Johns Creek Herald - April 20, 2023

A feast for the senses

► Fulton School Board weighs pay hike Page 3

Johns Creek views outlook on stormwater sustainability

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Historically, Johns Creek has had minimal dedicated funding toward preventative maintenance and prioritized repairs to its stormwater system. But the stormwater utility, adopted in 2021, has given city officials more bandwidth to address major issues.

At its April 11 work session, the Johns Creek City Council listened to a presentation provided by Johns Creek Stormwater Utility Manager Cory Rayburn on the city’s stormwater operations.

At the same time the stormwater utility was adopted, Rayburn said the city adopted Extent of Service in a “headwall to headwall” approach, allowing the city to go onto private property to address stormwater infrastructure connected to public right of ways.

Extent of Service expanded the city’s stormwater assets from 11,000 to 23,000, which includes mostly corrugated metal pipes, catch basins and headwalls. Once the life cycle of corrugated pipes ends, at around 35 to 40 years, Rayburn said pipes begin corroding, rusting and falling apart to form sinkholes and collapsed roadways.

“The idea is to prevent this level of damage to those corrugated metal pipes

See WATER, Page 8

Ethiopiques Café and Restaurant co-owner Liza Abebe toasts with a glass of the restaurant’s house-made Ethiopian honey wine called tej April 11. Read story, Page 10.

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

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POLICE BLOTTER

Sandy Springs for failure to appear at a traffic ticket.

After searching the area, police were unable to locate the woman.

A charge for obstruction is pending while police try to obtain a warrant for the suspect.

Woman says imposter signed for her delivery

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek woman reported larceny to police April 4, after ordering a cell phone she never received.

The victim said she ordered a $1,886 Apple iPhone 13 from Comcast in March, and it was supposed to have been delivered to her business, MCGold Skincare on Jones Bridge Road.

She received notification saying the package was delivered a few days later and signed for by another woman, although the victim said she is the sole owner and operator of the business.

When the victim contacted Comcast about the incident, they requested she obtain a police report.

Woman with warrant flees from parked car

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek police were unable to locate a woman who fled on foot after they approached her in a parked car on State Bridge Road April 4.

Police became suspicious of the car, which had its headlights on, in front of Sherwin Williams at 2:55 a.m. Police eventually approached the driver, who said he and the passenger were wide awake and wanted to go for a run. But police noticed the passenger had house slippers on.

When police went back to the patrol vehicle to check their identification, the passenger ran away toward the tree line. Police confirmed she had a potential warrant out of

Man reports blackmail over fake nude photos

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — An 18-year-old Johns Creek man filed a report April 5 telling police that an unidentified person threatened to send fake nude photos to his social media followers.

The victim said that after he shared his Instagram account with the suspect, she said she had his nudes and “everything needed to ruin [his life].” The blackmailer said that she would delete the material if the victim complied with her requests for money.

The suspect sent a headshot of the victim and a second picture of an erotic nature. The victim said the second picture wasn’t of him. However, he sent the blackmailer $400 through Venmo.

The victim filed a claim with his bank and has made a complaint to Venmo.

Instagram photo swap sparks blackmail threat

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek man notified police April 2 that around midnight he had been contacted by what appeared to be a young woman on Instagram.

Their communication quickly led to an exchange of nude photographs, the police report said.

After the exchange of pictures, the woman sent a message threatening to post the pictures to all his friends and followers if he did not pay her $1,000. After the man tried talking his way out of the situation, the blackmailer sent the pictures to

several of his Instagram followers, including close friends.

The victim did not send the suspect any money.

Police helped the victim shut down all relevant social media accounts. The victim said he would like to pursue criminal prosecution.

Deputies find firearms following traffic stop

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a Cumming man April 8 for alleged illegal possession of firearms after he fled the scene during a traffic stop.

Deputies reported stopping a Toyota Tacoma for an expired tag and a dark window tint in the Leon’s parking lot April 4. When they informed the driver Dakota Grant, 33, his tag had expired, deputies said he appeared shocked. While returning to the patrol car to verify Grant’s license, deputies reported observing two ammunition cans and a rifle case in the truck bed.

Deputies reported learning Grant had had “an extensive history with drugs and was a gang member.”

The report states Grant had left the scene while the deputy occasionally looked away to run Grant’s information.

Two rifles, a pistol, magazines and ammunition were reportedly located in Grant’s vehicle. Deputies also reported finding an ashtray with drug residue and a cotton ball, as well as a dollar bill that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Deputies reported Grant had been convicted of felony possession of methamphetamine in Dawson County in 2016.

Grant was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine; weapon receipt, possession or transfer by a convicted felon; and misdemeanor charges of obstruction of law enforcement and expired or no license plate or decal.

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.

DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA

At an April 13 work session, the Fulton County School Board looked at a recommended 7.1 percent salary increase for the 2023-2024 school year, with 5.1 percent lasting into future years.

Fulton County Schools weigh salary increases

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Fulton County School Board is considering a budget plan that could give school employees a 7.1 percent salary increase for the 2023-2024 school year to push competitive educator salaries in Metro Atlanta. The board discussed the recommended budget at an April 13 work session at the Fulton North Learning Center in Sandy Springs.

Approximately 84 percent of the general fund budget expenditures are salary and benefits, rounding out at a proposed $1.11 billion price tag for 2024. The cost comes from a host of recommended salary increases from school district officials.

“This budget will include competitive wages,” Fulton County Schools Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef said. “We are in a very competitive market right now, labor is tight as mentioned earlier, so this budget addresses that.”

Dereef presented a plan that would increase all employee salary schedules by 5.1 percent. The raise includes a $2,000 pay raise proposed by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. The raise would cost the school district $42.5 million.

The school district staff also presented a one-time two percent pay bump to increase employee retention. The retention pay bump only applies to Fulton County Schools staff who were employed in the 2022-2023 school year. It would be paid in September 2023. It would cost the school district $14.8 million.

Combined, employees could see a 7.1 percent raise for the next school year, with 5.1 percent lasting into future school years. New teacher salaries would increase from $53,362 to $56,488.

“When I started teaching my salary was $35,000 and I thought I was making a lot of money,” Fulton County School Board

District 4 member Franchesca Warren said. “That’s a lot of money for a new graduate or just for a new teacher.”

The school board also looked at hiring and retention incentives for hard to staff schools. The recommended budget would add five schools to the “hard to staff schools” list, totaling 10 schools with the designation.

New teachers could receive a one-time $5,000 hiring incentive, as well as a $250 one-time referral incentive for any staff that refers a teacher to one of the hard to staff schools. Together, the two incentives would cost $490,000.

Warren also asked “what the plan is” for hard to staff schools beyond the pay increases.

Chief Human Resources officer Dr. Gonzalo La Cava said the district is looking at a three-tiered professional development program to provide continued support to teachers.

“When you ask a teacher ‘what is the number one thing you want?’ a lot of the times they don’t tell you money, but they do want support,” La Cava said. “They want a leader that’s engaged with them and is providing a great culture.”

La Cava said the district is also looking at long-term plans to make sure teachers aren’t “forgotten” and can receive constant coaching, and that he knows teachers are excited about the salaries and bonuses they could receive.

If all the salary increases, bonus and incentive plans are approved it would cost the school district $57.8 million.

“I’m pleased to announce this budget recommendation really checks off just about every box as far as the parameters,” Dereef said.

The parameters included identifying opportunities for cost efficiencies, maintaining a competitive compensation

See SCHOOLS, Page 6

Roswell pledges $2 million to help Grove Way housing

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell City Council approved a resolution to support the Roswell Housing Authority with $2 million in grants, loans and infrastructure assistance at an April 11 City Council meeting.

The Roswell Housing Authority explained that the resolution is focused on the units at 199 Grove Way in the Pelfrey Pines public housing development. The development has 40 one-bedroom units set aside for tenants who make less than 80 percent of the area’s median income.

The units, designated for seniors and people with disabilities, were declared structurally unsound by the City of Roswell in March 2022. Residents had to vacate the property over the following months. Now, the Roswell Housing Authority is looking to redevelop Grove Way.

Project plans show the capacity would grow from 40 to 102 units. The residents who left the property in 2022 would have the “first right of refusal” to return to Grove Way once it’s redeveloped, Councilwoman Lee Hills said.

Hills said she supports the Roswell Housing Authority and their long-term efforts to help the residents of Grove Way.

“I hate that we have people that are in that capacity that need this kind of support and help, but I am glad, and I am happy that the mayor and council has embraced the opportunity to redevelop an area that is in bad need of repair,” Hills said.

Roswell Housing Authority Chair Karen Parrish said the board needs the city to show formal support through the resolution so it can apply for a tax credit by May 19. The tax credit, which requires proof of project funding, will help the housing authority with the nearly $30 million redevelopment.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credits give local agencies the authority to issue tax credits for the acquisition, rehabilitation or new construction of rental housing targeted to lowerincome households.

Councilman Mike Palermo said he was hesitant to pass the resolution because it had not been discussed in any committee meetings prior to April 11.

“When you have residents seeing that we’re finding a way to support

with $2 million, that’s something I would have preferred going to committee and there being a robust discussion,” Palermo said.

The councilman said more discussion could show a dedication to safety and fiscal responsibility. He asked for the matter to be placed on the next committee meeting agenda and deferred to the next City Council meeting on April 24.

Parrish said the timeline makes her nervous because it’s “very fast” and edges up to the May 19 deadline, but she understands the need for public comment.

“We just have to have some kind of assurance that we’re moving forward,” Parrish said.

Councilwoman Hills clarified that the resolution to support Roswell Housing Authority is “just a commitment” that does not nail down specifics. The $2 million loan commitment would only be spent if the housing authority receives the tax credit.

Even with the $2 million commitment, the Roswell Housing Authority would be millions of dollars short for the redevelopment project. Parrish said the group is looking to grant programs and appropriations from the Senate.

With Councilwoman Christine Hall acting as Mayor pro tempore in Mayor Kurt Wilson’s absence, all councilmembers except for Palermo voted in favor of the resolution.

“My opposition was not due to the underlying intent, more so just the process and discussion,” Palermo said.

In other business, the City Council moved forward with an agreement to let Fulton County run municipal elections in 2023. Councilmembers approved the second reading of the resolution and discussed the addition of a second early voting location.

Fulton County’s earlier proposal only offered one early voting location, removing the East Roswell Library which has served as an early voting location in years past.

Councilman Palermo has been a strong advocate for two early voting locations to increase voter access in Roswell. In the first reading of the Fulton County agreement, he added a secondary resolution that would create an East Roswell early voting location.

The agreement proposed by Fulton County has a $814,420 price tag for

See HOUSING, Page 6

North Fulton County officials commemorate the opening of the new Davis Drive extension at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. April 11. Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin, State Sen. Brandon Beach and North Fulton Community Improvement District boardmembers attended the event.

Alpharetta officials host ceremony opening new Davis

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — City, county and state officials gathered on a chilly Tuesday morning to commemorate the completion of the new Davis Drive extension at 9 a.m. April 11 in the Pappadeaux parking lot.

The new roadway extension connects Davis Drive to Westside Parkway at the intersection of Sanctuary Parkway. The expansion of the road, which was a dead end before the project, now provides a more direct connection between Mansell Road and Westside Parkway.

North Fulton Community

Schools:

Continued from Page 3

structure, to be revenue neutral and continuing with a modified zero-based budgeting process.

The school board also looked at increasing school maintenance funds. The district has projected a 4.5 percent increase in the tax digest, but some board members expect the number will be much higher and

Housing:

Continued from Page 4

the 2023 elections and possible runoff elections. With Palermo’s addendum of an East Roswell location, the cost increases to $886,502.

Councilwoman Sarah Beeson suggested that the city look for a “cost-sharing agreement” with

Drive extension

Improvement District officials and partners said they think the extension will spur further economic growth in the area.

The CID received a $2 million grant from the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank for the project. The new extension was completed in partnership between the city, the CID, Rubenstein Partners and the State Road and Tollway Authority.

Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said the Davis Drive project has been in the works for years, and it was made possible through partnership between the CID and project staff.

See CEREMONY, Page 14

could create additional money to spend.

The Chief Communications Officer for Fulton County Schools, Brian Noyes said that may be true, but the school district likely will not know the official tax estimate until after the budget is approved and is operating off a conservative estimate now.

Fulton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney said he has discussed maintenance individually and will “be working with staff to present a proposal that adds additional money towards school maintenance.”

neighboring cities Alpharetta and Johns Creek, who would benefit from the East Roswell voting location.

“No one votes in a vacuum,” Beeson said.

The councilmembers were open to the suggestion but focused on the addition of a second location to the April 11 resolution. The council unanimously approved the resolution with the added East Roswell voting location.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Milton officials begin elections plan

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Following the Milton City Council’s decision to run their own municipal elections, city staff continue to check boxes and prepare for the months to come.

At an April 10 meeting City Manager Steve Krokoff presented his team’s newest findings and posited the latest in what will be a string of decisions for the council to make before November.

Thus far the city has made a few official steps forward.

Councilmembers have fixed and published qualifying fees for the three Post 2 positions that will be on the ballot. They’ve updated the city code as it relates to municipal elections, and some staff members have attended elections training.

Still, a number of items remain on the checklist.

One notable topic at the April 10 meeting was the price tag. Krokhoff’s presentation included a cost estimate of $98,382, around $26,000 more than the one presented by the Milton Municipal Election Feasibility

Committee.

The increase is at least in part due to additions such as a 10 percent contingency and funding for an elections consultant, Milton Deputy City Manager Stacey Inglis said.

Elections staff

The city’s task force currently comprises Inglis, City Clerk Tammy Lowit and Krokoff, who the City Council appointed as municipal elections superintendent during Monday’s meeting.

The three underwent specialized training, which included learning how to use GARVIS, Georgia’s new voting system that was implemented this year, as well as an overview of the election process through the Secretary of State’s office. They have also completed an 11-module course to earn the Municipal Election Official Certification.

The assistant elections superintendent, the absentee ballot clerk and the elections consultant, who would guide the city throughout preparations, are roles yet to be filled.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

At right,

Milton City Councilman Rick Mohrig speaks about polling places at the

April 10 City Council

meeting.

See ELECTIONS, Page 14

There’s a Podcast for Everyone!

First Baptist Church of Cumming packed for Good Friday Service

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The First Baptist Church of Cumming hosted a Good Friday Service to a packed sanctuary 5:30 p.m. April 7.

Hundreds of guests attended the

Water:

Continued from Page 1

by doing preventative maintenance along the way,” Rayburn said.

In fiscal year 2023, Rayburn said the city allocated $2.8 million in repairs and maintenance of the city’s pipe system. About half of the budget has been spent or encumbered on projects, he said, and the rest should be used in the next six months.

The city uses four on-call contractors to do the bulk of pipe inspections and assessment, cleaning, pipelining with trenchless technologies and pipe repair. Since April 2022, Rayburn said 1,350 stormwater assets have been maintained, repaired or replaced; 30,200 feet of pipe has been cleaned; and 11,400 feet of pipe has been lined.

Rayburn said the city is continuing to develop models to identify where flooding occurs and what size storm flooding occurs, using the Foxworth subdivision as an example. The city received complaints of flooding in the subdivision’s roadway, which required digging up old pipes and replacing them with larger, reinforced concrete structures and high-density polyethylene pipe.

Councilman Larry DiBiase, who sits on the city’s stormwater task force, estimated it would take more than 17 years to ad-

service after it had relocated from the Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center to the church due to inclement weather.

The event featured musical performances by the church choir, award-winning musician Laura Story and worship with Georgia Baptist Mission Board Lead Strategist Levi Skipper.

dress the city’s stormwater assets. He asked if increasing the stormwater utility, which is about $6 a month, would speed up the pace.

“With inflation, the longer we wait the more expensive it’s going to be,” Rayburn said. “We did not build in an adjustment rate … if there’s more money, and we have more bodies and more oversight, then we can get more projects done.”

In other action, several Johns Creek police officers were recognized for their life saving efforts at the following City Council meeting April 11.

Johns Creek Police Cpl. Bucki and officer Parker administered Narcan to a man who had overdosed in January.

In a separate March incident, Cpl. Bucki and officers Wimberly, O’Conner and Gray conducted a “ping” to locate a man, whose family reported him missing. Family members said he had been suffering from depression, made suicidal comments and was off his medication.

Police found the man in a parking lot in Gwinnett County with a tarp over his car, attempting to use the exhaust to end his life. They quickly removed the tarp, got him out of the car and provided medical help.

“These two incidents are just another prime example of the dedication and the purpose our officers have every day to protect our citizens and our communities,” Johns Creek Police Chief Mark Mitchell said.

The Georgia Politics Podcast focuses on all things under the gold dome. Show host Preston Thompson covers the most noteworthy updates to the legislative session of Georgia’s House of Representatives and State Senate.

In his long-awaited return to the airwaves, Caddy partners with his new co-host – and wife! - Donna, to bring his loyal listeners everything they’ve come to expect and love from Cadillac Jack.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Award-winning musician Laura Story performs at the First Baptist Church of Cumming’s Good Friday Service on April 7.

A FEAST FOR THE SENSES

Ethiopiques Cafe in Johns Creek cooks up culinary masterpieces

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The first thing you’ll notice when visiting Ethiopiques Café and Restaurant in Johns Creek is the amazing aroma of grilling meats and exotic spices.

The second thing you’ll notice is how much fun patrons are having sharing communal dishes of lovingly prepared traditional Ethiopian dishes.

Opened in 2020 by three friends, Liza Abebe, Amy Asegidew and Biruk Demeselasie, Ethiopiques Café and Restaurant has quickly become a community staple for interesting ethnic and traditional foods that serve any taste preferences with a wide variety of vegan, vegetarian and grilled meat dishes.

Abebe said the Ethiopiques Café, located on State Bridge Road, was a longtime dream for the three friends, who for years had to travel up to an hour from their homes to find a good Ethiopian restaurant.

“We’ve been talking about opening a restaurant for like, almost 10 years,” Abebe said.

But when things finally came together for the partners and the restaurant was within their grasp, the COVID-19 pandemic reared its ugly head and made everything more complicated for their plans. The partners were forced to close down and reopen in different capacities several times during the first year of

business.

But throughout that hard time, the partners said they got overwhelming support from the Johns Creek community, which kept them going and in business.

“If it wasn’t for the Johns Creek community, we wouldn’t be here,” she said.

For the uninitiated, Abebe said Ethiopian food is very similar to Indian and Mediterranean cuisine, only with a much different palette of spices and a serving style that encourages community, sharing and togetherness, with couples, friends and families all eating off of the same platter, using a spongy, sourdough flatbread called Injera to scoop and eat dishes.

Also common to Ethiopian cuisine is a spice mixture called Berbere, which mixes chili peppers garlic ginger. Nearly all their dishes have this spice mixture as a starting point.

“We use some spices that are very different, and yes, it’s spicy, but it’s more flavorful spicy than, ‘I’m dying spicy,’” she said.

Because Ethiopia is such a large and diverse country, there is a wide variety of dishes served around the country.

“Ethiopian cuisine is good for everyone,” she said. “You could be a vegan, vegetarian or meat lover because we fast 265 days out of the year.”

See CAFE, Page 11

One of the most popular dishes at the Ethiopiques Café and Restaurant in Johns Creek is the Vegetarian Platter, which offers a mixture of traditional Ethiopian dishes eaten with Injera, a spongy, sourdough flatbread. Also popular is the restaurant’s Kitfo Rolls, rolled strips of Injera filled with meat, cheese and collard greens, and Chechebsa, small fried pieces of flatbread served with honey and yogurt dipping sauces.

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Ethiopian cuisine is good for everyone. You could be a vegan, vegetarian or meat lover because we fast 265 days out of the year.

LIZA ABEBE, co-founder, Ethiopiques Cafe and Restaurant

Cafe:

Continued from Page 10

The most popular dishes at the Ethiopiques Café are the vegetarian platter, which offers a mixture of traditional Ethiopian dishes eaten with injera, and the doro wat, an Ethiopian chicken stew with a rich smoky flavor, tender chicken drumsticks and a hardboiled egg.

“It’s like our national dish,” she said of the Doro Wat.

Another major part of Ethiopian culinary culture is centered around coffee, which shouldn’t be a surprise because the East African country is where coffee, as we know it today, was first invented.

Each Sunday from noon-3 p.m., Ethiopiques Café serves a traditional coffee ceremony to its guests, roasting green coffee beans in the traditional style and three rounds of brewing that produce different strengths of coffee.

“It’s a whole ceremony,” she said. You can visit Ethiopiques Café and Restaurant from Tuesday to Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m., at 11130 State Bridge Road in Johns Creek. For a look at their menu and more information about their food, visit them on Facebook or at ethiopiquescafe.com.

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Each Sunday, the Ethiopiques Café and Restaurant in Johns Creek serves a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, where green coffee beans are freshly roasted and multiple strengths of coffee are brewed in three rounds.

Marriage and trust

Brought to You by -

Geerdes & Associates

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However, all married couples utilizing these strategies should remember some key points about estate tax. The first is that the unlimited marital deduction for assets merely defers the estate

tax to the surviving spouse, which means directly putting your assets in your spouse’s name could result in higher taxes and an elimination of any unused lifetime exemption if the surviving spouse does not correctly prepare tax returns.

Secondly, transferring all of your assets to your spouse does not protect the assets from probate court. Once the surviving spouse passes away, the assets are still subject to scrutinization from the probate court, and your heirs will have to hire a probate attorney to attempt to reclaim their inheritancewhether you have a Will or not.

To properly protect your assets, a trust is essential - particularly if you have properties, as there is no such thing as an automatic right of survivorship for properties in Georgia. A trust, if prepared correctly, can protect everything from your retirement accounts to your life insurance policies from additional taxes. Be sure to contact an estate planning attorney to get their advice on how you can best protect what’s most important to you.

GEERDES

Financial literacy tips

Brought to You by - Soraya Kenney, American Commerce Bank

Q. As my kids get their first jobs and start thinking about college, how can I help them be prepared to responsibly manage their finances?

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Q. What is a good first step in this education process?

A. Creating a budget is a good place to start. Help your student set up a spreadsheet or download a budgeting app and have them begin to enter their information. If they have a job, their paycheck is a good place to start. But what if they do not have a job or are heading off to college and do not plan to work for the first few months? In that case, begin with the funds they currently have in their savings account or the weekly/monthly allowance you will give them.

Q. What are the items we should include in their budget?

A. This is the time to discuss needs and wants. They may need a pair of sneakers for daily wear but want the latest superstar-endorsed brand. You may agree to purchase the basic brand but decide the additional cost for the high-end pair must come out of their budget. In addition, your student should include expenses for entertainment and meals out with friends. Do not forget to have them include funds for emergencies (or unexpected opportunities they do not want to miss). Finally, be sure to encourage them to designate a portion of their income or allowance to a cause that is important to them.

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Elections:

Continued from Page 7

Inglis said the consultant’s responsibilities would include helping recruit, hire and train poll workers; reviewing directives issued by the Secretary of State; and helping with polling location layout and setup. They would also help acquire all election equipment and supplies, as well as publish required notices, Inglis said.

Krokoff says the city is looking for someone who has experience as an elections superintendent, able to help with each portion of the process.

“What I’m looking for is someone that’s done this,” Krokoff said. “I don’t need another us, right?”

The position has a budget of $20,000, though Krokoff said one candidate requested $100,000.

The city has given itself an April 24 deadline to find someone who fits the bill.

Polling locations

Councilmembers agreed there would be one polling location for advanced voting and that it would be Milton City Hall. However, the question of how many polling places there would be on election day saw debate.

During the April 10 meeting, Krokoff suggested that the city should have three polling locations for more “cushion,” diverging from the Milton election committee’s recommendation of two locations.

Krokoff provided a color-coded map to the City Council, outlining three precincts and highlighting potential polling locations, like Milton City Hall, the Milton City Park and Preserve, and the Milton Municipal Court.

Three voting sites could better

Ceremony:

Continued from Page 6

“It’s opportunities like this, the connectivity, the infrastructure, that allows those challenging locations to actually be productive parts of our community,” Gilvin said. “I am grateful for the CID and all of our partners who made this happen because we need that. The City of Alpharetta needs that. North Fulton needs that.”

North Fulton CID Executive Director and State Sen. Brandon Beach said the extension joins other infrastructure developments on the Ga. 400 corridor, which he called an economic engine of the state.

“I’m a firm believer that there’s a direct correlation between infrastructure investment and

accommodate a voting surge, Krokoff said, and they align with the city’s three council districts.

Some councilmembers disagreed with the proposal. From a cost savings perspective, Councilman Rick Mohrig preferred to stick with the election committee’s recommendation. In the first year, three polling locations would cost the city around $11,000 more than having two.

“It’s going down for the eight,” Mohrig said, referring to Fulton

More information

County’s number of polling locations. “We could have gone with one location, but we ended up going with the two. I’m not so worried about long lines. I think people have a choice if they want to go for early voting. They’ll have plenty of days to do that.”

But Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison and others said three locations would be better.

“I like three,” Jamison said. “I think we went from a feasibility committee, and now we’re more operational. We

MILTON MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

need to do what’s going to make this the most successful.”

Considering the lack of consensus, the Milton City Council was expected to return to the issue at its April 17 work session.

In August 2021, Milton voters began petitioning their City Council to exit Fulton County elections. It sparked a years-long campaign that spread to other North Fulton cities. Alpharetta, Roswell and Johns Creek have since indicated they will stick with the county – at least for the 2023 election season. Milton is set to operate ballots on their own. Appen Media will continue to cover the story as the city works through logistics of operating an election.

If you have questions, thoughts or story ideas, send them to newsroom@appenmedia.com. Then check back here next week or go to appenmedia.com/municipal_elections.

Here’s a question from one of our readers: “Where is the paperwork that shows the cost comparisons published for all to read?”

Answer: The City of Milton is developing a webpage for its municipal elections, anticipated to go live in early summer. Staff say the page will not include cost comparisons between the city-run municipal election and what Fulton County would have charged for conducting the operation. According to Milton Communications Director Greg Botelho, the focus of the page is information specifically for voters, rather than explaining the election decision and process.

Appen Media reported that the City of Milton paid a subsidized cost of $84,671 to Fulton County to run its 2021 municipal general election and another $70,368 to conduct a runoff election in late November.

The Fulton County Commission decided in February it would no longer use a flat, per-registered-voter rate. Instead, it will charge cities a percentage of the total estimated cost the county anticipates to spend, meaning cities would likely pay more than they did in previous years.

economic development and jobs,” Beach said. “It was a true partnership with the CID, [the State Road and Tollway Authority], the City of Alpharetta, all the partners, and even the business community.”

Chairman Tim Perry said the CID, now in its 20th year, has invested roughly $28 million in projects, which it has leveraged into $170 million of work.

“We really want to increase the value and the quality of life in the community,” Perry said. “There’s only so many roads you can build, but where we need to improve that connectivity, where we need to spur economic development and appreciation of the district itself, is where we’re going to invest.”

Perry, Beach and Gilvin joined city officials, CID boardmembers and project partners for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the new street.

PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin and attendees mingle before the Davis Drive extension completion ribbon-cutting at 9 a.m. April 11 in the Pappadeaux parking lot. Gilvin spoke about the economic growth the roadway project will have in the city at the ceremony.

State Sen. Brandon Beach speaks at the Davis Drive extension completion ribboncutting at 9 a.m. April 11 in the Pappadeaux parking lot. Beach, who is executive director of the North Fulton Community Improvement District, said the project was made possible through community partnerships.

PRESERVING THE PAST

Boiling Springs Primitive Baptist Church is a true original

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

The Boiling Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Milton is one of the oldest churches in North Georgia. A bubbling spring across the dirt road from the church had the appearance of boiling water and contributed to the church’s name. For many years baptisms were made in a baptistry beside the spring. Sometimes the church members would fill buckets with water and take them to the church to drink during the services. Twice a year they would pour water from the spring into basins in the church to wash each other’s feet during communion services.

Following a split in the Baptist community in 1832, four men and six women from different churches created the first Primitive Baptist Church in north Georgia in 1837. A City of Milton historical marker by the entrance to the Sanctuary is testimony to the uniqueness of this small country church.

The group’s first worship sessions were held in a log house. After the Civil War a frame house replaced the log structure. It was rebuilt following a cyclone in 1937. In October 2020 a huge oak tree fell on the fellowship building cutting it in half during tropical storm Zeta. Thanks to support from members and other Primitive Baptist Churches, the building was restored quickly.

The ancient church cemetery is on a lovely hilltop above the church. There are approximately 618 gravesites in the cemetery according to the Find a Grave website. Many pioneer family members are buried there such as Cagle (46 gravesites), Phillips (42 gravesites), Cook, Dinsmore, Day, Holcomb, Nix and Neese.

The church is a member of the “Little River Association” a group of Primitive Baptist Churches from the local area. The association meets twice a year. The Milton church hosted a meeting in April of this year. Member churches include the Union Primitive Baptist Church in Roswell, Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church in Sandy Springs, and the Shoal Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Canton.

Pastor Randall Cagle has been with the church since his birth. He says “the church was the first place I was carried to after my birth.”

A retired Fulton County fireman, Randall was ordained in 1987 and

pastored in several Primitive Baptist Churches prior to becoming pastor in Milton in 2020. He explains that the church’s lineage comes through the Anabaptists, not the Reformation, unlike some Baptist denominations. The Anabaptists originated in the 1520s in Europe. They believed that baptism should be reserved for adults who could make reasoned decisions about matters of faith. They believe in simple living and acts of service, and they emphasize community including worship where all family members meet together. Acapella singing plays an important role in their weekly services. Boiling Springs participates in Communion and feet washing services twice a year as was performed during the Last Supper in the Bible. Pastor Cagle’s favorite saying is that after the destruction of the fellowship hall in 2020 “we didn’t bounce back, we bounced forward.” Bouncing forward is the church’s guiding principle today.

Randall Cagle is not the first member of his family to serve as Pastor. His father Edward Cagle (1927-2018) was the pastor for 20 years until his death. For information on the church please go to www. boilingspringpbc.org or call 770- 6307150.

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.

PROVIDED

Boiling Springs Primitive Baptist Church on Birmingham Road in Alpharetta is one of the oldest churches in North Fulton.

PROVIDED

Pastor Randall Cagle and his wife Debra stand beside the fellowship building of the Boiling Springs church. Elder Cagle has been involved with the church all his life. His father was Pastor of the church for more than 20 years.

Confession — I like characters of a certain age

sure, these “killers of a certain age” and today’s youngsters all excel in hand-to-hand combat, but the seniors aren’t very good with computers or even smartphones.

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

I mentioned several books in my recent column about hitting the jackpot at the library, and these two were part of that haul. Perhaps it’s a coincidence that they both feature “older” characters, as in at least age sixty. Could that be because I’m, ahem, in my sixties? Check out my latest reads and see what you think.

“Killers of a Certain Age” by Deanna Rayburn

OMG! What’s not to like about this book? Four menopausal women in their sixties are retiring. The lifelong friends who worked together for forty years as deadly assassins are looking forward to retirement--or at least they were until their employer puts out a hit on them. They started together in 1979. Fast forward to 2018 and learn how the world has changed not only for the rest of us but also for highly trained assassins. The younger generation of clandestine operatives relies on different skills. Oh

The tales of their past exploits are sprinkled throughout the story, so you get a glimpse of their former prowess. It’s not that they’ve completely fallen apart at age 60. It’s just that they have creaky knees and hot flashes and don’t run as fast or jump as high as they used to. But, they’re still deadly.

You have to laugh as one of them pops her osteoporosis pill and admires a good-looking waiter at the same time. They’re just like other menopausal women except they can throw together a recipe for poison and use garrottes.

The book is packed with witty and pithy dialogue. Her colleagues quip about the smallest of the four who wears “wedge espadrilles that were four inches high and tied halfway up her leg with yellow satin ribbons” and bats her eyes at pool boys.

When she asks what they think her chances are with her favorite porter, her friend responds, “Maybe he has a geriatric kink. Dab a little Metamucil

behind each ear and go get him, cougar.”

Do I recommend this book? For sure. It’s a rollicking read. You don’t want to miss out on four senior women kicking butt! Not quite convinced? Here’s one last teaser. If you’re a woman of a certain age, you’ll covet the “Menopaws” app.

“Winter Solstice” by Rosemunde Pilcher

What a delight to travel to several spots in the United Kingdom in one book. It moves from a small English village to London, to Cornwall, and on to the village of Corrydale in Scotland. Pilcher has a wonderful way with words and describes the scenery so vividly that you will feel as though you are there. I saw the waves crashing on the Cornwall coast and the snow falling in Scotland.

The book begins with Elfrida, a woman in her mid-sixties, and her delightful neighbor Oscar, who is slightly older. This is the story of their evolving relationship through the good and the bad. The story unfolds with each chapter told from the perspective of a different character. Along the way, Elfrida’s niece Carrie joins the tale as does a greatniece. So, if more mature characters

aren’t to your liking, you will also find younger ones to entertain you.

As the book jacket says, “The December solstice is … about hope, renewal, and rebirth,” and the friendships in the story reflect that spirit. It’s a heartwarming story about friends, family, and neighbors.

As I googled information about the book, I was delighted to find a Rosamunde Pilcher Winter Solstice Tour, an eight to nine-hour tour that visits the Scottish locales featured in the book. The description says it’s enjoyable even if you haven’t read the book, but I think fans of the book would enjoy it even more. Yet another idea to add to my never-ending wishlist.

There you have it, two very different books featuring characters of a certain age. I highly recommend them both.

Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries locally at The Enchanted Forest in Dunwoody and Bookmiser in East Cobb or on Amazon. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www. facebook.com/KathyManosPennAuthor/.

Inching closer to singing ‘Happy Trails’ at work

Having been a manager in the pharmaceutical industry for the last 36 years, I’ve been handed an opportunity that was just too good to pass up. There is a real need to help with what can be called “trade relations” and I’m ready for a new challenge.

horse and saddle!

MIKE TASOS Columnist

My employer for the past 14 years has treated me well. It’s time to expand my horizons and do something else. As a Lifetime Platinum Medallion with Delta, having amassed more than 4,000,000 miles, it is impossible to wipe a silly grin off my face, knowing my trips to HartsfieldJackson will be fewer and farther inbetween.

I look at it this way: If I never have to see “the world’s busiest airport” will be peaches and ice cream for me. This new position as it’s been explained to me means minimal travel. I’ll be working from home and eventually allow me to work part-time. The new workplace buzzword “sunsetting,” which is where I’m going to heading towards.

Someone please hurry and get me a

Fact is, just two months shy of my 68th birthday, I feel I’ve earned my trek towards retirement. My first job was at Food Town Market in Oildale, California in 1970. My skinflint stepdad owned the store and paid me $1.35 an hour, even though the minimum wage was $1.65. I worked an entire weekend and on Thursday of that February weekend, I picked up my $20.24 check.

Don’t laugh. To me, it was all the money in the world because I earned every penny. It amazes me with my 53 years of working, I still have that miniscule amount indelibly etched in my memory.

So now when I am constantly asked, just when do you plan on retiring? “Soon” will be my truthful answer.

I’m already visualizing what pulling an Elvis will look like when I leave the building.

We are a dogless household. I want a Golden Retriever to hang with me. I considered a French Bulldog but decided that breed is too much like me. They are so popular right now, but I fear having a companion that likes naps, cuddling, while unleashing all kinds of sounds and smells, would be too much where others would have a difficult time distinguishing it from its owner.

Then I’ve become quite fond of German Shepherds. They seem smart like me and most appealing is their propensity to do what their owner tells them to do. That is a rarity around my house.

Nope, Goldens are the way to go. Sam and Chester were two of the best and if something works, I believe I should stick with it.

Another bucket list item is taking a trip to Tennessee and going to see some bears. Co-worker Todd Anthony takes an annual trip to an area inhabited by them and he hasn’t been attacked so I thought I’d take Vicki and give it a whirl. Bear spotting, not attacks that is.

One more item will be cashing in our Blue Ridge Railroad excursion tickets from a few years ago. We had tickets but tornadoes put the kibosh to that activity. It sure seems like a worthwhile, relaxing day.

I have had what seems like a lifetime of frenetic pace. Sitting on the deck with my pooch, a good book and some travel brochures is about as busy as I’ll be wanting to be.

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.

GARDEN BUZZ

Celebrate Garden Faire 2023 at Wills Park in Alpharetta

For the 22nd year, the North Fulton Master Gardeners will host our time-honored Garden Faire. Garden Faire 2023 will be held Saturday, April 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever! This year, the event will be at The Grove at Wills Park, 175 Roswell Street in Alpharetta. Mark your calendar for this annual day of gardening inspiration.

To make sure you have a wonderful experience at our faire, North Fulton Master Gardeners spend all year preparing for it by growing plants in their yards as well as at the Fulton County Schools Teaching Museum greenhouse, recruiting vendors and finalizing event details.

We recommend that you either park at the parking lot at the Alpharetta Community Center at the Grove at Wills Park or at the overflow parking lot at Amana Academy, 285 S. Main St. in Alpharetta, then hop on the free shuttle, which will run continuously from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The showcase of our faire is the Pass-Along Plant sale. Be sure to arrive early, 9 a.m. sharp, if you want to join the zealous shoppers and avid gardeners. You’ll see them pulling a garden cart or pushing wheelbarrows to get the best deals on the 2,000 plants for sale. Annuals, perennials, hanging ferns, shrubs and planters are some of the finds you’ll see that day. Our wonderful greenhouse-grown plants will feature coleus, hanging ferns, geraniums, begonias, herbs and a large variety of other annuals. The Master Gardeners’ precious passalong plants typically include ground covers, flowering perennials, hostas, iris, daylilies, herbs and many other perennial plants, including some select shrubs. All plants are grown by the Master Gardeners themselves! We love to answer gardening questions.

North Fulton Master Gardener volunteers collect vintage treasures and pass them on to you at our everpopular Fleatique market. Peruse the Fleatique sale to find that interesting pot, gadget or garden tool for your home or garden. Deals abound here!

If you bring little sprouts to

the faire, look for the Children’s Corner sign. Children will want to pot a tomato plant, make a hat or terrarium, or sit for a ladybug or spider painted on their smiling faces. This free activity is available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

We will have educational demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., which will include information about growing tomatoes, identifying invasive plants, the how and why of soil testing, and growing plants in containers.

This year we are proud to announce the return of vendors who will sell gardening-related items and plants. We still have a few slots available, so vendors may complete our virtual Garden Faire Vendor Commitment Form to apply to participate or email northfultonmastergardeners@gmail. com.

Proceeds from the Garden Faire go to support our demonstration gardens and many educational activities for 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, 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 nfmg.net/garden-faire.html and the Facebook event at facebook.com/ events/1725773191171454/.

See you on Saturday, April 29th at Garden Faire 2023 in Wills Park in Alpharetta!

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.

About the Author

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, moving from Wisconsin in 2014 after retirement to be nearer to her children and most importantly her grandchildren. Prior to the move, Sandy worked in the medical device industry in sales, marketing and product development roles over her 35+ year career. But, she always found time to grow a garden and play with her landscape. 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.

SANDRA SHAVE

A look at a few of the Pass-along perennials for sale, all grown in Master Gardeners’ gardens.

Lemonade Days to include events for book lovers

This year’s annual Lemonade Days Festival runs Wednesday, April 19 through Sunday, April 23 at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody. The event is the largest fundraiser for Dunwoody Preservation Trust, with all proceeds supporting the Donaldson-Bannister Farm, historic preservation and education programs.

Wednesday through Sunday will feature carnival rides and delicious food and beverages. Saturday and Sunday will also include the Dunwoody Authors and Friends Bookstore, petting zoo, Country Store craft vendors and sponsor booths. Stay into the evening on Saturday and enjoy the Dunwoody Idol contest at 6

p.m. The cars of Dunwoody Driving Club and dance performances by Dan & Company Dance Studio will add to the fun on Sunday.

2 p.m. Hayes is the author of “150 Years of the Braves from Boston to Milwaukee to Atlanta” and “150 Years of Braves Trivia.” The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York has put “150 Years of the Braves” in their library.

Chris Riker, David Rabin, Mike Shaw, Kim Conroy, G. A. Anderson, Sherry Ellis, Marilyn Baron, Kathy Des Jardins, and Jenny Guberman.

To see the complete list of authors, their bios, and when they will be at the festival at dunwoodypreservationtrust. org/wp-content/uploads/LemonadeDays-Authors-Posters-2023.pdf

PROVIDED

Jan Slimming, who co-wrote “Captured at Singapore,” will be in the Lemonade Days Authors Booth along with many local writers on Saturday and Sunday.

Stop by the Dunwoody Authors and Friends Bookstore to chat with authors and purchase signed books from 21 local authors. Visit with Dunwoody author Jan Slimming on Saturday between 4 and 5 p.m. She will sign and discuss her books, “Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park,” “The Secret Life of an American Codebreaker,” and “Captured at Singapore, A Diary of a Far East Prisoner of War,” which she wrote with her sister Jill Robertson. Bradsher Hayes will be in the bookstore Saturday between 1 and

Following up on his book “Hardscrabble Road,” George Weinstein will be at Lemonade Days on Sunday between 1 and 2 p.m. with “Return to Hardscrabble Road.” Weinstein is executive director of the Atlanta Writer’s Club.

Meet children’s book author Fatima R. Henson, a native of Atlanta, on Saturday between 3 and 4 p.m. Her book “Love in the Age of Dragons” is the gold medal winner of 2022 Moonbeam Children’s Books Awards.

Kay Paschal, “Laughing your way through raising kids and running a business,” shares advice and stories about parenting, including mistakes and successes. Paschal raised two boys and observed thousands of moms and dads during her 25 years as the owner of a preschool. Paschal will be in the Author’s Booth on Saturday from 11 a.m. until noon.

Other authors visiting the festival include Laura B. Wiener, Sophia Alexander, Joseph R. Goodall, Katherine Nichols, M. E. Young, Fatimah M. Jackson, Andrea Lane,

Lemonade Days began in 1999 to honor the victims of the 1998 tornado that devastated Dunwoody and to celebrate the rebuilding progress the community had made. Dunwoody Homeowners Association and Dunwoody Preservation Trust, led by Joyce Amacher, began the Replant the Dunwoody Forest campaign with a goal of replanting 20,000 trees to replace those uprooted or snapped by the tornado.

The 1999 celebration took place at Brook Run Park. There was also a mass held at All Saints Church and a 5K through the Kingsley neighborhood. (Dunwoody Crier, April 11, 2018, “Lemonade Days: A Look Back”)

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

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Columnist

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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.

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JOHNS CREEK-30022: The Falls of Autry Mill. Saturday 4/22, 8am-2pm. HUGE NEIGHBORHOOD SALE: 50+ homes! Furniture, collectibles, tools, sporting goods, toys, appliances, clothing, household, collectibles, MORE! Streets marked with signs; homes marked with balloons. Rain/shine. No earlybirds

South Forsyth/Suwanee:

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.

Deadline to place a classified ad is Thursdays by 5 pm

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.

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Landscaping

Walls

Dig for treasures in Olde Atlanta Club in COMMUNITYWIDE SALE! 5750 Olde Atlanta Parkway 30024. Saturday 4/22, 8am-1pm. Children’s clothes and toys, collectibles, sports equipment, antiques, household, more!

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Oakmont; 325 Green Way. Saturday 4/22, Sunday 4/23, 8AM-3PM. Elvis memorabilia, music, comic books, etc

Plumbers

Garage Sales

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Roofing

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Driveway

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Flooring

PHILLIPS FLOORING

Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes. Regrouting is also available. Call 678-887-1868 for free estimate.

Tree Services

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

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We offer drywall, painting, carpentry, plumbing and electrical. Basements finished, kitchen and bath rehabs. All types flooring. Also total home rehab for those who have a rental house or one to sell. Call 678-887-1868 for a free estimate.

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