Johns Creek Herald - June 15, 2023

City proposes keeping property tax rate unchanged

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek councilmembers agreed at a June 6 work session to advertise the existing tax rate of 3.986 mills for this year, creating a ceiling but not a floor.

Property taxes are set through millage rates. One mill equals $1 of property taxes for every $1,000 of assessed valuation.

While the county has yet to provide a preliminary 2023 tax digest for Johns Creek, homeowners whose property values have risen may pay a higher tax bill if the city’s advertised tax rate is approved. Councilmembers have another two months to gather information on how much the tax levy would generate in revenues as the county completes its assessment of property values.

The council can adjust the mill levy downward before settling on a final tax rate in August when it has a clearer picture of actual property values.

Residential property taxable values in North Fulton County can only increase by 3 percent or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.

Johns Creek Finance Director Ronnie Campbell said the millage rate has a “cascading effect” on both the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget and Fiscal Year 2024 budget.

Because this year’s budget anticipates holding a steady millage rate, the city is expected to use surplus funds left over from this year’s budget to compensate for any shortfalls if a lower millage rate is adopted. The discussion on the potential use of property tax stabilization

See TAX, Page 4

Johns Creek to hold first ever Juneteenth celebration June 17

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — To celebrate Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of the country’s enslaved African Americans, Johns Creek is hosting a special event at Newtown Park June 17.

The celebration will run from 3-9 p.m. at the Mark Burkhalter

Amphitheater. Performances include anthems, a gospel choir, storytelling, violin, a student step routine, rap and poem performance, spoken word and jazz.

There will be a fish fry, barbecue and Italian ice, as well as vendors selling crafts and other products. The Johns Creek Arts Center will be on-site with crafts for kids and face painting. The event is set to have a Book Fair as

well, filled with local African American authors.

The mayor is set to welcome visitors at 3:20 p.m.

“I am grateful to the team of resident volunteers that have collaborated with the city staff to plan this event,” Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry said. “I am looking forward to celebrating the freedom, unity and peace that this important event in American history

symbolizes.”

More than 30 volunteers, with varying experiences and backgrounds, have spent the last few months on the event’s planning committee. Brian Weaver, committee member and former Johns Creek councilman, shared his excitement for the event.

“It’s part of our heritage,” Weaver said. “It shows the history of the Black American culture, where it all started.”

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Johns Creek Finance Director Ronnie Campbell presents an advertised millage rate of 3.986 mills at the City Council work session June 6. The council agreed to the recommendation, creating a ceiling for the new millage rate.

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Teen dies, child revived following pool drowning

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A teen died after she and a young boy were pulled from an apartment complex pool June 5.

Police responded to a medical assistance call at the pool of The Estates at Johns Creek Apartments on Addison Lane at around 4:30 p.m., according to the Johns Creek Police

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Man’s stolen vehicle later found at Kroger

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — After an Alpharetta man reported his vehicle stolen June 4, police later found it in the Kroger lot on Holcomb Bridge Road.

The man said he left his white Volkswagen Jetta in a visitor lot of his apartment on Sandy Lane Drive, and when he returned, it was gone.

The man told police he had the key fob and believed the vehicle to have been locked. The victim said he and his father, the owner, were the only two to have possession of key fobs to the vehicle. While police finished gathering information, another officer began searching nearby locations for the vehicle and located it at Kroger with no noticeable damage.

2022

Lottery tickets stolen in gas station burglary

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — When police responded to an alarm call at Valero Gas Station on Nesbit Ferry Road May 31, they noticed what appeared to be forced entry.

Department.

A witness stated two children, a 16-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy, were playing and noticed they had been underwater for too long. The witness said she could not swim and ran to get help from the office. Three men then came out of the building and pulled the

The front door was smashed. But police saw no obvious signs of stolen or missing items, confirmed by the manager who later arrived on scene.

In surveillance footage, the suspect was seen approaching the business at around 3:45 a.m. and entering the store. The suspect took several lottery tickets while inside, then was seen running out of the business to disappear into the wood line near Mount Pisgah Christian School.

In the video, the suspect was wearing white or khaki shorts, a black hooded sweatshirt, a black baseball hat and a black face covering. There were no witnesses to the burglary, the police report said.

Thief uses stolen card to charge nearly $2,000

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek man on Stoney Ridge Drive reported to police May 31 that he had received an email that USPS would deliver letters to his home but didn’t receive one of the packages.

In the email was an image of a letter for his grandson and another letter for his wife. On May 6, the man said he received the mail for his wife, but never received the mail for his grandson, which contained his credit card.

The grandson checked his credit card statement, and three purchases were made on May 12 in Phipps Plaza in Atlanta. They totaled nearly $2,000. The grandson reported the credit card stolen and canceled the card.

children out of the pool.

The boy was resuscitated and is expected to make a full recovery. The teen was flown to Scottish Rite Medical Center, where she died the next day.

The incident is under investigation but appears to be an accident, police said.

Woman reports husband for nude images of teen

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Florida woman reported to police June 1 that while looking through her husband’s iPad, she saw a picture in his “Google photos” of what appeared to be a naked 13-yearold girl.

The woman said she also saw a text thread on Reddit between her husband and a boy in high school, about exchanging photos of teenage girls in the boy’s school for money.

The woman said she last spoke to her husband in March and no longer has contact with him because he has sent threatening text messages to her.

The woman, a social worker, said she wanted to report the incident because she has a 13-year-old daughter.

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Man charged with rape, kidnapping in Johns Creek

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police located a man in Paulding County May 18, who had been charged with multiple violent crimes in a domestic incident in Johns Creek the week before.

Johns Creek Police responded to a call on Caswyck Trace May 12, in which a woman accused 28-year-old Javonte Deon Jarrett, her ex-husband, of rape and assault. Jarrett is a Tennessee resident.

The night before, the woman said Jarrett had demanded sex and pointed a gun to her head, threatening to shoot her with a black semi-automatic pistol. Her two children were home at

Tax:

Continued from Page 1

funds – surplus money used to offset property taxes – will likely be taken up at a future work session, Campbell said, once the city receives the new tax digest from Fulton County.

The first of three public hearings on the millage rate is set for July 25 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The second will be held Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. and the third, later that night as part of the City Council meeting at 7 p.m.

In other matters at the work session, the council agreed to fully fund construction for Creekside Park, rather than phase the work. The project is estimated to cost $35.5 million.

About a third of the cost had already been allocated to the project, using funds from the transportation special purpose local option sales tax – or TSPLOST – the parks bond, general fund revenues as well as Tourism Project Development funds. An additional $10 million of TSPLOST

the time.

As officers responded that morning, Jarrett fled on foot, leading to a week-long search. Johns Creek police and the Paulding County SWAT team eventually located Jarrett in a Dallas home and transported him to the Fulton County Jail.

According to Fulton County Superior Court records, Jarrett has been charged with rape, aggravated assault, aggravated sodomy, kidnapping, false imprisonment, thirddegree cruelty to children, possession of a weapon during the commission of felonies and hindering persons from making an emergency call.

Jarrett’s bond hearing has been set for June 20.

II funds will be dedicated to the park as well as anticipated surplus revenue.

“As far as where the money comes from, and how quickly does it get paid for … is not really what’s in front of [us],” Mayor John Bradberry said. “It’s more about, ‘Are we still 100 percent committed to what we previously outlined in terms of our plan for Creekside Park?’ … For me, it’s an obvious answer — 100 percent yes. Yes, I am.”

The City Council also agreed to add permanent lines for football at one of the synthetic turf fields at Cauley Creek Park for a total of $75,000.

City Councilman Chris Coughlin said he had concerns about prioritizing football over other sports, and looked to use enrollment numbers to determine how to mark the fields.

“The city hasn’t supported the program in so many years,” Councilman Larry DiBiase said. “It has been slowly dwindling because there’s nowhere to play. Would we want our children to hop a fence?”

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City of Milton hires elections consultant

Former county official to oversee operations

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Vernetta Nuriddin, former vice chair of the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections, has been hired as the elections consultant for Milton’s municipal general elections this year.

Her $25,000 contract, passed on the Milton City Council’s consent agenda June 5, has an official start date of May 31 and will run through the end of the year.

Nuriddin is expected to review standard operating procedures, maintain clear lines of communication with the Secretary of State’s Office and Fulton County as well as ensure polling locations are set up and operating correctly.

Nuriddin will also be involved in the hiring process for poll managers and workers. Steve Krokoff, Milton city manager and election superintendent, said there are already more than 70 applications for those roles. Milton will have roughly 32 poll workers, with 16 at each location on Election Day.

In a series of phone conversations, Krokoff said Nuriddin appeared to be “quite knowledgeable” about elections and had the right connections. Krokoff also described Nuriddin’s relative experience, such as her role on the county’s election board and some direct administration.

However, Nuriddin does not have hands-on experience as an elections superintendent.

“Unfortunately, at the end of the day, we didn't have anybody with that

level of experience that was willing to take on this role.”

Another prospect was a consultant provided by the Election Center, aka the National Association of Election Officials, but the price tag was six figures, far exceeding the city’s $20,000 budget for the role.

The nomination for Nuriddin came to city staff’s attention by way of Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne and Milton City Councilman Rick Mohrig. In an interview, Thorne cited Nuriddin’s election certifications as a key reason for her recommendation.

“If you want somebody that can follow the laws, the rules, knows the history, Vernetta is your girl,” Thorne said.

Thorne also recalled Nuriddin’s vote to oust Richard Barron, the county’s former elections chief, and the backlash she received from the Democratic party. Nuriddin was the only Democrat on the board in favor of firing him.

Local media reported that Nuriddin had cited previous botched and sloppy elections, machine failures, mismanagement and firing of longtime election workers as to why Barron should be fired. The Fulton County Commission decided to keep Barron on, but he eventually resigned last year.

“She was doing the right thing, and it was the hard thing, and that really tells you about somebody's character,” Thorne said. “So, I know she's an honest person, and I think that's what you need in that role. I think bipartisanship, somebody who can work with both sides of the aisle — Democrats, Republicans — it builds trust in your election system.”

Roswell launches first of outdoor concerts

ROSWELL, Ga. — The city of Roswell will host a free monthly summer concert series, Music on the Hill starting Friday, June 9, on the Roswell City Hall lawn at 38 Hill Street.

Residents can come to the free outdoor concert with blankets, chairs, picnics and bottles of wine to hear live music that spans decades of popular songs and genres. The concerts will be held every second Friday of the month from June to September from 7 to 9

p.m.

Guardians of the Jukebox, an ’80s cover band will kick off the series at the June 9 concert. On July 14 country music cover band Chuck Martin and the Line Up will perform. The August 11 concert is a ’70s funk music themed show by BJ Wilbanks, and the Sept. 8 band The Geek Squad will perform a selection of Motown, jazz, funk, hip hop and popular music.

Milton officials postpone vote on District at Mayfield zoning

Property owners question late changes to proposal

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — After some property owners raised concerns about late changes to the District at Mayfield’s draft zoning code, the Milton City Council has deferred the measure for now.

The district covers about 18 acres in Crabapple and includes 22 parcels with properties off Broadwell Road, Charlotte Drive, Mayfield Road and Mid Broadwell Road. The area will have more strict development regulations intended to keep its unique identity intact, which includes several historic buildings.

Elements of the overlay district would fall under Crabapple form-based code. Caleb Rocicot, with TSW – the firm responsible for drawing up the plans – presented adjustments to the zoning ordinance at the Milton City Council meeting June 5. Items included requirements for frontage, civic spaces, parking, architectural standards, building placements and building form.

“We are not here to codify and mandate development of this exact vision,” Rocicot said. “The form-based code updates are intended to allow this kind of development, but at the same time, address the needs of property owners for certain flexibilities.”

Owner concern

Earlier this year, property owners in the district participated in a series of workshops to come up with suitable guidelines. A draft was available May 15, but owners have noticed lastminute changes.

One issue, voiced by the attorney for one owner, was the requirement for frontage. A subsequent change had allowed only houses or cottages to have frontages on civic spaces, whereas commercial lots are required to have street frontage.

It had also been proposed that civic spaces required a minimum width of 30 feet, but the adjustment had been deleted in the new draft — reverting back to the original requirement of 60 feet.

“The concept plan itself is no longer possible based on the change that was made last week,” attorney Jonathan Akins said.

Other owners were concerned about the potential exercise of eminent

North Fulton Community Charities welcomes two new board members

ROSWELL, Ga.

— North Fulton Community Charities announced two new board members and a roster of new officers for the 2024 fiscal year on May 17.

at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, were named to the nonprofit’s Board of Directors.

domain in the area, for a proposed thoroughfare that would cut through Mayfield and Mid Broadwell roads.

Milton Zoning Manager Robyn MacDonald confirmed the road is only a possibility and that the city would not be acquiring property to build any roads, unless there was some cooperative agreement with property owners.

Building height

City Councilwoman Carol Cookerly questioned building height in the area. The newest draft allows buildings three stories, though the attic and basement would be counted as one.

“One of the things that excited me … I felt was very interesting, and it would really separate out this little territory, was building height,” Cookerly said. “It was a maximum of two stories, and that was a popular discussion among many of us.”

Milton Community Development Director Bob Buscemi said the idea has evolved over time to maximize density. The lot size may be too constricting, he said, to spread the building out enough.

“For the things that disappeared or reappeared, we got to get that ironed out,” Cookerly said.

Charlie Roberts, chairman of the Milton Design Review Board and member of the plan’s steering committee, also acknowledged there had been an “honest surprise” since the first draft.

“What made this work is that everybody has listened, and we have come so far,” Roberts said. “Why push it tonight?”

The City Council agreed to defer the vote to its meeting June 19, a day before the moratorium on development in the area is set to end.

The nonprofit offers emergency financial assistance, case management, education, clothing assistance and seasonal assistance to communities across North Fulton County. The organization also operates a food pantry and a thrift store. It serves thousands of residents every year.

Konda Pollard, senior vice president of private wealth at Synovus, and Barbara Blevens, vice president of talent acquisition

Pollard has over 25 years of experience in private banking and private wealth management, with multiple awards in private wealth direction and women in wealth banking. Blevens has more than 20 years of experience as a human resource professional.

The board also elected Mike Hampton, retired chief administrative officer at Choate Construction as president; Ted Schwartz, a senior partner at Carter Hill Advisors as vice president; chief financial officer at DataScan Matt Powell as treasurer and CEO of Edge Solutions Julie Haley as secretary.

“As we mark North Fulton Community Charities’ 40th anniversary this year, the board and I look forward to working together to ensure that NFCC is meeting the growing needs of the community and is providing opportunities for all members of our community to thrive,” Executive Director Sandy Holiday said.

June 1 9 , 2 022

Prostate Cancer AwarenesS

POLLARD BLEVENS

SCREENSHOT

Pictured is the proposed concept plan for the District at Mayfield.

Farm offers mindfulness with mix of animals, yoga

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — It’s hard to do yoga’s Downward Facing Dog with a goat on your back or rise into Mountain Pose with a sloth hanging on your shoulders and a pig snuffling at your ankles.

But for people at Love GOGA in Milton, mixing cute, friendly farm animals with yoga is a recipe for increased mindfulness, health and self-care.

Launched in 2017 by Milton resident Cathi Huff, Love GOGA has grown into a successful yoga and wellness business, with thousands of raving fans who sell out nearly every event the business holds each month.

Huff said everything started for Love GOGA when her kids left for college and she wanted to do something using her background in holistic health and her lifelong dream of owning a farm, where she could learn to ride horses.

So, Huff and her family bought a farm and started their animal family with a retired racehorse named Bronx, who once raced under the name “Atlantis Dream” and inspired their name for the property — the Atlantis Dream Farm. Since then, goats, dogs, cats, llamas, pigs and a herd of other animals have joined them there.

“We bought the property seven years ago, and Bronx moved to the backyard, then he started getting

buddies,” Huff said.

From the very beginning, Love GOGA’s farm animal yoga classes and events blew up thanks to the internet and TV, leading to over 3,000 hits a week on their website and more than 125 people a week visiting the farm to do yoga.

Marketing Manager Danielle Bartling said Huff’s vision came to life in an organic, effortless way because people really seem to understand what she wanted to share.

“She just combined her love for animals and holistic wellness and mindfulness … it was just like alchemy, no one had really done it that way before,” Bartling said.

But Huff said the company’s true mission of wellness and health didn’t come into focus until therapists and private schools started calling, wanting to hire them for private events.

“We realized that it was more than just goat yoga,” she said. “The third year is really when it became crystal clear to me that this was my purpose.”

Bartling said the sessions’ uniqueness draws people in, even people who practice yoga on a daily basis.

“We take people out of their routine; you’re not going to do farm animal yoga every single day, but you come out to Halcyon on a Saturday, you’re surrounded by animals …

See YOGA, Page 9

LOVE GOGA/PROVIDED

Milton resident Cathi Huff founded Love GOGA farm animal yoga at her farm in 2017 after her kids went off to college. Since then, the company has grown into a wildly popular health and wellness business, with fans throughout North Georgia.

LOVE GOGA/PROVIDED

During Love GOGA farm animal yoga events, participants will be surrounded by fluffy, friendly animals who love to be held, photographed and petted. Goats, chickens, cows and llamas are all regulars at their events.

“The animals help ground you to the moment … you’re really just there with them.”

DANIELLE BARTLING, Marketing Manager, Love GOGA

Yoga:

Continued from Page 8

they’re silly, they’re so cute,” Bartling said. “The animals help ground you to the moment … you’re really just there with them.”

And, ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, people seem to need grounding more than ever, she said.

“People are starving for personal attention and self-care and compassion for themselves,” he said. “The goal for us is to get it to as many people as possible because it’s helped us so much.”

Today Huff and her staff have expanded their lineup to include a partnership with North Georgia Wildlife Park in Cleveland, Ga., and Halcyon in Forsyth County. Those events, GOGA in the Wild and Halcyon Farm Animal Yoga, are almost always fully booked.

These are bolstered by special programs, like an event they recently had with the City of Milton that featured a sloth, capybara and fennec fox.

To learn more about Love GOGA events and Mindful Seeds, the business’s “happiness project” that will begin teaching mindfulness at the farm in July, visit lovegoga.com/

Tucker

LOVE GOGA/PROVIDED

Held at the Halcyon development in Forsyth County each month, Farm Animal Yoga on the Green is one of Love GOGA’s most popular events and nearly always sells out, business owners said.

Know the different types of Trusts

Brought to you

by - Geerdes & Associates

The best way to reduce estate tax liability and maintain control over your assets is to establish a trust - but you know that already. What you might not know are all the different types of trusts. For instance, spousal trusts are some of the most common types of trust, but depending on you and your partner’s specific needs, there are several types of spousal trusts that you may want to consider. Here are three of the most common spousal trusts:

The first spousal trust is one you’ve likely heard of - a marital trust. A marital trust is a trust created for the benefit of the surviving spouse. It ensures that everything in the trust is used for the benefit of the surviving spouse after the death of the first spouse.

It also delays estate taxes until the surviving spouse’s death.

The second type of spousal trust is called a bypass trust. Bypass trusts can only be created after the death of the first spouse and are used to greatly reduce the surviving spouse’s tax liability. Bypass trusts are helpful when the estate tax revenue is less than the combined exemption rates of both spouses and can completely exclude estate tax. However, bypass trusts are capped at the current tax exemption rate.

The third spousal trust is the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT). For SLATs, only one spouse is a Grantor, or the person who creates and moves assets into the trust. In the creation of the trust, the Grantor spouse gives up all his or her rights to the funds in the trust so that the other spouse gains access to those funds instead, which is helpful for instances such as retirement accounts.

There are many more types of spousal trusts, so keep an open mind when reviewing your options, and always ask an estate planning attorney from your state for advice on your best course of action.

GEERDES

Fulton County Schools approves 2023 budget

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Fulton County School Board approved a $2.1 billion budget for the 2023-2024 school year at a June 6 meeting.

That’s about a 31 percent increase from the current year’s overall $1.6 billion budget.

The spending plan includes a 7.1 percent pay raise for all employees and goes into effect July 1.

The raise is split into a permanent 5.1 percent pay raise for all eligible employees which will cost the school district $42.5 million. The board also approved a one-time 2 percent pay bump to help increase employee retention. The payment, which will cost $14.8 million, only applies to staff who were employed in 20222023.

The budget is operating off a proposed millage rate of 17.24, but the countywide tax digest on property values won’t be available until later in the summer.

Fulton County Schools uses a modified approach to zero-based budgeting to cut unnecessary expenditures. With the zero-based

budgeting approach, the district has a 95.5 percent spending rate. The county predicts that at the end of 2024 the ending fund balance will be about $358,704,353.

“This was a process that could have been extremely daunting, and you made it everything but,” Fulton County District 2 School Board member Lillie Pozatek said. “This was deep, it was a very long process, but I would say in a good way, it was exhaustive in preparation.”

The School Board also reviewed the district’s grading policy. Since 2019, district staff have worked on changes to grading standards, with adjustments for COVID-19 and a focus on engagement and implementation.

The grading policy went into effect in fall 2022. It standardized grading requirements across schools for things like giving out zeros, homework grades and communication. Under the new grading policy parents and guardians receive grade updates every 4.5 weeks.

In spring 2023, district staff evaluated the policy with a survey across 14 focus groups at specific schools. In total, they heard back from over 1,000 teachers and about 200 parents.

Ryan Moore, the district’s director of Strategy and Governance, broke down the results into three “broad thematic findings.” The first was engagement with so-called “stakeholders,” primarily referring to teachers, principals, students and parents.

The survey found that school leaders felt positively about communication, while parents and caregivers said the communication was “non-existent.” On the engagement front, teachers asked for more input in the grading policy.

“We had quotes from parents that said, ‘I didn’t even know there was a grading policy change,’ which speaks to the idea that we still have to work as a district to get deeper into our communities,” Moore said.

The second component was the use of resources. Some parents have asked for more sheets that explain the new grading policy, while teachers have asked for more tests that fit into the grade standards.

“That really speaks to the idea of merging academic curriculum with policy,” Moore said.

District staff said the schools struggle more with implementing

the grading policy. About half of the surveyed principals said they felt grades accurately reflected student learning, but that number dropped for teachers and parents. Moore said some teachers just aren’t following the report.

Ultimately, Moore said the policy does make grading more consistent with learning, even if teachers and parents aren’t on board. The key goal is making sure all the “stakeholders” understand the grading policy and its goals.

“I think there’s definitely more to do in future years, but continuing to help people understand the why behind it,” Moore said.

Group recruits faith-based leaders into affordable housing discussion

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A North Fulton think tank hopes to bring faith-based workforce housing to Metro Atlanta as congregations nationwide have started building affordable homes.

The North Fulton Improvement Network describes itself as a “think tank” made up of community leaders from local nonprofits, faith groups and government organizations focused on “exploring financial vulnerability in our community.”

North Fulton Improvement Network Chairman Jack Murphy has focused his sights on affordable housing in North Fulton County. The homes are “workforce housing,” dedicated to middle-income workers.

“One of the reasons for that is people in middle incomes can’t afford to live here anymore,” Murphy said.

The improvement network said North Fulton County has become an increasingly less affordable area to live in over the years, particularly for minimumwage workers.

In Georgia the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Even with many employees making more than that, Murphy said the income does little to offset high housing costs in North Fulton County.

In Roswell, one of North Fulton County’s larger cities, the population has remained largely the same in recent years, increasing by about 0.1 percent to about 92,000 since 2020. The median gross rent is $1,447.

Murphy said “unbridled growth” is

great for the North Fulton communities that have expanded significantly over the decades, but they run the risk of “becoming exclusive.”

Instead, he advocates for more affordable housing where people who work at local businesses can live. The larger question for Murphy and the improvement network, though, is how to get there.

The think tank originally looked at governments for development but quickly decided to pivot to private organizations.

“We’re doing what we call quiet advocacy, with large business owners or employers talking about building over parking lots,” Murphy said.

The group is also looking at faith-based housing funded by local congregations. At a May 23 North Fulton Improvement Network meeting, national nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners, which is dedicated to increasing housing supply, held a presentation on faith-based workforce housing development for members of the think tank.

“We help by deploying capital and communities to support the creation of affordable housing,” Enterprise Senior Program Director Timothy Block said.

The organization also advocates for certain policies and supports community development organizations.

Block said houses of worship are a key target to build affordable housing, because many are struggling to bring in parishioners, leaving them with extra

See HOUSING, Page 13

DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA

Local think tank North Fulton Improvement Network hopes local congregations, like Alpharetta Presbyterian Church can take on the task of building affordable workforce housing.

Packed animal shelters offer free Friday dog adoptions

METRO ATLANTA, Ga. — LifeLine Animal Project, the organization that manages four shelters across Fulton and DeKalb County will offer free dog adoptions on Fridays throughout the summer starting June 2.

The free Friday adoptions will only apply to dogs who weigh 25 pounds or

more and include spay or neuter surgery, vaccines and microchip services worth about $300.

The organization has struggled with overstuffed shelters for months. In January, hundreds of people turned out to the shelters after LifeLine announced

it needed to adopt 150 dogs that faced euthanasia.

Now, for the first time in its 21-year history, all four shelters are operating at “critical capacity. In total, 1,366 animals are living at Fulton Animal Services, DeKalb County Animal Services, LifeLine

Midtown and Community animal Center.

The Fulton Animal Services shelter is under quarantine until June 7 due to an outbreak of the canine flu.

LifeLine Animal Project asks people who can’t adopt a dog to foster animals in need or donate to the organization.

Councilman loses bid to vacate Milton ethics panel ruling

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — After a monthslong court battle, the Fulton County Superior Court May 18 denied Milton City Councilman Paul Moore’s petition that sought to reverse an ethics panel decision from August.

The panel, composed of three attorneys, determined that Moore had violated three of the city’s ethics codes when he voted to defer an item related to White Columns, the neighborhood in which he resides. The council discussion pertained to reimbursing part of the costs for traffic calming devices installed by the White Columns Community Association.

Moore’s petition also sought reimbursement for attorney fees spent during the panel investigation from Tony Palazzo, the Community Association’s president. Palazzo had filed the ethics complaint.

The court found that Moore’s petition, filed in November, failed to meet time requirements because it had not been filed within a 30-day time frame following the ethics panel’s final order Aug. 30.

Moore’s attorney, Doug Chalmers, said he “respectfully disagrees” with the court’s decision and plans to file

Housing:

Continued from Page 12

property to use.

“Do they sell it, close it, shrink it? There’s a lot of opportunity to work with houses of worship,” Block said.

The nonprofit program director said across all of Fulton County, faith-based organizations own 3,214 parcels that equate to about 6,278 acres which can be used for community development.

While the houses of worship have land, they have little expertise in development. Block said Enterprise runs a development initiative to help faith leaders get more comfortable with the process.

an appeal. He had argued that the City Council’s final determination was a “quasi-judicial” process, meriting Moore’s petition as timely.

“We intend to do everything in our power to assure that Paul is ultimately vindicated as he should be,” Chalmers said.

The court has also given Palazzo 30 days to seek damages from Moore, which he plans to do. Palazzo said he

Comparing the approach to “not in my backyard” and “yes in my backyard” philosophies, Murphy said the area needed to take a “YIGBY” approach: Yes in God’s backyard.

“It’s our 10th year of doing this, we’ve got to get moving,” Murphy said.

The Rev. Oliver Wagner, senior pastor at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, said the issue comes down to a “continuum of care.”

His congregation is primarily involved with emergency needs, helping place people in temporary housing through organizations like Family Promise North Fulton. Wagner said for nonprofits the consensus is clear: there simply is not affordable housing.

“We help people through these difficult transitions, but then where do they go?”

has incurred around $30,000 in fees throughout the process.

He said the ruling was a “resounding victory” for all Milton residents.

“Ultimately, this isn’t about me,” Palazzo said. “It’s about transparency and accountability in local government.”

The city had acted as “bystanders” throughout the process, Palazzo said, washing its hands of the matter. He

Wagner said.

The pastor said many of the people they help with financial literacy, temporary housing and education are doing everything the congregation asks, but they still cannot find housing. His church can only provide temporary shelter, though.

Wagner said his church is too small to develop affordable workforce housing, and that even if they did, it would be a “smaller part of a much bigger effort” that requires support across every sector.

“That’s a bigger all-in question across the community,” Wagner said.

The solution, he said, should be a coalition between congregations, private businesses and local governments. That way, as congregations and nonprofits help people through emergency needs,

said the city and the city’s ethics panel should have been the parties responsible for opposing Moore’s petition.

While they had been named in the case, Palazzo was the defendant.

“It’s extremely important that the average citizen should not have to incur these costs, because it’s wrong and sets a dangerous precedent that, if left unanswered, will keep citizens from bringing forth potential wrongdoing of elected officials in the future,” he said.

Palazzo shared remaining concerns about the City Council, which had “ignored” the ethics panel recommendation that Moore receive a written censure or reprimand outlining the ethics violations he committed and that they be publicly announced at one of its regular meetings and included in the official minutes.

In October, Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison announced Moore had been already “sufficiently sanctioned.” Palazzo said Moore was then “rewarded” by the City Council’s vote to make him mayor pro tempore in January.

“I think there’s a ton more work to do,” he said. “But this should be a wakeup call for our public officials, elected public officials, including Mr. Moore, who sued me as being a concerned citizen.”

other groups can take on longer-term challenges.

“We do our part, but the part we need we can’t do alone,” Wagner said.

The pastor said he hopes the “political needle will move” as the conversation around affordable housing continues. Eventually, he aims for a wide partnership with citizens and civic support.

“One of my older church members realized that all these wonderful people who serve her dinner in her community can’t afford to live there,” Wagner said.

Wagner knows there are people who can buy an expensive meal and pay pricey rents, but he wants North Fulton County to be an option for everyone.

“Communities need diversity of housing,” Wagner said.

FILE PHOTO

In a lawsuit filed with the Fulton County Superior Court, Milton City Councilman Paul Moore seeks to reverse the findings of the Milton Ethics Board from last August, which cited him for three ethics violations. Moore also seeks reimbursement for attorney fees incurred during the panel’s investigation from Tony Palazzo, the Milton resident and White Columns Homeowners Association president who filed the ethics complaint.

Forsyth County Commission split over term limits

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Backed into a corner for their political survival, two Forsyth County commissioners squared off with colleagues at a June 1 meeting in a heated debate over term limits.

The Board of Commissioners discussed a proposal that would limit service to a maximum of three consecutive terms for a total of 12 years.

If the measure is enacted, commissioners Todd Levent, first elected in 2010, and Cindy Jones Mills, first elected in 2012, would be ineligible for another term.

Neighboring counties such as Fulton and Gwinnett do not impose term limits on county commissioners.

While the item came up only for discussion and not for a vote, Commissioner Laura Semanson and Chairman Alfred John said term limits would allow other community members a chance to serve and prevent commissioners from becoming too entrenched in their positions.

“The population has been generally

wary of elected officials who have stayed in office for decades, and even locally, you’ve seen some examples of that,” John said. “After a few years, the incumbent kind of becomes entrenched and pretty influential. They also get a tremendous amount of campaign contributions, which tends to be a barrier for entry for people.”

Levent and Mills argued on the contrary, commissioners who spend years in office are more intimately acquainted with their constituents.

Mills said her decade in office has allowed her to accomplish more.

“I know through my experience and doing two overlays and doing a trail plan and seeking grants for Eagles Beak Park and seeking grants for Bennett Park and different things, there is no way I had that level of knowledge in my first or my second term,” Mills said. “The Coal Mountain Town Center took me six years to do.”

Levent also said county commissioners’ closeness to the community prevents them from becoming career politicians because they typically only last two to three terms.

“We represent an area,” Levent said. “We vote county-wide, and when the

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners discusses imposing term limits at a meeting June 1. If approved, the measure would prohibit commissioners from running for more than three consecutive terms, or 12 years.

people are done with us, they’re done with us. That’s why we don’t last very long.”

Commissioners reached no consensus on the topic, and no action was taken, but some of the exchanges threw political decorum out the window.

At one point, Semanson said it’s easy to become “jaded” when one spends a long time in office, and John emphasized the state Legislature makes the final decisions on votes, not

the Board of Commissioners.

The comments drew quick reprisal from Mills.

“I think it’s very vain to think that our board or the state legislators know better than voters,” Mills said. “I think it is very, almost bordering narcissistic, that we can sit up here on our throne, and maybe like Commissioner Semanson says, we get to feeling so big that we think we know better than voters.”

But Semanson reiterated her belief that those in office remain aware that they not only serve the people, they are the people.

“One of the important things to remember in all of this, though, is that we’re policymakers,” Semanson said. “We’re laypeople just like all of our citizens are, but we’re here to represent them and produce good policy. Things move on whether it’s us or somebody else. This county will continue, and we have some great staff and some great management to keep it flowing.”

Also at the meeting, commissioners recognized retiring Department of Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Tommy Bruce for his years of service and for expanding park facilities in the county.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

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Stand-Alone Gloss

School Board may cut tax rate as revenues expected to climb

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County School Board might adopt a lower tax rate on property this year, but that doesn’t mean homeowners will be spared.

With a significant increase in the value of commercial and residential property, Chief Financial Officer Larry Hammel told members of the Board of Education May 31 the district is recommending a tax rate on property, or mill levy, of 17.718 mills.

The new rate, Hammel projects, will amount to an effective increase of 17.39 percent in tax revenues from last year. In the 2023 budget, the district decreased the debt service levy by 1 mill, which Hammel said will result in over $40 million saved in ad valorem taxes for county property owners when combined with the new rate.

Hammel said the district anticipates costs to increase just over 10 percent in the 2024 fiscal year, the result of state mandated pay increases for teachers, health care costs and further salary and step increases for employees. The district also projects student enrollment to increase to 54,535, a 13.4 percent increase from 2018.

With the proposed budget, the district would see $28.5 million in excess revenue for the 2024 fiscal year.

Schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden said the district receives quality basic education funding from the state, and in recent years, the state has been able to grant full funding without requiring austerity cuts, which can happen during a recession.

“Most school systems, when they went through the recessions in the late

2007, 2008, whenever that time period was before 2010, they either had to freeze salaries or had a reduction in staff because there's really nowhere else to go,” Bearden said. “We’re a people business. We’re 89 percent people … For a school system, you have to cut into your budget, you have to cut into people.”

However, Board Member Mike Valdes said the Board of Education has received feedback from concerned homeowners, and with the rising cost of living, he thinks the School Board should consider lowering the tax rate by 2 mills.

“If we're predicting and we're anticipating, we’re expecting our revenues to be in question because of a potential recession, is this really the time to do something that's not sustainable, right?” Valdes asked. “I think we fund our $645 million budget, and the excess revenue, we give it back to the taxpayer.”

Five county residents addressed board members with their financial concerns.

"I'm here on behalf of our children,” speaker Nancy Babbitt said. “I think we have great schools, and I think we do a great job, but what good is it if they can't afford to live here when they graduate?”

County Planning Commissioner Stacy Guy attended the meeting to speak as a citizen and a taxpayer, and he agreed the millage rate should be lowered 2 mills.

“These are real, kitchen table economics types of issues,” Guy said. “At the end of the day, the amount of taxes in real dollars that you're assessing on the community, the people that live here, is astronomically exploding.”

Hammel said the upcoming fourth version of the budget should be the final one. The next public hearing is scheduled for June 15.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Forsyth County Planning Commissioner Stacy Guy speaks as a citizen at a Board of Education called public hearing May 31. Guy said the value of tax assessments on county homeowners has exploded, and he thinks the School Board should lower the mill levy.

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Lessons/Studio

Sculptor advises viewers to linger through her work

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Bouncing from place to place across her basement studio, narrative sculptor Kirsten Stingle provided insight into reimagined worlds.

The studio is covered in armoires, storing more than just underglaze. Working in ceramics, but also fiber and found objects, Stingle is attracted to the stories she can tell. She hand-builds each piece, without using a cast, and layers them with detail, asking viewers to take their time.

The latest collection concerns mythology, the stories that reflect a more patriarchal culture. Stingle takes figures who have been “ossified” –rigid or fixed – and “weaponized,” like Medusa, and reincorporates them into the natural world.

After describing the mythical figure, who had been raped by Poisedon and punished by Athena, Stingle said, “You’re looking at weaponization of sex, weaponization of power, weaponization of her.”

A new piece, not yet titled, is a bust of a woman hanging on Stingle’s studio wall. The woman’s hair, in thick strands, swirls around like snakes, but the texture and color are reminiscent of a fungal network. It’s also embellished with gemstones, flowers and even some scabs of saguaro cactus nests.

“We have to sort of re-entangle ourselves into the environment,” Stingle said.

Stingle’s work is women-centric, as she tends to tell her own story. She paints dots on her sculptures’ lips, a signature, as a reminder to stay true to herself. They often feature pronounced,

teased, Regency-era hair — another story-telling platform, additional space for layering.

A banner in the far end of her studio: an illustration of Marie Antoinette and the words: “Let them eat cake.” Stingle likes to steal from different time periods and has an eye for fashion porn. She cited fashion photographer Tim Walker as an inspiration.

First time in Paris

In September, four of Stingles’ sculptures will be featured in the “HEY! CERAMIQUE.S” exhibition at the La Halle Saint-Pierre museum in Paris. While not her first international exhibition, it will be Stingle’s first in Paris.

“Being in a different country for a different clientele, collector base … is amazing,” Stingle said.

The exhibition is curated by Anne Richard, founder of art magazine HEY! Modern art & pop culture, and will feature 34 ceramic artists from 13 countries.

The exhibition will be a “rehabilitation” of the ceramic medium, Richard said, as part of her magazine’s attempts to “defy dominant conventions and codes.” Rather than a history of ceramics or an illustration of traditional techniques, she said it is a “testimony to the spectacular energy that permeates contemporary sculpture today.”

Richard chose the artists based on their devotion to exploring an “original relationship to clay as a means of expression and action.” She had an

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Four of Kirsten Stingle’s ceramic sculptures will be featured in the “HEY! CERAMIQUE.S” exhibition at the Museum of La Halle Saint Pierre in Paris from September 2023 to August 2024. The exhibition will have 34 ceramic artists from 13 countries.

Milton resident Kirsten Stingle is a narrative sculptor, who primarily works in ceramics but incorporates found objects in ornate mixed media displays.

Sculptor:

Continued from Page 18

eye on Stingle for some time, having featured her work several years ago in the pages of HEY!

“The quality of [Stingle’s] work, and [her] dexterity with mixed media, is exactly what I’m looking for in this exhibition,” Richard said. “[Her] work is ‘very American,’ so it’s going to be a great discovery for French and European audiences.”

The exhibition runs until August 2024.

Threading human experience

Stingle’s collections fall under varied overarching themes, concluded once they begin to feel stale. But a commonality among them exists, and it is the desire to thread human experiences in an often-isolating world. To promote a better understanding with one another, Stingle encourages selfunderstanding, revelation.

She intentionally creates figures that

are approachable, palatable. But she still gets comments from viewers who perceive some horror.

“It’s supposed to be a dialogue with you,” Stingle said, of those viewers who are alarmed looking at her work. “That also reflects some of the thoughts that you have, and what you might have dealt with in the past …”

Lately, Stingle has begun to advance her mixed media with fiber. She highlighted some pieces, animals with detailed stitchwork, that will be in “Animalia,” an exhibition at the Blue Spiral 1 gallery in Asheville, North Carolina.

One was a bust of a deer with a neck covered in buttons made of mother of pearl, which took her a year to stitch together as she worked between projects.

Everyday, Stingle walks downstairs with a cup of coffee, flips on her studio lights and gets to work. There’s no weekend off. Work and play become enmeshed, she said.

“My work is so much me,” Stingle said. “I’m always in the studio. It’s very much a grounding thing.”

Kirsten Stingle, narrative sculptor, is represented by Signature Contemporary in Atlanta. Visit kirstenstingle.com.

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA Kirsten Stingle describes a new sculpture, not yet titled. In September, Stingle’s work will be featured in a Paris exhibition.

Kirsten Stingle points out detail, teeth made of teacups, in a sculpture to be exhibited in “Animalia” at the Blue Spiral 1 gallery in Asheville, North Carolina. An animal covered in detailed stitchwork as an example, Stingle has begun making fiber a more integral part of her work.

ALIVE IN ROSWELL

What: Alive in Roswell is a free familyfriendly monthly festival held every third Thursday evening from April through October, featuring music, food trucks, hundreds of interactive vendors. It also sees participation from the many surrounding boutiques, small businesses and restaurants. Free regular trolley service connects the free parking at Roswell City Hall and Woodstock Park to the event. Dogs are allowed at Alive in Roswell, but please bring them on a leash and clean up any deposits from your baby. Animals are not allowed on the free trolley.

When: Thursday, June 15, 5-9 p.m.

Where: Canton Street & Roswell

Antique and Interiors lot, Roswell

More info: aliveinroswell.com

SUNDOWN SOCIAL

What: Happening on select Thursdays, Sundown Social is a relaxed neighborhood gathering with live music and signature cocktails. This event will feature Bitsyland, a band that features a variety of string instruments. There will also be food trucks.

When: Thursday, June 15, 5:30 p.m.

Where: City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

OPOSSUM BREAKFAST

What: Rise and shine with Chattahoochee Nature Center and one of its most popular resident animals. Enjoy a light breakfast alongside an opossum, and chat with wildlife staff about how they care for these unique animals. Admission to CNC is included, so be sure to stick around and enjoy the nature center grounds afterwards.

When: Friday, June 16, 8 a.m.-9a.m.

Where: Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell

Cost: $20 for general public, $10 for CNC members

More info: chattnaturecenter.org

CITY GREEN LIVE: ANDERSON EAST

What: Anderson East is a Nashvillebased singer-songwriter whose

TRAILS & ALES - BIKE RIDE

What: The adventure will begin at Preston Ridge Community Center for social activities and educational bike instructions on safety. Grab your bike and enjoy the 20-mile trail as a group experience or on your own. End your bike ride at Jekyll Brewery off Marconi and stay after for a post-trail social.

When: Saturday, June 17, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Where: Preston Ridge Community Center, 3655 Preston Ridge Road, Alpharetta

More info: alpharetta.ga.us

vintage voice is also decidedly fresh. East’s influences meld seamlessly: R&B grooves, gospelblues and blasting brass. Known for his magnetic live shows, East has performed sold-out shows worldwide. The opening band is Slow Parade.

When: Friday, June 16, 7:30 p.m.

Where: City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: Lawn seating is free; reserved tables are $60-90

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

MILTON FARMERS MARKET

What: Every Saturday morning until Oct. 28, more than 30 vendors set up shop around Milton City Hall with fresh produce, fresh meat, sweets, coffee and tea, flowers, soaps, jewelry and more.

When: Saturday, June 17, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Where: Milton City Hall plaza, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton

More info: facebook.com/ miltongafarmersmarket

TRAILS & ALES - BIKE RIDE

What: The adventure will begin at

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT!

It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people, whether online, through our newsletters or in the Crier and Herald newspapers.

Preston Ridge Community Center for social activities and educational bike instructions on safety. Grab your bike and enjoy the 20-mile trail as a group experience or on your own. End your bike ride at Jekyll Brewery off Marconi and stay after for a posttrail social.

When: Saturday, June 17, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Where: Preston Ridge Community Center, 3655 Preston Ridge Road, Alpharetta

More info: alpharetta.ga.us

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

What: This event is a celebration of the day that slavery truly came to end within the U.S., and the City of Johns Creek wants to join with the community to celebrate this great achievement. There will be music, food trucks and family fun.

When: Saturday, June 17, 3-9 p.m.

Where: Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov

ACT1 THEATER PRESENTS ‘BIG FISH’

What: Based on the celebrated novel

by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, the Broadway musical “Big Fish” tells the story of Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest and then some. Edward’s incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him — most of all, his devoted wife Sandra. But their son Will, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father’s epic tales.

When: Up to June 18, times vary

Where: Act1 Theater, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta

More info: act1theater.org

MEAD TASTING

What: A new event at Dunwoody Nature Center, this mead taste experience will include trying three different types of mead from Georgia’s first meadery, Monks Meadery. One drink ticket will also be included in the cost of entry. The mead tasting is for adults 21 and over. Anyone under the age of 21 is free.

When: Friday, June 23, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody

Cost: $25 for members, $40 for nonmembers

More info: dunwoodynature.org

BLOOM YOUR SELF: INTUITIVE PAINTING WORKSHOP

What: Join award-winning European artist Diana Toma in exploring the art of intuitive painting. This workshop is about letting go of inhibitions and plunging into your own inner creative volcano while collaborating with other artists. All levels are welcome. Paint supplies are included in the $20 materials fee payable to the instructor at the workshop. Just bring two acrylic brushes and a canvas 36 inches x 48 inches or larger.

When: Saturday, June 24, 10 a.m.12:30 p.m.

Where: Spruill Center for the Arts, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $155

More info: spruillarts.org

easy

One shot at eating from the public trough

A few years ago, in a momentary lapse of any semblance of good sense, I entered a political fray and ran for a seat on the local school board.

I tossed my Stetson into the ring. It got stomped and tattered.

I finished a distant third in a threehorse race. I lost to a woman who was a seven-time incumbent and a gentleman who I swear, really liked the points I made during a recorded debate. I know this because every time the moderator asked this fellow a question, his response was, I swear: “I agree with what Mike just said.”

The winner lapped both of us, getting nearly 2,300 votes. I got 511 and Mr. Agreeable got around 900.

How do I remember that vote tally? It’s a legitimate question due to that meager vote total being permanently etched into my brain.

Friends had a great time calling me “Senator” or “Your Honor.” The worst insult came when these so-called friends took to calling me “Mr. 511.”

As you can tell, I didn’t have friends who were very politically savvy. I made a point of calling them out on the incorrect moniker they had hung on me.

“You should actually be calling me Mr. 510,” I chastised them. “We need to keep this accurate. The correct number was 510 since I voted for myself.”

More guffaws as I hung up my political aspirations forever, comfortable with my brief foray into politics.

I learned that it’s tough to beat an incumbent. Why? Because they know how to win an election. When the moderator told the candidates we could ask questions of one another, I almost had to get a new shirt. I was salivating buckets.

I asked the wily, elderly candidate how she was going to be as effective in her seventh stint as she was earlier in her tenure as a public servant? An innocent inquiry, one that might give me a chance.

And just that quickly, I had no chance.

With tears in her eyes, about all I remember her saying was: “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry…” Then she cried while explaining all she had done and was going to do, even though she had been a bit distracted with life events

that got in the way.

I sat there with her supporters, my supporters, the janitor wanting to go home, family friends and everyone else shooting eye-lasers at me.

I was the beast who made this sweet elderly lady cry buckets. Forget about winning the election. At that moment it would have been a victory to get to my car without being lynched.

The whole experience was a bucket list item that would be forever put away. I remember waking up the day after the election feeling quite good.

“Holy schnikies! You mean there were actually 510 politically astute Forsyth County residents who pulled a lever for a guy who ran on a platform of getting school started after Labor Day instead of early August.

For the life of me, I don’t understand how anyone would want to get elected then stay there for what seems like forever.

Can you imagine Junior asking Dad: “Nathan’s daddy is a policeman, Katie’s mom is a nurse. What do you do for a living?”

If Dad answers he’s a politician, look out. Let him explain what he actually does. I can help out.

If he’s an incumbent his answer

should be: “I take other people’s money and make it disappear.”

Junior would have a lightbulb go off. “So you’re a magician?”

If Dad was honest, he’d answer: “No son. I win elections.”

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.

AAPPEN PRESSCLU B

MIKE TASOS

Columnist

Understanding the ground beneath your feet

The uppermost crust of the earth is one of the principal supporters of life on our planet. Soil provides a medium for plant life, water filtration, organic waste recycling, and has its own ecosystem. Its components are organic matter (5 percent), air (20-30 percent), water (2030 percent) and minerals (45 percent). Mineral particles bigger than 2 mm are not considered soil. The texture of soil varies, depending on the proportions of clay, silt and sand. Topography and climate also influence soil structure.

Clay holds the most water of all soil types due to its large pore spaces. A view of highly magnified clay particles shows immense surface area and looks like pages in a book. Sand and silt aren’t as absorbent and are larger in size. Silt is finely grained, weathered rock — mostly quartz – that is between the size of clay and sand. Sand is coarser than silt and is mostly composed of silica (silicon dioxide). Other minerals will contribute to different colors of sand, depending on geography and geology. Sand particles are large, so it drains more quickly than silt or clay. The proportions of clay, silt and sand affect the water-holding capacity of a soil. Loam is described as soil that is mostly composed of sand, with silt and clay in descending proportions. Loam retains nutrients and water yet allows excess water to drain away.

Soil is made up of both abiotic (nonliving) and biotic (living) components. The abiotic components are minerals, water, air, and pH. The biotic components include viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, earthworms, and plant material. Plant roots bind soil particles and affect porosity and oxygen content. Dead or decaying roots create channels for water and can provide a source of nutrients from their decomposition. Root exudates and soil microorganisms interact to recycle nutrients and suppress diseases.

Here in northern Georgia, most of the soil has a lot of clay. The reddish color is due the presence of iron oxide, and the soil tends to be acidic and low in calcium. Our clay soil tends to clump and become compacted. It is, however, a great medium for nutrients and water retention. It is best not to work with it when it is saturated with water, or it will become clumpy. If it is “naked” and not covered, it can lead to water run-off problems and bake in the sun. Mulch covers help prevent this from occurring. Planting red clover or winter rye will

increase organic matter and allow for air spaces in the clay soil. Do not add sand to clay soil — there is sand in it already, and this will harden it even more.

Several products can be used to improve your soil. Working organic matter into a clay soil is the best way to improve its texture, nutrient levels, and microbiome. Compost can also be purchased at gardening centers or made at home using kitchen and garden scraps. Peat moss has become depleted, and it no longer recommended. Vermiculite is a mica-like material used as an amendment to help water and nutrient retention. It is sterile, has a neutral pH and doesn’t deteriorate for a very long time. It can lighten heavy soils and help keep grass seeds from drying out. Perlite is a natural volcanic glass that expands when heated, and has many uses in filtration, insulation, ceramics, and other industries.

As air is a vital component of soil, aeration may be needed to improve the exchange of oxygen and cardon dioxide in the root zone. Poor aeration slows down the rate of decay and contributes to the pollutant methane gas. Watery bogs that are not aerated (such as some peat bogs) can prevent decomposition. Ancient bodies from the Bronze Age have been discovered in peat bogs in northern Europe, a testament to the lack of aeration and presence of organic components. Aeration for lawns is best done in the growing season, so that roots can regrow in the new spaces. It is not necessary to aerate every year.

The recommended treatment for all soil first begins with a soil test. Your test results, which may suggest adjusting the pH, fertilizing, and other actions, will be emailed to you once the test is completed. These actions will help provide optimal soil conditions for happy and healthy plants. Native plants are a big contributor to healthy soil ecosystems, and future articles in “Garden Buzz” will discuss native plants in detail.

As President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” We are stewards of the land, and it begins in our own backyard.

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.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Texture Triangle

About the author

This week’s guest Master Gardener “Garden Buzz” columnist is Linda McGinn. Linda has lived in Johns Creek, Georgia since 1990. She is an artist and recently graduated from GSU with a degree in science and art. Prior to that, she had a 40-year career as a registered nurse. She and her husband are continually upgrading their garden and loving the opportunities to improve it each year. Linda also teaches “Art and Gardening” at the Johns Creek Arts Center. She has been gardening for 30+ years and recently became certified as a Master Gardener in 2021.

Learn more

• Soil Texture in Georgia Soil - https://ugaurbanag.com/soil-texture/

• Soil Testing in Georgia - http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/soiltest123/Georgia.htm

• Soil Preparation and Planting Procedures for Ornamental Plants in the Landscapehttps://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail. html?number=B932&title=soil-preparation-and-plantingprocedures-for-ornamental-plants-in-the-landscape

• What is Garden Soil - https://www.smallspacegardeningbasics.com/what-isgarden-soil/

LINDA MCGINN Guest Columnist

Hembree Farm is a historic work in progress

Old homes, really old homes like nearly 190 years old, hold a special attraction for a modest group of homeowners. For them an old, possibly dilapidated house restored and reborn through hard work backed up with research, provides unique joys. A home that is historic because of its era and architecture puts such people in contact with the ages and can offer a unique lifestyle.

Such is the situation of Jared and Brandy Kirschner, owners of the historic Hembree Farm in Roswell. In the early 1830s, Amariah Hembree (1781-1855) purchased 640 acres formerly occupied by Cherokee Indians. He and his son Elihu Minton Hembree (1812-1873) and his carpenter brother, James Hembree Jr. (1790-1867), built the house somewhere between 1833 and 1835. It was continuously occupied by eight generations of Hembrees. The land was subdivided over time until 2007 when the final acre and the farmhouse and associated out buildings were donated by Hembree family heir Carmen Ford to the Roswell Historical Society, which made the property available for sale through a partnership with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. A rehabilitation agreement and a conservation easement keep the Georgia Trust involved with the property in perpetuity.

The Kirschners are not strangers to home improvement, having renovated several homes previously. In addition, Brandy is an independent TV producer who identifies and qualifies historic homes throughout the country for TV shows such as HGTV’s “Home Town Takeover” and “We Bought a Dump,” and Magnolia Network’s “In With the Old.” However, this is their first historic home restoration and preservation. They purchased the property in 2022. Their goal is to bring back as much of the original state of the home as they can. The rebirth of a historic home presents many unique challenges not associated with modern construction. “Everything is crooked at the beginning.” says Jared.

The Kirschners do much of the hard work themselves on weekends and after work with the active involvement of Brandy’s mother Yvonne Howell, who has loved history since she was a child. Yvonne is a docent at the recently opened Roswell Historical Society’s

History Museum. When I visited the property recently, Yvonne was busy scraping layers of paint off an old door.

A project of this magnitude requires a team of dedicated and knowledgeable people to assure compliance with current building codes while being true to the home’s historic roots. The City of Roswell, The Roswell Historical Society and The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation have provided major support says Jared, senior vice president at Engine Shop, an experiential marketing firm. Landmark Preservation LLC of Savannah has provided consulting services at this early stage but can also help with preservation carpentry, window repair and other precise needs. Professional contractors are involved when necessary.

Ben Sutton, Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Director of Preservation, says “We are thrilled with the care and effort that the Kirschners are putting into the property to preserve it for future generations.”

Sutton refers to the house as a “vernacular home,” built without the benefit of an architect, an approach common in Georgia’s early rural history. He notes that there were six bidders for the property.

Judy Meer, president of the Roswell Historical Society, believes that the current arrangement is the “perfect

ending to preserving the farm. It turned out just the way it should have,” she says.

A great deal is known about the modifications to the original house thanks to a study by preservation consultant Laura Drummond commissioned by the Roswell Historical Society in 2009. The house has been added to by successive Hembree family occupants from its original configuration “as an approximately 32’ 4” long by 16 1/2’ wide hallparlor farmhouse with two rooms and a 10’ deep front porch.” Its current dimensions are 41’ long by 48’ 5” wide with five rooms. In November 2007, the house was moved 500 feet from its location on Hembree Road to its current site to make room for construction of several new homes. The brick chimneys were removed for the move, and they will be replaced using salvaged original bricks.

As part of the rehabilitation, the Kirschners will install new plumbing, a kitchen and a modern bathroom. They will also leave exposed a unique feature of the house, one of two adjustable metal braces found in the attic that make it possible to make adjustments to the structure if necessary. They have already removed several layers of gypsum and other wall coverings to expose the original tongue and groove wood walls.

Of historical note is that The Lebanon Baptist Church in Roswell was organized on the farm. Amariah Hembree, his family, and 13 other Christians met in the Hembree home on July 16, 1836, and organized the church. It was the first church in the area to welcome Black members. Another historical note, Elihu Hembree’s grave is located on the property. According to Find a Grave 20 Hembree family members are buried in the Lebanon Church cemetery.

The property includes a separate outdoor open hearth kitchen and two corn cribs. The three structures will require considerable restoration which will be done once the house is finished. Yvonne Howell has given historical cooking demonstrations at the Tullie Smith House at the Atlanta History Center and looks forward to using the outdoor kitchen to stimulate interest in history, especially among young people.

Those interested in monitoring the restoration process can follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram. com/woah_livin_on_a_prairie/.

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.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSWELL HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Hembree Farm in Roswell is approximately 190 years old and is one of the oldest homes in North Georgia. It is undergoing a major restoration by new owners Brandy and Jared Kirschner. Here is the farmhouse before restoration began and before the house was moved 500 feet to make room for some new homes.

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

The family behind Eureka Laboratory of Dunwoody

In the early 20th century, one of the businesses in downtown Dunwoody was Eureka Laboratory. It was along Nandina Lane, then known as Spruill Street, and next door to Dunwoody Methodist Church. When a new Methodist church was constructed in 1970, a small tin salve box was discovered in the ground. The box read “Eureka Ointment, Eureka Laboratory, Dunwoody Georgia. Price 25 cents. Recommended for chapped hands, face and lips, chafes, burns, catarrh etc.” (The Story of Dunwoody 1821-2001, by Elizabeth L. Davis, Ethel W. Spruill)

Lawrence Albert Ball, born 1885, and his sister Clara Elizabeth Ball, born 1890, started the business. They were children of Reuben Greenleaf Ball and Martha Salina Brightwell Ball. Martha Salina Brightwell was part of a neighboring family that moved to Dunwoody.

The Ball family already had a long history in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody. Albert and Clara’s grandparents were Peter and Margaret Ball, who came to Georgia from South Carolina. Peter Ball owned a mill along a creek today known as Ball Mill Creek, located along Ball Mill Road.

Peter and Margaret Ball had four sons and five daughters. Reuben Greenleaf Ball was one of those children.

Albert Ball received his training at the Atlanta College of Pharmacy (established 1891) and became a registered pharmacist. Then he began

developing his formulas for healing salves and lotions.

Clara Ball was known as an accomplished student and cook. She often prepared food for families facing illness or difficult times. She made face powders, perfumes and cosmetics to sell at Eureka

Laboratory.

In addition to working as a pharmacist, Albert Ball was an early mail carrier for Dunwoody, traveling the long route by horse-drawn buggy. The route went from Dunwoody to the area along Roswell Road just south of the river, over to Morgan Falls and back to Dunwoody along Mount Vernon Road.

In 1918, Albert Ball was called to duty for World War I. His registration card is signed by another familiar Dunwoody name: Mr. Tilly. There are no records to indicate he was called to report for military duty.

1920 census records show Albert Ball lived in the same house with his mother Martha and his sister and business partner Clara. Reuben Ball died two years earlier. The space for occupation shows Albert is a student at a medical college.

When the census for 1950 was taken, Albert was 65 and Clara was 59. Albert’s occupation recorded on the document is working around the house and garden. In other words, he retired by 1950.

Clara and Albert Ball are both buried in the Peter Ball family cemetery in Sandy Springs.

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

“THE STORY OF DUNWOODY” BY ELIZABETH L. DAVIS AND ETHEL W. SPRUILL

A Eureka Laboratory tin was discovered by workers digging on the site of the 1970 Dunwoody United Methodist Church.

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