Johns Creek Herald - December 21, 2023

Johns Creek Symphony performs holiday children’s concert D e c e m b e r 2 1 , 2 0 2 3 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 7 , N o . 5 1

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City begins plans for self-run local election in 2025 municipal races

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Looking ahead to its first self-run municipal election in 2025, the Johns Creek City Council nailed down one aspect of the process at its Dec. 12 — using the “vote center” model.

Assistant City Manager Ron Bennett said Johns Creek would be the first city in Georgia to use the model, which mirrors the Fulton County process that allows voters to cast their ballot at any of the county’s advance polling places. This year, residents of cities contracted with Fulton County Elections could vote at any of 14 advance voting locations.

Unlike Fulton County, which assigned

See ELECTIONS, Page 29 AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Level Up Games builds niche to form community of players Keenan Crotty, manager of Level Up Games in Johns Creek, stands at his desk in front of a collection of trading cards. Owner Andrew Phillips also has two more locations in Duluth, the largest store of its kind in Georgia at 12,000 square feet, and in Athens. See story Page 10 JOSHUA CURRAN, CFP® JOSHUA CURRAN

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Johns Creek Assistant City Manager Ron Bennett leads a presentation on city plans to conduct its own election in 2025 at a Dec. 12 City Council work session.

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2 | December 21, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

PUBLIC SAFETY

Police investigate alleged bomb threat at Target on State Bridge Road Suspect reportedly threatens to kill Israel’s prime minister

770-442-3278 AppenMedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Duluth man reported to police Dec. 9 that someone had approached him at Target on State Bridge Road, threatening to blow up the store and kill Israel’s prime minister.

The man told police that around 6 p.m. that day, the suspect had asked him where the lint rollers were and redirected his questioning to the man’s thoughts on the Israel-Hamas War. The man said the suspect appeared to be agitated and told him he did not want to “mess” with him, and that he

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

did not know what he was capable of, according to the incident report obtained by Appen Media.

The man said the suspect asked if he knew of a particular Middle Eastern individual, who was raping women and cutting faces off children, the report says. The man said the suspect asked if he served in the military, the report says, and began to “size” him up, allegedly foaming at the mouth.

The man told police the suspect said he worked with an unidentified agency and provided his badge number, 666, the report says.

When police asked if the suspect made any threats, the man said the

suspect threatened to “blow up” Target and kill Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But, the man told police the suspect did not threaten to kill him.

The man said he alerted Target security of the encounter and left the location, the incident report says.

Identifying details of the suspect were not provided in the incident report. Johns Creek Communications Lt. Debra Coble said she had no further details about the alleged bomb threat but that detectives will be investigating.

residence the day before, and he told police he did not notice that anything out of place at the time.

The scene was turned over to detectives for further investigation.

government on several websites, the report says, and that he feared for his life due to the threats he had received.

Writer reports threats Police called to burglary over article on China JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek on Bailey Ridge Court JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police were dispatched to a burglary call on Bailey Ridge Court, where a woman reported missing jewelry.

The woman told police that when she and her fiancé returned and noticed the home had been burglarized, they left to call the police. Police found no one in the home, the incident report says, and observed it had been ransacked with clothes thrown everywhere and drawers open.

The woman told police several pieces of jewelry were missing but could not provide an estimated value because they belonged to her mother.

Police spoke with the woman’s brother, who had last been at the

man reported to police Dec. 5 that he had been threatened by someone over an article he wrote about the Chinese government.

In the article published a few days before, he told police he described the Chinese government as a communist party and that an unidentified person commented, “I should have [killed] you a long time ago,” translated from Chinese.

The man told police he received another threat from his wife’s former student in the morning of Dec. 5. But, the man hesitated to provide contact information for the suspect, according to the incident report.

The man said he talked about how he supported the U.S. government and wrote articles against the Chinese

— Amber Perry

Homeowner finds man lurking in his garage JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek man reported to police Dec. 9 that someone had entered his garage on Cullen Copse and attempted to enter his wife’s vehicle.

The man said he was inside his garage loading his vehicle at around 9 a.m. when he noticed an unidentified man inside the garage, according to the incident report. The man told police the suspect was looking at his wife’s vehicle and was about to open the door, but he made his presence known by speaking up, and the suspect fled.

The man told police the suspect entered a vehicle parked near his mailbox and left the subdivision, the report says. He was unable to provide police with a tag number.

Police notified on-call detectives of the incident, the report says.

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AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | December 21, 2023 | 3

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4 | December 21, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

NEWS

High school students awarded MIT grant

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — About a dozen students from Chattahoochee High School are working to reduce harmful leakage from gas stoves, using a grant awarded to only eight schools in the country.

The students, members of the Chattahoochee InvenTeam, received $4,500 through the Lemelson-MIT program — a yearly research initiative out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology geared toward high schoolers to invent technological solutions to real-world problems of their choosing.

The Chattahoochee InvenTeam is composed of mostly 11th graders. Lin Lee, their sponsor and the school’s media specialist, has each student play a specific role. Some work to get the word out as part of a communications team, some are figuring out how to finance any funding gaps, and some are more hands-on in building the project with technical skills or through sustainability research.

Sophie Lin, the administrative student lead, said the decision to study methane leakage came after a long brainstorming process. After Riley Jocham, a student on the technical team, found an article from Stanford that described methane emis-

Chattahoochee Inventeam

Lin Lee - Sponsor and media specialist at Chattahoochee High School Sophie Lin - Administrative student lead Keefer Lin - Technical lead Riley Jocham - Technical team Shiven Gupta - Technical team Srinidhi Chebrolu - Sustainability lead David Xibille - Sustainability team Paola Leal - Financial lead Sophia Knudsen - Financial team Moukthika Rajala - Communications lead Kennedy Bailey - Communications team Kristen Lee - Communications team

KRISTEN LEE/PROVIDED

The Chattahoochee Inventeam, a group of Chattahoochee High School students, works to solve methane leakage from gas stoves through the Lemelson-MIT program. The grant helps fund high schoolers’ efforts to invent technological solutions to real-word problems. sions, even with gas stoves turned off, Lin said the group jumped on board.

Because the project is unaffiliated with Chattahoochee High School, Lin was responsible for recruitment. Students must find the time to work on the project outside of the school hours and other extracur-

riculars.

Keefer Lin, the technical lead, said he spends as many as three hours a day thinking about how to move the project forward.

In addition to methane, Lin said the group’s problem statement looks to

nitrogen dioxide as a harmful household gas. He said both are shown to increase the risk of cancer and cause damage to the environment. Srinidhi Chebrolu, the sustainability team lead, added that breathing in nitrogen dioxide can exacerbate pre-existing respiratory issues or increase the risk of developing those issues in the future.

“Most of the team, if not all of the team, owns a gas stove at home, and we use it every day,” Chebrolu said. “So, we’ve been breathing these gases in for a really long time.”

See GRANT, Page 28

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | December 21, 2023 | 5

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6 | December 21, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

NEWS

Johns Creek Symphony performs holiday children’s concert

By ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra performed its fourth annual children’s Christmas concert at Johns Creek United Methodist Church Dec. 16 at 2:30 p.m.

The performance featured well-known holiday tunes including “White Christmas,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “Sleigh Ride” and selections from the “Nutcracker Suite.”

Executive Director, Linda Brill, provided an introduction and a preview of the upcoming season before handing the microphone over to Ben Assaf, serving as the concert’s emcee. Kids of all ages were encouraged to come up in front of the stage to dance and sing along with their favorite Christmas songs.

“We started these Christmas concerts for kids because our normal Christmas Pops concerts start at 7:30 p.m.…that makes it hard for families to come because a lot of kids are asleep,” Brill said. “I think it’s a great introduction for people. A lot of the time, people experience things for the first time through their kids…this is a great opportunity to discover classical music through a children’s concert.”

Since 2019, the A Kids’ Christmas concert has remained a popular staple for the community. After a brief hiatus in

Anything that we can do to make the holidays brighter for people is really important for us.”

LINDA BRILL Executive Director 2020 during the height of the pandemic, the concert has been going strong since its return the following year. Brill, who has served as executive director since 2017, initially became involved with the orchestra in 2014 as a clarinetist. She has noticed a significant growth in audience numbers over the years.

“We’ve had a significant growth in audience every year. This is the fourth year we’ve done it…and people have been very receptive to this,” Brill said. “We really encourage people to come and be themselves and enjoy the program without the typical concert etiquette that may turn off a lot of people.”

See SYMPHONY, Page 28

ADAM DARBY/APPEN MEDIA

The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra performs its fourth annual children’s Christmas concert at Johns Creek United Methodist Church Dec. 16.

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

BUSINESS

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | December 21, 2023 | 7

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Starbucks in Suite 200 at 7660 North Point Parkway will permanently close Dec. 31. The location is one of three within a 2-mile area in Alpharetta.

Starbucks will close North Point location

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com Name of Business: Crave Cookies Owners: Mike Carey and Kim Fishman Description: Life is uncertain. Our weekly menu change isn't. At Crave Cookies, every Friday comes with a new lineup of flavors and a fresh excuse to forget your diet. Think of it as self-care with icing on top—because we're all about that sweet,

sweet balance.

Opened: Nov. 11, 2023 Address: 3719 Old Alabama Road, Suite 200-D, Johns Creek, GA 30022 Phone: 678-587-5956 Website: ordering.cravecookies.com/ crave-cookies-johns-creek/menu/ordersetup

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Starbucks at 7660 North Point Parkway is set to close at the end of December after more than 10 years of operation.

The café, which borders Barnes and Noble, will officially shut its doors Dec. 31.

A Starbucks spokesperson said the decision is part of the company’s standard practice of evaluating its store

portfolio “to ensure it's meeting the needs of our customers and the communities we serve.”

The company said employees at the location will be transferred to a nearby Starbucks.

Starbucks has two other locations, 6000 North Point Parkway and 10830 Haynes Bridge Road, within 2 miles of the closing café.

What will replace the vacant space is not yet confirmed.

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8 | December 21, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

NEWS

Milton grades performance in its first self-run election

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — By almost all measures, Milton’s first self-run municipal election was a success – saving local taxpayers in the neighborhood of $100,000, with only a couple of hiccups.

By the end of Election Day, the paper ballots were counted and reconciled, and the results were called.

But, others say cost just doesn’t measure up. Compared to the 2021 contest administered by Fulton County, the November election had a lower voter turnout, fewer polling locations and confusion among some voters who weren’t sure where to cast their ballot.

Cost was one of two key elements that provided the city with momentum to give it a shot — the other was election integrity, a residual concern of the 2020 presidential election and what prompted a preference for hand-counted paper ballots.

Milton City Manager Steve Krokoff, who also served as the election superintendent, said the “actual dollars spent” for the election parked at around $115,000 which included some one-time costs.

A large chunk of the cost was attorney fees — about 15 percent of it. City Attorney Ken Jarrard dedicated one of his lawyers to the election. City staff had her cell phone number on hand when they had difficulty parsing state code.

“There’s so much ambiguity,” Krokoff said in an interview Dec. 5. “And, you know, elections aren’t like horseshoes and hand grenades. You gotta be exact.”

Krokoff’s overall cost estimate is significantly lower than what the city would have paid had it opted to stick with Fulton County. In August, a Fulton County official told Appen Media that the county would have charged more than $217,000 for the general election, and that likely would have increased.

Because Alpharetta later canceled its municipal election due to no contested races, the new county-created, percentagebased formula that determined what to

charge would have placed a greater share of the administrative cost on the other cities.

Opportunity cost One camp assesses the election success based on actual dollars spent, calling Appen Media’s effort to quantify the city time dedicated to Milton’s election “absurd” — as one Milton resident put it. One Republican Party-appointed State Election Board member told Appen Media during tabulation that city staff are working “anyway.”

But others disagree, saying extra staff time devoted to the election should be factored into the cost.

The fact is that the election gobbled up hours of employee time.

Appen Media has calculated the city has spent close to $192,000 in staff time from January to November. The figure comes from records and interviews with City Manager Krokoff.

In addition to Krokoff, the staff time figures include Deputy City Manager Stacey Inglis and City Clerk Tammy Lowit, the absentee ballot clerk.

Inglis, who also served as the deputy election superintendent and the chief manager of tabulation, began dedicating 100 percent of her time to the election starting in August. Krokoff said she even worked Saturdays and Sundays.

“The only way to expand our capacity, our bandwidth, was for it to cannibalize our time, our private lives,” Krokoff said.

“That was significant, overwhelming, especially as we got toward the end.”

On Election Day, several of Milton’s election workers checked out after 21 hours.

Because of the election, other city projects were put on the backburner. Most recently, Krokoff told the City Council Dec. 4 that he had been unable to pull multiple city committees together to review land inventory for an active park because of the election.

Krokoff also said Inglis had to put a halt to a performance management project and that Lowit had her share of postponed

projects as well.

“There were other projects and things that didn’t necessarily rise that you hear about at the council level that had to be deferred,” he said.

Krokoff said it wasn’t “dragging boulders,” though. There was excitement in such an undertaking.

Lowit chimed in, saying that first-time moment will never happen again.

“We’re only going to birth that baby once,” Krokoff added. “The feeling of accomplishment was overwhelming … I think Council will have to decide whether or not in the future the opportunity cost is worth it.”

Voter turnout Another factor that weighs on the election’s success was voter turnout — it dropped by more than 10 percent from the 2021 municipal election conducted by Fulton County. There were also at least 2,000 more registered voters this year.

But, Inglis noted that Precinct 3’s share of the citywide votes increased in this election, a precinct Milton originally did not intend to have. But, it was added after outcry over the city disenfranchising the area which has the highest number of voters of color, as well as the highest number of Democrats.

Milton resident Andrea Nugent, a Democratic candidate for the Georgia House in 2018, attributed the decrease in overall voter turnout to the number of polling locations during advance voting and on Election Day. It couldn’t have been the weather, she said, because it was beautiful that day.

For advance voting, residents of cities who voted through Fulton County had more than a dozen polling locations to choose from. Milton had one – at City Hall. There were also around quadruple the amount of voting locations on Election Day in other North Fulton cities like Johns Creek and Roswell whose elections were conducted by Fulton County.

“For all residents, the ability to have all of the locations in Fulton County … is far superior, unless Milton is willing to offer 14 voting locations throughout Fulton County,” Nugent said. “That would be the only way that I would consider it being an equal alternative, and I don’t know how you put any money on that. For me … it’s voter access.”

Nugent, who has lived in Milton since 2013, said she never cast a ballot during advance voting at a Milton location. It was always in another city because of the convenience to or from work.

But, this time around, Nugent voted on Election Day because the hours Milton provided during advance voting weren’t suitable to her work schedule. And, that day was a confusing one for her — she showed up to the Public Safety Complex on Ga. 9, about five minutes away from her home,

but her assigned location was City Hall, 10 more minutes out of the way.

Nugent said she didn’t check over her voter registration card sent by Fulton County which had her assigned polling location. But, she added, she didn’t know of many who did check it, and that election officials at the Public Safety Complex said it was a common issue.

Fulton County sent out two voter registration cards. The first had inaccurate information. The second corrected the mistake.

After hearing of the distrust of voting machines, Nugent said she found it interesting that the hand-marked, hand-counted ballot process didn’t result in a greater number of people voting. She also said she received texts from Milton Families First, an independent expenditure committee, that would have theoretically gotten more people to vote.

“I didn’t see that in prior years … getting text campaigns for a municipal election,” Nugent said.

‘Well-oiled machine’ Milton resident Francia Lindon had a change of heart toward the city’s election project once she took part in the process as a tabulator. It became something she enjoyed, whereas before she had her doubts.

“I was skeptical of the process that had preceded it, and I felt I needed to be involved to trust the results. I had to see it myself,” Lindon said, Referencing the Milton Election Feasibility Committee’s months-long effort to get a self-run election on track, Lindon said the group had “incredible bias” and shut out the Democratic Party.

The Milton municipal election was nonpartisan, but some residents said partisanship had a major influence, nonetheless.

Lindon described the training session for her role as a “good step in the right direction,” leading her to believe the election would be a well-planned, secure and stable process. The session was led by Inglis, whose positive attitude contributed to dispelling some of her doubts.

Lindon described tabulation as a “well-oiled machine,” a checked and double-checked reporting process that was “absolutely above board.”

While Lindon had a positive experience and said the experiment was worth running, she said Fulton County is the better option because of the number of polling locations as well as the time and manpower needed to get the job done.

“If any more people voted … I mean, it’s very labor intensive, and I think that’s cost-prohibitive,” Lindon said. Four people handled every ballot during tabulation, and there were more than 3,660 of them. “... You can’t sell us that labor cost, against a machine doing it in a matter of an hour or two,” she said. “There’s just no way to compare that.”

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | December 21, 2023 | 9

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It’s about community building.

It’s about bringing people together.

ANDREW PHILLIPS, Owner of Level Up Games 10 | Johns Creek Herald | December 21, 2023

Business builds community across the board Level Up Games grows through table-top play

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — From competitive players to the more casual dabblers, Level Up Games is the place to find community in table-top gaming.

Keenan Crotty, manager of the Johns Creek location, says about 50 people have become regulars since the store’s opening in February. They attend weekly events for a variety of games found in the store’s well-balanced stock, including your traditional board game, trading card games, role playing games aka RPGs, and miniatures.

Crotty was planning for a weekly event dedicated to “Flesh and Blood,” which he described as a video game turned trading card game.

That early afternoon was slow, save for a firsttime visitor from Roswell who had been looking for a decade to play a physical game of BattleTech, a science-fiction tactical wargame. Level Up is much busier in the evening, Crotty said, when the business’ primary demographic leaves work and needs respite.

“That’s why we host events and things because we want people to have that third place to go hang out and do their hobby,” Crotty said.

Community focus The Roswell visitor pulled up a chair to one of the tables in the back, as if he’d been going there for years, taking to the cozy, welcoming environment. Crotty told him he had a couple BattleTech guys, including one cop in the area, and connected the customer to the store’s Discord server.

About 3,500 people have joined the business’ Discord, used across all three locations — Johns Creek and Athens as well as the 12,000-squarefoot store in Duluth, the first to open and the biggest of its kind in Georgia. Crotty said there are

See BOARD, Page 11

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Above: Keenan Crotty, manager of Level Up Games in Johns Creek, stands at his desk in front of a collection of trading cards. Owner Andrew Phillips also has two more locations in Duluth, the largest store of its kind in Georgia at 12,000 square feet, and in Athens.

At right: During weekly gaming events, participants use several tables situated at the back of the store.

BUSINESSPOSTS

Board: Continued from Page 10 dozens of channels for specific games, allowing you to get advice, make a game and build groups.

Andrew Phillips, owner of Level Up, had been in the gaming industry for two decades on the distributor side before opening the Duluth location in 2019.

He took over the space from longtime Atlanta gaming institution Titans Games & Comics — Phillips gave it a new name with a new culture and had to ditch comics at the tail-end of 2020 due COVID-19’s hit to the industry, to focus on table-top games.

“It’s a true passion type thing,” Phillips said. “Nobody ever, unfortunately, gets wealthy doing this, but we enjoy it. It’s about community building. It’s about bringing people together.”

Phillips grew up on traditional board games, and he eventually found himself at the center of “geek culture” that rose in the mid-’90s, the same time when board games began transitioning from Europe. He said board games are a huge deal over there, where supermarkets and shopping markets often use dramatic board game displays and sales to attract shoppers.

“The industry is great,” Phillips said. “It’s full of a lot of creative people. There’s a lot of artistic people. There’s a lot of people with great imagination. Obviously, Dungeons and Dragons paved the way for all of this originally, and it kind of all bled into each other.”

The best thing about gaming, he said, is that there’s a genre for everyone. It’s not all fantasy.

“If you’re into horror, there’s tons of that stuff. If you’re into film noir, there’s tons of stuff for that,” Phillips said.

AppenMedia.com | Johns Creek Herald | December 21, 2023 | 11

Just opened?

Appen Media publishes New Business Spotlights to highlight local businesses as they get started. Submit yours for free at appenmedia.com/newbusiness. game that started in the ’90s, though it’s being rivaled by “Disney Lorcana.” “[Magic: The Gathering has] gotten to the point where people who started playing it when they were teenagers are now parents, and they can teach it to their kids, so their kids are getting into it,” Crotty said.

He also said the game is updated with new sets every month, it’s highly competitive with complexity and modularity, but it’s also easy to learn.

Next in popularity at Level Up are board games, then come RPGs like D&D, often serving as a gateway, and miniatures.

When he started working at the shop, he AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA became more interested in miniature games, At Level Up Games in Johns Creek, there’s an even-balanced stock of boardgames, not the well-known “Warhammer” though, role playing games aka RPGs, trading cards and miniatures. but the Star Wars and Marvel versions of it.

“I am a bad hobbyist, because there are a lot of people who get into miniature games, like it for the building and the painting. In fact, some of them never even play the game. They just like the modeling part,” 2023 2023 Crotty said. “I like the game.”

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Games for everyone Sometimes, Level Up offers demos often NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL WELCOMES led by “paragons,” or volunteers Crotty A 2ND LOCATION TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD chooses who have solid teaching and people skills. Demos could be of games that are WE OFFER A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES INCLUDING: popular at the time, a game that the store Family Practice Internal Medicine CRABAPPLE Health and Wellness Care has a large amount of or simply a game the paragon is interested in.

• Anxiety • Gynecology • Insomnia • Osteoporosis The week before, the store demoed • Chronic Fatigue • Heart Disease • Insulin Resistance • Weight Gain “Queen by Midnight,” a deck-building • Depression • High Cholesterol • Metabolic Syndrome • Thyroid Disease card game. Others have been what Crotty of Crabapple • Diabetes • Hypertension called “perennial classics” like “Azul,” an easy-to-play game where the objective is to A Northside Network Provider create point-scoring patterns using colored Game experts Spanish, Moorish-era tiles that look like Crotty, who helped open the Johns Starburst.

Creek location, started at the Duluth store Crotty said one popular demo is “Wing875 Mayfield Road Dr. Samantha Benson last May after moving from Indiana. Like span,” a resource-management game where Kaavya Chivukula, MD Cheryl A. McGowan, MD Hannah Cummings, FNP-C Samantha B. Benson, MD Milton, GA Phillips, Crotty began his gaming journey at players collect things and accumulate them Johns Creek Only Milton Only Johns Creek: Tues.,30004 Thurs.

Johns Creek: Tues., Thurs.

Milton: Mon., Fri. Milton: Mon., Fri. a young age with traditional board games, in such a way to get the most victory points. playing with his highly competitive famHe said it’s “the bird game where you do P: 678-474-9633 ily — he said his dad once accused him of bird things,” and includes the scientific cheating in a game of Risk, and they didn’t Latin names of birds. talk for a few days.

Crotty listed several games which have Dr. Cheryl McGowan But, Crotty mostly played with his an explicit educational aspect like “Darbrother who eventually showed him Dunwin’s Journey” and “Hegemony,” another Yianna Manolakis, Heather Menees, Michelle Hall, DNP, Samantha Lewis, FNP-C geons and Dragons, diving into his D&D resource-management game made in FNP-C FNP-C FNP-C Johns Creek: Tues., Thurs., Fri. Milton Only Johns Creek Only Johns Creek Only Milton: Wed. books as a freshman in high school. He collaboration with professors of political began creating his own campaigns, versus science and economics. In “Hegemony,” he premade adventures, and roped his friends said players choose to be either the working into weekly campaigns that lasted through class, the capitalist class or the state, and college. try to achieve specific goals.

Crotty described a significant number of When asked if all presidents should be games with intermittent history lessons and required to play “Hegemony,” Crotty said CALL TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT! up-to-date controversy, like pushback on the game veers towards certain sociopolitical Internal Medicine Associates Internal Medicine Associates Wizard of the Coast’s restrictive licensing on ideals that might be uncomfortable for some of Crabapple of Johns Creek D&D content creators — which changed the people.

875 Mayfield Road, Building A 3380 Paddocks Parkway popularity of the game at Level Up, though it “A lot of games, like Monopoly, you’re Milton, GA 30004 Suwanee, GA 30024 still hosts D&D groups every week. just playing, like, ‘My Little Capitalist,’ but Scan to be directed to the website 678.474.9633 678.474.9633 He said “Magic: The Gathering” remains some games are doing other things,” he www.imacrabapple.com | www.imajohnscreek.com the most popular at Level Up, a trading card said.

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12 | December 21, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

COMMUNITY

Entertainment options abound to ring in 2024

BY ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com As 2023 comes to a close, Metro Atlanta cities are ringing in the new year with local festivities. Parents can expect to end their children’s holiday break with a final New Year’s celebration before they return to the classroom. And for the parents and adults looking for a night of their own, there are plenty of adult-oriented celebrations for the big night.

Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell, Johns Creek, Cumming, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs are holding celebratory events to kick off 2024. Here are some New Year’s celebrations scheduled throughout the area to mark the final days of 2023.

Milton While the city has no formal events on the calendar, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails on Mayfield Road is hosting their New Year’s Eve celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 31. Guests can expect to pop the champagne while enjoying executive chef Dean Wenzel’s specially curated three-course prix fixe menu for $85 per person. Don’t

miss out on their exclusive New Year’s menu. To make a reservation or view the menu in its entirety, visit www.

MiltonsCuisine.com.

Alpharetta Residents have several local options to fill their day on Dec. 31. From 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Hotel Avalon is hosting Noon Year’s Eve where all ages can enjoy live music, children’s activities, and a countdown to noon with a giant balloon drop welcoming the new year. Tickets are required for admission.

For something a little later in the day, Fogón and Lions is presenting their second annual New Year’s Eve Celebration from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. with live music from Arena Sound, a spirited Latin band, an open bar, a late-night DJ, and a Latin-American holiday-themed buffet curated by Chef Julio and his culinary team. Located on Roswell Street, don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes to dance the year away. For more information on these events and other local New Year’s happenings, visit www.AwesomeAlpharetta.com.

Roswell Several of Roswell’s best bars and restaurants are hosting fun New Year’s events. For those craving some live music, From the Earth Brewing Company on Holcomb Bridge Road is hosting a live concert on Dec. 31 at 9:30 p.m. featuring the popular local band, the 31’s. Throughout the night, guests will enjoy specially curated NYE-themed food and drinks.

Meanwhile, Rock ‘N’ Taco is hosting a New Year’s party of their own at the same time on Canton Street. Once midnight strikes, everyone can raise their glass and keep the party going with live music and a variety of specialty drinks and cocktails. For more information on these events and other nearby New Year’s celebrations, visit www.Roswell365.com.

Johns Creek For parents wanting a date night out, Kidcreate Studio on Old Alabama Road is hosting a Date Night New Year’s Eve party on Dec. 30 at 5:30 p.m. For $28 per child, the studio will watch over your young artist and help them create noisemakers, party pop-

pers, and New Year’s Eve hats while you and your special someone go out to a special celebration of your own.

Visit www.KidCreate.com for more information.

On New Year’s Eve, Oly’s Tavern on Jones Bridge Road is hosting a New Year’s performance of their own with local band, Reckless. Live music, food, and drinks are always a fun way to ring in the new year. Visit www.OlysTavern.com for more information.

Cumming Forsyth residents hoping to kick off the new year with some live music can check out Rockin’ Around on New Year’s Eve at Music Authority on Merchants Square on Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are only $10 and can be purchased at www.

MusicAuthorityInc.com. For those hoping to start their new year’s fitness goals early, Five Star NTP is holding a Half Marathon & 5K Run at North Forsyth Middle School on Jan. 1. The half marathon starts at 8:50 a.m. while those running in the 5K begin at 9 a.m. Admission is $24 with T-shirts available for purchase. The first 250 runners will receive a special Finisher Medal to

See EVENTS, Page 13

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Continued from Page 12 wear at the finish line. Learn more at www.

FiveStarNTP.com.

Dunwoody

Sandy Springs Enjoy classical music favorites with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on Dec.

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Night owls can kick off 2024 like it’s 1924 with the Party Like It’s 1920 party on New Year’s Eve at the Brass Tap on Ashford Dunwoody Road from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Come wearing your best 1920s attire and enjoy a free champagne toast when the clock strikes midnight. A live DJ will supply the music while those dressed their best can win a cash prize.

Don’t forget to take some fun photos at the photo booth.

For parents wanting to take one last look at the holiday lights with their kids before ringing in the new year, Brook Run Park on North Peachtree Road is keeping up their holiday lights display through New Year’s Eve before the ball drops.

Families can enjoy the free, self-guided walk through 85,000 beautiful lights.

Learn more about these free events at www.DiscoverDunwoody.com.

31 at 8 p.m. at Byers Theatre on Galambos Way. The concert program includes the Waltz from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Mendelssohn's Nocturne from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Rossini's Overture from La Gazza Ladra, Offenbach's CanCan, Strauss waltzes, and more. For those hoping to dance afterwards, check out the Ring in the New Afterparty nearby at the Studio Theatre. Be ready to enjoy DJ Newk playing all your dancing favorites, a buffet of light bites, coffee and desserts, and a glass of sparkling beverage to toast the new year at midnight. Ticket prices for both events vary and can be purchased at www.SandySpringsGA.gov.

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14 | December 21, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

NEWS

CLASS 7A GHSA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: MILTON HIGH SCHOOL 31, WALTON HIGH SCHOOL 21

MILTON HIGH SCHOOL/PROVIDED

The Milton High School Eagles celebrate their win against the Walton Raiders in the Class 7A GHSA State Championship game Dec. 13 at Mercedes Benz-Stadium.

Eagles earn 2nd state title in upset win over Walton

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — Milton High School Eagles defeated the Walton Raiders in the Class 7A GHSA State Football Championship game Dec. 13 at Mercedes Benz-Stadium.

The 31-21 victory marks the second state title for the Eagles, who won against the Colquitt County Packers in 2018.

Ranked eighth in the nation, the Raiders were favored. Milton head coach Ben Reaves said everyone also counted his team out because of losses early in the year.

But, Reaves, who served as the offensive coordinator during the 2018 championship, said the outcome was a surprise to everyone but his team. The

Eagles made it to the state semi-finals last season, the final four.

“We’ve always believed in ourselves,” he said in a hoarse voice the following day. “We always knew that we had a state championship-caliber team.”

Reaves said the title shows the tremendous amount of hard work and dedication of Milton’s football team, practicing Monday through Thursday since the last week of July, and from the coaches, from everyone. “... Just to be able to take the physical beating day after day after day, because football is just such a rough sport, and still be standing in midDecember playing your best football …

It was good for it to all come to fruition, and for everybody to, quote-on-quote, get paid last night,” Reaves said.

School sees record donations in annual canned food drive FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Pinecrest Academy donated a record 23,790 items this fall in its annual canned food drive for the St. Joseph’s Food Pantry at St. Brendan Catholic Church.

The drive provided frozen meat, bread, desserts, diapers, cleaning supplies, personal care items, paper goods and fresh fruit and vegetables to 2,900 families across Forsyth County.

This year marked the school’s eighth year participating in the drive.

St. Joseph’s Food Pantry Coordinator Barbara Gordon said the donations come at a time when the program’s inventory is exceptionally low.

“We always have concerns about how we will continue to serve our families,” Gordon said. “Food donations from Pinecrest allow us to be very generous, particularly at our Christmas Food Market.”

School staff commended Pinecrest families for their hard work in the drive.

One parent organized a food drive at her workplace that collected more than 1,200 items for the pantry, and two siblings collected donations in a wagon in their neighborhood.

Pinecrest Academy also celebrated the opening of its second entrance with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 17. The

PINECREST ACADEMY/PROVIDED

Pinecrest Academy kindergarteners participate in a Stuff the Truck for the school’s annual canned food drive for the St. Joseph’s Food Pantry at St. Brendan Catholic Church. Pinecrest families and students donated a record 23,790 items in the 2023 drive.

new road, Pinecrest Academy Way, adds access to the school from the traffic light at Peachtree Parkway and Stoney Point Road.

Nov. 17 also marked Grandparents Day at the school. Staff said hundreds of grandparents visited the campus for an all-school Mass, breakfast, classroom visits and book fair shopping.

— Shelby Israel

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NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | December 21, 2023 | 15

Forsyth County OKs redesign to widen McGinnis Ferry This map shows the proposed two phases of the McGinnis Ferry Road widening.

The Forsyth County Commission approved a contract for the project to be redesigned in two parts at a work session Dec. 12.

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County has initiated a redesign to split the McGinnis Ferry Road widening into two phases after earlier estimates came in too high to handle.

At its Dec. 12 work session, the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a contract with Atlas Technical Consultants to redesign the major infrastructure project for $101,209.

The county will now pursue the widening in two sections: one from Douglas Road to Sargent Road in Johns Creek, and another from Douglas back to the Union Hill Road and Ronald Reagan Boulevard intersection in Forsyth County.

The County Commission was scheduled to vote on a $79.4 million bid to commence the widening at an Oct. 10 work session, but commissioners rejected all bids because of the price tag.

McGinnis Ferry, a major east-west artery connecting traffic from Cobb and Gwinnett counties to and through Fulton and Forsyth counties, currently sees some 20,000 vehicles daily, 55 percent over its designed capacity.

Forsyth County is sharing costs for the project with the Fulton County cities of Johns Creek and Alpharetta and the Georgia Department of Transportation.

At the October meeting, Forsyth County Manager David McKee said after lengthy discussions with the GDOT and the two cities, there was no feasible way to cover the costs.

Official project cost estimates have varied since the widening was first proposed nearly 10 years ago, from $36 million originally, then climbing to $61.5 million by 2020.

The two North Fulton cities each agreed to commit $8.9 million to the widening

MAP BY DIONNA WILLIAMS/DATAWRAPPER/APPEN MEDIA

in 2020, with Forsyth County pitching in $23 million. Johns Creek later indicated it would contribute an additional $3 million from TSPLOST II funds.

With a $10 million offer from GDOT, the 2020 agreement priced the project at $50.8 million.

But, with the lowest bid at $79 million three years later, the county hit pause to pursue the more feasible option of two parts.

Once the redesign is completed, the county can approve either section to be widened first. The Board of Commissioners will vote on the new cost estimates at future meetings.

In an email to Appen Media, Alpharetta Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard said the city has not changed its position or commitment to the McGinnis Ferry widening.

“We look forward to receiving additional information from the redesign effort and

will likely pause discussion of the project until that effort is completed,” Drinkard said.

Also at the Dec. 12 meeting, the County Commission approved a $20,000 increase to the County Division of Family and Children Services’ annual funding.

In March, the commissioners approved $140,000 as the department’s maximum annual funding, with up to $80,000 to be

used to supplement salaries for full-time employees.

The new agreement raises the DFCS budget to $160,000 and the employee supplement to $125,000.

“A year ago, we were in a very dire situation with our staffing at DFCS,” Forsyth County DFCS Board Chair Sarah Pedarre said.

She said the department was operating with a skeleton crew, but the supplement funding approved by the County Commission enabled DFCS to attract more experienced staff.

The funding also allowed the department to enter a pilot program with Benchmark that facilitated in-home mental health services for clients.

“And only three counties in the State of Georgia got that,” she said. “So, it’s showing that it is working, and it is a wonderful benefit for our community, but we did miss the forecasting of how much it was going to be.”

Division Director Cara Bowen said DFCS is currently open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but with new staff onboarding in the next two to three weeks, the department will be back to regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The County Commission will formalize the two action items at an upcoming regular meeting.

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16 | December 21, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Artists celebrate 20 years of Roswell’s Works in Clay Show

By LUKE GARDNER newsroom@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — The 20th Anniversary Works in Clay Show was held at Art Center West through Saturday, Dec. 9, and featured works from around 50 local artists.

Opening night kicked off Nov. 30, with hundreds of people on hand to celebrate the week-long tradition. Visitors were greeted by an intimate band outside before heading in the center to enjoy free food and wine while viewing thousands of artworks displayed in a museum-style showcase.

“I didn’t know how big the event was,” visitor Sommer Sparrow said.

“I love experiencing the creativity; It’s nothing you can find in a store.”

Artworks included cups, bowls, mugs, candle holders, flower pots, sculptures, ornaments, abstract pottery and jewelry. A few booths featured knives, axes and metalwork made by blacksmiths at Art Center West.

“It’s been a fabulous night,” artist Jennifer Squires said. “You wouldn’t believe the crowd; it has been over the top, crazy busy. I’m working as a docent and pieces are flying out of here.”

Every featured pottery artist belongs to the Roswell Clay Collective, a group of local creatives formed in 1991.

“We started in a couple of rooms,” said Art Center West Coordinator AJ Argentina. “Now, we spread to the point of being maxed out, packing in as tight as we can in a 5,000-square-foot space.

The show has diversified and there has been a surge of new interest.”

Argentina began as a resident artist 19 years ago and has gone on to showcase work in 39 various shows, including this year’s Works in Clay.

His work featured a few functional glasses but mostly included black, grey and cream-colored sculptures comprised of swirling, geometric patterns.

“I love supporting independent artists,” said shopper Ellen Dierkes. “All the artists did such a good job. I bought some beautiful, unique pieces.”

Squires, who has been creating pottery for almost eight years, also displayed her work at the event.

Her table featured several pieces from her shop, Haven Made Ceramics, including bowls and mugs in every size.

Color palettes ranged from more understated earth tones to pieces with bright hues of red, green and blue.

“I get so lost in the art of throwing,” Squires said. “It moves with you as you learn how to do it. The rest of the world goes away. There is so much gratitude in creating something from dirt.”

In a separate room, artist Kathy King stood next to her booth proudly displaying ornaments, serving dishes and decor

Jim Neal explains the meanings and processes behind his diverse set of artwork.

Jennifer Squires’ HavenMade Ceramics booth features a plethora of bowls, mugs, cups and dishes. incorporating natural elements like birds and flowers in shades of blue and green. In her 19-year journey with the

collective, King has been at almost every Works in Clay event and has transformed from beginner to teacher.

“I started doing pottery after a break of 29 years,” King said. “I bought a pottery wheel my senior year, put it away, and started over again 30 years later.

Now, I love teaching [and] creating any kind of form out of that lump of clay. [At these events,] I enjoy seeing older clients and it’s fun to meet new people.”

Patrons also enjoyed meeting local artists.

“I like seeing stuff people create with their own hands and hearing the artists talking about their work,” Aleah Irvin said.

Artist Jim Neal has been creating work with the Roswell Clay Collective for around 30 years. His booth showcased mugs, vases, bowls, lamps, and several larger otherworldly sculptures. Incorporating ancient imagery of dragons and skulls, Neal enjoys playing on the edge of reality and paying homage to spiritual experiences with his art.

For Neal, the creative process is one of discovery, often finding shapes and inspiration along the way. He pointed to an ethereal winged-skull creature and proclaimed “This started out as a tail [for something else].

PHOTOS BY LUKE GARDNER/APPEN MEDIA

“You sit down and take a piece of clay, put it on the wheel and start throwing it’” Neal said. “Then, your mind goes ‘That could be a dragon or a cat,’ and you go from there. You make a potato shape and start sticking on eyes and arms, and suddenly you’ve got a face with a crown.”

In a room across the building, Neal excitedly displayed sculptures made at local children’s art festivals. The eclectic pieces started with Neal crafting the base and children making smaller ornamental pieces to adorn it with. The final products are a unique collection of five avant-garde pieces, complete with eyes, seashells, dragon skulls, and creatures beyond human comprehension.

“I’ve been to just about all of the Works in Clay events,” Neal said. “It’s wonderful; we always have great opening nights. You get to know so many different people and get to watch them grow in their artwork. It’s been really rewarding.”

The show runs from 3-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4 through Thursday, Dec. 7, and from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8. The show runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9.

For more information, visit roswellclaycollective.com.

Sponsored Section

December 21, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | 17

Don’t let mistakes cost you Brought to you by - Geerdes & associates Let’s say you’re looking for the perfect estate plan. Your goal for doing so is probably to ensure that your assets are transferred smoothly and efficiently to your family and loved ones after your death.

However, the estate planning process and errors may sometimes occur when you aren’t paying attention. Here are some common mistakes that can occur during estate planning.

Mistake #1: Not funding your trust. Oftentimes people will invest time and money into setting up a trust, but mistakenly believe that all their assets are protected the moment the trust is established. However, trusts only govern and protect the assets transferred into them, so if you are setting one up, make sure you take that last critical step to transfer and transfer your properties, company shares, or bank accounts into the trust so that your assets can be protected after your death.

Mistake #2: Not updating your estate plan. Life happens. Divorce, adoption, or procuring a new property can occur while you’re alive. People often forget to up-

date their estate plans in the face of new spouses, children, and assets. Not removing an ex-spouse as a beneficiary to your will or bank accounts, or forgetting to name your new children as beneficiaries, can lead to conflicts and confusion regarding who gets what after your death.

Mistake #3: DIY or old wills. Laws change. Your personal circumstances may also change. Having an old will or worse - a will you drafted yourself - can open your estate to claims from people you did not want to inherit. Remember that wills are drafted based on state laws and require important legal language and references, meaning it is incredibly risky for you to use a generic online form or leave everything to a simple letter you’ve written designating who should inherit your assets. Make sure your will is updated at all times and that it was drafted and executed by a lawyer.

You want to make sure your loved ones will be able to inherit your assets smoothly, so always check with a lawyer who specializes in estate planning to ensure all of your documents are valid. Take the time and effort to craft a plan that suits you and will protect your assets.

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If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right Brought to you by Michelle Wilson, Attorney, Wilson Legal At Wilson Legal, we have recently hired two people to help our clients make sure their trust owns or WILSON is the beneficiary of every account insurance policy and property they own.

This process is a process we call funding. Without completing the funding process, clients are setting themselves up to go through the long and often expensive probate process after a death.

If you have a trust and you are not sure if you have finished the funding, now is the time to call Wilson Legal and

ask us if we can help you make sure it’s done right. Creating a trust is a lot of work and it is worth it if it is done right. Is your trust done right?

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Highlighting Positive Stories This season, we’re joining in the holiday festivities by celebrating positive stories from the community.

The news often feels overwhelming and negative. But there’s so much good news out there too. For every story of conflict, there is a story of joy — and we’re out to find them and share them with you.

We make good news a priority by attending community events, where we hear stories of people making a difference in our community. They’re a spot of joy in an oft-hopeless news cycle.

Hard news and analysis is so important — but so are stories that make us smile, laugh or show the possibilities of change and impact you can create in the world. If you value this kind of story too, consider becoming a supporter today. Your contribution means we can keep shining a light on positive news stories in the year to come.

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COMMUNITY

Northern Ridge announces September Eagle Scouts

project was the renovation of the atrium at Lake Windward Elementary School, by removing all plants and leveling the area, pressure washing the concrete pathway and then placing weed fabric artificial turf on the area.

Collins Moye, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the replacing of the arbor over the entrance of the garden of the Alpharetta Community Garden as well as building a new donation bin.

Jack Spohrer, of Troop 1717, sponsored

by Cross of Life Lutheran Church, whose project was the design and construction of an outdoor classroom, with 6 benches and

a lectern for Elkins Pointe Middle School.

Samuel Smith, of Troop 356, sponsored by Fellowship Christian School, whose project was the design and construction of a GAGA pit for Mimosa Elementary School.

Brady Clements, of Troop 431, sponsored

by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a shade garden for the Roswell United Methodist Church Giving Garden.

Bottom row, from left; Dileep Kotireddy, of Troop 429, sponsored

by Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and construction of a pollinator garden at Innovation Academy.

Jordan McCloskey, of Troop 1857G, sponsored by Christ the Shepard Lutheran Church, was the design and creation of a kit that has two blankets and two hats one for the deceased baby to be wrapped in and one that matches for the parents to keep for the Teeny Tears Foundation.

Jordan made a total of 288 blankets and hats.

Mia Katz, of Troop 431, sponsored by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of 16 bee boxes for the Chattahoochee Nature Center.

Noah Katz, of Troop 431, sponsored by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the renovation of the Butterfly Garden at Roswell North Elementary School.

Isaac Linnen, of Troop 226, sponsored by Bridge to Grace Church, whose project was overall cleaning and reorganization of the North Springs High School Band Rooms.

This included constructing several shelving units, organizing the sheet music and scanning to Charmsoffice.com database.

Jonah Horwitz, of Troop 1818, sponsored by the North Metro office of the Marcus Jewish Community Center, whose project was the restoration or building new stage flats for the Centerstage North Theater.

John Fincher, of Troop 985, sponsored by Northbrook United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of 15

PVC bike racks for Foster Care Support Foundation in Roswell.

Thomas Blumberg, of Troop 1717, sponsored

by Cross of Life Lutheran Church, whose project was the design and construction of wardrobes with shelves and wheels, for storing and moving costumes and props, for the theater troupe at Mount Pisgah Christian School

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (Cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton) is proud to announce a new class of Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review Sept. 28 at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.

Top row, from left; William Morgan, of Troop 1459, sponsored

by St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, whose project was removal of existing shelves and replacing them with new shelving units for the preschool storage room at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church.

Noah O'Brien, of Troop 1717, sponsored

by Cross of Life Lutheran Church whose project was the rehabilitation of the woods and trail system behind Elkins Ponte Middle School, which included the removal of a downed tree and large log, cutting a large area of overgrown weeds as well as framing the natural trail with landscape timbers.

Adam Singleton, of Troop 69, sponsored

by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a rainwater irrigation system for the charity garden of St. Thomas Aquinas, powered by a solar pump.

Noah Singleton, of Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of an educational bee hive for the Rucker Road Farm Park.

Hunter Burch, of Troop 431, sponsored by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of four benches for the outdoor classroom at Roswell North Elementary School as well

PROVIDED

as remove an existing garden and garden clean up.

Ian Schlecht, of Troop 429, sponsored

by Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and construction of 10 informational signs for the blue trail at Providence Park.

Middle row, from left; Andrew Ghent, of Troop 1459, sponsored

by St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, whose project was the design and construction of four information kiosks for the trail at Bell Memorial Park.

Aaron Wang, of Troop 1857, sponsored by Christ the Shepard Lutheran Church, whose

Northern Ridge announces October Eagle Scouts ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (Cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton) is proud to announce a new class of Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review Oct. 26 at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.

Top row, from left; Robert Harris II, of Troop 143, sponsored

by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a GAGA pit for Settles Bridge Elementary School.

Jonathan Mortensen, of Troop 429, sponsored by Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and construction of the foundation of an 1845 historical cabin for the Forsyth County Historical Society.

Benjamin Weber, of Troop 7153, sponsored

by St. Brigid Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of a roofed firewood storage stand for Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center.

Alexander Hogan, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church, whose project was the design and construction of 2 picnic tables for Statebridge Road Park.

Yuvasurya Vangala, of Troop 3143, sponsored by The American Legion Post 251 whose project was the design and construction of two wooden shelving units to function as shoe racks, and two wooden benches for Ganesh Temple of Atlanta.

Bottom row, from left; Malas Gatautis, of Troop 985, sponsored by Northbrook United Methodist Church, whose project was the renovation of the community Garden located at Northbrook United Methodist Church.

Jack Maloney, of Troop 2000, sponsored

by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was the restoration of outdoor courtyards at Shakerag Elementary School.

Ryan Feldstein, of Troop 2000, sponsored

by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was the restoration of the outdoor chapel and the loop trail around the outdoor chapel at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church.

PROVIDED

›

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | December 21, 2023 | 21

Calendar

DEC. 21 — DEC. 31

ROSWELL WINTER PUPPETS: TROUBLE IN TOYLAND

What: Join “That Puppet Guy” Lee Bryan for a story about Christmas Eve, where the toys aren’t finished, the elves are on strike, Santa has lost his laugh and Rudolph has a runny nose.

When: Wednesday-Friday, Dec. 20-22, times vary Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell Cost: Tickets are $10, children 2 and under free More info: roswell365.com

CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS ON THE GREEN

HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT BROOK RUN PARK What: Holiday Lights returns for a 4th year with a self-guided walkable display.

When: Until Dec. 31, 5-10 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody More info: dunwoodyga.gov

What: Join the Local Church Milton at the Christmas Eve “Eve” Candlelight Service. Sing carols, hear an inspirational message and light a candle with your friends and neighbors at this free, public event.

When: Saturday, Dec. 23, 5:30 p.m.

Where: The Green at Crabapple Market, 12650 Crabapple Road, Milton More info: crabapplemarketga.com

SPRUILL GALLERY’S HOLIDAY ART FAIR

What: Shop Spruill Gallery’s 30th Annual Holiday Art Fair for original art and craftworks from more than 50 Georgia artists and artisans. The Holiday Art Fair is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m. Inventory is refreshed daily.

When: Until Dec. 23 Where: Spruill Gallery, 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody More info: spruillarts.org/holiday-artfair

IRVING BERLIN’S ‘WHITE CHRISTMAS’

What: Based on the 1954 film, the musical “White Christmas” features veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis who have a successful song-anddance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil’s former army commander.

When: Until Dec. 24, times vary

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $42 to $110 More info: cityspringstheatre.com

LIVE MUSIC: HUTCH AND WAILS

What: Tommy Wails and Christy Hutcherson, or Hutch and Wails, will provide a musical experience that resonates with the spirit of the holiday season.

When: Friday, Dec. 29, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Ground and Pound Coffee, 8420 Holcomb Bridge Road, Alpharetta More info: groundandpoundcoffee.com

NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA What: Make unforgettable memories with a concert of favorites by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

The program includes the “Waltz” from Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,”

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT! It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people, whether online, through our newsletters or in the Crier and Herald newspapers.

Mendelssohn’s “Nocturne” from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Rossini’s “Overture” from “La gazza ladra,” Offenbach’s “Can-Can” and Strauss waltzes.

When: Sunday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: Starting at $53.50 More info: sandyspringsga.gov

RING IN THE NEW

What: Ring in the new year with a party in Studio Theatre, including DJ Newk playing dancing favorites, a buffet of light bites, coffee and desserts, and a glass of sparkling beverage to toast the new year at midnight.

When: Sunday, Dec. 31, 10 p.m.

Where: Studio Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $65 More info: sandyspringsga.gov To promote your event, follow these easy steps:

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TONY THOMAS: ‘SCENES FROM MY TRAVELS’

What: See original drawings and paintings by local artist Tony Thomas, including renderings of the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Multnomah Falls and Devils Tower National Monument.

When: Until Jan. 12, business hours Where: Community Gallery at City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us

PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF ATLANTA EXHIBITION

What: The Portrait Society of Atlanta presents its annual member exhibition.

When: Until Jan. 20, business hours Where: Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton Street, Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us

Visit AppenMedia.com/Calendar Provide the details for your event including title, description, location and date Click the red button that reads “Create event” That’s it! Submissions are free, though there are paid opportunities to promote your event in print and online.

Crier 12/21/23 Crossword 22 | December 21, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek Across

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Read Local, Shop Local Read at appenmedia.com/business

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | December 21, 2023 | 23

Publix is doing fine just the way it is I heard about a new CEO at Publix this week – on the news somewhere.

Normally, something like that would not catch my attention; there are lots of corporate CEO changes all the time. This RAY APPEN was not, however, Publisher Emeritus just any company; it ray@appenmedia.com was Publix, and that is one company that I care about – a lot.

Often a new CEO means something is not working at a company, and the board of directors brings in a fix-it person who usually slashes expenses, lays off staff, and in general, changes a ton of stuff. The same thing often happens when a company acquires another company. Kroger buying Albertsons comes to mind. That “merger” will make the combined company a stronger no. 2 grocer (behind WalMart), but it will also probably mean that many stores will be closed if they overlap markets, and a ton of administrative personal will get the axe.

Elon Musk buying Twitter and then basically destroying it also came

to mind, but that particular one is an extreme case.

This is what I was worried about when I heard about a new CEO at Publix. I googled it and found out that essentially what appears to have happened is that there were a number of internal promotions including the current CEO moving to “executive chairman” and the existing president was moving to the CEO slot. Several other changes/promotions also occurred – all internal promotions for long-time employees. No one from the outside was involved. Most importantly – to me –it appears that what happened may not have been in response to something within Publix being broken. I hope I am right.

I love Publix. I don’t see anything broken about it. In fact, what I see when I contemplate Publix is a company that is still grounded in the core values of the founder – George Jenkins – and that those values are serving Publix well. When I go into a Publix, it feels like I am going home. I see employees who genuinely care about my shopping experience and about me. I see happy employees who have pride in their store and in their contribution to their store.

When I go into a Publix – and they are

all the same in these aspects – I feel comfortable; I feel welcomed; and I actually feel like part of the experience, instead of like a customer being sold a commodity that is driven only by pricepoints and nothing else.

When I shop in the other grocery stores – which I seldom do – I never feel like I have any sort of relationship with anything or anyone at the store.

They feel sterile and without any trace of humanity – all business, nameless, faceless, commodity-driven business.

That is the way of today in most businesses, especially service businesses. They are dehumanized, and the customer is no longer considered a priority, at least the way they used to be considered. Calls are answered by recordings instead of a person. Cashiers have given way to self-checkout with scanner machines. Customer service is routed to India instead of to someone who actually cares and will actually listen and try to fix what was broken for a customer. Cutting expenses at any cost is what tends to drive business today, even when it means alienating customers and employees. This results in companies painting themselves into a corner where their only competitive advantage is reduced to only one vari-

able – price. This approach also destroys brand, something that often has taken decades to create and sustain.

The Publix motto is: “Where shopping is a pleasure,” and guess what! This is actually what Publix still believes and what drives everything. It is what sets Publix apart from every other competitor and what, in this commodity-driven culture, this “only price” mantra business environment that we know today, drives its success.

A few other businesses continue to operate like Publix, but not many.

Chick-fil-A comes to mind, as does Costco. Both are uber-successful. Both companies treat employees and customers differently, and you can see it and feel it the instant you enter their store.

I sometimes shop at the competitor’s stores, but that is because I am in a hurry and must, not because I want to.

Shopping with them is never a pleasure.

They are destinations that offer the least they possibly can and expect you to like that and be a loyal customer – not.

Thank you, Publix. Stay the course.

Note: Publix is an advertiser with Appen Media.

Maybe a chance to give (and be) a gift I’ve come to the conclusion that the diverse make up of our little slice of heaven we call North Georgia provides comic relief for others who don’t have enough sense to be Southern.

MIKE TASOS When out and Columnist about, I enjoy listening to others offer (sometimes nonsensical) observations and opinions. It’s remarkable what people say and ask. For instance, I had to bite my tongue when a shopper, in a heavy accent, told the checker: “I remember when these groceries would have cost a dollar.”

Whoa there, my Indian friend. A dollar? I know there are lots of elephants in India and they supposedly have great memories. But your mind must’ve failed you, and you’re probably a few spoonful’s short of a full bowl of curry.

Well, that’s what I wanted to tell him. Instead, I just smiled and handed over $100 for bread, milk, cheese and mints. I didn’t get much change

back either.

It appears that everyone is affected with a Montezuma-like case of the “scurries,” moving around at a breakneck pace to get that must-have gift that makes experiencing this season with heartburn instead of heartfelt joy and a grin.

I try to be helpful to my family when asked the “What do you want” question. I don’t want to snarl or do a Chevy Chase and tell them “I’d like Frank Shirley” here wrapped in a bow.” First, I don’t wish any misfortune on Frank Shirley. Hell, I don’t even know a Frank Shirley. But I do know some people who I wouldn’t mind seeing trussed up and receive a boot in the britches.

Adding to the reality that this will never happen is the sad fact that I don’t have a Cousin Eddie to go all Morten Anderson on a tormentor’s backside.

A former staple of a dad’s gift list was a cool necktie. Bah humbug! For years, I railed that a tie is the single most useless piece of clothing ever invented. I warned others having a margarita to not get too close to the blender. It could be a macabre scene

right out of a Tim Dorsey novel. Sadly, Dorsey, another in a diminishing list of Florida novelists, died recently.

Forego a necktie and give a Dorsey novel to someone who is a bit off beat and likes to laugh. The late Papa Kenny Cagle was a devoted fan, and two of his most prized possessions were the two autographed Dorsey novels I presented him. Sometimes, it’s those little things that mean the most.

My Christmas list is diminutive and, from my perch, fairly reasonable.

I’d like to have continued good health reports after every “poke me/ prod me” encounter. I’ve got some fantastic doctors, and I’ll do my best to have them continue with our team winning streak.

I’m asking The Big Guy, the One who controls the weather, to deliver some sunny days and mild temperatures on days I have Black Beauty (that’s my Harley Road Glide 3 trike) rides planned for myself and a posse.

I’d just as soon not pack the rain gear.

I want to relax, kick work in the keester and enjoy friends and family.

I don’t want any “hustle.” I’m not sure what “bustle” is, except it appears to

go with the unwanted “hustle.”

I’d like a good long snow that paints a gorgeous painting outside, a good warm fire inside and a good long nap or two.

I’d like to hang on to all my good memories and vanquish the bad ones.

At 68, it’s a part of life that obituaries are a part of life. I always think: “Just leave me out this.”

The emails you send are a gift beyond compare, even the one from the reader who thinks I should be fired and banished to live in Philadelphia.

Finally, I’m asking you to be aware.

There will be opportunities to make someone smile and make you be a hero. I’m asking you to pay it forward when you can. I can’t stand the thought of a child’s sadness, especially, this time of the year. Seize any opportunity you can to give a gift and to be a gift.

Just no neckties.

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

24 | December 21, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

PRESERVING THE PAST

OPINION

Living History: Crabapple Baptist Cemetery There are 27 cemeteries in the City of Milton based on initial research performed by famous Atlanta historian Franklyn M. Garrett in 1935 and Phillip B. Anglin in 2000.

Subsequently, James Farris, a member of the Milton Historical Society Board of Directors, worked with historical society volunteers and BOB MEYERS City of Milton government IT personColumnist nel, to build upon the early work.

The group visited all the cemeteries to confirm their conditions and locations using GPS coordinates available at the time, not all of which were accurate. An accurate map was painstakingly produced and posted on the city website in 2021.

Eight months were required for the project because precise locations were not always known and because some of the burial grounds were overgrown and challenging to locate and access. According to Farris, most are family cemeteries on private property, and many have only a few markers or headstones. The smallest family cemetery has about five headstones. One of the largest, the Providence Baptist Church Cemetery, dating back to 1834, has more than 860 memorials according to the authoritative website findagrave.com.

One of the more interesting cemeteries is the Crabapple Cemetery, or Crabapple Baptist Cemetery, partly because it is hidden in plain view across the street from the Milton Library. The church dates back to 1892 when 21 individuals organized the Crabapple Baptist Church.

Some of the area’s most prominent citizens were among the church’s charter members, names such as Broadwell, Rucker, Dorris, Bates and Coleman. In February 1893 E.E. (Euel) Broadwell (1830-1917) donated ½ acre of land to “church members and their successors to build a church house on land lot 1135.” Euel’s brother J.W. (James) Broadwell (1828-1908) owned the land where the cemetery is located. In April 1904 he gave ½ acre of land lot 1134 to the church and community of the county of Milton for use as a “grave yard.”

Prior to deeding the land he gave parcels for burials to several local families.

John B. Broadwell (1855-1953), Euel’s son and very successful cotton farmer, made and donated the bricks for the first church meeting house. Over the years, the church grew at its location in Crabapple’s five-way intersection until in 1992 when parishioners began construction of a new church a short distance up Birmingham Highway on ten acres of land the church had purchased earlier from Fulton County. The City of Alpharetta bought the old church building and the land it occupied in 1996 for $1.1 million and converted it into the Crabapple Government Center. In 2022, the church merged with the Grace Church in Alpharetta and changed its name to the Milton Community Church. The Crabapple Cemetery is owned and maintained by the church.

Bryson Coleman probably knows more about the cemetery than anyone in the area. His wife, children and their spouses are buried there in parcels given to his family by his grandfather Simeon Broadwell (1871-1949). Bryson often goes by B.Y. in keeping with common practice back in the day when men were often known by their initials. B.Y. is so committed to the cemetery that he installed a bronze plaque memorial on the grounds giving details of the property’s history.

B.Y.’s grandfather Simeon lived in a house next to

BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

View of the Crabapple Baptist Cemetery in downtown Crabapple. The cemetery dates back to the early 1900s. the original church where a dentist’s office is today. He had a smokehouse, barn, henhouse, and garage on his property. His land extended from Crabapple Road to the rear of today’s Kensington Farms subdivision where he maintained a large apple orchard. The land was referred to as Mountain Hill.

Simeon’s brother John B Broadwell owned the land where downtown Crabapple is today up to the Milton Community Church.

B.Y., who is 97 years young, served in the U.S. Navy during World War ll. After the war, he was a member of the Alpharetta amateur baseball team and began working for Southern Bell where he remained for 40 ½ years in a variety of jobs. Born in Crabapple, B.Y. moved to Atlanta as a teen but came to Crabapple every weekend to stay at his cousin Pryor Albertson’s house near the historic Cantrell and Nallie Reese House. “Pryor’s mother, Velma Albertson, and my mother were sisters.

Velma was a Broadwell before she married,” he explains.

“The house had a tin room and didn’t have insulation, electricity or running water.”

The Crabapple Cemetery has 154 memorials according to findagrave.com. There are 35 Broadwell graves in the cemetery. It preserves much of Crabapple’s earliest pioneer history.

Special thanks to Sheila Rucker Pennebaker for introducing me to B.Y. Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth. net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

MILTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY/2021

Pat Miller, president of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society, James Farris board member of the Milton Historical Society and Jeff Dufresne, President of the Milton Historical Society at the Adams Family Cemetery standing beside the only Revolutionary War soldier’s grave in Milton.

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | December 21, 2023 | 25

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26 | December 21, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

GARDEN BUZZ

OPINION

’Tis the season for mistletoe & holly and other holiday plants Oh, by gosh, by golly It’s time for mistletoe and holly. ..

About the author This week’s guest Master Gardener “Garden Buzz” columnist is Roswell resident Pam Rentz. Pam has been a North Fulton Master Gardener since 2010. Along with a background in marketing communications for tech companies, she has a longtime passion for plants and our planet.

There are songs we associate with Christmas, and there are also the PAM RENTZ plants.

Guest Columnist “It’s time for mistletoe and holly . . .” or “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus, underneath the mistletoe last night...” or “Have a holly jolly Christmas, It’s the best time of the year, I don’t know if there’ll be snow, but have a cup of cheer...” are a few that come to mind.

Those of us who’ve lived in Atlanta for a while are probably not dreaming of a White Christmas (because the chances of having one here are minimal), yet we still enjoy the image along with plants linked with the holidays.

So, as you sit back with your cup of cheer, here are a few good-to-know tips for your holiday plants.

Hollies Hollies have a long tradition of being part of winter festivities that dates back thousands of years to the Druids, who believed the holly’s evergreen nature made it sacred.

The clippings make great holiday arrangements and wreaths, and the holly trees themselves are an excellent landscaping choice.

Hollies are typically lowmaintenance trees and shrubs that perform year-round in the landscape, not only during the holidays. They tolerate well-draining, slightly acidic soil and full sun to partial shade.

They’re (mostly) deer resistant. Holly plants are also primarily either male or female, which means the female plants produce the berries and depend upon the male plants for pollination.

American holly (Ilex opaca) is a native broadleaf evergreen tree that produces bright red berries throughout the winter that are eaten by cedar waxwings, cardinals, and other birds. Remember, these berries are considered toxic to humans and pets.

Mistletoe One of the most famous holiday traditions may be kissing under the mistletoe. You’ll come across mistletoe hanging in doorways at many gatherings. Harry Potter even shared a kiss underneath a sprig.

The Celtic druids supposedly considered the mistletoe plant sacred and hung it above doorways for luck

Learn more

UGA EXTENSION/PROVIDED

Top left: American holly/Ilex opaca Top right: Although mistletoe is generally associated with winter holidays, this parasitic plant grows year-round and can kill trees.

Bottom: A variety of poinsettias. and to ward off evil spirits. In reality, mistletoe is an evergreen that grows high on tree branches and not in a good way. Mistletoe is a semi-parasite.

Its roots penetrate the tree’s wood and suck water and nutrients from the host tree. Heavy mistletoe growths can harm or even eventually kill a tree.

Oak mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) is Georgia’s most common mistletoe species, although it can grow on other tree species. The berries are toxic to humans.

Poinsettia I don’t know of any good poinsettia songs, but it is an iconic plant we associate with the holidays. When November comes around, grocery stores and big box stores are flooded with these beautiful subtropical plants.

Poinsettias can last for months if you provide bright, indirect light and don’t allow the plant to dry out. However, overwatering can damage the plant.

Check plants daily and when the soil is nearly dry to the touch, water enough

• Care of Holiday and Gift Plants, https:// extension.uga.edu/publications/detail. html?number=C951&title=care-of-holidayand-gift-plants • Holiday Plant Care, https:// site.extension.uga.edu/fanningilmer/2021/12/holiday-plant-care, https://site.extension.uga.edu/lincoln/ holiday-plant-care/ • Poinsettias can thrive for years if properly cared for, https://newswire. caes.uga.edu/story/5669/poinsettiacare.html • Confusion about the Christmas CactusThey aren’t from the desert, https://site. extension.uga.edu/cherokee/2015/12/ confusion-about-the-christmas-cactus-theyarent-from-the-desert/ • Keep your holiday gift plants beautiful all year, https://site.extension.uga.edu/ colquitthomeowners/2021/12/keep-yourholiday-gift-plants-beautiful-all-year-2/ • Holiday Plant Highlight: Paperwhites, https://site.extension.uga.edu/ mgevp/2021/12/holiday-plant-highlightpaperwhites/ • Managing Mistletoe in Trees, https://site.extension.uga.edu/ madison/2021/01/managing-mistletoein-trees/ • Growing Indoor Plants with Success, https://extension.uga.edu/publications/ detail.html?number=B1318&title=growingindoor-plants-with-success

that water drains from the bottom of the pot.

Happy Holidays and Happy Gardening!

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

THE INK PENN

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | December 21, 2023 | 27

Don’t underestimate a senior sleuth My latest mystery reads are set in England and have amateur sleuths as their main characters.

If you’re a Miss Marple fan, you’re sure to enjoy these modernday senior sleuths.

KATHY MANOS PENN And in the case of Columnist the second book, if you were a fan of Queen Elizabeth, you’ll be intrigued by the glimpses into the family life of the royals.

“The Last Devil to Die” by Richard Osman The fourth installment in The Thursday Murder Club series is spectacular. As always, the murder mystery is cleverly plotted. What makes this series for me, though, is the cast of characters—the retirees living at Coopers Chase Retirement Village. Ron, Ibrahim, Joyce, and Elizabeth enjoy the amenities at the posh village near the coast of England, but more than that, they love solving murders.

This group of 70- and 80-year-olds meets every Thursday afternoon in the game room at the village, just like other retirees. But this quartet doesn’t play games. They work on murder cases. Way back in book one, it was unsolved cold

cases. More recently, they’ve been drawn into an up-to-the-minute case or two.

This time, the victim is an old friend of Elizabeth’s husband, Stephen. As the series has progressed, so has Stephen’s dementia. Elizabeth has always been the leader of the crime solving retirees, but as Stephen’s health deteriorates, her priorities shift. She’s on the case, but to a lesser extent, and this forces the others to step up. The result is a poignant portrayal of love, loyalty, and sacrifice wrapped around a murder mystery.

“Murder Most Royal” by SJ Bennett Queen Elizabeth II is the sleuth in this mystery, the third in the “Her Majesty the Queen Investigates” series. “The Windsor Knot,” the first in the series, is set in the spring of 2016 at Windsor Castle, and this one transports the reader to Sandringham Hall for Christmas the same year.

I credit this series and Kate Quinn’s “The Rose Code” for piquing my curiosity about Prince Phillip. While he’s not the main character in either, I enjoyed the glimpses of his personality in both. Yes, Queen Elizabeth is the star, but her staff and the prince are also key players in the mystery.

It’s the affection and humor in the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip that will surely warm

your heart as it does mine. Does it tell you anything to learn that I ordered a biography of Prince Phillip after reading “The Windsor Knot”? Have I read it yet? No. But perhaps one day.

In “Murder Most Royal,” I felt like a fly on the wall as I read about the holiday traditions of the royal family. What a treat to learn that Kate Middleton is known for her humorous gifts, and that she once gave Harry a “grow your own girlfriend” kit. This was pre-Megan Markle—of course.

All three books kept me guessing, but more than that, they made me realize how very human the royal family is. As one review says, “Pitch-perfect … If “The Crown” were crossed with Miss Marple … the result would probably be something like this charming whodunnit.” I’m eagerly awaiting Queen Elizabeth’s next sleuthing adventure.

I highly recommend you spend a winter evening or several visiting with the senior sleuths in these series. Their intelligence and wit are a treat.

Office Space for Lease Close to Downtown Alpharetta Small private office space (unfurnished) available in Appen Media Office close to Downtown Alpharetta (319 North Main Street, Alpharetta). All utilities included, Internet included (within reason), 24/7 access. Space is upstairs in area of Appen Newsroom. Private, quiet, and open. Approximately 200 sq. ft. (14’ x 14’). $/600 per month, first/ last/security deposit required as well as solid reliable references.

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

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DEATH NOTICES Ernest Bond, 76, of Marietta, passed away on December 7, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

James Gaus, 60, of Roswell, passed away on December 5, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

William Loomis, 44, of Roswell, passed away on December 6, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Imogene Coberly, 98, of Roswell, passed away on December 5, 2023.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Dylan Jarrett, 35, of Woodstock, passed away on December 9, 2023.

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Roger Nord, 82, of Alpharetta, passed away on December 6, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Alison Perry, 35, or Woodstock, passed away on December 11, 2023.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

28 | December 21, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

Grant: Continued from Page 4 Lin said the group has considered creating a mesh that traps the gas, but the “conundrum” they face is that the mecha-

nism wouldn’t work in household conditions.

“Before we actually create a product, it’s all theory,” Lin said.

He noted several factors to consider in the inventing process, like the sustainability of the device and its accessibility and cost to homeowners. Eventually, the group

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC HEARING: TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024 AT 7:00 P.M. CITY OF JOHNS CREEK MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEARING: MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 AT 7:00 P.M.

Symphony:

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 11360 LAKEFIELD DRIVE, JOHNS CREEK, GEORGIA 30097

Continued from Page 6

The following Land Use Petition is scheduled for public hearings: LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:

CONCURRENT VARIANCES:

will conduct patent research.

Lee, the group’s sponsor, said the target problem is still “uncharted territory” because it’s more of a recent problem, with gas stoves becoming the go-to installation post-2000.

For the past five years, Lee said students from Chattahoochee High School have been interested in applying what they learn through the Lemelson-MIT program.

Last year, she said students tried to resolve sewer problems in Johns Creek.

RZ-23-0003, VC-23-0004 and VC-23-0005 Vantage Commercial Contractors 6650 McGinnis Ferry Road C-1 (Community Business District) Conditional C-1 (Community Business District) Conditional Change in conditions to allow for a 69,192 square-foot commercial development including a daycare, restaurants, liquor store, retail and medical offices.

1) VC-23-0004: Request to encroach into the 75-foot stream buffer for a stream restoration project including construction of a 10-foot wide trail, public amenity areas and pedestrian access to the trail.

2) VC-23-0005: Request to vary from exterior building materials required in the Town Center Code.

Maestro and Music Director J. Wayne Boughman passed away in November before finishing his final season with the organization. The symphony orchestra has worked hard to celebrate his legacy and brought on seasoned conductor John Morrison to take over for the holiday performances.

“Maestro Boughman really created a very beautiful concert for kids. We are happy that he did that and we’re just trying to honor his concept,” Brill said.

The interactive concert also provided sensory-friendly options for those with special needs including a “chill out zone” for those feeling overstimulated and a dance zone for those with difficulty sitting still. It also featured images in the program representing each song for those communicating non-verbally.

Children excitedly danced and

But, Lee said this is the second time that students from Chattahoochee High School made it to the final round of applications.

“What’s missing from education these days … are they really given the chance to apply what they learn and … connect everything they learn, and really use it with a real-life connection?” Lee said.

In June, the group will fly out to MIT and present the project during LemelsonMIT’s EurekaFest. sang along to the familiar tunes before enjoying Assaf’s reading of ‘”Twas the Night Before Christmas,” an army of dancing toy soldiers joining in on the performance of “March of the Toys” from “Babes in Toyland,” and a special appearance by Santa Claus himself to provide everyone with a dose of holiday cheer. Children were offered an opportunity to have photos with Santa after the concert.

“We wanted to have a concert that everybody could come to and that you could bring your young child, parent or grandparent, or anyone with special needs,” Brill said. “Anything that we can do to make the holidays brighter for people is really important for us…We want to be a resource for everybody in our community, not just the people who love Beethoven. We want to play music that engages all types of people.”

For more information about the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra and their upcoming season, visit JohnsCreekSymphony.org.

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK TRANSPORTATION SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX (TSPLOST II) 2023 YEAR END REPORT On November 2, 2021 voters in Fulton County approved the continuation of TSPLOST or TSPLOST II, a 5-year Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Transportation Purposes (TSPLOST II). This referendum was made possible through SB 369, which was adopted during the 2016 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly. SB 369 requires that no later than December 31st of each year the City provide a nontechnical report of the expenditures of the projects. The list below represents all the Tier 1 projects for the City and the expenditures from the start of the program on April 1, 2022 until December 6, 2023.

Tier 1 Projects

Original

Current

Amount

Amount

Estimated

Estimated

Expended in

Expended in

Cost

Cost

Prior Years

Current Year

Bridges

TS0210

$6,500,000

$6,500,000

$-

2,124

Landscape/Streetscape

TS0230

$3,500,000

$3,500,000

$-

12,875

Operations and Safety

TS0240

$16,286,282

$16,286,282

$31,596

857,136

Pedestrian/Bike Improvements

TS0250

$16,500,000

$16,500,000

$100,862

599,871

Project Management

TS0201

$3,275,074

$3,275,074

$41,667

543,644

Traffic Congestion Relief

TS0220

$14,200,000

$14,200,000

$-

882,502

TSPLOST II Inflation

TS0203

$5,240,118

$5,240,118

$-

-

$65,501,474

$65,501,474

$174,124

2,898,152

Totals

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | December 21, 2023 | 29

Elections: Continued from Page 1 Election Day voting locations based on geography, Johns Creek plans to use the model for both the advance voting period and on Election Day. Bennett suggested the city use at least five city-owned facilities — City Hall, Park Place and three fire stations which, he said, would place 94 percent of the city’s population within a six minute drive to the nearest ballot box.

But, city staff are set to research the historical voting patterns in Johns Creek to help determine the final count of polling places, their locations as well as the number of poll workers at each site.

City Clerk Allison Tarpley said the state requires six poll clerks at each location, whereas Fulton County staffed the city with a dozen. Tarpley said six is probably too few and 12 is too many, and she suggested a count somewhere in the middle.

“I have heard this consistently with our Gwinnett sister cities, with … Milton … everyone who said poll workers will make

or break your voting experience for your voters,” Tarpley said.

With more than 82,000 residents, Johns Creek would also be the largest city to run its own election in Georgia, Councilwoman Erin Elwood said. About 60 percent of the city’s population is registered to vote.

Sandy Springs, with a population of 108,000, will also have municipal elections in 2025, but the city has not announced any plans to run its own polling.

Johns Creek staff estimated a first-year cost of $570,713 – or $10.60 per registered voter — to operate its own polling plan.

That’s about $108,000 more than Fulton County charged the city to supervise the 2023 municipal election. Still, the city’s cost to run its own election is expected to decrease by $200,000 in future years, with one-time costs out of the way.

At the advice of former Secretary of State General Counsel Ryan Germany, Bennett presented more action times, such as appointing an elections superintendent and deciding on election equipment, to be completed by mid-2024.

In addition to a full-time elections superintendent with $150,000 in salary and benefits, Bennett recommended hiring at

least one more employee to deliver a good voter experience. He said the additional headcount would take on hybrid positions, working elections, and in the off years, assisting with city clerk responsibilities.

To save on benefits costs, City Councilman Larry DiBiase suggested extra election positions be contracted. But, other councilmembers disagreed, saying a permanent addition would bring more stability to the city’s elections.

“The two primary use cases of pursuing this [were] cost savings … and accountability and stability,” Councilman Chris Coughlin said. “We go for too much cost saving going with a contractor, we’re going to lack some of that accountability, stability — what we criticize Fulton County [for] at times.”

Mayor John Bradberry tossed out the option of outsourcing the 2025 municipal election to a private company, following remarks made by Elwood who referenced Craig Kidd’s conversation with Milton city staff on Appen Media’s Georgia Politics podcast.

“The downside is how much does this crowd out the other things that we’re focused on strategically for the city?” Brad-

berry asked. “I'm interested in us running our own election, but perhaps not inside City Hall.”

Appen Media estimated that the City of Milton spent close to $200,000 in city staff time on its first self-run municipal election this year and reported the city had to defer a number of projects as a result.

No decisions were made on who would oversee Johns Creek’s municipal election in 2025. Bennett and Tarpley were tasked to flesh out the role along with other details, like election equipment, and present their findings at the City Council retreat in January.

While city staff included Dominion ballot scanners in its initial cost estimate, Elwood requested other vendor options due to the company’s lackluster reputation among proponents for self-conducted elections.

“There might be some things beyond just cost that might impact your decision about our ability to get service…” Bennett said.

Because Dominion is the only optical scanner vendor in Georgia, Tarpley said an out-of-state company may not contract with a city as large as Johns Creek.

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK TRANSPORTATION SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX (TSPLOST) 2023 YEAR END REPORT On November 8, 2016 voters in Fulton County approved a 5-year Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Transportation Purposes (TSPLOST). This referendum was made possible through SB 369, which was adopted during the 2016 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly. SB 369 requires that no later than December 31st of each year the City provide a nontechnical report of the expenditures of the projects. The list below represents all the Tier 1 projects for the City and the expenditures from the start of the program on April 1, 2017 until December 6, 2023.

Tier 1 Projects

Original

Current

Amount

Amount

Estimated

Estimated

Expended in

Expended in

Cost

Cost

Prior Years

Current Year

Medlock Bridge Rd Capacity Project (Chattahoochee Riv to McGinnis) TS0101

$9,500,000

$10,000,000

$865,664

1,235,275

State Bridge Rd Widening (Medlock Br to Chattahoochee River) *

TS0102

$3,800,000

$4,617,195

$1,778,746

2,838,449

Medlock Bridge Rd at State Bridge Rd

TS0103

$7,600,000

$8,000,000

$2,391,683

-

Jones Bridge Rd Widening (McGinnis Ferry to Sargent)

TS0104

$6,650,000

$6,500,000

$94,894

2,135,601

Jones Bridge Rd Widening (Ph1: Waters to Buice, Ph2: Buice to St Bridge)

TS0105

$10,450,000

$26,428,309

$2,551,899

5,063,342

McGinnis Ferry Rd Widening

TS0106

$5,225,000

$8,500,000

$1,921,928

1,437,710

Haynes Bridge Rd Widening (Old Alabama Rd to Mansell Rd)

TS0107

$4,750,000

$5,121,501

$675,848

2,509,660

Bell Rd/ Boles Rd (Corridor Op & Safety Improvements)

TS0108

$6,650,000

$8,952,842

$7,601,951

386,566

Barnwell Rd at Holcomb Bridge Rd (Intersection Imp)

TS0109

$2,375,000

$1,348,051

$1,488,755

1,332,984

New location road in Tech Park

TS0110

$2,375,000

$2,500,000

$35,836

-

Project Management

TS0111

$3,125,000

$3,125,000

$2,795,115

368,012

$62,500,000

$85,092,898

$22,202,319

17,307,600

Totals

* Amount reflected include additional outside funding from GTIB. Current cost estimates reflect TSPLOST funding performing better than originally forecasted.

30 | December 21, 2023 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

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