Sandy Springs Crier - December 15, 2022

Sandy Springs officials adopt floating holiday

Sandy Springs kicked off the holiday season Dec. 4 with the annual Sparkle Sandy Springs Parade and celebration at City Springs. A crowd of hundreds came out to join the parade, see the traditional menorah lighting, tree lighting and to hear a festive concert featuring The Rupert’s Orchestra. The event also kicked off Sandy Spring’s Sparkle Village, a month-long display of miniature houses, decorated by local businesses, schools and nonprofits.

New members to assume posts on School Board

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Fulton County School Board swore in three new members during a work session Dec. 6. The newcomers will take office in January 2023.

Michelle Morancie, Kristin McCabe and Lillie Pozatek won their district seats in May 2022, after the current board members decided to retire. The seats are non-partisan.

The Fulton County School Board also appointed Katie Gregory to fill the District 3 seat, covering parts of Sandy Springs, College Park, East

TARR/APPEN

Michelle Morancie is sworn in as District 7 Fulton County School Board member at a work session Dec. 6. She’ll begin her term in January.

CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED

DELANEY

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PUBLIC SAFETY

Scam takes Alpharetta firm for $2 million

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Thieves using spoofed email accounts of Fulton County School System employees were able to defraud a local company out of more than $2 million over a three-month period, Alpharetta police officials say.

Details of the investigation are limited, but police reports said that unidentified thieves pretending to be Fulton County Schools Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef and a school system purchasing agent stole nearly 1,000 laptop computers worth $2,060,474 from Edge Solutions, an Alpharetta-based technology company.

Police said Edge Solutions received an email order from the suspects Sept. 14 for $372,867 worth of Lenovo X1 Thinkpad computers.

Employees at Edge Solutions told police they believed the email was a

legitimate order because it came from the email address, @fultoncschools.org, which is a spoof of the legitimate Fulton County Schools address, @fultonschools.org.

The order was processed and shipped, and on Oct. 3, an unidentified suspect picked up the computers from Edge Solution’s warehouse in Alpharetta.

Thieves later used Dereef’s identity to make two more orders for laptops worth $834,103 on Oct. 13, and for $853,502 on Nov. 4. Both orders were also picked up at the Edge Solutions warehouse by an unidentified suspect.

The fraud was finally uncovered on Nov. 29, when after multiple attempts to reach Dereef for payment, Edge Solutions employees visited the offices of Fulton County Schools and met the real Marin Dereef, who said the orders were not real.

“This is when Edge Solutions realized they had been scammed,” police reports

said.

In an email statement to Appen Media, Julie Haley, Edge Solutions chief executive officer, promised the company’s clients that no customer data has been exposed by the incident.

“Edge Solutions recently fell victim to a sophisticated fraud scheme involving criminals posing as legitimate customers,” Haley said. “While the case is ongoing and law enforcement agencies have requested us not to discuss details of the investigation, we want to assure our customers that this theft involved only computer hardware and no customer data was lost or breached during this crime.”

Alpharetta Police officials have declined to comment further on this incident.

Brian Noyes, Chief Communications Officer for Fulton County Schools, said the district is cooperating fully with authorities.

Dunwoody police report firing on armed suspect

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody police reported officers fired on an armed during an incident off Perimeter Center Dec. 8.

No one was injured in the confrontation.

Officers were called to 124 Perimeter Center West at about 3 p.m.,

SANDY

responding to a “trouble unknown call” and reported finding an armed suspect at the scene. The suspect allegedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at the officers, said Sgt. Michael Cheek of the Dunwoody Police Department.

“The two officers on scene fired shots at the suspect and missed him,” Cheek said. “Moments later, the offender was taken into custody without further incident.”

SPRINGS POLICE REPORTS

Each week Appen Media requests initial incident reports to inform residents about the safety of their community. Sandy Springs is withholding what it calls “narrative reports.” It is the only city Appen Media covers that does this. Without that information, The Crier is unable to report on crime in the city.

When Appen requested recent incident reports, the city provided documents containing one to three sentences. When Appen requested year-old incident reports, the city provided additional pages titled “Reporting Officer Narrative” and “Case Supplemental Report.”

The Sandy Springs City Attorney has offered the position that “if information in the ‘supplemental/additional report’ would jeopardize the investigation or interfere with victims or witnesses, it should not be released.”

According to “Georgia Law Enforcement and the Open Records Act,” a pamphlet offering guidance to police and journalists on open records, initial police incident reports are subject to disclo-

sure under Georgia’s Open Records Act. That’s regardless of whether they are part of an active investigation. The guidance also stipulates that “any report, whether entitled a ‘supplemental report,’ ‘narrative report,’ or similar document name that is produced as part of an initial incident report or can be characterized as such, is likely to be disclosed.”

The guidance for these records disclosures was gleaned in collaboration with the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Department of Law, Georgia Department of Public Safety, Georgia Press Association, Georgia First Amendment Foundation, Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, Georgia Public Safety Training Center and Georgia Sheriffs’ Association.

Here are some incidents that took place in Sandy Springs recently that Appen Media is unable to report on more fully:

• On Nov. 26 a Sandy Springs Police Officer responded to Glenridge Dr

Neither the two officers nor the suspect were injured, but officials said the incident has been submitted for outside review to the Sandy Springs Police Department.

“A thorough review of this incident will be completed,” Cheek said.

Dunwoody and Sandy Springs Police have not responded to Appen Media’s requests for further information.

“in reference to domestic violence.” The one-sentence report lists the name of a Sandy Springs resident but does not state whether that person is a suspect, witness or victim. It does not have any information about why the officer went to the location or how the situation ended.

• Police responded to Powers Ferry Road Nov. 23 when a Flock camera flagged a stolen vehicle. The report includes the name and address of an Illinois man but does not say if that subject is a suspect or witness. It does not state whether any arrests were made or if the vehicle was recovered.

• The “reporting officer narrative” in a 2021 report of a similar incident has eleven paragraphs of information, including that the suspect was arrested with three firearms, narcotics and a felony warrant out of Gwinnett County.

Appen Media will continue to pursue the release of full incident reports, which it believes are subject to release under the Open Records Act.

City approves floating holiday for Juneteenth, Veterans Day

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Thanks to a recent decision by Sandy Springs officials, city employees will have an extra paid day off each year to celebrate Juneteenth, Veterans Day or any other occasion they choose.

The decision to introduce a new “floating holiday” was made at a Sandy Springs City Council Meeting Dec. 6, following several weeks of discussion on whether Juneteenth, a federally recognized holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, should be included in the city’s list of paid holidays for 2023.

Council members were scheduled to approve the 2023 city holiday schedule in November, but after hearing from nearly a dozen residents on why Juneteenth should be officially recognized as a city holiday, the measure was postponed for further research and discussion.

Sandy Springs Human Resources Director Jennifer Emory said Dec. 6 the city’s options were to either add a floating holiday for Juneteenth and Veterans Day, or just keep the holiday schedule as it was in 2022.

But in either scenario, Emory said

the city would take steps to create an annual city-sponsored Juneteenth event, with support from community partners.

Following Emory’s presentation, City Councilman John Paulson said he thinks the floating holiday was the best fit for the needs of Sandy Springs.

Paulson said by not fully shutting down the city for Juneteenth, they open the door to having a city-sponsored event that can be attended by residents and city employees alike.

“I think this is a good solution,” he said. “If we make this a floating holiday, then everybody gets the potential to use that holiday throughout the year, for whatever event they think is important to them, whether it’s Juneteenth or it could be a variety of other days.”

Not all councilmembers agreed with Paulson’s analysis of the proposal and the options available to the city.

“In my view, the city of Sandy Springs should be closed on June 19,” City Councilwoman Melody Kelley said. “If you can’t go to the post office for mail, the DMV for your tags, the bank for your money, why should you be able to come to Sandy Springs to renew your business license.”

Kelley shared an extensive presentation on the differences between Sandy Springs’ holiday schedule and surround-

ing jurisdiction’s holiday calendars, and why she believes Juneteenth is an integral part of the city’s history.

Kelley said 73 percent and 87 percent of similar-sized Georgia cities have adopted Juneteenth and Veterans Day as holidays. And of those cities, most do not recognize Columbus Day and President’s Day, two holidays which Sandy Springs does recognize.

Beyond that, she said 80 percent of governments in surrounding communities, including Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett and Cobb counties, Peachtree Corners, Atlanta, Brookhaven and Dunwoody have all adopted Juneteenth.

“One of my favorite things about working in the government of Sandy Springs, is that we try our absolute best to distribute our finite amount of resources on a rational and objective basis,” Kelley said. “When I look at this list … I see $2.1 million here to be distributed, and I have to ask, ‘Is it being put to its best and highest use.’”

Kelley added that with some historical research, she was able to determine that 34 enslaved people lived in Sandy Springs in 1859, just a few years before the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863.

“So, if we’re going to keep Juneteenth off of the scheduled holiday list, then

the question becomes ‘Why, why we are keeping it off,’” she said. “It’s Sandy Springs history as well.”

But at the end of her presentation Kelley said she would be willing to compromise and support the floating holiday route if that was the general consensus of the council, and Paulson’s motion to approve the holiday schedule was unanimously passed.

With council approval, city employees will receive an extra vacation day on Jan. 1 of each year, which must be used by the end of December, Emory said.

new year'S eve swingin' party

Schools:

Point and Hapeville. She was appointed to fill the term of Gail Dean.

Gregory will be sworn in at the Dec. 14 School Board meeting at the South Learning Center in Union City.

Pozatek is a Milton resident and former teacher. She won the District 2 seat, which represents areas in Alpharetta and Milton. Pozatek has a Bachelor of Science in exceptional education and has been active as a parent in Fulton County Schools for 12 years.

Pozatek’s platform focused on funding and support for teachers, engaging parents and “putting children first.”

McCabe will represent District 5, which covers parts of Johns Creek and Alpharetta. McCabe has lived in Johns Creek for the past 18 years and has been involved in Fulton County Schools for 15 years.

McCabe has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of South Florida. Her husband, Dan, is a charter member of the Johns Creek City Council. McCabe aims to lower the tax rate for the school system and supports the creation of a charter district.

Morancie, a Sandy Springs resident, won the District 7 seat covering Sandy Springs and parts of Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Roswell. Morancie has worked in public schools as a licensed school psychologist for over 30 years.

Morancie ran on a platform of improving mental health services for children during the school day and equalizing the quality of education in the country.

The newcomers mark a major change for the school board.

All three retiring members represent combined service of more than five decades.

Katie Reeves, the current District 2 board representative, has held the position since 1999. Linda McCain has represented District 5 since 2011. Julia Bernath, School Board president and District 7 representative, has held the position since 2000.

“The board was very consistent with about five members for almost 20 years,”

Fulton County Schools Chief Communications Officer Brian Noyes said. “That created a great deal of consistency and a wealth of knowledge.”

Noyes said the schools will miss the insight and experience the veteran members had, but they’re looking forward to the future.

“It’s an exciting time, because we have four members bringing new insight and experience,” Noyes said.

McCabe and Pozatek have already interacted with the school system as parents, an experience Noyes finds beneficial to their work. As for Morancie, she’s had experience working in public schools for decades.

“The positives and strengths of our board is that connection on a personal level,” Noyes said.

Because the board members won’t take office until January, Noyes said it’s an opportunity for residents to learn the priorities of each member.

“(Residents) should be engaging, listening and talking to board members,” Noyes said.

DELANEY TARR/APPEN MEDIA Kristin McCabe is sworn in as a Fulton County School Board member serving District 5 at a Dec. 6 work session.

Kemp suspends state gas tax for the last time

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order Dec. 8, suspending the state sales tax on gasoline for the seventh and final time since March, when pump prices began climbing after the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

The latest suspension will run through Jan. 10, the day after Georgia lawmakers convene under the Gold Dome for the 2023 General Assembly session. After that, Kemp will look to the Legislature to help provide tax relief to

Georgians in other ways, the governor said during a news conference at the Capitol.

“We can’t continue to do what we’re doing with gas taxes,” Kemp said. “This was always intended as a short-term answer.”

Kemp, who was reelected to a second term in office last month, repeated a pledge he made on the campaign trail this year to push for an additional $1 billion state income tax rebate on top of the $1.6 billion tax rebate Georgia lawmakers approved this year. He also is asking the Legislature for $1 billion in property tax

rebates.

Incoming Republican legislative leaders appeared with Kemp Thursday to lend support to his tax cutting proposals.

“Georgians deserve to keep as much of their hard-earned money as possible,” said House Majority Leader Jon Burns, R-Newington, the House Republican Caucus’ nominee to succeed the late David Ralston as speaker of the House. “It’s not our money.”

Providing additional tax relief shouldn’t be a heavy lift for the General Assembly. The state is sitting on a $6.6 billion budget surplus, which will make

deciding what to do with tax dollars a lot easier.

In confirming he was suspending the gas tax for the last time, Kemp noted that pump prices have been falling. The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Georgia currently is $2.93 per gallon, according to AAA, down from $3.13 a month ago and well below this year’s peak price of $4.50 per gallon in mid-June.

This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.

Volunteers refurbish after-school youth site

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs Young Men’s Service League dedicated more than 400 hours of volunteer service to faith-based Sandy Springs Mission as part of the Service League’s Ultimate Gift program.

The Young Men’s Service League is a national nonprofit for teenage boys and their mothers. The four-year program pro-

vides volunteer opportunities that aim to benefit the local community. The group’s annual Ultimate Gift is a multi-day philanthropic event with a different partner every year.

For the 2022 Ultimate Gift, 130 members of the Sandy Springs Young Men’s Service League chapter worked with Sandy Springs Mission, an organization

created in 1999 to support Latino youth through academic programming.

Throughout November the group worked with the mission and refurbished the nonprofit’s Lake Forest Elementary afterschool location at Mount Vernon Baptist Church during a three-hour workday.

Volunteers upgraded the playground, picnic area and general grounds. They

also supplied an additional swing set, tether ball pole, bench and second playhouse.

“The playground is so important,” Sandy Springs Mission Executive Director Felix Lora said. “It’s the first thing our 60-plus elementary students from Lake Forest Elementary do when they arrive after school.”

A Place for ALL Jews

PET OF THE WEEK

Jebbin

Jebbin (ID# 49022296) is such a fun guy. He’s got a fun, rambunctious side that catches your attention instantly, and a calm and sweet side where he settles down to soak up all of that love and attention. Two year-old Jebbin is a smart cookie, big into treats and is oh-so-gentle when he laps them up from your hand. We’ve also never seen a dog like him jump so gracefully when catching toys. Jebbin is a happy pup who will keep you laughing and the good times rolling. Come check him out at DeKalb County Animal Services.

Our shelter is full of incredible pets waiting for homes, and to them, your love is priceless. We must find 500 homes; will yours be one of them?

5075 Roswell Rd

1 mile inside I-285

Sandy Springs

www.KesherTorahAtlanta.org

Don’t work from home alone; expand your family by four furry little feet, meet Jebbin and have a loving friend forever. All adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip. If you would like more information about Jebbin please email adoption@dekalbanimalservices.com or call (404) 294-2165; all potential adopters will be screened to ensure Jebbin goes to a good home.

Ashkenazi Orthodox Rabbi Yitzchok Werbin

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TIP YOUR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY PERSON

This holiday season, consider giving your newspaper delivery person a tip for their weekly delivery of the free community newspaper to your driveway. These folks work hard to make sure you are informed of all the local happenings, rain or shine, week in and week out.

Importantly, at Appen Media, we have always been intentional about our desire to keep delivery of our newspapers free. That said, it would mean the world to us if you would consider tipping your newspaper delivery person so that they will have a little extra money for the holiday season.

If you can help us help these amazing people, we promise to keep delivering high quality news to your driveway, for free, every week. Free home delivery of 105,000 homes is hard work –and we couldn’t do it without our amazing delivery folks.

How you can give your delivery person a tip:

We have created an online portal at www.appenmedia.com/deliverytip.

100% of every dollar you contribute will be spread out evenly between the 24 newspaper delivery people that Appen Media employs. Whether you give $5 or $50, they will greatly appreciate it.

If you prefer, you can also mail a check made out to “Appen Media Group C/O Newspaper Delivery Tip” to 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

Sandy Springs #1 Kitchen NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

Business : V/O Medspa

Owners : Alisha Isani

Description: VIO Med Spa is an innovative and results-oriented aesthetics and wellness brand. Our highly educated and skilled team of providers offer the latest products and services that are designed to meet the diverse

needs of our guests. Equipped for Body Contouring, Skin Rejuvenation, Facials, Injectables, or Fillers.

Opened: November 2022

Address: 4712 Ashford Dunwoody Rd Suite 320; Dunwoody, GA 30338

Phone: (404) 282-3650 Website: https://www.viomedspa.com

Business: A January Love

Owner: Vada Love

Description: A January Love is a children’s boutique based in Dunwoody, Ga offering diverse and eco-friendly products for the modern baby, child, and parent. We are more than just cute clothes, we offer a curated selection of mostly organic and natural brands ranging from toys, accessories, and essentials for growing families..

Opened: October 2022

Address: 1402 Dunwoody Village Pkwy; Dunwoody, GA 30338 Phone: (470) 299-3904 Website: https://www.ajanuarylove.com/

Business: Ellie Mental Health

Owners:

Description: We provide outpatient mental health therapy to all peoples of all ages in Roswell, Georgia! Come find a therapist you can vibe with and stop the stigma surrounding access mental health services!

Opened: Dec. 5, 2022

Address: 925 Woodstock Road Suite 150, Roswell GA 30075

Phone: 404-990-4240 (clinic)

Website: elliementalhealth.com/locations/ roswell-ga/

Michael and Tessie Lauer

A HOLE-IN-ONE

Trader Golf succeeds with expertise, relationships

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Sitting in the Trader Golf teaching center, employee Rick Coursey defined golf’s uniqueness — it’s a competition more with oneself, rather than another person. And it’s a game of a lifetime, suitable for any age, and a game of integrity.

Coursey wore a ball cap, hiding a balding head of white hair, and a Magellan fishing shirt tucked into a pair of polyester khakis. With a slow, measured voice, he shared his thoughts on golf and described the store’s business model, which hinges on expertise and relationship-building.

“When we see somebody in here, and they don’t know how to hold a golf club, we can give them a mini lesson,” Coursey said. “They go from swinging a club, and can’t even hit the ball, to three or four swings later — we have them hitting the ball straight right down the fairway, just by giving some very important tips.”

Walking into Trader Golf, a small brick building with a worn metal roof, crooked golf posters tacked to its windows and racks of collared shirts behind them, visitors will most likely hear a friendly conversation between Coursey and a customer.

Maybe the conversation is about finding a specific used or new golf club, needing a repair or a club fitting. Talk could isolate on lessons to improve a golf game, taken in the shop’s teaching center — a spacious, secluded room with netting covering the wall, marked with the brand Callaway, behind a green. Golf bags packed with clubs and training aids are off to the side. In the main area, Trader

Golf also has a range in the left corner and a putting green to the right.

Or maybe Coursey’s conversation is unrelated to golf, an exchange about personal matters. It’s not uncommon for Coursey to ask returning customers about their family, knowing intimate details acquired over the years, or casually talk with someone new as if he’s known them for a long time.

The relationships that can be forged, and that are essential, in small, local businesses are incomparable, Coursey

said.

He isn’t opposed to staying after hours to help someone. The night before, Coursey talked with a first-time customer, trying to accommodate a budget. That same customer, Coursey now knowing him by name, came back to snag what he didn’t buy.

“He now trusts me because of things that I’ve told him and showed him, and the communication that I gave to him,” Coursey said. “Now we’ve got a relationship.”

Golf clubs abound

After handing over heavy- and lightweight training aids, Coursey said, “But the biggest tool is the knowledge that we have.”

Trader Golf feels like an heirloom. It’s a cozy space with a familiar smell, perhaps of a grandparent’s living room, and it holds a wealth of experience, and plenty of stories, among its three employees. Coursey has been seeking to fill more positions for more than a year, but he has high standards.

“The years of knowledge that we have about golf — I would put it up against anybody, any place in America,” Coursey said. “There’s no doubt.”

Coursey, who is somewhat of a store manager but cleans golf clubs with the rest of them, has been in the golf industry since 2000. He worked at Edwin Watts before Trader Golf and began playing the sport long before then, though, at age 26, through his father-in-law.

At one point, the store only sold used clubs. But when Coursey joined the business eight years ago, he introduced new merchandise, buying from manufacturers like Callaway, TaylorMade, Mizuno and Cobra.

Coursey, 59, has an impressive memory of the store’s bursting inventory. Used clubs are well-organized in wooden racks along the right wall. New clubs in plastic wrap are lodged in a free-standing rack in the middle of the store. But there’s also dozens of boxes in the back room.

“There’s about 10,000 golf clubs behind this wall here,” Coursey said from within the teaching center. “If a guy calls in and says, ‘Hey, I need a 1984 Ping Eye 2 Square Groove Green Dot. Do you have one?’ Yeah, I got four.”

But the biggest tool is the knowledge that we have.

RICK COURSEY, Trader Golf employee

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Robie Robinson and Rick Coursey, employees at Trader Golf, stand in front of the business logo. A retired PGA professional, Robinson offers golf lessons in-store. Coursey has been with Trader Golf for eight years but has been in the golf industry since 2000.

Robie Robinson was also on the floor Dec. 8. A 6-foot-something kindhearted jokester, Robinson is a retired PGA professional of more than 40 years and gives private lessons at the store. Coursey was proud to point out Robinson’s plaques on the wall.

“You’ll get to see me take my PGA card and take the trash out to the dumpster as well,” Robinson said in the backroom.

With no need for additional income and a passion for what he does, Robinson drives an hour and half one way for work. He, Coursey and Tom Reed, an employee absent on this particular humid Thursday morning, are all past the retirement age and continue to show up because they hang out, have fun and share their love for golf with whoever walks in the door.

Reed, who is in his early 80s, still plays golf twice a week. He used to work at Edwin Watts alongside Coursey, who said Reed has a repertoire and a grandfatherly way of talking to people who are uncomfortable with the sport.

“That’s experience that you’re not really going to get any other place,” Coursey said.

Word of mouth

Coursey declines using advertisements because of a strong belief in spreading word the old-fashioned way. It also allows for a low-key atmosphere, preferred by the professionals who don’t want to be bothered while shopping at Trader Golf.

The belief isn’t unfounded. The golf

Trader

shop might seem like Alpharetta’s best kept secret since the mid-’90s. But at its 10 a.m. opening, customers were already there.

Coursey uses email blasts from time to time about Trader Golf deals for the shop’s private consumer base, including prompts to forward the email. But outside of that, what keeps customers returning, and new ones coming in, is more of an organic transmission, based on reputation. All the Google reviews are positive, Coursey said, apart from one review caused by an employee who has since been fired.

Erin Fletcher, a frequent Trader Golf shopper, showed up Tuesday afternoon,

Dec. 6, looking to price clubs he bought from the PGA superstore. He set several on the counter and swung one for practice.

“Hey, Erin,” Coursey called from the opposite side of the store, while talking to another customer.

Fletcher, an easygoing 39-year-old with an athletic build, has been going to Trader Golf since 10th grade. He was driving around Alpharetta one day and stumbled across the store, before it moved to its current location on North Main Street. His hometown of Calhoun didn’t have golf options at the time.

Fletcher said he likes everything in his golf bag nowadays, which he’s been building for 25 years, save for the occasional trade. But he still makes the trip from Milton at least twice a week to the shop to hang out and buy knickknacks.

Bigger stores tend to pay bottom dollar for products, Fletcher said, but with Trader Golf, the relationship is clean. When Fletcher was in the store Tuesday, Coursey was transparent in telling him he would get a better deal selling his clubs on eBay than he would selling them at the store.

“[Honesty] is basically dead,” Fletcher said. “There’s a way we can all be equitable, and everybody can win in whatever we do. But most people don’t live or have that philosophy.”

Frank Paras Home Depot Installation Services Local Team Leader

Tara Tucker

Golf on North Main Street, Alpharetta, has been in business for almost 30 years. The shop offers trades, new merchandise, repairs, club fittings and golf lessons.

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA Erin Fletcher, 39, has been a Trader Golf customer since 10th grade.

CALENDAR

COMMUNITY:

HOLIDAY ARTISTS MARKET

What: Searching for the perfect gift for that special person? The Holiday Artist’s Market is filled with handcrafted items by local Georgia Artists. From jewelry to silk scarves to ceramics to greeting cards, this thoughtfully curated collection is sure to please.

When: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. & Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Dec. 2-23

Where: Johns Creek Art Center, 6290 Abbotts Bridge Road Bldg. 700, Johns Creek Info: johnscreekarts.org

DUNWOODY FARMERS MARKET

What: The Dunwoody 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, Dec. 17, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody Info: dunwoodyga.gov

HANUKKAH CELEBRATION

What: This unique and engaging program will offer educational and fun STEM activities for both preschoolers and older children to get in the Hanukkah spirit. Activities come from Georgia Tech University and Emory University STEM programs, URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy, Snapology of Smyrna, Nurture from The Davis Academy and more. The event will conclude with the lighting of the menorah for the first night of Hanukkah. When: Sunday, Dec. 18, 2-4:30 p.m. Where: MJCCA Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd, Dunwoody Cost: $10

Info: Learn more and register at atlantajcc.org/science. For questions, contact kelly.cohen@atlantajcc.org

LIGHT UP THE JCC

What: Enjoy a menorah lighting, Hanukkah songs, performances and free hot chocolate and doughnuts outside in the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta courtyard.

When: Tuesday, Dec. 20, 5 p.m. Where: Marcus Jewish Community Center, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd, Dunwoody Info: For questions, email Rabbi Glusman at rabbi.glusman@atlantajcc.org.

JUST FOR FUN:

WINTER PUPPET SERIES: “TROUBLE IN TOYLAND” WITH LEE BRYAN

What: Oh no! It’s Christmas Eve — but the toys aren’t finished, the elves are on strike, Santa has lost his

HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR BY NORTH GEORGIA SCHOOL OF BALLET

What: Celebrate the season with Holiday Spectacular, presented by North Georgia School of Ballet. This performance will feature beautiful classical ballerinas, joyful jazz and tap performers, festive hip hop dancers and elegant modern dancers.

When: Sunday, Dec. 18, 6 p.m.

Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $25-35 Info: sandyspringsga.gov

laugh, and Rudolph has a runny nose. Will we have to cancel Christmas? Of course not! This show brings hilarious holiday hijinks to the stage that is fun for the whole family.

When: Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 1517, times vary

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St, Roswell Cost: $10, ages 2 and under are free Info: roswellgov.com

elegant modern dancers.

When: Sunday, Dec. 18, 6 p.m. Where: Byers Theatre, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs Cost: $25-35 Info: sandyspringsga.gov

HOLLY DOLLY CHRISTMAS WITH KATIE DEAL

ful evening of music with songs from Dolly’s Christmas albums, famous duets and much more.

When: Sunday, Dec. 18, 7 p.m. Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St, Roswell Cost: $40 for adults, $35 for seniors, student, military Info: 770-594-6232, roswellgov.com

LEARN AND LEAD: WINTER BIRDING

What: Join Master Birder Rose Guerra as she guides you through the Nature Center trails and helps you to identify the birds present at this time of year. This program is great for beginners and experienced birders alike. This program is for ages 13 and up. Some terrain may be rocky and/or uneven. Please let the Nature Center know of accessibility concerns, as this program can be modified for ADA accessibility. Some binoculars will be available to borrow. Registration is required.

WINTER

PUPPET SERIES: HOLIDAY PUNCH

What: A fast-paced, fun-filled show featuring fabulous puppets performing fantastic feats. Marionettes, hand puppets, shadow puppets, blacklight puppets, rod puppets and more will sing, dance and perform tricks that will have you laughing and shouting for more.

When: Tuesday-Thursday, Dec. 20-22, times vary Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St, Roswell Cost: $10, ages 2 and under are free Info: roswellgov.com

THE GRINCH REMIXED

What: The magic of the beloved Dr. Seuss classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” comes to the stage. Join The Grinch, Max, Cindy Lu Who and all the dancing characters help the Grinch find the true meaning of Christmas.

When: Saturday, Dec. 17, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St, Roswell Cost: $15 Info: roswellgov.com

HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR BY NORTH GEORGIA SCHOOL OF BALLET

What: Celebrate the season with Holiday Spectacular, presented by North Georgia School of Ballet. This performance will feature beautiful classical ballerinas, joyful jazz and tap performers, festive hip hop dancers and

What: Holly Dolly Christmas is a concert event that celebrates the spirit of country music legend, Dolly Parton. Katie Deal delivers a touching and joy -

When: Saturday, Dec. 17, 8-10 a.m. Where: Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody Cost: Free for members, $10 for nonmembers Info: dunwoodynature.org

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Lewis Walker Nancy & Dave Wistrand

The crippling of crypto currency

Is crypto currency a chimera or a true investment? Per Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, one definition of a “chimera” is “an illusion or fabrication of the mind, especially: an unrealizable dream.” Webster also defines investment as “the outlay of money usually for income or profit.” Crypto may be both a chimera and an investment. But how wise an investment is crypto? Crypto is not traditional money which is issued by a national government or central bank, for example, the American dollar. You can carry physical denominations of U.S. dollar currency or fractional coins in your wallet or coin purse. Crypto currency resides in cyberspace. It exists digitally or virtually and is not issued by government entities. The two leading forms of crypto currency measured by market capitalization are bitcoin and

ethereum.

Bitcoin, the first crypto creation, is the most well-known. Crypto does not pay interest or dividends. But like a traditional investment, you buy it with hope that ultimately you’ll be able to sell it for a profit.

Like some things new and unregulated, crypto has been hyped in a manner that would make the “wild, wild West” seem relatively tame. The 1881 gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, resulted in mayhem, death, and injury. That chaotic incident lives in infamy as an example of lawlessness that demanded containment.

The Nov. 11, 2002, sudden Chapter 11 bankruptcy implosion of FTX Trading may go down in history as another example of out-of-control disregard for prudence, the law and public interest. Regulation and oversight is now demanded as criminal investigators, regulators, lawyers and politicians jump into the fray. Luminaries who lauded FTX in commercials are ducking for cover and seeking legal counsel. Billions of dollars are unac -

counted for.

Per The Wall Street Journal, FTX, a leading crypto exchange, had $16 billion in funds that customers had placed with the firm for trading purposes. Without the knowledge of investors, FTX lent roughly $8 billion of that to an affiliated firm, Alameda, to fund “risky bets.” A subsequent investor run on FTX caused a classic liquidity squeeze and the destruction of the company.

As a financial advisor with a penchant for eschewing speculators as clients in favor of working with true investors who seek long-term growth of capital while understanding the dynamics of risk, reward, and diversification as a risk management tool, bitcoin and other digital assets hold little appeal. It’s true that bitcoin soared to an all-time high of over $68,000 for a single coin in November 2021, after starting the year at just under $30,000. That kicked off a buying frenzy as even small investors seeking quick returns flooded in. This situation was akin to the recent “meme stock mania” involving names like GameStop, Bed Bath and Beyond, and AMC, whose prices were driven to unrealistic heights by armies of speculators who grouped together on social media platforms. Speculative fever didn’t go well for most who jumped aboard late in either game.

The Journal noted that prior to the FTX debacle, crypto markets lost roughly $2 trillion in market value over the last year. On Nov. 13, 2022, one bitcoin traded at $16,546, facing pressures from rising interest rates as the “Federal Reserve has removed liquidity and markets re-priced financial assets.” So much for crypto “inflation hedge” theories. But the siren song of “quick riches” still lives on the internet. Trading platform Robinhood urges, “There’s no need to buy a whole coin ─ start with as little as $1.” You may buy crypto with a debit card or credit card. Using borrowed money to speculate is overly risky and aggressive.

Firms like FTX are not governed relative to the safety of client assets like well-known independent custodians such as Pershing, Fidelity, Schwab, T.D. Ameritrade, etc.

For example, Pershing, a division of Bank of New York/Mellon, protects securities in a customer’s account up to $500,000 through Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Plus, Pershing carries extensive added insurance on client assets through

underwriters such as Lloyds of London. Custodians such as those noted and others offer SIPC protection and excess coverage similar to Pershing. Note that insurance does not protect you from the rise and fall in the value of securities due to market volatility. Protection only guards against insolvency or the bankruptcy of the custodian entity. Such safeguards do not exist in cryptoworld.

Independent financial advisors should use independent custodians to house client cash and assets and execute trades. Make sure that account statements come from recognized custodians, not from the advisor directly. Some of the greatest frauds, Madoff included, came from fake statements generated in-house by the fraudster. Understand what safeguards are in place.

Long-term investment strategies involve diversification. With inflation concerns paramount, “loanership,” a portfolio of cash and bonds, is less likely to provide real long-term returns in excess of inflation and taxation. Nevertheless, such asset classes are germane to liquidity needs and wealth preservation efforts during turbulent periods. Cash is a source of bargain hunting capital when opportunities arise.

For value-oriented conservative investors, a long-run growth-oriented portfolio should encompass equities and real assets with the potential to generate interest, dividends, and and/ or growth, i.e., “real returns in excess of inflation and taxation over time. “Ownership” of growing companies and assets such as dividend paying real estate or other alternative investments form the core of long-term wealth-building and wealth-preservation strategies. Because any individual asset or asset class can underperform expectations at any given time, diversification counts.

Crypto as a prudent investment? The jury is still out.

Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group; 770441-3553; lewis@capitalinsightgrp. com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA). Lewis is a registered representative and investment adviser representative of SFA, otherwise unaffiliated with Capital Insight Group. He’s a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

OPINION

Why social media is (still) not your friend

easier and more fun than having to climb that “recovery mountain,” and maybe it would be in his best interest to chill out, moderate the partying some, study a bit more and avoid all that hardship heading his way. That is, “figure it out and behave. “

up, but you’re not going to tell me. I’ll tell you something, you’re a smart fellow. Don’t get too smart.”

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

How many of us, when we were growing up, did stupid stuff even though people who cared about us tried to warn us? I know I did a lot of stupid stuff – more than I care to remember – and it took a long time to learn my lessons enough to stop being stupid – but that is another story.

How many of us who took music lessons when we were kids quit, and now we wish we had listened to our parents and kept taking lessons? I know that would be me. I wish I had listened to my parents and stayed the course.

For the record though, I am only 68 and there is still time to learn to play really well – and I intend to – but that is another story.

I remember stories about growing up that relate to these things.

The first one took place when I was in college at FSU in the ’70s and ’80s and managing a private student dorm (Cash Hall). At the time, I was still half an idiot, but I was starting to figure some things out. Most of the dorm management thing meant trying to set in some way bumpers/safety nets around the kids living in the dorm so they didn’t get drunk and hurt themselves or others. Those “bumpers” included rules (which almost never worked very well), visibility (walking the halls constantly and monitoring who came in and out of the dorm), occasionally reaching out to the police, and sometimes, talk – conversations and simply listening to the kids.

Doing that job was sort of like stepping into a “live” time machine looking backward because I was watching first-hand the very same behavior in the kids that I did only a few years prior. Time makes one so clairvoyant.

I remember taking one kid aside – Derick – and sitting him down and giving him my crystal ball heads-up talk. I told him he was a smart kid and that he had a lot going for him. I also shared that he was not on a good path at the moment – drinking partying, not studying and the like, and that that he was probably going to flunk out and have to go home and that his parents would stop being willing to pay his tuition, room and board, and he probably would have to work his butt off to recover and get a second chance to come back to school. I told him that school was a whole lot

Six or seven years later I ran into him again on campus. He came up to me and shared that everything that I had warned him about happened and that he wished he had listened to me. He also thanked me for trying. He had come around and was in a good place, but it cost him a lot.

Ha, looking back, managing that dorm actually was my training in becoming a parent, but of course I didn’t know that at the time!

The other story was similar but instead of involving Derick, it involved me in my freshman year in that same dorm. I was on the same path as Derick had been, but probably worse. My suitemate who was maybe five years older than I was, one night left a scrap of paper on my desk. It was a quote from a song that was popular at the time: “Stop, hey, what’s that sound? Everybody look what’s goin’ down… Stop now.” Of course, I ignored the note, and at the end of my freshman year flunked out and worse. But that’s another story.

I did save that scrap of paper though for decades and ultimately passed it forward.

So, I had you labor through all this for a reason. Recently the teenage daughter of a good friend made a national sports team. It was her dream. Before practice started, the decision was reversed, and she was told she would not be able to play on the team. Why? She had posted some stupid stuff on social media about herself and someone sent a screen shot of some of her posts to the coach. She was heartbroken; she had worked so hard to make that team.

Mother used to tell my sisters and me that “nothing good happens after midnight.” She was, as usual, right. If she were still alive today, she would probably slightly alter her little lesson to the following: “Nothing good comes from posting stuff on social media –nothing.” I would probably modify that to say that “actually, nothing good – nothing – comes from posting on social media or even having a social media account.”

I recall a scene from the movie “Absence of Malice” when the DA (played by Wilford Brimley) is reading everyone the riot act at the end of the movie and is talking to Paul Newman.

“I want to ask you if you set all this

Listen to your elders. They aren’t nearly as stupid as you think they are. And nine times out of ten, listening to them will save you a lot of heartache, disappointment and frustration from having to learn the hard way.

As I did with Derick, I offer you my crystal ball advice. I want to hopefully and sincerely ask anyone in school anywhere to at least consider that you don’t really “need” social media; it’s a trap that you don’t need.

Once your posts are out there, they never go away. Your posts are forever, like an ugly tattoo on your face or something.

College admission people, coaches, potential employers, would-be boyfriends or girlfriends, fake friends, people competing with you and others can and often will use one or some of your posts in some way to hurt you. Who needs that? Honestly, you don’t need – really “need” – social media in any form. You are better than that, a lot better.

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” – Dr. Seuss.

You are enough, way more than enough. You don’t need social media to validate who you are. Let it go. Just be you – in person – face-to-face. Life is hard enough as it is. Don’t make it harder.

More on the curious state of college football

ties on a play, only one is enforced,” he wrote. “And the coach of the other team decides which penalty will be enforced. And he must decline all the other penalties. That’s crazy!”

Chef Jeff goes on to say that this phenomenon occurs nowhere else in the real world.

Opinions

Appen Media aims to present a variety of views in its opinion pages. Send your thoughts, questions and letters to pat@appenmedia.com.

PAT FOX Managing Editor pat@appenmedia.com

A number of readers responded to a recent column in which I took college football to task for some alarming trends that have surfaced in recent years – from narcissistic bands to Oregon’s Imelda Marcos closetful of uniforms. (The Ducks lost at home last week tricked out in a charming, two-piece, canaryyellow outfit.)

One writer, who goes by Chef Jeff and has a regular list of subscribers to his “I Wonder” newsletter, sent along some of his own pet peeves.

The one I liked most and made the most sense was something I’d never thought of before. It’s not a new trend, but it’s still worth a mention.

“If a team has two (or more) penal-

THE INK PENN

If you run a red light, then flee police while exceeding speeds of 80 mph, the cops aren’t forced to decide which offense to cite you with. They throw the book at you. You’re tossed out of the game and fined, to boot.

Another writer, a native of Arkansas, said he grew up reveling in his hatred of Ole Miss and Texas. He lamented the fact that one of his sons enrolled at Ole Miss, and his favorite niece and nephew chose to attend Texas.

He still hates Tennessee, though. And, he thinks the NCAA should ban cowbells.

There are so many other nits to pick with college football, despite my love of

the game.

Allow me one final complaint, this one about the television coverage.

Nearly all college football broadcasts include graphics at the bottom of the screen to provide the game score, time remaining, time outs remaining and the play clock – all well and good. That’s about all I need to know. Some networks present this information in a handsome, unobtrusive way – a thin sliver of information complementing what is happening on the field.

But some networks don’t.

They need the full bottom third of the screen to add program teasers encased

in an Oregon Ducks’ canary yellow box, along with other incidental information, and an endless crawl of scores from other games.

The screen is cluttered with so much multi-colored debris that viewers are made to wonder whether they’re watching a football game or a slot machine.

I was tuned into the final seconds of an exciting match-up last Saturday when my eye was pried to the bottom of the screen where network Einsteins were running scores from soccer games. Soccer games!

Let’s be clear about one thing – and I think I speak for all college football fans. The reason most people tune in college football games is college football. The score of a close soccer game is not going to have me scrambling for the remote.

I have Hulu. I can watch soccer or hockey if I want to, but I don’t.

Books and bookshops and writers, oh my!

What is it about books about bookshops? Or books? No, not all of them are engaging, witty, and informative, but these three are.

KATHY MANOS PENN

The Ink Penn, inkpenn119@gmail.com

“The

Mayfair Bookshop” by Eliza Knight

This is the second book I’ve read that shifts between the story of Nancy Mitford and that of a modern-day character who is visiting the Heywood Hill bookshop in London where Nancy worked during WW II. The first was “The Bookseller’s Secret.”

This time, curator Lucy St. Clair is in search of books for a client’s library and is also seeking the answer to a family mystery involving Nancy Mitford.

This book added additional detail to what I’d learned about Mitford’s life in the earlier book, and I was fascinated by all of it. The two tales are carefully intertwined and the mystery is satisfactorily resolved. All in all, a delightful read, one I highly recommend.

“The Lost for Words Bookshop” by Stephanie Butland

Another book set in a bookshop? Of course, I loved it. Yes, I reveled in the books mentioned, but I was also fascinated by

the main characters: Loveday, Nathan, and Archie. Loveday, whose story it is, has worked in the Lost for Words bookshop for six years. It is a refuge, a hideaway, and her world is books, so much so that she has first lines of novels she loves tattoed on her skin. The tale of how she emerges from her shell drew me in. The why behind her pesonality, her need not to engage with others, is slowly revealed. Ultimately it is a story of love and loss, not only in the romantic sense, but in the family sense.

I predict you’ll find yourself rooting for Loveday, Nathan, and Archie as I did. I tried to savor the book, but instead I stayed up late several nights because I couldn’t put it down.

“The Bar Harbor Retirement Home for Famous Writers (and Their Muses)” by Terri-Lynne DeFino

I loved this book for its tale of writers, the writing process, and more! I expected it to be a cozy mystery, perhaps along the lines of the “Thursday Murder Club.” Silly for me to think one retirement home would be like another. A cozy mystery it is not!

If you don’t care for sex and cursing, this is not the book for you, but if you want a view into writers’ lives, you’ll be fascinated.

It’s a “ ... whimsical, moving novel about a retirement home for literary legends who spar, conjure up new stories, and almost magically change the lives of the people around them.” As an author, I treasured

insights into the writing process. When one writer comments, “You made him Polish?” and hears back, “It just happened. Surprised the hell out of me too,” I laughed aloud. It confirmed for me that I’m not the only one who doesn’t always know where my work is headed. Things DO just spring to mind. It’s a beautifully written story that has stayed with me even as I’ve begun another book. I highly recommend it.

Now, I must turn my attention

to writing my next book. I wonder what surprises my characters will have in store for me as the story unfolds.

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

Post offices played a vital role in georgia’s development

Two of our nation’s founding fathers share responsibility for establishing the postal service that we pretty much take for granted today. In 1737, Benjamin Franklin was selected by the British government to be Postmaster of Philadelphia, a post he held for several years. During his tenure, carefully marked routes were established from Maine to Florida, overnight mail delivery between New York and Philadelphia was launched, and a postal rate chart based on distance and weight of letters and parcels was created. This was essential infrastructure that enabled future enhancements to take place.

In 1775, a year before Congress declared independence from Great Britain, Franklin was appointed our nation’s first postmaster by the Second Continental Congress, a position he held for only about a year, long enough to establish a new system of postal routes from today’s Portland, Maine, to Savannah, Georgia, which became the first post office in our state. Soon after the colonies declared independence in July 1776, Franklin was named an ambassador to France. The postal system by then was well established and continued to flourish.

George Washington signed the Postal Service Act in 1792 creating The Post Office Department. This pivotal legislation gave the postal service responsibility for creating additional postal routes, essential for settlement of a new and expanding nation. It recognized a right to privacy by stipulating severe penalties for opening other people’s mail and allowed inexpensive distribution of newspapers by mail, which encouraged literacy and participation in community affairs. Franklin, along with George Washington, were honored by being on the first U.S. postage stamps in 1847.

Certainly, the U.S. Postal Service

DEATH NOTICES

Stanley Beck, 74, of Milton, passed away on December 3, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Patricia Black, 81, of Johns Creek, passed away December 3, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

has its challenges today. It lost $4.9 billion in 2021. The volume of mail has been declining for years while advertisements now constitute the majority of USPS mail. Competition from other carriers, the cost of pension benefits for more than 1 million workers and retirees, increased cost of fuel and equipment pose real challenges for the institution. However, the USPS is written into our Constitution and still provides essential services. Don’t expect it to go away any time soon

The history and importance of post offices in Old Milton County and surrounding areas in north Georgia has been studied in great detail by Ed Malowney, president of the Alpharetta and Old Milton Historical Society and founder of the Johns Creek Historical Society. Over the past five

years, he has researched some 40 post offices in Old Milton County and another 30 or so in surrounding counties, plus some 200 individuals connected to the post offices. His initial efforts focused on four villages, or crossroads communities, Newtown, Warsaw, Shakerag and Ocee and quickly expanded into surrounding areas.

When studying post offices, Malowney has noted the importance of family ties. Post offices often existed in tight-knit communities where the postmaster was the head of a leading family. His descendants or close relatives often followed in his footsteps and became postmasters in the same or nearby communities. This interconnectivity existed in many post office jurisdictions.

Another interesting finding of his

research is that several postmasters were medical doctors.

“I’m not sure why,” Malowney says. “It is the last thing I would expect.”

When he looked into the matter, he found that some of the postmasters had recently graduated from medical school. Because many post offices were housed in or near stores, he believes this may have been a promotional tool by a store owner if the doctor held regular clinics in the store.

Malowney notes that the first postmaster of Alpharetta was Dr. Oliver P. Skelton, who was appointed in 1858, the day the Farmhouse Post Office was closed. Farmhouse was a small community located northeast of Route 400 and Old Milton Parkway. The Farmhouse postmaster was Isham Teasley, Skelton’s son-in-law. Skelton served two other Alpharetta appointments and Teasley also was later appointed to serve as the Alpharetta postmaster. In 1899, Isham’s wife, Nannie Teasley, became the first female postmaster in Alpharetta.

A third finding of the research pertains to the devastating economic impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction period, which delayed the establishment of Milton County post offices. Only one Milton post office was added in 1873, three in the early 1880s and six in the late 1880s. Nine post offices were added in the 1890s. Most were discontinued by 1907 with the implementation of Rural Free Delivery. At that time old Milton County had one post office at Alpharetta. The Roswell Post Office, then part of Cobb County, covered the south portion of the county; Duluth, in Gwinnett County, provided mail service to the eastern part of the county.

Ed’s goal for his research is to preserve the basic information electronically and in hard copy for current and future generations and to selectively write summaries for each post office and related individuals.

Bernice Elrod, 79, of Milton, passed away December 2, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Herbert Mueller, 65, of Alpharetta, passed away November 30, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

John Nemesh, 92, of Roswell, passed away on December 5, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Domonique Williams, 41, of Roswell, passed away December 2, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

BOB MEYERS Columnist bobmey@bellsouth.net

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/PROVIDED

When Rural Free Delivery mail service began in 1896, the need for local post offices declined. By 1907 most post offices in our area had closed. Early RFD relied on horse and wagon for distribution. Photo 1914.

Brian Iroff

Graduate Gemologist