Historical society show origin of Milton Library, Book Barn
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Local history buffs reminisced at the History of the Milton Library and Book Barn event Feb. 11, presented by the Milton Historical Society at the Milton Library.
Matt Kunz, author and former city council member, and Bill Lusk, former city council member and founding President of the Milton Historical Society, presented over 200 photos alongside anecdotes from the creation of the library and book
barn to those in attendance.
Members of the community and friends of the library also provided stories about the creation of the book barn.
The foundation
The library board originally selected a piece of property in Deerfield as the location for the Milton library, with the Alpharetta library set to plant near Wills Park.
See SOCIETY, Page 16
Planning commission, city talk ‘Destination Deerfield’
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Milton officials are looking at potential revisions to city code, specifically in the city’s eastern Deerfield district, dealing with density, design standards and mobility.
Special Projects Director Bob Buscemi gave a general overview Feb. 10 of “Destination Deerfield,” a catch-all term for the city’s effort to revitalize its easternmost commercial district along the spine of Ga. 9.
Buscemi said the fun part is looking at potential redevelopment concept plans from interested builders and investors. He said the reason the city started the Deerfield Implementation Plan was to respond to the interest of several developers and large property owners in the district.
See DEERFIELD, Page 17
A map shows the southern tip of the Deerfield district in Milton with commercial properties in blue, residential areas in yellow and office buildings in red. The city says property owners have approached them with redevelopment plans, and it’s looking at how to ensure future growth matches what residents want.
SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
Bill Lusk, former city council member and founding President of the Milton Historical Society, holds up the blueprint for The Friends of the Milton Library Book Barn, made by Timothy Bryan. The Milton Historical Society met to discuss the History of the Milton Library and Book Barn at the Milton Library on Feb. 11.
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Community, law enforcement mourns fallen officer
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Crowds gathered along the road to watch the vehicle processional and remember the life of Roswell Police Officer Jeremy Labonte during the afternoon of Feb. 12.
Despite the cold rain, community members rallied with their umbrellas and American flags to pay their respects for Labonte.
Police cars from cities across the state drove along the route. Cities as far as Milledgeville to Ellijay were included, as well as vehicles from the United States Customs and Border Protection, National Parks Service and the Georgia State Patrol.
The processional lasted a little under an hour and consisted of over 100 vehicles, beginning their journey at Lebanon Baptist Church. They made their way down Crabapple Road, Canton Street, Atlanta Street and Mimosa Boulevard, with community members watching from the sidewalks.
The processional ended at Roswell United Methodist Church, where the funeral service was held at 3 p.m.
A livestream of the funeral was provided to the public on www. roswellgov.com/FuneralService.
Roswell Police Chief James Conroy spoke at the funeral where he provided words to those in attendance about the impact Ofc. Labonte made.
“If you look around you are surrounded by love,” Conroy said.
Community members, which have “overwhelmed” the police department with support, are encouraged to donate to the Labonte family on the Friends of Roswell Police Foundation PayPal.
At a press briefing on Monday, Feb. 10, Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson addressed the public about the city’s efforts to honor Ofc. Labonte.
“Officer Labonte dedicated his life to serving and protecting the people of Roswell, and now we come together to honor him,” Wilson said.
A private burial service for
A community member holds an umbrella over a firefighter during the vehicle processional honoring Police Officer Jeremy Labonte on Feb. 12.
The processional ran along Crabapple Road, Canton Street, Atlanta Street and Mimosa Boulevard.
friends and family will take place on Thursday, Feb. 13.
“What we’re doing, I think is small really, in comparison to the sacrifice that this young man made for our city,” Wilson said.
THE PICTURE FRAMER
PHOTOS BY: SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
Over 100 vehicles paid their respects to Police Officer Jeremy Labonte at the vehicle processional on Feb. 12 in Roswell. Community members were encouraged to stand along the route to honor Ofc. Labonte.
CITY OF MILTON/PROVIDED
A map shows several proposed additions to the Milton Trails Blueprint, a document showing existing and planned sidewalks and multi-use paths throughout the city. Milton is asking the public to complete a survey about updates to the blueprint.
City invites public input on trail network plans
MILTON, Ga. — Milton is inviting residents to give input on proposed additions to the city’s Trails Blueprint, a document showing existing and planned segments of the city’s path network.
• C: Freemanville Road from White Columns Drive to Birmingham Road
• D: Birmingham Highway (Ga. 372) from Taylor Road to Wood Road
Multi-use paths, or trails, are typically larger than a standard 5-footwide sidewalk and can increase mobility for pedestrians, cyclists and even golf carts. They typically fall in the city’s right-of-way along public roadways and are distinct from nature trails at a place like Birmingham Park.
• E: Providence Road from Birmingham Highway (Ga. 372) to Freemanville Road
• F: Arnold Mill Road (Ga. 140) from Green Road to Cherokee County line
• G: Connection from Lakhapani Preserve on Lackey Road to Arnold Mill Road (Ga. 140)
• H: Bethany Road from Mayfield Road to the Cooper Sandy Greenspace
The Milton Trails Blueprint includes all multi-use paths and sidewalks, existing and planned, throughout the city. The document shows private developers and the public where the city thinks they should or could go as part of future projects.
Milton first created its Trail Blueprint with Kimley-Horn consultants in 2017. For the past few months, the Milton Trails Advisory Committee has been workshopping additions to the planning document. Most of them are along busy corridors, state routes and in between city parks and green spaces.
The Trails Advisory Committee’s recommended segments include:
• A: Birmingham Road from Birmingham Highway (Ga. 372) to Hopewell Road
• B: Hopewell Road from Thompson Road to Birmingham Road
• I: Freemanville Road from Phillips Circle to the Milton City Park and Preserve
• J: Redd Road from Freemanville Road to Brittle Road.
The survey asks residents to list up to three segments that they either strongly support or oppose and suggest others not identified by the citizen-led committee.
The city also wants residents to consider whether they want trails outside of commercial areas like Crabapple and Deerfield to be asphalt or gravel. Respondents are asked whether the material, gravel or asphalt would impact their trail experience.
To take the survey, visit form. jotform.com/243525922881058.
— Hayden Sumlin
The
spring market is here.
The real estate market is heating up, and we are actively matching our well-qualified buyers with their ideal homes. We have multiple buyer needs across all price points. If you have a property that fits our criteria, please contact us or have your agent reach out.
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Up to $1M: Smaller single-family home with low maintenance and a small yard for dogs. Preferred neighborhoods include Palisades, Enclave at Wills Park, The Park at Bethany, etc.
Milton
Up to $1.5M: White Columns, Nettlebrook Farms, Taylor Glen, Richmond Glen or Highland Manor.
Up to $1.6M: In Milton or Cambridge High School district. Prefers older homes with charm (archways, transom windows) and a front porch. Open to renovations at lower price points.
Up to $2M: In Milton High School district, preferably Harrington Falls or Triple Crown. Flat yard preferred (pool optional). Turn-key with minimal renovations. Must find by the end of summer.
Up to $2.1M: Turn-key home with a great yard (pool or pool space), ideally closer to Crabapple or Alpharetta. Prefers charm and character; open to renovations. Must move by June.
Up to $2.5M: Open search in Milton.
Up to $3.5M: The Manor or Wood, Road Brittle Road or Summit Road.
Up to $4M: Wood Road or Brittle Road.
Up to $4.5M: The Hayfield.
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Up to $1.8M: Within 30 minutes of Swift School. Requires three-car garage, basement, flat yard and privacy. Pool preferred but not required. Newer, wellmaintained home. Must close by May 5.
Land (30004 or South Cherokee)
Varying price ranges for 1–2 acres or development opportunities.
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City sets plan for Arbor Day
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MILTON, Ga. — Milton is replacing a water oak tree removed from Mayfield Park last year with five new ones at its annual Arbor Day festivities Feb. 22.
The city’s 2025 Arbor Day celebration comes with its 16th consecutive year as a Tree City USA for prioritizing environmental stewardship.
City Arborist Sandra DeWitt said trees are vital to Milton’s beauty and enhance residents’ quality of life.
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Last fall, the city removed the large tree from the park because it was decaying and damaged with its canopy blocking traffic on Mayfield Road. To celebrate Arbor Day this year, the city will plant a water oak in the same spot surrounded by four autumn cherry trees at Mayfield Road and Baldwin Drive.
The annual Arbor Day festivities will run from 10 a.m. to just before noon with an opportunity for kids to build their own bird feeders with pinecones and birdseed.
City officials will make opening remarks and welcome Todd Williamson, branch manager of the Milton Library, to read a tree-themed story for kids and discuss the library system’s effort to chip in with tree plantings.
Attendees will have the opportunity to take home one of the 50 water oaks provided by the city for at-home plantings. The city says the Arbor Day festivities and seedling giveaways are a part of its “Plant! Milton” initiative, which looks encourage tree plantings and keep the public educated.
The city’s annual celebration falls before the national Arbor Day celebration in April because the best time to plant trees in Georgia is before the weather starts warming up at the beginning of March.
Hayden Sumlin
School board member offers district updates
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
NORTH FULTON, Ga. — The Fulton County School District may lose millions in funding due to a proposed state law that could affect its senior homestead tax exemption.
At a Feb. 13 community meeting held at Roswell North Elementary School, District 1 Board Member Sara Gillespie said state legislators are considering a law that would expand that exemption.
Lawmakers have not formally introduced the bill and the details are still under construction. However, if it moves forward in its current form, school officials estimate a negative impact to the district’s budget.
“A large majority of our funding does come from our homestead taxes,” Gillespie reminded parents at the meeting.
In the district’s 2024-2025 fiscal year budget, Fulton County property taxes contribute about 64% of the revenues.
There is currently an exemption in Fulton County with a reduction of $10,000 of homestead assessment values for residents over 65.
Gillespie also offered other district updates at the community meeting.
She spoke about possible school consolidations that may impact District 1 families. She said residents can expect changes that are “immediate enough” to warn the attendees.
“This is not going to be a one-time situation,” Gillespie said.
School closures would be based off school populations and capacity. District 1 consists of areas in North Fulton County such as Roswell, Alpharetta and Johns Creek.
On a related topic, Gillespie said the district received applications for over 1,700 students through the Change of School Assignment process. The application allows for students to attend a school different than the original school they were zoned for.
“We have a total of 741 middle and high school students that were offered placement,” Gillespie said. “Elementary
will be offered at the end of March.”
The applications come in the wake of possible school closures for Spalding Drive Elementary School and Parklane Elementary School.
Gillespie also shared that K-12 students can soon enjoy seeing three new four-legged friends in the hallways.
Ducky, Delilah and Ernie, 18-month-old dogs, will join the canine unit to begin cycling through the schools.
“They are super sweet, loving, they like to snuggle,” Gillespie said. “They’re very well prepared to be in the school environment.”
The dogs, who went through an “extreme” process to get selected, can help provide safety measures, like detecting drugs and weapons.
Gillespie went on to note a few personnel changes for the district.
Crabapple Middle School will welcome their new principal, Stephanie Haga. The Roswell resident began her journey with Fulton County Schools in 2005, where she spent 11 years as a middle school teacher and was principal of Wilson Creek Elementary
School.
“She knows our community,” Gillespie said.
Haga has supported 21 schools as a STEM program specialist.
Roswell High School will start the football season with a new head coach. Jonathon Thompson has been coaching since 2012 and was recently an offensive coordinator at Lee County.
“If you know anything about high school football, south Georgia brings a different breed,” said Melissa Little, Roswell High School assistant principal. “We’re just excited to add that to the competitive nature that’s already been there at Roswell.”
Regarding policy changes, Gillespie explained that exchange students will now have to submit a J-1 Visa to participate to be eligible to attend school.
Students will also be limited to joining at the start of the semester and can attend a maximum of one year. The student’s placement will depend on school capacity.
The students will not receive a diploma but can transfer their credits
earned to their home institution. In other news, the District 1 meeting discussed:
• A Transition Services Resource Fair will be held to discuss the transition from school to adulthood on Feb. 18 at Riverwood International Charter School and Feb.19 at Benjamin Banneker High School from 4-7 p.m. Families interested can register at https://www.fultonschools. org/all-departments/academics/ student-services/services-forexceptional-children/events/ transition-services-resource-fair
• Spring sports can be watched with the schedules available on the respected athletics department website
• Fulton County Schools received the Common Sense Media Certificate, which aims to provide digital citizenship to families, staff and students.
• Parents and teachers can declare their candidacy for the School Governance Council until March 28 at https://www.fultonschools.org/ our-district/charter-system/elections
SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
Sara Gillespie, Fulton County Schools District 1 board member, presents three new canine unit members to the crowd Feb. 13 at Roswell North Elementary School. “They’re very well prepared to be in the school environment,” Gillespie said.
STEPHEN HARTSOCK, founder and owner, Socks’ Love Barbeque
Cumming bbq joint earns cult following, critical acclaim
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
CUMMING, Ga. — When Stephen Hartsock opened his barbecue restaurant in 2018, he brought a meticulous eye for detail honed over 15 years in home construction.
At face value, there’s little difference between the menu at Socks’ Love Barbecue and the thousands of other barbecue spots in the nation.
They serve brisket, sausage, ribs, pulled pork, turkey and all the traditional sides.
But there’s something special going on behind the scenes.
“It’s kind of like the ongoing question. ‘What sets you apart from other barbecue joints?’” Hartsock said. “And I just kind of smile and say, ‘Come with me into our kitchen for a day, and you’ll see.”
In pursuing his culinary passions, Hartsock said he has applied lessons learned while mentoring under the owner of a construction company he worked at for over a decade. It was sometimes a frustrating experience, but he learned the value of perfection over “good enough.”
That approach has made Socks’ barbecue a truly exceptional experience.
“I promise you, once you figure us out and try it, it’s unforgettable,” he said.
That attention to detail hasn’t just won over locals. It’s turned heads in the barbecue world, too.
In 2024, Daniel Vaughn, the mind behind “Texas Monthly’s” Top 50 barbecue list, included Socks’ as an honorable mention for barbecues outside Texas and in a list of his favorites outside the state.
Brisket is smoked for 14 hours at Socks’
establishment on Buford Road in 2018.
writes. “That’s saying a lot because I lived in Texas.”
The magazine’s list of top barbecues is considered a Holy Grail for the latest and greatest meat smokers in the nation.
Among locals, the menu has won equally impressive praise and earned a steady stream of repeat customers who just can’t get enough. On Socks’ website, comments ooze with praise.
“I never write reviews, but I just finished the absolutely best barbecue I’ve ever had,” one reviewer
Hartsock began his professional foray into barbecue with a custom rub he gave out to guests at his wedding. Now dubbed Socks’ Love Rub, the mixture of molasses sugar, salt, paprika, black pepper, cayenne and onion and garlic powder is sold by the restaurant along with other custom condiments and seasonings.
After entering competitions and dabbling in catering, he realized he wanted to open a restaurant.
See SOCKS, Page 9
Socks’ Love Barbecue is open at 1050 Buford Highway in Cumming 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
To browse their products, visit socksloverub. com. To learn more about the restaurant, visit sockslovebrands.com.
STEVEN HARTSOCK/PROVIDED
Love Barbecue in Cumming. Owner Stephen Hartsock opened the
Socks:
Continued from Page 8
Pursuing that dream has been an exciting opportunity, but it’s also a lot of work, he said.
The brisket spends 14 hours in a J&R Manufacturing smoker, which he specially picked because of its ability to handle large quantities without skimping on flavor. The smoker is unique because the meat is cooked solely by hickory smoke rather than relying on an extra boost of heat from gas.
Trimmed and smoked daily, the certified Angus beef takes on a rich, juicy texture in the J&R, which also renders the beef’s fat into the butter-like consistency of tallow.
“When you achieve that, you know you’ve done it correctly,” Hartsock said.
The sausage is another source of pride at Socks’. Made in-house, staff make a point of respecting the cows by wasting as little of their meat as possible.
Natural hog casings are filled with brisket trimmings, and Hartsock applies a mathematical precision to their preparation, combining of 30-to-70 ratio of fat to lean beef. The mixture is ground several times and seasoned throughout the process.
Extra fat is rendered to tallow and saved for sale.
“We’re not wasting money,” he said. “We’re not wasting meat. We’re not wasting this animal’s life.”
After the sausages are stuffed, they are dried and then smoked.
Hartsock said he has applied that
Sides like macaroni and cheese receive the same care from cooks at Socks’ Love Barbecue.
same attention to detail to the menu’s sides, which include macaroni and cheese, collard greens, Frito chili pie, beans and creamed corn.
For example, the collards are made with Korean gochujang, fish sauce, soy sauce and other ingredients to impart a rich savoriness. The mac and cheese has an “ultra creamy” and “ultra cheesy” flavor and texture that makes it simply the “best mac and cheese you’ve ever had,” he said.
While many places do barbecue well, it’s entirely different to do it with excellence, Hartsock said. That guiding principle has led Hartsock to critical acclaim, a healthy business and personal satisfaction.
“It’s a ton of work,” Hartsock said. “But it’s why we can exist and be successful with a competitor just a half a mile down the road.”
Alpharetta native Sarah Coyne joins Appen reporting team
ALPHARETTA, Ga — Appen Media Group announced Feb. 14 that Sarah Coyne will join its staff as a reporter. Coyne will immediately begin covering local government and business in North Fulton. She will report to Carl Appen, director of content and development, and will be based in Alpharetta.
“Having an Alpharetta native come home to cover her community is a special gift for us,” Appen said. “Sarah hit the ground running this week already covering some heavy topics, like the tragic death of Roswell Police Officer Jeremy Labonte. For a hometown news group, connecting to the reporting is key. We’re lucky to have someone with
the reporting and photo chops Sarah brings. The fact that already has roots here just makes it that much better.”
Coyne grew up in Alpharetta and graduated from the University of Georgia in Dec. 2024 with a degree in journalism. During her time at Georgia, Coyne took courses in investigative reporting, international affairs and photojournalism. Alongside her coursework, Coyne served as the city and county beat reporter for The Oglethorpe Echo.
“I’m so excited to be able to write for the newspaper that I grew up reading,” Coyne said. “I have a passion to inform my audience and through my writing and photography, which I crafted at Grady College.”
To contact Coyne with news tips or story ideas, email sarah@appenmedia. com.
PHOTOS BY: STEVEN HARTSOCK/PROVIDED
Owner Stephen Hartsock applies to barbecuing a meticulous eye for detail he honed working in the home building industry. This rack of ribs is one of many traditional barbecued meats offered at the restaurant.
COYNE
County kicks off renovations for Health & Human Services Center
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A commercial property along North Point Parkway is getting a face-lift as Fulton County transforms the site into a new Health and Human Services Center.
County officials gathered at 4700 North Point Parkway Feb. 11 for a “sledgehammer ceremony” to mark the beginning of renovations for a new one-stop shop for a range of health services for residents of all ages.
The county says the facility renovations are set to be completed in the first quarter of 2027 and will improve access to services for developmental disabilities, behavioral and public health, seniors and social support for North Fulton residents.
Commissioner Bob Ellis, representing the eastern half of North Fulton, said the county began looking for a site to put a health and human services center north of the Chattahoochee River in late 2018.
“We have to think about services geographically to make sure that we are getting them close enough to our residents,” Ellis said.
In 2019, Fulton County purchased the office building, formerly a telecommunications center, for $11 million. It served as one of the county’s main sites for testing and vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, second only to Mercedez-Benz Stadium
The renovation project, approved by the Board of Commissioners last November, has been in the works since 2019. The $15.4 million contract with the Beck Group to renovate the building is funded through a loan from the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia.
After remarks from various elected officials, Ellis and Fulton County Commissioner Chair Rob Pitts took turns putting holes in a wall on the first floor of the empty office building with sledgehammers.
Ellis said he thinks the health-related service center is going to be impactful long-term. He said the additional space available at the facility serves as a beachhead for future expansion.
The site, set to be renovated into the North Fulton Health and Human Services Center, consists of a 108,000-square-foot, two-story facility on 23.87 acres. The plan is to revamp the entire first floor, tearing down walls and retrofitting the space. On the second floor, the plan is to leave around 25,000 square feet untouched for future expansion.
Ellis said the proximity of the site to Ga. 400 is excellent and generally accessible to all North Fulton cities, which was one of the goals of the facility.
The site allows the county to consolidate its existing services within several offices in Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton and Roswell. County officials said those sites are crowded and dilapidated.
The county has the Customer Service Center off
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
From left, Fulton County commissioners Bob Ellis and Bridget Thorne ready their sledgehammers as Chairman Robb Pitts takes a swing during the kickoff of renovations at 4700 North Point Parkway for the future North Fulton Health and Human Services Center. Work is expected to be complete by this time next year.
Maxwell Road in Alpharetta for assistance with water and sewer billing, tax assessments and driver services.
The North Fulton Service Center along Roswell Road (Ga. 9) in Sandy Springs offers similar services.
Those facilities will continue normal operations.
“What we have not had is many of the health-related services, or have them more proximate to residents,” Ellis said. “We have some smaller senior service centers that do sit in North Fulton cities right now … this is about being able to serve the entirety of the population better.”
As far as what active seniors can expect at the future North Fulton Health and Human Services Center, Ellis mentioned the Benson Center off Roswell Road (Ga. 9) in Sandy Springs.
Some services at the future center will be geared toward low-income residents, but county officials said others, like adult day care and vaccinations for international travelers, are available to everyone.
Other elected officials, including Mountain Park Mayor Bill Kolbrener, Johns Creek Mayor John Bradberry and Sandy Springs council members Melody Kel-
ley and John Paulson, also attended the ceremony. The lucky ones got to swing a sledgehammer.
Fulton County Chief Operating Officer Pamela Roshell said the renovated facility will bring new senior services to North Fulton, while providing existing ones for behavioral and public health, developmental disabilities and real estate management.
She also said there is room for expansion and opportunities for collaboration with community partners and organizations at the site.
With more than a year until the North Fulton Health and Human Services Center is welcoming residents, there is a plan for a similar center south of Atlanta.
Roshell said plans for a second health-related service center is dependent on a feasibility study, which the county is actively seeking a vendor to conduct.
“This transformation today is significant step toward creating a state-of-the-art facility that will enhance health and social support services for our friends and neighbors in North Fulton,” Roshell said. “We are not only expanding our capacity but also strengthening our commitment to well-being.”
Atlanta Regional Commission launches transportation survey
METRO ATLANTA — For the first time in 14 years, the Atlanta Regional Commission has launched the Regional Household Travel Survey, in efforts to see how metro Atlanta residents travel around the region.
In partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and the Georgia Department of Transportation, the commission is one of the first in the nation to administer a survey of its kind since the COVID-19 pandemic.
John Orr, Senior Managing Director of Transportation Planning at the Atlanta Regional Commission said that the survey is “one of the most important tools we have to understand how people in metro Atlanta travel.”
Data gathered will be given to researchers, policy makers and transportation planners to help provide improvements to the quality and availability of transportation.
“The findings will shed light on how travel patterns have changed since the pandemic, which caused a sharp rise in teleworking,” Orr said.
The commission aims to aid the Atlanta region through “transportation planning, aging services, community development, water resources management, workforce development and homeland security.”
The 19-county Atlanta region wide survey will consist of two phases, with the first that will be administered through Dec. 2025. This phase will include 3,000 households.
A “statistically significant” sample size that will consist of 6,500 households will be provided through the second phase, planned for 2026.
More Information: You can find more details about the survey at https://atlantaregional.org/news/uncategorized/ arc-launches-regional-household-travelsurvey-to-shed-light-on-transportationpatterns-in-metro-atlanta/
Households are defined as people who live together in one residence with a shared kitchen.
Counties that will be surveyed include Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Rockdale, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Coweta, Hall, Newton, Paulding, Spalding and Walton.
Households randomly selected to participate in the survey will receive details in the mail, along with the incentive to earn a gift card of $20 or more, based on household size, if chosen to opt-in.
The survey will ask the household to document travel for household members on an assigned day given by the Federal Highway Administration. Documentation should include time of day, mode of transportation, purpose of the trip and who they were traveling with. It is also important to note whether those who travelled were driving, walking, jogging, bicycling or using the transit.
A second survey, consisting of 9,000 households is planned to be conducted in 2025 through 2026, to provide an additional set of data for planning efforts.
“This survey will inform regional transportation planning efforts for years to come,” Orr said.
— Sarah Coyne
Enjoy the crossword? Help Stretch
Stan James, 84, has made the crossword puzzles of the Herald and Crier papers for years. Recently one of his dachshunds tragically passed away following a minor surgery. Now Stan’s other dachshund, Stretch, is facing a medical challenge of his own. Stan and his wife Kathi, 77, are trying to raise funds to pay for treatment. If you have enjoyed this paper’s puzzles or simply want to share some kindness, consider lending a hand during the James’ time of need. Visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-stretch-get-urgent-dental-care or, for a shorter web address, www.shorturl.at/wf1fG.
— The Appen Media newsroom
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Pre-Nuptial Agreements
Their essential role in empowering couples through estate planning
Pre-nuptial agreements represent one of life’s most significant milestones as couples enter marriage, symbolizing love, commitment, and partnership. While the emotional elements of marriage often take center stage, practical considerations inevitably accompany this profound union, particularly regarding finances and asset management. Pre-nuptial agreements can play a crucial role in addressing these important aspects, providing a structured framework for navigating potential complexities that may arise during the course of a marriage. One of the primary benefits of a prenup is its ability to alleviate potential financial disputes in the future. By addressing issues such as property division, spousal support, and debt allocation in advance, couples can minimize misunderstandings and conflicts that may arise later. This level of foresight is particularly valuable for
individuals entering a marriage with significant assets, business interests, or children from previous relationships. In such cases, pre-nuptial agreements can ensure that these existing responsibilities and assets are safeguarded. If you own any assets prior to marriage or remarriage you should also establish a trust to keep assets separate instead of commingling the assets during marriage. Sometimes without the trust your assets get commingled and therefore you may waive some or all of your rights in the prenuptial agreement. Therefore, we always recommend a trust with a prenuptial agreement. Worst case if prenuptial agreement is not possible then at least do a trust to keep your assets separate during the marriage.
Come to one of our weekly workshops to learn how to protect your assets in all different circumstances during your life and for your beneficiaries after your death.
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Delivers to 10,000 households every Thursday Zip Code: 30004. Community news for and about the City of Milton. Est. 2006. Milton’s paper of record.
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Verizon FanFest parties at State Farm Arena
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — This year for the Super Bowl, Verizon replaced a nationwide commercial with expanding into local markets and emphasizing providing a Super Bowl experience to their customers.
With the help of several of their partners, including the NFL, Verizon joined their sponsors to provide a new and unique experience in 30 cities across the country.
Verizon’s Atlantic South retail vice president Shawn Alexander said they wanted to do something different this year.
“This is really about the experience and connecting with our customer base and fans that love the NFL,” she said. “We wanted to get as close to a big Super Bowl party that you could get.”
Three-time Pro Bowler, former Falcons running back and current Falcons minority owner Warrick Dunn took pictures with dozens of attendees at the party.
What meant the most to him was
Jahi
being there to help create memories for fans.
“It’s the relationships that we build in life that really impact us,” Dunn said.
“To me, you’ve gotta meet [people] where they’re at, and this is a great opportunity to actually do that and create memories today.”
Falcons linebacker Matt Judon said he was happy to get the call asking him to attend Fan Fest. He also complimented the Falcons’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, Grady Jarrett.
“It’s a cool award to have around the league,” he said. “It makes us be competitive in giving, how much we can not think about ourselves.”
Wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III explained how the city’s support has been vital to his first year with the Falcons. He said he was excited to give back to a community that’s embraced him.
“This is a fan-driven league,” he said. “Being involved with the fans, being involved with the community is big for me. When our kids can touch, feel and see what their dreams look like I think it’s big for them.”
Fellow wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge agreed that being there for the fans has been a highlight of his time in Atlanta.
“The love they have for me, I love them just as much,” he said. “I love the fan base, all the people. Love when they come out and have a good time.”
Innovation Academy girls win fencing championship for second straight year
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga — FCS Innovation Academy hosted the Georgia High School Fencing League Championship Feb. 8 and took home gold in girls team play for the second year in a row.
The final was a rematch of the previous year but this time on the academy’s home turf. Lambert High School was runner-up for the second straight season after taking first in 2023.
Boasting 97 fencers, Innovation Academy’s team is one of the biggest in the nation.
League Chairman Kathy Vail said Georgia ranks third in the nation with about 400 fencers in their 20th season.
“It’s a lifetime sport,” she said. “One of the things I like about the high school league is it gives more kids a chance to be a high school athlete.”
Innovation Academy Head Coach Bill Donges said 40-50 fencers join the team each year.
“(About) 90% of new participants have not fenced before. It’s a great opportunity,” he said. “It gives kids on my team a chance to succeed in a sport, and it’s huge for the community here.”
Team Captain Yuchen Fan said fencing “is IA culture.”
Assistant Coach Becca Han agreed.
Han said she returns to Alpharetta from Georgia Tech in order to stay
connected with an organization that has added immense value to her life.
“I gained almost all my best friends through the team,” Han said. “Coach Bill recognizes every small achievement. It really makes you feel accomplished.”
Innovation Academy took third in the boys final. The championship saw Pope High School triumph over Johns Creek High School.
Pope Head Coach David Eichler said seeing his team rise to the occasion
was the best way to close out his career before retiring this year.
“They fenced better than I have ever seen them fence before,” he said. “I could not be more proud of my team. They worked so hard this year.”
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
“Deuce” Fields Jr. plays with a football aiming game before the big game starts at the Verizon Fan Fest at State Farm Arena Feb. 9
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
From left, FCS Innovation Academy fencers Claire Wang, Anna Donges, Catherine Rafferty and Emma Cheng celebrate taking first place at the Georgia High School Fencing League championship held at FCS Innovation Academy Feb. 8. The quartet beat Lambert High School 45-31 for the title.
Communications and PR director joins Convention & Visitors Bureau
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau has welcomed a new director of public relations and communications to their team.
Anita Jupin began in the position in October, bringing years of experience and ample experience in the field, according to the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Jupin served the City of Milton for five years, rising from special events coordinator to economic development manager. There, she orchestrated high-profile community events, built strong partnerships with local businesses and championed initiatives to drive economic growth and community engagement.
She has a background in marketing, hospitality and event planning. That experience equips her to attract visitors, enhance local tourism and foster a vibrant community, according to the bureau.
Janet Rodgers, president and CEO of the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau, said she looks forward to seeing what Jupin can accomplish leading the communications team.
Director of PR & Communications
Anita Jupin joined the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau team in October.
She brings years of experience in the communications field after serving with the City of Milton.
“We are thrilled that Anita has joined our team,” Rodgers said. “Talented individuals working together for a common purpose is what makes our organization so
awesome. Anita’s skills and reputation precede her.”
Public relations and communications efforts are essential to the success of the bureau’s goals and strategies, according to the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Convention & Visitors Bureau serves as the official destination marketing organization for the city.
The agency works to reinforce Alpharetta’s position as a regionally, nationally and globally recognized premier tourism destination by developing programs and facilities to attract overnight visitors. It reaches potential visitors all year to attract overnight stays through innovative and targeted marketing, communications strategies and sales efforts.
Alpharetta was named one of the Top 10 of the South’s best cities on the rise in 2024 by “Southern Living Magazine.” “The Local Palate’s” readers selected Alpharetta as a Top 3 culinary town in the South in 2024.
Jon Wilcox
Alpharetta Farmers Market to take SNAP benefits
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Federal food assistance recipients will be able to purchase food at the Alpharetta Farmers Market starting in April.
Through a partnership between the City of Alpharetta and Alpharetta Business Association, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will be able to use their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EPT) cards to buy eligible items, according to the city.
The Alpharetta Business Association coordinates the farmers market.
The initiative is part of Alpharetta’s commitment to ensuring residents have access to fresh, nutritious and locally sourced foods while supporting local farmers and vendors.
“By incorporating the SNAP/EBT program into our farmers market, we’re not only addressing food insecurity but also supporting our local food system,” Mayor Jim Gilvin said. “This initiative reflects our city’s dedication to offering the highest quality environment for our residents and businesses, while fostering a strong sense of community.”
SNAP recipients will be able to trade funds for $1 and
$5 wooden tokens, which can be traded for foods from participating vendors. The vendors submit the tokens to the farmers market for reimbursement.
SNAP is a federally funded U.S. Department of Agriculture program that provides food to low-income seniors and families. Benefits are loaded onto an EBT card, which functions like a debit card.
In April 2023, 41.9 million people in 22.2 million households, or about 12.5% of the nation, received SNAP benefits, according to the Pew Research Center.
Eligible items include fresh produce, meats, dairy, grains, condiments, honey, oils, spices, seeds, bread, cakes, coffee and more. Ineligible items include hot foods or those meant for immediate consumption, alcohol, pet food, supplements, single-serving drinks and baked goods and nonfood items.
No tax is charged on SNAP-purchased products, and no change is given.
Unused tokens can be taken home and spent at future markets.
In 2021, community meetings identified the inclusion of SNAP at the farmers market as a top priority. Since the
More information: For a comprehensive list of eligible items with examples, visit www.fns.usda. gov/snap/eligible-food-items. Vendors can sign up with the Market Manager, Valerie Rye at Manager@ AlpharettaFarmersMarket.com. Training will be provided to ensure they understand program guidelines.
adoption of the City Agriculture Plan in December 2022, the Alpharetta Business Association has worked with city staff and community organizations to make the market SNAP-approved.
“We are very happy to offer this service to the community and to expand the customer base for our market vendors,” said Beth Johnson, Alpharetta Business Association board member. “We know from talking with other farmers markets that introducing this program truly benefits everyone.”
Committee recommends no taxes on tips, firearms sales tax holiday
By KIM JARRETT Central Square
ATLANTA — A Georgia Senate committee unanimously recommended approval of a bill that would remove the taxes on tips for the state's service workers.
Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming, told the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday that Senate Bill 2 would return $65 million to $95 million a year to taxpayers.
President Donald Trump said during his campaign that he would remove the tax on tips at the federal level. A
bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill that would do so in the U.S. Senate.
Other states, including Arizona and North Carolina, are also considering similar bills.
The committee approved a bill 8-3 that would give an 11-day sales tax holiday for firearms, ammunition, gun safes and related accessories.
Sen. Jason Anavitarte, R-Dallas, proposed the bill last year, but it was not passed.
Some questioned why Anavitarte wanted a sales tax holiday on firearm-
related items and not other products, such as baby care items.
Anavitarte said the bill is about weapons used by sportsmen.
"This doesn't proactively promote, you know, people to go carry weapons," Anavitarte said. "The bigger picture picture, being stewards of the outdoors is why I care about it."
Sen. Nan Orrock, D-Atlanta, said the same argument about doing it for those who love the outdoors could be made for removing taxes on fishing or mountain climbing equipment.
"It's an insubstantial argument, if
you'll pardon my language, that makes this stand out other than if you want to send some sort of atta-boy to people that have very strong reactions when we do anything about gun safety around here," Orrock said.
"If it gets you to 'yes' to vote for this bill then we do want to add fishing items or anything like that," Anavitarte replied.
The committee agreed to sunset the sales tax holiday after five years.
The bill would return $1.3 million on the "low end" and $3 million on the "high end" to the taxpayers, Anavitarte said.
ALPHARETTA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Jon Wilcox
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival returns to metro theaters
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is bringing 50 feature-length movies to local theaters Feb. 19-March 5 for its 25th anniversary celebrating the community’s diverse experiences.
The films include 22 documentaries and 28 narrative works with an online opportunity to stream some of this year’s selections March 7-16.
The anniversary edition features official film selections from 22 countries, including the United States, Brazil and Israel. There are 88 in-theatre screenings scheduled across six venues over two weeks.
The annual festival kicks off with the regional premier of “Bad Shabbos,” a winner at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Feb. 19. Tickets to opening night start at $25 with the stars and creators of the film slated for special guest appearances.
Film screenings are across Metro Atlanta at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Springs Cinema & Taphouse, Merchants Walk Cinemas in East Cobb, the historic Plaza Theatre in midtown Atlanta, the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center and the Tara Theatre off Cheshire Bridge Road.
Other festival highlights include “Young Professionals Night” Feb. 22 at the Plaza Theatre off Ponce De Leon Avenue; “Field Trip Screening” Feb. 27 at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center for the Metro Atlanta premier of “Ellie Wiesel: Soul on Fire;” and two films celebrating comedian Jerry Lewis.
The closing night March 5 is at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center with the Jury Awards presentation and the Metro Atlanta premier of “Cheers to Life” with director Chris D’Amato and producer Julio Uchoa.
An all-access streaming pass is available March 7-16 to Georgians who want to follow along from home with 21 feature films and 14 short films from
Society:
Continued from Page 1
Liz Hausmann, chief of staff for the Georgia Secretary of State and former Fulton County commissioner, helped get the locations changed to be closer to the city centers.
“It took a little finagling to get that change, but we accomplished it,” Hausmann said. “Now we’ve got two beautiful libraries in the heart of both cities.”
The property was chosen to be at the site of the of the Imogene Dinsmore estate property, which was sold for $1.1 million after a unanimous pass for the notion to buy the property on June 6, 2012.
This decision helped create the Friends of the Milton Library, with initiative from Appen Media Columnist and Milton resident Bob Myers.
Community members introduced the idea of a book barn to Hausmann after the contract for library
A look at the 23rd
the festival. Some are only available for exclusive in-theater presentation.
The anniversary edition also marks the launch of the Kenny Blank Vision Initiative, an expansion that transforms the festival into a year-round hub for film, education and industry leadership. The initiative looks to launch a filmmaker fund to empower storytellers.
Kenny Blank, executive and artistic director of the AJFF, said the nonprofit is proud to unite film lovers from all walks of life to the festival that is welcoming and reflective of people’s shared
construction was let with the county.
“Our intent was to build a book barn for the Friends of the Milton Library,” Lusk said. “Our wish was to salvage the smaller barn, or both barns, and reuse that material in construction of the book barn.”
The creation
Adam Orkin, president of the Friends of the Milton Library, oversaw guiding Fulton County with the design for the Milton.
“We didn’t want it to look like a box,” Kunz said.
The design included silo and barn features to maintain the project’s character.
“They tried to incorporate as many architectural features as you might see going around the countryside here,” Lusk said.
Fulton County and the library were able to salvage many features from the Dinsmore home. The wood was stored and used to create the book barn.
A door, windows, a mantle and doorknobs were saved for the new
humanity.
“Our 25th anniversary represents a quartercentury of fostering connections and understanding through the transformative power of cinema,” Blank said. “This year’s lineup not only highlights stories that resonate deeply with Jewish life but also redefines what it means to be a 'Jewish' film. It’s about the intersection of Jewish experiences with the broader world, creating space for meaningful dialogue and connection between communities.”
— Hayden Sumlin
properties. The “favorite” salvaged item among the friends is the 48-inch Red Oak tree, right off the north porch.
“Another feature that resulted from the community involvement was salvaging and perpetuating the family line of the famous oak tree,” Lusk said.
Community members fostered acorns from the ‘famous’ oak tree into seedlings, now 40 of those trees are planted across Milton.
Library members can also help with the conservation by picking up seedlings, harvested by the library, from the front desk each year on Arbor Day.
Community involvement
Book sales were created in effort to raise money for the barn. 10,000 books were collected for the first sale that was held at the Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub, which raised $1,800.
A $60,000 contribution given by The Shannon Foundation, a non-profit aimed and helping to pay for children’s medical care for families who cannot afford it.
A Giving Tree was also created to help cover the remaining costs, which the foundation is exhibited by as rocks and leaves on the tree, which is in the main foyer of the library.
The library officially opened July 12, 2015; shorty followed by the opening of the Book Barn on Aug. 20, 2015.
The impact
Kunz hopes that the barn becomes a “legacy” that will serve the community forever.
The book barn is open each Tuesday 1-5:30 p.m. and every second Saturday 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Members of the community can donate through the book donation slot, which is located on the backside of the barn.
Those who want to get involved are welcome to join the Friends of The Milton Library by filling out an application form that includes the date, name, address, telephone and email address. Forms can either be handed or mailed to 3625 Wolf Willow Close, Milton, GA 30004.
ERIC BUKARD/PROVIDED
annual Closing Night of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival shows American film composer Charles Fox seated at a piano and surrounded by local Atlanta musicians and festival organizers. The 25th anniversary edition runs Feb. 19 through March 16.
Deerfield:
Continued from Page 1
So far, the city has received interest from parties representing 10 project sites and 320 total acres within the district.
Some of the properties include Stonecreek Church, the Target and Kohl’s shopping center along Ga. 9, and more than 50 acres off Deerfield parkway owned by Verizon Wireless.
“We said, ‘geez, we better look at this holistically,’” Buscemi said. “This way we can look at the district as a whole and come up with a good solution.”
The city’s goal is to revitalize its largest commercial district and economic engine to fit with the existing character of the city, like seen throughout the Crabapple district. With many potential solutions, suggested revisions are not set in stone. The city says residents will have an opportunity to give feedback on any changes that move forward.
The discussion points may have been the most significant part of the Feb. 10 work session. City Council and Planning Commission members were asked to consider incentives for developers, a 50-50 ratio requirement for multi-family and townhomes, allowing stormwater facilities to count toward open space and whether to allow townhomes as a use along Ga. 9.
Buscemi said there are two options to regulate multi-family developments: either go with the existing 50-50 split between residential and other commercial uses or require the first floor to be entirely non-residential.
“The 50-50 rule was applied by council to protect this limited commercial area from becoming predominately residential,” he said. “We had very limited commercial land area; multi-family is in high demand at present and has been over the last four years or so due to the lack of affordable housing.”
The Deerfield district contains several different zoning classifications, which decrease in density the further south you are along Ga. 9.
Buscemi said the public wanted to know the differences between T4-6 zoning classifications, which are the city’s most dense and make up a majority of the Deerfield district, and its corresponding form-based code.
Any residential developments including multifamily or townhomes still require a city permit.
Milton has also developed form-based codes for its other commercial areas, like Crabapple and the adjacent Mayfield district around Mid Broadwell Road.
“The current zoning, outlined in the Deerfield form-based code, has several transect zones … it’s like a zoning map for the public,” Buscemi said. “The green represents T2, which is a more rural zoning, and the darkest purple is T6, which represents the city’s urban core.”
A transect zone refers to a series of zoning districts that transition from sparse farmhouses on several acres to a dense urban core, like the Deerfield district.
With Milton at the northern tip of the state’s most populous county, the city is looking to preserve the open spaces and large residential lots that make it unique while also strategically growing its commercial districts. It’s a game north Metro Atlanta cities have been playing since their
inception.
The city’s Transfer of Development Rights program is one of its tools for strategic growth, which concentrates density in specific areas and restricts it in others. It allows landowners to sell their development rights from agriculturally zoned or environmentally protected areas to developers who can use those rights to increase density within the city’s form-based code for commercial districts.
Despite the intent, city officials said the program has rarely been used since it was created in 2011.
The city is proposing to lower the maximum units allowed in its densest zoning district, T6, from 36 units per acre to 16. A developer would be able to put 12 units on 1 acre, but exchanging rights would allow them to build up to 36 units per acre.
The reason for Milton’s series of moratoriums on all zoning applications in the district, officials say, is so the city can make its way through the community-driven code revision process, make changes and create a design manual for what residents want. Without a moratorium, the city would be considering zoning applications while changing its plans.
The Deerfield Implementation Plan is not just about development, it’s also about creating a destination for the city’s growing population.
One of the potential revisions to city code grants developers a density bonus, or additional residential and/or commercial units per acre, when they create a civic space, donate right-of-way for a trail or construct paths, parking garages or public art installations.
Buscemi said the incentives would complement the TDR program.
Mayor Peyton Jamison said he wanted to know why the program is necessary if the city is incentivizing the amenities it wants for residents and limiting density.
City Councilman Jan Jacobus said he’s in favor of removing the TDR program and sticking with the incentives that get residents the amenities they want. He said he wants to make sure the former Verizon campus off Deerfield Parkway remains a nice area.
“We need as much as we can in that area to green it up,” Jacobus said. “We have an awful lot of asphalt and not much else.”
SCREENSHOT
Milton Special Projects Director Bob Buscemi, top right at the podium, speaks to the City Council and Planning Commission Feb. 10 about potential redevelopment incentives in the Deerfield district. City officials say there will be more public discussion, and eventually hearings and votes, on any potential code revisions.
Corn shucking (separating the husk from the ear of corn) was labor intensive task requiring a group effort. In this 1932 photo the extended Bell family and neighboring farmers are gathered at the Albert Bell farm on Rogers Bridge Road. For generations the Bells farmed the land that includes today’s Cauley Creek Park.
PRESERVING THE PAST
Shakerag – A delightful community with a curious name
Shakerag is a historic community in Johns Creek dating back to the early 1800s. Parts of the community are in Forsyth County and parts are in Fulton County. It was originally called Sheltonville in honor of the pioneer family of Vardy Shelton. It changed its name to Shakerag sometime in the 1880s. The other most noteworthy historic communities in Johns Creek are Ocee, Warsaw, and Newtown.
Shakerag has many claims to fame, like its gold rush. After the famous Dahlonega gold rush in the 1830s gold was discovered in Sheltonville in the early 1840s when a resident, Mrs. Campbell, found a shiny yellow object in the dirt. A new small-scale gold rush was the result. Shafts were dug and a stamp mill was set up to crush ore. Later, surface, or placer gold mining took place especially along Cowpen Creek where a gold-rich vein of milky quartz existed. About 1849 when the gold was hard to find many miners left the area for California. Some remained and became permanent residents. There are several stories about how Shakerag got its odd name. One claims that in the old days people would shake white cloths, or rags, in the air
to stop trains when they wanted to ride. The problem with that tale is that there were no trains in Shakerag says noted historian Charlie Boyd a lifelong resident of the community.
More likely the name derives from a fistfight described in a booklet written by the Sheltonville-Shakerag Community Club in 1962. According that that story, two disheveled miners got into a fight in a local store. Their ragged clothes flapped wildly as they fought. Observers broke up the scuffle. The store owner told the brawlers to leave and shake their rags elsewhere and a town name was born.
Charlie Boyd believes the fight story is the most credible and that a fight most likely occurred on a Saturday afternoon when people gathered to buy essentials such as coffee, tea, tobacco, corn meal and shortening. “Most of the stores I went to in my youth had one wall of canned goods, sometimes some bartered goods from local farms, but mostly just the essentials,” says Boyd.
As in most communities farming was the main economic activity. Cotton, as they say, was king. Charlie was raised on small farm near a 1700-acre farm owned by the Findley brothers. Charlie’s father was a sharecropper who, like many others, had a small plot of land and worked part time for a large farmer. “The large farms sustained the small farmers,” Charlie says. In the 1980s a technology park was developed
where the Findleys farmed.
“My parents lacked education but required all their children to get an education. If we got in trouble at school we got a good whipping at home,” Charlie recalls.
At the time, Shakerag consisted of a few large farms and no more than 40 small sharecropper houses. Charlie says that when harvesting came, information was posted at the local store and sharecroppers and the entire community would work. “If you arrived early, you could get the most productive rows of cotton, butterbeans or whatever was being harvested and make more money since workers were paid by the pound.”
The gold rush stimulated the local economy. A post office was opened in Sheltonville in 1848 and remained in operation until 1907 when rural free mail delivery began. Over time several general stores, a sawmill, a cotton gin, a grist mill, a blacksmith shop and a shoemaker were started. Ferry service across the Chattahoochee River was fairly common in the early 1800’s. The first bridge in across the Chattahoochee River was completed in 1907 near the McGinnis Ferry operation. The bridge ended the need for the McGinnis Ferry after 80 years of service. In the 19th century schools and churches were built, however, by the early 1960s there were still only two paved roads in the community.
In 1864, Shakerag was the site of a brief Civil War skirmish when eight Confederate soldiers of the 8th Texas Calvery were in the area to scout river crossings. They were spotted by a strong group of Federal Calvery riding down McGinnis Ferry Road. Two Texans were shot while the rest escaped. Sam Street, a blacksmith, was killed and buried in Shady Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. George Zimpelman was shot in the chest but was nursed back to health at the home of Henry and Luisa Rogers. He later became a successful businessman in Austin, Texas.
The Shakerag Hounds fox hunt, the oldest recognized hunt in Georgia, played a significant role in Shakerag’s history. Founded in 1943 it has had several homes. From 1948 to the to the late1980s it was located near McGinnis Ferry and Medlock Bridge roads in Shakerag. Charlie remembers the excitement the hunts generated among the children of the community.
Special thanks to Joan Compton, President of the Johns Creek Historical Society for her help and for connecting me with Charlie Boyd.
Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
BOB MEYERS Columnist
JOHNS CREEK HISTORICAL SOCIETY ARCHIVES COURTESY OF JAN BELL WEBSTER AND WOODY BELL
OPINION
Free Spring gardening classes set in Milton
In collaboration with the City of Milton, the North Fulton Master Gardeners are offering a series of gardening classes open to everyone. The classes will be held on successive Tuesday evenings beginning February 25th and continuing on March 4th and March 11th. They are held at the Milton City Park and Preserve, located at 1785 Dinsmore Road.
These classes are free and open to the public. The doors open at 6:30 p.m.; we entertain questions and garden topics until 7:00 p.m., when the classes start. Each session consists of one or two topics and concludes around 8:30 p.m. We hope you join us! Please RSVP at https://nfmg.net/ wp/2025/01/21/spring-2025-classesplant-milton/.
Here’s a round up of classes you can expect.
The basics of vegetable gardening
Get a jump on vegetable gardening with Master Gardener George Scesney, who learned how to garden as a child. Whether you are new to growing vegetables or are interested in learning how to increase your garden’s bounty, there is much to learn from this lifelong gardener. George shares his expertise in sustainable (organic) gardening, mulching, weed control, fertilizing and pest control. He will also provide instruction on how to prepare your garden, select the best vegetables to grow in our area, and the optimal time to plant each type.
George has been a Master Gardener for over 15 years. He volunteers at community gardens and gardens that support local foodbanks. George is a highly sought-after speaker.
March 4
Hello Hostas! A perfect addition to your shade garden
Master Gardener Carole MacMullan has a lifetime of experience with hostas. She will tell you that no shade garden should be without a hosta, which have been the mainstay of shade gardens for at least one hundred years. Even though their flowers are insignificant, the appeal is the diversity of their leaves. Thanks to hybridizers the leaves of hostas come in a variety of sizes, colors as well as textures. Learn how to plant, care for, fertilize and prevent eradication from hosta enemy number one, deer.
Carole MacMullan taught biology for
About the author
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Michael Snow, a Milton resident and North Fulton Master Gardener since 2021. Michael had always been active in “yard work” and growing plants and shrubs. Upon retiring from a career in real property finance, he sought to benefit from an organized source of garden information and became a Master Gardener. He plays golf almost as frequently as he gardens.
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.
Goodbye lawn: Alternatives for a healthy environment
Shrink your lawn: Save money and time while enhancing biodiversity! North Fulton Master Gardener Sandra Shave explains how you can and should reduce your lawn size by making your own native habitat. Join the effort to create a countrywide Homegrown National Park and reduce your lawn size. Use low-growing natives;
plant a native wildflower meadow; establish a pollinator garden; embellish those shady spots with natives or even non-native ground covers; or just convert more of your lawn to native shrubs.
Sandy graduated from the Master Gardener program in early 2019. She is a recent transplant to Roswell, Georgia, moving from Wisconsin in 2014 after retirement to be nearer to her children and most importantly her grandchildren.
March 11
Growing berries,
figs and other small fruit
If you have picked berries on roadside bushes and found them to be bitter, hard and inhospitable, help is on its way. If you have ever tasted a fig preserve and wish to have more, help is on its way. Lynn Nations will talk about how the home gardener can grow small fruits in the North Atlanta area. In addition to her experience as a gardener, she will provide selected informational handouts from UGA Extension.
Lynn Nations, a California native, followed her grandchildren to Georgia. Coming from California she had problems determining plants from weeds, which led
her to become a Master Gardener. Lynn is a retired pharmacist, and a certified medical Qigong instructor.
There must be a tool for that Every job is easier with the proper tool. Michael Snow will talk about his favorite tools and the benefits of having the proper tool to use. He will also provide insights into the favorite tools of other Master Gardeners. Michael wants to know: If you only had $100, what garden tools would you buy?
He may be the only person with an inventory of his garden tools, a list for what he wants to buy next and a desire to manufacture and sell garden tools.
Happy gardening!
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https://appenmedia.com/opinion/columists/garden buzz/.
MICHAEL SNOW Guest Columnist
PROVIDED
Master Gardener George Scesney will be teaching a class on the basics of vegetable gardening at the Milton City Park and Preserve.
Don’t be hoodwinked by sloppy headlines
A reader emailed recently to point out a couple of grammatical errors in an article we published.
We are always on guard to ensure that what we publish is correct, and correctly presented. That includes grammar.
Another thing we do is write headlines. You don’t hear much about that. It’s not as simple as snatching a few words from the story and slapping them across the top.
A good headline should encase the “news” of the story. The headline writer must read the story, understand its essence.
It is an art I strive to master. Not long ago, there were rules for writing headlines, practices refined over centuries. The skills were born through a collaboration between writers and printers, a shotgun marriage of intellect and artisanship.
Back in the day, we were taught that if a headline has more than one line, each line should extend roughly the same length, filling the entire column. Printers understood that lines of equal length lines in a headline created a visually pleasing symmetry.
We had to learn character measures for each letter of the alphabet. For example, an “a” counted as 1, an “f” was ½, a “w” counted as 1½. Each column of a newspaper page allowed only so many characters of a certain type size. Large headlines allowed fewer characters than small headlines.
The goal was to make the words on
each line fill the available width.
You had to calculate it in your head. Over time, you got good at it – not always perfect, but close.
That was decades before pagination software. Now, you can look at a computer screen to see how well your words fit each line.
Attracting the eye and mind
I learned rules governing newspaper presentation by reading books on typography and attending seminars on page design. My best teacher, though, was watching seasoned printers, mostly old timers who approached their work as the craft that it is.
From hot lead to the advent of photocopy cold type in the 1970s, these artisans took their profession seriously. A certified printer had to complete an apprenticeship – sometimes up to seven years.
Editors are not printers, but they should acquaint themselves with the craft.
Before computers allowed them to assemble pages on a screen, editors depended on printers. Editors drew a mockup – called a “dummy” – on a sheet of graph paper, which told the printer where to paste strips of type onto a fullscale cardboard sheet. The mockup told the printer where to place everything, including the dimensions of a photo, the space to allow for a headline and such.
If a story ran too long, the editor stepped forward with a blue highlighter to mark cuts – maybe the last sentence in a paragraph or a paragraph at the bottom.
Using a blade, the printer sliced out the highlighted portions, then adjusted the remaining pieces. If the story came
up a line or two short, the printer would slice between the last few paragraphs and arrange the pieces evenly to make the gaps uniform. Only printers were allowed to touch the type and the board.
Smart editors marked cuts, kept their mouths shut and let printers do their job.
Smart editors had college degrees and wore ties, but they knew who the boss was during page production. Ideally, each respected the other.
The computer age and cheating
Computer pagination has replaced many printers. You don’t see them anymore. I married one, so there is that. And yes, I often keep my mouth shut around her, too.
But, it is sad to see the craftsmanship involved in newspapering fade.
I blame sloppy online news services for much of this, mainly because the people running them never learned the basics of what printers knew – how to appreciate readers, how the eye moves across a page, the perfect width for a line of type before the reader’s eyes tire.
(There’s an old printer’s formula for the proper length of a line of type: It’s roughly 1½ times the point size of the type, expressed in picas. A pica equals about 1/6 of an inch. So, if you’re using standard 10-point body type, you should limit the line length to 15 picas –about 2 ¼ inches.)
Sloppy online news services also cheat. They deceive in content and presentation.
They steal stories from television interviews. They also cheat when writing headlines.
Whether through incompetence or
deliberate deception, their headlines do the opposite of what they’re supposed to do – tell the “news” of the story.
One telltale sign that you’re being had is when you see the words “this” or “these” in a headline.
Here's one from a broadcast news organization’s website:
“If you’re not doing this, experts say your pipes could burst during winter storm”
Click on the story, and five paragraphs in, you’ll find that the ”this” referred to in the headline is to leave a faucet dripping overnight.
Shocker!
A decent editor, one who respects readers, would have written:
Plumbing experts say leave faucet dripping to avoid frozen pipes
Not rocket science. It tells the story in a nutshell – and all three lines are roughly the same length.
Remember, when you see the word “this” in a headline, you’ll hit a paywall that charges you valuable time.
Another scurrilous practice is to make outrageous claims in a headline without specifics. Many sports websites do this.
“College football world outraged at late-game penalty”
I follow college football. I’m in the world. Why am I not already outraged? Did East Carolina get robbed by Temple?
Dear readers, these phony news websites are a sham. They are the stranger standing on your doorstep with both hands behind his back. Do you open the door?
Be smart. Good headlines tell you that the writer appreciates your time.
PAT FOX
Managing Editor
pat@appenmedia.com
DEATH NOTICES
David Byrd, 46, of Alpharetta, passed away on January 20, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The City of Milton City Council will hold a public hearing for the applications for alcohol licenses listed below on Monday, March 3, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the First Floor of City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, Georgia 30004. All interested persons are encouraged to attend the public hearing.
PH-25-AB-02 – Stowe Milton LLC dba Your Pie has made an application for a license to sell Wine and Malt Beverages for Consumption On-Premises, and for Sunday Sales at its place of business located at 2955 Bethany Bend, Suite 300, Milton, Georgia 30004.
and utility sectors. We are extremely grateful.
Newspaper Delivery Route Openings with Appen Media Group
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.”
Brian Pressnall, 54, of Roswell, passed away on January 25, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
James Robertson, 43, of Roswell, passed away on January 20, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Edward Wegener, 90, of Alpharetta, passed away on January 23, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
William Corder, 74, of Roswell, passed away on January 31, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Cheryl Reese, 77, of Roswell, passed away on January 31, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Charles Stoyer, 92, of Alpharetta, passed away on January 24, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Communications
and Marketing Manager
NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the fulltime Communications and Marketing Manager position. The Communications and Marketing Manager is responsible for helping raise awareness of North Fulton Community Charities and its programs and services. One of the primary responsibilities of this role is to create internal and external communications and marketing materials to promote NFCC’s overall mission.
The Manager will manage and update multiple channels including social media, email, websites, newsletters, presentations, and video. Proficiency in WordPress, Microsoft Office, and Canva are required and experience with Salesforce or other CRM and Pardot/Account Engagement a plus.
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
Software Developers/Senior Programmer Analyst– Multiple Openings (Alpharetta, GA)
Discovery Analytics Inc: Work using MVS, JCL, Cobol/CICS, TSO/ISPF, VSAM, SQL, DB2, MQ Series & SqL. Req. - Bachelor’s +5yrs Exp. Comp. salary, Relocate to unanticipated site. No national/ international travel. Mail resume to: President, 11535, Park woods Circle, Ste A, Alpharetta, Georgia, USA- 30005.
Senior Software Engineer, UKG, Inc., Alpharetta, Georgia Will serve on agile sftwre develpmnt team responsbl for develpng & maintainng existng sftwre prodcts by buildng new functionlty while ensurng qualty & excellnc of UKG’s prodcts. Will wrte code using knowldg of codng technqus, tech stacks, & best practcs, perform techncl architctre & desgn projcts, & mentor othr membrs of develpmnt team. Req: either (i) BS degree (or equiv foreign degree) in Computer Science, IT, Electrical Engineering or closely relatd field & 5 yrs of exp as Software Engineer wrkng on enterprise level projects or (ii) MS degree (or equiv foreign degree) in Computer Science, IT, Electrical Engineering or closely relatd field & 3 yrs of experience as Software Engineer wrkng on enterprise level projects. Hybrid position working 3 days/wk at co office in Alpharetta, GA & 2 days/wk from home office. Review full job descr. & reqs. & apply at https://www.ukg.com/about-us/careers under “Senior Software Engineer" REF:SRSOF011628.
Sawnee EMC is seeking a Warehouse Clerk - Trainee to restock, organize, and distribute materials. Responsible for unloading and verifying incoming shipments, maintaining accurate inventory records, operating a forklift and other heavy equipment, and proficient in Microsoft Office. Requires heavy lifting, high school diploma or equivalency and a valid GA driver’s license. Hours: Availability for alternate shift assignments and irregular work hours.
Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, February 28, 2025. Apply online: www. sawnee.coop/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.
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