Johns Creek Herald - June 29, 2023

City celebrates Juneteenth

Local author discusses ‘slavery of the mind’

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — More than 3,000 visitors attended the Juneteenth celebration at Newtown Park June 17, commemorating the emancipation of the country’s enslaved Black Americans.

Held from 3-9 p.m. at the Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater, the event featured a gospel choir, storytelling, violin, a step routine, rap, spoken word and jazz. There was also a fish fry and barbecue, vendors selling crafts and other products as well as kids’ activities.

“I could not be more proud of our Johns Creek community,” Mayor John Bradberry said on the city’s Facebook post. “Thank you to all the resident volunteers that guided this event to the success that it was. Unity - Peace - Freedom. Happy Juneteenth!”

The special gathering also included a book fair, featuring several local Black authors whose works cover a variety of topics. sharon-vanessa horton-pellom was one, selling her work.

“We live in a culture of trying to find truth in all of this, so we can be at peace,” horton-pellom said. “And, that has never been found … So, we enjoy getting together and knowing who we are, reminding us who we are, and just enjoying each other because we have so many talents.”

She developed coursework for her newest book, “AWAKE!: The Creator/she/ he,” which is about the need to research information within deceptive times. While

Johns Creek opens gates to new park

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — About 100 people gathered to celebrate the “soft opening” of Cauley Creek Park June 20, welcoming residents to use some of the park’s amenities.

Juneteenth signifies the freeing of Black Americans from physical slavery, hortonpellom said “AWAKE!” is about the “slavery of the mind.”

“People don't read, and they don't research,” she said. “They just go along with the group.”

The book’s precursor, “He Lives: A living testimony,” was named after her father’s last words, what she had come to see as a testament to spirituality. Both books were available at the event and stem from horton-pellom’s journey following his death.

“I started living my life,” horton-pellom said. “I started seeing how the Creator, what I call him, shows up and shows out in our lives, and leads, guides and directs all things if we just have that connection with him.”

For more information about sharonvanessa horton-pellom, visit awaken11-us.org.

A saxophonist performs at Johns Creek’s Juneteenth celebration June 17. More than 3,000 visitors came together for a day of live entertainment, food and activities at Newtown Park, commemorating the emancipation of the country’s enslaved Black Americans.

Located on Bell Road, Cauley Creek Park encompasses 203 acres. Three quarters of the near-$26 million project was funded by a bond referendum passed by Johns Creek voters in 2016.

“We have effectively doubled our available green space and parkland in the city,” Mayor John Bradberry said. “It is bigger than Piedmont Park, and it's just the latest investment that we've made towards quality of life, towards making this a city of health and wellness.”

Erica Madsen, soon-to-be Johns Creek parks director, had taken the lead on the project. She described park features open for use, including a 5K rubberized trail and more than 10 lighted sports sites for basketball, futsal, pickleball and sand volleyball. There are also two synthetic and two turf lighted athletic fields, which have a cricket overlay, as well as a pedestrian bridge and river overlooks.

The council recently agreed to have permanent lines sewn into one of the synthetic turf fields for football. Goal posts for football as well See PARK, Page 5

PHOTOS BY CITY OF JOHNS CREEK/PROVIDED

Food and fellowship abound at Johns Creek’s Juneteenth event.

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Man loses $308,000 in gold trading scheme

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek man reported to police June 13 that he had been taken for more than $300,000 in what appears to be a gold trading scam.

The man said he was contacted on how to make money buying, selling and trading gold.

The exchange evolved into the man being scammed out of $308,000.

An unidentified woman provided the victim with a website to open a joint account with her to buy gold. The victim initially deposited $8,000, then $14,000 into the account. The suspect deposited large sums in return.

The victim was then advised by the website that the account had been suspended due to suspicion of money laundering. The site asked that he deposit 30 percent of the total sum of the account in order to lift the suspension. The victim then deposited $190,000 into the account.

He was then was notified that his account was frozen, and he needed to deposit an additional $96,000 into it, which he did.

Driver eludes pursuit in speeding incident

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — While conducting speed enforcement on State Bridge Road at 9:40 p.m. June 16, police clocked a driver speeding nearly 20 mph above the posted 45 mph limit.

Police began pursuit of the black Tesla, catching up to the driver on the bridge over the Chattahoochee River. The vehicle slowed and stopped in

the left-hand turn lane for Plantation Trace Drive on Pleasant Hill Road, then performed a U-turn and accelerated westbound on State Bridge.

Police attempted to catch up with the vehicle, but lost contact. Police then completed a pursuit report.

Thief takes gun, jewelry in residential break-in

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Duluth couple reported to police June 18 that their home on West Andechs Summit had been ransacked and items were stolen.

The couple had been on vacation for two days and arrived home to find that a safe containing a revolver and $700 in cash had been taken from the master bedroom. They also reported a jewelry box with miscellaneous jewelry had been taken as well as a pair of $2,000 yellow gold stud diamond earrings.

The upstairs of the home had been ransacked as well but nothing was missing, the police report said. Multiple shotguns and other safes were left undisturbed.

Police could not obtain any video footage because the cameras at the front door and basement door were not active. Detectives responded to the scene.

Woman reports fraud after vehicle break-in

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek woman reported to police June 18 that someone had entered her white Lincoln Navigator on Dinant Drive and stole her Louis Vuitton wallet.

The wallet contained her license and credit card, which was later used to make a fraudulent charge. When the woman noticed the transaction, she immediately checked her security camera and saw an unidentified suspect enter her vehicle and open her center console.

The woman said her vehicle had been left unlocked in her driveway

overnight. Police said the footage showed the suspect enter the vehicle at around 3:30 a.m.

A neighbor reported his ring camera picked up the suspect walking past his driveway before entering the woman’s vehicle. Police were able to observe still images of what appeared to be a male suspect wearing gloves, a jacket and a hat.

Bank account raided after man loses phone

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An Alpharetta man who lost his cell phone June 10, reported to police that more than $8,500 was stolen from his bank accounts through wire transfers from the lost phone.

Reports said the man lost his phone at about 2 a.m., and several hours later, $8,500 was transferred out of his account via Zelle and Apple Pay to an account in California.

No suspects were identified in the report.

Driver cited for speeding in construction zone

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police arrested a man who was allegedly caught driving over 100 miles per hour through a construction zone on Ga. 400.

Police reports said the man was taken into custody June 8 at about 6 p.m. after an officer conducting a traffic detail on Ga. 400 spotted a gray BMW traveling at high speeds while weaving in and out of traffic.

The vehicle was clocked traveling at 107 miles per hour in a 55-mile-perhour zone and was stopped on the side of Ga. 400. Due to the heavy rush hour traffic and the erratic driving, officers charged the 47-year-old Roswell man with reckless driving and speeding in a construction zone.

He was transported to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.

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.

Roswell launches summer outdoor art installation

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Arts Fund Program Director Elan Buchen knows that an interactive public art and performance installation is something new, but he hopes the nonprofit’s newest project can activate the local art scene.

The organization has spent the past year working on ArtAround: Pathways, an installation that will run from mid-June to the end of September in Don White Park. The project displays over 30 pieces of art, a variety of performances and artist-led workshops all exploring the city’s response to nature. All are free.

It was a big step forward in Roswell’s Public Art Master Plan, established in 2017.

The total cost for the exhibit, including visual installations, performances and workshops, is $120,000. It fits into the four-year master plan that the nonprofit worked with the city on in 2022. Roswell Arts Fund has been the city’s designated art agency since 2015, but in recent years Buchen said there has been increased public and government interest in public art.

“We’re working hard not to have the arts be sort of separate on its own little island,” Buchen said.

One of the goals in the master plan is the “activation” of several so-called corridors in the city — spaces that connect popular spots in Roswell, he said.

“If there’s something that was really inspiring about Roswell and especially for this space, it’s that people are constantly moving through it,” Buchen said.

Don White Park was one of the plan’s key pathways to activate. Getting the project done was the next challenge. Buchen previously worked with the Atlanta BeltLine, a 22-mile multi-use trail system in the city where public art is much more common.

At the BeltLine, he explained, most artists will participate in “requests for proposals” where they come forward with a piece planned out and ask for a commission.

Buchen wanted to do things differently for the BeltLine. First, the program director asked how residents experience the space and what makes them love it.

“The inspiration comes from what Roswell truly is, it’s about our response to nature,” Buchen said. “It’s about play and it is about how we play in nature.”

To ensure the nature-oriented vision was executed, Buchen pursued “requests for qualifications,” in which artists submitted portfolios and were accepted to collaborate with Roswell Arts Fund on a piece.

“It isn’t about taking art from all over

the place and slapping it here, it’s about finding the right fit in the right place and holding it to a high standard,” Buchen said.

The organization hired a variety of artists for the project. Roswell-based artist Sam Carter collaborated with the group on a series of troll-like figures that will be hidden throughout the park.

Carter typically works in Atlanta on film sets, specializing in set pieces, props and puppets for major projects from “Black Panther” to “Stranger Things.” He jumped at the chance to expand beyond film work and into a more local project.

“(I wanted) to get my hands on opportunities where I have more autonomy, to have my creative vision rather than one passed down by a department head,” Carter said.

It was his first time exploring Roswell’s art scene, which he said “doesn’t get the attention” it should.

“I think that the Roswell art scene is there, there’s a ton of creativity there,” Carter said.

When Roswell Arts Fund told Carter the exhibit would be outdoors and up for months, he settled on the creation of forest creatures — namely, Woodknotts.

The troll-like figures are his daughter’s concept. Carter described them as dwarflike tree dwelling forest creatures. He drew

up the Woodknotts based on his daughter’s mythology and Roswell Arts Fund approved the idea.

“I’m not an artist with some big message behind my work,” Carter said. “I’m far more interested in humor.”

His approach matched the familyoriented Pathways project. He also created a field guide for children to use while they hunt for the Woodknotts along the trail.

One of the Roswell Arts Fund’s key goals, Buchen said, was to encourage the sense of play captured in art like Carter’s forest dwellers. Different pieces in the summer-long installation will have interactive and “playful” components.

“I think everyone plays, it’s just that they don’t know they still do,” Buchen said.

On a broader scale, Carter said he hopes his Woodknotts can contribute to an installation that would draw even his “buddies in the Perimeter” to come visit Roswell for the art scene. Buchen said he wants to create a destination.

“I’m trying to kind of create an experience that will not just make you enjoy the space, but also develop an appreciation for something that you wouldn’t ever have 20-30 minutes outside of Atlanta,” Buchen said.

The full performance schedule is available on the Roswell Arts Fund website.

Knockerball: New sports trend rolls out in Alpharetta

By LUKE GARDNER newsroom@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Over the past few years, countless viral videos have shown people playing soccer and bouncing around wearing giant, inflatable bubbles. Those bubbles are called Knockerballs, and they are rapidly gaining popularity as one of the newest sports trends.

Alpharetta Knockerball opened for business in April and draws participants from throughout north Metro Atlanta.

“I think it’s popular because it's new and exciting,” said General Manager Sara Downum. “It’s totally outside of the box and fun for all ages, from elementary to adult. It’s hard to find something that has that kind of niche.”

Customers book Knockerball Alpharetta services online and the business brings the equipment to an event location, helps with the setup and stays throughout to referee and supervise games. Event organizers have the option to order a variety of games and inflatables.

The most common is the regular Knockerball, an inflatable sphere with a hole in the middle that comes in four sizes, from small to extra-large. It has

two handles and straps on the player like a backpack. Knocker soccer is most popular, a game in which all players except goalies are in Knockerballs bouncing into each other.

Gasthaus Tirol

As few as two can play Knocker soccer, but typically at least six participate, with an even number on each team. Knocker soccer is usually played on a large grassy area — never on concrete — with regular soccer goals. The sport can move indoors with action taking place inside an inflatable arena. The Knockerball arena looks similar to an inflatable wrestling ring, with built-in goals and barriers to keep players from falling out.

People commonly make up their own games using the Knockerball and incorporate it into classic games like King of the Ring and musical chairs.

“You don’t stop laughing from the time you get in the ball until the time you get out,” Downum said. “If it was up to my son, I would drag out the equipment every day. We play as often as we can. We love King of the Ring, and Knocker soccer is my favorite. It doesn't seem challenging but it really is. It’s great for family bonding and team building.”

The Knockerball is not to be confused with its inflatable companion, the Zorb ball. While the Knockerball is essentially a bubble backpack, the Zorb ball is essentially a giant hamster ball that you step inside of.

Besides the Zorb ball, Alpharetta Knockerball also has a giant inflatable dart board that is played by kicking soccer balls at it, which stick to the board like a dart. On the other side of the board are three targets that soccer balls can be kicked into.

Unlike the Knockerball and Zorb ball, the dart board requires less explanation and supervision, meaning no referee is needed for events that just order the dart

board.

The most common events Alpharetta Knockerball hosts are corporate teambuilding events, church events and kids' parties, but they’ve also hosted Knockerball games at graduation parties, food festivals and this year’s Cumming Spring Fling.

That Spring Fling was one of Alpharetta Knockerball’s first events, and it solidified Downum’s love for the new business.

“Rather it was a couple on date night, or dads climbing into Knockerballs [to play with their] kids, everyone was having their own experience,” Downum said. “I realized that this is really something, that it really is fun for all ages… We wanted to have fun with the community and make memories, and this is exactly why we are doing this.”

For more information or to schedule an event, visit alpharettaknockerball.com.

PHOTOS BY ALPHARETTA KNOCKERBALL/PROVIDED Kids show off the latest in Knockerball playwear. The bulbous shrouds can be worn to play soccer or any number of games.

A group of coworkers stand in front of the giant soccer dart board at their teambuilding event.

Act3 Productions posts 2023-24 season lineup

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Act3 Productions in Sandy Springs recently announced the lineup of shows and performances for the 2023-24 season. Officials said the season will open Sept. 8 with the musical comedy “Xanadu.” It will also feature a comedy from Atlanta playwright Topher Payne, a musical comedy revue, and a comedic farce.

Shows included in the 2023-24 season will include the following performances:

• “Xanadu” directed by Charlie Miller –Sept. 8 to 24

• “Perfect Arrangement”

directed by Amy Cain – Oct. 13 to 29

• “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” directed by Cathe Hall Payne – Feb. 9 to 25

• “Lend Me a Tenor” directed by Jared Wright – March 15 to 31

Season ticket packages are available for the 2023-24 season and can be purchased for between $68 and $108. For more information about Act3 Productions and upcoming shows, visit www.act3prod.org or call the box office at 770-241-1905.

Erica Madsen, Johns Creek city engineer and Cauley Creek Park project lead, cuts the ribbon on the 203-acre park June 20. With the soft opening, the public can use the park’s 5K rubberized trail, lighted sports courts, lighted grass and synthetic turf playing fields, pedestrian bridge and river overlooks.

Park:

Continued from Page 1

as soccer and lacrosse have also been ordered.

In partnership with the City of Duluth, a ribbon-cutting for the opening of the Rogers Bridge Road pedestrian connection will take place July 10 at 11 a.m.

City staff advises residents to use caution in the coming days and weeks as more landscaping projects are

completed, with construction equipment still on-site.

Next month, Johns Creek is also hosting a days-long celebration for Cauley Creek Park. Scheduled from July 18 to July 22, Cauley Creek Week will include demonstrations on the field and court areas and culminate into a carnival that Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. The event will have park tours, carnival rides and games, music, food trucks and more.

“You only open a park this big once,” Assistant City Manager Kimberly Greer said.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

— Alexander Popp

PROVIDED

Northern District lists May Eagle Scouts

The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, John’s Creek, Milton) has announced its newest Eagle Scouts who completed their Eagle Board of Review on May 25,2023, at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church.

Top row, from left:

Matthys Serfontein, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was refurbishing the River Trail Middle School’s Adventure Quest Outdoor Classroom Area by designing and constructing a concrete firepit with surrounding paved plinth, cleaning up the wooded area, removing undergrowth, removing fallen tree limbs, removing litter, mulching the entrance and constructing an outdoor serving table.

Joshua Alan Panuganti, of Troop 3143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction three storage shelving units and a mobile storage cart for Waypoint Baptist Church.

Nicholas Sparkes, Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of three picnic tables and four benches for the Bridge House, a faith-based house for fully rehabilitated women who are relearning how to function and contribute to society.

Ian Fox, of Troop 356, sponsored by Fellowship Christian School, whose project was the design and construction of a 6-foot picnic table and a sunshade sail secured by wooden poles secured in the ground with concrete with hooks secured to the wall for the lunch area and painting of a 16 x 12-foot shed at the King’s Academy High School.

Jason Lampert, of Troop 1486, sponsored by North River Baptist Church, whose project was the design

and construction of two picnic tables, at North River Baptist Church.

Bottom row, from left:

Vance Visger, of Troop 3000, sponsored by Birmingham United Methodist Church, whose project was design and construction of an archway for the trail to Paul Anderson’s burial site at the Paul Anderson Youth Home, in Vidalia, Georgia.

Thomas Gamba, of Troop 1717, sponsored by Cross of Life Lutheran Church, whose project was the design and construction of shelving and reorganizing the sound and light system storage room at Elkins Pointe Middle School.

Vishnu Reddy, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church, whose project was relandscaping several islands in the parking lot as well as painting yellow around the island curb and constructing two sitting benches in the main outdoor eating area for North American Shirdi Sai Temple of Atlanta.

Kipras Kairys, of Troop 1459, sponsored by St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, whose project was removing a set of plastic storage shelves and replacing them with wooden shelving units for the preschool at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church.

John Bodamer, of Troop 143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of five large wooden garbage bins for the Southeastern Railway Museum.

Arya Sabzevari, Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of two ADAcompliant picnic tables for the Special Education Department of Alpharetta High School.

Local charity transforms lives with language lessons

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — When Roswell resident Diana Traslavina moved to the area from Colombia a year ago, she quickly learned that English was a necessity.

The native Spanish speaker came from Bogotá with her son to the United States in hopes of the “best life.” She came to Georgia to be with her sister, who speaks no English.

“Quickly, we clearly needed the language,” Traslavina said.

She said several people encouraged her to visit North Fulton Community Charities in Roswell to take the organization’s English as a second language course. The charity services around 10,000 people in Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park and Roswell.

This year, the nonprofit celebrates 40 years of service through emergency assistance for housing, medical care and transportation, as well as a food pantry and thrift shop. It also runs education programs—namely, the English as a second language program.

The 15-week course is offered three times a year, with classes twice a week. Students take a placement test and are placed by level, advancing to “proficient” in level five. The free classes require no personal identification, which helps keep the program accessible.

Traslavina said she started the program at a level three, although she joked she didn’t know any English going

See CHARITY, Page 9

DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA

Roswell resident Diana Traslavina works the front desk at North Fulton Community Charities on Elkins Road in Roswell, one year after moving to the United States from her home in Colombia. Traslavina is a former student of the nonprofit’s English as a second language program.

They’re here to say teach me the language to communicate and take care of myself in my daily life, and that’s pretty awesome.

SANDY HOLIDAY, Executive Director, NFCC

Charity:

Continued from Page 8

in. The program was intensive, but in three months she moved through to level five.

“I feel very, very proud of me to have known I can do that,” Traslavina said.

NFCC Executive Director Sandy Holiday said people who come to the United States without the English language creates unique barriers.

“They are the most challenged in our communities, because they don’t know how to advocate for themselves,” Holiday said.

The English learning program is full immersion, so the teacher only speaks in English. Students come from various countries, including India, Ukraine, Cameroon and Colombia. The students are placed in rotating groups to communicate with each other.

Without a shared language to rely on, the students speak to each other exclusively in English. Program manager Wynona Kuehl said the format creates close bonds between the new North Fulton County residents.

“That really builds community,” Kuehl said. “By the last week, they all feel connected.”

The 15-week course serves about 200 students a session. Holiday said

many students drop out of level three of the program because they have learned enough to “empower” themselves.

“They’re here to say teach me the language to communicate and take care of myself in my daily life, and that’s pretty awesome,” Holiday said.

Language is not the only barrier faced by many clients, though. Holiday said a lot of people use multiple services from the nonprofit.

“It’s called a continuum because no matter where you enter that spectrum, you continue on it towards other services,” Holiday said.

Part of the continuum came into play when the nonprofit started looking for a new client services specialist in March. Holiday wanted to recruit internally, from one of their thousands of clients.

“We should be employing our clients, we should walk the walk,” Holiday said.

As program manager for the English language classes, Kuehl recommended Traslavina, who had recently completed the language program for the company role.

After two interviews, Traslavina was hired at the nonprofit’s front desk. She said the position requires some administrative and computer work, but a lot of her job calls for interacting with people who come into the building.

“We need to learn what problems they have or how we can help,” Traslavina said.

People often come to the front desk in need of emergency services, and Traslavina is the one who helps them get started. She said the conversations have also been good practice for her English skills. In her months at the role, Traslavina said the job has “opened the doors” to her new life.

“The best thing here is I can help other people,” Traslavina said.

Holiday said there’s an added benefit to having a former client be the first face people see at North Fulton Community Charities.

“She’s looking at our work as a client,” Holiday said.

The executive director explained she often reaches out to former clients for advice and questions regarding everything from organizational decisions to newsletters. The nonprofit also has a former client on the board of directors, which Holiday plans to continue long term.

Traslavina said she’s grateful for the opportunities she’s received, and she now feels better in this country.

In light of the nonprofit’s 40th anniversary, Holiday wants to flip that gratitude back to the community. Rather than celebrate the organization’s success she wants to spotlight those who helped it last across the decades.

“They’re grateful to us, but we see it a little bit differently,” Holiday said. “We are so grateful that the community didn’t just launch us but grew us and has helped us be successful.”

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Milton Girl Scouts earn Gold Awards

MILTON, Ga. — Eight graduating Milton seniors earned Gold Awards, the highest achievement that can be earned by a Girl Scout.

Nationwide, only about 6 percent of all eligible Girl Scouts achieve the Gold Award, which requires at least 80 hours of planning and implementation on a challenging project that is innovative, engages others and has a lasting impact on its targeted community.

Gold Award recipients were Parinita Vardhineedi, Sumana Naganathanahalli and Swara Viswanadha from Troop 11763; Katie Wishert from Troop 11483; Snigdha Jannu from Troop 12481; Shweta Awasthi, Allison Kitchens and Caroline Daniels from Troop 11489;

Ambuja Sharma and Anvitha Suram from Troop 14512 graduated from Cambridge High School last year but earned their Gold Award in 2023 as well.

“These girls each developed and implemented an incredible individual project to help make the world a better place and should be very proud of their achievements,” said Cindy Tippett, Milton service unit director.

— Amber Perry

JENNIFER KITCHENS/PROVIDED

From left, graduating seniors Shweta Awasthi, Allison Kitchens, Caroline Daniels from Girl Scout Troop 11489 earned Gold Awards, the highest achievement that can be earned by a Girl Scout. Five other Milton seniors in various troops earned the award as well, including Parinita Vardhineedi, Sumana Naganathanahalli, Swara Viswanadha, Katie Wishert and Snigdha Jannu.

A pair of mysteries by Elly Griffiths

I stumbled across British author Elly Griffiths years ago and read quite a few of her Ruth Galloway books. Ruth is a forensic archaeologist who teaches and works on digs around England, some locally and some a bit farther afield. Why I haven’t kept up with the series is a mystery to me as I never fail to enjoy them.

The first book, “The Crossing Places,” won the Mary Higgins Clark Award, and there are 14 more to read after that. As I started this column, I googled the author and found her words on how she came up with the idea for that first mystery.

“We were on holiday in Norfolk, walking across Titchwell Marsh, when [my husband] mentioned that prehistoric man had thought that marshland was sacred. Because it’s neither land nor sea, but something in-between, they saw it as a kind of bridge to the afterlife … As he said those words, the entire plot of ‘The Crossing Places’ appeared, full formed, in my head and, walking towards me out of

the mist, I saw Dr. Ruth Galloway.”

I admit, I’m now waiting for the plot of my next book to spring fully formed from my head. I suspect I’ll be waiting quite a while for that miracle. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to read Griffiths works, both her series and her standalone novels. I’ve read one of each in the past month.

“A Dying Fall”

In Book V, Ruth Galloway travels to Lancashire to investigate the find of an old university friend. He died shortly after writing her about his discovery.

I couldn’t put this one down because it concerns Arthurian legend. I always get hooked on books about the legendary king. Who knew that the Raven King was an ancient name for King Arthur? Given how many books I’ve read about him, I was surprised and delighted to learn something new.

Did Ruth’s friend find the remains of King Arthur? What happened to the bones he unearthed? As is the case in any good series, the relationships among the ongoing cast of characters are as important as the mystery. Ruth is a single mother who’s trying to juggle a new romantic relationship, the presence of her

little girl’s father, and her job.

If you haven’t read the series, I suggest you start with Book I so you can more easily follow the ups and downs of Ruth’s personal and professional life.

“Bleeding Heart Yard”

The main character in this book, billed as a thriller, is DI Harbinder Kaur. She has appeared in two previous Elly Griffiths books, though the three are not described as a series. Still, it’s interesting to follow Harbinder’s career progression from a post in Shoreham to a position as a DI in the Criminal Investigation Department of the Metropolitan Police. For the first time, she has a team to manage, and she’s only just arrived in London when she has a murder to investigate—a high-profile murder of an MP.

This one kept me guessing. The murder takes place at a school reunion, and another death, one that happened nearly 20 years ago, keeps coming up. At the time, it was deemed a drug-related suicide, and the friends of that earlier victim are still haunted by it. When Harbinder arrives on the scene, she finds that her detective sergeant, Cassie Fitzgerald is one of the attendees. Is

that a pro or a con? Will Cassie help the investigation or hinder it?

The deceased MP and Cassie Fitzgerald are both part of a group of close-knit friends, or at least they were close when the first death occurred. The relationships have shifted over 20 years. In alternating chapters, Harbinder, Cassie, and Anna — another classmate — share the narrative. The shifting perspectives set up a wellplotted whodunit with plenty of red herrings.

“Bleeding Heart Yard” is an Amazon Editor’s Pick, and I can see why. I’m hoping the author has another Harbinder Kaur book planned. Until then, I’ll continue with the next Ruth Galloway tale.

Note: Are you in a book club? Would you like to have a local author speak to your group? Contact me to arrange a date! inkpenn119@gmail.com

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

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

See solution Page 23

A day in the life outside the shell we call home

I always am surprised when I go “out” and end up meeting people. My default is to not be that social, probably to the point of being at a minimum an introvert if not downright antisocial. Yet, almost without fail, when I step outside of my default, I end up being pleasantly surprised.

So, my wife (Christina) is in Ohio helping her mom move out of the family house of the last 60 years or so into a more appropriate housing – no steps, easy to maintain, social atmosphere. I am here holding down the fort. The “fort” yesterday consisted of taking care of our three grandchildren for much of the day. Their other grandparent handed them off to me around 3 p.m. So, at that point it is me and three kids 8 and under. They are good kids, but their behavior is best when they are actively engaged in something. That is the rub, as we have not so long attention spans and we tend to compete and often that ends up – well, let’s say, “challenging.”

We started out at my house with snacks. They weren’t hungry so I was 0 for 1 at that point. From home, we decided to go to Wills Park tennis courts and become “engaged.” Our 8-year-old granddaughter is quite good at tennis. She takes lessons and is one of the most athletic/coordinated kids I know. However, Leo, the middle sibling and Annie our youngest don’t play tennis at all. My plan was to let Phoebe hit against the backboard while I attempted to “play tennis” on the adjacent court with Leo and Annie, maybe turn it into a play catch, or miniature pickle ball, or something. It was hot, humid, and they didn’t last long. Yes, Phoebe wanted to keep hitting against the backboard, but I lost the other two big time. Zero for 2.

On to Wacky World, the giant playground adjacent to the tennis courts. We swung, looked for our name on the slats that surround the facility and quickly began to get bored. Then, out of the blue, the three of them decided to play hide and seek at the playground. Hello! I sat and watched, ultimately for well over an hour. I sat down on a bench next to a woman probably about my age who obviously was there for the same reason I was – to watch the grandchildren. We compared

notes. She was down from Michigan to see her adult children. We talked about Alpharetta, the humidity, City Center and life in general. It turned out that we take the grandchildren to the same parks – the one on Cogburn Road and the one on Crabapple Road across the street from the Alpharetta traffic ticket courthouse place. I shared with her one of my very favorite places in all of Alpharetta which happened to be in the area that she traveled. The favorite place is the “fairy park” immediately adjacent (on the south side) to the Milton Library on Charlotte Drive and Mayfield.

Volunteers have turned a small patch of land with trees, bushes and little trails into a wonderland filled with gnomes, gnome houses, fairies, trolls, benches and more. We often can easily spend an hour or so exploring the fairy park and never once get bored. In fact, the kids usually protest and don’t want to leave. The lady on the bench thanked me and said that she would take her grandkids to look for the fairies.

A short time later, as I continued to watch from the bench, a mom came up and introduced herself and started a conversation. She shared with me that they had recently moved to Alpharetta –I guessed from Europe – and that they had just enrolled their kids in Fulton Science Academy (FSA, a local private STEM school that my youngest son Carl attended during middle school. FSA holds a special place in my heart. The mom and I – and a short while later her husband too – ended up talking about the school for some time. I shared that Christina and I traveled with FSA teachers, many of whom are Turkish, way back when for two weeks to Turkey, sort of like a field trip but across the ocean.

The school used to take both parents as well as kids on the trip the first of each summer but no longer since the current President Tayyip Erdogan (who was just now reelected to a third term) essentially banned or imprisoned a large percentage of the country’s teachers. I thanked them for our conversation when they left.

“Lets stay in touch,” the husband said. I replied that I was sure we would see each other again at Wacky World. I gave them my card and asked them to give Dr. Sener (headmaster/principal at FSA) my regards when they ran into him at FSA.

The kids continued their hide and seek. I noticed that our youngest, Annie Moon, had found a friend who was playing hide and seek with her. They both walked up to me, and Annie held out a length of thread that she said her friend had given her to tie around her finger as a ring. As I tried to tie the

small thread around her finger, the father – Ross – of Annie’s new friend walked up and introduced himself. He was there with his young daughter and son.

As with the Turkish couple, Ross and I talked while we watched. We had common interests including “food” –or more accurately, the status of our sustainable or not sustainable food supply. We talked about health care. I am not sure, but I think he was either South African or lived some years in South Africa where health care is so different than in the States -- universal and cheap/affordable.

He ended up sharing with me a podcast that he recently listened to about our food supply (On YouTube search for “Peter Zeihan the shocking truth about global fertilizer”) and it should take you to his YouTube lecture. I ordered one of his books last night so I could learn more.

I shared with Ross an online lecture my daughter sent me which, after listening to it, finally made me understand this whole “organic” thing. I used to think that “organic” was just some sort of tree-hugger or marketing thing to get you to spend more. I don’t think that anymore. Basically, you really don’t want to eat non-organic food unless you want to deal with the tragic/toxic consequences of ingesting food grown via the use of ultra-toxic herbicides – Roundup being the big one – or pesticides. I am now willing to pay extra to avoid that stuff; it makes sense to me now.

If you google “John Kempf embracing the connection between agriculture and health,” you should get a link to his regenerative agriculture podcast.

Ross and I exchanged contacts and I think if at least one of us takes the initiative, we will have more conversations in the future.

So, why don’t I go “outside” more? Go figure. I am missing so much.

*The use of Roundup is currently the focus of literally thousands of lawsuits. According to Forbes, “Monsanto (the owner of Roundup) has settled over 100,000 Roundup lawsuits, paying out about $11 billion as of May 2022. There are still 30,000 lawsuits pending…”

Many government institutions - such as city recreation departments - still use large quantities of Roundup to maintain grounds, sports fields, playgrounds (where thousands of children play and recreate) - and greenways adjacent to water sources likes creeks and rivers even though Roundup has repeatedly been associated with many forms of cancer.

RAY APPEN

Publisher Emeritus

PRESERVING THE PAST

Fungus among us – the history and benefits of mushrooms

This week’s column is about mushrooms whose history as food goes back at least 7,000 or 8,000 years. Before we get into history, we should define what mushrooms are and are not.

Mushrooms are not plants, because plants need sunlight and carbon dioxide to synthesize their food. Mushrooms rely only on organic matter. Unlike plants, they do not produce chlorophyll (a green pigment that helps plants create their own food,) but they are high in nutrients. They live off dead and decaying matter, such as wood and leaves.

In addition to numerous kinds of edible mushrooms, there are thousands of species of other fungi including types of molds, mildews, yeasts, rusts and toadstools (poisonous mushrooms).

No one knows who ate the first edible mushroom, but it must have been thousands of years ago. Egyptian Pharaohs ate mushrooms, and for centuries mushroom consumption was limited to the wealthy. Louis XIV’s reign in the 17th century marked the start of cultivation and marketing of mushrooms. French gardeners grew mushrooms in caves, which provided a perfect environment. In the United States, mushroom farming became popular in the early 20th century. The first commercial mushroom farm in the U.S. was established in 1896 in Pennsylvania which today continues to be the leading producer of mushrooms in the U.S. In the 1920s waves of European immigrants brought with them knowledge of mushroom cultivation. New technologies and techniques, such as climate-controlled growing environments, revolutionized the industry and allowed for yearround cultivation. The resulting increase in production and lowered costs led to today’s widespread availability of mushrooms in supermarkets and restaurants.

Mushroom farming is big business today. World production of cultivated mushrooms is about 4 million tons a year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that in 2021-2022, the U.S. sales by growers were $1.02 billion. The market research firm Market Data Forecast puts the global mushroom market size at $50.3 billion in 2021 driven by growing demand for healthy, low-calorie diets. One

cup of raw mushrooms contains just 15 calories, 2.2g of protein, 2.3g of carbohydrates, and 0.2g of fat and lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

There are some large mushroom farms in Georgia and many smallscale farmers. An example of the latter is Jeff Dufresne who started growing mushrooms on his property in Milton just two years ago, satisfying a lifelong love of the edible fungi. Jeff grows Shiitake, Oyster and Lion’s Mane varieties, while his wife Josephine enjoys experimenting with mushroom recipes.

Dufresne says “Shiitake mushrooms have a rich meaty flavor and are great for soups, pasta and stews. Their proven medicinal benefits include helping to control blood pressure and cholesterol. Oyster mushrooms,” according to Jeff, “have a mild taste, silky textures, and are great with seafood, chicken or pork. They can be cooked or served raw in salads, and they help strengthen the immune system. Lion’s Mane are sweet and succulent, soft and chewy with a shellfish flavor. They help fight dementia and memory loss.”

Jeff lists several benefits of mushrooms beyond their culinary rewards. They can be a natural pesticide, can help clean up land oil spills and make good packing material

being used by companies such as IKEA. Research is being conducted on mushrooms as insulation and eventually as replacement for concrete blocks and bricks.

Jeff’s 4-acre farm is named “Pax Domus,” or House of Peace. Jeff cultivates mushrooms outdoors on hardwood logs and indoors in plastic bags which provide a more sterile environment and better control of temperature, humidity and light. Jeff, who is president of the Milton Historical Society, is happy to share his knowledge with anyone contemplating growing mushrooms. Contact him at Jeff@PaxDomusFarm.com.

According to Dr. Michael Yeh, medical toxicologist with Emory University, care must be taken when consuming mushrooms. Most varieties found in the wild are not edible. Many species are irritating to the gastrointestinal tract and can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Some mushrooms can cause severe organ damage such as liver or kidney failure, damage to muscles, and even seizures.

Most people do not realize, Yeh says, but even edible mushrooms should not be eaten raw with the exception of the familiar white button variety which make up about 90 percent of the mushrooms consumed in the United States, or the cremini

(brown button), both of which are found in local supermarkets. Fortunately, commercially available mushrooms are grown by knowledgeable mushroom farmers. There are five major mushroom growing companies in Georgia.

This is where the Mushroom Club of Georgia enters the picture. Sam Landes, treasurer of the club, describes it as an educational, scientific, outdoor social group with monthly meetings via Zoom. From March through November, the club organizes two walks per month in the metro area for its members where they learn to identify, collect and study edible and non-edible wild mushrooms. The combination of the pandemic and a short film has led to an explosion of new members, now totaling about 500. The film, “Here’s to Us,” can be seen at www.mychinet. com/ideas/all-of-us/mushroom-club/. For information about the club, contact Sam at treasurer@gamushroomclub. org.

Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Jeff Dufresne, owner of Pax Domus Farms in Milton, holds some mushrooms he just harvested from mushroom logs on the ground behind him.

Shiitake mushroom logs at the Pax Domus Farms in Milton, one of three varieties of mushrooms grown on the property. Holes are drilled in the hard wood logs and mushroom plugs are placed in the holes. This is a cost-effective and efficient way to grow mushrooms outdoors.

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Why does poison ivy seem to like people?

For millions of years, plants have evolved defenses to protect themselves from prey, disease, and encroachment, as they are obviously immobile once situated. Many of these defenses are chemical, and include poisons, irritants, odors and compounds that inhibit the growth of other plants. Of the irritants, poison ivy (Rhus radicans) causes reactions in about 85 percent of people. The offending toxin is urushiol. Named from the Japanese Urushi tree, or Oriental lacquer tree, urushiol is an organic compound that exists in all parts of the poison ivy plant, even the dormantlooking vines.

As gardeners, we are familiar with the adage “leaves of three, beware of me” as we install and maintain our gardens. Poison ivy is prevalent in our area, and the leaves are easily recognizable for most of us. The plant can be climbing, shrublike and/or a ground cover. The oily urushiol irritant can exist for years on clothing, tools and animal fur. Burning the plant gives it airborne danger. Urushiol can be inhaled from the smoke.

What benefit does it give poison ivy to have this compound as a defense? When the delicate leaf or stem is broken, the urushiol acts as an antimicrobial. When the urushiol is exposed to air, it forms a lacquer-like substance to help restore the plant integrity. Hundreds of years ago, Japanese craftsmen tapped the Urushi tree for its sap to make furniture lacquer, as well as glue and varnish. This lacquer can withstand heat and damage from acids, alkali and alcohol. The oxidized urushiol in lacquer is non-toxic.

By utilizing this substance to mend broken plant parts, the plant puts less energy into repair and can focus on growing new leaves and stems.

Poison ivy is a great source of food for animals and birds. The berries it produces are especially coveted by birds. Deer and goats readily munch on the entire plant, but they do not react to the urushiol! Aside from a few other mammals, humans are the major species that have the allergic reaction. When we come into contact with urushiol, our body responds with antigens, causing an allergic reaction. The rash, dermatitis and pruritis (itching) can be severe and last a week or more. Blisters can form. The fluid in the blisters is not contagious or a source of the allergen.

Why just us? It may be that our immune system is so finely tuned to

allergens that we have not acclimated to this toxin. Or, as a species, we are too new to develop resistance. The answer is not known definitively.

Of course, staying away from poison ivy is the best defense, but if contact does occur, wash off contaminated skin immediately with soap and water, and if more time has elapsed, use a solvent such as alcohol. For skin reactions, cortisone and calamine lotion may provide temporary relief, as will a soft cold pack. See a dermatologist for severe skin reactions. Be sure to wash tools, clothing and your pets if exposed.

Happy Gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net.

About the author

This week’s guest Master Gardener “Garden Buzz” columnist is Linda McGinn. Linda has lived in Johns Creek 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, johnscreekarts.org/product/the-art-of-the-gardensummer-2023/. She has been gardening for 30+ years and became certified as a Master Gardener in 2021. Linda created a new class, “All About Plant Toxins,” (https:// youtu.be/4ux2YGE04ao) which she presented in the Spring 2022 Gardening Lecture Series presented by the North Fulton Master Gardeners. In this class, Linda discussed various plants that produce toxins, with an overview of their history, chemistry, action and current use.

Learn more

• Controlling Poison Ivy in the Landscape - https://extension.uga.edu/ publications/detail.html?number=C867-10

• Poisonous Plants in the Landscape - https://extension.uga.edu/ publications/detail.html?number=C957

LINDA MCGINN

Guest Columnist

The challenges in finding purpose

On radio and television you constantly hear ads about planning for a well-funded retirement. Suppose with the help of a financial advisor, and/or through pluck and true grit, you do it. You wake up on Day One of your next 10 years in retirement (whatever that is), and you, and the one you love, if a couple is involved, have all the money you ever needed, more than enough to do whatever you want. What would you do?

A longtime friend, prolific author, speaker, and trainer, Mitch Anthony, author of “The New Retirementality” and other books on both the meaningful and destructive uses of money, has said that in retirement you need enough money to sleep soundly at night, but you also need a purpose to wake up to in the morning. Lack of purpose is destructive. So, what is purpose?

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), British statesman, Scottish essayist, historian and philosopher, wrote, “A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder a waif, a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose in life, and having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you.” Substitute woman or person for “man” if you wish, but you get the point. Life without purpose leaves one adrift.

Life expectancy in England in the 1800s was approximately 40 years, which included high numbers of infant

deaths. Life was hard and most people did not contemplate retirement as we know it today. They worked until they dropped. Very few lived into their 50s, let alone their 80s as Carlyle did. In the long history of mankind’s struggles, that you have the option of contemplating longevity, and actualizing a well-funded retirement, is a gift from your Creator. And He has a plan for overcoming boredom, a by-product of retirement.

Boredom is the downside of having ample time on your hands sans a plan to use it well with energy-bolstering purpose.

When a person is asked what retirement looks like to them, most answer with a laundry list of activities...travel, play more golf, fish or hunt, spend time with children and grandchildren, move to a retirement community, etc. These are activities, what a friend called “excessive leisure.” After sleeping, eating, grooming, and taking care of other daily necessities, over the average day you will have about 14 hours to fill, 5,110 hours in a year, 153,300 hours over a potential 30year retirement. Beyond the activities listed above, which are fine but cannot be done to excess, what are you going to do to bring meaning and purpose into your life outside of “busy work?” What happens if you wake up morning after morning with ample money but no purpose? Boredom, loss of energy, physical and mental deterioration, restlessness, destructive behavior, drinking to excess, filing for divorce in search of something new, are potential results, but not positive outcomes!

Lots of things go into having a sense of purpose. Being useful and

appreciated, perseverance, for example. Another British statesman, Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), opined, “The secret to success is constancy of purpose.” The apostle Paul was verbally abused, stoned, beaten and driven away by skeptics and disbelievers, but he persisted in his mission aided by the Holy Spirit. Hardship and resistance often brings greater resolve to a purpose-fueled quest. Tenacity is a sign of dedication and purpose.

The “Baltimore Catechism” was published in 1885 as a compendium of Christian doctrine, posing a series of questions and answers. Question 1 affirmed that God made the world. Question 6 dealt with our purpose on earth, asking, “Why did God make you?” The answer: “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him, and to be happy with Him for ever in Heaven.”

That explains the purpose God had in mind for us when we were given the gift of life. Jesus gave us two great commandments that underpin purpose. The first was, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” The second was to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37-39).

Folks who are not religious certainly can find purpose and meaning in life. For all of us, God’s commandments about loving and selfless giving can aid us in our quest for purpose. All around us are worthy charities that can benefit from your skills as a volunteer. Financial donations are welcome, but personal involvement will further bolster your sense of satisfaction and purpose. At a recent conference, this writer

was asked what my guiding purpose was. “My purpose,” I said, “is to get to Heaven and take as many people with me as I can.” Supporting charities that do God’s work on earth is part of my mission.

An unknown author noted, “Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.” In addition to outreach efforts sponsored by houses of worship, we are blessed with charities in our community that provide essential services such as Atlanta Mission, Atlanta Community Food Bank, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Habitat for Humanity, North Fulton Community Charities, no-kill animal shelters and pet rescue, and so on.

Countless testimonials from volunteers attest to the power of God’s grace and the energy one receives from service. Giving, whether time and/or money, feels good. Loving one’s neighbor as oneself as Our Lord commanded is a proven antidote to boredom, listlessness, and a nagging lack of purpose, all silent killers of the spirit. Worthy causes are all around you. They need you!

Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group (CIG); 770-441-3553; lewis@capitalinsightgrp.com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA), which is otherwise unaffiliated with CIG. Lewis a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

Always helpful and kind, that was Ken Anderson

Soon after I began writing Past Tense for the Dunwoody Crier in 2006, I learned about Ken Anderson.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Local historian and co-founder of Dunwoody Preservation Trust

Lynne Byrd told me that Ken had lived in Dunwoody his entire life and was happy to share his memories.

He enthusiastically shared memories and stories of the families he descended from. There was the Anderson and Carpenter families, but his ancestors also married into the Spruill, Eison (or Eidson), Donaldson and Copeland families.

I could always call Ken and ask what he knew about any subject. He helped me with articles, my “Images of America: Dunwoody” book and any other project on my list. Many of the photographs in the book were provided by Ken Anderson. He also told the history behind each photograph.

I remember asking him if he would come to the DPT History Booth several years ago to share his memories with visitors of Lemonade Days. He not only spent time in the booth, but he also brought old photographs of the original Dunwoody School. His sisters Carolyn Anderson Parker and Jane Anderson Autry also joined us one year in the booth. Visitors to the booth enjoyed hearing about early Dunwoody from those who grew up in the community.

The roots of Ken Anderson’s family in Dunwoody go back to the first half

of the 19th century. Many stories were passed down through the family. There was the story of the day Union soldiers showed up on the family farm looking for food. Susan Carpenter gathered meat from a pot in her apron only to be told by the soldiers that she could put it back. They were not going to take food from her children.

Calhoun and Effie Mae Spruill Carpenter sold eggs, butter, vegetables,and peaches from the farm on a two-horse wagon they drove to

See ANDERSON, Page 20

LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP

Columnist

Columnist

Continued from Page 19

Atlanta.

Ken’s mother told of the old Dunwoody Depot being placed on logs and rolled up the road to become a store and post office on the southwest corner of Chamblee Dunwoody and Mount Vernon Roads.

In 1958, Ken married Alvilene Price, whose family had moved to Dunwoody when she was a child. Both Ken and Alvi, as she is called, attended Dunwoody School.

Ken worked at General Motors for 28 years. While still working at GM, he began working part-time at Dunwoody Baptist Church. Later he became Director of Operations at the church, staying for 40 years until retirement in 2016.

For a few years, Ken was in his director role, and I taught preschool. It was nice to be able to stop by his office after the preschool day ended to talk history.

On June 15, 2023, I attended the memorial service for Ken and heard many more stories of the kind and compassionate man that he was. He was always helping others, both family and friends. As a lifelong member of Dunwoody Baptist Church who was also always there as a volunteer or an employee, Ken was usually making sure things ran smoothly during the services. He helped wherever he was needed, including changing a flat tire in the church parking lot.

Many memories were shared at the service, but the one that seems to sum up Ken Anderson is “He would give you the shirt off his back.”

December 12 was proclaimed Ken Anderson Day by Denis Shortal and

PROVIDED

Ken and Alvilene Price Anderson on their wedding day in 1958.

the Dunwoody City Council in 2016. He was recognized for his “selfless service to the ministry of Dunwoody Baptist Church, his contributions to our community, and the inspiration he has provided to his colleagues, friends, and family.”

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.

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Handles all employee-related processes and procedures. This role will be responsible for Recruitment and Onboarding, Job Design, Employee Relations, Performance Management, Training and Development, Employment Compliance, Total Rewards and Talent Management. This position reports to the Director of Finance and Administration and will interact with the entire management team by providing guidance on all Human Resources related topics at NFCC. Bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field and 3-5 years of Human Resources experience, preferably in multiple HR disciplines required. Please visit https://nfcchelp.org/ work-at-nfcc/ to see the full job description. To apply, submit a resume to sholiday@nfcchelp.org and to mburton@nfcchelp.org.

Workforce Development Coordinator is responsible for developing programs and services for NFCC clients and students seeking employment, post-secondary education, or other career options. The workforce development coordinator collaborates with local employers to help match job seekers to open positions. They work directly with clients on the job application, resumes, and interview preparations and provide tips for successfully securing and improving employment to foster financial stability.  Bachelor’s degree in a human services, human resources, or other related field required and 2 years of professional experience in human services, human resources or career counseling preferred.

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Community Events Manager

The Community Events Manager is responsible for all aspects of NFCC’s community events, from inception through execution, including helping secure sponsorships. Events may include annual golf tournament, annual fundraising gala, community engagement events, donor recognition events, and other community events. Position requires a highly organized, creative, and motivated person to lead event planning, sponsorship, and community engagement. Bachelor’s Degree preferred with 2-3 years special events and fundraising experience. To view entire listing visit: https://nfcchelp.org/workat-nfcc/  To apply, send a resume to Sandy Holiday, sholiday@nfcchelp.org.

Salary: 85000/Yr. Req 2: BS Deg in Com. Sci/Com. Apps/Engr/Bus. Admin. + 5yrs Exp. Salary 119750/ Yr. Req.3. BS Deg in Com. Sci/Com. Apps/Engr/Bus. Admin. + 2 yrs Exp. Salary 67500/Yr.  Duties: Analyze, design, dev, test, imp, monitor & upgrade computer sw sys, spec. Sw apps. Details: www.cloudsoft-inc. com. Resume-Cloud Soft, 40 Technology Pkwy Ste 210, Norcross, GA 30092.

Computer Systems Analyst: Req  1. MS Deg in Com. Sci/Com. Apps/Engr/IT/Bus. Admin. + 6 Mon. Exp.

Salary: 85000/Yr. Req 2: BS Deg in Com. Sci/Com. Apps/Engr/Bus. Admin. + 5yrs Exp. Salary 119750/ Yr. Req.3. BS Deg in Com. Sci/Com. Apps/Engr/ Bus. Admin. + 2 yrs Exp. Salary 67500/Yr.  Duties: Analyze, design, dev, test, imp, monitor & upgrade computer sw sys, spec. Sw apps. Details: www. unicorntek.com. Resume-Unicorn Tech, 4080 McGinnis Ferry Rd STE 1305, Alpharetta, GA 30005.

Sawnee EMC is seeking a Staff Accountant – Financial Services to provide financial and accounting services in compliance with RUS accounting requirements and standards, coordinate budgeting and financial planning functions, compile and analyze financial information, prepare financial statements, statistical analyses, balance sheet and financial position statements, make recommendations on reserves, collect appropriate data to prepare tax returns, and prepare related reports to management. Requires: Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in accounting with a minimum of two years progressively responsible work experience; high level of competency in MS Office, Accounting, Spreadsheet and Database Software; knowledge of RUS System of Accounts preferred.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, July 7, 2023. Apply online: www.sawnee. com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

Part-time

Donor Operations Associate

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Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer of Females, Minorities, Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace

The Donor Operations Associate greets and removes donations from vehicles and sorts merchandise in a designated area.  They are responsible for keeping the merchandise secure, all areas free of debris and the donor door area neat and clean.  This position is the face of NFCC so they are expected to provide excellent customer service and treat each donor with a professional and friendly demeanor.  High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Ability to perform low to moderate facility maintenance tasks.  To view entire listing visit: https://nfcchelp.org/work-atnfcc/  To apply, please complete an application for employment and email to Marten Jallad,  mjallad@nfcchelp.org.

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Director of Childrens Ministry

Seeking Director of Children’s Ministry for Alpharetta Presbyterian Church. Part-time position with benefits.

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Also have classroom or work experience in education and/or children’s ministry. Work with children’s ministry leaders to provide meaningful and engaging Sunday School and additional programs for children. Collaborate with committee, recommend curriculum to Session for approval and provide the curriculum for children’s Sunday School classes and Vacation Bible School.

Recruit, train and supervise all Children’s Ministry teachers and volunteers (this includes providing “child safety training” and assuring compliance with that policy).

• A person of mature Christian faith who will work collegially with others in support of the overall mission of the church.

• A person of outstanding character and strong relational skills who is approachable, compassionate, energetic, honest, dependable, creative, joyful, fun, motivated and humble.

• A dynamic and grace-filled leader who is a role model for children and their families.

• Someone who is committed to setting an inspiring example, serving others, making disciples, and equipping the saints for ministry.

Qualified candidates please send resumes to alpharettajobopening@gmail.com.

Appen Newspapers is looking for one or two folks to help deliver our newspapers. Work is part time and flexible. Routes can be done at night or during the day - on your schedule - within our deadlines. Comfortably earn $550 or more a month on your own schedule.

This is a great way to get out as well as contribute to helping your local newspaper! Perfect for retired person who wants to stay active or a parent with school-aged kids - deliver during school hours. Also good way to earn supplemental income at night. We have had many retired couples deliver our papers and almost all have managed a route well and enjoyed the time and the work.

Requirements include reliable vehicle, clean driving record, availability, reliability, and honesty. Prior delivery experience is good, but not required. It helps if you live relatively close as papers are picked up to be bagged and delivered from our office in Alpharetta. Delivery areas can be Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek, South Forsyth, Dunwoody, or Sandy Springs typically - depending on open routes.

Please contact our Office Manager Heidi to set up an appointment to come in and fill in paper work or start the process via Email!

Call 770-442-3278 and ask for Heidi or Email Heidi@AppenMedia.com

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