and funded by Fulton County, takes nutrition
Johns Creek names Greer city manager
By ALEX ANTEAU newsroom@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — City councilmembers’ concerns over the hiring process for the next Johns Creek City Manager reached a tipping point when Mayor John Bradberry’s nomination drew pushback at a June 16 meeting.
In the end, though, the council voted unanimously to approve Kimberly Greer as city manager. Greer has headed the post on an interim basis for the past six months, following the retirement of Ed Densmore.
The mayor praised Greer’s performance, noting that while the city hired a professional search firm to conduct
See CITY, Page 21
food
Fulton County, UGA drive clean eating
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Over a month of weekly sessions, interest has grown in the University of Georgia-led food education program at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center.
Starting with maybe a couple dozen attendees, the turnout June 20 saw around 125 people. They learned
or low-income communities more than a mile from a grocery store. See FOOD, Page 13
More online
For more information about the Fulton Fresh Mobile Market, visit extension.uga.edu.
a new salad recipe and took home a bag of fresh, in-season produce to make it, stored in the county-funded Fulton Fresh Mobile Market outside the door.
The facility is considered within
the bounds of a “food desert,” the target area of the market on wheels. The term is defined as a low-income community at least a mile from a grocery store.
Cecilia Tran, an agent with the Family and Consumer Sciences branch of UGA Extension, emphasized affordability playing a part.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The City of Johns Creek invites the community to celebrate the country’s independence at Newtown Park on Old Alabama Road July 3. The free event, scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m., will include live music from Boogilicious, activities, fare across more than a dozen food trucks and a fireworks display after 9 p.m.
and sangria will be for sale.
or blankets.
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Attendees of the Fulton Fresh Mobile Market session at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center receive a bag of fresh produce June 20. The summer program, led by University of Georgia Extension
education to
deserts,
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Milton taps GBI to review officer-involved shooting
MILTON, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is reviewing an officerinvolved shooting around noon June 14 at the request of the Milton Police Department.
One woman, identified as 31-yearold Atlanta resident Shantidra Harris, died at the hospital after the incident.
An officer fired his weapon at Harris after she carjacked a white Toyota Corolla and accelerated with the officer directly in front of the bumper, a statement from the GBI says.
The incident began with Milton Police receiving a call about three
POLICE BLOTTER
All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
Hotel security employee discovers 8 car break-ins
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police are looking for suspects involved in eight car break-ins June 11 at the Hampton Inn & Suites on Ashford Dunwoody Road.
A security guard said he discovered a GMC Denali with shattered windows while conducting a perimeter check. He soon found more damaged cars.
Officers said the security guard found rear window damage to eight vehicles throughout the property.
The hotel does not have security cameras on the exterior of the building.
One victim, a 54-year-old California man, told officers he discovered someone else’s blood on his dashboard. A crime analyst retrieved a sample of the blood for evidence.
The victim said thieves took a $200 cooler and a $300 soccer bag. He also said he would send officers footage from his dashboard camera.
individuals involved in a shoplifting incident at Kohl’s on Ga. 9.
When officers attempted to stop the suspects’ vehicle, a red Dodge Journey, the car continued into the Walmart parking lot off Winward Parkway.
Officers said the suspects’ vehicle stuck multiple cars before two people eventually fled the vehicle.
Officers took the female driver into custody but were unable to catch the male suspect, who remains at large.
The second female suspect, Harris, attempted to flee the Walmart parking
Another victim reported nothing missing from their vehicle.
Officers did not identify a suspect. They estimate around $2,000 in damages and stolen belongings.
Officers seeking driver in hit-and-run incident
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police are looking for the driver of a black Audi Q7 after the vehicle struck another car June 11 on I-285 at Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.
A 36-year-old Norcross woman said she was driving her white Mazda CX-30 when the Audi attempted to enter her lane.
She said the vehicle hit her Mazda on the driver’s side wheel well and did not pull over. She said she honked to get the driver’s attention.
Officers said the victim recorded video, capturing the Audi’s license plate and a brief visual of the driver. Through a license plate check, officers identified a 40-year-old Athens woman as the Audi’s owner. Officers said the owner had a suspended license for failure to appear.
When contacted by police, the owner said her car should be at her Athens residence because she was in Indianapo-
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lot in a stolen Toyota.
The officer fired his weapon while Harris struck him with the vehicle.
Harris was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The officer, who sustained injuries, has been treated and released.
Milton Communications Director Greg Botelho said the GBI is handling all aspects of the independent investigation.
A statement from the GBI says once the investigation is complete, it will be given to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for review.
lis working as a travel nurse. She said one of her children may have used the vehicle.
Officers said they would remain in contact with the owner.
Woman reports theft of jewelry, $300 in cash
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating a non-forced burglary at an apartment on Hemingway Lane June 6 after a woman reported stolen jewelry and cash.
Officers said the victim, a 38-year-old female, said she last saw the items June 3 and didn’t notice them missing until that day. She said she suspects someone took her key, which she accidentally left in the lock when she returned from vacation May 30.
The officer said there were no signs of forced entry or damage to the residence.
The victim’s stolen jewelry includes six rings, five chains, six bracelets and eight watches, valued around $15,000. The stolen cash totals $300.
The victim said most items are 18 karat gold.
Officers said there are no security cameras near the woman’s apartment.
Officers did not identify a suspect.
Georgia Press Association recognizes Appen Media
JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — The Georgia Press Association honored winners of the 2024 Freedom of Information Award and Better Newspaper Contest June 7 for outstanding achievements in journalism.
The association also recognized winners of the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest during its 137th annual convention at Jekyll Island Club.
Competing in Division F, Appen Media received first place in the General Excellence category, coming out ahead of Big Canoe’s Smoke Signals and the Augusta Press. Appen Media unseated Smoke Signals, which had won the award each of the last nine years.
In total, Appen Media brought home 10 awards for advertising and 17 honors in the Better Newspaper Contest.
Entries are judged in six divisions based on circulation:
• Division A: daily circulation of more than 8,000
• Division B: daily circulation of less than 8,000
• Division C: weekly circulation of 3,800 to 15,000
• Division D: weekly circulation of 2,000 to 3,799
• Division E: weekly circulation of less than 2,000
• Division F: weekly circulation of more than 15,000 and all associate media members of GPA .
See PRESS, Page 8
JULY 2024
July 3
Free Outdoor Fitness - Barre
Newtown Park - 10 a.m.
Free Outdoor Fitness Zumba
Newtown Park - 6 p.m.
Independence Day Celebration
Newtown Park - 6 p.m.
July 4
Independence Day City Offices Closed
Free Outdoor Fitness Fitness 108
Newtown Park - 10:30 a.m.
July 6
Free Outdoor Fitness
Strength Training Cauley Creek - 8 a.m.
Free Outdoor Fitness Cardio Strength
Newtown Park - 8:30 a.m.
Free Outdoor Fitness Jazzercise Cauley Creek - 9:15 a.m.
July 7
Free Outdoor Fitness - Yoga
Newtown Park - 10 a.m.
July 8
Public Hearing for Property Tax (Millage Rate)
City Hall - 11 a.m.
City Council Work Session
City Hall - 5 p.m.
Public Hearing for Property Tax (Millage Rate)
City Hall - 6 p.m.
City Council Meeting
City Hall - 7 p.m.
July 9
Planning Commission Meeting
City Hall - 7 p.m.
July 10
Free Outdoor Fitness - Barre
Newtown Park - 10 a.m.
Free Outdoor Fitness
Zumba
Newtown Park - 6 p.m.
City Calendar & Events!
July 11
Free Outdoor Fitness Fitness 108
Newtown Park - 10:30 a.m.
Arts, Cultural, & Entertainment Committee
City Hall - 6:30 p.m.
July 12
Movies at the Park “Migration” PG
Newtown Park - 7 p.m.
July 13
Free Outdoor Fitness
Strength Training Cauley Creek - 8 a.m.
Free Outdoor Fitness Cardio Strength
Newtown Park - 8:30 a.m.
Free Outdoor Fitness Jazzercise
Cauley Creek - 9:15 a.m.
July 14
Free Outdoor Fitness - Yoga
Newtown Park - 10 a.m.
July 16
Board of Zoning Appeals City Hall - 7 p.m.
July 17
Free Outdoor Fitness - Barre
Newtown Park - 10 a.m.
Free Outdoor Fitness Zumba
Newtown Park - 6 p.m.
Recreation and Parks Advisory Meeting City Hall - 6:30 p.m.
July 18
Free Outdoor Fitness Fitness 108
Newtown Park - 10:30 a.m.
July 20
Free Outdoor Fitness Strength Training Cauley Creek - 8 a.m.
Free Outdoor Fitness Cardio Strength
Newtown Park - 8:30 a.m.
Free Outdoor Fitness Jazzercise Cauley Creek - 9:15 a.m.
July 21
Free Outdoor Fitness - Yoga
Newtown Park - 10 a.m.
July 24
Free Outdoor Fitness - Barre
Newtown Park - 10 a.m.
Free Outdoor Fitness Zumba
Newtown Park - 6 p.m.
July 25
Free Outdoor Fitness Fitness 108
Newtown Park - 10:30 a.m.
July 26
Adaptive BINGO Night
Newtown Park - 7 p.m.
July 27
Free Outdoor Fitness Strength Training Cauley Creek - 8 a.m.
Free Outdoor Fitness Cardio Strength
Newtown Park - 8:30 a.m.
Free Outdoor Fitness Jazzercise Cauley Creek - 9:15 a.m.
July 28
Free Outdoor Fitness - Yoga
Newtown Park - 10 a.m.
July 29
City Council Work Session City Hall - 5 p.m.
Public Hearing for Property Tax (Millage Rate) City Hall - 6 p.m.
City Council Meeting City Hall - 7 p.m.
Public Hearing for FY2025 Budget City Hall - 7 p.m.
July 31
Free Outdoor Fitness - Barre
Newtown Park - 10 a.m.
Free Outdoor Fitness Zumba
Newtown Park - 6 p.m.
Author engagements promise sizzling talks through early summer
By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com
Whether your preferred reading spot is on a beach or the closest couch, these nearby book events in July will make passing the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer a breeze.
Tuesday, July 2, Lo Patrick, celebrates her new release, “The Night the River Wept.” 7 p.m. Free. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road. 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com
Tuesday, July 9, Bookfair for Grownups., Read It Again Bookstore will partner with Stillfire Brewing for a book fair. 4 p.m. Free. 343 US-23, Suwanee. 770-927-8989. Stillfirebrewing.com
Saturday, July 13, Cicely Lewis., The award-winning local media specialist and author will promote her six-book “Hair Magic” series. 10 a.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-itagain.com
Saturday, July 13, Jenn Lyons, with the first book in her newest romantasy series, “The Sky on Fire.” Noon. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-itagain.com
Saturday, July 20, Allie Millington, discusses her bestselling novel,
PROVIDED
Lo Patrick will discuss her new release, “The Night the River Wept,” in Johns Creek July 2
“Olivetti.” Noon. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com
Saturday, July 20, Jenny Studenroth, signing and speaking about “Let Me Let You.” 3 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-7975566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Tuesday, July 23, Sarah Metts, author of “Between Brothers.” 5 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Thursday, July 25, Crabapple Summer Stroll, featuring Nandita Godbole with spices, cookbooks and handmade pottery. 5 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@ gmail.com by the 15th.
North Fulton charity to hold backpack drive
ROSWELL, Ga. — North Fulton Community Charities is asking for donations to help families in need prepare for the fall with its annual Back-to-School Backpack Drive.
Last year, donations from the community provided 1,083 new backpacks filled with school supplies for 412 families in need.
This year’s drive will be held at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church on Academy Street.
The nonprofit announced that sturdy backpacks and supplies can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., July 22-24.
Donors are also invited to make financial contributions to the program.
School supply lists and sign-up forms are available at nfcchelp.org/ holiday-programs/.
Founded in 1983, North Fulton Community Charities is a nonprofit dedicated to helping ease hardship and foster financial stability for residents of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park and Roswell.
The nonprofit focuses on case management, emergency financial assistance, food and clothing support, seasonal initiatives and education at its two locations in Roswell.
Sherri Morgan, director of
development at North Fulton Community Charities, said seasonal programs ease the hardship of costly purchases for families whose budgets are stretched.
“Often, these extra purchases can put a strain on families who are barely getting by,” Morgan said. “When our supporters purchase quality backpacks and supplies, they help local children return to school excited for the new school year, and fully equipped for academic success.”
Alpharetta Presbyterian Church Senior Pastor the Rev. Ollie Wagner said equipping children for success in education is what the backpack drive is all about.
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“APC is honored to host this year’s event, and we are grateful for every donation of time, money or school supplies that will make it happen,” Wagner said. “What a joy and privilege it is to partner together across the community to serve and support our youngest members as they prepare for the start of a new school year.”
Hallboys Holdings is the presenting sponsor for the Back-to-School initiative, with Datascan, C.L. Burks Construction, Kloeckner Metals, Choate Construction and Toyota Financial Services as supporting sponsors.
NORTH FULTON COMMUNITY CHARITIES/PROVIDED North Fulton elementary students stand with their supplies at last year’s Back-toSchool Backpack Drive. North Fulton Community Charities announced its annual program will accept donations July 22-24 at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.
Appen Media takes open forum to Alpharetta
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Appen Media Group’s penultimate Listening Tour stop June 20 at July Moon Bakery and Café drew about a dozen attendees equipped with story ideas and questions for newsroom staff.
The series, with monthly stops in each of the company’s seven coverage areas, allows the public to provide tips and suggestions on how to strengthen reporting. So far, staff have made rounds in Dunwoody, Roswell, Johns Creek, Forsyth County and Milton to gain valuable insight from residents.
Publisher Hans Appen kicked off the event with news from the Georgia Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest where staff took home 17 awards, including first place in General Excellence, and 10 more in advertising.
The floor was turned over to visitors who advised staff to explore the impact of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s project along Ga. 9 amid a fraud investigation. Appen Media reported
Bob Meyers, columnist with Appen Media Group, explains his process for writing pieces about history in North Fulton at the Listening Tour stop at July Moon Bakery and Café June 20.
the probe involves a now-former Georgia Department of Transportation official associated with the Ga. 9 widening project. The last stop on the Listening Tour is in Sandy Springs at Pontoon Brewing Company on July 18 at 4 p.m. The event is free to attend and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at www. appenmedia.com/join.
JADE GARCIA/APPEN MEDIA
HANS APPEN/APPEN MEDIA
Amber Perry, staff reporter with Appen Media Group, answers a question from a visitor at the newsroom’s Listening Tour stop at July Moon Bakery and Café June 20.
Georgia employment surpasses old records
By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA — Georgia’s unemployment rate rose slightly last month but remained well above the national rate, the state Department of Labor reported June 20.
The Peach State’s jobless rate of 3.2% for May was eight-tenths lower than the national rate of 4.0%.
Several other employment indicators were up last month. The number of jobs in Georgia rose by 0.2% to an all-time high of almost 5 million, the state’s labor force was up to nearly 5.4 million – also a record – and the number of employed Georgians increased to more than 5.2 million, yet another all-time high.
“Despite national economic challenges and inflation, Georgia’s businesses are stepping up and creating more
opportunities for hardworking Georgians to secure high-quality jobs,” state Commissioner of Labor Bruce Thompson said.
The job sectors posting the largest over-the-month gains in May were local government, which added 3,200 jobs; accommodation and food services, which gained 2,700 jobs; and health care and social assistance, which added 2,300 jobs.
On the downside, the state government sector lost 1,600 jobs last month, with durable goods down 1,500 and arts, entertainment and recreation losing 1,300 jobs.
Initial unemployment claims were down by 7% to 20,034 in May compared to the previous month, while jobless claims declined by 16% last month compared to May of last year.
NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Name of Business: Woof Gang
Bakery and Grooming
Owner: Peter Molloy, Woof Gang
Bakery and Grooming Dunwoody franchise owner
Description: Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming is a neighborhood pet store, offering full-service grooming and a wide selection of nutritious pet treats and food. It also offers stylish essentials, fashionable accessories, a variety of toys, and a wide range of dog spa products.
Opened: February 2024
Address: 4511 Olde Perimeter Way Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30346
Phone: (678) 894-9850
Web Address: https:// woofgangbakery.com/pages/ locations/dunwoody
Email a fruit tree specialist today! info@bloomandfruit.com
Continued from Page 3
Members of the Texas Press Association judge both contests in February and March.
For the 2,293 entries to the editorial contest, the GPA presented 509 awards in 42 categories to 78 newspapers.
For the 449 entries in the advertising contest, the GPA presented 120 awards in 17 categories to 30 newspapers.
Appen Media won first place in Special Issues/Sections for the October 12 Sandy Springs Crier, an edition dedicated to walking readers through the ongoing public records conflict between the newsroom and the City of Sandy Springs.
Tomberlin, took home second and third place for layout and design.
Appen Media’s Perry took top honors in the Feature Photograph category, as well as second place in Business Writing and third place in Education Writing.
Former Appen Media reporter Shelby Israel won first place in Education Writing for her work covering elementary redistricting in Forsyth County.
Carl Appen, director of content and development, edged out Pat Fox, managing editor, to win first place in the Serious Column category.
A judge commended Appen for clever yet serious public service writing and said Fox stood out in the crowded category with strong, clear writing.
32 Fleur-de-___
33 Hauls around 35 Moon of Saturn
39 It sometimes needs a massage
40 Admit
42 Chef’s phrase 43 Colorado ski resort
45 River Acheron’s place
46 Baby protector 47 Contract negotiator, in brief
49 Go on and on
50 Bounced checks, hangnails, etc.
51 Calling 54 Mental picture 56 Eskimo knife
57 Party pooper
59 Half-brother of Tom Sawyer
Tease mercilessly
Extreme leanness
Like some fans
Thirteen popes
“By yesterday!”
Piqued state
Hibernation site
Get hot under the collar 9 Rice University mascot
Lasso loop
Would, if I felt like it
Go around in circles
Wing part
Saddle horse 7 Greedy king of Phrygia
Ornamental vase
Fries briefly
Thursday, July 4, Open House: 12 noon til 11 p.m.
Alpharetta City Band Concert on the Grounds – 6 p.m.
Parking (donation requested) & Great View of Fireworks
Bounce House for Youngsters; Food for Sale
Budweiser Beer Wagon on Site All Weekend
Friday, July 5 – Gold Standard Band
Motown, Carolina Beach & Classic Soul
Dance Lessons: 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Open Dance: 8:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Admission $12 per person Cash or Credit
Saturday, July 6, Open House: 12 noon til 11:30 p.m.
Budweiser & Folds of Honor Clydesdales Downtown
Alpharetta Procession Ends at Post 201, 12 noon – 2 p.m.
Budweiser Beer Wagon Benefiting Folds of Honor Bounce House for Youngsters; Food for Sale Championship Baseball on Veterans Field
Country Music Dance Mix with DJ Wray Sisk
Lessons:
Dance:
Dance Admission $12 per person Cash or Credit
Appen also took home the top prize for Best Investigative Reporting. The award honored the newsroom for its enterprise and datasupported work, including coverage from Amber Perry, Delaney Tarr and Carl Appen on Milton elections and Open Records practices in the City of Roswell.
“Staff uncovered irregularities, including omitted provisions, in a feasibility report on a change to city-run elections,” a judge said as part of their remarks. “Open records requests produced the complete version versus the changed one, which the paper published so voters could see what was left out of the public presentation.”
Rounding out the group awards, newsroom staff also secured second and third place in the Page One category.
Appen Media’s pagination team, led by Dionna Williams and Jacob
Appen Media’s Hayden Sumlin won second place in the Breaking News Writing category.
Appen Media’s advertising team, led by senior designer David Brown, swept the Food category of the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest.
The team also won awards in the Real Estate, Home Furnishings, Newspaper Promotion and Service categories.
The True Citizen of Waynesboro won the 2024 Freedom of Information Award for its work getting the City of Keysville to provide information to the public regarding construction and funding of a water well.
The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication judges the annual award.
“Public institutions must know that if they keep secrets, the local newspaper will battle them, in court,” a judge said. “And that they won’t back down.”
Appen Media Wins 2024 Georgia Press Association General Excellence
Bringing Journalistic Excellence to North Atlanta
1st Place
Special Issues/Special Sections – Staff
Investigative Reporting – Staff
Feature Photograph – Amber Perry
Serious Column – Carl Appen
Education Writing – Shelby Israel
2nd Place
Business Writing – Amber Perry Page 1 – Staff
Breaking News Writing – Hayden Sumlin
Serious Column – Pat Fox
Local News Coverage – Staff
Lifestyle Coverage – Staff
Layout & Design – Staff
3rd Place
Page 1 – Staff
Education Writing – Amber Perry
Lifestyle Coverage – Staff Layout & Design – Staff
ADVERTISING
1st Place
Real Estate Ad – David Brown
Food Ad – David Brown
Home Furnishings Ad – David Brown
Newspaper Promotion – David Brown
2nd Place
Newspaper Promotion – David Brown
Food Ad – David Brown
Service/Institutional – David Brown
3rd Place
Food Ad – David Brown
Service/Institutional Ad – David Brown
Home Furnishings Ad – David Brown
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Attorney Michelle Wilson
The trouble with Certificates of Deposit
Bank interest rates have been very high these past several months. Lots of people have flocked to banks to invest our cash in the Certificates of Deposit (CDs) with the highest interest rates. They open the account, hand over the cash or write the check and leave feeling like they have accomplished something really wonderful for themselves and their loved ones. And they have… unless something unexpected happens. What if you die before the CD matures? Did you remember to assign a beneficiary?
Wilson Legal is in the business of taking care of people and that means that, when a client plans with us, we want their plan to work! If someone creates a will, we want individual beneficiaries to be named on all of their accounts so that their accounts can avoid the expensive and time-consuming probate process. When someone creates a trust, we encourage them to name their
trust as beneficiary of each account because we want them to experience the benefit of having a trust which allows someone to avoid probate completely. Here’s the problem with CDs. Bankers haven’t been asking customers like you if you want to add a beneficiary to your new CD account. Without a beneficiary, your loved ones will be required to go through the probate process before funds in that CD can benefit anyone. A relationship with an estate planning firm is not a once-and-done kind of thing. It’s ongoing. You buy the plan, then come in every few years for a tune-up.
Avoid probate. If it’s been 2+ years since your plan and financial accounts have been reviewed, check in with your estate planning attorney right away. Our funding accountability concierge would love to meet you at the bank to help you add a beneficiary to that brand-new CD.
Benzoyl Peroxide danger – fact or fiction?
Atlanta
Benzoyl peroxide or “BPO” is a dermatologist’s old standby. It is a triedand-true effective ingredient to treat acne including pimples and clogged pores and is found in both over the counter acne washes as well as prescription acne products. Given its extensive use and presence in so many over-the-counter products, it came as a shock to the world and the medical community when a company named Valisure recently argued that BPO too easily breaks down into benzene, a cancer-causing chemical known to cause leukemia and other types of cancer. Valisure advocated for the recall of over-the-counter acne products containing BPO.
Is Valisure right? What is the truth? The answer is complicated and interesting.
BPO’s potential to cause cancer was suggested in the 1980s when animal studies suggested that it might make skin tumors grow. BPO is a very reactive molecule and works at least in part by reacting with proteins of skin bacteria and killing the bacteria that cause acne. BPO has long been known to be destructive. The question is whether it is only destructive to bacteria or also to humans.
In 1991 new concerning animal data caused the FDA to formally declare that additional studies were necessary on BPO safety, but the data was weak, and sales of BPO products continued to be permitted. During the ensuing years, a concerted effort was made through multiple studies to verify BPO’s safety. In 2010, the FDA reviewed available data and voted to label BPO as GRASE (Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective). Recent data had been reassuring.
Fast forward to the present day and we have a curveball. A company named Valisure studied the potential of BPO to form benzene at elevated temperatures. Valisure tested benzene levels after exposing BPO products to 98.6, 122, and 158-degrees Fahrenheit for two weeks or more. As the temperature went up, so did the level of benzene. These are temperatures that BPO may be exposed to in real life situations such as being left in a hot car or during shipment from manufacturing sites.
Valisure appears to have proven that BPO has the potential to form benzene, particularly if exposed to high temperatures. How often this happens and how frequently this has caused
cancer remains unknown. Even if someone could guarantee that their BPO had never been exposed to heat, BPO left on someone’s shelf for long periods might eventually form significant levels of benzene over time.
Is Valisure a white knight rescuing the public from a serious threat?
One concerning conflict of interest is that Valisure’s president, David Light, filed a patent in 2023 for a method to prevent BPO from breaking down into benzene.
Timelines matter. Did Valisure know of BPO’s potential risks but wait to disclose them and request a recall until after they had filed for a patent for the fix? Valisure’s homepage states that they are a company focused on “transparency,” but Valisure’s mention of its patent application was buried on page 26 of a 34 page “Citizen Petition.” Acknowledgment of this patent application as a conflict of interest was nowhere to be found in that Citizen Petition. Valisure states that their goal is to provide “independent certification” of product safety, but when they stand to profit from finding dangers, then they are not as independent as they should be.
No recall has been issued. At least one manufacturer, Clearasil™, has responded by claiming that its products are safe when stored correctly and stated “The findings presented by an independent lab reflect unrealistic scenarios rather than real-world conditions” according to an article in Chemistry World.
And of course, class action lawsuits have already arisen.
One can argue about whether Valisure’s citizen petition for a recall was premature or whether it is motivated by its patent and a desire to force companies to use Valisure’s BPO stabilizer in BPO products to Valisure’s financial gain. The only thing that is certain is that with the filing of a patent, Valisure ceased to be the independent company that we wish it were.
What are doctors and patients to do? At the least, throw away expired BPO. Throw away BPO that has been exposed to high temperatures. Talk with your doctor about alternatives to BPO. We are in the fortunate position of having many alternatives to BPO available while the true safety of BPO and potential for benzene formation gets sorted out. Two over the counter alternatives to consider are adapalene or salicylic acid. For more stubborn acne including acne that is causing scarring, see a specialist in dermatology. And stay tuned for future updates on BPO.
Insist
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He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 18 years experience as a Dermatology PA. We are excited to welcome her, as she brings with her experience in general dermatology and cosmetic dermatology.
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
Brought to you by – Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of
6 perks of becoming empty nesters
Brought to you by – Summit Counseling Center
1. Date nights. No more kidfriendly environment needed. You and your spouse can go to any restaurant, venue, concert or event and not have to worry about whether it’s appropriate for the kids, will they like the food, or will they have fun. Take the time to catch up with your spouse and hear about their day.
2. Travel. You no longer have to plan your vacations around summer, spring break, and winter holidays. Now you and your spouse can take the vacation you have been waiting for without working around the kid’s school schedule. Travel abroad, go see an old friend.
3. Volunteer. No reason to not give back. “Now, what am I going to do with all my spare time?” Giving back is rewarding for both you, your spouse, and the community you are helping.
4. Reconnect with spouse. No more excuses. Take this time to focus on your spouse and rekindle your relationship. Start flirting again, making time for one another
and planning things together. Go on a spontaneous walk through your neighborhood. Go out to dinner or see a movie. Relearn how to interact together.
5. Establish new hobbies. No more having to drive the kids around, attend sport events, and revolve your schedule around theirs. It is all about you and your spouse again. Take this time to focus on yourself and what you enjoy. Take a cooking class or a yoga class together. Establish what things you both like to do together and on your own.
6. Regain independence. No more excuses about not having time for yourself or your spouse. Start taking care of yourself, doing things for yourself and focusing on what you want in life. There is no excuse to not do what you want to do.
If you and/or your spouse need someone to talk to during this transition, The Summit Counseling Center has couples’ therapists at all locations. To schedule an appointment or for more information call 678-893-5300 or visit us at www. summitcounseling.org.
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PEXELS
Food:
Continued from Page 1
“The perception is there’s not a food desert up here, but in some places, it is,” Tran said. “...I really, really wanted to bring it up here because there are people who get overlooked because the assumption is, ‘No. Roswell, Milton, Alpharetta — they all have money.’”
Less than 2 miles down the road from the center is the Roswell Housing Authority, which oversees affordable housing in the city.
Tran just gave a talk on making plates more colorful with fruits and vegetables. There was also a curriculum-based SNAP-Ed nutrition segment for those who receive government assistance.
Each week, visitors learn a new recipe and get to try it out in-session in a cooking demonstration.
The program at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center, one of six locations across Fulton County, ran from May
to June. It will ramp up again at six new locations from July 9 to August 8.
While the program is open to the public, most of the audience that day were older than 50, many with memberships to the center.
This was the second time the Fulton Fresh Mobile Market made its way to the facility, though its staff has worked with UGA Extension for several years to provide educational programs.
Mary Rummell, program coordinator for the Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department, said she hopes to have ongoing nutrition education for those at the center.
“As they get older, they don’t always cook healthier meals because they're by themselves, or they're one or two people,” Rummell said.
PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Cecilia Tran, an agent with the Family and Consumer Sciences branch of UGA Extension, educates more than 120 attendees on nutrition at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center June 20.
Fulton Fresh Mobile Market parks at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center, one of six locations across Fulton County. The next group of summer nutrition sessions will begin July 9 at new locations.
City of Johns Creek Notice of Property Tax Hearings (Millage Rate)
The City of Johns Creek is currently in the process of adopting the 2024 Millage Rate. The City has published the Five-Year History of the Tax Digest and Levy as required by O.C.G.A. § 48-5-32.
Before the City of Johns Creek adopts the 2024 Millage Rate, Georgia law requires Public Hearings to be held to allow the public an opportunity to be heard. The City has scheduled three Public Hearings. All members of the public are invited to attend and participate in the hearings. The first Public Hearing will be held on July 8, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., and a second Public Hearing will be held on that same day, July 8, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. The third Public Hearing will be held during the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. on July 29, 2024. All public hearings are held in the Council Chambers in City Hall located at 11360 Lakefield Drive in Johns Creek, GA 30097.
City Clerk Allison Tarpley
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PUBLIC NOTICE
Presentation of Fiscal Year 2025 Budget
PUBLIC HEARING
The proposed FY2025 Budget will be presented to the Council during their Monday, July 8th, 2024 5:00pm Work Session. A PUBLIC HEARING regarding the 2025 Fiscal Year Proposed Budget will be held on Monday, July 29th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. and Monday, September 9, 2024 in conjunction with the regular Council Meetings. Both the Work Session and Public Hearings will be held at 11360 Lakefield Drive, Johns Creek, GA 30097. The proposed budget will be available on the City website and a copy will be placed at City Hall for review.
Allison Tarpley City Clerk
NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
The City of Johns Creek has tentatively adopted a millage rate, which will require an increase in property taxes by 4.79%. All concerned citizens are invited to the Public Hearings on this tax increase to be held at the Johns Creek City Hall, Council Chambers located at 11360 Lakefield Drive, Johns Creek, Georgia on July 8, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00p.m. An additional Public Hearing on this proposed tax increase will be held at the Johns Creek City Hall on July 29, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in the Johns Creek City Hall, Council Chambers. Residents are invited to e-mail comments to public.comment@johnscreekga.gov.
This tentative increase will retain the current millage rate of 3.646, an increase of 0.130 mills above the rollback rate. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate would be no more than 3.516 mills (the rollback rate). The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $525,000 is approximately $26.52 and the proposed tax increase for a non-homestead property would be $27.30.
Pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 48-5-32, the City of Johns Creek does hereby publish the following presentation of the current year’s tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
While covering Milton election operations, Appen Media analyzed historical voter data and identified possible disenfranchisement.
This reporting caused a statewide watchdog to get involved and, eventually, the city moved to add a polling place to the area. Later in the year, Appen discovered that the feasibility report the City Council used when voting to run their own elections was not the original document. Two residents on a working committee had altered it after city staff had completed it and before its presentation to council. Appen Media reporters identified all of the differences between the two documents and then created an interactive digital document. Readers and officials were able to scroll through the materials and read notes from the newsroom explaining the differences. You can find this document at appenmedia.com/electionsreport.
Notes on progress in the age of getting nothing done
RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
When my phone died and I restored my data to my new phone, a lot of the data did not restore. I am not sure why. It’s gone, never to be found again. And I am semi-OK with that. I won’t miss much of the data – never revisited 99 percent of it anyway, but there were a few files that I do wish were still within my reach, especially my “column ideas” file which had perhaps several hundred ideas, thoughts, quotes and sometimes even images that I had squirreled away over the years for a rainy day.
A lot of those ideas also used to be posted on my Facebook page, especially the quotes. So, for a very long time, that was my backup reservoir. Same deal later when I opened an Instagram account. However, I deliberately deleted my Facebook account a couple years ago because I didn’t seem to have the discipline to not allow Facebook to chew up way too many hours of my time. And when my phone died, I deliberately did not restore the Instagram account, although it is still there in cyber space; I just don’t go there anymore, again, for the same reason – time.
THE INK PENN
Yes, I regret losing contact with many old friends who I had reconnected with through social media. I miss being able to at least occasionally see updates about their lives. I still miss that, but my reward has been more time, surely one of life’s most precious and limited commodities. And, yes, I consciously periodically ask myself if I am making “good use” of that extra time.
I am envious of those people who seem to be able to crank out articles, columns, blog-material as easy as breathing. Jon Katz comes to mind with his Bedlam Farm blog. Google it! He seems to post non-stop, every day, sometimes three or four and more blog posts that are usually engaging, fun, and generally, worth my time.
Jon reads a lot, which I think helps him write a lot. I suspect that he may read almost a book a day on his farm in upstate New York. I guess we all should have that luxury of time to be able to do that but, it’s not like that is all Jon does. He does a lot. He has a small but active farm that he tends. He is a talented photographer and is out shooting images almost daily, a fact that becomes obvious when one sees all those flower, dog and farm animal photos in his blog posts.
He often writes about helping his neighbors on their farms – his Amish
neighbors. He writes a lot about the Amish. I think he deeply respects their values; I must say that I tend to admire them as well. I bet Jon does not have social media accounts; surely not. He just gets too much stuff done to be spending time there.
I don’t know how our world is going to evolve, where we collectively are going to end up. I don’t like the trends – the longterm trends I think I see. We have less connectivity. We are less engaged. We help each other less. We take more and give less. We have more; we share less. Self-interest seems to have displaced collective/universal needs and welfare.
“I got mine; you get yours.” This seems to be the marching orders now, a mandate that is toxic and ultimately fatal. Prosperity, peace, and health most likely will be the victims of these trends – trends that are a clear and present danger – if we just open our eyes and ears to the world around us.
In a recent interview Richard Powers, who wrote the Pulitzer Prize winning book “The Overstory,” describes our current situation far more succinctly than I ever could. He said the following: “We are now engaged in a massive, communal, consensual sleepwalk, a trance that we can’t even see, under the spell of individualist humanism and commodity culture that we
call inevitable progress. The fact that the blessings of contemporary life have been won at the expense of a disastrous depletion of natural capital remains almost invisible to most of us. “
What are we thinking? Or is that the point - that we are not thinking at all?
Of note, for those of you who enjoy reading about history, especially as it is a window to the future, you will probably enjoy the book, “The Accidental Super Power – 10 Years On,” by Peter Zeihan. It is well worth a read and if only 10 percent of what he projects comes true, we are in for a very bumpy next 3-20 years-ish. But the good news is that the USA, according to Zeihan, will fare far better than the rest of the world.
Appen Media, with our six local newspapers and online products, works every day 365 to protect your rights and keep you safe. If you want us to be able to continue to do this and to continue to be able to report your local news for you, then support us please. Your support is critical. Join The Appen Press Club today. Just go to AppenMedia.com and in the top upper right side of our home page click on the red oval that says “Join the Club.” Take the time. It’s important, really important.
From Australia to New York City, murder is in the air
I picked up four books from the library last week, and this is the first time in a long while that I only finished two. The other two I started but couldn’t get into. As is my practice, my lips are sealed about the books I didn’t care for. Both were written by best-selling authors liked by plenty of readers, and I’m sure others will enjoy them. Of the two I finished quickly, the first, set in Australia, was my favorite, and I plan to pick up its prequel soon. It’s very cleverly written. What leaps out about the second book is its clever casting. If there’s a third book in what promises to be a series, I’ll read it too.
“Everyone on This Train is a Suspect” by Benjamin Stevenson
I don’t know how I missed this author’s first book with Ernest Cunningham as the main character, but I did. Now, I feel compelled to find “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.”
I was especially intrigued with the plot because it’s written in first person, and Ernest or Ern or Ernie is a writer. He is living
the murder mystery.
The Ghan, a train through the Australian desert, is hosting the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society, and Ern is invited as a guest speaker. After all, he wrote the wildly popular “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.” That I hadn’t read that book didn’t get in the way of my enjoying this one.
Naturally, a murder on a train smacks of Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” and for my money, it’s every bit as complex and twisty as that GoldEN Age mystery. The difference is that it’s also quite funny.
He continually refers to the rules of the Detection Club, a Golden Age group that included Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers and other well-known mystery writers of the era. They considered these as rules of fair play. There must be clues and red herrings, but no trickery, no ghosts, etc.
One rule is that the killer must be introduced in the beginning of the story before the murder occurs. No springing a new character late in the game and having them turn out to be the villain. He doesn’t hit all 20 rules, but the references are hilarious — at least to an author like me.
Which rule does the book break? “There must be but one detective — that is, but one protagonist of deduction — one deus ex
machina. To bring the minds of three or four, or sometimes a gang of detectives to bear on a problem, is not only to disperse the interest and break the direct thread of logic but to take an unfair advantage of the readers.”
The Detection Club was very strict about the rules of fair play, but what’s a writer to do when the train is filled with mystery writers who all want a say?
This was a thoroughly entertaining read, and I highly recommend it.
“Holmes, Marple & Poe” by James Patterson and Brian Sitts
Of course, the title grabbed me. Three modern-day private detectives named after Arthur Conan Doyle’s and Agatha Christie’s detectives and a third named for Edgar Allan Poe. It never actually says that’s how they got their names, but what else are we supposed to think? Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and August Poe open a detective agency in New York City. Mayhem ensues.
The three get along splendidly despite having three very different personalities and different areas of expertise. All are smart. Who are they and where did they come from? Their back story is only hinted at, which tells me a sequel is in the works.
I haven’t read any of Patterson’s books since the days of the Women’s Murder Club
mysteries. Back then, I was drawn to the women’s strengths and their deep friendship. These characters are intentionally a mystery, so while I was intrigued by them, I wasn’t invested in them. Perhaps that will change when or if there are more books.
The story is fast paced with several interwoven investigations. It’s a 300-page book with 118 short chapters, a structure that hurtles you through the story. While each investigation is resolved and the culprits taken away, it left me a tad unsatisfied. Not so much that I won’t read the next book. But I’ll do that more to find out where the heck these three came from than I will for the writing.
I don’t often stray from reading books set in England, but these two set in very different locales were well worth the change.
Happy reading.
Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a two-time Georgia Author of the Year nominee and a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries on Amazon or locally at The Enchanted Forest, Bookmiser, and Johns Creek Books. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ KathyManosPennAuthor/.
KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist
OPINION
Remarkable stories of the Ann Jackson Gallery, Part 2
BOB MEYERS Columnist
“The Ann Jackson Gallery was a mainstay of downtown Roswell for more than 50 years. In a previous column I discussed the early history of the famous art gallery by highlighing the life story of Ann Marie Moir Jackson (1932-2012), the exploits of her husband Basil (1923-2013) as a World War ll bomber pilot and the transfer of ownership of the gallery to their daughter Valerie in 1986.
This week’s column will complete the story.
The Farm, a sad tale
In 1971 Ann and Basil purchased a 12-acre parcel on Freemanville Road that contained a small milking barn that Ann used to house several horses while she built a larger barn. The couple built a beautiful house on the top of a hill that resembled a southern plantation. They affectionally called the property The Farm and kept it for about 15 years before selling it to pursue their dream of buying a boat where they would live for fi ve years before returning to Georgia.
The buyer gave Ann and Basil enough money to buy their 42-foot sailboat but never paid the rest of the agreed price for the property despite legal action by the Jacksons. The sad result was that the couple never got their money and had to live on their boat for 12 years, their dream of paradise crushed.
Life in the Caribbean was not always idyllic. The couple was lost at sea twice.
Life had its good aspects as well. When the boat docked in Caribbean ports, Ann painted local scenes and sold her paintings in galleries in Nassau, Marsh Harbor, a town in the Bahamas and in other ports. The purchaser eventually abandoned the Freemanville Road property, and the beautiful house deteriorated until a new owner restored it.
Today the property is owned by the City of Milton which has plans to convert it into a nature preserve. The house has been torn down. The city recognizes the historic nature of the small barn and intends to preserve it. According to Milton Communications Director Greg Botelho, residents in the coming months will have input into plans for the preserve as part of the Greenprint intitive to develop a vision for Milton’s greenspaces.
The Jackson story has a happy ending after all. In 1998 Ann and Basil bought a house on Tybee Island where they lived for the rest of their lives. Ann painted almost every day, and Basil retired from his job as an engineer at Lockheed
Once when asked by an Atlanta Constitution reporter when she started to paint, Ann replied “My fi rst recollection of art is I would always ask Santa Claus for paint.”
Dr. Seuss postscript
Valerie Jackson has assembled a large collections of reproductions of Dr Seuss drawings and paintings for the gallery. After the death of the author/cartoonist (1904–1991), his wife Audrey Stone Dimond (1921–2018) chose a company to promote his work. Valerie had worked with
Ann Jackson Gallery owner Valerie Jackson stands in front of a painting done by her mother Ann Jackson in 1995 while she was in France. Valerie, the oldest of their eight children, eventually took over the gallery from her mother. Today she operates the gallery at her home on Bowen Road in Roswell. Call her at 770 6865613 to make an appointment to visit the gallery.
the promotion company in the past, and the company provided her with some reproductions of Dr Seuss art encompassing 70 years of his work. The collection has grown from 10 pieces to approximately 150 today. Valerie treasures her collection and sells some occasionally out of her home which now houses the Jackson gallery. Clients can contact Valerie at 770 993-4783. Be sure to call for an appointment to see her beautiful collection.
Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, is best known for his more than 40 children’s books, but he was much more than Cat in the Hat, the Lorax or the Grinch. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1925 from Dartmouth College and published his fi rst book, “And to Think That I saw it on Mulberry Steet” in 1937. He used his mother’s middle name Seuss as his pen name. Some of his books sold more than 200 million copies. Many have been adapted for television and fi lms.
During the early days of World War ll Geisel joined the New York magazine PM as a political
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION/PROVIDED
The Ann Jackson Gallery was largely responsible for the growth of the Roswell Art District. In 2006 they hosted an exhibit titled “The Secret Art of Dr Seuss” consisting of reproductions of sculptures and serigraphs (silk-screens) on canvas, most of which were never published in his children’s books.
of the Dr Seuss star.
cartoonist. He drew more than 400 political cartoons for the publication between 1940 and 1942. In 1943 he joined the Army and was deployed to Fox Studios in Hollywood where he worked with top fi lmmakers, screenwriters and journalists as part of Frank Capra’s Signal Corps unit. He produced hundreds of political cartoons and cartoon shorts, such as a series featuring Private Snafu about the misadventures of an inept soldier. Geisel told his wife that after his death she would have to guard his legacy by taking charge of all the creatures he had created. That became her mission in life. In 1993 she founded Dr. Seuss Enterprises and became active in many charities. She gave $20 million and thousands of her husband’s drawings and manuscripts to the University of California, San Diego, for example.”
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.
FAMILY PROVIDED
REED SAXON, ASSOCIATED PRESS/PROVIDED Dr Seuss received a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 2004. Here his widow Audrey Geisel is shown with the Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2 at the dedication
The wild, wonderful world of worms
Yucky! Slimy! Gross! These are the adjectives used to describe the unsung hero of the garden, the lowly worm. Yet worms do so much, from building healthy soil to helping us lead more sustainable lifestyles.
Using their grinding mouthparts, worms break down fallen leaves, twigs and even tiny pebbles. They create small tunnels in the ground, allowing air and water to get to the roots of plants. As worms tunnel through the ground, they loosen the soil, enabling the plant roots to spread more readily and take up nutrients from the soil. This is especially important when trying to grow plants in our famously hard, red clay. Best of all, they poop. It is this poop, also called worm castings (if you are in polite company) that is some of the best fertilizer around. No chemicals needed!
How can I get some of this fertilizer you may ask? Well, you can buy it, or you can grow your own with little time and effort. In so doing, you are also helping to lower your carbon footprint.
To get started, you need a large plastic tote (18” wide by 22” long by 14” deep) with a lid, some shredded newspaper, newsprint, or coconut coir and a bunch of red wiggler worms. The earthworms found in the garden will not survive in the tote, but the red wigglers will do just fine. Red wigglers can be purchased online.
About 9 inches from the bottom of the tote, drill holes all around the top of the tote and all over the lid. The holes should be about the diameter of a Sharpie pen. This allows the worms to breathe and the worm bin to ventilate. Don’t worry, the worms will not crawl out of the holes. They don’t like light. My bin is kept in a dark spot in the basement. The bin doesn’t get too cold in the winter and not too warm in the summer.
Shred your newspaper or newsprint. Avoid using colored newspaper, such as comics or ads. The finer the shred, the better. Moisten the shredded paper or coconut coir. You are trying to create the consistency of good garden soil. This will be used for the worm bedding. Do not soak your bedding material. The worms will drown. Make enough bedding so that it is about 4 inches deep once placed into the bin. Keep in mind that, as food scraps are added and decompose, they will also keep the bedding moist. If your bin is too wet, add more paper or torn up cardboard egg cartons. This will help soak up excessive moisture. Your worm bin should not smell bad. It may smell earthy, or if you are adding lots of coffee grounds, it may even smell a little like coffee, but there should never be a foul odor. A foul odor is usually an indicator of too much moisture. If your worm bedding is too dry, spritz it with a spray bottle.
Add the worms to your bin and give them something good to eat. They like fruit, such as banana peels, apple cores, strawberry hulls, melon rinds and coffee grounds, including the coffee filter. They like most any vegetable scraps. The food scraps to avoid are those high in acid, such as citrus, onions, garlic and tomatoes. DO NOT add meat, fats or seasonings. Chop up the food scraps. The finer the food scraps, the finer your worm castings will be. I like to add eggshells. The worms like to nestle up inside the shells. Occasionally
Pictured above is a worm bin, worms in bedding, a sieve, kitchen scraps, and garden gold
About the Author
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Sabine Savoie, a Master Gardener and Sandy Springs resident. Her favorite plants are natives and perennials. Sabine’s gardening goal is to make her property a place where wildlife and people can coexist in an urban setting. She delights in seeing fireflies in the summer and the return of Monarch butterflies in the fall.
I’ll finely grind eggshells into a powder and add it into the worm bin. The eggshell grounds help to keep the worms’ gizzards sharp. I feed my worms once a week and check up on them to see if they are thriving.
About every three to four months, it will be time to harvest the worm castings. To prepare for the harvesting, stop feeding the worms about a month in advance. This allows the worms to eat up any of the remaining food scraps. There are several methods of harvesting which can be found online. I like using a
simple mesh sieve. The openings are large enough for the castings to fall through but not big enough for the worms or remaining eggshells to fall through. I prepare a fresh batch of bedding and transfer the worms and remaining eggshells to the fresh bedding as they are sifted out from the castings. The castings are bagged up and ready to be applied to the plants in your garden. The plants will grow and get harvested. Parts of the plants will become kitchen scraps. The kitchen scraps will become worm food, and the cycle starts all over again. Not a thing in this process makes it into a landfill. Now that is sustainability. It’s a beautiful thing!
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. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https:// appenmedia.com/opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/.
SABINE SAVOIE Guest Columnist
SABINE SAVOIE/PROVIDED
(worm castings).
OPINION
Farmhouse stood at what is now Cortland 1000 Spalding
A farmhouse once sat at 1000 Spalding Drive in Sandy Springs, where Peachtree Dunwoody Road meets Spalding Drive. In 1995 this became the location of Spalding Gables Apartments, which is now Cortland 1000 Spalding apartment homes. Lynne Byrd, on a mission to document all older homes and buildings in Dunwoody and parts of Sandy Springs in 1994, took photographs of the home, which she identified as a circa 1900 farmhouse.
Byrd’s research indicated Nolia and Nina May Holbrook Spruill were early owners of this Spalding Drive farmhouse. Nolia was the son of Joseph and Sophia Spruill, and Nina May’s parents were Susan Jarrell and Fransco Holbrook. The Holbrooks lived in the Cross Keys district which includes Chamblee and Brookhaven.
Nolia Spruill completed a World War I registration card in 1917. He gave an address of Dunwoody, Georgia and recorded his nearest relatives as his wife and four children. He was working at the time as a farm laborer for Carl Wallace in Chamblee. There are no records to indicate that Nolia was ever called to serve during the war.
Census records for 1910 and 1930 show Nolia and Nina Spruill living along what was called Spruill Road and Dunwoody Road. Several other Spruill families lived nearby. In 1920, Nolia and Nina Spruill are recorded as living in Cobb County.
Nolia Spruill is part of the Stephen and Sarah Martin family, buried at Stephen Martin Cemetery in Dunwoody. The cemetery is located behind Perimeter Expo Shopping Center on Hammond Drive. Stephen and Sarah’s Martin’s daughter Sophia married Joseph Spruill, and they are buried in the fifth row of the cemetery along with some of their children, including Nolia Spruill, Nina Holbrook Spruill and their child Elbert.
Around 1948, Leslie W. and Helen Pickering purchased the home and property at 1000 Spalding Drive. Pickering operated construction companies P&W Construction Company and Pickering Construction Company. In 1954, he worked along with contractor E. Jack Smith to build the Skyland Shopping Center at Clairmont Road and Buford Highway. (Atlanta Journal, Oct. 17, 1954,
“Skyland Shop Center Construction Started”)
1000 Spalding Drive was listed for sale in the Atlanta Constitution in 1976 and 1977. It is described as a 100-year-old country home in the city with 9.9 acres. This is older than Lynne Byrd’s estimate of the home’s age. The property includes “lots of trees and pasture for horses, a large fishing lake plus a summer house, making this a beautiful retreat.”
The adjacent property of 1060 Spalding Drive is listed as a threebedroom home with 5.9 acres.
Mr. and Mrs. James Asher lived at 1060 Spalding Drive with their chil -
dren Phillip and Alice in 1946. There was an outbreak of forest fires that year, including near these homes. However, the Ashers and other families were able to save their homes. The Asher children were photographed putting out small fires in their backyard. (Atlanta Journal, March 5, 1946, “Forest Fires Ravage 5,785 Acres in State”)
Another address next to 1000 Spalding was 996, which Lynne Byrd recorded as the home of Helen Seamon in 1994.
To the west, at 960 Spalding Drive, was the home of Elon and Sarah Elizabeth (Lizzie) Jordon. The land was giv -
en to the couple by Lizzie’s great uncle John Ball. Their home and land sat on the north side of Spalding Drive, west of where Ga. 400 is today.
There are unanswered questions in my mind regarding this property. If additional information is uncovered, there will be an update to the history of farmhouses near and on 1000 Spalding Drive.
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF
Columnist PROVIDED
The farmhouse at 1000 Spalding Drive was photographed by Lynne Byrd in 1994. A year later, this would be the location of Spalding Gables Apartments.
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK
PUBLIC NOTICE PURPOSE
An Alcoholic Beverage License Application was submitted to the City on June 4, 2024 for Consumption on Premises of Malt Beverage, Wine, and Distilled Spirits.
BUSINESS NAME
BHG Hotel LLC
Dba
Hyatt Place Johns Creek 11505 Medlock Bridge Rd
Johns Creek, GA 30097
OWNER/OFFICERS
BHG Hotel LLC
Dba
Hyatt Place Johns Creek 11505 Medlock Bridge Rd Johns Creek, GA 30097
Owners, Romi Patel
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK
NOTICE
An Alcoholic Beverage License Application was submitted to the City on May 30, 2024 for Consumption on Premises of Malt Beverage, Wine, and Distilled Spirits.
BUSINESS NAME
LLC
Dba
Bogle Bogle Tofu & Noodle 7775 McGinnis Ferry Rd Johns Creek, GA 30024
OWNER/OFFICERS
HNCENTRAI LLC
Dba
Bogle Bogle Tofu & Noodle 7775 McGinnis Ferry Rd Johns Creek, GA 30024
Owners, Mimi Ko
**PUBLIC NOTICE: Nation Of Neterus Trust**
**Notice of Termination of Financial Support Upon Reaching Age of Majority**
This notice serves to inform all beneficiaries of the Nation Of Neterus Trust, established by MontayDesmond: Humphrey on March 12, 2022, that in accordance with the terms set forth in the trust agreement, financial support provided to beneficiaries will cease upon reaching the age of 18 years.
The termination of support is consistent with the trust’s guiding principles, which encourage personal responsibility and independence in alignment with our foundational religious beliefs. This transition reflects our commitment to fostering maturity and self-sufficiency among beneficiaries as they step into adulthood.
**Effective Termination Date:** Financial support will end on the 18th birthday of each beneficiary. All affected individuals are encouraged to prepare for this transition and are welcome to contact the trust administrators for guidance or further information.
For questions or additional details, please contact:
Montay-Desmond: Humphrey Trustee
djmontay@protonmail.com Nation Of Neterus Trust
We thank our beneficiaries for their understanding and wish them success and growth as they embark on this new life chapter.
‘Summer blockbuster’ has become an oxymoron
There was a time when going to the movies was an event to be cherished. Dinner and a movie was the standard for a Friday or Saturday night. Going on a date in high school often entailed seeing a movie. Theaters were packed and I couldn’t wait to see the latest Hollywood offering.
Today, not so much. The last movie I saw in a theater was “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Before that, I went to see “Oppenheimer” with my sons. And while both films were well-done and entertaining, I haven’t gone back.
I recently queried Abigail from AMC at The Collection about what I should be looking forward to this summer. How many “summer blockbusters” will inspire me to fork over nearly $20 just to get a ticket?
Are you ready? “Despicable Me 4” (We all need more Minions, don’t we?), “Deadpool vs. Wolverine” (I guess there’ll be a fight, but I don’t care who wins), and some type of “Mad Max” offering. Oh, and there’s also plans for a “Lord of The Rings” marathon.
Maybe I’m a movie snob, but there really doesn’t appear to be anything worth seeing right now. And worse yet for those in Hollywood wanting to get some of my money, there’s nothing on the horizon that gets me to say: “I really want to see that!”
I guess there’s the possibility that going to the movies is not what it used to be. The experience is somewhat lacking. However, I love a good IMAX offering with that vivid picture
Solution
or a Dolby theater with audiophile sound and reclining seats.
I have the fondest California memories of DeeDee, my godmother, taking me to the Warner Theater in downtown San Pedro. Whenever there was a new Disney movie showing, she was a great sport, and we had popcorn and drinks while watching upstairs in balcony seats. DeeDee always paid extra to have us sit upstairs, which made the experience feel that much more special.
I had an early crush on Hayley Mills in “The Parent Trap.” I believed Fred MacMurray had ditched his three sons to become “The AbsentMinded Professor,” and his Flubber could help me become a better basketball player and might make our old Plymouth fly. I remember being mesmerized by “Swiss Family Robinson” and how that clan fought the elements and some jabbering pirates, vanquishing the marauders by employing coconut bombs.
Mom was wise to my ways when I asked her to pick me up a few coconuts next time she bought groceries, “and by the way, where do we keep our gunpowder around the house?”
Admittedly, I thought the last “Mission Impossible” offering rocked. I’ll probably pony up for a ticket to watch Tom Cruise perform his own “how does he do that?” stunts.
I think there’s a new Western starring Kevin Costner on the horizon, and that seems to be worthwhile. Aside from that, there’s nothing that excites me.
Maybe we’ve exhausted all the possibilities for new material, and all that’s left are sequels and remakes. I can’t help but think that Hollywood is hurting, and its once “sure thing” audience may have become more discerning and, worse yet, aloof.
Looking at all the entertainment alternatives, the prospect of driving to a movie house and paying ridiculous admission prices, coupled with food that can be purchased for at lease half-price at Publix, I’ve concluded I still like movies, but going to the movies just isn’t worth the hassle.
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.
MIKE TASOS Columnist
City:
Continued from Page 1
a rigorous, national recruitment effort, Greer’s qualifications rose to the top.
The city hired North Carolina-based staffing and recruiting firm Developmental Associates to conduct the search process. The contract was for $30,000.
Councilman Dilip Tunki pointed out that Greer has 16 years of experience in city planning, 10 specifically in Johns Creek, and has “been instrumental in the city’s progress over the past few years.
“She earned this nomination,” Councilman Chris Coughlin said. “Obviously, her experience was a factor, but all [these] other facets added up.”
Councilwoman Erin Elwood called Greer “a rock star in her field,” adding that she has proven herself more than capable for the post.
The mood quickly soured when Councilwoman Stacy Skinner raised concerns about a lack of transparency in the selection process, saying councilmembers were never provided details of specific interview questions used to evaluate candidates. Even so, Skinner said her reservations about the process should not be construed as a negative reflection on Greer.
Others on the council lodged similar complaints.
Councilman Bob Erramilli said Greer’s contract came to him mere hours before the meeting.
“This key employee’s contract came to us at 3 o’clock,” he said. “How are we to digest this? “How are we to ask any questions pertaining to this?”
He said he would be reluctant to act on the appointment without a rock-solid engagement in the selection process.
Councilman Larry DiBiase remarked that while the city hired a stellar recruiting firm, he sensed the process was not followed with full transparency.
“In fact, the consultant described the process we employed as ‘atypical,’” DiBiase said. This, he said, led him to question why the city would pay $30,000 of taxpayer money to hire a top-notch consultant and
Newly nominated City Manager Kimberly Greer addresses the Johns Creek City Council after they unanimously voted to ratify her nomination on June 17.
not follow they’re procedures fully.
“I believe the whole council should have the opportunity to fully review and offer suggestions to the contract,” DiBiase said.
Despite his assessment of a flawed hiring process, DiBiase said he would support Greer’s nomination.
Mayor Bradberry acknowledged the councilmembers’ reservations.
“I’ll just say that I’m sure that no process is perfect, despite my best efforts to make it the best,” he said, adding that the contract, itself, will be presented to councilmembers for full review and comment on details.
For her part, Greer addressed the council to thank them for having faith in her work.
“Thank you for entrusting me with this important role,” she said. “I will work to earn it every day.”
In other matters at the meeting, the
City Council voted unanimously to allow a change of zoning that will allow construction of three single-family homes on 2.8 acres along State Bridge Road. Community Development Director Ben Song said the three-home neighborhood would be compatible with surrounding areas, and the project was recommended for approval with conditions by the Planning Commission on June 4.
Developers behind the project say the current zoning would allow commercial operations, like a carwash or other broad retail, near residential areas. They said constructing three homes, mindful of preserving as many trees as possible, would have much less impact on the area.
Two long-time residents of the Long Indian Creek subdivision to the west of the property returned to voice opposition to the proposal.
Hope Machado and Ed Schagren, who also spoke in opposition to the development at the June 6 council meeting, said they were particularly concerned that the development would raise property taxes in their neighborhood, where homes
average around $450,000, and this could force people to relocate. The new homes would carry values of more than double that.
The City Council ultimately voted in favor of the rezoning, but it added a 5,000-square-foot cap on how large the new homes can be. Councilman Coughlin cast the lone dissent in a 6-1 vote.
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Midway Preschool is hiring lead and assistant teachers for the 2024-2025 school year. Please call Beth @ 770-752-0440 or email beth@midwayumc.org
(Voting Period: July 15 – August 15)
