Johns Creek Herald - February 27, 2025

Art guilds provide hospital with therapeutic landscape

By SARAH COYNE Sarah@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Art Center Guild and Alpha Arts Guild, are helping provide a visual escape for patients and staff at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.

Artists collaborated with the guilds and hospital to display their artworks.

The gallery hopes to provide a

therapeutic escape to staff, patients and families in the hospital.

Lindsey Acciarito, Community Relations and Engagement Director for Emory Johns Creek Hospital, said the hospital chooses the art for the building “very intentionally.”

“I think it’s nice to bring art to where the people are,” Acciarito said.

The hospital aims to be a “good neighbor” to the community by collaborating with organizations such

as The Art Center Guild and Alpha Arts Guild.

In lieu of the grand opening of the gallery, the guilds and hospital hosted a “Freedom of Expression” art market and artist walk Feb. 18.

Monika Mittal, President of The Arts Center Guild, said she hopes the event is also therapeutic for the artists.

See GUILDS, Page 21

Johns Creek officials celebrate Arbor Day

By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. —Autrey Mill Nature Center served as ground zero for Johns Creek’s observance of Arbor Day Feb. 20.

Mayor John Bradberry and Autrey Mill Executive Director Lizen Hayes helped plant a yellow tulip poplar in its new home, next to the newly built amphitheater.

“We are the hidden gem,” Hayes said. “We are trying to be a shining, bright diamond. That’s our goal.” Hayes said planting new trees serves a number of purposes, including replacing those lost to development.

The baby poplar tree will provide a space for pollinators to thrive.

“We are actively trying to add more pollinator gardens [and] pollinator trees to the preserve so that we can attract our pollinators,” Hayes said.

See ARBOR, Page 21

Johns Creek Arbor Day

at the Autrey Mill Nature Center Feb. 20.

SARAH COYNE/ APPEN MEDIA

Monika Mittal, President of The Arts Center Guild, sells her art to the public at the “Freedom of Expression” art market and artist walk on Feb. 18. Mittal displays her art on scarves for people to wear.

SARAH COYNE/ APPEN MEDIA Autrey Mill Executive Director Lizen Hayes and Mayor John Bradberry shovel dirt onto the yellow tulip poplar tree during the

celebration

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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.

Authorities locate vehicle reported stolen in Roswell

ROSWELL, Ga. — A 38-year-old Roswell woman reported Feb. 5 that her exboyfriend sent her threatening messages and stole her Audi Q5.

An officer said the woman reported that her ex-boyfriend was threatening her over text while she was attempting to have him return her vehicle.

The woman said she purchased the vehicle last October for $6,500, and the officer confirmed the car was registered in her name.

The victim said she was in rehab for several weeks before New Year’s, and her ex refused to return her vehicle.

After listing the vehicle in regional crime databases, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle Feb. 7 and towed it to an auto body shop in Canton.

The case was cleared Feb. 13 after the victim declined to press charges.

— Hayden Sumlin Drugs discovered on man during processing at jail

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 39-year-old Kennesaw man was accused of attempting to bring drugs into the jail Feb. 7.

Police stopped a vehicle about 2 a.m. on southbound Ga. 400 after it failed to maintain its lane while entering from Mansell Road, according to an Alpharetta police report. The vehicle was reportedly leaving a nearby hotel where several drug arrests have been made.

Before the stop, the officer had been called to the hotel where someone was reported to be using drugs in the restroom.

The officer noticed the vehicle at the

hotel while investigating the report. A woman had left the vehicle, entered a hotel room and departed about 10 minutes later.

During the traffic stop, a 37-year-old Sandy Springs woman who was driving the vehicle said she had visited the hotel. The Kennesaw man was sitting in the passenger’s seat.

The officer confirmed the woman’s license was suspended. The officer smelled the faint odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, according to the report, and a K-9 was called to sniff the exterior of the vehicle.

The K-9, whose name is Suche, allegedly indicated there were drugs inside.

The officer notified the woman of the dog’s alert, and she said there was a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle.

A search revealed marijuana in the woman’s jacket and nine-and-a-half Xanax pills under the man’s seat, according to the report.

At the jail, 6.5 grams of cocaine reportedly fell from the man’s body during a strip search.

The woman was charged with failure to maintain lane and driving while license suspended.

The man was charged with possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, possession of cocaine and crossing guard lines with prohibited drugs.

— Jon Wilcox

Suspects fail in attempts to steal cash from ATM

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies investigated a report of an attempted theft of an ATM Feb. 4.

An employee of a cash handling company noticed an ATM at an Atlanta Highway bank had been tampered with after opening the machine about 9 a.m., according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report.

A manager at the bank provided photos and video to deputies of the ATM.

Deputies observed a man open the ATM and tamper with its computer and SSD drive about 1 a.m. The man arrived

in a white Chevrolet van. He was wearing a dark Adidas hoodie, mask, purple medical gloves, dark pants and black and white Adidas shoes.

The ATM’s metal housing and computer were damaged.

After closing the ATM, the man left in the van.

About 30 minutes later, the van returned and a second man exited and again tampered with the ATM. The second man was wearing a dark hat, hoodie and also medical gloves.

Neither man was able to steal cash from the ATM.

Deputies were unable to read the vehicle’s tag on the video.

The attempted theft was classified as a second degree burglary and criminal damage to property.

— Jon Wilcox

Deputies find drugs, needles during reported traffic stop

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 31-year-old Dahlonega woman was arrested on drug charges after a traffic stop Feb. 3.

Deputies searched a vehicle after stopping it at Martin Road and Dahlonega Highway, according to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office report. They conducted the search after smelling marijuana.

A joint was found in a rear cup holder where the woman was sitting. A used methamphetamine pipe was found in the woman’s purse, according to police. According to the report, deputies also recovered two baggies of methamphetamine and a small marijuana pipe after she threw them.

Deputies found another container of methamphetamine, marijuana, oxycodone and two needles that they say were tossed from the vehicle during the stop.

The woman was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug related objects.

— Jon Wilcox

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School Board ends campaign to salvage elementary schools

By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The six-month fight to save Spalding Drive Elementary School in Sandy Springs and Parklane Elementary in East Point went down in a split decision Feb. 20.

The Fulton County School Board voted 4-3 to follow recommendations from district planning officials to close the two schools, citing low enrollment and the state of the buildings.

Parents and children donning matching T-shirts, sat in the district’s South Learning Center in Union City, awaiting the decision after more than four hours of public comment and board member discussion.

Supporters in the audience made a final, desperate plea at the meeting to save the two schools.

“We wouldn't even be talking about Spalding Drive if it wasn't for our teachers and our staff,” Kim Parkman, a Spalding Drive parent and PTO member said. “So, the reason why I want to bring them up is not just to celebrate them, but also I just urge you that the next time this happens, please include them, because we know how hard it is to find teachers.”

Sandy Springs City Councilwoman Jody Reichel blasted the School Board for its handling of the matter.

“This has not been a thoughtful, transparent, community-driven decision, and that's a problem,” Reichel said.

School Board member Michelle Morancie, who represents much of North Fulton, including parts of Sandy Springs, called the district’s action hurried, leaving little time for the community to mount a proper defense.

“They would express their concerns about what feels to them like a rush timewise,” Morancie said. “They would like the time to address these issues [and] explore alternatives before making such a drastic decision, in my opinion. That's a reasonable request.”

Board members faced backlash from the community, including claims that the closures were culturally driven or that they were made in private before the hearing.

East Point Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham, who championed the cause to save Parklane, said the decision was culturally driven.

She said Schools Superintendent Mike Looney has been culturally offensive from the outset of his tenure.

“…His actions from his first day to now, have consistently been duplicitous with regards to the schools in South Fulton and, more specifically, schools in the city of East Point,” Ingraham said.

Many opponents in the audience proposed the decision was already made, because of an error that removed Spald-

ing Drive from the redistricting map on the Fulton Schools website.

But the district’s Chief Information Officer Joe Phillips rebuffed the claim, saying the district’s information system incorrectly posted a proposed map, and there was no intent to portray the issue as final.

Phillips said he plans to adjust the website to alert his office if something similar happens again.

School district officials have said the closures will save the system $2 million per school.

“We have to be responsible with our taxpayer dollars, and with that comes some very tough choices,” School Board President Kristen McCabe said.

Emotions were high as the vote was cast, with supporters drifting into the lobby to support and console each other.

“I think they made the decision with the wrong data,” parent Amy Lund said.

The theme, “use us, or lose us,” still rang in the air after the vote.

Emily Bell, Spalding Drive PTO CoPresident, said her family will be looking into moving out of the county.

“I feel like life as we know it is going to change completely,” Bell said.

Many members of the community felt as though, they don’t know what the next day will bring.

“The fact that it won’t be there next year, I just can’t even comprehend at this point,” Lauren Rosenbaum, Spalding Drive PTO Co-President said.

Board members said they hope parents will continue their momentum and support for their community at their existing schools.

“You clearly have had a positive impact on your children, having them come and speak so eloquently and confidently, that's your leadership,” Board member Sara Gillespie, said. “And they will follow you, no matter what happens.”

Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm

SARAH COYNE/ APPEN MEDIA Community members await a decision about school closures at the Fulton County School Board meeting Feb. 20.

U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga. fields questions from constituents during a town hall at Roswell City Hall on Thursday. McCormick was asked about his stance on foreign policy, healthcare, and recent workforce cuts by the Department of Efficiency.

Constituents grill congressman on intentions to check Trump

By AMRITHA JOSEPH newsroom@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — An overflow of District 7 residents stretched down the steps of Roswell’s City Hall Thursday, eager to challenge U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., about the Trump administration’s policies.

They came armed with queries on foreign policy, federal employee cuts and how presidential powers will be restrained.

McCormick, a decorated United States Marine Corps veteran and physician, shared where his views veered from that of the commander-in-chief and other Republicans.

However, he was also met at times during the 90-minute session with booing and cries of “Shame!” from residents who felt he was deflecting questions.

Cumming resident Claudia GamlienCastro asked McCormick his stance on President Trump’s most recent declaration that Ukraine is responsible for the war that has ravaged its people. McCormick said the Trump administration wants to investigate how Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has used the $175 million in aid that the U.S. has provided Ukraine. About 67 percent of the congressionally approved funds were for defense-related priorities and 33 percent for nondefense

priorities, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

The congressman said the war could have ended sooner if the European Union and U.S. had been more forceful. Given the cumulative European-U.S. GDP of roughly $47 trillion versus Russia’s GDP of $2 trillion, he said a Russian defeat could be realized rapidly through sanctions, undermining Russia’s energy production, and by overwhelming weapon systems.

“I want Ukraine to win, and President Trump says he wants Ukraine to win… and by the way, this splits the Republican party down the middle,” McCormick said. “I voted for Ukraine support every single time.”

Given his ties to healthcare, the congressman fielded several questions about recent cuts executed by the Department of Government Efficiency, which has eliminated thousands of federal employee jobs since Trump’s inauguration. Specifically, the Associated Press reported the jobs of more than 5,000 probationary employees will be nixed at the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Centers for Disease Control and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. HHS has not released a final number.

See McCORMICK, Page 20

AMRITHA JOSEPH/APPEN MEDIA

City throws switch on LED lighting at Ocee Park

By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, GA. — Johns Creek Parks and Recreation officials celebrated completion of the Ocee Park Baseball Field's Lighting Project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 21.

Jillian Phillips, vice chair to the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee, cut the ribbon, where her own son plays baseball.

“We’re investing in this for long term,” Phillips said. “I’m excited for that and for all the future players.”

The LED lights will replace the more than 20-yearold halogen lighting system at the park’s four baseball fields. The LED array will provide minimal light spillage from the field and uniform lighting levels for safety.

Erica Madsen, Recreation and Parks director, said that she “loves” park projects, that help people come and make new memories

“Anything we can do to add to the parks, just increases the people to get our here and use it and enjoy it,” Madsen said.

Staff can also monitor and control the lights from wireless connectivity. LED lighting is cheaper, lasts longer and is less time consuming to replace.

As one of the five strategic priorities set by the City Council, the Parks and Recreation Department has been the focus of continued improvements for their systems.

The baseball quad lights replacement cost $850,000.

SARAH COYNE /APPEN MEDIA

From left, Park Superintendent Shawn Brown, City Manager Chris Haggard, Recreation Coordinator Dylan Penick, Recreation and Parks Director Erica Madsen, Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee Vice Chair Jillian Phillips and Capital Projects Manager Matt Pate cut the ribbon to celebrate the Ocee Park Baseball Field’s Lighting Project Feb. 21.

New novel-turned-miniseries lights up March author events

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com

“Will Trent” fans take note: Emily Carpenter is poised to become the next Atlanta-area author to have a novel adapted for television.

“Gothictown,” the Roswell resident’s 10th title, was simultaneously optioned for both print and production two years before the book’s March release.

“It was a whirlwind for sure and not what I had ever experienced,” said Carpenter, who will be co-producing the miniseries. While an executive producer/ showrunner has also been named, a script, cast and locations have not.

“Apparently, TV moves even slower than publishing does,” joked Carpenter, who will share more at her free “Gothictown” launch party in Roswell March 25.

Bestselling author Emily Carpenter is launching her latest suspense novel, “Gothictown,” which has been optioned for television.

Here are the details, along with other March events

Saturday, March 1, Dahlonega Book

Festival. The 20th anniversary celebration features 20 authors, including Pulitzer Prize-winning Rick Bragg, former Gov. Nathan Deal and local writers Kim Conrey, George Weinstein and Kimberly Brock. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. All sessions, except lunch with Deal and Bragg’s keynote address, are free. Dahlonega Baptist Church, 234 Hawkins St., Dahlonega. Ticket prices and schedule at literaryfestival.org.

Saturday, March 8, Kimberly Brock Friends of the Sandy Springs Library and Bookmiser will host Brock recounting her latest novel, “The Fabled Earth.” 2 p.m. Free. Sandy Springs Library, 395 Mount Vernon Highway Northeast, Atlanta. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/ events.html

Tuesday, March 11, Colleen Oakley launching “Jane and Dan at the End of the World.” 12.30 p.m. Free. Bookmiser, 3822 Roswell Road, Marietta. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/events. html

Thursday, March 13, Kimberly Belle

The USA Today and internationally bestselling author will recap her thriller, “The Paris Widow.” 6:30 p.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-2329331. read-it-again.com

Wednesday, March 19, Daniel Stone author luncheon spotlighting “American Poison.” 11:30 a.m. $40, which includes lunch. Polo Golf and Country Club Clubhouse, 1300 Polo Fields Parkway, Cumming. Sponsored by Altrusa International of North Georgia with book sales by Read It Again Bookstore. ticketleap. events/tickets/altrusangaevents/ author-s-luncheon-with-daniel-stone

Wednesday, March 19, Delilah Dawson detailing her latest novel, “It Will Only

Authentic Hand-Made Noodles & Dumplings!

Hurt for a Moment.” Free. 7 p.m. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road. 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

Saturday, March 22, Atlanta Self-Publishing Conference for indie authors and anyone considering self-publishing. Sponsored by the Atlanta Writers Club. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $139-$199. Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center, 800 Spring St. NW, Atlanta. atlantaselfpublishingconference.com/

Saturday, March 22, Aimie Runyon discussing “The Wandering Season” with Grace Helena Walz. Free. 1 p.m. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-7975566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Tuesday, March 25, Emily Carpenter “Gothictown” launch party with sips, snacks, books and gifts. Free but a book purchase is appreciated, available through Bookmiser. 6 p.m. Deep Roots Wine Market & Tasting Room, 1055 Canton St., Unit 100, Roswell. RSVP to Emily@emilycarpenterauthor. com

Wednesday, March 26, Colleen Oakley celebration hosted by Poe & Company Bookstore. 5:30 p.m. $40, which includes a copy of “Jane and Dan at the End of the World,” drinks and heavy appetizers. Brookfield Country Club, 100 Willow Run Road Roswell. 770-797-5566. poeandcompanybookstore.com/all-events

Thursday, March 27, Emily Carpenter, “Gothictown.” 6:30 p.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770232-9331. read-it-again.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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8 | Johns Creek Herald | February 27, 2025

Red Seal Craft Studio focuses on people behind the art

By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Red Seal Craft Studio in Roswell offers an escape for those eager to explore their inner creativity.

Crafters can enjoy do-it-yourself projects, like charm necklaces, bracelets, candles, charcuterie boards, custom hats and glass and shell art. Private workshops are also available for businesses, clubs and parties.

Owner Jeanie Pipitone says her personal favorite is the hand-woven chunky blanket workshop.

“They’re so soft and cuddly, and anybody can do it,” Pipitone said.

Pipitone left her corporate career behind to take over the craft studio. Although she had never been to the studio, she decided to go out on a whim and become the new owner on Jan. 2.

“I admired it from afar,” Pipitone said.

Previous owner, Christy Jones, sent out an email to her subscribers asking if anyone would like to take over the gig, Pipitone took the chance,

You can now find Pipitone, along with her staff, greeting and helping visitors channel their inner crafter. A common theme among the staff is the love for people.

Employee Becky Williams said her favorite part of the job is learning about the people she meets.

“You always know how small this world is,” she said. “You really realize it when you interact with people, and you find out your interconnections.”

The craft studio allows for friends and families to gather and connect in a creative outlet.

“People come here, and they have fun, they feel good,” Pipitone said.

Katherine and Vivi Stoll visit the studio frequently to have their “mother-daughter dates.”

“Our favorite part is spending time together,” Katherine said.

Employees help facilitate the process from start to end, so that no matter the guest’s experience level, they can create something.

See STUDIO, Page 9

SARAH COYNE/ APPEN MEDIA

Jeanie Pipitone began her journey as owner of the Red Seal Craft Studio on Jan. 2. Since then, she has learned that the people are her favorite part about the job.

Studio:

Continued from Page 8

“You don’t need any experience, anybody can do it,” Pipitone said. “We provide all the materials, we provide all the instruction, so everybody can come, have fun and leave with something beautiful.”

As new owner, Pipitone’s visions for the craft studio incorporates ways to encourage friends and family to spend time together. She said almost no one comes in alone.

To help facilitate Pipitone’s visions, the craft studio will begin to bring in outside artists and specialty workshops. She wants her guests to have access to “workshops that

More information

The Red Seals Craft Studio’s hours vary each week, to book a session visit: redsealcraftstudio.com/ craftingsessions.

people might not have a chance to do otherwise.”

First up is a four-week Mahjong workshop to be held every Wednesday beginning March 5 from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants will learn how to play and the skills behind the game.

She also plans to “build retail,” by selling premade art.

“It brings people together to have fun, so if the people want it, I’ll give it,” Pipitone said.

Visitors Katherine Stoll helps her daughter, Vivi, pick out a hat to customize at the Red Seal Craft Studio in Roswell.

PHOTOS BY: SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA Crafters gather to create art on a busy Saturday at the Red Seal Craft Studio in Roswell. Guests can choose from projects like charm necklaces, bracelets, candles, charcuterie boards, custom hats and glass and shell art.

Fulton takes ‘shot in the dark’ to estimate rollback property tax rate

By SARAH DONEHOO newsroom@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Nearly five months before they will have accurate numbers to support it, Fulton County commissioners approved an estimated rollback tax rate for property.

Speaking to commissioners Feb. 19, Chief Financial Officer Sharon Whitmore said new legislation this year requires local governments to certify an estimate reflecting a property tax levy that will bring in the same revenue as last year. The Fulton County Tax Commissioner’s Office has set March 1 as the deadline for the estimate.

Generally, the rollback rate is published near summer, when governments have a better idea of current property values.

“We have no information with which to make a calculation,” Whitmore said.

In most years, cities and counties record increases in property values, so maintaining the same tax rate as the prior year brings in more revenue. By law, governments must calculate and publish a rollback tax rate – expressed as a mill levy – that would bring in the same amount of revenue as the prior year, factoring in the increase in property values.

Fulton County currently has a levy of 8.87 mills on the assessed value of proper -

ty. One mill brings in $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. So, a home assessed at $300,000 would bring in $300 for each mill levied against it.

While commissioners were flummoxed by the purpose of the new requirement, they voted 5-1 to set the rollback rate at the current real rate of 8.83 mills. An updated rollback rate will be published later this year when the Assessor’s Office assembles and releases actual property value figures.

County Tax Commissioner Arthur Ferdinand said the new law will require his office to entirely change the structure of the tax bills for property owners.

The new bills may have to include significant wording to explain how the rollback rate is determined.

“It has to be totally redesigned,” he said, adding that it will require more work for his department to reformat the bills.

“So, we have to gut everything that we have and start anew,” Ferdinand said. “All the paper we have in stock will have to be trashed, and that’s a cost.”

County Manager Dick Anderson said he anticipates county staff will be flooded with calls from confused residents after tax bills go out late this summer.

He called the March rollback tax estimate a “shot in the dark,” because it will be based on information yet to materialize.

Jail blitz progress

Also at the Feb. 19 meeting, the Fulton County Operational Report contained an update on the progress of gathering statistical information of its justice system.

Strategy and Performance Director Stephen Nawrocki said that complete and accurate information will take several months.

”I can say that we are moving as quickly as possible to conduct the assessment, prepare that report, analyze the findings and come up with (improvement) recommendations,” Nawrocki said.

The jail assessments are part of a continuing program from the Department of Real Estate and Asset Management (DREAM) and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office to provide data for the capital improvement of its facilities.

Quality of the aging jails remains a concern for the Board of Commissioners and the public.

DREAM Director Joseph Davis said that since a budget of $3.2 million was approved for critical jail repairs and upgrades, seven of 11 housing units are completed and flooding has decreased, reducing the number of unavailable beds from 744 to 540.

Davis added that the backlog of work

orders had generally decreased over a three-month period, using 1,794 in January to 1,661 in February as an example.

Ambulance access

The board discussed ambulance services in South Fulton to clarify their existing rules and regulations and identify options for people to best access their service.

Director of Strategy and Performance Management Mike Rowicki presented options including construction of a new emergency department in South Fulton, allowing cities to use fire department vehicles to speed up response times, and recommending that the Region 3 Council have yearly reviews of the service levels of providers.

Region 3 of Georgia consists of Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties.

“ One thing we want to be clear is that Fulton County does not have any direct contracts with ambulance service providers,” Rowicki said.

The city government is not responsible for the transportation of people in need of medical services. However, it is responsible for providing fast and efficient access to its

March

March 6

Zoning

March 8

Bulky

March 10

City

City Council Meeting City Hall - 7 p.m.

March 13

Arts, Cultural, & Entertainment Committee City Hall - 6:30 p.m.

March 15

Battle of the Bands Newtown Park - 7 p.m.

March 19

Recreation and Parks Advisory Meeting City Hall - 6:30 p.m.

March 24

City Council Work Session City Hall - 5 p.m.

City Council Meeting City Hall - 7 p.m.

Wednesday

9:30 – 11:00AM

11695 Johns Creek Pkwy 1st Floor Meeting Area

Come prepared with business cards and your 45-second pitch about your business! From these meetings, you will form relationships, create business opportunities, and share information with Johns Creek Business professionals.

11695 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite 100 Johns Creek, Georgia 30097

A part of our mission is to help businesses in Johns Creek connect, grow, and thrive. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is by helping business professionals grow their networks. All are welcome to the following networking opportunities for little to no cost, so please join us! The schedule is subject to change so to stay up to date with all the information visit the Calendar on our website or give us a call.

Men’s Happy Hour Networking

4th Thursday of the month. Check calendar on website for all details.

This event allows male professionals in the Johns Creek area to expand their referral network. So come on join your fellow gentlemen friends – and make new ones- at this monthly event! Chamber membership is not required and there is no admission for this event, just pay your own tab.

Women’s Networking Connection

4th Thursday of the month. Check calendar on website for all details.

Our Women’s Networking Connection is a great platform for women in business to come together to build strong connections with other businesswomen. Whether you own, run, or have a women targeted business you’ll enjoy great networking, great referrals, and great conversations!

INSPIRED BY

Care his story.

AS SEEN ON TV

What is GentleCure™

In the last few months, I have received a lot of questions about GentleCure™ — a skin cancer radiation treatment that has been heavily advertised on television. In the past, most discussions about radiation treatments for skin cancer were initiated by me, the physician. GentleCure™’s marketing campaign has been so effective that even patients who do not have skin cancer are asking me about the treatment that they have seen on TV. I wanted to like GentleCure™. I enjoy the part of my job that is presenting different treatment options for my patients. When radiation is preferable over surgery, I get excited to bring it up. Some skin cancers such as superficial basal cell carcinoma are better treated with Mohs surgery in some instances, radiation therapy in others, cautery and scraping treatments at times and even creams such as Aldara™ or other treatments depending on numerous factors. The exact location, local anatomy, immune system status, details on the pathology report, and individual patient goals all factor into recommendations about what treatments to consider. Multiple excellent treatments are available, and one of the joys of my job is assisting patients in selecting the treatments that are right for them. As a Mohs surgeon, I take pride in discussing alternatives to Mohs surgery. I recognize the potential for conflicts of interest, and I cherish the times when patients and I have decided together on a non-surgical treatment. The motto of my Mohs surgery fellowship was, “Put the patient first” and doing so is what makes me feel whole.

Unfortunately, I find myself very disappointed in GentleCure™. This superficial radiation therapy (SRT) treatment likely takes the technology a step farther than previous types of SRT by adding ultrasound imaging to help define the size and depth of the cancer and adjust treatment energies and settings. Technologically,

GentleCure™ is likely a step forward compared with some prior radiation treatment devices. However, the way that the company has chosen to represent their technology is mercenary and misleading.

The name GentleCure™ introduces bias and attempts to sway patients towards this treatment in a way that the names “Mohs micrographic surgery,” “excision,” Aldara™ cream, Levulan® Keratick® and other treatments do not.

GentleCure™ has engaged in direct to consumer (DTC) marketing. The United States is one of the only countries in the world to allow DTC marketing of pharmaceuticals, and many physicians and I believe this is a mistake, often to the detriment of society and the patient. DTC is ethically questionable, foremost because of the potential to misrepresent a product and create a false first impression.

In my professional opinion, the GentleCure™ website misrepresents their technology, misleadingly contrasts it with Mohs surgery, and inadequately compares GentleCure™ with other alternative treatments. A few examples:

1. The website gentlecure.com states that “low amounts of x-ray energy” are used, but a typical dose is 50 gray. In contrast, a typical chest x-ray delivers less than a thousandth (<1/1000) of a gray of radiation. Fifty (50) gray is no small amount. It typically permanently kills adnexal structures (hair follicles and sweat glands), permanently changes the area’s ability to heal and carries the risk of actually causing cancer.

2. The website further states that surgery leaves wounds that result in “not doing normal activities” whereas with radiation “you do not need to skip normal daily activities.” However, GentleCure™ treatments are, according to their own website, delivered in separate sessions of typically 18 to 25 visits on 18 to 25 different days. Twenty separate doctor’s

Brought

by – Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

Taylor:

Continued from Page 12

appointments for the treatment of a single cancer has the potential to interfere with normal daily activities, I would think.

3. I believe that most people’s primary interest in radiation is the potential to avoid a surgical scar. Again, the website is misleading. Instead of a statement in line with my clinical experience that the scarring after Mohs surgery is typically minimal and inconspicuous, the website focuses on the outliers stating, “scarring may need to be fixed with reconstructive surgery.” And for GentleCure™, the website states “There is no scarring.” This is not completely true. Yes, by definition, there is no surgical scar, but radiated skin is never the same. Post-radiation changes can include permanently lightening the treated area, causing noticeable redness or dilated blood vessels to develop, causing an abnormal texture as all hair follicles and sweat glands are eliminated, and sometimes leading to chronically irritated areas and even sometimes post-radiation ulcers that never heal. The website contrasts the unusual case of Mohs surgery with the best case scenario after radiation.

I could go on, as I disagree with much of how this company has decided to represent its product. I love doing research myself, and it saddens me when I learn that the patient trying his or her best to do

their own research online is set up to fail by misleading websites and faulty information.

What is the verdict, and what is one to do?

Most patients prefer Mohs surgery over radiation treatments for most skin cancers because of the confidence of clear surgical margins, the avoidance of numerous appointments for radiation, and the generally excellent cosmetic results achievable with Mohs surgery. However, individual factors such as cancer subtype, body location, tumor size, and personal goals may tip the scales toward one treatment or another. Moreover, Mohs surgery and radiation are just two of multiple options to be considered on a case by case basis. And, yes, despite my disagreement with how the technology is being marketed, I will absolutely continue to recommend it when it is the optimal treatment for my patients.

The key to making the best decision is to receive recommendations from a doctor who you trust, and to seek second opinions when needed. You should sense that your doctor is faithfully helping you navigate your current skin cancer, is happy to discuss alternatives and is also proactively discussing preventative options to decrease the incidence of future cancers. At Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta, I pride myself on providing patients with alternative treatment options even if provided by different physicians or specialties and will always answer a patient’s questions with honesty and integrity.

Insist

Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.

He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.

Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 22 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.

Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.

Kathryn Filipek, PA-C

Black school’s legacy lives on in exhibition

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — For Charles Grogan and other former students, the photos in the Bailey-Johnson School & Community Exhibit represent an opportunity to share their stories.

“It’s a pride you get from people knowing your history,” said Grogan, a 77-year-old Decatur resident who helped assemble the photos. “It’s a warm feeling that you touched someone.”

Hosted by the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society and the City of Alpharetta, the exhibit of about 100 photos will be on display in the Community Gallery at Alpharetta City Hall through April 18.

Grogan, began attending as a first grader in 1953 and graduated in 1965 as a senior.

The school was the first to offer a public high school education to Black students in Fulton County.

Pat Miller, president of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society, said the pictures offer a glimpse into life at the school and the community it served, shining a light on segregated education in Alpharetta.

At a reception marking the exhibit’s opening on Feb. 13, former students met with visitors, joyfully recalling details about the school.

Two students of a second-grade class featured in a photo were on hand to offer insights. They pointed out the class clown and recounted where some of the students are now.

Another photo shows Grogan, who played on the varsity basketball team, making a jump shot.

The photo has long been in Grogan’s

possession, but showing it to others is a privilege, he said.

The Bailey-Johnson School was opened on Kimball Bridge Road in 1950 during a time when Black Fulton County district students had no options for public education at the high school level, requiring them to either enroll in private schools or in another district.

“They only received free public education through the seventh grade even though their parents paid taxes like everyone else,” Miller said.

The school was named after two local men, George “Hard” Bailey, a blacksmith who operated a shop on South Main Street in Alpharetta, and Warren Johnson, a Roswell resident.

Bailey donated the land for the

To donate photos to the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society, contact them at arts-culture@ alpharetta.ga.us or visit aomchs.org.

school. Johnson, who was born into slavery, spent much of his life advocating for improved educational opportunities for Black students.

The school was closed in 1967 with the desegregation of public schools in North Fulton County.

Nancy Murphy, gallery coordinator, said although the school was unique in the opportunities it provided, it also was a full-fledged high school like any other.

Bailey-Johnson offered a variety of extracurriculars to enrich students’ lives from a drama club to varsity sports to a 4-H club.

When former students looked at the decades-old photos, many expressed a “tremendous love” for their time there, she said.

“They were deeply involved, just as any other school at the time,” Murphy said.

Miller, a 78-year-old Milton resident, said segregation was still the law of the land when she was in high school.

But when she graduated in 1964, that had begun to change.

The year of her graduation also was the year civil rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner were murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi.

Miller said the exhibits’ photos show how important education was to the students at the Bailey-Johnson School. They also reveal the students’ humanity and individuality.

One particular photo of students carpooling in the back of a truck especially reveals how much the school meant to them, she said.

“You would really want to get an education to ride 30 miles to school and 30 miles back, hanging on in the open air,” she said. “These are really incredible people to me.”

ALPHARETTA AND OLD MILTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Visitors scan photos featured in the BaileyJohnson School & Community Exhibit at Alpharetta City Hall during a reception Feb. 13. Former students mingled with visitors, sharing details about the photos.

SPECIAL TO APPEN MEDIA

The Bailey-Johnson School’s first graduating class poses in their caps and gowns in 1954.

Northern Ridge announces Eagle Scouts

NORTH METRO ATLANTA, Ga. — The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton) announced its newest Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.

Eagle Scouts announced Dec. 30, pictured, from top left, are:

Ian Hirsch, of Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of an outdoor classroom for Temple Kehillat Chaim, consisting of creating a level bed with pebbles and then placing AstroTurf on top, constructing benches and building a picket fence around the area.

Miller Payne, of Troop 3000, sponsored by Birmingham United Methodist Church, whose project was the renovation of the campfire area by building six benches and a podium, painting the bell, gluing the fireplace back together and cleaning the fireplace area in the backwoods for Birmingham United Methodist Church.

Collin Scheffel, of Troop 3000, sponsored by Birmingham United Methodist Church, whose project was to create a picnic area at Providence Park by clearing out an area, removing two old picnic tables and planters, and designing and constructing three picnic tables, and then mulching the area.

Davis Cantrell, of Troop 629, sponsored by Mount Pisgah Church, whose project was the design and construction of five large outdoor racks to hold the harness for the climbing tower and zipline located at Perimeter Church.

Pictured on bottom row, from left are;

Carter Murphy, of Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta Methodist Church, whose project was disassembling an outdoor classroom and creating a full size 8’ by 8’ outdoor chess game along with containers to hold the pieces for New Prospect Elementary School.

Ahmad Tauha, of Troop 12, sponsored by the Muslim American Society Youth Center, whose project was the design and construction of three wooden recycling stations for the Roswell Community Masjid.

Kaylee Henry, of Troop 100, sponsored by Alpharetta Presbyterian

Church, whose project was the design and construction of a wooden poster showing the fish in the pond, creating a fishing pole stringing station, constructing a fishing pole rack, and constructing two tackle boxes to increase fishing awareness and activity at Mayfield Park pond.

Madison Burch, of Troop 432, sponsored by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of five benches for the outdoor stage at Roswell North Elementary School and painting an existing wall in the playground, mulching the area and adding soil to the garden beds by the porch of the school.

David Delk, of Troop 3143, sponsored by The American Legion Post 25, whose project was the design, construction and delivery of a large outdoor wooden cabinet to hold dog food for Out Of The Way Community Corp. in Lakehills, Texas. This charity provides pet food for the homeless who have pets. David also collected pet food, pet bowls and blankets to stock the cabinet.

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ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Fulton Science Academy won first place at the Future City Competition Finals in Washington, D.C., which took place from Feb. 15 to 19.

The Future City Competition promotes and improves students’ math, engineering and science skills.

The high school team competed against 67,000 students from 1,800 schools. The middle school team secured third place among 46 teams.

“Our students have demonstrated not only technical expertise but also resilience, teamwork, and a forward-thinking approach to global challenges,” said David Aiden, Head of School at FSA.

High school students, Alexandra K., Akshay M., Vivien N. and Imaan A., and middle school students Arvin R., Omav M., Shloka N., Ayaan S. and Zen N. were challenged with the theme “Above the Current.” Students were tasked with creating innovative solutions for the rising sea levels and climate change.

Beginning in September, the teams began using their creativity, engineering expertise and teamwork to create their projects. The team went on to defend their ideas among a panel of judges, including deans and professors from top engineering schools and executives from the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and a Deepwater Project Manager from Shell.

Each member of the high school team will be given a $10,000 scholarship, and the team will collectively earn $20,000. The middle school will be given $2,000 for Fulton Science Academy’s Future City Program.

“Winning the first-ever high school Future City Competition and securing a record-breaking middle school finish is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and passion for engineering,” Aiden said.

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OPINION

Bridging all of Milton’s babbling brooks

BOB MEYERS

The City of Milton may have fewer streams and creeks than some other communities in North Fulton, but more roads cross streams and creeks in Milton than in most other jurisdictions.

The City of Milton and the Milton Historical Society have been working for several months to increase public awareness of creeks and their importance to the well-being of the community by placing signage on stream overpasses. Thus far, four signs have been installed on two overpasses.

According to Milton Public Works Director Sara Leaders, signs will be placed on 10 stream crossings over the next few months, with additional signs later in the year.

“We want travelers to be aware of the waterways as a step toward appreciation of their importance,” Leaders says.

The 68 miles of streams, creeks and rivers in Milton are important for several reasons according to Milton Historical Society Board Member Jim Farris, who has been spearheading the Society’s participation in the signage project.

First, they can help define land lots and boundaries. They provide wildlife with food and water. They help irrigation and aid in the protection against floods. Through recreational fishing they can be a source of food.

Streams carry nutrients and other materials into rivers and lakes. They eventually feed into to the ocean.

Rivers and streams were the highways in the early days of our country. They provided fresh water for drinking, farming, livestock and transportation for people and goods because there were no decent roads. Settlements often were established adjacent to or near flowing water.

Creeks and streams are essentially the same thing, but creeks are generally smaller than streams.

The three principal streams locally are the Cooper Sandy Creek (sometimes erroneously called Copper Sandy Creek), Chicken Creek and Little River.

Cooper Sandy Creek flows from near Cambridge High School, through Lake Providence in Providence Park and feeds into Little River near Arnold Mill Road, for approximately 1.7 miles. It is entirely within Milton’s city limits.

Chicken Creek, named after a Cherokee Indian family named Chicken

The City of Milton will place 20 road signs on road crossings above 10 streams and creeks over the next few months. The reflecting signs will be 40 inches by 18 inches. Shown holding a smaller early version of the signs at City Hall are, from left, Milton Historical Society Board member Jim Farris and Milton Public Works Director Sara Leaders.

The 1.7-mile-long Cooper Sandy Creek is entirely within the city limits of Milton. Early pioneers often built homes and communities near creeks to take advantage of the benefits provided by the clean flowing water.

who lived near the creek in the 1830s, starts just outside Milton in Forsyth County. It runs through King Lake and along the Milton City Park and Preserve (formerly Milton Country Club) to join Little River near Atlanta National and Capital City golf courses, a distance of 2.5 miles. It is nearly entirely within the city limits and is the longest creek in

Chicken Creek was named after a Cherokee Indian family named Chicken who lived near the creek in the 1830s. The 2.5-mile-long waterway is the longest creek in Milton.

Allatoona on the Etowah River, which flows into the Coosa River and then into the Alabama River and the Mobile River into Mobile Bay which terminates in the Gulf.

Streams have state and city buffer zones. Buffers are natural areas adjacent to streams where development and construction are not allowed. Vegetation in the buffers stabilizes streams, provides land and aquatic habitat and reduces runoff. The state buffer starts at the water’s edge and extends 25 feet on land. The city undisturbed buffer begins on land where the state buffer ends and extends for another 25 feet. The city and state cooperate to protect our valuable waterways.

the city.

Both creeks flow into Little River which is a tributary of the Etowah River. Little River begins its 29-milelong journey at Freehome Road in Cherokee County, forms part of the Milton/Cherokee County line and runs roughly parallel to Birmingham Highway. It eventually flows into Lake

“Creeks were vitally important to the area’s early pioneers,” says Milton Historical Society President Jeff Dufresne. “The signage program is a very affordable public service and awareness project where the City of Milton and the Historical Society are outstanding working partners.”

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.

Columnist

PHOTOS BY: BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

Encountering ‘lagniappe’ on a lonely Ireland trail

We writer types live in a world made of words. Some are strong and utilitarian. Others are prosaic. And then there are those precious few which are simultaneously lyrical, musical, and even romantic in their promise and potential.

One of those is “lagniappe,” a word with ties to Cajun French culture in (among other places) the Louisiana Gulf Coast region. I like the word a lot.

Mark Twain talks about the word “lagniappe” in “Life on the Mississippi¬¬,” where he calls it “a word worth travelling to New Orleans to get; a nice limber, expressive, handy word…”

But what does it mean?

Some say it refers to what happens when you buy a dozen donuts but end up¬ with 13 – in other words, it’s the unexpected surprise that just comes to you out of the blue.

That’s pretty good. But let me take it a little further.

It’s stumbling across something unexpected but wonderful…maybe that one certain backroad which fate just meant for you to take, no matter what you (or your GPS) think you should do instead.

There’s a lot of lagniappe hereabouts, especially if you like to hike. I think of things like the floodplain-carpeting expanse of ferns that suddenly appears partway along the trail from Buford Dam to the Buford Fish Hatchery… or perhaps the bamboo forest that surprises you near the end of that trail in the Whitewater Creek area of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. The fact is that lagniappe is all over the place. You’ve just got to be open to the possibilities.

For instance:

We are about five days into Ireland, and on this day the plan is to drive along the coast to the town of Allihies. I’ve told you about the driving-in-Ireland thing, and since I’m here telling you even more, then you know that I did manage to survive.

Anyway, on this day, Allihies is the plan. There are old copper mines in Allihies, and I do love old mines.

GPS says it’s an easy trip. It tells us to turn left and then right and then… “TRUCKS!” I say. She’s driving and I’m shot-gunning, which means I’m the traffic lookout while she tries to avoid heart attacks and cars and… “TRUCKS” I say again. “TWO of them!

Big! BIG!!!”

…and trucks approach from where they shouldn’t, and your heart stops (or you just know it will), and you grip the wheel so hard you’re sure you’ll crush it to smithereens. I don’t know the Irish word for “smithereens,” but I’ll bet it’s a good one.

The thing about this, though, is that amidst the excitement of dodging trucks on a road barely wide enough for one car, we manage to miss a turn.

That gets the GPS all excited. It starts to reroute us…

“Go one-tenth of a mile,” the evercheerful voice says, “and turn right.”

Who are we to argue with technology? We don’t know where we’re going anyway, so we turn as directed. But…

“This is not a road,” she says. “This is a sheep trail. Through a field.”

True enough. And it’s getting smaller…and smaller…

“Should we turn around?” she asks.

“Not at all!” I say. “Let’s keep going for a little while!” You see, the secret that you don’t know about me is that I love this kind of thing…exploring unknown roads just to see where they go. But she is less wild about that approach.

“Are you sure?” she says.

“Of course!” I reply helpfully,

encouragingly.

And then we come to a gate.

“That,” she observes, bringing the car to a slow stop, “is a gate. It’s blocking our way.” And then, again, “Perhaps we should turn around?”

“Never!” I proclaim. “I shall simply open it!”

“Can we do that?” she asks.

We consult Google, Knower of All Things. Google says that it’s okay to open gates on roads if you close ’em back after you pass.

That’s good enough for me. I open the car door and hop out and make my way to the gate.

On this side of the gate is us. On the other side of the gate there are sheep. One of them (possibly the Head Sheep) is looking at me.

“Hi, Sheep!” I say, greeting the creature by name. “Sheep” is the universal name of all sheep, at least in my experience, and this one bleats a cheery response which means, in Sheep, “Well, hello to you too!”

I open the gate, and she drives through, and I close the gate behind the car and climb back in. There is still nowhere to turn around. We are, it would appear, committed.

According to the map, we are on a two-track road (“A sheep trail,” she says

by way of clarification) that goes upup-up and over the mountain and then down through the copper mines and on to the town of Allihies.

“Are you sure about this?” she asks.

“Of course! See? The map shows it!” I point to a faint line printed on the map, a line much fainter than all the other lines which indicate barely-wide-enough roads. “We are about…here!” I point with my finger, indicating a spot on the page. “See? We’re near the spot where the mapmaker has drawn in sea monsters and penciled in the words ‘ABANDON ALL HOPE, YE WHO ENTER HERE.’ ”

Actually, I made up that last part, but you get the idea.

“We’re just fine!” I add helpfully. “Right, Sheep?”

“Baa-a-a-a-a!”

We inch along. There is mountain on one side and not much of anything on the other. The path, by this point, is barely wide enough for the car, and every sheep we pass turns its head to watch. They seem to be talking softly among themselves with sidelong glances in our direction.

“I’m really not sure about this,” she says.

“Baa-a-a-a-a!” says another sheep.

And the road starts to get steeper. As in much steeper. It’s climbing toward the pass, toward the top of the high ridge. She keeps the car moving…up and up and upward still. For an instant the tires spin on gravel, then grab hold again… still up, steeper, hemmed in between rock and wide-open air…

“Don’t you think we should turn around? Don’t you think we need to find a place to –”

Suddenly, just like that, we are at the top.

And there it is.

The world is instantly silent. She slowly brings the car to a stop, right there in the middle of the road, for there is nowhere else to stop and nowhere else to go. We climb out of the car and just stand there, side by side, dumbstruck by the scene that unrolls itself before us. I follow her gaze. Her eyes are locked on the distance, and beyond that on the water, and beyond even that on adventures and futures and lifetimes yet unknown.

That’s lagniappe. It can hit hard. She turns and looks at me.

“I think,” she says, “that this may turn out to be my favorite part of this trip.”

We stand there a while longer, just soaking it all in. We don’t need to say a word.

Lagniappe, Ireland style, can be a pretty good thing. Don’t you think?

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

STEVE HUDSON/APPEN MEDIA

Road sign along the way to Allihies.

OPINION

Playing blind man’s bluff with no bumper guards

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

I used to play a game when I was growing up – most of us did – blind man’s bluff. We played it among friends, sometimes at sleepovers. The game is sometimes called blind man’s buff, but either title is pretty much the same.

One person put on a blindfold so he or she couldn’t see, and then walked around the room and tried to find the other people. Putting on that blindfold was an act of faith and trust – trust that no one would take advantage of you and faith that you could “see” with your hands, waving them in front of you like Robot in “Lost in Space,” back and forth “looking” for walls, doors, furniture and other obstacles in your path.

I’ll never forget how abusive Mr. Smith was to poor Robot; I always wished that Robot would turn around and cold-cock him.

Anyway, sometimes you navigated fine. Sometimes you bumped your head on a door frame. Occasionally you tripped and fell, but since you were being careful and moving slowly, rarely did you hurt yourself. I remember that there was always a lot of giggling and whispers. Since you could not use your eyes, you could only use your sense of hearing and, once you found someone, your sense of touch to divine who it was. As I said it was a fun game – at least for a while – and it had no consequences; there were no winners, no losers. No one got hurt. The blindfold came off after the game was over. No big deal. No so, today.

This morning, I got up, practiced my piano, then sat on the couch with my laptop open and waited – waited for some idea – something to write about , something to poke me in the ribs or jump up and say “hi.” It didn’t take long – about 15 seconds – a bit faster than usual. It plopped

down on my lap and said “write me.”

“Blind man’s bluff” is the who/what that came and visited from those very old files buried deep in memory. Today, it feels like we are in a giant game of blind man’s bluff, only this time, instead of just a game among a few friends, it is a game among countries.

Some of the players are friends. Some are not. Instead of a small, connected circle of players in a living room, this game is played across oceans, in the air, underground and in the clouds – and, of course, in the cloud. Instead of individuals, this bluff is played among armies and navies, led by generals and admirals, presidents and premiers, dictators and tyrants. There are no parents around. There are no adults in the room, no supervision. The floor is not carpeted.

Instead of walking around waving our hands in front of us to protect us – like Robot – we instead use sonar, radar, iron shields, air defense systems, B52s, MAD systems, listening systems, monitoring systems, cyber systems, early warning systems and more – all waving around in front of us, over our heads, behind us, under us, through us, just like Robot waving his robot hands in front of him shouting “Danger Will Robinson! Danger Will Robinson!”

Indeed.

I remember when I was a kid, we also played another game called “I dare you.” It was usually not one of the parents’ favorites because it frequently did not end well. One day, I remember we were playing with our friends who lived way up the River Road in north Cocoa. It was dusk, and we had been playing army in the orange groves most of the day, then by the river. We were tired and hungry, and it was dusk when my friend Carl Jeter said let’s play I dare you – which we did.

We did a few dares; I think there were five of us when Carl’s older brother Mark did a dare: “I dare you to run across the road in front of a car and see how close you can come to it.” Mind you, the River Road had no streetlights,

was curvy because it followed the contours of the Indian River, and was lined with palms, palmettos, oak trees and sawgrass. That is, it was really easy to hide beside the road, never be seen and wait for a car to approach and then dash out in front of it and across the road.

Mark went first, but he wasn’t very close to the passing car. Then it was my turn. It didn’t matter what game I was playing back then, I wanted to win. It was dark. I heard the car approach. Then I saw the headlights. I waited. And I waited and I waited.

I heard the horn and the brakes. But I won. I won, but only by the grace of that fraction of a second, there would have been no winners and only losers that night on the River Road.

That angel who has protected me all these years, saved me oh so many times, I just now realize may have first landed on my shoulder that night by the river.

The blind man’s bluff I see being played out today – in our world, yours and mine and our children’s – is a hybrid of I dare you and blind man’s bluff. Everything is a dare; everything is a gambit; everything is a deal, and everything involves running out in front of cars to see how close you can come to being hit. And it’s truly being played with a blindfold on, because the blindfold is the fact that only one person is making up the dares, and it doesn’t matter to him if someone gets hit or is hurt or fails. He just wants to win the game. That’s all he cares about – to win – and yes, in this hybrid game, everyone probably loses.

Several lines from near the end of the movie “Apocalypse Now” come to mind:

Colonel Kurtz: “Are my methods unsound?”

Captain Willard: I don’t see any method at all, sir.”

Colonel Kurtz: “I expected someone like you. What did you expect? Are you an assassin?”

Captain Willard: “I’m a soldier.”

Colonel Kurtz: “You’re neither. You’re an errand boy, sent by grocery clerks, to collect a bill.”

Some national and local history of Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scout Cookie time is here! If you have not already had a chance to support Girl Scouts by purchasing their famous cookies, go online at girlscoutsatl.org and find a nearby cookie booth. Starting Feb. 21, you can buy cookies online to support your local Girl Scouts. Cookies can also be donated to the military through the website.

The history of Girl Scout Cookies began in 1917, when the Mistletoe Troop of Muskogee, Oklahoma, baked cookies at home and sold them in their high school cafeteria as a service project. Door-to-door cookie sales began in the 1920s. Girls baked a sugar cookie recipe at home and placed the cookies in wax paper bags with a sticker label. They were sold for 25 to 35 cents a dozen. (girlscouts.org)

During these early years, Girl Scout Cookie sales gave women the ability to raise money and use it to help their daughters.

Women were not allowed to open checking accounts, so cookie sales were cash only. The ability to raise money and use it in the way they wanted was not generally available to women.

The original recipe appeared in a 1922 issue of the Girl Scouts’ American Girl magazine. The Trefoil cookie is based on that original cookie recipe and pays honor to the Girl Scout Cookie tradition.

During the 1930s, the switch from home baked to commercially baked cookies occurred. When the U.S. entered World War II, Girl Scout Cookie sales temporarily halted due to flour, butter and sugar shortages.

After the war, cookie sales began again. In 1951, there were three types of cookies: shortbread, sandwich and chocolate mint, known today as Thin Mints.

The 1960s brought an increase in the number of Baby Boomer children and Girl Scouts. I was a 1960s Girl Scout and remember well the year my mom served as the volunteer in charge of cookies for our troop. Boxes of cookies filled our dining room.

Suzanne Huff has a lot of memories about cookie sales as a Girl Scout mom and Girl Scout leader for her daughters, Meghan and Erin, in Dunwoody. She delegated tasks to other moms, including cookie sales, a vital role for each troop.

“When my girls were younger, they enjoyed getting out and selling cookies to our neighbors and our work offices,” Huff recalls. “Both of them are very goal oriented. Their first motivation for selling cookies was earning prizes and a badge that we tried to combine with the activity.”

When the girls got older, they also sold cookies at booth sales at Kroger.

“I remember Erin's troop borrowing the cookie costumes and dressing up like a Samoa and a Thin Mint at one of their booth sales,” Huff says.

The Digital Cookie platform was introduced in 2014. According to girlscouts.org, it is a “fun, safe and interactive space to sell Girl Scout Cookies.” It also teaches the girls about online marketing, app usage and e-commerce.

Suzanne Huff saw the skills that selling Girl Scout Cookies gives girls.

“Cookies in general taught all the girls a number of skills, from learning to talk with adults they didn't necessarily know, creating a sales pitch and particularly money management,” she says.

As the Girl Scouts got older, their group trips were partially funded by Girl Scout Cookie sales. Their trips included camping, the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum in Savannah and swimming with dolphins in Florida.

“The trips were really where the girls learned budgeting skills, and they got to be very good at it, on average coming within $5-10 of their budget for every trip,” Huff says.

According to Inc.com, 80 percent of women entrepreneurs were also Girl Scouts who sold cookies.

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

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

PHOTOS BY: AMRITHA JOSEPH/APPEN MEDIA

Georgia District 7 residents applaud one constituents’ question during a town hall hosted by U.S. Representative Rich McCormick at Roswell City Hall on Thursday. A Roswell resident asked the congressman how he plans to challenge the power of President Donald Trump, who recently declared himself “king” in a social media post.

McCormick:

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“Why is a supposedly conservative party taking such a radical and extremist and sloppy approach to this?” one Canton resident asked.

McCormick said 10 percent of the CDC’s employees are probationary, and recent developments in AI will handle healthcare administrative tasks more efficiently at several health departments.

“The fact of the matter is there’s going to be a downsizing of government,” he said.

Just as the Biden administration made dramatic cuts to other aspects of federal spending, so too, the Trump administration is slicing through the budget, McCormick said.

No question garnered more audience applause than one posed by a Roswell resident, who said she was shocked when

President Trump declared himself “king” in a recent social media post.

“Tyranny is rising in the White House, and a man has declared himself our king. So, I would like to know, rather, the people would like to know what you, congressman, and your fellow congressmen are going to do to rein in the megalomaniac in the White House?”

The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act would check presidential power by mandating Congressional approval of any new rule that impacts the economy by at least $100 million. However, it has yet to be passed, even by the previous Biden administration, McCormick said.

McCormick said he doesn’t think executive privilege should be as strong as it is, and he serves as the district’s direct representation in Congress.

“I don’t want to see the president make all the decisions I don’t. I don’t want to see any president be too powerful,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., fields questions from constituents during a town hall Feb. 20 at Roswell City Hall. McCormick was asked about his stance on foreign policy, healthcare and recent workforce cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Guilds:

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“This is my way of uplifting, giving them a place to talk,” Mittal said.

Mittal, also an artist, said she “loves to promote” and give back to the artist community.

Artists were able to sell and present their art to those in attendance. The event let the public get inside a creative mind and hear about the process from the artists, many of whom rediscovered their passion later in life.

Alfred Schwartz never imagined that he would paint chairs instead of people. His artwork, which represent children as chairs flowing down the Chattahoochee River, is just one of the

many artworks on display.

“The only thing you can look at is that joy of play,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz’s art leaves behind “certain decisions” made based on bias while drawing faces or events and only focuses on the meaning of the painting.

Schwartz is one of the many artists features along the walk, which includes members of the community and students.

Stephanie Donaldson, Johns Creek Arts Center Board executive director, said she has a “big passion” for the center and the events it puts together.

“We’re not separate,” Donaldson said. “We’re here to be supportive of each other and spread the word and the passion for the arts.”

Members of the community can visit the gallery until late May.

view the

DEATH NOTICES

Arbor:

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City staff joined to celebrate the celebration, along with Autrey Mill Nature Preserve Board President Mary Jo Malowney and Vice President Judy Semones

“It’s something that we’re very happy to continue,” Malowney said. Autrey Mill Nature Preserve offers a homeschool program engaging students in environmental studies and nature, including participation in ceremonies like the Arbor Day tree planting.

“It’s a way to demonstrate what we do with not just conserving what’s here, but also planting when we need to plant, when things are cut down,” Hayes said.

Johns Creek is a member of Tree City USA, complying with the program’s four requirements: dedication toward the endeavor or maintaining the health of trees; having a tree care ordinance; dedication to an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita; and hosting an Arbor Day observance with proclamation.

The city was named a member of Tree City USA in 2023.

Wallace Berry, age 90, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on February 11, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Robert Kelly, age 80, of Roswell, GA passed away on February 8, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Gregory Lefler, age 73, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on February 15, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Georgia Rigg, age 100, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on February 15, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

SARAH COYNE/ APPEN MEDIA

Members of the public can

gallery presented by The Arts Center Guild and Alpha Arts Guild through late May at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.

SARAH COYNE/ APPEN MEDIA

Johns Creek officials celebrate Arbor Day Feb. 20 by planting a yellow tulip poplar tree at the Autrey Mill Nature Center.

Communications and Marketing Manager

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