Milton schedules hearings on mill levy, 2025 budget
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Milton City Council members took formal steps July 22 to map out its spending plan for fiscal year 2025 which begins Oct. 1.
With four of the seven members present, the council heard from Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill, who outlined funding to follow the city’s five-year operating forecast and sevenyear Capital Improvement Plan.
In accordance with state-mandated deadlines, the city has already “tentatively adopted” a
property tax rate of 4.389 mills, the same as last year. But, that rate may be lowered during a series of three public hearings through midAugust. Public hearings on the 2025 budget will be held the following month, with adoption scheduled for Sept. 16.
“Staff has prepared to discuss reduced millage rate options,” Harvill said. “A millage rate has not been adopted by Council for fiscal year 2025, and this is just a starting point for our budget feedback conversations.”
Katha Stuart retires from School Board
District officials consider cut in this year’s
property tax levy
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — District 1 Representative Katha Stuart announced her retirement after nine years of serving on the Fulton County Board of Education. Her retirement, announced at a July 18 School Board work session, will be effective Aug. 31.
Stuart indicated that her time on the board combined with her belief in term limits led her not to seek reelection in the May election.
“I look forward to celebrating the beginning of yet another school year, and to visiting the incredible educators I have had the pleasure of serving,” Stuart said.
“I will have additional comments at the August 6 board meeting, but for now, I will simply say what an honor it has been to serve in this capacity.”
See STUART, Page 21
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Owner notes items missing weeks following service call
MILTON, Ga. — A Double Creek Lane resident reported to police July 19 that someone had stolen a Louis Vuitton men’s wallet, some $100 from a jar and possibly other valuables from her home.
The woman said she noticed the missing items a couple of weeks after she’d had a quarterly service visit for her HVAC system.
She told police that the technician, a young, overweight man, had spent around 90 minutes on the call, some it upstairs unaccompanied.
Police advised her to compile a complete list of missing items, along with documentation of their value, along with any photos and submit them to investigators. The woman also provided police with a description of the technician and a contact at the HVAC service company.
Man taken for $8,500 in online truck deal
MILTON, Ga. — A Milton man notified police July 22 that he was defrauded of $8,500 in an online vehicle sale.
The man said his wife notified him July 19 of a Facebook Marketplace listing for a 2016 Ford F-150 for sale out of Texas. He said the listing was made by someone he knew from high school, so he trusted the ad.
Making contact through text and Messenger, the prospective buyer was told to send $4,000 to hold the
truck, and he carried out a wire transfer through his Bank of America account to a Wells Fargo account listed to a man in Vincetown, N.J.
After making his deposit, the Milton man said he was then notified that another person had bid on the truck with the full amount, and he was urged to send the $4,500 balance to lock in the deal. He then sent the final payment through PayPal to an account bearing a different name.
With the deal settled, the Milton man arranged to have his uncle retrieve the truck from the listed address in Anna, Texas. When he arrived at the residence, however, the occupant said he had no knowledge of the transaction.
Police provided the fraud victim with a case number and advised him to notify the fraud departments at Bank of America and Facebook.
Man reports crypto scam that took him for $170,000
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police are investigating a felony theft July 17 after a 78-year-old resident reported a $170,000 loss from fraudulent cryptocurrency transfers.
The victim spoke with officers after transferring funds to two different banks in June. He said he received messages from his trading platform requesting him to send funds to Chase and East West banks.
Officers said the victim has amassed more than $1 million in his cryptocurrency investment accounts in his attempt to qualify for a compound return offer expiring this fall.
The victim said he uses Trust Wallet and PerlinX to invest in cryptocurrency and shift investments across different stablecoins, or blockchain-based currencies pegged to an external asset, like the U.S. dollar.
Officers said the victim sent $80,000 June 12 to an account with
Chase and $90,000 June 25 to an account with East West.
When the victim’s bank, Delta Community Credit Union, flagged the Chase deposit as possibly fraudulent, the victim said he requested the transfer go through.
Officers said the victim now believes the messages from cryptocurrency platforms were fraudulent.
The victim said he requested a police report after not receiving direct answers from the banks and reported the incident through the FBI’s online portal.
Walmart catches employee allegedly raiding registers
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested a 23-year-old male resident July 15 after Walmart loss prevention discovered the employee had allegedly stolen around $1,000 from registers.
A loss prevention officer said the employee at the Walmart Supercenter off Mansell Road was removing $20 bills from cash registers from May 17 to July 14. He said his investigation into the missing cash started days prior to his call.
Officers said loss prevention showed them videos of the suspect crumbling bills and concealing them in his pockets during routine transactions.
Walmart’s loss prevention officer said that based on security footage and missing cash, the suspect took $940 from registers.
Officers spoke with the suspect who said he messed up.
The suspect said he only took around $400 and had stopped in recent months.
Officers transported the suspect to the North Fulton County Jail and secured a warrant for misdemeanor theft by taking.
The retailer said it will send all security footage and documentation to Roswell Police.
Fulton County Schools keeps cellphone policy
Some metro districts employ new pouches
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Fulton County Schools is keeping its cellphone policies intact, even as some Metro Atlanta school districts launch pilot programs to restrict their use in classrooms.
Susan Romanick, Fulton County Schools Communications manager, said the district prohibited elementary students from using smartphones in August 2023. Middle and high school classrooms allow some leeway at the
teacher’s discretion.
“Fulton County Schools understands the distraction cell phones may pose in our schools,” Romanick said. “Recognizing this, FCS took steps to address the issue a year ago by updating the Student Code of Conduct for the 2023-24 school year, thereby limiting cell phone use among students.”
Romanick said she wants to remind parents and students that cellphone use during school hours is a privilege.
If students violate rules, school personnel can confiscate devices.
Romanick said discussions about updates to district-wide cellphone policy are planned for the Board of Education meeting in August.
She also said the district will solicit community feedback during September, with potential recommendations being brought forward during the October board meeting.
Policies in Metro Atlanta
DeKalb County School District and Marietta City Schools have adopted variations of a pilot program, testing the use of secure pouches to store student’s electronic devices during instructional time.
Board of Education
Fulton County Schools School Year 2023-24
Both school districts are employing the use of Yondr, a San Francisco-based technology company, which is now the industry leader in distraction-free spaces.
In DeKalb County, the company’s magnetized pouches allow students to keep their cellphones locked away from the moment they enter the building to when the last bell rings.
At entertainment venues, guests are allowed to keep their cellphone pouches and unlock them in designated areas throughout the venue.
Yondr pouches allow some flexibility for students because teachers and administrators can unlock them at their discretion.
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED A map of North Fulton County shows the distribution of public schools across the region for the 202324 school year. The school district’s cellphone use policy remains unchanged from last year, with some leeway for older students and more stringent rules for elementary schoolers.
focused and supportive educational environment.”
Cheryl
The DeKalb County School Board opted to spend $400,000 on a pilot program for smartphone pouches at 10 middle and high schools across the district.
The five middle schools include Henderson, Lithonia, Salem, Sequoyah and Tucker. The five high schools testing the pouches are Cross Keys, Lakeside, Lithonia, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Tucker.
Out of the district’s more than 92,000 students, around 15,000 will participate in the program.
There are exceptions for students with medical or special needs, as well as emergency protocols.
Marietta City Schools’ Sixth Grade Academy and Middle School will also test out the Yondr pouches this school year.
Superintendent Grant Riveria said cellphones, smartwatches and social media have significant impacts on student learning and mental health.
“School should be a place to learn and grow; that can't happen if students are distracted by their phones,” Riveria said. “This solution will create a more
DeKalb County, Fulton County and Marietta all have similar cellphone use policies, but pouches are thought to help teachers and administrators with enforcement.
Milton High School adopted the use of Yondr pouches in some of its classrooms in 2018, according to an 11Alive report.
However, FCS Media Relations Manager Anne Boatwright said there are currently no schools in the district that use Yondr pouches for cellphones.
Milton High officials said July 23 there are cellphone pouches, not from Yondr, in some of its classrooms but there is no school-wide policy on their use.
Elsewhere in the region, Atlanta Public Schools’ Midtown High School sent out an email to parents and students in May, explaining its reasons for banning cellphones and other personal electronic devices from its campus.
The Midtown High newspaper, The Southerner, said the policy limits
Innovation Academy graduates build table to honor Legion post
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Four 2024 graduates of the Alpharetta Innovation Academy spent much of their summer producing an impressive piece of furniture they donated to Alpharetta American Legion Post 201.
The students, Logan Rush, Anthony DiRocco, Griffin McLinn and Claxton Jobmann were motivated to engage in a community service project after reading the novel “The Kite Runner” as part of Margaret Garth’s English class.
The students decided they would make a table of wood and epoxy that
incorporated the logos of the six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces surrounding the American Legion Seal in the center along with shell casings from an M-16 Rifle.
The American Legion seal came from Rush’s great-grandfather, a World War II Army Air Corps pilot.
The project took several months, and the table with a custom built stand was delivered to the Legion members earlier in July. It was accepted with gratitude by current Post Commander Bob Byrd and Immediate Past Commander Tom Billings and the post membership.
the
CITY OF MILTON NOTICE
The City of Milton does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at City Hall Council Chambers, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, Georgia on August 12, 2024 at 6:00 PM and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A § 48-5-32 does hereby publish the following presentation of the current year’s tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years.
City Staff will present millage rate options for calendar year 2024 taxes at three public hearings in August. The State-required advertisement below is advertised at the current millage rate of 4.389 mills; Council will also be presented with reduced rate options at the three public hearings, and a final millage rate will be determined at the August 12 meeting.
Current 2024 Tax Digest and Five Year History of Levy
Investment firm buys Alpharetta’s Hamilton
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Hamilton Hotel, a luxury inn located in the heart of downtown, has new owners following a foreclosure sale that came years after it lost almost 25 percent of its appraised value.
The Hamilton was foreclosed on July 2 and sold at auction by Mayfair Street Partners for $41,981,183 to Peachtree Group, an investment firm with a portfolio that includes ownership and management of numerous hospitality assets.
The building’s appraisal value jumped from $10,292,500 in 2021 to $21,088,300 in 2022 before suffering a devaluation to $15,964,300 in 2023.
Greg Friedman, CEO and managing principal for Peachtree Group, said his firm intends to focus on stabilizing the hotel’s performance.
Opened in 2021, the 119-unit, 123,470-square-foot Hamilton is one of Hilton’s Curio Collection operation, a handpicked set of unique, high-end hotels that includes 160 properties across the world.
The Hilton brand and its
to constructing another hotel in a similar location enhance its competitive advantage.”
Mayor Jim Gilvin said the Hamilton has served as an important asset to the city and its downtown. He was pleased the hotel would continue as a destination for visitors.
The hotel’s location makes it ideal for visitors to experience all the heart of the city has to offer.
“As Alpharetta has become a hospitality destination with all the restaurants and entertainment venues and all the activities and events we hold downtown,” Gilvin said, “it was only fitting that we have a place for visitors who don’t live here.”
Janet Rodgers, CEO and president of Awesome Alpharetta, the city’s convention and visitors bureau, said the Hamilton has played an important role in the downtown, serving as an attractive lodging for visitors who appreciate walkability to shopping, dining, events and attractions.
downtown location, which includes 25-million square feet of office space and over 14-million square feet of retail space, made the Hamilton a sound investment, Charles Talbert,
Peachtree Group vice president, said.
“The Hamilton Hotel boasts a prime location in downtown Alpharetta,” Talbert said. “The high costs and governmental barriers
“The Hamilton Alpharetta has become an integral part of the fabric that creates a vibrant downtown with its exceptional charm and sophisticated design,” Rodgers said.
We definitely are reminding people that being in the park with your dog is important, it’s not a doggie day care. We did this so you can be with your dog.
WENDY NEWMAN, co-founder, Off Leash Alpharetta
8 | Milton Herald | August 1, 2024
Off Leash brings dog oasis to Alpharetta’s Main Street
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An explosion in pet ownership following the COVID pandemic has spurred new dog parks to pop up around the country.
One of the newest – and one of the most unique – is Off Leash Alpharetta at 142 South Main St.
The first-of-its-kind luxury dog park combines different concepts with outdoor and indoor spaces, a canine-friendly dining patio and a human-only indoor restaurant and bar.
Off Leash Alpharetta sports a 22,000-square-foot turfed field outside and a 3,000-square-foot indoor park.
The brainchild of co-founders Wendy Newman and Lonnie Cooper welcomed its 142 founding members for the opening July 14.
With more than 100 canines in the park at its member-only event, Newman said there were no incidents between dogs, thanks to her well-trained staff.
Dog bars in Metro Atlanta like Fetch Park offer a social hub for dog owners and lovers. The concept from Newman and Cooper follows a similar thread with their own unique spin on the dog park business.
While some competition exists in Metro Atlanta, Off Leash Alpharetta goes beyond the typical municipal dog park.
Anyone is welcome to dine with or without their dog at Off Leash, but guests must have an active membership or day pass to enjoy the off-leash portion of the outdoor and indoor parks.
With an additional brick-and-mortar location planned to open in Decatur next year, Off Leash provides a relaxed,
OFF LEASH ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED
Off Leash Alpharetta co-founders Wendy Newman and Lonnie Cooper, center, cut the ribbon on their newest venture July 17 with members of the Alpharetta City Council, Mayor Jim Gilvin and K-9 units from the Police Department. Newman said her golden retriever Shiloh, pictured front center, is almost always hanging out at the dog park.
inviting atmosphere with professionally trained “dogtenders” on hand to ensure a safe and happy experience for patrons.
Newman, a Dunwoody native, assessed the first few days of operation.
“It’s been really good, I think there’s a lot of things we’re figuring out in this first week,” she said. “Because this is ours, we have the ability to pivot and make adjustments.”
Newman said the next hurdle is letting Alpharetta residents know that Off Leash is now open and welcoming
patrons.
Pandemic sparks new venture Off Leash co-founder Cooper started an industry-leading sports and media talent agency in 1986, Career Sports & Entertainment.
The agency now lists clients like Ernie Johnson Jr., John Smoltz and Nate McMillan.
Newman said she started at the agency in the early 2000s, working alongside Cooper with his marketing and talent agencies.
“I came in as the assistant controller for his business,” Newman said. “I am now the CEO over those business.”
With Newman as CEO since 2017, Cooper Holdings now owns the marketing agency You Are Here; the digital firm IfThen; talent agency CSE; and its newest business Lonnie Cooper Ventures.
“When COVID happened and our other businesses were still trucking along, he and I decided that we wanted to start a ventures company,” she said. “This idea was born out of that.”
Newman said the goal is to continue to build the Off Leash brand.
“This is our flagship, we won’t have any other location that will be quite as big as this,” she said. “The goal is to take this type of business into other locations and scale it based on the community.”
Newman said the next Off Leash location in Decatur at 240 East Trinity Place will be smaller but with the same concept.
“The one in Decatur will have an outdoor space and a big, covered area with heaters and fans,” she said.
Construction has yet to begin, but doors are expected to open in 2025.
Park welcomes members
Off Leash Alpharetta is open from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
All dogs are required to be spayed or neutered and current on vaccines.
Membership benefits include unlimited year-round or month-to-month access, discounts on food and nonalcoholic beverages and invitations to
See DOG, Page 9
OFF LEASH ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED
A look inside the Off Leash Alpharetta restaurant shows the finished product after remodeling the former Rite Aid building at South Main Street and Old Milton Parkway.
Dog:
Continued from Page 8
exclusive members-only gatherings.
For more information about membership and FAQs, visit www. oldogpark.com/.
Newman said there are special events planned like doggy yoga, pet adoptions, mobile grooming and training workshops, open to the public.
She said Off Leash Alpharetta will have a set up for college football games on Saturdays in the fall, and its craft kitchen offers a full menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Rainy weather isn’t a problem. Off Leash’s indoor, covered space welcomes pups during inclement weather for day play.
Founders pick Alpharetta
The former Rite Aid building at South Main Street and Old Milton Parkway served as great bones for the buildout of the state-of-the-art dog park.
Newman said the location struck her instantly.
“We have a great commercial real estate broker we’ve been using for years, and we put him on a mission,” she said.
After looking at more than 50 locations, Newman said she could see the completed facility when she drove up to the property two years ago.
Patrons may notice the old pharmacy drive through, now a transition zone between the indoor and outdoor areas.
“We wanted a big outdoor patio and the ability to have indoor dog space,” Newman said. “The lot behind this Rite Aid was perfect for outdoor space.”
The most significant work involved the drainage system with an underground detention pond for the turf field.
When patrons enter the front doors of Off Leash Alpharetta, the indoor restaurant’s high ceilings and new garage doors make the former Rite Aid building hard to recognize.
Newman said the only place off limits to dogs is the indoor restaurant. It also happens to be one of the only violated rules during its first week of operations.
She said it takes a visit or two to get used to the layout of the dog park. Some patrons are so excited when they arrive that they head straight into the indoor dining room with their pet.
“We definitely are reminding people that being in the park with your dog is important, it’s not a doggie day care,” she said. “We did this so you can be with your dog.”
Correction
A story published July 25 stated that services from SomeTheme Weddings and Events start at $35,000. That price is for a full wedding package, while planning services start at $1,500.
Are Your Fruit Trees
NOT Producing Fruit?
CITY OF MILTON
NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE DETAILED EXPLANATION
City Staff will present multiple millage rate options for calendar year 2024 taxes at three public hearings in August. The State-required advertisement below refers to a “tentatively adopted millage rate” and a corresponding tax increase –which are advertised at the current millage rate giving Council the opportunity to adopt any millage rate up to 4.389 mills without requiring additional advertising/ meetings.
Council will be presented with reduced rate options at the meeting as well. A final millage rate will be determined at the August 12 Council meeting.
Please note, the legally advertised millage rate below excludes the separately calculated greenspace bond millage rate. Actual changes in property values will not be available until the City receives the official property digest from the Fulton County Tax Commissioner.
CITY OF MILTON
NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW
The City of Milton has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by 5.23 percent.
All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at the City of Milton Council Chambers, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, Georgia, 30004, on the following dates and times:
August 5, 2024 at 9:00 AM
August 5, 2024 at 6:00 PM August 12, 2024 immediately following the work session at 6:00 PM
This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 4.389 mills, an increase of 0.218 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 4.171 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $850,000 is approximately $74.12 and the proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with a fair market value of $825,000 is approximately $71.94.
How to choose the right school?!
Brought to you by –Sam DiVito, REALTOR® HOME Real Estate, The Kloster Group
As we begin August, many of us are focused on back to school! We all know that school districts and school ratings largely drive home values. When you pay taxes into a school district, you want to know that you are getting the best education you can provide for your kids. As a mom, I know it can be hard to feel like you’ve done sufficient research,
so I want to provide a few ideas and resources that can help evaluate where to send your kids to school!
First of all, you can begin by researching the school ratings, test scores, reviews and demographics on a few websites to help narrow down your search. www.greatschools.org and www.schooldigger.com are both excellent sources of information. They can provide a helpful overall view of the school and what it provides for your student!
Another great resource to use are community-based groups through Facebook or Next Door. This is a wonderful way to ask fellow parents for
their experiences, opinions and pointed questions based on your interests and priorities in a school.
Finally, go on a tour of your top schools! What better way to learn how comfortable your student will be in the school than to actually go visit and meet the teachers and staff that make that school special? You can focus on what curriculum they use, the classroom size, the after-school activities, sports, etc. that would be available to your child! Nothing compares to walking the halls before deciding which school district in which to buy your new home! And remember, always trust your gut! You are your
child’s best advocate!
If you need help evaluating the schools in your area, I’ll be happy to help. The Kloster Group team members are all parents and were all raised in these same school districts!
Investing in your home is one of the hardest and most important decisions you will make for your family. You don’t have to do it alone! Call or email Sam today and we’ll evaluate your needs and get your family into the best schools the area has to offer. Call 404-803-5999 or email sam@homegeorgia.com for any questions you may have!
Open the door to what’s next.
Scan to view this month’s collection of featured properties exclusively represented by our firm.
Top tips for creating a design budget
Bill Rawlings and Sherri Conrad
Brought to you by – Bill Rawlings and Sherri Conrad, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty
Creating a design budget for your home renovation or new build is a vital step that can make or break the success of your project. It’s also one of the most vexing parts of the process, even if you’ve been through a design project or a remodel before.
The best creative environments thrive on financial boundaries—they keep everyone accountable and help clarify and define your vision. As any contractor, designer or architect will attest, the only thing more challenging than sticking to a budget is not having one to guide the project at all. Here are our top tips for creating an effective design budget, ensuring your dream home comes to life with the least amount of wear and tear on your credit card:
1. Think in terms of ‘investment,’ not ‘cost.’
It helps to view your interior design budget as a percentage of your property’s value, not a separate expense. A good rule of thumb is to start at 10 percent of your property’s cost. This approach not only helps maintain a cohesive, high-quality aesthetic but also ensures that your
design budget aligns with the property’s value, ultimately boosting its market appeal and long-term return on investment. The best plans also build in room for the unexpected—budget creep, delays, price increases and more—at least 25 percent of the overall budget.
2. Plan projects in phases.
This smart strategy allows you to spread expenditures over time. The master plan keeps your project on track in a logical manner while pacing the work according to what you can afford on a quarterly or monthly basis. On a large scale, a comprehensive home renovation might organize its phases by room, while a smaller-scale single-room update might begin with foundational repairs, progress to major furnishings, move on to lighting and accessories and end with personal touches.
3. Consult a professional.
Interior designers are valuable resources for managing a design budget effectively. They can advise intelligently on where to spend vs. where to save, and they often have relationships with suppliers, contractors and vendors. Use them to avoid costly mistakes.
Creating a stunning and functional living environment within your financial means is possible! If you need assistance renovating your home or have any other real estate needs, please contact Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty at 770.442.7300. We would be happy to assist you!
Compiled and edited by Angela Valente, Marketing Copywriter/ Copyeditor
5 absolute must-haves in the bathroom
to you by - Bath and Kitchen
Throughout America major changes are happening in the bathroom, especially in the shower. North Atlanta expanded rapidly from 1980 to 2005, and this is the era of jetted tubs dominating the bathroom, claustrophobic gold framed showers, poor lighting and the use of materials that promoted mold and mildew (grout).
“We see this every day”, says John Hogan, owner of Bath and Kitchen Galleria in Alpharetta, “Homeowners are tired of recurring grout issues, and they want their bathrooms to be a soothing pleasant experience.” Bath and Kitchen Galleria just completed their 1000th project and bathrooms are their primary type of project. “We have a formula that works for homeowners that balances bathroom aesthetics, function and price.”
In the bathroom, America has realigned its preferences, and the bathroom has taken a new shape in terms of products and appearance. At the center of “America’s New Bathroom” is a larger, open shower. We take more showers than baths, so the emphasis has shifted to the shower. Larger showers are more inviting and in most cases the shower does not have a ceiling. The openness of
the shower is the mold solution.
In concert with the openness is the abundant use of shower glass. Not just any glass but specially coated glass that makes cleaning far less frequent. “We remodel just about every shower to be a maximum of 2 tiled walls: the remaining walls are always glass,” Mr. Hogan continued, “abundant glass and strategically located lighting, promotes that spa feeling.” Bathrooms are now engineered to be cleaner, both in design and materials; grout no longer promotes mold, nonporous tile remains clean, and humidity sensing fans automatically exhaust unwanted humidity.
Americans are taking shorter showers, but an abundance of water is also desired, so multiple shower heads especially incorporating a handheld wand is preferred. Especially when a bench is included, the water needs to be accessible from a seated position.
The 5 Absolute Must-Haves in a Bathroom: Bigger Showers, Brighter Bathrooms, Designs that Promote Cleanliness, Abundant Water experiences and Soothing Colors. For more information visit Bath and Kitchen Galleria’s showroom at 10591 Old Alabama Rd Connector in Alpharetta (no appointment needed) or call them at 678-4592292.
• Does my Will protect my “stuff”? (It does not.)
• Should I upgrade my Will to a Trust?
• What do I need to know about Revocable Living Trusts?
• How do Irrevocable Trusts work?
August Upcoming Workshops:
• Medicaid. What’s true and what’s not?
• How do I protect my assets for my family and legacy?
• How do I remain in control?
• How do I avoid losing everything to nursing home costs?
• How can my family avoid probate?
Attend our FREE Educational Workshops. Reserve your Spot and Get a FREE Consultation for attending the Workshop (a $500 Value) CODE: herald2024
1100 Cambridge Square | Suite B | Alpharetta, GA 30009 | 770.209.2346 | esther@gklawgroup.com
All about cyber security
Brought to you by – Estates Law Center USA
In today’s digital age, safeguarding our estate planning client’s personal information is crucial. While our law firm ensures the highest cyber security, many businesses and individuals fail to do the minimum to protect their personal information. Cybersecurity threats target individuals everywhere, making it essential to protect yourself with these key tips
Password Management: Create strong, unique passwords for every account to defend against cyber threats. Stop using the same login credentials everywhere!
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enhance security with twofactor authentication. Enable 2FA for your accounts whenever possible. A second verification process, such as a code sent to your phone or an authentication app, reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
Device Security: Regularly update
your operating system, software, and applications to protect against vulnerabilities. Install reputable antivirus software and ensure your device’s firewall is enabled to block unauthorized access.
Network Security: Secure your WiFi network with a strong password and change the default login credentials of your router. Avoid accessing sensitive information on public Wi-Fi.
Email and Phishing: Be wary of unsolicited emails, especially those requesting personal information or containing suspicious links. Verify the sender’s email address and look for signs of phishing, such as misspellings or unusual requests. Many seniors get scammed from suspicious links.
Data Protection: Regularly back up important data to an external drive or cloud storage. Use encryption to protect sensitive data on your devices and during transmission.
Browsing Habits: Only enter personal information on websites that use HTTPS. Using ad blockers can help reduce the risk of encountering malicious ads.
Social media and Mobile Security: Adjust privacy settings on social media platforms to control who can view your information. Be cautious about sharing personal details online. On mobile devices, review app permissions and only download apps from trusted sources.
Love where we live
Brought to you by –Lara Dolan, Ansley Craft Dolan Team
As Realtors we work with people every day who are making life changes. Buying a first home, building a dream house, selling the family homestead, upsizing, downsizing… but one of the best is introducing people who are relocating from out of state to our special corner of north Fulton.
When you love where you live and have the opportunity share it with other people as part of what you do for a living, it’s easy to love your job too. It’s so much fun to share our lovely towns of Milton, Alpharetta, Roswell and beyond, with out-of-towners. Touring people around who have never been here and are contemplating a move is exciting, the hardest part is fitting everything into the schedule!
My favorite is to start on a
Saturday morning at the downtown Alpharetta Farmer’s Market which is put on by the Alpharetta Business Association. Bustling with 140 local vendors every Saturday, April - October, the Famers Market is impressive and vibrant. Grab a coffee, a breakfast pastry and visit with friends and neighbors while walking all over downtown Alpharetta. Wandering the Market also provides the opportunity to point out Alpharetta’s City Hall, library and dozens of local shops and restaurants on both sides of Alpharetta Highway. Inevitably there are signs broadcasting upcoming free concerts, art shows and festivals… it’s impossible to be bored here. (To keep up to date with everything going on be sure to check out awesomealpharetta.com.)
From Alpharetta take a drive west on Old Milton to show off the Wills Park pool, Wacky World and the unique equestrian center. Slip south toward Roswell’s Canton Street for a beverage at Crazy Love Coffee House
or lunch at Wegman’s. Stroll the length of Canton Street on a pleasant day. What better way to enjoy a bit of local history, tree-lined streets and local shops and restaurants?
Turning north again, continue to gorgeous Milton and the historic Crabapple area to showcase some of Milton’s favorite establishments from Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub and Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails, to fun new spots like Suite 200 and Six Bridges Brewing (stay in the loop on happenings around Crabapple at crapabblemarketga.com). Cruise the walkable Crabapple Crossroads neighborhood to see pretty streets and quaint homes with big, southernstyle front porches. Back in the car, head north on Birmingham Highway to sneak off on Milton’s hidden gravel roads lined with horse farms, like Wood Road, Phillips Circle and Brittle Road. In the heart of Milton are parks, golf courses and some of the most magnificent homes and properties you’ll see in Georgia.
While day tours are wonderful, at almost any time of year this area can keep your nights busy also. Concerts on The Green at Crabapple Market or at Brooke Street Park, Brew Moon Festivals in spring and fall, Alive After Five in Roswell on summer Thursdays, and Alpharetta shines as “Music City” with the Wired and Wood Festival in October; concerts at Union Hill and AmerisBank Amphitheater add to the long music season. For the nature lover, walking trails, wide sidewalks, the Alpha Loop, bike paths and the Greenway all provide opportunities to be outdoors enjoying the lovely weather without leaving the cities.
In this short article it is impossible to do anything more than highlight some of the area’s finest places to visit; I feel the same way when touring visitors for just a few hours or a day. As residents we are fortunate to have plenty of time to explore our community and all that it has to offer, so get out there and enjoy!
Patrick Malloy Communities now building in Trilith
Brought to you by – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division
Award-winning Patrick Malloy Communities (PMC) has announced its latest project: the construction of 20 additional Palmyra terrace homes in the renowned Trilith community in Fayetteville. These new homes are set to elevate the living experience within Trilith, a vibrant, innovative neighborhood known for its strong ties to the nearby Trilith Studios, which produces blockbuster movies and hit TV series.
The Palmyra terrace homes offer a blend of luxury and sustainability, featuring 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a 2-car garage, with the added benefit of geothermal energy. Priced between $749,900 and $868,900, these homes are available for presale now, with an estimated closing date in the Spring. Early buyers will have the unique opportunity to personalize their homes by selecting finishes at the PMC award-winning design center, to ensure their individual style and preferences.
Each home will feature a host of desirable amenities designed to enhance comfort and luxury. These include 11 ft ceilings that create a
sense of spaciousness, expansive front patios with custom brick walls that provide an inviting outdoor living space, and a finished drop zone for convenient organization. Inside, residents will enjoy the warmth and ambiance of a gas fireplace, and additional flex space on the second level offers versatility for various needs. The homes also include zero entry showers for ease of access, custom closets for ample storage, and optional elevator capability for added convenience. These thoughtful features underscore PMC’s commitment to quality and attention to detail, ensuring that each home meets the highest standards of modern living.
Patrick Malloy Communities has a history of excellence in homebuilding. Founded in 1994 by Patrick Malloy, the company has developed over 11,000 homesites and built 7,000 homes across Metro Atlanta and Savannah, amassing more than $4 billion in sales. In 2021 and 2022, PMC was the recipient of the Guildmaster Awards from GuildQuality for demonstrating exceptional customer service within the residential construction industry. The company’s dedication to quality has earned it a place on
the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 20 Homebuilder list multiple times, as well as numerous professionalism awards, including several Community of the Year honors.
Trilith redefines suburban living. Located just 30 minutes south of downtown Atlanta, it boasts a pedestrian-friendly layout with a meticulously curated Town Centre with a variety of unique dining and retail establishments. Known for its diverse architectural influences and team of award-winning homebuilders, homes at Trilith range from enchanting Provencal cottages to grand Mediterranean estates with Cottages from $675,000, Terrace Homes from $749,900, and Village Homes from $1,275,000. There are also homesites available to design and build your custom home.
What truly sets Trilith apart is its commitment to sustainability and quality of life. With 51% green space, the community offers an array of amenities that cater to all ages and interests. Fifteen miles of walking trails weave through lush surroundings, providing breathtaking views and fostering a strong sense of community. The inclusion of a dog park and outdoor art collection enhances the outdoor experience,
making it a haven for pet owners and art enthusiasts alike.
Trilith is nothing short of a paradise for people who love sports. The community features tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball courts, and well-equipped playgrounds, ensuring there’s always something to do. Numerous fire pits scattered throughout the area create the perfect ambiance for gatherings, fostering a tight-knit community spirit. Additionally, the Piedmont Wellness Center offers state-of-the-art health and fitness services, underscoring Trilith’s commitment to a holistic lifestyle.
Homeowners at Trilith have the chance to become part of a dynamic, innovative community that is setting new standards for suburban living. With luxurious homes, unparalleled amenities, and a commitment to sustainability, Trilith is not just a place to live—it’s a place to thrive.
For more information about the new homes at Trilith or to visit the decorated model homes, call 678.519.1008 or visit TrilithRealEstate.com. Sales at Trilith are managed by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties New Homes Division. An equal housing opportunity.
735 Hammock Lane
Bethany Preserve, nestled within 23 acres of lush hardwoods and specimen trees, offers an enclave of seven custom homes. Developed by Capstone Building Group, this private, gated Milton community features a single street and showcases a groundbreaking approach to construction that preserves the natural environment while enhancing the beauty of tree-surrounded residences.
FOR $2,250,000
Fulton County Schools expands literacy plan
District seeks to improve screenings for dyslexia
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — With a revamp of its literacy initiative “Every Child Reads,” the Fulton County School District intends to better assist students showing signs of dyslexia.
In 2021, the district launched the program with a $90 million investment from the America Rescue Plan to recover from learning losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It uses evidence-based instructional practices and materials and focuses on the National Reading Panel’s “Five Pillars of Reading,” which includes phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. The Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, or LETRS, covers professional development.
Since then, Assessment Director Kimberly Richards said the district has been able to close gaps, ensuring that students are returning to their previous levels, addressing a problem seen nationally.
“We were not immune from that trend,” Richards said.
But, COVID-19 is only one impetus for creating a culture of literacy within schools across the district. Another is legislation.
Senate Bill 48, passed in 2019, requires local school systems to screen for dyslexia, a neurobiological disorder that affects the ability to process language.
Districts must screen all kindergarten students and make referrals for grades 1-3 students through response-to-intervention programs. It also requires the creation of dyslexia teacher training and a dyslexia information handbook.
Then, in 2023, the Georgia Early Literacy Act, or House Bill 538, was enacted, setting a more generalized framework for teachers over kindergarten through third grade, characterized as a pivotal time when students go from learning to read to reading to learn.
Requirements of the house bill range from training and instructional materials to reading screeners and reading intervention plans.
Executive Director of Curriculum Brooke Humphrey said legislation largely stems in Georgia’s historical underperformance as compared to other states, highlighted by COVID-19.
From 2019 to 2022, fourth grade
Policy:
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students’ abilities to pursue journalism. Students will still be able to use their school-provided Chromebook, which comes with restrictions and oversight.
Where Fulton County Schools sit
Officials say no FCS schools will use Yondr pouches this fall.
While DeKalb County and Marietta have taken steps to limit cellphone usage, some of their board members say that students will adapt to the use of smartwatches, laptops and other personal electronic devices.
An FCS spokeswoman said the district remains committed to creating an optimal learning environment, and the Board of Education is committed to monitoring and evaluating district policies to best serve students and the community.
The Fulton County Board of Education started a process at its June 11 work session to review its policies surrounding cellphone use and access in schools.
FCS Superintendent Mike Looney said the district is not proposing a
literacy rates dropped from 63 percent to 61 percent above the basic level in Georgia, according to nationsreportcard. gov.
“By putting it into House and Senate bills, it’s making it where all districts in Georgia have to start making these moves,” Humphrey said. “Because it’s really a non-negotiable that kids have to be able to read.”
She said the district is ahead of the curve in terms of meeting the requirement of the recent legislation, though.
“Thanks to the work we started in 2021, we’re really well-positioned to handle that new legislation that has been passed,” Humphrey said, highlighting the resources and professional learning that began at the time.
But, the district has had to make some tweaks here and there, she said, like making its intervention list more robust or adding parent notifications around the characteristics of dyslexia.
Humphrey described the district’s work to reach a level of specificity when it comes to intervention and the impact, reducing the harm to academic performance for those who show signs of dyslexia, but aren’t dyslexic, and for those who have been diagnosed in a clinical setting.
“We are now really working hard to teach teachers how to really address those skills, not to just say, ‘Oh, this kid has a reading problem,’” Humphrey said.
While the federal funding for the literacy campaign sunsets in September, the district plans to continue with the program by moving some of its components into the annual budget each year.
Based on an evaluation of the initiative, Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins said professional development will continue for teachers. He said the district has added a literacy coach at every elementary school to support teachers around implementing the Science of Reading.
“[The evaluation] was very promising around some strong practices that we implemented,” Gaskins said.
A Yondr pouch is placed on display at the July 8 Dekalb County Board of Education meeting. The School District spent $400,000 on a pilot program to see if Yondr pouches can bolster student learning and enforcement of its cellphone use policy during the 2024-25 school year.
change to the policy but opening a discussion about how to best serve student safety.
Board members received a benchmarking document, reviewing what other Metro Atlanta school districts are doing, and where FCS
policy sits.
For now, middle and high school teachers have discretion over cellphone use in classrooms. Whether the policy needs more enforcement will be a topic of discussion at FCS Board of Education meetings this fall.
North Fulton County student population drops slightly
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Fulton County Schools report from March identifies a few reasons declining student enrollment may continue north of Atlanta.
While Fulton County Schools’ reputation for high academic scores is well known, it hasn’t translated into standing room only classrooms. Student populations have dropped roughly 10 percent over the past seven years.
As enrollment declines, Fulton County Schools stands to lose more state funding, which is based in large part on student population.
The district estimates enrollment of 87,272 this year. That’s down 600 students from 2023-24.
The school district’s fiscal year 2025 budget includes revenues of around $460 million from the state and $840 million from local sources, mostly property taxes. Revenues total $1.84 billion.
In total, the 2025 spending plan includes an estimate of roughly $2.29 billion from all funds, up from the projected $1.84 billion in last year’s budget.
A March 12 report on 2023-24 enrollment from Operational Planning Executive Director Tarika Peeks dives into enrollment projections and forecast observations for student population trends across the county.
The district divides school clusters into regions: South, Sandy Springs, North and FAVE, or full-time online schooling. Atlanta Public Schools, a separate district, is not included in the data and analysis.
The North region, including elementary, middle and high schools in Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Mountain Park projects a slight decline of 427 students from the 2023-24 to
Stuart:
Continued from Page 1
Sara Gillespie defeated Lyndsey Coates in the District 1 race by a 54-46 percent margin in the May 21 election to replace Stuart in January 2025.
Fulton County law and policy include a process for filling a vacancy, but there is no precedent for naming a replacement after a candidate has already been selected.
The remaining members will appoint a qualified resident of District 1 to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term, which ends December
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED
A graph shows the growth in student population per grade level from the 201920 to 2023-24 school years. While Fulton County Schools predicts future cohort decline north of Atlanta, the district’s largest cohort drop is in the south.
2024-25 school years.
The Sandy Springs region, including all feeders to Riverwood and North Springs High schools, forecasts 207 fewer students over the same period.
With 8,996 students enrolled during the first month of the 2023-24 school year, the Sandy Springs region saw a 2.21 percent drop in enrollment, compared with North Fulton’s 1.14 percent decline.
The overall student population of Fulton County Schools has declined six out of the past seven years. The district reported an increase of 39 students in 2021-22, its only population increase since the 2016-17 school year.
One factor affecting enrollment in Sandy Springs is a decline in elementary school numbers. The report says a decrease in kindergarten enrollment affects the North region.
31.
Fulton County Schools officials said an announcement on next steps will be made at the Aug. 6 work session.
Board President Kimberly Dove thanked Stuart for her service to Fulton County Schools.
“Katha’s leadership has been instrumental in driving significant improvements in graduation rates and establishing two STEM schools, even in the face of daunting challenges such as the pandemic,” Dove said.
In other business July 18, the Board of Education held the first of three required hearings for a partial rollback of the Fulton County Schools millage rate.
cohort decline of 916, the North region saw an increase of 702. The Sandy Springs region is in the middle with a decline of 174.
A part of the Fulton Conty Schools report covers housing trends across the South, Sandy Springs and North regions, which doesn’t bode well for long-term cohort growth.
Districtwide forecast observations predict continuing enrollment decline at a slow rate, growth in the South region and decreasing enrollment elsewhere partially due to a lack of housing inventory.
For the Sandy Springs region, the report points to the trend of declining enrollment, growth of private school cohorts and stagnant residential development.
North of the Chattahoochee River, the forecast predicts a continuing decline of cohort size and enrollment with fewer home resales and slower residential development.
While the COVID-19 pandemic spurred private school enrollment, the declining student population trend has continued well beyond the end of the health emergency.
Fulton County Schools’ overall cohort, or group of students that enter a program together and remain together throughout its duration, saw its largest decline of 526 students in district history.
Cohort growth is shown as gradelevels progress each year, which tend to decline in the latter years of high school enrollment.
While cohort sizes in the North region shrunk in elementary and high schools, middle school cohorts grew slightly from 2022-23 to 2023-24.
The district’s declining cohort size is most pronounced in the South region.
While schools south of Atlanta saw a
Superintendent Mike Looney proposed a partial rollback from 17.14 to 17.13 mills.
Board members will review data, including how lower rates, up to the full rollback rate of 3.67 percent, would impact the 2025 budget and school operations, before making a final decision on the suggested millage rate Aug. 6.
Even though the proposed millage rate of 17.13 mills is a reduction, it is legally defined as a tax increase because it does not equal a full rollback to offset increases in property assessments. As a result, Georgia law requires three public hearings on the millage rate.
“I am proud to say that we have
Figures show counties like Gwinnett, Forsyth and Henry are seeing growth in enrollment, while more developed ones like Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton are facing a decline in student population.
Paul Donsky, communications director at Atlanta Regional Commission, said North Fulton is a more mature suburban area than Cherokee and Forsyth counties, which are growing much faster with more land available for new housing developments.
Donsky said declining cohort sizes in Fulton County Schools is due to a combination of factors, one being a decline in birth rates across Metro Atlanta.
“People are just having fewer kids, it’s a nationwide trend,” he said. “Note that [the ARC’s] 2050 population forecast shows that North Fulton’s population will be among the slowest growing in the Atlanta region.”
either had a partial rollback or maintained a flat millage rate for the last six years,” Looney said. “Five of those years were reductions, keeping Fulton County Schools one of the lowest millage rates in the metro area,”
Officials said the county-wide sales tax for education and floating homestead exemption reduces the burden on property owners and eliminates long-term capital debt in the budget.
“The proposed millage rate is a continuation of a long-term strategy by the board to reduce tax rates while ensuring our schools have the resources they need to provide the quality education our stakeholders expect,” Looney said.
Roswell native finds adventure, strength on Appalachian Trail
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Hudson Brock felt relief and joy finishing up the last few feet of his almost 2,200-mile hike.
“I got a little emotional,” Brock said.
His parents were waiting on July 20 at a base camp at the foot of Mount Katahdin, Maine, which marks the end of the Appalachian Trail. They welcomed him home with a fried chicken sandwich, an extravagant meal after five months of mostly bland trail food.
Since setting out in early March in Georgia, the 24-year-old Roswell native had hiked through 14 states, enduring wet and cold weather, aching feet, countless blisters, sometimes 20-plusmile days and, sometimes, doubts about his endurance.
About one in four hikers who set out on the trail actually finish, The Appalachian Trail Conservancy estimates.
“I remember on Day 3 thinking, ‘How am I ever going to do this?”’ Brock said. But by the end, he knew he could. Brock was introduced to backpacking in his youth when his father would take him on treks in North Georgia. As he grew older, the trips got longer, sometimes stretching several days, and on those walks, father and son would sometimes run into Appalachian Trail hikers, who related tales of adventure.
While attending Kennesaw State for a computer engineering degree, Brock began to see the Appalachian Trail as a pinnacle, one-in-a-lifetime achievement
about. The journey has given him a new perspective on not only what he is capable of but also people and the importance of kindness.
“I have a new outlook on how kind people are,” he said. “You meet so many great people.”
Brock said he cherishes many fond memories, like the companionship he experienced huddling around a tiny fire on a below-freezing night in North Carolina, watching a distant storm roll in from a mountain meadow vista point, a 28-mile walk for a milkshake in New York, or the time some “trail angels” appeared with burgers, Bratwurst and a TV for a movie night of the 1991 thriller “Point Break.”
“I would say I definitely got my fill of adventures,” he said.
Despite those magical experiences, Brock said he is relieved to be at home, out of the cold and damp and able to enjoy meals other than the prepackaged variety he’d grown weary of.
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The first two millage rate hearings are Aug. 5 at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Elected officials have not indicated whether they will push to keep property taxes flat or reduce them.
Final adoption of the millage rate is scheduled for an Aug. 12 public hearing following a budget workshop.
After the property tax rate is officially established, staff will provide city leaders with a draft budget before two public hearings Sept. 4 and 16.
While the millage rate is for tax year 2024, the revenue generated will go toward the 2025 budget, Harvill said.
Last year, city staff began engaging the City Council earlier in the budget process, ensuring phased plans for capital projects match with its vision.
The five-year forecast shows total expenditures dropping 3.7 percent in
and something he might want to do himself.
“I realized that this is seriously something I want to do,” he said.
After graduating, Brock eased himself into the routine of walking with a heavy pack, building up to longer and longer walks. Although those practice runs were invaluable, he said, the reality of taking on the trail was something else entirely.
Slightly overweight, it was difficult getting used to a 45-pound pack that contained mostly food but also cold weather gear, a spare set of “town
fiscal year 2025, mostly due to smaller transfers to the capital fund.
In fiscal year 2024 ending Sept. 30, staff anticipates total expenditures to come in around $48.6 million, pending budget amendments later this summer and early fall.
Total expenditures in the proposed 2025 budget, yet to be adopted, sit around $46.9 million.
The forecast has department expenditures gradually increasing each year through 2029, as services, personnel and projects are expanded.
“Increases in the year-over year operating costs range from 3 percent to 5 percent for most contractual obligations,” Harvill said. “The fiveyear forecast also anticipates the city continuing to run local elections, should that change we’ll address any funding adjustments.”
Harvill said the city’s seven-year Capital Improvement Plan will continue its pay-as-you-go system, which calls for budget neutral proposals or those offset
clothes,” satellite messenger to text his parents, sleeping bag, water filter, phone, charger and much more.
Burning about 4,000 calories a day, Brock got leaner and stronger. He learned invaluable lessons, like what he needed to carry and what he could do without. And he found an inner strength.
“I was able to push my mental boundaries,” he said, adding, “The thing you got to tell yourself is, ‘As I’m hiking, it gets easier.’ You get used to it.”
He also experienced those adventures he had once dreamed
with savings.
Some requests for funds include financial software upgrades, advanced life support equipment for Milton Fire-Rescue, wayfinding and gateway signage, Public Works Department vehicles and upgrades at the Legacy Park parking lot.
Harvill discussed the possibility of getting an early jump on some of the Capital Improvement Plan projects.
“In this seven-year plan, those costs will all be available in 2026,” she said. “Should those costs come in lower or if we have additional funding available at mid-year … we might be able to finish those projects in 2025.”
While the locally run election saved taxpayers $100,000 in direct costs last year, some residents question the impact on other city priorities and projects.
Harvill said she’ll return to discuss the 2025 budget at millage rate hearings in August.
“We will have the large workshop on Aug. 12,” she said. “We’ll go over
He admitted he misses some things, like talking shop with fellow hikers and being able to eat anything without worrying about gaining weight.
In January, he plans to pursue a master’s in computer engineering before kicking off his professional career.
Although the Appalachian Trail may be behind him, Brock said he is just getting started. The voyage, he said, has ignited a passion for hiking, and he suspects taking on the Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails are in his future.
“I think I’m going to have a love for the trail for the rest of my life,” he said.
everything in a longer format, comparing where expenses have changed yearover-year in a very detailed manner.”
In other business at the meeting, the council approved a $4.38 million contract with Tri Scapes for trails, hydrology and habitat restoration at Milton City Park and Preserve.
With $1.5 million from the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program and $2 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, the city is spending around $750,000 from its Capital Improvement Plan and county-wide sales tax funds.
Aspects of the park project include removal of defunct existing stormwater system and its replacement with natural infrastructure, 1.25 miles of a new 10-foot-wide decomposed granite trail and 0.25 miles of a 10-foot-wide multiuse paved sidewalk adjacent to Dinsmore Road.
City staff said the goal is to connect to an existing trail on the west side of the park, completing a 2.5-mile trail around the site.
Nonprofit hosts workshop to teach basics in car care
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — In partnership with Christian Brothers Automotive and Johns Creek, nonprofit BMore Learning hosted its “Car Care Workshop” July 17 for teenagers and young adults.
While students leave high school understanding aspects of calculus and particle physics, they often do not know how to balance a checkbook or change the oil in their car.
Jackie Martin said she founded BMore Learning after becoming tired of hearing about “kids these days” from business leaders in Metro Atlanta.
The north Georgia-based nonprofit looks to provide life skills to teenagers and young adults who may have missed the basic skills in primary and secondary education.
Classes cover topics like financial planning, job interviews and, of course, car maintenance.
Johns Creek Recreation Coordinator Dylan Penick said the city expanded the age range for the class after residents pointed out college students often lack the same skills as high schoolers.
Penick said the BMore Learning class drew 11 local students, ages 1523 for the two-hour session with handon experiences changing tires, checking fluids and replacing windshield wipers.
After the city learned of BMore Learning’s work in Forsyth County, Penick said staff started looking for a venue to host the class.
Because of a lack of a recreational center, the city set up its first BMore Learning class at Christian Brothers
Local students ages 15-23 take turns learning how to change a tire at the July 17 Car Care Workshop. Forsyth Countybased BMore Learning, the city of Johns Creek and Christian Brothers Automotive partnered to put on the class.
Automotive off Jones Bridge Road.
Penick said future classes are planned but staff are still searching for an event space.
Jerry Martin, husband of BMore Learning founder Jackie Martin, led the July 17 car care class.
Tom Burgess, owner of the Jones Bridge Road franchise, said mechanic Brandon Krause also helped teach aspects of car maintenance. For more information about the educational nonprofit, visit bmorelearning.org.
— Hayden Sumlin
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OPINION
Gen. Jack Singlaub, a military legend with ties to Georgia (Pt. 1)
Maj. Gen. John K. (Jack) Singlaub is a name associated with daring covert assignments and lasting contributions to our country.
Singlaub, who died in 2022 at age 100, was a fighting man’s soldier. He took part in highrisk clandestine operations from World War ll in Europe and the Far East to Korea to Vietnam and spent a vital portion of his career in Georgia. He was part of a small group of gallant men who served in the precursor to the CIA, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). He was also a family man who famously clashed with President Jimmy Carter. He retired in 1978 after 35 years of service but continued to be an active champion for democracy. Here is Part 1 of his amazing story. Part 2 will focus on his Georgia experience.
John Kirk (Jack) Singlaub was born in 1921 in the small town of Independence in eastern California. The town was 2 miles from what began as the U.S. Army Camp Independence, founded in 1862 and abandoned in 1877, and is currently part of an Indian reservation. Situated near the Sierra Nevada mountains, the area is favored by hikers which included Jack Singlaub when he was a youth. He and some friends tested themselves by seeing how many days they could hike with what they carried in their backpacks.
His family settled in Los Angeles where in 1939 Jack enrolled in the ROTC program at UCLA. In 1943 at the height of World War ll, he left the university early to receive a commission as an infantry Second Lieutenant in the Army. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, President Roosevelt had established the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) to operate behind enemy lines. Jack was recruited to become an officer in the OSS, the precursor of the modern CIA and Army Special Forces (nicknamed Green Berets). As part of Operation Jedburgh, Jack’s first covert mission was to parachute behind German lines to help the French Resistance prepare for the Allied invasion of the Mediterranean coast following the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Jack was wounded in one operation by a sniper’s bullet to his face. In response Jack emptied two machine gun magazines into the German hiding place, ending the
“Major” Jack Singlaub, right, turns his back to Japanese junior soldiers while awaiting a senior Japanese officer to discuss the release of nearly 400 American, Australian and Dutch prisoners of war on Hainan Island in 1945. Capt. Singlaub posed as a major to radiate more authority over a touchy situation.
threat.
Operation Jedburgh consisted of three-man teams of specially trained American, British, French, Belgian and Dutch commandos. They parachuted at night into occupied France, Belgium and the Netherlands to coordinate airdrops of arms and supplies and to support local partisans.
In early 1945 when on home leave, Jack married Mary Osborne, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant JG. They had three children before divorcing in 1990, including Mary Ann Singlaub, whom I interviewed extensively for this column. In 1992 Jack married Joan Lafferty from Tennessee, with whom he lived until his death.
Jack also served in the Pacific conflict. In September 1945, soon after atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, he volunteered to help rescue American, Australian and Dutch prisoners of war held in a Japanese prison camp on Hainan Island in the South China Sea. It was feared that the POWs would be executed in retribution for the atomic bombs. As part of an elite eight-man team, Singlaub parachuted onto the island and convinced a high-ranking Japanese officer that Japan had just surrendered, thus saving the lives of nearly 400 tortured and emaciated POWs.
In a 2012 interview with the Defense Media Network, when asked for his most satisfying experience in World War ll, Singlaub replied “picking
up those prisoners, bringing hope to them and getting out was a great way to finish a war…here was a real humanitarian achievement for our side.”
Singlaub served as Chief of the Military Liaison Mission to Mukden (now Shenyang), Manchuria, from 1946 to 1948 where he conducted intelligence operations for the CIA. In 1948, when Mao Zedong’s People’s Liberation Army overtook the area during the prolonged Civil War against Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists, the American team was evacuated by U.S. Marines by plane while under artillery attack. Jack’s pregnant wife Mary had been evacuated by a troop ship a few weeks earlier.
Singlaub served two combat tours during the Korean War where he took part in various secret operations. He served as deputy chief of the CIA mission in Korea and later as an Army battalion commander where he received a Silver Star for valor in battle.
General Singlaub’s experiences in Georgia were no less significant and noteworthy than his early years. More about that in an upcoming column.
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.
Jack Singlaub in his Operation Jedburgh gear. Operation Jedburgh was a covert operation where three-man teams of specially trained soldiers parachuted at night into occupied France, Belgium and the Netherlands to thwart German military operations. The operation was one of Singlaub’s first after enlisting in the Army.
OPINION
Pine Forest, first subdivision of Dunwoody
Pine Forest subdivision was first developed in 1954 by builder and developer Herbert Bryan. He bought the land from Elizabeth and Manget Davis, who moved from Decatur to Dunwoody in 1936. The couple paid $8,000 for their home and 63 acres on Chamblee Dunwoody Road.
They had driven out to the country from Decatur several times and happened on Calhoun Spruill when he was ready to sell. Spruill was born in Dunwoody in 1860 to James and Almeda Adams Spruill. He grew strawberries on his farm, sending them to market in Atlanta by way of the Roswell Railroad. The train passed in front of the home of Calhoun and his wife, Mary Copeland Spruill.
Elizabeth Davis was a teacher and principal at the Dunwoody School. Manget was a photographer with the Davison’s department store for 20 years. He was an active volunteer in Dunwoody, as a Sunday School teacher, church trustee, first president of the Dunwoody Community Club, charter member of the Dunwoody Lions Club. Manget and Elizabeth both volunteered at the polls of Shallowford District (Dunwoody) during elections.
The Davis family only sold a portion of their land to Herbert Bryan, keeping their home and surrounding property. Their home was where Dunwoody Commons is located today.
The streets of Pine Forest were Manget Way and Manget Court, both named for Manget Davis, and Nerine Circle named for Herbert Bryan’s wife. An article in the Dec. 12, 1954, Atlanta Journal announced, “Herbert Bryan opens third Pine Forest unit.” Bryan had been in the construction business since 1934. He also developed and built apartment homes and commercial buildings.
Manget Way was the newest street being cut in December 1954,
bringing the total number of lots in the neighborhood to 101, according to the plan. The plan also called for Manget Way to extend from Chamblee Dunwoody Road to Ashford Dunwoody Road.
Eight families lived in the neighborhood in December 1954. The Atlanta Journal article describes Pine Forest as conveniently only 2 blocks from Dunwoody Elementary School and less than 3 miles from Sandy Springs.
Watts and Browning were engineers for the subdivision. Lots were developed with a minimum of 100 feet frontage, and the houses were individually planned to fit the
lots. Homes were priced from $18,000 to $30,000, each with at least three bedrooms and two baths.
Jane Anderson Autry and her husband bought one of the early homes on Nerine Circle in Pine Forest. They raised their family in the home. In 2018, I visited Jane and her siblings at the home, where they shared photographs and memories of growing up in Dunwoody.
By 1957, Marion Blackwell, Jr. of Adams-Cates Company advertised lots on Manget Way in the Atlanta Journal, “Several lots, 100 by 345, 150 by 300. Priced $2,500 to $3,500 in a neighborhood of homes averaging about $25,000.”
New homes have replaced many of the original homes of Pine Forest, a neighborhood that was the first of numerous subdivisions developed in Dunwoody.
If you have history to share about one of the early north DeKalb County or Sandy Springs neighborhoods, please email me so that history can be included in a future Past Tense column.
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
An old favorite and a new-to-me author
I enjoy mystery series, but I also like standalone novels. There are series I return to time and time again, and rather than binge-read them, I space out the books to savor them. This week’s selection features both—a new entry in Elly Griffiths’s DI Harbinder Kaur series and a debut adult novel by an author known for her young adult books.
“The Last Word” by Elly Griffiths This is book four in a loosely connected series by one of my favorite authors. You might ask how a series can be only loosely connected. I say that because the books are held together by the presence of DI Harbinder Kaur, now posted in London. In the early books, she’s in Shoreham, a community somewhere near Brighton. She may not always play a major role, but she is present in the
four books.
In this book, Griffiths has brought back several characters from the “Postscript Murders.” They have major roles in solving what else? A murder mystery, of course. You are bound to enjoy Edwin, an 84-year-old partner in a detective agency, whose specialty is surveillance. His partner Natalka also runs a personal care agency.
This time around, the two are hired to investigate the death of a local writer. She died at home, but something is fishy about a writers’ weekend she attended before her death. What can go wrong at a writers’ weekend? With this group of quirky characters, plenty. I particularly enjoyed the references to writing and the personalities of the writers. This is the second book I’ve read recently that involved writers and murder. I wonder whether I should be worried about the company I keep. I haven’t noticed any murderous tendencies among my writer friends, but most of us do write murder mysteries. I may be looking over my shoulder for
the next little bit.
“Listen for the Lie” by Amy Tintera
This author has written several series for young adults, and this novel is her adult fiction debut. Consider the blurb: “What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too? And what if the truth doesn’t matter?”
We know the first two lines to be true going in. But what does the third line mean? That’s what the reader ultimately discovers, in addition to learning whether Lucy killed Savvy.
The story is told in first person years after the murder, when Lucy is outed by a true-crime podcaster. Also included are excerpts from the podcast — interviews with her then husband, her onetime friends, her grandmother and others.
Most of the people interviewed are convinced she did it. Lucy doesn’t know because she can’t remember what happened. Or, at least, that’s her story. She was never charged because the evidence
was inconclusive, but no one except her grandmother has any doubt that she did it.
This one kept me guessing until the very end. Did she do it? If so, was it self-defense? The two women were best friends. What could have made Lucy attack Savvy?
I thoroughly enjoyed the snappy dialogue, even if it was a bit raunchier than my usual read.
“Listen for the Lie” is the title of the book and also of the podcast. Ben Owens, the podcaster, believes everyone has secrets. Does it also mean that everyone lies?
I highly recommend this as an intriguing read, and I’ll be on the lookout for the author’s next adult novel.
Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries on Amazon or locally at The Enchanted Forest, Bookmiser, Tall Tales, and Johns Creek Books. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook. com/KathyManosPennAuthor/.
Plenty of time on hand to not be out of my gourd
It’s been a little over a month since I was “sunsetted” from my previous company after a 15-year stint. That was the term that an ex-boss used. It conjured up the days when someone mounted his horse, tipped his hat to the ladies and rode off to parts unknown.
I don’t mind sharing that it has been a difficult transition.
For instance, I have to decide whether I want to go back to work. (Not quite yet!) Do I want to do some yardwork? (Only on days that don’t end with a “y.”) Is today a good day to ride Black Beauty to Ellijay and pick up a peck of Red Globe peaches? (As long as I leave early before north Georgia turns into a tropical jungle with humidity that begs for running enough air conditioning that will do its part to keep Georgia Power flush.)
Actually, meandering to Ellijay has been that has become a welcome blessing, allowing me the opportunity continue to appreciate the hills and
mountains of our area. If only it wasn’t so blasted humid.
This retirement gig has afforded me time to make decisions. For instance, do I want to… See, that’s the difference. There’s a lot of “do I want to’s” as opposed to the nasty “do I have to’s.”
One of youngest son Greg’s good friends is getting married soon. It’s an honor to be invited to see Garrett Bollinger walk down the aisle. It’s a Friday evening ceremony and has resulted in a “have to,” as in “Do I have to wear a tie?”
This is a sweat-provoking dilemma. I used to wear a tie, the most useless piece of clothing ever invented, every day at work. I’ve got a huge tie rack on a closet wall. Wide ones, skinny ones, you name it. Don’t have a bolo tie that would go great with my straw Justin cowboy hat.
Maybe I’ll wear that and could tell people it’s what I wore when I rode off into the sunset. I better wear something else, lest those at the wedding start asking me if I knew what color an orange is. I’m fairly certain I could handle that one.
Having all this spare time has
afforded me the opportunity to meet some remarkable people I previously would have been too busy to visit with.
On a recent peach-buying run, I noticed a huge display of gourds. The hand-painted sign read “Gourds” so being of sound mind with an ability to tell anyone who asked what year it is, on the way down the mountain, I pulled into the driveway.
Now, if you might think me and gourds have no business with one another, other than being told at times “you’re out of your…”, my sister-inlaw and mother-in-law have a purple mountain family that have become squatters above their front door. Possessing an encyclopedic supply of trivial information, and no longer having a plane to catch, a meeting to attend, or a report to write, I stopped and met the sweetest 77-year-old lady who told me all about providing a home for those purple squatters.
Naturally, I now own a gourd and hope to provide a residence for the birds, but will have to wait until March, since that’s when purple martins like to build nests. The gourd lady did tell me that bluebirds will
maybe build their nests this time of year.
At $7 a gourd, I might just knock out some early Christmas shopping. I wonder if gourds in the backyard will get me in trouble with the HOA?
Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.
PUBLIC NOTICE
THE CITY OF MILTON WILL HOLD A
SPECIAL CALLED COUNCIL MEETING
August 5, 2024 9:00 AM AT
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 2006 HERITAGE WALK MILTON, GEORGIA 30004
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The City of Milton City Council will hold a public hearing for the applications for alcohol licenses listed below on Monday, August 5th, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the First Floor of City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, Georgia 30004. All interested persons are encouraged to attend the public hearing.
PH-24-AB-10 – Zest JBA Ventures LLC d/b/a Bombay Republic has made an application for a license to sell Wine, Malt Beverages, and Distilled Spirits for Consumption On-Premises, and for Sunday Sales at its place of business located at 13020 Morris Road, Suite J, Milton, Georgia 30004.
Request for Proposals
Design Services for Deerfield Area Active Park RFP NUMBER 24-PW09
Proposal Due Date:
August 22, 2024, by 2:00PM Local Time
Electronic submission via: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bidsrfps
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 proposals from qualified parties to provide professional design services for development of a new active recreation park in the Deerfield Area of Milton, Georgia. All qualified proposals will receive consideration without regard to age, handicap, religion, creed or belief, political affiliation, race, color, sex, or national origin.
The request for electronic proposals for RFP 24-PW09, Design Services for Deerfield Area Active Park will be posted on the following websites the week of July 25, 2024: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/
CITY OF MILTON
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR REZONING/USE PERMIT/ CONCURRENT VARIANCE AND POSSIBLE REVOACATION OF EXISTING USE PERMIT
Case No. RZ24-02, U24-01, VC24-01
Location: 3499 and 3501 Bethany Bend
Existing Zoning: Townhouse Residential (TR) & Senior Living Use Permit Applicant: Sapient Minds LLC d/b/a Milton Montessori School
Request: To rezone from TR with a Senior Living Use Permit to O-I and a Use Permit to develop a Private School (Milton Unified Development Code 8.4.1.G) of 24,000 square feet with a total of 160 students and associated activity (outside) areas and a three-part Concurrent Variance:
1. To delete the 20’ side setback along the south property line of 3501 Bethany Bend (Milton Unified Development Code 5.1.4.B)
2. To delete the 10’ landscape strip along the south property line of 3501 Bethany Bend (Milton Unified Development Code 6.2.3.B)
3. To reduce the sidewalk width along Bethany Bend, within the City Rightof- Way, from six to five feet (Milton Unified Development Code 6.2.6.A)
Public Hearing/Meetings: Mayor and City Council Meeting Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
Location: Milton City Hall – Council Chambers 2006 Heritage Walk Milton, GA 30004
678-242-2540
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The City of Milton City Council will hold a public hearing for the applications for alcohol licenses listed below on Monday, August 5th, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the First Floor of City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, Georgia 30004. All interested persons are encouraged to attend the public hearing.
PH-24-AB-09 – Dae Pak Ichiban LLC d/b/a Ichiban has made an application for a license to sell Wine, Malt Beverages, and Distilled Spirits for Consumption OnPremises, Bring Your Own Beverage (BYOB), and for Sunday Sales at its place of business located at 5306 Windward Parkway, Milton, Georgia 30004.
Request for
Proposals
Uniforms Milton Fire Department
RFP NUMBER
24-FD02
Proposal Due Date: August 14, 2024, by 2:00PM Local Time
Electronic submission via: www.miltonga.gov/finance/bids-rfps
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 proposals from qualified parties to provide uniforms, as well as embroidery, alteration, and screen-printing services, for the Milton Fire Department. All qualified proposals will receive consideration without regard to age, handicap, religion, creed or belief, political affiliation, race, color, sex, or national origin. The request for electronic proposals for RFP 24-FD02, Uniforms - Milton Fire Department will be posted on the following websites the week of July 25, 2024: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/index
Request for Proposals
Wayfinding and Gateway Signage Design and Masterplan
RFP NUMBER
24-CD03
Proposal Due Date:
August 23, 2024, by 2:00PM Local Time
Electronic submission via: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bidsrfps
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 proposals from highly qualified firms for consultant planning services to prepare the Wayfinding and Gateway Signage Design and Masterplan, including but not limited to research, analysis, public engagements, design, and plan development which includes signage types, styles, and location master planning. All qualified proposals will receive consideration without regard to age, handicap, religion, creed or belief, political affiliation, race, color, sex, or national origin.
The request for electronic proposals for RFP 24-CD03, Wayfinding and Gateway Signage Design and Masterplan will be posted on the following websites the week of August 1, 2024: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/
CITY OF MILTON
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2024 6:00 P.M.
Location: Milton City Hall – Council Chambers 2006 Heritage Walk Milton, GA 30004 678-242-2540
On the date and time, and at the location stated above, the Design Review Board shall conduct a public hearings to consider the following applications for Certificate of Appropriateness.
1. Demolition Permit Review:
A. Address: 3475 Bethany Bend
Applicant: Ihssan Hashem
B. Address: 3485 Bethany Bend
Applicant: Ihssan Hashem
C. Address: 3495 Bethany Bend
Applicant: Ihssan Hashem
D. Address: 2560 Bethany Bend
Applicant: Ihssan Hashem
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North Fulton Community Charities, a non-profit in Roswell, Georgia, is seeking a Part Time Donor Operations Associate I.
This entry level hourly position is available now, averages 28 hours per week, and requires the ability to lift up to 75 pounds and work outside during the day.
NFCC have been serving individuals and families in the North Fulton area for 40+ years. Our Mission “To Ease Hardship and Foster Financial Stability in our Community”. We provide opportunities for the whole community to thrive. NFCC is committed to provide professional development and pathways for advancement to all members of the NFCC team. To view the complete job descriptions, please visit our website at https://nfcchelp.org/work-at-nfcc/ If you wish to apply, please send your resume to mjallad@nfcchelp.org .
EEO Statement: NFCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NFCC does not discriminate based on race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disabilities, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis protected by the law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.