Forsyth Herald - October 24, 2024

Ballot referendum ties assessments to rate of inflation

By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com

METRO ATLANTA — Voters will decide whether to enact a number of statewide ballot measures aimed at relieving sticker shock on property taxes.

One ballot question is a constitutional amendment for a statewide floating homestead exemption that would essentially cap property assessments at the inflation rate.

House Bill 581 creates the homestead exemption and a new local option sales tax. It will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, only if the referendum on House Resolution 1022, which is also known as Amendment 1, is approved by voters in November.

Election Day is Nov. 5.

The ballot question would give the Legislature the constitutional authority to offer this homestead exemption.

The question says:

“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by general law for a state-wide homestead exemption that serves to limit increases in the assessed value of homesteads, but which any county, consolidated government, municipality, or local school system may opt out of upon the completion of certain procedures?”

A floating homestead exemption generally increases its value to offset inflation. For example, if a home

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All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Woman reports harassment through texts, messages

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies received a report on Oct. 12 of harassing messages a woman said she received from a 32-year-old Dawsonville man.

The 40-year-old Cumming woman said the man had sent her 27 texts and 65 Facebook Messenger messages, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report. The messages were sent over several hours after the two had a falling out days before.

The messages contained insults and encouraged her to harm herself.

The woman said she thought the man was drunk. The man was allegedly on bond for DUI and family violence charges. She said she feared for the safety of her family.

The woman’s phone unblocked numbers, including the man’s, because she had called 911, resulting in her receiving more messages.

Deputies attempted to contact the man but were unsuccessful. They obtained a warrant for his arrest charging him with a misdemeanor harassing communications charge.

Driver reports road rage involving gun on Ga. 400

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A man reported another driver pointed a gun at him during a road rage incident on Ga. 400 Oct. 14.

A 52-year-old McDonough man said he was northbound on Ga. 400 near the Buford Highway exit when another man began driving aggressively, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report.

The McDonough man said the other man was driving a white Dodge Ram pickup and pulling a white trailer. The

Dodge’s driver, who was texting, became irate after the McDonough man merged into his lane, he said.

The pickup driver pulled alongside him and pointed a black gun at him.

Deputies checked FLOCK camera for the truck and patrolled the area but could not find a vehicle matching the description.

Woman files report of debit card fraud

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 39-yearold Cumming woman reported Oct. 11 that her debit card had been fraudulently used in a transaction attempt.

The woman said her husband received an email alert telling her the card had been used at Kroger, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report. The card was declined during an attempted purchase totaling $237.

She stated she was not certain which Kroger logged the attempted transaction.

The woman called her bank and requested a new debit card.

Burglaries reported at storage business

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The manager of a storage business on Jones Bridge Road reported to police Oct. 2 that HVAC systems were taken from a unit on the property.

He said they were stored in a padlocked room but that the bolts had been cut, according to the incident report. The unit’s owner also said a $1,200 dirt bike was stolen along with a jar that had $1,000 in quarters.

Johns Creek Police created at least six more incident reports regarding burglaries at the same business. One is an Oct. 3 follow-up that detailed a confidential informant working with Atlanta Police.

The informant provided photos of a heat pump with a serial number, which led police to the owner, who told police two heat pumps valued at a total of more than $3,300 were missing from his unit.

Drivers report vehicles targeted with gunfire

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Two drivers reported that their cars had been targeted with gunfire within an hour of one another Oct. 6.

According to the first incident report, a Suwanee man told police that at around 10:15 p.m., someone shot at his car while he and his wife were stopped at Old Alabama and Medlock Bridge roads.

The suspect vehicle had been traveling behind him with no headlights on, the report says. The man did not get the make, model or license plate number of the vehicle but said the square headlights could have meant the car was an older model.

Police noted two bullet holes in the passenger side. One was at the rear of the vehicle in the trunk area of the man’s SUV and the other round entered the front passenger seat where the man’s wife was sitting.

While conducting the investigation, police received a second report from a driver, an Alpharetta teen who had two other passengers in the car with him when his car was targeted with gunfire. One passenger was a minor.

According to the second incident report, the group had been traveling back from a pool hall in Duluth when the front passenger heard a sound, thinking something was wrong with the vehicle. The passenger told police when they dropped off their friend, they noticed a bullet hole in the side of the vehicle.

The third passenger arrived at the scene and provided police with an approximate location of where the shooting occurred. Duluth Police also walked the driver through different landmarks in the city to track where the shooting occurred.

One fragment was found on the ground behind the driver seat and the second fragment was located behind the driver’s headrest, according to the report.

The scene was turned over to detectives.

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Saturday, Nov. 9th 9am – 5pm Sunday, Nov. 10th 10am – 3pm

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Cumming approves funding for Real Time Crime Center

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

CUMMING, Ga — The Cumming City Council gave final approval of the Real Time Crime Center for the Cumming Police Department at its meeting Oct. 15. The motion was passed unanimously.

Cumming joins a growing list of nearby agencies with the technology. Alpharetta and Dunwoody operate Real Time Crime Centers powered by Fusus. Roswell and Sandy Springs are also developing their own Real Time Crime Center setups.

Cumming staff have been touring neighboring jurisdictions to study the different setups of Real Time Crime Centers in action. Mayor Troy Brumbalow told Appen Media about one instance when the observers were onsite when a kidnapping occurred, and the technology helped authorities to locate and detain the suspect to be “in a matter of minutes.”

Cumming Police Chief PJ Girvan told Appen Media the funding will allow the force to “keep up with the demand in technology today with artificial intelligence,” adding that they hope to have the Real Time Crime Center up and running “by the end of the year.”

The Real Time Crime Center in Cumming will use Fusus software, which will provide features to help police stay on top of crime. Features include seamless combination of media from different sources, such as the city’s traffic cameras as well as security camera footage from businesses who volunteer access to solve cases. Fusus software also will permit text message and video call interactions for responding to calls for service and new incident management setups.

The Fusus website states that the software uses artificial intelligence in analytics to enable law enforcement to cover more ground, maximize resources and work more intelligently.

See more garage sales in the classifieds MILTON: Providence Plantation Subdivision Yard Sale – Saturday Oct. 26 9am-2pm.

place garage sale ads: Thursday by 4 p.m. Call 770-442-3278 or email classifieds@appenmediagroup.com

Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm

Bobbie Kohm,

Annual 21st

Nov.ember 9th, 9am - 5pm November 10th, 10am - 4pm

Join us for our 21st year bringing one of the largest indoor arts & crafts festivals to Forsyth County!

• Family oriented fun!

• Photo opportunities in Santa’s Sleigh

• The Elf Corner – where only kids can shop! (All items $1 – $8 and gift wrapping included!)

• Festival of Trees Shop: 1ft – 4ft trees full decorated by local artists!

• Food Vendors

• Local Charities & Organizations

For complete festival information visit our website... www.SawneeArt.org

Photos with Santa

Capture your child’s visit with Santa using your own camera for a small donation.

The Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd. GA400 - Exit 13 (RT 141)

This event was sponsored in part by a grant from the Forsyth County Arts Alliance and additional sponsors.

Commissioners discuss the rezoning of about 42.2 acres near Cumming at their Oct. 18 meeting. The County Commission approved the decision to rezone the property from agricultural use to low-density single-family lots.

Commission keeping track of new residential projects

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County commissioners unanimously approved a rezoning near Cumming that would allow 35 low-density single-family lots at their Oct. 18 meeting.

Southern Gentry Homes requested a rezoning for 42.245 acres that was previously marked for agricultural use at 1550, 1560 and 1570 Stoney Point Road. The zoning will allow about one home for every 1.2 acres.

Low-density residential developments are a key focus for local officials because they allow the county to pace growth with demand for services, Commissioner Laura Semanson said.

“It makes for a more stable environment … Key is having a good balance,” she said.

Earlier this year, commissioners approved a change to the comprehensive land use plan in the southern portion of the county to encourage homes on 1 acre “and at the worst 0.5 acre lots,” Commission Chairman Alfred John said.

The county has seen rapid population growth in recent years, increasing 57.5% since 2010, according to USA Facts.

Over the past eight years, applications for home constructions have slowed in the county, Semanson said.

Across Metro Atlanta, home con-

structions have increased 11% compared to last year, according to Axios Atlanta. That bucks the national trend, which shows a decrease of .07 percent in new housing starts year over year.

Rapid growth can strain county services and infrastructure, John and Semanson said. Schools, libraries, roadways, water resources all feel the pinch from an increasing population.

“With high density, you get a whole host of issues that are difficult to navigate,” John said.

In August, commissioners approved a hike to residential impact fees to fund wear and tear on roadways and other transportation infrastructure. Commissioners are considering an increase to impact fees for commercial projects as well.

In 2022, voters shot down a transportation sales tax that would have generated more than $250 million over five years.

State law prevents the County Commission from prohibiting the development of land for residential or other use. But commissioners can manage how the land is developed through zoning.

The county wants to promote lowdensity housing and increase its commercial tax digest, Semanson said.

“We have really looked at the standards in place over the years and made some adjustments that are allowing growth that is sustainable,” she said.

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Economist says Metro Atlanta remains poised for growth

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The chief economist for the Metro Atlanta Chamber says indications point to a more stable economy, and Georgia is positioned to reap the benefits.

Speaking before a crowd of some 50 business leaders at Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber’s Oct. 15 Signature Luncheon, Jerry Parrish painted a cautiously optimistic picture for the metropolitan area and its surrounding counties.

Parrish, former chief economist and director of research at Florida State University’s Institute of Government and the Florida Chamber Foundation, joined the Metro Atlanta Chamber in August 2023.

He said one of the big projects at the chamber is matching demand from companies with talent in the workforce.

“That was one of the things that attracted me to the Metro Atlanta Chamber,” he said.

With several trade and technical schools, as well the University System of Georgia’s 26 public institutions, companies from around the world are considering a move to Metro Atlanta.

dents from 2010-23, the state’s overall population jumped 12.2 percent.

The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan statistical area, covering the 29-county region surrounding Atlanta, saw its population increase 19 percent over the same period.

Growing job numbers and increasing population in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 29-county metropolitan statistical area contrasts with more concerning trends in rural counties, which are losing young people to urban centers and their tax bases with it.

“One of the things you have to look at, as far as how attractive areas are, is how many people are moving there,” Parrish said. “When you add up Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb and Gwinnett counties, that’s seen an increase of right at a half a million people just in that 13-year period.”

Since 2020, Metro Atlanta has seen a 7.2 percent job growth rate, which is more than the state average of 6.6 percent and national mean of 4.5 percent.

“That means Georgia has grown substantially more jobs than the average state out there,” Parrish said. “That probably won’t surprise you that this area is growing, [and] people still want to live here.”

Parrish said the millionaires in Generation Z may be electricians and plumbers, instead of those with college degrees. He encourages high schoolers to learn business and a trade.

“Private equity is going around and buying these companies up,” Parrish said. “The prices are not going to go down.”

Even with 63 Georgia counties, or 40 percent of the state, losing resi -

Before jumping into interest rates, inflation and Federal Reserve policy, Parrish said that he and his colleagues have been wrong, and not just a little.

“If you’ll remember back to early 2023, about 85 percent of economists were forecasting a recession,” he said. “All the probabilities said we would be in a recession by the middle of 2023 … that kept getting postponed.”

See ECONOMIST, Page 9

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Jerry Parrish, chief economist of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, delivers remarks on his economic outlook for the local economy Oct. 15 in the Terrace Meeting Room at City Springs.

Economist:

Continued from Page 8

Parrish said the historically reliable indicator for a looming recession is an inverted yield curve, a condition in which interest rates on longterm bonds are lower than short-term bonds.

“That makes no sense … because if I’m going to loan you money, the longer the duration or period, the more risk you take,” he said. “Every time we’ve had a recession, we’ve had a yield curve inversion right before it.”

After the national economy avoided recession last year, Parrish said economists didn’t know what to think.

“We were all wrong and looked like idiots,” he said. “What happens is the yield curve should start low and go high … now the 10-year is higher than the 2-year [treasury yields].”

With the Federal Reserve announcing an interest-rate cut of 50 basis points Sept. 18, Parrish said he thinks the targeted “soft landing” is looking like more of a possibility.

The Fed is the central banking system in the United States. When Congress established it in 1913, the Fed was tasked with maximizing employment, stabilizing prices and moderating long-term interest rates.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Attendees of the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber’s Oct. 15 Signature Luncheon listen to a presentation from Jerry Parrish, chief economist of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. The keynote speaker covered the overall health of the U.S. economy, the Federal Reserve’s recent rate cut and regional trends.

A “soft landing” occurs when the Fed increases interest rates and manages to bring down inflation without causing unemployment to spike or national gross domestic product to drop.

Depending on an individual’s income level and wealth, economic headwinds appear different.

A normal yield curve is beneficial to banks and commercial developers, but

what about people outside of those industries?

The job market is doing well, and the Fed doesn’t need to cut rates quickly because it has improved the chances of a soft landing, Parrish said.

Parrish is concerned about a few things in the national economy, like consumer confidence at its lowest level in three years and $34.8 trillion in federal debt.

“Consumers have been through a

couple years of inflation,” he said. “Everybody was running a little nervous there for a while, but what’s happening to consumer sentiment is a big deal.”

Confidence was high early in the COVID-19 pandemic before inflation hit consumers.

Even with interest rates coming down and inflation cooling off, most Americans are struggling to make ends meet, excluding most homeowners in North Fulton County.

Parrish cited a few statistics to back that up, like 18.1 percent of customers signing 84-month auto loans.

“There’s straining going on in the economy right now, we have to think about it,” he said. “Even the robots aren’t as busy as they used to be, so what does that tell you, probably things are slowing down.”

Parrish said he doesn’t want to alarm anyone because he thinks the state of Georgia is in a strong position.

“What’s literally happening is we basically have a bifurcated economy here, meaning split in two,” he said. “Take people below median income, they’ve spent all their stimulus money … inflation, food and rent have gone up substantially.”

Parrish said 50 percent of Americans believe the country is already in a recession.

“They’re struggling,” he said. “The last two and a half years, I’ve been forecasting that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer.”

Baker turns pastry passion into business

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Soli

Prillaman loves when friends and family break bread together.

“I love being able to give back and having that feeling that this person is going to have a meal, that their entire family will enjoy it,” Prillaman said.

Prillaman, a Cumming resident, feeds that passion through her business, Soli’s Kitchen, selling baked goods and other treats. She and her 18-year-old daughter make all the items themselves with a special focus on fresh ingredients.

Prillaman has been baking for at least 20 years, but she decided to make it a profession after raising money through bake sales for her daughter’s International Career Development Conference competitions.

People were going crazy for her culinary creations, and she began receiving requests for catering and countless compliments.

“People kept saying, ‘You should start a business,’” she said.

Prillaman, a first generation American with Cuban heritage, has lived in Georgia since 1995 but grew up in Miami.

As a child, her father often would leave the house early on weekends to purchase pastelitos, a traditional Cuban pastry. She said she has fond memories of indulging her sweet tooth with the traditional baked puff pastries.

“We definitely looked forward to them,” she said.

I wanted to provide something that goes with my heritage.”

SOLI PRILLAMAN Owner of Soli’s Kitchen

Now, pastelitos, particularly guava and cream cheese flavored ones, are one of her most popular pastries.

“I wanted to provide something that goes with my heritage,” Prillaman said. “Guava is sweet, but it also has a little bit of a tanginess. The cream cheese helps take care of that.”

Pastelitos are not the only sweets drawing attention. There’s also a healthy demand for her double chocolate chip and snickerdoodle cookies. The perfect cookie is cooked all the way through but with just enough doughiness for a chewy middle.

During the holidays, she plans to sell cocoa bombs, which customers can make their own hot cocoa with.

The bombs have a chocolate shell with customizable options like hazelnut, mini marshmallows and dark, white and regular chocolate.

“You have to have hot chocolate in the wintertime,” she said.

Not all of Prillaman’s items are sweet.

See PASTRY, Page 11

ASK APPEN

SOLI PRILLAMAN/PROVIDED

Pastelitos are a traditional Cuban pastry sold by Soli Prillaman. She enjoyed the pastry as a child.

Preparing sourdough bread takes hours and requires massaging the dough many times to give it the right consistency.

Pastry:

Continued from Page 10

She also has begun making her own salsa, a blend of tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, seeded jalapenos, cilantro and various seasonings. Made from fresh ingredients, it’s far better than any jarred salsa at the grocery, she said.

The salsa, refreshing and not too spicy, goes perfectly on “pretty much everything” from grilled chicken to breakfast burritos to tacos, she said.

“It just tastes better,” Prillaman said.

She’s also known for her sourdough bread.

Baking a loaf is a six-hour process that begins with organic flour, water and a starter.

Pulling the dough every 30 minutes gives the bread its delicious consistency, something that brings customers back over and over. Prillaman said she often gets texts and calls from customers asking her to reserve them a loaf.

The bread is perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches and bruschetta, but it’s also great on its own with a little butter.

“It should have a nice crust on the outside, and on the inside, you should be able to see the different layers and bubbles,” she said.

To make a purchase from Soli’s Kitchen, message her on Facebook or contact her at 404-819-0110. She also can be found at the Cumming Farmers Market on Saturdays and World Harvest Church, 325 Hardscrabble Road, in Roswell on Thursdays. Sourdough is not for sale at the Cumming Farmers Market.

Soli Prillaman prefers her cookies to be slightly soft but cooked all the way through. Prillaman makes a variety of desserts for sale.

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Honored to be Voted: Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist

Insist on the BEST

Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.

He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.

Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 22 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.

Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.

Blue light season has returned

Blue light therapy, also called photodynamic therapy (PDT), is a treatment that can help eliminate precancerous lesions and lower one’s risk of skin cancer. A PDT treatment involves applying a medicine called aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to a patient’s skin and then shining blue light on the treated area to activate the medicine. ALA is an organic, naturally occurring amino acid that our bodies use to make hemoglobin.

When applied to the skin and activated by blue light, ALA preferentially kills pre-cancerous cells that make up lesions called actinic keratoses (AKs). Patients can often feel their own AKs by running their fingers over sun damaged areas such as the tip of the nose, the tops of the ears or the scalp. AK’s usually feel rough or hard and will sometimes bleed if picked. AKs can develop into skin cancer if untreated.

PDT has a “season” because most pre-cancer treatments leave the skin temporarily irritated and paradoxically vulnerable to the sun’s rays for a period of a few days to a week as healing takes place. Good cells need time to heal into the place previously occupied by bad cells. After a PDT treatment, a patient needs to avoid the sun for a few days. If a patient is going to see a child or grandchild’s baseball game, go fishing, golfing, boating or otherwise be in the sun, then many dermatologists would recommend waiting to perform preventative skin cancer treatments until a less sunny time of year when it’s easier to avoid the sun’s UV rays.

Now that the days are getting shorter and the sun is less intense, it’s time to start thinking about skin cancer prevention again. Multiple treatment options exist to help prevent skin cancer including in-office treatments like PDT as well as at home creams that a patient applies such as fluorouracil, imiquimod, diclofenac and tirbanibulin. A dermatologist can help a patient choose the best, personalized treatment.

PDT and the best topical treatments

can eliminate 75% or more of one’s actinic keratoses and dramatically decrease the number of times a patient has to have spots frozen or cancers cut out. Our experience is that thoroughly treated areas that were growing skin cancers at the rate of one per year often go multiple years without another skin cancer after PDT treatments.

Cosmetically, PDT can be part of a skin rejuvenation regimen. On the face of men and women and on the upper chest “décolletage” area of women, PDT treatments can address the precancerous component of sun-damaged skin, and then laser treatments (such as 532/1064nm Nd:YAG laser) can help address aesthetic components of sun damage. These treatments allow many rough, red or brown spots to be eliminated resulting in medical and cosmetic benefit.

If you would like to repair sun damaged skin and treat actinic keratoses or are simply overdue for a skin exam, consider Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta. Dr. Brent Taylor is a fellowship-trained and board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon. Kathryn Filipek, PA-C has greater than 15 years of experience in dermatology and has expertise in medical dermatology, cosmetic injectable treatments, sclerotherapy, external laser treatments and more.

Dr. Brent Taylor

Kathryn Filipek, PA-C

Brought to you by – Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

The importance of maintaining dental health as you age

Are there any changes to my Medicare plan?

As you age, oral health can frequently be overlooked when it comes to our health. This tends to happen because other health conditions are the center of conversation, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Thankfully, regular visits to your dentist for routine x-rays and cleanings help maintain a healthy mouth – and identify early signs of declining oral health. Poor oral health leads to many issues such as periodontal disease, dental cavities, tooth loss and poor nutrition.

You may also start taking new medications, so it’s important to keep your dentist informed and mitigate risks of side effects like dry mouth. Saliva actually serves as a protecting agent against cavities which means dry mouth can lead to an increased risk of cavities. And the earlier we can treat cavities, the less chance it has of developing into something more concerning like abscesses that lead to root canals or tooth loss.

When you experience discomfort

or tooth loss, soft food can become the go-to option, but that makes it difficult to maintain a well-balanced diet and get the nutrients you need from fruits, vegetables and protein. Maintaining good oral health actually helps ensure your ability to maintain good nutritional balance and mitigate the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Brought to you by – Senior Source Medicare

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is here! Almost two weeks into the Medicare AEP, the most common question we seem to get is “Are there any changes to my plan?” It is important to remember that from year to year, your plan will almost always change in some way. For instance, your insurance carrier could lower or raise a hospital copay, make changes to the prescription formulary, or offer new plan options all together.

Every insurance carrier must physically mail you the changes for the upcoming year in a booklet called the Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC for short. If you have not received your ANOC, contact your insurance carrier to request one or contact us through our website at www.SeniorSourceMedicare.com/contact-seniorsource/ and we would be happy to provide you with a booklet with your specific plan changes.

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan (also referred to as a Medicare Plan) or a Stand-Alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP), you should review the changes annually.

You’ll usually hear from your Medicare Insurance Agent about major changes in the plans; but for more specific changes, like changes to the prescription drug formulary, the insurance carrier would only notify the member and not the agent.

Just remember to check your doctors, check your prescription drugs, and review your ANOC. By reviewing these three items, you’ll know whether you should allow your current plan to automatically renew or if it might be a good idea to look at changing to a new plan.

You don’t have to go it alone! Analyzing Medicare Plans, and recognizing all the extra perks that go with them, can be overwhelming. We are Medicare insurance brokers that do all this for you, while keeping your specific needs in mind. Give us a call today at (770) 315-8145 or check us out online at www.SeniorSourceMedicare. com.

Paige Gorman Agent

Dear Reader,

I am often asked whether you need to re-do or update your estate plan when you move to a new state. The answer is, yes, you do need to update or re-do your estate plan. Consider it a part of moving expenses. Each state in our country has different rules about what needs to be in your will or trust for validity and also to minimize the amount of reporting that is required of the person you put in charge. Georgia specifically has rules that require reporting by the person in charge of a trust

where a trust owns real estate in GA. Imagine you just moved into your new home in GA and you feel really smart about putting your new home in GA into your trust. The person in charge of your trust (which may be you) is responsible for completing the required reports under GA law even if you don't know that the reporting requirement is there. Surprise! And not a happy surprise for most people. Avoid these kinds of unhappy surprises by consulting with an experienced estate planning attorney who can help you identify the holes in your plan and make the management of your trust easier for you and your future helpers.

Brought to you by- Wilson Legal, PC

Johns Creek Arts Festival draws crowds over weekend

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Thousands of people were on hand over the weekend perusing the creations of about 160 artisans at 2024’s Johns Creek Arts Festival.

“There’s a little something for everybody,” said Frances Schube, co-owner of Splash Festivals, which organizes the event.

The arts festival is one of the largest gatherings in Johns Creek each year and has been held since 2012, save for one year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I describe this as, it’s not a fine art show. It’s a fun show,” Schube said.

The festival was held Oct. 19 and 20 at the fields across from the Atlanta Athletic Club, attracting enormous crowds.

It was hard to say exactly how many attended the festival, but Schube estimated anywhere between 15,000 and 45,000 visited over the weekend.

Visitors from North Metro Atlanta and elsewhere walked the event grounds, perusing the wares sold under hundreds of tents. The scent of roasted pecans, hot sandwiches, popcorn and other eats sold by vendors and food trucks wafted through the cool fall air.

Chris Lu, a Johns Creek resident, was examining hand-forged steel, bronze and copper bracelets, talking with their creator about how they were made.

Lu, who has attended the event five times, said going to the festival has become an annual tradition. He said he likes looking over the art on sale and running into friends and neighbors.

Lu, a quality assurance expert in the automotive industry, said he was fascinated by the forging process.

Nelms Creekmur, the Atlanta blacksmith who was running the tent, had a hammer and anvil ready to personalize the bracelets with initials.

At his workshop, he heats the metal in a propane forge until it glows bright orange and hammers the jewelry into shape.

“I just love working with my hands,” he said.

Another artist, Cindy Penick, owner of Wire Wrapped Trees in Mountain Park, was selling bonsai trees handcrafted from aluminum wire.

Business was good this year’s festival, she said.

“I usually sell a lot of the little trees, but I sold big trees today,” she said.

The festival is a repeat winner of the Sunshine Artist Top 200, which is awarded to festivals with the highest sales for artisans.

After Penick’s children moved from home, she converted a rec room into a workshop. There, she bends the wire

into the form of tiny, gnarled trees, spending anywhere between two hours to three weeks on each.

She decided to make and sell the trees after seeing something similar sell for $10,000 during a vacation to Mount Rushmore.

“It takes a lot of attention and carefulness and time,” she said.

Like Penick, Rich Kolb, a metal -

worker from Louisville, Ky., also was having success attracting customers. On a notebook ledger, a long list recorded the couple dozen sales he had made.

Under Kolb’s tent, a host of cats, dogs, birds and other “critters” fashioned from scrap car parts sat ready for sale.

Kolb and his father, who made

farm gates at the time, started making the metal animals in 1991. They used their welding skills on a handful of yardbirds, which they took to a nearby art show. Those skills were enough to captivate Victoria Fudrich, a Roswell resident, on Sunday. After deliberating between two metal guitar-playing dogs, she decided on one and hauled it over to Kolb to buy.

The sculpture was for her son, who is a musician, she said. She hoped he would put it in his yard.

“I think he’ll like it,” she said.

PHOTOS BY: JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

Thousands attended the two-day 2024 Johns Creek Art Festival on Oct. 19 and 20. About 160 artists sold their creations in the fields across from the Atlanta Athletic Club.

Patty Pun, owner of the Original Jute Sculptures, sells sculptures at the Johns Creek Art Festival on Oct. 20.

A customer looks over tiny wire-wrapped bonsai trees sold by Cindy Penick, owner of Wire Wrapped Trees, at the Johns Creek Art Festival on Oct. 20.

Northern Ridge lists latest Eagle Scouts

NORTH METRO ATLANTA — The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (cties of Roswell, Alpharetta, John’s Creek, Milton) is proud to announce its newest Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review Oct. 10, 2024, at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, and received their certificates from Anna Kimberley, District Executive for the Northern Ridge District.

Peter Peng, of Troop 2143, sponsored by The American Legion Post 251, whose project was the design and construction of six benches for the Prudent Senior Services Center in Peachtree Corners.

Sanath Nallagatla, of Troop 3143, sponsored by The American Legion Post 251, whose project was the design and construction of two outdoor chalkboards for WayPoint Babtist Church’s Nursery School

Devesh Venkateswaran, of Troop 2143, sponsored by The American Legion Post 251, whose project was the design and construction of a set of outside landscape stairs connecting the walkway in Shakerag Playground with Quailbrook Chase subdivision.

Janahan Murali, of Troop 9962, sponsored by Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, whose project was the design and construction of five 8-foot boardwalks for the Mill Creek Nature Center.

Pranay Mahindraker, of Troop 9962, sponsored by Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, whose project was the design and construction of three picnic tables and three traffic barricades for the Sri Hanuman Mandir Alpharetta.

Ken Richey, of Troop 985, sponsored by Northbrook United Methodist Church, whose project was clearing a path that connects two historic houses in downtown Roswell. His team had to remove non-native plants that were overtaking the paths as well as trim back overgrown shrubs/trees. The team also lined the pathway with fallen timbers and limbs.

James Burley, of Troop 841, sponsored by St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, whose project was the design and creation of two footbridges and cleaning up a trail leading to the bridges at Summit Hill Elementary School.

Vishnu Rao, of Troop 841, sponsored

by St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of two Folding Lego Tables for the Harmony Youth Center Robotics.

Jason Fain, of Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction a desk/cabinet for audio and visual equipment, and a bookshelf for the Alpharetta Methodist Church Youth Center.

Calvin Mattox, of Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the renovation of the playground used by students with special needs at Lake Winward Elementary School. This included refurbishing and refinishing the playhouse, the wooden benches and outdoor planters. Calvin also did a collection of sensory toys for these special students.

Nathan Kersey, of Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First Methodist Church, whose project was the design

and construction of four large planters and a garden cart for the Agricultural Department at Hopewell Middle School.

Akilan Ganesan, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and construction of two whiteboards, five wooden outdoor planters, two birdhouses and refinishing the wood at the outdoor learning center and gazebo at Abbotts Hill Elementary School.

Arjun Sanjay, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and construction of a pergola for the greenhouse at Chattahoochee High School.

Kevin Zhang, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was the refurbishment of the courtyard at Shakerag Elementary School, which included, refinishing a bench, constructing curved tables for the outdoor sitting area, build-

ing and placing several birdhouses and cleaning up the courtyard area.

Nolan Moore, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design, construction of a GaGa pit for River Trail Middle School.

Colin Lengyel, of Troop 7153, sponsored by St. Brigid Catholic Church, whose project was the design and creation of a Stations of the Cross walk with an information kiosk for Holy Redeemer Catholic School.

Aditi Barde, of Troop 1857G, sponsored by Christ the Shepard Lutheran Church, whose project was the design and construction of 30 dog beds for FurKids.

Ashutosh Barde, of Troop 1857, sponsored by Christ the Shepard Lutheran Church, whose project was the design and construction of six wooden movable benches for Autrey Mill Middle School.

Injuries slow Chattahoochee in match against Gainesville

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga — After a tough loss last week, Chattahoochee upped its performance against Gainesville at Chattahoochee High School Oct. 18, taking a 23-22 lead into the half. But it wasn’t enough as the Red Elephants overpowered the Cougars in the second half of the Class 5A Region 7 football matchup.

The Cougars stayed competitive until the third quarter when injuries halted momentum. The Red Elephants won 55-26, handing Chattahoochee its fourth straight loss after four wins to start the season.

Chattahoochee head coach Danny Carlisle said after the game that he was proud of his players and the game’s physicality after the Oct. 11 matchup against Roswell.

Hooch received the opening kickoff, with two-way senior DJ Avery instantly making a big impact with a 35-yard kickoff return and 37-yard reception to open the drive. Quarterback Luke Priester went on to throw for 296 yards, with Avery hauling in 200 himself.

The Cougars’ first drive came up short after Gainesville senior linebacker Cash O’Callaghan recovered a fumble. Senior running back Carmelo Byrd’s first of four rushing touchdowns tilted momentum to the Red Elephants.

Chattahoochee’s improvements were apparent a few minutes later when its defense put the clamps on the Red Elephants, requiring a punt. The Cougars tied the score after Avery’s first touchdown. Gainesville battled back on their next drive with a 19-yard receiving touchdown from senior wide receiver Jeremiah Ware.

At this point, Avery began to prove there was little he couldn’t do on the field. Avery, wide receiver, defensive back and talented open-field runner, strong-armed his way to an additional 3 yards on a reception, showcasing his versality.

The Red Elephants’ defense changed formation when Avery lined up in the backfield. Heavy coverage from one Gainesville defenseman was not enough to stop him, as proven with multiple tough grabs and one reception in the second half while in double coverage. Avery told Appen Media after the game that being labeled underdogs in this game made his team “really confident.” It seemed to motivate his performance, though the second half proved it was not enough.

Avery lined up at running back several times, switching back and forth when matchups favored the standout senior. Two Gainesville sacks from sophomore linebacker Darryn Williams and senior free safety Clyde Jones left the Cougars having to resort to a 41-yard field goal

that was followed by a 70-yard return by Gainesville senior returner Judah Knight.

On its next drive, Gainesville continued its momentum with another Jeremiah Ware touchdown, bringing the score to 22-10 after a successful 2-point conversion. Chattahoochee’s Avery battled back with more catches in heavy cover and a 22-yard receiving touchdown.

Hooch sophomore Bryce Henry recovered a fumble that led to a rushing touchdown by quarterback Luke Priester. Chattahoochee finished off the first half strong with an interception by senior Jaylen Edgerton.

The game slowed significantly with penalties and other stoppages in play during the third quarter. Carmelo Byrd’s three rushing touchdowns and two more from sophomore tight end Sergio Ruiz and sophomore safety Jamarcus Sims (off a blocked punt) in the third and several Chattahoochee injuries led to running time in the fourth quarter. The Cougars’ only points in the second half came from a 29yard field goal.

Hooch looks ahead to next week against Seckinger, and Gainesville will face the Hornets at Roswell.

PHOTOS BY: ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA

Gainesville kicks off against the Cougars Oct. 18 at Chattahoochee High School. The Red Elephants would go on to win 55-26.

Chattahoochee senior Luke Priester reads the play as the Red Elephants lineman close in at the Cougars home game Oct. 18.

Questions for Americans: Has everyone been fed?

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

Why is it that disasters so often seem to bring out the best in us while politics seems to bring out the worst?

Why is that? If you think about it, it doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Usually, disasters are events that are beyond our control; they just happen, and random people get hurt — wrong place, wrong time. The recent hurricanes are sad examples. In response to most disasters, neighbors, strangers and many in the general public turn out to feed, house, fund, support and comfort the victims of the disaster, most of the time without attention or consideration of nationality, race, color, creed or political orientation of the victims.

And, they don’t ask the victims how they vote.

Conversely, our behavior — our attitude — toward our neighbors, strangers and the public in general when politics is involved is often the polar opposite. It sparks intentional acts and rhetoric that, while it could be positive, sincere, productive and civil, instead, is all too often negative, dark, insincere, not true, sometimes violent and frequently laden with hate-filled ideas.

That just seems crazy. Same people. What changes? Why?

We gathered food, clothing, toiletries, canned goods, etc., at our Alpharetta Presbyterian Church last week, as did so many other faith-based and civic organizations. We sent ours to Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, a sister church in western North Carolina. Black Mountain Presbyterian apparently ended up being a local hub for hurricane relief. Ollie Wagner, our minister, told us a

few days ago that the quantity of relief shipments that had arrived at the church had completely overwhelmed every facility available and that— at least for a brief time — they asked that the shipments be paused to give them time to catch up on disbursements.

Meanwhile, we hear reports of FEMA being threatened (one person has been arrested) because politicians have turned FEMA’s relief efforts into a political football. Why? No one wants or needs this kind of divisive chaos. We are so much better than that. And we deserve so much better than that.

We are good. Our country is — still — a beacon of hope for most of the free world. When the chips are down and failure is not an option, we step up. We find, make, manufacture, invent and solve. We find a way. And we take care of each other.

Our “better angels” are still there, inside our hearts, all of our hearts.

They have not flown away. Abraham Lincoln spoke to us today, in his first inaugural address on March 4, 1861:

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."

Black Mountain Presbyterian Church has a mission statement that I find endearing. Its simplicity, its literal intent, and maybe more than anything else, its figurative meaning so moves me. Maybe we could all adopt it — each in our own personal way:

“Has everyone been fed?”

Sometimes it can be good to keep an eye on the clock

So it’s about 9 a.m., and I’m up at Unicoi State Park getting ready to hike from the park to Helen. I’ll be walking the Unicoi-to-Helen trail, a trail I’ve hiked many times before. I don’t know why I chose it again on this particular day, but I did – maybe because there’s that certain pre-fall whisper of “cool” in the air. After the scorching days of summer, that’s about all it takes.

My plan is to hike all the way to town, get a little snack or something there, and then hike back to the park. Round trip, it will be about six miles. I can do it!

Parts of the trail can be challenging, largely due to ascents and descents. For that reason, many hikers here don’t go quite as fast as they’re used to. But I’ve allowed plenty of time. Even if I spend an hour or two in town, I’ll still get back to the car before the shadows start getting long. In fact, I’ll be back in plenty of time to take her to dinner.

Yes, it’s nice to have the clock on your side. She reminds me of that sometimes. And she’s right, I tell myself, though it’s hard for us free-spirit, forget-the-clock outdoor types to admit it. Sometimes it’s a good thing to mind that clock and get out the door on time.

I choose to start at the graveled day use parking area not far from Unicoi Lodge, making my way toward Smith Creek. I walk down the grassy slope, traversing the big

field before crossing the creek on a little footbridge and then turning left. I’m on my way to Helen.

At first, my hike is solitary. I like that sometimes. Hiking by yourself, you fall into a cadence. Your paces set the tempo, your stride defines the rhythm, and as your mind settles in the distance just seems to melt away.

And that’s how it goes for the first mile or so. My hiking stick, the one my friend Wayne gave me years ago, swings back and forth, back and forth, as my step count rises. I slip into that hiker’s trance you hear about sometimes. It’s soothing. It’s good for the soul.

I push the pace a little. The trails slip by faster.

But all at once, as if I’m standing still, I am passed by a red and yellow blur.

“Mikey!” calls a voice from somewhere behind me. “Wait up!”

The sound jars me back to reality, and as the blur fades into the near distance I see that it’s not a blur at all but instead a young lad of about seven or eight. Wow. I’d thought I was walking fast. But, by golly, that kid is making some seriously good time.

“Wait up, Mikey! Wait up!” the voice shouts again, this time a little more definite. Ahead of me, Mikey slows and then stops. I stop too. Turning to look back and see from whence came the call, I spy three figures headed my way. One, I decide, must be the mom. Another is a girl of about 12 or 13. The third is presumably dad. All look happy. All are clearly having a good time. And all are wearing some serious hiking boots.

They catch up to me in less than 20 seconds.

“Morning!” I say, adding the nearuniversal greeting of one hiker to another: “It’s a fine day for a walk!”

“It is indeed!” says the mom.

“Y’all going all the way to Helen?”

“Probably,” the dad says. “But either way, it’s just good day to hike!”

That it is.

The dad continues, “I used to hike like this with my own dad. We’d go out and just walk. It didn’t really matter if we actually went anywhere. It was just the getting out that I remember.”

“It’s way better than just doing this,” adds the girl, working her fingers like she’s punching buttons on an invisible cellphone. “It’s healthier too!”

I ask how often they get out like this, hiking together and all.

“We’ve been hiking since Emma was about a year old,” the mom adds. “Now we try to get out at least once a week.”

She continues, “You know, it’s a shame. Most of their friends have never hiked at all. But these two, well, they’ve been doing it a while now. We want them to love it as much as we do.”

I’m betting that they will, and I say so.

“That’s the plan,” says the dad, and the mom adds, “It really is good to get ‘em outside.”

We chat for a minute more, but I can see that Mikey is chomping at the bit. Given the opportunity, I’ll bet he’d hike all the way to Macon.

They continue on down the trail, around a bend and out of sight, Helen-bound.

I wait a moment so as not to crowd them. Then I resume hiking too. After a while, the trail leaves the woods and goes on and off pavement for the last short downhill run down to Main Street and Helen proper.

I have all the time in the world, so I make my way downtown and stop at my favorite fudge shop for a little box of chocolate heaven. I stow it in my daypack. Then I just wander, walking and watching people. I stroll through town to the bridge over the Chattahoochee, pausing to watch some kids drift by below me, carried by vivid green inner tubes. Aren’t they cold? Nah, I guess not, I tell myself. They’re tough. They’re kids. They’re young.

After watching the river for a while, I turn round and make my way back through town. Backtracking now, I come at last to the point where the trail once more takes to the woods.

Stepping off the asphalt feels good. It’s nice to feel honest, unadorned earth underfoot once again.

As I do, I hear a voice behind me –“Mikey! Wait up!” And then here he comes, passing me in another red and yellow blur. I stop then and rummage in the daypack and dig out a piece of fudge. As I savor it, the rest of Mikey’s crew passes me too.

Sure, the fudge is mostly sugar. But it’s tasty sugar, and I’ll work it off. Besides, I need the energy for the hike back – especially if I am to have a prayer of a chance of keeping up with Mikey. He’s already out of sight, moving fast, heading on down the trail.

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

OPINION

Forsyth County early voting resembles a day at the beach

Never one to embrace procrastination in any form, I fought through my immunotherapy-induced fog and headed downtown. Forget about getting on 400 and fighting the travel snarl that is synonymous with driving through Atlanta, I was determined to head to downtown Cumming.

It was the first day of early voting. President Trump was coming to Cumming, and I figured the voting location would be gridlocked. My aim was to drive by, assess the situation and return when the madness had subsided. Boy, was I mistaken.

I was one of the 300,000-plus citizens who voted three weeks before the official November 5 election day. To say the Forsyth County poll workers were ready would be an understatement. Not only were they friendly and accommodating, they were happy to help.

I filled out the required form at a table where a woman was helping a young man do his part to have a voice in who will be our country’s next leader. When the woman made sure to tell the election officials that the young man was “special needs,” it seemed like there was an extra bit of Southern hospitality unleashed. It eased the young voter’s mind and made what might have been a daunting task a day at the beach. I smiled at how nice the officials were, realizing that it had been a blockbuster of a first day. It was as far from chaotic as could be imagined.

Back in 1992, we had just moved to Woodstock, and Cherokee County had experienced a growth that no one could have anticipated. We stood in line for nearly four hours to vote. Had I been smarter, I would have grilled burgers for those waiting in line. I’m sure I would have made a fortune.

Back then, there was no early voting. The first Tuesday in November was the day of the dance. If you didn’t have comfortable shoes, you were left out.

I get a kick (or maybe I’d like to kick) anyone who opines: “My vote doesn’t matter.”

I have taken the stance that my vote won’t matter only if I don’t vote. As old fashioned as it might sound, I believe our right to vote is a sacred obligation. I still remember voting as a senior in college when an unknown (at least to us California folks) Jimmy Carter won the White House and provided us with lots of laughs. I loved the stories of his mother, Lillian, who liked watching the rasslin’ matches on TV. And we students could relate to his brother Billy, who shared our love of drinking beer.

It will be a relief to have this election behind us. With a current president who has seemingly had his own “day at the beach,” and remains incommunicado, the ads have constantly bombarded us. I have never seen an unleashing of so many ads, undoubtedly put together by Madison Avenue slicksters.

Let me give you advertising folks a little feedback: To me, those ads are a waste of time and money. Nothing about your messages, no matter for which candidate, will influence me. My mind was made up a long time ago.

My suggestion would be to scrap the ads and earmark that money for something meaningful. There are good people in North Carolina, victims of Hurricane Helene, who could use some financial help. Ditto for Florida, where Hurricane Milton ravaged the Sunshine State.

People I know made up their minds a long time ago. Quit with the ads, They’re ruining some good ballgames.

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

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NORTH METRO

ATLANTA — This year, the Appen Media newsroom organized its firstever Listening Tour. You could say it was successful. Reporters sourced around a dozen stories that may have not been told otherwise, covering everything from new nonprofits to infrastructure and election issues.

The forum, taken to all seven of our coverage areas, provided the community a soundboard to field questions and air topics that deserved attention.

I spoke to many people, with differing backgrounds and interests. It led me to several more interviews, either in person or over the phone. More research. More finding out things I didn’t previously know, shared with readers.

I love my job because I do this all the time. I listen and respond, and sometimes that makes a real difference. That’s been the case countless times, and that cannot happen without the support of our Appen Press Club members.

The newsroom literally needs membership dues and donations to function, and hopefully, to grow.

The generosity funds our salaries, and everyone and their mother knows Metro Atlanta has an outrageous cost of living, which continues to increase.

It also funds our battle with the City of Sandy Springs over the disclosure of police incident reports, which we argue everyone has a right to have based on the Open Records Act. The lawsuit, still open, has sucked some $80,000 from the company.

Memberships also help fund regular open records request fees — we submit a lot of requests. They also fund super important events like the Listening Tour, and we hope to do another soon.

The Appen Press Club was launched to support the work of our newsroom, which is vital to a prosperous and informed community. An ever-evolving media landscape and the monopolistic practices of tech giants means the support we receive from our advertising partners may no longer be enough to sustain the quality reporting our north Atlanta community has come to expect from us.

Times are tough in the newspaper industry. Ink doesn’t grow on trees. Because we serve tens of thousands of residents in north Metro Atlanta every single week, our goal this fall has been 200 new members by Nov. 1. As of this column’s publishing, a few more than 20 have joined.

We have a circulation of 105,000 newspapers, all at no cost to the reader — why? Because we believe news should be free. The community should have the right to know what’s going on to make informed decisions.

We attend hours-long city council meetings, so you don’t have to, and we dig and dig and dig because some things won’t ever come to light unless we do.

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OPINION

Growing herbs can be a year-round activity

Growing herbs can be a year-round affair in the South, not just in the spring and summer!

Many herbs can tolerate the South’s mild winters outside. Some of the hardy herbs which grow in the cool fall weather are cilantro, parsley, rosemary, thyme, sage, and even some mint can stand up to cold weather.

When beginning to grow herbs, I usually recommend starting out with a few simple ones. Herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow because they can tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions and have few insect and disease problems. Historically, herbs have been used for seasoning and medicine and to provide pleasant fragrances.

Herbs prefer a well-drained soil with a pH between 6 to 7.5. Try to incorporate 2-3” of compost or manure to a depth of 8-12”. A soil test will determine what other nutrients need to be added to the soil. Cool season herbs need 6-8 hours of sun daily. Be sure to add 1-2” of mulch to prevent weeds and maintain proper soil moisture.

Chives, lavender, parsley, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme are best planted in the fall, while basil and tarragon are tender summer annuals and need to be brought inside before the first frost. Rosemary, oregano and sage are hardy evergreens and can thrive all year long. Once winter sets in fully, chives will go dormant, and oregano and thyme may lose some leaves due to frost, but they will continue to grow new leaves you can harvest.

Herbs can be grown in raised beds, alongside your vegetables or mixed in your ornamental flower beds to accent cool weather blooms. Be sure and add a layer of pine straw to protect them in the landscape in the cooler seasons. They are also easily grown in containers inside or outside since herbs generally have shallow root systems. They can be grown together or individually (except mint which needs its own pot). In case of a freeze, you should water outdoor herbs well and use frost cloth for overnight protection.

Let’s look at a few cool season herbs more closely.

• Cilantro has a short life cycle and bolts (develops seeds) quickly in hot weather. That means you need to pinch back young plants an inch or so to encourage fuller, bushier plants. Snip off the top part of the main stems as soon as it appears to be developing flower buds or seed pods.

• Parsley grows well in sun or part shade with at least 6 hours of sun daily. There

Herbs from Robin’s garden.

are two basic kinds, curled and flat leaved. Parsley requires consistent moisture for continuous growth.

• Rosemary is an evergreen perennial. It is quite easy to grow because it is drought tolerant and requires very little maintenance. It can grow up to 4’ tall and wide, so give it lots of space. After the plant flowers, trim and prune regularly so it doesn’t become too lanky.

• Sage is also a perennial herb. At a young age it needs consistent moisture until it starts to grow quickly. You don’t want to harvest too much during the first year so the plant will continue to grow.

• Thyme is a beautiful creeping ground

cover. All thyme is fragrant, and there are several varieties to choose from. Water normally, and prune the plant back in the spring and summer to contain its growth.

There are many uses for herbs including hardy and cool weather herbs. More than 70 different herbs have been identified according to their cooking, aromatic, ornamental or medicinal uses. An herb is defined as any plant that produces seeds but does not form a wood stem or any part of a plant that can be used for medicinal, cooking or spiritual purposes. Many herbs fall in more than one category.

During the holidays, fresh herbs can

About the author

This week's "Garden Buzz" features Sandy Springs resident Robin Pollack, an accomplished artist and Master Gardener. Active in the Atlanta art community since 1970, Robin has taught for over 30 years at Chastain Arts Center and has been a Master Gardener since 2005. As a member of North Fulton Master Gardeners, she has taught vegetable gardening at Farm Chastain and her own garden. Her garden, influenced by her artistic eye, has been featured on tours including Atlanta Botanical Garden and Georgia Perennial Plant Association.

enhance the flavor in your Christmas or Thanksgiving meal. Plant rosemary, thyme, oregano, chives and winter savory for your turkey or stuffing. You can garnish the display with fresh sprigs of herbs.

Those same savory herbs from your meal can add homemade flavor to your soups and stews. Add parsley and thyme, high in vitamin A and C, to chicken broth to fight off colds and boost your immune system.

Have fun creating holiday drinks with fresh herbs! Add mint to hot cocoa, add rosemary to your apple cider, add lavender to your tea and make a tonic with thyme and sage for winter colds.

To harvest your herbs, it is best to collect them early in the morning after any moisture has dried. You can dry herbs by tying bundles of stems together and hanging them in a warm dry area. They can also be preserved by freezing dried leaves or placing them in an ice tray with water. Frozen herbs will last 3-6 months before losing their freshness.

Herb gardens were once an important part of the American home and have recently regained popularity with people enjoying the fresh herbs in cooking or just for their fresh look or scent. Growing your own herbs is one of the most rewarding things to grow in the garden. They taste better and save you money.

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. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https://appenmedia.com/opinion/columists/garden buzz/.

ROBIN POLLACK/PROVIDED

ROBIN POLLACK Guest Columnist

Continued from Page 1

Tax: AAPPEN PRESSCLU

has a taxable value of $100,000 and that increases the following year to $110,000, the exemption floats to be worth $10,000. So, according to a webinar presentation from the Georgia Municipal Association and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, the homeowner’s taxable value remains at $100,000.

But with HB 581, the taxable value, or the assessed value, could only increase by a rate of inflation set by the State Revenue Commissioner, which would likely be the consumer price index.

With the same example, if the assessed value is $100,000 and increases to $110,000 the following year, but inflation is 2% then the taxable value could only increase by 2%, up to $102,000. The exemption floats to be worth $8,000 of assessed value, so the homeowner would pay based on the $102,000.

“The main effect of the House Bill 581 exemption on your residential, homestead taxpayers is that the taxable value of their homes may only increase at the rate of inflation each year,” said Dante Handel, associate director of governmental affairs at

Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). “The intent is to protect those homeowners. It does slow the growth of the digest for your residential homestead properties.”

In this case, property assessments could not increase more than the inflation rate each year. The exemption would apply to cities, counties and school districts.

The bill allows cities, counties, and school districts to opt out of the floating homestead exemption. Each taxing entity will have until March 1 to file its exemption if the referendum passes, and the option expires after that.

Ryan Bowersox, assistant general counsel of the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), said during the webinar that if a city or county already has a floating exemption, such as Fulton County’s 3% floating homestead exemption, then homeowners would receive whichever is more beneficial if the local government does not opt out.

If a city, county, or school district offers a flat-rate homestead exemption, this floating exemption would be added on top of that. In Decatur, a homeowner would still receive the $40,000 general exemption and the floating homestead exemption.

The statewide cap would apply to all millage levies except those dedicated to bond payments, so it would apply to a special service district as well if a city or county did not opt out, Handel said.

Latisha Gray, director of communications for GMA, said that if the referendum is approved and a local government does not opt out, the floating homestead exemption would provide some predictability regarding property taxes.

“As a homeowner stays in their home, over time, they can come to

DEATH NOTICES

Winnie Ann Bolton, 86, of Alpharetta, passed away on October 5, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

John Edward Breyer, 89, of Alpharetta, passed away on October 6, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

expect consistent change/increase in their home’s taxable value,” Gray said. “This helps avoid the possibility of a rapid increase in a given year, which can possibly result in a greatly increased property tax bill compared to the previous year.”

If a city does not opt out, the exemption would augment the digest’s taxable value over time, artificially keeping home values lower for tax purposes.

“This exemption will impact cities differently depending on the mixture of their digest and the frequency of home sales,” Gray said. “If a city was required down the road to raise their millage rate to maintain the same level of revenue due to the exemption, the tax burden would shift more to the non-homesteaded portion of the digest.”

The ACCG’s Handel also said that the tax burden wouldn’t go away, but it would be shifted to other property owners. Non-homestead properties, such as commercial, industrial, agricultural and multifamily residential, would continue to be assessed at their fair market value.

“Renters will not see the benefit of the homestead exemption as these are treated like commercial properties, but potentially they could see the benefit of the [new local option sales tax] if the millage rate is reduced and the savings are passed along from the property owner to the renter,” Bowersox added.

If a city, county, or school district were to opt out, homeowners would not receive the floating homestead exemption.

“While opting out is a one-time decision, nothing precludes the city from in the future receiving a similar homestead exemption in the traditional manner,” Gray said.

Susan Ernst, 81, of Alpharetta, passed away on October 7, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Jean Scogin, 64, of Roswell, passed away on October 9, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

New local option sales tax

HB 581 also creates a local option sales tax, known as FLOST, that’s tied to the floating homestead exemption. All parts of the bill would go into effect only if the referendum is approved.

The FLOST would also be aimed at providing property tax relief. A city or county would be eligible only if they offer a floating exemption, whether it’s an existing exemption or the exemption in HB 581. But the county and all cities within that county that levy property taxes would have to have a floating exemption in place to be eligible for the sales tax.

For example, DeKalb County and all its 13 cities would have to have a floating homestead exemption in place to levy the new local option sales tax. Implementing the FLOST would then be a separate local referendum. The FLOST could be levied in 0.05% increments up to 1%.

Cities, like Atlanta, that have a municipal option sales tax would not be eligible to levy a FLOST. School districts are not eligible to participate in FLOST.

HB 581 includes some procedural property tax changes as well. For more information or to watch GMA and ACCG’s webinar visit https://www. accg.org/page.php?ID=2202.

Tax court ballot question

Another ballot question, Amendment 2, would create a tax court with statewide jurisdiction concurrent with superior courts. Currently, the tax tribunal is in the state’s executive branch, and this would establish a court in the Georgia judicial system, according to WABE.

“Georgia Referendum A” seeks to increase the property tax exemption for tangible personal property that’s worth $7,500 or less. The referendum would increase this to properties worth $20,000 or less, WABE reported.

Tangible personal property are things that are movable, like equipment, furniture and inventory, according to the Fulton County Board of Assessors.

Rachel Siders, 86, of Roswell, passed away on October 9, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Vera Quaranta, 90, of Roswell, passed away on October 11, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

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