Forsyth Herald - August 10, 2023

Library branches schedule writing, publishing talks

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Public Library system will host a free, educational lecture series on writing and publishing this August.

The series, Forsyth Writes Together, will feature career anecdotes and guidance from six authors in different creative genres and the publishing industry from Aug. 3-31.

“Forsyth County has a vibrant community of writers, and [Forsyth County Public Library] has always worked to advocate for their work,” library Information Services Supervisor Sarah Brubaker said. “Every branch library now has a writers’ group to offer support and helpful critiques to writers who seek a writing community.”

Sharon Elementary School Principal Brian Nelson dances with a kindergarten drama class on the first day of school

3. It was Nelson’s first day as an elementary school principal after working as an assistant principal at North and South

School year opens

Student enrollment expected to increase

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

54,393 students. As of Aug. 7, the district has enrolled 54,338 students.

Sharon Elementary School first grader Charlotte Whitworth drinks “jitter juice” on the first day of school Aug. 3. Teacher Donna Evans made the juice for her students to calm first-day nerves.

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Some 54,000 Forsyth County students started a new school year on a rainy morning Aug. 3, and school officials are expecting a record enrollment in the coming weeks.

At the end of the 2022-23 school year, Forsyth County Schools enrolled

School district officials anticipate a steady stream of new students through Labor Day.

“We were projected to grow by more than 500 students over the current year,” Schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden said at a July 18 Board of

See SCHOOL, Page 22

See WRITE, Page 19

FORSYTH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY/PROVIDED Atlanta Writers Club Executive Director George Weinstein will be the keynote speaker at the “Local Authors Showcase” at 2 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Sharon Forks Library.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Aug.

Forsyth high schools.

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Gainesville man arrested in 2-year-old fraud case

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 42-year-old Gainesville man July 25 who allegedly made fraudulent purchases two years ago using his former employer’s credit card.

The owner of the company reported Nov. 3, 2021, he had terminated the suspect the week before for not coming to work. He said he was unable to reach the suspect because he had no cellphone.

The owner told deputies the suspect had the company card when he was terminated, and the card was used Oct. 30, 2021, at the Shell gas station on Browns Bridge Road for two $200 ATM transactions around 1:15 p.m.

The suspect allegedly told the owner on Facebook he had lost the credit card at “some QT” but did not report it.

The suspect was charged with two felony counts of fraudulent use of transaction card and one count of identity fraud. He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail on a $3,360 bond.

Deputies charge suspect for 2022 home burglary

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 41-year-old Norcross man July 24 in connection with a home burglary last September.

One of the three victims reported Sept. 17, 2022, his firearm, a Glock 17 9mm handgun, had been stolen from a duty belt at his mother’s house. When a second resident arrived at the home, she noticed the back door had been shattered, and several rooms ransacked, the

report states.

Deputies reported finding the police duty belt on the kitchen floor and a ransacked chest. The second resident said her $200 collection of quarters was missing, and a third resident reported roughly $7,000 in cash and some $8,000 in jewelry had been stolen.

A nearly yearlong investigation led authorities to a suspect in the case.

He was arrested and charged with felony first degree residence burglary.

Snellville man arrested in 2022 home burglary

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 44-year-old Snellville man July 26 on charges stemming from a 2022 burglary on Waterstone Drive.

The homeowner reported Nov. 2, 2022, he had received alerts from his Ring doorbell that a person was on the back porch. Footage showed the suspect using a tool to pry open the glass door, which shattered. He also broke a window, the report states.

Deputies and K9 units set up a perimeter around the residence and searched for the suspect, the report states. The K9 tracked the suspect to a pool house in the neighborhood, but he fled in a vehicle.

Deputies recently identified the suspect and charged him with felony first degree residence burglary.

Atlanta man charged for driving stolen vehicle

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 57-year-old Atlanta man July 24 on forgery, theft and fraud charges in a Taco Bell parking lot on Bethelview Road.

Deputies reported stopping the suspect in a black Ford F-150 around 8 a.m. The tag returned stolen out of Waterbury, Connecticut, but the stolen vehicle was listed as a Hyundai Elantra. The suspect told deputies he was

a car salesman, and there has been an issue among his coworkers with the purchase of a vehicle and “a check someone hasn’t paid back.”

Documents in the vehicle showed it was registered to an auto sales company in LaGrange. The suspect said this was related to the vehicle’s tag showing as stolen, the report states.

Deputies arrested the man, who said the driver’s license he had given them was his brother’s, and his license was in his wallet. Deputies reported finding a Georgia identification card and a South Carolina driver's license in the suspect's wallet.

Both showed he had no valid license, the report states.

Deputies also reported locating a loaded Ruger revolver in a bag under the driver’s seat. The suspect’s criminal history showed he was convicted for money laundering and wire fraud in 2005.

He was charged with felony forgery in the first degree, identity fraud, weapon possession by a convicted felon and misdemeanor theft by receiving stolen property and driving without a valid license.

Property owner reports damage to apartment

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — An Atlanta man reported to police July 26 that his Johns Creek property on Fairview Bluff had been vandalized and that there was potentially a squatter.

The victim reported eggs thrown at the door, which was standing ajar with a damaged frame. Inside, police observed trash and other items strewn about the floor and on the walls. The man estimated the damages to be around $5,000, the police report said.

The victim informed police the tenant had been issued an eviction notice but failed to show up to court. He also said there may have been a man he was familiar with squatting at the apartment. Police called detectives to the scene, who conducted their investigation.

County approves plan for new Hindu temple

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County commissioners approved plans for a 70,000-square-foot Hindu temple off Peachtree Parkway that initially drew criticism from neighbors. Now, residents say they have reached a compromise with developers.

At its Aug. 3 formal meeting, commissioners approved amended conditions and variances for the Sujnana Religious and Charitable Foundation that allows construction of the new Shri Krishna Vrundavana temple. The 6-acre site is at Peachtree Parkway and South Clement Road.

Plans include 197 parking spaces, green space for outdoor activities and two bridges across the drainage creek on the parcel that connect the 3-story temple to the larger parking lot. The site borders three subdivisions.

To ameliorate noise concerns from the neighboring homeowners associations, commissioners approved a condition that prohibits fireworks at the temple except on New Year’s Eve, Independence Day, one day of Diwali and one other celebratory day. The temple may display fireworks for no more than four days each year.

The project was introduced to the Board of Commissioners July 6 at a meeting and public hearing. Six residents spoke in opposition to the plans, many citing concerns about noise and increased traffic on the busy Peachtree Parkway.

“[South Clement Road] is a little two-lane road with probably the most dangerous intersection in the county,” speaker Allen Carver said. “I’ve seen numerous serious accidents.”

See TEMPLE, Page 22

FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED Forsyth County commissioners approved Aug. 3 a new Shri Krishna Vrundavana temple on a site off Peachtree Parkway. Plans for the 70,000-square-foot facility drew concerns from nearby residents in July.

Antisemitic flyers distributed in Alpharetta neighborhoods

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — City officials reported Aug. 6 antisemitic flyers were distributed throughout Alpharetta neighborhoods overnight, following similar incidents in other Metro Atlanta communities earlier this year.

Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin issued a statement condemning the flyers, a sentiment shared by other Metro Atlanta and state officials whose communities saw the flyers dispersed.

“As a city, we fully support the freedoms provided by the First Amendment, but denounce antisemitism in all its forms,” Gilvin said. “Alpharetta is a diverse, welcoming and inviting community, one that values and supports our differences. Hate has no place in Alpharetta, and it is not who we are.”

In February, antisemitic flyers were distributed throughout several Dunwoody and Sandy Springs neighborhoods. Residents in Roswell and Milton reported a wave of flyers in May.

Dunwoody police identified suspects in February, but Police Chief Billy Grogan said no charges could be pressed, citing the incident as a free speech issue.

The Alpharetta Police Department is investigating the incident alongside neighboring agencies.

Police officials ask anyone with information on the incident to contact the Public Safety Department at 678297-6300 or use the department’s online tip reporter at tipsubmit.com/WebTips. aspx?AgencyID=1013.

Northern Ridge announces July Eagle Scouts

The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (Cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, John’s Creek, Milton) is proud to announce its newest Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review on July 27, 2023, at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church.

Top Row—left to right

Andrew Lampert, of Troop 1486, sponsored by North River Baptist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a puzzle table and a Lego table for Elkins Pointe Middle School.

Arya Iyer, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of a Chicken Coop Rainwater Harvesting & Watering System for Old Rucker Farm Park.

Srinandan Remala, of Troop 3000, sponsored by Birmingham United Methodist Church, whose project was relocating and refurbishing six wood benches that are on an abandoned trail in Providence Park.

Nikhil Deo, Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction five raised outdoor gardens for the Southeastern Railway Museum.

Vignesh Burugupalli, of Troop 3000, sponsored by Birmingham United Methodist Church, whose project was design and construction of a trailhead kiosk which will contain a map of the newly reopened Providence Park.

Johan Jerry, Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of four benches for the soccer field basketball court area at Lake Winward Elementary School.

Caleb Hankinson, of Troop 2143, sponsored by The American Legion Post 251, whose project was the design and construction of a Gaga pit and ball Rack for Peachtree Corners Baptist Church.

Bottom Row, from left Julian Yelisetty, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and construction of four raised garden boxes for Settles Bridge Elementary School.

Venkat Arun, of Troop 629, sponsored by Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of three picnic tables at Fulton Science Academy

Toby Chiu, of Troop 1486, sponsored by North River Baptist Church, whose project was the collection over 2,000 units

Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club fundraises for children’s hospital

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The SawneeCumming Optimist Club raised $13,000 for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta May 8 at its annual Charity Golf Tournament at Laurel Springs Golf Club.

“Over the past 11 years, the tournament has generously funded items to specifically provide support and care for our patients and families in the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorder Center,” CHOA Community Development Officer Laurie Cole said. “Thank you for always bringing out the best in kids.”

Optimist Club President Carolynn Martin said Paul Sturtz, who was diagnosed with stage four bone cancer at 6 years old, was the tournament’s 2023 CHOA child ambassador. Sturtz is currently cancer-free after receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatment, she said.

“Paul was such an inspiration for our event and our golfers,” Martin said. “He touched everyone there and had such an impact on the entire day."

—

Shelby Israel

SAWNEE-CUMMING OPTIMIST CLUB/PROVIDED Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta child ambassador Paul Sturtz and his father Jonathan Sturtz attend the annual Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club Charity Golf Tournament May 8 at Laurel Springs Golf Club. The club earned $13,000 for the hospital at the tournament.

of food for Meals by Grace Charity.

Patrick Jones, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was replacing the soil in 10 planter boxes, dismantling three planter boxes, spreading mulch across designated areas, building six bird boxes, and landscaping a 25-foot diameter area by placing rocks around the edge and installing pine straw for Creekview Elementary School.

John Burton Jr., of Troop 143, sponsored by The American Legion Post 251, whose project was the design and construction of three raised gardens with mesh covering for Happyfeat, a nonprofit

organization that supports individuals with special need.

Dhruv Jadhav, of Troop 143, sponsored by The American Legion Post 251, whose project was the design and construction of an information Kiosk, two raised block flower beds, and a gravel/ stone path from the parking lot to the kiosk, at the greenway located at the Bell Road Roundabout.

Garrett Douglass, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction 20 cat houses out of 50-quart coolers for Planned PEThood of Georgia.

Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame awards JROTC scholarships

By ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame (GMVHOF) held their ROTC Scholarship Certificate Presentation Aug. 2 in a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Walk in Johns Creek’s Newtown Park.

Roughly 35 people attended the morning event held in front of The Wall That Heals, a 250-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Two scholarships of $4,000 each were presented, one to Joshua Acklen of Roswell, the other to David Blackwell of Marietta for their involvement with the JROTC Program at The King’s Academy in Woodstock. Both graduates are entering freshmen and ROTC cadets at the University of North Georgia. Scholarships are provided through donations from individual veterans and veterans organizations awarding $4,000 each to accomplished ROTC cadets.

“The feedback was highly positive, and they were deeply touched by the entire GMVHOF ROTC Scholarship Presentation Ceremony,” said Col. Rick White (retired), Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame director and chairman of the board. “This will encourage some of our Georgia high school students to consider becoming part of their school's JROTC Program.”

The scholarship was created by the Hall of Fame’s Founder, Col. Paul Longgrear.

In 2020, the GMVHOF Board of Directors voted to establish the ROTC Scholarship Program to “inspire and prepare future leaders for America.”

In addition to earning impressive GPA

and SAT scores, potential candidates must graduate high school with heavy involvement in the JROTC program. From there, they must also be accepted into a four-year Georgia college or university and its respective ROTC program with the intention of serving in the U.S. Military

upon graduation.

“[Longgrear] felt that the U.S. was in urgent need of future leaders for our great nation and that one way to help develop those leaders was through the high school JROTC program and the college or university’s ROTC program,” White said.

Acklen’s scholarship is in honor of the late U.S. Navy veteran “Submarine” Mike Kotler of Alpharetta. Blackwell’s scholarship honored retired U.S. Army Capt. Tommy Clack, also of Alpharetta.

In accordance with their mission statement, the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame is a non-profit corporation existing for the purpose of “honoring Georgia veterans, educating the youth and citizens of Georgia about real heroes, and preparing future leaders for America through the GMVHOF ROTC Scholarship Program.” To learn more about the organization or how you can donate, visit www.gmvhof.org.

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PROVIDED

From left, Retired Col. Rick White, Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame director and chairman of the board, stands with scholarship recipients Joshua Acklen and David Blackwell in front of The Wall That Heals at Newtown Park in Johns Creek Aug. 2. At right, is retired Col. Rick Stepat, JROTC senior army instructor at King’s Academy.

Capt. (Ret.) TOMMY CLACK

“Submarine” MIKE KOTLER

Georgia Peaches celebrate national championship showings

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Four Georgia Peaches Girls

Baseball teams returned home to North Georgia recently, victorious after the Baseball For All (BFA) Nationals Tournament in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Georgia Peaches 14U, 12U, 10U and 9U teams participated in the BFA Nationals Tournament July 12 through July 16, outscoring their opponents and sending several teams to the championship games, coaches said.

The 14U and 12U teams outscored their opponents 47- 18 and 40-17, and the 9U and 10U teams advanced to the 10U division championship.

Coaches said the 9U team’s performance during the tournament was particularly impressive, because they competed primarily against 10-year-olds throughout the week, while they only have players between 7 and 9 years old on their team.

By the end of the week, the 10U team collected 85 runs, 53 hits, 56 defensive strikeouts, and allowed only nine runs and nine hits.

“Our program continues to grow at an astonishing pace and our teams have become feared at both the local level and at the national stage, where we’re proven to be a top program in the nation,” Georgia Peaches 9U head coach Ian Winklemann said.

J.P. Borod, head coach of the Georgia Peaches 10U team, said the 50 girls in the Georgia Peaches program had a great time during the tournament, playing their hearts out, bonding and making their communities proud.

“To say that the girls had a good time at this tournament would be an understatement,” he said. “This is something they look forward to all year long.”

Georgia Peaches players come from all over the state, but they are predominantly from the North Georgia and Atlanta area. However, coaches said they have several players from neighboring states, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, that do not have an all-girls baseball program.

Because they are the only all-girls baseball program in Georgia, Borod said their teams typically only play against boys teams locally. So the national championship is a perfect chance for the team to connect with other girls who are passionate about baseball.

“For most of the year when these girls step onto a ballfield, they hear sneers, they

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aren’t viewed as equals, it is assumed that they are less than,” he said. “At this tournament they can let down their guards and they can be themselves.”

Winklmann and Josh Cammack coach the 9U team, Borod and Marquis Harris coach the 10U team, Brian Terry and Christian Lafon coach the 12U team, and Garrett Wilson coaches the 14U team.

Coaches said they are always looking for more girls who are passionate about baseball and want to develop their skills.

“For some odd reason after tee ball girls are led to believe that there is not a home for them in baseball and often their parents steer them towards softball,” Borod said. “We are here to break that fallacy. Our girls have shown they there is a place of for females in the sport of baseball.”

For more information about the Georgia Peaches Girls Baseball program visit them on Facebook or Instagram at www.facebook.com/GeorgiaPeachesBaseball and www.instagram.com/georgiapeachesbaseball.

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Kids get special treatment in mobile spa, just for them

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Decked out in robes, a small group of young girls and one boy lined up along a red carpet to enter the Spoiled Rotten Kids Spa Partybus, where makeovers awaited them.

Owner Khadija Bronson, a Johns Creek resident, helped them on, one by one, in front of a business off Crabapple Road in Roswell. Geared for ages 2 to 13, the bus travels around town and as far as the Lawrenceville area, usually for weekend birthday parties.

Bronson’s staff manned a pedicure station to one side of the bus and on the other, a table for manicures. A chair at the front is where Bronson added color to a girl’s eyelids — makeup is the kids’ favorite.

She also offers chocolate facials and a fashion show. After their makeovers, the group was set to walk on a mini-runway, wearing tutus, boas and other accessories hanging above the door. In down times, her young clients have access to an outside patio attached to the truck, bordered by a white picket fence.

In the average salon, pedicure chairs will swallow a small kid. But on the bus, all the furniture is sized for children — little tables, little chairs, little bowls.

“I just wanted to do something that was more kid-friendly, like something on their level — not too grown,”

See SPA, Page 9

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Spoiled Rotten Kids Spa owner Khadijah Bronson ushers children in robes onto the bus for makeovers.

I just wanted to do something that was more kid-friendly, like something on their level — not too grown .

KHADIJA BRONSON, owner, Spoiled Rotten Kids Spa Partybus

Spa:

Continued from Page 8

Bronson said.

One girl, who had just gotten her makeup and nails done, said she loved how “pretty” the bus was. Its aesthetic, glitz and glam and very pink, is as loud as the pop music playing over the speakers.

Featured on “The Tyra Banks Show,” Bronson said her business was the first of its kind in the country when it hit ground in 2008. She once operated three storefronts, in Washington, D.C., and in Maryland, but decided to go mobile, finding it a better business route.

“Most people like for us to come to them, and then they can still have the

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experience at their house,” Bronson said. “... We’re more like a party/ babysitter because the kids come on the bus, the parents are inside.”

The business is a full-circle moment for Bronson. She recalled being in 8th and 9th grade, dipping pencil tips in nail polish to paint designs.

“It’s crazy how it came about, to this,” Bronson said. “I didn’t grow up wanting to do this job, but I love it.”

She said her business is one where you have to love kids, and have patience, for when a girl cries when she accidentally messes up her nails, which happened earlier that day. For Bronson, it’s all worth it, especially when she sees children smiling and becoming more secure in themselves.

“They come out here and break out of their shell,” Bronson said.

To book a reservation, visit spoiledrottenkidsspa.com

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

A staff member on the Spoiled Rotten Kids Spa Partybus paints a boy’s nails. Owner Khadijah Bronson opened the spa for kids in 2008 and has since gone mobile only. Kids, ages 2 to 13, can receive manicures, pedicures, facials and participate in fashion shows on the bus.

Spoiled Rotten Kids Spa is a mobile spa service for kids, ages 2 to 13, that has traveled as far as the Lawrenceville area for birthdays. Services are typically provided on weekends.

Pain relieving Laser Therapy

Brought to you by - Johns Creek

Physical Therapy

Having treated hundreds of patients over the past 6 years with Pain Relieving Laser Therapy, it’s not hard for me to appreciate how well it works. But if you’ve never tried it, trust me when I tell you…. you’re missing out!

Several years ago, John Deere ran a promotion on their zero turn lawn mowers. They used a fun tag line, “It’s not how fast you mow, it’s how well you mow FAST!” I wish I could come up with a similar tag line for Pain Relieving Laser Therapy because it can deliver pain relief in just a few minutes. It’s not uncommon for patients to have their pain be reduced by 50% on the first treatment.

How does it work? Pain Reliev -

ing Laser Therapy uses light energy to promote healing and reduce pain. Laser Therapy is FDA cleared to treat pain, inflammation, arthritis, and muscle spasms and is a great alternative to medications and injections.

The most common thing we hear after someone tries it for the first time is “WOW!” I’m sure if you are just reading this article, you are probably thinking, “yeah, RIGHT??!! Nothing works that fast!” But don’t take my word for it, call our office today and schedule your FREE TRIAL. The only thing you have to lose is your pain!

Johns Creek Physical Therapy

4060 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite H Suwanee, GA 30024 770-622-5344

Fall Risk Screening Now Available!

Helping to Prevent Falls

Sponsored by JOHNS CREEK PHYSICAL THERAPY

Did You Know:

• Every 11 seconds an older adult is treated in the ER after a fall?

• Every year in the United States 1 out of 4 older adults has a fall?

Every year in the United States 1 out of 4 older adults has a fall?

Our goal and commitment to residents and the community

In our continuing effort to provide the best care and treatment available, we now offer a Fall Risk Screening & Conditioning Program featuring Biodex balance technology. A preliminary baseline assessment compares your unique balance score against measurable, objective goals. The six week program is tailored to improve balance, strength and overall mobility.

• Death rates from falls have increased by 31% in the last decade?

• Falling once doubles your chances of falling again?

records and to take to your physician.

If you would like to see just how good your balance is, for the month of August we are offering a Comprehensive Balance Test for only $49 (normally $99).

Testing and training exercises, such as weight shift and limits of stability, can safely and effectively mitigate fall risk in older adults, and treat post-surgical rehabilitation patients. Our mission is to protect independence and ensure the highest quality of life.

• Falls can cause fractures, head injuries and other medical injuries?

Johns Creek Physical Therapy is now offering a Fall Risk Screening and Wellness Program featuring Biodex Balance Technology. A preliminary baseline assessment compares your individual balance score against age related normative data. A printed report can be generated for your own personal

For placement on white or light background

We invite you to schedule an appointment to test your balance.

The Balance Assessment might be covered by your health insurance plan. For more information or to schedule your 30-minute Balance Assessment appointment call 770-622-5344.

Johns Creek Physical Therapy 4060 Johns Creek Pkwy. Suite H Suwanee, GA 30024

Ticks are ruining hot dogs and hamburgers

Brought

to you by

- Brent Taylor, MD, Premiere Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

Although I grew up in Georgia, I spent my summers near Boone, North Carolina at my granddad’s Christmas tree farm. Most mornings, I helped him in the fields where, at 70 years old, my granddad still easily outworked me. As the sun rose higher, I inevitably asked permission to leave the heavy burlap bags behind to hike into the cool shade of the mountain hollows above his fields. At the day’s end, my dog Willy and I would return with muddy scratches and a tick or two to pluck off our skin.

At the time, I didn’t recognize ticks for what they are. I thought that they were just another nuisance like a spider or a wasp. They are so much worse.

Ticks are vile, nefarious, silent creeping instruments of disease, disability, and death. The list of diseases that they carry stands at over two dozen and counting. Ticks carry bacterial diseases including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Tularemia (a type of plague). Ticks carry viruses such as CrimeanCongo hemorrhagic fever and Powassan virus. They carry protozoal diseases like Babesiosis. Some ticks even produce a toxin that can completely paralyze you and result in death if the tick is not found and removed. In the movie Oppenheimer, the famous physicist contemplates the destructive power of the atomic bomb and says “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” For me, the tiny tick is every bit as soul-shivering as the tiny atom.

Alright, maybe that comparison is a bit over the top, but ticks really are terrible. In addition to the diseases and toxins listed above is the amazing ability of some ticks to make their human victims allergic to mammalian meat including beef, pork, lamb and more. Ticks can cause a disease called Alpha-gal syndrome in which people bitten by a tick develop an allergy to these meats. Many patients with Alpha-gal can also no longer eat dairy.

Some mammals including cows, pigs and deer produce a carbohydrate (a chain of sugar molecules) called galactosealpha-1,3-galactose (aka “alpha-gal”). When a tick feeds on one of these animals, some alpha-gal particles remain in the tick’s digestive tract. When the tick then feeds on a human, the tick injects a bit of this alpha-gal into the bloodstream of the human which can cause the human to develop an allergic reaction to alpha-gal

carbohydrates. Then, if the human eats food or products made from animals that produce alpha-gal, the human will have an allergic reaction. Three to eight hours after eating alpha gal-containing mammalian meat, affected individuals develop symptoms ranging from severe stomach pain to rashes, hives, difficulty breathing and even anaphylaxis.

Patients with Alpha-gal can still eat chicken, turkey, eggs and seafood, but some non-obvious foods like jello as well as some medicines can contain alpha-gal. Refined readers will be dismayed to learn that the CDC website on Alpha-gal syndrome states that Rocky Mountain oysters and “scrapple” are particularly high in alphagal. For me, prairie oysters and scrapple were always off the table, but hamburgers and hot dogs are more than just an American staple – they are an American treasure. When my kids and I have discussed what defines Mexican food, French fare, and other national cuisine, they have asked me what qualifies as “American” food. I believe that there is no more obvious answer than a burger at a backyard barbeque with friends or a hot dog at a family outing to a baseball game. And ticks are trying to ruin it!

Ticks aren’t just attacking us in National Parks. They are attacking us in our backyards. They are riding our clothes and animals inside to attack us where we live. They are causing allergies so that we can no longer eat hamburgers and hot dogs. Ticks are un-American.

In all seriousness, ticks really are more dangerous than I ever realized in my childhood, and recognizing the dangers of tick bites should provide inspiration to use insect repellants, carefully check clothing, hair and fur after outings and seek care for any signs of tick-borne illness. Some diseases ticks carry can cause lifelong disability or death, and parents and grandparents alike should perform “tick checks” in armpits and other nooks and crannies for unwanted pests after time in woods or fields. In areas endemic for Lyme disease, recent guidelines are even suggesting prophylactic doses of doxycycline after prolonged tick exposure (tick attachment for 36 hours or more).

As a Mohs surgeon, I have learned that the beach-goer has more to fear from the Sun in the sky than from a shark in the water. As someone who loves the great outdoors, I would add that I am more afraid of the tick on the leaf than the bear in the woods. If you, like me, have ever been sunkissed or tick-bitten, Premier Dermatology is happy to help.

Partner with Wellstar to stay up to date on screenings

Brought to you by - Wellstar

From balancing a busy work schedule to running errands around town, it can be easy to keep putting off important wellness appointments. However, an annual visit with your Wellstar primary care provider is one of the best investments you can make in your health.

“Your primary care provider will collaborate with you to create a customized care plan and recommend screenings based on factors such as your age, gender and family history,” said Wellstar Primary Care Physician Dr. Cristina Dasoveanu. “Regular screenings can help you stay ahead of issues and catch any health concerns early.”

Be proactive with your health

At your check-up, your provider will assess your health with a physical exam and wellness screenings to help you understand your current health stats and

stay ahead of potential medical issues.

These screenings include:

Blood pressure

The healthiest reading is less than 120/80 mmHg.

Blood glucose. A healthy blood sugar level is less than 140 mg/dL if you have not been fasting and less than 100 mg/ dL if you have been fasting.

Blood cholesterol. For women and men, an ideal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is less than 100. For women, the ideal high-density lipoprotein (HDL) reading is 50 or higher, and for men, it is 40 or higher.

The results of these preventative screenings may help identify risk factors and indicate the onset of certain conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart disease.

Catching cancer early

At Wellstar, we believe in lowering risk and preventing cancer whenever possible. When screenings catch cancer in earlier stages, patients can have better outcomes. Your provider may recommend cancer screenings, including:

Mammogram . If you are at average risk of developing breast cancer, you should start annual mammograms at age 40. If you have a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors, your provider may recommend you start screenings earlier and can help you create a personalized screenings plan.

Colonoscopy . This is a colorectal cancer screening using a flexible, lighted tube to examine and remove polyps from the colon and rectum. People at average risk should start colonoscopies at age 45, but your provider may recommend earlier screenings depending on your risk factors or family history.

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) .

This blood test measures your PSA level and can be used to detect prostate cancer. Most patients will start this screening at age 50, but if you are at higher risk of prostate cancer, including if you are a Black man, your provider may recommend earlier screenings.

Find a provider at wellstar.org/primarycare. Locations serving the North Fulton area include:

2450 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta (470) 267-0360

2570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Alpharetta (770) 650-8980

260 Rucker Road, Alpharetta (470) 956-4540

4895 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta (770) 475-0888

1360 Upper Hembree Road, Roswell (770) 740-1753

DASOVEANU

Hiding in Plain Sight: Unveiling the truth about youth mental health

Brought to you by – Summit Counseling Center

Recent statistics paint a vivid picture of the challenges faced by our youth. According to a comprehensive study, an alarming 1 in 5 adolescents grapple with mental health issues, ranging from depression and anxiety to addiction and suicidal ideation. The effects of childhood trauma (which studies have shown affects over two-thirds of the population) are also significant, affecting a child's overall well-being and future life outcomes. Additionally, the influence of social media can worsen mental and physical health issues, including depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and attention issues.

The 2022 Ken Burns documentary Hiding in Plain Sight gives voice to the experiences of young people who struggle with mental health challenges like these and focuses on the importance of awareness and empathy. The film includes insights from families,

providers, and advocates and explores the impact of childhood trauma, stigma, and social media.

The North Fulton Mental Health Collaborative is determined to confront these critical issues head-on, promoting awareness, understanding, and dialogue within our community.

At our next meeting on Thursday, August 31st from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM, we invite you to a free screening of Hiding in Plain Sight and a panel discussion following the presentation.

Fulton County Commissioner Bob El lis will be moderating a panel discus sion with mental health leaders in our community.

This gathering provides a unique opportunity to connect with likeminded individuals, businesses, and organizations passionate about mental health. Together, we can break down barriers, challenge stigma, and create a supportive environment for those facing mental health challenges. Register today at tinyurl.com/NFMHC823.

See solution page 20

Smiles, not protests, at Braves’ Truist Park

The first day of August made itself known with the expected sweltering temperatures, parlayed with humidity making it feel like you were in a kiln. Anyone not drenched with sweat could have very easily been one of those aliens some in Washington are trying to convince us does (or doesn’t) exist.

Maybe the UFOs are fiddling with our environment and should be taking credit for global warming. From my perch, I say “Nonsense!”

Like every year for as long as you and I can remember, this heat and humidity thing is and always has been a constant. No need to dress in layers unless you attend Christ the Redeemer in Dawsonville, where Father Higgins might have a little Eskimo in there with his Irish heritage.

But the chills and teeth-chattering are worth it as long as he keeps delivering some of the best, fiery messages from the pulpit I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to.

All the perspiring was well worth the experience at Truist Park. Don’t believe it could have been better. As usual, the joint was bloated with another 40,000-plus fans, most of them arriving early to get in a little baseball watching before school started on August 3rd.

Ugh!

The stadium was overrun with youngsters. I was giddy, hopeful that maybe, just maybe, the young fans were there for some sort of public objection to going back to school in the heart of summertime.

Instead of a nostalgic Vietnam War era “Hell no, we won’t go,” the hearty “Go Braves!” ruled the evening.

There was literally nothing to protest within the Truist gates. As they have been doing all season, Atlanta’s team got outstanding pitching from mustachioed Spencer Strider, who struck out nine Angels, one of those whiffs being his 200th of the season.

The “Quadzilla” moniker fits because of Strider’s lower-body attributes. But he is a real monster to opposing batters. The kids love him and celebrated the Braves 5-1 win.

Adding to the festive environment was the ceremony honoring newly enshrined Hall of Fame first baseman Fred McGriff, whose alwayssmiling persona has always made him a personal favorite. McGriff’s recent Cooperstown enshrinement was long overdue and was a “good feeling” accomplishment that Braves fans, no matter their age, could share in and swap high fives. I felt fortunate to get one of the 15,000 bobbleheads that were distributed.

I found myself explaining why McGriff, who debuted in Atlanta the day the press box was set ablaze, was nicknamed “Crime Dog.” Apparently, the McGruff commercials have long been made extinct in favor of geckos and emus.

Another drawing card was manifested in the form of another monster, fittingly from Japan.

I don’t believe there is a better baseball player on the planet than Shohei Ohtani. Saying he’s a phenom is selling him short. He pitches and hits. More importantly to the team’s owner, he sells tickets and merchandise wherever the Angels play.

It was remarkable to see the sheer

volume of Ohtani jerseys, Japan jerseys and hats touting the sizable star.

The jerseys threw me for a loop, though. I don’t believe they were real replicas. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to read anything written in Japanese.

Both are remarkable, one already with a plaque in Cooperstown and the other a sure bet when he retires.

Ohtani’s effort and proficiency, whether it be with a bat or on the mound, is something that is an honor to experience. McGriff constantly looks so darned happy all the time.

As a lifelong baseball fan, the thing I most appreciate is that I can’t remember anything negative being said or written about either of these superstars. Both players wear smiles seemingly 24/7.

Wonder if they’d be so happy if they had to go back to school the first week in August?

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.

MIKE TASOS

Columnist

I used to collect words; Now someone has done it for me

I just finished reading a book that was on my wife’s book club list, “The Dictionary of Lost Words.” It was a wonderful, easy summer beach read that moved me in a way that I haven’t known in a long time, at least since Anthony Doerr’s “All the Light We Cannot See.”

far away to another time, and it did mine old memories in me, memories that had been dormant for years – one reveal after another.

fact, I felt like an eager prospector during a gold rush, working a fecund steam, panning for linguistic treasures in the books.

note, most of San Antonio was destroyed in a massive earthquake not long after I left so, my word collection truly was lost.

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus

The last few years I have been reading more and more non-fiction – generally history or popular social commentary. Think Michael Lewis (“The Premonition,” “The Undoing Project,” “The Blind Side”) or books by Malcolm Gladwell (“The Tipping Point,” “Outliers,” “Blink).**

I love those types of books that Lewis and Gladwell write. They entertain, illuminate, educate and generally help me understand just a little better who I am and who others are – and why. Reading them is like opening a road map to how we think and following the roads wherever they take us.

Those roads – those kinds of books –however don’t move me the way fiction can and has. They are not magic. They don’t lift me up and take me far away into worlds I don’t know. They don’t reach into my heart or soul and change me in some way like those rare, works of fiction do – TS Elliot, Hemingway, Mary Oliver or Louise Gluck. Gluck was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature “for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal.”

“The Dictionary of Lost Words” took me

PAST TENSE

About halfway through the book I remembered that I used to collect words many years ago, literally “collect” them much in the same way that Esme, the protagonist in the book, collected the rejected words. These- words that for one reason or another were deliberately excluded from the original Oxford English Dictionary that was composed roughly between 1900 and 1912.

Esme’s collection of ‘lost words” had a purpose – a reason. Most of Esme’s “lost” words were those that had been discounted and, in a sense, shunned primarily by the men who edited the OED, and the editors were by in large, all men around the turn of the century. That is, they were words that were not important to them but could have been important to a woman. History, context, politics and social order were the filters that were illuminated and annotated throughout this book – woven in and out of the author’s engaging story like a patchwork quilt depicting the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary.

My collection of words was far less ambitious. I just collected words that I didn’t know, and which seemed interesting; I wasn’t on a mission, like Esme.

My word collection began when I was in my early teens. I kept a notebook by my bed and every time I encountered an interesting word I would log it into my notebook: definition, sentence, and the name of the book and page number in which I found the word. Since I was very young and didn’t know much, I discovered a lot of words. In

Most of my early word discoveries were from two books – Will and Ariel Durant’s “The Lessons of History,” and a little bit later, Gibbon’s “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” And while I still have not finished Gibbon’s work – it’s in tatters, a fading green paperback on my bookshelf still with another 20 percent yet to be read – I don’t think I ever turned a single page without finding new words for the collection.

Years later after college (in the early 1980s) I moved to Chile and took my word collection with me. Other than some clothes and a guitar, my books and my word collection were about the only things I took. There, my word collection took a huge turn; it began to include Spanish words and their histories. I began to read in Spanish novels and poetry: Pablo Neruda, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Luis Borges (El Hacedor), and others.

At some point, Spanish became my default language. I thought it, wrote it, dreamed it, and read it by preference. It was more descriptive than English. It had better words, often simpler words that described people or things so much better than the equivalent English. Often there simply was no English equivalent.

When I left Chile to go home and recover from an illness, I intended to return, so I didn’t take my stuff with me. It turns out I never did go back to Chile to live and all my belongings – including my word collection – disappeared forever, left in a tiny upstairs room in the small port of San Antonio. Of

Timing is everything.

We use words to tell stories, and “stories” are the oil that lubricates societies. Sometimes the words themselves are the story, a story that tells greater truths about our world. That was the case in “The Dictionary of Lost Words” – a story within a story, within a story – not unlike the movie “Inception.“

Paying attention to written words is important. It is like looking into a mirror, one that illuminates everything and hides nothing.

Words are more powerful than bombs. They cannot be discounted or ignored. Paying attention to words is a way to stay in the present but also know the past and possibly the future. Words are living histories and are in constant flux. Lose connection to the written words and lose connection to what is important “now,” “this hour,” “this minute.” Words can help ground us if we slow down and pay attention. They can keep us connected if we let them.

** On a different note, for those of you who love to read, I cannot resist recommending (again) two amazing, non-fiction books. These spell-binding easy-reads delve into aspects of our recent past that are incredibly important. Both are true stories about the pandemic, but they reveal the actual backstories that took place, and in large part, determined the course of events.

• “The Premonition” by Michael Lewis

• “Code Breaker” by Walter Isaacson

Peachtree Industrial Boulevard evolved into Peachtree Boulevard

becoming the industry center of the South. Atlanta Journal writer Ted Lippman says, “… on a late fall day in 1945, Holder (Robert Holder) and a representative of General Motors drove slowly around the city’s borders looking for a plant site. They found it in DeKalb, behind a railroad and old Peachtree Road.” The location was in Doraville.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Columnist

“North of Atlanta, slashed across the flat red plain of the Piedmont, a vibrant symbol of the new south flourishes.” This sentence describes a new fourlane highway known as Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. (The Atlanta Journal, Oct. 26, 1958, “Peachtree leads new south to shiny industrial future”)

Peachtree Road led from downtown Atlanta, past Piedmont Hospital, Lenox Square, homes, churches and luxury apartments to Brookhaven. In Brookhaven, the road passed Veterans Hospital No. 48, and then Peachtree Golf Club. Except for the veterans hospital, these landmarks still exist along with many more. In 1958, the next stretch is described as open country.

Following World War II, Atlanta was

General Motors opened in 1947. According to “Chamblee, Georgia: A Centennial Portrait 1908-2008,” a new highway was needed for the distribution of new cars and to make travel easier for employees. State and federal funds totaling $803,000 were used to build Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.

Robert Holder credited DeKalb County Commissioner Scott Candler and Mose Cox, state highway department’s chief engineer with helping “bring the vision together.” The road was Mose Cox’s idea. “A new street for new industry, paralleling Peachtree and the rails.”

Other industries followed General Motors to the area. The road was without a name when Westinghouse was ready to move into the area. Westinghouse wanted to print stationery with their new address. The name Peachtree Industrial Boulevard was suggested, and DeKalb County, Chamblee and Doraville officials liked the name.

Besides General Motors, other business that located in Chamblee included BoyleMidway, Eastman-Kodak, Write-Rite Company, Westinghouse Lamp Division, General Electric, John Deer Plow, Case Machinery, Dow Chemical, U.S. Gypsum and Frito-Lay. The Frito-Lay plant was at the corner of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Johnson Ferry Road.

Frito-Lay and General Motors both became field trip destinations for local students, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Some recall the Frito-Lay field trip included a bag of chips at the end. I went on the tour and only remember huge vats of potatoes cook-

ing. Frito-Lay closed in 1999 and is now the location of Lowe’s at 4950 Peachtree Boulevard, the former Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.

The General Motors site is now home to Assembly Atlanta, the 135-acre movie and TV studio. A main street constructed with brick ironwork facades simulates the look of New Orleans, New York City, Chicago or a European city. Plans for a public park with a pond water feature and amphitheater for local events are underway. (discoverdunwoody.com)

Chamblee dropped the word industrial from the name back in 2008. Doraville recommended the same in 2018.

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

THE INVESTMENT COACH

Why getting your story is important

When a person thinks about contacting a financial planner, often he or she has a money question; perhaps how to deal with a short-term situation, or longrange planning for major life events such as buying a home, funding educations for children, dealing with issues of aging, retirement, starting or selling a closely held business. Decisions about major life challenges and transitions transcend money. Emotions, feelings, and values come into play and must be understood. What makes you happy? What makes you nervous?

If multiple people are involved in a decision, such as a spouse, adult child or other family member, a business partner, for example, it’s important that a financial advisor have a deep understanding as to everyone’s values and emotional relationships with money. Your advisor needs to know your story before a plan is developed and recommendations are made.

Growing up, this writer never received an allowance. If I was to have

money, I had to earn it. Plus, I grew up with two very different childhoods, both of which shaped my attitudes toward money and life itself. From birth to age 10, I was raised by my maternal grandparents in Flushing, Long Island, New York. World War II was raging and a “junkman” would come around and collect materials such as metals, glass, rags, paper, and rubber, anything that could be recycled to support the war effort. I took my red Radio Flyer wagon around the neighborhood, collecting items to sell to the junkman. I found that I really liked getting paid and having money.

From age 10 until I left home at age 18 for college, I lived with my mom and stepfather in Jacksonville, Florida. My stepfather, a Greyhound bus driver, was an authoritarian and expected me to do a variety of chores, which included yardwork, housework, and care of a dog kennel as he raised hunting hounds. While I did not get an allowance, when a momma dog had a litter of puppies, I could select one pup to sell. I hated selling the dog, but I liked getting paid for my labors. In addition to school and a myriad of chores and caring for the animals, I was always thinking of ways to make money, such as selling potted plants obtained from a wholesale nursery up the street, a comic book exchange

and part-time jobs. In college I worked for the university and for three years also had a paper route on campus. I learned that hard work has rewards, which had a great deal of influence on my choice of self-employment and entrepreneurship for most of my career.

My mom and stepdad worked hard but my mom frequently joked about “too much month at the end of the money,” except she wasn’t kidding, and that caused constant stress and anxiety. After paying off my college loans, and after I left military service as an Air force officer and married, I resolved to accumulate enough liquid capital as soon as possible so that my family and I could live for a minimum of one year with no paycheck.

Think about that. That’s financial freedom, knowing that you can deal with setbacks such as loss of your job or some other interruption in your income stream. It gives you the flexibility to change jobs or careers if you wish. Financial security confers freedom of choice and that’s worth working towards.

That’s my story. What’s yours? Where and how did you grow up? What has shaped your relationship with money? How soon would you like to be financially independent, to have the choice of working or not work -

ing? That may be a far better question than, “When would you like to retire?” Some people regard “retirement” as the ending of something; they worry about losing purpose, being bored. Financial independence, and the choices and options financial freedom provides, reduces anxiety, boosts energy, and funds purpose-fulfilling generosity, whether to family, other loved ones, friends, charities and other causes that you care about.

Of course, there’s a downside to success and having ample money, especially if it fuels bad habits and destructive behavior. Religious underpinnings and solid values often are important to the prudent uses of money and talent, and that’s a part of your story that an advisor should understand. “Financial life planning” encompasses far more than investment policy and money questions. What’s the next chapter in your story?

Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group (CIG); 770-4413553; lewis@capitalinsightgrp.com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA), which is otherwise unaffiliated with CIG. Lewis a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

Mysteries set in the English countryside

What a treat! British mysteries are my favorite, and when they’re set in the Cotswolds or Devon, I’m in heaven. I started the week with one set in the 1930s in Devon at Agatha Christie’s fictional country house. Next was a contemporary cozy mystery in the Cotswolds.

“A Trace of Poison” by Colleen Cambridge

This was a marvelous follow-up to “Murder at Mallowan Hall.” Phyllida Bright, housekeeper and friend to Agatha Christie, is in fine fettle once again. The members of The Detection Club — G. K. Chesterton, Dorothy L.

Sayers, and of course, Agatha — are on hand for a Murder Fete. The event includes a writing contest for local authors, and the prize is enough to kill for.

There’s a superb twist, but for me the fun part was glimpsing hints about Phyllida and Bradford, the chauffeur. We know Phyllida worked with Agatha Christie during the war, but not much beyond that. Even less is known about Bradford. What we DO know is that he has a unique ability to get under Phyllida’s skin.

I’m looking forward to learning more in the third book in the series, due out in September. Meanwhile, “Mastering the Art of French Murder,” also by Cambridge is on my desk.

“Death in an English Cottage”

by Sara Rosett

It was a pleasure to return to another book in the Murder on Location

series. I don’t know why I waited so long after reading Book I.

Location scout Kate Sharp is back in the Cotswolds, this time working on a documentary about Jane Austen. As if that weren’t entertaining enough, the plot involves newly discovered Jane Austen letters, a literary find, if indeed they exist.

Add an evolving romance, and you have all the ingredients for another cozy read, especially for an Anglophile like me.

Sara Rosett’s descriptions of the English countryside, the cottages, and the village transported me to one of my favorite British locales. It won’t be long before I visit again with the next entry in this seven-book series.

What could be better than two entertaining reads? Being able to find them in an indie bookshop. If you’re fortunate enough to live near any of

the several scattered around the North Fulton area, you’re sure to find your next great read at one of them. I’ve ventured as far as Bookmiser in Marietta but haven’t yet made it to Poe & Company in Milton or Johns Creek Books & Gifts.

Whenever you’re intrigued by one of my book reviews, why not stop by your nearest indie bookshop? If they don’t have the book on hand, they’ll happily order you a copy, and you might even stumble across a few others that strike your fancy.

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/.

LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP

Columnist

The Investment Coach

KATHY MANOS PENN

Columnist

PRESERVING THE PAST

Gone but not forgotten – bobwhite quail are part of our history

Folks who grew up in the rural areas of North Fulton County and surrounding counties in the 1960s and ’70s will remember the distinctive call of the bobwhite quail. That delightful and unmistakable early morning and evening “bob white” whistle-like call was the way country folks started the day. Those quail were part of our history. Their sounds are not heard today. So, where have all the bobwhites gone? Will they come back? Let’s take a look.

There are six species of quail in the U.S. Bobwhite quail are found in nearly 40 states but are native to the southeastern states. They were particularly plentiful in Georgia which for 100 years was known as the “Quail capital of the world.”

Like most quail, northern bobwhite quail live on the ground, preferring native grasslands where they can feed on seeds and insects. The birds can only fly a few hundred feet at a time due to their short wings, so for protection they rely on concealment in tall grass and thickets that are bushy above but open near the ground. Their cheerful bob white whistle is a mating call and is heard mostly in the spring and summer when birds pair up. In the fall, they gather into small groups called coveys to prepare for the winter. Males have a prominent white stripe above the eye, while hens have buff colored head stripes.

Hunters love to hunt quail because they burst from concealment when startled making challenging targets. They are tasty when cooked properly, kind of a cross between a chicken and a pheasant.

Numerous factors played a role in the 85 to 90 percent decline in the bobwhite population in Georgia over the past century and especially since the 1960s. Dramatic population growth and subsequent urbanization reduced the birds’ natural habitat of native grasslands, so they produced fewer chicks. (Georgia’s population in

Write:

Continued from Page 1

The series started Aug. 3 at the Post Road Library with “The Agent Chase” by 2015 Georgia Author of the Year David

The northern bobwhite quail is Georgia’s officials state game bird. Its numbers have dramatically declined in recent decades. Many organizations and individuals are working to reestablish the bird through habitat rehabilitation.

1960 was less than 4 million people, and in 2022 it was almost 11 million.) Consolidation of small farms with hedgerows between properties into large pastures offered less protection to bobwhites and made them more vulnerable to predators. Finally, increased use of pesticides and herbicides reduced the insect population and some of the natural grasses the birds rely on.

Barry Mansell was raised on a farm in Roswell and remembers several coveys of bobwhites on the family farm property in the early 1950s. “They were beautiful birds and their mating calls were unforgettable. My brothers and I hunted them for sport and food.”

The situation is not hopeless

Bobwhites have occupied a special place in the history of Georgia wildlife

Darracott. That was followed by Will Leitch with the program “From Journalist to Novelist” Aug. 8 at the Sharon Forks Library.

The series resumes with “Building Your Author Social Media Toolkit” with J.M. Tompkins Aug. 13 from 2-3 p.m. at the Cumming Library. Sharon

since the development of the modern shotgun in the 1800s. Today both public and private programs seek to restore the bobwhite population over time. In 1970 the Legislature named the bird the official state gamebird of Georgia. Georgia’s bobwhite quail Initiative begun in 1999 by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and a number of federal programs promote habitat restoration for bobwhites and other wildlife on farms and forestland.

Private bobwhite hunting plantations, many managed for commercial quail hunting, are contributing to the recovery of the bobwhite. A narrow ribbon of land extending from Albany to the Florida border is home to some 100 private plantations including some that are open to the public for hunting. The land known as Plantation Belt comprises some 400,000

Forks Library will host a “Local Authors Showcase” featuring keynote speaker George Weinstein Aug. 20 from 2-4 p.m.

The program concludes with G.A. Morris III’s “SEC Football: Saturdays in the South” Aug. 21 from 7-8 p.m. at the Cumming Library and Jeremiah Johnson’s “How to Write Poetry Like a

acres. After the Civil War, the South was in ruins, and the plantations were purchased by wealthy northerners for vacation retreats. Many are still owned by descendants of the original buyers. These facilities have significantly increased the population of bobwhites through modern land conservation practices and offer perfect conditions for bobwhite quail.

Georgia Wildlife Federation President and CEO Mike Worley says, “The bobwhite is not in danger of going extinct due to the breeding of quail in pens on hunting plantations. But due to habitat loss reversing the situation for wild bobwhites is a major challenge. We are working hard to reverse the trend, and with all our challenges, Georgia still has some of the finest quail hunting in the country.”

The difference between bobwhites raised in pens for hunting and wild birds is that pen-raised birds have lost some of their instincts according to Dallas Ingram, Georgia Department of Natural Resources State Quail Coordinator “Pen-raised birds are not taught by wild parents how to hunt, raise a brood and avoid predators. Even if they survive predators and know where to eat, they don’t seem to be able to survive. The one-year survival rate is about ½ of 1 percent.”

Dallas says “Wild bobwhites need 1,500 acres to survive long term. North of Fulton County, some landowners are working together to create larger tracts which is conducive to a healthy and growing bobwhite population.”

So, if you crave to hear that bob white sound there are places in Georgia where that is possible. However, in our area, history is not on our side. The bobwhite quail, once such a happy addition to life in north Georgia, is gone but not forgotten. Hopefully, the many efforts to bring them back will be successful in the long term.

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.

Professor” Aug. 31 from 6-7 p.m. at the Hampton Park Library.

Further information on the programs can be found at forsythpl.org/ events?start=2023-8-1&end=2023-830&term=together.

— Shelby Israel

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

Stop an apocalypse of invasive plants with good choices

Apocalypses and alien invasions have long been popular themes in print and video. The H. G. Wells classic “The War of the Worlds,” the original “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,”

“The Walking Dead” and “The Last of Us” are just a few fan favorites that demonstrate how alien invasions can be entertaining.

In real life? Not so much. Especially when an invasion and the resulting apocalypse is a result of someone’s plant choice that turns out to be invasive.

The U.S. Forest Service defines an “invasive plant species” as not native to a given ecosystem and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Invasive plants have the potential to take over a landscape, smothering out native plants or other plants that we want in our landscape.

Frequently called “the vine that ate the South,” kudzu was brought to America in 1876 during the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition and introduced to the Southeast in 1883 at the New Orleans Exposition. Originally thought to be helpful for soil erosion control and planted widely, kudzu quickly got out of control. Kudzu can pretty much overtake everything in its path, growing a foot per day, with mature vines as long as 100 feet.

Many people favor English ivy, a non-native perennial vine. Do traditional ivy-covered cottages and houses make a picturesque image? Yes! Can those lovely green English ivy vines (Hedera helix) climbing those brick walls (and stucco and windows and trees) create damage if left unchecked? If you live in Georgia, you bet! English ivy is known to cause damage to brickwork and trees and take over landscapes.

As all species do, plants compete for light, water, nutrients and space to live. Unfortunately, some species too easily out-compete others and rapidly overtake a landscape, reducing biodiversity and threatening plants that support an environment and pollinators. Kudzu, English ivy, Chinese privet and mimosa are some of those on invasive plant lists.

Remember, not all non-native plants are invasive, and many non-native plants look great in our urban landscapes and perform well. However, we should be aware of the damage that can occur from plants that are invasive. For example, if you employ ivy in your landscape, say as a groundcover for a steep incline or other difficult area, keep in mind its propensity to quickly overtake other habitats and

Learn more

• UGA Cooperative Extension Bulletins “Invasive Plants of Georgia Forests,” “Native Plants for Georgia Part I: Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines,” Native Plants for Georgia Part II: Ferns and Native Plants for Georgia Part III: Wildflowers

• Georgia Green Landscape Stewards Program - https:// site.extension.uga.edu/ georgiagreen/

About the author

This week’s guest Master Gardener “Garden Buzz” columnist is Pam Rentz. Pam lives in Roswell and has been a North Fulton Master Gardener since 2010. Along with a background in marketing communications for tech companies, she has a longtime passion for plants and our planet.

displace beneficial native species.

If you’re unsure if a plant has zombie potential, “Invasive Plants of the Southeast” (botgarden.uga.edu/ wp-content/uploads/2017/01/InvasiveSpecies-Brochure.pdf) is a handy guide produced by the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance that lists the top 20 invasive species:

1. Chinese Privet, Ligustrum sinense

2. Nepalese Browntop, Microstegium vimineum

3. Autumn Olive, Elaeagnus umbellata

4. Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis & Japanese Wisteria, W. floribunda

5. Mimosa, Albizia julibrissin

6. Japanese Honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica

7. Amur Honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii

8. Multiflora Rose, Rosa multiflora

9. Hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata

10. Kudzu, Pueraria montana

11. Golden Bamboo, Phyllostachys aurea

12. Oriental Bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus

13. English Ivy, Hedera helix

14. Tree-of-Heaven, Ailanthus altissima

15. Chinese Tallow, Sapium

Some other helpful resources include:

• Georgia’s Exotic Pest Plant Council list of non-native invasive plants: gaeppc.org/list/.

• What to Look For: wildspotter.org/ what-to-look-for.cfm, a collaborative project of the University of Georgia, Wildlife Forever, the USDA Forest Service, and others.

• Learn more about invasive species in Georgia at Invasive.org.

What are the best ways to get rid of invasive plants? The UGA Cooperative Extension Bulletin “Invasive Plants of Georgia Forests” (gatrees.org/wpcontent/uploads/2020/02/InvasivePlants-of-Georgia-Forests.pdf) and “Managing Invasive Plants in the GA Piedmont” (https://athenslandtrust.org/ our-work/land-conservation/invasivespecies-guide/) have suggestions.

Remember that plants native to Georgia tend to perform better in our climate, require less maintenance and are more attractive to pollinators. If you’d like some good plant suggestions, “Invasive Plants of the Southeast” also has a helpful list of native groundcovers,

vines, shrubs, small and large trees recommended for the Southeast. (Hint: Scarlet Oak, Quercus coccinea is a recommended tree.)

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.

sebiferum

16. Chinese Princess Tree, Paulownia tomentosa

17. Japanese Knotweed, Polygonum cuspidatum

18. Silvergrass, Miscanthus sinensis

19. Thorny Olive, Elaeagnus pungens

20. Nandina, Nandina domestica.

PAM RENTZ/PROVIDED

Ivy scaling a tree

PAM RENTZ Guest Columnist

School:

Continued from Page 1

Education meeting. “We think that number is actually going to be higher based on the number of students enrolling right now. We will certainly be well over 54,000 students as we get into the school year.”

The school district has consistently grown over the last decade. Since 2012, overall enrollment grew nearly 43 percent.

Sharon Elementary in South Forsyth County saw 848 students on its first day, down 83 from the end of the last academic year. That number may increase as enrollments continue.

The school, which opened in 2003, was the district’s first two-story elementary facility. It was named after the Sharon School, a single-room wooden school that opened in 1904, until its replacement with a brick building in 1922.

The 2003 facility opened to alleviate overcrowding at Daves Creek, Big Creek and Settles Bridge elementary schools amid booming growth in the county.

Sharon Elementary School also welcomed new Principal Brian Nelson Aug. 3. Nelson served as assistant

Temple:

Continued from Page 3

The nearest Georgia Department of Transportation annual average daily traffic count on the roadway estimates 36,600 drivers as of 2022.

Project attorney Wendy Kraby said the religious services at the temple are staggered, which would alleviate concerns about 200 vehicles leaving the site at once.

Project staff emphasized the proposed temple as a place of community beyond just a religious venue.

“It is our core belief that a lot of us are who we are primarily because we have been guided by the virtues and the philosophy that we’ve been taught by … these temples,” temple member Balakrishna Rao said at the July meeting. “The temple, for us, is not just a symbol or a place, per se, but it’s a collection of people. It is the place where we mold our kids.”

To allow further negotiations between the applicant and neighbors, County Commissioner Laura Semanson proposed a deferral, which passed unanimously, to the Aug. 3 meeting. The property is in Semanson’s District 5.

At the August meeting, speaker Scott Carroll said representatives from the temple and developers met with neigh-

principal at South and North Forsyth high schools. His wife Ashley is a teacher at Denmark High School.

In other updates, Schools Chief Communications Officer Jennifer Caracciolo said a shortage of school bus drivers continues to be an issue. The district deploys 473 buses to its 42 schools.

As of Aug. 3, she said the district is down 62 bus drivers. Caracciolo said the school system is offering hourly pay of $18.92 to incentivize applicants.

She also said Forsyth County Schools hired an additional nurse at each high school, and the district employs 55 school resource officers this year.

MEDIA

Sharon Elementary School STEAM teacher Patti Phillips instructs a class of kindergarteners on the first day of school Aug. 3. The STEAM class is one of the school’s special courses, which include art, physical education, music and theater.

School/Program Start and End Times

* ELEMENTARY I: Big Creek, Brandywine, Brookwood, Chattahoochee, Chestatee, Coal Mountain, Cumming, Haw Creek, Kelly Mill, Matt, New Hope, Poole’s Mill, Settles Bridge, Sharon, Shiloh Point And Vickery Creek

** ELEMENTARY II: Daves Creek, Johns Creek, Mashburn, Midway, Sawnee, Silver City and Whitlow

FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED

A site map shows the approved, new location of the Shri Krishna Vrundavana temple off Peachtree Parkway and South Clement Road. Plans for the site include 197 parking spaces, green space for outdoor activities and two bridges across the drainage creek on the parcel that connect the 3-story temple to the larger parking lot.

bors and addressed the issues.

“Five HOAs have come together, and there have been concessions on both sides,” Caroll said. “And we’re in full support of [the County Commission] granting

those variances that are there.”

Shri Krishna Vrundavana currently operates on rented property on Shiloh Road. Forsyth County officials said the county does not record the number of

Hindu temples because places of worship do not require business licenses. Google Maps identifies at least four locations registered as Hindu temples in the county.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN

“We were projected to grow by more than 500 students over the current year.”

JEFF BEARDEN Schools Superintendent

Full-time

Kane Warehousing, LLC seeks an Information Technology Manager.

Part-time

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ROOF LEAKING?

Workforce Development Coordinator is responsible for developing programs and services for NFCC clients and students seeking employment, post-secondary education, or other career options. The workforce development coordinator collaborates with local employers to help match job seekers to open positions. They work directly with clients on the job application, resumes, and interview preparations and provide tips for successfully securing and improving employment to foster financial stability.  Bachelor’s degree in a human services, human resources, or other related field required and 2 years of professional experience in human services, human resources or career counseling preferred.

To view the entire listing visit https://nfcchelp.org/ work-at-nfcc/. To apply, please submit resume to Carol Swan at cswan@nfcchelp.org.

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Experienced

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Reqs: Bachelor’s in IT, or Mgmt Info Sys, CS, Mech Engg or closely rltd & 60 mnths exp. in job offered or as Info Sys Director, IT Director, MIS Director, Proj Mgr, WMOS Techno Functional Consultant, Tech Mgr, Tech Analyst or closely rltd. Pls resend resume, along w/ cover letter to: Kim Mallonn, Vice President, Org Dvlpmt , 3 Stauffer Industrial Park, Scranton, PA 18504

Donor Operations Associate

The Donor Operations Associate greets and removes donations from vehicles and sorts merchandise in a designated area.  They are responsible for keeping the merchandise secure, all areas free of debris and the donor door area neat and clean.  This position is the face of NFCC so they are expected to provide excellent customer service and treat each donor with a professional and friendly demeanor.  High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Ability to perform low to moderate facility maintenance tasks.  To view entire listing visit: https://nfcchelp.org/work-atnfcc/  To apply, please complete an application for employment and email to Marten Jallad,  mjallad@nfcchelp.org.

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