Issuu

Fe b r u a r y 9 , 2 0 1 7 | N o r t h F u l t o n . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 1 2 , N o . 6

NFCC provides free tax preparation

Region tournaments tip-off this week

Eligible residents can take advantage of services ►►PAGE 9

Parks without borders under analyzation Milton parks and rec board review agreement with Alpharetta ►►PAGE 6

Milton hosts teen driver safety program

Course aims to promote safe driving amongst teens ►►PAGE 10

Sail away with Appen’s Cruise Giveaway Learn how to win the cruise of your dreams ►►PAGE 11

Health & Wellness Sponsored section ►►PAGE 22

Soccer teams gearing up for kick-off Kyler Ingram (33) and the Cambridge Bears will seek a region championship this week in the Region 7-AAAAAA tournament. See story page 37.

Wine & Dine on Us!

Spend $$1000 or more and get a $100 gift certificate to Steakhouse in Alpharetta! February 1st – 14th only!

Previewing all teams in North Fulton/Forsyth County ►►PAGE 40

IROFF& SON JEWELERS SINCE 1957

ALPHARETTA • 3960 Old Milton Pkwy #300 (1.5 miles East of 400) 770-751-7222 • www.iroff.com

2 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

PUBLIC SAFETY

3 suspects seen stealing from Target 770-442-3278 | NorthFulton.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 PUBLISHER Ray Appen EDITORIAL QUESTIONS: Alpharetta-Roswell: ex. 118 Forsyth Herald: ex. 143 Johns Creek Herald: ex. 121 Milton Herald: ex. 143 Business Post: ex. 116 Northside Woman: ex. 102

POLICE BLOTTER

TO SUBMIT EDITORIAL: News: news@appenmediagroup.com Press Releases: NewsLink.NorthFulton.com Calendar/Events: NorthFulton.com/Calendar ADVERTISING QUESTIONS: General Advertising: ex. 101 advertising@appenmediagroup.com Classified Advertising: ex. 119 classifieds@appenmediagroup.com Circulation/Subscriptions/Delivery: ex. 100 circulation@appenmediagroup.com Our Weekly Publications

28,000 Circulation

20,000 Circulation

ROSWELL, Ga. — On Jan. 19, police responded to a call about three suspects allegedly stealing from the Super Target on Holcomb Bridge Road. When police arrived, they were told that three men had been seen fleeing from the store in an unknown car. They pursued, signaling the driver to stop, but he did not. The car continued to travel east toward Gwinnett County. During the chase, the driver allegedly broke several traffic laws while driving in a reckless manor at a high speed. The

17,000 Circulation

10,000 Circulation

Our Monthly Publication

18,000 Circulation Our Companion Websites

Visit AppenMediaGroup.com for more information. The Herald Newspapers are published by Appen Media Group, 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta Ga. 30009.

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 stops attempted fraud, helps catch 3 ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Three men were arrested Jan. 23 for theft by deception and fraud, after a wary employee recognized some of them from an earlier warning. The employee at the Best Buy on North Point Drive had received a call earlier in the day from another Best Buy at Perimeter Mall warning the store about an attempted purchase by multiple people using fraudulent information. Later in the evening, the employee spotted two people in the store acting in a similar manner. They were later identified as 21-year-old Zaid Clark of Buford and a 19-year-old from The Bronx, New York. The two told the employee that they wanted to add two new cell phone lines and cell phones to their existing account. When the employee asked one of them, the 19-year-old gave him another person’s personal information, including their Social Security account numbers. Officers arrested the 19-year-old at the Best Buy, but Clark left in a Ford Explorer before police could arrive. Police tracked the SUV and Clark to

pursuit took police all the way to DeKalb County, where the chase was called off. Back at the Super Target, the front doors were shattered, and surveillance footage showed three men throwing rocks at the doors to break the glass. A shopping cart full of garbage bags with merchandise was found just inside the store. Several electronics were taken from the store, including Xbox Ones and speakers, worth $4,000 total.

the Chuck E. Cheese down the road. Inside the car, police found multiple electronics and gift cards from Best Buys in Florida, New Jersey and Georgia. Clark was arrested along with an accomplice, 22-year-old David Castillo from Sugar Hill.

Man chases alleged burglar, catches him

DUIS & DRUGS 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.

DUI arrests ►► Roxanna Barzegar-Darvish,

MILTON, Ga. — A man was arrested for burglary Jan. 26 after one of the residents chased the man down to confront him. A woman and her son had seen an unknown truck parked on their driveway, and when they went to investigate, they saw someone rummaging around in their barn. A man then left the barn, jumped into the truck and drove away. The son, however, pursued, first running after the suspect to bang on the truck, and then getting in his own car to drive after him. He chased the man, later identified as 37-year-old David Lumus of Canton, to Cherokee County, where he blocked Lumus in a driveway to confront him. The son wrote down Lumus’ information and tag number, since neither of them had a phone to call police. Police used the information to locate Lumus and arrest him for burglary. During the arrest, police found that Lumus has a history of armed robbery

26, of Roswell Road, Marietta, was arrested Jan. 19 on Marietta Highway in Roswell for DUI, open container and following too close. ►► Rejo U. Johnson, 37, of Hunts Cliff Court, Atlanta, was arrested Jan. 19 on Ga. 400 in Roswell for DUI, failure to maintain lane, attempting to elude and speeding. ►► Jose MacDonald Ceron-Flores, 36, of Alstone Field Drive, Milton, was arrested Jan. 17 on Holcomb Woods Parkway in Roswell for DUI and driving on the wrong side of the roadway. ►► Osvaldo Alvarado Perez, 26, of Gwinnett Square, Duluth, was arrested Jan. 15 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for DUI, failure to maintain lane and expired license. ►► Erik Marvin Laslie, 38, of Mineral Springs Road, Jasper, was arrested Jan. 24 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI and use of multiple beam road lighting. ►► Donald Keith Zackery, 24, of Brookwater Court, Stone Mountain,

See BLOTTER, Page 44

See ARRESTS, Page 43

Get It Framed by the pros at

THE PICTURE FRAMER The Picture Framer is independently owned and operated since 1990. A proud and active member of the ABA, we offer custom framing, shadow boxes, needle work, frame and print restoration.

25% Off

All Custom Framing Limit one coupon per customer. Not valid with any other offer.

Located at 631 North Main St. Suite 109 • Milton, GA 30004 (across the street from Big Lots) • 770-667-2112

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 3

What are the pros and cons of astigmatism correcting lens implant? By Niraj Desai, M.D.

shaped corneas, a plain IOL isn’t ideal as it does not help corneal astigmatism. Toric IOLs, hence, can be utilized to neutralize one’s astigmatism (no matter how long you’ve had to live with it) and enable excellent vision, usually without the need for glasses. Here is what a Toric

This week we return to address an old foe - astigmatism! Astigmatism can be corrected several ways. Spectacles, which have been available for millennia, have a wonderful track record in correcting this optical irregularity. Modern day spectacles have reached an unparalleled degree of clarity and style and perform admirably in the correction of not just astigmatism but near and far sightedness as well.

IOL looks like. If you pay close attention, you will notice a line of small dots at the edges of the circular portion where the arms meet. We call the circular portion the optic and the arms the haptics. Those marks is where there is negative astigmatic power lies (read: where the magic of the lens is). Your surgeon uses those marks to align the lens during surgery matching where your astigmatism lies in an attempt to neutralize it. You are correct if you think it cannot be that simple - your surgeon actually spends much time studying and poring over maps and calculations to arrive at precise numbers used intraoperatively.

Modern day techniques take a departure from spectacles and frames and bring us into the world of lasers and wavefront guided optics. Beyond spectacles, astigmatism can be corrected via LASIK, PRK, Arcuate Keratotomies, Limbal Relaxing Incisions and Toric Intraocular Lenses. If you have braved all those complex words and want to learn more, read on! Niraj Desai, M.D.

Cataract & Refractive Surgeon

LASIK and PRK are cousin procedures that are performed with high performance and high precision lasers that re-shape the window the eye called the cornea. Simply put, an individual’s ‘refractive error’ or ‘eyeglass prescription’ is plugged into the laser and the laser does the rest. Along with astigmatism, nearsightedness and farsightedness are corrected as well allowing clarity without the need for spectacles. Of course, you have to ensure a patient has the right ocular qualities and characteristics (personality counts too!) before employing this technology.

Toric IOLs have been revolutionary in the battle against our old foe, astigmatism. They have allowed many who have been burdened with significant irregularity in their optical system to see in a way they have never seen before. Imagine that person who has worn glasses for since 1st grade well into their 60s is suddenly unburdened of the need for spectacles to see clearly. What many who have astigmatism do not realize is that after cataract surgery, sometimes the only reason they are in glasses is because of their astigmatism. In other words, nearsightedness and farsightedness are often corrected completely and for someone without astigmatism, clarity without spectacles is the norm.

Arcuate Keratotomies (AKs) and Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRIs) are precision incisions that are made with a laser or by your friendly neighborhood eye surgeon’s hands with the aim of ‘relaxing’ the cornea. Why do you need to ‘relax’ the cornea? Well, as wonderful as the cornea is in providing you vision, it can be a bit misshapen at times (see image below and notice two focus points, instead of one) and AKs/LRIs can help achieve a more spherical shape to an, otherwise, oblong cornea.

There are limitations to this technology, however, I have listed them below with a succinct explanation.

If you are struggling with astigmatism or have questions about it, please contact Milan Eye Center today! Lastly, we have Toric IOLs. These intraocular lenses, by definition, come into play when one is having cataract surgery. Cataract surgery, for the uninitiated, is a mostly painless, 10 minute outpatient procedure that serves to clear up vision by way of removal of the natural, human lens and replacement with an artificial, permanent intraocular lens. For those of us who have egg

- Toric Multifocal IOLs are not FDA approved. Simply put, multifocal IOLs are implants that allow patients the ability to see near and far without spectacles. If you have significant astigmatism AND want the ability to see near and far, you will need to call your travel agent and book a trip to see a European ophthalmologist. We are hopeful to have this technology on our shores in the next 1-2 years. - Toric IOLs can rotate. If you understood that Toric IOLs have to be aligned on a particular axis, you realize that should a Toric IOL rotate after surgery, the accuracy of the astigmatism correction could suffer. This is not common, thankfully, and there are good solutions should this occur. - Toric IOL calculations are complex and because of technology constraints, sometimes an accurate assessment of total astigmatism in the patient’s optical system cannot be made. Hence, at times, enhancements with a laser are necessary to optimize outcomes after surgery.

Call to make your appointment:

470-326-0330

4 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

NEWS

City council considers cell tower proposal Local Service

SPECIALS 10%-$250 Off TREE SERVICES

770Tree.com

Pre-Screened Local Tree Services. We do all the homework, so you don’t have to. Screened and vetted local services.

WET BASEMENT?

$250 OFF

250 OFF full basement solutions over 100’or $150 OFF basement solutions less than 100’.Water-proofing and Mold Repair, Crawl Space Encapsulation, Foundation/ Walls Bowing or Cracked. Solutions. Guaranteed. Discount only by mentioning this ad. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Pls Call Aquaguard for quote 678-250-4470 $

LANDSCAPING

$150-$250 OFF

Take $150 off any job over $1500 or $250 off any job over $3500. Degreed in Horticulture. Call Tad 678-648-2012

ELECTRICAL

$30 OFF

Any Electrical Work. Licensed • Bonded • Insured Rated A++ by BBB • Many local referrences

Call 678-648-2011

New customers only. Cannot be combined with any other discount. Limit one coupon per household. Expires 10 days after publication.

DRIVEWAY REPAIR

SAVE $250

$250 OFF any job over $3500 $50 OFF any job over $300 Cannot combine with other offers. Expires 10 days after publication.

Honest • Professional • Competitive Many Local References • Free Estimates

Dave McKemey 678-648-2010

Mobilite plan includes 7 sites By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. — The Milton City Council heard the first presentation of a proposal for seven small cell towers to be located within Milton. As presented, the cell towers would be steel, just under 44-feet tall and be painted to appear like other utility poles within the city. California-based Mobilite first presented the council with a request to use public rights of way in Milton for the small cell towers at the Nov. 21, 2016 council meeting. The towers are meant to service gaps in telecommunications coverage areas. The proposed sites for the cell towers include: North Main Street near Winthrop Chase Drive; King Road near Cox Road; Birmingham Highway near Tullamore Way; Birmingham Highway near Birmingham Road; Providence Road near Freemanville Road; Bethany

Actions from city council meeting: • Council approved Woodwinds at New Providence Phase II at 23 lots with 0.67 lots per acre. Council approved the motion unanimously with councilmember Burt Hewitt absent. • Council approved to extend its moratorium on permits authorizing use of community septic disposal systems. The vote passed 5-1 with councilmember Matt Kunz opposed. • Council unanimously approved a nominee to the Milton Cultural Arts Committee. Road near Cogburn Road; and Morris Road near Deerfield Road. According to state law, the towers are authorized and Milton cannot prevent this type of land use in the right of way. However, the council can ensure that all city permitting requirements are adhered to and that the installation meets all safety requirements and standards. In Mobilite’s presentation to the council, a representative said that the appearance of the towers would be adjusted to the council’s approval. The

towers could either appear as utility poles or could double as poles with street lights attached. The representative said that the cell towers could promote economic growth, especially for commercial areas. According to a statement by the city, Mobilite and the city have worked together to minimize the pole’s community impact and stated that Mobilite has been cooperative. A Mobilite representative said the poles could be erected in two days and that no major digging would be required.

Fulton residents question water line insurance pitch HomeServe, county partner in offer, some residents say looks like bill By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com FULTON COUNTY – The Fulton County Board of Commissioners entered into a joint partnership with HomeServe USA Corp, also known as USA Repair Management Corp., to sell what the county calls discounted insurance for water-sewer lines. This is a voluntary insurance program intended to protect homeowners should their water or sewer lines need repair. Those lines leading from the house to the meter are the homeowner’s responsibility, said Fulton County Director of Public Works Director David Clark. According to Clark, HomeServe is allowed to use the Fulton County logo in correspondence introducing its optional insurance program to homeowners. “In exchange for the use of the logo, HomeServe provided Fulton County with a $100,000 royalty payment,” Clark wrote in an e-mailed response about the relationship.

The solicitation material was reviewed by Fulton County before it was mailed out by HomeServe. In light of concerns expressed about the use of the logo by some Fulton residents, Clark said the county has suspended further mailings by HomeServe. Also in the solicitation letters, residents were directed to the website, www.FultonCountyPlans.com. When the screen comes up, both the HomeServe logo and Fulton logo appear on the screen, with the Fulton logo in the center. Under it the website states: Fulton County has partnered with HomeServe to offer their customers affordable emergency repair plans that can help protect against costly and inconvenient repairs to systems throughout their homes and properties. Nevertheless, residents have complained that the letter looks like a bill. The solicitation letter has the Fulton logo only followed by the copy which states: Exterior Service Line Review for Fulton County Resource Division Customers Under that is the name of the homeowner and address in a box on the left margin and on the right it states: Status: NOT COVERED Reply Requested within: 30 Days. Some residents say it looks more like a summons.

The letter goes on to state that HomeServe and Fulton County Water Resources Division (the county department dealing with water services) are partnering to offer insurance for damage to water or sewer lines at a “reasonable cost.” The letter does state further down HomeServe is an independent company and separate from Fulton County. Fulton Commissioner Liz Hausmann said she has not been happy with the rollout of the HomeServe campaign. Originally, it was presented to the Fulton Commission as a straightforward opportunity for residents to get the insurance at a discounted rate because if there is a break in the line between the street and the house, it is the responsibility of the homeowner. “When the letters came out it had our logo on it and there was a tone to the letter that was not what we thought we were entering into. It looked like [the insurance] was not an option,” Hausmann said. The first wave of letters went out six months ago and the board demanded HomeServe adjust the mailings to make plain the insurance is purely optional to the homeowner. “They subsequently sent out a second round of letters, and that was

See HOMESERV, Page 42

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 5

A Y M O R N ’ S O T R L UN I M presents the 14th annual

JOG FOR A CAUSE February 25th, 2017

8:00 am - 11:00 am

Grab some friends or your running group and join us for this fast Peachtree Road Race qualiﬁer with a fabulous t-shirt beneﬁtting the Lyric Welch Fund, the Colton Lee Norrell Fund, and the Keira Grace Fund.

www.jogforacause5K.com or www.itsyourrace.com

NEWS

6 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

Milton’s park and rec memorandum under analyzation Milton’s payments to Alpharetta over $1.7 million since 2012 By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. — In 2012, Milton entered a memorandum of understanding with the City of Alpharetta that waived non-resident fees for Milton citizens participating in Alpharetta parks and recreation programs, or Alpharetta citizens participating in Milton programs. But after five years and $1.7 million paid to Alpharetta under the memorandum, city officials are reanalyzing the agreement. Under the pact, the City of Milton pays non-resident fees for its citizens participating in Alpharetta programs. In data from fall 2015 to summer 2016 gathered by Jim Cregge, Milton’s park and recreation director, 14,433 Milton residents used Alpharetta programs with non-resident fees waived under the memorandum. Residents who participated in multiple programs throughout the time frame were counted for each program in which they partici-

pated. With far more Milton citizens using Alpharetta programs than Alpharetta citizens in Milton programs, Milton’s payment to Alpharetta for the year beginning fall 2015 to summer 2016 totaled $362,606. Since the memorandum’s inception, Milton has paid $1.7 million to the City of Alpharetta. The memorandum got its roots before Milton was incorporated. The City of Alpharetta and Fulton County entered into an agreement that would waive non-resident fees for Alpharetta’s

DONA TIONS

SHOP VOLUNTEER ATE DONATE

♥ FURNITURE ♥ APPLIANCES ♥ BUILDING

SUPPLIES ♥ HOME DECOR

TUES.–SAT. 10am–6pm Your donations & purchases help build homes and hope.

Donation Hotline

770.962.4200

suburbanatlantarestores.org/donate

Roswell Shopping Center • 11060 Alpharetta Hwy • Roswell, Georgia (corner of Hwy 9 & Sun Valley Drive)

GREAT PRICES. GREAT CAUSE.

programs for those living in unincorporated Fulton County. According to Cregge, the current memorandum extended the same provisions after Milton was incorporated. The Milton City Council mulled the memorandum at its Jan. 18 work session and the feasibility of disbanding the memorandum and using funds saved toward Milton programs and parks. The council decided to send the memorandum back to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for input and recommendations. In a special called meeting Feb. 2,

the board gathered public input on the memorandum and Milton’s field and facility use and rental policies. After the hearing, the Advisory Board will now consider changes, if any, to the memorandum. The board will meet again Feb. 16 to take up the matter. The board will also consider the possibility of updating its field/facility rental use policy. The policy allows a program or sport from outside of Milton, even a program or sport that Milton offers, to rent a Milton field or facility for up to three times in a calendar year. Roswell and Alpharetta do not offer facility rentals in the case of a competing program or sport. Out of 12 statewide city or county parks and recreation associations, which Cregge said were selected at random, only one — Dalton Parks and Recreation — offered field/facility rental to an outside competing program and only under special conditions. Much of the public input given at the special called meeting was in reference to this policy, with many citizens representing Milton youth sports programs stating they did not want to compete for field time with a program outside of Milton.

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 7

60 % OFF SECOND GUEST

Plus, get 30% off 3 rd & 4 th guests! *

Expedia Extras Book a 7-night balcony or suite on a European cruise by Feb 18th and get FREE tips for 1st & 2nd guests!* ®

400 92

Hol com b Br

400

Old M

ilton P

kwy

120

b Kim

Sta te

idge

Exit 7

(770) 415 1030 725 West Crossville Road, Suite 154, Roswell www.cruiseshipcenters.com/Roswell

Br Jon es B r

Exit 10

Woods tock Rd

King Rd

OFFER ENDS FEBRUARY 28 th - CONTACT US TO BOOK TODAY Celebrating 5 years in Alpharetta and now open in Roswell!

Brid ge

(678) 712 5059 10945 State Bridge Road Suite 105, Alpharetta www.cruiseshipcenters.com/Alpharetta

*Cruise must be booked February 1-18, 2017 for sailings departing April 1 – December 31, 2017. Offer excludes China departures. All other charge, including, but not limited to, taxes, fees and port expenses, are additional and apply to all guests. All offers are not combinable with any other offer or promotion. Offer applies to new, individual and names group bookings confirmed at prevailing rates. Offer open to residents of U.S. or Canada. Prices and Offer are subject to availability and change without notice, capacity controlled, and may be withdrawn at any time. Expedia Extra is for 7 night or longer European sailings only. Additional restrictions may apply. Contact us for full terms & conditions. ©2017 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships registry: Bahamas.

8 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

OPINION

East Roswell residents turn out for change I went to a public meeting in East Roswell with city officials discussing the state of their community and what could be done to reverse what they see as receding quality of life on the east side of Ga. 400 along the Holcomb Bridge corridor. A crowd of around 240 East Roswell residents packed the East HATCHER HURD Roswell Park’s meeting room lookExecutive Editor hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ing for answers to what was apparent to everyone in attendance: The decline of the Holcomb Bridge corridor is not only visibly apparent but it is getting worse. Empty storefronts have been an ongoing problem for years, but with the loss of the Target store across from Horseshoe Bend community and the Kohls at the Centennial Kroger shopping center, the desertions are trending upward. One resident rose to say he and neighbors had received letters from Kroger feeling them out whether they would shop at other Kroger stores should the Kroger most convenient to them were no longer available. It was clear to him that Centennial Kroger’s days could be numbered as well. The Office Depot is rumored to be considering leaving. People are clearly alarmed because the flight of business in the area is having an effect on the quality of life for residents, and if the trend continues – property values as well. Roswell Development of Community Development told residents when anchor tenants leave a shopping center, the businesses in the entire center are hurt. “It is called an anchor for a reason. They bring traffic into the center and the other stores benefit

from it,” Alice Wakefield said. Mayor Jere Wood organized the meeting and brought in the people working to improve the city’s economic viability: Roswell Inc Executive Director Steve Stroud, who heads the city’s public-private partnership for economic development. Also present were the city’s Downtown Development Authority’s Chairman Randy Schultz and Dave Schmit. The DDA is an authority chartered by the state but separate from the city government. It also acts as an economic development entity for the city specializing in blighted areas needing the most help. Schultz told the residents he has no “magic bullet.” What he did say was economic redevelopment should be an ongoing part of the city’s business. He’s right, of course. You don’t stop in the middle of a race because you are ahead. Soon you are no longer ahead but behind. And it is a struggle playing catch-up. But the message to the audience was clear. East Roswell has a problem and it is not going away. What East Roswell does not have is a plan. This meeting is a first step in that direction. What was different about the meeting was the reaction of the residents. Always in the past, any talk about bringing up new development of any kind in East Roswell and the residents began issuing pitchforks and torches. Not this time. People were listening carefully and asking the kinds of questions that showed they knew there was a problem. And it showed they were searching for solutions. They listened as the experts and the neighbors thrashed out some ideas. They tried them on to see how they fit. What I did not see – as I have in the past – was a bunch of closed minds on the subject of redevelopment.

HATCHER HURD/HATCHER

East Roswell residents packed East Roswell Park’s community room to listen and to have their say about the future of the Holcomb Bridge corridor.

Any new development was seen as bad and only a recipe for more traffic congestion. The reality is the cars are coming anyway. The question is how do we make it work for us and not against us? The realization has sunk in that change cannot be stopped. It is inevitable. This is ground zero for a wave that will continue to fill out North Fulton, South Forsyth and West Gwinnett. Can we remain what we were 20 years ago when we first came? No. The good news is we are not Flint, Mich., or Allentown, Pa. We have options to be the best we can be. What this meeting showed was: (A.) We need a plan. And (B.) There are good options available. Nothing is going to keep Holcomb Bridge Road from remaining one of the few major east-west arteries for Cobb, North Fulton and Gwinnett. For once, there were no cries to simply raise the drawbridge. That option doesn’t exist. Now it is up to the city to provide the leadership to create workable solutions with the residents.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

What I want my daughters to know Our country is splitting at the seams. The air is thick with accusations, protests, conflict, and hate. You can feel the hate. Just a couple of weeks into a new presidency, the curtain of blame, allegations, and disapproval hangs thick as smog. Regardless of one’s political affiliation, regardless of whether you hoped to make America great again or if you were with Her, we can all agree on one thing: We all want – need! – an America that we’d be proud to leave for our children. So here is a wish list, though Hanukkah is long over. As a white, Jewish woman who’s an immigrant, a mother, a wife, a daughter, and many other things, here is what I want my American-born daughters to know: You deserve a country where you will be judged solely on your skills, talents, and smarts. You should be judged only by what you bring to the table, so bring it big. You deserve a country where you have the option of deciding what’s right for you and your family. You may be an executive; you may be a stay-at-home

mom; you may work part-time. You may marry, or you may not. The choice should be yours. You deserve to have full control of your body and what happens to it at all times. No government should ever have a say over your choice to have or not to have children. This should never mean using abortion as a means of birth control! Be smart, be responsible. But know that your body is yours; you are its only ruler. You deserve a country where, regardless of your faith, you can worship without fear. Be proud of who you are, who we are. Be grateful that in this land, freedom of religion is one of our greatest rights. This country is a fusion of cultures with a beautiful rainbow of people from everywhere. That is our greatest strength. Don’t ever believe otherwise! Don’t let fear of the unknown dictate who your friends will or won’t be. Be open to all people, and you will have a wealth of experiences more valuable than anything money can buy. (For everything else, there’s MasterCard.) Here’s what I really want my daughters to know: kindness, not hate, is what will bring our country together. In the end, after the protesters have marched, after the dust has settled, after this new administration has found its rhythm, the sun will continue to rise and set over our country, which is, without a doubt, the greatest in the world. I repeat this to my

children time and time again – we live in the best country in the world, where we are offered all the freedoms and opportunities we could want. Only with kindness and openness will we be able to move forward, to live with each other, to live with ourselves. I recently had the privilege of judging a high school essay-writing contest with the topic of “Stop the Hate.” I sat on a Sunday afternoon, reading essay after thoughtful essay, written by unknown-to-me students from an undisclosed-to-me high school somewhere in this great nation of ours. Though I didn’t know anything about these high school seniors, I clearly saw the common thread in their beautiful writing – stop the hate. These students all wrote about their personal experiences with hate and discrimination, how they faced these experiences, what they learned, and how they are moving on to make the world better. Reading these essays was a gift that could not have come at a better time. Here is what I want my daughters to know: there will come a time in your life when you will face hate, discrimination and bigotry. It’s not a question of “if,” but “when.” I hope that when this moment comes, you will rise above, you will be strong, you will push back, but also remember that at the root of all bigotry is fear. And fear never wins; kindness always does. – Alla Umanskiy, Johns Creek

COMMUNITY

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 9

NFCC offers free tax preparation services

NORTH FULTON, Ga. — As tax season rolls around, North Fulton Community Charities is looking to smooth out the hassle for local families. NFCC is now offering free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance with a team of IRS trained and certified volunteers. Any individuals or families making less than $55,000 in a year are eligible to take advantage of these services. “Any moderate or low income families can prepare and file their 2016 income tax returns with us and not incur any additional expenses,” said Eden Purdy, NFCC’s director of programs. “A lot of times, folks around here will become victims of fraud and will be subject to scams when it comes to filing taxes. This is a way of protecting people.” The NFCC tax assistance not only helps people avoid scams, but can

Required Documentation Individuals interested in preparing tax returns with VITA tax services at NFCC should bring: • Proof of identification • Social Security Card, for spouse and dependents as well, or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration, or • Individual Taxpayer Identification Number assignment letter, for spouse and dependents as well • Proof of foreign status, if applying for an ITIN • Birth dates, for spouse and dependents as well • Wage and earning statement forms from all employers (W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-Misc) • Interest and dividend statements from banks (1099 forms) • Proof of bank account routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit, such as a blank check • Optional: Copy of last year’s federal and state returns • Both spouses must be present to file taxes electronically on a marriedfiling-jointly tax return. NFCC is expecting to help over 300 people in this year alone, according to Purdy. The services will be offered through April 17 at the NFCC Education Center, 1125 Elkins Road in Roswell. People can sign up on their website to make a specific appointment Mondays-Thurs-

Great Va�t�� Day Gifʦ at R�� M�ket P la�

Alpharetta Hwy.

By JULIA GROCHOWSKI julia@appenmediagroup.com

also potentially identify tax credits and deductions. “Another major reason we offer this program is to make sure that people understand the credits that they can get or may qualify for, like the earned income tax credit,” Purdy said. “The volunteers file the tax returns directly with the IRS, so people can get their refunds in a much more timely manner.” The volunteers are recruited through NFCC and United Way of Greater Atlanta, and they go through rigorous training to learn the most up-to-date tax rules and regulations. They are also tested for certification before they can help people with their tax returns. Some of the volunteers are also specialized in preparing military or out-ofstate tax returns as well. According to Purdy, the services only help with basic tax returns and cannot offer much assistance for more complicated returns, like for small businesses. This is NFCC’s eighth year with VITA tax preparation, and the first year that they are also offering appointments along with their regular walk-in hours. Appointments can be made directly on their website.

Houze Rd.

VITA to help North Fulton residents through April 17

days, 1-3 p.m.; Fridays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and on certain Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Walk-ins are also accepted Fridays and Saturdays. To learn about VITA tax preparation services, available dates or to make an appointment, visit nfcchelp.org or email vita@nfcchelp.org.

GA 400

Mansell Rd. Holcomb Bridge Rd.

Located at the corner of Mansell Rd and Alpharetta Hwy

FLOWERS • JEWELRY • CIGARS • CUPCAKES • APPAREL • SPA • COFFEE • GIFT CERTIFICATES AND MORE!

10% OFF During February *See Participating Store For Details | Bring This Ad For Discount * at the stores with an asterisk

DINING

**Not valid February 13 or 14

ANOTHER BROKEN EGG - Breakfast, Lunch & Brunch...........................678-878-2210 *BASKIN - Cakes & Ice Cream.....................................................770-545-8197 **CHIPOTLEROBBINS - Mexican Grill...............................................................................770-642-0710 JILLY’S CUPCAKERY - Cupcakes & Ice Cream............................................770-645-1500 **STARBUCKS - Your Roswell Neighborhood Coffee House........................770-552-1390 SUBWAY Subs, & Breakfast.............................................................678-352-8890 *TIN DRUM - AsianSalads Fusion Cuisine..................................................................770-641-5082 *

HOME

RUGS INTERNATIONAL - Quality Rugs, Great Price & Service............770-587-6699 *THE WORKS - Kitchens, Baths & In Home Design......................................770-649-9993 Managed & Leased by Colliers International 404-888-9000

SPECIALTY

+ BULBS - Phone Screen Repair..........*Excludes Auto Batteries....................................770-587-0990 *BATTERIES THE BEST LITTLE SHOP IN ROSWELL - Cut Flowers, Plants & Arrangements............770-642-7878 **CD WAREHOUSEFLOWER - Used DVD’s, Blu-Rays, CDs & Vinyl LP’s...........................................................770-518-3300 CIGAR MERCHANT - Premium Cigars, Pipes & Accessories......................................................770-642-1221 *THE THE COLORSTONES - Unique Beads , Findings & Jewelry................................................................770-993-9921 *PLATO’S - Favorite Styles Up to 90% Off...........................................................................770-642-4255 *SERIOUSCLOSET TENNIS You Need to Improve Your Game...................................................770-641-8321 *SPROUTS FARMERSEverything MARKET - Healthy Living for Less.....................................................................678-353-0102

SERVICES

CONNECT HEARING - Hearing Specialists............................................................................................770-992-5353 OPTIQUE - Comprehensive Eye Exams, Glasses & Contacts.....................................................770-642-7720 *EYE PARISIAN & NAIL BAR - Manicures, Pedicures, Gel and S&S...............................................770-650-2999 **ROSWELL SPA BARBER SHOP - Haircuts, Lather Shave & Hair Color for Men..................................770-587-4050 *SALON LOFTS - .........................................................................................Appointments on line: www.salonlofts.com SPRINT - UNITED CELLULAR - Phones, Service & Accessories..........................................................770-643-8803 *THE UPS STORE - Shipping, Packing, Printing & Copies.....................*Printing Only.......................770-641-1702

COMMUNITY

10 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

& e n i t n e l a V Wine Friday Feb. 10th 5:00 - 9:00 pm Special Price $15 per couple ($15 savings) Includes: Wine Tasting, Food Pairings and Live Music

Gifts & Gift Baskets Available for the Sweetheart in Your Life.

850 Hickory Flat Road • Milton, GA

www.WilburAndRudys.com • (877) 201-2601

Teen driving course assists in parental instruction P.R.I.D.E. driving course to be held in Milton, Cumming By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga.—The P.R.I.D.E. (Parents Reducing Injury and Driver Error) teen driving course, a free program that instructs teens and their parents on safe driving, will be hosted at Milton and Cumming eight times this year. The PRIDE course presents information and instructional techniques to parents and their teens in an effort to reduce the number of crashes and fatalities among Georgia’s teen drivers. The two-hour program, created by the Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute (GTIPI), begins Feb. 16 in Milton. The course provides information on distracted driving, the dynamics of vehicle crashes, the importance of wearing seatbelts and instructs parents on how to teach their teens safe driving habits and better supervise teens with learner’s permits. Parents also make a pact with their teens to implement safe driving habits, and the GTIPI conducts a follow-up survey after 60 days and after one year. Milton Community Outreach Officer Andrew Noblett said he was made aware of the program through its implementation in Forsyth County and wanted to provide the program for Milton residents. He brought the program to Milton in 2015 when he was named community outreach officer, stating Milton had a high number of accidents due to inexperienced teen drivers. “[The PRIDE course] is really about getting the parents involved in developing their child into a safe driver, how to reiterate the importance of safe driving and making sure the parents understand the fact that their teens are inexperienced,” Noblett said. Though the course is geared toward teen drivers with their learner’s permit,

SHARE northfulton.com

P.R.I.D.E. class dates/locations Milton (Held at 13000 Deerfield Pkwy, Ste. 107E) • Feb. 16, 6:30 P.M. • May 2, 6:30 P.M. • July 18, 6:30 P.M. • Aug. 29, 6:30 P.M. Cumming (Held at 3520 Settingdown Road) • March 23 6:00 P.M. • April 27, 6:00 P.M. • June 1, 6:00 P.M. • June 29, 6:00 P.M.

Noblett said that teens of all ages can benefit. “It’s very beneficial for kids who have a learning permit, but we find that there’s a lot of parents who have kids who have been driving for a year or two that benefit from the program just as much,” Noblett said. “It puts in perspective the number of fatalities due to speeding and distractions in the car. I would say it’s equally important for kids who are learning to drive with their parents as well as kids who have been driving for just a short period of time.” “Our goal in the police department is to reduce the number of accidents from teen drivers by providing and sharing this information. We have had nothing but positive reviews from teens and parents.” Registration is required for the course. To register, visit www.cityofmilton.ga.us or www.ridesafega.org.

YOUR NEWS! YOUR PHOTOS!

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 11

THE CRUISE GIVEAWAY IS OFFICIALLY OPEN! 3rd Annual

Appen Cruise Giveaway January 19th - February 23rd, 2017

ATTENTION READERS!

2016 Winners Jeff & Elise Baggett

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We are kicking off 2017 by giving away a

FREE CRUISE!

$2,000 toward the cruise of your dreams! It’s easy to enter – follow the steps below. LOOK for the Expedia Cruise logo that looks like this, hidden throughout the papers each week. GO to Northfulton.com CLICK “Enter to Win” icon TELL us which page number the logo is on WATCH your email on March 6th to see if you have won a Free Cruise! * Winner will be drawn March 6th 2017

“Our cruise was fantastic! We sailed on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, trans-Atlantic from New York to Southampton England in October. We were at sea for 6 days and loved how relaxing it was. It was a jazz cruise and we enjoyed the music. We especially loved the British food and afternoon tea and met many wonderful people.” – Jeff and Elise Baggett

10945 State Bridge Rd., Ste 105 cruiseshipcenters.com/Alpharetta (678) 712-5059

Sponsored by:

Cruise winner will be drawn and notified via email Monday March 7th. One entry per household, per week.

NEWS

12 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

Meeting set to discuss downtown parking deck Alpharetta plan Include 3rd option By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – After nearly five months of deliberation, Alpharetta city officials will unveil their latest plans for more downtown public parking at public meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Feb. 13, at City Hall. There council will present the latest proposals for a parking deck west of Main Street. Residents, including business leaders, have been following the issue since last August when the City Council voted 6-1 to locate a multi-million-dollar parking deck between Roswell Street and Old Roswell Street, just behind Smokejack restaurant. Since then, the city has had to go back to the drawing board twice – first, because of public objection over the proposed site. The second was to hear

See PARKING, Page 14

3rd parking deck meeting set Where: Alpharetta City Hall When: Monday, Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m.

What: Latest plan for downtown

parking deck; includes 3rd option Who: Alpharetta City Council an alternative site on Milton Avenue near Rest Haven Cemetery. Details of the latest proposal have not been released, but one city official has disclosed that the new proposal will have a third option that will include two decks, one at each location. Estimates for the project have run from between $5 million to $7 million. Councilman Dan Merkel said last month that the third option addresses parking in both earlier proposals and called it a “good, viable alternative.” Consultant for the study, Pond & Co., was brought in to provide more

EARN IT! KEEP IT! SAVE IT! Get your 2016 Taxes done for Free! If you made less than $55,000 in 2016, our IRS TRAINED Volunteers can assist you in filing your taxes. Visit www.nfcchelp.org and select the Get Help tab to learn more and schedule an appointment.

376483

NEWS

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 13

East Roswell ponders future of Holcomb Bridge Road City, citizens discuss solutions to revitalize area By JULIA GROCHOWSKI julia@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell residents met Feb. 1 to discuss the future of the Holcomb Bridge Road corridor, from Alpharetta Highway to the Gwinnett County Line. The open forum invited people to give their vision for East Roswell and to let residents discuss how they want to revitalize their flagging community. According to Mayor Jere Wood, this was one of the largest crowds he has seen for such meetings. Some of the main concerns were over a feeling of disconnect between East Roswell and the rest of the city and a frustration over the lack of vibrancy in the area, especially after the announcement that the Target was leaving. People were troubled by the loss of big commercial tenants and the general decline of the area, which some thought were driving people out of the area. “I feel so separated from Roswell,” one resident, Judy Smith, said. “I feel

like I live in Alpharetta. What can I do to help the situation?” “The answer is not a simple one, like adding another lane on 400 or getting a new retailer,” said the Downtown Development Authority’s Dave SCHMIT Schmit. “It’s happening all over the country. We’re not the only community that’s faced with these issues.” Many in the crowd were concerned about how they could keep people living in and enjoying the community, especially with competition from nearby places like Canton Street and Avalon. Some residents urged the council and DDA to consider multiple solutions outside of bringing more retail or development. “People don’t come to East Roswell to shop, because we have access to North Point Parkway and all of these places,” resident Diane Jacoby said. “What are we doing to attract people?

THE FALLS AT HICKORY FLAT Canton Homes from the mid $300s!

Community Features: • Gated community! • Hickory Flat Elementary, Dean Rusk Middle, Sequoyah High! • Junior Olympic Swimming Pool with Cabana • Lighted Tennis Courts and Playground HickoryFlat@KMHomes.com • 678.321.2141 Furnished Model located at 102 Seabiscuit Way, Canton, GA 30115

www.KMHomes.com

Find us on:

JULIA GROCHOWSKI/HERALD

Over 200 citizens pack the room to give their input on revitalizing Holcomb Bridge Road.

Georgia is the fifth most popular film industry spot in the United States right now. We are number five. What are we doing in the city of Roswell, with our beautiful parks and our historic homes to attract these film businesses? I don’t think we need to be focusing on retail,

when there are other business opportunities.” One of the solutions that was passed around was to create an area where people would want to go and

See BRIDGE, Page 14

Call Today 770-292-2670

Kind, Compassionate & Skilled Women’s Healthcare We are a full-service gynecologic and reproductive endocrinology practice that offers routine preventative care and specialized advanced treatment for patients ages 8 years of age and older. Our board-certified physician, Dr. Carla Roberts, and our nurse practitioner, Cyndi Witt, provide a comprehensive patient-centered approach to women’s healthcare in a soothing, friendly and elegant environment.

GYN Services Include • Adolescent gynecology • Annual well woman exams • Bleeding abnormalities • Cervical cancer screenings • Contraception/birth control • Endometriosis/pelvic pain • Hormone replacement therapy

Our Location 1800 Northside Forsyth Drive Suite 380 Cumming, GA 30041 Carla Roberts, MD

Cyndi Witt, FNP-C

Quick & Convenient Appointment Times ReproductiveSurgicalSpecialists.com

14 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

Parking: Continued from Page 12

The Best Kept Secret in Alpharetta Since 1987 SERVICES:

FREE:

Tires Brakes Alignments Wheel Bearings CV Axles

Brake Check Alignment Check Parts Check Air Pressure Check

FREE

PREMIUM BRAKE PADS WITH EVERY BRAKE JOB. With coupon. Call for details.

770-751-9811

502 N. Main St., Alpharetta www.campbelltirecompany.com

detail about the two options, their costs, their capacity and how much disturbance construction would cause. Merkel said the third option calls for constructing smaller decks at each location which would preserve a pedestrian gathering area near Smokejack that citizens use during downtown events. Both sites, he said, could be built with an eye for future expansion. “We had feedback from those who didn’t want the lot behind Smokejack, and we had people who said that’s where it needs to go to support business,” Merkel said. “We had people who said we need to put it back by the cemetery and make it a more walkable community. “We had very emotional input from people who supported one of the two locations we were considering as options.” Merkel said he thinks the latest plan will address all the concerns and he is anxious to hear feedback. Funding for the project will come primarily from the sale of city-owned lots at the downtown

We had very emotional input from people who supported one of the two locations we were considering as options.” DAN MERKEL Councilman

City Center development on the east side of Main. Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard said details about the project will be presented at the forum when city officials and representatives from Pond will be on hand to answer questions and field comments.

Bridge: Continued from Page 13 spend time in East Roswell, like Avalon in Alpharetta. “My experience has been that in places that are of high demand these days, they tend to be centered around places of vibrancy,” Schmit said. “They must be experiential. We’re not necessarily just going there to shop. We’re going there to experience the sidewalk, to get an ice cream.” Roswell has attempted in the past to pass such mixed-use development projects, like Riverwalk Village, but they were shot down because they did not receive enough community support. There are solutions, however, as long as three conditions are met, Schmit said. “One is that the community has to well define what they want, in codes, petitions and community support. Second thing is that there needs to be a market. Any business needs to want to transact there. There must be demand. And the third thing is economic counts. None of us are going to invest in anything that doesn’t make money,” Schmit said. “So when we think about solutions, it can’t just be two of the three boxes. It’s got to be all of the three boxes.” The city of Roswell is now asking people who live or own a business in the area to give their input in the East Roswell Vision Survey, which can be found at roswellgov.com.

NEWS

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 15

Kathy Floyd appointed to governor’s new Older Adults Cabinet ATLANTA – Kathy Floyd, executive director of the Georgia Council on Aging, has been named to Gov. Nathan Deal’s newly created Older Adults Cabinet. Deal announced last week the creation of Georgia’s Older Adults Cabinet, a committee working to enhance the state’s capacity to serve older adults. The Older Adults Cabinet is a committee tasked with identifying ways for Georgia to improve the well-being of its older residents. The Older Adults Cabinet mission is to identify ways for Georgia to improve the well-being of its older residents by bringing together state agency heads whose work supports older Georgians, as well as stakeholders in the business, philanthropic and education communities. “Georgia has one of the fastest-growing populations of older adults in the country — a statistic we expect to continue to rise as baby boomers reach the age of retirement,” Deal said in his press release. “The members of this cabinet will be instrumental in examining issues that affect elderly Georgians and ensuring we have the infrastructure to meet their needs and the needs of their caregivers.” Deal said the Older Adults Cabinet will bring together leaders from across the state to address the issues affecting older individuals and families in Georgia. The cabinet will identify ways in Georgia to improve the wellbeing of its older residents. Cabinet members are state agency heads whose work supports older Georgians and stakeholders in the business, philanthropic and education communities.

Floyd has advocated for Georgia’s seniors for many years. In addition to her leadership of the Georgia Council on Aging, she worked for AARP Georgia for 19 years. She has spearFLOYD headed legislative campaigns on state and federal issues including Society Security, Medicare, long term care and consumer issues. Floyd is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and received her Master in Business Administration from Georgia State University. She and her family live in Roswell. “Georgia has one of the fastest-growing populations of older adults in the country — a statistic we expect to continue to rise as baby boomers reach the age of retirement,” said Deal. “The members of this cabinet will be instrumental in examining issues that affect elderly Georgians and ensuring we have the infrastructure to meet their needs and the needs of their caregivers.” The committee is co-chaired by First Lady Sandra Deal and Department of Human Services Commissioner Robyn A. Crittenden. The Older Adults Cabinet will focus on issues that affect older Georgians, including health care, nutrition, transportation, housing and abuse, neglect and exploitation. The cabinet will hold six meetings per year, three meetings for Executive Committee members and three meetings of the full cabinet.

Save the Date • March 25th Craft Cra aft Beer, Food, M Music usic and Fun.

Whats not to love! • Over 300 beers including rare cask beers eers • Food vendors from 6 local restaurants • Live music from 2 different bands • Souvenir tasting glass with ticket purchase • General admission at 2pm, VIP entry at 1pm (must be 21 years old to enter) • Held at Historic Roswell Town Square

A lifetime of heart to heart talks.

The best moments in life are the ones shared with the people who mean the most. Take care of your heart to make sure you’re around to enjoy those moments for many years to come. Get your heart checked regularly as well as your blood pressure and cholesterol. If you have any heart questions, call 404-851-6550. We’ll be happy to talk.

Northside.com

2017

www.roswellbeerfestival.com

404-851-6550

A Lifetime of Care

Being raised on Southern food inspired the vision behind the concepts going into Halcyon. MARC TAFT, owner of Southern Fried Hospitality 16 | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017

Halcyon names first restaurants Chef set to also open spot in Avalon By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Halcyon, Forsyth County’s 480,000 sq. ft. mixed-use development off Exit 12 on Ga. 400, will be getting a taste of Southern food. Three leases were signed in January with Atlanta chef Marc Taft who plans to bring three restaurant concepts, including Co-Op Community Table and Bar, Feed - Fried Chicken and Such and a market hall burger concept. The restaurants are set to open in spring 2018. “Being raised on Southern food inspired the vision behind the concepts going into Halcyon,” Taft said. “I’ve worked hard to create these concepts and to find the perfect place for them to operate. Halcyon is such a unique, exciting development that I think will enrich these restaurants. I expect all three to do very well in Forsyth County.” Co-op Community Table and Bar will be a full-service, farm-to-table concept with a Southern ingredient focus. Co-op is planned to be a neighborhood gathering place that will provide effusive Southern hospitality while emphasizing the importance of sustainability. Feed - Fried Chicken and Such is a fast-casual concept that was inspired by Southern roadside restaurants Taft ate at with his family while traveling from Alabama to East Tennessee to see his grandmother. Feed’s first location will open at the Battery Atlanta, the new home of SunTrust Park and the Atlanta Braves baseball team. For the third restaurant, Taft’s team is currently crafting more details about the burger concept. “Chef Taft has an impressive resume and a spectacular vision for these concepts,” said Patrick Leonard, principal of RocaPoint Partners, the developers behind Halcyon. “The three new restaurants will fit in effortlessly with the overall tenant mix we have in mind for Halcyon and will be a fresh, exciting addition

Some of the food will be inspired by traditional Southern fair, such as chicken and dumplings. to the Forsyth County restaurant scene. Residents and visitors will soon be able to walk from the Big Creek Greenway into our food hall or restaurants, and we believe Taft is setting the perfect tone for the concepts we’re bringing to the area.” Opening restaurants in metro Atlanta is not new for Taft. He said he appreciates the “lack of chefdriven concepts in the suburbs and wanted to offer diners an alternative to chain restaurants.” He currently owns and operates Chicken and the Egg in Marietta, which opened in August 2011 and has been well received, he said. He also recently announced a concept for Avalon, Brine Seafood Shack, a “Cape Cod meets Santa Monica”-inspired eatery, which will offer lobster rolls, tuna poke, fresh oysters and more, along with a roof-top bar. It is set to open this spring. “Brine and Feed are two brands that we plan to grow, so it’s important to make sure guests know what they represent,” Taft said. “I firmly believe that having solid teams in place to lead these restaurants,

Chef Marc Taft has opened several Southern cooking inspired restaurants around metro Atlanta. taking care of guests and evaluating how diners respond will determine our long-term objectives. Our restaurants reflect the experiences I have had throughout my career. Although guests will see the majority of our brands heavily influenced by Southern heritage, we will be branching out with other unique concepts.” But Taft doesn’t just do business in Georgia. He has led restaurants in New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., Miami, Nashville and Dallas. In total, he’s overseen the opening of 41 new restaurants. Halcyon is set to include more than 480,000 square feet of office and retail, two hotels and 690 residential units once completed. In November 2016, the first tenant was named. CMX, a state-of-the-art cinema venue, will anchor the development. The theater will have 10 screens, 500 seats, 38,000 square feet and is slated to open April 2018.

READY... SET... EXPO! 9TH ANNUAL

BUSINESS EXPO GREATER NORTH FULTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

NETWORKING WITH THE STARS MARCH 10TH 2017

Make plans now to join us on March 10, 2017 at the Alpharetta Marriott.

GNFCC is rolling out the red carpet for our businesses and the spotlight is on you! Booths will be adorned with glamorous people and the stars will be out! This event is the mainstay for new entrepreneurs and long-established business owners with 80+ exhibitors and over 1,000 attendees Don’t Miss the Oscars of Expos! COME NETWORK WITH THE STARS

Networking • Seminars • Delicious Lunch • Business After Hours Where: Alpharetta Marriott • 5750 Windward Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30005 Parking: On-site parking at the Marriott is available but limited. Overflow parking across the street at MARTA. Take free shuttle to Marriott. When: Friday, March 10, 2017 Register: Pre-register by March 3 for FREE admission • $10 at door

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.GNFCCEXPO.COM OR CALL 678-397-0554

BUSINESSPOSTS

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 17

Supporting our schools is a great business plan IT management is important for small businesses I was lucky enough to find myself in the company of a Fortune 100 CEO 17 years ago. After a very brief chat, he took it upon himself to give GEOFF SMITH me some great Assurance Financial, gsmith@lendtheway.com advice. He said: “You can only control what you can control. Keep your head down, do good things and you’ll be amazed how things improve around you.” That guy was Sy Sternberg, then CEO of New York Life. He was visiting Forsyth County from his headquarters in New York City to attend the grand opening of their new office. It was a big deal for Forsyth County because they went through a significant round of vetting and won the office over several locations from around the county. There wasn’t as much in Forsyth as there is today and this move was seen as a huge deal: If New York Life approved of the area, that would open the door to many other businesses to follow. And of course, many did. Since then the entire Metro Atlanta area has grown to become a premier, global city for business investment. And there are so very many reasons why. Today the question is: Will we be saying the same thing in 20 years? What will be the reasons for our success in 20 years? One thing I know for certain is it will be our constant improvement of our schools and our continuous output of a smart, hard-working and useful workforce. Many of our community leaders here in North Fulton and Forsyth have done a really fantastic job of helping to establish the best public schools in the state and schools that

are competitive with the best schools in the country. And I say competitive because it is most certainly a competition. As our business leaders recruit businesses to move and stay in the metro area, schools are a top priority. Corporations want to move somewhere, and want to stay somewhere that guarantees a talented workforce. And good schools provide that. Good schools also provide good reasons for other talented professionals from around the world to want to move here and work for those corporations. North Fulton, Cobb County, Gwinnett County and lately Cherokee County boast the best schools in our state – by far. And because of that, businesses are moving here and executives are living there. Just ask any real estate agent. They will tell you how important a good school is. I currently serve as Chairman of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce’s Education Connection. Every year we host the Partners In Education Expo. It is a high-energy event where all of our North Ful-

ton public schools, and most of our North Fulton Private schools, set up booths and meet with attending businesses. We invite all businesses, whether you are in North Fulton or not, to attend for free. Walk around, talk with each school’s business outreach team and see if you can find a way to help that school. In the shortterm, it’s a great marketing plan for your business brand: do good in front of your community. In the long term, you will be fueling the gift that keeps on giving by ensuring the future success of our business community. The event is this Thursday February 9 at AdancED in Alpharetta. If you are interested in attending, go to GNFCC.com and navigate to the events page to register. Geoff Smith gsmith@lendtheway.com 770-674-1433 Personal: NMLS#104587 Business: NMLS#70876 *The views and opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of Assurance Financial Group

Are you having challenges managing your information technology? Do computer problems or issues with software and printers take up too much of your time? Most small business owners rely heavily on technology to run their DICK JONES business, and it is very Founder & President important that they Jones Simply Sales manage and maintain it in an efficient manner. Here are some options you may want to consider if you’re the first person your employees contact when an IT problem arises. Option 1: Utilize a part-time IT professional. There are plenty of IT professionals that can help you manage and maintain your information technology. They can be hired by the hour, or you can have an ongoing arrangement for them to check-in on a regular basis to make sure everything is running correctly. Option 2: Utilize an IT Managed Services Provider. Many essential IT management tasks can be performed remotely over the Internet. Managed service providers provide many options including help desk services and on-site resources if needed. Having a “virtual” IT department is a great option if you need to be up and running 24/7. Option 3: Hire a full-time IT resource. Depending on the size of your small business and the significant risk of your computers, servers, printers or internet access not functioning correctly, the cost of this resource could very well pay for itself. If you’re spending too much time on IT, and not enough time on growing your small business, these options can provide you with solutions to make sure your information technology is managed without impacting your time.

NORTHSIDE CHAPEL

Rex T. Grizzle, Owner Locally Owned and Operated 12050 Crabapple Rd. Roswell, GA 30075

FUNERAL DIRECTORS 770-645-1414 info@northsidechapel.com www.northsidechapel.com and CREMATORY

North Fulton’s Only On-Site Crematory

18 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

BUSINESSPOSTS

Growth presents unique challenges for North Fulton chamber Transportation, workforce head list of trials facing business group

the past year by corporate expansions or relocations. But, that’s only part of the story. “I think always the untold story is the By PATRICK FOX number of workers pat@appenmediagroup.com added through expansion in existing busiNORTH FULTON, Ga.. - With the surge nesses,” Lusby said. LUSBY in business growth over the past sev“It may be only two or eral years, the North Fulton Chamber three or five positions, but those never of Commerce has worked to keep the really get captured in those reports. climate ripe for economic expansion. “But, that’s really small business Few areas in Metro Atlanta have working at its best, and that is really seen over the last 25 years the influx of what is behind the economic growth in commercial interests one sees in North the entire country.” Fulton. The two industry groups identified In Alpharetta alone, the city has as needing the most assistance are the filled up more than 4 million square health care sector and the technology feet of vacant office space in just the sector, he said. past few years, according to Peter The Technology Committee is vital Tokar, Alpharetta director of Economic to the 900-plus technology companies Development. that are in North Fulton, Lusby said. Similar trends can be found in And the recent growth in health care neighboring North Fulton cities, where facilities makes training in that field good schools, high quality of life and equally important. ascending property values hold sway. “I would say the growth of busiYet, with that growth, come chalnesses is expanding at such a rate that lenges, said Roger Lusby, chairman the workforce will not be able to keep of the Greater North pace without us stepFulton Chamber. ping in and doing a Lusby, Alpharetta better job of promoting office managing and making sure that partner for the giant that does not become Frazier & Deeter an issue,” he said. accounting firm, To that end, Lusby said the chamber’s said the chamber mission is to gather promotes expansion of the varied business post-secondary educainterests in the area tion in the area such and focus on common as the new Gwinnett goals. Tech campus in Al“I think the manpharetta. tra really is creating “Gwinnett Tech jobs and creating was huge,” he said. ROGER LUSBY business for each of “So, working with Greater North Fulton Chamber Board the members,” he them is important. Chairman said. “We do that We’d love to have a through a number four-year college up of different ways. here in this area if We do that through that were ever possisome very structured ble. committees, which workforce placement “Georgia State has some classrooms and technology have been two of our up here, and we try to get them more biggest.” involved. We’ve tried to get North GeorWorkforce development focuses on gia College to come farther south and developing and ensuring that the area get them more involved.” provides an adequate workforce for the The high caliber of high schools in significant number of companies that the area has helped, he said. exist and are moving to the area, he Another area of focus is transportasaid. tion. Indeed, the chamber has logged Lusby said the recent appointment more than 1,000 new jobs created over of state Sen. Brandon Beach to chair

I think the mantra really is creating jobs and creating business for each of the members.”

Major job announcements

New business locations in North Fulton over the past year. COMPANY

FACILITY

BUSINESS

NEW JOBS

majicjack

Corporate HQ

Communications

150

Deliv

Branch office

Delivery Services

KQ Communications

Branch office

PR, marketing

VANAD Group

U.S. HQ

IT consulting, products

Azalea Health Innovations

Corporate HQ

Services

200

Dispersive Technologies

Corporate HQ

Software development

200

emids Technologies

Corporate HQ

Health IT/software

100

Hi-Rez Studios

Corporate HQ Dev. Center

Online video gaming

Muffley & Assoc. Real Estate

Branch office

Real estate brokerage

Intelligrated

Corporate HQ

Automation/ software

Landis+Gyr

Regional HQ

Tech/software development

Bomgar

Branch office

Remote support/ management

Sword Apak

Corporate HQ

FinTech/software

the legislative Transportation Committee was a major step in the direction of helping solve North Fulton’s transportation needs. Beach is also executive director of the Greater North Fulton Chamber. “Certainly everybody up here would be in agreement that Ga. 400 and some of the East-West road systems need to be enhanced and improved immediately,” Lusby said. The passage last November of the .75-cent transportation special purpose sales tax will go a long way in fixing some of the problems, he said. “I don’t know where they are with getting the additional one-quarter of a penny, but I’m sure that will be brought back up to the voters at some point in time,” Lusby said. In the long run, though, the chairman said North Fulton must make itself appealing not only to businesses but to residents as well. “We’re really trying to come up with a ‘cool factor,’ in which kids coming out of college would want to live and locate up here,” he said. “Housing is an issue,

because housing tends to be expensive here. Although Forsyth has done a good job in reaching price points for people, I think with Avalon and so forth we would like to have a lot of the young people locate and work in this area.” Lusby said his firm has a big downtown Atlanta office with about 200 people, and young employees seem to be drawn to the glamour of downtown living. “I came out to run the Alpharetta firm which has about 26 people,” he said. “So, we encounter that same issue just within our firm. “Most of the kids coming out of college want to come and work for the big office in downtown Atlanta and live downtown, as opposed to coming out here. Once they get married and have kids, I’ve got them all lining up to come out here.” The same goes for other business sectors. “The technology companies especially are concerned about this issue since their workforce tends to be younger,” he said.

BUSINESSBRIEFS

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 19

Roswell Inc offers speaker series to improve your business By HATCHER HURD hatcher@ appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – Business leaders are not born, they are made through dint of hard work and experience. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take a shortcut and learn from someone else’s work and experience. Welcome to Roswell Inc’s 2017 Roswell Business Academy! Four monthly sessions can give your business a breath of new life, said Roswell Inc Executive Director Steve Stroud. Each expert will help business people be more successful at what they do. This year’s seminars cover: • Overcoming barriers to business growth • Leadership development for you and your team • De-clutter the workspace – something we all need

• Crafting the perfect bio to market on social media “The sessions are designed to challenge you, inspire you, and help you achieve your business goals for 2017,” said Roswell Inc’s Communications and Partnerships Director Carisa Turner. Roswell Inc program is designed for small business entrepreneurs to equip them with the tools to be successful. This is the third year offering the series, and it has been well-received, Turner said. “This is a natural fit for us as we continue to foster a positive business environment in Roswell,” she said. Registration is open now. Seating is limited. Parties may register for individual sessions or all five at once. Log on to www.eventbrite.com/e/ roswell-business-academy-2017-tickets-29584373658#tickets.

Location: Roswell Adult Recreation Center, 830 Grimes Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA 30075

Essy Lucas Rise-up; become a leader worth following’ Thursday Feb. 16, 7:30-9 a.m. In this session, you will learn how to strengthen the core of your leadership ability and create a culture of empowerment for your company. Essy Lucas will share practical visual tools developed by GiANT Worldwide, a global company dedicated to leadership transformation, that will help you become a more effective and influential leader - one everyone wants to follow. Sara Fisher De-Clutter: Create a space for success Thursday March 23, 7:30-9 a.m. Discover the joy of a beautiful and organized workspace. Sara Fisher, owner of A Simple Space, shows simplifying, organizing, and personalizing your office can increase productivity, foster greater creativity, enhance critical thinking

and problem solving. Beth Hermes Define: Enhance you business presence with a great bio Thursday April 27, 7:30-9 a.m. A compelling bio is one of your most important marketing tools. Beth Hermes teaches how to turn an interested audience into loyal clients by creating a clear, engaging bio that highlights your accomplishments, business philosophy, and life experiences – all while telling your unique story. Mallie Hart Engage: Build your brand on social media Tuesday May 23, 7:30-9 a.m. While business cards and inperson networking will never go out of style, having an online presence is essential to reaching the right audience. This session will focus on best practices for creating, building and maintaining a Facebook presence.

share your news

and nonprofits. She is an adjunct professor at Georgia Perimeter College and a guest lecturer at Georgia State University and the University of Georgia.

Georgian Landscape wins “Best of Houzz”

Left to right, Mark McNaron, Marty Holloran, Conleth O’Flynn, Ryan Carter, Kevin Jensen and Jesse Foley.

AHA celebrates 25 years of service ALPHARETTA, Ga. — AHA Consulting Engineers, Inc. recently celebrated 25 years of service with an open house at their new location on Mansell Road in Alpharetta. Serving clients locally and nationally, their expertise is grounded in mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection design. They have since expanded into the complementary arenas of advisory, energy and sustainability, and building commissioning services. With over 140 professionals in Atlanta, Boston and D.C., they pride themselves in taking building science to a level beyond engineering.

SUWANEE, Ga. — Georgian Landscape Design has recently won “Best of Design & Customer Satisfaction” on Houzz.com. This is the fifth straight year the business has received the honor. The 16-year-old landscape design and build firm was chosen by the more than 40 million monthly unique users that compose the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals. The Best of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: design, customer service and photography. Customer service honors are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2016. “We’re so pleased to award Best of Houzz 2017 to this incredible group of talented and customer-focused professionals, including Georgian Landscape Design,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “Each of these businesses was singled out for recognition by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts for helping to turn their home improvement dreams into reality.”

Anita Anand joins Brady Ware as manager Bob McCormick ATLANTA — Brady joins Keller Williams Ware & Company recently announced that Anita Anand, J.D., has joined the firm in Alpharetta as a senior manager. Anand supports the firm’s tax practice, state and local tax ANAND practice, and serves as a firm-wide resource in the area of tax research and consulting. This includes providing taxpayer representation in matters requiring federal and state private letter rulings. She is also responsible for federal, state and local technical tax support involving a range of clients and industries, such as renewable energy, commercial real estate, affordable housing and others. Along with these day-to-day responsibilities, Anand also contributes her expertise to a number of local government agencies, industry organizations

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Bob McCormick, one of the area’s real estate professionals, has left RE/MAX after 21 years to join the Keller Williams Realty team in the North Atlanta Market Center in Alpharetta. MCCORMICK “We’re excited to welcome Bob McCormick to the Keller Williams family,” said Aubrey Baily, CEO and Team Leader of Keller Williams North Atlanta. “At Keller Williams we believe in succeeding through people and having Bob McCormick on our team is a huge win for us.” McCormick has been recognized for over 11 million sales in 2016 and has been named on the “Top 100 Communities Realtor” list in the greater Atlanta area.

nor tfulton.com

20 22 | February 9, 2017 | Milton ForsythHerald Herald| |NorthFulton.com ForsythHerald.com

CALENDAR TEEN DRIVING SAFETY CLASS

“HAVING OUR SAY”

See the story of the Delany sisters, both over 100-year-old descendants of slaves, as they recount their family history and careers in this play that celebrates history, women and men, African Americans and the human spirit. Shows are available Feb. 16-19 and 22-26, times vary. See the play at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St. in Roswell. Tickets start at $21 and can be purchased at get.org. Looking to get the word out about your event? Submit it to our online calendar at NorthFulton. com/Calendar.

EVENTS: ISM ATLANTA

What: ISM Atlanta will be holding their monthly meeting in Roswell, featuring Jeff Berk, COO of Client Loyalty Co., who will be speaking about procurement and supply management. When: Thursday, Feb. 9, 6-8 p.m. Where: Country Club of Roswell, 2500 Club Springs Drive, Roswell Cost: $30 for members, $35 for nonmembers More info: ism-atlanta.org

MINI JOB FAIR

What: Attend the first Mini Job Fair hosted by Roswell United Methodist Church Job Networking. There will be classes and workshops prior to the job fair. The full schedule is online. When: Monday, Feb. 13, 6:45-8:30 p.m. Where: Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell More info: rumcjobnetworking.com

SAVE THE HORSES VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

What: Roswell Roots will be hosting their first College and Greek Fair. Come out to meet college recruiters and Greek letter organizations. This free event is open to all high school students. When: Sunday, Feb. 12, 3-6 p.m. Where: East Roswell Recreation Center, 9000 Fouts Road, Roswell More info and registration: roswellgov. com or 770-641-3705

DOWNTOWN ALPHARETTA PARKING DECK MEETING

What: Join the community conversation on the planned downtown parking deck as the latest ideas are presented. Residents are encouraged to share their thoughts and impressions. When: Monday, Feb. 13, 6:30-8 p.m. Where: Alpharetta City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us

FREE PROSTATE SCREENING

What: Alpharetta healthcare professionals will administer free prostrate screenings, including a blood test. Spanish interpreters will be available. Call to schedule an appointment. When: Thursday, Feb. 16, 5:30-8 p.m. Where: Northside Alpharetta Medical Campus, 3400 Old Milton Parkway, Building C, Alpharetta More info and registration: northside. com or 404-531-4444

GREAT DECISIONS

What: This discussion program will focus on the South China Sea and competing territorial claims, presented by the University of North Georgia and Forsyth County Public Library. When: Thursday, Feb. 16, 7-8 p.m. Where: Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega St., Cumming More info: libraryaware.com

FREE TAX PREP

What: Get free tax preparation assistance by trained volunteers. See website for full list of documents to bring. Walk-ins welcome Fridays and Saturdays. Appointments available. When: Through April 17, times vary Where: NFCC Education Center, 1125 Elkins Road, Roswell More info and registration: nfcchelp.org or vita@nfcchelp.org

What: Learn about Save the Horses Rescue’s farm, animals and how to help. Children can also volunteer, but adult supervision is required. When: Saturday, Feb. 11, 9-11 a.m. Where: Save the Horses Rescue, 1768 Newt Green Road, Cumming More info: savethehorses.org

ROOTS COLLEGE AND GREEK FAIR

What: Georgia Teens Ride with P.R.I.D.E. is offering a free program addressing driver’s attitude, knowledge and behavior. Students will learn about laws, crash dynamics and peer pressure. When: Thursday, Feb. 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Where: Milton City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107 F, Milton More info and registration: cityofmiltonga.us

PARK PLACE SINGERS

What: The Park Place Social Singers will provide an opportunity for people to come together to sing for pleasure with song leaders Tom and Robin Yackley, the artistic directors of the Alpharetta Community Chorus. When: Tuesday, Feb. 14, 10:30 p.m. Where: Park Place at Newtown School, 3125 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov

RADON WORKSHOP

What: The City of Alpharetta and the University of Georgia Extension - Fulton County will offer a free workshop on radon and the dangers of elevate radon in the home, presented by Gabrielle Dean. When: Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2-3 p.m. Where: City Hall, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info and registration: alpharetta. ga.us or 678-297-6200

MUSIC, ARTS & THEATER: DEB BOWMAN CONCERT

What: Celebrate Valentine’s Day early with Deb Bowman’s New York-style jazz cabaret as part of the Autrey Mill Unplugged concert series. Doors open at 7 p.m. for socializing and light refreshments. When: Saturday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m. Where: Warsaw Church, 9770 Autrey Mill Road, Johns Creek Cost: $20 More info and tickets: autreymill.org

“I, TOO, AM AMERICA”

What: View original works at “I, Too, Am America,” a multimedia exhibition by local artists exploring the experience of being black in America. When: Through March 3, time vary Where: Johns Creek Art Center, 6290 Abbotts Bridge Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekarts.org

SPOTLIGHT ARTIST: GREG FERGUSON What: “Bearing Witness” The Photography of Greg Ferguson will showcase Ferguson’s award-winning photography of the natural world. When: Through March 31, times vary Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell More info: gregferguson.us.com or 770594-6232

LIBRARY EVENTS: CONVERSATIONAL FRENCH

What: Learn how to speak and practice conversational French with Samyukta Rajen as part of a six-part series. Ages 15 and up are welcome. Limited to 20 participants. When: Saturday, Feb. 11, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Where: Ocee Library, 5090 Abbotts Bridge Road, Alpharetta More info and registration: afpls.org or 770-360-8897

LITTLE KNOWN BLACK HISTORY FACTS

What: Hear the journey of African-Americans in this free multi-media presentation with a hands-on learning workshop for children, presented by Israelite Nation History and Culture. Registration required. When: Saturday, Feb. 11, 1-2 p.m. Where: East Roswell Library, 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell More info and registation: afpls.org or 404-613-4050

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

What: Learn about the power of super foods and how to supercharge your health for 2017. Keep your New Year’s resolution with the help of this cooking demonstration by Chef Lynn Ware. When: Saturday, Feb. 11, noon-1 p.m. Where: East Roswell Library, 2301 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell More info and registration: afpls.org or 404-613-4050

MOCK SAT EXAM

What: Get prepared for the SAT with this full-length mock exam. Each participant will get a free, individual score report to target personal strengths and weaknesses. When: Sunday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Where: Alpharetta Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info and registration: afpls.org or applerouth.com

BUDDING ARTISTS COLLECTIVE

What: Children, ages 5 and up, can let their inner artists shine through with this arts workshop led by My Clayground. Registration is required. When: Wednesday, Feb. 15, 4-5 p.m. Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Alpharetta More info and registration: info@myclayground.com or 770-998-2983

SIT-TO-STAND

What: Learn how to exercise throughout the day despite a sedentary job and understand the effects of sitting vs. movement on physiology. When: Wednesday, Feb. 15, 6-7:30 p.m. Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Alpharetta More info and registration: milton. branch@fultoncountyga.gov or 404613-4402

PET ADOPTIONS:

FORSYTH COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER What: Pet adoptions When: Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: The Forsyth County Animal Shelter, 4065 County Way, Forsyth County More info: 678-965-7185

FULTON COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES What: Pet adoptions When: Every Saturday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Where: PetSmart, 6370 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta Additional adoptions: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Fulton County Animal Services, 860 Marietta Blvd. NW, Atlanta More info: 404-613-4958

OF INTEREST ELSEWHERE: FREE TAX PREP SERVICES

What: Get free tax assistance, counseling and preparation. No appointment is necessary. Bring all relevant tax forms, last year’s return, a photo ID, Social Security card and checkbook. When: Through April 18, times vary Where: Gwinett Technical College, 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Building 700, Busbee Center, Lawrenceville More info: aarp.org

CALENDAR

ForsythHerald.com NorthFulton.com| |Forsyth Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 23 21

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA:

Gold Branch – wilderness hiking close to home A few weeks ago, we looked at the new boardwalk trail through some of the wetlands areas near the Chattahoochee Nature Center. I’ve enjoyed hearing from folks several of you who STEVE HUDSON have enjoyed that Get Outside Georgia, aa4bw@comcast.net neat and easily accessible hike! But did you know that there’s more great hiking not far from the new boardwalk? There is indeed – and one place to find it is in the Gold Branch Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. The Gold Branch Unit’s trails have a different feel than many of the other trails in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. There’s something about many of them that almost gives you a sense of being in the backcountry. The unit’s trails crisscross and intersect to form a complex network, allowing you to combine them in a variety of ways to create just about any sort of hike you desire. We don’t have room here to describe all the great hikes offered at Gold Branch, though detailed maps of these and other CRNRA trails are included in the book “Hiking the Hooch.” But we do have room here to take a look at the unit’s South Loop Trail. It’s one of my personal favorite trails in all of CRNRA. In fact, if you’re looking to get away from it all without having to drive a long ways to do so, then that South Loop Trail may be the perfect trail for you. The South Loop Trail takes you far from the beaten track, at least by CRNRA trail standards, and that remoteness adds to its wilderness feel. The loop features some leg-stretching elevation changes as well as relatively level hiking along ridges or along the shoreline of Bull Sluice Lake. Some parts of this loop definitely lean toward the “rugged” category, so it may not be the best hike to choose if your party includes small children. But if you’re looking for a bit of challenging hiking, this is the trail for you. You’ll start this and all other Gold Branch Unit hikes at the trailhead located in the back corner of the Gold Branch Unit parking area off Lower Roswell Road. To reach the parking area, follow Willeo Road to its intersection with Lower Roswell Road and turn left on Lower Roswell Road. The entrance to the parking area will be on

your left about 0.7 miles beyond that intersection. It’s worth noting that this parking area is paved with a special porous concrete that lets storm water percolate slowly through the concrete instead of running off all at once and potentially causing erosion or thermal shock to the nearby waters. From the trailhead, you’ll enter the woods and descend to a boardwalk which carries you through a wetland area. Just beyond the boardwalk is intersection G2. These trail intersections are numbered by the National Park Service, which makes it much easier to keep track of where you are. Turn right at G2 and continue to intersection G3; then turn right again and make your way to intersection G10. There, turn right yet again and continue to intersection G11. At last, you’ve reached the South Loop trail. Now which way should you go? How about clockwise? Sure! Begin the loop proper by turning left at G11 and making the long descent to intersection G12, where you’ll turn right and begin following the shoreline of Bull Sluice. Every yard of trail seems to take you farther from the bustle of urban life, and you’ll feel yourself relaxing with every step you take. You’ll eventually ford a small creek in a scenic little cove, reminding you of a scene that you might encounter in the mountains of Northern Georgia. The murmur of the little creek and the whisper of wind just may be the only sounds you hear. Beyond the ford, the trail follows the cove back toward Bull Sluice and then again turns to follow the shore-

line. For the next 500 yards or so, the hiking is fairly easy, but you’ll eventually encounter about 75 yards of rough and rocky going. Take your time as you pick your way over that more challenging section of trail. A small wet-weather branch crosses the trail near the end of the rocky stretch, and about 150 yards beyond that, you’ll cross another small branch which rises from the deep gully to your right. A third such branch crosses the trail a few hundred yards farther on. Beyond that third branch is a bit over 100 yards of fairly decent trail. But then the trail undergoes a sudden change of character, turning to red clay and beginning a steep climb that continues for 150 yards or so. After the climb, you’ll enjoy about 40 paces of fairly level hiking before the trail begins to climb again. Several hundred yards of hiking will eventually bring you a point where the trail bends right – and that’s where you may be able to spot a classic artifact of the southern woods: a rusted piece of bullet-riddled sheet metal. Exactly what that sheet metal might have been is open to interpretation, but part of an old car (or maybe a washing machine?) seems to be as good a guess as any. The shot-up sheet metal is just one of the quirky surprises that await you along this section of trail. There are many. I could tell you what they are, but that would take the fun out of it. Keep your eyes open as you hike, and see what you can discover on your own. Another 500 or so yards of hiking beyond that unfortunate piece of metal will ultimately bring you back to intersection G11. From there, turn left to backtrack toward the trailhead to explore other Gold Branch Unit trails or, if you’re ready for a break, to return to your car. Or you can turn right at G11 and hike the south loop trails again! Now is a perfect time of year to explore this and other hiking trails within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, and you can learn about these trails in Steve Hudson’s book HIKING THE HOOCH. Check out HIKING THE HOOCH at local outfitters, on Amazon, or at www.chattahoocheemedia.com.

22 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

22 | Forsyth Herald | February 9, 2017

Sponsored Section

The New Strong Gaining control over your fitness and your life

For many people, aging equals lower metabolism, weight gain and less energy for activities you enjoy. This is directly related to loss of lean muscle. While you can’t avoid getting older, there are some steps you can take to stop the process of muscle loss and start rebuilding healthy, lean muscle. It doesn’t matter how old you are or whether you haven’t exercised in years. You can still regain lean muscle that improves your shape and increases your metabolism. Our downfall is inactivity. Too much sitting is the new smoking. Our bodies were meant to be active, stay active and be strong. When we stop doing meaningful exercise, we lose ground. What is meaningful exercise? A critical component of stimulating the improvements we seek from exercise is the achievement of momentary muscular

failure in each exercise performed. With steady-state activities, like walking on a treadmill or biking, there is no momentary muscular failure involved. Unless activity is demanding, it is practically worthless from an exercise perspective. However, if an activity is sufficiently demanding to take the targeted muscles to momentary failure, then it qualifies as meaningful exercise. Muscle failure should be viewed as a means of signaling the body that it needs to get stronger in order to meet the demands being placed upon it. What is the SuperSlow Zone solution? The SuperSlow Zone protocol is the original and genuine slow-motion, personal strength training workout. The exercise protocol has been proven successful in both building muscle and increasing resting metabolism, thus allowing the body to burn more calories at rest. SuperSlow Zone provides a safe and effective workout in a short amount of time so that you can get in, get out, and get on with your busy life!

SuperSlow Zone is helping adults get fit for life!

THE NEW

STRONG

Get a total body workout in just 20 minutes, 1 – 2 times a week! The benefits of our training include:

• Improved cardiovascular fitness • Greater muscular strength, endurance and tone • Increased metabolism and energy

Free Consultation & Sample Workout

Call 678-691-2969

7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Saturday

12540 Broadwell Road, Suite 2103, Milton | 678-691-2969 | SSZMilton.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 23

• 1st Orthodontist in Alpharetta • Served Over 20,000 New Patients • Diplomat of American Board of Orthodontics • Convenient Office Hours

Newly Engaged! New Smile! By Dr. Jeffrey Jordan Investing in a healthy, beautiful smile may be one of the smartest moves brides and grooms can make as they plan their big day! Advances in orthodontic treatment can offer a beautiful smile faster, and more affordably, than ever before. Long after the flowers have faded and the reception lights are dimmed, a gorgeous smile is a gift that stays with you happily ever after. Clear aligners and tooth colored braces made with ceramic brackets are practically invisible, and these are popular options for adults. Even the orthodontic wires can be tooth colored so people don’t even notice that you are in treatment. The time between appointments is now longer than it used to be, usually six weeks, due to improved treatment mechanics. That is good news for working people. More good news is how quickly patients begin to see an improvement in their smile. One in four patients is now an adult! The American Association of Orthodontists attributes the rise in adult orthodontics to the improved self-esteem and self-confidence that comes with orthodontic treatment. Patients

tell us their social lives improve after treatment, and we can see the changes that happen as people just smile more often and with more self-confidence. Affordability of treatment is a frequent JORDAN question, and there is good news here too. Orthodontists are one of the few healthcare professionals that offer payment plans, making monthly payments quite manageable over the treatment time. Many employers are including adult orthodontic coverage in their dental plans in addition to Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) that allow employees to set aside pretax dollars that can cover treatment. At the end of the day, this is a lifetime investment in your health and appearance. Your wedding day is a perfect opportunity to have the ‘picture perfect’ smile! Your wedding day is also probably the most photographed day of your life. Why not make those photos sparkle forever with a healthy, beautiful smile?

Winner 3 years in a Row Voted Best Orthodontist in North Fulton and South Forsyth

JEFFREY W. JORDAN, DMD, MSD, PC

4205 North Point Parkway • Alpharetta, GA 30022

770-751-1240 • www.jwjordan.com

24 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

A Homecoming: Dr. Brent Taylor returns to Alpharetta and brings excellence back home! Family, friends and the communities of north Atlanta are celebrating as Dr. Brent Taylor and his family have returned home to where they grew up and are starting a first-class dermatology, Mohs surgery and vein care practice. Brent grew up in Roswell and attended Marist School where he was valedictorian. His wife Ashley was born and raised in Alpharetta and graduated from Milton High School. Together the Taylors are raising two rambunctious boys, Beckett 3, and Gavin 1. After completing twelve years of higher education, Dr. Taylor and his family explored life in Florida. He practiced as the Mohs surgeon at University of Florida in Gainesville and worked in the busiest private practice in Jacksonville, Florida. The desire to be with family and friends drew Dr. Taylor and his family home to north Atlanta. They are opening a practice in Alpharetta to serve the community that has for so long supported them. Dr. Taylor’s resume is impressive to say the least. He graduated from Harvard College in 3 years and attended Vanderbilt School of Medicine on a full, merit-based scholarship. He received his first choices for post-graduate training and was able to work with re-

nowned Mohs surgeons during both his residency at the Medical University of South Carolina and during his ACGME accredited fellowship in procedural dermatology at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California. He is double-boarded, board certified in dermatology and certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in vein care. He is one of the first Mohs surgeons in Georgia to offer true Mohs surgery for melanoma with in-office specialized stains to detect cancer cells and maximize a patient’s chance of cure. Melanoma patients are treated and, in most cases, repaired within a single day. Generally, no outside pathology is needed. Training by celebrated cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Leland Housman and cosmetic and laser dermatologist Dr. Vic Ross, both of La Jolla, California, has enabled Dr. Taylor to offer truly state-of-the-art vein care for medically significant vein disease and cosmetic spider veins alike. Depending on an individual patient’s findings, a combination of endovenous laser ablation, foam or liquid sclerotherapy, phlebectomy, and light-based devices help restore patients’ veins to as good as new. Dr. Taylor’s practice, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta,

opens January 30th 2017 in the Gates at North Point development, on the corner of North Point Parkway and Webb Bridge Road. He offers comprehensive dermatology services from skin exams to Mohs surgery, advanced minimally invasive vein treatment procedures and cosmetic services including Botox and

fillers. Consider Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta for you and your loved ones’ skin care needs. Congratulations to Dr. Taylor and Premier Dermatology! To learn more about Dr. Taylor, visit him online at www.premierdermatologyatlanta.com

QUESTION: How do I submit my news to the paper?

“ North

Fulton Smiles

See Our Reviews

where friends become patients and patients become friends.” ds ” North Fulton Smiles, located in the heart of Crabapple in the Silos Shopping Center provides full-service general and cosmetic dentistry for our valued patients and measure our success in our ability to always exceed your expectations. Family Dentistry • General dentistry for all ages • Preventive dental cleanings • Dental sealants & digital x-rays • Nitrous Oxide Sedation • Treatment of Periodontal Disease • Emergency dental care

Restorative Dentistry • Resin (White) Fillings • CEREC® Same-Day Dental Crowns • Bridges & Restoration of Dental Implants • Custom Dentures • Root Canals • Smile Reconstruction

Cosmetic Dentistry • All-Porcelain Crowns • Cosmetic Veneers • Cosmetic Bonding • ZOOM!® Whitening

The answer is easy, NewsLink.NorthFulton.com Boost your brand, reach the right audience and get noticed! Upload unlimited press releases using Appen Media Group’s online portal, NewsLink.

Feel good about your teeth. Like us on Facebook! E-mail: northfultonsmiles@gmail.com • Tel: 770 569-0613 • www.northfultonsmiles.com

Only NewsLink submissions are reviewed by our newsroom for possible use. NorthFulton.com is one of the highest hit local/regional websites with over 44,100 unique local visitors and 80,000 + unique page views per month and rapidly increasing. Call 770-442-3278 for questions or assistence.

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 25

Now Accepting Patients Skin Cancer & Mohs Surgery • Medical Dermatology Vein Care • Cosmetic Services

N. Atlanta Welcomes Dr. Brent Taylor Insist on the BEST 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. His education and work experience include: • Marist School – Valedictorian • Harvard College – Bachelor of Arts in Biochemical Sciences Graduated in 3 years Magna Cum Laude • Vanderbilt School of Medicine – Doctorate of Medicine Attended on a Full, Merit-Based Scholarship • Medical University of South Carolina – Dermatology Residency; Chief Resident • ACGME-Accredited Fellowship in Mohs surgery, Procedural Dermatology, and Vein Care at Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California. Dr. Taylor has performed thousands of Mohs surgeries and reconstructions, dermatologic surgeries and procedures while in private practice in Florida where local and even international patients have sought him out for the best 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. He now brings his highly sought after expertise back home to Alpharetta with the opening of Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta! Now Accepting Patients. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Taylor Today.

Dr. Brent Taylor

Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta 3180 North Point Parkway, Suite 420 Alpharetta, Georgia 30005

PremierDermatologyAtlanta.com • 678-345-1899

26 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

BUNGALOWS • COTTAGES INDEPENDENT LIVING ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE

NEXT-LEVEL SENIOR LIVING

COMMUNITY

Milton opens registration for Camp Joyful Soles MILTON, Ga. –The City of Milton opened 2017 registration on Jan. 25 for Camp Joyful Soles, a summer camp dedicated to serving special needs children ages 13 to 22. Milton’s Camp Joyful Soles is held at Hopewell Middle School and offers unique, age-appropriate programming. Camp Joyful Soles is held in partnership with Alpharetta’s Camp Happy Hearts, a similar special needs summer day camp serving children ages six to 12 years. “We’re committed to offering diverse programs that meet the needs of all our residents,” said Milton’s Director of Parks and Recreation Jim Cregge. “By working with Alpharetta, we can serve special needs residents of all ages.”

Camp Joyful Soles is open to Milton residents and non-Milton residents. The seven-week program starts on June 7 and ends July 28, closing for the week of July 4 each year. The cost for Milton and Alpharetta residents is $175 per week and $262.50 per week for non-residents. This small, specialized camp is limited to 25 participants per week and offers arts and crafts, games, music, art and drama therapy, special guests, field trips, and swimming once per week. For complete registration details including the application form, visit the Milton website (www.cityofmiltonga.us), click on the “Parks & Rec” section and select “Camp Joyful Soles.”

Northside Hospital offers prostate screening in Alpharetta Feb. 16

678-740-3499 villageparkseniorliving.com

12300 Morris Road, Alphare�a, GA 30005

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Northside Hospital’s Cancer Institute is offering a community screening to determine men’s risk for developing prostate cancer. Prostate cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men, aside from skin cancer. The screening will take place: • When: 5:30-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 16 • Where: Northside/Alpharetta Medical Campus, 3400 Old Milton Parkway Building C, Suite 100/110 Alpharetta, Ga. 30005 Free parking available. • Eligibility: Men ages 40-75, who

have never been diagnosed with prostate cancer, have not had a prostate exam within the past year The screening is administered by health care professionals and will include a prostate-specific antigen blood test. A nurse navigator will be available to help arrange follow up care, if indicated. Spanish interpreters will also be available free of charge during the screening. Registration is required to confirm your time at the screening. Call 404531-4444 to schedule an appointment.

COMMUNITY

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 27

Milton celebrates Arbor Day with new tree in Broadwell Pavilion MILTON, Ga. — In honor of Georgia Arbor Day, the City of Milton will plant a “Patti Faye” deodar cedar at Broadwell Pavilion on Feb. 17, 2017. The public is invited to attend the 11:00 a.m. Arbor Day planting, which is part of Milton’s overall efforts to retain its ‘Tree City USA’ designation for the eighth consecutive year. “The ‘Tree City USA’ designation is a product of our City Council and citizens’ commitments to a greener, healthier community,” said Milton’s City Arborist Mark Law. “Our annual planting ceremony serves as a great example of how our residents care for their environment.” The cedar, purchased from a Hawkinsville, Ga. tree farm,

THE BOOK LLC 2016

Maddie Tosh demonstrates her skills.

Local 10-year-old wins National Championships MILTON, Ga. — 10-year-old Milton resident Maddie Tosh recently won two United States Equestrian Federation National Championships. She was awarded two National Championships at the United States Equestrian Federation banquet in Lexington, Ky, where she won the Small Pony Championship with Flashback

and the Medium Pony Championship with Cozy Up. Thousands of riders, 18-years-old and under compete nationwide for the championship. Tosh trains with her father Hunt Tosh at their family farm in Milton. Maddie is a fifth grader at Alpharetta Christian Academy in Alpharetta.

is approximately 24 feet tall and at full maturity and will stand approximately 50 feet tall. It will be planted in the same area where two diseased Broadwell white oaks were removed for safety reasons in late 2016. Over the past few months, city staff have been busy prepping the planting area, including the installation of a small retaining wall. “Preserving and growing our green canopy plays a key role in retaining Milton’s unique look and feel,” said Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood. “We’re also excited this beautiful cedar and its Broadwell Pavilion location will now serve as the permanent home for Milton’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting event.”

Bringing Care Back to Healthcare Cumming 1400 Northside Forsyth Drive Suite 200, Cumming, GA 30041 Milton 12970 Highway 9 • Milton, GA 30004

Office Phone: 770-781-8004 Fax: 678-679-4053

James R. Morrow, MD

Cheryl McGowan, MD

Patrick Kindregan. DO

www.morrowfammed.com

28 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

COMMUNITY

Holocaust survivor returns for ‘And Then They Came for Me’ 20th anniversary of play recounting friends of Anne Frank surviving Nazi genocide

If you go What: “And Then They Came for Me”

ROSWELL, Ga. – Eva Schloss is a survivor of the first order. She survived the Nazi persecution of the Jews in World War II and she lived to see the play based on her experiences growing up with Anne Frank produced at Georgia Ensemble Theatre in 1997. Now she is returning for the 20th anniversary of the production of “And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank” by James Still. The drama premiered at Georgia Ensemble Theatre in 1997, and is based upon Eva Schloss’ book, “Eva’s Story.” A Holocaust survivor, Schloss will travel from London, England to be GET’s guest for this one-time only event. Schloss will participate in a talkback with the audience after the show. This performance is one night only, Sunday, Feb. 19, at 6:30 pm at GET’s home in the Roswell Cultural Arts Center. “And Then They Came for Me,” directed by Erin Bushko Smith, is a multi-media theater piece telling the

story of two teenage friends of Anne Frank, Eva Schloss and Ed Silverberg. Four actors portray multiple characters on stage, while Silverberg and Schloss tell their stories via videotape. This performance is staged much like an historic newsreel brought to life. GET has produced this play each year since 1997 as a touring production that has traveled throughout the Southeast to middle and high schools, and has been seen by more than 500,000 students, teachers and families. This one-night performance in-

When: Sunday, Feb.19, 6:30 p.m. With Q&A after show Where: Georgia Ensemble Theatre Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell 30075 Cost:$10 each or ten tickets for $80. Available online at www.get. org, or Box Office at 770-641-1260 ext. 236.

cludes a moderated discussion after the play with Artistic Director Robert Farley and Eva Schloss and will be followed by a book signing of Eva’s Story. Artistic Director Robert Farley has maintained a friendship with Schloss during their collaboration on this production over the past 20 years. “I am thrilled that Eva will be joining us from her home in England for this very special performance,” Farley said. “She has made many friends and deeply touched thousands of Georgians since her initial visit to our production

in 1997. “Eva’s Story of her childhood friendship with Anne Frank and her own heroism during the Holocaust is all the more moving when she is present for a performance of the play.” This year’s school tour is scheduled for 45 performances. To book this touring production at a school or community center near you, or for information about Georgia Ensemble Theatre & Conservatory, call Education Associate Molly Gilmartin at 770-641-1260 ext. 223.

Leading the Way in Exceptional Senior Care Oaks Senior Living is a different kind of Senior Living company - a difference which comes from the many extra things that we do every day. The love, compassion and understanding that can only come om a dedicated family and staff .

Oaks at Post Road 3875 Post Road Cumming, GA 30040 770.886.2630

OaksSeniorLiving.com

Horizons Memory Care

Horizons is dedicated to providing positive and enriching environment for those with Alzheimer’s and other related dementias.

Come for a visit and experience what a true family operated community will mean for you and your loved one. We’re committed to serving with faith, knowledge, compassion and love! ~ The Salabarria Family Assisted Living & Memory Care

SPORTS

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 29

Gifts FOR HIM & HER JOE PARKER/HERALD

Blessed Trinity sophomore CJ Abrams defends. Abrams scored 18 points, all in the second half, in the Titans’ 64-42 win over White County last week.

BT basketball seeking first region championship Titans win twice last week to secure No. 1 seed in region tournament By JOE PARKER Joe@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga.— Blessed Trinity will look to finally overcome the region championship hurdle this week as the Titans captured the No. 1 seed for the Region 7-AAAA tournament. The Titans have never won a region championship, finishing as runner up three times in the 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2013-14 seasons. The Titans secured the No. 1 seed with two region wins last week over White County and Marist. The win over Marist was a winner-take-all for the top spot in the region tournament. On Tuesday, the Titans used a 14-2 run in the first half and outscored White County 22-6 in the third quarter to cruise to a 64-42 win. Ben Shappard led the Titans in scoring with 21 points, followed by CJ Abrams with 18. After the win over White County, Blessed Trinity improved to 6-1 in region play, enough to put it in a tie with Marist at the top of the region standings and setting up a deciding game for the top seed in the region tournament. It was the second meeting between the teams. Marist won the first matchup 55-46 on Jan. 17, a game in which Blessed Trinity head coach Patrick Hughes said his team was “pushed around” by the Eagles. “We wanted to make sure we took care of business and show that we are

a better team than the first time we played Marist,” he said. The Titans used sound defense and put three scorers in double-digits to down the Eagles 49-35, securing the No. 1 seed for this week’s Region 7-AAAA tournament. Hughes said his defense was key in the win, holding Marist to just 10 points in the first half. Junior guard Ben Shappard led the Titans in scoring with 16 points. Senior Kyle Swade scored 15 and sophomore guard CJ Abrams scored 10. BT shot 6-8 from beyond the arc and the team made 15-16 on free throws. Hughes said capturing the region championship was a goal for his team at the outset of the season. Though his team has captured the No. 1 seed, Hughes and his team know that much work is left to be done. “Getting the No. 1 seed doesn’t guarantee [a region championship] by any means, but it sets us up in the best possible position. Getting that No. 1 seed was big in attempting to accomplish our goals.” “Our seniors want to leave a line on the banner and leave a legacy.” In securing the top seed, the Titans have a bye in the first round and will take on the winner of Chestatee/West Hall this Friday. “We are going to take it one game and a time and continue to enjoy the experience,” Hughes said of his team’s run for a region title. “This is the only time in their lives they are going to be playing on this team. Each year the team is different, and this year we have a great group of guys that enjoy being around each other and we want to make it last as long as we can.”

Expanding Wines, Bourbons, and Our New Cigar-Valet Humidor Featuring 24+ New Varieties

www.BarnyardSpirits.com

15840 Birmingham Hwy • Milton, Ga

30 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

SPORTS

YOU ASKED FOR IT AND WE’RE DELIVERING:

POST YOUR NEWS, YOUR WAY, RIGHT NOW!

Upload unlimited press releases using Appen Media Group’s online portal, NewsLink

Kaelin Byrd committed Army for football.

Start uploading today! Visit NewsLink.NorthFulton.com

Boost your brand • Publicize your news thru the most trusted local brand and reach the biggest local audience offered by any local or regional media outlet – Appen – on NorthFulton.com & ForsythHerald.com Reach the right audience • Use affordable unlimited access to place your news as often as you wish on the local web sites where the audience is reading similar local news content Get noticed! • Your sponsored content on our local news websites delivers better SEO than Facebook, Yelp, Twitter, LinkedIn, YellowPages or YouTube. • Original local news is what the search engines look for.

Lauren Change signed to play soccer at the University of South Carolina.

Cambridge seniors sign national letters of intent MILTON, Ga.—Cambridge seniors Kaelin Byrd and Lauren Chang signed National Letters of Intent last week to continue their careers at the collegiate

level. Kaelin Byrd committed Army for football and Lauren Change signed to play soccer at the University of South Carolina.

SPORTS

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 31

(Standing L to R:) Josh Hall (Harvard), Cam Adams (Louisiana Lafayette), Mason Nutter (Air Force), Cade Leonard (James Madison), Trevor Allison (Birmingham Southern), Chase Hooper (Florida Atlantic), Troy Simon (Wake Forest), McKenzie Maloney (Georgia), Ben Agnew (Providence), Marie Repasy (Georgia Tech) Lexi Perrota (Truett McConnell). (Sitting L To R:) Jessica Rivero (Belmont Abbey), Kayla Ruiz (Georgia State), Layla El-Shami (Western Carolina).

14 Milton students commit on National Signing Day MILTON, Ga.â€”14 Milton students committed to 14 different schools on Feb. 2, National Signing Day, in Miltonâ€™s ceremony. Josh Hall, Cam Adams, Mason Nutter, Cade Leonard, Trevor Allison, Chase Hopper and Troy Simon committed for football. McKenzie Maloney committed to Georgia for equestrians, Marie Repasy signed for cross country at Georgia Tech and Jessica Rivero committed to Belmont Abbey for bowling. Lexi Perrota, Kayla Ruiz, Layla El-Shami and Ben Agnew will continue their soccer carreers at the collegiate level.

AGING FLOORS? Our refinishing and recoating services can give your home an uplift at a reasonable cost. Resurfacing Starting As Low As .99 cents/sq ft

Fully Insured References Available National Wood Floor Association Member

Owner/Operator

FREE ESTIMATES (678)770-3360 or (404)310-3510 DustFreeWoodFloors.com

Hardwood Floor Refinishing and Resurfacing We Use Professional Bona DCS

(Dust Containment System)

COMMUNITY

32 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

Northern Ridge District announces January Eagle Scouts ALPHARETTA, Ga. - The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District, for the cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Milton, recently announced its newest Eagle Scouts. They passed their Board of Review on Jan. 26. The Scouts who passed their Eagle Board of Reviews, held at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, are: Jeremy Gundugollo, of Troop 3143, who was sponsored by Johns Creek United Methodist Church. His project was the design and building of two raised garden beds and the refurbishment of two other garden beds for the Dunwoody Community Garden. Aidan Chaplin, from Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, designed and created a portable chicken run and housing for a duck feeder at Autrey Mill Nature Park and Heritage Center. Benjamin Kaminski, from Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, designed and created an outdoor worship stage for Northpoint Community Church. Christopher Camacho, from Troop 143, sponsored by Johns Creek United Methodist Church, designed and constructed a Veterans Memorial Garden at Peachtree Christian Hospice. He constructed a flag pole, two benches, a

paved walkway and a small garden with flowers Samuel Warren, of Troop 629, sponsored by Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church, designed and constructed a run-in animal shelter for horses at the Save the Horses Animal Shelter. Harris Rothaermel, from Troop 734, sponsored by the Webb Bridge Ward of Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, designed and constructed a wooden staircase to a walking bridge at the church. Kyle Litz, from Troop 143, sponsored by Johns Creek United Methodist Church, improved the dogs’ play yards at Furkinds Animal Shelter. He mulched the yards, painted over the parking lines, and designed and created 30 never-chew dog beds. Alexander Sotomayor, from Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, refurbished the butterfly garden at Findley Oaks Elementary School. This project included landscaping overgrown and dead bushes as well as planting perennials and creating five butterfly houses and three bird houses. Sotomayor also did a makeover for the paver stones. Jack McGregor, of Troop 1134, sponsored by St. Peter Chanel Catholic

In the top row, from left, stand Jeremy Gundugollo, Aidan Chaplin, Benjamin Kaminski, Christopher Camacho and Samuel Warren. In the bottom row are Harris Rothaermel, Kyle Litz, Alexander Sotomayor and Jack McGregor.

Church, designed and created 36 “busy aprons” for patients with dementia and Alzheimer at North Fulton Regional

Hospital. These aprons have objects to engage and stimulate the senses such as zippers, buttons and pockets.

HOW MUCH IS YOUR HOME WORTH? S p r i n g i s t h e b e s t t i m e t o p u t y o u r h o m e o n t h e m a r k e t. C a l l m e t o d ay at 4 0 4 . 2 1 9 . 1 9 3 8 f o r a h o m e a s s e s s m e n t.

ANITA WHEELER c. 404.219.1938 o. 770.442.7300 anitawheeler@atlantaﬁnehomes.com 1125 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 400 Alpharetta, Georgia 30009 AT L A N TA F I N E H O M E S . C O M | S I R . C O M ©MMXVII Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

SPORTS

Cambridge wrestlers capture area championships MILTON, Ga.â€”Six Cambridge wrestlers earned trips to the sectional tournament after competing at the area tournament held at Centennial High. Dawson Brooks, Gavin Kane and Will Britain all captured area championships with Zachary Corcoran finishing second, Adam Craine placed third and William Kurtz finishing fourth in their respective weight classes. Will Britain improved to 51-0 in his quest for the championship. Gavin Kane remained unbeaten on the year improving to 8-0 on the season after

sitting out the majority of the season recovering from an injury from the football field. Dawson Brooks, a senior, is looking to finish his season strong with a spot at the top of the state podium along with Zachary Corcoran a junior who should also be in the hunt for a title. Adam Craine has shown steady improvement and is coming on strong at the right time. William Kurtz who was inserted into the lineup and had a strong performance at the area tournament to come home fourth.

Once a dancer... always a dancer!

You loved it before. Fall in love with it again! dance 101 is for YOU! Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip hop, Bellydance, Stretch & more! Start anytime, $25 to drop-in. Class card & Memberships available. dance 101 Alpharetta 735 Highway 9 & Windward Parkway www.dance101.org (404) 545-8048

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 33

34 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

Ocare SIMPLY CLEAN

A New Year That’s

Crystal Clear! Our Services: • • • • • • • • • •

Maid Cleaning Windows Pressure Washing Carpets/Area Rugs Gutters Upholstery Interior Painting Renovations Handy Man Services Eco Friendly/Organic

Visit Our Site for Monthly Specials! www.Qcare.com

CALL TODAY!

770 594 1836

SCHOOLS

Northwestern Wildcats win multiple honors MILTON, Ga. — Northwestern Middle School has recently been honored multiple times by different organizations. NMS has been awarded the 2016 Silver Award. This is the highest achievement from the Governor’s office of student achievement for exhibiting high academic performance under Georgia’s Single Statewide Accountability System, which is recognized by Governor Nathan Deal and Executive Director, Martha Ann Todd in the Governor’s office of Student Achievement. NMS also received a very favorable rating through the College and Career Readiness Performance Index for 20152016. Northwestern scored 95.7 with an increase of 14.3 points from the 2014-2015 school year, marking the highest in CCRPI in NMS score history. Principal Charles Chester has, who has been with NMS for a year, was also recently named the Inspire-Lead-Achieve award recipient for the month of January in the Northwestern Learning Community.

Northwestern Middle School Principal Charles Chester holds his award for Inspire-LeadAchieve.

WET/DAMP BASEMENT? or CRACKED

FOUNDATION? 250 OFF

Full Basement Perimeter Solution (over 100 feet)

$3000 OFF ANY

ELECTRICAL! New customers only. Cannot be combined with any other discount. Limit one coupon per household. Expires 10 days after publication.

Rated A++ by BBB • Many local referrences

• Licensed • Bonded • Insured 678-648-2011

With this offer. May not be combined with any other offer. Expires 10 days after publication.

150 OFF

Partial Perimeter Solution (under 100 feet)

With this offer. May not be combined with any other offer. Expires 10 days after publication.

678-648-2013

SSales & SService Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm Sat: By appointment Sun: Closed

5055 Hammond Industrial Dr. Suite B, Cumming, GA

770-887-RIDE (7433) www.topdoggolfcarts.com

Milton swim and dive has strong showing at Metro Invitational

SPORTS

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 35

MILTON, Ga.—The Milton Swim and Dive Team competed at the Metro Invitational. The boys team placed second overall out of 32 teams. Raunak Khosla, Jack Dubois, James Dailey, and Michael Critchfield led the boy’s team in points. Raunak placed first in the 200 individual medley and 100 fly, and Jack placed 1st in the 200 free and 500 free, breaking his Milton record in the 200 free. James Dailey placed second in the 100 back and third in the 100 fly. Michael Critchfield placed sixth in both the 200 IM and 100 back. Nicholas Shelley also had a big day, earning his first state cut in the 100 fly with a time of 55.91. The boys also placed 1st overall in the 400 freestyle relay beating out rivals Alpharetta. The girls team earned top-10 finishes in all relays in which they competed. Nicole Lin led the girls with a seventh place finish in the 200 individual medley and second place finish in the 100 breaststroke. Megan Bates also scored points placing fifth in the 500 free.

Serving your community for over 15 years. We offer a 10 year warranty on structural construction. LICENSED & INSURED

Milton’s Jordan Hirsch earns silver in fencing MILTON, Ga.—Milton senior and fencing captain Jordan Hirsch earned a silver medal in the final round of the regular season of the Georgia High School Fencing League tournaments. Milton Fencers have medaled in all seven rounds of competition this season. Joining Jordan in earning points and improving league standing were seniors Amith Vadlamudi and Grace Cassidy, junior and Captain Jake Paris and sophomore Lucas Rary.

Specializing in Construction, Renovation, & Repair • Patios/Pool Decks • Pools & Spas • Outdoor Kitchens • Arbors • Brick & Stone • Chimneys/Fireplace • Decorative Concrete/Pavers • Decks • Driveways • Grading & Drainage • Retaining Walls • Stone/Tile Deck Waterproofing & Leak Repair

404.478.9563

rick@southernoutdoorcd.com • www.southernoutdoorcd.com

36 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

SCHOOLS

Advertise in Our Health & Wellness Section Reach 75,000 homes with your ad. Call us today for more information.

Advertising Deadline: 3/1/17

NorthFulton.com | 770-442-3278

319 N. Main St. | Alpharetta, GA 30009

Alpharetta Roswell Herald | Forsyth Herald | Johns Creek Herald | Milton Herald

Milton students selected for GMEA All-State Band and Orchestra MILTON, Ga.—Congratulations to the Milton students selected to this year’s GMEA All-State Band and Orchestra—Andrew Lang, Ayden Marshall, Aiden McHugh, Janie Pan, Anna Paulus, Alex Pedowitz, Caitlin Petros, Zach Price, Bo Quintana, Marti Wolf and Kristen Van.

Advertise in Our Empty Nest Section

Reach 75,000 homes with your ad. Call us today for more information.

Advertising Deadline: 2/15/17

Targeted ing, Health, Hous & s e Resourc Retirement News for the 40+ set

Milton students earn Volunteer Service Awards NorthFulton.com | 770-442-3278

319 N. Main St. | Alpharetta, GA 30009

Alpharetta Roswell Herald | Forsyth Herald | Johns Creek Herald | Milton Herald

MILTON, Ga.—Milton High School’s Avanthika Ramesh and Abhisri Ramesh earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award at the Community Level of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) CSA awards. Board member Katie Reeves presented Avanthika and Abhisri with their awards and medallions

SPORTS

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 37

BASKETBALL:

Boys region tournament preview Lambert, St. Francis looking to repeat as region champs By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com

Region 6-A boys Led by a roster full of underclassmen, St. Francis looks poised to have a shot at securing its fourth straight region championship. Sophomore CJ Riley, senior Wallace Tucker and freshman Dwon Odom and Chase Ellis are all averaging double-digit scoring for the Knights, with Odom averaging 17.2 points per game. Defensively the Knights enter the tournament averaging 10 steals and 5 blocks per game. In addition to leading the Knights in scoring, Odom leads the team in steals and blocks. St. Francis rolled to a 21-4 overall record this season and finished 13-1

in region play after falling to Whitefield Academy in overtime last week. The Region 6-A tournament pits the top four teams of each sub-region. St. Francis earned the No. 1 seed from sub-region B and will play Mt. Zion in the first round. If the Knights knock out Mt. Zion, they could likely face Darlington which is hosting the tournament. Knights’ head coach Drew Catlett said it would be challenging to play the talented team on their home court. Catlett also said if his team can advance to the championship game, they will likely face North Cobb Christian, who have had a dominant season and enter the tournament undefeated in region play. The Eagles (22-3, 14-0) are outscoring all opponents by an average of 20 points per game. Before a potential game between St. Francis and North Cobb Christian, both ranked in the top-five in the state, the Eagles will have to go through King’s Ridge, their first-round opponent. King’s Ridge secured the No. 4 seed from sub-region B. The Tigers began region play 5-1, but then encountered

an extremely difficult stretch by playing St. Francis, Mt. Paran, Mt. Pisgah and Whitefield Academy twice. King’s Ridge would lose all five games to put its hopes of a region tournament berth in jeopardy. However, the Tigers were able to beat Fellowship Christian and Walker last week to earn the No. 4 seed.

Region 7-AAAA boys In their first season in Class 4A, Blessed Trinity will enter the Region 7-AAAA tournament as the No. 1 seed. The Titans beat Marist last Friday in a game that decided the No. 1 seed. The Titans have had a breakout season in their new region and classification with depth along the bench and standouts Kyle Swade, CJ Abrams and Ben Shappard. The Titans have already secured a spot in the state tournament this season after missing out with a region tournament semifinal loss last year.

See BASKETBALL, Page 38

BUILDER CLOSEOUT! 3 RANCH HOMES / 1 MODEL HOME EXCELLENT WEST FORSYTH LOCATION NEW HOMES FROM THE HIGH $300’S • Community Lake • Pool • Cabana • Outdoor Fireplace

$5,000 TOWARD DESIGNING YOUR LIFE PLUS $5,000 IN CLOSING COSTS* DIRECTIONS: GA 400 N. to exit 13. Left on Hwy 141/Bethelview Road. Travel 4.8 miles and turn left on Aaron Sosebee Rd. Travel 1.5 miles and Waterford is on the right.

PMCOMMUNITIES.COM | 678.343.2480 *See agent for details. Lot 5 and 20 excluded from bonuses

2017

JOE PARKER/HERALD

Alpharetta entered the Region 7-AAAAAA tournament as the No. 1 seed.

38 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

Basketball: Continued from Page 37

Region 7-AAAAAA boys Former Alpharetta head coach Frederick Hurt stepped down after Alpharetta’s 11-18 finish last season to take over at West Forsyth. In to replace Hurt was longtime Pope assistant Jason Dasinger, and the Raiders are flourishing under their new coach. Alpharetta (23-2, 14-2) enters the Region 7-AAAAAA tournament as the No. 1 seed and are the favorites to capture the region title. The Raiders are led by a host of talented seniors including Ellis Merriweather, who set a personal best of 37 points against Cambridge earlier this season, David Swillum, Carlos Carriere and Garrett Davis. The Raiders have also had production from juniors Jaycee Horn and Marcus Hill as well as from sophomore Bradon Barron. The Raiders offense averaged 65 points per game in the regular season. Teams will always have extra motivation to down the No. 1 seed, but the Raiders will have an extra target on their backs in the region tournament

SPORTS

given their only two losses of the season came to Centennial (5-20, 4-12) and Northview (6-19, 2-14). The Raiders will take on the winner of the Centennial/Northview play-in game. Northview downed the Raiders in their last game of the regular season. Centennial ended Alpharetta’s eight-game winning streak to open the season, and they will look to upset the Raiders once again if they beat Northview in the play-in game. For No. 3 seed Cambridge, what a difference a year makes. This time last year, Cambridge’s season ended with a loss in the first round of the Region 7-AAAAA sub-region B, ending a 6-20 overall season. But this season has seen the Bears’ go 18-7 overall and capture the third seed in the region tournament after moving to Class 6A this season. The Bears’ have found offensive success under sophomores Kamar Robertson, junior Kyler Ingram and seniors Jackson Boyea and Josh Leonce who have led them to a 9-2 record against region opponents in their last 11 games. The Bears’ only two losses in that span was a four point loss to No. 2 seed Pope and a three point loss to No. 1 seed Alpharetta. Cambridge takes on North Atlanta (7-17, 5-11) in the first round. Much like Cambridge, Chattahoochee’s year is going far better than the 2015-16 season. The Cougars earned the No. 4 seed with a 10-6 record in region play. The Cougars will take on Dunwoody in the first round. In the teams’ latest meeting on Jan. 31, Dunwoody beat the Cougars in a tight 48-45 win. Seventh seed Johns Creek will take on Pope in the first round. The Gladiators had their most successful season in school history last year, but they lost seven players to graduation and are playing under a new head coach. Johns Creek lost to Pope twice in the regular season, 77-64 and 51-38.

Region 4-AAAAAAA boys

JOE PARKER/HERALD

Milton senior Alex O connell.

Roswell will look to play in a region championship game for the first time in four years. The Hornets (20-4, 9-1) will take on the winner of Etowah/Walton in the first round. In earning the No. 1 seed, the Hornets will have a first-round bye. Roswell’s only region loss of the season was to Etowah, 51-46, on Jan 27. With reclassification, Roswell is no longer grouped with Milton and powerhouse Wheeler. The team is seeing its best record in over a decade. Roswell will face stiff competition from Woodstock and Cherokee if the teams should meet. Roswell head coach Ty Phillips has said he has much respect for the Cherokee program which

enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed.

Region 5-AAAAAAA boys Lambert ran the table in Region 5-AAAAAAA, going 10-0 in region play and outscoring region opponents by an average of 16 points per game to earn the top seed in the region tournament. The Longhorns have size and a prowess for outside shooting. Senior point guard Andrew Melms, Jordan Mcilwain, Damon Stoudamire Jr and Austin Deckard lead the Longhorns offense which averages 77 points per game. Lambert enters the tournament having won its last two region tournament titles, both in Region 6-AAAAAA. Lambert set a school record for wins in a season (27) last year before being knocked out of the Sweet Sixteen in the state tournament. With a first-round bye, Lambert will take on the winner of Forsyth Central and North Forsyth. After reaching the Final Four last season, it’s been a year of changes for No. 2 seed Milton. Milton lost six of its first eight games. The six opponents that beat Milton in that run have a combined 126-21 record as of Feb. 3. Just three weeks later, Milton head coach Matt Kramer stepped down, forcing the Eagles to find a new head coach midway through the season. Sean Revels, a longtime Milton assistant, took over. Since then, Milton has gone 8-2 in region play behind sophomore standouts Jordan Yates and Donovan Hariston, as well as senior and Duke commit Alex O’Connell. Milton’s only two region losses came to Lambert. Lambert head coach Scott Bracco and Revels said they expect to meet once again with the region tournament at stake. Behind Lambert and Milton, No. 3 seed South Forsyth looks to play spoiler, and with a talented core, the War Eagles could act in that role. Senior Evan Cole and Santhosh Saravanan lead a fast-paced offense that scores well in transition. If the War Eagles are to play spoiler, they must clamp down on defense against the talented offenses of Lambert and Milton. South gave up an average of 71 points per game against Milton and Lambert this season. In its first season in Class 7A, Forsyth Central finished 4-6 in region play and enters the tournament as the No. 4 seed. The Bulldogs will take on South in the first round. The results for West Forsyth’s firstyear head coach Frederick Hurt haven’t been any better than last year’s 7-20 record. West (4-21, 2-8) hasn’t found

immediate success under Hurt, who led Alpharetta to two region titles and a quarterfinal and semifinal appearances in the state tournament in his tenure with the Raiders. West will take on Forsyth Central in the opening round of the region tournament.

Girls region tournament preview By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON/FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga.—

Region 6-A girls

Seeking its fifth straight region championship, St. Francis seemingly cruised to the No. 1 seed from sub-region B and will enter the tournament as undoubted favorites. The Lady Knights outscored sub-region opponents by 50 points per game and went undefeated in region play. The Lady Knights are led by four senior D-1 commits, Kasiyahna Kushkituah, Maya Dodson, Nichel Tampa and Taja Cummings. Dodson and Kushkituah, who lead the team in scoring, are both McDonald’s All-Americans. The Lady Knights’ (21-4, 12-0) four losses on the season all came to teams outside of Georgia. St. Francis takes on Excel Christian in the first round. Pinecrest Academy entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed from sub-region B and will face Christian Heritage in the first round. The Paladins are in the midst of their third straight winning season after Ken Lacy took over the program. Pinecrest was knocked out of the region tournament and state tournament contention last year by St. Francis, but the Paladins have won seven out of their last nine games. Fellowship Christian will look to make a return to the region championship game and state playoffs after falling to St. Francis in the region title game last season. The Fellowship Christian Lady Paladins enter the tournament as the No. 3 seed having won four of their past five games. Fellowship will take on Gordon Lee, the No. 2 seed from sub-region A, in the first round.

SPORTS

Region 7-AAAA girls Blessed Trinity’s Lady Titans were unable to finish the regular season with a winning record for the first time since 2012-13 season, but BT can secure a playoff berth with a win in the region tournament. The Lady Titans earned the No. 4 seed and will play fifth seed White County in a play-in game. With a win, the Lady Titans will earn a trip to the state tournament. BT and White County split their regular season series 1-1, each team winnings its game by a double-digit margin.

Region 7-AAAAAA girls With the departure of the Forsyth County schools to Class 7A this season, a new region-dominating team has stepped forward — Northview. The Lady Titans (22-3, 16-0) are seeking their first region championship. Northview went undefeated in region play this season and has already set a school record for number of wins in a season. The team is led by senior forward Shannon Titus who is averaging 14.4 points per game. Titus is already a defensive force, averaging 5.5 steals and 4.3 blocks per game. Sophomores Ashlee Austin and Maya Richards have also contributed to the Lady Titans’ success. Austin leads the team in rebounds and Richards is averaging 9.8 points and 2.1 blocks per game. Last season, fifth-seeded Northview saw an unexpected run to the region 6-AAAAAA championship after upsetting Lambert in the first round, then making it to the region title game where they fell to West Forsyth. Almost the entire team is back, and will take on the winner of Dunwoody/ North Atlanta in the first round. In contention with Northview for top spot in the region standings much of the year was Alpharetta. The Lady Raiders lost two of their last three region games against Northview and Chattahoochee, but will look to a trio of top performers to win its first region title since the 2012-13 season. Sisters Gogo and Juju Maduka and sophomore Croix Bethune have led

NHSMESSENGER.COM

Shannon Titus led the Northview Lady Titans to a 16-0 record in Region 7-AAAAAA play.

Alpharetta. Though lacking in size, Bethune is all over the court for the Lady Raiders, leading the team in steals and assists and setting up much of the offense. The Maduka sisters lead the Lady Raiders in rebounding and have strong outside shooting ability. Alpharetta will take on Cambridge in the first round. Cambridge began the season with multiple wins over Class 7A teams but has struggled in region play. The Bears’ only region wins have come against Dunwoody and North Atlanta, the eighth and ninth seeded teams. Last year, Chattahoochee won a play-in game against Johns Creek to keep its season alive, but the outcome pitted the Lady Cougars against South Forsyth, the No. 1 seed led by Maryland-commit Sarah Myers. But

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 39

as region tournaments usually go, a major upset unfolded when the Lady Cougars, who were 4-13 against region opponents entering the tournament, defeated South 49-41. Hooch would fall the next game to Northview, but their surprising late-season surge earned the Lady Cougars a playoff berth. This season Chattahoochee is in the running for a region title, compiling an 11-4 record in region play, and they seem to be getting hot at the right time. After back-to-back losses to Northview and Johns Creek, the Lady Cougars bounced back with a pivotal win over Alpharetta, the first of five wins to end the regular season. Siena Gore is averaging 20 points per game for the Lady Cougars and senior Alayna Ford is a rebounding force under the net. Hooch will square off with Centennial in the first round. Centennial has hovered around the .500 mark for much of the season and will enter the tournament as the No. 7 seed. The Lady Knights are led in scoring by junior Shekinah Guthrie who averages 13.4 points per game. Guthrie also leads the team in rebounds and steals. The Johns Creek boys program has its most successful season in program history last year. That distinction goes to the girls program this year. Under first-year head coach Kirk Call the Lady Gladiators have compiled an 18-7 overall record and will enter the Region 7-AAAAAA tournament as the No. 3 seed. Entering this season, the Lady Gladiators had not won more than 11 games in a season since the program’s inception in 2009-10. The Lady Gladiators are led by senior standout Sydney Tanguilig who has led Johns Creek to eight wins in their last 10 games.

Region 4-AAAAAAA girls Opening the season with a challenging non-region schedule, the Lady Hornets hovered around the .500 mark for much of the season. But in the final two weeks of the regular season, Roswell has put together six wins in seven games to improve to 14-8 overall and 6-4 in the region. The Lady Hornets lost a tiebreaker

to Etowah for the No. 3 seed and will enter the tournament as the fourth seed. Roswell will take on Lassiter in the first round. The Lady Hornets beat Lassiter 46-28 and 43-26 in the regular season. If the Hornets win, they will face Woodstock, who swept Roswell in the regular season, in the second round.

Region 5-AAAAAAA girls Lambert went undefeated in region play, capturing the No. 1 seed for the region tournament. The Lady Longhorns’ only two losses in the regular season came to Brookwood. Lambert allowed just 38 points per game in the regular season and outscored region opponents by 25 points per game. The Lady Longhorns will be favorites to capture the region title this season after taking a first-round exit last season and missing out on the state tournament. The Lady Longhorns will take on the winner of West Forsyth/ Milton in the first round. South Forsyth also took an early exit from last year’s tournament after being upset by eighth-seed Chattahoochee. However, South looks to make a return to the state playoffs and contend with Lambert for the region title behind senior guard Emily Dreslinski, leading scorer for the Lady War Eagles. North Forsyth, the No. 3 seed, swept West, Central and Milton, but couldn’t overcome South or Lambert in the regular season, finishing 6-4 in region play. The Lady Raiders shouldn’t have trouble dispatching Milton in the first round where they will face South Forsyth in the second round. North was beaten by South 43-22 and 47-32 in the regular season. Fourth seed West Forsyth captured its first region championship in program history last season, but with the loss of 2016 Georgia Girls Player of the Year Jenna Staiti and the departure of Carsen Parker and Brooke Pirkle to concentrate on their soccer careers, West’s season has been lackluster compared to its accomplishments a year ago. However, as is typical of tourneytime, upsets are to be expected and West, behind four seniors from last year’s squad, could make a run at another region title.

40 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

SPORTS

Milton area soccer preview By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com

Boys KING’S RIDGE (2016 record: 6-8-1, 4-4) Head Coach: Bob Rumble What is the overall outlook for your team this year? We have a lot of new players so our outlook is a bit unknown. Our goal is to make the state playoffs again this year, but we graduated eight seniors last year that must be replaced, including All-Region goalkeeper Ben Lewis and our team MVP Scott Murphy. Who has graduated from last year and who will step up to fill those roles? Not sure who will replace Scott, but it looks like freshman goalkeeper Michael James is most likely taking Ben’s spot. Who are some key players we should watch out for this season? Our leading scorer, Nico Hoyos, returns and should have another terrific season. Also returning are midfielders John Grace and Joshua Stallworth and defenders Ben Kaminski and Tomas De La Rosa. Is there a particular focus your team will have this year? We are working hard on all facets of the game as we try to get out players to play faster with a greater intensity on the field. How do you believe your team will fare in region play this year? We believe we will be very competitive, and, while the region has become much more challenging with the addition of some of the top teams in the state, we hope to make the playoffs again this year. ST. FRANCIS (2016 record: 0-9, 0-8) Head Coach: Tom Meija What is the overall outlook for your team this year? The team has been really enthusiastic about pre-season training, and we’re looking forward to transferring that energy to the soccer field. We have a young team, and this is a transitional year for us as we refine their athletic talent to soccer-specific skills. We’re looking forward to tackling the challenges that come our way. Who has graduated from last year and who will step up to fill those roles? We graduated six seniors including Thomas porter, last years’ team captain, but we have some key playmakers moving up the rank. One of them is Myles Rewis who has a really good connection with mid-fielder Jake

Barber, both players have an uncanny ability of knowing where each is located. Who are some key players we should watch out for this season? Carter Moran is a new transfer this year who will be leading our offense. He has a good knowledge of the game and has done a great job in placing the ball in hard to stop places. We think that he will give opposing goalies a tough time in stopping his shots. Is there a particular focus your team will have this year? We’re going to work on a more offensive formation while holding a strong defense. The team is slowly learning to work together and communicate on the field. How do you believe your team will fare in region play this year? While we have a lot of talented players, it’s a relatively new squad who need some time to develop together. Our hopes are to peak at the right time to be successful this season. CAMBRIDGE (2016 record: 10-8-1, 6-3) Head Coach: Bryan Wallace What is the overall outlook for your team this year? Last year was our fourth year as a program and we were very proud of our progress. We advanced to the Elite 8 in the 5A classification and lost in PK’s to eventual state runner-up Northgate. After enduring a 1-15 season in our first year, this was a fantastic reward for our players, coaches, and parents. Our hope this year is to build on last year’s success, and continue down the path of establishing a premier soccer program at Cambridge. Who has graduated from last year and who will step up to fill those roles? We graduated some critically important seniors who played a key role in establishing our success over the past four seasons, but we had a very strong freshman class last year that we feel will be able to step in and allow us to progress as a team. It’s possible that this is the strongest group from top to bottom that we have had since the program began, and they have shown a real desire already this year to work hard and embrace the opportunity they have been given. Who are some key players we should watch out for this season? Our motto this year is “Leadership is Plural,” and the composition of our team reflects this. We have a group of players who don’t seek individual recognition but are willing to sacrifice for their team, and as their coach it would be difficult for me to point to one player as being more important than

another. Our success last year was predicated on playing as a unit, and all of our work this year has been focused on taking this concept to an even higher level. I would, however, point out that ultimately our team’s success will likely depend on the leadership and the examples set by our six senior players: Carson Densmore D/F, Lucas LoPiccolo D/MF, Ryan Pratt F, Chris Townsend D/F, Josh Winnett D/MF and Diego Zarate D/MF. Is there a particular focus your team will have this year? Our theme this year is to emphasize team above self, and the concept of serving each other and the larger community. To reinforce this, each year we have a mandatory team “Day of Service.” This year, the entire program will participate in putting on a soccer skills clinic for disadvantaged youth in Atlanta and donating to the local food pantry that serves this community. Through learning that being part of a team is about more than individual accolades or even the sport itself, we hope that players will draw closer together and ultimately will take away important lessons from their time at Cambridge. How do you believe your team will fare in region play this year? The last two years, we participated in a region that produced the eventual state champions in Dalton and Riverwood. While we understand that the level of play in this region will be extremely high, we feel that we have done everything possible to prepare ourselves for the challenge that every team in this region presents. Our team feels fortunate to be in a region with such an excellent group of soccer programs, and we look

forward to testing ourselves again this year against the very best that Georgia high school soccer has to offer. MILTON (2016 record: 16-4-1, 6-2) Head Coach: Michael Nova What is the overall outlook for your team this year? We should have a strong team. Although we graduated a number of exceptional impact players, we still have a good bit of talent on the team. Our region has changed, so we will have to adjust to a new home/ away game format. But we did manage to schedule with a number of quality teams from our former region. Who has graduated from last year and who will step up to fill those roles? We lost/ graduated a number of players with exceptional skills and vision for the game. Among others, this included our dominant forward Jun Zaragosa, midfielders Matt Shamoun, Colin Burris and Christian Waeglin, center defenders Sean Gagne and Sam Liptak, and our keeper Etan Suda. That’s a lot of talent and playing intensity. These guys were true leaders and pushed their teammates to excel. Who are some key players we should watch out for this season? The good news is that we still have returning starters. Andre Rayol, Ameen Elshami, Yousif El-Shami, Suraj Chatrathi and Austin Deck. They have all continued to develop and, with the help of others, worked hard and/or also played significant time last season. We should play well together. New forward Clemente Ledesma should help us. He has great touch and a sense of where to be on the field. Keeper Duncan Thiel

looks very good in the goal. Our assistant coaches, Phil and Jason Broome, have done a wonderful job of developing players who have come onto the varsity side. We have a few surprises for our opponents. Is there a particular focus your team will have this year? The focus is to develop as a team and continue to move at the pace of last year’s team. Our returning players are still hungry, and this is fueled by the disappointment of losing on PKs after a scoreless tie in the state finals. We are different than last year and still, there is plenty of talent. The question is whether they can learn to blend their styles and build on each other in a way that wins games. How do you believe your team will fare in region play this year? We know our region will not be easy, but we hope to be competitive for the title. Teams seem to be getting much stronger every year. That says a lot for the quality of the local clubs and the high school programs.

Girls KING’S RIDGE (2016 record: 2-9, 2-6) Head Coach: Jessica Kvam What is the overall outlook for your team this year? I am very excited for this season and the group of girls that we have. We are a young team and all the girls have a lot of potential individually and as a team, so I am eager to see them develop and sync as the season progresses. Who has graduated from last year and who will step up to fill those roles? We lost three crucial seniors last year who were vital in our offense, but we will have a few girls who will step up to fill those roles. One of our freshman, Daniella Johansson, will come in and be a huge offensive presence for us. Eleanor Arnold, also a freshman, will bring that same tenacity and competitiveness to our defense. I expect a lot out of our freshman this year, and I know both can step up to the challenge. Who are some key players we should watch out for this season? Our senior goalkeeper, Maddie Harris, will be one of our key players this year. Her leadership and ability will be crucial for our success this season. Patty Cordero is another key player. She is the glue that will keep our team working together. If she stays healthy she will be dominant against any midfield in our region. Daniella Johansson and Eleanor Arnold, our two freshman, will make a huge impact for our team with their experience and ability. Is there a particular focus your team will have this year? We are just focused on playing every game as a team better than the last.

SPORTS

How do you believe your team will fare in region play this year? I think we should do pretty well this year. We have some tough teams in our region but I think they will be a good challenge for the team. ST. FRANCIS (2016 record: 0-8, 0-7) Head Coach: Kelly Glass What is the overall outlook for your team this year? The overall outlook is positive. We have several freshmen starting this year which brings positive energy to the team. Who are some key players we should watch out for this season? Hannah Knight, Graycen Horne, Chloe Bohan, Maggie Wehr and Sophia Berk. Is there a particular focus your team will have this year? Our focus will be sportsmanship. How do you believe your team will fare in region play this year? I think we’ll do well. CAMBRIDGE (2016 record: 12-7-2, 7-2) Head Coach: Eric Swanburg What is the overall outlook for your team this year? Over the past three years, the coaching staff has placed a lot of emphasis on individual player development throughout the course of the high school season rather than focusing on immediate gains. We have taken some tough losses early in the process, but we are now starting to see the benefits of the past two years of technical and tactical skill building as players are now more confident with the ball in individual and team scenarios. That said, the overall outlook is great. We have a great group of technically advanced players who can play at the high level required of them during region play this year. Who has graduated from last year and who will step up to fill those roles? Three seniors moved onto college last year, two continuing their soccer careers at the collegiate level at Berry. We have a great group of freshman and returning players who will work together to fulfill the roles of those seniors who graduated. The girls are prepared to compete for each other, the community, and their school. Who are some key players we should watch out for this season? As a coach, I believe all of our players serve a role in the overall success of

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 41

our team, whether they are starting or coming in as a substitute, each player has a job to do when they step on the field. Without any one of these players, we would not be successful. I think if someone came to watch us play, they might see what I am talking about. We love to possess the ball from the back lines to front and each player on the field has a key role in the development of our attack. Is there a particular focus your team will have this year? We are going to continue the process we started in 2014 and 2015 and focus on developing our players growth as an overall athlete. Many of our players are looking to play collegiate level soccer — by focusing on training sessions that make the player more technically and tactically advanced, we can, as a team, perform better on the field. As a team, we will continue to focus on quality of possession with the ball, creative movements off the ball and ability to make plays. How do you believe your team will fare in region play this year? We should fare well in region play. I believe we have been placed in one of the top regions in AAAAAA. The schools in this region have some great history in competing and making it to the state playoff rounds. Our team has the mentality that we can compete with anyone in the state and that is what we train for. Being new to the region and AAAAAA will present its challenges, but I don’t believe it is something we can’t overcome. MILTON (2016 record: 10-5-1, 5-2) Head Coach: Bradlea Jardine (questions answered by varsity community coach Kelly Bendall) What is the overall outlook for your team this year? We have a lot of returning players with a lot of game experience. We have senior leadership that can flow down through the rest of the team. We have several players who can make an impact on the game offensively and defensively. Hopefully we can stay fresh, healthy through a tough schedule/district. [We are] adding depth with our new players coming up. We will be successful if we take one game at a time with a positive attitude and the right focus. Staying focused, mentally and physically and working as one unit is critical.

Who has graduated from last year and who will step up to fill those roles? Last year we graduated Nicole Aussin and Denae Kappers. Both of these players were not only talented on the field but provided leadership on and off the field. There isn’t one or two players to fill those roles but a team of seniors dedicated to leading, sacrificing and supporting our mission as a team which begins with the three Cs —courage to fight, courage to compete and courage to risk. Who are some key players we should watch out for this season? If we are executing our plan correctly, there won’t be only a few key players there will be 11 players on the field and key players coming from our bench providing the depth we have not had in the past.

42 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

HomeServe: Continued from Page 4 not what we intended [the program] is to be communicated to our customers,” Hausmann said. There are now discussions ongoing right now to rework the letter once again, making it clear that the program is completely optional and offered at a discount, she said. The commission’s intent was to offer residents a service only if desired. “If we can’t get it straightened out, we will terminate the agreement,” Hausmann said. “We recognize it is a problem.” Commissioner Bob Ellis said the agreement was entered into before he came aboard as commissioner and he didn’t like the arrangement. “When the [first] letter came out, I didn’t like the concept in general. I particularly didn’t like the fact that it had our logo on it,” Ellis said. “I thought it was misleading and confusing to the people who received it.” Ellis said he inquired about it, and discovering what it was he lobbied to soften the language so people understood it was optional and not something they were obligated to do and get the logo off. The language for a second letter was reworked, and the logo was taken off the envelope, but it remained on the HomeServe solicitation letter. “Hopefully we will revisit this to see whether we want to continue with [the partnership],” Ellis said. “I would prefer we did not have any arrangement.” HomeServe spokesman Myles Meehan said the company got involved to meet a need outlined by Fulton County Division of Water Resources to provide water line insurance.

Most residents do not know they are responsible for those repairs until they discover a problem. HomeServe responded to a request for proposals sent out by Fulton County to companies offering the optional insurance and repair services, Meehan said. “As noted in the opening paragraph of the mailing materials to residents, this is a partnership between [Fulton County] and HomeServe,” Meehan said. The county is making the services available at the resident’s pleasure and HomeServe is the provider. “All mailing materials [intended for residents] were and will always be reviewed and approved prior to use,” he said. Meehan said the first two mailings in October 2015 and February 2016 to a limited group of residents raised no red flags to the company’s knowledge and had been approved for mailing. Meehan did state HomeServe frequently modifies the format “while maintaining the key messages and content.” And this was done for the third mailing in December 2016. “We are constantly adjusting our mailing materials, purely as part of our commitment to better communicate to and serve our customers,” Meehan said. HomeServe is developing another mailing and is in discussions with Fulton County about it, he said. Nationally, HomeServe works with more than 400 municipalities and utilities to provide their service to 2.8 million homeowners. Meehan also noted in the time HomeServe has worked with Fulton County, it has provided more than $100,000 in service work to Fulton customers who otherwise would have dipped into their pockets to complete.

Distribute Northside Woman In Your Store! Bring new customers into your store now by becoming a distribution point for Northside Woman!

It’s easy and FREE. Just give us a call!

770-442-3278

Available Here!

This screen shot show the Fulton County logo featured prominently on HomeServe website www.FultonCountyPlans.com. HomeServe paid the county $100,000 for the rights to use the logo in association with its service plan for the county.

Fulton’s uneasy partnership: HomeServe USA alleged ‘deceptive practices’ have history with N.Y., Maryland attorneys general By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com FULTON COUNTY – A letter from a company offering insurance to Fulton water and sewer residential customers has some residents confused and Fulton County commissioners angry. The letter, headed by the Fulton County logo, offers to insure Fulton residential water customers for any water/sewer line damage for which residents are legally responsible. Fulton County agreed in 2015 to enter into an agreement with HomeServe USA Repair Management Corp., to allow it to offer county residents water/sewer line “discounted” insurance for any repairs. But county officials may not have been aware that the company had already agreed to pay the attorneys general of New York and Maryland more than $300,000 to settle allegations about the way it does business. HomeServe agreed to pay the Maryland Consumer Protection Division $115,000 without admitting any guilt to settle claims that HomeServe allegedly:

• without prior notice required consumers to release it from liability for consequential damages caused during repairs; • provided only 11 months of coverage during the first year of service offered; • used only general language to disclose certain coverage limitations. Under the terms of the settlement with Maryland, HomeServe extended coverage one additional month and would not represent an affiliation with any municipality, government entity or public utility unless such a partnership did exist. The agreement also called for HomeServe to refrain from requiring consumers to sign releases in order to claim covered repairs. It also required HomeServe to describe eligible repairs, and conspicuously disclose limitations of coverage. Later in 2015, HomeServe also settled with the state of New York to pay $100,000 for consumer redress, costs or fees. HomeServe also voluntarily agreed to establish a fund of $115,000 to provide free exterior water service line repairs to low-income New York consumers through its charitable program, HomeServe Cares. HomeServe and Fulton County did enter into an agreement allowing the company to sell water lines repair insurance, and Fulton County allowed the use of the Fulton County logo, for which HomeServe paid Fulton County $100,000.

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 43

CPC announces new leadership NORTH FULTON, Ga. — Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy, a nonprofit committed to supporting the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, has announced the appointment of its 2017 officers. The new appointments are Sally Bethea, president; Bob Ruby, vice-president; Bob Schneider, treasurer and Jay Bogan, secretary. Bethea is the retired founding director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and a longtime environmental advocate. Ruby, a retired IBM manager, is the immediate past president of the Benton MacKaye Trail Association. Schneider is a manager in finance and accounting with Equifax. Bogan is a partner with the law firm of Kilpatrick Townsend. CPC works with the National Park Service and other partners to support projects and

Arrests: Continued from Page 2 was arrested Jan. 24 on Mansell Road in Alpharetta for DUI, speeding, reckless driving and attempting to elude a police officer. ►► Emma Ruth Parson, 23, of North Augusta, S.C., was arrested Jan. 26 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI and speeding.

DRUG arrests ►► Florence A. Alozie, 23, of Shepherds

programs that protect the park’s natural and cultural resources and enrich visitor experience. Through collaboration with the superintendent, staff and stakeholders, the organization identifies projects and funds for priority initiatives that the federal government is unable to cover. Funding and volunteer support are needed for CRNRA priorities: maintenance, restoration and connectivity of the nearly eighty miles of hiking trails; facility and landscape improvements starting with the Paces Mill and Vickery Creek Units; Every Kid in the Park Program for underserved students; and enhancements to the National Water Trail. To learn about and get involved with CPC, visit chattahoocheeparks.org.

Path, Decatur, was arrested Jan. 18 on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell for possession of marijuana and suspended license. ►► Cassandra L. Robinson, 32, of Graniteville, S.C., was arrested Jan. 29 on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana and hallucinogen distribution. ►► Jerel Marquis Thomas, 28, of Deer Trail, Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 27 on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana. ►► Andre Ainsworth Green, 34, of Mid Broadwell Road, Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 24 on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana and failure to maintain lane.

CITY OF MILTON

►► Kimberly-Ann Bradley, 29, of

Creekside Court, Roswell, was arrested Jan. 23 on North Point Parkway in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana, possession of drug-related items and

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR REZONING Petition No.: Location: Applicant: Request:

Public Hearings:

Location:

Planning Commission Meeting Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. (New Time)

Community Zoning Information Meeting (CZIM) Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.

Milton City Hall 13000 Deerfield Parkway Suite 107E (Council Chambers) Milton, GA 30004 678-242-2500 Planning Commission Meeting Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. (New Time)

Mayor and City Council Meeting Monday, March 6, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. Milton City Hall 13000 Deerfield Parkway Suite 107E (Council Chambers) Milton, GA 30004 678-242-2500

RZ17-02 12800, 12830, and 12850 Hopewell Road Fuqua & Associates To rezone from AG-1 (Agricultural) to R-4A (Single Family Dwelling) to develop 17 single family lots on 14.6 acres at a density of 1.16 units per acre.

Design Review Board Meeting (DRB) Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.

RZ16-05 - Consideration to create steep slope standards in Chapter 64, Article XVII, Division 3. Site Improvement Standards.

Location:

following too close. ►► Kourtney Gainell Perry, 32, of Wyoming, Michigan, was arrested Jan. 23 on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana.

CITY OF MILTON

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE This item was deferred by the City Council on January 30, 2017 to the February Planning Commission Meeting

CHATTAHOOCHEEPARKS.ORG

Mayor and City Council Meeting Monday, April 24, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. Location:

Milton City Hall – City Council Chambers (New City Hall Location) 2006 Heritage Walk Milton, GA 30004

44 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

Blotter: Continued from Page 2 and several thefts.

Employee fired for deceiving customers JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A man reported Jan. 27 that his former employee had been making fraudulent charges using

the company’s customers. The man told police that he found out that an ex-employee had been falsely charging customers at the LA Fitness on Medlock Bridge Road for training sessions. The employee had allegedly set up a Square Up account labeled as LA Fitness, but the funds would go solely to the employee. Two customers had informed the man about the employee’s fraudulent transactions, which totaled $400, after he had already been fired Jan. 17. The man had fired the employee

CITY OF MILTON NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND CITY CODE RZ17-03 – Consideration to amend Sec. 64-418. - Pre-development notification and public informational meeting and Sec. 64-419. Definitions of the AG-1 (Agricultural) Zoning District. RZ17-04 – Consideration to amend Sec. 64-441 – Pre-development notification and public informational meeting and Sec. 64-441. Definitions of the R-1 (Residential) Zoning District. RZ17-05 – Consideration to amend Sec. 64-464 – Pre-development notification and public informational meeting and Sec. 64-465. Definitions of the R-2 (Residential) Zoning District. RZ17-06 – Consideration to amend Sec. 64-487 – Pre-development notification and public informational meeting and Sec. 64-488. Definitions of the R-2A (Residential) Zoning District.

earlier when he was caught trying to sell “excess” fitness equipment on Craig’s List. A lot of equipment had gone missing during the employee’s time at LA Fitness, the owner said. According to the man, the employee had worked at multiple LA Fitness locations across the Atlanta area.

Woman gets $10K in fraudulent checks ROSWELL, Ga. — A woman alerted police Jan. 18 to an instance of fraud once she realized that some checks she had deposited were not valid.

CITY OF MILTON PUBLIC NOTICE PH-17-AB-03 PLACE 13000 Deerfield Pkwy Bldg 100 Ste 107E Milton, GA 30004 DATE & TIME 2/22/17 6:00 PM PURPOSE Consumption on Premises Wine, Malt Beverages and Distilled Spirits

RZ17-07 – Consideration to amend Sec. 64-2453. - Creation of a historic preservation commission.

APPLICANT HDRA LLC dba Ichiban Steak & Sushi 5306 Windward Parkway Milton, Georgia 30004

Chapter 2 of the City Code – Administration – Sec. 2-206 – Duties of the Planning Commission.

Yul Ku Lee 704-512-1445

Public Hearings:

Community Zoning Information Meeting (CZIM) Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.

Location:

Milton City Hall 13000 Deerfield Parkway Suite 107E (Council Chambers) Milton, GA 30004 678-242-2500 Planning Commission Meeting Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. (New Time) Mayor and City Council Meeting Monday, April 24, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.

Location:

Milton City Hall – City Council Chambers (New City Hall Location) 2006 Heritage Walk Milton, GA 30004

The woman had found a job on a website for couriers by someone she knew as “Charles Powell.” Powell would mail checks for the woman to deposit into a designated bank account. She was then instructed to withdraw cash for her fee and transfer the money to another checking account. The woman received two checks, for a total of $10,000, which she deposited as instructed. After she transferred the money, however, she was notified that they were fraudulent. The woman said that she was afraid that she had been involved in a money laundering scheme and reported the information to police immediately.

CITY OF MILTON PUBLIC NOTICE PH-17-AB-02 PLACE 13000 Deerfield Pkwy Bldg 100 Ste 107E Milton, GA 30004 DATE & TIME 2/22/17 6:00 PM PURPOSE Consumption on Premises Wine and Malt Beverages APPLICANT Sirus Trading Investment LLC dba I Love NY Pizza 980 Birmingham Road Milton, Georgia 30004 Kamil Kaya 770-442-9699

City of Milton PUBLIC NOTICE OF SALE OF PROPERTY PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the City of Milton will offer the following property for sale at auction beginning Monday, February 27, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. and the final auction ending March 9, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. Full property descriptions, as well as the bidding process, will be available through the city’s website’s home page at www.cityofmiltonga.us by following the link provided for www.GovDeals.com. Vehicle: 2007 Ford Expedition The buyer will have up to 5 business days to pay with cash, money order, or cashier’s check and 10 business days to remove the vehicle. The vehicle will be available for inspection, by appointment only, at 750 Hickory Flat Rd, Milton GA 30004. Please direct all inquiries to mark.stephens@cityofmiltonga.us.

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 45

ONLINE INCLUDED

» Hiring? Pay once & we’ll run your ad until your position is filled.* » Selling Something? Pay once and we’ll run your item until it’s sold!*

Call today to place your ad • 770-442-3278 • classifieds@appenmediagroup.com • FAX: 770-475-1216 •

Help Wanted

Full-time

Now Hiring: Advertising Sales Executive Job Description & Duties: Appen Media Group is hiring sales executives for the marketing and advertising department. Primary responsibilities will be managing a book of existing business by consulting on and selling advertising campaigns, and growing the existing book of business through cold calling and networking. Qualifications: Must be ambitious, hard working, good with people, and goal oriented. Previous sales experience preferred, but not required. Compensation: Base salary of $18,200/ year with aggressive monthly commission. Full medical benefits, matching 401k and PTO.

four weekly newspapers in the north Fulton and south Forsyth markets totaling 75,000 in circulation per week. In addition to its weekly coverage, AMG also publishes the monthly womens magazine, Northside Woman, as well as quarterly community guides, called Answer Books. Digitally, AMG has a vast online presences through various social media platforms and through its operation of northfulton.com and northsidewoman.com. Email a resume and cover letter to: christina@appenmediagroup.com and CC hans@appenmediagroup.com.

About Appen Media Group: Appen Media Group is a multimedia news company with a focus on print newspapers. AMG publishes

Help p Wanted? Help Fo ound!

State Farm Agent (Johns Creek) is seeking new team members. Full/ part time positions available. Salary plus commission. Email resume or contact info to: rich@richsf.com SAP Systems Analysts (Johns Creek, GA openings. Travel not required, but must be willing to relocate to unanticipated locations across the country per contract demand): Perform SAP ABAP programming, testing and debugging functions related to the implementation of SAP Modules. Fax resume referencing job code ID0217SAP to HR Manager, Idhasoft, Inc. at 404 601-9171

Full-time

Client Scheduler

ORDER ENTRY/ SALES SUPPORT: Norcross promotional product company seeks a detailoriented person for order processing. Great computer skills required. 9am-6pm. Email resume to awise@gpcorp.com

for premier homecare agency in Alpharetta Must have excellent communication skills and enjoy working with elderly. CNA or LPN certification desired. Prior homecare or scheduling experience a plus. Call 678-230-5971 PRESCHOOL TEACHER-FT/PT INFANT TEACHER. PROGRAM SUPERVISOR. Positions open immediately! Benefits available. E x c e l l e n t pay. Friendly environment. Call 678-648-3175 or info@krk52.com

Fill your position today! Call 770-442-3278

DRIVERS Class A CDL openings to run S.E. Regional. 2015 and newer trucks. Home weekly, Excellent Pay and Benefits! Apply: www.osborntransportation.com Call 855-395-6630 x 113

*Some Restrictions Full-time

The CITY OF SUWANEE is accepting applications for full-time positions: Communications Officer ($16.92 hr.), GA. P.O.S.T Certified Police Officer (starting $18.68 hr.), and Inspections Assistant ($16.92 hr.). Go to www. suwanee. com., send application/ resume to City of Suwanee HR, 330 Town Center Ave, Suwanee, GA 30024 or Fax; 678546-2120. E/O/E; Drug Free Workplace

MAIN CLASSIFIEDS continued on page 46

DEATH NOTICES Florene Kay Adduci, 74, of Cumming, passed away January 25, 2017. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home. Gloria Viola Badley, 81, passed away January 24, 2017. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home. William R. Benson, 87, of Roswell, passed away January 21, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home. Edward Marion Borg, 88, of Cumming, passed away January 30, 2017. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home. Frankland D. Boroughs, 83, of Forsyth County, passed away January 29, 2017. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Leslie Brown, 83, of Alpharetta, passed away January 16, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home. Barbara Caggiano, 76, of Alpharetta, passed away January 13, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home.

Lillian Mae Dodd, 77, of Cumming, passed away January 28, 2017. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Jane M. Gigliotti, 87, of Roswell, passed away January 19, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home. Mary F. Gunsten, 73, of Cumming, passed away January 19, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home. Rachel Hammons, 49, of Cumming, passed away January 21, 2017. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home. Donald A. Hyde, 73, of Roswell, passed away January 21, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home. Lawrence A. Jones, 72, of Roswell, passed away January 11, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home. Elena Y. Kurr, 36, of Cumming, passed away January 29, 2017. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.

Gordon Kenneth Lee, Jr., 80, of Cumming, passed away January 29, 2017. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home. Robert D. Means, 92, of Milton, passed away January 20, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home.

Judith Van Horn Pett, 63, of Cumming, passed away January 24, 2017. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Nellie Thaxton, of Roswell, passed away January 28, 2017. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors. Allen Ray Thomas, 61, of Cumming, passed away January 29, 2017. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. James Tinsley, 78, of Roswell, passed away January 17, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home.

Pat Truitt, 80, of Cumming, passed away January 24, 2017. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Ann F. Underwood, 87, of Roswell, passed away January 19, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home. Marie Watson, 85, of Forsyth County, passed away January 28, 2017. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Sheila Gail Wheeler, 54, of Cumming, passed away January 29, 2017. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. James C. Whitaker, 84, of Roswell, passed away January 22, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home. Thomas Wilson, 72, of Alpharetta, passed away January 16, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home. Richard John Wollak, 66, of Suwanee, passed away January 24, 2017. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.

46 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

MAIN CLASSIFIEDS continued from page 45 Full-time

Part-time

CDL DRIVER:

CDL, D.O.T. Deliver brick & sundries (mortar, block, steel, etc.) to comml & res job sites. Truck loaded for NGB Driver at various yards & plants; unloaded by NGB Driver at job site via Princeton (forklift). 5:45am-5pm, can be later. Making several deliveries/day through metro Atl traffic TRUCK MECHANIC: Need valid DL, basic hand tools, strong mechanical aptitude & troubleshooting skills. Diesel exp & ASC cert a plus. Ability to handle physical workload. Maintain/repair industrial equip. Min 40 hrs/ wk& some Sats. Perform Class A, B, & C svcs on Semi Tractors & Trailers; routine preventive maint, other duties as req’d to support operations; respond to work order requests in timely fashion; adhere to all safety policies & procedures TRUCK DISPATCHER: HS Diploma, knowledge of N. Fulton & Northside Atl roads; very good communicator; ability to organize workload efficiently; must handle itineraries of several trucks (multitasking skills important!) Mon-Fri & Sats. CDL Class B a plus. Comprehend work orders by ensuring workload is studied thoroughly; determine most efficient routing & transportation ways for delivery & pick-up of goods; Communicate w/drivers to provide them w/route & delivery times info for direct scheduling of deliveries. Resumes: Tina Ph 770-205-3554

Johnson,

Full-time Systems Analyst (Multiple Positions): Systems Analyst: Associate Degree or equiv. + 1 Year Application Development experience utilizing Java, Applets, SQL, Servlets, JSP, Tomcat, XML, HTML, Hibernate, Struts. Mail resume to Northstar Technologies, 3650 Mansell Rd., #225, Alpharetta, GA 30022 Part-time UPSCALE HOUSECLEANER: Wonderful company, specializing highend beautiful homes. Monday-Friday 8:304ish. $13.00/hour (start), approximately 30-35 hours/week.. Wonderful for stay at-home mom 770-309-7335

tjohnson@ngabrick.com

Part-time Director of Youth Ministry, Alpharetta Presbyterian Church

APC is a vibrant, 900-member PC(USA) church seeking a part-time Director of Youth Ministry to work with youth in grades 6-12. Please view full job description and requirements at www. alpharettapres.com/ youth. Submit letter of interest, resume, and 3 references to office@ alpharettapres.com, 770-751-0033. HOUSEKEEPER Experienced. References, transportation and background check required. English-speaking; non-smoker. 404-229-0846

#1 News Website in North Atlanta www.appenmediagroup.com

Delivery on Phone books Make extra in The Metropolitan area of Atlanta, GA Great pay and flexible hours. Visit our Office: 3370 Panthersville Rd, Decatur, GA 30034 Or Call us: (877)-581-0555 Ext 82, or apply online: www. deliveryellow.com/ FRONT DESK Doctors office. Computer experience. pleasant team player. Positive attitude. Alpharetta/ Roswell. Resume: medoffice123@gmail. com PRESCHOOL TEACHER-FT/PT INFANT TEACHER. PROGRAM SUPERVISOR. Positions open immediately! Benefits available. E x c e l l e n t pay. Friendly environment. Call 678-648-3175 or info@krk52.com

Sales Moving Sale ALPHARETTA/ WINDWARD: 1911 Seven Seas Court. Saturday 2/11, 8am-4pm. Moving! Competitive fisherman selling gear. Unique teen bedding set. 3’ snowmen. Furniture. Clothes. Ping-pong table.... ALPHARETTA/ WINDWARD 1911 Seven Seas Court. Saturday 2/11, 8am-4pm. Competitive fisherman selling gear. Unique teen bedding set. 3’ snowmen. Furniture. Clothes. Ping-pong table....

Fill your position CALL 770-442-3278 to place your ad

Animals

Furniture

Miscellaneous

Wanted to Buy

Legal Notice

Horses

CHERRY HUNT TABLE with mirror, $700. 404-889-3233

JOHN DEERE GATOR for kids $200. 404-889-3233

Regina Hamilton looking for Augusto Hamilton for divorce.

ROLLAWAY BED; Folding, single. Used once. Mint! Plus single-sheet set. $150. Originally $208. $45 extra for single bed quilt. 770-343-8075

POLARIS 4-Wheeler 404-889-3233

Vintage Barbie and Friends, Ginny, Madame Alexander, and other dolls, clothing and accessories. (Local). Cell 214-883-8215

PONIES

7 fabulous, loving, well-mannered ponies! 10 hands to 14.2. They ride English & Western. . $1000 & up. 770-663-7565

Pet Training GEORGIA K9 National Training Center specializes in elite dog training and behavior modification. Call today! Located in Canton. 770-721-6959 www.gak9.com

Bargains Building Supplies VELUX SKYLIGHTS, used. (Eight, 21”x44”, two miscellaneous sizes). $475/all. 770-992-6848 leave message DRIVEWAY GATES; two, 10’ wide total, wrought iron. $800 both/obo. 678-492-2300

Cemetery ARLINGTON/SANDY SPRINGS Oakhill Section, #284C Space 4. Beautiful, near tree. $3500/ obo. Retail $4995. 770-564-1628, 770-695-9045 GREENLAWN ROSWELL Fountain-B Section. 4 plots. Fair market value $5000/each. Asking $4000/each OBO. C. Palmer 615-764-6170

Furniture DINING ROOM TABLE, glass top, cherry inlay, 6 covered roll-back chairs $800. 404-889-3233 SWIVEL ROCKER RECLINER, LazyBoy: Beige. New! $850. Retail $1099. 678-957-8335

CHILDRENS’ TABLE, cherry Delta $90. 404-889-3233 BARSTOOLS 30” cherry 404-889-3233

(3) $300.

Octagonal poker table; black/gold micro pattern sleeper sofa; black/gold stripe loveseat; black/gold rocker (vintage); ivory Queen Anne chairs (2); small bar cart; oval glass top coffee table; wood/glass oval coffee table. 770-889-8812 BAR STOOLS, swivel seats & backs. Two 24”, one 29”, all wood construction; great condition! $20 each. 770-888-2790

Garden/Lawn TORO WEEDEATER, heavy duty. like new. 6.5HP Lawn Boy mower, self-propelled; mulching blade. $200 both. 770-594-7825

Household F R I G I D A I R E FREEZER $125. 404-889-3233

Medical Equipment P O W E R WHEELCHAIR: Invacare Pronto M-91. New batteries. Like new! $1000. 404-396-7807

Miscellaneous LITTLE TYKES COUPE and Fire Engine, both for kids $70. 404-889-3233 DUNE RACER (kids) $150. 404-889-3233

Kids’ $150.

JOHN DEERE KIDS’ GROUNDLOADER $150. 404-889-3233 STROLLERS 404-889-3233

$40.

YAMAHA 4-WHEELER 404-889-3233

kids’ $150.

Musical Instruments PIANO: Kimball Upright with bench, in excellent condition! Completely refurbished and tuned. $1100. 770-861-7537 PIANO, Baby Grand: Elegant case, matching bench; warm, rich tone. Sacrifice $1650 obo. 678-445-3654 PIANO: Henry F. Miller Upright, matching bench $500/firm. 770-552-4034

Recreation FITNESS ELLIPTICAL BIKE: New-Octane XR600 $1,300.00 OBO. Contact: Steve 925- 549-4733 SKIS, BOOTS, POLES, womens’ and mens’ 7/1/2 and 9-1/2. $400. 404-889-3233 GOLF CLUBS: Ladies’ complete set, Lynx irons, graphite woods, ball retriever, wood covers, new bag $275. 770-740-9757 Golf Cart: 2013 citEcar Street legal, 48-V, on-board charger,4 Pass Neighborhood Buddy. $4250; new $8000. One Owner, 300 miles. 770-401-4097

Wanted to Buy RECORDS: LP’s. Pay cash, Rock & Roll. Mojo Vinyl, Roswell 678-534-5042

Entertainment & Event Services Weddings Tianna’s Place Creating impeccable memories, one event at a time. Full-service, special event-planning. Focusing on corporate and celebratory events. w w w. t i a n n a s p l a c e . com. 678-879-5253/ 404-903-2441

Personal Services Child Care NANNY; Experienced, seeking Cumming family to work for. Excellent references. One or two children, infant-preschool. 804873-6956 (Cumming) Phone calls only; no texting or email.

Eldercare YOUR HOME Nights or days. 8-12 hours. $14/hour. Verifiable references. 20+ years experience. Transportation. Nonsmoker/Englishspeaking. No pets. 470-779-4723/ 470-545-1910

Business Services Business for Sale FERNANDINA BEACH, FL Retail gift shop in historic area. Inventory, fixtures, goodwill. Call Bonnie 904-491-1294

BOLD TYPE

will really make your ad stand out. Ask your sales rep about making all or part of your ad bold. 770-442-3278

Public Notice of Closure The At Home Hospice of Alpharetta, LLC dba New Century Hospice of Alpharetta hospice agency located at 290 S. Main Street, #300, Alpharetta, GA 30009-1949 announces its closure and will no longer participate in the Medicare program (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act) effective February 28, 2017. We will continue to service this area through an affiliate provider.The agreement between At Home Hospice of Alpharetta, LLC dba New Century Hospice of Alpharetta and the Secretary of Health and Human Services has terminated on February 28, 2017 in accordance with the provisions of the Social Security Act.No payment for patients whose plan of care that began on or after the date of closure will be made by the Medicare program. For patients whose plans of care began prior to the closure effective date, payment to the agency can be made for services furnished up to 30 days following the effective date of closure.We would like to thank our staff, physicians and community for their trust and support.

Call the Experts in the

SERVICE DIRECTORY

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | February 9, 2017 | 47

ÂŽ HANDYMAN REMODELING

678-455-2434

www.HandyHero.net

AIRLINE CAREERS Get FAA approved maintenance training at campuses coast to coast. Job placement assistance. Financial Aid for qualifying students. Military friendly. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance

800-481-7894

48 | February 9, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com