Johns Creek Herald - July 20, 2023

Young professionals give perspective on goals of Johns Creek development

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Nine young professionals and college students shared their perspectives on city planning and future needs to Johns Creek officials at a NEXT Gen Forum July 10 at City Hall.

The group expressed their observations about the city’s strengths and weaknesses from the perspective of a new generation preparing to engage with the community.

Community Development Director

Ben Song led a presentation on demographics and key developments in Johns Creek that include:

• Medley Johns Creek — a 43acre, mixed-use development to include retail, restaurants and

See GOALS, Page 7

JOSHUA CURRAN

CURRAN, CFP®

Senior Vice President, Investments

1100 Abernathy Road, N.E. Building 500, Suite 1850 Atlanta, GA 30328

T 770.673.2190 // jcurran@raymondjames.com

Proposed budget would trim property tax rate

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek City Council reviewed a proposed $79 million fiscal year 2024 budget at its July 11 work session and considered funding gaps for capital projects.

“[The budget] sets priorities to accomplish some very exciting goals for our community, while still maintaining careful stewardship of not just the taxpayer dollars, but also the taxpayers trust,” Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry said.

The proposed budget assumes a rollback rate of 3.716 mills from the current 3.986 millage rate, and projects a 3.3 percent increase in revenue. The council previously set aside $1 million to stabilize the millage rate.

Johns Creek Finance Director Ronnie Campbell also said there was an unexpected increase in anticipated property tax revenues, based on the preliminary tax digest from Fulton County. Property taxes would fund 29 percent of the proposed budget.

The budget is built around four

FDIC-Insured Brokered Certificates of Deposit

themes — investing in parks, streets and infrastructure; advancing technology and service delivery; strengthening city staff; and enhancing the city’s public safety framework.

Funding gaps

At the work session, some councilmembers questioned several unfunded capital projects in the proposed budget.

Councilwoman Stacy Skinner highlighted the unfunded

See TAX, Page 6

*Minimum purchase may apply. Subject to availability. Rates expressed as annual percentage yield (APY) as of 00/00/00 APY may reflect a current market discount. About FDIC insurance: Currently, the FDIC limits the insured amount (including principal and interest) for all deposits held in the same capacity to $250,000 per depositor, per insured depository institution and $250,000 for certain retirement accounts. Therefore, excess holdings may not be insured. About liquidity: Funds may not be withdrawn until the maturity date or redemption date. However, the brokered CDs are negotiable, which means that, although not obligated to do so, Raymond James and other broker/dealers presently maintain an active secondary market at current interest rates. Market value will fluctuate and, if the CD is cashed out prior to maturity, the proceeds may be more or less than the original purchase price. Holding CDs until term assures the holder of par value redemption. CDs are redeemable at par upon death of beneficial holder. For detailed overview of these and other risks refer to the Certificate of Deposit Disclosure Statement at raymondjames.com/liquid.htm. Additional information is also available on the SEC Certificates of Deposit: Tips for Investors website at sec.gov/answers/ cds.htm.

year – 5.30%*

years – 5.00%*

years – 4.70%*

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry introduces the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Budget at the City Council work session July 11. The first public hearing for the budget is scheduled for Aug. 8. The second hearing, as well as adoption, is slated for Sept. 12.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA Johns Creek Community Development Director Ben Song leads a presentation on key developments in Johns Creek to an audience of young professionals, some college students, July 10.

NEWS TIPS

POLICE BLOTTER

770-442-3278

AppenMedia.com

319 N. Main Street

Alpharetta, GA 30009

HANS APPEN

Publisher

RAY APPEN

Publisher Emeritus

CONTACT

Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.

ADVERTISING

For information about advertising in the Johns Creek Herald or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

CIRCULATION

To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278

Pizza restaurant owner reports overnight break-in

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police were dispatched to Double’s Pizza on Nesbit Ferry Road July 9, where the owner found the door smashed and multiple items missing.

The victim said he left the business at 12 a.m. that morning and returned to open when he noticed the smashed door.

The victim said thieves took a 43-inch Samsung TV from his office in the back and $550 in cash from the front register. The victim said the POS system and his personal Apple iPad and Samsung tablet were also missing.

The victim also said four Apple iPads, registered to different companies used for online orders, were taken as well.

Police noticed multiple cameras in the front of the building, but the victim said they captured live feed only.

The case was turned over to detectives.

Witness reports woman for beating small pit bull

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Roswell man reported to police July 7 he witnessed a woman punching her small dog at the Mister Car Wash on State Bridge Road.

The man said the suspect had two dogs, a pit bull and another unidentified breed. Both were white and brown in color.

The man said the woman was parked at a vacuum area of the car wash, repeatedly punching the small pit bull outside the vehicle. He also she dragged the dog by its collar, and the dog appeared to be losing consciousness but still breathing.

The man said the cameras were not working on the premises, so no footage of

the incident could be captured.

According to the police report, the woman and her dogs had left by the time police arrived. The suspect remains unidentified, the report said.

Man taken for $6,000 in online fraud scheme

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek man reported to police July 5 that he had been scammed into depositing $6,000 into a Bitcoin account a month before.

The victim said he was on his computer when a message from Microsoft popped up, prompting him to call a certain number. He called the number and spoke with a woman, who said his computer had been hacked and that it put his bank account at risk. The woman allegedly gave him contact information for someone at PNC Bank.

The victim was told that his account balance of $21,410 was at risk and to contact Social Security. The victim did so and received a call back from another man, who had the victim withdraw $6,000 from his bank and deposit it into a Bitcoin account.

The victim received a barcode to deposit the money into the Bitcoin Depot.

Man sought for theft of vacuum cleaners

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police were dispatched to Target on State Bridge Road July 4 on a report that a man walked out of the store with nearly $3,350 in stolen items.

The store’s loss prevention officer reported a male suspect grabbing a shopping cart, filling it with around five items. Three minutes later, at 8:03 p.m., the suspect left without paying. His stock included different models of vacuum cleaners.

The employee could not retrieve the license plate number from security cameras or identify the driver. But she provided several videos of surveillance footage, which were forwarded to detectives.

Restaurant road rage ends in three arrests

ROSWELL, Ga. — A series of exchanges outside the Holcomb Bridge Krystal’s July 11 led to three arrests at City Hall, according to Roswell police reports.

The police narrative states that a green BMW struck a silver Honda as it was leaving the parking lot, leading to an altercation between the two drivers and a passenger.

A green GMC then pulled in, unsuccessfully attempting to stop the BMW from leaving. The report says the Honda driver stated that the GMC chased the BMW around the until the BMW stopped facing north on Dogwood toward Holcomb Bridge Road.

One witness and surveillance videos show the GMC driver exiting his car and hitting the BMW’s driver side window with an object, according to the report.

Both drivers then left the scene and arrived at City Hall.

After interviewing the parties and inspecting videos of the incident, officers arrested three people. The driver and passenger of the Honda were charged with riotous conduct. The driver of the GMC was cited for simple assault and reckless driving.

Officer eases suspicion of Canton Street object

ROSWELL, Ga. — A Roswell police officer cleared the scene July 12 after reports of a suspicious package downtown.

Upon arrival, the officer found an ammunition can laying on the sidewalk at the intersection of Canton and Norcross streets.

According to the report, the city’s K9 officer was on vacation, so they turned to its Fusus system, a network of private and surveillance cameras used by public safety personnel.

Unable to find footage of the object, the officer opened the container and found a variety of silver tools.

The ammo can and tools were booked into evidence for safekeeping.

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.

Fulton County sticks with existing schools for 2024 construction projects

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Fulton County Schools will move away from adding new school buildings over the next five years as part of a capital plan aimed at “protecting the investment” in its existing 108 education facilities.

In June, the School Board approved a $2.1 billion budget for the 2023-2024 school year, with $612 million targeted for capital projects. Typically, the capital fund goes towards major construction projects — including the cost to build new schools.

In the upcoming year, though, Fulton Schools Chief Operations

Officer Noel Maloof said the district is headed away from adding schools due to declining enrollment across the county. Instead, the capital plan focuses on renovations, replacements and “behind-the-scenes” construction.

“Overall, in general the district is shrinking, not at a rapid pace,” Maloof said. “We don’t have the need as we have had the past 20 years to continue building new schools.”

Fulton County Schools enrollment is expected to decline over the next 10 years, despite some pockets where Maloof said enrollment is “exploding.”

Because the district already has 108 schools, Maloof said the county is focused on “protecting the investment” it has in existing buildings.

The capital project construction is largely funded by the Education Special Local Option Sales Tax, which generates over $180 million annually. While the tax has brought in hundreds of millions of dollars, Maloof said it isn’t enough to cover all the school district’s needs.

“Although we do bring a lot in, we have to prioritize,” Maloof said.

Priorities are determined through a facility assessment at every school. It considers age, future plans and the condition of each structure and its “critical systems” like air conditioning and electricity.

The top priorities are then slotted into the five-year capital projects plan, scheduled in steps through 2027. Several North Fulton County schools are slated for major renovations.

In Alpharetta, Manning Oaks Elementary and Summit Hill Elementary are in the process of major renovations with an expected completion date in 2024.

Johns Creek will also see major renovations through August 2025 at Abbots Hill and Ocee elementary schools.

Other schools in Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek, Alpharetta and Sandy

Springs are set for roof replacements and freezer system replacements.

A few schools are set for full replacements and reconfiguration. The county has been exploring reconfiguring Holcomb Bridge Middle School and Haynes Bridge Middle School in Alpharetta into kindergarten through 8th grade schools. The replacement and reconfiguration projects do not have a set date.

In Sandy Springs, the county plans to replace North Springs High School by the end of 2027.

The district will replace 13 turf fields with artificial turf throughout 2024 and 2025.

“This will allow that sort of 24/7 feel, and you don’t have to wait for grass to grow back before you can get back out on the field,” Maloof said.

Alpharetta High School and Milton High School are scheduled to have their fields fully replaced by December 2024.

Cambridge High School in Milton will have its competition and practice fields replaced by March 2025, as well as its track. Roswell’s Centennial High School and Roswell High School will

See SCHOOLS, Page 28

Manolakis, FNP-C Milton Only Heather Menees, FNP-C Johns Creek Only

Samantha Benson

Dr. Cheryl McGowan

Tax:

Continued from Page

construction documents for an outparcel at Cauley Creek Park. The work, estimated at $200,000, would include designs for parking, walkways and trails.

Overall, more than $3.3 million in requested capital projects were left unfunded.

The budget is filtered through the city manager’s office, then passed on to the mayor. Bradberry said he cut three capital improvement projects from the draft he received.

City Manager Ed Densmore said the council would have opportunities to adjust levels of funding.

The Johns Creek fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, so officials have roughly two months to agree on a final spending plan.

The public will have opportunities to weigh in. The first public hearing for the budget will be Aug. 8. The second hearing, as well as formal adoption, is slated for Sept. 12.

“There’s always a gap between what was asked for and what we funded,” City Councilman Chris Coughlin said. “And, we generally debate out those capital projects to align with our strategic priorities.”

A new department

In other matters at the work session, the City Council agreed to establish an in-house Recreation and Parks Department. Up till now, the city has contracted parks services through Jacobs Engineering, which answered

to the city’s Public Works Department.

The transition is expected to be completed by Sept. 30.

“This is really, really exciting,” City Councilwoman Erin Elwood said. “I’ve long wanted Parks to be freestanding as its own department because it just symbolically means a lot.”

With Cauley Creek Park now online, the city has around 400 acres of park space.

The department will have eight fulltime employees. Five of the positions are new, including a capital projects manager. Erica Madsen, former city engineer with Johns Creek, will head the department as its director and is reviewing resumes.

According to the proposed Fiscal

Year 2024 Budget, the new department will have a dozen part-time positions.

Former official honored

At the regular City Council meeting that followed the work session, officials recognized Liz Hausmann for her service to the community. Hausmann, former Fulton County Commissioner, was a charter member of the Johns Creek City Council.

“I have to say that I’ve had the privilege of serving this community for 20 years, 20-plus years,” Hausmann said. “So many things have happened over those two decades, but really, the most impactful thing to me, personally, is starting the City of Johns Creek.”

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

At left, Liz Hausmann, former Fulton County Commissioner, views a proclamation presented by Johns Creek Councilwoman Stacy Skinner which recognized Hausmann’s service to the community at the July 11 regular meeting. Hausmann was an inaugural member of the Johns Creek City Council.

A group of nine young professionals gather for the NEXT Gen Forum

Creek City Hall July 10, to share insights into city planning. The event is expected to take place annually going forward.

Goals:

Continued from Page 1

entertainment concepts, residential units and office space

• Boston Scientific — a leading manufacturer of medical devices

• Cauley Creek Park — the city’s largest park at 203 acres, which includes a 5K rubberized trail, more than 10 lighted sports sites, two synthetic and two turf lighted athletic fields as well as a pedestrian bridge and river overlooks

• Creekside Park — 20-plus acres of parkland anchored by the pond behind Johns Creek City Hall, which will have a constructed wetland, amphitheater, terraced seating, a small playground and a 15-foot-wide trail leading up to East Johns Crossing

Addressing the young guests, Song said that he hopes sharing information about some of the city’s major projects would give future leaders a chance to add their own perspectives for how Johns Creek develops.

“It’ll be a great way for us to get that information out, but at the same time to get your input, because I do believe it’s a valuable, valuable asset that we need to take into consideration — from what we typically hear on a day-to-day basis,” Song said.

The guests were asked a series of questions centered around the city’s assets, challenges, cultural resources, housing and defining characteristics. Cultural diversity, they said, was one of Johns Creek’s assets. But guests

also said the city lacked diversity in both business, housing and transportation options.

Most of Johns Creek is residential, Song said, primarily consisting of “single-family residential.”

“If we’re trying to make it a place where people will want to come back to for a younger demographic, then that’s inherently going to offend some people’s sensibilities,” said Varun Vishwanath, a civil engineering student at Georgia Tech.

Vishwanath called the city’s zoning code “very prescriptive,” suggesting its standard of density is narrow.

“If it’s going to be an area of density, then it should be actually dense,” Vishwanath said.

Gabi Rolader, a rising junior at Virginia Tech and a Johns Creek Communication Department intern, said there has been a lot of business turnover around the corner of State Bridge Road and Medlock Bridge Road. The city is now working on a revitalization plan for that area, using community input.

“All these places get closed down and then replaced with other ones, so you kind of lose your connection to that area,” Rolader said.

Rolader and Alex Arabis, a rising junior at the University of South Carolina, helped organize the NEXT Gen Forum. Song said he hopes the forum will become at least an annual gathering.

Another college student commented on frequent visits to Avalon in the summer but has a difficult time finding parking.

“If there’s another thing like it, like Medley, then I’ll probably go there,” she said.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

at Johns

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

Name: Sid’s Pizza

Owners: Stan and Sharon Kurnett

Description: Celebrating 20 years! We opened our 2nd location in downtown Alpharetta.

Opened: December 2022

Phone: (470) 657-2277

Address: 11770 Haynes Bridge Rd Ste 301, Alpharetta, GA 30009

Name: Be Sassy CEO Designs

Owner: Collyne Partee

Description: Be Sassy CEO Designs: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs with Innovative Web and Branding Solutions. Be Sassy CEO Designs was born out of a desire to support and uplift women in business, because every woman has the potential to achieve greatness, and we are here to provide them with the tools.

Opened: June 2023

Phone: (470) 758-9204

Website: https://www.besassyceo.com/

Just opened?

Appen Media publishes New Business Spotlights to highlight local businesses as they get started. Submit yours for free at appenmedia.com/newbusiness.

Name: Camp - A Family

themed experiences in physical

Opened: May 2023

Address: 4551 Olde Perimeter Way; Atlanta, GA 30346

Website: https://camp.com/ locations/atlanta

The importance of a beneficiary

Brought to you

by - Geerdes & Associates

Estate planning plays a pivotal role in protecting your loved ones and your legacy. While some may think a beneficiary is only important where a Will is involved - did you know you should also be naming beneficiaries on your bank accounts? If you didn’t, here are some vital facts about beneficiaries that you should know.

First, a beneficiary is any individual or entity that you wish to bestow your assets to. Beneficiaries are an integral part of estate planning as having them determines whether or not your assets are left in limbo. If you don’t name a beneficiary for important assets such as life insurance policies, retirement plans, and bank accounts, then your heirs and loved ones will have to go through the costly probate court process to get whatever remains of your assets after court fees. You can also name your trust as the beneficiary if you wish to protect the assets after your death in the event your beneficiary gets sued, remarried, divorced, or disabled.

Even if you name a beneficiary for all

your accounts, there are situations in which that beneficiary cannot get your assets. This happens when the beneficiary is a minor child, in which case the surviving spouse or guardian will have to file a conservatorship with the probate court to access the funds. However, none of the funds can be used without a court order until the minor reaches the age of 18, and the surviving spouse or guardian will have to file annual reports on the maintenance of the funds, which is a tiring, costly, and time-consuming process. On top of that, if the beneficiary is disabled, then leaving your assets to them outright can result in that beneficiary losing his or her government benefits. Don’t disinherit your disabled children when instead you can leave assets to them in a trust and at the same time keep them eligible for government benefits.

If your beneficiary designation is a Trust, rather than an individual, then you can also avoid the costly and timeconsuming probate process entirely. Keep in mind, though, that your Trust must be tailored to the specific assets you want to protect when you designate your trust as a beneficiary. A Trust set up to protect a life insurance policy will be different from one set up for a retirement account on how to properly designate your trust as the beneficiary. For that reason, it’s recommended that you seek out the advice of a local estate planning attorney to know your best options.

GEERDES

Great minds think differently

Brought to you by – The Cottage School

Since 1985, The Cottage School (TCS) has provided a comprehensive program for students with learning differences grades 3-12. TCS offers a business-based model that promotes self-advocacy and fosters self-confidence, preparing them for life after graduation to pursue post-secondary educational paths or vocational opportunities. Our accredited college preparatory curriculum meets Georgia graduation standards and HOPE scholarship requirements to take students to graduation and beyond.

Our students, in all grades, enjoy unique experiential learning with electives based on their interests and clubs including archery, drama,

forensics, robotics, horticulture and amazing off-campus experiences throughout the year.

The school’s beautiful 23-acre Roswell campus is a hidden gem in North Fulton, with small class sizes our students develop meaningful connections to our teaching staff. Our cottages are unique and warm learning environments that include computer and science labs, art studios, a multi-purpose athletic and performing arts facility, indoor and outdoor classrooms, comprehensive music program and trails for mountain biking and cross-country. TCS encourages students of all abilities to participate in athletics by offering sports such as soccer, basketball, baseball, cross-country, tennis, and golf.

The Cottage School has built a one-

Established in 1985 at the highest point in the city of Roswell, GA, The Cottage School equips students with learning differences to face the challenges of a changing world by meeting the students where they are today.

Established in 1985 at the highest point in the city of Roswell, GA, The Cottage School equips students with learning differences to face the challenges of a changing world by meeting the students where they are today.

Established in 1985 at the highest point in the city of Roswell, GA, The Cottage School equips students with learning differences to face the challenges of a changing world by meeting the students where they are today. Our unique experimental programming and business based model sets us apart from all the rest.

Our unique experimental programming and business based model sets us apart from all the rest.

Our unique experimental programming and business based model sets us apart from all the rest.

4 color proces

of-a-kind learning environment perfect for students who learn differently. TCS offers 12-month rolling admissions for all grade levels. Visit our website or call for a campus tour today.

Summit Counseling Center’s onsite therapy program

Brought to you by - Summit Counseling Center

“I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please fo Did you know that mental health support in schools is often lacking?

Recent data from a 2022 Pew Research Center survey revealed that only about half of U.S. public schools offer mental health assessments, and even fewer provide treatment services - meaning that many students who may be struggling with their emotions are not receiving the support they need.

Research has shown that school connectedness (how much youth believe that adults and peers at school genuinely care about them and want them to succeed) plays a significant role in mental health. Youth who experience a strong sense of connectedness during middle and high school are less likely to encounter

problems with substance use, mental health, suicidality, and risky sexual behavior as they become adults (Steiner, R. J., et al., Pediatrics, Vol. 144, No. 1, 2019).

Our Summit onsite school-based therapy program seeks to bridge the gap. Our highly skilled therapists are physically present in 31 public and private schools across Fulton, Dekalb, and Gwinnett counties so students can receive professional therapy right within the familiar environment of their own schools, making it easier for them to access the help they need. Our program is specifically designed to address a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral challenges. Therapists work closely with school staff to establish a comprehensive support system that nurtures emotional well-being and resilience.

Our program is now accepting referrals for the 2023-2024 school year. If you believe your student could benefit from our nonprofit services, visit our website at summitcounseling.org.

Together, let’s prioritize youth mental health, foster school connectedness, and ensure that every student receives the guidance they need to lead happier and healthier lives!

Sowing the seeds of organic learning

Brought

to you by

– Johns Creek Montessori School of Georgia

Maria Montessori, Italy’s first woman doctor, invented a system of early childhood education based on her scientific observations of how the child constructs himself through interaction with his environment.

Her emphasis on the importance of the “prepared” environment created by the teacher offers the child the freedom to choose his work. This freedom - which is given when the child demonstrates the responsibility to use it wisely - allows him to remain with an activity until its purpose is accomplished. Working without artificial timelines allows him to engage in the spontaneous repetition of a skill so that it is refined; this freedom also creates in him the ability to concentrate for long periods of time and to feel the satisfaction of mastery.

In a Montessori environment, the teacher serves as a guide rather than as a traditional instructor. She continually observes the child, using these observations to give the next lesson so that he steadily progresses.

The multi-aged classroom gives every child regular opportunities to be the learner as well as the leader in the security

of a home-like environment which is cared for by everyone in it, teacher and student alike. The Montessori classroom is ordered and beautiful, filled with materials that are aesthetically pleasing, materials which capture the imagination and assist in physical, academic and social development. Montessori develops children who are responsible, creative, innovative, respectful and kind. Montessori children are truly the citizens of the future, equipped to face challenges with confidence and competence.

Located near the intersection of 141 and McGinnis Ferry Road in Johns Creek, Johns Creek Montessori School of Georgia provides excellence in Montessori education for infants, toddlers and children to six years old. JCMSOG provides an authentic Montessori environment, where each individual’s needs are respected, and everyone works together for the good of the community. The focus is always on helping the children to develop themselves in a caring, peaceful environment. By helping children to develop independence, we assist them in their physical and emotional development. As their sense of security in their ability to care for themselves and their environment grows, their brains have more energy

or “bandwidth” for increased academic learning. Additionally, this focus on development of muscular control is a first step in developing self-discipline. The

Sowing the Seeds of Organic Learning

Limited Openings Available – The JCMSOG difference is best experienced in person, schedule a tour or visit with your child and observe our “Montessori Magic.”

JCMSOG Difference is best experienced in person. Please schedule a visit with your child to observe our “Montessori Magic”www.JCMSOG.org 770-814-8001

A letter to students

1. You are awesome. Be confident in who you are. I promise you’ll meet people who are smarter than you, and that’s OK. You don’t have to be the smartest person—oddly enough, sometimes being the smartest person is difficult. I also promise that you will be smarter than most. Enjoy that; while being smart isn’t everything, it is definitely something. Be confident in your intelligence, but not arrogant. I’ve found that, most of the time, being arrogant backfires on you. That leads into point two…

2. Sometimes it takes more courage and intelligence to be silent than to speak. It took me a long time to understand and respect silence. I’m still learning that it’s a mark of maturity and, most of the time, intelligence. Also, respect everyone’s differences and challenge yourself to learn about them.

3. Never stop learning. I don’t mean that in a teacher way, I mean it in a learning life sort of way. You are constantly growing, maturing, and developing, so enjoy it. Life is a condition to which no one is immune. We learn something every day. Our taste in music, food, TV, and the people we surround ourselves with evolves. It’s natural for these preferences to change. I wasted a lot of time trying to be someone I wasn’t because I thought I was supposed to be someone else. To complete number three, you need to invest in number four…

4. Spend time with yourself. Since you’ve been in my class, I’ve learned how amazing you are each in your own way. If you sit and spend time with you, I think you’ll feel the same way. I’m such a people person, but sometimes the best thing is time alone with great music, a book, TV, or whatever. As cheesy as this sounds, be your own best friend. The sooner you learn that all of your faults and idiosyncrasies are what make you awesome, the sooner you will be a better person and enjoy life so much more. That leads to number five…

5. Everyone has faults. With the advent of social media, I sometimes find myself comparing my faults with everyone else’s highlights. Scrolling through your Twitter feed (or

Snapchat or TikTok), you see people lauding their accomplishments, great times, and great friends. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this, as long as you understand that what you see on social media is an incomplete picture. If you compare all of your faults to those highlights, you may feel a bit inadequate. Everyone has faults, so embrace yours. Grow from them and know that they add to what makes you, you. And remember, you’re awesome.

6. Surround yourself with people who love you and think you’re great (but also who know and accept your faults). You need this. If someone won’t accept you for who you are, ask yourself if you really need that relationship (be it friends or more).

7. Smile. Every day. I’m not getting into the psychology of it all, but it could possibly make you happier and healthier. It works. Trust me.

8. Don’t trust people just because they say, “trust me.” Still...

9. Trust people. It’s endearing. I know this is very contradictory, but it’s true. Even though “trust me” should raise flags, trusting people means you are human and we all need people we can trust.

10. I’ve saved one of the most important tips for last: Be happy. Genuinely happy. Choose a profession that pays the bills and makes you want to go to work most days. You won’t be happy every day. You will have bad days, weeks and maybe even months, but you’ll be generally happy. Money will not, in the end, make you happy.

One of the greatest pieces of advice my dad ever gave me was to make greatmemories. Good and bad, and all kinds in between, they are all part of our life.

So, make them good ones and remember that you are part of other’s memories so make sure they are positive, too.

I have to end this the way my mother ended most of our conversations when I was in high school and college. Make good choices. (I repeat this often to my own kids.)

Lori Fenzl, Upper School social studies teacher

Brought to you by - Woodward Academy

Change lives, change the world

Wesleyan School believes faith and intellect are great partners with each other. At Wesleyan, it’s not a matter of choosing faith or intellect, but rather using both to create the best possible education for your child. Our leadership and faculty work to provide students with an atmosphere that is challenging, reinforces the value of hard work, and emphasizes character and integrity above accomplishment. Wesleyan prepares students for each stage of life and provides them the opportunity to see all the possibilities that lie before them. Wesleyan’s school motto is JOY-Jesus, Others, Yourself, and every aspect of school life is oriented to reinforce this philosophy of putting Jesus first and others ahead of ourselves.

A college preparatory environment,

students have access to a wide range of academic opportunities along with athletics, arts, service and other extracurricular activities. Wesleyan’s 85-acre campus provides state-ofthe-art academic facilities along with on-campus practice space for athletics and arts.

Located just outside of I-285 in Peachtree Corners, Wesleyan enrolled 1,207 students in grades K-12 for the 2022-2023 school year. Wesleyan offers bus routes throughout the metro Atlanta area. Supervised care before school is included in the cost of tuition and after care is available (K-8) until 6 p.m. at an affordable rate.

The Wesleyan School 5405 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 770-448-7640

https://www.wesleyanschool.org/

Brought to you by - Wesleyan School

High Meadows School –Inspiring future global citizens and innovative leaders

Brought

There is no place like High Meadows School. Since 1973, High Meadows students in Pre-K through 8th grade have learned through experiential, immersive educational opportunities offered both in the school’s spacious, light-filled classrooms and across 42 acres of grassy fields and scenic woodlands. High Meadows School’s progressive curriculum is focused on developing future global citizens and innovative leaders who embrace challenge and think for themselves.

High Meadows lower years classrooms offer low student-teacher ratios in which instruction emphasizes academic excellence, love of learning, critical thinking, and environmental and social responsibility. As a nationally recognized and awardwinning leader in progressive education, High Meadows is an

accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering its renowned Primary Years Program for students in preschool through fifth grade.

High Meadows School’s accomplished and experienced faculty lead each student on this journey. Through interactive, inquiry-based instruction, supported by of-themoment technology and our naturebased campus, High Meadows teachers are unequaled in their intellect, passion, and compassion for these kids. Every day they inspire authentic learning opportunities that are engaging and sticky (literally and figuratively!).

When children graduate from High Meadows, they are empowered with a deep respect for international perspectives, an intuitive understanding of life’s interconnectedness, and an exceedingly strong sense of self. Education is an

expedition that starts from the moment we are born. When we teach children to be curious and inquiring at an early age, we create within them a love of learning that lasts an entire lifetime.

What is more important than that?

Please visit our website at highmeadows.org or call 770-9932940 to learn more about High Meadows School.

to you by - High Meadows School

The Murray Academy welcomes preschool students for the first time this fall

Mount Pisgah Christian School’s new preschool facility, the Stuart and Eulene Murray Academy celebrated the opening with a ribbon cutting this summer.

Located on the Lower School campus of MPCS, the 24,000 square foot, $3 million preschool is a state-of-the-art facility with 10 new classrooms, a chapel and theatre space, innovation center, indoor interactive play space, and a natureinspired outdoor playscape.

The Murray Academy program serves the school’s three and four-

year-old full day preschool students. Located in Johns Creek, Mount Pisgah Christian School serves more than 1,000 students from infants through 12th grade.

These early years of learning are essential as children learn about the love of Christ and set a foundation to become lifelong learners.

First made possible by Mount Pisgah Church’s generous gift to the school of the South Campus property itself, the Murray Academy is named in recognition of a $1 million grant from the Stuart and Eulene Murray Foundation. The Murray Foundation has a strong history of serving Christian education.

The new playground playscape is a one-of-a-kind outdoor play environment, featuring natural and hand-carved materials. Tree-inspired and sensory stations such as the Eagle’s Nest, Creation Corner and the Hatchling Dig engage students in both learning and play.

In their classrooms, children open a new world of discovery through technology and multi-sensory experiments. Students participate in Chapel, Atelier, music, P.E. and STEAM classes each week. They grow in faith through chapel programs featuring singing and dancing and Bible curriculum.

In the Atelier space, an Atelierista,

or art specialist, provides a variety of creative experiences through music, clay, light and shadow, loose parts, paint, nature, movement and sound.

With small classroom sizes, teachers prepare Preschool 3s and 4s students for the next stage of learning. Elements of formal instruction and curriculum are introduced strategically to prepare children for school.

Children will have opportunities to focus on gross and fine motor skills and social and emotional development. Concepts in language arts, math, and science will be introduced in engaging activities and through the arts and experiments.

Brought to you by - Mount Pisgah Christian School, The Murray Academy Preschool

Education solutions for every mind, every age

Brought

to you by

- Eaton Academy

Eaton Academy offers multiple programs, both in person and online, since a “one size fits all” approach to education is not effective in today’s world.

Academic Programs

The full-day K-12 school, with its 5:1 student-to-teacher ratio, allows instructors to address students’ individual learning styles, while maintaining social distancing. Students achieve significant academic and personal success resulting from STEAMrelated activities and multisensory instruction. The challenging collegeprep curriculum is delivered in a safe, nurturing environment.

For students with more significant academic and social needs, the Pace Program helps students develop life skills and independent living strategies. Pace students follow the traditional school day and work to develop greater self-sufficiency and independence, on their way to earning a high school diploma.

The Independent Study Program (ISP), tailored to students’ schedules and academic needs, permits individuals to work at their own pace. The tutorial setting enables aspiring athletes and

performers to work toward graduation while following their dreams. Some students enroll in ISP to accelerate their scholastic work; others seek academic remediation. ISP arranges the oneto-one sessions on a schedule that accommodates the students’ needs for flexibility.

Post-Graduate Programs

LEAP is designed to help individuals strengthen their life skills in order to achieve greater independence. Participants benefit from job readiness training, life skill development, and scholastic support.

The LIFE program places young adults into their own apartments. Participants meet with a LIFE coach several times each week for support with topics such as budgeting, hygiene, roommate relations, and housekeeping. Supported Employment prepares young adults for the workplace. Assistance is given with resume writing, applying for positions, and keeping a job. College Exploratory offers individuals college level, non-credit courses so they can gauge their readiness for university life.

Eaton Academy is the ideal place for families to discover education options and independent living solutions.

EATON ACADEMY NOW ENROLLING

Cities receive federal aid for road safety initiatives

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

METRO ATLANTA, Ga. — Cities across Metro Atlanta are working toward safer streets and roads with help from a $5 billion federal initiative aimed at zero roadway deaths.

In 2022, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the Safe Streets and Roads for All discretionary program which will appropriate $5 billion in funds to different cities over a five-year span. The program has two grant categories: planning and demonstration grants, which fund the development of a safety action plan, and implementation grants which fund safety projects identified in the action plans.

On June 21, Roswell announced the city received a $200,000 federal Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant to create a comprehensive street safety plan.

Under the planning and demonstration grant, Roswell Department of Transportation staff will conduct a nine-month study and create a “safety action plan” which will allow the city to apply for additional federal funds to complete certain projects.

“The first step is to look at where safety improvements can be made throughout the city,” Roswell Transportation Director Jeff Littlefield said. “Once that is done, we can go after federal funding for other projects.”

In Roswell, the plan will include traffic calming measures, sidewalk improvements and amenities for bicyclists and pedestrians. The city’s grant department is also looking for other grants that are only available to cities with the Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant.

The North Fulton Community Improvement District has partnered

with the city to provide a local match of $50,000 at no cost to the city.

Other cities have set funds aside to study and create road safety action plans, which will make them eligible to apply for Safe Streets and Roads for All implementation grants that will fund safety improvements from the plan.

In April, the Dunwoody City Council approved a $166,864 contract to develop a road safety action plan for the city designed to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. The plan analyzes crash data and gathers public input to create new safety strategies for streets in the city.

The contract is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, as part of $1.2 million in funding the council set aside for street safety improvements over the next three years.

The rest of the street safety funds will finance additional safe street construction projects and the city’s new Safe Streets Program Manager Jonathan Digioia, who will work to

enact the Road Safety Action Plan.

The Alpharetta City Council also set aside money to implement a local road safety action plan. The council approved a $199,778 contract with Alta Planning and Design in February. The plan is set for completion this summer.

Once the plan is implemented, the

city will be eligible for the Safe Streets and Roads for All implementation grant program.

Other Metro Atlanta cities didn’t receive funds from the federal initiative, like Johns Creek and Milton.

The Milton Public Works Department said the city applied for but did not receive Safe Streets and Roads for All funding in 2022. Milton requested a construction grant, which only one government in Georgia received.

Communications Director Greg Botelho said Milton plans to receive grant funds in 2023, though. The Milton City Council approved the city’s 2023 grant request application for supplementary planning and demonstration projects at a June 19 meeting.

“We have since reformulated our grant request for the coming year and hope for a different result,” Botelho said.

A spokesperson from Sandy Springs did not state whether or not the city applied for and received a grant in 2023 but pointed toward the $360,000 the city received in 2022 from Safe Streets and Roads for All to develop a road safety action plan.

FILE PHOTO

Local governments are eligible to tap into $5 billion in federal transportation funds through legislation passed in 2022. The City of Roswell recently received a $200,000 federal Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant to create a comprehensive street safety plan.

The company you keep says a lot about you

I have a friend here in Alpharetta

I’ve known for decades. We went to school together at FSU, lived in the same dorm, swam at the same sinks, camped out at St. George Island together with our posse with kegs of beer on weekends and such. I don’t think you can sleep in the dunes at St. George with kegs of beer anymore. That was a long time ago.

I am sure he knew and could play almost every recorded Bob Dylan song ever made.

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus

We’re both married and have adult children. We are retired or very close. We’ve both survived bouts of prostate cancer and we’ve both stumbled into older age sometimes clueless and other times with firm and clear resolve. And we are headed into, well, those later chapters of life now.

And boy, who knew?

My friend is an artist – a talented musician, writer, painter, and who knows what else. He never ceases to surprise me. We were both big Dylan fans back in the day. At one point,

Dylan still makes up maybe half of my play list – with the Stones, Jackson Brown, Velvet Underground, Hendrix, Tracy Chapman and Van Morrison making up most of the remainder. When I did my hike seven years ago, it was the same playlist that it is now. I don’t think I have added more than a few songs in the last 20 years. Sad. While I seem to be stuck in one place musically, he has probably moved on, I think; his playlist today probably doesn’t overlap so much with his old one, I suspect.

Neither of us would have imagined back then that after all the water under all the bridge, and all the years that we should end up living within a couple miles of each other in North Fulton. Life is funny.

It reminds me of water; water is going to go where it wants to go, and at the end of the day, one rarely has control of water. The older I get though, the more I believe that very little in life is random. There is a reason – a plan – somewhere. Nothing

else makes sense or explains this stuff.

Our relationship is still the same, but it’s not.

Time, I find, has a sneaky way of messing with people, relationships, friendships and the status quo. I can count on one hand the number of truly close friends I have. If I include the friends who are still so close, but who have changed in ways that are no longer as convergent with our shared relationship back then, my list probably expands to two hands, but not more.

The friends I have from the onlyone-hand group will always be there, and the relationship will never change. We can pick up the phone after years, and it is like not a day has passed. We can do that today. We can do that in 20 years. Depending on who goes first, we’ll attend each other’s funerals.

We know each other’s kids and spouses well. The kids are almost as close to us as we are to each other. We’ve been to their weddings. We’ve driven or flown down for funerals of their grandparents. We keep track

of their lives, their careers and their families as if it were our own. And when the chips were down, we are the ones who always show up.

“Just show up,” is what my son Carl says about things that are important. Just show up. My friend’s kids know, and they appreciate their parents’ friendships almost as if it is their own – which actually, it really is.

My friend and I have been through a few rough patches in our relationship, but we have managed to fight off those times and stay connected and stay friends, good friends. A lot of the reason that we have been able to do that is because we keep talking, we keep communicating, we keep working at staying connected; we don’t throw in the towel because of stupid differences or not so important divergent points of view. It takes work. It takes will. And at the end of the day, what is more important than family and the close friends you keep?

The company you keep defines you, who you are, and is worth fighting for to the very end. The company you keep makes it all worthwhile.

Best Date Night Hotspot

Best Day Spa / Massage

Best Farmers Market

Best Golf Course

Best Group/Corporate Activity

Best Gym / Fitness Facility

Best Music Lessons

Best Performing Arts / Theatre

Best Place for Kids to Have Fun

Best Sports Program

Best Summer Camp

Best Wedding Venue

RETAIL:

Best Antiques Store

Best Apparel Boutique (LOCAL)

Best Art Gallery / Retailer

Best Beverage / Wine Store (LOCAL)

Best Boutique Shop (LOCAL)

Best Bridal Shop

Best CBD Retailer

Best Consignment Store

Best Florist

Best Furniture / Home Décor

Best Jeweler

Best Pharmacy

Lessons/Studio

Silk, cotton, Georgia land auction and the Civil War

When European settlers came to Georgia, some thought that planting mulberry trees, which are home to silkworms, would be the road to riches. Silkworms would provide the fiber to make silk cloth which was highly prized by the European upper classes. In 1734, a group of persecuted German-speaking Protestants from Salzburg, Austria, founded the town of Ebenezer about 25 miles northwest of Savannah. After a decade, the residents began producing high-quality silk from the mulberry trees they had planted.

The Revolutionary War ended production completely in 1779. It did not recover after the war, and cotton replaced silk production. Cotton was easier to grow and was more profitable than silk. Along the Georgia coast, around 1785, growers began importing long staple Sea Island cotton seed from the West Indies.

Farmers in North Fulton began growing a different type of cotton as well. Lynn Tinley, a board member of the Milton Historical Society with a PhD from Emory University in American Studies with an emphasis on textiles says, “short staple Upland cotton fibers are lower quality than Sea Island cotton fibers, but the plant produces higher yields. It is well suited to the climate in North Fulton.”

Seeds are particularly difficult to remove from short staple cotton. (Staple refers to the length of fibers.) The rapid expansion of short staple cotton production in this part of Georgia was made possible by the perfection of the cotton gin which Eli Whitney patented in 1794. According to the National Archives, Whitney’s idea was based on earlier gins and on ideas from others. Whitney thought he would become rich by making and installing gins throughout Georgia and the South, charging farmers a fee for doing the ginning for them. Farmers revolted, and Whitney’s dream of great wealth did not come true.

Upland cotton is well suited for basic products such as canvas and denim jeans. It is low maintenance, soft and strong. Ninety-five percent of the cotton grown in the U.S. is short staple. As staple length increases, cotton becomes softer and silkier and is ideal for sheets and towels.

Unlike the plantation system on the coast, cotton production in this area

was linked to the 19th century land lotteries, notes Lynn Tinley. There were a few large landowners in this area.

Most, however, grew cotton on portions of 40- to 100-acre lots obtained directly or indirectly through the land lotteries. As subsistence farmers, they kept a portion of their cotton for personal use.

Although many individuals worked to develop a machine that would remove seeds from cotton, Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin in 1794 which led to the rapid increase in cotton production and the production of cotton cloth in Georgia.

The remainder was a cash crop which they had ginned and then sold.

Two of the most notable cotton growers in North Fulton were John B. Broadwell (1855-1953) and Joel Jackson Rucker (1880-1960). Broadwell was a breeder of cotton plants. By using only the seeds from

his best plants he was able to produce three bales of cotton per acre while the average was one or two. His Broadwell Double-Jointed Cotton Seed was very well known throughout the cotton belt.

J.J. Rucker, brother of professional baseball star Nap Rucker, founded the Rucker Cotton Seed Company circa 1911. He actively promoted his Rucker Select No. 1 seed in newspapers throughout Georgia. In 1930, he built a cotton gin in Crabapple which remained open until the 1950s. In a testimonial ad in the Atlanta SemiWeekly Journal in 1918, the Roswell Manufacturing Company said it always paid a premium for Rucker cotton and in turn received a premium for its goods in local and foreign markets.

The Roswell Manufacturing Company played an important role in the history of cotton. Lynn Tinley has done extensive research on the company and its relationship with local farmers. She will present a public presentation on the local cotton industry sponsored by the Milton Historical Society in November at the Milton Library.

Roswell King first arrived in North Georgia in 1830. He was on the board of the Darien Bank and came to the area to scout out a new branch location. He knew the cotton industry, having overseen cotton plantations and been a cotton agent in Darien, and he believed Vickery Creek would provide the perfect water supply to power a cotton manufacturing company. Together with some prominent Darien families, he founded the town of Roswell in 1839. In that year he and his son Barrington established the Roswell Manufacturing Company with a cotton mill and adjacent mill village to house its workers. The factory spun ginned cotton into coarse yarn and then wove some of it into coarse cotton cloth. He later built another cotton mill and converted a sawmill into a wool mill. During the Civil War, the factory sold cloth to the Confederate government for army uniforms. The mills were largely destroyed during the Civil War. Some of the mills were rebuilt and remained in operation until the 1970s.

You can contact Lynn Tinley at lynntinley38@gmail.com.

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM STATHAM

John Broadwell invented new strains of cotton and promoted his Double Jointed Cotton from his wagon in addition to selling to selling to the Roswell Manufacturing Company. He was a man of many talents. His tombstone is inscribed “He was a farmer merchant, miller, inventor and plant breeder.”

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

NEW GEORGIA ENCYCLOPEDIA

Early Georgia colonists planted mulberry trees in hopes of producing silk for cloth which was highly prized in Europe. After the Revolutionary War silk production was largely replaced by cotton.

GARDEN BUZZ

Walking in the garden, there are fungi among us

Walking in the garden this morning I observe something new! Overnight, suddenly there are fungi everywhere! White mushrooms, orange mushrooms, puffballs and bracket fungi! The showstopper and the source of my interest was a blue fungus. How unique – a blue mushroom with a royal blue underside or gills. My internet research determined it is commonly called indigo milk mushroom and goes by the scientific name of Lactarius indigo.

CAROLE MACMULLAN

So how did these fungi suddenly appear? Like all organisms they need moisture, nutrients and light. This week the conditions were perfect. Fungi spores are opportunists waiting for the perfect conditions to spring into life! Spores can wait for weeks, months and even years to germinate. Fungi do not germinate from seeds but reproduce by spores. Spores wait for the perfect moment to pop out of the ground and grow.

Fungi are not green; therefore, they do not contain chlorophyll and do not carry on photosynthesis, so biologists kicked fungi out of the Plant Kingdom several decades ago and assigned them to their own kingdom, Fungi! Scientists also discovered fungi differ from plants in their cellular structure. Fungi cells contain cell walls like plants, but their chemical composition is different. Plants have cell walls constructed from a chemical called cellulose, but Fungi contain a different chemical called chiton. Like all living things, fungi contain DNA, and variations in the DNA found in the nucleus of fungi can create the many different genera and species assigned to the Fungi Kingdom.

I also observed a fairy ring, a cluster of fungi that grows in a circular pattern. Why in a circular pattern? If we had the ability to view beneath the surface, we would find decaying organic material, the source of nutrients for fungi. Fungi are one of the main contributors of decomposition on the Earth. The fairy ring in my yard was probably sustained by the remains of a maple tree that was removed two years before. Underground its root system is decaying. This decaying process creates a perfect opportunity for spores to germinate and for the above

ground mushrooms to grow, prosper and continue their life cycle.

I challenge you to walk around your yard or wherever your favorite walk takes you and observe the fungi you might see. If you have children or grandchildren, give them a minilesson on fungi.

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.

Learn more

• Morel Mushroom Hunting Club - https://morelmushroomhunting.com/

• Fairy Ring Mushrooms - https://site.extension.uga.edu/bartow/ fairy-ring-mushrooms/

• Indigo Milky - https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/indigo-milky

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a Milton resident and master gardener since 2012. Carole describes herself as a born biologist. Since childhood, she has loved to explore the out-of-doors and garden with her mother. When she entered college, she selected biology as her major and made teaching high school biology her career for 35 years. After retirement in 2008, she had three goals: to move from Pittsburgh to Atlanta to be near her daughter and granddaughter, to volunteer, and to become a Master Gardener. Shortly after moving, she became involved with the philanthropic mission of the Assistance League of Atlanta (ALA) and in 2012, completed the Master Gardener program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners (NFMG) and the Milton Garden Club. Carole uses her teaching skills to create a variety of presentations on gardening topics for the NFMG Lecture Series and Speakers Bureau. She also volunteers weekly at the ALA thrift store and acts as chair of their Links to Education scholarship program. Her favorite hobbies are gardening, hiking, biking, and reading.

Guest Columnist

MRBLACKSARMY.WEEBLY.COM/

Parts of a fungus

UGA PHOTO FROM BARTOW COUNTY Fairy Ring

PHOTO BY MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION

Lactarius indigo, Blue indigo milk mushroom with gills.

Get More News at appenmedia.com

WANT MORE? FOLLOW US ON

Schools:

Continued from Page 4

have their practice fields replaced in 2025, as will Johns Creek High School and Chattahoochee High School.

The county is also investing in district-wide improvements to its infrastructure.

“Overall, the infrastructure is focused on better technology,” Maloof said. “The other piece is going to be around efficiencies with our mechanical systems.”

The operations officer said the school district hopes to be “good stewards” of taxpayer moneys with the focus on “protecting investment.”

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS CITY OF JOHNS CREEK

RFP #23-212-1 ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

The City of Johns Creek is requesting proposals (RFP) to qualified individuals / organizations for Environmental Services. RFP’s will be received electronically via the City’s bid platform, BidNet with hard copies delivered to City Hall no later than 2:00PM on July 31, 2023. Questions are accepted and answered online only via BidNet. Deadline for questions is July 24, 2023 at 5:00 PM.

Quotes, bids, and RFP’s are electronically managed through the Georgia Purchasing Group by BidNet, our online bidding/vendor registration system, on the City website: https://www.johnscreekga.gov/Residents/Purchasing. To access the ITB document you must register with BidNet. Go to the City website above and click the link “register and view quote/bid/RFP opportunities”.

All offerors must comply with all general and special requirements of the RFP information and instructions.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting Neil Trust at the City of Johns Creek Procurement Division at purchasing@johnscreekga.gov or (678) 512-3233. The City of Johns Creek reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to wave technicalities and informalities, and to make award in the best interest of the City of Johns Creek.

See solution Page 31

Human Resources Manager

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.

Software Engineer Senior (Alpharetta, GA): Dvlp, create, & mdfy general comp apps s/w or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs & dvlp s/w solutions. Work throughout the s/w dvlpmt life cycle & prfrm in a utility capacity to create, dsgn, code, debug, maintain, test, implmnt & validate apps w/ a broad understanding of a variety of langs & architectures. Remote work permitted within the US. Resumes to: Total System Services LLC, Brian Simons, Associate Director, HR Risk and Compliance, One TSYS Way, Columbus GA 31901. Job#HG526101.

Senior Tech Lead, Job Code 0801 (Opus Consulting Solutions Inc.): Alpharetta, GA & various unanticpt locs w/in U.S. long term relo may be req’d. Understnd & anlyze critcl bus reqmnts and provde tech soltns. Resp for overall ATM app dvlpmnt, unit testing, bus operatn, incident, change & release mgmt. Invld in testing bus flow, cardless modules, hw devices & providng networking firewall updates. Uses tools such as CrossTec, Host Simulator, Mainframe Host System, Javascript, XML & ATM Solutions. Requires Bachelor’s in Comp. Sci./Eng./IT or frgn equiv. + five yrs progressive wrk exp. Refer to job code and email resumes to hrusa@opusconsulting.com

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.

Donor Operations Associate

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.

To view the entire listing visit https://nfcchelp.org/ work-at-nfcc/. To apply, please submit resume to Carol Swan at cswan@nfcchelp.org.

Software Developers – Multiple openingsAlpharetta, GA. Intuites LLC needs professionals. work using Oracle Apex, PL/SQL, HTML, Java Script, Unix, JIRA, CSS, GIT, ETL tools, DBMS. Req. - Bachelor’s +2yrs, Comp. salary, Relocation within USA possible.

Please mail resume to Ref: Director, 1740 Grassland Parkway, Ste 405, Alpharetta, Georgia, 30004.

Part-time NEWSPAPER DELIVERY ROUTE

SERVICE

DIRECTORY Driveway

Haulers

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.

Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling, Etc.

Many local referencesCall Ralph Rucker 678-898-7237

$250 OFF NEW DRIVEWAY!

Mention this ad. Concrete driveway specialists. Driveways, Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways, Slabs.  A+ BBB rating. FREE ESTIMATE. Call Rachael at 678-250-4546 to schedule a FREE Estimate. 30 years of experience. ARBOR HILLS CONSTRUCTION INC. Please note we do have a minimum charge on accepted jobs of $4,500.

Tree Services

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

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

Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts 770-512-8733 • www.yellowribbontree.com

COMPLETE TREE SERVICES

Appen-Rated 98

Text or Call us for a FREE quote appointment.

Tree removal, Pruning, Stump grinding, Free mulch. Fully insured. Emergency 24/7 770-450-8188

Home Improvement

DECKS BUILT

Gutters

AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 678-508-2432

Pinestraw

PINESTRAW, MULCH

Delivery/installation available. Firewood available. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth

Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612

Roofing Landscaping

ROOF LEAKING?

Call us for roof repair or roof replacement. FREE quotes. $200 OFF Leak Repairs or 10% off New Roof. Affordable, quality roofing. Based in Roswell. Serving North Atlanta since 1983. Call to schedule FREE Quote: 770-284-3123. Christian Brothers Roofing

Concrete/ Asphalt

Retaining

Contact Ralph Rucker. Many local references. Honest, punctual, professional and reasonable prices!

shipping included! USAServicesOnline.com call now 888-203-0881

Retaining walls (brick or wood), grading, sod, tree services, hauling, topsoil & more.

Ralph Rucker 678-898-7237

Herald Headlines

678-898-7237

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-855-948-6176

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protec-tion. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase.

10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398

HughesNet - Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo!

Unlimited Data is Here. Stream

Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499-0141

Become a published author. We want to read your book!

Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24.

1-866-479-1516

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Fi-nancing available.

1-855-417-1306

MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure!

1-888-489-3936

Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom! 1-833-758-3892

Inflation is at 40 year highs. Interest rates are way up. Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call National Debt Relief to find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! Free quote: 1-877-592-3616

Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation

ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/ Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405

Are you a pet owner? Do you want to get up to 100% back on vet bills? Physicians Mutual In-surance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-844-774-0206 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow.com/ads

Diagnosed with lung cancer & 65+? You may qualify for a substantial cash award. No obliga-tion! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help! Call 24/7 1-877-707-5707

My Caring Plan has helped thousands of families find senior living. Our trusted, local advisors help find solutions to your unique needs at no cost to you. Call 866-511-1799

A Community of Advocates For Local

Join

In 2022, Appen Media Group created the Appen Press Club, its mission driven news division dedicated to creating a sustainable infrastructure for local journalism in the north metro Atlanta area. Residents of that community, like you, join the Press Club by committing to small monthly or annual dues, 100% of which is dedicated to producing reliable, professional journalism on local issues that affect your lives.

Adam Corder

Robert Flint

Robin Fricton

Roderick Liptrot

Tom McMurrain

MEMBER+

Bob Meyers

Ross & Lori Ramsey

Kim Truett

Roger Wise Jr.

Scott Baynton

Amy Bergin

Rita Brown

Mark Casas

Charlcie Forehand

Marie Gualtiere

MEMBER

Vickie McElroy

Anne Peer

Robert Popp

Mark Rundle

Suraj Sehgal

Alpharetta Lions Club

Omar Altalib

Ron Altman

American Legion Post 201

Barbara Anderson

Mary Asbury

Barbara Bauschka

Kathy Beck

Leslie Berry

Tom Billings

Jodi Bogen

Karen Bottoms

Debra Bowen

Joe Bowen

Erendira Brumley

Mary Busman

Clea Calloway

Carla Campbell

Kirk Canaday

James Carr

Bridgette Carter

William Cartwright

Pat Check

Ann Coaloa

Evelyn Collazo

Michael Mackenzie

Communications

Joan Compton

Terri Coons

Rebecca Donlan

Tom Driscoll

Michael Dudgeon

Mim Eisenberg

Danny Elkins

Martha Fasse

Cathy Flynn

Nanci Foster

Amy Frederick

Kelly Frommer

Carol Fry

Tracey Ganesh

Harvey Goldberg

Christopher Goodrich

Joe Hirsch

Penn Hodge

Joan Hostetter

Lynn Johnson

Tyler Jones

Mark Kelly

Allison Kloster

Jess & Chris Kysar

Malinda Lackey

Ken Leffingwell

Francia Lindon

Harlan Little

Ross Long

Momma Nature Madan

Karen Magill

Valerie Matthews

Rachel McCord

Austin McCully

Mike McLoughlin

Jennifer Mendoza

Al Merrill

Chris Miller

Christine Miller

Fred Moeller

Carol Morgan

Kathy Morgan

Jack Murphy

Tricia Novarro

Bob O’Brien

Joy Pooler

Debra Powell

Righteous PR

Chuck Pugh

Cheryl Rand

Jan Satterfield

Stephanie Schuette

Tina Shelton

Lisa Shippel

Cindy Simpson

Faye Sklar

Judith Slaughter

Andy Smith

Cathryn Stovall

Mike Tasos

Candice Teichert

Lisa Tilt

Matthew Tyser

Ollie Wagner

Lewis Walker

Nancy & Dave Wistrand