J u n e 1 5 , 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 . 2 4
Residents protest property appraisals ►►PAGE 15
North Fulton youth get out the vote ►►PAGE 12
Festival celebrates all things lavender
TSPLOST projects to bring traffic improvements JOE PARKER/HERALD
The intersection of Hopewell Road at Bethany Bend and Bethany Way is currently being studied for potential intersection improvements, one of three TSPLOST projects underway in the city Story page 4.
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Man arrested trying to pass counterfeit bill ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A Roswell man was arrested on forgery charges after trying to pass a fake $20 bill at multiple restaurants. Police said the man, 25-year-old Parish Shaquille Anderson, and another man attempted to pass counterfeit bills at Subway and Express Burger on North Point Parkway May 28. Police were called out to the Subway restaurant on North Point Parkway after employees at the restaurant set off an alarm for two suspicious men. When police arrived, they found An-
POLICE BLOTTER All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
Man flees store after snatching iPhone JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A man got away after snatching an iPhone at the State Bridge Road Target store in Johns Creek on May 30. The man asked an employee to show him iPhones from the store’s case. After the employee took out the phones, the man grabbed an iPhone 7+, valued at $919, and ran out of the store. The man jumped into a waiting vehicle outside the store and fled without apprehension.
Argument leads to gunshots Visit AppenMediaGroup.com for more information. The Herald Newspapers are published by Appen Media Group, 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta Ga. 30009.
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ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta police
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 ►► Tiffany Cochran, 29, of Riverstone
Lane, Woodstock, was arrested May 14 on Ga. 9, Alpharetta, for DUI. ►► Vladysl Honcharenko Rusev, 28, of Carriage Trace, Alpharetta, was arrested May 18 on Misty Lane, Alpharetta, for DUI. ►► Titus D Addison, 41, of Amite, Louisiana, was arrested May 28 on Windward Parkway, Alpharetta, for DUI, driving on a suspended license and no tag.
derson sitting in a running car in front of the restaurant. Due to the alarm, Anderson was asked by police if he had seen anything suspicious. He said he had not and he was waiting for a friend to finish eating at Express Burger. An officer detected the smell of marijuana and conducted a search on the vehicle. During their search, officers found a crumpled, counterfeit $20 bill under the driver’s seat. Anderson admitted he knew the bill was fake, stating it was given to him by his boss and he was going to return it.
Anderson had attempted to pass the bill at Subway, police said, but the sale was refused by employees. The men then attempted to purchase ice cream at Express Burger. When the owner of Express Burger refused the purchase after a counterfeit bill detecting marker showed the bill to be fake, the men paid with another counterfeit bill and were given change. Anderson was arrested on charges of second-degree forgery.
responded to a call of shots fired along Masters Way on May 23. Police apprehended a suspect who was carrying a duffel bag and had a handgun protruding from her shorts pocket. The gun was unloaded but the suspect had three bullets in her pocket that matched shell casings found at an apartment where the woman’s girlfriend lived. The suspect said she and her girlfriend and had gotten into a verbal argument when she did not get her belongings from her girlfriend. She said she fired two shots in the air as she was leaving. The suspect was arrested for discharging a firearm.
May 30. The woman asked why the title to the car was under a different name than the man offering the vehicle. She said he responded it was his mother’s car, and then he became irritated by “probing” questions. The woman took the car for a test drive and decided not to purchase it. After leaving, she realized she had left her cell phone in the car. Using her daughter’s phone, the woman called the man selling the car. He answered the phone and said he would not return the phone since he had driven over to sell the car and she had not purchased it. Fearing the man could use her phone to access her bank account, the woman contacted her bank. Charges of approximately $200 and $400 had been made through her account, prompting her to freeze her bank and cell phone accounts. The woman’s sister made contact with the man through Offer Up, feigning interest in buying the car to get the victim’s cell phone back. The victim contacted Johns Creek police who advised her not to meet the man without the assistance of a police agency.
Fraudulent charges appear after failed car purchase JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A woman reported fraudulent charges to her bank account after leaving her cell phone in a car she test drove. The woman was interested in buying a car through the website, Offer Up, and met with the man selling the car on ►► Claude Onani Khote, 28, of Raintree
Drive, Roswell, was arrested May 27 on Ga. 400, Alpharetta, for DUI, failure to maintain lane, speeding and having an open container. ►► Tatiana Marie Logreira, 22, of Hopewell Manor, Cumming, was arrested May 27 on Ga. 400 for DUI of multiple substances, failure to maintain lane and possession of drug-related objects. ►► Charles C Free Jr., 32, of Lakeside Court, Gainesville, was arrested May 27 on Ga. 400 for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Collin M Lisa, 21, of Fieldstone Trail, Milton, was arrested June 1 on Azure Drive, Johns Creek, for DUI. ►► Phillip Reeves White, 30, of Lake Washington Drive, Lawrenceville, was arrested May 20 on Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, for DUI, possession of
marijuana and having an open container.
DRUG arrests ►► Corey Devon Davis, 29, of Atkins
Road, Atlanta, was arrested June 3 for possession of marijuana, possession of drug-related objects, having an open container, driving on a suspended license, brake light violation and driving an unregistered vehicle. ►► Austin Nicholas Koon, 26, of Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, was arrested May 25 for possession of marijuana, DUI-drugs and driving without headlights. ►► Taylor Lee Jackson, 28, of Cotton Patch Lane, Alpharetta, was arrested May 26 on Ga. 9, Alpharetta, for pos-
See ARRESTS, Page 29
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | June 15, 2017 | 3
Are your eyes being protected from UV damage? By Dr. Cassandra Baker Although summer doesn’t technically hit for another week or so, we are already soaking up that Atlanta sunshine— hopefully through a pair of sunglasses. The sun’s rays are most intense during the Spring and Summer months, but it is important to remember to protect your eyes even during the Fall and Winter. When heading out in the summer sun our mental checklist should always include sunscreen, a hat, and Cassandra Baker, O.D. sunglasses. But why should your checklist have sunglasses on it, and why exactly is it so important to keep those baby blues protected? Ultraviolet radiation—invisible rays of light energy—are emitted from the sun 365 days a year, even on cloudy days. Theses light rays cause damage to the skin and eyes, which is why protection from theses rays is important year-round. Absorption of too much ultraviolet light can lead to cataracts, retinal changes and degeneration, growths on the surface or inside of the eye (pinguecula, pterygia, nevi), as well as skin lesions and skin growths. These conditions may be monitored over time, or if they appear suspicious for malignancy, other forms of intervention may be necessary. So, who is at risk for UV damage? Everyone! However, individuals with lighter colored eyes and skin are typically at higher risk for these conditions as they have less protective pigment to absorb the ultraviolet rays. Reflective surfaces also increase UV exposure, making sun protection essential when you’re swimming at the pool, cruising in a boat on the lake, or lounging on the beach. For those of us who enjoy getting up to the north Georgia mountains for a scenic hike, sun protection is important for these trips as well as UV light is more intense at higher altitudes. Some medications can also increase light sensitivity. It is important to check with your prescribing provider to ensure you take extra measures when out in the sun if you are taking any of those medications. Thankfully we have many channels of UV eye protection that should be utilized from childhood age and up. Lenses in glasses today, some brands of contact lenses, and intra-ocular implants used during cataract surgery all have a UV protectant built in to them. Sunglasses are still important even with these innovations and can be found in just about any shape, size, color, and price point. Polarized lenses are great for people who are out on water or do a lot of driving, however they do not necessarily provide increased UV protection. Lenses that boast blockage of UVA and UVB light are ideal, polarized or not. We recommend working with your eye care provider to see which lens is best for you! Finally, the American Optometric Association suggests annual eye exams for those over 65 years of age, every one to two years for adults, and every year for children when they are in school. It is important to keep in mind that good vision does not equal good eye health unless confirmed via a thorough eye examination. Milan Eye Center has state of the art equipment and physicians to diagnose, monitor, and treat conditions associated with UV damage. We, alongside use of the recommendations above, would like to protect your eyesight now and for the future.
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4 | June 15, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
Milton seeks traffic improvements with TSPLOST projects
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MILTON, Ga. — Milton has begun the conceptual phase on three intersection improvement projects aimed at easing traffic congestion within the city. Milton voters approved a countywide 0.75 percent Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) last November which will fund the projects. The projects include intersection improvements at Ga. 140 and Green Road, the intersection of Hopewell Road, Bethany Bend and Bethany Way, and the Charlotte Drive extension. The conceptual phase includes traffic counts, which are currently underway at Green Road and Ga. 140, as well as conducting land and environmental impact surveys and finding various solutions for potential improvements. Sara Leaders, transportation engineer for Milton, said the conceptual phase of the projects will give the city a better understanding of the cost estimates and the process of completion. The city is currently studying a possible traffic signal at Green Road and Ga. 140. The road is often used as a cut-through for drivers between Ga. 140 and Crabapple Road. Carter Lucas, Milton Public Works director, said a traffic count will assist the city in determining how to improve traffic flow at the intersection. “Our initial thought was a traffic signal, but we are looking at traffic counts to see if a signal is warranted at
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Milton has begun the initial stages of intersection improvements at Green Road and Ga. 140 (1), Charlotte Drive and Mayfield Road (2) and Hopewell Road at Bethany Bend and Bethany Way (3). this time,” Lucas said. The city is again looking at alternatives for the intersection of Bethany Bend, Bethany Way and Hopewell Road. The city conducted a field study in 2013, presented concept plans and held public meetings on improvements to the intersection, but the project was then tabled. Leaders said the top proposal from the 2013 study was a “complicated” roundabout given the large space of the conversion of the three roads that do not intersect at the same location. “We didn’t have any roundabouts in the city at the time and we were concerned with the complexity of the
proposed roundabout,” she said. “For us to not have any [roundabouts], we weren’t sure how that would work.” Four years later, the city is again considering a possible roundabout now that Milton drivers are more familiar with them, Leaders said. The city will revisit the original plan from 2013 but will use different software tools to model the potential roundabout. Options other than roundabouts will also be considered as the city updates its traffic counts at the intersection. Milton is also studying improvements at Charlotte Drive and Mayfield
See TSPLOST, Page 10
GARAGE SALES See more garage sales in the classifieds
MILTON: Crooked Creek Community Wide Sale! 14250 Creek Club Drive. Saturday 6/17, 7am-3pm. All shoppers welcome! CUMMING: 2090 Red Barn Court 30040. Friday 6/16-Sunday 6/18 8:30AM-3:30PM. Estate sale. Washer and dryer, powered reclining chair, racing bike, dresser, coffee table, chairs, paintings etc CUMMING: Entire Ivey Manor! Bentley and Post Roads 30040. Friday 6/16, Saturday 6/17, 8am-2pm. MILTON: 2175 Dinsmore Road. Interior designer’s sale; Friday 6/16, 8am-4pm. Furniture, decorative accessories, college dorm items CUMMING: 7825 Brookwood Way. Saturday 6/17, 8am1pm. Yard sale. Furniture, household, clothes, l Buddy
bike (special needs tandem bike; buddybike.com) ALPHARETTA/WINDWARD: 1015 Compass Pointe Crossing. Moving sale. Saturday 6/17, Sunday 6/18, 9am-3pm. Furniture, art, decor’ ALPHARETTA: Hunters Oaks Subdivision; 5280 Hunters Oaks Drive 30009. Friday 6/16 and Saturday 6/17, 8am2pm. Moving/estate sale! Indoor & outdoor furniture, household & decorative items, lawn tools, tool chest, kitchenware, etc SOUTH FORSYTH MOVING SALE Dining/Buffet 6 Chairs $475: Bedroom Set/Chest $675: Office Desk/Book Case $275. 404-409-6093
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NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | June 15, 2017 | 5
6 | June 15, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
NEWS
Eaves declares property assessments ‘invalid’ Cites irregularities in process that call entire process into question By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ATLANTA – Swamped with phone calls and emails to complain about soaring property revaluations, the Fulton County Commission as well as local elected officials, have asked that the current digest revaluation be “rescinded.” Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves has “asked” for a thorough examination of the county’s revaluation of the tax digest. But the Fulton Board of Assessors has responded that they are sticking with the data as it has been compiled, at least for now. The assessors are scheduled to meet again June 15. At a May 30 press conference, Eaves asked on behalf of the full Board of Commissioners for review of “all assessments to ensure their quality and accuracy.” The maelstrom began when property owners began receiving Fulton property
valuations that were 30 percent, 50 percent and some even 100 percent greater than the previous year. Eaves called the “sticker shock” understandable, but the frustration goes far beyond mere increases. EAVES “The credibility and the quality of the overall level of assessments” has been called into question,” the chairman said. “[It] has risen to a level that we are requesting the Board of Assessors and the chief assessor immediately rescind the recent assessments and conduct a thorough 30-day review of all assessments to ensure their quality and accuracy.” “It is fairly evident that with over 50 percent of residential property homeowners seeing an increase of greater than 20 percent in assessed value, the currently submitted notices will result in a record number of appeals,” Eaves said. Such an avalanche of appeals will force resolution of the digest into a court-ordered process. Taking immediate action is the prudent and right thing to do, Eaves said.
Fulton Commissioners itemize digest ‘concerns’ ATLANTA – The Fulton County Board of Commissioners had a number of “items of concern” about the handling of the tax digest. Fulton Chairman John Eaves enumerated them in a press conference last week. They were: • Property values which were unfrozen should have remained frozen • Improperly applied exemptions or exemptions which were not applied at all • Excessive land values which don’t seem to correlate to anything suggesting data input errors • Significantly revalued existing properties that don’t seem to have any correlation to nearby sales and are greatly above recent nearby comparable sales • Entire neighborhoods which appear to be a part of much larger assessment growth than other nearby neighborhoods • Properties revalued for improvement but property is not improved • Notices citing unclear or inaccurate basis for revalue • Randomness of some of the outsized changes in values suggesting a potential flaw in methodology • Improper notice of rights and time for appeal due to delayed mailing of notices • 2017 notices still not updated on the tax assessor’s website.
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8 | June 15, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
OPINION
Print journalism is alive and well in Georgia Have you ever walked into a room full of strangers and immediately felt at home? That’s exactly what happened to me last week while attending the anKATHLEEN STURGEON nual Georgia Press Association conferEditor kathleen@appenmediagroup.com ence. From the moment I walked into the first meeting I knew I was among friends. Immediately I was surrounded by some of the best journalists in Georgia who write, publish and own local newspapers, many family run like Appen Media Group. Nearly every topic, question or complaint they had, I, too, have encountered at some moment in my career. These were my people and they have
similar experiences that I can relate to more than probably anyone I know, outside of our newsroom. I met a woman who writes for a newspaper in South Georgia. Her father owned the paper and somehow made the county sheriff so angry, the newspaper building was burned down, the father was threatened to be shot by the sheriff and he eventually had to flee the town. Apparently, that’s just the nature of the business. So when it came time to discuss the future of journalism, I couldn’t help but hang onto every word. We were told repeatedly that what we do is important now more than ever and that the heart of journalism lies within local newspapers. We are one of the few professions that will publically and unapologetically admit our mistakes in the form of corrections and usually at the beginning of
the paper. We are the ones who are at the funerals, six-hour board meetings and Saturday morning farmer’s markets because we want to showcase the cities from all aspects, good and bad, while being ingrained in the community. It was comforting to be reassured by the state’s top local media professionals to keep on fighting the good fight. And it was inspiring to hear about other local newspapers doing so well in their communities because I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been told “print journalism is dying. You’re wasting your time.” No, in fact, we are thriving. Where other forms of media are looked at as biased or fake, local newspapers fill in the gaps with truthful, honest and thorough information. Of course, we have the heavy charge to stay true, authentic, open and candid with our readers and not let our
own opinions cloud our writing. I was honored to be named the Emerging Journalist in the state, and before I accepted my award, the speaker said the future of journalism is in my and my peers’ hands. I don’t take that responsibility lightly and I don’t think they do, either, as we try to usher journalism into new territories while keeping true to the nature of the profession. One word kept being said during the convention — passion. Judges based award winners off how passionately the writer covered an event or spoke of a topic. Publishers spoke about how passionate they are about their community. Passion is what will separate the fake news from the original crusaders of democracy, the true journalists. And from what I saw in that room, Georgia is full of passionate reporters who want to tell nothing but the truth.
Property tax revaluations: Time for real solutions Once again Fulton County is going through its regular fit of apoplexy known as property revaluations, and once again Fulton has stepped into the caca. HATCHER HURD What has hapExecutive Editor pened is Fulton hatcher@appenmediagroup.com County has been lax in its appraisals. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue, while other counties have come out of the recession and have reflected 6 percent or more growth in their tax digests, Fulton has not kept up. Now residential tax bills are taking a sizable bite out of homeowners’ budgets – 50 percent higher or more. No one complained when Fulton’s pencil wasn’t sharp, but now the state is saying it is time to make the Fulton tax digest conform to reality or face punitive fines. This will be hardship for many households, but for many it could be disastrous. We are talking about people on fixed incomes, people who haven’t come out of the recession quite yet and older homeowners who have seen their home value skyrocket. For a lot of these residents just holding onto their home is in jeopardy. For parents with children just entering
college the timing could not be worse. How did it come to this? In gentler times, the state left it up to cities and counties to conduct their home reappraisals as they saw fit. For the most part, that meant leaving home property values pretty much alone until it sold. Maybe for the last 20 years the home sat at $60,000, it sells at $200,000 and there is no question about the efficacy of the new value of the home. But is it fair that one property sits at a value of $60,000 while others have been assessed at nearer market value? Why do they get a “free ride” on valuation while others may be closer to the true value? I say it is fair for the longtime homeowner to pay the lower tax. First, Mr. and Mrs. Oldtimer have been good taxpaying citizens for lo these 25 years (as an example). They have been good taxpayers who have paid for a lot of infrastructure that newbies are enjoying. They’ve paid a lot of school tax and school STSPLOST tax. Who paid off the road bonds and park bonds, the fruits of which current residents now enjoy? The Oldtimers did. What are we doing to these good taxpayers? It is much like a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Neighborhoods all over North Fulton are feeling the pain. Yet the state has decided it wants
full value (between 90 percent and 110 percent according to the Department of Revenue) assessed or else. Home values are on the rise. But couples in Horseshoe Bend who have put three kids through college now get to see their retirement income eaten up by property taxes. Where is the fairness in that? I say we should do this: Cap increases (if not abolish altogether) on property taxes for families living in the same house (it must be their primary domicile) for, say, 20 years. This gives them some credit for having poured tax dollars into the community for infrastructure, schools, parks and what have you for two full decades. They have paid their freight to the city and county all these years. If you think of taxpayers as customers, don’t you give your best customers some perks? So new homeowners coming in who reap the value of the infrastructure investments paid by others naturally will pay tax at the fair market rate. They have not invested in the community the way the “oldtimers” have. Besides, it is inherently unfair to keep taxing the property at “fair market rates” for people who are trying to stay in their homes. The government is taxing these people for the alleged increased value of the home. But it is a value they can’t spend. Home equity is not very liquid and can only truly be known when the
property sells. Oh, the oldtimers can take an equity loan to “take cash out” of the home, but most often that cash is simply reinvested in the property itself – a new roof, add on a room, finish the basement. And they acquire a second mortgage payment. The point is, these homeowners of longevity have an investment of longstanding in the community and the property. Taxing them on accrued value they can’t spend is a slap at all of the taxes they have already invested. Once they sell, all bets are off. They lose any cap because they have now recovered their investment in the house. The next home, should they stay in the community, will be subject to the same taxes as any newcomer. It would be an administrative nightmare to do it any other way. But while these folks who continue to live the homes they have maintained for 20 years (an arbitrary limit, but a good one), they will not have to worry about being forced out of that home because of taxes. I like the idea of dropping the school tax at age 65 as well. That burden should fall to those who most benefit from the schools. Again after 20 years, they have paid their dues to that department. That does not answer for all of the ills of the “rush to assess” policy that the state has foisted upon us, but it would be a good start.
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | June 15, 2017 | 9
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10 | June 15, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
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Editor Kathleen Sturgeon named Emerging Journalist JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — Appen Media Group took home multiple awards June 2 at the 2017 Georgia Press Association Better Newspaper Contest on Jekyll Island. More than 550 awards were presented at the 131st convention in 37 categories to 73 newspapers. Judging was performed by members of the Alabama Press Association. In total, Appen Media brought home four awards. Two young journalists were honored as winners of GPA’s Emerging Journalist Awards. Journalists younger than 30 with less than five years of experience writing professionally for a newspaper — one representing daily newspapers and representing weeklies — were honored for demonstrating excellence and maintaining high standards of quality and ethics. The daily newspaper winner was Brittini Ray of the Savannah Morning News. The weekly newspaper winner was Kathleen Sturgeon of the Forsyth Herald of Appen Media Group. One judge commented that Sturgeon submitted a mix of hard-news stories and commentaries that show versatility and talent, while being able to handle many different topics. “It’s easy to see she is comfortable writing both,” the judge wrote. “Her
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Road, another major intersection that has been unable to keep up with Milton’s growth. With the passing of Milton’s Downtown Crabapple Placemaking Plan in May, the city is now looking to extend Charlotte Drive past Mayfield Road and connect it with Birmingham Highway near Milton High and Northwestern Middle schools, dubbed the northeastern corridor. Lucas said the city is currently in the initial phase of the design of the extension and “getting a better idea of what the section of road will be as well as right of way requirements along the road.” Once the initial studies of the three
news stories demonstrate that she has developed a wide range of sources in her community and that she is trusted. She looks to have a bright future and is a great representative of our next generation of journalSTURGEON ists.” Sturgeon also took home a third place award for Hard News Writing, which judges said shows her ability to inform readers. Executive Editor Hatcher Hurd won two first place awards for his Serious Column and Humorous Column writing. Judges wrote Hurd’s 10 New Year’s Resolutions column provided a lot of laughs, while his serious column entry had, “impactful, strong writing on difficult topics.” “These columns were written in a way that made it impossible not to relate, regardless of whether the reader is a local,” the judge wrote. Senior Designer, Client Ad Services David Brown also took home awards earlier this year at the Georgia Press Association 2017 Advertising Contest. He won first and second place in the Service/Institutional Ad contest for his work designing ads for Milton Boys Lacrosse and Providence Bank. Additionally, earlier this year Newsroom Manager AJ McNaughton was named a Rising Star at the annual Association of Free Community Papers conference in Kentucky. projects are complete, the city will then enter the design phase where it will study all potential solutions, including cost, right of way and garner public input. The city will then work with the Milton city council on a preferred alternative. Lucas said the design process usually takes three to four months. When a preferred improvement project is agreed upon, the city will then seek right of way acquisition, which Lucas said is the biggest unknown of any project. Construction is slated to begin on the projects in 2019. TSPLOST is expected to bring Milton $569 million in revenue from April to March 2022. The three projects currently underway, along with eight other proposed projects, are top priority projects the city proposed to fund with the tax money.
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | June 15, 2017 | 11
12 | June 15, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
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Millennials campaign for special election candidates High school and college students canvass for Handel and Ossoff By NATASHA ROY news@appenmediagroup.com
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NORTH FULTON, Ga. — Millennials are rallying to #GetOutTheVote in Georgia’s 6th District. According to the United States Election Project, fewer than 50 percent of Americans aged 18-29 voted in the 2016 Presidential Election. However, the special election between Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff to replace Tom Price’s congressional seat has seen much involvement from young people. Wes Ross, 21, chairman of the Georgia Association of College Republicans, has been campaigning for Handel and said he thinks young people should be involved in this election because politics on all levels is important. “I feel like it’s my duty to be on the front line of the fight to keep the 6th District red,” Ross said. “We not only have a Republican versus Democrat race going on — we have a race that is a battle of two people that stand for completely different things.” Ross said he and other members of the College Republicans have been actively involved in grassroots work for Handel. “Several weekends ago we brought a group of [College Republicans] — Dalton State, Kennesaw State [and] UGA all sent multiple canvassers — and spent a Saturday going door to door for the candidate that we believe will make a difference not only for the [6th District], but the great state of Georgia as well.” Elizabeth Phillips, 18, been campaigning for Ossoff. Like
PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIZABETH PHILLIPS)
From left, Cambridge High School graduates Colleen McCreanor, Sean McGinty and Elizabeth Phillips campaign for Jon Ossoff. Ross, Phillips has been canvassing neighborhoods, and she has attended rallies and the debate event. When she meets people, she tells them they should vote.
See CAMPAIGN, Page 29
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NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | June 15, 2017 | 13
Alpharetta woman shares story of her traumatic brain injury Molly Welch stars in ad on dangers of distracted driving By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. — Alpharetta resident Molly Welch is spreading a message that is often heard – do not drive distracted – but it is her personal story that give so much weight to her message. Welch knows firsthand the dangers of distracted driving. A 2008 traffic accident led to her being in a coma, having to relearn skills to walk and enduring injuries to her brain and spine. Nine years after the life-altering event, she is spreading her message in the hope that others will take her experience to heart and realize that one second can change everything. In 2008, Welch was a junior at Auburn University pursuing a journalism degree. She had returned home for a short weekend to visit a friend, and was driving back to the school when a momentary lapse in concentration led
to years of recovery. Welch took her eyes off the road to play a recording of an interview she had conducted. In her lapse in concentration on the road, Welch veered into oncoming traffic and was struck by a pickup truck. The subsequent crash left her in a coma for weeks and resulted in a traumatic brain injury. When Welch came out of her coma, she was unable to walk. It would be another three years before she was able to do so. The injuries also left her nearly unable to speak. But nine years of dedication and personal drive, including speech and physically therapy at Atlanta’s Shepard Center, have led Welch down the road to recovery. Though her accident forced Welch to wait another three years before finishing her bachelor’s degree in journalism, four years after the accident, she completed her degree. Now 30, Welch volunteers as a peer counselor and motivational speaker with the Shepard Center and her service goes beyond the center’s walls. Through public service announcements and online videos, Welch is sharing her story in the hopes that others will heed her advice. One of the PSAs
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Molly Welch, center, along with other presenters, spoke at the Road2Safety organization’s event earlier this year. she is featured in has been nominated for a Southeastern Emmy Award for community and public service. Welch said the influx of technology, and their use in cars, makes the PSA and her story more valuable than ever as distracted driving has rapidly become a pressing social issue. “It’s the perfect time to make it,” she said. She hopes her story can show that distracted driving, even just glancing
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away from the road for a brief moment, can have detrimental effects. “I want to let people know the outcomes that distracted driving can have,” Welch said. “I don’t want anyone to have to deal with what I’ve been through.” To view more of Welch’s story, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe64gyLjrBs&t=44s. For the PSA, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VaODmQJr1w.
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Equestrian center event to benefit horse rescue Nonprofit hosts show to raise awareness for abused animals By NATASHA ROY news@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Save the Horses hosted its first charity horse show at Wills Park Equestrian Center June 11. The nonprofit rescues neglected, abandoned and abused horses to rehabilitate and find them new homes, according to its website. Save the Horses put on the show in conjunction with Brownwood Farms and the Rolling Hills Saddle Club. Mellissa Cotton, the show’s organizer, said the show came about after Save the Horses founder Cheryl Flanagan’s sister, Michelle Williams — who runs the Canine Adoption Network — said her group would not host its annual animal rescue fair at Wills Park in June. Flanagan asked Cotton if her riding coach would be interested in do-
ing a riding show with Save the Horses, and from there, the idea took off. The show featured dozens of spectators and riders of all ages and levels who could enter a range of classes, from open halter to hunter under saddle. All class fees went straight to benefitting the animals at Save the Horses. Several vendors, such as North Fulton Music School and Abundant Love, were also present at the show. Spectators could also visit two dwarf horses from the rescue, Willow and Saucy. Save the Horses volunteer Barbara Cure her favorite part of the day was watching children interact with the two dwarf horses. “For me, watching the kids’ faces when they see a horse that’s their size is just great,” Cure said. “It’s very safe for them with these guys.” Cure said she believes that having an organization like Save the Horses is important for the community because they can save and rehabilitate animals that have been abused both mentally and physically. “Just like with dog rescues, just
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Save the Horses offered multiple showing classes that riders could participate in during the charity show. because [a horse is] a rescue doesn’t mean that they can’t do what they’re meant to do,” Cure said. “So we get them ready to go, we do work with them and then people can adopt them.” Another aspect of Save the Horses explores how animals can help people. Cure said the organization has a program where foster children can be matched with a horse that becomes his or her friend. “Every week, that child can come out and groom that horse and they can tell it all their secrets,” Cure said. “It’s a safe place for them to come.” Cotton said that Save the Horses received all kinds of donations for the show, from food to printing supplies.
“We’ve had an amazing response from our community,” Cotton said, adding she hopes the show will help spread the word about its cause. “My personal goal was to raise awareness — that, first, we’re here,” Cotton said. “We’re right in the middle of horse country [and] we want people to know we exist.” Cotton also said she wanted to show the value of what a rescued horse could be. Seven horses from Save the Horses competed in the show. Cotton said the community has been supportive of the cause. “They want to help, they want to be involved [and] they want to support us,” she said.
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NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | June 15, 2017 | 15
Crowd vents outrage over property reappraisals Commissioners want assessments scrapped By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — If last Thursday was any indication, Fulton County residents are plenty steamed about their latest property appraisals. Close to 300 people packed a June 8 town hall meeting at the Water Resources Operation Center in Alpharetta to tell county officials about what they consider unjust 2017 property assessments. With the second-floor room filled, citizens lined up in the stairwell for an opportunity to vent about what many called a shabby appraisal process. Fulton County Commission Vice Chairman Bob Ellis told the crowd he and other commissioners have been inundated with complaints about the new appraisals. “Chairman [John] Eaves and I called upon and asked the Board of Assessors to rescind the current notice of assessments and go back and do a review,” Ellis said. “We were not comfortable with the emails, the calls and the
Here’s a look at how the reappraisal affected values of Fulton County homes from 2016 to 2017: • 39 percent saw values increase below 13 percent • 11 percent were up by 13-20 percent • 14 percent were up by 20-30 percent • 14 percent were up by 30-50 percent • 8 percent were up 50 to 75 percent • 14 percent were up more than 75 percent
number of individual situations that were brought to us which cast doubt on the credibility and the quality of the assessments.” How the issue plays out could be decided June 15 when the five-member Board of Assessors meets to consider whether the new assessments should be scrapped. That decision weighs heavily on two North Fulton cities in
particular. Roswell and Alpharetta are just days away from adopting their 2018 budgets, and cities like to know the true value of property before they tax it. Assessments and appraisals are ultimately set by the Board of Assessors, Ellis said, and their tax digests for the county and cities must be within an acceptable range of value as established by state audit. The reappraisals were triggered this year when the Georgia Department of Revenue notified Fulton County that property was undervalued by about 12 percent countywide. The state threatened stiff fines if the properties were not brought into acceptable values. Most of the more than two dozen residents who spoke Thursday said they had no issues with the need for reappraisal. But some said the method used for valuing property was incomprehensible. Others said it was just plain wrong. Nick Sarge of Roswell said the appraisal on his property, a Cape Codstyle home, shot up $65,000 in 2014. The following year, he appealed and got the total reduced by $14,000. “My neighbor who has a square-foot house just like mine, same lot, same everything — his hasn’t gone up a bit,” Sarge said. This year, Sarge said his property appraisal shot up $84,000. “That’s got to be messed up,” he said. Then, he listed some of the items he found in error. “Your square footage is off,” he said. “Every year I tell you, I do not have 3½ bathrooms, I have two bathrooms. And every year, you create 1½ bathrooms. “You also included on my front porch is a patio. It’s a stoop. It’s a concrete stoop coming up to the door. “[You say] I’ve got two decks. I’ve got one deck. The second deck you call it, is a landing coming up the steps. You say I have a finished room above my garage, an attic room. I do not and never did.” His account was repeated by other residents, who said they found similar errors in calculating square footage and listings of upgrades that do not exist. Some residents who spoke Thursday night said their property values have risen more than 50 percent, some as high as 70 percent and more. Ellis said Thursday’s comments reflect what he’s heard from other residents. “We’re going to be flooded with so many appeals it just makes no logical sense,” Ellis said. Much of the outrage Thursday was directed at Chief Appraiser Dwight
Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis speaks with Chief Appraiser Dwight Robinson before Thursday evening’s town hall in Alpharetta. With the room already at capacity with more than 100 people, a stream of attendees lined up in the parking lot waiting to get inside. Robinson, who sat at the front taking notes. Robinson said appraisals are calculated based on property sales that have occurred within neighborhoods or in similar subdivisions nearby. There is no denying that Fulton County has lapsed in its appraisals, he said. Based on a state audit, Fulton County was at 79 percent of fair market value coming into this year, he said. The state requires property be valued within a threshold of from 90 percent to 110 percent of value, Robinson said. “We are willing to show you how we got the value on your property, Robinson said.” At the same time, the chief appraiser said his office is not perfect, and he recommended those with legitimate issues pursue an appeal. “The assessment you got is not the end of the story,” he said. “Back in 2008 when the market was tanking, we had 38,000 appeals. I just want you to know we are not always going to be right.” Officials in Alpharetta and Roswell are continuing public hearings on their 2018 budgets, which must be approved by June 30. Monday night, the Alpharetta City Council approved a second reading of its 2018 budget, but officials admit the controversy has put them in a jam Mayor David Belle Isle said the city is assuming a 3 to 4 percent increase in property values, a conservative estimate based on information collected before the county’s appraisal controversy
erupted. The new appraisal, however, puts the city’s property value growth at about 11 percent, which would result in an additional $1.2 million in revenue from property taxes based on the current rate of 5.75 mills. “I think our best idea right now is to consider, based on previous history, a modest 3 percent or 4 percent growth, which is what our budget is based on,” Belle Isle said. “We will continue that way until we know for sure.” Belle Isle said the current appraisal controversy has too many variables. No one knows how many appeals will be filed if the new appraisals stand, and no one knows how that may delay revenues coming in to the city. If it turns out later, the higher assessments stand and the city has additional funds, the city would have to decide, probably in the next fiscal year, what to do about it in adjusting the mill levy, he said. “There’s too much uncertainty,” Belle Isle said. The cities of Milton and Johns Creek have until the fall to finalize their 2018 budgets and set a mill levy. Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood said some citizens saw little to no increase in property values, while others faced a 100 percent increase as a result of the reappraisal. Lockwood said he would like to see a cap set in place that would limit the amount that property values could rise each year. If the appraisal stands, there is a possibility of lowering millage rates to compensate, Lockwood said.
It was a great opportunity to see how folks could come together in the community to solve problems and to make a positive impact on healthcare. GEOFF DUNCAN, State Representative 16 | Milton Herald | June 15, 2017
New medical plaza opens in Cumming Georgia Highlands grand opening affirms organization’s commitment to community By NATASHA ROY news@appenmediagroup.com CUMMING, Ga. — Dozens of doctors, government officials, family and friends gathered May 31 for the grand opening of the Georgia Highlands Medical Services in Cumming. GHMS is a nonprofit community health center serving more than 15,000 patients, 76 percent of whom live below poverty level and 51 percent of whom are uninsured, the organization says. The opening of the new, three-story medical center will allow the organization to expand its facilities, adding confidential intake areas, exam rooms and storage space, among other amenities. Since its founding in 1979, GHMS has housed itself in a multitude of locations, from a trailer to the newest medical plaza. However, its mission to provide healthcare to the needy has not changed in the years. “For our Forsyth County residents who remember GHMS from its earlier days, I would assure them that these new facilities the new logo and the new brand reflect a change only in our appearance,” Keith Pruitt, president of the GHMS Board of Directors, said in a press release. Addressing the crowd at the grand opening, GHMS CEO Todd Shifflet said the organization has come a long way
since 1979. “I think our legacy of service for all these years, in good times and bad, speaks for itself,” Shifflet said. “No doubt this building is a huge milestone.” Shifflet assured the crowd that the current family practice, the Cumming Family Health Center, will remain open for the community as well. Pruitt spoke of the impact GHMS has on the community, and he also said that the Cumming Family Health Center will be renovated. “Hope lives at Georgia Highlands,” Pruitt said. State Reps. Geoff Duncan and Sheri Gilligan, state Sen. Michael Williams, U.S. Rep. Robert Woodall and Cumming Mayor Ford Gravitt also spoke at the grand opening. Gilligan recalled when Georgia Highlands came to Forsyth County when she was a student at Forsyth County High School. “I think about where we have come since then, and I am so glad that Georgia Highlands has been here for this community, and as the community has grown, we have been able to watch your efforts flourish,” Gilligan said. “It’s just wonderful. I’m so excited for everybody in the community.” Duncan said that witnessing the efforts of GHMS a year ago inspired him to write a bill expanding healthcare
The Georgia Highlands Medical Plaza officially opens. in the state. “It was a great opportunity to see how folks could come together in the community to solve problems and to make a positive impact on healthcare,” Duncan said. “I ended up writing a bill that looks at an opportunity to open a hundred additional facilities just like this all across Georgia, as not being a constant solution for the problem that
we face here, but to absolutely improve access to healthcare.” Shifflet said that rather than act as a replacement for the Cumming Family Health Center, the new Georgia Highlands Medical Plaza is just an expansion of GHMS’s goal. “We’re gonna be here now and long into the future,” Shifflet said. “We are here for you guys.”
Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Launches Membership Event
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Economy idling with foot near the gas The housing market started the year with its foot firmly on the gas, fueled by strong economic data, a booming stock market and a new president intent on passing initiatives aimed to increase jobs and boost corporate revenues. The breaks were applied after the healthcare bill failed to pass Congress. As it stands now, many are idling forward, waiting for GEOFF SMITH the right moment to jump back on the Assurance Financial, gas. gsmith@lendtheway.com Mortgage interest rates were sent on a roller coaster ride this year. Rates are tied indirectly to the stock market. When the stock market goes up, mortgage interest rates typically go up. When stocks go down, mortgage interest rates tend to go down. They started the year in the middle of a steep rise as investors continued to position themselves for opportunity by buying stocks they thought would thrive under the new president. They ultimately peaked in March as the 30-year fixed average was at 4.4 percent, according to Mortgage News Daily. At that time, the healthcare bill failed to pass Congress and investors recoiled, concerned about the president’s ability to pass his initiatives. Rates followed and dropped, hitting their lowest point on June 2 at 3.98 percent. The drop was fueled by more than just politics. The June jobs report, released every month by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed a surprisingly low unemployment rate of 4.3 percent. While it is instinctive to think that low unemployment is good for the economy, low unemployment can stall growth as employers have trouble finding the skilled labor necessary to expand their products and services. Our metro leaders are working hard to grow upon Atlanta’s reputation as a great live-work-play city. And they need to, because other metro areas are doing the same. And as the competition for skilled workers becomes that much more intense, businesses will locate themselves in cities that are attractive to today’s workforce. The question right now is: where is everyone going to live? Numbers released by Smart Real Estate Data show that home inventories under the $400,000-mark are at historic lows, while inventories at the above $400,000mark are rising fast. Houses priced around $300,000 and below are seeing inventory levels of about two months! That means if no new listings came out, in two months there would be nothing to sell. A healthy market is six months of inventory. The sub-$400,000 market is a fierce seller’s market where buyers have to act fast and impress the seller. The
While it is instinctive to think that low unemployment is good for the economy, low unemployment can stall growth as employers have trouble finding the skilled labor necessary to expand their products and services.
listing agent’s main job these days is to price the house as high as it could appraise for, then pick the buyer who will give them what they want, and who will close with little fuss. This competition has driven home values up. In some parts of town, values have risen 5 percent to 10 percent in just the last year. If you are in the market for a $400,000-home, and you wait a year, you could be paying $20,000 to $40,000 more. Normally the problem of low inventory would be fixed by the construction of new homes. But here in Atlanta, there is a slight problem: labor. As mentioned before, unemployment is historically very low. Homebuilders are having trouble finding skilled labor to do the work. This is driving up costs of new homes because builders have to pay more to lure subcontractors away from other projects. But let us all keep in mind that these are good problems to have. They are symptoms of a successful local economy. That said, the low-inventory problem does not look like it will be solved anytime too soon, so values will likely continue to go up. 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
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NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | June 15, 2017 | 17
Understanding buying phases Are you trying to get new customers to buy your products or use your services? Does the process of acquiring new customers take too much time? Do some potential customers never buy anything? New customers go DICK JONES through three phases of Founder & President Jones Simply Sales buying before they actually become customers, and knowing these phases will help you to accelerate the process and acquire new customers faster. The first phase in buying is that a potential customer must be aware that your business offers specific products or services. If no one knows what you do, and what products or services you offer, you’re probably not going to attract them to become a customer. Advertising, marketing, social media and word-of-mouth can help build awareness. The next phase is generating interest on the part of a potential buyer. To generate interest, your product or service has to appeal to the buyer in a way that they will want to learn more, see more and even try your product or service. Generating interest requires that you demonstrate the value your product or service can provide. No one will want to spend their money unless they get something in return. Once awareness and interest are generated with a potential customer, the final stage of buying is motivating them to buy. This is best done by succinctly articulating the benefits of having your product or using your service. If a potential customer understands the value and benefits of your product, they will be much more likely to buy. Buyers typically go through these three stages of buying. They become aware, then interested, then motivated. Marketing and selling your product with this in mind will help you to acquire more customers faster!
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United Way honors Bill Norman for charitable contributions Restaurant owner has raised millions for local charities By JORDAN MEAKER news@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga.— Past and present board members of United Way of Forsyth County honored local restaurant owner Bill Norman for his contributions and the community as a whole in a celebration held at Norman’s Landing on June 6. Norman’s seafood restaurant will close on June 18 after 22 years in business. Board members and their families signed a picture frame, a gift to thank Norman for his contributions, and mingled inside the restaurant, sharing laughs and memories from over the years with Norman. Since Norman’s Landing first opened its doors, the restaurant has been dedicated to giving back to the community. Norman often talks about having a “big peanut-butter heart,” which is evident in the large amount of money he’s raised for local charities —
Past and present board members of United Way of Forsyth County gathered at Norman’s Landing on June 6 to honor Bill Norman for his charitable contributions. $2.45 million over 22 years. “It just goes in part with loving to spoil people in the restaurant business, and I like to take care of people that are not as fortunate or not as lucky,” Norman said. “That’s why we built the restaurant.” Norman said he has a special connection to United Way, an organization devoted to providing services for those in need. “This is my favorite charity out of the hundreds of charities that we’ve
done things for,” Norman said. “United Way helps out 10-15 different charities, and the people have always been great. I’ve always enjoyed working with them.” Throughout the years, Norman has hosted golf and ping pong tournaments for United Way, as well as helped to raise awareness of the charity’s projects and activities. United Way board member Ruth Goode spoke about Norman’s commitment to helping others. “He’s served on our board, he has
BUSINESSBRIEFS keeping Alpharetta awesome in all that we do.” “The Board of Directors, as individuals, are genuine assets who bring unique and valuable skill sets to the hospitality industry in Alpharetta,” said Janet Rodgers, President and CEO of the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Their support has been and will continue to be a critical component to our ongoing success in pursuit of marketing and promoting Alpharetta as an exceptional destination for visitors. Together, we will continue to make Alpharetta awesome.”
New Chairman of the Board Keith Hensley stands next to Janet Rodgers, President and CEO of the Alpharetta CVB.
Alpharetta CVB announces new chairman of the board ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau announced June 6 its new Chairman of the Board during it 2016-2017 fiscal year Annual Meeting at The Metropolitan Club in Alpharetta. During the meeting, Keith Hensley, General Manager of Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta was inducted as the 2017-2018 Chairman of the Board for the bureau’s upcoming fiscal year. “I graciously accept my new role as Chairman of the Alpharetta CVB Board of Directors. I am looking forward to continuing our work as a team of
volunteered, been with many different committees,” Goode said. “And not just us — he has served all of the non-profits so well here.” Norman will continue giving back to the community on June 19 by hosting a “Last Supper” to commemorate the closing of the restaurant. Half of the sales from The Last Supper will go to benefit four churches in Forsyth County. After the restaurant closes its doors, Norman is looking forward to taking some time off and going on vacation with his family. “For the last 22 years, I’ve been everything I could be to everybody. I’ve got to do something for me right now,” Norman said. But fans of Norman’s cooking should keep an eye out — he might be back soon with another restaurant. “I’ve got to take six months off for me, and then I might do another restaurant after that,” Norman said. For now, community members are expressing appreciation for Norman’s generosity. “We’re so sorry to see him close. We’re definitely going to miss him,” Goode said.
Hip and knee specialist joins orthopedic practice ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Arthritis & Total Joint Specialists recently announced the addition of Dr. Jeffrey P. Garrett to its Alpharetta and Cumming locations. Garrett, a board-certified physician in orthopedic surgery, specializes in hip and knee replacements, as well as orthopedic trauma care. He brings over a decade of diverse DR. GARRETT experience, including previous service as a clinical faculty member for orthopedic trauma at the Atlanta Medical Center Orthopaedic Residency Program. For faster recovery times and shorter hospital stays, Garrett said he uses the minimally-invasive direct anterior approach for total hip replacements. In addition, Dr. Garrett provides expertise in
acute fracture and reconstructive surgery, total knee replacement and minimally-invasive MAKOplasty robotic joint replacement procedures.
UGA journalism student named Appen summer intern ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Appen Media Group welcomes a new summer intern to the newsroom. Jordan Meaker joins three other interns who will work until the end of the summer covering a range of content topics, from government to community news, and everything in between. MEAKER From Suwanee, Meaker is a rising sophomore at the University of Georgia studying journalism and international affairs. She is excited to know her community better and dive deeper into local issues that impact people on a daily basis. She’s also hoping to improve photography skills while seeing how a professional newsroom operates. “Appen is the perfect newspaper for this because it covers several different communities that are really close to where I live,” Meaker said. “I’ll be able to learn about how a newsroom works while learning more about my local area at the same time.” She joins Natasha Roy, of Milton, Jack Waylock, of Alpharetta, and Julia Sanders, of Cumming who will cover local news this summer.
BUSINESSPOSTS
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | June 15, 2017 | 19
Forsyth County touts economic development plan Project establishes long term, interim strategy As everyone probably knows, the huge issue for our community is the commercial portion of our tax digest.”
By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County is keeping an eye on its economic development by planning for the future. James McCoy, president of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, presented an economic development plan to the County Commission June 6 calling for renewed efforts for commercial growth. “As everyone probably knows, the huge issue for our community is the commercial portion of our tax digest,” McCoy said. “When [the chamber] started an economic development department in 2005, it helped reverse the trend of the shrinking commercial portion of the tax digest.” Local governments depend on some measure of commercial growth to help offset the tax burden levied on homeowners. In 2005, the county’s tax digest – taxable property – consisted of 81 percent residential and 19 percent commercial. Ten years later, the commercial portion of the digest rose to 28 percent.
JAMES MCCOY Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce president “I think we all agree this curve is not nearly sharp enough,” McCoy said. “What we’ve done is not going to get us to where we need to be.” The county’s investment into economic development has been good, McCoy said. For every $1 of public funds invested in the chamber’s current economic development activities, $358 was added back to the county’s tax digest. “That’s new capital investment coming back to this community,” McCoy said. The chamber’s economic blueprint was based on information collected by a stakeholder group county commis-
sioners established in February. The group was asked to develop an interim economic development plan, provide recommendations on creating a new five-year plan and provide recommendations on the economic development tool box. McCoy said they heard frequently a desire for higher paying jobs in low impact positions. By 2025, the group anticipates the county will have added 5,000 new jobs. If approved by county commissioners, the group’s five-year economic development plan – still in the works – will be incorporated into the county’s
Comprehensive Land Use Plan. McCoy said the stakeholders recommend that the plan be proactive, focused, measurable and accountability-driven. The planning process should be transparent, inclusive and engaging, he said. The plan will be drafted and approved sometime in September 2018. The plan will include: Deliverables of the plan include: • Establishing meaningful dialogue with community stakeholders, citizens and businesses • Weekly progress updates • Identification of goals and objectives • Community analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats • Economic opportunity analysis • Competitive analysis • Target market identification and analysis • Marketing plan • Measurable deliverables and outcomes • Recommendations for process updates and changes • Budget and funding recommendations County commissioners said they will revisit the topic again in July.
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20 || June June 15, 15, 2017 2017 || Forsyth Milton Herald 20 Herald| |NorthFulton.com ForsythHerald.com
CALENDAR FREE TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE
ADOPT-A-SENIOR
Help put a smile on a senior’s face this Father’s Day by volunteering to serve meals and give gifts. Many senior citizens in nursing homes are left alone during the holidays. Help by giving them company during a Father’s Day Party Saturday, June 17, 11:15 a.m. at the Roswell Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 1109 Green St., Roswell. A $20 donation is requested but not required. For more information, visit adoptasenior.net. Looking to get the word out about your event? Submit it to our online calendar at NorthFulton. com/Calendar.
EVENTS: ART WORKSHOP
What: Participate in a painting class for everyone, regardless of experience. When: Saturday, June 17, 9:30 a.m. Where: Park Place at Newtown School, 3125 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov/parkplace
MAGNOLIA BALL
What: Join the Friends of Bulloch Hall for a gala event featuring an evening of cocktails, live and silent auctions, dinner and dancing. The event will fundraise for the restoration of “Orchard Hill.” When: Saturday, June 17, 7 p.m. Where: Dunwoody Country Club, 1600 Dunwoody Club Drive, Atlanta Cost: $150 per person More info: bullochhall.org or 770-9921731 ext. 2
RADKIDS CLASS
What: Children ages 7-12 can join the weeklong personal empowerment and safety education training session held by the Johns Creek Police Department. Registration required. When: Monday, June 19 – Friday, June 23, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Where: Johns Creek Police Headquarters, 11445 Johns Creek Parkway, Johns Creek Cost: $25 More info: radkids.org or johnscreekga. gov
AARP DRIVER SAFETY
What: This six-hour classroom course provides defensive driving techniques and strategies as well as an overview of current Georgia driving laws. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. When: Tuesday, June 20, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Where: Park Place at Newtown School, 3125 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek Cost: $15 for AARP members, $20 for non-members More info: johnscreekga.gov/parkplace
COOKING CLASS AT BARRINGTON HALL
What: Join Chef Wendy Gay for a summer grilling-themed cooking class. Reservations required. When: Tuesday, June 20, 6:30 p.m.9:30 p.m. Where: Barrington Hall, 535 Barrington Drive, Roswell Cost: $50 per person, per class More info: roswellgov.com or 770-6403855
POETRY GROUP
What: For adults and students age 10 and older, join the Johns Creek Poetry Group for group participating, writing exercises and handouts by published poet Jill Jennings. Bring 10 copies of your work to share. When: Saturday, June 17, 10:15 a.m.12:45 p.m. Where: Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Johns Creek More info: afpls.org
BRAINSPOTTING TALK
What: Cynthia Schwartzberg will come to NAMI to speak on Brainspotting, a brain/body based therapy, and how it can help to balance and overcome stress, anxiety, PTSD, trauma and other challenges. When: Tuesday, June 20, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Where: United Way, 240 Elm Street, Cumming More info: northfulton.com
MOVIES UNDER THE STARS
What: Bring your floats and lounge in the pool while watching “Secret Life of Pets” on the big screen. Concessions will be available for sale. When: Tuesday, June 20, 7:30 p.m. Where: Roswell Area Park Pool, 10495 Woodstock Road, Roswell Cost: $3 for residents, $5 for nonresidents More info: roswellgov.com
What: Free tutoring will be provided by student volunteers. Please RSVP to attend so volunteers are prepared accordingly. When: Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m. Where: Park Place at Newtown School, 3125 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov/parkplace
CIRCLE OF SECURITY – PARENTING
JOHNS CREEK FARMERS MARKET
What: Held at the Newtown Park Amphitheater, each market features more than 25 local farmers and vendors with organic and/or sustainable foods and produce. When: Saturdays through Aug. 26 Where: 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekga.gov
What: Learn about the ins and outs of parenting and how to identify what your child needs with registered facilitator EveLyn Wedge. Parents of children of all ages are invited. When: Wednesday, June 21, 6:30-9 p.m. Where: 300 Colonial Parkway, Suite 100, Roswell More info and registration: evelynwedge@gmail.com or 678-2506697
ROSWELL FARMERS & ARTISANS MARKET
BIRDIES FOR THE BLIND
SUMMEROUR HOUSE CONCERT
FARMERS MARKETS, FOOD TRUCKS:
“THE COMICAL ADVENTURES OF OLD MOTHER HUBBARD”
What: Experience an evening of awareness, adventure and inspiration with special guest speakers, silent auction and a preview of the Blind Endeavors “50 Schools / 50 States Campaign.” When: Thursday, June 22, 6 p.m. Where: The Standard Club, 6230 Abbotts Bridge Road, Johns Creek Cost: $250 More info: blindendeavors.org/birdies
ALPHARETTA FOOD TRUCK ALLEY
What: Alpharetta’s weekly gathering returns on Old Roswell Street with rotating food trucks and music each week. Six to eight food trucks from the Atlanta area will come out to help kick off the weekend early. When: Thursdays, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Where: Old Roswell Street in Alpharetta’s historic district More info: awesomealpharetta.com
ALPHARETTA FARMERS MARKET
What: The Alpharetta Farmers Market features fruits, vegetables, natural meats, fresh flowers and herbs, and a variety of home goods. When: Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., through Oct. 29 Where: Old Canton Street in downtown Alpharetta More info: alpharetta.ga.us
CUMMING FARMERS MARKET
What: Come by for a chance to enjoy locally produced vegetables, meat, baked goods, honey, soaps, flowers, art, woodworking and more. When: Wednesday and Saturdays, 6:30-10:30 a.m., through Sept. 30 Where: Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Road More info: cummingfarmersmarket.com
What: The Roswell Farmers & Artisans Market offers fresh, local farm, ranch and artisan foods direct from producers, and much more. When: Saturdays, 8 a.m.–noon., through October Where: Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill St. More info: roswellfam.com
MUSIC, ARTS & THEATER: What: Autrey Mill Nature Preserve Presents the Summerour House Concert series. This intimate concert setting uniquely suits the local musicians who visit. When: Saturday, June 17, 7 p.m. Where: Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center, 9770 Autrey Mill Road, Johns Creek Cost: $18 More info: johnscreekga.gov
What: Paul Mesner Puppets brings the traditional story of Old Mother Hubbard to life. The story unfolds as a comic poem centered on the love between a dog and his master. When: June 12-17, times vary. Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell Cost: $5 individual tickets, $30 summer pass More info: roswellpuppets.com
LUKE BRYAN
What: “Huntin’, Fishin’, and Lovin’ Every Day Tour” with Brett Eldredge and Lauren Alaina. When: June 15-17, doors open at 6 p.m., concert at 7 p.m. Where: Verizon Amphitheatre, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta Cost: Tickets start at $26 More info and tickets: vzwamp.com
“RED HOT & COLE”
What: This two-act revue features 25 songs and traces Cole Porter’s career from Indiana to the world stages of New York, London, Paris and Venice. When: June 1-18, times vary Where: Cumming Playhouse, 101 School St., Cumming Cost: Tickets start at $25 More info and tickets: playhousecumming.com
SPOTLIGHT ARTIST: HEATHER LUND
What: Heather Lund will exhibit her art at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center through July. Her light-hearted works are characterized with a mix of watercolor, pen and ink, acrylic and screen printing. When: June 1-July 31, all day Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell More info: heatherlund.format.com or roswellgov.com
LIBRARY EVENTS: FREE TEEN YOGA CLASSES
What: Teens are invited to relax by going to a yoga class at the Milton Library. The class is free and open to the public. When: Fridays, through Aug. 11, 11 a.m.-noon Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Alpharetta More info: liane.wagner@ fultoncountyga.gov
JOHNS CREEK POETRY GROUP
What: Adults and students age 10 and older are invited to join the Johns Creek Poetry Group for group participating, writing exercises and handouts by published poet Jill Jennings. When: Saturday, June 17, 10:15 a.m.12:45 p.m. Where: Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Alpharetta More info: karen.swenson@ fultoncountyga.gov or 770-360-8820
TRENDS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
What: The public is invited to join Roswell Library as they discuss the major trends affecting students in the college admissions process. When: Saturday, June 17, 1-2 p.m. Where: Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell More info: 770-640-3075
JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB
What: Jane Austen fans are invited to the Jane Austen Book Club. To celebrate Jane Austens’ 200th anniversary, they will be reading all six of Jane Austens’ novels throughout the year. When: Saturday, June 17, 2-3 p.m. Where: Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Alpharetta More info: laura.hoefener@ fultoncountyga.gov
PLANTING AN HERB GARDEN WITH THE UGA EXTENSION
What: Children are invited to come learn about how to build a better garden. The class is presented by the UGA Extension Program. Ages 8-11. Registration required. When: Wednesday, June 21, 1-2 p.m. Where: Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Alpharetta More info: laura.hoefener@ fultoncountyga.gov or 770-360-8820
CALENDAR
NorthFulton.com||Forsyth Milton Herald ForsythHerald.com Herald || June June 15, 15, 2017 2017 || 21 21
To the top! Here near the Big City, we sometimes think that we have to go north to the mountains to find a mountain worth climbing. But if you’re looking for a summit hike that’s rewardSTEVE HUDSON ing and just chalGet Outside Georgia, aa4bw@comcast.net lenging enough, you may not need to look any farther than Kennesaw Mountain. Kennesaw Mountain, with a summit elevation of 1,808 feet, is the centerpiece of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. The mountaintop, and the area around it, played a key role during the Civil War in the Battle for Atlanta in June of 1864, standing as one of the last real obstacles between the Union army and its target, Atlanta. The resulting confrontation between the Union forces (under the direction of Gen. William T. Sherman) and the Confederate defenders (led by Confederate General Joseph E. Johnson) was intense and bloody – but in the end it did not keep Sherman from taking Atlanta. As summits go, 1,808 feet may not sound like a lot. But the hike to the top of Kennesaw Mountain takes you from about 1,144 feet to 1,808 feet in roughly a mile of hiking. That’s an elevation change of almost 700 feet on a trail with an average uphill grade of about 15 percent -- more than enough to get the ol’ cardio rate up a bit, to be sure. Most hikes to the Kennesaw Mountain summit begin at the park’s visitor center, where you can learn about the mountain and its role in Civil War history. That’s where I started mine on a hot, muggy afternoon just the other day. The trail itself starts outside the visitor center, near an informational kiosk. If it’s a pretty weekend day, expect to have lots of company on your hike. There will be serious hikers with serious boots and serious walking sticks. There will be young parents with kids in tow – or maybe with babies in backpack carriers. There will be families with dogs, groups of scouts and those who just want to enjoy a little bit of outdoor recreation. If you get the sense that the trail to the summit might be crowded, then you will be right. Then you begin the climb. As the trail climbs ever upward,
you’ll pass numerous markers pointing out significant historical locations. At several points, gun emplacements give you an acute sense of the history of the place – and if you let your imagination go, it’s not hard to envision what the battle must have been like. How did the defenders lug cannon, heavy muskets, lead bullets and all the other things of war up the mountainside? How did they dig out earthworks and rifle trenches? How did they fell trees to create an all but impenetrable tangle on the hillside below? That summer was a hot and rainy one, historians say, and the troops of both sides battled mud and heat as much as they battled each other. While pondering such things, you may come to appreciate the many benches that have been placed along the route to the top. I know that I stopped at several of them…but only to make notes or check the camera, of course! Eventually (and it really doesn’t take too long) you’ll reach the summit. There, overlooks give you an idea of what the troops saw. Looking out toward Atlanta, for example, you’re gazing at the reason for this battle – Atlanta, a few miles in the distance. The defenders were trying the protect it; the attackers were bound for it and found Kennesaw Mountain in their way. The very summit of the mountain boasts a small observation area with unobstructed views. You’ll want to linger there for a while. If you’re lucky, there will be a breeze to cool you off from your exertions. And then… After summiting the mountain, most folks turn around and backtrack down the trail to return to where they began. However, others continue on. As it turns out, the summit trail is actually the first leg of a loop (with a
length of roughly six miles) which carries you even further into history…first to Little Kennesaw Mountain’s summit (elevation 1,610), and then to Pigeon Hill (elevation 1,247) and then down toward Burnt Hickory Road. Some of this is tough hiking, resembling rock hopping and root jumping as much as anything as you make your way up or down across rough and tricky terrain. This is where your knees may ask you just what you had in mind when you started this grand adventure. At the lower end of the loop, near Burnt Hickory Road, a connector trail descends to the road. Just across the road there’s a water fountain (the first water since you left the visitor’s center) where you can refill your water bottle. Then, to complete the loop, hike back up the connector trail and pick up the Camp Brumby Trail, which follows an old gravel roadbed for not quite three miles to take you back to the visitor center. This final leg is relatively easy, wrapping you in easy walking that rests the body and the mind. And if you listen, you might hear a distant rumble…thunder? Or perhaps it’s the long-reverberating sound of cannon fire? Wars are like that sometimes. The echoes tend to hang around for a long, long time. Summer is a great time to enjoy some hiking, and Steve Hudson’s book HIKING THE HOOCH is just the thing to help you discover some great hiking along the Chattahoochee River near Atlanta. HIKING THE HOOCH is available from local outfitters and on Amazon, and signed copies are available direct from the author at www. chattahoocheemedia. com.
COMMUNITY
22 | June 15, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
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JULIA GROCHOWSKI/HERALD
Daybreak Farm owner Gail Zorn, left, and her sister Lynn Zorn sell fresh lavender. They sold out of over 500 bundles in less than three hours during Roswell’s annual Lavender Festival.
Lavender Festival delights crowds Annual celebration honors plant with demonstrations, crafts, goods By JULIA GROCHOWSKI julia@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. — This year’s annual Lavender Festival did not disappoint. Trolleys could barely contain the crowds as they packed Barrington Hall to once again celebrate all things lavender. This free event was inspired by Evelyn Simpson, a descendent of Barrington King. Simpson was known for growing, selling and extoling the many uses of lavender, according to event organizer Michele Glazer. The festival is one way to preserve this tradition and keep Simpson’s memory alive. More than 75 vendors this year served up everything from lavender soaps and lavender-flavored drinks to live lavender plants and dried lavender for cooking. Some booths also offered jewelry, art and textiles. On Barrington Hall’s back porch,
JULIA GROCHOWSKI/HERALD
Jana Rife, owner of Hanalei Bath, was one of many vendors selling lavender-themed items.
event organizers provided food samples, including lavender marshmallows, lavender chocolate bark and peach lavender popsicles Festival-goers were likewise invited to participate in multiple demonstrations and classes – all lavender-themed, of course. One of the more popular classes was for creating lavender wands, a natural moth repellent
See FESTIVAL, Page 23
COMMUNITY
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | June 15, 2017 | 23
Milton residents enjoy the garden party
Milton Senior Center celebrates Older Americans Month MILTON, Ga — In celebration of Older Americans Month, the Milton Senior Center hosted its second Garden Party May 23rd with an afternoon of fellowship, music and food. Milton neighbors and city officials braved the driving rain to celebrate the day with the seniors. “Milton really shares in our mission to care for and
support the older adults in our community,” said Ron Harlow, executive director of Senior Services North Fulton. Located at the historic Thomas Byrd Sr. House on Hopewell Road, participants meet their friends at the center Monday – Friday and enjoy exercise classes, arts and crafts, health and wellness presentations and a hot lunch.
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Roswell Chocolate Co. offered samples of lavender-infused chocolates and treats.
Festival: Continued from Page 22 and air freshener that works all year round. Participants could also learn how to cultivate lavender and how to infuse the plant in their cooking and bath products. One corner of the grounds was dedicated as the Zen Zone, where people could practice yoga outdoors, experience guided meditation and receive
massages. Lavender scents and oils were frequently used by the participants as a way of promoting relaxation and refreshment. For children, the Lavender Festival had ongoing live music, storytelling and craft demonstrations outdoors. The Enchanted Fairy Hollow was also a hit with the children. At the hollow, children and adults could build a free fairy house with all materials provided. Live music was provided by local musicians Davin McCoy, Battlefield Collective and Kenny Sumner.
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COMMUNITY
24 | June 15, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
Lake Lanier water levels rise over a foot in May Conditions improve with recent rainfall By JACK WAYLOCK news@northfulton.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Recent visitors to Lake Lanier may notice water levels are unusually low this time of year. However lake officials say there has been little impact to lake activities and are confident levels are rising with recent rainfall. Currently the water level is at 1,064 feet, which is slightly unusual for the summer months, according to Joanna Cloud, executive director of the Lake Lanier Association. “While the current levels are much lower than full pool, it is not necessarily a problem,” Cloud said. “We are confident that recreation is not impacted.” Full pool — the water level at which the lake is considered at operating optimum — for Lake Lanier is 1,071 feet above sea level. Lanier hasn’t been close to that level any time this year, but officials do not believe this has had much impact on usual lake activity for the summer. Last month water levels were at 1,063.2 feet, but rains over the past month have bumped levels up over a foot. When the level drops below 1,066 feet recreation becomes impacted, but only to a minimal extent. Not until the lake levels drop below 1,063 do the effects
Lake Lanier was at 17 feet below full pool during the drought of 2007.
Lake Lanier, pictured with water levels similar to today.
become especially noticeable. “Below this level most designated beach areas become unusable and navigational hazards are more numerous,” Cloud said. When the lake drops below 1,060 feet, recreational activities can become dangerous, some boat ramps become unusable and lake officials do not advise driving on the lake if the water is this low. With the lake now at its highest level of the year, it is still much lower than recorded levels in 2015, 2014
and most of 2013. Though visitors may notice the lower than usual water levels this year, it hardly compares to the drought of 2012 when levels dropped to 1,056.34, almost 20 feet below full pool. This drought resulted in a number of problems, including an old racetrack underneath the lake becoming visible once again with low water levels.
See LAKE, Page 25
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COMMUNITY
Lake: Continued from Page 24 South Georgia continues to experience “severe drought” intensity in some counties, but there is currently no drought or “abnormal dryness” in Forsyth County, which holds around 30 percent of the lake in its borders. This is excellent news for residents, because as recently as May 16 parts of Forsyth County were experiencing “moderate drought,” which prompted officials to urge residents to guard water usage. While Forsyth and Hall County, which hold the largest portions of the lake, are not experiencing drought or dryness any more, part of Lumpkin County, located just north of the lake, is still experiencing drought-like conditions. While not a part of its shoreline, neighboring counties to the north feed Lake Lanier by way of the Chestatee River, which begins in Lumpkin. It is expected that lake levels will continue to rise throughout the remainder of the year. For questions concerning water levels or to report a serious hazard, the public is urged to contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Lake Lanier at 770945-1467.
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | June 15, 2017 | 25
Local woman’s documentary addresses sexual assault, domestic violence ‘Dear Women Project’ screens June 17 By JULIA GROCHOWSKI julia@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. — One Johns Creek woman is shining a light on sexual assault and domestic violence in Metro Atlanta with her documentary “Dear Women Project.” The producer, Leigh Takata, said she was inspired by her own struggles getting help in North Fulton after she was sexually assaulted. “In North Fulton, there aren’t really many resources specifically for victims of sexual assault,” Takata said. “You have to go to South Fulton for help. They can be hard to access, especially if you don’t have transportation to get there.” The documentary aims to clarify some myths and misconceptions about sexual assault and domestic violence and open a discussion on what are often considered difficult topics. “What happened to me happened in Johns Creek, and often times I feel like people in more affluent areas don’t want to talk about it, don’t want to acknowledge that it exists there,” Takata said. “But it does. It happens everywhere. It doesn’t matter how much money you make or where you work or how intelligent you are – it can happen to anyone at any time. And unfortunately, often times, it’s from people you know, not random strangers.” The documentary will feature local women who will talk about their own stories and experiences. Takata herself is one of the women in the film. She had
written short stories and poetry about her assault as a way to cope, but did not decide to make a documentary until she was approached by other women in similar situations. The sheer number inspired her to document their struggles in what would become the “Dear Women Project.” Takata said that her own assault happened in 2008 by a friend she was close to, and that the incident left a void in her life. But talking about it helped. “It’s hard. Even now, even though it’s been almost The “Dear Women Project” nine years ago,” Takata said. documentary will be shown “But just talking about it June 17 in Alpharetta. has been very beneficial and therapeutic. Hopefully, other people will be inspired to share their stories as well after seeing it.” The documentary will also be outlining some coping mechanisms, how to talk about consent and give messages for other women in similar situations. “The main thing we try to emphasize throughout the film is ‘you’re not alone,’” See PROJECT, Page 26 Takata said. “When
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26 | June 15, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
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North Fulton athletics logs another championship year How the 2016-17 season compares to prior years’ records By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. — Since 2004, North Fulton schools have won at least three state championships every year. So how does North Fulton’s eight state titles in 2016-17 compare to past years? The quick answer – right about average. Since 2004, North Fulton teams have won an average of 8.6 championships per year. The lowest total in that span came in 2008 with just three state championships, and the highest total came in 2012 with 13 state titles. This year marked the first since 2011 that a North Fulton school did not win a basketball state championship. St. Francis’ boys and girls teams captured five state titles between 2012-13 and 2015-16 but both teams were eliminated the in the semifinals this year. North Fulton baseball teams also went without a ring this year as Blessed Trinity fell in the 4A state finals and Johns Creek was downed in three games in the 6A semifinals. Between 2013-15, North Fulton teams won six baseball state championships. Though local teams didn’t win state titles in some traditionally successful sports, North Fulton’s eight championships this year came in other sports including golf, girls lacrosse and tennis. Johns Creek swept the Class 6A golf state championships, the 14th and 15th state titles for North Fulton teams in golf. Milton and Cambridge faced off for the Class 6A-7A girls lacrosse state championship. Milton won its 11th state championship with a 13-4 win.
Project: Continued from Page 25 this happened to me, I felt like I didn’t have anyone to talk to or turn to. It’s awful. I don’t want other people to feel like that. I want people to know that you’re not alone.” Although aimed toward women, the documentary is not just for women. “I think men really need to see this film also,” Takata said. “We need to create more awareness from everyone that these types of situations happen in even the most affluent areas.” Takata’s long-term goal is to film a
2016-17 North Fulton team state championships • • • • • • • • •
Milton girls lacrosse Chattahoochee boys soccer Cambridge softball Northview boys tennis Cambridge girls tennis Blessed Trinity volleyball Johns Creek girls golf Johns Creek boys golf Blessed Trinity girls lacrosse
With Blessed Trinity winning a state title in 2016, as well as repeating this year, a North Fulton team has won a girls lacrosse state championship every year since the GHSA recognized it as a state championship sport in 2005. In addition to its lacrosse state title, Blessed Trinity captured a state title in volleyball, its third straight. Northview is the only other North Fulton school to capture a volleyball state championship after winning two straight in 2010 and 2011. North Fulton teams have won 29 tennis state championships since 2004, and two more were added to that total this year as the Cambridge girls and Northview boys won Class 6A state championships. Cambridge’s softball state title was the school’s first in the sport and just the second for a North Fulton team. The only other North Fulton softball team to win the state championship was Blessed Trinity in 2007. North Fulton has won at least one state championship every year since 1995. series of similar documentaries featuring women from other cities around the nation sharing their stories and experiences. After the film, there will be a panel of four speakers who specialize in helping women who have experienced sexual assault or domestic violence. Speakers include Wendy Lipshutz of Shalom Bayit, Joan Prittie from Athensbased Project Safe and Kenni York of the Let Your Voice be Heard Foundation. “Dear Women Project” will be screened from 2-5 p.m., June 17, at Roam Innovative Workplace, 5815 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased at bit.ly/2sbWbOO.
SPORTS
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | June 15, 2017 | 27
Cambridge’s Napoli named Player of the Year Lady Bears’ pitcher is school’s first to win award By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. — Cambridge’s Keara Napoli has been named the softball Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year for the 2016-17 season. The award is given to the top softball player in the state based on polling of coaches, sports journalists and high school sports experts. The award includes athletic performance, academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field. Napoli is the first athlete from Cambridge to win the award, and she says it is an honor to receive the same distinc-
tion many of her role models have won. “It’s a huge honor to me because so many of the great pitchers I’ve looked up to have also won this award,” Napoli said. Ashley Morgan, whom Napoli competed against last season won the award for 2015-16, and Kelly Barnhill, Napoli’s role model, won the award the year before. Napoli was instrumental in the Lady Bears’ run to their first state championship this season. Napoli went 32-1 this season as pitcher, striking out 249 batters. She compiled a 0.58 ERA as Cambridge allowed just 37 runs in 36 games this season.
Her staggering statistics would not have been so impressive if not for the team, she said. “My team makes me look so good,” she said. “The low-ERA and low amount of hits I gave up is because of their defense behind me and because the offense was backing me up. I owe a huge credit to them.” Napoli was also impressive offensively, batting .505 this season with 39 RBIs and seven home runs. The Gatorade Player of the Year Award is one of many accolades Napoli has received this season. She was also named the Region 7-AAAAAA Player of the Year, the Georgia Dugout Club Player of the Year and the AJC Player of the Year. The Gatorade Player of the Year
award is the most special, Napoli said. “This award meant the most because I was up against all the other players in Georgia. There is so much talent and so many people who deserve this award.” In winning the Gatorade award, Napoli will select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a $1,000 grant. She is looking for a sports-related charity that benefits children with cancer in honor of a friend. Off the field, Napoli had an A average in her classes and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She has committed to the University of Georgia for softball. Napoli is in the running for the National Player of the Year Award which will be announced this month.
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28 | June 15, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
SPORTS
YEAR IN REVIEW:
What we learned in the 2016-17 athletics year By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FUULTON, Ga. - North Fulton is still the best area in the state for tennis: Since the GHSA began recognizing tennis as a state championship sport in 1978 for boys and 1980 for girls, North Fulton has won 39 state championships in the sport. This year included two more, when the Northview boys and Cambridge girls won Class AAAAAA titles. North Fulton teams battled one another for supremacy late in the state tournament. The girls 6A state tournament featured an all North Fulton final four when Cambridge, Northview, Alpharetta and Chattahoochee all made semifinal berths. Three North Fulton teams, Chattahoochee, Johns Creek and eventual state champs Northview, all made final four appearances in the boys 6A tournament. The St. Francis girls team and Milton boys also made semifinals appearances in their respective classification. Cambridge faces no issues in moving up in classification: Moving up in classification can be daunting. Teams are forced to compete against new, and typically, higher quality opponents. Witness Forsyth Central, which made just two state playoff appearances in team sports this year after moving up from the same region as Cambridge. But Cambridge excelled in its new classification this season, capturing two state championships, two state runner-up finishes and loads of deep playoff runs. The girls programs captured the
Director’s Cup and the Bears finished third overall in the standings. The Roswell area has become a football hotbed: For the past two seasons, four teams located within about a mile of one another have made trips to the football state championship. Roswell, Fellowship Christian and Blessed Trinity have each made state championship appearances in the last two seasons. Roswell and Fellowship Christian both finished as state runner-up this season after falling in overtime in their respective state title games. Roswell and Blessed Trinity placed as state runner-up in their classification in 2015. Lambert has athletic success all-around, again: A good measure of a school’s all-around athletic performance can be deduced with its ranking in the Director’s Cup, and for the third straight year, Lambert has proven to be the top athletics school in the top classification. It certainly helps Lambert’s standing that it competes in 23 of a possible 25 sports, but it is not just the number of sports that has allowed them to take home the Director’s Cup three years running – it’s also the amount of success of its teams and athletes. Lambert won five state championships and earned points toward the Director’s Cup in each sport in which it competed this season. Both the boys and girls program won Director’s Cups, and Lambert finished 184 points ahead of Mill Creek in the overall standings. For perspective on how big a lead 184 points is, a state
Cambridge girls tennis captured a state championship this year, the 29th tennis state title for a North Fulton school since 2004.” championship is only worth 100 points. The football coaching carousel comes to North Fulton/Forsyth County: North Fulton and Forsyth County have welcomed seven new head football coaches this spring. John Ford left Roswell for Buford and was replaced by Matt Kemper who led Johns Creek to its first region championship this season. Adam Clack left West Forsyth for Milton. West then hired Shawn Cahill, former offensive coordinator at Lanier, to replace Clack. Johns Creek tapped Matt Helmerich of Florida’s St. Thomas Aquinas to replace Kemper. Northview also looked outside of the state for its new head coach, James Thomson, a former UCLA offensive analyst.
Milton captured a girls lacrosse state championship this year in Class 6A-7A. A North Fulton team has won a state title in girls lacrosse every year since the GHSA recognized it as a championship sport.”
Pinecrest Academy head coach Todd Winter stepped down to take over the same job at Holy Innocents’ and was replaced by Terence Mathis, a former NFL receiver who spent 10 years with the Atlanta Falcons. Milton girls lacrosse is still the best program in the state: Since the GHSA began recognizing girls lacrosse as a state championship sport 13 years ago, not a year has passed where Milton did not compete for the state championship. Milton took down crosstown rivals Cambridge in the Class 6A-7A state championship game this year to earn the program’s 11th state championship. The state title capped off a 19-4 season in which the Lady Eagles did not lose to a school in Georgia. The combined record of those teams which beat Milton is 86-9, including Maryland’s McDonogh, which has won 175 straight games. In extreme circumstances, the GHSA can change its tune: Whether it was media pressure, the fact that so much was at stake or the strong case that Johns Creek presented, the GHSA’s Board of Trustees made an unprecedented move by overturning a call on the field. It took nearly two weeks, but the GHSA overturned the call that allowed Johns Creek and Lee County to play in a decisive Game 3 in the Class AAAAAA baseball semifinals after ruling that Johns Creek had won Game 2. Whether or not this will set a precedent for later appeals has yet to be determined, but for the Gladiators, it was a monumental occasion that allowed the team to settle the series on the field.
NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | June 15, 2017 | 29
Campaign: Continued from Page 12 Phillips said she decided to campaign because she was disappointed by the 2016 Presidential Election. She said she felt unable to affect change until the House seat opened, and she realized she could be politically active in more ways than just voting. “I felt an obligation to support the causes that called out to me,” Phillips said. “Ossoff is extremely supportive of marginalized groups, but his policy objectives are achievable and reasonable. His avoidance of extremes contrasts so starkly with the style we see in Washington.” Like Ross, Phillips has campaigned along with other people her age. “I never campaign without my friends,” Phillips said. “We have multiple group chats devoted to talking politics or for coordinating what events we’ll participate in.” Nicole Vacarella, 23, said that she has seen many people showing support during this election through social media. However, Vacarella decided to volunteer for Handel’s campaign because she wanted to do more than share posts. “I was like, ‘I’m just sitting around,
Arrests: Continued from Page 2 session of marijuana, having a cracked windshield and an expired registration. ►► Mosaab Zaki Arman, 23, of Streamside Drive, Alpharetta, was arrested June 1 on State Bridge Road, Johns Creek, for possession of mari-
sharing stuff on Facebook,’ when I really wanted to get out there and understand the campaign,” Vacarella said. “I think it’s really easy or convenient to just share something that you care about.” Vacarella said she noticed that no matter what side people were on, after the 2016 Presidential Election, she noticed a passion or energy among people to get involved in politics. She said she thinks everybody at a young age should try getting involved with campaigning. “Knocking on strangers’ doors is probably the weirdest thing, but it really made me realize that I can do stuff like that,” Vacarella said. While this special election has seen much involvement from millennials of voting age, younger people, like 16-year-old Isheeta Mukherjee, are campaigning even though they cannot vote. Mukherjee, who is canvassing for Ossoff, said she has been knocking on doors and making calls to get the word out about this particular election. “This is really the first chance I’ve had to get involved in an election I cared about and have it matter so much,” Mukherjee said. “Because we are so close with this election, I wanted to do whatever I could with my power to make a difference.” Mukherjee said that she still has the power of influencing others to go vote.
“I know the grassroots movement can be very influential,” Mukherjee said. “I wanted to do whatever I could on my end to impact the results of this election.” Mukherjee said it is important for young people to be involved with local politics because politicians make more decisions about their lives than many of them are aware of, such as funding
juana. ►► Steven Michael Sims, 24, of Millwick Drive, Alpharetta, was arrested June 3 on Oak Landing Drive, Johns Creek, for possession of marijuana. ►► Isa Mujahid Zhakir Muhammad, 22, of Old Holcombe Bride Way, Roswell, was arrested May 19 on Old Holcombe Bridge Road, Alpharetta, for possession of marijuana and possession of
drug-related objects. ►► De-Andre Jamal Rice, 24, of Millers Creek Drive, Powder Springs, was arrested May 23 on Wood Creek Court, Roswell, for possession of marijuana and on an outstanding warrant. ►► Paris Torrell Holland, 24, of Old Dogwood Road, Roswell, was arrested May 23 on Wood Creek Court, Roswell, for possession of marijuana and on an outstanding warrant.
DEATH NOTICES
Anna Gieger, 82, of Roswell, passed away May 28, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home.
Paul Ceresini, 48, of Cumming, passed away May 31, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home.
Aurella Griffin, of Alpharetta, passed away June 2, 2017. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Aldo B. Corsetti, 87, of Roswell, passed away May 24, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home. Tom R. Dailey, 73, of Cumming, passed away June 6, 2017. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home. Floria Dean Day, 82, of Cumming, passed away June 2, 2017. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Valerie Ann Doss, 66, of Cumming, passed away June 6, 2017. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.
William Hamilton, of Cumming, passed away June 1, 2017. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors. Elsie Harper, of Alpharetta, passed away June 6, 2017. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
EARLY VOTING • Early voting for the 6th Congressional District Special Runoff is open until June 16. The official election day is June 20. • All registered voters within the district can vote in the June 20 runoff whether they voted in the April 18 special election or not. Polls will remain open until 7 p.m. • Twelve polling locations changed as of May 24. • The Alpharetta voting locations are St. James United Methodist Church, Alpharetta Library and Johns Creek Environmental Campus. The Roswell voting locations are Ester Jackson Elementary School and Mimosa Elementary School. • The early voting locations in Johns Creek are Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Dolvin Elementary School and Johns Creek High School. • The Milton voting locations are Birmingham Falls Elementary School and Hopewell Middle School. • Polling location changes can also be found at fultonelections.com. For more information about the election and voter statuses, visit mvp.sos. state.ga.
Rita Lewis-Devereaux, of Roswell, passed away June 3, 2017. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
for college. “We’re soon going to be the ones to vote about all of these issues, and we need to be fully aware of what it is we want for our future,” Mukherjee said. “It’s our job to use our voices to make these sorts of decisions, and it’s never too early to start learning about the current issues we face today.”
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James Sandefur, 73, of Cumming, passed away June 1, 2017. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.
Harriet Kluxdal, 87, of Roswell, passed away May 28, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home.
Gurami Tchanturia, of Alpharetta, passed away June 2, 2017. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
Alan R. Maxhimer, 74, of Cumming, passed away May 23, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home.
Alphonse Theriault, 84, of Alpharetta, passed away June 2, 2017. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.
Viola May McKinnely, 90, of Alpharetta, passed away May 28, 2017. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home.
Housang Vaziri, 81, of Alpharetta, passed away May 29, 2017. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.
Beverly Sahnger, of Alpharetta, passed away June 4, 2017. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.
30 | June 15, 2017 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com
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