Johns Creek Herald - May 11, 2023

Garden tour lends beauty to easy stroll

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Dozens of Johns Creek residents toured seven gardens in the city to enjoy sunny weather, art, landscaping and nature at the Secret Gardens of the Johns Creek Community tour May 6.

The tour, hosted by Johns Creek Beautification, featured 31 musicians and artists, six private home gardens and a stop at the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP JOHNS CREEK/PROVIDED Student Leadership Johns Creek announced its high school students have won the Secretary of State Ambassadors State Championship for the third consecutive year April 28. The nine winning students will be honored at a luncheon May 18.

Johns Creek students win state competition in civics participation

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Student Leadership Johns Creek announced its students won the annual Secretary of State Ambassadors State Championship competition for the fifth year April 28. The competition recognizes students in the 10th-12th grades for promoting civic engagement, voter registration and volunteering. The win marks Student Leadership Johns Creek’s fifth overall win and third consecutive victory.

“Being a Secretary of State Ambassador isn’t just an honorable position,” student ambassador Tiffany Obasohan said. “It’s a challenging but rewarding opportunity to represent your peers, school, family and state while actively serving your community.”

See STUDENTS, Page 12

STORY & PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Visitors head to the Cheeley Garden at the Secret Gardens of the Johns Creek Community May 6. The sixth garden on the tour is owned by Sam Medlock, whose grandfather Robert David Medlock ran the ferry at the Medlock Bridge location.

The Miller Garden features a landscaped waterfall, a wooden bridge and a gazebo at the Secret Gardens of the Johns Creek Community tour May 6. Six private home gardens were open to the public for the occasion.

Metalworks sculptor Eric Strauss offers an information table for guests at the Secret Gardens of the Johns Creek Community tour May 6. Strauss was the creator of the “Entwined Strength” horse sculpture at the roundabout at the intersection of Boles and Bell roads.

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Reckless dirt biker escapes police pursuit

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police responded to reports of a male recklessly riding a white dirt bike on Old Alabama Road and State Bridge Road around noon April 24. But he got away.

The man, wearing a pink hoodie, was riding on the sidewalk on Old Alabama Road and had cut down Candacraig heading toward State Bridge Road. Residents had observed him popping wheelies and driving on the wrong side of the roadway, the police report said.

Police saw the motorcycle on the sidewalk traveling westbound on State Bridge at a high speed. When police activated their emergency equipment, the biker turned onto Naramore Lane and accelerated, rolled through the stop sign at East Morton Road and headed north. While on East Morton, he passed several vehicles on the double yellow lines.

The driver continued making several turns, then went to the back of a subdivision and into the woods, where police lost sight of him.

Woman falls for scam in fake marketing email

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek woman reported to Johns Creek Police April 25 that she had been scammed when trying to sell a pair of glasses on Poshmark.

On April 17, the victim said someone commented under her post advising her to send them a text message. She sent a text to the phone

number and exchanged messages about the glasses.

She was then advised to send an email, which she later learned was a fraudulent email posing as Poshmark.

The victim said she received an email back stating she needed to pay an activation fee to be able to sell items on Poshmark. The victim was told to get a gift card for $500 and send a picture of the front and back, which she did.

After sending the card information, the person then notified her that she needed to pay a $999 security fee. The victim refused, then asked for a refund of her original activation fee. She was then informed she would have to pay the $999 for the refund.

At that point, the victim realized she was getting scammed and discovered two purchases on the gift card, with delivery addresses in Detroit.

Hacker defrauds business using employee’s name

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police met with a Milton woman April 27, who said multiple checks had been written from her Chase business account and cashed under an employee’s name.

When the woman confronted the employee about the transactions, he said his account had been hacked. The business, Upland Hospitality Group, is based in Johns Creek.

The victim said there were a total of five checks from April 9 until April 24 for a total amount of $2,190.23. Chase was able to recover her funds.

Suspect purchases tires with stolen card

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Pep Boy store manager reported to police April 28 that a man had used a stoWlen credit card to purchase Michelin tires at the Jones Bridge Road location for

nearly $1,000.

The manager said the card was not working, but the suspect typed the numbers manually. The suspect had told the manager he was purchasing the tires for a Dodge Ram truck, and one of the employees helped place the tires in the back of a U-Haul.

The manager said the suspect called after leaving to place another order and attempted to make purchases with the card at surrounding Pep Boys locations. The manager later received a call from an individual out of Ohio, who had reported her card stolen and received a transaction alert for $990.99, charged to her account at Pep Boys.

The suspect was described as a Black male, around 5-foot-8, with short black hair, wearing khakis and a black long-sleeved shirt. He was last seen driving the U-Haul truck.

Roswell man arrested, cited with street racing

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police arrested a 22-year-old Roswell man who was allegedly caught racing at high speeds on Old Milton Parkway April 29.

An incident report said officers were patrolling the area near Old Milton Parkway and Haynes Bridge Road when two vehicles pulled up to a traffic light together, before speeding off at more than 70 miles per hour.

Once officers determined that the vehicles were traveling well above the 45-mile-per-hour speed limit, causing another vehicle to slam on its brakes to avoid a collision, one of the vehicles was stopped on the side of Old Milton Parkway.

The driver allegedly admitted that he had been racing the other vehicle. He was taken into custody for racing, reckless driving and speeding charges. He was transported to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.

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.

Milton City Council opts for two polling locations

City leaning toward hand-counted ballots

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Some Milton residents may have to travel farther to cast their votes for the municipal general election in November.

In a split vote May 1, the Milton City Council voted to operate two polling locations for this year’s municipal election. Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison, and councilmembers Juliette Johnson and Carol Cookerly cast the dissenting votes.

The approved resolution calls for Election Day voting at Milton City Hall and the Milton City Park and Preserve. Advanced voting has already been established, set for one location — City Hall.

Before the vote, Jamison criticized the resolution in a written statement and argued that three locations would allow for greater accessibility for Milton residents used to having more options when Fulton County operated municipal elections.

Jamison argued it is the responsibility for elected officials to represent all citizens and highlighted the “recurring theme” of integrating the Ga. 9 area into the fabric of Milton. The City

Council has made progress in enhancing engagement in that corridor, Jamison said.

“However, the resolution before us today does not only take us a step backward, but potentially several more, which concerns me as it may unnecessarily create division within our community,” Jamison said.

Voter participation

Jamison said the Ga. 9 area, which lies in District 3, has had as many as three voting locations under Fulton County-operated elections, and it deserves the same treatment as Districts 1 and 2. In previous years, Fulton County implemented eight polling locations.

“As elected officials, it is our duty to provide them and every other resident of Milton an equal opportunity to exercise their fundamental right to vote,” the mayor said.

Following Jamison’s motion to add a third precinct with the Milton Public Safety Complex as its voting location, Cookerly joined the mayor, saying every election is about access.

“If we don’t provide access, perhaps where there are the least participants, then we are not helping to grow participation,” Cookerly said.

District 3, which Jamison said is the

See ELECTIONS, Page 4

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison reads a prepared statement advocating for three Election Day polling locations. While his motion drew support from councilmembers Carol Cookerly and Juliette Johnson, it fell short of passage. The council majority opted for two polling locations, one at City Hall and the other at Milton City Park and Preserve.

Elections:

Continued from Page 3

“highest density” area in Milton, has a lower voter turnout. In a proposed precinct map, presented by Milton City Manager Steve Krokoff at an April 17 work session, the area had around 400 Election Day voters out of some 10,000 registered voters.

“For what – $5,000 — we can cover all our bases, and we stand on the side of as much access as possible,” Cookerly said.

Estimates indicated that in the first year of operating its own municipal elections, three locations would have cost the city around $9,600 more. In future years, the cost difference would have been around $4,300.

In an email, Krokoff said he plans to present a precinct map that divides the City of Milton “in the best possible way” and expects it to align with the Fulton County precinct lines.

Polling locations

Councilman Rick Mohrig was taken aback by Jamison’s statement, saying there was an assumption that there had been consensus for two locations based on the April 17 work session discussion. But City Attorney Ken Jarrard said

More information

there was little clarity on what had been decided at that meeting and a formal vote on the number of precincts was required.

“My statement hasn’t changed,” Jamison said to Mohrig.

Mohrig and Councilman Paul Moore, who served on the Milton Election Feasibility Committee that laid the groundwork for city-operated municipal elections, had previously maintained their group’s decision for two Election Day polling locations. At the April 17 work session, Election Feasibility Committee member Lisa Cauley and several others voiced the same sentiments during public comment.

Based on registered voters and the voter turnout data, Cauley said the committee knew the city could run municipal elections with one polling location but recommended two sites to make voting more convenient.

There are around 31,000 registered voters in Milton. Krokoff said that based on municipal election turnout in 2017 and 2021, he estimates 2,798 voters will turn out for this year’s election.

“Adding more locations based on the number of registered voters, average turnout and the percentage of early voting turnout is excessive and unwise use of taxpayer money,” Cauley said.

According to data from the 2021 U.S. Census Bureau, the median household

POLLING DECISION DRAWS DIVISION

Milton residents in an area that has historically voted Democrat will have to travel farther to cast ballots in the upcoming nonpartisan election.

The decision affects precincts ML05, ML06A and ML06B in the city’s southeast corner.

Voters in ML06A and ML06B, which run from Francis Road to Windward Parkway, consistently support top Democratic tickets. Sen. Rafael Warnock and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, both Democrats, won there in 2022. So did Joe Biden in 2020 and Hillary Clinton in 2016.

ML05, the precinct from Cogburn and Hopewell roads east, recently swung blue. In 2022 voters there supported Gov. Kemp, but they also backed Sen. Warnock over Republican Herschel Walker in the general election and runoff.

The rest of Milton, almost always votes red.

With the exception of 2020, when the city’s northernmost precinct went for President Biden, the southeast corner is the only area with majority blue turnout.

In previous years, voters had four polling sites in the city’s southeast corner: Cambridge High School, Hopewell Middle School, Cogburn Woods and Manning Oaks elementary schools.

income in Milton was more than $136,000.

Hand-counting ballots

While there was no formal vote, the Milton City Council agreed to handcount ballots for the November municipal elections. The discussion followed several public comments, advocating for handcounting because of the lower cost.

In the first year with two Election Day voting locations, using scanners would cost Milton $6,700 more than a handcount. In future years, the cost difference was estimated at $10,065.

Many also have argued that handcounting offers greater election integrity.

“I’m asking each of you councilmembers tonight to give me back integrity, honesty and confidence in my vote by moving to have Milton elections use paper ballots with absolutely no machines,” one Milton resident said.

Some speakers cited last year’s DeKalb County Commission race, in which local media reported that because candidate Michelle Long Spears received zero Election Day votes in all but seven precincts, ballots were recounted. The Georgia Secretary of State’s office discovered a technical error in the precinct scanners affected the count.

Pros and cons

One speaker specifically attributed

the issue to Dominion Voting Systems, whose scanners were used in the DeKalb County Commission race and would be used in Milton’s election.

The remarks came in the wake of Fox News’ nearly $800 million settlement with Dominion after the news organization aired comments alleging the machines had been rigged to steal the 2020 presidential election from Donald Trump.

City Manager Krokoff said the pros of scanners outweighed the cons. He said scanners are able to immediately detect problematic ballots, provide quicker results, create log files and images, provide an automated running total, reduce human error risk, and provide check and balance on counts.

The downside to using scanners include cost, increase of technological risk and the absence of human eyes on ballots, unless necessary or required.

“I assumed from the get-go, to maximize integrity away from what we were concerned about historically, that we would go to hand-counting,” Councilwoman Cookerly said.

Election Charts

► PAGE 5

Additionally, during the early voting period, they could participate at any Fulton County location, including the Alpharetta Branch Library. With the city running its own municipal elections this year, that option will go away.

The city’s plan is to have two polling places open on Election Day, one at City Hall and the other at Milton City Park and Preserve. Advanced voting will be limited to City Hall.

Some City Council members who voted in favor of two locations cited low voter turnout on Election Day in the city’s southeast corner.

It is correct that Election Day turnout is drastically less in those precincts by percentage. However, the difference in actual vote count is not so distinct. The area is one of Milton’s most densely populated. The three precincts make up 35.3% of Milton’s voting population. In the most recent election, 31.3% of the city’s votes came from there. More ballots were cast from ML05 voters than any other precinct.

The story is similar with Election Day turnout. The southeast corner has a lower turnout percentage, but with a higher population that can mean more votes cast.

In the 2021 uncontested mayoral race, ML05 voters cast more ballots on Election Day than those in ML01A, which houses Milton City Hall.

Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison has advocated for three polling locations, the third at the Milton Public Safety Complex. But his motion failed to garner a majority.

In light of the council action, a Milton resident living in Kennewick Place, on the outskirts of District 3 in precinct ML06B, must travel more than 6 miles to vote at City Hall and nearly the same distance to vote at the Milton City Park and Preserve. Had the mayor’s recommendation been approved, that same resident would have driven less than 2 miles to cast a ballot at the Public Safety Complex.

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VOTER TRENDS IN MILTON ELECTIONS

MAPS BY CARL APPEN/APPEN MEDIA VIA DATAWRAPPER

Votes by precinct, 2022 midterms

The number of ballots cast in each precinct during the Nov. 8, 2022 midterm elections.

Votes by precinct, 2021 municipal Total number of votes cast in the contested District 1, Post 1 race during the November 2, 2021 elections.

When Milton officials point to a low percentage of voter turnout in the Southeast corner, the total number of votes cast is comparable or greater that the rest of Milton.

Note: In this election, votes from ML01C, a small precinct off Crabapple Road, were recorded within ML01B, the precinct farthest west.

Milton polling places

Vote margins for the Senate runoff race on Dec. 5, 2022 by precinct. Negative numbers indicate Democratic leads, positive numbers Republican. In the November 2022 general election, precinct ML05 had supported Democrat Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.

In prior years Milton voters had eight polling places. They could also vote early at other Fulton County polls such as the Alpharetta Branch Library. The city’s current plan is to reduce that number to two.

County lists road upgrades to handle The Gathering

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — While The Gathering at South Forsyth is expected to bring unprecedented economic growth to Forsyth County, officials say road upgrades in the area will manage related traffic concerns.

County Manager David McKee said the new Ga. 400 interchange and the widening of McGinnis Ferry Road, as well as the extension of Ronald Reagan Boulevard, will be completed before The Gathering opens if plans are approved.

The site for the proposed development is located at Union Hill Road and Ronald Reagan Boulevard. The Drawing from 2019 figures, the County Engineering Department

estimated traffic counts for Union Hill Road at 5,180 vehicles a day. It showed 9,490 vehicles on McGinnis Ferry Road.

The Big Creek Greenway will also extend for one mile through the development and connect the Halcyon and Union Hill Park trailheads, marking a 27-mile connection from Roswell to the Sawnee Mountain Preserve.

“This is a big economic driver, not only to the county, but to the region and even to the Southeast,” McKee said. “We're looking forward to working with the developers, working through the traffic issues that would arise with a development like this and coming together for a good community solution,

both from the regional level, but all the way down to the local level.”

While the Georgia Department of Transportation plans to extend express lanes on Ga. 400 from the North Springs MARTA Station to Forsyth County near McFarland Parkway, McKee said there are no plans as yet to extend MARTA rail or bus service to the county.

Proposed by North Georgia businessman Vernon Krause, The Gathering at South Forsyth is billed to serve as an entertainment, business and residential hub at the southern border of the county.

Project developers presented

conceptual plans for the 100-acre site at an April 25 Board of Commissioners work session and estimated The Gathering could produce over 12,000 long-term employment opportunities, as well as 20,000 construction jobs during its 10-year development.

While finalized plans for the future of the development have not been presented, discussions and further details are slated for the May 9 County Commission work session.

Updates and information on the project can be found at thegatheringatsouthforsyth.com.

— Shelby Israel

Charity raises $55,000 with Swing Into Action

ROSWELL, Ga. — A North Fulton County nonprofit organization earned $55,000 for families in need at a golf tournament at the Country Club of the South April 24.

North Fulton Community Charities hosted the 15th annual Swing Into Action Golf Tournament, which aims to lessen hardship and provide financial stability to residents in need.

“This tournament plays an important role in helping prevent homelessness and food insecurity in our community,” organization Director of Development Sherri Morgan said. “We are grateful to the many golfers and sponsors who supported this event and make it possible for us to continue our work providing food and clothing assistance; case management; education and workforce development; and seasonal

assistance.”

The 11 a.m. tournament presented by Omnivore Ventures featured 96 golfers. The event was sponsored by Toyota Financial Services, Synchrony, Roswell Presbyterian Church, Northside Hospital and 19 other community groups.

Mike and Jeff Moskal; Ryan Grieb; and Peter Pyun of Northside Hospital won first place at the tournament; and Jim Pope, Phil Johnson, Ken Morton and Erik Bagwell took second place. Teams from Envision Office Solutions, Toyota Financial Services and DataScan were tied for third place.

Erik Bagwell also won the longest drive contest; Scott Kagan won the putting contest; and Casey Robinson won the closest to the pin contest.

— Shelby Israel

NORTH FULTON COMMUNITY CHARITIES/PROVIDED

left, tournament co-chairs Mickey Rogers and Will Daniels; North Fulton Community Charities Director of Development Sherri Morgan; and Omnivore Ventures CEO John McAleer attend the Swing Into Action Golf Tournament April 24.

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Best friends bring bubbly to Roswell

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Al Anderson and Leigh Braglia built their friendship on a shared love of champagne. Now, years after they met, the pair co-own and operate Metro Atlanta’s only champagne bar, Pop Alleigh on Canton Street.

Pop Alleigh opened in December 2022, named after Anderson and Braglia who met in 2008 when Anderson coached Braglia’s son in cheerleading. The champagne bar offers more than 220 bottles of sparkling wine for purchase, as well as over 20 bubbly options by the glass. Customers can choose champagnes a la carte or opt for one of the rotating champagne flights, curated by Anderson and Braglia.

The pair only pours champagne they like to drink, Anderson said. The owners hand-pick the selection to ensure they serve what they enjoy and what they can educate customers about.

“Our approach is to be able to offer a high-end experience,” Anderson said.

Part of their push to open Pop Alleigh was a lack of champagne bars across the country. Leigh joked to Anderson that in Sonoma, California,

there’s a “wine bar on every corner” while champagne destinations are few and far between. Anderson said the lack of shops is due to the perception of champagne.

“Having something where people can discover champagne was really important because the conception of champagne is that its rosy and its sweet,” Anderson said.

The selection of sparkling wines at Pop Alleigh is all brut, or very dry, with a few sweeter options for customers who crave it. Anderson said Pop Alleigh offers about “three wines” for people who want something different, but the focus is on champagne.

Neither of the co-owners have any wine certifications, but Anderson said they bring years of enthusiasm for champagne and travel across major sparkling wine regions like Champagne, France, and Cava, Spain.

A bubbly destination

Leigh Braglia discovered the property that would become Pop Alleigh after dinner with her husband at Little Alley Steak on Canton Street. Braglia said she had always wanted a business, and when she saw the space, she decided on the “spontaneous”

See BUBBLY, Page 9

POP ALLEIGH/PROVIDED

Best friends Al Anderson and Leigh Braglia made the “spontaneous” decision to open champagne bar Pop Alleigh on Canton Street in Roswell after bonding over a shared love of drinking bubbly.

Our approach is to be able to offer a high-end experience.

AL ANDERSON, co-owner,

Pop Alleigh

Bubbly:

Continued from Page 8

move. She called up Anderson and the best friends decided to go into business together.

The co-owners wanted to create a business that would stand out in Roswell — something “niche, intentional and specific” that differed from restaurants and wine bars.

Without many champagne bars to pull from, Braglia said the two had the freedom to follow their own vision.

“We were just able to do whatever we wanted to do,” Braglia said.

The pair completely renovated the Canton Street space with a focus on the details. Braglia said she had a vision for everything from the glasses to the architecture. The nine-table space is intimate, which lets Braglia and Anderson have a hands-on experience with every customer.

“We’ve got a great thing, just having something different and not having to think about anything else to by,” Braglia said.

Setting the mood

Pop Alleigh offers private events and champagne tasting classes, but Anderson said the bar isn’t as formal as a wine school or as casual as a club.

It’s somewhere in between, with music and conversation as well as information cards and tasting explanations.

“I feel like we have it all, like we’re curating nightlife in Roswell,” Anderson said.

In the months since Pop Alleigh opened, Anderson said the business

has “elevated” the area, offering customers a place “before dinner, after dinner or instead of dinner.” The bar already has a group of loyal customers from around the town and strong support from the city, according to the co-owner.

The business has been successful

enough that Anderson said Pop Alleigh is opening on Mondays and Tuesdays and extending its hours on the weekends. Anderson and Braglia said they feel like they “have it all.”

“In this short of a time to make (Pop Alleigh) what it is, I know I’m really proud for sure,” Braglia said.

POP ALLEIGH/PROVIDED

Pop Alleigh on Canton Street is a small space, with nine tables and hundreds of bottles of sparkling wine. Anderson and Braglia said the intimate feel helps them create a “hands-on” experience.

Sandy Springs City Hall features abstract art exhibit

Creator invites visitors to ‘see things differently’

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — When she paints, Fran Scher says she is an observer.

“It’s totally a journey. It’s totally intuitive,” Scher said. “Every stroke informs the next stroke.”

Her abstract work, on display at Sandy Springs City Hall, takes on a pastel color palette, indicative of spring, but broken up with dissonant strokes of black. A Sandy Springs resident, Scher has had her paintings showcased in local Atlanta galleries and in collections around the world.

Around 50 people attended the gallery’s opening reception May 3. City Hall’s lobby serves as a rotating art gallery and changes every quarter. Scher’s paintings will hang through the beginning of August.

Starting with paint-by-numbers as a child, Scher went on to become an arts education teacher. But she always painted “here and there.” While her kids napped, she would go to the basement to paint. Scher got involved in painting groups when she moved to Atlanta and began submitting her work, with more courage.

Scher, 77, described her experience in painting “abstract reality,” or what is more representative. Maybe the painting would be of a dog or a person, she said, but technical elements would be broken apart.

In the current display, more searching may be required to find some semblance of reality. But if you stare at it long enough, you might see familiar figures, and in some, they perform familiar actions.

With any painting, Scher said viewers bring their own experience to interpretation, but perhaps more with

abstract work.

“When you look at an abstract painting, each time you might focus on something else, and see things differently,” Scher said. “But the painting hasn’t changed. It’s the viewer that changes the painting.”

Scher said abstract work allows for more self-expression. Unlike photorealism, she said her work is more whimsical. But she said abstract is still difficult, and she keeps in mind good composition that has a focal point where the eye can rest.

In remarks to the reception crowd, Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul spoke about the growth of the city’s arts community.

“What is our mark? How are we different?” Paul asked. “So, we decided … we wanted to build a real arts community and really salute the arts and be known for the Arts Center on the north side of the metropolitan area.”

Paul said the city started to establish itself as a performing arts center but didn’t want to stop there.

“The visual arts are just as important,” Paul said.

Susan Westmoreland, board member of Art Sandy Springs, spoke about Scher’s work. Westmoreland had been a friend of Scher’s for around 20 years, painting alongside her.

She recalled an eccentric Scher, shorter in stature, walking into a class carrying a canvas bigger than her body. Scher brought out a matted, decades-old brush, Westmoreland said, and would add unpredictable colors.

“She feels her way through the painting, and it shows,” Westmoreland said. “It’s just beautiful.”

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA Sandy Springs resident Fran Scher stands next to her abstract paintings on display at Sandy Springs City Hall during the May 3 opening reception. The lobby serves as a rotating art gallery and changes every quarter. Scher’s work will hang through the beginning of August.

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul welcomes guests to the opening reception for Fran Scher’s work at City Hall May 3.

CAMBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL/PROVIDED

Cambridge High School’s boys and girls track and field teams both won the 5A Region Championship for the first time in school history.

Cambridge boys and girls teams claim region title in track & field

NORCROSS, Ga. — Both the boys and girls track and field teams at Cambridge High School won the 5A Region Championship for the first time in school history April 24-25.

The teams traveled to Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross to compete against six other schools and won their respective region titles after two days of competition.

With the top four finishers in each individual event and relays, the Bears

King’s Ridge athletes honored at signing day

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Nine studentathletes from King’s Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta were celebrated during the school’s annual athletic signing day ceremony April 20. Students honored during the ceremony included Oli Clark, Quinton Grimes, Grace Kester, Isaac Martin, Ryder Mitchell, Zak Thomas, Jack Thomas, Mason Tucker and Robbie Walker.

These students will continue their academic and athletic careers at the University of Arizona, Concordia University, Gardner-Webb University, Berry College, Rollins College, Covenant College, Oglethorpe University, the Coast Guard Academy and LenoirRhyne University.

Alexander

were set to compete in the state sectionals May 6.

A number of individuals and seven of eight relays advanced.

There were a number of school records established.

The boys 4x800-meter relay, both 4x100-meter relay teams, both 4x200meter relay teams and both 4x400-meter relay teams advanced to sectionals. There were also close to three dozen individual scorers.

Newspaper Delivery Route Openings with Appen Media Group

We are looking for one person or couple interested in delivering weekly newspapers in South Forsyth, Alpharetta and the Johns Creek areas.

Requirements: Must have a perfect driving record and background check, reliable transportation, honest, hard-working and positive attitude.

For more information or to apply, email heidi@appenmedia.com and include a paragraph or two about who you are and any relevant background/experience. In the subject line of the email please put “Delivery Route Application.”

—

Popp

KING’S RIDGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL/PROVIDED

Students:

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Competitors from the Fulton County Schools Innovation Academy and Northview, Chattahoochee and Johns Creek high schools hosted candidate debates for the state House of Representatives and Senate and the Fulton County Commission District 1 seat.

Ambassadors Alisha Kohli, Aria Smith, Brady Carnesale, Varsha Nirmal, Nicholas Stone, Shruthi Balachander, Lakshana Ramanan, Neha Gurram and Obasohan were named the winners of the competition.

This school year Student Leadership Johns Creek members hosted a Same Storm, Different Boats COVID-19 community exhibit that was funded by a Library of Congress Teaching

with Primary Sources grant, as well as engaging in voter registration drives and city activities.

“These outstanding participants work beyond their classwork and responsibilities in Student Leadership Johns Creek and are extraordinary role models to other students in Johns Creek and beyond,” Student Leadership Johns Creek Executive Director Irene Sanders said.

Students on the team will be recognized by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger at a luncheon at Georgia Tech May 18.

Student Leadership also includes students from Mt. Pisgah School, Providence Christian Academy and Centennial High School. Applications for the next class open Dec. 1, and those interested can contact Sanders at sanders@leadershipjohnscreek.com for more information.

— Shelby Israel

Stroke awareness and recovery

Brought to You by - Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs

May is National Stroke Awareness month, highlighting the symptoms and recovery challenges posed by the most common cause of disability in our country. Someone has a stroke every 40 seconds, with over 800,000 strokes and 140,000 deaths in the USA each year.

Almost 80% of strokes are caused by lifestyle choices we can address. High blood pressure is a leading cause along with smoking (which quadruples your risk), diabetes, lack of exercise, cardiovascular disease, obesity, being 65 or older and having a family history.

The most common stroke type is Ischemic, when a blood clot blocks a vein or artery in the brain. A Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts in the brain. It’s important to know the signs and act quickly, as doctors can give clot busting drugs within 4 hours of the onset of a stroke. Early warning signs include face drooping or numbness in the face, arms or legs on one side of the body, arm weakness and motion difficulty, loss of balance, sudden confusion, speech difficulty or words that don’t make sense, sudden severe headache, blurry vision and trouble seeing from one or both eyes. If you suspect a stroke is happening, call 911 immediately.

After a stroke certain physical issues can occur, including weakness or paralysis, walking, speech and coordination difficulties, fatigue, cognitive and memory problems, trouble swallowing, depression and anxiety. Recovery time differs, and almost 10% of stroke victims recover almost

completely. Another 25% recover with minor impairments and 40% will have moderate to severe impairments that require special care. The first 3 to 6 months are the time to make the most strides in recovery, but performance can continue to show improvement 12 to 18 months out. Recovery is likely to start in a rehabilitation center with a team that includes speech and language pathologists and physical therapists. Researchers have found that after discharge, stroke patients who continued rehabilitation and physical therapy at home had a faster recovery and, after three months, performed activities of daily living at higher levels than those who only received traditional rehabilitation.

At Home Helpers we create a unique care plan that can meet your immediate needs and change as recovery progresses. A heart centered, skilled in-home caregiver can assist with daily consistent exercise - helping to follow your occupational and physical therapist’s techniques that are so vital for recovery. Most stroke patients tire easily and will need help with housekeeping, meal preparation or feeding while regaining use of their hand or arm. Many need help with showers and personal grooming. Your loved one may experience vision difficulties that require them to stop driving, or emotional changes that make them anxious or more easily frustrated.

We’re here to help - from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 and live-in care. For a free consultation please call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta (770) 681-0323.

Thank You for Voting US

Why Dr. Hood goes gray for May

In May of 2020, Dr. Destinee Hood self-diagnosed a brain tumor. What first began as mild, infrequent, and short-lasting disturbances in her vision, developed into episodes occurring more and more frequently.

Destinee got connected with a neurologist who would see her as a new patient (during COVID it was exceptionally hard to be seen by doctors!). After an initial exam, the neurologist told her she had “hormonal migraines”.

After receiving this diagnosis, something just didn’t feel right. She ordered her own MRI scan, and, that night, got the news that she had a brain tumor the size of a lemon.

The following 6 months, she had brain surgery and radiation. Recovery was a slow process, and felt frustrating, despairing, and downright unfair at times. She experienced severe radiation fatigue as well as problems with memory.

One of the biggest hardships was having a 2-year-old who didn’t know why Mommy was tired or couldn’t pick him up.

Destinee is now 3 years out and feels back to normal. She is incredibly thankful to have had the support of her husband Zach, her family, her dental team at Roswell Dental Care, and her mentor Dr. Remaley. She receives a regular 6-month MRI scan to check that she is tumor-free!

Dr. Hood brings her journey and advocacy to her patients at her practice every day. She works hard to advocate for her patients and empower their voice to be heard.

DESTINEE HOOD/PROVIDED

“Be Patriotic. Vape.”

Brought to You by - Brent Taylor, MD, Premiere Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

Yes, you read that correctly. Those were the only words written in what must have been size 20 million font on a billboard near Greenville, South Carolina. A beautiful United States flag was proudly portrayed on the billboard behind those words. And, oddly, no company name, logo or other identifying information was present to connect this billboard to a specific business or corporation. From what I could see as I drove by, nothing was on the billboard except an American flag and the words “Be Patriotic. Vape.”

This billboard had me puzzled. Was it a joke? Was it actually trying to convince people that vaping is an act of patriotism? Does it assume that the general population and particularly our young people are so impressionable as to believe this billboard and start vaping because they love our country?

I laughed as I drove by, but the billboard did have me worried. The US military included cigarettes in soldiers’ rations from World War II through 1975, and as a result, nicotine addiction and tobacco use has long been a plight of our veterans. Many adult smokers have attempted to use e-cigarettes and vaping as a way of avoiding regular cigarettes. But the fastest growth of vaping has been among young people. Approximately 20% of those aged 18 to 29 report vaping – the highest for any age group.

Since young people seem to be most strongly prone to vaping, it’s important to spread the word on the negative health effects of vaping to our youth. As a dermatologist, I can attest to negative skin effects of vaping, some of which should grab one’s attention:

1. Black, hairy tongue. Multiple oral problems can occur from vaping. The most newsworthy from a teen’s perspective is probably black hairy tongue. The exact reason vaping can

cause this condition is not known, but it’s well-established that some individuals will develop a black, hairyappearing tongue when they vape. Skin cells on the tongue build up, and certain types of bacteria can overgrow. Go to Google Image and type in “black hairy tongue” to scare any teens you know out of vaping.

2. Genital burns. Many e-cigarettes use lithium batteries that were manufactured poorly and are prone to exploding. Between 2015 and 2017, more than 2000 people went to the emergency room for burn injuries from e-cigarettes. Explosions were often spontaneous while the device was simply in the person’s pocket. Pockets are close to one’s private parts, and genitals were commonly burned. Scare your teen with this one!

3. Acne and aging skin. Nothing seems to motivate a social-media era individual like aesthetics. Cigarettes are known to cause acne, premature aging of skin, enlarged pores and oil glands. Nicotine causes many of these changes, and nicotine is present whether one is using traditional cigarettes or e-cigarettes.

Finally, the question of patriotism. In case you were worried that you need to starting vaping to prove that you are a patriot, the answer is that you do not. Patriotism and vaping have NOT been linked. An article in the journal Tobacco Use Insights entitled “The Vaping Teenager” found that teens who identify themselves as “patriotic” are actually less likely to vape than those with other peer crowd identifications. Teens who self-identified as patriotic were more likely to report valuing hard work and enjoying the outdoors. The billboard would have been more accurate had it said “Want to risk burnt genitals, hairy tongue, acne, cardiovascular side effects and a lighter wallet? – Vape.” I guess they ran out of room?

PEXELS

Neck Carotid Artery Disease: What to know and what to look out for

Brought

to you by

- By Dr. Benjamin Zussman, neurosurgeon at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center

This Stroke Awareness Month, learn the signs and causes of a stroke so you can take action right away if you or someone else experiences one. The Neuro Care team at Wellstar works with patients to reduce their risk of a stroke and provide lifesaving care in the event of a stroke.

The carotid artery is a major blood vessel that brings blood from your heart to your brain. There are normally two carotid arteries, one on the right side and one on the left. At the point where the carotid artery divides into a branch that feeds the face and a branch that feeds the brain, there is a natural location for the buildup of debris, called atherosclerotic plaque.

As plaque buildup increases, it takes up more space within the vessel and begins to narrow the path for blood flow through the vessel. This narrowing is called stenosis. Because plaque buildup is typically disorganized, bits of plaque can tear off or rupture. When a plaque ruptures, it may cause a stroke.

Patients with plaque buildup who develop stroke-like symptoms, or an actual stroke are referred to as having “symptomatic” disease, because the plaque is believed to have caused their symptoms.

In contrast, patients with plaque buildup who have never had symptoms before are referred to as patients with “asymptomatic” disease. Patients with asymptomatic disease may be identified during a physical examination when a “whooshing” sound or bruit is heard over the carotid artery or when an imaging study of their neck is done for another reason. In general, the worse the carotid stenosis, the higher the chance of a stroke.

If you know that you have carotid artery stenosis, then you should watch out for the signs and symptoms of a stroke. One easy way to remember the classic stroke symptoms is to BE FAST:

• Balance — One sign is a sudden loss of balance or coordination. This can also appear as a sudden, severe headache or dizziness.

• Eyes — Blurred vision, double vision or loss of vision can be symptoms of a stroke. If you think someone else may be having a stroke, ask if they are having trouble seeing out of one or both eyes.

• Face — One side of the face may be drooping or feeling numb. Ask the person to smile and see if it appears lopsided or uneven.

• Arms — Look for sudden arm weakness or numbness. Check if the person can lift both arms without one drifting downward.

• Speech — Check for slurred speech or difficulty speaking. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence to determine if they are having trouble talking.

• Time — The more treatment is delayed, the more the brain is damaged. Don’t wait to seek care. If you notice any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

For patients with mild carotid artery disease, there are several effective strategies to reduce the risk of a stroke. High cholesterol contributes to carotid plaque formation, and providers may prescribe medications to lower the body’s cholesterol level. Carotid stenosis narrows the path for blood flow, so other medications are used to keep blood flowing smoothly around the plaque. Finally, quitting cigarette smoking improves the body’s natural repair mechanisms, since smoking limits the body’s ability to heal vessel walls.

For patients with severe carotid disease, there are different procedures to reduce the risk of a stroke. In carotid endarterectomy, the provider will make a two-inch neck incision to expose the carotid artery. First, the artery is temporarily clamped to prevent bleeding. Then, the artery is opened and cleaned to completely remove the plaque. Finally, the artery is sewn, and the incision is closed.

In carotid artery stenting, a small tube or catheter is inserted through the wrist or the leg and steered within the body’s vessels to the carotid artery. First, a protection device is positioned to catch any debris that may become dislodged. Then, a metallic tube called a stent is expanded to push the plaque to the side and widen the artery. Finally, the machinery is removed, and the entry sites are closed.

The neurosurgeons at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center have extensive training and experience in the treatment of carotid artery disorders. The hospital is recognized as a Certified Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center — the highest level of stroke certification available — by The Joint Commission. Our dedicated neurocritical care and vascular neurology teams provide worldclass care for patients before and after they undergo a carotid artery procedure.

To make an appointment with a neurosurgeon on the campus of Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, call (770) 664-9600.

COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CARE

From diagnosis to treatment and survivorship, Wellstar is ensuring the community in this area has access to expert, compassionate cancer care.

The new Wellstar North Fulton Cancer Center brings more than 12,000 additional square feet on the medical center campus dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking cancer treatments right here in the North Fulton area. Services include:

• CyberKnife radiation technology

• Physician expertise in many specialties

• Surgery, medical and radiation oncology

Find care at every step of your cancer journey here in North Fulton.

wellstar.org/northfultoncancercare

Wellstar North Fulton Cancer Center 4500 Hospital BLVD | ROSWELL (770) 410-4530

CDC reports increasing mental health challenges for U.S. teens

Brought to you by - Cathy Murphy, Director of Community Outreach at Summit Counseling Center

According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we are continuing to see a trend of declining mental health among our teens. The data showed more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health. The

report also showed more than 1 in 5 (22%) students seriously considered suicide and 1 in 10 (10%) had attempted suicide in 2021.

While statistics worsened for all teens during this period, data shows a stark disparity for teenage girls. In 2021, fifty-seven percent of female students experienced persistent sadness or hopelessness and 13% had attempted suicide in the past year.

You can read the full report on

the CDC’s website at tinyurl.com/ cdcyouth23.

We Want to Hear from You!

On May 18th, United Way of Greater Atlanta will be presenting new data regarding Child Well-Being both in the Atlanta region generally and in North Fulton specifically.

Your feedback is crucial as we open the discussion to Child WellBeing intersectionality with mental health outcomes. Participants are

invited to share their impressions and implications of these findings. The discussion will inform a comprehensive perspective and provide momentum toward collective action.

Please join us from 10:00 – 11:30 AM in-person on Thursday, May 18th at Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, 69 N. Main Street or via live streaming on Facebook @NFMHC. Register online at tinyurl.com/NFMHC523.

Do you really think that you can make teeth last for 100 years?

Brought to you by – Dr.

Bradley Hepler

Dr. Jeffrey Priluck, The Atlanta Center for Dental Health

and

“Hi, how are you doing today?”

She said, “Do you really think that you can make teeth last for one hundred years?”

It caught me off guard, but I love this question. This is a good question. It came from a long-term patient that I genuinely love and respect. And today she came in with a question that she had already given a great deal of thought. People are living longer. They need their teeth to last longer. Average life expectancy has been increasing for years now.

I had never promised anyone that I could make their teeth last for 100 years. But I must admit that I have thought about it and that it has become one of our goals at The Atlanta Center for Dental Health. I have a curious mind and have done some reading about longevity. There seems to be a growing interest in the topic. Some great minds in science and medicine seem to be making incredible progress. Ray Kurzweil has postulated that in a few years we may reach escape velocity.

His prediction is that scientific and medical advancement will reach a state of adding at least one year to life expectancy every year. Doesn’t that mean that I could live forever?

My answer to the question that afternoon: “Yes, I think that we can make teeth last 100 years. I think that we just need to try harder. People must take really great care of their teeth and prevent problems.”

Dentistry has incredible technology for repairing and restoring teeth. With dental implants and the vast array of great materials, we can do amazing things to fix and improve smiles. But my answer to the question really had to do with preventive dentistry. Preventive dentistry is the practice of taking care of your teeth to keep them healthy. This includes brushing and flossing regularly, avoiding sugary and acidic foods, seeing your dentist for regular check-ups, and getting sealants and fluoride treatments. These measures help to reduce the risk of developing cavities, gum disease, and other dental problems. If we can prevent diseases of your teeth and gums and prevent people from just wearing out our teeth, I really believe that we can make them

last a very long time. The Atlanta Center for Dental Health’s mission is to help people achieve healthy, attractive smiles for a lifetime. Even a century!

“Preventive Dentistry can add 10 years to human life.” -Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic

And maybe more! A healthy mouth is part of a healthy body. Our wish for you is that you look and feel your best in 2023!

Dr. Bradley Hepler, Dr. Jeffrey Priluck and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide the most modern advances in cosmetic dentistry. Experience immediate results with procedures to greatly enhance your smile and your health. If you would like a complimentary consultation to discover which of these options is best for you, please call us at 770-992-2236. Dr. Hepler and Dr. Priluck are highly trained and certified to provide you with the latest and best techniques to allow you to achieve your cosmetic and restorative goals.

Bestselling authors’ new books make May busier than ever

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia. com

As if Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and graduations galore aren’t enough for one month, this May promises to be busier than ever, thanks to a pair of acclaimed Atlanta-area authors promoting new books. Karen White and Joshilyn Jackson, names long familiar to readers in this country and beyond, routinely bring the party with them everywhere they go, new releases in tow.

With nearly two million books in print in 15 languages, White’s novels are often set in the South, have a paranormal twist and are filled with a mix of family drama, mystery, intrigue and romance.

In “The House on Prytania,” a woman is haunted – both literally and figuratively – by ghosts of the past. The book is available May 9. And, one week later, the Milton resident will be discussing the novel at her hometown library.

“Join me on Tuesday, May 16th, at

Literary Events Around North Atlanta

Tuesday, May 2, Lynn Cullen. Johns Creek Books and Gifts will host the bestselling author of historical fiction as she chats about her new release, “The Woman With The Cure.” Cullen’s book is based on the true story of Dr. Dorothy Horstmann, whose groundbreaking research helped make the polio vaccine possible. 1 p.m. Conversation, signing. Free. Johns Creek Books and Gifts, 6000 Medlock Bridge Parkway, Suite B500, Johns Creek, 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

Saturday, May 6: Boozy Bookfair. Read It Again Bookstore, Suwanee, is partnering with Distillery of Modern Art on a Boozy Bookfair spotlighting carefully curated books and locally distilled beverages. 6 p.m. Free. Distillery of Modern Art, 2197 Irvindale Way, Chamblee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com/event/ boozy-bookfair-doma-0

Tuesday, May 9: Shelby Van Pelt. Roswell Reads will host two virtual book discussions of Van Pelt’s New York Times bestselling debut novel, “Remarkably Bright Creatures.” Online. 2 p.m. or 7 p.m. Free. Register by emailing name, city and preferred time to RoswellReadsBookDiscussions@gmail.com. Roswell Reads book discussions are moderated by volunteers (without authors) and all selections are available at Bookmiser. 770-509-5611. RoswellReads.com

Tuesday, May 16: Karen White. The North Atlanta Author Series continues with White, the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 34 books, including the Tradd Street series. Book two in her new Royal Street series is “The House on Prytania.” 6 p.m. Talk, signing. Free. Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton.

More info

Milton resident and bestselling author Karen White will be discussing her latest release May 16 at the Milton Library. Bestselling novelist Joshilyn Jackson will be in conversation with acclaimed author Wanda Morris May 23 in Alpharetta.

6 p.m. at our very own and gorgeous Milton Library,” White said. “It’s always a pleasure chatting about books with my Milton neighbors. Local bookseller Annell Gerson of Bookmiser will be on hand to sell books – and I’ll be on hand to sign them. It’s a win-win!”

Jackson, whose page-turning thrillers and Southern fiction have been translated into a dozen languages, will be at the Alpharetta Library May 23. She will be talking about her new title, “With My Little Eye,” which author Karin Slaughter called “a dark, twisting confection. ‘With My Little Eye’ will send readers racing through its pages. Joshilyn Jackson is a master storyteller.”

Jackson will be in conversation with another renowned author, Wanda Morris, and both will be answering questions and signing books.

Details about these events, and others, are:

bookmiser.net/book-events.html

Tuesday, May 16: Boozy Bookfair. Suwanee’s Read It Again Bookstore is partnering with Indio Brewing for a Boozy Bookfair featuring thoughtfully curated books and locally brewed beer. 6 p.m. Free. Indio Brewing, 5019 W Broad St. NE M145, Sugar Hill. 770-232-9331. read-itagain.com/event/boozy-bookfair-indio-brewing-co

Friday, May 19, Saturday, May 20, Monday, May 22: Friends of Roswell Library will have a “Stock up for Summer Book Sale” featuring children’s books, $1 novels, nonfiction titles and more. Free. See website for hours. Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell. 404612-9700. forl.net

Tuesday, May 23: Joshilyn Jackson. A Novel Idea presents Jackson, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist, detailing her latest release, “With My Little Eye.” Jackson will be in conversation with thriller writer Wanda Morris, and Bookmiser will have both authors’ books available to purchase. 6 p.m. Talk, signing. Free. Alpharetta Branch Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta. 770-509-5611. anovelidea.us

Saturday, May 27-28: Married authors George Weinstein and Kim Conrey will be signing their books at the Alpharetta Street Fest. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 175 Roswell St., Alpharetta. eventeny.com/events/2022-alpharettaarts-streetfest-3515/

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

JACKSON

WHITE

PRESERVING THE PAST

Milton volunteers honor deceased veterans

No doubt being a Seabee in Vietnam taught Bill Lusk many things, but what set him apart was his family background. His father and his four brothers were in the construction business. All served in the military during WW ll. His grandfather was a master carpenter with whom Bill worked as a youth.

One of the lasting impacts of his ancestry and wartime experience was his creation of the Milton Veterans Memorial Markers program after the City of Milton was formed. Today’s column tells the story of that journey.

After graduating from high school in the Finger Lakes region of New York State where his ancestors have lived for 500 years, Bill graduated from a two-year program at a technical school and worked for the Ridge Construction Company, a division of Eastman Kodak Company. While there, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Seabees reserve in 1964.

His unit was activated the following year and Bill underwent advanced training at the Naval Construction Battalion Center at Port Hueneme, California. When he arrived in Vietnam in 1966 things were getting very hot. The Viet Cong appeared to be winning the war, and the U.S. was rapidly increasing its forces. The Seabees

were destined to play a vital and historic role as the conflict grew, and the need to construct military support facilities increased.

The U.S. Naval Construction Battalions, widely known as the Seabees, is responsible for building much of the infrastructure at U.S. military operations abroad, particularly in combat zones. If you pronounce the first letters of Construction Battalion, it sounds like Seabee, hence the nickname. The Seabees were established in 1941 to meet the growing need for airfields, docks, bridges and other support facilities during WW ll. They primarily serve the Navy and Marine Corps because the Army has its own Corps of Engineers. Seabees are trained for combat as well as construction and frequently saw action in Vietnam when their construction projects were attacked. Their motto is “we build, we fight” and their logo is a bee holding a wrench, hammer and machine gun. Bill was initially stationed around the Chu Lai combat base in central Vietnam. During his second tour, he was assigned to Khe Sanh, one of the more remote mountain outposts in Vietnam a few miles from the Ho Chi Minh Trail near the Laotian border and later the scene of a bloody battle. He also served near the Da Nang airbase on the coast where his battalion built airfields, roads, bunkers, barracks and revetments to protect the aircraft. In short, the Seabees built anything that needed to be built quickly and well.

On April 29, 2023, the Seabees were honored with a special monument at the Georgia National Military Cemetery in Canton.

When he returned home in 1967, Bill attended Tri State College in Indiana on

the GI Bill where he obtained a degree in civil engineering. His first job after college was as an engineering project manager for the Detroit Water Department. A job offer took him to Atlanta in 1973. Thirteen years later he started Lusk and Company, a firm that continues to build churches, schools and assisted living facilities and numerous projects for Georgia Tech. He sold his company to its employees in 2018. Now in its 37th year, the company is known as Lusk Commercial Contractors. His favorite project is the Lyndon House Arts Center in Athens.

When the City of Milton was formed in 2006 from portions of unincorporated north Fulton County, Bill was elected to the city’s first City Council. He felt that as a new city, Milton lacked an identity and thought that one way to create identity would be to honor our city’s fallen soldiers. He was inspired by the City of Duluth’s veterans’ marker program and was determined to institute something similar in Milton that would help create a sense of place and inspire patriotism.

The program launched in 2007 with about 50 markers which Bill hand built in his home workshop. The City of Milton supported the effort by placing ads in the Milton Herald. The program grew rapidly, and soon Bill and a few volunteers were making 50 markers in his workshop. In 2016 a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization called the Milton Veterans Memorial Markers, Inc. was established. Today more than 800 markers are placed along Highway 9 and in Crabapple for two weeks over Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Bill and volunteers such as Justin de Couto and David Garmon help make the markers. More than than 50 volunteers place the markers carried by large trailers, two of which were purchased from donations, while one was presented to the organization by local businessman and veteran Ron Wallace.

For further information on the program or to apply for a marker send an email to info@miltonveterans.org or to luskwc@gmail.com.

I believe that there is a clear link between the background and wartime experiences of one committed citizen and a program that brings recognition to the City of Milton and honors those deceased veterans who served our country.

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

FAMILY PROVIDED

Eight hundred memorial markers are set out in about two hours by more than 50 volunteers. The markers remain in place for two weeks over Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Garden hints for growing lavender in Georgia

I have enjoyed growing lavender in my personal garden for many years.

As a second-year Master Gardener in 2009, the North Fulton County Extension Agent requested volunteers to open a booth at the new Roswell Farmer’s Market. I agreed to open a booth named “The Lavender Lady” where I sold cut lavender bundles, lavender crafts and garden flowers.

Garden Lavender is a spiky, shrubby plant prized for its wonderful color, scent and appearance. The plant comes in colors of deep purple, lavender, pink, white and several shades in between. There are over 450 varieties of lavender that exist with more currently being identified.

Our Georgia climate is different from the dry, chalky Mediterranean climate where lavender originated. In recent years, growers have developed a species that is more tolerant of our Southern heat and humidity. It is an English lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) named ‘Phenomenal’ that has been field tested from Texas to Georgia and has even been grown in Florida’s hot climate.

Other types of lavender, such as Spanish lavender (Lavendula stoechas), including the varieties “Otto Quast,” “Silver Anouk” and “Anouk” have been successfully grown in Georgia. The main difference between English lavender and Spanish lavender is their size. English lavender is taller than Spanish lavender and typically has longer leaves. Other differences between the two varieties include their color, the appearance of their flowers and their tolerance of cold weather.

An additional type of lavender that may be successfully grown in Georgia is the Lavendula x intermedia. The “Grosso” variety is considered to have the best scent of all the grown lavenders and is a good cut flower. It is a hybrid of English lavender and broadleaved lavender (Lavandua latifolia). Other lavender varieties that have been successfully grown in Georgia are “Dutch,” “Hidcote,’’ ‘‘Munstead’’ and ‘’Provence.’’

Lavender is best planted as young cuttings in the spring after the threat of frost has passed.

If planted in the fall, choose larger, more established plants to ensure survival through the winter. The plants are hardy in growing zones 5 to 9, which encompasses all of the state

of Georgia. Lavender can be planted year-round unless the weather is freezing. October is the best time for planting so their roots will develop by springtime.

Before planting, get a soil test to determine the soil pH, and if needed work lime into the soil. Every two to three years add a maintenance dose of lime. However, Lavendula stoechas and hybrids do not want lime.

Prune young lavender plants after the cuttings have achieved a height of 24 to 36 inches. Pruning them in autumn after they have matured will help them retain their rounded form. However, prune Lavender x intermedia less severely because it is much less hardy than the English lavender. Lavender stoechas are best pruned in the summer after flowering.

Further reading on the topic of growing lavender includes: “The

Lavender Lover’s Handbook” by Sarah Berringer Bader (Timber Press), “Lavender” by Tess Evelegh (Lorenz Books), and

“Lavender: A Grower’s Guide” by Virginia McNaughton (Timber Press).

If you are interested in learning more about growing lavender in the south and which species do best, the soil type, and weather conditions best suited for optimum growth, please check out my virtual talk, “Growing Lavender,” on the NFMG YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/8IA-Ku8VKo.

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

PROVIDED

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 Sandy Springs resident Rebecca Pinckney. Rebecca, a Master Gardener since 2008, has grown several types of lavender. She is a native Floridian who has lived in Atlanta all her adult life. Gardening, writing, drawing, painting, and reading are her interests. She and her husband are grandparents to six children.

REBECCA B. PINCKNEY Guest Columnist

Glenn Greer Austin, farmer, carpenter and justice of the peace

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Columnist

Glenn Greer Austin was born in 1885 to Elizabeth and John Thomas Austin. Their home was in the Grogan’s District of Milton County, which was along what is now Roberts Drive and Spalding Drive in Sandy Springs.

In 1906, he married Nettie Southern. Her family’s property and home were along what is now Mount Vernon Road near Dunwoody United Methodist Church. Their wedding was the first to take place at the church, a small wooden building across the road from today’s church. The couple stayed active at the church throughout their lives, serving as Sunday School Superintendent and on the Board of Stewards. (The Story of Dunwoody, Elizabeth L. Davis, Ethel W. Spruill)

The history of Nettie Southern Austin, who taught at the Dunwoody School for many years and is the namesake of Austin Elementary, has been told previously in this column. Glenn Austin was also an important part of the community.

Glenn Greer was a carpenter, farmer and justice of the peace for Dunwoody. His work as justice of the peace was done in Nash’s Store and the post office, which were at

GET OUTSIDE GEORGIA

the northwest corner of Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Mount Vernon Road. The justice of the peace in a community held court to try minor civil cases. They also performed marriages.

Austin’s son, Glenn Thomas Austin remembered his father doing all these jobs. He also recalled working construction alongside his father when Dunwoody Methodist Chapel was built. (DeKalb History Center oral histories, “Dunwoody, I Remember Hour,” 1994) Dunwoody School students of the

1940s remember fondly the small wood house he constructed, known as the Dutch House. The students were studying Holland at the time, so Austin built the house and a small windmill that stood next to the house. He used his carpenter skills in many ways to help the school and his wife Nettie. He built a sand table for the playground. Inside the school, there was an area filled with his wood toys and identified with a sign that read “Toyland.” He built rocking horses, doll cradles and

strollers, tables, a tall giraffe, and an assortment of other wooden animals. Glenn Greer Austin and Nettie Southern Austin had six children. He died in 1948 and Nettie died in 1956. They are buried at the Sandy Springs Methodist Cemetery.

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.

What you do when you can’t get outside…

So things happen sometimes. Sometimes those things involve one’s gall bladder, which (given the opportunity ) just might decide to rise up in rebellion and throw a monkey wrench into the otherwise peaceful workings of one’s life. The solution is a spell in the hospital and then a week to recover.

One really can’t do much in the way of outside-world-type things while recovering from a conflict with a recalcitrant gall bladder. So I’m a little restless, and she sees it.

“The surgeon said to take it easy for a week,” she said. “No travel. No hiking.

No lifting. Just rest.”

And so I have.

While I rest (or daydream… or possibly nap), the sun shines on highways heading north-south-eastwest, highways I won’t travel any time soon. It brightens the shadowy spots on trails that I won’t be hiking for a while. And it warms those beloved rivers and creeks, bringing them back to life again.

“Warmth will do that, you know,” I say, half to myself.

But I must be speaking not as softly as I think, for she replies.

“Yes,” she says. “It does.”

I look her way. She looks back at me and smiles.

“It won’t be long,” she says. “You’ll be out and about in no time.”

But what do self-proclaimed Great Outdoorsman like me do when the great outdoors is off the table for a while?

I’ll tell you what we do. We read. One title I’ve meant to get around to for a while now is Angler’s Guide to Georgia State Parks, a new book by longtime outdoor journalists Polly Dean and Jimmy Jacobs.

Georgia boasts some 45 state parks, and all but one of them offers you the chance to wet a line. From trout to bass to bream to saltwater species, this abundance of opportunity means that there’s something for just about every angler.

The parks are presented in individual chapters, each detailing the type of water and species of fish that are to be found.

There’s also insight into the allimportant matter access, and it’s the kind of commentary that I prefer — what I like to call “just enough information.” It’s enough to get you where you need to be but not so much that miss out on

the fulfilling fun of planning outings and figuring things out on your own.

If you fish in Georgia, you’ll want to add this one to your library. It’s available from Amazon, from many outfitters and fishing shops, and direct from the author at jimmyjacobsoutdoors.com It’s a great guide when you’re heading out for a day of fishing, and it’s fine fodder for firing the imagination on those days when getting out and about just isn’t in the cards … for days like this one, in other words.

And pretty soon I’m daydreaming again, I guess, thinking about some of that fishing, when I hear her voice.

“Watcha thinking?” she asks.

I open my eyes and I see her, and I smile again.

“It won’t be long,” she says. “Then we’ll fish.”

Yes. Then we’ll fish. We will.

Glenn Austin built the Dutch House in the 1940s for the children of Dunwoody School

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

Historical fantasy or romance fantasy?

Two recent reads had me asking myself how best to describe them to my readers. If you google fiction genres, you will find anywhere from five basic genres to hundreds. One list I found included action, comedy, drama, fantasy, horror, mystery, romance and thriller. But those categories aren’t enough for most of us.

Naturally, I turned to Amazon, because they’ve added a gazillion genres to the shorter lists I’m most familiar with. For example, my series falls into the mystery genre at a high level, but there are 12 subgenres beneath it, and my books fit in the cozy mystery subgenre.

The books below are both listed as historical fantasy on Amazon, and the first is ranked as a No. 1 bestseller in three genres: romance, literary fiction, romantic fantasy and historical fantasy. The second is categorized

as time travel fiction, science fiction adventures and historical fantasy. So, they’re the same but different. The first is a more somber tale. The second is an adventure. The good news is I enjoyed them both.

“The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by

V.E. Schwab

Wow! Just wow! I couldn’t put this one down, and I can see why it is described as a genre-defying tale. It starts in 1714 in France, where young Adeline LaRue makes a deal with the devil. She will live forever, but no one will remember her.

For over 300 years, she lives a sometimes miserable and at other times thrilling existence. Every year, the devil visits her, asking if she’s ready yet to give up her soul. Like Faustus, that’s what he’s after. And every year, she turns him down, though, in the bleakest times, it’s tempting to say yes.

Does she find romance? Well, yes, but her partners are destined to forget her by the next day. Until, as you can read on the book jacket, she finds someone who doesn’t — in

2014. The story unfolds as she witnesses history, the good and the bad. Her meetings with Luc, the name she gives her devil, evolve and change through the years. Sometimes he is enchanting and at others threatening.

As Luc would say, “I will tell you no more.” Seriously, the language is a treat. Read it for the history lessons and the romance and the beautiful writing. If that is, you like Historical Fantasy or Romantic Fantasy.

“Lies, Damned Lies, and History”

by Jodi Taylor

This is book seven in the Chronicles of St. Mary’s series and is as entertaining as the first six. I’m happy to report there are 13 books in the series with a 14th coming out this year. Since I’m not a binge reader, they should keep me entertained for at least a few years.

One reviewer describes the series as “a wild mix of history, adventure, comedy, romance, tragedy, and anything else the author could think of.” No wonder it falls

into historical fantasy and science fiction genres. Science fiction lovers will get a kick from the pods that travel through history landing in places like Thermopylae and Troy and Merlin’s cave.

The job of the characters manning the pods is to investigate and document history — to get the real story. As in any good series, the relationships among the characters are half the fun. Maybe more than half. And, yes, there’s a bit of romance thrown in too. There’s history, danger, conflict, and humor — lots of humor—mixed with pure farce. I am always delighted by witty dialogue, and this series is filled with it. Maybe one of these days, I’ll count the number of double entendres. Rollicking seems to be one of my favorite words as of late, and it aptly describes this book. It’s rollicking good fun!

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.

‘Smart’ Declan’s journey: A heartwarming Mulligan

Before you read another word, put down this newspaper and grab a box of tissues. I’m pretty sure you’re going to need them after reading this. But don’t worry, like me, you’ll be unleashing tears of joy.

It’s safe to say, when sitting down to write a column, there is angst that comes from just finding the right words. Then there are occasions, like this week, when the column writes you.

Let’s get to it: In a nutshell, 3-year-old Declan Demory Wetz should probably be a memory. He should be a tragic statistic that reminds us of the societal scourge that is drug addiction. Instead, on February 3, Declan officially became an integral part of Ginger and Mike Wetz’s Cumming family.

Declan was born severely addicted to a plethora of prescription pain medications, the ones you read about. You

believe there’s a buffer and no way anything like this could affect you. Sadly, swallowing pills is small stuff when it takes in all that is involved.

Declan’s birth mother was Ginger’s sister, Jerilyn, a bright vibrant nurse who, in Ginger’s words, “got in with a bad crowd.” As a nurse with all kinds of drugs so readily accessible, the monkey on Jerilyn’s back, coupled with shady friends, just wouldn’t let go. It wasn’t a fair fight. Jerilyn, 26, died last August.

“She would have been a fantastic mom,” Ginger lamented.

For Declan, his first weeks were spent in a Nashville neonatal intensive care unit. He weighed a mere 5 pounds when he turned 6 weeks old. There were no guarantees he would get to go home. And even if he did get released, where was he going to lay his head at night?

And that’s where Ginger and Mike did what can only be termed “the right thing.” There was a fight brewing, with Declan as the prize. They had experience as parents having raised Noah (now 20) and Liam (13). Why not one more?

Going through the courts, attaining guardianship and eventually custody, Ginger wanted Declan to have a fighting chance. Besides, “he’s the smartest kid I’ve ever seen.”

And she should know. See, here’s another twist to the story: Ginger works for the Forsyth County School District, and to stay home and kickstart Declan’s development she would have had to quit her job. No way to be a working mom when there was such a worthwhile toddler project at home.

Believing that God knows what He’s doing, COVID was unleashed at a most opportune time for the Wetz family. Ginger could stay home and give Declan a ton of the TLC he missed out on in the NICU and the time after that.

Ginger’s faith that Jerilyn would get better was a false hope. Disappointment? Sure. But Ginger firmly believes “God has had a hand in all this,” adding Declan is “way too smart.”

It’s natural that Declan has a few issues. That’s to be expected when you come into the world addicted to that terrible poison. But as far as be -

ing adjusted to his family, he’s all-in. All through this, there have been good days and bad days.

Declan, early in the adoption process when Ginger and Mike were unsure of how things would turn out, sealed the deal for the couple. One day he called Ginger “Lovey.” Mike was “Gunkle,” which is Declan-speak for Grumpy Uncle. Now maybe you can see Ginger knows what she’s talking about with her “smart” assessment.

Through all the evaluations from the Forsyth County Schools, there’s no way Declan will be in Special Education classes. There’s that “too smart” problem again.

Declan’s brothers play soccer. I asked Ginger, who has prepared my taxes for more than 20 years, if she had thought about putting a golf club in Declan’s hands.

So far, his life has been a fantastic Mulligan.

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@

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

MIKE TASOS

Columnist

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