Milton Herald - October 20, 2022

Milton wrestles with alcohol code

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — City staff brought more decision points regarding alcohol restric tions to the table at the Oct. 10 Milton City Council work session.

City Manager Steve Krokoff asked councilmembers for more feedback on craft beer and wine markets, small catered events and specific licenses. In addition to alcohol licensing, the coun cil parsed zoning issues for consistency related to alcohol. The City Council is set to vote on these matters at the Oct. 17 City Council meeting.

Several residents spoke during the public comment portion of a special called City Council meeting, prior to the work session. Billy Allen, owner of the self-named Crabapple restaurant and piano bar, once again pleaded on behalf of his business investment.

“I’m not standing here crying,” Allen said. “I’m standing here confused, dras tically confused as to how a city govern ment can do whatever they want.”

Allen was given an exception last year that allotted him a limited food ser vice license with operating hours until 2 a.m. At the Oct. 3 City Council meeting, the Planning Commission recommended that the license be discontinued.

A few of Allen’s supporters also stood at the podium, advocating on his behalf.

Councilwoman Carol Cookerly ad dressed Allen and his supporters before meeting adjournment to assuage fear over the Oct. 17 vote.

“I don’t know of any movement to

shut [Billy Allen’s] down,” Cookerly said. “I really want you to have a peace of mind.”

Sunday sales and small events

In Milton, businesses that sell alco holic beverages by the drink must derive 50 percent of their sales from food in order to have a Sunday sales license. A craft beer and/or wine market are retail establishments that permit limited on-

premise consumption Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., with no op portunity for on-site Sunday sales and consumption.

Krokoff’s question to council is whether qualifying markets should be allowed to apply for such a license. The City Council swiftly agreed that those es tablishments should be able to apply for

LOST NEGOTIATIONS

Cities, county in stalemate over sales tax

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Negotia tions over distribution of the county wide local option sales tax appear to have reached an impasse.

Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts indicated that the county isn’t prepared to budge on its drive for a greater share of the pie following a second round of negotiations with cities Oct. 7 in Atlanta.

Representatives the 15 cities met with county officials at the Georgia Municipal Association offices for the second time to haggle over how an estimated $3 billion in sales tax rev enue will be distributed over the next 10 years.

Every decade, the county and its cities renegotiate how money collected from LOST is distributed. Over the past 10 years, the pot has generally been apportioned based on each city’s population, while the county has kept about 5 percent for administrative fees.

And even though the two parties were once again unable to reach an

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Billy Allen appears before the City Council Oct. 10 to advocate on behalf of his lo cal restaurant and piano bar. Allen attended the Oct. 3 City Council meeting along with dozens of his supporters donnint the same pink T-shirt that read, “Keep local music in Crabapple.”

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Historical society releases Crabapple coloring book

MILTON, Ga. — The Milton Historical Society released “Color Historic Cra bapple,” a coloring book for adults and children highlighting many of the his toric homes and other historic buildings in Crabapple, Georgia.

The coloring book was first handed out at this year’s Crabapple Fest Oct. 1.

In recent years, adult coloring books have become popular as an outlet for relaxation and creativity.

The book is the brainchild of His torical Society founding member Kathy Beck, who also designed the book. “Color Historic Crabapple” teaches appreciation for the historic roots of the Crabapple community.

“Our goal is to teach in a creative way about these historic structures that reflect our past. This booklet can be col ored via pencils, crayons or markers by

those ages 8 to 100 who enjoy coloring,” Beck said.

The coloring book is the first step of an evolving educational project by the Milton Historical Society.

“This free coloring book recognizes the importance of 10 historic structures that define the character of the Cra bapple area,” said Jeff Dufresne, Milton Historical Society president. “It also helps people appreciate the architectural details of homes built 100-plus years ago. These structures kept Milton from looking like ‘any town, USA.’”

For further information on how to obtain coloring books for personal or educational use go to the Milton Histori cal Society website at www.miltonhistor icalsociety-georgia.org or contact Kathy Beck at archives@miltonhistoricalsoci ety-ga.org.

GARAGE SALES

See more garage sales in the classifieds

CUMMING: Neighborhood wide garage sale Barrett Downs neighborhood Friday 10/21 8AM-2PM and Saturday 10/22 8AM-2PM. 1720 Barrett Downs Dr. 30040.

CUMMING: HUGE! Entire Bethelview Downs community; off Bennett Parkway, exit 13. See balloons. Friday 10/21 Saturday 10/22, 8:30AM-1:30PM. Bar gains galore; everything goes!

CUMMING: Lexington Village Subdivision, 2025 Lexington Lane 30040. Sat urday 10/22, 9AM-3PM. Furniture, rugs, clothing, housewares etc.

ROSWELL: Devereux Downs/ State Street multi-family yard sale. Woodstock Road at Devereux Chase 30075. Saturday 10/22, 8am-2pm; no earlybirds. Rain/shine! Balloons on mailboxes.

DEADLINE

To place garage sale ads: Noon Friday. Call 770-442-3278 or email classifieds@appenmedia.com

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MILTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY/PROVIDED

Summit Hill Elementary school teacher Jennifer Sorcabal hands out the Milton Historical Society’s new coloring book, “Color Historic Crabapple,” to local Milton students Evie and Eden Reith at the 2022 Crabapple Fest. The coloring book teaches adults and children in a creative way about historic structures that reflect Crabapple’s past.

Schools see graduation rate growth

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Graduation rates for coun ties in north Metro Atlanta are on the rise, according to data released by the Georgia Department of Education Oct. 6.

Data for Georgia’s high-school gradu ation rate in 2022 shows that many north metro school districts, including Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb and Gwinnett counties, experienced significant gradu ation rate increases compared to 2021, mirroring the rise seen at the state level.

Georgia’s statewide graduation rate rose from 83. 7 percent in 2021 to 84.2 percent in 2022 — an all-time high since Georgia began using the graduation rate calculation required by federal law, state officials said.

Of the major Metro Atlanta counties, Fulton reported the largest increase to its graduation rate, with an increase from 87.7 percent in 2021 to 89.3 per cent in 2022.

“We are so proud of our incredible students, teachers and administrators who have pulled through two extremely challenging years showing tenacity in the face of uncertainty,” Fulton County Superintendent Mike Looney said.

“Fulton County Schools continues to concentrate our efforts on recovery and progress with the goal of graduation always in our sights.”

Forsyth County’s graduation rate held steady in 2022. However, system officials said the district has held a 96 percent graduation rate, one of the highest in the state, for three consecu tive years.

Here’s how major metro-Atlanta counties did in 2022:

• Statewide – 0.5 percent increase –84.2 graduation rate

• Cobb County – 0.2 percent increase –87.4 graduation rate

• DeKalb County – 0.8 percent increase – 76.2 graduation rate

• Forsyth County – 0 percent increase – 96.4 graduation rate

• Fulton County – 1.6 percent increase – 87.7 graduation rate

• Gwinnett County – 0.7 percent in crease – 83.2 graduation rate

“Teachers and students who per severed through the challenges of the last several years deserve credit for Georgia’s graduation rate increasing and other recent positive indicators, like Georgia students beating the SAT national average once again,” State

School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “I commend Georgia’s educators and the class of 2022 and am confi dent we will continue to see improve ments as we expand opportunities for students and invest in the academic recovery of our state.”

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Wire & Wood songwriters fill Alpharetta

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The ninth annual Wire & Wood music festival took over downtown Alpharetta Oct. 7-8 with more than 50 performances on stages and at businesses scattered throughout the area.

The festival was inspired by the 30A Songwriters Festival in Seaside, Florida, and Tin Pan South in Nashville, said Hilary Lew, Alpharetta Special Events Supervisor. Wire & Wood is intended to raise aware ness about the importance of music and stands as a city initiative to bring more music to the community, and in a storytell ing format.

The two-day festival showcases local and regional performers who write and perform original work. There were over 50 performances from 33 bands across six stages and 18 hyperlocal Music Match performers at downtown busi nesses, Lew said. Over the weekend, 15,000 people attended the festival, she said.

Saturday evening, Catfish and the Bot tom performed a short bluesy folk set on Market Street Stage. Hill “Catfish” Roberts often sings and plays guitar solo but adds

See FESTIVAL, Page 7

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA Catfish and the Bottom perform bluesy folk music on the Market Street Stage at the Wire & Wood festival Oct. 8. On left is vocalist Nancy Kaye Hill, or Rosey; Hill “Catfish” Roberts, lead vocalist and guitarist; Eric Fontaine on woodwinds.

Festival:

in other musicians from time to time.

For Wire & Wood, his audience had the pleasure of seeing Nancy Kaye Hill, or “Rosey,” join with vocals and maracas. Eric Fontaine played wood winds. Fontaine said he’s been play ing with Roberts for the past four to five years but has known him over a decade.

With his daughter sitting on top of his shoulder, playing with his hair and face, the cool and unphased Roberts talked about his music and the band.

When it comes to who plays with Roberts in any given live set, Roberts said, “You just try to go with the flow of it.” He also talked about Blind Willie McTell, who, he said, treated every string like a member of the band.

Roberts expressed his gratitude about his ability to play music for people, using Duane Allman’s humble beginnings as an example of using what you have to make yourself known.

At the Town Green Stage between Main and Market Street, the Cody Matlock Band performed soul, funk and R&B. Tracy Wegener and her “bestie” of 20 years, Betty Powell, stood listening.

This year’s Wire & Wood is the third for Wegener, who lives in Alpharetta. It was the first for Powell who flew in from Detroit the week before.

“It’s the best weekend of the year,” Wegener said. “We’re just enjoying the whole vibe.”

The Cherokee Ragtime Pals, from Cherokee County, played beside Al pharetta City Hall at the Formal Garden Stage. Band members Adam Higgins, Bradley Cochran and Daniel Shirley have been playing together since 2008 and hone Western Swing, Dixieland Jazz and classic country. All three members contribute to songwriting, Higgins said.

The band uses more eccentric instru ments, like Higgins on the melodica and Cochran on the “canjo” — a homemade instrument laying like an apron with dif ferent attachments.

“You have to have a tetanus shot to play it professionally,” Cochran said.

This year was the band’s first time playing at Wire & Wood. The festival has a great atmosphere, they said.

“People are walking around every where, sitting down and actually watch ing stuff,” Shirley said. “That’s great.”

Friends Rhian Sharp and Jenny Lyn leaned against the rail, overlooking The Cherokee Ragtime Pals. They both trav eled from out of town to the event, Sharp from Hapeville and Lyn from Atlanta. Both said they enjoyed the venue and the festival’s intimacy.

“I like the fact that it’s a little bit more intimate, to actually see the artist

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA Band members of Catfish and the Bottom discuss inspiration after their bluesy folk set Oct. 8. From left is Hill “Catfish” Roberts on lead vocals and guitar with daughter on his shoulders and vocalist Nancy “Rosey” Kaye Hill on maracas.

A man, who goes by the name of “Corn bread,” walks through downtown Al pharetta Oct. 8 with a hat covered in toy cars, action figures and animal teeth.

and how they’re enjoying it,” Lyn said. “Especially with this kind of venue, where you go from stage to stage. It’s pretty special.”

Sharp noted the welcomed difference between small and big artists.

“With bigger bands, you don’t get the

same kind of connection,” Sharp said.

Later in the evening, Will Hoge per formed as one of the last acts at Wire & Wood. He made a point to ask the audience, what’s a singer-songwriter festival if it’s without paying homage to the late John Prine?

He proceeded to play his song “John Prine’s Cadillac,” which he said is based on his experience seeing the beloved country-folk artist in his Cadil

lac, bumping some unknown music, in Nashville.

With a big, low-hanging prelude to The Hunter Moon facing the stage, Hoge sang, “... I’m skipping like a flat rock sailing across the water / Shin ing like the Ryman’s stained glass / Happy as the music coming out of the speakers in the back / Of John Prine’s Cadillac … ”

The Cherokee Ragtime Pals perform ‘20s and ‘30s jazz on the Formal Green Stage Oct. 8. From left is Adam Higgins on melodica, Bradley Cochran on acoustic guitar and Daniel Shirley on banjo.

Cody Matlock, a soul, funk and R&B singer-songwriter/guitarist based in Atlanta, performs on the Town Green Stage Oct. 8 at the ninth annual Wire & Wood music festival.

Friends sit listening to music on the Market Street Stage Oct. 8.

Just like every athlete should perform at a high level, so should you — whether you like doing cross stitching or cross fitting or cross country.

LAUREN SOK, owner

Functionize

Physical therapist treats ‘everyday athlete’

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Lauren Sok was a preteen when she knew she wanted to go into physical therapy. At age 12, she broke her elbow. To this day, she can’t fully bend her arm due to a botched physical therapy experience.

Sok, who owns Functionize Health & Physical Therapy in Decatur and Dunwoody, might just fit the stereotype of someone who would own a physical therapy clinic. With a pixie cut, athletic attire and a powerful stance and voice that fill up a room, despite short stat ure, Sok said her childhood injury and resulting physical therapy experience launched her on a path to becoming a physical therapist.

She decided she never wanted some one to go to physical therapy and not meet their goals. Nor did she want someone to go through the same pain of rehabbing something, like she did with her elbow.

After high school, Sok went straight into a physical therapy fast-track mas ter’s program, earning her degree in 2000. Since then, she’s earned certifica tions in Selective Functional Movement Assessment, Trigger Point Dry Needling, Women’s Health and Stott Pilates.

Functionize first opened in Decatur in 2015. And in March, Sok opened a second location in Dunwoody on Nan dina Lane. Sok’s business idea was sparked by frustrations in her 16 years of partnering with traditional physical therapy companies, where one-on-one with clients wasn’t the norm.

Before opening Functionize, she began doing concierge physical therapy. She recalled going door-to-door around Atlanta, carrying her table and a bag of

supplies that she would use to treat peo ple. When Sok built a sizable client base, she branched out with an established clinic to treat the “everyday athlete.”

Sok said a big misconception about physical therapy is that it’s just for injuries.

“We believe if you have a body, you’re an athlete,” Sok said. “Just like every athlete should perform at a high level, so should you — whether you like doing cross stitching or cross fitting or cross country. You can do the whole thing. We just have to help you get there.”

Well-rounded care

While Functionize focuses on physi cal therapy, Sok approaches her work by accounting for all four pillars of healthy living and thriving: exercise, nutrition, sleep and relaxation.

There’s five physical therapists onstaff, including Sok, in addition to a nutritionist who clients can see virtually. Staff also regularly work with functional medicine doctors to provide additional insight into client care. If the Function ize team concludes that a client needs

more attention in a certain area, they refer out to specialists, like orthopedists or psychologists.

At Functionize, physical therapy encompasses a wide range of specialties, like postpartum and pelvic therapy, dry needling, temporomandibular joint dis orders (TMJ) and vestibular rehabilita tion. Staff also uses the Redcord Neurac system, which helps restore proper alignment and muscular control.

Functionize therapists also help cli ents within different performance areas, providing general performance assess ments, clinical Pilates and assessments for swimming and golf.

A mainstay at Functionize is its run ning assessments. With the clinic’s Fit Run Shop, Functionize combines the ex pertise of Pose-certified physical therapists and the newest footwear technology from Atlanta-based Big Peach Running Co.

An avid runner, Drew Whitcomb wanted to address hamstring and ankle pain he’d been experiencing. Friends suggested he see a running-specialized physical therapist.

So, Whitcomb sought care from Functionize after hearing Sok and Jake Reynolds, another physical therapist on staff, on a podcast with Big Peach. Whit comb is also the COO and co-founder of a WearTesters, a running shoe review website, and has worked in the running industry for years.

He said his running form has improved after each Functionize visit, documenting the difference in pictures from past races.

“It’s been a process, but every time I’m just feeling better and better,” Whit comb said.

Tickets and Mulligans available during online registration and event day ckeck-in.

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Lauren Sok, owner of Functionize Health & Physical Therapy, stands next to her business sign at the Dunwoody location Oct. 11. Sok started her physical therapy business in Decatur in 2015, then expanded to Dunwoody this year.

Therapy:

For Sok, one important feature of Functionize is its cash-based system, which avoids the pitfalls associated with insurance companies.

The Functionize website explains the cash-based model and its benefits.

“In our 25+ years of combined experi ence, third-party payers pressuring for fast diagnosis, insisting on canned treat ments, and obstructing the therapy we want to provide often hurts the patient’s progress.”

Sok said insurance companies typically require patients to visit prac titioners two to three times a week, which calls for co-pays or full costs if deductibles aren’t met. Plus, in-network companies often entail a cookie-cutter approach filled with standard protocols that overlook individualized needs and goals, she said.

And when Sok worked with tradi tional companies, she typically tended to multiple people at the same time, people of different ages and with differ ent needs.

“I always said it was like daycare,” Sok said. “You were keeping people occupied basically, and not thinking through it.”

Whitcomb, who has seen many physi

A painting that asks “Are you living your dream or are you still dreaming of living?” hangs in an empty backroom behind the group exercise studio. Functionize Owner Lauren Sok said the painting was an important piece of inspiration for starting her business.

cal therapists over the years, said Func tionize is different from all the others.

“[With] every other physical therapist, you go in there for an hour, and you usually are sharing the time with at least

one other patient, where they’re bounc ing back and forth between you and that other patient,” Whitcomb said. “That’s been my experience with every single physical therapy place I’ve been to, but then with Functionize, you’re not.”

He also said treatment at Functionize is not much more expensive than other companies, where you have multiple co-pays.

Sok said the average cost per visit, and there’s usually around 10 per client, runs from $200 to $249.

But clients have the option to submit the itemized bill to insurance for reim bursement.

Building a health community

Sok is focused on building commu nity in Dunwoody. During a tour of the facility Oct. 11, Sok talked about the room behind the group exercise studio. She plans to lease it as a coffee shop, to bring community through coffee.

The room is empty, save for a colorful art piece hanging on the wall that asks, “Are you living your dream or still dream ing of living?” Sok saw the painting before she started her business and said it’s a big part of her inspiration. She wrote about the painting for one of her newslet ters, which she writes regularly.

“It was like the light bulb moment,” she said. “Like, okay, ‘This bright, color ful painting is telling you something. I’m ready to start living my dream.’”

CUSTOM

Some of Sok’s clients are members of Run the Wood, a local running group that meets on the second and fourth Saturday of the month. Sok, who lives in Dunwoody, formed the group last year after observing many solo runners in the Dunwoody community.

“People always say, ‘The hardest part is an adult is making friends.’”

Allison Thornton, another Function ize client, said she’s been a part of the group since it started.

“I know some friendships have formed out of that group,” Thornton said.

Thornton sought treatment from the Functionize team this year for hip and shoulder pain. Because she’s had improve ment over the course of her visits, Thorn ton goes sporadically, as needed. Her hus band and daughter also go to Functionize.

Thornton has also used the small group exercise classes offered at Func tionalize.

She attended the Strength Founda tions group exercise class, led by Jesse Brown, a physical therapist on staff. She has also attended Sok’s Mat Pilates class.

“Between those two classes, I just feel like I’m overall stronger, maybe more than I have been in my whole life,” Thornton said.

For more information about Func tionize, visit functionizehealth.com or call (404) 907-4196.

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AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Jewish Community Center event raises funds for local programs

ALPHARETTA, Ga. —The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) recently held its annual golf tournament, the Harry Maziar Classic presented by Truist, at the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta.

Chaired by David Kusiel and cochaired by Allen Soden, the tournament shattered previous event records includ ing the most participants in tournament history with over 200 golfers. The event raised more than $535,000 through contributions and a silent auction to support MJCCA programs and scholar ship funds.

“This event is extremely important to the entire Jewish community, as the MJCCA impacts thousands of lives across the metro Atlanta area,” Kusiel said.

This year’s tournament brings the total raised to $4.6 million over the past 14 years, MJCCA CEO Jared Powers said.

“Every dollar we secure helps us raise scholarship funds so families can attend our award-winning camps, accredited preschools, enriching afterschool programs and all the activi ties that make the MJCCA home to so many,” Powers said.

Each year, the tournament honors an outstanding MJCCA member, whose

leadership and dedication helped shape Atlanta’s Jewish community. This year, the MJCCA honored native Atlantan and real estate powerhouse Eliot Arno vitz.

Arnovitz’s connection to the MJCCA can be traced all the way back to his childhood, when he spent his formative years in the Atlanta Jewish Community Center’s nursery school.

DAVID KUSIEL Chair, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s Harry Maziar Classic

He now volunteers with numerous Jewish organizations across Metro Atlanta, including as a Life Trustee with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

“Eliot’s commitment to the At lanta Jewish community is exem plary,” Soden said. “The turnout at this year’s event is a testament to the longstanding impact he’s had on the Jewish community and the number of people he’s positively affected with his work, advocacy and volunteer efforts throughout the years.”

MARCUS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF ATLANTA/PROVIDED

Eliot Arnovitz accepts his award at the golf tournament hosted by the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta.

This event is extremely important to the entire Jewish community”

> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC

> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC

HONOR A VETERAN

Milton, like our entire country, is a safer and better place thanks to heroes who sacrificed and served in the military. Many of them are no longer with us. But they’ll never be forgotten. That appreciation is on display in the city around every Veterans Day and Memorial Day through the Milton Veterans Memorial Markers, LCC.

This dedicated nonprofit strategically places markers to honor deceased veterans who lived or have family in Milton. (Note: Living veterans do not receive markers.)

If you’d like recognition for a family member who served in the military, go to www.miltonveterans.org/register and fill out the form. Submissions must be received by October 27 for markers to be in place before Veterans Day.

Milton Veterans Memorial Markers, Inc., a nonprofit organization, builds, paints, and places these memorial markers for fallen veterans in our community.

Tax:

agreement to negotiate in an open forum, Fulton County officials shared a public opening statement with the city negotiating team for the first time since talks began earlier this year.

County speaks publicly

Speaking to the gathered officials on Friday, Pitts said the county provides services to 1.2 million residents and nearly as many visitors each day. No matter where they are from, Pitts said Fulton County has to provide services they depend on.

“The formation of cities had zero im pact, no impact, on countywide services, those services continue,” Pitts said.

He said the county is responsible for providing health services, senior servic

CHARTER MEMBER

es, animal services, elections, libraries and many other services, which all have rising costs.

Fulton County is also facing crises

PRESS CLUB

in the world of public health and public safety with the closing of two metro-At lanta hospitals and overcrowding at the Fulton County Jail, he said.

“We believe that the work of the cities is clearly important,” he said. “But we know, without a doubt that the services Fulton County provides are important. In fact, in most cases they are a matter of life and death for many people.”

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul re acted saying the cities want to reach an agreement with Fulton County, but they still object to multiple points the county maintains.

Paul pointed to the $70 million in American Rescue Plan Funding that Fulton County Used to help it’s court system and a $130 investment made by the state government to help the Grady Hospital System in Fulton County.

revenue, not ours.”

Where negotiations stand

Following statements from Pitts and District 2 County Commissioner Bob El lis, the two parties took up negotiations.

So far there have been multiple offers and counteroffers between the two sides, including the county’s initial offer which would have taken their share of proceeds from 4.97 percent to 35 percent.

“Fulton County has made no less than four offers since then, including offers that allow the cities to maintain current funding and would also increase the county’s funding over time,” Pitts said. “At the end of the day, it’s not re ally about more for the cities and less for us or more for us and less for the cities, it’s about doing the right thing to meet the needs of the people we’re all here to serve.”

However, city negotiators have rejected the offers, holding to counterof fers that would incrementally increase county shares to about 8 percent over the 10-year life of the tax.

On Friday, city officials were pre sented with a similar offer to a pro posal made at the Sept. 23 mediation session, which essentially would raise the county’s share of LOST distribu tions from the current 4.97 percent to 7 percent and then up to 15 percent over 10 years. The offer was not countered at Friday’s session.

Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said the city negotiating teams were once again disappointed at the offer, which mayors say will have large detrimental impacts on city budgets.

MEMBER

MEMBER (Cont.)

Hodge

Jones

Kelly

Leffingwell

“Yet the county really hasn’t ac knowledged any of that in our conversa tions,” he said.

Paul also pointed out Fulton County has a $234 million fund balance at it’s disposal and recently cut it’s millage rate.

Gilvin said even with the new num bers offered by Fulton County, Al pharetta would face a $3 million loss, a condition he finds unacceptable.

“They refuse to budge, and they are not negotiating in good faith,” he said.

MEMBER+

“If money were that important, if you were really that short of cash, why are you cutting your millage rate and then putting the mayors in a position where we have to raise it?” he asked. “The mayors are united in believing the public needs to be able to see and hear what’s going on in these discussions, it’s their

Gilvin said they have not scheduled any additional mediation sessions and initially planned to advance the issue to a formal arbitration process if mediation fails.

Neither process would be binding, Gilvin said, but so far, county officials have expressed no interest in participat ing in arbitration with the cities.

MORE COVERAGE

email alex@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Left middle, Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison and right middle, Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin, listen to a presentation from city officials at the first Local Option Sales Tax mediation session in Atlanta Sept. 23.

Award-winning authors scheduled for annual Book Fest

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — When the Johns Creek Arts Festival returns Oct. 1516, it will include a first: An inaugural author event featuring 16 Atlanta-area writers.

Book Fest, a new offering from Arts on the Creek, one of the festival’s found ing partners, will feature fiction and nonfiction writers in a host of genres – mystery, thriller, romance, military, mainstream fiction and more. Many of the authors are award winners. Some are published for the first time. And all will have books for sale throughout the festival.

Sponsored in part by Appen Media Group, the Arts on the Creek Book Fest will give visitors a chance to meet and talk with authors who will be ap pearing hourly in pairs at the AOTC tent during the weekend. Some writ ers signed up for multiple slots, giving readers several opportunities to get books signed.

A rundown of authors scheduled at the event shows a quality roster.

Roger Johns won the 2018 Geor gia Author of the Year Award for “Dark River Rising,” a detective/mystery. Rona

Simmons has won two Military Writers Society Gold Medals in nonfiction and fiction, for “The Other Veterans of World War II” in 2020 and “A Gathering of Men” in 2022.

Three authors were 2022 Georgia Author of the Year Award nominees, including: Marilyn Baron for “The Ro manov Legacy,” a romance; Jan Slim ming for “Codebreaker Girls: A Secret Life at Bletchley Park,” in history; and C. Matthew Smith, for “Twentymile,” a detective/mystery.

Several others have won other honors, including: Beverly Armento, whose “Seeing Eye Girl” was a 2022 Independent Publisher Book Award bronze winner for autobiography; and T.M. Brown and Bernard N. Lee Jr., both of whom have penned series that have been finalists for several awards.

For more information about all 16 authors, go to ArtsOnTheCreek.org.

The Arts on the Creek Book Fest, also sponsored by the Atlanta Writers Club, A Novel Idea and Bookmiser, will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, and from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sun day, Oct. 16. It will be located directly across Ga. 141 from the Atlanta Athletic Club, 1930 Bobby Jones Dr., Johns Creek, GA 30097.

Book Fest schedule

Oct. 15

• 10 a.m.: Bernard N. Lee Jr. – “A Look Back in Time” Volumes I and II / Memoir

• 10 a.m.: T.M. Brown – “Sanctuary” and “Testament” / Mysteries

• 11 a.m.: Roger Johns – “Dark River Rising” and “River of Secrets” / Crime Fiction

• 11 a.m.: Michael S. Pressman – “The Price of Freedom” and “The Genesis Project”/ Military, Crime, Action, Adventure

• Noon: Cynthia D. Jones – “The Melo dy of Marriage” / Christian Marriage

• Noon: Michael S. Pressman – “The Price of Freedom” and “The Genesis Project” / Military, Crime, Action, Adventure

• 1 p.m.: Beverly Armento – “Seeing Eye Girl” / Memoir

• 1 p.m.: Cynthia D. Jones – “The Mel ody of Marriage” / Christian Marriage

• 2 p.m.: Rona Simmons – “The Other Veterans of World War II” and “A Gathering of Men” / Historical Fiction, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Military Nonfiction

• 2 p.m.: Jan Slimming – “Codebreak er Girls” and “Captured At Singapore” / Nonfiction WWII History

• 3 p.m.: Bernard N. Lee Jr. – “A Look Back in Time” Volumes I and II / Memoir

• 3 p.m.: Jon H. Costales – “Visions of Redemption” / Science Fiction

• 4 p.m.: Beverly Armento – “Seeing Eye Girl” / Memoir

• 4 p.m.: Bernard N. Lee Jr. – “A Look Back in Time” Volumes I and II / Memoir

• 5 p.m.: C. Matthew Smith – “Twen tymile” / Crime, Thriller

• 5 p.m.: Bernard N. Lee Jr. – “A Look Back in Time” Volumes I and II / Memoir

Oct. 16

• 10 a.m.: Bob Dickinson – “Me, Je sus, a Beer and a Cigar” / Christian Progressive

• 10 a.m.: Bernard N. Lee Jr. – “A Look Back in Time” Volumes I and II / Memoir

• 11 a.m.: Cynthia D. Jones – “The Melody of Marriage” / Christian Mar riage

• 11 a.m.: Bernard N. Lee Jr. – “A Look Back in Time” Volumes I and II / Memoir

• Noon: Beverly Armento – “Seeing Eye Girl” / Memoir

• Noon: Cynthia D. Jones – “The Melo dy of Marriage” / Christian Marriage

• 1 p.m.: Marilyn Baron – “The Ro manov Legacy” / Romantic Suspense; and “The Case of the Missing Botti celli” / Cozy Mystery

• 1 p.m.: Jeremy Logan – “The Trigger Effect” and “Trinity” / Crime, Sus pense, Mystery

• 2 p.m.: Robert Ratonyi – “From Darkness Into Light” / Memoir and Historic Narrative

• 2 p.m.: Bernard N. Lee Jr. – “A Look Back in Time” Volumes I and II / Memoir

• 3 p.m.: Beverly Armento – “Seeing Eye Girl” / Memoir

• 3 p.m.: Robert Ratonyl – “From Darkness Into Light” / Memoir and Historic Narrative

• 4 p.m.: Mike Cobb – “The Devil You Knew” and “Dead Beckoning” / His torical Crime Fiction

• 4 p.m.: Bernard N. Lee Jr. – “A Look Back in Time” Volumes I and II / Memoir

ADVERTISE

Alcohol:

a license that would allow Sunday sales and on-site consumption.

“Isn’t it a restaurant at that point?” Councilwoman Cookerly asked.

Krokoff also presented on small alcoholic beverage catered events, dif ferent from functions that would require a special events permit. Businesses are limited to two special event permits per year. The application process is also more thorough.

Real Estate Report

Currently, there’s no limit on the amount of small catered events in the city. The Planning Commission recom mended adding a limit by location, but to exclude outdoor auditoriums and special event facilities. Council mem bers agreed to the recommendation and arbitrarily used a six-event limit, to allow one small event every other month.

Within small catered events, the Planning Commission also recommend ed authorizing nonprofits to apply for the license. City code does not outline authorization for nonprofits to host volunteer-run small catered events. Council members agreed to allow non profits to serve alcohol at smaller events and use the same recommended limita tions.

Incidental service and BYOB Krokoff also covered incidental service licenses, which allows for the limited free service of malt beverages and/or wine to be served to a customer. The Planning Commission recommended license approval be within the discretion of the community development director, based on compatibility of the service to the establishment.

The City Council discussed the Bring Your Own Beverage (BYOB) li cense, which is available to all stan dard on-premises consumption license holders as well as approved establish ments, not approved to sell alcohol. Similar to the Incidental Service Li cense, the commission proposed to give discretion to the community develop ment director.

The Council also discussed limiting the license to restaurants and festival/ event-use permit holders, which operate under a BYOB model. But other estab lishments could still apply under the discretion of the Community Develop ment director.

Some Council members took issue with businesses having to apply for an other permit, so that patrons can bring their own alcoholic beverage.

“Nobody, under the alcohol code, is vested with any rights,” Krokoff said.

Council members discussed stream lining BYOB licensing to avoid making it more difficult for businesses to operate

in Milton.

Lastly, Krokoff presented the new structure on alcohol code and entries that were removed due to lack of use, including growler/crowler shops, private clubs and sports bars.

Alcohol permit by zone

At the work session, Milton Zoning Manager Robyn MacDonald presented alcohol-related uses within the city’s zoning ordinances, which included rec ommendations from the city’s Planning Commission. The City Council discussed whether establishments would have by-right or by-use permits, according to zoning district.

In June, the Planning Commis sion recommended several changes to zoning ordinances related to alcohol, including specifying Crabapple and Deerfield form-based codes and outlin ing bars and nightclubs in prohibited uses.

MacDonald provided a chart to the council that gave an overview of estab lishment types, their zoning districts as well as the current and recommended permit type.

Development study update

Prior to the City Council Oct. 10 work session, the council held a special called meeting in which City Attorney

Ken Jarrard presented a conflict waiver, allowing his firm to memorialize terms in an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between Alpharetta, Milton and the Alpharetta Community Improve ment District (CID). The agreement concerns an update to the 2012 Wind ward/Highway 9 Livable Center Initia tive (LCI) master plan, which involves a proposed study.

The agreement states that each party is willing to contribute up to $60,000 toward the cost of a consul tant to complete the strategic master plan, which is a joint effort between the city’s Public Works and Community Development departments. Milton’s ap proved fiscal year 2023 budget already allots $50,000 to the proposed study.

According to the plan document, significant changes in the area have occurred over the last 10 years, such as the economic market, consumer demands/preferences and new mobility opportunities, leading to the need for an update to the community vision and action plan.

The City Council approved both the conflict waiver and the IGA in a unani mous vote.

Robert Dell-Ross, Milton’s engineer ing project manager, said the ninemonth study will begin before the end of the year.

Continued from

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Milton Zoning Manager Robyn MacDonald presents a host of Planning Commis sion recommendations on zoning ordinances related to alcohol at the City Council Oct. 10 work session. Decision points concerned whether businesses should have by-right or by-use permits, contingent upon zoning districts.

Read Now at AppenMedia.com

Lifelong Learning

School dominates our formative years with people and lessons that last a lifetime.

An Appen Media Group Publication

Upper school counseling services – an intentional balancing act

Brought to you by - King’s Ridge Christian School

At times students can become singleminded, focusing only on academics. While good grades are certainly an important goal for every student and a key to college admissions, grade point averages should not define students nor consume every waking hour. A life filled only with textbooks, essays, and stan dardized tests is not spiritually mean ingful, socially purposeful, or physically healthy. As a college preparatory school, King’s Ridge Christian School strives to provide students with rigorous academic preparation as well as social, spiritual, and physical fulfillment, which are all necessary for college and life beyond.

Research supports this call for stu dents to live a balanced life. According to the Johns Hopkins Student Assistance Program, “Students often prioritize aca

demics at the expense of personal factors, including relationships and exercise. This can lead to a decline in academic performance, as general health and well-being are critical to optimal academic func tioning.” (2020). Per haps most surprising is that college admissions departments tell counselors that a high school resume filled only with academic accolades is not what they seek in applicants.

The Upper School counseling depart ment at KRCS intentionally focuses on developing the whole child; one who successfully balances academics, extracurricular interests, the arts, athletic pursuits, and a spiritual relationship with Christ. Through one-on-one meetings, small group advisement lessons, large

and daily informal settings, counselors seek to know each of the students as indi viduals through their unique talents, aspi rations, struggles, and strengths. Coun selors act as guides, encouraging students to build resiliency, self-confidence, and

for success in college and beyond.

The KRCS counseling team truly be lieves that the well-balanced student is best prepared to live out the King’s Ridge mission: “equipping students to know, to serve, and to believe”.

PROVIDED

SPURKA

High Meadows School –Inspiring future global citizens and innovative leaders

Brought to you by - High Meadows School

There is no place like High Meadows School. Since 1973, High Meadows stu dents in Pre-K through 8th grade have learned through experiential, immer sive educational opportunities offered both in the school’s spacious, lightfilled classrooms and across 42 acres of grassy fields and scenic woodlands. High Meadows School’s progressive cur riculum is focused on developing future global citizens and innovative leaders who embrace challenge and think for themselves.

High Meadows lower years class rooms offer low student-teacher ratios in which instruction emphasizes academic excellence, love of learning, critical thinking, and environmental and social responsibility. As a nationally recog nized and award-winning leader in pro gressive education, High Meadows is an

accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering its renowned Primary Years Program for students in preschool through fifth grade.

High Meadows School’s accomplished and experienced faculty lead each stu dent on this journey. Through interac tive, inquiry-based instruction, support ed by of-the-moment technology and our nature-based campus, High Meadows teachers are unequaled in their intellect, passion, and compassion for these kids. Every day they inspire authentic learn ing opportunities that are engaging and sticky (literally and figuratively!).

When children graduate from High Meadows, they are empowered with a deep respect for international perspec tives, an intuitive understanding of life’s interconnectedness, and an exceedingly strong sense of self. Education is an expedition that starts from the moment we are born. When we teach children to be curious and inquiring at an early age,

we create within them a love of learn ing that lasts an entire lifetime. What is more important than that?

Come see how all this comes to life.

Please visit our website at highmeadows.org or call 770-993-2940 to learn more about High Meadows School.

Open

A letter to students

Brought to you by - Woodward Academy

1. You are awesome. Be confident in who you are. I promise you’ll meet people who are smarter than you, and that’s OK. You don’t have to be the smartest person—oddly enough, sometimes being the smartest person is difficult. I also promise that you will be smarter than most. Enjoy that; while being smart isn’t everything, it is defi nitely something. Be confident in your intelligence, but not arrogant. I’ve found that, most of the time, being arrogant backfires on you. That leads into point two…

2. Sometimes it takes more courage and intelligence to be silent than to speak. It took me a long time to un derstand and respect silence. I’m still learning that it’s a mark of maturity and, most of the time, intelligence. Also, respect everyone’s differences and challenge yourself to learn about them.

3. Never stop learning. I don’t mean that in a teacher way, I mean it in a learning life sort of way. You are con stantly growing, maturing, and devel oping, so enjoy it. Life is a condition to which no one is immune. We learn something every day.

Our taste in music, food, TV, and the people we surround ourselves with evolves. It’s natural for these prefer ences to change. I wasted a lot of time trying to be someone I wasn’t because I thought I was supposed to be someone else.

To complete number three, you need to invest in number four…

4. Spend time with yourself. Since you’ve been in my class, I’ve learned how amazing you are each in your own way. If you sit and spend time with you, I think you’ll feel the same way. I’m such a people person, but some times the best thing is time alone with great music, a book, TV, or whatever. As cheesy as this sounds, be your own best friend. The sooner you learn that all of your faults and idiosyncra sies are what make you awesome, the sooner you will be a better person and enjoy life so much more. That leads to number five…

5. Everyone has faults. With the advent of social media, I sometimes find myself comparing my faults with everyone else’s highlights. Scrolling through your Twitter feed (or Snapchat or Tik Tok), you see people lauding their

accomplishments, great times, and great friends. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this, as long as you understand that what you see on social media is an incomplete picture. If you compare all of your faults to those highlights, you may feel a bit inadequate. Everyone has faults, so embrace yours. Grow from them and know that they add to what makes you, you. And remember, you’re awe some.

6. Surround yourself with people who love you and think you’re great (but also who know and accept your faults). You need this. If someone won’t accept you for who you are, ask yourself if you really need that rela tionship (be it friends or more).

7. Smile. Every day. I’m not getting into the psychology of it all, but it could pos sibly make you happier and healthier. It works. Trust me.

8. Don’t trust people just because they say, “trust me.” Still...

9. Trust people. It’s endearing. I know this is very contradictory, but it’s true. Even though “trust me” should raise flags, trusting people means you are human and we all need people we can trust.

10. I’ve saved one of the most impor tant tips for last: Be happy. Genuinely happy.

Choose a profession that pays the bills and makes you want to go to work most days. You won’t be happy every day. You will have bad days, weeks and maybe even months, but you’ll be gener ally happy. Money will not, in the end, make you happy.

One of the greatest pieces of advice my dad ever gave me was to make great memories. Good and bad, and all kinds in between, they are all part of our life.

So, make them good ones and remember that you are part of other’s memories so make sure they are posi tive, too.

I have to end this the way my mother ended most of our conversations when I was in high school and college. Make good choices. (I repeat this often to my own kids.)

Lori Fenzl, Upper School social studies teacher

A DEEPLY PERSONALIZED COMMUNITY, WHERE EACH STUDENT CAN TAILOR THEIR OWN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE

With

Great minds think differently

Brought to you by - The Cottage School

Since 1985, The Cottage School (TCS) has provided a comprehensive program for students with learning differences. TCS of fers a business-based model that promotes self-advocacy and fosters self-confidence, preparing them for life after graduation to pursue post-secondary educational paths or vocational opportunities. Our accred ited college preparatory curriculum meets Georgia graduation standards and HOPE scholarship requirements to take students to graduation and beyond.

Our students, in all grades, enjoy unique experiential learning with electives based on their interests and clubs includ ing archery, drama, forensics, robotics, horticulture and amazing off-campus experiences throughout the year.

The school’s beautiful 23-acre Roswell campus is a hidden gem in North Fulton, with small class sizes our students devel

op meaningful connections to our teach ing staff. Our cottages are unique and warm learning environments that include computer and science labs, art studios, a multi-purpose athletic and performing arts facility, indoor and outdoor class rooms, and trails for mountain biking and cross-country. TCS encourages students of all abilities to participate in athletics by offering sports such as soccer, basketball, baseball, cross-country, tennis, and golf.

The Cottage School has built a one-ofa-kind learning environment perfect for students who learn differently. TCS offers 12-month rolling admissions for all grade levels. Visit our website or call for a cam pus tour today.

The Cottage School 700 Grimes Bridge Road Roswell, Georgia 30075 770-641-8688 www.cottageschool.org

Brought to you by - Mill Springs Acad emy

Those are the words of Mill Springs Academy’s founder, Tweetie L. Moore, and the words that Mill Springs adminis tration, faculty, and staff continue to live by today. Founded in 1981, Mill Springs provides a values-based college prepara tory program for students with ADHD and learning differences. Mill Springs’ school-wide Community Structure en courages students to participate in their own education by teaching self-advocacy, social problem-solving skills, and how to forge their own path. Our small class sizes allow teachers to provide each student with individualized instruction. Our highly skilled faculty and counselors provide academic rigor on all levels, from kindergarten through 12, in a supportive, nurturing environment.

Mill Springs Academy also offers students a wide variety of opportunities outside the core curriculum. Mill Springs’ fine arts program encourages students to explore their creativity through painting, sculpture, set design, music, performance, and more. Our robust athletic programs allow students to play at a competitive level

while building teamwork and confidence.

Mill Springs’ 85-acre Alpharetta campus includes indoor and outdoor classroom space, athletic facilities, and visual and performing arts facilities. We serve students from over 50 different zip codes in the Metro Atlanta area and provide four bus routes with ten stops in the morning and afternoon. To learn more about Mill Springs Academy, visit us at www.millsprings.org/visit.

The Cottage School has served students with learning differences in the metro and surrounding area since 1985. TCS changes lives by focusing on the social and emotional needs of our students as well as their academic achievement.

Our business-based model fosters self-advocacy and prepares them for the future.

Serving students grades 3–12. Learn more at www.cottageschool.org

PROVIDED

“If a student can’t learn the way we teach… we should teach the way a student can learn.”

OPINION

Nix family left mark in North Fulton

Some early Nix family settlers, like some other pioneers, came to Georgia from Europe via the Carolinas beginning in the 18th century. By 1840 there were 48 Nix families living in Georgia, about 35 percent of all Nixs in the USA according to Ancestry.com. In this column, I will highlight a few noteworthy north Georgia pioneers.

BOB MEYERS Columnist bobmey@bellsouth.net

Charles William “Charlie” Nix (1836-1927) was a colorful character. He joined the Confederate army when he was 25 and served with General Jeb Stuart’s calvary. He fought in Antie tam, Gettysburg and Chancellorsville, which was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War up until then and famous as the battle where General Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded by his own troops.

Charlie was born in Cherokee County, married Susan Caroline Bates (1840–1907) and had eight children and 27 grandchildren. At the time of his 90th birthday in 1926, celebrated with a cake with 90 candles, the Atlanta Constitution said he was one of the oldest people in Georgia and one of the earliest subscribers to the newspaper.

“In the early days he rode four miles every day on horseback to get his paper,” the newspaper reported. He is buried in Providence Baptist Church in Alpharetta along with two dozen other Nix family members.

Many local Nix families are descended from Matthias Bates (1802-1883), whose daughter married Charlie Nix. Matthias and his son Russell started a trading post in Cherokee County at the intersection of Batesville Road and Sugar Pike Road. Charlie’s sons Walter Scott Nix Sr. (18731956) and John Russell Nix (1871-1939) bought 140 acres from their uncle Rus sell. They opened a general store which contained the Batesville Post Office. Walter became storekeeper and postmas ter. Walter and his brother turned the property into a trade and service center with a blacksmith shop, grist mill, cot ton gin, sawmill, guano distributorship and potato curing house. Nearby, the Big Springs School and the Big Springs Methodist Church were built.

Dr Harold Lyle Nix (1920-2003), son of Walter Scott Nix, was raised in Batesville and became a distinguished professor of sociology at the University of Georgia. He focused on developing alternatives to the rapidly disintegrat ing rural economy. Among his many

accomplishments was a book he wrote for his family in 2000 titled “Moments to Remember” in which he recalls grow ing up in Batesville. In poignant terms he explains that the rural South at the time “was made up of a gridwork of small trade and service centers about four miles, or a ‘team-haul’ apart” so a farmer could walk a mule to a cotton gin, store, school or church in a half a day. Batesville was such a center in the late 1800s.

The area underwent dramatic changes in the early and mid-20th century. The automobile, tractor, paved roads, the boll weevil and two world wars changed the South forever. Some of the rural service centers continued to prosper, others declined or disappeared. Batesville officially disappeared on Dec. 12, 1992, when the last remaining structure in town, the old Walter Scott Nix, Sr. home, was put to the torch as a county fire training exercise. Today Batesville is just the crossroads where Batesville Road and Sugar Pike Road intersect. One structure, the abandoned potato curing house, still stands.

Brothers Jody and Jason Nix, great grandsons of Walter Scott Nix, operate Big Spring Farms Pumpkin Patch on Sugar Pike Road next to the intersection. The attraction is open on weekends in October and provides opportunities for families to experience rural life as it once

was, including demonstrations by an old Model 0 Frick sawmill.

An early Nix residence in Milton is a City of Milton Historic Site. Built circa 1896 on Birmingham Road, the house was owned by William Henry Nix (18861953) and Clara Maddox Nix, daughter of Dr. Cicero Cincinnatus, a prominent doctor in Alpharetta. Today the home is owned by Jim Bell who in order to preserve the land has created a certified natural burial ground, Milton Fields, adjacent to the house.

Nix Road, one of Milton’s prized dirt roads, connects Birmingham Highway with Freemanville Road. Several genera tions of Nix families lived there accord ing to Sonja Holcombe whose parents, Obed Farrell Holcombe (1911-1994) and Mary Sue Nix Holcombe Rigby (born 1933), lived on the corner of Nix Road and Birmingham Highway in a house that still stands. Sonja’s grandparents John Leonard Nix (1884-1963) and Oscar Adena Nix (1907-1992) also lived in the house but moved away in 1930. Sonja’s great grandparents John Leon ard Nix (1884-1963) and Oscar Adena Nix (1907-1992) lived in a house on a hill overlooking Nix Road, so it is under standable how the road got its name.

Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net.

NIX FAMILY/PROVIDED

Charles Nix marks his 90th birthday in front of a cake with four of his eight chil dren. From left, Laura Puckett, Dr. Will Nix, Fannie Benson and Walter Scott Nix.

OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

Get your shovel for the return of the Joros

If you’ve been out in the great wide world lately, you’ve probably noticed those shimmery gossamer webby things up there in the power lines. It seems like wherever there are two lines with a few feet of each other, there are also a whole bunch of webby things.

Joro spider webs?

Yeah, those. They’re back!

Prime Joro season in this neck of the woods is usually August through Octo ber, and they’ve been turning up in lots of other places, too – some of them close to home. For instance, one delegation seems to favor the little nook between the corner of my house and the railing on the deck.

There was a big ol’ Joro spider out there a few days ago, but notice I said “was.” Durable though those Joros are, they’re no match for my ancient Sears and Roebuck shovel.

As yard tools go, that shovel is one of those enduring institutions ever. Sure, the business end is a little rusted, with some dings and dimples here and there, but that’s just how much-loved shov els usually are. Those blemishes could pour out the stories, too, if I only could remember what those stories are. For it’s an old shovel with a much-used wood handle polished by use so it’s smooth as the lid of a fine piano. Old things always have tales to tell.

Anyway, that shovel’s a great antiJoro weapons system, at least if the Joros are not too far off the ground. A single swashbuckling stroke through the air made short work of the web at the end of the deck, and then a second stroke (vertical, descending) reconfigured the once-intimidating Joro spider who used to live there from three dimensions down to two. One down, 88 million to go.

I should have felt good about that, but I just kind of shrugged. I was, I

knew, resigned to having to do it all again in a day or two. And that’s exactly what happened.

Somewhat more troublesome are the Joro webs that are higher off the ground and out of reach even of me and my shovel. For those, I’ve adopted the strat egy of scouring the ground under the big oak tree for suitable throwing sticks which I pick up and heft in my hand and then launch with aboriginal accuracy (sometimes) into the sky in the general direction of whatever web I have tar geted. This is not nearly as effective as it sounds, however, and it also puts nearby windows or small children at risk. Occa sionally I get lucky, though, and anyway Ellie the Resident Mini Schnauzer thinks its all part of some grand game of fetchthe-stick, which she does with relish and glee – whether there happens to be a spi der attached to the stick or not.

So what’s the deal with these Joro spiders anyway? You’ll recall from our previous chat on the subject that they seem to have first appeared in Georgia along the I-85 corridor in the area of Braselton and Hoschton. That’s home to many large distribution centers, and the feeling among those who know is that these spiders (or maybe their eggs) hitched a ride into our fair land aboard a crate, in some packing material, or maybe even on a live plant.

But however they got here, it appears that they are here to stay. Fortunately, they are not a particular threat to people unless provoked in an up-close and personal way, though their long-term impact on ecosystems is not known for certain.

Clearly, what is needed is more info!

And so, possibly out of a vague sense of guilt over murdering that helpless spider whose only sin was to have taken up residence on the corner of my deck, I decided to attempt to redeem myself by participating in something called Joro Watch. Joro Watch is a new website de veloped by a whole bunch of interested folks, among them the spiderists (is that a word? If not, it should be) at the Uni versity of Georgia as well as something

called the Southern Integrated Pest Management Center. This I picture as a fortified bunker, possibly located deep inside Stone Mountain where even the most determined joro spider probably can’t get in. In my mind’s eye its walls are covered with high-tech maps and glowing computer screens and lots and lots of flickering numbers. One of those numbers just decreased by one, from 88,325,286 to 88,325,285. That was me and my shovel. It’s nice to be appreci ated.

But I digress. We were talking about Joro Watch, which lives at jorowatch.org.

Joro Watch is, according to the In terweb, “a monitoring program to collect data and better understand the current spread and distribution of joro spiders. You’ll like it for all sorts of reasons, not the least of which is a map showing where the joro spiders have been show ing up. The answer to that one, by the way, is mostly in Georgia, some in South Carolina, and a little bit in North Caro lina and Tennessee. There’s even one little tiny spot of green in Washington County, Okla. But if you live somewhere else and feel left out, don’t worry. It’s probably just a matter of time, and the map will help you know when it’s time to go dig out the old shovel.

Joro Watch really is kind of fun – and useful too. For example, it’ll help you figure out whether what you’re seeing is an honest-to-goodness Joro spider or one of its similar-looking cousins (such as our very own native yellow garden spiders). Adding your own observational data is easy, and there were even perks in the form of a chance to win custom Joro Watch stickers too in the recent Joro Spider Spotting Contest, which ended Oct 15. Citizen science like this is usually its own reward, but free stuff doesn’t hurt.

Anyway, I just completed my latest Joro spider sighting report. I got an of ficial verification and a “Record ID” and everything. That’s pretty cool.

But wait. Is that another one on the other end of the deck?

Where did I put that shovel?

STEVE HUDSON Get Outside Georgia, aa4bw@comcast.net

OPINION

On road rage and not being in a hurry

the drive-thru, saves time and while you are waiting for your Frap, you can keep watching TicTok or whatever your favorite go-to website or app is. Losing time on your phone is the big no-no, right?

terprising entrepreneur realizes that one could start building those little kiosks in parking lots that only serve drive-thru coffee and do it faster and cheaper, and slip in under the radar of the 800-pound coffee gorilla, and eat their lunch?

ad catch your eye?

Did

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

She didn’t lay on the horn but might as well have done that. In my rear-view mirror, I watched her mouthing words and throwing her hands up in exasperation. It was so ridiculous to me that it actu ally made me smile. I mean, where else would someone spark a mini road rage thing by coming to a full stop at a three way stop? Really? I annoyed someone because I wasn’t in so much of a hurry that I didn’t roll through a stop sign and through the intersection?

What was she so late for? Where was she going in such a hurry? Don’t think I really would want to know and, truth be told, my guess is that the answer is probably “none of the above.” That is just how she goes through life – in a hurry for nothing or not much – and aggravated that everyone else isn’t just like she is.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I mean, so much of our economy now is tied to things that help save time. Saving time creates jobs these days, right? Think Amazon drivers, homedelivered groceries, prescriptions, and pizza and so much more. And of course, business, well anything that boosts business can’t be all bad, no?

Look at Starbucks the last two years. What has changed? Everything, I would suggest. Their business model seems to have morphed into serving coffee and food – fast – and of course that includes the added bonus of people not having to be inconvenienced by hav ing to exit their cars. Just go through

And the cost? Well, yes, there is a cost for everything. In Starbucks’ case, the cost just might be that what brought them to the table, what made them unique and gave them their competitive advantage, the creation of a place that served great coffee but also provided a comfortable place to meet and social ize, to chat with a friend or discuss a business deal or next months’ vacation plans with another, or how Johnnie is doing in school or that great book you just read. Now instead, more time with a screen without having to interact with another human. Hmmmm. Sort of reminds me of all those companies who have also “updated” their business model via Zoom or Teams and now con duct business in front of screens instead of in person.

And they wonder why turnover has jumped, morale has plummeted, and folks just don’t seem to care like they used to – or have the same work ethic or the social sensibilities. But, as I men tioned earlier, every situation has a silver lining; we have entered the golden age for therapists, delivery drivers, warehouse builders and social media influencers.

And what about all those young people who have never known a life that did not revolve around their screens? Where does this path lead?

I think if I owned Starbucks stock for long, I would be thinking hard about get ting rid of it. With their morphed busi ness model what they have done to me is effectively commoditized their product, reduced it down to the lowest common denominator – time, convenience – and the WalMart approach to business –price. How long will it be before some en

The same thing probably also holds true for all sorts of things, like even that old-school media – print. Digital saves time, money, bottom line, and is super convenient, no? Well, yes and no. You see, anytime there is change, something usually gets lost in the transition. Every thing has a cost. And the relative value of what is lost is sometimes very subtle and sometimes not so much, and often not realized until too late in the rearview mirror.

What is the value of a conversation – the old-fashioned kind – in person? Or the low impact ease of reading the local news on print – at your leisure? Versus diving into a social media platform every day for a couple hours on your screen and then wondering where all your time has gone?

Where has all our time gone? I’ll have a Venti dark please, two raw sugars, a splash of cream… and room.

Solution

And can you give me a Pupachino for my dog too? I’m in a hurry and he loves those Pupcups.

GATE AGAMA ATOM ASEA BENES MALI PANG EMITS IRIS ALIT MAE COVE ACER SALTWATER B RIS KET SOB EDO SLEET ELAND T OUR SPARS ERIE ARSON STEAD ANA BAD SLOB BER M ARIGOLDS DYES

ALAN BEE HOPS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 64 ZONING OF THE CITY CODE

RZ22-06 – To amend Article VI, Division 2: AG-1 as it relates to Lot Width.

Public Hearings/Meeting: Mayor and City Council Meeting Monday, November 7, 2022, at 6:00 p.m.

Location: Milton City Hall – Council Chambers 2006 Heritage Walk Milton, GA 30004 678-242-2540

TEDS BALSA AQUA TRIO ISLET SURF ETON NESTS SENT CITY OF MILTON

LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP

Marty Zweig (1942-2013) was a celebrated Ameri can stock investor, investment adviser, and financial ana lyst. In his book, “Winning on Wall Street” (1970), he penned the now famous phrase, “Don’t fight the Fed.” He saw trends in interest rates and monetary policy driven by the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank as one of the dominate fac tors in attempting to augur the direction of the stock market.

Efforts at prognostication have equity market participants reacting to every tidbit of news, especially comments such as those made by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell at the Fed’s annual gather ing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in August. Powell said that interest rates must be raised further to fight inflation, despite growing recession risk. Zwieg’s advice was for investors to align portfolio strategies with the current trends in monetary poli cies rather than against them. Simple, yes?

Not really. So-called “sophisticated investors” are constantly sifting through the tea leaves, attempting to assess the meaning of data and news items and the potential impact on market direc

tion. The highly watched S&P 500 stock index dropped 4.2 percent in August. Oil prices continued a three-month decline through August, good news on Main Street at the gas pumps, but dour news for Wall Street as Mr. Market saw a stronger chance of recession.

One of the best quotes about prognosti cation is the famous 2002 comment by U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

“There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns — the ones we don’t know we don’t know. And if one looks throughout the history of our country and other free countries, it is the latter category that tends to be the difficult ones,” he said.

Rumsfeld was talking about evidence purporting to link the government of Iraq with the supply of weapons of mass destruction and terrorist groups, but his thought process can also apply to guess work relative to market trends.

September opens the political warfare floodgates leading up to the November elections. While most political advertising consists of trying to smear the opposition rather than tout specific fixes for the prob lems bugging the electorate, most politi cians should heed the warning offered in 1992 by Democratic strategist James

Carville, “It’s the economy, stupid.”

Understanding what’s on voter’s minds by-and-large may have a bear ing on both political and stock market outcomes. A 9/3/2022 report by pollster Rasmussen indicated that the majority of Americans still are “very concerned” about the economy, most are not sold on electric vehicles (cost, limited range, and lack of charging stations); most rate Joe Biden as “poor” on immigration; just 8 percent rate public schools as “excellent”; only 29 percent say America is headed in the right direction. Given concern over public schools, many families are opting for private schools, introducing added financial planning considerations.

What is interesting is that when you or any stockholder sells given a worrisome outlook, someone is on the other side of the trade, buying in the spirit of bargain hunting. By the time a positive trend is confirmed, the bargain price is long gone. If we have learned anything over time, it’s “the certainty of uncertainty.”

Reflecting strategies in his persis tent pursuit of value, Warren Buffet’s shareholder letters are rife with timetested wisdom. To wit: “While it’s true that downturns can create opportunities for investors, short-term investing still comes with a substantial amount of risk. Over the short-term, the direction of the market can be impossible or nearly

for

impossible to predict with any level of accuracy. Over the long-term, trends begin to emerge, and we can see that the market consistently rises over time. A market downturn doesn’t make the short-term more predictable, and it may even make it less predictable. Do not take yearly results too seriously. Instead, focus on four- or five-year averages.”

There is always a tradeoff of some kind in the strategies touted by advertisers and radio and television pundits at the heights of market uncertainty. If you increase certainty relative to principal preserva tion, often you must cap the rate of return potential. Absolute safety, for example, in a money market fund currently results in negative inflation adjusted terms after tax.

Buffett is a big fan of dollar-costaveraging, consistent and patterned investments in a diversified equity portfolio over time, made regardless of what the market is doing. Contributing on a regular basis to a 401(k), Roth or regular IRA, 529 College Savings Plan, or other type of retirement and wealth accumulation plan works given time frames of five to 10 years or more. Don’t worry about known and unknown un knowns. Like things that go “boo in the night” that plague overactive childhood imaginations, they are always present. They are tools of opportunity for the persistent!

In his long-awaited return to the airwaves, Caddy partners with his new co-host – and wife! - Donna, to bring his loyal listeners everything they’ve come to expect and love from Cadillac Jack.

The Georgia Politics

Podcast focuses on all things under the gold dome. Show host Preston Thompson covers the most noteworthy updates to the legislative session of Georgia’s House of Representatives and State Senate.

One thing we’ve learned over time is ‘the certainty of uncertainty’

Full-time

POOL TECHNICIANS WANTED

Part-time & Full-time positions available. Pay is $12-$14 per hour. Hours starting at 6:30AM, Monday-Friday. Pick-up truck not required but must have your own reliable transportation. Gas allowance provided. Looking for people who enjoy working outside and are enthusiastic, dependable & punctual. Able to contribute independently or on a crew with consistently friendly attitude.

Well-established commercial pool maintenance company providing service in the North Atlanta Metro area.

Call Bill: 404-245-9396

FRONT OFFICE RECEPTIONISTS AND MEDICAL ASSISTANTS for busy Dermatology Practice; Cumming, Roswell and Alpharetta locations. Email resume to wmark@atlcenterforderm.com or Fax 770-751-7410.

SOLVAY SPECIALTY POLYMERS USA, LLC SEEKS IN ALPHARETTA, GA:

Product Development Scientist/ Research Scientist (Job code 2894) to plan, conduct, and lead complex Research and Development projects utilizing the materials science & engineering relationships between chemical structure, material processing, and resulting properties. Up to 10% travel required. Mail resume referencing Job Code 2894 to Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC Attn: HR, 4500 McGinnis Ferry Road, Alpharetta, GA, 30005. No recruiters

CEMENT MANUFACTURING ENGINEER

(Alpharetta, GA) Provide technical support to regional operations in line with plans to optimize production processes, oversees technical audits of pyro processes and milling, resolve substandard situations with high impact on the cement manufacturing process. 50% domestic travel required. Mail resumes to Argos USA LLC, Attn: Mark Prybylski, General Counsel, 3015 Windward Plaza, Suite 300, Alpharetta, GA 30005. Reference job number #JV859532.

Part-time

Building/Facilities Assistant Manager

Seeking part-time Building/Facilities Assistant Manager for Alpharetta Presbyterian Church from about 12-4 Monday – Friday.

Candidate needs basic knowledge/competency in building maintenance and grounds keeping as well as strong interpersonal skills. Computer skills are desired.

Requires successful completion of a criminal record and child abuse background check, a valid driver’s license and the ability to perform physical tasks. Full job description can be seen at https://alpharettapres. com/about-us/jobs/.

Qualified candidates please send resume to office@alpharettapres.com

Garage Sale

CUMMING

Lexington Village Subdivision, 2025 Lexington Lane 30040. Saturday 10/22, 9AM-3PM. Furniture, rugs, clothing, housewares etc.

CUMMING-30040

HUGE! Entire Bethelview Downs community; off Bennett Parkway, exit 13. See balloons. Friday 10/21 Saturday 10/22, 8:30AM-1:30PM. Bargains galore; everything goes!

Income Opportunity

Yard Sale ROSWELL

Devereux Downs/ State Street multifamily sale. Woodstock Road at Devereux Chase 30075. Saturday 10/22, 8am-2pm; no earlybirds. Rain/shine! Balloons on mailboxes.CUMMING

Haulers

Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling, Etc. Many local references Call Ralph Rucker 678-898-7237

Deadline to place a classified ad is Thursdays by 5:00 pm

Home Improvement

PHILLIPS HOME IMPROVEMENT

We offer drywall, painting, carpentry, plumbing and electrical. Basements finished, kitchen and bath rehabs. All types flooring. Also total home rehab for those who have a rental house or one to sell. Call 678-887-1868 for a free estimate.

Pinestraw

PINESTRAW, MULCH Delivery/installation available. Firewood available. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612

If you are concerned with your Vending Machine looking like this, please call FitNGo Healthy Vending, LLC to discuss your vending issues and concerns. We specialize in Healthy and Classical/Traditional options as well as a hybrid of both. We are employee-centric and are committed to visit your site at least twice a week to ensure your machines are full and ready for use. To discuss further, contact:

Brian Weis - (404)861-9730

Mervyn Weis - (770)377-8357

We look forward to talking with you!

Bargain / Furniture

TEAKWOOD TABLE, 8 chairs, China cabinet. $1000/obo. Call or text 404-433-3414

Gutters

AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www. aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 678-508-2432

Tree Services

Concrete/ Asphalt

Walls Brick

Wood

Retaining walls (brick or wood), grading, sod, tree services, hauling, topsoil & more.

Rucker

Contact Ralph Rucker. Many local references. Honest, punctual, professional and reasonable prices!

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

20% OFF ALL Tree Services

Free consutation. 20 years experience. Fully insured. References. Call Tree Expert for an appointment @ 470-588-5339.

NATIONAL ADVERTISING Business Services

Small Business Owners! Don’t miss out. Get $1,000’s from a government assistance program. Not a loan. More info? www. AidForSmallBusiness.com

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, superfast 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

Protect your home from pests safely and affordably. Pest, rodent, termite and mosquito con-trol. Call for a quote or inspection today 844-3949278

!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00. 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-4455928 Hablamos Español

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 877-9299587

Miscellaneous

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: 1-855948-6176

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protec-tion. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936

AT&T Internet. Starting at $40/month w/12-mo agmt. 1 TB of data/mo. Ask how to bundle & SAVE! Geo & svc restrictions apply. 1-855-3643948

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

Flooring

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.

$250 OFF NEW DRIVEWAY!

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

of $4,500.

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 1-877-7294998 or visit dorranceinfo. com/ads

Paying top cash for men’s sportwatches! Rolex, Breitling, Omega, Patek Philippe, Heuer, Day-tona, GMT, Submariner and Speedmaster. Call 833603-3236

Put on your TV Ears & hear TV w/unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original - originally $129.95now w/this special offer only $59.95 w/code MCB59! 1-888805-0840

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 1/21/23. 1-866479-1516

The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote. 1-877539-0299

Vivint. Smart security. Professionally installed. One connected system for total peace of mind. Free professional installation! Four free months of monitoring! Call to customize your system. 1-833-841-0737

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

Switch and save up to $250/ yr on talk, text & data. No contract or hidden fees. Unlimited talk & text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. Limited time get $50 off any new account. Use code GIFT50. 1-855-903-3048

Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the above classifieds. Determining

the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather sup-ply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients es-tablish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card num-bers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it is illegal to request any money before delivering its service. All funds are based in US dollars. Toll free numbers may or may not reach Canada.

Watches

Brian Iroff GIA Graduate Gemologist