Milton Herald - August 17, 2023

City delays vote on home operation

Group seeks to use space for seniors with disabilities

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Several speakers pleaded with the Milton City Council Aug. 7 to approve a zoning change on Hamby Road, which would transform a single-family residence into a home for seniors with disabilities.

Tammy Urey, with DAUFY Adult Community Services, requested a special use permit that would allow one full-time employee to support four seniors, 55 and older, with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the 5,081-square-foot home. The building sits on 2.15 acres of land zoned agricultural.

“We want them to live as equal citizens like the rest of you and I,” Urey said. “We’re not going to change the structure. We’re just going to support these individuals.”

The Milton Planning Commission approved the application June 28 in a 3-2 vote, but with conditions based on some concerns brought forth by residents wary of the home being used for drug rehabilitation or mental illness.

Planners had recommended allowing only residents with developmental disabilities, prohibiting use for a sober living home, substance abuse recovery home or a halfway house.

Alternative senior housing

There were two other speakers at the Aug. 7 council meeting who

Milton hires poll workers in November city election

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — With advanced voting for its municipal election two months away, the City of Milton has cemented all poll worker hires. Offer letters went out Aug. 4.

advocated for alternative senior housing on Hamby Road, both with children with disabilities. Milton resident Tracy Markoff, filled with emotion, said her daughter who is “severely disabled” participates in DAUFY’s day program.

“I hope that when she reaches the age that she would qualify for a home like this, that it’ll be available for her in the community that we’ve lived in for all of these years and where she’s grown,” Markoff said.

But Milton resident Kara Rutland, who lives on Hamby Road, opposed the plan, along with around 20 others who had signed a petition.

Rutland said her main concern is the “precedent” a rezoning would set. Any approved use permit is in perpetuity, and succeeding owners of the building would be allowed by right to use it for the same purposes.

“This is the second home that has been purchased on Hamby Road recently for the sole intent for it to be a business,” Rutland said. “That is not why people move to Milton. They move to Milton to live in a community.”

The council voted to defer the zoning item to the Sept. 6 regular meeting, in addition to two items that

See POSTPONE, Page 6

There will be a total of 43 poll workers for Milton’s first selfconducted local election, where three City Council Post 2 seats are up for grabs. Three poll managers, six assistant poll managers and more than 30 poll clerks have been hired, and their wages were approved at the council meeting Aug. 7.

Poll managers were hired first. Two of them helped Milton’s election team of City Manager Steve Krokoff, Deputy City Manager Stacey Inglis and City Clerk Tammy Lowit make selections on the other positions.

While Vernetta Nuriddin, the city’s election consultant, was initially expected to help hire poll workers for the election, Krokoff said she did not participate in the process.

Krokoff also serves as the city’s elections superintendent. Lowit will serve as the absentee ballot clerk and

See WORKERS, Page 7

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Tammy Urey with DAUFY Adult Community Services advocates for a special use permit Aug. 7 that would allow one full-time employee to support four seniors, 55 and older, with intellectual and developmental disabilities at a residence on Hamby Road. The City Council voted to defer the zoning item to the Sept. 6 regular meeting.

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Shoplifting suspects flee with $1,860 in candles

MILTON, Ga. — An employee at the Bath & Body Works on Ga. 9 reported that three women stole nearly 70 candles from the store Aug. 2.

The employee said suspects entered the store and grabbed blue mesh shopping bags, proceeding to fill them with candles valued at around $1,860. She reported the suspects ran out of the store to a waiting silver vehicle, passing all points of sale.

The employee described all the suspects as Black women in their early 20s, around 5-foot-7, and weighing between 200 and 250 pounds. She said each wore a blue face mask. She also said one suspect wore a black tank top; another wore a gray hoodie; and the last suspect wore a white T-shirt.

A member of the store’s asset protection team informed police she may have surveillance video. She also said the suspects may be responsible for thefts at other Bath & Body Works locations in Camp Creek and the Atlantic Station.

Police arrest driver for suspended license

MILTON, Ga. — Police stopped a driver Aug. 3 for spinning his tires and driving recklessly through the parking lot of Walmart on Windward Parkway.

Officers spoke to the driver, a Kennesaw resident, who admitted to driving recklessly because he

was late to work at Walmart. When police ran his information, they found the driver had a suspended license. The driver said his license was suspended for previous traffic incidents and car crashes.

Police gave the driver a verbal warning for reckless driving on private property, and they arrested him for driving with a suspended license. He was transported to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.

Man reports extortion over compromising photos

MILTON, Ga. — A Milton man reported to police Aug. 4 that he met a woman on Omegle, who tried to extort him for money by threatening to send nude pictures of him to his network.

The man said he met the suspect on the social site Omegle that morning and used the site for a “sexual encounter.”

During the encounter, the man said the suspect took a screenshot of him in a “compromising position” and threatened to send the pictures out to people if he did not send her money. The man said he did not send the suspect any money, and that it was probable she sent nude photos to his mother and cousins.

Police found the suspect’s Instagram profile, based in Nevada, but could not find any other information on the suspect.

The man told police he wanted to pursue an investigation regarding the incident. The investigation is ongoing, according to the police report.

Investigation launched over vehicle theft spree

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Police are investigating a recent spree of vehicle thefts in several Alpharetta neighborhoods.

Reports said unidentified thieves stole three Kia vehicles from homes on Executive Drive, Elite Lane and Devore Road on July 23, during what police are classifying as a related series of thefts. All of the vehicles were entered without force and none of the victims reported hearing a car alarm, reports said.

Each vehicle theft was reported to police separately between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. July 23. But officers were to connect the incidents after one of the vehicles, a 2013 Kia Rio, was involved in a wreck near Webb Bridge Road and Westside Parkway at about 5 a.m.

Before the wreck, FLOCK Traffic Camera footage showed the Kia Rio was travelling with two other vehicles, later identified as the other stolen Kias.

A 19-year-old Alpharetta man, who was dropped off at Wellstar North Fulton Hospital with serious injuries after the wreck, is a possible suspect in the thefts, police said.

Additionally, police said suspects may have attempted to steal another vehicle on Executive Drive that night.

No other suspects were identified.

YMCA reports burglary of Youth Camp Office

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police said the YMCA Greenway Youth Camp Office on Preston Ridge Road was burglarized in late July. Officers responded to the camp office at about 9 a.m. July 24 after staff learned the building’s front door had been forced open and multiple electronics had been stolen. Victims said the burglary likely happened over the previous weekend when the office was not staffed.

Suspects stole three tablet computers, a cell phone and a bottle of pills from the building.

No suspects were identified, the report said.

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.

Military Veterans Hall of Fame awards scholarships

By ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame (GMVHOF) held their ROTC Scholarship Certificate Presentation Aug. 2 in a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Walk in Johns Creek’s Newtown Park.

Roughly 35 people attended the morning event held in front of The Wall That Heals, a 250-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Two scholarships of $4,000 each were presented, one to Joshua Acklen of Roswell, the other to David Blackwell of Marietta for their involvement with the JROTC Program at The King’s Academy in Woodstock. Both graduates are entering freshmen and ROTC cadets at the University of North Georgia. Scholarships are provided through donations from individual veterans and veterans organizations

PROVIDED

Longgrear. In 2020, the GMVHOF Board of Directors voted to establish the ROTC Scholarship Program to “inspire and prepare future leaders for America.”

In addition to earning impressive

GPA and SAT scores, potential candidates must graduate high school with heavy involvement in the JROTC program. From there, they must also be accepted into a four-year Georgia college or university and its respective ROTC program with the intention of serving in the U.S. Military upon graduation.

“[Longgrear] felt that the U.S. was in urgent need of future leaders for our great nation and that one way to help develop those leaders was through the high school JROTC program and the college or university’s ROTC program,” White said.

Acklen’s scholarship is in honor of the late U.S. Navy veteran “Submarine” Mike Kotler of Alpharetta. Blackwell’s scholarship honored retired U.S. Army Capt. Tommy Clack, also of Alpharetta.

In accordance with their mission statement, the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame is a non-profit corporation existing for the purpose of “honoring Georgia veterans, educating the youth and citizens of Georgia about real heroes, and preparing future leaders for America through the GMVHOF ROTC Scholarship Program.” To learn more about the organization or how you can donate, visit www. gmvhof.org.

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From left, Retired Col. Rick White, Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame director and chairman of the board, stands with scholarship recipients Joshua Acklen and David Blackwell in front of The Wall That Heals at Newtown Park in Johns Creek Aug. 2. At , JROTC senior army instructor at King’s Academy.

Northern Ridge announces July Eagle Scouts

The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (Cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, John’s Creek, Milton) is proud to announce its newest Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review on July 27, 2023, at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church.

Top Row—left to right

Andrew Lampert, of Troop 1486, sponsored by North River Baptist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a puzzle table and a Lego table for Elkins Pointe Middle School.

Arya Iyer, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of a Chicken Coop Rainwater Harvesting & Watering System for Old Rucker Farm Park.

Srinandan Remala, of Troop 3000, sponsored by Birmingham United Methodist Church, whose project was relocating and refurbishing six wood benches that are on an abandoned trail in Providence Park.

Nikhil Deo, Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction five raised outdoor gardens for the Southeastern Railway

Museum.

Vignesh Burugupalli, of Troop 3000, sponsored by Birmingham United Methodist Church, whose project was design and construction of a trailhead kiosk which will contain a map of the newly reopened Providence Park.

Johan Jerry, Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of four benches for the soccer field basketball court area at Lake Winward Elementary School.

Caleb Hankinson, of Troop 2143, sponsored by The American Legion Post

251, whose project was the design and construction of a Gaga pit and ball Rack for Peachtree Corners Baptist Church.

Bottom Row, from left

Julian Yelisetty, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and construction of four raised garden boxes for Settles Bridge Elementary School.

Venkat Arun, of Troop 629, sponsored by Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of three picnic tables

at Fulton Science Academy

Toby Chiu, of Troop 1486, sponsored by North River Baptist Church, whose project was the collection over 2,000 units of food for Meals by Grace Charity.

Patrick Jones, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was replacing the soil in 10 planter boxes, dismantling three planter boxes, spreading mulch across designated areas, building six bird boxes, and landscaping a 25-foot diameter area by placing rocks around the edge and installing pine straw for Creekview Elementary School.

John Burton Jr., of Troop 143, sponsored by The American Legion Post 251, whose project was the design and construction of three raised gardens with mesh covering for Happyfeat, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals with special need.

Dhruv Jadhav, of Troop 143, sponsored by The American Legion Post 251, whose project was the design and construction of an information Kiosk, two raised block flower beds, and a gravel/ stone path from the parking lot to the kiosk, at the greenway located at the Bell Road Roundabout.

Garrett Douglass, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction 20 cat houses out of 50-quart coolers for Planned PEThood of Georgia.

Lewis Walker to be recognized at financial planning convention

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Appen Media columnist Lewis J. Walker will be honored as a pioneer in the profession of financial planning at the 2023 Financial Planning Association convention Sept. 27-29 in Phoenix, Ariz.

The Financial Planning Association is the largest membership organization in America representing financial planners, with a primary focus on supporting Certified Financial Planners. FPA will celebrate the 50th anniversary of birth of the profession based on the graduation of the first group of CFP practitioners in 1973. Financial planning, now often called “financial life planning,” is an established profession across the globe.

Walker, MBA, CFP®, CEPA®, graduated with the third class from the College for Financial Planning in 1975. He was the 171st CFP designee in the world when “financial planning” was a concept in search of definition. As an early graduate of the college, Walker is being saluted as a “pioneer

of the profession” at the convention in Phoenix.

In 1980, Walker, who lives in Johns Creek, joined the Board of Directors of the Institute for Certified Financial Planners (ICFP), serving as national president from 1986-1987, and chairman from 1987-1988. The ICFP was a forerunner of today’s Financial Planning Association. He established an independent financial planning firm in Atlanta in 1976. After 40 years of practice, he sold the firm in 2016, merging Walker Capital Management, Inc., with Keen Insight Group, to form Capital Insight Group, a multi-advisor ensemble practice based in Peachtree Corners. Walker continues to serve as a senior advisor with Capital Insight Group.

He was a frequent contributor to the Journal of Financial Planning, including authorship of the long running “Future Trends” column. For years, Walker has been a weekly columnist for the Dunwoody Crier newspaper, and his column is now carried in five other Appen newspapers

in Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek, Milton, Sandy Springs and Forsyth County.

He is the recipient of the 2004 Managed Account Pioneer Award from the Money Management Institute for his work in the development of separate account money management resources as an adjunct to taxefficient asset management. He was a first recipient of the FPA of Georgia HONORS award in 2002 and is the 2011 P. Kemp Fain, Jr., award honoree presented by the FPA.

Walker holds a B.S. degree in international transportation from the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and an MBA in marketing from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. A former U.S. Air Force officer, he is a Vietnam veteran, having served in country 1963-1964. Travel is his passion, and he has roamed all seven of earth’s diverse continents, including Antarctica and Arctic regions, living the dream to “worry less and wander more.”

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Alpharetta High School students Cynthia Bai and Yohance Badyal win third place for their American enterprise project at the Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference in Atlanta June 27-30. The pair placed third out of 70 teams in the category.

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of small businesses in American enterprise.

“I am very proud of Cynthia and Yohance and their commitment to make an impact on our community,” Alpharetta High School FBLA adviser and AP computer science teacher Thomas Hatcher said.

The pair won third place out of 70 teams in the American enterprise project category.

More than 8,700 high school students competed at the conference.

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Postpone:

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would amend city zoning ordinances related to flag lots and retaining walls.

2023 millage rate

In other matters Aug. 7, Milton Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill held the first of three public hearings on the 2023 millage rate.

The city has advertised its current rate of 4.469 mills, which, though the same as last year, would represent a 1.82 percent increase in property taxes because of higher property values. At the proposed millage rate, residents with a $700,000 home who have a $15,000 basic homestead exemption and no floating homestead exemption would see a tax bill of $1,184.29.

The floating homestead exemption, automatically applied to parcels with a basic homestead exemption, caps property value increases at 3 percent or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. To obtain the basic homestead exemption for next year, residents must apply with Fulton County by April 1, 2024.

Other millage rate options include

the rollback rate of 4.389 mills, which would bring in approximately the same revenue as last year. Under the rollback rate, residents with a $700,000 home, using the same exemptions, would pay $21.20 less in taxes.

Harvill said the fiscal year 2024 budget is most closely supported by a rate of 4.395 mills, a levy that would add $1.59 to the tax bill on the same home with the same exemptions.

In addition to Fulton County exemptions, the City of Milton provides two senior exemptions for those who submit applications by Jan. 1. Residents ages 65 and older can apply to the city for a $25,000 exemption. Residents ages 70 and older who meet the income qualification can apply for a full value exemption.

The city also provides a disability exemption, with applications also due by Jan. 1. Residents of any age living with a disability certified by a physician, who also meet the income qualification, can apply for a full value exemption.

The second public hearing on the millage rate is scheduled for Aug. 14, immediately following the 6 p.m. City Council work session. The third and final hearing is scheduled for Aug. 21 at 6 p.m.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Milton Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill holds the city’s first public hearing on the 2023 millage rate at the City Council meeting Aug. 7.

MILTON 2023 MUNICIPAL ELECTION FAQS

Milton has a webpage for residents, listing pertinent information for the city’s 2023 municipal election, and it can be found at miltonga.gov/residents/ election-information.

Workers:

Continued from Page 1

will likely share the position of deputy elections superintendent and deputy ballot clerk with Inglis.

More than half of all the poll workers are Milton residents, and only three are coming in without election experience. Krokoff said he made sure to choose individuals with know-how for the first go-around, though he said he’s open to hiring individuals with less experience for future city elections.

“This wasn't that opportunity for us,” Krokoff said.

One manager had more than a decade in the role, he said, but all the managers and assistant managers have served within those roles previously. An Open Records request for their applications was not completed at press time.

“The managers were selected entirely based on their experience, and they were already providing us a tremendous amount of assistance,” Krokoff said.

Poll managers are defined as subject matter experts on election policies and procedures, and will have oversight of the polling locations and

poll workers. They are also responsible for final determinations on ballots with questionable markings if the two assistant poll managers cannot agree on their intent.

“We depend on our poll managers,” Krokoff said. “Plus, they all take oaths related to their duties.”

One poll manager, two assistant poll managers and five poll clerks will be assigned to each Election Day location, at Milton City Hall, the Community Center at Milton Park and Preserve and a tentative third location at the Milton Public Safety Complex on Ga. 9.

For advanced voting, from Oct. 16 to Nov. 3, there will be one poll manager, two assistant poll managers and 10 poll clerks working a flex schedule at Milton City Hall. Krokoff said the first three days and the last three days of early voting will have greater demand.

Candidates on the ballot are also entitled to two poll watchers.

To ensure integrity, there will be a different group for tabulation on Election Day consisting of one poll manager, two assistant poll managers and 10 poll clerks. Ballots cast during the advanced voting period will also be counted then.

“By the time seven o'clock rolls around on Election Day, those people are going to be shot,” Krokoff said.

MILTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION

Qualification dates for Nov. 7, 2023, city elections

• 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Aug. 21

• 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Aug. 22

• 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Aug. 23

• 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

24

• 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Aug. 25

The three City Council Post 2 seats are up for election.

KEY DATES:

• Aug. 21-25: Qualifying period for municipal general election candidates

• Oct. 10: Last day to register to be eligible to vote in the municipal general election

• Oct. 16: Advanced voting begins

• Oct. 27: Last day to submit an absentee ballot application for the municipal general election

• Nov. 3: Last day of advanced voting

• Nov. 7: Election Day for municipal general election

VOTING HOURS:

Advanced voting

• Oct. 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Oct. 17 and Oct. 18, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Oct. 19 to Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding Sundays)

• Nov. 1 to Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Election Day voting

• Nov. 7, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Runoff election voting

• Dec. 5, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

•

*Advanced voting for a runoff election will run Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I register to vote?

The Fulton County Voter Registration Division handles voter registration for all Fulton County residents, regardless of city or unincorporated area where they reside.

You must be registered as a resident within the area in which you intend to vote. To register, or to check your voting status, go to Georgia’s Online Voter Registration.

You will be mailed a voter registration card from Fulton County. Your precinct and polling location will be designated on the card. For more information on voter registration, contact the Fulton County Voter Registration Division at 404-730-7072.

To use the Online Voter Registration system you must have a valid driver’s license or identification card issued by the Georgia Department of Driver Services

(DDS) with a signature on file with DDS. For more information, visit dds.georgia.gov/ voter.

How do I vote absentee?

Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot not earlier than 78 days or less than 11 days prior to the date of a general election. The first day residents can request a ballot is Aug. 21, and the deadline for the absentee ballot application is Oct. 27. They will be mailed starting Oct. 16.

While advanced voting ends Nov. 3, residents can submit an absentee ballot Nov. 7, Election Day.

An online absentee ballot application will be posted on Milton’s “Election Information” webpage as well as shared on the city’s social media in the coming weeks.

What is advanced voting?

Advanced voting generally begins 21 days prior to Election Day, or as soon as possible for runoffs. Advanced voting for the Milton municipal general election will begin Oct. 16 and end Nov. 3.

Any registered voter can participate in advanced or early voting. You do not have to provide a reason for casting a ballot during advanced voting instead of Election Day.

Where and when do I vote?

Those wishing to cast in-person ballots ahead of Milton’s 2023 municipal general municipal election, also known as advanced or early voting, can do so at Milton City Hall between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. between Oct. 16 and Nov. 3, excluding Sundays. The address for Milton City Hall is 2006 Heritage Walk.

On Election Day, Nov. 7, 2023, voters can cast their ballots between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at their assigned polling place. There will likely be three polling places on Election Day: Milton City Hall, the Community Center at Milton City Park and Preserve at 1785 Dinsmore Road, and the Milton Public Safety Complex at 13690 Ga. 9.

What are the latest election results?

In the case of its municipal election, Milton plans to share election results after all voting concludes on its “Election Information” webpage as well as its Facebook page.

Election results must be in by 11:59 p.m. Election Day.

Milton City Hall will be the site of election day voting and advance voting.

Appen Media also has a dashboard available, where readers can find all coverage of the city’s push to run its own municipal elections. Find it at appenmedia.com/municipal_elections.

8 | Milton Herald | August 17, 2023

The Splatter Studio sparks joy, creativity

Business encourages patrons to immerse themselves in art

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — What makes art, art? Is art just paint on a canvas, clay on a wheel, or a moment in time frozen by an expertly snapped picture?

For the folks at The Splatter Studio in Sandy Springs, art goes beyond any form or medium, becoming a full-body experience that can inspire talent, emotion and creativity in even the least artistic of us.

Opened in 2020 by Howard Krinsky, owner of the Atlanta-based art supply store Binders, The Splatter Studio offers customers a chance to become Jackson Pollock for an hour or two by creating personal artworks in a riotous frenzy of paint.

Jenna Rees, chief brand officer for The Splatter Studio, said the business’s mission of being a “contemporary action painting experience” pays tribute to the Abstract Expressionism period in art history, where artists like Pollock, Willem De Kooning, Lee Krasner and others started experimenting with non-objective paintings, made through new techniques.

“Instead of just a traditional

brush, they were using sticks and brooms, and whatever they could find,” Rees said. “It was a full body experience, experimental, and the paintings were totally non-objective.”

Today, customers at The Splatter Studio are encouraged to immerse themselves fully in the process of making art, in whatever way feels right to them.

“It's very therapeutic for people, a lot of people say that it's kind of like unofficial art therapy,” Rees said. “Action painting is all about experiencing the process of art making and not really being too attached to like the end result. It's not about coming in here and being an exceptional artist or creating a work of art that is necessarily going to make you famous.”

With admission to a “splatter session,” customers are given a protective poncho or Tyvek suit, goggles, paint sticks, brushes, paint blasters (squirt guns made from a foam material) and squirt bottles, along with a colorful panoply of paints, then set loose on a 16- by 20inch canvas.

The reckless abandon and heights that past customers have gone to create their art, can be seen in the layers of paint coating nearly every wall in The Splatter Studio, all the

See SPLATTER, Page 9

It’s very therapeutic for people, a lot of people say that it’s kind of like unofficial art therapy.’

JENNA REES, Chief brand officer, The Splatter Studio

BOTTOM SPLATTER STUDIO/PROVIDED

At The Splatter Studio, a Contemporary Action Painting Experience in Sandy Springs, customers are given the opportunity to create one painting, or many, by flinging, shooting and throwing paint.

Splatter:

Continued from Page 8

way up to its lofty rafters.

Some customers, even people who have never shown any interest in the arts, find something inside them that has to come out when they step up to the canvas. And Rees said they are glad to be the ones sparking that creation.

“It's typically the people that say, ‘Oh, I've never even done anything like this before’ that come out with something really interesting,” she said.

Beyond the basic session, which costs $45 on weekdays and $65 on the weekends, The Splatter Studio offers a host of other classes, parties and experiences at their locations in Sandy Springs and Virginia Highlands.

“We just recently launched some new products at our Virginia Highlands location that are coming soon to Sandy Springs, one of which is a collaborative splatter session,” Rees said. “So rather than coming with your friend, each do your own painting, you're now coming together to create one larger painting.”

The business has attached itself to the idea of making sessions a bonding, teambuilding, or dating activity, with a new “date and create” session for couples, an adults-only session

held each Friday night in Sandy Springs, and sessions held specifically for teambuilding within families, companies and other groups.

The Splatter Studio co-owner Fabrice Werner said over the past year, the Sandy Springs location has shown them how well the action painting experience works for business and corporate groups.

“We want to bring together two worlds, the art and the business world,” he said. “So, for instance, if you have a challenge around change management, that's one of the things we can work on together.”

But no matter what group or individual is in their studio, the joy they witness firsthand each session shows them they are on the right path.

“I think the word fun is also something that is on top of my mind,” Werner said. “Over the weekend, we were quite busy, and I could hear people laughing, having a great time … it's not usually something you see too often, different ages, different people, from the youngest to the oldest, they are having a great time. This is really what I love about it.”

The Splatter Studio is in the Parkside Shops shopping center at 5920 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. To learn more about The Splatter Studio and how to book a session, visit thesplatterstudio.com.

PHOTOS BY ALEXANDER POPP/APPEN MEDIA Splatter Studios on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs offers customers a place to unleash their inner Jackson Pollock, by making creative and personal action paintings using a variety of tools and paints.

ADVERTISE IN OUR banking & finance Report

Protect Your Assets

Many people think having a Will is enough to protect their assets, but a Will is best used as a last resort rather than your primary plan. Over our two decades of helping people create their estate plans, we’ve seen a lot of probate cases that sadly resulted in the heirs losing control over their beloved family member’s assets.

For instance, Mr. Jackson owned multiple properties in Georgia. He wrote in his Will that his properties were to go to his beloved daughter and she should also be his Executor. After Mr. Jackson passed, his daughter filed his Will with the Probate Court and was named as the Executor. She was then able to transfer his properties to herself, per his wishes.

However, the daughter didn’t know that once the assets were distributed, her job wasn’t done. Depending on the type of Will filed, the court requires the Executor to file reports on the assets - and those reports have to be filed annually until the probate is closed out. The daughter was not aware that the

probate case had to be closed out and missed the deadline to file those reports, so the Probate Court removed her as Executor.

The new Executor was not a relative of the family and, as he was paid based on the length of time he worked on the case, he was happy to keep Mr. Jackson’s case open. He took control over the assets, meaning daughter could not do anything with those properties. What’s worse, the new Executor’s pay came directly from Mr. Jackson’s estate. This meant that the longer the case is open, the more of Mr. Jackson’s estate went to the new Executor.

It’s important to protect your assets for your legacy - and it’s equally important to make sure that your loved ones aren’t subjected to the long and complicated administrative procedures of the court. After being informed about the Probate process with a Will that has to be probated at your death, then at least you will have sufficient knowledge to start with a Will or have a Trust instead to avoid Probate and additional asset protection measures that Trust can provide. As always, we recommend that you look for a local estate planning attorney and start your planning sooner rather than later.

GEERDES

Johns Creek resident inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame

DETROIT — Johns Creek resident and former Harlem Globetrotter Tyrone Brown has been inducted into the American Basketball Hall of Fame.

Brown was honored alongside 25 other basketball legends including, ESPN Basketball Analyst Dick Vitale, Detroit Pistons legends Earl Lloyd, Isiah Thomas, Earl Cureton, Terry Mills and John Long at a ceremony held for the American Basketball Hall of Fame 2022 and 2023 classes in Detroit, Mich., June 25.

“I am deeply grateful to LaMont Robinson, CEO-Founder of the American Basketball Hall of Fame and the Harlem Globetrotters organization for the opportunity to stand alongside so many legends who love basketball,” Brown said.

Brown, a native of Savannah, is recognized as one of the greats in

Harlem Globetrotters history with a social impact that extended well beyond the bounds of the court, officials said.

The former Globetrotter currently serves as a literacy and character educational speaker at school districts, corporations and nonprofits across the United States and Canada. He also founded the Ambassadors of Responsibility Foundation to enable former teammates to better serve elementary and middle school students across the country.

“I am honored, thankful and humbled by this recognition and dedicate it to the children I’ve entertained and talked to at schools across the country about the importance of reading, goal setting and hard work,” he said.

— Alexander Popp

August’s many book events spur back-to-school shuffle

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia. com

Author events could have everyone hitting the books this month, and not just students.

August’s abundance of literary happenings include Forsyth County Public Library’s monthlong series supporting local writers, as well as a week of anniversary celebrations at Milton’s Poe & Company Bookstore. Add in appearances by a host of notable wordsmiths like

Literary Events Around North Atlanta

Wednesday, Aug. 16. Wild Woman Who Write Writing Workshop Series. Kathy Nichols, one of five members of the author-support podcast group, will lead a writing class emphasizing individual attention and encouragement. 7 p.m. $20. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Thursday, Aug. 17. Kay Paschal. The author of “Insert Giggle Giggle: Laughing Your Way Through Raising Kids and Running a Business” will share lighthearted parenting advice. 5 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Saturday, Aug. 19, Dr. Martha Boone. The·North Atlanta Author Series will host the launch of “The Unfettered Urologist: What I Never Had Time to Tell You in a Fifteen Minute Office Visit.” Boone, a local urologist and author, will be in conversation with Mary Ann Walser, an attorney and realtor. 2 p.m. Free. Milton Branch Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/bookevents.html

Sunday, Aug. 20, Forsyth County Public Library’s Local Authors Showcase. Keynote speaker George Weinstein, author and executive director of the Atlanta Writers Club, will kick off Forsyth’s second annual event with “We’re All in this Together: The Importance of Finding a Writing Family.” Multiple local authors will also be featured. 2 p.m. Free. Sharon Forks Library, 2820 Old Atlanta Road, Cumming. 678-513-9364. forsythpl.org/event/8717909

Sunday, Aug. 20, Book Fair for Grown Ups. Read

much-honored Chika Unigwe and Becky Albertalli, whose debut novel was adapted into the feel-good film “Love, Simon,” and avid readers would do well to have any back-to-school shopping finished early.

Details about these and other author activities in August are below:

More information

The mother-daughter duo of Rosalind and Maggie Bunn will read and sign their children’s picture books Aug. 12 in Alpharetta.

No. 1 bestselling author Becky Albertalli will chat about her new novel, “Imogen, Obviously,” Aug. 26 in Milton.

It Again Bookstore will partner with a Milton winery on a book fair featuring carefully curated books and local wine. 2 p.m. Free. Painted Horse Winery and Vineyards, 13762 Hopewell Road, Milton. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com/event/ painted-horse-winery-vineyards-book-fair-grown-ups

Tuesday, Aug. 22, Christopher Swann, Mike Shaw, T.M. Brown and Kate Hallock. A Novel Idea Author Showcase presents “A Night of History, Mystery, Mayhem and Music” featuring four authors and musical interludes. Bookmiser will have the writers’ books for sale. 7 p.m. Free. Brimstone Restaurant & Tavern, 10595 Old Alabama Road, Alpharetta. 770-509-5611. anovelidea.us

Saturday, Aug 26, Marilyn Baron and Kathy Des Jardins. Award-winning novelists Marilyn Baron and Kathy Des Jardins will headline a double author event featuring Baron’s latest cozy mystery, “The Case of the Forgotten Fragonard,” and Des Jardins’ debut release, “Mama Tried,” along with book-themed snacks. Noon. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232.9331. read-it-again.com/ event/kathy-des-jardins-marilyn-baron-author-event

Saturday, Aug. 26, Becky Albertalli. The North Atlanta Author Series continues with the former psychologist chatting about her most recent young adult bestseller, “Imogen, Obviously.” 2 p.m. Free. Milton Branch Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/book-events.html

Sunday, Aug. 27, Andrew Diaz Winkelmann. Bookmiser presents an intimate afternoon with the Cuban-American author of the debut novel, “The Guava Tree.” 4:30 p.m. Free. 3822 Roswell Road, Marietta. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/ book-events.html

R. AND M. BUNN

ALBERTALLI

HEATHER MURPHY/PROVIDED

Escape into nature on the Big Creek Greenway

I am a nature lover, and every morning I begin my day by observing what bushes and perennials are flowering and what has finished flowering in my backyard garden. If time permits, especially on weekends, I hike with a friend and my golden retriever, Snowball, in the north Georgia mountains or load up my bike and head to the Big Creek Greenway.

The Big Creek Greenway is a north Atlanta treasure! The path runs through Fulton and Forsyth Counties providing free access to 26 miles of walking, running, skating and biking. The Greenway paths are 12 feet wide and are constructed of concrete and wooden boardwalks. The path meanders through woodlands, with views of the Big Creek and the wetlands created by the Big Creek floodplain. Another benefit of this off-road trail is that it provides safe passage because you can ride your bike or walk without worrying about or dodging vehicular traffic!

The Alpharetta section of the Big Creek Greenway extends from the Union Hill Road Skate Park south to Mansell Road, near the North Point Mall. Future plans are to complete the last phase of the Greenway from Union Hill Road in Alpharetta to Union Hill in Forsyth County. The Greenway is currently 26 miles long, with 16 miles in Forsyth County and 10 miles in Alpharetta. For more outdoor adventures you can take the 7.6-mile trail from Roswell to Mansell Road or mountain bike in Roswell on the 6.8mile cross country, mountain bike path with opportunities for dirt jumping and pump tracking.

Parts of this popular escape have been closed, but I am happy to report the two closed areas in Forsyth County are now open. The Greenway from Halcyon to Union Hill Road was closed for reconstruction from late 2020 to March 22, 2022. The 1 mile from Union Hill to Fowler Park was closed from May 20, 2020 and just opened three months ago, on April 1. Both of these sections of the trail were totally reconstructed with all new wooden boardwalks and railings and bridges, one of which crosses under Ga. 400. In my opinion, the section from Union Hill to Fowler Park is the most scenic portion of the trail because is not impacted by residential or commercial

buildings. The 16-mile Forsyth Big Creek Greenway has parking and restrooms available at the following locations: Halcyon, 6265 Cortland Walk; Union Hill, 5259 Union Hill Road; Fowler Park, 4110 Carolene Way; Bethelview, 5120 Bethelview Road; and Sawnee Mountain Preserve, 4075 Spot Road.

The Greenway is open from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. March through October and from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. November through February.

The recent improvements were essential because much of the Greenway is in a Big Creek floodplain, and the standing water creates a swamp-like environment in some areas. These conditions contributed to the decay of much of the Greenway’s boardwalks in Forsyth County. The trail also was and is currently impacted by the construction of a new McGinnis Ferry Road exit/entrance off of Ga. 400. The construction of the new McGinnis Ferry ramps began on Oct. 4, 2021. The highway project is expected to be completed by the spring of 2024.

This construction introduced additional surface water and several trees that were long-term residents of the forest and were contently growing on dry land could not adapt to newly created wetlands. When the roots of trees are surrounded by water, the roots can no longer obtain oxygen needed for cellular respiration and in a short time, the tree dies from the inability to metabolize the nutrients needed for survival. Sadly, the result was many dead trees, often breaking at the soil line. As they fell to their death, some careened into the newly constructed Greenway, thus requiring yet another reconstruction project and a delay in the opening of the Halcyon to Union Hill portion of the Greenway.

If you are looking for nature therapy and an opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of birds, the rustle of trees, wildflowers and an occasional deer, I recommend a trip to the newly improved Big Creek Greenway.

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.

Learn more

• Big Creek Greenway Maphttps://www.bigcreekgreenway.com/index.php/maps/

• General Information on Big Creek Greenwayhttps://www.traillink.com/trail/big-creek-greenway/

• Information on Big Creek Greenway in Alpharettahttps://www.alpharetta.ga.us/government/departments/recreationparks/facilities/big-creek-greenway

• Information on Big Creek Greenway through Forsyth Countyhttps://parks.forsythco.com/Parks/Big-Creek-Greenway

• Mountain Biking Informationhttps://www.mtbproject.com/trail/4683982/big-creek-park

• Big Creek Greenway Section and Trailhead Reopen After Renovationshttps://www.forsythco.com/News/big-creek-greenway-trailhead-reopensafter-renovations

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a Master Gardener since 2012 and a Milton resident. Carole describes herself as a born biologist. Since childhood, she loved to explore the out-of-doors and garden with her mother. When she entered college, she selected biology as her major and made teaching high school biology her career for 35 years. In 2012, Carole completed the Master Gardener training program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners (NFMG) and the Milton Garden Club. Carole uses her teaching skills to create a variety of presentations on gardening topics for the NFMG Lecture Series and Speakers Bureau. She also volunteers weekly at the Assistance League of Atlanta (ALA) thrift store and acts as chair of their Links to Education scholarship program. Her favorite hobbies are gardening, hiking, biking, and reading.

CAROLE MACMULLAN Guest Columnist

CAROLE MACMULLAN/PROVIDED

Lesser-known facts about the Roswell Railroad

I have shared the history of the Roswell Railroad in this column at least 10 times over the years. In case you missed it, the railroad traveled from Chamblee through Dunwoody and on toward Roswell twice a day from 1881 until 1921. Ike Roberts was engineer of the railroad for the entire 40 years.

Dinky was not the only Dinky

Stories of the Roswell Railroad tell of an engine that went by the name Buck or Old Buck and another engine called Dinky. However, Dinky is not a unique name for an engine. There have been Dinkys across the U.S., and as the name would suggest, they were small engines.

In 1942 a photo was taken of another nearby Dinky which ran from a rock quarry at Stone Mountain to the town of Stone Mountain. The train had a V for victory painted across it and was about to be cut up and contributed to the metal drive of World War II. (The DeKalb News Sun, July 22, 1981)

There is a Dinky on display in Conyers, Georgia, across from the original train depot. According to georgiaencyclopedia.org, the 1905 Rogers steam locomotive model is one of three remaining in the world.

There was a group several years ago that gathered at Heritage Sandy Springs to see if Roswell Railroad’s Dinky or Buck could be located. The group did not locate the original engines.

Roswell Railroad went to Roswell

The Roswell Railroad never crossed the Chattahoochee River and never went into Roswell. The original plan for the railroad would have taken it into the town of Roswell where Oxbo Road and Atlanta Street meet, according to historian Michael Hitt.

Stone embankments built along Vickery Creek were intended to accommodate the tracks. However, the cost of building a bridge across the Chattahoochee River was so great, it never happened. The Roswell Depot was built on the Sandy Springs side of the river, up on a hill across from engineer Ike Roberts’ house. The depot burned down in the 1950s. (Atlanta Constitution, June 1, 1994, “Historian tracks Roswell Railroad”)

A Roswell Railroad dog story

In 1961, 74-year-old Carl Wallace of Chamblee shared memories of the Roswell Railroad with The Neighbor Newspaper. He remembered how the sound of the train whistle would send his dog Bob running toward the engine to catch the evening paper as it was tossed to him.

Chamblee was Roswell Junction

According to “Ghost Trains and Depots of Georgia,” by Les H. Winn, it was the officials of the Richmond and Danville Railroad, owners of the Roswell Railroad at the time, who changed the name of the depot from Roswell Junction to Chamblee around 1887.

Winn says, “As the community around the depot grew and prospered, the name Chamblee stuck.”

When the Southern Railway was

formed in 1894, the stock of Richmond and Danville Railroad became part of the assets of Southern Railway.

The Roswell Railroad carried mail

Lizzie Newhard recalled that her father Joberry Cheek had to drive a wagon to pick up Dunwoody mail before the Roswell Railroad was in operation. The Roswell Railroad’s Dinky, “replaced the mail wagon in

PROVIDED

bringing postal service to the area.” Once the railroad stopped running, mail was again delivered by wagon and later by automobile.

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.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Columnist

The Roswell Depot was located on the Sandy Springs side of the Chattahoochee River. This 1912 photo appears in Les R. Winn’s “Ghost Trains & Depots of Georgia.”

This 1887 image of a Roswell Railroad schedule was shared by Douglas van Veelen, who studied and treasured railroad history.

PRESERVING THE PAST

The rise and fall of train travel

The Roswell Railroad and other considerations

The rise and fall of train travel, The Roswell Railroad and other considerations

Railroads played a vital role as the United States expanded westward in the 19th century.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the first railroad chartered in the United States, and 14 miles of track were opened in 1830.

It operated under horsepower until the following year when an American-made steam locomotive was put into service. The South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company completed a 136 mile railroad in 1833, making it the longest steam railroad in the world. New railroads came quickly, almost haphazardly, most of which were short-distance passenger lines that were not profitable. They could not compete with canals and stagecoach operators, and some railroads were abandoned before they were completed. Railroads gradually proved their worth, however, and in 1869 the Intercontinental Railroad joining the east and west coasts of America was completed.

In Georgia, in response to anticipated competition from the South Carolina railroad, a group of Savannah businessmen established the Central Railroad and Canal Company which became the Central of Georgia Railway. After receiving a charter from the state Legislature in 1833, the company started construction in 1835, and a 190mile line from Savannah to Macon was built.

The following years witnessed a frenzy of construction. The Georgia Railroad and Banking Company built a line from Augusta to Marthasville (later Atlanta) in 1845. In 1851, the Georgia stateowned Western and Atlantic Railroad connected Chattanooga with Terminus (also later Atlanta). By 1855, Georgia’s major cities and towns were linked by railroad.

After the Civil War, new railroads were built and existing lines were consolidated into larger systems. In 1892, Southern Railway was created by financier J. P. Morgan out of the financial ruin of two failed railroads. Southern became one of the leading systems in Georgia in the 20th century.

The golden age of railroading lasted from the 1880s to the 1920s when alternative modes of transportation eroded the railroads’ dominant position. Passenger service declined steadily beginning in 1920 due to the growing popularity of automobiles, which stimulated construction of new roads which facilitated the rise of truck freight hauling. Then came the airplane. In the 1960s and 1970s, railroad stations in many cities and towns were demolished or put to other uses.

Today in Georgia, rail freight is transported by two lines, CSX and Norfolk Southern. Passenger service is available on three Amtrack routes.

This

Roswell Railroad

The Roswell Railroad ran from south of Roswell to Chamblee. It was in operation from 1881 until 1921, independently at first. Beginning in 1894 the line was operated by the Southern Railway.

Roswell Railroad was one of many short-line railroads in north Georgia, and like most similar railroads, it suffered economic challenges which were amply covered by the Atlanta Constitution newspaper. According to Michael Hitt, author of the book “History of the Roswell Railroad,” 1994, the railroad was originally going to go from Roswell to Atlanta. Work stopped during the Civil War near Roswell Junction (now Chamblee). It began operations almost 28 years after the idea for a railroad was first put forward.

The railroad was narrow gauge (3 foot) which cost about one fourth the amount of a standard gauge line (4 foot, 9 inches) to build and operate. The narrow gauge tracks were broadened in 1903 to standard gauge. The line was 9.8 miles long and had a rolling stock consisting of one locomotive nicknamed Buck, one passenger/baggage car, two box cars, and four flat cars. One of its primary purposes was to support the work of the fabric mills of the Roswell Manufacturing Company which until then required five wagons and 10 mules to deliver its products to market. With the railroad, one wagon and two mules

were sufficient.

In 1894 Southern Railway Company took over operation of the Roswell Rail line. This was also the first year the name Chamblee was used instead of Roswell Junction. The people living around Roswell Junction wanted to have their own post office. Postal officials would not grant the request because its postmark could be confused with Roswell’s. So, the town’s name was changed to Chamblee which is still used to this day.

In 1920 the Southern Company began efforts to discontinue the Roswell Railroad because it was a consistent money loser. Southern Company maintained that the increasing cost of operating a small line due to the development of a good road system and automobile and truck transportation had destroyed most of the line’s passenger and freight business. The line ceased service in 1921.

Today, only hardy explorers can find any traces of the old railroad, but it earned an important place in the history of north Fulton.

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.

BOB MEYERS Columnist

ROSWELL HISTORICAL SOCIETY/PROVIDED

postcard dates from circa 1900. The Roswell Railroad ran for 9.8 miles from a terminus south of Roswell to Chamblee, making four stops en route. It was in operation from 1881 until 1921 at first independently. Beginning in 1894 the Southern Railway took over operations. Note the pile of lumber in the foreground. Short line railroads often transported lumber on flatcars. The train was powered by a steam locomotive named “Buck.

Me and Jethro: Double aught spies (almost)

Ok kiddies, since school is back in session, it just might be time for Uncle Mikey to tell you a story that I swear is 99.99 percent the God’s honest truth. So get out your resting mat and relax.

Try to stay awake, and I’ll do my best to re-create a tale that happened in the summer of 1981. After I’m done, my bet is that I’ll get letters, phone calls, and maybe even a bullet in my head for what I’m going to divulge.

If you’re not excited and bursting with anticipation, I don’t know what else I can do to set up how your humble columnist, came within a spider’s eyelash of becoming just like Jethro Bodine, a double-aught spy for the Central Intelligence Agency.

I’ve probably lost some of you. A few are probably saying: “That’s it, Eunice. No more wasting my valuable jigsaw puzzle time by reading that lunatic’s malarkey.”

For those of you sticking around, here goes.

I’d just watched “The In-Laws” starring Peter Falk and Alan Arkin, the former a shady, seemingly

scatterbrained CIA agent. Arkin is a dentist whose daughter was to marry Falk’s son. The movie was hilarious, inspiring me to ask colleagues in the newsroom: “How do you go to work for the CIA?”

“Look ‘em up in the phonebook,” was the snarky reply.

So that’s what I did. I called the CIA office in the Los Angeles area and spoke to a gentleman named Larry Curran. At least that’s what he said his name was. More about name games later.

Early in the conversation, he asked the following questions: “Were you ever in the military? Can you speak a foreign language? Why are you calling me?”

Two “no’s” and an “I think I can help my country and do my part to put an end to what these Commie bastids are trying to do.”

The last one must’ve set a hook because he asked me to meet him in LA. I was given an address that turned out to be a bank. At least the first floor looked like a bank. The front desk guard, before I could hitch up my trench coat and say a single word, directed me to the fifth floor.

Since there were only four floors listed on the directory, I figured I might be a goner. I met Mr. Curran and I thought he was marvelous. Our 30-minute meeting stretched to three hours. I was given a list of books and he

said he’d be in touch.

I read the books and shared my thoughts. A few weeks later, I was in a hotel room with two agents. Again, I found them and the whole process fascinating.

Mr. Curran’s next move was to enroll me in a one-day foreign language aptitude battery of tests. Again, I was fascinated but hated the class, only because it was held at USC.

I heard from someone in Washington that I would now be known as “Michael J. Treet.” Mr. Curran told me that the process weeds out 98 of 100 applicants. Two received an all-expense-paid trip to Washington for a week of interviews and activities.

My parents were petrified, believing “they’re going to turn you into a Lee Harvey Oswald.” The FBI descended on Bakersfield and spoke to teachers, coworkers and friends.

The phone calls were something like: “What the hell! You’re going to be a spy?” I had fun by replying: “I can neither confirm nor deny that.”

I remember them saying the agents were serious and that the female agent was huge.

I flew to Washington where I was taken for a ride several times. It was quite a gauntlet. Several buildings were non-descript on the outside. Open the doors and they were beehives of

intelligence gathering.

The highlight was taking a lie detector test at CIA headquarters, where I was asked about past activities by the most serious FBI agent on the planet. Unconvinced of the accuracy of a polygraph, the skeptic in me wanted some proof. The agent produced a deck of cards, asked me to pick a card, then lie when he showed it to me.

I tried to lie and failed miserably but must’ve passed the test. The next day, there was a final interview where I was asked where I might like to be stationed.

I was newly married, and the plan was for me to work as some sort of journalist and for Vicki to teach. I replied to my potential CIA boss that I thought England or France might be cool.

His reply: “No son, where in the Middle East or Central America do you think you might want to live?”

Check please. I came home, quit my newspaper job and went to work as a pharmaceutical salesman.

Not as wild as being a spymaster, but I’m here to write about it.

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.

A pair of unputdownable books in one week

Do you exchange books with friends?

Years ago, my mother and I traded books by our favorite authors, and we also haunted used bookstores. These days, most of my books come either from the library or from a friend who’s also an avid reader, plus the occasional selection from Amazon. There’s nothing better than getting a stack of books, no matter where it comes from. For me, the sign of a good book is my inability to turn out the bedside light at night. “Just one more chapter,” I say to myself.

That was the case with this week’s books—one from my friend and one from the library.

“Homer’s

Odyssey” by Gwen Cooper

When my friend lent me the lat -

est batch of books, I gravitated to this one first, perhaps because of the cover photo of a tiny black cat. After a closer look, I recognized Gwen Cooper as the author of one of my favorite reads, “Love Saves the Day.”

Though this book is nonfiction, I was once again mesmerized, just as I’d been with Cooper’s novel. I’m convinced her life with Homer, an indefatigable blind kitten, prepared her to give voice to Prudence the cat in “Love Saves the Day.”

Homer is a tiny two-pound kitten when she adopts him from the veterinarian who removed the poor thing’s infected eyes after a couple found him on the street. Learning to find his litter box and his food, and to navigate around Cooper’s apartment without help seemed like prodigious feats. His amazing agility was nothing short of a miracle and provided endless hours of entertainment for Gwen and her friends.

This is a story of love and patience

and perseverance in the face of adversity. As People magazine said, “This memoir about adopting a specialneeds kitten teaches that sometimes in life, you have to take a blind leap.”

Homer and Gwen were a match made in heaven. It’s been days since I finished the book, but I can’t stop thinking about it. Give it a try. I predict you’ll have the same experience.

“The Echo of Old Books” by Barbara Davis

This is going to be one of those books that stays with me. The truth is that I still have a book “hangover,” so much so that it’s difficult to describe the experience of reading this story about a pair of mysterious books.

Ashlyn Greer, rare book dealer and owner of An Unlikely Story, a bookshop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, stumbles on a mysterious pair of beautifully bound books. Neither has an author’s name or publisher or copyright page, but each has a hand -

written inscription inside. And that’s the mystery. Who wrote the books? Who are the people they’re inscribed to? Did these people really exist?

She can’t let it go, and soon finds the person who donated the books to a nearby vintage boutique. It would spoil the story to reveal the changes wrought in Ashlyn’s life as she searches for the origin of the books and their story. I predict the tale will grab you, and you’ll stay up late night after night to find out where the literary mystery will lead.

One book about a cat and another about books—what more could a gal ask for? More books, of course.

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

THE INK PENN

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

MIKE TASOS

Columnist

Workforce Development Coordinator is responsible for developing programs and services for NFCC clients and students seeking employment, post-secondary education, or other career options. The workforce development coordinator collaborates with local employers to help match job seekers to open positions. They work directly with clients on the job application, resumes, and interview preparations and provide tips for successfully securing and improving employment to foster financial stability.  Bachelor’s degree in a human services, human resources, or other related field required and 2 years of professional experience in human services, human resources or career counseling preferred.

To view the entire listing visit https://nfcchelp.org/ work-at-nfcc/. To apply, please submit resume to Carol Swan at cswan@nfcchelp.org.

Project Manager IV (Alpharetta, GA): Manage all aspects of large scale and complex IT projects or initiatives from initiation to delivery. Design, communicate, and implement operational plan for completing a project, and monitor progress and performance against it. Identify, resolve, or escalate issues to minimize delays. Facilitate and manage analysis of project requirements, identify and understand cost estimates, resources, and time required to complete project(s), and ensure project goals and requirements are met within time, cost, and quality parameters. Remote work permitted within the US. Resumes to: Total System Services LLC, Brian Simons, Associate Director, HR Risk and Compliance, One TSYS Way, Columbus GA 31901. Job #AM622461.

Software Engineer Specialist (Alpharetta, GA): Work throughout the s/w dvlpmt life cycle & performs in a utility capacity to create, dsgn, code, debug, maintain, test, implmnt & validate apps w/ a broad understanding of a variety of langs & architectures. Analyze existing apps or form logic for new apps, procdrs, flowcharting, coding & debugging programs. Maintain & utilize application & prgmng docs in the dvlpmt of code. Remote work permitted within the US. Resumes to: Total System Services LLC, Brian Simons, Associate Director, HR Risk and Compliance, One TSYS Way, Columbus GA 31901. Job #JM631968.

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Software Engineer II (Alpharetta, GA): Work throughout the software development life cycle and perform in a utility capacity to create, design, code, debug, maintain, test, implement and validate applications with a broad understanding of a variety of languages and architectures. Analyze exiting applications or formulate logic for new applications, procedures, flowcharting, coding and debugging programs. Resumes to: Total System Services LLC, Brian Simons, Associate Director, HR Risk and Compliance, One TSYS Way, Columbus GA 31901. Job #AH708147.

Software Engineer Senior (Alpharetta, GA): Dvlp, create, & modify general comp apps software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs & dvlp software solutions. Work throughout the software dvlpmt life cycle & prfrm in a utility capacity to create, dsgn, code, debug, maintain, test, implmnt & validate apps w/ a broad understanding of a variety of languages and architectures. Resumes to: Total System Services LLC, Brian Simons, Associate Director, HR Risk and Compliance, One TSYS Way, Columbus GA 31901. Job #SN601512

Software Engineer Specialist (Alpharetta, GA): Collab w/ engrs across the Platform & Product Engg team to create tech dsgns, dvlp, test, & solve cmplx prblms that drive the solution from initial concept to prod. Contribute to our automated build, deploy, & test processes for each solution. Work w/ a wide range of systms, processes, & techs to own & solve prblms from end-to-end. Resumes to: Total System Services LLC, Brian Simons, Associate Director, HR Risk and Compliance, One TSYS Way, Columbus GA 31901.

Job #RS708168

Software Engineer Specialist (Alpharetta, GA): Create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions. Work throughout the software development life cycle and perform in a utility capacity to create, design, code, debug, maintain, test, implement and validate applications with a broad understanding of a variety of languages and architectures. Resumes to: Total System Services LLC, Brian Simons, Associate Director, HR Risk and Compliance, One TSYS Way, Columbus GA 31901. #AN489124

Optum Services, Inc. Sr. Software Engineer III (Full Stack). Alpharetta, GA. Design, develop, implement, test, and maintain business and computer applications software or specialized utility programs including mainframe and client/server applications, and major enhancement of existing systems. Can work remotely. Mail resume to GMI Recruitment at 9900 Bren Road East MN008 R120, Minnetonka, MN 55343 and indicate applying for #23-GA 5876.

Tree Services

Optum Services, Inc. Sr. Software Engineer. Alpharetta, GA. Design, modify, develop, write and implement software programming applications to automate, manage, and maintain cloud based infrastructure and development tools for new cloudbased big data healthcare analytics platform. Can work remotely. Mail resume to GMI Recruitment at 9900 Bren Road East MN008 R120, Minnetonka, MN 55343 and indicate applying for #23-MN-6065.

Part-time

Donor Operations Associate

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

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