Johns Creek Herald - March 30, 2023

Daffodil Days Market draws crowds

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A week of give-back and volunteer efforts culminated in the Daffodil Days Market at Johns Creek City Hall March 25, which featured around 60 artisans, kids’ activities and food trucks.

A banner was posted, listing more than a dozen organizations that participated in community service, including the Rotary Club of Johns Creek North Fulton, Girl Scout and Brownie troops, Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and area schools.

The “genesis” of the special event was Daffodils 4 Hope, Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry said. The program, sponsored by the nonprofit Johns Creek Beautification, is a planting campaign that raises awareness for CanCare Atlanta — an organization that provides counseling support to cancer patients and caregivers in the community.

Daffodil Days Market, which ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., saw children line up in front of balloon artists. Some kids had their fun at bounce houses and visited with

See DAFFODIL, Page 7

Wellstar opens new $12 million cancer facility

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Wellstar North Fulton Hospital opened the doors to a $12 million comprehensive cancer center at a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 23.

The 12,000-square-foot facility offers advanced cancer treatments including CyberKnife radiation therapy, a Specialty Teams and Treatments (STAT) Clinic, imaging services and an outpatient infusion center.

Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson, Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison and other Roswell city officials joined hospital representatives for the ribbon cutting.

A banner bears the names of organizations that participated in the week of give-back and volunteer efforts for Daffodil Days March 25. Groups included the Rotary Club of Johns Creek North Fulton, Girl Scout and Brownie troops, Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and area schools.

Wellstar North Fulton President JonPaul Croom said the comprehensive cancer center is the only one of its kind in North Fulton County. Wellstar North Fulton’s sister facility, Wellstar Kennestone Hospital is the only other program in the area that offers the same level of cancer care, he said.

Croom credited the bulk of the development to Dr. Mark McLaughlin, a radiation oncologist who spearheaded the expansion.

“About four years ago, we got together with physicians in this area and administrators from Wellstar Health System to share a common goal,” McLaughlin said. “That common goal was to provide comprehensive, truly integrated cancer care at the Wellstar North Fulton Cancer Center.”

McLaughlin said when he came to

See WELLSTAR, Page 10

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

A balloon artist creates a figure for a child at the Daffodil Days Market March 25. A week-long give-back and volunteer effort culminated into the Saturday market at Johns Creek City Hall, which featured around 60 artisans, kids’ activities and food trucks.

A dozen or so hand-painted daffodils greet visitors at the Daffodil Days Market March 25.

Visitors shop at the Daffodil Days Market March 25.

Visitors gather to eat at tables with daffodil centerpieces March 25.

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Burglaries discovered at local storage facility

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek Police spoke to the manager of Extra Space Storage on Jones Bridge Road March 13, who said she found a unit with a broken lock.

The owner of the unit, who lives in Alpharetta, arrived on site and confirmed he was missing corporate books for a company that closed down and a fluorescent hanging light, both valued at $25.

Police noticed the lock had been broken off and the interior wire ceiling was caved in. The unit’s owner said it looked like somebody fell in and broke the lock off from the inside.

The manager said the unit was secured and locked on March 11 at 6 p.m.

Police requested detectives to the scene, who conducted their own investigation.

Police were then dispatched a few hours later to the same storage business for what appeared to be another burglary. The unit’s owner, a Johns Creek resident, said he had not been inside the storage unit since 2017 and nothing seemed to be missing.

But the man pointed out that the wire ceiling about his unit was cut using some sort of tool and pulled back to gain entry. Detectives arrived to take pictures and took a tool bag containing a wire cutter to submit as evidence.

Gym trainer accused of aggressive behavior

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek Police interviewed several individuals

March 13 at LA Fitness off Medlock Bridge Road about an incident involving a woman who allegedly assaulted a man for using a piece of gym equipment too long.

The victim, a Norcross resident, said the woman, a personal trainer, aggressively approached him many times, yelling, and at one point threw a weight at him. He said the weight hit his left ankle, and he considered it a deliberate attempt to harm him.

The suspect denied throwing anything at the man or doing anything illegal, the police report said.

Two witnesses said they saw the woman throw a weight, but it did not hit the man. One of the witnesses was the woman’s client.

Several people approached the police and said the woman is known to be confrontational with gym members.

Due to conflicting testimonies and a lack of video evidence, police filed no charges.

Rent check bounces after subleasing unit

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — On March 17, a woman informed Johns Creek Police March 17 that she and her husband had been defrauded while subleasing her son’s apartment while he was away at college.

She said she charged $4,844 for the several months the unit was available and that an applicant requested a month’s worth of the fee be waived because of a delay in moving in.

After the full amount was paid, the victim sent $1,300 back to the individual through Zelle.

After sending the money, the victim discovered that the check for the original $4,844 had bounced. She was unsuccessful in getting her money back, and the applicant’s phone number was different than the one used to send the refund on Zelle, the police report said.

Police informed her that the

incident appeared to be a scam and that she needed to call her bank to get a refund.

Suspect sought in theft of $329 worth of tequila

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — An employee at Grapes and Grains off Old Alabama Road informed Johns Creek Police of a shoplifting incident March 19.

From the video footage, police saw a man entering the business at 2:50 p.m. who began to browse the tequila aisle. He then spoke with the employee about buying $3,500 in liquor.

While the employee spoke with other staff members outside the aisle, the man removed a bottle of liquor from the shelf before facing away from the security camera three separate times.

After he took the third bottle, the man left the store at around 3 p.m.

The employee said he stole three half-gallon bottles of Casamigos Reposado tequila, with a total value of $329.

The suspect was described as a slender Black man, around 6 feet tall with short dreads who wore a camouflage puffer jacket, ripped blue jeans, gray shoes and a black ball cap with gray/white lettering.

Stormwater wears down a community, reinforces maxim of ‘buyers beware’

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Behind homes in the Parsons Run subdivision lies a stream, its banks gnawed away over the past couple of decades. Homeowners are at a loss of what to do.

Many sections of the stream are stagnant, deemed a future mosquito haven. Erosion has caused trees to buckle and topple, blocking water flow and collecting piles of waste. And in the summer, residents say the area reeks of sewage.

Just above the stream, on the other side of the backyards, is Chattahoochee High School. Homeowners say runoff from the school’s property has contributed to a repository of random objects in still water.

Neighbors have seen sports balls, cross ties, a school desk. They fear the football field bleachers, which are in eyesight, will fall in, too.

The situation at Parsons Run is part and parcel of what prompted Johns Creek to implement its Stormwater Utility in 2021. Each year, residents foot a $70 bill to fund a multi-million-dollar city-wide stormwater management program.

Dave Daniels and his wife Stephanie have been in Parsons Run since 2005. With a face of exhaustion and previous

futile attempts to remove heavier trees, Dave led a tour along the stream March 21 to point out key areas where stormwater has taken its toll.

Some professional tree companies told Dave they couldn’t do anything because they would need a permit to use heavy equipment in the area. State regulations around natural waterways create a tedious process for any major work.

“If the citizens can’t do it, it comes down to the government,” Dave said.

But because the stream runs along private property, Johns Creek has no jurisdiction.

Cory Rayburn, Johns Creek stormwater utility manager, said the city doesn’t have a mechanism to send out a contractor.

Some of the issues stem from the school-side, Fulton County Schools’ territory. On March 21, Anne Boatwright, a spokeswoman with Fulton County Schools said its Operations Department would need another day to visit the site and investigate. As of March 23, the school district is still investigating the stormwater structures which were designed to reduce runoff from the school.

“We would like to have a conversation about this with the city and [impacted residents] about this …,” said Brian Noyes, chief communications officer with Fulton County Schools.

Contact information for the residents was sent to Noyes March 23.

Healthier days

Stephanie intended to tag along with her husband on the steam bank tour and said she would have to put on her boots. While she decided to stay in after all, she handed over a sticky note with a list of other families, including Brian and Alexis Whitman.

Alexis, who lives next door on Linbrook Lane, joined Dave to offer her perspective. The Whitmans moved in a few years before the Daniels. She recalled a once-healthy stream.

“It makes me so sad because when my kids were little this thing was full of 3- to 4-inch brim,” Alexis said. “They would fish back here. We had ducks that nested. It’s all washed away. It’s all gone.”

Alexis said she is at risk of losing her

wildlife habitat certificate, which she’s had for more than a decade.

In addition to a $20 fee, the National Wildlife Federation lists necessary components to apply for certification. Applicants must provide at least one clean water source, three food sources, two places for cover, two places for wildlife to mate and raise young and engage in at least two categories of sustainable practices.

The Whitmans have a bat box attached to a 20-foot pole close to the bank, now barely hanging on. Their irrigation system, which was planted 5 feet from the bank, is now poking out of the dirt. Brian’s composting bin washed away around the same day it was built, a flood carrying its pieces at least 50 feet into Dave’s yard by the creek. Dave obliged Alexis with the clean-up.

Another resident was listed separately on the back of Stephanie’s note. She was said to have spent thousands of dollars to shore up, a process of reinforcement and prevention. Another entry on the list was “Dobe - moved,” referring to a family Stephanie said had left Parsons Run because they couldn’t tolerate the mess.

Stephanie showed pictures before erosion swept away up to 20 feet of her backyard, and the bridge that the Whitmans constructed. In one photo, Stephanie is tending to a homemade beehive while her dog snoops around. The fence is much farther back than where it sits now, and there are no fallen trees.

Revisiting those pictures, taken about six years ago, brought Stephanie to tears.

Buyers beware

Johns Creek City Councilman Larry DiBiase, a resident in Parsons Run, is in real estate by trade. He called attention to Georgia’s contract law, “Caveat Emptor,” which translates to, “Let the buyer beware.”

“I suspect most real estate agents don’t have any understanding of what a stream can do, and the consequences down the road for them,” DiBiase said. “The property owners today — the burden is on them to take care of their personal property, but it’s a heavy lift.”

DiBiase said it could be $100,000 to fix some of the problems residents in Parsons Run are facing. If buyers have done their work, he said their property would be de-valuated.

“Most people when they buy a property — look at the house, look at the backyard and are like, ‘Wow, the kids can play in the stream’ and all that,” DiBiase said. “But they don’t realize the damage a stream can do.”

The creekside properties, catching a deluge of water and waste every time it rains, lie in a flood plain. But the whole city lies in a basin.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Dave Daniels, resident in Parsons Run, points out major areas of erosion in his backyard March 21.

Beware:

Continued from Page 4

Stormwater has been a large point of discussion in Johns Creek local government. DiBiase is taking the lead in the mayor’s stormwater task force alongside Councilman Dilip Tunki, and they are now deciding the group’s objectives. So far, Dibiase said he sat down with Stormwater’s Rayburn and Public Works Director Chris Haggard.

The city is constrained by time, money and technology. But DiBiase said his approach to stormwater is to “take the gloves off.”

“Let’s look at this and say, ‘If we had unlimited funds, if we can go outside our comfort zone in technology and look at some innovative ways to fix some of these problems, what can we do?’” DiBiase said.

In January, the Johns Creek Watershed Stormwater Master Plan was completed. The document, yet to be posted on the city’s website, looks for ways to improve the water quality of Johns Creek by reducing fecal coliform. The plan also outlines potential regional projects, which can take pressure off some of the waterways downstream.

The City Council approved engineering services for one project March 14 at its work session, intended to restore a tributary of Johns Creek that feeds and

forms Creekside Park’s ponds. The task order is to be fully funded by Fiscal Year 2023’s Stormwater Utility budget.

But Rayburn said the project in Creekside won’t directly impact what’s been observed in Parsons Run, whose stream is a sub-watershed.

What to do

Ann Arnette, the Parsons Run Homeowners Association president said, the HOA budgets money for a five-year plan that allows for engineers to maintain the community’s public spaces like the tennis courts, clubhouse and pool.

But the association’s treasurer Chris Normand who lives next door to Dave and Stephanie Daniels, said the HOA doesn’t have the jurisdiction to fund engineering efforts on individual property.

Normand has been in the same house for 20 years. He has observed some erosion, like an uncovered ceramic pipe in the creek. The pipe was said to have been an old one, not part of an active system anymore.

But Normand said he hadn’t considered the erosion to be bad enough to do anything about it. He also said he is “lazy.”

To mitigate bank erosion, Rayburn said residents could introduce more vegetation along the stream bank, like silky dogwood that can grow in a shaded area and thrive in areas close to the water. He said their root systems should expand deep below the ground to help hold the creek bank together.

“The more vegetation you have along the bank, the better,” Rayburn said.

Rayburn also mentioned more costly reinforcement that entails constructing walls of hardened materials, like riprap, and the design must be carefully done.

Before Johns Creek was incorporated in 2006, Parsons Run resident Alexis Whitman said Fulton County provided 10 tons of riprap for free and placed it on the street. When she first began noticing the erosion 15 years ago, Alexis received a $20,000 estimate for riprap.

A caveat, though, is that impervious surfaces like riprap increase water velocity.

Residents could also add live stakes that eventually grow into trees with the riprap for a mix of natural and hardened materials, Rayburn said. The stakes cost about $3 apiece.

Alexis said she had azaleas and hydrangeas along the stream and had doubts about planting any more vegetation.

“I mean, am I gonna spend money to put something down there just to wash it away?” she asked.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

The stream behind the backyards of residents in Parsons Run is blocked by trees, uprooted from erosion. The tree dam is creating stagnation and collecting waste from Chattahoochee High School nearby.

Johns Creek may see two Juneteenth celebrations

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Just weeks after Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry announced the city’s intention to host a special event for Juneteenth, members of Impact Johns Creek decided to continue organizing their own.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated June 19 to commemorate the emancipation of the country’s enslaved African Americans.

Founded in 2022, Impact Johns Creek is a nonprofit whose mission is to increase the civic footprint of Black Johns Creek residents. Members have been planning for Juneteenth prior to the City Council’s approval of the special event but once intended to combine their efforts with the city.

The Johns Creek Arts, Culture and Entertainment (ACE) Committee had also recommended the city partner with Impact Johns Creek to organize the city’s special event, slated for June 17 at Newtown Park.

Concerned that the city might become a “dictator” in Juneteenth planning, resident Brian Weaver came before the City Council March 14 to stress that the ACE Committee recommended a

partnership with Impact Johns Creek. Weaver is a founding member of Impact John Creek and the chair of the nonprofit’s Juneteenth Planning Committee.

Weaver is also a former Johns Creek City Councilman who lost to Bradberry in the 2021 mayoral election.

“We have the knowledge of what Juneteenth is all about, and we have the background as far as how to celebrate Juneteenth,” Weaver said in an interview.

In a March 20 email to city staff and the City Council, Impact Johns Creek Founder Nicole Washington said her organization will produce its own

Juneteenth celebration because there had been no mention from the city in the desired partnership.

“This will ensure everything is culturally appropriate for such a reverential, ceremonial, sensitive and celebratory event,” Washington said. “We wish the City of Johns Creek well, in what was described to City Council as a ‘party’ in its first attempt at producing a Juneteenth event.”

Washington’s email came after word from Johns Creek Volunteer Coordinator Stacey Gross, who said Impact members are welcome to apply to the city’s steering committee. The application process

is community wide.

Past special events, like the city’s Diwali and Lunar New Year festivals, have been organized by a city Event Planning Committee, composed of 10 to 12 residents who have event planning and volunteer experience.

“I think all of us were concerned about the qualifications,” Weaver said. “[Johns Creek was] excluding key people that we thought were vital to our success.”

Because the application is exclusive to Johns Creek residents, ACE Committee Co-chair and Impact Johns Creek founding member Devon Dabney said it takes away “organizational muscle.” Impact’s Juneteenth committee has around the same number of members but extends to residents from other cities.

Dabney also expressed a need for the city to define its event planning process, knowing the city partnered with the Rotary Club of Johns Creek North Fulton for this year’s car show in May. Last year, the car show was sponsored by Impact Johns Creek.

The nonprofit’s Juneteenth event will be for all North Fulton, Dabney said, involving private citizens in Johns Creek, Alpharetta and Roswell. Details for the event are still being decided.

FILE PHOTO

Nicole Washington, founder of Impact Johns Creek, speaks at the Johns Creek Arts, Entertainment and Culture Committee meeting Feb. 2.

Forsyth County seniors visit Georgia Capitol

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA, Ga. — Senior Forsyth County residents visited the Georgia State Capitol for the Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly’s annual Senior Day Feb. 15.

The coalition set four 2023 goals for legislative action, including increased state funding for at-home senior care, improved access to oral health through Teledentistry, lifting of prohibitions that prevent Medicaid usage in assisted living and the creation of a state administered voluntary savings program for workers.

The 30 senior residents discussed issues with legislative delegates, toured the Capitol and watched floor debates in the Senate and House of Representatives chambers on the trip led by County Senior Services Director Ruthie Brew.

State Sen. Greg Dolezal and State Reps. Carter Barrett, David Clark, Brent Cox, Rick Jasperse, Todd Jones and Lauren McDonald discussed taxation, transportation and elections with the group.

Daffodil:

Continued from Page 1

Disney’s Princess Ariel. A DJ provided music.

Crowds circled through several rows of vendors from The Gibson Co. Marketplace and farmers market applicants, selling baked goods, local

Forsyth County appoints new assistant county manager

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County announced Tony Tarnacki as its new assistant county manager March 24.

FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED Forsyth County seniors meet with State Rep. Todd Jones at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta Feb. 15. Seniors discussed taxation, transportation and elections with local delegates during the visit.

“The Forsyth County delegation was so friendly and approachable,” said Sherry Nemiroff, a senior on the trip. “It was the first time many of us had ever talked to them.”

Georgia Council on Aging Executive Director Debra Stokes and member Vicki Johnson, who lives in Forsyth County, welcomed the group, and Brew said the residents had a wonderful day meeting their legislators.

honey, coffee, candles and other items. There was also a flower-arranging cart. Images of daffodils were sprinkled throughout the space, in hand-painted pictures at the entrance, vases for the eating area and planters in front the City Hall. Clusters of yellow balloons were on most corners.

“The daffodil is a great symbol of hope and spring renewal,” Bradberry said.

Tarnacki, a South Forsyth High School graduate, replaces Brandon Kenney, who held the post since 2021 and stepped down in early March for a state position.

Tarnacki will oversee the Planning and Community Development; Parks and Recreation; Code Enforcement and Animal Services; Senior Services; and Public Transportation departments. County Manager David McKee said the county looks forward to working with Tarnacki and welcoming his family to the community.

“Tony’s experience in management, local government and nearly 15 years spent as chief magistrate judge in north Georgia made him an ideal candidate to help further lead Forsyth County’s vision for the future,” McKee said.

Tarnacki had served as chief magistrate judge for the Dawson

County Magistrate Court, a juvenile court investigator for the Dawson County District Attorney’s Office and an adjunct criminal justice professor at the University of North Georgia.

He holds a juris doctorate degree from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and a bachelor’s degree of business administration and management from the University of North Georgia.

FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED

Tony Tarnacki has been named Forsyth County’s new assistant county manager. Tarnacki replaces Brandon Kenney, who stepped down in early March.

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

Name: Super Chix

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Opened: February 2023

Phone: (770) 864-5682

Address: 4712 Ashford Dunwoody Rd

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Name: The Halal Guys

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Phone: (770) 559-5505

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Name: Bloom Holistic Dentistry

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Opened: November 2022

Phone: (770) 396-1188

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Name: Business Owner’s Emporium

Owners: Chastity Conn Moore

Business Description: The Business Owner’s Emporium offers 7,000 sq ft of private office, meeting, and cowork space. Our community is designed to inspire, connect, and support small businesses and entrepreneurs. We

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Phone: (678) 587-5278

Address: 56 Perimeter Center East; Suite 150; Dunwoody, GA 30346

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Twenty-six bones, 33 oints, and thousands of steps a day.

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Phone: 770-418-0456

Wellstar:

Continued from Page 1

Wellstar North Fulton about five years ago the cancer care process was disjointed for patients. There was no “one-stop shop” to receive care, and with spread out doctors and appointments things fell through the cracks.

said the distance adds difficulty to treatment for patients and their families.

“When my parents were diagnosed with cancer and treated at Kennestone, it was hard for me to get from appointment to appointment,” McLaughlin said.

AnkleAndFootCenters.com

“It’s really difficult for patients to navigate that very difficult diagnosis,” McLaughlin said.

When the oncologist presented his cancer center plan to Wellstar North Fulton President Croom, he said the goal was to make that vision a reality. The vision came with a hefty price tag, though: $12 million.

McLaughlin said he’s glad the Wellstar administration decided to invest fully into the cancer center. The money went to advanced technology like CyberKnife, an approximately $6 million radiation therapy device.

The CyberKnife is a non-invasive device that uses “real time imaging” to treat difficult to reach spots, like lung and brain tumors. With those areas, McLaughlin said the tumor is “always moving.” CyberKnife has a robotic arm that moves with the patient, allowing high doses of radiation to hone in on the tumor’s location.

“What it allows people to do, instead of having five to eight weeks of treatment, it can shorten that to one to five treatments,” McLaughlin said.

The concentrated radiation allows patients to finish treatment faster. Prior to the cancer center in Roswell, patients would have to travel to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital for the CyberKnife treatment.

According to McLaughlin, the hospital in Kennestone has one of the second busiest CyberKnife treatment programs in the United States.

The Wellstar Kennestone Hospital is about 40 minutes from Wellstar North Fulton Hospital. McLaughlin and Croom

A key feature of the cancer center in Roswell is the Specialty Teams and Treatments Clinic, called “STAT” by hospital staff. The model brings medical, surgical and radiation oncology under one roof. Rather than having cancer patients travel to see specialists, they can meet with an entire team in one location at one time.

“All the doctors all know each other and are talking to each other, so you’re getting one congruent answer,” McLaughlin said.

Collaboration between doctors keeps patients from receiving different medical opinions as well. McLaughlin said typically, if a patient visits a surgical specialist, they’ll simply perform the treatment rather than look at another option.

At the cancer center, he said doctors can “put their heads together” to figure out the best care for a patient, even if it differs from what the patient expects.

“If I have a patient that comes in and says I want CyberKnife, we’ll meet in the clinic and I’ll know the CyberKnife is not their best treatment,” McLaughlin said. “It could be medical, it could be a combination, but the model allows us to discuss things with the patient.”

The cancer center will officially open to the public on March 27, but the CyberKnife machine is already at full capacity. The hospital expects to serve many of the cancer patients who have had to relocate to Kennestone Hospital for comprehensive care. Croom said Wellstar is already looking towards cancer center expansions to accommodate more patients.

“Cancer is one of those diseases that touches so many people, everybody has somebody that has suffered from it or died from it,” Croom said. “It’s so real, and to be able to have something right here, where you don’t have to go to Atlanta or travel long distances is just right.”

Dr. Rupal Gupta Dr. Mike Thaker Dr. Jill Stepnicka

DELANEY TARR / APPEN MEDIA

Wellstar Health Systems officials hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Wellstar North Fulton Hospital Cancer Center on March 23 at Hospital Road.

Forsyth County employee nominated for 2023 Custodian of the Year award

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Kelly Mill Elementary School Head Custodian

Richard Toomey has been selected as the Georgia finalist in the Cintas Corporation’s 10th annual Custodian of the Year Contest.

The winner of the competition receives $10,000. Kelly Mill Elementary School will receive $5,000 in cleaning products if Toomey wins, as well as enrollment in the Global Biorisk Advisory Council Fundamentals Online Course and a free facility assessment and consulting package from ISSA — the worldwide cleaning industry association.

The top three winners also receive an all-expense-paid trip to Las Vegas for the ISSA Show North America in November to celebrate their accomplishments.

“School custodians are beacons of light in their communities, and

Former Forsyth County official Cooper dies after cancer battle

students look up to them as positive role models who lead by example,” ISSA Executive Director John Barrett said.

Toomey started at Kelly Mill Elementary School in 2015, and he has held the role of head custodian for four years.

He said it is an honor to be nominated, and the appreciation from students makes him proud to do what he does every day.

“It’s just been an amazing experience,” Toomey said.

Kelly Mill Elementary School Principal Tracey Smith said Toomey created a group huddle among custodians every day to bring them closer.

“It’s those little things like that that make him deserving of this award,” Smith said. “And so, you know, we’re just excited that he is getting recognition for something that he is so deserving of.”

The Forsyth County Board of Education also recognized Toomey for his nomination at its March 21 meeting.

Voting for Toomey is open through April 14 at custodianoftheyear.com.

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County announced former County Commissioner Molly Cooper died March 22 following ongoing health issues caused by pancreatic cancer.

Cooper was elected as District 1 Commissioner in 2018. The County Commission elected her as secretary in 2020 and vice-chairwoman in 2021 and 2022.

“We will forever remember the many contributions former Commissioner Cooper made to the County, including dutifully serving with professionalism, integrity, humility and compassion despite fighting cancer during most of her term as commissioner,” County Manager David McKee said.

Cooper was a county resident for 30 years. She served as president of the Republican Women of Forsyth County, president of Civitan and vicechair of the Forsyth County GOP.

Visitation was scheduled for March 26 at McDonald and Son Funeral Home from 10 a.m.-noon, followed by a burial service at Kennesaw

FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED

Former Forsyth County Commissioner Molly Cooper died from pancreatic cancer March 22. Cooper served on the Board of Commissioners from 2019-2022.

Memorial.

Donations in Cooper’s name can be made at http://cummingcivitan.com/ and http://jewishforsyth.org.

April showers readers with wide variety of book activities

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia. com

Here are some details about these and other events:

More info

CULLEN

Joining April’s mixed springtime bag of sunshine and showers is a similarly diverse array of author events. From Dunwoody’s Lemonade Days Festival to an evening of paranormal discussions, and historical fiction championing women to writing guidance for all, April’s book offerings are as varied as a spring bouquet.

On April 22, Atlanta Authors will host bestselling historical fiction novelist Lynn Cullen, author of “The Woman With The Cure.”

Author Jan Slimming is organizing appearances by 20-plus writers at Dunwoody’s Lemonade Days Festival SLIMMING

Literary Events Around North Atlanta

Saturday, April 1, George Weinstein and Kim Conrey. Married authors Conrey and Weinstein will be selling and signing books and chatting with readers in Alpharetta. Conrey is the debut author of the sci-fi romance “Stealing Ares,” and Weinstein’s most recent release is “Return to Hardscrabble Road.” 11 a.m. Conversation, signing. Free. Posman Books, 4105 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta, 470-5095727. posmanbooks.com

Tuesdays, April 4-May 23, George Weinstein. Weinstein, executive director of the Atlanta Writers Club and author of six novels, returns to lead “Telling Your Story: Start It, Finish It & Share It – Part 2,” an eight-week interactive class for anyone 50 and older (though writers of all ages can connect with Weinstein through AWC.) The two-month program, which is open to anyone interested in writing, and not just those who attended the first series, is offered by Seniors Enriched Living, a nonprofit interfaith organization. 1:15 p.m. weekly. $70. Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell. 770-993-6218. https://sites.google. com/selroswellga.org/seniors-enriched-living/classes/ spring?authuser=0

Thursday, April 13, Jennifer Laguzza Dickenson. In 2011, Dickenson was a busy lawyer when she was diagnosed with grade 4 brain cancer and given scant hope for survival. “The Case for Hope: What I Learned on My Journey from Cancer to Wellness: We Can Heal,” published in March 2022, details Dickenson’s cancer journey. 5 p.m. Discussion, signing. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Thursday, April 13, Townsend Prize for Fiction. The award ceremony for the Townsend Prize for Fiction, hosted by the Atlanta Writers Club, will be held in midtown Atlanta. North Fulton authors among the 10 finalists include Kimberly Brock, “The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare,” and Anjali Enjeti, “The Parted Earth.” Tickets include a buffet dinner, drinks and more. 6 p.m. $60. Atlanta Women’s Club Wimbish House, 1150 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta. atlantawritersclub.org/writer-resources/awc-townsend-prizefor-fiction

Saturday, April 15, Morgan Rodgers. Rodgers’ new novel, “Family Business,” a story of twists and turns, is a page-turner. 11 a.m. Talk, signing. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Tuesday, April 18, Ann Hite and Delilah S. Dawson. A Novel Idea presents a paranormal night promising “An Evening of Unknown Expectations” from a pair of bestselling authors. Hite’s newest book is “Haints on Black Mountain,” and Dawson’s latest release is “The Violence.” 7 p.m. Discussion, signing. Free. Vintage Pizzeria, 5510 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. 770-509-5611. anovelidea.us

Saturday, April 22, Lynn Cullen. Atlanta Authors hosts the bestselling author of historical fiction as she discusses her new release, “The Woman With The Cure.” Cullen’s book is based on the true story of Dr. Dorothy Horstmann, whose groundbreaking research helped make the polio vaccine possible. 2 p.m. Conversation, signing. Free. In-person and online. Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell. 404-6129700. forl.net/atlanta-authors

Saturday, April 22, George Weinstein and Kim Conrey. Conrey and Weinstein return, this time at the Cumming City Center Spring Market. 10 a.m. Talk, signing. Free. Cumming City Center Spring Market, Vision Drive, Cumming. 678-4724708. cummingcitycentermarket

Saturday and Sunday, April 22-23, Lemonade Days Authors and Friends Bookstore. Twenty local authors, including nine from North Fulton, will appear for personalized book signing sessions during the Dunwoody festival’s 23rd year. Authors appearing include bookstore organizer Jan Slimming with her trio of World War II books, including “Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park.” 10 a.m Saturday, noon Sunday. Brook Run Park, 4770 N Peachtree Road, Dunwoody. dunwoodylemonadedays.org

Thursday, April 27, Emily Carpenter. The bestselling author of “Burying the Honeysuckle Girls” returns to uncover a faith healer’s elusive and haunted past in “Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters.” Carpenter’s novel, a mix of historical fiction, mystery and thriller, has something for everyone. 5 p.m. Discussion, signing. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Saturday, April 29, Independent Bookstore Day at Bookmiser. The bookstore, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, will be observing Independent Bookstore Day with giveaways, story time, “epicurean delights” and much more. All day. Free. Bookmiser, 3822 Roswell Road, Roswell. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net

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

GET OUTSIDE GEORGIA

The things you remember this time of year

So I’m sitting here looking out the window, savoring the notion that spring’s about to get here at last. And I’m glad. Winter is nice, but spring is better. When spring comes around, everything is once again brand new. The world awakens in every way, and thoughts turn to…

…fishing.

Yeah, I was going to say to love, and that’s true too. Sometimes the cliches are right on. But at this precise instant it’s fishing that’s come to mind.

The start of what we always called “fishing season” was always an epic occasion in my family, heralded by much excitement and ritual and ceremony. It was kind of like Christmas, or maybe birthdays, but deep down I guess I always knew that the coming of fishing season was always at the top of the list.

Later, when I had kids of my own, I’d get just as excited as I did when I

was a child. That first warm spring day would come, and I’d be ready. I’d get up early while the kids were still asleep and pick up the fly rod and ease toward the door, quiet as dawn, set to slip out for a morning of solitaire-style water therapy. Just me and the creek and, with any luck, a fish or two.

I started to daydream, to remember…

Years ago…spring had come, and The Day had at long last arrived. But the night before, while I was getting ready, the child had seen the rod. And knew.

“Take me?” asked the tiny voice.

I hadn’t said no. But I hadn’t said yes either.

And now, not asleep after all, in the wee small hours of the first day of Fishing Season, on that Most Important Day of All Days, the little one had appeared as if by magic there in the hall by the door.

“Take me with you?” the tiny voice said again, this time rubbing sleepy eyes with one hand and holding a bright orange Snoopy spinning rod in the other.

“Take me fishing?” – a question now – and for an instant the universe had paused.

I remembered. I’d looked toward the

flyrod — and then I had looked at the child …

And to my immense credit…

“Take you fishing?” I’d said. “Take you fishing! Of course I’ll take you fishing!”

The child smiled then, and all creation cheered as we followed the dew-sparkled path that led to the water, walking slowly, taking our time on our way to the pond to see what would happen next.

I remembered. It was a long time ago, but I remembered every detail. I remembered it all... ***

Her voice nudged me back to present tense.

“I made you coffee,” she says. There’s a pause, and I sip. She makes the best coffee.

“Thinking about fishing?” she asks, or maybe it’s a statement. She knows me well.

“Uh-huh,” I say, “and other things…”

“Good thoughts?” she asks.

“Oh yes,” I reply.

I take another sip. It’s heaven in a cup.

And I remember something else –

It was last year. We were going to dinner or lunch or something, and on a whim I said, “Have you ever been fly fishing?”

She allowed as to how she had not.

“Well then!” I had said, suddenly unaccountably hopeful, and a few miles down the road I turned right instead of left and we were soon at a little creek that I knew was full of fish. I rigged up a rod, and in a minute we were walking a shaded trail through the soft green light of the wood.

We reached the water. I stepped down onto a gravel bar, taking her hand to steady her over a rough spot as she followed. Then I handed her the rod.

“Want to try it?” I asked.

For an instant the universe paused. Then --

“Sure,” she said, and she smiled.

She cast the little fly over near that deep spot there, exactly where I would have cast it if I’d been holding the rod.

The fly began to drift with the current. She followed it with her eyes.

I watched, too, waiting, expectant, wondering where the drift would take it, watching to see what would happen next.

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

Conversation around a table in Knoxville

We were sitting around a table with friends at a restaurant in Knoxville. We had driven up because our friend’s adult granddaughter Kelsie, who works at the Knoxville Museum of Art, was introducing a new exhibition that she had curated, and we wanted to see it – as well as visit her grandmother and her parents. We have known everyone for many years; they are island friends who we only see when we are at the beach.

Kelsie is an artist herself – incredibly talented, creative, smart, and her own person, just like her grandmom. She is one of those people who just seems to ooze talent which is communicated by the sparkle in her eyes, her clothes and hair, and a certain reserved confident aloofness – not a casting judgement aloofness, but a demeanor of someone who perhaps sees things that other people do not.

The exhibit pulled almost a dozen artists from all over the South as well as local artists. The art was full of big ideas – big picture vistas – “high art.” That is, most of it was contemporary, mixed medium, conceptual and symbolic. Think plastic, glass, photo-images, cardboard, dreams, memory and more.

All the artists were there with their work. The museum was serving hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer, and there may have been music. The exhibit was a true event – a melding of ideas, talent, knowledge, experience and connection. Everyone seemed to be plugged into the same energy, and at times it felt overwhelming to me, but, at the same time, alive, engaged, and fun.

Anyway, as we sat around the table post-show, my wife was telling a story, and part of the story for some reason had something to do with Johnny Carson. She stopped mid-sentence during her story though, and looked at the granddaughter and said, “you have no idea who I am talking about do you? You don’t know Johnny Carson, do you?” Kelsie’s completely blank look on her face was her answer. She looked around the table for clues. Nothing. We got nothing.

I think most of us were caught off guard momentarily – surprised and startled a bit. It was no big deal though; it was just one of those moments. I mean, why should we expect a gen Y to know Johnny after he had been off the air since 1992? (The last show was May 22, 1992 – wow. The first show was

More about Kelsie

Kelsie Conley also owns and manages her own gallery in Knoxville called “Bad Water Gallery” (website: LvL3official. com). It is located at 320 East Churchill Ave. Her gallery recently was cited in London’s Financial Times along with three other galleries around the world as an example of the new emerging art venues of note – “making shows for the next generation.”

October 1, 1962.). The rub is that he/ his memory remains so clearly in place for my generation and those close, and it is hard to remember that our frames of reference – no matter how clear they are to us – may be diddly squat to others.

Who is Johnny Carson?

Who is John Galt?

How about Lenny Bruce, Richard Brautigan, Ken Kesey or Wavy Gravy?

How about David Foster Wallace, Julia Butterfly Hill, Bobby Sands, or H Rap Brown?

And Rachael Carson?

I know them all, but, well, that’s just me. Others do not. Indeed. But they know people and stuff and events that I don’t know. Maybe that’s the point.

When son Hans was in first or second grade at Alpharetta Elementary, his teacher (Mrs. Benton?) asked him what his favorite music was. “Anything by Rodgers and Hammerstein,” he replied. Huh?

I polled my kids – just for fun – asking them if they knew who Johnny Carson was. They made fun of me and my question. Figures.

To try to buffer possible embarrassment for Kelsie, I asked her if she was familiar with Howard Finster. Her face lit up. “Yes, of course. Summerville. I was at his studio last year. Some of my friends have some of his stuff.” It didn’t look like anyone else at the table – there were about 10 of us –other than my wife – had Finster on their radar.

Who is Howard Finster?

I often say that “everything important I learned in life, I learned from my children.” Well, almost everything. And the irony is that one of the main reasons they can teach me, is because I taught them – and they remember.

William Faulkner said that “the past

See KNOXVILLE, Page 19

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus

Tornado devastated Dunwoody 25 years ago

A category F-2 tornado cut through Dunwoody a little after midnight April 9, 1998, leaving a path of destruction. More than 3,000 homes were damaged, 1,500 families were displaced, and damage to homes and property exceeded $150 million. In all, 70 homes were destroyed.

Tragically, John Janisch of Delverton Drive died when a tree struck his home. Local news station 11 Alive reported there were 62 tornados in a three-day period ending with April 9. The tornado that struck Dunwoody began its path in Alabama and touched down in Cobb County. In Dunwoody, it came across Chamblee Dunwoody Road, moved east along Peeler Road, down Tilly Mill Road, through parts of Kingsley, across Happy Hollow Road and through Fontainebleau Forest, then across Winters Chapel Road into Lockridge Forest. Finally, it struck Peachtree Corners and northern Gwinnett County. (Dunwoody Crier, June 1998, “April 9, 1998: The Storm”)

Those watching weather reports on television just after midnight heard the warnings to take cover, but those who had gone to bed already either woke up to a sound like a freight train or to the sound of trees crashing all around or on top of their homes.

Some in the direct path tried to walk out in the night with flashlights once the tornado had moved on, only to be unable to maneuver around the fallen trees in the dark. Others walked out the next morning to see the snapped and fallen trees and damage to their property.

Dunwoody High School was set up as a shelter for those whose homes were damaged, but many stayed in their homes if they were able. Others stayed with

family or friends or rented nearby. There were blue tarps on houses all up and down the streets with the most damage. Homeowners were advised to be wary of those trying to take advantage of the desperate situation, over-charging for tree removal and repairs.

A large pin oak fell on the home at Donaldson-Bannister Farm during the tornado, damaging the two front upstairs bedrooms and the chimney. Other trees fell through the windows of the dining room, plus there was damage to the barn. Owners Linda and David Chesnut repaired all the damage and replaced damaged magnolia trees.

The tornado’s path included what was then DeKalb College, today’s Georgia State

University Dunwoody Campus. Eighty percent of the trees on campus were snapped or uprooted. Travis Weatherly, director of plant operations, seeing the damage for the first time the following morning, observed, “There are no words to describe the destruction.” There were fallen trees everywhere, broken windows, roof damage, and water inside buildings. The campus remained closed through the following weekend. (Dunwoody Crier, April 4, 2018, “Dunwoody Tornado April 9, 1998 “)

The Dunwoody Homeowner’s Association, Dunwoody Preservation Trust and Dunwoody Nature Center joined forces following the tornado with an initiative called “Replant the Dunwoody Forest.” More than 25,000 trees were planted around Dunwoody thanks to the effort.

Lemonade Days, Dunwoody Preservation Trust’s annual festival at Brook Run Park, began the next year with a children’s carnival and tours of rebuilt and rehabilitated homes.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media. She lives in Sandy Springs. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Donaldson-Bannister Farm was hit hard by the April 9, 1998 tornado.

Free flying aficionados bring craft to Dunwoody

Man has yearned to fly for centuries. Initial efforts involved hot air balloons and gliders. In fact, in the 1480s Leonardo da Vinci made more than 100 drawings of a flying machine that he never built. He just wanted to show how man could fly. According to NASA, the modern-day helicopter is based on his design.

In 1783, the French Montgolfier brothers invented the first flying hot air balloon. The first passengers were a sheep, rooster and duck. The colorful silk balloon rose 6,000 feet and traveled more than a mile. Soon, the brothers were sending human passengers aloft.

In the mid- to early 1850s, George Cayley, an English engineer, designed many gliders. Later in the century German engineer, Otto Lilienthal studied the flight of birds and wrote a book that the Wright Brothers used as a basis for their

designs. Unfortunately, Lilienthal was killed when one of his designs crashed with him aboard. In 1891 Samuel Langley, who was director of the Smithsonian Institute, built a

glider with a steam-powered engine. Orville and Wilbur Wright studied these and other early pioneers to develop their “Flier” that they took turns piloting four times on December 17, 1903, thus ushering in all that has come after them.

I mention these early champions of flight to highlight the fact that flying on currents of air is the basis of controlled flight. In this age of rocket ships and jet planes, it is easy to forget how much we owe to those who proved that objects could be suspended in and made to fly freely on currents of air.

A small but dedicated group of enthusiasts are keeping the notion of free flying alive locally. These knowledgeable and very patient individuals, many with technical backgrounds, devote countless hours to making and flying model airplanes that depend on air currents to stay aloft and have great fun in the process. They call themselves the Thermal Thumbers of Metro Atlanta. Free flight model airplanes have no external controls. The goal of the sport is to achieve the longest flight duration possible by making minute adjustments to the design and trim of the airplanes. Two kinds of free flight airplanes are used, indoor and outdoor. The two types are quite different in appearance, size and weight.

Indoor models are very light, typically weighing no more than a dollar bill or a baby aspirin and fly very slowly. They are powered by special rubber bands, twisted by a

device that provides a set number of twists to help assure desired flight characteristics. Too many twists and the plane will hit the ceiling. Typically, the planes are flown in school or church gymnasiums with high ceilings. Competitions are held locally, nationally and internationally every two years. One popular location for world championship competitions is a vast salt mine in Romania noted for its still, cold air and 200-foothigh ceiling.

In early March, members of the Thermal Thumbers gathered in the gymnasium of St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody with its ultra-high ceiling for a day of practice flights and competition with their delicate balsawood models. Doors must be kept closed and ventilation turned off to “calm air currents,” says Dohrman Crawford, Thermal Thumbers of Atlanta vice president and ex-Viet Nam War forward air controller and retired Delta Airlines pilot He says that a well-designed and adjusted model plane may occasionally fly up to one hour, although most test and practice flights are timed to last just a few minutes.

Outdoor models are usually larger and heavier. They often have engines that shut off soon after launch to help the planes catch the thermal drafts that can carry them to amazing heights. Finding the thermal drafts is one of the challenges of this sport. Different kinds of outdoor models exist each with its own specifications and rules.

Radio controlled model airplanes are also popular outdoors, but they are in a special category and are not considered free flight.

In the U.S., the sport is supervised by the National Free Flight Society. The first national competition was held in 1915. This year the nationals will be held at the University of Idaho June 19-23. The World Air Sports Federation (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) supervises international competitions.

Newcomers of all ages are always welcome to visit or become involved with the Atlanta area group. For information, contact James Martin, jnnmartin1963@gmail.com.

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 MEYERS

Columnist

DORMAN CRAWFORD/PROVIDED

Dorman Crawford, vice president of the metro Atlanta free flight indoor model airplane club, the Thermal Thumbers, prepares to launch a Phantom Flash, an indoor model designed in the 1930s and still popular today.

Get prepared: It is time for hummingbirds to return

What a joy to see the variety of birds that come to my bird feeders and suet baskets each day! As the temperatures warm and the day length increases, more birds will return from their winter migration locations. At the beginning of April, when the spring flowers begin to bloom, it is time to prepare for the return of the hummingbirds by adding a hummingbird feeder filled with sugar water to my collection of bird feeders and suet baskets. At the end of September each year, I remove the hummingbird feeder because the hummingbirds are departing for their long migration journey to their winter feeding grounds in Mexico and Central America.

The males leave first, followed by the females two weeks later. Because hummingbirds depend on nectar for survival, they are not attracted to my feeders filled with black sunflower seeds. Most hummingbird feeders are red because hummingbirds are attracted to red flowers. Store-bought, pre-made nectar can be used to fill your feeder, or you can make your own. Tips for creating your own hummingbird nectar include:

• Make a mixture of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar.

• Boil the water and add the sugar stirring until the sugar dissolves.

• Do not add red dye! There is no research that proves red dye is safe for hummingbirds.

• Clean the feeder with soap and water and rinse thoroughly.

• After the sugar solution cools, add it to the feeder.

• Store the extra solution in the refrigerator.

• To prevent mold, clean the feeder every other day, rinse thoroughly to remove any soap residue, and add fresh nectar.

A suggestion: you might want to add two hummingbird feeders and, if possible, space them several feet apart. Last summer, I observed whenever two hummingbirds arrived at my feeder, only one bird would place its long beak into the feeder to obtain the nectar water. In fact, the male hummingbird at the feeder was aggressively signaling the other hummingbird to leave the area near

About the Author

the feeder. Male hummingbirds are small but they are also very territorial!

To attract hummingbirds to your garden, add some native flowers such as cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), Eastern columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), or jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) to your garden. Other excellent additions are native vines such as trumpet-creeper (Campsis radicans) or coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). Avoid using insecticides, as insects are also important to their diet and provide a source of protein needed for these active birds.

Hummingbird identification is easy. Why? There is only one species of hummingbird that spends its mating and nesting season in Georgia, the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris).

Because hummingbirds are small, get out your binoculars in order to distinguish between the male and female hummingbirds. The male, as in most birds, is the most colorful and has a ruby throat and iridescent green back. The female is also beautiful with her iridescent green back, but instead of a ruby throat, she has a white throat speckled with a few grey dots.

Here are some interesting facts about ruby-throated hummingbirds:

• They only weigh 2 to 3 grams, the equivalent of 2 to 3 paper clips.

• They are one of the smallest birds in Georgia.

• They must consume half of their body weight in nectar each day to maintain their high metabolism.

• Their heart beats 1,260 times per minute.

• They breathe 250 times per minute.

• They are the only birds that can fly backwards.

• Males do not participate in making the nest or feeding the young. After mating, the male abandons the female and looks for another mating opportunity.

• The female constructs a nest out of plant material and spider webs and camouflages the nest by gluing lichen to the exterior.

• Almost without exception, the female lays two tiny white eggs in her nest.

• The incubation and fledging periods take about one month. The eggs are incubated by the female for 12-14 days. After hatching, the female feeds the young for 14-18 days.

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.

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a master gardener since 2012. Carole describes herself as a born biologist. Since childhood, she loved to explore the out-of-doors and garden with her mother. When she entered college, she selected biology as her major and made teaching high school biology her career for 35 years. After retirement in 2008, she had three goals: to move from Pittsburgh to Atlanta to be near her daughter and granddaughter, to volunteer, and to become a Master Gardener. Shortly after moving, she became involved with the philanthropic mission of the Assistance League of Atlanta (ALA) and in 2012, completed the Master Gardener program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners (NFMG) and the Milton Garden Club. Carole uses her teaching skills to create a variety of presentations on gardening topics for the NFMG Lecture Series and Speakers Bureau. She also volunteers weekly at the ALA thrift store and acts as chair of their Links to Education scholarship program. Her favorite hobbies are gardening, hiking, biking, and reading.

For more information

• Stan Tekiela, Birds of Georgia, Second edition, Adventure Publications, 2021, ISBN: 978-1-64755-200-8

• Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer, Field Guide to the Birds of America, National Geographic. ISBN: 1-42620071-4, pages 278-9, 82-3.

• Roger Tory Peterson, Peterson Field Guide to Eastern and Western Birds, Seventh Edition, Mariner Books, 2020, ISBN-10 132877143.

• Charles Seabrook, “Male hummingbirds ready for fleeting, flitting romance,” Wild Georgia, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Saturday, April 23, 2022.

•https://site.extension.uga.edu/ paulding/2021/06/creating-ahummingbird-habitat/

•https://avianreport.com/ hummingbird-identification/

CAROLE MACMULLAN Guest Columnist

DEBBIE KOENIGS/USFWS

Ruby-throated Hummingbird on Common Milkweed

BILL THOMPSON/PROVIDED Ruby-throated Hummingbird

PROVIDED

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Female Drinking

COURTNEY CELLEY/USFWS

A male ruby-throated hummingbird hovers near a feeder, showing part of his tongue.

OPINION

My ex-gall bladder: I never liked you anyway

It all began with the mother of all bellyaches. I figured it could have been the shrimp. Could have been.

but at least I’m here to share this. My gallbladder was the width of a spider’s whisker from bursting, and if that had happened, instead of reading this, you’d be reading of a third-grader field trip to Mayfield Dairy.

Knoxville:

Continued from Page 14

isn’t dead; it isn’t even past.” It is still with us – every day. And he could also have said that the future is here too, now. That was crystal clear in Kelsie’s show – for all to see – frozen in time in the museum that afternoon, in a still moment – ha, Elliot’s “still point,” while we talked, listened and looked.

MIKE TASOS

I’d read once that time heals all wounds. Whoever said that has never heard me sing. There’s not enough olive oil (Mom’s surefire earache remedy) in all of Sicily for that to be true. Being somewhat intelligent, with a gullet feeling like it had been doused in week-old sun-drenched Tabasco, the inferno in my personal South-of-theBorder pulled a John Paul Jones and had just begun to fight.

That was on Friday and Saturday. By Sunday, with Northside Hospital seemingly so close I could touch it, I was like those poor saps who tap a keg and wait out a hurricane.

By Monday, I was on an emergency room gurney, getting scanned, poked, prodded and scanned.

Before I go on, I need to ask a question: Do you know what a gallbladder is and what it does?

Me neither. I know I had one and now I don’t. Good riddance! You stay away and I’ll religiously avoid fried foods. But I’m still not eating lima beans.

I can attest that when it is infected, it’s time to batten down the hatches and pray for relief.

Figuring I’d be out of the ER in a few minutes, I knew we were in for a long haul.

On that Monday I was having a rotten day for figuring.

A nurse came to me and acted like I had won Powerball when she said: “We’re going to admit you.”

There were no spinning balls, just an uncomfortable bed with some cool buttons that it would have been a riot to push had I not been hurting so bad. I was lucky. No lottery winnings

I met the surgeon, Brian Whitfield VI. I’d never met a “6th” before. The closest I’d ever got to that long a lineage was listening to that old Herman’s Hermits song about the 8th, as in Henry.

Tuesday was a whiff of anesthesia that never lasts as long as it should. It was dreamy, and when I came to, the belly ache nausea pain was gone. In its place was soreness from where holes were punched in my torso, the result of laparoscopic procedure.

I was sore and alive. Dr. Whitfield found a big chunk of nasty infection around ol’ GB, my ex-internal organ who ditched me after 67 years. He scooped out that mess and kept me around to have more adventures and stories to share.

Coming out of the fog in my brain, I kept being asked if there was anything I needed. My reply of “three or four more wallops of that anesthesia,” which I found hilarious, was met with stern looks from a tough-as-shoe-leather nurse.

I also found that hospitals aren’t worried about leaky bed pans, inebriated doctors or trying to explain their bills. No, I kept being warned not to fall, but that I was expected to start walking the halls.

My request for happy juice was ignored, as was my request for some decent food.

I was home on Saturday, five days after walking through the ER door. I would have rather watched the Home and Garden Network for a month.

Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.

The older I get the more I realize that every moment matters. Every connection. Every memory. Every player on stage. The more we see, the more context we absorb, the more meaning we add to our lives. And the moments we miss, or ignore, or don’t see on late night tv, or hear in our parent’s voice as they read to us, or study about in school, is an excruciating loss

Kelsie Conley stands for a photo.

that we often don’t even see or realize. But it is a loss for all.

Who is Johnny Carson? Who is Howard Finster?

Indeed.

Columnist

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2nd – Feature Writing

2nd – Food Advertising

2nd – Service Advertising

2nd – Special Issues/Sections

2nd – Business Writing

3rd – Business Writing

3rd – Page One

3rd – Locals News Coverage

3rd – Spot News Photograph

3rd – Breaking News Writing

3rd – Lifestyle Feature Column

2022 Association of Community Publishers

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Agilysys NV, LLC seeks a Manager, Technical Services in Alpharetta, GA to conduct hands-on design and programing of new product features. Apply https://www.jobpostingtoday.com/ Ref. #86883

EXPERIENCED PASTRY CHEF Downtown Alpharetta. Apply online at www.2bwhole.net.

Mechatronics Engineer @Roswell, GA Req’d: Bach’s Deg. in Mechanical Engr., Electronics Engr., or related field of study. Mail Resume to Syms Engineering, Inc. 1405 Old Alabama Rd. STE 220 Roswell, GA 30076

Apptad Inc. in Alpharetta, GA is seeking:

A) Software Engineers to dvlp, create, & modify general comp apps SW or specialized utility prgs.

B) Salesforce Developers to utilize Salesforce CRM w/end to end implementation exp. C) MDM-IT Business Analysts to anlyz sci, eng’g, biz, & data processing prblms to dvlp & implmnt solu’tns to complex app prblms. Jobs A-C No trvl. No telecomm.

D) Quality Assurance Testers to dvlp & execute SW test plans. No trvl. WFH bnft. Jobs A-D job duties proj-based @ unanticipated sites w/in U.S. Relo may be req’d @ proj end. Mail resumes to:  Apptad, Inc., Attn: HR, 100 N. Point Center East, Ste. 125&200, Alpharetta, GA 30022.

MECHANIC:

Sawnee EMC is seeking a Mechanic with diesel engine experience to perform mechanical work and related maintenance on company trucks, equipment and vehicles. Requires high school diploma or equivalency. Must have valid CDL Georgia Driver’s License or the ability to acquire a CDL. Requires previous work-related experience. Some Heavy Lifting. Rotating day and night shift schedule. Must be available to work alternate shift assignments and irregular work hours.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, March 31, 2023. Apply online: www.sawnee.com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer of Females, Minorities, Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.

Workforce Development Coordinator

Develop programs and services for clients and students who are seeking employment, post-secondary education, or other career options. The coordinator collaborates with employers in the community who are hiring. The role also includes working one-on-one on job applications, resumes, interview preparations and offers tips for successfully securing and improving employment. Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field required.

For full job description see: https://nfcchelp.org/wpcontent/uploads/2023/02/Workforce-DevelopmentCoordinator-2023.pdf. To apply, send resume to cswan@nfcchelp.org.

Accounting Specialist – PART TIME

Responsible for the day-to-day transactions within the accounting department. The specialist is accountable for preparing financial transactions, processing invoices, and entering general ledger data which will assist in balancing the income statement, managing budgets, and preparing financial reports. Role works closely with the Finance Manager and Director of Finance and Administration. Bachelor’s Degree in Finance or related field required.

For full job description see: https://nfcchelp. org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AccountingSpecialist-02.21.23-1.pdf. To apply, send resume to jrice@nfcchelp.org.

Now Hiring: Office Coordinator

Local commercial real estate company is hiring an Office Coordinator. The role includes coordinating administrative tasks between our property management, leasing and accounting departments. The position requires exceptional communication and organizational skills, knowledge of MS Office, a strong work ethic, internal drive, and a positive attitude. This is an office only (not remote work) position. Please contact us Employment@mpshoppingcenters.com for more information.

Part-time Office Space

Wonderful Office Suite Available

Near (.7 mile) Downtown Alpharetta

• Turnkey – Everything provided

• Utilities included

Administrative Assistant for Youth and Children

Protestant church in downtown Alpharetta seeks a parttime (15-18 hours per week) Administrative Assistant for Youth & Children’s Ministries. In addition to normal administrative duties the candidate will assist with scheduling, social media, securing supplies, maintaining attendance records, planning events and mission trips. Qualified candidates are a person of outstanding character who is friendly, organized, able to prioritize, exhibits an understanding of the importance of confidentiality, and is willing and able to work in an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of all people.

A degree from an accredited college or university is preferred. Computer competence within Office 365, editing, and writing skills are required. Experience with REALM is a plus.

Successful completion of a criminal records and child abuse background check is required. Send resumes to alpharettajobopening@gmail.com.

• Marketing can be included

• Conference Room

• Parking

• 24/7 access

• Private office suite within Appen Media Group’s building

• Easily accommodates up to 5 people

• Office has great light. Ground floor

• .7 mile to Alpharetta City Hall on Hwy. 9

• Smaller office space also available in same building

• Short or longer term lease. Reasonable $

Contact Ray Appen via Text (770-527-4042) or email me at RayAppen@Gmail.com – or just call me but best to text and I will return your call.

Gutters

AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 678-508-2432

GUTTER DONE, LLC

Gutter cleaning, roof repair, free DRONE roof, picture inspection, tree service. 770-905-9682

www.gutterdoneamerica.com

SERVICE DIRECTORY

DISH TV $64.99 For 190

Flooring

PHILLIPS FLOORING

Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub

Landscaping

Full Service LANDSCAPING Company

Retaining walls (brick or wood), grading, sod, tree services, hauling, topsoil & more.

Ralph Rucker

678-898-7237

ROOF LEAKING?

Call us for roof repair or roof replacement. FREE quotes. $200 OFF Leak Repairs or 10% off New Roof. Affordable, quality roofing. Based in Roswell. Serving North Atlanta since 1983. Call to schedule FREE Quote: 770-284-3123. Christian Brothers Roofing

Driveway

$250 OFF NEW DRIVEWAY!

Roofing Concrete/

Mention this ad. Concrete driveway specialists. Driveways, Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways, Slabs.  A+ BBB rating. FREE ESTIMATE. Call Rachael at 678-250-4546 to schedule a FREE Estimate. 30 years of experience. ARBOR HILLS CONSTRUCTION INC. Please note we do have a minimum charge on accepted jobs of $4,500.

Tree Services

24 hour emergency service. Licensed, insured. Workers Comp, insurance claims. 25+ years experience. Family business. Free estimates. We Love Challenges!

Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts 770-512-8733 • www.yellowribbontree.com

COMPLETE TREE SERVICES

Appen-Rated 98

Text or Call us for a FREE quote appointment.

Tree removal, Pruning, Stump grinding, Free mulch. Fully insured.

Emergency 24/7 770-450-8188

Haulers

Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling, Etc.

Many local referencesCall Ralph Rucker 678-898-7237

USERS! 50

Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00.

100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Español

Dental insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real in-surance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www. dental50plus.com/ads #6258

Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587

Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24.

1-866-479-1516

The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote.

1-877-539-0299

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available.

1-855-417-1306

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-855-948-6176

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398

HughesNet - Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo!

Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499-0141

Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

Switch and save up to $250/yr on talk, text & data. No contract or hidden fees. Unlimited talk & text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. Limited time get $50 off any new account. Use code GIFT50.

1-855-903-3048

MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888-489-3936

Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom!

1-833-758-3892

Inflation is at 40 year highs.

Interest rates are way up. Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call National Debt Relief to find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! Free quote: 1-877-5923616

Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-