Milton Herald - May 16, 2024

Milton grad takes honor for good jam

PORTLAND, Ore. — Farmers Jam, an Atlanta-based business that creates natural jams sourced from local and organic farms, earned a 2024 Good Food Award at a ceremony in Portland, Oregon.

The business, founded by James Carr — a Milton High School graduate and former account executive with Appen Media Group, earned the award in the Elixir category with its Strawberry Lemon Cocktail Syrup.

Chosen through a rigorous blind tasting and sustainability vetting process from nearly 2,000 entries, the winners rose to the top on the basis of taste while also demonstrating an outstanding commitment to sustainable environmental and social practices.

“It is an absolute thrill to win a Good Food Award,” Carr said. “We’re honored to be alongside some amazing makers and creators who prioritize local sourcing, quality ingredients, and supporting farmers.”

Every sale for Farmers Jam contributes to the organization’s annual fruit tree fund. According to its website, Farmers Jam has helped plant more than 1,800 fruit trees and bushes on family farms since 2018.

The Good Food Awards, in its 14th year, is organized by the Good Food Foundation in collaboration with a broad community of food crafters, grocers, chefs, food writers, activists and passionate food lovers.

Farmers Jam is hosting a local celebration at Parker’s on Ponce in Decatur on May 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be a specialty menu with drinks featuring Farmers Jam Cocktail Syrups in partnership with Cathead Distillery.

Proceeds from drinks purchased will generate donations to Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit that provides emergency assistance for food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources.

JAMES CARR/PROVIDED

Jason Waters and James Carr, Milton graduate and founder of Atlanta-based Farms Jam, celebrate the business’ 2024 Good Food Award in the Elixir category at a ceremony in Portland, Oregon. Waters is the owner of Georgia Routes, a mobile bar that uses Farmers Jam cocktail syrups.

Milton places hold on zoning requests in Deerfield district

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Milton officials placed an emergency moratorium on zoning applications in the Deerfield district May 7.

The City Council voted to delay rezonings or land use changes to the form-based code for the Deerfield district until it receives recommendations from the Community Development Department. The Deerfield district includes Ga. 9, Windward Parkway and the city’s border with Ga. 400 and Alpharetta.

City Attorney Ken Jarrard said a public hearing and 6-month moratorium will follow the 30-day emergency moratorium.

“This is the way we immediately stop anybody coming in and seeking land use permissions on those parcels that are governed by the form-based code,” he said.

The moratorium follows the city’s announcement of the Deerfield Implementation Plan, which will combine several studies into a guiding document for the future of the commercial area.

There will be multiple and varied opportunities for citizens to participate in this process, both inperson and online.

See DEERFIELD, Page 8

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POLICE BLOTTER

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

Suspects smash door at woman’s residence

MILTON, Ga. — A Milton woman reported to police May 4 that someone rang her doorbell, smashed the front door, then fled from her home on Wyndham Farms Drive.

Police observed glass fragments inside the front hallway, door damage that will cost about $1,000 to fix, according to the

incident report.

Police spoke with a neighbor whose surveillance footage showed two males running from the woman’s residence and heading southbound, the report says. The neighbor told police one suspect was around 5-foot-7, wearing a white hoodie and blue jeans.

Police patrolled the area but did not locate the suspects, the report says.

Police log busy night ferrying woman

ROSWELL, Ga. — In the span of eight hours, an Alpharetta woman, reportedly pregnant, took three trips to jail, had a physical altercation with an officer and went to the hospital twice under police custody, before ending up in the downtown Rice Street detention center. The incident all stemmed from a ticket for speeding and unlicensed driving, according to reports and interviews obtained by Appen Media.

Roswell police stopped a couple April 17 after a remote-controlled camera flagged a car whose owner had an active warrant out of Dunwoody. The officer reported that the registrant, a 27-yearold Alpharetta woman, was sitting in the passenger seat while her boyfriend was driving the vehicle.

Roswell contacted the Dunwoody Police Department and confirmed the warrant for failure to appear in court, and said they wished to take custody of the subject. As a result, the Roswell officer placed her in custody.

Roswell police gave the male driver, also 27, a ticket for driving without a license. They also allowed him to have someone come pick up the car so it wouldn’t be towed.

Meanwhile, the City of Dunwoody gave an update. They would not be able to send an officer to pick up the woman.

The Roswell officer tried to take the subject to the North Fulton Jail Annex in Alpharetta. Staff there turned her away due to complaints of pregnancy cramps and nausea, according to police

documents. Roswell petitioned Dunwoody again, but the agency remained unable to pick up the subject.

The Roswell officer took her to North Fulton Hospital, stopping for gas along the way. Hospital staff evaluated the woman. When Dunwoody again declined to get the subject, Roswell released her.

A few hours later and 2 miles away, another camera flagged the vehicle again. This time Alpharetta police responded. Seeing the car with a female driver enter an apartment complex parking lot, the officer followed. He reported seeing a woman walking quickly toward the building, while he exited his patrol car and ran after her.

According to police documents, the officer and subject went back and forth about her identity, which she initially denied. When asked about her warrant, the woman “stated she had already dealt with it today, through Roswell Police Department.” The officer clarified he was with Alpharetta Police and had her walk back to the parking lot.

There, a scuffle allegedly broke out. The officer reported grabbing her wrist, after which “she quickly pulled it to the front of her body,” and began trying to make phone calls. The struggle continued, according to the officer’s narrative. “Because she was consistently pulling away I pushed [the subject] to the ground, on the pine straw in the planter.” The report went on to describe a continuing struggle, with the woman trying to use Siri to call her boyfriend.

Eventually, the officer secured the subject in handcuffs and led her to his patrol car.

Roswell and other Alpharetta officers thenarrived at the scene. Roswell police explained what had happened a few hours earlier. Alpharetta police then contacted Dunwoody. Again, that agency confirmed the warrant and said they wanted to extradite her.

Alpharetta kept the subject in custody, this time adding charges for obstruction and driving with a suspended license. They took her back to North Fulton hospital “for medical clearance from being pushed [to] the ground and her pregnancy.” After receiving medical clearance, police transported her to the Alpharetta jail. Due to the exchange that had taken place there a few hours prior, jail staff denied her entrance. Alpharetta police took her “to the Fulton County Jail at Rice St. in Atlanta where she was admitted.

According to court documents, the woman spent two nights in the Atlanta jail before being released on a $3,000 bond.

Appen Media confirmed the above reports with Dunwoody Police officials. They attributed the actions in part to low manpower, that “call volume was very high during that time” and that they could not commit the personnel to stay at the hospital with the subject.

The subject’s original charges, according to Dunwoody police, were speeding and driving on a suspended license.

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U.S. Treasury official touts clean energy plan for local governments

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By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Regional Commission Board heard a presentation May 8 from a representative of the U.S. Treasury Department on its direct pay program for clean energy initiatives.

The program, part of the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, offers tax-exempt organizations, specifically local governments, federal money to offset project costs associated with clean energy, like electric vehicles.

David Eichenthal, representing the White House, is a senior policy adviser with the U.S. Treasury Department’s Inflation Reduction Act Implementation Office.

The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, created more than 20 tax incentives for clean energy and manufacturing.

The projected impact of the bill on inflation is disputed.

One role of the U.S. Treasury Department, responsible for major elements of the law, is to implement tax incentives for investments in clean energy and manufacturing.

Individuals are eligible for federal tax credits for the purchase of a qualifying clean vehicle purchase and energy improvements to their home.

Most of the tax incentives apply exclusively to businesses, revolving around energy generation and carbon capture, vehicles, manufacturing, fuels, energy efficiency and healthcare.

For many of the incentives, bonuses are available to increase private sector investment in energy security and climate.

David Eichenthal, senior policy adviser with the U.S. Treasury Department, speaks on the Inflation Reduction Act’s direct pay program May 8 to the Atlanta Regional Commission Board. Eichenthal promoted the act’s direct pay program for tax-exempt organizations, like local governments.

Eichenthal almost exclusively discussed the direct pay program.

The Treasury’s Office of Tax Policy and the Internal Revenue Service developed tax regulations and guidance to implement the act’s energy credits and other tax law changes.

Eichenthal said the direct pay program allows for the “blending and grading of different resources,” which allows tax credits to be combined with some loans.

Since some cities and counties across the country started qualifying projects last year, a few have started filing for the tax credits.

“At some point this year, I’m not going to be talking to groups like this about hypothetically what people are doing,” he said. “I’ll be able to say, the city of ‘X’ made

PHOTOS BY HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Members of the Atlanta Regional Commission Board gather at the metropolitan planning organization May 8 to hear a special presentation from the U.S. Treasury Department.

Milton Historical Society plans year’s Spring Fling

MILTON, Ga. — The Milton Historical Society will host its third annual Spring Fling May 18, featuring food, music, bourbon tasting and a collection of local historical artifacts.

Charlie and Sarah Roberts will host the event at the Roberts Party Barn, 13645 Freemanville Road, from 7 to 10 p.m., to include a delicious spread, select wines and specialty cocktails.

Music will be provided by The Bourbon Brothers Band, an upscale jazz band that will perform in their signature ’50s black suits and ties as they sing Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin favorites along with hits of today.

The Milton Package Store will add to the evening with bourbon tasting.

“This year’s Spring Fling will be an

unforgettable evening on a beautiful and scenic 25-acre property in Milton,” said Jeff Dufresne, president of the Milton Historical Society. “It is sure to be an exceptional experience for those fortunate enough to attend.”

Since 2018, the Milton Historical Society has been sharing a love of history with the local community by sponsoring a variety of programs to interest and involve individuals, families and businesses.

Tickets for the event are $100 per person with all proceeds going to support the activities of the Historical Society. To register for the Spring Fling, or to become a patron or corporate sponsor of the organization, visit https://www.miltonhistoricalsocietygeorgia.org.

Down & Derby supports Children’s Healthcare

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — Around 500 guests at the second annual Down & Derby raised more than $255,000 for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta May 4 at Chukkar Farms in southern Cherokee County.

The nonprofit Milton Friends of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hosted the event, inspired by the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.

The nonprofit launched in 2022 as a part of a larger network of Friends groups in and around Metro Atlanta. Milton Friends of CHOA hold fundraisers throughout the year.

Proceeds raised through sponsorships, ticket sales and auctions

support three donor-funded programs at CHOA, Specialized Summer Camps, the Artist-in-Residence Program and the Music Therapy Program.

Milton mom and committee member Jennifer Lux saw the importance of the programs first-hand. Her 7-yearold son was rushed to Scottish Rite in late February with a severe infection of unknown origin.

“To see my son, and so many other children in crisis, perk up at the opportunity to express themselves through art and music, was something I will never forget,” she said. “These

RACHEL YATTEAU PHOTOGRAPHY/PROVIDED

The crowd at Milton Friends of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s second annual Down & Derby fundraiser watches the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby May 4 at Chukkar Farms in southern Cherokee County. The event raised more than $255,000 for the pediatric healthcare provider.

Deerfield:

Mayor Peyton Jamison read two proclamations, declaring May 5-11 as Professional Municipal Clerks Week and May 12-18 as National Police Week.

“This is one of my favorites, it honors some of the best men and women in this city,” Jamison said. “Led by Chief Griffin, y’all do a remarkable job for us.”

Milton Police will hold its annual awards ceremony May 17 at the Public Safety Complex on Ga. 9.

Jamison surprised City Clerk Tammy Lowit with a proclamation recognizing her for help with the 2023 municipal elections and her role as the city’s official record keeper.

In other business, councilmembers approved alcohol licenses for Taco Nest on Ga. 9, Stone House Tap on Crabapple Road and Milton Spirits & Wine on Birmingham Highway.

Sarah Moen, president of the Providence Plantation Homeowners Association, gave the only public comment at the May 6 meeting.

Moen discussed the role of public comment during her neighborhood’s fight against an alcohol license for a farm winery in the Boxwood Estates subdivision. She did not speak during the public hearings for the alcohol licenses.

Instead, Moen directed her comments at the Jan. 17 recommendations on streamlining meetings from City Attorney Jarrard.

At a special-called meeting, Jarrard recommended limiting public comment to two opportunities during formal sessions, one before the consent agenda and one before new business. Each public comment session, he suggested, would be limited to 30 minutes, with three minutes provided for each speaker.

Currently, Milton allows five minutes for each speaker during public comment, with no time limit on the

session.

Moen said meeting efficacy should not be sacrificed for efficiency or convenience.

“Public comments, in general, proved to be vitally important to our neighborhood in our fight against the liquor license,” Moen said. “Our neighborhood would never have received the air time necessary to effectively lay out our case and defend our neighborhood.”

Citing the city’s 2023 Voice of the People Award, Moen said residents should be encouraged to speak before the City Council.

Because city officials have not publicly discussed the recommendations from Jarrard since the Jan. 17 meeting, Moen encouraged them to keep the process as it is.

Councilwoman Carol Cookerly took a moment at the end of the meeting to address Moen’s comments.

“Council, while I’m not completely opposed to being the ‘bad guy’ on numerous issues, I think it’s time that we correct the record,” she said. “This whole thing that Ken Jarrard was trying to steer us in a direction to change public comment and somehow quelch the voices of the people is not at all how it came about.”

Cookerly said councilmembers asked Jarrard what the city can learn about public comment from other municipalities after receiving complaints from residents about city policy. His Jan. 17 presentation was the response.

“A number of people have complained that they come to council, and they can’t get a word in edgewise,” she said. “And then we hear from them, and they make some good points.”

After explaining how the recommendations came about, Cookerly said there is no threat to public comment in the city.

“We may change some things, and I think we should,” she said. “My colleagues may or may not agree. But this is not necessary, nobody is going to be stifled.”

license in the Boxwood Estates

the city’s public comment guidelines.

THE PICTURE FRAMER

CITY OF MILTON/PROVIDED

Members of the Milton Police Department gather in front of the dais May 6 with councilmembers to recognize May 12-18 as National Police Week in the city. Milton Police will hold its annual awards ceremony May 17 at the Public Safety Complex on Ga. 9.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Sarah Moen, president of the Providence Plantation Homeowners Association, discusses the importance of public comment during her neighborhoods fight against an alcohol

subdivision. Moen asked councilmembers to not change

Appen Media Listening Tour stop scheduled for Crabapple

MILTON, Ga. — Staff reporters

with Appen Media will be all ears at its open forum at Six Bridges Crabapple in Milton May 16.

The forum aims to provides visitors the chance to offer suggestions and feedback on coverage.

Beginning at 4 p.m., staff will be on-hand for around an hour or so for one-on-one conversations and a Q&A session.

This is the fifth stop on the newsroom’s “Listening Tour,” a seven-month series touching base in each of Appen Media’s coverage areas. So far, staff have made

Listening Tour schedule

May 16 – Six Bridges Brewing, Milton

June 20 – July Moon Bakery and Café, Alpharetta July 18 – Pontoon Brewing Company, Sandy Springs

rounds in Dunwoody, Roswell, Johns Creek and Forsyth County, gaining valuable insight from residents on how to strengthen reporting.

All stops are open to the public and free to attend.

An RSVP is not required but appreciated. Visit appenmedia.com/ join to let us know you are coming.

Mid Broadwell Park. Alpharetta residents, elected officials and city staff celebrated the opening of Alpharetta’s newest park at 1480 Mid Broadwell Road.

Alpharetta opens Mid Broadwell Park

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Mid Broadwell Park, Alpharetta’s newest public recreation area, officially opened on May 1 with a ribbon-cutting drawing city officials and residents.

Located at 1480 Mid Broadwell Road, the 4-acre park features a walking trail, a playground equipped with two sets of slides, a sideways rope swing and water play stations.

Mid Broadwell Park is designed as a neighborhood park, which means it is intended primarily to serve residents who live within

Derby:

Continued from Page 6

creative outlets broke up a truly stressful time for our family, and I’m so grateful to Children’s and the donors who fund these programs for helping to turn my son’s frown upside down.”

In addition to the two hospital patient programs, Down & Derby proceeds also support specialized summer camps for current and former pediatric patients who are managing complex health and medical conditions.

Shelley Massey, event co-chair, said she loves seeing how excited her children get at the opportunity to attend summer camp.

“But for many families, that rite of passage isn’t an easy one to cross,

because their children are navigating medical hurdles that make traditional camps impossible to attend,” she said. “Thanks to CHOA, hundreds of children can enjoy a fun summer camp experience that is tailored to their specific health needs.”

In addition to funds raised through sponsorships and ticket sales, Down & Derby guests had plenty of opportunities on site to support the cause. Live and silent auctions boasted more than $140,000 in donated items ranging from luxury trips overseas to top-shelf dining experiences. Guests had a chance to participate in a prerace Derby raffle before cheering for their chosen horse as the race was televised live on a jumbotron screen.

The sponsorship of several local businesses and generous support from the community made the 2024 Down & Derby possible, organizers said.

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walking distance.

To maximize the amount of land dedicated to fun and enjoyment, there is limited space designated for vehicle parking.

The city’s $29.5 million parks bond funded the $500,000 buildout of Mid Broadwell Park, which is one of the voter-approved projects.

Funds from that bond are helping the city reach its goal of having a park within a 10-minute walk of every resident and bringing improvements to its existing public parks.

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CITY OF ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED

A trio of young ladies help Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin cut the ribbon May 1 on Alpharetta’s

Johns Creek Beautification rallies around landscaping, public art

June luncheon to help fund Native American sculpture

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Lynn Pennington, president of Johns Creek Beautification, is someone you see at most every city-organized event, speaking on behalf of a nonprofit that unites people through landscaping and public art.

“If you stay close to our mission statement … it is really a way to bring people together,” said Pennington, whose wealth of energy exceeds her small frame. She stays busy, also serving as co-president to the Cultural Arts Alliance at Johns Creek and as a member of the Johns Creek Historical Society.

While Johns Creek Beautification formed in 2007, its beginnings precede the city’s incorporation with work toward beautifying medians along Medlock Bridge Road.

Over the years, the nonprofit has developed a slate of initiatives.

One can be seen throughout the city, lit up with 52,250 yellow daffodils. The organization’s planting campaign Daffodils4Hope, brought forth by more than 1,100 volunteers of all ages, is in partnership with the nonprofit CanCare Atlanta which provides counseling support to cancer patients and caregivers in the community.

Johns Creek Beautification also hosts a Secret Garden Tour every other

year. The rain-or-shine event features an array of private home gardens and the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, each with musical ensembles or solo performers, along with visual artists sharing their talents with visitors.

Pennington, co-chair to the tour, said she is seeking volunteers to lead the effort next spring with planning beginning in August.

Currently, board members are preparing for a fundraiser in June in support of a new Native American sculpture for the city’s Town Center area — 192 acres anchored by the oncoming Creekside Park, centered around the pond behind City Hall. The hub is also poised to bring retail and industry with tenants like mixed-used development Medley and biomedical engineering giant Boston Scientific.

The Native American sculpture would be the second permanent installation born from the nonprofit’s ArtSpot subcommittee.

The first, unveiled in June 2022 at the Bell and Boles roads roundabout, is Entwined Strength by artist Eric Strauss. Its vine-like form, created from 4,000 pounds of hot forged steel, honors the diverse community members and its leaders who pulled together to create a new city.

Pennington envisions the new sculpture to showcase thousands of years of Native American history that covers what is now Johns Creek, beyond the known Cherokee Nation. She said

See BEAUTY, Page 11

Our aim is to build a resilient ecosystem where people, wildlife and plants can thrive together for generations.

LILIANA BRENNER, Johns Creek Beautification Vice President

LYNN PENNINGTON/PROVIDED

Artist Eric Strauss stands with his sculpture Entwined Strength at a ribbon-tying ceremony in June 2022 at the Bell and Boles roads roundabout. The sculpture was the first permanent public art installation born from Johns Creek Beautification’s ArtSpot subcommittee. Currently, the nonprofit is in the fundraising stage for a second sculpture, themed around Native American history.

Johns Creek Beautification members sort daffodil bulbs with high school volunteers as part of Daffodils4Hope, a planting campaign in partnership with CanCare Atlanta — a nonprofit that provides counseling support to cancer patients and caregivers. Since the program’s inception six years ago, more than 1,100 volunteers have planted 52,250 daffodils around Johns Creek.

Beauty:

Continued from Page 10

its intended location, close to City Hall, would allow it to become a symbol of unity and respect for indigenous peoples, showcasing a commitment to diversity and inclusivity.

“In the research, we found out that Native Americans were in the Johns Creek area for 14,000 years,” she said. “There is nothing that really shows that history in Johns Creek yet, so through art we hope to … capture history, heritage.”

The impetus for the project dates to around 2015, a collaboration between the now-defunct Newtown Park Community Foundation and that year’s Leadership Johns Creek class, which included former CEO of Emory Johns Creek Marilyn Margolis.

The group set its eyes on a stone sculpture, a work that could endure the weather, akin to Native American petroglyphs found around the Southeast in places like Blairsville.

But, Pennington said the sculpture would be under the artist’s discretion, ideally to be placed in a new plaza area created from stones that could be purchased and inscribed.

Once Johns Creek Beautification has sufficient funds, Pennington said a call will be cast out, prioritizing Native American artists. She said the selection committee would likely be composed of board members from Johns Creek Beautification and the Cultural Arts Alliance as well as a Johns Creek city councilmember.

While the project is pending City Council approval, Pennington said $50,000 has been raised so far across the nonprofit’s Secret Garden tours, and the goal is to collect $100,000 over the next 18 months.

Another $50,000 may head their way, considering a recommendation made at a recent Johns Creek Arts,

Johns Creek Beautification’s first annual learning luncheon “Seed Soil Sunshine” June 6 will feature two guest speakers on sustainable gardening practices and a Q&A on how to humanely deter deer while creating a safe environment for pets. The luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Sugo on Medlock Bridge Road. Tickets are $70 and include a meal of salads, several main courses and dessert. Proceeds will help fund a new Native American sculpture for the Johns Creek Town Center area. To reserve a seat, visit: www.johnscreekbeautification.org/ fundraiser.html.

Culture and Entertainment Committee meeting on the use of hotel/motel tax collections in fiscal year 2025.

The June 6 fundraiser will be the nonprofit’s first annual learning luncheon, featuring two guest speakers — Ashley Frasca, who hosts a Saturday morning garden show on WSB Radio, and Mark Hoban, a golf course superintendent at Rivermont Golf Club who focuses on sustainable, organic methods in his work.

The luncheon aligns with the nonprofit’s other effort to recertify Johns Creek as a National Wildlife Habitat, promoting sustainable gardening practices. The city first earned certification with the National Wildlife Federation’s Community Wildlife Habitat program in April 2012.

Johns Creek Beautification Vice President Liliana Brenner said the organization is also helping to certify individual properties such as homes, parks, schools and businesses by providing food, water, shelter and places to raise young. Residents are encouraged to certify their properties at certifiedwildlifehabitat.nwf.org.

“Our aim is to build a resilient ecosystem where people, wildlife and plants can thrive together for generations,” Brenner said.

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LYNN PENNINGTON/PROVIDED

Sponsored Section May 16, 2024 | Milton Herald | 12

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Our students, in all grades, enjoy unique experiential learning with electives based on their interests and clubs including archery, drama, forensics, robotics, horticulture and amazing off-campus experiences throughout the year.

The school’s beautiful 23-acre Roswell campus is a hidden gem in North Fulton, with small class sizes our students develop meaningful connections to our teaching staff. Our cottages are unique and warm learning environments that include computer and science labs, art studios, a multi-purpose athletic and performing arts facility, indoor and outdoor classrooms, comprehensive music program and trails for mountain biking and cross-country. TCS encourages students of all abilities to participate in athletics by offering sports such as soccer, basketball, baseball, cross-country, tennis, and golf.

The Cottage School has built a oneof-a-kind learning environment perfect for students who learn differently. TCS offers 12-month rolling admissions for all grade levels. Visit our website or call for a campus tour today.

NOW ENROLLING GRADES 3 - 12

The Magic of Middle School

Brought to you by - High Meadows

With one foot rooted in childhood and the other stepping eagerly into adolescence, middle schoolers can pose a perplexing combination of needs and contradictions. High Meadows Middle Years teachers would tell you, however, that this distinct age and stage is also marked by heightened information processing abilities that allow students to delve more meaningfully into complex thinking, problem solving, self-reflection and growth.

What do middle schoolers need to grow and thrive?

Collaborative Learning: One key element of adolescence is a strong social drive. Instead of trying to control and minimize socialization in the classroom, High Meadows teachers utilize this social motivation through collaborative work, dialogue-driven lessons, and exploring different perspectives and lenses on topics.

Exploration and Self-Expression: High Meadows robust mini-course offerings provide Middle Years students the opportunity to choose from and try many different specialized courses including Animal Care, Yoga, Band,

Debate, a variety of Fine Arts courses, Theatre, World Peace Games, Culinary Arts and more.

Fostering Independence & SelfConfidence: High Meadows middle years program empowers students to grow in independence, study and research skills, time management, and accountability. Students reflect regularly on their own growth and set goals for themselves.

Mentorship & Leadership: HMS Middle Years students enjoy the role of being campus-wide mentors, and leaders who serve as role models to the younger students in the community. Sixth

through Eighth grade students serve as “buddies” to even our youngest Pre-K students on campus.

Intellectual and Academic Challenge: High Meadows graduates enter their high school years with a strong academic foundation, a passion for learning, and a keen understanding of what they need to be successful. The majority of HMS alum start their high school careers in AP and Honors courses.

To learn more about High Meadows’ Middle Years program, visit highmeadows.org.

Beyond high school readiness, our rich and rigorous program inspires students to be positive change makers and lifelong learners.

Age 3 through Eighth Grade | Roswell, GA

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An International Baccalaureate® School

Group tours offered weekly. Visit our website to register. Since 1973, the school has inspired children to think critically, learn creatively, act globally, and live compassionately. &

Valor Christian Academy celebrates the successes of its seniors through Life Prep | College Ready Model

Brought to you by - Valor Christian Academy

Valor Christian Academy, founded in August 2020, grew out of the desire to educate, strengthen and equip the whole child in a unique environment where learning fits the way God designed each child. At Valor, we’ve reimagined educational offerings, and

parents may choose from a variety of educational modes, from virtual, hybrid, full-time, or homeschool, we seek to meet the education needs of every child and family. Our high school model, is one that prepares students to be Life-Prep | College Ready, which includes four days of on campus learning and one day of at home independent study. We

are proud to announce that several students in the Class of 2024 will graduate with a diploma of distinction, which serves as an opportunity for students to receive credit for further study, research, and experience in Fine Arts, Communications, or STEM. No matter what mode fits an individual child, we aim to launch each student as a servant leader who

knows how to shape culture through a biblical world-view. Our team looks forward to prayerfully walking you through the admissions experience where your family can be a part of Education Reimagined.

Contact Valor Christian Academy at 770-751-1972 or visit us at www. valorlions.org.

North Springs High prepares for construction on new school

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — With the April 26 approval of a $14.1 million contract for site work at North Springs High School, dirt at 7447 Roswell Road will be moving soon.

The Fulton County School Board of Education approved the contract with Cumming-based Vertical Earth, with an additional $1.4 million contingency, for phase one site work at the new school.

North Springs is a Fulton County public high school in the heart of Sandy Springs.

It is the state's only dual magnet school, allowing students to participate in the Visual & Arts magnet, Mathematics & Science magnet, or both, depending on their qualifications and abilities. Built in 1963, the school is one of the oldest in the Fulton County system.

Fulton County Schools’ “Bricks and Clicks” 2027 Capital Plan, funded through the education special purpose local option sales tax, calls for replacing North Springs High.

Since Fulton County voters first approved ESPLOST in 1997, it has become

FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED

A rendering shows the campus layout of the new North Springs High School, anticipated to open in August 2027.

the primary funding source for capital improvements, with $3.2 billion generated to date.

The replacement of the school and construction of a new campus will cost around $108 million, according to a February estimate from Noel Maloof, chief operations officer for the district.

Replacing the school requires significant coordination. Construction will take place on-campus while school is in session.

The $15.6 site work project calls for the demolition of the softball field, compe-

tition field, stadium, practice field, tennis courts and surrounding parking lots, driveways and hardscape.

Site work also includes installing a new curb cut at Trowbridge Road and new access driveways as a part of the new layout of the school’s replacement.

Other phase one tasks include construction of new soil-nail and concrete retaining walls, relocation of existing utilities and installation of new utilities, storm drainage pipe systems and three detention ponds.

Anne Boatwright, media relations manager at Fulton County Schools, said all other site work and building construction will happen in a later phase.

She also said the estimated time for completion of the first phase is this December. Because of potential dangers, Boatwright said the campus will be subdivided to keep all construction activities separate from school activities.

“There will be safety fencing and other controls in place to make this possible to manage,” she said. “Safety is always the priority when a contractor is working on the campus while school is in session.”

Boatwright also said the school district coordinates on a regular basis with Princi-

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pal Sott Hanson and his staff.

Because phase one involves the demolition of athletic facilities, high school sports will move to other schools, including Sandy Springs Middle.

Appen Media also asked Fulton County Schools representatives about the potential for noise disruptions during the 2024-25 school year and beyond.

Because site work is anticipated to conclude at the end of the year, construction of additional phases is expected to continue until the new school’s projected opening date in August 2027.

“Due to the location of the construction, being elevated and on the back side of the building that faces the gymnasium and other large activity spaces, the noise factor is expected to be minimal,” Boatwright said.

She listed student safety and preserving a disruption-free learning environment as the top priorities of Fulton County Schools.

“Communication has already begun about some adjustments and more will be conducted in the fall to ensure all students and teachers understand the safety and access parameters while the project is ongoing," she said.

Woods Difference!

• Private non-parochial education for infants through 8th grade.

• Nurturing environment featuring 1 to 1 iPads, outstanding teachers, small class sizes with assistants, hands-on academics, STEM, Discovery Clubs, frequent field trips, and leadership opportunities.

• After School, Sports, Science Olympiad, Robotics and Drama available.

quarter century of inspiring students with the passion

Woodward Academy launches new Maymester Program

Brought to you by - Woodward Academy

Woodward Academy is launching a Maymester program in May 2024 for Middle and Upper School students. This program is an integral goal of Woodward’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, an Unparalleled Student Experience, which highlights the need to increase real-world application offerings in the curriculum to better prepare students for the future.

The Maymester program will take place during the last two weeks of May, after the conclusion of the spring semester, and will provide students exposure to ideas, cultures, community, and relationships through experiential learning and real-world applications. Maymester students will partake in a concrete, hands-on learning experience followed by focused and intentional reflection. Maymester will offer multiple settings in which students can participate and learn on campus, in the community, or via a domestic or international travel experience.

Our Maymester courses will be anchored to Woodward’s mission statement of creating a richer learner community and exceptional academic opportunities for our students in order to nurture lifelong learners. The faculty have designed intriguing cross-disciplinary courses born from their own passions. Course proposals include Zoology, Game Design, Sports Marketing, Public Speaking, The Civil Rights Movement in Georgia, Business in a Box, Writing a Novel, The Chemistry of Food, Ancient Civilizations and Cultures, Auto Maintenance, and more.

Assessment will be based on a deliverable that students create at the end of the course in the context of their learning. These deliverables could be presentations, journals, audio/video logs, peer reviewed feedback, or another method designed and approved by the teacher. With the exception of Class of 2024 seniors, all Woodward Middle and Upper School students are required to participate and will receive course credit for the Maymester program.

Woodward Appoints Academy Psychologist

Ms. Daena Shearer was selected to serve as Woodward’s newly appointed Academy Psychologist. This position was created in response to the Academy’s 20222025 Strategic Plan goal to proactively foster, develop, and support the social and emotional well-being of each member of the Woodward Academy community.

Ms. Shearer has spent the last nine years working as a school psychologist in public and private school systems in New York and Georgia, most recently at the Lovett School. She has extensive experience working with pre-K through 12th grade students experiencing socialemotional, behavioral, and learning challenges. Additionally, Ms. Shearer has provided in-home therapy for students with developmental delays, autism, and other genetic disorders, and has a wealth of experience conducting individual and group setting counseling.

Ms. Shearer is an expert in conducting psycho-educational evaluations and is proficient in using those assessments to tailor academic and behavioral interventions in both school and home settings. Her therapeutic techniques include play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, group therapy, and applied behavioral analysis. Ms. Shearer is excited for the opportunity to join a community that deeply values mental health, and to use her therapeutic background to further advance the Academy’s mental health and wellness initiative. She shares, “I admire Woodward’s emphasis on meeting each student where they are, and equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and tools necessary to achieve success, no matter their learning differences.”

Ms. Shearer holds a B.A. in Psychology from The City College of New York, as well as an Advanced Professional Diploma in School Psychology and a M.S. in Education, specializing in Therapeutic Interventions, from Fordham University Graduate School of Education in New York.

EDUCATION NEWS

School social worker connects students to resources

Forsyth County Schools posts fewer specialists than in neighboring DeKalb, Fulton counties

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Amy Gamez, one of 14 school social workers in the Forsyth County School District, plants her feet on the ground throughout a scheduled day of meetings, ready to be on the move.

Her role is holistic, communitybased and requires the skill of anticipating needs as well as adapting to change, pivoting when a school calls her in the middle of the workday requiring that she be present for additional student support.

“That’s what I love about my job — I like to kind of be here and there and everywhere,” Gamez said.

Gamez handled 400 to 500 of the 5,100 student cases in Forsyth County public schools this year, though some of those were quick one-anddones versus students who required continuous oversight. Last year, she said, social workers conducted a total of 800 home visits.

Over the course of her 18-year career with Forsyth County Schools, Gamez said the needs have increased, serving more families in a district that has seen nearly 13,000 more students enroll in the last decade. But, she said community resources have grown to meet those needs.

Around a decade ago, Gamez began organizing what is now Family Promise of Forsyth County — a nonprofit that serves families experiencing homelessness. At the time, she knew of five families living out of a hotel, and she began reaching out to churches to schedule a planning meeting.

“I was really frustrated because I saw that they were paying at the time [what] was probably $1,000 a month, which is nothing now, you know, and they were just in a hole,” Gamez said. “Most of these families were in the hotel for six months to a year, and I was very frustrated that they were just stuck in this cycle.”

Gamez is continuing to meet basic needs for students and their families, sometimes doing it through a phone app called Purposity which allows her to request items that individuals

AMY GAMEZ/PROVIDED

Amy Gamez, one of 14 Forsyth County Schools social workers, stands by a food donation provided by a local community partner. Gamez serves New Hope Elementary School, Otwell Middle School and Academies of Creative Education, which includes Forsyth Academy, Gateway Academy and Forsyth Virtual Academy.

around Forsyth County can donate. She said Forsyth County was one of the pilot counties for Purposity, Gamez becoming one of the first slate of school social workers to use the tool.

She said there has also been a shift in focus over the years, from meeting basic needs to mental health challenges. Nowadays, mental health is a large component to her job, though social workers and counselors function differently.

“We really are a connector to families to get them plugged into the resources in our community,” said Gomez, who works with a number of nonprofits and organizations like the Division of Family and Children Services. The week before, she met with representatives of the Boys and Girls Club on how to connect students to its services.

The ratio of students per school social worker in the Forsyth County School District was more than double than in DeKalb and Fulton counties last year. But, the ratio of students per school counselor across all grade levels was mid-range.

There were 378 students per counselor across Forsyth County elementary, middle and high schools, whereas there were 478 students per

A comparison of the number of students per school social worker across Dekalb, Forsyth and Fulton county school districts shows that the ratio in the Forsyth County School District is more than double its neighbors in fiscal year 2023. There were 14 school social workers that served nearly 54,500 students in Forsyth County.

counselor in Fulton County and 283 in DeKalb County.

In addition to its team of counselors, Forsyth County Schools has a mental health facilitator, nine student advocacy specialists, eight support staff for behavior support – each with different roles, and 17 emotional behavioral intervention classes.

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners in March formed a mental health advisory committee, set to have two school board members. But, Forsyth County Schools opted out.

Jennifer Caracciolo, chief communications officer for Forsyth County, told Appen Media that Forsyth County Schools is “assessing the effectiveness” of its system efforts with regard to its strategic plan.

“It’s not that we don’t want to partner,” Caracciolo said. “We obviously have made a significant investment in mental health, not only for that of our students, but our staff as well. And, we have a district plan,

and we have employed a number of experts in various fields, and so we’re working on that plan.”

She also said the district is trying to focus on getting students graduated.

While investments have been made toward mental health resources, investments in school social workers are lacking. Caracciolo argued that this is because the district plans according to the needs of its specific student population, opting for other methods.

Caracciolo highlighted the school district’s local investment dollars, spending more than $11 million on school counselors than what is received from the state. She also said neighboring school districts receive significantly more federal funding, in part because of their free/reduced lunch numbers.

The Forsyth County School District has about half the student

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Does my child have a learning disability?

Brought to you by - Rebecca L. Marshall, Ph.D., Summit Counseling Center

If your child is struggling in school despite receiving extra help, you may be wondering if your child has a learning disability. Figuring out whether your child has a learning disability, and what to do about it, can become clear with formal testing by a professional with expertise in the field. Evaluation of suspected learning disabilities is essential to finding appropriate interventions so that children do not fall behind in school. A learning disability (LD) is defined by poor achievement in particular academic areas compared to a child’s potential, which is based on the child’s general intellectual ability. Poor performance in school is itself not necessarily an indicator of a learning disability (LD); rather, poor performance in the context of appropriate effort, attention, and additional help may be indicative of a specific learning disorder. Learning disabilities may affect particular academic skills, such as reading or math, but often affect a variety of subject areas. Learning disabilities can also be exacerbated or compounded by attention problems. While prevalence estimates vary, a significant percentage of children with learning disabilities also have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). There are several benefits of a comprehensive evaluation for learning disabilities, also called a psychoeducational evaluation. First, the diagnosis of an LD can establish a child’s eligibility for educational services in schools. Second, the reasons underlying poor academic performance in a specific subject area can be determined; and, finally and most importantly, specific learning problems can be subsequently targeted for intervention or remediation.

Sometimes poor performance in school is a result of social or emotional factors that are not associated with a learning disability. It is important to identify and address, for example, whether a child is struggling with anxiety or depression that may be affecting his or her school performance. Comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations help parents and teachers to determine whether social and emotional problems may be interfering with the learning process.

Early identification of learning disabilities leads to targeted interventions that can help children progress in school. Early intervention is best, so it is critical to have your child tested as soon as a learning disability is suspected. Regardless of the reasons behind poor school performance, assessment is the first step in getting your child back on track to academic success.

Rebecca L. Marshall, Ph.D. (rmarshall@summitcounseling.org) is a Licensed Psychologist and Staff Therapist at the Summit Counseling Center in Johns Creek, Georgia.

EDUCATION NEWS

Local high school seniors provide advice to students

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Continuing the tradition of recognizing departing students, Fulton County Schools has released the first six videos for its “Senior Spotlight: Class of 2024.”

Fulton County Schools profiles 19 outstanding seniors — one from each high school — who embody the spirit of the class of 2024.

Each week in May, the school district will release additional profiles.

The group of seniors include high academic achievers, all-star athletes and award-winners, students with unusual or unique stories to share, and those who have beaten the odds to graduate.

The class of 2024 began their high school journey at the height of COVID-19 lockdowns, but persevered.

Leila Alvarez, a senior at Alpharetta High School, said getting involved in everything she could was her solution to such an enormous challenge.

When she is not at soccer practice or studying for International Baccalaureate classes, Alvarez serves as the student body vice president and participates in other school activities.

In her role as president of the Unified Raiders, Alvarez builds bonds between different students at the school.

Leila calls her work with the Unified Raiders her proudest accomplishment. She said she finds purpose, “knowing that I’m giving back to a community that feels really isolated.”

Her advice to students entering high school is to get involved with clubs and activities at school.

Next year, Alvarez will attend Williams College in Massachusetts.

When Lucy Sillitto, a Centennial High School senior, is faced with challenges, she turns them into opportunities with others.

Social studies teacher Cameron Yarbrough said Sillitto embodies what it means to be a Centennial Knight.

“She’s strong in the classroom, she cares for others and wants to see them succeed and is just really an all-round stellar student,” Yarbrough said.

Sillitto founded a local chapter of the national mental health organization, Active Minds. The work

of the 50-member club was featured on 11Alive News during Suicide Prevention Week.

After graduation Sillitto plans to attend Georgia Tech and major in neuroscience.

She said she chose the major because of her love for science and push to de-stigmatize mental health.

Sillitto advises incoming high school students to “find a balance in your life and find something that you can use as your outlet.”

Laylah Frazier, a senior at North Springs High School, said her mom helped her balance volleyball, cheerleading and Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

North Springs High School

Principal Scott Hanson said Frazier’s involvement makes her stand out.

“She is involved in school, she's a multi-sport athlete, and she's somebody that is in the JROTC leadership program,” Hanson said. “She just makes her mark all over the place.”

After graduation she plans to attend college and is considering a career in aviation or aeronautics with a double major in public relations.

Frazier advises incoming high school students to “make friends, talk to people, talk to your teachers and talk to your administrators. If you are a familiar face around school, so many doors open for you.”

Christian Jimenez, senior valedictorian at Roswell High School, said his mother is one of his biggest inspirations for running and as a person.

Jimenez, a member of the cross country team, placed second in the Boys 6A 5,000-meter run this year.

Honors and AP Chemistry teacher Christi Chilton said Jimenez is an intellectual star.

“He is constantly asking thoughtprovoking questions to deepen his understanding,” she said. “He is truly invested in the success and emotional well-being of his peers and celebrates everyone’s achievements.”

Jimenez is headed to the University of California, San Diego in the fall.

Haja Kabba from Banneker High School near College Park and Lauren Jones from Creekside High School in Fairburn also received senior spotlights in the first week of May.

BREW MOON FEST

Saturday, June 1, 2024

6:00 PM - 10:30 PM

Downtown Alpharetta-Milton Avenue (between Hwy 9 and Roswell/Canton Street)

Tickets and Tables are on sale now.

• Single Ticket – $10.00

• Table for 6 Individuals includes admission – $180.00

• Table for 8 Individuals with Admission – $240.00

The band, Chuck Martin and the Line Up, are back by popular demand.

SPONSORS:

AMERICAN LEGION POST 201

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Memorial Day – Remember & Honor

Monday, May 27, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Visit the Post’s “Walk of Memories”

Bring Family & Friends – Learn About the Exhibits

Meet Some of Those Who Have Served

“A Tribute to The Ed Sullivan Show“ Friday, May 31, 8 p.m.; Doors Open at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $30 per person

Visit www.legion201.org/events for Details

Summer Baseball Schedule at Post

Visit www.legion201.org/events

Open the “Baseball” Drop Down Link

Dances

Newspaper Delivery Route Openings with Appen Media Group

We are looking for one person or couple interested in delivering weekly newspapers in South Forsyth, Alpharetta and the Johns Creek areas.

Requirements: Must have a perfect driving record and background check, reliable transportation, honest, hard-working and positive attitude.

For more information or to apply, email heidi@appenmedia.com and include a paragraph or two about who you are and any relevant background/experience. In the subject line of the email please put “Delivery Route Application.”

Georgia Ensemble Theatre co-founder leaves the stage

ROSWELL, Ga. — Anita Allen Farley, cofounder and producing artistic director of the Georgia Ensemble Theatre announced her retirement, effective May 1, ending her 32 years of leadership.

She and her late husband Robert J. “Bob” Farley founded the Georgia Ensemble Theatre in 1992.

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre Board of Trustees named Laurel Crowe, previously the education director, as interim artistic director.

Farley said she looks forward to spending time with family, looking after her health, pursuing hobbies and getting some much-needed relaxation.

The board announced a search is underway for a new director but has not specified a timeline.

Board President Katherine Parvis said Farley's career with the theater is exemplified by the positive impact she has had on its staff, students, audience and community.

“GET became a cornerstone of the Atlanta arts community thanks to Anita and Bob making the theater their lives’ opus,” Parvis said. “For me personally, Anita’s tireless advocacy for the organization amid challenging circumstances has been an inspiration.”

Farley began her theatrical career in 1968 after studying at The Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatrical Arts where she met her husband.

“While Anita is stepping back from the Producing Artistic Director role, we are excited that she will continue to guide the organization’s next chapter through service as a Board member,” Parvis said. “Anita’s retirement is not the end of an era. It's a celebration of a legacy that we are striving every day to live up to.”

Georgia Ensemble Theatre started as the resident professional theatre company at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center.

It has since produced 31 seasons of plays and musicals — 30 years at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center and one year at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre — plus dozens of shows on tour at schools and community centers throughout Georgia. Bob and Anita Farley were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at Atlanta’s Suzi Bass Awards in 2017, with special attention paid to their long-time support of early-career and emerging artists.

For 25 of her 32 years, Farley served as managing director alongside her husband as artistic director. After Bob Farley passed away unexpectedly in 2017, Anita was appointed producing artistic director.

From its inception in 1992, in a part of Metro Atlanta without a professional theatre, the Georgia Ensemble Threatre grew under the Farleys’ leadership to a high mark of 3,000 season subscribers just before the 2020 pandemic.

Interim Artistic Director Crowe is charting a focused, financially conservative path to the future, according to the organization’s statement.

In early 2024, the GET Board of Directors voted to postpone the remainder of the Mainstage 2023-24 season due to financial challenges. Instead, the company has focused on educational programming, smaller studio productions and fundraising efforts.

The Georgia Ensemble Theatre will honor Anita Farley’s career with an open house retirement party this fall.

a project goes into service, Eichenthal said.

“Finance directors can now model out what that will look like,” he added.

Continued from Page 4

this investment, and they got a check from the federal government covering 30-50 percent of the cost.”

Unfortunately, the credit payment comes after the project goes into service.

“There’s an upfront financing issue that folks need to consider,” Eichenthal said.

He gave some examples of projects, like fleet electrification and central geothermal heating, that require a hefty initial capital investment but project a reduction in a local government’s operating cost.

A payment from the Internal Revenue Service can be expected within 45 days after

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, serving as the North Fulton County mayoral representative on the ARC Board, said city staff will review the information and determine whether it can meet the needs of the city.

The city is installing electric vehicle charging stations at its new Police Department and Municipal Court on Morgan Falls Road and its new Fleet Center on Roswell Road.

“There are some vehicles in our fleet where the direct pay program may offer us some opportunities,” he said. “We need to dig into it a bit deeper than the cursory overview we got today.”

Samantha B. Benson, MD Johns Creek: Tues., Thurs. Milton: Mon., Fri.

Chivukula, MD Johns Creek Only

FARLEY

What does Moonlight Graham have to do with anything?

For those of you who don’t know, Moonlight Graham was, according to Wikipedia, “an American professional baseball player and medical doctor who appeared as a right fielder in a single major league game for the New York Giants on June 29, 1905. Moonlight Graham was also one of the main characters in the movie “Field of Dreams” which starred Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones and Burt Lancaster – who played Moonlight Graham. Many believe that Burt hit it out of the ballpark – no pun intended – in this role. I know I do.

In “Field of Dreams,” Moonlight Graham is given the opportunity to go back in time and play professional baseball again – his dream – on Keven Costner’s (movie name - Ray Consella) baseball diamond in the middle of a cornfield - today - in Iowa. In one scene, Ray’s young daughter falls off the bleachers and is choking to death. Moonlight Graham – the baseball player – moves across the ball field toward her. As he leaves the field, he stops. At that point, he must choose between crossing back into the present – as the old physician – to save the girl, or remain on the field as the young baseball player and live out his dream. If he steps off the field, he forever gives up the dream. If he doesn’t, Ray’s daughter dies. He walks off the field and saves Ray’s daughter.

validation: “Hey rookie, you were good.”

Burt – Moonlight – stops in his tracks. Time freezes. He turns and gazes back at the team, deep in thought and appreciation of the moment. Then he walks into the corn field and reality again.

I thought that it was the best line –and best scene – in the movie; it moved me to tears. It still does.

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Hopefully, some day as we are approaching that cornfield that we will all face sooner or later, we too will hear a voice like Moonlight Graham heard –“Hey rookie, you were good.” RAY

Moonlight Graham is relevant today on a number of levels. First, to me, is simply the magic of the movie. To have loved this movie, one had to buy into the story of going back into time and living out a dream – “ a willing suspension of disbelief “(Fitzgerald’s definition of what “fiction” must enable). If you weren’t able to do that, the movie didn‘t work.

Life today, often feels like it is powered by disbelief – by skepticism –about anything and everything. It’s so unhealthy and debilitating. We need to be able to believe – even in ghosts playing baseball.

Choices.

“Field of Dreams” told a story about choices. It reminds us that even today when there is so much distraction and white noise, when we see so many things that go the wrong way, that we can still swim against that current and be good, do good, and find good. It is a simple and really obvious message, but it is one that we need to hear, and keep hearing. Young people today, I think, have less opportunity than we did to know this. They need to know this.

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As he returns to the diamond toward the cornfield – now, forever the physician – through all the ghosts of legendary ball players who have “come back to play again,” one of the legends shouts out to him, a shout of respect, admiration and

Choices we make now and, in the future – choices about helping people, or just ourselves – will define who we are; how we have lived; and what we have collectively accomplished.

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What’s the buzz about periodical cicadas?

Have you heard about the impending cicada-pocalypse?

In May, periodical cicadas, which emerge once every 13 years, will be crawling out of the ground across the Southeast.

So what?

Perhaps you’re thinking, “I see cicadas every year. What’s the big deal?” Those cicadas you see every summer and fall are annual, or dog-day, cicadas, which emerge every year.

Periodical cicadas are more special. They are unique to eastern North America and found nowhere else in the world. They only emerge from the ground every 13 or 17 years, depending on their brood. Broods are separate populations of cicadas that emerge on the same cycle.

Brood XIX (“nineteen”), also called the “Great Southern Brood,” are 13year cicadas set to emerge across the Southeast this year. Small areas throughout central Illinois will see a dual emergence of Brood XIX and Brood XIII (“thirteen”). The last time these two broods’ emergence matched up was in 1803, when Thomas Jefferson was president!

In Georgia, we will see a solo emergence from Brood XIX, but it’s still pretty cool. Just because periodical cicadas only appear aboveground every 13 or 17 years doesn’t mean they don’t exist in the interim. In fact, they’re alive that whole time, tunneling underground in their nymph (juvenile) stage and feeding on roots of hardwood trees.

Cicada life cycle

On May nights, the cicada nymphs use their claw-like front legs to tunnel up to the soil surface. The nymphs immediately find the closest tree or shrub (or another vertical surface) and start climbing up, up, up. Most stop within the first 10 feet, latch onto the bark and begin to molt. First, they split their exoskeleton down the back, then lean backwards and squeeze their new, adult body through the fissure. They hang belly up for a while and use gravity to help their wings unfurl. Over several hours, they pump hemolymph (insect “blood”) into their expanding wings until they are full size. Meanwhile, the exoskeleton cures, hardens and develops its bright colors.

Millions of individual cicadas will emerge like this over several weeks, and scientists still don’t know how they accomplish this amazing synchronicity.

After the wings harden, the cicada can fly up into the tree canopy and begin its ultimate objective: mating! The buzzing you hear is a mating call males make to lure in females. These deafening calls can reach up to 90 decibels, or as loud as a lawnmower. Once a pair deem each other suitable, they mate.

The female uses a serrated structure called an ovipositor to saw small slits along the tips of branches, where she lays her eggs. The adults die soon after and will all be gone by June. The eggs remain inside the protected crevices for six to ten weeks until the new nymphs hatch. They drop down to the ground and tunnel into the soil to begin their years-long development. Thus, the cycle continues.

Because of this huge chunk of time they spend underground as nymphs, periodical cicadas actually have the longest development time of any insect species in North America. Talk about late bloomers!

Are cicadas good?

Cicadas are great for our ecosystems. Their tunneling aerates our native soils, and the decaying bodies of the deceased adults act as a natural fertilizer.

Not to mention the food source they provide. All these insects emerging at once is a bumper crop for predators. Nymphs and adults are tasty morsels for

birds, fish, deer and other wildlife. Even dogs will eat them and may vomit if they binge too many (“too much roughage at one time,” says University of Georgia entomologist Nancy Hinkle). Still, there are more cicadas than our predators can consume, so some survive to sustain the population.

It’s worth noting that cicadas are not a threat to us or our pets. They are not poisonous, don’t bite, don’t transmit diseases and won’t feed on crops. Egg laying by the females may cause aesthetic damage to branch tips, but this is not likely to harm your trees.

Where to find them

Finding periodical cicadas can be a guessing game. In the Atlanta area, the U.S. Forest Service says we may

About the Author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Gabrielle LaTora, agriculture agent for UGA Extension in Fulton County. An entomologist by training, Gabrielle is interested in insects on farms and in gardens and is passionate about closing the gap between people and their food. In addition to helping coordinate Fulton County’s Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program, Gabrielle oversees the North Fulton Community Garden, answers clients’ questions about gardening and natural resources, works with urban farmers, and delivers educational programs for Fulton County residents.

see Brood XIX in Fulton and Cherokee Counties. Surveys done by UGA entomologists during the 2011 emergence reported them in Fayette and Coweta counties.

Regardless, you will only find them in hardwood forests that have not been disturbed in at least 13 years. Look for mature forests with minimal soil disturbance that are relatively close to a stream or creek. The app iNaturalist is a great way to check if others in your area have reported seeing any.

If you do see a cicada, how do you know if it’s the periodical type? Periodical cicadas are mostly black with red eyes and orange-tinted wings, while annual cicadas are green with black eyes. Dr. Hinkle makes it even simpler: “Any cicada you see before June is a periodical cicada; any cicada you see after June is an annual cicada.”

If you happen to see one, note the date and location, and take a photo! Report your observations on iNaturalist, and send your photos to your local Extension agent for good measure. If you live in Fulton County, I am anxiously awaiting your email.

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

GABRIELLE LATORA Guest Columnist

PROVIDED

Active periodical cicada broods in the United States; U.S. Forest Service

BUGWOOD.ORG/PROVIDED

Periodical cicada; image by Ward Upham, Kansas State University.

OPINION

Choosing your next read from a list of possibilities

How do you choose which books to read at what time?

For me, the choice is often dictated by what arrives at the library, where I regularly put books on hold. Sometimes, they come in within a few days. Other times, it can be months. Sometimes, I come home with five or six books. Other times with only one. When I don’t have a stack of library books to choose from, I turn to my Kindle and catch up on books I’ve downloaded and not gotten around to. Heaven forbid I run out of books.

This week’s selections were chosen from the TBR stack on my desk because my ship came in at the library. I knew I wasn’t in the mood for the Jane Harper book set in the Australian outback. Her books are extremely well-written but very

serious. So, I turned first to a gothic romance, something I’ve rarely read as an adult. Who knows why?

“A Dreadful Splendor” by B. R. Myers

I’m not sure what made me place this book on hold. Perhaps it was reading that it won a Mary Higgins Clark award. Or maybe it was the blurb from “The Globe and Mail” describing it as a “... gem of a book [that] sparkles with wit and originality . . . There is no shortage of tricks and feints in this excellent novel and Genevieve is a delightful character.”

Whatever attracted me to it, the author Victoria Holt came to mind as I became immersed in the story. I read her gothic romances as a teenager, and I have vivid memories of purchasing her books at school book fairs, along with those of Phyllis Whitney and Mary Higgins Clark.

The setting is a grand estate in Victorian England, complete with a murder victim, a damsel in distress, and possibly

even a ghost. It wasn’t jolly, but it was a jolly good read. The twists kept me guessing until the end. If gothic romances appeal to you, I recommend you grab this one.

“The Lost Man” by Jane Harper

I’m a Jane Harper fan and picked this book up thinking it was part of her Aaron Falk series. Instead, I discovered it’s a standalone, and what a tour de force it is. The pacing seemed slow at first, and the uncluttered sentences seemed to mirror the isolation of the life and the land in this bleak Australian setting. This is the remote outback, sparsely populated with cattle ranches and men of few words.

When the middle brother of a ranching family is found dead in the brutal heat and sun, nowhere near his car, the question is not only how but why? Everyone knows not to set out without water and supplies in the desert. Why did he leave his car without water and walk an unbelievable distance? There’s nothing

wrong with the car, and no evidence he was forced to leave it. What happened?

The suspense builds as family secrets come to light. Was the victim troubled? Did he commit suicide? Because walking in the desert is a sure way to do it. Did someone want him dead?

It’s not the police who piece together the clues. It’s the family history and dark events of the present and the past that finally reveal the truth of what happened. Let’s just say, “I never saw it coming.”

This week, I’ve turned to a cozy mystery set in 1920s England and book 10 in The Chronicles of St. Mary’s series. From there, who knows?

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

A misguided binge with ‘The Sopranos’

MIKE TASOS Columnist

Having grown up in an age when your only hope of missing a “must-see” TV program was to pray that there would be an encore broadcast during summer rerun season. For the most part, once it was over, it was over.

I can still remember staying up late to see David Janssen in “The Fugitive” finally vanquish the elusive, wily “one-armed man.”

But I can’t recall that episode ever being shown again. These days, even though I absolutely adored the show, it sure seems like “The Office” is on every night on several channels, even utilizing an “East Coast/West Coast” schedule. I have come to resist going on a

binge but recently went on a bender of my own. It seems fitting to embrace that concept on my late Dad’s birthday. He’s been gone since 1983, but truth be told, he was gone way before that. He was no stranger to a binge, choosing to overindulge on Russian potato juice that eventually robbed him of what others have shared was a charming personality and outstanding athleticism.

Thanks to modern technology, I treated myself to a complete bingewatching chapter, watching every “Sopranos” season, one through six. I started from the beginning, when the series was all set to break new ground. I was a little resistant when the show premiered on HBO, deducing that it was about opera or Gregorian chants.

Having watched the original show weekly, it was easy to look at each installment as a sketch. Thanks to bingewatching and streaming, I was able to

evaluate the entire show, which ran from 1999-2007. I watched it alone, firmly entrenched in my “Man Cave,” giving me ample time to get a bolus dose of foul language, nudity, violence and murder.

When I’d watched the final episode, the one that is still discussed today, I feel compelled to make a few pithy observations:

- James Gandolfini, who apparently over-indulged himself to an early grave, was brilliant in the Mafia patriarch role. However, much has been written about his kindness to others while also being extremely difficult to work with. Talk about a dichotomy.

- It appears that those Mafia guys in the show didn’t pay for anything. From delinquent bar tabs to swag that might have “accidentally” fallen off a hijacked truck, the theme was the art of the steal.

- The show’s ending, when everything went black was inconclusive and an

egregious rip-off. I didn’t like it the first time around and liked it even less when I revisited it. Amazingly, there are websites devoted to unraveling if Tony was killed. My perspective: Who cares?”

- Unlike “The Office,” whose characters were embraced and loved, there was now one to really care about in the entire “Sopranos” cast. The women were crude, the parish priest was a moocher, and the Sopranos children were as unlovable a duo you’d ever want to meet. Crude, bratty and somehow entitled all because Dad was a violent criminal kingpin.

- If I was Italian-American, I could understand why so many found the portrayal of their ethnicity extremely offensive. From escapades at a strip club to murder wherever it was convenient, I was relieved when I’d watched the finale. I kept checking to see how many more episodes I had to go.

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

Then imagine the number of other readers that noticed it too!

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CITY OF MILTON

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC) FOR THE CITY OF MILTON, GEORGIA

RZ24-01 – A text amendment to Article 8 (Use Provisions) and Article 13 (Definitions) of the Unified Development Code for the City of Milton, Georgia to regulate, including potentially prohibiting, the sale of consumable hemp products and unregulated marijuana substitutes in all zoning districts.

Public Hearings/Meetings: Community Zoning Information Meeting (CZIM)

Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

Planning Commission Meeting

Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

Mayor and City Council Meeting

Monday, August 5, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

Locations: Milton City Hall - Council Chambers

2006 Heritage Walk Milton, GA 30004

678-242-2540

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During these turbulent times, we would like to highlight the continued courage and commitment of everyone who works in the health care, law enforcement, childcare, food service and utility sectors. We are extremely grateful.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING MORATORIUM

Notice is hereby given that on Monday, June 2, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., the Milton City Council will hold a public hearing to consider the possible extension of the existing moratorium on acceptance of applications for use permits, rezonings, zoning condition amendments, or any other sort of approval designated as a zoning decision under the Zoning Procedures Law for properties within the Deerfield district that are subject to the form-based code. This moratorium, if extended, will continue while amendments to the Milton Zoning Ordinance and/ or UDC (following public hearings) are drafted and adopted, with such changes possibly altering the policies, standards, guidelines, and requirements for development within the Deerfield district. The public hearing will be held in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, Georgia. All City of Milton residents and any other affected and/or interested persons are invited and encouraged to attend.

City Council of Milton

DEATH NOTICES

Aubrey Jones, 89, of Alpharetta, passed away on May 6, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Carol Mack, 91, of Roswell, passed away on May 5, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

John Parsons, 90, of Roswell, passed away on May 2, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Kenneth Walsh, 80, of Roswell, passed away on May 5, 2024. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

12050 Crabapple Road • Roswell,

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City of Milton Notice of Public Hearing Board of Zoning Appeals

Date & Time June 18, 2024 6:00 P.M.

Location: City of Milton 2006 Heritage Walk Council Chambers Milton, Georgia 30004-6119 678-242-2500

Consideration of Primary Variance

V24-08, 15165 Birmingham Highway

Applicant: Gayle Harris

Request(s):

Part 1- Sec. 3.1.4 (A) & (B) - To reduce the 60-foot minimum front yard to 33.1 feet and reduce the 25-foot minimum side yard to 5.1 feet adjacent to the south property line for an existing one-story frame accessory structure.

Part 2- Sec. 3.1.4 (B) - To reduce the 25-foot minimum side yard to 21.6 feet adjacent to the northeast property line for an existing shed accessory structure.

Part 3- Sec. 2.3.2 (E) - To allow an existing 8 feet high opaque fence along the exterior street and southern property line to exceed the 5 feet maximum height requirement.

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Part 4 -Sec. 2.3.2 (E)(1)(b) - To allow an existing 8 feet high opaque fence along the exterior street and southern property line, to be an opaque fence, and not the required equestrian fence.

V24-09, 1105 Birmingham Road

Applicant: Luca Gianturco

Request(s)

Part 1 – Sec. 8.8.6(2) To reduce the existing barn housing animals distance requirement from 100 feet to 32.09 feet adjacent to the east property line for an existing barn.

Part 2 – Sec. 3.1.4 (Accessory Structure Setbacks) To allow an existing accessory structure shed to remain in front of the proposed Single-Family home adjacent to the east property line.

V24-10, 2390 Bethany Bend

Applicant: Cesar Prado

Request(s):

Part 1 - Sec. 11.5.7 (A)(1) – To allow an existing concrete patio, accessory structures, and driveway to remain inside of the 50-foot undisturbed stream buffer.

Part 2 - Sec. 11.5.7 (A)(2) – To allow a new single-family home renovation and wing wall to encroach into the 75-foot impervious setback, and existing concrete patio, driveway, and accessory structure to remain inside of the 75-foot impervious setback.

Part 3 - Sec. 3.1.4 (B) & (D) To reduce the 25-foot minimum side yard to 17.7 feet adjacent to east property line and reduce the 50-foot minimum rear yard to 43.1 feet adjacent to the north property line for a proposed home addition/ renovation.

Part 4 - (Sec. 3.1.4, Accessory Structure setbacks) - To allow an existing accessory structure to remain in front of the proposed single-family home adjacent to the west property line.

Part 5 – Sec. 8.8.19(b)(i) To allow a proposed swimming pool to be located in a front yard.

V24-11, 835 Foxhollow Run

Applicant: Craig & Christi Melrose

Request(s):

Sec. 3.1.4 (B) & (D) To reduce the 25-foot minimum side yard to 23 feet adjacent to the east property line and reduce the 50-foot minimum rear yard to 41.8 feet adjacent to the south property line for an existing accessory structure.

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Continued from Page 20

population than Fulton and DeKalb counties, and it also works with a much smaller budget. Yet, Forsyth County Schools collects 80 percent of what its neighbors collect in terms of total revenue per student and has 25 percent of the school social worker staffing.

Despite Forsyth County being the richest county in Georgia by per capita income, and its school district maintaining high academic rankings across the state overall, lack of adequate housing for students is growing.

McKinney Vento, a federal, state and local program created during the Reagan administration to address attendance issues related to homelessness, identifies homelessness as the lack of fixed, adequate or regular nighttime housing.

In March, Appen Media reported there were 1,044 students in the district’s McKinney Vento program, up from the 1,020 students recorded at the end of the 2022-23 school year. There were 610 students in the program in 2019-20.

Deadline to place a classified ad is Thursdays by 4pm

“Fulton or DeKalb may have a larger number of students that are facing homelessness, and also facing social and economic challenges,” said Caracciolo, who confirmed the district is adding another school social worker next year to serve a growing student population of currently more than 55,300 students.

The Spring Real Estate Market is here and the good news is the increased mortgage rates have not impacted the Milton market! We are seeing multiple offer situations due to the continuous low inventory and research suggests this could be the norm for quite some time. Buyers are continuing their search for a home and the phrase “marry the house and date the rate” remains strong in 2024!

I am confident I can assist you with all your real estate needs but first we must come up with a plan. If a move is in your near future, I am available to meet with you to discuss the current real estate market conditions and provide guidance to help you succeed.

EXPERIENCE. SERVICE. EXCELLENCE.

I have been providing professional assistance and personal service to buyers and sellers in the North Fulton marketplace for the past 19 years. I am dedicated to listening and helping clients achieve their real estate goals with exacting standards and integrity.

Ansley Real Estate values relationships first and supports that with innovation and technology. I am part of this team and ready to assist you with all your real estate needs!