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Meth bust
Couple charged for possession, intent to distribute ►►page 2
Stylin’ Santa
End round 1 Winners, losers from HS football playoffs ►►pages 22 – 25
Hairdresser Franklin is go to for St. Nick ►►page 32
November 20, 2014 | johnscreekherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 46
City to add more police Chief wants 4 new patrol officers By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com
Photo by PAVEL LOJ
Chopin Gala features son of ‘The Pianist’ Andrzej Szpilman, son of famous Polish pianist Władysław Szpilman whose life was featured in the film “The Pianist,” was guest of honor at the annual Chopin Society of Atlanta Gala. From left are Chopin Society Board members and gala sponsors Halina Szlam and Alek Szlam, Szpilman and Dorota Lato, president of the Chopin Society. See story, Pages 28 – 29.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Police Chief Ed Densmore came to the Nov. 17 City Council workshop to make his case for four additional patrolmen to meet the needs of a growing city. The council will consider the matter at its Dec. 1 council meeting. Densmore said the request was directly driven by the rising number of 911 calls received by the department. Mayor Mike Bodker noted that the Johns Creek Police Department’s officer needs were established for a city with a population of about 65,000 people. Since incorporation, the city has grown to more than 82,000 residents, and the demand for
service has continued to increase. “We have grown a great deal, but we are still ranked consistently as one of the Densmore safest cities in the nation,” Bodker said. “Our police department is CALEA-certified, and yet our force has been consistently undermanned when compared to national community standards. “We have a growing number of police-citizen programs, and every one of them is oversubscribed,” he said. “But that is a good thing, because we want the police to be a
See COUNCIL, Page 4
FSA high school, Sunshine Academy face loss of charters School board to vote this week By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. – Leaders of two North Fulton-based charter schools are defending their schools’ record of achievement and success following the recommendation by the Fulton County School System (FCSS) to deny their
Fulton County School System has a strong commitment to choice options for parents, but [we have] a responsibility to taxpayers.” Ken Zeff Chief of innovation for the Fulton County School System charter renewals. Last week the recommendations for denial were presented to the Fulton
School Board for the Fulton Sunshine Academy Elementary School in Roswell and the Fulton Science Academy High
School (FSAHS) in Alpharetta. The concerns focused on problematic governing boards at the schools, as well as lack of cooperation with the FCSS and limited involvement in the community. “FCSS has a strong commitment to choice options for parents, but [we have] a responsibility to taxpayers,” said Ken Zeff, chief of innovation for the FCSS. “State law compels districts to ensure charters demonstrate sufficient governance to be accountable to their
See CHARTERS, Page 8
public safety
2 | November 20, 2014 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
Couple charged with intent to distribute meth
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CUMMING, Ga. — Deputies found more than anticipated after someone called 911 and hung up, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s incident report. William Scott Wood, 36, and Jamie Weischedel, 27, were charged with possession of methamphetamine and intent to distribute, felonies, as well as two other misdemeanors. Wood and Weischedel were taken to Forsyth County Detention Center. At about 9 a.m. Oct. 26, deputies drove to a home in the 6000 block of Fox Creek Drive in response to a 911 hang up. As deputies pulled into the driveway, they said they saw a man in the front yard who turned around and went back inside the home.
Police Blotter All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
Duplicate fake checks lands man in jail ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Two men allegedly tried to cash copies of the same forged check at the same bank two days apart. According to employees at the BB&T Bank on Haynes Bridge Road, a man came in Oct. 30 and cashed an $890 check made out to him by “Mallory’s Restaurant Group” in Gainesville. He was able to get his cash and leave before employees figured out the check was fake. The following day, Oct. 31, Devante M. Robertson, 22, of Atlanta, came into the bank and attempted to cash a check from the same company for the same amount. He said he received the check from an unknown man for cutting his lawn. Robertson was arrested for forgery.
Large theft of DVDs reported MILTON, Ga. – A possibly disabled man has allegedly stolen thousands of dollars in DVDs from the Windward Walmart. According to store employees, a man in his 40s with a beard and using
Deputies walked to the front door, saw several bags packed as if someone was moving and knocked on the door. The report said a woman, Weischedel, eventually answered and denied making the call. Deputies said Weischedel gave them permission to search the home but asked to get her son from his crib first. Deputies said the home was in disarray. Deputies could smell cigarette smoke coming from a ceiling vent, and saw one of the attic doors in a bright pink room was unsecure. One deputy opened the door and saw cigarette smoke trail out. Another deputy opened a second crawl space door and saw Wood’s feet
in the corner of the attic by the child’s bedroom. Deputies handcuffed Wood without a struggle. They ran Wood’s information, and he returned with warrants out of Dawson County. Deputies searched the child’s bedroom where they found Wood and said they saw three pill bottles with Wood’s name on it filled with a “crystal like substance” that appeared to be methamphetamine. Deputies said they also found a green substance that smelled like marijuana. After obtaining further consent to search the home, deputies said they found more methamphetamine and handcuffed Weischedel.
either a motorized cart or a walker, came in several times between Oct. 30 and Nov. 6. He would pick up DVDs, Blu Ray discs and cellphones and take them into the restroom, where he would take them out of their packaging. The suspect would then leave the store. In total, hundreds of electronics were taken, valued at about $2,000.
and spoke with the boy, who said the pair had been drinking heavily. The boy allegedly did not know the girl’s last name but he did have her father’s phone number in his phone. The girl’s father was called and he met police at the hospital. Both the girl and the boy were charged with being minors in possession of alcohol and breaking curfew.
They even took the kitchen sink
Suspect leaves ID behind
MILTON, Ga. – Criminals made off with several thousand dollars’ worth of fixtures Oct. 31, including the kitchen sink. The victim, of Cogburn Road, told police he found a wood-burning stove, light fixtures, two ovens, a copper gas line and a kitchen sink missing from the property. In total, the victim valued the loss at $2,400.
MILTON, Ga. – Someone tried to cash a stolen check for $1,500 at a local bank. Employees of the Chase Bank on Windward Parkway told police that a man walked in Nov. 7 and asked to cash a check. The suspect provided identification in the form of a driver’s license, Social Security card and bank card. The check was reported stolen the day before and was flagged by the bank. When the teller tried to stall the suspect, he fled on foot, leaving behind his information. Adrian Coleman, 25, of Milton, is suspected of forgery.
Teens cited after one passes out ALPHARETTA, Ga. – A teenage girl was taken to hospital Nov. 8 after allegedly drinking so much she passed out. Police on patrol at Wills Park noticed a young man – a 17-year-old – running away from the Recreation Center about 12:45 a.m. with something large in his arms. Upon inspection, the officer noticed the boy was carrying an unconscious 15-year-old girl. The officer called for an ambulance
Armed robber demands money, cigars FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A man wearing a “monkey hat” and armed with a gun demanded cash and tobacco
, h t 6 r e b m De c e
2014
See BLOTTER, Page 3
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DUIs & Drugs 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.
DUI arrests ►► Harmony Veronica Hite, 36,
of Decatur was arrested Oct. 27 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI. ►► Veronica M. Corkan, 52, of Duluth was arrested Oct. 22 on North Main Street in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Michael T. Bonell, 54, of Douglas Road, Alpharetta, was arrested Oct. 25 on Douglas Road in Alpharetta for DUI, expired tag, headlight violation and failure to yield vehicle when entering roadway. ►► Juan Jesus Rivera, 23, of Woodstock was arrested Oct. 25 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI, speeding and failure to maintain lane. ►► Jason Oliver Dalyrimple, 34, of Atlanta was arrested Oct. 24 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI, speeding, suspended license, possession of schedule I and II controlled substances and possession of drug-related items. ►► Imane Asante Harris, 21, of Norcross was arrested Oct.
27 on Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek for DUI. ►► Meredith Frances Cato, 33, of Sussex Court, Roswell, was arrested Oct. 22 on Alpharetta Highway in Roswell for DUI and headlight violation. ►► Edward Lee Crowder, 49, of Grimes Bridge Road, Roswell, was arrested Oct. 23 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for DUI, failure to maintain lane and failure to obey traffic control devices. ►► Alex William Lari, 29, of Atlanta was arrested Oct. 24 on Atlanta Street in Roswell for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Tegan Kara McCart, 26, of Woodstock was arrested Oct. 31 on Riverside Road in Roswell for DUI and failure to obey an authorized person directing traffic. ►► Nimesh Jitendra Patel, 28, of Shoal Creek Drive, Roswell, was arrested Nov. 1 on Atlanta Street in Roswell for DUI, expired tag and failure to maintain lane. ►► Edward John Barrett III, 26, of Atlanta was arrested Nov. 2 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for DUI, following too closely and possession of a schedule II controlled substance.
Drug arrests ►► Samantha Vivian Terry, 22,
of Norcross Street, Roswell, was arrested Oct. 24 on
Mission Hills Court in Roswell for possession of marijuana. ►► Alexander Federico Chocho, 25, of Marietta was arrested Oct. 27 on Old Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, suspended license and possession of methamphetamines. ►► Christopher L. Bennett, 25, of Augusta was arrested Oct. 28 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for possession of marijuana, failure to dim headlights and tag light violation. ►► Sharon Gavin Moon, 21, of Martinez, Georgia, was arrested Oct. 28 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for possession of marijuana.
Johns Creek Herald | November 20, 2014 | 3
Blotter: Continued from Page 2 products before fleeing a gas station, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s incident report. At about 9:15 p.m. Nov. 5, deputies were dispatched to Citgo Quik Mart, 765 McFarland Parkway, after the owner locked himself in the store and called 911. When deputies arrived, the owner said a man wearing a green jacket and black “monkey hat” walked in and pointed a black “handgun” at him from behind the counter. The suspect demanded all
the cash and cigars, so the owner collected the items and put them on the counter. The suspect also demanded a carton of Newport cigarettes. The owner said the suspect stuffed the cash and tobacco products in his jacket pockets and backed away from the counter toward the front door. Then, the suspect fled on foot traveling westbound. After reviewing video surveillance, deputies said the suspect had a thin black mustache and looked to be in his 20s. The suspect wore black and white Nike sneakers, purple sweatpants and a black knit cap.
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news
4 | November 20, 2014 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
Election for Riley’s seat 50th District set Jan. 6 ATLANTA – The Secretary of State’s Office has announced the special election to fill House District 50 has been set for Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. The election is to fill the seat vacated by Lynne Riley, who resigned to take her appointment by Gov. Nathan Deal as revenue commissioner of Georgia. Qualifying for the special election will be at the Elections Division of the Office of Secretary of State, 802 West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SE, Atlanta,
Council: Continued from Page 1 part of the community.” Growth has been steady in the number of citizen-police programs that the city offers and in their participation. Among those programs are: • RADKids Program • Citizens Police Academy • Citizens Police Auxiliary • Teen Safety Program • Women’s Safety Program • Shield Program While there is not a lot of cost to these programs, they do incur more officer time, and the public has shown a desire for more such programs, Densmore said. The strain on manpower has forced the chief to eliminate the Special Investigations Unit and send personnel back to the patrol unit. “That means we can’t respond to non-threatening calls as quickly as we would like. That would be cases such as car break-ins, vandalism and other situations where crime has happened,” Densmore said. “We have to have the personnel to answer priority calls first.”
Ga. 30334. Qualifying dates are Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 20, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Friday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to noon. The qualifying fee is $400. A run-off election, if needed, shall be Feb. 3, Riley 2015. Anyone who is not registered to vote and wishes to vote in
Council decision on special election may hinge on cost. See story, Page 10. the special election must register to vote before the close of business on Dec. 8. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015.
Johns Creek City Council ACTION ITEMS Nov. 17, 2014 1. ACTION ITEM: Consideration to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Milton for GIS and IT Services. Passed 6-0. 2. ACTION ITEM: Consideration to renew a contract with OPTECH for Right of Way/ Storm Drain Maintenance Services. Passed 6-0. 3. ACTION ITEM: Consideration to renew a contract with Roadworx for Signs and Signals Maintenance Services. Passed 6-0. 4. ACTION ITEM: Consideration to approve having Mauldin & Jenkins conduct the 2014 Financial Audit for the City of Johns Creek. Passed 6-0. 5. R2014-11-35 Consideration to approve
That would be a crime in progress or a domestic call. “We understand when people call in to report a crime, they expect someone to come out to their house, but we can’t do that most times,” Densmore said. The initial cost would be $360,000 in the first year, but a lot of that would be one-time costs such as additional police vehicles for four officers in uniform patrol and their equip-
GARAGE SALES See more garage sales in the classifieds • Page 38
ALPHARETTA: Clairmonte Subdivision, 2565 Clairview Street 30009. Friday 11/21, Saturday 11/22, 8am-3pm. Moving! Head start on Thanksgiving shopping! 15 years worth furniture, holiday, kitchen, knick knacks, artwork. Alpharetta/Johns Creek: 3105 Park Chase 30022. Friday 11/21 and Saturday 11/22, 8am-2pm. Downsizing! Furniture, kitchen utensils, clothing, Christmas decorations, artwork, TV’s, antiques. CUMMING: Vickery Lake Subdivision, 6630 Vickery Post Lane 30040. Friday 11/21 and Saturday 11/22, 9am2pm. Estate sale. Upscale furniture and accessories. Roswell/Alpharetta 515 Saddle Creek Circle 30076: HUGE, long-time collection! Cut glass, lamps, lots of furniture, costume jewelry, home decor, collectibles. Not the ordinary “garage sale”. NO clothes, toys,unwanted small electrics, just good stuff! Saturday 11/22, 9AM-4PM, Sunday 11/23, 10AM-2PM
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a Resolution authorizing the submission of a Grant Application to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the purpose of installing a trail connection between the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and other park facilities. Passed 6-0. 6. ACTION ITEM: Consideration to approve Supplemental Agreement No. 1 with the Georgia Department of Transportation for the Trail Amenities Project. Passed 6-0. 7. ACTION ITEM: Consideration to approve GATEway Grant IV for the construction of landscaping along the newly constructed Kimball Bridge Trail along SR 120/Kimball Bridge Road just west of the intersection of SR 120/Kimball Bridge Road and Jones Bridge Road. Passed 6-0.
We understand when people call in to report a crime, they expect someone to come out to their house, but we can’t do that most times.” Ed Densmore Johns Creek Police Chief ment. “I’m 100 percent for it,” said Councilman Lenny Zaprowski. “We’ve got to do something, and the more officers there are around the public, the better. We also are not addressing the growing number of businesses here and how the economy is
growing.” Densmore said the hiring will take some time. The officers will likely be entry-level personnel. “When we were starting up, we wanted to hire veteran officers, but that is not the case now,” he said.
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johnscreekherald.com | Johns Creek Herald | November 20, 2014 | 5
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6 | November 20, 2014 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
news
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House Special Election:
Raffensperger says transportation, Fulton taxes top reasons for running By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Former City Councilman Brad Raffensperger, now candidate for House District 50 in the General Assembly, said he is running because he thinks he can do a lot for the people of the 50th District and Johns Creek, which makes up most of the district. “For the city specifically, one of the big key issues is transportation. Obviously rolling back the 17 percent tax increase from Fulton County is a big one, and I intend to continue that fight,” Raffensperger said. Fulton County is involved in litigation with the county over the tax increase. The legislature passed a law that forbade Fulton County specifically from raising its taxes in 2014 and would require a super majority of five commissioners to raise Fulton taxes in the future. Fulton County raised taxes anyway, and now the matter is before a judge. “Those are the two key issues for our district. Fulton County is a millstone around our neck,” he said. “For that
reason, I will push hard to support [House] Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones’ efforts to recreate Milton County. RAFFENSPERGER I think from the legislature, I will be able to provide some leadership on that. “I will have a seat at the table, whereas at the city council level, that’s not an issue we have any direct involvement in,” Raffensperger said. Raffensperger said he would also be positioned to support legislation that helps Johns Creek as a state representative. “Obviously as a citizen of Johns Creek, I would want to do that. And anything that helps Johns Creek helps the district,” he said. “Coming from the City Council I know what the critical issues are for the city and any overarching state issues. “But we have a statewide interest in promoting job creation and economic development for the state and Johns Creek. But as a state represen-
tative, I would support economic development anywhere in the state.” Raffensperger said his experience as a businessman will help him in the House. He is a registered civil engineer and would be uniquely qualified looking at engineering infrastructure issues. “I’ve worked on multiple projects and can bring an understanding of transportation infrastructure as well,” he said. As a business owner, he said he is deeply aware of the challenges that face small businesses in Georgia, even as the economy continues to recover. “We’ve made tremendous strides, but we need to help encourage and sustain the businesses in Georgia while we continue to try to attract new businesses.” So as a businessman and one who believes in “small government,” Raffensperger said he would ease the regulatory pressures on businesses from the government side. As for campaigning, the special election presents special challenges for him and anyone else seeking to run. Rep. Lynne Riley resigned
We have a statewide interest in promoting job creation and economic development for the state and Johns Creek. But as a state representative, I would support economic development anywhere in the state.” Brad Raffensperger Candidate for House District 50
from the District 50 seat after Gov. Nathan Deal appointed her as Georgia revenue commissioner. It would have been premature to have done so before the November elections. The Secretary of State’s Office has called for a special election Jan. 6, which means campaigning will be hampered by the public’s attention on the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. “So I am still getting my organization going. But I congratulate Lynne for her service and I know she will serve Geor-
gia well as revenue commissioner,” he said. Having the special election is important anytime, but Raffensperger said it is especially important for the Fulton legislative delegation. Until Riley’s resignation, that delegation of Fulton’s legislative members in the General Assembly had a Republican majority of only one seat over Democratic legislators. “The Republican delegation still has some issues that it needs to address that would serve our people’s best interests,” he said.
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Data Source: Trendgraphix, All Properties over $1 million YTD as of October 30, 2014
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johnscreekherald.com | Johns Creek Herald | November 20, 2014 | 7
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8 | November 20, 2014 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
schools
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Woodward North students say ‘no’ to drugs JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Woodward North Academy held a Red Ribbon Week assembly on Oct. 30, with drug enforcement agent and special guest speaker Chuvalo Truesdell. Also appearing was McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog, who, along with Truesdell, talked to students about living a healthy lifestyle. This includes working hard in school, setting goals and achieving them and always saying “no” to drugs. McGruff also led the students in the “Say No to Drugs” pledge. Following the assembly, students gathered in the amphitheater where
Charters: Continued from Page 1 community.” If the recommendations are approved by the school board during its Nov. 20 board meeting, both schools would cease to be Fulton charter schools on June 15, 2015. FSAHS is completing its 10th year in operation, while Sunshine Academy is in its fifth year. Both were seeking five-year renewals to their current charters. In a statement released by
members of the Johns Creek Police Department spoke about personal safety and the students’ responsibilities within the community. Older students had the opportunity to tour inside a truck used by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country, providing drug education and prevention for communities and individuals in the hopes of creating a drug-free America. —Joe Parker
officials with FSAHS, school leaders said the school system was focused on past issues, instead of current and future actions. “In this decision, Fulton County Schools has denied the community a valuable alternative to traditional high schools,” read the statement. “FSA High School offers an excellent, STEM-based education in small classroom settings. Some students simply need smaller classes and more oneon-one attention to excel.” Zeff said a small learning environment benefits students, but is not sustainable over the
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Local police officers help students of Woodward North Academy in Johns Creek learn about saying “no” to drugs.
long run. “While a small school size can be an asset, a high school setting must be able to generate enough resources to offer students the full spectrum of courses needed for graduation as well as sufficient funding levels to achieve financial stability,” said Zeff. The high school has a current enrollment of 268 students. FSAHS officials point to recent negative publicity as a cause for enrollment decline, but the school has never met its enrollment targets since opening nine years ago. Two years ago, the Fulton School Board voted to terminate the school’s charter early, but did not receive state approval to do so. Since that time, FSAHS has tried, and failed, to become a state charter school and break away from Fulton Schools. The continuation of its charter with the FCSS is its last hope to remain a charter school. The same holds true for
Sunshine Academy, which also failed in its bid to become a state charter school. The school has managed to attract well over 500 students each year since opening four years ago, and maintains a waiting list for students wishing to enroll. But similar problems were cited with the school’s governing board as reasons for the denial. While the elementary school has tried to separate itself from issues that have followed FSAHS and the former Fulton Science Academy Middle School, the connections remain. “The school’s governing board has a long history of poor decision-making, a pattern of low parental and community engagement and an unwillingness to collaborate with the district,” said Zeff. These issues were also cited as reasons the school was denied a state charter earlier this year. Sunshine Academy leaders say these concerns are in the past, and the school has been
actively working to make corrections. “We are very disappointed in Fulton County Schools’ staff recommendation to deny our petition for a renewed charter,” read the statement. “Rather than focusing on our successes and our potential, Fulton County Schools elected to focus on the historical failures of Fulton Science Academy Middle School.” The statement noted the school has made significant strides in the past two years to strengthen school governance, increase transparency, improve management and move away from the legacy of the middle school. The FSA Middle School lost its charter three years ago, but opened as a private K-8 school in the same location in Alpharetta. Academic performance was acknowledged at both schools. However Zeff noted traditional schools in the area consistently score well, so the two charter schools are in line with area performance.
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Council to weigh cost of city special elections 2 council resignations remove 7 years’ experience By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The Johns Creek City Council – what is left of it after the resignations of Kelly Stewart and Brad Raffensperger are official – will have no councilmember with any more than a few months’ experience on the job, other than Mayor Mike Bodker. Councilmembers Lenny Zaprowski, Cori Davenport, Steve Broadbent and Bob Gray have 28 months of council experience, all told. The city also has to incur the cost of a special election to replace the departed councilmembers, and that is not cheap. March 2015 is the earliest the law allows for new elections, but the cost of holding a March election in Fulton County means the city pays the full cost. That would be $200,000, and it would double the cost since the city has a regular election coming up in November 2015 to fill three seats anyway. Piggybacking on the special election to fill House District
50 seat set Jan. 6 is not an option under state law. In November 2015, Bob Raffensperger’s seat would come up for elecBodker tion anyway. Also, the partial terms of Councilmembers Bob Gray and Steve Broadbent will be up in November, so they will presumably run again. They ran in special elections to replace Bev Miller and Ivan Figueroa, who had resigned previously. If held in November, the elections would be for the seats held by Raffensperger, Gray and Broadbent’s naturally expiring terms plus the unexpired term for Stewart, who was elected to a four-year term this November. Given the inexperience that already exists on the City Council, it might behoove the City Council to conduct the special elections for the two vacated seats in March rather than November, to get them on more or less the same learning curve as the other council-
members. However Bodker points out that holding a March special election only gains six months in refilling those seats at twice the cost of waiting until November, when elections must be held anyway. “So if the city chooses to hold an earlier special election, the citizens would face the full cost of that election. And at best, all it will do is fill two citywide seats, because all five of us are all citywide representatives,” Bodker said. “And the benefit would be for all of six months. “So the citizens would be paying the equivalent cost, by example, of repaving the equivalent surface of a neighborhood to fill two seats that would otherwise be filled in November.” The net result is to spend double the amount to fill two seats for six months, he said. If no special elections are held, that means the city will go a second year with a shorthanded council. Bodker said that was not such a pressing problem. He pointed to Miller’s resignation followed by Figueroa’s, which meant there were six
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election or to wait. and then five members for “A lot of it depends on the the months leading up to last cost. May’s special election, followed But on the other hand we by the subsequent runoffs in have a seven-member council August. so it needs to be seven mem“We don’t have districts. bers,” Zaprowski said. Every councilmember repreCouncilman Steve Broadsents the entire city,” he said. bent said he also would like “So the question is do the to hear from citizens feel that citizens on the they are underissue. But he represented by a pointed out that council with five $200,000 is “a members who lot of money.” represent the Broadbent entire city versus was pressed to seven people who comment that represent the in light of the entire city? city’s more than “I think there healthy cash is ample precreserves is cost edent now that really the issue? we can run the “Yes we do city just fine have good cash without the full reserves, but complement of we got to have members.” that reserve by Bodker did albeing careful low there is less how we spend diversity of opinit,” Broadbent ion, but it comes Mike Bodker said. down to a quesJohns Creek mayor Once the tion of whether resignations of it is worth the Raffensperger money. and Stewart Councilbecome official, it will be up man Lenny Zaprowski said he to the City Council to decide wants to hear from the comon a date for the special elecmunity to see how they feel about whether to hold a special tion.
If the city chooses to hold an earlier special election, the citizens would face the full cost of that election.”
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12 | November 20, 2014 | Johns Creek Herald
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North Fulton nonprofits receive grants Part of Wells Fargo’s ‘Days of Giving’ ROSWELL, Ga. – Wells Fargo’s “Days of Giving” program distributed grants of $1,000 to 240 nonprofit groups in the Atlanta area, 16 of which are located in North Fulton. The groups, which included the Alpharetta Police Athletic League, Senior Services North Fulton, North Fulton Community Charities and Canine Assistants of Milton, were given the grants for their charitable work in the North Fulton community. The groups were honored at the Mariott Piedmont Center where they were treated to breakfast and received checks for their grant of $1,000. Scott Asher, area president of Wells Fargo, said that the groups “will be able to make a huge difference” with the grants, adding that they are even more crucial to the smaller groups that do not typically receive grants. After applying for the grants, the groups to receive grants were selected by Wells Fargo employees in the Atlanta area. This is the sixth year of “Days of Giving.”
Pictured from left are Dan Wilson with Wells Fargo, Jennifer Gallagher with Sunshine on a Rainy Day, Miranda Hoceuar with GivingPoint and Mary Good with North Fulton Community Charities.
Pictured from left are Chris Nelson with the Chattahoochee Nature Center, Judy Semones with the Star House Foundation, Sara Frisby with She is Safe, Karen Pye with the Drake House and Eric Daniels with Wells Fargo.
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Johns Creek Herald | November 20, 2014 | 13 Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com
Findley Oaks celebrates Veterans Day with real vet By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Sgt. Gianfresco Medina, a former U.S. Marine and current Georgia National Guardsman, donned his Class A army green uniform and reported for duty Nov. 7 to Findley Oaks Elementary School. Once at his duty station at Charlotte Hayes’ fourth-grade class, he explained his duties as an infantryman stationed in Afghanistan. The children were interested in his badges, insignia and sergeant’s stripes. They also asked him to wear his beret, but Medina explained that soldiers do not wear their headgear “under cover,” that is indoors.
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14 | November 20, 2014 | Johns Creek Herald
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JC brothers take home contract bridge championship Northview students adept at world’s most difficult card game By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Two brothers from Johns Creek led their team to win the National Youth Swiss Teams title at the Youth North American Bridge Championship (NABC) played in Las Vegas, and they are only starting their careers on the national and international stage. Andrew Jeng, 17, and Richard Jeng, 14, led their foursome this to win the title. Each player received a scholarship of $1,000 from Bridge Base Online. The event is for teams of four, five or six, and players must be age 19 or younger. The brothers attend Northview High School where Andrew is a senior and Richard a sophomore. Andrew started playing bridge when he was 9 years old. Andrew said he had to give their mother the credit for that.
“She enrolled to play bridge, and we got hooked,” Andrew said. They began to play duplicate bridge – a competition where each pair plays the same position (either east-west or north-south) and competes by playing hands at the same. At the conclusion of the hand, the cards are not shuffled but put into racks or “boards” so that each north-south pair will play the same hand sitting in the same position as every other north-south pair. Likewise he east-west pairs compete against the other east-west pairs, and the results are compared and scored to see who played best during the round. Team play is when four players sit in all four seats, and the best overall scores for both N-S, and E-W are scored. So that is how the Jeng brothers playing with Brandon Harper and Nolan Chang
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Members of the championship team, from left, are Andrew and Richard Jeng. won the National Youth Swiss Teams championship. Early on, Andrew and Richard began to play duplicate bridge together. Half the game is bidding the hand, and half the game is the play of the cards. The game demands skill and concentration. The loss of one hand or “trick” can make a huge swing in the score. So knowing your partner and playing as partners is as demanding as it is rewarding when done well. They have been tournament partners for some time now, and that has worked well for them. Andrew said it is an advantage partnering with his brother. “We have a lot of chemistry together, and since we are brothers, we have lots of time to talk with each other about bridge,” Andrew said. “So it’s been beneficial.” The very best bridge players
can earn money as professional players. There is nothing like the poker tours, but there are cash prizes for the elite, and well-heeled amateur players will pay pros to team with them. But Andrew says he is content to be a recreational player. The brothers have competed twice in the Junior World Championships in 2010 and 2012. They didn’t fare well in 2010 playing in Philadelphia (they were 13 and10). But in the 2012 Championships played in China, the brothers and two teammates won the silver medal, edged out by the Polish team. They also played in 2013 a somewhat less prestigious world championship in Atlanta. Nevertheless, Andrew and Richard won the silver medal in the pairs and struck gold in the team championship. Andrew said he enjoys the competition in bridge, but he
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loves the social opportunities that meeting players from all over affords. “Everyone likes to win, and with bridge you can accumulate some [social] currency, I guess. And I’ve met many people from all over the world that share a similar passion to mine, and that’s always enjoyable to relate to those people,” he said. Playing with a brother who is three years older could be a problem, but younger brother Richard said it has not been hard for him. That may be in part because Richard at the time he became a life master in duplicate bridge he was the youngest to have ever done it. “All brothers tend to bicker, but we just manage to keep it down sometimes. I suppose arguing doesn’t really help the two parties. It’s always better to cooperate,” Richard said. “We get along all right.” Like his brother, Richard said one of the best things about traveling around the country and all over the world has been the opportunity to meet new people who share the same interests. “We share in a common love of bridge, so it’s sort of natural to get together,” he said. Like his brother, as he gets older bridge will be more of a hobby. “For now it’s just a game,” Richard said. Andrew said he is looking forward to college where he plans to study engineering or perhaps economics. And like his brother, Richard has enjoyed the travel opportunities bridge has brought him. “We plan to play in the 2015 Nationals in China. We will have the same foursome,” Richard said. “I will enjoy that.”
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Mixed-use projects follow Canton St. example Retail, office, residential create successful trifecta By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. – Duke Land Group’s plan for Riverwalk Village, a 104-acre mixed-use development in Roswell, follows a growing trend among commercial developers that is likely to continue. Forged by the growth of e-commerce, brick-and-mortar retail is facing a new reality that makes site selection critical. The National Retail Federation reports a 15 percent annual growth in online retail sales, versus 3 percent growth for traditional store sales. “Retail development is tough,” said John Wiley, associate professor in the Department of Real Estate at Georgia State’s Robinson College of Business. “Most national retailers have fewer stores open this year than last year, and they’ll have fewer next year.” No longer do investors pin their hopes on giant malls or anchor positions in large shopping centers, he said. Today’s investors are looking for guaranteed traffic. “Go to any shopping mall,” Wiley said. “There are times during the day when they’re ghost towns.” Few things offer the kind of traffic that a mixed-use development can offer, Wiley said. Evidence of this has been staring North Fulton in the face for years. Roswell’s Canton Street has long been the envy of cities crying for a way to revitalize their downtowns and kickstart their retail economy. Canton Street came about through a slow process of appreciation in a district zoned with care to preserve its
historic ambiance. As its reputation for fine dining grew, so did the crowds, and with the crowds came boutiques, townhomes and apartments. It's a symbiotic relationship The Georgia Planning Association recently named Canton Street as “the hottest scene outside the Perimeter.” It now serves as a template for other areas hoping to draw shoppers and land upscale retail. “People want that downtown experience, but they want it in their neighborhood,” Wiley said. “You can’t outsource the experience of sitting across the table and having dinner with someone.” In the past few years alone, metro Atlanta has played host to three major commercial enterprises designed around the idea of “live-work-play.” The most recent is Avalon, which opened last month in Alpharetta to all the hoopla deserving of a $600 million project featuring upscale retail, residential and office space on 86 acres. Two more are in the completion stages. Buckhead Village, with an estimated price tag of close to $1 billion, is a 9-acre tract of retail, apartments and upscale dining in an area that was once touted as Atlanta’s nightlife hub. First proposed in 2006, the project is now opening with two high-rise apartment buildings surrounded by 800,000 square feet of shops, restaurants, entertainment and office space. Coming in at about one-fourth the price, but with no less fanfare, is Ponce City, a mega market and residential project in the old Sears Building along Atlanta’s Ponce De Leon Avenue. The project, developed by Jamestown Properties, includes 330,000 square feet of retail, 450,000 square feet of office and 260 loft apartments. Michael Phillips, chief operating officer of Jamestown, said he hopes to
Abby Breaux /Staff
The success of Roswell’s Canton Street and mixed-use zoning has developers trying to emulate it across the metro area. have close to 4,000 people working in the building and more than 1,000 visitors each day. “The reason mixed-use has become a part of everything that’s going on around metro Atlanta is that people are tired of driving,” said Steve Stroud, executive director of Roswell Inc., the economic development arm for the city. People’s work habits and schedules
have changed dramatically over the past 10 years, Stroud said, and many no longer have to drive. “While Canton Street offers a more urban feel, Riverwalk keys more to an environmental feel, its connection to the river, its proximity to the national forest, city parks, trails,” Stroud said. “It ultimately highlights the uniqueness that Roswell has.”
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The Joint chiropractic opens in Johns Creek Business: The Joint… The Chiropractic Place Opened: August, 2014. Owners: Tom and Angie Haimes; Jeff and Cindy McGinty What: (We are) reinventing chiropractic care by making quality alternative health care affordable for patients seeking pain relief and ongoing wellness. Our membership plans eliminate the need for insurance,
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Johns Creek Herald | November 20, 2014 | 17
and our no-appointment policy, convenient hours and locations make care more accessible. Where: Market at Haynes Bridge, 3000 Old Alabama Road, Suite 115-A, Johns Creek Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call: 770-475-9577 Web: www.thejoint.com
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Appen announces promotions, new hires to staff ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Appen Media Group has announced staff changes and new hires for its Alpharetta-based news operation. Keith Still, who first came to the company in 2007 as a freelance writer, has been promoted to news editor and will be responsible for assigning and managing the news staff. Still served the past four years as a copy editor. STILL “I look forward to continuing Appen Media’s tradition of providing outstanding community news coverage and will work to ensure that our readers receive the most in-depth, up-to-date information on issues and events going on in North Fulton and
Forsyth counties,” Still said. Earlier in her career, Still served as press secretary for U.S. Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). She is a Georgia native and a graduate of the University of Georgia. She lives in Forsyth County. A.J. McNaughton has been promoted to production/newsroom manager. McNaughton has served the past year as the publisher’s production manager. His new duties include ensuring the newspapers, along with the proper content, get out McNaughton on time. He will also liaison with the advertising department to coordinate space and themes for special sections. McNaughton joined the company in 2013 as production man-
ager. Prior to that, he served as graphic designer at Frederick Swanston Ad Agency in Atlanta and as a specialist in vector computer drawings for Pryor Architectural Signage in his native Illinois. He lives in Alpharetta. Kathleen Sturgeon has joined the staff as a full-time reporter concentrating on Forsyth County. Sturgeon is a 2014 graduate of the University of West Georgia where she received the Excellence Award for Print Journalism. She served as sturgeon an intern at Appen Media in 2013 and was later hired as a freelance writer. This past summer, she was a communications intern with Fulton County Schools. She lives in
Alpharetta.
Patrick Fox has been hired as business editor. Fox comes to Appen after 25 years with the Atlanta Journal Constitution, where he served as a copy editor, page designer and government reporter covering Gwinnett and FOX North Fulton counties. A Kansas native, Fox most recently freelanced as a media consultant and writer in metro Atlanta.
Appen Media Group publishes the Alpharetta-Roswell Revue & News, the Milton Herald, the Johns Creek Herald and Forsyth Herald. It also publishes the monthly Northside Woman magazine and North Atlanta Business Post, as well as its quarterly Answer Books.
BusinessBriefs
HEALTH CARE »
American CareSource Holdings acquires MedHelp Urgent Care ALPHARETTA, Ga. – American CareSource Holdings, which operates urgent care centers and a national network of ancillary health care providers, has acquired MedHelp Urgent Care of Alpharetta. MedHelp provides urgent and primary care and occupational medicine and serves a growing population of military veterans throughout the southeastern United States. Much like the company’s previously acquired centers, MedHelp’s physician-ownership has grown the practice by providing high-quality patient care and developing certain strategic growth initiatives. “We anticipate system-wide growth by capitalizing on the centers’ strategic opportunities,” said Dr. Richard W. Turner, American CareSource chairman and CEO. “We also expect to leverage MedHelp’s existing staff to create efficiencies with our other
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Atlanta-area centers.” With this latest acquisition, the company now has eight total centers throughout the southeastern United States, three in the greater metro Atlanta area.
of 2015 based on the robust pre-clinical effects of the drug and the successful Phase I results.
Weiss sworn-in as president of state chiropractic association
Roswell technology firm to partner with Fuze Network
ATLANTA — Charles Weiss, D.C., of Holcomb Bridge Chiropractic in Roswell, was sworn-in as president of the Georgia Chiropractic Association during the association’s 102nd annual Fall Conference and Trade Show in October. Weiss, who previously served on the GCA Board of Directors, said his goal is “to have the board look at everyWeiss thing we do and determine, ‘What is the purpose of our actions? Why are we doing what we are doing, and how do we improve it?’” Becoming president requires a three-year commitment; the first year as president-elect, the second as president and the third as past president. “We have a strong strategic plan in place, a streamlined board of directors and a renewed relationship with our chiropractic students,” Weiss said. “I want to continue to strengthen our brand, first and foremost by promoting chiropractic and also by protecting our right to practice and educating those who deliver, receive and legislate chiropractic care.”
ROSWELL, Ga. – Ingo Money, a leading mobile payments technology provider, has reached an agreement to acquire Fuze Network Inc., the leading card disbursement platform. The combination of services will enable consumers to use their mobile phones to convert any check or cash into electronic good funds and to push it virtually anywhere, said Drew Edwards, founder and CEO of Ingo Money. “Not only will the combination enable us to expand our retail product offering to include cash transactions, but the integration into our mobile solutions will revolutionize the way self-banked consumers control their money; from anywhere to anywhere from the convenience of their phone,” Edwards said. Currently Ingo Money’s technology enables its partners and consumers to convert any check into guaranteed and irreversible good funds. The Ingo network can be accessed directly by customers of most prepaid programs via the Ingo Money app or within their native mobile applications. The transaction is expected to close by yearend.
Galectin Therapeutics releases Phase I clinical trial data NORCROSS, Ga. – Galectin Therapeutics, the leading developer of therapeutics that target galectin proteins to treat fibrosis and cancer, presented data recently from the company’s Phase I clinical trial of a new treatment for patients with advanced fibrosis. Dr. Stephen A. Harrison, chief of hepatology at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston and a clinical trial investigator, said the objective of the trial is to evaluate safety and pharmacokinetics of GR-MD-02, a complex carbohydrate drug. GRMD-02 targets galectin-3, which has been linked to diseases that involve scarring of organs. “What we have seen so far in the Phase I trial is that GR-MD-02 is safe and well tolerated at multiple doses,” Harrison said. Dr. Peter Traber, chief executive officer of Galectin Therapeutics, said the company is planning to initiate a Phase II clinical trial in the second quarter
COMMERCE »
TECHNOLOGY»
Maryland-based utility company contracts with Sandy Springs firm ATLANTA – Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, a water utility based in Laurel, Maryland, has awarded Echologics a contract to assess the condition of its buried water assets. The utility will deploy Echologics’ ePULSE technology, a proprietary and patented acoustic pipe condition assessment service. The contract is for one year with options for renewal. An affiliate of Mueller Co. of Sandy Springs, Echologics is a leading developer and provider of smart water technologies, including acoustic-based technologies for leak detection, pipe condition assessment and water loss management, which allow water utilities to manage their assets. Under the contract, Echologics will use the ePULSE technology to assess 65 miles of water distribution mains and approximately 10 miles of water transmission mains.
EDITOR’S PICKS
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calendar
Johns Creek Herald | November 20, 2014 | 19
Send
me your event...
Erica O’neal
Calendar Editor erica@northfulton.com
Submit your event to northfulton.com or email with photo to calendar@northfulton.com. For a more complete list of local events including support groups, volunteer opportunities and business meetings visit the calendar on northfulton.com.
Events:
ELFARETTA
What: A treasure hunt for elves hiding in participating local businesses in downtown Alpharetta. Where: Downtown Alpharetta, S Main St., Alpharetta When: Daily until Wednesday, Dec. 24 Hours: During open store hours Cost: Free Online: awesomealpharetta.com Info: Those who find an elf qualifies to win one of five prizes. Prizes will be given out on January 9, 2015 at State Bank and Trust. Winners will be contacted and scheduled for a photo op at 4:30 p.m. on January 9, 2015.
ADVENTURE TO SANTA “REFLECTING THE ELEPHANT MAN”
Artist spotlight series featuring art by Anita Stewart at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. Wednesday, Nov. 19 through Sunday, Nov. 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. Visit facebook.com/AGStewart.art gallery for more info.
AUTUMN AT AUTREY MILL
What: Fall activities such as crafts, hikes and s’mores hosted by Autrey Mill Nature Preserve Where: Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center, 9770 Autrey Mill Rd., Johns Creek When: Tuesday, Nov. 25 Hours: 1-4 p.m. Cost: $5 per person Online: autreymill.org/ seasonalprogramming.htm Info: Members of Autrey Mill receive a free s’mores kit.
THE LIGHTING OF AVALON
1st annual Lighting of Avalon event to start off the holiday season at The Avalon, 2200 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta. Sunday, Nov. 23 from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Free. Ice skating rink will be open. Visit experienceavalon. com for more info.
Hours: Overnight, 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. Cost: $50 general public families/$35 CNC member families Online: chattnaturecenter.org Info: Advanced registration required. Email scheduling@chattnaturecenter. org or call 770-992-055. Tents provided and included with the cost to participate.
Music:
HISTORIC ROSWELL MILLS: A WALK THROUGH YESTERYEAR
What: A walking tour along Vickery Creek with park ranger, Jerry Hightower. Where: Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Vickery Creek Unit, covered bridge entrance south end of Mill St., Roswell. When: Saturday, Nov. 22 Hours: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Cost: Free Online: nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit Info: Reservations are required. Call 678-538-1200 to make reservations.
LOCAL AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING
What: A fall book signing featuring Sue Horner, author of the novel “Second Place Sister.” Where: Historic Roswell Convention & Visitors Bureau, 617 Atlanta St., Roswell When: Saturday, Nov. 22 Hours: 1-4 p.m. Cost: Free Online: visitroswellga.com Info: Refreshments will be served.
THE ZACH BARTHOLOMEW TRIO
What: A music performance by the Zach Bartholomew Trio. Where: The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Pkwy., Alpharetta When: Sunday, Nov. 23 Hours: Showtimes at 7 and 9 p.m. Cost: Admission is $20 Online: thevelvetnote.com
An interactive movie and photo op with Santa at North Point Mall, Center Court Lower Level, 1000 North Point Cir., Alpharetta. Saturday, Nov. 22 through Wednesday, Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Photo package prices vary. Online reservations are required. Visit northpointmall.com/adventureto-santa for more info.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD A donation drive to give needy children toys for Christmas at First Baptist Alpharetta, 44 Academy St., Alpharetta; Johns Creek Baptist Church, 6910 McGinnis Ferry Rd., Alpharetta; and Mount Pisgah UMC, 2850 Old Alabama Rd., Alpharetta. Monday, Nov. 17 through Monday, Nov. 24. Bring toys that can fit in a shoebox. Visit samaritanspurse.org for more info.
Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Races start at varying times Cost: Half Marathon is $75, 10K is $50, 5K is $40, Sleep in special is $20 Online: rungeorgia.com/ tryptophanrun.html Info: Registration deadline is on race day at noon. Call 404-7694408 for more information or email kimhall2007@gmail.com.
Theater:
Races & Benefits:
CRABAPPLE MIDDLE SCHOOL’S “I NEVER SAW ANOTHER BUTTERFLY”
SUBMIT YOUR EVENT AT FAMILY BACKYARD CAMPOUT
What: A picnic, bonfire and overnight camping hosted by the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC). Where: Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell When: Saturday, Nov. 22 through Sunday, Nov. 23
3RD ANNUAL TRYPTOPHAN THANKSGIVING HALF MARATHON
What: A Thanksgiving half marathon, 10K/5K Where: Fowler Park, 4110 Carolene Way, Cumming When: Thursday, Nov. 27
What: An encore performance of the one act play, “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” by the Crabapple Drama department. Where: Roswell High School, 11595 King Rd., Roswell When: Wednesday, Nov. 19 Hours: Show begins at 7 p.m. Cost: Free Online: school.fultonchools.org/ms/ crabapple Info: Crabapple Middle School won 1st place performing “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” in the State One Act Competition.
20 | November 20, 2014 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
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Kings Ridge’s Penny Hart ends season with bang Substitute quarterback Hart runs wild in only 3rd game at QB By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com
HATCHER HURD/Staff
Kings Ridge coach Jeff Pickren congratulates Penny Hart who led the Tigers to their only win when he ran for seven touchdowns and passed for an eighth TD. He also scored a 2-point conversion for a total of 50 points.
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Kings Ridge Christian School footballer Penny Hart has been a four-year starter for the Tigers, but he saved his best for last in the season finale Nov. 7 against Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove, when simply ran wild for 390 yards and passed for 162 yards. That is 552 total yards of offense and he scored seven touchdowns, threw for another and scored a 2-point conversion in the 56-40 win. It was an unbelievable performance in any league. The winless Tigers had struggled through an injuryplagued season especially on defense. And when quarterback Henry Jones was hurt in the seventh game of the season, there was only one real choice to fill the gap for the last three games and that was Hart. “Even though I’d never played quarterback, I figured there was literally no one else. It would give us an option to run or pass,” Hart said. “Even
though I had never thrown a pass in a ballgame, I knew as a leader on the team I couldn’t shy away from it.” Hart simply is the best athlete on the team. Playing slotback on offense and playing defensive back, he almost never comes off the field. The game against Strong Rock was no creampuff victory either where the numbers were padded against a bad team. The game was a seesaw battle as both teams marched up and down the field. The biggest difference for Hart was handling the ball on every snap. “Having the ball in my hands was a lot of responsibility. I knew there was no one to back me up, and I still had to mentally manage the game,” he said. Coach Pickren said the coaches got together after Jones went down to assess what they should do, but it was a quick consensus that Hart would play quarterback. “This did cost us on defense. Most of our kids go both ways, we have so few players. But not the quarterback,” Pick-
ren said. The team runs a spread set offense out of the shotgun, and it didn’t change with Hart at quarterback. So the team does a lot of running inside and outside with an option to pass. Penny did a good job in all three games. It was fun to watch when Henry could come back to play some too,” Pickren said. “That made for a lethal combination. Penny could be at running back, wide receiver or quarterback.” In fact at the Strong Rock game, he also did some time at defensive back to try to slow down their star receiver. He even went on the last kickoff as part of the “hands” team and recovered the onside kick. Hart said it was a great win for the team, who played their hearts out. “Everything clicked that Friday night. But if you measured this team by its effort, we were 10 and oh. Injuries really hurt us all season,” Hart said. Hart has committed to play football at Georgia State University, but NCAA rules don’t permit formal signing until February. He plans to major in exercise science and kinesiology and minor in computer science. “I want to help people. I have a passion for healing,” he said.
Don’t Let
Cataracts Keep You From Seeing the Colors of Fall. Milan Eye Center is the first practice in the United States to offer bladeless cataract surgery of its type.
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JCHS marching band, color guard named champs JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek High School marching band and color guard now can add the title of Silver Division Sweepstakes Grand Champions to their many awards. On Oct. 18, the Gladiators traveled to Tallapoosa, Georgia to compete in the Golden River Marching Festival. They performed their show “Dante’s Journey.” The Gladiators competed against several bands from throughout the state of Georgia to receive this coveted award. Other awards received include: Grand Champion Color Guard, First Place Band, First Place Color Guard, First Place Front Ensemble, Second Place Percussion and
Third Place Drum Majors. The Gladiator marching band is under the direction of Al Estep, band director, and Marcia Laird, associate director. The color guard director is Alyssa Dickens and the percussion instructors are Will Kester and Morgan Crews. There are many student leaders within the band that help lead them to success. Without them, the band would have a much harder time getting as far as they have this season. The Gladiator band believes that these awards are yet another example of their motto: “the Pursuit of Excellence.” —Rachael Dier
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MILTON 37, NORTHVIEW 0:
Eagles shut out Titans for first state playoff win Host Hughes in second round Friday By MIKE BLUM news@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. – In more than 60 years of playing football, the Milton Eagles had never won a state playoff game, with the team’s last postseason win coming in a region playoff game in 1952. The Eagles had reached the state playoffs each of the last three years, but were 0-3 in Howie DeCristofaro’s tenure as head coach. After capturing their first region title since 1952 the previous week, Milton ended its long playoff drought last Friday night with a decisive 37-0 victory over Northview, which was playing in its first ever playoff game after the first winning season in team history. The 5-AAAAAA champion Eagles advance to the second round of the state AAAAAA playoffs Friday night and will host Langston Hughes, the runner-up from Region 3. The Panthers are 9-2 and have
advanced to the second round each of the last three years. Like Milton and Northview, Hughes is part of the Fulton County School System and is located in Fairburn. The Panthers went 9-1 in the regular season in 2012 and ’13 and were 8-2 this season. Their only losses came against Region 3 champion Westlake and Region 8 co-champion Grayson, both of whom are still in the playoffs. Hughes won its playoff opener 42-28 at home over North Cobb, scoring more points and also allowing more than it had in any game this season. The Milton-Northview game was expected to be a defensive struggle, and for one quarter at least, that’s exactly what it was. The first five possessions for the two teams ended with punts before Milton finally got things going offensively late in the opening period. The Eagles drove 78 yards in 11 plays, scoring early in
Milton’s Jordan Parisian (23) wraps up Northview’s Ricci Nuckles (8). the second quarter on a 22yard pass from Austin McLeod
Titans’ best season ever ends with disappointing playoff loss By MIKE BLUM news@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. – What started as a hugely successful season for the Northview Titans ended on a disappointing note, but 2014 still wound up as the best season in the school’s football history. The Titans (7-4) finished with a winning record for the first time and made their first ever playoff appearance. But a 37-0 playoff loss at Milton last Friday night sent Northview home with a painful lesson on playoff football. “They are very physical and we were too banged up,” Northview coach Chad Davenport said after the loss to the Eagles. “They are very strong and they just wore us down.” The Titans played well early on defense, but Milton used its big offensive line and tough inside running of Micco Brisker to take control of the game. Austin McLeod’s accurate passing also hurt the Titans, who were geared to stop the run. The Northview defense, which had been outstanding all season with the exception of one half against South Forsyth, was unable to slow down Milton after the strong start. It was the struggles of the offense the second half of the season that left the team with a 2-4 finish after a 5-0 start. The Titans won their first four games by a combined 182-14, but those four teams
finished with a combined five wins, three of them coming against each other. A 28-14 victory over West Forsyth, one of the region’s top two teams in recent seasons, was the team’s first quality win, but standout receiver Matty Biondich was injured in that game, and the Titans’ offense never really recovered. Northview had big games offensively after that against Chattahoochee and Centennial, but in the last four games against teams with strong defenses, the Titans were held without an offensive touchdown in all four, squandering outstanding defensive efforts against Lambert and Alpharetta. The Titans lose a number of senior starters, including Biondich, quarterback D.J. Pearson, running back Nathan Phillips and defensive starters Turner Fortin, Devan Johnson, Malcolm Conn, Earnest Gunn and Tyler Cross, who transferred in midway through the season. Pearson was a three-year starter and put up some big numbers in the team’s victories this season, but struggled noticeably against the better defenses the Titans faced, with the same true for the team’s offensive line. Northview returns defensive starters Connor Owens, Josh Moran and middle linebacker Joe Macrina, who also missed significant time with an injury. Two starting receivers will be back, with Michael Cole looking to take over for Phillips at running back and Moran possibly playing a bigger role on offense.
to Nathan Cranor, who broke open near the goal line. It was the first of three touchdown passes for McLeod, who was 13 of 15 for 148 yards. On the play prior to the touchdown, hard-running tailback Micco Brisker fought for a tough yard on fourthand-1. Brisker finished with 113 yards on 20 carries, giving him over 1,000 yards on the season. Northview faced fourthand-1 from the Milton 35 on its next series, with a completion of 26 yards from D.J. Pearson to Ricci Nuckles coming up just short of first down yardage on third-and-27. But the Titans were unable to pick up the yard, and Brisker broke loose for 43 yards on the next play to the Northview 22. Brisker carried on five of the next six plays and went over the top for the touchdown on fourth-and-1 from the 2. Milton made it 21-0 at the half, scoring with one second on the clock on a 21-yard strike from McLeod to Obi Fortune, with McLeod barely getting his perfectly thrown pass over the outstretched hands of a Northview defender. A pair of third down completions by McLeod, one to Jake English for 14 yards
M - F: 10am to 6pm Sat: 10am to 3pm carpetdepotroswell.com Showroom: 23-B Oak Street Roswell, GA 30075, Backside of SOCA (Oak Street Cafe)
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on third-and-13 and one to Fortune for 25 yards to the Northview 18, keyed the 69yard drive. The Milton defense, which limited the Titans to just 169 yards, sacked Northview quarterback D.J. Pearson in the end zone for a safety in the third quarter, and followed with a 61-yard drive to take a 30-0 lead with three minutes
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johnscreekherald.com | Johns Creek Herald | November 20, 2014 | 23
ALPHARETTA 21, CHEROKEE 18:
Raiders score narrow win in playoff opener Host perennial contender McEachern next By MIKE BLUM news@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The Alpharetta Raiders scored their first ever state playoff win last year, and made it two playoff-opening victories in a row last Friday night, getting past Cherokee 21-18. The goal for the Raiders now is to make it past the second round, which they were unable to do last year. After a 41-23 victory over South Gwinnett, Alpharetta suffered a humbling 48-0 loss to Collins Hill, a score the players have been constantly reminded of by the presence of posters in team areas with nothing more on them than the final results of that game. This year’s second round opponent for the Raiders is traditional contender McEachern, which visits Alpharetta Friday night for a second round AAAAAA playoff game. The Raiders bring a 10-1 record and a 10-game winning streak into Friday’s contest, winning Region 6-AAAAAA for the third time in four years. McEachern is 8-3 and tied for first in Region 4. They lost to Hillgrove 4237 in the regular season finale, with the Hawks getting the region’s top seed. Unlike Alpharetta, which did not play a strong opponent other than local rival Milton, McEachern’s non-region schedule consisted of North Gwinnett, Buford, Peachtree Ridge and Lovejoy, with the Indians going 2-2. The Indians are making their fifth straight playoff appearance, and have been frequent playoff participants over the past three decades. They reached the semifinals last year, defeating Collins Hill 35-32 before losing 27-21 to North Gwinnett.
“This is a typical McEachern team,” Alpharetta coach Jacob Nichols said. “They are big, athletic and fast. They have a young quarterback who throws the ball well and the defense gets a good pass rush. They have some good athletes in the secondary, and it’s dangerous to throw deep against them.” The Indians defeated East Coweta 23-3 in the first round last week and also held playoff qualifier Lovejoy to three points, but Region 4’s three other playoff teams scored an average of 35 points against them. Alpharetta gained almost 400 yards against Cherokee, but two lost fumbles. Difficulty in converting third downs left the Raiders with a modest 21 points. That proved to be enough, as the Raiders’ defense turned in the latest in a season-long string of strong efforts. An explosive Cherokee offense was limited to just two scoring drives, scoring seven points after an Alpharetta fumble and two more on a safety that was the result of an errant center snap. The Warriors (7-4) completed 26 passes for a modest 235 yards, with the Raiders picking off two of Cherokee’s 44 attempts and sacking quarterback Spencer Ashley six times. Standout defensive end Andrew Butcher had three of the sacks and also blocked an extra point try. Michael Kolesar and Matt Moore had the two interceptions, with Kolesar and fellow defensive back Dejon Rowe sharing the team lead in tackles with linebacker Jake Behrend with seven solos. Offensively, the Raiders were led by quarterback Austin King (18-for-34, 314 yards, two TDs) and receiver Rustin Suter (six catches, 166 yards, one TD; 43 yards rushing on two carries).
Sol Sims/Solarview Photography
Alpharetta’s Cameron Adams (3) eludes a Cherokee defender. After Cherokee drove to an early field goal, King hit Suter for 42 yards to set up Miles Smith’s 5-yard scoring run. Ashley scored to put the Warriors back in front, but Butcher blocked the PAT. Alpharetta led 14-9 at the half after a 53-yard touchdown pass from King to Suter on third and 24. Smith took a screen pass 25 yards in the third quarter to expand the Raiders’ lead to 21-9. Cherokee then broke
a short pass for 42 yards and a score, and closed within 21-18 on a safety with seven minutes to play. The Alpharetta defense, which held Cherokee to one of 16 third down conversions and one of four on fourth down, took over from there, with Kolesar coming up with his big interception to seal the victory. The two teams punted a combined 20 times, 11 by Cherokee.
Titans: Continued from Page 22
Chris Turner (7) of Milton cuts up field.
Sol Sims/Solarview Photography
left in the period on a 12-yard pass from McLeod to Fortune. The drive began with the Eagles running out of the wildcat formation, with Fortune passing to McLeod for 8 yards on the first play and keeping the ball for 16 yards on the next snap. Fortune had four catches for 62 yards and his TD receptions were his eighth and ninth on the season. Chris Turner closed out the scoring in the final minute of the quarter on a 20-yard run on fourth-and-1. The fourth quarter was played with a running clock, and Northview had the ball for the final 9:47, driving 78 yards on 16 plays inside the Milton 10 before the clock ran out. The Titans managed just 45 yards rushing for the game. Pearson took three 12yard losses in key situations, the first two on a sack and a
mishandled snap in the first half with Northview in Milton territory. The third resulted in the safety. “Our front four controlled the game,” DeCristofaro said. “Our defense kept us in every game every week.” Michael Collins keyed the defensive effort against the Titans, while the kicking game also helped produce points for the Eagles. Ethan Suda punted Northview into a hole prior to the sack of Pearson for a safety, and the Eagles pressured the Titans’ punter into running on fourth-and-22 from the 8-yard line, knocking him out of bounds a yard shy of the first down to set up Turner’s scoring run. Kris Franklin returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown for the Eagles, but it was nullified by a penalty. “We still have a lot of things where we need to get better,” DeCristofaro said. “We want to try and get better every week.”
24 | November 20, 2014 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
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ROSWELL 36, LAMBERT 13:
Evans’ 199 yards, 3 TDs spark Hornets Roswell at Hillgrove in second round By MIKE BLUM news@appenmediagroup.com CUMMING, Ga. – The Roswell Hornets rolled into the second round of the state AAAAAA playoffs with a convincing 3613 victory last Friday night at Lambert. Roswell is on the road again Friday night at Region 4 champion Hillgrove, which easily defeated Douglas County 58-13 in its playoff opener. The Hawks (8-3) earned their region title with a late-season 42-37 victory over McEachern, which tied Hillgrove for first place. The Hornets, also 8-3, are the third seed from Region 5, tying for second with Etowah but losing to the Eagles during the season. Lambert (7-4) was seeded second in Region 6, which lost three of its four games against Region 5 opponents in the first round. The Hornets got another big game from sophomore running back Sheldon Evans, who gained 170 of his 199 yards rushing in the second half and has 1,266 yards in the last six games with 15 touchdowns. Evans rushed for three TD against the Longhorns, all in the second half on runs of 20, 7 and 31 yards. The Hornets also got two big interceptions from Justin Victorian, who returned the first 65 yards on the last play of the first half to give the Hornets a 15-7 lead. He also set up one of Evans’ scoring runs in the second half with his second interception. Victorian had as many interceptions as the Longhorns had completions, with Lambert just two of 13 for 24 yards. The Hornets held standout Lambert running back Trevor O’Brien to 84 yards rushing on 26 carries, with the Longhorns managing just 141 yards total offense. Roswell coach John Ford credited linemen Scott Simons and Leroy Wilson with keying the Hornets’ excellent defensive effort. Lambert had just one scoring drive, which came in the second quarter to take a 7-6 lead. The Hornets struggled on offense early with penalties and other mistakes, but scored first after recovering a fumbled Lambert punt. James Whitaker passed to Hunter Coleman for 2 yards and the score. After Lambert went ahead 7-6, the Hornets drove to a 31-yard field goal by Turner Barkhoff to regain the lead, and made it 15-7 at the half on
Scoreboard Last week’s state playoff scores • Milton 37, Northview 0 • Roswell 36, Lambert 13 • Alpharetta 21, Cherokee 18 • Blessed Trinity 48, Hephzibah 13 This week’s games • Langston Hughes at Milton • Roswell at Hillgrove • McEachern at Alpharetta • Adairsville at Blessed Trinity • Mount Pisgah at Landmark Christian • St. Francis at Aquinas Victorian’s pick six. Lambert returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown, but failed to tie the game with a two-point conversion. It was all Roswell after that, as Evans dominated offensively in the second half and the Hornets’ defense shut out the Longhorns. Roswell sped 75 yards in four plays in the third quarter, with Whitaker hitting Mechane Slade for 26 yards to start the drive and Evans ripping off runs of 29 and 20 yards, the latter for a touchdown. Victorian’s second interception led to a 7-yard scoring run by Evans, and the sophomore tailback went 31 yards for the final TD. Whitaker completed 11 of 20 passes for 116 yards, with Slade combining for 95 yards rushing and receiving. The Hornets will need a big night offensively to stay with Hillgrove, which averages 40 points a game. The Hawks are vulnerable defensively, however, giving up 27 or more points in six of their 11 games. Hillgrove has been one of the metro Atlanta area’s more successful teams over the past seven years, reaching the quarterfinals twice and the second round once since 2010, including a 10-0 regular season in 2010. The Hawks made it to the quarterfinals last year, finishing with an 11-2 record. This will be Roswell’s first playoff appearance since 2010, with the Hornets last making it to the quarterfinals in 2007, the year after they shared the state championship with Peachtree Ridge. Friday’s winner will play the winner of Lee County at Archer, with Roswell having a chance of a home game in the
Photos by Kevin O'Brien/Split Second Images
Roswell quarterback James Whitaker (7) targets Kendrick Jackson (6) for a sideline pass.
Roswell running back Sheldon Evans (1) attempts to evade Longhorn defender Patrick Noble (22). quarterfinals if both the Hornets and Lee County win.
Longhorn linebacker Adison Schimmelpfennig (30) prepares to wrap up Roswell ball carrier Mechane Slade.
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johnscreekherald.com | Johns Creek Herald | November 20, 2014 | 25
BLESSED TRINITY 48, HEPHZIBAH 13:
ST. FRANCIS PREVIEW:
Titans host Adairsville after easy opening win
Knights face tough playoff task against 2013 champ Aquinas
By MIKE BLUM news@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – There were several huge upsets in the first round of the state football playoffs last week, including unbeaten Peach County and West Hall, two of the eight region champions in Class AAA. That was not the case for the five remaining unbeaten teams in AAA, who won their playoff openers by a combined 244-76. Among that group was Blessed Trinity (11-0), which coasted to a 48-13 victory over Augusta-area opponent Hephzibah. BT led 41-0 at the half and played the fourth quarter with a running clock. With the non-playoff caliber teams like Hephzibah having been eliminated, teams like Blessed Trinity that faced minimal resistance last week will face significantly more difficult tasks this week. The Titans’ second round opponent is Adairsville, which finished second in Region 6-AAA behind unbeaten state power Calhoun and brings a 10-1 record into Friday’s contest. Adairsville is largely an untested opponent for BT. The Tigers did not play a game that was decided by fewer than 14 points. Their 28-14 season opening victory over AAAAA opponent Ridgeland was the team’s most competitive contest. Adairsville won seven region games by at least 35 points, and lost 42-10 to Calhoun midway through the season. Blessed Trinity coach Tim McFarlin said the Tigers’ offense reminds him of Westminster, which was second behind the Titans in their sub-region and gave BT a battle, losing 23-11. With quality wins over St. Pius, Westminster and Cedar Grove in the Region 4-AAA championship game the last week of the season, McFarlin believes his team has the advantage of playing a more competitive schedule. Six of its 10 regular season wins were over teams that made the playoffs. The Titans’ early season 35-0 rout over Sequoyah looks a lot better after the Chiefs knocked off previously unbeaten Lanier last week in the first round of the AAAAA playoffs. Hephzibah was a playoff
Coach Tim McFarlin did not play either of his first two tailbacks, and the Titans still rushed for 342 yards and scored six touchdowns in the first half. team thanks to playing in an extremely weak region, apart from unbeaten Washington County. McFarlin did not play either of his first two tailbacks, and the Titans still rushed for 342 yards and scored six touchdowns in the first half. Joe Anderson, starting in place of Milton Shelton, who is expected to be back this week, rushed for 141 yards and four touchdowns. Garrett Dupuis and freshman Jake Rudolph also scored touchdowns. The other Blessed Trinity score came on an interception return by Colin Davis, the younger brother of BT quarterback Conor Davis, who completed seven of nine passes for 79 yards. The Titans’ defense allowed 178 yards, with Hephzibah scoring both its touchdowns in the second half. If BT wins Friday, the Titans will likely face fellow unbeaten Jefferson (11-0) in the quarterfinals next Friday, with a coin flip determining which team would be at home. Jefferson is at home Friday against Dodge County. Washington County, which lost in the championship game to Buford (now in AAAAA) last year, awaits in the semifinals.
By MIKE BLUM news@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The St. Francis Knights make their state football playoff debut Friday night, and will face defending Class A private school state champion Aquinas, which is unbeaten this season. The Knights travel to Augusta to play the Fighting Irish, who emerged as a title contender in 2011 after more than a half century of mostly losing seasons in the sport. St. Francis brings a 7-3 record into the game and is seeded 15th among the 16 teams that qualified for the state playoffs in the Class A private school division. The Knights were not far from a 9-1 record, but offset two tough losses with wins over playoff qualifier Mount Zion of Carrollton and Trion in a region crossover game to close out the season. Aquinas, which defeated
Mount Pisgah 17-16 in last year’s semifinals, has three wins over teams in the private school playoff bracket, as well as a victory over traditional Class A public school power Lincoln County. The Fighting Irish feature one of the state’s top players – running back Ruben Garnett – along with a highly regarded junior quarterback (Liam Welch) and several dangerous receivers. Aquinas defeated previously unbeaten Tattnall Square 49-21 in the Region 7-A championship game last week, but also has a pair of narrow victories against Stratford Academy and Lincoln County. The Knights played a region schedule this season for the first time and enjoyed an excellent season after going 8-2 last year against a less challenging group of opponents. St. Francis played solid defense almost every week, and will likely need its best effort
of the season to challenge the unbeaten Fighting Irish. The Knights’ ball control offense has also performed consistently, even after an early injury that sidelined standout wide receiver Nathan Waller for the season. Knights’ coach Brennen Booth says the keys for his team will be preventing Aquinas from jumping out to an early lead, and putting together some sustained drives to keep the Fighting Irish offense off the field as much as possible. “It will definitely be a challenge,” Booth said. “But I think we’ve got a pretty good team.” Booth said qualifying for the state playoffs “is a huge step for our program.” The Knights bring some momentum into the game after a 35-10 win over Trion in the regular season finale, which Booth said “was one of our best games of the season. We had to win to get in. Hopefully, that will carry over.”
MOUNT PISGAH PREVIEW:
Patriots play Landmark in first round of playoffs JOHNS CREEK, Ga. –The Mount Pisgah Patriots open the state Class A private school playoffs on the road Friday night, traveling to south metro Atlanta to face Landmark Christian in Fairburn. Mount Pisgah is the ninth seed among the 16 teams in the bracket, with Landmark seeded eighth to get home field in the first round. The War Eagles (8-2) tied with Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy for first place, with ELCA getting the region title thanks to its 35-28 win over Landmark. The Patriots (7-3) defeated ELCA 28-21 during the season, and also defeated playoff qualifiers Pinecrest Academy and St. Francis, but losses to two teams with losing records damaged Mount Pisgah’s hopes of getting a first round game at home. If the Patriots win Friday, they would likely face No. 1 seed Calvary Day in Savannah next Friday. Calvary Day hosts Christian Heritage of Dalton in the first round. Mount Pisgah comes into Friday’s game off a 35-21 loss to unbeaten Mount Paran in the Region 6-A championship game two weeks ago. The Patriots played that game without stand-
out defensive lineman Shingi Chigwere, who broke his fibula in practice the week before the Mount Paran game. Mount Pisgah coach Mike Forrester said he had to move some players around to fill in for Chigwere, with the Patriots now smaller on defense than they were prior to his injury. Mount Pisgah is led by senior quarterback Aaron Winchester, who passed for 1,533 yards and 19 touchdowns and ran for 1,024 yards and 12 TDs. The Patriots should be able to score against the War Eagles, but Landmark features a productive offense and Mount Pisgah had defensive problems at times against the stronger teams on its schedule, even with Chigwere in the lineup. The Patriots reached the semifinals last year, losing 17-16 to eventual state champion Aquinas for their only defeat. Landmark lost in the state finals in 2011 and the semifinals the next year, but was ousted in the first round last season. Landmark’s only quality win this season was a 27-21 victory over Pace, which qualified for the playoffs in AA. – Mike Blum
26 | November 20, 2014 | Johns Creek Herald | johnscreekherald.com
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Bless your heart: Words He can tell the future, and this is what he said of Southern comfort Every region of the country has its own means of expression that are peculiar to those folks. In the South, that is particularly so. These verbal regionalisms remained just that, until the vehicle mobility of the 1960s and air conditioning brought people to South, where they found it hard to understand the native drawl and expression. This has been especially true in North Fulton, which has seen its population skyrocket in the last 20 years. So it is reasonable and proper to provide newcomers with a little help navigating the linguistic minefield that can result. First, one must understand that Southerners pride themselves on their good manners. I have heard historians say this has its roots in the 17th and 18th century predilection to dueling. Any perceived insult could result in an affair of honor, even among the hardscrabble gentry. So Southerners used a careful, if somewhat exaggerated, way of speaking that emphasized good manners. Take for example the fine old Southern expression, “Well, bless your heart.” This is a common response to someone who has suffered some sort of social setback. Say a neighbor tells you his wife has just left him. That will almost certainly elicit the response, “Well, bless your heart!” Implicit in the expression, however, can be the unstated, “Well, if you had come home once in a while instead of carousing all of the time, she might not have left.” The recipient may realize this cut, or he may not. But the veneer of manners allows both parties to take the meaning in their own way, and
Hatcher Hurd Executive Editor hatcher@appen mediagroup.com
Say a neighbor tells you his wife has just left him. That will almost certainly elicit the response, “Well, bless your heart!” civility is preserved. Of course, many expressions are just colorful. They have entered the region’s psyche and give speech life and vigor. Say Johnny wants to be the leader in a project, but doesn’t really have any of the necessary follow-through to get it done. A critic might say, “Oh, he just wants to wear the hat.” A Texas corollary to that is a disparaging way to refer to a fellow rancher: “He’s all hat and no cattle.” As a child, I often had my mother rebuke me with the warning, “You do that again and I’ll be on you like a duck on a June bug.” I had never actually seen this happen, but the visual was sufficient to modify my behavior. Many expressions recall earlier days when most people led rural lives, and their imagery reflected that. If someone says they are “standing in tall cotton,” things
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were going good. Cotton was king for the farmer, and tall cotton meant a bigger yield. That conjures another expression I heard often as a child. “She’s as happy as a mule eating briars.” It meant her joy might not be justified, or it was short-lived or perhaps feigned. The expression comes from people who have seen a mule eating said briars rather carefully, exposing her teeth and taking care not prick her lips in the process. If someone told me, “Can’t never could,” it means I should try before conceding failure. New settlers in North Fulton will ask for a soda or perhaps a bottle of pop. Native Georgians just naturally use “coke” as the generic term. It would result in a conversation like this. “Would you like a coke?” “Yes, please.” “What kind of coke?” “A Coke coke.” One expression that baffles people who aren’t from around here is “fixing to.” “No honey, I haven’t taken out the garbage yet, but I’m fixing to.” It means “about.” One of the favorite pastimes of Southerners is hunting and working with hunting dogs. So if someone says, “That dog won’t hunt,” it means that is a problem with no solution or the wrong solution is being used. And if you are showing some ambivalence about entering into an enterprise that involves some risk, someone might say, “Either run with the big dogs, or stay on the porch.” There is also the expression that someone or something has natural beauty that goes “as pretty as a yellow dog under a new porch.” A bucket is always a useful tool and has many uses. So if someone “poured a whole bucket of sad on her,” she’s really morose. An agricultural region has many sayings about the world. If it is “clouding up,” that means it’s fixing to rain. Someone who is inordinately tall might be referred to as a “tall drink of water” and if the person is none too bright, “not the sharpest knife in the drawer.” Certainly Tennessee Williams fans are familiar with as fidgety as “a cat on a hot tin roof,” and so is anyone who has endured a Southern summer. And if you want to sound Southern when you bid a friend so long, don’t say goodbye. Say: “Come to see us.”
I have read all of Thomas Friedman’s books, and in my opinion, he is probably one of the sharpest tools in the shed. While he does not have the credentials or the pedigree of a Henry Kissinger or a George Keenan, he has won three Pulitzer Prizes and written many bestsellers. So when I saw that he was delivering a free lecture in Atlanta recently, I braved the Ga. 400 rush-hour traffic to hear him. Friedman said things are about to get “very interesting” now that the world has reached the “second half of the chessboard,” a reference to a book by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee called “The Second Machine Age,” which had a big impact on Friedman. The board is a proverbial one on which a king is asked to place grains of rice, starting with one grain on the first square, two grains on the second and doubling each square as it goes on. By the second half of the chessboard, exponential growth has reached the point where each advance, each doubling, produces astonishing change. It’s a different world, where change can happen – is happening – in huge leaps rather than incremental steps. The invention of the PC and the Internet was the nexus of the first half – our entry into the information age and the beginning of the flattening/globalization of the world. In the second half, he says there will be three critical components – the environment, globalization of the marketplace and Moore’s Law (essentially that speeds of computer chips will double every 18 months). The “very interesting” aspect of the second half is largely a reference to the rate and scope of the changes we can expect to encounter. On the environment, Friedman believes the level of carbon in the atmosphere has taken us to the brink of a perfect storm. The question is whether the storm will be one that finally wakes us up with enough time left to recover, or whether we will simply hit the point from which we cannot and will not recover. He reminded the audience that during his lifetime the world population has doubled from 3 billion to 6 billion. He also suggested that the changing environment is playing an increasingly greater role in all world affairs. For instance, he said the initial and more important cities that have fallen to ISIS experienced two years of the worst drought in more than 100 years. So
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when this population was disbursed throughout the region, it was a welcome mat for an organization like ISIS to come in and take charge. Globalization and Moore’s Law (basically technology) have leveled the world’s economic playing field. Technology and competition are killing more jobs than they create, and individuals must adapt to these changes. Friedman said they must learn the new skills, of course, but they must also “think like an immigrant” – always striving, looking for ways to do a better job and never resting on one’s laurels. Because technology has eliminated “average,” he said people worldwide are going to have to discover, invent and create ways to stand out if they want to find and keep good jobs. So how do we navigate the second half of this chessboard? Friedman believes “pluralism,” – the condition in which two or more states or sources of authority coexist – is the key. In the past, order and “cooperation” was established and sustained by top-down authority in the forms of monarchies, dictators, generals or ayatollahs. Today largely because of the Internet, effective governments and effective economies must operate in more pluralistic fashion, one based on bottom-up synergies and effort driven in large part by our new ways to disseminate information. He said problems like the rise of ISIS won’t be solved until the Kurds, Sunni’s, Shi’as, Jews and Christians learn to coexist peacefully with each other. The West cannot impose order on the region as it may have done in the past; but without a history of pluralism in the area, it may take a very long time to reach a level of peace and stability. In short, Friedman called pluralism one of the most important assets held by the West and especially by the United States. How we manage our environment and rapid globalization, whether through immigration or technology, will be the key to coexisting in this fast-changing world.
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Johns Creek Herald | November 20, 2014 | 27 Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com
Helping the helpers:
NFCC honors volunteers, partners By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. – When North Fulton Community Charities is asked, “Can you help me?”’ the answer is probably “yes.” A lot of that positive power comes from the efforts of NFCC’s volunteers and partners. They work just as hard, if not harder, than an employee and they love what they do. Each year, North Fulton Community Charities recognizes its many volunteers and community partners with a breakfast and awards for the best of the best. This year, the breakfast was held Nov. 12 at Northminster Presbyterian Church on Old Alabama Road in Roswell. “We help people unravel the knots caused by job loss or single motherhood,” said Bebe Nicholson, the director of NFCC’s thrift shop. By providing food, financial assistance and education, the group helps thousands of families each year. The thrift shop did $1.2 million in sales last year, she said. “You can live your lives holding everything close to
you, or you can open your arms and help people live better lives,” Nicholson said. In 2013, NFCC helped 4,737 families, a third of whom were receiving aid for the first time. Nine tons of food are given out each week to the needy in North Fulton. “Our mission is to prevent hunger and homelessness in North Fulton,” said Eden Purdy, the program director. “We get people back to work and become contributing members of the community.” One resident, Fern Saint, praised the NFCC for their help in getting her and her family back on track. “I owned my own business,” Saint said. Unfortunately, it was a mortgage business in 2007. When the housing market crashed, Saint struggled. “I was working minimum wage jobs and then I was laid off,” she said. “No one would hire me.” In 2010, she turned to her church for help. They referred her to NFCC. “It changed my life,” she said. “I never thought I would need such help, but you have to be willing to reinvent yourself.”
JONATHAN COPSEY/Staff
Among the local groups and companies recognized for their contributions to the community and NFCC was LocumTenens. Accepting the award is Deb Zelnio, vice president for marketing.
The recipients of this year’s NFCC awards were: JONATHAN COPSEY/Staff
Resident Fern Saint was helped by NFCC when she fell on hard times during the recession.
For more on NFCC, visit them online at www.nfcchelp. org.
Faith Partner of the Year: Temple Beth Tikvah. Accepting were Rabbi Fred Greene and Darrin Cohen. Civic Partner of the Year: Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta. Accepting was Robyn Miller, corporate/tax counsel for Pro Bono Partnership Atlanta. Corporate Partner of the Year: LocumTenens.com. Accepting was Marketing Vice President Deb Zelnio. Volunteer of the year: Denise Kudla.
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28 | November 20, 2014 | Johns Creek Herald
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Annual Chopin Society Gala brings By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The 15th annual Chopin Society of Atlanta Gala celebrated Nov. 16 with guest of honor Andrzej Szpilman (pronounced SHPIELman). Szpilman is the son of one of Poland’s greatest concert pianists and composers of the 20th century, Wladyslaw Szpilman. And it was his father who wrote of his experiences escaping the Holocaust in Europe in the book “The Pianist,” which was the basis of the Roman Polanski Oscar-winning movie of the same name. Andrzej Szpilman is himself a musician, composer and music producer. But he considers himself foremost a dentist. “I am not a musician,” he said But on this night, the music belonged to his father and that of Chopin. That Wladyslaw Szpilman survived the war at all was a miracle in itself. When the Germans invaded Poland in 1939, Wladyslaw was one of the premier pianists in Poland and had toured Europe. You could say that music saved Wladyslaw’s life in that he was so well known, and cherished as only the Poles cherish their musicians. “The movie portrays a German soldier who saves my father’s life because he played for him. That is not true; the man saved many lives of Jews and Catholics. He would have saved my father anyway,” Szpilman said. Wladyslaw did play for that officer when they met, however. “[The officer] was a righteous man, a civilized man who did not believe in the murders that were going on in Poland,” Szpilman said. “But he was not the only man who saved his life. Dozens and dozens of people helped him.” Wladyslaw was the featured
Photo by PAVEL LOJ
Honorary Consulate of the Polish Republic in Atlanta Lawrence Ashe, Dorota Lato, her daughters Eliza Folkert and Emilia Folkert and guest of honor Andrzej Szpilman share a moment at the gala. pianist playing on the last live broadcast from Warsaw on Poland’s state radio. The music was of course Chopin. When the war was over, the first music played was the same Chopin work – and Wladyslaw played it. After the war, when Szpilman was 12, he discovered his father’s memoir simply lying on a shelf. He was mesmerized by it. “It read like a thriller,” he said. When he was older, it was he who got the memoir published. “We are very honored to have Mr. Szpilman as our guest of honor this year. That music his father played just before the war started and again the first played after was Chopin’s,” said Chopin Society of Atlanta President Dorota Lato. “That music was played by the Polish people during the war even though it was banned
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Johns Creek Herald | November 20, 2014 | 29 Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com
message from Holocaust survivor
Guest pianists of the evening are congratulated by Andrzej Szpilman, center. From left are master of ceremonies WABE’s John Lemley, Pranav Kandikuppa,
Photo by PAVEL LOJ
Joanna Pabis, Anna Holub-Standish and Joe Standish are enjoying the gala.
Photo by PAVEL LOJ
Robert Hunter, Olivia Mikrut, Szpilman, Tanyue Zhai, Hyu Jung Na, Micjael di Iorio, Jiyeon Kim, Eliza Folkert and Emilia Folkert.
HATCHER HURD/Staff
From left, elementary school winner is fourth-grader Olivia Mirkut, middle school winner is seventh-grader Robert Hunter and high school winner is Pranav Kandikuppa.
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Hugh Waddy and Linda Wickham of the Atlanta Music Club say they like to be where there’s music.
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Joyce Takei and Caryl Black.
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The Baroness Sherry von Klitzing and Rick Woroniecki enjoy the evening.
30 | November 20, 2014 | Johns Creek Herald
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Living Legacies:
Family honors great-grandfather’s service as WWII bomber pilot By KIMBERLY BROCK news@appenmediagroup.com In January of 1942, young Scott Russell Smith was living at home on the family farm when he bravely volunteered for service in the United States Air Force. Over the course of the war, Maj. Smith flew 17 bombing missions and earned an Air Medal and two Oak Clusters before returning home to his young wife and first child. As we remember our servicemen this Veterans Day and celebrate the 70th anniversary of D-Day, Smith’s granddaughter, Alpharetta mom Monica Gomez, and her daughter, Celia, are celebrating his service in a meaningful way. “The idea of a unique calendar featuring ‘Bomber Girls’ is the brainchild of Atlanta resident Harriet Adams,” Monica explained. “Last February, a call went out in the Atlanta Journal Constitution for daughters and granddaughters of veteran fliers to be photographed wearing the flight jackets of WWII veterans.” No one anticipated the response from over 60 applicants wishing to honor their relatives from World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and soon the project became a 24-month calendar. “I sent in an application since my grandfather who is now 94 and lives in Michigan was a B-17 pilot during WWII,” said Monica. “When the application was accepted, I told them I had a daughter I could bring along for the shoot. Celia had the honor of being featured on the back cover of the calendar.” It turns out the leather jackets are not only valuable for their nostalgia, but also because of their rarity. Soldiers were asked to turn in all of their flight gear after the war, and Monica’s grandfather was no exception. “My grandfather wanted to keep his original bomber jacket but apparently, escape plans were hidden within the lining and so he relinquished the jacket; although he held onto a log book and his handgun,” she said. “Years later, the family had a replica of the jacket made with a rendition of the B-17 he’d recently helped refurbish, airbrushed onto the back.” In his retirement, Smith volunteered his time alongside other veterans at Yankee Air Museum, an aviation museum located at Willow Run Airport in Michigan, to restore the “Yankee Lady.” The plane is one of just a few B-17s that is restored to flying status and visits airports around the U.S.
MONICA GOMEZ
Scott Smith with his son Roger Smith, daughter Rosalie Scott Smith Masters, granddaughter Monica Masters Gomez, greatgranddaughter Celia Gomez and great-grandson Chris Gomez. for tours and rides. A few years ago, Peachtree DeKalb Airport hosted the “Yankee Lady,” and Smith was there helping give tours of the plane. “My husband George and I had the chance to go up in the plane for a short flight,” Monica said. “Imagining what my grandfather went through was intense and after riding in the B-17, it gave me a greater appreciation for what he experienced.” In 1996, Smith had the honor of flying in the “Yankee Lady” with a crew of other veterans from Michigan to Georgia to pass over crowds at the opening of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, located just outside of Savannah in Pooler, Georgia. It was an experience he treasures. Now it seems that honor has come full circle with the publication of the calendar, connecting generations of Smith’s family to his legacy. “These opportunities to
My kids realize they’re lucky to hear their great-grandfather’s stories. They know what he did to fight for freedom in this country and around the world.” Monica Gomez Scott Russell Smith’s granddaughter
share the incredible memories of his time in the service have meant so much to our family and to my grandfather,” Monica said. “Celia is old enough to understand the meaning behind the jacket. My kids realize they’re lucky to hear their great-grandfather’s stories. They know what he did to fight for freedom in this country and around the world.” Like the jackets, the daughters and granddaughters in the calendar tell a story of each
veteran’s life. Monica feels the calendar is also a tribute to the women who loved these men. “It was common for marriages and pregnancies to happen in a hurry during war time in order for the soldier’s family name to be carried on,” she said. “My grandparents fell in love and married this way, and my mother was born in May of 1945, a girl who was then given her father’s name – Scott – for her middle name. It’s true those jackets got the
men through tough times of life and death and in some ways, brought them home. The jackets represent so much about the courage and sacrifices of the veteran fliers we love. And now we’re their living legacies.” While Maj. Scott Russell Smith’s story is not included in the pages of the calendar, Monica is hopeful there will be other opportunities. “I was told that Harriet Adams hopes to come out with a book featuring more stories, including ours, sometime later this year,” she said. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed.” The Buckhead Bomber Girls calendars are available for purchase through www. mightyeighth.org. Proceeds from the sales will benefit the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. You can also check out their Facebook page at www. facebook.com/BuckheadBomberGirls.
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Hairdresser to the Santas:
Santas trek to Roswell salon to get ‘The Look’ Hairdresser Franklin has legions of Santas who won’t get into their sleigh without her By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – For Sharon Franklin, Christmas comes early – very early. Like about the day after Halloween. That’s because Franklin has a special talent that is sought after by some very special clients. While Rodeo Drive has salons that have hairdressers to the stars, Franklin is the unquestioned Hairdresser to the Santas. Beginning the first of November, between 75 and 100 Santas will make the trek to Taylor House Salon in Roswell to have their hair – and beards – superbly coiffed to the standards of thousands of little kids who have their particular worldview of what Santa should like. “It’s no easy job,” Franklin said. “It’s seven days a week, nine or 10 hours a day until Christmas. There are no off-days. It’s every day of the week. “It’s more than doing hair. You have to put five or six hours into each of the men, and they’re not used to it. It’s not fun, but it’s worth it,” she said. It is something Franklin has been doing for 36 years, and as the word has spread over that time, more and more department store and mall Santas have learned that to look their best, they have to see Sharon first. “I did the Phipps Plaza Santa, and I made up all his elves, too,” Franklin said. “The word just got around, and more and more of these men would call me up.” That was the legendary James Ray Bryan, a retired East Point Fire Department captain. He was reputed to be the highest paid Santa in the metro Atlanta area and would hold court at Phipps Plaza Mall with some 18,000 children crawling onto his lap every season for 23 years. So what is her secret? What makes her Hairdresser to the Santas? Franklin tells all. “It’s my experience of doing hair 20 years in Buckhead. During the 1980s, there were a lot of chemicals and a lot of coloring,” she said. “That was Buckhead in those days. It was all about that. You can’t do this without a lot of chemical experience.” The proof is in the snowy white hair and beards of her jolly old gents. She takes what nature has given them and whitens it, curls it and sometimes she straightens it.
HATCHER HURD/Staff
Santas flock to Taylor House Salon on Woodstock Road in Roswell to get their locks and beards looking just right. From right are “Santa Rick” Rosenthal, hairstylist Sharon Franklin, “Santa Terry” Sloan, “Santa Dan” Simpson and salon owner Tara Taylor. Always, the color is perfection. It takes hours to prepare one of her Santas for the Christmas season. They come in at 8 a.m. and don’t leave until 3 p.m. Franklin worked 14 years at Phipps Plaza before taking her skills to Roswell. But the Santas have followed her, and they come from all over metro Atlanta. “It’s our expertise in coloring. That expertise came from those years of learning about chemicals and how to use it on hair. I wouldn’t trade that for anything,” she said. Tara Taylor, the salon owner, agreed. “That was the place to learn, and Sharon really learned it well. What she knows about hair you can’t buy,” Taylor said. On one particular day, Franklin had three Santas in for the day. One is Terry Sloan, who owns a trucking company in Douglasville. He will be Santa at Arbor Place Mall. Dan Simpson, a real estate broker 11 months out of the year, is Santa at Stonecrest Mall in Conyers. Rick Rosenthal is a mediation/arbitration/divorce coach who will be one of the Santas in the 2,000-square-foot Dreamworks Santa Village at North Point Mall.
All of them swear by Franklin and say their long trek to Roswell is amply rewarded by their transformation under Franklin’s delicate ministrations. “When we’re done, each of us looks different, but each of us looks like Santa,” said Santa Dan. Santa Terry saw Franklin featured on TV’s Channel 5, and decided he would try her for one season. Now four years later, he says he won’t go to anyone else. “She has a passion for what she does,” said Santa Terry. “She gets every curl just right. She wants every one of us walking out looking just like Santa.” Santa Dan read a feature on Franklin in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Parade Magazine and decided he would go to her. “I was interested in getting into this, and I figured a hairdresser would know how. That was three years ago,” Santa Dan said. “And it turns out, we found out we went to high school together.” Santa Rick was advised to go to Franklin by fellow Santas, and was eager to see her. He said it was good advice. “You get a bad beard trim as Santa, and you’re out of business,” he said.
Mall Santas find perks in holiday job Role of Santa has rewards found nowhere else By HATCHER HURD hatcher@ appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – For those men who grow their white hair and beards long and dress in red between November and December, it is a true transformation. Men like Terry Sloan, Rick Rosenthal and Dan Simpson who make that transformation into Santa Claus find it is more than just a job when they look into the eager, bright faces of children. They get to experience the magic of Christmas. “I can walk into a Home Depot, and kids know who you are even in regular clothes,” said Santa Rick. “People see you 40 feet away and just stand and look.” Santa Dan said something special happens when you put on that Santa suit. “It’s the only job I’ve had where everyone smiles when you walk into a room,” he said. “That is always a good feeling.” For Santa Terry, the best part is what he can do as Santa. He likes to see excitement in the little faces when they crawl into his lap. “Your job then is to take their problems away. And then you see the adults smiling, too. You see them go back to their childhood,” Santa Terry said. Often, they get asked to
parties and to greet returning military personnel. They get a charge out of seeing folks light up. It seems no one can be sad if Santa is around. “But the kids are what it’s all about,” said Santa Dan. “They keep me entertained. And when I spend time with special needs adults and see them get excited, it’s a moving experience.” Santa Rick says being Santa changes you. The children may be yelling and squirming, but then they see Santa. “They look at you and light up like a light bulb. That changes you. You have to be that guy. That’s something no one else can do. Only Santa can do that,” said Santa Rick. “There is a real beauty to that, which no one else gets to see. You can’t explain what you get out of it.” Once a teacher came to Santa Dan with a special needs child, but she warned him the child did not like to be touched. She helped the child out of his stroller, and then he saw Santa. “He looked up and saw me, then just ran into my arms,” said Santa Dan. “The teacher just started to bawl when she saw it. ‘I never got that response from the boy,’ she told me. It’s the magic of the red suit.”
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Where’s the Beef? When you pick up that plastic-wrapped container of beef, do you really know what’s in there? I’ve written in previous articles about knowing your farmer, and that would apply to your meat as well as your produce. Did you know you can easily get top quality, 100 percent grass-fed beef while at the same time supporting local farmers and the ethical treatment of animals? But first, let’s talk about why you would want to. One hundred percent grass-raised beef – or it may also be called grass-finished – is different than what you would normally find in the store. What it means is the cow is allowed to roam in the pasture eating grasses its entire life. It is never sent to a feed lot where it is fattened up quickly with grains and soy. This becomes an issue because cows are grazing animals by nature and cannot easily digest grains, so they tend to develop illnesses and issues. This in turn requires the use of antibiotics; this widespread use of antibiotics is creating super bacteria that may one day become untreatable – both in humans and animals. There are also the sanitation issues of thousands of cows squeezed together for an extended length of time and environmental issues with so much manure being in one place. I’ll spare you all the gory details, but if you’d like to know more about how these feed lots work, I would recommend watching the documentary “Frankensteer.” Here in North Georgia, we are fortunate to have smaller, independently owned farms that can provide us with top quality meats at a competitive price. So when you hear, “Where’s the beef,” the answer is right here, at home, in our own wonderful state of Georgia. Go to www.eatwild.com to find farms near you that sell pastured quality meats. Q&A with Laura McCook from Indian Creek Angus Why is 100 percent grassfed better then conventionally raised beef? McCook: In the U.S., the majority of conventionally raised cattle live the last sever-
Pascale Chambers Guest Columnist
al months of their lives on feed lots and are exclusively fed grain to fatten them up faster; that is when their nutritional value plummets. Cattle are not designed to eat grain, therefore they get sick and are given antibiotics to stay alive. It completely changes the nutritional makeup of the beef, and this is why red meat has been considered unhealthy. Cattle raised on grass alone produce beef that is higher in vitamins, minerals and omegas. It is also four to six times lower in fat, and the fat that you are getting is good, healthy fat. Our cattle at Indian Creek are never given antibiotics, hormones or steroids like feed lot cattle. What type of cattle do you raise? McCook: We started with a herd of Black Angus, but over the last several years, we have shifted to Murray Grey. They are an Australian breed that gains weight well on grass alone. That is because they are a heritage breed that hasn’t changed over the years like other breeds that are used for feed lot beef. They are still bred to live like the healthy cattle did 100 years ago. How are the cattle raised? McCook: Our cattle are raised on our farm. They are born here, and we treat them humanely their whole lives. We are very hands-on with our cattle and are out in the pastures checking them daily. They are moved from pasture to pasture daily so that they eat fresh grass and minerals and water all the time. They eat grass that has never been treated with fertilizers or pesticides of any kind. Does 100 percent grassfed beef taste different? McCook: Yes, it has a flavor to it unlike grocery store beef, which is very bland. It is very robust and once you taste the difference, I believe you will never be able to eat conven-
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Making a difference in your local community Johns Creek Herald | November 20, 2014
Benefits of 100% grass-fed beef • Less total fat • More heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids • More conjugated linoleic acid, a type of fat that’s thought to reduce heart disease and cancer risks • More antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin E Source: Martha Grogan MD - Mayoclinic.org tional beef again. Can the meat be bought in bulk? McCook: Yes, we sell wholes, halves and quarters. This gives you the biggest bang for your buck. A lot of our customers buy wholes and/ or halves and they do what’s called cow-pooling. They split a half-cow between several families, so they all get the discounted price. Where can your meat be purchased? McCook: Our beef is sold through our website at www. indiancreekangus.com and at several retail locations. You can buy individual cuts or bulk orders. Once you have placed your order, we will contact you to arrange pick-up. You may pick up at the farm or we meet customers off Exit 14 in Cumming. You can purchase our beef through Cumming Harvest, which is a fabulous online farmers market that is located in Cumming. Please visit their website at cumming. locallygrow.net for more information. Our beef is also sold at Roswell Farmers Market, which is a GMO-free grocery store and organic café in Roswell. Their website is roswellfarmersmarket.com. Can people visit your farm? McCook: Absolutely! We love for our customers to come to the farm. You are family to us and we know that once you become a customer, you will keep coming back. We do farm tours by appointment. We also do a lot of field trips. So if you would like to see the farm or are part of a school or homeschool organization, call us at 706-384-2648 to book a tour today.
Get the dirt on composting By PASCALE CHAMBERS pascale@appenmediagroup.com A farmer I was talking to recently voiced her opinion that people shouldn’t be burning their fall leaves, but should compost them instead. Composting is a critical component of creating a sustainable lifestyle and eliminating synthetic chemicals in our environment. There is no better way to create a rich and healthy soil than by using compost, and you can start with your fall leaves. I interviewed Amy Escalante who manages the composting process for the Alpharetta Community Gardens at Wills Park to learn more about how to compost and why it is so important. Q & A with Amy Escalante Why should we compost? Composting reduces landfill waste, by recycling decomposed organic matter into rich, nutrient-dense soil often referred to as “black gold.” Up to 30 percent of the material we send to landfills is organic and can likely be composted at home. It’s an easy way to give back to Mother Nature… literally! Why is using compost better than using synthetic fertilizers? Synthetic fertilizers are generally derived from byproducts of the petroleum industry. As far as your plants go, they can’t distinguish between an organic (compost) or synthetic fertilizer. The nutrients (nitrogen,
phosphorus, potassium, calcium) are processed the same way. Synthetic fertilizers provide plants with the nutrients they desire; however, plants need more to survive. Compost provides plants with the desired nutrients, while at the same time, adding organic material and introducing beneficial microorganisms into the soil. When synthetic fertilizers are used, the microbiology of the soil is interrupted, resulting in providing an environment for pathogens to thrive. Sure, you have beautiful, blight-free tomatoes for a short period of time, but at what cost? Why is composting fall leaves better than burning them? Composting is definitely a preferred method of getting rid of unwanted leaves. When you burn a pile of leaves, hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and other carcinogens are released at ground level. Particulates found in the smoke can accumulate in the lungs, resulting in breathing difficulties, especially in children, those with asthma and other respiratory disorders. The alternative to burning your leaves is simple: compost them. It takes very little effort, while providing you with a usable end product. Pound for pound, leaves contain twice as many minerals as manure. What is the best way to get started? The only thing you need to get started composting is a
See COMPOST, Page 36
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Compost: Continued from Page 34 little bit of knowledge. First of all, it is a common misconception that composting requires a lot of space or a large backyard. I have successfully created quality compost in a 2-by-2 foot square area. The ideal location is to set up your compost area on grass or soil in a sunny (or partly sunny)
area. A large pile of leaves raked into a corner will certainly breakdown, but it will take a very long time. In order to create quality compost with those leaves in a timely manner, it is helpful to shred them first (using a lawnmower is the most efficient) and to add a source of nitrogen. Here’s a quick example of compost mix. Start with a generous layer of dead leaves (or other “browns” like news-
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paper or dead grass clippings), then add a layer of nitrogenrich material (“greens” such as food scraps, fresh grass clippings, coffee grounds). You should aim for adding two to three times as much browns as greens. While it doesn’t need to be an actual layered system, it is always recommended to add browns after greens to prevent odors and unwanted pests. Water and air are also recommended if you want a timely turn around on usable soil,
Notice of Public Internet Auction Johns Creek Police Department The following is a list of property located at the Johns Creek Police Dept. If you believe that you are the owner of this property, please call 678-474-1572 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM. Proof of ownership and a valid ID will be required to claim any property. A public internet auction of the following items will begin the week of December 8, 2014. The auction’s website is www.propertyroom.com. Items: Eastpak Bookbag Digital Camera Apple 4G Ipod IGO charger Tmobile & Cingular charger Griffin I-Trip cord Two Keys Samsung cellphone Backpack with Misc. Items
Jabra Ear piece Earphones Chrome brand sunglasses Polo & black colored sunglasses DG brand sunglasses Size 10 Redhead brand boots Garmin C330 Four wallets with misc. items Purse containing Korean passport
City of Johns Creek Public Meeting for SR 141/Medlock Bridge Road Corridor Study P.I. No. 0012632 On Thursday, November 20, 2014 at Johns Creek City Hall, 12000 Findley Road, 3rd floor Council Chambers, Johns Creek, GA 30097, the City of Johns Creek will hold a Public Meeting for the SR 141/Medlock Bridge Road Corridor Study. The purpose of this study is to develop viable and cost-effective transportation solutions that will improve the efficiency, operations and safety of the SR 141/Medlock Bridge Road corridor from the Chattahoochee River on the south to SR 120/Abbotts Bridge Road on the north. The purpose of this meeting is to provide the public with information on the study and its schedule, an overview of existing conditions and to solicit feedback from citizens and stakeholders on what they believe to be the most important transportation issues, opportunities and needs in the corridor. Information gathered during this meeting will be used in the development of potential transportation solutions. The meeting will be conducted between the hours of 4:30 and 6:30 PM. The meeting will be informal and the public is invited to attend anytime during these hours. There will be no formal presentation. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) information: The meeting site is accessible to persons with disabilities. Accommodations for people with disabilities can be arranged with advance notice by calling Chris Haggard, Transportation Engineer – 678.512.3253. Questions and comments concerning this study should be submitted to: Tom Black, P.E. Director of Public Works Attn: Chris Haggard City of Johns Creek 12000 Findley Rd., Ste. 400 Johns Creek, GA 30097 Email: info@johnscreekga.gov (678) 512-3200
but aren’t completely necessary. Turning a compost bin and adding water periodically (think moist material, not wet) will definitely speed things up as the compost is full of microorganisms that thrive on water and air. The more microorganisms you have, the faster they will decompose the material. Is fancy equipment required to compost? Not at all. A compost bin is preferred, as it will help keep your material confined. However, you can easily make a bin using some wood scraps or fencing. Other tools that are recommended: a shovel, a fork and a wheelbarrow to haul your home grown soil to the garden. That’s it! You can spend a lot of money on composting systems, but they are not at all necessary. What are some dos and don’ts of composting? My rule of thumb has always been that the compost bin is vegan, meaning no meat or other animal by-products. The biggest exception would be egg shells; however, they must be rinsed well. Highly recommended material: food scraps, coffee, tea, manure (no dog or cat manure), grass clippings, garden waste, paper, leaves, sawdust (untreated), tissue paper, dead grass clippings. Not recommended: meat, fish, eggs, dairy, oily foods, bones and diseased plants. Escalante and a team of volunteers at the Alpharetta Community Gardens not only
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PUBLIC NOTICE PURPOSE An Alcoholic Beverage License Application was submitted to the City on November 5, 2014 for Consumption on the Premises of Malt Beverages, Wine & Distilled Spirits. BUSINESS NAME Mari’s Cucina, Inc Dba Mari’s Cucina 2100 Ray Moss Connector Bldg A Johns Creek, GA 30022 OWNER/OFFICERS Mari’s Cucina, Inc Dba Mari’s Cucina 2100 Ray Moss Connector Bldg A Johns Creek, GA 30022 Owners Emily Oginz Wade Freed
provide compost for use in the gardeners’ beds but also help to teach new gardeners and others in the community about composting. Another great resource is the UGA Extension Office. They have a great publication and downloadable PDF about composting. Go to: http://extension.uga.edu/publications. In the search box, type “compost.” Creating a sustainable lifestyle and reducing our carbon footprint is becoming more and more imperative; as our population continues to grow, so does the burden on the planet. If you think of your home in terms of things coming in and out, sustainability is about reducing these inputs and outputs. Close the loop as much as possible. Grow some of your own food (less coming in), and compost your leaves and waste (less going out). You’d be surprised the impact of doing just these two things. Start small, a few tomato plants or herbs in pots, a small pile of leaves somewhere in your yard. Eventually over time, this may grow, but every little bit makes a difference. Fall leaves provide a great opportunity to get started. Pascale Chambers is an organic gardener and supporter of local and naturally grown foods. An advocate for living a sustainable lifestyle, she inspires others to learn and take action to improve their health and the health of our planet. Comments or questions can be sent to pascale@appenmediagroup.com.
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DEATH NOTICES Caroline Allen, 73, of Milton, passed away October 31, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Frankie Doby, 71, of Cumming, passed away November 4, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Larry Walter Austin, 61, of Cumming, passed away November 7, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.
Donald R. Evans, 86, of Alpharetta, passed away November 2, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
James Paul Bates, 91, of Roswell, passed away November 11, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Jim L. Gardner, 55, of Alpharetta, passed away October 30, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Ronda Bornhorst, of Forsyth County, passed away. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. James Howard Bruce, Sr., 71, of Cumming, passed away November 11, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Marguerite Connelly, 51, of Roswell, passed away November 10, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Nicholas Dannunzio, 82, of Alpharetta, passed away November 10, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Curtis Scott Darnell, 50, of Forsyth County, passed away November 3, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Monte V. Davis, 91, of Jasper, passed away November 7, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. William Davis, 72, of Alpharetta, passed away November 5, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Frank J. Geiss, 79, of Roswell, passed away November 5, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Charles Sidney Kilby, Jr., 83, of Roswell, passed away November 8, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. Clara Kyriazos, 94, of Johns Creek, passed away October 30, 2014. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery. Helen Luce, 90, of Roswell, passed away November 6, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Cliff Mattox, 51, of Gainesville, passed away November 7, 2014. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Mark Merriman, 61, of Marietta, passed away November 5, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
John Wesley Mullinax, 52, of Alpharetta, passed away November 5, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Thomas E. Newkirk, 67, of Roswell, passed away October 31, 2014. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery. Maria Del C Ortiz-Russell, 56, of Woodstock, passed away November 2, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Mary Christine Erickson Otway, 111, of Dahlonega, passed away November 1, 2014. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home. Cliffie Phillips, 95, of Alpharetta, passed away November 11, 2014. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
95, Elizabeth Reed, of Alpharetta, passed away October 25, 2014. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery. Eva Wegner Rones, 83, of Flowery Branch, passed away November 7, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. Shirley Skeen, 73, of Marietta, passed away November 6, 2014. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. William David Smith, 69, of Cumming, passed away November 11, 2014. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home. Anna Johnson Stanley, 83, passed away November 10, 2014. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home. Andy Zobenica, 44, of Cumming, passed away November 10, 2014. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.
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