Forsyth Herald - November 2, 2023

Planners approve new microbrewery ► PAGE 3 N ov e m b e r 2 , 2 0 2 3 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 7 , N o . 4 4

Precinct lines to change for 2024 election cycle

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County officials plan to add new polling places and adjust precinct lines for the 2024 election cycle.

The changes would affect some 30,000 registered voters in north Forsyth County.

The County Commission approved the advertising of the proposed changes at a work session Oct. 24. The proposal will be shared with residents throughout November in the county’s legal organ Forsyth County News, and a feedback portal will open on the Elections Office website.

The Board of Voter Registrations and Elections will discuss the precinct line and polling place changes Nov. 14 and consider final approval Dec. 5.

The changes will go before the Board of Commissioners for official approval Dec. 7.

“That will give us the last couple of weeks of December to input all of this information into the statewide system so that we can be ready,” Forsyth County Voter Registrations and Elections Director Mandi Smith said. “Because we’ll start creating the ballot by the beginning of January for the presidential preference primary in March.”

Smith said under Georgia law, the Board of Commissioners, rather than the Elections Board, must approve the plans after Forsyth County’s population exceeded 250,000 in the 2020 Census.

She said elections staff’s biggest current challenge is finding adequate locations to host polling.

FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED

This map shows the proposed new precinct lines in north Forsyth County for the 2024 election cycle. The changes would affect some 30,000 residents if approved in December.

Stay up to date: Updated maps and further elections information will be posted at forsythco.com/ Departments-Offices/Voter-Registrations-Elections

Nonprofit to collect hazardous waste FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Three Forsyth County groups are partnering to host a Household Hazardous Waste Recycling and Disposal from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 4 in the Cumming Fairgrounds parking lot.

The disposal initiative is a partnership between Cumming, the county Recycling and Solid Waste Department and Keep Forsyth County Beautiful, a waste reduction and beautification nonprofit.

Residents can bring corrosive, flamAccepted mable, toxic or reactive items household waste to be • Pesticides disposed of safely.

• Herbicides “Things that we • Fluorescent use every day, such as and HID cleaning supplies and light bulbs paint, can be hazard• Batteries ous not only to people • Fuels but to the environ• Oils ment if not disposed • Cleaners of properly,” County • Paints Environmental Program Manager Tammy Wright said. “I believe most people want to do the right thing, and we are so proud to be able to offer this affordable, convenient service to the community.”

The event is free to all Forsyth County residents, but Keep Forsyth County Beautiful is requesting $5 donations.

Staff will not accept medical waste, needles, ammunition, explosives, pharmaceuticals and non-hazardous items.

The disposal program will be held in the third parking lot at the fairgrounds at 235 Castleberry Road.

Registration is required at keepforsythcountybeautiful.org/copy-of-householdhazardous-waste-e. Availability is firstcome, first-served.

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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.

Suspect arrested for May robbery FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 35-year-old Dawsonville man Oct. 15 who allegedly robbed another man in the roundabout at Hopewell and Hubbard Town roads earlier this year.

The victim reported May 29 he was assaulted and robbed of his cellphone while driving through the roundabout.

The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. when an SUV suddenly stopped in front of him, a suspect got out, approached his car, then opened his door and began yelling. The victim told deputies he did not know the suspect, but he appeared intoxicated or mistook him for someone else.

The suspect then allegedly hit the man’s cheek with the back of his hand, grabbed his iPhone from his lap and fled the scene toward Jot Em Down Road. The victim then drove to his brother’s house to contact the Sheriff’s Office, the report states.

Roughly an hour later, deputies reported finding the victim’s phone at Hopewell Road and Serenity Park Drive.

The device was missing its case and was broken.

Deputies later identified and arrested the suspect. He was charged with felony robbery.

He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail on a $27,520 bond.

Man allegedly strikes deputy during arrest FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 23-year-old Gainesville man Oct. 14 after he allegedly struck a deputy near Browns Bridge Road and Peninsula Drive.

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PUBLIC SAFETY Deputies reported receiving multiple suspicious person calls around 2 a.m. and locating the suspect in the roadway.

Multiple vehicles were flashing their lights at the suspect, who was walking in the middle of Browns Bridge Road.

Deputies reported asking the suspect to walk over to the eastbound lane as he was in the westbound lane, and a vehicle was approaching. The suspect then walked into the eastbound lane but began jogging away.

Deputies then stopped in front of the suspect and told him he was under arrest. The suspect said he did not own a car and was “safely” walking down the road, and he repeatedly shouted for deputies to release him, the report states.

As a deputy attempted to apprehend the suspect, he allegedly struck them in the face twice with a closed fist.

He was charged with felony obstruction of law enforcement officers, as well as two misdemeanor pedestrian in roadway violations.

Deputies arrest pair for meth possession FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested two suspects Oct. 17 for alleged meth possession and loitering.

Deputies reported responding to a suspicious vehicle call around 5 p.m. The vehicle was reportedly parked behind an abandoned house on Browns Bridge Road.

A male suspect from Auburn told deputies he had purchased the vehicle from a man, but he seemed uncertain of the man’s name, the report states.

Deputies reported the VIN on the bill of sale the suspect provided did not match the vehicle.

The suspect said he was at the house trying to fix the vehicle, but it was uninsured. Deputies asked for permission to search the vehicle, but the suspect said no, the report states.

Deputies reported conducting an open air K9 search around the vehicle, and the K9 detected possible drugs in the area.

The female suspect, a Forsyth County resident, reportedly admitted to having a meth pipe in her possession, which she said she found at someone’s house.

Deputies also reported finding two small baggies of meth in the male suspect’s wallet. The male suspect, 56, was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor loitering and prowling.

He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail. Bond is set at $11,645.

The female, 28, was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, as well as misdemeanor possession of drug-related objects and loitering and prowling.

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

Sheriff’s Office arrests 11 in child sex crime bust FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 11 suspects Oct. 30 who allegedly attempted to solicit children for sex online.

Officials said the operation, “Masquerade,” is the second of its kind in Forsyth County, following the 2019 “Operation Just Cause” that arrested 24.

The three-day operation was a partnership between the Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security, the Forsyth County District Attorney’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Alpharetta Police Department.

An additional five suspects have pending warrants for obscene internet contact with a minor.

“Endanger our children in Forsyth County and you will find out what jail and no bond looks like,” Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman said. “I am very proud of our Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and appreciate the unwavering support of our partner agencies during this operation.”

— Shelby Israel

Below are the 11 who were arrested and their charges: Carlos Ortiz-Penado, 37, of Gainesville: computer crime: illegal solicitation, entice or seduce a minor; and trafficking of persons for labor and sex Salvador Alejandro Vazquez, 33, of Lawrenceville: child molestation; and computer crime: illegal solicitation, entice or seduce a minor Erick Rafael Garban-Ochoa, 31, of Stone Mountain: computer crime: illegal solicitation, entice or seduce a minor Tucker Pigott, 29, of Cumming: illegal solicitation, entice or seduce a minor; and trafficking of persons for labor and sex Srinath Banothu, 28, of Waleska: computer crime: illegal solicitation, entice or seduce a minor Cody Wood, 33, of Dahlonega: computer crime: illegal solicitation, entice or seduce a minor; and trafficking of persons for labor and sex Israel Ibarra-Hinojosa, 30, of Ringold: computer crime: illegal solicitation, entice or seduce a minor Tahir Taylor, 24, of Loganville: computer crime: illegal solicitation, entice or seduce a minor Peter Heintz, 39, of Marietta: computer crime: illegal solicitation, entice or seduce a minor; and computer crime: obscene internet contact with a minor Brett DelRosso, 33, of Woodstock: computer crime: illegal solicitation, entice or seduce a minor Michael Kinser, 29, of Lilburn: computer crime: illegal solicitation, entice or seduce a minor; failure to obey a traffic control device; and fleeing or attempting to elude.

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AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | November 2, 2023 | 3

Planners approve new microbrewery

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Planning Commission recommended approval of a new microbrewery off Ga. 400 and Pilgrim Mill Road Oct. 24.

The business now faces final approval before the County Commission Nov. 16 The microbrewery will be in a former home on 1.84 acres currently zoned as a lake residential district.

The site will be rezoned to a commercial business district if ratified by the Board of Commissioners.

Project agent Joe Lacy said the microbrewery is inspired by Stoney J’s Winery, which he said paved the way for his business. “... I want to build a microbrewery on the top of that hill, carry on the legacy of our family, the laughter and the love that has been up there for nearly 50 years,” Lacy said.

Planning Commissioner Nedal Shawkat, whose district encompasses the site, said the Pilgrim Mill Road area is changing. He said there is also interest in building a hotel and shopping center near the microbrewery.

FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED

This map shows the location of a proposed microbrewery, highlighted in blue, off Pilgrim Mill Road and Ga. 400. The Forsyth County Planning Commission recommended approval of the plans Oct. 24, which now face the County Commission for a final vote.

“This should be hopefully the start to what will be a successful business here in Forsyth County,” Shawkat said.

In other action at the meeting,

planning commissioners recommended approval of a car dealership off Ga. 400 and Crossroads Road; an open storage yard off Church Road; and an auto ser-

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Forsyth schools address suicide through Sources of Strength

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — To match its growing student population, Forsyth County Schools has bolstered its suicide prevention and mental health toolkits to equip students and staff to tackle issues at the start.

Like most school districts, Forsyth County employs counselors and psychological staff to help students navigate difficult times and trauma. Its staff also receives mandatory annual training under the 2015 Jason Flatt Act, which promotes youth suicide awareness and prevention.

But, Forsyth County Schools also uses the Sources of Strength model, a national prevention program aimed to instill positivity and support before students engage in potentially harmful behaviors.

Student Support Facilitator Lindsey Simpson, who trains the schools that participate in the program, said Sources of Strength is based on a strengths wheel, which includes mental health, family support, positive friends, mentors, healthy activities, generosity, spirituality and physical health.

“If you saw Sources of Strength

within a school building, you would never know it’s a suicide prevention program because they are so focused on those eight particular strengths that our young people have within their lives,” she said.

A preventative model The strengths wheel serves as the foundation of the program and is used to engage students in mindfulness to prevent suicidal thoughts and behavior. “… sometimes we do experience big emotions,” Simpson said. “We may have, you know, a short period of depression, when we lose a loved one, we lose a pet, whatever that may be in our lives, but how can we rely on these strengths when we're going through that difficult time within our lives?”

Simpon said seven elementary, eight middle and five high schools implement the program.

During the 2022-23 academic year, Schools Student Support trained 353 new peer leaders and 110 adult advisors for the program in middle and high schools.

Since the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, 151 adult advisors and 348 peer leaders have been trained in the participating secondary schools.

More information

To learn more about support services in Forsyth County Schools, visit forsyth.k12.ga.us/page/676.

The elementary schools use a K5 model that enforces the protective factors on the strengths wheel but does not have trained adult advisors and peer leaders.

In the grades six through 12 model, Sources of Strength recruits students to serve as peer leaders, who field students’ needs and also serve as a link for those who may be hesitant to speak with adults.

“One important thing to note about [Sources of Strength] is that it's a peerled program,” Simpson said. “So, what we know is that young people don't always, like, listen to adults, so what we like to do is use the voice of these peer leaders within their school buildings.”

Simpson said the peer leaders are recruited, trained and meet at least twice monthly to discuss the specific needs of their schools. The peer leaders can also help students identify trusted adults by making recommendations of people they know.

“Well, we have seen it takes a couple of years to sustain Sources within a school, but usually about year two, everybody knows what Sources is,” Simpson said. “They're able to recognize what the strengths wheel looks like.

They're able to, you know, say what those strengths or protective factors are.

And then about year three, there's a lot more involvement.”

A peer-led initiative In addition to trusted adults, Sources of Strength also recruits mentors, a

person who cares about a student’s wellbeing and checks in at the end of the week. These mentors can be the trusted adult a student chooses or a parent, coach or friend.

Simpson emphasized the prevention efforts are student initiatives and not recommendations from staff. While the school district receives grant funding for Sources of Strength campaigns and materials, the goal is for students to get their peers involved and launch campaigns themselves.

“Our schools implement ‘We Belong’ campaigns to help all the students feel like they belong and feel like they are connected within that school environment,” Simpson said.

She said Forsyth County Schools has employed a dedicated prevention specialist since at least 2016 when she started interning at the district. However, this year the school system hired its first mental health facilitator to connect students and families with resources.

The school district also teaches students Signs of Suicide, which helps them to identify signs of depression and suicide in themselves and peers.

In addition to the wellness component, Simpson said Forsyth County Schools’ prevention efforts hope to eliminate behaviors that can result from depression, such as substance abuse.

She said a growing issue since 2018 is vaping.

“Our young people are very curious because their friends may use, or they're feeling that stress and they're overwhelmed, and, like, their friends have said like, ‘Hey, this helps me, like, kind of take the edge off,’” Simpson said. “… when our young people start using so early, it’s truly setting them up for an addictive lifestyle.”

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ST. MARY’S ORTHODOX CHURCH/PROVIDED

Guests wait in line for a food vendor at the India Festival Oct. 14 at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church. Staff said the fifth annual gathering drew some 1,000 guests.

India Festival draws crowds to St. Mary’s Orthodox Church ROSWELL, Ga. — Some 1,000 guests gathered at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church Oct. 14 to celebrate food, culture and dance at its fifth annual India Festival.

The church first hosted the annual gathering in 2016 until a three-year hiatus brought on by COVID-19. The Oct. 14 celebration marked the event’s return following the break.

The festival featured four food stalls, 15 performers, 23 vendors, live music

by Achaar the Band and a volleyball tournament that raised funds for the church’s new Sunday school building and indoor gymnasium.

“We were very happy in terms of hosting this event,” festival organizer Cherian Chacko said.

St. Mary’s Orthodox, which serves more than 80 families, also marked its 10th anniversary with the India Festival. To commemorate the anniversary, Chacko said the church donated a home to a family in Thodupuzha, Kerala, India.

“As we celebrate our 10th-year anniversary, let us remember that our faith is not just a compass,” he said. “It is the foundation upon which we have built a strong, loving and supportive community.”

— Shelby Israel

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6 | November 2, 2023 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

Innovators strive to make government more accessible

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — When James Dillard created Recap Roswell, a website that breaks Roswell City Council meetings into digestible chunks, he drew from his time living in Switzerland as inspiration.

“Switzerland is a very high trust society with a very high degree of civic participation,” he said. “When you’re living abroad, you see your home differently, and that caused me to place a greater value on participating, in making the system work.”

Dillard also said Robert Putnam’s nonfiction book “Bowling Alone” was an influence. Putnam writes about the decline of social capital, how society is becoming less participatory, even in smaller institutions like social clubs.

Dillard is not alone. Other innovators are developing tools to help keep citizens engaged in government.

“I feel like Roswell, Georgia, the United States would be healthier if we have more of those institutions, or micro institutions, where people are connecting and going through the process of deciding what they think they should do together and then, trying to make that

happen in the real world,” Dillard said.

In May, Dillard built Recap Roswell from scratch using ChatGPT, an AI-powered language model developed by the nonprofit organization OpenAI. For each post, he creates a transcript from the video recording of the latest council meeting. Then, he runs the transcript through the OpenAI API, based on a chain of different requests which synthesizes it down to a quick summary.

“You now are taking hundreds of hours of time and condensing it to something that someone, like yourself, can get through in 15 or 20 minutes,” Dillard said.

But, using AI is not without its pitfalls. He has to check the summary for “hallucinations,” or errors presented as fact.

“I don’t want to minimize the chance that I invent a decision by the City Council,” Dillard said.

He said Recap Roswell also spawned from wanting to understand where the political fault lines are in Roswell government.

“All of the candidates sort of say the same things,” Dillard said, referring to his latest post on candidates in Roswell’s upcoming municipal election. “It’s very difficult to parse what

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the choice actually is between them, right?”

Roswell’s local election is one of the most contested in north Metro Atlanta, where at least two candidates are vying for each seat. In other cities, some candidates – many of them incumbents – will automatically get a council seat because they have no opponents.

Because there were no contested races in Alpharetta this year, the city canceled its municipal election.

It did the same in 2015 for the same reason.

In the past couple of decades, other area cities have canceled their municipal elections, including Roswell in 2003, Johns Creek in 2009, Milton in 2013 and Cumming across three years. There have been cancellations in Sandy Springs, too.

Incumbents who get their re-election bid without challenge might mean there’s less accountability, said Saba Long, executive director of Atlanta Civic Circle (ACC).

With the slogan “Complexity shuts you out, ACC opens the door for you,” the nonprofit is a civic engagement and media outlet that covers local democracy and hous-

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“When an elected official is not adhering to the public trust, when they are not making decisions that are in the best interest of their constituents and the public at large, then they should be contested,” Long said.

She said the number of candidates running for office runs parallel to the level of civic engagement.

“When more people are engaged in their local government, the more likely it is that people will vote; the more likely it is that people will run for office; and the more likely it is that they have a stake in what’s happening,” Long said.

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Pandemic-forged Roswell gym strives to shape community

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — When you think of a CrossFit gym, a group of people with different skills, circumstances and strengths may not be what comes to mind.

Mike Vialpando said it’s a dream to be in his third year as owner and head coach of Forge Roswell at The Mill in Historic Roswell, 23 Maple Street.

“What separates us, I believe, from other gyms is not that we’re ‘better,’” Vialpando said. “We’re intentional about what our goals and values are… community, coaching and programming.”

While some members joined the gym for general conditioning and a sense of community, Forge Roswell’s unique style has allowed it to retain and expand membership.

The workout programs at Forge Roswell are geared toward the individual’s desired level of functionality. Most gyms affiliated with CrossFit differ in some ways.

While some are geared toward CrossFit competitions and highintensity workouts, others, like Forge Roswell, modify the fitness regimen to suit individuals.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many gyms across the country closed permanently.

When Vialpando acquired CrossFit NBK in Oct. 2021, membership had declined amid lockdowns.

The 6,000-square-foot gym needed a community based revival, Vialpando said.

“We’ve been growing ever since,” Vialpando said.

There was a group of five coaches from the prior gym when Vialpando acquired it in 2021.

Today, there are 10 coaches at Forge Roswell.

The start of Vialpando’s coaching journey began when he left a 10-year healthcare career at St. Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta. He said starting a youth fitness program was spurred by his desire to address healthcare before patients reached the hospital.

Because of his experience in a hospital, Vialpando said he thinks the cost of a gym membership is much less than the cost of healthcare later in life.

“I created youth programs to get ahead of it,” Vialpando said.

Prior to acquiring the gym, Vialpando was head coach and manager for several years at another gym in Metro Atlanta.

“In the Roswell area, we are saturated with other CrossFit gyms specifically [and] just fitness organizations for adults, so there’s a lot to choose from,” Vialpando said.

Following a 2020 controversy in the CrossFit organization, in which founder Greg Glassman resigned amid charges of racism in his social media posts, Vialpando and his coaching staff have taken measures to promote an inclusive culture at Forge Roswell.

See GYM, Page 9

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FORGE ROSWELL/PROVIDED

Roswell Forge staff and gym members gather in the middle of the 6,000-square-foot facility at 23 Maple Street, Roswell. Owner Mike Vialpando sits at center, wearing a cap and light blue shirt.

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Gym: Continued from Page 8 “CrossFit comes with some stigmas,” Vialpando said. “But if somebody steps into our gym, they will see themselves reflected in the leadership.”

Forge Roswell has community events, like Trivia Night at Summit Coffee on Atlanta Street Oct. 19.

The community at the gym participates in competitions and gatherings around North Fulton, Vialpando said.

“Ruck the Mill” is a 1-hour hike, two Sundays a month at 8 a.m. Forge Roswell invites anyone interested to enjoy the Vickery Creek Trail at Roswell Mill.

The Forge Roswell coaches have crafted unique classes with modifications for individuals based on their fitness condition and lifestyle.

The gym has programs for CrossFit athletes, as well as a low-impact functional training program for people with less experience.

There are six CrossFit classes Monday through Friday, with two classes on Saturday and Sunday.

Each class throughout the day is 60-minutes and designed for people with CrossFit experience.

The competitive lifting class is 6:30

BUSINESSPOSTS p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Saturday.

The low-impact functional training classes are twice a day Monday through Friday.

Vialpando’s own LIFT classes are designed to sustain everyday activities by focusing on strength training and aerobic conditioning.

Vialpando said he thinks Forge Roswell’s modified CrossFit workouts create a community designed for any committed individual regardless of experience.

“Our goal is to help support the activities that you’re already doing,” Vialpando said.

Vialpando encourages men and women of all ages to consider a 60-minute class at Forge Roswell.

The gym also has a summer teen program, which meets three days a week starting June 5.

“We taught kids how to safely and properly lift and move weights,” Vialpando said. “The whole goal is to create an active lifestyle.”

Kids who play year-round sports and kids with other interests are encouraged to attend youth classes at Forge Roswell.

Vialpando said he hopes to start week-long youth programs when school is out for the holidays.

To learn more about classes at Forge Roswell, visit https://www. theforgeroswell.com/

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | November 2, 2023 | 9

FORGE ROSWELL/PROVIDED

Gym members hang from pull-up bars during gymnastics class at Forge Roswell.

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10 | November 2, 2023 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

Fulton County acts to remove Cheeley from CID position 7506 Wilderness Parkway Big Canoe, GA 30143

bigcanoeanimalrescue.org 706-268-1346

This is Sadie!

Facts About Me Breed: Jack Russell Terrier mix – short haired Color: Black & White Age: 2-years-old Size: Fully Grown – Small Size Weight: (Current) 15 Lbs. Sex: Female My Info Good with dogs & children Shots up to date Healthy Spayed & Chipped My Story Sadie is my name and I’m out to find my furever family!

I’m a 2-year-old Black & White, short haired female Jack Russel Terrier mix, weighing 15 lbs.

Looking for a fun loving, energetic and adventurous family who loves to go for walks, run and play in the park and watch movies in bed … ok, maybe on the couch! Come see me and bring treats.

This is Cody!

Facts About Me Breed: Jack Russell Terrier mix Color: Brown & White Age: 1-year-old Size: Fully Grown 25lbs. – Small Size Weight: (Current) 20 Lbs. Sex: Male My Info Good with dogs and kids Shots current Healthy Chipped & neutered My Story My name is Cody!

I’m a 1-year-old Black/Brown & White, short haired male Jack Russel Terrier mix, weighing 20 lbs. whose looking for love and companionship!

How would I describe myself – playful, loving, curious and endearing. Pretty cute too, right?

Cody will have you hooked the minute you meet him. Come visit us at BCAR. Bring the family - we hope to see you soon.

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.

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com METRO ATLANTA — The Fulton County Commission is seeking to remove Bob Cheeley from the True North 400 board, a move officials said is supported by county code.

The resolution also says the decision comes after Cheeley attempted to undermine Fulton County’s elections.

True North 400, formerly the North Fulton Community Improvement District, is a self-taxing business district dedicated to community, transit and road improvements between Mansell and McGinnis Ferry roads. Its coverage area encompasses parts of Roswell, Milton and Alpharetta.

North 400 is managed by a board with at least seven members who each represent a Metro Atlanta business. State Sen. Brandon Beech is executive director of the CID. Under Fulton County code, the Board of Commissioners can appoint two members to the CID board if more than 50 percent of land within the CID lies in unincorporated portions of the county.

Because the percentage of unincorporated land has fallen below 50, the resolution states one of its two appointees, Bob Cheeley and Al Nash, are no longer needed. “… the Board of Commissioners finds

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that it is in the best interest of the CID Board, Fulton County, and the general public that Mr. Al Nash continue to serve as its appointee,” the resolution reads.

Cheeley was one of 19 defendants, including former President Donald CHEELEY Trump, who were indicted by a Fulton County grand jury in August for alleged attempts to overturn 2020 election results.

Cheeley was charged with allegedly violating Georgia’s anti-racketeering law; conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer; two counts of conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree; two counts of conspiracy to commit false statements and writings; conspiracy to commit filing false documents; solicitation of a public official to violate their oath; false statements and writings; and perjury.

The County Commission appointed Nash to the CID board in 2017. Nash, who represents Parallax Advisory Group, also serves as True North 400 treasurer.

Cheeley was appointed in 2020 and represents his Alpharetta law firm on the CID board.

The Board of Commissioners will vote on the resolution at its formal meeting Nov. 1.

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

11 | Forsyth Herald | November 2, 2023

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | November 2, 2023 | 11

Sponsored Section

Three energy-efficient smart home upgrades for fall Brought to you by – Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty It’s no secret that keeping your home warm and well-lit Bill Rawlings during the fall and Sherri Conrad season means higher energy costs. According to SaveOnEnergy.com®, utility bills rose significantly between 2021 and 2022 (about 16 percent for U.S. homeowners), a trend that makes the transition to winter the perfect time to initiate a home energy audit. Here are three ways to prime your home to fend off inefficiencies ahead of the colder months 1. Install a smart thermostat for precise temperature control.

Smart thermostats work their magic through features like personalized scheduling, geofencing technology and adaptive learning, ensuring efficient heating and cooling. They seamlessly integrate with some of the most popular smart-home voice assistants, such as Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Microsoft Cortana, Samsung SmartThings, Logitech Harmony or Wink. Remember to verify compatibility with your existing smart home system before purchasing, and keep in mind that installation often involves extra power requirements and the establishment of wireless communication with other smart devices in your home. Unless you have a strong background in electrical work, we recommend leaving the installation to a professional rather than attempting it as a DIY project.

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While the upfront cost of energy-efficient appliances is substantial, this investment can translate to significant long-term savings on your electricity bills. Moreover, many governments provide rebates and incentives that can help alleviate the initial financial burden. The top three energy hogs (read, the ones you probably want to replace) tend to be refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers. Look for the energy efficiency ratings provided on the appliances themselves or consult online resources that offer comprehensive energy efficiency data.

Selecting the right energy-efficient solutions can result in significant savings and a more comfortable, eco-conscious lifestyle. If you need assistance renovating your home or have any other real estate needs, please contact Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty at 770.442.7300. We would be happy to assist you!

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12 | November 2, 2023 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

150 SHERWOOD LANE

2905 MANOR BRIDGE DRIVE

CANTON, GA 30115 | $1,800,000 Todd Kroupa | 770.910.4860

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MARY WARGULA

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REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | November 2, 2023 | 13

Canton/Milton | Resort Living

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14 | November 2, 2023 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties' New Homes Division Shines again at 43rd OBIE Awards Brought to you by - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties' New Homes Division The Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association hosted the 43rd annual Professionalism (OBIE) Awards Saturday, October 21st at the Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division, led by President Lori Lane, and their builder clients took home an astounding 30 gold and silver awards.

With over 100 different categories, the OBIE awards celebrate outstanding achievements in homebuilding and highlight those in the homebuilding industry for excellence in building, marketing, and personal achievement.

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ing accolades, Berkshire Hathaway’s builder clients Trilith Development, Patrick Malloy Communities, JW Collection, McKinney Builders, Loudermilk Homes, Vision Development Partners, and David Patterson Homes all received top honors.

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at BHHS Georgia Properties and Senior Vice President of Luxury and Global, attributes this success to the team's unwavering commitment. She emphasizes, "Success is about hard work and determination, and you have to pour yourself into it every day." Lane expresses her deep gratitude for the opportunity to work with builder and developer clients she respects and enjoys.

Lane and her New Homes Division are redefining the landscape of new home and luxury real estate sales and marketing in Atlanta. Their continuous contributions are leaving a lasting impact on the city's real estate industry.

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›

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | November 2, 2023 | 15

Calendar

NOV. 2 — NOV. 12

SKYLER SAUFLEY

What: Skyler Saufley, a blues player, will perform at this free concert. No coolers, outside food, outside alcoholic beverages, cans, glass bottles or smoking allowed. Friendly dogs onleash are welcome. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets.

When: Friday, Nov. 3, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center, 423 Candon Road More info: cummingcitycenter.com

PUPPET PALOOZA SATURDAYS

What: In collaboration with Piccadilly Puppets, Stage Door Theatre will host a puppet show as part of a series.

When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 10:30 a.m.

Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $10 More info: stagedoortheatrega.org

‘HAMLET’

What: Presented by Act1 Community Theater, “Hamlet” is Shakespeare’s most popular play. It follows the form of a “revenge tragedy,” in which the hero, Hamlet, seeks vengeance against his father’s murderer, his uncle Claudius, now the king of Denmark.

Much of its fascination, however, lies in its uncertainties.

When: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 3-4, times vary Where: Brooke Street Park, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: act1theater.org

DIWALI FESTIVAL

What: To celebrate the symbolic meaning of Diwali, a “victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance,” this familyfriendly festival will feature a DJ, performances as well as a variety of food and retail vendors.

When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 4-8 p.m.

Where: Atlanta Athletic Club, 1930 Bobby Jones Drive, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov

THE ELEGANT ELF HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE

What: This two-day gift market features more than 80 carefully

‘HAMLET’

What: Presented by Act1 Community Theater, “Hamlet” is Shakespeare’s most popular play. It follows the form of a “revenge tragedy,” in which the hero, Hamlet, seeks vengeance against his father’s murderer, his uncle Claudius, now the king of Denmark. Much of its fascination, however, lies in its uncertainties.

When: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 3-4, times vary Where: Brooke Street Park, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: act1theater.org

selected vendors who offer handcrafted items, artistic creations and the latest gourmet delights.

When: Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 4-5, times vary Where: Sandy Springs Performing Arts & Conference Center, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs More info: sandyspringssociety.org/ the-elegant-elf

WALTER ISAACSON, ‘ELON MUSK’ AUTHOR TALK

What: The 32nd Edition of the Book Festival of the MJCCA presents Walter Isaacson, who authored “Elon Musk,” in conversation with Gail Evans, former executive vice president of CNN and bestselling author.

When: Saturday, Nov. 4, 8 p.m.

Where: Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody Cost: $38 More info: showclix.com/event/ walter-isaacson-elon-musk

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.

‘ONE PINT AT A TIME’

STOMP

What: As part of the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers, a free screening of “One Pint at a Time” will be featured. The film, directed and produced by Aaron Hose and co-produced by Brigitte Hose, is about Black brewers, brand owners and influencers reshaping the craft beer industry.

When: Monday, Nov. 6, 6-9 p.m.

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell More info: roswell365.com

What: Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center presents STOMP, the stage show that’s dance, music and theatrical performance blended in one rhythm when matchboxes, brooms, trash cans fill the stage with energizing beats.

When: Friday & Saturday, Nov. 10-11, times vary Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $46.35 to $94.80 More info: citysprings.com

HONORING OUR VETERANS

THE WARMTH OF AUTUMN

What: Celebrate, honor and thank those who have served in the United States’ military services.

When: Saturday, Nov. 11, 9-11 a.m.

Where: Johns Creek Veterans Memorial Walk, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov

To promote your event, follow these easy steps:

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What: The Chattahoochee Evening Stars Quilt Guild is exhibiting a collection of seasonally inspired quilts capturing the warmth of the fall season.

When: Until Nov. 14, business hours Where: Community Gallery at Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us

Visit AppenMedia.com/Calendar Provide the details for your event including title, description, location and date Click the red button that reads “Create event” That’s it! Submissions are free, though there are paid opportunities to promote your event in print and online.

16 | November 2, 2023 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

OPINION

Patience tested? Try nice instead of nasty.

Despite the difficulties facing us, we’re speeding towards the time of the year when we need to take a deep breath, smile and move on.

I recently got caught in a traffic MIKE TASOS jam and was three Columnist minutes late for the start of 9 o’clock Mass. Three minutes!

Traffic and a wreck totally out of my control. I’m one of those “Lombardi Time” guys, where if you weren’t 15 minutes early, you were late.

What inspired me to think about how important it is to be nice was the stern look and “Harumph” I was greeted with by the snarling, disapproving “greeter.” Perhaps I am looking at this in an upside-down way, but aren’t those charged with welcoming folks to worship charged with making anyone

feel welcome to be there?

If the motto is “We Are Family,” I don’t think making one feel like the disdained red-headed stepchild was what the parish had in mind.

Church is no place for snarls and “Harumphs.” What if it had been my first time walking into Mass at this house of worship (It wasn’t)? What if I had been away from any type of service for some time (I wasn’t)? What if I had said that frowns and disapproval years ago had inspired me to stay home and watch TV in the first place (not applicable)?

I believe the entire purpose of volunteering is joy and fulfillment with a sense of purpose. When volunteering and service doesn’t make one happy, it’s time to fold the tent, say “Sayonara” and find another venue to unpack your bag.

There’s a guy at my church who is perpetually frowning. Even when he’s passing the collection plate. Any chance a smile would improve the “take” each

week. I go out of my way to smile and ask him how he’s doing, even though I’m going to listen to a litany of complaints about a panorama of things he wants me to know.

I swear I try to listen, but the bottom line is this: We all face issues and have things that we want to complain about.

In reality I don’t want to hear yours and you don’t want to hear mine.

Problems? That’s where the priest comes in. They get paid for things like these and he’s undoubtedly more adept at handling issues and providing timetested solutions.

Besides, he’s got a direct line to the ultimate arbiter.

This is when of year we should start thinking about the most wonderful time of the year. There are others who are continuing a battle that has been fought for way too many years.

No, I’m not referring to Dawgs-Jackets or ‘Bama-Auburn. I’m talking about the misguided miscreants fighting in

the Middle East where there is seemingly no end in sight.

Here, in our small slice of North Georgia, we are about to be tested. I’m not talking about trying not to pull a muscle from toting the voluminous quantity of catalogs that will clog our mailboxes.

No, we’re smack dab at the precipice of the holiday season, where chaos, clutter and crankiness are an easy trap.

Let me be the first to promise to take a deep breath, to smile a little more and be kind to those who would literally kill for a little kindness. There’s a chance your kindness will make a difference and turn nastiness into niceness.

I’m willing to take that chance.

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.

INK PENN

Keep calm and carry on with three British reads It’s possible I’m stuck in a rut, or maybe I have a reading hangover from my summer trip to England’s Lake District. Whatever the reason, my recent reads are all set in This week’s KATHY MANOS PENN England. list contains two set Columnist during World War II and a third set in modern times. If my to-be-read (TBR) pile is any indication, this trend may continue for quite some time.

“Playing it Safe” by Ashley Weaver This is yet another Electra McDonnell book I couldn't put down. I love this spunky heroine--her willfulness, her confidence in the face of adversity, and her no-nonsense attitude.

Once again summoned by "the Major" for a spot of undercover work, she rises to the challenge. It's World War II in London during the blitz, and she must travel to Sunderland with an assumed identity.

The subplots continue in this engaging series: Electra's dalliance with her friend Felix, the sparks between her and the Major, and her quest to discover more about her mother.

I am hooked on this series, and I can't wait until the fourth book arrives.

Meanwhile, I've picked up book two in

Weaver's Amory Ames series. The first one was well written and entertaining but not quite as intriguing to me as the Electra McDonnell books.

“Untrue Blue” by Emma Jameson Some readers find a series they like and binge-read every book. I prefer to savor them, and so it’s been with this series by Emma Jameson. Each title in this sevenbook series contains the word Blue. The first— “Ice Blue”—introduces Lord Anthony Hetheridge and Kate and Deepal, his subordinates on the Toff Squad at Scotland Yard. Lord Hetheridge is the perfect person to lead this unit, dedicated to handling crimes involving members of Britain’s upper class. He’s a Lord, and he’s rich, but he’s also a respected member of Scotland Yard.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series ever since I stumbled upon it several years ago. The relationships among the three key characters continue to evolve, often in surprising ways.

As with the rest of the series, this book has dark elements combined with wit and humor and likeable characters. It’s also filled with twists and turns and surprises concerning three cold cases. Though it was published in 2021, and the note at the end says there will be more to follow, I've seen no mention of anything on the horizon. I hope something appears soon!

If the premise appeals to you, I recommend you start with “Ice Blue.”

“Bones at the Manor House”

by Emma Jameson Emma Jameson is equally adept at writing mysteries set during World War II. After enjoying the Blue series, I looked for other books by her and discovered the Dr. Benjamin Bones mystery series.

When a bloodless corpse is found in a manor house in a small Cornish village, Dr. Bones and Lady Juliet have their work cut out for them. The bumbling local bobby, of course, is clueless, and wants only to close the case and get back to ensuring villagers are adhering to blackout protocol and gasoline rationing.

Book two in what appears to be only a three-book series is another delightful

outing with Dr. Bones and Lady Juliet in 1939 England. The murder mystery and the subplot concerning the two amateur sleuths and their relationship will keep you guessing.

Despite having a never-ending TBR list, I’ve already grabbed the third book, “Bones Takes a Holiday.” If you like gentle mysteries, this one’s for you.

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

PRESERVING THE PAST

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | November 2, 2023 | 17

Ancient fossils are calling across Georgia Long before the ancient pyramids and before man first walked the lands of the Southeast, woolly mammoths, eastern bison and even a few dinosaurs roamed the land where Alpharetta, BOB MEYERS Milton, Roswell and Columnist other Georgia cities are today. Michael Buchanan, local amateur fossil hunter, filmmaker and beekeeper, is excited by that. He says that 5000-year-old spear points were found when the land was cleared for North Point Mall in the early 1990s. Spear points were also found when work began on the McGinness Ferry Road/Ga. 400 interchange improvement project.

Michael notes that fossils can be found in every state and that the best places to hunt for dinosaur fossils are Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska and the Dakotas. Erosion takes place over millions of years and reveals old river bottoms where ancient creatures went to drink. Michael has found parts of dinosaurs and hundreds of bone fragments which he tries to piece together.

Georgia is fossil country to a lesser degree. It was once inhabited by animals such as mastodons, woolly mammoths, camels, bison, tapirs, dinosaurs and giant ground sloths up to 20 feet tall which were first described in 1797 by Thomas Jefferson. During the Cretaceous period (145 to 66 million years ago), the climate was tropical and there were no glaciers at the north and south poles.

Consequently, the sea level was very high and covered half of the state. Many vertebrate and invertebrate fossils were left behind including mollusk shells, shark’s teeth and some dinosaur bones.

Shark’s teeth are particularly plentiful, because a shark can grow and lose 30,000 or more teeth during its approximately 20 - 30 year lifespan. It is not surprising that the official Georgia state fossil, adopted in 1976, is the giant megalodon shark tooth. The megalodon is the largest shark to ever have lived.

They measured from 30 up to 70 feet long – the size of an 18-wheeler – and weighed between 60,000 and 140,000 pounds. Their teeth, up to 7 inches long, have been used since ancient times for their size and serrated edges as spear points, knives and jewelry. Compare those teeth to today’s great white shark’s teeth which measure about 3 inches.

Michael has found many megalodon teeth in alligator-infested rivers in South

PROVIDED

Fossil hunting in Hulett, Wyoming. Every year for four years, Bonnie Steadman spent part of her summers on the Waugh Ranch in Wyoming digging for dinosaur bones as part of a program of the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research. Over time she collected about 250 fossils.

MICHAEL BUCHANAN/PROVIDED

The megalodon shark was one of the most terrifying prehistoric predators on earth. It reached lengths of up to 60-70 feet and lived from about 16 to 2.6 million years ago.

Each shark had 276 teeth in five rows. They regularly shed their teeth which makes them relatively easy for fossil hunters to find. Teeth could grow up to 7 inches long. Here we see two megalodon teeth collected by Michael Buchanan, a local fossil enthusiast.

Carolina, a process which he describes as “a major rush.” Michael is available for presentations to schools. Contact him at mike@tinrooffilms.com.

The most common dinosaurs in Georgia were the duck billed hadrosaurs and the albertosaurus. The duck billed hadrosaurs were plant eaters and usually walked on four legs. They were about 30 feet long and weighed about three tons.

The deadly albertosaurus walked on two legs and measured about 30 feet from

their large head to their tail and weighed up to 3 tons. Both dinosaurs lived in Georgia for millions of years about 75 million years ago. Dinosaurs disappeared at the end of the Cretaceous period, possibly as the result of an asteroid or comet.

Bonnie Steadman is chair of the Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission and has been a fossil enthusiast since she was 8 years old. She says “I would break open rocks. In one I

found a fossil and I was hooked. I took it to show at school and I still have it.”

As an adult she took classes at the Fernbank Museum and Perimeter College, joined a group of fossil devotees in Atlanta and connected with a museum in Hill City South Dakota where she learned how to dig for and identify fossils.

For four summers she returned to the same dig site in search of dinosaur fossils. Eventually she had a collection of some 250 specimens.

Bonnie believes there is always something to learn about fossils.

Researchers have found, for example, that by studying dinosaur skin it is possible to tell if a dinosaur was spotted or striped and whether or not it had feathers. Modern technology can tell what it ate for its last meal, if it had an injury or cancer. She says “The fact that a dinosaur you may find is millions of years old and that you are the first human to ever look at and touch that fossil is an amazing experience.”

Her proudest moment came when she uncovered a triceratops spike in the Hill City dig that was 3 ½ feet in length. She donated it to the local museum.

Genevieve Brown works for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. She has degrees in geology and anthropology and knows a lot about Georgia fossils. One of her personal interests is the Georgiacetus, a giant whale no more than 20 feet long that according to Genevieve “looked like a cross between a dolphin and otter.

They had legs and were descended from land animals that adapted to life in the ocean.”

Previously unknown, the almost complete skeleton of the whale was discovered in 1983 when it was unearthed during the construction of Plant Vogtle, a Georgia Power Company nuclear facility in Waynsboro. The full scientific name of the whale is Georgiacetus vogtlensis, which means the “Georgia Whale from Plant Vogtle.”

Among the favorite fossil hunting locations in Georgia are Cumberland Island and Amelia Island.

Genevieve says that Georgia has been almost every ecosystem you can imagine, desert, forest, ocean, mountains and plains. The fossils are there for those who are willing to search for them. Can you hear them calling?

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

18 | November 2, 2023 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

OPINION

Old-time navigation tool helps you see what’s not visible Here’s a question for you: How do you know where to go when you aren’t sure where you are going?

Yeah. They say that getting from Point A to Point B can be half the fun, but only if you can find the way.

A friend of mine from years back always made that finding-the-way thing look easy. Even hiking crosscountry without benefit of trails, he STEVE HUDSON never got lost. It was uncanny, like Columnist he had a GPS unit implanted in his brain, and that was long before GPS was even a thing. He just seemed to know where he was going. He didn’t even carry a compass.

That’s a handy skill to have.

Me? I’m not so blessed in the area of direction finding.

But that’s okay, I tell myself. Sometimes it’s fun just to set out and see what you find – especially if what you find is a previously undiscovered thrift store.

A thrift store? Uh huh. She does like thrift stores, you see. So, we keep an eye out for them just to see what we might find.

And when we see one?

“Want to stop?” she will ask, and I will always say, “Sure!”

I have to admit that I kind of liked thrift stores too.

Like garage sales, they tease you with the promise of treasures waiting to be found. And who doesn’t like to find treasures? On occasion I’ve found nifty outdoor goodies lurking among the rows of clothing and cast-off kitchen appliances and ten-year-old computer monitors. And I keep hoping that someday I’ll walk into a thrift store and there in front of me will be a dusty cardboard box full of classic handmade bamboo fly rods, all priced at $5 apiece.

Heck, if I go on “half-price day” the deal will be even better.

That hasn’t happened yet. But it could.

I’ve had some smaller triumphs, though. Just the other day, for example, in the thrift store right down the road, what should I happen across but an “orienteering compass.” This compass was designed for navigating crosscountry (see how we outdoor writer types eventually bring everything full circle?) using nothing more than it and a paper map. It was just the thing to help you when you weren’t sure exactly which direction was which.

So I bought the compass. I couldn’t let it go. It was a deal at $3, and since this was half-price day it was mine for the paltry sum of only $1.50, no batteries required.

About that I felt pretty good.

The compass was in good shape, all things considered, and needed only a new lanyard (can you say “old shoe lace”?) to be good as new. Then I was ready, my new oldschool navigational aid worn proudly around my neck. I glanced in the mirror and saw that I looked like one of the really cool hikers, too cool for technology, firmly in tune with tradition.

I adjusted my hiking slightly. Man, I was something else. All I needed was somewhere to go.

Where indeed? For a while, I’d been hearing about a place called the Indian Seats in Forsyth County’s Sawnee Mountain Preserve over near Cumming. There really are actual seats there, carved into massive outcrops of mountaintop stone ages ago, and legend says that Native Americans used them as comfortable places from which to keep watch over the surrounding terrain. The seats are said to offer one of the very best scenic overlooks in the region, too, and that sounded like something I would like to see.

According to Whitman Morgan, outdoor recreation

and her daughter are having a great time feeding it nuts.

What I do not see is dogs, for dogs are not permitted on this trail.

Eventually, I reach the top. I see a short spur trail leading to a wooden overlook, and the wind picks up as I climb the steps to see what I might see.

I don’t spot any thrift stores in the distance, at least not that I can recognize. But I do encounter a vista that you must see to appreciate. The reports are spot on. This really is one of the most spectacular views around.

An interpretive sign helps me identify what I’m seeing.

There’s Pine Log Mountain (compass heading 280 degrees).

There’s Springer Mountain (compass heading 353 degrees and a bit more than 26 miles away) and Blood Mountain too (39 miles, heading 18 degrees). Just for fun, I check these bearings with my compass. It’s nice to know where things are.

STEVE HUDSON/APPEN MEDIA

The author checks out the view from the Indian Seats.

supervisor for Forsyth County, the Indian Seats are not actually on Sawnee Mountain itself. But Booger Mountain?

Whatever you call it, you’ll find it easy to hike to the top. Most hikers start at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitor Center parking lot (set your GPS for 4075 Spot Road in Cumming) and start by following the trail to the right of the visitor center.

The Indian Seats trail, marked by blue diamondshaped blazes, is what’s called a lollipop trail ¬– that is, an approach trail (the lollipop’s “stick”) which connects you to a loop trail (the candy). Round-trip in-and-out distance is about four miles or a little less.

From the visitor center, the approach trail gently ascends to its intersection with the loop. Then you have to decide whether to turn left or right.

A lot to see on the way If you go right, you’ll initially enjoy some relatively level hiking that takes you past old gold mine workings as well as another trail access point (the parking area at Bettis Tribble Gap) before turning uphill on its way to the summit. Go left, and the ascent begins right away.

Since it’s a loop, either will work. And you’ll have the same elevation change (about 500 feet) either way.

I flipped a mental coin and decided to turn left, following the loop more or less clockwise – though with this trail’s many switchbacks and turns, it would be a strange-looking clockface indeed.

The trail is well maintained and easy to follow, though stretches can be rooty or rocky (or sometimes both). Strategically placed guideposts are located at several points along the way, helping you keep track of where you are.

But who needs guideposts? I’ve got my paper map and my compass!

I’m having a good time with that compass, too, keeping track of which direction I’m heading. Do I actually need that info? No, not really; it is a loop trail, after all. But knowing where I’m going is just kind of fun, especially on a trail that changes its compass heading as much as this one does.

I see wildlife along the way: many deer, a couple of hawks, myriad other birds, and an abundance of squirrels.

One squirrel near the summit appears tame, and a mom

Out there somewhere Sometimes the adventure is in what you don’t see.

For instance, the sign tells me that Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest peak, is 39 miles away at a bearing of 23 degrees. It’s not visible from the overlook, being obscured by other features of the landscape. But (I check my compass and sight along the bearing line) it’s there. Right there. Even though I can’t see it, I know that’s where it is.

I realize it’s getting late and that I had better get going lest I find myself hiking out in the dark.

But first ... and yeah, you knew I would … first I have to check out the Indian Seats.

The seats, those three depressions cut into the rock, beg to be sat in. Who am I to refuse?

Carefully – very carefully – I ease across some rocks and finally, slowly, settle into the first of the three seats. That’s plenty far for me. And it’s remarkably comfortable. I sit there for a while, enjoying the panorama before me. My vantage point opens up the landscape. I can see far, and clearly, and unforgettably.

What’s the official view of folks sitting in the seats?

“We urge caution,” notes Whitman Morgan. But it’s impossible to prevent folks from sitting in the seats, he says, adding, “We have yet to have any calls” about people falling. And hear this clearly: the rocks below the seats mean that a fall would not end well. So don’t take chances, and keep an eye on kids. Remember that your safety is your responsibility and yours alone.

After a while, I look at my watch and realize that it’s time to head back down the mountain. So, I ease out of the seat and make my way back to the trail.

The trail is familiar now and comfortable. I continue clockwise to complete the loop, passing more wildlife and the Bettis Tribble Gap parking area and even another old gold mine. But I don’t linger. The sun is setting. I pick up my pace a little, but it is sure-enough dark by the time I reach the car.

It was a good hike, but now I am ready to be home, to share my adventure, to tell her what I have seen. I don’t even need the compass, for now I’ve got faith in the trail. I’ve got confidence it will take me where I want to go.

As I make the drive home, I relax in that certain peace, that pleasant restedness, that a good walk in the woods always seems to bring.

And then I spot another thrift store. It’s one I’d not noticed before. Again, I think how much she likes to visit them.

I must tell her about it. She will want to go.

PAST TENSE

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | November 2, 2023 | 19

Chamblee’s Lawson General Hospital during World War II Lawson General Hospital construction began in 1940, before the U.S. entered World War II. It was located on the property where CDC Chamblee campus and IRS are today, where Buford VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Highway, Chamblee Tucker Road and West Columnist Hospital Avenue meet.

The name West Hospital Avenue reflects the former history of the area.

The hospital was completed in May 1941 at a cost of $3.5 million. Naval Air Station Atlanta was next door. (“Chamblee, GA-A Centennial Portrait, 1908-2008,” Diane J. Shearer and Brenda Deily Constan) Lawson was known for treating amputees and training them to use their prosthetic limbs in everyday life. Dr. P. J. Moore Jr. was a surgeon at Lawson General Hospital.

“I was re-amputating soldiers coming from the Battle of the Bulge and the European Theatre,” recalls Dr. Moore. “I had a ward of thirty-four beds kept full. We had five or six surgeons at Lawson.” In addition to performing surgeries, Dr. Moore demonstrated how golf was possible for recovering patients. (Personal interview, February 2020) Dr. Jack Schreeder of Chamblee worked at Lawson General after serving in the European Theater and receiving the Bronze Star and French War Cross. He attended Emory University Medical School, then did his residency at Grady Memorial Hospital and Lawson General Hospital.

Sister Frances Whitman worked at Lawson General Hospital one summer. She was a teenager attending Christ the King School in Atlanta. Whitman remembered that experience “brought home very seriously what war does to people.” She saw the sadness and devastation of war at the hospital. (Atlanta History Center Veterans History project, oral history of Sister Mary Sue Thomas and Sister Frances Whitman) Sister Whitman’s father was a warden for their Atlanta neighborhood and would sometimes patrol at night. Sister Whitman and her school friend Sister Mary Sue Thomas recall tea dances on Sunday afternoons at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Peachtree Road. All military personnel in the Atlanta area were invited to the dances.

Whitman recalled watching Lawson General Hospital baseball games after work. The hospital and NASA were both part of Atlanta’s City League. Businesses and military operations were in either the City League or the Scott League. Lawson’s Medical Department Technicians School was part of the Scott League. Whitman also played board games with patients or simply sat and listened to them talk.

PROVIDED

A volunteer at Lawson General Hospital, sometimes referred to as a Pink Lady, brings books and magazines around to patients.

Harold Russell learned to use prosthetics at Lawson General Hospital. He then moved to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for occupational therapy. He was recruited by the Army to be in a film about disabled veterans called “Diary of a Sergeant.” This short film can be viewed on YouTube.

According to the National Archives, the 1945 film led to Harold Russell being chosen to play Homer Parrish in “The Best Years of Our Lives.” Russell won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the film won Best Picture in 1947.

Both Lawson General Hospital and NASA were constructed on land that was Camp Gordon during WW I. Today, the former location of Naval Air Station Atlanta is home to DeKalb Peachtree Airport.

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.

PROVIDED

Dr. P.J. Moore demonstrates golf to Lawson patients. He also showed them the possibility of playing the sport, even after their injuries.

y Crier 11/2/23 Crossword 20 | November 2, 2023 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth Across

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See solution Page 23

Precinct: Continued from Page 1 Concord Baptist Church, a decadeslong polling place for north Forsyth residents, will no longer be an option.

Smith said the new Hope Fellowship Church on Matt Highway will replace Concord, but the change may still confuse residents who have long voted at Concord.

“Concord has been, I mean, I voted there all my life,” Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills said. “There will be people that will drive up there that day.”

Smith assured the county will take the required measures to mitigate confusion leading up to Election Day. The Elections Office hopes to work with Concord to host staff who will direct voters to their proper polling place.

There will also be signage.

Here is a look at the proposed changes.

Precinct 4: Chestatee Smith said the plan would decrease the number voters at the Atlanta Cricket Fields and relocate voters in the southern portion of the precinct to the new Precinct 50, Browns Bridge.

Precinct 5: Coal Mountain The proposal would adjust the precinct lines to accommodate voters in the current Concord precinct.

Some voters in the eastern area of Concord would relocate to Coal Mountain, and some in the southwestern portion of the Crossroads precinct would also move to Coal Mountain.

Precinct 6: Crossroads Those who vote in the southeast of the Crossroads precinct would be relocated to Keith Bridge. Smith said the adjustment would better accommodate voters who are closer to the Keith Bridge polling place at 4815 Dawsonville Highway.

Voters on the easternmost side of the current Concord precinct would relocate to Crossroads to prevent overcrowding.

The move would also bring affected voters closer to their polling place.

Precinct 7: Cumming The Precinct 7 Election Day polling place would move from City Hall to Cumming Recreation and Parks at 437 Pilgrim Mill Road, a shift previously approved by the City Council.

Smith said the new location can accommodate more voters, provide better parking and eliminate the need for an elevator.

Voters in the southern portion of the Otwell precinct would be moved to Cumming.

Precinct 16: Otwell The Otwell precinct lines would also shift to support residents who voted in the west of the Coal Mountain precinct.

These former Coal Mountain voters would be relocated to Otwell.

Former Precinct 27: Concord Voters who were assigned to the Concord precinct would vote at Hope Fellowship Church at 6230 Matt Highway.

Smith said the precinct would be renamed to Matt, Precinct 51, to better represent the area.

Precinct 42: Keith Bridge Southeastern Crossroads voters would shift to the Keith Bridge precinct, closer to their new polling place at 4815 Dawsonville Highway.

The size of the precinct would be maintained by relocating south Keith Bridge voters to the new Browns Bridge precinct.

Precinct 43: Lakeland Southwestern Cumming voters would vote in the Lakeland precinct.

Precinct 44: Lanier Smith said most voters in the Lanier precinct live on two peninsulas on Lake Lanier. Voters on the eastern peninsula would be relocated to the new Browns Bridge precinct.

New Precinct 50: Browns Bridge Browns Bridge Church at 3860 Browns Bridge Road would become an Election Day polling site to accommodate the shifted Lanier, Keith Bridge and Chestatee voters.

DEATH NOTICES

Solution on next page

Thomas Abercrombie, 96, of Roswell, passed away on October 20, 2023. Arrangements

by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Kathleen Rice, 78, of Roswell, passed away on October 17, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Isabelle Doneff, 91, of Roswell, passed away on October 20, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Roberta Van Pelt, 77, of Roswell, passed away on October 22, 2023.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | November 2, 2023 | 21

22 | November 2, 2023 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

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