, for short
6 Mountain out of a molehill
7 Get rid of
8 Jewelry designer Peretti
9 Sound system 10 Parlor piece 11 Vitamin tablet supplement 12 Temperate 13 Compass pt.
21 It’s bottled in Cannes
23 Leave in the dust
26 Resting places
27 Guanacos
29 Tailless stoutbodied amphibian
30 Italian operatic tenor
31 Make-up artist?
32 Like raw silk
An eye-popping number of property assessment appeals are filed in Metro Atlanta counties every year. In DeKalb County, roughly 19,000 appeals were filed for 2023, according to the Assessor’s Office. More than 16,000 of those were for residential properties. Meanwhile, Fulton County saw more than 30,000 appeals in 2023. Forsyth provided a list of around 4,000 unnamed appeals for last year.
The legislation “should cut down on the number of people that appeal things without even knowing if the value is wrong,” according to one assessor who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The same property owners have been appealing every three years no matter what, he said, noting that there are neighbors in his county with similar properties who have significantly different tax assessments, all because one homeowner pauses the process through appeals while the other cuts a check without asking questions.
In theory, the assessments should even out after the freeze is over, but that rarely happens, he said.
District 3 Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett offered a similar perspective late last year, suggesting that the powers that be have been wary to implement multiyear increases in a single assessment, especially considering another appeal would surely be waiting.
Data shows 5 to 10 percent of residential appeals have resulted in a reduced assessment in a given year, the assessor said. That is no accident.
Jody Campbell, a partner at law firm Blum & Campbell which specializes in real estate law says that due to the sheer volume they’re facing, appeals committees haven’t the bandwidth or time to critically react to the evidence put before them, or the ability to dive deep on comparable sales
“It’s easier to rubber stamp what the assessor tells them,” Campbell said.
The Board of Equalization, the panel that hears most property assessment appeals, is not always made up of real estate professionals or those who work in tangential industries. In fact, committee members are only required to be property owners who have completed 40 hours of certified training and earned their high school diploma. Property visits occur but anecdotal evidence suggests they’re more of a rarity, according to Campbell. Hearings in front of Boards of Equalization run roughly 5 to 7 minutes, and live testimony – like that from a third-party appraiser – is typically not allowed or considered, he said.
“You can walk in with the most scien-
tific presentation – a lockdown case – and they may just arbitrarily agree with the assessors,” he said. The end result is that 2024 is absolutely the year to appeal if you simply want two additional years with no changes to your appraisal, Campbell said. Otherwise, come next year, you’ll have to convince a committee to approve a reduced assessment to earn those two extra years.
Realities to consider
When deciding whether to move forward with an appeal, it’s important to understand the benefits – or maybe lack thereof – beyond the two-year freeze on assessment increases. The financial ramifications can be much less impactful than most people assume for typical homeowners. A $50,000 reduction in property value results in roughly $450 in tax savings in a given year, according to Campbell.
The 2023 numbers provided by Forsyth County show that a “successful” appeal can often result in no more than pocket change. One unidentified property that was originally assessed at more than $1.7 million saw its valuation drop by exactly $100 following the appeals process, meaning the property owner saved just pennies in taxes. However, another Forsyth property initially valued at roughly $2.88 million fell to less than $1.3 million after an appeal, resulting in an enormous tax savings.
The appeals process is also lengthy, even if it isn’t necessarily arduous. Appeals are usually finalized between four and 10 months from the initial paperwork. The board of tax assessors can also increase the value of a property if an on-site inspection reveals significant additions or improvements to the property of which the board wasn’t already aware.
That said, you can choose to be billed at 85 percent of the initial assessment while your appeal is being resolved, which can be a major benefit for property owners with extremely large initial assessments, particularly owners of commercial properties.
The time to act is now
While each county has slightly different rules, the main pillars of the appeals process are the same across the state. You’ll have 45 days from the date on the Notice of Assessment to file an appeal. DeKalb County said its notices were mailed at the end of May, suggesting a mid-July deadline. Forsyth County sent notices out on May 24. Appeals for Fulton County must be postmarked on or before the last date to file, which is clearly marked on every individual notice of assessment.
While you don’t need to see a reduction in property value under the current law to lock in property values, you do need to complete the appeals process. That means attending the Board of Equalization hearing or having someone else attend on your behalf.
But come next year, you’ll need to actually find a way to convince a committee or arbiter to approve a reduction to your assessment to see any benefits.
5 absolute must-haves in the bathroom
Brought to you by - Bath and Kitchen Galleria
Throughout America major changes are happening in the bathroom, especially in the shower. North Atlanta expanded rapidly from 1980 to 2005, and this is the era of jetted tubs dominating the bathroom, claustrophobic gold framed showers, poor lighting and the use of materials that promoted mold and mildew (grout).
“We see this every day”, says John Hogan, owner of Bath and Kitchen Galleria in Alpharetta, “Homeowners are tired of recurring grout issues, and they want their bathrooms to be a soothing pleasant experience.” Bath and Kitchen Galleria just completed their 1000th project and bathrooms are their primary type of project. “We have a formula that works for homeowners that balances bathroom aesthetics, function and price.”
In the bathroom, America has realigned its preferences, and the bathroom has taken a new shape in terms of products and appearance. At the center of “America’s New Bathroom” is a larger, open shower. We take more showers than baths, so the emphasis has shifted to the shower. Larger showers are more inviting and in most cases the shower does not have a ceiling. The openness of
the shower is the mold solution.
In concert with the openness is the abundant use of shower glass. Not just any glass but specially coated glass that makes cleaning far less frequent. “We remodel just about every shower to be a maximum of 2 tiled walls: the remaining walls are always glass,” Mr. Hogan continued, “abundant glass and strategically located lighting, promotes that spa feeling.” Bathrooms are now engineered to be cleaner, both in design and materials; grout no longer promotes mold, nonporous tile remains clean, and humidity sensing fans automatically exhaust unwanted humidity.
Americans are taking shorter showers, but an abundance of water is also desired, so multiple shower heads especially incorporating a handheld wand is preferred. Especially when a bench is included, the water needs to be accessible from a seated position.
The 5 Absolute Must-Haves in a Bathroom: Bigger Showers, Brighter Bathrooms, Designs that Promote Cleanliness, Abundant Water experiences and Soothing Colors. For more information visit Bath and Kitchen Galleria’s showroom at 10591 Old Alabama Rd Connector in Alpharetta (no appointment needed) or call them at 678-4592292.
LAKE
Find your homestead
Brought to you by – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division
Nestled in the picturesque rolling hills of Milton, Georgia, The Homestead at Milton represents the pinnacle of luxury living. Situated on what was formerly a meticulously maintained 180-acre golf course, The Homestead at Milton is a community rich in history and natural beauty. This luxurious neighborhood is perfect for buyers looking to own substantial land in one of the most sought-after areas north of Atlanta.
The pristine landscape and serene environment provide a perfect backdrop for these magnificent homes.
The Homestead at Milton offers estate-sized homesites within a gated community, providing residents with privacy and tranquility. The opportunity to own a home in this rare collection is limited, with only 13 homesites remaining. These prime homesites range in price from the $900s to over $1 million, while custom homes are available from $4 million to $11 million. Each home is a blend of inspiration and tradition and
defines the new southern lifestyle. Located just a short distance from downtown Crabapple and only three miles from Historic Downtown Alpharetta, The Homestead at Milton combines rural charm with urban convenience. Residents enjoy easy access to a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options. The Avalon and GA 400 are also within close reach, making commuting and travel convenient. The community is part of a toprated school district, and children will attend Cambridge High School, Hopewell Middle School, and Summit
Hill Elementary.
Discover the epitome of luxury living at The Homestead at Milton. Bring your own builder or work with one of our premiere custom builders and seize the opportunity to find your homestead. For more details, visit TheHomesteadatMilton.com or call 770.766.4954 to schedule a private appointment. Vision Development Partners is represented by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division. BHHSgaNewHomes.com. An Equal Housing Opportunity.
How to transform your porch
Rawlings and Sherri Conrad
Brought to you by – Bill Rawlings and Sherri Conrad, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty
With the warm, sunny days of summer drawing us outside, it’s the perfect time to tap into the appeal of your front porch. Here are two compelling reasons to revitalize this space:
1. The front porch is one of the first things visitors notice.
2. Budget-wise, it doesn’t (or shouldn’t) cost a fortune to take things up a notch or two. With some creative ideas and a few practical tips, a porch transformation is possible for any budget and style.
Whether you envision a cozy nook for reading, a vibrant area for entertaining guests or a lush garden sanctuary, the possibilities are endless. Here are a few places to start:
1. Refinish and/or repaint. Refinishing wooden decking and chairs or opting for a fresh coat of paint is a transformative first step. Sanding down dull, weathered surfaces and applying a new stain or paint can restore their original beauty and protect them from future damage. The benefits are threefold: it brings out the wood’s natural grain and texture, lets you customize the finish to align with your design vision and creates a stylish and
inviting outdoor space that sets the stage for additional decor.
2. Add plants.
Planters, hanging baskets or window boxes turn any size porch into a lush, inviting oasis. Planters allow you to introduce a variety of flowers and herbs that can be easily changed with the seasons. Hanging planters or baskets maximize vertical space while bringing a touch of whimsy, while window boxes add charm and integrate the porch with the rest of your home’s exterior.
3. Light on purpose.
Start by considering a mix of overhead fixtures, wall sconces and portable lamps to create a layered lighting scheme. Then, turn on the charm with string lights or lanterns—a cozy touch perfect for evening gatherings or quiet nights.
4. Upgrade your furniture.
If your budget allows and your porch is large enough, adding weather-resistant outdoor furniture is always a nice touch. Cushions in vibrant colors or patterns can punch it up further and make your porch a true extension of your living area.
A stylish and inviting outdoor space is rewarding and can enhance both your home’s curb appeal and your personal enjoyment. If you need assistance renovating your home or have any other real estate needs, please contact Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty at 770.442.7300. We would be happy to assist you!
Compiled and edited by Angela Valente, Marketing Copywriter/ Copyeditor
Bill
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Tony Bennett’s legal battle
Brought to you by – Estates Law Center USA
Singer Tony Bennett’s family’s legal battle over his trust is one example of why it’s important to set up a clear and detailed estate plan. Although it is our hope that our loved ones can settle any inheritance disputes with grace, when a large amount of assets are involved, it’s unfortunately common for predatory spouses, children, and other beneficiaries to fight over who gets what.
details of all financial activity regarding the family trust.
Let’s look at the lawsuits involving Bennett’s trust. Prior to his death, Tony Bennett set up a trust with one of his sons, D’Andrea “Danny” Bennett and himself as the Trustee. Following Tony’s death, Danny became the sole Trustee of the trust and was thus tasked with distributing the assets that were in the trust - the singer’s music and business ventures, his tangible personal property, and accounts - to the beneficiaries, which were his siblings and Bennett’s widow.
But not everyone in the family was happy with Danny being the sole Trustee. Bennett’s daughters, Johanna and Antonia Bennett alleged that Danny mishandled Bennett’s trust and kept the beneficiaries in the dark about the singer’s actual finances and transactions involving the trust assets, including Bennett’s business interests. In their lawsuit against Danny, the two daughters are demanding that he provide complete inventories of all of Bennett’s personal property and full
Danny himself, along with his brother Dae Bennett, have filed a lawsuit against Susan Benedetto, Bennett’s widow. The two alleged that Susan manipulated Bennett to secure a significant portion of his assets for herself, and that she had taken advantage of his deterioration from Alzheimer’s to make changes to his estate plan. Susan in turn has denied those allegations and stated that she only acted in accordance with Bennett’s wishes. Although it has been nearly a year since Bennett passed away in July 2023, the legal battles among the family have continued, signifying how important it is to not just have a generic trust, but one that’s carefully tailored to be as clear, concise, and transparent to all parties as possible, to prevent the chances of family disputes. We may not be high-profile figures like Tony Bennett, but that doesn’t mean our assets aren’t worth protecting, especially when family members don’t get along and when our legacy is at stake. When setting up a trust, always make sure you have a list of assets so the Trustee and beneficiaries know what’s being distributed, and make sure that you have documents like Power of Attorney and Healthcare Directives so that no third party can take advantage of any potential legal incompetencies. More importantly, make sure you have an attorney specialized in estate planning and licensed in your state to oversee the creation of your estate plan.
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Dreaded phone call spelled freedom
The phone call I dreaded couldn’t have come soon enough. Wait! What! That makes no sense.
Bottom line is that I didn’t fit into my company’s bottom line. And you know what? As I write this on a holiday I don’t understand, I keep wanting to go outside and holler: “Free at last! Free at last! Great God Almighty I’m free at last!”
My now ex-boss on the line made small talk about his wife’s trip to a local nephrologist (I kid you not!) before saying we had business to attend to, as he slinked away and was mute for the rest of the conversation.
I was told by the Human Resources guy that I wasn’t being terminated. My position was being eliminated, less than a week before my 69th birthday. After 15
Water:
Continued from Page 3
Homeowners can learn more about how to identify their water service line type as well as how their participation can assist the federal EPA by visiting Water Service Line Inventory (forsythco.com).
Director Adams pointed out that the department’s website also provides resources for homeowners with older properties, including the service line.
To help determine the materials, the department’s website includes a photo guide. The EPA also has a guide on its website, epa.gov.
Customers who own properties built prior to 1990 are encouraged to have their service lines inspected by a licensed plumber and then complete the survey.
The study also reminded customers about the WaterSmart Portal, which can be accessed at: forsythco.com/ watersmart.
Adams said the portal allows customers to see their water usage data, gas leaks and more.
“It is a valuable tool for helping
years at the company, like a contestant on a TV game show, I was receiving some lovely parting gifts.
I couldn’t help but cue up Bob Seger’s “The Famous Final Scene:” … “Like a guest who stayed too long, it’s finally time to leave.” I guess after 43 years of being in the pharmaceutical sales arena, it truly is time to turn the door handle and walk quietly away with dignity.
Nah! I can’t do that without writing a few things that have been bugging me about my former industry. I don’t have many bones to pick with drug companies and the suits who run them, but here’s a few:
- Brand-name prescription drugs are priced ridiculously high. Getting a product to market is expensive because of a dysfunctional approval process.
- There are way too many drug reps spending way too much money to feed office and hospital staffs, who impede access to the doctor if the food is sub-par. (I’m being serious: Lousy food can mean
conserve water and save money on monthly water bills,” he said.
WaterSmart includes:
• Comparison of how your water usage compares with similar households.
• Daily water usage tracking.
• Quicker detection of leaks within a customer’s water system.
• Troubleshooting tips for household leaks.
• High-water usage and vacation alerts.
• Personalized recommendations for
no sales message.)
- At many drug companies, it’s not uncommon to have employees wonder: “Now what is it that he does here?” Chances are pretty good that the mystery man is pulling down a hefty salary, bonus and other perks.
- Why are prescription drugs, the same ones available here, priced at a fraction of the cost in foreign countries?
And before you think these sentiments are bitterness as I walk away, please know that I never understood why it seems that prices were always heftily increased at least once a year for the same product. I stayed mostly silent about this because the pharmaceutical industry enabled me to be well taken care of financially. I can truthfully say I told my reps, when selling a product: “Always put the needs of the patient first.” To me, that was a sure-fire way that allowed my sales teams to hold their heads high.
I consider myself lucky to have interacted with so many fine people from so
water conservation.
• Tips on how to lower your water bill.
• Pay and view your water bill online.
Adams said moving forward, Forsyth County will continue to work with all the agencies to meet all drinking water standards, while continuing to provide safe, clean water to all its customers.
A copy of the 2024 Forsyth County Department of Water and Sewage Water Quality Report can be downloaded on the department’s website.
DEATH NOTICES
many different companies. Business relationships morphed into friendships that have withstood relocations and a variety of changes. I am blessed to have friends that I have shared ups-and-downs with, shared laughter and tears.
I had mentors that guided me, coached me, taught me to do the right thing. Some have passed on and I plan on paying written homage to them when the dust has settled from making a job adjustment.
I feel the need to say most of the people I worked for were super.
Others weren’t.
Now it’s a blessing that I am free at last.
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.
Santo Caruso, 92, of Alpharetta, passed away on June 16, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Betty Maugans, 96, of Alpharetta, passed away on June 23, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Donald Wilson, 89, of Roswell, passed away on June 24, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
MIKE TASOS Columnist
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Voter: A
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Stefan Bartelski, the Forsyth resident who filed the mass registration challenge, provided the Elections Board with spreadsheets of information on the challenged voters identified by EagleAI. Beyond the spreadsheet, no further information was provided.
Anita Tucker, a Democratic appointee to the board, noted that of the 742 names on the list, 197 had already had their registrations canceled. She said 531 had also been classified as “inactive” by the state, which schedules them to be removed from the voter rolls if they do not vote before two federal general elections have passed.
Elections Board Chairwoman Barbara Luth joined Tucker and Dan Thalimer, the board’s other Democrat appointee, in voting to dismiss the challenges wholesale. Joel Natt and Carla Radzikinas, the board’s two Republican appointees, voted against the motion to dismiss the challenges. Luth was appointed to the position of chair in 2019 by a county superior court judge.
Chairwoman Luth said the board would need more “individualized” evidence than the spreadsheet to remove voters from the rolls.
Separate challenge succeeds
After the EagleAI challenge was rejected, however, the board did agree to remove 45 voters from the rolls as part of a separate challenge Bartelski had filed. In these cases, Bartelski had provided the board with screenshots of government websites showing the challenged voters had recently registered in other states. Luth joined the Republican board appointees in voting to remove the 45 voters, while the Democratic appointees voted against the removals.
Following the board meeting, Richards and Bartelski held a press conference within the county’s elections office. They expressed disappointment that the board dismissed most of the challenges and said their goal is simply to clean up the county’s voter rolls and ensure only eligible voters are on the list.
Bartelski would not say whether he intends to re-file the challenges that had been dismissed. He noted that he could re-file the challenges under a different state law which, if the challenges were upheld, would place the voters in a “challenged” status instead of striking them from the rolls, and they would still be able to vote if they showed up to the polls and signed an affidavit affirming their eligibility.
Richards offered to perform a product demonstration of the EagleAI software for anyone who wanted to see it in action, but he would not allow any photos taken of the program. When one spectator refused to promise not to take photos, Richards shut down the press conference without providing a demonstration.
The program, which Richards says is his proprietary software, is already receiving some public contract money in Georgia. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the elections board of Columbia County approved an agreement in late 2023 to purchase the software at a cost of $2,000 per year.
Richards said he chose the name EagleAI because he, his two sons and his best friend are all Eagle Scouts, and they “decided [they] were all at least average intelligence.”
Community reacts
Dozens of Forsyth County residents attended the Elections Board meeting, some supporting the voter challenges and others opposing them. After decisions were rendered on the challenges, some spoke about the meeting.
Bill Quinn, who lives in Forsyth County and is a chair of the county’s GOP organization, questioned why the spreadsheets weren’t enough evidence to uphold the mass challenge.
“They want evidence, they demand evidence, yet don’t want to accept evidence,” Quinn said. “Then the question is, what do you deem evidence? It seems as if it’s a game of block and tackle.”
Quinn himself is no stranger to the voter challenge process, having himself filed challenges against hundreds of Forsyth County voters. One challenge he filed in April 2022 called into question the validity of 393 voters, citing evidence that they no longer lived in Forsyth County.
Becky Woomer, a resident and chair of Forsyth County Democrats, suggested the challenges are intended to make people distrust the election system.
“I think that, at a higher level, [the challengers] know that this isn’t going to work,” Woomer said. “But it casts doubt on the system, it drains time and resources from the staff, it bogs down the whole process and maintains this false narrative that there’s something funny going on, when in fact, there’s nothing funny going on.”
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