Milton Herald - March 28, 2024

City weighs budget amendments

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — With higher revenues than expenditures last year, city officials are considering the use of excess reserves for onetime capital projects.

The proposed budget amendments include a $5.3 million transfer out of the general fund to the pay-as-you-go program in the capital projects fund.

Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill began her presentation on budget amendments March 18 with a summary of the general fund budget, which is used for day-to-day operations.

The City Council approved the 2024 budget at a Sept. 18 meeting, culminating a months-long

public process. Milton’s fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.

Milton code requires the city to maintain an unassigned fund balance equal to 25 percent of the prior year’s revenues, Harvill said.

Also, the city’s budgetary policies require fund balance exceeding required reserves to be spent on nonrecurring expenditures.

“The end of year fund balance for fiscal year 2023 was higher than anticipated, as a result of Milton’s conservative budgeting approach,” Harvill said. “The main drivers of revenue coming in higher than anticipated last year include interest rates increasing and remaining higher than expected.”

Citizen committee counts, shares horse farm data

MILTON, Ga. — After a year-long process pouring over publicly available data, the Milton Equestrian Committee reported more than 200 active horse farms in the city.

Chair Tony Rich said when the committee undertook the challenge to create the census last year, they expected to find around 100 horse farms in Milton’s equestrian community.

Throughout their March 11 presentation to the City Council, committee members stressed the importance of preserving and promoting equestrian farms and communities. They advocated for large lot incentives and agricultural exemptions.

The Equestrian Committee, created in 2016, is tasked with managing equestrian initiatives, educating the owners of horse farms and protecting the city’s rural

horse farms

Milton,

by members of the Equestrian Committee, shows the more than 200 horse-riding holdings across the city. The committee also created additional maps and identified farms with potential infrastructure for horses.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA Representatives from an urban planning firm Aaron Arnett and Shawn Terpack, center, present a new “branding toolkit” March 18 for the city seal, department logos and other graphic designs representing the city. Elected officials approved the revamped branding initiative with some suggested changes.

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POLICE BLOTTER

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Man racks up charges after seeking free food

MILTON, Ga. — Police arrested a 32-yearold Phoenix, Arizona, man March 5 after he allegedly entered restaurants off Windward Parkway to panhandle, destroying property and assaulting a patron.

The manager of Panda Express told police the suspect requested free food and after he was denied, the manager said the suspect yelled, cursed at him, then broke a hand sanitizer machine before leaving the business.

The manager of another restaurant next door told police the suspect began to yell at an older patron sitting outside, threw chairs across the parking lot and flipped the table the patron was sitting at.

After obtaining a warrant on the suspect for disorderly conduct, Milton police assisted Alpharetta police in a search for the suspect after reports of a domestic dispute involving the suspect, according to the incident report.

They found the suspect in a parking lot off Windward Parkway and arrested him, with additional state warrants for criminal damage to property second degree, theft by taking and simple battery of a person 65 years of age or over.

Police transported him to the Fulton County Adult Detention Center.

Man duped in online scam for car rental

MILTON, Ga. — A Milton man reported to police March 11 that he had been scammed out of nearly $500 after attempting to rent a car from someone he met through Facebook.

He told police he posted to a group named “Atlanta Car Rentals,” looking

to rent a vehicle for a month and was responded to by a named suspect.

Over the course of several transactions related to placing an alleged deposit and buying insurance, the man sent the suspect $470, according to the incident report. The suspect eventually asked for the full $1,000 payment, but the man told police he declined stating he was uncomfortable doing so before seeing the car.

The man told police he drove to the address provided by the suspect, but when he arrived, occupants said no one by the suspect’s name was there, nor did they rent vehicles.

After requesting a refund, the man said the suspect told him, “Because you are rude and stubborn I will not be refunding you the money,” the report says.

Reported home thefts spark investigation

MILTON, Ga. — Police are investigating two burglaries, one on Greenview Terrace where thousands of dollars in items were stolen, and another on Freemanville Road.

According to the first incident report, police were dispatched to a burglary call on Greenview Terrace March 12. The report lists more than $3,200 in jewelry and cash as stolen. Police said suspects have not been identified and the case is currently under investigation.

Police were also dispatched to a burglary on Freemanville Road March 14, where $1,000 in damages had been reported. Three teenage suspects have been identified, but police said no arrests have been made and that the case is still under investigation.

Man’s home targeted in alleged prank war

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An Alpharetta man reported a group of children allegedly set his front yard on fire and vandalized his garage door on Tuxford Drive March 3.

A neighbor reported she woke up to the sound of an explosion outside and

saw the victim’s front yard on fire around 2 a.m., and she alerted him.

The victim was able to extinguish the flames with his garden hose before police and fire arrived, the report states.

Officers reported telling the victim that the junior and senior high school prank war was in full swing, and the victim said one of his granddaughters is a junior at a local high school.

The victim also said a vehicle in his driveway had gotten egged twice and covered in Silly String. He reported he had not checked for damage, but he thought there were some minor marks.

Officers reported observing the victim’s right garage door had the letters “SR” spraypainted on it. The victim estimated it would cost some $400 to repaint.

A large area of the front yard was also charred and black. The victim told officers he wishes to prosecute the suspects for the $700 in damages, the report states.

The victim’s neighbor reportedly provided officers with Ring doorbell footage that showed a group of suspects lighting something on fire in the man’s yard before fleeing.

No suspects have been identified.

Woman’s identity used to open six phone lines

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An Alpharetta woman reported March 11 someone used her identity to fraudulently open six lines of phone service.

The victim’s mother reported the alleged identity fraud because the victim was attending college in Massachusetts.

Officers reported speaking with the victim on the phone, and she said she received a Verizon bill at her permanent address in Alpharetta. She said her name was misspelled on the bill, and she does not use Verizon as her phone service.

Officers reported the $753 bill was due March 14 for three iPad Pros and three iPhone 15 Pro Maxes.

The victim was referred to the Federal Trade Commission to report her identity as stolen, the report states.

No suspects have been identified.

The Gathering shares confidence in bringing NHL to Forsyth County

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The developers of The Gathering at South Forsyth expressed confidence in securing a National Hockey League team in Forsyth County at a community meeting March 19.

More than 100 people packed into a conference room at Lanier Technical College to hear the latest updates from project staff and share their thoughts on the proposed $2 billion mixed-use development off Union Hill Road, Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Ga. 400.

The 90-minute meeting featured presentations by Krause Sports and Entertainment CEO Vernon Krause, The Gathering Senior Project Executive Frank Ferrara, SCI Architects partner Tone Frisina, Kimley-Horn Vice President Jim Hamilton and Nelson Worldwide principal Lamar Wakefield, who designed Alpharetta’s Avalon and The Battery in Cobb County.

“We think we have, by far, the best location, the best project, the best team to pull this thing off, and we’re going to do it,” Krause said.

Krause said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed enthusiasm when he

presented the plans to him in September, and discussions continued through the end of the year.

“In December, I met with him again, took our investment banker with us, and had a good, healthy discussion with him,” Krause said. “And he said, right before we left the room, he said, ‘Vernon, go get your deal done with the county. Bring

me a binding MOU, memorandum of understanding, and I'll tell you when to start the arena.’”

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement on principal terms and authorization to continue with The Gathering Jan. 31.

In the agreement, the county agreed to foot $350 million for the construction

of the arena and $40 million for an arena parking deck through revenue-backed bonds if The Gathering secures an NHL tenant.

A binding agreement between the developers and the county is scheduled to be considered at a called Board of Commissioners meeting March 26.

Krause also recognized Alpharetta’s interest in securing an NHL tenant at its North Point Mall.

Alpharetta Sports and Entertainment Group announced March 12 its petition to the NHL with backing from Neil Leibman, Peter Simon and Aaron Zeigler in partnership with NHL veteran Anson Carter.

“So, rather than just go to the media and make up things, like I believe Alpharetta is doing, we are going to send a binding memorandum of understanding to the commissioner, and I think that puts us in the queue,” Krause said.

A vote on potential redevelopment plans for the Alpharetta mall is still pending. At the Alpharetta City Council annual planning retreat Jan. 22, Economic and Community Development Director Kathi Cook said the city anticipates North Point Mall owners New

The Roswell Historical Society will host its inaugural Night at the Museum fundraiser April 6 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to showcase its new rotating exhibit “Presidential Connections to Roswell.” The ticketed event will also feature hors d’oeuvres, drinks and live music.

Historical Society exhibit to feature Roswell’s presidential connections

ROSWELL, Ga. — In its inaugural Night at the Museum fundraiser April 6, the Roswell Historical Society will showcase its new “Presidential Connections to Roswell” exhibit.

The gallery highlights the ties of former U.S. presidents to the city, including Teddy Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter and Woodrow Wilson.

Held at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, Night at the Museum will also feature hors d’oeuvres, drinks and live music. It will last from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the exhibit’s ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Gathering:

Continued from Page 3

York Life will present new plans around this summer.

In a press release, Alpharetta Sports and Entertainment Group announced it is working with the mall owners to redevelop the property with an arena for hockey and concerts designed by architect Frank Gehry; facilities for esports and performing arts; a professional-level outdoor stadium; hotels; and retail, dining and residential components.

Addressing skepticism toward bringing a hockey team back to Metro Atlanta after the relocation of the Atlanta Flames and the Thrashers, Senior Project Executive Ferrara said times have changed, and there are NHL fans spread evenly across the country rather than just in traditional hockey markets.

In his presentation, Ferrara cited failures of the past as poor fan experience, ownership issues, team performance, financial circumstances,

Attire for Night at the Museum is casual cocktail. Tickets can be purchased at roswellhistoricalsociety. org. For Roswell Historical Society members, tickets are $65, and for nonmembers, tickets are $75.

Like other rotating exhibits produced by the Historical Society in the Roswell History Museum, “Presidential Connections to Roswell” will be on display for a year.

The museum is on the second floor of the Roswell Cultural Arts Center. It is free and open to the public Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

locating the arena too far from its fan base and the eventual relocation of the two teams.

“There were problems with the first two,” he said. “I don’t believe that this is the so called, ‘Oh, they've already had two strikes. Will this be the third?’ This is the first time at doing it right. This is the first time of doing this in the right location.”

ROSWELL HISTORICAL SOCIETY/PROVIDED

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Vernon Krause, CEO of Krause Sports and Entertainment, fields audience questions on The Gathering at South Forsyth at a community meeting at Lanier Technical College March 19.

Good Friday – March 29

7:00pm:

The Life and Passion of Christ in the Sanctuary. A moving service following the life, ministry, and passion of Jesus Christ.

Easter Sunday – March 31

7:00am: Sunrise Service 8:30am: Worship in the Historic Chapel 9:45am: Lite-Bites Brunch. Gathering Area (Entrance nearest the bell tower)

11:00am: Worship in the Sanctuary

One of the things that downtown does is have events, concerts, sidewalk sales, that kind of thing, so that’s what that group is focused on.

MICHAEL STARLING, director of economic development, City of Dunwoody

Business leaders seek to sculpt Dunwoody Village as city’s downtown

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — In a continued effort to boost Dunwoody Village as the city’s downtown, a newly formed group of area business owners are working on a game plan.

Dunwoody Village, a neighborhood of shops, offices and residences along Chamblee Dunwoody Road near Mount Vernon Road, has been a focus for city officials for some time.

In 2011, the Dunwoody Village Master Plan was created through the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Livable Center Initiative grant program, which incentivizes local jurisdictions to revitalize areas into self-sustaining communities with a diverse range of housing, employment and commercial options.

About a decade later, an update was adopted that focused on rewriting zoning regulations.

Dunwoody Community Development Director Richard McLeod said he had passed Dunwoody Village in the ’70s, growing up in Roswell while his mother worked at Perimeter Mall, and noted it hadn’t changed.

“I thought it was a little weird, and I started talking to some of the councilmembers and some of the folks who live around here, and they said, ‘It’s so tired. It needs a lift,’” McLeod said.

There had been criticism from the community that spanned from the number of banks in the Village to style limitations, he said.

Michael Starling, Dunwoody’s director of economic development, said aesthetics of Dunwoody Village were meant to capture the historic feel of Williamsburg, Virgnia, but that they became a hindrance

Morty’s Meat & Supply,

a “shrine” to Dunwoody native Ryan Seacrest. Abes, who also owns the nearby Bar{n} and Message in a Bottle, is a member of the Dunwoody Village Merchants Association, a group of business owners working to further define the area as the city’s downtown.

to new development. Based on a survey conducted by an architectural firm, Starling said most people were more concerned with function anyway, giving city staff ammunition to incorporate design changes into the zoning code.

The master plan also resulted in more city investment into key Dunwoody Village corridors, like the $2.33 million streetscape project on Dunwoody Village Parkway, completed in 2014. Another project, Village Crossroads, is underway which intends to make Chamblee Dunwoody Road more walkable and bike-friendly with additional traffic calming measures.

Merchants group

Then, last year, the Dunwoody Village

Merchants Association was formed, composed of about a dozen business owners, pulled together by city staff.

“I think the majority of Dunwoodians believe that the Village is sort of their local downtown, and we agree with that and think it needs to look and feel and operate more like a downtown,” Starling said. “One of the things that downtown does is have events, concerts, sidewalk sales, that kind of thing, so that’s what that group is focused on.”

David Abes, an association member and owner of a number of restaurants in Dunwoody Village, said the group is planning for quarterly events. His overall project to do business in Dunwoody, as founder of Dash Hospitality Group, is six

Situated between business owner David Abes’ Bar{n}, Morty’s Meat & Supply and Message in a Bottle, is the Dunwoody Village courtyard, a community gathering spot. Abes noted his work to transform the space into something more vibrant and welcoming.

years in the making.

Abes first opened Bar{n} around two and half years ago, a craft beer and whiskey bar with a menu that offers charcuterie and small plates.

Then came Morty’s Meat & Supply, named after Abes’ grandfather and featuring a community-created “Wall of Fame” with pictures, a 1976 map of Dunwoody Village and a “shrine” to Dunwoody native Ryan Seacrest, which includes portraits painted by Dunwoody High School students.

“[Seacrest] just posted about Dunwoody yesterday on social media,” Abes said. “So, the mayor actually tagged

See VILLAGE, Page 9

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Business owner David Abes leans on a community-created wall inside his restaurant

which features

Village:

Continued from Page 8

him and said, ‘You need to go to Morty’s and see your shrine.”

There’s also an old program from a Dunwoody July 4 parade — this year, Abes was elected as the parade’s Grand Marshal.

“I said, ‘Am I old enough for this?’” he said. “Because I have gray hair, but … No, it was a really nice honor.”

Gathering place

Across the way is Message in a Bottle, a seafood restaurant and Abes’ latest addition. In another interactive feature, Abes invites families to submit their beach pictures for a TV display as well as write messages to be placed in stacked bottles near the entrance.

All his restaurants, including his food truck Yoffi which serves Mediterranean food, are situated around a courtyard. In a tour, he highlighted the work he had done to transform the space into a more inviting community hangout spot with investment from Regency Centers, the property owner.

“There were literally two metal benches in the whole place and one lamppost,” Abes said. “So, we cleaned it all up, added furniture, the stage, the big screen.”

The courtyard also features colorful murals for picture-taking moments, one with his trademarked “Funwoody” and another with “Good Vibes.”

Abes said he and other merchants saw missed opportunities, looking over to the “cool” events that Alpharetta and Roswell were hosting.

Two years ago, he created Green Eggs and Kegs which will be the group’s first event, held in the courtyard on April 20. It will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, hitting close to home as his son was diagnosed as a toddler.

“I always want to do stuff for charity,” Abes said. “I think that’s very important. Whatever we do — it’s like you got to do it community-focused.”

All the Village

The association also plans to host an all-day, back-to-school event in August called “Funwoody Field Day,” which will include school field day classics like relay races and a scavenger hunt as well as a sidewalk sale in the second half of the day.

Lauren Sok, association member and owner of Functionize Health & Physical Therapy, said Funwoody Field Day will be spaced out throughout all the Village.

“What we realize is when most people say the ‘Dunwoody Village,’ they think it’s the side where Fresh Market is,” Sok said. “All of the businesses in the greater Chamblee Dunwoody/Mount Vernon area are part of the Village.”

Light Up Dunwoody, a pre-existing city event, will be the group’s fourth-quarter focus, but Sok said they plan to make it

LAUREN SOK/PROVIDED

Lauren Sok, owner of Functionize Health & Physical Therapy and member of the Dunwoody Village Merchants Association, and Paula Shiver, vice president of engagement at the Perimeter Chamber, stand together during a recent Chamber meeting. The Chamber took over the association in December.

Dunwoody Village, a neighborhood of shops, offices and residences along Chamblee Dunwoody Road near Mount Vernon Road, is the focus of area business owners working to further define it as the city’s downtown.

more magical and again, ensuring it is held throughout the village, with hot chocolate stands, carolers and maybe a petting zoo.

“The main goal is to make sure people understand that the Village is so much more than one section, and it’s a destination,” Sok said, with a hope that the city’s marketing dollars will go toward the area.

The Dunwoody Village Merchants Association is under the auspices of the Perimeter Chamber now, allowing them greater autonomy and an organized platform.

As a longstanding Dunwoody resident, Perimeter Chamber Vice President of Engagement Paula Shiver said she has always felt like there were things that can be done to the Village to bring cohesiveness to the space and that Abes has had that same vision.

“The whole thing sort of clicked and fell into place was his motivation and his enthusiasm and people really seeing how just a little bit of effort can bring a whole community together,” Shiver said.

SCREENSHOT

7506 Wilderness Parkway Big Canoe, GA 30143

bigcanoeanimalrescue.org

706-268-1346

This is Miss Delta!

Facts About Me

Breed: Terrier Mix

Color: White w/ black markings (Short haired)

Age: 5 months old

Weight: (Current) 15 lbs

Fully Grown: Medium Size (45lbs)

Sex: Female

My Info

Good with children & dogs May need potty training

Healthy

Shots current Chipped & spayed

My Story

What is it that makes me so special?

Well, first of all I’m a puppy, but besides that have you noticed the little beauty marks above my eyes? No other puppy is as unique as me. My brother Porter and I are enjoying our other canine friends here, but I really would rather be at home with you playing, enjoying belly rubs and treats. Want to go for a walk? Come meet me. I have puppy kisses waiting for you!

All BCAR dogs are placed as indoor family pets. No electric fences, please. Visit pets every Saturday 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (706-268-1346) or visit our website for adoption information at www.bigcanoeanimalrescue.org.

More than a dozen people gather at Sugo in Johns Creek for the Appen Press Club Listening Tour March 21. Attendees, many Johns Creek residents, vocalized the need for more diverse voices in the paper, high school sports coverage and highlighting the dozens of nonprofits that operate out of the city.

Staff reporters all ears to Johns Creek community in ‘tour’ of North Atlanta

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The newsroom at Appen Media Group stopped at Sugo in Johns Creek March 21 to listen to residents about the stories they want to see.

This was the fourth stop on Appen Media’s “Listening Tour,” where reporters are visiting the company’s seven coverage areas to gather story ideas, tips and feedback from readers. The next event is scheduled for April 18 at Cherry Street Brewing, Vickery Village in Forsyth County.

Staff reporters Amber Perry, Shelby Israel and Hayden Sumlin kicked off the event with general questions to more than a dozen in the audience, from how readers get their news to what coverage is missing. The reporters also gathered potential sources for beats they hope to dive into, like housing, environmental

reporting and traffic issues.

The hour-long event was filled with guests vocalizing the need for more diverse voices in the paper, to better represent the varied ethnicities and backgrounds of those living in Johns Creek, high school sports coverage and highlighting the dozens of nonprofits that operate out of the city.

Town Center was another point of discussion, with one guest voicing her excitement about the businesses that have already been secured for the area, like biomedical engineering giant Boston Scientific and Atlanta restaurant group Fado. She wanted staff to continue to keep an eye out for new developments.

The project, spanning 192 acres, will be anchored by the pond behind City Hall, also the centerpiece to the future Creekside Park.

PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Appen Media staff field audience questions at the Appen Press Club Listening Tour March 21. Reporters visited Sugo in Johns Creek for the fourth stop on the tour to gather story ideas, tips and feedback from readers.

Painter turns vibrant work into fashion pieces

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Over a cup of coffee at Warm Waves in Alpharetta, resident Monika Mittal described how she creates each of her scarf collections.

The designs in Alora, her brand, are taken from Mittal’s acrylic paintings, largely featuring colorful birds and flowers, washed with a medium that allows the work to resemble water color.

Like a journal entry, she said each collection is an impression of her travels abroad — her next will be based on her time in Norway, though some feature her own backyard, like Georgia hummingbirds.

“Each of the scarves is associated with some place,” Mittal said, referencing London as she pulled out a scarf featuring English roses. “London is famous for its roses … In India growing up, I loved roses. The best rose that people would say is the English rose.”

Mittal has two collections featured on her online shop, each using six paintings, and she is beginning to collaborate with other artists to have their paintings featured through Alora, which is Mittal’s 20-year plan.

The site also features kaftans, worn like a loose dress, as well as winged tops and crop tops. She has added other items like paper products and belts, which can be used as bandanas, in her pop-ups.

Versatility is a key aspect to her brand, being able to wear one scarf in multiple ways and giving a familiar outfit a boost. Mittal said scarves allow her to cater to people who want a unique style every day.

With only a carry-on for a two-week trip in Europe, Mittal said she looked fabulous almost every day because of the three scarves she brought. The fabric is mostly satin, wrinkle-free and light, suitable for long trips.

Images are often symbols in Mittal’s work, representing concepts like freedom that harken back to her upbringing in Pilkhuwa, a small town in India.

While Mittal was surrounded by conservative beliefs, living in a building filled with dozens of family members, she said her mother, who taught English in Delhi, instilled in her a sense of empowerment, that she could do anything.

I used to dream — I was always doodling and felt like I could fly. That’s how I used to feel.”

MONIKA MITTAL Alpharetta resident and painter

To shop Monika Mittal’s apparel brand Alora, visit www.alorabymonika.com.

“Being a girl in the 1970s, to grow up and learn that from her, it was amazing,” Mittal said. “I used to dream — I was always doodling and felt like I could fly. That’s how I used to feel.”

Inspired by her daughter who studies fashion in Chicago, Mittal said she found the courage to start Alora four years ago after a career in IT and heading a local pre-school she founded with her husband. Mittal also had to spend time finding the right fabric suppliers and printers, who offer quality, an ongoing process.

Mittal has been painting for much longer, though, around two decades, and is currently the president of the

Johns Creek Arts Center Artist Guild.

She said people wear yellows, reds, greens to all the many celebrations and festivities in India, also excitedly describing Holi, or the festival of colors. Black is not a color you see often, Mittal said, and white is worn to funerals.

For Mittal, colorful clothing, like what’s found in her work, acts as an offering of happiness.

“I say this to my friends. When they’re looking at me, they’re like,

‘I love what you’re wearing.’ I say, ‘Because it’s colorful,’” Mittal said. “If you’re happy looking at me, I should be happy looking at you, too.”

She described the discomfort some of her friends feel in wearing bright colors, but she’s slowly introducing them to adding just a pop, even if it’s adding a scarf to their purse.

“We love seeing people in color,” Mittal said, still appreciating neutrals. “When you look at a painting, you love seeing that.”

Monika Mittal shows off a piece from her fashion brand Alora.

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Monika Mittal, an Alpharetta resident and president of the Johns Creek Arts Center Artist Guild, shows a scarf featuring an English rose, a print of one of her acrylic paintings. Mittal started her fashion brand Alora four years ago but has been painting for two decades.

It’s allergy season in Atlanta!

Brought to you by – Comprehensive Internal Medicine

What are allergies?

Allergies are your body’s reaction to a foreign particle, usually a protein. These proteins can come from pet dander, molds, pollens, or from trees and grasses. If you develop an allergy to a particular protein, your body’s defense system (immune system) reacts to it and the allergic reaction creates allergy symptoms.

What is an allergic reaction?

An allergic reaction is the way your body responds to an allergen, usually a protein.

You may feel itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose, sinus or ear fullness, a hoarse voice, a scratchy throat, or

trouble breathing. You may even develop a skin rash.

These symptoms can be treated with over the counter or prescription allergy medication or immunotherapy (allergy shots) can be tailored specifically for you.

What is allergy testing?

To perform allergy testing, small pinpricks or scratches are made in the skin and a very small amount of allergen is placed to test your body’s response. If you react to the allergen, we have identified a trigger that is causing your allergy symptoms.

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a treatment used to desensitize your body to the allergy trigger.

Providing Medical Care Including the Prevention, Diagnosis

Comprehensive Internal Medicine has been serving the Alpharetta community for 20 years, celebrating this milestone anniversary in 2023.

The medical practice offers a very comfortable environment and serves a medical home where patients are seen for their wellness examinations (checkups) and for the management of multiple medical problems. Same-day appointments are always available. We welcome new patients, take most insurance plans and discounts for self-pay patients.

Jeffrey Obiora, M.D.

Dr. Obiora has a special interest in managing medical issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He also specializes in diabetes prevention and weight loss.

In addition, he brings expertise in allergy treatment and managing allergic rhinitis, sinusitis and asthma, and can schedule allergy testing to determine the best way to treat allergy symptoms.

• High Blood Pressure

• Diabetes

•

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In this treatment, the results of your allergy testing are used to create a very personalized formula of medicine that is used to slowly treat your immune system in a way that stops reacting to your allergy trigger. Immunotherapy medicine is given by injection (allergy shots) and is administered twice weekly. The first injection is given in the doctor’s office.

Comprehensive Internal Medicine uses an advanced formulation and instruction that allows you to then give the injections at home. This saves the twice-weekly visits to the doctor’s office. You return to Comprehensive Internal Medicine every 6 weeks to progress the therapy and at the end of one year, allergy testing is repeated. Often, a second year of treatment is advised, following which, most allergies are cured.

• Obesity/Weight Loss

• Arthritis

• High Cholesterol

• Seasonal Allergies

• Asthma

• Heart Disease

• Acute Illnesses such as: sore throat, flu, cough, common cold, etc.

Jacqueline T. Pearson, M.D., M.S.

Anju Bhushan, M.D.

Arezou Fatemi, M.D.

Ryan Bozof, M.D.

Shima Mansouri, P.A.-C Laurae Carpenetti, M.D.

Carol Hector, M.D. Sumera Pervaiz, M.D. Sudeshna Nandi, M.D. Petula Gunn, APRN

Raphael Lopez, M.D. Alexis Buelow , MSN,APRN,FNP-C.

ISTOCK

On Occam’s Razor, Hickam’s Dictum and Crabtree’s Bludgeon

Brought to you by – Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta

Arriving at a correct diagnosis is not a simple matter. With the exception of the occasional conspiracy theorist (Is Elvis alive?), most people gravitate to the least elaborate explanation to a question – the explanation that makes the fewest assumptions to fit available data.

Indeed, this approach is known as “Occam’s razor” and is the most famous rule of diagnosis taught in medical school. Within medicine, this rule is sometimes abbreviated to mean that a doctor should seek one single unifying diagnosis that explains all of a patient’s complaints instead of trying to explain five complaints with five diseases. For example, if a patient has a tick bite, rash, fever, headache and confusion, perhaps a single tick-borne illness explains all the symptoms and the patient can be treated accordingly rather than delaying treatment and introducing risk to perform spinal taps, MRIs or other investigations to search for second, third or fourth diseases.

Occam’s razor might sound like obvious and sage advice. Unfortunately, it proves wrong often enough that a Dr. John Hickam, former departmental head of medicine at Indiana University, felt the need to remind students that Occam’s Razor is sometimes wrong. He coined Hickam’s Dictum, which states “patients can have as many diseases as they [darn] well please.” (Dr. Hickam used the other D word, but we may have children in the audience.)

How often is Occam’s razor wrong?

In my physical diagnosis class in medical school, a professor taught us that there was a study of inpatients admitted at a university hospital in which the researchers looked at how often at least two diagnoses were necessary to account for the patient’s chief complaint. The result? One third of the time at least two diseases were to blame. Hickam’s dictum counterbalances Occam’s razor and reminds us of not becoming nearsighted or prematurely triumphant upon reaching a plausible single diagnosis. Sometimes two or more diseases are to blame. Sometimes, the patient in respiratory distress has the flu and covid.

A third rule, Crabtree’s Bludgeon might be my favorite. Who doesn’t love a good bludgeon? (You can tell I am a father of boys). Crabtree’s bludgeon says that a motivated individual will figure out an intelligible method of explaining away a set of contradictions, no matter how contradictory they are and how wrong they might be. This rule hints at the extent to which we humans often doggedly stick to a certain conviction or belief despite all the evidence to the contrary. New evidence says we might be wrong? No problem. We simply reason out elaborate new rules and exceptions that fit

our previous beliefs and account for the new evidence. Never underestimate the ability of people who are wrong to invent reasons not to admit it and to figure out how the new evidence actually further proves that they are right. (Think Flat Earthers)

Sometimes, a doctor can cling to an erroneous diagnosis far too long when what the patient needs is a complete reassessment. This is one of the most compelling arguments for patients receiving second opinions.

One of the most interesting cases that I have encountered in my medical career occurred when I spent a month studying at Stanford University. A patient presented to Stanford’s dermatology clinic with a tumor near her optic nerve and with certain birthmarks of her skin. She was sent by the ophthalmology department to the dermatology department for an opinion on whether the eye tumor was related to the birthmarks.

The stakes were high. If the eye tumor was deemed connected to the skin findings, then the ophthalmologists planned on watchful waiting and observation of the tumor. If not, then they planned surgery which could result in blindness in that eye. I spent hours researching the embryology of her findings and discovered reasons to believe that the patient’s tumor was very likely an atypical presentation of a disease called segmental neurofibromatosis. I concluded that the tumor and the birthmarks were very likely part of a single syndrome.

When I presented the case at Stanford’s dermatology grand rounds, Occam, Hickam, and Crabtree all showed up. Great debate ensued. The first professor to speak argued for the optic nerve tumor being unrelated to the birthmarks. Other professors found my evidence for a syndrome convincing. When the first professor found herself outnumbered, she doubled down and bludgeoned her way into arguing that the data was not only weak but actually backed her argument.

How did things turn out? The patient chose observation instead of surgery. My visit to Stanford ended, but I corresponded with a professor there, and the last update that I received was that the patient was doing well with no further growth of the tumor on subsequent MRIs.

I hope that you enjoyed this peek into diagnosis within medicine. For readers with children or grandchildren, I suggest that the lessons to be learned from Occam, Hickam and Crabtree are worth sharing and have relevance far beyond the field of medicine.

If you or a loved one has a possible skin cancer or any medical or cosmetic skincare need, please consider Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta. Dr. Brent Taylor, Kathryn Filipek, PA-C and our wonderful staff are honored to take care of you and your family.

Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.

He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.

Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 18 years experience as a Dermatology PA. We are excited to welcome her, as she brings with her experience in general dermatology and cosmetic dermatology.

Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.

Living with guilt vs. Living with gusto!

Brought to you by - Alice D, Hoag, EdD, LPC, Summit Counseling Center

A few years ago, I intercepted one of my sons as he was descending the staircase and heading outside. He explained, with a guilty expression on his face, that he was going to go outside to smoke a cigarette. Ever since I was my grandmother’s companion during her final months of life as she went through chemo and radiation treatments for lung cancer after her 50 years of smoking cigarettes, I’ve not been a fan of cigarette smoking. And he knew this. I stopped him and challenged, “Either do it with gusto or don’t do it at all.” I went on to encourage him, “Fully enjoy inhaling and blowing smoke rings or whatever you do. Get the most out of whatever it is that you do. Choose wisely, then do it with no guilt. If you cannot enjoy it fully, then don’t do it at all.”

In the decade since that first statement just slipped out of my mouth on its own, I’ve reflected on that sentiment. I believe it is a way of living life to its fullest. “Either do it with gusto or don’t do it at all.”

Guilt and anxiety. Neither is a good option to live with as a way of life, yet I interact with so many people who do live in a constant state of guilt and/ or anxiety! It’s their default mode; it just happens without even thinking. Every action and thought carries with it

either a sense of guilt or anxiety.

“Being my best self” is a way of life that I attempt to live by every moment of every day. While I may not hit the “best self” goal all the time, I can certainly choose the “better self” more often than not. It’s an element of being a good steward of what I’ve been given. And we’re all called to good stewardship of everything we’ve been given: time, talent, energy, body, mind, actions, motives, finances, relationships, and on and on.

It is not an easy task to choose our better self (or best self). It requires that we surrender the easy path, the selfish or self-protective default mode in each of us. However, as we do, we become more intentional. When we choose our actions intentionally to be consistent with our best self, we end up being less guilt-driven. And when we act intentionally, there is less anxiety. There’s actually less emotional involvement at all. Acting intentionally requires that we observe the options from several angles, then choose the best version of ourselves to move forward in a direction. This results in freedom, contentment, and joy. That’s living with Gusto!

If you’d like guidance and encouragement on choosing joy and living with gusto as your better self, The Summit would love to come alongside and walk with you on your journey.

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See solution Page 23

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Budget:

Continued from Page 1

Because of higher rates and interest earned on idle funds, city officials estimate a $1 million increase to investment income this year.

Mayor Peyton Jamison asked where reserves have been invested, and if state guidelines allow investment in longer duration funds.

Harvill said interest is earned on two city accounts, one through a pooled investment fund with the state and the other in a money market account.

She also said state regulations constrict how the city can invest its reserves.

Harvill said revenues related to property tax collections and building permits are lower than anticipated, which slightly offsets revenue increases in other areas.

Increases to expenditures include $200,000 in legal fees, $20,000 for the unified development code, $50,000 for priority-based budgeting software and inflation-related costs.

The contingency in the general fund will cover the funding requests from city departments.

“Almost 99 percent of this requested budget…is asking for one-time funds to go out to our capital projects,” Harvill said.

One transfer, totaling $2 million, goes toward covering inflated construction costs for Fire Station 45. Harvill said the cost per square foot for the station is coming in below the price of Fire Station 42, completed in August 2023.

After city officials moved forward with the creation of a special committee, a $3 million transfer is proposed for potential land acquisition for active park space. If the committee does not need $3 million for land acquisition,

the budget amendment process will reallocate the funds, Harvill said.

The City Council will vote to establish the Active Parks Ad Hoc Committee at the April 8 regular meeting and announce the selection of their at-large member on the sevenperson committee.

The third transfer to capital projects sent around $320,000 for asphalt and paving after costs came in higher than forecasted.

Harvill said if the proposed amendments are approved, the $12 million in required reserves of the general fund would be in compliance with the city’s fund balance requirements.

Two departments are asking for one additional staff member, which will not impact this year’s budget because of existing staff vacancies.

If the budget amendment is approved, the city will add a full-time records clerk in the Police Department and a facilities technician in the Public Works Department.

The vote is set for April 8.

That night, the City Council also approved a new “branding toolkit” after a presentation from an urban planning firm.

Two representatives of the firm, Aaron Arnett and Shawn Terpack, touted widespread community input during a year-long process.

The kit offers city officials options for future graphics, including city wayfinding, event promotion and resident-facing documents.

While councilmembers pushed back against some of the proposed designs, City Attorney Ken Jarrard said the approved resolution has flexibility in its implementation.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill presents budget amendments March 19 for the transfer of $5.3 million to one-time capital projects. Harvill said the transfer will maintain required reserves if approved April 8.

Johns Creek woman breaks records in kettlebell at Team USA qualifiers

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — In Cegléd, Hungary, last November, 46-year-old Urmila

Tawar’s performance in the twohour, non-stop kettlebell lift at the International Kettlebell Marathon Federation World Championship sent her over the top, lifting 190 repetitions more than the last record set in 2018.

With the feat, she also set a national record and became the first person in the under-60 kg body weight category to do the two-hour lift,

or the one-arm jerk.

Tawar, a Johns Creek resident, participated as a member of Team USA. Her 8-year-old daughter Arya Negre, a third grade student at Barnwell Elementary School, also participated in the championship.

Since she joined the team in 2021, Tawar has won seven medals in total, with several in gold, and recently made the roster for Team USA to compete in Denmark in May.

— Amber Perry

Alpharetta Rotary sets date for inaugural golf tournament

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Rotary Club of Alpharetta will host an inaugural golf tournament at Iron Horse Golf Club at 3430 Ga. 9 April 15.

Registration will open at 7 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 9 a.m. and cocktails at 3 p.m. Participants will receive breakfast and a lunch reception.

Census:

Continued from Page 1

quality of life.

Members created the farm census after looking at publicly available information, driving around the city and reviewing satellite images.

Individual registration is priced at $350, and foursomes are invited to register for $1,200. Game packages that include a putting contest, four mulligans and 15 raffle tickets are also available for $100.

Sponsorship is open to individuals and businesses. Hole sponsorship is

Vice Chairman Carson Saville said the farm census is important because it provides farm owner contacts for escaped livestock and more data for the Fire-Rescue Department.

Saville said the committee started with the horse farms in its records and known owners of equestrian facilities.

The data collected includes newly

available for $500, and a tournament title sponsorship is priced at $6,000.

“This tournament will attract small and large business sponsors, as well as individuals who want to make a difference in the areas where they work and live and do business,” Alpharetta Rotary President Casey Robinson said.

built and unfinished horse farms, hobby farms and properties with the potential for equestrian animals.

“We are going to continue to track these farms over the years,” Saville said.

During the presentation, Saville pointed to a recent incident involving a horse found roaming in a residential neighborhood.

Those interested can register at birdease.com/alpharotarygolf.

The Rotary Club is also accepting volunteers for the tournament. To volunteer, email alpharettarofogolf@ gmail.com.

“We actually got a call that it had gotten out,” he said. “We looked on this map, found the closest farm… and we were able to get him back home.”

The committee’s annual event “Meet the Neighbors” is set for Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the pasture at Birmingham and Freemanville roads.

Tawar broke a world record in the kettlebell sport.

PHOTOS BY URMILA TAWAR/PROVIDED

Urmila Tawar, center, wins first place in the one-arm jerk for 60 minutes at the International Kettlebell Marathon Federation World Championship in Belgium in November 2022.

— Shelby Israel

Tawar, 46, sets a world record for the two-hour, nonstop kettlebell lift at the International Kettlebell Marathon Federation Team USA qualifiers in Syracuse, New York, March 9. Tawar has been part of the International Kettlebell Marathon Federation Team USA since 2021, winning a total of seven medals, and recently made the Team USA roster for a competition in May.

Tawar, far right, stands with her daughter Arya Negre and other members of the International Kettlebell Marathon Federation Team USA at the International Kettlebell Marathon Federation World Championship in Cegléd, Hungary, in November 2023.

Simplifying…and the one that got away

If there’s one thing that’s universally true about fly fishing, it’s that gearing up can be complicated. But what if gearing up could be made simpler?

It can be, and one way to do just that is to sing the song of tenkara.

That’s what I’m doing on a fine afternoon a week or so ago. I’m getting ready to enjoy a day of tenkara fishing up in the mountains. We’re in the midst of one of those brief warm spells that often characterize the approach of spring, and that’s all it takes to get me into a trouty frame of mine. Fishing is in my future!

But where – and how?

The “where” is easy. For the last few weeks I’ve had a hankering to fish the upper reaches of the Chattahoochee River. To get there, I’ll drive from Helen, turning off Alt. 75 at the little white church and then following Poplar Stump Road (paved) until it morphs into gravel and follows the river up into the Chattahoochee WMA. I’ll keep driving until things just look right, and then I’ll stop and grab the rod and see what happens next.

And the “how?”

Lately, in the interest of that “simplicity” thing, it seems as if I’ve been picking up a tenkara rod as much as anything.

Tenkara is a centuries-old Japanese approach to fishing with flies. It uses a fixed line about the same length of the rod, plus about 4 feet of 5X (or so) tippet. And that is all. The line attaches directly to the tip of the rod. There is no reel, and as a result life is suddenly simpler for sure.

I’ve talked about tenkara before here. Does it sound interesting to you?

On this day, I pick up a Tiny Ten 2 rod from Tiny Tenkara, a rod company based in Colorado. This is a delightful little rod for use on small mountain waters like the one I have in mind. It has a fully extended length of about 8 feet, making it an ideal rod for small, tight mountain streams. I’m using it with a level fluorocarbon monofilament line, to which I’ve added the obligatory 4 ft. of tippet. On the end of the tippet I’ve tied a small reverse-hackle fly (a traditional sabaka kebari) to the end of my leader.

And with that, I’m ready to go. After a while, I come to a section of creek that’s to my liking. I pull off the

Steve Hudson’s new book, TENKARA 101, is a perfect introduction to the art of tenkara-style fishing. It’s available from local outfitters or direct from the author at FlyBooks.net.

road and park. Then I put on the waders (it’s kind of chilly outside) and pick up the rod and turn toward the water.

Five minutes later I stand beside the stream. The flow here is small – just a few yards across – and there’s not a lot of room for casting. But the little 8-foot Tiny Ten 2, which weighs only 2 ounces and collapses to a length of 13 inches, is right at home in the tight quarters of this beautiful mountain stream. In some areas, there’s room to make an actual cast, and the Tiny Ten 2 proves precise and accurate in its ability to put the fly where I want it to go.

In other places, streamside vegetation closes in and regular casting is impossible. That’s when I turn to the “bow-and-arrow” cast, a technique which allows me to almost slingshot the fly toward chosen targets. It’s a great technique for fishing small mountain streams, and the little rod does a great job there too.

How are the trout reacting to all of this? Well, several wild rainbows vote in favor of the small soft-hackled sakasa kebari (which is, at the risk of oversimplifying things, Japanese for “a fly with a reversed hackle”).

I fish the fly subsurface through several promising runs, watching the junction of the line and the tippet for subtle signs of a strike. Sure enough, there are several. I get lucky and bring a few of them to the net, where I admire them and quickly release them back into the water. Sometimes I’ll even see a fish move to the fly, but when that happens I often strike too soon and miss the fish completely.

After a while I switch to a surface fly. I am concerned that it might be too cold for such imitations of adult aquatic insects, but it’s warmed a bit and I’ve seen some bugs (maybe stoneflies) flying over the water. I rummage in my fly box and find something that looks about right for imitating them, then cut off the subsurface fly and tie on the surface imitation instead. Fishing is slower with the dry fly, but even so I manage to coax two trout (a brown and a rainbow) come to the surface and strike.

Though there’s always the possibility of a minor trophy in stretch of water, I encounter no big fish on this day. Most

of the ones I tangle with are in the 4- to 6-inch range, a size which fits the water (and the Tiny Ten 2 rod) perfectly. But I do manage to lose one that seems a little bit larger. Was it eight inches long? Maybe ten?

Of course, if a fish gets away, it can be as big as I want it to be. You understand that, don’t you? Of course you do.

So I figure that the one I lost went about five pounds!

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

The author used the Tiny Ten 2, an 8-foot tenkara rod, on a recent trip to fish for trout on the upper Chattahoochee near Helen.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

A wild rainbow trout from the upper Chattahoochee near Helen.

Swing into Spring with the Dunwoody Garden Club Gala

KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist

It’s a sure sign that Spring is here when the Dunwoody Garden Club holds their annual Gala.

The popular event includes a morning of games with a light breakfast, followed by a silent auction, a luncheon and a Chico’s fashion show. Arrive at 10:00 a.m. to play card games, mah-jongg, or a board game of your choice.

If you don’t come for games and breakfast, be sure to arrive at least by 11:00 a.m. so that you have time

PAST TENSE

to peruse the silent auction items and place your bids.

The 2024 Gold, Silver, and Bronze sponsors are The CBD Store, The Mansions-Sandy Springs, and Atlanta Hearing Associates and Dunwoody Ace Hardware.

Tempting restaurant gift certificates are always plentiful. Café Intermezzo, Lazy Dog, and Budi Sushi are just a few of those who have contributed. You’ll also find live plants and flowers, passes to area attractions, fine art and jewelry, gift baskets, beauty packages, and more. The lakehouse getaway at Lanier is sure to be a popular item.

If you go

• April 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Dunwoody United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall

• $35

• 1548 Mount Vernon Rd

• For tickets call Bonnie Barton, 770-639-3510, by March 25

This annual fundraiser allows the Dunwoody Garden Club to continue its many projects to beautify and improve Dunwoody and its environs. The main entrance gardens at Brook Run, the Dunwoody Library atrium planter and main entrance gardens,

and the accent landscaping at Windwood Hollow Park are all provided and maintained by this industrious group.

To purchase tickets, please contact Bonnie Barton, 770-639-3510. Tickets for the event are $35 and must be purchased by March 25th.

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

Families moved to a new town by wagon or train

No one likes to move. It is one of the most difficult and exhausting tasks we manage in our lives, even if a moving truck is coming to pick up our belongings. Imagine all your possessions fitting in a wagon. In the early twentieth century, before everyone had a car or truck and before moving companies, families were still moving everything they owned with a wagon pulled by a mule or horse. If the destination was near the railroad, a family could move their household and personal items by train.

Nancy and Fred Miles moved from Atlanta to Sandy Springs in April of 1915, along with their seven-year-old son Edward and five-year-old daughter Alice. Fred worked a half day at his job with Georgia Power in downtown Atlanta and rode the streetcar to Buckhead to meet his family on moving day.

The possessions of the Miles family, including their chickens, were brought to their new home by a mule-drawn wagon. Their cow Betsy and her calf walked behind the wagon.

The family arrived at their new farm at the corner of Dalrymple and Brandon Mill Roads, known today as Lost Corners Preserve. The log home with two lean-tos was replaced later that year with a new home on the same foundation. Fred Miles, Jr. was born in 1916, Peggy in 1922, and

dam. They were saving up for the final move to the home they bought in Roswell.

The journey to their home at Oak Street and Ellis Street in Roswell was not long, but the roads were narrow with deep ruts from wagons. A good portion of their journey was along what would become Roswell Road.

Nolan Reed wrote, “Moving day came and all our belongings loaded on our two-mule wagon, the cow had to be walked by Papa, so Mama drove the mules and wagon.” At the Chattahoochee River, the mules refused to cross the covered bridge. They made it across the bridge after encouraging the mules with oats. Next was the steep hill up to Roswell.

When the Reed family arrived at their new home to find the previous owners had not moved out due to an illness, they lived with their cousins Lemma and Austin Martin temporarily.

Henry in 1929.

The Webb family made their move from the area where Lindbergh MARTA station is today to their new home in Sandy Springs in 1924. Cliff and Clara Webb and their twelve children traveled down Lindbergh Drive towards Peachtree Road, turned on Peachtree Battle Road, then north on Northside Drive. Their home was at the intersection of Glenridge Drive and Johnson Ferry Road.

The family brought their Aberdeen Angus and Holstein cattle on their

move and started C. S. Webb Dairy in Sandy Springs. The dairy barn, milk house, sleeping barn, engine and boiler room were built by local builder Arthur Mabry.

Posey and Feriba Mitchell moved from Sandy Springs to Roswell in the Fall of 1905. The family had already moved multiple times, and their last move before Roswell was to Sandy Springs where Posey began working construction at Morgan Falls Dam. Feriba and her daughters prepared and sold lunches to workers at the

Tolleson and Laura Little Kirby brought their family from Tate, Georgia to Dunwoody by train in 1914. They traveled to Atlanta and Chamblee, then north on the Roswell Railroad to Powers Station. Their possessions were in a boxcar, which was left at the station for the night while the train continued to the Roswell Depot. Everything had to be unloaded overnight before the boxcar was picked up the next morning.

Their three-room house was on forty acres Tolleson Kirby purchased from Scott Powers. Back then, the road was called Little Kirby Road, combining the family names. Today, that road is known as Pitts Road.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Columnist

KIRBY FAMILY/PROVIDED

The Tolleson Kirby family came to Dunwoody by train. Later, Tolleson delivered the mail by horse and wagon, then with his Model-A Ford, seen here parked by the New Hope Presbyterian Church.

I saw the sign… purchase applications rise sharply

D.C. AIKEN Guest Columnist dcaiken.com

The recent rise in purchase mortgage applications reminded me of a 1993 hit from the group Ace of Base, which was about opening your eyes, seeing the signs, and acting on what you see. We have seen mortgage rates begin to make another run to lower levels from their 8% levels just several months ago to now slipping under 7%. Housing prices continue to rise, but at a much lower pace, and housing inventory

continues to be tight, which means that any ideas of housing prices falling back to lower levels in the near term are simply pipe dreams.

The Federal Reserve is now beginning to talk about potential rate cuts in the future, with predictions ranging from 3-6 cuts this year. We are also seeing, once again, multiple bids being offered on homes that may have sat for 30+ days before, and we are now getting these multiple bid offers. I truly believe that we are beginning to see real-estate sales start to pick up once again, and as rates move to lower levels, we will see even more buyers enter the market, pushing prices higher. While I have been saying that many folks are having a

difficult time wanting to move from their current homes with their below 4% mortgage rates, the closer we get to breaching back below 6%, many of these folks will place their homes for sale to move to a new home. On the surface, this sounds good for our current inventory problem, but the reality is that while their homes will come on the market, they will now be among those looking for new homes. The inventory issue will not be resolved, and housing prices will continue increasing. Buying now is probably a good idea as home prices could rise by another 5% or more by the end of the year. If rates continue to slide to lower levels throughout the year, many will have the opportunity

to refinance to lower rates. Acting now could save you money in the long run. Buy now, refinance later with no lender fees. The “signs” are there; do you see them?

I hope you have a nice remainder of your week and be careful out there!

D.C. Aiken is vice president, producing production manager for BankSouth Mortgage, NMLS # 658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.

So far so good: There is no funeral planned

MIKE TASOS Columnist

Recently, I felt like I was the luckiest guy in the world. It had nothing to do with St. Patrick’s Day, March Madness, or the fact that the South’s beauty was preparing to, once again, offer a pleasing respite to dreary Old Man Winter.

I now know what true despair is: Being prone in a hospital bed from January 5th until late February is a phenomenon, I recommend to no one, no matter how proficient someone might be in nastiness. It seems like ages ago when I stared out that hospital window, wishing for snow. But I really didn’t care about the climate. I just wanted to go home.

Ditto for being in that rehab facility. Written on the board in my room were the words “Non weight bearing.” I guess I was a slug, constantly telling myself that this too will pass. But coming home,

aside from being around loved ones, didn’t provide the instant return to normal that I had envisioned. I didn’t want to sleep in my bed, reasoning “all in due time.” My recliner, followed by a comfy couch would do me just fine.

Until it didn’t. Mustering up as much gumption as warranted, I went upstairs and experienced the sleep of the just. Lordy, that sleep was so good that I never wanted it to end.

But it did. So, I went out and started my motorcycle, dreaming of rides with friends. I was allowed by my podiatrist/surgeon, to put weight on my toeless foot. I ditched the wheelchair and used a walker. I had this monstrous shoe on my foot, but loving a challenge, I went out and started my car. Youngest son Greg had done a fabulous job driving his dad to appointments and outings. But it was time to tackle being truly free. I drove around the neighborhood. Wouldn’t you know it: Mastering the intricacies of the car, a four-wheeled computer, was something to work up to.

A weekend trip to Frazier’s

Opinions

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Harley-Davidson lifted my spirits. David, Lil Billy, and Big Carl seemed genuinely happy to see me. And I was elated to see them, figuring the initial trip of 2024 was a time to pump the brakes on good-natured ribbing. They’re my friends and I cannot wait to mount the Black Beauty, my three-wheeled Harley and walk through the door.

A phone call from high school best friend Klint Schahrer drove home the point that he truly cares. We laughed until it was time to go, then we laughed some more.

Folks called to ask Vicki if there was a funeral. I was a poor communicator of the trials and tribulations of losing toes. Then they seemed grateful at being able

to talk with me. A surprise visit from my brother Matt helped me cope with even though I was now “half-footed,” the love of a brother made me feel I’d thrive in a pair of Wolverine riding boots. Larry Suarez, the Grand Knight from our Knights of Columbus, barbecued a brisket that he and wife Theresa delivered. Neighbors David and Zayra brown brought soup that was so good, I got nary a spoonful. Cynthia Meisner brought a gift card. Father Brian Higgins brought wisdom and Holy Communion.

There have been some lessons learned. When someone says: “Let’s go,” I’ll beat them to the car.

Dorothy was right: There truly is “No Place Like Home.”

Slowly, I’m getting back. Smiling at knowing my family, and many others, love me and want me back.

Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.

To

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