Johns Creek Herald - September 19, 2024

September 19, 2024 | AppenMedia.com

Johns Creek adopts FY25 budget, purchases land for Town Center

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Amid heated debate, the Johns Creek City Council adopted a $79.9 million fiscal year 2025 budget Sept. 9.

About half of the city’s budget goes to public safety, and that includes a couple of major initiatives — five new police officer positions and vehicles as well as the rebuild of Fire Station 63, the city’s oldest fire station.

The budget will also fund expanded

Pup-A-Palooza

Community bonds over canines

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Dozens of visitors came out for Johns Creek’s “Pup-A-Palooza” Sept. 14 to peruse vendors and get a peek at dogs dressed to the nines and others with a knack for performing tricks.

Some visitors participated in contests at the Mark Amphitheater at Newtown Park, like Roswell resident Jewel Ausberry, whose pumpkin costume matched her shih tzu named Cherub, or Che Che for short. With separate green sleeves, Che Che was swallowed up in pumpkin, and a small man, dressed in a black suit, hung off.

They won first place in the event’s “Best Dressed” contest.

One of the three contest judges, Ethan Phillips, said her level of commitment to match her dog was the deciding factor.

“It’s not hard to tell who’s really trying to get the best costume for their dog, like the most extravagant,” Phillips said, adding that two-piece costumes are particularly impressive. “If you get a dog to stay in a two-piece costume, that’s some major points right there.”

See CANINE, Page 21

parking for the courts at Cauley Creek Park, baseball field lighting at Ocee Park, and a wellness initiative for city employees developed to offset the cost of rising health care rates.

After Finance Director Ronnie Campbell presented the budget, City Council-

woman Stacy Skinner proposed a few changes.

One was to reinstate $2,500 in funding to Student Leadership Johns Creek.

See COUNCIL, Page 9

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA Jewel Ausberry and her shih tzu named Che Che walk across the stage donning pumpkin costumes for the Johns Creek Pup-A-Palooza “Best Dressed” costume contest Sept. 14. They won first place.

NEWS TIPS

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

POLICE BLOTTER

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Valuable jewelry taken in residential burglary

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek couple reported to police Sept. 4 that their home off Quailbrook Chase had been burglarized.

The husband told police that while they were away, their windows and doors had been secured. When he returned, he noticed a backdoor was open and there was glass on the floor, according to the incident report.

Police cleared the residence and found that a back window had been broken and that multiple drawers had been rummaged through.

The couple reported that four watches and other jewelry were taken from the master bedroom. According to the incident report, the missing items are valued at $3,000.

Couple sought for theft of $5,000 in store items

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Almost $5,000 in beauty products were reported stolen from a North Point Parkway store Aug. 21.

Police were dispatched to the store where an employee said a man and woman had stolen the items, according to an Alpharetta police report. A total of 41 Dior items valued at $2,286 and 50 La Roche-Posay items valued at $2,201.50 were reported stolen.

The employee said surveillance cameras recorded the man and woman entering the store on Aug. 17 and stealing the items.

The man placed the items into a large black handbag the woman was holding.

The employee said the two have been seen shoplifting from their company’s stores in the past.

Officers arrest driver in hit-and-run incident

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested a 25-year-old Florida man Sept. 4 after he allegedly fled the scene of a hit and run at Holcomb Bridge Road and Holcomb Woods Parkway.

The victim, a 24-year-old Roswell woman, said a silver Chrysler sedan with a Florida license plate struck her vehicle around 10:40 a.m. and then drove off.

An officer said he contacted the vehicle’s registered owner who told him her nephew was driving the car.

The officer said the registered owner instructed her nephew to return to the scene of the accident near the Holcomb Bridge ConneXion shopping center.

It is not clear how the caller, living in Bradenton, Florida, got the vehicle to her nephew living in Alpharetta.

Officers said the Florida man told them through translators that the victim’s vehicle swerved in his lane and struck his 2015 Chrysler 200.

After reviewing security footage of the incident, officers said the Chrysler crossed over two lanes while turning onto the roadway and hit the woman’s car.

Officers arrested the Florida man and issued him four citations for hit and run, no insurance, instructional permit violation and failure to yield entering the roadway.

Atlanta man reports assault at hands of former dealer

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An Atlanta man reported an aggravated assault on Sept. 2, saying a man had hit him with a pistol.

Police interviewed a man whose head was bleeding about 5 p.m. on North Point Parkway, according to an Alpharetta police report. He told officers he was attacked after getting off the bus to work at a restaurant.

The man told police he was approached by another man, who struck him after an argument. The injured man said his assail-

ASK APPEN

ant had previously threatened, shot at and struck him.

The injured man said he used to purchase marijuana from him.

Police did not apply for warrants because they did not know the legal name of the alleged attacker.

Fraudster raids account of Roswell bank customer

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating a case of financial identity fraud after scammers wired $20,000 from a Roswell woman’s bank account Sept. 7.

The victim, 41, said she received a text messaging around noon from a person claiming to work for Chase Bank and asking her to confirm a wire transfer.

About 30 minutes later, the victim said she received a phone call from someone using a caller identification from Chase Bank. She said the unidentified caller had information about all her bank accounts, verified her last two transactions with Chase and said he was trying to help her stop the wire transfer.

When the call ended, the victim said she went to her local Chase Bank branch to change her account information.

Once at the bank, the victim said she received another notification about a pending $20,000 wire transfer. She said Chase Bank employees were unable to stop the transaction.

Bank employees helped the victim file a claim for the transfer and created new accounts.

Officers said they gave a case number to the victim, who stated she would send over documentation.

Noted authors to speak at Sept. 29 Literary Fair

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek Literary Fair on Sept. 29 will feature keynote speaker Rick Bragg, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author.

The fair will be from noon to 5 p.m. that Sunday at Newtown Park off Old Alabama Road.

Bragg will be in conversation with Brian Panowich, an awardwinning Georgia-based author of four novels. They will be joined by numerous local, regional and nationally known writers, speaking throughout the afternoon.

Rick Bragg, Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist and author, will headline the Johns Creek Literary Fair Sept. 29.

Johns Creek Symphony to hold audition concerts for its new music director

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-2025 season will spotlight three world-class conductors as they bring their strengths and passion to the podium in hopes of becoming its next music director.

The season, beginning Oct. 5, comes almost one year since the death of J. Wayne Baughman, the organization’s founder and former maestro, who died last November.

“Three Maestros, One Podium” will feature concerts from conductors Henry Cheng, Howard Hsu and Paul Bhasin.

Throughout the season, they will be joined by renowned instrumental and vocal soloists, including Britton-René Collins, David Fung, Tom Hooten, Johns Creek Chorale, and Bethany Mamola, to present concerts that emphasize the power of human connection, the vibrancy of different music genres and

the impact music has on communities.

The first concert is Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at Newtown Park, and it will feature Cheng as he leads the orchestra into a classical rendition of chart-topping K-pop hits.

Audience members will be invited to complete surveys after each concert, providing invaluable feedback that will help choose the next artistic leader of the orchestra. At the end of the season, the organization will announce the new music director.

The five-concert season ticket package for “Three Maestros, One Podium” is on sale now, ranging in price from $85 to $215. Single tickets range in price from $22 to $55. To buy individual concert tickets, season tickets or explore sponsorship opportunities, visit johnscreeksymphony.org or call 678-748-5802.

SEPTEMBER 21 & 22

Art by Jon Schaubhut

Roswell Day of Hope provides help to needy

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell Day of Hope, an annual event aimed to help those in need of basic resources, like health care, has been scheduled for Sept. 21.

The long-standing community tradition, in its 15th year, is organized by Hope Roswell, a nondenominational network of church leaders and pastors who seek to meet the needs of the community in a variety of ways throughout the year.

The free event, held at Roswell City Hall from noon to 4 p.m., will include free medical screenings and pairs of new shoes, while supplies last, as well as free dental screenings for visitors ages 12 and under. There will also be free haircuts.

Visitors can also enjoy music, local coffee flavors and food trucks as well as a Kid Zone with games and entertainment.

GARAGE

This year, planners hope to raise awareness of the mental health issues teens face.

They have partnered with local nonprofits and businesses to help loved ones understand why teenagers might be struggling, what signs loved ones should look for, and what they can do to help.

“We recognize there are many causes of depression,” explained Brenda Orlans, director of Hope Roswell, the organizing nonprofit. “One of the culprits for the spike in teen depression is technology. Social media, isolation and less sleep all have contributed. Communities around the world are hurting, and Roswell is no exception.”

For more information on the Roswell Day of Hope, visit www. hoperoswell.org.

Antique furniture, tools, designer women’s clothing, kitchenware, much more. 215 Stepping Stone Drive, Alpharetta, 8-6 September 27 & 8-4 on September 28. Cash, Venmo, PayPal only.

DEADLINE

To place garage sale ads: Thursday by 4 p.m. Call 770-442-3278 or email classifieds@appenmediagroup.com

MARY BETH BISHOP/PROVIDED

Volunteers Art and Gilma Cantu, Brenda Orlans and Ron Bevans are ready for guests at the free shoe tent at last year’s Day of Hope.

Keynote Author Rick Bragg Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist & acclaimed author

Sunday, Sept. 29 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

In conversation with Brian Panowich

Attention: Book Clubs! Reserve your table now for Lunch with 20 Local Authors

Listen to a renowned panel of lawyers-turned-authors “Legal Eagles with Scribe Vibes”

• Engage with a diverse lineup of bestselling & local authors Sign up!

• Ten children’s authors & kids activities

• Food & beverages available for purchase

Lo Patrick Michael L. Thurmond Deepa Varadarajan

C. Matthew Smith

Statewide organizations join fray in Appen vs. Sandy Springs suit

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Appen Media’s open records lawsuit with Sandy Springs, now in the appeals process, has drawn a new set of players.

Two statewide organizations have submitted amicus briefs in the case, each supporting different sides of the debate over interpretations of the Georgia Open Records Act.

The Georgia First Amendment Foundation has thrown its weight behind Appen Media, arguing that an unfavorable ruling could have statewide implications leaving the public in the dark about crime in their communities.

In an opposing move, the Georgia Municipal Association has filed an amicus brief siding with the City of Sandy Springs. The GMA, which advocates for and provides services for some 536 Georgia cities, argues that local agencies should have authority to interpret ambiguous language, like “initial” in the law requiring release of initial police reports.

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul has served three terms on the GMA’s Board of Directors and currently serves as its Transportation Chair.

At issue is a December ruling by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Adams that cleared Sandy Springs of violating the Georgia Open Records Act. Adams ruled that the Sandy Springs Police Department is not in violation of the act when it withholds information about the crime, the victim, whether an arrest was made or if a danger exists to the surrounding community.

Instead, the city – for the most part – provides one-sentence narratives and places all vital information in a supplemental report it withholds from the public.

The news organization argues that the responses it receives from Sandy Spring Police after filing open records requests are not the full incident reports required for release under state law. Adams ruled that Appen Media failed to prove that it is unlawful for the Police Department to withhold supplemental information about a crime that police include in a second report, even if that information is added at the same time by the same officer.

Even so, the judge conceded “[Appen] may be correct in its assertion that [the Sandy Springs Police Department’s] practice violates the spirit of the Open Records Act.”

Appen Media alleges that Sandy

Springs has repeatedly denied access to initial police officer narratives that are routinely filed during investigations on the same day that the crime incident occurs.

An officer’s full account of a crime incident, which should have been provided in response to every request, has been marked as filed on the same day and at the same time as the skeleton report sent to the newspaper, Appen has argued.

The supplemental full reports exist but are hidden from the public, Appen says.

Initial police incident reports, in most cases, include narratives that allow Appen Media to inform readers with details about crimes. Full incident reports with officers’ detailed narratives are provided by police agencies in Alpharetta, Dunwoody, Forsyth County, Johns Creek, Milton and Roswell.

Things are different in Sandy Springs.

In a May 15 email to Appen Media, Sandy Springs City Attorney Dan Lee claimed some supplemental reports are exempt from release.

“The law clearly allows that initial incident reports are to be disclosed and any supplements to the initial reports,” Lee wrote. “There are no supplements to initial reports that have not been disclosed, [and the ones] you are mentioning in this complaint are the notes and investigative information dealing with open investigations.”

The notes and investigative information, which other police departments provide to Appen Media every week, are also called “initial reports,” and are the crux of the debate.

The pending decision from the threejudge panel of Georgia Court of Appeals could have widespread implications for how records are shared with the public throughout the state.

Guidance from experts

As part of its court case, Appen Media cited guidance from the current “A Law Enforcement Officer’s Guide to Open Records in Georgia,” which states that “initial incident and police arrest reports are subject to the Act’s disclosure requirements, regardless of whether they are part of an active investigation. Additionally, any report, whether entitled a ‘supplemental report,’ ‘narrative report,’ or similar document name that is produced as part of an initial incident report or can be characterized as such, is likewise to be disclosed.” See SUIT, Page 22

Samantha B. Benson, MD Johns Creek: Tues., Thurs. Milton: Mon., Fri. Kaavya Chivukula, MD Johns Creek Only

Local charity revives drive for donations of used cars

ROSWELL, Ga. — North Fulton Community Charities is taking steps to remove transportation as a barrier to financial stability for low-income families by relaunching its Car Donation Program.

The program matches families in need with donated vehicles in good working order.

In late June, the nonprofit received its first donation, a Honda Odyssey, from an anonymous donor. It was given to a local couple with three young children.

“We relaunched our Car Donation Program because more and more families coming to NFCC lack transportation which poses a barrier to stability,” said Sandy Holiday, the nonprofit’s executive director. “These families find it difficult, if not impossible, to get to jobs, schools and doctor appointments.”

The organization is teaming up with Christian Brothers Automotive, which will provide diagnostic testing and repairs for donated vehicles. The business also recommends car donations to their customs as an alternative to costprohibitive repairs.

“We are here to serve our community,” said Tom Burgess, Christian Brothers owner and president. “Giving back in a way that has such a profound impact on local families is exciting — we can’t wait to get started.”

North Fulton Community Charities manages the title transfer process, minimizing paperwork for donors and recipients. In addition, IRS rules allow vehicle donations that directly benefit families in need to be deducted at fair market value.

The nonprofit is now seeking cars in reasonable working order for the program, which had been active for more than 30 years before its pause during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you or someone you know is interested in donating, please contact North Fulton Community Charities at info@nfcchelp.org.

Char Pizzeria opens at Halcyon location

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Halcyon welcomed a new pizzeria with a grand opening Sept. 6.

Char Pizzeria is taking over a space occupied by Holmes Slice, bringing a new menu and remodel, according to a news release.

Halcyon is a $500-million, 135-acre mixed-use community connected to the Big Creek Greenway with options for shopping and dining.

Char boasts artisanal-style 10- and 14-inch pizzas cooked in a brick oven. The restaurant also will offer sandwiches and traditional menu items. Their pizzas feature a thin, Neapolitan-style crust and “new and improved” sauce.

The pizzeria will serve frozen alcoholic drinks with options ranging from a frosé, a blackberry Aperol, a blue raspberry slush with vodka and the Bushwacker. The pizzeria will also offer sandwich options.

Izzy Ramos, who co-owns the new restaurant with Charity Ramos, said they plan to give patrons an “elevated pizza experience” that also caters to children and families.

“Before opening Char Pizzeria, we spent time honing our craft of simple, artisanal pizza-making that will appeal to people of all ages and flavor palettes by learning from Italian cuisine experts,” Ramos said.

The Ramoses also own Halcyon’s The Original Hot Dog Factory.

Phil Mays, principal of RocaPoint Partners, which owns and developed Halcyon, said he was pleased the new restaurant would keep pizza on the menu at the mixed-use shopping location.

“Char Pizzeria will bring high-quality, made-to-order pies to the Market Hall, and it will be an excellent complement to our diverse lineup of restaurants and food offerings,” Mays said.

Char caters to artisanal pizza lovers as well as families and children with a new menu. The restaurant is replacing Holmes Slice at Halcyon.

Johns Creek Finance Director Ronnie Campbell presents the city’s proposed $79.9 million fiscal year 2025 budget at the City Council meeting Sept. 9. It was approved in a 6-1 vote, with City Councilwoman Stacy Skinner dissenting.

Council:

Continued from Page 1

“I think their program has a force multiplier, and it pays the city back more, tenfold, to the $2,500 that we're spending,” Skinner said. “… To not fund that program will just cause them to find the funding elsewhere, but I’m more concerned about the message it will send to the students.”

Budget suggestions

She also advised the council to send $100,000 to permanent field striping and a goal post for football, a sport without a permanent home in Johns Creek, and to reallocate the $5,000 intended for the mayor’s Martin Luther King Unity Breakfast, which had been held for the first time in January.

Skinner preferred an MLK Day of Service, much like the City of Dunwoody coordinates each year. But, City Councilwoman Erin Elwood advised a day of performing service projects would still require funding, like for refreshments for volunteers. Mayor Bradberry said the breakfast serves as a “floor,” a minimum for observation of the important holiday.

“It’s really our only holiday to really recognize our pursuit of a color-blind society,” Bradberry said. “Let’s talk about how we can add and go beyond that.”

Agreeing with Skinner, City Councilman Larry DiBiase suggested the city use its unassigned fund balance to cover the items she highlighted.

That drew opposition from City Councilman Chris Coughlin.

“... The rationale that you all gave to keep the millage rate the same, raise our property taxes, was the AAA credit rating,” Coughlin said, implying that using the reserves would curtail efforts to maintain the status.

Campbell had previously told the council that “eroding” the city’s tax revenue base could lead to a lower bond rating and that keeping the millage rate steady is favored by bond rating agencies.

At the Sept. 9 meeting, several council members said they didn’t want to approve the funding changes without having additional time to review them, leading to a 6-1 vote in favor of the budget as presented. Skinner cast the dissenting vote.

“…I feel it’s rushed, and that we could have had today’s work session or some more time and had a special called meeting,” she said. “So, for that reason, I just can’t support it.”

Land for Town Center

In other action at the meeting, the City Council approved the purchase of a 5.75-acre tract along Lakefield Drive, what will be the Town Center’s “main street.”

Town Center is a 192-acre area anchored by the 21-acre space behind City Hall known as Creekside Park, though the park is currently going through a renaming process. Another anticipated feature of the city’s new downtown is Medley, a mixed-use development

headed by Avalon’s Mark Toro. Referencing “internet chatter” about the intentions of the property, Bradberry said it’s important that people know it will increase the city’s options, rather than there already being a plan for a particular project at the location, like the performance hall.

Bradberry said the performance hall, a space that would house the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra and the Art Center, is still on track, though no announcement has been made on real estate for the project. In May, the coun cil agreed to hire a consultant to draft a design concept.

Also at the regular meeting, the council approved a contract with the Fulton County School Board that would add athletic field space to the city’s repertoire. The field at Abbotts Hill Elementary School will be open to the public from 6 p.m. to dusk on school days and 8 a.m. to dusk on weekends.

Councilwoman Skinner, who cast the lone dissenting vote, took issue with the cost of annual maintenance for a field without striping. The city is expected to pay $65,000 a year.

Skinner addressed existing needs within the city’s parks, but Recreation and Parks Director Erica Madsen said the contract was a recommendation found within the Recreation and Parks Master Plan.

“It was specifically indicated that we as a city should pursue partnerships with the schools because it opens up a park without us having to build one,” Madsen said.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Forsyth Elections Board splits in tackling state rules changes

By JAKE DRUKMAN newsroom@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Voter Registrations & Elections Board voted 3-2 on Sept. 3 to postpone voting on a resolution requesting that the Georgia State Election Board halt rule changes that could affect the upcoming general election.

The resolution, proposed by Democratic county board appointee Anita Tucker, seeks a 90-day “quiet period” to allow the county to implement new rules the State Election Board enacted in August without facing further changes ahead of Election Day. The resolution is not binding, and the State Election Board will still be free to make rule changes even if it passes.

“We need 90 days of quiet so that we can pull together all of the pieces it takes to run an election,” Tucker said. “We need 90 days so that we are not disrupted and that we don’t have issues with our poll workers, and our staff and voters.”

The proposed resolution comes amid widespread controversy over the state board’s new rules. One requires certifying election officials to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” before certifying the state’s election results. The rule does not specify what constitutes a reasonable inquiry. The second new rule requires county officials to “fully investigate” any discrepancies in the number of voters in a precinct and the number of ballots cast.

Criticism of the state board’s new rules has come from Republicans and Democrats, who argue that they could delay certification and sow undue doubt in the state’s election integrity. Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has been one of the state board’s most prominent detrac -

tors, calling the panel “a mess” in an August press conference.

“Misguided attempts by the State Election Board will delay election results and undermine chain of custody safeguards,” Raffensperger said in an Aug. 15 statement regarding the rule changes. “Georgia voters reject this 11th hour chaos, and so should the unelected members of the State Election Board.”

The State Election Board’s website lists 11 more proposed rule changes that will be heard on Sept. 20 — 46 days before Election Day.

The Democratic Party of Georgia, along with Tucker and several other county-level elections officials

from around the state, filed a lawsuit against the State Election Board Aug. 26 accusing it of attempting to “upend” the certification process and requesting that some new rules be declared invalid.

Carla Radzikinas and Joel Natt, the two Republican appointees to the Forsyth County Voter Registrations & Elections Board, expressed hesitation to support Tucker’s resolution, given her involvement in the lawsuit against the state board.

“This has become a little bit political in nature,” Radzikinas said. “That’s clearly supported by one party, and that somewhat connects us to that concept, since that’s what that lawsuit is about.”

Natt said he had not yet read the resolution, though Tucker said she had sent it to the County Elections Board and staff ahead of time. He joined two other board members voting to postpone action on the resolution until the board’s October meeting. Tucker and Radzikinas voted against the motion to postpone.

It’s been a busy summer for the county Elections Board. In June, the panel voted to dismiss 742 voter challenges. Then, in July, the board upheld 270 challenges out of more than 1,000 it was presented at that meeting.

The board was also set to conduct hearings this month on more than 500 voter registration challenges that were filed on Aug. 30.

JAKE DRUKMAN/APPEN MEDIA

Members of the Forsyth County Board of Election postponed a resolution Sept. 3 that would have requested the Georgia State Elections Board halt rule changes until after the upcoming presidential election.

Dunwoody entrepreneur rides landscaping green wave

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Battery technology is creating opportunities for landscapers to opt for more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

Elon Musk’s effort to build a world powered by solar energy, rechargeable batteries and electric vehicles has led to downstream effects in other industries, such as landscaping.

Dunwoody’s own environmentally conscious entrepreneur, Lloyd Fisher, has capitalized on evolving battery technology.

Fisher’s Oak Avenue Landscaping received the 2023 Sustainability Hero Award for local businesses in April. City officials lauded Fisher for making the city more eco-friendly.

Oak Avenue Landscaping is an all-electric commercial landscaping company with two field employees alongside Fisher and one administrator. It uses state-of-the-art equipment to service the 15-mile radius around Dunwoody and the Perimeter.

Fisher said there’s a lot his team does at residences across north Metro Atlanta, including landscape design, installation, drainage, decks, grading and tree service.

There are some misconceptions about the differences between electric and gas-powered landscaping equipment. Namely, technology has advanced to the point where compact batteries can generate the same level of performance. Not all electric tools match their gas rivals’ torque, but some are out there.

Gas mowers and blowers typically cost less and outperform older and cheaper electric equipment.

On the other hand, Fisher said he saves money and charges his equipment for free using his solar-powered trailer.

Consumer Reports says the benefits of going electric include, environmental and noise concerns, the longterm cost of gasoline, maintenance and storage.

Fisher, along with his journey to the United States, shows that everyone can make a difference in their

community, no matter how far from home.

“I used to work in marketing for a couple of companies,” Fisher said. “Maybe it’s just the nature of the industry since COVID, but I’ve been affected by layoffs multiple times over the last four years.”

The COVID-19 pandemic, shutdown of American

society and subsequent economic environment could have discouraged Fisher from pursuing his goals, but it got him to the point where he wanted to do something for himself.

“I was helping another landscaper with her marketing and ended up doing more of an operations role with her,” he said. “I felt like, if I’m going to be doing this and I’ve already seen what it’s like, I’d rather do it the way I wanted to.”

Typical landscaping crews, like city contractors at Brook Run Park, work in large teams with gas-powered equipment.

See LANDSCAPE, Page 13

PHOTOS BY: OAK AVENUE LANDSCAPING/PROVIDED Lloyd Fisher, owner of Oak Avenue Landscaping, enjoys the coast during a family vacation while holding his two-year-old son, Jack, and smiling with his wife, Allison, and 4-year-old daughter, Bets. Fisher said his wife is the backbone of his landscaping business and his kids motivate his eco-friendly practices.

Oak Avenue Landscaping’s solar-powered trailer sits in front of a Dunwoody residence after wrapping up a plant installation. The solar panels on the roof of the trailer allow landscapers to charge their equipment’s batteries between jobs and on the go.

12TH ANNUAL

5K RUN & WALK

Oct. 5 2019

OAK AVENUE LANDSCAPING/PROVIDED

All proceeds benefit Murphy- Harpst

Four-year-old Bets, daughter of Oak Avenue Landscaping owner Lloyd Fisher, sits aboard one of her dad’s electric lawnmowers. Oak Avenue Landscaping is introducing Dunwoody residents to electric yard equipment, the use of native plants and other ways to make yard maintenance more eco-friendly.

Landscape:

Continued from Page 12

“Guys are wearing equipment to look after themselves, like ear and face protection,” Fisher said. “Because obviously they don’t want to get poisoned, but everyone in the community and the environment is suffering.”

Murphy-Harpst provides hope and healing to severely abused and neglected children and youth through residential treatment, foster care, and creative therapeutic approaches. Over 1/3 of their annual support comes from United Methodist Churches! Please give generously today and be a part of a nearly 100-year legacy of serving Georgia’s most vulnerable children.

www.murphyharpst.org

Fisher immigrated to New York City from South Africa after meeting his wife, Allison. They have a 2-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter.

How he and his wife met on a cruise ship is another story. Fisher said his wife is the backbone of his business, and he couldn’t do it without her.

Registration

• www.active.com

With his children yet to start elementary school, Fisher said there needs to be a change to preserve the natural environment for future generations.

into the atmosphere that a regular car does when you’re driving from Atlanta to the border of Mexico.”

In other words, operating a single gas-powered blower generates pollutants and carcinogens equivalent to driving a standard vehicle around 1,100 miles.

The statistic is shocking to some, but it’s commonly cited in the world of environmentalism, including on the Ansley Park Civic Association’s webpage about the negative impacts of gas blowers.

Benefitting:

12TH ANNUAL

SATURDAY

NOV. 2 2024

5K RUN

& WALK

All proceeds benefit Murphy- Harpst

Saturday Oct. 5 2019

All proceeds benefit Murphy- Harpst

Oak Avenue Landscaping and Fisher go a step beyond using electric equipment, they also work with clients to select native species of plants.

He said a lot of his Dunwoody neighbors plant shrubs, flowers and trees in their yards that are non-native and don’t last.

• Search “Midway Mission Possible 12”

• At the MUMC church office

• In person on race day

Fisher has a unique perspective on landscaping.

Location

Midway United Methodist Church 5025 Atlanta Hwy, Alpharetta, GA 30004 www.midwayumc.org 770-475-5230

REGISTRATION

“My whole family growing up … everyone had a green thumb,” he said.

Hailing from South Africa, Fisher said Georgia has a uniquely beautiful natural environment.

• www.active.com — Search “Midway Mission Possible 8”

Murphy-Harpst provides hope and healing to severely abused and neglected children and youth through residential treatment, foster care, and creative therapeutic approaches. Over 1/3 of their annual support comes from United Methodist Churches! Please give generously today and be a part of a nearly 100-year legacy of serving Georgia’s most vulnerable children.

“People are planting a lot of annuals every season and just throwing away healthy plants,” Fisher said. “You could put in some perennials, native to this region, that really support pollinators and make it a thriving ecosystem.”

www.murphyharpst.org

www.murphyharpst.org

LOCATION

• Totally Running (Forsyth), 405 Peachtree Pkwy.

Specifically, he cited the trees that visitors notice when they’re flying into Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Transforming the lives of homeless families. Because every child deserves a home.

Benefitting:

All proceeds benefit Murphy-Harpst

12

SATURDAY

Murphy-Harpst provides hope and healing to severely abused and neglected children and youth through residential treatment, foster care, and creative therapeutic approaches. Over 1/3 of their annual support comes from United Methodist Churches! Please give generously today and be a part of a nearly 100-year legacy of serving Georgia’s most vulnerable children.

TO LEARN MORE: www.familypromise.org www.fpforsyth.org

Event Schedule

7:00 am

SATURDAY NOV. 2 2024

NOV. 2 2024

Murphy-Harpst provides hope and healing to severely abused and neglected children and youth through residential treatment, foster care, and creative therapeutic approaches. Over 1/3 of their annual support comes from United Methodist Churches! Please give generously today and bea part of a nearly 100-year legacy of serving Georgia’s most vulnerable children.

Fees Register by Oct. 31 Register on Race Day

Fisher said clients usually reach out for a free consultation after getting a referral from past customers or seeing positive testimonials online.

Registration • www.active.com

5K Run/Walk $30 per person $35 per person

• At the MUMC church office

• In person on race day

There is information online about the benefits of electric landscaping equipment and how native plants interact with their environment.

• Search “Midway Mission Possible 12” At the

5K Teams of 4+ $25 per person $30 per person

Fisher said the whole concept of landscaping has always felt off to him: Many times, when property owners are trying to make their slice of the Earth more beautiful, they’re damaging the natural environment and public health in the process.

Kid’s Fun Run $20 per person $25 per person

(Cash/Check ONLY accepted on race day)

Midway United Methodist Church 5025 Atlanta Hwy, Alpharetta, GA 30004 www.midwayumc.org 770-475-5230

Registration and bib pick up 8:30 am

www.murphyharpst.org

5K Run/Walk begins

EVENT SCHEDULE

TO LEARN MORE: www.familypromise.org www.fpforsyth.org

Event Schedule

Event Schedule

7:00 am Registration and bib pick up 8:30 am 5K Run/Walk

Short-sleeved microfiber race shirt included in race fee; be sure to register by 10/22/24 to guarantee your shirt!

Short-sleeved microfiber race shirt included in race fee; be sure to register by 10/22/24 to guarantee your shirt!

5K Run/Walk $25 per person $30 per person

Fisher said he and his team at Oak Avenue Landscaping are just a call away to give advice.

FEES Register by 10/3 Register on Race Day

5K Teams of 4+ $20 per person $25 per person

Kid’s Fun Run

“It’s so ironic to me,” Fisher said. “If you’re using a two-stroke gas blower, it releases the same amount of emissions

$15 per person $20 per person

If homeowners have a yard project in mind, Oak Avenue Landscape invites them to schedule a free consultation to discuss their needs and determine the best solution.

(Cash/Check ONLY accepted on race day)

Event Schedule

7:00 am – Registration and bib pick up 8:30 am – 5K Run/Walk begins 9:00 am – Kid’s Fun Run (ages 5-12) 9:45 am – Awards Ceremony

Short-sleeved microfiber race shirt included in race fee — register by 9/25/19 to guarantee your shirt.

To learn more visit, www. oakavelandscape.com/.

Conglomerated Host, Ltd is looking for an Accountant to join its team.

Job Description: Corporate office located in Milton, GA has an opening in the Accounting Department. Entry level position with opportunity to advance. Starting pay is

How

Support Local News Join Appen Press Club

CHARTER MEMBER

DC Aiken

Big Sky Franchise Team

David & Michelle Bertany

Amour & Duane Carthy

Adam Corder

Barbara Anderson

Kerry Arias

Scott Baynton

Joseph Bell

James Bennett

Carl Abernathy

Salpi Adrouny

Alpharetta Lions Club

Omar Altalib

Dave Altman

Ron Altman

Joel Alvis

American Legion Post 201

Alice & Dr. Richard Appen

Gaye Armstrong

Mary Asbury

Bangkok Boxing LLC

Shannon Banna

Beth Barnes

Janet Bass

Barbara Bauschka

Kathy Beck

Leslie Berry

Tom Billings

Tochie Blan

Ron Boddicker

Jodi Bogen

Sherri Bolles-Rogers

Helen Borland

Debra Bowen

Joe Bowen

Ryan Brainard

Mark Brandus

Mel Brannen

Dorothy Brouhard

Erendira Brumley

Bernhard Burgener

Alvin Burrell

Mike & Theresa Buscher

Mary Busman

Clea Calloway

Kirk Canaday

James Carr

Bridgette Carter

William Cartwright

Frank Catroppa

Pat Check

Virginia Christman

Christopher Cleary

Ann Coaloa

Kim Coggins

Evelyn Collazo

Michael Mackenzie

MEMBER+

MEMBER

Communications

Joan Compton

Terri Coons

Rhonda Cude

Christopher Cupit

David Davis

Duane DeBruler

Marilyn DeCusati

Rebecca Donlan

Tom Driscoll

Michael Dudgeon

Jeanette Dummer

DutchCrafters Amish Furniture

Mim Eisenberg

Danny Elkins

Su Ellis

Martha Fasse

Nell & Doug Fernandez

Lee Fleck

Cathy Flynn

Mary Ford

Nanci Foster

Amy Frederick

Kelly Frommer

Carol Fry

Tracey Ganesh

Daniel Gay

John Gibbs

John Gilberto

Leslie Gilliam

Bailey & Ryan Gladysz

Michelle Glotzbach

Harvey Goldberg

Christopher Goodrich

Phyllis Goodrich

Ralph Griffin

Marilee Hamilton

Susan Hanna

Roxanne Hazen

Joe Hirsch

Penn Hodge

Dianne & Steffan Holmquist

Joan Hostetter

Austin Hughes

Lynn Johnson

Tyler Jones

Arthur Kebanli

Laura Keck

To join go to appenmedia.com/join and follow the prompts to select your membership level and select your t-shirt size! Questions? Email Hans Appen at hans@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Mark Kelly

Randall Kent

Allison Kloster

Dyna Kohler

Larry Krueger

Jess & Chris Kysar

Malinda Lackey Ken Leffingwell Carol Lehan Bonnie Lind Francia Lindon Harlan Little

Loventhal Karen Magill

McCord

McCully

McIntyre

McLoughlin

Mendoza

The Complexity of Inheritance

Inheritance is not just about money or possessions; it’s intertwined with emotions, relationships, and personal values. Traditionally, people often assume that their assets will be passed on to family members, ensuring financial security and stability for future generations. However, circumstances may arise where this is not the desired outcome.

Reasons for Not Wanting Someone to Inherit Your Assets

• Estrangement or Conflict: Family dynamics can be complicated. Estrangement or irreparable conflicts may lead someone to reconsider leaving assets to certain family members.

• Financial Responsibility: Concerns about how an inheritance might affect a person’s financial responsibility or stability can also influence decisions.

• Different Values: If there are significant differences in values or lifestyles between you and a potential heir, you may feel that they wouldn’t use the assets in a way that aligns with your intentions.

• Desire for Charitable Giving: Many people prefer to leave their assets to charitable organizations or causes they care deeply about, seeing this as a way to create a lasting impact beyond their own lifetime. If you’ve decided against leaving assets to someone, there are alternative options to consider:

• Specific Bequests: You can specify in your will exactly who will receive which assets, ensuring your wishes are clear and legally binding.

• Trusts: Establishing a trust allows you to control how and when assets are distributed, providing flexibility and protection.

• Charitable Giving: Donating assets to charity not only benefits a cause you believe in but can also provide tax advantages.

Deciding who inherits your assets is a deeply personal choice. While societal norms may dictate familial inheritance, your assets ultimately represent your life’s work and values. It’s essential to consult with legal and financial advisors to ensure that your wishes are documented properly and in accordance with the law.

Dedicated to making a positive impact in the business community

Brought to you by - Touchmark National Bank

As a dedicated Business Development Officer specializing in small businesses at Touchmark National Bank, Carlos Rodriguez leverages over 20 years of banking experience to assist business customers in identifying and capitalizing on growth opportunities. In addition, as an ambassador for the Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce, Carlos is a trusted resource in the community, recognized for his commitment to fostering strong business relationships and promoting trust within the business community.

Touchmark National Bank also offers special competitive deposit rates to help businesses maximize

•

•

•

•

their financial potential. With a focus on banking resources, Carlos is passionate about helping small businesses thrive and achieve their financial goals through building lasting relationships based on trust and mutual success.

At Touchmark National Bank, we provide a comprehensive range of products, tools and resources tailored to streamline processes and support the unique needs of each business we serve. We are dedicated to making a positive impact in the business community and are committed to helping businesses succeed and grow through meaningful relationships built on trust and collaboration.

To learn more, contact Carlos Rodriguez at 770-407-6700 touchmarknb.com

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

Singing the praises of fried cheese curds

Here’s a question for you: How far does one have to travel to have actually travelled?

Here’s another question. What is a fried cheese curd?

First question first:

How far? Well, when she and I decide to “get outside, Georgia” ourselves, we may go no farther than the little creek a few miles down the road. That’s perfect when it’s close to suppertime. Other times, if we have a whole day, we might go north to the mountains or east to Athens or west to Tallapoosa, especially if I accidentally lose my legendary sense of direction.

But now and then, when we have a hankering for a bigger trip (or for grandkids), we’ll go farther.

Last week we had both hankering and time, so we journeyed up to Wisconsin, storied land of cows and (for the last year or so) home to some grandkids too.

As it turned out, it’s also the land of what they call “cheese curds.”

Cheese curds? I’d never heard of them, but it seemed that everyone else in the world knew of them and thought them celestially good.

What, exactly, is a cheese curd? According to the interweb, cheese curds are “moist pieces of curdled milk that are a natural part of the cheesemaking process.” I further learned that they’re known for their squeaky texture (somehow tied to what one writer has described as “long strands of protein [that rub] against the enamel of teeth.” I further learn that they can be eaten “fresh” (uncooked, in other words) or fried.

Which way is best? Well, I’m from Georgia. Do you even need to ask? Whatever they are, cheese curds (like oysters and chicken livers) must surely be elevated by a panful of hot fat.

But before we could explore this brave new world of cheesy goodness, we had to get to the airport. And before we could get to the airport, the oil in the car had to be changed.

You know how it is at oil-change places. You chat. You talk.

“Got any road trips coming up?” the fellow behind the counter asked.

“Matter of fact, we do,” I replied. “We’re going up to Wisconsin!”

His eyes lit up.

“Wisconsin?” I’m from Wisconsin! You’ll love it. What’s taking you there?”

Had I been in a certain frame of mind I might have said “an airplane.”

But instead I simply said, “Grandkids!”

“Oh, yeah!” he said. “Grandkids for sure. You’ll have a good time. It’s pretty country. Do some hiking. And eat some fried cheese curds.”

At that very moment, as if he was receiving a vision from on high, an illumined look came over his countenance. He smiled a celestial smile. And then he began to tell me how grand cheese curds were, how they were delightful in every way, how their texture was perfect (and squeaky) and how they pleased the palate, with nuances of flavor never to be forgotten and probably a favorite of God himself.

“Get ‘em fried,” he said again. “Did I tell you that? And dip ‘em in ranch dressing or marinara sauce. Nothing like ‘em. You’ll love ‘em. Guaranteed.”

Well, okay.

On the way home, the little car purred with that certain smoothness that only brand new oil can give. I savored it as I drove. But my attention was divided, for part of my mind was considering notions of cheese curdy goodness. What are they really like? Are they really as good as everyone said?

Long about Hickory Flat, I decided I had to take action. So I pulled over

and called my son in Wisconsin. He answered on the second ring, and I got right to the point.

“We have to get cheese curds,” I said without preamble. “Everybody says we have to try them. Fried. With dipping sauce.”

“Yeah!” he said. “They’re a thing here. You’ll love ‘em. Guaranteed.”

Where had I heard that before?

And so, a day or two later, off we went to Wisconsin. We visited and laughed and told stories and played with grandkids. My wife taught the granddaughter to crochet. I allowed the grandson to beat me five-out-ofsix in chess. Then we all “got outside, Wisconsin!” We went on walks. We explored parks. We walked along rivers. We saw wildlife. We visited new places to eat.

And, yes, we tried cheese curds, fried and with dipping sauces. They came in the form of little cubes about an inch on a side; the sauces came in two of those ubiquitous little plastic cups. For the record, I preferred the marinara.

My wife took a bite.

“Mmmm,” she said. “Kind of like fried cheese sticks?” Uh huh.

Would I have them again? Sure.

And that reminded me:

Half the fun of travel, or of any journey really, is the “new” that it brings into your life. You’ve just got to be open to it, wherever or whenever or in whatever form it comes along.

Sometimes, it’s a road you never drove before. Sometimes it’s a previously unvisited waterfall or an unexplored trail – or maybe it’s a little one-inch cube of fried cheese.

You never know exactly what it will be. But it’s often new, usuallly fresh, always fun.

That’s the promise of travel, isn’t it? That’s the promise of exploring, the promise of taking a chance on something or someplace new. There’s always a payback.

And if you’re lucky, maybe once or twice in a lifetime, it’s so profound that it flat-out blows you away.

Those are ones you hope for. Those are the ones you hold on to for such a long, long time.

Steve Hudson writes about the southern outdoors from his home in Canton, Ga. His latest book, “Chattahoochee Trout” (Second Edition), is available from many outdoor shops or direct from the author at flybooks.net

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

STEVE HUDSON/APPEN MEDIA

Fried cheese curds are a real thing in Wisconsin.

Check out free, in-person gardening classes in Milton

In collaboration with the City of Milton and its Plant!

Milton Initiative, the North Fulton Master Gardeners are offering a series of gardening classes for all gardeners, to be held on Tuesday evenings.

The first meeting, Oct. 1, will be at the Milton Council Chambers at 2006 Heritage Walk in Milton. The Oct. 8 and 15 meetings will be at the Milton City Park and Preserve at 1785 Dinsmore Road.

These classes are free and open to the public. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. We entertain questions and garden topics until 7 p.m., when the classes start. Each session consists of two topics and concludes around 8:30 p.m. Questions and comments from the audience are encouraged. We hope you join us!

OCTOBER 1

“Fabulous Fall Fairy Garden”

The mythical world of fairies is found throughout folklore. A fairy garden is itself a story-telling scene that can include small plants, tiny structures, miniature furniture, rocks, fairies and gnomes. It can be in a container or in a small, cultivated space in your yard. Use your imagination and creativity to create your own fairy garden.

Presenter Marty Thomas has been a Master Gardener since 2018 and a former elementary school teacher who has also taught children’s art classes including fairy garden camps. Marty is a board member of the Johns Creek Beautification Committee

“Pruning Here and Now”

Pruning Guru, Rick Smith, will discuss the critical factors in pruning and fertilizing your shrubs. Rick will also address the benefits and necessity of selecting the proper time of year to prune your plants, shrubs, and trees.

Rick was featured on PBS “Growing a Greener World.” He was also a contributor to WSB 95.5 Ashley Frasca – “Green and Growing.”

OCTOBER 8

“Keeping the Tree in the Ground”

City of Milton Arborist Sandra Dewitt will talk about species choice, placement of trees in your yard and general tree maintenance. If you want trees in your garden and are unsure of what to plant, this is the talk for you. She will also be available to discuss any problem issues you may have with trees in your garden.

“Wild about Wildflowers “

Judy Peacock, a Master Gardener, will

join another Master Gardener and Milton resident Carole MacMullan to talk about wildflowers.

March is one of the best months to enjoy spring wildflowers by taking a hike in the Georgia woods. As soon as the air temperatures increase and soil temperatures warm up, the spring wildflowers emerge from the ground and burst into color. The spring wildflowers take advantage of the available sunlight before the trees leaf out to complete their life cycle, flower and create seeds to ensure their survival for the next year. This presentation will focus the amazing array of spring wildflowers that bloom every March through April on the Shirley Miller Wildflower Walk near Lafayette, Georgia.

OCTOBER

15

“What I Wish I Knew”

Kelly Mogelgaard, Master Gardener, will speak on her 30 years’ experience in gardening and operating a landscaping company. Some of her topics are what to do first, how to select plants and how to enjoy the work and the results of the work. Some of her specific interests include cut flowers and landscape design.

“Gardens of Charm”

North Fulton Master Gardener Sandra Shave will provide glimpses of spectacular local gardens. Sandy will showcase unique landscaping from Master Gardeners’ gardens, with the goal of providing gardeners with ideas and inspiration that they can bring to their own home garden. The class provides an overview of what might be possible and elements of garden design. The class will demonstrate that gardening is as varied as your individual creativity and the fun is in the discovery, the failures and the success.

Sandy graduated from the Master Gardener program in early 2019, having completed the coursework in the spring of 2018. She is a recent transplant to Roswell, moving from Wisconsin in 2014 after retirement to be nearer to her children and most importantly her grandchildren!

Happy gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columists/garden buzz/.

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Michael Snow, a Milton resident and Master Gardener since 2021. Michael had always been active in “yard work” and growing plants and shrubs. Upon retiring from a career in real property finance, he sought to benefit from an organized source of garden information and became a Master Gardener. He plays golf as often as possible

MICHAEL SNOW Guest Columnist

MARTY THOMAS/PROVIDED

One of many fairy gardens along a trail at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve’s Butterfly Garden.

Georgia’s love/hate relationship with deer

As we approach the October to December breeding season for whitetailed deer, it is useful to study the history and current status of this magnificent animal. The peak rut in Fulton County is the second week in November. That is when the behavior of male deer is overtaken by the urge to mate. It is a time when drivers should be particularly aware because deer will cross roads with no regard to their surroundings when bucks are chasing them.

During the breeding season male deer will fight one another to gain the attention of female deer. After mating, females will give birth to one to three fawns next spring.

White-tailed deer are the only deer found in Georgia. Their undersides and tails are white. The tails are held erect when the deer feel threatened.

In addition to being a popular game animal, white-tailed deer help the balance of nature by spreading seeds and controlling certain weeds. They can also be a pain to gardeners even though deer are selective about what they eat because they can reach vegetation up to five feet above ground level. They prefer gardens and landscaping that are fertilized and irrigated because the plants provide more nutrition.

Today there are an estimated 1.1 million white-tailed deer in Georgia. In the late 1800s and early 1900s the once plentiful animal almost disappeared due to land-clearing by farmers and commercial hunting for the deerskin trade.

Deer made a comeback thanks in large part to Arthur Woody a forest ranger with the U. S. Forest Service from 1912 to 1945. Woody is credited with helping to build the Appalachian Trail through Georgia, for introducing rainbow and brown trout and for restoring brook trout in Georgia’s streams and for restoring threatened turkey and black bear populations. Perhaps his most noted accomplishment was saving deer from extinction and reintroducing them through his purchase and release of white-tailed deer from the mountains of North Carolina.

At the turn of the last century there were an estimated 5,000 deer in Georgia. Slowly the deer population recovered.

Charlie Killmaster, State Deer Biologist with the Wildlife Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources says, “The federal

This juvenile button buck fawn shows his “buttons” or pedicles where antlers will erupt. Since

body, he is probably about five to six months old. The photo was taken in early November.

Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 played an important role by establishing a program of matching federal grants to the states for wildlife restoration projects.” He notes that the state reopened the hunting season in 1941.

Killmaster said he thinks restoration of white-tailed deer in the Southeast is one of the greatest successes in wildlife management in history.

Deer play an important economic role in Georgia. Deer hunters spend an estimated $1.5 billion every year in the state for travel, hotels, restaurants, hunting license fees and hunting equipment including firearms, ammunition and bows and arrows. A group of hunters or a hunting club may lease hunting rights from private landowners or timber companies. Nearly 300,000 deer were harvested in Georgia in the 2023-24 season.

There are more than 200,000 deer hunters in Georgia who play an important role helping control the deer population in the state. Without a plan to control the number of deer the population would grow exponentially. Hunters are the dominant predator of deer today unlike in the distant past when Native Americans, mountain lions and red wolves helped keep the population in check.

You may find deer in your

backyard. The reason is that deer like to congregate in open areas because they are not well suited for a forest environment. They are called an “edge species” because they tend to hang out along the edges of the woods. The most nutritious plants for deer grow in direct sunlight.

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 BY: BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

just a few spots remain on his

This female white-tailed deer is tame enough to allow a photograph to be taken fairly close to her. Whitetails are the only deer found in Georgia.

OPINION

Fed is ‘Under Pressure’ to make its move

D.C. AIKEN

This week’s “pop” hit is the October 1981 “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie. This could not be truer for our friends with the Federal Reserve as more and more data keep coming in showing that we are moving quickly into recession and that their pipe dream of a soft landing will most likely not happen.

Prices at the pump are now at their lowest levels since February, which is

helping drive inflation down along with unemployment rising and householdnamed companies closing their doors due to slower sales.

They are once again late to the dance and now have placed themselves in a position where they may need to make a .50% cut to the interest rate later this month as opposed to their widely expected .25%. While I believe that a .50% move is certainly warranted, odds are they won’t do it in order to not appear that they are panicking and stay with their “soft landing” approach, which will most likely include two more moves this year totaling .75% by the end of the year (my prediction earlier this year).

They truly need to embrace one of the lines from this week’s “pop” hit… “These are the days it never rains, but it pours…” The “storm” is upon us… They need to move .50% now, which should send rates lower from a mortgage perspective as well as pretty much all borrowing costs in the U.S. The market has already “baked” in a .25% move. So, unless we do get a surprise .50% cut in a few weeks. Don’t count on mortgage rates moving notably lower in the near term. I am still holding to my overall .75% cuts by the end of the year but just maybe we could see a full point cut if inflation continues to fall and unemployment continues to rise. I know we hear that they don’t want to

appear to be “political” in an election year and how it’s “taboo” to make significant cuts prior to the election. But not sure how pulling the economy out of the “ditch” is a bad thing for either side of the aisle.

Remember: You and I are only sometimes right; the market is always right. Have a great day!

D.C. Aiken is vice president, producing production manager for BankSouth Mortgage, NMLS # 658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.

The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of BankSouth Mortgage or its affiliates.

Friends of Dunwoody Library to host book sale

What better time for a library book sale than when the days are turning cooler? Take this opportunity to stock up on books to get you through the fall and on into the winter. Can you picture yourself snuggled up by the fire with a soft blanket, reading to your heart’s content? Then this sale is for you.

The FODL library sales are a fact of life here in Dunwoody, but unless you are one of the organization’s volunteers or a regular attendee, I predict you’ll find some of these fun facts surprising.

• The most popular genres at the adult sale are fiction—including mysteries, thrillers, romance—history, and cookbooks; and these are also the genres with the largest number of books in the sale.

• Nonfiction genres at the sale include art, religion, history, drama, poetry, science and math, music and show business, travel, health, sports, gardening, and more.

• Also available are reference sets,

puzzles, and DVDs.

• Book donations arrive daily at the library, and the FODL finds their four plastic bins full each morning. Weekends see even more books come in the door.

• Library visitors can purchase books, puzzles, and magazines in the lobby during library hours—on the honor system. These purchases are cash only and require correct change.

• On average, 100 items are sold weekly from the lobby.

• Volunteer hours per week=30.

• Setting up and hosting the adult sale takes 570 volunteer hours—eight days for setup, four days for the sale, and one day to clear the Williams room.

Volunteer: Susan Edmondson

I’ve been frequenting these sales since I moved here in 1999, and in those early years, I had the pleasure of meeting Susan Edmondson. She started volunteering in 1984 and is the FODL’s longest serving volunteer. It’s hard to believe that book sales were

held at the Shops of Dunwoody when she started her volunteer career.

She has long been responsible for the literature, literary fiction, and philosophy genres, and you can most often find her at the library on Tuesdays sorting and organizing the latest donations. One of her favorite FODL memories is from1989 when she took part in the symbolic Book Brigade—a 300-person human chain that moved a sample of books from the Nandina Lane library location to the current building at 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road.

Susan tells me she mainly reads “fiction and more mysteries than anything else… lots of cozies, especially in recent years.” If you’re in search of an author to try, you can’t go wrong with this list of those she particularly enjoys: Linda Castillo, Nevada Barr, Diane Mott Davidson, Rita Mae Brown, J. A. Jance, Margaret Maron, Louise Penny, Kathy Reichs and Karin Slaughter.

I always look forward to seeing Susan’s smiling face at the FODL sales, and I hope to see her this time. If you catch a glimpse of her on your visit, take a moment to stop by and say hello. I know you’ll be greeted with a smile.

Book sale details

Location: 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road

Schedule:

• Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024 – 1-4 p.m. (members only)

• Thursday, Sept. 19 – 4-8 p.m. (open to all)

• Friday, Sept. 20 – 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Saturday, Sept. 21 - 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Monday, Sept. 23 - 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Bag Day, fill a grocery bag for $7.

Payment: Cash, credit/debit cards accepted

Prices: Hardbacks $2, paperbacks $1; Some books and materials specially priced by value

Happy book hunting and reading! Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries on Amazon or locally at The Enchanted Forest, Bookmiser, Tall Tales, and Johns Creek Books. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ KathyManosPennAuthor/.

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

EDMONDSON

THE INK PENN

Brookhaven library began on Shows family back porch

The DeKalb County Public Library has announced plans for a new Brookhaven Library. Preliminary building plans are available at the county library website, dekalblibrary. org. This Past Tense article is about Brookhaven’s library history, which began on the back porch of the home of Edna and Weldon Shows.

The Shows moved to 56 E. Brookhaven Drive in 1942. Weldon Shows was one of the mayors who served the municipality of North Atlanta during the years it existed, 1924-1963. (History of Brookhaven, by Mrs. Willig, DeKalb History Center Archives)

Louse Trotti coordinated the DeKalb County bookmobile unit and drove the bus throughout the county. Trotti had certain homes where she could park her bookmobile. In Brookhaven, that was the Shows home. The children of Brookhaven would come to the Shows’ porch, browse the books on shelves they had installed and check out books.

Edna Shows also told stories to the children. Each time they visited the back porch library, she would ask them to name three things they would like to hear in a story next time. This was an added incentive for the children to return.

After a while, the Shows porch and the bookmobile couldn’t manage the demand for books. The closest library was the Ida Williams Library in

Buckhead, which charged Brookhaven residents $5 to check out books.

Carol M. Johnson, former society editor for the North DeKalb Record newspaper, suggested the need for a library after seeing children buy books in a drugstore that she believed were inappropriate. She went to the North Atlanta Brookhaven Planning Council to ask for their help.

The American Legion hut was offered to DeKalb County for $1 for the purpose of a library. With the help of DeKalb County Commissioner Scott

Candler, the rent-free building was refurbished. In later years, the hut was used as the St. Martin’s School Field Resale Shop.

Maude Burrus, first librarian of the county, shared her knowledge and guided the citizens of Brookhaven toward their goal of having a community library. Donations came in from individuals and businesses, including Rich’s Department Stores.

On Feb. 10, 1951, a formal opening of the Brookhaven Library, located in the former American Legion hut, was held,

and the people who helped make it happen were invited. Nine days later the doors of the library opened to the community.

In the beginning, the library was open three days a week from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. Local businesses continued to support the library, including Big Apple Grocery Store, DeKalb National Bank and Woolworth’s.

Mattie Dodson was the first librarian in Brookhaven and continued in that role from 1951 until 1972. She had previously worked at McElroy’s Supermarket but was offered the job of librarian with a starting pay of $15 per week.

It soon became apparent a more permanent library building was needed for Brookhaven. A bond issue passed to provide the money needed. Rather than purchase land for the library, land that was already owned by the county was selected. That meant all the funds from the bond issue could be used for construction.

In 1955, plans for a $30,000 library, designed by John R. Edwards, appeared in the Atlanta newspapers. The library was referred to as Fernwood Park Library and described as a building of Roman brick, featuring a 2,475-square-foot reading room. Plans included a small basement auditorium, kitchen and storage room. Lillian Gregson, chairperson of the Brookhaven Library Board, announced: “We hope to have the building ready for dedication in time for the February 1956 celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Brookhaven Library’s establishment.” (Atlanta Constitution, Sept. 2,1955, “Northside News”)

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF/APPEN MEDIA

The current Brookhaven Library, designed by John R. Edwards, first opened in 1956.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

Canine:

Continued from Page 1

Ausberry shared her excitement after having lost last year. Che Che’s tuxedo couldn’t beat the tough competition.

“At the last minute, I was like, you need a little something extra to put us over the top,” she said of this year’s success. “I need to coordinate with you.”

Not only is Che Che chic, but he’s preparing to take on a service role for Ausberry, who has retinitis pigmentosa. The condition limits the amount she can see in her periphery.

“He’ll be training for at least the next year, because Che Che is obstinate,” Ausberry said.

She said Georgia is a dog-loving community, pointing out the dog park not far from where she stood, and mentioning the uptick in adoptions at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Now, you’ve got this whole big community that extends beyond family to

the dog who is now a part of the family,” Ausberry said. “I think it’s important to have events like this, to bring the community [together] because we’re such a divided nation right now.”

Sandra Cabrera, owner of the Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming in Johns Creek, also spoke about dogs becoming more a part of the family. It was her motivation for joining the franchise with her sister Jenny Varon, who owns the location in Milton.

“Nowadays, dogs are very special for everybody,” Cabrera said.

She called attention to many retail stores now allowing dogs of all kinds, not just service dogs.

“They have changed with the times,” Cabrera said. “So, we saw it as a good opportunity for being able to open this franchise and being able to groom dogs.”

The store also offers baked goods, made at the business’ headquarters in Florida, and other supplies like toys. For more information on Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, visit https://woofgangbakery.com.

Dozens of visitors watch on as dogs and their owners grace the stage at Newtown Park’s Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater Sept. 14, judged by Ethan Phillips, Fay Habib and Emberley Robinson.

PHOTOS BY: AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Jenny Varon and her sister Sandra Cabrera, owners of Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming locations in Johns Creek and in Milton, speak with a visitor at Johns Creek’s “PupA-Palooza” at Newtown Park Sept. 14.

Suit: AAPPEN PRESSCLU

Continued from Page 6

The guidance booklet was prepared and endorsed by the Georgia Attorney General in conjunction with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Sheriff’s Association, Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia and Georgia Press Association.

Appen’s suit centered on whether the second document, compiled by and kept out of public view by Sandy Springs Police, is typically prepared by the officers using information obtained at the scene and is considered part of the initial incident report.

In December 2022, Georgia Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Colangelo said it is.

Replying to a request from the media company, Colangelo stated: “A common-sense interpretation of ‘initial incident report’ is that anything written at the same time as the first part of the report is part of the initial incident report.”

Among the hundreds of examples of skeleton reports, one in particular caught the attention of Appen Media.

On Dec. 11, 2022, a Sandy Springs police officer provided the following narrative about a crime incident: “I

responded to a person shot at 1208 Cimarron Pkwy.”

This is the only account Sandy Springs Police provided about an incident that took place at an apartment complex.

The document is coded “Person Dead” and includes the name of the victim and two suspects. It also includes the names of two others but doesn’t specify whether they were witnesses, victims or suspects.

The report does not identify the officers who responded to the call and provides no details on whether the incident was a homicide or an accident. It makes no mention of any arrests.

State

organizations chime in

In its filing, the Georgia Municipal Association acknowledges “a rare situation” in which if finds itself at odds with the Georgia First Amendment Foundation on interpretations of the Georgia Open Meetings or Georgia Open Records acts.

The GMA filing goes on to say that the disagreement is over “the inclusion of the word ‘initial’ in the statutory text” and the choice of the Georgia Legislature to use the term in creating this exception in the world of open records.

The brief states that “GMA completely agrees with the GFAF that the ‘Georgia General Assembly has mandated that initial police incident reports are subject to disclosure under the Georgia Open Records Act.’”

The municipal association states that Appen Media has cited outdated statutory language, but the law remains the same. The argument from the GMA questions whether the court should interpret the law and advocates for a local agency’s interpretation of the word “initial” over the judiciary’s ruling.

The GMA cites two recent cases where the Georgia Court of Appeals deferred to an agency’s interpretation of legal text when the language is ambiguous.

On the other hand, the Georgia First Amendment Foundation argues that the General Assembly “recognized the public’s interest in the disclosure of initial incident reports when it mandated that they be disclosed.”

The foundation, which submitted its amicus brief Aug. 29, says its interest in the case is “because the trial court’s ruling will have serious and negative implications for the public’s ability to access open records in the state of Georgia.”

It argues that this kind of “informational shell game is contrary both to the purpose of the Open Records Act and to the weight of authority around the country holding that the nature of the requested information — not the title of the report in which that information appears — is what determines whether or not it is public.”

The foundation further argues that law enforcement agencies could disregard this requirement by putting all meaningful initial incident information in another report.

Instead, its filing states that police already have remedies to protect the city’s interests in safeguarding information about its officers and “active investigations,” like redacting a victim’s identity.

The municipal association argues that the word “initial” is ambiguous, and that it is up to local authorities to determine its meaning.

The First Amendment Foundation argues that the Legislature has been explicit in its definition of “initial” police reports, and that its scope includes crime details that law enforcement agencies throughout Metro Atlanta release to the public. Sandy Springs is the exception, the foundation says.

The Georgia Constitution requires the Court of Appeals to issue a ruling by March 14, 2025.

SERVICE DIRECTORY

A/C Repair

A/C, plumbing, service repairs: Toilets, ceiling fans, hot water heaters/faucets, garbage disposal; light fixtures. 678-910-1094

AC/Heating

ATLANTA HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING, INC. 678 605-91592 TON $5500 INSTALLED 3 TON $6000 INSTALLED COMPLETE SYSTEM INCLUDES CONDENSER 410A, FURNACE 80% AFUE, HIGH EFFICIENCY EVAPORATOR, WIFI THERMOSTAT, PAD, OVERFLOW PAN, FILTER RACK. CALL 678 605-9159

Garage Sales

Legacy Estate Sale – Everything goes! Antique furniture, tools, designer women’s clothing, kitchenware, much more. 215 Stepping Stone Drive, Alpharetta, 8-6 September 27 & 8-4 on September 28. Cash, Venmo, PayPal only.

Cemetery

SAVE $12,000! Greenlawn, Roswell. Regularly $7995 each. Selling for $12,000, seller will negotiate. Side-by-side Fountain B. 26-c. 1.2,3.

24 ON Physicians PC seeks multiple FT Physician (Alpharetta, GA). Provide medical care to patients in timely manner. Must have MD, DO or foreign equiv degree. Must be board certified or board eligible in Internal Medicine or Osteopathic Medicine. Must possess Illinois Medical License or able to obtain. Subject to periodic transfers to various unanticipated locations in US. Must have legal authority to work in US. EEOE. Resume to: C. Fann, 24 ON Physicians PC, 13000 Deerfield Pkwy, Ste 100, Alpharetta, GA 30004 or cfann@incompasshealth.com. Ref:HospitalistNB26

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 1 day! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts available. 1-877-543-9189

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

1-888-872-2809. Have zip code! Professional lawn service: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Call now for a free quote. Ask about our first application special! 1-833-606-6777 Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to re-ceive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-855-948-6176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

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

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! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306

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

Replace your roof w/the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install (military, health & 1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234 Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, waving all installation costs! (Additional terms apply.