APPE IN MEMORIAM: J. WAYNE BAUGHMAN (1946-2023)
Orchestra announces passing of founder, maestro JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — With deep sorrow, discipline arts center in the city. the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra In early October, the Johns Creek City announced Nov. 14 the passing of Maestro Council recognized Baughman’s dedication J. Wayne Baughman, its founder and and contributions to the symphony pioneer of the cultural arts in the Johns and the Johns Creek community, Creek community. commending the significant impact he Baughman came to Atlanta in has made on the city’s cultural arts 1974, where he joined the Atlanta community. Symphony Orchestra and Choruses. As Baughman’s legacy lives on, For 25 years, he was a frequent vocal the orchestra will continue to keep soloist, chorus member and rehearsal his memory alive and uphold its conductor under the guidance of the reputation of bringing professional late Maestro Robert Shaw. Baughman symphony concerts and music would share a Grammy Award with education programs to the city. Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony For its last concert this season, for the Telarc recording of Walton’s the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra “Belshazzar’s Feast” and Bernstein’s will perform May 4 in celebration “Chichester Psalms.” of Baughman. His two daughters, On Dec. 1, 2006, the same day Johns concertmaster Adelaide Federici and Creek became a city, Baughman assembled soprano Katie Edelman, will be featured 42 soon-to-be Johns Creek Symphony soloists. Orchestra (JCSO) musicians for the First Annual Federici recalls a phrase her father used JOHNS CREEK SYMPHONY St. Benedict Christmas Gala & Holiday Pops often when referring to the JCSO: “The miracle ORCHESTRA/PROVIDED Concert. The following year, Baughman witnessed continues.” It is with great pride the orchestra his dream come to life as the JCSO embarked on remembers the profound words of its founder, its first year as an established, professional orchestra. maestro and friend. In the last 17 years, the Johns Creek Symphony With unwavering passion and spirit, Baughman Orchestra has grown into one of the premiere arts requested that the community continue to support the organizations in North Fulton County, presenting arts by donating and advocating for the Johns Creek classical and pops performances, educational events, Symphony Orchestra and other local arts organizations. and showcasing international performers to Johns Creek The orchestra is currently accepting donations in audiences. About 70 percent of the current membership Baughman’s memory. has been there from the beginning. There will be a public memorial service to honor In addition to Baughman’s work with the JCSO, he Baughwman’s life. Details for the memorial service are to served as vice president of the Cultural Arts Alliance at be announced. Johns Creek and chair of the Legacy Center Task Force, a group dedicated to the development of a multi-use, multi— Amber Perry
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City officials break ground on Newtown pickleball courts By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek strengthened its positioning amid the pickleball craze in north Metro Atlanta as officials and ambassadors of USA Pickleball grabbed shovels Nov. 15 to break ground on renovation to the courts at Newtown Park. The move comes after the July opening of Cauley Creek Park, its five concrete pickleball courts remaining busy throughout the day. Johns Creek Recreation and Parks Director Erica Madsen said the aged, cracked surface of the courts at Newtown will be demolished and replaced with six pickleball courts. The footprint currently holds four, which had been created from longstanding tennis courts. The near-$130,000 construction contract and a contingency was approved in October for the project, expected to take three months to complete. Sandy Bishop, an ambassador of USA Pickleball, stood alongside staff members from the Recreation and Parks Department and Councilman Bob Erramilli for the groundbreaking. USA Pickleball is the national governing body to pickleball, a sport that combines
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Man cited for donuts in business parking lot JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police cited a Norcross man for reckless driving and a suspended license Nov. 7 after they stopped him for doing donuts in The Home Depot parking lot on State Bridge Road. While patrolling a nearby intersection, police heard a vehicle’s loud popping noise and gyrating tires, then drove to The Home Depot and observed a Nissan 350z exit the lot whose exhaust matched the loud noises, according to the police report. Once the vehicle began driving southbound on Medlock Bridge Road, police conducted a traffic stop on the driver who confirmed he was doing donuts in the parking lot after having just left work, the report said. Police told him he was driving at least 25 mph past the posted 55 mph speed limit and found the driver had a suspended Class D license, the report said. After police cited the driver with two violations, his father removed the vehicle from the scene.
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JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — After a 2018 silver Dodge Challenger evaded Alpharetta police in a Nov. 7 traffic stop, it fled from Johns Creek officers on Medlock Bridge Road. While on patrol at around 2 a.m., Johns Creek police were informed by Alpharetta officers they had several traffic charges on the vehicle belonging to an Atlanta man with suspended registration. Johns Creek police then saw the vehicle traveling southbound on Medlock Bridge Road near Bobby Jones Drive and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the incident report said. But, after police initiated their emergency lights, the vehicle accelerated and also failed to maintain its lane, the report said. Police discontinued the chase when the vehicle entered Gwinnett County, then informed Gwinnett Police of the vehicle fleeing from multiple agencies.
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JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Suwanee man reported to police Nov. 8 that he had been scammed out of $40,000
PUBLIC SAFETY with fake cryptocurrency. In April, the man said he set up a trade for $40,000 worth of crypto and connected with someone to arrange the purchase for him because of a $10,000 limit. The man was instructed to wire transfer $40,000 from his bank account to another account, according to the police report. He said he received the crypto, but realized it was fake when he attempted to send it and was advised it could not be accepted. The man connected with his bank to recall the wire transfer, the police report said, but the money had already been taken.
Man loses thousands in residential burglary JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek man reported to police Nov. 11 that someone had broken into his home on Bedford Aly, stealing valuables and causing thousands in damage. He told police he left his home at 9 p.m. the day before and returned that morning at 6 a.m. when he noticed that several items were missing and damaged. The man said his $4,000 guitar was damaged and more than $9,000 in electronics were stolen. According to the police report, the man’s mother identified a potential suspect, a convicted felon who had been trespassed from the property. A neighbor provided police with surveillance, showing someone entering and exiting the residence multiple times in the early hours of Nov. 11, the report said.
Deputies arrest woman following family dispute FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 46-yearold Gainesville woman Nov. 9 who allegedly stole her mother’s vehicle after throwing a plate at her cousin during an argument at a home on Odyssey Trail. The victim reported Nov. 8 she confronted the suspect because she was yelling at her 13-year-old daughter. The victim said the suspect followed her and allegedly threw a plate of food and an aluminum can at her. The victim’s husband separated the two, and the suspect left the residence and went to the backyard, the report states. The suspect’s mother reportedly confirmed the details of the altercation. She also said the suspect stole her vehicle, which she did not have permission to drive. The suspect was charged with
felony theft by taking and cruelty to children, as well as misdemeanor simple battery. She is being held at the Forsyth County Jail on a $14,415 bond.
Cumming man charged for obscuring license plate FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 48-yearold Cumming man off Ga. 9 and Post Road Nov. 6 for allegedly obscuring his expired license plate. Deputies patrolling the intersection reported spotting the truck around 11 p.m. with an illegible license plate because of a tinted tag cover. After stopping the vehicle, deputies observed the temporary tag had expired Oct. 25, the report states. The suspect reportedly apologized and said he recently had the vehicle tested for emissions so he could renew his registration, but he did not have a driver’s license. Deputies reported that one of the two passengers said he had a valid license and that they were pulling over to switch seats. The driver was charged with misdemeanor driving without a valid license, expired plates and obscured license plate. He is being held at the Forsyth County Jail. Bond is set at $2,045.
Surgery patient arrested for writing bad check FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a 55-yearold Grantville woman Nov. 8 in association with a 2020 check fraud case at a plastic surgery office on Deputy Bill Cantrell Memorial Road. The office manager reported in August 2020 that the suspect had come in for a procedure July 17 and paid with two checks totaling $4,299. When the office tried to cash the checks the following week, the bank said the suspect’s account had been closed, the report states. The manager reported contacting the suspect about the matter, and the suspect said it was the bank’s mistake and would be resolved. The office sent the suspect an invoice July 29, 2020 but received no response, the report states. The suspect was later located at the Fulton County Jail and charged with felony forgery in the third degree and check fraud, as well as misdemeanor forgery in the fourth degree. She is being held at the Forsyth County Jail with no posted bond amount.
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 23, 2023 | 3
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City feels ‘growing pains’ with first stormwater billing cycle By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — After the city received a flood of complaints regarding late fees for its annual stormwater utility billing, the Johns Creek City Council agreed to grant a one-time grace period Nov. 14. Gathered from emails and social media posts, Mayor John Bradberry introduced the widespread issue at the City Council work session Tuesday evening, though the item wasn’t slated for discussion. Many residents have said they didn’t receive a first notice and were billed $6 to $7 in late fees attached to a second one. “Who knows if the bills were actually delivered? Maybe they were, but either way, it seems that a large number of our residents did not get it on their radar screen,” Bradberry said. The city took over stormwater utility billing from Fulton County this year, a tool that had been implemented in 2021 to fund citywide stormwater infrastructure projects. In fiscal year 2023, the city allocated $4.6 million to the repair and maintenance of its stormwater system, and in the new fiscal year, $3.8 million.
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Johns Creek City Councilman Larry DiBiase, who leads a stormwater task force with Councilman Dilip Tunki, addresses a widespread stormwater utility billing issue at the council’s work session Nov. 14. Many residents have said they didn’t receive a first notice and were billed $6 to $7 in late fees attached to a second one. Councilman Larry DiBiase, who leads a stormwater task force along with Councilman Dilip Tunki, characterized the issue as “growing pains.” “There was just a simple miss,” DiBiase said. Between those who either have paid or owe late fees, Assistant City Manager Ron Bennett said the city would have received an additional $118,600 in utility funding. Next time around,
Bennett said the city will try ramping up email and text notices. Currently, the billing ordinance does not grant the City Council authority to waive late fees or interest penalties as part of a grace period, but Bennett was tasked to help draft new language for the allowance for the council’s approval. In an interview, Bennett said credits will likely be added to the 2024 billing cycle.
Also at the work session, Bennett presented a contract renewal with Fulton County for animal control services. Associated with it is a price hike of around $104,000, a result of Fulton County’s construction of a new $40 million animal shelter and an increase in costs from veterinary care to personnel. Johns Creek averages nearly 250 service calls a year, but whether that means handled, closed cases remains up in the air. Several councilmembers provided personal anecdotes in which calls were made but never answered. “We’re last in the pile…” DiBiase said, referencing data for Atlanta, which receives nearly 9,400 calls a year. With a Dec. 31 contract expiration, the council agreed to stall renewal with Fulton County to research other options. At its regular meeting Nov. 14, the City Council formally recognized Marilyn Margolis, who is retiring from her position as CEO of Emory Johns Creek. “She has been an institution in our community,” Mayor Bradberry said. “She has done so much, not just as the head of the hospital, but also just through all the many, many different nonprofit and philanthropic efforts that she's been a part of.”
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AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 23, 2023 | 5
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin called out True North 400 Executive Director Brandon Beach Nov. 6 for what he views as working to promote business in Forsyth County. In an October interview on Atlanta Community Profiles with Lou Wieland, Beach shared his anticipation of a National Hockey League arena at The Gathering at South Forsyth, a venue that Alpharetta had been seeking to help revitalize its North Point Corridor. At the Nov. 6 City Council meeting, Gilvin issued a statement about Beach’s comments during the interview. Gilvin noted Beach serves as vice chairman on the Fulton County Development Authority, and he questioned why an official who supports economic development in North Fulton would encourage a project in Forsyth County. “It’s very frustrating,” Gilvin said. Beach also serves in the Georgia State Senate, representing District 21 which includes North Fulton and parts of Cherokee County. His district lies within a stone’s throw of The Gathering. In an Oct. 25 email to Beach, the Alpharetta City Council and city staff, Gilvin questioned why the executive director publicly expressed support for a development outside of True North 400’s boundaries. True North, a community improvement district, represents businesses and commercial property owners in a band that roughly follows Ga. 400 from Mansell Road north to McGinnis Ferry Road through Roswell, Alpharetta and Milton. The businesses tax themselves to help fund economic development initiatives within the CID’s boundaries. “Could you please explain to me why you are pushing for an enormous economic development project outside of the CID district which would directly compete with commercial properties actually in the North Fulton CID and the City of Alpharetta?” Gilvin wrote in the email. As of Nov. 13, Gilvin said Beach has not responded to his inquiry. “Now, if he has a legitimate reason for working against our property owners, then I would expect him to at least share that with me,” Gilvin said at the Nov. 6 meeting. The Gathering at South Forsyth is a proposed $2 billion development on some 100 acres along Union Hill Road, Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Ga. 400 in south Forsyth County. If approved, it is expected to produce more than 12,000 long-term employment opportunities, as well as 20,000 construction jobs during its 10-year development.
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Alpharetta mayor chides CID official for favoring Forsyth County proposal Story brought to you by valued members of the Appen Press Club Appenmedia.com/join
The anticipated project has been billed as a major entertainment hub for Metro Atlanta since its unveiling at a Forsyth County Commission work session in April. Earlier this year, a Tweet by hockey anchor John Buccigross spurred rumors that an NHL arena would return to Atlanta. At the time, Alpharetta was speculated to be the destination, but now, the planned 750,000-square-foot arena at The Gathering could be the target. In September, the Forsyth County development also hired Senior Project Executive Frank Ferrara, who helped secure an NHL tenant when he administered the Arizona State University ice hockey program. In the Lou Wieland interview, Beach discussed his role as executive director of True North 400, and he said he hopes to see the arena deal come to fruition. “We think we can support an NHL team and do very well with that,” Beach said in the interview. “So, we’re hoping to get that in the next few months. Hopefully an announcement will come soon on that.” Beach also noted the demand for walkable areas with retail and commercial components like The Battery Atlanta, Avalon and downtown Alpharetta, saying The Gathering could become a similar draw to the region. “It’s just a great way of life, and people want that,” Beach said. “They want that sense of place, if you will, and a gathering spot. And I think that’s what that development up there in Forsyth will do. It’s not in Fulton County, but it’s right on our line.” In an email to Appen Media, Alpharetta Economic and Community Development Director Kathi Cook said the city cannot forecast the economic impacts that a professional arena would have on Alpharetta without a specific proposal from a developer. But, Cook said the development of Truist Park in Cobb County and the Deer District in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, demonstrate how arenas “can spur revitalization and mixed-use development of immediately surrounding properties and positively impact the community.” Cobb County officials reported The Battery Atlanta, the development that includes Truist Park, grossed $38 million in tax revenues in 2022. The development grossed more property tax income than Cobb County’s residents. Beach did not return Appen Media’s repeated requests for comment.
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Community counts blessings at Thanksgiving observance By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Some 100 guests gathered on a Tuesday evening at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church for prayer and song at the annual Alpharetta Community Thanksgiving Service. The Nov. 14 service featured a sermon by the Rev. Gregory S. Williams, senior pastor at St. James United Methodist Church, remarks from Alpharetta officials, psalms, liturgical dance and readings from the Bible and the Quran. Williams’ sermon highlighted the theme of gratitude through Luke 17:11-19. “Couldn’t they pause for one second to say thank you and to glorify God?” Williams asked. “And I started thinking about America. I started thinking about how God has blessed this country, how God has blessed all of us in this room. And if we’re not careful, we can take his grace and his mercy for granted.” Throughout the message, Williams emphasized the importance of always being thankful. “… I’m tired of folks just saying, ‘I celebrate Thanksgiving one time a year,’” he said. “Every day, every day you’re given, should be Thanksgiving.” Clergy from six North Fulton churches and the Atlantic Institute, an interfaith and intercultural nonprofit, spread messages of gratitude throughout the service. “Our faith teaches that every person has dignity and worth,” Alpharetta Presbyterian Church
PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA
Clergy wait to deliver remarks and pray at the Alpharetta Community Thanksgiving Service at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church Nov. 14. The service featured readings from the Bible and the Quran. Senior Pastor the Rev. Ollie Wagner said. “Our faiths instruct us, because we are from many faith traditions, that diversity is a strength, and it’s a blessing to come together in friendship and in harmony. We together are a people who strive for a world that is free, a world that is peaceful and a world that is fair and just.” Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin delivered the mayoral greeting of the evening. Gilvin emphasized the crowd was united through faith, and he said it was a blessing for the community to come together at the church. North Fulton Community Charities Executive Director Sandy Holiday also addressed the audience at the 7 p.m. gathering. Holiday shared the growing need of North Fulton families this fall.
The Rev. Gregory S. Williams, senior pastor of St. James United Methodist Church, delivers the sermon at the Alpharetta Community Thanksgiving Service at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church Nov. 14. Williams asked the audience to thank God daily for all of life’s blessings. She said the nonprofit has seen 200 more families visiting its food pantry and 100 more at its thrift store each month than last year. Holiday thanked the faith community for uplifting those in need ahead of the holiday season.
“Fourteen years ago, a pastor asked me, would I want to serve a nonprofit,” she said. “And being short sighted I said, ‘Why would I do that?’ And he said to me, ‘Because there is holiness in helpfulness.’ And I have never forgotten those words.”
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AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 23, 2023 | 7
CITY OF ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED
This rendering shows Pickle and Social, a new pickleball, dining and social venue coming to Alpharetta off Rock Mill Road and Ga. 400. The City Council formally approved the facility Nov. 13.
Alpharetta approves variance for multi-use pickleball venue By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A new pickleball, dining and social venue is coming to the North Point area in Alpharetta. The City Council unanimously voted to amend the city’s Delta Credit Union Master Plan to construct the new Pickle and Social at a formal meeting Nov. 13. The facility will include eight indoor courts, seven outdoor courts, a 14,000-square-foot restaurant and a 5,000-square-foot basement office for Competitive Social Ventures on 6.25 acres off Ga. 400 and Rock Mill Road. The development comes in the wake of a steadily rising popularity of pickleball. New courts and facilities have sprung up in Dunwoody, Forsyth County, Roswell and across Metro Atlanta in recent years. Councilmembers agreed the project will add recreational opportunities to Alpharetta and draw visitors from other counties and cities. City Councilman Doug DeRito also said the venue will help fulfill the city’s vision to revitalize the North Point corridor. City Councilman Dan Merkel said Alpharetta has many examples of business and residential development in terms of its “live, work and play” mantra, but the city could improve its “play”
SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA
The Alpharetta High School girls volleyball team accepts a proclamation at the Nov. 13 City Council meeting. The team celebrated a 38-3 overall season, won its second state championship and was named the 2023 6A Girls Volleyball State Champions. options. He said the pickleball facility will provide a place for Alpharetta pickleball lovers who are often in search of a location to play. “This is without a doubt, a need,” Merkel said. Pickle and Social is the newest concept by Competitive Social Ventures, which also operates the Roaring Social and Fairway Social in Alpharetta. The Alpharetta location follows a first in Gwinnett County. The new pickleball venue will house the company’s headquarters in the basement.
The site plan also calls for a separate 8,100-square-foot steakhouse on the property. Competitive Social Ventures CEO Neal Freeman said he cannot name the restaurant that will occupy the space, but it is a white tablecloth national chain that is successful and recognizable. The Alpharetta Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of Pickle and Social at a Nov. 2 meeting. Although reception was ultimately positive, some planning commissioners expressed concerns about the location. The property abuts the entrance ramp of northbound Ga. 400 at Exit 9.
The right-turn-only lane to enter the highway starts at the intersection of Haynes Bridge and Rock Mill roads, which border the property. The Georgia Department of Transportation estimated there were 8,630 daily drivers on the entrance ramp in 2022. At the Planning Commission meeting, Alpharetta Planning and Development Services Manager Michael Woodman said city traffic engineers reviewed the plans and did not recommend any road improvements to accommodate the new development. But, Woodman said there will be an enhanced crosswalk in front of the Fulton County Schools North Maintenance Shop, which neighbors the property to the east on Rock Mill Road. The City Council previously denied a proposed townhome development on the site in 2022. The crosswalk, which will connect Pickle and Social to the North Point Commons shopping plaza to the south, was included in the original proposal. Also at the meeting, councilmembers recognized the 2023 Alpharetta High School girls’ volleyball team for its success. The team had a 38-3 overall season, won its second state championship and was named the 2023 6A Girls Volleyball State Champions.
It seems like the worse you are, the funnier it is. JOHN VAUTOUR, Franchise Owner of X-Golf 8 | Johns Creek Herald | November 23, 2023
X-Golf simulators allow players to perfect swing in perfect weather By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — In this day and age, there’s no need for a plane if you want to play golf at St. Andrews in Scotland. The world-renowned course is one of more than 50 at X-Golf, a new facility at Halcyon where golfers can improve their swing on a simulator that provides real-time data at 6,000 calculations per second while enjoying beer, cocktails and shareable appetizers from a fully stocked bar. Golf activity comes and goes with the seasons, but the 6,800-squarefoot facility equipped with seven simulation bays allows it to be a year long affair. “Inside X-Golf, it’s always sunny and 70,” said franchise owner John Vautour at the Nov. 14 grand opening. While there are more than 100 X-Golf locations around the country either open or in development, Vautour’s is the first in Georgia. It was a two-year effort, finding the right property, the negotiation process, securing loans and the build-out. Initially, Vautour wanted to open a bar in his hometown of Athens, but he scratched the idea and began looking at franchises. He found X-Golf, went to a few locations and fell in love with it. “Once I found Halcyon and the franchise, it was like a match made in heaven,’” Vautour said.
He picked up the game in just the last five years with a “bunch of knuckleheads,” enjoying a beer while the rest smoke cigars in a casual outing. And, X-Golf is casual – roomy, comfortable with TVs posted above the bar. Serious players can improve their game using an endless number of features on a nearby computer, which Vautour used in a demonstration. After hitting a ball toward the screen, the computer provides an analysis of the shot. Customers can also set up lessons with a PGA professional at X-Golf. Golfer Alex Hillmon, who has been playing for more than 30 years, guided a man at another bay. Hillmon works with beginners by looking at the hole backwards, and for folks with more experience, he suggests only a few tweaks. Hillmon is one of two PGA professionals Vautour has on-call for individual lessons, but he also plans to set up group lessons for children. Vautour stressed the experience can be enjoyed by someone who has never picked up a club, in part because of the overall experience he intends to create. He plans to partner with nearby businesses for catering and wine tastings as well as introduce a clothing vendor who makes golf outfits. About the game itself, Vautour said, “It seems like the worse you are, the funnier it is.”
PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Theresa and John Vautour, middle, perform a ribbon-cutting on their new business X-Golf along with family Nov. 14.
PGA professional Alex Hillmon, at left, guides a man at X-Golf’s grand opening Nov. 14.
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 23, 2023 | 9
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DBT skills to thrive this holiday season Brought to you by - Brittany Glaser, Staff Therapist at Summit Counseling Center Fall is finally in the air, meaning holidays are right around the corner. As traditions, celebrations, and light in the midst of a darkening sky set in, positively navigating family dynamics becomes crucial. Try these DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) skills to manage stress and emotions: P.L.E.A.S.E.: This skill is all about prevention and stands for treating physical illness, balancing eating, avoiding mood-altering substances, sleeping well, and incorporating daily exercise. These practices, though challenging during holiday festivities, can significantly reduce emotional vulnerability and stress. S.T.O.P.: This skill is vital when emotions surge to avoid doing or saying anything you may regret. First, pause and remove yourself from any
triggers. Observe, noting any emotions and thoughts you have. Finally, proceed mindfully, considering your observations and choosing what you need next. Maybe that means removing yourself from triggering interactions and choosing to hit up the kids’ table or run an errand instead. Opposite Action: Change challenging emotions by acting in opposition to your urge. For example, if you are feeling depressed and all you want to do is stay in bed, using the opposite action would mean finding some way to get active. The trick is once you start using it, you have to keep acting opposite until you feel differently! As you prepare for the holidays, incorporating these skills can enhance your emotional well-being. For a deeper dive into DBT skills for the holidays, join our free virtual workshop on December 15th from 12:00 - 1:00 PM - register now at tinyurl.com/ HolidayDBT!
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 23, 2023 | 11
EMPTY NEST • Sponsored Section
12 | November 23, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
Skin Cancer & Mohs Surgery • Medical Dermatology Vein Care • Cosmetic Services
Honored to be Voted: Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist
Insist on the BEST Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care. He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables. Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 18 years experience as a Dermatology PA. We are excited to welcome her, as she brings with her experience in general dermatology and cosmetic dermatology. Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care. WINNER
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Dr. Brent Taylor
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Accepting new patients. We accept Medicare. Schedule your appointment with Premier Dermatology today. 3180 North Point Parkway, Suite 420 • Alpharetta, GA 30005 PremierDermatologyAtlanta.com • 678-345-1899
Congratulations to Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta for their 6th straight win for Best Dermatologist of North Atlanta! Brought to you by - Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta In years past, I have sat down with Dr. Taylor to learn a bit more about him as a dermatologist and a Mohs surgeon. This year, with his office finishing construction, we gathered to discuss the changes Premier Dermatology has undergone and the gratitude he has for his patients. Alyssa: Hey Dr. Taylor. Wow there’s a lot going on here. It looks the same but different. I heard you had a flood? What happened and what has happened since? Dr. Taylor: Yes, we did! Well, it was Christmas Eve at 6:30pm. My family (including myself) were all in Christmas pajamas. I was picking up our traditional to go Chinese food when my wife called and said that the police had called to inform her that the motion sensors were going off in the practice. My wife and I jumped into the car, still in our Christmas pajamas and headed to the practice with police on the way. When we entered the parking lot, water was rushing out from the front doors of the bottom floor of our building. Two firemen met us at the front door and said “It’s bad.” As it turns out, all of the prepping for the cold snap that we did in our floor of the building did not prevent the sprinkler line from rupturing in the attic. The flood was extensive. Roughly 75% of our practice was damaged, leaving us to rip out and rebuild! It’s been a long, slow process, partially because so many houses and buildings experienced floods that there was a wait list for insurance claims and for every step of the demolition and reconstruction process. The Christmas Eve cold snap last year really hit us hard. Alyssa: Well, it looks beautiful again. It must be such a relief to be back in an attractive and functional space. How has working during this time been? Dr. Taylor: Honestly, it’s been fine. Not ideal but fine. My staff is amazing. Truly! They never complained. We kept everyone’s hours and we just made do with the one section of the practice that was still usable. Thank goodness my Mohs laboratory and five patient exam rooms were undamaged, so we were still able to take great care of patients. Also, my patients are truly the best! They were all so genuinely concerned for us and understanding of our situation. We live in an area where great care is abundant, and people have options in who they see for healthcare. I am so fortunate to treat kind patients who gave us grace
during the flood and its aftermath. Alyssa: Do you have anything else you want to add? Dr. Taylor: Just something that I want to reiterate. I would like to say thank you to all of my patients. I am so thankful that you have confidence in me, my physician assistant Kathryn and our whole clinical team to help you stay healthy. Please know that my staff and I appreciate your trust in us. I am deeply grateful for you. We are truly honored that we can care for you and appreciative for your patience during reconstruction. And to my staff, thank you for making our great care possible. I would not have this opportunity without all of you. Alyssa: Thank you for your time, Dr. Taylor and congratulations again on winning Best Dermatologist and on having your practice back to fully usable again! Dr. Taylor: Thank you, Alyssa. At Premier Dermatology, Brent Taylor, MD, and his team offer transformative, personalized care using state-of-theart techniques. With expertise in Mohs surgery and in reconstruction after skin cancer removal, Dr. Taylor helps patients achieve cancer-free results while optimizing aesthetic outcomes. What truly sets Dr. Taylor apart as a surgeon is his commitment to addressing a patient’s skin cancer in a holistic manner. He does not consider his job complete just because a skin cancer has been successfully treated. He prides himself on following through with patients. He employs multiple technologies such as lasers and microneedling to assure that scars and reconstructive results are optimized. He helps patients explore preventative methods ranging from blue light therapy to oral medications to avoid future cancers. “Dr. Taylor doesn’t just help patients treat the skin cancer of the moment. He helps them avoid the skin cancers of tomorrow.” Dr. Taylor’s practice is a full-service dermatology clinic. Full body skin exams are available with either a male or female provider. The clinic is proud to provide a wide array of treatments for medical and cosmetic sun damage, from blue light therapy to chemical peels and laser photofacials. Aesthetic treatments include Botox®, fillers, chemical peels, sclerotherapy, Fraxel and Excel V laser and more. For exceptional care that goes beyond skin-deep, look no further than Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta.
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 23, 2023 | 13 Dunwoody Crier 11/23/23 Crossword PuzzleJunction
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14 | November 23, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
COMMUNITY
Written by Joe Landry | Directed by Candy McLellan
PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA
Rotarian Richard Matherly smiles at a booth at the Big Creek Greenway Haynes Bridge Road trailhead Nov. 12. Matherly conceived the North Fulton Rotary Club’s Alpharetta Greenway Mural Trail, an effort to beautify nine raised manhole covers along the path. Recommended for all ages | Run-Time : 1 hour 30 minutes
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Kings Ridge Christian School juniors Fiona MacKay and Eden Kiewiet work on their mural “Divine Intervention” on the Big Creek Greenway Nov. 12. MacKay and Kiewiet are two of nine Alpharetta and Milton high school students whose artwork will be featured on the North Fulton Rotary Club’s Alpharetta Greenway Mural Trail.
Students bring artistry to beautify Greenway By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com
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ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Nine Alpharetta and Milton high school students wrapped up their weekends painting raised manhole covers on the Big Creek Greenway Nov. 12. The day-long effort marked the first step to create the North Fulton Rotary Club’s Alpharetta Greenway Mural Trail. Rotarian Richard Matherly, whose home overlooks the Big Creek Greenway, said he walks the trail often and it led him to envision the project. He said the murals will advocate “Clean Water for All” and celebrate wildlife and plant life on the Greenway. While Matherly hopes to see all 60 raised manhole covers on the 12-mile stretch painted over the next five years, the first nine fell between Haynes Bridge and Kimball Bridge roads.
Alpharetta High School junior Komal Chugh began outlining her piece “Frogs and Ripples” on the trail’s first manhole. Sophomore Jordan Bride later joined Chugh to paint “Decant Defilement, Supersede (with) Unstained” on the neighboring canvas. Farther down the trail, senior Pia Saraswat took measurements to begin her “Fish in the Sea.” The fourth manhole featured “Divine Intervention,” a hand-painted work by Kings Ridge Christian School juniors Fiona MacKay and Eden Kiewiet. The pair edited the sprawling artwork to condense the angel’s wingspan so the tips of the wings can be seen on both sides of the structure. “I love just getting the experience of painting a mural for my first time and
See GREENWAY, Page 15
NEWS
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 23, 2023 | 15
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Alpharetta High School junior Komal Chugh outlines her mural, “Frogs and Ripples,” on the Big Creek Greenway Nov. 12. The work is part of nine illustrations in the North Fulton Rotary Club’s Alpharetta Greenway Mural Trail. The theme for the campaign is “Clean Water for All.”
Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Re-imagined
Alpharetta High School senior Isabel Neely paints “Hope Grows” on a raised manhole cover on the Big Creek Greenway Nov. 12. Neely’s artwork marks the fifth raised manhole cover on the North Fulton Rotary Club’s mural trail.
Greenway: Continued from Page 14 being out in the open with everyone here and just getting to help,” MacKay said. “It’s just really fun.” Alpharetta High School seniors Isabel Neely and Abby Allen worked side-byside on their respective manholes. Neely created “Hope Grows,” a pastel blue canvas featuring a watering can and flowers, for the mural trail. The Rotary Club’s professional mural adviser AnnaLysa Kimball guides the students, and she is set to paint a manhole herself. Kimball’s piece, “Water Pups,” portrays five dogs licking water on an invisible barrier. Milton High School juniors Olivia Taylor and Tessa Warren will paint the last two murals. Matherly emphasized the mural trail could not be possible without the cooperation of the Alpharetta Cultural Arts Commission, the city and the Fulton County Public Works Department. The Arts Commission approved the
murals at its formal meeting Oct. 24. Matherly credited new Rotarian Thomas Nolfa as the “force” of the project for his assistance with moving the idea forward. “He has taken charge of the project and moved it through the process, and his relationship with Fulton County and Arts Alpharetta has been invaluable to make this work,” he said. Matherly also thanked North Fulton Rotary Club President Lisa Gelber for her leadership. He had originally hoped to start the painting Nov. 11, but it was canceled because of the rainy weather that morning. He said the project will now be completed the weekend after Thanksgiving. Rotary Club volunteers joined the students and Kimball between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., when work concluded for the day. While the painters were hard at work, North Fulton residents still passed by to exercise and enjoy nature on the Greenway. When painting concludes, Matherly hopes the manhole covers will be more attractive and interesting to visitors who enjoy the park.
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16 | November 23, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
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18 | November 23, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
NEWS
Milton City Council torn over contrasting accounts of secret election meeting By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
Four Milton councilmembers provided an additional account of the secret Sept. 18 elections meeting. City officials say those documents can only be accessed by submitting an Open Records request. Appen Media has obtained the materials and is making them available at appenmedia.com/minutes.
PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Milton City Attorney Ken Jarrard explains that his draft of the minutes from a Sept. 18 meeting were written in such a way that would likely gain majority council support. Jarrard did not explicitly share that the minutes were pulled from Mayor Peyton Jamison’s prepared statement read aloud at the council’s Oct. 16 meeting.
At the Milton City Council’s Nov. 6 meeting, Councilman Paul Moore seeks to openly discuss minutes from a Sept. 18 meeting that had been listed as part of the consent agenda which is generally approved without comment. The public was not given notice for the September meeting in which the city manager met with all the council to discuss public relations surrounding city elections. Moore soon requested that the item be added to the “new business” portion of the agenda that would allow for open discussion. “The narrative reads … ‘The city manager provided an election update to the council…,’” Moore said before the final vote. “That is not in my mind what happened, and that is a narrative put forward by our city attorney and put in good faith.” Four councilmembers took the opportunity to provide an additional narrative about the meeting, which were not provided as part of the minutes. Instead, the statements will accompany the minutes whenever they are requested through open records. In an email earlier that day, City Attorney Ken Jarrard told Appen Media that the “requirements for minutes are not overly rigorous.” He said minutes are required to show the names of those present, a description of each motion or proposal made, the This story is brought to you by members of the Appen Press Club
identity of the person making and seconding the motion or other proposal, and a record of all votes. No votes were taken at the Sept. 18 meeting, which lasted roughly half an hour. Jarrard also said there is no legal requirement for the additional narratives, but that “Milton afforded councilmembers that opportunity.” At the Nov. 6 meeting, Jarrard said he drafted “whatever perspective the narrative can secure a vote of a majority of a quorum.” “I do not believe that the individual narratives would do that because they are unique to the individual that drafted them,” Jarrard said. “Minutes anticipate a communal response.” The minutes were taken from a prepared statement Mayor Peyton Jamison had read at the Oct. 16 council meeting. His statement ended with an apology and a plan for the council to participate in additional training to better abide by the Open Meeting Act.
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Controversy for consent The minutes were originally on the council’s Nov. 6 consent agenda, a process that allows bulk approval of typically noncontroversial items all in one vote and without discussion. This move drew criticism, first by a Milton resident during the public comment portion of the meeting. “Several councilmembers and the city manager have emphasized over recent months that transparency is critical to maintaining public trust,” said Lisa Cauley, who has been a key player in Mohrig’s re-election efforts. “However, the decision to include this item on the consent agenda appears to be a strategy to stifle public conversation and disclosure of the meeting’s details.”
‘Ancillary Narratives’
APPE
MILTON, Ga. — In a split vote Nov. 6, the Milton City Council approved minutes from a Sept. 18 meeting in which the city manager met with councilmembers to discuss public relations surrounding city elections. The session, which qualifies as an open meeting under Georgia law, was held without notice to the public. Councilmembers Paul Moore, Rick Mohrig and Jan Jacobus voted against approving the minutes, saying they were dissatisfied with the way the September meeting was portrayed. They said the meeting was less of an “election update” and more an “admonishment” of Mohrig. According to their accounts, City Manager Steve Krokoff said the Department of Justice could get involved if Mohrig’s investigation into an alleged security breach continues. After a city IT investigation concluded that Mohrig’s city email account had not been hacked, Mohrig filed a police report seeking a further look. The alleged breach concerns a calendar invitation sent from Mohrig’s city Outlook account that had been sent to all the council about a campaign strategy meeting. “The intimidation factor was completely inappropriate,” Moore said. “I believe that was the primary purpose of the meeting.” In a Nov. 7 email, Krokoff told Appen Media that he agreed with the minutes that had been approved and stands by his initial concern, that “multiple calls for investigations by councilmembers may undermine public confidence in Milton’s election effort.” “My concerns about intervention by outside law enforcement agencies are simply a byproduct of my years of experience in law enforcement,” Krokoff wrote. Krokoff is the former police chief for the Albany, N.Y. Police Department.
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Reading the narratives Prompted by Moore, he as well as Mohrig, Jacobus and Councilwoman Andrea Verhoff read their narratives into the record, to be captured as part of the minutes of the Nov. 6 council meeting. “Whether they’re the minutes of tonight’s meeting or adopted or not adopted as the minutes of the other meeting, is immaterial to me as long as they are captured in their entirety, that they are not necessarily adopted as a part of a supplement to the minutes, where the consumer … is then called upon to go seek those.” Moore, Mohrig and Jacobus all said the meeting was more or less assembled by Krokoff, a perspective Mayor Jamison had refuted. Jamison stated that all the council should take responsibility for participating in the Sept. 18 meeting rather than placing the blame on Krokoff. “We’re not children,” Jamison said. In his perspective, Mohrig said he felt that Krokoff’s assertion, that the Department of Justice could become entangled in city affairs, was directed at him because of his police investigation into the alleged security breach. “Peyton responded with something like, ‘Well you are the reason we are all here,’” according to Mohrig’s official narrative, obtained by Appen Media in an open records request. At the regular meeting, Mohrig said there was no reference to another investigation that had been weighed by other councilmembers, a potential second probe Appen Media had reported four days after the Sept. 18 meeting took place. “I think I said to the entire council, ‘What would you do if this was happening to you and impacting your family when you tried to defend your name and seek justice?’” Mohrig said, referencing his police report into the alleged email hack. Jacobus echoed what had been said about the meeting’s characterization as an “election update.” “It wasn’t an election update, unless you consider chewing somebody’s ass out for starting investigations,” Jacobus said.
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 23, 2023 | 19
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TIP YOUR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY PERSON This holiday season, consider giving your newspaper delivery person a tip for their weekly delivery of the free community newspaper to your driveway. These folks work hard to make sure you are informed of all the local happenings, rain or shine, week in and week out. Importantly, at Appen Media, we have always been intentional about our desire to keep delivery of our newspapers free. That said, it would mean the world to us if you would consider tipping your newspaper delivery person so that they will have a little extra money for the holiday season. If you can help us help these amazing people, we promise to keep delivering high quality news to your driveway, for free, every week. Free home delivery of 105,000 homes is hard work – and we couldn’t do it without our amazing delivery folks.
How you can give your delivery person a tip: 1 We have created an online portal at www.appenmedia.com/deliverytip.
100% of every dollar you contribute will be spread out evenly between the 24 newspaper delivery people that Appen Media employs. Whether you give $5 or $50, they will greatly appreciate it. 2 If you prefer, you can also mail a check made out to “Appen Media Group C/O Newspaper Delivery Tip” to 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
20 | November 23, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
Pickleball:
NEWS
Continued from Page 1 tennis, table tennis and badminton. In a small history lesson, Bishop said pickleball was invented more than 50 years ago in Bainbridge Island, Washington, though the sport picked up hype during the COVID-19 pandemic — an isolating time for people who needed a social outlet. Pickleball has become the fastest growing sport in America, according to a 2023 report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Unlike tennis, Bishop said anyone can come through a set of courts to pick up a pickleball game with strangers. She said many of her phone contacts are people she met through play. “The beauty of it is it can be played with multiple generations, and so people started picking it up, playing it with their families,” Bishop said. While it was once seen as a sport for boomers, she said the largest growing group of players is ages 25 to 30. Bishop’s schedule as ambassador is especially busy nowadays with a
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Staff from the Johns Creek Recreation and Parks Department, City Councilman Bob Erramilli and ambassadors of USA Pickleball hold shovels for the groundbreaking to renovate pickleball courts at Newtown Park Nov. 15. The project is expected to be completed in three months. wave of new pickleball courts and upgrades hitting the surrounding area. She attributes some of the sport’s athome growth to organizations like the Professional Pickleball Association and Major Pickleball League coming into
town. After a three-week closure at North Park, Alpharetta doubled the site’s number of pickleball courts to a dozen. A bigger project is on the horizon in Alpharetta with the City Council’s
recent approval of Pickle and Social, the newest concept by Competitive Social Ventures, coming to North Point. The facility will include eight indoor and seven outdoor courts, a 14,000-square-foot restaurant and a 5,000-square-foot basement office for Competitive Social Ventures off Ga. 400 and Rock Mill Road. Despite Appen Media’s heavy election coverage, its story on Pickle and Social trended No. 1 during the week of Election Day. When people are looking to move, Bishop said access to pickleball is often at the forefront of their minds. She referenced an article from Architectural Digest, showing that folks prioritize pickleball as a neighborhood amenity. Bishop said her own neighborhood off Kimball Bridge Road recently lined two tennis courts into four pickleball courts and is now looking for permanent courts because of the growth in players. “It's one of those things where I tell people, ‘I'm sorry, once I put this paddle in your hands, you're gonna be addicted, and then I'm gonna have to turn you over to my dealer,’” Bishop said.
There’s a Podcast for Everyone! In his long-awaited return to the airwaves, Caddy partners with his new co-host – and wife! - Donna, to bring his loyal listeners everything they’ve come to expect and love from Cadillac Jack.
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The Georgia Politics Podcast focuses on all things under the gold dome. Show host Preston Thompson covers the most noteworthy updates to the legislative session of Georgia’s House of Representatives and State Senate.
›
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 23, 2023 | 21
Calendar
NOV. 23 — DEC. 3
ROSWELL DANCE THEATRE PRESENTS ‘THE NUTCRACKER’
What: As Clara’s dreams come to life, Herr Drosselmeier uses magic to transform the Nutcracker doll into a Prince. Accompanied by her handsome escort, Clara enters a fantastical new world now taking shape about them, the Land of Snow. At the conclusion of the festivities, Clara and her Prince are bid a happy farewell as the dancers wave goodbye to the fantasies that must fade away with her dream. When: Nov. 24-Dec.3, times vary Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $27-$50 More info: sandyspringsga.gov
CHRISTKINDLMARKET ROSWELL
What: The first annual Christkindlmarket will be set up for your holiday season on the front lawn of Bulloch Hall with authentic food, crafts, drink and activities. When: Nov. 24-Dec. 24, times vary Where: Bulloch Hall, 180 Bulloch Avenue, Roswell More info: roswell-christkindlmarket. com
LIGHTS OVER ALPHARETTA
What: Experience the magic of the holiday season with a holiday walking and drive-thru light display. When: Nov. 24-Dec. 30, 6-10 p.m. Where: Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta Cost: Tickets start at $29 per car More info: lightsoveralpharetta.com
LET’S WATCH: FAMILY MOVIES AT NESO
What: Attend a free screening of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” at the Northeast Spruill Oaks Library, as part of a series that will run until May. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is required. When: Friday, Dec. 1, 3:30 p.m. Where: Northeast Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Johns Creek More info: fulcolibrary.bibliocommons. com
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’
What: This beloved American holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’
What: This beloved American holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. When: Dec. 1-17, times vary Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $28 for adults; $20 for students; $15 for children More info: stagedoortheatrega.org
broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. When: Dec. 1-17, times vary Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $28 for adults; $20 for students; $15 for children More info: stagedoortheatrega.org
Christmas tree, holiday market and displays, Santa Claus, an Elf Zone with games and activities, live music, food trucks, live llamas and college football on TVs. When: Saturday, Dec. 2, 4-8 p.m. Where: Johns Creek City Hall, 11360 Lakefield Drive, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov
HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT BROOK RUN PARK
What: The sixth annual show hosted by Roswell United Methodist Church will feature more than 100 small boutique businesses in a festive outdoor and indoor setting. Shop from artisan jewelry and food, bath and beauty products, trendy clothing, unique art, and home and holiday decor. There will be food selections in the cafe from local Roswell restaurants, a bake sale, a raffle and a Giving Tree, a donation tree to raise money for youth missions. When: Friday & Saturday, Dec. 2-3, times vary Where: Roswell United Methodist Church, 95 Pratt Street, Roswell More info: rumc.com/christmasgcs
What: Holiday Lights returns for a 4th year with a self-guided walkable display, ceremonial lighting, free hot cocoa, and concessions from Top Job Beverages and DonutNV Atlanta. When: Dec. 1-31, 4-8 p.m. Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody More info: dunwoodyga.gov
HOLLY JOLLY BLOCK PARTY
What: The Holly Jolly Block Party is a celebration for the whole family and marks the start of the North Fulton holiday season. The event will feature the lighting of the Johns Creek 40-foot
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SPARKLE SANDY SPRINGS 2023
What: Sparkle Sandy Springs is a holiday celebration with twinkling lights and a nighttime parade. The evening kicks off with live music by The Rupert’s Orchestra and snowflakes falling on City Springs. Explore the Sparkle Village, Gift Market and enjoy new attractions including the Sparkle Wonderland and Skate City Springs. The parade kicks off at 6 p.m., and the evening concludes with a Menorah and tree lighting. When: Sunday, Dec. 3, 4-7 p.m. Where: City Springs, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Spring More info: sandyspringsga.gov/sparkleparade
AVALON ON ICE
What: Lace up your skates and glide into the holiday spirit at Avalon on Ice. When: Until Jan. 15, times vary Where: The Plaza at Avalon, 400 Avalon Boulevard, Alpharetta Cost: $18 for entry, includes skates; $14 for ages 9 and under More info: experienceavalon.com/ events/avalon-on-ice
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22 | November 23, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
Thankful For Readers... Happy Thanksgiving! We’re looking forward to dinner with family and friends, football on the TV and in the yard and all the pie we can fit on the table. Before any of that, though, we’ll be in the newsroom, covering any breaking news during the day and providing you updates on Thanksgiving Day festivities. We do all this work for you — so you can stay informed and up-to-date on the goings-on in your neighborhood. And today we wanted to say, we’re thankful for you. We’re thankful for your readership and support, today and every day. Sincerely, Carl Appen Director of Content & Development
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24 | November 23, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
OPINION
Words ring true in the still of the night RAY APPEN
Publisher Emeritus
He shared with us the sad news of a young man he knew who died of an overdose. At the young man’s funeral, a man spoke movingly about the tragedy. He shared that one of his kids grew up with the young man in Milton and that he had always tried to look out for the young man because the young man’s father had died early. “My deep regret,” the man said, “was that I wasn’t there that last time to
protect him. “ I wasn’t at the service, but I was told that the church was full, and then the aisles, and then more. No one was ready for this. No one was prepared to say goodbye. The man spoke for us all, I thought, surely. Who among us would not have wanted to be a catcher in the rye if that was what it would have taken to save the young man – or another - before they fell off the cliff into the sea? That is our default, I thought. We are, by nature, those “better angels” – those “catchers in the rye.” We protect. We defend. We nurture. We feed. We love. We lead and we teach – each other – that is, until we don’t.
And then it hurts – and we endure. I couldn’t help but think of the young man, and the man who spoke so movingly about him while I sat outside cold under a full yellow moon this past weekend and watched “Hamlet” performed in the bandshell behind City Hall. “Hamlet.” I thought about the young man I never knew and will never know. I thought about the pain so many feel. Then my mind drifted and I considered the news that floods our senses every day – our world right now – about the thousands of others, the dead and dying. The same pain times a thousand – or ten thousand – in my backyard or far away. And it made no sense, and I had no answers. But then, in the still of the night I began to hear – and as I listened – the words came and some answers too – from “Hamlet”: “To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles And by opposing end them. To die—to sleep, No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to: 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep; To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there's the rub: For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause—there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life. For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, Th'oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of dispriz'd love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of th'unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear, To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death, The undiscovere'd country, from whose bour n No traveller retur ns, puzzles the will, And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience doth make cowards of us all, And thus the native hue of resolution” Choose virtue. Be present. Act. Be someone’s catcher before they fall. What more can we ask of ourselves? What course more noble can we take?
Recalling another date that lives in infamy John F. Kennedy once said that everyone remembers where they were, what they were doing when they learned that President Franklin Roosevelt had died in April PAT FOX 1945. Managing Editor Roosevelt ruled the White House for 12 years. So powerful a presence was FDR that many adults at the time had known no other president. Oddly, the killing of Kennedy, one of America’s shortest-serving presidents, has had an even greater impact. Those with memories stretching back to Nov. 22, 1963, know where they were and what they were doing when word came that Kennedy had been shot in Dallas. My own experience may likely be the most mundane. But, in today’s America of veiled political threats and lack of civil discourse, there are lessons to be learned. I remember it distinctly. Shortly after lunch, our first grade class was interrupted by the principal, Sister Aguidia, who burst in and whispered into the ear of our teacher, Sister Carmen.
In those days, nuns wore white wimples, a thick, white fabric covering their cheeks and ears beneath their habits. I remember thinking how difficult it must be to pull off a successful whisper through all that. Sister Carmen took a minute. She was calm, poised, an angel. She instructed us to put away our books, then announced that President Kennedy had been shot. We were to file out of the school, proceed up the street to Sacred Heart Catholic Church where the student body would recite the rosary. Religion in the classroom This was a public school, but nearly all teachers and students in Colwich, Kansas, were Catholic. And, the campaign to sever religion from public schools was in its infancy. The nuns had pretty much run education at the Colwich school for years. My mom, who was not a nun, but an angel nonetheless, taught there before I was born. It wasn’t until I got home that I learned Kennedy had died. Here’s the strange thing for a 6-year -old at that time. The television, the newspapers, the magazines – everything – was saturated with JFK. It went on for weeks, months, years. It continues
still. So great was the outpouring of woe, that to my young mind, the country was being helmed by a dead man for more than a year. It wasn’t until 1965 that I fully appreciated that L yndon Johnson was president. An older person would have faced reality more immediately. But, for a child, the assassination obliterated everything else. While I was plenty old enough, I have zero childhood memories of, say, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Johnson-Goldwater race, the Beatles on Ed Sullivan or anything post-John Glenn in the space race. Kennedy’s term never ended for me. Not by my choice, his death consumed two years of my life. And, over the ensuing 60 years, it has launched a cottage industry of crackpot books, documentaries and articles, proving that the market for conspiracy theories never turns stale. The point in sharing this today is that political violence can traumatize more than a nation. It can scar a childhood. The other news anchor My youthful world was dominated by two Walters: Cronkite and Disney. They controlled almost all I knew of the world.
It is obligatory that every documentary chronicling the Kennedy assassination include the CBS News anchor’s announcement of the murder. But, those with more discerning curiosity would have been better served to have stayed up late that night – past my bedtime – to heed the words of NBC anchor Chet Huntley closing out the network’s broadcast. “There is in this country – and there has been for too long – an ominous and sickening popularity of hatred. The body of the president at this moment lying in Washington is the thundering testimonial of what hatred comes to and the revolving excesses it perpetrates. “Hatred is self-generating, contagious. It feeds upon itself and explodes into violence… “You and I have heard in recent months someone say ‘Those Kennedys ought to be shot.’ “A well-known national magazine recently carried an article saying Chief Justice Warren ought to be hanged. In its own defense, it said it was only joking. But the left has been equally bad. “Tonight, it might be the hope and resolve of all of us that we’ve heard the last of this kind of talk, jocular or serious, for the result is tragically the same.”
PRESERVING THE PAST
OPINION
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 23, 2023 | 25
On the trail to solve the mystery of John Milton Milton County and the City of Milton are named after John Milton, Revolutionary War hero. However, some important details of his fascinating life are unknown. Four years BOB MEYERS ago, to try to solve Columnist the mystery of John Milton, the Milton Historical Society determined to research the subject. Board Member Mark Amick volunteered to take on the project. He devoted countless hours to research, conducted interviews with descendants and traveled to places where John Milton lived and worked. Jeff Dufresne, president of the Milton Historical Society, notes that “there are 33 places named Milton in the U.S., plus another 14 in the United Kingdom. Mark has done a most thorough job researching this unique individual.” Amick says “John Milton played such an Important role in shaping our nation and our state, yet there is no known portrait of him, no definitive biography exists and no one knows where he is buried. He is our lost patriot.” John Milton (circa 1740- 1817) was born in Halifax County North Carolina. Little is known about his early life. In 1776, he was one of the first to enlist in the First Georgia Regiment in the Revolutionary War. Milton was taken prisoner at Fort Howe, Georgia, in February 1777 and spent about six months as a POW in the castle at St Augustine, Florida, until his release. He then returned to the Army. He served as Aide de Camp to Brig. Genl Francis Marion, known famously as the “Swamp Fox.” Milton fought in the Battle of Black Mingo Creek near Hemingway, South Carolina, in September 1780, where American forces attacked and defeated a contingent of American loyalist militia. John also fought in the Battle of King’s Mountain in North Carolina in October 1780 where American loyalist troops were soundly defeated by American patriots in one of the most hotly contested battles of the war. He retired from the Army in 1782. John was elected Georgia’s first Secretary of State in 1777 while still in the Army, a position he held for 22 years. In December 1778, fearing a British invasion of Savannah,
BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA
Mark Amick and Bill Lusk of the Milton Historical Society install a cross honoring John Milton, the namesake of the City of Milton and Fulton County. It is the 834th marker installed in Milton prior to Veteran’s Day honoring those who served our country in the military.
MILTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY/PROVIDED
Note dated February 7 1798 signed by Secretary of State John Milton that incoming Governor James Jackson required shutters on the windows of his office for safety purposes because the existing venetian blinds were not sufficient to protect against “any rash assault”.
JIM FARRIS/PROVIDED
John Milton’s signature with wax seal courtesy of Jim Farris. There is no known portrait of John Milton. then the state capitol, the governor instructed Milton to transport the official state records and seal to Purrysburg, South Carolina, for safekeeping. As the war progressed, the documents were moved several more times until they finally arrived in Annapolis in 1781 where they remained for the duration of the war. His prominence made Milton a logical choice to serve as a delegate to the state convention that met in December 1787 to ratify the U.S. Constitution. In 1789 he was one of five Georgia presidential electors that ratified the election of our first
president, George Washington. Milton received the votes of two Georgia electors for president. John Milton was interested in being George Washington’s vice president according to Patty Dubas, a direct descendent of John Milton, who lives in Alpharetta. Her information comes from genealogical research her grandfather did many years ago at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City. His research traced the family back to the poet John Milton and beyond to the mid-16th century. Patty applauds the efforts by the Milton Historical
Society to add to the knowledge of her ancestor. John married Hannah E. Spencer, and one of their children, General Homer Virgil Milton, was an officer in the War of 1812. John’s grandson, also named John Milton, served as the Governor of Florida during the Civil War. The Milton family is descendant from Christopher Milton, the younger brother of English poet John Milton. Mark acquired and donated to the Milton Historical Society two official documents signed by John Milton as Secretary of State, a letter from Governor Telfair regarding appointment of a judge and a letter expressing some security concerns of incoming Governor Jackson. Mark plans to continue his search for an image of John Milton as well as the location of his burial. “For me it is a duty and obligation to tell his story and to find him,” Mark says. 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.
26 | November 23, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
OPINION
Check out the Chattahoochee Delayed Harvest trout water This week’s installment of Get Outside Georgia is especially for my fly fishing buddies! If you’re a trout enthusiast, then you know what I’m about to talk about. Georgia’s Delayed STEVE HUDSON Harvest trout season Columnist is well underway, and now is a great time to be out on one of our state’s five great Delayed Harvest waters. Delayed Harvest is an approach to stream management. Some waters which are too warm for trout during the summer can become cool enough to be good trout habitat as temperatures drop in late fall and winter – and when those water temps begin to fall, the folks over at the Department of Natural Resources start to manage some of those waters as “Delayed Harvest” streams. Georgia anglers can enjoy fishing five designated Delayed Harvest waters during the DH season, which began Nov. 1 and runs through May 14. Note that special regulations (strict catch-and-release, artificials only, and single-hook lures or flies) apply on those waters during DH. Over the next few months, we’ll be pausing now and then to look at some of Georgia’s DH streams. We’ll start today by spotlighting what’s happening on our biggest Delayed Harvest water, the DH portion of the Chattahoochee River. The Chattahoochee River DH water extends from the mouth of Sope Creek (a short ways downstream from Morgan Falls Dam) downriver to the US 41 bridge.
Fisheries stocking crews have put plenty of fish into this section of river. And that brings me to what may be the most-asked question that I see at this time of year: “Where are they stocking those fish?” A buddy of mine, an experienced angler with a wealth of knowledge on all things trout, is fond of answering such questions with a simple “In the water!” That’s a pretty good answer, all things considered. But some are persistent and keep asking. “Exactly where?” they will ask. Although you can probably figure out where the stocking takes place (just think about where the stocking truck can go… or, if your timing is really good, look for wet tire tracks near the river), there’s really no need to go to all that trouble. The fish are beginning to spread out, and that means that there will be good DH fishing opportunities all through the DH section. How’s that for “just enough” info? But maybe you persist. “You can tell me, can’t you?” you continue. “You know…just between us…where are you catching those Chattahoochee DH trout?” The same friend who likes to say “in the water” has another answer when someone asks him exactly where he’s caught fish. He will smile, and look you in the eye, and say, “I don’t believe I said.” That’s a pretty good answer too, I suppose. But I’m a softie, so I’ll give you a hint. Remember those likely stocking spots? Those are the places to start. For instance, the Paces Mill boat ramp is a given (okay, there’s a real tip), and (sure enough) there are plenty of recently stocked trout in the
vicinity of the ramp. But there will almost always be plenty of fisherfolk there, too. So…if you want to avoid the crowd and maybe find some unexplored water, try wandering away from the obvious stocking points to check out less obvious but equally productive places. It’s fun! Anyway, over the last little while, the DH portion of the Chattahoochee has been stocked with plenty of rainbows and browns. What are they hitting? Many of the flyfishers I’ve spoken with are reporting good success with pink or pink egg imitations and with pink or red San Juan Worms or Squirmy Worms. Another fly that’s been working well, I’m told, is a pink, orange or chartreuse Mop Fly. Yes, that’s what it’s called… and despite its odd name, it truly is an effective fly for Delayed Harvest trout. That may be because it looks kind of like an egg, or it may be because it bears such a strong resemblance to a big, fat insect larva. But whatever the reason, it works very, very well. In fact, Mop Flies work so well that they found themselves at the center of a heated controversy a few years back. It seems that competitive fly fishers using traditional flies were being beaten out by fly fishers using the Mop Fly – and they didn’t like it. Yes, such things come even to the noble and lofty world of fly fishing. This particular controversy got national news coverage, and it may never have been resolved to the full satisfaction of everyone involved. What do I personally think about the Mop Fly? Well, let’s just say that it’s a lot more fun to catch trout than it is to not catch trout. If someone wants to catch
trout on a fly made from part of a mop, who am I to argue? The fact is that I’ve got a dozen of ‘em (six pink ones and six chartreuse) in my fly box right now, and if you see me on the water I’ll be glad to give you a couple. You can thank me later. But I digress. Another good fly pattern for Delayed Harvest fishing in the Hooch the ubiquitous black Woolly Bugger or its close cousin, a Black Leech – especially if you use one with pink or chartreuse beadhead. The presence of the bead definitely seems to help, perhaps because it helps the fly to sink or maybe because it makes it easy for nearby trout to see the fly. I use these all the time, animating them with a little twitchy retrieve so they look like wounded or confused minnows. The really interesting thing about DH trout on the Hooch, however, is the fact that their behavior evolves and changes the longer they’re in the water. When first stocked, these fish are running on instinct (“If it looks like an egg, eat it!”), but they quickly learn that there are lots of other good edibles in the river. There are zillions of tiny little midge larvae in the Hooch, and those DH fish learn fast. Sometimes, in fact, the trout will go for them in favor of all else. I’ve seen that shift take place within an hour of stocking, so the prudent DH angler will carry some tiny (size 18 or even smaller) classic midge patterns as well as those big and gaudy “junk flies. Be open to what’s happening around you, and let the fish tell you what to use. I’d love to hear how you do on the DH portion of the Hooch. Let me know how you do. I’ll bet you’ll get some good shots at fish – but even if the fish win, you’ll still have a great day in the Georgia outdoors.
Our Turkey bowl meant stitches or a sling I have to look back on Thanksgiving with memories that are probably not as unique as I like to think. When Mom married stepdad BJ, not only did I have two stepsisters and MIKE TASOS a stepbrother to Columnist tease and watch out for, I was blessed to have a whole new crew of cousins, aunts and uncles. It was as if we became some sort of a makeshift Osmond clan. When the fourth Thursday in November rolled around, I had earned the giddiness that consumed me. Forget about the turkey and all those corresponding side
dishes and desserts, the family Turkey Bowl was born and became a whitehot event that would have justified premium scalper prices if anyone wanted to buy a ticket. The game started while I was in high school and lasted through most of college. At first, it was our side against the cousins. I could handle things until Cousin Stephen Whisler grew. I remember one year I chased him up and down the gridiron for hours. Later on, he was a highly lauded player for the McFarland High (yes, the McFarland High made famous in the Disney film) Cougars. He was a gifted running back and opposing players couldn’t catch him, either. That’s when, like they talk about in Mafia parlance, we opened up the books. It wasn’t a recruiting scandal,
but the cousins had us outnumbered, so I took to recruiting. I drafted best friend Klint and there were no illegal payments, just carte blanche at the dessert table that overflowed with 50 offerings. Owning a “Junior” in every family around these parts is no big deal. We had a Cousin Junior who was as big as the Junior made famous on “Hee Haw.” Remember, this was in California, and we made pretty good sport of him by hollering “BR549” every time we leveled him. The game became a hotly contested affair. It had to, after months of smack talking courtesy of Ma Bell and those late-night five minutes for 85 cents rates. I suffered a separated right shoulder that still bothers me. The
local emergency rooms did brisk business. One year, back in college after the Thanksgiving break and my injured right wing still tethered to my body, I received several calls about checks that had bounced. Puzzled, I went to the store. Sure enough, there were returned checks with “irregular signature” stamped across them. I was lacking in being ambidextrous. My left-handed signature was an unrecognizable scrawl, and the store owner needed his money. This was in college and all the checks were from my liquor store of choice. Can you imagine a bank being that vigilant today? Heck, can you imagine writing a check to buy groceries and
See TURKEY, Page 28
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 23, 2023 | 27
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28 | November 23, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
THE INVESTMENT COACH
OPINION
The fiduciary question answered with questions In discussing my career as a financial planner with a gentleman, he asked, “Are you a fiduciary?” Since money managers and financial advisors are LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP increasingly asserting that they Columnist are fiduciaries, The Investment Coach what does that mean to you as a consumer of financial services? Per Dictionary.com, as a noun a fiduciary is “a person to whom property is entrusted for the benefit of another.” As an adjective, fiduciary means “of or relating to the relationship of trust and good faith between a fiduciary and the person for whom the fiduciary acts.” In short, a fiduciary is morally, ethically and legally bound to render services and act in a manner that is in your best interest. How does any professional in financial services, whether banker, insurance agent, stockbroker, or financial advisor, know what’s in your best interest? You have a challenge as a consumer since “financial services” covers a wide range of disciplines, and money management offers far more options than existed 50 years ago when the first credentialed Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) graduated from the College for Financial Planning in 1973. Realizing that planning and the achievement of
Turkey: Continued from Page 26 booze? Every year, the post-game feast was a Norman Rockwell painting
financial independence was about far more than the purchase and holding of bank products, stocks, bonds, other securities or insurance vehicles, the term “financial life planning” ultimately became fashionable. What impact have life events, joyful and tragic, had on your planning and long-term wellbeing, and by extension, financial strategies? Ultimately, it’s the conversations that you have with an advisor about your life, past, present, and your potential future, and the depth of data gathered, that will form the basis for comprehensive financial life planning. What is your story? How did you get to where you are? How did family influences and life experiences shape your ideas and strategies regarding purpose in life, values, personal achievement, the earning of money, spending, saving, and risk taking? Where are you in terms of goal achievement? As you ponder the next 10 years, what challenges do you see, positive or negative, relative to the accomplishment of your goals and objectives? What questions do you have about where you wish to be in ten short years? Questions precipitate deep discussions relative to determining what alternatives are available given specific challenges. What resources are available to power the best alternative relative to a challenge? They may be financial resources. Perhaps human capital related (especially as that pertains to a closely-held business venture), or appropriate to other advisory resources in fields such as
law, accounting, medicine, and/or other subject areas. What do you wish to experience? Human beings are complex creatures, and what’s in your best interest may be very different from someone else. Who else is involved in your envisioned future? What is the role of family, spouse, children, parents and grandparents, siblings, in-laws, business partners, anyone that you love and care about? Who depends on you? What are their needs and challenges? When it comes to marriage, opposites do attract. Your spouse is likely to have very different answers to the above questions. He or she is likely to have varying degrees of concerns about any given challenge, priorities that differ from yours. The same may go for teenage children on the cusp of adulthood and the making of important life decisions. How do family dynamics play into your planning? A closely-held business is like a family of sorts, and if that’s your source of income as an owner or key person, how do those relationships play into goal achievement and desires for financial independence? There are only three states of life. You’re okay, you’re not okay, or you’re dead. How do the realities of death, disability, divorce, disagreement, or dissolution play into your financial life planning? Such matters involve adequate cash reserves to take you through rough spots. Prudent and taxwise uses of debt. All forms of insurance planning involving health coverage,
disability insurance, life insurance, liability coverage that includes separate umbrella liability coverage appropriate to your net worth. Given that at some point you are likely to be disabled or impaired in some fashion, especially as you age, legal documents such as powers of attorney for assets and health care, advance directives, and other considerations that allow decision making by someone other than yourself, become important. As soon as a child reaches age 18 in most states, he or she is an adult, and you as a parent will need a power of attorney to make health or other decisions in your offspring’s behalf. Disability and death are not respecters of age. Are wills or trusts in place and are they current? How are investment accounts and other assets held and in whose name or names, or held in trust? Are beneficiary designations current? These are legal questions and an attorney is a key member of your advisory team. On Oct. 19, 1987, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 22%, the biggest one-day drop in American history. On Oct. 4, 2023, the Dow closed at 33002. A similar percentage drop today would be 7,260 points down. When it comes to investment options with the potential to produce returns in excess of taxes and inflation over time, you must have a realistic conversation about risk tolerance and time frames.
times 10. Granny said the blessing. I thought about getting a PA system so we could hear her and then get to overindulgence that stayed with you for days. Inevitably, there was a friend who had nowhere to go on Thanksgiving. They were welcome and it was no big
deal. The holiday is made to be with others, and it was no insult to a guest when they heard: “Now who are you with again?” My sisters and girl cousins would gather and discuss the nonsense that goes together with being girls. This was in the days of having three TV channels to choose from. Most of the cousins were raised as Pentecostals (no TV). Naturally, they beelined for the delights being beamed into that little box. Sadly, we cousins have lost touch with one another. Maybe a phone call. Inevitably, talk circles back to all those Turkey Bowls. Lots of good memories there that are resurrected. Brother Matt and I talk frequently. Brother Marty died last November. As for the stepsiblings, too many bad words and feelings have tarnished the good memories. We’ve all moved on and don’t talk. I’ll not be alone, but Thanksgiving makes me long for our gargantuan family gathering. It is a memory that
still occupies a special place.
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OPINION
Continued from Page 28 Everyone is a “risk taker” until the market declines. Is a financial advisor a fiduciary? You may get some idea relative to the questions asked, the depth of the discussions, the thoroughness of data gathering, and your feeling about a person as a true guide and ethical
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | November 23, 2023 | 29
counselor who has your best interest at heart. Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group (CIG); 770-441-3553; lewis@capitalinsightgrp.com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA), which is otherwise unaffiliated with CIG. Lewis a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).
INVITATION TO BID CITY OF JOHNS CREEK ITB #24-335-1 AUTREY MILL NATURE PRESERVE AMPHITHEATER CONSTRUCTION PROJECT The City of Johns Creek extends an Invitation to Bid (ITB) to qualified firms for the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve Amphitheater Construction Project. ITB’s will be received electronically via the City’s bid platform, BidNet no later than 2:00PM on December 1, 2023. Questions are accepted and answered online only via BidNet. Deadline for questions is November 20, 2023, 5:00 PM. Quotes, bids, and RFPs are electronically managed through the Georgia Purchasing Group by BidNet , our online bidding/vendor registration system, on the city website: https://www.johnscreekga.gov/Residents/Purchasing. To access the ITB document you must register with BidNet. Go to the City website above and click the link “register and view quote/bid/RFP opportunities”. The City of Johns Creek, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 78 Stat. 252, 42 USC 2000d—42 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, part 21, Nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin in consideration for an award . All offerors must comply with all general and special requirements of the ITB information and instructions. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Neil Trust at the City of Johns Creek Procurement Division at purchasing@johnscreekga.gov or (678) 512-3233. The City of Johns Creek reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to wave technicalities and informalities, and to make award in the best interest of the City of Johns Creek.
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK INVITATION TO BID ITB 24-355 SR 120/ABBOTTS BRIDGE ROAD FROM PARSONS ROAD TO PRIMROSE PARKWAY (GDOT PI #0012788) The City of Johns Creek extends an Invitation to Bid (ITB) to GDOT prequalified construction firms for the above referenced project. The project proposes to add a 16' raised median with 3' inside shoulders, 4' bicycle lanes, and 8 to 10' enhanced sidewalks on both sides of SR 120/Abbotts Bridge Road from Parsons Road to SR 141/Medlock Bridge Road. At the project midpoint, the rock outcroppings will be removed to improve a substandard horizontal curve. This project involves the construction of several walls, longitudinal drainage systems, and the replacement of an existing culvert with a bridge. Bids will be received electronically via BidNet no later than December 21, 2023 at 2:00PM. Questions are accepted and answered online via BidNet. Deadline for questions is December 14, 2023 at 5:00 PM. A recommended attendance virtual Pre-bid meeting will take place online via Zoom on November 30, 2023 at 10:00 AM ET. Quotes, bids, and RFP’s are electronically managed through the Georgia Purchasing Group by BidNet , our online bidding/vendor registration system. To access the ITB, interested firms/individuals must complete the one-time, no cost registration with BidNet. Firms/individuals registered with BidNet will be able to view and bid on projects posted by the City of Johns Creek. The City of Johns Creek, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 78 Stat. 252, 42 USC 2000d—42 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, part 21, Nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin in consideration for an award . Additional information related to the submission of bids may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing Division at (678) 512-3233. All Offerors must comply with all general and special requirements of the RFQ information and instructions enclosed herein. The City of Johns Creek reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities, and to make award in the best interest of the City of Johns Creek. Neil Trust, Purchasing Manager
John Bradberry, Mayor
DEATH NOTICES Anise Bailey, 73, of Roswell, passed away on November 5, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
George Hallock, 91, of Roswell, passed away on November 10, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Mary Ann Payne, 86, of Roswell, passed away on November 1, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Lisa Fahoome, 72, of Milton, passed away on November 4, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Thomas Miller, 81, of Roswell, passed away on November 5, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Christine Strommen, 72, of Alpharetta, passed away on November 8, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Allen Tothill, 80, of Alpharetta, passed away on November 1, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
30 | November 23, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
ONLINE INCLUDED C a l l t o d a y t o p l a c e y o u r a d 4 7 0 . 2 2 2 . 8 4 6 9 o r e m a i l c l a s s i f i e d s @ a p p e n m e d i a g r o u p . c o m • FA X : 7 7 0 - 4 7 5 - 1 2 1 6
Full-time
Full Time Donor Operations Lead NFCC is looking for a Donor Operations Lead is a key team member who oversees the donation door process. They may delegate to other staff, volunteers and community service at the Donation Door. This position is the face of NFCC so they are expected provide excellent customer service and treat each donor with a professional and friendly demeanor. The Associate greets and removes donations from vehicles and then sorts the 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 For a complete job description visit https://nfcchelp.org/work-at-nfcc/ Software Engineer Specialist (Alpharetta, GA): Collab w/ Engrs across the Platform & Product Engg team to create tech dsgns, dvlp, test, & solve cmplx prblms that drive the solution from initial concept to production. Contribute to our automated build, deploy, & test processes for each solution. Bring in ideas & techniques to further improve the exp for our Engrs. Work w/ a wide range of sys, processes, & techs to own & solve prblms from end-to-end. Resumes to: Total System Services LLC, Brian Simons, HR Risk and Compliance, One TSYS Way, Columbus GA 31901. Job #PB000820.
Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer of Females, Minorities, Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.
Is Your Company Hiring? Submit your opening at appenmedia.com/hire Business Continuity Specialist (Alpharetta, GA): Works throughout the s/w dvlpmt life cycle & performs in a utility capacity to create, dsgn, code, debug, maintain, test, implmnt & validate apps w/ a broad understanding of a variety of languages & architectures. Analyzes existing apps or formulate logic for new apps, procedures, flowcharting, coding & debugging programs. Maintains & utilizes application & prgmng docs in the dvlpmt of code. Recommends changes in dvlpmt, maint & sys standards. Resumes to: Total System Services LLC, Brian Simons, HR Risk and Compliance, One TSYS Way, Columbus GA 31901. Job #ST996095.
This person would be responsible for all Finance/ Accounting and Human Resources administration at NFCC. This position reports to the Executive Director of NFCC and works closely with the other Directors to achieve NFCC’s mission. The role requires creating and implementing all policies and procedures related to financial recording and reporting, and creating and maintaining business process documents that support all Finance, Accounting and Human Resources processes. The complete job description is found at: https://nfcchelp.org/work-at-nfcc/ North Fulton Community Charities Mission has been serving individuals and families in the North Fulton area for 40+ years. Our Mission “To ease hardship and foster financial stability in our community” and our purpose is to provide opportunities for the whole community to thrive. Full Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision) start after 30 days of employment along with a retirement plan / matching offered, Paid Time Off , and employer paid STD and LTD insurance and life insurance. EEO Statement: NFCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, NFCC does not discriminate based on race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disabilities, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis protected by the law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.
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Application Test Consultant Lead (Alpharetta, GA): Carries out procdrs to ensure that all apps under test (AUT) meet org standards & end-user reqs. Thoroughly tests s/w to ensure proper operation & freedom from defects. Docs & works to identify all prblms to ensure resolution. Rprts progress on tstng & prblm resolution to appropriate parties. Devises improvements to current procdrs & dvlps mdels of possible future configurations. Resumes to: Global Payment Holding Company, Brian Simons, HR Risk and Compliance, One TSYS Way, Columbus GA 31901. Job #HM992917.
Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, December 1, 2023. Apply online: www.sawnee.com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.
North Fulton Community Charities is seeking a Director of Finance and Administration. Full time/Salary.
APPE
North Fulton Community Charities Mission has been serving individuals and families in the North Fulton area for over 40 years. Our Mission to ease hardship and foster financial stability in our community and our purpose is to provide opportunities for the whole community to thrive. Full Time employees receive benefits on the 1st day following working 30 days. Benefits include: Medical, dental and vision insurance after 30 days of employment. 403b retirement plan matching offered, Paid Time Off. Short and Long Term insurance and life insurance are provided by employer.
STAFF ACCOUNTANT - FINANCIAL SERVICES: Sawnee EMC is seeking a Staff Accountant – Financial Services to provide financial and accounting services in compliance with RUS accounting requirements and standards, coordinate budgeting and financial planning functions, compile and analyze financial information, prepare financial statements, statistical analyses, balance sheet and financial position statements, make recommendations on reserves, collect appropriate data to prepare tax returns, and prepare related reports to management. Requires: Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in accounting with a minimum of two years progressively responsible work experience; high level of competency in MS Office, Accounting, Spreadsheet and Database Software; knowledge of RUS System of Accounts preferred.
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BILLING CLERK: Sawnee EMC is seeking a Billing Clerk to audit the billing process by ensuring accuracy in accordance with Sawnee EMC rate schedules and fee policies. Requires: high school diploma or equivalency, twoyear certificate or degree and a minimum of two years of related accounting experience demonstrating proficiency in mathematics, and general office skills. Position is full-time; must be flexible to work irregular hours, to include evenings and weekends. Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, December 1, 2023. Apply online: www.sawnee.com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568. Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer of Females, Minorities, Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace. Software Engineer Senior (Alpharetta, GA): Collab w/ team across the Platform & Product Engg team to create tech dsgns, dvlp, test, & solve cmplx prblms in Digital Admin that drive the solution from initial concept to production. Tech leadership incl architectural dsgn, estimation, dvlpmt , mentoring, code reviews, unit & integration tstng, mentoring juniors, coding standards, PCI compliance, info security compliance & providing regular project update to Sr. mgmt. Resumes to: Total System Services LLC, Brian Simons, HR Risk & Compliance, One TSYS Way, Columbus GA 31901. Job #AB727099. Solution M A R I F F Y S C O T B A L I D O L E O R G A N O R A L B U R M A E X I T M I L D S E E P T I B E R A M I O M A R A F T D U E T R I O T E A L O S E O W N R E S E E D C O D A G E D A C H E S H E P L U G N O T A R Y H O D R O T D U N E L O U P I T Y A D S T O I L X E B E C S O S O A L A S T H E A A M O R E W I D E R T O T E T O R N T A N G S T E T E R E
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