Johns Creek Herald - March 21, 2024

Governor lauds fight against trafficking

► PAGE 3

Rivermont Golf Club adapts after clubhouse fire

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A portion of Rivermont Golf Club on Rivermont Parkway went up in flames March 6, resulting in smoke and water damage to around 90 percent of the clubhouse.

Firefighters responded to the scene at around 5:30 a.m. that morning for a fire that took over the laundry room area of the building. General Manager and club owner Chris Cupit said the fire was likely caused by a tree that had fallen on a power panel.

A police incident report obtained by Appen Media noted the roof above the kitchen collapsed.

Cupit said there were no injuries.

See FIRE, Page 6

The Rivermont Golf Club clubhouse, pictured here late last year, saw fire damage March 6. The club’s owner says the building will be down for several months but that golfers are already back on the course.

Bridge

Field Services

12.

Johns Creek strengthens connectivity with trail, bike lane on Jones Bridge

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmdia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek officials commemorated the opening of new pathways intended to improve multimodal connectivity along a section

of Jones Bridge Road March 12. The $2.9 million project included constructing a 10-foot-wide trail and a 4-foot-wide bike lane from Douglas Road to McGinnis Ferry Road, which serves as a two-lane arterial roadway in the northwestern portion of Johns Creek.

The plan to advance pedestrian improvements was passed in 2021, and adjustments were made to engineering efforts for the project after the City Council adopted a map of bicycle corridors the following year.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Johns Creek City Councilmembers Stacy Skinner and Larry DiBiase, center, cut a ribbon on a newly completed trail along Jones

Road March

City Transportation Manager Muhammad Rauf, Field Services Superintendent Alex Gray,

Manager Jason Nealey and TSPLOST Manager Mindy Sanders were also at the ceremony.

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State prison inmate charged for threats made against governor, Milton mayor

MILTON, Ga. — The Milton Police Department has charged a 30-year-old prisoner for 2023 threats made against Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison and Gov. Brian Kemp.

Police officials said Georgia State Prison system inmate Eric Elam has been charged with two counts of terroristic threats and acts stemming from a Dec. 16 phone call.

Officers traced the call back to a cellphone inside a Georgia State Prison. Officials said the phone was later located in Elam’s cell.

Elam is currently serving a life

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.

Police investigate death of 25-year-old man

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police were dispatched to the home of a 25-yearold Johns Creek man who was found unresponsive and under cardiac arrest March 4.

After ambulance services performed lifesaving measures for 20 to 25 minutes, he was pronounced dead.

Per the reporting party, who shares the residence with the victim, the victim’s mother said the victim did not have a drug history and was not taking medication, according to the incident report.

Officials said police are currently waiting for autopsy results from the Fulton County Medical Examiner to determine the cause of death.

sentence for separate charges. Milton Police officials said the department does not think Elam had any independent motive to make the threats, but there likely are other individuals or groups behind the incident whose reasons are unknown.

Jamison also reported receiving threats in September. Police officials said the department is working to determine if there is a connection between the two threats.

The Milton mayor thanked the police department for its work on the investigation that led to the charges.

Police arrest Roswell man for alleged pharmacy threats

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested a 27-year-old Roswell man March 7 for allegedly threatening and robbing a pharmacist for Xanax at Kroger on State Bridge Road.

The day before, the pharmacist reported the suspect gave her a note demanding Xanax pills and threatening that he had a weapon, though it was never brandished. The pharmacist told police she handed him a bottle containing five Xanax pills.

According to the March 6 report, the pharmacist said the suspect appeared to have been scoping out the location earlier that morning. Police were also shown surveillance footage of the suspect matching the description provided by the pharmacist.

On March 7, the suspect reportedly returned to the location and showed a message on his phone to a pharmacy technician that said he needed a bottle of Xanax and that he had a weapon.

The technician then handed a

“It’s a great comfort to myself and my family to know that we have the Milton Police protecting and supporting not just us, but our entire city,” Jamison said. “I know this investigation is ongoing, but I could not be prouder of what our officers have done thus far or more confident they will continue to work hard to find all those responsible.”

Milton Police Chief Jason Griffin thanked the Georgia Department of Corrections for its assistance in the case.

— Shelby Israel

bottle containing six Xanax pills to the suspect, the report states.

Officers located and arrested the suspect March 7. He was charged with robbery by intimidation.

Delivery driver reports indecent customer

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested a 32-year-old Johns Creek man March 9 after he allegedly answered the door for a DoorDash driver while fully nude.

The driver reported he had instructions from the suspect on the DoorDash app to hand deliver the food to him and to not leave it on the doorstep.

When the driver did so, the suspect allegedly answered the door fully nude and asked the driver if he would perform oral sex on him to which the victim denied and ran away, according to the report.

Police reported approaching the suspect’s residence and finding him naked and engaged in a sexual act.

The suspect was charged with public indecency and transported to the Fulton County Jail.

Kemp praises local fight against human trafficking

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp stopped by Roswell Area Park March 14 for a Rotary Club meeting to advocate for ending human trafficking statewide.

More than 250 people, including Rotarians and public officials, packed the gym in the Bill Johnson Community Building to discuss commitments to veteran families and the fight against trafficking.

The same day, the Georgia House of Representatives approved final passage of the ninth anti-human trafficking bill, SB 370, under Gov. Kemp.

The bill, if signed by the governor, would require certain establishments to post human trafficking hotline information.

The bill also secures awareness training and inspections for massage practices, with requirements for the display of licenses.

Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson touted the local push to update ordinances on massage practices, implement more regulations and enhance enforcement.

“The City Council and I made it our top priority to eradicate illicit activities in massage parlors and put an end to human trafficking in the City of Roswell,” Wilson said. “The safety and protection of our residents, especially those who cannot defend themselves, is

a solemn duty and responsibility.”

He also spoke about the Sept. 20 joint operation led by Roswell Police, in which several spas around Metro Atlanta saw criminal charges, and the subsequent ordinance changes the City Council made March 11 regarding massage establishments.

Some updates included clarifying the role of a registered agent and the requirement for massages to be performed by a Georgia licensed therapist.

“While we may not be able to eradicate illegal massage parlors and human trafficking on a global scale,” Wilson said. “We are going to eradicate illegal massage parlors and human trafficking in the City of Roswell.”

He said he hopes the local effort inspires other jurisdictions across the state and country to follow suit.

Dave McCleary, vice chair of Rotarians Against Slavery, presented first lady Marty Kemp with an award for her efforts to combat human trafficking in Georgia and across the United States.

“Thank you for your outstanding contributions and leadership that exemplifies service above self,” McCleary said.

McCleary said that Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott attributed her state’s trafficking task force to inspiration from Marty Kemp’s work in Georgia.

See KEMP, Page 15

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

At left, Dave McCleary, vice chair of Rotarians Against Slavery, presents Georgia first lady Marty Kemp, right, with an award for her work combating human trafficking. McCleary thanked Kemp for her dedication to “service above self.”

December Eagle Scouts

Northern Ridge announces quarter’s Eagle Scouts

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (Cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, John’s Creek, Milton) is proud to announce its newest Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.

Completed Dec. 28, from left:

Ibrahim Hossain, of Troop 12, sponsored by Muslim American Society Youth Center, whose project was the design and construction of 4 Picnic-Benches for the Early Childhood Center branch of the School, ILM Academy.

Zain Ghazanfar, of Troop 12, sponsored by Muslim American Society Youth Center, whose project was the design and construction of a fence gate entrance, for the back grounds area for Nurul Quran, a local branch of a worldwide seminary.

Ian Hurewitz, of Troop 1818 North Metro office of the Marcus Jewish Community Center, whose project was the tear down and rebuilding of an outdoor shed, installing a paver path to the shed and also placing edging alongside the current gravel path at Congregation B'nai Torah.

Sasanka Sai Polisetti, of Troop 629, sponsored by Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a shelving unit, a unified shelving system and a wooden folding table for the Autry Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center.

Shinhai Chen, of Troop 629, sponsored by Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a worm compost bin, and an arbor gate for the entrance to the compost learning center and disassembling, moving, and reassembling 2

January Eagle Scouts

plastic tumbler composts encased in a wood stand for the Autry Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center.

Akshaj Shajeev, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church whose project was the design and construction of a large wooden swing for the North America Shirdi Sai Temple Of Atlanta.

Completed Jan. 25, from left; Reed Hunter McMichael, of Troop 7153, sponsored by St. Brigid Catholic Church, whose project was the repairing of a trailer for Meals by Grace and then leading a food drive in which he collected over 600 food items.

Tye Miyazaki Wade, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church whose project was the design and construction of a two large storage cabinets, creating a better support system for the two current cabinets and reorganizing the current band material for Chattahoochee High School Bands.

See SCOUTS, Page 8

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Summit Counseling celebrates mental wellness at annual gala

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — More than 500 community leaders and mental wellness advocates gathered at The Hotel at Avalon Feb. 24 for the Summit Counseling Center’s 9th annual gala.

The celebration centered on the joy of generosity, passion for community and commitment to support mental wellness across north Metro Atlanta.

The Summit Counseling Center, founded in 1990, has locations in Alpharetta, Dunwoody, Milton and Sugar Hill, with their main office at

2750 Old Alabama Road in Johns Creek.

Because suicide is the second leading cause of death for American children aged 10-14, the Summit also sports more than 30 on-site locations at K-12 schools across north Metro Atlanta.

Therapists provide schoolbased services, a first responder counseling program and mental health awareness, aiming to help everyone from children to seniors.

Professional counseling at the Summit integrates body, mind, spirit

and relationships, its website says.

To open the gala, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr updated the room on the state’s mental health initiatives and the work of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

Archambeau and Whatley-León also serve on the Summit Board.

Shyann Malone, on-air host of CBT News, emceed a fireside chat with Lester Archambeau, senior player director of the NFL Players Association; Javis Austin, founder of JA Fitness Plus and former Clemson University running back; Mercedez Jackson, coordinator of school social workers for Fulton County Schools; Nikeisha Whatley-León, system director of behavioral health services for Northside Hospital; and Will Atkins, director of operations and clinical services for Summit Counseling Center.

Fire:

Continued from Page 1

The clubhouse will be down for several months, he said. While the building’s exterior looks untouched, Cupit said the clubhouse is now a “ghost town” as carpets are being ripped up and furniture is moved off-site. Golf carts have already been relocated, he said.

Golfers were back on the course that

The Will to Live Foundation, a Johns Creek-based organization dedicated to preventing teen suicide, donated $5,000 to the Summit on behalf of the first Summit Life Teammate award-winner, Madeline Redetzky.

With a silent auction, community donations and corporate sponsors, the 9th annual Summit Gala raised record-breaking funds for its mission.

David Smith, executive director of the Summit Counseling Center, thanked supporters for their generosity.

“Through this infusion of hope, we are able to raise awareness about mental health issues, increase access to care, and make mental health services affordable to all,” Smith said.

Thursday, following rains, Cupit said, and staff is quickly adapting.

Cupit said the Golf Club’s new pavilion, which houses a fitness studio, is providing a temporary space for offices and will continue to provide small food services. He also said there are already tents on-site to provide more space, after city approval of a permit application submitted that Friday.

[The City of Johns Creek has been] obviously very understanding, very sympathetic and are going to try to help us through as best as possible,” he said. “The building will probably come back online in sections or phases, so we’re hoping we could get maybe a temporary certificate of occupancy.”

He said employees, including clubhouse servers, will be financially covered until the clubhouse is up and running again and has plans to increase their hourly wage.

“We’ve been here for 52 years,” Cupit said. “We made the commitment to our employees, you know, no one’s going to lose their job.”

Where to snag vegan food

By ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com

METRO ATLANTA — Whether it’s a personal lifestyle choice or a New Year’s health kick, a vegan diet does the body good. For those nights you aren’t up for cooking at home or safely ordering a salad at your friend’s favorite barbeque place, it’s important to have tasty options that align with your culinary preferences. While there are several health benefits to eating allnatural and organic foods, it can be exhausting to find a delicious vegan restaurant that fits your needs for a night out. Here are nine vegan food and dining options to keep on your radar throughout metro-Atlanta.

Alpharetta

1. Mayuri Indian Grill

• Authentic Indian eatery serving vegan, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian dishes

• Open Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Sunday 4 p.m. – 11 p.m.; Friday/ Saturday 4 p.m. – 12 a.m.; closed Mondays

• Located on McGinnis Ferry Road

2. Madras Chettinaad

• Authentic South Indian food

• Serves vegetarian and vegan dishes and alternatives

• Open every day 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.; 5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

• Located on State Bridge Road

Roswell

3. Veganize It

• Vegan

• Open Tuesday-Sunday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.; Closed Mondays

• Serves plant-based sides and desserts with entrees available on Saturdays

• Located on Old Roswell Road

Johns Creek

4. Ethiopiques Cafe And Restaurant

• Ethiopian restaurant with vegan dishes

• Open Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/ Sunday 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. and FridaySaturday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; closed

Mondays

• Serves vegan offerings and platters of varying sizes

• Located on State Bridge Road

5. Rakkan Ramen

• Offers vegetarian and vegan dishes

• Japanese ramen bar and restaurant

• Open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

• Located on Medlock Bridge Road

Peachtree Corners

6. Loving Hut Vegan Cuisine

• 100% vegan

• Offers variety of American, Hispanic, Asian, and Italian entrées, sides, and desserts

• Open Monday-Friday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.; 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.

• Located on Spalding Drive

Atlanta

7. Asian Vegan Kitchen

• Traditional Asian dishes with a vegan twist

• Strictly offer deliver and pick-up

• Open Monday-Tuesday/Thursday-Sunday 5:30 p.m. – 12:45 a.m.; closed

You can find an assortment of vegan food options around Metro Atlanta.

Wednesdays

• Located on Forrest Street Northwest

8. Bakaris Plant Based Pizza

• 100% vegan

• Serve plant-based pizza, burger, and wraps

• Open Monday-Thursday 2 p.m. – 12 a.m.; Friday-Saturday 2 p.m. – 2 a.m.; Sundays 4 p.m. – 12 a.m.

• Located on Lee Street Southwest

9. Calaveritas Taqueria Vegana

• 100% vegan

• Serve plant-based tacos, nachos, and burritos

• Open Tuesday-Thursday 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.; closed Mondays

• Located on Presidential Parkway

MAP BY JACOB TOMBERLIN/APPEN MEDIA

February Eagle Scouts

Scouts:

Continued from Page 4

Viraj Sumit Karanjawala, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of 2 benches and repairing the current Gazebo located at Webb Bridge Middle School.

Completed Feb. 29, 2024, with Atlanta Area Council District Executive Chandler White in middle;

Aidan Pfeiffer, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design, construction and installation of 2 wooden benches and 30 birdhouses for Old Rucker Farm Park.

Garrett Jackson Zaher, of Troop 69, sponsored

PROVIDED

by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of an ADA compliant ramp that would allow people to access the Patient Paws Dog Service Ronit Sankhe, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church whose project was the removal of old plants and replacing them with Azelia Bushes and a red maple tree in the parking lot as well as cleaning up the area, mulching it and replacing the stones at the outdoor chapel stairs for Johns Creek Presbyterian Church.

Nikhil Adlakha, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church whose project was the installation of concrete brick borders in two locations adjacent to the Shiv Mandir Temple, as well as recultivating and planting new flora in five distinct areas along the adjacent road.

Financial planning with special needs

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When you have a special needs child, your financial plan will require special consideration. The goal is to ensure that in the event you pass away or become incapacitated, your child will still be able to maintain a high quality of life. You don’t have to disinherit your special needs child to maintain eligibility for government benefits. The best thing you can do, as a loving parent, is to consult tax and estate planning professionals who can help build a plan that covers your child’s special needs and your financial situation. Here are also some other things to consider:

Letter of Intent/Personal Care:

While this isn’t a legally binding document, it helps outline your child’s schedule, their likes and dislikes, medication and medical history, allergies, and the social relationships you would like for your child. If something happens to you, this letter can inform the Guardian or Agent taking over of who to keep your child away from as well as the best ways to maintain a high quality of life for your child.

Create a Financial Plan: Special needs children are generally subject to receiving government benefits, which is why it’s important to plan carefully so you don’t accidentally disqualify your child for government assistance. The best way to ensure this is to create a special needs trust for your child.

Once created, the trust can serve as the beneficiary of any life insurances and accounts, which in turn ensures your assets will never accidentally disqualify your child for government benefits.

Guardianship/Power of Attorney:

When your special needs child turns 18, they gain the right to make their own health and financial decisions. Unfortunately, not all special needs children are able to assume these responsibilities, making it imperative for you to consider alternatives such as legal guardianship or power of attorney, which are both legal structures that give you or a trusted individual the right to make decisions for your child.

In the event something happens to you, make sure your child is protected and that your assets do not end up in jeopardy. Consult attorneys and financial advisors to start strategizing a plan that will protect your child’s future and happiness.

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MARCH 14 MARCH 24

EASTER BUNNY HOP

What: Bring the entire family for an interactive walk around North Pond at Creekside Park with vendors, a DJ and the Easter Bunny. Kids will follow the Bunny Trail around the pond to gather sweets and treats (tattoos/stickers) from local businesses after they snap a photo with Mr. and Mrs. Bunny.

When: Friday, March 22, 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Where: North Pond at Creekside Park, 11360 Lakefield Drive, Johns Creek

Cost: Free

More info: johnscreekga.gov

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

What: Join Laura Markson, a backyard naturalist from the nonprofit Nurture Native Nature, as she explores basic ways to heal our yards’ ecosystems. She will share stories of the daily joy and wonder of experiencing nature in her own rewilded yard and how the introduction of native plants and water sources encourage biodiversity.

When: Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m.

Where: Lost Corner Preserve, 300 Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs

Cost: Free

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

FAIRY TALE FOREST FESTIVAL

What: For this brand new festival at Dunwoody Nature Center, families are invited for a day of building fairy houses, tree climbing adventures, encounters with fairy tale characters, arts and crafts, and food.

When: Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Where: Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody

Cost: $15

More info: dunwoodynature.org

COMMUNITY EGG HUNT

What: This family event, hosted in partnership with Stonecreek Church on Cambridge High School’s football field, includes egg hunts for all ages and a sensory friendly egg hunt at 3 p.m. Games, face painting, music and the Easter Bunny will be there. The event is free, but please pre-register.

When: Saturday, March 23, 4-6 p.m.

Where: Cambridge High School, 2845

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

What: Join Laura Markson, a backyard naturalist from the nonprofit Nurture Native Nature, as she explores basic ways to heal our yards’ ecosystems. She will share stories of the daily joy and wonder of experiencing nature in her own rewilded yard and how the introduction of native plants and water sources encourage biodiversity.

When: Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m.

Where: Lost Corner Preserve, 300 Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs

Cost: Free

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

Bethany Bend Road, Milton

Cost: Free

More info: miltonga.gov

SPRUILL CENTER’S ARTISTIC AFFAIR FUNDRAISER PARTY

What: Marking the celebration of the Spruill Center’s new building expansion and courtyard, this year’s Artistic Affair aims to raise funds to support arts programming and outreach for the upcoming year. Tickets include valet parking, an open bar, a catered buffet dinner and live music.

When: Saturday, March 23, 5:30-9 p.m.

Where: Spruill Center for the Arts, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody

Cost: $100

More info: spruillarts.org

ATLANTA DANCE THEATRE PRESENTS BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

What: Based on the classic story of a prince, turned into a beast, and Beauty, the production choreographed

by Shelley Grimes, artistic director of the Atlanta Dance Theatre.

When: Saturday & Sunday, March 2324, times vary

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell

Cost: $34 for orchestra; $26 for balcony; $20 for groups of 10 or more More info: roswell365.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: Until March 24, times vary

Where: Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, 180 Academy St., Alpharetta More info: act1theater.org

FLY BETTY BAND

What: The Fly Betty Band will perform, playing dance and party music from the ’70s to current radio hits. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets. Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome.

When: Friday, March 20, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming

Cost: Free

More info: cummingcitycenter.com

KEVIN HART – BRAND NEW MATERIAL

What: Emmy- and Grammynominated comedian Kevin Hart will perform.

When: Friday, March 29, 9:30 p.m.

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: Tickets starting at $91.80 More info: sandyspringsga.gov

THE ART OF MOVEMENT GALLERY EXHIBIT

What: Focusing on the theme of movement, this exhibition presents artworks that depict dynamic motion, capturing the energy and fluidity of the human body, animals or inanimate objects.

When: Until May 4, business hours

Where: Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton St., Alpharetta

More info: artsalpharetta.org

Tips for creating a four-season garden show

Are you thinking about making changes to your garden this year? Now is the time to consider what plants to add and what to remove. I view a great garden as a well-thoughtout play. The spotlight moves, and there’s always something going on to engage your interest. Watching the same scene, day in and day out, gets boring. So just as there are key elements that make up a good play, there are tips to keep in mind to make your home landscape entertaining all year long.

Establish goals and roles — Whether you want your garden to provide your own farm-to-table vegetables, attract more birds and butterflies or be a peaceful retreat where you can stop and smell the roses (or gardenias) at the end of the day, it helps to have a plan in mind. Improv can be entertaining, yet sometimes a performance is better if it follows a basic script. For example, if you would like to see butterflies, consider planting asters, anise hyssop, bee balm, Black-eyed Susan, Joe Pye weed (a.k.a. Swallowtail Delight), milkweed, coneflowers, sunflowers, and zinnias. In Georgia, milkweeds (Asclepias species) are host plants for Monarch caterpillars.

Year-round interest — Identify roles for your landscape plantings, keeping in mind any bloom times. Each season new plants enter the spotlight. Camellias, daffodils, azaleas, dogwood trees, roses, hydrangeas, abelias, asters and our fall foliage call for oohs and aahs during different seasons. A supporting cast of reliable evergreen plantings adds structure and can also provide privacy. Foliage, branches, sizes, shapes, and textures all catch the eye. Blue, yellow, gray, reddish, jade are all intriguing shades of green. Remember, monocultures are unhealthy and boring.

Right plant in the right place — What role do you want a plant to play in your landscape and what’s the best spot? Trees, shrubs and woody perennials are your key performers. When choosing plants such as trees and shrubs, keep in mind what their mature size will be. Consider scale, distance in relation to your house and location. On a hill, plants at the top play a different role than those at the bottom. Also, landscapes have both sunny and shady areas. Morning sun is different than afternoon sun. Full sun is at least six hours of direct sunlight. Consider sun, soil, moisture level, spacing, and temperature when selecting plants. Make sure your plant’s needs match those conditions at the site you choose. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated the plant hardiness zone map in 2023 and it’s getting warmer. To determine your USDA plant hardiness zone, click on https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Soil testing — To optimize your plantings, it’s helpful to know nutrient levels and soil pH. Don’t automatically assume you should simply add fertilizer. (Full disclosure: I killed a bed of beautiful dianthus by doing this.) Take soil samples from various spots in your landscape. For a small fee, soil tests for basic soil nutrients and minerals can be obtained at UGA Extension Fulton County. Learn more at https://extension.uga.edu/county-offices/fulton/ agriculture-and-natural-resources/testing-services.html.

Do no harm — Invasive plant species are known to harm the environment. In Georgia, kudzu, English ivy, Chinese privet, and Nandina are among those plants considered invasive. For more information, “Invasive Plants of the Southeast” (https://botgarden.uga.edu/wp-

content/uploads/2017/01/Invasive-Species-Brochure.pdf) by the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance lists the top 20 invasive species.

Consult reliable resources — The University of Georgia Extension, the Georgia Native Plant Society, NCSU’s Plant Toolbox, and Doug Tallamy’s Homegrown National Park websites are a few helpful online resources. The Georgia Green Landscape Stewards certification program developed by the University of Georgia Extension service offers excellent information to help residents and businesses adopt sustainable landscape management. Plus, if your landscape meets the scorecard metrics, you can gain “Certified Georgia Landscape” status (and have the option to purchase this sign for your yard)!

Visit wonderful gardens — Years ago a friend introduced me to the Charleston Festival of Houses and Gardens where we embarked on our own walking tour. It was a chance to see “behind the iron gates” of those wonderful private and public gardens that opened my eyes to possibilities I would have never considered. During April, the Historic Garden Week in Virginia features tours throughout the state. The Brandywine Valley in northern Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania also has many wonderful and inspiring gardens, including Winterthur, Longwood Gardens, Nemours Estate, Mt. Cuba Center and more. Keep a journal of your garden visits and what works and what doesn’t in your own garden. You’ll be glad you did!

Finally, have fun and enjoy yourself as you grow! Ralph

Waldo Emerson was a wise man: “Nature is not a place to visit, it is home.”

Happy Gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/opinion/columnists/ garden_buzz/.

Save the Date! Garden Faire 2024 will be held on April 20, 2024, at The Grove at Wills Park. https://www. nfmg.net/garden-faire.html

About the Author

This week’s guest Master Gardener “Garden Buzz” columnist is Pam Rentz. Pam lives in Roswell and has been a North Fulton Master Gardener since 2010. Along with a background in marketing communications for tech companies, she has a longtime passion for plants and our planet.

PAM RENTZ Guest Columnist

Top left: Sheffield mums (Fall)

Bottom left: Ferns/heucheras (Winter)

Top right: Rose (Spring)

Bottom right: Butterfly weed (Summer)

PAM RENTZ/PROVIDED

A hand built stone house is something special

There is something unique and special about stone houses. A person can even build one by himself with the help of a few friends as farmers sometimes did years ago. Basic raw materials, field stones and sand from a creek, are free for the taking. Tools are relatively inexpensive: shovels, wagons, hammers. Then of course there are expenses for a roof, windows, doors, plumbing and electrical connections.

Alan Rucker and his wife Shelia live in a stone house on Arnold Mill Road in Alpharetta. Alan’s grandparents L.G. (Lawrence) Rucker, a cotton farmer, and his wife Byrd Broadwell Rucker built and lived in an oak and pine frame “shotgun house,” a narrow rectangular home, usually no more than about 12 feet wide, with three to five rooms arranged one behind the other and doors at each end of the house with one hallway running the entire length of the house. It was a very popular style in the South from the end of the Civil War through the 1920s.

Unfortunately, the house burned

down in 1939. The entire Crabapple community came to the rescue and built the stone house that exists today. Granite from Stone Mountain was used in the construction. Sand from Little River about 3 miles north of the house was brought in by mule drawn wagon and mixed with Portland cement and crushed stone to make concrete. Timber was cut on the property. Rocks were shaped by hammer on site. To assure straight walls, a frame was built and covered with 1 x 6 or 1 x 8 inch rough cut lumber with the stones set outside the frame much in the fashion of modern bricklaying. Plumb bobs assured vertical walls. Only the exterior walls are stone. Inside construction is tongue and groove pine. The floors are heart pine. Two fireplaces provided the only heat. Alan’s grandparents added propane tanks to the fireplaces a few years later. Like many farmhouses of the time, the house had no

A very special stone house in Milton is currently undergoing major renovation and restoration while preserving its historic character. When the transformation is completed this spring, I will write a column that will interest those who love local history. Stay tuned.

one story home.

bathroom. Alan’s grandparents installed one in 1950. Water came from a 35 foot deep hand dug well on the back porch until the 1980s when the county required conversion to county water.

Down the street a few hundred yards where Cagle Road and Arnold Mill Road intersect is one of the most recognized stone houses in the area, built in the 1970s in the shape of a castle. The house has a moat that serves as a swimming pool. The castle was reportedly made of marble from the quarries in Tate, Georgia, and granite from Stone Mountain and Elberton. It has round rooms and interior stone walls, according to Sheila Rucker Chapman who lives near the house and remembers watching it being built.

Sheila’s great uncle Irving Barnett built a stone house on Rucker Road in the 1950s. It still stands and is noteworthy for the large flower design on the front of the

A stone house, currently being brought back to life by restauranteur Rob Forrest, will soon be the Stone House Tap restaurant, situated on the highest point in downtown Crabapple. Although there are no records confirming the origin of the building, based on the date of a well cover on the property, the house was built around 1913. Both the exterior and interior walls are stone. It had been vacant for several years until Rob bought it. It has been undergoing major renovations to bring it up to code and to create a welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant will feature family friendly casual dining and a full bar with 24 taps of draft beers. It will accommodate 50 patrons inside and 80 outside.

Unfortunately, some historic stone houses have been demolished in recent years, victims of urban development. Selina Kent, great granddaughter of William David (Dave) Rucker, knows of a stone house built in the early 1900s that used to be where Charlotte Road joins Rucker Road in Milton. She recalls that Anita Murdock Wright, granddaughter of Dave Rucker passed ownership of the property to her daughter Dorcas Wright Berthod who sold it to developers about 20 years ago. The house was made entirely of field stone, not granite. It had pine board interior walls because Dave Rucker was building his rock house across the street and gave the lumber he had planned to use in his house to his neighbors whose house burned down. Dave Rucker’s house had one bedroom upstairs, two bedrooms downstairs as well as a kitchen, dining and sittings rooms, big back porch with a well and a front porch with a swing and willow chairs.

Selina also recalls the rock house across the street from the Milton Library owned at one time by Claude Holcombe. The house was on a large corner lot and was vacant and for sale for several years. The land was sold about two years ago and is now a Northside Hospital facility. The stone house was demolished.

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

PHOTOS BY BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

This beautiful stone house owned by Alan and Shelia Rucker was built by Alan’s grandfather L.G. (Lawrence) Rucker in 1939 using granite from Stone Mountain. The original house was heated by two fireplaces. A 35 foot deep hand dug well on the back porch provided water until the county required conversion to county water in the 1980s.

Who you gonna believe? ‘The marketplace of ideas’

PAT FOX Managing Editor pat@appenmedia.com

The Pew Research Center asked me recently to participate in a survey on current affairs. I consented to offer my opinions on religion, politics, immigration and other assorted issues because it is important to help paint an accurate picture of American sentiment.

I’ve always found Pew, a division of the Pew Charitable Trust, to be a reliable source of valuable information.

Thanks to the galaxy of internet and broadcast outlets, we now have an exhaustive supply of “expert” policy statements on social and political stances. I find few of them trustworthy, and yet the shelves overflow in the marketplace of ideas.

That term, “marketplace of ideas,” is attributed to Supreme Court giant Oliver Wendell Holmes in his dissent on a 1919 case relating to the Espionage Act. Two defendants were convicted of distributing leaflets, signed “revolutionists,” calling for an end to U.S. efforts to intervene in Russia’s civil war.

Holmes argued, unsuccessfully, that the leaflets presented no “clear and present danger” to the country and that, “The best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market.”

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Holmes’ marketplace of ideas is now an industry, fueled by special interests with deep pockets or pecked on the keyboards of provocateurs in their parents’ basement.

On a grander scale, there are “think tanks,” teams of data jugglers paid to manufacture viewpoints to suit any social or political persuasion. Most of these policy statements begin with some basis in fact, but their route to a conclusion is often skewed with partisan detours before landing on any “truth.” The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard reports more than 1,200 think tanks operate in the United States.

Not all think tanks are evil. Some provide valuable research devoid of bias.

Whether they admit it or not, the seminal purpose of most think tanks is to spread information, often to sway public opinion in a pre-determined direction. Many identify themselves as “non-partisan,” but most really aren’t.

All receive funding from someone –people, organizations, and in some cases, grants. No one has ever given money to anyone without a reason.

Many think tanks are alchemists of thought, often turning raw propaganda into gold. It’s their job to tell you what to think, not how to think.

Cable news – and I use that term loosely – supports a cast of characters spewing arguments culled from think tanks.

Cable news is today’s ESPN, politics as sport – moderators as coaches; guests, either Stepford cheerleaders or hapless quarterbacks in a collapsing pocket.

Is it any wonder that people today cite facts that are, in fact, not facts at all?

Only recently, the Miami Chronicle reported online that the U.S. is softening its stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin. The information was attributed to an unnamed State

See FOX, Page 15

Across

1 Monocle part

5 Family girl

10 Airy

14 Elliptical

15 African antelope

16 Detective Wolfe

17 Let down

19 Streetcar

20 Cheer up

21 Hare race foe

23 Pasture

26 Corn serving

27 Chatters

31 Emulate Demosthenes

36 Actor McClure

37 Ariz. neighbor

38 Beg off

39 Abbey area

40 Oak fruit

43 Shredded

44 Flip over

46 Colorful carp

47 Hightails it

48 Butter up?

49 Atomic devices

51 Glimpse

53 French sea

54 Mexican entree

59 Host

64 Food thickener

65 Tremors

68 Gr. letter

69 British ___

70 Moxie

71 Ooze

72 Farm animals

73 Marquis de ___

Down

1 Mother ___

2 Demonic

3 Discovery group inits.

4 Bed board

5 Forty winks

6 Altar vow

7 Blue-pencil

8 Dugouts

9 Bonus

10 Savvy about

11 Persian spirit

12 Time periods

13 Alaska city

18 Hide

22 Stepped

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25 Actor Guinness

27 Father

28 Tricks

29 Broker

30 Call forth

32 Rocket type

33 French romance

34 Reverses

35 Sea eagles

36 Slap on

41 Gad about

42 Riviera city

45 He loved Lucy

49 Hot dog condiment

See solution Page 15

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50 Waste allowance

52 “The King”

54 Checks

55 Curved molding

56 Appraise

57 Golf hazard

58 Competent

60 Russian fliers

61 Mrs. Dithers in Blondie

62 Idylls of the King lady

63 Punta del ___, Uruguay

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14

Kemp:

Continued from Page 3

Gov. Kemp then took the podium to discuss his commitment to public safety and the economic impact of the North Fulton cities.

“There’s some great work going on here,” Kemp said. “I appreciate what Roswell Rotary is doing, not only for our community but also for our state.”

The governor thanked Detective Natalie Fields and the first lady for their work combatting human trafficking and commended Roswell Police and the city on their efforts.

“We appreciate this club for being

LE

in the fight,” Kemp said. “People like Dave McCleary and a lot of people in the room were in the trenches long before we got involved in the fight.”

Fields, a special investigations detective at the Roswell Police Department, received an award for her work combating human trafficking in North Fulton from the Roswell Rotary Club, the Roswell Action Group Against Slavery and End Human Trafficking Now.

Detective Fields said McCleary invited her to the Governor’s Mansion for a meeting with the Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion and Education Commission.

Police Chief James Conroy, credited with leading the September operation with other North Fulton

Fox:

Continued from Page 13

Department official via a leaked recording. The Chronicle also carried

out of South Florida,

For the record, there is no Miami Chronicle. It is a fiction.

It presents a stream of legitimate local news, then adds baseless propaganda disguised as articles.

A team from the Media Forensics Hub

cities, said it’s an honor to have the governor and the first lady recognize the department’s work in Roswell.

“Detective Fields has done a tremendous job,” Conroy said. “We started looking at one thing, which is the sex violations, and uncovered organized crime and human trafficking.”

He said the investigation into organized crime has become much larger than he originally anticipated.

In 2024, Roswell Police have shut down six illegal massage practices. Conroy said there is more to come.

“[The City Council] just passed a stronger ordinance this week,” Conroy said. “You can expect more, now that we’ve got some more tools in our toolbox.”

at Clemson University traced the invention of the Miami Chronical to a proKremlin website, according to the New York Times (if you trust the Old Gray Lady).

If it’s not evident already, the greatest threat to this democracy is that we’ve forgotten how to establish facts first, then disagree. And it’s gone on so long that an entire generation now knows of no time when truth existed.

With apologies to the brilliant Justice Holmes, the best test of truth comes not from the marketplace of ideas. It emerges from facts stripped down to the marrow.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks about the statewide effort to combat human trafficking March

during a Roswell Rotary Club meeting . Kemp thanked Roswell Police Detective Natalie Fields for her work investigating a human trafficking network operating in massage parlors throughout Metro Atlanta, including one in Sandy Springs.