Milton Herald - May 18, 2023

Sons of American Legion mourns loss of member

MILTON, Ga. — Barge “Peter” Stoios, Sons of the American Legion Post 201 member and former Fulton County Schools bus driver, died in a car accident May 6.

Police responded to the call at around 10:51 p.m. that night, and upon arrival, determined Stoios had been ejected after attempting to negotiate a curve in his 1990 Mazda Miata on Birmingham Highway. According to the police report, a preliminary investigation indicated his vehicle left the roadway, struck a power pole and spun off the roadway.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Peter’s memorial expenses, with $3,490 a $5,000 goal raised. According to the page, he leaves behind two daughters, Sophia and Jacquilyn. Any leftover money will go toward the cost of their trip to Australia, Peter’s home country, to spread the ashes.

“He was the most loving father one could hope for and will be missed terribly,” Sophia said.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Peter Sunday, May 21 at 3 p.m. at the American Legion Post 201 on Wills Road.

– Amber Perry

Education Special Section inside this edition Page 16

Equestrian Center draws thousands for rodeo contest

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Running for more than 20 years, the Celebrate Freedom Rodeo welcomed some 22,000 visitors over three days to witness cowboys and cowgirls compete in a slew of competitions.

The traditional Southern rodeo was held at the Wills Park Equestrian Center from May 4 to May 6.

The event featured saddle and bareback bronc riding, with a bucking horse as men fought to

See RODEO, Page 6

FILE PHOTO Barge “Peter” Stoios stands with his daughter Jacquie, on right, with her friend at a makeshift prom in Alpharettea’s Providence Square neighborhood in 2020. Peter, an Alpharetta resident, died in a car accident May 6.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

A child rides the mechanical bull outside of the covered arena before showtime May 4.

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POLICE BLOTTER

All

Suspicious $100 bill baffles authorities

MILTON, Ga. — A Windward Parkway Walmart associate reported that an Alpharetta man attempting to use a possibly fake $100 bill at the selfcheckout lane May 5.

The man’s bill was rejected by the cashier machine. The associate told the man it may be fake but didn’t have the equipment to test it.

The man said he didn’t know if it was fake or not and received the bill from his “Game Room” in Virginia. He said his machines accepted the bill.

Police could also not determine if the bill, dated 1981, was real or fake when comparing it to others, nor could gas station cashiers who were sought for a second opinion.

Because he didn’t intend to use it for fraudulent purposes, the man was not arrested.

Suspected serial shoplifter makes repeat trip to Kohl’s

MILTON, Ga. — Loss prevention at Kohl’s on Ga. 9 reported a known shoplifter at the store May 3, who had walked out two days earlier with nearly $3,000 worth of clothing.

The suspect, an Atlanta woman, was seen May 1 with a cart full of various clothing walking out of Kohl’s, passing all points of sale and not attempting to pay for any of the items.

When police asked loss prevention how he knew the woman, he said a detective in Gainesville, Florida, positively identified her using facial recognition software.

The man told police he oversees the

Kohl’s loss prevention for the entire state and that he is “very familiar” with the woman. He recognized her from several other thefts from other Kohl’s stores in Roswell, Marietta and more, the police report said.

UPS store owner defrauded of $2,000

MILTON, Ga. — The owner of the UPS store on Birmingham Highway reported to police May 4 that a man defrauded him of a total of $2,000 after seemingly successful transactions.

Three weeks prior, the victim said the man had requested items, such as flyers and stamps, that had been paid for without issue. Upon a following visit, the owner asked the suspect for his driver’s license for verification but received no response.

The owner then began to notice funds depleted from his account, totaling $2,000. The owner attempted to contact the suspect but with no success.

The owner provided police with the last four digits of two Mastercards used for the fraudulent transactions but did not have the complete card numbers.

Landscaping company reports equipment stolen

MILTON, Ga. — The manager of LTRC Tree Specialists on Ga. 9 reported several items stolen from the business May 8.

Upon arrival, an employee found the front gate to the lot open and noted that the lock to the shed and gate had been cut. A black Pelican case containing three remotes that controlled some of the equipment on the lot was missing from the shed. Two pole saws were also missing from two of the work trucks.

The owner and manager said he suspected a former employee, recently fired, may have been involved in the incident due to knowledge of

surrounding thefts.

Through security footage, police observed a blue Toyota Tacoma with no tag entering the parking lot, positioning the driver door at the gate’s lock and making entry. Through surveillance devices, the vehicle was seen driving south on Ga. 9 at around 7 a.m. and then south on Deerfield Parkway near Morris Road a few minutes later.

The Criminal InvestigationAdministrative Division is continuing the investigation.

Stranger pulls weapon on South Carolina man

ROSWELL, Ga. — A South Carolina man told Roswell police that a stranger had approached him, accused him of sleeping with his girlfriend and pointed a handgun at him at Greenhouse Drive May 7.

The victim was with his girlfriend and brother when the stranger approached. All three told police the stranger pulled a gun on the man before running away.

Police found the suspect, who said he had evidence of the other man had been seeing his girlfriend. The suspect also said when he approached the three, the woman told the man’s brother to get a weapon. The brother then returned with two swords, which is when the stranger said he pulled out his handgun. The girlfriend confirmed with the police that she told the brother to grab a weapon if things escalated.

The alleged gunman then told police the other man, named Travis, was actually named Grayson. Police realized the suspect had approached the wrong man, and tried to explain that the individual was a South Carolina resident and he had mistaken him for someone else. The suspect refused to listen to the police.

Because police could not determine who pulled out a weapon first, they had no probable cause to continue the case.

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.

Georgia tax collections fall sharply in April

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

ATLANTA — A downturn in state tax collections predicted several months ago is starting to show up.

The Georgia Department of Revenue brought in $4.19 billion in tax revenues last month, down 16.5 percent compared to April of last year, the agency reported Tuesday.

The declining revenues were found primarily in individual income taxes, which fell 32.4 percent from April 2022.

The sharp year-over-year drop in individual income tax collections is due in large part to the first-year implementation of legislation the General Assembly passed last year that permits certain pass-through entities such as S-corporations and partnerships to make entity-level tax elections on behalf of their individual partners. The bill took effect in tax year 2022 for returns filed this year.

Individual income tax payments declined by 49.4 percent last month compared to April 2022. Tax refunds also were down, but the 37.9 percent drop in that category was more than offset by the falloff in payments,

resulting in the net decrease.

Net sales taxes actually rose by 2.4 percent, with consumer spending still strong due to a still robust state economy. Corporate income tax receipts in April increased by 4.7 percent over April 2022.

With gasoline prices up significantly over past year, state motor fuel tax collections shot up by 83.5 percent.

The state’s chief economist, Jeffery Dorfman, told lawmakers in January that state tax revenues were likely to drop sharply this year because last year’s huge increase in capital gains tax payments was unlikely to be repeated.

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

Governor vetoes legislation to broaden no-bid contracts

By JOHN RUCH SaportaReport

ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp has vetoed legislation that would have expanded no-bid contracts for local public works and MARTA projects, saying there was “no reason” for it.

House Bill 193 passed the Georgia General Assembly near the end of its session in March. The bill began as a proposal to raise the dollar amount for local governments’ public works contracts that could be exempted from competitive bidding requirements – from $100,000 to $250,000.

In the Senate, it was adopted with an amendment allowing a similar, but much broader exemption for any “rapid transit authority.” The amendment would have allowed nobid purchases of “any goods, supplies, equipment, other property or services” from a vendor who already has a similar contract with the state or federal governments or any county or municipal government within the transit service area. The annual total of such purchasing or contracting

could be up to $250,000.

The amendment was introduced by state Sen. Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta), who did not respond to comment requests at the time. MARTA spokesperson Stephany Fisher at the time said only that the legislation would help with unspecified “potential safety and security initiatives.”

Sen. Josh McLaurin (D-Sandy Springs), who was among the “no” votes, previously said he opposed it as making contracting “less accountable to taxpayers.”

Kemp announced the veto on similar grounds.

“As a general matter, the state must competitively bid any construction or public works contracts more than $100,000.00,” he wrote in a veto signing statement. “There is no reason competitive bidding requirements for local governments should be more lenient than those for state-issued contracts.”

Fisher, the MARTA spokesperson, declined to comment on the veto.

This story originally appeared on SaportaReport.com.

Rodeo:

Continued from Page 1

stay on using one hand. It also had break-away roping, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling and cowgirls barrel racing. The finale of every night was bull riding, notably the biggest thrill.

“As they say, it’s the most exciting eight seconds in sports,” said Morgan Rodgers, Alpharetta Recreation and Parks director.

Throughout the event, which led with a salute to the country, there were pauses for banter from a rodeo clown. Kids also stepped forward to compete in a dancing competition for a chance to win money.

Before the competitions geared up, some visitors were slung off a mechanical bull and rode ponies. Outside of typical concessions, there were vendors selling barbecue, boiled peanuts and funnel cake. There were also cowboy hats and other rodeo gear like oversized, ornate belt buckles for sale. But many already showed up dressed to impress.

“[The rodeo] is a staple, is what it is,” Rodgers said.

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

A cowgirl holding an American flag circles the Wills Park Equestrian Center arena at Celebrate Freedom Rodeo’s opening night May 4.

A man competes in saddle bronc riding May 4 at the Celebrate Freedom Rodeo at Wills Park Equestrian Center.

Children peek through the gate during Celebrate Freedom Rodeo May 4.

A family shops for cowboy gear May 4.

©

The Velvet Note: Live jazz with the comforts of home

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — In every great jazz show, there is a beautiful moment when the notes begin to fade and seem to hang in the air, halfway between the instruments and your ear, resonant at first, then insubstantial, like a wisp of smoke.

That moment in jazz music is what businesswoman Tamara Fuller calls the “velvet note” — a concept that inspired her to choose the name for

her jazz club off Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta.

For the past 11 years, The Velvet Note - Acoustic Living Room has provided suburban residents in the “North Pole” of Atlanta with a cozy, intimate space to see renowned jazz musicians play live

“The Velvet Note gives you a chance to hear a world-class musician in a setting that feels like your living room. Which is the ultimate luxury,” Fuller said. “Just imagine the people you would love to see, but if they came to

your house. That’s what it feels like here.”

Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and most Sundays, The Velvet Note produces two shows a night for 40 guests, with dinner, drinks and an unparalleled live jazz experience uncommon in such a suburban setting.

“We’re not open unless we’re performing live music with real musicians playing real instruments,” she said.

Fuller, a longtime lover of jazz,

pianist and entrepreneur, was inspired to start The Velvet Note after reading about how cultural centers like symphony orchestras, ballets, and jazz clubs were all located in city centers, while the people who frequented them lived primarily in the suburbs.

That disconnect was causing city establishments to “die on the vine” without regular, consistent patronage, she said.

“So, I chose to take this powder

See JAZZ, Page 10

We’re not open unless we’re performing live music with real musicians playing real instruments

TAMARA FULLER, owner, The Velvet Note

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Tamara Fuller, owner of The Velvet Note jazz club, stands in front of her establishment off Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta shortly before opening for a set of shows May 4.

Jazz:

Continued from Page 8

blue frozen yogurt shop, which is what it was … and convert it to a jazz club in the suburbs. That was considered to be wack crazy,” she said. “Now, I look like Nostradamus because people have discovered the suburbs are a pretty great place to bring culture.”

More than a decade later and The Velvet Note is still going strong, offering multiple shows each week from incredible artists.

“We have a combination of performers who are residents of this area, meaning that they’re from Atlanta or the region, to performers who come from overseas or who are national performers,” she said. “We really enjoy giving them a place, it’s a lot smaller than they’re accustomed. But here they have a chance to really feel what their audiences are feeling.”

But unlike most venues or clubs, The Velvet Note is what Fuller calls a “listening room,” which means after doors open, dinner and drinks are served, and the performer is introduced by Fuller at 7:30 p.m., all talking is taboo and the music is all that matters. Then they do it all over again at their late show.

“If you’re a performer, it means

that it doesn’t have that den of bar talk,” she said. “It’s truly people listening.”

Fuller said she’s seen countless amazing and inspiring musicians come through her doors to perform, but two, in particular, are the inspiration that kept The Velvet Note going strong.

The first, Atlanta jazz singer Freddy Cole, the brother of legendary musician Nat King Cole, was a dear

friend of Fuller’s before his death in 2020. Cole’s life and work, often overshadowed by the work of his ultrafamous brother, taught her how to be true to her authentic self, she said.

“He taught me that I will never be as good at being something else as I will at being myself,” she said. “We have 40 seats here. We’re not trying to be 60 seats; we’re not trying to be 100 seats … We’re just doing the best

we can be as us and we’re good with that.”

Her second-most important inspiration was the jazz singer Carmen Lundy, who played at The Velvet Note in 2015.

Fuller said after soundcheck on the day of Lundy’s performance, the jazz singer came up to her and scolded her for not having the venue’s antique piano perfectly tuned.

“She comes over to me and says, ‘If you plan to be what you say you want to be. You’re gonna have to keep your piano in tune,’” she said. “I’ll never forget she said, ‘Good enough, isn’t good enough.’”

From that moment forward, Fuller and her staff have striven to be as excellent as their patrons and performers expect and deserve them to be.

“We sell Chesapeake Bay jumbo lump crab, we sell beef that has no antibiotics and that’s grass-fed and comes from small production farms,” she said. “We do not allow musicians to use recording tracks. They’re making real music with real instruments, and we do those things because good enough, Isn’t.”

The Velvet Note is at 4075 Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta. For more information about their performers and get tickets to a show, visit thevelvetnote.com.

Tara Tucker

Paras

Installation Services

Team Leader

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Tamara Fuller, owner of The Velvet Note jazz club, opens a show at the club on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta. Fuller kicks off each performance Thursday through Sunday each week.

Run it in the newspaper!

Roswell draws residents’ flack for Canton Street closure plan

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — It appears Roswell residents and businesses will have a greater say in the city’s plan to close Canton Street to vehicle traffic on weekends this summer.

At a special public forum May 9 at City Hall, Mayor Kurt Wilson promised a crowd of residents and business owners that the City Council will hold formal discussions on the topic, with opportunity for public comment.

Wilson joined other council members – appearing separately so as to avoid a gathering that would constitute an official City Council meeting – to hear from residents who attended the nearly twohour forum.

The city floated the idea recently to close the popular street to vehicles from Ga. 9 to East Alley on weekends over the summer to promote pedestrian traffic. Canton Street is regionally known as an entertainment hub, with an array of restaurants and shops. Almost 7,000 vehicles travel that stretch each day.

Wilson said the City Council will hold the special meeting to address the issue Tuesday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m.

“My expectation is we will deliver a plan that will address the things we discussed today,” Wilson said.

If there are further concerns, the mayor continued, the city will continue to adjust the plan to accommodate residents and business owners.

City Councilwoman Sarah Beeson declared that she was “frustrated” by the fact that the meeting was not public, and that she had been left out of seemingly long-term discussions about the road closure.

The forum came in the wake of a late April Facebook announcement from the city detailing its plan to close the street on weekends as a means to enliven the area.

The Facebook post lit up with comments from Roswell residents, confused about the lack of notice regarding the meeting and an absence of any prior public discussion. At the city’s “Roswell Moves” event on April 30, the city had a tent for City Administrator Randy Knighton to present the closure plan and get feedback from residents.

Some residents and business owners reached out to the city government, specifically Mayor Wilson, to get more information about the plan and where it came from. In the meantime, a few people announced a press conference outside Roswell City Hall on May 3 to “demand Roswell rescind its plan to close Canton.”

A surprise announcement

The residents said they heard nothing from city leaders until a 20-minute video dropped on the city’s Facebook page on May 2, with the mayor and City councilwomen Christine Hall and Lee Hills talking about the proposed road shutdown the city has worked on in private for the past 16 months.

In the video, Mayor Wilson explains the trial proposal to transform Canton Street into an open-air pedestrian plaza. His long-term vision is to create a “promenade on Canton Street, like Barcelona.”

Originally the city planned to close the street for the entire summer, but Wilson said that after hearing from local business owners, he adjusted the closure to run from Memorial Day to Labor Day. He said he’s willing to hear more feedback.

“Our door is always open,” Wilson said. “We want to talk.”

The proposed “promenade” would remove 39 parking spaces from historic downtown Roswell, but Wilson said visitors can use City Hall’s parking lot down the road. He also referenced the city’s $20 million bond referendum

See STREET, Page 23

DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA

Roswell residents and business owners hold a news conference outside Roswell City Hall May 3 to demand the city pause plans to close Canton Street to vehicles this summer.

Know the rules

Brought to You

by - Geerdes & Associates

A trust is an individual’s very own rulebook that determines how their assets will be distributed after their death.

You know this already, but do you know there are different types of trust? That’s right, depending on your purpose of creating a trust - whether that’s to avoid probate, qualify for Medicaid, or protect your assets for your children - there are different types of trust you can make.

Let’s go through a few of the many types of revocable trusts. An A-B or Marital Deduction trust allows you to enjoy the benefits of marital deduction and also protect your assets for your spouse if you pass away first. With a marital deduction trust, couples can reap the benefits of estate tax exemption and also reduces

the federal taxes for bigger estates.

If you have children with unique needs, a beneficiary’s or separate share trust is a type of trust managed by an independent trustee for the wellbeing of the beneficiary. The Trustee has full control over how the funds can be used for the benefit of the beneficiary, which ensures that the assets remain in the trust and protected for your children’s creditors, lawsuits, and divorces. The trust assets can even be protected for your children in the event that your spouse remarries.

Finally, there’s the blind trust, a special type of trust often created for politicians. A blind trust is useful when it’s better for the beneficiary to be unaware of what’s in the trust, to prevent conflicts of interest. For blind trusts, a Trustee will manage the assets inside a trust while keeping it secret from the beneficiaries until the right time.

There are many more different types of trust, and it’s highly recommended to begin your estate planning sooner rather than later. Speak to an estate planning attorney to see what trust is best for you.

GEERDES

PEXELS

High Meadows School – Inspiring future global citizens and innovative leaders

Brought to you by - High Meadows School

There is no place like High Meadows School. Since 1973, High Meadows students in Pre-K through 8th grade have learned through experiential, immersive educational opportunities offered both in the school’s spacious, light-filled classrooms and across 42 acres of grassy fields and scenic woodlands. High Meadows School’s progressive curriculum is focused on developing future global citizens and innovative leaders who embrace challenge and think for themselves.

High Meadows lower years classrooms offer low student-teacher ratios in which instruction emphasizes academic excellence, love of learning, critical thinking, and environmental and social responsibility. As a nationally recognized

and award-winning leader in progressive education, High Meadows is an accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering its renowned Primary Years Program for students in preschool through fifth grade.

High Meadows School’s accomplished and experienced faculty lead each student on this journey. Through interactive, inquiry-based instruction, supported by of-the-moment technology and our nature-based campus, High Meadows teachers are unequaled in their intellect, passion, and compassion for these kids. Every day they inspire authentic learning opportunities that are engaging and sticky (literally and figuratively!).

When children graduate from High Meadows, they are empowered with a deep respect for international perspectives, an intuitive understanding of life’s

interconnectedness, and an exceedingly strong sense of self. Education is an expedition that starts from the moment we are born. When we teach children to be curious and inquiring at an early age, we create within them a love of learning

that lasts an entire lifetime. What is more important than that?

Please visit our website at highmeadows.org or call 770-993-2940 to learn more about High Meadows School.

Great minds think differently

Brought to you by - The Cottage School

Since 1985, The Cottage School (TCS) has provided a comprehensive program for students with learning differences grades 3-12. TCS offers a business-based model that promotes self-advocacy and fosters self-confidence, preparing them for life after graduation to pursue post-secondary educational paths or vocational opportunities. Our accredited college preparatory curriculum meets Georgia graduation standards and HOPE scholarship requirements to take students to graduation and beyond.

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, and trails for mountain biking and cross-country. TCS encourages students of all abilities to participate in athletics by

PROVIDED

offering sports such as soccer, basketball, baseball, cross-country, tennis, and golf.

The Cottage School has built a one-ofa-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.

The Cottage School

700 Grimes Bridge Road Roswell, Georgia 30075 770-641-8688

www.cottageschool.org

Brought to you by - Mill Springs Academy

Those are the words of Mill Springs Academy’s founder, Tweetie L. Moore, and the words that Mill Springs administration, faculty, and staff continue to live by today. Founded in 1981, Mill Springs provides a values-based college preparatory program for students with ADHD and learning differences. Mill Springs’ school-wide Community Structure encourages students to participate in their own education by teaching self-advocacy, social problemsolving skills, and how to forge their own path. Our small class sizes allow teachers to provide each student with individualized instruction. Our highly skilled faculty and counselors provide academic rigor on all levels, from kindergarten through 12, in a supportive, nurturing environment. Mill Springs Academy also offers students a wide variety of opportunities outside the core curriculum. Mill Springs’ fine arts program encourages students to explore their creativity through painting, sculpture, set design, music, performance, and more. Our robust athletic programs allow students to play at a competitive level while building teamwork and confidence.

PROVIDED

Mill Springs’ 85-acre Alpharetta campus includes indoor and outdoor classroom space, athletic facilities, and visual and performing arts facilities. We serve students from over 50 different zip codes in the Metro Atlanta area and provide four bus routes with ten stops in the morning and afternoon. To learn more about Mill Springs Academy, visit us at www.millsprings.org/visit.

“If a student can’t learn the way we teach… we should teach the way a student can learn.”

A letter to students

1. You are awesome. Be confident in who you are. I promise you’ll meet people who are smarter than you, and that’s OK. You don’t have to be the smartest person—oddly enough, sometimes being the smartest person is difficult. I also promise that you will be smarter than most. Enjoy that; while being smart isn’t everything, it is definitely something. Be confident in your intelligence, but not arrogant. I’ve found that, most of the time, being arrogant backfires on you. That leads into point two…

2. Sometimes it takes more courage and intelligence to be silent than to speak. It took me a long time to understand and respect silence. I’m still learning that it’s a mark of maturity and, most of the time, intelligence. Also, respect everyone’s differences and challenge yourself to learn about them.

3. Never stop learning. I don’t mean that in a teacher way, I mean it in a learning life sort of way. You are constantly growing, maturing, and developing, so enjoy it. Life is a condition to which no one is immune. We learn something every day. Our taste in music, food, TV, and the people we surround ourselves with evolves. It’s natural for these preferences to change. I wasted a lot of time trying to be someone I wasn’t because I thought I was supposed to be someone else. To complete number three, you need to invest in number four…

4. Spend time with yourself. Since you’ve been in my class, I’ve learned how amazing you are each in your own way. If you sit and spend time with you, I think you’ll feel the same way. I’m such a people person, but sometimes the best thing is time alone with great music, a book, TV, or whatever. As cheesy as this sounds, be your own best friend. The sooner you learn that all of your faults and idiosyncrasies are what make you awesome, the sooner you will be a better person and enjoy life so much more. That leads to number five…

5. Everyone has faults. With the advent of social media, I sometimes find myself comparing my faults with everyone else’s highlights. Scrolling through your Twitter feed (or Snapchat or TikTok), you see people

lauding their accomplishments, great times, and great friends. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this, as long as you understand that what you see on social media is an incomplete picture. If you compare all of your faults to those highlights, you may feel a bit inadequate. Everyone has faults, so embrace yours. Grow from them and know that they add to what makes you, you. And remember, you’re awesome.

6. Surround yourself with people who love you and think you’re great (but also who know and accept your faults). You need this. If someone won’t accept you for who you are, ask yourself if you really need that relationship (be it friends or more).

7. Smile. Every day. I’m not getting into the psychology of it all, but it could possibly make you happier and healthier. It works. Trust me.

8. Don’t trust people just because they say, “trust me.” Still...

9. Trust people. It’s endearing. I know this is very contradictory, but it’s true. Even though “trust me” should raise flags, trusting people means you are human and we all need people we can trust.

10. I’ve saved one of the most important tips for last: Be happy. Genuinely happy.

Choose a profession that pays the bills and makes you want to go to work most days. You won’t be happy every day. You will have bad days, weeks and maybe even months, but you’ll be generally happy. Money will not, in the end, make you happy.

One of the greatest pieces of advice my dad ever gave me was to make great memories. Good and bad, and all kinds in between, they are all part of our life.

So, make them good ones and remember that you are part of other’s memories so make sure they are positive, too.

I have to end this the way my mother ended most of our conversations when I was in high school and college. Make good choices. (I repeat this often to my own kids.)

Lori Fenzl, Upper School social studies teacher

Brought to you by - Woodward Academy

The power of psychological testing

The Summit provides comprehensive psycho-educational evaluations for children, adolescents, and young adults who have suspected learning differences, attention problems, and cognitive and emotional issues. Overall, psychological testing can be a valuable tool for parents, educators, and healthcare professionals in supporting a child academically, emotionally, and socially!

Some specific benefits of psychological testing include:

Pinpointing Learning Difficulties. Psychological testing can help identify the root cause of a child’s learning difficulties so that they can receive targeted support and interventions.

Identifying Emotional or Behavioral Issues. Testing can help to identify emotional or behavioral issues that may be affecting the child’s social or academic

functioning. Once identified, appropriate interventions can be put in place and coping skills can be taught to help them manage their feelings in a healthy way.

Providing Insights into Cognitive Abilities. Psychological testing allows for insight into a child’s cognitive abilities, such as memory, reasoning, and problemsolving skills. This information can help teachers and parents to understand the child’s strengths and weaknesses. Details about the child’s cognitive profile allows educators to tailor teaching and learning strategies to the child’s individual needs.

Offering Guidance for Educational Placement. Psychological testing can help determine the most appropriate educational placement for a child, such as a mainstream classroom, a special education program, or a gifted program.

Learn more about our services and schedule a psychological assessment at summitcounseling.org!

Brought to you by - Summit Counseling Center

Cambridge High School’s boys and girls track and field teams both won the 5A Region Championship for the first time in school history.

Cambridge boys and girls teams claim region title in track & field

NORCROSS, Ga. — Both the boys and girls track and field teams at Cambridge High School won the 5A Region Championship for the first time in school history April 24-25.

The teams traveled to Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross to compete

against six other schools and won their respective region titles after two days of competition.

With the top four finishers in each individual event and relays, the Bears competed in the state 5-A sectionals May 6, including a number of individuals and

seven of eight relays.

In all, 11 individuals, plus two boys and two girls relay teams from Cambridge qualified for the state meet at the sectionals, which were held at Jefferson High School.

There were a number of school

records established at the regionals. The boys 4x800-meter relay, both 4x100-meter relay teams, both 4x200meter relay teams and both 4x400-meter relay teams advanced to sectionals. There were also close to three dozen individual scorers.

County lists road upgrades to handle The Gathering

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — While

The Gathering at South Forsyth is expected to bring unprecedented economic growth to Forsyth County, officials say road upgrades in the area will manage related traffic concerns.

County Manager David McKee said the new Ga. 400 interchange and the widening of McGinnis Ferry Road, as well as the extension of Ronald Reagan Boulevard, will be completed before The Gathering opens if plans are approved.

The site for the proposed development is located at Union Hill Road and Ronald Reagan Boulevard. The Drawing from 2019 figures, the County Engineering Department

estimated traffic counts for Union Hill Road at 5,180 vehicles a day. It showed 9,490 vehicles on McGinnis Ferry Road.

The Big Creek Greenway will also extend for one mile through the development and connect the Halcyon and Union Hill Park trailheads, marking a 27-mile connection from Roswell to the Sawnee Mountain Preserve.

“This is a big economic driver, not only to the county, but to the region and even to the Southeast,” McKee said. “We're looking forward to working with the developers, working through the traffic issues that would arise with a development like this and

coming together for a good community solution, both from the regional level, but all the way down to the local level.”

While the Georgia Department of Transportation plans to extend express lanes on Ga. 400 from the North Springs MARTA Station to Forsyth County near McFarland Parkway, McKee said there are no plans as yet to extend MARTA rail or bus service to the county.

Proposed by North Georgia businessman Vernon Krause, The Gathering at South Forsyth is billed to serve as an entertainment, business and residential hub at the southern border of the county.

Project developers presented conceptual plans for the 100-acre site at an April 25 Board of Commissioners work session and estimated The Gathering could produce over 12,000 long-term employment opportunities, as well as 20,000 construction jobs during its 10-year development.

While finalized plans for the future of the development have not been presented, discussions and further details are slated for the May 9 County Commission work session. Updates and information on the project can be found at thegatheringatsouthforsyth.com.

— Shelby Israel

Sawnee EMC part of group drawing from solar project

CUMMING, Ga. — Sawnee EMC and 29 other Georgia electric cooperatives are now sharing the renewable energy generated by a new 106-megawatt solar project constructed in Clay County.

Sawnee EMC will receive around 10 percent of the project’s energy.

Green Power EMC, the renewable energy supplier for 38 of Georgia’s electric membership corporations,

including Sawnee EMC, is purchasing all of the energy and environmental attributes generated by the Clay Solar Project. As a clean and renewable energy source, the solar site’s environmental benefit is equivalent to eliminating approximately 193,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

The Clay Solar Project has more than

337,000 solar modules that track the sun on its daily path across the sky, resulting in increased energy production when compared to a solar project that utilizes a fixed-tilt installation.

Sawnee EMC offers a virtual solar energy program where members can receive the benefits of alternative energy without the challenges of owning and operating a system at their home or

business.

Also, Sawnee EMC has a “new” solar renewable energy credit program that allows members to purchase the environmental attributes of Sawnee’s solar assets. To learn more about both programs, call Sawnee’s Call Center at 770-887-2363, chat online, text 678999-8124 or email customerservice@ sawnee.com.

CAMBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL/PROVIDED

Street:

Continued from Page 12

to build a parking deck in downtown Roswell, a project he said will be finished in two years. The city has not revealed any information about the location or construction of the parking deck.

Wilson said the road closure will make the area safer for pedestrians to roam without fear of vehicle traffic, because “all it takes is one pedestrian dead and the success of Canton Street is no longer.”

Wilson said business deliveries will not be impacted and the closure is a “shortterm” trial.

“If this hurts our businesses, we all will call it off because the last thing we want to do is hurt our businesses,” Wilson said.

At the end of the video, Wilson touched on Roswell’s history of “paralysis by analysis.”

“A lot of times in the past, things haven’t gotten done after there was enough discord that people said we can’t move forward,” Wilson said.

The mayor said it’s his responsibility to change that.

At their May 3 press conference at City Hall, residents and business owners said they were not satisfied with the video.

Jenna Aronowitz, owner of 1920 Tavern on Canton Street said there are “many reasons we can’t even begin to contemplate this idea.”

The restaurant owner cited a lack of notice from the city, discussion with residents or data on the possible impacts of closing Canton Street to cars.

The news conference focused on a few primary concerns, specifically with parking, traffic and an increasingly rowdy environment downtown.

Aronowitz said the city needs to build the parking deck before any further discussion can continue and ensure that elderly and disabled people can easily access Canton Street. With previous single-day road closures for events like Alive in Roswell or Roswell Moves, Aronowitz said her business had a steep drop in sales.

Neighborhood concerns

Residents who live on and nearby Canton Street said the closure will back up traffic on the open portion of the road. Jim Dooley, president of the homeowners association of 70 townhomes off Canton Street, said the traffic would impede residents’ ability to get in and out of their neighborhoods.

For previous events like Alive in Roswell, a monthly festival on Canton Street the association hired police to monitor the neighborhood entrances and turn non-residents away. Residents worry the closure will make every night like Alive in Roswell, and Dooley said they can’t afford to hire police every weekend.

“This is what this (closure) is going to make us do in order to handle all the overflow and outflow from this silly decision that’s been proposed,” Dooley said.

Other residents said the road closure will make the downtown neighborhood suffer from trash, street bands and public drunkenness. A Roswell ordinance allows restaurant customers to carry an open container of alcohol in the Canton Street district from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

“Do we really want a whole summer of Alive in Roswell?” Webb Street resident Susan Tyser asked.

She said the neighborhood deals with traffic gridlock and drunkenness during the event, destroying the area’s ability to rest and relax.

Even businesses feel the impact.

“Alive in Roswell is a drunk fest,” Aronowitz said.

As a restaurant owner she said the clientele changes from sophisticated diners to drunk people coming in and breaking things. Typically, she said the businesses will shut their doors early for the event.

Aronowitz said the group doesn’t want Alive in Roswell to end, but that they want it to be a “nice community get together” where people can showcase their local businesses. They also don’t want it to feel like Alive in Roswell is happening every weekend.

‘We’re not set up that way’ Kelly Smith, the owner of Roswell

Provisions on Canton Street said she disagrees with the entire process of turning Canton Street into a Barcelonastyle promenade, like the mayor mentioned in his video.

“You know, Barcelona, we’re in Roswell, Georgia,” Smith said. “We’re not set up that way.”

She said if the proposal is enacted, there will be disasters with deliveries, traffic and a loss of revenue.

The residents and business owners said they want the city to pause any plans to close Canton Street to vehicles until the parking deck is built. They agreed that the city should at least bring the issue to a public vote.

Roswell City Councilwoman Sarah Beeson attended the news conference to listen to resident concerns. The councilwoman said she first heard about the proposal on April 17, just weeks before it was announced.

Beeson said she called for a public vote at a regular meeting, hoping that the issue could be discussed at a May 23 Community Development meeting.

Charity raises $55,000 with Swing Into Action

ROSWELL, Ga. — A North Fulton County nonprofit organization earned $55,000 for families in need at a golf tournament at the Country Club of the South April 24.

North Fulton Community Charities hosted the 15th annual Swing Into Action Golf Tournament, which aims to lessen hardship and provide financial stability to residents in need.

“This tournament plays an important role in helping prevent homelessness and food insecurity in our community,” organization Director of Development Sherri Morgan said. “We are grateful to the many golfers and sponsors who supported this event and make it possible for us to continue our work providing food and clothing assistance; case management; education and workforce development; and seasonal assistance.”

The 11 a.m. tournament presented by Omnivore Ventures featured 96 golfers. The event was sponsored by Toyota Financial Services, Synchrony, Roswell Presbyterian Church, Northside Hospital and 19 other community groups.

Mike and Jeff Moskal; Ryan Grieb; and Peter Pyun of Northside Hospital won first place at the tournament; and Jim Pope, Phil Johnson, Ken Morton and Erik Bagwell took second place. Teams from Envision Office Solutions, Toyota Financial Services and DataScan were tied for third place.

Erik Bagwell also won the longest drive contest; Scott Kagan won the putting contest; and Casey Robinson won the closest to the pin contest.

— Shelby Israel

Wolfe named to key position with Roswell Fire Department

ROSWELL, Ga. —

The Roswell Fire Department named long time firefighter, captain and lieutenant Brian Wolfe as the Deputy Chief of Administration on May 8.

Wolfe has 27 years with the Roswell Fire

Department and begins his new role on May 30.

Wolfe will oversee the Fire Marshal’s Office, budgeting, procurement and logistics. The department leader will be heavily involved in the execution of the city’s public safety bond project. The $52 million bond will fund a new police and fire headquarters and new fire

stations in Roswell.

Deputy Chief Wolfe currently serves as the assistant chief of Business Services for Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services, where he manages their operating and capital budgets. Wolfe oversees fire facilities, finance and resource management.

Wolfe has previously served as a battalion chief, fire captain, lieutenant

and firefighter and is also on the Woodstock City Council.

“Chief Wolfe is a dedicated executive fire service leader and will bring a wealth of knowledge to our team,” Fire Chief Joe Pennino said. “He will undoubtedly help the Roswell Fire Department obtain its vision of being an innovative world-class public safety organization.”

Roswell firefighters rescue woman in Chattahoochee

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell firefighters rescued a woman who was drowning in the Chattahoochee River at Don White Memorial Park near Riverside Road April 27.

Bystanders reported the woman was struggling to stay afloat around 1:30 p.m. The Roswell Fire Department’s Swiftwater Rescue Team and firefighters

arrived on the scene soon after.

The team threw a water rescue rope toward the woman. She couldn’t grab the rope, so firefighters Andrew Riley and James Laudermilk swam out and brought her to safety. First responders on the scene then provided medical care to the woman.

“Thanks to their quick thinking,

King’s Ridge athletes honored at signing day

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Nine studentathletes from King’s Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta were celebrated during the school’s annual athletic signing day ceremony April 20. Students honored during the ceremony included Oli Clark, Quinton Grimes, Grace Kester, Isaac Martin, Ryder Mitchell, Zak Thomas, Jack Thomas, Mason Tucker and Robbie

Walker. These students will continue their academic and athletic careers at the University of Arizona, Concordia University, Gardner-Webb University, Berry College, Rollins College, Covenant College, Oglethorpe University, the Coast Guard Academy and Lenoir-Rhyne University.

calm demeanor and exceptional bravery, firefighters Riley and Laudermilk were able to rescue the victim and bring her safely to the shore,” Roswell Fire Chief Joe Pennino said. “Their heroic actions undoubtedly saved her life.”

The Roswell Fire Department said May is water safety month and encouraged residents to practice water

safety, like wearing life jackets and not swimming alone. They advised people to pay close attention to their surroundings around water and be cautious when entering a body of water.

The department said if you see somebody struggling in the water, call for help and never attempt to rescue them alone.

WOLFE

— Alexander Popp

KING’S RIDGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL/PROVIDED

NORTH FULTON COMMUNITY CHARITIES/PROVIDED

From left, tournament co-chairs Mickey Rogers and Will Daniels; North Fulton Community Charities Director of Development Sherri Morgan; and Omnivore Ventures CEO John McAleer attend the Swing Into Action Golf Tournament April 24.

Master Gardeners to bring Celebration Garden Tour to Sandy Springs

The Celebration Garden Tour provides access to five glorious Southern gardens in the Chastain Park area. On June 3, five home gardens of Master Gardeners will be on display for ticket holders. The tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. These are truly fabulous gardens, which will be complemented by musicians and plein air artists. Tickets may be purchased for $22 for adults, including taxes and credit card/Eventbrite fees. Children under 18 are free. Purchase tickets at https://bit.ly/GardenTour2023. Information about garden locations and tour information will be sent to all ticket holders. If still available, tickets may be purchased on-site for $25.

MICHAEL SNOW Guest Columnist

Master Gardener Extension volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and highlight areas of interest in each garden. The gardens can be viewed in any order. Please note that the gardens are not wheelchair accessible or suitable for strollers. Sturdy shoes are suggested. Photography is acceptable for personal use and enjoyment.

Garden #1 - Neo-classical Southern

Leading to this home’s stately entrance are deodar cedars, rhododendron, viburnum and camellias nestled beneath the magnolias. The collection of whimsical birdhouses among the trees are just some of the garden’s delights.

Some of the charm includes bird of paradise, confederate jasmine and beautiful camellias as well as a weeping katsura with climbing hydrangea petiolaris draping over the door to the house. Another favorite feature is the collection of small stone houses.

A view of the rear of the house features crape myrtles and Coral Bark Japanese maples along the end of the brick wall covered in creeping fig and accented with containers of rosemary balancing the whole arrangement. Two Japanese maples flank the pool spa, while palms, agave, ajuga, and a Harry Lauder’s walking stick plant occupy containers.

Garden #2 - Sculptures in the gardens of a midcentury modern

This Master Gardener’s house and multiple garden areas are designed to showcase art. Near the entrance are a silver sculpture, a fig tree, a Richard Jakobus family memorial bench, and a blue wave sculpture. Further on are a David Borgerding bronze sculpture, Peace Rising, and a sculpture by Kevin and Jennifer Box from the “Origami in the Garden” exhibit at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

The flora includes redbud trees, Carolina jessamine, deodar cedar and sweet bay magnolia, to name a few. Also, 70-year-old ginkgo and ficus trees grace the grounds.

A koi pond containing Fat Albert, a koi inherited with the house over 26 years ago, and a Zen Garden with climbing hydrangea covering the wall complement the garden.

The birdhouse village and raised bed vegetable garden are just a few of the garden delights.

About the Author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Michael Snow, a Master Gardener since 2021 and a Milton resident. Michael has always been active in “yard work” and growing plants and shrubs. Upon retiring from a career in real estate property finance, he sought to benefit from an organized source of garden information and became a Master Gardener. He cochairs the Celebration Garden Tour along with Kelly Mogelgaard, a Master Gardener since 2016 and avid Sandy Springs gardener.

Garden #3 - Charming Container Garden

This garden emphasizes containers to maximize the variety available every season. This Master Gardener has grown many of the plants in the garden from seed or seedling, and he will be available during the tour to discuss his propagation methods. Hollies, crape myrtles, camellias, and gold mound spirea are featured as well as containers of double white gardenias with a tremendous river birch. The gardens contain a prized crown of thorns and a yellow angel trumpet from Oakland Cemetery.

Across from the terrace is a sculpture flanked by rhododendrons. A prized Southeastern Flower Show camellia and Carolina jessamine reside near the pool.

Garden #4 - Secluded Oasis

This all-inclusive garden contains many delights. Fatsia, japonica camellias, boxwoods and matching Japanese maples invite you into the garden. The pool area is accented with containers planted for color as two crape myrtles flank the entry to an adjacent lawn. The arbor at the rear of the house supports a ‘New Dawn’ rose.

This Master Gardener enjoys the produce from the raised vegetable beds and the perennial garden. The stunning stone-rimmed vegetable beds are fabulous. The perennial garden features peonies of every variety and color — some new and some old — as well as roses, hydrangeas, and gooseneck loosestrife, which pops up regularly. Beyond the hedge is a large lawn specially planned for their daughters’ soccer and softball.

Garden #5 - Generational homage

This garden was inspired by the Master Gardener’s parents who worked the land and gardened

See SNOW, Page 30

See solution Page 39

PRESERVING THE PAST

The fascinating history of honey and honey bees

Honey bees are essential to our health and wellbeing. Many plants that provide us with food would not reproduce without the assistance of bees, and honey bees are the only insect that produces food for humans. Today we will explore the history of beekeeping with some observations about the practice in this area.

Georgia ranks ninth among states in the production of honey with 3.3 million pounds annually. One of the best-known Georgia bee producers was J.J. Wilder (1872-1950) of Waycross, called the “Georgia Bee King,” whose 300 apiaries (place where beehives are kept) and 14,000 colonies extended 200 miles and housed a billion bees in the early 1930s, making it one of the world’s largest.

Bee cultivation history dates back to prehistoric times. Cave paintings in Spain have portrayed humans foraging honey from wild hives 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. Honey played a vital role in ancient Egypt where it was used for food, cosmetics, medications and more. Even after organized beekeeping using woven straw hives or baked clay tubes or domes was developed around 2500 B.C., destruction of the hives during honey collection continued until the 1850s. That’s when Lorenzo Langstroth of Philadelphia invented the wooden Langstroth hive with removable frames to hold honeycombs. His box revolutionized beekeeping and continues to be the most popular design today. If kept under proper conditions, natural honey can last forever, which explains why honey found in dry Egyptian tombs is still edible.

Bee colonies are wondrous creations. Each contains between 60,000 and 100,000 bees consisting of three types: workers, drones and the queen. The bees work together to assure the health of the hive, each type with its defined role. The vast majority of bees in a colony are

Snow:

Continued from Page 28

at Sawnee Farms in Cumming. Many of the plants, shrubs and trees were transplanted from the family farm. The gardens showcase Southern legacy plants and flowers, such as large azaleas, kousa dogwood, a Bloodgood Japanese maple, box -

female worker bees who build the wax comb that holds eggs, feed the brood of new bees, take care of the queen, forage for pollen, nectar and water among other responsibilities. Worker bees live for only a few weeks.

Every colony has only one queen bee whose main job is to lay eggs, up to a million over her lifetime of two to four years. Drones are males whose only responsibility is to mate with the queen who may mate with up to 17 drones over a one- to two-day period. The beekeeper must understand the lifecycles of the bees and provide a healthy environment for them, a management task that requires detailed knowledge of many factors.

Here are a few facts about bees from the monthly American Bee Journal to help with your next trivia game: The publication first appeared in January 1861 and is still relied upon by beekeepers.

• The average honeybee will make only one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.

• Honeybees fly up to 15 miles per hour with wings that stroke 11,400 times per minute, creating their distinctive buzz.

• Bees maintain a temperature of 92-93 degrees in their central brood regardless of the outside temperature.

• Fermented honey, known as mead, is the most ancient fermented beverage.

There are several local bee clubs in Georgia and many small beekeepers in North Fulton County.

Ed Parsons and Stan Key are two of the best known.

Ed and Carter Parsons operate the Milton Honey Farm. Ed handles the bees, and Carter is responsible for the business aspects and makes a line of honey soap. Ed is busy with his honeybee business, and his IT company and a wood company that services furniture makers. He has some 40 or 50 hives in two locations in Milton and maintains

woods, large camellias, and peonies. Plants that dominate in each garden area include abelia, strawberry begonia, epimedium, and pittosporum. This well-articulated setting includes both a cutting garden and a formal garden showcasing more ligustrum and oak leaf hydrangeas set before a collection of camellias. A goldfish pond centers the formal garden. Also attracting attention is a Harry Lauder’s walking stick tree.

two self-serve stands. Ed explains that honey purchased in stores is typically blended honeys from several states, which accounts for its uniform taste and color. Like most beekeepers in the area, Ed produces Wildflower Honey which can vary from light to dark depending on the flowers visited by the bees. Spring honey is lighter in color than fall honey, which is tulip poplar flower-based. Every June to mid-August, Ed takes his bees to North Georgia so they can enjoy sourwood tree flowers. Sourwood is most abundant in the southern Appalachian Mountains and produces a uniquely flavored light to medium amber honey depending on the amount of sun and rain a tree receives.

Stan Key is president of Stan’s Bee Loved Honey Company in Alpharetta which makes wildflower honey, sells bees, and relocates beehives. He is a frequent speaker about bees and beekeeping at schools and community groups, consults

Happy gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. More details about the tour

and mentors individuals who are new to the bee business. He is past president of the Fort Worth, Texas Metro Bee Association. Earlier, he was director of American schools in Brazil, Bolivia, Spain and Nicaragua. Stan says, “A third of every bite of food we eat has been touched by bees.”

Both Stan and Ed are active members of the Milton Bee Club which supports local hobby apiarists and works to build the next generation of Milton beekeepers. For information contact Stan at Milton Bee Club Home or email him at stankey. texas@gmail.com or phone 817 888-0470.

Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

are at https://www.nfmg.net/gardentour.html.

Proceeds from Garden Tour support gardening education for young children; scholarships for horticulture students; community gardening education classes (https://www.nfmg.net/ communityclasses.htm) in North Fulton and beyond; and local demonstration gardens (https://www.nfmg.net/projectgardens.htm) maintained by the North Fulton Master Gardeners.

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

KEY FAMILY/PROVIDED

Stan Key and his 12 year old granddaughter Estelle inspect their beehives. Estelle has been working with bees for three years and now has her own hive to care for.

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What does Alpharetta stand for?

I recently attended a fund-raiser for Family Promise, a faith-based nonprofit that provides shelter and more for local homeless moms and their children.

Alpharetta Mayor Jimmy Gilvin was the main speaker. We spoke for about 10 minutes during the meet and greet about the city in general. I took the opportunity to suggest to him that with all the amazing things that the city offers, that perhaps the city might consider working on what, in my opinion, may be the last significant missing piece of the city profile/ brand – what Alpharetta stands for.

What does Alpharetta in fact, stand for?

Until now, what Alpharetta has stood for is what most successful growing communities “stand for” –affluence, comfort, convenience, style, second homes and Range Rovers – that “successful” lifestyle.

Alpharetta has been blessed with amazing relatively controlled/strategic growth for the past 20+ years that is probably unduplicated in the Southeast if not the entire United States. We have a massive commercial tax base, primarily from all the office space. That office space has been home to a large percentage of high-tech, including especially fin-tech – Fortune 200 companies which have brought thousands of high-paying, white-collar jobs which, in turn, has driven one of

TENSE

the more robust housing markets in the country. The affluence has supported even more growth in the form of developments like Avalon, continuous development of new massive live-workplay communities like the two currently going up off Haynes Bridge Road just west of Ga. 400, plus over 25 hotels, restaurants and golf courses, and more. No city will ever catch up with Alpharetta – or will they?

Our schools are the envy of almost all other Georgia school systems – or are they?

Forsyth County now has even better schools than we have in North Fulton. Forsyth County schools didn’t used to be so high-performing though, but maybe that is the point that should begin to wake us up. Forsyth schools caught up and passed North Fulton schools, just as many other cities – think regional cities such as Peachtree Corners, Sandy Springs, Canton, Suwanee, Buford, and many more that are rapidly closing the gap with Alpharetta in so many ways – especially in infrastructure and development.

Plus, “remote work” has broken or will break almost every business and social model that exists, including here in Alpharetta. Long-term viability of all these office buildings – and our fabulous tax base – cannot be assumed. No aspect of our current success will not be impacted. Anyone who doesn’t see that needs to look again – real hard.

So, we’ve got it all, and we are in the front of the pack – until we’re not.

Over time, most people, cities and trends usually regress to the mean. That is, they get back to “normal.” It happens

in sports; it happens with countries, companies, restaurants, writers, musicians and artists – and yes, with cities.

So how does Alpharetta avoid “regressing back to the mean” and remain “the place where everyone wants to be?” We need to stand for something – something new, something relevant for the future.

I think that answer depends on the city leadership having vision—new, longterm, strategic vision. At present, I don’t think I see it. Right now, what I see is business as normal – status quo – the mindset and actions that brought us to the current desirable table. But that “way,” I’m afraid, won’t cut it into the future. And, I am not saying that they have done or are doing a bad job; I am just saying that it is time to strategically shift gears and go way outside the envelope to find the new path – one that will work for 5,10, 50 years from now.

The future belongs to younger generations, and the status quo that so attracted most of us to Alpharetta doesn’t work for them as much. They want more. They want different. They want things that were not on our radar, and they will move to and live in cities that have what they want and leave cities that don’t.

What they want is the $64 million question. Some answers are easy –affordable housing, jobs, remote work, modality and entertainment – stuff that we are already working on, just like every other growing city with any sense. So, if most cities are already working on those things, what can set Alpharetta apart?

I think what can set Alpharetta apart

is purpose – a “why” for the city.

I will offer an extreme example of what happens when the “why” is missing.

The war in Ukraine should have been over in just a month or two, but it now is into the second year. The main reason is that one side has a “why” and the other side doesn’t. It is all the difference. If Alpharetta wants to “stay ahead” and keep winning in the growth and development/quality of life “war” – which will mean continuing to be able to attract a strong young work force – it is going to have to have a “why.”

How Alpharetta creates a successful and long-lasting “why” might be the biggest challenge the city has ever had. It will take way outside-the-box thinking, and I suggest that the effort can only be successful if the city goes “all in.” It is not something that can be half-hearted or piecemeal or any iteration of the status quo.

The “why” must be crystal clear. It must become the city’s public and reputational “brand.”

If one looks around, deeply, and sets aside the status quo thinking – opinions, beliefs, and biases – and acknowledges that eventually all institutions fail if they don’t change, then our “why” must become institution-lead sustainability. If climate, carbon footprint and priorities become our brand, Alpharetta wins. We all win. It’s no longer tree-hugger stuff. It’s not left or right stuff. It’s no longer optional thinking stuff. It is exactly where we are today, and it will determine exactly where we are able to go tomorrow.

We must have this “why.”

Property owners used creativity to enjoy swimming

Before the development of neighborhoods and country clubs with swimming pools as an amenity, people had to use some ingenuity to have a place to swim. Often swimming was done in a nearby creek or lake. Sometimes a lake or pond was dug on the property. Through the 1940s and 1950s the only people with pools in the areas north of Atlanta were owners of summer homes or those who worked in the city but decided they wanted to experience living in the country.

The William Wardlaw summer home, built in the 1930s, had a pool and changing rooms for guests. The home was on Mount Vernon Road in today’s Dunwoody Club Forest subdivision.

Lois Pattillo Bannister had a pool constructed near her home at the corner of Chamblee Dunwoody and Vermack roads. That home is known today as Donaldson-Bannister Farm. Stone from a nearby quarry was placed around the creek near the bridge at Vermack Road to form a swimming pool. She had changing rooms, a bath house and picnic tables built on the banks of the creek. Vermack Swim and Tennis is located on the property where Bannister built

her creek pool.

Owners of the farm after Bannister continued to use and enjoy the pool.

Hank and Meredith Ogden Conklin swam there while living at the farm with their parents, Henry and Leila Harris Ogden, between 1946 and 1956.

Bonnie Smith Nichols lived on the farm between 1956 and 1974 with her parents Frank and Hortense Smith and brother Frank. They also swam in the pool along the creek.

When Linda and David Chesnut owned the farm, the creek was no longer part of the property. They built a swimming pool on the north side of the home.

Longtime Dunwoody residents

and neighbors Carlton Renfroe, Ann Renfroe, Keller Henderson Barron and Jane Autry all recalled swimming with various owners of Vermack Creek pool. Renfroe, who remembered the closest public pool was at Chastain Park, also swam at the Lawson General Hospital pool where his father worked.

The Nunnally home, in what is now River Oaks subdivision, had a metal pool next to the home for friends and family to enjoy.

Albert Martin, a descendant of the Goodwin family, recalled swimming at Silver Lake in Brookhaven. He lived in the Solomon Goodwin home for several years, previously located on Peachtree

See SWIMMING, Page 34

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

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Two Canadian authors whose books are worth the wait

I didn’t plan it this way, but the last two books I read were by Canadian authors. One a new novelist, the other an old hand. My reading selection is governed by the availability of books at the library. I don’t visit there and peruse the shelves. Instead, I log on to the website and search for the books on my never-ending TBR list. That list is populated with books that sound interesting based on reviews I’ve seen in the paper or online. If the library has it, I put it on hold.

Sometimes, they’re bestsellers and I wind up as number 85 or something higher on the waitlist, meaning it could be months before I get the wonderful email that says, “Come get your book.” Other times, it seems I’m the only one looking for a particular book, and it

comes available almost immediately.

Though “The Maid” and “A World of Curiosities” are both bestsellers, they came in pretty quickly and in the same week, and I devoured them both.

“The Maid” by Nita Prose

The protagonist, Molly Gray, is a 25-year-old who struggles with social skills. Through the years, her grandmother has been her guide in understanding and reading the intentions of others. Molly doesn’t always know when she’s being made fun of or misled, and when her grandmother dies, life becomes more difficult for her.

A maid at a prestigious hotel, she is good at her job and appreciated by her manager, but not necessarily by her co-workers. She finds herself in a pickle when a guest dies in one of her rooms. The red herrings and clues abound in this puzzler. Who is out to get Molly? Who is on her side? Will her social missteps do her in?

This mystery is well-plotted and the main character is endearing, all the things I love in a good book.

“A World of Curiosities” by Louise Penny

As is always the case with a Louise Penny mystery, I couldn’t put this one down. Inspector Gamache is back in the village of Three Pines surrounded by family and friends and soon, of course, a crime, or perhaps several.

I found this installment in the longrunning series to be much darker than the previous ones, though none of them are by any means light. Perhaps this one is more disturbing because it reveals more about Armand Gamache, his early life and early cases, and the toll that those cases have taken on him. The mystery moves between the case that brought Gamache and his son-in-law Jean-Guy together and their current life as co-workers and family. Though that case is in the past, it inserts itself into

the present day.

This is a book about evil. Can someone be born evil? If so, can they ever change? What is a psychopath? What toll does evil take on the men and women who must deal with it as they seek to solve cases and put killers behind bars?

Once again, Louise Penny does a masterful job of portraying the evil in our world and the impact it has. After this one, though, I may need a palate cleanser, something a bit more lighthearted. Please drop me a line if you have a recommendation.

Author Kathy Manos Penn is a nominee for the 2023 Georgia Author of the Year Award. Find her cozy mysteries locally at The Enchanted Forest in Dunwoody and Bookmiser in East Cobb or on Amazon. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ KathyManosPennAuthor/.

Family fun abounds at wildlife festival

Looking for something to do this Saturday, May 20?

Then check out the Keeping GA Wild Family Festival at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center near Mansfield, Ga.

will focus on Georgia’s wildlife and on conservation as well as on a range of outdoor recreational opportunities, with a special emphasis on getting kids fired up about having fun in the great outdoors.

Sponsors of this event include the Georgia Wildlife Federation, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Outdoors, National Wild Turkey Federation, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

No matter what your interest in the outdoors might be, this event promises to be just the thing to get you ready for some outdoor adventure as we move through springtime and into summer. Actives and presentations

Swimming:

Continued from Page 32

Road.

The Carroll McGaughey family had a pool at their home on Ridgeview Drive. They shared their home and pool with soldiers of World War II recovering at Veteran’s Hospital #48 in Brookhaven and Lawson General Hospital. (The Atlanta Constitution, August 16, 1946, “Veterans Feted by Elks Group”)

The Ramseys dug a lake on their property located behind the Dunwoody School. Carlton Renfroe and Keller Henderson Barron occasionally joined

What kinds of adventure await you? There will be opportunities to try archery, fishing and shooting sports — or, for some out-of-this-world excitement, you can enjoy a bit of solar (as in sun) viewing with members of the Charlie Elliott Astronomy Club. There will also be a variety of outdoor exhibits, plus wild animal presentations, arts and crafts and even prizes.

the Ramsey children and swam in the family lake.

Sally O’Keeffe Gurley Batson visited her grandmother Clara Cassidy’s summer house along Happy Hollow Road, known today as the Cassidy Lamb Home. The property had a creek pool, but Sally and the other children preferred their Uncle George Harvey Ferguson’s pool and slide across Happy Hollow.

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

While visiting the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, be sure to check out the site’s museum too. It’s definitely worth the time.

This event runs from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m., rain or shine, and admission is free. While the food lasts, you can even enjoy a free hotdog lunch.

I’m glad to see family-oriented outdoor events such as this one. They are a great way for folks to discover just

how enjoyable outdoor recreation can be, whether as a family activity or as an individual pursuit. I’ve had the pleasure of volunteering to help with many similar events over the years, and it is always a thrill to see a young person’s eyes light up as he or she begins to realize how much fun and excitement is waiting there in the great outdoors.

The Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center is located near Mansfield, Ga., and is easy to get to. Take I-20 East from Atlanta to Exit 98. Then travel south on Highway 11, go through Mansfield and continue 3 miles south to the Center’s entrance at Marben Farm Road on the left. Then follow the signs to the Discovery Area.

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

OGDEN FAMILY/PROVIDED

Hank Ogden and sister Meredith swim in the pool created along Vermack Creek in this photo from 1955.

AAPPEN PRESSCLU B

DEATH NOTICES

Beverly Boardman, 81, of Alpharetta, passed away on May 9, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Kenneth Christian, 83, of Alpharetta, passed away on May 5, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Alexander “Alex” Finnell, 23, of Milton, passed away on May 5, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Sarah Pippin, 93, of Alpharetta, passed away on May 6, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Susanne Sonke, 80, of Roswell, passed away on May 8, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Nellie Taylor, 91, of Milton, passed away on April 28, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

John Vlahiotis, 70, of Alpharetta, passed away on May 6, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Facilities/Property Manager for church in Alpharetta area.

Benefits.

Needs basic competency of the practices, methods, and equipment utilized in facility maintenance, construction, and repair activities; including skills and abilities related to plumbing, janitorial, electrical systems, painting, carpentry, construction, and heating and air conditioning systems. Basic understanding of IT and AV technology would be helpful. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to manage contractors/volunteers. Requires successful completion of a criminal record and child abuse background check, a valid driver’s license and the ability to perform physical tasks.

Qualified candidates please send resume to Alpharettajobopening@gmail.com.

SysPro IT Solutions, Inc. (Duluth, GA 30097) seeks multiple Software Developers to analyze user requirements, design, develop, test and deploy various client-servers, web-based software applications. Requirements: MS or Foreign equivalent in Comp. Sci./ IT, Engg. / Math / Science / MBA with Computer Science as major or minor/or related + 1 year of relevant IT experience using Java, Microsoft SQL Server, .Net, Salesforce (or BS or foreign equivalent in Comp. Sci / IT / Engg. / Math / Science / BBA with Computer Science as major or minor or related plus 5 yrs. of relevant IT experience using same IT skills listed above). Positions involve travel to client locations all over the USA. Send resume to HR Manager – SysPro IT Solutions Inc. 3057 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Suite 200, Duluth, GA 30097 or hr@sysproinc.com.

NEWSPAPER DELIVERY ROUTE

Community Events Manager

The Community Events Manager is responsible for all aspects of NFCC’s community events, from inception through execution, including helping secure sponsorships. Events may include annual golf tournament, annual fundraising gala, community engagement events, donor recognition events, and other community events. Position requires a highly organized, creative, and motivated person to lead event planning, sponsorship, and community engagement. Bachelor’s Degree preferred with 2-3 years special events and fundraising experience. To view entire listing visit: https://nfcchelp.org/workat-nfcc/  To apply, send a resume to Sandy Holiday, sholiday@nfcchelp.org.

CARPENTERS

Experienced. Prevailing wage. Must speak English. Open immediately. 352-449-5697

Appen Newspapers is looking for one or two folks to help deliver our newspapers. Work is part time and flexible. Routes can be done at night or during the day - on your schedule - within our deadlines. Comfortably earn $550 or more a month on your own schedule.

This is a great way to get out as well as contribute to helping your local newspaper! Perfect for retired person who wants to stay active or a parent with school-aged kids - deliver during school hours. Also good way to earn supplemental income at night. We have had many retired couples deliver our papers and almost all have managed a route well and enjoyed the time and the work.

Requirements include reliable vehicle, clean driving record, availability, reliability, and honesty. Prior delivery experience is good, but not required. It helps if you live relatively close as papers are picked up to be bagged and delivered from our office in Alpharetta. Delivery areas can be Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek, South Forsyth, Dunwoody, or Sandy Springs typically - depending on open routes.

Please contact our Office Manager Heidi to set up an appointment to come in and fill in paper work or start the process via Email!

Call 770-442-3278 and ask for Heidi or Email Heidi@AppenMedia.com

Administrative Assistant for Youth and Children

Protestant church in downtown Alpharetta seeks a parttime (15-18 hours per week) Administrative Assistant for Youth & Children’s Ministries. In addition to normal administrative duties the candidate will assist with scheduling, social media, securing supplies, maintaining attendance records, planning events and mission trips.

Qualified candidates are a person of outstanding character who is friendly, organized, able to prioritize, exhibits an understanding of the importance of confidentiality, and is willing and able to work in an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of all people.

A degree from an accredited college or university is preferred. Computer competence within Office 365, editing, and writing skills are required. Experience with REALM is a plus.

Successful completion of a criminal records and child abuse background check is required. Send resumes to alpharettajobopening@gmail.com.

Dawson’s Pediatrics Peach Kids Triathlon presented by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta will take place on May 21st, Sunday from 7:30AM to 10:30AM at Wills Park in Alpharetta. You should expect some delays in travel during these hours

Tree Services

Donor Operations Associate

The Donor Operations Associate greets and removes donations from vehicles and sorts merchandise in a designated area.  They are responsible for keeping the merchandise secure, all areas free of debris and the donor door area neat and clean.  This position is the face of NFCC so they are expected to provide excellent customer service and treat each donor with a professional and friendly demeanor.  High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Ability to perform low to moderate facility maintenance tasks.  To view entire listing visit: https://nfcchelp.org/work-atnfcc/  To apply, please complete an application for employment and email to Marten Jallad,  mjallad@nfcchelp.org.

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

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

COMPLETE TREE SERVICES

Appen-Rated 98

Text or Call us for a FREE quote appointment.

Tree removal, Pruning, Stump grinding, Free mulch. Fully insured.

Emergency 24/7 770-450-8188

Haulers

Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling, Etc.

Many local referencesCall Ralph Rucker 678-898-7237

Bargains – Miscellaneous

ELECTRIC PRESSURE WASHER, A.R. Blue Clean plus surface washer $115. ABOVE GROUND POOL PUMP and motor, new ETJ $200. 770-640-6250

Hablamos

Español

Dental insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real in-surance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www. dental50plus.com/ads #6258

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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 1/31/24.

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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:

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Inflation is at 40 year highs. Interest rates are way up. Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans.

Diagnosed with lung cancer?

You may qualify for a substantial cash award - even with smoking history. No obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help!!

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

Landscaping

Full Service LANDSCAPING Company

Retaining walls (brick or wood), grading, sod, tree services, hauling, topsoil & more.

Ralph Rucker

678-898-7237

Deadline to place a classified ad is Thursdays by 4 pm

Concrete/ Asphalt Retaining Walls Brick or Wood

Contact Ralph Rucker. Many local references. Honest, punctual, professional and reasonable prices!

678-898-7237

Pinestraw

PINESTRAW, MULCH

Delivery/installation available. Firewood available. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch.

770-831-3612

Gutters

AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 678-508-2432

Home Improvement

DECKS BUILT & REPAIRED-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)

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-855-948-6176

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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

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.

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

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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!

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Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call National Debt Relief to find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! Free quote:

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Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice

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Are you a pet owner? Do you want to get up to 100% back on vet bills? Physicians Mutual In-surance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-844-774-0206 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow.com/ads

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