Johns Creek Herald - February 29, 2024

North Fulton housing summit signals ‘frozen’ market

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

NORTH FULTON COUNTY — Panelists for the North Fulton Improvement Network’s housing summit Feb. 20 made one thing clear, many people cannot afford to buy a home in the region.

The Improvement Network, formed in 2014 as a poverty task force, is a community think tank that supports public and private solutions to workforce housing, income and employment, transportation, child well-being and food insecurity.

The six cities making up North Fulton — Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs — are some of the most desired places to live, work and raise a family in the United States.

Jack Murphy, chair of the North Fulton Improvement Network and senior account manager at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, compiled statistics from the Federal Reserve in St. Louis to chart regional housing availability.

DAN PAROLEK(OPTICOS)/PROVIDED

A rendering from John Hunt, housing expert with MarketNsight, shows multi-unit housing types, such as duplexes, multiplexes and live-work options, common to pre-1940s walkable neighborhoods. Hunt said “missing middle housing” provides affordable options for entry-level home buyers and younger generations.

The NFIN divided the North Fulton population by generation, Generation Z (ages 15-24); millennials (ages 25-44); Generation X (ages 45-64); and baby boomers (ages 65 and over).

Roswell Area Park Pool drifts toward 50th year

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — For about half a century, the Olympic-sized swimming pool at Roswell Area Park has served as a go-to spot for summer fun and finding community.

In October 1974, Roswell officials

broke ground, and the following June, the pool was dedicated and opened soon afterward.

Janet Russell, who moved to Roswell from the San Francisco Bay area in 1973, goes to the pool every day when it’s in season, from Memorial Day weekend

See POOL, Page 18

With a median income of $91,522, the affordable housing price for millennials is $443,943, according to the Fed’s data for Fulton County.

Murphy said North Fulton has three

homes available at that price, and only 48 rental units on hand at a price of $2,299 a month.

See HOUSING, Page 20

CITY OF ROSWELL/PROVIDED

At left, an archived image from 1975 shows a guest swimming a lap at the Roswell Area Park Olympic-sized pool. The City of Roswell will be celebrating the pool’s 50th anniversary next year. At right, a crowd enjoys the Roswell Area Park Pool in the modern day.

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Suspect arrested for financial identity fraud

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested 37-year-old Marlon Henry-Nichols at his home in Johns Creek Feb. 15 following an investigation into credit card theft.

In November, Alpharetta police received complaints from a woman whose credit cards were stolen from the mail and used at various stores around Metro Atlanta. More than $3,500 had been charged to her credit cards, according to the arrest warrant.

After detectives with the Alpharetta

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.

Pair reports burglary at family’s apartment

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Two individuals reported to police Feb. 13 that several items had been stolen from their family’s apartment on State Bridge Road.

The pair told police that they had been packing up the space for family members who had vacated it, discovering that four TVs and a gaming system had been stolen. One individual said the items belonged to her daughter, who lives in Cumming and had been out of state, according to the incident report.

They identified a potential suspect, the report says, and detectives were advised of the incident.

Former bar worker reports sexual assault

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Savannah woman, a former employee of a sports bar on Jones Bridge Road, reported to police Feb. 13 that she had been sexually assaulted by a patron.

The woman told police that the intoxicated suspect had constantly made

Police Criminal Investigation Division investigated the complaints and determined Henry-Nichols was the offender, they were granted a warrant to search the suspect’s home with assistance from Johns Creek police.

Alpharetta Detective Capt. Andrew Splawn said detectives recovered multiple credit/debit cards and Social Security cards that were not in HenryNichols’ name as well as three firearms.

Splawn said detectives charged

inappropriate comments about how she looked which escalated to the suspect grabbing her buttocks. She told police she reported the incident to her manager at the time to have the suspect kicked out of the establishment, but that the manager didn’t take the issue seriously, the incident report says.

When she returned to work, the woman said the suspect was there, and she repeated her concerns to the manager who told her she was “making a big deal out of nothing,” according to the incident report. The woman told police she didn’t report the incident, which occurred in December, because her associates made it seem like she was overreacting.

The woman submitted a video of the incident to police as evidence.

Driver cited for racing in 45-mph speed zone

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested a 19-year-old Johns Creek driver after he was spotted racing another vehicle at more than 70 mph in a 45-mph zone.

Police stopped the suspect in his Ford Mustang at Jones Bridge Road and Kimball Bridge Road after they observed him racing a black Infiniti sedan. When police activated their blue lights, the Infiniti fled, and police were unable to obtain its license plate.

Police cited the suspect with racing on highways or streets and transported

Henry-Nichols with financial transaction card fraud, identity fraud and theft by receiving stolen property and arrested him at his home. Johns Creek police also charged him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Splawn said the case is still under investigation and detectives are working to locate other victims identified during the search warrant execution.

— Amber Perry

him to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.

Woman reports theft of wallet from vehicle

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An Alpharetta woman reported Feb. 14 that someone had stolen her purse from her car parked in her garage on Greenmont Walk and then used her cards to make fraudulent purchases in Lithonia.

The victim reported she returned home around 4:30 p.m. Feb. 13 and left her purse in the front seat of her vehicle. She said she usually leaves her car unlocked because it is inside a locked garage.

The victim’s husband reportedly returned home shortly after, and he left the garage open. The victim closed the door around 5 p.m.

Around 8:30 p.m., the victim said she received notification for a transaction on her credit card in Lithonia. She then checked the garage and discovered her purse was missing, the report states.

She reported $450 in gift cards, $175 Ray Ban sunglasses and a $295 wallet were inside the purse.

Three of her cards were reportedly used to make more than $600 in unauthorized purchases.

A blue vehicle with a Utah tag was seen driving slowly by the victim’s house around 5 p.m., but no suspects have been identified.

Metro area school districts log top rankings in SAT, ACT

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

METRO ATLANTA — Metro Atlanta school districts ranked among the best in the state for SAT and ACT scores based on the performance of the class of 2023.

Colleges across the United States use the SAT and the ACT to assess college readiness and determine acceptance and placement. A perfect score is 1600.

Among the 165 public school districts that recorded scores, Forsyth County Schools’ total mean ranked highest at 1177.

Three Forsyth County high schools, Lambert (1254), Alliance Academy for Innovation (1239) and South Forsyth (1218) ranked among the top 10 for average scores. Denmark High School ranked 18th highest with a mean of 1168.

The Georgia Department of Education placed the statewide average SAT score at 1045.

“It takes talented students, dedicated teachers and support staff, engaged parents and guardians, and a supportive community for this to happen,” Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden said. “We are fortunate to have all of this in our community to provide a safe, connected and thriving educational experience.”

Fulton County Schools, the state’s fourth largest district by enrollment, came in 19th place with a system-wide average score of 1085.

Students at Northview High School in Johns Creek earned the second highest average (1263) among all individual schools in Georgia.

The DeKalb County School District ranked 92nd with a mean score of 993 for 2,721 test-takers.

Forsyth County Schools also ranked second for the highest composite ACT score in Georgia at 24.4 with 1,663 students tested.

The ACT measures math, reading, science and English proficiency. Students can also take an optional writing section. A perfect score is 36.

Lambert High School ranked third (26.5), Alliance Academy for Innovation ranked fourth (26.3) and South Forsyth ranked seventh (25.3) overall for average composite scores.

Fulton County Schools came in seventh place with an average systemwide score of 22.8 with 3,282 students tested. Northview (second) and Alpharetta (sixth) high schools also placed in the top 10 for individual per -

2023 SAT Results for North Fulton high schools

2023 ACT Results for North Fulton high schools

formance.

DeKalb County recorded 20.6 as its average composite score for 1,129 testtakers. Chamblee Charter High School ranked fifth among individual school scores at 25.8.

The statewide ACT average was 21.3, and the national average was 19.5.

Resident raises money for Free Guitars 4 Kids

Sandy

19 on Brandon Mill Road. Houchin, a first-time homebuyer in summer 2023, kicked off his first calendar year in the city with the goal of raising $1 million for the nonprofit Free Guitars 4 Kids.

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Matt Houchin is more than just a producer, performer and “T-shirt wearer.” He has also embarked on a year-long campaign to raise $1 million for Free Guitars 4 Kids.

Houchin voluntarily signed himself up to wear a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt every day of 2024, something no one has ever done.

With about 30 T-shirts already, he said he will be gathering more throughout the year.

Because rock stars are made, not born, the nonprofit Free Guitars 4 Kids strives to put stringed instruments into the hands of children who are unable to afford one.

So far, the nonprofit has distributed 1,300 guitars across the United States, Jamaica and Uganda.

When Houchin reached out to a friend at the St. Louis-based nonprofit, his idea turned into a reality.

“I was moving, and I have a bunch of Hard Rock Cafe T-shirts,” Houchin said. “And, I just thought, what if I wore a Hard Rock shirt every day for a year?”

The idea stuck in his head, he said.

The discontinued model

Originally from Bloomington, Minnesota, Houchin said his favorite T-shirt is from the Hard Rock Cafe at the Mall of America, which closed in January 2021.

Before Houchin partnered with Free Guitars 4 Kids, he floated the idea of choosing a different charitable organization each month.

The vision for the shirt-wearing fundraiser kept getting stronger in late 2023, and the support from his friends and family encouraged him to follow through, he said.

“I wanted it to be tied to the whole ‘hard rock’ idea, or music or something like that,” Houchin said. “And I talked to a friend that I knew who started the organization.”

After talking with his friend and the executive director of Free Guitar 4 Kids, Houchin said things clicked.

While Houchin has experience producing video content, the world of fundraising is new to him.

Houchin graduated from Northwestern University in 2003 with a bachelor’s in radio, television and film. He has worked as a video producer in the corporate world, with some freelancing, for more than 20 years.

His career path has taken him to

Minneapolis, San Francisco and now Metro Atlanta.

After moving to North Druid Hills in 2022, Houchin and his wife bought their first home on Brandon Mill Road in Sandy Springs in summer 2023.

“It definitely helps with a project like this, that I’m able to put out high-quality videos to promote what I’m doing,” Houchin said. “It’s been really cool for me to use this as a springboard for creativity.”

Recruiting musicians

Along with sporting the same wardrobe daily, Houchin is interviewing every guitarist he knows.

He said the plan is to attend area spring festivals, like Shaky Knees May 3-5 at Atlanta’s Central Park, and to interview visiting rock stars.

Houchin also said he’s looking for community events and local opportunities to raise awareness for “2024 Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon,” and the nonprofits it supports.

So far, he’s attended the 2024 Hawks Fast Break 5K at State Farm Arena and Cupid’s Undie Run in Buckhead.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA Matt Houchin, the man behind the “2024 Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon,” stands in front of his

Springs home Feb.

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With spring in the air, books are the fare during March

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com

Spring will be sprung and praises will be sung of books galore in March.

First up is the Dahlonega Literary Festival, celebrating its 18th year in the downtown’s historic heart. A full slate of activities March 2 will include 35-plus authors, many from North Fulton and Forsyth counties, as well as nationally acclaimed headliner Sharyn McCrumb.

Then another annual enterprise –Forsyth Reads Together – will feature Lisa Wingate, the New York Times bestselling author of “Before We Were Yours,” with over 3 million copies sold. The free event will be March 26 at the Forsyth Conference Center and is sponsored by Forsyth County Public Library, FCPL Friends and Advocates, and the Forsyth County Arts Alliance at the Forsyth County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the North Georgia Community Foundation.

Here are details about these and other happenings.

Saturday, March 2, Dahlonega Literary Festival. Over 35 fiction and nonfiction writers will conduct a full day of workshops, panels and talks. Lunch is $20, all other events are free. 9 a.m. Dahlonega Baptist Church, 234 Hawkins St., Dahlonega. literaryfestival.org

Sunday, March 3, Boozy Book Fair. Hosted by Johns Creek Books at Roswell’s From the Earth Brewing Company, new and used books for all ages will be available. 12:30 p.m. Free. 1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, 770696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

Sunday, March 3, Susan Puckett, on “How to Write a Cookbook.” 2 p.m. Free. Hampton Park Library, 5345 Settingdown Road, Cumming. 770-781-9830. https://www.forsythpl. org/event/9992149

Saturday, March 9, Angie D. Comer. The local author will discuss her thriller, “Some Must Die.” Free. 1 p.m. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road, 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

Saturday, March 9, Dr. Martha Boone. One of the first 100 women board certified in urology, Boone will launch “Mother Charity” during the North Atlanta Author Series, with copies available from Bookmiser. 2 p.m. Free. Alpharetta Branch Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta. 770509-5611. bookmiser.net/book-events.html

Saturday, March 16, Karen Zacharias. The journalist and author will host a writing workshop followed by a signing of “No Perfect Mothers.” 10 a.m. Free. Poe & Company

Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Saturday, March 16, Victor Cosmos, author of “Treasure of the Pandavas.” Free. 1 p.m. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road, 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

Saturday, March 16, McCall Hoyle, author of “Mille.” 2 p.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com

Tuesday, March 19, Katherine Reay. The Friends of Sandy Springs Library will present the bestselling author discussing her new release, “The Berlin Letters,” available that day from Bookmiser. 1 p.m. Free. Sandy Springs Library. 395 Mount Vernon Highway Northeast, Sandy Springs. 770-509-5611. bookmiser. net/book-events.html

Thursday, March 21, Colleen Oakley, Lynn Cullen. Poe & Company Bookstore will host a ticketed Girls Night Out with the authors including wine, appetizers and a book. 6 p.m. $25. Brookfield Country Club, 100 Willow Run Road, Roswell. Call 770-797-5566 to register.

Saturday, March 23, Piper Huguley. Atlanta Authors presents the Clark-Atlanta University professor and author of the biographical historical fiction novel, “By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register.” Bookmiser will sell copies of the story of the Black fashion designer of Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress. Free, in

person or online. 2 p.m. Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St. 404-612-9700. forl.net/atlantaauthors

Monday, March 25, Rona Simmons, Piper Huguley, on “How to Write Historical Fiction.” 7 p.m. Free. Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega St., Cumming. 770-781-9840. https://www. forsythpl.org/event/9793795

Tuesday, March 26, Lisa Wingate. The Forsyth County Public Library’s 11th Forsyth Reads Together event will spotlight Wingate, bestselling author of “Before We Were Yours.” Wingate will be speaking and signing books sold by Suwanee’s Read it Again Bookstore. 7 p.m. Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming. Free but registration is requested at www.forsythpl.org/ event/9048171.

Sign up now:

April 27, Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference. Sponsored by the Atlanta Writers Club, registration for indie authors and those curious about self-publishing is available at atlantaselfpublishingconference.com/ May 3-4, Atlanta Writers Conference. Sponsored by the Atlanta Writers Club, register now for the 30th Atlanta Writers Conference featuring 18 literary agents and publishers. atlantawritersconference.com/

To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@gmail.com by the 15th.

WINGATE

Roswell church contributes to four local schools

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell raised thousands of dollars at the close of 2023 to support specific needs of four local schools.

The fundraiser was one of the church’s NEXT initiatives, what Pastor Jason Cook defined as a “God-sized vision to do something great for the community.” Cook said it is a strategic, end-of-year financial push, when churches and other nonprofits tend to see the most giving.

There has been an overall decline in donating, though, he said, which he attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, a slew of church retirements, and the cultural and political debates in recent years.

“NEXT, for us, was our really prayerful hope that we would get out of that decline, and by God’s grace, we were able to by the end of last year,” said Cook, who took over as pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in 2021. The church was founded 45 years ago.

In just two months, Fellowship Bible Church raised $40,000, primarily through personal contributions from its 1,250-member congregation and other creative means developed by CFO Monty Rivers.

Cook and Rivers presented a $10,000

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA Fellowship Bible Church leaders present a check to Hembree Springs Elementary School for a new ADA-accessible playground Feb. 13. From left is Church CFO Monty Rivers, Hembree Springs Elementary School Principal Nancy Lahey, Elkins Pointe Middle School Principal Andrea Smith, Fulton County School Board member Katha Stuart, and Church Pastor Jason Cook

check to Hembree Springs Elementary School Feb. 13, the last stop, to support the final cost of a new playground for students with special needs.

Nancy Lahey, named Hembree Spring’s principal in December, was joined by former

Principal Andrea Smith, now at Elkins Pointe Middle School. Katha Stuart, Fulton County Board of Education member, who represents areas in Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton and Mountain Park, was also on hand.

Hembree Springs has two pre-K classes and a kindergarten class for students with special needs, which includes students bused from zones not offering those programs.

“When I heard we were getting this, it just was a sigh of relief for me, because now I don’t have to worry about toilet paper and stuff for the rest of the year,” Lahey said.

Without the donation, the fence would have come directly out of the school’s budget, an important feature to allow children to use it regardless of the recess schedule.

The playground, costing a total of $130,000, will be ready by next fall and will have low-lying features on flat ground to accommodate those with disabilities.

A track for tricycles and bicycles will also wrap around the perimeter of the playground.

“It will be a very safe way for them to learn how to do some of those basic things that maybe you and I take for granted, but they don’t have that same opportunity,” said Smith, who helped plan for the playground while working at Hembree Springs.

The nonprofit Hope Roswell, a network of local churches founded in 2009, facilitated the partnership between Fellowship Bible Church and schools, including Vickery Mill Elementary School, Crabapple Middle School and Roswell High School.

“After a few meetings with the pastors … some of the churches got really excited about how they could help the schools,” said Brenda Orlans, director of Hope Roswell.

For the past two years, Orlans said member churches have provided joy boxes to schools, which are shoebox-sized boxes filled with essentials like toothpaste. The organization has also helped coordinate summer camps and provided backpacks.

With help from Fellowship Bible Church, Vickery Mill Elementary School and Crabapple Middle School are launching a school store where students can use Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) points they earn to purchase prizes of their choice.

PBIS is an evidence-based tiered framework for supporting students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional and mental health, also improving teacher health and wellbeing.

Roswell High School’s check will go toward its recent partnership with Pathways2Life, designed to support students who are dealing with social, emotional, coping and addiction issues.

Cherry Street donates proceeds from brewing course to charity

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — To commemorate his sister Laura’s retirement from United Parcel Service after 34 years, Neal Hieb paid for her and her best friend to have a hands-on experience at Cherry Street Brewing.

Cherry Street founder Nick Tanner said Neal Hieb offered $2,000 for the brewing classes. Tanner chose to further the company’s mission by donating the funds to Mentor Me North Georgia, a nonprofit that connects children to adult volunteers who provide support, advice and guidance.

Tanner said Cherry Street’s mission is community, sustainability and education, and the donation to Mentor Me satisfies the company’s goals.

The Hiebs, Laura Turnbow and Cherry Street and Mentor Me staff gathered at the brewing company’s Halcyon location at noon Feb. 16 to commemorate the donation.

Laura Hieb said she used to live near Halcyon, and she often visited to enjoy beer and support the brewery.

“We said, ‘This is perfect,’” Laura Hieb said. “We have a passion for beer, and we also have a passion for

giving back to the community.”

Laura Hieb and Turnbow, who is also retiring from UPS, brewed an IPA-style beer. Tanner dubbed the

new brew “Laura Squared.”

Laura Hieb is pursuing a level one Cicerone certification, which teaches the fundamentals of beer flavor,

styles and service.

Tanner said Cherry Street has offered “be a brewer for a day” opportunities at silent auctions in the past, but Turnbow and Hieb’s experience was a bit more involved.

“We’ve done a lot of charities,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of work with [the] Mentor Me program since we’ve been open, 11 years ago,” Tanner said. “So, it’s a really good program. As affluent as Forsyth County is, there’s still a lot of underprivilege in Forsyth County, so it’s nice to see what Mentor Me does.”

Mentor Me Executive Director Kerry Carithers and Board Chairman Jerry Frasso joined the Hiebs and Turnbow at Cherry Street to enjoy a taste of the IPA.

“For us, being a nonprofit, having this type of support in our community is the reason we get to do what we do, and we couldn’t have the impact and serve the kids that we serve without our community supporting us,” Carithers said.

She said Mentor Me served more than 3,000 students in Forsyth County Schools in 2023. The nonprofit offers three mentorship programs: one-to-one, mentoring after school and connect club.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Mentor Me North Georgia Executive Director Kerry Carithers holds up a $2,000 check at Cherry Street Brewpub at Halcyon Feb. 16. Cherry Street is donating the proceeds from a brewing experience to Mentor Me, a local nonprofit.

Business raises over $6,000 for planned Keystone Village

CUMMING, Ga. — Marie’s Italian Deli on Atlanta Road raised more than $6,000 for Keystone Village at a “special kneads” fundraiser Feb. 3.

Beth Burns and Tammy Miller, adoptive mothers of children with special needs, conceived Keystone Village in 2019. The planned development will serve as a place where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live independently in Forsyth County.

“Annette Schumann runs the bakery at Marie’s Deli, owned by her sister Karen Smith,” Miller said. “Annette graciously offered to host the fundraiser for us where customers could donate to Keystone Village.”

Schumann is a Keystone board member, and her grandson has autism.

“There is such a need for permanent housing for these wonderful adults with special needs,” Schumann said. “We have a great relationship with the Cumming Police Department and wanted to do a fundraiser, to not only raise money, but raise awareness for Keystone Village.”

Cumming Police Chief P.J. Girvan and other officers helped special needs volunteers serve customers at the fundraiser. Girvan said the event was a meaningful opportunity for the police department.

“We're not just officers,” Girvan said. “We're community members dedicated to making a positive impact. Keystone Village holds a special place in our hearts, and we will help out

3. Cumming Police Chief P.J. Girvan also volunteered at the fundraiser.

their mission every chance we get.”

In November, the Forsyth County Commission formally approved a rezoning for Keystone Village, which is developing architectural design, acquiring land disturbance permits, raising money and securing loans to move the project forward.

— Shelby Israel

Tammy Miller, Annette Schumann and Beth Burns smile at a fundraiser for Keystone Village at Marie’s Italian Deli Feb. 3. The business raised more than $6,000 to support the planned community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

PHOTOS BY LARRY BROWN/PROVIDED Cumming Police officers Sarah Brecher and Gabe Bunch serve food with Patrick at a fundraiser for Keystone Village at Marie’s Italian Deli Feb.

My experience has always been, people are extremely welcoming to you, to learning.

ANGELA RENALS, founder, Destination Tea

Destination Tea offers roadmap to experience personal connection

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody resident Angela Renals shares a longtime love of afternoon tea.

It’s not just the beverage. It’s the experience.

Her website, Destination Tea, is a directory promoting local tearooms across the United States and Metro Atlanta.

A New Jersey native, Renals moved to the Atlanta area after college and worked in marketing and public relations. As a young mother in her late 20s, she said she often visited the now-closed Faded Rose Tea Garden in Chamblee, where she experienced her first afternoon tea.

“It was like all the things you love about a teahouse,” Renals said. “This place was just wonderful. They had all of the vintage china, and everything was very leisurely. All the food was homemade. Everything, just delicious. So, I loved it there.”

At Faded Rose, Renals said she made irreplaceable memories with her friends and found a place to escape from the routine of daily life.

In 2016, she founded Destination Tea to share her love of afternoon tea and highlight the community and connection the tradition offers.

“It’s really just an excuse to chitchat while someone is taking excellent care of you and pouring you a fabulous cup of tea,” Renals said.

A nationwide guide

After her introduction to afternoon tea at Faded Rose, Renals decided to make a tea directory for herself.

“It became this really beautiful ritual

in my family and in my friend groups,” she said.

Using her PR background, Renals said she wanted to bridge the gap in publicity for tearooms that do not have an online presence.

She originally used TeaMap, a worldwide tea directory run by Adagio Teas. But, Renals said she soon discovered many locations on the site were closed, and entries were often not updated.

“They say if a tearoom makes it three years, that’s kind of like the sink or swim,” Renals said. “So, it’s difficult to keep these

directories up to date.”

This inspired Renals to create her own directory, and she compiled a master list of tearooms across the country using Google, TripAdvisor and TeaMap over the course of two years. She called businesses whose status she could not confirm online to speak with the owners.

Destination Tea also features teatime fashion and etiquette tips, history lessons and more than 150 afternoon tea reviews.

In 2018, Renals said there were some 1,450 tearooms in the U.S. That number dipped to 1,180 in 2021 before rising to

The Greater North Fulton Chamber (GNFCC) hosted its annual North Fulton Day at the Capitol on February 7, 2024, bringing a group of 30 business leaders to the Georgia State Capitol to meet with state legislators and discuss legislative priorities for the North Fulton business community. The event was sponsored by Axis Companies.

The GNFCC Government Affairs Committee organizes the annual North Fulton Day at the Capitol event as well as the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda, which can be found at GNFCC.com, on behalf of the regional business community.

1,263 in 2023.

With the data she collected from making the website, Renals determined 34 percent of tearooms in the U.S. are in the South. The Northeast followed at 24 percent, and the West and Midwest were in third and fourth place.

There are 61 teatime opportunities across Georgia, 36 of them in the Atlanta area.

Renals said some of her favorites are The Emerald Chandelier in Griffin, Ivy Tea

See TEA, Page 11

www.gnfcc.com

DESTINATION TEA/PROVIDED

The Dunwoody Preservation Trust serves afternoon tea at the Donaldson-Bannister Farm in 2022. The farm hosts an annual afternoon tea each spring for up to 50 people.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

The Ginger Room at 61 Roswell St. in Alpharetta is one of 36 Metro Atlanta teatime locations featured on Destination Tea, a U.S. afternoon tea directory.

Destination Tea owner Angela Renals named The Ginger Room one of Georgia’s best tearooms in a 2022 Explore Georgia article.

Tea:

Continued from Page 10

House in Norcross and Southern Seasons in Rome.

“I think that it’s a little bit the roots of the tradition, but I think it’s also the environment that it puts you into, and the connection and the community that it creates,” she said.

Stepping out of time

In a time dominated by envying others on social media feeds, Renals said afternoon tea allows young people to enjoy in-person connection.

“I don’t mind saying that one of my values is beauty,” Renals said. “It’s beautiful. The presentation is beautiful. The table settings are beautiful. You and your friends are beautiful. That’s quite superficial, but that’s the kind of thing that lifts your spirits.”

Renals attributed the rising popularity of afternoon tea to the desire for offline experiences, and to the nostalgia and growing interest in period pieces like “Bridgerton.” She said afternoon tea is becoming increasingly popular among 25to 34-year-olds.

“I especially think, because of the times we’re in, which are so hectic, and there is so much information overload, and there’s so much disconnection because of screens, I think there’s a renewed love for period shows, period dramas,” Renals said.

Although there are still people who are adamant about staying true to the British style, many tearoom owners have started incorporating hints of their own cultures in their menus. Renals said she thinks each business’s unique spin on the tradition is beautiful.

“My experience has always been, people are extremely welcoming to you, to learning,” Renals said. “There’s not really barriers to entry. It’s not expensive. It’s not an expensive thing to buy and try.”

ARTOFHATS STUDIO/PHOTO CREDIT Tea enthusiast Angela Renals runs Destination Tea, a national tearoom directory, out of her Dunwoody home. Renals launched the website in 2016 after discovering a love of afternoon tea at the former Faded Rose Tea Garden in Chamblee.

North Metro Atlanta tearooms

• Ark Coffeehaus at 4448 Tilly Mill Road in Dunwoody

• Besties at 5238 McGinnis Ferry Road in Forsyth County

• Bulloch Hall at 180 Bulloch Ave. in Roswell

• Donaldson-Bannister Farm at 4831 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road in Dunwoody

• The Ginger Room at 61 Roswell St. in Alpharetta

• Morningbirds at 10930 Crabapple Road in Roswell

Visit destinationtea.com for more information on times, prices and tearooms across Metro Atlanta.

Name of Business: House of Hazen

Owner: Rhonda Hazen

Description: House of Hazen is a fine gift, home décor & baby shop. We offer a selection of carefully curated pieces that elevate any space. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the little ones we have a selection of clothing

and toys that are sure to delight them. We also offer a variety of unique accessories for ladies and men.

Opened: January, 2024

Address: 735 N. Main St, Alpharetta, GA. 30009

Phone: 404-500-5293

Web: www.houseofhazen.com

Calendar

ROSWELL ROOTS POETRY SLAM COMPETITION

What : A dozen poets will compete in an effort to win the title.

When : Thursday, Feb. 29, 7-9 p.m.

Where : Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell

Cost : $15

More info : roswell365.com

ROSWELL BEER FESTIVAL 2024

What : This event features more than 350 beers with unlimited tastings, food from Roswell restaurants and live music. Presented by STAR House, 100 percent of proceeds benefit local kids in need.

When : Saturday, March 2, 1-6 p.m.

Where : Town Square, 610 Atlanta Street, Roswell

Cost : Prices vary

More info : roswellbeerfestival.com

AUTHOR AND POET

SANDRA B. TAYLOR

What : Sandra B. Taylor will discuss her autobiography “All of Me” and her experience growing up in Roswell during the Jim Crow era and read a collection of her slam-winning published poetry. The event is free and open to the public.

When : Saturday, March 2, 2-3:30 p.m.

Where : Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell

More info : roswell365.com

ALPHARETTA RESTAURANT WEEK

What : With more than 45 participating businesses, Alpharetta Restaurant Week features local restaurants offering a special dinner menu with multiple courses for $2550 and many also offer similar lunch menus for $20-35.

When : March 3-9

Where : Participating restaurants

More info : awesomealpharetta.com/ alpharetta-restaurant-week

INTO THE WOODS JR.

What : A production of Jerry’s Habima Theatre, “Into the Woods Jr.” weaves together the stories of some of your favorite storybook characters including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, a cunning wolf, Jack

ALPHARETTA RESTAURANT WEEK

What : With more than 45 participating businesses, Alpharetta Restaurant Week features local restaurants offering a special dinner menu with multiple courses for $25-50 and many also offer similar lunch menus for $20-35.

When : March 3-9

Where : Participating restaurants

More info : awesomealpharetta.com/ alpharetta-restaurant-week

FEB. 29 MARCH 10

and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and a baker and his wife who have been cursed by a witch.

When : March 7-17, times vary

Where : Marcus Jewish Community Center, 5342 Tilly Road, Dunwoody

Cost : $10-36

More info : atlantajcc.org

BOOGILICIOUS

What : Boogilicious is an Atlantabased, high energy band covering hits from the ’60s right to today. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets to the performance, which is free with free parking. Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome.

When : Friday, March 8, 7-9 p.m.

Where : Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming

More info : cummingcitycenter.com

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

What : Step into the enchanted world of this modern classic, based on the Academy Award-winning animated film of the same name.

When : March 8-24, times vary

Where : Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost : Tickets starting at $44

More info : cityspringstheatre.com

THE RUBY SUNRISE

What : Presented by Act1 Community Theatre, “The Ruby Sunrise” charts the course of the phenomenon of television through a girl named Ruby.

When : March 8-24, times vary

Where : Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta

More info : act1theater.org

CUMMING WINE FESTIVAL

What : The second annual Cumming Wine Festival will feature live music, wine and spirits with many wineries represented.

When : Saturday, March 9, 1-4 p.m.

Where : Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming

Cost : Tickets starting at $50

More info : cummingcitycenter.com

A NIGHT WITH DADS 2: THE DADDENING

What : Comedians from improv comedy theater Dad’s Garage will perform.

When : Saturday, March 9, 7:30 p.m.

Where : Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody

Cost : $15-28

More info : stagedoortheatrega.org

Wednesday

9:30 – 11:00AM

11695 Johns Creek Pkwy 1st Floor Meeting Area

Come prepared with business cards and your 45-second pitch about your business! From these meetings, you will form relationships, create business opportunities, and share information with Johns Creek Business professionals.

A part of our mission is to help businesses in Johns Creek connect, grow, and thrive. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is by helping business professionals grow their networks. All are welcome to the following networking opportunities for little to no cost, so please join us! The schedule is subject to change so to stay up to date with all the information visit the Calendar on our website or give us a call.

Men’s Happy Hour Networking

4th Thursday of the month. Check calendar on website for all details.

This event allows male professionals in the Johns Creek area to expand their referral network. So come on join your fellow gentlemen friends – and make new ones- at this monthly event! Chamber membership is not required and there is no admission for this event, just pay your own tab.

Women’s Networking Connection

4th Thursday of the month. Check calendar on website for all details.

Our Women’s Networking Connection is a great platform for women in business to come together to build strong connections with other businesswomen. Whether you own, run, or have a women targeted business you’ll enjoy great networking, great referrals, and great conversations!

Across

1 Bog

4 Aroma

8 Bumped into 11 Fury

12 Hibernia

13 Building block

15 TV type

17 Old dagger

18 Black Sea port

19 Bunk

20 Autos

21 Diamond Lil actress, Mae 22 Extinct flightless bird

24 Tokyo, formerly

26 Dash lengths

27 Idolize

31 Bad day for Caesar

35 Soaks, as flax

37 Youngster

38 Carryall

40 Magazine word

42 Admittance

43 Helper

45 Time zones

46 Gawks

48 Hiatus

49 Egyptian cobra

50 A, in Acapulco

51 Seed cover

55 Assist illegally

58 Actress Balin

60 Lose weight

62 Sandwich shop

63 Like a raccoon, e.g.

65 Assortment

66 Jai ___

67 Cattail, e.g.

68 The Joy Luck Club author, Amy

69 Fewer

70 Big ___, Calif.

Down

1 Withers

2 Cast out

3 Capone nemesis

4 Over (Poet.)

5 Molded, as metal

6 Cookie

7 Tenant

8 Moscow resident or isinglass

9 Sicilian city

10 Level

11 Fair attraction

14 French possessive

15 Surprise word

16 Photo taker

23 Alpha’s opposite

25 Moore of G.I. Jane

28 Oklahoma city

29 Source

30 Sea eagles

31 Followers (Suffix)

32 “___ stop now!”

33 Kett of the comics

See solution Page 22

34 Condition of being notched

36 Roomy vehicle

39 Tournament passes

41 Extradite

44 Tropical lizards

47 Curved

51 French farewell

52 King or queen

53 Decorated, as a cake

54 ___ Zeppelin

55 Big fuss

56 Buckle holder

57 Lamb alias

59 Cairo’s river

61 Corn units

64 Enlisted folks (Abbr.)

Ancient art of tenkara offers flyfishing lesson

Peanut butter and jelly...cheese and crackers...bacon and eggs...these things just go together.

So do kids and fly fishing! But let me clarify. What I’m thinking about this morning when I say “fly fishing” in the context of kids is actually something called “tenkara,” a centuries-old Japanese approach to fly fishing. Like Western-style fly fishing, it uses a long rod, a line and a fly. But in tenkara, the length of the line is fixed, and the line is tied directly to the tip of the rod. There’s no reel full of line, in other words, and that means that problems with line management just go away. All you have to do is to focus on putting the little fly where you want it to go, and the fish do the rest.

Think of a high-tech cane pole, and you’ve got the right idea.

Kids love it!

That’s what makes tenkara-style fishing so appealing to kids – the sheer simplicity of it all. Tenkara allows kids to focus on putting the fly where they want it to go without getting distracted by worrying about managing a bunch of rebellious line. That one simple fact makes tenkara almost intuitive, opening the door to a lot of fun for all concerned.

“It’s like throwing a ball, except I’m throwing a little fly,” one young person told me recently. “It’s just like I’m

Steve Hudson’s latest book, Tenkara 101, has just been published and is a great way to learn about tenkara fishing. It will be available from local outfitters or direct from the author at FlyBooks.net.

throwing the fly right to the fish.”

The big question, of course, is when to start a child learning the art of tenkara. What’s a good age to begin?

“Depending on the child, 5 or 6 years old may not be too young,” observes Pennsylvania-based tenkara enthusiast Joe Mulvey. Joe has enjoyed tenkara for many years, and as his grandchildren grew old enough to get their feet wet (pardon the pun), he was more than willing to teach them.

Right away, Joe says, the question of choosing a suitable rod comes up. What sort of rod is best for kids? His advice is to look at something that’s not too long because a long rod is harder for young arms to manage.

“I would stick with tenkara rods that are 9 ft. or shorter until the kids get taller,” Joe says.

Another thing Joe suggests is to use high-visibility line when fishing with kids.

“I recommend braided line in a bright color as opposed to a level line, which can be harder to see,” he says. “That makes it easier for the kids to see and to cast.”

When introducing kids to tenkara,

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

Twelve-year-old Bates with his first fly rod fish, a sunfish that he caught on the “Hachi” tenkara rod from Zen Tenkara.

John Breyer – Korean War, Vietnam, business executive

Since starting this weekly column almost two years ago, I have profiled and paid tribute to several World War ll heroes, both living and deceased, as well as a living Vietnam vet. This week’s column will highlight an unusual contributor, a sailor who fought in the Korean War and in Vietnam.

Alpharetta resident John Breyer, the oldest of five siblings, was born in St Louis. In 1953, at age 17, he joined the Navy. He was sent to electronics school for nine months at Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay where he learned to repair and maintain shipboard electronic equipment.

Beginning in 1954, he served a 15-month tour in Korea aboard the USS Epping Forest, an LSD (Landing Ship Dock). It featured a “well dock” for transport and launching of landing craft and other vehicles. It could simultaneously carry 300 Marines. John oversaw surface and air radar, sonar and communications equipment.

Epping Forest is the name of an estate in Virginia where George Washington’s mother was born.

Built during World War ll, the Epping Forest saw extensive action in the South Pacific. The ship was decommissioned after the war and recommissioned during the Korean War. In 1954, the ship engaged in mine sweeping operations in Wonsan Harbor, the site of major battles and a naval blockade in the early days of the war. It was the first time an LSD was used for mine sweeping.

“Even though a temporary armistice ending the war was signed in July 1953, the fighting continued for a long time and a permanent peace treaty has yet to be achieved,”John said.

John spent much of his time off the coast of Inchon, west of Seoul, where fighting continued after the armistice.

“We would send aircraft in to napalm the beach and then we would go on to the beach to set up communications with the ship so it could send in Marines and tanks,” John recalled.

The ship picked up supplies when necessary at the Sasebo Naval Base in Japan where millions of tons of supplies, ammunition, fuel and vehicles were loaded on ships bound for Korea.

Late In 1955, the ship took part in the nation’s second hydrogen bomb test series in the Pacific. The U.S. detonated 24 nuclear weapons between 1946 and 1958 on the Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, on land, under the ocean and in

FAMILY/PROVIDED

John Breyer soon after enlisting in the U.S. Navy at age 17 in 1953. Soon after this photo was taken, John underwent nine months of electronics training before shipping out to Korea.

the air. John installed measurement and weather stations and post text fallout measurement devices on the tiny atoll of Kapingamarangi located a safe distance from the atomic tests.

In 1956, during the early days of the Vietnam War, John’s ship moved to that country and mostly worked in the waters near vital Haiphong harbor in North Vietnam and the Saigon River in South Vietnam. Internal waterways and rivers, such as the Mekong Delta and the Saigon River which ran 13 miles from the ocean to the city, exposed the ship to persistent fire from the riverbanks.

“We had to keep the rivers open so our ships could get in,” John said.

Sometimes John had to man the guns which consisted of 40 and 20 mm machine guns and powerful 5-inch guns which were mainly for sea operations and could shoot a projectile 2 to 3 miles.

John left the Navy in January 1957 and enrolled in the University of Illinois where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. In 1960, he married Pat Beabout, who worked in the same university building as John. While he did research in acoustics, she worked in the office.

A month after graduating, John went to work for General Electric in their Ithica and Syracuse N.Y. research labs. His first assignment was to design components for spacecraft and large display systems used in convention halls. He continued engineering studies while at the company and attended the famous GE General Manager Training School for a year.

After 29 years at GE, in 1989, John accepted a position with Scientific Atlanta to direct their antenna

The Epping Forest was an LSD (Landing Ship Dock) used to carry large vehicles and landing craft and depositing them on beaches in hostile lands. The ship also carried up to 300 Marines. The LSD was a workhorse ship during World War ll, Korea and Vietnam. Shown with landing craft.

Officers and crew of the USS Epping Forest shown on the ship’s well dock probably taken in the Los Angeles area shortly after the ship was commissioned in October 1943. The well dock is a deck at the waterline at the ship’s stern which when flooded allows amphibious vehicles and landing craft to enter and exit the ship. The ship could travel at 17 knots and was 458 feet long. It could carry up to 12 medium tanks and several landing craft depending on how many vehicles it transported. It accommodated 22 officers and 218 men at full capacity plus officers and men to handle landing craft.

measurement and radar cross section, RCS, businesses. (RCS is a measure of how detectable an object is by radar.) He became group vice president in charge of 11 businesses and retired in 1999.

Retired is perhaps not the best term in John’s case. He purchased the business he had been responsible for from Scientific Atlanta and started MI Technologies, a company that made specialized instrumentation products for government, military and private sector enterprises. The company merged with a

California competitor in 2016 and John ran the new entity. He permanently retired in April 2021.

One could say that John has had four successful careers.

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

BOB MEYERS Columnist

U.S. NAVY/PROVIDED

U.S. NAVY/PROVIDED

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Pool:

Continued from Page 1

through Labor Day, doing exercises, “paddling around” and reading a book.

There, she said she found friendship, running into people she met at the pool around town.

“It’s fun to see young people grow up to be teenagers to be parents who come back to the pool,” Russell said. “I think the nice thing for me, too, is that we have so many people from around the world to come to that pool now.”

She said she hopes the city will put up a map of the world and a sticky dot, marking each time someone visits from elsewhere. During the 1996 Olympics, Russell said Fiji’s swim team practiced at the Roswell Area Park Pool, and Belarus’s gymnastics team trained in the building next door.

She emphasized the pool as an indiscriminate place.

“We’ve seen very fancy cars there, and we see people drive up in a taxi,” she said. “We don’t really care where you came from, because when you take off your clothes and put on your swimming suit, we’re all in the same water together.”

She said Roswell was sparsely populated when the pool opened. The city had a population of about 5,500, according to the “1970 Census of Population” issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“There was no social life, except church and the pool,” Russell said. “When I moved here, we had to vote for liquor by the drink. Let that sink in.”

She said it was one of three Olympic pools in the state.

“For a town of so few people, it was quite, I think, a leap of faith into the future … We built a pool for children whose parents hadn’t been born yet,” Russell said.

The project had been funded using a portion of a $1.3 million bond, which also covered the city’s sewer system and two

Houchin:

Continued from Page 4

Halfway through February, Houchin has raised more than $5,000.

“The goal is $1 million, which means we’re not exactly on track,” Houchin said. “This is something, I knew, would be a year-long process, so I’m hoping it grows organically and then snowballs at some point.”

Houchin said he enjoys the added pressure of figuring out how to raise $1 million.

So far, promotional content for “Matt’s Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon 2024,”

satellite fire stations. The pool and bath house cost around $411,000, close to $3 million in today’s dollars.

Each year, the pool averages up to 30,000 visitors. In addition to amenities like the children’s wading pool and mushroom waterfall, many programs are offered at the Roswell Area Park Pool. They include aquatic exercise programs, youth and adult swim lessons, lap swimming, swim team, lifeguard training,

using the hashtag #MattRocksShirts, has generated over 100,000 views across social media platforms.

Houchin said raising awareness for Free Guitars 4 Kids and its local partner, Amped Kids, is another important aspect of his “shirt-a-thon.”

Free Guitars 4 Kids works to ensure kids with a free instrument, receive lessons and mentorship through local organizations, schools and places of worship.

The nonprofit sponsors more than 20 charities across the country, including the Amped Kids Foundation in Georgia.

The Foundation, a Gainesville-based nonprofit founded in 2018, provides

paddleboard yoga, and aquatic camps.

Russell recalls special events like “Dive-In Movies.”

“It’s very fun when the sun goes down at eight minutes to 9 [p.m.] behind the gymnastics building,” she said. “All the lights come on inside the pool, and the fireflies come out in the woods. It doesn't get any prettier.”

In light of the significant milestone, the city is gearing up for a grand

free music lessons and programs to foster and adopted children.

Houchin said he’s been invited to its annual gala March 7 at the Chattahoochee Country Club.

Proceeds from a special-guest performance by John Berry and a silent auction will go directly to the nonprofit’s music programs. Individual tickets start at $75.

In late January, Hard Rock Cafe reached out to Houchin on Instagram and expressed its excitement with the fundraiser.

He said he thought the company would send a cease-and-desist order or sue. Instead, Hard Rock Cafe reached out to brainstorm promotional ideas.

celebration.

“Our dedicated staff is already hard at work, developing plans that include a season kick-off around the Memorial Day holiday in 2025,” said Steven Malone, Roswell director of Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs.

Malone said the season will be filled with special activities leading up to pool’s 50th anniversary celebration June 19, 2025.

“I’m hoping they get involved at some point, and we’re able to have some sort of official partnership,” Houchin said. “That could really take it to the next level.”

Houchin said he’d like to get his neighbors and Sandy Springs residents involved with the fundraiser through a city-sponsored initiative or a gathering at a local brewery.

To learn more about Houchin and the “2024 Hard Rock Shirt-a-thon,” visit https://fg4k.org/mattrocksshirts/.

“I’m like the Neil Armstrong of wearing a Hard Rock Café T-shirt every day,” Houchin said. “Would love any ideas or help from the local community.”

CITY OF ROSWELL/PROVIDED

This image shows the early stages of construction at the Roswell Area Park Pool before its opening in 1975.

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Housing:

Continued from Page 1

“We have to be more intentional about these things,” Murphy said. “The fact that we don’t have more workforce housing impacts every one of us with congestion [and] reduction in business services.”

For more than 150,000 North Fulton residents, ages 15-44, with a median income of less than $100,000, there is little to no inventory for starter homes or apartments, Murphy said.

He also pointed to the growth of highincome households, earning more than $200,000, and decline of workforce-income households, earning less than $75,000, since 2015. Murphy said his premise is that the people sought after for employment in the school system and regional hospitals often make less than $75,000 annually, and they are leaving North Fulton.

“We don’t know where they are going, necessarily,” Hunt said. “But we know they’re moving out of the population and out of North Fulton… that’s a problem for all of us.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic opened the doors for remote work in North Fulton, the essential and in-person workforce does not have access to an affordable housing inventory near their jobs.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Apartment List and Zillow shows Metro Atlanta ranks first in home appreciation, fourth in rent appreciation and 13th in wage appreciation compared to other major U.S. cities. While appreciation is great for homeowners, younger generations are unable to purchase a starter home to build equity, which plays a vital role in wealth gains for many middle-class and lower-income individuals and families.

“What we want you to think about are early career workers that are essential to our well-being in North Fulton,” Murphy said. “There aren’t many places for those folks to start their career and raise a family.”

Panelist talks market trends

John Hunt, housing expert with MarketNsights, traced the shortage in housing

supply to the Great Recession, which began in December 2007.

According to Hunt, housing starts tracked with an increasing population before the crash and never recovered afterward.

Hunt said there was a housing crisis before the pandemic, and it only got worse after 2020 with no signs of improvement in the current market.

The annual housing deficit is 47,000 units, and with only 12,000 units scheduled for the next 12 months, builders are unlikely to catch up soon, he said.

“The second largest demographic group in the country, baby boomers, are sitting on their homes when they should use them to take advantage of skyrocketing prices,” Hunt said. “Why aren’t they moving? Because there’s nowhere for them to go.”

Many homeowners, he explained, do not want to trade in their 3 percent mortgage for the current rate of 6.77 percent.

Hunt termed the situation in American cities, especially in North Fulton, as a “frozen housing market.”

“There’s a lot of talk about a ‘silver tsunami’ coming in this country with all these boomers starting to unload their houses,” Hunt said. “If there was going to be a ‘silver tsunami,’ it probably would have happened in 2021.”

While sales under $350,000 made up 70 percent of the housing market in 2016, they represent 30 percent of the share today, Hunt said. He attributed the affordable housing crisis to “restrictive and exclusionary zoning,” which has eliminated the “missing middle housing” between singlefamily homes and mid-rise apartments.

“We are witnessing an all-out war being waged on housing attainability in our country,” Hunt said. “This is the defining issue of our time.”

Cities set lot size

The Roswell City Council passed an amendment to the Unified Development Code in May 2022, which removes multifamily zoning districts and prevents developers from submitting rezoning requests for constructing new standalone apartments without non-residential uses such as retail.

Roswell also has minimum requirements for lot size and square footage,

resulting in the construction of zero new homes under 2,000 square feet, Hunt said.

While there are resales of homes under 2,000 square feet, there is little to no availability in the local market.

“What we get a lot of is, ‘we don’t want our values being attacked or dropping based on building higher density or smaller homes,” Hunt said. “On the surface that makes sense…that’s absolutely not the truth.”

Comparing the price per square foot of homes in the Roswell High School district, a 2,500-square-foot home costs $280 per square foot and a 1,000-square-foot costs $386 per square foot.

While younger generations are scrambling to find affordable housing or moving in with their parents, the lack of affordable housing inventory is keeping older generations shackled to their single-family residential homes.

“Unfortunately, that middle square footage that we are looking for, 1,200 to 2,200 square feet, is missing,” Hunt said. “Today’s zoning is really polarized, its either detached-single family… or apartments.”

He advocates for multi-unit housing types, such as duplexes, multiplexes and bungalow courts, common to walkable pre1940s neighborhoods.

Hunt said “missing middle housing” provides affordable options for entry-level homebuyers and younger generations.

Schools, healthcare affected

Some of the most important factors for prospective homebuyers are proximity to quality local schools, health care services and transportation. North Fulton has all three.

Fulton County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney and Wellstar North Fulton Hospital President Jon-Paul Croom joined Hunt as panelists at the summit.

Looney and Croom described the difficulty they face with recruiting workers, retaining their employees and remaining competitive.

While Croom said attracting doctors to the suburbs has not been an issue, nurses and technicians often cannot afford to live near the hospital in Roswell. Recruiting hospital employees is more difficult in lower-income brackets, he said.

“I believe that the problem that we’re seeing is younger people who are just entering the workforce and new professions,” Croom said. “Our challenge is trying to find people who live close and are willing to drive here.”

Looney said 30 percent of teachers leave their profession in their first five years.

To offset the turnover, Fulton County Schools offers a stipend of up to $5,000 for new teachers, which is not sustainable, he said.

Croom said Wellstar North Fulton Hospital has a similar program with signing bonuses and incentives for low-income individuals.

“It’s not sustainable, it’s just not sustainable long-term,” Croom said.

Hudson:

Continued from Page 14

remember that the goal is to catch fish –pure and simple.

“Begin with small and easy-to-catch fish like bluegill,” he says. Kids want to feel the tug on the other end of the line. If they do, there’s a great chance they’ll be hooked on the sport for years to come.

What kind of water is best for kids?

“Look for a shallow, easy-to-wade stream with lots of sunfish in it,” Joe says. “If the stream is shallow enough, you can even let them stand in the water while they fish. They’ll learn something about wading and get to play with casting too.”

When teaching kids to fish, whether with tenkara or traditional fly fishing gear, it’s important to remember that you’re fishing with kids. Children do not automatically appreciate the pre-trip rituals that we adults treasure and enjoy; instead, they want to get to the water and catch some fish.

“That’s why I suggest that you use a line holder. Have it pre-rigged and ready to go so you can start fishing as soon as you get to the water,” Joe says. Being ready to go like that keeps kids from getting bored, and that’s important.

Joe also suggests having a fly vest or fishing cap for the child to wear. Again, it connects them to the day.

What about flies? For starters, try a surface fly like a brightly colored foam spider. Get some in a variety of colors, and let the kids choose the one they like.

Once the fishing begins, don’t worry too much about things like keeping the line off the water. Instead, encourage your proteges to just “throw the fly over there.” It works! You’ll be surprised at how quickly they learn the basic tenkara cast, and all the rest will follow.

When the child lands a fish, make a big deal of it! Take pictures and celebrate! You might even want to clip off the fly and present it later on to the mom or dad as a souvenir of the day’s adventure. It’s something the parents (and the child) will treasure for years to come.

Here’s one last thing to keep in mind when introducing kids to tenkara. For children, fishing is about a lot more than fishing. You’ll be combining fishing with wading and rock throwing and frog chasing too. Kids probably won’t be up for a whole day of throwing flies, so encourage those frog and rock breaks. I’m betting that you just might find that you enjoy chasing frogs and throwing rocks too.

And remember that you’re helping to ensure the future of the rivers and streams that we all love so much. You can’t do much better than that.

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