Johns Creek Herald - December 29, 2022

New city leaders move Johns Creek forward

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek City Council made a big splash with several expensive decisions on development projects and other initiatives to improve the community.

In December, councilmembers advanced the Town Center project after approving zoning plans for Medley, a 42-acre multi-use development. Medley is the brainchild of Mark Toro, the developer behind Alpharetta’s Avalon.

The Town Center zoning ordinance was adopted in August, allowing the City Council to grant Medley the new TC-X zoning classification (Town Center Mixed Use District) with more than 20 conditions.

The city’s future 192-acre Town Center will also include Creekside Park, anchored by the pond behind City Hall. In March, the City Council finalized a conceptual master plan for the park, totaling 21 acres and discussed a number of features during work sessions.

A new mayor

On Jan. 11, John Bradberry was sworn in as the city’s second mayor. Bradberry defeated former City Councilman Brian Weaver to replace charter Mayor Mike Bodker who held the office for 15 years.

Also taking the oath of office for the first time were councilmembers Dilip

Tunki, Bob Erramilli, and Larry DiBiase.

Transportation sales tax

In April, the City Council reached consensus on 17 projects to be funded through the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. TSPLOST is a .75 percent sales tax with revenues divided among cities to pay for transportation improvements, such as road widenings, sidewalks and intersection improvements. The tax applies to all the county’s cities outside of Atlanta, which has its own transportation sales tax.

Johns Creek’s share of $43.4 million will go to projects including bridge, road and pedestrian improvements along some of the city’s major roads as well as some landscaping for the proposed Town Center.

Councilmembers later authorized engineering efforts for 14 of those projects. One entailed major upgrades to the intersection of Haynes Bridge Road and Old Alabama Road, which had a $4.5 million construction contract. The contract included other work, like sidewalk connection along Haynes Bridge Road.

New parks take shape

The city acquired the first 131 acres in 2016 for what will be the city’s largest park. Construction began last December on Cauley Creek Park, which will include a court and field area and

5K-loop surrounding the park on just over 200 acres.

On track for a summer 2023 completion, Cauley Creek Park has seen a significant amount of construction activity this year in addition to City Council discussion on potential uses.

In April, the City Council contracted a consultant to gather community feedback, which will be incorporated into an updated Recreation & Parks Master Plan. The report included preferred uses of Cauley Creek Park space.

The City Council also laid the groundwork for what will be a handson learning site in Cauley Creek Parks’s old water reclamation plant, setting aside $150,000 for conceptual plans and consulting efforts. The makerspace will entail a space for robotics, later considered a primary focus.

Councilmembers also discussed potential uses of a 10-acre property along the Chattahoochee River, acquired after the conceptual master plan for Cauley Creek Park was adopted in 2018. The property includes five buildings, which would all require renovation before reuse. Among potential uses are special event space and dining.

Bolstering arts and culture

In May, the City Council formed the Arts, Culture & Entertainment (ACE) Committee, which combined the city’s Arts & Culture Board and Public Art Board. One of its first big projects was coordinating the Diwali festival in October, the first city and communityorganized Diwali event in Georgia.

Held at Shakerag Park, the festival drew thousands who saw several cultural performances, local vendors selling Indian accessories and a wide range of Indian food.

To further the arts, the City Council began the process of acquiring land for the Legacy Center in December. The concept for the Legacy Center, an arts park, had already been on the radar for several years with Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra Conductor Wayne Baughman’s task force.

But Mayor Bradberry added weight to the Legacy Center project when he appointed members to the Legacy Center Working Group. From April to July the group was tasked with determining the size, scope and scale of the center and ended its final report with a recommendation to the City Council to acquire land for the facility.

Roswell, Johns Creek adopt 21st century policing plan

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Roswell and Johns Creek police officials say they’re taking special steps to get to know the people they protect and serve.

Roswell Chief James Conroy and Johns Creek Chief Mark Mitchell say it’s a core value of their guiding principles, called 21st century policing.

Introduced by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2015, 21st century policing consists of six pillars focused on reducing crime and building trust with the public.

The pillars include: building trust and legitimacy; policy and oversight; technology and social media; community policing and crime reduction; training and education; and officer wellness.

Chief Mitchell said he understands the pillars sound like buzzwords, but he wants people to understand how they’re carried through into the police department’s everyday operations. Boiled down, the goal of 21st century policing combines the six pillars into two pieces: reducing crime and building trust with the public.

The work comes internally and externally.

Both cities have focused on taking care of their officers physically and mentally in hopes of retaining employees. The police chiefs say they hope that by creating a positive culture with accountability, the benefits will trickle down into the communities they serve.

On the public side, the police departments each have several initiatives, like citizen’s police academies, coffee with a cop and meetings dedicated to each part of the community.

For the police chiefs, everything must come out of a department-wide commitment to 21st century policing on every level.

A new way to work

In Roswell, Conroy has been on board since the initiatives began. While he was working at the DeKalb County Police Department, his boss started working on a committee to develop a national initiative — 21st century policing. When he joined Roswell in 2019, he brought the initiative with him.

Each of the departments is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Only about 4 percent of police departments nationwide are accredited. It’s a point of pride for the police chiefs.

Mitchell has focused on this goal since he joined the Johns Creek Police Department in 2021, after the city held a nationwide search for a new police chief.

He brought his commitment to 21st century policing to Johns Creek. Mitchell read the initial 2015 report while he was the police chief in Canton, Ga., and was immediately interested.

“Man, we’re doing some of it, let’s do all of it,” Mitchell said. “Then we realized this stuff works.”

He said he wants to emphasize that 21st century policing isn’t anything to brag about.

“This is how you have to police,” Mitchell said.

That’s the baseline he carried through when he joined Johns Creek. One of his first steps was to change the department’s mission statement to fall in line with the six pillars of policing, with a focus on “partnering with the community to solve problems.”

For Roswell, Chief Conroy focuses on how the police department can fit into the city’s needs.

“We have a small-town feel, but big city problems,” Conroy said.

Conroy said Roswell needs high

service, with house checks and small-town interactions. The department must balance those needs with their “big city” crime problems, he said.

A “trickle down” approach

When Chief Conroy joined the Roswell Police Department, there were 29 officer vacancies. After the protests following George Floyd’s death in 2020, even more officers left.

Conroy had the department participate in the Black Lives Matter protests that summer and doubled down on methods for officer retention and care. He wanted to keep them accountable while encouraging them to stay in the department long term.

The first action was a 20 percent pay increase for police across the board, putting Roswell at the top in the area for police pay. The department also increased training requirements and started offering advanced specialized trainings.

Mental health was a key focus for officer wellness. Roswell hired a behavioral health specialist to be on call.

Johns Creek established a peer support team, as well as counseling for officers and family members of officers at no cost. Chief Mitchell created a “quiet room” in the department and pushed for improved uniforms and exercise opportunities.

“It’s a holistic approach to physical and

mental wellness,” Mitchell said.

Both chiefs said they hope the mental wellness focus will help break down stigmas for officers, especially when dealing with traumatic events. Conroy said officers have always had PTSD, but the prevailing culture to “suck it up” was unhealthy for police and the public.

“If you develop a good running culture, it really helps impact retention and recruitment,” Mitchell said.

The chiefs hope that by breaking down that stigma, the officer health can trickle down into a better relationship with the public.

Mitchell said he wants to attack the “us vs. them” mentality between the police and the pubic, emphasizing that “it’s we” instead.

To do this, Mitchell incorporated opportunities for the public to speak with officers. He’s specifically proud of “coffee with a cop,” the first 21st century policing initiative he launched. He said he’s seen people learn, conflicts get resolved and even helped people with non-police-related issues.

“It’s a chance to talk about it, to ask questions and let them know the ‘why’ of policing,” Mitchell said.

Roswell also employs “coffee with a cop,” and Conroy said the education component of the event is crucial for residents.

FILE PHOTO

Johns Creek Chief Mark Mitchell says he has followed the tenets of 21st century policing since it was introduced in 2015.

Nonprofit director marvels at heightened charity during holidays

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga.—In November, North Fulton Community Charities welcomed Sandra Holiday as the nonprofit’s new executive director, where she dove into the nonprofit’s several seasonal events.

Holiday came from Atlanta Children’s Shelter, where she worked as executive director for 13 years. She’s spent over 25 years in the field of advocacy.

Holiday said she enjoyed the work she did at the urban core of Atlanta but wanted to help people before they struggled with homelessness.

“I wanted to get into prevention, poverty prevention, hunger prevention,” Holiday said.

NFCC serves more than 8,500 individuals each year with emergency financial assistance, food assistance, life skills & workforce readiness classes and holiday programs.

Holiday joined NFCC at the onset of multiple seasonal programs, including Giving Tuesday, a worldwide event that encourages people to donate time and money to charities the day after Thanksgiving.

She also joined weeks before the

Sandra Holiday stands outside of the North Fulton Community Charities offices on Dec. 19 in the middle of the big season drive to deliver hope to the needy. Holiday joined the organization as executive director in November.

start of NFCC’s Toyland Shop, where people donate new, unwrapped toys for families to “shop” for gifts.

Holiday said she was shocked by the turnout for this year’s Toyland, especial-

ly given high price tags that are impacting most Americans.

“Whether you’re a single person, a parent, a five-person family, a recent college graduate, everybody is feeling that current climate,” Holiday said. “Food prices go up for everybody. The cost of goods goes up for everybody.

In September, The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that food costs had spiked 11.4 percent in the past year, and people nationwide face rising inflation.

“I can tell you I was quite surprised by the level of giving from the community,” Holiday said.

In her few weeks on the job, Holiday said she’s learned that despite rising costs, people are still able to step up for families in need.

NFCC has multiple programs that are “high barrier,” in which people must show proof of financial hardship to participate, like financial assistance classes or long-term programs.

They serve the most people, though, through the food pantry and thrift store across the street from their office. The food pantry is what Holiday calls “low barrier,” where all someone must do is prove they live in the area.

“People are going through hardship, you don’t have to give them more barri-

ers,” Holiday said.

People in need simply visit the food pantry, where they type their grocery lists on a kiosk. The list is sent to the stock room, where volunteers fill a shopping cart with their requests.

On average, the pantry serves 200 people a day.

The stock room is packed with donations from major grocery stores like Publix and Whole Foods and is staffed by many long-term volunteers. Holiday said the volunteers trained her in how to work the pantry.

The thrift store is connected to the food pantry, and it’s open to the public.

Marten Jallad, NFCC thrift store director, said the charitability from the programs and pantry carry over to the store. The store receives more than 100 donations a day, enough to keep the shelves filled.

“A donation could be a bag of items, or it could be a U-Haul,” Jallad said.

Some donations come from stores. There are bins of new Walmart blankets next to stacks of unworn Target clothing mixed in with personal donations.

“It’s amazing throughout the year how much stuff we get,” Jallad said.

DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA

Fulton County officials begin 2022 LOST negotiations with a recommendation that would have given 35 percent of revenues to the county and 65 percent to the 15 cities. City leaders immediately opposed the proposal saying the county’s pitch was unacceptable.

SEPT 23

SEPT 21

Mayors of eight Fulton County cities meet with residents at a public information session at Roswell City Hall. During the meeting, city leaders rallied the 100 residents to contact their county commissioners.

SEPT 28

County and city leaders meet at the Georgia Municipal Association in Atlanta for a scheduled negotiation session. Proceedings were held separately after county leaders refused to hold a public discussion over LOST.

Fulton County, cities squabble over local sales tax distribution

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — It wasn’t easy or quick, but Fulton County officials and city representatives finally came to a compromise over distribution of the countywide local option sales tax, which is expected to generate $3 billion over the next 10 years

And like every good compromise, by the time county and city negotiators had signed their agreement at a ceremony on Dec. 15, no one was particularly happy with the outcome.

The LOST one-penny sales tax is used by local governments to fund services like public safety, parks and recreation and libraries, and by county governments to fund state-mandated services like county courts, jails, health departments and elections.

foot by suggesting the return of a pre-2000 distribution in which Fulton County would receive 35 percent of the tax revenues, leaving the cities to split the remaining 65 percent. The proposal represented a 700 percent increase in the county’s share, which had been set at 4.95 percent over the past 10 years.

The county’s opening stance sparked outrage among city leaders who claimed such a split would cause immediate and lasting damage to the cities.

“That’s millions of dollars that we’ll either have to cut services, which I don’t see us doing, or increase property taxes,” Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said at the time. “I mean, that would be a third of the revenue that’s generated by the sales tax. And the sales tax is critical, especially in a city like Alpharetta.”

Mayors of 11 Fulton County cities gather for a second town hall meeting with south Fulton County residents at the Georgia International Conference Center in College Park. City representatives spent nearly two hours answering questions from residents at the meeting.

OCT 7

City and County representatives meet for another negotiation session at the Georgia Municipal Association in Atlanta. Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts said at the meeting that the county wouldn’t budge on getting a larger share of LOST revenues.

OCT 17

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens hosts a press conference with 11 other mayors, committing to a municipal coalition to oppose Fulton County’s demands and urging county leaders to negotiate in good faith.

Every 10 years, city and county officials are required to negotiate how the sales tax revenues for the following decade will be split between the county and it’s 15 cities.

County negotiators started the process on what many cities considered the wrong

After months of negotiation meetings, Atlanta and Sandy Springs signed an agreement in November granting Fulton County about 10 percent of total revenues generated over the 10-year life of LOST, and the deal was finalized at a ceremony held at Atlanta’s Central Library Dec. 15.

NOV 2-DEC 15

City councils in each of Fulton County’s 15 cities vote to approve the LOST agreement, settling for a staggered decrease in distribution percentages over the 10-year life of LOST, so that the county share can increase from 4.9 to 9.9 percent.

NOV 2

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens sign an agreement granting Fulton County about 10 percent of total revenues generated over the 10-year life of LOST. Fulton County commissioners approved the deal at a Nov. 2 meeting, with Commission Chair Robb Pitts and Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman abstaining and Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington, Jr. absent from the vote.

DEC 15

Fulton County and municipal leaders finalize the $3 billion LOST agreement during a ceremony held at Atlanta’s Central Library.

Police:

“Learn what your department is doing,” Conroy said. “Find out their policies and procedures and find out if they’re following them.”

Roswell and Johns Creek both offer community policing academies, where residents can learn the details of policing. They also have community ambassadors, who will answer questions from other residents about the police.

Mitchell said when he first started doing community outreach in Johns Creek, he could feel the hesitation.

When he visited a school with primarily Hispanic students, they hid under their desks when he came in. He spent weeks visiting the school and trying to improve that relationship, and eventually the kids grew more comfortable with the cops.

Conroy and his officers go out to diverse communities with popsicles, also hoping to make kids more comfortable with police in uniform.

“We want kids to run towards us, not away from us,” Conroy said.

Looking to the new year

While both departments have been recognized nationally and on a state level, the work is far from over.

“Are we where we need to be? No. Do we need to keep working? Yes,” Mitchell said.

In the new year, both departments plan to continue community outreach. Roswell received multiple microgrants to expand its community policing initiatives and will hold a citizen’s police academy in early 2023.

The department also has a big change in store: Roswell residents approved a $52 million public safety bond in November, and $23 million will go to a new public safety headquarters.

The department has been in the same building on Hill Street since 1991, when they only had 88 officers. That number has almost doubled in the past 30 years to 160 officers.

“We’ve tremendously outgrown the facility,” Conroy said. “This is bringing it all under one roof.”

In Johns Creek, Mitchell is focused on consistent accountability. The city sent out its annual citizen survey, asking residents five questions about their feelings about the Police Department. From there, Mitchell chooses where the department can improve. The city will also host a citizen’s police academy in February, as well as various classes and “coffee with a cop.”

Mitchell reassured that the work to maintain 21st century policing doesn’t stop anytime soon.

“It’s not just a flavor of the month, it’s genuine,” Mitchell said.

Charity:

Continued from Page 5

“We’re able to present quality items at such an affordable price for people.”

Jallad said Holiday arrived just in time to see the seasonal operation in full swing, and he thinks she appreciates the drive and energy.

“She’s come in with an attitude of let me learn and let me see, while she has plenty of ideas, she’ll be able to share and implement,” Jallad said.

Holiday said her time at NFCC so far has been a whirlwind, but a good one. She’s watched the holiday events and sat in on English as a Second Language classes, and even attended a class graduation ceremony.

While she’s still learning and observing, Holiday has started working out her goals for the future of the charity. Economic stability and events are key, but Holiday wants to spotlight mental health and dismantling stigmas in the coming year.

“I think, for as many people that have the courage to come to our food pantry and our thrift shop and come here and ask for emergency assistance with rent or mortgage, there’s probably three more people that don’t,” Holiday said. “And that’s really critical.”

Holiday hopes to destigmatize the

SANDRA HOLIDAY

need for help in North Fulton, especially as rent and food costs continue to rise.

“You don’t know when you’ll be in need,” Holiday said. “It’s important that as a community we remain aware and open-minded.”

Holiday said North Fulton has an “out of sight, out of mind” perception that creates a stigma. It’s the responsibility of her organization to educate the community that people in need are their neighbors, not strangers.

As executive director, Holiday said she sees herself as a link between the community and North Fulton Community Charities.

“I really see myself as this conduit of maybe a better understanding of a more open mindset, just a conduit, where all these great things can flow in between,” Holiday said.

You don’t know when you’ll be in need”

Executive director, North Fulton Community Charities

Pontoon pours Sandy Springs relaxed craft brews

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Craft beer can often be seen as pretentious, snooty and unapproachable.

And it’s no wonder why – how is a normal person supposed to know the differences between an IPA, Double IPA and a Hazy IPA, or what the term “barrel aged” could possibly mean in the context of taste and flavor?

But according to Pontoon Brewing CoFounder and CEO Sean O’Keefe, enjoying well-made craft beer should be as a day spent floating on the lake. And with the right help, anyone can find a beer that’s right for them.

At Pontoon Brewing, whether you’re a complete beer novice or a certified brewmaster, O’Keefe said you’ll be able to kick back and enjoy a good beer, in a relaxed environment.

“Craft beer is oftentimes thought of in this pretentious way … So, we wanted to have this laid-back approach, because it allows us to be more approachable,” O’Keefe said.

Pontoon Brewing opened in Sandy Springs in 2017 after years of homebrewing by the business’s four founders, O’Keefe, Marcus Powers, Eric Lemus and Eddie Sarrine, who met at the University of Florida and became friends over a shared love of craft beer.

But O’Keefe said their dream really took off around 2013, when they thought it might be fun to put their recipes to the test by venturing into the world of contract brewing, where a commercial brewery makes batches of beer using the recipes of small brewers.

When their contract brewing venture

turned into a success in 2015, O’Keefe and Powers knew it was time to buckle down and bring their beer to the world. O’Keefe said they took a huge risk, and he personally turned down several job opportunities to focus on the brewery and the dream of making it real.

“When Marcus and I moved to Georgia and decided to take on full time, then we started brewing like every weekend, for

about two years,” he said. “It was a big risk.”

But as risky as it was, Pontoon’s founders came to the Atlanta area at the exact right time when the local beer scene, especially the world of homebrewing, was making big waves, as Georgia prepared to change it’s brewery laws.

O’Keefe said that when they first came to Atlanta, Georgia still had restrictive

laws that didn’t allow breweries to sell beer directly to customers, which he said stifled innovation in the craft beer market.

He said that without the ability to sell beer directly to people, breweries had less of an incentive to try new things and take risks on strange-sounding recipes.

The proof for that, he said, was seen

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Located off Dunwoody Place in Sandy Springs, Pontoon Brewing has been entertaining the north Fulton County community with laid-back craft brews since 2017.

Brews:

in the months leading up to when Georgia’s brewery laws were changed, when homebrewers and professional breweries went into overdrive and started tinkering with many of the beers that are popular today.

“What you saw was people homebrewing and making a lot of beers that exist now, the big crazy overly hot New England IPAs and the big, overly fruited sours and the barrel aged beer thing,” he said. “You started seeing breweries put out higher class beer, barrel aged beers, you know, bigger IPAs with more hops in it.”

“You’re starting to see that now in the market, because people can put a price tag on it and people will pay.”

Pontoon finally found its permanent home in Sandy Springs in 2018 after a ton of hard work by O’Keefe and his team. And while it wasn’t exactly where they initially expected to be located, he said that locating the brewery in Sandy Springs turned into one of the best decisions they made.

“The plan for Pontoon was never to be where we are right now,” he said. “So, it’s been cool to prove our projections wrong and to have this awesome program that was supported by the City of Sandy Springs.”

As the first brewery in Sandy Springs,

O’Keefe and his team had to help the city rewrite its laws to make sure that they reflected state laws regarding breweries, and after that process, they found they had made a true partner out of city leaders.

“It’s been a symbiotic relationship since then,” he said.

Being the city’s first brewery, Pontoon Brewing was also able to lay groundwork for what “Sandy Springs beer” is, cultivating a personality and following that O’Keefe and his team hope will inspire others. Just like they were inspired by Mon-

day Night Brewing in Atlanta and Creature Comforts Brewing in Athens.

Recently, Pontoon Brewing opened a new location, The Lodge in Tucker, that O’Keefe said was the product of years of blood, sweat and hard work. Right now, customers can visit the location’s new taproom, and in the coming years, the brewery will move all of its production to the larger Tucker location.

But no matter where they’re located, or how busy they get, O’Keefe said Pontoon Brewing will always hold onto its love of

trying new things and the idea there’s a beer out there for everyone.

“My favorite thing is when people come in, like family members or friends and are like, ‘So happy for you, I’m just not a big beer person,’” he said. “Every single time, I’m like, alright bet. Let’s find you a beer that you like.”

To find a Pontoon Brewing beer you might like, visit their Sandy Springs Taproom at 8601 Dunwoody Place or their new location at 4720 Stone Drive in Tucker.

Frank

Tara Tucker

PHOTOS BY ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

As the first brewery in Sandy Springs, the team at Pontoon Brewing had to work closely with city leaders to ensure local brewery rules reflected updated state laws. After going through that process, Pontoon Brewing formed a true partnership with their city, founders said.

January book events include writing classes, football recollections

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com

For anyone making a resolution to finally write their story – ideally with assistance – help is near in the new year. One of Atlanta’s preeminent authorities on the craft of writing will be teaching an eight-week course on exactly that in Roswell beginning Jan. 10.

George Weinstein, executive director of the Atlanta Writers Club and author of six novels, will be leading “Telling Your Story: Start It, Finish It & Share It.” Offered by Seniors Enriched Living, a nonprofit interfaith organization, classes will be held at the Roswell United Methodist Church for anyone 50 and older.

Weinstein also has resources to assist writers of all ages. Since 2009, he has directed the AWC’s biannual Atlanta Writers Conference. Each event offers a host of acquisitions editors and literary

agents to help members better understand the business of writing. Details about the 28th Atlanta Writers Conference May 5-6, which Weinstein will direct, are at atlantawritersconference.com.

For readers simply in search of local inperson author events, several will be offered in January, including an evening featuring Buck Belue, star quarterback of the 1980 National Championship Georgia Bulldogs football team. Belue, a sports radio host in Atlanta, will be discussing his book, “Inside the Hedges: The Quarterback’s Journey to the National Championship,” in Alpharetta

More information

Buck Belue, former UGA star quarterback, will discuss his book about the Bulldogs’ 1980 National Championship run in Alpharetta Jan. 17.

George Weinstein, executive director of the Atlanta Writers Club, will lead an eight-week writing course beginning Jan. 10 in Roswell.

Literary Events Around North Atlanta Tuesday, Jan. 10: Terri Parlato. The North Atlanta Author Series continues with Parlato discussing her debut suspense novel, “All the Dark Places.” Roger Johns, winner of the 2018 Georgia Author of the Year in the detective-mystery category, will moderate the event, and Bookmiser will have books for sale. Starts at 6 p.m. Discussion, signing. Free. Milton Branch Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton, 30009. 404-613-4402. bookmiser.net

Tuesdays, Jan. 10-March 7: George Weinstein. Weinstein, executive director of the Atlanta Writers Club and author of six novels, will lead “Telling Your Story: Start It, Finish It & Share It,” an eight-week interactive class for anyone 50 and older. The program is offered by Seniors Enriched Living, a nonprofit interfaith organization. 1 p.m.-2 p.m. weekly. $70. Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell. 770-993-6218. sites.google.com/ selroswellga.org/seniors-enriched-living/ classes/winter?authuser=0

Tuesday, Jan. 17: Buck Belue. A Novel Idea hosts an evening featuring Belue,

quarterback of the University of Georgia’s 1980 National Championship football team. He will be discussing his book, “Inside the Hedges,” which is a look back at that season through the quarterback’s eyes. 6 p.m. Conversation, signing. Free. Alpharetta Branch Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, 404-613-6735. anovelidea.us.

Saturday, Jan. 21: The Talking Book Podcast Atlanta. To celebrate the podcast’s first anniversary, several local authors will be interviewed. Refreshments, giveaways, signings. Free. 11 a.m. Johns Creek Books and Gifts, 6000 Medlock Bridge Parkway, Suite B500, Johns Creek, 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

Saturday, Jan. 21, Anju Gattani. Gattani will be discussing “Dynasties,” the debut in her “Winds of Fire” series. Conversation, signing. Free. Noon. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton, 770-797-5566. poeandcompanybookstore.com

To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@gmail.com by the 15th.

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Metro Atlanta players earn All-Region 6-AAAAA honors

ATLANTA — Football players from Milton, Denmark, West Forsyth, South Forsyth, Forsyth Central and Lambert high schools were firstteam and second-team selections, and honorable mentions, on the AllRegion 6-AAAAA Football Team voted on by the region’s coaches. Some players were individually distinguished. Quarterback James Tyre from Lambert High School was recognized as Region Player of the Year. Quarterback Ty Watkins from South Forsyth High School was Offensive Player of the Year. Defensive line Owen Phillips from Milton High School (MHS) was recognized as Defensive Player of the Year. Rob Billings, also from

MHS, was recognized as Athlete of the Year,serving as defensive back, running back and wide receiver.

Region coaches also voted Marc Beach from Lambert High School as Coach of the Year.

MILTON HIGH SCHOOL

Defensive Player of the Year: defensive line Owen Phillips. Athlete of the Year: Rob Billings as defensive back, running back and wide receiver.

First-team offense: quarterback Luke Nickel, running back Scott Moskowitz, wide receivers Debron Gatling and Marc Essley, and offensive lineman Evan Zapata.

First-team defense: defensive lineman Wyatt Smalley, linebackers Will Parton

and Caleb Moran, and defensive back Bryce Thornton.

Second-team offense: wide receiver Wyatt Nave, tight end Ryan Ghea, fullback Hayden Tumminia and offensive lineman Brody Benotti.

Second-team defense: defensive linemen Drew Cohen and Terence Spencer, linebacker Jack Lawson and defensive backs Dylan Lewis and Brayden Holmes.

Second-team special teams: kicker Felipe Mota, punter Chase Traubel and long snapper Ben Lowery.

Honorable mention: linebackers Jacorey Stewart and Cole Werthman, wide receiver Garrett Spooner and offensive linemen Riley Rushing, Tim Schindler and Garrett Heinecke.

DENMARK HIGH SCHOOL

First-team offense: offensive lineman Sham Umarov.

First-team defense: defensive lineman William Hodges, linebacker Dee Crayton and defensive back Che Ojarikre.

Second-team offense: quarterback Jacob Nelson, running back Amon Williams, wide receivers Lake Thoman and Kohl Yearwood, tight end Brandon Hester and offensive lineman Kobe Jones.

Second-team defense: defensive linemen Evan Floyd and Charley Cronier, linebacker Austin DeCarlo, defensive back EJ Adams.

Second-team special teams: kicker Hamilton DiBoyan and long snapper Joe Hibbard.

Honorable mention: wide receiver Aidan Brozena, defensive lineman Jacob Smith, defensive back Sean Patterson and linebacker Ryan McDaniel.

WEST FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL

First-team offense: running back Peyton Streko.

First-team defense: defensive lineman Brady Gillis, linebacker Raleigh Herbert, defensive back Grey Brockman.

First-team special teams: return Aiden Cook.

Second-team offense: offensive lineman Peyton Wall and athlete Ryder Stewart.

Second-team defense: linebacker Riley McKee and defensive back William Orris.

Honorable mention: punter Luke Anderson, offensive lineman Jace Kile, defensive back Brody Sanderson, quarterback Jack Tomlinson, wide receiver Brian Tawuo, defensive linemen Ryder Smith and Carson Taylor.

SOUTH FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL Offensive Player of the Year:

quarterback Ty Watkins.

First-team offense: tight end Cade Jacchia, fullback Baylor Duncan, offensive linemen Kristian Dawson and Nathan Efobi.

First-team defense: defensive lineman CJ Kemper, defensive back James Margiotta.

First-team special teams: punter Tyler Simpson and line snapper Ben Blanton.

Second-team offense: right back Maverick Schippmann, wide receiver Chris Nelson and offensive lineman Josh Felton.

Second-team defense: defensive lineman Chris Brown, linebacker Conner Futch, defensive back Cole Yeager.

Honorable mention: defensive back Kai Fernandes, defensive lineman Brady Fogarty, offensive lineman Cooper Lowe, linebackers Hayden Mock and Cole Williams, wide receiver Dash Moore and defensive lineman Christian Wehman.

FORSYTH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

First-team offense: wide receiver Camden Yeager and offensive lineman Luke Sacchetti.

First-team defense: defensive lineman Aiden White.

First-team special teams: line snapper Koby Balthazor.

Second-team offense: offensive lineman Braden Carter.

Second-team defense: defensive lineman Andrew Carrizo, linebacker Aiden Meehan and defensive back Aiden Manalastas.

Honorable mention: linebackers Brandon Carver and Kole McGlumphy, running backs Justin Taylor and Jayce Todaro, and defensive back Ramon Smith.

LAMBERT HIGH SCHOOL

Coach of the Year: Marc Beach.

First-team offense: wide receiver Brandon Jones, tight end Luke Logan, offensive lineman Jackson DeLoach and athlete Cam Bland.

First-team defense: defensive lineman Finn Braeuer, linebacker Joseph Tripp and defensive back Bradley Gabriel.

First-team special teams: kicker Ryan Degyansky.

Second-team offense: offensive linemen Daniel Uwakwe and Luke Stephens.

Second-team defense: linebacker Branson Brooks.

Second-team special teams: return Christian Smith.

Honorable mention: running backs Tommy Lafayette and Ethan Terry, offensive linemen Riley Mitchamore and Tyler Van Treek, defensive linemen Steven Aguilar and Jack Racki, and linebacker Carson Knowles.

Thank You!

Our local news is free to read but not to produce. Johns Creek Herald relies on advertisers to keep the lights on, pay our reporters and publish your news. That’s why we want to say thank you to all the advertisers, large and small, who have stuck by us through thick and thin. Consider giving them your business, just as they have done with us.

Buy local, eat local, read local.

Buoyed by savings, Milton to run its own municipal elections

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — The City of Milton is set to conduct its own 2023 municipal elections, and it likely will save a bundle doing it.

The City Council voted unanimously Dec. 19 to administer the election for the council’s three Post 2 positions up for grabs next year. The election will be conducted “absent any impediments,” Milton City Manager Steve Krokoff said.

A six-member committee, which studied the feasibility of Milton running its own municipal elections, made its recommendation to the City Council Dec. 5 on grounds of big cost savings.

The committee reported that In the first year, the city is looking at an expense of $72,254 to run its 2023 municipal general election. In subsequent years, with one-time costs out of the way, it is estimated the city will pay $56,589.

Up till now, Fulton County conducted the city’s municipal elections.

If the city were to renew its agreement with Fulton County for 2023, the Milton Municipal Election Feasibility Committee projected the cost to range from more than $186,000 to almost

$190,000, excluding the cost of a potential runoff election.

It turns out that estimate was based on a previous discussion with Fulton County, which reported the cost per voter was expected to rise from $2.96 to more than $6.

But at the Dec. 12 Fulton County Registration and Elections Board meeting, Elections Preparation Manager Nadine Williams said the cost per voter will be $11.48 per voter in 2023.

With the revised cost, Milton would be expected to pay more than $350,000 for Fulton County to run its 2023 municipal election.

“We use the machinery that we are required to use,” Board Chair Cathy Woolard said at the Dec. 12 meeting. “Increased costs are not costs that we have chosen to bear, but they are costs that are put on county voters as a result of the State Legislature and the decisions that they make.”

While the packed Council Chamber was mostly filled with supporters, who clapped after every public comment that called out Fulton County’s alleged mismanagement, two residents felt differently.

Milton resident Robert Fricton said he voted in 77 elections in Fulton County and never had a problem with Fulton County. He said he was never worried about election security before, but Milton-run elections raise that concern.

“It’s not about the money,” Fricton said. “This is something about trying to get an election that someone besides the citizens of Milton have controlled.”

Fricton called out the two residents on the elections committee, Mark Amick and Lisa Cauley, for lacking trustworthiness. He also suggested an alleged partisanship among the City Council.

“I know you’re all Republicans,” he said. “I don’t know if you’re deniers or not.”

Milton City Councilman Rick Mohrig, who was one of two councilmembers on the elections committee, later addressed Fricton’s concern over election security.

“This isn’t something that Milton can just come up with,” Mohrig said. “We have to follow what the state mandates.”

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AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Speaking at the Dec. 19 City Council meeting, resident Robert Fricton raises concerns over security in Milton-run municipal elections. Friction said he voted in 77 elections in Fulton County and never had a problem.

Tree-bound cat inspires expedited invention

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

CUMMING, Ga. — Little Guy, an orange Tabby cat, was stuck in a tree for seven days before being rescued.

On July 1, a “biblical thunderstorm” was underway with rain, lighting and wind that caused the branches to violently sway. It took Normer Adams, the 70-something-year-old operator of Cat Man Do Rescue, around five hours to retrieve Little Guy from the end of what looked like a vein-width’s limb 50-60 feet high with a pole.

The tree stands to the right of Michelle Lacobelle’s front porch, one house down, atop a ridge that overlooks her subdivision.

“I did tell God — I said, ‘If you take him, take me,” Lacobelle recalled, who at one point was hoisted up 30 feet herself.

Lacobelle said she lost 10 pounds in that week from stress.

“I would see little eyes and hear him meow every night,” she said.

But the taxing event sparked an idea for Lacobelle, a senior principal systems engineer in the defense and aerospace industry, leading her to produce a now-patented, cat rescue tunnel and apparatus, which she calls “Little Guy Cat Rescue.”

With the help of Mike Holihan, a longtime friend, former co-worker and serial inventor, Lacobelle received patent approval for the device Nov. 24. Both names are on the application, but Lacobelle is the first-named inventor.

Installation

Lacobelle and Holihan provided a demo of the invention Dec. 9. Similar to a cat tunnel that can be found at any pet store, Lacobelle’s creation is a long, plastic mesh tube about 10 inches in diameter with a coiled wire inside. The tunnel is flexible, lightweight and collapsible.

The cat tunnel itself can’t be patented, Lacobelle said, because someone let the tunnel claim go abandoned. Patent ideas can go somewhere like a boneyard composed of “prior art,” Holihan said.

“You still have to fight that even though it’s been let go and no one claims it anymore,” Holihan said.

Every foot or so, Holihan cut a hole in the tunnel to allow for a zip tie, intended to be hammered to a tree using a staple — the patented method of installation to be fine-tuned in the manufacturing process. Zip ties aren’t necessary, Lacobelle said, but they allow a space for the staple to be used and secured to the tree.

Patent holders can have a “continuation pattern,” Holihan said, which allows a patent to be continuously modified. If a new application is filed within a year from the first, additions can

be made, he said.

“There’s other things that we’ve talked about that can be done with electronics,” Holihan said. “There are different things.”

One iteration of the tunnel, the “S-shaped configuration,” was already installed, nearly vertical but with kinks, running up one side of a tree by a horse pasture in a neighbor’s backyard. For demonstration, Lacobelle and Holihan created the second and last design, a “spiral configuration.”

Using a ladder, Holihan slowly wrapped and nailed the tunnel around the tree with Lacobelle assisting.

No guarantees

Holihan went up about 20 feet to attach the tunnel. But Lacobelle said if a cat were up higher, any tree climber could install the tunnel, walk away and let the cat come down. Lacobelle’s patent submission notes that multiple tunnels can be adjoined to fashion any length.

“A tree climber is not really a cat rescuer, and they’ll charge you like $500 to rescue a cat with no guarantees,” Lacobelle said.

Before Adams showed up in July, Lacobelle tried calling the Forsyth County Fire Department. But the department said they couldn’t do anything — it was too risky. Forsyth County Division Chief Jason Shivers said the fire department gets these kinds of calls about once a month.

Half of the time, there’s not much they can do, Shivers said, so they usually suggest a local tree climber.

Lacobelle called the tree climber, but he couldn’t get Little Guy down after several attempts.

Using her immense cat knowledge, Lacobelle then began to think of the many ways to deliver Little Guy from his predicament, like constructing a hammock from netting and a 35-foot catwalk. But none of her efforts worked.

“The cat just wasn’t coming down,” Lacobelle said. “It was like a suicide mission.”

Afterward, a neighbor helped Lacobelle find Adams, who had appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” The day after Adams succeeded in his mission, Lacobelle began the process of what would become Little Guy Cat Rescue, writing the application alongside Holihan.

Patent approval

At the Dec. 9 demonstration, Lacobelle offered cinnamon coffee and a Danish. She flipped through the official patent approval, submitted Aug. 2 — only three weeks after Little Guy was rescued.

“It’s just a matter of time before they publish it fully on the website,” Lacobelle said.

Some of Lacobelle’s cats were lounging about in her bedroom upstairs and

were hard for her to catch. But Little Guy had a calmer demeanor. Given the moniker “Bruce Lee” for his agility, Little Guy missed the birth of his litter while suspended. Most of his kittens, who Little Guy frequently cuddles, still reside with Lacobelle and have “Little” as their first name.

Lacobelle showed off a dedicated room for her cat, which had litter boxes, tunnels and a pink doll house.

“Of all the things I brought from California. I brought this,” said Lacobelle, who moved from Los Angeles a year and a half ago. “My daughter said, ‘You don’t need a playhouse.’ I said, ‘I do when I have kittens again.’”

Opposite the upstairs common space, Lacobelle’s vision board included plans

for her invention as well as an easy, rich retirement.

“I want a million dollars,” Lacobelle said. “I want callbacks, interest, licensing, Petco…”

Lacobelle has been having conversations with Petco to market the product.

Now that her patent is approved, Lacobelle is a member of The Breakfast Club — a group of Holihan’s inventor colleagues from California, including Dave Crouch. Crouch, who has 50 patents and a PhD in physics, moved out east and met up with Lacobelle and Holihan for breakfast in northern Georgia.

“... One of the many blessings from rescuing Little Guy, who I love so much,” Lacobelle said.

There are two ways to configure the tunnel along a tree, an “S-shape configuration” and a “spiral configuration. On left, the S-shape configuration is installed on one side of the tree. The spiral configuration, on right, is installed by wrapping the tunnel around the tree.

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/ APPEN MEDIA

Michelle Lacobelle holds Little Guy, her cat that inspired a new cat rescuing invention Dec. 9. Lacobelle created a method for installing a mesh cat tunnel to a tree, allowing tree-bound cats to crawl down. The tunnel is flexible, lightweight and collapsible.

Senators pitch more help for disabled Georgians

By JILL NOLIN Georgia Recorder

ATLANTA — A bipartisan Senate panel has proposed funding services for an additional 2,400 people with disabilities next year, putting the state on track to eliminate Georgia’s waitlist in three years.

And those state senators are also pushing for a wage increase for the workforce providing direct care for people with disabilities so they can live in their homes and communities.

The Senate study committee has proposed funding the jump in new waiver slots and the wage increase in the new state budget that would take effect next summer. The shortage of direct-support professionals has hamstrung recent efforts to serve more of the 7,000 people waiting for Medicaid services.

Increasing funding to provide services for 2,400 more people would cost about $66 million, according to one estimate. That would be a significant increase, and it would follow a year where lawmakers covered an additional 513 people.

“It’s critically needed,” said D’Arcy Robb, executive director of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities who also served on the study committee.

“As a state, we have under invested in

this population for a long time. I think we’ve heard very clearly in the testimonies: people are breaking. And these are Georgians, these are folks with disabilities who can live lives and thrive and contribute. These are families.”

The committee drew a crowd at the series of meetings held across the state this year, with the attendees in Tifton spilling into an overflow room. More than 100 people also submitted written testimony.

In the longer term, the study committee has proposed creating a commission like the one established in 2019 to overhaul the state’s behavioral health system and that was the driving force behind last session’s parity bill.

Sen. Sally Harrell, an Atlanta Democrat who pushed for the examination of the waitlist, and her Republican co-chair Sen. John Albers share the vision of creating a reform-minded commission this coming legislative session that will take a comprehensive look at Georgia’s system for caring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and identify solutions. The new session starts next month.

“This is the beginning. This is the kickoff of a process of solving these issues, which are deep and complex,” Harrell said.

Kevin Tanner, who started and led

the behavioral health reform commission, became the commissioner of the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities on Friday.

‘A crisis in the care economy’

The state agency responsible for Georgia’s safety net system for people with disabilities is in the middle of reviewing the pay of direct-support professionals.

But the lawmakers behind the Dec. 14 committee report said they are frustrated by preliminary findings that would justify raising the hourly rate in Georgia to about $15, up from about $10.

“I personally was disappointed in the amount they came up with which was like $15.18 an hour,” Harrell said. “We certainly heard testimony that there were organizations that had done enough fundraising and had gone up to that and it didn’t make a difference.”

The rate study is being conducted at a time of steep inflation, which is compounding a long-standing workforce problem nationally. Even before inflation strained the pocketbooks of direct-support professionals, provider groups in Georgia were warning the workforce shortage had already reached crisis levels.

“I’m disappointed too,” Albers said. “But you know what, there’s too much other good things happening – this is advancing the ball – to walk away disappointed over one out of all the other issues.”

Albers committed to revisiting the wage issue later if inflation does not ease and if the proposed rate increase does not help address the shortage.

The cost to the state to fund what the rate study ultimately recommends was not available Wednesday because the study is still ongoing. The state is seeking public comment on the study’s initial findings through Jan. 13.

Dom Kelly, president and CEO of a new advocacy group called New Disabled South that is focused on a 14-state region, said he had not seen the study’s results but struggled to see how a $15 hourly rate would help grow and preserve this important workforce.

“Overall, $15 an hour is not a livable

wage for really anybody, especially today with inflation and even without inflation,” Kelly said Wednesday. “Fifteen dollars an hour is not a livable wage, and especially in a vital role like that where this is actually people’s lives that we’re dealing with.”

Kelly said there is an urgent need to shore up this workforce.

“There is a crisis in the care economy right now, and there aren’t enough people willing to do the work,” he said.

Robb with the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities said her organization’s position is for lawmakers to raise the rate to $15 an hour at a minimum in the near term. It would still be a jump from the current rate, she said.

She said she’s encouraged by talk of forming a commission.

“I think what’s come out is that this problem is deeper and wider than was really realized before,” Robb said. “So, I think the commission is going to be really key going forward to keep these issues in the limelight and address this on an ongoing basis because ‘waivers and wages,’ to my mind, that’s the start.”

Managed care model

The panel also wants to task the new commission, if created this session, with exploring the prospect of delivering services for people with disabilities through managed care, which has prompted concerns.

If deemed a viable option, the panel recommends limiting the approach to a small number of people and only those who are newly enrolled in NOW and COMP waiver services.

Albers said after the meeting that he’s aware of the concerns that moving to the managed care model for these services might diminish the quality of care.

“The reality is we don’t know,” he said. “The fear of the unknown is a healthy fear. But we also should do our homework, we should study it and see if it could work, and if it could, how would we pilot that to make sure.”

This story comes to Appen Media through a reporting partnership with Georgia Recorder, a nonprofit newsroom that covers statewide issues.

JILL NOLIN/GEORGIA RECORDER

Sen. Sally Harrell and Sen. John Albers, center, react Dec. 14 after their committee passed recommendations for improving access to services for those with disabilities. Harrell, a Democrat, and Albers, a Republican, co-chaired the panel.

City, community rack up accomplishments in 2022

As the current City Council completes its first year, I am happy to report that it has been a year filled with much progress and achievement.

In example after example, we cast a vision, built consensus around that vision, and worked towards implementation of that vision.

At the City Council retreat in January 2022, we identified five strategic initiatives to advance over the year. All of these initiatives are driven by one underlying goal – to make Johns Creek the best community to live, work, and raise a family. Here are some of the major highlights of each initiative:

Town Center

This year, Council furthered key building blocks necessary to make our Town Center a reality. To create a community gathering area, Council finalized a conceptual plan for Creekside Park behind City Hall. That plan is making its way through design, engineering and environmental permitting with the transition to rightof-way acquisition in 2023. On Dec. 12, Council approved zoning for Medley, a $350 million premier development that will anchor the Town Center with unique residential, retail, restaurants and entertainment offerings.

TSPLOST II

TSPLOST is the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. In 2022, Council reached consensus to move the first 17 projects forward to be funded through TSPLOST II. These projects prioritize pedestrian sidewalks and trails and other mobility enhancements. This straightforward direction and clarity is in stark contrast to the process and projects of the first TSPLOST.

Economic Development

Council now pursues economic development with an aggressive and

deliberate strategy. We directed staff to focus on recruiting life science, healthcare, innovation and wellnessfocused companies consistent with our health-centric Johns Creek Vitality initiative. This effort has already yielded big dividends. In June, Boston Scientific announced a $62.5 million investment to build a state-of-the-art research and logistics facility in Tech Park. This will be a heavyweight in the Town Center’s Innovation Hub. We expect to see further investment in this area as a result of this significant win for Johns Creek.

Cauley Creek Park

At 203 acres, Cauley Creek Park will double the city-owned parkland. After groundbreaking in December 2021, the future Cauley Creek Park has been a whirlwind of construction activity. The construction remains on schedule for a summer 2023 opening. Cauley Creek will be an extraordinary asset for our community.

Legacy Center

The Legacy Center is a communitydriven initiative for a performing arts facility. To further this initiative, I created a working group of residents with business analytical experience. Council Member Stacy Skinner served as liaison between the group and Council. The working group examined the project’s potential size, scope and scale and made recommendations to Council. At the Dec. 12 work session, the Council asked staff to find suitable land for a possible Legacy Center. Meanwhile, the Legacy Center Task Force is launching a professionally managed capital campaign to raise the private funds necessary for construction.

As fun as it is to pause and reflect on this past year’s accomplishments, I’m more excited about our future. I’m confident that our Council will continue to serve with distinction and build on our success. I fully expect 2023 to be another year full of challenges and opportunities to further advance our community. I wish you and yours and all of Johns Creek a very happy and prosperous New Year!

JOHN BRADBERRY

Johns Creek Mayor

Nancy Hanks, Airline Belle, and Man o’ War trains

segregated in the South and this continued until 1965, according to the Smithsonian Institute Magazine.

BIGGERSTAFF

In the last Past Tense, I told how Charlie Blackburn rode the Airline Belle from Atlanta to Chamblee, then boarded the Roswell Railroad to visit his grandparents in Dunwoody. There are many reasons people traveled by train to or from Atlanta. Some came to visit family, to get to work or school, attend an event such as a football game, or shop in downtown Atlanta, especially in the days before Christmas.

The train known as Nancy Hanks first began the trip from Savannah to Atlanta in 1893. The trip took about six and a half hours. Georgia Central Railway picked the name Nancy Hanks because of the world record racehorse by that name, rather than Abraham Lincoln’s mother.

Atlanta historian Franklin Garrett describes this first version of the Nancy Hanks as “elaborate and luxurious.” The train was painted royal blue and trimmed in gold leaf with images of the racehorse logo in the frosted glass panels above each window.

The Nancy Hanks only lasted a few months because it caused many accidents. It was too fast for the time, colliding with livestock and unfortunately also with people. It was shut down before the end of 1893.

Georgia Central Railway brought the name Nancy Hanks back in 1947. A July 10, 1947, article in the Bulloch Times announced, “Nancy Hanks II: Modern Stream-Liner is Latest Word in Comfort.” A round trip from Savannah to Atlanta began with departure from Savannah at 8 a.m., arrival in Atlanta at 1:40 p.m., departure from Atlanta at 6 p.m. and arrival back in Savannah at midnight.

In September of 1957, football fans could ride the Nancy Hanks to Atlanta for two games. Georgia Tech played Kentucky at 2 p.m. and Georgia played Texas at 8 p.m. Following the second game, a bus would return fans to Terminal Station to leave for Savannah around 11:15 p.m.

Riding the Nancy Hanks II from Savannah or Macon to shop in Atlanta is remembered by many. Stops along the way included Wadley, Tennile, and Griffin. In 1963, the train was owned by Southern Railway and in 1971 it shut down for good with the beginning of Amtrak.

Just as with other forms of transportation, trains were racially

Southern Railway Car Number 1200, a segregated car used on the Southern Railway in Georgia is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Cars such as Number 1200 had smaller bathrooms, no luggage racks, and no amenities. Blacks sometimes rode in baggage cars and were denied access to dining cars.

Other trains that brought people from small towns to Atlanta include the Air-Line Belle and the Man o’ War. The Air-Line Belle from Toccoa to Atlanta ran from 1879 until 1931. Stops along the way included Duluth, Suwanee, Sugar Hill, Buford, Alto, Lula, Oakwood and Mount Airy.

Clifford M. Kuhn wrote about riding the Air-Line Belle in “Living Atlanta: An Oral History of the City, 1914-1948.”

“We’d get the Airline Belle out of Toccoa, which was about three coaches, and a little steam engine. We’d come down Mitchell Street and turn there to go to Rich’s, Bass’s and Kress ten-cent store.”

Also named for a racehorse, the Man o’ War ran from Columbus to Atlanta beginning in 1947 and continued until the spring of 1970. Bonnie Smith Nichols and Larry Jordon remember riding the Man o’ War from Atlanta to Columbus on a Dunwoody School field trip in 1957. They visited Fort Benning while in Columbus.

Other stops for this route included Cataula, Pine Mountain, and Hamilton.

Atlanta’s Terminal Station, owned by Southern Railway, was shut down in 1970 and demolished in 1972. Union Station in Atlanta was also demolished in 1972.

Marc Hayes of Brookhaven remembers seeing the Nancy Hanks on many occasions when he worked in downtown Atlanta in the 1960s. He worked close to both Terminal Station and the smaller Union Station. “At least a couple of times a week, on my lunch hour, I’d walk over to either or both stations to explore the cavernous Terminal Station and the smaller Union Station.”

Over the sound system, incoming trains were announced. Passengers leaving Atlanta were notified when it was time to board their train and then the words “All Aboard” were called out.

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

VALERIE

PROVIDED

II,

An array of topics: What do you think?

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

So, this column is sort of like a mini “house-cleaning.” There have been a number of things that have occurred recently that are either solid potential “column topics: or at least semi columnworthy.”

One item has to do with one of my recent columns about social media. Another has to do with a longer article that our reporter Amber wrote about drag theater, and another consists of a few things that happened, or I observed when we were in New York to see a Broadway show this past week (“Music Man”).

Don’t know where I live

Every week we deliver just over 100,000 local newspapers (Heralds and Criers) to homes. These are free, nonsubscription-based, so every week we usually receive a few requests to stop delivery – for whatever reason. However, it is not that unusual that when we ask the caller their address and the name of the subdivision in which they live, so we can stop delivery, they give us the address but cannot give us the name of their subdivision because they don’t know it.

They don’t know the name of the subdivision in which they live?

I am not sure what the opposite of “woke” is but is it possibly “comatose” or “oblivious to anything but their own field of vision, sensibilities, and values.” “Myopic,” but with a more negative twist, comes to mind. Yes, they might have just moved in last week, but my guess is that is only the case in a few instances.

Not all social media is bad

A reader took the time to correct me about a recent column in which I focused on all the negative/toxic aspects of social media without acknowledging the positive ones. My bad. He was right to call me on that. While I did consider it when I wrote the column, I think in my mind I was thinking that the positives are obvious – just as are the negative aspects. Again, I should have addressed that aspect.

NYC/Broadway/honking

We walked a lot on Broadway as well as took Ubers and Lyfts. One thing was constant – thousands of cars and trucks and honking – honking, honking, and more honking. So, at some point one sort of just stops hearing those honks; but, at another point I had an epiphany about them. Those honks in NYC were not personal; they are not road-rage like they very often are in Georgia. It felt like –opinion here – like those NYC honks were saying “move on,” “quit holding everyone up”, “wake up.” That’s in contrast to the toxic, often threatening, name-calling

personal outrage that is honking in Georgia and specifically in North Fulton. The volume of honks in NYC surely would have resulted in – how many? –people pulling out their guns and … in Georgia?

Tik Tok and Elon

Another reader pointed out to me that in my column about social media, I should have been defending First Amendment rights of free speech instead of trashing social media. I get his point of view. But I also believe that free speech is not absolute; that you cannot shout “fire” in a crowded theater. I also pointed out to him in my reply that, in my opinion, that an un-regulated, unencumbered Internet – which is the main conduit of “free speech” is incompatible with all forms of government. I have not heard back from him yet, but I am sure he will not agree.

Of note, I noted that Congress just passed a bill banning TikTok from being loaded onto any computer belonging to the U.S. federal government; free speech vs what?

The story about theater and drag actors

So, we have received a lot of “feedback” about a recent story about a drag show in Forsyth County.

One reader who had previously emailed me to complement us on how much progress we had made in our Forsyth coverage expressed his

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK

TRANSPORTATION SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX (TSPLOST II) 2022 YEAR END REPORT

disappointment in our story choice – “you digressed.”

A good friend – who I respect and like – reached out to me about how sad he was that we reported/promoted anything to do with the topic

So here is a poignant local example of choices that must be made and the impact of those choices for a newspaper or media of any sort – and for the audience served. None of the choices are easy. Where does one draw the line? Ban TikTok? Ban reporters because they write true stories about you (Elon Musk)? Ban politicians because they shout “fire” in a crowded theater? Who gets to define “fire?”

Is all we (the media) have to do is make sure that what we write is objectively the truth - (yes)? But, what about story selection? If we write about crime, does that mean we are promoting crime? Do all people have a fundamental right to live their lives as they choose so long as they do not harm others – and more. Are some lifestyles more important than others? Is someone “woke” if they think people should be treated the same? Are people “comatose” if they attack others as being woke because they are different than they are? And on and on.

Respect, honesty, the truth, and common sense are some of the markers that should lead a media – and individuals – to the best middle ground I think.

Peace on Earth, good will to everyone.

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, 2022.

The realizations that come with age

The big news from me in 2022 is that I’m getting old.

doesn’t begin with a 19. What?!

HANS APPEN Publisher hans@appenmedia.com

It’s bad enough that journalists fresh out of J-School at UGA have been calling me “Mr. Appen,” but now my oldest child, Phoebe, has started to call me “Hans” when she gets mad at me.

If she grows any more like her mother in 2023 I’m in big trouble. Said oldest child is also quick to point out the influx of gray hairs on my head and pat my big belly in mock concern.

“Wait, do you have grays in your beard, too?!”

I am officially out of touch and behind the times with the latest advancements in technology, and frankly, I give up. I never jumped on TikTok and I am not going to even try with BeReal. I’m sure the fact that I’m even mentioning these two social platforms is causing some snickers amongst the whipper snappers in my office.

Speaking of, outside of dear June in our Classifieds department, I am now the most tenured employee on my own staff. How did that happen? This year, I hired someone for the first time whose birth year

I am middle of the rung now when someone on staff needs help with a computer program, and I am rarely called upon to represent the “younger generation” in a meeting involving diversifying for an evolving media environment and younger readers.

Just tell me what to do and when to do it, folks.

Recently, I joined a group of about 15 of my uncles, male cousins, and husbands of female cousins for 48 hours in Vegas. We caught the IU/Arizona basketball game at the MGM and walked up and down the strip for hours. At about hour 30, I patted a few on the back, told them to have fun, and me and my sore hips made their way back to the hotel for a nap. I slept like a baby.

Lastly, it used to be that elderly neighbors would call me to help them lift something heavy or keep an eye on their house while they were out of town. Recently, my middle child, Leo, got the call instead.

Yep, I’m getting old.

The thing is, I’m more than OK with this stage in life, and I quite like it, actually.

While Mom and Dad inch closer to retirement and further away from Appen Media, I still have brother Carl on

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK TRANSPORTATION SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX (TSPLOST) 2022 YEAR END REPORT

staff with me to continue the tradition of multiple Appen family members working – and coming to blows – in the company that bears their name. He is the ying to my yang at the office, and we do a good job of covering for each other. He’s got my back and I’ve got his.

At home, my favorite thing to do is spend time with my kids. We are neck deep in baseball, soccer, karate, piano, playdates, fishing – you name it, we’re doing it.

The highlight of my day is making my way to each child’s room for their bedtime story. Phoebe and I are on Book 6 of the Harry Potter series, Leo and I are on Book 3 of the Little House on the Prairie Series, and youngest child, Annie, refuses to read anything other than Peppa Pig.

For me, I love to be outside and have my hands in the dirt. I recognize and enjoy moments in life I used to ignore, or take for granted. Blooming flowers, the art of and joy of building something with your own hands, the laughter of a child, a good sermon, good people and the gift of another day.

Life is good, and I am good with it.

So, from Alpharetta’s newest old geezer, I hope you have a wonderful New Year filled with good friends, good health and happy memories.

But first, get off my lawn.

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, 2022.

Full-time

POOL TECHNICIANS

WANTED

Part-time & Full-time positions available. Pay is $12-$14 per hour. Hours starting at 6:30AM, Monday-Friday. Pick-up truck not required but must have your own reliable transportation. Gas allowance provided. Looking for people who enjoy working outside and are enthusiastic, dependable & punctual. Able to contribute independently or on a crew with consistently friendly attitude.

Well-established commercial pool maintenance company providing service in the North Atlanta Metro area.

Call Bill: 404-245-9396

ENTERTAINMENT ATTENDANTS.

ALPHARETTA, GA.

Assist coach/athletes, prepare locker room before games & clean up after games. Monitor activities.$12/h. jessica@wfpimmigration.com

Home Improvement

PHILLIPS HOME IMPROVEMENT

We offer drywall, painting, carpentry, plumbing and electrical. Basements finished, kitchen and bath rehabs. All types flooring. Also total home rehab for those who have a rental house or one to sell. Call 678-887-1868 for a free estimate.

BASEMENTS-FRAMING-DRYWALL-TRIM-PAINT

Decks repaired/built. Labor payment upon completion. 30-plus years experience. John Ingram/678-906-7100. Act now before prices increase next year! Heritage Home Maintenance homerepairga@ gmail.com. heritageconstructionga.com

Driveway

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

Pinestraw

PINESTRAW, MULCH

Delivery/installation available. Firewood available. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612

Gutters

AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS

Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters. com. Senior citizen discount! 678-508-2432

Roofing

ROOF LEAKING?

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

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

COMPLETE TREE SERVICES

Tree Services 20% OFF ALL Tree Services

Appen-Rated 98

Text or Call us for a FREE quote appointment.

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

Free consutation. 20 years experience.

Fully insured. References. Call Tree Expert for an appointment @ 470-588-5339.

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

Christian Brothers Roofing

Flooring

PHILLIPS FLOORING

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

Cemetery

ROSWELL GREENLAWN 1 lot, Crucifiction Section. $3995. 678-232-6816

Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-855-948-6176

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protec-tion. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833610-1936

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

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

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

Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499-0141

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

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

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/23. 1-866-479-1516

The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote. 1-877-539-0299

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Fi-nancing available. 1-855-417-1306

Switch and save up to $250/yr on talk, text & data. No contract or hidden fees. Unlimited talk & text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service.

Limited time get $50 off any new account. Use code GIFT50. 1-855-903-3048

Attention Homeowners! If you have water damage and need cleanup services, call us! We’ll get in & work with your insurance agency to get your home repaired and your life back to nor-mal ASAP! 855-767-7031

MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888-489-3936

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

!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277

Caring for an aging loved one? Wondering about options like senior-living communities and inhome care? Caring.com’s Family Advisors help take the guesswork out of senior care for your family. Free, no-obligation consult: 1-855-759-1407

FREE $20 Cash App Everyone! Yes It’s Real. Very Limited supply until we run out! Go to Free20Now.com

Donald Kjenstad, 75, of Alpharetta, passed away on December 19, 2022.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Solomon McDaniel, 87, of Roswell, passed away on December 16, 2022.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Florrie Silvers, 78, of Roswell, passed away on December 19, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Jeanette Sullivan, 93, of Alpharetta, passed away on December 21, 2022.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TIP YOUR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY PERSON

This holiday season, consider giving your newspaper delivery person a tip for their weekly delivery of the free community newspaper to your driveway. These folks work hard to make sure you are informed of all the local happenings, rain or shine, week in and week out.

Importantly, at Appen Media, we have always been intentional about our desire to keep delivery of our newspapers free. That said, it would mean the world to us if you would consider tipping your newspaper delivery person so that they will have a little extra money for the holiday season.

If you can help us help these amazing people, we promise to keep delivering high quality news to your driveway, for free, every week. Free home delivery of 105,000 homes is hard work –and we couldn’t do it without our amazing delivery folks.

How you can give your delivery person a tip:

We have created an online portal at www.appenmedia.com/deliverytip.

100% of every dollar you contribute will be spread out evenly between the 24 newspaper delivery people that Appen Media employs. Whether you give $5 or $50, they will greatly appreciate it.

If you prefer, you can also mail a check made out to “Appen Media Group C/O Newspaper Delivery Tip” to 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.