Johns Creek Herald - April 18, 2024

Daffodil Days ushers in springtime

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Because daffodils emerge from the ground each spring, the bright yellow flowers symbolize new beginnings and the joy of sunny days.

Johns Creek’s second annual Daffodil Days, held outside City Hall from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 13, saw hundreds of families turn out to peruse the vendors at the Children’s Entrepreneur Market.

Attendees were treated to several food trucks, a live DJ and kids’ activities, with

an inflatable obstacle course certainly the most popular.

Last year, a week of volunteer efforts culminated in the Daffodil Days Market, which featured around 60 artisans, food trucks and kids’ activities.

See

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Pictured center, Lynn Pennington , president of Johns Creek Beautification, works the stand April 13 with other volunteers and members of the nonprofit’s Board of Directors at the Daffodil Days market.

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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.

Woman suspects plumber of copping pricey jewelry

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek woman reported to police April 2 that three valuable pieces of jewelry, totaling more than $76,000, were stolen from her home.

The woman told police the only person, unrelated to the family, who had been in the home is a plumber.

She said the plumber performed work in her master bathroom, connected to the closet where the jewelry was located, according to the incident report. The woman told police the plumber had been working with the door shut, which appeared to be odd behavior.

The woman provided police with the suspect’s name, and detectives found that he had recently pawned other jewelry items in the Cumming area.

Man reports robbery by alleged sex workers

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek man reported to police April 6 that he had been robbed by two women while at his home, who he had met at an Atlanta bar.

The man told police the two suspects drove him and his roommate home and found they were escorts. The man said he told them he did not want to participate in any sexual favors and that he would pay them for the ride at the very least, according to the incident report.

The man told police the suspects demanded $500 from him and that he countered to pay $100. He said that’s when one of the suspects snatched his phone and both suspects took off in their unidentified car, according to the report.

When the suspects left the scene, the man checked his banking account and $2,350 had been withdrawn, the report says.

Police were able to see the phone number attached to the Zelle account the money had been sent to, the report says, but when police showed the man a photo of the possible suspect, the man did not recognize her due to his intoxication.

Driver flees from police after stop for busted light

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested a 38-year-old Duluth man April 6 after he fled from a traffic stop for a nonfunctional brake light.

Police first made contact with the suspect, parked in a driveway on Oakmont Hill, and asked the suspect to step out of the vehicle due to a suspected odor of marijuana.

The suspect exited the car and then took off running toward Abbotts Bridge Road, according to the incident report.

While fleeing, police said the suspect was reaching for his pockets and ordered him to stop. The suspect ran about 20 meters before going through some bushes that lead into a backyard of a residence on Abbotts Station Drive, the report says.

Police kept the suspect at gunpoint, as he continued to search his pockets, then knelt on his back to place him in handcuffs, according to the report.

After a search, police found an empty plastic bag on the suspect and around 4 grams of marijuana in the car, the report says. Police also discovered the suspect was on probation.

Police charged the suspect with possession of marijuana less than 1 ounce, brake light/turn signal violation and willful obstruction of law enforcement officer. The suspect was transported to the North Fulton Detention Center.

Man arrested for cocaine on Medlock Bridge Road

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested a 42-year-old Atlanta man April 7 after they found cocaine in his vehicle during a traffic stop on Medlock Bridge Road.

Police pulled the suspect over for suspended registration. The suspect provided a driver’s license that did not match his

description, which had been suspended for driving under the influence, according to the incident report.

Police matched the registered owner of the vehicle to the driver and found the suspect’s driver license suspended for failure to appear. The suspect confessed to police that he provided his brother’s name and not his own, the report says.

An impound inventory of the vehicle was conducted, where police found a substance that tested positive for cocaine in the driver’s seat as well as glass pipes used for crack cocaine in the trunk of the vehicle.

Police also found an unlabeled pill bottle containing 21 Metoclopramide Hydrochloride pills, which the suspect said were given to him by his sister who is a pharmacist, the report says.

Police charged the suspect for operating a vehicle during license suspension, giving false information to law enforcement, possession of cocaine, drug not in original container and knowingly driving motor vehicle on suspended registration.

The suspect was transported to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.

Woman loses $8,500 in alleged bank scam

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An Alpharetta woman reported someone claiming to be with her bank scammed her of more than $8,000 March 28.

The victim reported she received a call with an ID showing Bank of America, and the suspect claimed to be a fraud protection employee.

The caller reportedly said the victim’s bank account was compromised, and she had to transfer $8,500 to an Apple Pay card, which she thought she would be able to access.

The victim said after she transferred the funds, there was no money on her Apple Pay card, and she realized she had been scammed.

Apple fraud employees traced the transactions to a Best Buy and an Apple Store in Florida, the report states.

No suspects have been identified.

Resident offers input as city weighs bike lanes

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The City of Johns Creek cut a ribbon April 10 on yet another transportation project increasing the city’s lot of bike-ped connectivity, this time along Old Alabama Road.

The near-$1 million project includes a 10-foot-wide trail on the northern shoulder of Old Alabama Road, from Autrey Mill to Spruill roads, as well as a 4-footwide bike lane. The city also added a right turn lane for motorists turning from Spruill onto Old Alabama.

Additions to Old Alabama come after work to Jones Bridge Road, from Douglas to McGinnis Ferry roads. That section also has a trail and a bike lane, and Public Works Director Chris Haggard said related signage will accompany the lane as with all new bike paths.

The completed projects, along Old Alabama and Jones Bridge, are the first set that pull from a map of bicycle corridors passed in August 2022, and more are coming.

The city plans to add bike lanes to any future road projects, Haggard said, as long as the streets have two travel lanes and no center turn lane. Otherwise, he said cars are considered to have a safe way to pass a bicycle.

Haggard said a project on Barnwell Road, currently in the right-of-way phase, will add a bike lane as well as one on Johns Creek Parkway, as part of the city’s Town Center. A second section on Jones Bridge Road in the works, from Waters to Morton roads, will also have a bike lane.

The City Council also approved a $34.6 million construction contract for improvements along Abbotts Bridge Road, from Parsons to Medlock Bridge roads, at its regular meeting March 25, which will include bike lanes.

The project on Abbotts Bridge also adds turn lanes, medians and sidewalks to match the section of Abbotts Bridge Road between Jones Bridge and Parsons roads, directly serving 13 neighborhoods, Abbotts Hill Elementary School and the Standard Club.

Citizen involvement

While Johns Creek continues to expand its multimodal capabilities, avid cyclist and resident Carl Rysdon said there is still more to consider and hopes the city will engage the cycling community in future planning.

Rysdon noticed bike lanes had been removed from a section along Medlock Bridge Road, from Abbotts Bridge to McGinnis Ferry roads — a path that he and about a dozen others use on a weekly ride from Six Bridges Brewing off Lakefield Drive to Norcross.

“It seems like they’re making improvements up and down that road, so if they’re going to continue doing this, they’re going to wipe all of it out,” Rysdon said.

Haggard said removing the bike lanes was a solution to improving operations in that area with as little impact to the surrounding properties as possible, taking the extra asphalt and adding a third lane. The project was a joint effort with the Georgia Department of Transportation.

CARL RYSDON/PROVIDED

Carl Rysdon, bottom left, rides with a group from Six Bridges Brewing off Lakefield Drive. A Johns Creek resident and avid cyclist, Rysdon hopes the city will involve the cycling community in planning toward multimodal transportation efforts. See BIKE, Page 21

Point Pulmonary Associates provides board certified physicians to diagnose and treat patients with pulmonary disorders. We offer state-of-the-art testing such as pulmonary function testing, digital chest radiography, robotic bronchoscopy, and lung cancer screening programs to treat an array of lung conditions.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Johns Creek officials and Autrey Mill Nature Preserve staff and board members commemorate the groundbreaking of a renovated amphitheater area April 12. Completion is slated for early fall.

City to renovate amphitheater at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek officials joined staff and board members of Autrey Mill Nature Preserve to commemorate the upcoming renovated amphitheater in a groundbreaking ceremony April 12.

The near-$450,000 project, funded by the Johns Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau in fiscal years 2023 and 2024, will allow for additional programming and facility rental options, such as outdoor theater shows and simple weddings.

Some CVB board members were also there to celebrate construction, expected

to be completed in early fall.

During the ceremony, Mayor John Bradberry shared his excitement for the project, how it will allow for more events and entertainment options, and for the collaborative spirit among city staff, the preserve’s board members and CVB board members who helped pull it together.

As part of the Recreation and Parks Strategic Plan process in 2022, John Creek city staff worked with the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve Association to develop a site-specific master plan for the Historic Village, which included a renovated amphitheater area at the southern end of the site along with overall site drainage and accessibility improvements.

See more garage sales in the classifieds

SOUTH FORSYTH/SUWANEE: Dig for treasures in Olde Atlanta Club in COMMUNITY-WIDE SALE! 5750 Olde Atlanta Parkway 30024. Saturday 4/20, 8am-1pm. Children’s clothes and toys, collectibles, sports equipment, electronics, household, furniture!

CUMMING-30040: Fieldstone multi-family; Elder Field Lane, Azurite Street, Balas Street, Preserve Crossing Lane, Delano Drive. Along Drew Campground and Hyde Roads. Saturday 4/20, 8am-3pm RAIN OR SHINE!

KINGSWOOD COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE: April 19-20 8am-3pm. GPS 4805 Kings Common Way, Cumming.

REDECORATING SALE: FRIDAY, APRIL 19 8-5. 8021 HENDERSON COURT, ALPHARETTA

DEADLINE

To place garage sale ads: Noon Friday. Call 770-442-3278 or email classifieds@appenmediagroup.com

Congratulate Your Senior! Graduating Senior Announcements in the Herald and Crier Newspapers.

Congratualations

Sally White

Throughout her time at Milton High School, Sally has been an active member of various clubs and sports teams, including the Debate Club, Science Olympiad, and Drama Society. Her leadership skills shone brightly as the captain of the soccer team, leading them to victory on numerous occasions. Sally’s commitment to excellence extended beyond athletics; she also excelled academically, earning recognition for her outstanding achievements in advanced mathematics and literature.

As she prepares to embark on the next chapter of her life, we are filled with pride and excitement for Sally’s future endeavors. Congratulations, Sally, on this remarkable achievement! We can’t wait to see the incredible things you’ll accomplish next.

Class of 2024

KATE LUEVANO/PROVIDED

Pictured center, Kate and Dewayne Luevano hold up a picture of their daughter, Josephine Anne , alongside friends and family November 19 at their first blood drive. Last June, the Luevanos’ daughter was stillborn after a missed diagnosis of a rare pregnancy condition.

Mother transforms loss into beneficial mission

ALPHARETTA-ROSWELL

DUNWOODY SANDY SPRINGS

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — When a tragedy befalls you, hope that your response is as life-affirming as Kate Luevano’s effort to spread awareness about a rare, yet preventable, disease.

A couple weeks after World Alloimmunization and Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn Day March 12, Luevano held her second blood drive with LifeSouth.

Last summer, Luevano gave birth to her daughter, Josephine Anne. Because of an undiagnosed case of alloimmunization and HDFN, Luevano’s pregnancy resulted in a stillbirth and the loss of her daughter.

In rare cases, a woman will develop maternal alloimmunization or a red cell antibody when exposed to a different blood type. The exposure to an unknown blood type, during pregnancy, childbirth or a blood transfusion, can cause a mother’s antibodies to attack the unborn child’s red blood cells. If left untreated, hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn — the baby’s condition — can have devastating consequences ranging from anemia to death.

“Just in my own research trying to figure out what happened, I stumbled across the Allo Hope Foundation,” Luevano said. “They’re an amazing foundation.”

See LUEVANO, Page 23

FORSYTH COUNTY JOHNS CREEK MILTON

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KNEE SURGERY

Crabapple developers prep for Market District debut

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Since the city’s incorporation, Milton residents have driven to neighboring North Fulton cities for a night out with the family.

The developers of Market District Crabapple are excited to offer surrounding residents the option to avoid the trek to Alpharetta’s Avalon or Roswell’s Canton Street for a night of dining out and perusing retail storefronts.

Located at the roundabout heading north from Broadwell Road to Ga. 372 and Birmingham Highway, Market District Crabapple is gearing up for its debut celebration.

When the band starts in the courtyard at 4 p.m. April 25 for the downtown Crabapple destination’s grand opening, attendees will discover high-quality dining options surrounding 3200 Heritage Walk.

Whether stopping in for a premium cut of beef at Aberdeen’s Steakhouse or trying Vietnamese-Cajun fusion at Le Mer Seafood, a delicious meal is easy to find.

A crucial requirement of any live-work mixed-use development is surrounding foot traffic. The owners and developers of Market District Crabapple, Brent Beecham, Eric Richards and Greg Swayne, said their strategic programming is designed to cater to families and provide options from dawn to dusk.

A priority for the developers is to achieve a complementary mix of tenants. With 100 percent of available space occupied, the lack of prospective tenants is a good problem to have, Swayne said.

“We decided that we don’t want to spend 10 years turning over businesses that can’t make it,” Swayne said.

He also said he believes there needs to be an entertainment angle with the development at some point in the future.

“All the ingredients of what made Canton Street work have been the way we strategically thought about how we want to program,” Swayne said. “Because Starbucks is such a huge anchor, it draws in other people immediately.”

After grabbing a coffee or taking a class at The Yoga Loft, patrons can stop by Community Burger for a grouper sandwich or Milton Dental for an appointment with Joshua Freitag.

Investors in community Residents who drive through the new restaurant district and mixed-use development will see the timeless architecture of the 3-story buildings that make up Market District Crabapple.

The Milton Design Review Board ensured the aesthetics of the mid-rises corresponded with the Crabapple formbased code, shown by the colored-brick facades with outdoor staircases and balconies.

The idea is to match the design of commercial properties along Crabapple Road and across the state route at Milton City Hall.

Beecham, a developer of Market District Development, said the whole project started when his cousin approached him about the rezoning of Strawberry Fields Farm off Birmingham Highway.

As a sign of the area’s rapid development since, the city constructed Heritage Walk with special-purpose local-option sales tax funds, which runs from Mayfield Road to Crabapple Road in the city’s southwest corner.

The Milton pasture once sported bovines and now offers world-class dishes at Aberdeen’s Steakhouse.

Beecham, a Roswell-native and a fourth-generation member of Metro Atlanta’s construction industry, said he met Swayne more than 25 years ago.

After an email and meeting over coffee in 2019, the two real estate veterans decided to partner and create Market District Development.

With their company working on a project on North Main Street in Alpharetta, the developers can point to Woodstock’s Adair Park as an example of a successful mixed-use development with luxury apartments at a downtown gateway.

Construction launched in 2020, and the vision for Market District Crabapple survived the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alternative streams of revenue, like catering and pre-ordering, became common during the pandemic and provided prospective tenants with a reason for optimism.

Bemir Mehmedbasic, owner and operator of Aberdeen’s Steakhouse, emphasizes customer experience and delivery of the highest quality food and wine through a Michelin star chef.

After commending his non-traditional landlords for their vision, Mehmedbasic said his investment bringing top-tier steaks to Milton “is the way it should be done.”

Expansions on the horizon

The city’s effort to intentionally design and curate its commercial areas fits with the vision of the Market District Crabapple developers.

See

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

From left, Greg Swayne and Brent Beecham, owners and developers of Market District Crabapple, stand with Hyde Brewing co-owner Josh Rachel in front of his beer fermenters and brite tanks. Rachel said he plans to have his brewed-on-site beers ready April 25 for the development’s grand opening.

Crabapple:

Continued from Page 8

With the grand opening for the first phase of Market District Crabapple quickly approaching, Swayne and Beecham said they want to give tenants “time to chew and swallow” before beginning construction again.

The developers plan for two more buildings, creating a total of seven mid-rises along Heritage Walk from Courtland Road to Ga. 372.

A little over half of the 3.85-acre site is developed, with land available and zoned for multi-family residential when the developers decide to move on phase two.

Hyde Brewing, dubbed the development’s most popular venue, combines the menu of community-loved Ceviche Taqueria with beers from the awardwinning brewmaster and co-founder of Jekyll Brewing, Josh Rachel.

Along with co-owners Mikka Orrick and Thiago Depaula, Rachel said the first six weeks in business at the customized brewpub has been busy.

Offering a family-friendly environment with quesadillas for kids and margaritas for moms, a two-hour wait at Hyde Brewing for live music is not uncommon.

Rachel said brewing craft beers comes with pressure, but he expects a batch ready in the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile, patrons can enjoy Ceviche’s Favorites and Hyde Cocktails on the expansive menu.

If you want to hear more about the relationship between Jekyll and Hyde brewing, come out for a chat with Rachel at the development’s grand opening April 25.

MARKET DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT/PROVIDED

An overhead drone shot of the courtyard at Market District Crabapple shows the development’s early 20th century aesthetics along the roundabout at Heritage Walk and Ga. 372. The mixeduse development includes restaurants, financial firms, a dentist’s office and other small businesses.

I feel your living space does have a lot to do with how you feel, emotionally, physically, how healthy you really are, how well you really are.

Interior designer spreads wellness through Metro Atlanta homes

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Lanada Duncan had come to know the importance of creating a personal sanctuary, feeling the burnout of a 20-year career in healthcare management.

The work took a toll, both mentally and physically. So, the Roswell resident began changing her home to create a more holistic environment.

“I feel your living space does have a lot to do with how you feel, emotionally, physically, how healthy you really are, how well you really are,” she said.

But, Duncan realized that she wasn’t fully in the space she wanted to be, which was to help others do the same, and founded her business b.e. decors Interiors in 2015.

She got her feet wet by hunting for unique pieces that she would refurbish and sell at street markets, also picking up small jobs from her friends, and when her son went to college, Duncan transformed his bedroom into her “she-cave,” which has since become one of her specialties.

“That’s a good way of making sure they don’t come back,” Duncan said, laughing.

The she-cave is the oft-overlooked space for women and for mothers that allows them to relieve stress amid a packed schedule, to let their hair down, to make themselves a priority.

Meanwhile, “man caves” are a longstanding concept, widely cited and portrayed in the media. Duncan said her husband’s is the garage in her

For more information about b.e. decors Interiors or to schedule a consultation, visit www.bedecors.com.

Roswell home, where all his childhood toys are stored.

“I thought, well, you know, I need a space like that,” Duncan said.

Duncan said her she-cave, denoted with a sign on the door, features a big, comfy cream-colored chair and ottoman, an electric fireplace with an assortment of teas, honeys and mugs on its mantle, a drink cart holding a refrigerator, wines, glasses and a teapot, and a Bose speaker she uses to sound off her favorite artists like Márcio Faraco or a playlist of Zen music.

The sanctum has plenty of candles, Duncan said, made by her sister which she sells through b.e. decors Interiors. Duncan’s website also features handcrafted body butter and decorative pillows, marked with phrases like “She-Cave” and “Girl Boss.”

The room has evolved over time, and soon, she said it will get a redesign to incorporate fresh color and her love of birds.

“I tell people that you have to invest in yourself first, so that you can be there for your children, so that you can be there for your employer,” Duncan said. “This is just one of the important ways to do it.”

Duncan devoted herself full-time to interior design around three years ago after being laid off from her role

See WELLNESS, Page 11

LANADA DUNCAN/PROVIDED

Lanada Duncan, a Roswell-based interior designer, sits in her original “she-cave” at her home. The concept, a relaxing space for women, has become her specialty since she founded b.e. decors Interiors in 2015.

LANADA DUNCAN, founder, b.e. decors Interiors

Wellness:

Continued from Page 10

in patient relations, driven by the need to understand what makes for a peaceful living space.

“It’s great to make a space look beautiful, and that’s good,” Duncan said. “But, it’s really, to me, more important to make it feel like home for you … There are so many things in the world that can affect us in the day-today, but when you come home, that should be your safe space.”

Regardless of scope, Duncan said each consultation is individualized and involves asking clients what constitutes “home” — she said maybe it’s the color yellow that reminds a

client of a favorite house they lived in, splashed over the kitchen, a reminder of the smell of cookies.

While other interior designers might look in client’s closet to get an understanding of their style, Duncan said it’s important to really get to know the subject first.

But, she noted a few guidelines she likes to talk through, which may not be at the forefront of a client’s mind, like light sources, pops of color and biophilic features — plants, natural stones, photographs of landscapes. Some of the work for Duncan is education.

“While they may not be thinking of this particular item, we need to talk about it because I want to blow your mind by not just meeting your expectations but exceeding them,” she said.

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

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Appen Media publishes New Business Spotlights to highlight local businesses as they get started. Submit yours for free at appenmedia.com/newbusiness.

PLANT SALE AND MORE!

Saturday, April 20 • 9am–3pm The Grove @ Wills Park • 175 Roswell Street

Free parking and shuttle from the Amana Academy parking lot

Brought to you by THE NORTH FULTON MASTER GARDENERS in partnership with Georgia Native Plant Society & the Alpharetta Community AG Program

Educational speakers, Fleatique, Children’s activities, Plant Vendors, Food Vendors, and Master Gardeners to answer your gardening questions. For more information: www.nfmg.net/garden-faire

The popular North Fulton Master Gardeners Pass-along Plant Sale will feature more than 2000 beautiful plantings suitable for sun and shade.

The North Metro Atlanta Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society will have a selection of around 2000 native perennials, shrubs, vines, and trees.

The Alpharetta Community Agriculture Program will have around 5000 unique varieties of organic, heirloom, and non-GMO plants, grown from seed at Old Rucker Farm.

LANADA DUNCAN/PROVIDED Lanada Duncan’s she-cave design in an Alpharetta home office features dark green walls, a cowhide rug and elegant lighting.

At Starting Strength, we’re not just trainers, we’re strength engineers

Brought to you by – Coach Adam Martin, Starting Strength Atlanta

Who are we?

Starting Strength Atlanta – John’s Creek led by Coach Adam Martin. At Starting Strength Atlanta, we train with barbells using The Starting Strength Method. Coach Adam Martin has decades of experience in the fitness industry. Prior to opening Starting Strength Atlanta, Coach Adam served as the Head Coach at Starting Strength Cincinnati.

Why barbell training?

Barbell training using the Starting Strength Method is the single most effective training modality for those wishing to get strong. A hallmark of aging is

the loss of physical strength and muscle mass. We must do all we can to offset or even reverse this pitfall of aging! The barbell can be loaded with as little as a fraction of a pound and, over time, incrementally loaded as we pursue greater strength adaptations. Barbells are superior to machines as they work more muscle mass over a longer range of motion. As you gain strength using a barbell, your balance is also trained by the simple fact that you must balance the barbell with increasing weight while standing. Much of the fitness world focuses on a number on the scale, but we train for the number on the barbell. On day one, that could mean two pounds. On day sixty, through stress, recovery, and adaptation, the number will be far greater than you could have imagined!

Who should train at a Starting Strength Gym

Any person who relies on physical strength to maintain their physical existence (everyone). Starting Strength is for everyone, regardless of age or fitness level. Our members are diverse, ranging from teens to 100 years old. Coach Adam’s oldest trainee to date is (97) years young and has become the epitome of The Athlete of Aging. We're not just a gym, we're a supportive community that celebrates strength at every stage of life.

Why Starting Strength

At Starting Strength, we're not just trainers, we're Strength Engineers. Led by First Principles

(hard sciences), we consider biology, anatomy, and physiology as we construct your training. The Starting Strength Method is comprised of just a few comprehensive exercises that focus on normal human movements. Our Coaches are not just certified, they're trained for thousands of hours and submit to rigorous testing to be called a “Starting Strength Coach.” We're dedicated to your progress, and it shows in the results. At Starting Strength, it takes a remarkably short amount of time to live a different physical existence.

Take Control of Your Health - Get Stronger.

– Coach Adam Martin

Protect your assets

Brought to you by – Geerdes & Associates

It’s a tale as old as time. A widow remarries and her new husband and stepchildren steal her house and money away from her children. While it’s our hope that these tales are fantasy, such was reality for Mr. Q. After his mother remarried, Mr. Q, his brothers, and their stepsiblings lived together in his mother’s house. Mr. Q’s mother and his stepfather signed a prenup and the mother also assigned the stepfather as power of attorney and healthcare proxy. Unfortunately, the stepfather used these powers to place her in a dementia-care facility –despite her still being competent. As she had given the stepfather the power to make choices for her, Mr. Q and his brothers could do nothing.

When the stepfather passed, Mr. Q made a horrifying discovery. Prior to his death, the stepfather had used

his position as the mother’s power of attorney to sign her house to himself and pass it to his children. Even worse, although the prenup stated that his estate worth over 10 million would be split among the children and the mother - the stepsiblings refused to honor the agreement.

While it’s common for spouses to give each other power over each other’s financial and medical decisions, the documents could have been written so that Mr. Q and his brother shared the power of attorney with their stepfather, giving them some way to stop him. In addition, Mr. Q’s mother should have been more careful about the documents she signed - many power of attorney documents can be written so they only take effect after incapacitation.

Finally, while the prenup is valid, the uncertainty of whether the stepfather had a will puts things in jeopardy. The prenup and the will’s ability to

supersede each other is dependent on how each document is written and the state it is executed in, and whether the will and prenup contradict each other. Improper estate planning opened a way for the stepfather to make his move. You always want to fully understand the implications of the documents

you sign and cover for many probable scenarios. To make sure you don’t let predatory spouses, heirs, or children take your assets from those you love, consult an estate planning attorney in your local area – and always be informed on the consequences of the decisions you make.

is expensive, but how bad could it be?

If the average stay in assisted living and/ or memory care facilities is seven years and the average stay in skilled nursing is three years. That means that we will need help at some level for the last ten years of our lives. Whether you choose to stay home or seek facility style care, the cost can be very high. Many assisted living homes in our area of the world are about $4,500 monthly to start and then additional fees apply as you need more help. Memory care starts at around $5,500 per month up to $8,000 per month depending on the facility. The cost of skilled nursing homes on a private basis will be around $12,000 per month. When you multiply the cost by the average stay in assisted living or memory care and add in the skilled nursing period of time, you end up with $810,000 to $900,000 as the total cost of care. And the cost is always increasing each year.

When you choose to stay home, it’s even more expensive because the cost of caregivers is not split between multiple residents – the caregiver comes just to see you. When folks come to see us, we look to see whether they are prepared for the high cost of long-term care. People plan to cover that cost in many ways. Maybe your income is high enough that you really only need to worry about the cost of skilled nursing care. Some people have long term care insurance to cover part of this cost. Maybe the family will be providing some or all of your care for free for a time. However you plan, the important thing here is to plan. If you’d like to meet with an attorney for help in planning, please give us a call.

Be sure to check out our webinars. Registration links at Wilson-legal.com/events

04/26/24, Fri · 1pm

Elder Care Basics (online webinar)

05/03/24, Fri · 12:30pm–4:30pm

Mother’s Message Writing Workshop –$75 fee includes lunch, writing prompts and coaching on writing letters to loved ones.

05/10/24, Fri · 1pm

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Farm House − where Alpharetta was born

Two developments predated the establishment of Alpharetta. New Prospect Campground was located just north of today’s downtown Alpharetta. Because the site was favored with several natural springs, it was popular for overnight stays by travelers in the 1830s. Travelers stayed in tents until the area was expanded to accommodate houses and eventually a school and church. Milton County was created in 1857 and the city of Alpharetta was established the following year and became the county seat. In 2008, the City of Alpharetta erected a historical marker on the New Prospect site with a circa 1835 date.

Less well documented is the development of another area called Farm House, a commercial center from 1834 to 1858 that according to some historians may have predated New Prospect Campground. Connie Mashburn in his book Alpharetta, Milton County-the Early Years notes that “at various times a gristmill, sawmill, cotton gin, post office and general store” operated at Farm House.

Local historian Ed Malowney says that the area was not well defined geographically but was where farmers went to purchase grain and dry goods to run their farm or plantation. An authority on early post offices, Malowney says that the establishment of a post office in Farm House literally put Farm House on early maps.

The settlement is located by the QuikTrip where Old Milton Parkway crosses State Route 400. It occupied Land Lot #855. Little remains of the property today, except portions of a stone dam.

Hiram Trammell, millwright, and his older brother John moved with John’s family to the area from Abbeville. South Carolina and settled near what is now known as Teasley’s Creek. John was a multitalented farmer, carpenter, blacksmith, tanner and shoemaker. He died in 1864.

According to Billy Bates, beloved historian, now deceased, Hiram obtained the land lot where Farm House was established in the mid-1830s. He built a log cabin for himself and began construction of a stone dam across a 30-foot wide vigorous stream to create waterfalls to power a gristmill and other projects he planned to build. Unfortunately, he died in 1840 before

Billy Bates

on the raceway beside the stream where a grist mill was located at Farm House, Alpharetta’s first settlement. The raceway channeled the flowing water to a wheel which turned and powered the grinding wheel in the mill. Billy led a group of historians on a visit to the historic site.

construction, Mitchell and many local citizens are anxious to move forward as quickly as possible.

completing the projects and was buried near his cabin.

Records show that Isham Teasley (1807-1883) purchased the partially built dam as part of 800 acres he accumulated in and around today’s Alpharetta. Teasley completed the dam and built a gristmill, and later added a cotton gin, general store, sawmill and post office, thus completing Hiram Trammell’s vision. His efforts turned the property into a thriving commercial area. Teasley became Farm House’s first postmaster in 1853. Once Alpharetta was created the Farm House post office was moved to Alpharetta.

Pat Miller, President of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society and authority on local cemeteries, points to Old Big Creek Cemetery where many Farm House residents are buried. The Baptist church that was adjacent to the cemetery burned down many years

ago. The cemetery is located on Kimball Bridge Road a short distance from the Farm House community. Pat says “some of the earliest families in Farm House such as the Mortons, Trammels and Webs are buried there.”

The City of Alpharetta plans to establish a park at Farm House. City Councilman Don Mitchell is a strong advocate for the park. Mitchell says “This will be Alpharetta’s only heritage park, where people will be able to walk in the footsteps of our earliest pioneer settlers.” He notes that Farm House was a trading post where native Americans, pioneer settlers and those heading to the Dahlonega gold rush came together. “Ground penetrating radar has revealed where buildings were, and jonquils planted by early settlers still grow and outline locations of important landmarks,” Mitchell notes. While the City does not have a firm date to start

Several years ago the City of Alpharetta and Alpharetta & Old Milton County Historical Society created Saving Farm House, a short documentary film that tells the story of Alpharetta’s origin. Directed by Mark Maloney and written by Alpharetta author and film maker Michael Buchanan, the film premiered at Alpharetta City Hall to a standing room only audience. It featured the unique voice of Billy Bates who did extensive early research on Farm House. Buchanan reports that the film took about nine months to produce. He says “One of the most impacting things about the film is knowing that the story will survive for future generations. History matters. Films matter. It’s our duty to preserve the voices of our pioneers.”

The beautiful 12 minute film is worth viewing and can be seen by on Vimeo.

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

RENDERING BY JOHN NELSON/PROVIDED

Artist rendering of what a building at Farm House might have looked like.

BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

Sign on Old Milton Parkway near entrance to Route 400 showing the location of Farm House, the first settlement in Alpharetta. The sign indicates that a heritage park will be located there.

KIM MANNING/PROVIDED

standing

Everything you need to know about the 2024 Garden Faire

For the 23rd year, the North Fulton Master Gardeners will host our time-honored Garden Faire at The Grove at Wills Park.

Garden Faire 2024 will be held Saturday, April 20 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever. New this year, the event will feature plant sales from Alpharetta’s Community Agriculture Program and the North Metro Atlanta Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society.

Garden Faire 2024 will provide one-stop shopping for gardeners – a large selection of annuals and perennials, native plants and edible seedlings. The North Fulton Master Gardeners will have for sale the ornamental annuals they grow at the Fulton County Schools Teaching Museum Greenhouse, featuring coleus, hanging ferns, geraniums, begonias, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, and a large variety of other annuals, along with flowering perennials from the Master Gardeners own precious pass-along plants. These plants typically include ground covers, flowering perennials, hostas, iris, daylilies and many other perennial plants, along with some select shrubs and trees. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your questions.

We are very excited about the North Metro Atlanta Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society joining us for Garden Faire. They will feature a selection of native perennials, shrubs, vines, and trees. Approximately 2000 plants will be available for pollinator gardens and residential landscapes.

The Alpharetta Community Agriculture Program will have unique varieties of organic, heirloom, and non-GMO plants, grown from seed at Old Rucker Farm. Approximately 5000 vegetable, herb and flower seedlings will be available for home gardens.

The North Fulton Master Gardener volunteers collect vintage treasures and pass them on to visitors at our ever-popular Fleatique market. Peruse the Fleatique sale to find that interesting pot, gadget or garden tool for your home or garden.

If you bring little sprouts to the Faire, look for the Children’s Corner sign. Children can have fun potting a tomato plant, making a seed necklace, coloring pictures of flowers or even

learning about worm composting from one of our partners. This free activity is available from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

This year’s Garden Faire will have educational speakers and demonstrations from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, including some well-known gardening experts.

• 10:00 am - Henning von Schmeling, Chattahoochee Nature Center

• 11:00 am - Rick Smith, the Pruning Guru

• 12:00 am - Sam Landes, Mushroom Club of Georgia

• 1:15 pm - North Fulton Master Gardeners Interactive Small Group Presentations featuring George Scesney, who will talk about vegetable gardening, composting and managing wildlife pests, Kelly Mogelgaard, who will present “Four Season Front Door Pops” and “Two Curb Appeal Basics,” Judy Peacock, who will talk about “How to Create a Garden in Containers of all Sizes and Shapes” and Doug Hartong, International Orchid Judge and member American Orchid Society who, will present ”Let me Solve Your Orchid Issues!”

Our Vendors will offer a unique variety of gardening-related items and plants. We still have a few vendor slots available, so vendors may complete our virtual Vendor Committment Form to apply to participate.

How do you get to this fantastic Faire? The Grove at Wills Park is located at 175 Roswell Street, Alpharetta, GA. We recommend that you either park at the parking lot at the Alpharetta Community Center at The Grove or park at the overflow parking lot at Amana Academy (285 S Main St, Alpharetta, GA 30009) and hop on the free shuttle, which will run continuously from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm to take attendees to Garden Faire. Bring your wagons to assist in carrying away all the great plants you will find.

Once the tents are down and the vendors have gone, where does your well-spent dollar go? Proceeds from the North Fulton Master Gardeners Garden Faire go to support our demonstration gardens and many educational activities for both children and adults.

But the best part of Garden Faire is the interaction with our community members. It gives us great joy to share our gardening knowledge with you, answer all your gardening questions,

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SANDRA SHAVE Guest Columnist

Aiding local news is helping yourself

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

I attended a recent Appen Press Club community meeting, March 21, at a local Italian restaurant SUGO (highly recommend) on Medlock Bridge in Johns Creek. The Appen Press Club is something that Publisher Hans Appen and Director of Content and Development Carl Appen started about a year ago. Ideally, once a month, Carl, Hans and the newsroom staff hold a Press Club meeting - free and open to anyone and everyone - at a local venue - usually local restaurant - and talk about the news stories they are working on and field questions from the audience about anything and everything the audience wants to bring up. The events usually include food and beverages – free to members. People seem to enjoy them.

Attendance at these get-togethers typically ranges from 20 to 40 folks and lasts about an hour. I have found them to be fun, engaging, and entertaining enough to want to keep attending.

The purpose of the Appen Press Club is two-fold: The first is to try to stay as

THE INK PENN

The next Appen Press Club event is April 18 at 4 PM at Cherry Street Brewing in Cumming. RSVP for free at appenmedia.com/join.

connected as possible with our customers - you - and to have the best idea possible about what we are doing right and what we can do better. The second purpose is to raise money to help keep our community news business going. That is, to help keep your local newspaper covering your events, your government, your law enforcement, your city council, and how your taxes are being spent. In general, and this is something that most people know intuitively, but do not necessarily lose sleep over, if we - your local press - don’t do those things, no one else will. Period. It is a very real thing. That is not just hyperbole; it is cold fact.

This does not mean that your elected or appointed city officers are not trustworthy. By and large, they all are. However, as anyone one who has ever managed a group of people knows, without oversight, without someone there actually hands-on enforcing the rules or seeing that they are being enforced, people can be tempted to cut corners - bend the rules - tell white lies - and sometimes break the rules. It’s like

having traffic laws with no law traffic cops enforcing them. That dog, as we say in the south, just don’t hunt.

Another very relevant fact that we are dealing with here is that the more money that is involved in the process, the greater the temptation for rules and laws to be bent, broken, or manipulated. It’s only human nature. The collective annual budget of the 7 cities and 3 counties we serve is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. We watch that money, as best our resources allow us to watch it.

For example, right now the Alpharetta City Council, in conjunction with the Alpharetta City Manager and the City Parks & Recreation Director have more than $22,000,000 to spend from the bond that you taxpayers approved in 2021 for parks and recreation funding - your tax dollars. And you taxpayers were told how the money would be spent if you approved it. Among the things you were told was that improvements ($5,000,000) to the Will Park Equestrian Center were contingent upon a private foundation putting up matching funding. How many of you - dear readers - are keeping track of that fine print in the bond - the amount of money the foundation has put up? Well, we are. For you. In a sense we are your active institutional memory.

In 2021 Appen news staff initiated an ongoing story about road construction in Roswell. At the end of the day, Appen discovered that the roads that were supposed to cost $7 million had ballooned to over $18,000,000 and one of the property purchases that the City had made had to be purchased a second time because the city had failed to fulfill some of the contract commitments from the original land purchase. Maleficence? Probably not. Incompetence? Probably, but who would have known? It’s your tax dollars we guard.

In 2021 Appen sued the city of Roswell for failing to comply with the Georgia Open Records Act - information you have a right to access. We won, but it cost us $15,000 until we were partially reimbursed in settlement. In 2023, Appen sued the city of Sandy Springs - specifically their law enforcement - for the same thing - but much worse. We lost that decision but are appealing the ruling with higher courts. It has cost us over $40,000 so far.

In the past three years we have probably filed over 500 freedom of information requests - each costing from thirty to sometimes many hundreds of dollars each. Why? To get source material for reporting that sometimes contradicts how officials describe what’s going on.

See APPEN, Page 19

Spotlight on Local Authors at Lemonade Days

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

Once again, the Dunwoody Authors and Friends Bookstore will feature local authors during the 2024 Lemonade Days weekend at Brook Run, April 20-21. The booth is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 12 noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

New for 2024 is an extended range of children’s titles, as well as a wide range of other fiction and non-fiction works: Music, YA, romance, parenting, WWII and global history, personal memoirs, cozy mysteries, crime & thrillers, humor, baseball, science fiction, and fantasy novels. Many of the featured authors are awardwinning, and all will be available in-person for book signing sessions.

Festival goers will be able to chat with and purchase signed books from all authors showcasing their books. All books are available both days, but if you’re hoping to see particular neighborhood authors, be sure to check the schedule so you don’t miss them. Don’t miss this opportunity to find books by local authors and stock up on books for your summer reading pleasure. With the variety of books available, this is also the perfect opportunity to find books to give as gifts for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and graduation.

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

Authors’ Appearance Schedule

Saturday April 20

• 11 a.m. Kay Paschal “Insert Giggle, Giggle”

• 11 a.m. Kathy Manos Penn The Dickens & Christie Mystery Series

• 11 a.m. Desiree Robinson “The Ice Cream Gang”

• Noon Susan N. Swann “Walls of Silence”

• Noon Bryan Archer “Eighth Note!”

• Noon Barbara Gomes Serafino “The Book I Always Promised”

• 1 p.m. Bradsher Hayes “150 Years of the Braves”

• 1 p.m. Donald Reichardt “The Corporate Lies”

• 1 p.m. Jenifer Goldin “Anonymous Mom Posts”

• 2 p.m. Chris Riker “Goody Celeste”

• 2 p.m. Fatima R. Henson “Love in the Age of Dragons”

• 2 p.m. Andrea Lane “Abby the Crabby Tabby Discovers Gratitude”

• 3 p.m. Anita Foster Lovely “Deceptions”

• 3 p.m. Alice Takawira “Turning Tables”

• 3 p.m. Don Pattillo “A Romance of Flight”

• 4 p.m. Jan Slimming “Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park”

• 4 p.m. Yasemin Eginlioglu “Grandma Squirrel in the Land of Squirrels”

• 4 p.m. Daniel Burke “Red Screen”

• 5 p.m. Steven Andrews “That’s Me in the Closet”

Sunday April 21

• Noon Jon Costales “Visions of Redemption”

• Noon Parul Kapur “Inside the Mirror”

• Noon Sunsheray T. Carter “Oops, Where is my Teddy Bear?”

• 1 p.m. Beverly Armento “Seeing Eye Girl”

• 1 p.m. Julane Fisher “Sour Lemon and Sweet Tea”

• 1 p.m. G. A. Anderson “South of Happily”

• 2 p.m. Katherine Nichols “False Claims”

• 2 p.m. Sherry Ellis “Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Adventure”

• 3 p.m. Pamela Norsworthy “War Bonds”

• 4 p.m. Jenny Guberman “Chattahoochee Cats”

Daffodil:

Continued from Page 1

The city and Johns Creek Beautification, a nonprofit that launched Daffodils 4 Hope in 2018, partnered to put together this year’s community gathering with a twist.

Children, ages 5 to 17, set up more than 100 booths at the Daffodil Days market.

Through collaboration with Children’s Entrepreneur Market, organizers reached out to local schools to promote the opportunity for participation in an awardwinning program.

Children’s Entrepreneur Market teaches young people about the power of entrepreneurship and innovation through on-the-ground experiences, challenging kids to decide what to sell, create a booth, talk to customers and handle money.

The organization encourages parents and chaperones to take a back-seat approach and let children do the learning.

Dylan Penick, a recreation coordinator with the city, said organizers were glad the rain cleared out before the weekend. Unfortunately, strong gusts of wind kept vendors scrambling to anchor down their tents and keep merchandise on the table.

Pennick said the wind gave his team about as much trouble as it gave the world’s best golfers during the 2024 Master’s at Augusta National.

Following the February departure of Event Coordinator Stacey Gross, who organized last year’s inaugural event, Pennick took over operations for the spring market.

“I’m not sure where the actual idea came from,” he said. “They just wanted it to be a more kid-oriented thing, and Stacey found the Children’s Entrepreneur Market.”

Callie Park, a third grader at Medlock Bridge Elementary School, said she had a ton of fun selling homemade slime, candy and snacks at the market. While the slime was her signature product, Callie said she sold a lot of candy to nearby vendors.

Graim Patt, an eight grader at Holcomb Bridge Middle School in Roswell,

Appen:

Continued from Page 18

That is what we do. We represent you. If we’re not doing it, who will? You elect your city councils and your mayors. They hire the city administration. So, to a degree, you only get to “approve” or “disapprove” the folks who administer your tax dollars about once every 4 years. And then, you only know how they are doing, in general, by the local press that gives you

OPINION

sold hand-crafted candy-style earrings and jewelry at the market. Graim, who recently moved from Johns Creek to Roswell, said he named his business Bracelet Haven because of the comfort that arts and crafts gave him while adjusting to a new school.

The theme of the springtime celebration traces back to Daffodils 4 Hope, a community-wide planting program started by a board member of Johns Creek Beautification in 2018.

Marilyn Davis, founder of Daffodils 4 Hope, spoke during public comment at the March 4 City Council meeting about her gratitude toward Johns Creek officials for their support of the program.

“Your acknowledgement tonight and your presence at digs, Mr. Mayor and City Council leadership, serves as a vital source of inspiration to our over 1,100 dedicated volunteers,” Davis said. “This incredible group of energetic people, spanning in age from 3 to 89, comes from all the diverse ethnic backgrounds that make up the Johns Creek community.”

What started with 1,000 donated bulbs at Veterans Memorial Park off Rod Road resulted in the planting of more than 52,250 daffodil bulbs across 21 locations throughout the city.

Splashes of yellow at local schools, parks, neighborhoods, businesses and houses of worship not only beautify the city but also serve as a powerful symbol of hope and resilience, Davis said.

The program raises awareness for CanCare Atlanta — an organization that provides counseling support to cancer patients and caregivers in the community.

Because the explosion of daffodils in late winter and early spring symbolizes hope, rebirth and good luck, CanCare Atlanta and Johns Creek Beautification hopes to inspire support for cancer patients and caregivers.

Mayor John Bradberry, a longtime planter with Daffodils 4 Hope, shouted out Johns Creek Beautification and perused different vendor booths during the celebration.

“Hopefully, you’re finding some products at this fantastic children’s market,” Bradberry said. “If you have been driving around this spring, hopefully you’ve noticed these beautiful mass plantings around our city.”

the information. Of course, you can attend Council meetings but that often does not tell the entire story. What happens inbetween those four years? A lot. We are there every week, every month, every year acting on your behalf. It never ceases to amaze me when I hear someone casting disparaging generalizations about “the press.“ As if all the press were the same. “Fake news” they say. My response to thoseincluding at least one local Mayor and several city council folks in the towns we cover, is “what do you have to hide?”

What would you prefer for us not to monitor?

I have told this little story more than once but it is worth repeating. The meeting had just ended. Two commissioners were talking. One said “why don’t we go ahead and give that bid to so and so? Who is going to know?” The commissioner he said that to, pointed over his shoulder at our reporter who was still there within earshot and said, “well, he will.” True story. Your rights are our mission. The threats to your rights are real. It is not

just something that you can ignore, and it will “just go away.” Please consider joining the Appen Press Club. You can go to appenmedia.com/join and click on the Press Club link for more information. We also accept one-time, monthly, and annual contributions via the Post Office. Make the check out to Appen Media Group and in the memo line put Appen Press Club. Our mailing address is 319 North Main

PHOTOS BY HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

A look at Johns Creek City Hall at Daffodil Days April 13 shows the dozens of booths at the spring market. City officials worked with Johns Creek Beautification and Children’s Entrepreneur Market to put together the community celebration.

Patrons peruse various stalls April 13 at the Daffodil Days market and celebration outside of Johns Creek City Hall. Hundreds of families spent early Saturday afternoon enjoying the sunshine and interacting with young entrepreneurs.

PURPOSE

An Alcoholic Beverage License Application was submitted to the City on April 1, 2024 for Consumption on Premises of Malt Beverage, Wine & Distilled Spirits

BUSINESS NAME

Mimosa Rush LLC

Dba Rushing Trading Co.

9810 Medlock Bridge Rd

Suite 900

Johns Creek, GA 30097

OWNER/OFFICERS

Mimosa Rush LLC

Dba

Rushing Trading Co.

9810 Medlock Bridge Rd

Suite 900

Johns Creek, GA 30097

Owners, Amber Rushing

Lemonade Days celebrates 25 years of revitalization

Lemonade Days has been a Dunwoody tradition since 1999. The first event was held as a fundraiser for a campaign to replant trees following the devastating tornado that cut through Dunwoody on April 9, 1998. The Dunwoody Homeowner’s Association, Dunwoody Preservation Trust and Dunwoody Nature Center joined forces to replace trees with the “Replant the Dunwoody Forest” effort.

The 1999 event included a children’s carnival and tours of rebuilt and rehabilitated homes. DPT chose to name the festival Lemonade Days in 2000, evolving from the phrase “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” The 2000 event included a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, and games on the lawn of the Cheek-Spruill House.

During the years 2001 through 2003, Lemonade included arts and crafts at the Shops of Dunwoody in addition to home tours and carnival games at the Cheek-Spruill House. In 2004, Lemonade Days moved to Brook Run Park.

Tornados touched down from Alabama to Cobb County, Georgia over three days in April 1998. In Dunwoody, the tornado 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. The tornado then struck Peachtree Corners and northern Gwinnett County. (Dunwoody

During these turbulent times, we would

Crier, June 1998, “April 9, 1998: The Storm”)

At DeKalb College, today’s Georgia State University, Dunwoody campus, 80 percent of the trees snapped or were uprooted. The “Replant the Dunwoody Forest” program replaced more than 25,000 trees.

This year’s Lemonade Days Festival will be held April 17-21. What began as a one-day small event has grown into a 5-day festival and Dunwoody signature event, with approximately 20,000 attendees.

The festival includes carnival rides and a variety of food and beverage every day. The tradition of pony rides and a petting zoo continues Saturday, April 20

from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Sunday April 21 from noon until 6 p.m.

The Dunwoody Idol competition is at 6 p.m. on Saturday night. The first annual High School Battles of the Bands will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday. Participants include bands from Mount Vernon Presbyterian School, Peachtree Charter Middle School, Dunwoody High School and Atlanta Academy.

Dunwoody Authors & Friends Booth, 20 plus authors with their books available for purchase will be at the festival on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

The Lemonade Days Festival is the only fundraiser of the Dunwoody Preservation Trust, with the profits going to the continued rehabilitation and maintenance of the historic 1870 Donaldson-Bannister Farm (a partnership of the DPT and city of Dunwoody) as well as numerous community events, educational programs for children and adults and Camp Flashback.

Visit dunwoodylemonadedays.org for daily schedules and details.

Award-winning author

Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

HOPE FOLLMER/PROVIDED Lemonade Days 2023 drew thousands to Brook Run Park to celebrate Dunwoody’s continued effort to preserve its history and natural beauty.

Bike:

Continued from Page 3

When a bike lane is removed to accommodate road improvements, Haggard said an 8-foot-wide trail will be added to replace the lost connectivity. The city’s bike policy, approved in October 2022, allows all cyclists of all ages to use trails at least 8 feet in width.

But, Rysdon said this wasn’t an even exchange.

“Imagine riding on the weaving sidewalk, crossing roads in front of cars who cannot see you coming, all at 20-plus mph,” Rysdon said. “They are truly not coming at this from a perspective of understanding or experience.”

The city’s last public engagement effort on transportation was around the time the North Fulton Comprehensive Transportation Plan was passed in 2018 with around four public meetings on all transportation types. Because there’s usually a 10-year window in planning, another round of input isn’t expected until 2028.

Rysdon proposes the city form an advisory group composed of residents interested in improving bike connectivity.

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK/PROVIDED

Johns Creek officials commemorate multi-modal transportation improvements along Old Alabama Road in a ribboncutting ceremony April 10. The near-$1 million project added a 10-foot-wide trail and 4-foot-wide bike lane to Old Alabama, from Autrey Mill to Spruill roads, as well as a right turn lane for motorists turning from Spruill onto Old Alabama.

“That would really help steer the discussion in the right direction,” he said.

In an interview, Mayor John Bradberry said he wants to make it easier for alternative modes of transportation around the city and is open to more public engagement on the issue, mentioning the option of a

INVITATION TO BID

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK

ITB #24-116

ROGERS BRIDGE ROAD TRAIL & BELL ROAD TRAIL

The City of Johns Creek extends an Invitation to Bid (ITB) to qualified construction firms for the construction of a trail along the east side of Rogers Bridge Road and along the south side of Bell Road in the City of Johns Creek. ITB’s will be received electronically via the City’s bid platform, BidNet no later than 2:00PM on April 25, 2024 . Questions are accepted and answered online only via BidNet. Deadline for questions is April 18, 2024 at 5:00 PM.

Quotes, bids, and RFP’s are electronically managed through the Georgia Purchasing Group by BidNet , our online bidding/vendor registration system, on the City website: https://www.johnscreekga.gov/Residents/Purchasing . To access the ITB document you must register with BidNet. Go to the City website above and click the link “register and view quote/bid/RFP opportunities”.

The City of Johns Creek, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 78 Stat. 252, 42 USC 2000d—42 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, part 21, Nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin in consideration for an award .

All offerors must comply with all general and special requirements of the ITB information and instructions.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting Neil Trust at the City of Johns Creek Procurement Division at purchasing@johnscreekga.gov or (678) 512-3233. The City of Johns Creek reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to wave technicalities and informalities, and to make award in the best interest of the City of Johns Creek.

city survey.

But, he said Johns Creek faces the issue of pre-existing infrastructure.

“We want to do the most good for the most people because we are using public dollars,” Bradberry said.

Haggard estimated that additions of bike lanes increase project costs by roughly 20 to 25 percent.

Bike friendly cities

Dennis Carman said it was only in the past few years that the City of Johns Creek gave any priority to alternative modes of transportation. Carman, who has lived in Johns Creek for more than two decades, has been in the advocacy space on transit since 2015.

Currently on the board of Bike Roswell and Georgia Bikes, Carman is the former president of Bike Alpharetta and helped bring the City of Alpharetta two Bike Friendly Community designations in 2018 and 2023. He said the purpose of these independent nonprofits is to coordinate with city officials on priorities and needs within the cycling community.

“There’s so much for [Johns Creek] to

get through,” Carman said, mentioning the Town Center project. “When you consider these major transformational projects … What’s the complete picture here? What is it we want it to represent and then how are people going to get there?”

Carman named several improvements that could be made to city streets that would better accommodate cyclists, or any vulnerable road user. Aside from bike lanes, he said the city could work to eliminate right-turn lanes, implement road diets or construct Dutch-style junctions that would help mitigate wind blasts on high-speed roads.

He also referenced the City of Roswell’s “Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan,” adopted in 2019, as a potential model for Johns Creek.

Carman said prioritizing non-vehicular modes of transportation comes down to quality of life and ease of accessibility.

“I don’t think anybody really has a strong desire to be in [car],” Carman said. “It may be comfortable, but just from a human element aspect — to be out, to take on a mode of transportation that’s of your own power, will and capability.”

INVITATION TO BID

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK

ITB #24-120 TOWN CENTER STREAM RESTORATION

The City of Johns Creek extends an Invitation to Bid (ITB) to qualified construction firms for the construction of a stream restoration and trail project on a tributary of Johns Creek from East Johns Crossing to McGinnis Ferry Road. Bids will be received electronically via the City’s bid platform, BidNet no later than 2:00PM on April 29, 2024 . Questions are accepted and answered online only via BidNet. A recommended On-site Pre-bid meeting will take place in person on April 9, 2024 at 2:00 PM. Deadline for questions is April 15, 2024 at 5:00 PM.

Quotes, bids, and RFP’s are electronically managed through the Georgia Purchasing Group by BidNet , our online bidding/vendor registration system, on the City website: https://www.johnscreekga.gov/Residents/Purchasing . To access the ITB document you must register with BidNet. Go to the City website above and click the link “register and view quote/bid/RFP opportunities”.

The City of Johns Creek, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 78 Stat. 252, 42 USC 2000d—42 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, part 21, Nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin in consideration for an award .

All offerors must comply with all general and special requirements of the ITB information and instructions.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting Neil Trust at the City of Johns Creek Procurement Division at purchasing@johnscreekga.gov or (678) 512-3233. The City of Johns Creek reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to wave technicalities and informalities, and to make award in the best interest of the City of Johns Creek.

Sawnee EMC is seeking an Electrical Distribution System Engineer. Requires a bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, civil engineering or similar engineering discipline. Preferred experience in design, modeling and maintenance of distribution power systems. Must have strong computer, mathematical and communication skills. Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, April 26, 2024. 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.

Infor (US), LLC has an opening for a Principal Development Operations Engineer in Alpharetta, GA. Position is responsible for designing and implementing scalable, reliable, and secure infrastructure solutions, as well as leading and mentoring other members of the DevOps team; and establish and maintain CI/CD pipelines, designing and implementing automated testing and release processes. Domestic (U.S.) travel required up to 10%; Telecommuting permitted up to 100%. How to apply: E-mail resume, referencing IN1019, including job history, to careers@infor.com. Infor (US), LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

PART-TIME SERVERS AND BARTENDERS

• Flexible hours

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• Located in Johns Creek

Luevano:

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The Allo Hope Foundation, with its mission to prevent harm, stillbirth and infant death caused by alloimmunization and HDFN, helped Luevano with individual support, connection to a community, life-saving education, up-to-date research and expert medical professionals.

“That became my connection to wanting to do a blood drive in the first place,” Luevano said. “I needed something to do at a time when I felt so powerless.”

She said she formed a special connection with the founder of the nonprofit, who also lost a daughter to the disease.

The first drive Nov. 19 saw dozens of people turn out and donate 60 pints of blood.

City of Milton Communications Director Greg Botelho helped Luevano spread the word and generate some awareness in the community.

The March 30 blood drive over Easter weekend drew a smaller crowd, which donated 29 pints.

At the second drive, the Luevanos also collected a few hundred dollars in donations for the Allo Hope Foundation.

Luevano said the Allo Hope Foundation was a stepping stone to a connection at Northside Hospital.

“The foundation has a handful of specialists that provide excellent care and the latest evidence-based treatments,” Luevano said. “One of the best people in the whole country that they recommended is in Atlanta.”

Dr. Thomas Trevett, a maternalfetal medicine specialist and a managing partner at Georgia Perinatal Consultants, manages high-risk pregnancies at hospitals around

plasma donors, whose contribution enabled her to replace harmful antibodies and lessen her body’s antibody response during her current pregnancy.

Plasma from over 1,000 donors, called intravenous immunoglobulin, is used to delay the onset of fetal anemia.

After becoming pregnant in December, Luevano has had 54 appointments with doctors and more than 25 procedures involving plasma.

“All of these thousands of donors are contributing to keeping one baby alive right now,” Luevano said.

In January, the American Red Cross announced a nationwide blood shortage with the number of donors at a 20-year low.

Through the partnership with LifeSouth, all donated blood goes to local Metro Atlanta hospitals.

Metro Atlanta.

“I met with the doctor, and he helped walk us through everything that happened with Josie and moving forward for us,” Luevano said. “Fast forward and I am pregnant again, it’s an extremely high-risk pregnancy and there’s a lot going on in the hospital… minimum 20 hours a week.”

At the Luevanos blood drive over Easter weekend, Trevett showed up for his patient’s event to chip in some blood.

“He’s really great,” Luevano said. “Dr. Trevett is on the medical advisory board of the foundation.”

Because blood incompatibility is so rare, specialists like Trevett are an invaluable resource for pregnant women with maternal alloimmunization.

Luevano gave a shoutout to

Shave: About the Author

Continued from Page 17

make suggestions on how to best prepare your soil for planting and what growing conditions your new plants need. Right plant! Right Place! This is your opportunity to pick our brains, and we look forward to it!

For more details on Garden Faire, check out the webpage at www.nfmg.net/garden-faire.html and the Facebook event.

See you on Saturday, April 20th at Garden Faire at The Grove in Wills Park, Alpharetta! Happy gardening!

Luevano encouraged all first-time mothers to get their first trimester blood work done, so doctors can implement life-saving treatments before and after pregnancy in the rare case of maternal alloimmunization.

With close monitoring and timely treatment, babies with HDFN have a very high survival rate, according to the Allo Hope Foundation.

For her third blood drive in June, Luevano said she has about 90 percent of the details worked out. She said the plan is to host the event at the Cumming City Center off Ga. 20 with a tentative date of June 21.

Collaboration with the Allo Hope Foundation and Northside Hospital is still in the works, Luevano said.

“For our upcoming drive, we have Josie’s Pledge-Per-Pint,” Luevano said. “People or business can donate a certain amount of money for every pint given.”

For more information about her next blood drive, contact kateluevano21@gmail.com.

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Sandra Shave, a master gardener since 2018. Sandra grew up on a dairy farm in northern Wisconsin and learned to garden at her mother’s knee. She is a recent transplant to Roswell, Georgia, moving from Wisconsin in 2014 after retirement to be nearer to her children and most importantly her grandchildren! Sandra was Co-President of the North Fulton Master Gardeners in 2022 and is excited to master the art of gardening in Georgia and to help teach others via the NFMG Gardening Lecture Series and the Speakers Bureau.

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/.

SYLVIA BERGEN/PROVIDED Dewayne and Kate Luevano stand with a picture of their child, Josephine Anne, in front of a LifeSouth bloodmobile March 30. Kate Luevano said a third blood drive is in the works with a tentative date of June 21.