June 27, 2024 | AppenMedia. com
Milton invites everyone to July 4 walking parade
MILTON, Ga. — For the first time, Milton’s Independence Day Walking Parade at the Broadwell Pavilion is scheduled for July 4, 248 years after ratification of the Declaration of Independence.
The fun, festive, family-friendly community gathering at 12615 Broadwell Road in downtown Milton draws thousands.
Things kick off in the Broadwell Pavilion at 10 a.m. with the start of the costume competition.
People are encouraged to dress themselves, their family members, strollers, wagons and even their pets in patriotic red, white and blue.
Local businesses will provide prizes for Most Patriotic, Most Creative, Best Pet, Best Decorated Wagon/Scooter/Bike and Most Coordinated Family.
Mayor Peyton Jamison will welcome residents and guests around 11:15 a.m. with Solo Lowit performing the national anthem afterward.
See PARADE, Page 10
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Families participate in the Walking Parade during Milton’s 2023 Independence Day Celebration at the Broadwell Pavilion. This year’s festivities from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. include the parade, Patriotic Dance Party and family-friendly activities.
Georgia Press Association recognizes Appen Media ► PAGE 6
The Milton City Council hears a report from the Fire-Rescue Department June 17 about the joint emergency medical services contract between the North Fulton cities and American Medical Response. The new joint EMS contract takes effect July 1.
Milton examines six-city pact for ancillary ambulance service
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — The Milton City Council approved two public safety items June 17 it hopes will ensure residents and the Fire-Rescue Department have what they need post-pandemic.
In late May, the six municipalities of North Fulton agreed to partner up in a contract with American Medical Response for subsidized ambulance services.
The joint emergency medical services contract is slated to take effect July 1.
While the Milton Fire-Rescue Department has its own cross-trained EMS personnel, state law restricts when they can transport patients to the hospital.
Fire Chief Gabe Benmoussa said all Milton firefighters are either paramedics or emergency medical technicians, working units equipped with advanced life support equipment.
Benmoussa said Milton Fire-Rescue is often first on the scene after reducing its average response time to 6 minutes, 10 seconds. Last year, the department averaged 7 minutes.
Because Milton Fire-Rescue has advanced life support on all its units, Benmoussa said the city doesn’t have to solely rely on AMR.
Fire Station 42 averages about 10 transports a year, due to system saturation or critical calls, he said.
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Milton taps GBI to review officer-involved shooting
MILTON, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is reviewing an officer-involved shooting around noon June 14 at the request of the Milton Police Department.
One woman, identified as 31-year-old Atlanta resident Shantidra Harris, died at the hospital after the incident.
An officer fired his weapon at Harris after she carjacked a white Toyota Corolla and accelerated with the officer directly in front of the bumper, a statement from the GBI says.
The incident began with Milton Police receiving a call about three
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.
Police say cyclist at fault in collision with pickup
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police kept a 31-year-old man in custody at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center May 30 after officers determined he was at fault in a motor vehicle accident.
Police were called to Holcomb Bridge Road and Old Dogwood Road to investigate a crash between a white Ford van and a bicyclist.
Officers determined the cyclist entered the intersection westbound on the Holcomb Bridge Road sidewalk without yielding to the van turning right from Old Dogwood Road.
After the collision, the man riding the bicycle then got off the ground and fled to the Shell gas station across the street where
individuals involved in a shoplifting incident at Kohl’s on Ga. 9.
When officers attempted to stop the suspects’ vehicle, a red Dodge Journey, the car continued into the Walmart parking lot off Winward Parkway.
Officers said the suspects’ vehicle stuck multiple cars before two people eventually fled the vehicle.
Officers took the female driver into custody but were unable to catch the male suspect, who remains at large.
The second female suspect, Harris, attempted to flee the Walmart parking lot in a stolen
officers eventually made contact.
The cyclist was transported to the hospital with a possible broken left leg and arm.
Later, officers discovered the cyclist had an active warrant for his arrest out of the Roswell Police Department for first-degree burglary.
Interviewed at the hospital, officers said he told them he was riding on the sidewalk and did not see the van coming when he entered the intersection.
When asked why he fled the scene, the man said he was confused and hurting.
Officers said he remains in custody at the hospital because of his active warrant.
They also secured warrants for hit and run and failing to operate a bicycle in the roadway or designed path.
Couple reports bullet fired into their home
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police investigated a loud explosion near Spring Ridge Drive June 4 after
Toyota.
The officer fired his weapon while Harris struck him with the vehicle.
Harris was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The officer, who sustained injuries, has been treated and released.
Milton Communications Director Greg Botelho said the GBI is handling all aspects of the independent investigation.
A statement from the GBI says once the investigation is complete, it will be given to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for review.
determining a bullet had been fired into a residence.
The victims are a 72-year-old Roswell man and a 73-year-old female resident.
They said they heard a loud explosion while sitting on their couch around 6:20 p.m. followed by the sound of a window breaking on their back deck.
An officer said the broken window appeared to have a bullet hole in the glass.
Another officer noticed a hole in a bookshelf and found a projectile, believed to be a bullet, lodged in the wood.
Officers visited the home directly behind the victim’s residence, but the homeowner said he did not own a firearm.
They also attempted to speak with another homeowner but did not make contact.
Without an identified suspect, officers returned to photograph the damage at the victim’s home and collect evidence.
The victims said they would like to wait and see who confessed before deciding to press charges.
Milton hosts summer activities to appeal to all ages
By CARSON BONNER newsroom@appenmedia.com
MILTON, GA — As the summer season peaks, a plethora of activities, camps and sports present themselves to engage and entertain people of all ages.
From American Gurus art day camp, which teaches about icons of American art history, to Bollywood-themed zumba classes that combine energetic dance with vibrant music, there is an abundance of opportunities for everyone to find enjoyment and enrichment. These diverse offerings cater to a broad spectrum of interests and preferences, ensuring that the summer months are filled with memorable experiences.
YOUTH SPORTS ACTIVITIES
While many sports activities take place in the spring, there are still several options for kids to grow their athletic skills during the summer.
Baseball Day Camp hosted by Hopewell Youth
Children ages 7-12 can spend four days learning from instructors from Howie McCann’s Windward Baseball Academy. They will practice pitching, fielding and hitting at Bell Memorial
Park. There are three remaining sessions on June 17, July 8 and July 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Day camp costs $200. Registration is now open at www.hopewellbaseball.org.
Hoops City Basketball Camp
Boys and girls age 5-14 will learn the ins and outs of basketball in age-appropriate groups at Crabapple Baptist Church and Mill Springs Academy. There are five remaining sessions June 17-20, June 24-27, July 8-11, July 15-18 and July 22-25 from 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Each camp sessions costs $175. Children can be registered online at halftimesports.net/summercamps/.
YOUTH DANCE ACTIVITIES
Every Thursday from July 11August 1, there will be a variety of youth dance activities for ages 3-10 at Rhythm n’ Shoes. Pre-Ballet/tap from 3:30- 4:15 p.m., beginner ballet/tap is from 4:15-5 p.m., mini hip hop and jazz is from 5-5:45 p.m., and beginning hip hop/jazz is from 5:45-6:30 p.m. Each of these activities cost $52 and parents can register their children online at secure.rec1.com/GA/city-of-milton/ catalog.
SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS
Athletics activities are not just available for children in Milton, but adults as well. There are a variety of athletic opportunities to promote wellness and build strength.
Tennis
The Milton Tennis Center, led by Terre O’Brien, hosts several tennis teams of various levels of skill and competition. There are opportunities for lessons and competitive teams. To get involved with the Tennis Center, contact O’Brien at terreob@bellsouth.net..
Tai Chi
For those looking for more low impact exercise, Tai Chi is a way to center the mind and body. There are three class levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced, each costing $90.Tai Chi is offered to adults 18 and older, and meets on Mondays at 9 a.m. for beginners, 10:15 a.m. for intermediate, and 11 a.m. for advanced. To register for a class or see more details, visit secure. rec1.com/GA/city-of-milton/catalog.
Bombay zumba
For those looking to work up a sweat to fun music, the Bollywood
themed zumba class may be for you. Certified Bombay jam and flexibility yoga instructor Ruk Alam teaches a women only zumba class every Thursday at 7 p.m. at Milton City Park and Preserve’s Community Center. To confirm class times and register, visit secure.rec1.com/GA/city-of-milton/ catalog.
YOUTH DAY CAMPS
Milton has no shortage of day camps for kids and adults. These camps allow children to explore the Milton community and embrace creativity.
Camp Compass
Camp Compass is for kids ranging from kindergarten to age 12, who will play outside, do crafts and take field trips throughout the Milton area. There are five more sessions of the five-day camp from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Camps take place from June 17–21, June 24–28, July 8–12, July 15–19 and July 22–26 at Milton City Park and Preserve. Camp Compass costs $195. To register, visit secure.rec1.com/GA/ city-of-milton/catalog
See ACTIVITY, Page 16
Thursday July 4
Parade
Starts at 11:15 am Where YOU are the Parade!
Get ready to party, Milton!
Join us this Independence Day at the Broadwell Pavilion for a celebration where YOU are the star of the show!
Dress yourself, your kids, your wagons, scooters, bikes, and even your leashed pets in the most festive red, white, and blue gear you can find, and parade with pride! We're giving out awesome prizes for the best patriotic outfits and decorations. But that's not all! After the parade, get ready to groove at our epic PATRIOTIC DANCE PARTY under the Pavilion! Let's make America's birthday bash the most unforgettable one yet! Mark your calendars and bring your festive spirit – we can't wait to see you there!
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Georgia Press Association recognizes Appen Media
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JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — The Georgia Press Association honored winners of the 2024 Freedom of Information Award and Better Newspaper Contest June 7 for outstanding achievements in journalism.
The association also recognized winners of the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest during its 137th annual convention at Jekyll Island Club.
Competing in Division F, Appen Media received first place in the General Excellence category, coming out ahead of Big Canoe’s Smoke Signals and the Augusta Press.
Appen Media unseated Smoke Signals, which had won the award each of the last nine years.
In total, Appen Media brought home 10 awards for advertising and 17 honors in the Better Newspaper Contest.
Entries are judged in six divisions based on circulation:
• Division A: daily circulation of more than 8,000
• Division B: daily circulation of less than 8,000
• Division C: weekly circulation of 3,800 to 15,000
• Division D: weekly circulation of 2,000 to 3,799
• Division E: weekly circulation of less than 2,000
• Division F: weekly circulation of more than 15,000 and all associate media members of GPA .
Members of the Texas Press Association judge both contests in February and March.
For the 2,293 entries to the editorial contest, the GPA presented 509 awards in 42 categories to 78 newspapers.
For the 449 entries in the advertising contest, the GPA presented 120 awards in 17 categories to 30 newspapers.
Appen Media won first place in Special Issues/Sections for the October 12 Sandy Springs Crier, an edition dedicated to walking readers through the ongoing public records conflict between the newsroom and the City of Sandy Springs.
Appen also took home the top prize for Best Investigative Reporting. The award honored the newsroom for its enterprise and data-supported work, including coverage from Amber Perry, Delaney Tarr and Carl Appen on Milton elections and Open Records practices in the City of Roswell.
“Staff uncovered irregularities, including omitted provisions, in a feasibility report on a change to city-run elections,” a judge said as part of their remarks. “Open records requests produced the complete version versus the changed one, which the paper published so voters could see what was left out of the public presentation.”
Rounding out the group awards, newsroom staff also secured second and third place in the Page One category.
Appen Media’s pagination team, led by Dionna Williams and Jacob Tomberlin, took home second and third place for layout and design.
Appen Media’s Perry took top honors in the Feature Photograph category, as well as second place in Business Writing and third place in Education Writing.
Former Appen Media reporter Shelby Israel won first place in Education Writing for her work covering elementary redistricting in Forsyth County.
Carl Appen, director of content and development, edged out Pat Fox, managing editor, to win first place in the Serious Column category.
A judge commended Appen for clever yet serious public service writing and said Fox stood out in the crowded category with strong, clear writing.
Appen Media’s Hayden Sumlin won second place in the Breaking News Writing category.
Appen Media’s advertising team, led by senior designer David Brown, swept the Food category of the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest.
The team also won awards in the Real Estate, Home Furnishings, Newspaper Promotion and Service categories.
The True Citizen of Waynesboro won the 2024 Freedom of Information Award for its work getting the City of Keysville to provide information to the public regarding construction and funding of a water well.
The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication judges the annual award.
“Public institutions must know that if they keep secrets, the local newspaper will battle them, in court,” a judge said. “And that they won’t back down.”
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Would, if I felt like it
Go around in circles
Wing part
Ornamental vase
Fries briefly
Snobs
Man of morals
Trench
Hosp. picture
Kind of collar
Fasten a boat to a bitt, pin, or cleat
Colored slightly
Thursday, July 4, Open House: 12 noon til 11 p.m.
Alpharetta City Band Concert on the Grounds – 6 p.m.
Parking (donation requested) & Great View of Fireworks
Bounce House for Youngsters; Food for Sale
Budweiser Beer Wagon on Site All Weekend
Friday, July 5 – Gold Standard Band
Motown, Carolina Beach & Classic Soul
Dance Lessons: 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Open Dance: 8:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Admission $12 per person Cash or Credit
Saturday, July 6, Open House: 12 noon til 11:30 p.m.
Budweiser & Folds of Honor Clydesdales Downtown
Alpharetta Procession Ends at Post 201, 12 noon – 2 p.m.
Budweiser Beer Wagon Benefiting Folds of Honor
Bounce House for Youngsters; Food for Sale
Championship Baseball on Veterans Field
Country
with DJ Wray Sisk Dance
Appen Media takes open forum to Alpharetta
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Appen Media Group’s penultimate Listening Tour stop June 20 at July Moon Bakery and Café drew about a dozen attendees equipped with story ideas and questions for newsroom staff.
The series, with monthly stops in each of the company’s seven coverage areas, allows the public to provide tips and suggestions on how to strengthen reporting. So far, staff have made rounds in Dunwoody, Roswell, Johns Creek, Forsyth County and Milton to gain valuable insight from residents.
Publisher Hans Appen kicked off the event with news from the Georgia Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest where staff took home 17 awards, including first place in General Excellence, and 10 more in advertising.
The floor was turned over to visitors who advised staff to explore the impact of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s project along Ga. 9 amid a fraud investigation. Appen Media reported
Bob Meyers, columnist with Appen Media Group, explains his process for writing pieces about history in North Fulton at the Listening Tour stop at July Moon Bakery and Café June 20.
the probe involves a now-former Georgia Department of Transportation official associated with the Ga. 9 widening project. The last stop on the Listening Tour is in Sandy Springs at Pontoon Brewing Company on July 18 at 4 p.m. The event is free to attend and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at www. appenmedia.com/join.
JADE GARCIA/APPEN MEDIA
HANS APPEN/APPEN MEDIA
Amber Perry, staff reporter with Appen Media Group, answers a question from a visitor at the newsroom’s Listening Tour stop at July Moon Bakery and Café June 20.
Georgia employment surpasses old records
By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA — Georgia’s unemployment rate rose slightly last month but remained well above the national rate, the state Department of Labor reported June 20.
The Peach State’s jobless rate of 3.2% for May was eight-tenths lower than the national rate of 4.0%.
Several other employment indicators were up last month. The number of jobs in Georgia rose by 0.2% to an all-time high of almost 5 million, the state’s labor force was up to nearly 5.4 million – also a record – and the number of employed Georgians increased to more than 5.2 million, yet another all-time high.
opportunities for hardworking Georgians to secure high-quality jobs,” state Commissioner of Labor Bruce Thompson said.
The job sectors posting the largest over-the-month gains in May were local government, which added 3,200 jobs; accommodation and food services, which gained 2,700 jobs; and health care and social assistance, which added 2,300 jobs.
On the downside, the state government sector lost 1,600 jobs last month, with durable goods down 1,500 and arts, entertainment and recreation losing 1,300 jobs.
Initial unemployment claims were down by 7% to 20,034 in May compared
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North Fulton charity to hold backpack drive
ROSWELL, Ga. — North Fulton Community Charities is asking for donations to help families in need prepare for the fall with its annual Back-to-School Backpack Drive.
Last year, donations from the community provided 1,083 new backpacks filled with school supplies for 412 families in need.
This year’s drive will be held at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church on Academy Street.
The nonprofit announced that sturdy backpacks and supplies can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., July 22-24.
Donors are also invited to make financial contributions to the program.
School supply lists and sign-up forms are available at nfcchelp.org/ holiday-programs/.
Founded in 1983, North Fulton Community Charities is a nonprofit dedicated to helping ease hardship and foster financial stability for residents of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park and Roswell.
The nonprofit focuses on case management, emergency financial assistance, food and clothing support, seasonal initiatives and education at its two locations in Roswell.
Sherri Morgan, director of
The Walking Parade, led by Police Chief Jason Griffin, steps off from the pavilion around 11:30 a.m.
The community tradition of parents pushing strollers, kids riding bikes and walkers tagging along is a 15-minute loop through Milton’s Crabapple.
Awards are presented to winners of the costume contest around noon, with the Patriotic Dance Party starting around that time.
For all three hours, activities include face painting, bouncy house, inflatable obstacle course, bubble machine and free professional photos.
Members of the Milton FireRescue Department will grill burgers and hotdogs for all to enjoy, while Kona Ice and King of Pops look to help folks cool off.
To give the summer festival more
development at North Fulton Community Charities, said seasonal programs ease the hardship of costly purchases for families whose budgets are stretched.
“Often, these extra purchases can put a strain on families who are barely getting by,” Morgan said. “When our supporters purchase quality backpacks and supplies, they help local children return to school excited for the new school year, and fully equipped for academic success.”
Alpharetta Presbyterian Church Senior Pastor the Rev. Ollie Wagner said equipping children for success in education is what the backpack drive is all about.
“APC is honored to host this year’s event, and we are grateful for every donation of time, money or school supplies that will make it happen,” Wagner said. “What a joy and privilege it is to partner together across the community to serve and support our youngest members as they prepare for the start of a new school year.”
Hallboys Holdings is the presenting sponsor for the Backto-School initiative, with Datascan, C.L. Burks Construction, Kloeckner Metals, Choate Construction and Toyota Financial Services as supporting sponsors.
space to safely set up and operate, Broadwell Road will be closed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 4 between Crabapple Road/Ga. 372 and Marstow Drive.
If you have questions, contact Milton’s Community Outreach Manager Emily Salerno at Emily. Salerno@miltonga.gov.
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• Continuous: The same primary care clinician cares for patient, aiding and
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Benzoyl Peroxide danger – fact or fiction?
Benzoyl peroxide or “BPO” is a dermatologist’s old standby. It is a triedand-true effective ingredient to treat acne including pimples and clogged pores and is found in both over the counter acne washes as well as prescription acne products. Given its extensive use and presence in so many over-the-counter products, it came as a shock to the world and the medical community when a company named Valisure recently argued that BPO too easily breaks down into benzene, a cancer-causing chemical known to cause leukemia and other types of cancer. Valisure advocated for the recall of over-the-counter acne products containing BPO.
Is Valisure right? What is the truth? The answer is complicated and interesting.
BPO’s potential to cause cancer was suggested in the 1980s when animal studies suggested that it might make skin tumors grow. BPO is a very reactive molecule and works at least in part by reacting with proteins of skin bacteria and killing the bacteria that cause acne. BPO has long been known to be destructive. The question is whether it is only destructive to bacteria or also to humans.
In 1991 new concerning animal data caused the FDA to formally declare that additional studies were necessary on BPO safety, but the data was weak, and sales of BPO products continued to be permitted. During the ensuing years, a concerted effort was made through multiple studies to verify BPO’s safety. In 2010, the FDA reviewed available data and voted to label BPO as GRASE (Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective). Recent data had been reassuring.
Fast forward to the present day and we have a curveball. A company named Valisure studied the potential of BPO to form benzene at elevated temperatures. Valisure tested benzene levels after exposing BPO products to 98.6, 122, and 158-degrees Fahrenheit for two weeks or more. As the temperature went up, so did the level of benzene. These are temperatures that BPO may be exposed to in real life situations such as being left in a hot car or during shipment from manufacturing sites.
Valisure appears to have proven that BPO has the potential to form benzene, particularly if exposed to high temperatures. How often this happens and how frequently this has caused
cancer remains unknown. Even if someone could guarantee that their BPO had never been exposed to heat, BPO left on someone’s shelf for long periods might eventually form significant levels of benzene over time.
Is Valisure a white knight rescuing the public from a serious threat?
One concerning conflict of interest is that Valisure’s president, David Light, filed a patent in 2023 for a method to prevent BPO from breaking down into benzene.
Timelines matter. Did Valisure know of BPO’s potential risks but wait to disclose them and request a recall until after they had filed for a patent for the fix? Valisure’s homepage states that they are a company focused on “transparency,” but Valisure’s mention of its patent application was buried on page 26 of a 34 page “Citizen Petition.” Acknowledgment of this patent application as a conflict of interest was nowhere to be found in that Citizen Petition. Valisure states that their goal is to provide “independent certification” of product safety, but when they stand to profit from finding dangers, then they are not as independent as they should be.
No recall has been issued. At least one manufacturer, Clearasil™, has responded by claiming that its products are safe when stored correctly and stated “The findings presented by an independent lab reflect unrealistic scenarios rather than real-world conditions” according to an article in Chemistry World.
And of course, class action lawsuits have already arisen.
One can argue about whether Valisure’s citizen petition for a recall was premature or whether it is motivated by its patent and a desire to force companies to use Valisure’s BPO stabilizer in BPO products to Valisure’s financial gain. The only thing that is certain is that with the filing of a patent, Valisure ceased to be the independent company that we wish it were.
What are doctors and patients to do? At the least, throw away expired BPO. Throw away BPO that has been exposed to high temperatures. Talk with your doctor about alternatives to BPO. We are in the fortunate position of having many alternatives to BPO available while the true safety of BPO and potential for benzene formation gets sorted out. Two over the counter alternatives to consider are adapalene or salicylic acid. For more stubborn acne including acne that is causing scarring, see a specialist in dermatology. And stay tuned for future updates on BPO.
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6 perks of becoming empty nesters
Brought to you by – Summit Counseling Center
1. Date nights. No more kidfriendly environment needed. You and your spouse can go to any restaurant, venue, concert or event and not have to worry about whether it’s appropriate for the kids, will they like the food, or will they have fun. Take the time to catch up with your spouse and hear about their day.
2. Travel. You no longer have to plan your vacations around summer, spring break, and winter holidays. Now you and your spouse can take the vacation you have been waiting for without working around the kid’s school schedule. Travel abroad, go see an old friend.
3. Volunteer. No reason to not give back. “Now, what am I going to do with all my spare time?” Giving back is rewarding for both you, your spouse, and the community you are helping.
4. Reconnect with spouse. No more excuses. Take this time to focus on your spouse and rekindle your relationship. Start flirting again, making time for one another
and planning things together. Go on a spontaneous walk through your neighborhood. Go out to dinner or see a movie. Relearn how to interact together.
5. Establish new hobbies. No more having to drive the kids around, attend sport events, and revolve your schedule around theirs. It is all about you and your spouse again. Take this time to focus on yourself and what you enjoy. Take a cooking class or a yoga class together. Establish what things you both like to do together and on your own.
6. Regain independence. No more excuses about not having time for yourself or your spouse. Start taking care of yourself, doing things for yourself and focusing on what you want in life. There is no excuse to not do what you want to do.
If you and/or your spouse need someone to talk to during this transition, The Summit Counseling Center has couples’ therapists at all locations. To schedule an appointment or for more information call 678-893-5300 or visit us at www. summitcounseling.org.
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PEXELS
Roswell beverage contest scheduled for this summer
ROSWELL, Ga. — Summer Sippin’, Roswell’s annual beverage competition and promotion, is returning for its ninth year from June 18 to Aug. 13.
This year, 51 establishments are participating, and each one is tasked to create a special summer inspired drink that patrons are encouraged to rate on the Summer Sippin’ app or on SummerSippin.com.
At the conclusion of the two-month event, one alcoholic and one nonalcoholic beverage will win the title of ‘Best Sip in Roswell.’
Patrons can expect to see a mix
Continued from Page 1
American Medical Response is a Colorado-based private ambulance company, servicing thousands of communities across the United States.
Fulton County relinquished the ambulance zone in 2009 to Rural Metro amid the Great Recession. Envision, AMR’s parent company, finalized acquisition of Rural Metro in 2015. Mayor Peyton Jamison and Councilwoman Carl Cookerly said they like the synergy between the North Fulton cities.
While the city and AMR did not have a formal service-level agreement, Milton must contract with AMR for ambulance services because the private company owns the zone, Benmoussa said.
The state obligates counties to operate in EMS zones. A zone committee at the Georgia Department of Public Health can open the bids to select different providers.
The state’s EMS Region 3 includes Fulton County, which is divided into five ambulance zones: Atlanta, Hapeville, the airport, and North and South Fulton.
“At the time and until now, there were no existing … agreements for response time,” Benmoussa said. “No way for us, in a sense, to enforce any of it.”
Sandy Springs had its own subsidy for ambulances, but opted for a regional approach after AMR requested an 850
of Roswell breweries, tasting rooms, coffee shops and restaurants on the list of places to try.
#SummerSippin2024 will serve as the official hashtag.
Andy Williams, executive director of Visit Roswell, said the annual competition is a great way for the organization to collaborate with local hospitality businesses and showcase their teams’ creative talents.
Visit Roswell is the city’s tourism program.
“It provides us a fun way to promote our food and beverage partners while
percent increase.
“We didn’t have an ambulance assigned to Milton,” Benmoussa said. “They have a posting plan, and it just depends on where the need is.”
Factors contributing to longer response times since the pandemic include staffing and operational expenses, decreased reimbursement for transport from insurance companies and hospital bed delays.
The negotiations between AMR and the cities of Johns Creek, Roswell (which also represents Mountain Park), Sandy Springs, Alpharetta and Milton resulted in a one-year agreement with four successive one-year terms.
AMR currently provides 72,269-unit hours across North Fulton. The total subsidy buys 13,714 units at a cost of $150 an hour.
The contract requires $2 million, split among the cities based on a three-year average of population and number of service calls.
Benmoussa said Milton has the lowest call volume and will pay $167,235 the first year.
Other highlights of the agreement include contractual response times of 12 minutes or less, fine schedules if AMR fails to meet obligations, a minimum of one paramedic and one EMT per advanced life support unit and deployment models based on predictive data.
The North Fulton Regional System
helping to drive sales during the summer months,” Williams said.
Roswell Inc, an economic development arm for the City of Roswell, is also leading the effort.
"We are proud to offer this program for one of our leading industries,” Roswell Inc Executive Director Steve Shroud said. “Roswell restaurants are a key sector of our economy, employing over 4,500 individuals and generating more than $250 million annually."
The full list of participating restaurants, drinks, descriptions and photos can be found at SummerSippin.
will increase the number of ambulances available to respond region wide as a part of the contract.
Benmoussa said the joint agreement helps the system.
In a related matter, the Milton City Council signed off on an ordinance addressing lithium-ion battery fires amid the growth of the electric vehicle market.
The ordinance requires all new and existing EV charging stations to be equipped with a vehicle fire blanket, excluding single-family residences. The equipment is estimated to cost just under $2,000 per charging station.
City staff said EVs require 60 times
com and on the Summer Sippin’ App, which is available in both Google Play and Apple App stores. You can also follow Summer Sippin’ on Facebook and Instagram at @ RoswellEatsandSips.
The popular Summer Sippin’ Cocktail Crawl is also back again, scheduled for July 13.
Summer Sippin’ is partnering with Bar Crawl USA to bring the fun crawl to downtown Roswell which will feature around a dozen participating locations. For more details and tickets visit barcrawlusa.com.
the water to extinguish compared to a traditional vehicle fire, and the fire blanket is a best practice for extinguishing them.
If an electric vehicle catches fire with people nearby, they may need to call an AMR ambulance.
“Because they provide to all the cities, we got together and started working with AMR,” Benmoussa said. “Our city managers also engaged in the conversation.”
North Fulton residents will find out for themselves how well the arrangement is working in six months when AMR’s performance is set for review.
Author engagements promise sizzling talks through early summer
By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com
Whether your preferred reading spot is on a beach or the closest couch, these nearby book events in July will make passing the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer a breeze.
Tuesday, July 2, Lo Patrick, celebrates her new release, “The Night the River Wept.” 7 p.m. Free. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road. 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com
Tuesday, July 9, Bookfair for Grownups., Read It Again Bookstore will partner with Stillfire Brewing for a book fair. 4 p.m. Free. 343 US-23, Suwanee. 770-927-8989. Stillfirebrewing.com
Saturday, July 13, Cicely Lewis., The award-winning local media specialist and author will promote her six-book “Hair Magic” series. 10 a.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-itagain.com
Saturday, July 13, Jenn Lyons, with the first book in her newest romantasy series, “The Sky on Fire.” Noon. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-itagain.com
Saturday, July 20, Allie Millington, discusses her bestselling novel,
PROVIDED
Lo Patrick will discuss her new release, “The Night the River Wept,” in Johns Creek July 2
“Olivetti.” Noon. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com
Saturday, July 20, Jenny Studenroth, signing and speaking about “Let Me Let You.” 3 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-7975566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Tuesday, July 23, Sarah Metts, author of “Between Brothers.” 5 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Thursday, July 25, Crabapple
Summer Stroll, featuring Nandita Godbole with spices, cookbooks and handmade pottery. 5 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@ gmail.com by the 15th.
Activity:
Continued from Page 4
Camp Happy Hearts
Camp Happy Hearts is a day camp specifically for children with special needs age 6-12. Camps are five days long from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., June 17-21, June 24-28, July 8-12, July 15-19 and July 22-28. Activities will include swimming, arts and crafts, games, sports, field trips and more. For new camper interviews, call 678-297-6115 or visit the City of Alpharetta’s Recreation and Parks page, alpharetta.ga.us/government/ departments/recreation-parks for more information.
Camp Joyful Soles
Camp Joyful Soles is a camp for special needs individuals ages 13-22. Activities will include arts and crafts, games, music, art and drama therapy, swimming and meeting special guests. Camps will be held 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on June 17-21, June 24-28, July 8-12, July 15-19 and July 22-26 for $175 for residents of Milton. To register and pay, visit secure.rec1. com/GA/city-of-milton/catalog.
ARTS DAY CAMPS
For children wanting to explore the art world, there are plenty of opportunities for gaining hands-on experience exploring art in all forms and art history.
Photography Summer Camp
Photography Summer Camp will run July 8-12 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Community Place Building at Milton City Hall. Students ages 9-13 will learn elements of photography, such as parts of a camera, how to take a photo using factors such as lighting. The class will teach how to photograph different mediums such as moving objects or portraits. At the end of the camp, they will host a gallery where each student will share their work with friends and family. Students must bring some sort of device to use to take photos, whether that be digital camera or a phone. Photography camps costs $275 plus a $50 supply fee the first day of camp. To register, visit secure.rec1.com/GA/
city-of-milton/catalog
Marvelous Masters
Marvelous Masters camp celebrates masters of art throughout history, such as Van Gogh, Monet and Picasso from June 17-21, 9 a.m.-noon. Students ages 4-12 will learn about the art of each of these artists and will recreate their pieces on canvases to take home. Camp will be held at the Bethwell Community Center and costs $265 for residents. Register at secure.rec1.com/GA/cityof-milton/catalog.
American Art Gurus
American Art Gurus will run July 1-3, 9 a.m.-noon and will teach students about historical American artists. Students will also create art inspired by these icons to take home. This camp costs $170 for residents. To register, visit secure.rec1.com/GA/ city-of-milton/catalog.
Mega Mess Making
Mega Mess Making will run July 15-19, 9 a.m.-noon. The camp serves as an opportunity for children ages 4-12 to create hands-on art with plaster, tie-dye, and fling paint, all while keeping the mess out of the house. Mega Mess Making will be at the Bethwell Community center, costing $265 for residents.
POOL INFORMATION
Located at the former Milton Country Club, the pool is open and available for summer fun. There are membership options, including an individual pass for $75, senior (ages 55+) for $55, a family (up to four members) for $200, family (five members) for $250, family (six members) $300 and family (seven members) for $350. For those without a membership, a daily entry fee is $5 for Milton residents and $7.50 for non-residents. Pool hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Noon-8 p.m. weekdays in June and July until school resumes in August. From Aug. 5 onward, the weekday opening hours shift to 4-8 p.m. The pool will remain open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends through (and including) Labor Day. Senior swim is 11 a.m.- noon Wednesdays and 10-11 a.m. Saturday.
Alpharetta | Roswell | Milton | Johns Creek
Forsyth | Dunwoody | Sandy Springs
Local community newspapers – Heralds & Criers – that
Notes on progress in the age of getting nothing done
RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
When my phone died and I restored my data to my new phone, a lot of the data did not restore. I am not sure why. It’s gone, never to be found again. And I am semi-OK with that. I won’t miss much of the data – never revisited 99 percent of it anyway, but there were a few files that I do wish were still within my reach, especially my “column ideas” file which had perhaps several hundred ideas, thoughts, quotes and sometimes even images that I had squirreled away over the years for a rainy day.
A lot of those ideas also used to be posted on my Facebook page, especially the quotes. So, for a very long time, that was my backup reservoir. Same deal later when I opened an Instagram account. However, I deliberately deleted my Facebook account a couple years ago because I didn’t seem to have the discipline to not allow Facebook to chew up way too many hours of my time. And when my phone died, I deliberately did not restore the Instagram account, although it is still there in cyber space; I just don’t go there anymore, again, for the same reason
THE INK PENN
– time.
Yes, I regret losing contact with many old friends who I had reconnected with through social media. I miss being able to at least occasionally see updates about their lives. I still miss that, but my reward has been more time, surely one of life’s most precious and limited commodities. And, yes, I consciously periodically ask myself if I am making “good use” of that extra time.
I am envious of those people who seem to be able to crank out articles, columns, blog-material as easy as breathing. Jon Katz comes to mind with his Bedlam Farm blog. Google it! He seems to post non-stop, every day, sometimes three or four and more blog posts that are usually engaging, fun, and generally, worth my time.
Jon reads a lot, which I think helps him write a lot. I suspect that he may read almost a book a day on his farm in upstate New York. I guess we all should have that luxury of time to be able to do that but, it’s not like that is all Jon does. He does a lot. He has a small but active farm that he tends. He is a talented photographer and is out shooting images almost daily, a fact that becomes obvious when one sees all those flower, dog and farm animal photos in his blog posts.
He often writes about helping his neighbors on their farms – his Amish
neighbors. He writes a lot about the Amish. I think he deeply respects their values; I must say that I tend to admire them as well. I bet Jon does not have social media accounts; surely not. He just gets too much stuff done to be spending time there.
I don’t know how our world is going to evolve, where we collectively are going to end up. I don’t like the trends – the longterm trends I think I see. We have less connectivity. We are less engaged. We help each other less. We take more and give less. We have more; we share less. Self-interest seems to have displaced collective/universal needs and welfare.
“I got mine; you get yours.” This seems to be the marching orders now, a mandate that is toxic and ultimately fatal. Prosperity, peace, and health most likely will be the victims of these trends – trends that are a clear and present danger – if we just open our eyes and ears to the world around us.
In a recent interview Richard Powers, who wrote the Pulitzer Prize winning book “The Overstory,” describes our current situation far more succinctly than I ever could. He said the following: “We are now engaged in a massive, communal, consensual sleepwalk, a trance that we can’t even see, under the spell of individualist humanism and commodity culture that we
call inevitable progress. The fact that the blessings of contemporary life have been won at the expense of a disastrous depletion of natural capital remains almost invisible to most of us. “
What are we thinking? Or is that the point - that we are not thinking at all?
Of note, for those of you who enjoy reading about history, especially as it is a window to the future, you will probably enjoy the book, “The Accidental Super Power – 10 Years On,” by Peter Zeihan. It is well worth a read and if only 10 percent of what he projects comes true, we are in for a very bumpy next 3-20 years-ish. But the good news is that the USA, according to Zeihan, will fare far better than the rest of the world.
Appen Media, with our six local newspapers and online products, works every day 365 to protect your rights and keep you safe. If you want us to be able to continue to do this and to continue to be able to report your local news for you, then support us please. Your support is critical. Join The Appen Press Club today. Just go to AppenMedia.com and in the top upper right side of our home page click on the red oval that says “Join the Club.” Take the time. It’s important, really important.
From Australia to New York City, murder is in the air
I picked up four books from the library last week, and this is the first time in a long while that I only finished two. The other two I started but couldn’t get into. As is my practice, my lips are sealed about the books I didn’t care for. Both were written by best-selling authors liked by plenty of readers, and I’m sure others will enjoy them. Of the two I finished quickly, the first, set in Australia, was my favorite, and I plan to pick up its prequel soon. It’s very cleverly written. What leaps out about the second book is its clever casting. If there’s a third book in what promises to be a series, I’ll read it too.
“Everyone on This Train is a Suspect” by Benjamin Stevenson
I don’t know how I missed this author’s first book with Ernest Cunningham as the main character, but I did. Now, I feel compelled to find “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.”
I was especially intrigued with the plot because it’s written in first person, and Ernest or Ern or Ernie is a writer. He is living
the murder mystery.
The Ghan, a train through the Australian desert, is hosting the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society, and Ern is invited as a guest speaker. After all, he wrote the wildly popular “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.” That I hadn’t read that book didn’t get in the way of my enjoying this one.
Naturally, a murder on a train smacks of Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express,” and for my money, it’s every bit as complex and twisty as that GoldEN Age mystery. The difference is that it’s also quite funny.
He continually refers to the rules of the Detection Club, a Golden Age group that included Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers and other well-known mystery writers of the era. They considered these as rules of fair play. There must be clues and red herrings, but no trickery, no ghosts, etc.
One rule is that the killer must be introduced in the beginning of the story before the murder occurs. No springing a new character late in the game and having them turn out to be the villain. He doesn’t hit all 20 rules, but the references are hilarious — at least to an author like me.
Which rule does the book break? “There must be but one detective — that is, but one protagonist of deduction — one deus ex
machina. To bring the minds of three or four, or sometimes a gang of detectives to bear on a problem, is not only to disperse the interest and break the direct thread of logic but to take an unfair advantage of the readers.”
The Detection Club was very strict about the rules of fair play, but what’s a writer to do when the train is filled with mystery writers who all want a say?
This was a thoroughly entertaining read, and I highly recommend it.
“Holmes, Marple & Poe” by James Patterson and Brian Sitts
Of course, the title grabbed me. Three modern-day private detectives named after Arthur Conan Doyle’s and Agatha Christie’s detectives and a third named for Edgar Allan Poe. It never actually says that’s how they got their names, but what else are we supposed to think? Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and August Poe open a detective agency in New York City. Mayhem ensues.
The three get along splendidly despite having three very different personalities and different areas of expertise. All are smart. Who are they and where did they come from? Their back story is only hinted at, which tells me a sequel is in the works.
I haven’t read any of Patterson’s books since the days of the Women’s Murder Club
mysteries. Back then, I was drawn to the women’s strengths and their deep friendship. These characters are intentionally a mystery, so while I was intrigued by them, I wasn’t invested in them. Perhaps that will change when or if there are more books.
The story is fast paced with several interwoven investigations. It’s a 300-page book with 118 short chapters, a structure that hurtles you through the story. While each investigation is resolved and the culprits taken away, it left me a tad unsatisfied. Not so much that I won’t read the next book. But I’ll do that more to find out where the heck these three came from than I will for the writing.
I don’t often stray from reading books set in England, but these two set in very different locales were well worth the change.
Happy reading.
Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a two-time Georgia Author of the Year nominee and a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries on Amazon or locally at The Enchanted Forest, Bookmiser, and Johns Creek Books. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ KathyManosPennAuthor/.
KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist
OPINION
Remarkable stories of the Ann Jackson Gallery, Part 1
BOB MEYERS
Most readers will be familiar with the iconic Ann Jackson Gallery, purveyors of outstanding fine art and custom framing, a mainstay of downtown Roswell for more than 50 years. Now, as the saying goes, it is time for the rest of the story — in two parts.
The Gallery and disaster
Ann Marie Moir Jackson (19322012) was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She loved to paint and majored in home economics and art at Ursuline College, founded in 1871 and one of the oldest colleges for women in the United States.
She met her husband Basil George Jackson (1923 –2013) on a blind date when he and some fraternity brothers from North Carolina University traveled to Cleveland. The couple courted and married in 1952 and lived in Cleveland until 1958 when they moved to Sandy Springs where Basil’s family resided. Basil was born in Scotland and had dual citizenship. He had moved to Massachusetts with his family and then to the Atlanta area.
Ann started to paint after her eight children were old enough to have a degree of independence. She participated in Piedmont Park art festivals, and she and Basil studied how to frame paintings since framing was so expensive. The couple started the Ann Jackson Gallery on the Roswell Square in 1971, the first gallery in Roswell. The population of the city was 5,000, and the Square was being restored after a period of neglect. The gallery featured some wellknown artists, local artists and Ann’s work. Their oldest daughter Valerie was studying to be a nurse and dropped out of Dekalb College to help her parents in the gallery. Valerie had no training in business or art and had to teach herself.
She says “the gallery became my work and my passion. I worked in the gallery by day and waited on tables at night. Fifteen years later, I bought the gallery from my parents.”
One day, Ed’s Gun and Tackle Store caught fire and bullets were flying out into Canton Street. The police evacuated the area and let the building blow up. The roof blew completely off.
Valerie says that “by then the Square was going downhill. Rents were going up, and I was looking for another place for the gallery. When I looked up through where the roof was supposed to be and saw the sky, I knew that the time had come to leave the Square.”
She saw the potential of Canton Steet. It had charm, adequate parking and room for growth. The city had spruced it up for the 1996 Summer Olympics with sidewalks, landscaping and old fashioned street lights. So, after 15 years, the gallery moved.
Prisoner of war
When World War ll began, 19-year Basil was determined to join the fray. The United States had not yet entered the war, so Basil went to Canada, lied about his age and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Desperate for pilots, the RCAF taught Basil to fly. He flew a Lancaster heavy bomber, was a squadron leader and flew 30 missions over Germany. He was one of the youngest pilots in the war. The 7,377 Lancasters produced during the war were primarily used for nighttime strategic bombing of German cities. The Lancaster had the largest payload of any bomber in the war. It was used by the RAF, RCAF and air forces of other allied countries.
Ann Jackson Gallery owner Valerie Jackson stands in front of a painting done by her mother Ann Jackson in 1995 while she was in France. Valerie, the oldest of their eight children, eventually took over the gallery from her mother. Today she operates the gallery at her home on Bowen Road in Roswell. Call her at 770 6865613 to make an appointment to visit the gallery.
On Feb. 24, 1944, Basil was flying over Schweinfurt in Bavaria, Germany, on a night mission involving 734 bombers to destroy vital ball bearing factories, when his plane was hit by intense flack and attacked by German Luftwaffe fighters. He was blown out of the top of the plane and his boots were blasted off his feet. Only Basil and one other crew member survived the attack. Basil landed in snow and, due to frostbite, later lost many of his toes and was permanently blinded in one eye due to shrapnel. Equipped with civilian clothes, he caught a train but was spotted by German soldiers and taken to the notorious prison Stalag Luft lll, one of nine POW camps run by the Luftwaffe to house captured Allied airmen. He remained there until the camp was liberated by Soviet forces in January 1945. The camp was manned by 800 Luftwaffe guards who ranged from cruel to sympathetic.
The prison was made famous by the 1963 movie “The Great Escape,” starring Steve McQueen, James Garner and Richard Attenborough. The film was an exaggerated version of a famous mass escape of 76 British airmen from the prison the night of March 24, 1944. Seventy-three escaped prisoners were recaptured within a matter of days and under direct orders from Hitler, 50 of them were executed by the Gestapo. Many
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION/PROVIDED
Ann and Basil Jackson opened the Ann Jackson Gallery in Roswell Square in 1971. In this photo Ann points to one of the many works of art in her gallery.
Before the U.S. entered World War ll, 19 year old Basil Jackson, future husband of the founder of the Ann Jackson Gallery in Roswell, went to Canada to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. He piloted 30 missions over Germany before his bomber was shot down. This portrait was taken shortly after he enlisted in the RCAF. FAMILY PROVIDED
of the Gestapo killers were identified and executed or imprisoned after the war.
The escape was meticulously planned. Six hundred prisoners were engaged in the digging of three tunnels, 30 feet below the surface. Newly captured airmen had to pass rigorous inspections by the prisoners before they could be trusted in order to avoid German spies infiltrating the project.
Basil helped dig tunnels and worked on plans for the escape, but fortunately he was not one of the escapees.
After the war, Basil returned to North Carolina University and became an electrical engineer. He worked for General Motors and for Lockheed Corporation in addition to helping with the art gallery.
In next week’s column I will tell a sad tale about the Jackson “farm” and a story about Dr Seuss, whose works played and still play an important role in the Ann Jackson Gallery.
Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
Columnist
FAMILY PROVIDED
The wild, wonderful world of worms
Yucky! Slimy! Gross! These are the adjectives used to describe the unsung hero of the garden, the lowly worm. Yet worms do so much, from building healthy soil to helping us lead more sustainable lifestyles.
Using their grinding mouthparts, worms break down fallen leaves, twigs and even tiny pebbles. They create small tunnels in the ground, allowing air and water to get to the roots of plants. As worms tunnel through the ground, they loosen the soil, enabling the plant roots to spread more readily and take up nutrients from the soil. This is especially important when trying to grow plants in our famously hard, red clay. Best of all, they poop. It is this poop, also called worm castings (if you are in polite company) that is some of the best fertilizer around. No chemicals needed! How can I get some of this
fertilizer you may ask? Well, you can buy it, or you can grow your own with little time and effort. In so doing, you are also helping to lower your carbon footprint.
To get started, you need a large plastic tote (18” wide by 22” long by 14” deep) with a lid, some shredded newspaper, newsprint, or coconut coir and a bunch of red wiggler worms. The earthworms found in the garden will not survive in the tote, but the red wigglers will do just fine. Red wigglers can be purchased online.
About 9 inches from the bottom of the tote, drill holes all around the top of the tote and all over the lid. The holes should be about the diameter of a Sharpie pen. This allows the worms to breathe and the worm bin to ventilate. Don’t worry, the worms will not crawl out of the holes. They don’t like light. My bin is kept in a dark spot in the basement. The bin doesn’t get too cold in the winter and not too warm in the summer.
Shred your newspaper or newsprint. Avoid using colored newspaper, such as comics or ads. The finer the shred, the better. Moisten the shredded paper or coconut coir. You are trying to create the consistency of good garden soil. This will be used for the worm bedding. Do not soak your bedding material. The worms will drown. Make enough bedding so that it is about 4 inches deep once placed into the bin. Keep in mind that, as food scraps are added and decompose, they will also keep the bedding moist. If your bin is too wet, add more paper or torn up cardboard egg cartons. This will help soak up excessive moisture. Your worm bin should not smell bad. It may smell earthy, or if you are adding lots of coffee grounds, it may even smell a little like coffee, but there should never be a foul odor. A foul odor is usually an indicator of too much moisture. If your worm bedding is too dry, spritz it with a spray bottle.
eggshells. The worms like to nestle up inside the shells. Occasionally I’ll finely grind eggshells into a powder and add it into the worm bin. The eggshell grounds help to keep the worms’ gizzards sharp. I feed my worms once a week and check up on them to see if they are thriving.
About the Author
Add the worms to your bin and give them something good to eat. They like fruit, such as banana peels, apple cores, strawberry hulls, melon rinds and coffee grounds, including the coffee filter. They like most any vegetable scraps. The food scraps to avoid are those high in acid, such as citrus, onions, garlic and tomatoes. DO NOT add meat, fats or seasonings. Chop up the food scraps. The finer the food scraps, the finer your worm castings will be. I like to add
About every three to four months, it will be time to harvest the worm castings. To prepare for the harvesting, stop feeding the worms about a month in advance. This allows the worms to eat up any of the remaining food scraps. There are several methods of harvesting which can be found online. I like using a simple mesh sieve. The openings are large enough for the castings to fall through but not big enough for the worms or remaining eggshells to fall through. I prepare a fresh batch of bedding and transfer the worms and remaining eggshells to the fresh bedding as they are sifted out from the castings. The castings are bagged up and ready to be applied to the plants in your garden.
The plants will grow and get harvested. Parts of the plants will become kitchen scraps. The kitchen scraps will become worm food, and the cycle starts all over again. Not a thing in this process makes it into a landfill. Now that is sustainability. It’s a beautiful thing!
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Sabine Savoie, a Master Gardener and Sandy Springs resident. Her favorite plants are natives and perennials. Sabine’s gardening goal is to make her property a place where wildlife and people can coexist in an urban setting. She delights in seeing fireflies in the summer and the return of Monarch butterflies in the fall.
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. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/.
SABINE SAVOIE Guest Columnist
SABINE SAVOIE/PROVIDED
Pictured above is a worm bin, worms in bedding, a sieve, kitchen scraps, and garden gold (worm castings).
Invitation to Bid
Gate Installation - Public Safety Employee Parking Area
ITB NUMBER 24-PD03
Bid Due Date:
July 29, 2024, by 2:00PM Local Time
Electronic submission via: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bidsrfps
Bid submissions will be publicly announced via a virtual bid opening at approximately 2:30 PM at the City of Milton City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004. The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids. If the contract is awarded, it will be awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder whose bid meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the invitation for bids.
The City of Milton is requesting bids from qualified parties to provide construction services for the installation of a gate for the employee parking lot of the Public Safety Complex located at 13690 Highway 9 N, Milton, Georgia 30004. All qualified bids will receive consideration without regard to age, handicap, religion, creed or belief, political affiliation, race, color, sex, or national origin. The plans and specifications can be found in the solicitation of bids posted on the websites below. A bid bond of 5% is required when submitting bid response.
The request for electronic bids for ITB 24-PD03, Gate Installation - Public Safety Employee Parking Area will be posted on the following websites the week of June 27, 2024:
https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/
Invitation to Bid Morris Road Widening Project ITB NUMBER 24-PW06
Proposal Due Date:
July 24, 2024, by 2:00PM Local Time
Electronic submission via: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bidsrfps
Bid submissions will be publicly announced via a virtual bid opening at approximately 2:30 PM at the City of Milton City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004. The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids. If the contract is awarded, it will be awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder whose bid meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the invitation for bids.
Contract is expected to be substantially completed by September 30, 2026. The City of Milton is requesting bids from qualified parties to provide construction services for the Morris Road Widening Project in Milton, Georgia. All qualified bids will receive consideration without regard to age, handicap, religion, creed or belief, political affiliation, race, color, sex, or national origin. The time and terms of payment, along with the conditions and link to the plans and specifications can be found at the websites below and in the solicitation of bids. A bid bond of 5% is required when submitting bid response.
The request for electronic bids for ITB 24-PW06, Morris Road Widening Project will be posted on the following websites the week of June 27, 2024: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/
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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 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: 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
Request for Proposals
Safe Streets for All Grant Implementation
RFP NUMBER 24-PW08
Qualifications/Proposal Due Date:
July 23, 2024, by 2:00PM Local Time
Electronic submission via: www.miltonga.gov
Names for submissions received will be publicly announced via a virtual opening at approximately 2:30 PM at the City of Milton City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004. The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals. If the contract is awarded, it will be awarded to the highest scoring Offeror whose proposal meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the request for proposals.
The City of Milton is requesting qualifications and proposals from interested parties to provide supplementary planning and engineering services to support further development of Milton's Local Road Safety Plan. All qualified proposals will receive consideration without regard to age, handicap, religion, creed or belief, political affiliation, race, color, sex, or national origin. The City was awarded a grant from the United States Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Since Federal funding will be used on this project all Offerors must comply with the Federal requirements listed in the solicitation document. All federal funding must be spent within 24 months of the grant executed by FHWA. This RFP will assume that date is June 1, 2026. The request for electronic proposals for RFP 24-PW08, Safe Streets for All Grant Implementation will be posted on the following websites the week of June 27, 2024: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/
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Who You Work With MATTERS
“Pam is an outstanding professional! She has worked with my wife and I, for 4 years to find the “right” home for us. During that time she learned about our wants in a new home, she was patient in showing homes, in a very challenging real estate environment. Never once did she pressure us to compromise, in picking a house that did not meet our criteria; in particular in location. Her patience and proactive approach allowed us to find the right home, in the ideal location. We bought this home without personally seeing it, because of the trust and confidence Pam instilled with us over the last few years. We are thrilled with our new home and credit Pam for her professionalism, knowledge of the market and patience, allowing us to find our new home not just a house.”
Assisting Buyers & Sellers in North Fulton for over 19 years.
