Johns Creek Herald - September 21, 2023

Council clashes over unused cash

Formal decision delayed on $8 million carryover

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek is struggling to agree on what to do with $8.5 million sitting in leftover cash from the current budget year which ends Sept. 30.

The surplus remains unallocated following what may have been the most heated argument among the current council Sept. 12.

At stake is whether Creekside Park will be fully funded for a possible groundbreaking next year, or whether the city’s oldest fire station, Fire Station 63, will see additional money toward a replacement. The building is experiencing structural issues as well as mold.

Before the council was a budget amendment – drafted from a split discussion at an earlier council work session – that would allocate $550,000 of the surplus to retention bonuses and City Hall improvements, with the remainder going to fund Creekside Park.

Creekside Park is a proposed centerpiece anchoring the city’s 192acre Town Center project at Medlock Bridge and McGinnis Ferry roads. The site will be home to Medley, a mixeduse development headed by Avalon developer Mark Toro. It will also feature a new $62.5 million manufacturing

See SURPLUS, Page 7

Avery, a chihuahua mix, was recently bitten in the eye by a copperhead while walking in Ferrante’s Roswell neighborhood and was rushed to an emergency animal hospital where she was treated with anti-venom.

Students poll dog owners about managing pet waste

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — In an effort to improve the city’s water quality, five inspired students capitalized on Johns Creek’s Pup-a-Palooza by handing out surveys to dog owners relaying the importance of waste disposal.

Despite the rain, around 200 people attended the event at Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater in Newtown Park Sept. 16. Pup-a-Palooza, which has been around for a decade, had contests for Best Dressed Dog

and Best Dog Trick in addition to vendors selling dog treats and dog-themed goods. There were also nonprofit animal rescues looking for those willing to foster and adopt.

But while dog enthusiasts made their way around the market, so did members of Student Leadership Johns Creek, a two-year emerging leadership program for high school students. They handed out brochures about the city’s stormwater system as well as a survey, developed after

See PET, Page 12

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PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

At top: From left, Lakshana Ramanan, Neha Gurram, Maggie Dowd, Sana Fatima and David Cooper are Student Leadership Johns Creek members who handed out surveys to dog owners about the impact of pet waste on the city’s waterways at Pup-a-Palooza Sept. 16. Above: Rebecca Ferrante’s two dogs, Avery and Molly, are dressed as lions for Pup-a-Palooza Sept. 16.

PUP-A-PALOOZA

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Bystander wounds suspect in alleged armed robbery

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ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta Police Department is investigating an alleged armed robbery attempt around 10:20 p.m. Sept. 10 in the parking lot at Zaxby’s on Old Milton Parkway. Officers reported responding to a shots-fired call and locating a male

Burglars hit AT&T store for $100,000 in phones

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A district sales manager for AT&T told police Sept. 4 that more than $100,000 in phones were stolen from the Abbotts Bridge Road location that morning.

A store manager had received an alarm activation at around 5:30 a.m., but initially declined police dispatch. After checking the surveillance footage, observing suspects breaking into the back room where the safe was kept, he changed his mind.

When police arrived, they saw that the back room had been ransacked and a large, steel cabinet had been knocked over. The district manager then arrived on the scene and said more than $100,000 in cell phones had been taken.

The surveillance footage showed suspects coming from the woodline behind the business. Police checked that area and located a register drawer, likely found in the store’s back room.

The scene was turned over to detectives for further investigation.

Driver reports altercation on Medlock Bridge Road

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Lawrenceville man reported to police Sept. 6 a road rage incident while driving on Medlock Bridge Road.

The man said he was waiting at the traffic signal at Medlock Bridge and Abbotts Bridge roads when another driver exited his U-Haul truck,

suspect on Ga. 9 with two gunshot wounds to the leg. The suspect is in custody while receiving treatment for his injuries.

Detectives confirmed a bystander who had witnessed the incident shot the suspect.

approached his vehicle and tried to enter it from the driver’s side. After he locked his door, the man told police the suspect paraded around his vehicle and beat his chest with his fists.

The man said that as he continued southbound on Medlock Bridge Road, he attempted to pass the subject in the lefthand lane when his vehicle was struck by an unidentified object, the police report said.

The man told police he had never met or seen the suspect before and that the incident was “random.”

Man reports carjacking on State Bridge Road

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek man reported to police Sept. 8 that his gray 2008 Honda Accord was stolen at gunpoint while he was pumping gas on State Bridge Road.

The victim told police an individual stepped out of a silver vehicle, pointed a black handgun at him and said, “Give me your car.”

The victim said there was at least one other person inside the vehicle but could not provide police with any identifying details because of the dark tinted windows.

The stolen vehicle contained the victim’s iPhone, wallet and a laptop. As police spoke with the registered owner of the vehicle, the victim’s father, the victim started to receive notifications that his credit card had been used at a Chevron gas station in Norcross.

Police later located the victim’s iPhone on a sidewalk near State Bridge

The investigation is ongoing, but police officials said preliminary investigation and evidence indicate the bystander had used lawful force in the defense of a third party.

— Shelby Israel

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.

Road and Bridgemor Drive and spoke with the gas station owner who said he would forward surveillance footage of the incident.

According to the police report, the silver vehicle the suspect arrived in was seen on multiple flock cameras traveling in close proximity to the stolen vehicle. Police sent a BOLO notification to local jurisdiction for both vehicles.

Woman reports landscaper failed to honor contract

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek woman reported to police Sept. 8 that she had been scammed out of $2,000 by a company she hired to do landscaping work.

The victim sent the money last month as a down payment on a $5,000 estimate through Zell, the police report said, but the suspect never started the work. She said she found the company by using the Nextdoor app.

The victim told police she finally made contact with the suspect, who had agreed to begin work that day, but when she called the suspect again, it went to voicemail. Police attempted to call the number as well, but it also went to voicemail.

Georgia public safety chief Chris Wright steps down

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

ATLANTA – Col. Chris Wright will retire from his position as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety Oct. 1 after three years in the leadership post, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday.

The state Board of Public Safety voted Sept. 14 to promote Lt. Col. William “Billy” Hitchens III, the agency’s deputy commissioner, to succeed Wright.

Kemp praised Wright for leading the Georgia State Patrol during a difficult period in its history.

“During times of civil unrest and the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, Colonel Wright demonstrated resilience, foresight, and strength that has led to

reductions in crime and safer communities all across Georgia,” the governor said.

Besides serving as deputy commissioner, Hitchens also oversees the state patrol, the public safety agency’s Motor Carrier Compliance Division and the Capitol Police. After graduating from the 69th Trooper School in 1995, he was assigned to Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Summer Olympics and received a Meritorious Service Award for his

actions prior to and immediate after the bombing.

Also on Sept. 14, the Public Safety Board confirmed Maj. Kendrick Lowe to step up to deputy public safety commissioner and promoted Lt. Col. Joshua Lamb to the role of assistant commissioner.

This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.

Forsyth County libraries schedule international film festival

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Public Library system will host the 26th annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival Sept. 28-Oct. 8. The festival will feature 10 short films that qualify for the 2024 Oscar Awards. The finalists include “Sunless,” “The Family Circus” and “Career Day” from the United States; “Voice Activated” from Australia; “Yellow” from Afghanistan; and “Tuulikki” from Finland.

“Snail” from Iran, “The Record” from Switzerland, “The Stupid Boy” from the United Kingdom and “Soleil De Nuit” from Canada will also be shown at the festival. The 10 short films will be presented together over six days at libraries across the county.

Forsyth County Public Library Programming Manager Kim Ottesen said audiences will judge the short films and vote on the Best Film and Best Actor awards.

“MANHATTAN SHORT is for anyone who loves movies, the Oscars, or the feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself,” Ottesen said.

The films will be shown together for a runtime and voting period of roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes. Admission to the event is free and open to the public. Library staff said the program is for adult audiences.

— Shelby Israel

MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival screening times

2 p.m. Sept. 30 at Hampton Park Library

2 p.m. Oct. 1 at Cumming Library

6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Sharon Forks Library

6:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at Hampton Park Library

6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Post Road Library

2 p.m. Oct. 8 at Sharon Forks Library

Election issues create stir at county town hall

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — North Fulton residents raised pointed questions about elections Sept. 14 at a town hall sponsored by Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne.

Thorne, who represents Johns Creek, parts of Roswell, Alpharetta and Sandy Springs, hosted the meeting at the Alpharetta Branch Library and invited the county’s new Board of Registration and Elections Chair Patrise Perkins-Hooker and the new Republican board member Michael Heekin to answer questions from the crowd of about 50.

The Fulton County Commission had substituted Chairman Robb Pitts’ original nominee Lee Morris, a Republican who had served on the County Commission, for PerkinsHooker, a Democrat and former Fulton County attorney. After Pitts received backlash in the strongly Democratic county, Morris backed out from his nomination to avoid divisiveness.

Heekin was appointed from a pool of two Republican nominees to the BRE, a five-member board consisting of a chair, two Republicans and two Democrats.

The County Commission rejected Republican Jason Frazier, in a 3-2 vote in June. Frazier, who attended the town hall, is known for challenging the eligibility of thousands of voters. The BRE still has a Republican vacancy. Frazier sat beside his wife Lucia

Frazier and Matt Rowenczak. All are Roswell residents.

All three had frequented Milton Election Feasibility Committee meetings, commenting to the six-member group tasked with studying whether Milton could divorce itself from Fulton County to run its own municipal elections. Milton is one of two Fulton County cities conducting their own election this year.

In their comments to the Milton committee, the three criticized Fulton County’s election management and pushed toward the city hand-counting paper ballots.

Questions about Fulton County adopting hand-counting paper ballots were posed to Perkins-Hooker, citing concerns about a technical error that occurred in the DeKalb County Commission race last year.

“We don't use it because it's too unwieldy with regard to the number of votes and ballots that are cast,” she said. “We're not going to change that policy just because a few people, a few

people, are interested in having handcounted ballots.”

Perkins-Hooker said a change to hand-counting paper ballots would have to go through the state Legislature or through the county government. She said Fulton County uses ballot machines according to state policies and regulations.

Some audience members also requested flexible, part-time schedules for poll workers on a more permanent basis. This is the first year Fulton County is assigning poll workers parttime shifts, and Perkins-Hooker said the decision is an experiment.

“We will make a decision based upon the actual experiences, but it's not just because other counties do it,” PerkinsHooker said. “We don't do that. We do it the Fulton way, and we do it such that Fulton voters get a chance to have an experience that's better than most counties.”

Rowenczak shouted that PerkinsHooker’s response was a “cop out.”

Perkins-Hooker also answered questions about ensuring diversity among party affiliations of those who work the polls. But she said there’s not a line item on an application that asks whether the applicant is a Democrat or Republican because the selection process is nonpartisan.

County Commissioner Thorne introduced the “hot topic” of voter registration to Perkins-Hooker. Local media reported recently the Secretary of State had purged nearly 190,000 names from Georgia’s voter rolls. Earlier that day, Perkins-Hooker said the BRE reported that 20,000 of those were in Fulton County.

The process of cleaning voter rolls takes a long time, she said.

“It will continue to take a long time because we have numerous registrants who are constantly applying to Fulton County, as well as numerous people who are transferring out of Fulton County,” Perkins-Hooker said.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

A citizen at a town hall meeting at the Alpharetta Branch Library, hosted by Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne, on right, asks a question about ballot readability to new Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections Chair Patrise Perkins-Hooker, middle, Sept. 14.

Milton, Stonecreek Church co-host Touch-a-Truck event

BY ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Milton’s first Toucha-Truck event was held Sept. 9 at the Stonecreek Church parking lot at 13540 Ga. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. In collaboration between the City’s police and fire-rescue departments and the church, the family-friendly outing provided children with the opportunity to explore and interact with several different trucks, police cars, heavyduty equipment and other large vehicles.

First responders and local business owners were stationed at each vehicle to answer questions about how it worked and their involvement within the community. Local sponsors included The Junkluggers, Reid Casey Real Estate, Karate Atlanta, The Yoga Loft, Goldfish Swim School, and others. The free event also included music, food trucks, face painting, bounce houses, crafts and other children’s activities.

“When my children were little, I used to come to Touch-a-Truck,” said Kelly Rosen, a community outreach volunteer for the Milton Fire Corps. “There are a lot of people here…and not just [from] Milton, but people come from Alpharetta, Cumming, Woodstock, and all over this area because kids love trucks…it’s a great family event.”

For more than 20 years, touch-atruck events have remained an annual staple throughout Metro Atlanta. Due to the global pandemic, gatherings like these were cancelled in 2020 before making a return the following year. While previously held in surrounding cities like Alpharetta, this marks the first year for Milton. Vehicles included a Milton Police patrol car, Milton FireRescue engine, a horse trailer and a John Deere tractor.

“It’s such a good event,” said Keith Tenuto, owner of the Junkluggers of North Atlanta, and a primary sponsor for the event. “When kids are learning at early ages, one of the first things they learn about is a firetruck or a police truck or an ambulance, and so having that stuff available so that they can be involved and physically go inside the truck and see it with their own eyes, I think it’s just an important thing for them learning-wise. For local business owners like myself, it just gives us the opportunity to be a part of that as well.”

With several hundred guests in attendance, the popular event continues to receive positive feedback from the community and its many sponsors. For more information on this or other Milton community events, contact Milton Community Outreach Manager Emily Salerno at Emily. Salerno@miltonga.gov.

ADAM DARBY/APPEN MEDIA

Milton police and fire rescue personnel joined with local businesses to provide large vehicles and machinery for children to explore. Sept. 9 marked Milton’s first year hosting a Touch-a-Truck event for families and residents.

Alpharetta group to help sponsor Youth Sustainability Conference

SNELLVILLE, Ga. — A statewide event for youth interested in sustainability advocacy is coming to Snellville Nov. 4, intended to foster awareness, empowerment and lasting change.

This year, Green Cell, an Alpharettabased grassroots environmental nonprofit, is partnering with the United Nations’ Atlanta Chapter and the Georgia Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council to host the Georgia Youth Sustainability Conference at Shiloh High School from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry responds to comments about the fiscal year 2023 surplus at the Sept. 12 City Council meeting. A measure to allocate nearly all of the $8.5 million surplus to Creekside Park failed, and the issue will be brought back before the council at a later special-called meeting.

Surplus:

Continued from Page 1

facility for Boston Scientific.

Plans for the 21-acre park include an amphitheater, a playground, multiuse trails, a boardwalk, fountains and an underpass on Medlock Bridge Road.

Councilwoman Stacy Skinner initiated opposition to Councilwoman Erin Elwood’s motion to approve the item, saying it was fiscally irresponsible to prioritize Creekside Park over Fire Station 63 when the city had just opened Cauley Creek Park. The newly activated 203-acre park doubled the city’s park space.

“What we’re looking at is an $8 or possibly $9 million fire station,” Skinner said. “... As much as I would love to continue activating the Town Center, I can’t with good conscience support this motion.”

Councilmembers Bob Erramilli and Larry DiBiase followed suit, both characterizing the park as a luxury and the fire station as critical infrastructure.

“The Fire Department needs to meet how many minutes it takes to get on site,” DiBiase said. “I don’t want to risk that for [Creekside Park].”

Bradberry called the council discussion “political theater,” and said DiBiase’s comments on fire response times was a “scare tactic.”

Elwood also weighed in.

“I am personally offended by the insinuation that we are risking fire

safety response times in this budget surplus decision tonight, because I have seen absolutely no evidence to that fact,” Elwood said.

Bradberry said he has already pledged to submit a fiscal year 2025 budget that contributes money toward Fire Station 63. He expects available funds for capital improvements to be around $5 million.

“It’s a false choice, it’s demagoguery to make it sound like that the fire station will not be able to be built when the plans are ready,” Bradberry said. “We do not own the land. We do not have the plans.”

With Councilman Chris Coughlin absent, the item maintained an evensplit vote and will be forwarded to a special-called meeting.

In other matters Tuesday night, the council voted unanimously to adopt the $78.8 million fiscal year 2024 budget. Several updates were drafted, including a $250,000 allocation toward the city’s effort to conduct its 2025 general municipal election.

Councilmembers also discussed the multi-jurisdictional McGinnis Ferry Road widening project, from Union Hill Road to Sargent Road, in its work session and agreed to increase the city’s contribution by $3 million. While construction for the project is expected to cost $88.2 million, previous financial commitments from the agencies involved amount to $50.8 million.

Forsyth County, Alpharetta and the Georgia Department of Transportation are also expected to revisit funding for the project.

Through dynamic workshops, interactive discussions and inspiring keynote speakers, the conference will equip attendees with the knowledge, tools and networks necessary to effect positive change in their communities and beyond.

This youth-led conference welcomes students, change-makers, members of middle and high school eco-clubs in Georgia as well as teachers and ecoclub sponsors to participate. There is expected to be 400-plus middle and high school students in attendance. Scholarships are available for

students from Title 1 schools, teachers and eco-club sponsors.

The deadline to register is for the third week of October. Now, there is an early bird pricing promotion, which slashes the cost from $30 to $20. There are also 50 percent discounts for groups of five students registering together. To register for the event, visit youthsustainability.org/registration. The conference also invites organizations interested in setting up booths to showcase their sustainability efforts and offer internship and volunteering opportunities in various fields. For those interested in setting up a booth, visit youthsustainability.org/ product/booth-registration.

Service hour and appreciation certificates will be provided by the three partnering organizations to all volunteers. The GYSC 2023 Champion trophy will be awarded to the school with the most participants. An award for Best Poster will also be offered. For more information, visit youthsustainability.org

Stroll along Blue Stone Road

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

— Amber Perry

Couples Academy isolates on marriages in crisis stage

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Hasani and Danielle Pettiford, owners of Couples Academy, will soon celebrate 21 years of marriage. But as they sat closely on the couch in their Milton home, they recalled a time when that benchmark felt impossible.

Hasani said couples tend to struggle in five areas — communication, sex, parenting, finances and loss, though communication is the common denominator.

“We suffered from all five of them. All of it,” Hasani said. “Broke, busted and disgusted, didn’t have a pot to pee in, a window to throw it out of … We had to crawl our way out.”

Danielle said she had asked Hasani to go to counseling time and time again, and eventually checked out. But something in him changed one day, she said, and he started watching therapeutic VHS tapes to begin a journey of self-repair.

“We found some therapists that turned everything around and gave us a different experience, where we were working on ourselves,” Danielle said. “... They really helped us center on our own development.”

In the trenches

The Pettifords saved their marriage and began sharing their story with other couples at casual gatherings at their home, laughing and playing cards. But the pair

realized some of these couples would pour out their marital issues in search of the same level of happiness they had discovered.

So, Hasani and Danielle decided to take their positions more

seriously and become certified as marriage and family coaches.

“Once we became infidelity recovery specialists, it seems like 99 percent of all our clients kind of fit in that category,” Hasani said.

What separates the Pettifords from other marriage counselors is that they deal with crises, those on the verge of divorce, impacted by an

See MARRIAGE, Page 9

We connect dots, and we walk you through a journey to get you to a final destination.

HASANI PETTIFORD, owner, Couples Academy

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Danielle and Hasani Pettiford, owners of Couples Academy, stand in their Milton home. The Pettifords began working with married couples around 15 years ago after therapy helped them overcome their own marital difficulties. While the pair cover a wide range of issues, they specialize in infidelity recovery.

Marriage: NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Continued from Page 8

affair.

“It’s beyond ‘Hey, have a date night and just learn to communicate better,’” Hasani said. “We get in the trenches, and deal with some heavy, heavy, heavy, heavy issues that most practitioners are not equipped for, become overwhelmed by and may refer out because that’s just not their thing.”

Since becoming infidelity recovery specialists a decade ago, Hasani said only eight couples who have gone through programs at the Couples Academy have divorced.

Connecting the dots

Couples can take one of two routes at Couples Academy. One is the traditional path consisting of weekly sessions led by one of 15 practitioners. But the Pettifords said this is not ideal.

“If somebody chooses the traditional weekly model, the national statistics suggest that the average couple engages in about 16 to 20 sessions before they wind up stopping,” Hasani said.

Couples stop, not because the process is completed, he said, but

because they either haven’t seen enough breakthrough or because it’s too costly. Yet, it takes one to two years to heal from an affair, Hasani said.

The preferred path is an intensive, three-prong approach. The first step is attending a “Last Chance” weekend, where four to eight couples participate in experiential learning exercises, a process that includes a “shock factor.”

“We connect dots, and we walk you through a journey to get you to a final destination,” Hasani said.

Those weekends are three, 12- to 16-hour days that consist of teambuilding activities, like hiking Stone Mountain or climbing a 30-foot pole blindfolded.

“You see that partnership, and they make it together,” Danielle said.

Couples then participate in a 12-week program, exclusive to husbands and wives, tackling different obstacles on the individual level. This is followed by what the Pettifords call “building your kingdom,” where couples tap into the power of their partnerships.

“We’re not just interested in saving your marriage,” Hasani said. “There’s so much more behind that.”

Atlanta Fine Homes signs lease at Avalon

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty is moving to Avalon in Fall 2024, according to the brokerage.

“This strategic decision reflects our commitment to providing the highest level of service and accessibility to our valued clients” according to David Boehmig, president and co-founder.

Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty reports a team of over 575 professionals equipped to guide clients through the real estate process.

Over the years, they served 4,400 clients and achieved $4.3 billion in home

sales.

The new home at 8000 Avalon is a modern office building featuring premium surroundings and amenities. With over 77 retail experiences, more than 15 chef-driven restaurants, and a full-service hotel and conference center nearby, the agency expects to offer visitors a truly immersive and convenient experience.

The move symbolizes a commitment to staying at the forefront of the real estate industry, fostering growth, innovation, and personalized service for clients, according to the brokerage.

Name: The Scene Art Gallery

Founder: Alpha Arts Guild

Description: We are the PREMIER Art Gallery for Georgia Artists. We exist to promote and sell local art by local artists! Whether you’re looking to consign your work, purchase art to liven up your space or simply get involved with amazing art programming; The Scene is the place to be!

Opened: May 13, 2023

Address: 2070 North Point Circle, Alpharetta, GA 30022 Phone: 470-994-6940

Web Address: thesceneartgallery.com

Irrevocable and revocable trusts are not limited to just protecting your assets after your death. If you’re a business owner, a living trust would also protect you while you are alive. If something happens to you when you’re alivefor instance, if you become mentally incapacitated - then a living trust would ensure that your family and those you trust will be able to continue running your business for you.

When you transfer your interest and ownership of a company into a trust, the trust becomes the owner of the business so that upon your death, it is your beneficiaries or trusted agents who inherit the business. While you are alive, you do not lose control over your business. Most Trustees of living trusts are the business owners who are transferring their businesses into the trust. Furthermore, trusts generally have contingent Trustees, so that once you pass away the ownership of the business will never be left unclear, will not be frozen and under the control of probate court, and/

or forced into liquidation to pay off creditors.

Thus, a major added benefit of putting a business in a trust is that it relieves any business debts on your family members - otherwise, business assets could be used to satisfy personal/business debts and lead to bankruptcy. In addition, a trust also reduces the tax burden on your estate by minimizing state and/or federal estate taxes and may also reduce your heirs’ tax liabilities. Equally important, the right type of trust can ensure the business remains in your bloodline after your death, instead of your children and descendants losing the business to their divorces, lawsuits, creditors, or their long-term care disability costs.

Regardless of what business you may own, it’s never too late to set up estate planning in the event of unforeseen circumstances. Protect what you’ve worked for by making sure your company will be safe from probate and unnecessary taxes - and as always, remember to always check with a local estate planning attorney to ensure you fully understand the rules regarding trust in your county and state. Please contact Geerdes & Associates for more information on Living Trust at 770.209.2346.

GEERDES

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Pet:

Continued from Page 1

meeting with Johns Creek city staff about solutions to elevated E. coli levels in the city’s beloved waterways.

According to one Watershed Stormwater Master Plan completed this year for Johns Creek, pet waste is likely the leading cause of fecal coliform pollution.

Neha Gurram, a junior at Northview High School, said the survey asked dog owners how often they dispose of their pet waste and what the city could do to make the effort more possible. Pup-a-Palooza was their first outreach and education event for the project.

“The results are really leaning towards the city installing more pet waste stations,” Gurram said. “A lot of residents are not happy with how many there are right now.”

Lakshana Ramanan, a senior at Fulton County Schools Innovation Academy, said the group chose the community project once they realized how big of an issue pet waste can be for the environment. Ramanan said pet waste, if it isn’t discarded properly, goes in the city’s stormwater drains and affects waterways used for drinking water.

“It’s a local issue that affects people in the community,” Ramanan said. “We wanted to start on the ground level and establish a foundation, like, ‘This is what needs to be done to make sure that our city is beautiful.’”

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Pup-a-Palooza, held at the Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater in Newtown Park, saw around 300 people. Some entered their dogs into Best Dressed Dog and Best Dog Trick contests. There were also pet care vendors and nonprofit animal rescues at the event.

A Girl Scout sells doggy treats at Pup-a-Palooza Sept. 16.

Peachtree Corners residents Brenda Garza and her daughter stand with Goldie, their 4-yearold Goldendoodle, at Pup-a-Palooza Sept. 16. While Goldie didn’t place in this year’s Best Dressed Dog contest, she won first place in last year’s Pup-a-Palooza with a traditional Mexican outfit for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Nonprofit assists school construction program

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Zach Fields, vice president of the non-profit Construction Ready’s K12 program, prepped a class of about 20 students at Roswell High School recently to construct headers – boards placed above doorways and windows.

“You do not want them to fall on your grandma, first of all,” Fields, sporting a measuring tape on his front pocket, told the class. “We got to make sure that doesn’t happen. We got to build things the right way.”

When a teacher resigned at the beginning of the school year, the program’s 100 students were left to a rotating roster of substitute teachers assigning book work, rather than handson projects.

Fields stepped in during the second week of classes, leading sessions almost every day to fill the role. He’s with the nonprofit Construction Ready, whose mission is to provide statewide support to educational programs in the architecture and construction career sector.

Support could mean teacher training, connecting programs to

industry partners and providing materials, and in rare cases, providing a teacher. Construction Ready serves 20,000 students across 200 workforce development programs.

Construction education support extends to the elementary school level. Fields said there are 600 students a year

taking construction at Mountain Park Elementary School, and some of those kids go on to participate in the program at Roswell High.

“There’s just so much joy in building and creating something,” Fields said. That day, Fields broke students into groups to begin their work constructing

headers. Students measured and cut wood, using an industrial saw, in the school’s construction lab – a recent addition to the campus. In the past, students worked from trailers outside.

Jeric Rogers, 15, is in his second year in the construction education program.

“I just like working with my hands,” Rogers said. “It’s fun.”

His favorite project so far is a shed his class built last year. It took about a month to make.

Rogers’ classmate, 16-year-old Nicky Scedon, said the same. Scedon is not a resident of Roswell, but he attends Roswell High to participate in the construction program.

Fields said industry problems benefit young people, like Rogers and Scedon. Construction Ready was founded in 1993, when industry leaders around the state saw an imminent workforce shortage. The shortage hurts other sectors, like hospitals and schools, Fields said, and it increases the cost and timeline of development projects.

Skilled trade workers are aging out, Fields said, with around 40 percent retiring within 10 years.

“We’re doing everything we can to fix that issue, to tackle that issue,” Fields said.

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If you answered YES to any of these questions then you don’t want to miss the FREE BALANCE, DIZZINESS AND FALL PREVENTION WORKSHOP on Tuesday, October 3 at 12:30 pm.

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Try out this quick self test for balance. How long can you stand on one leg? If it’s not more than 10 seconds you are at increased risk for falling.

If you would like to know more about improving your balance and reducing your risk of falling, you won’t want to

miss the FREE BALANCE, DIZZINESS AND FALL PREVENTION WORKSHOP on Tuesday, October 3 at 12:30 pm.

At the workshop you will learn the TOP THREE factors that increase your risk of falling. You will also learn the #1 mistake people with balance deficits usually make that increase their fall risk. We will also discuss different ways you can be safer in your home and out in the community. Registration is FREE Register by calling 770-622-5344.

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AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

At left, Zach Fields with the nonprofit Construction Ready, guides a student in Roswell High School’s construction program to operate a saw. That day, students were learning how to construct headers.

SOUNDS OF SUMMER 2023

What: This free festival will feature performances from nationally recognized musicians, like Dave Fenley from “The Voice” and “America’s Got Talent” and Paul McDonald from “American Idol,” as well as festivities and refreshments.

When: Friday, Sept. 22, 6-9 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody More info: discoverdunwoody.com

MILTON FARMERS MARKET

What: Every Saturday morning through October, more than a dozen vendors set up shop around Milton City Hall with fresh produce, fresh meat, sweets, coffee and tea, flowers, soaps, jewelry and more.

When: Saturday, Sept. 23, 8:30 a.m.12:30 p.m.

Where: Milton City Hall plaza, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton More info: facebook.com/ miltongafarmersmarket

A TASTE OF RESILIENCE

What: Observe and learn from a cooking demonstration which explores stories of enslaved peoples in America as represented through their food.

When: Saturday, Sept. 23, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Where: Smith Plantation, 935 Alpharetta Street, Roswell More info: roswell365.com

ROSWELL RIVER SOUNDS: JACKIE VENSON

What: Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Jackie Venson is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter who has supported major acts like Gary Clark Jr. and Citizen Cope. Beer, wine and sangria will be available for purchase. There will also be on-site food trucks.

When: Saturday, Sept. 23, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Riverside Park, 575 Riverside Road, Roswell More info: roswell365.com

12 ANGRY JURORS

What: In Sherman L. Sergel’s play adaptation of the teleplay, a 19-year-old man who has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. “He doesn’t stand a chance,” mutters the guard as the 12 jurors are taken into the bleak jury room.

GEOLOGY WALK AND TALK

What: The hills and hollows of Sandy Springs, its vistas of the Chattahoochee, and even its name, are tied to its geologic past. Learn stories of the rocks and landscapes during a 45-minute walk and a lecture.

When: Thursday, Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Lost Corner Preserve, 7300 Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

It looks like an open-and-shut case — until one of the jurors begins opening the other’s eyes to the facts.

When: Until Sept. 24, times vary

Where: Act1 Theater, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta

Cost: $20-25

More info: act1theater.org

GEOLOGY WALK AND TALK

What: The hills and hollows of Sandy Springs, its vistas of the Chattahoochee, and even its name, are tied to its geologic past. Learn stories of the rocks and landscapes during a 45-minute walk and a lecture.

When: Thursday, Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Lost Corner Preserve, 7300 Brandon Mill Road, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

BLUE STONE ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL

What: In its debut, this free festival will have an artist market and live music of different genres on multiple stages. There

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT!

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

will also be food and beverages, a Kids Zone and a Sports Zone with a video wall.

When: Friday & Saturday, Sept. 29-30, times vary

Where: City Springs, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

RADIO ’80S

What: Bring your lawn blankets and chair to see Radio 80’s Band cover the greatest hits from the decade. Tents as well as outside food and alcoholic beverages are not allowed. Friendly dogs on a leash are welcome.

When: Friday, Sept. 29, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming

More info: cummingcitycenter.com

TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE

What: Based on the book, this play is about Mitch, who catches Morrie’s appearance on a television show 16 years after graduation. He learns that

easy

his old professor is battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Mitch is reunited with Morrie, and what starts as a simple visit turns into a weekly pilgrimage and a last class in the meaning of life.

When: Sept. 29-Oct. 15, times vary

Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: Adults are $28; students are $20; kids are $15

More info: stagedoortheatrega.org

JOHNS CREEK LITERARY FAIR

What: The inaugural Johns Creek Literary Fair will feature more than 30 authors hailing from the southeast and around the country.

When: Sunday, Oct. 1, 12-5 p.m.

Where: Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater at Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek

More info: johnscreekga.gov

Recognition and tributes for Lynwood Park and the Trailblazers

On September 12, 2023, several tributes to the community and Trailblazers of Lynwood Park were unveiled at the Lynwood Park Recreation Center, formerly Lynwood Park School. The city of Brookhaven worked with the Lynwood Park Foundation to honor and celebrate the history and people of the community.

The path to these changes began in 2018 when the Lynwood Park Foundation began work to obtain a historical marker. In October 2020, the Brookhaven City Council voted on and approved the “Historic Lynwood Park Recognition Ordinance.” The ordinance recognized Lynwood Park as the first predominantly Black subdivision in DeKalb County, a community which suffered discrimination and segregation.

Brookhaven councilwoman Linley Jones announced the various markers and tributes which are now a permanent part of the community.

The Lynwood Park School historical marker is on the lawn in front of the former school, which is now Lynwood Park Recreation Center. Black students from Lynwood Park, Doraville and Chamblee attended the school. It is one of several “equalization schools” across Georgia, where improvements or new schools were built for Black children, while keeping schools segregated.

The “Lynwood Park Trailblazers Community Room” honors former Lynwood Park students who blazed a trail for those to follow. The students were the first to integrate nearby White DeKalb County schools when Lynwood Park School closed in 1968.

The name of the gymnasium of Lynwood Park Recreation Center has been restored, named in honor of Columbus Jones, the first recreation director. The sign above the entrance reads, “Columbus Jones Gymnasium, home of the mighty Lynwood Rattlers, est. 1949.”

The turf field of Lynwood Park will honor Emmauel Wallace, long-time staffer of the park who died in 2020. His daughter shared his legacy, adding “his character and integrity shone through.”

Another tribute to the history lies within a display case placed in the community center lobby with photos and memorabilia of Lynwood Park School.

To highlight the entrance to historic Lynwood Park, Atlanta artist Turiya Clark was commissioned to paint murals in each crosswalk of the Windsor Parkway and Osborne Road roundabout. Clark, who grew up in Lynwood Park, painted images that are significant to Lynwood Park.

The little red schoolhouse, the first school in Lynwood Park, is featured in one crosswalk section. Families of the community donated their labor and money to build the school which served their children from 1942 until 1949.

The school built in 1949 is pictured in another crosswalk. Other crosswalk paintings include a large oak tree which was a central gathering place for the community, white butterflies to symbolize peace and transformation and the ancestors of Lynwood Park, red poppies represent remembrance and hope for the future, yellow wildflowers for resilience and

willpower to survive against the odds, and the sun for happiness and harmony in the community.

Markers sharing the story of the community have also been placed at the entrance to Lynwood Park. Councilwoman Linley Jones declared, “The gateway markers at the intersection of Windsor

Parkway and Osborne Road establish a permanent sense of place.”

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

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Columnist

On September 12, 2023 a ribbon cutting was held for the new Lynwood Park Trail Blazers Community Room.

PHOTOS BY VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF/APPEN MEDIA

The Lynwood Park Recreation Center gymnasium name has been restored to honor Columbus Jones.

Local artist Turiya Clark painted murals on the crosswalks of the Windsor Parkway/Osborne Road roundabout.

The beauty of the Eastern tiger swallowtail, Georgia’s state butterfly

One of the most splendidly adorned insects is the butterfly. If I asked you to tell me about your favorite insect, my guess is that butterflies would be at the top of the list for most people.

Because of the public admiration of butterflies, most of the 50 states have selected a state butterfly. In 1988, the Georgia Legislature passed a bill designating the Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) as the official state butterfly.

These summer beauties have four wings with yellow and black stripes on their forewings and one orange eyespot at the posterior end of each hindwing as well as a distinctive tail at the end of each hindwing. The female tiger swallowtails are adorned with an additional feature, a series of five blue circles lining the area above the tail of both hindwings. Some female swallowtails in the South are completely black but contain a shadow of the tiger stripe.

Every summer I anxiously await the arrival of the butterflies, especially the Eastern tiger swallowtails. They are the most abundant of the butterflies that visit our Georgia gardens. When the sun is shining, the swallowtails look for bright colored, nectar-producing flowers. They can also be seen at mud puddles and on asphalt to obtain water and some of the essential minerals needed for survival. During their short, two-week life as adult butterflies, they have two missions: to obtain nourishment from the nectar in flowers and to find a host plant to lay their eggs. They prefer to lay their eggs on birch, wild cherry, tulip poplar and ash trees. The leaves of these trees serve as the food supply for the hungry caterpillars after they hatch from the egg.

As the caterpillar increases in size and weight, it will shed its exoskeleton several times, and each time the exoskeleton is replaced by a new and larger one. When the larva, or caterpillars, reach their mature size, they pupate. The egg, caterpillar, pupa. adult life cycle is repeated one or two more times each summer. In Fall before the first frost, the last of the mature caterpillars will attach to a leaf and enter the pupa stage of their life cycle and remain suspended in this stage of development until the

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a master gardener since 2012 and a Milton resident. Carole describes herself as a born biologist. Since childhood, she 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. In 2012, Carole completed the Master Gardener training 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 Assistance League of Atlanta (ALA) thrift store and acts as chair of their Links to Education scholarship program. Her favorite hobbies are gardening, hiking, biking and reading.

Learn more

• Top left photo: Female Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly on buttonbush (Cephalalanthus occidentalis), photo by Ed Navarro.

• Top right photo: Female Eastern tiger swallowtail on purple butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), photo by Carole MacMullan.

• Middle left photo: Male swallowtail on orange impatiens (Impatiens walleriana), photo by Carole MacMullan.

• Bottom right photo: Eastern tiger swallowtail close-up showing antenna and proboscis, University of Georgia photo

• Bottom left photo: Eastern tiger swallowtail larva, photo by Howard Ensign Evans, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org.

summer of the next year. The pupa stage is a time of change. Some of the caterpillar cells are lost, reshuffled, and replaced by new cells that create wings, antennae, new mouth parts and reproductive organs. This metamorphosis transforms the green, worm-like caterpillar into a colorful butterfly capable of reproducing and laying eggs.

Successfully observing butterflies requires being at the right place at the right time. They like sunny days and prefer to feed in the late mornings and during the afternoon since they are cold-blooded. On a sunny July 14, I observed a hungry, male Eastern tiger swallowtail feeding on the nectar of a cluster of orange impatiens flowers. Over a period of 10 to 15 minutes, the butterfly moved from one orange flower to the next orange flower, each time

inserting its straw-like mouth part called a proboscis to obtain lifesustaining nectar. To my amazement, the butterfly visited every orange impatiens flower in my flower bed but ignored every white flowering impatiens! My conclusion is that they like bright colored flowers, and the flower color is more important than the taste appeal of the nectar.

My suggestion to all butterfly enthusiasts is to visit your gardens, take a walk and/or visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden or Gibbs Garden in Ball Ground, Ga., and to enjoy the summer flowers, pollinators and of course, the butterflies. If you have pre-school children or grandchildren, I suggest reading my favorite children’s picture book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. It is never too early to teach our children to appreciate the out-of-

• Georgia Wildlife Federation Magazine, “State butterfly is a beautiful sight,” March 18, 2020, originally posted in fall 1991.

• Jeffrey Glassberg, “Butterflies of North America,” 2011, ISBN 978-14027-8620-4.

• Charles Seabrook, “The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is Aptly Named,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, June 20, 2013.

• James A. Scott, “The Butterflies of North America: a natural history and field guide,” Stanford University Press, ISBN-13: 978-0804720137.

doors and all the animals, plants and living things we share the planet with and are part of the web of life!

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.

CAROLE MACMULLAN

Guest Columnist

Book chatter with a group of lifelong bookworms

Book chatter is what you get when you join a group of avid readers. Believe it or not, it can be hard to get a word in edgewise.

spot. Instead, I went right home and reserved it at the library.

KATHY MANOS PENN

In August, I met with a Mystery Book Club in Highlands, N.C. What a fun time. Not only did Shakespeare & Company bookstore host the group, the manager also provided a tasty charcuterie board to fortify us for the meeting.

I gave an informal presentation about my serendipitous path to becoming an author, and a freewheeling back and forth ensued. Imagine a group of avid readers offering their opinions not only on mysteries but on all kinds of books. Picture all of us sharing the names of our favorite authors — from Agatha Christie to Rita Mae Brown. From Dorothy Sayers to Sophie Hannah. Their eyes lit up when they heard that the books in my series all include either a book club meeting or a literary festival.

We reflected on the joy that reading brings us. We were all lifelong bookworms. Someone mentioned Anna Quindlen’s book, “How Reading Changed My Life,” and I was the only one in the room who hadn’t read it. If there’d been a copy available in the shop, I would have bought it on the

We even had a conversation about grammar when one reader bemoaned the mistakes in a newsletter at a senior living facility. Laughter greeted the story of the residents circling the errors and bringing them to the front desk. The group was aghast but not surprised that the college grad who composed the publication seemed unable to produce an error-free product.

That launched a discussion of our favorite books about grammar. I had to come home and scan my bookshelf and fire off an email with a list of my favorites:

• “Dreyer’s English—An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style”

• “Between You & Me—Confessions of a Comma Queen”

• “Lapsing into a Comma—A Curmudgeon’s Guide to the many things that can go wrong in print—and how to avoid them”

• “Eats, Shoots, & Leaves”

Ten days later, I met with a Dunwoody book club to discuss the first book in my mystery series. This group of women formed their club in 1997 and are still going strong. Because they’re Dunwoody residents, they’re familiar with my “Crier” columns about books. I smiled when one member walked in with a clipping from the column in which I’d recommended “The White

Lady,” a novel by one of my favorite authors. In her other hand, she carried a copy of the book.

Once again, I shared the tale of how I came to write my first work of fiction after I retired. I still credit Dick Williams, former editor of the Crier, with launching my writing career when he hired me as a columnist. This group had read “Bells, Tails & Murder,” book one in my series, so there were plenty of questions about the plot, the characters, and the setting. As I described the many Cotswolds sights and facts that appear in my books, I felt as though I were reliving my 2018 bucket list trip to England.

My heroine lives in a schoolhouse cottage we drove by, but the village where she lives is fictional. A waterwheel we saw in Upper Slaughter inspired the imaginary Olde Mill Inn in the book. It’s true that J.M. Barrie summered in Stanway and donated a cricket pavilion to the village, but the literary mystery in the book exists only in my imagination. The spunky octogenarian in the book? The inspiration for that character comes not from the Cotswolds trip, but from closer to home. She’s the embodiment of a 93-year-old Dunwoody friend.

You can always count on a group of avid readers to share the names of their favorite authors. Mine, of course, were all British — Kate Ellis, Colleen Cambridge, and Jacqueline Winspear. The list changes depending on when I’m asked, though there are a few constants.

When one person commented that it must take lots of imagination to write a novel, I had to think. I write what I know and pluck characters and situations from my life. Describing bicycling, reading, or tossing together a Greek meal comes easily to me. How much imagination does it take to weave stories around those elements? I’m not sure. What I know is that I get immense joy from writing. Talking books with groups like these is an unexpected bonus. Who knew retired life could be so rewarding?

NOTE: Join the fun at the Oct. 1 Johns Creek Literary Fair from noon to 5 p.m., at the Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater at Newtown Park. Enjoy New York Times bestselling writers discussing and signing their books. Witness a literary version of “Speed Dating” when twenty local authors give two-minute talks about their books — yes, I’ll be one of them. Books plus light hors d’oeuvres, wine, and other beverages will be available to purchase. What could be better than strolling through the park on an autumn afternoon chatting with authors and picking up a book or two or three?

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

Joe Dumphy: Once an Angel, forever an Angel.

For those of us lucky enough to have known Joe Dumphy, we know that somewhere, somehow, he’s smiling that millionwatt smile and his blue eyes are sparkling.

His friends at Chestatee Golf Club knew Joe all too well. He was a regular and didn’t play golf exclusively with people his age. Oh, make no mistake, he would administer a sound thrashing to teenage opponents he went to school with or competed against in numerous area golf tournaments.

According to his dad, Charley, Joe had a full dance card at Chestatee

and loved playing with the older guys as well. Anything for a golf game. And Joe could flat out play. At 14, his handicap was a plus two. In simplest terms, Joe’s average score meant he was two strokes better than any course he stepped onto.

Who knew how far his talents would’ve taken him? TCU had a spot for him when he graduated from high school. The future was dead, solid perfect.

Except that in late June of 2015, as he left the course with his grandparents, a terrible car accident killed his grandfather, John, instantly. Betsy his grandmother was severely injured. Joe, forever the competitor, fought for his life for 29 days in a neuro-ICU before dying on July 26, 2015. Joe had just celebrated his 15th birthday.

Joe’s final act was donating his organs so that others could live.

Fortunately, for everyone who knew Joe, that’s not where this remarkable story concludes. Instead, it’s a legacy to a family, friends and others that gets a healthy update every September on the Saturday after Labor Day.

The Joe Dumphy Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament was held recently on a perfect late summer Saturday. This was the ninth year of the event, and 139 golfers let it fly in a diverse crowd that would have elicited a huge grin from Joe.

Better yet, after this year, more than $125,000 has been awarded to golfers looking to improve their game at the college level.

The players and more than 40 volunteers would have matched Joe grin for grin. There were laughs

galore. There was an undeniable sense that anyone there was happy to ensure that Joe’s memory lived on. Old friends hugged and new friends were made.

Personally, it made my heart swell to see Charley, Joe’s mom Deb and sister Olivia. Grandmother Betsy, a survivor of that tragic accident, was there too. She looked great and no doubt impressed that so many had such fond remembrances of her special grandson.

My connection to the Dumphy family was initiated in 2005 when the golfer played baseball for me and formed a friendship with youngest son Greg. There were play days at the lake, birthday parties and a Christmas or two when Santa made a cameo to

See ANGEL, Page 19

Columnist

MIKE TASOS

Columnist

Why getting your story is important

When a person thinks about contacting a financial planner, often he or she has a money question; perhaps how to deal with a short-term situation, or longrange planning for major life events such as buying a home, funding educations for children, dealing with issues of aging, retirement, starting or selling a closely held business. Decisions about major life challenges and transitions transcend money. Emotions, feelings, and values come into play and must be understood. What makes you happy? What makes you nervous?

If multiple people are involved in a decision, such as a spouse, adult child or other family member, a business partner, for example, it’s important that a financial advisor have a deep understanding as to everyone’s values and emotional relationships with money. Your advisor needs to know your story before a plan is developed and recommendations are made.

Growing up, this writer never received an allowance. If I was to have

Angel:

Continued from Page 18

the squeals of innocent kids.

It was my first year of coaching a team of 5-year-olds and it was a hoot. Mike Kelly, one of the coaches, made me laugh as he shared a story about

money, I had to earn it. Plus, I grew up with two very different childhoods, both of which shaped my attitudes toward money and life itself. From birth to age 10, I was raised by my maternal grandparents in Flushing, Long Island, New York. World War II was raging and a “junkman” would come around and collect materials such as metals, glass, rags, paper, and rubber, anything that could be recycled to support the war effort. I took my red Radio Flyer wagon around the neighborhood, collecting items to sell to the junkman. I found that I really liked getting paid and having money.

From age 10 until I left home at age 18 for college, I lived with my mom and stepfather in Jacksonville, Florida. My stepfather, a Greyhound bus driver, was an authoritarian and expected me to do a variety of chores, which included yardwork, housework, and care of a dog kennel as he raised hunting hounds. While I did not get an allowance, when a momma dog had a litter of puppies, I could select one pup to sell. I hated selling the dog, but I liked getting paid for my labors. In addition to school and a myriad of chores and caring for the animals, I was always thinking of ways to make money, such as selling potted plants obtained from a wholesale nursery up the street, a comic book exchange

Joe.

Running the bases was always an adventure with players that age. During a ferocious rally, Mike was coaching third base and Joe had made it there safely. Parents were going berserk, players were howling and Mike implored Joe to “go home.”

Always the compliant kid, Joe made tracks for the dugout. When

and part-time jobs. In college I worked for the university and for three years also had a paper route on campus. I learned that hard work has rewards, which had a great deal of influence on my choice of self-employment and entrepreneurship for most of my career.

My mom and stepdad worked hard but my mom frequently joked about “too much month at the end of the money,” except she wasn’t kidding, and that caused constant stress and anxiety. After paying off my college loans, and after I left military service as an Air force officer and married, I resolved to accumulate enough liquid capital as soon as possible so that my family and I could live for a minimum of one year with no paycheck.

Think about that. That’s financial freedom, knowing that you can deal with setbacks such as loss of your job or some other interruption in your income stream. It gives you the flexibility to change jobs or careers if you wish. Financial security confers freedom of choice and that’s worth working towards.

That’s my story. What’s yours? Where and how did you grow up? What has shaped your relationship with money? How soon would you like to be financially independent, to have the choice of working or not working?

asked why he did it, Joe’s fitting answer was: “Because you told me to go home.”

When that story was shared, it made me shake my head and realize some things are impossible to predict. Yet there was always a powerful something at work here, maybe trying to prepare us for what would happen.

The name of that team that wore

That may be a far better question than, “When would you like to retire?” Some people regard “retirement” as the ending of something; they worry about losing purpose, being bored. Financial independence, and the choices and options financial freedom provides, reduces anxiety, boosts energy, and funds purpose-fulfilling generosity, whether to family, other loved ones, friends, charities and other causes that you care about.

Of course, there’s a downside to success and having ample money, especially if it fuels bad habits and destructive behavior. Religious underpinnings and solid values often are important to the prudent uses of money and talent, and that’s a part of your story that an advisor should understand. “Financial life planning” encompasses far more than investment policy and money questions. What’s the next chapter in your story?

Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group (CIG); 770441-3553; lewis@capitalinsightgrp. com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA), which is otherwise unaffiliated with CIG. Lewis a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

red jerseys and had a distinct “halo” logo emblazoned on the front. Of course, the team was the Angels.

Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.

LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP Columnist The Investment Coach

ALPHARETTA-ROSWELL

| JOHNS CREEK HERALD MILTON HERALD | DUNWOODY CRIER | SANDY SPRINGS CRIER

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2022

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Full-time

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.

VETERINARY TECHNICIANS & ASSISTANTS: Dunwoody Animal Medical Center is hiring! Send resume to office@dunwoodyamc.com

WestRock Services LLC has multiple openings for a Manager, IT Engineering in Cumming, GA. Job duties include: Responsible for supporting Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) infrastructure and leading the development of system integration capabilities for the IT organization. Criminal background check and drug testing required. Email resume to: kathy.engler@westrock.com

Requisition #ATR33563,. Job code #ATR33563 must be included in resume, cover letter, and subject line.

Zscaler has the following position available at its Alpharetta, GA office (various types/levels)):

- Software Engineer [Job Code 15775]: $99,008$109,008/yr.: Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs for Zscaler products. Some telecommuting is permitted.

TO APPLY: Go to www.jobpostingtoday.com, search for job code & submit resume.

Part-time

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Tree Services

Donor Operations Associate

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.

MATH TUTORS

Give Back! Perfect for retirees! Mathnasium of Johns Creek. 404-388-8701

GENERAL STORE DUTIES & FRAMING PRODUCTION

for Custom Frame Shop. Experience s preferred but not required. Flexible Part-time hours, can lead to Fulltime. Call Maria 770-667-2112

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 & REPAIRED-DRYBELOW SYSTEMS INSTALLED – Affordable hardwood flooring-engineered flooring. Heritage Home Maintenance, 678-906-7100 HOMEREPAIRGA@GMAIL.COM, (HERITAGECONSTRUCTIONGA.COM)

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

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

Driveway

$250 OFF NEW DRIVEWAY!

Flooring

PHILLIPS FLOORING

Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes. Regrouting is also available. Call 678-887-1868 for free estimate.

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.

Cemetery

GREENLAWN ROSWELL:

2 plots on picturesque lakeview hillside. Market price, $9000 each. Bargain priced at $6000 each! 770-475-7307

Deadline to place a Classified ad is Thursday at 4 pm

Legal

NATIONAL ADVERTISING

Health & Fitness

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00. 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos

Español

Dental Insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real in-surance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www. dental50plus.com/ads #6258

Attention oxygen therapy users!

Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587

Miscellaneous

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

LOST CAT, missing since Aug. 6. Rory, 4 y/o solid white, green eyes domestic short hair, fixed male. Very affectionate. Saddle Bridge Drive, Johns Creek 30022.  Very much loved & missed.

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. 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 1-844774-0206 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow.com/ads

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

My Caring Plan’s local advisors have helped thousands of families with unique needs find sen-ior living. Can you afford 2k a month in rent? We can help for free! 866511-1799

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