Forsyth Herald - September 21, 2023

Still kickin’

Seniors take stage to showcase talent

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A talent show for seniors, ages “50 and better,” pushed the audience to re-conceptualize what an older demographic is capable of.

More than 200 people attended the Sept. 16 juried Senior Talent Show, a Georgia Recreation and Parks Association production hosted by Forsyth County Senior Services and the nonprofit Age Well Forsyth.

Ruthie Brew, director of Senior Services, welcomed the crowd.

“This is a celebration of the remarkable talents that flourish with age and experience,” Brew said.

The event, held at Sexton Hall, was interactive with emcee Tanita CookNelson encouraging the audience to move. There was dancing, clapping along to tunes and a lot of laughter throughout.

See TALENT, Page 14

School district unveils map for elementary redistricting

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Board of Education shared a first glimpse of the 2024-25 academic year elementary school redistricting map at a Sept. 12 work session.

The redistricting will impact students at Big Creek, Haw Creek, Mashburn, Sawnee, Brandywine, Kelly Mill, Vickery Creek and the current Midway elementary schools. It will not affect middle and high schools.

The redistricting is aimed at alleviating overcrowding at the elementary schools, as well as populating the new Midway Elementary School on Mullinax Road near Denmark High School.

Schools Deputy Superintendent Mitch Young said the redistricting is divided into three objectives. The first will relieve overcrowding at Mashburn Elementary School, which is projected to be at 162 percent

Above: A woman completes a full split in a performance of “Cabaret” at the Senior Talent Show at Sexton Hall Sept. 16. Hosted by Forsyth County Senior Services and Age Well Forsyth, the show is a Georgia Recreation and Parks Association production, open to participants across the state ages 50 and older. At left: Talent show participants perform an Indian folk dance.

See SCHOOL, Page 16

Officials initiate rezoning for developmental disability community

► PAGE 3

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

“This is a celebration of the remarkable talents that flourish with age and experience.”

RUTHIE BREW Director of Senior Services

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Rabun Gap man cited for DUI, traffic offenses

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 20-year-old Rabun Gap man Sept. 2 on DUI and traffic violation charges after he allegedly crashed his vehicle on Jot Em Down Road.

A woman reported around 7:30 p.m. a vehicle had flipped over on Jot Em Down Road at Settlers Grove Road. Deputies arrived and determined the driver had been going too fast to make a sharp turn onto Settlers Grove.

Deputies reported observing skid marks on the road and grass that indicated the vehicle had crossed into the eastbound lane and exited the roadway on the south side.

Deputies further determined the vehicle hit two culverts at the entrance to two driveways, vaulted twice, then landed upside down on the road. The vehicle reportedly hit a wooden post at one driveway and a stone mailbox at the other.

Deputies located the suspect on Jot Em Down Road near Ga. 400. The suspect reportedly smelled strongly of alcohol, and he said he was coming from North Georgia and was “running away from the cops” because he was afraid of being incarcerated for running away from the cops.

The suspect initially said he was not driving the vehicle and was not running because he was in a crash, the report states. He also said he did not intentionally crash, and he was driving as he normally does when someone else crashed into him.

Deputies noted that there was no evidence another vehicle had been involved, despite the suspect’s claim that someone had swerved in front of him. The suspect also said he was “speeding down the highway” at 70 to 80 mph before the accident.

The suspect later admitted to drinking five Voodoo Rangers, the report states. He told deputies he was on pre-trial for a separate DUI offense in Forsyth County.

The suspect was charged with felony serious injury by vehicle and misdemeanor DUI alcohol, possession of an open alcohol container, hit and run, prima facie speed, failure to maintain lane and possession of alcohol under 21 years old.

He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail on a $26,200 bond.

Deputies charge suspect with false imprisonment

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 33-year-old Dawsonville man Sept. 5 after he allegedly held his ex-girlfriend against her will at a home they had shared.

The woman provided deputies with footage Sept. 1 that showed the suspect holding her at their home on Freeman Road. In the 12-minute video, deputies reported the victim said “let me go” more than 90 times.

The victim is heard on the recording struggling to escape the suspect’s grip until he releases her and immediately holds her again, the report states. The victim told deputies the video was recorded Aug. 27 after she had filed a separate domestic report.

The victim reported she had returned to the home to get clothes because she was not staying there, and the suspect grabbed her and would not release her.

She said she was panicked and scared the suspect would hurt her. He allegedly held her for around 15 minutes until she fled to her car and left.

The suspect was charged with felony false imprisonment and misdemeanor family violence simple battery.

He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail. Bond is set at $13,900.

Alabama man cited for stealing vehicle

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 23-year-old Alabama

man Sept. 7 who allegedly stole a vehicle from the Walmart Fuel Center on Browns Bridge Road.

The victim reported around 10 a.m. he had parked his vehicle and entered the store to buy a bottle of water. Surveillance footage showed the suspect walked past the gas pumps toward the back of the store before turning around and entering the victim’s vehicle.

Deputies reported locating the suspect and the vehicle on southbound Ga. 400 near Majors Road. Deputies reported finding a black backpack inside the vehicle that contained a broken clear glass pipe and a used syringe.

The suspect was charged with felony theft of automobile and misdemeanor possession of drug-related objects, giving a false name to law enforcement and driving while license suspended.

He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail on a $12,270 bond.

Former employee arrested for misusing company card

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 44-year-old South Carolina man Sept. 7 who allegedly misused the company credit cards of his former employer over a term of five years.

The chief financial officer of a tech store on Johns Creek Court in Suwanee reported May 11 the store had fired an employee for allegedly forging receipts, pawning business equipment and making unauthorized transactions on business credit cards.

The CFO said the unauthorized transactions began at the start of the suspect’s employment in March 2018 through May 3, 2023. The suspect had been issued a company phone, a computer and a credit card, the report states.

He was charged with five felony counts of fraudulent use of transaction card and five counts of first degree forgery, as well as misdemeanor theft by taking.

He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail on a $12,375 bond.

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Forsyth officials initiate rezoning for developmental disability community

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County commissioners initiated the rezoning process for Keystone Village, a prospective living community that would provide housing for county residents who have developmental disabilities.

The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the county-initiated rezoning Sept. 12 at a work session. The measure will schedule public hearings to rezone about 8 acres off Settingdown Road to a master planned district, or MPD.

The rezoning is the first formal step to construct Keystone Village, a nonprofit conceived by Beth Burns and Tammy Miller, adoptive mothers of children with special needs.

“... We have a total of eight adopted children, seven of whom would benefit from Keystone Village,” Miller said. “And as [Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills] said, we stay up at night all the time thinking what will happen to our precious loved ones when we’re no longer here and can take care of them.”

The proposed community would include 60 units to accommodate a total of 90 residents and would feature ameni-

What do you think?

Send questions and comments for local government officials to newsroom@appenmedia.com

ties including a community center, an amphitheater and a lake with a gazebo.

At a June 23, 2020, County Commission work session, consulting firm Brackin and Associates President and CEO Laura Brackin presented a study that assessed the housing needs of Forsyth County residents who have developmental disabilities.

At that meeting, Brackin said affordable housing options for developmentally disabled residents is limited in the area.

Citing the study, Keystone Village staff reported 3,631 residents had developmental disabilities in 2020. The study showed 96 percent of these residents live with family members, 20 percent higher than the national average.

While Forsyth County has some support options, such as day program Creative Enterprises Forsyth, Keystone Village would provide permanent housing and a sense of community for adults

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SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Officials honor Forsyth County Senior Services Director Ruthie Brew, center, at a County Commission work session Sept. 12. The Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services named Brew Senior Services Director of the Year.

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County libraries schedule international film festival

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Public Library system will host the 26th annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival Sept. 28-Oct. 8.

The festival will feature 10 short films that qualify for the 2024 Oscar Awards. The finalists include “Sunless,” “The Family Circus” and “Career Day” from the United States; “Voice Activated” from Australia; “Yellow” from Afghanistan; and “Tuulikki” from Finland.

“Snail” from Iran, “The Record” from Switzerland, “The Stupid Boy” from the United Kingdom and “Soleil De Nuit” from Canada will also be shown at the festival. The 10 short films will be presented together over six days at libraries across the county.

Forsyth County Public Library Programming Manager Kim Ottesen said audiences will judge the short films and vote on the Best Film and Best Actor awards.

“MANHATTAN SHORT is for anyone who loves movies, the Oscars, or the feeling of being part of something bigger

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All BCAR dogs are placed as indoor family pets. No electric fences, please. Visit pets every Saturday 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (706-268-1346) or visit our website for adoption information at www.bigcanoeanimalrescue.org

MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival screening times

• 2 p.m. Sept. 30 at Hampton Park Library

• 2 p.m. Oct. 1 at Cumming Library

• 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Sharon Forks Library

• 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at Hampton Park Library

• 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Post Road Library

• 2 p.m. Oct. 8 at Sharon Forks Library

than yourself,” Ottesen said.

The films will be shown together for a runtime and voting period of roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes. Admission to the event is free and open to the public. Library staff said the program is for adult audiences.

— Shelby Israel

Alpharetta group to help sponsor

Youth Sustainability Conference

SNELLVILLE, Ga. — A statewide event for youth interested in sustainability advocacy is coming to Snellville Nov. 4, intended to foster awareness, empowerment and lasting change.

This year, Green Cell, an Alpharetta-based grassroots environmental nonprofit, is partnering with the United Nations’ Atlanta Chapter and the Georgia Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council to host the Georgia Youth Sustainability Conference at Shiloh High School from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Through dynamic workshops, interactive discussions and inspiring keynote speakers, the conference will equip attendees with the knowledge, tools and networks necessary to effect positive change in their communities and beyond.

This youth-led conference welcomes students, change-makers, members of middle and high school eco-clubs in Georgia as well as teachers and eco-club sponsors to participate. There is expected to be 400-plus middle and high school students in attendance.

Scholarships are available for

students from Title 1 schools, teachers and eco-club sponsors.

The deadline to register is for the third week of October. Now, there is an early bird pricing promotion, which slashes the cost from $30 to $20. There are also 50 percent discounts for groups of five students registering together. To register for the event, visit youthsustainability.org/registration.

The conference also invites organizations interested in setting up booths to showcase their sustainability efforts and offer internship and volunteering opportunities in various fields. For those interested in setting up a booth, visit youthsustainability.org/product/ booth-registration.

Service hour and appreciation certificates will be provided by the three partnering organizations to all volunteers. The GYSC 2023 Champion trophy will be awarded to the school with the most participants. An award for Best Poster will also be offered.

For more information, visit youthsustainability.org

— Amber Perry

Atlanta Fine Homes signs lease relocating operations to Avalon

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty is moving to Avalon in fall 2024, according to the brokerage.

"This strategic decision reflects our commitment to providing the highest level of service and accessibility to our valued clients" according to David Boehmig, President and Co-Founder.

Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty reports a team of over 575 professionals equipped to guide clients through their real estate journey.

Over the years, they served 4,400 clients and achieved $4.3 billion in home

sales.

The new home at 8000 Avalon is a modern office building featuring premium surroundings and amenities. With over 77 retail experiences, more than 15 chef-driven restaurants, and a fullservice hotel and conference center just a quick stroll away, the agency expects to offer visitors a truly immersive and convenient experience.

The move symbolizes a commitment to staying at the forefront of the real estate industry, fostering growth, innovation, and personalized service for clients, according to the brokerage.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Appen Media Group announced Sept. 18 that Hayden Sumlin will join its staff as a reporter. Sumlin will cover local governments and businesses in Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Roswell. He will report to Carl Appen, director of content and development, and he will be based in Alpharetta.

“It’s always great when we can get someone skilled on board who grew up in the area,” Appen said in a statement. “Hayden is bringing the drive and familiarity we need to dig deeper with that local coverage.”

Sumlin graduated from the University of Georgia Franklin College of Arts

and Sciences in December 2022 with a major in philosophy. During his time at UGA, Sumlin took courses exploring analytical philosophy, continental philosophy and political science. After graduating, Sumlin held a newsroom internship with the Marietta Daily Journal.

“I am someone who is passionate about revitalizing American journalism,” Sumlin said. “Although I was not a Grady College student, I hope that my experience writing as an undergraduate and as an intern can translate well at Appen Media.”

To contact Sumlin with news tips or story ideas, email hayden@appenmedia. com.

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UGA alumni Hayden Sumlin joins Appen Media staff Get More

Pup-a-Palooza students poll dog owners about managing pet waste

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — In an effort to improve the city’s water quality, five inspired students capitalized on Johns Creek’s Pup-a-Palooza by handing out surveys to dog owners relaying the importance of waste disposal.

Despite the rain, around 200 people attended the event at Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater in Newtown Park Sept. 16. Pup-a-Palooza, which has been around for a decade, had contests for Best Dressed Dog and Best Dog Trick in addition to vendors selling dog treats and dog-themed goods. There were also nonprofit animal rescues looking for those willing to foster and adopt.

But while dog enthusiasts made their way around the market, so did members of Student Leadership Johns Creek, a two-year emerging leadership program for high school students. They handed out brochures about the city’s stormwater system as well as a survey, developed after meeting with Johns Creek city staff about solutions to elevated E. coli levels in the city’s beloved waterways.

See PUP, Page 7

, their 4-year-old Goldendoodle, at Pupa-Palooza Sept. 16. While Goldie didn’t place in this year’s Best Dressed Dog contest, she won first place in last year’s Pup-a-Palooza with a traditional Mexican outfit for Hispanic Heritage Month.

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

From left, Lakshana Ramanan, Neha Gurram, Maggie Dowd, Sana Fatima and David Cooper are Student Leadership Johns Creek members who handed out surveys to dog owners about the impact of pet waste on the city’s waterways at Pup-a-Palooza Sept. 16 at Newtown Park.

Peachtree Corners residents Brenda Garza and her daughter stand with Goldie

Pup:Continued from Page 6

According to one Watershed Stormwater Master Plan completed this year for Johns Creek, pet waste is likely the leading cause of fecal coliform pollution.

Neha Gurram, a junior at Northview High School, said the survey asked dog owners how often they dispose of their pet waste and what the city could do to make the effort more possible. Pup-a-Palooza was their first outreach and education event for the project.

“The results are really leaning towards the city installing more pet

Rebecca Ferrante’s two dogs, Avery and Molly, are dressed as lions for Pup-aPalooza Sept. 16.

Avery, a chihuahua mix, was recently bitten in the eye by a copperhead while walking in Ferrante’s Roswell neighborhood and was rushed to an emergency animal hospital where she was treated with anti-venom.

waste stations,” Gurram said. “A lot of residents are not happy with how many there are right now.”

Lakshana Ramanan, a senior at Fulton County Schools Innovation Academy, said the group chose the community project once they realized how big of an issue pet waste can be for the environment. Ramanan said pet waste, if it isn’t discarded properly, goes in the city’s stormwater drains and affects waterways used for drinking water.

“It's a local issue that affects people in the community,” Ramanan said. “We wanted to start on the ground level and establish a foundation, like, ‘This is what needs to be done to make sure that our city is beautiful.’”

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Roswell joins in Hispanic Heritage Month celebration

BY ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — The La Candela Flamenco dance company brought their Hispanic Heritage Celebration show to the Roswell Cultural Arts Center Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. The show took audience members on a “cultural journey” through the rich history of the Spanish art form known as “flamenco.” Company Director Ania Bartelmus, also known as “La Candela,” led the show bringing a night of traditional dance and musical performance.

“Flamenco is more than just dance and music,” Bartelmus said. “It’s also a culture and a way of life for people and has a very rich history. Living here in the U.S., I was always thinking how to bring flamenco closer to people.”

Through its Spanish, African and Jewish influences, the diverse art form remains an important part of Spanish and Latin American culture. Since 2014, Bartelmus has worked to bring this art to the masses through a diverse group of musicians from around the globe. Priding themselves on their diversity, the company aims to “educate and inspire” those who attend their shows.

“All of this, I hope, is a good way to inspire everyone…we want people to see that diversity and feel our passion,” Bartelmus said. “The mission of the company is to bring diverse people together and inspire them through traditional and reimagined flamenco performances.”

In 2018, La Candela Flamenco expanded its shows to include Latin and world music. After a hiatus during the global pandemic, the company has primarily performed the show for several schools and corporate events on a smaller scale with fewer band members. This month marks the first time the company has brough the show to a major stage for a full-blown production with a full band.

“This is the first time we are doing the show with a bigger ensemble. This year, it became a full production with six people total,” Bartelmus said. “Hopefully next year, it will grow, and we’ll get opportunities to show it outside of Atlanta as well.”

La Candela Flamenco plans to take more flamenco shows to North Carolina later this year. They are currently working on a program, “Inspiración,” with the goal of bringing flamenco to different people. But as they continue to perform in front of different audiences, they enjoy each “rewarding” experience.

“Flamenco is an art that speaks to everyone, and everyone finds something for themselves,” Bartelmus said.

To learn more about La Candela Flamenco and their upcoming events, visit www.lacande.la.

PHOTOS BY ADAM DARBY/APPEN MEDIA

Ania “La Candela” Bartelmus accompanies her band to take the audience on a “cultural journey” through Spanish dance and music.

Prided on diversity, La Candela Flamenco brings together talented musicians from around the globe.

Georgia public safety chief Chris Wright steps down

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

ATLANTA – Col. Chris Wright will retire from his position as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety Oct. 1 after three years in the leadership post, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday.

The state Board of Public Safety voted Sept. 14 to promote Lt. Col. William “Billy” Hitchens III, the agency’s deputy commissioner, to succeed Wright.

Kemp praised Wright for leading the Georgia State Patrol during a difficult period in its history.

“During times of civil unrest and the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, Colonel Wright demonstrated resilience, foresight, and strength that has led to reductions in crime and safer communities all across Georgia,” the governor said.

Besides serving as deputy commissioner, Hitchens also oversees the state patrol, the public safety agency’s Motor Carrier Compliance Division and the Capitol Police. After graduating from the 69th Trooper School in 1995, he was assigned to Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Summer Olympics and received a Meritorious Service Award for his actions prior to and immediate after the bombing.

Also on Sept. 14, the Public Safety Board confirmed Maj. Kendrick Lowe to step up to deputy public safety commissioner and promoted Lt. Col. Joshua Lamb to the role of assistant commissioner.

This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.

WRIGHT

Couples Academy isolates on marriages in crisis stage

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Hasani and Danielle Pettiford, owners of Couples Academy, will soon celebrate 21 years of marriage. But as they sat closely on the couch in their Milton home, they recalled a time when that benchmark felt impossible.

Hasani said couples tend to struggle in five areas — communication, sex, parenting, finances and loss, though communication is the common denominator.

“We suffered from all five of them. All of it,” Hasani said. “Broke, busted and disgusted, didn’t have a pot to pee in, a window to throw it out of … We had to crawl our way out.”

Danielle said she had asked Hasani to go to counseling time and time again, and eventually checked out. But something in him changed one day, she said, and he started watching therapeutic VHS tapes to begin a journey of self-repair.

“We found some therapists that turned everything around and gave us a different experience, where we were working on ourselves,” Danielle said. “... They really helped us center on our own development.”

In the trenches

The Pettifords saved their marriage and began sharing their story with other couples at casual gatherings at their home, laughing and playing cards. But the pair realized some of these couples would pour out their marital issues in search of the

same level of happiness they had discovered.

So, Hasani and Danielle decided to take their positions more seriously and become certified as marriage and

family coaches.

“Once we became infidelity recovery specialists, it seems like 99 percent of all our clients kind of fit in that category,” Hasani said.

What separates the Pettifords from other marriage counselors is that they deal with crises, those on the verge of

See MARRIAGE, Page 11

PM

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Danielle and Hasani Pettiford, owners of Couples Academy, stand in their Milton home. The Pettifords began working with married couples around 15 years ago after therapy helped them overcome their own marital difficulties. While the pair cover a wide range of issues, they specialize in infidelity recovery.

We connect dots, and we walk you through a journey to get you to a final destination.

HASANI PETTIFORD, owner, Couples Academy

Marriage:

Continued from Page 10

divorce, impacted by an affair.

“It’s beyond ‘Hey, have a date night and just learn to communicate better,’” Hasani said. “We get in the trenches, and deal with some heavy, heavy, heavy, heavy issues that most practitioners are not equipped for, become overwhelmed by and may refer out because that’s just not their thing.”

Since becoming infidelity recovery specialists a decade ago, Hasani said only eight couples who have gone through programs at the Couples Academy have divorced.

Connecting the dots

Couples can take one of two routes at Couples Academy. One is the traditional path consisting of weekly sessions led by one of 15 practitioners. But the Pettifords said this is not ideal.

“If somebody chooses the traditional weekly model, the national statistics suggest that the average couple engages in about 16 to 20 sessions before they wind up stopping,” Hasani said.

Couples stop, not because the

process is completed, he said, but because they either haven’t seen enough breakthrough or because it’s too costly. Yet, it takes one to two years to heal from an affair, Hasani said.

The preferred path is an intensive, three-prong approach. The first step is attending a “Last Chance” weekend, where four to eight couples participate in experiential learning exercises, a process that includes a “shock factor.”

“We connect dots, and we walk you through a journey to get you to a final destination,” Hasani said.

Those weekends are three, 12- to 16-hour days that consist of teambuilding activities, like hiking Stone Mountain or climbing a 30-foot pole blindfolded.

“You see that partnership, and they make it together,” Danielle said.

Couples then participate in a 12-week program, exclusive to husbands and wives, tackling different obstacles on the individual level. This is followed by what the Pettifords call “building your kingdom,” where couples tap into the power of their partnerships.

“We’re not just interested in saving your marriage,” Hasani said. “There’s so much more behind that.”

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City responds to elections board complaint

Counsel for state democrats speaks at council meeting

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Since Milton began preparing for its first self-conducted municipal election, officials have been relatively silent on the scrutiny they have faced regarding their administration. That changed Wednesday night with an official statement drafted by Milton’s city attorney office.

City Councilman Paul Moore read the statement into record at a Milton City Council meeting Sept. 6. Before doing so, Moore described a number of “attacks” on the city by an “angry” blogger, the Milton Herald and others.

“It’s been unfortunate that we don’t have an opportunity very often to correct the record, and we’ve been pretty quiet as a city in doing so,” Moore said. “What came to my attention recently is that there was another attack on the city by an attorney.”

The city’s statement was a response to allegations raised in a complaint filed to the State Elections Board by Bryan Sells, an Atlanta lawyer who specializes in voting rights, election law and redistricting.

“There is no merit to the suggestion that Milton’s process has been compromised, or anything other than front-facing, transparent, thoroughly vetted and legally compliant,” Moore read from the letter, then read again for emphasis.

Sells’ complaint is not the first notice filed to the state questioning Milton’s municipal election process. Another was a letter sent in August by Milton Families

First, an independent expenditure committee which raises money to influence elections.

Sells levies state election code for his argument, alleging Milton didn’t have the authority to change the number and boundary of voting precincts. In an interview with Appen Media last month, Sells offered his own interpretation of Georgia law.

“Polling places in Fulton County can only be changed by the Fulton County Commission,” Sells said.

At the Wednesday meeting, Milton officially approved three polling locations for Election Day, one in each council district, for its Nov. 7 election. Votes can be cast at City Hall, the Community Center at Milton Park and Preserve and the Milton Public Safety Complex. Before this year, Fulton County provided eight polling locations.

In an August interview Appen Media questioned Milton City Attorney Ken Jarrard about Sells’ interpretation.

Jarrard cited a state code section that delineates powers to the “superintendent of county or the governing authority of the municipality” — interpreting it to mean the City Council was legally allowed to cast decisions on its election administration.

The letter read by Moore Sept. 6 reiterated and expanded upon that reading of the law.

In his complaint to the State Elections Board, Sells also took issue with the “improper influence” into the hiring of the city’s election consultant as well as incumbents participating in the administration of their own election.

But the city says this implicit suggestion, that incumbents must recuse, is untenable.

“If it were the case that council

Send

members whose posts were on the ballot were disqualified from voting on precincts, or other logistical issues, then during the 2025 city election cycle, a quorum of council would be automatically disqualified,” Moore read.

Matthew Weiss, who serves as the deputy general counsel for the Democratic Party of Georgia, brought forth concerns similar to Sells’ during the public comment portion of the meeting.

Weiss also said having one early voting location, which is at City Hall, is “less than ideal.”

He went on to say this municipal election will have “outsized importance,” because other cities in Fulton County are looking at how Milton is administering its election for their own 2025 and 2027 municipal election cycles.

“I think it’s important to us and to the voters of Milton that everything is done in compliance with state election code, regulations,” Weiss said.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Milton City Councilman Paul Moore reads a statement at the Sept. 6 council meeting responding to a complaint filed to the State Election Board by an Atlanta elections lawyer. At the meeting, officials also approved three Election Day polling locations: City Hall; the Community Center at Milton Park and Preserve; and the Milton Public Safety Complex.

Appen Media has covered the movement in North Fulton toward cityrun municipal elections since breaking the story in August 2021.

thoughts, tips and story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Matthew Weiss, who serves as the deputy general counsel to the Democratic Party of Georgia, raises concerns about Milton’s election administration at the Milton City Council meeting Sept. 6. He said its election oversight is being watched by other cities in Fulton County weighing the option of running their own in near-future election cycles.

SOUNDS OF SUMMER 2023

What: This free festival will feature performances from nationally recognized musicians, like Dave Fenley from “The Voice” and “America’s Got Talent” and Paul McDonald from “American Idol,” as well as festivities and refreshments.

When: Friday, Sept. 22, 6-9 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody More info: discoverdunwoody.com

MILTON FARMERS MARKET

What: Every Saturday morning through October, more than a dozen vendors set up shop around Milton City Hall with fresh produce, fresh meat, sweets, coffee and tea, flowers, soaps, jewelry and more.

When: Saturday, Sept. 23, 8:30 a.m.12:30 p.m.

Where: Milton City Hall plaza, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton More info: facebook.com/ miltongafarmersmarket

A TASTE OF RESILIENCE

What: Observe and learn from a cooking demonstration which explores stories of enslaved peoples in America as represented through their food.

When: Saturday, Sept. 23, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Where: Smith Plantation, 935 Alpharetta Street, Roswell More info: roswell365.com

ROSWELL RIVER SOUNDS: JACKIE VENSON

What: Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Jackie Venson is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter who has supported major acts like Gary Clark Jr. and Citizen Cope. Beer, wine and sangria will be available for purchase. There will also be on-site food trucks.

When: Saturday, Sept. 23, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Riverside Park, 575 Riverside Road, Roswell More info: roswell365.com

12 ANGRY JURORS

What: In Sherman L. Sergel’s play adaptation of the teleplay, a 19-year-old man who has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. “He doesn’t stand a chance,” mutters the guard as the 12

GEOLOGY WALK AND TALK

What: The hills and hollows of Sandy Springs, its vistas of the Chattahoochee, and even its name, are tied to its geologic past. Learn stories of the rocks and landscapes during a 45-minute walk and a lecture.

When: Thursday, Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Lost Corner Preserve, 7300 Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

jurors are taken into the bleak jury room. It looks like an open-and-shut case — until one of the jurors begins opening the other’s eyes to the facts.

When: Until Sept. 24, times vary

Where: Act1 Theater, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta

Cost: $20-25

More info: act1theater.org

GEOLOGY WALK AND TALK

What: The hills and hollows of Sandy Springs, its vistas of the Chattahoochee, and even its name, are tied to its geologic past. Learn stories of the rocks and landscapes during a 45-minute walk and a lecture.

When: Thursday, Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Lost Corner Preserve, 7300 Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

BLUE STONE ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL

What: In its debut, this free festival will

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT!

It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people, whether online, through our newsletters or in the Crier and Herald newspapers.

have an artist market and live music of different genres on multiple stages. There will also be food and beverages, a Kids Zone and a Sports Zone with a video wall.

When: Friday & Saturday, Sept. 29-30, times vary

Where: City Springs, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

RADIO ’80S

What: Bring your lawn blankets and chair to see Radio 80’s Band cover the greatest hits from the decade. Tents as well as outside food and alcoholic beverages are not allowed. Friendly dogs on a leash are welcome.

When: Friday, Sept. 29, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming

More info: cummingcitycenter.com

TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE

What: Based on the book, this play

is about Mitch, who catches Morrie’s appearance on a television show 16 years after graduation. He learns that his old professor is battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Mitch is reunited with Morrie, and what starts as a simple visit turns into a weekly pilgrimage and a last class in the meaning of life.

When: Sept. 29-Oct. 15, times vary

Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: Adults are $28; students are $20; kids are $15

More info: stagedoortheatrega.org

JOHNS CREEK LITERARY FAIR

What: The inaugural Johns Creek Literary Fair will feature more than 30 authors hailing from the southeast and around the country.

When: Sunday, Oct. 1, 12-5 p.m.

Where: Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater at Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek

More info: johnscreekga.gov

Talent:

Continued from Page 1

Awards were given in each of the show’s three categories – Comedy, Music and Dance. And, the performances were rich in cultural diversity, from traditional Asian instrumentation to Indian folk dancing.

A group named “Senior Moments” were the Grand Champions of the talent show. For its dance performance “Old Folks,” three people entered the stage taking on the stereotypical behavior of seniors — slow moving, rigid, humorless.

But that soon changed when one woman, some 70 years old, ripped off her nightgown to reveal a sparkly cabaret outfit as other performers entered and danced with gusto. This same woman was in a two-person performance, the second-place winner for Music. For this act, she did a full split.

Above: The audience dances in between performances. At left: A prop-oriented performance, which won first place in comedy, includes a robot maid.

More online

See more photos at appenmedia.com/ forsyth

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Forsyth:

Continued from Page 3

who have developmental disabilities.

Commissioners were ultimately supportive of the project, but it raised larger questions about where Keystone Village would fit into the county’s zoning categories.

Commissioner Laura Semanson emphasized she supports the project, but she said a commercial business district with a conditional use permit may be more suitable and consistent with other assisted living communities in the county.

“My concern is that every time we make these changes to land use, we’re dictating, we’re setting precedent,” Semanson said.

Forsyth County has more than 30 zoning districts,

ranging from multi-family residential, agricultural, highway business, office residential and heavy industrial, each with varying and specific use cases.

Keystone Village staff said the request for an MPD zoning is the result of caution against labeling the community group living, which would bar the project from receiving funding.

“And right now, in the state of Georgia, our folks, people with [intellectual and developmental disabilities], not seniors, not anybody else, people with IDD are not allowed to receive their services in a congregate living situation,” Miller said. “So, a typical assisted living is not allowed, and that’s why you don’t see assisted living communities for folks with IDD.”

Project Attorney Sean Courtney also said project staff would be willing to comply with any conditions that require the property only be used for their stated purposes to alleviate concerns.

The rezoning will be ratified by the Board of Commis-

sioners at an upcoming formal meeting.

Also at the meeting, commissioners recognized the efforts of the County Senior Services Department Director Ruthie Brew, who was named Senior Services Director of the Year by the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services.

FORSYTH COUNTY/SCREENSHOT

This rendering shows Keystone Village, a proposed community for Forsyth County residents who have developmental disabilities. Project staff said the site would include a community center, an amphitheater and a lake with a gazebo.

School:

Continued from Page 1

capacity next school year.

The proposal moves students from Mashburn to Haw Creek Elementary School. With the adjustment, Mashburn would lower to 130 percent capacity, and Haw Creek would be at 89 percent of its maximum.

The second step would relocate students from Brandywine to Big Creek Elementary School. Brandywine was anticipated to be at 101 percent capacity ahead of the next school year, which the redistricting would lower to 86 percent.

The adjustment would raise Big Creek’s used capacity from 74 to 93 percent.

To relieve overcrowding at Sawnee and to populate the new Midway Elementary School, staff are proposing shifting students from Sawnee to Kelly Mill; Kelly Mill students to Vickery Creek; and Vickery Creek students to the new Midway.

“And the reality is, Sawnee’s capacity is at 1,425,” Young said. “They’re projected, if we made no changes, to be up over 1,800 next year. That’s more than East Forsyth High School, and that’s an elementary school. And so, that really becomes a major focus of this redistricting is to get as big a chunk out of Sawnee that we can.”

Staff said the projections were made at the time of the Sept. 12 proposal and are subject to change.

Students who are enrolled in dual language immersion programs and their siblings at Brandywine, Kelly Mill and Mashburn will be allowed to remain at their current schools, but parents must submit an out-of-district waiver for each student.

Students entering fifth grade and their siblings who are affected by the redistricting may remain at their current schools for one year but must have their own transportation.

Parents or guardians of these students must submit an out-of-district application between Oct. 18-Nov. 30.

Young said it’s vital for parents to submit their out-of-district waivers in the allotted time.

“That first year, everything is skewed because we allow students to stay behind,” Young said.

The enrollment projections after the redistricting that were shown at the meeting reflect the second year following the process because of the fifth graders and their siblings who stay behind.

The School Board will discuss public input and review staff recommendations on the redistricting at an Oct. 10 work session set for 4 p.m. Final approval of the redistricting map is slated for 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at the regular board meeting.

Young said the school system is trying to address all enrollment issues now to avoid further redistricting that would affect the same families in the future.

“So, it’s really important that we take measured steps as we make these so that we’re not, not having to turn around and again affect the same families, you know, within a short period of time,” he said.

Further information, updates and maps can be found at forsyth.k12.ga.us/redistricting.

2024-25 Elementary School Draft

This map depicts the proposed new elementary school districts for the 2024-25 academic year in Forsyth County. Schools staff said the redistricting, which will affect students at eight elementary schools, is aimed at alleviating overcrowding and populating the new Midway Elementary School.

Joe Dumphy: Once an Angel, forever an Angel

MIKE TASOS

Columnist

For those of us lucky enough to have known Joe Dumphy, we know that somewhere, somehow, he’s smiling that millionwatt smile and his blue eyes are sparkling.

His friends at Chestatee Golf Club knew Joe all too well. He was a regular and didn’t play golf exclusively with people his age. Oh, make no mistake, he would administer a sound thrashing to teenage opponents he went to school with or competed against in numerous area golf tournaments.

According to his dad, Charley, Joe had a full dance card at Chestatee and loved playing with the older guys as well. Anything for a golf game. And Joe could flat out play. At 14, his handicap was a plus two. In simplest terms, Joe’s average score meant he was two strokes better than any course he stepped onto.

Who knew how far his talents

would’ve taken him? TCU had a spot for him when he graduated from high school. The future was dead, solid perfect.

Except that in late June of 2015, as he left the course with his grandparents, a terrible car accident killed his grandfather, John, instantly. Betsy his grandmother was severely injured. Joe, forever the competitor, fought for his life for 29 days in a neuro-ICU before dying on July 26, 2015. Joe had just celebrated his 15th birthday.

Joe’s final act was donating his organs so that others could live.

Fortunately, for everyone who knew Joe, that’s not where this remarkable story concludes. Instead, it’s a legacy to a family, friends and others that gets a healthy update every September on the Saturday after Labor Day.

The Joe Dumphy Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament was held recently on a perfect late summer Saturday. This was the ninth year of the event, and 139 golfers let it fly in a diverse crowd that would have elicited a huge grin from Joe.

Better yet, after this year, more than $125,000 has been awarded to

golfers looking to improve their game at the college level.

The players and more than 40 volunteers would have matched Joe grin for grin. There were laughs galore. There was an undeniable sense that anyone there was happy to ensure that Joe’s memory lived on. Old friends hugged and new friends were made.

Personally, it made my heart swell to see Charley, Joe’s mom Deb and sister Olivia. Grandmother Betsy, a survivor of that tragic accident, was there too. She looked great and no doubt impressed that so many had such fond remembrances of her special grandson.

My connection to the Dumphy family was initiated in 2005 when the golfer played baseball for me and formed a friendship with youngest son Greg. There were play days at the lake, birthday parties and a Christmas or two when Santa made a cameo to the squeals of innocent kids.

It was my first year of coaching a team of 5-year-olds and it was a hoot. Mike Kelly, one of the coaches, made me laugh as he shared a story about

Joe.

Running the bases was always an adventure with players that age. During a ferocious rally, Mike was coaching third base and Joe had made it there safely. Parents were going berserk, players were howling and Mike implored Joe to “go home.”

Always the compliant kid, Joe made tracks for the dugout. When asked why he did it, Joe’s fitting answer was: “Because you told me to go home.”

When that story was shared, it made me shake my head and realize some things are impossible to predict. Yet there was always a powerful something at work here, maybe trying to prepare us for what would happen. The name of that team that wore red jerseys and had a distinct “halo” logo emblazoned on the front. Of course, the team was the Angels.

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.

Book chatter with a group of lifelong bookworms

Book chatter is what you get when you join a group of avid readers. Believe it or not, it can be hard to get a word in edgewise.

In August, I met with a Mystery Book Club in Highlands, N.C. What a fun time.

Not only did Shakespeare & Company bookstore host the group, the manager also provided a tasty charcuterie board to fortify us for the meeting.

I gave an informal presentation about my serendipitous path to becoming an author, and a freewheeling back and forth ensued. Imagine a group of avid readers offering their opinions not only on mysteries but on all kinds of books. Picture all of us sharing the names of our favorite authors — from Agatha Christie to Rita Mae Brown. From Dorothy Sayers to Sophie Hannah. Their eyes lit up when they heard that the books in my series all include either a book club meeting or a literary festival.

We reflected on the joy that read-

ing brings us. We were all lifelong bookworms. Someone mentioned Anna Quindlen’s book, “How Reading Changed My Life,” and I was the only one in the room who hadn’t read it. If there’d been a copy available in the shop, I would have bought it on the spot. Instead, I went right home and reserved it at the library.

We even had a conversation about grammar when one reader bemoaned the mistakes in a newsletter at a senior living facility. Laughter greeted the story of the residents circling the errors and bringing them to the front desk. The group was aghast but not surprised that the college grad who composed the publication seemed unable to produce an error-free product.

That launched a discussion of our favorite books about grammar. I had to come home and scan my bookshelf and fire off an email with a list of my favorites:

• “Dreyer’s English—An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style”

• “Between You & Me—Confessions of a Comma Queen”

• “Lapsing into a Comma—A Curmudgeon’s Guide to the many things that

can go wrong in print—and how to avoid them”

• “Eats, Shoots, & Leaves”

Ten days later, I met with a Dunwoody book club to discuss the first book in my mystery series. This group of women formed their club in 1997 and are still going strong. Because they’re Dunwoody residents, they’re familiar with my “Crier” columns about books. I smiled when one member walked in with a clipping from the column in which I’d recommended “The White Lady,” a novel by one of my favorite authors. In her other hand, she carried a copy of the book.

Once again, I shared the tale of how I came to write my first work of fiction after I retired. I still credit Dick Williams, former editor of the Crier, with launching my writing career when he hired me as a columnist. This group had read “Bells, Tails & Murder,” book one in my series, so there were plenty of questions about the plot, the characters, and the setting. As I described the many Cotswolds sights and facts that appear in my books, I felt as though I were reliving my 2018 bucket list trip to England.

My heroine lives in a schoolhouse

cottage we drove by, but the village where she lives is fictional. A waterwheel we saw in Upper Slaughter inspired the imaginary Olde Mill Inn in the book. It’s true that J.M. Barrie summered in Stanway and donated a cricket pavilion to the village, but the literary mystery in the book exists only in my imagination. The spunky octogenarian in the book? The inspiration for that character comes not from the Cotswolds trip, but from closer to home. She’s the embodiment of a 93-year-old Dunwoody friend.

You can always count on a group of avid readers to share the names of their favorite authors. Mine, of course, were all British — Kate Ellis, Colleen Cambridge, and Jacqueline Winspear. The list changes depending on when I’m asked, though there are a few constants.

When one person commented that it must take lots of imagination to write a novel, I had to think. I write what I know and pluck characters and situations from my life. Describing bicycling, reading, or tossing together a Greek meal comes easily to me. How much imagination does it take to weave stories around those

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

Recognition and tributes for Lynwood Park and the Trailblazers

On September 12, 2023, several tributes to the community and Trailblazers of Lynwood Park were unveiled at the Lynwood Park Recreation Center, formerly Lynwood Park School. The city of Brookhaven worked with the Lynwood Park Foundation to honor and celebrate the history and people of the community.

The path to these changes began in 2018 when the Lynwood Park Foundation began work to obtain a historical marker. In October 2020, the Brookhaven City Council voted on and approved the “Historic Lynwood Park Recognition Ordinance.” The ordinance recognized Lynwood Park as the first predominantly Black subdivision in DeKalb County, a community which suffered discrimination and segregation.

Brookhaven councilwoman Linley Jones announced the various markers and tributes which are now a permanent part of the community.

The Lynwood Park School historical marker is on the lawn in front of the former school, which is now Lynwood Park Recreation Center. Black students from Lynwood Park, Doraville and Chamblee attended the school. It is one of several “equalization schools” across Georgia, where improvements or new schools were built for Black children, while keeping schools segregated.

The “Lynwood Park Trailblazers Community Room” honors former Lynwood Park students who blazed a trail for those to follow. The students were the first to integrate nearby White DeKalb County schools when Lynwood Park School closed in 1968.

The name of the gymnasium of Lynwood Park Recreation Center has been restored, named in honor of Columbus Jones, the first recreation director. The sign above the entrance reads, “Columbus Jones Gymnasium, home of the mighty Lynwood Rattlers, est. 1949.”

The turf field of Lynwood Park will honor Emmauel Wallace, long-time staffer of the park who died in 2020. His daughter shared his legacy, adding “his character and integrity shone through.”

Another tribute to the history lies within a display case placed in the community center lobby with photos and memorabilia of Lynwood Park School.

To highlight the entrance to historic Lynwood Park, Atlanta artist Turiya Clark was commissioned to paint murals in each crosswalk of the Windsor Parkway and Osborne Road roundabout. Clark, who grew up in Lynwood Park, painted images that are significant to Lynwood Park.

The little red schoolhouse, the first

school in Lynwood Park, is featured in one crosswalk section. Families of the community donated their labor and money to build the school which served their children from 1942 until 1949.

The school built in 1949 is pictured in another crosswalk. Other crosswalk paintings include a large oak tree which was a central gathering place for the community, white butterflies to symbolize peace and transformation and the ancestors of Lynwood Park, red poppies represent remembrance and hope for the future, yellow wildflowers for resilience and willpower to

survive against the odds, and the sun for happiness and harmony in the community.

Markers sharing the story of the community have also been placed at the entrance to Lynwood Park. Councilwoman Linley Jones declared, “The gateway markers at the intersection of Windsor Parkway and Osborne Road establish a permanent

sense of place.”

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.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Columnist

On September 12, 2023 a ribbon cutting was held for the new Lynwood Park Trail Blazers Community Room.

PHOTOS BY VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF/APPEN MEDIA

The Lynwood Park Recreation Center gymnasium name has been restored to honor Columbus Jones.

Local artist Turiya Clark painted murals on the crosswalks of the Windsor Parkway/Osborne Road roundabout.

The beauty of the Eastern tiger swallowtail, Georgia’s state butterfly

One of the most splendidly adorned insects is the butterfly. If I asked you to tell me about your favorite insect, my guess is that butterflies would be at the top of the list for most people.

Because of the public admiration of butterflies, most of the 50 states have selected a state butterfly. In 1988, the Georgia Legislature passed a bill designating the Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) as the official state butterfly.

These summer beauties have four wings with yellow and black stripes on their forewings and one orange eyespot at the posterior end of each hindwing as well as a distinctive tail at the end of each hindwing. The female tiger swallowtails are adorned with an additional feature, a series of five blue circles lining the area above the tail of both hindwings. Some female swallowtails in the South are completely black but contain a shadow of the tiger stripe.

Every summer I anxiously await the arrival of the butterflies, especially the Eastern tiger swallowtails. They are the most abundant of the butterflies that visit our Georgia gardens. When the sun is shining, the swallowtails look for bright colored, nectar-producing flowers. They can also be seen at mud puddles and on asphalt to obtain water and some of the essential minerals needed for survival. During their short, two-week life as adult butterflies, they have two missions: to obtain nourishment from the nectar in flowers and to find a host plant to lay their eggs. They prefer to lay their eggs on birch, wild cherry, tulip poplar and ash trees. The leaves of these trees serve as the food supply for the hungry caterpillars after they hatch from the egg.

As the caterpillar increases in size and weight, it will shed its exoskeleton several times, and each time the exoskeleton is replaced by a new and larger one. When the larva, or caterpillars, reach their mature size, they pupate. The egg, caterpillar, pupa. adult life cycle is repeated one or two more times each summer. In Fall before the first frost, the last of the mature caterpillars will attach to a leaf and enter the pupa stage of their life cycle and remain suspended in this stage of development until the

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a master gardener since 2012 and a Milton resident. Carole describes herself as a born biologist. Since childhood, she loved to explore the out-of-doors and garden with her mother. When she entered college, she selected biology as her major and made teaching high school biology her career for 35 years. In 2012, Carole completed the Master Gardener training program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners (NFMG) and the Milton Garden Club. Carole uses her teaching skills to create a variety of presentations on gardening topics for the NFMG Lecture Series and Speakers Bureau. She also volunteers weekly at the Assistance League of Atlanta (ALA) thrift store and acts as chair of their Links to Education scholarship program. Her favorite hobbies are gardening, hiking, biking and reading.

Learn more

• Top left photo: Female Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly on buttonbush (Cephalalanthus occidentalis), photo by Ed Navarro.

• Top right photo: Female Eastern tiger swallowtail on purple butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), photo by Carole MacMullan.

• Middle left photo: Male swallowtail on orange impatiens (Impatiens walleriana), photo by Carole MacMullan.

• Bottom right photo: Eastern tiger swallowtail close-up showing antenna and proboscis, University of Georgia photo

• Bottom left photo: Eastern tiger swallowtail larva, photo by Howard Ensign Evans, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org.

summer of the next year. The pupa stage is a time of change. Some of the caterpillar cells are lost, reshuffled, and replaced by new cells that create wings, antennae, new mouth parts and reproductive organs. This metamorphosis transforms the green, worm-like caterpillar into a colorful butterfly capable of reproducing and laying eggs.

Successfully observing butterflies requires being at the right place at the right time. They like sunny days and prefer to feed in the late mornings and during the afternoon since they are cold-blooded. On a sunny July 14, I observed a hungry, male Eastern tiger swallowtail feeding on the nectar of a cluster of orange impatiens flowers. Over a period of 10 to 15 minutes, the butterfly moved from one orange

flower to the next orange flower, each time inserting its straw-like mouth part called a proboscis to obtain lifesustaining nectar. To my amazement, the butterfly visited every orange impatiens flower in my flower bed but ignored every white flowering impatiens! My conclusion is that they like bright colored flowers, and the flower color is more important than the taste appeal of the nectar.

My suggestion to all butterfly enthusiasts is to visit your gardens, take a walk and/or visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden or Gibbs Garden in Ball Ground, Ga., and to enjoy the summer flowers, pollinators and of course, the butterflies. If you have pre-school children or grandchildren, I suggest reading my favorite children’s picture book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”

• Georgia Wildlife Federation Magazine, “State butterfly is a beautiful sight,” March 18, 2020, originally posted in fall 1991.

• Jeffrey Glassberg, “Butterflies of North America,” 2011, ISBN 978-14027-8620-4.

• Charles Seabrook, “The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is Aptly Named,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, June 20, 2013.

• James A. Scott, “The Butterflies of North America: a natural history and field guide,” Stanford University Press, ISBN-13: 978-0804720137.

by Eric Carle. It is never too early to teach our children to appreciate the out-of-doors and all the animals, plants and living things we share the planet with and are part of the web of life!

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.

CAROLE MACMULLAN

Guest Columnist

Full-time

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.

VETERINARY TECHNICIANS & ASSISTANTS: Dunwoody Animal Medical Center is hiring! Send resume to office@dunwoodyamc.com

WestRock Services LLC has multiple openings for a Manager, IT Engineering in Cumming, GA. Job duties include: Responsible for supporting Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) infrastructure and leading the development of system integration capabilities for the IT organization. Criminal background check and drug testing required. Email resume to: kathy.engler@westrock.com

Requisition #ATR33563,. Job code #ATR33563 must be included in resume, cover letter, and subject line.

Zscaler has the following position available at its Alpharetta, GA office (various types/levels)):

- Software Engineer [Job Code 15775]: $99,008$109,008/yr.: Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs for Zscaler products. Some telecommuting is permitted.

TO APPLY: Go to www.jobpostingtoday.com, search for job code & submit resume.

Part-time

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Tree Services

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.

MATH TUTORS

24 hour emergency service. Licensed, insured. Workers Comp, insurance claims. 25+ years experience. Family business. Free estimates. We Love Challenges!

Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts 770-512-8733 • www.yellowribbontree.com

COMPLETE TREE SERVICES

Appen-Rated 98 Text or Call us for a FREE quote appointment.

Gutters

AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 678-508-2432

Pinestraw

PINESTRAW, MULCH

Delivery/installation available. Firewood available. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth

Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612

Roofing

ROOF LEAKING?

Give Back! Perfect for retirees! Mathnasium of Johns Creek. 404-388-8701 Advertise

Tree removal, Pruning, Stump grinding, Free mulch. Fully insured. Emergency 24/7. 770-450-8188

GENERAL STORE DUTIES & FRAMING PRODUCTION for Custom Frame Shop. Experience s preferred but not required. Flexible Part-time hours, can lead to Fulltime. Call Maria 770-667-2112

Home Improvement

DECKS BUILT & REPAIRED-DRYBELOW

SYSTEMS INSTALLED – Affordable hardwood flooring-engineered flooring. Heritage Home Maintenance, 678-906-7100 HOMEREPAIRGA@GMAIL.COM, (HERITAGECONSTRUCTIONGA.COM)

Flooring

PHILLIPS FLOORING

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

Call us for roof repair or roof replacement. FREE quotes. $200 OFF Leak Repairs or 10% off New Roof. Affordable, quality roofing. Based in Roswell. Serving North Atlanta since 1983. Call to schedule FREE Quote: 770-284-3123. Christian Brothers Roofing

Driveway

$250 OFF NEW DRIVEWAY!

Mention this ad. Concrete driveway specialists. Driveways, Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways, Slabs.  A+ BBB rating. FREE ESTIMATE. Call Rachael at 678-250-4546 to schedule a FREE Estimate. 30 years of experience. ARBOR HILLS CONSTRUCTION INC Please note we do have a minimum charge on accepted jobs of $4,500.

Cemetery

GREENLAWN ROSWELL:

2 plots on picturesque lakeview hillside. Market price, $9000 each. Bargain priced at $6000 each! 770-475-7307

Deadline to place a Classified ad is Thursday at 4 pm

Legal

Dawson’s Pediatrics Peach Kids Triathlon presented by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta will take place on September 24th, Sunday from 7:30AM to 10:30AM at Wills Park in Alpharetta. You should expect some delays in travel during these hours.

Wanted to Rent

Approx. 200 sf private, non-public office wanted to rent in 30328, 30342, 30319 or 30341 zip codes. Reply: zeldan@myyahoo.com

Garage Sale

ROSWELL

Willow Springs Neighborhood Sale2500 Old Alabama Road.

September 22-23, 2023, 8AM-2PM.

Large 700+ home community.

For more info: 404- 502-7006

LOST CAT, missing since Aug. 6. Rory, 4 y/o solid white, green eyes domestic short hair, fixed male. Very affectionate. Saddle Bridge Drive, Johns Creek 30022.  Very much loved & missed. NOT A STRAY. If seen, please call ANYTIME 478-559-0704

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elements? I’m not sure. What I know is that I get immense joy from writing. Talking books with groups like these is an unexpected bonus. Who knew retired life could be so rewarding?

NOTE: Join the fun at the Oct. 1 Johns Creek Literary Fair from noon to 5 p.m., at the Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater at Newtown Park. Enjoy New York Times bestselling writers discussing and signing their books. Witness a literary version of “Speed Dating” when twenty local authors give two-minute talks about their books — yes, I’ll be one of them. Books plus light hors d’oeuvres, wine, and other beverages will be available to purchase. What could be better than strolling through the park on an autumn afternoon chatting with authors and picking up a book or two or three?

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/.

Health & Fitness

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00. 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos

Español

Dental Insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real in-surance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www. dental50plus.com/ads #6258

Attention oxygen therapy users!

Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587

Miscellaneous

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-855-948-6176

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

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

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

HughesNet - Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo!

Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499-0141

Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24.

1-866-479-1516

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

1-855-417-1306

MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure!

1-888-489-3936

Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom!

1-833-758-3892

Inflation is at 40 year highs. Interest rates are way up. Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call National Debt Relief to find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! Free quote: 1-877-592-3616

Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS

1-866-859-0405

Are you a pet owner? Do you want to get up to 100% back on vet bills? Physicians Mutual In-surance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-844774-0206 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow.com/ads

Diagnosed with lung cancer & 65+? You may qualify for a substantial cash award. No obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help! Call 24/7 1-877-707-5707

My Caring Plan’s local advisors have helped thousands of families with unique needs find sen-ior living. Can you afford 2k a month in rent? We can help for free! 866511-1799

A Community of Advocates For Local Journalism

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

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