Milton Herald - September 19, 2024

Milton High remembers 9/11

Community gathers to continue tradition

By JAKE DRUKMAN newsroom@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Scores of Milton students, first responders and community members gathered outside Milton High School Sept. 11 morning to memorialize the thousands of American lives lost during the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

The school’s front lawn was lined with 2,977 American flags, each representing a victim who died in the attacks. The flags each had a banner attached

of those who were in the World Trade Center and of the first responders who rushed into the towers to rescue survivors.

The memorial’s keynote speaker was Mark Caruso, who was in Lower Manhattan the day of the attack working as a foreign exchange broker. He has worked as a docent at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City in the years since the attack and he traveled from Connecticut to deliver his address in Milton.

Bears roll down Cogburn at Cambridge Homecoming

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — High school athletes threw buckets-loads of candy off more than 35 floats while kids scrambled to gather what they could at the inaugural Cambridge Homecoming JamBEARee Parade Sept. 9.

Smiles were everywhere.

As a part of the school’s new tradition, Principal Ashley Agans awarded the Drama Club with a trophy for best float.

Agans said next year’s winner will also have their club or team engraved on the trophy.

“This is your community, your Cambridge,” she said. “Thanks for being here … Go Bears!” Before the parade began, the McKnight family set up chairs along the Cogburn Road sidewalk so they could watch their son, Matthew, a sophomore and football player, in the parade with his teammates.

displaying a victim’s name.

Speakers took to a podium beneath the school’s flag, which flew at half-staff, to address the crowd and reflect on the legacy

Caruso delivered an emotional account of his experience of the harrowing

See MEMORIAL, Page 14

A river of bears on floats heads down Cambridge High School Road Sept. 9 for the inaugural Homecoming JamBEARee Parade.

PHOTOS BY: JAKE DRUKMAN/APPEN MEDIA

2,977 American flags stand on the front lawn of Milton High School to commemorate the lives of each person who died during the 9/11 attacks in 2001

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Mark Caruso, a 9/11 survivor, delivers the keynote address at Milton High School’s 9/11 memorial event on Sept. 11, 2024.

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Alpharetta detectives arrest man accused in deadly shooting

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta Police

detectives arrested a 21-year-old Milton man after he allegedly shot and killed a 44-year-old resident around 11 p.m. Sept. 11.

Detectives arrested the suspect, Jaden Lewis, on charges of murder and aggravated assault Sept. 12 for shooting and killing Alpharetta resident Justin Mourning. Lewis was allegedly on a motorcycle when the shooting occurred.

The arrest happened less than 24 hours after the incident, which occurred near Ga. 9 and Milton Avenue.

A statement from the Alpharetta Public Safety Department statement says on the night of the shooting, police were dispatched to the area after

POLICE BLOTTER

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

Police arrest suspect in theft of packages

MILTON, Ga. — A 21-year-old New Jersey man was arrested Sept. 4 for allegedly stealing three iPhone 15s from a Milton couple the day before.

The couple reported to police Sept. 3 that the package, containing the phones, had been stolen from their front porch off Voyage Trail, according to the incident report.

The phones were valued at a total of $3,000.

The pair said the package had been delivered by FedEx earlier that day, at around 3:15 p.m., and that the truck was being followed by a light blue SUV. The woman said she saw the driver of the SUV get out, take the package, run back to their car and leave the scene, according to the incident report.

The woman described the suspect as a Hispanic or Black male with a chin-strap

reports of gunshots.

Police then located Mourning and transported him to a local hospital.

Alpharetta Assistant City Manager James Drinkard said Mourning later succumbed to his wounds the morning of Sept. 12.

The report says an investigation determined the shooting began with an argument between Mourning and the person of interest.

The Alpharetta Public Safety Department thanked numerous citizens who provided information leading to the arrest.

This is a developing story. For updates, check www.appenmedia. com/.

style beard and short dark hair, wearing dark-colored clothing.

Police listed a 21-year-old New Jersey man as the suspect, registered to a Ford Escape.

detectives arrested Lewis less than 24 hours after the fatal shooting.

The homeowner told police the home was vacant, so it had been burglarized and vandalized numerous times. After confirming nothing was missing or had been damaged, she pressed charges.

The suspect was released on bond Sept. 12 after being charged with felony theft by taking, according to jail records.

Homeless man arrested inside vacant home

MILTON, Ga. — Police arrested a 57-yearold Auburn man Sept. 5 accused of trespassing into a vacant building off Birmingham Road.

The homeowner, a Milton woman, reported to police there had been a car near the rear door of the residence that was not hers and that the back door was open.

When police arrived at the scene, they found the man inside the home, and he was placed into handcuffs. He told police he had driven by, had seen that the building was dilapidated and had intended to stay the night there because he did not have a place to sleep.

The man said he was homeless, that he was not there for a nefarious reason and that he did not forcibly break into the residence as the door was unlocked.

Police charged the man with criminal trespassing, and after the suspect was denied at the North Fulton County Jail, officers took him to the Fulton County Jail on Rice Street.

Couple sought for theft of $5,000 in store items

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Almost $5,000 in beauty products were reported stolen from a North Point Parkway store Aug. 21.

Police were dispatched to the store where an employee said a man and woman had stolen the items, according to an Alpharetta police report. A total of 41 Dior items valued at $2,286 and 50 La Roche-Posay items valued at $2,201.50 were reported stolen.

The employee said surveillance cameras recorded the man and woman entering the store on Aug. 17 and stealing the items.

The man placed the items into a large black handbag the woman was holding.

The employee said the two have been seen shoplifting from their company’s stores in the past.

Milton resident Jaden Lewis, 21, is charged with murder and aggravated assault for allegedly shooting a man in downtown Alpharetta the Sept. 11. Alpharetta Police

ALPHARETTA

Roswell joins other cities, counties in fight to ban transient pet sales

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Peggy McCarthey, board member of the Georgia Pet Coalition, spoke to the Roswell City Council Sept. 9 during a review of an ordinance that would ban the transient sale of dogs, cats and domestic rabbits.

The coalition is a state-based organization that focuses on legislative advocacy for animal protection.

McCarthey said the policy specifically addresses sales that occur in parking lots, flea markets and street sides.

“These are transient sellers,” McCarthey said. “They’re here today, gone tomorrow. You can’t find them.”

The first reading of the ordinance, unanimously approved by the City Council that night, would add a new section to the city code, Section 8.1.25.

Similar measures have already been passed elsewhere in Metro Atlanta.

In 2022, Forsyth County passed the ban, followed by Fulton County last year.

In June, Johns Creek did the same, with a push from Northview High School senior Trisha Gundugollu for her Girl Scout Gold Award project. McCarthey was her adviser.

As McCarthey spoke at the Roswell meeting Monday night, Gundugollu was being recognized for her work at Johns Creek City Hall.

The policy is also being considered in DeKalb County.

McCarthey illustrated the issue at the Aug. 27 Roswell Community Development and Transportation Committee meeting with recent pictures of transient sales that occurred in Decatur and Cobb County.

She said these sorts of breeders often misrepresent the animal they’re selling, that the animals are often underage or are frequently sick, and that the breeders are strictly out for profit.

“They are not responsible breeders,” McCarthey said. “Good breeders don’t sell in parking lots.”

McCarthey also explained the connection between transient sales and gang activity. She said dogs, usually muscular bully breeds, are used for guarding drug houses, becoming part of a criminal culture, one that includes human trafficking which Roswell has been clamping down on in the past year.

City Councilwoman Christine Hall, who had introduced the topic, said the policy will be discussed at the next state legislative session in January.

Peggy McCarthey, board member of the Georgia Pet Coalition, speaks to the Roswell City Council Sept. 9 about an ordinance that would ban the transient sale of dogs, cats and domestic rabbits.

“We hope to adopt this at a state level, and not just push them out of our city to the neighboring city,” Hall said.

The second reading and adoption is scheduled for Sept. 23.

In other action Sept. 9, the City Council passed the first reading of a text amendment that would ban coolers and water access from the city’s side at Old Mill Park because of issues resulting from overuse. Violations would result in a $250 fine.

Council members rehashed a debate on the issue Appen Media reported on from the Aug. 27 Community Development and Transportation Committee meeting. City Councilwoman Sarah Beeson, who cast the lone dissenting vote Monday night, reiterated her concerns on the issue, like unnecessarily expending police resources.

Others described litter at the park, one of the primary reasons the new policy had been drafted.

The city closed access to the park’s waterfall Aug. 16, although visitors can take an alternate route from the other side within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

During the public comment portion of the item, Mark Beal, a resident who lives within walking distance to the park, told the council he thought the spirit of the ban was “well-intentioned.”

But, he asked members to reconsider the proposed limitations.

“Some of the earliest pictures I have on my phone from living in Roswell are me throwing the ball in that creek with my dog, me taking my boys down to that creek, letting them run around in it, me going in it myself,” Beal said. “So, it’s a challenge.”

The second reading and adoption is scheduled for Sept. 23.

SCREENSHOT

Milton officials review strategic plans, priority projects

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — The Milton City Council discussed strategic plan updates for the Communications and Police departments at its Sept. 9 work session.

The city’s 2021-25 Strategic Plan outlines general priorities for Milton and provides measures for how well each department meets its goals.

Police Chief Jason Griffin said his department is tasked with the first strategic priority, which is to “ensure Milton’s sustainability and resiliency.”

The Milton Police Department plays a significant role in maintaining a secure community and ensuring the city’s transportation network is calm, safe and efficient.

One of the 2021-25 goals is to improve response times to emergency calls by 10 percent across all zones.

Despite challenges with road construction, which are expected to continue, Milton Police were able to reduce response times by 9 percent in 2023 as compared to 2021.

“Recently, the department has worked through a plan to enhance staffing levels through a robust

recruiting effort,” Griffin said. “[It] has and will continue to increase staffing on our roadways during high-volume traffic times.”

The Milton Police Department also deployed a Safety Crisis Intervention Team last December, which continues training new officers on de-escalation and crisis intervention. Officers are also being trained for mental health services and joint operations with the Fire-Rescue Department, Griffin said.

City Councilman Phil Cranmer asked the chief about “active shooters, in light of what happened to our neighbors down the road.”

Cranmer mentioned discussions with Fulton County Schools after city officials questioned the school district’s response to threats to at least one Milton school the day after the fatal shooting at Apalachee High School.

Chief Griffin said the department is constantly collaborating with Fulton County.

“One of the first things we did about 10 months ago, one of my sergeants went around to every school and put together an emergency plan,” he said.

The police chief discussed how

his officers are trained to handle such incidents, saying “we’re better prepared than most, by design.”

“Obviously, in light of what happened last week, everything gets ratcheted up and tensions are high,” Griffin said. “I actually talked with the chief of police for Fulton County Schools, and we’re meeting this week.”

Griffin said his department has the funding and personnel it needs.

If a city department is preparing to do something, Communications Director Greg Botelho said his team’s job is to support the initiatives.

The Communications Department shares progress on parks and recreation progress, evaluates residents’ priorities and serves as an intermediary between city departments and the citizens they serve.

Currently, Botelho and his team are working to implement public Wi-Fi, informational kiosks and interactive wayfinding as a part of Milton’s branding initiative and character areas focus.

He said his department is focused on the Deerfield character area, as work begins to reimagine its makeup.

The Deerfield district includes Ga. 9, Windward Parkway and the city’s border with Ga. 400 and Alpharetta. Milton’s website says, “it is the city’s chief commercial driver, as well as home to or within easy reach of a significant portion of its residents.”

To keep residents informed and engaged with the Deerfield Implementation Plan, the Communications Department has a dedicated webpage, social media posts, targeted community outreach and upcoming public forums and input opportunities.

Botelho said other notable support projects include the city’s new text notification platform, Everbridge, which allows the city to reach around half the population during

emergencies.

The voluntary program is 4 months old and allows citizens to opt into interest-specific alerts, like community gatherings, road closures, police and fire emergencies and other city-related developments.

The city says it and Everbridge will not share the private information of residents who sign up.

To sign up, visit www.miltonga. gov/government/communicationsengagement and click on “Text Notifications.”

After the strategic plan review, Special Projects Director Bob Buscemi went over updates to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Ga. 9 widening project through the city.

He said 24 of 31 properties have responded to GDOT’s request for right of entry to clean up construction waste and repair damages.

Buscemi said city staff met with GDOT representatives Sept. 9 to discuss concept drawing and design requests as the state agency prepares to give the project another try.

“We are trying to work on things that might save them some money,” he said. “We’re encouraging them to start the process.”

Buscemi said he is waiting for a letter from GDOT’s chief engineer, anticipated in mid-to-late September, to see what redesign items are approved.

Destination Deerfield is the city’s chosen branding for the commercial area surrounding Ga. 9 in southeast Milton.

Between community open houses and stakeholder meetings with developers and landowners, Buscemi said the city is working to get as much input on the plan as possible.

The final phase, culminating in May 2025, involves code revisions, recommendations and the final Deerfield Implementation Plan.

Land Development team helps raise new ground

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Inside a conference room at Johns Creek City Hall, Terrence Byrd and others in the city’s Community Development Department sat with a resident for more than an hour, advising her on a small home project.

The process for Catherine Curtiss to make her backyard in St. Ives Country Club more accessible, by adding a few stepping stones, was more than she bargained for.

Byrd, the city’s environmental compliance manager, a role within the department’s Land Development division, explained that her home is in the River Corridor and with that, comes some restrictions.

The River Corridor is defined by its distance to the Chattahoochee River, a 2,000-foot buffer. It’s under the purview of the Atlanta Regional Commission, as part of the Metropolitan River Protection Act, adopted in the mid-’70s to protect a 48-mile stretch of the river between Buford Dam and Peachtree Creek.

“When you have a property in a river corridor, you have impervious calculations,” Byrd told Curtiss.

He later pulled Appen Media along to the new Knollwood subdivision off Parsons Road, turning the designs shown in its land disturbance permit into reality.

Protecting the environment

Each home in the River Corridor is given only so many impervious “credits,” or square footage that can be purchased by homeowners or transferred to them from a next-door neighbor, based on the final plat — the permanent record of a development plan that rests with the county.

Byrd projected the final plat for St. Ives to show Curtiss the number of credits she was working with, just above the amount of clearing allowed. She was in the negative and would also have to pay $300 for a minor land disturbance permit, an application pertaining to work on less than an acre.

“We always do everything by the rules, so whatever we need to do, we’ll do,” Curtiss said.

She said her homeowners association requires that an application be submitted before making any landscaping changes. A committee advised her to go to City Hall to see if she needed a permit — and she did need one. The panel also wanted proof of her landscaper’s insurance.

“I’m just kind of jumping through the hoops to make my HOA happy and Johns Creek happy,” Curtiss said.

Educating the public

Byrd said that there’s a lot of meetings he conducts like the one with Curtiss.

“The reason why we have people coming in to meet with us before [is] so we can share with you all the rules and regulations or whatever you need to do to get your permit or to get a permit to be in compliance,” Byrd told Curtiss.

Land Development Manager Gilbert Quinones, sitting beside a city planner, said impervious calculations are determined by the Atlanta Regional Commission.

A professional civil engineer, Quinones helped design St. Ives before joining the city and that experience was obvious in the knowledge he was able to impart to Curtiss during their conversation.

Now, Quinones’ role is to review all land disturbance permits. He also oversees stormwater management, the system that dictates how much impervious surface a land lot can have.

Quinones explained the agency’s application for developments within the River Corridor, broken up into five “vulnerability categories”: A, B, C, D, E and F. Each was based on a ratio of the percentage of land disturbed to the percentage of impervious surface that could be allowed.

“It’s too complex a formula for me,” he said.

Quinones described the importance of permits in terms of placing a home on the market.

“What’s the first question he’ll ask you — ‘Is there anything out there that’s not permitted?’” Quinones said of a popular area real estate agent, posing a theoretical situation to Curtiss. “If there’s anything out there that’s not permitted, he won’t buy your house.”

Checking compliance

Taking the reins from the city’s land

development inspector, who couldn’t be there that day, Byrd pointed out common issues to look for in an in-progress development, like Knollwood. Things like fallen silt fences and the status of gravel driveways to each of the homes.

The inspector, Byrd said, focuses on erosion and sediment control.

As the city’s environmental compliance manager, Byrd oversees the land development process from beginning to end. He also manages tree removal permits.

Carrying a number of certifications, Byrd said he entered local government after a few years of pouring concrete.

For the Thursday site visit, he brought along a large, thick scroll of site plans, which he said is standard practice. Several houses, out of a total of 20 planned for the new community, had already been constructed. A crew worked on the roof of one nearby.

CIVIC DUTIES: In a new series from Appen Media, Civic Duties will take readers behind the scenes of local government. Senior Reporter Amber Perry and her colleagues will shadow employees across different city departments and turn those experiences into original reporting, so residents get a closer look at what exactly local governments provide the community.

Construction begins only after approval of the land disturbance permit and the final plat.

Byrd said a number of departments and divisions are involved in the process — an arborist and staff from the Community Development Department’s Planning and Zoning and Land Development divisions. The Fire Department must also check for ADA compliance and fire truck accessibility. Staff in the Public Works Department review transportation needs, like sidewalk connectivity.

On the Land Development side, inspectors conduct a pre-construction, on-site meeting to review rules and regulations, speaking to a three-phase erosion control plan required by the state.

One of the most interesting aspects to his job, Byrd said, is the diverse group of people he gets to meet on a regular basis, “the melting pot of America.”

It’s also the education piece.

“The fun part is really educating and helping people to get a greater understanding … the reward of seeing people say, ‘Thank you so much,’ for the things that they didn’t know, that you helped them with,” Byrd said. “That has a lot to do with it.”

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Johns Creek Environmental Compliance Manager, Terrence Byrd, points to construction work in the new Knollwood subdivision off Parsons Road. Working out of the Community Development Department, Byrd oversees the land development process from start to finish.

Roswell Day of Hope provides help to needy

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell Day of Hope, an annual event aimed to help those in need of basic resources, like health care, has been scheduled for Sept. 21.

The long-standing community tradition, in its 15th year, is organized by Hope Roswell, a nondenominational network of church leaders and pastors who seek to meet the needs of the community in a variety of ways throughout the year.

The free event, held at Roswell City Hall from noon to 4 p.m., will include free medical screenings and pairs of new shoes, while supplies last, as well as free dental screenings for visitors ages 12 and under. There will also be free haircuts.

Visitors can also enjoy music, local coffee flavors and food trucks as well as a Kid Zone with games and entertainment.

This year, planners hope to raise awareness of the mental health issues teens face.

They have partnered with local nonprofits and businesses to help loved ones understand why teenagers might be struggling, what signs loved ones should look for, and what they can do to help.

“We recognize there are many causes of depression,” explained Brenda Orlans, director of Hope Roswell, the organizing nonprofit.

“One of the culprits for the spike in teen depression is technology. Social media, isolation and less sleep all have contributed. Communities around the world are hurting, and Roswell is no exception.”

For more information on the Roswell Day of Hope, visit www. hoperoswell.org.

Longtime arts festival benefits local initiatives

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell Arts Festival, set to feature artists working in a variety of mediums, has been scheduled for Sept. 21-22 at Roswell City Hall.

Founded in 1966 by the Roswell Recreation Association, the festival is the first of its kind north of the Chattahoochee River. It was started as a way to promote the arts in Roswell and raise funds for the city’s recreation and parks, according to the festival’s website.

The annual event, held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the weekend, is the association’s only fundraising initiative. It has supported more than $1.5 million in projects throughout the city, the

website says.

Among its early projects was the construction of Roswell’s first tennis courts and a little league field. The association also paid part of the salary for the city’s first Recreation and Parks director.

But, the association lists dozens of projects that have been funded through the effort, such as the serenity garden and outdoor fitness equipment at Roswell Area Park.

In addition to artists, the festival will feature food trucks and free children’s activities, like painting and spin art, and for a small fee, sand art, face painting and balloon animals.

For more information, visit https://www.roswellartsfestival.com.

MARY BETH BISHOP/PROVIDED Volunteers Art and Gilma Cantu, Brenda Orlans and Ron Bevans are ready for guests at the free shoe tent at last year’s Day of Hope.

Johns Creek Symphony to hold audition concerts for its new music director

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-2025 season will spotlight three world-class conductors as they bring their strengths and passion to the podium in hopes of becoming its next music director.

The season, beginning Oct. 5, comes almost one year since the death of J. Wayne Baughman, the organization’s founder and former maestro, who died last November.

“Three Maestros, One Podium” will feature concerts from conductors Henry Cheng, Howard Hsu and Paul Bhasin.

12TH ANNUAL

on communities.

The first concert is Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at Newtown Park, and it will feature Cheng as he leads the orchestra into a classical rendition of chart-topping K-pop hits.

Audience members will be invited to complete surveys after each concert, providing invaluable feedback that will help choose the next artistic leader of the orchestra. At the end of the season, the organization will announce the new music director.

5K RUN & WALK

All proceeds benefit Murphy- Harpst

Throughout the season, they will be joined by renowned instrumental and vocal soloists, including BrittonRené Collins, David Fung, Tom Hooten, Johns Creek Chorale, and Bethany Mamola, to present concerts that emphasize the power of human connection, the vibrancy of different music genres and the impact music has

Saturday Oct. 5 2019

The five-concert season ticket package for “Three Maestros, One Podium” is on sale now, ranging in price from $85 to $215. Single tickets range in price from $22 to $55. To buy individual concert tickets, season tickets or explore sponsorship opportunities, visit johnscreeksymphony.org or call 678748-5802.

Murphy-Harpst provides hope and healing to severely abused and neglected children and youth through residential treatment, foster care, and creative therapeutic approaches. Over 1/3 of their annual support comes from United Methodist Churches! Please give generously today and be a part of a nearly 100-year legacy of serving Georgia’s most vulnerable children.

East Roswell pumpkin patch to open Sept. 30

www.murphyharpst.org

ROSWELL, Ga. — In its 15th year, the annual Bridge to Grace Covenant Church Pumpkin Patch will open Sept. 30. The East Roswell patch, located at 2385 Holcomb Bridge Road, will feature a number of activities for families and all ages in the North Fulton community. It will be open Monday through Friday from 2-7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday from noon-5 p.m.

Registration

• www.active.com

• Search “Midway Mission Possible 12”

• At the MUMC church office

• In person on race day

Many families return to the church each year to choose pumpkins and take photos in front of the colorful fallthemed photo areas. The church’s large green space will be full of games and activities for all ages, like hula hoops, corn hole, tic-tac-toe and Jenga.

Location

Benefitting:

SATURDAY

NOV. 2 2024

RUN

& WALK 12TH ANNUAL

All proceeds benefit Murphy- Harpst

Saturday Oct. 5 2019

Benefitting:

All proceeds benefit Murphy-Harpst

All proceeds benefit Murphy- Harpst

tradition,” co-organizer Amanda Reed said. “We love this opportunity to meet and engage with so many wonderful people and families in our community. We also appreciate the opportunity to pray for those people who come and share any needs they have. It is a very special month for our church.”

Midway United Methodist Church 5025 Atlanta Hwy, Alpharetta, GA 30004 www.midwayumc.org 770-475-5230

REGISTRATION

Transforming the lives of homeless families. Because every child deserves a home.

12

Murphy-Harpst provides hope and healing to severely abused and neglected children and youth through residential treatment, foster care, and creative therapeutic approaches. Over 1/3 of their annual support comes from United Methodist Churches! Please give generously today and be a part of a nearly 100-year legacy of serving Georgia’s most vulnerable children.

www.murphyharpst.org

Highlights include a “Blessing of the Animals,” a Girl Scout bake sale, a petting zoo, a family fun day with costume contests as well as a bonfire with s’mores and a sing-along.

• www.active.com — Search “Midway Mission Possible 8”

Murphy-Harpst provides hope and healing to severely abused and neglected children and youth through residential treatment, foster care, and creative therapeutic approaches. Over 1/3 of their annual support comes from United Methodist Churches! Please give generously today and be a part of a nearly 100-year legacy of serving Georgia’s most vulnerable children.

www.murphyharpst.org

Fees Register by Oct. 31 Register on Race Day

Registration

• Totally Running (Forsyth), 405 Peachtree Pkwy.

5K Run/Walk $30 per person $35 per person

• At the MUMC church office

“Our patch is not only a fundraiser for mission outreach, but an annual

TO LEARN MORE: www.familypromise.org www.fpforsyth.org

Event Schedule

7:00 am

SATURDAY

NOV. 2 2024

Murphy-Harpst provides hope and healing to severely abused and neglected children and youth through residential treatment, foster care, and creative therapeutic approaches. Over 1/3 of their annual support comes from United Methodist Churches! Please give generously today and bea part of a nearly 100-year legacy of serving Georgia’s most vulnerable children.

On weekends, there will be children’s story time, and every Wednesday through October, community prayer will be held from 7-7:30 p.m.

• At the MUMC church offi

• In person on race day

• www.active.com Search “Midway Mission Possible 12”

Midway United Methodist Church 5025 Atlanta Hwy, Alpharetta, GA 30004 www.midwayumc.org 770-475-5230

5K Teams of 4+ $25 per person $30 per person

For more information, visit b2gcc. org.

Kid’s Fun Run $20 per person $25 per person

FEES Register by 10/3 Register on Race Day

5K

(Cash/Check ONLY accepted on race day)

Short-sleeved microfiber race shirt included in race fee; be sure to register by 10/22/24 to guarantee your shirt!

Registration and bib pick up 8:30 am

www.murphyharpst.org

5K Run/Walk begins

Event Schedule

Event Schedule 7:00 am Registration and bib pick

Short-sleeved microfiber race shirt included in race fee; be sure to register by 10/22/24 to guarantee your shirt!

7:00 am – Registration and bib pick up 8:30

My whole family growing up … everyone had a green thumb.

LLOYD FISHER, founder, Oak Avenue Landscaping

Dunwoody entrepreneur rides landscaping green wave

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Battery technology is creating opportunities for landscapers to opt for more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

Elon Musk’s effort to build a world powered by solar energy, rechargeable batteries and electric vehicles has led to downstream effects in other industries, such as landscaping.

Dunwoody’s own environmentally conscious entrepreneur, Lloyd Fisher, has capitalized on evolving battery technology.

Fisher’s Oak Avenue Landscaping received the 2023 Sustainability Hero Award for local businesses in April. City officials lauded Fisher for making the city more eco-friendly.

Oak Avenue Landscaping is an all-electric commercial landscaping company with two field employees alongside Fisher and one administrator. It uses state-of-the-art equipment to service the 15-mile radius around Dunwoody and the Perimeter.

Fisher said there’s a lot his team does at residences across north Metro Atlanta, including landscape design, installation, drainage, decks, grading and tree service.

There are some misconceptions about the differences between electric and gas-powered landscaping equipment. Namely, technology has advanced to the point where compact batteries can generate the same level of performance. Not all electric tools match their gas rivals’ torque, but some are out there.

Gas mowers and blowers typically cost less and outperform older and cheaper electric equipment.

society and subsequent economic environment could have discouraged Fisher from pursuing his goals, but it got him to the point where he wanted to do something for himself.

On the other hand, Fisher said he saves money and charges his equipment for free using his solar-powered trailer.

Consumer Reports says the benefits of going electric include, environmental and noise concerns, the longterm cost of gasoline, maintenance and storage.

Fisher, along with his journey to the United States, shows that everyone can make a difference in their

community, no matter how far from home.

“I used to work in marketing for a couple of companies,” Fisher said. “Maybe it’s just the nature of the industry since COVID, but I’ve been affected by layoffs multiple times over the last four years.”

The COVID-19 pandemic, shutdown of American

“I was helping another landscaper with her marketing and ended up doing more of an operations role with her,” he said. “I felt like, if I’m going to be doing this and I’ve already seen what it’s like, I’d rather do it the way I wanted to.”

Typical landscaping crews, like city contractors at Brook Run Park, work in large teams with gas-powered equipment.

“Guys are wearing equipment to look after

See LANDSCAPE, Page 9

PHOTOS BY: OAK AVENUE LANDSCAPING/PROVIDED Lloyd Fisher, owner of Oak Avenue Landscaping, enjoys the coast during a family vacation while holding his two-year-old son, Jack, and smiling with his wife, Allison, and 4-year-old daughter, Bets. Fisher said his wife is the backbone of his landscaping business and his kids motivate his eco-friendly practices.

Oak Avenue Landscaping’s solar-powered trailer sits in front of a Dunwoody residence after wrapping up a plant installation. The solar panels on the roof of the trailer allow landscapers to charge their equipment’s batteries between jobs and on the go.

BUSINESSPOSTS

The 4-year-old daughter of Lloyd Fisher, owner of Oak Avenue Landscaping, operates one of her dad’s electric lawnmowers in a driveway. Oak Avenue Landscaping is introducing Dunwoody residents to electric yard equipment, the use of native plants and ways to make the city more eco-friendly.

Landscape:

Continued from Page 8

themselves, like ear and face protection,” Fisher said. “Because obviously they don’t want to get poisoned, but everyone in the community and the environment is suffering.”

Fisher immigrated to New York City from South Africa after meeting his wife, Allison. They have a 2-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter.

How he and his wife met on a cruise ship is another story. Fisher said his wife is the backbone of his business, and he couldn’t do it without her.

With his children yet to start elementary school, Fisher said there needs to be a change to preserve the natural environment for future generations.

Fisher has a unique perspective on landscaping.

“My whole family growing up … everyone had a green thumb,” he said.

Hailing from South Africa, Fisher said Georgia has a uniquely beautiful natural environment.

Specifically, he cited the trees that visitors notice when they’re flying into Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Fisher said the whole concept of landscaping has always felt off to him: Many times, when property owners are trying to make their slice of the Earth more beautiful, they’re damaging the natural environment and public health in the process.

“It’s so ironic to me,” Fisher said. “If you’re using a two-stroke gas blower, it releases the same amount of emissions

into the atmosphere that a regular car does when you’re driving from Atlanta to the border of Mexico.”

In other words, operating a single gas-powered blower generates pollutants and carcinogens equivalent to driving a standard vehicle around 1,100 miles.

The statistic is shocking to some, but it’s commonly cited in the world of environmentalism, including on the Ansley Park Civic Association’s webpage about the negative impacts of gas blowers.

Oak Avenue Landscaping and Fisher go a step beyond using electric equipment, they also work with clients to select native species of plants.

He said a lot of his Dunwoody neighbors plant shrubs, flowers and trees in their yards that are non-native and don’t last.

“People are planting a lot of annuals every season and just throwing away healthy plants,” Fisher said. “You could put in some perennials, native to this region, that really support pollinators and make it a thriving ecosystem.”

Fisher said clients usually reach out for a free consultation after getting a referral from past customers or seeing positive testimonials online.

There is information online about the benefits of electric landscaping equipment and how native plants interact with their environment.

Fisher said he and his team at Oak Avenue Landscaping are just a call away to give advice.

If homeowners have a yard project in mind, Oak Avenue Landscape invites them to schedule a free consultation to discuss their needs and determine the best solution.

To learn more visit, www. oakavelandscape.com/.

SEPTEMBER

21 & 22

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OAK AVENUE LANDSCAPING/PROVIDED

SiteOne renews lease at Mansell Overlook

ROSWELL, Ga. — Cushman & Wakefield announced it has arranged a long-term 55,869-square-foot lease renewal with SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. within Mansell Overlook, a four-building Class A office park in Roswell.

Annie Lewis Gomez and Jon Mayeske of Cushman & Wakefield, a commercial real estate services firm, represented SiteOne Landscape Supply in the negotiations for their lease renewal. Mansell Overlook is owned by Sun Belt Office I, LLC.

“SiteOne Landscape Supply has committed to renew[ing] in the Alpharetta submarket long-term,” said Gomez, Director at Cushman & Wakefield. “We were able to secure immediate savings instead of waiting till their natural lease expiration in 2026.”

Mansell Overlook, located off Colonial Center Parkway, spans 67 acres with the campus offering tenants outdoor seating, walking paths, a new state-of-the-art fitness center and a conference center equipped with audio visual capabilities and Wi-Fi. The office park is also easily accessible to a number of nearby restaurants, retail, hotel and entertainment options within a heavily developed corridor.

Char Pizzeria opens at Halcyon location

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Halcyon welcomed a new pizzeria with a grand opening Sept. 6.

Char Pizzeria is taking over a space occupied by Holmes Slice, bringing a new menu and remodel, according to a news release.

Halcyon is a $500-million, 135-acre mixed-use community connected to the Big Creek Greenway with options for shopping and dining.

Char boasts artisanal-style 10and 14-inch pizzas cooked in a brick oven. The restaurant also will offer sandwiches and traditional menu items. Their pizzas feature a thin, Neapolitanstyle crust and “new and improved” sauce.

The pizzeria will serve frozen alcoholic drinks with options ranging from a frosé, a blackberry Aperol, a blue raspberry slush with vodka and the Bushwacker. The pizzeria will also offer sandwich options.

Izzy Ramos, who co-owns the new restaurant with Charity Ramos, said they plan to give patrons an “elevated pizza experience” that also caters to children and families.

“Before opening Char Pizzeria, we spent time honing our craft of simple, artisanal pizza-making that will appeal to people of all ages and flavor palettes by learning from Italian cuisine experts,” Ramos said.

The Ramoses also own Halcyon’s The Original Hot Dog Factory.

Phil Mays, principal of RocaPoint Partners, which owns and developed Halcyon, said he was pleased the new restaurant would keep pizza on the menu at the mixed-use shopping location.

“Char Pizzeria will bring highquality, made-to-order pies to the Market Hall, and it will be an excellent complement to our diverse lineup of restaurants and food offerings,” Mays said.

Char caters to artisanal pizza lovers as well as families and children with a new menu. The restaurant is replacing Holmes Slice at Halcyon.

JADE HUBBARD/PROVIDED

Mansell Overlook, a four-building Class A office park in Roswell, will house SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. as part of a longterm lease renewal with commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield.

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India Festival brings music, culture, food to one location

ROSWELL, Ga. — The sixth annual Atlanta India Festival invites visitors to indulge in the sights, sounds and flavors of Indian culture.

The festival, free and open to the public, is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 21 at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, 1950 Old Alabama Road.

The festival is geared as a celebration of Indian culture and local Atlanta communities, event spokesman Cherian Chacko said.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Chacko said.

Last year’s festival drew almost 1,500 visitors.

“We would like to reach the community and share the cultural aspects of India — and be part of the community,” he said. A variety of vendors and marketplace will offer traditional and fusion Indian cuisine as well as merchandise.

Chacko said some of his favorite dishes are chicken tikka masala and samosas. Spicy food is always a big draw, he said.

Live music from modern beats to traditional classical rhythms as well as Bollywood-style dancing will be performed.

The event also will feature a volleyball tournament.

“We are thrilled to host the Atlanta India Festival for the sixth consecutive year,” said the Rev. Mathew Koshy, vicar at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church. “This event is a testament to our community’s unity, celebration of diversity and shared joy. We extend a warm invitation to all to join us for a day filled with culture, connection, and celebration.”

For more information, visit atlantaindiafestival.com or email support@ atlantaindiafestival.com.

— Jon Wilcox

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Memorial:

Continued from Page 1

attack and mourned the lives of his 27 friends who died that day.

Caruso was working in a nearby office building when he and his coworkers heard the first plane hit the North Tower. After helping a coworker get out of their office building, he had to duck into a nearby building to avoid a cloud of dust and debris as the South Tower collapsed.

“I waited for the smoke to sort of disappear,” Caruso said. “It didn’t take very long. And then the skies were as beautiful as can be, right after that. At that moment, I believe I was in shock. I hadn’t realized that the building came down. I still didn’t realize the building came down.”

Caruso thanked the Milton High community for holding the memorial, noting that the students involved in the event had not been born when the 9/11 attacks occurred. He cautioned against letting the memory of the attacks fade.

“I see it down at the museum, it’s fading very quickly,” Caruso said. “Been a lot of kids out here, and they weren’t even born yet, and I see it fading. It’s disappearing… It can never die. This memory has to live on, and on, and on.”

Members of Milton High’s chorus sang the national anthem at the event’s opening, while members

of its band and orchestra played patriotic ballads to close the ceremony. Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison and Deputy Fire Chief Richard Bushman also spoke briefly to commemorate the memorial.

Milton High holds its 9/11 memorial celebration every year. Senior Justin Mikels and sophomores Will Chambers and Jack Mikels, along with their families, organized this year’s event.

PHOTOS BY: JAKE DRUKMAN/APPEN MEDIA

A Milton city firetruck flies an American flag outside Milton High School on Sept. 11 to memorialize the 9/11 attacks.

Each of the flags planted outside Milton High School bears the name of one of the victims who died as a result of the 9/11 attacks.

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Cambridge:

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Anna McKnight, graduating in spring, watched alongside her 3-yearold sister, Evelina, who will have to wait another decade before walking the halls of her local high school.

With so many in the crowd glued to the floats, a preschooler took the opportunity halfway through the march to get his turn on the Bungee Trampoline in the school’s rear parking lot.

There was something for everyone at the JamBEARee, whether it was supporting the arts, athletic teams or trying to collect and eat as much candy as humanly possible.

At one point after the parade, a blob from the inflatable foam pit spilled out and flew into the disk jockey stand. A group of students jumped at the opportunity to help the emcee fight off the foam.

The new tradition at Cambridge High School is thanks to a group of local moms who drew community support to give their children the same high school experience they had growing up.

The planning committee for the inaugural parade and homecoming celebration includes Kirsten Doughty, Stephanie Huffman, Katie Klepak, Leslie Malone, Jamie Liptak, Amelia Phillips and Jamie Powell.

Megan Bowman, whose effort helped make the day a reality, said the JamBEARee was executed on a bootstrapped budget with weekly meetings and daily text exchanges.

Planning Committee member Shelley Massey said the Cambridge community has never mattered more than now.

“We are so proud of how this event threw open the doors to include all students at Cambridge, as well as future Bears and their families — regardless of their affiliation within the school or Milton community,” Massey said. “We hope past, present and future students feel as though they’re part of a strong community after attending the inaugural event.”

The idea for the Cambridge Homecoming Jamboree originates from springtime discussions between moms whose children are involved with different clubs and sports at the school.

When the committee went to Principal Agans and the City of Milton for permission and required permitting this summer, the idea started to take shape.

Following the event, the Cambridge moms said they received dozens of text messages from parents with younger elementary and middle school children

about how thrilled their kids were to don school gear the next morning.

Organizers said the JamBEARee is about much more than homecoming, it’s about community.

As parade participants circled the high school and returned to the “Bear Backyard,” Principal Agans was all smiles. A few years ago, she attempted to jump start a homecoming tradition with just a few dozen folks in the crowd and a couple floats.

The principal said events like JamBEARee are important because it shows children that they live in a safe and fun community.

“I think it’s exactly what the kids needed, some normalcy and real love,” a Planning Committee member chimed in during the chat.

Agans joined head football coach Tyler Jones on a scissor lift in the school’s rear parking lot to speak to the more than 700 people celebrating community pride and school spirit.

Jones, who replaced Craig Bennett after 12 seasons, thanked everyone who decided to put a float in the parade and volunteer their time.

The head coach of the 4-0 Cambridge Bears, fresh off an overtime win against the Denmark Danes, looks to keep his squad perfect in his first season at the helm.

It wouldn’t be a homecoming parade without a marching band.

While Cambridge takes on the Calhoun Yellow Jackets Sept. 13 for its homecoming game, the marching band has its own Super Bowl to look

From left, Manning Oaks Elementary School students Bailey and Mila

work on a coloring book and times tables as they wait for the Cambridge High School Homecoming JamBEARee Parade off Cogburn Road. Many elementary and middle school students from North Fulton County attended or participated in the parade.

forward to.

For the first time in the 12-year history of Cambridge High School, the band will head north to Indianapolis for the Grand National Championships Nov. 14-16.

Cambridge Band Director Daniel Scott said it’s great having senior leaders who set the culture for younger members entering the program.

Principal Agans said she is overwhelmed with gratitude for the Cambridge Bears community.

“Our students are going to remember this event as a highlight of their high school experience,” she said. “It’s something they are going to want their children to experience in the future, [and I’m] thankful for all the Bear Moms who came together to make this happen.”

PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Pictured center, Milton City Councilwoman Juliette Johnson and her family walk and ride down Cogburn Road Sept. 9 for the Cambridge High School Homecoming JamBEARee Parade.

Henderson

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

While covering Milton election operations, Appen Media analyzed historical voter data and identified possible disenfranchisement.

This reporting caused a statewide watchdog to get involved and, eventually, the city moved to add a polling place to the area. Later in the year, Appen discovered that the feasibility report the City Council used when voting to run their own elections was not the original document. Two residents on a working committee had altered it after city staff had completed it and before its presentation to council. Appen Media reporters identified all of the differences between the two documents and then created an interactive digital document. Readers and officials were able to scroll through the materials and read notes from the newsroom explaining the differences. You can find this document at appenmedia.com/electionsreport.

Georgia’s love/hate relationship with deer

BOB MEYERS

As we approach the October to December breeding season for whitetailed deer, it is useful to study the history and current status of this magnificent animal. The peak rut in Fulton County is the second week in November. That is when the behavior of male deer is overtaken by the urge to mate. It is a time when drivers should be particularly aware because deer will cross roads with no regard to their surroundings when bucks are chasing them.

During the breeding season male deer will fight one another to gain the attention of female deer. After mating, females will give birth to one to three fawns next spring.

White-tailed deer are the only deer found in Georgia. Their undersides and tails are white. The tails are held erect when the deer feel threatened.

In addition to being a popular game animal, white-tailed deer help the balance of nature by spreading seeds and controlling certain weeds. They can also be a pain to gardeners even though deer are selective about what they eat because they can reach vegetation up to five feet above ground level. They prefer gardens and landscaping that are fertilized and irrigated because the plants provide more nutrition.

Today there are an estimated 1.1 million white-tailed deer in Georgia. In the late 1800s and early 1900s the once plentiful animal almost disappeared due to land-clearing by farmers and commercial hunting for the deerskin trade.

Deer made a comeback thanks in large part to Arthur Woody a forest ranger with the U. S. Forest Service from 1912 to 1945. Woody is credited with helping to build the Appalachian Trail through Georgia, for introducing rainbow and brown trout and for restoring brook trout in Georgia’s streams and for restoring threatened turkey and black bear populations. Perhaps his most noted accomplishment was saving deer from extinction and reintroducing them through his purchase and release of white-tailed deer from the mountains of North Carolina.

At the turn of the last century there were an estimated 5,000 deer in Georgia. Slowly the deer population recovered.

Charlie Killmaster, State Deer Biologist with the Wildlife Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources says, “The federal

This juvenile button buck fawn shows his “buttons” or pedicles where antlers will erupt. Since just a few spots remain on his body, he is probably about five to six months old. The photo was taken in early November.

Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 played an important role by establishing a program of matching federal grants to the states for wildlife restoration projects.” He notes that the state reopened the hunting season in 1941.

Killmaster said he thinks restoration of white-tailed deer in the Southeast is one of the greatest successes in wildlife management in history.

Deer play an important economic role in Georgia. Deer hunters spend an estimated $1.5 billion every year in the state for travel, hotels, restaurants, hunting license fees and hunting equipment including firearms, ammunition and bows and arrows. A group of hunters or a hunting club may lease hunting rights from private landowners or timber companies. Nearly 300,000 deer were harvested in Georgia in the 2023-24 season.

There are more than 200,000 deer hunters in Georgia who play an important role helping control the deer population in the state. Without a plan to control the number of deer the population would grow exponentially. Hunters are the dominant predator of deer today unlike in the distant past when Native Americans, mountain lions and red wolves helped keep the population in check.

You may find deer in your backyard. The reason is that deer like to congregate in open areas because they are not well suited for a forest environment. They are called an “edge species” because they tend to hang out along the edges of the woods. The most nutritious plants for deer grow in direct sunlight.

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

Columnist

PHOTOS BY: BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

This female white-tailed deer is tame enough to allow a photograph to be taken fairly close to her. Whitetails are the only deer found in Georgia.

Check out free, in-person gardening classes in Milton

In collaboration with the City of Milton and its Plant!

Milton Initiative, the North Fulton Master Gardeners are offering a series of gardening classes for all gardeners, to be held on Tuesday evenings.

The first meeting, Oct. 1, will be at the Milton Council Chambers at 2006 Heritage Walk in Milton. The Oct. 8 and 15 meetings will be at the Milton City Park and Preserve at 1785 Dinsmore Road.

These classes are free and open to the public. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. We entertain questions and garden topics until 7 p.m., when the classes start. Each session consists of two topics and concludes around 8:30 p.m. Questions and comments from the audience are encouraged. We hope you join us!

OCTOBER 1

“Fabulous Fall Fairy Garden”

The mythical world of fairies is found throughout folklore. A fairy garden is itself a story-telling scene that can include small plants, tiny structures, miniature furniture, rocks, fairies and gnomes. It can be in a container or in a small, cultivated space in your yard. Use your imagination and creativity to create your own fairy garden.

Presenter Marty Thomas has been a Master Gardener since 2018 and a former elementary school teacher who has also taught children’s art classes including fairy garden camps. Marty is a board member of the Johns Creek Beautification Committee

“Pruning Here and Now”

Pruning Guru, Rick Smith, will discuss the critical factors in pruning and fertilizing your shrubs. Rick will also address the benefits and necessity of selecting the proper time of year to prune your plants, shrubs, and trees.

Rick was featured on PBS “Growing a Greener World.” He was also a contributor to WSB 95.5 Ashley Frasca – “Green and Growing.”

OCTOBER 8

“Keeping the Tree in the Ground”

City of Milton Arborist Sandra Dewitt will talk about species choice, placement of trees in your yard and general tree maintenance. If you want trees in your garden and are unsure of what to plant, this is the talk for you. She will also be available to discuss any problem issues you may have with trees in your garden.

“Wild about Wildflowers “

Judy Peacock, a Master Gardener, will

join another Master Gardener and Milton resident Carole MacMullan to talk about wildflowers.

March is one of the best months to enjoy spring wildflowers by taking a hike in the Georgia woods. As soon as the air temperatures increase and soil temperatures warm up, the spring wildflowers emerge from the ground and burst into color. The spring wildflowers take advantage of the available sunlight before the trees leaf out to complete their life cycle, flower and create seeds to ensure their survival for the next year. This presentation will focus the amazing array of spring wildflowers that bloom every March through April on the Shirley Miller Wildflower Walk near Lafayette, Georgia.

OCTOBER 15

“What I Wish I Knew”

Kelly Mogelgaard, Master Gardener, will speak on her 30 years’ experience in gardening and operating a landscaping company. Some of her topics are what to do first, how to select plants and how to enjoy the work and the results of the work. Some of her specific interests include cut flowers and landscape design.

“Gardens of Charm”

North Fulton Master Gardener Sandra Shave will provide glimpses of spectacular local gardens. Sandy will showcase unique landscaping from Master Gardeners’ gardens, with the goal of providing gardeners with ideas and inspiration that they can bring to their own home garden. The class provides an overview of what might be possible and elements of garden design. The class will demonstrate that gardening is as varied as your individual creativity and the fun is in the discovery, the failures and the success.

Sandy graduated from the Master Gardener program in early 2019, having completed the coursework in the spring of 2018. She is a recent transplant to Roswell, moving from Wisconsin in 2014 after retirement to be nearer to her children and most importantly her grandchildren!

Happy gardening!

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

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Michael Snow, a Milton resident and Master Gardener since 2021. Michael had always been active in “yard work” and growing plants and shrubs. Upon retiring from a career in real property finance, he sought to benefit from an organized source of garden information and became a Master Gardener. He plays golf as often as possible

MICHAEL SNOW Guest Columnist

MARTY THOMAS/PROVIDED

One of many fairy gardens along a trail at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve’s Butterfly Garden.

Fed is ‘Under Pressure’ to make its move

D.C. AIKEN Guest Columnist

This week’s “pop” hit is the October 1981 “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie. This could not be truer for our friends with the Federal Reserve as more and more data keep coming in showing that we are moving quickly into recession and that their pipe dream of a soft landing will most likely not happen.

Prices at the pump are now at their lowest levels since February, which is

helping drive inflation down along with unemployment rising and householdnamed companies closing their doors due to slower sales.

They are once again late to the dance and now have placed themselves in a position where they may need to make a .50% cut to the interest rate later this month as opposed to their widely expected .25%. While I believe that a .50% move is certainly warranted, odds are they won’t do it in order to not appear that they are panicking and stay with their “soft landing” approach, which will most likely include two more moves this year totaling .75% by the end of the year (my prediction earlier this year).

They truly need to embrace one of the lines from this week’s “pop” hit… “These are the days it never rains, but it pours…” The “storm” is upon us… They need to move .50% now, which should send rates lower from a mortgage perspective as well as pretty much all borrowing costs in the U.S. The market has already “baked” in a .25% move. So, unless we do get a surprise .50% cut in a few weeks. Don’t count on mortgage rates moving notably lower in the near term. I am still holding to my overall .75% cuts by the end of the year but just maybe we could see a full point cut if inflation continues to fall and unemployment continues to rise. I know we hear that they don’t want to

appear to be “political” in an election year and how it’s “taboo” to make significant cuts prior to the election. But not sure how pulling the economy out of the “ditch” is a bad thing for either side of the aisle.

Remember: You and I are only sometimes right; the market is always right. Have a great day!

D.C. Aiken is vice president, producing production manager for BankSouth Mortgage, NMLS # 658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.

The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of BankSouth Mortgage or its affiliates.

Friends of Dunwoody Library to host book sale

What better time for a library book sale than when the days are turning cooler? Take this opportunity to stock up on books to get you through the fall and on into the winter. Can you picture yourself snuggled up by the fire with a soft blanket, reading to your heart’s content? Then this sale is for you.

The FODL library sales are a fact of life here in Dunwoody, but unless you are one of the organization’s volunteers or a regular attendee, I predict you’ll find some of these fun facts surprising.

• The most popular genres at the adult sale are fiction—including mysteries, thrillers, romance—history, and cookbooks; and these are also the genres with the largest number of books in the sale.

• Nonfiction genres at the sale include art, religion, history, drama, poetry, science and math, music and show business, travel, health, sports, gardening, and more.

• Also available are reference sets,

puzzles, and DVDs.

• Book donations arrive daily at the library, and the FODL finds their four plastic bins full each morning. Weekends see even more books come in the door.

• Library visitors can purchase books, puzzles, and magazines in the lobby during library hours—on the honor system. These purchases are cash only and require correct change.

• On average, 100 items are sold weekly from the lobby.

• Volunteer hours per week=30.

• Setting up and hosting the adult sale takes 570 volunteer hours—eight days for setup, four days for the sale, and one day to clear the Williams room.

Volunteer: Susan Edmondson

I’ve been frequenting these sales since I moved here in 1999, and in those early years, I had the pleasure of meeting Susan Edmondson. She started volunteering in 1984 and is the FODL’s longest serving volunteer. It’s hard to believe that book sales were

held at the Shops of Dunwoody when she started her volunteer career.

She has long been responsible for the literature, literary fiction, and philosophy genres, and you can most often find her at the library on Tuesdays sorting and organizing the latest donations. One of her favorite FODL memories is from1989 when she took part in the symbolic Book Brigade—a 300-person human chain that moved a sample of books from the Nandina Lane library location to the current building at 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road.

Susan tells me she mainly reads “fiction and more mysteries than anything else… lots of cozies, especially in recent years.” If you’re in search of an author to try, you can’t go wrong with this list of those she particularly enjoys: Linda Castillo, Nevada Barr, Diane Mott Davidson, Rita Mae Brown, J. A. Jance, Margaret Maron, Louise Penny, Kathy Reichs and Karin Slaughter.

I always look forward to seeing Susan’s smiling face at the FODL sales, and I hope to see her this time. If you catch a glimpse of her on your visit, take a moment to stop by and say hello. I know you’ll be greeted with a smile.

Book sale details

Location: 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road

Schedule:

• Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024 – 1-4 p.m. (members only)

• Thursday, Sept. 19 – 4-8 p.m. (open to all)

• Friday, Sept. 20 – 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Saturday, Sept. 21 - 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Monday, Sept. 23 - 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Bag Day, fill a grocery bag for $7.

Payment: Cash, credit/debit cards accepted

Prices: Hardbacks $2, paperbacks $1; Some books and materials specially priced by value

Happy book hunting and reading! 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/.

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

EDMONDSON

OPINION

Box of old photographs reignites good memories

Family fights are the best fights, providing there’s no bloodshed.

It’s been my experience that in most cases there is a catalyst who enjoys stirring things up just enough where there is bad blood among relatives. These are the type of people who should have their phone privileges permanently revoked.

Such is the case for my family where one member might have left the world of the sane. She is a nasty soul and makes Cinderella’s tormentors look like Mother Teresa by comparison.

So, before you say to someone: “He’s right. Give me the phone. That cretin is due a good cussing. We’ll put an end to all this right now!”

The problem is these things have a tendency to go all “Hatfield-McCoy” really quick. It’s usually a heavy toll for all involved. Empty seats at holiday dinners. Bad feelings that fester over the years that transform cherished thoughts of good days into fading recollections that grow fainter every year.

That was the situation with me, where a family member has done her part to wield a huge wedge between siblings who grew up in a fun household.

But thank heavens for a phone call that came straight out of left field. It was my brother Allan on the other end of the line, and he wanted to share great news.

The childhood pictures, all those great memories, had been located after being stored in a barrel on an Oklahoma porch. Allan must’ve spent the better part of the week pouring through all those photos, newspaper clippings, documents and other childhood memories that I longed to share with my sons.

Thanks to Allan and my sister-in-

law Jennifer, a box arrived that was bursting with photos that took me back. Right there, in glorious miniscule, grainy Polaroid or Kodak snapshots were infant, grammar school, high school and college memories that, but for Allan and Jennifer taking on the project, would have been lost forever.

I had a stupendously joyous time ferreting through mounds of those memories, keeping most, passing some to my brother Matt and to Marty’s widow, Lori. The consensus was smiles from everyone at being able to hold on to something that we thought was lost.

There was even a handwritten copy of my high-school graduation speech. Numerous cards and letters from me were included, driving home the point that Mom, bless her soul, kept and cherished them.

Uncle Jim with a burlap haircut (that’s a flat-top with a little length on the sides) now is accessible whenever I need a chuckle. Birthday party photos with a carnival ride in the backyard might offer insight how a godmother truly spoiled me. Neighborhood gatherings with pals whose name escape me.

Everything is there. Well almost everything, and we think this particular family member might have sold it. Mom had an honest-to-goodness, sweat stained scarf that Elvis bent down and gave to her along with a smooch. This happened mid-concert in Las Vegas.

Allan really wants that scarf, and if I could, it would be in the mail tomorrow. You never know, lost treasures, like a massive trove of photos have a way of resurfacing.

Better yet, there might just be a chance for a little re-igniting of family harmony that disappeared like that scarf.

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.

MIKE TASOS Columnist

AAPPEN PRESSCLU B

www.northsidechapel.com

Request for Proposals

Design Services for SR 372 Operational and Safety Improvements

RFP NUMBER 24-PW11

Proposal Due Date:

October 9, 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 consultants to provide engineering services for conceptual 30-percent design plans for improvements to SR 372/Birmingham Highway. The City intends to select a single consultant team to provide all the required services through this selection process. The selected firm will be expected to provide services in accordance with the project schedule established by the City of Milton. The City, at its discretion, may choose to negotiate the scope, fees, and schedule with the Consultant for the development of the full construction documents for the plans developed as part of this RFP.

The request for electronic proposals for RFP 24-PW11, Design Services for SR 372 Operational and Safety Improvements will be posted on the following websites the week of September 12, 2024: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/

Invitation to Bid

Guardrail Safety Improvements Project ITB NUMBER 24-PW07

Bid Due Date: October 16, 2024, by 2:00PM Local Time

Electronic submission via: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bidsrfps

Bid submissions will be publicly announced via a virtual bid opening at approximately 2:30 PM at the City of Milton City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004. The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids. If the contract is awarded, it will be awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder whose bid meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the invitation for bids.

The City of Milton is requesting bids from qualified parties to provide construction services for the Guardrail Safety Improvements Project in Milton, Georgia. All qualified bids will receive consideration without regard to age, handicap, religion, creed or belief, political affiliation, race, color, sex, or national origin. The time and terms of payment, along with the conditions and link to the plans and specifications can be found at the websites below and in the solicitation of bids. A bid bond of 5% is required when submitting bid. response.

The request for electronic bids for ITB 24-PW07, Guardrail Safety Improvements Project will be posted on the following websites the week of September 19, 2024: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/

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Garage Sales

Legacy Estate Sale – Everything goes! Antique furniture, tools, designer women’s clothing, kitchenware, much more. 215 Stepping Stone Drive, Alpharetta, 8-6 September 27 & 8-4 on September 28. Cash, Venmo, PayPal only.

$12,000. Call Cindy 404-797-0700

Arxada, LLC seeks Site Materials/ Supply Chain Manager in Alpharetta, GA (full-time telework permitted) responsible for management and leadership in the effective operation of our Conley order fulfillment as well as management of local/global supply chain initiatives. Salary within the range of $90,709 - $148,000/year. Send resume to junida.smith@arxada.com and reference SMSCM-KAA.

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