The Piedmont Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution presents the colors to honor national Constitution Day at the Milton Historical Society’s annual Autumn Shindig Sept. 17. The sold-out event was held on Wildberry Creek Farm, a 48-acre Black Angus cattle farm in Milton.
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — The Autumn Shindig, an annual celebration of Milton Historical Society’s accomplishments, took place Sept. 17, featuring familiar and new activities.
Like last year, the sold-out event was held on Wildberry Creek Farm, a 48-acre Black Angus cattle farm owned by Byron and Laura Foster.
Guests could peruse a pop-up bookstore with local authors and
take in an antique car show, while listening to The Heard, an acoustic bluegrass band set up in the area’s gazebo. Kids could play cornhole or go on a hayride. ’Cue Barbecue provided dinner and dessert, and Six Bridges Brewing, the adult beverages.
About an hour into the Sunday afternoon event, Milton Historical Society President Jeff Dufresne made opening remarks to the crowd.
See SHINDIG, Page 19
► PAGE 9
MILTON, Ga. — Milton city staff has concluded an investigation into an alleged system security breach. But, Mayor Peyton Jamison, with support from at least two other councilmembers, is considering a closer look.
In an interview at City Hall Sept. 21, Jamison and City Manager Steve Krokoff confirmed that at the heart of the second investigation is City Councilman Rick Mohrig’s election activities. They said the probe likely will be led by an attorney. Parameters of the investigation have yet to be clearly defined.
Earlier this month, Milton city leaders received an Outlook calendar invite from Mohrig’s official city email. Mohrig claimed the Sept. 5 email was not from him and subsequently filed a police report Sept. 14, reiterating his claim, saying his account had been hacked.
The calendar event appeared to be related to Mohrig’s campaign in his bid for re-election to the District 3, Post 2 seat this November. The invite was titled “Strategic Planning Session - Save the Date!,” mirroring event headings created by Milton’s city clerk in 2021. But, it was scheduled for Sept. 7 at the home of two Milton poll workers in the Crooked Creek subdivision which falls within Mohrig’s district. One of the poll workers was assigned to the city’s tabulation team, a group expected to handcount all ballots at the end of Election Day.
Krokoff said the pair had previously contacted city staff to ask if they could work on a campaign. Though it is legal for poll workers to engage in campaign activities outside of their official roles, he said both have since resigned and have been replaced.
But Krokoff also provided an eye-witness account of the meeting, because he went to Crooked Creek himself at the date and time stated in the invitation to observe the subdivision’s entrance.
“As mentioned previously, my professional training as a police officer is to act on initial concerns as quietly and unobtrusively as possible, as one might not get the chance later,” Krokoff said in a Sept. 22 email to the City Council. “… Please don’t interpret any of this to be an indictment of the two poll workers. While I don’t know them personally, I understand them to be upstanding, civic-minded citizens.”
A day after the invite was sent out, Mohrig alleged to Krokoff and the city’s Information Technology director that his email had been hacked and requested an investigation into the matter. Mohrig also dropped off his city-issued tablet for inspection, according to emails obtained
See MILTON, Page 6
NEWS TIPS
770-442-3278
AppenMedia.com
319 N. Main Street
Alpharetta, GA 30009
HANS APPEN Publisher RAY APPEN Publisher EmeritusCONTACT
Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.
LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.
ADVERTISING
For information about advertising in the Milton Herald or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@ appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
CIRCULATION
To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.
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.
MILTON, Ga. — A Milton man told police Sept. 11 that someone had intercepted his $13,800 check sent in the mail and cashed it.
The victim said he mailed the check as payment for a June invoice from a framing contractor, but that it had been cashed by someone else via mobile deposit. According to the police report, the victim’s bank sent him documentation of the cashed check with a name attached.
A representative with the bank’s fraud department informed the victim his account was closed, the report said, but the case has yet to be resolved.
The victim told police he wrote another check for nearly $12,000 Sept. 8, and that his bank notified him that someone had tried to cash the check in Texas. But the victim said the check was caught in time and was not cleared.
MILTON, Ga. — The owner of an online supplement store reported to police Sept. 13 that someone had used stolen credit cards to purchase more than $800 in grass-fed beef liver pills.
The victim said his store had around 20 online orders for the supplements, valued at more than $40 a bottle, plus an $8 shipping cost. He said Shopify, a service used to complete the transactions, informed him the orders were placed using stolen
credit cards and that they were stopping payment on the orders.
But the victim lost out on two orders valued at more than $250, the police report said.
The victim provided police with a document showing the shipping information, names and email address associated with all the orders.
MILTON, Ga. — A Milton man reported to police Sept. 16 that several checks mailed to his church as offerings had been stolen.
The man told police he received a letter from his church, Midway Community Church in Alpharetta, informing him of the theft. According to the police report, the church was contacting its parishioners, notifying them they could be a possible victim of theft.
The man told police he contacted an individual to verify the last check sent to the church, and that a bank clerk explained that the check was issued in early June to the church and cashed online by unidentified parties.
The man said he needed an incident report to allow the church to continue their internal investigation.
MILTON, Ga. — A Milton woman reported to police Sept. 18 that she had paid $500 for four Morgan Wallen concert tickets but never received them.
The victim told police she spoke to a Facebook user to make the purchase and sent the money via Zelle. When she didn’t receive the tickets in her Ticketmaster account, she contacted the suspect, who told her to “calm down” and that she needed to send another $100, according to the police report.
The victim told police she then called the suspect, who used a woman’s name, to request the money back, and a man answered with a South African accent, refusing her request.
The victim did not send the $100, the police report said, and she notified her bank, which advised her to get a report.
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A Cumming woman reported Sept. 15 that someone used her debit card to make a fraudulent purchase after stealing her wallet at HomeGoods on North Point Parkway.
The victim reported her wallet missing after she could not find it while checking out at the store.
While returning to her car to search for her wallet, she received a text to confirm whether she had attempted a $2,224.14 transaction at a Sam’s Club in Alpharetta.
No suspects have been identified.
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police are pursuing a suspect who allegedly stole a camera and damaged the electrical cage beside the covered pavilion at Union Hill Park.
An Alpharetta park supervisor reported the damage around 11:30 a.m. Sept. 17. Officers reported observing the fence connected to the corner post of the cage housing the electrical mains, was open.
Officers reported the threaded bolt that keeps the fence closed had been removed so the suspect could turn on the pavilion lights. Officers also observed the camera in the corner of the pavilion, which could have faced the cage during the incident, had been removed.
Working with a BlueChip Wealth Advisor can be a transformational experience. With decades of financial experience & comprehensive products & services, we will customize a meaningful wealth management plan with investment strategies to help you achieve your financial goals. Our process is designed to help grow, protect, and distribute your wealth in a tax-efficient manner.
Located in Milton, Georgia, we work with clients throughout North Georgia and the Southeast. We are happy to work with you in person, over the phone or virtually, depending on your preference. Give us a call or visit our website below to begin our conversation today.
BY ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Northwestern Middle School held a community meeting at 9:30 a.m., Sept. 14 in the school’s media center. The meeting was presented by Fulton County School Board members Lillie Pozatek and Katha Stuart to update parents and faculty on the police department’s latest safety and security measures and the current layout of the 20242025 school year calendar. The gathering opened with a musical performance from the school’s choir before Fulton County Schools Police Chief Mark Sulborski spoke on weapon detection testing.
“We have a new technology coming to the district,” Sulborski said. “We’re going to actually be implementing something that is better than the traditional type of metal detector. It’s a mass detector…It’s going to be all self-contained, we set it up, we’ll funnel everyone that’s coming into your school into one, pack it up, and leave…We’re not creating a new wheel. We’re basing it on what other people have done and have been very successful with.”
In the hopes of enhancing detection accuracy and efficiency, the district is sending them out to a random selection of schools to simplify the process for those entering the facility. The latest technology is expected to identify the location of a potential weapon more precisely.
Saturday Oct. 7 | 9am – 1pm
Treasures, Treasures, Treasures!
Come help support the mission and ministries of the church by shopping at Mission Market.
Many gently used and donated items including household goods, toys, and tools. Items too numerous to list! 180
“It’s not going to be at schools permanently, it’s going to be random.” Stuart said. “It’s really a phenomenal technology…If I have something in my bag that is detected as a gun, I am going to be pulled out to the side so that everyone can come on through. It’s one more tool in our arsenal of keeping your kids safe.”
Stuart and Pozatek discussed some of the key changes to the school calendar for next year. The most substantial is the addition of a full week break for staff and students in the fall and winter as opposed to shortened school weeks. By putting this into action, the School Board
hopes to decrease the number of students missing important class material. Board members plan to finalize the calendar in December.
“One of the things that I think we’re all on the same page about is that we want to make sure our students are getting continuous education,” Pozatek said. “I trust our principals and our teachers and our curriculum. They are the experts.”
The two continued to answer questions from the attendees before providing dates for upcoming meetings. Pozatek holds her next community meeting at Alpharetta High School on Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. Stuart’s next meeting will be at Roswell High School on Oct. 18 at 6 p.m.
For more information on these matters or upcoming community meetings, visit www.fultonschools.org.
To place garage sale ads: Noon Friday. Call 770-442-3278 or email classifieds@appenmediagroup.com
MILTON, Ga. — Milton will soon have a guide for the Deerfield District, one of the fastest growing areas in the city and an important part of its commercial tax base.
Darren Meyer, with the urban planning and development firm MKSK, updated the City Council Sept. 18 on the strategic master plan for the Ga. 9 and Windward Parkway corridors, which includes the Deerfield District.
The plan is a joint effort between the cities of Milton, and Alpharetta and the North Fulton Community Improvement District, a self-taxing organization focused on improving economic viability through infrastructure projects. The master plan will guide investments in transportation, green and other common public areas, as well as general support for local business.
After months of analysis and community outreach, Meyer described key takeaways: the need to improve mobility; provide more parks and open spaces; and create a sense of place with more vibrant retail options.
He also said there was an “abundant” demand for housing, including apartments and high-density townhomes. New housing would attract more employees to the Deerfield area, he said, where Milton’s top 10 employers are located.
“There’s going to be continued demand for folks that want to move and live in this community,” Meyer said. “It is one of the chief struggles, I would say, of elected officials and staff and others in working with that balance – how to preserve our heritage, the character of the place that
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Appen Media Group announced Sept. 18 that Hayden Sumlin will join its staff as a reporter. Sumlin will cover local governments and businesses in Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Roswell. He will report to Carl Appen, director of content and development, and he will be based in Alpharetta.
“It’s always great when we can get someone skilled on board who grew up in the area,” Appen said in a statement. “Hayden is bringing the drive and familiarity we need to dig deeper with that local coverage.”
Darren Meyer with the urban planning firm MKSK provides updates on an anticipated strategic master plan for the Ga. 9/Windward Parkway area to the City Council Sept. 18. The project, a partnership between Milton, Alpharetta and the North Fulton Community Improvement District, will guide various investments there.
we have while accommodating that future growth.”
Meyer said one of the key study areas of the plan is examining ways to integrate housing into the Deerfield District and how it relates to the community’s broader vision. The council is expected to review and adopt the Windward Parkway & Highway 9 Strategic Master Plan by the end of the year.
In other matters at the Sept. 18 meeting, the council adopted the fiscal year 2024 budget with no discussion or public comment. According to the consolidated budget summary, the city is anticipating $68.7 million in expenditures in the next fiscal year which begins Oct. 1.
METRO ATLANTA — As election season approaches, Appen Media and the Crier and Herald newspapers plan to offer readers a guide for getting to know the candidates.
In order to offer comprehensive and useful information, the news organization is seeking community input.
What topics do you care most about in local government? What would be a deciding factor for you when choosing an elected official? Is there a particular project you’d like them to take on? Perhaps an ongoing initiative you’d like to see the city execute differently? Help us understand your perspective and we
Advanced voting begins October 16.
The deadline to register is October 10.
can all advance toward a more informed community.
The goal is to have these questions answered as the window for early voting. That way you can go to the polls feeling more educated about your pick for city representation.
Those with questions or suggestions for the newsroom should send them to newsroom@appenmedia.com or fill out the form at appenmedia.com/vote.
Sumlin graduated from the University of Georgia Franklin College of Arts and Sciences in Decem -
ber 2022 with a major in philosophy. During his time at UGA, Sumlin took courses exploring analytical philosophy, continental philosophy and political science. After graduating, Sumlin held a newsroom internship with the Marietta Daily Journal.
“I am someone who is passionate about revitalizing American journalism,” Sumlin said. “Although I was not a Grady College student, I hope that my experience writing as an undergraduate and as an intern can translate well at Appen Media.”
To contact Sumlin with news tips or story ideas, email hayden@appenmedia.com.
Facts About Me
Breed: Lab mix
Color: Blonde/Tan
Age: 5 months
Size: (When Grown) Medium 60 Lbs
Weight: (Current) 28 Lbs.
Sex: Female
My Info
Good with dogs and kids Shots current Healthy Chipped & spayed
My Story
I’m searching for you, are you coming to adopt me?
Stella was found wandering around a busy road and rescued by a wonderful lady and brought to BCAR. She is full of personality, affection and loves to play. Stella has only been with us two weeks and has won the hearts of many of the volunteers. She is the happiest when around people and treats!
All BCAR dogs are placed as indoor family pets. No electric fences, please. Visit pets every Saturday 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (706-268-1346) or visit our website for adoption information at www.bigcanoeanimalrescue.org.
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.
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.
KEY DATES:
• 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.
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.
Continued from Page 1
through an open records request.
Over the course of two to three work days, the city and its third-party network security vendor InterDev concluded there had been no unauthorized access.
In order to create a dummy email, Krokoff said the user would have had to possess unauthorized access to the city’s system.
“It was from [Mohrig’s] email address,” Krokoff said. “It was in his ‘Sent’ folder.”
When asked about the level of certainty as to Mohrig’s authorship of the email, Krokoff said the city’s security team did not have the ability to track the signal sent between the user and Microsoft 365 due to Outlook’s cloud-based system, though there may be a method to do so.
“We just didn't have any information at that point leading us to believe that there was anything requiring us to do a further investigation,” Krokoff said.
Appen Media has questioned Mohrig about whether he had organized a campaign meeting involving Milton poll workers.
“I have never attended a meeting specifically for or with poll workers,” Mohrig said in an email. “However, I have participated in campaign meetings.”
He continued: “As confirmed by the city manager and the city attorney, it is essential to note that there are no restrictions on poll workers supporting any candidate. Therefore, any allegations or claims of wrongdoing against me, my campaign team, or my supporters are purely driven by political motives.”
Appen Media reached out to Mohrig again to confirm whether the Sept. 7 meeting in Crooked Creek actually occurred. Citing the police investigation, he declined to comment.
According to emails obtained in an open records request, Mohrig did not respond to the same question from other councilmembers.
While Krokoff observed what appeared to be a meeting while at the subdivision, he and Jamison said Mohrig still has not confirmed with them if it did take place.
‘The last straw’
Mohrig’s alleged hacking incident has served as the impetus for another, potential, investigation. If enacted, Jamison said it would go beyond the calendar invite and examine the larger election activities associated with Mohrig.
“I believe council has had ongoing concerns with some of the actions, including the hiring of the consultant, and other issues along those lines,” Jamison said. “I believe this was kind of the last straw.”
Appen Media earlier reported that Mohrig sent a number of personal requests to Krokoff to interview the city’s first election consultant, Vernetta Nuriddin, former vice chair of the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections. Nuriddin was fired in August without open council discussion.
But, in emails obtained by Appen Media, she admitted to regularly deleting city communications that would have been subject to open records requests. Records also showed that city staff called attention to Nuriddin’s misinterpretation of state election code on multiple occasions.
Krokoff described the subject of the potential investigation as “the totality,” to exceed Mohrig’s claim of being hacked. But he doesn’t know the full scope.
“I don’t know that it begins and ends with Rick,” he said.
Milton’s city charter grants the mayor authority to launch an investigation into the conduct of city affairs, but Jamison opted to solicit council support.
According to a Sept. 13 email, Councilwoman Carol Cookerly initiated the request that Krokoff investigate “this situation” following Mohrig’s persistent claim of being hacked, despite the city having concluded the contrary. Cookerly added concerns about city staff resources being “consumed to assist in what seems like a coverup – for whatever reason.”
In a responsive email later that afternoon, Councilwoman Juliette Johnson voiced her “full support” for the investigation.
“This issue was brought to us by Rick, himself,” Johnson wrote. “I would hate to see it fade away without repercussions like has happened with previous problems he has created.”
Jamison emphasized the uncertainty of conducting such an investigation because Milton Police are pursuing their own inquiry into Mohrig’s report that his city email account had been hacked.
Jamison said he wanted to wait to see what the police have to say, but also cautioned against wasting city resources.
“As of right now, taxpayer money is a big, big deal,” Jamison said. “City resources are a big, big deal, and I think that is something we need to be very cognizant of if [the council wants] to move forward with [the investigation.]”
Krokoff already expects that legal expenses for this election will more than exhaust the 10 percent contingency allocated within the city’s election budget, reported to be around $102,000.
But that’s not all.
In just the past two weeks, he said the city has had to hire several more poll workers after an internal mock election showed the need for more tabulators. An open mock election is expected to take place before Oct. 16 when early voting begins.
While Krokoff is typically more hands-on with Milton Police matters, he said he’s sitting out this time around because of recent accusations against him, “mostly by people outside of City Hall.”
“The only reason I'm interested in the outcome is so we can close this chapter and move on,” Krokoff said. “If the council wants to do something at that point, they can, but I am keeping very, very far from it.”
ROSWELL, Ga. –Roswell Reads, in partnership with Roswell Cultural Arts and Bookmiser, has chosen as its 2023 author selection William Kent Krueger. The New York Times bestselling author of “This Tender Land” and two dozen other works will be in Roswell for a pair of events Sept. 29 and 30.
Krueger who has penned five standalone novels and 19 Cork O’Connor mysteries, will discuss his just-released title, “The River We Remember,” at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. Tickets are $20 and are available online at roswellcac.showare.com/WilliamKentKrueger, by calling 770-594-6232 or at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center. Additionally, the first 100 ticket holders who order the novel from Bookmiser, 770-509-5611, will receive reserved priority seating.
Krueger’s second local appearance will
be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, when he will present a master writing class in conversation with George Weinstein, executive director of the Atlanta Writers Club, at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Road. Tickets are $13.50 and are available at roswellcac.showare. com/WritingWorkshopwithWilliamKentKrueger, by calling 770-594-6232 or at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center.
“The River We Remember,” released Sept. 5, is a complex, spellbinding mystery and a masterful portrait of midcentury American life. An unflinching look at the wounds left by the wars we fight abroad and at home. It is a moving exploration of the ways in which we seek to heal and a testament to the enduring power of the stories we tell about home.
Since 2005, Roswell Reads has been promoting the value of reading, literacy and lifelong learning through the shared community-wide experience of reading and discussing a common book. Roswell Reads is a program of Friends of the Roswell Library. For more information, go to RoswellReads.com.
Name: EMCARE2U
Founder: Dr. Phindile Erika Chowa, MD
Description: EMCARE2U is a medical concierge company that helps relieve the challenges patients encounter when accessing medical care. We bring care to our clients, whether that is in their home, office or via telemedicine. We specialize in urgent care visits, post-operative care, post-partum care, and nutrition services. Our team has a combined experience of over 100 years.
Opened: July 2023
Phone: 800-265-6689
Address: Atlanta, GA
Website: www.emcare2u.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty is moving to Avalon in fall 2024, according to the brokerage.
"This strategic decision reflects our commitment to providing the highest level of service and accessibility to our valued clients" according to David Boehmig, President and Co-Founder.
Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty reports a team of over 575 professionals equipped to guide clients through their real estate
journey.
Over the years, they served 4,400 clients and achieved $4.3 billion in home sales.
The new home at 8000 Avalon is a modern office building featuring premium surroundings and amenities. With over 77 retail experiences, more than 15 chef-driven restaurants, and a full-service hotel and conference center just a quick stroll away, the agency expects to offer visitors a truly immersive and convenient experience.
The move symbolizes a commitment to staying at the forefront of the real estate industry, fostering growth, innovation, and personalized service for clients, according to the brokerage.
Following a flurry of appearances by nationally acclaimed authors, October’s book events in North Fulton and Forsyth counties focus mostly on local writers.
And few Atlanta-area groups have more of a hyperfocus on hometown talent than A Novel Idea. Since 2015, ANI has supported experienced or emerging local writers by providing professional settings, promotions and book sales for author events.
ANI’s October function – a six-person presentation in Alpharetta – showcases the group’s newest undertaking: A launch initiative in collaboration with the Atlanta Writers Club. AWC members with new or recent releases are welcome to pitch them at one of ANI’s supper club-styled celebrations, where Bookmiser has copies to purchase. Currently held at Alpharetta’s Brimstone Restaurant and Tavern, the evenings start early with attendees dining and end with authors signing.
Thanks to ANI, readers need never stray far from home to hear about new releases from nearby authors.
Details about ANI’s Oct. 24 event and other upcoming book activities include:
Saturday, Oct. 7, Chika Unigwe. The multi-award winner will discuss her April release, "The Middle Daughter.” Noon. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770232.9331. www.read-it-again.com
Saturday, Oct. 7, Carlie Walker. Mix and mingle book launch with the author of “The Takedown.” 2 p.m. Free. Bookmiser, 3822 Roswell Road, Marietta. 770-509-5611. bookmiser. net/book-events.html
Saturday, Oct. 7, Sarah Holley. The professional speaker will weigh in on her new release, "Jesus, the Ultimate Ladies’ Man." 2 p.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232.9331. www.read-itagain.com
Thursday, Oct. 12, Fr. Charles L. Blanchard. A conversation with the author of “The Seeds of Self-Destruction or Success.” 5 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Saturday, Oct. 14, Rosalind and Maggie Bunn. Book launch for the
mother-daughter duo behind the “All Aboard” series, including “All Aboard, Tennessee!” State trivia and munchies. 11 a.m. Free. Bookmiser, 3822 Roswell Road, Marietta. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/bookevents.html
Saturday, Oct. 14, Piper Huguley. A meet and greet with the author of “By Her Own Design,” the story of Ann Lowe, a Black woman and granddaughter of slaves who designed and created Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress. Noon. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-7975566. Poeandcompanybookstore. com
Saturday, Oct. 14, MJ Pankey. Pankey will speak about her new title, "Epic of Helinthia.” 2 p.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232.9331. www.read-itagain.com
Saturday, Oct. 14, Acworth Book Festival. Presented by Acworth Cultural Arts, the 40-author event will feature many North Fulton and Forsyth writers. 10 a.m. Rosenwald School, 4410 Cherokee St., Acworth. acworthculturalarts.org
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2024 Book Club Preview. An event highlighting Penguin Publishing’s upcom -
ing must-reads, hosted by Atlanta Authors Series and presented by Bookmiser. 2 p.m. Free. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. 770-509-5611. forl.net/ atlanta-authors
Saturday, Oct. 21, Laura Elizabeth. The author will sign “All is Now Lost: A Cozy Mystery Rooted in the South Carolina Lowcountry.” 2 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Tuesday, Oct. 24, Six Authors’ Book Launch. Presented by A Novel Idea, Dr. Martha Boone, Mark Beaver, Anne Echols, Aishah Hight, Brynn Barineau and Aysha Treadwell will launch new titles during a fun night of dining and discussion. Bookmiser will have copies of their books available to purchase. 7 p.m. Free. Brimstone Restaurant & Tavern, 10595 Old Alabama Road, Alpharetta. 770509-5611. anovelidea.us
Wednesday, Oct. 25, Delilah Dawson. Days before Halloween, Dawson will discuss her new young adult novel, “Midnight at the Houdini,” about a magical hotel. 7 p.m. Free. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Pkwy Suite B500, Johns Creek. 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com
Thursday, Oct. 26, Ken Holden. Bring your dog in costume for photos with the author of the “Maia’s Whimsical Adventures” books. 5 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com.
Sunday, Oct. 29, How to Talk Like Shakespeare Workshop. Amanda Rountree, improv teacher, storyteller, writer and puppeteer, will lead a fun workshop with Shakespearethemed games and exercises to teach adults the difference between “thees” and “thous.” 5:30 p.m. $40. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232.9331. www.read-itagain.com
Coming up:
Tuesday, Nov. 7, “Operation Tailwind: A Marine’s Experience in the Vietnam War.” Celebrating Veterans Day, local author and former Marine Barry Pencek will recall serving as a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. Free. 6:30 p.m. Sharon Forks Library, 2820 Old Atlanta Road, Cumming. 770-781-9840. forsythpl. org/event/8834281
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@ gmail.com by the 15th.
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.
He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 18 years experience as a Dermatology PA. We are excited to welcome her, as she brings with her experience in general dermatology and cosmetic dermatology.
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.
Tragically, Jimmy Buffett, the famous singer-songwriter, recently passed away of a skin cancer. It has been reported that he died of Merkel cell carcinoma, a very rare skin cancer, and many patients have been asking me about this cancer since his passing.
The good news is that Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is rare. Only about 3,000 cases are diagnosed each year in the United States, which is in contrast to about 100,000 cases of melanoma diagnosed each year.
Merkel cell carcinoma is named after the “Merkel cell” – a type of cell at the end of nerve endings in our skin and involved in our sense of touch.
Merkel cell carcinoma is likely so rare because Merkel cells themselves are rare, and it’s an odds or numbers game that drives skin cancer in most cases. Most of your skin is made up of keratinocytes – a cell type that stacks on itself, overlaps like bricks and makes up most of your skin. When keratinocytes become cancer, they make basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. In contrast, Merkel cells are scattered near nerve endings in our skin and make up a very small proportion of the cells in the epidermis.
KathrynImagine that sunshine in the form of ultraviolet rays is hitting your skin. Each ray has a chance of causing a mutation in the wrong gene in the cell that the ray of light happens to strike. You have a LOT more keratinocytes than you do Merkel cells, so the chance of a ray of UV light causing cancer in a keratinocyte is much higher than of a ray of light causing a bad mutation in a Merkel cell.
Some people are afraid of Merkel cell carcinoma because the tumor of a Merkel cell carcinoma is often a pink bump on the skin, and people have been trained to notice the brown or black growth of a melanoma but ignore a new pink bump. However, some melanomas are pink instead of brown or black. These pink melanomas are called “amelanotic melanomas”. In the past year, I have seen four cases of amelanotic melanoma
and one Merkel cell carcinoma. We shouldn’t ignore any new or changing bumps regardless of whether they are brown, black, pink, red, or any other color under the Sun. If you’re not sure what the new growth on your body is, have it evaluated by a medical professional. When in doubt, check it out.
From a scientific perspective, perhaps the most interesting feature of Merkel cell carcinoma is the role that a virus plays in its development. Up to 80% of cases are caused at least in part by infection with the Polyomavirus. This virus infects at least fifty percent of children by age ten and almost everyone by age twenty and usually appears to be a benign infection. At the moment, it appears unavoidable to become infected with this virus, and infection usually appears to have no negative consequences. We don’t get “sick” from it, and there’s no reason the average person would ever be tested for it. However, ultraviolet light, a failing immune system and infection with the polyomavirus account for the majority of Merkel cell carcinoma cases. The primary medicines used to treat Merkel cell carcinoma work by stimulating the immune system and making one’s own white blood cells better able to fight both infections and cancers. These “immunotherapy” medicines are a smart strategy given that Merkel cell carcinoma is usually both an infection and a cancer.
Like most cancers, Merkel cell carcinoma often has an excellent prognosis when caught early. The cure rate for Merkel cell carcinoma is higher than 75% when caught at its earliest stage. For the average person, Jimmy Buffett’s passing from Merkel cell carcinoma serves to reinforce the importance of already common behavior: If you have a history of sun exposure and risk factors, receive a regular skin exam; perform self-checks, and have a professional evaluate new or changing growths regardless of what color they are. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If we are conscientious and treat our problems early, we can all enjoy a few more cheeseburgers in this paradise before moving on to the next one.
As Suicide Awareness Month ends, it’s crucial to recognize the hidden struggles faced by empty nesters. This phase, marked by children leaving home, can bring profound emotional challenges. Research shows that empty nesters face higher rates of depression, with studies indicating that up to 20% experience significant symptoms.
Understanding the signs of suicide in older adults is essential:
• Verbal clues: Expressing thoughts of burden and the desire to end life or stating clear intentions of suicide.
• Behavioral clues: Prior suicide attempts or preparations, mood changes indicative of depression, giving away posses-
sions or making final arrangements, and shifts in coping mechanisms like religious interests or substance use. Some actions may indicate a sense of preparation.
• Situational clues: Major life changes, loss of significant relationships, serious illness, fear of becoming a burden, and financial insecurity are risk factors for suicide.
These signs should never be ignored. Early intervention and support are crucial to addressing these challenges. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or reach out to Summit Counseling Center at www.summitcounseling. org for a confidential session. Remember, you’re not alone, and help is just a call away. Together, we can find hope and strength.
7:00
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 August 31,2023, at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.
Rohan Srivatsa, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church, whose project was the design and construction of three picnic tables at Bell Road Park.
Nikhil Perera, of Troop 1717, sponsored by Cross of Life Lutheran Church, whose project was the design and construction of 15 custom food dollies, installing the dollies in a first-in first-out system to help better organize the pantry and then holding a food drive for the North Fulton County Charites and a food drive collecting 1,185 items.
Om Patel, of Troop 629, sponsored by Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of two custom-built electric wheelchairs for two children in need.
Jack Janco, of Troop 431, sponsored by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of four garden table planters on casters to allow for wheelchair or limited mobility participation in the Giving Garden at Roswell United Methodist Church.
Lakshan C Kumar, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church, whose project was the design and construction of two benches and the restoration of five existing benches and tables for the North American Shirdi Sai Temple of Atlanta.
Nikolia S. Hagen, of Troop 432, sponsored by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the renovation of pathways by removal the old, crushed gravel material and installing a paver stone flush to the ground. Efforts also included installation of a drainage pipe with a square water intake for the Saints Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene Greek Orthodox Church.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Public Library system will host the 26th annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival Sept. 28-Oct. 8.
The festival will feature 10 short films that qualify for the 2024 Oscar Awards. The finalists include “Sunless,” “The Family Circus” and “Career Day” from the United States; “Voice Activated” from Australia; “Yellow” from Afghanistan; and “Tuulikki” from Finland.
“Snail” from Iran, “The Record” from Switzerland, “The Stupid Boy” from the United Kingdom and “Soleil De Nuit” from Canada will also be shown at the festival. The 10 short films will be presented together
over six days at libraries across the county.
Forsyth County Public Library Programming Manager Kim Ottesen said audiences will judge the short films and vote on the Best Film and Best Actor awards.
“MANHATTAN SHORT is for anyone who loves movies, the Oscars, or the feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself,” Ottesen said. The films will be shown together for a runtime and voting period of roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes. Admission to the event is free and open to the public. Library staff said the program is for adult audiences. — Shelby Israel
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Wire and Wood organizers have named more than 30 performers for the 10th annual songwriters festival in downtown Alpharetta Oct. 13-14.
Friday acts include the Atlanta Songwriters Round with Eliot Bronson, Matthew Kahler and Connelly Crowe; Bee Taylor; Ben Bostick; Brother Mojo; Funk You; and Hughes Taylor.
Lauren Morrow, Marc Broussard, Mike Kinnebrew, Pasadena, Rissi Palmer, Sans Abri, Sasha Hurtado, Sophie Gault, Soulhound and The Madame Vega will also perform Friday.
Saturday performances include Abe Partridge, followed by the Ansley Stewart Trio, Bri Luv, Cat Ridgeway, Cody Marlowe and the Dead Flowers, Cicada Rhythm, Dusty Roads, Gibson Wilbanks, Joelton Mayfield, John Paul White, Liz Kate and Mildly Aggressive Folk.
Performances on Saturday conclude with The Nashville Songwriters Round with Michael Logen, Emily Earle and Jeff Cohen; Nicolas Edward Williams;
This article is an update to the previous lineup Appen Media ran in July.
Rosey; SUSTO; The Future Babes; The Honky Collective; The New Respects and Walden.
The festival will be preceded by a free kick-off concert on The Plaza at Avalon featuring Lilly Winwood and Joslyn and The Sweet Compression from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 12.
During the festival, Music Match will highlight local musicians at participating businesses downtown in partnership with Wire and Wood.
Roaring Social will host a ticketed Listening Room at 3 p.m. Oct. 14 featuring Angie Aparo. The Listening Room has limited capacity, and all proceeds from the $30 tickets will benefit the Music Match program.
Tickets for the Listening Room are available at wireandwoodalpharetta.com.
— Shelby Israel
CITY OF ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED
This map shows the 304 parcels in the city, highlighted in green, that are in agricultural zoning districts. Proposed Unified Development Code changes would allow the 256 agricultural properties that are considered residential to operate a shortterm rental.
By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta City Council is considering its first ordinance that would regulate shortterm rentals in the city.
City Attorney Molly Esswein presented the item for discussion Sept. 18 at a work session. Esswein drafted the proposed amendments, which she said were based on Forsyth County code. With Lake Lanier rentals drawing crowds, Forsyth County has taken the lead on the issue.
The proposed regulations include revisions to the Alpharetta Unified Development Code to allow shortterm rentals if an applicant receives a conditional use permit for a property in an agriculture zoning district.
Of the 304 properties zoned agricultural in Alpharetta, 256 are classified as residential property, and they would qualify to operate a shortterm rental moving forward.
“The UDC revision would apply, going forward only, you would have to consider, with the grandfathering issue,” she said. “And that would
mean that if someone has been operating as a short-term rental up until this point, we would need to determine how we would want to move forward with them.”
She said property owners who can prove they have been lawfully operating a short-term rental can apply for a permit, even if the operation was not on agricultural property. These homeowners would still require a license.
The city would also revise its Code of Ordinances to require a license and operational requirements for shortterm rentals.
The proposal comes after the rise of rental brokers such as Airbnb and Vrbo, popular alternatives to traditional hotels that allow guests to rent a privately owned property.
The UDC updates would define short-term rentals as accommodations that are rented by guests for fewer than 30 days and set conditional use permit requirements based on size, location and occupancy.
Ultimately, the code changes
See ORDINANCE, Page 15
Continued from Page 14
would enable the city to monitor and regulate short-term rental activity by requiring an annual license that would establish qualifications and the ability to revoke the license or impose penalties for violations.
City Finance Director Tom Harris said Airbnb and Vrbo short-term rentals in Alpharetta contribute some $15,000 monthly in hotel-motel excise taxes. If the proposal is later approved, individual short-term rental owners would also be regulated.
Mayor Jim Gilvin said he initiated drafting the proposed changes after hearing frrom Alpharetta residents who expressed concerns about the inability to regulate short-term rentals in their neighborhoods.
“It’s not just that they can’t do it,” Gilvin said. “It’s that it’s easier for a governmental entity to enforce it in a city than it is for each individual neighborhood to try to enforce that. Some of these neighborhoods are large; some are small; some of them have resources; and some of them really do not.”
He said the ordinance and code changes have been three or four years in the making.
Councilmembers were ultimately supportive of the proposal. Mayor Pro Tem Dan Merkel and councilmen Doug DeRito and Donald Mitchell agreed
the city should address the growing interest in short-term rentals.
Merkel and DeRito said the regulations could address the issue of property management companies buying homes rather than private citizens.
“Corporate buying houses for rental is a big thing,” Merkel said. “It’s happening now, and I think this is an opportunity for us to get ahead of it.”
DeRito expressed concerns about the city’s ability to enforce the codes.
But Councilman Brian Will said the creation of new regulations could be government oversight to address the issue of a minority of Alpharetta residents.
Will noted a subdivision could adopt its own regulation on short-term rentals, and while Esswein agreed, she emphasized such regulations would not be possible for residents who do not have homeowners associations.
“And so, we as a city are creating an entire new bureaucracy, which is going to require enforcement, to do something that only a few people are asking to be done,” Will said. “And that, in my opinion, is not our job.”
The proposed ordinance and UDC amendments are subject to change pending future discussion by the City Council.
At the regular meeting that followed the work session, Gilvin recognized the Daughters of the American Revolution Patriots of Liberty chapter and proclaimed Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week.
PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Above: From left, Lakshana Ramanan, Neha Gurram, Maggie Dowd, Sana Fatima and David Cooper are Student Leadership Johns Creek members who handed out surveys to dog owners about the impact of pet waste on the city’s waterways at Pup-a-Palooza Sept. 16. At left: Rebecca Ferrante’s two dogs, Avery and Molly, are dressed as lions for Pup-a-Palooza Sept. 16. Avery, a chihuahua mix, was recently bitten in the eye by a copperhead while walking in Ferrante’s Roswell neighborhood and was rushed to an emergency animal hospital where she was treated with anti-venom.
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — In an effort to improve the city’s water quality, five inspired students capitalized on Johns Creek’s Pup-a-Palooza by handing out surveys to dog owners relaying the importance of waste disposal.
Despite the rain, around 200 people attended the event at Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater in Newtown Park Sept. 16. Pup-a-Palooza, which has been around for a decade, had contests for
Best Dressed Dog and Best Dog Trick in addition to vendors selling dog treats and dog-themed goods. There were also nonprofit animal rescues looking for those willing to foster and adopt.
But while dog enthusiasts made their way around the market, so did members of Student Leadership Johns Creek, a two-year emerging leadership program for high school students. They handed out brochures about the city’s stormwater system as well as a
See PET, Page 17
Continued from Page 16
survey, developed after meeting with Johns Creek city staff about solutions to elevated E. coli levels in the city’s beloved waterways.
According to one Watershed Stormwater Master Plan completed this year for Johns Creek, pet waste is likely the leading cause of fecal coliform pollution.
Neha Gurram, a junior at Northview High School, said the survey asked dog owners how often they dispose of their pet waste and what the city could do to make the effort more possible. Pup-aPalooza was their first outreach and education event for the project.
“The results are really leaning towards the city installing more pet waste stations,” Gurram said. “A lot of residents are not happy with how many there are right now.”
Lakshana Ramanan, a senior at Fulton County Schools Innovation Academy, said the group chose the community project once they realized how big of an issue pet waste can be for the environment. Ramanan said pet waste, if it isn’t discarded properly, goes in the city’s stormwater drains and affects waterways used for drinking water.
“It’s a local issue that affects people in the community,” Ramanan said. “We wanted to start on the ground level and establish a foundation, like, ‘This is what needs to be done to make sure that our city is beautiful.’”
FRIDAY, SEPT. 29, 8:30 p.m. – “Sinatra & Friends”
Featuring Dr. Patrick Sallarulo as Frank Sinatra, Sheri Winkelmann as Marilyn Monroe, and Mark Phillips as Dean Martin
Visit www.legion201.org/events for details
SATURDAY, SEPT. 30, 8 p.m. – Laughter at the Legion
“Married with Laughter” featuring Jeff Norris & Renee DeLorenzo Tickets available online or at the Clubroom/Bar Visit www.legion201.org/events for details
FRIDAY, OCT. 6, 8:30 p.m. – The Simply Awesome Band
A Night of Smooth Jazz! Blues! R&B! Oldies and More! Visit www.legion201.org/events for details
DANCES & DANCE INSTRUCTION
Dances: Friday, Saturday & Sunday Evenings
Line Dance Instruction: Monday & Friday Mornings; Wednesday Evening
Free Dance Lessons: Thursday Evening (Donations Accepted for Troops & Veterans Services)
For Complete Details Visit: www.club201dance.com/calendar
ROSWELL, Ga. — Zach Fields, vice president of the non-profit Construction Ready’s K12 program, prepped a class of about 20 students at Roswell High School recently to construct headers – boards placed above doorways and windows.
“You do not want them to fall on your grandma, first of all,” Fields, sporting a measuring tape on his front pocket, told the class. “We got to make sure that doesn’t happen. We got to build things the right way.”
When a teacher resigned at the beginning of the school year, the program’s 100 students were left to a rotating roster of substitute teachers assigning book work, rather than hands-on projects.
Fields stepped in during the second week of classes, leading sessions almost every day to fill the role. He’s with the nonprofit Construction Ready, whose mission is to provide statewide support to educational programs in the architecture and construction career sector.
Support could mean teacher training, connecting programs to industry partners and providing materials, and in rare cases, providing a teacher. Construction Ready serves 20,000 students across 200 workforce development programs.
Construction education support extends to the elementary school level. Fields said there are 600 students a year taking construction at Mountain Park Elementary School, and some of those kids go on to participate in the program at Roswell High.
“There’s just so much joy in building and creating something,” Fields said.
That day, Fields broke students into groups to begin their work constructing headers. Students measured and cut wood, using an industrial saw, in the school’s construction lab – a recent addition to the campus. In the past, students worked from trailers outside.
Jeric Rogers, 15, is in his second year in the construction education program.
“I just like working with my hands,” Rogers said. “It’s fun.”
His favorite project so far is a shed his class built last year. It took about a month to make.
Rogers’ classmate, 16-year-old Nicky Scedon, said the same. Scedon is not a resident of Roswell, but he attends Roswell High to participate in the construction program.
Fields said industry problems benefit young people, like Rogers and Scedon. Construction Ready was founded in 1993, when industry leaders around the state saw an imminent workforce shortage. The shortage hurts other sectors, like hospitals and schools, Fields said, and it increases
the cost and timeline of development projects.
Skilled trade workers are aging out, Fields said, with around 40 percent retiring within 10 years.
“We’re doing everything we can to fix that issue, to tackle that issue,” Fields said.
See more photos at appenmedia.com/milton
Continued from Page 1
“The Milton Historical Society has had a great harvest this year,” Dufresne said, recognizing the organization’s members, but also anticipating the next day, when the Milton City Council would accept a donation of the McConnell-Chadwick House for preservation.
Last November, Appen Media reported the historic home’s placement on the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual list of 10 ‘Places in Peril,’ and the structure’s biggest threats – its physical condition and location along Arnold Mill Road, one of Milton’s busier highways.
Dufresne also described the significance of national Constitution Day, the same day when framers signed the Constitution in 1787. Color guards from a local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, dressed in colonial attire, presented the colors to commemorate the federal holiday.
The flag presentation was followed by a performance by Kristen Sweitzer, of the Atlanta Opera, who sang “God Bless America.” Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison also read a proclamation recognizing Constitution Day, with Councilwoman Carol Cookerly beside him.
The Sons set up one of a few new booths on the site. Members of a local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) also shared information about their organization at the Shindig for the first time.
“Our mission is the promotion of patriotism, the promotion of educating our children, as well as American history preservation,” said Debra Kielly, member of DAR’s Patriots of Liberty Chapter.
The group also works with Wreaths Across America for eight local cemeteries, including Pineview in Alpharetta.
New exhibits were inside the area’s barn. One featured collections of materials, detailing the family histories of local figures William “Billy” S. Bates and Aubrey Morris.
Genevieve Brown, a laboratory scientist for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, also showcased her personal collection of fossils which included whale vertebrae and ear bone. She shared a recent archaeological discovery out of Peru, the biggest whale ever known – the Perucetus colossus.
“It kind of looks like a really fat manatee,” Brown said with excitement.
Our mission is the promotion of patriotism, the promotion of educating our children, as well as American history preservation.”
DEBRA KIELLY Member ofDAR’s Patriots
ofLiberty
Chapter
A woman completes a full split in a performance of “Cabaret” at the Senior Talent Show at Sexton Hall Sept. 16. Hosted by Forsyth County Senior Services and Age Well Forsyth, the show is a Georgia Recreation and Parks Association production, open to participants across the state ages 50 and older.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A talent show for seniors, ages “50 and better,” pushed the audience to re-conceptualize what an older demographic is capable of.
More than 200 people attended the Sept. 16 juried Senior Talent Show, a Georgia Recreation and Parks Association production hosted by Forsyth County Senior Services and the nonprofit Age Well Forsyth.
Ruthie Brew, director of Senior Services, welcomed the crowd.
“This is a celebration of the remarkable talents that flourish with age and experience,” Brew said.
The event, held at Sexton Hall, was interactive with emcee Tanita CookNelson encouraging the audience to move. There was dancing, clapping along to tunes and a lot of laughter
throughout.
Awards were given in each of the show’s three categories – Comedy, Music and Dance. And, the performances were rich in cultural diversity, from traditional Asian instrumentation to Indian folk dancing.
A group named “Senior Moments” were the Grand Champions of the talent show. For its dance performance “Old Folks,” three people entered the stage taking on the stereotypical behavior of seniors — slow moving, rigid, humorless.
But that soon changed when one woman, some 70 years old, ripped off her nightgown to reveal a sparkly cabaret outfit as other performers entered and danced with gusto. This same woman was in a two-person performance, the second-place winner for Music. For this act, she did a full split.
In 2022, Appen Media Group created the Appen Press Club, its mission driven news division dedicated to creating a sustainable infrastructure for local journalism in the north metro Atlanta area. Residents of that community, like you, join the Press Club by committing to small monthly or annual dues, 100% of which is dedicated to producing reliable, professional journalism on local issues that affect your lives.
Big Sky Franchise Team
Amour & Duane Carthy
Kerry Arias
Scott Baynton
James Bennett
Adam Corder
Robert Flint
Robin Fricton
Roderick Liptrot
Alpharetta Lions Club
Omar Altalib
Ron Altman
American Legion Post 201
Barbara Anderson
Mary Asbury
Barbara Bauschka
Kathy Beck
Bill Bentley
Leslie Berry
Tom Billings
Ron Boddicker
Jodi Bogen
Debra Bowen
DutchCrafters Amish Furniture
Joe Bowen
Erendira Brumley
Mike & Theresa Buscher
Mary Busman
Gary Butterfield
Clea Calloway
Amy Bergin
Rita Brown
Mark Casas
David Conti
Charlcie Forehand
Tom McMurrain
Bob Meyers
Ross & Lori Ramsey
Kim Truett
Carla Campbell
Kirk Canaday
James Carr
Bridgette Carter
William Cartwright
Pat Check
Christopher Cleary
Ann Coaloa
Evelyn Collazo
Michael Mackenzie
Communications
Joan Compton
Terri Coons
David Davis
Rebecca Donlan
Tom Driscoll
Michael Dudgeon
Mim Eisenberg
Danny Elkins
Martha Fasse
Lee Fleck
Cathy Flynn
Nanci Foster
Amy Frederick
Kelly Frommer
Carol Fry
Tracey Ganesh
John Gilberto
Leslie Gilliam
Michelle Glotzbach
Harvey Goldberg
Christopher Goodrich
Marilee Hamilton
Susan Hanna
Joe Hirsch
Penn Hodge
Dianne & Steffan Holmquist
Joan Hostetter
Lynn Johnson
Tyler Jones
Arthur Kebanli
Mark Kelly
Marie Gualtiere
Vickie McElroy
Allison Kloster
Larry Krueger
Jess & Chris Kysar
Malinda Lackey
Ken Leffingwell
Carol Lehan
Bonnie Lind
Francia Lindon
Harlan Little
Ross Long
Rita Loventhal
Momma Nature Madan
Karen Magill
Kyile Marshall
Valerie Matthews
Rachel McCord
Austin McCully
Lynn McIntyre
Mike McLoughlin
Jennifer Mendoza
Al Merrill
Anne Peer
Robert Popp
Carol Williams
Chris Miller
Christine Miller
Fred Moeller
Carol Morgan
Kathy Morgan
Stu Moring
Jack Murphy
Tricia Novarro
Bob O’Brien
Joy Pooler
Debra Powell
Righteous PR
Chuck Pugh
Ashwin Ramaswami
Cheryl Rand
Jan Satterfield
Stephanie Schuette
Susan Searles
Tina Shelton
Lisa Shippel
Joanne Simmons
Cindy Simpson
Faye Sklar
Judith Slaughter
Andy Smith
Wesley Stewart
Cathryn Stovall
Celeste Strohl
Mike Tasos
Candice Teichert
Lisa Tilt
Michael Townes
Matthew Tyser
Ollie Wagner
Lewis Walker
Jonathan Washburn
Sally White
Jamie Wimberly
Nancy & Dave Wistrand
What: Every Thursday through October, this event features several food trucks and live music.
When: Thursday, Sept. 28, 5-9 p.m.
Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody
More info: facebook.com/ dunwoodyfoodtruckthursdays
What: Bring your lawn blankets and chair to see Radio 80’s Band cover the greatest hits from the decade. Tents as well as outside food and alcoholic beverages are not allowed. Friendly dogs on a leash are welcome.
When: Friday, Sept. 29, 7-9 p.m.
Where: Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road, Cumming
More info: cummingcitycenter.com
What: In its debut, this free festival will have an artist market and live music of different genres on multiple stages. There will also be food and beverages, a Kids Zone and a Sports Zone with a video wall.
When: Friday & Saturday, Sept. 29-30, times vary
Where: City Springs, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs
More info: sandyspringsga.gov
MILTON
What: Every Saturday morning through October, more than a dozen vendors set up shop around Milton City Hall with fresh produce, fresh meat, sweets, coffee and tea, flowers, soaps, jewelry and more.
When: Saturday, Sept. 30, 8:30 a.m.12:30 p.m.
Where: Milton City Hall plaza, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton
More info: facebook.com/ miltongafarmersmarket
JOHNS CREEK LITERARY FAIR
What: The inaugural Johns Creek Literary Fair will feature more than 30 authors hailing from the southeast and around the country.
When: Sunday, Oct. 1, 12-5 p.m.
Where: Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater at Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama
What: Every Saturday morning through October, more than a dozen vendors set up shop around Milton City Hall with fresh produce, fresh meat, sweets, coffee and tea, flowers, soaps, jewelry and more.
When: Saturday, Sept. 30, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Where: Milton City Hall plaza, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton More info: facebook.com/ miltongafarmersmarket
Road, Johns Creek
More info: johnscreekga.gov
‘THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE’
What: Based on Kate DiCamillo’s awardwinning novel, and adapted by Dwayne Hartford, this play takes the audience on an unexpected magical journey to discover the transformative powers of love, featuring a china rabbit named Edward Tulane.
When: Saturday, Oct. 7, 11 a.m.
Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell
Cost: $12
More info: roswell365.com
What: Benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and free to the Public, this event will feature rare cars, boats, bikes and more with vendors both automotive and art themed. There will
It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people, whether online, through our newsletters or in the Crier and Herald newspapers.
also be Coffee Barista, snow cones, a photo booth and face painting.
When: Saturday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street, Roswell
More info: atlmotoringfest.org
What: Milton’s annual festival transforms Crabapple Road into a bustling market featuring more than 100 antique and art vendors, fair rides and food.
When: Saturday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Crabapple Road, Milton
More info: miltonga.gov
What: Winner of nine Tony Awards when it debuted in 1964, “Fiddler on the Roof” is set in the little village of Anatevka and centers on Tevye, a poor milkman, and his five daughters. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with
easy steps:
traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing antiSemitism of Czarist Russia.
When: Oct. 6-22, times vary
Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs
Cost: $42 to $130
More info: cityspringstheatre.com
What: Based on the book, this play is about Mitch, who catches Morrie’s appearance on a television show 16 years after graduation. He learns that his old professor is battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Mitch is reunited with Morrie, and what starts as a simple visit turns into a weekly pilgrimage and a last class in the meaning of life.
When: Until Oct. 15, times vary
Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: Adults are $28; students are $20; kids are $15
More info: stagedoortheatrega.org
and Houze Road. The first log cabin church and cemetery were built the following year on Houze Road. Circa 1840, the church built a clapboard sanctuary at the Ga. 9/Holcomb Bridge junction. In 1994, the city paid $1.8 million for the church property when the congregation was making plans to move to a new location on Crabapple Road.
Trying to research the history of the Lebanon community in North Fulton is a little like trying to research Glocca Morra, the mystical Irish village hidden from view in the Finian’s Rainbow 1947 Broadway play and 1968 movie. We know that the Lebanon we are discussing today was real, but it left few traces of its existence. It is known that it was an important commercial community in the early 1800s centered around Vickery Creek (today’s Big Creek) on today’s Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell and that early settlers depended on Lebanon for goods and services. We also know that Lebanon was at some point absorbed into Roswell most likely circa 1932 when Milton County and Roswell merged into Fulton County.
First, a little history. In 1828, gold was discovered in Dahlonega which attracted settlers, prospectors and merchants to the area. In the gold lottery which began in October 1832 and ended in May 1833, the State of Georgia distributed lands to eligible white residents. In December 1832, the huge Cherokee County was divided into 10 smaller counties. One of them was Cobb County which included Roswell, Lebanon and the surrounding area. These developments interested pioneers such as businessman Roswell King. In May 1838, he bought land to establish a textile mill that was incorporated in 1839 as the Roswell Manufacturing Company. The company was very successful. He offered home sites and investment opportunities to his friends and associates from coastal Georgia. King and his friends constructed impressive homes for themselves, cottages and apartments for mill workers, and a school for children.
The city of Roswell’s growth has been well documented over the years, but not nearly as much is known about Lebanon, even though it was a thriving crossroads community that predated Roswell and was quite large. It extended roughly from where Big Creek goes under Holcomb Bridge Road near Ga. 400 to Ga. 9 and then north for more than a mile.
The centerpiece of the community was a general store operated by brothers Clark Howell (1811-1882) and Archibald Howell (1814-1903). The store provided credit to some 300 families in the Roswell area including Roswell King. Lebanon was selected for
a U.S. Post Office in 1833, a few months after Alpharetta’s post office was opened and before Roswell obtained its post office.
In 1858 the Lebanon postal designation was changed to Alpharetta after the area became Milton County the previous year, perhaps a sign that Alpharetta and Roswell would become the dominant communities.
Near the Lebanon post office was a cotton gin owned by Robert Thompson, great-great grandfather of Aubrey Morris, celebrated reporter for many years with the Atlanta Journal and WSB radio who was born in Lebanon.
Lebanon also boasted a grist mill, sawmill, tannery and blacksmith shop. A bridge at Big Creek burned down in 1909, according to Linda Mansell Martin whose book, “The Great Generation of Mansell’s of North Georgia,” chronicles the history of the family.
There was also a great deal of activity at the other end of the Lebanon community where today’s Ga. 9 and Holcomb Bridge Road intersect. At the corner, perched on a hill was the Lebanon Baptist Church. The church was organized in 1836 by Amariah Hembree who lived near Hembree Road
In 1998, a controversy arose about the church property’s future, which by then was in the center of a thriving commercial district. A citizens group wanted to refurbish the church to create “an oasis of beauty” in the midst of commercial development. Aubrey Morris was quoted in the Atlanta Constitution as saying “It’s absolutely essential to save this church and establish it as an historic park…It is the bedrock of Roswell history. It would be sad if dollars carry more weight than history.”
The city maintained that the land was too valuable and sold the property, illustrating the age-old struggle between historic preservation and economic development. In 1996, the church purchased 28 acres on Crabapple Road which is its current home.
Ga. 9 north of Holcomb Bridge Road developed into significant farms and related businesses largely thanks to Robert Henry Mansell (1873-1950) who owned a 700-acre farm between the Holcomb Bridge/Ga. 9 intersection and Houze Road. Around 1948, Robert and his wife Maude Dorris Mansell (1883-1977) divided the land among their children who operated farms and various businesses along Ga. 9, including Sun Valley Beach Park founded by Joe Mansell (1906-1997). The Mansell Brothers Feeds store was operated by brothers Walton (19121990)-and CB (1916-2004) Mansell at Ga. 9 and Houze Road. They also owned Egg Acres across the street. Linda M. Martin notes that Robert H. Mansell, his son-in-law Jason Henry Matthews (1894-1983) and brother James Howell Mansell (1877-1970) owned the Lebanon Cotton Gin and Lumber Company at the “Lebanon Curve” where Houze Road joins H-9.
Online references to these businesses and farms frequently identified them as being in Lebanon even in the 1950s and 1960s.
Like the fabled Glocca Morra, Lebanon does not exist anymore, or does it?
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.
When you think of fall planting, you might ask, “What is my favorite shrub?” Without hesitation, I would answer: gardenias, with hydrangeas as a close second. I love any plant that flowers, but why gardenias?
Gardenias have five traits many gardeners are looking for:
• They are evergreens, meaning they do not lose their leaves in the winter. This is a plus when the shrub can be seen from the road.
• They produce white, fragrant flowers.
• They come in three sizes.
• They are deer-resistant and suffer from few, if any diseases.
• Most varieties will grow in USDA hardiness zones 7-10. Caution: make sure you read the plant tag and purchase only plants that are cold hardy for zone 7.
When I was a child growing up in Pennsylvania, my dad would give my sister and me a corsage every Easter to wear with our new Easter outfit. My favorite corsage flower was always the gardenia because of its enticing smell. As a child, I assumed they came from some exotic foreign location since they did not grow in any Pennsylvania gardens. What a pleasant surprise when I moved to Georgia and found that I could plant them in my garden! Most gardenias thrive in planting zones 7-10b, but some species, are not as cold hardy, and are suggested for zones 8-11. Most of North Fulton County is in zone 7b, and the rest of Fulton County in zones 7b and 8a. A word of caution: Recently some horticulturalists based on global warming concerns and increasing seasonal temperatures, have identified North Fulton County as zone 8a. The reason I add caution to this change in the planting zone of our area to zone 8 is our unpredictable winters.
Last winter and spring are a good example. The winter was exceptionally mild, but do you remember December 23 and December 24, 2022? On December 23, the temperatures in North Fulton County reached a low of 8 degrees, and the following night a record low of 6 degrees! The combination of these two nights of extreme, cold weather took its toll on many of our favorite landscape shrubs, especially shrubs designated for planting zone 8!
Now fast forward to March 2023 — more bad weather news for Georgia
PHOTOS BY CAROLE MACMULLAN/PROVIDED
Top left: Three different sizes of gardeniaradicans, ‘Frostproof’, and ‘August Beauty’
Top right: Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Moon’ with 3-inch, double-petaled flower
Bottom left: Double flower-Gardenia jasminoides radicans-2-inch, double flower
Bottom right: Photo 2-Gardenia flower-single petaled flower
gardeners and farmers. The beginning of March was glorious and many of the spring flowering, fruit and ornamental trees as well as bushes bloomed earlier than expected. Then the unexpected happened! Two nights of devasting, below-freezing weather. On March 20, 2023, the temperature dropped to 24 degrees! It is estimated that 95% of the Georgia peach crop was lost. In response, the federal government recognized the financial loss to Georgia farmers and declared a natural disaster in 18 Georgia counties!
Home gardeners soon determined a large number of azaleas, lorepetalum, hydrangeas, camellias and gardenias suffered the consequences of the combination of the December record lows and the March freeze. With the increased temperatures in March 2023, the dormant perennials and shrubs were enticed out of their winter sleep and they began to form new leaves. All of the fragile, new leaves died as well as many of the older leaves. All of my hydrangeas that had just begun to form their leaves suffered the consequences of the two nights of freezing March temperatures. Thankfully, my hostas were still in dormancy and new leaves had not yet formed. Many of my friends and fellow Master Gardeners lost some of their landscaping plants. My daughter planted two shrubs in her yard in October of 2022, and both died.
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a master gardener and a Milton resident. She taught biology for 35 years in the Pittsburgh area. In 2012 after moving to Milton, Carole completed the Master Gardener training program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners 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.
• https://www.gardenia.net/plant/ gardenia
• http://www.southernliving.com/ garden/southern-gardening-gardenia
• Emily Jones, “Amid peach crisis, Georgia citrus farms pass winter test”, Atlanta Journal Constitution, August 26, 2023. Page A10.
• Walter Reeves, “Hardiness Zones - Which one are we in?” https:// www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/ hardiness-zones-which-one-are-wein/#:~:text=Georgia%20was
Personally, I am glad I followed the “wait and see “policy because I am happy to report most of the plants I declared dead in March miraculously recovered and started again to form new leaves and new growth by May.
Back to my favorite plants, gardenias. If you need to plant a new shrub and have a partially sunny location, gardenias might be the right choice. Begin by determining where you need to add or replace a shrub. Because gardenias come in three sizes, they can be used in a variety of locations.
The smallest variety, called Gardenia radicans, will grow no taller or wider than 3 to 4 feet. Radicans have a 2-inch, double, white flower that blooms throughout May and again in August and will fill your yard with a lovely fragrance.
Another variety that I highly suggest is Gardenia jasminoides “Frostproof.” This variety is the most cold-tolerant of the gardenias and will
survive in planting zone 7, whereas some varieties of gardenias are less cold hardy and are suggested for zone 8-10. “Frostproof” gardenias grow up to 4-5 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide and are considered medium-sized gardenias. In addition, they have an eye appealing, 2–3-inch, double flower that blooms in May and early June with sporadic, recurring blooms throughout the summer and early Fall.
If you have a location for one of the tallest varieties of gardenia, I suggest Gardenia jasminoides “August Beauty.” At maturity, they will grow 4 to 6 feet tall and will draw your attention with their explosion of 3-inch, white, double-petalled flowers that bloom in May or early June.
Here is another suggestion that I discovered on a recent visit to a garden center, Gardenia hybrid “Leefiv”’ with the common name Diamond Spire. This newly introduced medium-height hybrid has a narrow upright form which is desirable in many locations. It will grow at maturity to 3 to 4 feet tall and a compact 3 feet wide, grows in zone 7-10 and is a rebloomer. Its single, white flowers bloom in May, take a break and bloom again in August and early September.
Although the plant tags indicate that gardenias will grow in sun in Georgia, they prefer partial sun. Avoid full sun because they will suffer in the long, hot summer months and their leaves will show signs of stress and lose their lustrous, green color. Shady locations are also to be avoided since they will not flower and possibly die. For maximum growth, make sure you test the pH of the soil before you plant a gardenia. Gardenias as well as azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias prefer acidic soil, with a pH between 5 and 6. I would also suggest fertilizing gardenias with an acidic fertilizer in the spring after the blossoms die and the spring blooming season is complete.
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/.
When a person thinks about contacting a financial planner, often he or she has a money question; perhaps how to deal with a shortterm situation, or long-range planning for major life events such as buying a home, funding educations for children, dealing with issues of aging, retirement, starting or selling a closely held business. Decisions about major life challenges and transitions transcend money. Emotions, feelings, and values come into play and must be understood. What makes you happy? What makes you nervous?
If multiple people are involved in a decision, such as a spouse, adult child or other family member, a business partner, for example, it’s important that a financial advisor have a deep understanding as to everyone’s values and emotional relationships with money. Your advisor needs to know your story before a plan is developed and recommendations are made.
Growing up, this writer never received
an allowance. If I was to have money, I had to earn it. Plus, I grew up with two very different childhoods, both of which shaped my attitudes toward money and life itself. From birth to age 10, I was raised by my maternal grandparents in Flushing, Long Island, New York. World War II was raging and a “junkman” would come around and collect materials such as metals, glass, rags, paper, and rubber, anything that could be recycled to support the war effort. I took my red Radio Flyer wagon around the neighborhood, collecting items to sell to the junkman. I found that I really liked getting paid and having money.
From age 10 until I left home at age 18 for college, I lived with my mom and stepfather in Jacksonville, Florida. My stepfather, a Greyhound bus driver, was an authoritarian and expected me to do a variety of chores, which included yardwork, housework, and care of a dog kennel as he raised hunting hounds. While I did not get an allowance, when a momma dog had a litter of puppies, I could select one pup to sell. I hated selling the dog, but I liked getting paid for my labors. In addition to school and a myriad of chores and caring for the animals, I was always thinking of ways to make money, such as selling potted plants obtained from a wholesale nursery up the street, a
comic book exchange and part-time jobs. In college I worked for the university and for three years also had a paper route on campus. I learned that hard work has rewards, which had a great deal of influence on my choice of self-employment and entrepreneurship for most of my career.
My mom and stepdad worked hard but my mom frequently joked about “too much month at the end of the money,” except she wasn’t kidding, and that caused constant stress and anxiety. After paying off my college loans, and after I left military service as an Air force officer and married, I resolved to accumulate enough liquid capital as soon as possible so that my family and I could live for a minimum of one year with no paycheck.
Think about that. That’s financial freedom, knowing that you can deal with setbacks such as loss of your job or some other interruption in your income stream. It gives you the flexibility to change jobs or careers if you wish. Financial security confers freedom of choice and that’s worth working towards.
That’s my story. What’s yours? Where and how did you grow up? What has shaped your relationship with money? How soon would you like to be financially independent, to have the choice of working or not working? That may be a far better
question than, “When would you like to retire?” Some people regard “retirement” as the ending of something; they worry about losing purpose, being bored. Financial independence, and the choices and options financial freedom provides, reduces anxiety, boosts energy, and funds purpose-fulfilling generosity, whether to family, other loved ones, friends, charities and other causes that you care about.
Of course, there’s a downside to success and having ample money, especially if it fuels bad habits and destructive behavior. Religious underpinnings and solid values often are important to the prudent uses of money and talent, and that’s a part of your story that an advisor should understand. “Financial life planning” encompasses far more than investment policy and money questions. What’s the next chapter in your story?
Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group (CIG); 770-441-3553; lewis@capitalinsightgrp.com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA), which is otherwise unaffiliated with CIG. Lewis a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).
For those of us lucky enough to have known Joe Dumphy, we know that somewhere, somehow, he’s smiling that millionwatt smile and his blue eyes are sparkling.
His friends at Chestatee Golf Club knew Joe all too well. He was a regular and didn’t play golf exclusively with people his age. Oh, make no mistake, he would administer a sound thrashing to teenage opponents he went to school with or competed against in numerous area golf tournaments.
According to his dad, Charley, Joe had a full dance card at Chestatee and loved playing with the older guys as well. Anything for a golf game. And Joe could flat out play. At 14, his handicap was a plus two. In simplest terms, Joe’s average score meant he was two strokes better than any course he stepped onto. Who knew how far his talents
would’ve taken him? TCU had a spot for him when he graduated from high school. The future was dead, solid perfect.
Except that in late June of 2015, as he left the course with his grandparents, a terrible car accident killed his grandfather, John, instantly. Betsy his grandmother was severely injured. Joe, forever the competitor, fought for his life for 29 days in a neuro-ICU before dying on July 26, 2015. Joe had just celebrated his 15th birthday.
Joe’s final act was donating his organs so that others could live.
Fortunately, for everyone who knew Joe, that’s not where this remarkable story concludes. Instead, it’s a legacy to a family, friends and others that gets a healthy update every September on the Saturday after Labor Day.
The Joe Dumphy Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament was held recently on a perfect late summer Saturday. This was the ninth year of the event, and 139 golfers let it fly in a diverse crowd that would have elicited a huge grin from Joe.
Better yet, after this year, more than $125,000 has been awarded to golfers looking to improve their game at the college level.
The players and more than 40 volunteers would have matched Joe grin for grin. There were laughs galore. There was an undeniable sense that anyone there was happy to ensure that Joe’s memory lived on. Old friends hugged and new friends were made.
Personally, it made my heart swell to see Charley, Joe’s mom Deb and sister Olivia. Grandmother Betsy, a survivor of that tragic accident, was there too. She looked great and no doubt impressed that so many had such fond remembrances of her special grandson.
My connection to the Dumphy family was initiated in 2005 when the golfer played baseball for me and formed a friendship with youngest son Greg. There were play days at the lake, birthday parties and a Christmas or two when Santa made a cameo to the squeals of innocent kids.
It was my first year of coaching a team of 5-year-olds and it was a hoot. Mike Kelly, one of the coaches, made me
laugh as he shared a story about Joe.
Running the bases was always an adventure with players that age. During a ferocious rally, Mike was coaching third base and Joe had made it there safely. Parents were going berserk, players were howling and Mike implored Joe to “go home.”
Always the compliant kid, Joe made tracks for the dugout. When asked why he did it, Joe’s fitting answer was: “Because you told me to go home.”
When that story was shared, it made me shake my head and realize some things are impossible to predict. Yet there was always a powerful something at work here, maybe trying to prepare us for what would happen.
The name of that team that wore red jerseys and had a distinct “halo” logo emblazoned on the front. Of course, the team was the Angels.
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.
Along Chamblee Dunwoody Road, just north of DonaldsonBannister Farm and Vermack Road, was the location of the 1939 summer home of Earl and Vivian Lowrey Smith. They soon made it their permanent home. The white painted Cape Cod style home sat among lovely oak trees. Vivian Smith filled the home with fine antiques.
Earl Smith worked as a city salesman for Norris Candy, a large and successful candy manufacturer in the first half of the twentieth century. The Norris family also had a summer home along Chamblee Dunwoody Road. The guest house of the Norris family still stands on Sirron Court. Roy Head, who worked for Norris Candy for a time before starting his own candy company, lived in a white frame home on Chamblee Dunwoody Road with his wife Pamela. That home still stands, but the Smith house was
demolished several years ago.
Before working for Norris Candy, Earl Smith worked for United Cigar Company. He listed United Cigar as his employer on his June 5, 1917, draft registration card. Smith served overseas from June 1918 until January 1919 as part of the Miscellaneous Quartermaster Companies Unit 2.
The 1930 census shows Earl and Vivian living on Kennesaw Avenue in Atlanta. He is listed as a candy salesman for Norris Candy. The census also lets us know the Smith family owned a radio.
In “The Story of Dunwoody” by Ethel Spruill and Elizabeth Davis, Vivian Smith shared some of her memories of living in what was considered the country at the time. Smith recalled, “My husband was so in love with the beauty of the outdoors and country living that even though there was no central heating in the house, he persuaded me to spend the winter in Dunwoody. He spoke in such glowing terms of the crackling log fires, the romance of candlelight and the beauty of the snow
and ice storms we would see when winter came, that he finally persuaded me, against my better judgement to stay.”
One night the couple was expecting guests from Atlanta for dinner. Smith laughingly told how her guests “found me at the stove bundled in my precious fur coat, broiling steaks.”
In 1940, Atlanta Journal writer John Woodward shared a story about J. Earl Smith in his “About Dogs” column. A
starving stray dog showed up at the Smith home, so thin “you could count his ribs.” Earl and Vivian Smith named him Pup and began serving him table scraps from their dinner table. He kept returning each night for another meal.
Pup was a mixed breed dog, which suited the couple fine since they were “folks who’d rather have an inch of dog than miles of pedigree.”
Then one day, after Pup was no longer looking gaunt, he showed up with another thin and starving dog. Earl Smith filled up one plate with food for the two dogs. Rather than get in a fight over the food, Pup stepped aside and let the new dog get his fill. Then Pup ate what was left. The Smiths named the new dog Blue and continued to share their leftovers each evening with the pair.
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.
that her husband’s sudden death puts paid to that dream. The pithy description has stayed in my mind. “Then, on one unseasonably cold morning in April, I woke up and Rob did not.”
KATHYThrough reading I was fortunate enough to visit both in one week—South Carolina in a cozy mystery and Europe in a nonfiction book about a traveling cat. What do these books have in common beyond the ability to transport you to a new locale? Both were inspired by an author’s passion.
When I read the opening pages, I was suddenly standing outside of Books & Brew, a new bookshop on Mongin Island. An ocean breeze and a bookshop on a lazy, laid-back island? I was hooked.
The inspiration for this fictional island comes from the author’s many visits to Daufuskie Island, off the coast of South Carolina. I’ve heard of it and seen the signs for the ferry on my visits to Hilton Head, but never made it across the water to visit. Now I finally have, thanks to Book I in Laura Elizabeth’s new mystery series.
The main character is a successful Atlanta businesswoman who had long planned to retire to Mongin with her husband. It’s not a spoiler to let you know
The author’s husband is alive and well, so it’s not a tragic death that inspired the novel. It’s her dismay at the island’s deterioration. A July article in “Babson Magazine” captures the circumstances that led Laura Elizabeth to put pen to paper.
“One Woman’s Mission to Help Save a Neglected Resort” describes the island’s current state, and the author’s efforts to turn back the clock.
“For 15 years, the Melrose Resort has waited for a second chance. A once vibrant vacation spot sitting on the Atlantic Ocean, it is now a shell of its former self, 400 lonely acres on secluded Daufuskie Island in South Carolina.”
For a description of her efforts to return the island to its former idyllic state, check out the article at https:// entrepreneurship.babson.edu/help-savea-resort/.
The novel isn’t about her mission. It’s an ode to a place she loves wrapped in the trappings of a cozy mystery. Read it for the descriptions of sunsets and marsh views. Read it for intriguing details about
searching for rare books and stocking a bookshop.
“Nala’s
The idea of an author having a passion made this book pop to mind. I read the enchanting tale when it came out in 2020. On a quest to bicycle around the world, Dean Nichols found an abandoned kitten in the mountains between Montenegro and Bosnia. The thirty-year-old Scotsman rescued her, named her Nala, and became an Instagram sensation. His pics of Nala riding in the bicycle basket and on his shoulders made millions smile. They cycled and camped their way through country after country. Nala even had a pet passport.
Now, with a knee injury limiting Dean’s cycling, he and Nala travel in Nessie, a VW camper van. I follow them on Instagram and know he hopes one day to return to cycling. As I write this, they’re in Estonia, country #34 for Nala. I can’t get enough of them on Instagram @1bike1world.
But he didn’t stop at rescuing Nala. Traveling in Serbia this spring, Dean found a partially paralyzed, abandoned dog on the side of the road and took her to a local vet. Months later, the dog, who’d been shot, learned to walk again and was adopted by a loving family. Yasuki’s
care involved extensive vet care and physiotherapy, all paid for by a GoFundMe account started by Dean. As that tale unfolded, his followers alerted him to other abandoned dogs and he worked to find homes for as many as he could.
What inspired Dean Nicholson to write “Nala’s World”? I don’t have an answer to that question, but it’s clear he has a passion for animals. I imagine the proceeds from the book initially helped to fund his travels. Now, he’s leveraging his followership to fund animal rescue efforts worldwide. I think he found his calling.
I’m hoping for a sequel to “Nala’s World” with more detail than I can get from following Instagram posts, and I’ve just ordered Nala’s 2024 calendar. Knowing that “All profits go to animal and environmental charities around the world” warms my heart.
Two books. Two passions. Which one strikes your fancy? Perhaps both.
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/.
CITY OF MILTON PUBLIC NOTICE
PH-23-AB-10
PLACE
CITY HALL
2006 HERITAGE WALK
MILTON, GA 30004
DATE & TIME: 10/2/23 6:00 PM
PURPOSE: Chapter 4
Alcohol Beverage License Application for Consumption On-Premises
Wine, Malt Beverages, Distilled Spirits, Resident Caterer, and Sunday Sales
APPLICANT:
La Mer Seafood Cuisine LLC
3100 Heritage Walk, Suite 102 Milton, Georgia 30004
Thanh Viet Nguyen, Contact 404-988-7978
CITY OF MILTON PUBLIC NOTICE
PH-23-AB-08
PLACE
CITY HALL
2006 HERITAGE WALK
MILTON, GA 30004
DATE & TIME: 10/2/23 6:00 PM
PURPOSE: Chapter 4
Alcohol Beverage License Application for Consumption On-Premises
Wine, Malt Beverages, Distilled Spirits, and Sunday Sales
APPLICANT:
Nal Bheem LLC
d/b/a Persis Biryani Indian Grill 631 N Main Street, Suite 100 Milton, Georgia 30009
Venkata Suresh Palepu, Contact 480-363-6547
770-645-1414
George Brink, 70, of Roswell, passed away on September 10, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Michelle Campbell, 51, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 17, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Albert Cunningham, 68, of Roswell, passed away on September 13, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
James Dwiggins, 88, of Roswell, passed away on September 16, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
CITY OF MILTON
PUBLIC NOTICE
PH-23-AB-09
PLACE
CITY HALL
2006 HERITAGE WALK MILTON, GA 30004
DATE & TIME: 10/2/23 6:00 PM
PURPOSE: Chapter 4
Alcohol Beverage License Application for Consumption On-Premisies, Wine, Malt Beverages, Distilled Spirits, and Sunday Sales
APPLICANT: Elizabeth United LLC
d/b/a Bobby G’s 12990 GA 9 North Milton, Georgia 30004
Brandon O’Mahoney, Contact 404-576-7613
Burton Hammond, 94, of Alpharetta, passed away on September 8, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Call
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.
VETERINARY TECHNICIANS & ASSISTANTS:
Dunwoody Animal Medical Center is hiring! Send resume to office@dunwoodyamc.com
Collect, process, & analyze underlying portfolio data generated externally or by various internal divisions of the company. Reqs: BSc. deg. in Finance, Business Admin., or closely rel. field. Must have undergrad. level coursework in: Alternative Investments; Derivative Securities & Risk Management; Financial Modeling. Mail resume: Tracy Ryan, Balbec Capital, LP, 10000 Avalon Blvd., Ste. 550, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
Manage daily functions of assigned areas, identify enhancement opportunities for all areas of resp., & analyze resource reqs. of the dept. & dev. recommendations for staffing levels w/ supp. justification docs. Reqs: MSc. deg. in Computer Sci., Info. Sys. Security, Computer Engr. or closely rel. field & 2 yrs. of exp. in the job offered, Desktop Supp. Specialist or closely rel. pos. Concurrent exp. must incl. 2 yrs. of exp. w/ Office 365, VMware, IT Vendor Mgmt., ZScaler & Cyber Security. Mail resume: Tracy Ryan, Balbec Capital, LP, 10000 Avalon Blvd., Ste. 550, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
Sawnee EMC is seeking a Dispatch Control Center Manager to manage dispatch staff, utility construction, and service personnel activities. Required: High school graduate or equivalent. Minimum of ten years of experience in electric utility work, including seven years’ experience in utility distribution system line operations. Preferred experience with dispatching and scheduling, strong computer skills, map reading knowledge of line feed direction, communication, and management skills. Position requires frequent contact with the public and deadline pressures. Requires flexibility for overtime, irregular work hours, including evenings and weekends shifts for a 24/7 department.
Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, October 6, 2023. Apply online: www.sawnee.com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.
Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer of Females, Minorities, Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.
MATH TUTORS
Give Back! Perfect for retirees! Mathnasium of Johns Creek. 404-388-8701
GENERAL STORE DUTIES & FRAMING PRODUCTION for Custom Frame Shop. Experience s preferred but not required. Flexible Part-time hours, can lead to Full-time. Call Maria 770-667-2112
24 hour emergency service. Licensed, insured. Workers Comp, insurance claims. 25+ years experience. Family business. Free estimates. We Love Challenges!
Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts 770-512-8733 • www.yellowribbontree.com
COMPLETE TREE SERVICES
Appen-Rated 98 Text or Call us for a FREE quote appointment.
Tree removal, Pruning, Stump grinding, Free mulch. Fully insured. Emergency 24/7. 770-450-8188
DECKS BUILT & REPAIRED-DRYBELOW SYSTEMS INSTALLED – Affordable hardwood flooring-engineered flooring. Heritage Home Maintenance, 678-906-7100 HOMEREPAIRGA@GMAIL.COM, (HERITAGECONSTRUCTIONGA.COM)
AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 678-508-2432
Pinestraw
PINESTRAW, MULCH
Delivery/installation available. Firewood available. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612
ROOF LEAKING?
Call us for roof repair or roof replacement. FREE quotes. $200 OFF Leak Repairs or 10% off New Roof. Affordable, quality roofing. Based in Roswell. Serving North Atlanta since 1983. Call to schedule FREE Quote: 770-284-3123. Christian Brothers Roofing
$250 OFF NEW DRIVEWAY!
PHILLIPS FLOORING
Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes. Regrouting is also available.
Call 678-887-1868 for free estimate.
Mention this ad. Concrete driveway specialists. Driveways, Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways, Slabs. A+ BBB rating. FREE ESTIMATE. Call Rachael at 678-250-4546 to schedule a FREE Estimate. 30 years of experience. ARBOR HILLS CONSTRUCTION INC. Please note we do have a minimum charge on accepted jobs of $4,500.
GREENLAWN ROSWELL:
2 plots on picturesque lakeview hillside. Market price, $9000 each. Bargain priced at $6000 each! 770-475-7307
Deadline to place a Classified ad is Thursday at 4 pm
LOST CAT, missing since Aug. 6. Rory, 4 y/o solid white, green eyes domestic short hair, fixed male.
VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00. 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW!
Español
888-445-5928 Hablamos
Dental Insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real in-surance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit!
1-855-526-1060 www. dental50plus.com/ads #6258
Attention oxygen therapy users!
Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877929-9587
Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-855-948-6176
Eliminate gutter cleaning forever!
LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936
BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725
Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call
1-800-245-0398
HughesNet - Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo!
Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499-0141
Become a published author.
We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads
DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24.
1-866-479-1516
Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Fi-nancing available.
1-855-417-1306
We are looking for one person or couple interested in delivering weekly newspapers in South Forsyth, Alpharetta and the Johns Creek areas.
Requirements: Must have a perfect driving record and background check, reliable transportation, honest, hard-working and positive attitude.
For more information or to apply, email heidi@appenmedia.com and include a paragraph or two about who you are and any relevant background/experience. In the subject line of the email please put “Delivery Route Application.”
MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure!
1-888-489-3936
Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom!
1-833-758-3892
Inflation is at 40 year highs. Interest rates are way up. Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt? Call National Debt Relief to find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! Free quote: 1-877-592-3616
Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971
DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405
Are you a pet owner? Do you want to get up to 100% back on vet bills? Physicians Mutual In-surance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-844-774-0206 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow.com/ads
Diagnosed with lung cancer & 65+? You may qualify for a substantial cash award. No obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help! Call 24/7 1-877-707-5707
Leading smart home provider Vivint Smart Home has an offer just for you. Call 833-427-0530 to get a professionally installed home security system with $0 activation.
