Sandy Springs Crier - November 10, 2022

‘You can prevent this’ Residents ask city to ban bow hunting

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Speaking before the Sandy Springs City Council on Nov. 1, a handful of residents shared fears that someone may be injured or killed if the city does not take action on bow hunting in the city.

Residents said that each year, hunters come to wooded suburbs like Sandy Springs to hunt deer in areas with relaxed or no regulations on bowhunting, often shooting deer on private property in residential areas without permission or oversight.

This practice, whether on private land or not, puts lives at risk, residents said, and should be stopped as soon as possible.

“I am not against hunting. I am against hunting in residential neighborhoods,” said Sandy Springs

resident Amanda Collins. “We are in Sandy Springs. We are not in rural Alabama. We are not in rural Georgia. This is not the place for high-powered lethal weapons to be used.”

Collins, who lives off Powers Ferry Road, said her daughter loves to play outside on their property, but the hunting in her area has made that dangerous and scary.

“Do I have to put her in an orange vest during hunting season?” she asked. “Like bullets, arrows do not have boundaries, and they do not know property lines.”

Other residents said they have found evidence that someone is baiting deer to certain private properties with piles of corn, to hunt without permission from homeowners.

Sandy Springs, Atlanta agree to sales tax split with Fulton County

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A letter recently signed by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, seems to have settled a month’s long battle between Fulton County and its 15 cities over the countywide Local Option Sales Tax.

The LOST one-penny sales tax is used by local governments to fund services like public safety, parks and recreation, libraries, courts and other services. County governments also use the tax to fund state-mandated services like county courts, jails, health departments, elections and other services.

A new agreement for the $3 billion sales tax will grant Fulton County about

10 percent of total revenues generated over the 10-year life of LOST, documents obtained by Appen Media show.

“It is our hope and intent that this offer is received, considered, and accepted by the County effectively ending the required decennial renegotiation of the distribution of proceeds collected under the Local Option Sales Tax with a positive resolution to negotiations,” the

letter said.

Dickens and Paul, who represent municipalities with a combined population of over 50 percent of county residents, signed the agreement Nov. 1. The agreement was also reportedly approved by Fulton County Commissioners at

ALEXANDER POPP/APPEN MEDIA

A Sandy Springs resident speaks to city councilmembers at a meeting Nov. 1, sharing how bow hunting of deer has affected certain areas of the community.

770-442-3278 | NorthFulton.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009

PUBLIC SAFETY

Murder charges filed against stabbing suspect

By Alexander Popp alex@appenmedia.com

770-442-3278 | AppenMedia.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009

PUBLISHER EMERITUS: Ray Appen

770-442-3278 | NorthFulton.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009

PUBLISHER: Hans Appen

sion and possession of a knife during the commission of felony, police said in a statement Tuesday.

arrived and said she had just been stabbed by her brother. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

PUBLISHER EMERITUS: Ray Appen

MANAGING EDITOR: Patrick Fox

PUBLISHER: Hans Appen

MANAGING

PUBLISHER: Hans Appen

EDITOR: Patrick Fox

EDITORIAL QUESTIONS:

MANAGING EDITOR: Patrick Fox

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody police have filed murder charges against a Stone Mountain man accused of fatally stabbing his sister during an incident Nov. 1.

Officers performing a welfare check at 3204 Ashford Gables Drive in Dunwoody at about 1:30 p.m. Nov. 1 found a female victim who had been stabbed.

Police, who later identified David Johnson as the main suspect in the homicide, located and detained him after a brief foot chase.

EDITORIAL QUESTIONS:

David Lamar Johnson, 36, has been charged with malice murder, home inva-

The victim, later identified as 38-year-old Sabrina Johnson, reportedly called a family member before police

Johnson has been taken to the DeKalb County Jail where he is held without bail.

Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: Alpharetta: ext. 118, Roswell ext. 122 Dunwoody Crier: ext. 143 Forsyth Herald: ext. 118 Johns Creek Herald: ext. 123 Milton Herald: ext. 139 Calendar: ext. 122

Alpharetta: ext. 118, Roswell: ext.122 Dunwoody Crier: ext. 143 Forsyth Herald: ext. 118 Johns Creek Herald: ext.123 Milton Herald: ext. 139 Sandy Springs: ext.102

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Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: Alpharetta: ext. 118, Roswell ext. 122 Dunwoody Crier: ext. 143 Forsyth Herald: ext. 118 Johns Creek Herald: ext. 123 Milton Herald: ext. 139 Calendar: ext. 122

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SSPD announces partnership combating auto parts theft

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SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs Police department has partnered with multiple national auto part stores to fight the growing problem of catalytic converter theft.

catalytic converter, highlighted by hightemperature, flame-proof paint, supplied by Advanced Auto.

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Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: 28,000 circulation Johns Creek Herald: 20,000 circulation

“Thieves steal the catalytic converters and sell them for quick, easy cash, leaving the car owner with a big repair bill,” the police department said in a statement Nov. 1. “Starting today, the Sandy Springs Police Department is partnering with Advanced Auto, Pep Boys and True Automotive to deter this problem.”

• Pep Boys – 6521 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs

• True Automotive – 6569 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs.

This service is being offered free of charge, thanks to a sponsorship by the Sandy Springs Police Department, the release said.

Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: 28,000 circulation Johns Creek Herald: 20,000 circulation Dunwoody Crier: 18,000 circulation Forsyth Herald: 17,000 circulation Milton Herald: 10,000 circulation Answer Book: 40,000 circulation

Dunwoody Crier: 18,000 circulation

Forsyth Herald: 17,000 circulation Milton Herald: 10,000 circulation Sandy Springs Crier: 12,000 circulation

Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: 28,000 circulation Johns Creek Herald: 20,000 circulation Dunwoody Crier: 18,000 circulation Forsyth Herald: 17,000 circulation Milton Herald: 10,000 circulation Answer Book: 40,000 circulation

319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009

319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009

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Residents of Sandy Springs can take their vehicles to two locations to have their VIN etched into their vehicle’s

Residents will need to call the Pep Boys or True Automotive locations to schedule an appointment for the service.

Catalytic converters have become a target for auto parts theft. Sandy Springs police have launched a new program to combat the growing trend.

Two die in Big Creek Greenway plane crash

By Alexander Popp alex@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta Police Department and National Transportation Safety Board have released an initial statement on a plane crash on the Big Creek Greenway that killed at least two people Oct. 31.

vestigation of the crash site has concluded there were no survivors of the wreck. However, victims of the crash have not been identified yet.

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In a statement Wednesday, officials said the Beech BE58 aircraft crashed in a wooded area of the Big Creek Greenway near Rock Mill Park in Alpharetta at about 1:15 p.m. on Oct. 31. The plane was carrying two people according to flight plans and was cleared for approach at DekalbPeachtree Airport when it descended and went off radar.

“A preliminary review of air traffic control recording shows the pilot made no distress calls,” the report said. “Investigators are also reviewing radar and weather conditions at the time of the accident.”

Police officials said an extensive in-

“We are not able to provide positive victim identification at this time, and any such identification will be provided at a later time by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office,” the report said.

Wreckage of the plane has been transported to a separate facility for further investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will release a preliminary report in about three weeks, the report said, and a final report with the probable cause of the crash will not be completed for one to two years.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash has been directed to email the NTSB at witness@NTSB.gov

The Big Creek Greenway, which was temporarily shut down on Monday and Tuesday, has been fully reopened for public use.

Appen Media located flight information for a BE58 aircraft that stopped transmitting data Oct. 31 while it was around 1200 feet above the Big Creek Greenway. It had departed from Jekyll Island Airport earlier in the day. Its last known flight was from DeKalbPeachtree Airport on Friday, Oct. 28.

Other news outlets have reported two names associated with that aircraft’s registration as the deceased. Without confirmation from the medical examiner’s office or next of kin, Appen is not publishing those names.

Delivery of the Sandy Springs Crier

MRATM/FLICKR

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Expand your family by 4 furry little feet; meet Chive and have a loving friend forever.  All adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip.

If you would like more information about Chive please call (404) 294-2165 or email adoption@dekalbanimalservices.com all potential adopters will be screened to ensure Chive goes to a good home.

LOCAL

SANDY SPRINGS VETERANS DAY TRIBUTE

What: Join in this event to thank those who have served our country. Retired WSB-TV anchor John Pruitt will serve as emcee, and will introduce the keynote speaker.

MONTHLY COMMUNITY BIKE RIDE

What: Join your friends and neighbors for a casual 4.5 mile loop around Dunwoody (mostly right turns) and stick around for some post-ride socializing. Learn biking safety pointers. All ages and abilities are welcome. Helmets are required.

When: Friday, Nov. 11, 11:30 a.m.

Where: City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs More info: sandyspringsga.gov

COMMUNITY:

SANDY SPRINGS FARMERS MARKET

What: Shop for fresh produce and artisan foods from more than 30 vendors every Saturday morning through Nov. 12. When: Saturday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m. - Noon Where: City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs More info: citysprings.com

DUNWOODY FARMERS MARKET

What: Every Saturday through Dec. 17, the farmers market brings together a variety of vendors selling local and organic fruits, veggies and produce, coffee, breakfast, baked goods, prepared meals, frozen treats, eggs, grass-fed meat and fresh seafood.

When: Saturday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m. - Noon Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody More info: dunwoodyga.gov

DUNWOODY VETERANS DAY CEREMONY

What: Join to pay tribute to those serving and who have served. The event will showcase music by Dunwoody High School; guest speaker Rear Admiral Tilghman Payne, retired U.S. Navy; Invocation and Benediction by Dr. Allen Jackson, Senior Pastor, Dunwoody Baptist Church; and more.

When: Friday, Nov. 11, 11:30 a.m. Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody More info: dunwoodyga.gov

APPLE CIDER DAYS

What: The day will include activities for the entire family including a petting zoo, children’s pioneer crafts, a self-guided scavenger hunt, a display of vintage farm tools and home goods, a peek inside the historic house, sponsor booths and Chick-fil-A for purchase. The event is limited, and reservations are strongly recommended.

When: Saturday, Nov. 12, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Where: The Donaldson-Bannister Farm, 4831 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dun-

woody Cost: $10, free for children 2 and under More info: dunwoodypreservationtrust. org

LEARN AND LEAD:

FRIDAY NIGHT HIKE

What: Explore the outdoors at night at the Dunwoody Nature Center. The hike starts with hot cocoa and a campfire in the park’s historic fireplace. Then, the crowd splits up into smaller groups for a 20- to 30-minute hike through the woods. Guided by a Nature Center educator, the groups enjoy games and activities along the way as they keep an eye out for nocturnal animals.

When: Friday, Nov. 18, 8-9 p.m. Where: Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody Cost: $5 for nonmembers, free for DNC members

More info: dunwoodynature.org

BOOK FESTIVAL OF THE MJCCA

What: The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta will host its 31st annual book festival with over 40 renowned authors.

When: Nov. 3-19 Where: Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody

More info: atlantajcc.org/our-programs/ arts-authors/book-festival/

LIVE LEARN LEAD

LOCAL NEWS

What: Leadership Sandy Springs returns with their seventh award-winning community speaker series. This year’s event, Building Common Ground in a Divided World with author and international communications coach Jonathan R. Parker, includes dinner and discussion. When: Thursday, Nov. 10, 6 p.m. Where: City Springs, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $50 More info: sandyspringsga.gov

SPORTY:

When: Sunday, Nov. 20, 3:45 p.m. Where: Village Burger, 1426 Dunwoody Village Parkway, Dunwoody More info: bikewalkdunwoody.org

JUST FOR FUN:

ROSWELL DANCE THEATRE PRESENTS THE NUTCRACKER

What: Travel with Clara and her Prince to the Land of Sweets where they are entertained by enchanting dancers from around the globe. Gorgeous costumes, magical scenery, beloved music, and exquisite dancing in this classic Nutcracker will delight guests of all ages.

When: Nov. 25 to Dec. 4, days and times vary

Where: Byers Theater, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $27 - $40 More info: citysprings.com

AMERICAN IDOL WINNER PHILLIP PHILLIPS

What: American Idol winner, singersongwriter and Georgia native Phillip Phillips comes to the Byers Theatre for an evening of his biggest hits with American Authors opening.

When: Thursday, Nov. 10, 8 p.m. Where: Byers Theater, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $52.50 - $132.50

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City Springs Theatre to present ‘Godspell, Jr.,’ a musical

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — City Springs Theatre Conservatory, the arts education training arm of the City Springs Theatre Company, will present its first large-scale musical of the season — “Godspell, Jr.”

Directed by Junior Theatre Festival award-winner Haden Rider, “Godspell, Jr.” will run for three performances Nov. 11-12 in the Studio Theatre at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center. Students from 19 middle and high schools across metro Atlanta were selected to be a part of this special production, which will compete at the Junior Theatre Festival Competition at the Cobb Galleria Center in January 2023.

Since 2018, City Springs Theatre Conservatory has served more than 120,000 Atlanta-area students with educational programs, including student matinees and in-class virtual programming. The Conservatory includes a pre-professional program, a summer high school musical, a college preparatory program, and private lesson training in voice, acting, and dance.

The original “Godspell” was the first major musical from three-time Grammy and Academy Award-winner, Stephen Schwartz (Broadway’s “Wicked,” “Pippin,” and “Children of Eden;” Disney’s “Pocahontas,” Disney’s “Enchanted,” Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre

Performance schedule

Friday, Nov. 11 | 7 pm Saturday, Nov. 12 | 2 & 7 pm

Tickets: $15. Find them on cityspringstheatre.com or call 404477-4365.

Dame”), and took the world by storm. Boasting a score with chart-topping songs (including “Day By Day,” a #13 Billboard hit in 1972), “Godspell, Jr.” is a sensation that continues to touch audiences worldwide.

Under the direction of Junior Theatre Festival award-winner Haden Rider with choreography by Arielle Geller, “Godspell, Jr.” presents a group of disciples telling different biblical parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques and a hefty dose of comediic timing. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, are employed as the story of Jesus’ life dances across the stage. Dissolving hauntingly into the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, Jesus’s messages of kindness, tolerance and love come vibrantly to life.

“Godspell, Jr.” stars Tsumari Patterson (School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett

SPRINGS THEATRE CONSERVATORY/PROVIDED

From left, James Wood and Tsumari Patterson will star as Judas and Jesus in “Godspell, Jr.” presented by City Springs Theatre Conservatory Nov. 11-12.

High School) as Jesus and James Wood (Artios Academies of Gwinnett) as Judas. Also in the cast are Karah Adams, Kena Adams, Isa Amezqua, Chiara Bulkin, Remey Calero, Andrew Chalmers, Maya Diaz, Bram Fages, Madailein Ferrell, Ava Fields, Elise Friderich, Kayla Furie, Katherine Godfrey, Trevor Groce, Gabe Hardin, Jayla Lopez, Kindle Mar -

tin, Gigi McClenning, Rhylee Mirus, Liz Olaribigbe, Anshula Phadke, Sati Rogerson, Holden Shanks, Haven Shelton, Annalyn Tietjen, Valena Volk, Veronika Volk, and Kiersten Wallace.

“Godspell, Jr.” tickets are $15 and currently available for purchase. Visit CitySpringsTheatre.com or call 404-4774365 for more information.

CITY

The Curated Project arms women with tools to grow businesses

By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — In 2016, Kelly Black was still freelancing but found herself struggling to find the support she needed to grow her business at networking groups.

So, she started her own.

Partnering with marketing specialist Lauren Thomas during the COVID-19 pandemic, they founded The Curated Project, a networking organization where women in business, regardless of industry or demographic, connect on a deeper level and share and receive support.

Black says she always liked the word “curated,” because it means intentionally designing and picking and choosing what you want for your business and lifestyle. While there are several co-ed networking groups in the area that offer a sense of collaboration, Black said she wanted The Curated Project to serve women, so they feel more comfortable opening up about their struggles.

“We are not the networking group to come and get a quick sale,” Black said. “We serve our members in different ways, such as promoting them on social media or hosting Lunch and Learn events on things you can implement into your business. We try to always serve our members in a way that’s positive and profitable for their business.”

Because The Curated Project offers a pay-per-play option and a monthly membership subscription, Black said there can be anywhere from 13 to 30 members at an event. Each member comes from a different background. Some might still have kids in school, while others’ kids are fully grown.

Black said some members might also be in their early 20s trying to figure out how to break into their field and others might be on their third or fourth career. Members include tutors, coaches, social

media consultants, Realtors and insurance agents.

“It’s so refreshing to see these women come together that are not coming in with any type of judgment,” Black said. “Our environment is so collaborative. It’s not intimidating or a competition-type setting. They’re just there because either they want to support other women, or they are seeking that themselves.”

Most recently, the group launched virtual monthly master classes intended to provide businesswomen with tools and resources to propel their businesses forward. The group also goes on retreats and offers group coaching on topics such as perfecting your pitch and turning your passion into a profitable business.

“We try to always bring something educational, inspirational or motivational to our evening networking events, and we try to do that by having local women business owners or women in our city governments like Alpharetta [Community Development Director] Kathi Cook come and let us know what’s going on, especially with the development of our city,” Black said.

Despite being in two separate stages in their lives and having opposite personalities, Black said she and co-founder Thomas, who serves as chief commercial officer, work well together, bonding over their shared passion for “authenticity.” In addition to running The Curated Project, Black now owns two accounting firms, and Thomas coowns a full-service marketing agency. Black said they’re glad to be able to fill a void in the community.

“The networking events I was going to before just weren’t making sense to me, and I really wasn’t making any authentic connections or relationships,” Black said. “It’s kind of like when you’re older or your kids aren’t in preschool anymore. It’s difficult to make friends in business when you own your own business. So, I really wanted

Business pages

Each week Appen Media asks a staff reporter to profile a business, nonprofit or commerce group they find interesting.

The selection can be from anywhere in the Metro Atlanta area.

The decision is up to the reporter and is made entirely independent of the Sales department.

Do you have an idea for a future profile? Send tips and story leads to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

something more than a traditional networking organization or networking meetups.”

At one point, The Curated Project was in 18 cities; however, Black and Thomas decided to scale it back to just Alpharetta and Canton so they could focus on what they wanted their “heartbeat” to be. They hope to slowly expand into other cities soon.

Black said she encourages anyone who owns a business to try joining a networking group, even if it caters more to their client base, so they have a place to receive support.

“That’s the most important thing, because unless you’re excited to go talk about your business, you’re not going to attend these events, and your business probably just won’t grow,” Black said. “It’s a great way to make referrals and have other people be your sales team for you.”

For more information, visit thecuratedproject.org. Members can create their own profile on the website, or first-time guests can register to attend their first event for free.

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State auditors give Georgia’s movie tax credit mixed reviews

By ROSS WILLIAMS Georgia Recorder

GEORGIA — Georgia’s film tax credit helped bring blockbuster productions like “Stranger Things,” “Ozark” and “Spiderman: No Way Home” to the state, along with an estimated $4.4 billion in spending during the 12 months ending June 30.

But a new report from the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts finds lingering concerns about the program’s transparency and rising cost to the state treasury.

The program, passed in 2005, offers a tax credit of up to 30% for production companies that spend at least $500,000 on qualified productions. The amount of the annual credit more than doubled between 2013 and 2019, growing from $407 million to $961 million. The Georgia Department of Economic Development estimates credit amounts for 2021 and 2022 exceeded $1 billion, making Georgia’s incentive the largest of any state.

No cap

But unlike most states that offer film tax incentives, Georgia does not put a cap on the amount of credit granted.

New York and California, the states with the next largest incentive amounts, cap theirs at $420 million per year. The state auditor’s office recommended Georgia cap its credit to reduce financial risk to the state.

Back in March, Rome Republican and Senate Finance Chair Sen. Chuck Hufstetler tried to do just that, proposing a cap of $900 million on the credits, but his colleagues eventually nixed the proposal.

“It just keeps growing, and I could get into the things we’re paying for, private jets and chefs and personal trainers and stuff that probably needs cleaning up,” Hufstetler said in a committee meeting.

But the program has received broad support from lawmakers of both parties. Atlanta Democratic Sen. Nan Orrock told the committee messing with it would be reckless.

“I just feel very cautionary about our whacking this tax credit that’s made us the third highest state in the country for film activity,” she said. “So it’s hard to have a comfort level with that being added in. It just seems incautious to me.”

Film is big business in Georgia – the state reported hosting 32 feature films,

36 independent films, 269 television and episodic productions, 42 commercials and 33 music videos between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.

Tax credit supporters compare the $4.4 billion spent in 2022 with a combined $1.4 billion from 1973 to 2008. They point out that Georgia went from having 45,000 square feet of stage space in 2010 to having more than 3 million square feet in 2022, with more than 4 million square feet planned for next two years, much of that supported by local investment.

The pro-credit side says all that movie making brings additional jobs not directly accounted for by studios, such as local carpenters, caterers, electricians and engineers.

But importing movie magic comes at a cost — an average of more than $300 per household — and the film industry’s halo effect is often overstated, said Kennesaw State University economist J.C. Bradbury.

“I have no doubt that that happens, but what is not easily seen is that these people would not be otherwise unemployed if not for the film industry,” he said. “We don’t subsidize a lot of the other industries that would be producing other (jobs). We don’t have a high

unemployment rate in Georgia. Local Georgians who are employed in the film industry would otherwise be employed in other occupations within Georgia, and we would be just fine. There’s been a lot of research done on the economic stimulus effects of subsidizing the film industry, and no studies have found any stimulus.”

Fake news

The state auditor’s office found Georgia has done a better job of realistically portraying the economic impact of the film tax credit on the state economy after significantly overstating the benefit for years, but the department of economic development’s reporting on film production jobs “is still misleading at times.”

For example, auditors found that economic development touted that productions filmed in Georgia delivered $9.2 billion in total wages, but it did not disclose that that number included distribution jobs including movie theater workers.

Auditors said state officials claimed “tens of thousands” of Georgians were employed in film production, while fed-

Kid Biz Expo goes ‘beyond the lemonade stand’

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

WOODSTOCK, Ga. — Lemonade stands, those cliche starter projects for business-minded kids, are typically isolated on some neighborhood intersection, without the educational experience of surrounding competition.

But, at Kid Biz Expo, young entrepreneurs are empowered to go “beyond the lemonade stand,” through workshops and markets where they can sell goods around same-aged peers. Dedicated to expanding a kid’s entrepreneurial spirit, Kid Biz Expo serves ages 8 to 18. Co-founder Renee Dierdorff said middle school ages are the “sweet spot.”

Ten-year-old Avery Adcock sold bracelets with her business AdorAble You at the Oct. 1 Kid Biz Expo in Milton — the two A’s are purposefully capitalized to refer to Avery’s initials.

Mom Kimberly said they set up a lemonade stand over the summer.

“Mom buys the lemonade. Mom buys the bracelet kit. And, then they just get to make a little bit of money for that hour or two,” Kimberly said. “But for this, it was really about investing in her table … and kind of being responsible for all of those aspects of the marketing,

the business and learning that you get out of it what you put in.”

Kevin Peppers homeschools his daughter Clara, a crafty 11-year-old who

also participated in her first expo. She sold an array of accessories, like homemade earrings, crocheted scrunchies, quilted keychains and fabric lipstick holder keychains.

Kevin said he’s been watching Kid Biz Expo from day one.

“[The expo] is such an exercise in understanding entrepreneurship,” he said.

Entrepreneurship is a concept he built into Clara’s homeschool lesson plans. Before attending, he and wife Angela sat down with Clara to go over product inventory and pricing, profit and loss.

The expos are also a great chance for Clara and her mother to work together crafting, Kevin said.

Ainsley Ro, a 12-year-old artist, was another first-timer at the Kid Biz Expo in Milton. She sold canvas and glass paintings along with homemade stickers.

Her mother Cyndi Ro said Ainsley has ADHD and struggles in school and that art has always been an important outlet for her. Ainsley started her own Etsy shop when she was 11. It didn’t get a lot of traffic. But Kid Biz Expo changed up the dynamics.

“She always says she’s not a real artist. That’s like her tagline,” Cyndi said. “But, this really helped her because she

sold so much merchandise. She was like, “Wow, people actually like what I do.”

Dierdorff and friend Amy Guest came up with the idea for Kid Biz Expo a few years ago, when Guest’s middle daughter Avery started selling cotton candy and Guest’s other daughters, Aidyn and Austyn, wanted to start something of their own. Guest’s oldest is best friends with Dierdorff’s oldest, so Dierdorff’s two daughters, Layla and Harper, got involved, too.

After using Cherokee Connect to poll interest, Dierdorff and Guest organized their first event in a church parking lot in August 2021. There, 27 kids set up shop and more than 400 people attended.

There isn’t much engagement between sellers and customers at a farmers market, Dierdorff said. But at the first expo, visitors asked the kids a lot of questions about their products.

“It was just a very positive environment that day,” Dierdorff said. “You can’t replicate it anywhere.”

The expo’s success led Dierdorff and Guest to establish the idea as a nonprofit. After applying in December last year,

Frank Paras Home Depot Installation Services Local Team Leader

Tara Tucker

KIMBERLY ADCOCK/PROVIDED Avery Adcock, 10, accepts payment from a customer at the Kid Biz Expo Oct. 1 in Milton. Avery sold bracelets from his business, AdorAble You.

Recognizing a need for care

navigating stairs. Ignoring their home or property care can also be a sign that help is needed.

The holiday season is fast approaching and visiting with our older loved ones can provide a good opportunity to make sure they can continue to live in comfort and safety. It’s important to understand the signals that some assistance is necessary. Here are some signs that can help you recognize the need for care.

ADLs, or activities of daily living, are those activities that you don’t think much about until you or your elderly family member have trouble with them. These are activities like walking safety around the house, preparing and eating nutritious meals, being able to perform basic grooming, bathing, dressing, toileting and move safely from one space to another.

Properly taking medication is a critical issue. The CDC says over 350,000 people require hospital care annually due to misuse of prescriptions.

There are other signs that are more subtle and while they may not occur daily, they are important for independent living. Can your older loved one do the laundry, handle basic house cleaning, grocery shopping, pay their bills, drive or take public transportation? Do they know what to do in an emergency?

Memory issues may be indicated if they start to miss appointments, misplace important items, become lost or wander from home. Weight loss often happens when an older loved one forgets to eat, shop for groceries or has spoiled food in the refrigerator. Has their appearance changed? Bruises may indicate frequent falls or trouble

It’s also important to periodically assess existing health challenges that are likely to change over time. Chronic conditions can get worse along with changes in vision, hearing and mobility.

We know that aging in place in the warmth and comfort of home is the desire of the vast majority of our older loved ones. When you see several of these issues emerge, it’s time to get some help. In home care by a skilled Home Helpers professional can also address the social isolation that often accompanies these changes and can be a bridge that lets your family concentrate on the love you share.

A carefully matched, heart centered caregiver can help around the house, assist with personal care, hydration and nutritional needs, infection control, medication reminders and provide specialized support for stroke recuperation, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc.

Home Helpers also provides a level of Care Management that addresses where you and your loved one are today and what we can do to move your best level of quality of life forward. Our Care Managers provide an elevated level of communication and coordination, becoming a critical link with families as needs arise and offering solutions before needs become critical.

We’re here to help – from eight hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 and live-in care. For a free consultation please call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta suburbs at (770) 681-0323.

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Kid:

Continued from Page 11

Kid Biz Expo became an official 501(c)(3) in March.

The nonprofit’s flagship is the Kid Biz Expo, where kids can register for a spot for a $45 fee. Kid-preneurs bring their own 10x10 tent, signage and other supplies.

Dierdorff and Guest also started hosting workshops in January, to total nine for the year. The workshops, which are on business-related topics, are scheduled between the expos for preparation.

Dierdorff recalled a recent workshop about brainstorming business ideas. Others have been about developing a pitch, goal planning and digital marketing.

Next year, Dierdorff plans to launch Kid Biz Coach and Kid Biz Connect.

Arranged in a conference style, she said Coach will be like “workshops on steroids.” There, kids will be able to connect with people from industries that are specific to their business and stay in touch with them throughout the year.

Kid Biz Connect will be a kid-to-kid networking event.

Dierdorff also has plans for Kid Biz Tech and Trade, which will be for kids whose businesses are service based, like dog walking, as well as for those interested in careers like coding.

Now, Kid Biz Expo has a board of nine directors, including Dierdorff and Guest, each offering a unique perspective to operations.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” Dierdorff said.

Tax:

Continued from Page 1

their Nov. 2 meeting, with Commission Chair Robb Pitts and Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman abstaining and Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington Jr. absent from the vote, sources close to the negotiation said.

Prior to this agreement, city and county officials spent several months in official and unofficial negotiation and mediation sessions, debating whether Fulton County should receive a much larger portion of the tax revenues than it has received in recent years.

County negotiators initially argued for returning to a pre-2000 LOST distribution rate split of 35 percent to the county and 65 percent the cities, which raised an immediate outcry from city officials and residents.

With this agreement now seemingly finalized, Fulton County city leaders will need to decide how the remaining 90

Ainsley Ro, 12, gives a thumbs up by her inventory in the Oct. 1 Kid Biz Expo event in Milton. She sold paintings on canvas and glass as well as homemade stickers under the business name Ainsley Makes Stuff.

While Dierdorff doesn’t get paid through Kid Biz Expo, her efforts are rewarded in other ways.

“On the days of the expos, I think the biggest thing that warms our hearts is the confidence and the smiles from the kids,” Dierdorff said. “As the day goes on, especially if they’re new to it, and they’re maybe a little timid in the beginning, but quickly, they see how engaging and positive the people that come are … their confidence just soars.”

For more information about Kid Biz Expo, visit www.kidbizexpo.com.

percent of total revenues will be divided. Most often, the pot is generally apportioned based on each city’s population, while the county keeps a small portion for administrative fees.

City leaders were scheduled to meet with the Fulton County Board of Commissioners at a special-called meeting on Friday, Nov. 4, but that meeting has since been removed from Fulton County’s website. Instead, city representatives will meet Friday in a closed session to discuss municipal LOST distributions, Alpharetta City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom said.

CYNDI RO/PROVIDED

Appen Media will continue to cover the sales tax negotiations.

“I strongly suspect someone was luring deer to my property in order to hunt them with a bow,” Cynthia George, another Powers Ferry Road resident said. “This means that someone trespassed on my property without my permission and was bow hunting on my property without my permission.”

Speaking to his peers and the room at large before the public comment session started, District 6 Councilman Andy Bauman said the problems with bow hunters has become an “annual occurrence” in the city and asked what could be done to stop it.

“Do we do everything that we can within state law to eliminate or reduce this?” he asked.

However, according to Sandy Springs

City Attorney Dan Lee, there isn’t much that the city can do to stop the practice.

Lee said discharging a firearm, for any purpose, is illegal in Sandy Springs, but there is no such rule about bows and other armaments. That, combined with the ordinance allowing property owners and local governments to prohibit hunting on private and public property, is the extent of their powers, he said.

In fact, he said that the city is actually “preempted” from limiting hunting by state law.

“There is not a prohibition against discharging a bow and arrow in Sandy Springs,” Lee said. “The city, as a governing body, is prohibited from limiting hunting.”

Speaking to the citizens that voiced their opposition to hunting at the meeting, Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul gave his thanks and said the Council would examine the issue further to see what could be done.

“We’ll have a look see what we can do

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and meet with the city attorney to see what our options are,” Paul said. “But thank you for bringing this to our attention.”

The Council took no action on the issue at its Nov. 1 meeting.

Public Safety Grant

Councilmembers unanimously approved a $1.5 million grant application from the state, to combat violent crime in the community.

Sandy Springs Police Captain Andrew Spears told councilmembers the Community Violence Reduction Grant Program from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, seeks to address a rise in violent crime the community has experienced over the last two years.

Officials said between January 2020 and January 2022, Sandy Springs has seen a rise in homicides, home invasions, aggravated assaults and rapes. If awarded, the grant money would combat

Film:

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eral data showed approximately 10,700 Georgia jobs in film production.

A spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Economic Development did not reply to a request for comment for this story, but in a written response to the audit, the department said it “stands by its reporting of the direct spend and job figures related to the film industry in Georgia, as this information comes directly from its expenditure form collected from all applicants, as well as other reputable sources.”

Out of state

Mark Rundle Suraj Sehgal

Al Merrill

Fred Moeller

Kathy Morgan Jack Murphy

Righteous PR

Stephanie Schuette

Cindy Simpson

Faye Sklar

Andy Smith

Lisa Tilt

Ollie Wagner

Lewis Walker

The auditors found another mixed bag in the amount of credit benefits going to residents of other states.

In 2016, 88% of the credit went to companies with no permanent locations in Georgia, and 53% of the wages used toward the credit were paid out to nonGeorgians. Most other states with a film incentive require or incentivize hiring

those crimes.

“We want to boost our support structure for our Detective Division,” Spears said. “We focus on digital forensics, which we have found has been just a benefit and has really been the driving force that has helped us solve these violent crimes.”

Sandy Springs would be eligible for $1.5 million, he said, which would be used to hire new officers and upgrade the department’s technology.

In addition to those initiatives, Spears said they would also add to the more than 100 license plate reader cameras in the city, which regularly help Sandy Springs detectives and detectives in other areas solve crimes.

No matching funding will be required for the grant, Spears said, but the city will need to provide a plan for how they are going to keep the program going beyond 2026, when the grant expires.

residents.

“We are covering 30% of the cost of most of the economic activity that’s taking place and the transfer of resources to people who don’t even live in the state of Georgia, and are earning extremely high wages from doing so, a lot of Hollywood talent coming here,” Bradbury said. “And simply paying them to do a job they would have otherwise done in Hollywood in the state of Georgia is really just sending that money outside the state. It’s not enriching Georgia.”

The legislature hasn’t made any changes to incentivize hiring Georgia residents, but a bill requiring credit recipients to disclose more of their operations should reduce credits earned for out-of-state expenditures, the auditors found. A separate report released in July found the state economic development department fully or partially addressed all findings related to the credit’s administration.

This story comes to Appen Media through a reporting partnership with Georgia Recorder, a nonprofit newsroom that covers statewide issues.

One-room schools and hard times in Georgia

The stock market crash in October 1929 marked the beginning of the worst economic depression in U.S. history. It exacerbated already deteriorating conditions in Georgia and some other Southern states. While much of the nation was enjoying boom conditions in the 1920s, Georgia was experiencing economic decline due to agricultural overproduction, declining cotton prices, foreign competition and artificial fabrics, such as rayon, which experienced a boom in the 1920s and was cheaper to produce than cotton. By the mid-1920s the boll weevil was decimating cotton production. A three-year drought in the late 1920s followed by the worst drought ever recorded in the early 1930s and deficient irrigation and cultivation practices increased the pressure on Georgia agriculture. The situation was dire in Old Milton County.

BOB MEYERS

In 1920, more than half of the schools in Georgia were one room (4,867 of the 8,359 schools), according to the Georgia Department of Education’s Annual Report to the General Assembly. As economic conditions worsened, local and state governments looked for ways to save money. Under the Barrett-Rogers Act, the state offered $500 incentives to counties to consolidate several one-room schools into one school with at least four rooms with four teachers.

The Newtown Elementary School was built in 1929 thanks to a $7,000 bond issue and donations by two local residents of 4 acres on Old Alabama Road in today’s city of Johns Creek. Four one-room schools, Teddymore, Riverside, Newtown and Seven Branches were consolidated. The new school was built by the Milton County Board of Education, the last school built by Old Milton County before it was merged into Fulton County in 1932 to avoid bankruptcy. Insurmountable economic conditions had made it impossible for Milton County to survive.

The new school was in a brick H-shaped, four-room building with a large open room in the middle. The building was heated by a pot-bellied stove. It had electricity, outdoor toilets and water drawn from a well. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006 and is today a senior center in Newtown Park.

According to local historian Connie Mashburn, in the period leading up to and after Milton County merged into Fulton County, among the local small schools closed were Crabapple School

built in 1894, Ebenezer School built in 1914, Hardscrabble School built in 1904, Birmingham School, Summit School, Behive School, Bethany School and a school in Webb, Georgia.

New consolidated schools were built throughout the area, including Northwestern Elementary School constructed in 1933 in downtown Crabapple. Other new schools were erected in the Hopewell Community, Warsaw and Ocee. The county started to bus children to the new schools with a goal of having no student needing to walk more than 2 miles.

The Summit School in Milton, built in 1898, is a good example of a small school that basically disappeared, never to be seen again. Bill Lusk, former Milton City councilman, searched old records and found the location of the 2-acre property on Summit Road which is adjacent to his own home property. He permanently staked the parcel’s four corners. Photos of the students have existed, but its exact location on the property was not known until recent excavation revealed the likely site of the structure.

Mashburn interviewed several former students years ago and has ancestors who were involved with Summit School. Neighbors built tables for the students and provided firewood on a rotating basis for the two pot-bellied stoves. A well was dug on the north side of the building. The school was originally one room. Later a second room was added with a hole in the wall separating the classrooms so teachers could check on the other classes. Some of the single male teachers lived with families in the

neighborhood and returned home on weekends. Connie’s mother, Eunice Cowart (1914-2003), was a student at the school from age 6 to 13. His grandfather, Homer Cowart (1889-1965), was head teacher for a number of years. His great grandfather, John Cowart (18591925), donated an acre of land for the school, and John’s friend A.S. Cantrell donated the other acre.

Noted historian and columnist Caroline Dillman (1927-2019) described Ocee schools in a 1986 article in the Alpharetta/Roswell Review. At the turn of the last century, Ocee, located where State Bridge Road, Abbots Bridge Road and Jones Bridge Road come together, was a thriving community with two one-room

schools, Bellview School and Fairview School. Later the Big Creek School was built, and the two one-room schools merged into it. Big Creek School burned down in 1930 and was replace by a new Ocee School the following year. Ocee School had five classrooms, and classes went from first through ninth grade. The school was closed in 1983 due to low enrollment.

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.

Columnist bobmey@bellsouth.net

ROSWELL HISTORICAL SOCIETY/PROVIDED

This photo shows students and teachers at the Newtown School in 1930.

BILLY BATES/PROVIDED

This photo shows students in front of Summit School circa 1903-1905

OPINION

Janet Gray, 21 aliases and a home on Happy Hollow Road

The history of Cassidy-Lamb House on W. Fontainebleau Court has been recorded in this column on more than one occasion and included the original owner, Clara Cassidy, followed by Baxter and Midge Maddox, Harold and Charlotte Ebersole and more recently, Ken and Brenda Lamb. Thanks to the DeKalb History Center, I recently learned the surprising story of another owner in the 1950s, Margaret Burton aka Janet Gray, often referred to as Mrs. Gray.

Marissa Howard, Programs and Membership coordinator at DeKalb History Center, made the connection that the house Gray lived in on Happy Hollow Road and the Happy Hollow summer home I have written about were the same. The story of Gray and her crimes in Decatur, Georgia, are included in a 2019 blog post at dekalbhistory.org titled, “True Crime-Margaret Burton aka Mrs. Gray.”

Gray had at least 22 aliases during her years as a criminal across the United States and in Europe. When she arrived in Decatur, she applied for a job as office manager for a group of doctors. Her appearance, manner and stories led people to believe she was a wealthy socialite. She was 51 years old, described with long silver hair and youthful skin. She claimed her father was president of Panama, that she owned mining interests in Colorado, and that her husband was a colonel who had died. Her husband was a hotel night manager in Athens, Georgia.

Gray impressed the doctors and was given the job. Her salary was $400 per month. A University of Georgia student working in the office reported that Gray usually came in to work in the morning, left about 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and returned much later in the afternoon. She may have been out shopping because information surfaced later about charge account balances owed at several retail stores. Gray

owed $1,600 at the Leon Frohsin store in Atlanta, where she had bought over 50 hats. She owed $300 and $400 at two other stores and $30 to a photographer.

She bought a $6,000 pink Lincoln and four other cars. The Lincoln later was used for the getaway of Gray and her daughter Shelia Joy. Shelia Joy was known by neighbors on Happy Hollow Road as Candy Laine or Candace Victoria Lane, Gray’s niece.

Gray kept 40 show dogs at the Happy

Hollow property. One dog was a cocker spaniel that won awards at the Westminster Dog Show in 1956. Another went by the name Capital Gains. Gray entered her dogs in the Columbus, Georgia, Kennel Club’s annual dog show for two years. Those who met her in Columbus were shocked when they learned she was a thief.

In the 1950s, many people paid cash for their doctor visits. Gray was pocketing all the cash paid by patients at the Decatur office. This went unno -

ticed for a long time, until an accountant was called in for an audit and discovered her thievery. When Gray heard an audit was planned on July 19, 1957, she fled Decatur and Georgia. She arranged for the dogs to travel by moving van and sadly they did not all survive the trip.

She made the mistake of securing a bookkeeper job in a doctor’s office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, thinking she could get away with it again. An office employee saw the Decatur story in the Tulsa newspapers and informed the doctors. Mother and daughter were captured by the FBI in Tulsa, and charged with transporting stolen property across state lines.

In February of 1958 Janet Gray appeared at DeKalb Superior Court for embezzling $186,757 from the clinic where she worked. This was the second trial, as the first ended in a mistrial. “Mrs. Burton admitted she bought three houses, expensive automobiles, show dogs, furniture and a swimming pool, she said she used the rest of the money for lavish living for herself and her daughter.”

Gray was indicted on Feb. 8, 1958, with two counts of larceny. When she heard that she could serve two to five years at Reidsville State Prison, she fainted.

Sheila Joy Gray left Atlanta in September of 1957 and went to live with an uncle. Janet Gray served 18 months before being extradited to California to face additional charges. She spent 240 days in jail in California. Then she was deported for “failure to keep the Government informed of her address and conviction of two crimes involving moral turpitude and criminal misconduct.” She eventually returned to California to live the remainder of her life.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media. She lives in Sandy Springs. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

GUY HAYES COLLECTION, DEKALB HISTORY CENTER ARCHIVES

Margaret Burton, aka Janet Gray, is surrounded by reporters upon her return to Atlanta on Aug. 29,1957.

OPINION

Checking off

I learn about books in a multitude of ways and add them to my TBR list. Think book reviews in the Wall Street Journal and other papers, Amazon recommendations, Facebook ads and suggestions from friends. By the time

I finally get around to a particular title, I usually can’t recall how I discovered it. If I don’t care for a book, do I review it? No. My feeling is that just because it doesn’t appeal to me doesn’t mean someone else won’t like it.

That means that when I recommend a book in this paper, you can rest assured I enjoyed it. The following three books feature a variety of genres—mystery, YA mystery and historical British fiction. Enjoy! “Nine Lives” by Peter Swanson

Like his book, “Eight Perfect Murders,” Swanson’s “Nine Lives” is a puzzling page-turner. The hook, “If you’re on the list, someone wants you dead,” pulls you in right away. Why are the nine names on the list? Are they connected? If so, how? Who will die next?

list as the year winds down

Also, like “Eight Perfect Murders,” this one includes references to famous works of fiction like Christie’s “And then there were none,” and even “Peter Pan.” My favorite kind of book—a whodunit with literary allusions.

I highly recommend this unputdownable murder mystery—it says something that I finished it in three nights.

“Truly

Devious” by Maureen Johnson

Oh, my goodness! I don’t know how I stumbled across this book, but I’m glad I did. I didn’t know it was the first in a mystery trilogy and was at first dismayed when it ended with a terse “to be continued.” I found myself immediately diving into book two and finishing it in two nights. Book three wrapped it all up satisfactorily, and there’s a book 4, focused on a different mystery for the amateur sleuth to solve.

The trilogy is billed as a YA historical mystery, but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable to me. At its heart is a kidnapping that occurred at Ellingham Academy, a private school that opened in the 1930s. The crime took place the year the school opened, and the school is still haunted by the unsolved mystery. The story is told in alternating chapters—the 1930s and modern time—and the main character and her friends are students

at the modern-day Ellingham Academy. As a mystery fan, I enjoyed it as much for the references to Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot as I did for the mystery at its heart. Grab it. I predict you won’t be able to put it down.

“Dear

Mrs. Bird” by AJ Pearce

What a delightful find. Set during WWII in London, this is the story of an ambitious young woman who longs to be a journalist. When she answers an ad for a position at a newspaper, she instead finds herself as a secretary to an advice columnist—a bossy, temperamental advice columnist. That’s when the trouble begins. As does any book set during the bombing of London, this one has tragic and bittersweet moments, but there’s also plenty of witty repartee. It’s ultimately a story of friendship and kindness overcoming adversity. Pick up this engaging tale. You won’t be disappointed.

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

If you enjoy trout fishing in Georgia, you should be a happy camper right about now. Why? Because as of Nov. 1, Georgia’s Delayed Harvest trout fishing season has begun! Delayed Harvest, or “DH” as it’s often called, is a special program under which portions of certain Georgia streams are managed under special regulations. DH waters are too warm for trout during the summer, but through the winter months their waters cool enough to provide good trout habitat. Georgia’s five DH fisheries (Amicalola Creek from Steele Bridge downstream to GA 53, the Chattooga River from Reed Creek down to GA 28, the Chattahoochee in Atlanta from Sope Creek to US 41, Smith Creek downstream of Unicoi Lake in Unicoi State Park, and the Toccoa River from 450 feet above the Sandy Bottom Canoe Access downstream to a point 0.4 miles above Shallowford Bridge) are managed under artificials-only, catch-and-release regulations from Nov. 1 through May 14. The idea is to provide some great wintertime trout fishing, and a focused stocking program helps ensure that there will be good catch rates and thus lots of smiles on lots of anglers’ faces.

This year there are plenty of stockable trout available, too, and so all five of those waters (including the Chattahoochee section) will be stocked.

“We are excited to resume Delayed Harvest stockings on the Chattahoochee River below Morgan Falls Dam this year, thanks to excellent trout production in our state hatchers, and the low, fishable flows we are seeing in the river currently,” says Georgia Trout Stocking Coordinator John Lee Thomson. “With the

JOHN LEE THOMSON Georgia Trout Stocking Coordinator

OPINION

Lake Burton Fish Hatchery renovation complete and trout inventories returned to historic levels, the Chattahoochee DH should provide a great trout fishing opportunity near Metro Atlanta.”

One neat things about the Delayed Harvest season is that it gives trout anglers an opportunity to be involved in Georgia’s trout stocking program in a hands-on kind of way. For example, members of several Trout Unlimited chapters have already lent a hand by helping Department of Natural Resources personnel to stock trout into the state’s various DH waters.

Want to try your hand at stocking some trout yourself? There will be opportunities for that coming up too. For example, one day during Thanksgiving week, the hatchery truck will roll into the parking area at the Whitewater Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, where it will be met by a cadre of volunteers (maybe even you!) who will help stock trout into that portion of the “Hooch DH.” All you need to help out is a 5-gallon plastic bucket and some waders (or clothes you don’t mind getting wet).

When will this happen? The exact date has not been nailed down as of this writing, but watch websites such as North Georgia Trout Online (ngto.org) or

various Georgia Trout Unlimited chapter websites for details on the exact date and time. I’ll do my best to let you know here, too, as soon as I find out.

These volunteer-assisted stocking events are an enormous amount of fun, and I remember one in particular. I was there with bucket in hand and my much-loved but by now somewhat bedraggled fishing hat perched atop my increasingly hairless head. It’s an old hat, and it really is looking kind of battered these days, but I like it and it fits and it helps keep me warm.

The assembled volunteers made quick work of stocking several thousand trout – and once the stocking was done the fishing commenced. Yes, it’s okay to fish on stocking day, even right after the fish have been put in. In fact, I encourage it. It can make you feel like God’s gift to fly fishing, and sometimes we all need a little bit of that sort of thing.

Anyway, I’d rigged up my rod with the idea of catching a few before heading back to the house. But mostly I was just wandering around enjoying the moment –and that’s when I noticed a dad with his two young daughters. The kids, who were probably about 6 and 8, had been helping stock fish, and they’d worked hard.

Hmmm, I thought. Here’s a chance to have some fun.

I approached the dad, introduced myself, and asked if he would mind if I hooked a fish on my flyrod and then let one of the kids bring it in.

“Can we, daddy?” the oldest asked excitedly – and the dad said sure!

We were standing in shallow water just a few yards from a spot where lots of newly-stocked trout were holding in the current, so it took just a moment to fool a fish into taking the fly. Once I hooked it, I made great ceremony of putting the rod in the hands of one of the kids. I showed her how to bring in the fish, then netted it and held it for photos and happy congratulations all around.

Then…

“Can I do it again?” she asked. Her dad nodded yes. I flipped the fly out into the flow again and in less than a minute had another trout on the line. She landed that one too. More pictures, more high fives. Then…

“Can I do it again?”

This went on for about a half dozen fish. But Younger Sister was watching.

She looked at me and said, “Mister, that’s a funny hat.” Ahh, flattery will get you everywhere! But that was only preamble. The real question came next:

“Can I catch one too?”

“How about it?” I asked the dad, and he said “Sure!” – and so I hooked another trout and this time handed the rod to Younger Sister. She too did a great job, encouraged more or less constantly by Older Sister, who by now of course was an experienced veteran. It was great!

Younger Sister landed four or five, and then it was Older Sister’s turn again.

And that’s what we did for more than an hour. I’d hook a trout and give the rod to one of the kids, who would then bring in the fish. It was enormous fun, and we kept at it for quite a while until the kids got cold and we finally called it an afternoon.

Later, another fly fisher mentioned that he’d seen me helping the kids catch all those fish.

“Didn’t you mind not landing them yourself?” he asked me. “Didn’t you miss getting to fish yourself?”

Well, no, I didn’t miss it. I didn’t miss it at all. It was a hoot helping those two catch those trout, much more fun than it would have been to catch them myself. Besides, I got a great story out of it.

But they got a lot more. Those two kids had more fun than the law allows –out-of-doors, standing in a river, discovering must how much fun fishing for trout can be – even if your mentor is the dude in the funny hat!

STEVE HUDSON

Where shopping is (still) a pleasure

I read this week that Kroger, the second largest grocer in the country, plans to buy Albertson’s, the fourth largest grocer, pending regulatory approval. The combined company would close the market-share gap with the largest grocer in the country, Walmart.

In the business world, “scale” is the key, or so the general held belief holds. The combined company – if the merger goes through – would have around 5,000 stores and almost 750,000 employees. But, at what cost?

I shop at Publix, not Kroger, even though I think that Kroger is probably often cheaper. Why? Well for a number of reasons. I grew up in Florida where Publix is based, in Lakeland. I love their Key Lime pie. I feel at home in their wide aisles and in the smaller stores. When I shop, I know exactly where in the store I need to go that is, unless I am shopping for Christina. Often, she sends me to buy obscure things that even Publix employees struggle to locate. But that is another column for another time.

My Publix stores are incredibly clean – like cleaner than a hospital – always. That is a big deal to me. Publix employees are friendly, too, and they want to help – like always. Plus, they are there, the Publix worker-bees, unlike at the other grocers. Again, it’s a big deal to me that when I need help, there is almost always someone nearby to ask for that help.

Many things about Publix remind me of that TV show “Cheers,” a place where “everybody knows your name” and where you can go and feel like someone actually cares.

Today, “scale” seems so critical to large businesses. In theory it drives prices down and profits up because

More is not always better. Cheaper is not always really cheaper. Substituting machines for humans in the long run sometimes actually costs more. Sometimes ‘enough’ is better, healthier than ‘more.’”

businesses are able to purchase goods in larger quantities. But again, what is the cost; what is lost when “scale” is the core business mantra? Perhaps a lot is lost.

When you get in line to pay at Publix, you pay a cashier, a real live flesh-andblood human; same deal with my other favorite retailer, Costco. When you pay at many of the other big retail chains, instead of paying a human, you often pay a machine. Think Lowes. Think Kroger. Think more and more of the big boxes. Sure, these chains are able to hire fewer people and be more profitable. Nothing wrong with that, right? Maybe. Maybe not.

When I go into a store or a service of any kind, the attitude of the employees is a big deal to me. Are they positive? Do they seem happy, or are they walking around like semi zombies being forced to sell their time because they have bills to pay? How does management quantify that? Should they?

When I shop at Publix or Costco, I feel like I am in a place where everybody knows my name, even if they don’t. When I shop there, it is obvious to me

that the employees are not just putting in their time; they seem positive and glad to be there. They appear to have pride in being a part of what they do for a living. And if that is how they feel, I know that most likely reflects how they are treated by management and that how they feel must be at least as big a priority – if not more so – than “scale” to management.

These non-quantifiable things make me want to shop there, to be there. There is much value-added to me, enough to justify paying more. Nothing about that “feeling” though seems directly quantifiable or directly related to a better bottom line or to scale. Despite that, it is a priority; it is part of that corporate culture and value set at Publix and Costco. Why? How is that working for those two companies?

One of my favorite things about shopping at Costco is their “lunch area” where you can buy a jumbo hotdog and a cold drink for like $1.50, or a slice of pizza or ice cream for an equally small amount of money, and sit down right there in the store and have lunch. I read recently that a new CEO was named for Costco and one of the first things he did was to try to raise the rates of those hotdogs and pizzas to make the lunch area more profitable. “Over my dead body,” was the response that arrived to the CEO from the founder/chairman of the board.

My point is that today when scale and profitability increasingly are the single driving force in our lives, we must be very careful to not miss the costs that come with that business model and mindset – the human costs.

More is not always better. Cheaper is not always really cheaper. Substituting machines for humans in the long run sometimes actually costs more. Sometimes “enough” is better, healthier than “more.”

So that is why I shop at Publix –where shopping is (still) a pleasure.

Thank you George Jenkins.

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