Milton Herald - January 12, 2023

Pedestrian safety planned

Alpharetta approves $2,2 million in repairs to Greenway section

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Failing sections of the Big Creek Greenway in Alpharetta will get a muchneeded upgrade, thanks to a $2.2 million construction project recently approved by city officials.

The Alpharetta City Council approved the project at a Jan. 3 special called meeting, after hearing from Alpharetta Public Works Director Pete Sewczwicz that the plan will replace approximately 1,200 feet of rotting wood boardwalk off Mansell Road with a trail made of concrete and steel.

“This is the trail that takes you from the Beaver Creek Road area, underneath Mansell Road and ties into our boardwalk greenway at the other side,” Sewczwicz said.

According to Sewczwicz, this section of greenway boardwalk, which was built in 2008, has been particularly problematic because it is below flood elevation and is regularly under water. The new trail will still be four feet below flood elevation, he said, but the concrete and steel will be much more resistant to damage from flood water.

“When it floods, it’s going to get wet,” he said. “We cannot go higher, because then we run into lack of headspace underneath the Mansell Road bridge.

Sewczwicz said the project will

Milton Engineering Project Manager Rob Dell-Ross presents a traffic study to the Milton City Council at its Jan. 4 meeting. Councilmembers unanimously approved the study, which concerns installation of rapid rectangular flashing beacons at two roundabouts off Heritage Walk along Ga. 372. Read story, Page 3

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

NEWS TIPS

770-442-3278

AppenMedia.com 319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009

APPEN Publisher RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus

CONTACT

Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.

ADVERTISING

For information about advertising in the Milton Herald or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@ appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

CIRCULATION

To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

POLICE BLOTTER

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

Lowered credit score alerts woman to fraud

MILTON, Ga. — A woman reported to Milton Police Dec. 27 that she had been looking over her credit score the weekend before and noticed it had gone down.

She said she discovered that someone opened a Bank of America account last May in her name, the police report said, but has never had any legitimate accounts with Bank of America.

The account balance of approximately $10,675.50 is two months past due.

The woman froze all of her credit accounts and said she would keep an eye out for any additional fraudulent activity.

PUBLIC SAFETY

The man then spoke with an analyst from the fraud center, who sent over a “hold harmless agreement.”

The analyst told the man that if he signed the agreement, he would receive some of the money back. But if he didn’t sign the agreement, the analyst said his case would be closed, and he would lose all the money.

The third party listed on the hold harmless agreement is Pitch Perfect Driveways out of California.

Man reports fraud on his bank account

MILTON, Ga. — A man told Milton Police Dec. 28 that 16 checks on his account were fraudulently cashed from October to December of last year, totaling more than $51,200.

According to the police report, the man also said there were two fraudulent withdrawals on his bank account, totaling $837.

while “acting pleasant” toward the store’s employees and placing several items in Bath and Body Works shopping totes they collected while in the store.

One of the suspects set aside her bag as it got too heavy to carry and proceeded to use the other bag for more items. Both women walked past all points of sale without checking out with three full bags containing items from the store. According to the police report, around 225 items were taken from the store, totaling $2,287.

The reporting party said she was “100 percent sure” that the two suspects were the same ones involved in a recent shoplifting case at the story Dec. 19.

No security surveillance was available at the time of the report, but a retail theft affidavit as well as an asset protection form was completed.

Residential worksite plagued by burglaries

Man’s

account hacked for thousands of dollars

MILTON, Ga. — A man met with Milton Police at headquarters Dec. 27 reporting that he was a victim of fraud.

He said he received a call Dec. 14 alerting him that someone in Florida used his credit card and that he had to close his account and issue a new card. Days later, the man received an email that stated he added someone for a wire transfer totaling $24,168.95 from his business account. The man told police he never added or approved of any money transfer to be wired from his account.

The man then called the fraud center, which said the wire transfer would be canceled in 10 business days. But he checked four to five days later and noticed the transfer went through. He also noticed a transfer from his personal account to his business account, totaling $5,000. His accounts were frozen, and no fraudulent charges were placed on them.

The man had physical possession of his checkbook. But the scanned copies of the fraudulent checks, provided by the bank, showed certain parts had been taped over in an attempt to change the written amount and to whom the amount is payable to.

The man said he doesn’t check his bank account regularly. But the bank account has since been canceled and a fraudulent activity claim has been filed. He said that any checks he wrote last year made it to their correct locations because he has not been notified of any late payments.

Women leave store with $2,287 in goods

MILTON, Ga. — Two women carrying duffle bags, at separate instances, walked into Bath and Body Works on Highway 9 at around 5:19 p.m. Jan. 2.

The reporting party told Milton Police that the women, who were both Black, 250 lbs, one around 5-foot-10 and the other 5-foot-9, walked around the store

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — For the second time in less than a month, thieves burglarized a home under construction in Alpharetta twice, stealing thousands of dollars in construction materials, police said.

Alpharetta police first responded to the job site on Hook Street in Alpharetta Dec. 5, after receiving reports that 32 bundles of shingles had been stolen. Officers were again called to the scene Dec. 17, after a witness reported seeing a strange truck and a man going in and out of the residence late at night.

The homeowner reported in both cases that nobody had permission to be at the home and no workers would have been at the house that late.

Officers arrived on scene and found a black pickup truck with multiple cases of shingles loaded in the bed, but no suspect was located.

Police identified the truck’s owner, who later said two friends had been using the truck at the time of the burglary.

Reports said the truck was impounded, but the report did not say whether the investigation has led to any arrests.

HANS

Milton City Council approves traffic study, intersections

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Visitors around Milton City Hall will see more rapid rectangular flashing beacons — safety devices that enhance pedestrian crosswalks at roundabouts — in the coming months.

The Milton City Council unanimously approved a traffic study at its Jan. 4 meeting, giving Keck & Wood the go-ahead to draft engineering reports for two intersections along Ga. 372, one at Crabapple Chase/Heritage Walk and the other at Heritage Walk.

The $20,450 study, funded by Transportation Special Purpose Sales Tax II, is required for the city to seek approval from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to install the rapid rectangular flashing beacons (RRFBs).

The devices are pedestrianactuated buttons, Milton Engineering Project Manager Rob Dell-Ross said. When pedestrians hit the button, lights underneath the diamond pedestrian signs on either side of the road will flash back and forth to alert drivers.

The total cost for the devices is esti-

mated at $200,000 and will be paid for by the state. The city will be responsible for installation, inspection and maintenance.

Considering the crash history at both roundabouts, Dell-Ross said the flashing devices are needed. The city plans to look at more roundabouts where similar installations are warranted, he said, but traffic studies are only necessary for areas along state routes.

The traffic study isn’t roundabout dependent, Dell-Ross said. Rapid rectangular flashing beacons as well as pedestrian hybrid beacons can be applied to intersections without a roundabout.

In other action at the Jan. 4 meeting, Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison swore in Milton City Councilman Paul Moore as the mayor pro tempore. Milton City Councilwoman Carol Cookerly made the motion “based on [Moore’s] intelligence, charm and devastatingly good looks.”

Moore, who was elected to the City Council in 2019, also served as the mayor pro tempore last year.

“Every time I called him to step in, he’s done a great job,” Jamison said. “And I think he’ll do another great job this year.”

• Access to more than 3,000 classes at 19 locations in the Atlanta area, plus YMCAs across the country

• YMCA360, virtual programing and content you can access anywhere to complement your in-person wellness experience

• Personal wellness coaching though Coach Approach®, our signature program to help you reach your goals

Visit www.ymcaatlanta.org/join to sign up or to find your nearest location.

Be a part of a community organization that is so much more than a gym!

*Joining fees will be waived until 1/23/23. Membership dues will be required at sign up.

GREG BOTELHO/PROVIDED

Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison swears in Milton City Councilman Paul Moore as mayor pro tempore at the Jan. 4 City Council meeting.

Northern Ridge lists December Eagle Scouts

The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (Cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, John’s Creek, Milton) is proud to announce its newest Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review on December 29, 2022, at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church. Northern Ridge District ended the year with 139 new Eagle Scouts.

Top row, from left:

Austin Barrett, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of 26 cello cradles for the Alpharetta High School Orchestra.

Taarunkumar Loganathan, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church, whose project was the design and construction of four benches for the Sai Shirdi Temple of Atlanta

Liam Reid, of Troop 143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of two rabbit hutches for the Denmark High School Veterinary Science Program.

Michael Alston, of Troop 629, sponsored by Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, whose project was the creation of an outdoor gathering place for Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church. This project included the design and building of a picnic table and two benches, restoration of

existing benches and weeding and clearing the fence area.

Victor Joseph, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of a Rainwater Harvesting System for Innovation Academy.

Akhil Karthi of Troop 3143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of three large Cubbyhole shelving units, for Waypoint Baptist Church.

Bottom row, from left:

Evan DeHart, of Troop 143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a kiosk for the Mountain Bike Organization at Big Creek Park.

Vikhyat Arun, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and creation of a free-standing shelving unit and a storage box for the Art Department at Chattahoochee High School.

Thejase Suhanthan, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and construction of an early Intervention Center at the Teaching Hospital Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Thejase went to Sri Lanka and recruited Scouts from Sri Lanka to help him

in the construction.

Saketh Nallagatla, of Troop 3143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of three cubbyhole shelving units, for Waypoint Baptist Church Nursery School.

Reis Weimer–Johnson, of Troop 431, sponsored by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the removal of all existing shelving and the design and construction of new shelving for the food storage area for PAWS Atlanta.

Christopher Kammerer, of Troop

7153, sponsored by St. Brigid Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction, of a programming guidebook complete with video guide and class instruction, for the Cristo Rey School (an Atlanta School that provides a strong education for lower income families) Robotics team.

Anthony Schutz, of Troop 7153, sponsored by St. Brigid Catholic Church, whose project was removing trash along a 5 mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River from Garrard’s Landing to Island Ford, using canoes and kayaks.

Windward volunteer group presents Founders Award

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Windward Association of Retired Men presented its annual Founders Award to Leland Carawan “for his participation and dedication to WARM and the local community.”

The ceremony took place during the organization’s annual Holiday Dinner Celebration jointly with the Women of Windward at the St. Ives Country Club.

The award was presented to Carawan by 2019 Founders Award winner Wayne Smith.

“Each week Leland has served as our bellringer, or master of ceremonies, at our breakfast meetings, sharing the responsibility with Eric Hempleman,” Smith said. “Leland’s presentations week-in and week-out are always entertaining, interesting and very well prepared. His enthusiasm and sense of humor are a great part of the success of our meetings. He is always ready to pitch in to help others.”

WARM is a voluntary association

of current or past residents of Windward and friends of Windward who are retired, or nearing retirement. The group organizes a wide range of activities for interested members throughout the year. There are no dues and no officers, but the organization accomplishes a great deal for its members and the community.

Carawan has long been active in numerous WARM community programs. He has spearheaded WARM’s volunteer effort for the Windward July 4 Celebration and is an active organizer of the annual Windward Veterans Celebration event. He has been a long-time volunteer for WARM’s daily collection of food from local supermarkets for North Fulton Community Charities’ pantry and is involved with numerous other WARM programs.

For further information on WARM, please contact Eric Hempelman 470514-7877 or Leland Carawan 813-5450501.

BOB MEYERS/PROVIDED

Wayne Smith, far right, presents the 2022 Founders Award to Leland Carawan for his many years of service to the community. Smith was the 2019 recipient of the award. From left: former award recipients Paul Barrow and Jim Rausch, Leland Carawan and Wayne Smith

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Flood waters and deteriorating wood boardwalks have caused persistent problems at Alpharetta’s Big Creek Greenway. But city officials said Jan. 3, that $2.2 million dollar project will replace the aging section of trail off Mansell Road with concrete and steel.

Boardwalk:

Continued from Page 1

take about 12 months due to the lead time needed to procure steel. Construction will be performed by Excellere Construction for $2,240,000.

The project proposal was unanimously approved with Councilman Brian Will and Councilman Donald Mitchell absent.

“We do appreciate you and Director [Morgan] Rodgers efforts in getting that resolved,” Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said. “We were left in a bind when the decision was made many years ago to use wooden 2-by-4s for that stretch, that was going to be underwater so frequently.”

Alpharetta Jail IGA approved Councilmembers also approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Milton, which will allow individuals arrested in Milton to be housed at the newly reopened Alpharetta Jail.

Public Safety Director John Robison told councilmembers Tuesday night reopening the Alpharetta Jail off Old Milton Parkway has been a “huge success” thanks to their relationship with the Fulton County Sheriff’s

Department.

“In doing that, we anticipated that our neighbors will be joining us at some point afterwards and Milton is the first to do that,” Robison said.

Under the new IGA between Alpharetta, Milton and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, both cities will be able to book and detain “pretrial detainees and inmates” while sharing the costs associated with running the jail.

“When we can do these sorts of collaborative ventures with surrounding areas … just makes it better,” Councilman Dan Merkel said. “The jail just for Alpharetta would be a heavy lift for the city ... So, I think it’s a testament to the leadership and the surrounding cities.”

The Alpharetta Jail reopened in November 2022 with room for 70 inmates after nearly three years of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reopening came after a $517,000 investment by Fulton County to refurbish the facility.

Under terms of the agreement, Milton will pay an inmate holding fee of $60 per day. The overall cost for the City of Milton is estimated to be around $45,000 a year for booking, lodging and medical costs for up to 12 inmates held concurrently.

Springs Cinema & Taphouse curates a ‘gathering place’

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Brandt Gully never planned to own an independent movie theater.

But when his daughter fell seriously ill six years ago, Gully bought the Lefont Sandy Springs to plant his roots deeper into the community.

Gully’s Springs Cinema & Taphouse is a neighborhood movie theater at Parkside Shopping Center with a full kitchen and bar that shows new, old and independent movies.

Gully’s background is in finance, where he worked with movie theaters and entertainment companies on the financial side. He had been around the industry for years, but when his eldest daughter was diagnosed with cancer, Gully’s perspective changed.

“I had the question: What is the point of what I do?” Gully said.

Gully spent most of his time in the hospital, around nurses and doctors he watched serve the community. His daughter is fine now, and so is Gully, but the experience made him realize he wanted to get more “plugged in” to the community.

It was then that George Lefont told Gully he wanted to sell his business— a local movie theater.

“That’s when it just clicked that maybe this is my way to get plugged into the community, through my profession,” Gully said.

The theater had been untouched since the 1980s. Gully said it had a beloved arthouse following, but it needed a revamp to bring in bigger crowds. It was a task Gully was ready to take on.

“I had no idea how hard it was going to be, and if it was, I probably wouldn’t have done it,” Gully said. “I’m very pleased that I was naïve, as I’ve loved every minute of it.”

The revamp Gully had in mind was a top-to-tail renovation. Gully had no renovating experience, but he had a vision. He wanted recliner seats and big screens, a full kitchen and bar. He also wanted the theater to have a distinctly local feel.

“I had been to a thousand movie theaters, but I had never really walked through them thinking this is the way I want it,” Gully said.

He brought in multiple movie theater architects, but none of their designs matched his vision. They felt like theaters, but they were lacking any distinct community feel.

Gully wanted a different approach. Because the bar would take up about 75 percent of the theater lobby, Gully brought in a bar architect. His vision came to life, and the Spring Cinema & Taphouse was born.

The bar sprawls across the lobby, taking up the space where concessions would typically dominate. The lights on the ceiling look like film reels, a motif that carries through to

the design of the walls. The space is decorated with movie posters and art prints. The bar boasts 18 beers on draft, a variety of wines and different craft cocktails. The cocktails range from espresso martinis to themed drinks, like the blue beer and frozen margarita to promote the newest Avatar movie.

The Springs also has a full kitchen, with offerings from hummus to hot dogs. Gully wanted a little bit of everything for his Sandy Springs clientele.

The food and drinks were one thing. The content was another challenge. When Gully took over the theater, the previously named LeFont showed mostly art house films.

“I knew art house and indie would be a piece of what we did,” Gully said.

The Springs theater does play some arthouse films, but it also plays major studio films, which draw bigger audiences and more money.

The issue with those major films, Gully said, is that movie theaters typically function at the whim of Hollywood. Whatever films trickle into theaters get shown, but at the peak of COVID-19 Hollywood had no content to send to movie theaters.

That left Gully with a staffed theater and no content to screen. The theater, renovated in February 2019, was only a year into its new start before the pandemic shut everything down.

Gully wanted to keep his team busy and find a way to stay afloat, but he had nothing to show onscreen and knew audiences were unlikely to risk going into theaters.

I’ll do whatever continues to make this a relevant gathering place.

BRANDT GULLY, Owner of Springs Cinema & Taphouse

DELANEY TARR/ APPEN MEDIA

Brandt Gully stands behind the bar of The Springs Cinema & Taphouse in Sandy Springs on Dec. 5.

Cinema:

“We’re like, why don’t we show drive-in movies in our parking lot? And our first one was ‘Back to the Future,’” Gully said.

After that, he showed “Indiana Jones,” then “Jurassic Park” and “Jaws.” Each showing was a smash success. The drive-in was one of the few things open at the time, so audiences came in droves to sit inside and outside their cars to watch the old films.

“It helped us do things we didn’t know we were capable of and helped us find aspects of our business we didn’t know existed,” Gully said.

The retro films became a permanent fixture, even as people began to venture back inside the theater. Now, the theater hosts film series like Fright Nights or Movie Party, classic scary movies and retro film showings.

The theater also hosts private events, from birthday parties to memorial services and private corporate events.

Gully finds that screening old and new films, and hosting special events, have built the theater into a real community destination.

“I’m around every day, and most of our regular customers see me here at some point, so that’s important,” Gully said.

Now, he finds the theater has reached a level where the customers trust his taste.

“We give people what we want, but we also curate what they want and help them understand their tastes and

broaden their horizons,” Gully said.

To Gully, the greatest sign of success is that customers show up to the theater without even knowing what they plan to see.

“It’s more about the complete experience than just the movie,” Gully said.

They may not have the largest screens in the industry, but Gully

hopes the community feeling, culinary offerings and local feel will keep people coming back.

Most of all, he hopes to show people “really good movies, really good movies people haven’t even heard of.”

As for the future of the theater, Gully guarantees he’ll “always be tinkering.” He said the movie theater industry is always doing just enough to stay relevant, and he plans on doing the same.

“I’ll do whatever continues to make this a relevant gathering place,” Gully said.

Frank Paras Home Depot Installation Services Local

Tara Tucker

Gully hired a bar architect to design the space to give The Springs Cinema & Taphouse a more distinctive and local feel than chain movie theaters.

DELANEY TARR/ APPEN MEDIA

The Springs Cinema & Taphouse has a full kitchen and bar with craft cocktails and draft beer, alongside typical movie concessions.

Roswell Fire officials reflect on ‘Keep the Wreath Green’

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga.— As the Roswell Fire Department concludes its “Keep the Wreath Green” initiative, the ornament has been dotted with red due to a few structure fires. Even with the red bulbs, the Roswell Fire officials say they feel positive about the first annual campaign.

The wreath is part of the Fire Department’s attempt to decrease structure fires over the holidays. For every structure fire in December, a green lightbulb was replaced with a red one.

The National Fire Protection Agency said Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.

As of Dec. 29, the department has five red bulbs on the wreath. Two of the fires were related to cooking, one fire was from faulty electrical commitment, one was from improper use of heating equipment and one

was from a chimney fire.

Nationwide, the NFPA reports that between 2015 and 2019, holiday decorations started an average of 790 home structure fires each year. It’s a statistic the Roswell Fire Department focused on when it announced the wreath initiative at the start of the December.

While none of the reported fires were from holiday decorations, fire officials stressed they were still preventable.

“Any fires are too many fires, especially during the holiday season, but we’re going to continue to push out the fire safety message to ensure everybody continues to stay safe not only through the colder months but also through the year,” Roswell Fire Department Public Information Officer Chad Miller said.

The idea behind the wreath campaign, Miller said, came from other departments across the nation.

“This year was kind of just a trial run, we kind of had a last-minute idea to find a wreath,” Miller said.

Within a few days, the department pulled together two wreaths. They partnered with a local Home Depot to get the wreath and lights.

This year, the two wreaths were split: one at the headquarters and one displayed at various events during December. Next year, Miller said they hope to have a wreath at every fire station.

Reflecting on the “trial run” of the wreaths, Miller is positive about the outcome. The goal is to have zero structure fires, but awareness is essential for the fire department.

Miller said at events like the Roswell Christmas tree lighting, people were curious about the wreath that displayed only green lights.

“For the first year, and really just having a few days to grow this idea, I think we’ve had a pretty solid impact,” Miller said.

Once the conversation is sparked, the department hopes to tell residents about major fire safety

practices, especially ones relevant during the holidays.

Miller said cooking is the leading cause for home fires, and the second leading cause of home fire deaths. They often happen when cooking is left unattended.

“We want to stress the awareness while cooking of being present and mindful of the heating equipment on your stove,” Miller said.

While the effort to end home fires is a year-round concern, Miller pointed to things like holiday meals and space heater fires as issues around the coldest time of year.

He cautioned people to not leave space heaters unattended, and to heat frozen pipes with circulating warm air.

Miller said the red bulbs on the wreath bring home the reality of structure fires.

“Each of these bulbs, they represent a human being or a family that’s been directly impacted by a structure fire,” Miller said. “Many of them are preventable.”

Burns named Member of Year for Cumming Vietnam Veterans

CUMMING, Ga. — David Burns of Cumming, a Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War, has been selected as Member of the Year for Cumming Chapter 1030 of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

The award was presented at the organization’s annual holiday party and awards ceremony Dec. 6 at the Cumming Recreation Center.

The selection is made by Chapter President Gary Goyette who said Burns’ work on behalf of the membership as secretary and his efforts to revitalize the chapter website made the choice elementary.

“As the official record keeper

of our organization, Dave Burns has not only kept accurate minutes of our meetings but also communicated information important to our membership in a concise and timely fashion,” Goyette said. “In addition, he has given our website a fresh look while keeping the information interesting and up to date.”

In all, about a dozen other members were recognized for their contributions to Chapter 1030 during the 2022 program year.

For more information about the chapter and its activities, visit: vva1030-cumming.com.

Junior Theater Festival to hit Atlanta

ATLANTA — The 2023 Junior Theater Festival will host 125 groups from 28 states as well as groups from Washington, D.C., Canada and Australia in Atlanta Jan. 13-15 for fellowship, singing, dancing, acting and learning. Called a “rousing celebration of theater” by The New York Times, for the past 20 years thousands of musical theater students and their teachers have made the pilgrimage to this annual, event for young people and educators creating musical theater worldwide.

The announcement was made by Timothy Allen McDonald, founder and CEO of iTheatrics and the Junior Theater Group, which produces the international Junior Theater Festivals.

“These students and teachers are not just the future of musical theater — they are musical theater,” McDonald said. Their positive impact is huge. They chart cast albums; they sell out shows. They introduce so many to musical theater through their

own productions, and they continually evolve this art form through their storytelling. After 20 years of this festival, we’ve seen what prioritizing the arts can do for individuals, communities and musical theater itself, and we understand the importance of giving theater kids the opportunity to be in the company of thousands of other people who care just as much about this art form as they do.”

At the festival, each group will perform 15 minutes of a Broadway Junior musical for adjudicators.

In addition to mainstage performances featuring powerhouse Broadway and West End guests, the groups will enjoy a keynote address by Thomas Schumacher, president and producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, a “Mean Girls” panel featuring conversations with and performances by the original Broadway cast and a “New Works Showcase” of performance selections from upcoming Broadway Junior musicals.

PROVIDED

Chapter 1030 President Gary Goyette, left, presents the Member of the Year award to David Burns at the group’s annual holiday part Dec. 6.

Start the new year prepared for your in-home care needs

Brought to You by - Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs

With the beginning of a New Year, it’s a great time to assess your care needswhether it’s the need for live-in care or using the benefits of your Long-Term Care policy.

Live-in care alternatives allow you to age in place in the comfort and safety of your own home. A skilled and well-matched caregiver lives in your loved ones home, providing daytime support care ideal for challenges like decreased mobility, fall dangers and conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. They’re also available for occasional nighttime assistance or emergencies. But a caregiver needs five hours of uninterrupted sleep and eight total hours of sleep, so if care is needed throughout the night this option was unavailable, making a team of caregivers and more expensive fees the norm. Home Helpers takes a different approach, providing a nighttime caregiver for supplemental assistance. This allows your primary caregiver to get the rest they need, is more economical than an hourly team and creates a safe, calming environment with no shift changes during the day.

If you have a Long-Term Care Policy (LTC) this is the time to review your annual records and policy. As care needs begin to surface, many people aren’t using the benefits they’ve faithfully paid for or understand when it makes sense to utilize LTC. While LTC can be applied towards assisted living, it can also apply towards in-home care if provided by a licensed agency.

There are typically two circumstances when you can consider starting LTC. The first is when you need help with at least two Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s), those everyday basic activities of bathing, dressing, toileting or incontinence, transferring and eating. The second is when there is cognitive impairment due to conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, where help is needed with reminders and cues to just get through each day. Your LTC plan will have forms that you can provide to your doctor who will

write an order confirming the need for assistance. Using your LTC policy does not affect Medicare.

Your policy has daily benefit amounts, maximums and terms you need to know. There is typically an elimination period of 30, 60 or 90 days depending on your policy. This may be waived for in-home care and reimbursement could start immediately. It’s important to stay current with your premiums but remember, when you start using your policy for care you won’t pay premiums. Call your provider if you have questions about these details.

At Home Helpers, we can help you navigate the use of your LTC Plan, handle all the ongoing paperwork and filings that are needed and even join you in a call to your LTC provider to help determine what your policy provides.

Our heart centered Caregivers can assist with all personal care, help around the house, safely speed up recovery from surgery, or provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s, etc.

We’re here to help - from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 and live-in care. For a free consultation contact Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs today at (770) 681- 0323.

Barnacles on the ship of life

Over the next few months, we’ll take a closer look at a few of the most common spots that pop up on our skin. Today’s article is about the most common new growth that develops after the age of 40 – the “seborrheic keratosis” or SK for short.

SK’s are benign, which means that they are not cancerous. Still, they are probably THE growth that patients ask me about most frequently. It is understandable that SK’s generate worry because they exhibit many of the features that we teach people to fear. SK’s grow and sometimes itch. If scratched or traumatized, they can hurt or bleed. They can be brown or black. Such spots often cause alarm.

Changing brown or black growths should be examined by a dermatologist to rule out melanoma. The most common differences between SK’s and melanomas are fairly easy to list but can be hard to apply without practice. And because the stakes for misdiagnosing one’s self are so high (death), having a dermatologist look at spots with you is completely justified. Some patients feel silly coming in for something that turns out to be “nothing” but getting checked is smart. Self-diagnosis is not advised, especially not initially. But, with time, patients can often identify most SK’s confidently using these rules:

SK’s have a few reasonably consistent features: they are usually rough or waxy in texture. They are almost always “stuck-on” in appearance similar to a barnacle on a ship. SK’s often feel as if you can get a fingernail underneath the edge and just pop them off (and some patients can and do!). Waxy SK’s are not particularly rough whereas the rough SK’s are often “warty” in appearance.

Other features of SK’s are less consistent. SK’s are often tan or brown, but they can be black, pink, multicolored or even white. On the feet and ankles, white SK’s are called “stucco keratoses and look as if the ankles and feet were spackled with stucco. Seborrheic keratoses range in size from pinpoint to as big as an oyster shell. Given these variations, color and size are not helpful diagnostic features. They often get thicker and bigger with time, so growth isn’t a helpful differentiator either.

What do you do once you’ve confirmed that a growth is “only” an SK? Seborrheic keratoses are easily treatable and can often be frozen away with liquid nitrogen or curetted away with ease. Insurance unfortunately only considers it medically necessary to treat SK’s that are bleeding, irritated, painful, getting rubbed on by clothing or otherwise symptomatic. “Cosmetic” SK removal is available at most dermatology clinics for a cosmetic fee.

Small SK’s can usually be removed with minimal residual blemish, but larger SK’s may leave a lighter-colored area or subtle scar after removal. In one U.S. study, the average American over the age of 40 developed one new SK per year with the average 65-yearold exhibiting 33 SK’s upon a thorough counting. Given how pleasingly SK’s can be removed when they are still small, a “debarnacling” every year or two is a reasonable choice for most individuals.

Given that skin cancer is more than ten times more common than any other cancer, it pays to familiarize yourself with the appearances of skin cancer and its mimics (Google Images is a great tool for this purpose). For patients with concerning spots, a family history of skin cancer or risk factors such as a history of sun damage or tanning bed use, a visit with a dermatologist is highly recommended.

PROVIDED

Brought to you by - Brent Taylor, MD, Premiere Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

New study finds redheads have a higher pain tolerance

People with red hair have always been known to possess similar, unique traits, such as fair skin and freckles, but did you know that they also feel pain differently than people with other hair color types? It’s true! Research shows that the same gene responsible for giving pigment to hair, skin, and eyes (MCR1), exhibits a mutation in red-haired people that causes them to have a higher tolerance for pain, but also to be more difficult to sedate.

Studies have revealed these findings about redheads:

• They need about 20 percent more anesthesia to be sedated.

• They also need more local topical anesthetics, such as lidocaine, which is why many redheads have a fear of dentists, according to the American Dental Association.

• They need lower doses of painkilling analgesics, such as opioids.

• They easily detect changes in hot and cold temperatures. Be proactive about your care

Unfortunately, these findings that redheads require more anesthesia, but may be more tolerant to pain medications due to their higher pain threshold is still not widely known. It is recommended that redheads be proactive when undergoing a procedure that requires medication for pain.

Tell your surgeon, anesthesiologist, and dentist that you will most likely need more anesthetic or local anesthesia, and that you may be more sensitive to opioids. Avoid taking extra doses of these types of pain medications without talking to your doctor.

Drs. Hood and Remaley at Roswell Dental Care understand and customize treatment for each person. We assure you will feel confident in the solution you choose before beginning any treatment. For enhanced comfort, we offer FREE nitrous oxide. You can rest assured that your experience will be positive, relaxing, and rewarding on many levels. Give our office a call at (470) 288-1152 or visit us at www. roswelldentalcare.com, to begin your journey to happy and pain-free oral healthcare!

Brought to you by – Roswell Dental Care

PROVIDED

The state of mental health:

changing the conversation in 2023

receive any mental health treatment (44th).

• Youth with severe depression did not receive consistent treatment (42nd).

Even before COVID-19 the state of our mental health was on the decline. Since 2019 we have heard reports that “our children are not OK”, “90% of adults say mental health is a crisis”, “suicide rates are on the rise”, and “over 107K people died of a drug overdose in the past 12-month period”.

In October of 2022, Mental Health America (MHA) released their annual report for “The State of Mental Health in America 2023”. MHA uses 15 measurements to create a national snapshot and state-by-state rankings for this report. It is also worth noting that the most recent data is from 2020, so it will be several years before we realize the full impact of COVID-19 on our mental wellbeing. Key findings show that during the reporting period:

• 21% of adults experienced a mental illness.

• 15% of adults had a substance use disorder.

• 55% of adults with a mental illness received no treatment.

• 16% of youth reported suffering from at least one major depressive episode.

• 60% of youth with major depression did not receive mental health treatment.

The report also shows that the State of Georgia finished at or near the bottom in the following categories (1 being the highest ranking and 51 being the lowest ranking):

• Access to mental health care (49th).

• Adults with a mental illness did not receive treatment (43rd).

• Adults with a mental illness who were not insured (47th).

• Adults reporting 14+ mentally unhealthy days a month who could not see a doctor due to costs (51st).

• Youth with major depression did not

• Youth with private insurance that did not cover mental or emotional problems (44th).

• Mental health workforce availability (47th).

While these key findings are disappointing and continue to move in the wrong direction, it is also worth noting some major mental health improvements being made at the local, state and national levels. Join The Summit for 2 community events during the month of January to learn more about new laws and legislation, state and local support, and services available in our community.

The Summit Open House, 2750 Old Alabama Rd., Wednesday, January 18th, 9:00-11:00am. Join our clinical team for presentations on our services, programs and community partners and learn more about our mission and vision of meeting the behavioral health needs of our community by removing common barriers to care through awareness, accessibility, and affordability.

Changing the Conversation Surrounding Mental Health: Georgia Update, Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, 69 N. Main, Thursday, January 26th, 10:0011:30am. Join this community discussion about 9-8-8, Georgia HB1013, CHOA’s Behavioral and Mental Health program, and other mental health topics impacting our community. Panelists will include representatives from Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability (DBHDD), Fulton County DBHDD, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and other mental health stakeholders from our community.

For more information visit our website at SummitCounseling.org or email cmurphy@summitcounseling.org.

The ‘game-changing’ weight loss drug

lesterol or alone in adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater without weighrelated ailments.

How Does It Work

to you by - Hydralive

According to 2018 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, just under half of adults in the US (49.1 percent) tried to lose weight in the prior 12 months. Nevertheless, according to CDC data, the obesity rate that year rose to a record 42.4 percent.

But a new weight loss drug that produced jaw-dropping clinical trial results may be the ammunition needed to help turn the tide.

Semaglutide was developed as a medication for type 2 diabetes, garnering FDA approval in 2017. However, clinical trials and post-marketing surveys demonstrated the drug had the capability of helping people lose weight. In 2021, the FDA approved semaglutide for chronic weight management in adults who are overweight and have at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cho -

Semaglutide helps control blood sugar by stimulating insulin secretion, while protecting against cardiovascular problems. The medication also causes a “minor delay” in gastric emptying, which contributes to people feeling fuller longer and therefore eating less.

So not only does Semaglutide decrease hunger, but also the volume of food one can eat at a sitting.

Semaglutide is a tiny, simple, easyto-administer injection you give to yourself once per week subcutaneously (under the skin) in your abdomen, upper arm or thigh.

But the injectable weight loss medication is not without its downsides. The main side effects of semaglutide are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation. These side effects tend to come on early during treatment and may get better over time or go away as your body adjusts to the medicine.

Who is Eligible for Semaglutide

Semaglutide can be prescribed for adults who have obesity, with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 30; or overweight, with a BMI greater than 27 accompanied by at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.

Semaglutide is not recommended for those with a personal or family history of certain endocrine or thyroid tumors, including medullary thyroid cancer.

How to Get Started

At Hydralive Therapy, we take a holistic approach to wellness. We understand semaglutide can be extremely beneficial across a wide spectrum of people with obesity, but we also believe it is important to use this medication in conjunction with lifestyle changes.

When you are ready to get started, a medical consult is performed with our physician assistant or nurse practitioner. They will review your present health situation and determine your eligibility for Semaglutide. From there, they will prescribe Semaglutide and coach you along your weight loss

journey.

Semaglutide could be your path to long-term weight management. Call us at (470) 359-4815 to schedule a consultation today!

Brought

Brought to you by - Dr. Bradley

Just like the American Express commercials, “Membership Has Its Privileges”. Dental membership programs are a subscription service where patients pay an annual or monthly fee and receive complimentary preventive hygiene services and discounted pricing on additional services. If you don’t have employer paid dental benefits, a dental membership plan is often the most cost-effective way of receiving the preventive services that you need each year to maintain a healthy, diseasefree mouth.

A dental membership program, like Plan for Health at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health, includes:

• No Deductibles

• No Yearly Maximums

• No Claim Forms

• No Pre-Authorizations

• No Exclusions

• Immediate Eligibility

• Simplicity

More than dental insurance, Plan for Health is a yearly membership program with lots of benefits fit to you

according to your needs. The Plan for Health includes 3-4 professional dental cleanings a year, comprehensive, periodic, and emergency dental exams, all dental radiographs as needed, fluoride treatments, and discounts on dental treatment. Call the Atlanta Center for Dental Health for more information at no cost. We are devoted to educating and helping as many people as possible.

The Atlanta Center for Dental Health is a team of exceptionally talented professionals dedicated to providing comprehensive oral healthcare for the health and happiness of our patients, their families, and our community. We are committed to providing a lifetime of optimal oral health to our patients and fostering relationships of mutual trust, excellent customer service, and the best patient care avail-

able. Patients are at ease knowing that their care will be administered with a sense of kindness, care, and comfort, and we will not rest until they are completely satisfied with their smile.

Prevention is key. Much of dental disease is preventable. Do you have a Plan for Health?

Dr. Bradley Hepler and Dr. Jeffrey Priluck and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide all the modern advances that contemporary aesthetic dentistry offers. You will realize immediate results with non-invasive and often inexpensive procedures to enhance your smile. If you would like a complementary consultation to discover your smile restoring options, please call the Atlanta Center for Dental Health at 770-9922236. Dr. Bradley Hepler and Dr. Jeffrey Priluck have spent many hours dedicated to perfecting and updating the latest and best techniques in dentistry. It is with this breadth of knowledge that they provide each patient with the perfect solution to their situation, their life, and their goals. It is our pleasure to serve this community and help as many people as possible live their best life.

Hepler, Dr. Jeffrey Priluck at Atlanta Center for Dental Health

ADOBE STOCK

Chattahoochee River receives funding aid from federal legislation

By REBECCA GRAPEVINE Capitol Beat

ATLANTA — President Joe Biden has signed legislation aimed at protecting the Chattahoochee River.

The first-of-its-kind measure authorizes $90 million in federal funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work with local partners on water projects throughout the Chattahoochee River system.

Biden signed the bill recently as part of congressional reauthorization of the Water Resources and Development Act.

“This exciting new program will improve water quality, protect essential public works, and restore ecosystems along the river, which supplies much of our state’s drinking water,” said U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., who introduced the bill into the Senate along with Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.

“Clean water is essential for healthy and thriving communities,” Warnock said. “While the Chattahoochee River’s water quality has improved in recent years, hundreds of miles of Chatta-

hoochee watershed waterways still do not meet water-quality standards. I’m proud to have worked with Senator Ossoff to ensure this provision that will invest in improving, protecting, and preserving the Chattahoochee River gets signed into law.”

According to the Georgia River Network, the Chattahoochee supplies 70 percent of Metro Atlanta’s drinking water. The river is also a key source of water for farmers and an important source of power generation through hydroelectric dams.

However, more than 1,000 miles of waterway within the Chattahoochee watershed do not meet water quality standards, creating potential health risks to humans and wildlife.

In 2019, the National Park Service reported visitors to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area added more than $200 million to the metro region’s economy, supporting more than 2,000 local jobs.

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

HOME Real

Estate secures major gift to tuition-free school

ATLANTA — HOME Real Estate announced its gift Dec. 12 to The Boyce L. Ansley School, a private school for children experiencing homelessness in downtown Atlanta, alongside that of matching donors Todd and Kim Snell, totaling $60,000.

The matched donation will enable the kindergarten through third grade school to add a fourth grade to their program starting in the fall of 2023. The school currently serves 60 children, and the donation allows it to increase that number to 75.

The Boyce L. Ansley School opened Aug. 1, 2018, on the ground floor of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in the heart of Atlanta with a pre-kindergarten class. Within two years, the school had outgrown its generously donated space and moved across the street to a larger, more permanent home on Ralph McGill Boulevard.

The parents and scholars of The Boyce L. Ansley School thrive within a framework of structure and sup-

port that provides two meals daily year-round, uniforms, transportation, trauma therapy, assistance with finding permanent housing, financial training for parents and other services on a case-by-case basis. They have employed one full-time therapist, two interventionists, 15 staff members and 20 regular volunteers.

"HOME is very proud of our involvement with The Boyce L. Ansley School. Their work is having a major effect on these families' lives and helping to break the cycle of homelessness plaguing our city. Their passionate commitment to these children and their parents makes me want to work harder, so I can give them more money," said Travis Reed, president of HOME Real Estate.

HOME agents have donated over $1 million to Atlanta charitable institutions since opening in February of 2021.

For more information, visit: homegeorgia.com and theansleyschool. org.

CALENDAR

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT!

ENCHANTED WOODLAND TRAIL

What: The fairies and gnomes have been busy building whimsical houses along Chattahoochee Nature Center’s forested trails. Slow down as you search for houses made from tiny natural objects. Take notice of the beautiful and enchanting features of the winter woods.

When: Up to Feb. 28, open daily

Where: Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell Cost: $15 for adults

More info: chattnaturecenter.org

JUST FOR FUN:

TRIVIA NIGHT

What: Whether you’re the whiz of the group or the dunce, a trivia outing is about so much more than the questions themselves. Bring your friends and test your knowledge while you drink a pint at the King George Tavern.

When: Thursday, Jan. 12, 8 p.m. Where: King George Tavern, 4511 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody More info: kinggeorgetavern.com

FROSTY MINI GOLF TOURNAMENT AT THE FRINGE

What: Putters League Atlanta is hosting a Mini Golf Tournament at The Fringe Miniature Golf. There will be three rounds, where players can play to win a $1,000 purse. The Frosty tournament will have a purse for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place overall, 1st place Women’s Division, Most Aces and Lowest Round.

When: Saturday, Jan. 14, 11 a.m. Where: Area 51: Aurora Cineplex and The Fringe Miniature Golf, 5100 Commerce Parkway, Roswell Cost: $35 More info: Sign up at PuttersLeague.com

LEARN AND LEAD:

BIRD WALK

What: Morgan Falls Overlook Park boasts several habitats, and thus a large variety of birds over the course of the year: mudflats (shorebirds, including Avocets in 2017), lake (winter ducks, nesting bald eagles), river, woodland, and field (sparrows). The walk will involve possibly wet grass, stairs, gently sloped pavement and unpaved trails. A scope and loaner binoculars will be available. The walk will begin at the overlook, past the playground. Register online.

When: Sunday, Jan. 15, 8 a.m. Where: Morgan Fall Overlook Park & Dam, 200 Morgan Falls Road, Sandy Springs More info: sandyspringsga.gov

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ART & FILM CELEBRATION

What: The Sandy Springs annual tribute will feature interactive art projects and a film designed to celebrate, educate, and share the teachings of Dr. King.

When: Monday, Jan. 16, 1 p.m. Where: Studio Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: Admission is free, reservations encouraged More info: sandyspringsga.gov

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE

What: Register online to join the City of Dunwoody’s annual day of giving back. Available projects include tree planting with Trees Atlanta, daffodil planting with the Daffodil Project, Cleanup at Brook Run Community Garden, plantings at Dunwoody Nature Center, and New Year prep at the Spruill Center for the Arts, as well as a blood drive at Brook Run Park and an ongoing food drive through the Souper Bowl of Caring.

When: Monday, Jan. 16 Where: Locations vary More info: dunwoodyga.gov

COMMUNITY:

ROSWELL RESTAURANT WEEKS

What: It’s time for Roswell Restaurant Weeks. This year, more than 45 restaurants are participating with a variety of cuisine and experiences. Check out RoswellRW.com for a list of all the participating restaurants and make your reservations for a delicious meal.

When: Jan. 19-Feb. 5 Where: Location varies More info: roswellrw.com

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

To promote your event, follow these easy steps:

1. Visit AppenMedia.com/Calendar;

2. Provide the details for your event including title, description, location and date;

3. Click the red button that reads “Create event”

4. That’s it! Submissions are free, though there are paid opportunities to promote your event in print and online.

Happy New Year and a happy life

“If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” That nugget of motivational wisdom was gifted to me early in life by a coach and mentor. It isn’t about rugged individualism or selfcenteredness, as that may seem selfish. True, personal and financial self-sufficiency largely is a doit–yourself project, but all of us depend on others for some aspect of our varying needs and ultimate success. Parents, spouses, loved ones, teachers, coaches, mentors, friends, business associates, doctors and nurses, military and police, and countless others, whether truck drivers, store clerks, farmers, repair specialists, etc., play a vital role in our daily rounds and life.

LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP

He got annoyed when he could not find the coffee. I approached him and asked, “Sir, the coffee is out in the lobby. May I get you some? How would you like it?” He agreed and seemed pleased. As I returned with his coffee, creamer and sugar packets, a lady at a table nearby gave me a smiling nod of approval. I remembered that incident when reading Kelly’s book. It seemed at the time to be a trivial and easy thing to do, but it was a “Holy Moment.”

Kelly defines a Holy Moment as “a single moment in which you open yourself to God. You set aside personal preference and self-interest, and for one moment you do what you prayerfully believe God is calling you to do.”

The holy season of Advent, Hanukkah and Christmas, and thoughts about New Year’s resolutions, had me thinking about how I relate to others, spurred, too, by a new book by acclaimed author and speaker, Matthew Kelly. The powerful but short 116-page tome, “Holy Moments: A Handbook for the Rest of Your Life,” was a Christmas gift from St. Brigid Catholic Church in Johns Creek. The book is not for sale, but you can order six free copies by visiting HolyMomentsBook. com. The message is needed in these turbulent and challenging times.

This past Thanksgiving, I was staying in a hotel along the Cristina River in downtown Wilmington, Delaware. I was in town to spend the holiday with my son and his family. I was feeling a bit blue and down as it was the first Thanksgiving that I was without my wife and best friend, as Helen had passed away in July following a tough year of needing 24/7 care and, finally, hospice at home. Missing her, it was easy to feel sorry for myself.

There was a large self-serve breakfast room, but the coffee service was outside of the dining room in the lobby some distance away, a bit inconvenient. An elderly gentleman with a cane came in, walking with difficulty and looking like he was having a challenging day.

In that instant I could have ignored the man, seeing him as irascible as I continued to eat my breakfast, but for some reason I jumped in to help him with an act of kindness. Outside along the river it was cold, foggy and raining, a gray day conducive to the funk I was in. But helping that man, as simple as it was, gave me a lift as I began to focus not on what I’d lost, but on what I had, including the gift of my son and family with whom I was to spend the day. Helen was in my life for 56 years, one year of courtship and 55 years married. Her children and grandchildren are her lasting gift to me.

This past year I lost my wife, sister, and two dear friends, but it helps to recognize, not what is gone, but what is yet to be, appreciating the gift of love and friendship that sustains uplifting memories. Kelly advises that “the principle of Holy Moments teaches us to focus on the good we can do.”

In a recent workshop he asked participants to list the 10 aspects of life that mattered most. Cited were “health, marriage, family, spirituality, home life, finances, friendships, recreation, community, and personal growth.”

That’s an excellent list for Godcentered, “Holy Moment-powered” New Year resolutions as a foundation for serious, life-changing, and purpose-affirming planning and actions. How do your goals for 2023 and beyond relate to the list of 10?

Thank You!

Our local news is free to read but not to produce. Milton 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.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Regarding ‘Around and around we continue to go’

I would like to comment on Pat Fox’s article of December 8, 2022 regarding roundabouts.

As the Transportation Director for the City of Roswell during that time I have intimate knowledge of all the details of the Grimes Bridge at Norcross roundabout project.

First, like many others, I am amazed that a decade has passed since we constructed this milestone project. Second, I am grateful to Mr. Fox for highlighting the significance of this project not only for Roswell, but for the surrounding communities as well.

Mr. Fox did not contact me in advance of publishing this article. But he didn’t need to. As usual, Mr. Fox did his homework. I can verify his article is accurate in every detail, except for one small one. The intersection of Grimes Bridge at Norcross was in fact a signalized intersection, not stop controlled. Regardless, it was consistently one of the highest accident locations in Roswell at the time. The need for improvement at this fivelegged intersection was obvious. But the idea of improving it at the time using a roundabout was controversial to say the least. Mr. Fox is correct in the fact that the

Formula:

Continued from Page 24

How do finances play into the other nine? Financial self-sufficiency bolsters your ability to aid others, but you don’t have to be wealthy to help.

Read history books and the Old and New Testaments in the Bible. The world is a mess and always has been, plagued by “unholy moments” that won’t change. But we can change. We can spur Holy Moments in our family, community, country. There are countless charities locally that we can support with volunteer efforts and giving. Community food banks, North Fulton Community Charities, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Atlanta Mission and the outreach efforts of your house of worship, as examples. Global charities such as Doctors Without Borders and Samaritan’s Purse depend on Holy Moments support.

accident rate declined dramatically after the construction of the roundabout.

This article brought back memories for me that are still vivid today. Ms. Smith, Mr. Burroughs, the large trees, contentious public meetings, the struggle to combat fear and emotion with facts and sound engineering. I also remember how we spent a great deal of time and energy educating the public on how roundabouts worked since this was the first one many drivers had ever experienced. In the end, the citizens put their trust in us and the rest is history. I remain grateful to the Mayor, the City Council, the City staff, and all the residents and stakeholders who supported this groundbreaking project.

Finally, given the recent controversies surrounding the media, including misinformation and disinformation, I am encouraged that there are still professionals like Mr. Fox who take the time to “journal” significant events in our lives in a balanced, accurate and thought provoking manner.

Steve Acenbrak, Former Director, Roswell Department of Transportation

Some Holy Moments may require great personal sacrifice, as in caring for an ailing loved one. But Holy Moments also liberate you from an energy-eroding sense of helplessness. As Kelly notes, they move us from a passive state (waiting for something good to happen), to an active state (making something good happen). Holy Moments offer a gift of energy, purpose, and focus.

Order the free book. It’s truly a handbook for a great 2023 and “the rest of your life.”

Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group; 770-4413553; lewis@capitalinsightgrp.com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA). Lewis is a registered representative and investment adviser representative of SFA, otherwise unaffiliated with Capital Insight Group. He’s a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

OPINION

Webb family dairy in Sandy Springs was well equipped

Clifford and Clara Sanders Webb, along with their 12 children, moved from Mayson Avenue in Atlanta to the intersection of Glenridge Road and Johnson Ferry Road in 1924. Mayson Avenue was where the Lindbergh Marta Station is today. The family traveled down Lindbergh Drive across Peachtree Road to Peachtree Battle Road, then north on Northside Drive toward Sandy Springs. The cattle the family owned followed behind. (Interview with Montez Webb Shackleford, 2008)

Their new home was on 24 acres. They called the farm C.S. Webb Dairy Farm, named for Clara Sanders Webb. They enlarged the small house that already sat on the property. Local Sandy Springs builder Arthur Mabry constructed the dairy buildings. There was a dairy barn, milk house, sleeping barn, engine room, smokehouse and boiler room. Fifteen stalls were built on either side of the dairy barn, and the barn doors were wide enough to allow milk trucks to park inside at night. (More of Sandy Springs Past Tense, 1982, Lois Coogle)

The C.S. Webb Dairy kept Aberdeen Angus and Holstein cows. As soon as each child reached the age of 10, they were expected to help with the milking. Each child had their own stool and bucket. The buckets were carried to the milk house where the milk was strained into large, sterilized cans, bottled in glass bottles with a stopper and stored in a large ice box. Ice was brought in from the Buckhead Icehouse in 100-pound blocks.

The neighborhood of Aberdeen Forest at Glenridge Drive and Glenairy Drive gets its name from the C.S. Webb Dairy that once was on this land and the Aberdeen Angus cows they raised.

Milk and other products such as buttermilk and chocolate milk were delivered by truck seven days a week to Atlanta. The people of Sandy Springs and other neighboring communities did not need milk delivery because most families had their own cow. The Webb family wrote bills and collected at the end of each month.

The children attended Hammond Grammar School, which was located where Mount Vernon Towers is today at Mount Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road meet. Daughter Montez Webb Shackleford recalled going to high school at North Fulton High School on Delmont Drive, which is now The Atlanta

International School. She rode a bus from Sandy Springs.

The family attended Sandy Springs Methodist Church. In the summer, they went to the Sandy Springs Methodist Camp Meeting, a week of outdoor church services held at the time when crops were laid by. This was when farmers waited to harvest their crops.

The Webb family only bought flour and sugar at stores. In addition to the dairy and vegetable garden, they had a fruit orchard. They raised chickens, turkeys, ducks and guineas and always had canned goods and meat stored in the smokehouse. They bought their necessities at Burdette’s Grocery in Sandy

Springs, often bartering with eggs from their farm.

Glenairy Drive and Aberdeen Forest got their names from the Webb Dairy and cattle that once were on the land. When Clifford Webb’s health declined in 1938, the family sold the farm and moved to a home on Sandy Springs Circle. The old home that was part of the dairy farm burned in 1940.

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 BIGGERSTAFF

PROVIDED

Tree stump stone markers spark grave interest

If you have ever visited a cemetery and noticed a stone marker shaped like a tree stump, you experienced a fascinating bit of history. The “tree stone” markers were provided free of charge by an insurance company to its policy holders many years ago. Several of the markers are found in North Fulton cemeteries, others throughout the state. Here is the story behind them.

BOB MEYERS Columnist bobmey@bellsouth.net

Joseph Cullen Root (1844-1913) was a philanthropist and businessman who as a young man in Iowa was member of many fraternal organizations. He operated several businesses, including a grain elevator, two flour mills and a store. He sold insurance and real estate, taught bookkeeping and practiced law.

In 1890 he founded Woodmen of the World in Omaha, Nebraska, a membershiponly insurance company. He wanted to create a fraternal membership organization that would look after the financial and social wellbeing of its members and would welcome Jews, Gentiles, Catholics, Protestants, agnostics, and atheists. He believed that working as a woodman cutting trees was a noble occupation, and he was aware that his last name could be associated with the order’s name and might imply an organization growing from its roots, much like a tree in the forest. He wanted to “clear away problems of financial security for its members.”

In 1913, he visited “camps” or “lodges” in the South, including Georgia. He became ill during a Southern tour and died in December 1913 at age 69.

In 1922, Woodmen of the World began its own radio station in Omaha. By 1935 it was one of the most powerful radio stations in the country with 5,000 watts of power. In 1949 the organization launched a TV channel with local resident Johnny Carson hosting his show “The Squirrel’s Nest.”

From 1890 to 1900, the organization’s life insurance policies had a provision that provided grave markers free of charge to members. From 1900 to the 1920s, members paid as little as $100 for the markers. The cost was added to a member’s life insurance policy with the actual cost determined by how elaborate the member wanted the marker to be. Due to the increasing cost of the stones, the organization discontinued the benefit by the mid-1920s.

A single 4 to 5-foot-high stone was designed for adults and three stacked logs for children. The organization sent the pattern to a local stone carver in

Joseph Cullen Root sits for a formal portrait probably in the early part of the last century. Root was a successful businessman who founded a unique membership-based insurance company in Omaha, Nebraska, that provided many social and economic benefits to its members. The Woodmen Life Insurance Society has been very successful over the years and currently has more than $39 billion in life insurance in force.

the deceased woodman’s hometown. The pattern could be altered locally as desired. Woodworking tools are sometimes depicted on the stones such as axes or mauls. Doves and lilies were also popular additions. The company moto “Dum Tacet Clamet” (Though silent he speaks) on a round medallion is often carved on the stump.

Ed Malowney, local historian and president of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society, has been intrigued by tree stones and has identified the locations of several in North Fulton cemeteries including Clear Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church in Johns Creek and Warsaw Cemetery in Johns Creek.

Todd Wiley, regional director of Woodmen of the World in North Georgia, notes that some markers are 12 to 14 feet tall and very elaborate.

“It all depended on what the policy owner wanted,” he says.

In the North Georgia mountains, there are several tree stones in almost every cemetery, according to Wiley. The cemetery at the Level Grove Baptist church in Cornelia has at least five Woodman markers, for example. Since the Woodmen of the World was a membership organization, the social aspect of affiliation was important, especially in small, isolated mountain communities.

In 1890,

Woodmen

World,

fraternal benefit organization, to make life insurance affordable to everyone. During its first 10 years, the company provided free tombstones in the shape of tree trunks with their policies. From 1900 to 1920, members bought a $100 rider on their policies. The tombstones were discontinued in the 1920s. Several tombstones have been found in north Fulton County cemeteries. This tombstone marks the grave of Dr. J.A. Parsons in the Warsaw Cemetery in Johns Creek.

“It provided people with something to do and be involved in,” according to Wiley. There was a summer camp for children of members in Gainesville, he added.

Woodmen of the World continues to be active in communities in numerous ways. Since 1998, the organization has partnered with the American Red Cross to provide disaster relief nationwide. Under the program, local Woodmen lodges encourage members to volunteer with their local Red Cross chapters and provide support for Red Cross relief efforts. The company’s national cause is feed the hungry, which it supports by partnering with local soup kitchens and food pantries throughout the United States.

Tree stone monuments can be found in the West, Midwest and South. Today, Woodmen of the World is also known as Omaha Woodmen Life Insurance Society. According to the company, at the end of 2021 the socially conscious organization Root founded had $11.5 billion in assets and more than $39 billion of life insurance in force.

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.

ED MALOWNEY/PROVIDED

Joseph Cullen Root founded

of the

a

FIND A GRAVE

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

Now Hiring at Lazy Dog Restaurant Alpharetta!

$500 sign on bonus once training is completed! Hiring for servers, cooks, bartenders, bussers, host/hostesses, and more. There are competitive wages, tips for culinary teammates, flexible schedules and tons of opportunity to grow!

Interviews are held on site at 10800 Haynes Bridge Rd. Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Text LD45 to 52345 to apply or call 430-735-4501.

Agilysys NV, LLC seeks Manager, Technical Services in Alpharetta, GA to conduct hands-on design & programming of new product features. Apply at jobpostingtoday.com Ref: 42218

ENTERTAINMENT ATTENDANTS.

ALPHARETTA, GA.

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

Dgital Mrketng Stratgst (Cumming, GA): Identfy targt audiencs & dvlop mrketng plans wth spcfic objtcves across dffrent chnnls & segmnts. Reqs: Bach or equiv & 2 yrs of search engne optmzation exp in dgital mrketng or rel. Mail resume to: HR, Beverly Rug Inc, 1252 Irvine Blvd, Fl 2, Tustin, CA 92780

Gutters

Pinestraw

PINESTRAW, MULCH

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

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

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

Call Rachael at 678-250-4546

678-898-7237

Roofing

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 1-833-610-1936 BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1-855-903-3048

Attention